Hong Kong: Startup intern scheme launched

The Home & Youth Affairs Bureau, in partnership with the Cyberport Management Company and the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), launched the Youth Start-up Internship Programme 2024 today, offering 200 internship placements at local startups.

For the new round of the programme, Cyberport and the HKSTP will provide internship placements of three to six months, covering various disciplines such as data analysis, fintech, artificial intelligence, business development and marketing.

The participating companies can engage interns on a full-time, part-time or mixed basis. Applicants should be local full-time post-secondary students. Apart from internship placements, Cyberport and the HKSTP will also arrange a series of training and entrepreneurship activities for the interns as well as visits to startups in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area.

Interested young people should submit applications to companies online. Upon receipt of the applications, participating companies will conduct assessments and selection for implementing the internship arrangements.

This story has been published on: 2024-01-31. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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As winter progresses with cold, rain and snow, Dorothy Gales words from The Wizard of Oz ring true, theres no place like home.

But according to a recent report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, housing has become unaffordable for half of U.S. renters. Thats 22.4 million renter households that spent more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities (almost half of those paid more than 50% of their income on housing), impacting the rising number of evictions and homelessness.

In local numbers, a little over 6,000 people are experiencing homelessness in Chicago on a given day in 2023. Over 35,000 people seeking asylum have come to Chicago since August 2022 and the city has struggled to shelter all the new arrivals.

Given such statistics, the National Public Housing Museum launched Evicted, an immersive exhibit set to run through March 10. Inspired by Matthew Desmonds Pulitzer Prize-winning book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, the work spotlights renters eviction stories in an effort to kick-start and provide a space for dialogue on housing insecurity, its causes and ramifications.

Visitors to the exhibit can walk into four house structures to see statistics, videos, a map of evictions across the country and family stories giving different dimensions of the act of eviction from the courts role to who gets impacted the most. Theres also a sculptural object composed of shrink-wrapped materials of an evicted household. Lisa Yun Lee, executive director of the National Public Housing Museum, says the interactive displays aim to foster empathy and awareness by looking at the challenges individuals and families face to maintain a stable living environment.

This issue of housing insecurity is weighing heavy on so many of us, Lee said. Evicted is an incredible window for us to understand, not just the surface budding statistics about eviction in America, but this idea of what it means for everybody to have a right to a place to call home and the devastating impacts of what happens when you lose your home. Its one of those things which affects everyone across America, but the exhibit makes clear that evictions impact Black women in a much more expanded way than it impacts other people.

The new exhibit Evicted at the National Public Housing Museum on Jan. 19, 2024. The exhibit shows that Black women are affected more than some other demographics.

The touring exhibit was at the National Building Museum before the pandemic, and has now landed locally where three educators are on site to talk to visitors. The educators are people who have been evicted, who are houseless and who have experienced housing insecurity, Lee said. The educators answer questions and share their own stories. Other programming around the project includes an eviction meeting with the Chicago Housing Justice Coalition discussing the Just Cause for Eviction campaign on Jan. 31.

Work continues in the field. Lee hopes the exhibit will be seen by many, intergenerationally from school groups to policymakers, to understand eviction as a systemic issue and not one where individuals have made bad choices.

Lee mentioned that Desmond stopped by to see the installation of the exhibit, citing the stories being told by the educators makes a difference.

We are thinking about what is in the works for Chicago and Cook County and how this exhibit can help advance creative policy around evictions, Lee said. Its the power of the people to challenge unjust laws. With eviction, theres all of these laws on the books and it takes a group of concerned citizens to say, Hey, why is this the case? Its not like theres one bad guy. Eviction is a societal, systemic issue that we need to address.

Evicted runs through March 10, Thursdays-Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays-Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. at the National Public Housing Museum, 625 N. Kingsbury St.; free, more at nphm.org/programs/exhibits

drockett@chicagotribune.com
The Delhi High Court has passed an order on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) moved by two Rohingya refugees against hateful content and speeches that originate from India on the Facebook platform and said that as there is a robust grievance redressal mechanism in existence, the petitioners have an alternative efficacious remedy and are at liberty to avail themselves of the redressal mechanism as per IT Rules, 2021, with respect to any objectionable posts. The bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, in an order passed on January 30, also said that "This court is also of the opinion that the petitioners suggestion, during the hearing, that there should be prior censorship of any publication of Rohingyas on Facebook is an example of 'a treatment that is worse than the disease'. It is further settled law that where an act provides complete machinery for redressal, the aggrieved party is not permitted to abandon that machinery to invoke the jurisdiction of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution, said the Court. Similarly, the reliefs sought against Meta Platforms Inc. are not maintainable as there is no allegation in the writ petition that the said respondents have failed to abide by its statutory obligations under the IT Rules 2021, added the court. The court is of the opinion that, in view of the aforesaid rules, the direction sought by the petitioners to the Union of India to restrain Facebook from allegedly promoting, amplifying, and spreading hate speech covered by Sections 153 and 500 of the IPC and particularly hate speech against Rohingyas, does not arise for consideration, said the court order. Senior Advocate Arvind Datar, who appeared for Facebook India during arguments, apprised the court that Facebook has taken measures and put in place mechanisms for removing objectionable posts as required under the IT Rules and has been furnishing monthly reports to the Government of India. Advocate Datar stated that in the month of November 2023 alone, Facebook India pulled down more than 1 lakh objectionable posts in that month. He also stated that he specifically disputes the allegation of the petitioners that Facebook is propagating hate speech or making money out of hate speech. Datar further submitted that magnifying of the news happens on account of the nature of the platform and is common to all social media intermediaries. He stated that, in fact, the Petitioners have failed to verify that the posts which have been referred, have been pulled down by Facebook in November 2023 itself and therefore, there is no cause of action to maintain the present petition, he added. Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves appeared for Rohingyas Petitioners and stated that the plea is seeking protection of the right to life of the members of the Rohingya community in Delhi and throughout the country who face violence as a result of the dissemination of hate remarks targeting them on the basis of their ethnicity and religion on the respondents platform, i.e., Facebook. Advocate Gonsalves further stated that though the hate speech originates elsewhere, it gets magnified by the algorithms of Facebook so that the hate speech goes viral in India and abroad. He alleged that Facebook promotes hate speech as a part of its strategy to increase its revenue. He submitted that hate speech is a crime in India under Section 153-A(1)(b) of the IPC and even though respondent Facebook promises to make amends, it has failed to do so with the objective of enhancing its revenue by magnifying such hate speech. He stated that the Islamophobic posts constitute hate speech and is a serious crime under Sections 153-B and 500 of the IPC. The court order comes on a petition moved by two Rohingya refugees seeking direction from Facebook India and the Center to monitor and promptly suspend/remove hate speech and harmful content that originates in India from its platform. The stateless Muslim Rohingya minority, having fled ethnic cleansing operations in Myanmar in 2017, is particularly vulnerable in India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh currently hosts 1 million Rohingya refugees in congested refugee camps located in Cox's Bazar on the border with Myanmar. The UNHCR reported that India was sheltering approximately 74,600 Rohingya refugees. The "Rohingya issue" is frequently used as a political tool in both the countries and as a result, it is the subject of large amounts of harmful content on Facebook, as the plea stated. (ANI)
Ram Nath Kovind, chairman of the High-Level Committee (HLC) on the One Nation, One Election and former President of India, met and interacted with Praful Patel and Sunil Dattatray Tatkare of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday as part of his consultations with political parties, who gave their considered opinions on the subject. Committee Chairman Kovind also held consultations with Upendra Kushwah, National President, of Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal, along with two other members of the party regarding their views and suggestions on holding simultaneous elections in the country. Representatives of the parties also handed over their suggestions in writing. Earlier on January 30, Kovind met Justice Pradeep Nandrajog, former Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, and sought his views on the subject. On January 27, former President Kovind held consultations with Justice U. U. Lalit, former Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjib Banerjee, former Chief Justice of Madras High Court, and Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of the Bar Council of India, who gave their considered opinion on the subject. Continuing his discussions with political parties, Ram Nath Kovind held interactions with Deepak 'Pandurang' Dhavalikar, President, of the Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party, Goa. The party has offered its strong support to the concept of One Nation, One Election, inter alia, because it will strengthen grass-roots democracy. Earlier, a presentation was made before the committee based on the research paper 'Macroeconomic Impact of Harmonizing Electoral Cycles, Evidences from India'. Co-authored by N.K. Singh and Prachi Mishra indicated that simultaneous elections would precipitate higher economic growth and result in more government investment in expenditure on capital and revenue, as there would be less expenditure on freebies. Recently, the Committee had also met a delegation of the Lok Jan Shakti Party, comprising members including Pashupati Kumar Paras, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, President Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), Prince Raj (Member of Parliament, Samastipur, Lok Sabha), Sanjay Sarraf, Spokesperson, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), and Ramji Singh, General Secretary, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP). The committee had also held consultations with eminent jurists Justice Dilip Bhosale, former Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, and Justice Rajendra Menon, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, who gave their considered opinions on the subject. Initiating discussions with financial and economic experts, Ram Nath Kovind also held interactions with Ajay Singh, President of ASSOCHAM, and Chairman and Managing Director of Spicejet Airlines, who was also accompanied by the Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General of ASSOCHAM. Ajay Singh put forth his views in detail on the economic advantages of holding simultaneous elections for the nation. The High-Level Committee relating to the holding of simultaneous elections in the country has initiated a consultation process under the chairmanship of Ram Nath Kovind. The High-Level Committee recently also sought public opinion regarding the one nation, one election issue. The public notice issued stated, "Notice for inviting suggestions from members of the general public for making appropriate changes in the existing legal administrative framework to enable simultaneous elections in the country." Earlier, the High-Level Committee was constituted and held its preliminary meeting under the chairmanship of the former President of India. Amit Shah, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation; Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Law and Justice; Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha; N. K. Singh, former Chairman, 15th Finance Commission; Subhash C. Kashyap, former Secretary General, Lok Sabha; and Sanjay Kothari, former Chief Vigilance Commissioner, attended the meeting. Harish Salve, Senior Advocate, joined the meeting virtually. One Nation, One Election was constituted through a notification dated September 20, 2023. (ANI)
The Uttar Pradesh Government headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, as part of its mission to eradicate filariasis from the state, is all set to launch the Annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign from February 5 to 15. The campaign will be conducted in 17 districts of Uttar Pradesh. "During this campaign, proficient health workers will conduct door-to-door visits, administering filariasis prevention medication to the entire population, with the exclusion of children under two years of age, pregnant women, and those facing serious illnesses," as per a press release from the Chief Minister's Office. It's noteworthy that the central government has set a targeted deadline of 2027 for the complete elimination of filariasis from the country. "The Chief Minister has appealed to all residents to actively partake in the consumption of filariasis prevention medicine during the MDA rounds. Symptoms of this grave disease, caused by Culex mosquito bites, typically manifest 5 to 15 years after infection, leading to conditions like hydrocele and swelling in the extremities and breasts," the release stated. The Chief Minister has also urged everyone to consider themselves susceptible to filariasis, advocating for preventive medicine intake and securing the upcoming generation from this ailment. Emphasising the safety of the medicine, he has encouraged its consumption even in the absence of visible symptoms, citing it as a societal imperative. Furthermore, he has underscored the irreversible nature of the disease once contracted, with management being the only recourse. The government is resolute in its commitment, providing training and kits for the Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP) of filariasis patients. Thus, preventive medicine intake becomes imperative in averting the onset of the disease. "The Yogi government remains steadfast in its commitment to the mission of rendering the state filariasis-free. A key facet of this initiative involves the rigorous training of Community Health Officers (CHO) stationed at Ayushman Bharat Arogya Mandir (Health and Wellness Centres) to adeptly identify filariasis patients," as per the release. The Ekikrit Niksha Diwas (END), observed on the 15th of every month in health units, serves as a crucial platform for the identification of patients with tuberculosis, kala-azar, and filariasis. "Meanwhile, as of June 2023, the state grapples with 51 filariasis endemic districts, identifying 90,768 lymphatic filariasis and 21,131 hydrocele patients," the release stated. The upcoming MDA rounds, scheduled from February 10 to 28, will target districts including Amethi, Azamgarh, Ballia, Banda, Barabanki, Bareilly, Hamirpur, Jaunpur, Jalaun, Lucknow, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Sonbhadra, Unnao, and Varanasi for filariasis elimination. Besides, in Amethi, Azamgarh, Ballia, Banda, Bareilly, Lucknow, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, Unnao, and Varanasi, a triple-drug combination (Ivermectin, DEC, and Albendazole) will be administered, while in Ballia, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jaunpur, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, and Sonbhadra, a double-drug combination (DEC and Albendazole) will be administered. Currently, 51 districts in the state are affected by filariasis, and MDA rounds will be conducted in other affected districts starting from August 10. (ANI)
The Supreme Court recently sought a response from the Centre on a plea of a woman, who is an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), seeking to allow her husband, who is from America, and her son to enter Indian territory. A bench of justices JK Maheshwari and Sanjay Karol issued notice on the wife's plea challenging the Delhi HC order. "Issue notice, returnable in three weeks," the court said in its order issued on January 20. The petitioner has sought to allow her husband and two children to enter the Indian Territory. The Delhi High Court order has directed the Centre to provide the order of blacklisting to the petitioners. The Central Government has maintained before the Delhi High Court that the husband of the petitioner has been blacklisted from entering the country by the Intelligence Bureau (HQs). Petitioner's counsel has said that the department does not have any power to pass any order relating to restraining his entry into the country, and therefore the action taken in pursuance of the said order is illegal. It is further pointed out that the husband of the woman is an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holder. The petitioner was represented by advocate Varun Thakur. According to the petitioner, the High Court failed to consider that IB is not an adjudicating authority to pass any order restraining or blacklisting the person except to provide the information. The petitioner said that the High Court is not appreciating the facts that the order passed by the authority did not obey the principle of natural justice, as admittedly, IB has not been given any opportunity for hearing or intimation before blacklisting. Consequently, a woman and her family were forced to reside outside of India and also could not join her family function in Delhi. The petitioner submitted that the High Court disposed of her petition by order dated January 11, without considering the facts that there is no order able to produce before the Court by the authority, even though the counsel of the respondent mentioned the one-year blacklisting of her husband by the Intelligence Bureau, but the High Court ignored these facts that the husband of the petitioner is an overseas card holder and there is no provision for blacklisting of the OCI card holder. (ANI)
The incident occurred in a village under the jurisdiction of Bhanwarpura police station in the district on Tuesday night. The accused also assaulted the parents of the minor girl, the police added.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Gajendra Vardhaman told ANI "An incident occurred with a minor girl and her family in a village under Bhanwarpura police station limits in the district on Tuesday night in which the minor was gang raped and her parents were assaulted. In this regard, the police registered a case against three unknown accused under IPC section 323, 376, 376d, 458, 506 and POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act and started investigation into the matter."

Currently, the police are continuously making efforts to nab unknown accused into the matter as soon as possible. Nonetheless, the police detained a suspect into the matter and is being interrogated, the officer said.

Further investigation into the matter is underway, he added. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party leader Priyanka Kakkar said on Wednesday that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann will take part in the party's protest at the BJP office in Delhi in connection to the high drama witnessed in the Chandigarh Mayoral poll results. The AAP leader termed the Chandigarh mayoral polls "unconstitutional, illegal, and immoral." She also accused the BJP of practising "electoral malpractices" to win the polls. "Yesterday, the BJP won the Chandigarh mayoral polls in an unconstitutional, illegal, and immoral manner. Everything was captured by the camera. If the BJP can do such things just to win the mayoral polls, think what kind of electoral malpractice it can do in the election in which 90 crore people cast their votes," Kakkar said. "Delhi CM Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann will take part in the party's protest at the BJP office in Delhi on February 2 against this," she added. Meanwhile, CM Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress will move to the Supreme Court regarding the Chandigarh Mayoral poll results. He also called the Chandigarh Mayoral poll "an example of murder of democracy." "Whatever happened yesterday is an example of the murder of democracy. The budget is coming tomorrow, let's see what Punjab gets. Aam Aadmi Party Punjab and Congress will move to the Supreme Court against the mayoral election", CM Mann said. The members of the Youth Congress also staged a protest outside the Mayor's office in Chandigarh on Wednesday. There was a rift between the protestors and the police at the spot. Youth Congress workers were heard chanting the slogan 'Bhrastachar band karo' (Stop the corruption). However, the police detained the protestors after a while. A hearing was also held today in the Punjab Haryana High Court regarding tampering with the results of the Chandigarh Mayor election. In the Punjab Haryana High Court, Kuldeep Kumar, who was the mayoral candidate from the AAP and Congress, was being represented by Advocate General of Punjab Gurminder Gary. Advocate Anil Mehta was representing Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. After hearing this entire matter, Punjab Haryana High Court gave three weeks' time to Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and Chandigarh Administration to file their reply in this matter. Now the next hearing of this matter will be on February 26. The BJP's Manoj Sonkar was declared the Mayor of Chandigarh on Tuesday after he won the mayoral polls with 16 votes against the 12 votes bagged by Congress-AAP candidate Kuldeep Tita. Eight votes were declared invalid. Eight votes, which were declared invalid in the Chandigarh Mayoral polls, have led opposition leaders to raise allegations of rigging with Congress and AAP, attacking the BJP-led central government over the issue. (ANI)
According to the police, based on information, a team of police intercepted a truck in the Churaibari area, and during the search, they recovered 45 packets of ganja weighing about 275 kg from the secret chamber of the truck.

Taking to X, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Acting on reliable inputs, Karimganj Police conducted a search operation and recovered 275 kg of Ganja from the secret chambers of a vehicle on the Assam-Tripura border. Two people have been apprehended in this connection."

On the other hand, a senior police official from Karimganj district said that the truck was coming from Tripura.

Earlier, three drug peddlers were arrested after police recovered a large quantity of contraband drugs worth Rs 8 crore in Assam's Cachar district.

"Based on credible intelligence input, Cachar district police conducted a special operation in the early hours of January 30 against the transportation of narcotic substances at Loknathpur, Bhaga, under the Dholai police station and apprehended two suspects," said Numal Mahatta, Superintendent of Police of Cachar district.

Police recovered 50 soap boxes of heroin weighing approximately 1.531 kg and 460 grams of methamphetamine from the accused's possession.

"After thorough interrogation, the prime accused and illegal inter-state drug dealer, namely Md Babul Uddin Laskar (32), has been arrested and is being taken to court," Numal Mahatta said.

According to the police, the consignment of the narcotic substance was illegally transported from the Aizawl district of Mizoram. (ANI)
Reacting sharply to the resignation of Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that forcing Hemant Soren to resign is a blow to Federalism. In a post on 'X', Mallikarjun Kharge said, "One who will not go with PM Modi will go to jail. Imposing ED against Jharkhand Chief Minister, Hemant Soren and forcing him to resign is a blow to Federalism. Intimidating opposition leaders by making the provisions of PMLA draconian is part of the BJP's tool kit." He further said that the BJP's work of destabilising the opposition governments one by one as part of a conspiracy was continuing. "Whoever went into the BJP's washing machine is clean as white; who didn't go was tainted. If democracy has to be saved from dictatorship, then the BJP will have to be defeated. We will not be afraid, Will continue to fight from Parliament to the streets," he added. Meanwhile, reacting to the same, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the aim of the BJP government was an opposition-free parliament, a democracy-free India, a question-free media, and a harmony-free public. "Opposition-free parliament, democracy-free India, question-free media and harmony-free public, this is the aim of the BJP government. Governments are being toppled one by one in all the states," she said in a post on X, adding, "Opposition leaders are being harassed. Whoever does not join BJP will go to jail. Harassing Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren ji by imposing ED and forcing him to resign is a part of this malicious campaign." She further said that the BJP has this illusion that it can crush the voice of 140 crore people. The public will answer for every atrocities, she added. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav also sharply reacted to the ED's move: "Bihar, Chandigarh and now Jharkhand! BJP has ruined democracy and federalism in a single week. It is not hidden from anyone what the central government is doing by destroying the impartiality of the investigating agencies due to the fear of electoral defeat and by making the agencies cells of the BJP," he said. He further went on to say that the public will break the arrogance of the BJP. RJD is standing with Hemant Soren, he asserted. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren resigned on Wednesday evening after over six hours of questioning by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the alleged land scam case. Champai Soren, the state transport minister and a loyalist of Hemant Soren, will step into his role as the Chief Minister. (ANI)
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, calls her "corrupt". "It is worrying that Mamata Banerjee, who talks about 'Maa-Mati-Manush', today the Mother of All Scams i.e. the biggest corruption is coming to light from her state." BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia pointed out that Mamata Banerjee had indulged in corruption bigger than the 2G scam done by the Congress party. "The 2021 CAG report has shed light on a massive financial misappropriation and potential scam of nearly Rs2 lakh crore carried out by Mamata Banerjee's government," he said. Gaurav Bhatia highlighted the scam in West Bengal, which he said could be termed the mother of all scams. "The CAG report in West Bengal reveals that 2.4 lakh utilisation certificates are pending, amounting to a total of Rs 1.95 lakh crore. This implies that Mamata Banerjee's government has not submitted utilisation certificates for such a significant amount," he added. Gaurav Bhatia pointed out the involvement of three departments in the scam. "2.4 lakh missing utilisation certificates, 1.6 lakh pertained to the period from 2018 to March 2021 in which majorly three departments of the West Bengal government are involved - rural development, urban development, and school education," he added further. Gaurav Bhatia lashed out at Mamata Banerjee for not submitting any DC bill since 2018. "According to the financial rules of West Bengal, if the state government uses money from the contingency fund, it is required to submit Detailed Contingent Bills (DC bills) within one month. However, Mamata Banerjee, who claims not to take any salary from government funds, has not submitted a single DC bill since 2018 for the emergency fund of approximately Rs3400 crore, which is the hard-earned money of the public," he said. He further slammed Mamata and stated that there is a unique kind of account being utilized in West Bengal that CAG observed, named 'personal ledgers and personal accounts'. "It has been observed that the money that has to be reimbursed to the consolidated account from the PD account has not been returned. Approx 160 such PD accounts are there in the state of West Bengal consisting of Rs3,465 crores, which is a total violation of finance rules," he added. Gaurav Bhatia called out Mamata Banerjee's government for "plundered public funds," adding that the absence of utilization certificates increased the weight of the allegations. (ANI)
Flutist Adam Sadberry, 27, never met his grandfather, the pioneering African American journalist L. Alex Wilson (1909-1960). Just about everything Sadberry knew about Wilson he learned secondhand: his mother was three when Wilson died, and he didnt hear much more from his grandmother before her death in 2019.

Flutist Adam Sadberry is bringing his touring concert Musical Journalism to the Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago.

That same year, Sadberry  originally from a suburb of Houston and now based in the Twin Cities  was invited to play principal flute in the Memphis Symphony. It was a serendipitous invitation to reconnect with his grandfathers legacy: Wilson spent most of his career in Memphis as a journalist at the Tri-State Defender, part of the Chicago Defenders media group.

Now, that legacy is the driving force behind Musical Journalism, a recital program Sadberry has toured nationwide for the better part of a year and coming to the University of Chicago. Flanked by pieces for flute and piano by Allison Loggins-Hull, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson and others, __not running, a 25-minute commission for flute and electronics by Minnesota-based composer Dameun Strange, pays direct tribute to Wilson.

The second to last movement ends with a quote by my grandfather: Any newsman worth his salt is dedicated to the proposition that it is his responsibility to report the news factually under favorable and unfavorable conditions,' Sadberry says. Those words have stuck with me.

Born in Orlando, Florida, Wilson covered major touchstones of the burgeoning civil rights movement for the Tri-State Defender: the Montgomery bus boycotts, the integration of Little Rock Central High School and the lynching of Emmett Till. With the assistance of an effective Negro underground system in Mississippi, Wilson not only sought out eyewitnesses of Tills murder but whisked them north to Chicago, where they could safely provide testimony. As safe harbor, Wilson himself often slept overnight in Black funeral homes while covering the trial.

The Chicago Tribune wrote about the death of L. Alex Wilson, the editor-in-chief at the Chicago Daily Defender, on Oct. 12, 1960.

I had decided before leaving home, and after communing with God, that if I could in any way help contribute anything to justice in the shameful case by my effort, whatever the price, so be it, Wilson wrote in a 1955 Defender article.

He soon learned just how steep that price could be. On Sept. 23, 1957, Wilson was beaten by a white mob while on assignment in Little Rock. The harrowing moment was captured by photojournalists and news cameras. One man leapt on Wilsons back, strangling him from behind; another bashed his head with a brick.

Wilson was there to cover the news. But overnight, he became the news, his image and name splashed all over newspapers across the country, white and black. Up until the moments of his beating, Wilson calmly walked away from the mob, bending to pick up and re-don his hat every time he was shoved. Wilsons superhuman bravery was noted by civil rights activists, colleagues and, eventually, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who is believed to have dispatched the National Guard to Little Rock after the coverage of his beating.

Sadberry says his grandfather refused to run because he was honoring a promise he made to himself years before, as a schoolteacher in Florida. There, one day, he encountered a group of Klansmen while out alone. Wilson ran and lived to tell the tale, but he vowed to never run away from racism again.

He never wanted to let any sense of fear control him. That is white supremacy does, in a nutshell, Sadberry says.

Sadberrys family believes the injuries sustained during his beating led to Wilsons rapid neurological decline. Just 51, he died in Chicago on Oct. 11, 1960, three years after being beaten in Little Rock.

The following conversation with Sadberry has been edited and condensed.

Q: How did this musical dive into your grandfathers life begin?

A: This journey started when I was in Memphis. Somehow, I was appointed principal flute of the Memphis Symphony kind of out of nowhere: I got a Facebook message inviting me to play guest principal in 2019. Halfway through the first season, the world began shutting down; everyone was looking at George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. I realized I ended up in Memphis during the modern civil rights movement, just like my grandfather did during the original one.

I started researching him at the local library in Memphis, where his newspaper was archived. I began to really understand what it means to be courageous and to be unwavering in your sense of determination  to cultivate love for your people, and to ensure the rest of the world reckons with what that looks like.

Q: What does your mother remember about your grandfather?

A: Not too much. The one memory she told me of him was her touching a stove that was way too hot, as a toddler. He told her, Thats not a good idea, Karen. (Laughs) She internalized that. Like him, shes a very coolheaded person.

Q: Tell us about __not running, Dameun Stranges new work honoring your grandfather.

A: My management, Concert Artists Guild, and the BMI Foundation basically said, Hey, we love your projects; we love what youre doing with your grandfather. We would love to sponsor a commission. I was through the roof, and I looked through a list of Black composers to see if thered be a good match.

Dameun was already investing in powerful Black historical figures, and his music seemed to go right to the heart of the matter. He writes with a lot of electronics; hes not afraid to genre-bend. We collaborated on the basic premise. It became this five-movement work, with the first four movements representing standard elements of nature.

The water movement is supposed to conjure my grandfathers spirit. It reminds everyone that his presence is still felt. The second movement is Earth, where the seed for his activism was planted. You can feel this surging energy, like this oak tree of a man is beginning to blossom and make his convictions clear to the world. The third movement, air, is about my grandfather receiving the message to carry on his journey. You can hear bells playing in the background, alluding to the Birmingham church bombing (of 1963).

After that is the fire movement, which is my personal favorite to play. It is entirely improvised over a trap beat. Its supposed to tap into the rage inside my grandfathers compassion. Learning that movement was difficult for me; anger is something I repressed a lot in my childhood. Its cathartic to just let it bubble.

The very last movement is the nonstandard element representing prayer. Thats also fully improvised, and its my chance to honor him directly. Im here to be a conduit for what he has done and to continue it in the best way that I can. This piece is the best gift Ive ever gotten.

Q: If you could speak to your grandfather today, where would you start?

A: Id start with when he made the transition from being a school principal in Florida, where he encountered the KKK, to being a journalist. I would love to hear how he was able to fully believe in his ability to be a part of change. He didnt run from being hit with bricks in Little Rock, you know  he had an unshakable sense of determination.

If I can learn that skill, I think Ill be able to continue his legacy. My grandfather had his pen. I have my flute.

7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago, 915 E. 60th St.; free, more information at music.uchicago.edu

Hannah Edgar is a freelance critic.

The Rubin Institute for Music Criticism helps fund our classical music coverage. The Chicago Tribune maintains editorial control over assignments and content.
After a prolonged moment of speculation in the media and a hide-and-seek drama, Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Chief Hemant Soren got arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in the land scam case on Wednesday night, sources confirmed. Earlier on Wednesday evening, JMM Chief Hemant Soren met Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhawan and handed over his resignation after over six hours of questioning by the ED in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the alleged land scam case. Notably, Hemant Soren's loyalist Champai Soren, who is the state transport minister will step into his role as the Chief Minister. Champai Soren, the state transport minister, is a seven-time MLA and he represents the Seraikella constituency in Jharkhand. Before joining the JMM, he was an independent MLA. He actively participated in the movement for the separate statehood of Jharkhand and rose to prominence during that movement. Later, Champai came to be known as the 'Tiger of Jharkhand.' "We have chosen Champai Soren as the leader of the Legislative Party. We came to the Raj Bhawan to request the governor for the oath ceremony," JMM leader and state minister Banna Gupta told reporters. Earlier in the day, a team of ED officials arrived at the residence of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren for questioning in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. As per sources, the ED had issued a fresh summons to Soren, asking him to be available for questioning on January 29 or 31, or else the agency itself would go to him for questioning. This is the tenth summons issued to the Jharkhand Chief Minister by the ED. There was heavy police deployment around the Chief Minister's residence in Ranchi. Meanwhile, section 144 was imposed within a radius of 100 metres outside the CM's residence, Raj Bhavan, and the ED office, amid the anticipation of protests, rallies, and processions by the workers of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) against the action of the central agency on Chief Minister Soren. Earlier in the day, the JMM workers gathered at Morabadi grounds against the ED's action. The workers were gathered in large numbers and were continuously chanting "Hemant Soren Zindabad.". On Monday, officials from the ED visited Soren's residence in Delhi to question him. The central agency seized two cars and Rs 36 lakh but did not find the JMM leader. Later, Soren, in a letter to the Enforcement Directorate, said he would record his statement before the agency officials at 1 pm on Wednesday, January 31, at his residence in Ranchi. The Jharkhand chief minister alleged that questioning him at this time was more political and was meant to disrupt the functioning of his government. According to the ED, CM Soren was questioned as a part of the probe into the 'huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia'. The probe pertains to huge amounts of proceeds of crime generated by forging official records by showing 'fake sellers' and purchasers in the guise of forged or bogus documents to acquire huge parcels of land having value in crores. (ANI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Central government, saying that the Agneepath scheme was a betrayal not only to the youth but also to the sacred sentiments of the country attached to the Indian Army. In a post shared on X Rahul Gandhi said, "Leaving 1.5 lakh youth already selected in the armed forces helpless in the name of a temporary recruitment Agneepath scheme is a grave injustice to them. The Agneepath scheme is a betrayal not only of the patriotic youth but also of the sacred sentiments of the country attached to the Indian Army." The remark by the Congress leader came amid his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Bihar's Katihar on Wednesday during a discussion with some enthusiastic youths who had worked hard for years to join the army. "We have started the Voice of Justice--JAY JAWAN campaign against the injustice being done to these youth. You too can be a part of this ongoing campaign for justice for these patriotic youth by visiting http://jayjawan.in or giving a missed call on 9999812024," he added. The Agniveer Scheme was announced in June 2022 for recruitment in the armed forces. The scheme is meant only for recruiting soldiers and not officers in the forces. The soldiers recruited under this Agneepath scheme are known as Agniveers. Under the scheme, the three services are recruiting youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years and 21 years for four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. For 2022, the upper age limit was extended to 23 years. Rahul Gandhi was accorded a rousing reception by tens of thousands of people as the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra returned to West Bengal from Bihar. He pointed out, "There was widespread unemployment prevailing in the country as the rate of unemployment was highest in the last 40-50 years." Gandhi said that the Nyay Yatra was for social and economic justice and for providing justice to youth, women, farmers, and labourers. (ANI)
The Indian representative engaged in a meeting with Afghanistan's Taliban-appointed Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, and expressed India's active participation in both international and regional initiatives concerning Afghanistan. The representative also emphasised India's unwavering support for all efforts aimed at fostering stability and development in the war-torn nation. "India actively takes part in international and regional initiatives regarding Afghanistan and supports every effort leading to the stability and the development of Afghanistan," posted Hafiz Zia Ahmed, Deputy Spokesman and Assistant Director of Public Relations, Taliban-controlled Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Notably, Muttaqi met with the ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions of the regional countries in the region, including India. Other diplomats and ambassadors were from Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Indonesia, the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release. "Calling the current diplomatic relations of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with the countries of the region remarkable, FM Muttaqi stressed that regional countries should hold regional peace talks to increase and continue positive interaction with Afghanistan, adding that Muttaqi asked the participants to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in Afghanistan based on a region-oriented tradition so as to coordinate in managing the potential threats," the release added. "Underlying on positive engagement with the countries of the region and the world, FM Muttaqi once again reiterated that there remains no need to appoint a new special representatives in the presence of UNAMA and the existence of an independent central government in Afghanistan, urging the participants to convey the message of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's region-oriented initiative to their countries so that Afghanistan and the region can jointly utilise the new opportunities in the region for the benefit of their governments and nations," it also said. Earlier in its continued efforts to help Afghanistan, India, on January 23, supplied 40,000 litres of Malathion, a pesticide used to fight locust menaces, through the Chabahar port. The Taliban-controlled Ministry of Agriculture expressed gratitude for this assistance, highlighting its significance in protecting crops and ensuring food security in Afghanistan.The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in Afghanistan also thanked India for supplying 40,000 litres of Malathion, a pesticide used to fight locust menaces. Already grappling with poverty, Afghanistan found itself sinking further into destitution due to international isolation and the economic turmoil triggered by the Taliban's takeover in 2021 (ANI)
The predominant Iran-backed militia in Iraq, Kataib Hezbollah, declared on Tuesday the temporary suspension of its military operations against US forces, CNN reported. This announcement comes just two days after a drone attack resulted in the deaths of three US service members and left 40 wounded in Jordan. In an official statement, Kataib Hezbollah stated, "We are announcing the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces (US troops) in order to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government." "We will continue to defend our people in Gaza in other ways, and we recommend to the brave Mujahideen of the Free Hezbollah Brigades to (carry out) passive defence (temporarily) if any hostile American action occurs towards them," the statement added. Kataib Hezbollah is recognised as the most powerful armed faction within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which encompasses various Iran-backed militias in the country. The United States holds Iran responsible for supporting and arming these groups and has specifically implicated Kataib Hezbollah in the recent drone attack that claimed American lives. When questioned about the militia's statement, Pentagon press secretary Maj Gen Pat Ryder responded during a briefing, saying, "We've seen those reports. I don't have a specific comment to provide other than that actions speak louder than words." This, however, isn't the first time, as the US has previously launched airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, targeting Kataib Hezbollah and other groups linked to Iran, in response to attacks on American interests in the region. Despite these efforts, attacks have persisted, with US officials reporting approximately 166 instances of US troops in the Middle East being targeted since October. In response to a drone attack in Jordan that claimed the lives of three US Army soldiers and left 40 injured, the White House emphasised a day ago that it was not actively seeking war with Iran but did not rule out the possibility of strikes within Iran. In a White House press briefing on Tuesday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said, "We are not looking for war with Iran; we are not seeking a conflict with the regime in a military way. We're not looking to escalate here. This attack over the weekend was escalatory; make no mistake about it -- and it requires a response. Make no mistake about that. I will not get ahead of the president's decision-making." On Monday, Iran's Foreign Ministry refuted the claims of Tehran's involvement in the attack on a US base in Jordan and said resistance groups decide and work on their own principles and priorities as well as the interests of their country and people, Iran's state news agency, IRNA reported. The drone attack on US outpost in Jordan marks the first instance of US troops being killed by enemy fire in the Middle East since the commencement of the Gaza war, CNN reported. (ANI)
German State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to India, Leonie Gebers, extended an invitation to Indian professionals to Germany's labour market during her visit to Delhi's Don Bosco Technical Institute. Leonie Gebers emphasised the great potential of India and expressed Germany's interest in collaborating across different sectors. "So I would like to welcome Indian professionals to our country and to our labour market," she said in an interaction with ANI. The German delegation, led by German Secretary of State at the Federal Foreign Office Susanne Baumann and Leonie Gebers, engaged in discussions to explore avenues for cooperation. "India is a really great country and has a lot of potential...We look at India for different sectors and to find a way to cooperate because, in the end, both sides can profit from cooperation. We had a lot of interesting meetings, and I would like to say that we welcome Indian professionals in our country," she said. Gebers also highlighted the benefits of collaboration, emphasising mutual profitability for both nations, outlining Germany's strengths, including a robust industry, excellent infrastructure, and a rich cultural and natural heritage. The diverse and welcoming population of Germany was presented as an inviting environment for Indian professionals. "I would like to tell you what we can offer in Germany. We have a strong industry. We have excellent infrastructure. Last but not least, we have a wonderful cultural and natural heritage and a diverse and welcoming population," she added. Germany is India's biggest trading partner in Europe, its 5th biggest trading partner in the world, 8th largest source of FDI, and the 2nd most important partner in terms of technological collaborations, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Indo-German cooperation in trade and technology is one of the most dynamic facets of the bilateral partnership. The Joint Commission on Industrial and Economic Cooperation, led by the Finance Minister from the Indian side and the Economics Minister from the German side, meets regularly, the MEA said in a release. A highly skilled labour force is a fundamental strength of German industry. Special importance is thus given to Indo-German cooperation in the field of vocational education and training to create industry-institute linkages and provide skilled manpower for various sectors in the Indian economy, it added. (ANI)
Indian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sunjay Sudhir on Tuesday hosted diplomats from across the globe for a special tour of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. The envoys were impressed by the temple's unique architecture, intricate motifs and its message of unity, peace and harmony. "Less than a month to go for the inauguration of the @AbuDhabiMandir @BAPS, Amb @sunjaysudhir hosted diplomatic corps from across the globe for a special tour of the temple. Envoys were awed by its unique architecture, intricate motifs and its message of unity, peace & harmony," as per the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi's official handle on 'X'. At the invitation of the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, representatives from 42 nations on Tuesday convened at the 27-acre construction site of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, as per a release issued by the BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi. The temple visit served to foster intercultural understanding, goodwill and respect while providing the guests an opportunity to witness the ongoing progress of the Middle East's inaugural traditional Hindu temple, symbolising the universal principles of tolerance and harmony. Among those who visited the site were ambassadors and senior diplomats from Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chad, Chile, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, the European Union, Fiji, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Moldova, Montenegro, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, the UAE, the UK, the US, Zimbabwe and Zambia, as per the official release. Over 60 dignitaries were welcomed with garlands and greeted with the traditional tying of a sacred thread, marking the significance of their presence. Ambassador Sudhir in a brief welcome address, thanked the distinguished guests for attending and shared his excitement at the Mandir nearing completion. "It seemed impossible, but the dream has truly become a reality." Head of the BAPS Hindu Mandir project Swami Brahmaviharidas, in his keynote address, provided a succinct overview of the Mandir's historical significance, construction process, and global impact. He also expressed gratitude to both the UAE and Indian leadership, emphasising the Mandir's role as a powerful agent of interfaith and intercultural harmony. Nepal's Ambassador to the UAE, Tej Bahadur Chhetri, called the Mandir a "tirthbhumi (place of pilgrimage)", adding: "It is an inspiring building that teaches us about love, harmony and tolerance. It is something that we will gift to our future generations. Mahant Swami Maharaj is a great sadhu. Because of him, people were inspired to build this mandir, and it is a huge success", as per the release. Canadian Ambassador to UAE Radha Krishna Panday, shared, "Dedication to quality, the artistry, the thought that went into the choice of images to celebrate the diversity and harmony of human nature is all very striking and most appealing." Thailand Ambassador Sorayut Chasombat stated, "This is one of the best experiences I have had in the UAE. I have seen [the Mandir] from the start to now near the finish, and I have to say it is the symbol of harmony that will stand the test of time for thousands of years into the future. I wish to express my gratitude to the leadership of the UAE, the leadership of India, and [Mahant] Swamiji for bringing forward this big project for humanity." To commemorate their visit, each guest was presented with a beautiful stone hand-painted by children featuring an image of the Mandir. The ambassadors' visit was a significant step in promoting peace, fostering cultural interaction, and strengthening diplomatic ties between the participating countries and the UAE, as per the release. As construction of the religious campus nears completion, Mahant Swami Maharaj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to inaugurate the temple on February 14, 2024. PM Modi recently accepted the invitation extended by Swami Ishwarcharandas and Swami Brahmaviharidas, along with the board of directors for the inauguration of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on February 14, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha said in a press statement. In December, PM Modi and the BAPS Swami Ishwarcharandas met at the Prime Minister's residential office and PM Modi graciously accepted the invitation, expressing his enthusiastic support for the historic and iconic temple. Swami Ishwarcharandas honoured the Prime Minister by adorning him with a garland and draping a saffron shawl over his shoulders, acknowledging his significant contributions to our nation and the world. PM Modi was specially commended for the remarkable renovation and development of pilgrimage sites across India, a feat unparalleled in recent centuries, said the press statement. During the meeting, the discussions revolved around the Abu Dhabi temple's significance for global harmony and Modi's vision for India's spiritual leadership on the global stage. The release read, "The BAPS delegation prayed for the Prime Minister's health and acknowledged his exceptional global achievements, notably strengthening relationships with the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries. They also discussed the pride and inspiration Modi's leadership has instilled in Indians worldwide." (ANI)
India on Wednesday expressed its gratitude to the Washington State Senate and all senators who supported a resolution welcoming India's 75th Republic Day. The Washington State Senate on January 26, passed a resolution welcoming India's 75th Republic Day. The resolution acknowledges India's strong tradition of maintaining democratic ideals and recognises the Republic Day as a symbol of shared values of democracy, diversity and inclusion between India and the USA. "On 26 January, 2024, Washington State Senate passed a Resolution welcoming India's 75th Republic Day! Acknowledges India's strong tradition of maintaining democratic ideals and recognizes our Republic Day as a symbol of shared values of democracy, diversity and inclusion between India and USA," as per the Indian Consulate General in Seattle's official handle on 'X'. "Thank you Washington State Senate and all Senators who supported this Resolution!" the Indian Consul General said. On the occassion of India's 75th Republic Day, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken extended his wishes to India and said that the Constitution of India continues to provide an enduring framework for the world's largest democracy and a foundation of its global leadership. "On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of India on India's Republic Day. The Constitution of India continues to provide an enduring framework for the world's largest democracy and a foundation for its global leadership," he said in an official statement. The statement read, "As President Biden has said, our relationship with India is one of the most consequential in the world. " Blinken also highlighted India's successful G20 presidency and hoped for deepening ties with India. He said, "The past year has been marked by important milestones in our Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership, including our cooperation throughout India's successful G20 Presidency and at the G20 Leaders' Summit. In the year ahead, we look forward to further deepening the vibrant people-to-people ties between our countries and advancing our ambitious agenda for cooperation on our most vital priorities. I warmly extend my best wishes to the Indian people as they celebrate this special occasion." (ANI)
A political activist from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), who is currently based in Scotland, has claimed that his invocation of forming a government-in-exile is gaining traction and support. In an interview, Amjad Ayub Mirza, said: "As February 5 approaches fast, the support for the government in exile of POK and Gilgit Baltistan is increasing by leaps and bounds." He added: "Hundreds of women have announced that they will support this government. Several youths working in the Middle East, Europe along with several political parties of the diaspora have gotten in touch with us, as they want to participate in this historic event." Further, Mirza also mentioned that "we are moving towards a historic movement on February 5. Then, in POK, there will be a general strike called People's Rights Day. The people who need solidarity today is us, the people of POK and GB. Therefore, the formation of a government in exile is going to be a ground-breaking event, and we look forward to that". Previously, Mirza had said that "it is not enough to reduce the taxes on electricity bills in POK or reduce the prices of wheat in Gilgit-Baltistan". He demanded that Pakistan withdraw its troops from PoK and GB and allow legislative assemblies of occupied territories to become fully sovereign". He also mentioned that "for eight months, the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan have been protesting, taking out protest rallies, and observing protest sit-ins against the increase in the tariff of electricity in POK and against the cuts and increase in the prices of wheat." "However, up till now, several sets of negotiations have taken place, but to no avail. The government of Pakistan and the puppet governments in Gilgit Baltistan and POK are not confirming that they are going to reverse the electricity tariff or the increase in the prices of wheat," he said. "And now for the first time in the history of POK, the Joint Awami Action Committee has announced that on February 5, they will observe a people's rights day. Till now, every year for the past 33 years, Pakistan has been observing Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 which in actuality has been used to muster and gear up hatred towards India." "So, Pakistan is very upset with this new development because this time, after 33 years, people of POK are going to observe a protest day with a strike across this occupied state against Pakistan. And all the puppets of Pakistan in POK, including all the former prime ministers, have come out in against this strike and they are asking to postpone this strike so that February 5 can be observed as Kashmir Solidarity Day," the political activist added. (ANI)
Lauding the 'Pran Pratishtha' Ceremony of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, India-origin Canadian member of Parliament Chandra Arya has said that it marked the beginning of a new era for 1.2 billion Hindus across the world including one million Hindus in Canada. In his statement in the Canadian Parliament on Ram Mandir on Wednesday, Arya said that he also witnessed the live coverage of the auspicious ceremony of this "emotional moment" at the Ottawa Hindu Temple. "In the history of the oldest religion in the world, January 22, 2024 marked the beginning of a new era for 1.2 billion Hindus across the world including one million Hindus in Canada," Arya said. "After centuries of anticipation and immense sacrifices, the divine temple at Ayodhya was inaugurated with Bhagwan Shri Ram's Pran Pratishtha, an act which transforms an idol into a deity. Like Hindus across Canada in about 115 temples and events, I witnessed the live coverage of this emotional moment at the Ottawa Hindu Temple," he said. https://x.com/AryaCanada/status/1752414968991953081?s=20 Describing India and Canada as each other's natural partners, the Canadian MP said that India is rebuilding its civilization to turn up as a major global economic power. "The birthplace of Hindu Dharma, India, that is Bharat, is rebuilding its civilization to emerge as a major global economic and geopolitical power. Canada and India are natural partners for sharing economic opportunities and addressing global challenges," he noted. The Ram Lalla idol was unveiled at the Pran Pratishtha ceremony after the hour-long rituals in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who led the ceremony on January 22 in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The event saw the participation of about 8,000 invitees, including 1,500-1,600 eminent guests. The 'Ram Nagri' Ayodhya also grabbed global eyeballs, with earthen lamps or diyas lit up on a massive scale and crackers going up and dazzling the night sky in different parts of the city. Earlier on January 25, the frenzy and fervour among the visiting devotees and locals were as noticeable as it was on January 23 when the temple was opened for darshan. The temple witnessed surging footfalls following the 'Pran Pratishtha' of Shri Ram Lalla and the grand opening on January 22. (ANI)
Tel Aviv [Israel], January 31 (ANI/TPS): The Reading power plant in Tel Aviv will no longer use natural gas to produce electricity. Israel's Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure said the plant will now be used by the energy sector for green and innovative needs: among other things, storage and connection of a marine power transmission cable. The ministry said that this decision is expected to bring many benefits to the electricity sector, the general public and the quality of the environment. The decision will save electricity consumers hundreds of millions of shekels following the cancellation of the establishment of temporary production units at the reading site, which were planned and are no longer needed. The investment savings, said the ministry, will translate into savings in the electricity tariff for all electricity consumers in Israel. Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen: "This is important news for the residents of Gush Dan (the Tel Aviv area), the citizens of Israel and the environment. We are making electricity production in Israel more efficient and cleaner and returning the coast to the residents." (ANI/TPS)
Tony Award nominee. Paralympic runner. As if Katy Sullivans bio werent impressive enough, shes about to add another accomplishment when she becomes the first woman with a disability to play the title role in a major U.S. production of Shakespeares Richard III. Sullivan, who is a bilateral above-knee amputee, leads the cast of Chicago Shakespeare Theaters upcoming production, which is the first directed by Edward Hall since he became the companys artistic director in October 2023.

An actress who has worked in theater, television and film, Sullivan originated the role of Ani in Martyna Majoks Pulitzer Prize-winning play Cost of Living, starring in productions off-Broadway and in Los Angeles and London, the latter directed by Hall. When she reprised the role on Broadway in 2022, she received a Tony nomination for best featured actress in a play.

Although Richard III marks her Chicago Shakespeare debut, Sullivan is no stranger to the city. After graduating from Webster University, she followed a mentors advice to start her professional career in Chicagos strong theater community. She worked as an assistant director and casting intern at the Goodman Theatre in 2003 and performed in its 2010 world premiere of The Long Red Road, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, and appeared in Northlight Theatres 2004 production of Lady Windermeres Fan.

Being back in Chicago now feels like coming home in a lot of ways, Sullivan told the Tribune in a recent interview. Although she often travels for work, she recently bought a house here with her husband, Scott Aiello, who is also in the cast of Richard III. I made friends that are still here that Ive reconnected with, Sullivan said. It is a community of people that stick around because the work here is so great.

The opportunity to play Richard III came about after Sullivan and Hall worked together on the 2019 production of Cost of Living at Londons Hampstead Theatre, where Hall was then artistic director and joint chief executive. Within the first week of rehearsals, Hall was set on the idea that Sullivan would make a wonderful Richard, and Chicago Shakespeare proved to be the right place and time some five years later. For me, its just wonderful because that doesnt often happen when you think of somebody and you go, Ive got to do this play with that person, and it actually comes to pass, Hall said.

Believed to have been written in the early 1590s, Richard III is like a cross between Game of Thrones and Succession, according to Hall. The play, at its center, is a family drama; thats what has kept it alive through the centuries, he said. And the people in the family are very powerful people; they control the whole country. When you combine a raging fighting family and you give them the power to fight on a scale that goes well beyond any domestic squabbles were used to, you get the epic and the domestic all in one heartbeat.

Shakespeare famously portrays Richard III, who was the last English king to die in battle, as a hunchback. A 2012 archaeological excavation of a parking lot in Leicester, England, revealed the 15th century monarchs skeleton, which does indeed have a spinal curvature. Shakespeares association of physical deformity with villainy was a common device of Elizabethan playwrights, and political bias was also a factor since he was writing during the reign of the Tudor dynasty, which had supplanted Richards Plantagenet line.

Sullivans experience of living with a disability has helped her relate to Richard, she said. I walk into a room, and people shift and look and notice, so I understand all of that. I understand what it means to live your life from this place.

However, while many able-bodied actors have focused on their portrayal of Richards disability, Sullivan approaches the role from a position of strength. A four-time 100-meter U.S. champion who finished sixth in the 2012 London Paralympic Games, she spent a lot of time in the gym before rehearsals began to ensure that she was ready for the physicality that she and Hall envisioned for Richard.

People tend to focus so much on what Richard cant do instead of what Richard can do, Sullivan said. Weve taken the approach of what Richard can do, and I think that its the fact that so many people underestimate what hes capable of, that he ends up getting where he ultimately gets.

It feels like Im directing a new play, working with (Sullivan) on it, Hall said. She keys into so many psychological moments with Richard that are to do with the way the world has treated him, the way the world has related to him  from his mother, right through to people in the street  and how that has brutalized him and changed him as a human being and how honest and open he is with the audience about that. It is a wonderfully complex study of how somebody becomes a villainous murderer  not necessarily a portrait of evil.

Katy Sullivan and company in a rehearsal for Richard III at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. From left, Sean Fortunato, Libya V. Pugh, Mark Bedard, Erik Hellman, Scott Aiello, Jessica Dean Turner, Demetrios Troy, Mo Shipley, Debo Balogun, Sullivan and Anatasha Blakeley.

Halls production is set in a Victorian sanitarium, where Richard is the principal inmate and surrounded by a chorus of orderlies who play the other roles in his story. Its a psychological space or dream world that lends itself to various interpretations; perhaps its all happening in Richards head, or perhaps this is his own version of hell. Its a sort of Faustian journey at the beginning, Hall said, and you watch his slow descent to hell. And then the next night, he wakes up again and hes back at the beginning, like Groundhog Day.'

In his first production as artistic director, Hall hopes that audiences not only have a thrilling, unforgettable time in the theater, but also come away with a more empathetic perspective. When you walk down the street and you look at people who appear differently to you, (I hope) it just makes you think a little bit more deeply about who they might be and what their experience might be, he said.

More than anything, Im excited to approach this role from a perspective of strength and power, Sullivan said. I think the thing that people dont necessarily realize (because) they focus so much on the fact that he had a disability in his life  (Richard) was a warrior. This man killed a king; thats how his brother got on the throne. So, the focus on lack, I feel, does this character such a disservice.

I want him to feel dangerous, she concluded. Not just psychologically dangerous  I want him to feel dangerous in that, at any second, he could snap your neck. And he does.

Richard III plays Feb. 2 to March 3 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave.; tickets $38-$92 at chicagoshakes.com or 312-595-5600.

Emily McClanathan is a freelance writer.
India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the construction of the King Ashoka's Pillar of Dharma at the Rajaguru Sri Subuthi Temple in Sri Lanka's Wadduwa. "Reinforcement of the deep cultural connect! HC @santjha laid the Foundation Stone for the construction of King Ashoka's Pillar of Dharma at the sacred RajaGuru Sri Subuthi Waskaduwa Maha Viharaya. He also paid his respects at the sacred Kapilavastu Relics in the Temple," as per the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka's official handle on 'X'. A spiritually elevated ceremony took place at the temple on Sunday, where the country's inaugural Ashoka Pillar was laid, according to an official release. The event marked a momentous occasion in the cultural and spiritual ties between India and Sri Lanka. Distinguished dignitaries graced the occasion. Apart from Jha, the Secretary General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche was also present at the ceremony. The Chief Incumbent of the temple, Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Maha Nayaka Thero, delivered a speech at the event, setting the tone for the sacred event. Following the stone-laying ceremony, the guests visited the shrine that houses the sacred Kapilavasthu relics and received blessings through traditional rituals, as per the release. During the Anushasana, Waskaduwe Thero narrated the historical journey of the authentic relics, emphasising King Asoka's pivotal role in preserving Buddhist teachings. In his address, High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha expressed sentiments about deep-rooted ties between India and Sri Lanka, commending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to strengthen bilateral relations. He highlighted a generous USD 15 million grant dedicated to promoting Buddhist ties. Secretary General, IBC, Jungchup Choeden, blessed the occasion in the Tibetan language, while Dr. Damenda Porage expressed gratitude to King Asoka, pledging to establish nine pillars in each province as a tribute to his contributions to Buddhism, as per the release. This ceremony symbolises a commitment to preserving and promoting Buddhism, with the rising pillars serving as bridges that connect the two nations in shared heritage and spiritual devotion. The event not only strengthens historical ties but also marks the first official ceremony attended by the newly appointed Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka. (ANI)
In addition, soldiers also found five rockets ready to launch in the area. The rockets and their launchers were destroyed.

In central Gaza, soldiers eliminated ten Palestinian terrorists, then eliminated several others spotted in the area.

In the Fati Shati area of northern Gaza and also in Khan Yunis, Israeli aircraft struck terror squads seen operating close to Israeli ground forces. Afterwards, in Fati Shati, soldiers who searched nearby buildings found many weapons, military equipment and documents belonging to Hamas.

Also in Khan Yunis, soldiers attacked a military structure Hamas used to ambush Israeli forces.

At least 1,200 people were killed in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. The number of men, women, children and soldiers held captive in Gaza by Hamas is now believed to be 136. (ANI/TPS)
Taiwan's Transportation Minister Wang Kwo-tsai on Wednesday said that China's recent adjustments to its flight paths in the Taiwan Strait could potentially impact the aviation safety around the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen and Matsu islands, Focus Taiwan reported citing Central News Agency (CNA). Wang Kwo-tsai, who heads the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, made the statement after China's Civil Aviation Administration announced flight path adjustments on Tuesday. China said the north-south M503 flight path will be moved back to its original path coming as close as 4.2 nautical miles of the median line of the Taiwan Strait after having "offset" it an additional 6 nautical miles to the west after negotiations with Taiwan in 2015. China also announced that it will start permitting eastbound flights on flight path W122 between Fuzhou and M503 and W123 between Xiamen and M503 starting on February 1. Westbound traffic on those flight paths had been permitted since 2018, according to Central News Agency report. Wang Kwo-tsai stressed that the W122 flight path was near two airports in the Matsu islands, and the W123 path was close to the airport in Kinmen, sparking aviation security concerns if cross-strait communications were not conducted properly. Taiwan's Premier Chen Chien-jen also condemned China's decision. Chen said he has directed the concerned government agencies to assess possible outcomes and take appropriate measures to safeguard aviation safety and national security. Earlier on Tuesday, Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) protested China's unilateral adjustment of flight routes near the median line of the Taiwan Strait, Focus Taiwan reported. In a statement, the CAA said it "deeply regretted and strongly protested" China's decision when the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced it was cancelling what it termed an "offset measure" for the southbound operation of the M503 flight route, which is west of the median line of the Taiwan Strait, CNA reported. The CAA stressed China's decision "blatantly contradicts a consensus reached between both sides of the Taiwan Strait in 2015." In 2015, China unilaterally established the M503 flight path and its proximity to the median line in the Taiwan Strait. After China's decision, the Taipei Flight Information Region had voiced safety concerns. Following negotiations, China agreed to move the route westward. However, China has now decided to move the flight path back, which Taiwan's Transportation Minister Wang Kwo-tsai termed "regrettable," Focus Taiwan reported citing CNA. After negotiations, China agreed to move the route westward, but it has now decided to move the flight path back, which Taiwan's Transportation Minister Wang Kwo-tsai termed "regrettable." Wang added that Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration and Ministry of Defense were currently planning responses. (ANI)
TikTok CEO Shou Chew found himself under scrutiny as lawmakers probed into the platform's ties with China, particularly its parent company ByteDance, and the extent of access granted to the Chinese government, CNN reported. During the hearing, Arkansas Republican Sen Tom Cotton questioned Chew about his appointment as CEO coinciding with the Chinese Communist Party's acquisition of a 1 per cent stake in ByteDance's main Chinese subsidiary. Chew dismissed any connection, stating, "It's a coincidence." Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley also pressed Chew on TikTok's links to China and its communist party. In response to Texas Republican Sen Ted Cruz's inquiry, Chew characterised the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident in Beijing as a "massive protest." While accurate, Chew's description omitted the subsequent government crackdown on pro-democracy activists, a dark chapter that is heavily censored on the Chinese internet today. Under further questioning by Sen Cotton, Chew conceded, referring to the event as "a massacre." Despite Chew's acknowledgment, he had previously assured Congress that TikTok permits content related to Tiananmen Square, emphasising that the platform does not operate within China. However, ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, distributes a similar app called Douyin within China. The intense questioning reflects growing concerns among lawmakers about the potential influence of the Chinese government on TikTok's operations and content policies. The grilling was held at a dramatic Senate Judiciary Committee hearing of the CEOs of major tech companies, who faced intense scrutiny over the potential harms of their platforms on teens, CNN reported. At the hearing, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stood to offer a public apology to families affected by the alleged repercussions of social media platforms, acknowledging the pain and suffering they have endured. "I'm sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered, and this is why we invest so much," Zuckerberg said, emphasising ongoing industry-wide efforts to mitigate the negative impacts associated with their products, as reported by CNN. "We are going to continue doing industry-wide efforts to make sure no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer," he added. Five tech executives, including the TikTok CEO, Zuckerberg, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, X (formerly Twitter) CEO Linda Yaccarino, and Discord CEO Jason Citron, were being grilled at the hearing. The Senate Judiciary Committee focused on examining the potential harms inflicted on teenagers by these platforms. During the hearing, the CEOs sought to convey their commitment to child safety on their platforms by emphasising their roles as parents. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel mentioned that his wife approves every app their 13-year-old downloads, TikTok CEO Shou Chew highlighted being a father of three young children, X CEO Linda Yaccarino identified herself as a mother, and Discord CEO Jason Citron emphasised his role as a father of two. (ANI)
In a dramatic Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, the CEOs of major tech companies face intense scrutiny over the potential harms of their platforms to teens, CNN reported. In a tense Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stood to offer a public apology to families affected by the alleged repercussions of social media platforms, acknowledging the pain and suffering they have endured. "I'm sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered, and this is why we invest so much," Zuckerberg said, emphasising ongoing industry-wide efforts to mitigate the negative impacts associated with their products, as reported by CNN. "We are going to continue doing industry wide efforts to make sure no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer," he added. The apology came amid a grilling of five tech executives, including Zuckerberg, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, X (formerly Twitter) CEO Linda Yaccarino, TikTok CEO Shou Chew, and Discord CEO Jason Citron. The Senate Judiciary Committee focused on examining the potential harms inflicted on teenagers by these platforms. However, the hearing took a combative turn when Missouri Republican Sen Josh Hawley called on Zuckerberg, a billionaire, to financially compensate families affected by the adverse effects of his company's platforms on their children. The demand for compensation underscored the severity of the allegations against these tech giants. The atmosphere in the hearing room was charged as dozens of parents stood, holding up pictures of their loved ones allegedly harmed by social media. The room fell silent at the sight of grieving families, creating a poignant backdrop for the unfolding proceedings. Lawmakers, including Texas Republican Sen Ted Cruz and South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, began to filter in as the audience awaited the testimonies. Senator Lindsey Graham's opening remarks set a confrontational tone, accusing the tech CEOs of having "blood on their hands" due to the alleged negative consequences of their products. Graham argued that these platforms, particularly Meta, have a product that is "killing people," and he called for the repeal of Section 230, a federal law providing immunity to websites and social media platforms for their content moderation decisions and user-generated content. Graham cited the case of South Carolina state house Rep Brandon Guffey, who lost his eldest son to suicide and is now suing Meta. Guffey claims that after his son's funeral, he received messages demanding money in exchange for explicit photos of his late son, who had unwittingly become a victim of sexual extortion on Instagram. The lawsuit alleges wrongful death, gross negligence, and other claims against Meta. This hearing once again highlighted the bipartisan criticism of social media companies among lawmakers. Senator Graham acknowledged the rare unity between Democrats and Republicans on the issue, emphasising the need to address the abuse facilitated by tech platforms, according to CNN. Despite the bipartisan concern, meaningful legislation to regulate social media companies at the federal level is yet to be passed. The focus has shifted to state legislatures and courts, where battles over new policies, such as age minimums for social media use, are being waged. During the hearing, the CEOs sought to convey their commitment to child safety on their platforms by emphasising their roles as parents. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel mentioned that his wife approves every app their 13-year-old downloads, TikTok CEO Shou Chew highlighted being a father of three young children, X CEO Linda Yaccarino identified herself as a mother, and Discord CEO Jason Citron emphasised his role as a father of two. However, Zuckerberg, despite being a parent himself, did not explicitly mention his fatherly role in his remarks. The CEOs' parental connections aimed to humanize them and demonstrate a personal stake in ensuring the safety of young users on their platforms. As the hearing unfolded, it became clear that lawmakers are demanding more than apologies - they are pushing for accountability, regulatory measures, and, in some cases, financial compensation for the alleged damages caused by social media platforms, CNN reported. The Senate Judiciary Committee has concluded its hearing. (ANI)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Fire crews are investigating a two-vehicle crash in Vancouver that left one person injured Tuesday afternoon, officials say.

Officials arrived at the intersection of 162nd Avenue and 78th Street around 12:38 p.m. to find a truck and an SUV moderately damaged in the middle of the road.

Police: Armed, dangerous wife of man killed in Lents neighborhood still at large

One driver was evaluated for injuries, but officials say they refused to be taken to the hospital.

It is unclear what led to the crash, but Washington State Police are investigating.

Stay with KOIN 6 as this story develops.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
At least 12 Durham public schools will be closed Wednesday as staff  furious about unresolved salary issues  call in sick to attend a protest.

The Durham Association of Educators said staff from the following schools would be attending a rally and protest:

Y.E. Smith Elementary

The Whitted School

Lyons Farm Elementary

Forest View Elementary

Lakewood Elementary

Spring Valley Elementary

Githens Middle

Lucas Middle

Riverside High

Northern High

Jordan High

Hillside High

DPS workers have been pushed to a breaking point over the last few weeks. We believe there is a way forward, said Symone Kiddoo, president of the Durham Association of Educators, on the organizations Instagram page.

Kiddoo said in her statement that she expected enough staff would be absent that it would force the schools to close.

Durham Public Schools confirmed the school closings and said families had been notified.

The Board of Education is absolutely committed to getting all matters with our employees resolved fairly and as soon as possible, Board of Education Chair Bettina Umstead said in a statement. In the meantime, we appeal to everyone in Durham Public Schools to remember our mission and our commitment to providing our students with the best possible education.

The educators will rally twice Wednesday:

10 a.m.: Staff Development Center, 2107 Hillandale Road

2 p.m.: Fuller Building, 511 Cleveland St.

The Durham Public Schools central office building on Cleveland Street, photographed on Tuesday, Apr. 20, 2021, in Durham, N.C.

The sickout is protesting the school district withdrawing raises for 1,300 classified staff members, including bus mechanics, cafeteria workers and physical therapists.

The staff members received significant raises in October and have been drawing paychecks since then to reflect that raise. But earlier this month, employees learned that the school district had budgeted incorrectly and could not pay the higher salaries going forward.

The decision has caused disruption in schools for the past three weeks, with bus routes particularly affected.

On Jan. 25, the board voted unanimously to spend $4.5 million so that employees can keep the money they have been paid this school year at the higher salaries. Theyd already received $4 million from the county to fund the raises, meaning the accounting error likely tallied eight figures.

Finance Director Paul LeSieur, who had been suspended, resigned the next day. The district said its attorneys and an outside consultant are investigating.

The raises will end effective Jan. 31, but school board members said they would meet weekly to find a solution. The first of those meetings is at 3 p.m. Friday.

We believe this is the fair and right thing to do, Umstead said in her statement Tuesday night. And while the actions at last Thursdays meeting were a first step in moving forward, we recognize there is continued work to do.

Kiddoo said in her statement that a failure to resolve the salary issue will have serious implications for our schools ability to address student needs. The situation has broken trust with staff and the districts families, she said.

Combine decades of underfunding, a global pandemic that drove many long-time school employees out of the profession, increasingly complex student needs, and years of understaffing  and we get where we are today: A recruitment and retention crisis that will only get worse if DPS does not find a way to keep the promised salaries to staff that they mad earlier this fall.

Food for students missing school

The Association of Educators said packed lunches will be available to help students and families in need.

DPS Staff Development Center: 2107 Hillandale Road (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Iglesia Emanuel: 2504 N. Roxboro St. (2 to 4 p.m.)

Believers United for Progress: 1306 Fayetteville St. (3 to 6 p.m.)

Jubilee Baptist: 2025 Ephesus Church Road in Chapel Hill (10:30 a.m.)

Bell Yeager Free Will Baptist: 128 E. Cornwallis Road (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)

Russell Memorial CME: 703 S. Alston Ave. (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)

Durham Community Food Pantry: 2020 Chapel Hill Road (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) (5 to 7 p.m.)

Hundreds of Durham educators confront school board over withdrawn raises
WEST BEND, Wis. (WFRV)  A 17-year-old Wisconsin boy faces formal charges after leading authorities on a dangerous high-speed pursuit over the weekend.

According to the Washington County Sheriffs Office, a deputy was driving on Interstate 41 in the village of Germantown when they observed a car approaching from behind at a high rate of speed around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 27.

21-year-old Wisconsin man arrested following 10-mile pursuit with recorded speeds of 130+ miles per hour

The vehicle, driven by Dresden Fritsch from West Bend, reportedly drastically slowed down after he saw the squad car. Officials say that the squad car exited U.S. Highway 45 near Pioneer Road and re-entered immediately, observing Fritsch increase speeds back up toward 90 miles per hour.

The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Fritsch but reportedly disobeyed and increased his speed. The Washington County Sheriffs Office says the deputy involved in the pursuit was operating around 125 miles per hour, and Fritsch continued to pull away northbound on U.S. Highway 45.

The deputy eventually lost sight of Fritsch until he approached the State Highway 33 exit in the city of West Bend, where he found that Fritsch attempted to navigate a right turn but could not do so because of the high speeds.

Fritsch crashed the vehicle with the median barrier and went into the oncoming lane of State Highway 33. The 17-year-old suspect continued driving the wrong way down State Highway 33 but at much slower speeds due to the damage from smashing into the median.

Eventually, Fritsch stopped and was taken into custody without further incident. Two juvenile passengers were located in the vehicle. They were both cited for underage drinking and released to their parents.

Fritsch, who was convicted of OWI in October of 2023 in an unrelated matter, was operating well outside his occupational license restrictions at the time of his arrest.

Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis spoke in depth about this incident, issuing a reminder that operating vehicles at high speeds will not be tolerated.

Wisconsin State Patrol reminds drivers to move over or slow down following recent Close Call

Unfortunately, southeast Wisconsin has experienced several horrific tragedies in the past couple of months related directly to reckless driving and the refusal to stop for law enforcement, stated Schulteis. Law enforcement must conduct a balancing test when determining whether to pursue it or not. This balancing test requires public safety officials to balance the need to capture with the level of risk the pursuit is causing the public. Often, this means that these perpetrators escape capture because we choose not to pursue it. The entire criminal justice system needs to respond accordingly to those who show complete and utter disregard for human life by driving in this manner. The punitive measures taken should be to the level that those who have been caught will think otherwise next time and serve as a deterrent for those who may in the future.

Court records show that Dresden Fritsch is facing the following charges:

2nd-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety Felony G

Vehicle Operator Flee/Elude Officer Felony I



Fritsch made his initial appearance in the Washington County Courthouse on Monday, where a $10,000 signature bond was ordered.

65-year-old woman accused of making bomb threat to a house of worship in Oshkosh, taken into custody

Wisconsin Circuit Court Access records reveal that Fritsch has signed his signature bond and will not be able to operate a motor vehicle. He is also expected to maintain absolute sobriety and cannot have contact with three individuals other than incidental contact at school.

A hearing is scheduled for March 20; no additional details were provided.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
[Source]

Yu & Me Books, the first Asian American woman-owned bookstore in New York City, has successfully reopened six months after suffering from a fire.

Back to business: The reopening of Yu & Me Books on Sunday saw a large crowd, including local authors and customers, who celebrated and welcomed the beloved store back. Since its inception in 2021, Yu & Me Books has been a haven for Asian Americans, who found a sense of community in the space that amplifies immigrant stories.

Its pretty overwhelming. Its just really good to be back home, owner Lucy Yu told NY1. Im so happy. I didnt think I could still be standing.

Trending on NextShark: Ukraine-born Miss Japan 2024 relinquishes title following report of affair

About the fire: The independent bookstore, located at 44 Mulberry Street in Manhattans Chinatown, was destroyed last Independence Day when a fire broke out in a residential unit above the business. The incident resulted in the loss of nearly all of the store's inventory and equipment.

Donations and rebuilding: Yu previously set up a GoFundMe campaign to recover costs. The campaign raised over $369,000, with notable contributions from actor Simu Liu and authors Celeste Ng and Min Jin Lee. While rebuilding the store, Yu opened a temporary location at the Market Line in the Lower East Side.

With the original bookstore now repaired, Yu now maintains her mission of promoting stories by immigrants and people of color, along with author visits, artist pop-ups and community reading events.

Trending on NextShark: Eileen Gu reveals passion for quantum physics, movies and inspiring millions

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  An overnight house fire in Dunthorpe left two firefighters injured Wednesday morning, according to the Lake Oswego Fire Department.

After battling the fire on Iron Mountain Boulevard, officials say one firefighter was treated on scene and another was taken to the hospital for an evaluation.

ODOT: Highway 30 impacted by lengthy closure due to massive rock fall

Details of the fire, including its cause, have yet to be shared with the public. The fire department shared on Twitter, formerly known as X, the fire caused an estimated $125,000 in damage.

An investigation is ongoing.

After battling the fire on Iron Mountain Boulevard, officials say one firefighter was treated on scene and another was taken to the hospital for an evaluation. Jan. 31, 2024 (Courtesy: Lake Oswego Fire)

After battling the fire on Iron Mountain Boulevard, officials say one firefighter was treated on scene and another was taken to the hospital for an evaluation. Jan. 31, 2024 (Courtesy: Lake Oswego Fire)

Stay with KOIN 6 as this story develops.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Two museum projects are being planned for Fayetteville and Cumberland County, with coordinators and local leaders emphasizing that both will not whitewash, or omit history.

The NC History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction aims to focus on the Civil War and the period that followed through the lens of North Carolinians from all backgrounds across the state.

The Black Voice and History Museum will tell the stories of Fayetteville and Cumberlands Black residents, pre-civil War to the present day.

Heres a look at what we know about the two projects.

Where each museum will be located

The NC History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction will replace the Museum of the Cape Fear and be at the site of the United States Arsenal, a historic Civil War site.

The main 60,000-square-foot building will be off Hay Street near the overpass for the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway.

The exact site for the Black Voice and History Museum hasnt been finalized, but the Fleishman family, who own local Fayetteville businesses, have offered to provide land they own, where the Fayetteville Commons parking lot is at 122 Person St.

Early plans suggest the land would be known as Chesnutt Plaza, named after Fayetteville Black author Charles Chesnutt, and connect to the museum to Fayetteville Market house, historical markers and educational facilities.

What government entities have contributed to each project

The state of North Carolina has provided $59.6 million for the history center, while Fayetteville and Cumberland County have provided $14.1 million.

Commissioners and the Fayetteville City Council approved splitting the $900,000 cost for the first phase of the Black Voice and History Museum project in 2022, with each entity agreeing to appropriate $450,000.

Costs

Fundraising for the NC History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction has been ongoing for 12 years, Mac Healy, chair of the History Center Board, said earlier this month.

As of Jan. 19, there was still about $7.5 million to raise, Healy said.

Initial estimates for the museum were $65 million, which rose to $104 million when factoring in inflation, and officials have worked to bring the inflation cost down to $80-85 million, he said.

The final price tag, Healy said, will be determined once contracts are awarded.

Any excess of funds raised will go toward a Cumberland County Community Foundation endowment for maintenance, work and mobile exhibits, he said.

The cost of the Black Voice and History Museum will be estimated after a community engagement process, said William Cassell, the project coordinator.

What phase of planning is each museum in?

Ground for the history center broke in June 2021, and the project is in the design development phase, Healy said.

We have the basic shell of the building, and an architect hired to begin the process, he said. Meanwhile, we have historians and an exhibit team diligently working to identify what will go in there.

An artists rendering of the campus for the NC History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction, which is scheduled to open in 2027.

The first phase, known as VanStory History Village, where three Civil War and Reconstruction era homes were restored. Construction on the village, which will be used for K-12 education and research for colleges and universities, is wrapping up, Healy said.

By spring of this year, he said, a pavilion learning center that will serve school students will start construction and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The third phase for the museums main building should start by the end of the year, too.

The plan, Healy said, is to have a grand opening for the entire museum in 2027.

The next steps for the Black Voice and History Museum include a study, community engagement and preliminary design, county documents state.

Latest on Cumberland County/Fayetteville Black Voice and History Museum

What still needs to be done

While design and construction is ongoing for the Civil War museum, planners are also working with history professors within the University of North Carolina system to determine which materials can go into curriculums for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Work is underway to gather submitted stories derived from oral histories of traditions, genealogical research and primary sources like letters and diaries about anyone who was in North Carolina between 1830 and 1900, said Cheri Todd Molter, research historian at the Center.

Plans for the Black Voices Museum state that after gathering input from the community, a design phase will start followed by construction and operations.

Plans for the Black Voices Museum call for a two-year process to design the museum and Chesnutt Plaza, which will include community engagement starting this year and continuing through 2025.

The design phase will include development and budget plans for the remaining phases. The construction phase will include reconceptualization of the Market House, and building the museum with features that link it to Fayetteville corridor projects. Similar to the history center, officials with the Black Voices Museum have said they expect to partner with academic scholars and experts in history and curation for the exhibits.

Another goal is for the museum to have yearlong programming for children and the community that incorporates authors, theater, music and spoken word along with exhibits.

Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland County projects to tell Civil War, Black history and more
Two people sustained injuries and were subsequently hospitalized Tuesday, police confirmed, after their experimental aircraft crashed near Camarillo, California. According to the Ventura County Department of Airports, the aircraft made an emergency landing at 1.19 p.m. in a field approximately four miles southeast of Camarillo Airport. The pilot and passenger of the aircraft sustained moderate injuries, it added, after the pilot experienced electrical/engine issues and made the precautionary landing in the open field, implementing all training to avoid any additional damage or danger to the community. Ventura County Fire, Ventura County Sheriff, and Department of Airports staff all responded to the scene, the statement confirmed. Ventura County Fire posted on X that the aircraft is experimental and looks like a Rutan Long EZ style. It did not go into further details. According to NASA, a Rutan Long-EZ is a tandem prop aircraft which is is typically used for more private flights, but has been utilized by NOAA and NASA for research purposes. The NTSB/FAA is investigating.

#HowardInc #AircraftDown; FFs and @VENTURASHERIFF are on scene of an aircraft down in @CityCamarillo near the water treatment facility off the 100 block of Howard Rd. Both adult passengers sustained moderate injuries and both were transported to VCMC. The aircraft is experimental pic.twitter.com/02UrtJ7Ojg  VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) January 30, 2024

Read it at County of Ventura Department of Airports

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Two active Massachusetts State Police troopers accused of giving guaranteed passing scores to failed commercial drivers license applicants in exchange for kickbacks have been suspended indefinitely without pay, authorities announced Wednesday.

Golden handshakes: MSP troopers passed failed CDL applicants in exchange for kickbacks, feds say

Sergeant Gary Cederquist, 58, of Stoughton, and Trooper Joel Rogers, 54, of Bridgewater, were taken off the job following duty status hearings, 24 hours after Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy announced that they had been arrested in connection with a 74-count indictment charging them with conspiracy, extortion, mail fraud, false statements, and falsifying records, Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio said in a statement.

The Department continues to cooperate with federal prosecutors in the investigation and prosecution of the alleged offenses. The MSP has provided federal prosecutors with records and information related to the unit and its members in response to more than 15 subpoenas or other requests for information received by the Department since the fall of 2022, the statement read. Department members have also regularly communicated with the United States Attorneys Office and the Registry of Motor Vehicles to share information. Additionally, the internal investigation by the State Police Office of Professional Integrity and Accountability into the alleged misconduct also continues.

Cederquist and Rogers were arraigned Tuesday in federal court in Boston, where they both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In return for passing unqualified applicants, Levy said that Cederquist received personal benefits including a $10,000 driveway makeover, a $2,000 snowblower, a $750 granite post and mailbox, boxes of Polar Seltzer, and cases of high-end bottled water, among an array of other items.

An indictment showed that the troopers jokingly talked about golden handshakes and golden treatments in text messages, referring to giving guaranteed passes to CDL applicants, regardless of how they scored on the test.

Cederquist and Rogers, as well as retired troopers Calvin Butner, 63, of Halifax, and Perry Mendes, 63, of Wareham, conspired to give preferential treatment to at least 17 CDL applicants by agreeing to give passing scores on their skills tests whether or not they passed, using the code word golden to identify these applicants who received special treatment, the indictment alleged.

Additionally, it is alleged that Cederquist gave preferential treatment to four Class A CDL applicants who were MSP Troopers by falsely reporting that each trooper took and passed a Class A skills test.

In short, the CDLs were for sale and troopers were bribed with free goods to pass applicants no matter how they performed on the tests, Levy said. These defendants displayed no regard for the public safety consequences by allowing people who didnt pass the tests to have a CDL.

CDL tests are administered at the state level and the Massachusetts State Police Commercial Drivers License Unit, which Cederquist was in charge of, is tasked with overseeing the examinations.

Procopio said that state police became aware of the federal investigation into members of the CDL Unit in late 2022 and that an internal investigation was launched immediately.

In early 2023, state police implemented numerous reforms to the CDL Unit that have significantly improved efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability, according to Procopio. Steps taken include the following:

Required use of body-worn cameras for all CDL exams.

Increased frequency of unannounced visits by unit supervisors to examiners at training sites.

Modernized unit record-keeping with required electronic documentation and the use of the Departments online case management system, allowing for enhanced accountability, accuracy, and supervision.

Added two new sergeants to the unit with prior experience, who have instituted operational changes that increased efficiency and supervision.

Created a new position responsible for supervising and coordinating all aspects of CDL Unit training, including scheduling, curriculum, procedures, vehicle acquisition and maintenance, and record keeping.

Developed new training procedures that establish acceptable time frames for training, standards for instructors, and accountability standards for students and instructors.

Developed a new curriculum that establishes learning benchmarks for each day and each phase of training.

Modified existing monthly in-service training and ongoing development of new annual in-service training for CDL Unit examiners.

Added new Troopers to the unit and reassigned staff to high-demand training sites, resulting in improved service to the public, significantly reduced scheduling wait times for test takers, and increased oversight over these sites.

The four troopers facing charges made the following salaries in recent years, state records showed:

Cederquist: $194,191 in 2023, $331,619 in 2022, and $244,888 in 2021

Rogers: $175,804 in 2023, $184,881 in 2022, $161,327 in 2021

Butner: $81,378 in 2023, $159,893 in 2022, $157,166 in 2021

Mendes: $2,000 in 2023, $94,721 in 2022, $178,632 in 2021

Two civilians, Scott Camara, 42, of Rehoboth, and Eric Mathison, 47, of Boston, were also charged in connection with the bribery scheme.

Camara and Mathison either provided free goods or conspired with the troopers to pass applicants who either failed, took an abbreviated version of the test, or didnt test at all, Levy said.

Levy further alleged that Cederquist was good friends with both Camara and Mathison, and that Mathison worked for a spring water company that employed drivers who needed CDLs.

In a statement, Interim Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police Colonel John E. Mawn Jr. says the alleged misconduct of the troopers is the antithesis of the MSPs values:

The Massachusetts State Police demand and expect all members to conduct themselves with integrity, honesty, and in accordance with all federal and state laws and Department policies, rules, and regulations. The Department condemns the actions of the four current and former CDL Unit members as alleged in the federal indictment and our internal affairs investigation. The alleged misconduct of those defendants is the antithesis of and in stark contrast to the values, character, and integrity exhibited by the overwhelming majority of our Troopers every day in service to the public. Colonel John E. Mawn Jr. Interim Superintendent Massachusetts State Police

An investigation remains ongoing.

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

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Three young teens, all 15-years-old, were charged as juveniles with armed robbery after being caught by police 40 minutes after holding up one of their victims on the Near North Side, Chicago police said.

The young teens were arrested shortly before 9:30 p.m. in the 100 block of West Cermak Road, about 40 minutes after robbing a 23-year-old man on a CTA Red Line platform in the 1500 block of North Clybourn Avenue.

The teenage boys also were connected to another Tuesday armed robbery of a 22-year-old man in the 1700 block of North Sheffield Avenue.

Both boys were charged as juveniles with two counts of armed robbery as juveniles with a dangerous weapon other than a gun, and the girl was charged with one count of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon other than a gun.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Two teens accused of killing another teen on his front porch in Antioch in 2021 have been found guilty of first-degree murder.

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said Edgar EJ Utley was only 15 years old when he was shot and killed. The then 15 and 16-year-old suspects have been found guilty.

PREVIOUS: He had a unique talent: Loved ones remember EJ Utley

According to Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Steve Dozier, Wilton alexander and Trameisha Farris have been sentenced to life in prison.

Surveillance video from the scene on the day of the shooting shows Farris dressed in white and standing at the front door while Alexander, dressed in Red, sneaks around the corner to shoot Utley.

Emergency personnel arrived a few minutes later and rushed Utley to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died, according to authorities.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

Police said it is believed robbery was the motive.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
CALLAHAN COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) crews have made noticeable progress on Callahan County bridge replacements in just the last six or so months since starting the project. But six months is a long time to adjust your daily commute. TxDOT promises thoughtful communication and cites this spring as a rough timeline for completion.

Although it is a temporary inconvenience, itll be very, very nice once its completed, Alaisha Montanez with TxDOT assured in a Tuesday meeting with KTAB/KRBC.

Three TxDOT projects ongoing along Baird-Cisco stretch of I-20

The two interstate bridges just west of Putnam and one overpass bridge in Baird were demolished in August and September of 2023. Montanez explained that these bridges were simply due for replacement per routine TxDOT maintenance.

In the months since, Westbound traffic near Putnam has been diverted into the eastbound lane for about a mile-and-a-half. The increased traffic along this stretch, combined with the changing weather, caused potholes to develop. Those potholes were temporarily filled by TxDOT crews, and Montanez said they will be permanently filled in the coming days. During that time, all westbound traffic will be diverted to the access road beginning Thursday, February 1.

The work will start probably around 8 oclock and it will last until sometime that afternoon But that could change just depending on the severity of the repairs that need to take place, said Montanez.

This and future detours that may occur will be announced on the TxDOT Abilene Facebook page. Montanez advises travelers to check DriveTexas.org to keep up with ongoing projects and properly plan your trips.

TxDOT Construction crews drill shafts in Baird

City of Tye seeks funds to fix streets, residents complain about number of potholes

In Baird, progress was made Tuesday as crews drilled shafts to hold support columns for the new bridge over the interstate. As of the posting of this article, traffic flow along I-20 is normal through this area, but that could always change.

Thankfully right now, we dont have any I-20 lane closures But in the coming weeks we could have possible lane closures. So, we are asking travelers to watch our social media for changes out there, Montanez added.

The bridges west of Putnam are expected to be completed by April 2024 at the earliest, and the Baird bridge project should be completed this May. Those dates are subject to change depending on construction conditions.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
A search warrant used last week to seize two phones belonging to Karen Read of Mansfield was unsealed today at Norfolk Superior Court.

The warrant is connected to a witness intimidation investigation being run by Ken Mello, a special prosecutor hired by the Norfolk District Attorney. Its the same investigation that produced a 16-count indictment against Aidan Kearney, the blogger known as Turtleboy in December. Kearney has been accused of intimidating people the DAs office has identified as witnesses in Reads second-degree murder case.

I have a copy of the search warrant MSP used to seize #KarenRead's phones last week in connection with Special Prosecutor Ken Mello's witness intimidation investigation (not the murder case) involving Aidan Kearney aka Turtleboy . I'm going through the 31 page document now and pic.twitter.com/o9JKyAUS1f  Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) January 31, 2024

Kearney has aggressively advocated for Read on his website and other social media platforms. He claims shes been framed in a wide-ranging cover-up.

The warrant was written by State Police Detective Brian Tully. He alleges Read entered into an agreement with Kearney by providing information, photography, material relative to her criminal defense, and editorial oversight of blog posts and videos intended to harass, intimidate, and cause emotional harm.

Tully alleges there is probable cause to believe Read conspired with Kearney to intimidate witnesses in her murder case. He indicates there were 189 calls between two phones owned by Kearney and a phone owned by Read. The two also communicated on the encrypted messaging service Signal, according to Tullys warrant.

'Turtleboy' blogger called to court

'Turtleboy' blogger called to court

'Turtleboy' blogger called to court

'Turtleboy' blogger called to court

'Turtleboy' blogger called to court

'Turtleboy' blogger called to court

'Turtleboy' blogger called to court

'Turtleboy' blogger called to court

'Turtleboy' blogger called to court

'Turtleboy' blogger called to court

'Turtleboy' blogger called to court

'Turtleboy' blogger called to court

A college friend of Reads from California named Natalie Wiweke Bershneider initially acted as an intermediary between Read and Kearney when the two began communicating in April 2023, according to the warrant. Wiweke Bershneider has since ended her friendship with Read and has been cooperating with the Massachusetts State Police.

It appeared most of the messages sent by Natalie were authored by Karen. For example, messages would start with tell TB [Turtleboy], From Karen:, or Not for public but you and Aidan can see ..., 

Natalie stated the content of the messages shared by Karen to her were Karens defense of the charges, including information regarding witnesses, the home address of Trooper Michael Proctor, pictures of witnesses, autopsy photographs, motions filed by her attorneys, police reports, photographs taken by the MSP Crime Scene Services Section, and feedback about Kearneys blog posts.

In an April 2023 text message, Wiweke Bershneider allegedly told Kearney, Not public: the feds have been involved longer than anyone is likely guessing and then the following month she texted, NOT PUBLIC: Levy confirmed no swarms of FBI were in Canton two days ago. The reference to Levy is most likely United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts First Assistant US Attorney Joshua Levy.

Joshua Levy is now the Acting US Attorney for Massachusetts and according to the warrant is directly involved in the federal probe.

25 Investigates sources and court documents from Reads murder case confirm the existence of the federal investigation connected to the arrest and prosecution of Read for the January 29, 2022 death of her Boston Police Officer boyfriend John OKeefe in Canton. Sources say FBI agents have been in Canton speaking to people about Reads murder case. The US Attorneys office has declined to comment.

Karen Read, 41, of Mansfield, Mass., is charged with manslaughter in the Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, death of Boston police Officer John OKeefe. O'Keefe, 46, was off duty at the time of his death.

High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer

High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer

High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer

High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer

High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer

Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe

Karen Read is arraigned in Stoughton District court accused of manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston Police officer John O'Keefe

Reads defense team has filed a motion to sanction and disqualify the Norfolk DAs office from her murder case. In their filing, they allege law enforcement planted evidence and withheld information about the federal investigation.

The search warrant alleges Read, took steps to provide Kearney non-public information while appearing to be distant and Read was controlling what he can publish publicly.

It describes a lunch meeting Kearney allegedly had with Read and her attorneys at the Omni Seaport, following a May 2023 court hearing.

Kearneys former girlfriend is also referenced in the warrant.

She told state police investigators, Karen Read was interviewed by federal law enforcement according to the warrant.

In a statement, Kearneys lawyer, Bradl, calls the affidavit an investigation without a crime:

I read the search warrant affidavit unsealed today in the Karen Read matter. It appears to be a single spaced 30 page story about how the state police went to unbelievable lengths (taxpayer funded trip to California!) to try to establish  drumroll that Aidan Kearney and Karen read communicated with each other. It is an investigation without a crime. It appears to me that there is zero evidence that Karen Read intended or had anything to do with any witness intimidation or interference, and rather is a woman fighting for her life as a target of a murder charge. She is entitled to wield inalienable rights under the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth amendments to defend herself. She also has a special right under our Massachusetts Constitution, which precedes and is the model for our US Constitution, in its Article 12, to produce all proofs that may be favorable to [her]. This provision gives her broad rights and privileges to explore all avenues in her defense--a sacrosanct right to defend herself. She can share information with whomever she wants, speak out against her enemies, associate with anyone she pleases, and seek to keep it secret if she wants. It is chilling to read about law enforcement poring through defense phone records and texts intended to be private and confidential, and then laying out these protected and legal actions as if they are elements of a crime in an effort to destroy her. The prosecution is doubling down on defective theories of witness intimidation that we are in the process of attacking at the SJC in Mr. Kearneys case. Every freedom-loving citizen in the Commonwealth needs to hope and pray that the SJC finally takes up the matter and takes down the witness intimidation statute, the most odious intrusion on our rights since the bill of attainder or the writs of assistance. The only crime here is the robbery of privacy. Timothy J. Bradl, Esq.

Reads lawyers declined to comment.

RELATED:

25 Investigates: Letters between feds, Norfolk DA released in Karen Read case

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Traffic on eastbound I-94 was reduced to one lane for nearly 12 hours following a fatal crash early Wednesday morning near West Columbia Avenue.

BATTLE CREEK  A 26-year-old New York man died early Wednesday morning after losing control of his semi and crashing on eastbound I-94 near West Columbia Avenue.

Battle Creek police responded to the crash shortly after 4:15 a.m. Wednesday, according to a news release from the department. Prior to the crash, a driver had contacted Calhoun County dispatchers, reporting the semi had passed them at a high rate of speed.

Authorities determined the 26-year-old lost control of the truck while driving on eastbound I-94, hit the guardrail before exit 92, hit an overhanging exit sign and came to a rest against the overpass.

The man was ejected from the truck during the crash, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Traffic on eastbound I-94 was reduced to one lane immediately following the crash. The Michigan State Police reported all lanes had reopened as of 3:40 p.m. Wednesday.

The Battle Creek Fire Department, LifeCare Ambulance and the Michigan State Police assisted Battle Creek police at the crash scene.

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: 26-year-old New York man killed in I-94 semi crash
Three men, including the victims adult son, have been arrested on weapons charges in connection with the murder of Imam Hassan Sharif of Newark, New Jersey.

Abdush K. Sharif, 36, Kevin Rogers, 46, and Deshawn Kinchen, 49, were detained Friday, according to NJ.com. Authorities announced the arrests on Monday.

None of the three suspects was directly accused of killing Hassan Sharif, NBC News reported.

Sources had previously told NBC News that a family member was under investigation in the killing, and the outlet confirmed that Abdush Sharif is Hassan Sharifs son. A person named Abdush Sharif was also listed as the victims son in his funeral program, according to NJ.com.

All three men were arrested during a police search of a Newark apartment on Friday, NJ.com reported. Cops discovered a revolver in the apartment and said none of the men had documents to prove they legally owned it.

Abdush Sharif and Rogers remained behind bars Tuesday at Essex County jail, according to WNBC. Kinchen was released on a summons. The investigation into Hassan Sharifs killing remains active, cops said.

Sharif, 52, was killed in the parking lot of Masjid Muhammad in Newark shortly after pre-sunrise (Fajr) prayers on Jan. 3. Sharif was shot twice at close range, according to investigators.

No one has been charged with Sharifs murder. The three suspects detained Friday were formally charged with fourth-degree violation of regulatory provisions relating to firearms. Authorities have offered a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the killers arrest.

In a Facebook post from August, five months before the killing, Sharif shared that hed been confronted by a gunman in his mosques parking lot. Sharif said he wrestled with the attacker and escaped with his life, while the gunman ran away.

_____
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Memphis Police Department is currently searching for three people after a car was stolen from a gas station in South Memphis Monday evening.

MPD identifies teens accused in Midtown car break-ins

MPD says at 6 p.m., officers responded to Fast Fuels on Elvis Presley Boulevard regarding a motor vehicle theft.

The victim stated that he parked his Nissan Altima at the gas pump and left the car running while he went into the store.

$10K reward offered after man shot, killed in South Memphis

That is when police say the suspect arrived in a gray Nissan Pathfinder with two other males. The suspect then got into the Nissan Altima and drove off.

(Photos by: Memphis Police Department)

(Photos by: Memphis Police Department)

(Photos by: Memphis Police Department)

According to Memphis Police, the Nissan Altima has since been recovered.

If you have any information regarding this incident, call Memphis CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Channel 2 Action News has learned new information about an off-campus carjacking that put the campus of Kennesaw State University on lockdown for hours last week.

The incident was initially reported as armed suspects on campus, causing students to panic and hide in classrooms.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Channel 2s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell was at the Cobb County Police Department Wednesday, where she learned that police believe three suspects robbed an Uber driver at gunpoint and then stole his car.

Police said Giovanni Brown and two other suspects called an Uber in DeKalb County and requested a ride to Cobb County. According to warrants, the suspects headed to the Waffle House across from KSUs campus where they pointed guns at the driver and forced him to surrender his car. Police said the suspects told the driver to get in the trunk, but he was able to run away.

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Police said the subjects then ditched the stolen car on KSUs campus and ran off campus. Brown was arrested that night. A second suspect, 16-year-old Marquis Adams, was arrested the next day. A third suspect remains on the run.

Students said the heavy police presence on campus after the emergency alert scared them.

I was in my room leaving, thats when I got the text and call, Ryan Oldham said. We put a table in front of the window just to make sure nothing could see us through there.

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Kristen Alexander said she quickly realized the situation was serious.

I just didnt know how to feel that much at all until I got to the room and started getting panicked and anxious, Alexander said.

Brown has been charged with attempted kidnapping, hijacking a vehicle and several other charges. Adams was charged with carjacking, armed robbery and aggravated assault. The third suspect who is still on the run has not been identified.
Russia has inflicted over $26.1 million USD in damages to port infrastructure in southern Ukrainian since it terminated participation in the grain initiative, said Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) head, Yuriy Lytvyn, on Jan. 31.

Since the grain initiative ended on Feb. 18, 2023, more than 30 combined attacks using all types of weapons and missiles have been carried out on the ports of Greater Odesa and the Danube cluster, said Lytvyn. As a result, 200 real estate objects, vehicles, and seven civilian ships were damaged, and five employees of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority lost their lives.

Read also: Three injured in Russian overnight drone attack on Kharkiv  video, photos

USPA preliminary estimates have the damage from Russian attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure exceeding 1 billion UAH ($26.1 million). The calculations, as well as the attacks, continue.

Nowadays, modern port operational equipment allow loading thousands of tons per day, said Lytvyn. If it is destroyed, God forbid, we will load grain from trucks. If the trucks are destroyed, we will load with shovels. We will continue working and ensuring export as long as it's possible.

Ukrainian sea ports have resumed their operations, but most ports are not operating at full capacity, said Mykola Gorbachov, President of the Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA).

Read also: Ukrgazbank announces unprecedented wartime insurance plan to promote Black Sea trade

The infrastructure is damaged, but not to the extent that it hinders the ports' operations, said Gorbachov. Will everything be rebuilt? Naturally, it will. However, each company is addressing these issues in its own way. Only a part of the capacity of the ports is being used at the moment.

In July 2022, the UN and Turkey mediated a deal that allowed for safe passage of civilian cargo vessels to and from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, pending inspections by Russian officials who verified the ships were not delivering arms to Ukraine.

Russia officially terminated its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17, 2023. Moscow also withdrew the security guarantees for navigation in the Black Sea.

The Ukrainian Navy announced on Aug. 10, 2023, new temporary routes for civilian vessels to and from Black Sea ports after the suspension of the grain deal involving the UN, Turkiye, and Russia in July.

100 ships have passed through Ukraines temporary grain corridor in the Black Sea, exporting 3.6 million tons of food, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said on Nov. 3, 2023. Almost 6 million tons of goods had been exported from Odesa ports by Nov. 27.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Four Chinese nationals have been charged with helping Iran obtain U.S. technology, according to the Justice Department. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Four Chinese nationals have been charged with providing U.S. technology to Iran, according to the Justice Department.

"Baoxia Liu, aka Emily Liu; Yiu Wa Yung, aka Stephen Yung; Yongxin Li, aka Emma Lee; and Yanli Zhong, aka Sydney Chung, unlawfully exported and smuggled U.S. export-controlled items through China and Hong Kong," the Justice Department said in a press release Wednesday.

The Justice Department said that between 2007 and 2020, the suspects arranged front companies in China to obtain so-called "dual use" technology from the United States for entities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, which oversees Iran's military drone production.

Three U.S. service members were killed, and dozens were injured Sunday in a drone attack on a U.S. military facility in Jordan.

The Pentagon suggested the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militant group was responsible for the attack though a group calling itself the Islamic Resistance of Iraq has claimed responsibility.

"Our indictment alleges a years-long complex conspiracy to violate U.S. laws by procuring U.S. technology with military uses for entities in Iran who would do us harm," said U.S. Attorney for D.C. Matthew Graves.

In October, the Justice Department issued an advisory on threats posed by Iranian efforts to augment their ballistic missile capacity and get around international controls.

"Throughout the course of the conspiracy, the defendants concealed the fact that the goods were destined for Iran and Iranian entities and made material misrepresentations to U.S. companies," the Justice Department said.

In December, the U.S. government sanctioned entities in Iran, Hong Kong and Indonesia for allegedly helping Iran obtain drone technology.
Three Senn High School students were shot, one fatally, during a shooting in the Edgewater neighborhood on the North Side Wednesday afternoon, according to authorities.

The three victims, CPS students between 15 and 16, were walking in the 1200 block of West Thorndale Avenue, just east of Senn High School, when gunmen inside a vehicle got out and opened fire toward the teens around 4 p.m., police Superintendent Larry Snelling told reporters Wednesday evening. Snelling said the victims were Senn students.

Two victims went to Ascension St. Francis in Evanston in critical condition and one was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in serious condition, according to Chicago fire officials.

One teen died, while another remains hospitalized in critical condition and the third victim had stabilized after being shot in the leg, said Snelling, who was joined by Mayor Brandon Johnson. The slain teen was identified as Daveon Gibson, 16, of Humboldt Park, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

Police officers work a crime scene on Thorndale Avenue near Senn High School in Edgewater where three people were shot on Jan. 31, 2024.

Our city is hurting, said Johnson, who called for an end to the harm and the chaos and the trauma that is being caused by individuals who do not value life.

These tragic shootings happen too often, Johnson said. The loss of life is horrific under all circumstances but it is especially harsh when our young people are targeted.

The mayor vowed to use the full force of government to end violence against young people Whatever conflict or whatever pain you are expressing, this is not the way to do it.

The shooting came nearly a week after two teens were fatally shot after leaving their high school in the Loop. Snelling said there was no evidence that the shootings were connected.

About an hour after the shooting, police tape blocked off West Thorndale. A delivery driver who asked not to be named said she was delivering packages on the street when she saw people who appeared to be teenagers pull up in a gray car. The teens started shooting at what she said seemed like other teens.

No arrests had been made in the shooting, as the investigation got underway.
(KRON)  In the first month of 2024, 58 iPhones and 10 laptops were stolen from the Apple Store in Berkeley, according to the Berkeley Police Department. The thefts have occurred in three separate incidents.

Small plane fatally crashes at Concord intersection

The first incident in which items were stolen occurred on Jan. 17. At approximately 7 p.m., a single suspect entered the store and stole 49 iPhones. The suspect fled and was not located, police said.

On Jan. 25, at around 5:55 p.m., a suspect entered the store and stole nine iPhones. A Berkeley PD officer located the suspect vehicle in Oakland shortly after the burglary.

The suspect, 21-year-old Dwayne Butler of Oakland, was arrested and all the property was recovered.

In a separate incident the same day, two suspects entered the store at around 11:19 a.m. and stole 10 laptops. Both suspects fled on foot and were not located.

In two additional incidents in, suspects attempted to enter the business but didnt make it through the front door, police said. Out of the five incidents that occurred in January, only one suspect has been arrested.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
When the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was being debated in 2009, it drew abundant criticism for alleged flaws  that it would mean socialized medicine, higher health care costs and even death panels. What drew little fire was a mandate that health insurance cover treatment for transgender people to align their bodies with their gender identity. It was just another form of medical care.

No longer. In 2020, not one state prohibited this sort of medical intervention for minors. But since 2021, 23 states have banned it outright.

Illinois, fortunately, is not one of them: Last year, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law designed to protect access to gender-affirming care not only for state residents but also for people who come here from states where it is illegal.

In January, the Republican-controlled Ohio legislature enacted a ban by overriding the veto of Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. The measure forbids not only surgery but also puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender kids.

Ohio Rep. Gary Click, who sponsored the bill, insists that gender-affirming care is not best medical practice. I do believe it is child abuse.

Click, whose medical education apparently came from the Book of Leviticus, should not be treated as a credible judge. A Baptist pastor, he gave a sermon in 2019 arguing that transgenderism is part of a plot by Satan to destroy the family.

To transgender individuals, he declared: Youre not born that way. Gods not going to curse you in the wrong body. Would he tell a child born missing a leg that she should not get a prosthesis?

Hundreds of thousands of Americans who disagree with him have undergone treatment to resolve the awful mismatch between their bodies and their minds. Gender dysphoria is not a curious left-wing fad but a well-known syndrome recognized by medical and mental health professionals, from the American Academy of Pediatrics to the Mayo Clinic.

Much of the opposition to gender transition treatment rests on rigid ideology, not reasoned judgment. Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri writes, To leftists, manhood is fake. Womanhood, too. Both are merely social confections that society made up and can remake at will. Notions like those rest on a refusal to admit the existence of gender dysphoria, which is like denying the existence of left-handedness.

Supporters of these bans argue that children should not be empowered to act on feelings that may be temporary, that some adolescents who get such treatment later regret it and that some effects of hormone therapy can be irreversible, including infertility. Kids whose minds are not fully formed may make poor decisions that cause long-lasting harm.

All this happens to be true. Gender-affirming care has a real possible downside. Its essential for physicians and parents to take a careful, deliberate approach, including thorough psychological assessments, before proceeding  which, as it happens, is customary practice.

But the existence of risk is no reason to ban it, even for minors. We allow them to go through pregnancy and childbirth, which carry serious health hazards, including death. We allow obese adolescents to get bariatric surgery, which may include removing part of the stomach and can have serious complications.

We allow puberty blockers and hormones to be administered to minors for conditions unrelated to gender transition. In each case, we agree that the potential value outweighs the possible harm.

For many youngsters, the upside of gender-affirming care is huge. Those with gender dysphoria are known to be especially vulnerable to psychological distress and self-harm. Transition treatments have been shown to reduce the incidence of depression and suicide. The proportion of transgender people who express regret over surgeries  a far more invasive treatment than puberty blockers or hormones and one rarely provided to adolescents  is in the neighborhood of 1%.

Those who want to deny gender-affirming care to minors exaggerate the potential dangers and dismiss the benefits, because many of them would rather not acknowledge human complexity.

But the problem isnt just that they have the wrong answer. Theyre asking the wrong question: whether such treatment is a good thing or a bad thing. The right question is: Who should decide?

We dont know and cant know if gender-affirming care will improve the life of young Emma or Ethan. But we do know that the people best informed on the matter are Emma, Ethan and their parents, acting in consultation with medical professionals. And we do know that the people making those decisions are the ones who will experience the consequences, for better or worse.

No medical treatment is infallible or devoid of risks. But to deprive minors of humane options is to condemn them to live with a choice that is not theirs.

Steve Chapman was a member of the Tribune Editorial Board from 1981 to 2021. His columns, exclusive to the Tribune, appear the first Thursday of every month. He can be reached at stephenjchapman@icloud.com.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
In Chicago activist Andy Thayers experience, Democratic presidential administrations typically deliver the bare minimum while in office. But amid increasing attacks on the LGBTQ+ community and threats to abortion rights, Thayer doesnt think the bare minimum is enough.

When (Democrats) get into office, the only pressure they feel is from the far right, said Thayer, the co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network. Its up to us here in Chicago and other blue states to say, No, thats not enough.

Part of a new organization made up of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights groups, Thayer and others on Tuesday condemned the city for rejecting the organizations permit application to march and protest by Chicagos Water Tower on the eve of this summers Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The group appealed the citys decision at an administrative hearing, and a ruling is likely to come within the next two days, Thayer said.

The Democratic convention, including prime-time speeches at the United Center and the expected renomination of President Joe Biden, is scheduled for Aug. 19-22. Chicago, which last hosted the convention in 1996, is expected to see an estimated 50,000 people at the event, including 5,000 nominating delegates.

Linda Loew, co-founder of Chicago for Abortion Rights, said the planned protest was set for Aug. 18, the Sunday before the DNC kicks off, at the Jane M. Byrne Plaza, previously known as Water Tower Park. Group leaders picked the day, she said, because delegates and guests would be arriving in town, and could see the Democratic Party has to actually do something to defend and extend our rights.

Loew said they sought the permit on the first day applications opened on Jan. 2, and received an official rejection letter on Jan. 22. Groups including Chicago for Abortion Rights, Stop-Trans Genocide and the Gay Liberation Network, make up the new coalition called Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws.

The city declined to comment on the status of the ongoing permit dispute. A spokesperson said multiple city departments review parade permit applications to identify potential conflicts, safety issues and to assess the availability of resources necessary to support the gathering. The spokesperson said the city evaluates applications based on the details of the proposed routes and other events happening in Chicago.

If a permit is denied the applicant is given an alternative route that accounts for police resources, security and other additional factors, the spokesperson said. Officials with the DNC declined to comment on the citys permitting process.

Joe DiCola, an attorney for the Lawyers Guild Chicago representing the coalition, said the city didnt justify its denial during the hearing on an empirical assessment of the resources that theyll have available. Rather, he said, city officials spoke negatively about the marchs potential impact.

My clients want their march to have an impact  that impact is rooted in their First Amendment rights to express themselves to petition for redress of grievances, in this case, the vicious attacks against the LGBTQ+ community, DiCola said.

He said the city suggested the activists march in Grant Park where DiCola noted there would be much less visibility. He added that it offends the First Amendment and sets a regressive tone to the DNC.

Loew said Biden has been rather lukewarm on the issue of abortion rights. While previously saying he was not big on abortion because hes Catholic, Biden has said he supported the now-overruled Roe v. Wade decision and has vowed to push for a federal law codifying a womans right to abortion. Loew said she doesnt just want Biden to defend laws protecting abortion in states like Illinois; she wants these laws to extend nationwide.

Abortion access is one of the main issues Bidens campaign expects will drive Democrats to the polls. But Thayer pointed to the Hyde Amendment  an amendment barring federal funding of abortion except when necessary to save a womans life  as something Democrats should have worked to overturn. Biden proposed a budget for 2022 that excluded the Hyde Amendment but it was later reinstated.

(Democrats) are trying to use abortion as basically a tool in their tool chest to get elected, and thats not good enough, he said.

At the convention, Thayer said he wants the issues of expanding reproductive health care, LGBTQ+ rights and equal housing rights to be at the forefront, and said some of the pressure to focus on these issues must come from activists in the streets.

Whether the new coalition loses its appeal or not, Thayer said the group plans to march. He said hes disappointed in the citys contempt for the First Amendment, which he said is similar to conditions under previous mayors.

If they are worried about chaos, if they are worried about violence, then they will respect legitimate permit applications such as have been put in by this coalition, Thayer said.

rjohnson@chicagotribune.com
Mayor Adams announced Wednesday that his administration is creating a Citywide Clergy Collective to combat gun violence with $1.5 million in state funding.

Adams, who unveiled the cash outlay at his annual interfaith breakfast, said the new initiative will focus on the public safety crisis that were facing.

We are resilient. We never surrender. We never give up, he said to faith leaders at the New York Public Librarys main branch on 42nd St. in Midtown. You are the source of my strength. I need you so much now.

His new initiative aims to expand faith-led community interventions focused on gun violence.

According to a written statement from Adams City Hall team, the effort will be three-pronged: direct engagement through clergy walks, sports, arts and mentorships; spiritual support for survivors of gun violence and their families, and better engagement among clergy, police precincts and young people with criminal backgrounds.

The Rev. Gilford Monrose, head of the mayors Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, said the collective will focus on more than a dozen precincts where we see the highest violence over the five boroughs.

Those precincts will include the 40th, 42nd, 44th and 47th in the Bronx; the 69th, 73rd, 75th and 79th in Brooklyn; the 25th, 28th, 32nd and 34th in Manhattan; the 101st, 105th, 113th and 114th in Queens, and the 120th and 121st in Staten Island.

Adams has touted his performance on crime stats in recent weeks with the catchphrase crime is down, jobs are up. NYPD stats bear that out to some extent  murders and shootings are down  but the mayors critics, which included potential mayoral challengers have suggested it all depends on how you look it.

Adams contended Wednesday that hes going to stay focused in spite of all the noise.
Oh my god. Its a bear, Im almost sure of it, whispers wildlife guide Andrea De Angelis, handing me his thermal monocular and pointing to a spot on the adjacent hillside. The morning is ice cold and dawn still blankets the lumbering central Apennine mountains, which are a muted winter brown. We have set up on a treeless hillside a few miles from a farm; somewhere far away, cows are lowing in the lightening air. I pull off a glove and put the monocular up to my eye, scanning across the valley.

Its too big to be a wolf and it doesnt move like a deer. Definitely bear, says Andrea confidently. I scan around until I see the ghostly white outline of a large animal loping through the black-and-white frame. Suddenly the animal stops and turns sideways, and there it is: the distinctive outline of a Marsican brown bear.

Ive come on this wildlife-watching trip in central Italy with Wildlife Adventures, a tour agency that works closely with Rewilding Europe, the NGO working to boost rewilding conservation across the continent. The concept of rewilding is fairly new within nature conservation  it is a non-traditional approach focused on managing nature in such a way that it can begin to take its own course, so that natural processes will reshape and repair degraded ecosystems and landscapes.

The idea is that, through rewilding, Earths natural rhythms create freshly wild and newly biodiverse habitats on their own. The NGOs local branch, Rewilding Apennines, is tasked with tracking and populating several endangered and threatened species  animals that once roamed freely across central Italy  and works toward human-wildlife coexistence in these rural communities.

Wildlife guide Andrea De Angelis hikes through the wilderness (Megan Eaves)

Read more on Italy travel:

Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, where we are standing, was founded in 1923 and protects the Apennine wolf, Apennine chamois (a type of antelope), gryphon vultures and the endemic Marsican brown bear, a critically endangered variety of the Eurasian brown bear that survives in and around the park. Were lucky to spot one  Rewilding Apennines estimates only 60 to 90 individual bears are left. They typically start hibernating around December or earlier, but their habits are shifting due to global warming.

Tourism is a powerful aid to rewilding efforts here. The presence of wildlife draws visitors, who stimulate the economy and provide new livelihoods for locals in otherwise under-visited, rural mountain communities. Valerio Reale, enterprise officer for Rewilding Apennines, tells me that they have formed a small network of tourism providers  local artisans, small enterprises, brewers, cheesemakers and accommodation owners  who support the rewilding efforts and enrich travellers experiences with, for example, small-batch cheese-and-beer pairings, boutique B&Bs, Montepulciano vineyard tours (where you might just spot bear tracks) and markets that sell local honey, craft cider and prized black truffles.

One of the main strengths of this area is the combination of interesting products and the coexistence with wild animals, says Reale. Were driven by this idea that there is more to this region than the ski destination. And so we do lots of community events and we organise rewilding weeks and weekends, which are all tools for us as an NGO to raise awareness on rewilding in Italy and to support the local economy, support local jobs and give visibility to some interesting products.

The Marsican brown bear gets its name from a local tribe that pre-dated the Romans (Antonio Monaco)

Rewilding Apennines also runs Rewilding Experiences  weekend and week-long tours that include hands-on conservation science and education, alongside wildlife watching and visiting local artisans. Activities usually involve checking camera traps, building electric fences or tracking and cataloguing wildlife movements.

Reale tells me they are finding that more and more, people want to get their hands in the soil. They dont want to hear the story, they want to see the story, he says. Many want to spend time in the mountains removing barbed wire and things like that. Rewilding Apennines only hosts a few such experiences per year and these often sell out quickly  its worth keeping an eye on its website for dates and registration.

Back on the hillside, I am shivering while dawn has started to break in a sweep of magentas over the eastern horizon. The bear has moved on but Andrea has spotted something else. Something smaller this time. Something four-legged and wiry. Something I came here desperately hoping to see: a wild wolf.

He hastily trains the spotting scope onto the area while I keep watch through the thermal monocular. The wolf is on the move, heading up the hillside in search of higher ground.

Its likely been out hunting all night and looking for a place to rest, says Andrea, and sure enough, a few minutes later, the wolf comes to a halt on some boulders. It takes some serious skill with the scope but eventually, Andrea locates the wolf, its ruddy hackles, stone-grey fur and black-tipped tail blending in perfectly with the Abruzzan landscape.

The writer spotted a wolf, who did a fine job of blending into the landscape (Andrea De Angelis/Wildlife Adventures)

I fall immediately in love with this creature, whose floppy ears and cute, grinning snout stand in stark contrast to the ideas that society has ingrained us to believe about wolves. I know in theory I probably wouldnt survive an attack by this animal but if not friend, why friend-shaped? In reality, wolves in this area present very little risk to humans and will shy away from people, thanks largely to the work that the National Park and Rewilding Apennines do to keep wolf territories secluded from hikers and hunters.

Andrea and I stand together, taking turns peering through the scope watching the wolf nest in the rocks, occasionally sniffing the air or standing to reposition. Eventually, Andrea spots two more wolves trotting down a hillside farther away, musing that they are probably all part of the same pack, which prowls this specific ridgeline as its home territory.

The following day, we take a short but steep hike up the adjacent spine of mountains away from the packs territory. We dont spot any wolves in this part of the park, but there are several herds of red deer orbiting around us, including a magnificent group of stags, their giant antlers bobbing as they trot through a cluster of thick pines. There are also gryphon vultures and two golden eagles circling quietly overhead. At the top of the climb, on a saddle between two peaks, we toss our backpacks on the ground, fix our eyes on the mountainsides, and munch silently on local bread, salami and cheese  all made within a few miles of here.

Sitting here, where it feels remote and with wild animals roaming freely all around, it seems unfathomable that one of Europes biggest and most ancient cities  Rome  is only a 90-minute drive away. And that is the whole point of rewilding conservation: rather than aiming to restore an arbitrary baseline from the past, it seeks instead to allow nature to become wild anew in its own way, alongside humans  and to re-teach humans how to live alongside wildlife, too. The aim is a balanced ecosystem that allows communities and nature to coexist harmoniously. Spending time out here, in this small patch of re-flourishing biodiversity in the heart of Europe, seems a great way to get started.

Make it happen

Wildlife Adventures offers three-day, two-night trips for 240 (206) per person, which includes self-catering accommodation in a historic house in Pescasseroli. It also offers coordinated bespoke trips to visit local artisans or treks with an overnight stay in a mountain hut. You should be reasonably fit for mountain hiking and early morning excursions.

For an all-inclusive trip, Exodus Travels offers a longer six-day trip designed in partnership with Rewilding Apennines, including a 4-star hotel stay, hearty meals in local restaurants and trekking guides.

From the UK, take Eurostar plus international trains to Rome, or fly to Rome Ciampino and hire a car.

Read more on the best hotels in Italy
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita announced Wednesday his office reached a settlement with the owners of three Indianapolis-area apartments on the mistreatment of renters.

The settlement was reached with Willow Brook Gardens Apartments, Wellington Apartments and Briergate Apartments in Indianapolis. Rokitas office filed the lawsuit in July 2023 following complaints from tenants to the agency's consumer protection division.

IndyStar in 2023 reported that Willow Brook had received 22 Marion County Health Department cases against it since Beztak, a Michigan-based company, took over the property in June 2021.

Six tenants who spoke with IndyStar last year shared stories of neglect, mismanagement and hazardous living conditions at the apartment on Keystone Avenue.

Willow Brook Apartments are seen along 52nd Street, west of the intersection with Keystone Avenue, on Thursday, July 13, 2023, in Indianapolis. The Indiana Attorney General's office has filed a lawsuit against the complex's owner, Willow Brook Gardens LLC, and property manager, Beztak. The suit alleges they've repeatedly failed to respond to maintenance calls, have let conditions become uninhabitable and have improperly billed tenants, among other wrongdoings.

In a statement, Rokita praised his offices homeowner protection team for protecting the rights of Hoosier tenants.

We strive to ensure equal access to housing opportunities for regular, everyday Hoosiers, Rokita said in a statement.

According to the Attorney Generals Office, the settlement includes the following:

A $70,000 rent credit payments to accounts of current tenants of Willow Brook, Wellington and Briergate Apartments. Some tenants at those apartments will receive mail notifications about additional credits of $250 to $2,000 if they are eligible.

$20,000 total in restitution to be allocated to people following a review of previously submitted consumer complaints.

Dismissal and expungement of 150-plus evictions in Warren and Washington Township Small Claims Courts.

A two-year monitoring period for the apartments where they must submit reports to the Attorney Generals homeowner protection unit on maintenance and open health department cases.

Because of a partial power outage in his unit at Willow Brook Apartments, leaving some rooms without electrical power, Tom McNamara has to run power strips and extension cords throughout his home. Multiple cords feed into one power strip in the bathroom in order to light his living room, seen on Thursday, July 13, 2023, in Indianapolis.

Current and former tenants that have questions about the settlement can contact the Attorney Generals Homeowner Protection Unit at HPU@atg.in.gov.

According to Rokitas office, litigation against additional defendants in this case is still ongoing.

Rokitas office has previously won efforts to protect Hoosier tenants. In 2022, the state banned JPC Affordable Housing Foundation from Indiana for seven years. The company was behind the notorious Lakeside Pointe apartments.

IndyStar archives contributed to this story.

Contact IndyStar's state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana AG Todd Rokita's office wins settlement for mistreated renters
An 80-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran is on the verge of losing his home after his rent increased at his assisted living home in Lake City.

Action News Jax spoke with the sister of this Veteran, who said shes scared that her brother may not have a home.

All veterans who live here at Robert Jenkins State Veteran Domiciliary Home got a notice of a $400 rent increase. Many of them are worried they may have to leave this facility.

Hes scared. Im scared. This caused a lot of stress, said Donald Powers sister, Patricia Mangino.

Mangino lives in New Jersey and is the only family Power has.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Power has been living at this veterans home in Lake City for nearly six years. Now, Mangina doesnt know how long he has at this facility.

Mangino told Action News Jax that Power pays $1,845 each month for rent. With the $400 increase, his rent went up to $2,245. The problem is his income is only $2,336 a month.

By the time he pays his bills, he doesnt have any money at all, said Mangino.

Lieutenant Colonel of Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, Steven Murray said their rent doesnt just pay for their room, but things like healthcare.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

It also includes their travel off-campus medical appointment, it covers social engagements, and it covers all their meals, said Lieutenant Colonel Murray.

Veterans are given a $175 allowance each month.

That figure has never gone up. I said why dont you raise that figure. Youre going to raise the rent by $400, but I noticed youre not going to raise the allowance of $175, said Mangino.

Lieutenant Colonel Murray argued oppositely, and admitted he hasnt heard anything about raising the rate. I think the rate will stay the same for the $175. We are not going to lower that rate, and I havent heard anything about raising that rate, said Lieutenant Colonel Murray.

Another retired veteran is facing an even higher rent increase of $700 a month.

Thats way too much, said Veteran Charles Thompson.

He says he cant afford it.

I wont. I only get $1,995 a month, said Thompson.

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Were going to work together. No one is going to get kicked out for rate raises. Its covering the cost of care, said Lieutenant Colonel Murray.

We were not able to speak with 80-year-old Donald Power due to a doctors appointment he had.

Lieutenant Colonel Steven Murray says they will do what they can to keep their tenants.

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.
Aircraft laser strike reports soared to a record high in 2023, jumping 40% from the previous year, the Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday.

"The FAA takes this threat very seriously," said FAA Administrator Michael G. Whitaker in a videotaped statement.

Laser incidents have soared since 2020  more than doubling in three years. Pilots reported more than 13,000 laser strikes in 2023, the highest number ever reported, Whitaker said.

The number of laser strikes on aircraft in 2023 topped all previous records. This safety threat can temporarily blind pilots, often with hundreds of passengers onboard. Help crack down on this crime, report to authorities! Learn more at https://t.co/4QyRP2X8Hz. #LoseTheLaser pic.twitter.com/3yrLTIOzJB  The FAA  (@FAANews) January 31, 2024

A light beam from a laser can travel more than a mile, penetrate a cockpit and can temporarily blind a pilot or cause severe injury while they are flying planes carrying hundreds of passengers. Forty-seven pilots reported injuries from strikes in 2022.

California, Texas, and Florida led the nation in reported strikes in 2022, averaging about one per hour. The FAA said part of the reason strikes might be rising is due to the low cost and high quality of laser pointers.

Designated a federal crime by the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 offenders could be sentenced up to five years in prison, or a fine of up to $250,000. Civil penalties can fine offenders up to $25,000, according to a report submitted to Congress by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. States also can arrest local offenders, the report said.

The FAA works closely with federal law enforcement agencies and will pursue civil and criminal remedies against people who aim lasers at aircraft, Whitaker said.

Prosecution in recent years has remained low as the FAA has not coordinated fully with local or federal law enforcement investigating these incidents, the report said. Between July 2016 through September 2020, the FAA pursued actions for 99 of 232 laser incident offenders the agency identified primarily through civil penalties.

During the same period, the FBI reported they referred 86 cases for prosecution and received 40 convictions, but 23 of those offenders did not serve time. The FBI in Seattle offered a 10K reward after an increase in laser incidents there.

Kathryn Krupnik contributed to this report.

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A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.

Too Good

This isnt going to make or break the rule of law in America or register in the histories written of this era. But damn its too good to pass up because it combines Trumps only the best lawyering, with fake outrage, fact-free accusations, and another in the long, long line of bogus attacks laundered through right-wing media, picked up by Trump, and repeated as if gospel.

After losing badly to E. Jean Carroll to the tune of $83 million, Trump lawyer Alina Habba sent an outrageous letter to the trial judge Monday citing a New York Post story that the judge and Carrolls lawyer had a mentor-mentee relationship when they were at the same firm three decades ago. Habba admitted to not having all the facts, including  presumptuously  a denial from the judge. But she suggested the alleged but unproven pseudo-conflict of interest could be grounds for seeking a new trial.

Yesterday, Carroll attorney Roberta Kaplan fired back in a stinging letter of her own, calling the substance of the allegation false. Kaplan and the judge had overlapped at the same firm 30+ years ago when she was a young associate and he was the head of the firms litigation department, but she recalls having had no contact with him ever during that time. Kaplan concluded her letter with a not-so-veiled threat to seek sanctions against Habba.

It only took about two hours for Habba to back down. In a followup letter, Habba essentially raises the I was just asking questions defense. Knocked back on her heels by Kaplan, Habba denies she was a source for the underlying New York Post article.

Habba ends the letter with a double shot of smarm and disingenuousness: Since Ms. Kaplan has now denied that there was ever a mentor-mentee relationship between herself and Your Honor, this issue has been seemingly resolved.

Habba footnotes that sentence in a way sure to further antagonize the judge: There are, however, various other issues relating to the Courts conduct, including potential bias hostility towards defense counsel, that will be raised in post-trial motions and on appeal.

Habba just keeps on losing.

Just Call It What It Is

You cant divorce the House GOPs bogus impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas from its 2024 campaign strategy to vilify and demonize migrants and stoke xenophobic backlash for their own political ends  any more than you can separate out Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts manufactured border showdown. And yet impeachment coverage is going to overlook that and end up being a procedural blow-by-blow that lets their bad faith effort serve the exact purpose it was intended to serve. Not all the coverage is guilty though.

Keep Digging

Experts continue to scratch their collective heads over that mystery $48 million Trump loan that special master in the NY civil fraud case has raised questions about.

Illinois Keeps Trump On The Ballot

The Illinois Board of Election by an 8-0 vote ruled that (i) Donald Trumps statement of candidate was not knowingly false when it deemed him qualified for the presidency; and (ii) it lacked jurisdiction to consider whether Trump is ineligible under the Constitutions Disqualification Clause. So Trump stays on the ballot for now.

Still No Immunity Ruling From DC Circuit!

Politico: As judges mull presidential immunity, Trump reaps the benefits of delay

8th Circuit Decimates Votings Rights Act

The full 8th Circuit has declined to take up a stunning, precedent-busting three-judge panel decision that there is no private right of action under Section 2 to enforce the Voting Rights Act.

Cori Bush Under Federal Investigation

The unnamed House Democrat under investigation for alleged misspending on personal security has come forward. It is Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO).

Initial reports suggested the investigation was over misuse of government funds; whereas, Bush says the probe is over her use of campaign funds, including payments to her husband, a security guard whom she married last year. Its not clear to me whether thats a relevant or meaningful distinction in this matter.

[Sponsored] An Inside Story Of The Democratic Party At A Moment Of Great Peril

The Truce, from journalists Hunter Walker (of Talking Points Memo) and Luppe B. Luppen, explores the major fault lines that define Democratic politics today and asks big questions about the future of the party. An engrossing page-turner, The Truce grapples with the dangers that threaten American democracy and the complicated cast of characters who are trying to save it.

Buy the book

Jean Carnahan, 1933-2024

I dont want to reduce the life of former Sen. Jean Carnahan (D-MO), who died yesterday at 90, to the tragic airplane crash that killed her husband Mel and, too often overlooked, her son Randy in October 2000. But 2000 remains a dramatic fork in the road of modern American history, and I remember the shock of hearing of the crash alongside the other momentous events of that election cycle: the Florida recount and Bush v. Gore.

Mel, the sitting governor of Missouri, was locked in a tight Senate race with Sen. John Ashcroft (R) at the time of the crash and would go on to become the first person ever elected posthumously to the Senate. The Democratic lieutenant governor who succeeded Mel appointed Jean to his Senate seat, which she would hold until she lost an exceedingly close 2002 special election to Republican Jim Talent.

In a brutal turn of events for Missouri Democrats, the just-defeated Ashcroft became attorney general in the new Bush II administration. But, in a foreshadowing of the pattern weve become accustomed to in recent years, where the GOP villains of one era are left behind by their increasingly radicalized party, Ashcroft ended up a hero of sorts in a dramatic hospital bed scene famously described by his deputy James Comey, refusing to bow to Bush White House pressure to reauthorize a secret surveillance program.

Cecile Richards Reveals Brain Cancer Diagnosis

Cecile Richards, the former longtime president of Planned Parenthood and the daughter of the late Texas Gov. Ann Richards (D), revealed her brain cancer diagnosis.

Musks Deeply Flawed Tesla Pay Package Struck Down

A Delaware judge ruled in favor of Tesla shareholders that CEO Elon Musks pay package from the company was deeply flawed, an unfathomable sum, historically unprecedented, and incredible.

He Was Almost Brainwashed

WaPo: Ohio man sentenced to 18 years for bombing church that was hosting drag event

No Shortage Of Things To Pretend To Be Outraged About

Taylor Swift broke Fox News. pic.twitter.com/L2M2gBqd4U  The Recount (@therecount) January 30, 2024

Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know!
It is clear that in Chicago, police officers have been relegated to the status of second-class public servants.

Nowhere is this more in evidence than in the decision by Mayor Brandon Johnson and his City Council supporters to oppose providing police with the same arbitration rights as other public employees. The police arbitration issue is not about accountability; its about fairness. Johnson deserves credit for approving a new Chicago Police Department contract that is financially generous and fair. This, along with his selection of a new police superintendent drawn from the Chicago Police Department, signals a move beyond the anti-police rhetoric of his supporters. Both actions could provide a much-needed boost to morale and help improve police retention and recruitment.

It is therefore disappointing, if not surprising, that the mayor feels the need to oppose an arbitrators decision to allow cops to contest serious misconduct cases in arbitration, thereby ensuring that police officers have the same rights as all other public employees.

All Illinois public employees, covered by the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, have a fundamental right to a fair and impartial hearing before a labor arbitrator selected by their employer and their union to determine whether discipline issues against them are for just cause. Section 8 of the statute provides that all contracts must have a final and binding arbitration clause.

The arbitrator in the Fraternal Order of Police case has held that the new FOP contract should respect this fundamental right to due process and that police officers should have the right to select a hearing before an arbitrator jointly selected by the employees union.

This decision is consistent with decisions all over the state for police officers and firefighters who have obtained contract rights to elect to have their discipline cases, termination and suspensions heard by labor arbitrators. The city is attempting to break away from the universal pattern that has been established throughout the state.

Its high time the city entities specifically charged with CPD oversight  the bureau of internal affairs, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and the Police Board  be consolidated into a single professional oversight body and provided resources and support needed to ensure not only absolute fairness and consistency but also that investigations are concluded and recommendations made and acted upon in real time.

COPA has a history of long delays in investigations. Justice delayed is justice denied, even for police officers. These multiple layers of conflicting and sometimes unprofessional oversight are contributing to the historic exodus of officers and are destroying the proactive policing needed to deal with a surge in crime, as officers fear being punished and unsupported.

An Office of Inspector General report from 2022 points to a lack of consistency and fairness by which discipline of CPD members is reviewed and recommended. The OIG concluded agencies charged with investigating CPD members do not operate with sufficient guidance and controls to ensure procedural fairness and consistency.

An allegation that a CPD member has committed misconduct is usually investigated by CPDs bureau of internal affairs or COPA.

The OIG found that BIA and COPAs policies do not contain clear and actionable guidance on how investigators should weigh aggravating and mitigating factors in reaching disciplinary recommendations. Updates to BIA and COPAs policies may still be inadequate to ensure consistency and fairness. The Police Board lacks formal policies to consistently and fairly determine discipline for cases it considers.

The lack of credible training for COPA investigators is a well-documented problem. Every CPD officer must be proficient and pass standardized testing and training in order to become a police officer. Why cant COPA employees be held to the same standard? Those promoted into COPA leadership positions seem to have been selected for reasons other than proven competence and expertise. Little wonder the OIG reports the lack of consistency and fairness in investigations of CPD members.

Its time to afford the police the same arbitration rights afforded other state and local public employees in Illinois. Its also time to consolidate and professionalize police oversight and bring fairness and speed to the investigations of police officers. Eliminate COPA and consolidate police oversight under one board with police representation and investigatory expertise.

Joe Ferguson, a onetime inspector general, said it best: Justice must run in all directions  for all.

Paul Vallas is an adviser for the Illinois Policy Institute. He has run for Chicago mayor twice and was previously budget director for the city and CEO of Chicago Public Schools.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Story at a glance

The United States imported a whopping $508 million worth of tea in 2023.

That number is over $350 million more than what Americans were importing 30 years ago.

Millennials are the most likely to drink tea, with black and green tea being the favorites.

More Americans are becoming tea drinkers.

The U.S. imported $508 million worth of tea last year, roughly $350 million more than 30 years ago, according to recently released data from the Census Bureau.

Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world except water, with about 159 Americans alone drinking the lightly caffeinated beverage every day, according to the Tea Association of the U.S.A.

Tea drinkers are more heavily concentrated in the Northeast and in the Southern United States, where it is commonly served iced.

About 84 percent of all tea consumed in the U.S. is black tea and 15 is green tree, the organization found.

Between 75 and 80 percent of tea consumed in the United States is iced, according to the Tea Association of the U.S.A.

Not all Americans are drinking tea at the same rate though. Millennials are the most likely to be tea drinkers, according to the association.

Tea consumption is growing in the United States in the food service and retail sectors in part because of its health benefits, according to food service supplier Westrock Coffee Company.

Higher-end hot tea offerings that mix traditional black teas, green teas, flavors and herbal ingredients are growing both in retail and in food service outlets, said Kyle Newkirk, EVP of Global Sales at Westrock.

Consumers are looking for better-for-you alternatives with health benefits.

Studies show that drinking tea has a positive impact on health and can improve the immune system, boost metabolism, and ward off heart disease.

The price of tea has gone up with the average cost of a kilo bumping up to $3.05 in 2022 from $2.69 a kilo in 2021, according to World Bank data.

Tea prices fell again between 2023 to $2.74 per kilo, the data show.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The U.S. government has raised its travel alert level for Jamaica amid a spate of murders in the Caribbean nation, urging Americans to reconsider visiting the island "due to crime and [unreliable] medical services."

The State Department announced the change, to its Level 3 travel advisory, for Jamaica just a few days after it issued a warning about the Bahamas, which remained at a Level 2 advisory, urging Americans to "exercise increased caution," despite a series of murders there.

The warnings about travel to the popular tourist destinations come as many Americans are planning and booking their vacations for the year ahead.

The U.S. Embassy in Jamaica warned that "violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts."

An undated file photo shows people enjoying a sunny day on Doctor's Cave beach, in Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica. / Credit: Holger Leue/Getty

It added that Jamaican police "often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents." The advisory said that hospitals and ambulances are not always reliable and some private institutions may require payment up front.

"The homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica has for several years been among the highest in the Western Hemisphere," the State Department noted.

According to statistics published by the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the nation  which has a population of about 2.8 million  had recorded 65 homicides between Jan. 1 and Jan. 27 of this year. While that represents a significant drop from the same period the previous year, when there were 81 homicides, the number of shootings and people injured in crimes increased this January compared to last. The data show a major drop in the number of recorded rapes in January 2024 compared to the previous year.

The Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, the nation's oldest, reported on Monday that this monthly's murder tally of 65 included 19 murders during the previous week alone.

In the Bahamas, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau said in a message published on Jan. 24 that there had been 18 murders in the capital city since the start of the year, which had "occurred at all hours including in broad daylight on the streets."

It said most of the recent killings were linked to gang violence and urged travelers to "exercise extreme caution in the eastern part of New Providence Island (Nassau)" in particular, and to be extra careful if walking or driving at night.

"Do not physically resist any robbery attempt," the embassy warned, adding a suggestion for visitors to review their "personal security plans."

Tourism is a huge sector for Jamaica's economy, and Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett told the country's lawmakers in December that he expected a "spectacular growth pattern" seen during 2022 and 2023 to continue.

"The island should record a total of 4,122,100 visitors for the period January to December, 2023," he said, according to a statement on his ministry's website. "This would signal an increase of 23.7% over the total number of visitors recorded in 2022."

According to the ministry, tourism brought roughly $4.2 billion into Jamaica's economy in 2023.

Iran responds to U.S. retaliation threats after soldiers killed in Jordan

Prosecutors release new video of Jennifer Crumbley's arrest

Bear cubs native to Alaska found on Florida road
President Joe Biden will travel to East Palestine, Ohio, next month, roughly a year after a train derailment there caused an environmental disaster, a White House official said Wednesday.

Biden is expected to highlight the federal governments response to the disaster while calling on Congress to take further steps to address rail safety, officials told reporters Wednesday. Its not clear exactly which day he will visit.

The president has been under pressure to visit the area since the derailment on February 3, 2023. The White House has said that Biden would visit the area, but that didnt happen last year. In contrast, days after the incident, former President Donald Trump visited East Palestine  in an increasingly red Ohio  and criticized Bidens absence.

What resulted was a political maelstrom, while residents of East Palestine said they simply wanted to know whether the water they were drinking was safe.

In February, President Biden will travel to East Palestine, Ohio, to meet with residents impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment and assess the progress that his Administration has helped deliver in coordination with state and local leaders to protect the community and hold Norfolk Southern accountable, the official said in a statement Wednesday.

Biden was invited by East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway and other community leaders to travel to East Palestine, Ohio, next month, the White House said.

The mayor and community leaders invited the president to meet with East Palestine residents and also assess the recovery progress thats been going on for some time now, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. The president had always said that he would go when it is most helpful to the community. And with this invitation, obviously, very recent, and the current status of the recovery, we felt that the time was right.

The incident caused a massive fire and prompted officials to evacuate hundreds of people who lived near the site because of fears that a hazardous, highly flammable material might ignite. To prevent a potentially deadly explosion, toxic vinyl chloride gas was vented and burned, releasing a plume of black smoke over the town for days.

Other chemicals of concern at the site include phosgene and hydrogen chloride, which are released when vinyl chloride breaks down; butyl acrylate; ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate; and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. All these chemicals can change when they break down or react with other things in the environment, creating a stew of potential toxins.

Residents were given the all-clear to return to their homes February 8 after air monitoring in East Palestine did not detect any elevated chemicals of concern. Some residents of East Palestine said they had developed rashes, sore throats, nausea and headaches after returning to their homes, and worried the symptoms were related to chemicals released after a derailment.

Residents and local officials have expressed frustration with the response following the incident. During a call with reporters on Wednesday, Bidens Environmental Protection Agency administrator defended the administrations response to the disaster.

Under President Bidens leadership, our emergency response personnel from the US EPA arrived on the scene within hours of the derailment, joining the local first responders who heroically prevented loss of life, serious injury and additional property damage in the surrounding residential area, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said. Every day since, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has been laser focused on this community and our work is not yet done.

That response and subsequent EPA oversight, the administrator said, has left the administration confident the residents of East Palestine are not at risk from impacted surface water, soil or air from the derailment.

But pressed Wednesday on if Biden planned to drink the water during his visit next month, Jean-Pierre wouldnt say.

You know, this is not about some sort of political stunt here, this is not what this is about, she told reporters. This is about this president being a president for everyone and showing up showing up for this community, thats what this is about. Not going to get into some sort of political stance about drinking water, what were going to focus about is making sure they have what they need.

Biden has drawn criticism from congressional Republicans and former President Donald Trump for his delayed decision to visit the site of the February 2023 train derailment.

And Conaway, the towns mayor, has repeatedly been critical of Biden, recently telling Fox News: My personal opinion the best time for him to come would be February of 2025 when he is on his book tour.

Jean-Pierre downplayed the tension, telling reporters that Conaway is allowed to say whatever he wants to say. But he also invited the president, this president, this current president.

She said that the invitation came very, very recently and the White House is working with local officials to set a date and time.

In the weeks after the crash, federal investigators said they found it to have been 100% preventable, but added there was no evidence the trains crew did anything wrong.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the crash site about three weeks after the derailment. Buttigieg later acknowledged mistakes in his response, saying he should have visited sooner and failed to anticipate the eventual political fallout from the trains derailment.

In a letter to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, Buttigieg demanded accountability and called for greater safety regulations and efforts to bolster railway safety initially showed some bipartisan promise. But efforts to address rail safety have since been stymied by Republicans in Congress, Buttigieg told reporters during a call Wednesday.

Almost one year after the Norfolk Southern derailment, Congress has still not passed the bipartisan Railway Safety Act, Buttigieg said. It should not be the case that one year after that derailment, we are still waiting for Congress to act, and yet we have seen many who had a lot to say about this in Congress a year ago still not make clear on the record whether they are for or against this bill, and weve seen some House Republicans who have now voted twice to pass legislation that would cut railroad safety fund funding and track inspections.

This story has been updated with additional reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Of all the policing decisions in Chicago, few were as clueless as former police Chief David Browns so-called Strategic Deployment Initiative. That was the fancy name for the decision to park squad cars in high-profile locations like Michigan Avenue, Oak Street or outside the Nederlander Theatre in the North Loop at curtain time, turn on the blue lights and let the officer coddled in the warm drivers seat collect some nice overtime.

The theory was that the police presence would deter criminals and make residents and visitors feel safer. The dystopian reality was that you would come around the corner, see the flashing blue lights, worry there was some kind of major incident waiting in your path and feel far less safe than you did before.

The so-called scarecrow police cars occasionally were empty by design, but mostly a single officer sat there removed from everything going on outside the car doors.

No Good evening, no How are you, tonight? no Welcome to Chicago, no Is there anything worrying you right now?

If a major crime had been committed, we dont doubt the officer would have reacted and, over the last few months, we occasionally saw a police officer on the sidewalk instead of inside his or her car. But on an everyday basis, these police officers, often from different districts, felt like they were hermetically sealed off from the world outside. They were unapproachable.

Clearly, a much better plan would have been to station a couple of officers on foot, or maybe even horseback, which is precisely what routinely happens in and around Times Square in New York. Those police officers chat with folks, keep an eye on potential terrorist activity, look out for other kinds of trouble, build some trust with the public, pose for selfies and maybe even help recruit a few kids with an interest in becoming officers themselves. Safety is as much about perception as reality, especially in terms of how it affects businesses reliant on visitors unused to everyday life in a big city like Chicago.

So we were glad to see Chicagos new police Chief Larry Snelling tell the Chicago Sun-Times he is getting rid of the initiative. We were less glad to see him apparently worrying more about overtime costs than the serious limitations of the prior program.

Making people feel safe downtown is an excellent use of his budget: a couple of known police officers patrolling Jewelers Row in the Loop the other day might just have deterred a shocking and fatal ambush of two teenagers. And we know of no downtown business that is looking to have less police presence outside their doors. Not right now.

What do those restaurants, stores and theaters want instead? Better  and more engaged  police presence, achieving more goals at once.

By all means, Chief Snelling, give commanders and deputy chiefs more autonomy in the use of their budgets. But they shouldnt just be hoarding the cash in advance of the Democratic Party convention this summer; those folks will be here and gone. They should be using it to help downtown Chicago change what has become a pernicious and destructive global perception.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A train engineer from Utah was seriously hurt Monday night when a truck slammed into an Amtrak train at a Colorado rail crossing.

The engineer, a 42-year-old from Park City, was airlifted to Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette, Colorado, with life-threatening injuries, the Colorado State Patrol said.

Doctor charged with sexually abusing, inappropriately touching several workers at Utah clinic

Three of the 69 passengers on the Amtrak California Zephyr train were also hospitalized, but their injuries were minor, KDVR reported.

The crash happened just after 10:30 p.m. in Keenesburg, roughly 40 miles northeast of Denver. A truck carrying 10,000 gallons of milk blew through a stop sign and slammed into the train, which was bound for Chicago.

A California Zephyr Amtrak train derailed after colliding with a milk truck on the tracks, representatives of Amtrak and the Colorado State Patrol confirmed. (credit: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

The collision knocked the train off its tracks and toppled the locomotive, The Associated Press reported.

While the crash is still under investigation, the truck driver, a 31-year-old man from Fort Wainright, Alaska, is believed to be at fault, authorities said. Neither the truck driver nor his passenger were hurt.

Amtrak service was shut down along the route, with all trains heading toward Chicago being stopped in Denver on Tuesday, KDVR reported. Its unclear when Amtrak service will resume along the route.

The tracks where the crash happened are owned by BNSF Railway, which will be responsible for the cleanup.

The Associated Press has contributed to this story.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
By Andreas Rinke and Sarah Marsh

BERLIN (Reuters) - This month German Chancellor Olaf Scholz marshalled his ministers to discuss for two hours straight strategies on how best to tackle the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is polling in second place nationwide.

The AfD's success has become an urgent concern for all mainstream parties in Germany amid fears that it could sweep communal and European elections in June and three state elections in eastern Germany in September.

Once dismissed as a fringe movement, the 11-year-old anti-establishment party has about 20% support nationwide, behind only the main opposition conservatives, polls suggest. It places first in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg in eastern Germany.

Underscoring how Berlin's thinking has changed, the ministers at Scholz's meeting acknowledged that public infighting within their unwieldy three-way coalition had contributed to the rise of the AfD, a government source said.

"We recognised we have to convey better the fact that the coalition actually does work," the source said.

But it's not just the cabinet. Strategies to fight the AfD have dominated discussions at meetings of all mainstream parties. Options have ranged from a ban on the AfD to the suspension of state financing and legal measures to prevent the most extremist politicians from standing for office.

"We once again have a right-wing extremist party ... that wants to destroy our free, democratic basic order, and that we have not managed to politically constrain in the last 10 years," conservative lawmaker Marco Wanderwitz, who is leading the push for a ban, told Reuters.

"Instead it is getting bigger."

Another strategy gaining traction is for all mainstream parties to club together against the AfD, for example all backing a single candidate in elections - something they have already done successfully at communal level.

NO CONSENSUS

But there is no consensus so far either within the parties or across the political spectrum on the best strategy.

Scholz, whose Social Democrats are in coalition with the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), appears to have changed his tone. Having earlier sounded dismissive of the AfD, the chancellor has in a rare act of public contrition acknowledged missteps by the coalition.

His government has also taken a tougher line on some migration issues and passed legislation this month to facilitate the deportation of migrants without a legal right to asylum.

On Wednesday Scholz evoked the Nazi past to urge Germans to fight extremism together and see the AfD for what it is.

"Those who remain silent are complicit," he said.

The AfD says it is the victim of a state-backed campaign.

"What's happening here is a huge scandal: a government with nothing to offer politically is now resorting out of despair and fear of the AfD's looming electoral successes to the most disgraceful measures," Hans-Christoph Berndt, the party's leader in the parliament of Brandenburg, told reporters.

A landmark court ruling this month allowing public funding to the radical right-wing party Die Heimat to be cut on grounds of being anti-constitutional has fuelled a debate on whether a similar step could be taken against the AfD.

The AfD is under state surveillance on suspicion of being anti-constitutional.

In Thuringia, a court determined local party chief Bjoern Hoecke could be described as a fascist. More than one million people have signed a petition calling for him to lose his right to stand for election, in what would be an unprecedented legal procedure.

But many politicians are cautious about such legal options, saying they face high hurdles, could take years and ultimately backfire.

"We have to avoid conferring (on the AfD) martyr status and rather fight it politically with arguments," Sven Schulze, head of the conservatives in Saxony-Anhalt, told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Hoecke is already making hay with the petition against him.

"This is not democracy anymore. This is semi-totalitarianism we live in," he said in a video on Facebook.

POLICIES IN FOCUS

The idea of all parties uniting against the AfD also risks bolstering the party by allowing it to argue that there is no real difference between the mainstream parties and cast itself as the only genuine alternative, critics say.

The one strategy all mainstream parties seem to agree on is highlighting the actual policies of the AfD, which is anti-EU, anti-immigrant and disputes that human activity is a cause of climate change.

"We have to force the AfD into campaign mode by showing people they are a danger for Germany and Europe," Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the FDP's lead candidate for the European Parliament elections, told Reuters.

Many politicians highlighted a report this month about discussions between AfD politicians and right-wing radicals about mass deportations of citizens of foreign origins.

The AfD has said such plans are not party policy. But the proposals evoked dark memories of the Nazis' initial plan to deport European Jews to Madagascar, prompting hundreds of thousands to take to the streets in protest.

Such protests may have had some effect: a poll on Tuesday showed the AfD dropping below 20% for the first time since July.

(Reporting by Sarah Marsh and Andreas Rinke; Additional Reporting by Alexander Ratz and Thomas Escritt; editing by Matthias Williams and Gareth Jones)
By Andrew Gray

BRUSSELS(Reuters) - A standoff between Germany and other European Union countries has cast uncertainty on the future of an EU military aid fund that has bankrolled billions of euros in arms for Ukraine.

While Berlin and many other EU nations say they are strongly committed to keeping up weapons supplies to Kyiv, the bloc's members have been wrangling for months over how best to do so.

EU leaders will discuss the issue at a summit on Thursday, which will also try to reach agreement on a four-year plan for 50 billion euros ($54.23 billion) of economic aid for Ukraine.

Most EU countries are ready to inject 5 billion euros into the military aid fund to help Kyiv but Germany wants changes to the fund first, according to diplomats, who say they are unsure whether a deal will be reached at the summit.

The standoff is part of a broader debate over how to get arms supplies to Ukraine on a long-term footing, given added urgency by struggles to get aid for Kyiv through the U.S. Congress and the possibility of a second Trump administration.

The tussle over military aid reflects tensions over burden-sharing, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz having publicly accused most EU countries of not providing enough for Ukraine.

German officials have voiced frustration that they have pledged 8 billion euros in bilateral military aid for Ukraine this year but are also on the hook for the biggest payments into the European Peace Facility (EPF) fund - while other countries have promised far less for Kyiv.

The spat also raises questions about EU aspirations to become a single heavy hitter on the world stage, with a bigger defence role, rather than a collection of 27 nations where military policy is mainly the domain of national governments.

Europeans are at a juncture, in the sense that they are learning the hard way to talk the talk and walk the walk on security issues," said Camille Grand, a defence expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations and former senior NATO official.

CASHBACK SCHEME

At the heart of the debate is the EPF, which operates as a giant cashback scheme, giving EU members refunds for sending munitions to other countries.

The EU has given more than 5 billion euros to the fund for Ukraine aid since Russia's all-out invasion in February 2022.

Countries pay into the fund according to their economic size and get payouts based on the aid they donate.

The fund accounts for a only a fraction of overall European aid to Ukraine. But its use for the war was a landmark moment.

For the first time, a bloc that had long shied away from hard power gave offensive weapons to a country at war. And the move sent a signal to Kyiv, Moscow, Washington and Beijing that Europe as a whole was stepping up to help Ukraine.

But now countries are arguing over its future role as Europe's military aid effort for Ukraine moves from providing munitions from stocks to placing new orders with arms firms.

Some see it as an effective way to keep channelling aid to Ukraine and a blueprint for greater EU defence cooperation.

"The EPF is the only thing that functions, the only thing that we can build on," said Kusti Salm, the top civil servant in Estonias defence ministry.

But the fund has also attracted controversies.

EU members have clashed over the amounts some were claiming in refunds for sending old stock to Ukraine.

As the fund operates on unanimity, Hungary has been able to hold up 500 million euros in payouts to other EU members for Ukraine aid for more than six months.

Berlin has demanded big changes, suggesting bilateral aid should be taken into account when determining contributions.

It is crucial for Ukraine that military aid reaches it without delay, said Michael Clauss, Germany's ambassador to the EU. Bilateral support is quick and direct, and should be considered as an equivalent contribution under EPF rules."

French President Emmanuel Macron said in Stockholm on Tuesday he was ready to reform the EPF but did not go into detail. He has floated the idea of EU bonds to fund a boost in the bloc's own defences and get more arms to Ukraine.

In recent days, the EUs diplomatic service has suggested ways to overcome stumbling blocks with the EPF: Hungarys cash could go to aid for countries other than Ukraine and bilateral aid could be offset against contributions.

But it is unclear how those ideas would work in detail.

Smaller countries are arguing strongly for the EPF to continue to fund Ukraine aid. The say being part of a bigger pool means their cash can be spent more quickly and effectively.

It's just like with COVID and vaccines - if we don't have a European purchasing mechanism, we're at the back of the line," said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.

Without some European mechanism, I've been joking that we're going to purchase tents and pocket knives."

(This story has been refiled to correct the spelling of the economist's name)

(Additional reporting by John Irish; Writing and reporting by Andrew Gray; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Jevin Hodge is the newest member of the Arizona House of Representatives, filling a vacancy in the Tempe-based Legislative District 8.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday chose Hodge from a list of three nominees. He replaces Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, who resigned at the end of 2023 to take a job working to promote reproductive freedom. State law requires replacements to be from the same political party as the departing lawmaker.

Hodge will fill out the remainder of Salman's term. He is the chief executive of the Booker T. Washington Child Development Center, the longest-running Head Start program for early education in the state.

"I'm getting very strong consideration and very strong encouragement to run again. But I'll make that decision in due time," Jevin Hodge told The Arizona Republic in an interview.

Hodge was the Democratic nominee for Congressional District 1 in 2022, losing by a narrow margin to incumbent U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz. In 2020, Hodge lost a close race to county supervisor Jack Sellers, who on Wednesday joined his colleagues in a unanimous vote to send Hodge to the state House of Representatives.

Supervisor Tom Galvin, who made the motion to appoint Hodge, said he believes Hodge will avoid the "toxic partisanship" that has marked some of the relations at the state Capitol.

"He has pledged to work with everyone there, on both sides of the aisle," Galvin said.

Supervisor Steve Gallardo said Hodge's experience means he should be able to jump quickly into work at the Legislature, which is in its fourth week of work. Democrats in the Arizona House said details are still being worked out for when Hodge will be sworn into office.

Sellers praised the three candidates who were nominated by precinct committee members in LD 8. The other nominees were Deborah Nardozzi and Jacob Raiford.

This is the sixth appointment the county supervisors have made this legislative cycle, as resignations and, in one case, expulsion, have caused churn in the lawmaker ranks.

The work is not over. Soon, the process will start to find a replacement for Rep. Jennifer Longdon, D-Phoenix. She resigned Jan. 26 to take a post with the Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers.

The precinct committee members in Legislative District 5 will screen candidates and forward three names to the supervisors. LD5 covers a large swath of central Phoenix, from near downtown north to the Phoenix Mountains Preserve.

Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-228-7566 and follow her on Threads as well as on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @maryjpitzl.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Democrat Jevin Hodge appointed to Arizona House of Representatives
(WHTM)  The Quaker Oats Company has announced that it is expanding its December recall of various granola bars and cereal products for the second time, due to the risk of salmonella contamination.

The company announced Wednesday, January 31, that an additional granola bar, the Quaker Chewy Dipps Llama Rama bar, has been added to the list of recalled products in the U.S.

Photo Courtesy FDA

According to the FDA, the recalled granola bars were discontinued in September 2023 and have Best Before dates of February 10 or 11, 2024.

This is the latest in a string of salmonella recalls from Quaker Oats. The companys initial recall was issued on December 15, 2023. It was then expanded on January 11, 2024.

Quaker Oats expands salmonella recall to additional products

The recalled products were sold throughout the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Saipan.

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The FDA is telling consumers to check their pantries for any of the products and dispose of them.

Consumers in possession of the recalled products can also contact Quaker Consumer Relations between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday at 1-800-492-9322 or by going online to www.QuakerRecallUSA.com for more information or reimbursement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  As of Monday, it became official  the 2024 tax season is underway, meaning the Internal Revenue Service has started accepting and processing returns for 2023.

What do you need to do to make sure you file on time and get your money? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and the answers to those questions directly from the IRS.

When does tax season begin?

The IRS began accepting and processing returns on Jan. 29, so if you have all of your documents and personal information, you can file right now. If youre still waiting on your W-2, your employer has until Jan. 31 (Wednesday) to get it to you.

Whats the best way for people to file their taxes?

That depends on your income. For those with low to moderate income, the IRS suggests volunteer income tax assistance or tax counseling for the elderly.

If you make less than $79,000 a year, do it yourself with Free File through IRS.gov.

Public Wi-Fi jeopardizes users private information

For everyone else, use tax software or a licensed professional. The Better Business Bureau offers some tips to help you find the best one for you.

Once you file, when should you expect to see your refund?

According to the IRS, most refunds are issued in 21 days or less, but some require a closer look, more information, or an additional review, and take a little while longer to process.

While you wait, use the Wheres My Refund? tool on IRS.gov.

When does tax season end?

The deadline to both file your tax return and request an extension is April 15.

The IRS said it is undergoing an overhaul in an attempt to improve its technology and customer service processes.

Need help? Contact Better Call 4

This year, you may notice more walk-in centers open to help taxpayers, but the agency continues to stress that to help avoid delays, avoid filing paper returns whenever possible. Plan to file electronically with direct deposit, which is the fastest and easiest way to file and receive a refund.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Christopher Rufo, the far-right advocate who championed the ousting of former Harvard University president Claudine Gay, has been promoting a newsletter that has been accused of advocating for scientific racism, according to The Guardian. The publication, Aporia, is a Substack newsletter, for which executive editor Bo Winegard penned an article last year about supposed evidence that human populations vary in intelligence, as measured by IQ tests, partially because of genes. As recently as Jan. 3, Winegard published an article claiming that different races have different average levels of intelligence. In response to The Guardians request for comment, Winegard said: Is Charles Darwins The Descent of Man scientific racism? In addition to including Aporia in the recommended section of his own newsletter, Rufo appeared on the publications podcast in August to promote his book. While Rufo says he advocates for colorblind equality, his link to what experts deem scientific racism casts a harsh light on his quest to oust Gay, especially considering he cited a eugenicists paper in his own post calling for her removal.

Read it at The Guardian

Read more at The Daily Beast.
The editorial Chicago should cool down on banning natural gas in new buildings and let this be debated statewide (Jan. 28) includes erroneous assumptions about natural (methane) gas that the Tribune Editorial Board should revisit. We are in the midst of a climate emergency, so bold action like this ban is a significant step forward.

The editorial board is afraid that a methane gas ban would make buildings less affordable. We dont understand the boards position because as a power source, methane gas is far more expensive than electricity to heat our homes and businesses. A 2022 Natural Resources Defense Council study found that Chicagoans could save roughly $11,000 to $24,000 over 20 years by ditching expensive methane gas and fully electrifying their homes.

The editorial board also questions whether a gas ban in new buildings even would do much at this stage of the decarbonization campaign to cut carbon emissions. In reality, a methane gas ban would significantly reduce Chicagos greenhouse gas emissions. According to the City of Chicago Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report issued in 2019, residential buildings  single-family homes and apartment buildings  contributed 27% of Chicagos greenhouse gas emissions while commercial and institutional buildings and facilities contributed another 25%. The above-mentioned 2022 NRDC study concluded that these greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by more than half just by replacing all methane gas furnaces with electric heat pumps in these buildings.

The editorial board contends that electrification of Chicago homes will increase the demand for electricity from the power grid and that it will require more methane gas to supply electricity, so the board suggests that this would be a wash. This is a grossly false argument because even if the grid is 100% powered by methane gas, using electric heat pumps instead of gas furnaces in homes would still save greenhouse gas emissions. Of course, the grid will never be 100% fossil fuel-powered and the proportion of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, along with non-carbon-emitting nuclear, is more likely to increase, so this assumption is highly misleading.

The Tribune Editorial Board urges Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City Council to put the subject on ice and wait for statewide action. We disagree. A ban on methane gas in new construction is needed now. We are grateful that Chicago is taking a leading role in addressing the climate emergency.

 Bruce W. Mainzer, vice chair, Climate Reality Project, Chicago chapter

Waiting on state a bad idea

Publishing Scott Stantis cartoon (Jan. 28) suggesting that Mayor Brandon Johnson is coming for our gas stoves is irresponsible, alarmist disinformation. I also disagree with the editorial, but it at least is factual.

The ban on natural gas would be for new buildings only and would make a substantial contribution to reducing Chicagos carbon footprint. Waiting for the rest of Illinois would be like waiting for Godot.

It is the big cities with intensive use of natural gas that must take the lead and have the economic power to stand up to the natural gas lobby, whose interest is certainly not centered on protecting citizens from global warming.

 Joan Safford, Evanston

A cleaner, healthier future

The Chicago City Council should study and pass the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance (CABO) so that Chicago can begin to move toward the important goal of a cleaner and healthier future. Chicago took a major step forward when the City Council and Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced CABO, and there needs to be an open discussion in the council about its benefits. Instead, the proposed ordinance has been sent to languish in the Rules Committee, where bills infamously go to die.

Chicago has the opportunity to be another major city in the nation to take this necessary step toward a cleaner, healthier and more affordable future for its residents. The ordinance would require all new construction to meet indoor emissions standards through the use of electric heating, cooling, water heating, cooking and clothes drying appliances.

Note that the ordinance does not outright ban construction using gas. Rather, it specifies that indoor air quality must meet a standard that natural gas appliances simply cannot achieve, thus making them incompatible with health.

Get the bill out of the Rules Committee so that the process can move forward with the urgency that the issue demands.

 Don Macica and Carolina Cifuentes, Chicago

Heating buildings electrically

I appreciate the perspective taken in Sundays editorial, along with the accompanying Scott Stantis cartoon, concerning the push to ban gas in new buildings.

Im a mechanical engineer with 60 years of experience, and I recently listened to a podcast offered by Trane, a leading heating and cooling equipment manufacturer. It reports that heating buildings electrically is effective to outside temperatures of only 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Then supplemental natural gas heat must be used for interior comfort. Chicagoland certainly falls within this category!

The electrical grid must be up to the challenge of more demand, including the reliability of ComEd.

 Fred J. Wittenberg, Evanston

Delivered daily without fail

We have been residents in Glenview for many years and have been subscribers to the print and digital editions of the Chicago Tribune for many of those years.

Our newspaper is delivered every day, without fail, to our driveway by Ken Harrison who has been delivering newspapers  the Tribune and The Wall Street Journal  for decades. The newspaper arrives every day before 6 a.m. and often before 5:30 a.m.

Throughout COVID-19, we looked forward to receiving the print Tribune, and we were never disappointed. On the coldest days, the paper was there. Recently, because of the rain, the newspaper was double-wrapped in plastic to keep the paper dry.

Surely, the financial pressure on the publishing of daily newspapers in the U.S. has been severely hampered by the drop in home subscriptions. And that reality is partly due to the unreliability of the delivery of newspapers to homes.

All the more reason we are very grateful to Ken who has been a stalwart member of the Chicago Tribune home delivery system for decades.

Thank you, Ken!

 Al and Theresa Kearney, Glenview

Delivered early and carefully

Were glad to have this opportunity to recognize Ray Wilcox of Orland Hills for delivering our Tribune carefully wrapped and very early for decades. On the rare occasions when the paper isnt there as usual, our first thought is hoping everything is OK with Mr. Wilcox.

 John and Cindy Beberman, Orland Park

Ensured this small enjoyment

Though we enjoy all the trappings of our modern conveniences, nothing is as satisfying as holding our newspaper in hand and leisurely reading all thats offered therein, seven days a week at morning breakfast. Yes, were retired and have time to read what we want, but as many old folks agree, a newspaper in hand is worth the expense.

Thanks to our delivery person, Ron Medendorp, were ensured this small enjoyment in this busy, crazy world.

We appreciate Rons effort every single day of the year.

 Vern Scarpelli, Orland Park

Join the conversation in our Letters to the Editor Facebook group.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Arkansas Symphony Orchestra is putting the finishing touches on its $11.75 million Stella Boyle Smith Music Center in Little Rock, according to a press release.

The 20,000-square-foot center will be the symphony orchestras first permanent home in its 58-year history.

The press release said that ASO hoisted the final structural beams for the center on Jan. 30, and key supporters and community partners were invited to sign one of the three beams during the topping-out celebration.

ASO CEO Christina Littlejohn announced at the event that the music centers lobby will be named for Irene and Gus Vratsinas, in honor of the couples longtime generosity of time and resources dedicated to ASO, according to the press release.

Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper to stop at Walmart AMP

Gus Vratsinas is a lifetime member of the ASO Board of Directors, a key leader in raising funds for the new center and a chairman of the board of Bailey Construction & Consulting LLC, the general contractor for the Stella Boyle Smith Music Center.

Their passion for Little Rock and understanding of the critical role live performances and music education play in building a creative, vibrant city and community are why hundreds of thousands of Arkansans in the past 50 years and the next 50 years can experience the joy and wonder of live symphonic music, said Littlejohn.

The center will serve youth and adults of all ages with a variety of musical programming. It will provide access to music education, music performances and music-making to residents from Arkansas through new spaces and a broadcast and recording studio.

ASO broke ground the project on Aug. 10, 2023. More than 200 donors have contributed to the project, including 48 musicians, raising more than $11 million, according to the press release.

The release said while performances by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will still be held at Robinson Center, the Stella Boyle Smith Music Center will provide additional community gatherings and allow ASO to grow its programs.

The new music center is scheduled to open in the fall.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A local nonprofit that provides shelter for homeless veterans has stopped its operations due to an alleged embezzlement scheme.

Martin Svoboda II is charged with stealing from Arkansas Veterans Village (AVV). According to members of the non-profit, he stole over $150,000.

President of AVV Cindy Ford realized something was wrong on December 11, 2023.

I was out walking my dog and I got a call on the phone and I looked and it said Arvest Bank. So, I answered the call and the lady on the phone said Ms. Ford your account is $7,000 overdrawn, said Ford.

Fayetteville man says crypto scheme led him to steal money from veterans nonprofit

Ford says Svoboda has been the treasurer for AVV for many years. Hunter Chastain is the secretary for the organization. He says he was shocked a veteran wouldnt protect other veterans.

He worked with employees in the school system, former army major. We thought the trust was there. So, it was a shock to the system, said Chastain.

According to court documents, Svoboda admitted to detectives on December 13, 2023 he stole around $150,000. However, Ford and Chastain believe it was more. On January 2, 2024, Svoboda was arrested.

7hills Homeless Center plans to expand resources with overnight shelter

I thought I would feel some great relief and be back to normal when the arrest happened. He said youre not. Thats gone, said Ford.

According to members, the trust the organization had for Svoboda is gone.

Depending on the circumstances, you are relying on the person next to you. And having that military mindset and him being an army major, its like being shot in the back, said Chastain.

Ford says what hurts isnt the money being gone. Its not being able to help veterans in need.

What he really stole, he stole shelter from homeless vets who are depending on us, said Ford.

AVV is already taking steps to recovery. Ford says they have already created two new bank accounts and the group is creating a system where everyone has a second pair of eyes on all the operations.

If you would like to help AVV and homeless veterans in our area, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
OSCEOLA, Ark.  An Arkansas woman was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday for the murder of her husband.

Karen Denton was charged with first-degree murder in July 2022 after her husband, Thomas Porter, was shot at the Days Inn in Osceola and died from his injuries.

Woman charged with murder in Osceola

Denton pleaded guilty during a court hearing Tuesday and received a 30 year sentence in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

This significant plea is part of a series of successful prosecutions, including

four first-degree murder convictions after jury trials in Crittenden and Mississippi counties, said State Prosecuting Attorney Sonia F. Hagood.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
A Bucks County man was arrested inside Fort Indiantown Gap late Tuesday evening after police say he severed his father's head and posted it on YouTube. Officials said he jumped the fence at the large military facility and was armed when taken into custody.

Justin Mohn, 32, of Levittown, was charged Wednesday in the death of his 68-year-old father, Michael Mohn, whose decapitated body was found in a bathroom of his Middletown home at around 7 p.m.

The Fort Indiantown Gap Police Department was contacted by Bucks County authorities Tuesday night, alerting them that they had pinged Mohn's cellphone in the area. Angela Watson, communications director for the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said officers found his vehicle outside one of the fences.

"We were contacted again with another ping on his cellphone that was inside the installation," she said. "He had jumped one of the fences and was apprehended on foot here at the installation without incident."

More: Levittown man charged with beheading father. He posted grisly YouTube video after

More: Who is Justin Mohn? Levittown man in YouTube beheading video sued government, made music

Watson added that Mohn was armed at the time of his arrest. He was being held by Gap police until Bucks County officers picked him up Wednesday morning.

Police have not identified a reason why Mohn was at the installation as of Wednesday morning.

The installation is the nation's "busiest" National Guard Training Center, according to its website.

Investigation into Levittown beheading

Middletown Township Police responded to the 100 block of Upper Orchard Drive on Tuesday evening. Officers said that Michael Mohn's wife had found the body and said Justin Mohn and a 2009 Toyota Corolla were missing.

According to court documents, Justin Mohn allegedly used a machete and a large kitchen knife, both found in a bathtub. Police recovered the victim's head wrapped in plastic in a large cooking pot.

Police also found rubber gloves in a second-floor bedroom, which appeared to have blood on them.

YouTube Video a "call to arms"

In a rant posted on YouTube on Tuesday, Justin Mohn displayed what he said was the severed head of his father and describing him as a 20-year federal employee.

All federal agents, US Marshals, federal judges and border patrol are to be killed or captured, tortured for information and publicly executed for betraying their country, Mohn said in the YouTube video that has since been taken down off the site. Earn your place in heaven by sending a traitor to hell early.

Throughout the video, Justin Mohn railed against what he described as far-left, Woke, pro-immigrant, pro-Black Lives Matter and pro-LGBTQ deep-state labor racketeers and tax-evading big tech companies influences in the federal government that he said are destroying America.

Mohn did not admit to killing his father in the video, but he called for the execution of all federal workers, claiming they have betrayed American citizens.

"The video is 14:35 in length and Justin is pictured wearing the same style clear rubber gloves observed at the crime scene," police said in court documents. "Justin Mohn also picks up the decapitated head of his father Michael Mohn, identifying him by name and as his father, stating 'he is now in hell for eternity.'"

YouTube took down the video around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, after it was viewed more than 6,000 times.

Justin Mohn is charge with first-degree murder, abuse of corpse and possession of an instrument of crime with intent. He was denied bail and is being held in the Bucks County Prison.

This is a breaking story. Please check back with the Lebanon Daily News for updates.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on Twitter at @DAMattToth. Bucks County Courier Times reporters Jo Ciavaglia and JD Mullane contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Man accused of beheading father jumped Ft. Indiantown Gap fence: police
The Army has posthumously promoted two of the soldiers who were killed in a drone attack in Jordan this weekend as questions remain about what transpired at the small outpost.

The U.S. Army Reserve posthumously promoted Spc. Kennedy Sanders and Spc. Breonna Moffett to the rank of sergeant "in recognition of their exceptional courage, dedication, and leadership during Operation Inherent Resolve," a statement from U.S. Army Reserve Command announced Tuesday, referencing the mission to defeat the Islamic State terrorist group in Iraq and Syria.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin "will be calling each of the families to personally relay his respects and is planning to attend the dignified transfer of remains at Dover Air Force Base on Friday, as well," the Pentagon's top spokesman, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, told reporters at a briefing Tuesday.

Read Next: As the Marine Corps Says Goodbye to Decades-Old Jet, Its Maintainers Hit the Fleet for the Last Time

Sanders and Moffett were killed alongside Sgt. William Rivers late Saturday when Iran-backed militants flew a drone into the living quarters at the base known as Tower 22 along Jordan's border with Syria.

"This promotion is a small token of our immense gratitude for Sgt. Sanders and Sgt. Moffett's service and sacrifice," Col. Robert Coker, the chief of staff for the 412th Theater Engineer Command, said in Tuesday's statement.

All three were also Georgia residents and assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, an Army Reserve unit based out of Fort Moore, Georgia.

According to information provided by the service Monday, Sanders enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2019 as a horizontal construction engineer. Before deploying to Jordan, she also deployed in 2021 for an eight-month rotation to Djibouti in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Among her awards were an Army Service Ribbon, an Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device.

Moffett also enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2019 as a horizontal construction engineer. The Army's statement made no mention of any prior deployments but said that her awards included the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

Finally, Rivers enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2011 as an interior electrician. He deployed to Iraq for nine months in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in 2018.

Among his awards were an Army Achievement Medal, an Army Service Ribbon, several Overseas Service Ribbons, an Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device, and the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with Campaign Star.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon had few direct answers amid questions asking for more details about the attack that killed the three soldiers.

Ryder acknowledged that "there are still many questions, to include how the one-way attack drone could have penetrated the facility's air defenses, its point of origin, and which specific Iranian proxy group is responsible."

"U.S. Central Command is continuing to look into all those important questions," Ryder added.

When asked whether commanders in the area will be taking extra steps to protect their troops, Ryder wouldn't go into specifics, citing operational security, but stressed that the military is "taking this very seriously and ... we will take necessary measures and steps to ensure that our forces are protected."

Ryder wasn't able to immediately say whether the troops at Tower 22 are receiving hazardous duty incentive pay or if they are eligible for combat ribbons -- both key indicators that troops are in a situation that the Pentagon recognizes as combat.

Aside from recognizing performance under fire, combat accolades are also key pieces of evidence when it comes to Department of Veterans Affairs disability claims over lingering injuries.

The attack on Tower 22 has left more than 40 troops injured -- with eight severe enough to need evacuation -- according to defense officials.

In contrast, the USS Carney, a ship that, while in the waters off Yemen downed 14 drones in December, was presented with a unit-wide Combat Action Ribbon award in the early days of January. No one on the ship sustained injuries.

Related: Pentagon Identifies 3 Army Reserve Soldiers Killed in Jordan When Iran-Backed Militants Flew Drone into Living Quarters
As the Army feverishly works to implement a raft of recruiting reforms, the services top noncommissioned officer told lawmakers Wednesday that recruiting totals are still not on pace for the Armys goals.

Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer, who was testifying to a House panel focused on service member quality of life issues, said fiscal year 2024s recruiting numbers are up a little bit, but theyre not where they need to be. He did not provide further details about Recruiting Commands performance in the hearing or in his written testimony, however.

Despite announcing major changes to recruiting structures, the service has been unable to decisively turn around its ongoing recruiting slump, having missed its recruiting targets in both fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Army leaders previously stated that overhauling Recruiting Command is a long-term project that cannot solve the recruiting crisis overnight.

Exclusive: The inside story of how the Army rethought recruiting

The Army recently began soliciting warrant officers for the new 420T talent acquisition technician field, marking one of the first steps toward implementing its promised changes.

Army headquarters is currently refining  or staffing  the execution order that will lay out timelines and responsibilities for the reforms, according to a document obtained by Army Times. The order will codify immediate changes to the Recruiting Command organizational chart, including the reassignment of Army marketing.

According to the document, the new-look Recruiting Command will be at initial operating capacity by the end of August, but the reforms wont be complete until the end of fiscal year 2025.

In the interim, Army leaders are struggling to fill seats at the services recruiting college. The service apologized in November after public outcry from soldiers who received involuntary recruiting orders on short notice. Officials recently extended a limited-time $5,000 bonus available to those who volunteer for recruiting duty, who may also be eligible for accelerated promotion opportunities.
Following Chicagos long tradition of oral histories, the Chicago Theological Seminary has produced an oral history project on the citys Civil Rights Movement  an archival work about Operation Breadbasket, featuring onetime seminary student the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., among others.

Created with the help of a grant from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the archive shows how the seminary acted as an incubator for the movements early leaders, said the Rev. Brian Smith, director of community relations and strategic partnerships at the seminary.

In 1966, Jackson became head of the Chicago chapter of Operation Breadbasket, the economic development arm of the Civil Rights Movement organization Southern Christian Leadership Conference, as well as one of the leaders of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s open housing marches in Chicago.

After becoming the national director of Operation Breadbasket the following year, Jackson then founded Operation PUSH in 1971. The late Rev. Gary Massoni and the Rev. David Wallace were both seminary students selected by King to help lead the Chicago efforts of Operation Breadbasket.

The oral history project took years to complete, but Smith and Kim Schultz, the seminarys coordinator of creative initiatives, interviewed the Jacksons; Wallace, the former Chicago branch secretary of Operation Breadbasket; the Rev. Janette Wilson, adviser to Jackson and director of PUSH Excel; the Rev. Martin Deppe, who served in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood and is author of Operation Breadbasket: An Untold Story of Civil Rights in Chicago; Hermene Hartman, founder of NDIGO Studio and publications; and Massonis wife, Betty.

Theres going to be lots of delightful surprises for folks  the connection of the people, who was doing what, Schultz said.

One story that stands out for Schultz is how Betty and Gary Massoni met Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, standing over garbage cans in an alley, each skeptical of the other, and the deep and enduring friendship that built out of that, both work and personal.

Schultz said the project looks at what the faith leaders did in Chicago at that time, the diversity of the movement, white and Black, women and men  all interesting elements that surprised her.

We are hearing stories from these people that maybe havent been shared before, and certainly not in this context  the relationships, the memories, the work done, how it was done, who did it, what they came against, she said. Its all a fascinating look into the birth of the Chicago Civil Rights Movement.

The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, left, greets Dr. Susan Thistlethwaite, president of the Chicago Theological Seminary, right, while Jacksons classmate, the Rev. Gary Massoni, the director of development of Rainbow PUSH Coalition, watches on May 30, 2000. Jackson had been a graduate student at Chicago Theological Seminary in the 1960s, but his studies were interrupted when he joined the staff of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The six interviews are part of an archive of videos, audio and photos that will be exhibited online in May on the Google Arts and Culture platform in partnership with the Chicago History Museum, said Peter Alter, the museums chief historian and director of the Studs Terkel Center for Oral History.

Alter said the work was a natural fit, given the materials the museum already has related to the Chicago freedom movement, including the purchase of the Sun-Times photo archive. Currently, excerpts of the interviews are available on Season 3 of the seminarys internal podcast Our Seven Neighbors. Each episode pairs an interview from the oral history project with a person doing social justice work today.

Whats great about the CTS collaborative initiative is it will include scans of photos and documents from our collections, excerpts of the oral histories, arranged by the six oral history narrators, Alter said. If your interest is piqued by the online exhibition, but you want to hear more from each of those interviewees, youll be able to go to this library catalog and watch and hear the whole thing.

Schultz said putting the oral history project into the world has been in line with the seminarys civil rights and social justice mission and commitments.

We have so many challenges in this world, so many causes to fight for, and theres so much injustice on every front that for those of us who care, for those of us who are trying to work for justice and equity  we have this immigrant crisis, we have the continued assault on Black lives, we have economic injustice  its easy to despair, Schultz said. But look at these people still doing this work, people like Martin Deppe, who are still like What can I do? Hes 80-something years old, and hes still working, looking to see what else he can do. Hes not quitting and thats inspiring.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, leader of Operation Breadbasket, left, goes over notes with St. Clare Booker, Breadbasket program director, on June 9, 1971, at 7941 S. Halsted St. in Chicago, as they plan their picket of all National Tea Stores.

Jackson is in his 80s, too. Diagnosed with Parkinsons disease nine years ago, Jackson stepped down last year from the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the Chicago-based civil rights organization he founded through its predecessor, Operation PUSH.

You get enamored with what you see now and you dont realize it was a process and that can be said about all of them, Smith said. He added that while the oral history project is not exhaustive in terms of the individuals who should be noted, its a great first attempt.

Smith will moderate a conversation between the subjects of the Jackson Oral History Project at the Chicago History Museum on Feb. 8. Tickets are free, but registration is required.

drockett@chicagotribune.com
In Chicago activist Andy Thayers experience, Democratic presidential administrations typically deliver the bare minimum while in office. But amid increasing attacks on the LGBTQ+ community and threats to abortion rights, Thayer doesnt think the bare minimum is enough.

When (Democrats) get into office, the only pressure they feel is from the far right, said Thayer, the co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network. Its up to us here in Chicago and other blue states to say, No, thats not enough.'

Part of a new organization made up of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights groups, Thayer and others on Tuesday condemned the city for rejecting the organizations permit application to march and protest by Chicagos Water Tower on the eve of this summers Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The group appealed the citys decision at an administrative hearing, and a ruling is likely to come within the next two days, Thayer said.

The Democratic convention, including prime-time speeches at the United Center and the expected renomination of President Joe Biden, is scheduled for Aug. 19-22. Chicago, which last hosted the convention in 1996, is expected to see an estimated 50,000 people at the event, including 5,000 nominating delegates.

Linda Loew, co-founder of Chicago for Abortion Rights, said the planned protest was set for Aug. 18, the Sunday before the DNC kicks off, at the Jane M. Byrne Plaza, previously known as Water Tower Park. Group leaders picked the day, she said, because delegates and guests would be arriving in town, and could see the Democratic Party has to actually do something to defend and extend our rights.

Loew said they sought the permit on the first day applications opened on Jan. 2, and received an official rejection letter on Jan. 22. Groups including Chicago for Abortion Rights, Stop-Trans Genocide and the Gay Liberation Network, make up the new coalition called Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws.

The city declined to comment on the status of the ongoing permit dispute. A spokesperson said multiple city departments review parade permit applications to identify potential conflicts, safety issues and to assess the availability of resources necessary to support the gathering. The spokesperson said the city evaluates applications based on the details of the proposed routes and other events happening in Chicago.

If a permit is denied the applicant is given an alternative route that accounts for police resources, security and other additional factors, the spokesperson said. Officials with the DNC declined to comment on the citys permitting process.

Joe DiCola, an attorney for the Lawyers Guild Chicago representing the coalition, said the city didnt justify its denial during the hearing on an empirical assessment of the resources that theyll have available. Rather, he said, city officials spoke negatively about the marchs potential impact.

My clients want their march to have an impact  that impact is rooted in their First Amendment rights to express themselves to petition for redress of grievances, in this case, the vicious attacks against the LGBTQ+ community, DiCola said.

He said the city suggested the activists march in Grant Park where DiCola noted there would be much less visibility. He added that it offends the First Amendment and sets a regressive tone to the DNC.

Loew said Biden has been rather lukewarm on the issue of abortion rights. While previously saying he was not big on abortion because hes Catholic, Biden has said he supported the now-overruled Roe v. Wade decision and has vowed to push for a federal law codifying a womans right to abortion. Loew said she doesnt just want Biden to defend laws protecting abortion in states like Illinois; she wants these laws to extend nationwide.

Linda Loew, an activist with Chicago For Abortion Rights, speaks outside the Chicago Administrative Law Hearings Courthouse where protest organizers will be appealing the citys rejection of their march permit applications for the Democratic National Convention in August on Jan. 30, 2024.

Abortion access is one of the main issues Bidens campaign expects will drive Democrats to the polls. But Thayer pointed to the Hyde Amendment  an amendment barring federal funding of abortion except when necessary to save a womans life  as something Democrats should have worked to overturn. Biden proposed a budget for 2022 that excluded the Hyde Amendment but it was later reinstated.

(Democrats) are trying to use abortion as basically a tool in their tool chest to get elected, and thats not good enough, he said.

At the convention, Thayer said he wants the issues of expanding reproductive health care, LGBTQ+ rights and equal housing rights to be at the forefront, and said some of the pressure to focus on these issues must come from activists in the streets.

Whether the new coalition loses its appeal or not, Thayer said the group plans to march. He said hes disappointed in the citys contempt for the First Amendment, which he said is similar to conditions under previous mayors.

If they are worried about chaos, if they are worried about violence, then they will respect legitimate permit applications such as have been put in by this coalition, Thayer said.

rjohnson@chicagotribune.com
The Bahamas government says the island nation remains safe for United States tourists despite two alarming travel warnings posted last week.

The Government of The Bahamas is alert, attentive, and proactive to ensure that the Bahamas remains a safe and welcoming destination, insists a statement dated Tuesday from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The first warning, called a security alert, was issued on Jan. 24 by the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas. It urged travelers to exercise extreme caution when in Nassau in the wake of 18 murders in the city since Jan. 1.

The alert said that murders have occurred at all hours including in broad daylight on the streets, primarily because of retaliatory gang violence.

Davis statement on Tuesday said the government is implementing a robust and innovative crime prevention strategy involving rigorous steps to maintain our well-earned reputation.

Those steps include an enhanced police presence, additional police resources including facial recognition closed-circuit television surveillance technology, training, and a zero-tolerance policy for firearm possession.

On Sunday, Chrislyn Skippings, chief superintendent of the Royal Bahamas Police Force said nine firearms and 1,500 rounds of ammunition were seized in crime roundups last week, according to the Bahamian outlet OurNews.bs.

In his statement, Prime Minister Philip Davis said that the murders do not reflect general safety in The Bahamas, a country of 16 tourism destinations and many more islands.

Two days after the embassy posted its security alert, the U.S. State Department updated a travel advisory on its website urging visitors to exercise increased caution due to crime in the Bahamas.

The advisory identified two areas of Nassau where gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate primarily affecting the local population. It also warned that violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas, including short-term vacation rental properties without private security.

According to a story by the Nassau Guardian, some U.S. news sources incorrectly reported that the State Department increased its advisory status on Friday from Level 1 to Level 2, which means travelers are urged to exercise increased caution.

Related Articles

Davis statement pointed out that the rating of The Bahamas has not changed; we remain a Level 2 alongside most tourism destinations.

The Bahamas had been at Level 2 status since 2022 and was first assigned the level in 2018, according to online archives of the Overseas Security Advisory Council, a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of States Diplomatic Security Service and security professionals from U.S. organizations operating abroad.

From 2020 to 2022, the nation was at various times assigned Level 3 (rethink travel) and Level 4 (do not travel) status due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Warnings about crime in the Bahamas go back further. In October 2005, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau warned of an increase in armed robberies in the nation.

The State Departments Jan. 26 advisory, while citing crime as the reason travelers should exercise increased caution, contained much of the same language as advisories dating to 2018. Additional language was added to reflect water safety concerns due to recent fatal and non-fatal shark attacks, the Nassau Guardian reported.

The Bahamas shares Level 2 status with 71 countries, including several other island nations popular among Western tourists, including the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Philippines, Turks and Caicos Islands, Sri Lanka, and Solomon Islands.

According to the departments website, 93 of 211 countries enjoy the most lenient advisory status  Level 1, in which travelers are advised to exercise normal precautions.

Twenty-four nations are at Level 3, which means tourists should reconsider travel to them. They include Colombia, Egypt, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaicas status was upgraded to Level 3 last week amid a travel advisory stating that violent crimes are common in the nation and sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts. Law enforcement is often ineffective and the homicide rate has for several years been among the highest in the Western Hemisphere, the advisory said.

Just 19 nations are assigned Level 4  Do Not Travel  status. Among them are Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Russia, Syria, Ukraine and Venezuela.

On Monday, spokespersons for Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise lines, which run frequent trips to the Bahamas from Florida ports, said they are closely monitoring situations on the islands. But neither cruise line announced any itinerary changes.

Christopher Caulfield, owner of CruiseOne.com, a cruise planning site based in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, said he hasnt experienced any guest cancellations or concerns from clients since the embassys posting.

I advise clients to take caution (in the Bahamas), as I do with any destination, Caulfield said by email. I remind them that cruise lines do everything they can to ensure the safety of their passengers and their ships, and cruising remains a very safe way to travel. If violence escalates and cruise lines feel it is unsafe to travel, they will change the itinerary.

Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  The Baldwin County Public School Superintendent has released a statement regarding a shooting that took place at a Mobile high school Tuesday.

Superintendent Eddie Tyler said, Our hearts are broken today over the shooting in Mobile. I have sent messages to Mobile County offering our services and support. School violence is an issue we deal with every day and, in fact, all educators are dealing with it across Alabama and across the country. Schools must be a safe place for children and we will do anything we can to support Mobile County in this difficult time and mission.

Spanish Fort man pleads guilty to 2021 murder the week trial was supposed to start

According to officials with the Mobile Police Department, two people were shot at Leflore High School around noon. One person was grazed by a bullet and the other was shot in the abdomen, said Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine during a press conference. The suspect is in police custody.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
TOMS RIVER - A Barnegat woman pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute drug charges after police found nearly 40,000 pain pills in her possession, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced Tuesday.

Laurie Maxson, 54, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than five ounces of methamphetamine, Billhimer said. At the time of her sentencing on April 12, 2024, the state seek a term of five years New Jersey State Prison.

On July 15, 2021, acting on a tip from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and other agencies conducted an investigation into the distribution of narcotics in the Ocean County area, Billhimer said. The investigation identified a residence in Barnegat being used by Laurie Maxson to illegally store and distribute pain medication throughout New Jersey.

On July 20, 2021, detectives established surveillance on Maxson's home, Billhimer said, where surveillance was maintained on both Laurie Maxson and her husband, Jason Maxson, as they left the residence and entered a 2021 Honda Accord. Officers from the Barnegat Township Police Department pulled them over and the Maxsons were arrested without incident.

A search warrant was then used on their home in Barnegat, resulting in the seizure of approximately 37,000 Tramadol pills  along with 3,400 pills originally believed to be hydrocodone, according to Billhimer. Jason Maxson and Laurie Maxson were both taken to Barnegat Township Police Headquarters where they were formally charged and released on a summons pending future court appearances. Laboratory testing later revealed that the pills originally thought to be hydrocodone were in actuality methamphetamine.

Laurie Maxson exonerated Jason Maxson at the time of her plea agreement on January 29, Billhimer said. The charges against Jason Maxson will be dismissed at the time of Laurie Maxsons sentencing.

Jenna Calderon covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; jcalderon@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Barnegat woman caught with almost 40k pain pills pleads guilty
Semafor Signals

Insights from Politico, Letters from an American, and PBS

The News

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives voted early Wednesday to advance the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over alleged high crimes and misdemeanors for refusing to enforce security measures at the countrys southern border. Democrats have criticized the effort as partisan and lacking in evidence.

The move  which, if successful, would result in the second impeachment of a cabinet secretary in U.S. history  escalated political tensions over immigration, a key issue in this years presidential election that Congressional Republicans have also tied to additional military funding for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

The impeachment showdown comes with lawmakers having largely abandoned a bipartisan deal combining domestic border security measures with funding for Kyiv  a package that House Speaker Mike Johnson described as a non-starter.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Republicans want to use border security issues as a political cudgel

Sources: Politico, Rep. Dan Goldman

The bipartisan legislation that had been discussed included measures to increase security along the U.S.-Mexico border, a demand made by Republicans in exchange for agreeing to military assistance to Ukraine. But Republicans rejection of the package suggests that Trump may be prioritizing his 2024 campaign over any efforts to pass border security legislation, Politico characterized Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, as saying in a recent meeting. Democratic lawmakers have also argued that House Republicans are using border issues as a political cudgel, as Congressman Dan Goldman (D-NY) wrote in a column on MSNBC. Goldman insisted that the Biden administration was doing more than Congressional Republicans and the Trump administration to address border issues, by requesting additional funds to bolster the presence of immigration and law-enforcement officials at the southern border.

Mayorkas' impeachment has become a global issue

Sources: Letter from an American, William Burns

The extremist minority in the House that is targeting Mayorkas is attempting to set a precedent that a minority can stop the government from functioning, the historian Heather Cox Richardson wrote in her substack Letters from an American, but such efforts more recently resulted in global repercussions, in particular over the question of U.S. support for Ukraine given Republicans direct linking of the two issues. Aid for Ukraine accounts for less than 5% of the U.S.s overall defense budget, Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns wrote in Foreign Affairs, a relatively modest investment with significant geopolitical returns for the United States.

Americans have mixed feelings about funding Ukraines and Israels militaries

Sources: PBS, Semafor

Thirty-six percent of Americans say that the U.S. should not send more funds to Ukraine and Israel  the latter of which is also a major recipient of U.S. military aid  compared with 32% who back military financial support for the two countries, according to a recent PBS Newshour/NPR/Marist poll. The responses illustrate the challenge facing the Biden administration in convincing voters of its strategy of sending material to both countries, a Republican strategist told PBS. In particular, the administrations stance towards Israel  the White House has largely supported Israels continued offensive in Gaza, while voicing criticism over its lack of safeguards against civilian casualties  has alienated progressive Democrats as well as international allies.
A Bloomington homeowner's property now has two tiny houses after years of hurdles.

Bloomington's Herald-Times reported that the structures, approved as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), add two more addresses to his property in the near west side neighborhood.

One neighbor called the project "plum awful" and "an eyesore." But the property owner pointed out that the project is now legal in Bloomington, calling it a "unique, beautiful design." He also said the project would allow more people to live in the city's core.

How are the tiny houses made?

That structure will be built of adobe-style walls made by Terran Robotics, a Bloomington-based company focused on sturdy, energy-efficient and affordable adobe-wall housing, the H-T reported.

Read the full story here and see more photos of the tiny house project.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Tiny homes in Indiana: One neighbor called unique project 'plum awful'
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  Local law enforcement officers will soon have another asset to assist them as a local martial arts school is now offering free jiu-jitsu classes.

New Raleigh County Sheriffs Office detachment in Ghent announced

Joey Hunter with Family Martial Arts/Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Beckley has announced a weekly, free jiu-jitsu class for local law enforcements officers. Starting Saturday, February 3, 2024, and continuing every Saturday at 11a.m., local law enforcement officers can join a specially designed class for law enforcement and correctional officers.

The class will be lead by Joey Hunter, a law enforcement officer and a purple-belt in jiu-jitsu. The class will reportedly focus on common situations police officers and correctional officers face in the field.

For more information on how to signup, visit the official Facebook page for Family Martial Arts/Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
Rebuffed by the State Board of Elections, a group seeking to have former President Donald Trump disqualified from Illinois March 19 GOP primary ballot based on the insurrection clause of the U.S. Constitution is seeking an expedited appeal of the boards ruling in Cook County Circuit Court.

Recognizing a tight timeline for ballots to be prepared and printed, the group is asking the court to move quickly and said it anticipates the case will eventually go before the Illinois Supreme Court.

Democratic justices hold a 5-2 majority on the states high court.

The appeal, filed by five voters who are backed by the group Free Speech for People, was made only hours after the election board said Tuesday that it lacked the authority to decide complex constitutional questions such as whether Trumps actions in the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol made him ineligible for the office under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

Under that section, those who have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, shall not be able to serve in Congress or hold any office, civil or military if they have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution.

To avoid the constitutional issues, the board voted 8-0 to reject an objection to Trump contending the former president knowingly filed a false statement of candidacy stating he was qualified to hold the office of president.

The appeal notes that Illinois election authorities face a Friday deadline for having sufficient ballots printed to mail to military and overseas voters, and that Feb. 8 is the scheduled first day for mailing out vote-by-mail ballots and for early voting to be conducted at local election board offices.

Given the matters of significant public interest at issue in this case, it is highly likely that the case will ultimately be resolved by the Illinois Supreme Court, the appeal said. Thus, a prompt ruling from this (circuit) court, to allow sufficient time for further appellate review in advance of the looming ballot deadlines, is of the utmost importance.

Feb. 8 also is the day the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in an appeal of a December ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court which found Trump had engaged in insurrection in seeking to block the counting of Electoral College votes that made Democrat Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

Colorados high court ordered Trumps name stricken from that states ballot, but stayed its ruling pending the U.S. Supreme Court appeal.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, the states top election official, found Trump ineligible for that states ballot, but that ruling also has been stayed pending appeal.

At Tuesdays Illinois election board hearing, Matt Piers, an attorney for the group objecting to Trumps placement on the ballot, contended board members had a duty to decide the constitutional question of disqualification and that they were misinterpreting previous state Supreme Court rulings over the limitations of their power.

But Trump campaign attorney Adam Merrill countered that Trump did not engage in insurrection and said the board correctly found the constitutional issues of disqualification were beyond its jurisdiction. He contended the insurrection clause was meant to be enforced by Congress and that it does not apply to the office of president.

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Former President Donald Trumps PACs have spent about $50 million in donor money on his legal bills last year, sources told The New York Times.

The staggering sum spent by Trump on his legal fees and investigation-related expenses is about the same amount his lone remaining GOP primary opponent Nikki Haley raised across all her committees last year, the Times Maggie Haberman and Shane Goldmacher write. Federal Election Commission filings this week are expected to detail the full extent of Trumps enormous financial strain, they added.

Trump, who has a penchant for relying on campaign donations to pay his lawyers if he actually pays them at all, has used his Save America PAC to cover his legal costs. When the PAC ran low on cash last year, Trump asked for an unusual refund of $60 million that had been transferred to the pro-Trump MAGA Inc. PAC. Trump has also been directing 10% of donations raised through Save America to a PAC that primarily pays his lawyers, according to the Times.

The MAGA Inc. PAC transferred about $42 million to the Save America PAC, nearly as much as the PAC spent on independent expenditures like television ads, according to the report.

This is old, recycled news about a refund request that was reported on nearly a year ago, Alex Pfeiffer, a spokesperson for the super PAC, told the Times. The battle to defeat Joe Biden is here, and the time for everyone to step up and join this fight is now. Every dollar being raised by MAGA Inc. is going directly to defeating Joe Biden in November.

Trump, who faces federal trials in D.C. and Florida, criminal trials in Manhattan and Atlanta and additional lawsuits in New York has also been paying the legal costs of some co-defendants, including former bodyman Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago worker Carlos De Oliveira. A separate legal defense fund has also raised $1.6 million.

Trump last week was ordered to pay $83.3 million to defamed writer E. Jean Carroll. New York Attorney General Letitia James is seeking $370 million in penalties in Trumps fraud trial  where the judge is expected to issue a ruling as early as Wednesday.

Haberman in an appearance on CNN Tuesday called Trumps legal bills eye-popping.

Number one, he is not somebody, who historically has liked paying legal bills Well, this isnt his money. This is donor money. And so, its a lot easier to pay, when youre paying with donor money, number one, she said.

But number two, this is, its a lot of money. Its not just him. Its also lawyers, for witnesses, as you know, she continued, adding: These numbers are not going to get smaller, as we go forward, because he has been indicted four times, and this number got exponentially higher, last year than it was in 2022. And if any case goes to trial, this year, it is going to go even higher.

Anchor Kaitlan Collins asked Haberman if Trumps donors know their money is going to his legal bills.

Did his donors know this is what they were going to be paying for? No. Would they all mind? I doubt it, because some of them thought they were paying for some kind of legal fight, Haberman said. And Im sure, in their mind, you know, the number of his supporters, who I talked to, in Iowa and New Hampshire, who described the legal cases against him, as illegitimate or something they didnt believe in? Im not sure they would care about that. But it is worth noting, it is not  it is not his money.

While many of Trumps donations come from small-dollar donors, hotelier Robert Bigelow told Reuters on Tuesday he gave Trump $1 million for his legal fees and agreed to donate another $20 million to back his campaign.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

"I was just sympathetic. They didn't solicit anything from me," said Bigelow, who feels Trump is being unfairly targeted.

Trump biographer David Cay Johnston, the author of the book "The Big Cheat: How Donald Trump Fleeced America and Enriched Himself and His Family, said the reliance on donors raises questions about Trumps self-professed wealth.

Remember Donald used to tell us he was worth $10 billion? He should be rolling in money if thats the case. And evidently, he has to depend on begging for money from people, he told CNN on Tuesday.

If you have $10 billion, this wouldnt be a big deal, said Johnston. But if you dont have $10 billion and you just claim it, thats a whole other story.
Tractors face military vehicles on a blocked highway, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 in Chilly-Mazarin, south of Paris. Farmers have captured France's attention by showering government offices with manure and besieging Paris with traffic-snarling barricades of tractors and hay bales. Protesters say it's becoming harder than ever to make a decent living from their fields, greenhouses and herds. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

HALLE, Belgium (AP)  Farmers blocked more traffic arteries across Belgium, France and Italy on Wednesday, as they sought to disrupt trade at major ports and other economic lifelines. They also moved in on Brussels on the eve of a major European Union summit, in a sustained push for better prices for their produce and less bureaucracy in their work.

While the days of mushrooming discontent have been largely peaceful, French police arrested 91 protesters who forced their way Wednesday into Europe's biggest food market, the Paris police chief said. Armored vehicles block entrances to the sprawling site at Rungis, south of the French capital.

The protests had an immediate impact on Wednesday  the European Commission, the EUs executive branch, announced plans to shield farmers from cheap exports from Ukraine during wartime and allow farmers to use some land that had been forced to lie fallow for environmental reasons.

The plans still need to be approved by the bloc's 27 member states and European Parliament, but they amounted to a sudden and symbolic concession.

I just would like to reassure them that we do our utmost to listen to their concerns. I think we are addressing two very important (concerns) of them right now, European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic said.

The rallies are part of farming protests across the EU and have shown how only a few hundred tractors can snarl traffic in capitals from Berlin to Paris, Brussels and Rome. Millions across the bloc have been facing disruptions and struggling to get to work, or seen their doctors appointments canceled because protests blocked their way.

It obviously has a major economic impact. Not only for our company, but for many companies in Flanders and Belgium," said Sven Pieters of the ECS transport company in Belgium's Zeebrugge North Sea port.

In France, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin reported 100 protests around France involving about 10,000 farmers, and warned farmers encircling Paris that any attempt to block the Rungis market and airports, and to enter the capital, would be considered red lines.

Protesters put a big banner on the A6 highway, south of the French capital, writing: Paris, let our farmers get through.''

A climax in Belgium is set for Thursday, when farmers plan to protest outside EU headquarters during a summit of government leaders. They will seek to get their issues on the summit agenda and win some concessions on the financial burdens they face and the increased competition from nations as far away as Chile and New Zealand.

It is important that we listen to them, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said. They face gigantic challenges, from adapting to climate change to countering environmental pollution, he said.

Belgium currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, and De Croo said that he would address the issue during the summit as a late addition to an agenda centered on providing more aid to Ukraine as Russias full-scale invasion approaches nearly two years.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that he wants to hold off on a free trade deal with South American nations because of the vehement opposition of EU farmers and will discuss the issue at the summit.

Despite the widespread inconveniences, governments in the EU are treating protests, which have been mostly peaceful, with extreme caution.

Spanish farmers were also set to add their weight to the protests. Three main Spanish farming associations agreed to begin protests in the coming weeks to demand changes in what they describe as overly restrictive EU policies.

Back in France, protesting farmers sought to keep each other fed  and a sense of humor about camping out for days on hay-strewn highways en route to Paris.

Demonstrator Frank Chardon offered fresh croissants to some police on Wednesday near his tractor protest in Chilly-Mazarin east of Paris.

French croissants, made with French flour, top quality, he said.

"So were going to hand out croissants and youre going to let us through ... I see youre not finding this funny," he said. Undeterred, he tried again: You open the cordon and that way we can drive through with our tractors?

___

Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Alex Turnbull in Chilly-Mazarin, France, and Ciaran Giles in Madrid, contributed to this report.
A rhino was put down about a year and a half after arriving at an Alabama zoo.

Moyo, the 6-year-old Eastern black rhinoceros, was euthanized by staff members at The Birmingham Zoo after he developed a strangle health condition, according to the zoos Jan. 30 Facebook post. The zoo called the loss of Moyo devastating.

Our vet team will continue to search for answers for what happened to Moyo so we can learn from this tragic event, zoo president Chris Pfefferkorn said in a news release.

Moyo was born in 2017 and arrived as a new resident at The Birmingham Zoo on June 11, 2022, according to the zoo. He soon became a beloved addition to the zoo, according to the post.

His health deterioration happened suddenly after he went into a standard dental procedure on Jan. 25 under anesthesia, according to the zoo.

While Moyo was under the medication, staff from the Southeast Zoo Alliance for Reproduction & Conservation and the Omaha Zoo collected semen to assess for potential artificial insemination. His dental and reproductive procedures went as planned, the zoo said.

But when Moyo woke up, he was unable to stand.

Zoo staff reached out to local and national experts to try to figure out what was wrong with Moyo, according to its post. Additional aid ranged from asking a local tow company to lift Moyo to a Kansas-based animal search and rescue group assessing the rhinos issue.

At one point, staff used a large metal tripod to get Moyo on his feet but it was unsuccessful, the zoo said.

Despite two days of heroic efforts, Moyo still couldnt stand on his own, the zoo said. That left staff with a tough decision that ultimately resulted in the 6-year-old rhino being put down Jan. 26.

Our staff went above and beyond to care for Moyo, Pfefferkorn said.

Kesi, a 6-year-old female, is now the last Eastern black rhino left at The Birmingham Zoo, according to the news release.

Rare horned creature born Christmas Eve, Georgia zoo says. See the tiny calf

Playful rhino is most significant birth in Arizona zoos history. See the rare baby

White rhino with rare genetics born at Virginia Zoo. See the invaluable little calf
By Alexander Ratz and Sarah Marsh

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition is considering ways of bolstering the independence of country's highest court as fears about the strength of the far-right AfD party grow.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is polling second in nationwide surveys, raising concern it could gain significant influence in the legislature after the next federal elections in 2025 and seek to hollow out democratic structures from within.

The anti-establishment, nationalist party is already under state surveillance on suspicion of being extremist and anti-constitutional. It rejects allegations it is undemocratic and has said the Constitutional Court, which is appointed by parliament, is biased and closely linked with the government.

Several senior lawmakers from Scholz's centre-left coalition have over the past week called for the structures ensuring the independence of the constitutional court to be anchored in the constitution rather than a mere law.

This would mean any attempt to change the workings of the court would require a two thirds majority rather than a simple majority in the Bundestag lower house of parliament. They have not mentioned AfD by name.

"As democrats we have the obligation to stay alert and that includes considerations on how we can best protect our constitution and its institutions from anti-constitutional influences," Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said in emailed comments to Reuters late on Tuesday, adding that talks were already underway on how to achieve this.

Scholz himself said the debate was good. "It is important to do these things," he said at an event late on Tuesday, according to magazine Der Spiegel.

Asked to comment, Justice expert for the AfD parliamentary group Stephan Brandner said the party stood for an independent top court and was fighting more for a real division of powers than other parties.

Thousands of Germans have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest against the AfD, with some of them calling for a ban on the party.

The constitutional court plays a key role in the complex system of checks and balances introduced in Germany following the Nazi era when the power of the government was unchecked. It has the power to review the adherence to the constitution of legislature and German authorities.

Stephan Thomae, lawmaker and legal expert of the parliamentary group of junior coalition partner the Free Democrats (FDP), told paper Welt am Sonntag it was important to anchor in the constitution the division of the court into two senates, the 12-year terms of judges and the court's freedom to decide on its own procedures.

Johannes Fechner, a lawmaker from Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), pointed to changes introduced in Poland by the Law and Justice party during its eight years in power that European institutions say compromised the independence of the judiciary.

"It is extremely important all democrats advance together," said Konstantin von Notz, chairman of the parliamentary committee that oversees the intelligence services and lawmakers for the Greens junior coalition partner.

Scholz's coalition would need the support of the opposition conservatives to change the constitution, some of which have already expressed their support for such a move.

(Reporting by Alexander Ratz and Sarah Marsh, Additional Reporting by Thomas Escritt, Editing by Rachel More and Philippa Fletcher)
Meat lovers, rejoice: A barbecue joint near Arden Arcade is serving up juicy chicken, smoky tri-tip and sizzling beef hot links.

Not your cup of tea? A new vegan burger bar from a longtime Sacramento restaurant family ditches animal products for mushrooms, faux meat and vegetables in midtown.

These were some of the best meals that I, The Sacramento Bees food and beverage reporter, ate around the Sacramento region in January, along with a groundbreaking Armenian concept in Carmichael and a historic Chinese restaurant in Folsom.

All reviews were first published in my free weekly food and drink newsletter, which hits inboxes at noon each Wednesday. Visit https://bit.ly/bee_food_drink_newsletter to sign up.

Buddha Belly Burger

Buddha Belly Burgers options are all vegan, including the banh mi burger pictured here.

Andy Nguyens Vegetarian Restaurant is a concept of the 2000s (and truthfully, the 20th century, though it served meat back then). Buddha Belly Burger is Nguyens restaurant for the 2020s.

The vegan burger bar feels more modern and seductive, a dimly-lit enclave for plant-based eaters that opened in May in midtown Sacramento. Gluten-free options abound as well, and theres a bit of a weekend brunch program centered around different avocado toasts.

After tasting the maha mushrooms ($14.50, and also available at Andy Nguyens), Im convinced that Mother has competition for the best fried shrooms in town. Giant fronds of blue oyster mushrooms are tempura-battered, fried to an impeccable crackle and served with a creamy sriracha mayonnaise dipping sauce.

Several types of burgers come on squishy pretzel buns with crunchy iceberg lettuce, microgreens and a house sauce such as garlic confit mayo or Thousand Buddha. The lions mane burger ($18.75 with a side of fries, salad or charred broccoli for an additional $2) took on a nice flavor from the mushrooms soy sauce marinade, but I preferred the banh mi burger ($18) with its pickled carrots, sliced jalapenos and juicy Impossible Meats patty.

Buddha Belly is the only restaurant to carry a dish with Rhiza, a lab-grown, adaptable fungus from The Better Meat Co. in West Sacramento that can be artificially colored and flavored to imitate a wide range of meats.

It appears in the Rhiza carne asada bowl ($18.75) alongside sliced okra, quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes and a garlicky chipotle dressing. Thats the right place, as the mock meats smoky taste shines and other deficiencies (a lighter color and chewier texture than typical asada) are disguised. Buddha Belly began carrying a Rhiza steak shortly after my review, The Better Meat Co. said in an email, and Ill be eager to taste it.

Address: 1901 S St., Suite 100, Sacramento.

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

Phone: (916) 594-7646.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/buddhabellyburger

Drinks: No alcohol, but fresh-squeezed juices and lemonade and housemade sodas are worth a try.

Vegetarian options: All options are vegan.

Noise level: Quiet.

Our Family BBQ & Pies

Our Family BBQ & Pies serves ribs, hot links, chicken and tri-tip.

You smell Our Family BBQ & Pies before you see it. The storefront is tucked away in the corner of a shopping center between Sierra Oaks and Arden Arcade. Scents from Steven Wrights smoker waft through the parking lot, inviting customers in for down-home barbecue.

Ribs, tri-tip, chicken and hot links ($16-$31 with two sides and a drink, depending on the number of meats selected). Thats the extent of the mains, all smothered in a St. Louis-inspired barbecue sauce and served in a Styrofoam box with plastic baggies of white bread.

I have nice things to say about all of it  the moist and tender chicken, the tri-tips pink smoke rings, the slow burn of the beef sausage, the juicy rib tips hiding at the bottom of the pile  but would have preferred to add my own sauce to better taste each individual meat.

Tangy collard greens are a star side (potato salad, baked beans and macaroni and cheese are the other options), dressed up with bits of pork and hot wing sauce. A lemony icebox pie ($4 per slice) with a crumbly graham cracker crust was a nice deviation after such a rich meal.

Address: 2326 Fair Oaks Blvd., Suite J, Sacramento.

Hours: 12-9 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday.

Phone number: (916) 333-3397.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/ourfamilybbq/

Drinks: A few beers on tap, soda, bottled water and the house specialty cinnamon water, a refreshing sweet-bitter drink made by soaking cinnamon sticks in ice water.

Vegetarian options: Only sides such as potato salad and macaroni and cheese.

Noise level: Quiet aside from ambient music.

Yerevan Bar & Restaurant

Yerevan Bar & Restaurant specializes in food from Armenia and nearby West Asian countries, such as beef soup dumplings called khinkali.

Yerevan Bar & Restaurant is illuminated by a glowing green light around the building, one that stands out as you drive Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael. Green remains the theme inside the Sacramento regions most expressly Armenian restaurant as well, the color of the chairs, curtains and faux foliage that give a cooling effect in a refined dining room.

Founded by Akob Darmoyan in March 2023 and named after Armenias capital, Yerevan has quickly become a cultural gathering spot for Sacramentans with roots in the Caucasus region. The menu is dotted with hard-to-find dishes with roots in Armenia and neighboring countries, and a banquet hall was holding a raucous party on our Friday night visit.

Lavash, bread and hummus are complementary, but you might want to order ajika ($10) as well. A Georgian red pepper dip, its smoky flavor stood out amid a current of medium heat.

Dont miss khinkali ($16), four giant Georgian soup dumplings with plateaued flat tops that are essentially a West Asian version of xiaolongbao. To eat: Hold a dumpling by its thick stem, flip upside-down, bite a small hole and suck the broth out. Eat away at the dumpling, including the beef patty inside, before discarding the stem.

Armenian barbecue skewers called khorovats are a national dish, and while pork is a go-to, the chicken lula kebab ($29) made for an herb-forward, tasty collection of ground meat. Adventurous eaters would do well to try the nicely-cooked tjvjik ($29), beef liver and hearts stewed with peppers and onions in a tomato broth.

Address: 7600 Fair Oaks Blvd., Carmichael.

Hours: 4-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday, 2-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-10 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday.

Phone: 916-620-9999

Website: yerevansac.com

Drinks: A fledgling bar program comprised of standard cocktails and a few choice liquors and wines.

Vegetarian options: Borscht, salads and few other options.

Noise level: Loud.

Hop Sing Palace

Hop Sing Palace opened in the 1950s as Hop Sing Eat Shoppe at a different spot on Sutter Street in Folsom, according to journalist and Carmichael native Lisa Ling, whose grandfather started the restaurant.

Hop Sing Palace is an appropriately-located step back in time in the heart of Folsom Historic District. Founded in 1957 by Ken Jeong, the grandfather of TV personality and journalist Lisa Ling, the pink-walled interior with faux stone arches calls to mind San Luis Obispos Madonna Inn if it were covered in old Tsingtao beer or 1999 car show posters.

Owned by Bill and Lana Lam since 1986, Hop Sing is Folsoms oldest restaurant, a place where youre liable to see two senior men celebrating a birthday lunch or a 4-year-old girl thrilled at the simple prospect of hot tea. Its long menu is rooted in Chinese American tradition, a collection of familiar Cantonese-inspired dishes that have stood the test of time.

Hop Sing beef ($15) is a house specialty worth trying. Thin beef fillets were coated in a sweet sauce similar to a Korean galbi marinade with hints of five-spice powder, slow-cooked until theyre tender enough to be cut with a spoon, then topped with sesame seeds and served with colorful shrimp crackers.

Sliced crimini in the mushroom chicken ($14) packed a surprising amount of flavor as well. A mixture of baby bok choy, water chestnuts and other vegetables along with the namesake ingredients came smothered in a rich gravy begging to be soaked up by white rice ($4).

Two disparate dishes, the onion ginger scallops ($18) and Sichuan eggplant with shrimp ($16), were similarly buttery under their deep-fried shells. The former was salty and served with refreshing ginger slices, while the latter couldve used more of the implied heat.

Address: 805 Sutter St., Folsom.

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. seven days a week.

Phone number: (916) 985-7309.

Website: https://hopsingpalace.com/

Drinks: Beer, wine, tea and soda, none of which are more than $5 a glass.

Vegetarian options: Many.

Noise level: Relatively quiet.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  PG&E is inviting Central Valley college-bound students to apply to receive scholarships of up to $10,000 through its Better Together STEM Scholarships Program.

Students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math studies are encouraged to apply for scholarships which will be be given in the amounts of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 awards for eligible students. In total, 60 scholarship awards are up for grabs, totaling $350,000 in funds, according to PG&E.

Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra to perform The Conductors Spellbook in matinee show

Interested students will have to submit an application on PG&Es website before March 15., with scholarships being awarded in August. Scholarships will be given out based on academic achievement, leadership in school and financial needs.

The awards are open to:

High School seniors or graduates.

Students who have received a GED certification

Current undergraduate students

Non-traditional students or military veterans returning to school or pursuing their first undergraduate degree

Applicants must live or be a dependent of a resident in PG&Es service area in Northern and Central California; plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study for the entire 2024-2025 academic year; and be seeking their first undergraduate degree at an accredited four-year institution in California or HBCU.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
A pro-Palestinian group has accused President Joe Bidens reelection campaign of blocking two women from entering a Nevada primary campaign event because they were wearing hijabs.

The group Nevadans for Palestinian Liberation, which is calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, posted a video this week showing two Muslim women, both of whom were wearing headscarves, being denied entrance to a get-out-the-vote event on Saturday hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris in Las Vegas.

The video of the encounter went viral after the group posted it to Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) earlier this week. The Biden/Harris campaign is clearly fanning the flames of Islamophobia, Nevadans for Palestinian Liberation wrote in the tweet accompanying the video, which has since garnered millions of views.

 On Saturday, January 27th at the @KamalaHarris "Get The Vote Out" event in Las Vegas, two visible members of the Muslim community wearing hijabs were not let in by campaign officials.



The Biden/Harris campaign is clearly fanning the flames of Islamophobia. pic.twitter.com/FOhSyHOm1I  Nevadans for Palestinian Liberation (@npl_palestine) January 30, 2024

Why are you choosing us not to go in when we have an invite? one of the women can be heard asking a campaign staffer in the video, adding: Thats racist. Is it because we have hijabs?

This is disgusting, the woman continues. Obviously were the only hijabi women theyre disinviting us because we have scarves on our head, literally when we have an invitation just like everyone else.

Although campaign staffers in the video dont respond directly to those accusations, Bidens campaign has since strongly denied that the women were refused entry to the event because of their race or faith.

These individuals were among the group of people not allowed to attend Saturdays event after previously disrupting and shutting down events with Democratic elected officials, a campaign aide told HuffPost. As a policy, the campaign will disinvite individuals known to have disrupted prior events.

In a statement Tuesday, Nevadans for Palestinian Liberation reiterated that the two women targeted by the Biden-Harris staff and Nevada Democrats staff did not attend [the event] together but were grouped solely because of the hijabs they wore.

The statement also included a quote from the unnamed woman who recorded the viral video, in which she said she has never disrupted a political event in her life and any insinuation of me doing so is categorically inaccurate.

The Biden campaign said the other hijab-wearing woman in the video was among the pro-Palestinian protesters who recently disrupted a Las Vegas event where Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) had been speaking. At that event, three protesters listened to Rosens speech before standing up and confronting her, per a report by The Nevada Independent, to ask why she supports genocide and has backed sending billions of dollars in aid and weapons to Israel.

The incidents are the latest examples of the Biden campaign and Democratic officials grappling with persistent protests over the presidents unwavering support for Israels monthslong siege of Gaza, which has killed some 26,000 Palestinians. That offensive, launched in retaliation for a Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people, may amount to a plausible genocide, the International Court of Justice at The Hague ruled last week.

Earlier this month, protesters calling for a cease-fire in Gaza were dragged out of a United Auto Workers event after disrupting a speech Biden was giving. The day before, during another Biden speech, protesters chanted at the president, Genocide Joe! Actor and director Rob Reiner was also prevented from reaching a Biden fundraiser he was hosting after pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked off roads to the venue.

The steady drumbeat of these demonstrations, according to a report from NBC, led to donors raising concerns with the Biden campaign during a December summit in Washington. The Biden campaign has since selected Doug Landry, a veteran of presidential campaign logistics, to deal with the protests. If the Las Vegas incident is any indication, Landrys task will be a delicate one, especially as support for a cease-fire in Gaza grows among Democratic voters.

The administrations disregard to respond to the demands of their constituents with regards to calling for a ceasefire and the end to the occupation of Palestine is ludicrous, Nevadans for Palestinian Liberation said in its statement. Its shameful to see our elected leaders rubber-stamp this genocide.

Related...
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  President Joe Biden confirmed Tuesday he has made a decision on how to respond to the drone attack in Jordan that killed three American troops and injured dozens more.

However, the Pentagon is keeping quiet on exactly what that response will look like.

We will respond in a time and manner of our choosing, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said multiple times during Tuesdays briefing.

Ryder said the investigation into the attack is still ongoing, but the Pentagon is confident Iran-backed militias are responsible.

When we need to, we will protect our forces, he said.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said to expect a tiered approach.

Whatever the U.S. response may be, President Biden said, I dont think we need a wider war in the Middle East. Thats not what Im looking for.

Congress is looking for more answers about the deadly attack. Top intelligence officials briefed a House committee Tuesday and expect further briefings as they learn more.

U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, (R-Fla.), said he wants the U.S. to take a stronger stance.

We cant continue to suffer strike after strike after strike and just hit back at their proxies, Waltz said.

Waltz said the U.S. may need to take direct action against Iran.

I dont think anybody wants a wider war, he said. But sometimes too passive of an approach invites the bully to actually be more aggressive.

While Washington waits to see what happens next, the White House said President Biden spoke with the families of the three U.S. troops killed in the attack and plans to go to their dignified transfer Friday.

The Pentagon said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will follow suit.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
(Bloomberg) -- Six in 10 swing-state voters say President Joe Biden bears responsibility for a surge in migrants at the US-Mexico border, a downbeat signal for his reelection prospects as Republicans largely avoid blame on the issue, a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll found.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Biden again trails Donald Trump in each of seven swing states in the monthly survey, and lags Trump 42% to 48% across all those states in a head-to-head match-up. The former presidents lead grows to 9 percentage points when third-party candidates are included.

Read More: Trump to Lose 53% of Swing-State Voters If Convicted of a Crime

The economy remains voters chief concern at the ballot box by a wide margin. Yet a greater share of respondents cited immigration as their most important issue in the 2024 election than in any previous installment of the poll, while the proportion who said the same about the economy fell to the lowest yet.

The narrowing gap suggests that GOP efforts to put immigration at the center of the campaign are working, especially against a backdrop of a resilient job market and a drumbeat of border security coverage in conservative media.

Bidens comparative weakness on the issue comes as Trump urges his partys lawmakers to block a border bill before the election in order to deprive the president of a policy victory in this area.

The poll findings broadly are a warning sign to Biden, whose allies are urging his campaign to step up its efforts as Trump has all but clinched the GOP nomination. Respondents trust Trump more than the president on a wide range of issues, including the economy, immigration, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, ties with China, infrastructure, housing and crime.

Trust Gap

The polls overall margin of error is 1 percentage point, with wider margins of 3 to 5 points in each of the surveyed states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Trumps lead in most of the states is within the margin of error. Trump won six of the seven in 2016 to pave his path to the White House; Biden won six of the seven in 2020.

The 61% of swing-state voters who view Biden as at least somewhat responsible for the increase in migrants crossing the US-Mexico border is far higher than the 38% who said the same about Republicans in Congress or the 30% who said so about the Trump administration.

Respondents were also more than twice as likely to say Democrats in Congress are very responsible for the situation as their Republican counterparts.

The trust gap between the two presidential candidates on the issue is growing. By a 22-point margin, swing-state voters say they trust Trump over Biden to handle immigration, up from 17 points in the December poll.

While Biden gets more of the political blame, swing-state voters also recognized that geopolitical considerations outside the US are driving the border crisis. Large majorities  bigger shares than blame Biden  cited corruption, economic conditions, famine and war as factors behind the increase in migration.

The preference for immigration as a top issue was pronounced among Trump voters  and particularly Republican men. Among voters aged 65 and older, the economy and immigration are now tied for the top issue.

The poll was conducted Jan. 16 to Jan. 22, before Biden pledged to shut down the border right now if Congress passes a bipartisan bill giving him emergency authorities.

Read More: Trump Is Winning Over Swing-State Voters Wary of Bidens Economic Plan Bidens Focus Is on Foreign Conflicts, But Swing-State Voter Worries Are Closer to Home Biden Forgave Billions in Student Debt. Poll Shows Its Not Enough For Gen Z

Senate negotiators are close to announcing a deal on migration policy and Ukraine aid, but the prospects for the proposal are dim in the House where the speaker and conservatives are set to oppose it. The border deal would make it harder to apply for asylum in the US and ease the ability of the president to deport border crossers when migration flows reach certain levels. Trump has urged Republicans to reject the overture, saying a bad border deal is far worse than no border deal.

Migrant encounters along the southwestern border hit a record high of 302,034 in the month of December, according to US Customs and Border Protection.

Voters in the southwestern state of Arizona were most likely to say theyve seen an increase in immigrants in their state. But the immigration issue also resonated in states far from the border. In every swing state except Michigan, a majority of voters said theyve seen more immigrants over the last few years.

Pinning Blame

Only 29% of respondents said the national economy is headed in the right direction, but larger shares said their own city or states situation is on track.

And while the percentage of swing-state voters who said the economy was a very important issue for them held steady from December, a smaller share named it as their top issue  36%, down from 40%.

https://t.co/N9acUNACCb pic.twitter.com/pMpsXBw7Rc

 Bloomberg (@business) January 31, 2024

Meanwhile, 13% of respondents picked immigration as their most important issue, up from 10% last month.

As the economy improves and thats less important to voters, theres going to be space for voters to be concerned about other issues, said Caroline Bye, vice president of Morning Consult. Its clear from these results that immigration is an important issue. Its an issue thats going to be key to this election. And so far Republicans have been successful in pinning blame on President Biden.

Some 51% said they trusted Trump more to manage the economy, compared to 33% who said they trusted Biden more. Bloomberg News and Morning Consult are conducting polls monthly in the run-up to the November presidential election.

Still, the poll offers some bright spots for Biden and Democrats. One is that the share of voters who named democracy as their top issue has increased. Its now the foremost concern of 21% of Democratic voters, second only to the economy at 25% and far ahead of abortion at 11%. Biden has regularly painted Trump as a threat to democracy.

Methodology

The Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll surveyed 4,956 registered voters in seven swing states: 800 registered voters in Arizona, 798 in Georgia, 703 in Michigan, 457 in Nevada, 706 in North Carolina, 795 in Pennsylvania and 697 in Wisconsin. The surveys were conducted online from Jan. 16 to 22 and the aggregated data across the seven swing states were weighted to approximate a target sample of swing state registered voters based on gender, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, home ownership, 2020 presidential vote and state. State-level data were weighted to approximate a target sample of registered voters in the respective state based on gender, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, home ownership, and 2020 presidential vote. The margin of error is plus or minus 1 percentage point across the seven states; 3 percentage points in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania; 4 percentage points in Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, and 5 percentage points in Nevada.

--With assistance from Jennah Haque, Elena Mejia and Erik Wasson.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
The future of police discipline in Chicago is scheduled for a City Council vote for the third time Wednesday after a committee voted to reject a Fraternal Order of Police contract measure that would allow officers accused of serious misconduct to have their disciplinary cases heard behind closed doors.

The committees 10-5 vote tees up another chapter in the back and forth between City Hall and the union over the contract provision that would let officers seek a ruling in private from an independent arbitrator rather than through the public Chicago Police Board.

The high stakes for the police misconduct process  and potentially for Chicago taxpayers  were underscored last week, when the full City Council deferred voting on the contract measure, instead sending it back to committee.

That unexpected move caused Chicago FOP President John Catanzara to stand up in the City Council chambers and shout, Get your checkbooks ready, an apparent nod to what he said will be an expensive court fight over the dispute.

Catanzara repeated the phrase Tuesday as he spoke during a public comment period and criticized committee chair Ald. Michael Rodriguez, 22nd, for not inviting him to join the panel that testified at the meeting.

Our path is very clear going forward, Catanzara said. We are literally going to sue the hell out of this body.

Several aldermen backing the private disciplinary hearings echoed Cantazara, calling the committee unfair for not including the FOPs viewpoint and wrong for making the city vulnerable to lawsuits.

I believe in transparency. I believe in openness. But the law is a law, said Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th. This is a political stunt.

But Beales position is far from universal.

Kyle Cooper, president of the Police Board, and Anthony Driver Jr., president of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, urged aldermen to vote down the arbitration process.

And city attorneys on Tuesday contradicted arbitrator Edwin Benn, who set off the controversy last year when he awarded officers accused of misconduct the choice to remove their cases from the Police Boards docket and instead have them decided privately by an outside third party.

Benn has said its futile for the council to try to fight his decision.

But the attorneys said the city still has a chance at significantly altering the disciplinary process the contract creates.

While its unclear whether the aldermen opposed to the private disciplinary hearings will get their way even if they win the vote Wednesday, they have a responsibility to try, Rodriguez said after the hearing.

The court will probably ultimately decide, he said. But were going to go to each one of these processes and fight for Chicagoans.

The conflict began when Benn first ruled on the issue as part of a dispute during broader contact negotiations between the city and the FOP.

Aldermen narrowly voted down the contracts arbitration language in December by a vote of 33-17, sending their decision back to Benn. That vote required a three-fifths majority to concur with the committees rejection, as does Wednesdays.

That same meeting, the council approved an economic package giving rank-and-file officers 20% raises over four years.

Benn rejected the decision, saying the vote amounted to a violation of the councils oath of office that could open the city up to expensive litigation and warning the city cannot prevail if the matter ends up in court.

Please dont throw away potentially large sums of taxpayer money that could be used better elsewhere than on a legal fight you cannot win, which you are undertaking to make a point that you have already made, he said.

jsheridan@chicagotribune.com
President Joe Biden bows his head in a moment of silence for the three American troops killed Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in a drone strike in northeast Jordan, while speaking in South Carolina on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden is planning his first visit to East Palestine, Ohio, next month to mark the one-year anniversary of a toxic train derailment that raised fears among residents about a health and environmental crisis.

Biden will meet with East Palestine residents affected by the Norfolk Southern train derailment and assess the ongoing response, according to a White House official who confirmed the visit on the condition of anonymity. The date of Biden's visit has not been announced.

A train that included five cars carrying vinyl chloride derailed on Feb. 3, 2023, later igniting large flames and plumes of smoke into the air when the railroad vented and burned the chloride to prevent a larger explosion. The wreck forced people out of their homes, and residents continue to worry about the long-term health and economic effects of the derailment.

Biden has faced relentless criticism from Republicans for not visiting East Palestine for the past year. They've accused him of ignoring a blue-collar town that former President Donald Trump carried by 40 percentage points in the 2020 election.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Bidens visit follows a recent invitation from East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway and other community leaders.

The president had always said he would go when it is most helpful to the community, she said. And with this invitation very recent and the current status of the recovery, we felt that the time was right.

Trump, the frontrunner to secure the 2024 presidential nomination, visited East Palestine weeks after the wreck. One day later, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg traveled to East Palestine.

The White House has defended the administration's response to the derailment, saying the Environmental Protection Agency deployed a team within hours to assist in the environmental response. The Biden administration has also vowed to hold Norfolk Southern accountable.

The EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up all environmental damage caused by the wreck  including cleaning or disposing contaminated soil and water  and to reimburse the federal government's response costs.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visits with Department of Transportation Investigators at the site of the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb 23, 2023.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the agency has "confidence in the safety of the air, water and soil" in the East Palestine community.

EPA cleanup efforts have included the excavation of more than 176,000 tons of soil and shipments of more than 43 million gallons of wastewater off site. Regan said the EPA collected more than 115 million data points to assess air quality. The EPA has also cleaned 83 homes and structures near the derailment site to address potential dust emissions.

Regan said the EPA will "continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the East Palestine community until we are certain that every bit of hazardous contamination has gone. We will not leave until this community is restored and made whole again."

Trump mocked Biden's upcoming visit on his social media network Truth Social, writing Biden has "finally decided" to go to East Palestine. "I was there when it counted, and his reception wont be a warm one," Trump said.

Jean-Pierre downplayed past criticism from Conaway, who last year called it a slap in the face when Biden traveled to Ukraine and not East Palestine, Ohio, in the aftermath of the derailment. Conaway endorsed Trump in the 2024 election last April.

The president has always said he is a president for folks who live in red states, folks who live in blue states. It doesn't matter if you're in rural America, urban, suburban  he is a president for all, Jean-Pierre said.

The mayor is allowed to say whatever he wants to say but he also invited the president  this current president  to come."

Biden has called on Congress to pass the Bipartisan Railway Safety Act, which would require detectors for rail carriers containing hazardous waste, toughen penalties for rail companies violating safety rules and phase in safer tank cars.

"It should not be the case that one year after that derailment, we are still waiting for Congress to act," Buttigieg said. "And yet we have seen many who had a lot to say about this in Congress a year ago still not make clear on the record whether they are for or against this bill."

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the derailment occurred after crew members became aware of an overheated wheel bearing and tried to stop the train. Norfolk Southern has estimated cleanup and recovery costs near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border will top $1.1 billion.

FILE - Portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed the night before burn in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 4, 2023. The White House says President Joe Biden will visit the eastern Ohio community that was devastated by a fiery train derailment in February 2023.

Contributing: The Canton Repository

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

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden to visit East Palestine, Ohio, year after train derailment
JERUSALEM  Iran threatened Wednesday to decisively respond to any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic following President Joe Bidens linking of Tehran to the killing of three U.S. soldiers at a military base in Jordan.

The U.S. has signaled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Mideast in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that also wounded at least 40 troops at Tower 22, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan thats been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.

Any additional American strikes could further inflame a region already roiled by Israels ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The war began with Hamas attacking Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Since then, Israel has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly 2 million others from their homes, arousing anger throughout the Muslim world.

Violence has erupted across the Mideast, with Iran striking targets in Iraq, Pakistan and Syria, and the U.S. carrying out airstrikes targeting Yemens Houthi rebels over their attacks shipping in the Red Sea. Some observers fear a new round of strikes targeting Iran could tip the region into a wider war.

A U.S. Navy destroyer in the waterway shot down an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the Houthis late Tuesday, the latest attack targeting American forces patrolling the key maritime trade route, officials said.

The Iranian warnings first came from Amir Saeid Iravani, Irans ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He gave a briefing to Iranian journalists late Tuesday, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

The Islamic Republic would decisively respond to any attack on the county, its interests and nationals under any pretexts, IRNA quoted Iravani as saying. He described any possible Iranian retaliation as a strong response, without elaborating.

The Iranian mission to the U.N. did not respond to requests for comment or elaboration Wednesday on Iravanis remarks.

Iravani also denied that Iran and the U.S. had exchanged any messages over the last few days, either through intermediaries or directly. The pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera, which is based in and funded by Qatar, reported earlier that such communication had taken place. Qatar often serves as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.

Such messages have not been exchanged, Iravani said.

But Irans government has taken note of the U.S. threats of retaliation for the attack on the base in Jordan.

Sometime, our enemies raise the threat, and nowadays we hear some threats in between words by American officials, Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Hossein Salami, who answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said at an event Wednesday. We tell them that you have experienced us, and we know each other. We do not leave any threat without an answer.

We are not after war, but we have no fear of war, he added, according to IRNA.

On Saturday, a general in charge of Irans air defenses described them as being at their highest defensive readiness. That raises concerns for commercial aviation traveling through and over Iran as well. After a U.S. drone strike killed a top general in 2020, Iranian air defenses mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people on board.

Meanwhile, attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels continue in the Red Sea, most recently targeting a U.S. warship. The missile launched Tuesday night targeted the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the U.S. militarys Central Command said in a statement. No injuries or damage were reported.

A Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement Wednesday morning, calling it a victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people and a response to the American-British aggression against our country.

Saree claimed the Houthis fired several missiles, something not acknowledged by the U.S. Navy. Houthi claims have been exaggerated in the past, and their missiles sometimes crash on land and fail to reach their targets.

The Houthis claimed without evidence on Monday to have targeted the USS Lewis B. Puller, a floating landing base used by the Navy SEALs and others. The U.S. said there had been no attack.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israels offensive against Hamas in Gaza. 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.

The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday, sparking a fire that burned for hours.

The U.S. and the United Kingdom have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes targeting the Houthis as allied warships patrol the waterways affected by the attacks. The European Union also plans to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea within three weeks to help defend cargo ships against the Houthi attacks, the blocs top diplomat said Wednesday.
President Joe Biden will travel next month to East Palestine, Ohio, to mark the one-year anniversary of the disastrous train derailment and toxic chemical spill in the area.

The White House did not provide a specific date for the visit, which would fulfill a long-held vow to visit the small eastern Ohio town. But on Feb. 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train hauling hazardous materials ran off the tracks, igniting a dayslong fire that released poisonous fumes and forced residents out of their homes.

Biden recently received an invitation from the East Palestine mayors and community leaders to visit the area and assess the recovery efforts, said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

"He's looking forward to going to East Palestine team in February. We're going to find the day that works best for the folks on the ground," she told reporters at Wednesday's briefing. "He's always said that, when the time was right, when it was the most helpful for him to be there, he was going to be there."

Biden last year ordered his Federal Emergency Management Agency to appoint a coordinator to oversee East Palestines long-term recovery efforts. Hes also tasked the Environmental Protection Agency with evaluating whether Norfolk Southern has followed through on its commitment to address any lingering threats to the town generated by the derailment. And the Transportation Department has pumped millions into rail safety grants and additional inspections.

The White House faced criticism over Bidens decision not to immediately visit East Palestine in the aftermath of the derailment. The president has traveled to other disaster sites across the country in the intervening months. When pressed on the delay in September, he said he didnt have the occasion to go to East Palestine. He has since been drawn into numerous foreign crises, particularly after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. and, more recently, the death of the service members in Jordan adds to the rising Middle East tensions.



Former President Donald Trump visited a firehouse about a half-mile from the derailment site in late February, 19 days after the incident, calling it a betrayal of the residents. His visit, though, came one day before Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigiegs arrival, and weeks after the administration dispatched EPA Administrator Michael Regan to the site.

At the time, Trumps visit cast a light on Trumps DOT, which oversaw mothballing two rules that sought to shore up the safety of train brakes and crews.


WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The White House says President Joe Biden will travel in the next few weeks, to East Palestine, Ohio which is the site of the Norfolk Southern derailment.

The trip comes more than a year after the disaster.

The president has always said that he would go when it is most helpful to the community, Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary said.

The president is expected to visit the site of the toxic train crash and meet with community members.

Any time there is a situation that happens in a community, the president says this all the time. He is there for that community for as long as it takes, Jean-Pierre added.

Ohio Republicans have criticized the White House over President Bidens decision not to visit East Palestine soon after the derailment.

What took him so long? And most importantly, whats actually going to change? Sen. J.D. Vance, (R-Ohio) said.

Vance praised former president Donald Trump for traveling to East Palestine just weeks after last Februarys crash.

He showed up on the ground. He brought people needed resources, Vance said.

Vance says the federal government has been too slow to help the people of East Palestine.

I think the federal government has been way too unresponsive to some of the concerns of the people on the ground.

The Biden administration defends its response.

The White House says it deployed resources within hours of the derailment and has worked to make sure toxic chemicals are being removed from the water.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
FILE - Portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed the night before burn in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 4, 2023. The White House says President Joe Biden will visit the eastern Ohio community that was devastated by a fiery train derailment in February 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden will visit the eastern Ohio community that was devastated by a fiery train derailment almost one year ago, accepting an invitation from the East Palestine mayor to see firsthand how the cleanup of spilled toxic chemicals and the recovery are coming along.

Mayor Trent Conaway, a conservative who does not support Biden, said Wednesday he extended the invitation to the Democratic president because he thinks the visit will be good for his community.

I'm as red as they come. I'm as conservative as they come. Sometimes I have to do what's best for the people so, yes, that's why I invited him, Conaway said in an interview with The Associated Press.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier Wednesday that Biden would visit sometime in February. She said the White House and local officials were still hashing out timing for Biden's long-awaited trip.

The Feb. 3, 2023, derailment forced thousands of people from their homes near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Area residents still have lingering fears about potential health effects from the toxic chemicals that spilled in the crash and from the vinyl chloride that was released a few days after the crash to keep five tank cars from exploding.

The absence of a visit by Biden, who is campaigning for reelection in November, had become a subject of persistent questioning at the White House, as well as among residents in East Palestine. Some residents have said they felt forgotten as time marched by and as they watched Biden fly to the scenes of other disasters, such as the wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui and hurricanes in Florida.

East Palestine resident Joe Bethuy, a 36-year-old steelworker and a Republican, said he was disappointed in the Biden administrations handling of the derailment and the president's delay in visiting, adding that all he had to do was show up just for an hour or something.

Bethuy and friend Jeremy Smith, who moved to East Palestine after the derailment, spoke to an Associated Press reporter inside Sprinklz on Top, a downtown diner.

I dont know what the point is really," Smith said of Biden's visit. Its kind of a year late.

Several weeks after the derailment, former President Donald Trump visited East Palestine and criticized the federal response under Biden as a betrayal. He also donated cleaning supplies and Trump-branded bottled water. Trump currently is the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.

In a social media post on Wednesday, Trump criticized Biden for planning to visit a year late, and only to develop some political credibility because EVERYTHING else he has done has been such a DISASTER. I know those great people, I was there when it counted, and his reception wont be a warm one."

The Biden administration defended its response right after the toxic freight train derailment, even as local leaders and members of Congress demanded that more be done. The White House said then that it had mobilized a robust, multi-agency effort to support the people of East Palestine, Ohio," and it noted that officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Transportation Safety Board and other agencies were at the rural site within hours even though Biden didn't immediately visit.

Asked at the end of last week about a potential Biden visit to Ohio, Jean-Pierre said he would visit when it is appropriate or helps ... the community for him to be there.

It doesnt matter if its in a rural area, urban area, suburban area, red state, blue state, the president has always been there to ... assist and be there for the community, Jean-Pierre added. So, when it is helpful, he certainly will do that.

Though the administration has defended its response, Biden has not declared a federal disaster in East Palestine, which remains a sticking point for residents. Such a declaration would unlock additional federal funding and assistance that people could apply for to help rebuild their lives.

But state and federal officials say a federal disaster declaration has not been issued because they are designed to help cover unmet needs no one is paying for after a disaster. In this case, there are not as many unmet needs in the government's eyes because Norfolk Southern is paying the bills and compensating residents for the damage to their homes and businesses.

Biden ordered federal agencies to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for the derailment and appointed an official from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to oversee East Palestine's recovery.

Norfolk Southern has estimated that it will cost the company more than $1.1 billion to remove all the hazardous chemicals, help the community and deal with lawsuits and related penalties. Insurance will likely cover much of that, but the total is expected to grow.

Reforms have been proposed in Congress but the bill calling for federal standards for trackside detectors that help spot mechanical problems, additional inspections by qualified workers and at least two people on every freight train crew has stalled. The railroads have lobbied against several of the provisions they believe aren't related to this crash, and many Republicans pushed to wait until after the final National Transportation Safety Board report on the derailment later this year.

In the past, there have been times when Congress stood up against the railroad lobby and stepped up on railroad safety. They should do that now,'' Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a call with reporters Wednesday.

___

Associated Press writers Josh Funk in Omaha, Neb., Patrick Orsagos in East Palestine, Ohio, and Matthew Daly in Washitngton contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden will visit the eastern Ohio community that was devastated by a fiery train derailment in February 2023 that displaced thousands of residents and left many fearing potential health effects from the toxic chemicals that spilled when a Norfolk Southern train went off the tracks.

A White House official said Wednesday that Biden will visit East Palestine in February, a year after the derailment. A date for the Democratic presidents trip was not given. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because Bidens plans had yet to be formally announced.

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The Feb. 3, 2023, derailment forced thousands of people from their homes near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Area residents still have lingering fears about potential health effects from the toxic chemicals that spilled and from the vinyl chloride that was released a few days after the crash to keep five tank cars from exploding.

The absence of a visit by Biden, who is campaigning for reelection in November, had become a subject of persistent questioning at the White House, as well as among residents in East Palestine. Some residents have said they felt forgotten as time marched and as they watched Biden fly to the scenes of other disasters, such as the wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui and hurricanes in Florida.

Norfolk Southern to compensate homeowners in Ohio, PA for any lost value

Several weeks after the derailment, former President Donald Trump visited East Palestine and criticized the federal response under Biden as a betrayal. He also donated cleaning supplies and Trump-branded bottled water. Trump currently is the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.

The Biden administration defended its response right after the toxic freight train derailment, even as local leaders and members of Congress demanded that more be done. The White House said then that it had mobilized a robust, multi-agency effort to support the people of East Palestine, Ohio, and it noted that officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Transportation Safety Board and other agencies were at the rural site within hours even though Biden didnt immediately visit.

Asked last week about a potential Biden visit to Ohio, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she had nothing to announce.

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When it is, when it is appropriate or helps  the community for him to be there, obviously, he will be there. Hes done that, she said at her press briefing last Friday.

It doesnt matter if its in a rural area, urban area, suburban area, red state, blue state, the president has always been there to  assist and be there for the community, Jean-Pierre added. So, when it is helpful, he certainly will do that.

She again defended the administrations response, repeating that federal employees were on the ground providing assistance within hours of the derailment.

Biden ordered federal agencies to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for the derailment and appointed an official from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to oversee East Palestines recovery.

Norfolk Southern has estimated that it will cost the company at least $803 million to remove all the hazardous chemicals, help the community and deal with lawsuits and related penalties.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to the media before he departs the White House, in Washington

By Katharine Jackson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Joe Biden's brother, James Biden, will appear on Feb. 21 for an interview with lawmakers conducting an impeachment inquiry into the president, the Republican-led U.S. House Oversight Committee said on Wednesday.

"We look forward to his testimony," the committee said on social media platform X.

The House of Representatives voted along party lines in December to formally authorize the inquiry, following months of probes by Republicans who allege that Biden and his family personally profited from policy decisions he made as vice president during former President Barack Obama's administration.

The White House has dismissed the inquiry as unsubstantiated by facts and politically motivated.

The committee in November subpoenaed James Biden and the president's son, Hunter Biden, to appear for depositions.

Hunter Biden will appear on Feb. 28 before the House Oversight and House Judiciary committees, according to a statement issued by the committee chairs.

Hunter Biden agreed earlier this month to testify after the committees moved ahead with efforts to hold him in contempt for saying he would only appear in a public hearing.

The impeachment effort will almost certainly fail to remove Biden from office. Even if the House votes to impeach the president, the Senate would then have to vote to convict him on the charges by a two-thirds vote  a near-impossibility in a chamber where Biden's fellow Democrats hold a 51-49 majority.

(Reporting by Katharine Jackson, Jasper Ward; Editing by Alistair Bell)
The Biden administration's decision to "pause" the approval of new natural gas export facilities has been cheered by environmental activists as an important step in the fight against climate change.

It remains unclear, however, whether the policy will actually reduce global carbon emissionseven though that seems like something you'd want to know for sure before moving ahead with a major change in federal energy policy.

In the official announcement on January 26, the White House framed the decision to pause approvals for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities as a way to confront climate change, which it calls the "existential threat of our time." More technically, the pause will allow the Department of Energy to update its rules for permitting future LNG export facilities.

But the pause is a limited one. It will only affect exports of LNG to countries with which the U.S. does not have a free trade agreement, and it does not prevent exports from the eight LNG export facilities already operatingthough it will slow construction on several other export facilities, including one in Louisiana that would be America's largest when finished. Even with the "pause" in place, the White House says America's LNG exports are expected to double by the end of the decade, thanks to America's booming natural gas industry and the energy needs of a world that's getting wealthier.

While it is all a bit complicated, what the Biden administration announced last week amounts to an attempt to slow the growth of America's natural gas exportsunderpinned by the rationale that the slowdown will reduce global carbon emissions.

That's a rationale based on some dubious assumptions. The climate activists who pushed the White House to consider the "pause" on new LNG export facilities point to an analysis released in November by former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy advisor Jeremy Symons. Among other things, that report found that planned expansions of LNG exports in the U.S. would cause an increase in carbon emissions equal to the current level of emissions from the entire European Union.

That report, as the environmental policy newsletter Heatmap notes, was not subject to peer-review and was based on another set of data, from a researcher at Cornell University, that has also not cleared the usual process for confirming academic research.

Even if Symons' report is rightindeed, an increase in natural gas exports seems likely to result in more global use of natural gas, even if he's wrong about the scale of the increasethere's a huge blind spot in that analysis. On his Slow Boring Substack, liberal blogger Matthew Yglesias points out that Symons "doesn't even purport to estimate the net impact on emissions."

In other words: How much would the increase in global natural gas consumption offset emissions from dirtier forms of fuel like coal and oil?

That's the key question to ask. A significant reason why the United States has seen an overall decrease in carbon emissions in recent years is due to natural gas supplanting coal as the country's top energy source.

The Biden administration is well aware of how exporting more natural gas could facilitate a similar transition in other parts of the world. When the Department of Energy signed off on a new LNG export facility in Corpus Christie, Texas, in March 2022, it concluded that "to the extent U.S. LNG exports are preferred over coal in LNG-importing nations, U.S. LNG exports are likely to reduce global [greenhouse gas] emissions on per unit of energy consumed basis for power production."

For that matter, it's also unclear whether pausing the expansion of U.S. exports of LNG will do much of anything to curb the global consumption of natural gas. Isn't it more likely that LNG-importing countries will simply shift their supply chains towards other producers of natural gas, like Russia?

It's telling that the White House and Department of Energy have not even offered answers to those two huge questions about the potential consequences of this decision. If the entire policy is predicated on the importance of slowing global emissions, it's only fair to expect the federal government to show its work and prove that reducing the growth of American LNG exports actually will reduce global emissions.

Without that, this looks like a politically motivated maneuver aimed at garnering election-year praise from environmental activists on the leftand, let's be honest, that's probably exactly what it is.

The post Biden's Natural Gas Export 'Pause' Is Based on Bad Math appeared first on Reason.com.
President Joe Biden boards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. The President is traveling to Florida on a campaign trip.

WASHINGTON  Two years into his presidency, Donald Trump warned that he would "close the southern border entirely" if Democrats kept blocking funding for his proposed border wall.

It was the type of Trump rhetoric about the U.S.-Mexico border that Democrats regularly scorned as xenophobic.

But now, President Joe Biden is using similar language  seeking a border shutdown  as he urges Congress to pass a bipartisan bill under negotiation by senators to address what Biden has started to call "the border crisis."

Biden said the proposal would be the "toughest and fairest" set of border reforms in U.S. history and includes new presidential authority to "shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed."

If that bill were the law today, Id shut down the border right now and fix it quickly," Biden said Saturday to Democrats in Columbia, South Carolina.

Biden's push for a bipartisan border bill  one that also would include funding for Ukraine and Israel  marks a seismic shift to the right on border and immigration politics that has built over the past year.

Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Biden is trying to strip Republicans of one of their most effective wedge issues, setting up a potential case that House Republicans  who have refused to back a bipartisan border bill  stood in the way of long-discussed action on the border.

Yet the discussions are a far cry from a comprehensive immigration bill Biden sent to Congress on his first day of office that sought to "restore humanity and American values to our immigration system" by offering pathways for citizenship to undocumented immigrants in the U.S.

"The discourse has become which of the parties can be harsher on border enforcement," said Denise Gilman, co-director of the Immigration Clinic at the University of Texas, Austin, School of Law.

Gilman said the political posturing ignores the reality that the border has never been the subject of policies more stringent regarding screenings for entry, expedited removal of migrants and other areas.

"I have to think it's mostly because the Republicans have succeeded in creating a lot of fear around migration issues and have had success in doing that," Gilman said.

Texas National Guard soldiers install additional razor wire lie along the Rio Grande on January 10, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Following a major surge of migrant border crossings late last year, miles of razor wire as well as huge quantities of refuse remain along the U.S.-Mexico border at Eagle Pass.

From the border: As battle brews between Texas and U.S., tiny Eagle Pass braces for its next conflict

The 2024 election calculus for Biden, Trump

For years, Republicans have rallied their conservative base and tried to appeal to independent voters by accusing the left of being soft on border enforcement.

Republicans are historically viewed more favorably on border security. A USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll in October found more Americans, by a 50%-41% margin, trust Trump  the front-runner for the Republican nomination  to handle immigration over Biden.

Biden's tone has changed after record daily border crossings over the past year. The president has also heard from Democratic mayors who have raised concerns about needing additional resources to handle the influx of migrants in their cities.

"No, it's not," Biden said this month when a reporter asked him whether the border is secure. "I haven't believed that for the last 10 years, and I've said it for the last 10 years."

Republicans have taken cues from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, whose hard-line tactics at the border  including installing razor wire along the Rio Grande  appear to be influencing the tenor of the national immigration debate.

Meanwhile, House Republicans are ratcheting up the border feud further by moving to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, arguing he has refused to enforce the nation's immigration laws.

Although the text of bipartisan border legislation isn't finalized, senators have discussed giving the Department of Homeland Security power to shut the border down to migrants crossing illegally when daily crossings exceed a daily average of 4,000 over a one-week period.

And if migrant border encounters surpass an average of 5,000 a day  a threshold now met  DHS would be required to close the border to migrants seeking to cross without prior authorization between ports of entry. Under the proposal, certain migrants would be allowed to remain in the U.S. if they are fleeing torture or persecution in their countries.

"This is exactly what they've been asking for  literally what Republicans have been asking for. And now here it is. It's coming to fruition," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday. "So, they should get on board."

Another area discussed by senator negotiators is speeding up the asylum process so that immigration judges hear within six months cases that can now take years.

Making the passage of any deal in Congress highly unlikely, however, Trump has told Republicans to oppose the package. The demise of a bipartisan border deal would deny Biden the chance to claim a victory in addressing surging migration at the southern border.

"We're now fully into electioneering and to partisan politics," said Doris Meissner, director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan thinktank. She called Biden's positioning "a direct response to the fact that the former president is saying 'Don't solve the problem at the border.' Biden is saying 'Give me the tools and I will solve the problem.'"

A very different immigration debate from a decade ago

A decade ago, in 2013, the national immigration debate during the Obama presidency still hinged on bipartisan efforts to contend with the millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., including providing them a path to citizenship. The so-called Gang of Eight U.S. senators  four Democrat and four Republican  wrote bipartisan legislation to that effect, but it died on the House floor.

No similar effort has gained momentum in Congress since.

"I think President Biden's response is fitting in that I think everyone agrees that what's happening at the border is a symptom of a broken system," said Jennie Murray, president of the National Immigration Forum, which works to build a moderate coalition for immigration reform. "But that's only one of the solutions," she said, arguing more resources for border officers are needed as well an overhaul of the visa system.

The White House has rejected comparisons that opponents from the left make between Trump's and Biden's immigration policies, arguing Trump forced the separation of migrant families at the border, among other cruel actions.

Trump has called for a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. Trump, also unlike Biden, routinely uses anti-immigrant rhetoric, warning his supporters last year that illegal immigrants are "poisoning the blood" of the country, echoing rhetoric used by Adolf Hitler.

Biden has taken more executive actions on immigration in the first three years of his administration than Trump took in all four years of his presidency: 535 immigration orders compared with Trumps 472, according to a new analysis by the Migration Policy Institute.

But Biden's frenetic pace of action hasnt stopped critics from accusing him of inaction.

The Biden years have been marred at the border by the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused widespread economic strife and kept people from traveling across borders. Once the worst of it waned, pent-up demand for economic opportunity and family reunification exploded, as did the need for many to flee political upheaval in places like Venezuela. New records were set for daily migrant encounters at the border, which in December topped 10,000 in a 24-hour period.

Border agencies registered a record 6.3 million migrant encounters at the border since Biden took office, according to a Migration Policy Institute analysis of Office of Homeland Security Statistics. As many as 2.4 million migrants were allowed into the country, including through pathways like CBP One or humanitarian parole.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., gives a statement to reporters, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, at the Capitol in Washington.

Johnson, who has said he speaks to Trump regularly about border talks, has argued Biden can already take executive action without action from Congress  a position the White House notes is counter to Johnson's previous stated position.

If Republicans don't get behind a border deal, Biden will be handed a new argument for the campaign trail: that he tried to "shut down the border" but was blocked by his opponents.

On the other hand, Biden risks alienating himself among immigrant advocates and other progressives who make up the left flank of the party.

Dylan Corbett, executive director of the El Paso, Texas-based Hope Border Institute, said actions taken to date by the administration have left border communities in a better position than before to manage migration at the border.

They attempted to pivot toward root causes; they implemented innovative family reunification programs; their support to NGOs at the border and in the interior have been key to managing increased arrivals, Corbett said after a meeting Monday with Mayorkas in Washington.

"That said," Corbett added, "the reversal by the president is devastating. What they are proposing isnt going to work.

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

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden and the border: A seismic shift to the right on immigration
Thousands of gallons of water have poured out of a main break beneath railroad tracks at 2600 W. 119th St., for a month, but Chicago and Robbins officials are split on who should fix the leak, which is a stones throw from city limits.

Ald. Matthew OShea, whose 19th Ward borders the break, said while Chicago is working to fix the problem, it should be handled by Robbins because the burst pipe delivers water for the village.

Its leaking thousands of gallons of water an hour and has been doing so for nearly a month, OShea said. Chicago Department of Water Management has gone above and beyond their responsibility here offering their support to Robbins who, certainly initially, failed to address this.

The Chicago Department of Water Management reinforced in an email late Wednesday that Robbins is in charge of the long-term fix.

The water main that is leaking is the property of the Village of Robbins and is their responsibility to repair, said spokesman Megan Vidis. The Chicago Department of Water Management is pumping the leaking water to prevent it from ending up in Chicago residents basements near the leak.

Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant argues his town cant afford to fix the leak and calls on state and Cook County officials to provide more funding for water infrastructure upgrades  something suburban towns have long requested.

Until the state comes up with an agenda as far as what they are going to allocate to the local level municipalities, until we have an agenda from higher up, I dont have a deadline, Bryant said when asked when this main break will be fixed. State legislators just found, what, $19 million I believe for housing immigrants?

Bryant said while Robbins has received about $10 million in state grants and $4 million for a water tank and water pump upgrade, the roughly $250,000 it will take to fix this break is not in the budget. Robbins also just finished repairing its 10th main break that occurred this month since the freezing cold temperatures reeked havoc on water infrastructure.

The reason why the repair on West 119th Street is more time consuming and expensive than other breaks is because it occurred under a gravel pile laid beneath CSXs railroad tracks, forcing workers to coordinate around the train schedule and dig around tracks, Bryant said.

A water main break on West 119th Street is more time consuming to repair because it occurred under a gravel pile beneath CSXs railroad tracks, forcing workers to coordinate around the train schedule and dig around tracks, Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant said.

The leak is still gushing and has been since the issue was brought to OShea attention Jan. 2. Chicago Water Management provided a short-term solution by running a water pump from underneath the gravel at the source of the break to a maintenance hole on the sidewalk. While this reduces flooding, the main break itself is not fixed and pools of water indicating flooding and wasted fresh water remain.

The pump is also incredibly loud, triggering readings of 110 decibels at the site and readings of 80 decibels at the front door of a nearby home, according to readings from an iPhone.

Bryant said he will continue to ask Springfield for more funding for water main fixes, but said Cook County and city of Chicago have to step in for this break. The line is technically in Blue Island, but Tom Wogan, a Blue Island spokesperson, said the line is for Robbins, and is that villages property.

Residents in Robbins still have access to running water and are being provided water bottles for drinking by the town.

Cook County officials did not respond to requests for comment.

When we got an invoice that was a quarter-million dollars, we said Wow, we need some assistance,' Bryant said, which then triggered Cook County to come in and help. The process is no longer led by Robbins.

Chicago Tribunes Gregory Royal Pratt contributed.

hsanders@chicagotribune.com
From the Capitolism on The Dispatch

On Friday, the Biden administration announced a temporary pause of pending requests for permission to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) outside the United States. Given the much-publicized role that U.S. LNG has played in global energy markets in recent years (see last years Capitolism for more), the Biden move was widely criticizedand no, not just by oil and gas companies and partisans (heres the Washington Post editorial board, for example). The move also, however, was narrowly praised by the young eco-warriors that the White House was clearly targetingfossil fuel opponents who vigorously lobbied for a blockade on U.S. LNG and related export facilities.

Readers here will be unsurprised to learn that the critics are (mostly) right: The decision is a bad move that reeks of politics and injects more risk and uncertainty into an already risky global energy market. However, its also probably not the epic catastrophe that some of the more, ahem, vocal critics claim. And only time will tell if the moves political benefits outweigh the economic, environmental, and geopolitical risks that it creates. In the meantime, however, the episode provides another glaring example of how U.S. law far too often gives far too much discretion to American politicians and bureaucrats, to the detriment of not just those involved but also the broader U.S. economy and national security.

It is, as P.J. ORourke famously said, another lesson in why giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. Only in this case, the car is actually a $260 million ship carrying some of the most economically and geopolitically important energy in the world.

What Fridays White House Announcement Does and Doesnt Do

I first documented some of the problems with the U.S. natural gas export system in a 2013 paper for the Cato Institute. Heres how that system works: Under current law (the Natural Gas Act of 1938 and its amendments), a party wishing to export American natural gas must obtain a license from the Department of Energy (DOE), which will provide such authorization unless exportation is not consistent with the public interest. (If youre exporting LNG, you also need to get the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval to build an export facility, but that process isnt at issue today.) Because making and exporting LNG requires giant facilities and ships, export applications are made years in advance of actual shipments being made and are typically linked to massive, billion-dollar projects and big contracts with foreign buyers (which make the projects financially viable). Reject an export license application, and the whole thing can fall apart.

Such rejections arent really an issue for exports to U.S. free-trade-agreement (FTA) partner countries because licenses are, with very limited exceptions, issued automatically. Theyre deemed consistent with the public interest, and DOE must grant license applications without modification or delay when the customers at issue are in an FTA country. In practice, approval takes a few monthsa relative breakneck pace for modern American bureaucracy.

However, the United States doesnt have a lot of FTAs, and this is where last weeks announcement comes in. Exports of gas to non-FTA countriesa big group that includes the U.K., all of Europe, Japan, India, and most of Africa and Latin Americaare legally presumed to be in the public interest, but DOE can rebut the presumption with evidence to the contrary. And because U.S. law doesnt establish any binding, objective criteria that DOE must apply when making a public interest determination, the agency (and thus the White House) retains complete discretion over whether to grant a license and the methodology for making that determination. On Friday, the Biden administration announced that DOE is reviewing the current methodology, which was last updated in 2018, and that all non-FTA export license applications are paused until that review is complete.

The White Houses announcement thus puts pending LNG export applications, the projects to which theyre tied, and any future licenses/projects at risk. Per S&P Global (see table below), licenses/projects totaling around 13 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d)more LNG than the United States exported last yearare pending at DOE right now. About half of that (asterisks in table) involved export facilities already approved by FERC, and those projects are now the ones at the most immediate risk of getting sidetracked (or worse) because of DOEs delay.

On the other hand, the DOE announcement wont touch the U.S. LNG export projects that have already received an export licenseincluding both those that are already operational and those currently under construction. As the White House and its advocates will tell you, thats a lot of current and future LNG exports, and Energy Information Administration data show they have a point: The United States was the worlds largest LNG exporter last year and, even accounting for now-paused license applications, will add a significant amount of new export capacity in the next couple years:

Its thus no real surprise, then, that natural gas spot market prices (here and abroad) havent made any wild moves since Fridays announcement; or that the only big stock moves were for U.S. companies making LNG export equipment (sucks for them, of course); or that European policymakers, while less than thrilled with the White Houses decision, arent freaking out either about near- or even medium-term energy security issues.

But Its Still Bad Policy

That the announcement didnt immediately crater global gas supplies, crush domestic energy producers, or undermine U.S. foreign policy objectives does not, however, mean it was actually good policy. In fact, there are plenty of reasons why the move is wrongheaded and might pose bigger problems down the road.

For starters, we shouldnt dismiss the prospect of harm to global energy markets and U.S. geopolitical interests just because short-term (spot market) natural gas prices and energy company stocks didnt go haywire overnight. As Bloomberg reported earlier this year, the current global gas market is mostly in balance, but demand is projected to outstrip supply in just a few yearsand this was before last Fridays pause that puts a good chunk of future supply at risk:

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine and recent turmoil in the Middle East have shown, future non-U.S. gas supplies are far from guaranteed. Indeed, just last week the worlds second-largest LNG exporter, Qatar, announced that it was delaying cargoes to Europe because of the Houthi/Red Sea crisis.

Problems can also arise at current U.S. facilities. Also last week, for example, Freeport LNG announced a monthlong outage at its Texas facilitythe latest in a long string of incidents therebecause of a major winter storm. Maybe these situations and other global tensions calm down in the coming months; maybe they dont. Whats clear is that the Biden administrations pause just made the margin of error a little smaller.

No wonder, then, that officials in Europe and Japan, while not freaking out, have nevertheless expressed concerns about future policy-driven gaps in available gas supplies and are now seeking alternative, just-in-case suppliersincluding in Russia (natch).

The LNG pause further increased market uncertainty by amplifying the politicization of U.S. export restrictions, thus likely depressing future investment in LNG exports regardless of whether the pause is lifted in a few months. Given the discretionary nature of the U.S. export licensing system, investors have always faced some theoretical risk that the government (DOE or FERC) would delay or reject their projects. However, that risk has in practice been low for about a decade: Per DOE, every non-FTA export application has been either voluntarily withdrawn or approved by the agency, typically a couple years after it was filed.

After Friday, however, the risk of rejection or at least longer delay has markedly increased. Investors are sure to take note, especially for projects in their earliest stages. A mountain of research shows that policy uncertainty chills private investment, and theres no reason to think that this move wont do the same. (Indeed, its precisely what anti-LNG activists are hoping for.)

As former DOE official Jeff Kupfer reminded us over the weekend, moreover, recent history gives energy investors reason to worry that this short delay wont actually be so short:

In 2010 a company called Cheniere Energy applied for the first LNG export license. The project sailed through the conditional approval process in about eight months without drawing much attention. Another company, Freeport LNG, applied for an export license around the same time, and more applicants followed. But environmental groups took notice as President Obama began his re-election campaign. The Obama administration put decisions on hold, the Energy Department commissioned a study on the effects of exports, and after Cheniere Energy got final approval in 2012, no further LNG final export permits were issued until 2014.

Investors are now stuck hoping that a similar thing doesnt happen this time aroundand hope isnt exactly what you want when you have billions of your own dollars on the line.

The risk to global energy markets is further amplified by the somewhat unique and flexible nature of the American gas exports at issue. As we discussed last year, one of the big reasons why U.S. LNG was able to ride to Europes rescue after Russia invaded Ukraine was because profit-hungry traders could divert those shipments to higher-priced Europe. Thats because most U.S. LNG being sold was different from the fixed, long-term contracts that state-owned sellers in Qatar, Russia, and elsewhere:

A relative geographical closeness meant savings for traders sending US cargoes to Europe instead of Asia; the affluent region also had more purchasing power to snag the pricey shipments. Also working in US gass favor: Its contracts are nearly always written to be destination flexible, meaning traders are allowed to divert tankers if necessary when the price is right. They can even cancel shipments if demand suddenly collapses. The EUs LNG imports surged by 60% in 2022, and abundant LNG from Europes long-held political ally was the biggest contributor by far.

According to Bloombergs Liam Denning, around two-thirds of the capacity scheduled to come online in the United States (including the now-paused projects) is similarly flexible. It and existing supplies can thus more easily serve as a safety valve for whatever region needs it when whatever shock arises. As we saw in Europe last year, that means more global market stability and U.S. geopolitical heft. As Ben Cahill, an energy expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, put it in early January (i.e., before last Fridays announcement), The combination of fast-growing U.S. LNG volumes and greater destination flexibility has contributed to a more fluid, commoditized global gas system.  The United States now plays a critical balancing role in the global LNG market, adding supply and flexibility that has boosted global energy security.

Well, it did.

Put it all together, and there are clearly more risks today of a substantial future supply-demand imbalance than there were last Thursday. And its only natural to assume that these risks will be reflected in the long-term (20-year) contracts that are standard for much of LNG trade (even some in the United States). According to S&P Global, in fact, industry participants are already worried that the policy move could cause some proposed projects to stall and hinder long-term contracting, and impacts to the LNG market could be far-reaching if final investment decisions on pending US projects are delayed or halted because of policy concerns. Thats a recipe for higher prices and fewer contracts, even if the pause gets lifted later this year.

In short, Fridays announcement didnt collapse global energy markets, but it did make them a little bit weaker, a little less transparent, a little more costly, and a little more unpredictable. Thats an especially ironic result coming from a Biden administration that routinely justifies its nationalist economic policiestariffs, subsidies, etc.on economic resiliency grounds. (Resiliency for me, but not for thee, I guess.)

And for what? Well, if youre to believe the White House, its all to fight the existential threat of climate change. But here, too, the policy fails.

As Bloombergs Denning and others have explained, the lone study showing LNG to be worse for the climate than coal (thanks mainly to methane leaks) hasnt been peer-reviewed. Not only that, it was authored by a highly controversial Cornell university professor whose research has been widely criticized by other scientists (and keeps changing). Just as importantly, theres a lot of good, peer-reviewed research from academia, government, and even the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change showing LNG can help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions because it often replaces dirtier coal or traditional biomass energy (mainly wood burning). Thats especially important in developing countries where such fuels remain commonand where some of that now-paused U.S. LNG was headed. For example, in the Asia-Pacific region, Denning notes, coal generates 57% of electricity, representing 80% of coal-fired power worldwide. Heres how this works in practice:

2) The world needs U.S. LNG. It helped Europe survive Russia's natural gas blackmail. But the rest of the world needs it too. When U.S. gas went to Europe, Pakistan was left without & 200+ million lost power. So it decided to quadruple use of coal. https://t.co/8skkCTMh6y  James Coleman (@EnergyLawProf) January 26, 2024

LNG is also still important in developed Europe, which famously saw a surge in coal burning after Russias invasion of Ukrainea surge thats since declined due in part to the fuel being displaced by LNG.

U.S. LNG might have additional environmental benefits where it displaces natural gas supplies from countries, such as Russia or Qatar, that have fewer environmental regulations on gas production and transport (including on methane leakage) and whose state-owned producers are locked into much longer supply contracts (thus giving them more incentive to keep pumping out gas even after it stops making financial sense to do so). According to Bloomberg, in fact, the Biden administration announcement has some U.S. LNG customers nervously looking to Qatar and Russia for alternative supplies.

Finally, additional U.S. LNG exports might theoretically reduce domestic supplies and thus put some upward pressure on Americans natural gas bills (evidence there is mixed, but not significant either way), but any such higher prices would make renewable energy more price competitive and thus encourage its consumption here. Youd think the Biden administration would want that, given all the subsidies theyre tossing at wind, solar, and other renewables.

I guess youd be wrong.

In short, reducing future U.S. LNG exports might cause global gas prices to rise and thus encourage the consumption of now-relatively cheaper renewables abroad. But itll do the exact same things to coal and biomass consumption, while also potentially encouraging the production and transport of relatively dirtier, more locked-in LNG from other sources. In the United States, meanwhile, captive gas supplies couldfor a while at leastmean lower domestic natural gas prices, but that just means more U.S. gas consumption (and less consumption of the renewables that the Biden administration is so eagerly subsidizing). Overall, its a recipe for highernot lowercarbon emissions in the future, along with all the other economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

Summing It All Up

Given these issuesand the LNG delays comically depressing backstoryits obvious to almost everyone (even many Biden supporters) that presidential campaign politics, not climate change, is driving the announcement.

If export approvals quickly resume after the November election and markets remain calm throughout, maybe itll in retrospect be considered a clever gamble. But if things do go south here, at least some of the blame should fall not on Joe Biden but on the law itselfa law that lets him and other self-interested politicians gamble on U.S. economic and national security with Americans property and livelihoods. Blame should also fall on multiple Congresses (ones run by Democrats and Republicans) for never reforming that law long after the United States was on its way to become a global energy powerhouse. Wonks (and not just me) had recognized the dangers of giving the president unlimited discretion to block energy exports on undefined public interest grounds, and numerous legislative proposals had been offered to make the system more automatic (e.g., like FTA-related shipments) and thus fix this obvious problem.

Of course, the perils of executive discretion and legislative inaction are hardly limited to the Natural Gas Act or Joe Biden. (Recall, for example, the law that the Trump-era Department of Justice said would let the president declare imported peanut butter a national security threat). Those laws need reform too, even if theyve never been abused. Thats because, as last weeks LNG announcement and literally centuries of U.S. politics show, its only a matter of time before they are.

Chart(s) of the Week

Generational wealth:

Vocational schools thriving:

Startup boom:

NFL embraces analytics:

The Links

Cities grapple with broken e-buses they cant fix

The false promise of friendshoring

Unions arent as popular as you think

Trump/Biden aluminum tariffs couldnt save Missouri aluminum smelter (and others)

What kills local clean energy projects?

Another bad greedflation study

Lithium price collapse

Still waiting on that much-ballyhooed U.S. manufacturing boom

Politics pushes Biden administration to announce semiconductor subsidy awards

Bidens worker-centric trade policy is in tatters, and staff are running for the exits

Europes big mad at Biden protectionism

Mosquito nets are good

Foreign firms hiring American remote-work talent

Roomba maker lays of 31 percent of staff after EU blocks Amazon deal

Devastating Phil Magness critique of some really bad tariff history

An abominable tariff proposal

New Jerseys plastic bag ban leads to threefold increase in plastic consumption

Paper: Trump tariffs didnt help protected companies/workers

Desperate Chinese regulators ban short-selling

U.S. extends GDP lead over China

Walmart managers are making incredible money, without a college degree

Interesting: Haley hits Trump on tariffs

U.S. car dealers beg GM for hybrids

Read more at The Dispatch

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Ministers are trying to blame the Train Operating Companies (TOCs) for failing to make use of the new Minimum Service Regulations in their continuing  now two years in  dispute with Aslef.

Under the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act which became law in July, the railways are one of a number of key industries where employers are entitled to issue a work notice requiring unions to provide staffing to support a minimum level of service during strike periods. As far as the transport sector is concerned, this legislation was promised in the Conservatives 2019 manifesto  so it has some democratic legitimacy. The unions, however, have consistently denounced it as a breach of the Human Rights Act and International Labour Organizations Conventions. With this in mind, Labour has pledged to repeal the legislation immediately on returning to power. Yet focus on the limits on the right to strike may be misplaced: its the practicality of the scheme that may turn it into a dead letter.

Faced with the current round of strikes by the train drivers, no TOC has used it. LNER, which is a company run by the Government since the collapse of the East Coast franchise, indicated it might do so. It was presumably prodded by the Transport Secretary or his minions. However, Aslef responded that it would lay on extra strikes just for LNER, and the company backed down faster than Marcus Rashford necks tequila.

Have the TOCs wimped out on this one? Its an easy line for the Government to take. But the legislation is badly written. The Conservatives did not have a fully worked out scheme in mind, and the provisions of the Act presumably owe much to the Circumlocution Office or its modern Civil Service equivalent. The Impact Assessment provided to Parliament focused on the process of familiarisation with the new legislation, and said little about the costs of actually using it.

If you plough through the 35 pages of guidance issued by the Department of Business and Trade in November, the difficulties of applying the new law in practice rapidly become apparent. There is a ridiculously accelerated timescale, so companies have in effect got seven days to determine it detail what level of service should be provided. Within this period the Secretary of State has to agree with the proposal. Consultation has to have taken place with the union, who may seek legal redress if they consider their case hasnt properly been considered. Individuals have to be identified who will carry out the work, and precautions must be taken to ensure that no employee can feel they have been victimised on a list of theoretical grounds. There are elaborate data protection hoops to be jumped through, with the suggestion being that unique identifiers be devised in place of employees names. This being the railways, there are further complications with the need to coordinate working diagrams with Network Rail. All must be subject to risk assessments.

This is all a massive amount of extra administrative work to produce an uncertain outcome. Though in principle workers refusing to cooperate would lose the protection currently offered to strikers and be dismissed, with their unions liable for civil damages, it seems unlikely that the companies would follow through in the aftermath of a strike. And of course the whole business may lead to escalation of industrial action by Aslef as threatened in the LNER case.

On close inspection, then, its difficult to blame the TOCs for their reluctance to use the legislation. Perhaps employers in other sectors may find it useful, though similar problems will probably pop up elsewhere. The Government made much in its presentation of this type of legislation being common in continental Europe. Thats true enough, but while such laws do exist, they seem rather simpler than the UKs. Anyway there is little evidence on their effectiveness in practice. In France, the 2007 legislation does not seem to have been used. In Italy and Spain laws appear to have been ineffective, with breaches not having led to penalties.

The other point worth repeating again and again about the TOCs is that they have no incentive to bring these strikes to an end so long as they are subject to the type of contract which they have been under since Covid finally destroyed the previous franchise model. With companies now being on a cost-plus contract, and with their fare revenue going straight to the Treasury, they can only offer pay deals which are sanctioned by the Government.

The Open Access companies such as Grand Central and Lumo, and the various freight companies, are proper profit-making companies which will potentially go bust if they dont reach an agreement with unions. All have already reached settlements with Aslef.

It is the Government which is to blame for continuing strike action, and for the future of the hugely loss-making rail industry more generally. It should not wriggle out of that responsibility.

Len Shackleton is professor of economics at the University of Buckingham

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The Spanish capital city of Madrid now has a rich tradition of Chinese New Year celebrations, which in 2024 will welcome the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese zodiac.

Madrid City Hall has launched a website to promote a wide range of events in the coming weeks. These will take place both in the Usera District, which is home to many members of Madrid's Chinese community, and in the city as a whole.

One of the first events is an exhibition at the National Anthropology Museum in Madrid called: "People who migrate ... objects that migrate from China."

The exhibition tells the story of people who have migrated to Spain from China, and casts a light on the long history of relations between the two nations.

The Chinese Cultural Center in Madrid is at the heart of many of the Spring Festival celebrations, with events such as a Chinese cookery course, which runs until the middle of February, and the China Taste gastronomy festival.

China Taste has become a regular feature in the Madrid Spring Festival. With several top Chinese restaurants in the city offering special menus in February to celebrate the arrival of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the local people will have the chance to enjoy delicious Chinese food at attractive prices.

The Chinese Cultural Center is also the venue for an art exhibition called "Land and Sea", showcasing the works of 39 Chinese and Spanish artists, as well as workshops in Chinese flower design and culture.

As always, the Usera district in the south of the city will host the traditional parades and firework displays, which attract thousands of people. The emblematic Plaza de Espana will host the 11th annual "Temple Fair," with traditional theatrical performances involving 40 artists, and 16 stands showcasing traditional crafts, gastronomy, art and culture.

Madrid is not the only Spanish city to celebrate Chinese New Year. Zaragoza, which also has a large Chinese community, is hosting events including a parade on Sunday attended by Chinese Ambassador to Spain Yao Jing.

"This visit to Zaragoza has left a deep impression on me," the ambassador told local newspaper El Heraldo de Aragon.

"The people are very friendly towards us and want to work together. There is a lot of confidence in our companies and the Chinese community here," he added.
By Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said the challenge of deconfliction across Gaza, where the Israeli military has intensified its campaign against Hamas, was the top obstacle to ensuring humanitarian aid reaches people in need.

Speaking in a hybrid town hall for State Department employees worldwide that Reuters observed, Blinken said Washington was pushing the Israelis "every day" to get more aid into the densely populated enclave and better protect civilians.

"Within the south, the single biggest problem is deconfliction: Making sure that the humanitarians know that they can go some place safely, to get the aid that's gotten into Gaza to places in Gaza that actually need it," Blinken said in response to a question.

"That's an ongoing effort and an ongoing push. We're pushing on every single one of these lines every day. And we're also intensely pushing on the need to better protect civilians."

Aid agencies in Gaza are struggling to move and communicate as Israel keeps up its bombardment of both Gaza City in the north and parts of Khan Younis in the south.

At the start of the war, after a Hamas assault on Israel on Oct. 7 that killed more than 1,200 people, Israel announced it was cutting off all supplies to Gaza. It later agreed to let in humanitarian aid but far less is entering now than before Oct 7.

Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 26,900 Palestinians since Oct. 7, health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave say.

Intense fighting in the north was also an obstacle for aid distribution and for a U.N. assessment mission, a move agreed with Israel during Blinken's visit earlier this month but not implemented.

CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, including Blinken at the State Department, has faced growing criticism from within the government over its policy on the Israel-Hamas war. Hundreds of U.S. government employees have advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza.

At Wednesday's meeting, about 20% of the nearly 190 questions posted in the virtual chatroom were about Gaza. Some diplomats asked why the administration wasn't calling for a ceasefire while others questioned why Washington was still sending weapons to Israel.

Other questions related to U.S. protection of Israel, combating antisemitism and the well-being of Israeli hostages.

Highlighting divisions, one employee asked in the chat why calling for a ceasefire was "so politically fraught" while another asked "why isn't anyone asking Hamas" to cease fire.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on social media safety, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told major tech CEOS they have blood on their hands.

Mr Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us, I know you dont mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands, you have a product thats killing people, Mr Graham, a Republican, said at the hearing.

TikToks Shou Zi Chew and Metas Mark Zuckerberg were the only CEOs who appeared voluntarily, Mr Durbin said. Discord CEO Jason Citron, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, and X CEO Linda Yaccarino attended under subpoenas, he said.

The remarks came as the CEOs of X, TikTok, Discord, Meta and Snap gathered in Washington DC Wednesday morning to testify to the committee, led by Chairman Dick Durbin of Illinois and Ranking Member Graham.

The hearing began with video testimonies from survivors of childhood sexual abuse on social media, as well as their families. The loved ones of those who have died by suicide after suffering from childhood sexual abuse online also spoke via video.

Senate hearings with tech CEOs have been historically contentious, and Wednesdays hearing was no different.

In his introduction, Mr Graham called on lawmakers to repeal Section 230 , a portion of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. The section protects social media companies by providing immunity to civil liability based on third-party content or the removal of content under some circumstances.

Later, Mr Graham grilled TikToks chief executive Shou Zi Chew and said that the law must be changed to allow families to sue on behalf of children.

Nothing will change until the courtroom door is open to victims of social media, he said. Mr Graham also pointed out how TikToks top official in Israel resigned because of antisemitism and his colleagues celebrating attacks on Jews. Mr Graham also exhorted Jason Citron, the chief executive of Discord.

Go to the American courtroom and defend your practices, he said. Open up the courthouse door. Until you do that nothing will change until these people can be sued for the damage they're doing.

Mr Graham also lambasted tech companies for blocking legislation.

There's not one law on the book because you oppose everything we do, he said.
BLUEFIELD, WV (WVNS)  The city of Bluefield in Mercer County held a meeting to discuss an affordable housing crisis.

A quick search of 24701 on Apartments.com reveals just two places in Bluefield, West Virginia currently available for rent. Trulia.com shows a few more, bringing the total to nine.

The city planning committee discussed solutions for the lack of affordable housing within the city on Tuesday evening, January 30, 2024.

The need for affordable housing here in Bluefield is very significant, said Gabrielle Ponder, Executive Assistant to the City Manager. Were at capacity with our local income housing authorities which is CASE WV and the Bluefield Housing Authority, they are both at capacity, so the need for affordable housing is very, very significant.

$5.2 million announced by Senator Joe Manchin for four health centers in West Virginia

Ponder told 59News the city is looking at several solutions at this point.

Our hope is that the general public here in Bluefield will be very happy to know that were taking strides on addressing this concern of affordable housing, said Ponder.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
I recently looked back on a photo that reminded me of an adventure my wife, Lenore, and I took with a friend in 1962. We had parked and walked down to Missouris lovely Niangua River, celebrated for its spring-fed crystal flow, alive with trout and small-mouth bass.

Celebrated indeed  but not on this day. The muddy current churned far up over the banks on both sides, swirling amid the trunks of oak and river birch, rocking a jon boat the contractor had hauled in for us at a hefty rental. No matter what happened to us on that wild river, he could always recover his boat somewhere downstream.

Yeah, this ole Nianguas mean today, what with the rain, he said, but the boats yours for two days.

We had driven 180 miles from Kansas City with C.W. Gusewelle that morning. This was years before Gus became one of the most loved and celebrated journalists in America. His column in The Kansas City Star endeared him to millions. Back then, he and I were pals from The Stars city desk. On this trip, the three of us were joined by a half-basset named Sophie. Gus, as he was known at The Star, died in 2016; my wife died a year later.

Together on that long-ago float trip, we careered down the Niangua, soon discovering that floods open fresh channels. Choose the wrong one  a drainage unused for years  and you encounter tangles of spiderwebs, plantations of cattails, willow jungles wriggling with snakes. We plunged through, desperately flailing and scrubbing stuff from our faces.

Crouching low as river water gushed in around her, Sophie endured it better than the rest of us. Gus had more river experience than I. He took the rear seat and steered us around tree trunk snags, boulders and wreckage of past unlucky watercraft. Then from ahead we heard weird croaking: not one animal, surely many.

We saw them high at riverside in monstrous sycamore trees and so we steered to shore. Staring down at us from almost bathtub-sized nests were countless near-naked baby birds, offspring of gorgeous great blue herons. Nestlings prattled at us as we walked through, their parents shrieking and moaning. It was a heron rookery, and the adults uneasy at our presence flew from tree to tree.

Breathing the reek of their white droppings, I bent to pick up a dagger-like snow-white heron skull, 6 inches long with huge eye sockets: the new age pterodactyl. Later I gave it to an artist friend, who worked it into a sculpture.

Feeling chilled by the off-and-on drizzle, we left the rookery behind and built a fire using punky wood from a hollow tree. After a half hour of standing there soaking up heat, Lenore and I  for the first time in our lives  watched a man fall asleep standing up. It was Gus, disclosing a talent we witnessed a few other times in our long friendship. When there was nothing else useful to do, he could call time out.

Then he blinked awake, and it was onward, jon boat bouncing wildly down foaming slopes of rapids.

We were lucky. With the water so deep, we rode high over jagged rocks. In the evening, the river widened into a more sedate pool. We steered for land with most of a two-day float already behind us. The bow scratched into a flinty gravel bar. Boat tether in hand, I heroically stepped out to anchor us  and went over my head into impossibly deep water 2 feet from shore.

Whew, I said after I grabbed enough breath to speak.

We hauled the boat halfway up on the bar, warmed ourselves and cooked on a fresh fire. That night Gus slept in his dirt-cheap World War II Army surplus pup tent. My wife and I slept in one just like it. America had a brilliant U.S. Army in that war, providing their soldiers with the most stupid field shelter ever invented.

We lived through the night and awakened to find our boat pivoting back and forth on the current, the barest tip of its bow still clinging to the bar. In eight hours the river had come up 3 feet. Again, phew: Had the boat broken free, for us it would have been a cold swift swoop fully clothed in the current to the first possible downstream landing.

The rain continuing, Gus glanced up at the clouds and remarked: This must be the clearing-up shower, his favorite saying of the journey. Gus was ever the optimist.

By mid-morning we encountered our boat contractor waiting at riverside. He had guessed our toboggan ride downstream would get us there early. He ferried us back to our car, and our first river float together was finished.

But not the writing life of Charles Gusewelle.

At the peak of the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s, he drove through the most insane states of the South, writing of the Civil Rights struggle that left America better  if far from Christian even today. As Africa was transforming from colonies of European states into independent nations, he flew to Morocco on the north coast and drove south, writing of every country and people he encountered.

Arriving finally by plane in apartheid South Africa, Gus was briefly stymied. The white rulers refused to let him enter. But his page one story in the Kansas City Star of being locked out revealed the truth of that racist tyranny.

Its preposterous, but I would like to think our float trip with Gus on the Niangua to some tiny degree equipped him to lead a 1991 expedition, floating Russias Lena river 2,734 miles from its source in Siberia near Lake Baikal  the deepest lake in the world at 5,387 feet to its mouth in the Arctic Ocean. He took his wife, Katie, and daughters, Anne and Jennie, on that journey.

On their return journey from Siberia, they arrived in a Moscow that was under a coup detat attempt. Communist hardliners sought to forcibly seize control from Mikhail Gorbachev, Russian president at the time with peaceful ties to the West.

Here was Gus, coincidentally but brilliantly on the job (with his wife and daughters) as a Kansas City Star correspondent in the embattled city. It was luck, I suppose, along with intelligence and courage by perhaps the greatest journalist Kansas City ever produced.

Contact the columnist at hammerc12@gmail.com.
A silver and white space capsule sits inside a huge white-walled room with an american flag in the background.

Boeing's Starliner astronaut taxi remains on track to make its crewed debut just six weeks or so from now.

NASA and Boeing have been gearing up to launch Crew Flight Test (CFT), Starliner's first-ever astronaut mission, in mid-April. Recent work on the capsule and its various systems has kept that target date firmly in the crosshairs, NASA announced last week.

"Teams have made significant progress in resolving technical issues identified during the agencys flight certification process," agency officials wrote in a Jan. 24 blog post.

Related: Boeing's 1st Starliner flight with astronauts delayed to April 2024

Those technical issues have delayed CFT's liftoff considerably, from July 2023 to this spring.

There were two main problems, both of which posed potential safety risks: Components known as "soft links" on the suspension lines of Starliner's main parachutes couldn't handle as much load as engineers had thought, and much of the wiring on the capsule was wrapped in flammable P213 tape.

So the Starliner team modified the parachute system. The revamped version showed its stuff high above the Arizona desert during a drop test earlier this month, NASA's blog post noted. In addition, teams have finished removing the P213 tape where it's feasible to do so.

"Boeing removed more than 17 pounds, or roughly 4,300 feet, of the material from the Starliner crew module," agency officials wrote in the blog post.

"For areas in which removal of the tape carried an increased risk to Starliner hardware, Boeing applied tested remediation techniques such as overwrapping the P213 tape with another non-flammable, chafe-resistant tape, and installing fire breaks on wire harnesses," they added.

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CFT will send NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station (ISS) for a roughly 10-day day. Starliner will launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

CFT will be the third spaceflight for Starliner. The capsule failed to meet up with the orbiting lab as planned during an uncrewed test mission in December 2019, then succeeded during a second try in May 2022.

In September 2014, NASA awarded both Boeing and SpaceX contracts to carry astronauts to and from the ISS. SpaceX has already launched seven operational crewed missions for the agency with its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule and is gearing up to send its eighth toward the ISS next month.
Officers searching for a male subject in the North End caused a heavy police presence along Hill Road on Tuesday evening, according to the Boise Police Department.

Haley Williams, a spokesperson for the department, told the Idaho Statesman by text that the man ran from a traffic stop but has been located. An investigation is ongoing, she said.

The Statesman reached out to police for additional information.
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW)  A Robeson County judge on Wednesday raised the bond to $500,000 for a suspended high school social studies teacher accusesd of sending inappropriate texts and messages to a student.

Wyvis Oxendine Jr., 34, of Pembroke, was arrested Tuesday and released after appearing in magistrate court and posting a $100,000 unsescured bond, authorities said.

On Wednesday, Oxendine and his attorney, Johnson Britt, appeared before District Court Judge Leah Lanier, who raised his bond to $500,000, and he was returned to the countys detention center. The new bond is also a secured bond.

Oxendine is charged with second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, indecent liberties with a student and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

I am thankful that the District Court Judge saw the need to place a secured bond on the suspect and understands the seriousness of offenses against children, Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said. This investigation is far from over, and while I understand the rights of a suspect, the victim and the family in this particular case have been traumatized enough and need to see that law enforcement, as well as our judicial system, are standing by them during this difficult time.

The investigation is ongoing, Wilkins office said. Anyone with information is asked to call the Robeson County Sheriffs Office at 910-671-3170 or 910-671-3100.

* * *

Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylors work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
Ancient bones found in a cave in northern Germany prove what scientists have long suspected: Humans and our Neanderthal cousins lived alongside each other for thousands of years in northern Europe.

That is according to a groundbreaking trio of papers from Nature and Nature Ecology and Evolution  studies that push back the earliest date of Homo sapiens expansion into northern Europe to 45,000 years ago, far earlier than had previously been confirmed.

These are among the earliest Homo sapiens in Europe, said Elena Zavala, co-author of the Nature paper and a research fellow at the University of California, Berkeley.

The findings also add support to a darker corollary to the long-running theory of Homo sapiens and Neanderthals coexistence in the area: It was the human invasion that drove the Neanderthals to extinction after their 500,000-year hegemony in Europe.

Research from genomics suggests the only survivors of this great extinction event may have been Homo sapiens themselves, whose genes bear the traces of past couplings with Neanderthals.

The new findings connect the dots between archaeological and genomic evidence, allowing scientists to correlate a specific style of weapon found across Europe with the bones of its likely creators.

Those bones were pulled from a cave near Ranis, Germany, one of Europes richest lodes of leaf points, which are a type of stone spear blades.

Finds from this site have fundamentally changed our ideas about the chronology and settlement history of Europe north of the Alps, said Tim Schuler, who works in historical preservation for the German state of Thuringia.

The Ranis site seems to have been only occasionally occupied by humans; most of the bones at the site were from species such as bears and hyenas.

For decades, scientists had been unsure who made the blades found there.

Known as leaf points for their characteristic shape, these blades have been found from the U.K. to Poland and had long been thought to be characteristic of Neanderthal technology.

In part, this was because scientists had assumed that Neanderthals  a closely related type of hominid that arrived in Europe half a million years before Homo sapiens  at that point had Europe to themselves.

But the discovery of fragments of bones from Homo sapiens alongside leaf points calls that interpretation into question, and the Nature authors suggest the cave was the last resting place for members of small pioneer groups of modern humans pushing into the frigid country north of the Alps.

Determining that those bones belonged to Homo sapiens required scientists to dig deeper than past research teams: both literally, into older layers of the cave, and using new methods of genomic analysis.

Because the fragments were so small, scientists couldnt get intact nuclear DNA, the kind we generally think of when we think about our own genetic code.

Instead, they had to sequence the distinct genetic information carried within mitochondria  energy-generating power plants within cells that have kept their own genetic records, and controlled their own reproduction, for the 1.5 billion years since they merged with ancient hosts to form the cells that are the basis of complex life.

Unlike nuclear DNA, which preserves records of both parents, mitochondrial DNA only traces the maternal line  and that led scientists to a new discovery: Many of these bone fragments came from relatives of people whose remains had previously been identified.

In addition to being related to each other through the maternal line, 12 of the 13 individuals found at Ranis appeared to be related to the 43,000-year-old skull of a woman found in a cave in what is now the Czech Republic  suggesting the Ranis people were her long-lost relatives.

And the one fragment that did not match the others did match with a Homo sapiens skeleton found in Italy.

That raises some questions: Was this a single population? What could be the relationship here? Zavala said.

But with mitochondrial DNA, thats only one side of the history. Its only the maternal side. We would need to have nuclear DNA to be able to start looking into this.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Iranian Zoroastrian youth set fire to a prepared pile of wood in a ceremony celebrating their ancient mid-winter Sadeh festival in the outskirts of Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. Hundreds of Zoroastrian minorities gathered after sunset to mark their ancient feast, creation of fire, dating back to Iran's pre-Islamic past. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Lighting fires that brightened the night sky, followers of Irans minority Zoroastrian religion marked the Sadeh festival in several cities, celebrating the end of the coldest winter days.

Every year on Jan. 30, Zoroastrians gather after sunset to celebrate the 50 days and 50 nights remaining to Spring. Sadah, which means the one hundred," is an ancient feast from when the religion was the dominant faith in the powerful Persian empire, which collapsed after the Arab invasion in the 7th century.

On the southwestern outskirts of Tehran Tuesday evening, several Zoroastrian priests and priestesses, dressed in white from head-to-toe to symbolize purity, led young followers to light a giant bonfire in a joyful ceremony.

Around the fire, people listened to bands playing music, theological lectures as they milled about eating and celebrating.

In a rare move, the Islamic Republic's air force band played the national anthem among other tunes to the excitement of the attendees.

Irans 85-plus million population are mostly Shiite Muslims. The country has been ruled by hard-line clerics who preach a strict version of Islam since the 1979 Islamic revolution, who discouraged people from following pre-Islamic feasts and traditions.

Zoroastrianism is a monotheistic religion that predates Christianity and Islam. It was founded some 3,800 years ago by the prophet Zoroaster. It stresses good deeds, and fire plays a central role in worship as a symbol of truth and the spirit of God. Zoroastrians stress they are not fire-worshippers, but see fire as a symbol of righteousness.

Alongside other minorities, including Christians and Jews, they have one representative in parliament, Esfandiar Ekhtiari.

During Tuesday's ceremony, Ekhtiari said the celebration belongs to everyone and is a symbol of felicity, respect to humanity and nature as well as human beings .

In 2023, UNESCO recognized Sadeh in its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from Iran and Tajikistan.

Though they have common elements such as lighting fire, the Sadeh festival is different from Nowruz which marks the Persian new year.
Chinese suona player Hu Chenyun gave a concert on Jan. 22 at the International Jazz Plaza Festival in Havana.

Hu performed Chinese music pieces, such as Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to Phoenix, and also played with local musicians adaptations of Cuban music pieces. This year's festival, running from Jan 21 to 28, featured 66 bands and performers from about 20 countries. It was the first time a Chinese musician performed at the festival.

"I have prepared for this concert for nearly a year. I am very proud and excited to showcase the traditional Chinese musical instrument in Cuba and communicate with local musicians," said Hu, a musician with Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, who traveled from Shanghai to Havana for over 50 hours. "When I did rehearsals with the local musicians, I was instantly intrigued by the collaboration in spite of the long flight."

Besides live performance, Hu also showed the versatility of suona (Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument), offering the local audience a glimpse of the Chinese musical instrument.

The concert of Hu was part of the ongoing "Joyful Chinese New Year", a series of overseas Spring Festival themed events and activities to celebrate the traditional Chinese festival.
A new book chronicling Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia asserts that District Attorney Fani Willis asked former Gov. Roy Barnes to prosecute the state racketeering case before she ultimately turned the case over to Nathan Wade, with whom she is now accused of having an affair.

Find Me The Votes, written by investigative journalists Michael Isikoff and Daniel Klaidman, was released Tuesday, just weeks before Willis is due to appear at a Feb. 15 court hearing to answer to allegations of a secret romance with Wade.

The book, which is subtitled A Hard-Charging Georgia Prosecutor, a Rogue President, and the Plot to Steal An American Election, reveals that Willis first asked Barnes to serve as the lead counsel in the case against Trump, but when he turned the offer down, she turned to Gabe Banks, a former federal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. However, he also declined.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Nathan Wade arrive to speak at a news conference at the Fulton County Government building on August 14, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. A grand jury today handed up an indictment naming former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies over an alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Thats when Willis ended up hiring her purported boyfriend in late 2021 to prosecute Trump on 13 criminal counts for his efforts to overturn the result of the states 2020 presidential election.

Willis sought outside counsel to handle the unprecedented case against Trump, ostensibly to minimize any perceived impropriety as Trump was the first U.S. president to ever face criminal charges.

The alleged relationship between Wade and Willis came to light in a Jan. 8 motion filed by former Republican campaign aide Michael Roman, who is one of more than a dozen co-defendants facing charges in the Georgia RICO case against Trump.

Since taking over the case, Wade has been paid close to $1 million in taxpayer dollars to bring the case against Trump, leading to accusations of fraud, but Willis has since indicated that Wade is being paid the same as two other special prosecutors assisting him in the matter.

Romans motion alleges the secret romance began before Wade was appointed to the case, and that Willis neglected to get county approval to hire Wade to fill the role of special prosecutor in the historic case.

At the same time, many considered Wade an odd choice because he makes a living as a divorce attorney.

Romans motion urged the judge to immediately dismiss the charges and disqualify Willis from continuing to pursue the case against Trump and those accused alongside him.

Trump joined the motion to remove Willis on Jan. 25, but the former president faced a high bar to get the indictment against him thrown out on misconduct grounds.

Since the scandal emerged, Trump loyalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who represents Georgias 14th District, and Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, also a Republican, have put mounting pressure on Willis to resign.

Earlier this month, Greene filed a complaint with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and state Attorney General Chris Carr, claiming Willis had engaged in criminal misconduct and an illegal conflict of interest. She later filed an ethics complaint against Nathan Wade in relation to the scandal.

Donalds rebuked Willis on Jan. 20 during a segment on the Megyn Kelly Show, saying Willis should be removed and disbarred.

Should this case be thrown out? the third-year congressman asked rhetorically. It should because it is clear you have prosecutorial misconduct.

So far, Willis has neither confirmed nor denied the claims in Romans court motion, which also alleged the district attorney enriched herself through the ongoing relationship with Wade.

The scandal threatens to derail the prosecution as Romans filing claims Wade and Willis went on lavish vacations together as Wade handled the case against Trump, constituting potential ethical and criminal violations.

Legal experts suggest Willis credibility is at serious stake and that she could face a legal review that could ultimately bring her downfall as Fulton Countys lead prosecutor.

Meanwhile, Willis faces an order from Georgia Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee to submit a written response to the court by Feb. 2, which forces her to come clean on the romance allegations.

At the same time, Willis filed a motion accusing Wades estranged wife, Joycelyn, of using their ongoing divorce proceedings in an attempt to muddy the prosecution against Trump.

Days after the alleged relationship came to light, Willis received a subpoena to testify in Nathan Wades divorce, but Cobb County Superior Court Judge Henry Thompson later stayed the subpoena, saying Wade should testify first, which would determine if Willis had any pertinent information to add that would require her to take the stand under oath.

Nathan Wade temporarily settled the divorce with his wife on Jan. 30, canceling the hearing scheduled for the next day that would have revealed details of the divorce.

Barnes, who is currently working as a private attorney in Cobb County, became governor of Georgia in 1999, succeeding Zell Miller and serving one term before losing his re-election bid to Sonny Perdue in 2002. This marked a historic shift as Perdue was the states first Republican governor in more than a century.

New Book Reveals Nathan Wade Was Not Fani Willis First Choice to Prosecute Donald Trump As She Faces Accusations of Improper Relationship with the Attorney
Will she or wont she? As we await word on whether Sen. Kyrsten Sinema will run again, it strikes me that the real question is this:

Why on earth would she want to?

Especially as she watches her border compromise  the one that features changes Republicans have long been demanding  fall apart?

Sinema was the first Arizona Democrat in three decades to win a Senate seat, having run against a tin-eared Trump ally who managed to turn off suburban Republican women and independent voters. (Sound familiar?)

Sinema came up with a decent compromise

Since then, shes done just what she promised during her 2018 campaign. Shes charted a middle course, in search of solutions that can win bipartisan support and shes succeeded during one of the most polarizing eras in American politics.

Then the masochist in her decided to take on the border, back when Democrats were still insisting there was no crisis. Back when Republicans were shrieking about the invasion on Americas southern doorstep.

Sinema and Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., have managed to come up with what sounds like a decent compromise to try to get control of the chaos. One that reportedly:

Raises the standard of proof to claim asylum beyond the current credible fear standard and speeds up the hearing process.

Requires those who cross illegally between ports of entry to be held in detention until they pass an initial asylum screening. Migrants who enter at legal points of entry and pass the initial screening, meanwhile, would be put into a monitoring program. All those who pass the initial screening would be given a final asylum decision within 90 days, and those who fail would be deported.

Ends catch and release, the program that results in masses of people being released into the country with a notice to appear for a hearing that is years away.

Requires the federal government to automatically reject migrants who cross the border between legal ports of entry once crossings reach a weekly average of 4,000 to 5,000 a day. Based on the number of migrants pouring into Arizona, that would go into effect immediately.

Republicans in no hurry to fix the border

U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., right, visits the U.S.-Mexico border in Somerton, Ariz., near the Cocopah Indian Reservation boundary on January 10, 2023.

Our bill ends catch and release, Sinema told reporters on Wednesday. It ensures that the government both has the power and must close down the border during times when our system is overwhelmed. And it creates new structures to ensure that folks who do not qualify for asylum cannot enter the country and stay here.

In other words, all things Republicans have been screaming about for years.

But now, suddenly, theres no hurry to stop the invasion.

Now, suddenly, a new set of Republican talking points has emerged, as Republican after Republican insists this week that we dont need any legislation to fix the border mess.

We dont need a border bill, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said late last week.

We dont need new laws, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said. We just need a president who enforces the laws we already have,

Trump changed his tune on an overhaul

Even Donald Trump says it.

CLOSE THE SOUTHERN BORDER, NO BILL NECESSARY!!! Trump thundered on social media on Wednesday.

Funny, thats not what he used to say.

The only long-term solution to the crisis, and the only way to ensure the endurance of our nation as a sovereign country, is for Congress to overcome open-borders obstruction, Trump said in November 2018.

Remember when he called our asylum laws archaic and in dire need of an overhaul?

Democrats must change our immigration laws right now, he said in March 2019.

Five years later, the Sinema-Lankford-Murphy-led border compromise reportedly does just that. Republican supporters of the plan say theyll never get a better deal, pointing to the fact that it requires no legalization of Dreamers or amnesty for immigrants already here illegally.

It's a good immigration deal, and it's dead

Aaaannd it appears dead.

Dead, even before we see terms of the deal. Killed by a former president who is far more interested in his own election prospects than in stopping the invasion on our southern doorstep.

The border compromise isnt perfect, but its better than anything weve seen in a generation. Or four.

And like so much that happens in the nation's Capitol, its going nowhere.

The question isnt will Sinema run?

Its more likely, how far will she run  because shes wasting her time in Washington. The place is beyond repair.

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LaurieRoberts.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has no reason to run again, if border deal fails
Boris Johnsons remarks marked the fourth anniversary of Britain leaving the EUs single market and customs union - Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images

Boris Johnson fired a shot across the bows of Rishi Sunaks new Brexit deal with the DUP as he said Britain must have the courage to break with EU rules.

The former prime minister said the UK must at all costs avoid a return to the blocs orbit, which he warned would be a disastrous outcome.

His remarks came hours before No 10 was set to publish the new agreement with the DUP, which Eurosceptics fear will hamper Brexit freedoms.

Mr Johnson made his remarks in a social media post to mark the fourth anniversary of Britain leaving the EUs single market and customs union.

He wrote: Four years on from Brexit, we celebrate the restoration of this countrys democratic power to make its own laws and rules. We must retain the appetite and the courage to diverge from the low growth, high regulation European model.

We must at all costs avoid a return to anything remotely like the disastrous Chequers formula, whereby artificial concerns about the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland are used to keep the whole of the UK in alignment with EU rules.

Four years on from Brexit we celebrate the restoration of this countrys democratic power to make its own laws and rules. With those Brexit freedoms we have introduced improved standards for animal welfare, cut taxes on sanitary products, created greater flexibility for cutting  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 31, 2024

Lord Frost, the former Brexit negotiator, said he agreed with Mr Johnsons concerns, adding: The whole of Europe, not just this country, needs huge amounts of deregulation and market-focused reform if it is to start growing again.

Brexit has given us the opportunity to get ahead of that process and, however falteringly, it has in fact already begun. It should not be slowed further. We wait to see whether the latest changes to the Windsor Framework, when they are published later today, justify further concerns in this regard.

Mr Johnsons intervention will heighten fears in Downing Street that Eurosceptic Tory MPs are preparing to rebel and vote against the new deal.

Mr Sunak is already facing unrest from Brexiteers in his party over plans to rush the agreement through the Commons with minimal scrutiny. Eurosceptics are concerned that the pact, which they fear will hamper Britains ability to diverge from the EU, is set to be railroaded through in little more than 24 hours.

Senior backbenchers are pressing the Prime Minister to slow down the process and allow them more time to scrutinise and propose changes to the agreement.

Downing Street has been put on alert that Tory MPs are prepared to vote against the deal if it contains any provisions that will effectively tie Britain to EU rules.

Senior Eurosceptics fear proposals for a screening process for regulations will lead to civil servants putting the kibosh on any attempts to make use of Brexit freedoms.

Under the plans, revealed by The Telegraph, all new laws that apply in Great Britain will be checked to ensure that they do not create trade barriers with Northern Ireland.

Tory MPs are concerned that the deal, which amounts to significant constitutional change, is set to be forced through the Commons with minimal scrutiny.

Theresa Villiers, a former Northern Ireland secretary, said she was troubled by the speed of the process and that Number 10 must allow more time for a debate.

She told The Telegraph: It is vital that theres nothing in the deal which prevents Great Britain from diverging from EU rules. The danger is that some kind of screening process could be used by Whitehall to make it more difficult to diverge. That is going to be vital criteria that MPs really will need to consider.

I appreciate the need for rapid progress, but feel a degree of frustration that something this significant is all intended to be done and dusted in two days. I also find it surprising that what could be some quite significant constitutional change is going to be done by delegated legislation.

Ms Villiers said she was 'troubled' by the speed of the process - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph

Sir Bill Cash, a veteran Eurosceptic backbencher, said the deal contained extraordinarily important and significant constitutional changes.

The speed with which this is happening is not commensurate with the importance of the subject matter, and not seeing the text at this stage merely intensifies this problem, he warned.

The question is what does it say, what are its implications, what are the issues of constitutional significance  including issues of parliamentary sovereignty  and why is it being dealt with by a statutory instrument rather than primary legislation?

Robin Millar, the leader of the 70-strong Conservative Union Research Unit group of backbenchers, warned ministers that good law is not made in secret.

Writing for The Telegraph he said: Conservatives are used to testing ideas through debate  discarding the weak and the bad, retaining the good and useful, he said.

At the very least, constitutional change must be given time and space on the Commons order paper for proper debate. Details must be published to allow timely scrutiny, debate and, if needs be, amendment.

Mr Sunak has struck a deal with the DUP to end the partys two-year boycott of the Stormont assembly in protest at the Irish Sea border.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the Unionist partys leader, has said it is ready to return to Stormont after securing guarantees about Northern Irelands place in the UK.

He praised Mr Sunak for delivering the deal over the Irish Sea border, while taking a swipe at Mr Johnson.

He told BBC Radio Ulster on Wednesday: Boris Johnson promised us a lot of things. He didnt deliver them. Rishi Sunak has worked with us. In fairness and with credit to Rishi Sunak he delivered where others havent.

Mr Sunak told the Commons that a deal to end the DUP boycott and restore the Stormont assembly would create a brighter future for Northern Ireland.

The Prime Ministers spokesman added that the agreement would make significant changes by eliminating most customs checks in the Irish Sea, saying: It will build on the Windsor Framework and establish protections to preserve the UKs internal market in the long term.

Ministers have insisted that nothing in the agreement would block Britains ability to diverge. Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary, told Cabinet it would ensure that the whole of the UK can benefit from and seize Brexit freedoms together.

The Government is set to publish an 80-page command paper on Wednesday afternoon, which will lay out the details of the deal. Tory MPs have been told there will then be a debate and a vote on Thursday.

Ministers will then table a statutory instrument to write parts of the agreement into law, including the new screening process for all new legislation. It is the same mechanism Number 10 used to pass the Windsor Framework, which sparked Tory anger and saw Mr Sunak suffer a Commons rebellion.

Fully-fledged legislation takes at least a week to pass the Commons, with MPs given several debates and the opportunity to propose and vote on amendments.

In contrast, statutory instruments are attached to a parent act  in this case, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act) of 2018  and can be pushed through with a short debate and a confirmatory vote.

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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks at the opening ceremony of the 14th World Health Summit. The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN's humanitarian chief appealed on 31 January for payments to continue to the main aid agency in Gaza, saying a catastrophe awaits if the funds remain frozen. Carsten Koall/dpa

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN's humanitarian chief appealed on Wednesday for payments to continue to the main aid agency in Gaza, saying a catastrophe awaits if the funds remain frozen.

"No other entity has the capacity to deliver the scale and breadth of assistance that 2.2 million people in Gaza urgently need," WHO boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X, formerly Twitter.

He called on all to keep up the payments to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

"Decisions by various countries to pause funds for UNRWA, the largest supplier of humanitarian aid in this crisis, will have catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza," he said.

The United States, Britain, Germany, Canada, Australia and several other countries have suspended payments following allegations that a handful of UNRWA employees were directly or indirectly involved in the acts of terrorism carried out by Hamas in Israel on October 7.

Israel has put the number of individuals at around a dozen, with some of those said to be responsible for the kidnapping of Israelis.

Tedros also called for the release of the hostages abducted from Israel on October 7, for humanitarian aid convoys to the Gaza Strip not to be stopped, and for health care facilities to be spared from attack and use by militants.

"And we continue to call for a ceasefire," he said.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths called UNRWA a "beating heart" in Gaza.

Speaking at the UN Security Council in New York on Wednesday, he said that he was appalled by the claims, but that "lifesaving services ... should not be jeopardized by the alleged actions of a few individuals."
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) celebrated Black History Month a day early at a rally Wednesday outside the Capitol to introduce his Equity for All Resolution.

The resolution intends to uplift the Equity or Else Quality of Life Agenda presented by the Journey for Justice Alliance grassroots organization.

The agenda declares that Black and brown communities have the right to define, name and speak for ourselves instead of being defined, named and spoken for by others.

It calls for culturally competent policy on environmental health, health care, housing, public safety, education, economics and food production and delivery.

Racism, sexism, homophobia, wealth inequality and all kinds of discrimination will continue to stop our legislation from being rooted in equity, Bowman said.

Bowman was joined by Jitu Brown, national director for Journey for Justice Alliance; Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers; and activists from across the nation.

Brown said the nation has the infrastructure to protect families from inequity if pushed by those who have been affected.

The institutions that have said, that fed racism, inequity, for decades, still exist unchanged, Brown said. We are at war with a belief system. That belief system poisons every institution that most of white America takes for granted  a grocery store, a decent school, affordable housing instead of slumlord, production and delivery systems.

Brown said he believes the resolution, which has eight sponsors, including Bowman, will eventually pass in Congress because his team spent hours traveling around the country to build the agenda. Journey for Justice conducted hours of town halls and even door-to-door canvassing to hear from those closest to the pain, he said.

Weingarten said the agenda is needed now more than ever because the nation is in the midst of a fight over an issue of diversity, equity and inclusion.

This country is made up of immigrants, both those who came forcibly and those who decided to come voluntarily, Weingarten said. And yet, how many times have we now seen that ladder of opportunity being pulled up by people who have already climbed it?

Those people, Weingarten added, are the legislators sitting in offices in the Capitol building.

Equity is about ensuring that the next generation and the next generation after that can actually not just have the opportunities of those of us who are old, but have even greater opportunities, she said. Thats what America is about, but we have always had to fight for it. But the fight now is, I would argue, as hard as it was 100 years [ago], because the polarization is great.

Brown said the alliance will continue pushing for sponsors and passage of the resolution, including this summer at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where he and his team are based.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a drone production company in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 30, 2024. Li made an inspection tour in northwest China's Shaanxi Province from Monday to Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for efforts to promote industrial innovation through scientific and technological innovation and accelerate the cultivation of new productive forces.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in northwest China's Shaanxi Province from Monday to Tuesday.

The premier inspected a display devices company on Monday. He stressed that manufacturing enterprises should increase spending on research and development and foster their technological competition edges.

While visiting a smart braking manufacturer, Li urged the company to seize the latest development trend of commercial vehicles and accelerate industrial transformation and upgrading.

The premier also inspected Western Superconducting Technologies Co., Ltd. and encouraged the firm to promote technological development and continuously advance the transformation and industrial application of sci-tech achievements.

During his visit to a material technology firm on Tuesday, Li called on the company to focus on cutting-edge technologies and address key and core technological problems.

At a drone production company, the premier said that the drone industry has broad prospects, calling for stronger efforts to research and develop new technologies and products and better tap the economic potential of the low-altitude airspace.

At the new campus of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Li urged teachers and students to make more progress in building the university-enterprise joint innovation platform and promoting the integration among industrial, academic, and research circles.

The premier fully recognized the achievements of Shaanxi's economic and social development and expected the province to give full play to its advantages, ensure the solid implementation of policies, and make more contributions to overall national development.

Li also presided over a symposium and listened to the opinions and suggestions of local officials on the draft government work report and government work.
Intersections for two of the busier roads in the Columbia area will temporarily be closed as CSX makes repairs to railroad crossings, officials said.

The train track maintenance began Monday, according to Lexington County officials. And next week, the closures are scheduled to affect the Harbison Boulevard and Lake Murray Boulevard intersections with St. Andrews Road, where there are railroad crossings.

Work on the railroad crossing at the Harbison Boulevard intersection will begin Feb. 5, and proceed to the Lake Murray Boulevard crossing the following day, a Southern Commercial Development official said.

The closures are expected to last at least three days, and could take up to five days before the roads are reopened at the crossings.

An aerial map shows where work on railroad crossings is expected to be done in the area between Lake Murray Boulevard and Harbison Boulevard. Screen Grab

The Harbison Boulevard/St. Andrews Road intersection is in Columbia, while less than 2 miles away the Lake Murray Boulevard/St. Andrews Road intersection is in Irmo.

Harbison Boulevard is a popular shopping district in Columbia, densely packed with retail stores and restaurants. Sandwiched between Harbison Boulevard and Lake Murray Boulevard, where there are also many businesses and restaurants, is Columbiana Centre, one of the largest and most popular shopping malls in the Midlands.

More than 17,000 cars per day travel down Harbison Boulevard, while about 26,000 will drive on Lake Murray Boulevard, near the intersections with St. Andrews Road, according to South Carolina Department of Transportation traffic data.

CSX is making the repairs to railroad tracks in Lexington, Richland and Newberry counties, officials said. Several other intersections have already been closed, or will be blocked as work begins on the train tracks.

For the railroad crossings that are one-way in/out with residents behind them, CSX will work to have the repairs completed in 12 hours, Lexington County officials said.

All maintenance and repairs are expected to be finished by March 8, according to Lexington County officials.

To complete these repairs, a total closure of the railroad crossings is required, officials said. A total closure means that no traffic will be allowed to cross the track until the work is complete, while signs and detours will be implemented to reroute traffic around the closures.

All work dates are subject to change, and drivers should anticipate extended travel times and delays.

Please avoid the closure areas if at all possible, Lexington County officials said.
This column is by Kewaan Drayton, who co-founded The Savannah Underground and Red Eye Film Productions and is a business partner at Mailbox Cafe.

Savannah has extraordinary potential when it comes to entrepreneurship, but its global ranking for entrepreneurship has dropped significantly. Its time to maximize that potential, as young businesses nationally create most job growth.

More: Savannah's Cecilia Russo Marketing awards three Georgia entrepreneurs $5k grants

I understand the potential, as a lifelong Savannah resident (except for four years of college), who started my first business in the 10th grade. I see that potential every day, as the founder or co-founder of three Savannah businesses and the recipient of the 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.

More: Tybee company makes history with harvest from Georgia's first floating oyster farm

Georgia is highly regarded for its pro-business environment. CNBC ranks Georgia fourth on its 2023 list of Americas Top States for Business; Shopify ranks Georgia third on its list of 10 Most Business-Friendly States in 2024.

Georgia also ranks highly on entrepreneurship. WalletHub ranked it sixth in 2023 on its list of Best States to Start a Business. But this, too, reflects heavily the overall pro-businessenvironment.

Third, Savannah has its own impressive distinctions that have implications for entrepreneurship. Travel + Leisure ranked Savannah fourth on its 2023 list of Readers 15 Favorite Cities in the United States. This reflects the citys appeal to tourists, who stimulate entrepreneurship opportunities to address their needs and interests.

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) regularly wins national recognition for art, design, creativity, innovation, and such specialty areas as fashion design, graphic design, and animation. These are all distinctions that are closely aligned with entrepreneurial opportunity.

Yet, Savannahs ranking for entrepreneurship dropped significantly in 2023. StartupBlinks 2023 Startup Ecosystem Index ranked Savannah 140th among U.S. cities (down 24 places from the previous ranking) and 464th globally (down 83 places).

Savannah needs to take steps to proactively maximize its entrepreneurial opportunity if we want to keep our current entrepreneurs and attract others. These ideas stem from my discussions with entrepreneurs in Savannah in my multiple capacities as vice chair of the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce, as an advocate for Right to Start, the national nonprofit organization championing entrepreneurship as a civic priority, and as a partner of the Mailbox Cafe, a hub for entrepreneurs in intown Savannah that is located next door to SCADs Eckburg Hall, which houses its fashion and accessory design  fields that are well-suited to aspiring and budding entrepreneurs.

First, the City of Savannah has rightly created the Savannah Entrepreneurial Center, which aims to support local entrepreneurs. The presence of the Center is a great start, but there's an opportunity to enhance its impact by boosting outreach efforts, particularly in historically underserved communities.

Second, through the Entrepreneurial Center, the city should consider offering a one-stop shop to guide aspiring entrepreneurs on the diverse local, state, and federal governmentalrequirements and obligations for starting a business.

Many entrepreneurs Ive connected with have complained to me about being bounced from one governmental or nonprofit agency to another  with no apparent concern for the frustration and lost time that it causes. Savannah has many valuable resources: theres SCORE, the Small Business Development Center, the Entrepreneurial Center, the Small Business Assistance Center, the ACE Womens Business Center, and multiple chambers of commerce.

Recognizing the importance of fostering a conducive environment for entrepreneurs to kick start their businesses  ultimately contributing to tax revenues and job creation  it would be wonderful to see streamlined processes that make this journey more efficient and enjoyable.

Third, a broad coalition of advocates should be created to maximize Savannahs potential for entrepreneurship. That coalition could include the three Savannah area chambers of commerce  the Savannah Area Chamber, the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Metropolitan Savannah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Right to Start and its national experts could provide additional context on steps that other cities are taking.

Savannah is in an enviable position when it comes to entrepreneurial potential. The challenge is for Savannah to maximize that potential for the good of everyone in the Greater Savannah area.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Business owner: Savannah needs to do more to foster entrepreneurship


Speakers:



Mr. Xin Guobin, vice minister of industry and information technology

Mr. Zhao Zhiguo, spokesperson and chief engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)

Ms. Tao Qing, spokesperson of the MIIT and director general of the Bureau of Operation Monitoring and Coordination of the MIIT

Chairperson:

Xing Huina, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

Jan. 19, 2024

Xing Huina:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Today, we have invited Mr. Xin Guobin, vice minister of industry and information technology, who will brief you on the development of industry and information technology in 2023, and take your questions. We are also joined by Mr. Zhao Zhiguo, spokesperson and chief engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and Ms. Tao Qing, spokesperson of the MIIT and director general of the Bureau of Operation Monitoring and Coordination of the MIIT.

Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Xin for a brief introduction.

Xin Guobin:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning. Thank you for your continued interest in and support for the development of industry and information technology. Now, I'll brief you on the sector's general situation in 2023.

The year 2023 is pivotal for China, as it is the first year of fully implementing the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), a year of economic recovery and development after three years of COVID-19 prevention and control, and a significant milestone year in the country's industrial development. In September, the CPC Central Committee held a national meeting on promoting new industrialization, with General Secretary Xi Jinping providing key directives. This initiative sparked nationwide mobilization and arrangement meetings, igniting a wave of new industrialization efforts across the country. Under the firm leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the MIIT, along with other departments and regions, conscientiously implemented the decisions and arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. The focus remained on maintaining stability while seeking progress, accelerating new industrialization and solidifying manufacturing. As a result, the industrial sector maintained an upward trend, and the information and telecommunications sector experienced accelerated growth, contributing to solid progress in high-quality development. In general, the progress in these areas can be characterized by five keywords: stability, innovation, strength, integration and enhancement.

First, by stability, we mean the stable growth momentum has been further solidified. In 2023, a series of policy measures targeted at stabilizing growth proved effective as the total value added of industrial enterprises above designated size grew by 4.6% year on year, or 1 percentage point higher than in 2022. Notably, the value added of manufacturing was up by 5% year on year. Over the past year, the industrial sector showed upward momentum while maintaining stability, with expansion across 10 major industrial provinces and 10 major industries, contributing to overall stable growth. The size of the country's manufacturing sector continued to lead globally for the 14th consecutive year.

Second, by innovation, we mean the new growth drivers were further enhanced. We continued to drive the development of a modern industrial system through technological innovation. We built 27 national manufacturing innovation centers, two manufacturing innovation centers through national and local partnerships, and accelerated the creation of 45 national-level advanced manufacturing clusters. We focused on strengthening the industries we excel in, such as the three new growth drivers of export, namely solar batteries, lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles, which collectively surpassed an export value of over 1 trillion yuan ($139 billion) for the first time. The shipbuilding industry has continued to dominate the global market, maintaining the largest global share for 14 consecutive years. We have also nurtured other new growth drivers of the economy, such as emerging industries like new materials and robotics, which experienced rapid growth. We have also accelerated the commercialization of major technological breakthroughs. This includes significant advancements in fields like machine tools and key software technologies. Moreover, there have been major achievements in the production and application of large passenger airlines and high-end medical equipment.

Third, by strength, we mean the strong industrial foundation has been further solidified. We have accelerated the technological transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, intensified the promotion of intelligent manufacturing, and established 62 "lighthouse factories," accounting for 40% of the global total. We have built 421 national-level intelligent manufacturing demonstration factories and over 10,000 provincial-level digital workshops and smart factories. We have steadfastly promoted green and low-carbon transformation, with green emerging industries gradually growing stronger. The efficiency of comprehensive utilization of industrial resources has further improved, with the annual utilization of bulk industrial solid waste expected to exceed 2.2 billion metric tons. We continue to enhance the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains, coordinating efforts to address weaknesses and strengthen foundations. Industries such as electronics and software have shown strong resilience in their development.

Fourth, the trend of digital integration has further accelerated. We have vigorously promoted core industries of the digital economy. In 2023, the annual telecom service revenue grew by 6.2% year on year. The electronic information manufacturing industry has stabilized, the software industry has grown in terms of both volume and efficiency, and the internet industry has steadily recovered. Network infrastructure has been continuously strengthened, with service capabilities being continuously upgraded, and our total computing power ranks second globally. The integration of digital and physical systems has been deeply implemented, with 5G applications integrated into 71 of the 97 categories of the national economy, and the industrial internet covering all 41 industrial categories. Capabilities for ensuring network and data security have been continuously enhanced.

Fifth, by enhancement, we mean the business environment was further improved. We have deeply implemented 31 policy measures for the private sector, stimulating the vitality of various types of business entities. In collaboration with relevant departments, we have continuously worked to reduce the burden on enterprises. In the first 11 months of 2023, newly implemented tax cuts, fee reductions, refunds and deferred payments amounted to 1.8 trillion yuan. We have advanced the integration of industry and finance, with the national industry and finance cooperation platform providing up to 712 billion yuan in financing for enterprises. We have focused on supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), cumulatively nurturing 103,000 innovative SMEs that use special and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products, including 12,000 "little giant" enterprises with high growth potential. We have extensively listened to the opinions and suggestions of enterprises, established and improved a regular communication mechanism for manufacturing enterprises, and timely addressed and resolved critical issues.

In 2024, the industrial sector still faces a severe and complex internal and external environment. However, with a complete industrial system, a vast market scale, a well-developed information infrastructure as well as the strong momentum gathered for industrial development following the national meeting on promoting new industrialization, the long-term positive trend of China's industrial sector will not change. We will earnestly implement the arrangements of the Central Economic Work Conference and the national meeting on promoting new industrialization, resolutely fulfill the key task of achieving new industrialization, consolidate and reinforce the positive trend of the industrial sector, promote high-quality development in the information and telecommunications industry, and provide a solid material and technological foundation for building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization.

That concludes my introduction. Now, my colleagues and I are willing to answer your questions. Thank you.

Xing Huina:

Thank you. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before raising your questions.
On the most recent Saturday Night Live, host Dakota Johnson dragged herself to hell for being the child of famous parents. It happened during a sketch with the shows in-house filmmaking trio, Please Dont Destroy, two members of which can claim veteran SNL writers as their fathers. The sketch finds our hostthe progeny of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffithlocked in a roast battle with second-gen comedians John Higgins and Martin Herlihy. The insults are brutal. Many of them are based, thrillingly, in reality. Once they broach the topic of parents, both sides hesitate and the tension mounts. Johnson then suggests a nepo truce, and the three join rings like the Planeteers summoning Captain Planet, invoking what is meant to be their tribal mantra: a foot in the door and so much more.

This level of self-awareness is apparently what it takes to win the nepo baby narrative. Like Francesca Scorsese, who said earlier this month that shes just trying to be the best nepo baby I can be, Johnson has now officially acknowledged her advantages on record. (Again.) Displaying a sense of humor about ones charmed life has emerged as the last, best defense people like Johnson have against the charge of inheriting success as a birthright. But honestly, we should all just move on from calling anyone and everyone with famous parents nepo babies, regardless of their actual talent. It was a good idea for a short timebut now its run its course.

When New York magazine dedicated a late-2022 cover story to nepotism in show business, it crystallized a phrase that had gained steam all year and sent the discourse into hyperdrive. Professional and amateur opinion havers had not only an occasion to vent about a salient class issue, but a new vocabulary for it. At a moment when gatekeeping and other systemic tools of inequity were finally being discussed out in the open more often, the term nepo baby leapt out of Twitter and into broader ubiquity.

It was amusing for a while to watch celebrities squirm in trying to say the right thing when asked about being a nepo babya topic interviewers quickly learned led to sound-bite pay dirt. The discourse may have also helped keep alive broader conversations about class politics in Hollywood throughout Hot Strike Summer, when certain TV stars who could comfortably withstand going without work for a while showed up for their unions and others didnt. At some point, though, legacy celebs either figured out that pretending they faced the same struggles as everyone else was a bad look, or their crisis PR teams did so for them, and the schadenfreude ended. Any conversations that bordered on being productive then fizzled out with the strikes. All that remains now are those two little words, which still get tossed around constantly, without much discernible point beyond insult. Even people who love Riley Keough often call her their favorite nepo baby, instead of calling her an electrifying actress or whatever.

Worse still, many of the folks who have most embraced the term nepo baby seem engaged in an ongoing performance art piece of pretending its just a neutral descriptor. In reality, calling an adult a baby already sounds like an insult, even before getting to the intention behind it or frequency of use. At best, its a fun fact that makes examining Maya Hawkes cheekbones into an act of anthropology. But more often than not, its meant to diminish someones talent or dismiss it outright, and to gloss over more nuanced and interesting criticism. The members of Please Dont Destroy should be able to make a movie you thought was horrible without seeing themselves photoshopped into a golden baby stroller.

The problem with calling for an end to nepo baby discourse, though, is that it sounds an awful lot like sticking up for some of the people who least need defending. It has the class-traitor aftertaste of rooting for the Walt Disney Corp., even if its because its up against Gov. Ron DeSantis. Many so-called nepo babies have only known life as a catered party with every possible whim on the menu. Thats probably why its so frustrating for them that they cant force everyone to stop calling them nepo babies. But some of those nepo babiesthe ones we all talk and hear about, because they are bona fide starshave stuck around thanks to actual talent and tenacity. They are also not inherently ignorant, especially at this point, that their advantages gave them a start ahead of others. Yes, this is where we are now: Siding with genetically blessed millionaires who have a modicum of self-awareness now seems like a more attractive option than siding with the armchair antagonists who insult them all either equally or arbitrarily.

The nepo baby conversation has run out of places to go. Its stuck in a repetitive cycle, like a toddler learning how to speak. Why bother still bringing up someones nepo-ness whenever their name is mentioned, with both the mic-drop confidence of a gotcha and the rote formality of a gesundheit? Where do we go from here: petition Wyatt Russell to credit his parents more often? Occupy Zoe Kravitzs mentions? Add an asterisk to Jamie Lee Curtis Oscar? Does each nepo baby need to host SNL and do a song and dance routine acknowledging their nepo babyness for all the world to see?

This discourse has not yet yielded any concrete positive results, like inspiring new ways to give underprivileged creatives more opportunity. All its done is put publicists on the offensive and create awareness around Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippes son, who has equally symmetrical features. Its time for the nepotism conversation to actually go somewhere or go away entirely. If we must talk about the children of celebrities, though, lets do it like adults.
Still reeling from last year's onslaught of winter wind and rain, communities along the California coast are bracing for a one-two punch of hefty storms that began to move onshore Wednesday and could bring turbulent weather across the state through at least early next week.

Federal, county and municipal officials began responding Wednesday to some early flooding, road closures and power outages from the first strong atmospheric river system, following Gov. Gavin Newsom's move Tuesday to activate California's Emergency Operations Center. State officials warned that the back-to-back storms may be only the beginning of a strong, wet weather pattern that could linger for up to two weeks.

This is a longer-duration event," Brian Ferguson, a spokesman for the state's Office of Emergency Services, said at a news conference Wednesday morning. "Its not just the localized impacts, but the duration of the impacts and the wide geographic distribution of the challenges. ... We want to be early and proactive on our emergency response efforts."

Fire crews, swift water rescue teams and other first responders have moved into place throughout the state in preparation of the storms, and supplies such as sandbags and snowplows are being distributed, Ferguson said.

Read more: Major atmospheric river storm slams into Southern California

The state is working around the clock with our local partners to deploy life-saving equipment and resources statewide," Newsom said. "With more storms on the horizon, well continue to mobilize every available resource to protect Californians.

The first storm was expected to wallop the northern part of the state beginning Wednesday, with the National Weather Service issuing multiple flood advisories, winter storm and high wind warnings across the state through at least Friday. The second one, forecast to arrive late Sunday, is anticipated to hit harder in the south, potentially wreaking havoc in Southern California.

Along the North Coast from Klamath to Fort Bragg early Wednesday, officials reported widespread urban and small stream flooding, with an additional inch or 2 of rain expected to fall. In the Bay Area, wind gusts had been recorded above 60 mph, reaching as high as 70 mph at one location in Marin, according to the weather service.

Officials continue to predict further power outages through the night and into Thursday. Ferguson said state officials are working with utilities to get crews dispatched quickly when power goes down.

Much if not the entire portion of the state is expecting measurable rainfall as we head through today and tomorrow," Robert Hart, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said Wednesday. Northern and Central California can generally expect 2 to 5 inches, with up to 6 inches locally, he said.

As the storm moves south Thursday, Southern California can expect on average 1 to 3 inches of rain, but up to 5 inches locally, Hart said.

Read more: Major atmospheric river storm slams into Southern California

The second storm system, aimed with a particular ferocity toward Southern California, is "the one we're more concerned about," Ferguson said. It is warmer  allowing it to pack more water  and is expected to move slower, which can leave particular regions inundated. Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego could be in for massive amounts of rain. The mountains east of Los Angeles could face heavy snow.

"Storm No. 1 will be significant and is notable, but won't bring extreme impacts anywhere," said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain in a Tuesday briefing. But he said his eyes are on that still-developing second storm, which "has a higher potential to produce some major and significant either wind- and/or flood-related impacts," with flooding concentrated in Southern California.

Read more: The Times' complete guide to storm safety preparedness

Ferguson added that the dangerous flooding that devastated communities such as Pajaro and Planada in last winter's atmospheric rivers  and killed dozens across the state  was less of a concern this time around. But many of the levees that crisscross the state are aging, privately maintained and something of an unknown to officials.

"That is always a challenge," he said. "We don't know which levees have ground squirrels in them, which farmer put a pipe [in somewhere]. Unknowns are the things that are hardest to solve for."

He added that officials are also confronting "tons of misinformation and bad information" about the weather on social media. Contrary to one rumor flying around cyberspace, this is not a megaflood or "ARkStorm" scenario, he said, though he still urged residents to take it seriously and prepare.

Read more: A major wet weather pattern is barreling toward California. But it's not the dreaded 'megaflood'

Jim Shivers, a spokesman for Caltrans District 5  which covers the Central Coast  said theyre keeping an eye on Pauls Slide, a two-mile stretch of Highway 1 south of Big Sur that was knocked out by a landslide last year. It's been closed ever since and remains under repair.

Worker safety is the biggest concern, he said, and the agency will pull all construction workers from the site until the storm has passed.

In Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, officials said there are no signs these storms will cause flooding in the Pajaro River  where a levee breached last year, flooding the community of Pajaro  but said those areas will be monitored closely.

Mark Strudley, executive director at Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, said the 400-foot area that breached last year "and caused all the grief ... was repaired using modern engineering standards [and] is actually better built than the older levees to either side of it."

Because of that and "a bunch of other work that the counties did in preparation for this winter, we are going into this winter in a better position than we went in last year," he said. However, despite those efforts, "it is still an old, decrepit levee system. So you can make your best efforts, but if Mother Nature gets too angry at us, you know ... they're still vulnerable."

In Mendocino County, though, the Navarro and Russian rivers are forecast to reach flood stage by early Thursday, according to the California Nevada River Forecast Center, and waters at many points along the Sacramento Valley rivershed could also rise dangerously high.

In Navarro, where the Navarro River was forecast to overflow, the National Weather Service said flooding of Highway 128 just east of Highway 1 "is certain and the road will be closed." In Hopland, the Russian River was expected to cause significant flooding on Highway 175 near the Russian River bridge, as well as minor flooding on Highway 222 near Ukiah and surrounding cropland, the weather service warned.

Later Thursday, the San Diego River at Fashion Valley is expected to again overflow its banks, according to the forecast center, as occurred last week during historic rains that caused widespread urban flooding and some devastating flash floods in the area.

We dont expect a repeat of Jan. 22 [flash flooding] on Thursday," Alex Tardy, a meteorologist with the weather service in San Diego, said Wednesday, adding, "That said, new and additional flooding is possible."

Much of San Diego and Orange counties, as well as parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, have a flood advisory out for Thursday, when the first storm will have moved south and east. But Tardy pointed out that besides San Diego, much of Southern California has received below average rainfall this year.

"In general, this is a beneficial rain," he said. "We need this rain, we need the snow too."

In Los Angeles, officials are less concerned about the first storm  though some minor flooding is likely  but worries are mounting about the second system. County and city officials opened additional shelter options through at least Tuesday, offering motel vouchers during the coming storms for anyone living on the street.

Theres growing confidence that were going to see many hours of steady, moderate-to-heavy rain," Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, said of the next storm, which could hit the region as early as Sunday.

Read more: SoCal sees two 'thousand-year' storms within weeks. More could be coming

Unlike last year, when many officials initially brushed off concerns about incoming storms, everyone is on high alert and urging residents to be cautious.

"We started sending messaging to likely impacted neighborhoods last night and are resupplying sand for sandbags throughout the county," said Jason Hoppin, a spokesman for Santa Cruz County.

"If you have experienced flooding on your property in the past, we urge you to TAKE PROTECTIVE MEASURES TODAY," he wrote in a countywide alert.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and key lawmakers at the Capitol are struggling to find a consensus over solitary confinement reform, and there are few solutions in sight.

Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, continues to try to win support for Assembly Bill 280, which would restrict the use of solitary confinement in prisons, jails and immigration detention facilities to 15 consecutive days.

His bill would ban this kind of isolation entirely for certain groups, including those who are pregnant, those 60 and older and those 25 and younger.

Another measure, Senate Bill 733 from Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, would collect data to track (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) progress toward improving solitary confinement standards, as well as specific information on inmate demographics and experiences with isolation.

Reform advocates backing significant restrictions on solitary confinement fear Glazers bill, changed substantially from a more ambitious reform effort last year, would allow lawmakers to appear as though they are doing something on the issue without backing wholesale changes.

But the more significant hurdle to ambitious reform is Newsoms reticence to back policy shifts these lawmakers want, even as he pushes a rehabilitation-focused model of incarceration.

This issue has made a lot of progress in the last decade, said Hamid Yazdan Panah of Immigrant Defense Advocates, a member of the coalition backing the bill restricting solitary confinement. Its universally acknowledged that solitary confinement is a harmful practice that should be limited, particularly with respect to the length of time that its used.

So from our perspective, he said, Its a waiting game.

A guard tower stands at Folsom State Prison on Aug. 24, 2021.

No solitary confinement definition

California does not have a widely accepted definition of solitary confinement as it is used in correctional facilities.

CDCRs restricted housing is used to isolate inmates from those in the general population, and those living inside the units typically have very limited contact with other people, although some do have cellmates. They are allowed out of their cells only for short periods of time.

The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners rules defines solitary confinement as confinement of prisoners for 22 hours or more a day without meaningful human contact. The rules consider isolation beyond 15 days to be torture.

Holdens bill defines solitary confinement as lasting more than 17 hours per day with restricted activity, movement, or minimal or no contact with persons other than custodial staff.

CDCR insists its facilities do not use solitary confinement. The agency does not explain how its restricted housing units differ from solitary confinement, saying only that inmates have access to a minimum of 20 hours (per week) outside their cells and have the opportunity for meaningful activities including programming and non-contact visits, according to Terri Hardy, a CDCR spokeswoman.

Prisoners can be placed in restricted housing for various reasons, including threats to others, discipline and protective custody.

When asked about Glazers bill, Hardy said in an email CDCR does not comment on pending legislation. She referred The Sacramento Bee to an agency dashboard with information on the prison population by security level and said CDCR will comply with all tracking and reporting as legislatively mandated.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday, March 17, 2023, announced plans to convert San Quentin State Prison into a rehabilitation and education facility within the prison system. The governor continues to resist large-scale solitary confinement reforms.

Newsom wont back substantial changes

Holden and Glazers bills are stymied by Newsoms hesitance to make large-scale changes to Californias solitary confinement policy.

The governor has spent a significant amount of money and political capital to implement a new rehabilitation-focused model of incarceration at San Quentin State Prison in Marin County. Last year, he announced he wants to spend more than $380 million to revamp the prison into a rehabilitation center by 2025. His vision is modeled after Norwegian facilities that emphasize services and support instead of punishment.

But Newsom has declined to make similarly bold changes to the states use of inmate isolation.

The governor vetoed a 2022 version of Holdens bill restricting solitary confinement, citing safety and cost concerns in his veto message. However, he called inmate isolation ripe for reform and directed CDCR to develop new solitary confinement regulations.

Last year, Holden authored a new version of the bill Newsom declined to sign. The lawmaker ended up holding the measure in the Assembly during the last few days of the legislative year.

After the session ended, CDCR announced emergency changes to its solitary confinement policy that were significantly less far-reaching than those in Holdens bill.

They give inmates a minimum of 20 hours of outside cell time per week, up from the 10-hour minimum they previously received. The changes allow inmates in solitary to participate in additional rehabilitative programming and shave time off their isolation by earning credits.

They also limit the disciplinary offenses that land someone in solitary to those involving threats or violence, and they halve the amount of isolation time for prisoners accused of committing them.

The regulations do not provide many of the changes advocates and lawmakers have pushed, including limits on the amount of time prisoners can spend in solitary confinement and a ban on the practice for certain vulnerable groups of people.

Hardy said the new regulations align with Newsoms veto message. CDCRs new restricted housing emergency regulations seek a better balance of safety, security and rehabilitation, she said in an email.

The governors office declined requests to make a member of his administration available for an interview about Newsoms solitary confinement policy. Izzy Gardon, a Newsom spokesman, referred The Sacramento Bee to the governors 2022 veto message.

Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasedena, chats with fellow lawmakers in the Assembly chamber at the state Capitol in September 2023. Holden authored a bill to place limits on solitary confinement in prisons, jails and immigrant detention facilities.

Lawmakers back different reforms

The turmoil over the issue is also apparent in the legislature. Holden and Glazer are at odds over their approaches to solitary confinement policy.

Glazers bill, which collects data on the practice, is a rewritten version of a 2023 measure that would have enshrined in law a 2015 court settlement between solitary confinement inmates and CDCR.

Im trying to find some balance, some progress points, Glazer said during a Senate Public Safety Committee hearing in 2023. I know what you all would like, what everyone would like. But its an attempt to at least establish some foundation of progress as we try to go further.

During that hearing, lawmakers on the committee told the senator his bill did not place enough restrictions on the practice of solitary confinement.

While we cant force the governor to sign something into law, we can continue to put something on his desk that reflects what we think is the appropriate policy, said Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley.

Earlier this month, committee members advanced the new version of Glazers bill, which deals with data collection, over the objections of Immigrant Defense Advocates and other supporters of Holdens bill.

Those who voted in favor of Glazers data-collection measure said they did not think it would affect the movement to create systemic solitary confinement changes, which lawmakers still want to see.

My bill is a significant step forward, Glazer said in an interview. Not everything that they want, but its a building block to get to where they want to go, which is to add some substantive reason to put these types of restrictions on our correctional institutions.

Holden said in an interview he is really trying to figure out how we can engage with the governors office, with a focus on additional areas that are worth exploring.

He sees Glazers bill as one that says, instead of taking major steps, we just want to take small, incremental steps that maybe arent even seen or measured when people start looking at the final results of things.

Id like to think that, again, California doesnt operate that way, Holden said.

Our current governor came in and said, I dont even need legislation. Executive order: no more death penalty, he added, referring to the governors 2019 decision to place a moratorium on the death penalty.

Thats what were about, Holden said. Id like to see that continue.
A former California Air National Guard brigadier general who retired in scandal is now suing the state, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, alleging that it was an atmosphere of antisemitism, not misconduct, that forced him out of a job.

Retired Gen. Jeffrey Magram filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The lawsuit names Newsom and California Military Department Adjutant General Matthew Beevers as defendants.

Beevers discriminated against Magram by harassing and wrongfully terminating Magram because of Magrams Jewish faith, Jewish heritage, and Magrams complaints about Beevers antisemitic discrimination and harassment, the lawsuit contends.

Magrams lawsuit alleges that Beevers created a hostile work environment by making numerous antisemitic remarks. Magram alleged that he informed Newsoms office of these remarks on six occasions but the governor took no action.

(Major General) Beevers mounted an unprecedented defamatory campaign against me, and it was supported by the governor. I want to make sure this never happens again. (Major General) Beeverss actions were disturbingly aggressive and unexplainable, and he needs to be held accountable, Magram said in a statement.

Magram, who served for 37 years in both the U.S. Air Force and the California Air National Guard, was involuntarily transferred to the U.S. Air Force retired reserve in January 2023, according to the Los Angeles Times.

His removal came as a result of an investigation that found multiple instances of misconduct involving ethical violations and maltreatment of subordinates, according to a statement from California Military Department spokesman Lt. Col. Brandon Hill.

Hill spoke Wednesday on behalf of both Newsoms office and the California Military Department.

He said that in October 2021, the vice chief of staff of the Air Force issued a letter of admonishment to Magram, prompting the removal action by the California Military Department.

The recommended discipline was unanimously upheld by a board of three senior officers with no involvement in the underlying incidents. All actions were taken based on independent investigations by the U.S. Air Force and the Military Department Inspector General. We look forward to defending our actions to hold a senior leader accountable for his misconduct, Hill said.
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

POLL SHOWS CALIFORNIANS SUPPORT EXPANDED MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT

A strong majority81%of Californians say that it is very important for state policymakers to focus on increasing mental health access this year, according to a survey published Wednesday by the California Health Care Foundation and NORC at the University of Chicago.

Pollsters surveyed 3,431 California adults between Sept. 18 and Oct. 25 of 2023, and found that a quarter of them said that either they or someone close to them has needed treatment for serious mental illness, with 21% saying theyve needed treatment for substance use or addiction.

Two-thirds of Calfiornians believe that the state needs to strengthen treatment for people with serious mental illness, and 64% said the same for substance abuse and addiction.

More than a third (36%) of Californians with low incomes said that they have experienced homelessness in the past five years. Black (32%) and Latinx (24%) Californians were more likely than other demographic groups to report being homeless.

More than half (53%) of Californians postponed getting medical care because of prohibitive costs in the last year. That number rises to 74% when low-income Californians were surveyed, with 54% of them reporting worsening medical conditions due to skipping care.

This survey comes as Californians will soon begin voting on whether to approve Proposition 1, a ballot measure that would channel $6.4 billion in bonds into spending on homelessness and behavioral and mental health in the state.

PADILLA TO FEDS: DONT RESCHEDULE MARIJUANA, DESCHEDULE IT

As President Joe Bidens administration considers the possibility of reclassifying marijuana, a group of U.S. senators, including California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla, have written a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Drug Enforcement Administration head Anne Milgram, saying thats not going far enough or fast enough.

Marijuana is currently a Schedule I drug, the worst offender category of controlled substances that also includes heroin and LSD.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has recommended re-scheduling marijuana to a lighter, more flexible Schedule III designation.

While rescheduling to Schedule III would mark a significant step forward, it would not resolve the worst harms of the current system. Thus, the DEA should deschedule marijuana altogether. Marijuanas placement in the (Controlled Substances Act) has had a devastating impact on our communities and is increasingly out of step with state law and public opinion, the letter to Garland and Milgram reads in part.

Other signatories of the letter include Sens. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey; John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York; John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado; Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon; Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont; Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland; Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts; Peter Welch, D-Vermont and Ron Wyden, D-Oregon. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, also has signed on.





QUOTE OF THE DAY

Its no surprise that corporate polluters are fighting against being held accountable for their contributions to the climate crisis, theyve been doing it for decades.

- Mary Creasman, CEO of California Environmental Voters, in a statement responding to CalChambers lawsuit to block a pair of corporate environmental accountability laws.

Best of The Bee:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and key lawmakers at the Capitol are struggling to find a consensus over how to reform solitary confinement, and there are few solutions in sight, via Lindsey Holden .

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its California counterpart on Tuesday took legal action to block two 2023 state corporate climate accountability laws from going into effect, via Andrew Sheeler .

Sacramento State will become home to a new school designed to support Black and African American students later this year that its president says will be the first of its kind in the nation, via Darrell Smith .

Trees at more than 2,000 homes in a California city will be stripped of their fruit, according to a state agency, via Daniella Segura.
China further facilitates exit-and-entry services for better mobility of personnel

16:38, January 30, 2024 By Zhang Tianpei ( People's Daily

South Korean tourists go through border inspection in Yantai, east China's Shandong province, Dec. 31, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Tang Ke)

Every day when the land port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge opens, a vibrant and bustling scene is on - tourists from the Chinese mainland conversing in different local dialects and Hong Kong and Macao families embarking on trips to the mainland are coming and going. Such lively atmosphere can be observed at various other ports across China, too.

According to statistics, around 424 million trips were made in and out of border ports in China in 2023, an increase of 266.5 percent compared to the previous year.

Among them, 206 million trips were made by mainland residents and 183 million by residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, up 218.7 percent and 292.8 percent year on year, respectively.

The number of trips made by foreigners in and out of these border ports soared by 693.1 percent year on year to nearly 35.48 million.

The convenient and efficient personnel exchanges are attributed to various policies facilitating entry and exit. Since 2023, a series of innovative measures in immigration management have been implemented to adapt to the fast-paced and high-frequency international exchanges, greatly promoting the flow of people between China and foreign countries.

Starting from May 15, 2023, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) of China has further adjusted and optimized the policies and measures for entry and exit management, intending to facilitate the vitality of people's mobility across borders.

The Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection has carried out systematic refurbishment and technological upgrades on its fast channel, including facial and fingerprint detection, automatic front-facing image capture, and video anti-tailgating. These measures ensure that the implementation of relevant policies results in faster and safer customs clearance.

Foreign exhibitors visit the technology equipment exhibition area at the sixth China International Import Expo, Nov. 6, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Cong Jun)

"It's just easy to follow the instructions," said a woman surnamed Li, who added that the fast channel of customs clearance is very tech-ish, providing a better experience and avoiding long queues.

It is reported that more than 11,500 passengers used the fast channel on the first day of the full resumption of fast customs clearance at Beijing ports.

"The transit this time was at least 30 minutes shorter than the last time," said a Russian traveler named Andre, commenting the visa-free transit policy of China.

On Jan. 11, 21 foreign travelers subject to 24-hour visa-free transit were exempt from border inspection procedures at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, southwest China's Sichuan province. They were the first batch of international travelers to enjoy the new policy.

These passengers from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, who were transiting to a third country, received their boarding passes for the next flight at the check-in counter in the transit area of the airport. After completing the security check, they directly boarded the plane for departure.

With this policy, foreign nationals holding international connecting flights within 24 hours are exempt from immigration inspection procedures and can transit directly to a third country or region via nine airports, including Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport.

This is one of the five measures introduced by the NIA to facilitate foreign nationals coming to China.

The Longbang (China)-Tra Linh (Vietnam) port in Jingxi, south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region officially opens, Dec. 28, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Zhou Funing)

"It was convenient and efficient. The entire process was quick," said Oliver from Germany who recently arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport and experienced port visa application.

Since the relaxation of port visa application requirements, the immigration inspection at Beijing Capital International Airport has been well-organized, with a simple and fast clearance process, ensuring efficient passage for inbound and outbound travelers.

Since 2023, the NIA has been providing convenience for foreign nationals through port visas and multiple-entry visas issued within the country. It has gradually restored passenger clearance at waterway ports, fully resumed exit and entry of international cruise passengers, reinstated visa-free transit policies and expanded their application to more countries, and provided convenient services for talent attraction. These measures have achieved solid results, ensuring a continuous and smooth flow of foreign nationals coming to China.

A new version of the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of the People's Republic of China was put into use on Dec. 1, 2023. With five-starred elements symbolizing the Chinese national flag on it, the card is safer, more good looking and more practical.

"The card will better facilitate my life and travel in China," said the technical manager of a production base of Sweden cable manufacturer Habia Cable in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, who was the first to receive the new ID card in Jiangsu province.

An NIA official noted that the issuance of the new ID card is an important measure to ensure high-level opening up and improve the level of information services for foreign nationals in China. It is conducive to better serving overseas talents in their investment, innovation, work, and life in China, and making more contributions to the high-quality development of the Chinese economy and society.

"As China continues to expand its opening-up, more and more Chinese people are going abroad, while an increasing number of foreigners are coming to China for business, tourism, work, study, and living. The immigration management authorities will continue to deepen reforms and innovations in immigration management, introduce more convenient policies and measures, and accelerate institutional opening up in immigration management service," said another official from the NIA.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
 Flash

Released Palestinian prisoners are seen inside a bus in the town of Beitunia close to the West Bank city of Ramallah, Nov. 24, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

A Hamas delegation will visit Egypt on Wednesday to discuss the framework agreement on a truce in the Gaza Strip issued by the recent Paris meeting, a Palestinian source said on Tuesday.

The delegation will hold a meeting in the Egyptian capital of Cairo with Abbas Kamel, head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service, the source, speaking on conditions of anonymity, told Xinhua.

The meeting in Egypt will discuss the outcome of the Paris meeting, which outlined several stages for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Earlier in the day, Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, announced that Hamas received the proposal hashed out at the Paris meeting, which involves halting the violence in Gaza and releasing the hostages held by Hamas, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

"Our response to the proposal will be based on stopping Israeli aggression against Gaza and withdrawing their forces from the Gaza Strip," he said.

He added that Hamas is open to any discussions, provided that "they lead to a comprehensive cessation of aggression and providing shelter for our displaced people."

A meeting was held on Sunday in the French capital of Paris, attended by senior intelligence and government officials from the U.S., Israel, Qatar and Egypt, to discuss a deal to end the Hamas-Israel conflict in Gaza.

The Israeli delegation was led by David Barnea, chief of the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, and Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet, the Israeli internal security agency.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Tuesday that his government will not release Palestinian prisoners or withdraw forces from Gaza, despite the international efforts to achieve a ceasefire deal.
AURORA, Utah (ABC4)  A firefighter for the Aurora Fire Department in central Utah was arrested on Monday for allegedly obtaining and taking sexual photos of minors.

Gary Joseph Hawkins, 44, is facing three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after evidence was gathered during an FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force undercover mission, according to an affidavit filed in Sevier County.

Police say Hawkins sent an undercover agent child pornography through a messaging app which he said he obtained off a minors phone and disclosed he took photos of relatives who were minors.

Hawkins also allegedly requested child pornography from the undercover agent and expressed his desire to have an incestual family. The investigator identified him after Hawkins sent an image of his face and identified himself as Joe, according to the probable cause affidavit.

19-year-old woman missing in American Fork Canyon, car left near Tibble Fork

Hawkins was arrested on Monday through a traffic stop and police say he attempted to send his adult son a message from the back of the patrol vehicle which appeared to be instructions on how to delete evidence.

Police requested to hold him without bail saying his position of trust as a fireman would put young people at risk. They also cited the chatroom conversations claiming he would pose a risk to the children of friends and family.

Aurora City Mayor said Hawkins was immediately placed on administrative leave following his arrest. Public safety is and will continue to be a top priority, Mayor Daven Quarnberg said.

ABC4 reached out to the Aurora Fire Department for comment and did not immediately hear back.

If you suspect child abuse or neglect contact the DCFS 24/7 hotline: 855-323-3237. For more information, visit dcfs.utah.gov.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
The vastness of the ocean allows polluters to evade detection in all but the most egregious violations. SkyTruth aims to change that with Cerulean, an orbital monitoring platform for coastal waters that spots not just oil slicks but also the ships that produce them faster and with more certainty than ever before.

The nonprofit organization has been around for more than 20 years, acting as a watchdog and advocate in situations like oil spills and conservation efforts. Satellite imagery has always been helpful in such cases, but it was only recently that the frequency and quality of the data started becoming good enough to apply in close to real time.

Though we're still a ways off of detecting an oil spill or leak the moment it happens, many areas of Earth are imaged multiple times per day or even per hour in extremely high definition. This data could help pinpoint the time and extent of an oil leak from an offshore drilling operation before it spreads too far.

Cerulean is the software platform they've built to ingest and analyze orbital imagery and other data both to identify and catch polluters and to provide improved estimates of pollution in waters around the world.

This kind of data is difficult to get straight from official sources, since they in turn rely on reports of vessel activity and other indirect metrics. Establishing the existence of a spill, dumping, or other illegal activity in the first place is hard enough, but to clearly state its magnitude is harder, and to assign responsibility is harder still.

But with satellites watching and Cerulean analyzing, the problem and its producer can be positively identified sometimes in a single image.

The platform looks not at the visual spectrum, but at synthetic aperture radar data, which is able to detect differences in textures on the surface  like the difference between oil and water. Cerulean's makers built a machine learning model that identifies any suspicious slicks or trails, and then allows users to rewind and find vessels that were pinged nearby at the time.

Image Credits: Cerulean

It's easy to use; I found a slick and the vessel that almost certainly left it behind in about 30 seconds. You can try it here yourself  just be aware it's "in beta," like so many things.

Of course, natural oil seeps, turbulence, shadows, and other innocuous activity can look a bit like oil slicks. And not all vessels  perhaps not even a majority of vessels  are persistently tracked via their beacons, as Global Fishing Watch found out. (Perhaps not surprisingly, the two organizations work with one another.)

This means that Cerulean isn't a solution in itself but a tool to be used in conjunction with others, and with human supervision. But even non-experts can use it, they point out, and the data is compelling without any kind of academic or advocacy trappings.

Image Credits: Cerulean

For instance, in a study conducted in 2022, SkyTruth pointed out that European authorities confirmed reports of 32 oil slicks of human origin. But based on the satellite data, they believe the number is probably a hundred times higher  3,000 or so. Similarly, it was once estimated that about half of oil slicks are natural. A SAR study suggested it's more like 6%. When the estimates are off by orders of magnitude, it does make you think!

This week, SkyTruth is publishing five case studies, short reports about recent projects with advocacy groups around the globe. Here's what they've been getting up to:

The Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense has been using Cerulean to monitor deep-water drilling infrastructure for leaks and spills. They hope to create daily alerts for fishermen, who not only are at direct health risk from slicks, but also catch fewer and unhealthy fish as well. "Were trying to fill an information gap to pursue litigation that will help communities go after compensation for the harm caused by these spills," said the group's attorney, Santiago Pineros Duran.

The Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative is hoping to quantify and improve accountability for the very frequent spills in Indonesia. The nation's highly active maritime sector, according to Cerulean data, produces as many oil slicks as the next five countries combined  over 100 per year on average. With facts like these, IOJI and others working toward change in the country's regulatory structure will have something to point to in court.

Runner of a small Indonesian resort, Andrew Dixon uses Cerulean to monitor the coast off of Bintan, where  lucky for him  there haven't been any major spills in a decade. But the next time there is one, or even a persistent small one, he'll see it and report it. "Being able to match a spill to a ships traffic is amazing," he said. "In the past, this has been a laborious process, but now its all automated. Just letting captains know they are being watched is powerful."

U.K. climate advocacy organization Uplift used Cerulean data to look at the frequency and size of oil spills affecting the country's waters. It's obvious that leaked or spilled oil harms wildlife, but the scale of the harm depends on the scale of the spills. "By mapping oil slicks hundreds of miles offshore, SkyTruth helped us quantify and visualize the harm being caused and strengthen the case for an end to new oil and gas production in the North Sea," said Uplift's Daniel Jones.

The 2022 report cited above regarding bilge dumping (32 vs. 3,000 slicks) exposes the actual scale of this problem, which is a necessary step to creating new practices and regulations around it.

Cerulean is a work in progress  though you can use it today, it's being iterated on constantly. CTO Jason Schatz noted in response to my questions that the model itself is being improved, but that users who want to avoid false positives should restrict it to high-confidence identifications. And it's strictly based on orbital observation and ship beacon data  no one goes out in a dinghy and makes sure it's really oil.

"We have manually inspected satellite imagery at several hundred locations," he pointed out, though. "We can never be perfectly confident of the composition of a slick using satellite data alone, but it is the best we can do at scale."

This scale of visibility is indeed only available via satellite, and via the machine learning models that turn reams of data no human has time to analyze into usable analyses. SkyTruth's plan for 2024 is to improve Cerulean with the improved model Schatz mentioned, an interface for users to set up alerts for new slicks, more training and feedback sessions with partners, and of course more work with concerned organizations and individuals. You can keep up with SkyTruth here.
A day before Tuesdays supervisors meeting, Shasta County sent out a press release reminding residents to behave themselves during public meetings.

That didnt seem to matter to some who turned out for the Board of Supervisors' meeting.

The chaos, rancor and dysfunction thats marred board of supervisors' meetings for more than three years and has attracted national attention were on display, once again, at Tuesday evenings meeting.

For at least the fourth time since last summer, the chamber had to be cleared of spectators after a member of the public lashed out at board chair Kevin Crye, who represents District 1 and is fighting a recall. The meeting was interrupted for about 15 minutes after Crye ordered security to clear the room.

Frequent board meeting attendee Nathan Pinkney became angry during a presentation on whether Shasta should caucus as a rural county or a suburban county in the California County Caucus. Shasta is currently a member of the suburban caucus. Crye put the item on the agenda because he wants Shasta to be designated a rural county.

After a presentation by county Administrative Analyst Jared Biddle, who recommended Shasta stay a suburban county, Nigel Skeet of the Shasta County Chamber of Commerce presented. Skeet contended that changing the countys designation to rural would help better market the area to tourists.

Skeet was joined by Jason Stovall of Redding Buzz, who after Skeet finished took the microphone to pitch his social media page.

Pinkney then ripped Crye for allowing Stovall, whom Crye calls a friend, to promote his business at the podium.

This is a government meeting. What the hell was that? Why did you sponsor that, Kevin? This is county business. Why did you waste our time with that? Pinkney said.

Nathan Pinkney talks about being removed from Tuesday's Shasta County of Board of Supervisors meeting for objecting to a speaker's use of the N word.

When Pinkney would not sit down, Crye ordered the chamber to be cleared.

Its not the first time Pinkneys actions have shut down a board meeting.

Last May, Pinkney was escorted from the chamber by a security guard after then-chair Supervisor Patrick Jones got upset with him for speaking out from his seat in the audience.

During a presentation on the potential to build tiny homes in Shasta County, Pinkney, who is Black, got angry when a white man, Alex Bielecki, used the N-word while stating his opposition to tiny homes. Bielecki was not chastised and was allowed to address the board later in the meeting.

Ultimately, supervisors on Tuesday voted 3-2 to move forward with changing Shasta Countys designation to rural.

Crye, Jones and Chris Kelstrom were in the majority. Supervisors Tim Garman and Mary Rickert voted no.

Meanwhile, some who spoke wondered if Crye had a conflict of interest because he is friends with Skeet. You are supposed to disclose if you have a business relationship with somebody that you keep having present at these meetings, resident Steven Kohn said Tuesday.

More: Why this supervisor's apology to Black man he kicked out after racist incident fell flat

Cryes critics have also said Joseph Larmour, who was hired as county counsel in December, is dating the general manager of Cryes business, Ninja Coalition, and that Crye should have disclosed that in the run-up to hire him. Crye said he helped recruit Larmour but has told the Record Searchlight that he would not discuss his employees.

Crye did acknowledge he is friends with Skeet and Stovall before he said why he wants Shasta to caucus with rural counties. Crye also said he was disappointed that Stovall promoted his business, Redding Buzz, saying he did not know Stovall would do that and that such promotion was wrong.

Shasta supervisors should caucus with like-minded counties, said Crye, and he doesnt care what larger counties like Santa Barbara want to do. Crye also said changing to the rural caucus will help market Shasta County and bring more tourism dollars into the county.

District 1 Supervisor Kevin Crye, right, gets ready to gavel the Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting as District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones looks on. It was Crye's first meeting as board chairman.

But echoing some speakers, Garman was perplexed about what being a member of a rural or a suburban county caucus has to do with tourism. He also said that Shasta County needs to be working on more important issues like the jail expansion, homelessness and mental health.

Youre going to advertise in L.A., Las Vegas, wherever youre going to advertise and nobody down there is going to look up and see if were a rural caucus or suburban caucus, Garman said of tourism marketing.

I dont know why were spending so much time on something that doesnt really make a difference in the lives of our citizens," Garman added. "The average person out there did not know last week if we are a rural or suburban caucus. The average person is not going to know six months after we change."

Laurie Baker, of Upstate California and the California Welcome Center in Anderson, said she has been marketing the North State for about 10 years.

"When it comes to tourism, we do work together with other rural counties," Baker told supervisors. "So, we do work together because we have the same values, challenges and we will brainstorm together."

Tim Mosher', whose family owns and operates Lakeshore Inn Resort on Lake Shasta, said it's a "no-brainer" that Shasta County should be in the rural caucus.

"Living here my entire life, I would never categorize this county as a suburban county, to me it's always been rural," he said.

Supervisor Rickert, a cattlewoman and business owner, said she has been involved in agricultural tourism for many years.

I think Ive probably done more agritourism than probably everyone in this room. I never, ever remember anybody asking me, Are you a suburban county or rural county?  she said. Remaining a suburban county gives Shasta more of a voice and more control over issues that affect residents, Rickert said.

In his report to supervisors, county Administrative Analyst Biddle wrote that Shasta would have better representation if it stayed in the suburban caucus.

Being a part of a caucus with larger counties allows staff to utilize the knowledge of the larger counties who have more staff to implement programs and respond to new laws and mandates, Biddle wrote.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. Hes part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-225-8219. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Once again, Shasta Supervisors' meeting gets shut down. What happened?
A Utah man is suing after being implicated in a human trafficking ring for driving his wife to and from her job at Asian massage businesses in Utah County. Police raided the places in early 2021 and arrested Joseph Ferreri, his wife Juying Wang, and several other women associated with the businesses where Wang worked.

A police document justifying Ferreri's arrest relies heavily on generalizations about Asian massage businesses and race-based stereotypes. It's also peppered with misrepresentationslike describing Wang as a "girl" even though she's in her 50s and two years older than Ferreri. "The local officer in charge of the 'investigation'"American Fork Police Officer Shawn Lott"embellished, omitted, and made up facts to paint Joe Ferreri as an international sex trafficker," Ferreri's lawsuit against Lott and the city alleges, claiming that "the sole basis for targeting Joe was the race/ethnicity of his wife and her occupation."

Ferreri's situation isn't some isolated incident. Police and federal agents frequently target Asian massage businesses for investigations and raids, garnering ample news coverage about "sex trafficking" rings when there's little to support these claims and silence when the big talk about busting up traffickers doesn't pan out.

In this case, all charges against Ferreri, Wang, and the other women were eventually dropped. But by then, the case had negatively impacted Ferreri's life in multiple ways. His name and picture were published in news outlets that described him as part of a human trafficking ring. He and his wife were temporarily barred from seeing each other. He lost his job, and with it any chance of a pension he was more than halfway to qualifying for. The only work Ferreri could find following the arrest was a temp gig in a coal mine, his complaint says.

"Most, if not all, Asian massage businesses operate the same"

The investigation that kicked this all off started in September 2020, when American Fork police received an anonymous online tip about prostitution taking place at Sunflower Massage. The tipster told cops that masseuses would touch customers "inappropriately" and "if you do not complain she will continue and even make offers for more," according to Lott's Affidavits of Probable Cause for arresting Ferreri and Wang.

"Most, if not all, Asian massage businesses operate the same," Lott asserts confidently in the affidavits.

The arrest documents are filled with generalizations like this. Lott claims that Asian women fall easily into human trafficking because "family honor" is so important to them and traffickers threaten to tell their families about the "voluntary prostitution" they're engaged in. These women are often "forced to live in small closets or rooms within the massage business premise and given only minimal means for survival," he writes. "It is not uncommon for trafficked girls to be dropped off and picked up by someone other than the business owner" in an attempt "to thwart law enforcement investigation."

Note that none of this "evidence" involves actual acts uncovered at Sunflower Massage and its sister businesses. Rather, they are generalizationssupposedly based on Lott's "training and experience."

Lott writes that many applications for Asian massage businesses "have ownership names using out of state driver's licenses and addresses, typically tied to the southern California area"even though none of the women in this case had ties to southern Californiaand tries to make the mere use of Chinese names sound suspect, noting that "the names listed as owners on the [massage business] applications are often difficult to understand, as Chinese names start with the last name first."

Lott also makes repeated reference to "girls" in the arrest documents, even though the females involved in this case were all adult women.

"Lott's differential treatment of, and/or targeting of, 'Asian' or 'Chinese' subjects, permeates" the arrest documents, Ferreri's complaint argues. This targeting was "patently unconstitutional" and "based on unsupported stereotypes and complaints about 'Asian massage parlors' in general, with no reference to the particular businesses at issue."

Ferreri also alleges that the affidavit descriptions of his marriage were inaccurate, prejudicial, and/or incomplete in a way designed to arouse suspicion. For instance, the affidavit says, without any further explanation, that "Joseph has been known to travel for days at a time to Selina Utah," even though Ferreri allegedly told police that his brother lived there and he would sometimes go spend weekends with him. Lott points out that Ferreri and Wang met "at a massage parlor where she provided him a sexual act in return for money," even though this isn't really relevant to the alleged criminal wrongdoing. And Lott suggests that "the marriage may not be legitimate," even though "a short telephone call to a vital records office in Texas would have confirmed the marriage," according to Ferreri's complaint.

"Male customers [say] there are 'happy endings'"

Joining forces with other local police departments, American Fork Police sent cops to quiz customers coming out of the massage businesses they were investigating. "On all of these stops the male customers have all acknowledge [sic] there are 'happy endings' offered to customers," writes Lott in his affidavit for Ferreri's arrest.

The police departments started sending undercover cops to get massages at Sunflower and associated massage businesses (Relax Wood and Small Rainbow, which had the same owner as Sunflower, and a place called Magic Massage). Masseuses at these business allegedly offered sexual extras to the undercover cops on multiple occasions. (The officers allegedly declined.) Police also staked out the businesses and followed the women to and from work.

They honed in on Ferreri after a "concerned citizen" told them that "an older white male" had "pick[ed] up a Chinese girl" from Relax Wood, per Lott's description. The "girl" in question was Wang, who was born in 1964 and 56 years old at the time.

In February 2021, police raided the massage businesses and arrested Ferreri and five women, including Wang. Ferreri was booked on charges of aiding prostitution (a misdemeanor) and a pattern of unlawful activity (a felony). He would eventually be charged with human trafficking, money laundering, and aggravated exploitation of prostitution as well, according to his lawsuit.

Wang was charged with two counts of prostitutionbased on alleged offers of sexual activity to undercover officers on two occasionsand with engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity.

(The "pattern of unlawful activity" chargea felonyprovides a good example of how cops get creative with charges to crack down harshly on sex workers. Prostitution is only a misdemeanor offense, but offering to engage in prostitution twice could be construed as a "pattern" and bring on a more severe charge.)

Lott requested that Wang and the other arrested women be held without bail. Yes, we're looking at authorities trying to keep a woman locked up for who knows how long pre-trial because she may have dared to touch some body parts she wasn't allowed to touch in the course of being paid to touch some body parts she was allowed to touch.

"Humiliation, stress, [and] untreated medical conditions"

The charges against Ferreri were dropped nine months later, a day before a scheduled hearing where cops would have had to present evidence for them in court. The charges against the other defendants were dropped in January 2022. There was no deluge of news coverage for either development, as there had been about the arrests.

Ferreri filed a complaint against Lott and American Fork last August and, earlier this month, Magistrate Judge Jared C. Bennett set a schedule for the case. (Various documents, discovery, and motions aren't due until August through December of this year, so it could be quite a while yet before we see any resolution here.) He accuses the city and Lott of violating his rights to due process and equal protection, as well as disregarding and penalizing him for his request for a lawyer.

"Lott targeted Joe based solely on Joe's association with a Chinese woman who worked at a licensed massage business," Ferreri's complaint posits. "Joe's observed conduct was no different from other spouses who share one car."

Ferreri seeks a declaration that his rights were violated, along with "a judgment awarding [him] interest on economic losses to the extent permitted by law" plus compensation for "emotional distress and other personal injury" and for his litigation expenses.

Following his arrest, "friends saw him on the news. Strangers who recognized him in the small town where he lived gave him disgusted looks and humiliating distance," states the complaint. "He was ostracized in the small town where he lived" and Wang and him temporarily separated because of "the strain of the prosecution."

Ferreri was fired from his job with the Utah Department of Corrections, where he had "had accrued approximately 13 years toward a 20-year pension" and had not previously "been subject to discipline or any other indication of dissatisfaction with his job performance." After the charges were dropped, Ferreri tried to get rehired by the Department of Corrections but could not. "After his termination and highly publicized accusations of being an international sex trafficker, the only job that Joe could get was at a coal mine through a temp agency," his complaint states.

Without health insurance from his job, he incurred high medical bills when he subsequently suffered myriad medical issues, including a heart attack. He also had to"hire a lawyer to defend the charges and the government's request that his assets be seized" and "to retain the services of an experienced civil rights attorney to vindicate his constitutional rights." Ultimately, the arrest led to negative financial consequences as well as "humiliation, stress, [and] untreated medical conditions," Ferreri alleges.

Qualified Immunity Strikes Again?

While investigations like the one that netted Ferreri may not be all that rare, it is relatively rare to see people fighting back. Most of the times when it occurs, it's male customers or associates of the massage parlorsnot the workers or managers or owners therewho do.

This isn't a surprise: they are generally much better positioned to make a stink than immigrant sex workers who may fear deportation, face language barriers, be unclear about how the U.S. legal system works, etc. And the fact that women involved in these stings are so ill-positioned to fight back hints at why this sort of thing is allowed to continue happening, again and again.

Cops face little recourse, even when their cases totally fall apart and were based on little more than writing some sort of Asian sex-slave fanfic.

They're also aided by things like the doctrine of qualified immunity, which gives police broad authority to get away with things done in the name of duty.

In a response filed in December, Lott and the city of American Fork invoked qualified immunity as part of their defense. They also denied all allegations against them and suggested that Ferreri's "injuries or damages, if any, were caused by his own actions, conduct, or failures to act."

Guilt by Association

Reading Ferreri's complaint, I wondered if his team was selectively picking from the probable cause affidavit. Surely, there must have been more to it than Ferreri giving his wife and her colleague rides and some generalized hoo-ha about Asian women?

Not really. The whole thing uses a guilt-by-association approach: sometimes Asian massage businesses do bad things, and these were Asian massage businesses, socheckmate!

In an affidavit related to one of the arrested women, there is mention of one "victim." But there's nothing linking her to Ferreri. Besides, evidence provided for her victimization is iffymade especially so by the fact that all charges against all of the arrested women were dropped.

This is common with massage parlor investigations, raids, and arrests. Authorities justify their actions with generalized "facts" about Asian massage businesses or Asian cultureoften relying on racist or xenophobic tropes and classist assumptionsand make vague nods to victims that we never hear about again. Things like living together, carpooling, or sleeping in a room at one's business or place of employment get cast not as reasonable measures for people on a budget or new to this country but as clearly the work of a nefarious trafficking ring.

Officials say it's all about helping the women who work at these places while simultaneously arresting the workers for things like prostitution or unlicensed massage and having police seize their assets. (See, for instance, the case in Florida involving Robert Kraft, the "sex trafficking ring" that Sen. Josh Hawley claimed to have broken up, or Homeland Security's "Operation Asian Touch.")

It's the perfect storm of anti-immigrant sentiments, fear of China, and moral panic surrounding sex work and sex trafficking.

Today's Image

Asbury Park, 2018 | "Tangle of the Sea" mural by Logan Hicks (ENB/Reason)

The post He Was Charged With Human Trafficking for Driving His Wife to Work appeared first on Reason.com.
Charges are pending against three people who robbed a man on a CTA Red Line platform on the Near North Side but were caught by officers waiting at the Cermak station, Chicago police said.

About 8:45 p.m., two males and a female robbed a 23-year-old man on a Red Line train platform in the 1500 block of North Clybourn Avenue. The trio approached the victim and demanded his property, and he complied, police said.

The robbers fled the scene by boarding a train headed south. But officers were waiting at the Cermak station and saw the culprits matching the description of the robbers and took them into police custody after they were identified as the people responsible for the robbery, police said.

Charges are pending against the three.
 Flash

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that his government will not release Palestinian prisoners or withdraw forces from Gaza, despite international efforts to achieve a ceasefire deal.

Netanyahu said in Eli, an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, that "I hear various claims about potential deals, and I want to it make clear: we will not conclude this war without achieving all our goals. This entails eliminating Hamas, releasing all of our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel."

"We will not withdraw our forces from the Gaza Strip," he said, adding Israel will not release thousands of Palestinian prisoners.

His remarks come after Israel deemed talks in Paris earlier this week as "constructive." Senior U.S., Qatari, Egyptian, and Israeli intelligence and government officials gathered to discuss a deal to end the conflict.

Also on Tuesday, Ismail Haniya, head of Hamas' political bureau, stated in a press release that his movement had received and is studying the proposal, which involves stopping the conflict in Gaza and releasing the hostages in exchange for the release of prisoners from Israeli jails.

At least 26,751 people have been killed and 65,636 others injured in Gaza since Israel launched its massive offensive on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led onslaught on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties.
If youre looking for a date night spot, you may want to check out one particular restaurant in uptown Charlotte.

After being named the most romantic place to eat in North Carolina, The Cellar at Duckworths was named one of the most romantic in America, too.

Ahead of Valentines Day, Yelp released the top 100 romantic restaurants across the country based on highly-rated reviews. The Cellar at Duckworths was the only Charlotte restaurant to make the list.

The local uptown restaurant has been a popular spot for years, not just for its food, but the atmosphere, too.

Inspired and designed by speakeasies of the 1920s, the restaurant offers gastropub food from a chef-driven menu with specialty beers and creative cocktails.

Awesome, awesome place! Perfect for a romantic date, one Yelp review says. The ambiance, the music, the food and the bartenders all contribute to a great experience.

Described as a Charlotte gem, another review said If you are in town, you absolutely have to go to this place! Its probably one of the most romantic spots Ive ever been to in Charlotte.

The Cellar at Duckworths was one of two North Carolina restaurants to make Yelps list of most romantic spots, along with Bida Manda, a Laotian restaurant and bar in Raleigh. You can find the full list of the 100 most romantic restaurants at www.yelp.com.

Location: Spirit Square, 330 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Menu

Cuisine: American, steak

Instagram: @thecellaratduckworths
Republican Representative Troy Nehls went on a rant loaded with racist dog whistles about his Democratic counterpart Cori Bush after she confirmed the Justice Department is investigating her campaign spending.

Bush, a Missouri progressive, said Tuesday that the Department of Justice is investigating her use of campaign funds for security services. Bush said she used the money to retain personal security, including her husband, due to relentless threats to my physical safety and life.

Congressional ethics rules for representatives allow them to use campaign funds to pay family members for bona fide services, as long as those payments do not exceed fair market value. Bush said she hired her husband as part of her security team because he was able to provide protection at or below market rate.

Nehls went off on Bush Tuesday evening. The idea to pay her thug money to try to help protect her this and that, for what? the Texas Republican demanded. Maybe if she wouldnt be so loud all the time, maybe she wouldnt be getting threats.

When asked by CNNs Melanie Zanona if he felt Bush deserved the threats, Nehls said, No, what Im saying is, is that when youre out there talking the way she does. Shes pretty radical. And maybe she should tone it down a little bit.

While Nehls did not explicitly mention Bushs race, he did use multiple anti-Black tropes such as thug and loud Black woman. Bush noted as much when she responded to Nehls on X (formerly Twitter), demanding he apologize.

.@RepTroyNehls just called my husband, a Black man and army veteran, a thug. And Im the loud Black woman who needs to be silent in order to be safe from violence, or else?



This is the kind of rhetoric that endangers Black lives. He must apologize. https://t.co/QeqZ7yYfRX  Cori Bush (@CoriBush) January 31, 2024

Bush also noted the veiled threat in Nehlss comments that she should tone it down or face threats. Republicans have increasingly used language both veiled and overt that appears to call for political violenceand people are only too willing to listen.
PORT ST. LUCIE  Fresh off the heels of announcements of a planned Costco distribution center and an entertainment district nearby, state, city and county officials gathered Tuesday to officially open one of the first projects recruited to the Southern Grove jobs corridor.

Cheney Brothers officials and employees, and customers of the Riviera Beach-headquartered foodservice distributor, joined dignitaries for the grand opening of the 360,000-square-foot distribution center that already employs about 270 people.

Expansion coming soon?

That number could more than double by the time all hires are made and with a possible 170,000-square-foot expansion already on the horizon.

A Cheney Brothers truck with a Port St. Lucie designation is seen at the grand opening of the company's new facility in the city on Jan. 30, 2024.

"We're going to have, just in this one operation right here, over 500 brand new employees," Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said.

Impact could be huge

Patronis, whose family is in the restaurant industry, thought aloud about the scope of the service the new facility would provide to schools, hospitals, restaurants and other customers.

"My family's restaurant, on a good day we'd serve about 2,000 (to) 2,500 dinners in one night. Think of how many millions of dinners this place will be responsible for every single day," Patronis said. "You think of every hand that is a part of that delivery system has got a job because of Cheney Brothers. It's exciting, and it's all right here in St. Lucie County."

Florida's Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis addresses the crowd at the grand opening of a new Cheney Brother facility in Port St. Lucie on Jan. 30, 2024.

Existing employees in city

Many of the employees who have already began work at the new warehouse facility previously were commuting from Port St. Lucie to facilities in Palm Beach County. Bringing those jobs closer to home will improve quality of life for numerous current city residents, Councilman David Pickett said.

"Many existing employees have lived right here in Port St. Lucie but traveled to (Riviera) Beach for work. Now those residents' quality of life will be significantly improved by reducing the amount of time spent traveling back and forth on I-95," Pickett said.

'Changing the economic dynamic'

Establishment of the Southern Grove jobs corridor  home to Amazon, FedEx and other large companies  is changing the economic landscape of St. Lucie County, said County Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky.

"During the Great Recession, attracting quality companies like Cheney Brothers was a dream. Now that dream has come true," Dzadovsky said.

More: Costco plans to move distribution center to Port St. Lucie from West Palm Beach

More: Port St. Lucie eyes new 'entertainment district' with shopping, restaurants near Tradition

The developments sit on land purchased by the city in 2018 and dedicated to creating just that the kind of change. The St. Lucie County Economic Development Council, city and county have worked together on such projects, putting aside any other differences they may have, Dzadovsky said.

"One vision that we did have, now for almost two decades, was making sure that we brought good-paying jobs to change the economic dynamic of St. Lucie County from rooftops, retirees, tourism and, unfortunately, failing citrus," Dzadovsky said. "So now we have a manufacturing-and-distribution system that's bringing us good-paying jobs."

That partnership is "second to none," said EDC President Pete Tesch, with Southern Grove as an obvious example of the outcome.

"I think that we all can agree that we are crushing it," Tesch said.

St. Lucie County Economic Development Council President Pete Tesch addresses the crowd at the grand opening of a new Cheney Brother facility in Port St. Lucie on Jan. 30, 2024.

A long time coming

Cheney Brothers was the first economic-development project Pickett worked on after being elected in 2020.

"On a personal note, this was the first project that the EDC brought me in on," Pickett said. "And today, everything comes full-circle."

The project, once known under the codename "Project Bullet," was first announced in 2021.

Cheney Brothers CEO Byron Russell, with members of his family behind him, addresses the crowd at the grand opening of a new facility in Port St. Lucie on Jan. 30, 2024.

Part of the community

After thanking his employees and customers, longtime Cheney Brothers CEO Byron Russell said he is looking forward to becoming a "community partner" in the city and county, adding that there were many other of such partners in attendance that "we're looking forward to working closely with and making this community stronger."

The facility will include Cheney Express, a store open to the general public that allows customers to order online or over the phone before picking up.

Wicker Perlis is TCPalm's Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at wicker.perlis@tcpalm.com and 504-331-0516.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Cheney Brothers news latest in string of Southern Grove developments
The brutal and seemingly random killing of Cheryl Ann Callaway in 1974 has been called the most vicious murder in Arlingtons history.

And 50 years later, the North Texas case remains unsolved.

Callaway was only 18 years old when she was stabbed 46 times by a man with an ice pick outside an Arlington mall, in view of several witnesses who watched in horror. The killer has never been identified, and the case has largely grown cold.

On the evening of Jan. 30, 1974, Callaway stopped by Forum 303 mall after work at a nearby Dairy Queen to buy her fiance a birthday present. The mall, which later became Festival Marketplace before it was demolished in 2007, was at Pioneer Parkway and Texas 360.

Callaway returned to her car in the well-lighted parking lot around 8 p.m. Police were called to the scene less than 10 minutes later. When they arrived, they found Callaway had been stabbed dozens times with an ice pick.

Witnesses told police that Callaways attacker was a man dressed in dark clothes. They estimated he was in his mid-20s and said he drove away in a white car with a black top.

Police Capt. Bobby Wiggins told the Star-Telegram at the time that detectives couldnt establish a motive for the crime. There was no evidence Callaway had been sexually assaulted, and the money in her purse was untouched.

The victims father, Billy Callaway, said the young woman didnt have any enemies.

I cant imagine this being revenge for anything, Billy Callaway said right after the murder. She liked everybody. I never heard her say anything bad about anyone.

A Fort Worth Star-Telegram story about the murder of Cheryl Ann Callaway in January 1974.

Arlington police assigned 10 men to work on the case full time. Links between Callaways murder and multiple stabbings in other parts of the United States were explored, but her killer was never found.

WBAP-TV, now known as KXAS-TV, reported on Feb. 18, 1974, that a $5,000 reward had been offered for information leading to the arrest and indictment of a suspect.

Herman Perry, the Arlington chief of police from 1971 to 1983, told WBAP that several people had called the department with tips, but they still needed more information.

In a 2007 interview, Perry said he regretted not solving Callaways murder. The case has been featured on the Gone Cold - Texas True Crime podcast.

While the case remains unsolved, it isnt closed. This week, Arlington police spokesperson Tim Ciesco told the Star-Telegram that the department doesnt have a designated unit assigned to cold cases, but homicide detectives still investigate them as time permits.

What theyll do is review a cold case file and look for opportunities to employ any forensic technology or other investigative tools available to us now that perhaps were not available back when the incident occurred, in hopes that they may generate a lead, Ciesco said. And certainly, if they receive any new leads or information from a tipster about a cold case, they would investigate those.

According to Ciesco, its been a long time since the department has received or generated any new leads on Callaways murder, and they would welcome tips from the public.

Anyone with information can contact the Homicide Unit at or 817-459-5772 or Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County at 817-469-8477.

The former Forum 303 mall in Arlington was demolished in 2007. The mall was built in 1970 at 2900 E. Pioneer Parkway and later became Festival Marketplace in 1988. The property is now a business and industrial park.

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CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Laura Vazquez can easily rattle off her late brothers joys in life.

His favorite color is green and red. He loved his pigs, his farm, his family. Anything that we asked him to do for us, he did it, said Laura Vazquez.

Its only been a few days since Vazquez lost one of her 10 siblings, 13-year-old Jacob Duncan. She says the pain of that loss will last forever.

RELATED: Extra law enforcement at Chesterfield County schools following possible threat

Jacobs sisters say he wasnt supposed to die in a drive-by shooting on Friday. They say he was an innocent bystander, standing outside his home on Bennett Road southeast of Pageland. He was loved and cherished by everyone.

His family members say while they grieve, their number one priority is finding the person who took Jacob  their joy.

Laura Vazquez recounts the moments leading up to her brothers death.

He was just, he was gone too soon. And he was all about family, Vazquez said.

Investigators say the bullet wasnt meant for him.

My siblings and some close friends were outside, Vazquez recalls. They heard gunshots and everyone ducked because of the gunshots. And my sister turned around first and saw my brother. It was so much happening at once that no one noticed. At first, they were paying attention to the gunshots.

Jacobs other older sister Mireya Flores was there when Jacob was shot. She describes him as her best friend. He went everywhere with her. That day, they were headed to the store.

City of Darlington sues engineer, grant administrator, contractor, insurer over $3M construction failure

He was at our home as he should be to feel safe, said Flores. He didnt deserve any of this. Hes a loving, amazing soul, that didnt do nothing but want the best for anybody around him.

Jacobs death took people surprise  including classmates. Officials say a student posted on Facebook about a retaliatory shooting at New Heights Middle where Jacob attended.

That led to increased security around campuses. Officials say the threatening post was determined not to be credible and had no connection to the shooting.

The student will be charged for the social media threat.

New Heights Middle School was one of two Chesterfield County Schools with increased police presence this week.

We will get justice for him. And his name will forever live through us, Flores said.

Vazquez is still looking for answers.

Someone thats watching this knows more than what they put on, she said. Yall need to bring justice to his name. He did not deserve this at all. There is no reason that he should have lost his life for this.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

The family is selling T-shirts that read Forever 13 in Jacobs memory. The family is planning a lantern release for the younger siblings who wont be at his funeral, and those close to him in school. Anyone is welcome.

Agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division are investigating.

If you have any information, please contact the Chesterfield County Sheriffs Office.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
CHICAGO  Mayor Brandon Johnson cast the tie-breaking vote as the Chicago City Council narrowly passed a resolution calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza Wednesday, bringing a monthslong battle over the symbolic declaration to an end.

The resolution passed with Mayor Brandon Johnson breaking a 23-23 deadlock in a meeting that saw him once again clear the Council chambers after disruptions from a crowd filled mostly by pro-cease-fire spectators. The vote makes Chicago the largest American city to call for a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.

Opponents of the resolution successfully delayed the vote last week, but couldnt overcome the cease-fire push after Johnson came out in support last week. The passage marks a key win for Johnson and City Council progressives.

Do I believe that the words that we speak today, how we vote today influences directly international policy? I dont. I dont have those illusions, sponsor Ald. Daniel La Spata, 1st, said. But we vote with hope, we vote with solidarity, we vote to help people feel heard in a world of silence.

The final push to pass the resolution included an endorsement Monday from powerful unions like the Chicago Teachers Union and a widespread school walkout Tuesday that included cease-fire calls from hundreds of high school students. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who attended the start of the meeting, also threw his support behind the resolution.

Aldermen expected a close count and a tense meeting in the days leading up to the vote. Spectators filled the Council chambers upper and lower viewing levels early Wednesday, many wearing Palestinian kaffiyehs to signal their cease-fire support.

The Council voted to consider a revised version of the resolution penned by La Spata. The resolution still calls for a permanent cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages as the war in Gaza rages on for a fourth month. It also includes support for a U.N. cease-fire resolution opposed by the federal government.

The latest wording of the legislation had only minor language tweaks, despite pressure from the councils lone Jewish member, Ald. Debra Silverstein, and others to show greater support for Israel and criticism of Hamas.

The resolutions sponsors agreed to delay a scheduled vote last week after Silverstein led a Council majority to request they postpone because of a conflicting vote on an International Holocaust Remembrance Day resolution. Still, Silverstein said her suggestions about the cease-fire resolution were not taken into consideration.

The resolution you are being asked to consider is not a compromise, she said. We all want peace in the Middle East. We all want an end to the bloodshed and an end to the war. But it is vital to understand what caused the conflict.

As Silverstein spoke, one pro-cease-fire spectator stood up and shouted, Wadee was killed because of your lies, a reference to death of Plainfield Township 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi, who was fatally stabbed in October in what authorities have described as an anti-Palestinian hate crime.

The man moved to leave as police approached to kick him out. Moments later, as Silverstein continued her remarks, more disruptions broke out.

Suddenly, Johnson called the meeting into recess.

Sergeant, please clear the room, he ordered.

Most spectators promptly left, though a group of young pro-cease-fire spectators initially refused to exit as police stood around them.

Does this look like democracy to you? one shouted.

After an hourlong delay, the Councils meeting began again, with spectators filling only the chambers upper viewing area. The meeting resumed with Silverstein giving the same speech that had earlier abruptly ended.

Many supportive aldermen, including Ald. Jessie Fuentes, 26th, condemned Hamass Oct. 7 attack, but echoed Johnsons statement that the adding Palestinian death toll requires action.

Standing for this resolution doesnt make us antisemitic, she said. In fact, we are saying that we value life and the cease-fire is absolutely necessary in a moment in which we are watching too many innocent civilian lives be taken, more than half of them being Palestinian children.

Ald. Samantha Nugent, 39th, shared a letter signed by 23 aldermen that argued countering U.S. policy sends a dangerous precedent and undermines President Joe Bidens influence. Scott Waguespack, 32nd, who opposed the resolution, said the long-running debate it sparked had strained Council relationships, echoing concerns aldermen on both sides shared in the run up to the vote.

I hope that we can get back to a day when we speak with respect to each other and not with the toxicity that has really gone too far in this body, he said.

Speaking last before the tight vote, Rodriguez-Sanchez said she and La Spata tried to work with aldermen opposed to the resolution. As a progressive, Democratic city, Chicago should be on the forefront of calling for a cease-fire, she said.

Why is it urgent that we passed this resolution? Over 26,000 Palestinians now have been killed. The majority of them are women and children. There are people that are still digging through the rubble, for their loved ones, for their babies. Weeks of digging through the rubble, she said.

As aldermen voted, Ald. Walter Burnett, 27th, Pat Dowell, Stephanie Coleman and Emma Mitts were not present. Spectators on the third floor erupted in cheers when Johnson cast the deciding vote.

____
GENEVA (Reuters) - The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday warned that halting funding to the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency would entail "catastrophic consequences" for people in war-torn Gaza.

"No other entity has the capacity to deliver the scale and breadth of assistance that 2.2 million people in Gaza urgently need," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference.

"We appeal for these announcements to be reconsidered," he added, referring to decisions by several countries to pause funding for the U.N. agency following accusations that some agency staff took part in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants.

Israel's bombardment and land offensive launched in the wake of that attack has displaced most of Gaza's population, left many homes and civilian infrastructure in ruins, and caused acute shortages of food, water and medicine.

Most hospitals in Gaza have already ceased functioning due to bombardments and shortages of fuel and supplies. The Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in central Gaza is only minimally functional and finds itself surrounded by Israeli military, the United Nations has said.

"Decisions by various countries to pause funds for UNRWA, the largest supplier of humanitarian aid in this crisis, will have catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza," Tedros said.

Tedros said WHO faced "extreme challenges" in delivering medical supplies in the enclave. It did manage, however, to deliver to supplies to the Nasser hospital on Monday, but mission to deliver fuel and food were denied.

"WHO has faced great difficulty even to reach hospitals in southern Gaza," he said. "Heavy fighting has been reported near hospitals in Khan Younis, severely impeding access to health facilities for patients, health workers, and supplies."

Tedros said WHO workers on the ground were reporting increasing food shortages among patients and health workers in the enclave.

"The risk of famine is high and increasing each day, with persistent hostilities and restricted humanitarian access," he said. "Every person our teams talk to asks for food and water."

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Cecile Mantovani; Editing by Madeline Chambers, William Maclean)
Sacrificial animals are displayed at a livestock market ahead of the Eid al-Adha festival, in Baghdad

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has banned the direct and indirect import of ruminants and its related products from Iraq due to an outbreak of bluetongue disease, the General Administration of Customs said.

The move follows a report from Iraq to the World Organisation for Animal Health after the disease was discovered in sheep, Chinese customs said in an announcement dated Jan. 26.

China has also banned such imports from Belgium and the Netherlands after an outbreak of the virus that causes fever and mouth ulcers and in some cases turns an animal's tongue blue. The disease can be highly dangerous to sheep and cows.

(Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
 Flash

Palestinian workers transfer a body as they establish a mass grave for the victims inside and north of Gaza City, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Nov. 22, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 26,751, and 65,636 others wounded since Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

The ministry's Spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qedra said that the Israeli army killed 114 and wounded 249 others during the past 24 hours.

Al-Qedra stressed that Israel is increasing its siege on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip for the second week in a row, adding Israel "places 150 medical personnel, 450 wounded, and 3,000 displaced people under targeting."

Al-Qedra explained that the electricity generators in the complex would stop within two days due to a lack of fuel, which would increase the suffering of the medical staff and patients.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian security source told Xinhua that the Israeli army has increased the frequency of its raids during the past hours on Gaza City, the Nuseirat camp, the city of Khan Younis, Beit Lahia, and Rafah City.

A source in the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza City reported that rescue teams had recovered dozens of bodies as a result of the Israeli bombing that targeted civilian homes in the city.

In addition, the city of Khan Younis witnessed heavy raids targeting its western areas, reaching the vicinity of Nasser Hospital and Al Amal Hospital, according to eyewitnesses.
FILE PHOTO: A China Coast Guard ship is seen from a Philippine fishing boat at the disputed Scarborough Shoal

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has indisputable sovereignty over the Scarborough Shoal and its adjacent waters, and has always resolutely countered infringements by the Philippines, a spokesperson for China Coast Guard said in a statement released late Tuesday.

The spokesperson said four Philippine personnel illegally intruded in certain areas on Jan. 28, and the Coast Guard warned them to leave in accordance with the law. The interaction was "professional and standardised", according to the statement.

Accusations and runs-in have occurred frequently between the two countries over the past year over disputed territorial areas of the South China Sea.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which has angered neighbouring countries that dispute some boundaries they say cut into their exclusive economic zones.

"China's Coast Guard will, as always, defend and enforce" the law in waters under the country's jurisdiction, the statement said, citing the spokesperson.

China routinely conducts patrols of the South China Sea even as tensions simmer between it and the Philippines, which recently had its own joint military patrol in the region with its ally - the United States - drawing the ire of China.

The spokesperson said the Coast Guard will firmly safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

(Reporting by Bernard Orr; Editing by Tom Hogue and Lincoln Feast)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's government on Wednesday dismissed repeated complaints by Taiwan about Chinese balloons flying over or near the island, saying they are for meteorological purposes and should not be hyped up for political reasons.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained since last month about the balloons, which have flown over the sensitive Taiwan Strait. Some of the balloons crossed over the island itself before vanishing.

China's defence ministry has so far declined to comment on the balloons.

But speaking at a regular news briefing in Beijing, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, gave the longest official response yet to Taiwan's balloon complaints given "Taiwan compatriots have doubts".

Most balloons are launched by private companies and hundreds of thousands like them fly around the world every day, he said, adding that they were "not the kind of balloons that are hung for weddings and at shopping malls".

"The floating balloons are mostly used for people's livelihood purposes such as meteorological monitoring. They have a long history and are nothing new," Chen said.

"The Democratic Progressive Party authorities are advised not to politically hype up such issues and incite cross-strait antagonism and confrontation," he added, referring to Taiwan's ruling party.

The potential for China to use balloons for spying became a global issue last February when the United States shot down what it said was a Chinese surveillance balloon. China said the balloon was a civilian craft that accidentally drifted astray.

Earlier this month, Taiwan's government accused China of threatening aviation safety and waging psychological warfare on its people with the balloons, which were launched days before Taiwan's Jan. 13 elections.

Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by Ben Blanchard; editing by Miral Fahmy)
[Source]

The Chinese government has lodged a protest with the United States regarding the alleged mistreatment of Chinese students arriving in the country.

What China is claiming: Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng reportedly stated that dozens of students, despite holding valid visas, were subjected to lengthy interrogations, electronic device checks and in some instances, forced deportations over the past few months. The protest follows incidents at airports, including Dulles, where students faced entry bans, loss of visas and repatriation after being questioned about their funding sources, party affiliations and research connections.

When they landed at the airport, what awaited them was an eight-hour-long interrogation by officers who prohibited them from contacting their parents, made groundless accusations against them and even forcibly repatriated them and banned their entry, Xie said at embassy event on student exchanges Sunday, as per AP News. This is absolutely unacceptable.

The big picture: China has more than 1.3 million students studying abroad, nearly 290,000 of which are in the U.S. The Chinese government emphasized that such actions negatively impact international students' studies and violate agreements on people-to-people exchanges reached between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping last November. The protest comes amid efforts to improve the U.S.-China relations despite existing tensions over trade, technology and human rights.

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As of this writing, the U.S. government has not made a public statement in response to China's allegations.

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Christopher Wray, director of the FBI, says he wants Americans to be aware of the danger from China - AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib

Chinese state-sponsored hackers have infiltrated outdated home and office wifi routers in the US in preparation for attacks on electrical grids and water supplies.

A US government investigation found that hundreds of old routers had been infected with malware by a Beijing-backed hacking group known as Volt Typhoon.

The FBI on Wednesday said it had deleted the malware that was distributed on the routers of unknowing Americans to gain a foothold in the countrys critical national infrastructure.

The UKs National Cyber Security Centre has previously warned that hackers backed by the Chinese state were trying to infiltrate Britains key infrastructure and hiding in computers to evade detection.

The Five Eyes intelligence network of the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia issued a joint statement last May asking infrastructure providers to be vigilant to Chinese threats. The warning came after Volt Typhoon hacked into a US military outpost in the Pacific Ocean.

Ken McCallum, the director of MI5, said in October that there has been a sharp rise in Chinese attempts to steal state secrets in the UK, warning a conference of Western security chiefs: We all need to be aware, and respond, before its too late.

Volt Typhoon

On Wednesday, the FBI said Volt Typhoon had used its malware to disguise the fact that the hack had been conducted by the Chinese government, adding that the vast majority of routers affected were out-of-date Cisco and NetGear machines that had not received recent security updates.

Unlike previous attacks, the hack was directed at internet routers in small businesses and home offices, rather than at government agencies or infrastructure providers.

Christopher Wray, the FBIs director, warned Congress on Wednesday that the Chinese government was increasingly targeting civilians.

Theyre not focused just on political and military targets. We can see from where they position themselves across civilian infrastructure, that low blows arent just a possibility in the event of conflict, he told the House of Representatives select committee on competition with China.

Low blows against civilians are part of Chinas plan. I do want the American people to know that we cannot afford to sleep on this danger.

Mike Gallagher, the committees chairman, said the attacks were the cyberspace equivalent of placing bombs on American bridges, water treatment facilities and power plants.

There is no economic benefit for these actions. There is no intelligence-gathering rationale, he said. The sole purpose is to be ready to destroy American infrastructure, which will inevitably result in mass American casualties.

Hostile botnets

Analysis by Lumen, a cyber security firm, has found that the hostile Chinese botnet has been active on routers in the US for almost two years, and would not be detectable by a user because it does not prevent them from working.

The malware works by infecting a router and attempting to connect with other machines to spread across a network.

The ultimate goal of the hackers is to gain access to infrastructure networks to disrupt daily life for American citizens, officials said.

Government cyber security experts have already discovered Chinese software in aviation, water, energy and transportation infrastructure, and yesterday warned that the public should prepare for an unexpected attack.

The FBI told manufacturers to ensure that security updates were installed automatically on their routers, and require a manual override for the removal of security settings.

Merrick Garland, the US attorney general, said: The justice department has disrupted a PRC-backed hacking group that attempted to target Americas critical infrastructure utilising a botnet.

The United States will continue to dismantle malicious cyber operations  including those sponsored by foreign governments  that undermine the security of the American people.

China has previously described the United Statess accusations that it has sponsored hacks on American civilians as misinformation.

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 Flash

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Dennis Francis in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met with President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Dennis Francis in Beijing.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is a staunch advocate of multilateralism, a firm defender of the UN Charter, and a firm practitioner of international law. He said China will support the UN's central role in the global governance system and the UN General Assembly in playing a more active and important role in accordance with the UN Charter.

Noting that the UN is scheduled to hold the Summit of the Future in September, Wang said China hopes the summit will devise practical solutions to current global issues.

UNGA Resolution 2758 has been observed by the UN and its specialized agencies since its adoption, Wang said. "China applauds the support of the UN and its specialized agencies for the one-China principle, and opposes all remarks and actions that are inconsistent with the resolution," he added.

Francis said the UN always abides by the one-China principle. He said the UN appreciates China's long-term support for multilateralism and the work of the UN, and thinks highly of China's important initiatives and propositions.

Francis said that during its rotating presidency of the Security Council in November, China enabled the adoption of the council's first resolution since the outbreak of the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict. He said that China made an important contribution to the maintenance of peace, and that the UN stands ready to deepen cooperation with China to address current global challenges.
A jury on Wednesday afternoon recommended that a judge sentence Bessman Okafor to death for the 2012 killing of 19-year-old Alex Zaldivar.

That was the second time a jury had recommended the death penalty for Okafor -- a jury had originally sentenced him to death in 2015, but a change in how the state handles the death penalty led to a resentencing trial; a second attempt ended in a mistrial last year.

Zaldivar was supposed to testify against Okafor in a home invasion case.

Prosecutors said Okafor masterminded Zalvidars execution-style killing, and the attempted killing of two others to prevent them from testifying against him.

Watch live updates to this developing story on Channel 9 Eyewitness News.





Earlier story:

A jury in Orange County could deliver its final decision Wednesday in the resentencing trial of a convicted murderer.

Closing arguments are underway in the trial of Bessman Okafor.

Its the third time prosecutors have tried to sentence Okafor for the 2012 killing of 19-year-old Alex Zaldivar.

The jury is hoping to have a decision by the end of the day, but is also prepared to stay in a hotel overnight.

Watch: Opening statements begin in convicted murderers resentencing trial in Orlando

They will first have to decide on Okafors fate.

Only eight jurors are needed to impose the death penalty.

However, if they arent unanimous Okafor could be back for a fourth attempt in a few years if the state Supreme Court overturns Floridas new death penalty standard.

Read: Alabama man shook violently on gurney during first-ever nitrogen gas execution

Prosecutors say Okafor masterminded Zalvidars execution-style killing, and the attempted killing of two others to prevent them from testifying against him in a home invasion case.

A jury first sentenced Okafor to death several years ago, but the 11 to one decision was overturned.

And the first retrial ended in a mistrial for juror misconduct in November.

Watch: Judge hits juror who lied, caused mistrial with max sentence

Okafor did not take the stand in his own defense this time.

His attorneys say there is no solid proof he was the mastermind of the killings.

Channel 9 has a crew inside of the courtroom and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
A Colerain High School student accused of attacking his teacher could be tried as an adult.

Prosecutors want to try a Colerain High School student accused of attacking his teacher as an adult, according to court documents.

A hearing for the 15-year-old was held Wednesday in Hamilton County Juvenile Court. He is charged with both felony- and misdemeanor-level assault. Colerain police said he harmed both his teacher and another student.

The 60-year-old teacher suffered a severe brain injury as a result of being punched in the head, police reported.

Lawyer Clyde Bennett, who is representing the teen, said his client had unknowingly consumed drugs just before the attack and that the drugs prompted a change in his behavior.

Bennett said the drugs were consumed in the form of a vape that the teen was offered by someone else.

The teen has no prior criminal record and no prior contact with the juvenile justice system, Bennett said, and his client is being prosecuted overzealously for political reasons.

"He did not have a criminal mind," Bennett said. "This young man is not like the other young men causing problems in our community."

Last year there were a record number of juvenile shootings and car thefts. Bennett said the prosecutors are trying to paint his client with the same brush.

"This was an isolated incident," Bennett said. "My client is saddened by what transpired."

The lawyer said the teen and his family have "significant remorse" for the harm caused to the teacher and the other student.

The state has filed motions to begin moving the case to adult court. However, given the nature of the charge and the age of the teen, that decision will be made by Judge Stacey DeGraffenreid, who is presiding over the case.

On Wednesday, Bennett had received the results of tests of both the teen's blood and the vape and said he hopes he can figure out what the drug was.

A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 12. At that point, a bind-over hearing will be scheduled to determine if the case will be moved to adult court.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Colerain student accused of attacking teacher could be tried as adult
The man accused of firing shots and setting a fire inside the Colorado Supreme Court building earlier this month used drugs and was experiencing hallucinations before the incident, a police affidavit says.

The shooting happened on January 2 after 1 a.m., when police say a suspect who fled a two-car accident scene shot out a window of the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center and went in, according to a news release from the City of Denver. Police say the man forcibly took keys from an unarmed security guard, fired shots in the building and set a fire in a stairwell.

Brandon Olsen, 44, surrendered at the scene almost two hours after the vehicle crash, authorities said. According to a probable cause affidavit from police, Olsen told police that prior to the shooting, he had taken several Fentanyl pills and smoked methamphetamines. The document says Olsen indicated he had a history of drug abuse and relapse.

Olsen has been charged with first-degree arson, aggravated robbery and second-degree burglary, according to court records obtained by CNN. All are felonies.

His preliminary court hearing is scheduled for February 20.

Olsen, who lives in Arizona, drove to Denver on New Years Eve to visit his teenage son, the affidavit says.

Before the incident, Olsen was driving his car and felt like police were chasing after him after he had taken the drugs, he told detectives in an interview, according to the document.

He attempted to evade these people by driving faster but he could not lose them, it says. At one point while in downtown Denver he crashed his car into another car at an intersection.

After the crash, Olsen grabbed his Taurus 9mm pistol from the back seat of his car and ran towards the nearby state Supreme Court building, firing a shot at a window and crawling through the broken glass to gain entry, the affidavit says.

Olsen then grabbed keys from a security guard and accessed several floors and the buildings roof using the stairwell and a master key, the affidavit says.

Brandon Olsen. - Denver Police Department

While on one of the higher floors, Olsen used his lighter and paper to start the fire, later telling detectives he decided to do it because he thought people were after him, the affidavit says. At that point, the smoke was billowing, so he fired several shots into the buildings glass windows to clear some of the smoke, it says.

After starting the fire and noticing a police presence outside of the building, Olsen called 911 and then walked outside, where he was taken into custody by police, the affidavit says.

Olsen acknowledged to detectives he believed he was hallucinating, saying he had never had the experience before, according to the document.

Police took Olsen to a hospital for evaluation before questioning because he complained of chest pains, the document says.

CNN has reached out to Olsens attorney for comment.

The downtown building  which houses the states Supreme Court, Colorado Court of Appeals and other judicial agencies  had just two people in it at the time of the incident, authorities said.

The security guard was sitting alone at the information desk before investigating a noise, the affidavit says. The guard then was held at gunpoint by the suspect while trying to use a key to open a door for the pistol-wielding man, according to the court document.

The other person in the building who is mentioned in the affidavit is a woman who was working in an office. She told detectives she left when she heard the fire alarm and said she didnt witness the shooting or fire.

Police said no one was injured during the ordeal, but there is significant and extensive damage to the building.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (COLUMBUS BUSINESS FIRST)  Archie Scott III, working in his first job as a mechanical engineer, was seeking entrepreneurial inspiration when he passed a laden tractor-trailer on the freeway.

The flatbed was carrying concrete temporary highway dividers  but only nine, because theyre so heavy. After some market research, Scott had the idea for the product he would patent to start his own company.

Asynt Solutions LLC raised $1.29 million to build lightweight, corrosion-resistant and flexible traffic barriers from fiber-reinforced polymer, which the startup will soon test with a handful of state highway departments. After starting the company in Dayton, Scott moved about a year ago with his fiancee to Columbus, where hes looking to establish manufacturing capacity.

For more on this story, go to ColumbusBusinessFirst.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
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China does not want tensions in the Red Sea and is committed to working with all parties to make positive efforts to ease tensions in the Red Sea, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked if the Houthi group's attacks in the Red Sea have negative impacts on China's trade with Middle East countries.

Wang said the waters of the Red Sea are an important corridor for international trade of goods and energy, and China does not want tensions in the Red Sea. China calls for a cessation to the harassment of civilian vessels and earnest respect for the sovereignty of Red Sea littoral countries, including Yemen, and is committed to working with all parties to make positive efforts to ease tensions in the Red Sea, he said.

Wang said the root cause of the escalating situation in the Red Sea is the spillover of the Gaza conflict, and a quick end to the fighting in Gaza will help ease the situation in the Red Sea.

China urges all parties to the conflict in Gaza to earnestly implement the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, and achieve a ceasefire immediately, Wang said, noting that the international community should take coordinated action to that end.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Theres another push to keep Shelby County safer  this time, by focusing on the court system.

Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright took to Facebook Monday, offering solutions to catch up on the 17,000 criminal cases awaiting trial in the county. He said enough is enough.

I think the public needs to be aware that so little activity is happening in the criminal courts, and thats having a direct impact on the crime that were seeing in our community, he said.

With 17,000 criminal cases, ranging from theft to murder, awaiting trial in the system, we learned that only 40 of those cases were tried in 2023.

I think because people who have been accused of violent crimes, their trials are not proceeding forward and are just being held back. I think were seeing a problem of reoffenders, Wright said.

MPD identifies teens accused in Midtown car break-ins

According to CNN, Detroit faced a very similar problem and actively worked to clear a backlog of 4,000 felony gun cases. That resulted in an 18 percent reduction in homicides, the lowest in nearly 60 years.

Meanwhile, in Memphis, we saw a record-high number, 398 homicides, in 2023.

The victims need justice, and the system and the constitution guarantees you speedy justice, but right now, were not meeting that guarantee, Wright said.

Its something retired Judge Robert Carter pointed out when he addressed the Shelby County Commission after a months-long criminal court review.

Judge calls delays in Shelby County criminal court system catastrophic

These delays are catastrophic to the efficient organization of the justice system, Carter said.

So now, the focus is on how to fix it. Wright suggested allowing jury trials to happen several days throughout the week and bringing in the help of circuit court judges.

But he said so far, the courts have not responded.

We have not heard anything back from the court. We have not heard any plan from the criminal courts of how theyre planning to take care of the backlog, Wright said.

He said if the judges do not present a plan, the commission could be forced to cut funding.

We reached out to court leader Judge Chris Craft and District Attorney Steve Mulroy. Well let you know when we hear back.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
A woman from Connoquenessing was sentenced to prison for stealing at least $1.67 million from her employer.

The Department of Justice said Constance Stobert, 58, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for her convictions of wire fraud and making false statements on her tax returns.

Officials said Stobert worked as a controller for Mechanical Operations Company (MOC) from 1994 to July 2021.

Between January 2014 and July 2018, Stobert stole at least MOCs assets to pay for her personal expenses, the Department of Justice said. She wrote checks from the companys business bank accounts to make personal credit card payments. She also used the companys credit cards to withdraw cash from ATMs at casinos in Pittsburgh and Las Vegas.

The Department of Justice also said Stobert knowingly filed false tax returns during the tax years 2016 through 2019. During these false returns, she didnt report the money she embezzled from MOC, which resulted in a tax loss of $545,990 for the government.

A judge said Stobert caused substantial financial hardship to MOC and its owners and said her crimes were intentional and serious. The judge also stressed that efforts to portray the defendant as the victim were not convincing and that, given the seriousness of the offenses, defense counsels request for a sentence of home incarceration is a bridge too far.

The victim entrusted Ms. Stobert with unfettered access to corporate funds, and, for years, she betrayed that trust by stealing more than $1.5 million and taking deliberate steps to cover up her theft, said U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan. This type of deception will not be tolerated, and bringing the perpetrators of such financial crimes to justice will continue to be an important part of the work of this office and our partners in law enforcement.

Ms. Stobert used her position to fund her lavish lifestyle and while doing so not only defrauded her employer, but honest hardworking Americans who pay their tax obligations every year, said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. This sentencing should serve as reminder to anyone willing to take advantage of their employment to steal funds - the FBI will ensure you are held accountable in the criminal justice system.

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A former dairy located within the Devils Ear springshed in Gilchrist County has been permanently protected through a conservation easement and will undergo a transition to lower impact farming over the next 10 years.

Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT), in partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD), and Stetsons Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience (IWER), worked closely with the owners of Watson Farm to put their multi-generation family land into conservation and begin steps to reduce land use impacts through a conversion process that is one of the first agreements of its kind in the Florida.

Watson Farm represents a long history of agriculture and industry in this region of North Central Florida. The 561-acre property was operated as a phosphate mine during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Large quarry pits and the remnants of an old railroad bed still exist on the landscape, where steam shovels were once used to extract minerals from the soil and immediately transport them offsite. The land surrounding the quarry pits was then transitioned to a diverse cropping operation for much of the 20th century. As agricultural operations in this area began to industrialize, the land use intensified to include a dairy operation and center pivot irrigation.

A sinkhole on the Watson Farm in Gilchrist County.

More: Board renews permit to pump nearly 1M gallons of water daily from Ginnie Springs

These land use activities came at a cost, not only to the landowner, who took on significant debt to keep up with rapidly changing agriculture practices, but also to the natural environment. Located along the northern portion of the Brooksville Ridge, the high, sandy soils on Watson Farm are vulnerable to nitrate leaching due to heavy rain events that occur during row crop season. The ridge is an area of high recharge to the Upper Floridan aquifer, which discharges freshwater to 36 springs along the Santa Fe River, an Outstanding Florida Waterway and a priority conservation area for the state. The first magnitude Devils Ear Spring, located along the Lower Santa Fe River, has experienced a steady decrease in flow and increased levels of nitrate since the 1960s due to increased regional water demands and nitrogen pollution.

When the Watson Family approached ACT about protecting the land while also being able to pay off farming debt on the property, the accredited land trust looked to its partners for a solution that would also ensure that the land remain undeveloped and environmental impacts reduced.

The land is now protected through an agricultural conservation easement held by FDACS through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLLP). Funding from the SRWMDs Accelerating Suwannee Program and Stetson Universitys Sustainable Farming Fund provided support to transition the farm from irrigated row crops to lower impact farming activities.

We are grateful to the Watson Family and our partners at FDACS, the Suwannee River Water Management District, and Stetson IWER for working with ACT to conserve this land, said Tom Kay, ACT's executive director. Watson Farm is forever protected with a conservation easement that minimizes future development and reduces water intensive farming practices on the land. We are optimistic that this will be the first of many farmers in the area interested in working with ACT to conserve their farms and in the process benefit our local springs and aquifer.

Agricultural conservation easements are an effective tool for landowners to protect and maintain their land, especially in this area of North Central Florida where development pressure has increased significantly. These easements ensure that the property maintains its rural character over time and limits the types of activities that can occur on the land. There are several state and federal programs available to landowners to pay for conservation easements and land trusts like ACT help landowners navigate the complexities of each program.

I have seen several family farms lost to subdivision, said landowner Craig Watson. The conservation easement allows the acreage to continue as an income producer for future generations while allowing the family to continue residing on the property. It also helps to provide a route for inheritance, while retaining the agricultural nature of the farm.

In addition to placing a conservation easement on the property, the Watson Family also agreed to take the necessary steps needed to reduce their impacts on the land by converting their existing irrigated row crops to non-irrigated pasture. Funds provided by the Accelerating Suwannee Program and the Sustainable Farming Fund assisted with the cost of negotiating and implementing these land use conversions over the next 10 years.

Our freshwater springs are one of the most important economic and recreational drivers in our region, said SRWMD Executive Director Hugh Thomas. Funding projects like Watson Farm through the Accelerating Suwannee River Restoration Grant is one way that the District is able to partner with landowners and local organizations to improve water quality and quantity for these precious natural resources.

Stetson IWER is honored to support this pilot project and to partner with ACT to ensure that agricultural lands in the Suwannee Valley are managed with the goal of reducing impacts on the springs and aquifer, said Executive Director Jason Evans. While this is just the beginning, the steps taken by the Watson Family today may one day serve as an example for producers located in sensitive springsheds interested in reducing their operations while maintaining the legacy of their family lands for future generations of Floridians.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Conservation easement Devil's Ear springshed in Gilchrist County
Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones and Christopher Newport University President William Kelly announced this week the establishment of a task force to understand, acknowledge and address the history and development of Christopher Newport University and the citys role in that development.

The task force will research the decisions that led to the placement of the university in the Shoe Lane neighborhood, which was, at the time, home to a small, thriving Black community. Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany and CNU Provost Quentin Kidd will serve as co-chairs.

In recent months, CNU faced scrutiny over the history of its growth, which included taking land from Black residents in the 1960s through eminent domain. The renewed attention followed a series on the issue by ProPublica and the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO.

In November, the university invited historians, geographers and community leaders to participate in a panel discussion on the controversy. Eminent domain, which is the power of governments to take private property for public use, has often been weaponized against Black communities and used to create de facto segregation, the panelists said.

In the press release announcing the task force, Jones said: While I was familiar with similar instances in other parts of the country, I was deeply disturbed to know that this happened in our community. I feel a personal obligation to ensure the city speaks to its role in displacing families and disrupting the sense of community in this historic area.

Some panelists at the November event also suggested the university consider material actions as they tried to move forward.

According to the press release, the task force will examine the impacts that early development decisions had on Newport News residents and provide recommendations on potential action.

Understanding and acknowledging our past is important to moving forward in a transparent and thoughtful way, Kelly said in the release. Christopher Newport is committed to this work.

The task force will work with the community as well as all CNU stakeholders, and will consult legal experts, historians and restorative justice experts, according to the release.

Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com
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Yemen's Houthi group said on Wednesday that it attacked a U.S. warship in the Red Sea with missiles, according to a statement from the group's military spokesman.

"In support of Palestinians in Gaza, and response to the aggression on our country, we fired several naval missiles at the American destroyer USS Gravely in the Red Sea," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement.

"We confirm that all American and British warships in the Red and Arabian Sea participating in the aggression against our country are within the target bank of our forces and will be targeted within the legitimate right to defend our country, our people," he said.
PATERSON  Former police Sgt. Michael Cheff is trying to get his prison time reduced based on a change in federal sentencing guidelines for offenders who have no prior convictions.

Cheff in May 2022 was convicted of conspiracy and filing false police reports for his role as the sergeant who supervised the notorious robbery squad of thug cops. He started serving his sentence in January 2023 and is eligible for release on Dec. 23, 2024, prison records show.

The federal courts last week received Cheffs motion requesting that his prison stay be reduced by an unspecified amount of time because of the changed sentencing guidelines, which apply retroactively to people already convicted when the new regulations took effect last year.

Paterson Police Sgt. Michael Cheff (right), is shown seconds after walking out of federal court, in Newark. Cheff was there after being arrested by the FBI Tuesday morning. Cheff is the eighth member of the Paterson Police Department to get arrested in a corruption probe which started more than three years ago. Cheff is currently suspended without pay. Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Cheff, who is being held at a federal prison in Glenville, West Virginia, filed the motion himself and asked for a court-appointed lawyer to represent him in the proceedings. Even with a reduced sentence, Cheff would end up being the last of the eight officers convicted in the FBI probe of the Paterson Police Department to get out of prison.

Paterson's 'robbery squad': FBI investigation leads to convictions, federal prison terms

From November 2023: Federal courts reject Paterson 'robbery squad' police Sgt. Michael Cheff's appeal

What is happening with the other members of the 'robbery squad'?

Only Cheff and Eudy Ramos remain incarcerated. Ramos release is scheduled for March 5, federal prison records show.

Heres information on the others:

Matthew Torres, who was part of the robbery squad, was given probation instead of prison time.

Roger Then, who was convicted as an accomplice in a hospital beating of a suicide patient, was released after six months, in January 2020.

Ruben McAusland, who sold drugs while on duty from his marked Paterson patrol vehicle, was released in March 2023 after spending almost four years in prison. McAusland also was convicted of assaulting the suicide patient, who eventually ended up killing himself.

Robbery squad member Daniel Pent was released in September 2023 after less than a year incarcerated.

Jonathan Bustios, also part of the robbery squad, was released on Jan. 3 after being in prison a little more than a year.

Frank Toledo, the robbery squad member who sent the infamous text message saying, Everything we do is illegal, was released on Monday after serving a little more than a year.

Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ police sergeant seeks reduced federal prison sentence
The 2020 death of a woman who was said to have shot herself in the head in front of her firefighter fiancee is under fresh scrutiny after the mans new girlfriend died suddenly earlier this month.

Police in St. Louis County, Missouri, say the investigation into the death of Grace Holland in 2020 is still classified as a suspicious death and remains active. Sergeant Tracy Panus told The Daily Beast in a statement that a report on Hollands death was sent to the Prosecuting Attorneys Office in early December, and it is up to prosecutors to decide if the case warrants any criminal charges.

Holland was found dead at the Creve Coeur home of her then-fiancee, Maryland Heights Fire Captain Robert Daus, in July 2020 after he phoned 911 to report, My fiancee just shot herself.

Its a mortal wound, he told the dispatcher, according to audio of the 911 call.

Hollands death was ruled a suicide in Creve Coeur, but her family has long disputed the official findings and filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Daus, questioning, among other things, why Holland would have fired the gun into her left temple when shes right-handed.

The lawsuit accused Daus of psychological and physical abuse and alleged that he had either shot her himself or encouraged her to take her own life. In the weeks before her death, the family alleges, Daus had offered Holland $600 to abort their baby that she is carrying and during one domestic dispute responded to the prospect of Holland calling 911 with, My brothers in blue are not going to do anything to me. Ive already taken care of that. Youre the crazy girlfriend, remember?

undefined

Daus has not been declared a suspect or charged in the case. He has denied all the allegations made against him by Hollands family, and he declined to comment on the matter when contacted by The Daily Beast.

Just months after the wrongful death suit was filed last September, however, the body of Daus new girlfriend, Dr. Sarah Sweeney, was found in his suburban St. Louis home on Jan. 13. Sweeneys death is still under investigation, with the Frontenac Police Department saying only that it was sudden and she had no apparent signs of trauma on her body. Autopsy and toxicology results are still pending.

undefined

Sweeneys mother, Teresa Sweeney Light, was quoted telling Fox News Digital that her daughter suffered from mast cell activation syndrome, a condition that causes severe allergy symptoms and can potentially cause fatal anaphylactic shock if not treated right away. But she said Sarah always carried an EpiPen and was managing the disease well.

We just wish we could have her back, she told the news outlet, adding that the family will wait for the official autopsy results before they draw any conclusions. We just want closure, we want it to be truthful and fair, and as of right now, we're still in shock.

We are saddened to learn of another death, especially of such a young person. We hope that the Frontenac Police do what the Creve Coeur Police and the County Medical Examiner didnt do in the past and fully investigate this tragedy, an attorney for the Holland family said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Rep. Cori Bush speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill to call for a ceasefire in Gaza on Oct. 20, 2023. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)

Rep. Cori Bush confirmed Tuesday that she is under multiple investigations over her use of campaign funds to hire her husband to provide her personal security.

The issue is currently under investigation by the Justice Department, the Federal Election Commission and the House Committee on Ethics.

What did Bush say?

Bush at a demonstration on Capitol Hill in 2021. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images)

In a lengthy statement, the second-term progressive Democrat from Missouri said she was fully cooperating with investigators  and denied any wrongdoing.

As a rank-and-file member of Congress I am not entitled to personal protection by the House, and instead have used campaign funds as permissible to retain security services, Bush said. I have not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services.

In recent months, right-wing organizations have lodged baseless complaints against me, peddling notions that I have misused campaign funds to pay for personal security services. That is simply not true, she continued. I have complied with all applicable laws and House rules  and will continue to prioritize the rules that govern us as federal elected officials.

Recommended reading

Bush also pointed to a previous investigation into the matter by the Office of Congressional Ethics, which in October unanimously cleared Bush of any wrongdoing.

Her statement came a day after the Justice Department served a subpoena to the office of the House Sergeant at Arms for related documents. The subpoena was read aloud on the House floor.

Punchbowl News first reported that Bush was the subject of a federal probe.

What are they investigating, exactly?

Bush at a news conference on Capitol Hill in 2021. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images)

According to the Associated Press, federal prosecutors have been asking questions about Bushs security expenses, the threats she received and her decision to pay her now-husband Cortney Merritts with campaign funds to provide security.

Since being elected to Congress in 2020, Bush, a former Black Lives Matter activist, has been the target of right-wing attacks  and was forced to hire private security even before arriving on Capitol Hill.

Im going to make sure I have security because I know I have had attempts on my life and I have too much work to do, Bush told CBS News in August 2021. So, if I end up spending $200,000 ... you know what? I get to be here to do the work.

More recently, Bush, a member of the Squad of progressive House Democrats, has been the target of criticism by conservative groups for her criticism of Israels bombardment of Gaza.

Alleged misuse of campaign funds in Congress

Then-Rep. George Santos at a press conference on Capitol Hill on Nov. 30, 2023, a day before he was ousted from Congress. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Bush is not the first member of this Congress to be investigated for alleged misuse of campaign funds. In December, New York Rep. George Santos was expelled from the House following a scathing report by the House Ethics Committee that concluded the first-term Republican defrauded donors by using money raised during his campaign on things like Botox, luxury goods and the adult content website OnlyFans.

For now, House Democrats are taking a wait-and-see approach with Bush.

Representative Cori Bush has indicated that she is fully cooperating with the Department of Justice in connection with the ongoing investigation, Christie Stephenson, a spokeswoman for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, said in a statement. Like any other American, she is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
A coroner wept as she opened inquests into the deaths of four members of the same family who were found stabbed to death at a house in Norfolk.

Samantha Goward became emotional as she read a statement describing how eight-year-old Natasha Kuczynska had died from stab wounds to the neck at her home in Costessey, near Norwich.

Ms Goward apologised before wiping away tears as she continued with the inquest opening at Norfolk Coroners Court, in Norwich, on Wednesday.

She opened the inquest into Natasha before opening separate hearings into the deaths of Natashas 12-year-old sister Jasmin, their father Bartlomiej Kuczynski, 45, and their 36-year-old aunt Kanticha Sukpengpanao, who was visiting from her home in Thailand.

Ms Goward confirmed that the bodies of the family members had been identified by Louise Smith, a neighbour.

The coroner began to appear upset as she described how Natasha was found dead at the house in Allan Bedford Crescent on Jan 19.

She wept as she described how Dr Thivya Sekar, a Home Office pathologist, had given the cause of death as sharp force injuries to the neck.

Bartlomiej Kuczynski, pictured with his daughters - East Anglia News Service

The inquest into Jasmins death heard her cause of death an incised wound to the neck. The sisters were described as students who lived at the family home.

Mr Kuczynski, a structural engineer born in Gostyn, Poland, and Ms Sukpengpanao, a businesswoman from Thailand, both also died from stab wounds to the neck, the inquests heard.

The coroner added during all four hearings that those who died had been found dead by police in the house. She adjourned all the hearings until April 29.

Norfolk Constabulary has confirmed that the deaths of Jasmin, Natasha and Ms Sukpengpanao were being treated as murder, and the death of Mr Kuczynski was not being treated as suspicious.

The force has referred itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct after revealing that a man at the house, thought to be Mr Kuczynski, had dialled 999 at around 6am on Jan 19 to express concern about his mental state.

Detectives have confirmed that they are treating the deaths as an isolated incident and are not looking for anyone else.

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Nevada could see the state's first Aldi store if reported proposals sent to a Las Vegas suburb are approved.

The Henderson Planning Commission received a proposal in November to convert a portion of a former Bed Bath and Beyond in the Las Vegas suburb to the grocery store, KTNV-TV reported Tuesday.

Approximately 8,000 square feet of the 30,000 square feet of available space would be used for the store, according to the station.

A Planning Commission representative told KSNV-TV that the proposal is under review.

Aldi has not confirmed that it has plans to open in Henderson.

Where does Aldi have stores?

Aldi currently has 2,357 stores in the United States in 38 states and Washington, D.C.

New York and Texas lead the way with the most locations, with 128 and 127, respectively.

Last year, the company agreed to purchase 400 grocery stores from Winn-Dixie in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Some of those stores will convert to the Aldi brand while others will remain under the Winn-Dixie brand. The deal is expected to close this year.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aldi in Nevada? Proposal shows plans for first store in state
Her cries ring out from behind the emergency room curtain where shes laying.

She says she cant breathe, someone says in the background. Then, the voices blend together.

Just bear with us one second.

Theres a crisis.

The video has gone viral on TikTok since its upload in 2021. The words, This is what a Sickle Crisis looks like, were typed across the frame. The caption reads, Crazy how ignored sickle cell is, its spoken about, but not educated enough.

Recently, a team of medical researchers have been using artificial intelligence to uncover the experiences and unmet needs of sickle cell patients. A first-of-its-kind study out of the United Kingdom used AI-powered analytical tools to examine the way sickle cell patients were discussing their lives on social media.

It found that nearly 88% of social media posts related to the disease highlight the frequent dismissal of pain when seeking care. More than 30% cite a perceived lack of empathy from health care providers. It sheds light on the issue of many feeling ignored and mistreated, a concern disproportionately burdening the community made up of predominantly Black patients. In the midst of being brushed off by health care providers, those with sickle cell are turning toward social media to educate others.

And as revolutionary new gene therapies to treat the disease get approved for widespread use in the U.S., experts say this use of artificial intelligence is a creative way to keep patients voices and concerns at the center of medical innovation.

People seem to be far more open to sharing their beliefs on social media than they might be in the clinic office with their doctor, said Dr. Oli Shastri, sickle cell and gene therapy lead at Pfizer and an author on the study that was presented at the American Society of Hematology conference late last year. They couldnt cut through hundreds of thousands of social media posts on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram by hand, so they leaned on artificial intelligence to spot trends in the large datasets.

I have not seen AI be used in this way to amplify the patients voice, said Orlando Agrippa, 39. When he was diagnosed with sickle cell disease in his mid-30s, he started to use his decade of international experience in health care and technology to combat the illness he was battling.

About five years ago, Agrippa was on flight when he felt like he was coming down with a bad cold or flu. When he landed, he went for a run. Maybe I can sweat it out, he thought. What followed was the worst pain hes ever experienced, he said. The ache was piercing through his body. The first time he woke up after blacking out, he was in some sort of diagnostic machine. The next, he was struggling to walk and talk with IVs crawling from his veins.

At first, doctors thought it might have been a stroke. The final diagnosis was sickle cell disease, an inherited gene mutation that makes red blood cells resemble more of a crescent, or sickle shape than a healthy, round disk. Those misshapen cells do not move easily through blood vessels, restricting blood flow through the body, which can result in strokes, organ damage, and agonizing pain for patients.

At the time of Agrippas diagnosis, there was no therapy or drugs. So, he decided to dedicate his life to helping patients like him with rare blood conditions. Recently, that has meant joining the research team at Pfizer thats been digging into social media.

Over the past couple of years, artificial intelligence and algorithms have become one of the hottest topics across industries, including criminal justice, education, travel, and finance. The technologies are also infiltrating health care. Theyre being used in cancer screenings and in combination with X-rays to, some experts say, more accurately diagnose patients and predict treatment outcomes. Its revolutionary. And, in many cases, its perpetuating bias against Black patients by assuming that theyre healthier than they really are, effectively delaying life-saving interventions.

But, could this specific use of artificial intelligence actually help center the Black patients who are often labeled as hard to reach?

As the American medical community celebrates the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval of the new gene-editing therapy, patients remain worried. The research revealed that patients are grappling with concerns like the weight of having to choose between being treated for sickle cell, which can often be invasive, time-consuming and expensive, and their ability to have a baby after undergoing chemotherapy.

Theyre also worried about conceiving and then passing the trait to their children. Those thoughts pile onto the fear of dismissal by care providers and the harshness of emergency department staff when they seek help for their pain.

While the AI research is based in the United Kingdom, physicians in the U.S. say it sheds light on potentially universal experiences.

We need more compassionate care for individuals living with sickle cell disease, said Dr. Kim Smith-Whitley, an attending physician in the Division of Hematology at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. This research expands scientists, doctors, and health care workers ability to understand patient experiences.

This small window into the lives of those living with sickle cell could raise more awareness and push providers to center patients, said Agrippa. If researchers, physicians, and public health experts choose not to mobilize around patients, he said, they risk building more bias and racism into algorithms, exacerbating health disparities.

The future of health care definitely leverages a lot more like this in research, he said.

The post Could Artificial Intelligence Give Black Patients More Power in Medical Research? appeared first on Capital B News.
City councilmembers at City Hall Tuesday voted unanimously to reject requests to build a medical waste transfer station near Diggs Park in northeast Oklahoma City. The project had been strongly opposed by residents living in the area.

After residents shared concerns for months about a potential medical waste transfer station in their community, Oklahoma City councilmembers voted unanimously Tuesday to deny requests to build the facility on the city's northeast side.

The proposed medical waste transfer station would have been at 3903 NE 23, within half a mile of Daniel J. Diggs Park at 2201 N Coltrane Road, and just south of a township called Forest Park. Potential operator Medical Waste Services needed the blessing of the city council regarding its environmental quality statement in order to begin following through with plans for the site.

Last year, Medical Waste Services had tried to assuage the serious misgivings of locals about the facility's potential impact on the surrounding communities, telling The Oklahoman that the station posed "virtually no risk" to people's health. But nearly a dozen concerned residents of Forest Park and northeast Oklahoma City appeared in front of city council Tuesday, voicing opposition to the project.

George Smith, mayor of Forest Park, told councilmembers that the township hoped to convert undeveloped land in Forest Park's south side into luxury homes. He argued that building a medical waste transfer station would diminish the property values and tax revenues for the Forest Park area.

'We deserve better.' OKC neighborhood fights against decades of environmental injustice

Others expressed concern about environmental issues in northeast Oklahoma City that the medical waste transfer station could have worsened. Gary Woods, who represents Ward 7 on the city's Parks and Recreation Board of Commissioners, said that parks commissioners determined unanimously in December that the proposed facility would cause harm.

"There wasn't a single park commissioner who thought that ... this medical waste facility being in such close proximity to Diggs Park would be a good thing," Woods said.

Woods also said that, in reviewing the facility proposal, he learned that the ZIP code has high rates of cancer and autoimmune disease, along with issues of poor air quality and environmental pollutants.

"If we add the medical waste facility to that, we're thinking about heavy trucks, we're thinking about diesel emissions, as well as it being in close proximity to children  close proximity to those that we're trying to endorse health and wellness," Woods said.

Related: Historically Black neighborhood in Oklahoma City finds no relief from decades of explosions

'This is what happens when private entities are prioritized over communities'

Longtime residents of the east side, including Zenephon Warrior, told the city council that opening the medical waste transfer station would hinder revitalization efforts currently underway in that part of the city. Northeast Oklahoma City, home to its historically Black enclave, was for decades considered the city's "dumping ground" due to racist zoning laws and a lack of higher-use private investment.

"We need some residential development in that particular area, and to have this particular facility is really going to be very much a detriment to some of the continued residential development in all four quadrants of the area (around) the facility," Warrior said.

Bailey Stephenson works for a nonprofit devoted to raising awareness about the large Tar Creek Superfund site in northeastern Oklahoma. Citing it as historical precedent, Stephenson said people in the area had to be relocated because of how toxic the site was, and that children often would play in sandboxes that had been contaminated by leftover waste from the lead mines.

"They did this because they were told that it was safe, they were told that it was harmless," Stephenson said. "And this is kind of the way that this happens: that people are told these things are safe and harmless, but then we later find out that there actually are long-term effects."

"This is what happens when private entities are prioritized over communities," she added. "The community has made it very clear that they do not want this (medical waste) site in their neighborhoods and they do not want it in their homes."

More: Northeast OKC residents say no thanks to donation of land for new county jail

Applause erupted from the audience after the city council fully agreed to deny the request from Medical Waste Services and its consultant Terracon. Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice, who represents the area in which the facility would have been built, thanked the concerned residents who had appeared in front of the council.

"Had you not shown up and appealed to those who may not have all of the knowledge that we need to make that decision, we wouldn't be able to do that," Nice said. "So, thank you. This is what democracy looks like: for us to all be at the table and express our opinions."

An exterior shot of Oklahoma City's Municipal Building, or City Hall, where city councilmembers meet every two weeks.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Request for medical waste transfer station in northeast OKC denied
HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) A country band with dozens of accolades to their name will be bringing their tour to the Midstate.

The group Alabama is bringing their Roll On 2 North America Tour to the Giant Center in Hershey on Saturday, April 27, and will be joined by special guest Lee Greenwood, according to a news release.

Fans can get their hands on tickets on Ticketmasters website. The show will begin at 7 p.m.

Scratch-off ticket worth $5 million sold in Pennsylvania

Over 50 years ago, cousins Teddy Gentry, Randy Owen and the late Jeff Cook left the cotton farms of Fort Payne, Alabama, to spend the summer playing music in a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, bar called The Bowery, the release reads. From humble beginnings to international stars, ALABAMA went on to sell 80 million albums and change the face and sound of country music.

Alabama has had 43 number-one singles and has won dozens of county music and Grammy awards. They are in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame and even have their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Palm Beach County officials are now saying that the delay-plagued Lyons Road widening project will be completed by the end of July.

I can feel everyones pain, said Tom Constanzo of MJC Land Development, the contractor hired by the county to widen Lyons from Clint Moore Road to Atlantic Avenue west of Delray Beach. No one wants to get this work done more than we do. These delays are costing us money. Patience please.

Constanzo and County Engineer David Ricks appeared at a Friday, Jan. 26, town hall arranged by county Mayor Maria Sachs to update area residents on the status of the work. Some residents did not accept the explanations, and said they were running out of patience. They questioned the countys oversight of the work and why the July date should be accepted when previous timelines have not been met.

Cone after cone lines Lyons Road between Seven Bridges and the Atlantic Avenue intersection. The maze of cones cause major traffic jams during rush hour time and area residents say they are unsafe. The widening of the roadway has been plagued by repeated delays.

Michael Lewis, center, asks a question next to Ted Pollock, left, and Steven Schwartz, right, during a meeting with Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Sachs at the South County Civic Center to explain delays in the work on Lyons Road on January 26, 2024 in Delray Beach, Florida.

The work was supposed to have been finished in October 2022 but the contractor twice discovered undetected utility lines that had to be removed, forcing work stoppages of more than six months. Supply chain issues also impacted the project. And the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays as well, according to Ricks' staff.

But barring additional unforeseen circumstances, county officials sought to assure frustrated residents that the project should be completed by the new July date.

The presence of cones, used to separate traffic, have caused confusion and led to numerous accidents along Lyons. More than 17,000 motorists a day travel on the north-south road from Clint Moore to Atlantic Avenue, a distance of four miles, according to county records.

More: Lyons Road widening project hits another snag; more underground utility lines discovered

Ground-penetrating radar to be used for future projects

Ricks said the county has learned a lesson for future work in rural areas; contractors will be called on to use ground-penetrating radar to ensure that there are no undetected underground utilities that could cause a work stoppage.

Ricks noted that no one paid attention to what farmers were doing 40 years ago, noting that the county has discovered that pipes were often placed under roads that were almost exclusively used for farming purposes.

Workers recently adding material to long-delayed Lyons Road widening project between Clint Moore Road and Atlantic Avenue. County officials say the project should be completed by the end of July.

The radar will allow us to verify what is there, Ricks said. We have tightened up our process.

The radar requirement is expected to increase the cost of road projects but Costanzo said the delays the undetected pipes have caused resulted in significant cost overruns.

Since 2013, GL Homes has built four high-end communities  The Bridges, Seven Bridges, Boca Bridges and Lotus  along Lyons Road from Clint Moore to Atlantic, adding more than 2,300 homes to the region west of Boca Raton. The result: a traffic congestion problem that has plagued drivers.

Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Sachs fields questions at the South County Civic Center to explain delays in the work on Lyons Road on January 26, 2024 in Delray Beach, Florida.

The project called for expanding the roadway from one lane in each direction to two lanes. Much of the southbound work has already been completed. What is left is that part of the roadway going north from St. Mary's Church to Atlantic Avenue along with intersection work at Atlantic and Lyons. The road has to be raised there by a foot and additional drainage must be installed.

Sachs, whose district encompasses that stretch of Lyons, said the four developments should never have been built until the road widening on Lyons was completed. The highway was never designed to accommodate the traffic those homes have generated, she said.

Tom Costanzo of MJC Land Development talks about the intersection of Lyons Road and Atlantic Avenue during a meeting with Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Sachs at the South County Civic Center to explain delays in the work on Lyons Road on January 26, 2024 in Delray Beach, Florida.

Area residents along Lyons have complained so loudly about the delays that the county engineer's office now issues monthly updates on the status of the work.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County say Lyons Road widening will be done by summer
Will County Judge John Anderson is considering whether to allow University Park to intervene in a 2019 lawsuit state officials filed against its water provider, Aqua Illinois.

Anderson, who disclosed his home water supplier is Aqua, said hes wondered since the lawsuit was filed in 2019 why University Park officials hadnt intervened in the case. Aqua Illinois, the Illinois attorney generals office and Will County states attorney reached an agreement in October.

Youre just a little late to the party, Anderson said. Thats my concern, that its really untimely.

When the consent order was filed, attorney Burt Odelson said, village officials didnt think it went far enough. But Odelson said, up until the consent order was filed, village officials felt the states attorneys office represented the residents of University Park well.

The local government, we feel, have to step in and do their part, Odelson said. Were close, but we need to get over the goal line.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Will County States Attorney James Glasgow filed the 2019 lawsuit accusing Aqua of failing to provide safe drinking water, failing to comply with monitoring and sampling requirements, violating construction and operating permit requirements and creating a public nuisance.

Aqua began using the Kankakee River as its water source to and adding a blended phosphate mix to the public water system to improve taste, according to the lawsuit. The change, the lawsuit alleges, is believed to have caused a chemical reaction that removed a protective layer in residential plumbing.

Raoul and Glasgow asked a judge to approve the consent order in October after finding Aqua met the state lead action level over several six-month compliance sampling periods and developed an effective corrosion control treatment for the public water system.

Odelson said the village hired him in May, and the following month he got a call from the states attorneys office that officials wanted the mayor to testify. But when the consent order was filed in October, the village wanted to intervene because it did not go far enough, he said.

When should we have gotten involved? Earlier, Odelson said. Our interest, I feel, were adequately represented up to a point.

The order establishes a technical assistance program in which residents tap water will be tested for lead. If the result of the water is above 15 ppb for lead, the resident will be eligible to receive a free filter device and an inspection of the visible plumbing.

The technical assistance program will continue for one year from the entry of the consent order. Aqua will send out information to residents about how to register, according to the order.

Under the program, Aqua will fund an escrow account with up to $300,000 for the remediation of lead solder and any fixtures containing fixtures found in kitchen faucets. Aqua will also pay an additional $200,000 in civil penalties.

In an amended motion to intervene, filed in November, the village requested the funding in the technical assistance program to increase to $2.4 million and to continue the program for two years.

Pointing to the members in the courtroom, including Mayor Joseph Roudez, Village Manager Elizabeth Scott and the majority of the Village Board, Odelson said they believe more can be done for the residents.

It is a very difficult situation we have right now in University Park, Odelson said. We think we need more for the people in University Park.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Pamenter said state and county attorneys and Aqua have worked tirelessly on this case. The attorney general opposes the motion to intervene, she said.

The consent order would have provisions to ensure residents are still taken care of, Pamenter said, such as the technical assistance program. With the approval of the consent order, it wont result in abandonment of this community, she said.

We do not, in anyway, oppose the villages petition lightly, Pamenter said.

Daniel Deeb, an attorney for Aqua, agreed. He said the technical assistance program will continue for as long as needed for those who apply in the program.

Once youre in, youre in, Deeb said.

Anderson said he will take some time to review the motions.

You guys gave me 2 feet of paper. Its a small exaggeration, Anderson said.

Trustee Jewell Thompson, who attended the hearing, said she felt optimistic.

While the village filed its motion to intervene many years into the case, water is a necessity and the villages former advocate, Nina Fain, wasnt effective, she said. In August, four trustees held a special meeting and fired Fain, who was special counsel for the village in the lawsuit.

We know were late, but were crying out for leniency, Thompson said.

Trustee Gina Williams said since 2019 Aqua has issued over 20 boil orders for University Park that werent weather related. Even after the most recent boil order expired, Williams said she will still continue to boil the water.

Im not going to take a chance just because they said its over with, Williams said.

Boil order

Aqua issued a boil order Sunday for every community it serves, including University Park, because of rapid thaw and heavy rains last week affecting the Kankakee River. The boil order was lifted Tuesday night, Debb said, and was weather related.

Jonathan Flowers, a senior engineer for Robinson Engineering and consultant for the village, said what led to the boil order could result in lead in the water.

River water chemistry can change, which makes it difficult to be treated in a plant, Flowers said. When the water isnt properly treated, it can result in lead entering the water from solder pieces, he said.

Whatever is in the river, is getting into the plant. If the river has different chemistry, then the plant might not be treating the water correctly, Flowers said.

Flowers said this case is unique because the lead pieces in the water system are in the solder. While there is a national push to replace lead pipes, theres less talk about lead solder pieces, he said.

This is a unique situation to University Park because of the type of solder that they have and the Kankakee River water, how variable it is, it makes the solder more prone to release lead into the system, Flowers said.

akukulka@chicagotribune.com
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Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar was sworn in as Malaysia's 17th king in a ceremony at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

In a televised ceremony Ibrahim took his oath and signed the instruments of office with the country's other hereditary rulers witnessing the event.

Sultan Nazrin Shah, ruler of Perak state, will serve as the deputy head of state for the next five years.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was present at the ceremony along with his cabinet ministers to witness the swearing-in of the new king.

His appointment came after his predecessor Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, ruler of Pahang state completed his term on Tuesday.

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, with nine sultans or rulers, who head their respective state and act as the religious leader, taking turns to serve as the king for a five-year term.
Liberal Americas favorite podcast network knows its listeners arent exactly thrilled for the presidential election. But it has a plan to mobilize them for 2024 anyway: Focus down-ballot.

The political arm of Crooked Media  the media company founded by former top aides to Barack Obama that produces shows like Pod Save America, Pod Save the World and Strict Scrutiny  is rolling out the 2024 iteration of its voter engagement program on Wednesday, which will emphasize high-impact congressional races and ballot initiatives across the country.

The announcement, shared first with POLITICO, is a recognition that many Democratic voters just arent all that interested in the prospect of another rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

We know people aren't super excited. We know people have frustrations with certain things coming out of the administration, and definitely are frustrated that we're having to vote between Donald Trump and Biden again, Shaniqua McClendon, Crookeds vice president of political strategy, said in an interview. But in the face of that, we are really honing in on reminding people of the stakes.



Crookeds political work runs through Vote Save America, a duo of similarly-named PAC and nonprofit organizations. By mobilizing their listeners  which leans toward highly politically engaged millennials  the efforts have raised $55 million since 2018. The 2024 efforts will include fundraising directly for candidates and causes, recruiting volunteers for partner organizations and deploying voter registration tools. The push will be promoted in the networks podcasts, its newsletters and on social media.

In addition to the presidential race, Democrats have an uphill battle to maintain control of the Senate, and control of the House is up in the air. There are also multiple ballot initiatives across the country, including on abortion rights. Crooked Medias and Vote Save Americas pitch to listeners: those elections matter.

We can literally just plug in, down the ballot  that's not even a conversation about Joe Biden, but down the ballot  to change what's happening there, McClendon said

The focus for Crooked also illuminates an ongoing behind-the-scenes family feud between a cohort of Democratic operatives, activists and voters who came of age under Obama and are concerned about Bidens 2024 strategy  and an older-school Biden team confident it can run back its defeat of Trump four years ago.

Crookeds efforts in past cycles quietly became a sizable grassroots mobilization. The organization said it raised more than $55 million for candidates and causes since 2018 and pushed its listeners to fill over 211,000 volunteer shifts for campaigns and other groups.

Im not going to argue that this is the most important election of our lifetimes  both because I already said that about our past three elections, and because I know people are sick and tired of hearing that claim, Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior adviser to Obama and a Pod Save America co-host, said in a statement. But thats exactly why Vote Save Americas work is so important  because instead of repeating the same old tired messaging, and focusing on the doom and gloom, were keeping our audience motivated, excited, and giving them reasons to hope.



McClendon said the organization has not yet decided where it will direct supporters money, but that it was important it went to impactful places.

She noted that Crookeds Senate fund in the 2020 elections excluded Amy McGrath. The Kentucky Democrats campaign against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell went hyper viral among certain Democratic circles and raised tens of millions, but she was ultimately still clobbered by the Republican leader.

We got a little flack for excluding McGrath, McClendon said. But once all the analysis started to come in  and just look at the outcome of that election  people started to understand.

She also pointed to the groups exclusion of now-Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) in 2020 because he had a ton of money already and others needed the extra cash in their warchests.

We sent volunteers his way and definitely covered the race, but [were] focusing on  having the greatest impact, she said.

The Vote Save America program also has the advantage of talking to an extremely engaged audience. The networks listeners  which McClendon says is highly concentrated in millennials  are overwhelmingly Democratic (and Biden voters, even if not entirely enthusiastically) who dont need a whole lot of convincing to cast a ballot in November, like a traditional get-out-the-vote operation. Instead, Vote Save America can focus on getting them to donate and volunteer, and do it repeatedly.

The biggest kind of weight to carry is making sure that our audience of volunteers are not burnt out, she said. Our audience is always going to show up to vote, thats not a heavy lift for them. But our volunteers and our audience, we create a community for them.

A version of this story first appeared in POLITICO Pros Morning Score newsletter. Sign up for POLITICO Pro.
Bryce Hodgson is understood to have been armed with a crossbow, a sword, a knife and body armour

A man shot dead by police in south London after breaking into a womans home with an arsenal of weapons was a reclusive cannabis smoker who had been spared jail for stalking her last year, The Telegraph can disclose.

Bryce Hodgson, 30, originally from Middlesbrough, was killed by armed officers in Southwark on Tuesday morning when he tried to force his way into a property while armed with crossbows, a knife, a hatchet, a sword and body armour.

It has since emerged Hodgson had been convicted of stalking the 31-year-old woman in Southwark last June and was subject to a five-year restraining order.

Hodgson had been banned from entering Bywater Place, the cul-de-sac where he was shot twice by officers.

Police at the scene in Surrey Quays, Southwark, on Tuesday - JAMIE LORRIMAN

Croydon magistrates court heard last year how Hodgson had entered the victims bedroom without consent, sent text messages demanding she open her door to him and described his vivid sexual fantasies to her.

He pleaded guilty but was spared jail, with a 16-week suspended prison sentence, and ordered to undergo 12 months of supervision and carry out 120 hours of community service.

Hodgson was a heavy cannabis user who smoked 7g of marijuana a week and spent most of his free time in front of his computer, according to a former flatmate.

Mia Trutwein, a building manager from Birmingham, lived with Hodgson for two years in a three-person flat in Bermondsey until a month before the first Covid lockdown.

She said: He was a lovely guy, he was as timid as anything, a bit of a boffin.

He did not have any sort of animosity, he used to go to work and come home. It took me a while to get to know him.

He was really introverted, sweet and pleasant, he was really precious. I saw him every day for two years.

Forensics officers inside the house in Surrey Quays, which Hodgson had been ordered by a court to stay away from - JAMIE LORRIMAN

He did not have any girls around, he never had any girlfriends. He said he used to work for a debt collection agency.

He smoked weed quite heavily, through a bong, it would go straight to the brain, he would be buying a quarter of an ounce every week.

Ms Trutwein said Hodgson was a highly eloquent and intelligent loner who spent much of his free time playing shooting games on his computer, which had three monitors attached.

The only time he would leave his bedroom would be to use the bathroom or for food, she added, saying: We used to try and pry him out.

Hodgson is believed to have been a student at Aberystwyth University who moved around between Manchester and Leeds before settling in south London around 2018.

Prosecutors argued for jail sentence

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Wednesday that it had tried to convince the judiciary to impose a jail sentence on Hodgson for his stalking conviction.

A CPS spokesman said: We argued for this offence to be tried in the Crown Court and for a custodial sentence to be imposed  however these decisions are for the independent judiciary. The defendant did not breach his bail conditions.

It is understood that the case was settled at magistrates court level because Hodgson pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

A spokesman for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the police watchdog, which investigates all firearms incidents, confirmed crossbows, a sword, a knife and body armour had been recovered from the scene on Tuesday morning.

Mel Palmer, the IOPC regional director, said: Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this tragic incident. The mans next of kin have been informed and, in due course, we will be contacting them to explain our role. We will keep them regularly updated throughout our investigation.

Given that a man has died after being shot by police, our role is to independently investigate all of the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the actions and decisions taken by the police.

We appreciate that the community will want answers quickly, and our investigators are working hard to establish the facts and piece together what occurred.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
A veteran charged with assault after coming to the aid of state Rep. Maryam Khan when she was attacked outside a Muslim prayer service outside the XL Center in Hartford last summer has applied for a program that would lead to his case being dismissed.

Jason Spencer, 43, of Coventry applied for the diversionary program during a hearing Wednesday in Hartford Superior Court, where he appeared to answer to one misdemeanor count of third-degree assault.

Following the hearing, Spencers attorney, Aaron Romano, told reporters the prosecutor handling the case generously offered his client the use of the diversionary program. Spencer will learn on his next court date  on March 13  whether he is eligible for the program, which Romano said he believes is a mere formality given that his client has no criminal history.

On the next court date well have some definitive answers in terms of the entry into the program and what those terms will be toward the dismissal, Romano said.

During the proceeding, court officials said Spencer would have to undergo a mental health examination as part of the program. Because of the nature of the program, the case has been statutorily sealed from the public.

According to the police report, officers with the Hartford Police Department were dispatched to Trumbull Street shortly after 11 a.m. on June 28, 2023, on the report of an assault and found a suspect, later identified as 30-year-old Andrey Desmond, being detained by two bystanders. Khan, the report indicated, told officers Desmond made a sexually driven statement to her outside the XL Center before following her inside and then back outside when she attempted to get away from him. She and her family were attending an Eid al-Adha prayer service.

Desmond allegedly then put his arm around the state representatives neck and tried to kiss her, causing her to pull away and prompting Desmond to slap her across the face, the report indicates. When he let go of her neck, Khan fell to the ground and suffered injuries, according to the report.

Desmond was chased down by two bystanders, one of whom police identified as Spencer. According to the report, police allege Spencer kicked Desmond in the face after he stopped struggling.

Hartford police sought a warrant for Spencers arrest and charged him last September  one of several things for which Khan has criticized investigators.

Some of the flaws in our criminal legal system are coming to light through this case, Khan said during a news conference outside the Hartford courthouse following Wednesdays hearing. And it is unfair that someone that assisted a woman being attacked is having to defend himself in our system. Jason Spencer should be rewarded for his bravery, should be celebrated, uplifted and not criminalized.

Romano said his client was down the block when he ran full speed to help Khan as two other bystanders who were much closer stood by and did nothing.

I took an oath to defend this constitution, to defend the country, to defend all the citizens, and if Ive served in a warzone fighting for the defense of others  I am home now  if I see someone needing help I have to intervene, Spencer said, alongside Khan and Romano outside the courthouse. And I feel all citizens should do that.

We should all look out for each other, Spencer added. So I just could not hear this lady screaming and fighting for her life and just stand there and not do anything. Thats not how I was raised and thats not what the U.S. Army instilled in me. I love this great country and I love all the citizens.

According to Khan, who attended the court proceeding to express her support for Spencer, the army veteran served two tours in Iraq and in New York City on 9/11.

I think people should not fear coming to assist someone being attacked and people should feel confident in our laws because  we do have self-defense laws, said Khan, who added that she continues to seek treatment for a neck injury she suffered during the attack, which she said seems to be life-long.

Romano said he believes there could have been more discretion used by Hartford police and the States Attorneys Office regarding whether they pursued a charge against Spencer.

But on the other hand, we do have this generous offer that theyve made after the fact, Romano said. So were very pleased with that.

The hearing Wednesday comes after the citys Civilian Police Review Board last week voted to sustain charges against a patrol officer who handled Khans complaint and the sergeant who was supervising. The vote was made following an outside investigation that concluded the officer and sergeant left important details out of their reports on the assault.

The matter is also the subject of an internal affairs investigation.

Meanwhile, the criminal case against Desmond remains pending. He has pleaded not guilty to a single misdemeanor and six felony charges, including those of second-degree assault, attempt to commit third-degree sexual assault, suffocation/strangulation and risk of injury to a minor.
Pennsylvania State Police have charged 50-year-old Rhett Hintze of New Cumberland with failure to report, but knowing about child abuse allegations made against a Palmyra man who was arrested in 2022.

In September 2022, Pennsylvania State Police were contacted by the Prince WIlliam County Police Department in Virginia regarding a sexual assault investigation they were conducting against Shawn Gooden, of Palmyra, with information that a juvenile victim was sexually assaulted somewhere in Pennsylvania by Gooden.

Gooden was arrested by North Londonderry Township Police in September of 2022 and charged by Virginia police with two counts of indecent liberties, two counts of forcible sodomy and five counts of aggravated sexual battery for sexual assaults that occured around the Woodbridge, Va. area between January 1997 and December 2000.

Investigation into the Pennsylvania assault alleged that Gooden had sexually assaulted a 12-year-old at French Creek State Park in April of 2000. Gooden was charged in July of 2023 with numerous counts stemming from that Berks County sexual assault.

Police alleged in a new release that during the investigation it was was discovered that Gooden and the victim of the sexual assault had disclosed the abuse to their religious leader, Rhett Hintze.

At the time of the disclosure, Hintze would have been acting as a religious leader in his position as Harrisburg Stake President for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and therefore would have been a mandated reporter by state law. Hintze allegedly failed to report the abuse to authorities.

Hintze was charged with one count of failure to report or refer on Wednesday and is scheduled to be arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Wendy Grella on Feb. 2.

Daniel Larlham Jr. is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at DLarlham@LDNews.com or on X @djlarlham.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: New Cumberland, Pa. man accused of failure to report child abuse
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  District Attorney Marc Bennett says he has finished his investigation of a fatal officer-involved shooting from 2022, and he will not file charges in the case.

The shooting and killing of Gregorio Banuelos was on May 25, 2022. Bennett said his report was delayed because the final ballistics report did not come in until last month.

The DA says his report is limited to whether there is criminal liability in the shooting of Banuelos. He said his office does not have authority regarding use-of-force investigations.

Initial call and police response

The standoff began around 1:30 a.m. on May 25, 2022, in the 500 block of N. Milstead. A woman called 911 to say she had been shot by a family member in her home. A teenage boy in the home also called 911 and reported a shot had been fired. The boy described the man as extremely intoxicated. He also said the man had talked about killing officers and himself.

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The WPD said that they found the woman outside the home when they arrived at the scene. The woman told officers that a man in the house had fired a weapon at her. She initially thought she had been shot, but she was not. She said three other family members were still in the home with Banuelos.

3 more teens arrested in Fridays double homicide

She told officers that Banuelos was a relative and that he arrived intoxicated with a girlfriend earlier that night. Police say Banuelos did not live at the house. The woman who called 911 told officers that she asked the visiting woman to leave, and she did.

The woman who called 911 said that after the girlfriend left, Banuelos got angry and got a gun.

She said he began arguing with her and then physically assaulted her, injuring her slightly. She said he followed her around the house with a gun and then fired a shot at her. She thought she had been hit.

Police tried to talk to Banuelos on the womans phone, but he hung up.

At 1:51 a.m., the other three people in the home came out, but not Banuelos.

Officers say they saw Banuelos walk out of the home with a gun, make comments and then walk back into the house. At 2:02 a.m., the WPD decided to activate SWAT.

Negotiators arrived by 3:14 a.m.

Negotiations and shooting

According to the district attorneys investigation, police tried to end the standoff peacefully and de-escalate the situation.

A robot located Banuelos in bed in a basement room. At 8:41 a.m., SWAT members went into the basement with a K9. Officers saw Banuelos hold a gun to his head and say he would kill himself and the K9.

Donations skyrocketing for new Jackie Robinson statue, will come from Colorado

The SWAT team backed out. At 9:01 a.m., they saw Banuelos manipulating the police robot. Then, they lost visual contact with him.

As the hours passed, police heard more gunshots. The SWAT members returned to the basement at 12:12 p.m. They saw Banuelos opening and closing the bedroom door.

At 12:26 p.m., they said he opened the door and raised his hand. An officer fired at Banuelos, but there was no indication he was hit.

The SWAT team retreated to the ground floor of the home. They heard more shots and went outside.

At 12:44 p.m., the DA says Banuelos entered the attached garage, walked around a parked car and approached the open garage door.

A police officer thought he saw something in Banuelos hand and fired once from a rifle. The DA says ballistics evidence indicates the shot did not hit Banuelos.

At a different angle, a deputy saw Banuelos approaching SWAT team members. The DA says the deputy could not see Banuelos hands but believed he posed a risk to the officers. The deputy fired his rifle once. Bennett said, from the ballistics analysis, it is reasonable to conclude that the deputys shot was the fatal shot.

District attorneys conclusion

District Attorney Bennett says that under Kansas law, a person may employ deadly force when the person reasonably believes that deadly force is necessary to prevent imminent risk of great bodily harm to himself or another.

Bennett also said that under the Kansas stand your ground law, one who acts in defense of himself or to protect a third party is immune from prosecution.

The DA says the investigation established that Banuelos assaulted a family member, fired the weapon so near the family member that she thought she had been shot, refused to turn himself in, and fired his weapon a total of six more times in the house.

Officers told investigators that they heard Banuelos say words to the effect that he was down to two bullets and wanted to get officers.

Bennett said Banuelos had a 9 mm handgun and moved at an accelerated pace through the garage just before the two law enforcement officers shot at him.

That the two officers made the same decision to shoot in the same moment without coordination or communication with one another in the moment, speaks to the reasonableness of their individual assessments and the reasonableness of the determination that a lethal risk was posed by Mr. Banuelos, Bennett said in his final report.

He said the officer and deputy are immune from prosecution under Kansas law.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
A former Texas deputy was sentenced to prison after authorities said a father of seven was killed in a hit-and-run while filling up his trucks gas tank on the shoulder of a California freeway, according to officials.

Gilberto Sotelo, 38, of Lake Elsinore, was putting gas in his Chevrolet Silverado on the shoulder of the 215 Freeway in Riverside after he ran out of fuel in the early morning hours of Aug. 7, the California Highway Patrol said in a news release, McClatchy News previously reported.

As he was filling his tank, the driver of a Honda sport utility truck struck both Sotelo and his truck before fleeing, troopers said. Sotelo was pronounced dead on scene.

The driver, identified as Giovanni Ceja, 31, who was a Bexar County, Texas, deputy, was on vacation in California and driving a relatives car while under the influence of alcohol, the Bexar County Sheriffs Office said in a news release, McClatchy News previously reported.

A week later, the Bexar County Sheriffs Office got a call from Riverside County deputies about a warrant for Cejas arrest while he was on the job in uniform, McClatchy News reported. He was dishonorably discharged and extradited to California to face the charges.

Ceja was convicted of second-degree murder after pleading guilty on Tuesday, Jan. 30, as part of a plea deal, a spokesperson for the Riverside County District Attorneys Office said in an email to McClatchy News.

Ceja was given a 15 years to life prison sentence, the spokesperson said.

His attorney did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment.

Sotelos family remembered him as a great man, NBC Los Angeles reported.

He was willing to do anything and everything for anybody, Sotelos wife, Myra Basulto, told the outlet in August.

San Antonio is the county seat of Bexar County, and Riverside County is about 55 miles east of Los Angeles.

Deputy kills man during California vacation, then returns to work in Texas, cops say

Dad of 7 is killed filling up gas tank on California freeway. Heart is shattered

Police officer among three arrested in underage prostitution sting, Texas police say
A 34-year-old man was taken into custody after he triggered an Amber Alert when he took his 7-year-old son from school in the middle of the day, Iowa cops say.

The man took his son from the school playground in Jefferson around 12:40 p.m. on Jan. 30, according to a news release by the Iowa Department of Public Safety (IDPS). He has not had custody of his son since December, Iowa officials said.

McClatchy News is not identifying the suspect to protect the identity of the child.

An Amber Alert for the 7-year-old was issued less than three hours later, according to a news release.

When police found the mans vehicle near Remsen, which is about 130 miles from the school, he led them on a high-speed chase and crashed the car, Iowa officials said.

He then fled on foot holding the child and a rifle, police say.

Authorities convinced the dad to surrender after three hours, KWQC reported.

The 7-year-old is in the care of the Department of Human Services, IDPS said.

The dad was arrested on a charge of first-degree kidnapping and will be transferred to the Greene County Jail, Iowa officials said. The case is under investigation.

Jefferson is about 65 miles northwest of Des Moines.

North Texas Amber Alert canceled after missing 12-year-old Haltom City girl found safe

Why would you do that? Dad kills mom in front of 8-year-old daughter, Florida cops say

Updated: Missing Kentucky 5-year-old girl has been found safe after Amber Alert
China has 46 military companies plus subsidiaries operating within the United States while disguised as civilian entities, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Wednesday. Among them are prominent names, such as the Huawei Investment & Holdings Company that owns Huawei Technologies Company (pictured in 2022). File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI

Jan. 31 (UPI) -- China has 46 military companies plus subsidiaries operating within the United States while disguised as civilian entities, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Wednesday.

The updated list is part of "an important continuing effort in highlighting and countering [China's] Military-Civil Fusion strategy" that "supports the modernization goals of the People's Liberation Army by ensuring it can acquire advanced technologies and expertise developed by [Chinese] companies, universities and research programs that appear to be civilian entities," the DOD said in a news release.

Among them are prominent names, such as the Huawei Investment & Holdings Company that owns Huawei Technologies Company, and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), which has seven subsidiaries listed along with the parent corporation.

Both business entities are among those the department listed as military companies operating in the United States. They also are the target of recent House Foreign Affairs Committee efforts to enforce federal export-control rules in light of apparent violations by both firms.

"We are extremely troubled and perplexed about the Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) inability to effectively write and enforce export rules against violators, especially China," House committee chair Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and other members said in a Sept.14 letter to BIS Undersecretary Alan Estevez.

The committee raised concerns that Huawei recently developed a smartphone that uses 7-nanometer chips that support 5G communications technology and were manufactured by SMIC in violation of U.S.export controls.

"BIS has continued to grant licenses to Chinese Communist Party-controlled companies, such as SMIC, worth hundreds of billions of dollars," McCaul said in the letter. "These companies support the CCP's military and have been responsible for manufacturing semiconductors that power Huawei's 5G devices in violation of BIS' export controls."

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on Tuesday warned the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party that China increasingly is collaborating with nations that are hostile to the United States and implored lawmakers to do more to help Taiwan fight Chinese aggression.

China is coordinating with those nations and others to counter U.S. interests overseas, Pompeo told the committee.

Committee Chair Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., said China is increasingly aligned with Iran, Russia and North Korea, which is raising tensions at the international level.

An example is Sunday's deadly drone attack on U.S.military forces at a base in Jordan.

President Joe Biden said Iran is tied to the organization that launched the attack.

"While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," Biden said in a statement Sunday.

The DOD compiled is report on Chinese military companies in the United States in to meet the requirements of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021.
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Tyler residents can soon order cookies and have them delivered to their doorstep thanks to a Texas-founded cookie company coming to Tyler.

Longview Public Library to host winter book sale

According to a release, Tiffs Treats will begin their services on Feb.1, just in time for Valentines Day, offering a delivery-only option. Tyler area residents can have baked to order cookies delivered to their doorsteps Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Courtesy of Tiffs Treats

Some of the cookie flavors include, chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, sugar cookie with M&Ms and white chip almond. For a full list of flavors and catering trays people can visit their website.

We are thrilled to finally bring Tiffs Treats to East Texas and offer warm cookie delivery in Tyler, said Tiffany Chen, co-founder and chief creative officer of Tiffs Treats. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary and continue to grow Tiffs Treats, we plan to honor our home state with these expansions so more Texans can have easy access to our Lone Star-founded sweets.

People can order their cookies on their website, the Tiffs Treats mobile app or using food delivery apps.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Introducing bills to restore abortion access in Kentucky, a Democratic lawmaker Wednesday shared her own harrowing pregnancy journey, which included being forced to travel out of state to access abortion in order to end her nonviable pregnancy.

Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, recalled her miscarriage after the states trigger law banning abortion took effect in June 2022. The current law does not include exceptions for rape, incest, or conditions that make a pregnancy nonviable  a point abortion-rights advocates and OBGYNs have characterized as draconian and not in keeping with evidence-based practices.

Even though shed miscarried on her own, Burke required a dilation and curettage abortion to remove the fetus.

Because the pregnancy did not immediately threaten her life, Kentucky law forbade an abortion under those circumstances, even though the pregnancy was no longer viable. It forced Burke and her husband to travel to Ohio for the procedure, she said.

This step, while emotional, paved the way for her to try and conceive again, which she did.

I was grateful, in the midst of my suffering, because I knew what was going to happen. I knew I was in control of what was happening to me even though it all felt very much out of control, Burke said of being able to consult with a doctor and set the date of her procedure.

When we talk about access to reproductive health care in Kentucky, this is a more critical issue than people realize, she said. This is about women and people who want to be mothers, who desperately want to experience being a parent, who dont have access to the care they need.

On Wednesday, Burke announced three bills she filed that seek to restore abortion access statewide and protect those who travel out of state to get abortions. Because of the nature of the bills, however, and the Republican stronghold in the General Assembly, its unlikely any of the three will have widespread endorsement.

The first, House Bill 428, would fully repeal Kentuckys trigger law, which bans abortion in nearly all circumstances, unless its needed to save the life of a pregnant person. The current law, in place since July 2022, does not include exceptions for rape, incest, or fetal abnormalities incompatible with life.

The North Star bill would return access to unfettered reproductive health care, since the current law fails to recognize the many reasons (residents) seek reproductive care, including abortion, Burke said.

Kentuckys trigger ban is so heavy-handed, that it has consequences that many have been unintentional, especially for those people who want to be parents, but who have tragically complicated pregnancies, she added.

Burke filed a similar measure last year, roughly a year after Kentuckys abortion ban became law. In a legislature controlled by Republicans who overwhelmingly supported passage of measures limiting abortion access, Burkes 2023 bill  one of five bills related to abortion filed last session  unsurprisingly went nowhere.

As Republicans continue to maintain their supermajority in both chambers in 2024, its unlikely this bill will have traction this session, either.

The second bill Burke introduced, House Bill 429, would codify protections for pregnant women who travel out of state to get abortions. Since Kentucky banned the procedure, hundreds of women have traveled to nearby states that offer that type of health care, the Herald-Leader has reported.

The Lexington Democrat cited former Attorney General Daniel Camerons pursuit to retain the right to access medical information of Kentuckians who leave the state for reproductive health care services, such as abortion and gender-affirming health care, as her reason for filing the bill.

Cameron, who lost his bid for governor in November, co-signed a letter last June with other Republican attorneys general opposing a new policy from the U.S. Department Health and Human Services that shields patient information from officials in states that have banned or criminalized abortion and gender-affirming health care.

The rule change makes it harder for state officials to obtain that information if its for the purpose of investigating a civil or criminal law violation.

Burkes third bill, House Bill 430, would require the Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) program to give families information about maternal and postpartum depression. Year after year, Kentucky consistently has one of the highest maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the country. HANDS programs, often staffed by local health departments, include home visits and support services for new and expectant parents.

To me, its a very incremental step to improving the well-being of mothers and children around the commonwealth, said Burke, who was joined by staff from Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky.

By supporting (abortion) access, we are advocating for safer pregnancies, said ACLU senior policy strategist Jackie McGranahan.

Repealing the current abortion ban in Kentucky is not about promoting one choice over the other. Its about recognizing that pregnancy can be complicated. Its our duty to ensure individuals have the autonomy to make decisions that are best for their health.

The only other abortion-related bill filed so far this session is Hadleys Law from Sen. David Yates, D-Louisville. It would allow victims of rape or incest legal access to abortion, as well as women who have nonviable pregnancies like Burkes.

A similar bill filed in 2023 by Rep. Jason Nemes, the majority whip, did not receive so much as a committee assignment, let alone a vote. While Republican leadership has said Yates bill will be assigned to a committee  a requisite step before a bill can receive formal votes  that has yet to happen.

This story may be updated.
More than 260 congressional Democrats called on the Supreme Court to reverse two lower court rulings regarding a widely used abortion pill, saying the opinions threaten the congressionally mandated drug approval process.

In a friend-of-the-court brief, the lawmakers argued that Congress designated the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the expert federal agency with authority to review and approve drugs. But the case involving mifepristone threatens that authority, they said.

Decades after FDAs initial approvalyet somehow in an emergency posturethe district court and the Fifth Circuit intruded into FDAs drug approval process, casting a shadow of uncertainty over its decisions, the lawmakers wrote. The specter of precipitous judicial meddling therefore threatens access to life-improving and lifesaving drugs.

At issue in the case are regulatory actions the FDA took in 2016 and 2021 that broadened access to mifepristone, including extending the time frame for mifepristone use during the early stages of pregnancy and removing in-person dispensing requirements.

If the justices dont reverse the opinion of a federal appeals court, it would invite federal courts to substitute their judgment for the expert conclusions of FDAs scientists, the lawmakers wrote.

According to the lawmakers, the rulings from the district court and federal appeals court second-guessed FDAs expert determinations with cherry-picked anecdotes and studies.

The lawsuit was brought by a group of anti-abortion physicians backed by a right-wing legal group. A federal district court in Texas sided with the doctors and invalidated the FDAs 2000 approval of mifepristone as well as more recent efforts by the agency to make the pill easier to obtain.

But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit narrowed the decision, leaving the FDAs approval of the drug in place but finding the agency likely acted unlawfully when it loosened the rules. The Biden administration appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court.

The justices are set to hear arguments on March 26. While the lower court rulings would severely limit the accessibility of mifepristone, access to the pill remains unchanged for now in the states where abortion isnt banned until the Supreme Court renders a final decision, which is expected by the end of June.

If the Supreme Court affirms the Fifth Circuits decision  it would be effectively rolling back the clock and overriding FDAs robust scientific approvals processwith immediate and sweeping consequences in every state on the ability of patients to access mifepristone for safe abortion care and miscarriage management, the lawmakers wrote.

The brief was signed by 50 Senate Democrats and independents, and 213 members of the House.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE - Wisconsin Statutes books are seen during a Wisconsin Supreme Court public hearing, Sept. 7, 2023, in Madison, Wis. A lawsuit filed by a national Democratic law firm seeking to once again allow voters to return absentee ballots in drop boxes, a practice that was barred in 2022 following criticism by former President Donald Trump, is one step closer to the state Supreme Court. Attorneys for the Elias Law Group on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 filed notice that it was appealing a circuit court judge's ruling last week dismissing its claims challenging the constitutionality of several voting rules in the battleground state. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, file)

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Democrats are appealing a judge's dismissal of their lawsuit as they once again seek to allow Wisconsin voters to return absentee ballots in drop boxes, bringing the challenge one step closer to the liberal-controlled state Supreme Court.

Absentee ballot drop boxes were barred in Wisconsin in 2022 following criticism by former President Donald Trump.

Attorneys for the national Democratic firm the Elias Law Group filed notice Tuesday that it was appealing a circuit judge's ruling last week dismissing its claims challenging the constitutionality of several voting rules in the battleground state.

Dane County Circuit Judge Ann Peacock ruled that the lawsuit did not meet the high burden required to declare that the voting rules being challenged were unconstitutional in every application. However, she did not address whether the legality of absentee ballot drop boxes should be looked at again.

I leave any revisiting of that decision to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the judge wrote.

In July 2022, just months before the midterm election, the 4-3 conservative majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court banned the use of absentee ballot drop boxes, which exploded in popularity in 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Trump, who won Wisconsin in 2016 but lost it in 2020, has falsely alleged that absentee voting in the state is rife with fraud.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped to majority liberal control less than two weeks after the lawsuit seeking to reinstate drop boxes was filed in July.

The rules for voting in Wisconsin are of heightened interest, given its place as one of a handful of battleground presidential states. Four of the past six presidential elections in Wisconsin have been decided by less than a percentage point, including the past two.

In addition to once again legalizing drop boxes, the lawsuit seeks to undo a requirement that a witness sign absentee ballots and that any problems with absentee ballots be corrected by the voter no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day. It argues that absentee voting is a right and not a privilege and that state law not recognizing that violates the Wisconsin Constitution.

The lawsuit was filed against the Wisconsin Elections Commission by Priorities USA, a national Democratic organization, and the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans, as well as a Dane County resident.
Democrats are doing what three months ago might have seemed unthinkable for the party in an election year: preparing to go on offense on border security.

After months of migrant surges at the US southern border and a barrage of GOP attacks against the president and his administration for the handling of the crisis, Democrats see a window of opportunity to seize on House Republicans threats to tank a border compromise at the behest of former President Donald Trump who wants to campaign on the issue.

And they say they arent going to waste it.

Its the closest weve come in decades and theyre rejecting it so they cant blame us, Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat said.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday also lay the blame squarely on Republicans, after embracing a tougher posture on border security over the weekend: Give me the power, I asked them the very day I got into office. Give me the Border Patrol, give me the people, give me the judges, give me the people who can stop this and make it work.

The strategy is already playing out on the campaign trail.

Last week, Democratic candidate Tom Suozzi, who is running in a special election to replace former Rep. George Santos of New York, essentially crashed a news conference his opponent held on immigration. When they were done, Suozzi held his own gaggle with reporters and offered a rebuttal and an outline of bipartisan solutions to fix the border, something he was heavily involved in when he served in Congress back in 2019.

It is a better issue to run on now than it was 10 days ago because of the fact that the deal is so close, Suozzi told CNN in an interview Tuesday.

The emerging border deal thats been the subject of weekslong talks among Senate negotiators would overhaul asylum and give the president new emergency authority to shut down the border, marking a departure from decadeslong protocol.

And Democrats are largely embracing the opportunity to talk about it, even as some argue it could hurt the party with their base and includes provisions that are far more conservative than what they would have embraced even a year ago. There is also the not so small issue of the fact that the text of the bill hasnt been released yet.

Still, Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled publicly and privately the bill isnt going anywhere in the House. House Republicans, meanwhile, are pressing forward with the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas who played a role in the border negotiations.

That confluence of factors, Democratic lawmakers and strategists say, is giving Democrats an opportunity.

Its clear that when it comes to border security, Democrats are for the fix, and Republicans are for the fiction, Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, told CNN.

Its that simple, boiled down messaging, one Democratic strategist explained, that is finally giving Democrats a bit of an upper hand.

Democrats have an opportunity to go on the offensive here. To clearly point out how unserious Republicans are on border security. the Democratic strategist said.

We had a tough deal. And they chickened out, they added, referring to Republicans.

Biden leans in on border security

In a fiery speech to South Carolina Democrats on Saturday, Biden touted the emerging border deal and vowed to shut down the border if given the authority by Congress.

It would also give me as president the emergency authority to shut down the border until it could get back under control. If that bill were the law today, Id shut down the border right now and fix it quickly, he said, calling on Congress to get it done amid deep division on the issue.

It was first time in a campaign setting in this cycle that Biden has actively taken that stance on the border, though his campaign has been drawing sharp contrasts between his immigration policies and those of Trump.

We are going to keep focusing on the offense on Trump and his failure and his extreme rhetoric on immigration, a campaign official told CNN, citing public polling showing that the majority of voters want to see a border solution, like an increase in border agents, that Biden has proposed.

The Biden campaign has slammed Trump for his record on immigration, his anti-immigrant rhetoric and what hes pledged to do if he wins a second term.

But Bidens willingness to publicly back a deal that would clamp down on border crossings didnt go unnoticed by Democratic strategists and allies.

The toughness of it is whats different. But the overwhelming messaging and frame isnt different from before: Weve tried to make progress on this issue and Republicans every step of the way have tried to stop it, another Democratic strategist said.

The difference this time around is the administration is willing to go an extra step in terms of enforcement in a way that advocates, and the left, arent happy about and still Republicans refused to make that happen, they added.

But Republicans argue that Democrats dont have credibility on the issue with the electorate.

Lets have this battle right now. We know what the border was previous to this administration, said Rep. John Duarte, a Republican from California. We know very, very clearly what Joe Bidens failures and the Democrats failures at the border have been.

If that is what they want to talk about, thats great because its what we want to talk about, he added.

Progressives express concern over Bidens border sentiment

Bidens remarks from over the weekend, an extension of a statement released by the White House a day prior, didnt sit well with everyone in his own party.

Democratic Rep. Nanette Barragan of California told CNN she was disappointed with the presidents statement.

I disagree with the presidents statement that the policies that are proposed in the Senate deal are fair. And that theyve negotiated what I think would setback real comprehensive immigration reform, you know, 10 to 15 years, Barragan, said, cautioning that she hasnt seen the text of the border compromise.

Rep. Delia Ramirez, a Democrat from Illinois, called the presidents willingness to give so much on the border issue dangerous.

I think its dangerous for our president to be campaigning on this, and it also creates dangerous precedent. And think about that, if were willing to put this kind of policy, this draconian policy into supplemental piece of legislation, whats next? Healthcare? Affirmative action? The list goes on, Ramirez said.

Notably, the deal isnt expected to include a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who arrived to the United States as children  a population thats typically garnered bipartisan support and been included in previous reform packages.

The deal also does nothing to deal with millions more who are living in the US illegally and had been granted a path to citizenship in the 2013 immigration package.

The exclusion of the groups underscores a shift in the Democratic Party bruised by years of migrant surges at the US-Mexico border.

But Beatriz Lopez, deputy director of Immigration Hub, told CNN Americans support a balanced approach on immigration.

Moving forward, its important that he strike that balance, Lopez said, referring to Biden. It is about rebuilding his coalition, which includes moderates, but it also includes the base.

Barragan echoed that approach, saying that Latino voters want to see border security and a path forward for immigrant communities.

They want to hear that Democrats are fighting for them and were fighting to make sure that we address the southern border, but also finding pathways to lift up our immigrant communities and acknowledging the economic contributions of immigrants, Barragan told CNN.

On Tuesday, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which Barragan chairs, released a set of principles to guide immigration reform. Top of the list was protecting Dreamers.

Despite pushback from progressives over the border compromise, Lopez said its too early to know whether the messaging will divide the coalition heading into November.

Were stuck in this moment right now in these negotiations, but looking forward, as we get closer to November, they have to appeal to not just swing voters, they have to be able to appeal to their base, Lopez said.

Heres the bottom line: You cant out Trump, Lopez added. You have to be the contrast in order to win.

Sen. Dick Durbin, the Democratic whip and a longtime advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, disagreed that Democrats would suppress the vote with the border compromise.

No, Im not worried about it, Durbin said. Because the people I represent understand that whats going on now in unacceptable and has to change.

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Democrats nominated Chef Jose Andres and the World Central Kitchen (WCK) for the Nobel Peace Prize, just after a House GOP lawmaker nominated former President Trump for the prestigious award.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) along with Reps. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) nominated the celebrity chef and his not-for-profit non-government organization (NGO) in a letter addressed to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, citing his innovative model and his impact as a global phenomenon by providing more than 350 million dishes worldwide made by locals.

During many dark and difficult times, the impact Chef Andres and the World Central Kitchen has been extraordinary, the lawmakers wrote in the letter.

All are in awe of how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Chef Andres quickly marshaled the effort to provide 40 million meals to feed the hungry across the world, they added.

They also commended him for helping to feed the National Guard soldiers in 2021 amid the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, how his NGO distributed hot meals and grocery kits in Kyiv during the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war and the aid the group offered to displaced Palestinians amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Andres is a Washington, D.C.-based restaurateur whose disaster relief fund gives out meals during natural disasters, namely starting off right after the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010.

The well-known chef, who operates a two-Michelin-star restaurant as well as several Bib Gourmands, has built his NGO into an organization that topped $500 million in annual revenue in 2022.

His prize nomination came just after Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney (N.Y.) nominated the former president for brokering the Abraham Accords  a formal treaty to normalize relations between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has an unusual ally in his Proposition 1 ballot measure to boost funding for mental health: an outspoken Donald Trump supporter and Kern County lawmaker who co-chaired the committee that led the failed 2021 recall effort against the governor.

State Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) in September voted to place Newsom's plan on the March 5 primary ballot. She recently wrote an opinion piece arguing in favor of his proposal to address the state's mental health crisis and supported the California Republican Party's decision to stay neutral on Proposition 1.

"It's not very often that I agree with the governor, I mean, let's just be honest," Grove said. "But this is something that I feel we really need to do, because the bottom line is there are people on the street that desperately need this help."

Grove's support for Proposition 1 is emblematic of a shift in California politics: To solve a dire homelessness and mental health crisis, Republicans and Democrats are leaving their ideological corners and stepping into an unfamiliar bipartisan middle ground. In a deeply divided nation, the measure offers a rare glimpse of compromise on a policy led by one of the most politically polarizing figures in America.

Proposition 1 asks voters to update Californias aging mental health services system to increase care for drug addiction and provide more than 10,000 new treatment beds through a $6.4-billion bond. Newsom describes the measure as among a "larger constellation" of his efforts to address the most vexing problem of his governorship.

The bills that put the measure before voters received sweeping bipartisan support in the Legislature; one passed with a unanimous vote in the Senate.

A November poll from the Public Policy Institute of California found that two-thirds of likely voters back the measure. The governor's "Yes on Prop. 1" campaign has received more than $10 million in contributions from a mixed bag of political players that includes Native American tribes, hospitals, firefighters, correctional officers, building trades unions and Uber.

Newsom said the rare bipartisanship is a response to "universal frustration."

When it comes to the issue of mental health and behavioral health, broadly defined as substance abuse, it touches everybody in a very personal and profound and consequential way," he said in a recent interview. "It's not just the blight on the streets and sidewalks and the frustration we have there. It's in your home. It's your kids. It's your mom and dad. It's the person in the mirror when you're brushing your teeth. It's a unity agenda, if there ever was one.

Read more: Lawmakers approve Newsom's plan to transform California's mental health system

Proposition 1 is the linchpin of Newsom's answer to a complex homelessness crisis that is intertwined with mental health issues and substance abuse. More than 8 in 10 homeless Californians have experienced a serious mental health condition, and nearly two-thirds have used illicit drugs on a regular basis, according to research by UC San Francisco.

The governor's solutions seek to increase facilities and treatment beds for mental health, provide more funding for healthcare for substance abuse and make it easier for families and authorities to ask courts to mandate treatment for people with severe mental illness. Expanding the availability of housing, in the form of temporary shelters and permanent affordable units, and greater state oversight of local government plans are also critical parts of his solution.

"My frustration is palpable," Newsom said. "We're giving cities and counties the tools. I want them to use them, and it's time to move."

Newsom's impatience stems from the fact that he has spent more than $28 billion to reform the state's mental health system since taking office, and the homelessness population has only grown.

Fox News repeatedly blasts the governor for California's homelessness crisis, and, during a prime-time debate in November, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis taunted Newsom with a map of the public spots in San Francisco where human feces had been reported.

Newsom has repeatedly criticized local governments for not taking a more aggressive stance to address housing and mental health needs in their communities as he takes on progressives in his own party by employing a more moderate approach to the problem than on any other policy issue.

Last year, he signed Senate Bill 43, which expanded the criteria for the detention, treatment and conservatorship of people with severe mental illness  against the wishes of human rights and disability advocates on the left flank of his party. CARE Court, a system that could mandate treatment for drug addiction, received similar pushback in 2022 from the American Civil Liberties Union, which worried that allowing families, doctors and authorities to petition courts to require treatment could walk back rights.

Newsom also urged the Supreme Court to take up a case to decide whether people have a constitutional right to camp on public property when they have no other place to sleep. This month, he called for the high court to correct course and end the costly delays from lawsuits that have plagued our efforts to clear encampments and deliver services to those in need. It's an unusual move for the Democratic governor who more routinely criticizes the court's conservative majority for its stance on abortion and guns.

Proposition 1 is another example of the governor resisting pressure from the left. Progressive advocates took issue with a last-minute change that allows Proposition 1 funding to be used for secure mental health facilities.

Rachel Bhagwat, a legislative advocate for the ACLU California Action, said the organization shares the governors concerns about the need for additional services for people with serious mental health and behavioral health needs. The ACLU, which has not yet taken a position on Proposition 1, is also concerned about the approach the state is taking.

Our California ACLUs believe that these involuntary and coercive methods, any involuntary and coercive methods, should be used only in the most narrow of circumstances, Bhagwat said.

Without an expansion of voluntary treatment services, community-based care and supportive housing, she said, there is a risk of people ending up in forced treatment simply because they were allowed to deteriorate without receiving support earlier on.

Read more: California is reinventing how it deals with mental illness. Now the locals have to make it work

Formal opposition to Proposition 1 comes largely from a group of mental health advocates and a few Republican lawmakers who opposed the bills in the Legislature and have struggled to raise money for their campaign against the measure.

Taking a more centrist position with Proposition 1 could give Newsom broader appeal as he expands his profile outside of the Golden State. Though the governor is not a candidate in the 2024 presidential election and is traveling the country as a surrogate for the Biden-Harris campaign, he's repeatedly named as a potential contender in 2028.

"I think so many Americans are really hungry for some sign of a functional political system where the parties compromise," said Kim Nalder, a professor of political science at Sacramento State. "And if he can be seen as somebody who is shepherding a bipartisan solution to a major problem, that's a huge win for him."

Newsom said his desire to fix the homelessness crisis transcends politics and is about his pride in California. His senior staff said he regularly sends pictures of encampments from his travels around the state as a reminder that they all can do better.

Sen. Brian Dahle (R-Bieber), Newsoms opponent in his 2022 reelection, voted for SB 326, which reconfigured Californias 20-year-old Mental Health Services Act, and declined to vote on AB 531, the bond component of the measure. He said homelessness and mental health are concerns across California and in his rural northern district, where residents live on the sidewalks of Burney Falls, which has a population of 3,000.

Its not really a partisan issue, Dahle said. We don't have the power in our party to go ahead and just reduce regulation and drive down the cost of housing, but we do have the ability to come across the aisle and say, Hey, we're going to work together, and I think we need more of that than less. I would love to see them come our way a lot more.

Newsom is ramping up his campaign on Proposition 1 and released a 30-second ad Tuesday with a bipartisan message that focuses exclusively on the benefits to veterans. The measure allocates more than $1 billion in grants and loans for veteran housing.

Grove said she is the first female veteran to serve in the California Legislature.

"He's wasted a lot of money," she said of Newsom in an interview. "But if this is going to create 10,000 beds for us to house these chronically ill individuals, including United States military veterans that have protected and served this country, we need to do what we can do and hold him accountable in making sure the money is spent correctly."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Progressives are frustrated with President Joe Biden for embracing the bipartisan border security deal that's emerging in the Senate. And they're starting to rage against it more loudly.

It's not the only area where the left is fuming at the Biden administration  its handling of the the Israel-Hamas war has sparked public protests by progressive activists for months. Once the border deal sees the light of day, however, liberal anger is likely to boil over.

Thats partly because Senate negotiators have ruled out serious immigration concessions to the left, such as permanent status for Dreamers, a decision that effectively shifts the negotiations toward the GOP. Progressives are also watching Biden tack to the right by swearing hell shut down the southern border, using authority that the still unreleased bill is set to give him, if Republicans help pass it.

The president would just do very well to remember it has never worked for Democrats to just take up Republican talking points and think that somehow Republicans are going to turn around and thank us for it, said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the Progressive Caucus. That's just not going to happen.



It has the makings of a potential Democratic crackup, if the border proposal thats now on the rocks in the Senate manages to stay alive. Speaker Mike Johnson is signaling the border deal is dead on arrival with his House Republicans, but liberal opposition could prove just as problematic even if Johnson is persuaded to act on it.

Democratic leaders have avoided any criticism that could further endanger the monthslong border talks; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday that his caucus would evaluate it once they could review bill text, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has welcomed the negotiations. But progressives are openly predicting that the entire effort could backfire by further alienating a party base thats already disillusioned by the war in Gaza.

It's bad immigration policy. It's bad for our economy. It's not humane. It's bad for Americans, and then I think it's bad politics as well. I don't think that we should be accepting a hostage-taking situation and Trump-light policies as Democrats, said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas).

The calculus is quite different for Democratic incumbents in battleground states and districts. They have increasingly signaled their willingness to cut a deal that could alleviate a huge electoral vulnerability by showing that the Biden administration can tackle spiking migration.



While the text of Senate negotiators' proposed policy changes isnt available yet, people close to the talks have signaled that the final product is likely to expand details' expulsion authorities, restrict claims for parole and asylum, and set triggers that would close the border altogether if crossings surpass a certain daily threshold.

"You have got to make decisions based on what's the right thing to do. And we need stronger border security," said Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), one of the caucus' two endangered red-state incumbents, said that we need to give [the president] the tools so he can do what we need to do to keep this country safe."

In the House, where Democratic leaders are waiting for details of the border deal to firm up further before weighing in, the party's purple-district incumbents sound much like Tester.

I hope we get a bipartisan border security bill out of the Senate that gets put on the House floor that I can support, said Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), who said she could absolutely support a bipartisan deal.



Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) praised the emerging package as a good deal that would give Biden the tools he needs to solve the problems that most of the American people are complaining about on our southern border. If Republicans don't put it on the House floor, he added, this will be on them.

Senate border negotiators still hope to present a deal to members of both parties this week. It would be tacked on to the White Houses national security emergency spending request, which includes aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the southern border. With both chambers and the White House on the line this fall, though, the party is painfully aware that an intraparty squabble with the left could materialize.

Even beyond the Progressive Caucus, key House Democratic voting blocs are riled up about the talks and airing anxiety about what the White House might concede to Republicans. The "Tri-Caucus of groups representing minority voters is also leery of the Senate's deal, with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus particularly outraged at its exclusion so far from the talks  though some members in Tri-Caucus groups have cracked open the door to supporting it.

Republicans are just getting what they want on the border, but then we aren't getting reforms on immigration. And so it doesn't feel like there's a give and take here, said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

Some progressives see a potential border deal between Biden and Republicans as a betrayal of his promises to reverse former President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policies.



Others outright argue the border security provisions Republicans have proposed, such as tightening asylum standards, would actually increase migration problems by increasing the number of illegal migrants. That would give further political fodder to the GOP, those Democrats say.

The deal risks resulting in "a lot more people either camped out on the Mexico side of the border or having to rely more on criminal organizations to migrate because we're trying some ineffective, Republican-like policies, Casar said.

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates told POLITICO in a statement that the American people overwhelmingly agree with what President Biden underlined in his Day One reform plan: that our immigration system is broken and we have an imperative to secure the border and treat migrants with dignity.

The intraparty tension helps explain why many Democrats are careful to put the onus on Republicans to support the mostly opaque Senate border talks, particularly as Johnson comes close to squashing the entire effort outright. Yet the tight margins in the House mean that while conservative resistance to the border deal may be louder than progressive opposition, both could prove just as perilous to a border deal.

Top Senate Democrats, meanwhile, are offering their own subtle advice to the left: Be prepared to give ground.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), his party's lead negotiator on the border deal, predicted that there are certainly going to be some Republicans who vote against this, and there are going to be some Democrats [who] vote against this.

I hope to be able to make the case that there are a lot of really important reforms to Democrats  but yes, I think this this was always going to be a true compromise, he added.

Obviously, this will be an issue that's going to be discussed" during the election season, said Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. That's why it's important for us to come to a bipartisan agreement, and certainly Democrats are willing to do that. But that means both sides gotta give.
Denmark's King Frederik X, front left, is welcomed by Polish President Andrzej Duda, front right, for a meeting Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. Frederik began his first trip abroad as monarch on Wednesday with a visit to Poland that is focused on promoting Danish business and climate friendly policies. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

WARSAW, Poland (AP)  King Frederik X of Denmark began his first trip abroad as monarch Wednesday with a three-day visit to Poland that is focused on promoting his country's businesses and climate policies.

Frederik, who was proclaimed king on Jan. 14, received a red-carpet welcome at the presidential palace in Warsaw, where he was greeted by Polish President Andrzej Duda and an honor guard.

Danish monarchs traditionally have traveled to another Scandinavian country first, but Frederik's visit to Poland was planned before his mother, Queen Margrethe II, announced her surprise abdication in a New Year's Eve address.

The king's trip therefore was not being treated as a state visit. He arrived without his Australian-born wife, Queen Mary, but at the head of a delegation of government and business officials.

Later Wednesday, Frederik laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a memorial for soldiers who died defending Poland and he met with the speaker of the Sejm, the lower house of parliament. He is to attend an evening dinner at the Royal Palace in Warsaw alongside Duda.

Denmarks foreign minister, defense minister and minister for climate, energy and utilities are accompanying the king, and Danish business representatives were expected to attend the dinner.

On Thursday, Frederik plans to watch a signing agreement for a project designed to collect and reuse excess heat from the Warsaw metro by sending it into the city's district heating system. His agenda on Friday includes visiting NATOs regional headquarters in Szczecin, a city in northwest Poland.

In his arrival speech, the king said Polish-Danish ties would be strengthened by renewable energy partnerships in the coming years.

Renewable energy, sustainable production and new technologies are at the core of our shared vision for the future, a safe and thriving world for future generations, he said.

Denmark prides itself on its commitment to renewable energy. The small Scandinavian country claims that more than 50% of its electricity is supplied by wind and solar power. However, the most widely used renewable energy source in Denmark is bioenergy.
This is what an overwhelmed city can look like: a preschooler sleeping under a bridge for a month; crowds lining up each night to get food and shelter; and the mayor calling out for help. And when that city is Denver in the winter, and the overnight temperatures sink below zero degrees Fahrenheit, the problems are life-threatening.

Our city is really struggling, Mayor Mike Johnston told CNN after he visited families in a makeshift encampment  a sign of the unfolding emergency triggered by the mass arrival of people from outside the city.

This is both a humanitarian crisis for the individuals that are arriving, and its a fiscal crisis for the cities that are serving. Those two crises are coming to a head right now.

Few, if any, of the thousands of people who have arrived in Denver planned for Colorados capital to be their destination after monthslong treks away from persecution or deprivation in search of safety and a chance at the American Dream.

But when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott decided to offer free bus rides to get asylum seekers out of his state, the options given were generally New York, Chicago or Denver, migrants said. Each of those three cities has a Democratic mayor and Abbott has targeted them as part of his stated aim for the rest of America (to) understand what is going on. Migrants told CNN they had heard New York was too full, believed Chicago would be too cold and thus picked Denver.

The mayors of New York, Chicago and Denver have issued joint calls for the arrivals of migrants to be treated as a national problem with a national solution. They have called for a coordinated entry system, but Abbotts spokesperson told CNN in December the only fix was for President Joe Bidens administration to secure the border.

Venezuelans set up this encampment north of Denver's downtown, between rail tracks and interstates. - Evelio Contreras/CNN

A migrant extinguishes a fire as the group who had sheltered under the bridge gets ready to go to a makeshift shelter at a church. - Evelio Contreras/CNN

Texas has sent 15,700 people to Denver since May. Initially, many were Venezuelans applying for asylum who had Temporary Protected Status under a federal program that allows people from some crisis-hit countries to live and work legally in the United States for a period of time. The city was able to help get the migrants on their feet and soon, they were self-sufficient members of the community, Johnston said.

The Biden administration expanded the TPS program in September after demands for action by New York City, but it still only applies to Venezuelans who arrived in the US before August 1, and most of the newer arrivals in Denver do not qualify. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has not signaled if he plans further expansions.

Adriana, who did not give her last name, said she fled Venezuelas dire economic straits with her husband and young son. They took the land route through the treacherous Darien Gap, traveling thousands of miles through Central America and then Mexico to reach the US border, she said.

Once they were bussed up to Denver, they found themselves with fellow Venezuelans at an encampment under a bridge north of downtown, near where I-70 crosses I-25, in an area full of squat industrial buildings alongside the freight rail tracks. The migrants cooked gifted food for each other in a makeshift kitchen, shared stories and became a small community.

A donated tent was the first American home for John David, Adrianas 4-year-old son. The family stayed there for a month, but the weather soon made the preschooler ill.

The cold weather has been tough, Adriana told us earlier this month, on a day when a howling winter wind drowned out the noise from the interstates. Its horrible, my son suffers from asthma, and hes been sick with a cough. Ive been treating him with some medication that was given to me.

John David, 4, spent a month sleeping in a tent in this encampment. - Evelio Contreras/CNN

Some of those living in the tent village have no shoes, and they layer socks to give their feet a little protection from the cold and the crust of frozen snow that covers the stony dirt below. Inside the tents, sheets of polystyrene foam are used as insulation, and clothes are piled up on church-donated mattresses to give extra support and warmth.

As an Arctic blast began to hit the city, Mayor Johnston and his staff were out warning the migrants of the freezing temperatures to come and urging them to go to new shelters or warming centers. Hotels leased by the city just last month to house migrants are already full.

Were having the coldest days of the year and we want to move all the people inside. We have beds, its warmer, he said in Spanish made fluent from his years as a school principal in northern Colorado, working with many Latino children and parents.

All I want is a job

Checking in at the shelter later that day, Johnston was soon swarmed by people grateful for the help being offered, but full of questions: How long can the city help them, but most of all, when can they work?

He asked if they came from Venezuela, and then when they arrived in the US, having to explain if they came after July 31, 2023, there is no way for asylum-seekers to work legally unless the federal government extends TPS. And that is frustrating for both the mayor and migrants.

You talk to people who say, I walked 3,000 miles to get here, and all I want is a job. Can you help me find some place to work? I dont need charity. I just want to be able to support myself. Can I work? Johnston said. And at the same time, we got employers all over the city who call me every day and say, Hey, I know youve got migrants who just arrived. I got open jobs. Can I please hire them?

But right now, the answer is no.

The federal government could provide next to no support to cities if all these folks have work authorization, because theyd be supporting themselves, Johnston said. But with some being told they may have to wait six years for their asylum claims to be heard, he said, much of the need to support them will fall on the cities where they are waiting.

Yorgelis Fabiola, who is from Venezuela, said she was pleased to see the mayor asking about their situation, but she still needed answers. It really is worrying. I dont have a job right now, Im afraid that when my stay ends here, theyll throw me out on the street with my son, because I have nowhere else to go.

Yorgelis Fabiola, left, apologized to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, right, for having to enter the US illegally. - Evelio Contreras/CNN

Without the work authorization granted to earlier arrivals, some migrants from Venezuela are trying to get day jobs for cash. - Evelio Contreras/CNN

As she shared her concerns with Johnston, Fabiola began to cry. I thank all of you and I apologize for having entered your country illegally.

Denver has now updated its policies on housing migrant families, resuming requirements for families to leave city facilities, but raising initial stays for new arrivals to six weeks.

Johnston is looking at Denver having to foot an annual bill of $180 million for migrant services, which would lead to major cuts in other city budgets, he said. We dont want to take police officers off the street. We dont want to take firefighters off the street. We dont want to not do trash pickup or not have our parks and recreation centers open. But hard decisions are coming, he said.

If migrants tell the city they have connections in other places, Johnstons administration will try to help to get them there. Adriana and her son John David got bus vouchers to California, but Johnston said there was no attempt to move migrants on unless they asked.

Without work authorization, some migrants are trying to find off-the-books employment. Groups congregate outside the big hardware stores from 5:30 a.m., before sunrise, hoping to pick up day labor jobs for cash, in construction or shoveling snow or doing whatever needs to be done.

Its hit or miss, with one man telling CNN he had found work for only 15 days in the last three months. And even working is no guarantee of being paid, with another man complaining to the mayor that he labored for 10 days with others to build a roof and was sent packing with no money.

We want you to survive

Amid the desperation, kind Denverites have created pockets of warmth and kindness.

Yong Prince plans to retire and has a contract to sell her motel at the end of next month. But for now, she has opened it to hundreds of migrants needing shelter.

She said she was born in North Korea during the Korean War and still remembers how hard her own life was. I was hungry as a kid, she said, tears beginning to well in her eyes. We didnt have any meals for a long time  thats why I feed them.

She cooks breakfast before 5 a.m. for those going out on the day labor hunt, using food thats been donated or that shes bought herself.

Yong Prince opened up her motel to house migrants for free. - Evelio Contreras/CNN

A widow who also lost her adult son to cancer, Prince clucks around the migrants like a mother hen, and in return, they call her Mama, a word that crosses the language divide.

Pastor Keith Reeser opened his church too, for overnight stays, hot showers and warm meals, with the backing of his congregation, the city and donations. When he heard migrants were still sleeping rough under a bridge on one frigid night, his response was immediate.

We grabbed a couple of my buddies and I said, Lets go get them and lets get them out of this situation.

Reeser knows the problem is overwhelming at the moment, so he focuses on what he can do, with mattresses on the gymnasium floor and food when its available.

If you cant get this level of immediate civility, then how would you ever arrive at anything else in life? We want you to survive  we care for you as a human, he said of the migrants.

Outside the Denver Rescue Mission, migrants mixed with the citys resident unhoused population, all shuffling to try to keep warm as they waited to get a bed for the night.

Its one of the current pain points of the migrant influx to Denver, as the needs of the new arrivals come up against those whove been here a while.

This is the tightest that Ive ever seen it, facility-wide, in a metropolitan way, due to the influx of migrants, said Robert Thompson, a veteran whos been dealing with homelessness for years.

Robert Thompson, a veteran who's been dealing with homelessness for years, said he had seen resources become strained with the influx of migrants. - Evelio Contreras/CNN

A group of people camp out in one of the rooms at Yong Princes motel. Carlo, center, eating pizza, said Prince had been like a mother to the migrants, cooking them breakfast every day before they went to look for work. - Evelio Contreras/CNN

Mayor Johnston believes Denver and other cities can spearhead a solution that links the stream of asylum seekers that will not stop with the needs of places that want workers.

We need more work authorization from Congress. We need federal dollars, and we also need a coordinated entry system. It shouldnt just be people randomly bouncing from Chicago to New York to Denver looking for options, he said. We ought to be able to distribute people in places where they have work authorization, they have federal support to cities that have capacity. And if we do those three things, this is actually a very solvable problem.

Johnston said Texas Gov. Abbott had not returned his calls but if he could talk to him, he would empathize. I understand they feel like they have this huge influx of people that they cant handle in Texas alone. I agree with him that no one state or one city should need to solve this entire challenge. But I think theres a way for us to work together to say, lets create a coordinated plan where we send people to cities that have capacity, where they can be successful.

Despite the difficult situation, Johnston said he can stay positive. Its very hard to be angry at these folks when you come and talk to them, he said.

Its hard for me to get three kids to the grocery store and back, he said, marveling at how parents got their children safely through a perilous intercontinental journey, betting their entire lives that they would find something better. Thats the heart of, the American spirit. And so, whether theyre Americans in citizenship or Americans in spirit, based on that willingness to fight for their families, we just want them to be successful.

But today, the crisis continues.

Were not going to let women and kids sleep on the street in 5-degree weather in this city, Johnston said. We need to intervene.

Two children play at Yong Princes motel, which is under contract to be sold. - Evelio Contreras/CNN

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Michigan Republican lawmakers are sharing their perspectives on a controversial recording of a social media conversation about healthcare for transgender and gender-nonconforming Michiganders.

The conversation has become a flash point because about 49 minutes in, the discussion veered into an endgame for bans on healthcare involving medicines and surgeries for transgender persons.

Screen capture of the Twitter Space conversation hosted by State Rep. Brad Paquette (R-Niles). (WLNS)

In terms of endgame, why are we allowing these practices for anyone? Michigan State Rep. Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) is heard saying in the recording. If we are going to stop this for anyone under 18, why not apply it for anyone over 18? Its harmful across the board and thats something we need to take into consideration in terms of the endgame.

Watch the complete conversation with Rep. Paquette

The X Space host State Rep. Brad Paquette tells 6 News that while he would not oppose cosmetic surgeries, there are some care models, such as those involving the genitals, he would support banning.

The medical professional does not have a right to physically harm a person and their reproductive system for the rest of that persons life, Paquette tells 6 News. They dont. They dont have the right to do that to cure mental anguish.

However, two other lawmakers who participated in the conversation say they would not support a ban on transgender healthcare for adults.

State Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Allen) says he differs from Schriver and Paquette.

There is a lot more opportunity to say, hey, people can make decisions for themselves and even when those decisions are harmful to a certain degree, theyre going to be allowed,' he tells 6 News in a phone interview. I mean, Im very big on personal liberty. So, I probably have a different view on this than what Representative Schriver is suggesting.

Listen to the complete conversation with Sen. Lindsey

Michigan State Sen. Jonathan Lindsey (R-Allen). Courtesy photo. WLNS

Rep. Tom Kunse (R-Clare) responded to an inquiry from 6 News by email.

I am not interested in banning surgery for adults, Kunse wrote in the email. I did not know someone would comment on adult surgeries during the conversation on Twitter. I am against irreversible gender surgeries on children. There is a reason we consider an adult to be past 18-21 years of age. Until a person reaches that age, they are not cognitively developed enough to make an informed decision. We should protect kids, but adults have the freedom to get elective surgeries.

State Rep. Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing) told 6 News on Monday they found the discussion hosted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, offensive. Dievendorf is Michigans first non-binary lawmaker and uses they/them pronouns.

Watch the complete conversation with Rep. Dievendorf

Paquette tells 6 News  and provides screenshots  he emailed his colleagues in both the House and the Senate to participate in the conversation on Jan. 26. The email invitation had a different day. Still, he says the date change was sent to lawmakers as well.

Stephen Rassi is a licensed social worker in private practice. The majority of his clients are transgender people or their families. He says the process of transition is not as simple as some lawmakers imply.

About half of transgender people dont need hormones or surgery, and about half of them do need hormones and surgery, he tells 6 News. And, so, we want to help people find whats right for them and live their best, most authentic lives and have the right body they need if they need changes in their body.

Watch the complete conversation with Stephen Rassi

Rassi notes there are clinical care guidelines created by experts from multiple fields who work with transgender patients. Those guidelines were last updated in 2022.

Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People Version 8Download

On Tuesday night, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer weighed in on the controversy in an exclusive statement to 6 News.

I want people to know that Michigan is a place that will fight for your freedom to be yourself. Sadly, in Michigan and across the country, we are seeing extreme lawmakers pushing radical bans that strip trans people of their rights and freedoms based solely on politics instead of whats in the best interest of the people they are supposed to serve. Thats why I expanded the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to build protections for LGBTQ Michiganders into law, and I am committed to vetoing any legislation that hits my desk trying to undermine these freedoms. Michigan must be a welcoming and safe state for everyone. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, emailed statement to 6 News on discussions to ban gender-affirming care in Michigan.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
A suspect is hospitalized after being shot by deputies who were serving a warrant for his arrest, the Parker County Sheriffs Office announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

The suspect produced a firearm and shot at deputies as they were serving the warrant in southern Parker County, according to the post.

Deputies returned fire, striking the suspect multiple times, the post says.

Deputies immediately provided aid and called an ambulance. The suspect was transported by air ambulance to a Fort Worth hospital.

His condition was unknown, according to the post.

The Texas Rangers responded to the scene and are investigating the shooting.
30th Zigong Int'l Dinosaur Lantern Festival to kick off in SW China's Sichuan

People's Daily Online) 15:31, January 30, 2024

Colorful lanterns are lit up for the upcoming 30th Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China Zigong municipal committee)

The 30th Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival will officially kick off in Zigong city, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Feb. 2.

This year's lantern festival will feature celebrations for the Year of the Dragon (Loong, or Chinese dragon). Thousands of sets of colorful lanterns will enable visitors to immerse themselves in profound Chinese culture and Zigong's lantern art. They will also be impressed by the fusion of traditional Chinese culture and new trends.

In June 2023, the organizing committee of the Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival launched a contest calling on children around the world to submit paintings for the 30th festival. Fifty-four were selected. Their winning works were then made into lanterns, which will be exhibited at the festival.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
The Mississippi Court of Appeals on Tuesday overturned the conviction of a former Jackson police detective in the 2019 death of a man who was pulled from a vehicle while officers were searching for a pastors killer.

In acquitting Anthony Fox of culpable negligence manslaughter, a majority of the appeals court wrote that prosecutors failed to prove Fox acted in a grossly negligent manner or that the death of 62-year-old George Robinson was reasonably foreseeable under the circumstances.

In August 2022, a Hinds County jury convicted Fox, and Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten sentenced him to five years in prison  a 20-year sentence with 15 suspended.

An indictment accused Fox of pulling Robinson from a car on Jan. 13, 2019, and striking him in the head and chest as police were searching for a juvenile who was a suspect in the killing of a pastor. Robinson died in a hospital two days later.

An autopsy report listed Robinsons death as a homicide caused by at least three blunt injuries to the head, according to court records.

A medical examiner, Dr. Mark LeVaughn, testified that an autopsy conducted by another physician showed abrasions on Robinsons face but no evidence of traumatic injury to the chest, according to court records.

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch filed papers last year asking the appeals court to overturn Foxs conviction. She argued that prosecutors failed to prove the core element of culpable negligence manslaughter, which is wanton disregard of, or utter indifference to, the safety of human life.

Robinson received a small, superficial abrasion on his forehead but had no other visible injuries from the struggle with officers, Fitch wrote.

The Hinds County District Attorneys Office said it could find no other case in which the attorney general, who represents the state in criminal appeals, argued to reverse a conviction.

In a dissenting opinion Tuesday, Appeals Court Judge John Emfinger wrote that it was clear that Fox and another officer forcibly removed Robinson from a vehicle and that Robinsons head hit the asphalt roadway as officers were restricting his hands.

Based on the evidence presented and the jury instructions given, I find the evidence was legally sufficient for twelve reasonable, fair-minded (jurors), in the exercise of impartial judgment to find Fox guilty of culpable-negligence manslaughter, Emfinger wrote.

Fitch praised the decision to overturn Foxs conviction.

Today, a wrong has been righted, and justice has been done, she said in a statement. The good men and women who wear the uniform to keep us safe and maintain law and order in our communities need to know that their Attorney General will always have their back.
A federal appeals court refused to rehear a case that would bar private groups from suing under a key section of the Voting Rights Act, which safeguards against racial discrimination in elections.

A group of Arkansas plaintiffs, who are being represented by civil rights groups, challenged a redistricting plan for the Arkansas State House of Representatives that undermines the voting power of Black voters. This case has the potential to evolve into the next legal battle at the U.S. Supreme Court.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the request for the case to go before the full 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a three-judge panel ruled last year that only the U.S. attorney general can enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

The panel determined that federal law does not allow private groups and individuals, who have historically filed the majority of lawsuits under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act for decades, to bring legal actions because the law does not explicitly mention them. Only the head of the Justice Department has the authority to initiate such lawsuits.

The 8th Circuits decision is inconsistent with the text of the Voting Rights Act, and it is inconsistent with decades of historical practice and precedent, James Sample, a Hofstra University constitutional law professor, told Salon. The undermining of Section 2 exposes the con-game of the Supreme Courts 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, in which the Court falsely rationalized the undermining of Section 5 pre-clearance by relying on the promise of the often-inadequate backup of after-the-fact Section 2 litigation.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Arkansas State Conference NAACP and the Arkansas Public Policy Panel challenging a new voting map that took effect in December 2021. The plaintiffs said in their complaint that the newly drawn Arkansas House of Representatives district map diluted the strength of Black voters.

The 8th Circuits decision to not rehear the panel decision is a direct threat to democracy, Leslie Proll, senior director of the voting rights program at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said in a statement.

The court is jeopardizing our freedom to vote by denying the very people harmed by racial discrimination the ability to enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, ignoring almost six decades of precedent and practice, Proll said.

The groups are now exploring next legal steps, according to the ACLU.

The Arkansas case holds national importance concerning the Voting Rights Act, which was enacted in 1965 to combat racial discrimination in elections.

Groups have filed lawsuits under Section 2 for decades and for decades courts have recognized that private right of action, Mitchell Brown, a senior attorney at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, told Salon. Taking away the publics ability to challenge discriminatory maps and voter suppression laws puts the foundation of our democracy at risk.

A ruling that there is no private right of action under the VRA is very significant, Brown said. If the Department of Justice is not sympathetic to a voting rights issue, they have the choice to not enforce Section 2 of the VRA and that would be devastating to the many communities who are facing voter suppression now.

This decision also underscores the need for substantive federal voting rights legislation that would strengthen the Voting Rights Act, to stop these undemocratic attacks on our right to vote, he added.

Many civil rights groups are community-based and strive to embody a community-lawyering model, but with the inability to bring cases under the VRA, civil rights groups and communities will be forced to rely on the Department of Justice to bring those cases  and DOJ is not located in the communities we serve, Brown explained.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Well still be able to bring constitutional claims, but those are harder to prove in many respects because they require evidence of intent, whereas the VRA specifically refers to results and the effect of voting statutes, he said.

On top of this, if individuals are unable to bring claims under the VRA, then they will have to depend on DOJ, and they may not be as sympathetic to whats happening on the ground as community groups are, Brown said.

This decision is a significant break with prior cases and it now makes it much harder to enforce voting rights, especially going into the 2024 election where many states are making it more difficult to vote, David Schultz, professor of political science at Hamline University, told Salon.

This decision, along with others by the US Supreme Court weakening the VRA are going to undermine voting rights protections for people of color.

With only the government having the ability to initiate challenges under the VRA, certain issues may not be pursued due to constraints like limited time, resources and knowledge, he added. In instances where the Justice Department and president do not support the VRA and refuse to enforce it, individuals have limited alternatives or ways to bypass their lack of support.

Despite right-wing ideological tropes that judges should merely be umpires, conservatives on the federal judiciary, led by the Roberts Court majority, has aggressively re-written the Voting Rights Act to the point of rendering it unrecognizable, Sample said. And why? For no reason other than they dont like it and never did.
Stalking victims would be armed with stronger protections if proposed changes to a Florida law outlawing unauthorized use of wireless tracking devices are enacted.

Its currently illegal to install any kind of tracking device, including surveillance software on phones, without the consent of the person being tracked.

But the prohibition is only a second-degree misdemeanor, and law enforcement officers have told victims that they have little power to investigate complaints, State Rep. Michele Rayner, a Democrat representing parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties told the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee at a recent hearing.

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Rayner said she was a victim of tracking and wished the proposed law was in place at the time.

Rayner said she has friends who have been victims of having things installed on their phones without them knowing.

Law enforcement officers told her that their hands were tied, she said. Thats because a second-degree misdemeanor charge doesnt give police authority to obtain a search warrant that could help them prove who purchased the device, who downloaded the monitoring software, and who is using the device to track victims.

Similar legislative bills cleared five committees with unanimous support and the Senate version only needs to earn a favorable vote by the chambers Rules committee before advancing to votes by the full House and Senate. If that happens and the bill is signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, it would become law on Oct. 1.

An analysis of the House bill by legislative staff members explains that expanding the law would enable prosecution of people who do not install or place a device or application themselves but nonetheless access or use the device to monitor another person or that persons property without the persons consent.

Offenses would become third-degree felonies, which would enable police to seek search warrants, the analysis said.

Rep. Tony Ovendorf, a Republican representing parts of Martin and St. Lucie counties, said he was urged by police departments to introduce the bill.

Jonathan Martin, who is sponsoring the bill in the state Senate, said the changes are needed because its so much easier now to track individuals through AirTags, and apps and other devices.

While Apple has created alerts to let smartphone users know if they are being monitored with one of the companys AirTags  available for about $30 each  Martin said other trackers are available that could go completely undetected unless youre trained or skilled to find those tracking devices.

Some other devices are even advertised as ideal for clandestine monitoring, the analysis said.

The analysis identified four types of technology that make wireless tracking possible. They are GPS (global positioning system) via satellite, Wi-Fi positioning, Bluetooth Low Energy and Ultra-Wideband Technology.

The maximum penalty for violations of the current law are 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. The proposed law would increase the penalty to up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Richard Ansara, a South Florida-based criminal defense attorney who represents people accused of domestic violence, said changing the law to a third-degree felony could be inappropriate if the purpose is solely to be able to apply for search warrants. Another law could be modified to permit search warrants in tracking device cases, he said.

People do desperate things in relationships, specifically when they are trying to determine whether infidelity is occurring, Ansara said in an email. Some may decide to drop an AirTag in a spouses vehicle and or clothing to try to get to the bottom of what is happening in their relationships. Is this correct behavior? No.

Should this behavior be punished more harshly than someone who straight up punches their spouse in the face? Absolutely not. That person would only be charged with a misdemeanor battery.

The bills would exempt parents who monitor the comings and goings of their minor children, caregivers who want to track an elderly or disabled adult (with permission of the adult or the adults physician), and law enforcement officers using tracking technology lawfully as part of a criminal investigation.

The exemption would also apply to the owner of a vehicle with tracking technology if the owner removes it before the title is transferred or the vehicle lease expires, if the new owner consents in writing for it to remain installed, or if the device was installed by the vehicle manufacturer.

And of course, purchasers can place as many wireless tracking devices as they want on their own possessions. Numerous reports of owners locating their stolen goods with the aid of tracking devices have been reported lately.

A persons consent to be tracked would be considered revoked if one files for dissolution of marriage or files for an injunction for protection against the other.

A date for consideration of the Senate bill by the Senate Rules Committee is not yet scheduled. The 2024 legislative session is set to end on March 8.

Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  The Dothan Police Department is making it easier for residents of the Circle City to find information on whats going on around them.

In the app, citizens can look for crime reports, incidents, press releases, daily mugshot lists, and jobs.

The app can be downloaded on the Google Play and Apple App stores by typing Dothan Police in the search bar.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
A double murder suspect wanted by U.S. Marshals has possibly been spotted in Dayton.

Derrell Brown is wanted for the murder of his girlfriend and her niece in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2019, according to U.S. Marshals.

Brown is described as a 58 Black male with brown eyes and black hair.

>> This is ridiculous; Man caught on video putting cat into bag, slamming it to ground in Butler Co.

He may also go by JJ Robinson, Michael Richardson, or Marcus Wright.

A spokesperson for the Dayton Police Department said that a person who matched Browns description was spotted in Dayton.

A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information that leads to the capture of Brown.

If you have information you are asked to call 1-877-926-8332 or visit usmarshals.gov/tips.
Stewart Powell, of Linn & Owen Jewelers in downtown Lansing, poses for a portrait at his work bench Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.

LANSING  Linn & Owen Jewelers, a downtown mainstay since it first opened its doors 107 years ago, is closing.

Workers were putting up "Stew is retiring; Going out of Business" signs Wednesday at the business that dates back to 1917 when Jesse Hanes opened Hanes Jewelry on East Washtenaw Street.

Owner Stewart Powell, 66, started working at the store when he was 15 and then bought it in 1993.

"The business has a tremendous history," he said.

The store went through three different name changes and a few different owners to become Linn & Owen Jewelers in the 1940s and has operated at four different addresses, all within a half block of the city's downtown. The jeweler moved to its current home, a 2,000-square-foot storefront at 223 S. Washington Square, in 2007.

Old timepieces in for repair, seen Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at jeweler Stewart Powell's repair desk at Linn & Owen Jewelers in Lansing.

The decision to close it wasn't easy to make: Powell has been thinking about retirement for three or four years now. He grew up in the business, learning everything he knows about jewelry repair and design, and then horology, which is the design, construction, and maintenance of clocks and watches.

"There's a favorite poem of mine," Powell said. "One of the lines is 'The clock of life is wound but once.' It's a timing thing. There are a lot of considerations. I consider myself beyond the age of invulnerability."

Being a part of Lansing's business community has been "a tremendous blessing," he said. "It's just been an honor to be here and to meet the people that we've met. Your customers become friends and that's absolutely the toughest part about making this decision."

The work of creating custom jewelry, and repairing clocks and watches "is magic," Powell said. "It's all about the people, memories, emotions, the art. There's just so many different aspects of this that have been so incredibly special to me."

Jeweler Mary Dunker, of Linn & Owen Jewelers, works on a ring Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. She has worked at the downtown Washington Square jewelry store for 38 years.

But Powell said he's taken just one week of vacation since 1998 and it's time to enjoy retirement.

The business will close within the next two months after all its inventory has been sold, he said.

"I've told my landlord that I'll be done here at the end of April, but I expect that the retail business aspect of it will be done within the next maybe six or seven weeks or sooner, depending on how fast the merchandise is gone," Powell said.

The South Washington Square business will begin its "going out of business" sale on jewelry, watches and clocks marked down by up to 70% off, on Thursday, Powell said. Work the business has already committed to will be finished before the store vacates the property, he said.

"I love this place," Powell said. "I love downtown. It's been my life for most of my life."

Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on X @GrecoatLSJ .

Linn & Owen Jewelers in downtown Lansing, pictured Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.

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This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Linn & Owen Jewelers owner to retire, close 107-year-old business
Farmers block the A51 highway during their strike. Gilles Bader/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa

Dozens of protesting farmers were arrested in France on Wednesday after forcibly entering a key wholesale food market south of Paris, as convoys inched closer to the French capital.

At least 79 farmers were arrested, the broadcaster BFMTV reported on Wednesday evening, citing the police. There was damage to property in a storage area of the market.

The public prosecutor's office in Creteil said that 15 farmers had already been taken into police custody in the morning because they tried to blockade the market area with their vehicles.

The huge transshipment centre for agricultural products is a symbolically important destination for the farmers in France who have been protesting for over a week.

Riot police were out in force to protect the market, with armoured vehicles and helicopters deployed.

In order to prevent tractor columns from other parts of the country from advancing towards the Rungis International Market, Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin ordered additional armoured vehicles to the province on Wednesday.

They confronted farmers with their tractors on some highways, but there were no clashes. Some of the farmers bypassed the police blockades and continued on their way towards Paris.

Farmers have set up blockades on most highways around the capital. A ring of blockades also closed around the city of Lyon on Wednesday.

In the north of the country, farmers from Belgium and France blocked a number of border crossings between the two countries, the daily La Voix du Nord reported.

Darmanin earlier said that he did not want to have protesting farmers removed from blockades on motorways.

"There is no question of evacuating the farmers who are there," Darmanin told the France 2 radio station. But he named entering Paris, the capital's airports or the Rungis wholesale market as "red lines."

The farmers are demonstrating against falling incomes, EU environmental regulations and what they see as growing red tape.

The government has already made concessions - but it hasn't gone far enough for the farmers.

French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau promised further support for winegrowers totalling 80 million ($86.7 million) on Sud Radio.

On Thursday, President Emmanuel Macron plans to discuss the problems of farmers with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Macron said that French farmers want clear measures regarding imports from Ukraine, clarity on the EU's planned free trade agreement with the South American economic alliance Mercosur, which France rejects in its current form, and flexibility on some rules of the EU's common agricultural policy.

Farmers with their tractors block the A51 highway during the farmers' strike. Gilles Bader/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The George Washington University Hospital (GWUH) initiated dozens of layoffs this week, the hospital confirmed on Wednesday.

The hospital cited this being a challenging time in the Healthcare industry as a reason for the layoffs. As a result, the hospital is restructuring areas and departments in order to increase operational efficiencies and reduce costs.

One person displaced by house fire in Prince Georges County

In a statement, the George Washington University Hospital Nurses Union said it was deeply saddened to have learned of the elimination of certain positions and subsequent firing and/or demotion of GWUH staff.

There were no announcements from the CEO or CNO and no word on plans prior to the layoff announcements, the statement continued.

We are in a profession of caring and UHS has demonstrated that they are not. Our patients and staff deserve better, the statement concluded.

GWUH said that, in total, about 60 staff members were impacted and less than 3% of the workforce were eliminated. The majority, according to the hospital, were offered other positions in the organization.

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Most of these positions are not directly involved in the front line of patient care delivery, the hospital stated.

All impacted employees have been valued members of our team, and we are treating them with dignity and respect during this difficult time. We are making every effort to support impacted employees, including transitioning the majority to other currently open positions or providing eligible employees with a separation package, GWUH continued.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A thoughtful 23-year-old man was found dead in the back seat of a car in North Carolina, officials said.

Now, almost a year after the mans death, a driver is accused of hiding his body. The Forsyth County Sheriffs Office said Chase Oliver Martin hit the man with his car, put him inside and drove off.

Deputies in a news release didnt list attorney information for Martin, who was charged Jan. 18 with felony concealment of death.

The case dates to March 10, when a call from the Winston-Salem area led the sheriffs office to the body of 23-year-old Tyler Joseph Burdi. Deputies learned Martin and Burdi had been in that same area together but got separated.

Then as Martin was leaving, deputies said he accidentally struck Burdi with a car. The driver is accused of not seeking medical attention and reportedly continued to drive off with Martin in the car.

The sheriffs office said Burdis body was found in the car when Martin tried to drive back to the scene.

After deputies conducted an investigation, Martin was taken into custody Jan. 29 and given a $10,000 bond. The 25-year-old Yadkinville resident has a court date in February.

Meanwhile, Burdi is remembered in an online obituary as a Winston-Salem-area man who had his life ahead of him.

Tyler was a kind, sensitive and thoughtful soul who will be missed and remembered by the many lives he touched, the post on the Affordable Cremations of Winston-Salem website said. As a young man with great promise, he was taken from us much to soon.

The Forsyth County Sheriffs Office didnt share additional information with McClatchy News on Jan. 31, citing an ongoing investigation.

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EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU)  State police announced DUI checkpoints will be placed for a month across various roadways in Pennsylvania.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols aim to deter drinking and driving. Police say they are operating with a zero-tolerance enforcement policy.

Police say one or more checkpoints and roving patrols will be placed on roadways across PA during the Mardi Gras weekend that are experiencing high rates of DUI-related traffic violations and DUI-related crashes.

The counties participating in the DUI checkpoints are as follows:

Snyder County

DUI checkpoints result in three arrests

PSP did not give details on the areas where the patrols will be conducted.

State police encourage those who are out during the weekend and choose to consume alcohol to not drive a car.

Officials warn drivers Pennsylvanias DUI laws issue a legal limit of .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC). DUI offenses can range from a $300 fine with six months of probation, all the way up to fines of $5,000 with prison sentences of up to 5 years.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
Former President Donald Trump is just as likely as President Joe Biden to win the 2024 presidential race, political consultant Karl Rove said Tuesday.

During a presentation at the Society of the Four Arts as part of the Esther B. OKeeffe Speakers Series, the former senior adviser and deputy White House chief of staff to President George W. Bush said he expected November's election to mirror the previous two and come down to a small number of votes in several swing states.

"Either one of these guys could win," Rove said during his hour-long presentation Americas Challenges Amidst Its Broken Politics at the Walter S. Gubelmann Auditorium.

"The 2020 election was settled by 44,000 votes in Arizona, Georgia and Wisconsin. The 2016 election was settled by 88,000 votes in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. I think this one is going to come down to that as well."

Rove, who predicted a Trump win in a recent column for The Wall Street Journal, said the election will come down to three key factors.

The first is how both men comport themselves on the campaign trail. Each one, he said, is their own worst enemy.

"Joe Biden has that senior shuffle," Rove said. "He's got an inability to string together a few sentences, and if it gets worse, it's going to hurt him. On the other hand, with Donald Trump, we saw it in Iowa and New Hampshire. In Iowa he was humble, restrained, and appreciative of the votes of the people of that state. In New Hampshire, it was 19 wild, crazy minutes."

Political consultant and former Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush, Karl Rove, in front of the O'Keeffe building Tuesday at the Society of the Four Arts where he spoke as part of its Esther O'Keeffe Speakers Series.

The second factor in the election is whether there's going to be a debate between the two candidates, Rove said. During primary season, Trump has not appeared on the debate stage alongside his opponents for the Republican nomination, and there has been no debate on the Democratic side.

"We've had debates since 1960, with one exception," Rove said. "I think what we're going to see is a demand by the American people to see these two men on the stage, and that could have a huge impact  bigger than 1980, and bigger than any debate we've ever seen."

The final factor for both candidates, Rove said, is the role of third parties in the election. He noted the potential impact of candidates such as Cornel West and Robert Kennedy  both running as independents  as well as a No Labels party candidate pulling votes from the two front-runners.

Voters may look to a third-party candidate, Rove said, because neither Biden nor Trump is popular.

"People do not want these two candidates," he said, noting that 55.8% "as of yesterday in the Real Clear Politics average, rated Joe Biden unfavorably, and 55.3 rated Donald Trump unfavorably." He went on to say that "70% of the American people would prefer to have two other candidates."

During his presentation Tuesday, which began with a historical look at American's often-fractured political system, Rove also answered a handful of election-related questions from the audience.

Does former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley have a chance against Trump to win the Republican nomination?

"She has a chance, but it's a big uphill fight. The expectation was, if she was to have a real chance, she had to pull off a good, strong second-place finish in Iowa and either nip him at the polls at the finish line in New Hampshire, or come in a very close second. Neither of those happened."

Should President Biden ask Vice President Kamala Harris step aside as a running mate?

"She's not going anywhere, and he can't ask her to leave. If you had to define one group that is the base of the Democratic party, it would be Black women, particularly older Black women who are a moderate bloc inside the Democrats. There's no way that he's going to be able to replace her. He's stuck. In fact, if he's not the nominee, whoever the nominee is, will be stuck with her.

"If he decides not to be the candidate, she is not going to be the nominee of the Democratic party. They know what a disaster she's been, so they're not going to be put her front and center. But on the other hand, they're not going to remove her either, and she's not going to allow them to remove her."

How important is the vice presidential pick for Trump?

"It's absolutely important. The vice president is going to be an impact in this election where it normally is inconsequential. It's going to be an impact on the Democratic side, because it's going to cause people to say that they don't like Trump, but they really don't want to see someone like her (Harris) to become president in case something happens to Biden. He's going to be 82.

"On the Republican side, it's going to be important because it's going to give people a chance to say he (the VP pick) will be a moderating influence, not moderating in terms of political ideology, but in terms of behavior. That's a steady, solid person. That's a Mike Pompeo, or that's a Tim Scott, or that's a Glenn Youngkin, or that's a fill-in-the-blank somebody who will play the role of being able to be the emissary from the White House to the Hill and to outside groups, and will be a moderating influence in helping the president navigate the tough challenges he faces. It's going to be an unusual election in so many respects."

When will Trump select a vice president, who will it be, and why?

"He says he's already made that decision. I don't know if that's true, but it may be. I don't know who he's going to pick. There are two ways to go. First of all, he's not going to be Ronald Reagan. He's not going to take Nikki Haley, like Reagan chose George H.W. Bush, to unite the party. He's not going to do that. There are two different paths. One path is who really likes me? Kristi Noem, Elise Stefanik  these are at least plausible. Others are not so plausible  Kari Lake.

"But the other one is, who can bring something to the ticket and to me being an effective president, in which case that is like Tim Scott, who knows the Senate and can help him on Capitol Hill. He knows his way around Washington. I have a good relationship with him, and he's an articulate, exciting figure. Or Glenn Youngkin. He's a business guy like me, and he's doing a great job as governor of Virginia. There are others. But I think it really boils down to what's the primary thing."

Rove's appearance was the last of four scheduled in January as part of the Society of the Four Arts' Esther B. OKeeffe Speakers Series.

The February schedule features: Nicholas Calloway, 67 Nights in the Sistine Chapel, (Feb. 6); Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko, "The Rothkos in Conversation: Philip Rylands in discussion with the Rothko children,"(Feb. 13); Thomas Friedman, "The Big Trends Shaping the World Today: Economics, Technology, and Geopolitics," (Feb. 20); and David Zaslav, " 'The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of ... 100 Years of Thrilling Audiences and Shaping Culture Through Storytelling," (Feb. 27).

For information or to purchase tickets, visit fourarts.org/okeeffe-speaker-series/.

Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: 2024 election will be close, Karl Rove tells Palm Beach audience
Despite Israels ongoing war with Hamas, EL AL Israel Airlines announced Wednesday it will expand its South Florida flight schedule in April as it had scheduled even before the October fighting broke out.

Beginning April 15, in time for the Passover holiday which starts the following week, EL AL will be adding two weekly flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Tel Avivs Ben Gurion Airport, bringing the weekly South Florida schedule to seven.

We get a busy period right before the Jewish holidays, said spokesman Elie Rosenfeld. This has been in the books for close to a year.

The national air carrier of Israel, which already serves Miami International Airport, also moved its U.S. offices from New York to Margate.

EL AL began service between Tel Aviv and New York in 1950. The carrier plans to operate more than 50 weekly flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport, as well as airports in Newark, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale. On Wednesday it also announced two additional flights in the lineup from Los Angeles starting in June, and a new weekly flight on the Boston-Tel Aviv route, which will now operate four times a week on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer.

The Oct. 7 assault on Israel by Hamas terrorists, and the subsequent fighting, hasnt stopped the need for travel, Rosenfeld said. Tourists abroad at the time wanted to get home, and Israelis  especially those being called up for military reserve service  needed to get back, he said. As other airlines canceled their flights, El Al kept flying.

The last few weeks and months have been very robust, he said, adding supporters are still going on philanthropic and community missions, as well as people who have family there and have family celebrations: weddings, bar mitzvahs. Those things are continuing to happen.

Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash
[Source]

An elderly Chinese man fell victim to multiple attacks  including one that occurred at the beginning of COVID-19  in San Francisco has decided to return to China after deeming the city as no longer safe.

Driving the news: Rongxin Liao, 87, was first beaten unconscious in the Tenderloin District about seven years ago, according to Sing Tao Daily. He was attacked again at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020, when he was kicked on his seated walker while waiting for a bus near Eddy and Leavenworth Streets.

His most recent attack happened in front of a Walgreens pharmacy near Market Street on Oct. 1, 2023, when he was punched in the head while he was pushing his wheelchair. Reports at the time did not identify Liao as the victim.

About his attackers: Liao appeared in court multiple times for the widely reported 2020 incident and asked the judge to give his attacker, Eric Ramos-Hernandez, a harsher punishment. However, Ramos-Hernandez only spent seven months in jail before being transferred to a mental health clinic and released for at-home treatment.

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A man identified as Effrim Baker, 60, was arrested for the October attack. He also faces 14 felonies in connection with stabbings that reportedly occurred on the same day.

What hes saying: Liaos son, Jing Liao, confirmed to the San Francisco Standard that his father had already bought a one-way ticket to Guangzhou, with his flight scheduled on Sunday. Jing said they decided to fly their father back home because public safety in San Francisco "has become worse and worse.

I dont want to be a drag to my son here. I dont want him to worry about me all the time, Liao told Sing Tao Daily, adding that he is also willing to give up his naturalized American citizenship and restore his Chinese citizenship upon his return.

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The big picture: While California and the U.S. at large saw an uptick in hate crimes, San Francisco reported a decrease from 114 in 2021 to 36 in 2022. Anti-Asian hate, specifically, had decreased from 60 to six during in the said period, according to Axios.

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Eleanor Stanier, Mayor of Richmond, 2001-02: she fought for the underdog

Eleanor Stanier, who has died aged 81, was an indefatigable and notably effective Liberal Democrat councillor in Richmond upon Thames, where she served as mayor in 2001-02.

For some 30 years after the Second World War the borough was predictably Tory, at both parliamentary and council levels. Indeed, in the local elections of 1964 and 1968, not a single Liberal candidate was elected. In the 1970s, however, the party began to make progress in Richmond council elections, until in 1986, in alliance with the Social Democratic Party, they conclusively triumphed, winning all but three of the 52 seats.

Even after the Alliance foundered, the Liberal Democrats continued to hold a majority on the council until 2002; and then from 2006 to 2010. Equally, from 1997 to 2010, Richmond Park Parliamentary constituency was represented in the House of Commons by a Liberal Democrat.

Eleanor Stanier personified the energy and idealism which sustained this period of Lib Dem dominance in Richmond. First elected to Richmond Council in 1997 at the head of a by-election poll in Mortlake, she flung herself into every aspect of local affairs, from housing to rubbish disposal, from education to drains.

Apart from a brief interlude in 2002-03, she would serve on the council until 2010, always eager, with her keen sense of social justice, to fight for the underdog. A special concern was to ensure that underprivileged children were properly schooled.

She was born Eleanor Mary Worswick in Oxford on September 8 1942, the eldest of two girls and a boy. Whereas her grandparents had been Tories, her parents were distinctly Labour. Her father, David Worswick, taught economics at Magdalen College, Oxford, and subsequently became Director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.

Eleanor was educated at Oxford High School and at St Hildas, Oxford, where she read history. In 1965 she married Tom Stanier, who worked in the BBC and became a distinguished producer of programmes for childrens television.

Though the Staniers had three boys between 1968 and 1975, it was never Eleanors plan to be permanently housebound. At the beginning of her career, she taught history at Godolphin and Latymer School for Girls. Always practical, and determined to broaden her range, she worked for a year in industry, and then returned to Godolphin to advise on careers.

Eleanor Staniers first brush with local issues came around 1970 when, concerned about the widening of Mortlake High Street, she joined the Mortlake with East Sheen Society (MESS). In 1990 she would take up the chair of MESS, and prove her effectiveness in fundraising.

Among the causes she supported were the Mortlake Almshouses, Barnes Hospital, and the Lamplugh Trust, set up to campaign against the harassment of women after the murder of the estate agent Suzy Lamplugh in 1986.

In June 2008 the post office in East Sheen was suddenly closed, and the sub-postmaster, Issam Ibrahim, accused of stealing 83,000 from the branch. Eleanor Stanier worked hard with Susan Kramer, Richmonds MP, to re-open a temporary post office early in 2010, and to plan a more permanent facility. Ibrahims one-year prison sentence was suspended.

For all her staunch loyalty to the Liberal Democrats, Eleanor Stanier, instinctively sociable and warmly affectionate, gathered a large circle of friends, of all political views and none. She loved to entertain  whacking up a table, she would call it  and certainly at the Staniers dinners there was never any danger of flagging conversation.

She had a large circle of friends of all political views

From 1999 to 2017 the Staniers enjoyed a holiday home at Saint-Sernin-du-Plain in Burgundy, where, with their instinctive friendliness and hospitality, they greatly forwarded Anglo-French relations, as well as entertaining many English friends.

Saint-Sernin-du-Plain was the country home of the French composer Patrice Sciotino, who ran a music festival in the hills above the village. Those attending would struggle up the steep incline and eventually encounter a grand piano standing in isolation on the upper reaches.

Eleanor Stanier was herself a keen pianist, who continued to take lessons to the end of her life. It was typical of her positive nature that she needed to perform as well as listen. She also sang in the choir of St Michaels Church in Barnes.

While not a strong believer, she held to Christianity, albeit inclined to think that the Almighty was performing his function rather badly and could do with some advice.

Certainly her energy and application never failed, in or out of politics. She served on the boards of the Orange Tree Theatre, the Museum of Richmond, the Richmond Housing Partnership and the Richmond Music Trust.

At various times she was chair of the Barnes and Mortlake History Society; a trustee of the Richmond Housing Partnership; and a governor of East Sheen Primary School and Christs Hospital school in Horsham. In the late 1970s she was a strong supporter of the newly created Shene School, now Richmond Park Academy.

Her successful efforts to save a wartime bomb shelter in St Leonards Court  thanks to her it is now listed by English Heritage  inspired her to become an expert on former bomb sites in Richmond. She enjoyed leading school parties to inspect what was left of the damage.

While Eleanor Stanier escaped Covid, she developed a rare condition called temporal arteritis, which causes severe headaches. She had scarcely recovered when she was afflicted by cancer.

In the wake of her diagnosis, Tom Stanier was laid low by a stroke. Eleanors care for him, in the midst of her own troubles, was a final expression of her rich and profound nature. He survives her with their three sons, Alexander, Toby and Robert.

Eleanor Stanier, born September 8 1942, died January 8 2024

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Living in a building with a broken-down elevator can be a headache. But what are your rights as a tenant?

The Fair Housing Act outlines elevator requirements for housing. The act requires multifamily dwellings built after 1991 with four or more units to have at least one elevator. The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to buildings with public access.

Casey Flancbaum, the advocate supervisor for Disability Rights Texass housing and transportation rights team, said her team gets regular questions about elevator access. She said elevator maintenance and repairs are expensive and took longer than usual during the pandemic.

Flancbaum said there is no timeline for when an elevator is required to be fixed but recommends giving a landlord a timeline for a response. However, if there is a code issue with the elevator, cities have their own timelines.

According to ADA Central, an ADA compliance company, there are provisions in the Fair Housing Act that give landlords time to fix faulty equipment. The Texas Property Code also says tenants must give landlords a reasonable amount of time for repairs.

Flancbaum said her team recommends asking for reasonable accommodations if an elevator is not working. These accommodations could include requesting expedited maintenance or moving to a first-floor unit.

If it is a recurring issue, you can ask to leave and terminate the lease without penalties or fees because it is a disability-related reason, she said. Her team asks for changes to something that puts a person with disabilities on equal footing with people without disabilities, she said.

When to seek help or file a complaint?

The decision to ask for help from a third party is up to the person.

If youre a person that gets overwhelmed quickly, maybe getting a third party involved sooner rather than later is the way to go, Flancbaum said.

People can file complaints with Housing and Urban Development. If someone is looking to take legal action about the issue, there is a two-year limit from the date of discrimination, Flancbaum said. In this path, Flancbaum recommends getting an attorney involved sooner rather than later.

Flancbaum recommends putting everything in writing to keep a record. Disability Rights Texas also recommends communicating with a medical or mental health provider so there is another person who can advocate for you and knows what is happening.

Disability Rights Texas offers help asking for reasonable accommodations from a landlord.

How to check the status of your buildings elevator?

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which oversees elevator licensing and safety, has an online tool with information on the status of any elevator or escalator in the state. Data available includes the last inspection date, owner details, certificates, correspondences and more.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Activity at an Elk Grove middle school resumed as normal Thursday, one day after the campus was locked down when a student received an anonymous bomb threat, authorities from the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office and Elk Grove Unified School District said.

Deputies were called to Joseph Kerr Middle School about 1 p.m. Wednesday after the girl received a text reading There is a bomb at Kerr Middle School. I recommend you get out now, the Sheriffs Office said in a Thursday update.

The phone number wasnt known to the student or law enforcement running it through various databases, deputies said. The student alerted school officials, who immediately called law enforcement to help, according to a letter sent to parents and guardians from Aaron Munoz, the schools principal.

All students and staff are safe, the Elk Grove Police Department said online, while noting everyone was safely locked in their classrooms.

Deputies searched through campus, evacuating students to the gym and a multipurpose room while bomb-sniffing dogs inspected classrooms, deputies said. Nothing suspicious was found, said Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesman with the Sheriffs Office.

The Sheriffs Office in a social media post just before 4:45 p.m. said officials were starting to release students from the campus.





The lockdown extended into students dismissal times, Munoz wrote, so police were helping to direct traffic. All students were off campus by 5:15 p.m.

Because these actions are highly disruptive to our school and community, parents are asked to remind your student that this type of threat can result in criminal charges, Munoz wrote.

Police said traffic was expected to be heavy around Joseph Kerr Middle, which is located at the corner of Elk Grove Boulevard and Elk Grove Florin Road.

Elk Grove parent Bonnie Reed said she came to collect her child before law enforcement arrived and was waiting to pick him up. She texted her son, but fear began to build when he didnt respond and sheriffs deputies drove into the school.

After (Tuesday), and the other school shootings we heard about, Im just terrified, Reed said.

Schools were locked down Tuesday in other parts of the capital region: Grant Union High School in Del Paso Heights, in response to a 14-year-old allegedly shooting a 17-year-old in a parking lot; and two schools in Woodland, as police negotiated with an assault suspect who climbed onto the roofs of houses near Rhoda Maxwell Elementary School and Greengate School.

Deputies are still investigating the incident and havent yet announced any arrests.

Here is the latest on the precautionary lockdown at Joseph Kerr Middle School.



From @ElkGroveUnified: JKMS is currently in a pre-cautionary lockdown to investigate a situation. Students are currently safely locked down in their rooms. The Sacramento County Sheriff Department is pic.twitter.com/0ame6J7sgU  EGPD (@ElkGrovePD) January 31, 2024
A Delaware judge has voided Tesla CEO Elon Musk's gargantuan $55 billion pay package following a lawsuit by shareholders claiming it was far too much wealth to award a single individual.

In a ruling this week, Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick called the billionaire's cushy compensation plan "an unfathomable sum," arguing it was unfair to shareholders.

Uncontested, the decision could leave a massive gap in the net worth of the once richest man in the world, which could have a ripple effect on his other ventures, including SpaceX and his online echo chamber X-formerly-Twitter.

McCormick's ruling also highlights the long-standing rift between some of Tesla's shareholders and the company's mercurial and unpredictable CEO, who has consistently been embroiled in controversies over the last couple of years. That relationship has steadily worsened, especially following Musk's chaotic acquisition of Twitter, which forced him to dig deep into his pockets and sell off billions of dollars worth of Tesla shares.

The payout dates back to 2018, when Tesla reached a ten-year agreement with Musk. At the time, Tesla calculated the package to be worth around $2.284 billion, considering the company's 2018 share value.

Since then, Tesla has had several blockbuster years, with shares hitting record highs in 2021. The scale of the pay package today is off the charts. According to Reuters, it's the biggest of its kind in US corporate history.

Forbes now lists Musk's net worth as just $183.4 billion, with $55.8 billion representing around 30 percent of that.

"If this ruling stands, it will put a sizable dent into his net worth," University of California, Berkeley law professor Adam Badawi told Reuters. "I think essentially what the court is saying is like, 'Look, we're not literally taking money out of Elon Musk's pocket,' although he certainly will feel that way because he hasn't exercised shares."

Musk, for his part, is seething.

"The most salient point that was missed was that the shares could not be sold for five years after exercise of the options," Musk tweeted, "making it impossible to 'exercise and run.'"

Experts are expecting Musk to fight the decision in court.

"He may appeal because he has little to lose from appealing," Columbia law professor John Coffee told Reuters. "I would not expect the [Delaware Supreme Court] to reverse the chancellor but it certainly could happen."

As Bloomberg points out, Tesla's board could also simply choose to come up with a new pay package.

The move couldn't have happened at a worse time for Musk. Tesla recently disappointed shareholders by failing to hit targets in Q4 of 2023.

Musk was also accused of "blackmailing" Tesla shareholders by threatening to pursue other AI ventures "outside of Tesla" unless he got a 25 percent voting control, a 12 percent increase.

"I dont want to control it, but if I have so little influence at the company at this stage, I could be voted out by some random shareholder advisory firm," he argued during a recent earnings call.

As expected, Musk is fuming at the judge's decision and is letting out his frustrations on his social media platform.

"Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware," an incensed Musk tweeted, before releasing a barrage of angry messages about immigration and other pet political issues.

More on Musk: Heres What Happened to Monkeys That Got the Neuralink Implant
*The above video is a recent story about a NE Ohio county awarding grants to hold eclipse events*

TIFFIN, Ohio (WJW)  What started with 20 couples signing up, is soaring to 120 couples who have booked a history making event to get married in the middle of the total solar eclipse in northern Ohio.

39 days from now, when darkness falls, romance will heat up April 8 during the eclipse.

Local astronomer: Why I wont drive during eclipse

Seneca County is holding Elope at the Eclipse and the number of couples signing up is soaring, Destination Seneca County Executive Director Bryce Riggs told Fox 8 News Thursday.

Most of the couples are from Ohio, and Northeast Ohio, but now we have couples singed up from Texas, New York City, and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, according to Riggs.

We have a couple signed up from San Antonio which is about 1,400 miles each way, Riggs added.

Tiffin will play Cupid with a history making wedding event for the ages, Riggs said.

Tiffin will be in the totality of darkness for several minutes during the solar eclipse just after 3 p.m. April 8.

Riggs told FOX 8 News that Destination Seneca County will supply wedding cake, a champagne toast, live music, a photographer and the officiant, Judge Damon D. Alt, who will marry everyone at the same time during the totality of the eclipse.

Riggs said its all free and the only thing the couple needs to pay for in advance is a marriage license, which is $70 in Seneca County. Other counties may have a similar price, he said.

According to Riggs, theyre sponsoring the event because it will be fun and historic but also to attract visitors to see Seneca Countys rich history.

Why is the 2024 total solar eclipse so unique?

Jenny Harris and her fiance Bart Lombardy, who live in Fostoria, are getting married during Elope at the Eclipse.

Were more than happy to share our big day with others who are getting married during such a unique, fun and historic day, Harris told FOX 8 News.

Riggs said couples can also renew their vows at the event and that couples from all over Ohio and the country have signed up.

You can find out how to sign up and get information on a marriage license for Ohio and other states by clicking here.

The event will take place at the new Frost-Kalnow Amphitheatre in Tiffin.

Getting married during the 100% darkness that will carve a narrow path over Ohio during the upcoming solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, considering the next total eclipse in Ohio isnt until 2099.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
An early warning that something was seriously wrong with the Washington Bridge arrived in state Department of Transportation inboxes around 1:40 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, with the subject line: "Washington Bridge 700 Inspection  Critical Finding."

Andrew Prezioso, a structural engineer working for bridge design contractor VHB, had seen alarming damage to the anchor rods holding down parts of the bridge's westbound span, and he wanted to share video of it, taken at 10:18 that morning.

The images showed the "cantilever span bouncing at the bearing," he wrote to DOT Project Manager Anthony Pompei and a half-dozen other engineers that Friday, according to one portion of 236 pages of emails obtained by The Providence Journal through an Access to Public Records Request. (It is not yet clear how many more emails were withheld.)

DOT managing engineer: 'No immediate actions to be taken'

DOT Managing Engineer Keith Gaulin was the first to respond around an hour later.

"Based on our phone conversation, it seems there are no immediate actions to be taken right at this moment as we try to determine other short and long-term solutions," Gaulin wrote back to Prezioso, fellow DOT employees and contractors.

He went on: "As we discussed, it is noted this condition may have pre-existed but was not noticeable until now as this area is more exposed due to current construction work."

Gaulin's response is the closest state engineers and transportation experts have gotten to explaining how the bridge  which passed an inspection in July  was in danger of collapse by December.

It also suggests that DOT Director Peter Alviti Jr.'s conclusion that a catastrophic incident damaged the bridge is not the only interpretation.

Asked why Alviti aired this unsubstantiated theory, his spokesman Charles St. Martin said he "shared that theory based on the information available at that time. The governor and RIDOT each commissioned a forensic investigation to get outside expertise better evaluate the cause of the damage."

Underneath the Washington Bridge during construction.

It was not fully clear until Wednesday when McKee was first notified of the critical findings that came to light on Friday, Dec. 8, St. Martin said "shortly after" Alviti's Monday afternoon decision to close the bridge.

Repeating what was previously known, McKee spokeswoman Olivia DaRocha said: "At 2:52 p.m. on Dec. 11, Director Alviti advised the governor that the bridge had to be closed for public-safety reasons. With this being a significant public-safety issue, the governor knew closing the bridge was the only option.

"The governor feels that he should have been informed earlier than Monday afternoon," she said.

Emails show a scramble to manage fallout when bridge closed

But the hundreds of emails about the bridge exchanged the week that damage to the bridge was detected  and which the DOT charged The Journal $450 for  show McKee's administration scrambling to manage the fallout when the highway bridge that carried 90,000 vehicles a day over the Seekonk River was closed to traffic on the evening of Monday, Dec. 11.

But they shed little light on the thinking the state's bridge experts or McKee's senior staff went through to decide what to do about it.

There were no emails among the hundreds provided by the DOT from Alviti or Chief of Staff John Igliozzi.

The first concern that emerged in the written record at the DOT in the wake of Prezioso's email on Friday, Dec. 8, was about trucks using the left-hand travel lane.

"It was mentioned in our phone conversation about the possibility of restricting trucks from the left lane, but I was subsequently informed that RIDOT Maintenance placed signs stating as such last week. So, trucks are currently prohibited from the left lane," Gaulin wrote.

Two days ago, DOT spokesman Charles St. Martin said trucks are always banned from the left lane of the bridge, and that the new signs had nothing to do with the bridge damage.

At 2:45 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, Pompei wrote to colleagues: "I've been monitoring the RIDOT traffic camera at the bridge for the last 10-15 minutes and I did see one truck change lanes into the high-speed lane while on the bridge, but all others have been using the other lanes."

But as for what to do about the failing anchor rods that had the bridge span "bouncing," the engineers had to regroup.

Westbound side of the Washington Bridge under construction.

RIDOT asks for meeting the next Monday morning

"Additional mitigation measures/repairs needs to be discussed [between RIDOT Bridge and VHB] ASAP," Gaulin wrote. "We request the RIDOT PM Office set up a meeting for Monday morning to review possible measures."

Over the weekend the email thread goes essentially silent. There are no written records of the conversations and over-the-weekend emergency discussions that Alviti has described taking place as the agency weighed what to do.

At 11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 11, the team convened for a video conference call and "Critical Finding Discussion."

No one put any notes in the chat, as far as the record shows. Prezioso reshared his video.

At 4:15 p.m., St. Martin wrote to the governor's office, sharing a draft of a news release announcing the shutdown of the bridge at 5 p.m.

There are even fewer written discussions of how the DOT planned to repair the bridge after it was shut down. Initially, it appears the DOT believed there could be a relatively quick fix that would get the westbound span open again.

"We are requesting to use RI Welding to fabricate the steel repair brackets once they are designed by VHB," Jeff Bostock, vice president of construction at Aetna Bridge, wrote to the DOT's Pompei and George Ley on Tuesday, Dec. 12. "We feel they will be able to respond the quickest and have the resources to expedite fabrication."

But even by that Tuesday, the first full day after the shutdown, there were signs the job might be more complicated than it first appeared.

On Tuesday this week, McKee, Alviti and Joseph Almond, the top aide McKee dispatched to DOT to be his eyes and ears, met with engineers involved in structural analysis, design and repair work for the Washington Bridge. The governor's office described it as an introductory meeting where McKee stressed the urgency.

Search underway for firm with expertise to evaluate damage

The DOT was searching for a company capable of figuring out how bad the damage was.

Pompei wrote to colleagues that "there is a lot of internal post-tensioning within the cantilevers and elsewhere on the bridge that has not been able to be inspected. There was the thought that one of the only companies in the country what may have the experience with possible options for testing these components would be Vector."

Daniel Kelley of Aetna Bridge responded: "I spoke with Vector, and they can do some evaluation/testing on the [post tension], but it seems like determining the actual condition is very difficult."

The next day, Wednesday, Dec. 13, Richard Corey of Aecom, another of the consultants working on the bridge, wanted to make sure "any of the steel components that may be subject to cyclical loading being checked/designed for fatigue."

"Can you confirm, for design purposes, that the long-term goal of the project is still a 25-year design life, as this would have to be accounted for in the fatigue analysis," he asked.

A previous version of this story misidentified the day of the week that the first email was sent.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Emails show initial warning, response to Washington Bridge damage
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) is calling for a House Ethics Committee investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) over a disputed translation of Omars remarks about Somalia and Somaliland over the weekend.

Emmer accused Omar of delivering shocking remarks expressing allegiance to the interests of Somalia in a letter to Ethics Committee Chair Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.) and Ranking Member Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.). He has also called for Omar, the first Somali American to serve in Congress, to resign over the remarks.

Ilhan Omars appalling, Somalia-first comments are a slap in the face to the Minnesotans she was elected to serve and a direct violation of her oath of office. She should resign in disgrace, Emmer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Omar said she was embarrassed for Emmer, and accused him of trying to get attention after he lost a bid to be House Speaker after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was unseated last year.

The attacks being lobbed against me are not only completely false, they are rooted in xenophobia and Islamophobia, Omar said in a statement.

The remarks at issue were shared by Ambassador Rhoda J. Elmi, the deputy minister of foreign affairs for Somaliland, a region along the Gulf of Aden that broke away from Somalia in 1991.

Her translation of the remarks has now been disputed by Omar and others. Omar said Elmis translation, which was cited by Emmer as the reason for the investigation, was inaccurate.

According to Elmis translation, Omar said in remarks in Minneapolis that the U.S. government will only do what Somalians in the United States tell them to do.

They will do what we want and nothing else. They must follow our orders and that is how we will safeguard the interests of Somalia, the reported translation of Omars remarks states.

Sleep in comfort, knowing I am here to protect the interests of Somalia from the inside of the United Statess system, the reported translation added later on.

According to a translation from Somalia analyst and co-founder of the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies Abdirashid Hashi, Omar said: The U.S. government will do what we ask it to do. We should have this confidence in ourselves as Somalis. We live in this country. We are taxpayers in this country. This country is one where one of your daughters sits in Congress.

While I am in Congress, no one will take Somalias sea. The United States will not back others to rob us. So, do not lose sleep over that, O Minnesotans. The lady you sent to Congress is on this, and she is as cognizant of this interest as you are, Hashis translation of Omars remarks states.

Somalia and Somaliland are battling over an agreement Somaliland signed with Ethiopia which would give that country access to the sea. The deal has been criticized by a number of countries in the West as potentially destabilizing the Horn of Africa region.

Somaliland has not been recognized as an independent state internationally.

This is a manufactured controversy based on an inaccurate translation taken entirely out of context. I am embarrassed for Tom, Omar said. This is clearly a desperate attempt to garner attention after his failed four hour Speaker bid last year and a gross misuse and waste of taxpayer funds for something that is clearly false.

I categorically reject these disingenuous attempts to malign my character and question my loyalty to my home, America.

Emmer argued an investigation is warranted based on the translation of Omars remarks he had seen.

I hold the First Amendments protections for speech in the highest regard; however, her remarks suggest a disregard for her oath of office in a manner that is unbecoming of an American elected official, reflect poorly on the United States House of Representatives and is a slap in the face to the Minnesotans she represents, Emmer wrote in the letter.

Omar, however, says she was following existing U.S. policy.

As I said in the video  I support a unified Somalia, which aligns with longstanding US policy favoring a one Somalia approach. My stance remains consistent with the goal of a stable and unified Somalia, she said.

The Hill has reached out to Emmers offices for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

This story was updated at 3:12 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A man who works at the Menifee Union School District faces possible charges for possession of child pornography, according to the Menifee Police Department.

Tristan Perez, 28, was arrested Tuesday morning by law enforcement, including Menifee police and the national Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce.

Details about his alleged crimes are limited, but police confirmed that he is employed by the school district in an undisclosed role.

So far, investigators say there is no reason to believe that any students or members of the community are victims.

Jail records indicate that Perez has been booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta and is being held on $10,000 bail.

His next court date is scheduled for Thursday.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact MPD Detective Marcinko by email or by calling 951-723-1613.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Kim Biggs, mother of murder victim Ashley Biggs, is comforted by victim advocate Katie Thompson while waiting for a jury to return with a verdict Wednesday in the Erica Stefanko trial in Akron.

Erica Stefanko shook her head sadly Wednesday afternoon when she heard that a jury had again convicted her for her role in the pizza delivery murder case.

Kimberly Biggs, the mother of Ashley Biggs, cried happy tears in the front row of the packed Summit County courtroom.

"We got her!" an emotional Biggs said after the verdict reading. "Justice has prevailed."

Jeff Laybourne, one of Stefanko's attorneys, was disappointed in the decision that jurors reached after deliberating over parts of two days.

"This is part of the game," he said. "We fought hard. These are tough to win."

Jurors found Stefanko guilty of aggravated murder and murder in the 2012 strangulation and beating death of Ashley Biggs.

Stefanko faces life in prison, with the only question being whether she will have the chance for parole. She will be sentenced at 1 p.m. Thursday by Summit County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer Towell. She received life in prison with possible parole after 30 years after her first trial.

Stefanko, 41, of Rittman, plans to appeal.

Stefanko was convicted of the same charges in her first trial in November 2020, but won the right to a new trial when an appellate court ruled that Chad Cobb, Stefankos ex-husband who is serving a life sentence for Biggs slaying, shouldnt have been permitted to testify via video.

Stefankos second trial started Jan, 22, and wrapped up Tuesday afternoon, with jurors beginning their deliberations about 1:30 p.m.

Unlike in her first trial, Stefanko testified in her second trial, claiming that she made a bogus pizza delivery call that lured Biggs, 25, of Jackson Township, to where she was killed. She denied any knowledge of or part in the murder, though.

Erica Stefanko, left, reacts as a guilty verdict is read after her retrial for her involvement in the Ashley Biggs murder case on Wednesday in Akron.

Stefanko is arrested seven years after Biggs slaying

Stefanko was arrested in November 2019 after New Franklin detectives said new information had come to light about her involvement in Biggs slaying in the parking lot of a closed New Franklin business in June 2012.

That included Stefanko making the fake call to Dominos, where Biggs was a delivery driver, to draw Biggs to where she was killed.

Ashley Biggs.

Biggs was tased, beaten and strangled with a zip tie.

At the time of Biggs murder, she and Cobb were embroiled in a heated custody dispute concerning their then-7-year-old daughter.

Cobb accepted a plea agreement in 2013 in which he pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and numerous other charges in exchange for not facing the death penalty. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Stefanko was convicted of aggravated murder and murder after a trial in November 2020 that happened at a time when few trials were proceeding because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her conviction was overturned in July 2022, with the appellate court focusing on Cobbs remote testimony.

Erica Stefanko is accompanied by defense attorney Jeff laybourne Wednesday before a jury returned with a guilty verdict in her retrial for her involvement in Ashley Biggs' 20212 murder.

Cobb claims Stefanko shares the blame in Biggs slaying

Cobb, who appeared in person, testified during Stefankos retrial for more than six hours last week.

Cobb said he used a taser on Biggs and severely beat her, but Stefanko put zip ties on Biggs neck, hands and feet.

Cobb said he learned when he was in prison that Erica was having an affair with Mike Stefanko, his long-time close friend and employee, and was pregnant with Mikes child.

Cobb, 42, is seeking to withdraw the plea in his case, with this request so far denied.

Stefanko says she thought Cobb planned to plant drugs, not kill Biggs

Stefanko said during her testimony that Cobb was distraught when Biggs, who had been estranged from her daughter for several years, was granted temporary custody of her. She said Cobb hired an attorney and was determined to get his daughter back.

More: Erica Stefanko admits to making bogus pizza delivery call but not to murder

Stefanko said the two of them went to great lengths to try to hurt Biggs chances in the custody dispute, including planting marijuana in the car of Biggs girlfriend.

When this didnt work, Stefanko said Cobb came up with a new plan to plant meth in Biggs car.

Stefanko said she thought this was the plan on the night of June 12, 2012, when she ordered a pizza using a fake name that lured Biggs to where Cobb was waiting.

Was the plan then or at any time to kill Ashley Biggs? attorney Jeff Laybourne asked Stefanko.

No, Stefanko said. Aside from the fact you dont kill people, it wouldnt have made any sense.

Assistant Prosecutor Brian LoPrinzi, though, highlighted how often Stefanko lied during this case and asked why the jury should believe her version of what happened, which she told for the first time on the stand.

Stefanko admitted that she has lied but said she was telling the truth now.

Prosecutor: Stefanko played a part in the slaying

During her closing argument, Assistant Prosecutor Felicia Easter said Chad Cobb killed Biggs but Stefanko helped him.

He didnt do it alone, she said. Thats why were here. She played her part.

Easter showed photos of Biggs badly injured body to the jury.

This is not a meth plan gone wrong, she said. This is a murder carried out.

Easter played several snippets of the three-hour conversation between Stefanko and Cindee Cobb. These included Stefanko saying:

If everything was told as it happened, we would both be in prison now.

It took two of us.

Every time I hear a siren, I think, Theyre coming for me.

Attorney: Drug planting makes more sense than murder

Laybourne, though, said it would make more sense for Cobb and Stefanko to plan to plant meth on Biggs to hurt her chances in the custody dispute than to plot her demise. He said Cobb and Stefanko had tried this once before with marijuana.

Its more logical to go from marijuana to meth rather than marijuana to murder, said Laybourne, who represented Stefanko with attorney Angie Kille.

Laybourne said murdering Biggs would automatically make Cobb the chief suspect, which is what ultimately happened.

Laybourne noted that no physical evidence, such as DNA, linked Stefanko to the crime scene.

'We hope they find peace,' prosecutor says of Biggs' family

The jurors deliberated for three hours Tuesday and four-and-a-half hours Monday, announcing they had reached a verdict about 1:30 p.m.

Before the verdicts were read, Kimberly Biggs, knelt in the courtroom and prayed.

Jurors found Stefanko guilty of aggravated murder that means purposely causing a persons death with prior calculation and design, and murder that involves purposely causing a persons death.

Elliot Kolkovich, Summit County's community outreach prosecutor, thanked the New Franklin police for their "relentless investigation" that spanned many years.

Asked his thoughts on the Biggs family, Kolkovich said, "We hope they find peace."

New Franklin Det. Michael Hitchings, who investigated Biggs' murder from the start, said this was a difficult case and it was tough for Biggs' family to go through a trial twice.

"We're lucky the jury saw it our way," Hitchings said. "We thought we had enough to prove it."

Laybourne said he doesn't regret the decision for Stefanko to testify in her retrial.

"She told her truth," he said. "The jury saw it differently."

Biggs said her family wasn't going to give up and will be getting together to celebrate the verdict. She said she hopes this will help all of them to move past this sad chapter.

"Ashley needs her rest," Biggs said.

"I need to move on," she added.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj. Beacon Journal reporter Bryce Buyakie contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Erica Stefanko convicted in second trial for pizza delivery murder
Erie County Council on Tuesday approved more than $2 million in pandemic relief to help support marginalized communities. But citing local law, the Brenton Davis administration argued the votes were improper and has vowed to hold the money back.

Here's what to know.

Council greenlit funds for DEI Commission, homeless

In a 5-2 vote, council approved $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds to the Erie County Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission, or Diverse Erie.

The commission, which has operated on a budget of $3.5 million in ARP funds since 2021, was poised to run out of money by June, making Tuesdays vote a virtual lifeline.

Diverse Erie Chief Administrative Officer Gary Lee said the commission has roughly $600,000 remaining in unallocated funds. The $1.5 million, he said, will allow the commission to engage in homeownership, apprenticeship and health care programs for the foreseeable future.

Diverse Erie Chief Administrative Officer Gary Lee implores Erie County Council to invest in the commission during a regular meeting on Jan. 30, 2024.

Im thrilled that County Council has taken the steps to do the right thing, he said. Its very important to get this money to the business owners and organizations that are attempting to take the (Black, Indigenous and people of color) community to the next level.

In another 5-2 vote, council approved $1 million in ARP funds to support the homeless population. The funds will be managed by Erie County Care Management.

Councilmember Andre Horton, a vocal supporter of both votes, said ARP funds were specifically designed to help those most adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Referring to the homeless and the BIPOC community, he stressed, I dont think theres a more deserving population under the ARP.

Administration says council violated Home Rule Charter

The two votes, however, could be all for naught.

According to the Erie County Home Rule Charter, the county executive must first certify the availability of funds before council can approve a supplemental appropriation of those funds.

Erie County Public Information Officer Chris Carroll said the administration has not certified the funds associated with the two approved ordinances.

As such, he said, council operated outside of their abilities by voting without certification.

Erie County Public Information Officer Chris Carroll

The Home Rule Charter is clear when it states that all supplemental appropriations need to be certified by the executive, Carroll said. These votes are invalid. Theyre dead right now because (council) didnt follow the process. These ordinances hold no weight with the administration  and, in our eyes, are not legal.

Council Solicitor Tom Talarico similarly warned that council would be overstepping its authority by approving the ordinances, insisting certification has to come first.

Talarico recommended that council vote to restrict the funds instead, stating this was within councils authority and would lock the ARP funds until spending plans were fleshed out.

Councilmember Ellen Schauerman, who along with Councilmember Charlie Bayle, voted against both ordinances, said she agreed with Talaricos advice and made a motion to restrict the funds. The motion failed after only Schauerman and Bayle supported it.

I think justice delayed is justice denied, Horton said. We should move this up or down. And if we cant override a veto, well come back and restrict. But I think we absolutely have to take a stand.

If the county executive doesnt want to certify it, its his prerogative, Councilmember Terry Scutella added. Its his issue and he has to answer for it. If you want to sit there and watch somebody wither on the vine that you can help now, then shame on you.

Why wont Davis certify the funds?

The Davis administration has always had a rocky relationship with Diverse Erie.

Even before the commission released any money, Davis had cut through the ranks of the organization, removing six of its nine original members for what he considered "blatant conflicts of interest, an accusation that was refuted by the commissions solicitor.

Davis also re-allocated the commissions second round of $3.5 million in ARP funds, which had been unanimously approved by council in 2021.

Carroll on Tuesday further called out the commission, telling the Erie Times-News that one-third of the commissions budget had gone toward overhead costs and Lees annual salary of $150,000.

Theres a lot of questions that surround the use of that money, Carroll said. The county executive is not comfortable with another investment in them when they havent showed the ability to leverage their funds.

Erie County Council convened for a regular meeting on Jan. 30, 2024.

As far as the homeless ordinance, Carroll said the administration was not prepared to certify the funds without a more detailed plan.

One organization  ECCM  cannot speak for the entire homeless problem throughout Erie County, he said. Theres a lot of different needs that need to be met. The county executive has stated that $1 million is not enough. We want a $2 million to $2.5 million homeless initiative. But we want a plan. Giving money to ECCM without a plan is not in the best interest of Erie County residents.

Horton argued that ECCM was more than capable of developing a plan, coordinating with organizations and distributing the $1 million without the administration.

Theres not another entity or organization this side of the Mississippi thats probably far better prepared to do this kind of work than the ECCM, Horton said. This is what they do.

Horton said legal action might be a possibility if Davis refuses to certify the funds.

Council has already filed a lawsuit against Davis for adding funds back into the adopted 2023 and 2024 budgets.

A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on X @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County PA Council OKs ARP funds for DEI, homeless
The Erie School District is seeking more court intervention as it tries to speed up the dissolution of the Erie Rise Leadership Academy Charter School and preserve whatever assets the publicly funded school has left.

Saying it has been unable to get financial information from Erie Rise, and growing more concerned about the shuttered charter school's fiscal management, the district is asking an Erie County judge to appoint a receiver to monitor the school's assets and wind up its financial affairs.

The Erie School Board rescinded Erie Rise's charter a year ago, citing chronic poor academic performance, and the school stopped operating at the end of June in a leased building at West 10th and Cascade streets.

Erie Rise Leadership Academy Charter School, at West 10th and Cascade streets, closed in June 2023. The school's sign has since been removed.

But Erie Rise has not fully dissolved its finances and administrative functions, to the frustration of its chartering entity  the Erie School District.

"It does not appear that anyone is overseeing Erie Rise's actions to ensure it is satisfying generally accepted standards of fiscal management, as required under Pennsylvania law," a district lawyer said in a motion for an appointment of a receiver, filed Jan. 26.

Erie County Judge Marshall Piccinini has scheduled a case-management conference on the Erie Rise case for Friday. The motion for a receiver is expected to come up at that hearing.

School district first sued for Erie Rise's records

The school district's request for a receiver follows an earlier request  that a judge order Erie Rise to provide the district financial records and other information during the dissolution process.

The district said it needs the records to identify Erie Rise's remaining public funds and other assets, most of which are to revert to the district.

Taxpayers funded Erie Rise. The school opened in 2011 and offered gender-specific, extended-day classrooms to students living in poverty.

The Erie School District paid about $3.4 million a year to cover Erie Rise students' tuition in 2023.

Erie Rise had about 300 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in January 2023 and 213 when the school closed in June 2023.

On Dec. 9, the Erie School District filed its request that the judge order the disclosure of the Erie Rise records  a request known as a complaint in mandamus. A number of developments have occurred since then.

On Jan. 8, according to email correspondence attached to the district's motion for a receiver, the state Department of Education told the Erie School District that Erie Rise had not submitted its 2023 reports to the department, as required.

On Jan. 9, Erie Rise opposed the district's mandamus complaint in a response filed in court. Erie Rise argued that state law sets no firm timeline for its dissolution and said its financial audit will be done this spring.

On Jan. 17, Erie Rise's former landlord, the Greater Erie Community Action Committee, initiated legal action to sue Erie Rise for breach of contract, seeking $315,000 in past due and remaining rent.

District wants former state appointee named receiver

The Erie School District does not agree with GECAC's claim, according to the district's motion for a receiver. But the district said the reasons that warrant the appointment of a receiver include the $315,000 claim, Erie Rise's failure to provide financial records to the district and the school's failure to provide the reports to the Department of Education.

"To date, Erie Rise is severely deficient in numerous aspects of its legally mandated reporting and does not appear to be undertaking those steps necessary to complete its dissolution," the district's lawyer on the case, Michael Musone, said in the motion for a receiver.

"Additionally, Erie Rise has refused to provide the District with requested information, which the District is legally permitted  and in fact obligated  to receive and review."

The motion states that "a receiver would ensure that Erie Rise's affairs are wound up in a timely manner  including ensuring that GECAC's claims are addressed."

The Erie School District wants Judge Piccinini to appoint a familiar person as a receiver. The district is proposing Jim Ohrn, the former vice president and CFO of Custom Engineering in Erie.

Ohrn has extensive knowledge of public school finance in Pennsylvania. Then Gov. Tom Wolf appointed him to serve as the Erie School District's financial administrator in the final stage of the district's financial recovery. Ohrn's post ended when the state removed the district from financial watch in 2022.

U.S. Department of Education probe remains in background

However long Erie Rise takes to dissolve, another potential legal problem is looming.

On June 7, 23 days before it closed on June 30, agents with the investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Education searched the offices of Erie Rise and the Booker T. Washington Center, at East 18th and Holland streets in Erie.

Erie Rise had partnered with the Booker T. Washington Center as part of a federal grant program designed to provide additional services to students, particularly those who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools.

The U.S. Department of Education confirmed the searches when they occurred but has released no further information on them.

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

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie School District wants receivership for ex-Erie Rise charter school
CAMP COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  The Camp County Sheriffs Office arrested an erratic driver on Monday after a traffic stop reportedly led to the discovery of methamphetamine.

17-year-old arrested in East Texas after car reported stolen

According to a release, Sheriff John Cortelyou said a deputy conducted a traffic stop on an erratic driver early Monday morning. When the deputy ran the license plate, it reportedly didnt come back to the truck he had stopped. The driver, Casey Blalock, 61 of Scroggins, was also found to have two active warrants.

Deputy Swann asked Blalock if he had anything in his pockets he needed to know about. Blalock answered that he did not, but he told the deputy where to find a bag of methamphetamine, said Cortelyou.

The bag reportedly weighed 4.6 grams and was taken as evidence.

Blalock was arrested on possession of a controlled substance and the two warrants.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Russia is likely behind an increase in GPS jamming across Eastern Europe, said Martin Herem, the commander of the Estonian Defense Forces, in an interview with Bloomberg published on Jan. 31.

Russia has been repeatedly accused of backing cyber-crime groups in attacks against its perceived rivals. Moscow has also deployed its cyber capabilities against Ukraine, including attacks on government institutions, the defense sector, and energy infrastructure.

Russia has also been accused of jamming GPS signals in nearby countries such as Finland as far back as the 2010s.

Herem said that the GPS jamming had affected satellite signals used by airlines, smartphones, and weapons systems. While Russia's responsibility for the jamming attacks could not be confirmed, it is likely, he said.

Russia may be attempting to test its jamming capabilities in a potential war-gaming scenario, the Estonian general added.

"Russia has demonstrated its electronic warfare capabilities elsewhere, not just in Ukraine and the Baltic countries," Herem said. "Theyre definitely quite strong in this."

The potential source of the jamming activities is unclear, but Russia's Defense Ministry previously admitted that its electronic warfare units based in the exclave of Kaliningrad held exercises to test its satellite disruption capabilities.

Another possible origin could be from Russian ships based in the Baltic Sea, Herem said.

While the potential targets for Russian jamming operations would likely be military objects, satellite disruptions can also potentially impact commercial jets flying in the area.

Read also: UK accuses Russian FSB of multi-year campaign of cyber-attacks

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The European Commission has officially proposed to extend the suspension of import quotas and duties on Ukrainian exports to the EU for another year, while including safety measures for agricultural products, as demanded by several EU countries.

Source: European Pravda with reference to a message from Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

Details: For Ukraine, the European Commission proposes to extend preferential trade conditions with the suspension of import duties and quotas for another year, which should support the Ukrainian economy in times of war.

At the same time, the proposal includes an "enhanced safeguard" to protect the interests of European farmers.

"To this end, and given the significant increase in imports of certain agricultural products from Ukraine to the EU in 2022-2023, the renewed autonomous trade measures contain an enhanced safeguard mechanism. This allows for a quick response in the event of significant distortions in the EU market or the market of one of the member states," the communique explains.

For three types of products  poultry, eggs and sugar  an "emergency braking" mechanism is envisaged to "stabilise imports at the level of average import volumes in 2022-2023". This means that if these import volumes are exceeded, import tariffs will be applied.

In the same proposal, the European Commission proposes to extend the suspension of duties on imports from Moldova for another year.

The proposal is to be further considered by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.

Background: The EU's preferential trade regime with Ukraine has been in place since 4 June 2022 and was extended in 2023. However, due to farmers' dissatisfaction, the EU imposed temporary restrictions on certain types of agricultural products for several months in 2023, and some countries, including Poland, extended them unilaterally after the EU had them cancelled.

The current extension of the duty-free and quota-free trade regime for Ukraine expires on 5 June 2024, and for Moldova on 24 July 2024.

The European Commission notes that total imports from Ukraine to the EU increased to 24.3 billion from October 2022 to October 2023, compared to 24 billion in October 2021.

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The European Commission proposed that import duties on Ukrainian exports to the EU should remain suspended until June 2025, though exceptions will apply to certain agricultural products, according to an announcement on Jan. 31.

The free trade agreement first came into effect in June 2022, designed to help Ukraine's economy during the Russian invasion.

Different rules will apply for "the most sensitive products," namely Ukrainian sugar, poultry, and eggs, which will be capped at levels from 2022 and 2023.

"This means that if imports of these products were exceeding those volumes, tariffs would be reimposed to ensure that import volumes do not significantly exceed those of previous years," the Commission said, describing the measure as an "emergency brake."

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal greeted the news on X, saying that the extension will offer "additional opportunities for Ukrainian companies and exports and strengthen the stability of our economy."

"To avoid possible conflicts in agricultural markets, clearer instruments to control the movement of goods have been proposed. We look forward to further support for this decision," Shmyhal said.

The import of Ukrainian agricultural products has been the source of protest for various farming groups in countries neighboring Ukraine, such as Romania and Poland, with farmers claiming that the liberalization of import rules for Ukrainian products hinders their ability to remain competitive.

The proposals will be considered by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, with the European Commission aiming to "ensure a seamless transition" to the new rules when the previous regime expires on June 5, 2024.

Read also: Ukraine Business Roundup  January 30

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A former high-ranking city official was sentenced to 18 months in prison Wednesday for helping to conceal a multiyear embezzlement scheme that led to the failure of Washington Federal Bank for Savings, a family-run institution that had been a mainstay in Chicagos Bridgeport neighborhood for more than a century.

William Mahon, 57, pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to falsify bank records to deceive federal regulators and help hide millions in collateral-free loans authorized by then-bank President John Gembara that prosecutors alleged had essentially turned Washington Federal into a piggy bank for insiders and friends.

As part of the scheme, Mahon concealed a $130,000 payment he received directly from Gembara to use as a down payment on a loan to build a three-flat in Bridgeport, records show.

Mahon, who was the $139,000-a-year deputy commissioner of the Streets and Sanitation Department when he was charged in 2021, also admitted in a plea agreement he underreported income on his tax returns for years that cost the IRS more than $60,000.

In asking for probation, Mahons attorney, Thomas Breen, said Mahon was a bit player in the bank scheme and didnt participate or benefit directly from the embezzlement itself.

Instead, Breen said, Mahon trusted Gembara, his longtime friend, who purposefully put Mahon on the banks loan committee because he knew Mahon had no banking experience and would not recognize the financial malfeasance going on behind the scenes.

Gembara killed himself in December 2017 just as regulators were about to take over.

Dont anybody mix him up with Gembara, Breen said. Hes not a thief. Hes not a schemer in that regard. ... To throw Bill Mahon into the same group is absolutely unfair.

But U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall said that regardless of Mahons inexperience, his decision to repeatedly stick his head in the sand and blindly follow Gembaras instructions, falsify documents and lie to regulators who started asking questions, not only left many ordinary bank customers out of money but eroded their faith in the countrys financial systems.

You are a smart man. You are a man who has no mental infirmities that would prevent you from thinking through these actions, Kendall said. And so you chose not to follow the policies in place that would protect the money of those people.

In addition to the 18-month sentence, Kendall ordered Mahon to pay a $75,000 fine, representing most of the money he made while serving on the banks board.

Mahon must report to prison by April 26.

Before the sentence was handed down, Mahon stood in court and read a statement apologizing to his friends, family, and victims of the banks collapse for his actions.

I have tremendous remorse and guilt for not taking my role more seriously, Mahon said, struggling to contain his emotion. I made bad choices. I own them.

Mahon said that his failings have taken a massive toll on his family, particularly his daughters, who have had to step in and help with their fathers financial affairs, including managing the three-unit rental that was part of the case.

Instead of preparing my daughters for weddings, Im trying to prepare them for me being absent from their lives, Mahon said, as his daughters wiped away tears while watching from the courtroom gallery. Im aching because Im asking them to cover for me and that is the last thing I would ever want to do.

Mahon was one of 16 people charged in the sprawling investigation into the Washington Federals collapse, including the banks former chief financial officer, treasurer, and other high-ranking employees who prosecutors accused of conspiring to embezzle at least $31 million in bank funds.

The probe also led to the downfall of Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson, the then-11th Ward alderman and scion of the Daley political dynasty, who was convicted in 2022 of two counts of lying to federal regulators about loans he had with Washington Federal and falsely claiming mortgage interest deductions on his tax returns.

Thompson, who by law was forced to step down immediately after his conviction, was sentenced to four months in prison.

Police records show Gembara, 56, was found dead Dec. 3, 2017, in the Park Ridge home of bank customer Marek Matczek, where he had been staying. An autopsy report showed Gembara was found seated in a chair in his bedroom with a rope tied to the banister and around his neck. His death was ruled a suicide by the Cook County medical examiners office.

Matczek, 60, was convicted at trial in September of conspiring to commit embezzlement and falsify bank records, as well as aiding and abetting embezzlement by bank employees. He is awaiting sentencing.

One of the banks largest debtors was Gembaras good friend, attorney Robert Kowalski, who was convicted at trial of conspiring with Gembara to rack up millions in collateral-free loans, then lying about and concealing assets and income in bankruptcy proceedings and on his tax returns.

Kowalski is currently jailed at the Chicago Metropolitan Correctional Center and awaiting sentencing.

On Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Petersen asked for a sentence of two years in prison for Mahon, saying that while he was earning a hefty taxpayer-funded salary from the city, he was purposefully helping to remove financial guardrails at the bank.

Washington Federal was a neighborhood bank, where people deposited their paychecks, bought CDs for their kids, Petersen said. If he had told (regulators) the truth, it might have stopped the embezzlement.

Petersen said the sentence should serve as a message that when people serve on a board of a financial institution they have to do their job, and that they certainly cannot lie to regulators that their job is being done.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
The exterior of the Internal Revenue Service building is seen in Washington on March 22, 2013. Charles Edward Littlejohn, a former contractor for the IRS who pleaded guilty to leaking tax information to news outlets about former President Donald Trump and thousands of the countrys wealthiest people, was sentenced to 5 years in prison on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. | Susan Walsh, Associated Press

After pleading guilty in October to disclosing IRS tax return information for Donald Trump and thousands of wealthy Americans without authorization, Charles Littlejohn received a five-year prison sentence Monday, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

In addition to prison time, Littlejohn will receive 36 months of supervised release and a $5,000 fine.

U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes heard the case and called Littlejohns actions an intolerable attack on our constitutional democracy, per Politico.

She added, When you target the sitting president of the United States, youre targeting the office and when youre targeting the office of the president of the United States, youre targeting democracy  youre targeting our constitutional system of government.

What did Charles Littlejohn do?

According to the cases factual basis document released by the U.S. District Court, Littlejohn pleaded guilty of stealing and releasing IRS tax returns of former President Trump and thousands of other wealthy Americans.

Littlejohn worked as a contractor at a consulting firm that regularly worked with the IRS.

According to court documents, in late November 2018, Littlejohn uploaded private IRS data to a private website to avoid IRS detection. The court document explains, That same day, Littlejohn used a personal computer to download the data from the private website. He then stored the data in multiple locations, including on personal data storage devices such as his Apple iPod.

Several months later, in May 2019, Littlejohn contacted a news organization to discuss releasing the information.

Between Jan. 2020 and that spring, he stole additional tax return records on Donald Trump and related entities and individuals.

In July 2020, he continued accessing unmasked IRS data associated with thousands of the nations wealthiest people, including returns and return information dating back over 15 years, per the factual basis document.

In Sept. 2020, Littlejohn contacted another news organization, and the news organization has since published nearly 50 articles using the returns and return information.

The New York Times released an article titled, Long-concealed Records Show Trumps Chronic Losses and Years of Tax Avoidance in Sept. 2020, and ProPublica released The Secret IRS Files: Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax in June 2021.

In Oct. 2023, Littlejohn pled guilty to claims he was knowing and willful as he abused a position of trust and deployed highly specialized technical skills in furthering his criminal activity.

The New York Times responds to Littlejohns sentence

Charlie Stadtlander, a spokesperson for The New York Times, said the reporting based off Littlejohns documents played an important role in helping the public understand the financial ties and tax strategies of a sitting president, adding that such information is important to voters.

One of Littlejohns lawyers, Lisa Manning, attributed her clients actions to a deep, moral belief that Americans had a right to know the information, The New York Times reported.

Meanwhile, Heather Hill, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administrations inspector general, said Littlejohns sentence should serve as a warning to anyone considering emulating (his) actions, per a Justice Department press release.

Prosecutors in a court filing similarly said, A free press and public engagement with the media are critical to any healthy democracy, but stealing and leaking private, personal tax information strips individuals of the legal protection of their most sensitive data.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Former Las Vegas Raider Henry Ruggs III was serving his 3-to-10-year prison sentence at a northern Nevada prison camp, records showed.

Ruggs, 25, was sentenced on Aug. 9, 2023, after pleading guilty to driving drunk at 156 mph and crashing into a car killing 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog. The crash happened in November 2021. Prosecutors had said Ruggs blood-alcohol level was 0.16, which is twice the legal limit.

Ruggs began his sentence at the High Desert State Prison northwest of Las Vegas, records showed. The prison, the largest in the department, is a 45-minute drive northwest of Las Vegas.

Ruggs was incarcerated Tuesday at the Stewart Conservation Camp, a minimum security facility in Carson City.

Former Las Vegas Raiders player Henry Ruggs appears in court Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Las Vegas. Ruggs plead guilty to driving his car drunk before causing a fiery crash that killed a woman. (AP Photo/John Locher)

The majority of the inmates at the facility work for the Nevada Division of Forestry, the departments website said. It was unclear if Ruggs was doing that work while in custody at the dormitory-style facility.

Ruggs, who was initially charged with DUI resulting in death, DUI resulting in bodily harm, two counts of reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm, and possession of a firearm while under the influence, accepted a plea deal last May.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson told 8 News Now Investigators in May that the plea deal guaranteed Ruggs would serve prison time.

Ruggs is up for parole in August 2026.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
ISLAMABAD  A Pakistani court on Wednesday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife to 14 years in prison for corruption, prison officials said, a day after another special court convicted Khan for leaking state secrets and gave him a 10-year prison sentence.

Khan and his wife are accused of retaining and selling state gifts when the former premier was in power.

The court also disqualified Khan for years from holding any public office ahead of Feb. 8 parliamentary elections.

The latest development came three weeks after Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were indicted on graft charges for retaining state gifts including jewelry and watches from Saudi Arabias government, authorities said.

The court order was another blow to Khan. He and Bibi had pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out at a court at the prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi earlier this month.

Khan briefly attended the court hearing when the judge announced the verdict.




A delegation from Ukraine, mostly military people and veterans, is in the midst of a weeklong visit to Modesto and other stops in the region.

Modesto Sister Cities International is hosting the group, which includes soldiers, former soldiers, government defense officials and advocates for veterans.

The Modesto Sister Cities program said the goal is to deepen cooperation and understanding between the United States and Ukraine, a country that has battled for its survival against the Russian invasion.

Modesto has maintained a sister city relationship with Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine, since 1987. The visitors from Ukraine have been scheduled for meetings with city of Modesto, the Modesto Irrigation District, Stanislaus State University, the California National Guard in Sacramento and Stanford University.

A public reception is set for Thursday at the Mistlin Gallery, 1015 J St., from 5 to 7 p.m. Promoters said its an opportunity to meet with friends from Ukraine who are fighting for their freedom and democracy in Eastern Europe. People planning to attend are asked to RSVP to modesto.msci@gmail.com.

Donations from Modesto folks have helped to purchase skylights to protect Khmelnytskyi from nighttime drone attacks, delivered food to the war front and supplied tourniquets and other necessities.

The groups visit to Modesto is sponsored by the Open World Program of the Congressional Office of International Leadership.
By Olena Harmash

KYIV (Reuters) - European Union countries are due to meet on Thursday to try to agree on extending billions of euros in economic aid to Ukraine, as well as replenishing a military fund to arm Kyiv as it fights Russia's almost two-year-old full-scale invasion.

Here are some facts and figures about the assistance Ukraine hopes to receive.

WHAT SUPPORT HAS UKRAINE RECEIVED AND HOW IS IT SPENT?

Ukraine relies heavily on economic assistance from the West and has received more than $73.6 billion in budgetary support since Russia's February 2022 invasion, finance ministry data shows.

Ukraine spends nearly all of its domestic revenues on the defence sector and army, while budget sector overheads have been largely covered by Western aid. A single day of fighting costs about $136 million, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko has said.

This year the government will again need massive injections of financial support to disburse social payments, wages for budget workers, and pensions for millions of Ukrainians.

The government expects a budget deficit of about $43 billion in 2024 and plans to cover it with domestic borrowing and financial aid from its Western partners.

Finance ministry officials have previously said they expect to receive about $41 billion in international aid in 2024.

The government is worried by uncertainty over the financing. Ukraine has yet to receive aid this year from its biggest financial backers, the European Union and the United States.

WHAT IS EUROPE'S UKRAINE FACILITY?

Last summer, the European Commission announced a 50 billion euro ($54 billion) multi-year support package named the Ukraine Facility that would be delivered through 2027.

Kyiv officials have said they hope to receive 18 billion euros of budgetary support from the facility in 2024, financing that would be crucial for covering the budget gap this year.

But there is still no agreement on granting the aid among the bloc's members, with Hungary voicing persistent opposition. Hungary vetoed the package in December and EU leaders will try again to reach agreement at their summit on Thursday.

WHAT ABOUT U.S. ASSISTANCE?

Ukraine is in talks with the U.S. government to receive economic assistance this year. Kyiv is seeking $8.5 billion in aid to help cover its budget deficit, senior lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration asked Congress in October for nearly $106 billion to fund plans for Ukraine, Israel and U.S. border security, but Republicans who control the House with a slim majority rejected the package.

WHAT SUPPORT FROM INTERNATIONAL LENDERS?

Ukraine's cooperation with the International Monetary Fund is important for its macroeconomic and financial stability. In 2023 the IMF approved a new 48-month lending programme worth some $15.6 billion.

Ukraine received about $4.5 billion last year. In 2024 the government hopes to receive another $5.4 billion but each tranche is linked to a series of reform targets and economic indicators.

Ukraine also expects about $1.5 billion from other international financial institutions, including the World Bank.

ANY OTHER AID?

Ukraine has agreed on financial support packages from Britain and Japan for 2024. It is also in talks with the governments of Canada, Norway, South Korea and others to secure other funds.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash; editing by Tom Balmforth and Ros Russell)
Fair Fight, a political action committee founded by former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams (D), has laid off 19 members of its staff as lawsuits have left the group strapped.

A source familiar with the matter said Tuesday the group is continuing its core operations of voter protection, communication, and operations.

The staff reduction amounts to about three-quarters of its employees, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Abrams started the group in 2018 after losing a race to become the Peach States governor. By 2021, Fair Fight was one of the top-raising political groups in the nation. In about its first two years, it raised more than $103 million, according to filings with Georgias Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission.

We have waged critical legal battles and built a statewide and national infrastructure to support our mission, Fair Fight Action Board Chair Salena Jegede said in an emailed statement to The Hill. Key to our efforts have been two landmark lawsuits that highlighted the sustained attacks on voting rights and engagement fomented here in Georgia, but with national implications.

These vital lawsuits were elongated by multiple national crises and complicated by a changing legal landscape, Jegede continued. This included devastating Supreme Court decisions and intervening new state voter suppression laws that together have stripped judges of the authority to adequately protect voting rights.

Jegede said the organization had the moral obligation to field the suits for voters, but because of the complex nature of litigation, the organization unfortunately faces a serious funding deficit that makes our current trajectory unsustainable.

While we are disappointed by these realities, we are not discouraged, Jegede said. We will adapt to this new phase of the fight for democracy by restructuring the organization to focus on how we serve Georgia and American voters for the 2024 cycle and beyond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Waiting with great anticipation families will welcome two ships as they return home from deployment on Sat., Feb. 3.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyers USS Farragut and USS The Sullivans will be coming to Naval Station Mayport from different regions of the globe.

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As its primary mission, the USS Farragut was conducting counter-illicit drug trafficking operations that resulted in the seizure of 3,153 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $220.7 million. During this operation, Farragut embarked with a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment.

As a secondary mission, Farragut and its crew were tasked with strengthening diplomatic relations in the South American/Caribbean region.

Naval Station Mayport said the USS The Sullivans is returning from the Mediterranean Sea where it provided missile defense for US European Command and escort duties for the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and USS Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group.

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A South Carolina resort will pay $26 million to the family of a child who suffered serious chemical burns from an overchlorinated pool, an attorney for the family said.

According to a federal lawsuit, the North Carolina family sued Myrtle Beachs Caribbean Resort, after their then 3-year-old child suffered severe burns from the pool when they visited in May 2020.

The lawsuit on behalf of Heather Douglas, the little boy's mother said she noticed her son Ashtyn Douglas' "groin and buttocks" were red after they finished swimming in the resort's pools and lazy rivers on May 25, 2020.

Douglas applied some lotion on Ashtyn and headed home. The next day, she noticed that his skin began to blister and took him to his pediatrician who prescribed him Bactroban. However, the next day, the blisters got worse, and Douglas took her child back to the pediatrician.

Ashtyn was then sent to a local hospital, before being transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Burn Center.

There, the blisters were diagnosed "as chemical burns related to exposure to an overchlorinated pool at the Caribbean Resort and Villas," the lawsuit said.

Injured: Preventable injuries are killing America's children. But some are more at risk than others.

Ashtyn will live with scars for the rest of his life

The now 7-year-old spent a week in the burn unit receiving treatment.

"What Ashtyn went through initially was this God-awful pain. His skin was being eaten away by chemicals. That's the way chlorine burns work  it doesn't typically happen all at once. It eats the skin away," Kenneth Berger, an attorney for the family told USA TODAY.

Berger said it wasn't just the treatments in the hospital that were tough on Ashtyn, but the wound care afterward.

Debridement is the surgical removal of dead tissue from a wound. During his treatment, Ashtyn experienced loss of appetite, immobility, discomfort, fever, pain, and nausea, the lawsuit said.

At home, Ashtyn had to get wound care multiple times a day.

"One of the things his family members talked about was that a couple of the men in the family, tough guys, and one who was former military, actually couldn't participate in Ashtyn's wound care when they got home because it hurt their feelings too much. They talked about it being like torture, where you'd have four family members holding this child down while his mother worked to clean his wound," Berger said.

Resort employee admitted falsifying chlorine levels, attorney says

According to the lawsuit, Douglas called the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and reported that Ashtyn was burned from swimming in the resort's pools. The agency then inspected the pools and found that they had "dangerously" high chlorine levels that did not comply with state-mandated standards for public pools.

Additionally, Berger said an employee deposed during the case admitted to falsifying chlorine levels to DHEC for three and a half years. The attorney said resort employees and leadership appeared to not care that the levels were falsified and illegal.

According to the attorney, resort workers deposed claimed they received no other complaints but a check of the resort's Google reviews showed several other people complaining of skin issues from chlorine.

"When confronted with that evidence, their answer was 'We thought you meant legal complaints, not actual complaints to the resort,' -- Which we found incredibly disingenuous," Berger said.

"At that point, they disclosed a few complaints concerning people with burns or skin issues but claimed that those incidents were only after Ashtyn got burned, which we found hard to believe," he added.

The resort did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.

Berger said the lawsuit was never about money.

"His mother never once asked about money throughout the entire case. From the first time I met her, until the last time I spoke with her, it was all about accountability and making sure this never happened to anybody else. Throughout the course of the entire case, we never once heard the word sorry, or an apology from this resort" he said.

For Ashtyn, the settlement isn't the end of the incident. Berger said this is something the young child will have to live with for the rest of his life.

"Ashtyn's got many, many, many years ahead of him, God willing. He's never gonna forget this. He's never going to forget the scars that run along the right side of his groin and his waistband. The people who caused it should never forget either," Berger said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Myrtle Beach resort settles toddler chlorine burn case for $26 million
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The family of a man shot in a 2021 confrontation with Austin Police is filing a new complaint with Austins Office of Police Oversight.

Alex Gonzales Jr.s family said an APD officer has made what they call false statements regarding his role in the shooting.

The family alleges APD Officer Gabriel Gutierrez isnt fit to stand as an APD officer but didnt specify what those false statements were.

Alex Gonzales Jr. case: Wrongful death lawsuits filed against 2 APD officers, City of Austin

At approximately 12:30 a.m., Jan. 5, 2021, 911 dispatch received a shooting hot shot call at the 2500 block of Wickersham Lane from Gutierrez, according to officials.

Gutierrez was off-duty in January 2021 when he said Gonzales cut him off in traffic and pointed a gun at him. Gutierrez said he fired a shot at the car and called for backup.

Another responding officer shot and killed Gonzales after police said he didnt respond to commands and acted in what they thought was a threatening manner.

Elizabeth Gonzales, Alexs mother, said shes not going anywhere until she and her family get some accountability from the city.

Travis County DA says no indictment in deadly Jan. 2021 police shooting of Alex Gonzales

I want a response from [the city] to see what theyre gonna do, cause Im not going nowhere and Im not gonna disappear, she said. Thats all I want is the truth, thats it. The truth. And they cant even do that or provide the truth? And they wonder why the people of Austin dont count on them or cant call on them.

Back in 2022, a Travis County grand jury declined to indict either officer involved in Gonzaless shooting.

Then, in January 2023, Gonzales family filed civil lawsuits against all officers involved, as well as the City of Austin.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  In May 2018, a Middle Tennessee couple vanished without a trace. It would be years later when the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) found their bodies and uncovered the heinous crime in the process.

Now, the two men charged in their deaths have been found guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Long-time couple Kristie and Henry Wilson, who were not married but had the same last name, were last seen at a gas station in Putnam County before they disappeared.

Family mourns young mother killed in crash while heading to church

Exhausting, said Kristies sister, Kimberly Rediker, describing the last several years.

The feelings can often become overwhelming.

She was a part of our family. Shes a part thats now missing, said Bridget Murphy, Kristies cousin. They were more than just flesh and bones. They were somebodys family, they were loved, they were cared for.

On the night of May 9, 2018, Rediker said Kristie, 39 at the time, was at their aunts house in Monterey when she was picked up by her longtime boyfriend, Henry. The couple stopped at a nearby BP gas station for gas and cigarettes.

That was the last known sighting of the pair. The family would launch into a constant search after their disappearance.

Every single day, the first year my sister went missing, every single day we would be out with binoculars. We would follow up every tip. We were literally just driving slow down the roads and getting out of our cars and looking with binoculars, Rediker remembered.

Four months after the couple went missing, the TBI announced that law enforcement found Kristies car down an embankment in Fentress County, breaking open the case.

Six January murders in Clarksville that remain unsolved

Before the car was found, there was maybe, you know, that one little 1% chance that maybe she was just being held up somewhere, but as soon as they found the car, I knew that they were dead, said Rediker.

Then, in October 2021, the TBI found the couples remains in Overton County. Soon after, agents arrested Ryan Bo Cravens and his father, Robert Cravens, in connection with the deaths of Kristie and Henry.

In January 2024, the case finally went before a judge and jury. The victims families sat and listened as the gruesome details were revealed. Rediker and Murphy described how the victims bodies were burned.

More information about how my sister suffered came out than we originally believed. We believed that by the time she got to the burn pile, she was pretty much unconscious, and it turns out that wasnt true. She had to live through finding out that Henry was dead under the woodpile and then was totally awake to then be killed by a hatchet, Rediker explained.

Each day, the two attended every day of court, listening eagerly to what the jury would decide.

My sister doesnt have a voice, and I know if my sister were here and I was the one missing and I was the one who got murdered, that she would do everything that she could, and so that kept me continuing to show up, Rediker said.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

News 2 learned the Cravens were found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence. Although the family was hoping for a first-degree murder verdict, they are happy to be a step closer to justice in their eyes.

We feel like the jury did everything they possibly could; they did their very best to give us some sort of justice. They were as heartbroken as we were that it couldnt be more, but were hoping that with everything else that theyll never see the light of day, Murphy said.

Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, May 13. Rediker and Murphy said they plan to see the court process through and ask the judge to hand down maximum sentences.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Sgt. Kennedy Sanders was one of three U.S. service members killed in a drone attack at a base in Jordan over the weekend. Her mother, Oneida Sanders, said she is still feeling "disbelief, shock, anger."

"I have so many questions," Onedia Sanders told CBS News.

Kennedy Sanders, who was posthumously promoted from specialist to sergeant on Monday, was set to return home in August. The 24-year-old already had plans to take the next step in her military career, her mother said.

"Kennedy was full of life," Oneida told CBS News. "She was a breath of fresh air. She was so likeable, by so many people."

Sanders, along with Breonna Moffett, 23, and William Rivers, 46  the other two service members killed in the attack  was an Army reservist at Fort Moore in Georgia. President Biden spoke separately with the families of all three slain soldiers to offer his condolences, the White House said.

"The president shared his encounter about losing a loved one, and that really comforted me," Kennedy Sanders' father, Shawn Sanders, said.

Three U.S. service members were killed in a drone attack on a base in Jordan on Jan. 28, 2024. / Credit: Department of Defense

Mr. Biden's first wife and one of his daughters were both killed in a car crash in 1972, when the president was still a senator-elect. One of his sons, Beau Biden, who served in Iraq as part of the Delaware Army National Guard, died of a brain tumor in 2015 at age 46.

"He made it very personal and I really felt that he had a sense of compassion for us as a family," Oneida Sanders said.

Shawn Sanders said his daughter's posthumous promotion was very meaningful.

"I really know what that meant to her," he said. "She was working toward getting that promotion. That was one of the most special moments in this whole encounter, that, you know, that coming from the president of the United States."

U.S. troops killed in drone strike identified

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The family of a soldier recently killed in Jordan broke down during a call Tuesday with President Biden.

In a video by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Shawn Sanders and Oneida Oliver-Sanders take a call from the president in which he expresses his condolences over the death of their daughter Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders in a suicide drone attack last weekend.

Shawn, I wish I didnt have to make this call, Biden said. I know theres nothing anybody can say or do to ease the pain. Ive been there.

Yes, sir, we understand, Oliver-Sanders responded.

I just want you to know that I  youre in my prayers and my heart, Biden said.

Shortly after, the president says their daughter is being posthumously promoted to sergeant.

Oh wow, that is the best news Ive heard today, thank you so much, Oliver-Sanders said as her husband began to break down. You dont know how much that means to us.

Oh, well, I tell you what, it means a lot to me, Biden then said, as Oliver-Sanders began to cry. My son spent a year in Iraq; thats how I lost him.

Biden shared the losses he has faced in his life, including the deaths of his first wife and young daughter in a 1972 car crash and his son Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015.

The Pentagon on Monday identified Sanders, alongside Sgt. William Jerome Rivers and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, as those who died in the drone attack. All three are from Georgia.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Kick off February with the cutest weather tradition, the 138th annual Groundhog Day celebration. Watch Punxsutawney Phil predict a longer winter or an early spring this Friday, Feb. 2.

Hundreds of locals and fans from all across the nation gather at Phil's home, the Gobbler's Knob, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, during the early hours of the morning every Feb. 2 to see if Phil can see his own shadow or not since the tradition started in 1887.

According to the Farmers' Almanac, Phil's predictions have been 39% accurate, with only 20 times predicting an early end to winter. However, Punxsutawney Phil's inner circle members claim that his predictions are 100% accurate.

Groundhog Club handler Ron Ploucha, left, holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, as Groundhog Club President Bill Deeley, right, gets the weather prediction from Phil during the 129th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Monday, Feb. 2, 2015.

If you can't travel to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, by this Friday morning to catch Phil's prediction, the Groundhog Club is virtually live-streaming it on their website at www.groundhog.org.

How does Phil make a prediction?

The folklore says that if Phil sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, there will be six more weeks of winter. And if Phil doesn't see his shadow, then spring will come early. But, the Farmers' Almanac explains in their Groundhog Day 2024 article that the weekly forecast determines whether Phil sees his shadow. The weather forecast for Punxsutawney on Friday is cloudy.

More: The Farmers' Almanac is out with its prediction for winter - how much snow will we get?

What do the Almanac editors predict?

During the second week of February, the New England region will experience snow, cold rain, and freezing temperatures according to the editors of the Farmers' Almanac.

The editors predict winter weather to last until March this year. According to the editors, the official first day of spring is Tuesday, March 19, even if the weather still feels wintry. They also predict a possibility of an April snowfall in New England's high terrain during the third week of the month.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Gardner News subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: How to watch Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day - is it an early spring?
Semafor Signals

Insights from the Financial Times, The Guardian, BBC

The News

Thousands of farmers surrounded Paris this week, blocking key highways and disrupting food transportation as an agricultural crisis intensifies across Europe.

Farmers across the continent say their livelihoods are being battered by rising costs, increased European regulation, and unfair competition from abroad.

Germany, Italy and Belgium are among the countries hit by protests, which has played into the hands of far-right parties such as Frances National Rally and the German AfD, and the unrest is expected to spread to Spain and Portugal.

Frances new prime minister Gabriel Attal, on Tuesday pledged to accelerate emergency funds for farmers and increase controls on foreign products to guarantee fair competition.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Farmers feel disproportionately affected by EU environment targets

Sources: Financial Times, Voice of America, The Guardian

Many farmers feel the burden of implementing environmental protections in the EU  such as the 2020 Green Deal, a sweeping set of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions  unfairly falls on them rather than other large polluters.

The Green Deal and the Farm to Fork seem wonderful, but they harm agricultural productivity, one farmer told Voice of America. In France, farmers are protesting a ban on pesticides, the removal of agricultural diesel fuel subsidies, and fallow land policies that force farmers to set aside a percentage of their land for biodiversity. Although farms cause a significant amount of emissions, Dutch dairy farmers feel they are under a microscope and say there should be more measures targeting vehicles and industry. Farmers unions also oppose a planned EU free-trade agreement with the South American trade bloc Mercosur, complaining that South American countries will not have to adhere to the same environmental standards, the Financial Times reported.

EU measures to help Ukraines farmers spark resentment among its neighbors

Sources: BBC, Reuters, AFP

After Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Black Sea blockade, the EU lifted restrictions on Ukrainian food imports, allowing them to flood the market  causing discontent among farmers in neighboring Romania, Poland and Hungary, who feel they are unable to compete. A representative for one Polish farming union told AFP that farmers were opposed to uncontrolled imports of agriculture products from Ukraine, while a Romanian outlet likened the EUs measures to allow in so many cheap Ukrainian goods to a non-swimmer trying to save a drowning person. They both drown.

Populist parties court farmers ahead of European Parliament elections in June

Sources: Politico, The Guardian

Populist parties aim to capitalize on farmer anger in the upcoming European Parliament election. The difficulties facing farmers may not be the number one issue, [but they are] surprisingly effective at crystalizing resentment over economic problems, one political scientist told Politico. A recent European Council on Foreign Relations survey showed far-right parties placing first currently in nine EU countries, while a Politico poll showed the right-wing Identity and Democracy group of political parties set to become the third largest group in the EU parliament. In the Netherlands, a crackdown on nitrogen pollution led to a move to close farms  and the subsequent creation of a rural populist party, The Guardian reported  while Germanys climate and economy minister has warned that fringe extremist groups are exploiting farmer protests. Meanwhile, one French right-wing politician said protests in Brussels were triggered by the stringent environmental policies put forward in the European Green Deal, complaining that farmers were subject to a tsunami of rules, Politico reported.
A bullfighter performs during a bullfight at the Plaza Mexico, in Mexico City, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. Bullfighting returned to Mexico City after the Supreme Court of Justice overturned a 2022 ban that prevented these events from taking place in the capital. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

MEXICO CITY (AP)  A federal court granted a temporary injunction against bullfighting in Mexico City on Wednesday, as activists and supporters of the practice once again locked horns in court.

Bullfighting had only just returned Sunday to the capital's Plaza Mexico, which held the city's first legal bullfight in almost two years.

The ruling will apparently force the postponement of fights scheduled for Feb. 4-6; organizers have not yet announced what they will do.

In May 2022, a local court ordered an end to bullfighting, ruling that the practice violated city residents rights to a healthy environment free from violence.

That case had been appealed to the Supreme Court, which struck down the ban on largely technical grounds but left the underlying questions unresolved.

But the joy of bullfighting enthusiasts only lasted a few days. Animal rights supporters quickly filed another legal challenge that resulted in Wednesday's ruling, which suspends fights until Feb. 7.

At that point, another hearing will be held to consider activists' complaints that the practice subjected the animals to cruelty and violated humans' rights to be free of degrading spectacles of cruelty and environmental insensitivity.

Animal rights groups have been gaining ground in Mexico in recent years while bullfighting followers have suffered several setbacks. In some states such as Sinaloa, Guerrero, Coahuila, Quintana Roo and the western city of Guadalajara, judicial measures now limit the activity.

Ranchers, businessmen and fans maintain that the ban on bullfights infringes on their rights and puts at risk several thousand jobs linked to the activity, which they say generates about $400 million a year in Mexico.

The National Association of Fighting Bull Breeders in Mexico estimates that bullfighting is responsible for 80,000 direct jobs and 146,000 indirect jobs.

The association has hosted events and workshops in recent years to promote bullfights and find new, younger fans.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
A federal judge dismissed The Walt Disney Companys free speech lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday afternoon.

U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor ruled that Disney lacked standing in its First Amendment lawsuit against DeSantis and his appointees to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which governs the land of the Walt Disney World Resort.

The separate lawsuit is still pending in state court in Orlando.

Read: DeSantis quietly passes gender identity policy change for drivers licenses

The feud between DeSantis and Disney started in 2022 after the company publicly opposed Floridas Parental Rights in Education Act, dubbed the Dont Say Gay law by critics. The law, was championed by DeSantis, banned classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades.

In retaliation for Disney objecting to the law, DeSantis and Republican legislators took over the district Disney had controlled for more than 50 years and installed five board members loyal to the governor.

This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here, a Disney spokesman told Channel 9. If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with. We are determined to press forward with our case.

Read: Disney v. DeSantis: Heres a timeline of the battle between Floridas governor, theme park giant

Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Chairman Martin Garcia provided Channel 9 with the following statement:

Im delighted that this lawsuit, which was nothing more than a distraction, is now behind us. Our board and the district will now continue to make the appropriate changes to operate and function as an independent government agency to promote transparency and accountability while bringing more prosperity to more people in Florida.

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates to this developing story.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday announced nearly $100 million will be awarded to Massachusetts to reimburse the state and local hospitals for COVID staffing costs during the pandemic.

In the largest grant amount awarded Wednesday, FEMA will be sending more than $64 million to the state to reimburse it for contracting costs to provide COVID testing services in public schools during the pandemic, federal officials said in a statement.

The $64,144,440 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services for the cost of contracting to provide testing at schools and in public buildings in surrounding communities between February 2021 and June 2022.

The contractor also provided services including transportation for a total of 907,829 COVID-19 test specimens from approximately 2,400 public schools across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the laboratory for analysis.

FEMA is pleased to be able to assist Massachusetts with these costs, FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich said in a statement. Reimbursing state, county, and municipal governments  as well as eligible non-profits and tribal entities  for the costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic is an important part of our nations ongoing recovery.

FEMA will also be sending more than $20 million to the state to reimburse Southcoast Hospitals Group Inc. for contracting costs for additional staff to handle increased patient loads during the pandemic, officials said.

The $20,050,452 in Public Assistance grants will reimburse the non-profit, community-based health system that operates three hospitals in southeastern Massachusetts and facilities in Rhode Island for the cost of additional staff and paying existing staff to work additional hours, including overtime.

One grant of $16,493,014 will reimburse the health system for 71 workers to work 38,468 unbudgeted straight time hours and 1,930 overtime hours, and for 388 contracted workers who put in 170,614 hours, between January 2020 and July 2022, federal officials said.

A second grant of $3,557,438 will reimburse Southcoast Hospitals Group, Inc. for contracting with 13 companies to provide 189 healthcare service personnel who worked 41,831 hours while temporarily replacing full-time staff who were transferred from their departments to others to attend the influx of patients between July 2022 and December 2022, officials said.

FEMA will also send more than $4.6 million to the state to reimburse Mass General Brigham Inc. for the cost of contracting for additional staff to deal with increased patient loads during the pandemic, officials said.

The $4,615,690 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the Boston-based integrated health care system  anchored by Brigham and Womens Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital for contracting for temporary staff at its facilities between March 2020 and February 2022, officials said.

During the pandemic, Mass General Brigham Inc. contracted for staff to work in inpatient units, intensive care units, emergency departments, and its respiratory clinic.

In addition, FEMA will be sending more than $8.1 million to the state to reimburse it for the cost of contracting for warehouse space to store and distribute medical supplies and other materials during the pandemic.

The $8,127,651 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the cost of contracting for warehouse space to receive, stage, and store face masks, personal protective equipment, supplies, and equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile between July 2022 and May 2023, officials said.

So far, FEMA has provided more than $2.7 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.

More more information about FEMAs Public Assistance program, visit this website.

To learn more about the COVID-19 response in Massachusetts, visit here.

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

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

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As Black History Month begins in 2024, multiple events are being planned for the Charlotte area. From special exhibits and workshops to festivals and a fashion show, there are a lot of ways to celebrate this year.

Check out the details below and mark them on your calendar:

Location: Historic Rosedale, 3427 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28206

When: Feb. 1, 10 a.m.-Feb. 29, 12 p.m.

Cost: Free

Historic Rosedale is hosting a monthlong series of Black History Month events, including The Great Escape  The Underground Railway outdoor exhibit, on display Feb. 1-29. While at Rosedale, you can also get a guided house tour.

Homeschool Black Naturalist Series

Location: Northern Regional Recreation Center, 18121 Old Statesville Road, Cornelius, N.C. 28031

When: Feb. 1-29

Cost: $20 for Mecklenburg County residents, $24 for nonresidents.

Ages: Two groups: kids ages 5 to 8 years old and kids ages 9 to 13 years old.

This event is for homeschooled children in the area and it highlights both nature and Black and brown communities.

[READ NEXT: Telling unique African American stories. New Gantt Center CEO looks to the future.]

Location: Historic Rosedale, 3427 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28206

When: Feb. 2 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Cost: Free

Historic Rosedale is hosting a monthlong series of Black History Month events, including its opening ceremony on Feb. 2.

Location: Real African Art Gallery, 440 East McCullough Drive #Ste A-111 Charlotte, NC 28262

When: Feb. 2, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Cost: $10

Celebrate Black History Month at the Real African Gallery. Learn about the history of Zimbabwe Shona stone sculptures. Your admission includes two glasses of wine.

Location: The Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St., Charlotte, NC 28213

When: Feb. 3-24; movie times vary

Cost: $8.45

Throughout the month of February, The Independent Picture House is hosting a Black History Month film series with panel discussions and community talkbacks. This years series will feature screenings of Red Tails, The Burial of Kojo and Purple Dreams.

Location: Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, 551 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202

When: Feb. 3, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Cost: Free

Ages: All

Alexia Alexander, a North Carolina State University sophomore, has created an digital map titled Charlottes Lost Slavery History. Alexander will lead a 2-mile walking tour of 18 sites, so make sure to wear comfortable clothing and bring water.

Location: Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center, 2921 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28208

When: Feb. 3, 10 a.m.-noon

Cost: Free

Ages: Seniors 55 years and older.

At this Black History-inspired sip and paint painting class, seniors will create art on canvas.

Location: First Ward Park Pavilion 301 E. Seventh St., Charlotte, N.C. 28202

When: Feb. 3, 10 a.m. to noon

Cost: Free

Ages: All

Come to First Ward Park to see the Homage Exhibit, a traveling collection showcasing the African American experience. The exhibit features more than 650 original artifacts, documents and art and is owned by Charlotte residents Nia and Morris McAdoo. Featured artists include Romare Bearden and Elizabeth Catlett.

Location: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library- West Boulevard, 2157 West Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208

When: Feb. 6-20; 5-7 p.m.

In honor of Black History Month, the West Boulevard library branch is hosting a Black film series on Tuesday nights. Catch a screening of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, King Richard or Toni Morrison: The Pieces I am at the local library.

Location: Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Rd., Charlotte NC, 28207

When: Feb. 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Cost: $10, which includes a beverage ticket

The Young Affiliates of the Mint are hosting a celebration of Black History Month featuring an artist showcase and conversation with Georgie Nakima, Komikka Patton, Davita Galloway and DaRemen. This one night only exhibition includes a Q&A with the four artists moderated by Makayla Binter of Charlotte is Creative.

Location: Historic Rosedale, 3427 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28206

When: Feb. 10, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Cost: $80

Kisha Kinard of Sweetgrass Roots farm will host a workshop on sweetgrass production and basket making. The workshop will include all the materials you need to make a small sweetgrass basket.

Location: Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, 4751 North Carolina 49 Gold Hall Concord, NC 28025

When: Feb. 10, 1-5 p.m.

Cost: Free to attend

The 7th annual 2024 North Carolina Black Heritage Festival is themed Remember the past, Celebrate the present, & Shape the future. Visit to see more than 100 Black-owned companies, as well as crafts, culture, art, games and performances.

Location: Historic Rosedale, 3427 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28206

When: Feb. 10, 12 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Cost: Free

Historic Rosedale is hosting four community members at its first of two Local Black History Makers events this month. On Feb. 10, youll get to hear Kimberly Butler, Harvey Boyd, Martha Rucker and Kyle Smith talk about their journeys.

Location: Historic Rosedale, 3427 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28206

When: Feb. 14-March 15

Cost: Free

Historic Rosedale launches its new exhibit, Oasis Spaces: The Green Book Project African American Travel in NC 1933  1966.

[READ NEXT: Original Chicken n Ribs provides seafood, slaw, a safe haven and more for seven decades.]

Location: Amay James Recreation Center, 2425 Lester St., Charlotte, N.C. 28208

When: Feb. 17, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cost: Free

Ages: All

An upcoming community event will feature the history and contributions of Black Americans, plus community contributions in Charlottes west corridor.

Location: Eastway Regional Recreation Center 3150 Eastway Park Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28213

When: Feb. 19, 1 to 2 p.m.

Cost: Free

Ages: 55 years and older

Eastway Regional Recreation Centers Black History Month trivia will celebrate Black history and culture.

Location: Charlotte Museum of History, 3500 Shamrock Dr, Charlotte, NC 28215

Time: Feb. 22-Feb. 24

Cost: Free

Ages: All

Charlotte Museum of History is hosting the seventh African American Heritage Festival. This years festival includes guest speakers, music, food trucks, a documentary film screening and a Caribbean Carnival event.

Location: Real African Art Gallery, 440 East McCullough Drive #Ste A-111 Charlotte, NC 28262

When: Feb. 23, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Cost: $10

Celebrate Black History Month at the Real African Gallery. Learn about the history of Zimbabwe Shona stone sculptures. Your admission includes two glasses of wine.

Location: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library-University City Regional, 301 E W.T. Harris Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28262

Time: Feb. 24, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Cost: Free

Ages: 3-12

At the Black History Month Childrens Literary Festival, children can check out the works of Black authors and illustrators and create art.

Location: Historic Rosedale, 3427 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28206

When: Feb. 24, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Cost: Free

Historic Rosedale is hosting five community members at its second of two Local Black History Makers events this month. On Feb. 24, youll get to hear Hugh Dussek, Nellie Ashford, Naomi Rankin, Marilyn Gore and Tamia Allen Williams share their journeys. Note: The The Rosedale Smithy will also be open all day, featuring blacksmith demonstrations.

Location: Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, 551 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202

When: Feb. 24, 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Cost: Free

Ages: All

The Harvey B. Gantt Center has paired with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library on a genealogy presentation led by Danielle Pritchett, the Genealogy Librarian for the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Youll study records including slave schedules, free Negro registries and cohabitation records.

Location: Venue 8470, 8470 Bellhaven Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28216

When: Feb. 25, 1-5 p.m.

Cost: Free to attend

At the Black History Marketplace pop up, shop from 50 Black-owned brands in one place. There will be a bounce house, food, a live D.J., prizes and more.

Location: Eastway Regional Recreation Center, 3150 Eastway Park Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28213

When: Feb. 29, 4 to 6 p.m.

Cost: $15 for Mecklenburg County residents, $17 for nonresidents

Ages: All

Eastway Regional Recreation Center is hosting a fashion show extravaganza, which will feature light refreshments, music, African dancers, and more. Come dressed in Afrocentric attire.

Location: Methodist Home Recreation Center 3200 Shamrock Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28215

When: Feb. 29, 6 to 8 p.m.

Cost: Free

Ages: All

Celebrate Black culture at the Methodist Home Recreation Center, including fashion, talent and businesses.

Did we miss a local Black History Month event? Let us know at charlottefive@charlottefive.com.
Less than 20 percent of Americans say they know how much they will have to pay before receiving health care treatments, according to a report.

The Bentley-Gallup Business in Society Report survey, released Wednesday, found that 79 percent of Americans do not know the cost of their health care before receiving care, while just 17 percent said they do. Roughly 95 percent of respondents said health care providers should make the costs more transparent before receiving care.

In addition, most Americans say the quality of the care they receive does not live up to the costs, according to the survey: 56 percent said the quality does not reflect the cost, 29 percent said it does and 16 percent were not sure.

These poll results come as health care spending is on an upward climb in the United States.

Federal estimates show that U.S. health care spending in 2022 jumped 4.1 percent from the previous year to total $4.5 trillion. This averaged out to about $13,493 per person in health care spending, according to the National Health Expenditure Accounts.

A separate Gallup poll, released last year, found that a record-high number of Americans in 2022 put off medical treatment due to costs, with 38 percent saying that they or a family member had postponed treatment.

The most recent survey was conducted among 5,458 U.S. adults from May 8-15 and has a margin of error of 1.8 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Another day, another incident at the site of a defunct Springfield towing company.

The fenced-in automobile lot that was formerly the site of Affordable Towing  closed in late 2023 after a string of highly publicized legal issues  experienced another fire Wednesday afternoon, eliciting the response of 18 Springfield firefighters to put out the blaze.

A bus and several cars caught fire around 2 p.m. near Florida Street, sending plumes of black smoke high above the city. The Springfield Fire Department said it has responded to multiple fires at the location this month, and Springfield police have also reportedly responded to a more than a dozen trespassing, theft, or burglary calls at the property since its closure.

The cause of Wednesday's fire was undetermined and is under investigation.

A sign at Affordable Towing, where a fire broke out Wednesday afternoon.

"We've been here a couple times this week," said Springfield Fire Division Chief Eric Latimer, who encouraged anyone to call 911 if they see someone doing anything that appears to be illegal on the property.

Latimer said it took firefighters between 30-45 minutes to put out the fire, and that the group dealt with the challenge of snaking hose between cars and the potential danger of automobiles that could explode if flames continued to spread. It took "several-hundred feet of hose" to put out the fire, he said.

The business has been closed for months after its owner, Dennis Cleveland, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for illegally tampering with the emissions controls of his companys diesel tow trucks. Cleveland was also ordered to pay a $255,000 fine for violations of the Clean Air Act, which were investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Brett Linville and Noah Osborne, who work for a Springfield fire and storm damage restoration company, said they saw the smoke and immediately tied to gain access to the property to help put it out. They said they beat the fire department to the scene by a few minutes and were met at a fence by someone who said they worked for the FBI and were turned them away.

"He said there's cars being pulled through the fence, people trying to destroy evidence, so they're trying to keep it under control as much as they can," said Linville, who showed the News-Leader a photo of the man they spoke to in front of the fence as smoke billowed. "He said, 'it's another day, another reason at Affordable Towing."

For the past several years, Affordable Towing made headlines for unsavory reasons.

Last summer before the business closed, then-Affordable Towing driver William Sipple was charged with driving while intoxicated and fleeing Springfield Police while driving his tow truck. Police needed spike strips to disable his vehicle, which barreled down busy Springfield roads during the chase.

In May 2020, Affordable Towing faced a wrongful death lawsuit after one of its drivers inadvertently backed up its truck and hit Matt Canovi, a 63-year-old safety expert and host of The Gun Show on KSGF. Canovi called for a tow after he got a flat tire on Highway 65 near Chestnut Expressway in Springfield.

Ryan Collingwood covers a wide range of topics for the News-Leader with an emphasis on public safety. He can be reached by phone at 417-258-8174 and email at rcollingwood@news-leader.com. You can also follow Ryan on social media at X.com/rwcollingwood.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Automotive facility on fire in northeast Springfield; street closed
Overseas Chinese hailing from SE China's Quanzhou retain affinity to motherland

People's Daily Online) 16:10, January 30, 2024

Quanzhou, a coastal city in southeast China's Fujian Province, is the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road and a maritime emporium during the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties. From here, numerous overseas Chinese have ventured abroad, amassing fortunes while remaining deeply connected to their Chinese roots, and lending a helping hand to their fellow countrymen.

On Jan. 28, an online activity was held in Quanzhou to explore the vibrancy of the city. Xu Jincong, standing consultant of Perkumpulan Jin Jiang Indonesia, who was present, shared his story of achieving success through dedicated efforts.

Photo shows a scene from an online activity held to explore the vibrancy of Quanzhou, a coastal city in southeast China's Fujian Province, on Jan. 28, 2024. (Photo/Zhang Jiuqiang)

Quanzhou is home to over 9.5 million Chinese living overseas. Through their dedication, they have forged successful careers and earned the admiration of the local community for their industriousness, courage, integrity, and entrepreneurial spirit. Xu is one of them.

In 1979, Xu engaged in business. He had sold vegetables, run a small factory, and later bought a printing and dyeing factory, which was the first private printing and dyeing factory in Fujian. However, it soon went bankrupt.

Xu did not let this setback discourage him. Instead, he remained resilient and began to explore potential business opportunities. He went to an Indonesian factory to promote his products and helped them repair their machines. Later, Xu founded a company and initiated the establishment of Perkumpulan Jin Jiang Indonesia.

Xu Jincong, standing consultant of Perkumpulan Jin Jiang Indonesia.

"During the early years, overseas Chinese generously contributed funds to construct schools, hospitals, rural roads, power grids, and other public facilities in Jinjiang, Fujian. They saved money and sent it back to support the development of their hometown and assist their relatives and friends," said Xu.

While writing a series of novels about the stories of businessmen hailing from Fujian who ventured to Southeast Asia, Xu embarked on a journey through various countries along the Maritime Silk Road. During his travels, he had the opportunity to meet many young individuals.

"When asked about their origins, they proudly identified themselves as Chinese. Despite several generations having passed without returning to China, they still vividly remember the specific villages and lanes they originated from," Xu expressed.

"I have been living abroad for over 40 years and have witnessed the remarkable progress of our homeland. I take immense pride in my Chinese identity and roots in Quanzhou. I will remain loyal to my Chinese citizenship and refrain from obtaining a foreign nationality," Xu said.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
WELLINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand signed a space cooperation agreement with Australia on Wednesday, under which up to 6 million NZ dollars (3.67 million U.S. dollars) will be available to Kiwi researchers.

The funding will be available from the government's Catalyst Fund to support New Zealand space scientists to participate in collaborative research projects through Australia's SmartSat Cooperative Research Center.

The projects will focus on Earth observation, space situational awareness and optical communications.

"This collaboration agreement between the New Zealand Space Agency and Australia's leading space research organization will advance space science, technology and cooperation and provide real-world benefits to New Zealanders," said New Zealand Space Minister Judith Collins, who was visiting Melbourne for the New Zealand Foreign and Defense Ministers' Meeting.

New Zealand has an innovative space sector, Collins said, adding this partnership helps solve trans-Tasman challenges.

Earth observation projects help to unlock information about the environment and climate through observation of the Earth from high altitude and space. This data can help monitor biosecurity risks and manage crops, the minister said.

Space situational awareness projects will help develop new ways to monitor the orbital environment and be at the forefront of global sustainable space activities, while optical communications projects investigate more efficient methods for sending large volumes of data between Earth and space and support future space exploration, she said.

Research enabled by this partnership will support the efforts to promote the safe and responsible use of space, make better use of aerospace-enabled data in New Zealand's primary industries and advance world-leading technology to improve communications," Collins said. 
The Florida Democratic Party has called on Miami Mayor Francis Suarez to resign, one day after the Miami Herald published an investigation into how the mayor advocated for a no-bid contract for a company that was actively negotiating a partnership with one of the mayors private employers.

In a statement citing the Heralds reporting, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said Suarez, a Republican, has repeatedly used his public office for private gain, and has somehow escaped consequences to this point.

His actions are a gross violation of the public trust, and the Florida Democratic Party is calling for his immediate resignation, Fried said.

READ MORE: Miami mayor pushed for no-bid city contract benefiting his private employers partner

Dogged by several controversies over the last eight months, Suarez and his outside work are the subject of state and federal investigations. The extent of his work outside City Hall became clear when he filed a federal disclosure shortly before ending his brief campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

In December, hours after the Herald published a separate investigation into Suarezs close relationship with Saudi Arabias ruling regime, recently elected Commissioner Damian Pardo said the mayor should immediately step down. Two former police chiefs, Art Acevedo and Jorge Colina, soon followed with public calls for the mayors resignation.

Fried said if Suarez doesnt resign, Gov. Ron DeSantis should suspend him from office. She also blasted other Miami Republicans without naming anyone specifically.

As a native of Miami, its heartbreaking to see the city continue to be a hotbed for political corruption, Fried said. I wanted to have hope in Francis Suarez and his ability to rise above the mess of Miami politics for the sake of the city. Unfortunately, hes turned out like so many other Miami Republicans  only in it for himself, with no regard for the well-being of the people of Miami.

Suarezs office did not immediately respond to the Heralds request for comment.
A Florida House committee Tuesday voted to repeal part of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, paving the way for teenagers to buy rifles like the one used to kill 17 students and teachers six years ago in Parkland, Broward County.

The proposal (HB 1223) by Rep. Bobby Payne, R-Palatka, aligns state law with federal regulations. It cleared the Criminal Justice Committee on a 11-5 party line vote, with GOP lawmakers in support. It has one more committee before it can be heard on the House floor; there is no Senate companion bill.

Payne told fellow lawmakers Florida is one of just seven states to set a minimum age of 21 to purchase a long gun, defined as a firearm with a barrel long enough to require two hands to use. Restoration of that right for teens was the right thing to do, he added.

... Restoring the rights of young adults to purchase a long gun is very important in my rural area. We do a lot of bird hunting, Payne said.

The explanation left the ranking Democrat on the committee flabbergasted. Rep. Michele Rayner, D-St. Petersburg, said she understood people feel passionate about gun rights. But she noted the Parkland gunman also was a teen.

She referred to him as a child whose brain was not fully developed, obtaining a gun and committing a complete massacre, she said. This doesnt make sense. It is not in the best interest of public safety.

Community members hold hands and surrounding a memorial outside of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 18, 2018, in response to a shooting at the High School that took 17 lives. This day was the first day the public was allowed to visit the perimeter of the school since the shooting.

Opponents like 19-year-old Jayden DOnofrio, from Deerfield Beach, called Payne's proposal reckless and dangerous.

Consider the facts: 18- to 20-year-olds are three times more likely to commit gun homicides, said DOnofrio, who was in a middle school classroom 15 minutes away from Stoneman Douglas when the mass shooting occurred.

The age limit was included in an omnibus gun control package that also included background checks and waiting periods approved by the Legislature. That was after a 19-year-old with an assault rifle massacred students and staff on Valentines Day in 2018. Then-Gov. Rick Scott signed the reforms into law three weeks after the shooting.

A stack of long guns, collected during a gun buyback event sponsored by the Erie County District Attorney's office, is displayed at the Erie Bureau of Fire Central Station in Erie on Oct. 28, 2023.

Gun rights advocates have tried to scale back the reforms ever since. A federal appeals court in March rejected a National Rifle Association challenge to the age requirement.

Scott, running for reelection to the U.S. Senate, told reporters Tuesday in Tallahassee he still supports the age limit.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has not yet weighed in on Paynes proposal this year, but last year after it died in the Senate Rules Committee, he appeared to indicate he would support repeal of the age limit.

You send people out (to war) when theyre 18. They can vote when theyre 18, said DeSantis, as he prepared to launch a presidential campaign.

Parkland parents said they supported DeSantis when he was first elected because he committed to defending the Stoneman Douglas law. On Tuesday, they called on him to stop the bill in its tracks.

Fred Guttenberg reacts as he awaits a verdict in the trial of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on October 13, 2022. Guttenbergs daughter, Jaime, was killed in the 2018 shootings. - A US jury on Thursday rejected the death penalty for Cruz, who shot and killed 17 people at his former Florida high school, opting instead for life imprisonment without the chance of parole. As the verdict was read, Cruz, wearing a striped sweater and large glasses, stared down expressionless at the defense table while several relatives of the victims in the public gallery shook their heads in disbelief.

Fred Guttenberg, who lost his 14-year-old daughter in the shooting, reminded DeSantis of his previous support for the state law.

Ron, now is your time to speak out. Why the silence? Stand up for us and defend this. Don't be weak, he tweeted Tuesday morning. A request for comment was still pending with the governors press office as of Tuesday night.

Attorney General Ashley Moody's office went on record Tuesday in support of the repeal. And groups like the Smart Justice Alliance, Gun Owners of America, and a half dozen citizens also spoke in favor of it.

Chris Smith owns the Gulf Coast Guns store in Milton. He told lawmakers he sells long guns to people for personal protection, which is guaranteed by the Second Amendment.

Rep. Bobby Payne listens as Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls presents his opening remarks to the Florida House of Representatives during opening day of the 2022 Florida Legislative Session Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022.

More Parkland parents: Parkland parents urge lawmakers to support compromise gun bill

Previous coverage: Scott and House, Senate leaders announce gun safety reforms in wake of Parkland killings

Theres no other constitutional right that we have raised to 21, Smith told lawmakers. The fact that we dont allow 18-year-olds to have their constitutional right, yet we allow them to vote in our elections, is kind of absurd.

But Gun Owners for Safety, Moms Demand Action, the Florida PTA and the League of Women Voters of Florida argued the rights to bear arms must be balanced with the need for public safety.

Juliana Tripodi a 17-year-old high school student tells lawmakers she should not be afraid of being shot by a classmate at school

Juliana Tripodi, a 17-year-old Tallahassee high school student, said she should not be scared of going to school because she could be shot by a classmate.

Lawmakers should be focused on advancing a gun safety agenda that would keep us safe, starting by keeping these crucial policies in place, Tripodi said. Payne explained hes carried the bill for two sessions because of a fundamental belief in the protection of constitutional rights.

Tony Montalto, like Guttenberg, also lost his daughter in the Parkland shooting. He pleaded with lawmakers to reject the proposal because the reforms have proven effective.

I implore each of you to remember that law is written in the blood of the Parkland victims, including my beautiful daughter Gina, Montalto said.

James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com. Follow him on X: @CallTallahassee.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: House panel votes to repeal gun ban that applies to teens, rifles
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A jury found a Georgia man guilty of brutally beating his cellmate in a Florida prison after he gave him three warnings to be quiet.

On July 15, 2021, the United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida said 43-year-old Walter Jackson was housed with another inmate in a special cell unit at the Federal Correctional Complex Coleman in Sumter County.

Just before 6 p.m., corrections officers said they responded to an emergency alarm and found Jacksons cellmate lying on the floor unconscious. They said Jackson was standing over his cellmates body, slamming the mans head into the concrete.

The officers stopped Jackson and placed him in handcuffs. Jackson told medical personnel that he attacked his cellmate after he gave him three warnings to be quiet.

Jackson will have a sentencing hearing on June 20. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Time is running out on legislation aimed at further reforming the states much-maligned guardianship system, which is supposed to protect Floridas most vulnerable citizens from people who aim to exploit them.

The nearly identical bills by Sen. Ileana Garcia, R-Miami, and Rep. Rita Harris, D-Orlando, would provide more transparency and oversight of guardians and their wards to protect against fraud, abuse and death.

Yet, despite strong grass roots support and 100 letters to the House Civil Justice Subcommittee Chair Bill Robinson, R-Bradenton, Harris bill still has not been scheduled for a committee hearing with only one more week of such meetings left this session. Neither has Garcias.

We have one chance left before the last meeting is scheduled, and if its not heard, then its dead this session, said Kat Duesterhaus, legislative director for the Florida chapter of the National Organization for Women. Were really discouraged that this bill hasnt been heard.

NOW supports the legislation, because it represents women and girls, and the majority of people under guardianship in Florida are women, Duesterhaus said.

But its also personal for her, having just gone through an embattled guardianship case involving her grandmother that lasted a year and a half.

We should have the right to say who cares for us, and thats not happening, she said.

Advocates have been working with lobbyists for guardianship lawyers to make compromises both sides can live with, including patient privacy concerns and jury selection to hear some cases.

Its really important to get something passed that will improve transparency and improve safeguards, Harris said. People going through this feel a sense of urgency. They see what happened in previous cases and dont want to let it happen to their loved ones.

Similar legislation was filed last year by Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach, but he withdrew it before the legislative session began.

All this years recommendations are in alignment with the statewide guardianship task force report, Duesterhaus said.

The guardianship program is broken, and your proposed legislation takes an important step to fix it, Pinellas County Clerk of Courts Ken Burke, chair of the task force, said in a letter to Garcia and Harris.

The task force was created in 2021 to make recommendations to improve the guardianship system, in which judges appoint professional guardians to look after the affairs of people no longer able to care for themselves.

Better protections are desperately needed for these vulnerable wards, Burke said.

Floridas guardianship system has been under scrutiny for more than a decade, with advocates and their legislative allies making several reforms over the years. Past changes include disclosure of criminal background checks, giving the clerks of court authority to review assets, and creating an Office of Public and Professional Guardians.

The case of Rebecca Fierle, first reported by the Orlando Sentinel in 2019, placed the guardianship system under the microscope and led to sweeping changes in the system meant to end abuses uncovered by investigators in her case.

Fierle was accused of signing a Do Not Resuscitate order for Steven Stryker, a chronically ill Tampa man, and capping his feeding tube against his wishes, leading to this death.

Originally charged with aggravated abuse and neglect of an elderly or disabled person, Fierle last year accepted a plea deal to one count of neglect of an elderly person and was sentenced to five years of probation.

In 2020, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed several bills into law inspired by the Fierle case, including a requirement that guardians get a judges approval before signing a DNR and greater control over how guardians are appointed.

And in 2022, DeSantis signed a bill creating a statewide database of guardianship information, but it can only be accessed by those directly involved.

Most guardians are good, honest people doing their job to protect their wards, Duesterhaus said.

But safeguards are needed for the handful of bad apples lured into the field because of the millions of dollars at stake, she said. Palm Beach County alone identified $7.3 million in unsubstantiated disbursements and missing assets.

The new legislation originally required the Legislature to establish visitation rights for the family members of a minor or adult, unless there is clear evidence that it is not in the best interest of the ward. It was changed to provide visitation rights to heirs only.

It also would have required a full reevaluation every three years of the need for guardianship, including an examination by an examining committee and a hearing but that was dropped at the urging of the lobbyists for elder care lawyers.

Also removed was an option to impanel a jury to determine whether the petitioner met his or her burden to suspend a power of attorney, Duesterhaus said.

Harris remains cautious but hopeful about the bills eventual passage in later years but knows it will take time before full reform comes to the system.

Its a complex issue, and I dont think well solve it this session, she said.

_______
A law regulating kids and social media access sounds like something a lot of parents would welcome.

But when Florida lawmakers weighed in with a proposal this year, they managed to wind up in a strange spot: trampling the very parental rights they supposedly have been vigorously defending these last few years.

The bill at issue is House Bill 1. Its a priority for House Speaker Paul Renner, a Republican, and would prohibit children under the age of 16 from using most social media platforms  regardless of parental approval. It would revoke existing accounts belonging to those children, delete the information from those accounts and require platforms to use age-verification methods to check users ages.

Who wouldnt want to shield children from the worst influences on social media? Theres so much awfulness out there  on TikTok and Snapchat and Instagram and YouTube and X and other platforms. Bullying, inappropriate content, unrealistic physical standards and hate speech abound. Children shouldnt be subjected to that.

Even U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has spoken up, warning that theres growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young peoples mental health.

But also at childrens fingertips on those platforms: vast educational resources on millions of topics, needed social support in times of trouble  especially for kids who cannot find it at home  sparks to creativity, ways to make money and, yes, actual fun. Also, keeping up with digital advances now, which come faster and faster, will be critical to their ability to succeed later on, in college or the work world.

Given the pluses and minuses of childrens social media exposure, it seems obvious that parents would need to be involved. And yet Floridas lawmakers cut them out of the equation completely.

Florida is not alone in trying to legislate social media controls for kids. Other states have also attempted laws, with some, including California, landing in court.

The legal problems these proposals face arent small. Laws restricting childrens access may run afoul of First Amendment free speech protections. And in Florida, theres also the potent issue of parental rights.

Parental rights has been a centerpiece of the DeSantis administration, and Florida is now grappling with the consequences. Thousands of books have been pulled from school shelves because some parents and conservative groups found them objectionable.

This growing assertion of parental rights has gotten so out of hand that theres now a Republican-backed proposal to make it harder to challenge books.

In 2022, the Parental Rights in Education law, dubbed by critics as the Dont say gay law, was a way for conservatives to push back on what they see as liberal teachings in schools, especially when it comes to gender identity and sexuality. Parents need to decide what their kids are taught in school, the reasoning goes, not teachers or school boards.

But its becoming increasingly apparent that Floridas brand of parental rights is selective. Agree with the folks in Tallahassee? Then you have those rights. Disagree? Dont hold your breath waiting.

Think back to the 2023 Florida law that banned children from attending drag queen shows. Parents werent allowed to make that decision themselves; the Legislature made the decision for everyone. (The law has been blocked by the courts so far.) Parental rights were conveniently kicked to the curb.

Now were talking about restricting social media to, once again, protect kids. HB 1 sailed through the House last week with bipartisan support; it still must be approved by the Senate.

In the meantime, Gov. Ron DeSantis  who last week called social media a net negative for our youth, without question  has said he has legal concerns about the bill. It will need to evolve, he said, and added that he wants to empower parents.

DeSantis may be talking about empowering parents now but he had no issue with ignoring parental rights when it came to drag shows.

There are legitimate reasons to protect kids from social media. But, besides being potentially unconstitutional, HB 1 exposes the Legislatures inconsistency on parental rights, making it look like its more about control than empowering parents.

Click here to send the letter.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida  Floridas Republican-controlled Legislature wants to block cities and counties from removing or relocating Confederate monuments, a move that has already sparked intense debates about history, racism and white supremacy.

The bills currently moving through the GOP-led Legislature are causing a backlash from Democratic lawmakers, who say the measures are deeply offensive. State Republicans have supported similar bills in recent years that haven't passed, but this years effort may be gaining momentum after lawmakers have advanced bills in the House and Senate.

Several cities and counties in Florida have removed or relocated Confederate memorials in the past few years. But this latest round of legislation comes in the wake of a contentious battle in Jacksonville where the Democratic mayor of the city pushed to remove two bronze statues known as the Women of the Southland that includes a woman in a robe carrying a Confederate flag. The statues were first installed in 1915.

There is even a chance that Gov. Ron DeSantis could gain the power to remove local officials who violate the proposed state law, although lawmakers dropped that provision from a version that cleared a House committee on Tuesday on a party-line vote. That clause, however, remains in the Senate bill.

Ive never been more offended by a bill, state Rep. Michele Rayner, a Black Democrat from St. Petersburg who pointed out that three people were killed in Jacksonville last August by a shooter who left behind a racist manifesto. This bill is sending a message, not only to Black folks in the state of Florida but to your Black colleagues.  I dont have enough time to express my disgust and opposition.

Republicans backing the bill argued it would require local governments to preserve history for all of us and stop a purge of monuments.

This bill will help to clear the air between our peoples, said Florida Rep. Dean Black, a Jacksonville Republican and sponsor of the House bill, who contended local governments had declared war against historical monuments. We should add to our history, not subtract from it.

The House ban would apply to any statue, marker, flag or tombstone that had been placed on public property for the past 25 years. The Senate version would apply sanctions against local governments that had removed or relocated monuments after Oct. 1, 2020. Both bills do not directly mention the Confederacy but instead are written to protect any memorial that mentions any armed conflict since settlers from other countries came to what is now the United States.

A spokesperson for Republican Senate President Kathleen Passidomo said Tuesday she has not taken a position on the legislation. GOP House Speaker Paul Renner has also not commented on the bill.

Floridas Republican-controlled Legislature previously voted in 2016 to replace the statue of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith from the U.S. Capitols Statuary Hall. The bronze statue of Smith was removed in 2021 and replaced with a statue of famed educator and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune.

But in the past few years, Republicans and Democrats have clashed over whether to keep intact Confederate memorials and honors. DeSantis  while campaigning for president  last year criticized President Joe Bidens administration for renaming a North Carolina U.S. Army base that had previously been named after a Confederate general.

House Republicans on Tuesday squashed attempts by Democrats to alter the legislation. Democrats tried to exclude Confederate monuments and monuments honoring slave owners from the protections included in the bill.

That last amendment triggered a back-and-forth between Black and state Rep. Ashley Gantt, a Miami Democrat, about George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and whether they owned slaves. Black contended the provision against honoring slave owners was unfriendly to history therefore unfriendly to the bill.

Gantt retorted that if Black wanted to use accurate language he would say those who were enslaved were hostages on death camps that we call plantations owned by human traffickers that we now call slave owners."

This amendment makes sure that we do not honor people with a participation trophy ... by having a monument for them in the state of Florida when they owned human beings and they justified it, Gantt said.


The Chinese-built Lekki Deep Sea Port, the first of its kind in Nigeria, received Monday the largest container vessel that has ever docked in the country, marking a milestone for Nigeria's maritime trade.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
A former Beaufort principal has filed a defamation lawsuit against 11 members of the Beaufort County School Board, The Island Packet and its parent company, The McClatchy Co.

Carla Shelton was principal at Beaufort High School during the 2022-23 school year. Her lawsuit, filed Jan. 24 in the 14th Judicial Circuit, states she had resigned on April 24, 2023, but the district was allowing her to serve out the remainder of the school year on administrative leave.

Shelton claims board members made false statements to the paper about the status of her employment.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

She is being represented by Cromer Babb and Porter law firm in Columbia.
Former Supreme Court Head Vsevolod Kniazev, who was granted bail in the amount of UAH 18.16 million (approx. US$496,387), has been released from custody.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda source in anti-corruption law enforcement agencies

Details: According to the source, the dismissed Supreme Court has been released from pre-trial detention.

He was now assigned a number of obligations, including wearing an electronic tag, handing over his passports, not leaving Kyiv, and so on.

Kniazev was granted bail earlier, on 31 January.

Earlier, the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine extended Kniazevs preventive measure of detention until 29 March and reduced the amount of bail.

Previously: On 30 January, the court reduced Kniazev's bail from UAH 20 million (approx. US$533,749) to UAH 18.168 million (approx. US$496,387).

Before that, the bail amount was reduced six times. The previous time, on 21 December 2023, the Appeals Chamber of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court reduced the bail amount by UAH 7 million (approx. US$186.812), to UAH 20 million.

On 26 December 2023, the investigating judge of Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court, at the request of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau detective and with the approval of the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office prosecutor, limited the defence's time to review the case's materials. The deadline for review is 1 March.

Updated: The Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office confirmed that Kniazev had been released from custody.

Background:

On 15 May 2023, the Chief of the Supreme Court of Ukraine and his lawyer were caught red-handed receiving their second tranche of payments in the amount of US$450,000, in an act of bribery that had netted them a total of US$2.6 million. The very next day, the Plenum of the Supreme Court expressed a vote of no confidence in Vsevolod Kniazev, and he lost his position as the head of the Supreme Court.

The media reported that Vsevolod Kniazev received money from people acting on behalf of oligarch Kostiantyn Zhevago. Zhevago's press service claimed that he had nothing to do with the bribery.

On 16 May 2023, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office served the head of the Supreme Court and his lawyer with a notice of suspicion.

On 3 August 2023, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office served Kostiantyn Zhevago, the former owner of the now-liquidated Finance and Credit Group bank, with a notice of suspicion. The investigation against the lawyer was spun off into a separate criminal case.

Vsevolod Kniazev is in a pre-trial detention centre. He complained that due to the seizure of all of his property and accounts, he lacked the funds to pay for Internet access in the detention centre.

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(Bloomberg) -- Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razaks prison sentence has been shortened to six years from 12 years in a decision by a board led by the previous king, according to a CNA report.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The decision includes a reduction of his 210 million ringgit ($44 million) fine to an unspecified amount, the Singapore-based media outlet reported, citing unnamed sources including senior government officials. The shorter jail term means Najib, whos been in prison since August 2022, is expected to complete his sentence in August 2028, the report said, adding that he could be out on parole for good behavior in August 2026.

Najib, 70, is currently serving his sentence after being convicted in 2022 on three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of abuse of power in relation to the countrys investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

The Billionaire Sultan Set to Gain Even More Power in Malaysia

The United Malays National Organisation that Najib once led has become a key ally of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahims government. UMNO is now led by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, a deputy prime minister to Anwar.

Najibs reduced sentence could dent Anwars credibility as an anti-corruption campaigner, said Tunku Mohar Mohd Mokhtar, a political science lecturer at International Islamic University of Malaysia. The premiers reform agenda has faced criticisms after the government last year withdrew 47 criminal charges against Zahid. Anwar has denied interfering in the case.

One plus point for Anwar is that UMNO may be even more indebted to him, Tunku Mohar said. This will provide better stability for the government of the day.

While any leniency could fuel unhappiness among supporters of Anwars Pakatan Harapan coalition, they are unlikely to turn to an opposition group thats led by an Islamic party, he said.

Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shahs term as king under Malaysias rotational monarchy ends Tuesday. The Sultan of Johor ascended the throne on Wednesday.

Najib was accused of transferring 42 million ringgit ($8.9 million) from 1MDB subsidiary SRC International Sdn. to his personal account between 2014 and 2015. He remains on trial for dozens of other criminal charges related to the troubled wealth fund.

At a weekly media briefing on Wednesday, Malaysian Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil urged reporters to wait for an official statement. Najibs lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Before the CNA report, Najibs daughter Nooryana Najwa posted on Tuesday a picture of the former leader on her Instagram account, saying she was waiting for her fathers return, however long it takes.

--With assistance from Cecilia Yap, Anuradha Raghu, Niluksi Koswanage and Karthikeyan Sundaram.

(Updates with comment by minister in 10th paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Newly released videos from the city of Memphis, Tennessee, appear to shed light on the reason why Tyre Nichols was initially stopped by police last year  an encounter that eventually led to his death and sparked fresh protests over how police in America treat people of color.

Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was violently and repeatedly punched and kicked by officers following a traffic stop and brief foot chase on January 7, 2023. He later died from blunt force trauma to his head.

In police body-camera footage released Tuesday, then-officer Preston Hemphill tells other officers Nichols was initially pulled over on suspicion of speeding.

In a conversation captured on the body-worn cameras of two officers, Officer Samuel Lively asks Hemphill why Nichols was originally stopped, and Hemphill replies, Speeding, and an improper lane change.

In a statement released last January, Memphis Police said Nichols had been pulled over on suspicion of reckless driving. Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn CJ Davis later told CNN authorities had not been able to substantiate the probable cause for why Nichols was pulled over.

When asked for comment on the videos released Tuesday, police officials replied, As standard practice, the Memphis Police Department doesnt comment on pending litigation.

The officers interaction on the bodycam video continues with Lively suggesting Nichols could be charged with evading a vehicle, but Hemphill cuts him off saying, You cant do evading a vehicle, because that means it was a pursuit. Hemphill continues, You can get him for resisting arrest, fleeing on foot, which is a misdemeanor, speeding and improper lane change. Thats at least four.

In the footage, Hemphill describes the initial traffic stop, telling Lively Nichols was politely resisting the officers orders.

Dude was very polite while resisting, Ill give him credit, Hemphill says in the video.

We were telling him get on the ground! Hemphill says, adding Nichols replied, OK officers Im getting on the ground. But he wasnt doing sh*t, Hemphill says.

Minutes later, Hemphills body camera was recording as Lively and another officer asked him if Nichols might have been on anything because of his strength.

Hell yeah, he was strong. It took the three of us and we could barely get him to the ground till I persuaded him to kneel, Hemphill says in the video.

Tyre Nichols, 29, was a free spirit with a passion for skateboarding and capturing sunsets on his camera. - (Provided by Ben Crump)

According to the bodycam video, an hour after the initial traffic stop and about 15 minutes after an ambulance had taken Nichols to the hospital, Nichols parents approached Hemphill at the intersection where he was first pulled over and where his car was still sitting to ask what had happened.

We tried pulling over your son. He ran from us. We found him at this red light, pulled him over again. He started fighting with us, and took off, he got pepper sprayed and took off running, Hemphill tells Nichols mother, RowVaughn Wells, and his stepfather on the bodycam video.

The video then shows Hemphill walked away from the conversation with Nichols parents to answer a phone call from someone whom he described as his lieutenant. He can be heard saying, I really dont even know any more. So, we tried pulling him over with speeding, lane changes and then he started fighting us when we pulled him over  I dont know if they found anything on him or not.

Hemphill then returned to Nichols parents and told them, Im a CIT officer so I specialize in people who  not saying that they have substance abuse problems, stuff like that  but from the way he was fighting, he had to be on something, according to the bodycam video.

Toxicology testing on Nichols detected the presence of chemicals associated with marijuana and alcohol use, according to documents obtained by CNN affiliate WMC. Nichols blood alcohol content was 0.049, which is below the legal limit of 0.08 in Tennessee.

Then-officer, Demetrius Haley, who was with Hemphill during the initial traffic stop as well as part of the group that violently beat Nichols, approaches the parents and tells them, Ive never seen nobody act like this. I believe something was in his system. Because he had unbelievable strength. I mean we had to pepper spray him and tase him, according to the bodycam video.

Hemphill was fired for his involvement in the traffic stop that led to Nichols death; the Shelby County District Attorney declined to file any criminal charges against him.

Haley is among five former Memphis officers charged in relation to Nichols death. Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Justin Smith and Emmitt Martin III have all pleaded not guilty to state charges, the most serious being second-degree murder. They were also indicted on federal civil rights charges in September.

The fifth former officer, Desmond Mills Jr., pleaded guilty to two of four federal charges in November, federal prosecutors said. He also agreed to plead guilty to the state charges and testify against the other defendants, prosecutors said.

Memphis officers discuss special police unit and its alleged tactics following Nichols beating

An officer on patrol can be heard discussing the now disbanded SCORPION police unit implicated in the assault.

In a video clip recorded from an officers patrol car, she discusses the unit and its tactics with another individual who also appears to be an officer.

An officer can be heard saying, I feel like theyre a little too

Hands on, the other officer responds.

The first officer goes on to say, Theyre kind of like adrenaline junkies.

The second officer replies, Very much so.

The second officer also appears to reference how officers treated Nichols after his arrest over allegations of speeding and an illegal lane change, saying, Dude, pepper spray, taser (inaudible)  its not even a felony. You gotta be smarter, bruh.

The SCORPION unit, launched in 2021, was tasked with tackling rising crime in the city. It was disbanded after Nichols death.

CNNs Paul P. Murphy, Shawn Nottingham, Pamela Kirkland, Eric Levenson, Isabel Rosales and Devon Sayers contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
[Source]

The refusal of former Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata to sack employees amid financial challenges has resonated in the gaming industry amid recent layoffs.

A principled stand: Iwata, who helmed Nintendo from 2002 until his untimely death in 2015, is currently being celebrated on social media for his remarkable leadership during tumultuous times. Facing dismal sales for their 3DS system in 2011, Nintendo found itself on shaky ground. Iwata, according to Wired, responded by both cutting the handheld's price significantly and voluntarily taking a 50% pay cut as a sign of accountability. In solidarity, other top executives also accepted pay reductions between 20% and 30%.

Despite facing challenges again due to the failure of the Wii U console in 2012 and 2013, Iwata still refused to fire employees because he did not want to affect employee morale and long-term business sustainability.

"If we reduce the number of employees for better short-term financial results, employee morale will decrease," he told investors at the time. "I sincerely doubt employees who fear that they may be laid off will be able to develop software titles that could impress people around the world."

Trending on NextShark: Michelle Yeoh opens up about divorce with ex-husband

Ongoing layoffs: Iwata's legacy of prioritizing people over profits is back in the spotlight as the gaming industry grapples with a surge of layoffs affecting companies like Activision Blizzard, Xbox, ZeniMax and Riot Games. These job losses juxtaposed with multi-billion-dollar acquisitions and record company profits have ignited debates about corporate ethics and the value placed on employees who fuel the industry's success.

Social media reactions: Iwata's compassionate approach has resonated with many on social media, with fans and industry observers lauding his leadership.

Satoru Iwata (god bless him) took a 50% pay cut after WiiU's poor sales TO NOT LAY OFF WORKERS and you can't tell me that the higher ups of Riot couldn't do the same and still earn a good salary? pic.twitter.com/xWBl52IkzN Trending on NextShark: Ukraine-born Miss Japan 2024 relinquishes title following report of affair  PunyPenguin // Princess of Harmony is Coming! (@PunyPunyPenguin) January 23, 2024

"Satoru Iwata isn't the regular Finance CEO, he was a Programmer, Engineer and video games enthusiast," one X user wrote. "He knew every detail in Hard and Software Coding, Design etc. No one will ever be like him."

Trending on NextShark: Eileen Gu reveals passion for quantum physics, movies and inspiring millions

"Iwata was a one-in-a-million man," another user chimed in. "He was an executive who actually felt like more than just another guy in a suit for once."

"Crazy part is still that he only made a fraction of what some of the CEOs at these companies doing layoffs," another pointed out.

Trending on NextShark: Malaysia swears in billionaire as new king in worlds only rotational monarchy

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MIAMI, Okla.  A former employee at Ottawa County Court Clerks office is charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly using an official court seal on documents in her child custody case.

Christina Gabbard, 33, is charged in Ottawa County District Court with unlawful use of the court clerks seal. She is to return to court on April 10, court records show.

Gabbard and Samuel Baird are engaged in a child custody dispute involving their young child. Both parties filed dueling protective orders in November 2022, those orders were subsequently dismissed in March 2023, records show.

On November 7, a temporary order was drafted by the couple regarding normal custody issues. Gabbard is accused of taking the document and adding the official seal representing it to a childcare business as a legal document.

According to court records, Ottawa County Court Clerk Cassie Key was contacted by Winston Connor II, Bairds attorney, on December 27, about a temporary child custody order that had a court clerks seal affixed to it, according to an arrest warrant.

The document in question was submitted to Stepping Stones Academy in Miami and wrongly prohibited Baird from picking up the child early on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, saying he could not pick up the child before 3:45 p.m. The filing reduced the fathers visitation by two hours.

The affidavit says that Gabbard confessed to falsifying the document by signing another court clerk employees name on the document. During the investigation, Keys learned about the wrongdoing and fired Gabbard.

Gabbard also confessed to the wrongdoing, the affidavit states.

Connor filed a motion on January 8, to modify the temporary child custody order, requesting custody be given to Baird while only allowing Gabbard to have supervised visitation.

Gabbard has pleaded not guilty.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
FILE - Peru's former spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos enters the courtroom for a session of former President Alberto Fujimori's trial at a police base in Lima, Peru, June 30, 2008. A Peruvian court on Jan. 31, 2024 sentenced Montesinos, Fujimori's former spy chief, to 19 years and eight months in prison for being the perpetrator of a massacre of six farm workers in 1992. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia, File)

LIMA, Peru (AP)  The intelligence chief of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was sentenced Wednesday to 19 years and eight months in prison in connection with the 1992 massacre of six suspected rebels in central Peru.

Vladimiro Montesinos, already in prison due to previous convictions, earlier this week pleaded guilty to charges of homicide, murder and forced disappearance for ordering the slayings of the six farmers in the town of Pativilca. The six were accused of being members of a rebel group, taken from their homes by soldiers and executed.

A former military officer and a lawyer for drug traffickers in the 1980s, Montesinos became intelligence chief after Fujimori was elected president in 1990. Fujimori, who also faces charges in the case, has not pleaded guilty and a trial is expected on his role.

The former president, now 85, was released from prison in December, after Perus constitutional court ruled that a presidential pardon that had been awarded to Fujimori in 2017 should be upheld. Fujimori had been serving a 25-year sentence in connection with the slayings of 25 Peruvians by death squads in the 1990s.

Montesinos has been in prison since 2001, charged with numerous counts of corruption schemes and human rights violations. He remains in a prison by the Pacific ocean that he himself helped design at the time he enjoyed power during the Fujimori government from 1990 to 2000.

His actions led to the collapse of Fujimoris presidency, after clandestine tapes emerged that showed him paying bribes to congressmen, businessmen and media moguls, in an effort to buy support for Fujimoris government.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Vsevolod Kniazev, former head of the Supreme Court of Ukraine has been released on bail to the tune of 18.16 million hryvnias (about US$476,000).

Source: Ukrainska Pravdas sources in anti-corruption law enforcement bodies

Details: The sources said that the bail for Kniazev has already been posted. The relevant procedure is currently underway, and he will soon be able to leave the pre-trial detention centre.

The day before, the High Qualification Commission of Judges extended his pre-trial jail term until 29 March and lowered the bail amount from 20 million hryvnias (roughly US$528,000) to 18 million.

Previously: On 30 January, the court reduced Kniazev's bail from 20 million to 18.16 million hryvnias.

Prior to that, his bail had already been reduced six times. Last time, on 21 December 2023, the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court reduced the bail by 7 million hryvnias to 20 million.

On 26 December 2023, the investigating judge of the High Qualification Commission of Judges imposed a time limit on the defences review of the case file at the request of a National Anti-Corruption Bureau detective, with the agreement of the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office prosecutor. The review term ends on 1 March.

Background:

On 15 May 2023, the Chief of the Supreme Court of Ukraine and his lawyer were caught red-handed receiving their second tranche of payments in the amount of US$450,000, in an act of bribery that had netted them a total of US$2.6 million. The very next day, the Plenum of the Supreme Court expressed a vote of no confidence in Vsevolod Kniazev, and he lost his position as the head of the Supreme Court.

The media reported that Vsevolod Kniazev received money from people acting on behalf of oligarch Kostiantyn Zhevago. Zhevago's press service claimed that he had nothing to do with the bribery.

On 16 May 2023, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office served the head of the Supreme Court and his lawyer with a notice of suspicion.

On 3 August 2023, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office served Konstantin Zhevago, the former owner of the now-liquidated Finance and Credit Group bank, with a notice of suspicion. The investigation against the lawyer was spun off into a separate criminal case.

Vsevolod Kniazev is in a pre-trial detention centre. He complained that due to the seizure of all of his property and accounts, he lacked the funds to pay for Internet access in the detention centre.

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Former head of Ukraines Supreme Court Vsevolod Knyazev, charged with accepting a $2.7 million bribe, has been released on a UAH 18.2 million ($486,000) bail, Ukrainian anti-corruption watchdog Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC) reported via Telegram on Jan. 31.

On Jan. 30, the judge of the High Anti-Corruption Court reduced Knyazev's bail from UAH 20 million to UAH 18.2 million. Today, he will be able to leave the pre-trial detention center.

Read also: DBR concludes investigation on 2023 Kyiv court explosions, charges six detention center employees

According to AntAC, its unlikely that anyone from Knyazev's family could have paid the bail amount, as all his assets had been seized. In December 2023, Knyazevs lawyers said that his family could contribute a maximum of UAH 10 million.

Read also: Anti-graft court refuses to jail ex-official in $40 million military contract fraud probe

On May 15, 2023, Ukraines Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) confirmed Knyazev was arrested in a case involving accepting a $2.7 million bribe.

Read also: Ukrainian scheme to evade conscription uncovered by State Bureau of Investigations

On May 16, the Supreme Court removed Knyazev from his leadership position, in a vote of no confidence.

On Oct. 4, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) reportedly completed the investigation of the case.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
YAOUNDE, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- At least two civilians have been killed after separatist fighters raided Cameroon's war-torn English-speaking region of Southwest, a local security source has said.

In the attack Monday night in Buea, the capital of the region, separatist fighters attacked three neighborhoods, shooting indiscriminately at vehicles and people, a local security official said late Tuesday.

"The separatist terrorists burned several cars, removed passengers from the vehicles, and shot at close range. The casualties could be more than two. We have initiated an operation to hunt them down," the official, who asked not to be named, told Xinhua.

Since 2016, separatists in the country's Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest have imposed a so-called "ghost town" policy every Monday, during which no activities are operational in the regions.

A video clip of the attack was posted on social media early Tuesday by separatist leaders, who claimed that the attack was a response to "stubborn" locals that continue to disobey "ghost town."

Separatists have been clashing with government forces in the two regions since 2017. 
A former Texas correctional officer was convicted of second-degree murder in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a 38-year-old man last year in Riverside, authorities announced Tuesday.

The deadly crash occurred on the morning of Aug. 7, 2023, when 31-year-old Giovanni Ceja, who was driving while intoxicated on the southbound shoulder of the 215 Freeway, north of La Cadena Drive, collided with Gilberto Sotelo and his disabled truck.

Ceja, who was reportedly on vacation in Southern California at the time of the crash, immediately fled the area.

The 38-year-old victim, a resident of Lake Elsinore, had run out of gas and pulled off the freeway onto the shoulder. A relative who brought him some fuel witnessed the hit-and-run.

Sotelo was declared dead at the scene.

Former Texas detention officer gets 15-to-life for hit-and-run in Riverside

Cejas truck was found two days later at a repair facility in Riverside and was taken as evidence by the California Highway Patrol.

Authorities at the CHP later identified Ceja as the driver responsible for the collision, a news release from the Riverside County District Attorneys Office stated.

Man fatally shot in the back multiple times by police, family says

Ceja, who is from San Antonio, Texas, and worked for the Texas county of Bexar as a sheriffs correction corporal, was arrested by his own law enforcement agency on Aug. 14, 2023.

He was extradited by the Riverside County Sheriffs Department and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on Aug. 27, 2023.

On Jan. 30, officials at the Riverside County DAs office confirmed that Ceja was sentenced to 15 years to life in jail for killing Sotelo.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been subpoenaed to testify at a Feb. 15 hearing alongside Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she hired to help investigate former President Donald Trump, according to multiple reports.

Willis and Wade are scheduled to answer questions about an allegedly improper personal relationship, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution was first to report.

It remains unclear how truthful the claims about their relationship are. Willis has not publicly denied the allegations; she has instead defended her decision to hire three special prosecutors, including Wade.

The district attorney charged Trump last year with interfering in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia alongside more than a dozen other defendants.

She has been embroiled in questions about Wade after the accusation of impropriety was lobbed in early January by an attorney for one of the co-defendants, Michael Roman, who wants the case dismissed. Roman was a onetime presidential aide who helped lead Trumps 2020 presidential campaign.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee scheduled a Feb. 15 hearing to address the motion for dismissal, NBC News reported.

The motion argues that not only did Willis and Wade have an improper, clandestine personal relationship during the pendency of this case, but that Willis has profit[ed] significantly from the proceedings, and that she did not even have the authority to hire Wade in the first place. Documents that came to light in Wades divorce proceedings this month appeared to show that he went on trips with Willis to San Francisco and Miami.

Trump has latched onto the misconduct allegation against the Fulton County prosecutors, and his attorneys moved to join Romans effort to dismiss the case last week.

Some of the defendants, including former Trump attorneys Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell, have already pleaded guilty.

Related...
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her top prosecutor in the Georgia election interference case have been subpoenaed to testify later this month over accusations that the two have an ongoing improper relationship.

Nathan Wade has been leading the team prosecuting former President Donald Trump and several of his allies over allegations that they conspired to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.

Defendant Michael Roman and his attorney Ashleigh Merchant filed a motion earlier in the month accusing Willis of having an improper romantic relationship with Wade, and of improperly using public monies for private gain. The filing contains little direct evidence to support the allegations.

Now, Merchant intends to file a lawsuit accusing the district attorneys office of intentionally withholding information, and stonewalling Merchant in her efforts to obtain records from the office through public information requests.

Because of the cyberattack on Fulton County, the lawsuit has not officially been filed yet.

In a statement to ABC News, a spokesperson for the DAs office said they had not yet been served the lawsuit, and said, We provided her with all the materials she requested and is entitled to.

RELATED STORIES:

In a letter sent to Merchant on Friday, provided to ABC News by the DAs office, the DAs office pushed back on her allegations that they have failed to meet their obligations, writing they disagree with your disingenuous implication.

Willis and Wade have been subpoenaed to testify at an already scheduled hearing on Feb. 15 to discuss the accusations.

In addition, approximately a dozen additional subpoenas have been issued by Merchant, in addition to those issued to Willis and Wade, seeking testimony or documents at the upcoming evidentiary hearing, according to copies of the subpoena.

They include subpoenas to half a dozen employees at the Fulton County DAs office requesting their testimony at the hearing next month.

Among them are Daysha Young, another top prosecutor on the election interference case, and Tia Green, who is listed as a deputy executive assistant to Willis on the countys website.

All of the subpoenas call for the witnesses to testify on behalf of the defense.

Additional subpoenas were also issued for documents ahead of the hearing. Among the other subpoenas, a company called Vacation Express USA Corp was issued a subpoena for any documents related to flights, hotels, or rental cars that were reserved in Wade or Willis name.

ABC News contributed to this article.

RELATED NEWS:
For the third consecutive year, water is once again a dominant issue at the state Legislature as lawmakers grapple with the issues of water scarcity, an ailing Great Salt Lake and ways to conserve more of the resource.

There is a request for $400,000 for additional research in the arena of agricultural optimization to determine best practices and how water can be saved most effectively.

Research requests will be vetted by the agricultural optimization committee, with that funding for $400,000 awarded to Utah State University for additional staff and research.

The Great Salt Lake Basin in particular will land high on the priority list as lawmakers continue to look for more ways to get water to the lake.

A series of funding requests related to water was heard in the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Appropriations Subcommittee Tuesday. That subcommittee will rank its priorities in the coming weeks.

Another $12 million is sought to keep the states popular turf buyback program active and as a viable option for saving water.

Candice Hasenyager, director of the Utah Division of Water Resources, noted the funding request is not part of Utah Gov. Spencer Coxs proposed budget, but she did want to note the programs success.

The program has replaced four million square feet of grass and saved 104 million gallons of water on an annual basis, Hasenyager said. The state requires participatory communities to have water efficiency standards for new development, which has also taken off in popularity. Hasenyager said 56% of Utah residents live in communities where those new standards have been developed.

Mark Stafford, general counsel with the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, said for the program to continue to remain successful, the state has to assure some level of consistency for residents to rely on in terms of available funding and programs that might fit their needs.

When we look at water there is not any more water being created today, he said. We need to look at what we are using today and find ways to be more efficient.

The beauty of the program is that water districts like Jordan Valley match the state funding that is allocated for a do-over, making a homeowners investment stretch even farther.

Related

Hasenyager said the program targets nonfunctional turf.

If you are only walking on it once a week to mow it, it could probably be (turned into) something else.

Farm fields in Utah County, near Spanish Fork, on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

What is a split irrigation season?

Finally, the appropriations subcommittee heard a request for a half million in funding that would be part of the $25 million in new money Cox has requested for the Great Salt Lake.

Tim Davis, deputy Great Salt Lake Commissioner, said the money would facilitate split season leases for farmers. Essentially, what that means is that even though a farmer could grow four separate crops of alfalfa during one season, a split lease would allow that farmer to only grow half that amount while being compensated for the water savings.

Davis said the money would lead to pilot projects on the ground to demonstrate the effectiveness of the program and enable the Great Salt Lake commissioner the ability to coordinate with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

Warren Peterson told the committee a measure like that has been a long time coming and is sorely needed to grant farmers a level of assuredness that their needs will be taken care of when it comes to split water leases.

Peterson, a seasoned water law attorney who serves on the Utah Water Task Force, said there has been ongoing confusion about the usefulness of such a measure and how it would exactly work.

Ive been stopped by farmers who say they are just not quite sure how to put this together, said Peterson, who is also a Delta rancher and farmer.

We need to put something in the farmers hands so that they can do the economic analysis and feasibility analysis for their implementation of one of these projects.
An abandoned Walgreens will be getting a new life in Harrison Township.

The township announced that Kings Furniture will be moving into the Walgreens building at Turner Road and Main Street.

>> Working group rolls out recommendations to enhance safety on Ohio school buses

The Walgreens closed in January 2023.

An expected opening date has not yet been announced.

We will continue to follow this story.




This article was originally published in Iowa Capital Dispatch.

Two years ahead of schedule, Future Ready Iowa has reached its goal of ensuring 70% of Iowans in the workforce have some form of education or training after high school.

Despite making it to this milestone, Iowas business and academic leaders say they are still working to fill labor gaps in high-need industries.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds set the goal when she signed the Future Ready Iowa Act in 2018 with the aim of bolstering and expanding the states workforce through the creation of resources and funding for learners, educators and employers.

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Community Colleges for Iowa Executive Director Emily Shields said its necessary to make postsecondary learning more accessible, as a high school education alone isnt enough to find gainful employment.

The careers of today and the future, nearly all of them require education or training beyond high school, Shields said. So if we want our economy to be successful and families to be successful in our economy, thats just something that I would say nearly everyone needs.

Support programs offered by Future Ready Iowa include grants for creating and expanding child-care resources, apprenticeships, summer internships and commercial drivers license training, as well as scholarships for students looking to close the gap between financial aid and the cost of attending post-secondary education or training.

Last-Dollar Scholarships and Future Ready Iowa Grant funding are limited to those exploring high-demand jobs, which are in fields that include manufacturing, construction, education and health care.

Kirkwood Community College President Kristie Fisher said the Future Ready Iowa program has pointed community colleges in the same direction in terms of addressing workforce needs, and connected them with the employers to learn what issues theyre facing and the funding and resources to help tackle them.

We spend a lot of time talking with our local partners to see what they need and figuring out how we, as Kirkwood, can fill that, and our colleagues across the state all do that, Fisher said. All the community colleges are really good at doing that work.

A huge focus of the college is on workforce needs, in both its degree and non-degree paths. While Kirkwood has seen growth in its two-year programs, Fisher said, whats been more exciting is the expansion of its short-term training, in which students earn credentials or certification in a career path and can quickly enter the workforce.

In the past four years, Kirkwood has taught around 1,300 low-income students, helping them find the funds for tuition and books, with almost 80% completing the training. This is a significant percentage, Fisher said, given the barriers these people face to undergoing training and looking for work.

Shields said Community Colleges for Iowa and the colleges it serves have worked to match the programs and resources they offer to the needs of people and the economy, including expanding short-term training and credential programs.

Last-Dollar Scholarships have helped more students get into these trainings, Fisher said, because they can be applied where some federal funding cannot. Going even further, Iowa Association of Business and Industry Vice President of Public Policy JD Davis said these scholarships have helped employers fill jobs.

Related

Iowa Community Colleges See Increased Enrollment Amid National Challenges

When weve identified what is needed in the community for job training, and then the training goes to a kid thats going to go through the community college, that really has changed the quality of the applicants that show up for work, Davis said. So thats been tremendously successful.

However, Iowa is still seeing workforce shortage in certain industries even as the qualified workforce grows. Davis said the associations main legislative session priorities revolve around the same issues as years past: workforce needs and barriers to employment. Those barriers include access to child care, training and housing.

One of Reynolds workforce priorities in Vision for Iowa is refocusing on current high school students as Iowas next generation of workers, and using Future Ready Iowa programs to prepare them for finding careers in high-demand jobs.

That would include creating a $30 million fund to support work-based learning programs with existing funding and changing the Last Dollar Scholarship program to reward students with work-based learning experience and in high-demand industries. Fisher and Shields both said theyre interested to see how this could change the scholarships and how they are awarded, assuming it is implemented.

Fisher said employers often thank her for the work Kirkwood is doing in trying to meet workforce needs, but the jobs left empty during the COVID-19 pandemic and after due to retirements and more are still keenly felt. Community colleges, employers and the statehouse need to keep working together and supporting each other to continue to fill these gaps.

Even though  it was wonderful to be able to kind of celebrate the success of the program, one of the real successes of the program is going to be that were going to continue to do the work, Fisher said. Theres acknowledgement that we need to continue to do those things, and we know we will because we built capacity over the life of Future Ready Iowa to be able to do that work.

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter.
Georgias Attorney General is taking legal action against a real estate company that has been accused of locking homeowners into unfair 40-year listing agreements.

Those agreements, called the Homeowner Benefit Program, have been the focus of a series of Channel 2 Action News investigations over the past 3 years.

In a new lawsuit, Chris Carr said those agreements and the penalties MV Realty collects are illegal in Georgia.

The suit alleges that the Homeowner Benefit Program is a predatory business model.

Channel 2 consumer investigator Justin Grays reporting is cited in the lawsuit.

Gray has learned that MV Realty is still enforcing the listing agreements.

A Georgia homeowner called Gray this week about the lien blocking the sale of her house unless she pays a big penalty.

This lawsuit from Carr alleges those penalties violate the law.

The complaint is alleging essentially deception here, said Sarah Mancini from the National Consumer Law Center.

Gray has reported in a series of Channel 2 Action News investigations about MV Realtys homeowner benefit program. You get a small check now, but a big penalty later  3% of the value of your house -- if you dont use them to sell your house.

Homeowners told us repeatedly they did not understand those deals.

Last year, the General Assembly outlawed the liens for contracts going forward, but it had no impact on those contracts already signed.

RELATED STORIES:

Georgias attorney general uncovered new information finding that MV Realty made or initiated over 550,000 telemarketing calls to Georgia consumers, alleging those telemarketers do not state they are calling on behalf of MV Realty and that they used spoof numbers.

Its a really big deal for the Georgia Attorney General to say, We are going to stand up on behalf of consumers and pursue this company because most of the consumers that were that entered into these contracts are not otherwise going to have the ability to protect themselves, Mancini said.

Homeowners like Ira Dorin told Gray about paying those MV penalties that are illegal.

I had to pay MV Realty over $9,000, Dorin said.

The Attorney General claims are they are finding that in 2021 and 2022, MV Realty collected no fewer than 124 of those fees. The suit alleges those fees are deemed penalties under Georgia law that are unenforceable. The MV Realty Defendants continue to collect unlawful penalties.

It does appear the company is still attempting to collect on these contracts, even though Attorneys General around the country have alleged that these contracts are illegal, Mancini said.

Georgia is now the ninth state where the attorney general has filed suit against MV Realty.

The company has filed for bankruptcy protection and next month will go before a bankruptcy judge to ask him to halt all the AG lawsuits, including Georgia.

The lawsuit seeks a court order stopping the practices, civil penalties and restitution for consumers.

RELATED NEWS:
A prosecutor working on the Georgia 2020 election interference case against Donald Trump and others, who was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, reached a temporary agreement with his estranged wife on Tuesday in their divorce case, the judge announced. This removes the need for Nathan Wade to testify in the case, at least for now.

Wades divorce case has come under the spotlight since former Trump campaign staffer Michael Roman, one of Trumps co-defendants in the 2020 election case, accused Willis of hiring Wade while the two held a secret romantic relationship, as part of a self-serving arrangement to benefit both financially, without offering evidence.

Trump and Bob Cheeley, a lawyer who also indicted in the case for allegedly helping push the fake electors scheme, have now joined Romans effort to remove Willis from overseeing the case and dismiss the charges.

Neither Willis nor Wade have confirmed or denied the allegations.

Wade was scheduled to testify in court Wednesday, where he was likely to face questions about the nature of his relationship to Willis and bank records showing him purchasing airline tickets for the two of them. The hearing has now been canceled following the two sides reaching a temporary deal.

While this negates the immediate need for a hearing, it does not settle the case, Andrea Hastings, a lawyer for Joycelyn Wade, said.

Joycelyn Wade had also sought to compel Willis to testify but Judge Henry R. Thompson had said he would make a decision on that once Nathan Wade testified.

The agreement is unlikely to settle questions about Willis case against the former president.

Willis faces a Friday deadline to respond to Romans filing. A hearing has been set for next month on whether the accusations merit her removal from the case.

Willis hired Nathan Wade in 2021. He has so far received over $653,000 for his work on the case, according to county records cited by The Washington Post.

During a speech at an Altanta church earlier this month, Willis appeared to suggest the criticism of her hiring of Nathan Wade was motivated by race.

Im a little confused. I appointed three special counsel, as is my right to do. Paid them all the same hourly rate. They only attack one, she said.

First thing they say. Oh, she going to play the race card now? she continued. But no. God, isnt it them whos playing the race card when they only question one? Isnt it them playing the race card when they constantly think I need someone from some other jurisdiction in some other state to tell me how to do a job Ive been doing almost 30 years?

Georgias House of Representatives on Monday voted in favor of bringing back the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission, which would be able to oversee prosecutors and remove them, a move that Democrats in the states say was aimed at Willis.

Meanwhile, officials announced that they are investigating a widespread outage impacting primary technology platforms in Fulton County, including the countys court system as a result of a cybersecurity incident over the weekend.

All material related to the election case is kept in a separate, highly secure system that was not hacked and is designed to make any unauthorized access extremely difficult if not impossible, the district attorneys office said in a statement, according to The Associated Press.

Related...
Both of Georgias U.S. Senators, Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock, are leading an effort to increase tariffs on imported Chinese solar products.

The letter, signed by Ossoff, Warnock, and Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), asks the administration of President Joe Biden to increase tariffs on Chinese solar imports to protect American manufacturing efforts.

Ossoffs and his co-signers letter to the Biden Administration notes that U.S.-made solar panels are 60% more expensive per watt than their Chinese competitors, due to Chinas heavily subsidized products. The cost difference is noted in a report from December, cited by the senators.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The senators said that the government-subsidized solar products made in China are hurting the U.S. work to move more solar panel production back to America, which they described as a key energy security goal for the country.

Chinas aggressive subsidies for its own solar manufacturing industry demonstrate its intent to control the industry globally, the senators wrote in their letter. By 2026, China will have enough capacity to meet annual global demand for the next 10 years. This capacity is an existential threat to the U.S. solar industry and American energy security.

To combat this threat, the senators are urging the president to increase tariffs on Chinese-manufactured solar panels under provisions of Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974.

TRENDING STORIES:

We must not allow China to destroy U.S. manufacturing and control this strategic energy sector. Therefore, as you continue your Section 301 review, we urge you to increase and enforce tariffs on these Chinese solar products that threaten U.S. economic and energy security, the letter reads.

Additionally, use of the tariffs to impose further costs on Chinese products will, according to the senators, avoid potential harm to thousands of workers employed by solar panel manufacturers in the U.S.

As the U.S. continues its push to use more renewable energy, a Biden priority, the Internal Revenue Service is enacting a new clean energy credit.

The Residential Clean Energy Credit covers the purchase and installation of qualified clean energy property for homeowners from 2022 to 2032, providing whats called an Investment Tax Credit for 30% of costs, though it phases it down to 26% through 2033 and against to 22% by 2034.

The energy credits can be taken for residents who made energy-saving improvements to homes located in the United States, according to the IRS.

However, the IRS said the credit is nonrefundable, so the credit amount you receive cant exceed the amount you owe in tax, while also being available without having a lifetime or annual dollar limit. Unused credit for these energy improvement projects can also be carried forward to future tax years, the IRS said.

To use the credit on your taxes, going forward, youll need to file an IRS form 5695.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Georgia State University officials say a man is in custody after an on-campus incident on Tuesday morning.

Officials tell Channel 2 Action News that around 11:30 a.m., a student was walking into M Deck, which is located at Piedmont Ave. SE and Auditorium Place SE.

They say a man who tried to assault her followed her into the parking deck.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The woman was able to use her mace, shout for help and run away.

Police responded and located the man within a matter of minutes.

TRENDING STORIES:

Because there was no longer an active threat to the campus community, they say they did not send an alert to students and staff.

The suspects identity has not been released.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
A Russian military aircraft was discovered in international airspace over Rugen

The German Air Force scrambled fighter jets to escort a Russian military plane flying near its territory in the Baltic Sea, the German Air Force reported on X (Twitter).

Read also: Putin lies about IL-76 aircraft  HUR

The Russian jet was detected in international airspace over Ruegen, a German island in the Baltic Sea.

"The IL-20M military aircraft was flying without a transponder signal over the Baltic Sea", the Air Force said.

The German jets accompanied it for a short time before it turned back east.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin repeated threats to use military force against European countries must be taken seriously, Polish Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, said on Jan. 30.

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Hans-Georg Maassen with Angela Merkel, whose CDU party he has now left, branding it 'neo-socialist' - OLIVER BERG/DPA PICTURE ALLIANCE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

A German former spymaster is being observed by the agency he used to run after being branded a Right-wing extremist.

Hans-Georg Maassen was the head of Germanys BfV domestic intelligence agency under Angela Merkel, and was still a member of her CDU party until recently.

He was dismissed as BfV head in 2018 after appearing to play down the threat of violence from Right-wing extremists who were rioting in an eastern German city.

In the five years since, Mr Maassen has become known for his increasingly radical commentary on the threat he claims immigration poses to Germany.

His stance has made him a hero to Far-right activists, including some in the circles surrounding Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, the aristocrat who led a foiled coup attempt in 2022.

Hans-Georg Maassen was dismissed from his job after appearing to play down the threat of violence from Right-wing extremists - THOMAS TRUTSCHEL/PHOTOTHEK VIA GETTY IMAGES

Germany is clearly afraid of me, Mr Maassen said on Twitter, adding that the country was using the internal security agency to monitor him and the party he has founded.

Mr Maassen published a letter from the BfV, sent in response to a Freedom of Information request by his lawyer, confirming that he featured extensively in their databases tracking extremists.

The BfV, Germanys equivalent of MI5, has gathered more than 20 pages of allegedly questionable constitutional statements by their former boss.

The 61-year-old former spymaster was also accused of meeting leading members of the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to advise them about how to avoid observation by his own former agency.

After leaving the BfV in 2018, Mr Maassen ran as an MP for the CDU in Saxony, where he was accused by his former agency of using anti-Semitic stereotypes to attract votes.

Compared immigrants to cancer

Mr Maassen resigned his CDU membership a few days ago, posting a picture of his membership card cut up, and declaring that the conservative opposition party was committed to a neo-socialist society that has the potential to slide into totalitarianism.

He also wrote an essay calling for painful operations on migration entitled chemotherapy for Germany, likening immigrants to a form of cancer.

Mr Maassen has been elected as chairman of the Values Union, a former fringe group within the CDU that is now running as an independent party. It has said it would go into coalition with the AfD.

The new partys deputy chairman is a former vice-admiral who was criticised for praising Putins Russia as a Christian country that is needed as a bulwark against China.

In light of the new information, the German MP Martina Renner has called for a parliamentary committee in the Bundestag to investigate Mr Maassens activities during his period of service.

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Ukrainian refugees stand in front of information booths during a job fair organized by the Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Employment Agency. Immigrants have helped keep the German economy humming and the country's labour market from collapsing, the leader of Germany's Federal Employment Agency said on Wednesday. Christoph Soeder/dpa

Immigrants have helped keep the German economy humming and the country's labour market from collapsing, the leader of Germany's Federal Employment Agency said on Wednesday.

Last year, immigrants to Germany from outside the European Union accounted for the largest group of people taking up jobs in Germany, where employers have complained of difficulties in hiring sufficient staff, said Andreas Nahles, the agency's chairwoman.

Between June 2022 and June 2023, a total of 53,000 Ukrainians alone took up jobs subject to social security contributions in Germany, along with another 24,000 immigrants from India.

"According to our forecast, this will increase in the future," said Nahles, adding that this is driven by demographic shifts that mean Germany must attract more workers from abroad.

The baby boomer generation is beginning to retire, companies are facing widespread shortages and unemployed people already living in Germany are often older or lack sufficient skills for in-demand positions.

Fewer workers from other EU countries such as Romania, Bulgaria and Poland are moving to Germany, as those countries now face demographic problems of their own.

"Germany has the highest level of employment that we have ever recorded in history," Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday during a debate in parliament in Berlin.

Scholz argued that his coalition government deserves credit for a successful employment and workforce policy.

Labour Minister Hubertus Heil, meanwhile, said high levels of employment combined with persistent job vacancies at German companies "clearly shows" how dependent Germany is on "immigration into the labour market."

Heil said that an increase of 217,000 people working jobs in Germany compared to the same month last year was exclusively due to immigration from elsewhere in the EU and beyond.
BERLIN (Reuters) - The German military is looking at a 56 billion-euro ($61 billion) deficit in 2028, once its special fund for defence spending is exhausted, according to a report in Spiegel news magazine that piles fresh doubt on Germany's rearmament pledge.

Germany set up the 100 billion-euro special fund to purchase modern weapons and pledged to reach NATO's target of spending at least 2% of gross domestic product on defence, as part of a major policy shift in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The missing sum, which Spiegel said came from an internal analysis of financing needs from the defence ministry, is based on the assumption that 2% of GDP in 2028 would be around 97 billion euros.

Ministry staff expect that an additional 10.8 billion euros would be needed on top of that to meet the troops' spending needs, Spiegel reported.

However, the regular defence budget was expected to remain at its current level, amounting to some 51.9 billion euros in 2028, the report said.

The defence ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

By comparison, the German government registered defence spending of 89 billion euros with NATO for this year, or 2.12% of GDP, according to Spiegel.

($1 = 0.9246 euros)

(Writing by Rachel More, editing by Kirsti Knolle)
German music rights company BMG is terminating its agreement with Roger Waters, British musician and composer, co-founder of the legendary Pink Floyd band, over his scandalous statements about Israel, Ukraine and the United States.

Source: Variety

Details: BMG signed a deal with Waters in 2016 and planned to release a new version of Pink Floyd's 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon. However, the new CEO Thomas Coesfeld, who took office on 1 July 2023, cancelled the re-release of the record. Eventually, the re-recording was released by the British label Cooking Vinyl.

Now it is reported that the German music company is preparing to completely terminate all agreements with Waters. This decision is associated with Waters' controversial and scandalous statements on international politics: the war in Ukraine, the situation between Israel and Palestine, etc.

No mention of Russia having to stop.

Screenshot: Waters Twitter

Waters addressed the UN Security Council via video link at the invitation of Russia in February 2023. At the time, he said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 "was not unprovoked" and condemned some "provocateurs".

At the time, the media suggested that the aggressor country had invited Waters to speak at the UN because he criticised the supply of weapons to Ukraine. Moreover, in an interview with the Berliner Zeitung, he actually reiterated the messages of Russian propaganda and said that Vladimir Putin had offered the West to build a joint security system, but was rejected.

"How sad it is for his former fans to see him acting as another brick in the wall of Russian disinformation and propaganda," commented Ukraine's Ambassador Serhii Kyslytsia on Waters' speech at the UN [Another Brick in The Wall is one of Pink Floyds most popular songs  ed.].

In the spring of 2023, Waters faced a series of scandals in Germany. There were attempts to cancel his concerts in Frankfurt and Munich because of Waters' anti-Semitic and anti-Jewish statements. Opponents of his performances in Germany called him "one of the most famous anti-Semites in the world".

At the time, Claudia Roth, German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, stated that she could not ban Waters' concerts, but advised the organisers to refrain from holding them: "And if they take place anyway, let him perform to empty halls."

Waters was criticised for his comments even by his former bandmates. However, he continued to make his scandalous statements during his concert tours.

For example, at a concert in Birmingham last year, Waters gave a 10-minute speech, condemning the "cruel" treatment he had received in Germany. He also said that the media is trying to destroy him for supporting human rights in Palestine: "They are trying to cancel me, just like they cancelled Jeremy Corbyn and Julian Assange."

Protest before Waters concert in London, June 2023

Photo: Jim Dyson/Getty Images

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Baerbel Bas (c), President of the German Bundestag, speaks during the German Bundestag's memorial service to commemorate the victims of National Socialism. Michael Kappeler/dpa

At a ceremony remembering the millions of Jews and other persecuted groups killed by Nazi Germany in the Holocaust, the president of Germany's parliament called on residents of the country to again stand up against hatred and anti-Semitism.

"Let us all have the courage not to remain silent, but to resolutely oppose hatred and bigotry," Barbel Bas said on Wednesday morning in the Bundestag, as the country's lower house of parliament is known.

She thanked the hundreds of thousands of people who had taken to the streets in recent weeks in support of democracy and against right-wing extremism in mass protests directed against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

"They have all shown that our democracy is diverse, vibrant and resilient," Bas said.

But she stressed that it is important for people to also stand up against racist and anti-Semitic remarks in everyday life, whether on the underground, among work colleagues or at school.

"Each and every individual can demonstrate that we are a society that respects every single person, regardless of religion, origin or appearance," Bas said.

The hour of remembrance was intended to mark Saturday's Holocaust Remembreance Day, which falls on the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration and death camp by soldiers of the Soviet Union's Red Army on January 27, 1945.

Under Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime, Jews were systematically persecuted and more than 6 million of them were brutally murdered.

The Nazi regime also viciously persecuted other groups as well, including other ethnic and religious minorities as well as political opponents and activists.

Marcel Reif, sports presenter, hugs Baerbel Bas (L), President of the German Bundestag, next to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R), at the German Bundestag's commemoration of the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of National Socialism after his speech. Michael Kappeler/dpa

Holocaust survivor Eva Szepesi stands between Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Baerbel Bas (R), President of the Bundestag, after her speech at the German Bundestag's memorial service to commemorate the victims of National Socialism. Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Detlef Scheele, Chairman of the Board of the Federal Employment Agency (BA), speaks at the BA headquarters during a press conference. Daniel Karmann/dpa

The number of unemployed workers in Germany rose in January compared to both the previous month and January 2023, new preliminary government figures show.

The unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points to 6.1%, Germany's Federal Employment Agency said on Wednesday, based on data through January 15.

Unemployment typically rises seasonally in January, although the preliminary figures put the number of unemployed this year at 189,000 higher than in January of the previous year.

The number of job vacancies also dropped, indicating that job hunting for unemployed workers may be getting more difficult. The agency reported 699,000 vacancies this month, which is 66,000 fewer than in January 2023.

"The annual rise in unemployment at the turn of the year is lower this year. Employment and demand for labour are also stable, meaning that the labour market is stable at the start of the year despite the ongoing economic weakness," said Andrea Nahles, the agency's chairwoman.
Germany handed over its latest delivery of military aid to Ukraine on Jan. 30, which included IRIS-T anti-air missiles, armored personnel carriers (APCs), military vehicles, and other equipment.

Initially criticized for its sluggish delivery of military aid to Ukraine following the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Germany has become the second-largest provider of military equipment after the U.S.

As of December 2023, Germany has committed more than 17 billion euros ($18.4 billion) in military aid to Ukraine.

Germany's latest delivery of military equipment to Ukraine included an undisclosed number of IRIS-T missiles, 24 APCs, four tracked all-terrain armored vehicles, several thousand rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition, 14 mine plows, three mine-clearing tanks, a naval mine clearance system, a Satcom surveillance system, and other equipment.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced on Jan. 23 that Germany would send Ukraine six Sea King Mk41 multi-purpose military helicopters and spare parts. Germany will also help train Ukrainian helicopter pilots, Pistorius said.

Earlier in January, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told U.S. President Joe Biden that Berlin would unilaterally provide Ukraine with over 7 billion euros in military equipment in 2024.

Read also: Germany sends Skynex air defense system, other military aid to Ukraine

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The German government has announced the transfer of another military aid package to Ukraine, which includes armoured combat vehicles and ammunition.

Source: German government's website, reported by European Pravda

Details: According to the updated list, Ukraine received:

24 armoured personnel carriers;

4 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206;

IRIS-T SLS missiles;

over 1,000 rounds 155mm ammunition;

3 mine clearing tanks Wisent 1;

1 bridge-laying tank Beaver with spare parts;

14 mine ploughs;

1 naval mine clearance system;

1 Satcom surveillance system;

4 border protection vehicles;

450 snow chains;

194,000 dry rations.

Background: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Danish PM Mette Frederiksen, Czech PM Petr Fiala, Estonian PM Kaja Kallas and Dutch PM Mark Rutte wrote a joint letter calling for collective efforts to provide long-term support to Ukraine.

Scholz called on European countries to increase the volume of arms supplies to Ukraine, fearing that US assistance could stop.

Earlier, it was reported that Scholz wanted to use the EU summit on 1 February to urge partners to send more weapons to Ukraine.

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Africa is a deeply religious continent. So how African individuals and communities understand and express their religions and protect their religious spaces and doctrines from misuse or abuse has implications for wider African society, including the spheres of politics and civil governance. These significantly affect human well-being across the continent.

For the sake of good governance and human well-being, these truths must not be lost on Africans. In a year when almost 20 African countries host elections, political competition and activity is bound to intensify across the continent.

Christianitys transformative power

Christianity is one of two dominant religions in the continent. Islam is the other. According to the Pew Research Centre, Africa is also home to the worlds most committed Christians. At the end of 2015, referring to Christianity, The Economist reported, The future of the worlds most popular religion is African. These research findings are significant because religions, including Christianity, possess transformative power.

Quantitatively speaking, Christianitys transformative power increases in countries like South Africa, where most citizens (more than 80 %) identify as Christian. Like South Africa, other African countries that have scheduled elections and whose populations are substantially or majority Christian include Chad (44.1 %), South Sudan (60,5 %), Rwanda (92 %), Mozambique (62 %), Namibia (97 %), Ghana (71 %), Madagascar (85.3 %), Botswana (79 %), and Cabo-Verde (75 %).

The extent and nature of this transformative power depends on the degree to which Christian engagement is informed by the Greatest Commandant. This is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and to Love your neighbour as yourself.

According to Kenyan theologian Bernard Boyo, [M]ost Christianshave no theological or biblical foundation to guide their involvement in politics. They have not been prepared to think biblically about what to do when personal, group, and national interests clash, nor have they thought deeply about what is involved in living in states characterised by religious pluralism.

That said, Christians who wish to add value to society will do well to consider the following list of 20 scripturally informed principles and truths for Christian political engagement.

Principles and truths for Christian political engagement

#01 Politics is an inescapable and often pervasive reality for every human being, including Christians. Christian political scientist, Hunter Baker, has said, The laws of politics have their impact on human lives just as the laws of physics do. Christians, like everyone else, refrain from political engagement to their detriment and, depending on the extent of their biblical worldview, possibly to the detriment of wider society.

#02 The Church is a spiritual body, but its also a political body. Theologian Richard Neuhaus said, The first political task of the Church is to be the Church," meaning, that as long as the Church focuses on its religious task, it will influence politics. The Church will be a political actor to the degree that Christians understand and act upon their faith as something that challenges, affects, and transcends their worldly loyalties. The same is true of the adherents of any religion.

#03 The opportunity to engage in politics is an opportunity to be a witness to the love and servanthood of Christ. Jesus says to Christians in Matthew 5:16, [L]et your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Why should the political realm be excluded from spaces in which Christians can and should shine their light?

#04 Engage prayerfully, according to the leading of the Holy Spirit and according to a holistic reading of Scripture.

#05 To be considered legitimate within the Christian community, prophecy (including politically oriented or politically aligned prophecy) must first be scripturally aligned and informed.

#06 Engage in a manner that honours God and his creation (including humans and the natural environment). At the very least, this involves engagement that is respectful, peaceful, honest, law-abiding (and, therefore, within constitutional parameters) and mindful of the need for environmental stewardship and sustainability.

#07 Steer clear of adversarial language that unnecessarily causes animosity and strife within the Church, outside of the Church, or between Christians and non-Christians.

#08 Church-State separation does not mean the Church and State have no relations or involvement with one another, or that Christians should refrain from engaging in political activity, including voting. What it does mean, however, is that the Church and the State each have their own, separate, scripturally specified functions or roles. The Church's task is to build a spiritual rather than a political kingdom.

Broadly speaking, and across societal spheres, the Churchs role is not to take over, control, occupy or dominate society. With regards to politics specifically, the Church should not seek to substitute or occupy government for the purpose of kingdom extension. Instead, the Church's role concerning politics is prophetic and informative, to be 'salt and light', to produce good citizens.

Recently, I heard a Nigerian politician and a South African pastor and aspiring politician, respectively, say, Christians must take over political power and The Church is a government in waiting. At best, these persons are ignorant. At worst, they are exploitative opportunists.

#09 In late 2023, I heard a prominent Church leader from a West African country say, I hate democracy because God is not democratic. Democracy is demonic. As I have argued elsewhere, democracy is the best possible form of government that Christians can hope for in this lifetime. With this argument in mind, Christians must be encouraged to support democracy and to elect leaders with democratic credentials.

#10 God doesnt show favouritism towards any country or ethnic group. All people and people groups are equal before God.

#11 The number of people in any given country who profess to be Christian does not necessarily equate with the number of those who Kritzinger refers to as committed Christians. There is a difference between merely identifying as a Christian and living under the Lordship of Christ. This distinction is significant in countries like South Africa where Christians have and continue to campaign on the idea of a Christian majority.

#12 Irrespective of numbers and the form of government, Christians dont have more of a right than anyone else to influence civil governance or occupy government office.

#13 Biblically speaking, no country, including South Africa and Zambia, can be a 'Christian nation', if only because the Church transcends political, geographic, cultural, and economic boundaries. Proclaiming a country as a Christian nation not only loses sight of this transcendence but also risks Christian triumphalism and harming the Christian witness.

According to David Vandrunen, Triumphalism is the tendency to make political affairs central to the Christian life. Its a mindset that views most or all of life through the lens of culture warsa fight that, according to the triumphalist, God has commissioned Christians to win. Triumphalism views the church as an agent for uniting and mobilizing Christians around a political agenda.

#14 Christian nationalism, defined as the belief that [a] nation is defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way, and considered a threat in South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia and other African countries, is not Christianity. Christian nationalism is an ideology that drives a political project. Christianity is a faith founded on the Gospel of Christ.

#15 Peacefully seeking to establish or protect the rights of Christians to live out their biblical values and principles and peacefully seeking to inform governance systems with these same values and principles are legitimate activities. Any person attempting to exercise influence over a governance system cannot but do so according to his/her worldview. This includes the parliamentarian.

#16 There is a difference between non-Christian legislation and anti-Christian legislation. The former may not align with biblical values or principles, but this does not mean the legislation necessarily sets out to target or discriminate against Christians. The latter actively or intentionally discriminates against Christians and is, therefore, undemocratic and contrary to the right of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).

#17 Christians are commanded to love their neighbours. Voting involves electing persons to government office whose decisions and actions will have far-reaching implications for present and future generations. Therefore, voting to the best of ones ability and for political parties whose leaders are ethical and competent and whose policies are human-centric, becomes an act of love.

#18 Choosing which political party to support will always be a choice between 'fallen entities' or 'evils'. The best the Christian can do is lend qualified support to the lesser 'evil'. Consider which party most closely aligns with Scripture in terms of policy proposals, leadership character, and competency. The Christian must vote in a manner that honours God.

#19 Christians running for or occupying political office must not become guilty of the 'cult of personality'. If you are among these, take care to not elevate yourself or make yourself out to be more important or useful than what you are. Teamwork makes the dream work.

#20 Politics is vitally important and will continue to have implications for national and human well-being. Still, no manner or form of politics or government, including one made up mostly or entirely of Christians, can save or redeem a society from its inherent depravity, or fulfil on its own a society's potential.

Craig Bailie holds a Masters degree in International Studies from Rhodes University and certificates in Thought Leadership and Public Leadership from the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute and the Open University respectively. He has completed several doctoral courses through Regent University including in Applied Exegetical Studies and Leadership Faith and Ethics. He is the Founding Director of Bailie Leadership Consultancy.
FILE PHOTO: Ghana President John Dramani Mahama is seen on arrival for the international mediation on Gambia election conflict in Banjul

ACCRA (Reuters) - Ghana's former president and leading opposition presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday expressed his opposition to LGBTQ+ rights but did not say if he would support a bill aimed at criminalizing same-sex relations.

The main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress, voted last year to retain Mahama as its leader for the 2024 presidential election.

During a meeting with members of the clergy in eastern Ghana, the former president said gay marriage and being transgender were against his Christian beliefs.

"The faith I have will not allow me to accept a man marrying a man, and a woman marrying a woman," Mahama said while responding to a church leader's call against LGBTQ+ people.

"I don't believe that anybody can get up and say I feel like a man although I was born a woman and so I will change and become a man," he added.

Mahama, however, did not say whether he would sign the bill that would criminalize same-sex relations, being transgender and advocating LGBTQ rights, should he win December elections.

Lawmakers in the West African nation have been debating the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill since August 2021.

Passing the bill would further reduce freedoms in a country where gay sex is already punishable with up to three years in jail, critics and activists say.

(Reporting by Maxwell Akalaare Adombila; Editing by Anait Miridzhanian and Angus MacSwan)
Easter is on Sunday, March 31, this year, but those celebrating the holiday religiously will start much earlier.

The Friday before Easter is known to Catholics as Good Friday and honors the anniversary of Jesus Christ's crucifixion and death.

Good Friday is just one part of the larger Holy Week that proceeds, with the week's conclusion marking the end of a 40-day fast Catholics endure known as Lent, according to Catholic Online.

Here's a look at how Catholics spend their time on Good Friday and why the day is important to the religion's belief system.

When is Good Friday?

Good Friday this year is on March 29.

When is Lent? What you need to know about the religious celebration

What is Good Friday celebrated for?

Catholics recognize Good Friday as the day Jesus Christ was crucified, died and was buried in a tomb.

Catholics use the day the recount the condemnation of Christ by Jewish and Roman leaders who sent him to death for blasphemy over claiming he was the son of God, after Christ himself was betrayed by his disciple, Judas.

Hundreds gather for Good Friday at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Basilica in downtown Phoenix on April 19, 2019.

Jesus's journey carrying his cross is the solemn focus of Catholics who prepare to celebrate Christ's eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.

"He died on the cross to fulfill the mission of salvation the Father (God) had entrusted to him," read a post on the Vatican's website.

"Under the shadows of Good Friday, each one of us can place ourselves before the Cross and compare ourselves with the Lord Jesus regarding our own problems, our own tragedies, our own sufferings," the post added.

What do Catholics do on Good Friday?

Much of Good Friday is spent in a quiet remembrance of the death of Christ. Catholics will participate in the Stations of The Cross on Wednesday and Friday during Lent, including Good Friday. The 14-step prayer crosses depictions of Christ's journey carrying his cross for his crucifixion, and his later death, according to Catholic Online.

Catholics also participate in the Veneration of the Cross every Good Friday, where churchgoers kneel in front of the cross, similar to the one Christ was crucified on, and kiss it to demonstrate faith.

During this veneration, priests will typically recite the Reproaches, a set of original Latin prayers that aim to make parishioners more aware of the sacrifice Christ made for them, according to Catholic Online.

Catholic churches typically do not hold mass on Good Friday, according to Catholic Online. "Baptism, penance, and anointing of the sick may be performed, but only in unusual circumstances. Church bells are silent. Altars are left bare," read a Good Friday post on Catholic Online's website.

If a service is performed, Catholic Online says the communion from the previous day, known as Holy Thursday, must be used.

"The solemn, muted atmosphere is preserved until the Easter Vigil," added Catholic Online.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: When is Good Friday 2024? How is the Catholic holiday celebrated?
Republican lawmaker Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) nominated former President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing the brokerage of the Abraham Accords.

Tenneys nomination came just a few days after three U.S. Army soldiers were killed in a suicide drone attack in Jordan. In the nominating statement, Tenney touted Trumps Abraham Accords, the treaty that formally normalized the relations between Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Donald Trump was instrumental in facilitating the first new peace agreements in the Middle East in almost 30 years, Tenney said in the statement Tuesday. For decades, bureaucrats, foreign policy professionals, and international organizations insisted that additional Middle East peace agreements were impossible without a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. President Trump proved that to be false.

Trump, the front-runner in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, has been nominated for the prize multiple times. He was nominated in 2022 by a Norwegian official for brokering relations between the UAE and Israel. He also received a nomination from four Australian law professors.

The valiant efforts by President Trump in creating the Abraham Accords were unprecedented and continue to go unrecognized by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, underscoring the need for his nomination today, Tenney said in a statement.

Tenney also criticized President Biden for what she says is weak leadership that is posing a danger to the country.

Now more than ever, when Joe Bidens weak leadership on the international stage is threatening our countrys safety and security, we must recognize Trump for his strong leadership and his efforts to achieve world peace, Tenney said. I am honored to nominate former President Donald Trump today and am eager for him to receive the recognition he deserves.

Professors, members of national governments and assemblies are able to make submissions for the prize, which will be announced this year in October.

Fox News Digital first obtained the statement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Its an election year, which means its once again time for Republicans to care about the border. The GOP has done all it can to raise hell over the issue  from holding government funding hostage over their extreme demands, to trying to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, to backing Texas Governor Greg Abbotts legally dubious crusade against the federal governments dominion over the border  while blocking efforts to bring about real change. Republicans in the House, for example, are refusing to back a bipartisan immigration deal. Their excuses as to why have varied, but one lawmaker is going so far as to claim Congress actually has zero obligation to address the issue at all.

In a video obtained by Rolling Stone, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) declared on Tuesday that Congress doesnt have to do anything to secure our southern border and fix it.

Why would I help Joe Biden approve his dismal 33 percent [approval rating] when he can fix the border and secure it on his own? He can secure it on his own through executive order. Nehls added while waving around a cigar outside of the Capitol. He went on to cite former President Donald Trumps slew of executive orders addressing immigration, many of which were ultimately found to be unconstitutional.

Republican Rep. Troy Nehls on border security:



Congress doesn't have to do anything.



Story: https://t.co/QOTUEl6FkQ pic.twitter.com/9hcdFiRrpl  nikki mccann ramirez (@NikkiMcR) January 31, 2024

Nehls claim that its not Congress job to pass the legislation theyve been demanding for months is absurd, and it also directly contradicts statements he made to Fox News in September of last year. Nehls told Fox News Digital that Republicans in the House had been granted a majority for a reason and were obliged to hold the Biden administration accountable.

This starts with stopping the flow of illegal aliens burdening communities, combating human trafficking, and fighting the influx of fentanyl and illicit drugs poisoning our communities, Nehls said, adding that taxpayer dollars should be used to secure our nation, not further spread the consequences of an open border.

I was sent to Congress to fight for Texas, and I speak for them when I say they are sick and damn tired of empty promises, Nehls said.

Nehls made a point to call out Rolling Stone in the video on Tuesday, saying that if this is going to be on Rolling Stone, lets put it out there. He did not, however, immediately respond to a request for comment on the contradiction inherent in saying its not Congress job to address the border after having previously said it was on House Republicans to fix the issue.

So why would the guy who felt so strongly about Congress responsibility to help secure the border suddenly turn tail and attempt to tank the most promising piece of bipartisan immigration legislation in recent years? Because its an election year.

Earlier this month, Nehls said in a statement to CNN that hes not willing to do too damn much right now to help a Democrat and to help Joe Bidens approval rating..

I will not help the Democrats try to improve this mans dismal approval ratings, he added. Im not going to do it. Why would I? Chuck Schumer has had HR 2 on his desk since July. And he did nothing with it.

Nehls used similar logic when discussing the GOPs push to impeach Joe Biden. In a video obtained by Rolling Stone, he responded Donald J. Trump 2024, baby! when asked about the move.

Trump has been directly involved in efforts to kill the Senate border deal, openly encouraging Republicans to reject the legislation on social media, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) admitted to Fox News earlier this month that hes been communicating directly with the former president about the issue.

As previously reported by Rolling Stone, Trump has privately complained to his advisers that in supporting the proposed legislation, stupid Republicans could be handing Biden a major victory in the months before the two men will almost certainly go head to head in a rematch for the presidency.

Republicans in the Senate are visibly frustrated with the former presidents efforts to derail the legislation. The border is a very important issue for Donald Trump, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) told reporters last week. And the fact that he would communicate to Republican senators and Congress people that he doesnt want us to solve the border problem  because he wants to blame Biden for it  is really appalling.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell warned his colleagues in the lower chamber that theyre unlikely to get a better deal on immigration, even if Trump wins in 2024. But House Republicans seem committed to continuing their pattern of obstruction and infighting over the advancement of conservative policy goals. Why? Because as Nehls recent statements make clear that the ultimate Republican priority is re-electing Trump.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) on Wednesday criticized the House impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as a partisan detour from Congresss important work.

Asked about the merits of trying Mayorkas on impeachment charges in the Senate, Murkowski said lawmakers need to focus on funding the government instead.

Oh my goodness. Were busy, right? To have to take a detour from the important work thats going on, she said.

The Alaska senator, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, cited an upcoming meeting on legislation to fund the government through 2024 and the need to fund national security needs in a defense supplemental.

Ive got a four-corners meeting as an appropriator tomorrow; were trying to get the security supplemental advanced. If we have to deal with an impeachment proceeding thats going to come across on a wholly partisan vote, theres more important things, she said.

Murkowski is one of several Republican senators questioning the wisdom of impeaching Mayorkas without clear evidence he broke the law or committed an impeachable offense.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Mayorkas simply appeared to be carrying out the policies of the White House, though she cautioned she would be a juror in any Senate impeachment trial and would not declare a verdict before hearing the case.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) raised concerns earlier this month about the Senate getting sidetracked into a partisan impeachment trial.

Weve got so many things to do. I dont think impeachment was something intended to be brought up every three months or every two months, Capito, a member of the Senate GOP leadership team, said at the time.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday denounced the 18-15 partisan vote in the House Homeland Security Committee to impeach Mayorkas as a sham.

What House Republicans are doing by advancing this sham impeachment effort is denigrating our Constitution, all for the sake of appeasing one person and one person only  Donald Trump, he said. And let this be clear, this unserious spectacle by House Republicans does nothing, nothing, to secure the border.

The last time the House presented to the Senate articles of impeachment against a federal officeholder below the level of president was in 2010, when the House impeached Louisiana judge Thomas Porteous.

The Senate that year referred the matter to a special bipartisan evidentiary committee and didnt vote on it until a lame-duck session after the election.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) engaged in a bit of McCarthyism during Wednesdays Senate hearing on online child safety when he relentlessly pressed TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew on his ties to China, going so far as to wonder whether the Singapore citizen was a member of the Chinese Communist Party.

Wednesdays intense hearing, which featured the heads of five Big Tech companies, was largely centered on the potential risks social media products pose to young people. At one point, amid a bipartisan barrage of criticism and cajoling from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg even stood up and apologized to families in the hearing room for the suffering theyd gone through.

While all of the social media chief executives at the hearing were put through the wringer, several GOP lawmakers grilled Chew on his companys connection to China and how much access and influence the Chinese government has to the platform. Cotton, however, took it even further than his Republican colleagues.

Saying it was a hell of a coincidence that Chew was appointed CEO of TikTok shortly after the Chinese Communist Partys investment fund bought a stake in the sites parent company ByteDance, Cotton noted that Chew had previously worked for Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi.

After Chew acknowledged that he lived in Beijing during his time as Xiaomis chief financial officer, the Arkansas senator asked him if he was aware that the company was sanctioned by the Trump administration in January 2021 for being linked to Chinas military. Expressing confusion over the line of questioning, Chew noted that the ban was blocked by the courts and soon removed by the U.S. government.

It was the Biden administration that reversed the sanctions which like, by the way, they reversed the terrorist designation on Houthis in Yemen, an indignant Cotton retorted. How is that working out for them? But it was sanctioned as a Chinese Communist military country. You said today, as you often say, that you live in Singapore. Of what nation are you a citizen?

Responding that he was a citizen of Singapore, Chew was then asked if he was a citizen of any other country. After the TikTok chief said no, Cotton wondered if hed ever applied for Chinese citizenship.

Senator, I served my nation in Singapore, Chew replied. No, I did not.

Cotton went on to ask Chew, outside of his Singaporean passport, whether he had any other passports from any other nations. Once the social media executive said no, Cotton then pointed out that Chews wife and children are American citizens.

Have you ever applied for American citizenship? Cotton asked, leading Chew to acknowledge that he hadnt yet.

Have you ever been a member of the Chinese Communist Party? Cotton followed up, eerily echoing Joe McCarthy.

Senator, Im Singaporean! No, a perplexed Chew reacted, prompting the GOP lawmaker to ask: Have you ever been associated or affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party?

Chew, again, responded that he had no association with the CCP. Cotton, meanwhile, peppered the TikTok head with a series of questions over his feelings about China and its governments actions. Specifically, he wondered if Chew agreed that Chinese leader Xi Jinping is a dictator, that Chinas treatment of the Uighurs is akin to genocide, and if he thought Tiananmen Square was merely a massive protest.

With Chew saying he wasnt going to comment on any world leaders, Cotton then suggested that he was afraid to criticize China over fears that the government would kill him.

Why wont you answer these very basic questions? Are you scared? Are you scared that youll lose your job if you say anything negative about the Chinese Communist Party? Cotton declared.

I disagree with that. Youll find content critical of China on our platform, an exasperated Chew pushed back.

Are you scared youll be arrested and disappeared the next time you go to mainland China? the senator replied, prompting Chew to reiterate that anti-China content is prevalent on TikTok.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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In the heart of Lima, beneath the shadow of the grand Cathedral, a sea of people gathered, their voices rising in a chorus of fervent chants. United by a singular cause, a belief that transcended the bustling citys noise and reached into the very halls of the Peruvian Congress, the crowd cheered for the right to life of the unborn and the one who became a symbol of the struggle to protect it: Milagros Aguayo.

A figure that has inspired both reverence and controversy, Aguayo presents herself as someone standing firm against the tide of modernity. She was the one who championed a law that she argued would safeguard the sanctity of life from the very moment of its inception.

And at the end of March last year, the law protecting the unborn life from conception was passed by an overwhelming majority vote of 72-26 in Perus Congress signifying an important accomplishment of the pro-life movement in Peru.



However, while the large margin in favor of the law indicated a substantial support base within the legislative body, the public opinion has been diverse and complex, revealing that it does not necessarily align with the convictions of all Peruvians. The law's approval has in fact sparked debates and discussions among the public that continue to this day, reflecting the diverse views on the issue of the rights of the unborn child.

"Through this bill, I have sought to establish directly, specifically and unequivocally that the conceived child has rights such as the right to life, to health, to integrity, to an identity and to other rights that favor the child," Aguayo argued at that time.

Describing herself as a "mother, wife, pastor, and defender of life and family," she and her husband Guillermo have been pastors of La Casa del Padre [The Fathers House] church in Lima since 2006. During the 2021 general elections where she ran for office as a member of the right-wing Renovacion Popular party, she received 68,003 votes leading her to become a congresswoman.



Her outspoken views on certain issues has made her a popular but also controversial figure in Peruvian politics. Apart from her efforts in advancing the protection of the unborn, she has been the subject of criticism for her stance that within the family, wives should be subject to the authority of their husbands.

On the pro-life issue, she sought to remove any legal ambiguity about the right of the unborn by proposing a bill that specified that life begins from the moment of conception, which is understood as the union of an ovum and a spermatozoon. In other words, a human being has legal rights already as an embryo from the very beginning of pregnancy and not only after birth.

The successful passing of Bill 785 by the Peruvian Congress, however, has sparked a range of reactions. It has also been met with concern or outright opposition from various organizations and individuals across the political spectrum.



The Ombudsman's Office openly expressed its objection to the law through a statement published on X (formerly known as Twitter). "The approval of Bill 785 is a setback for women's sexual and reproductive rights. It fails to comply with international standards in situations where it is appropriate to apply the therapeutic abortion protocol and free and timely access to Emergency Oral Contraception, such as in cases of rape, in which most of the victims are girls and teenagers, thus avoiding forced pregnancies," it stated at that time.

But even among supporters of pro-life legislation, some expressed doubts whether the law was the right approach. For some constitutional attorneys such as the conservative Juan Jose Uchuya, President of the National Network of Pro-Family Lawyers, the approval of this law has been a mistake in the defense of life because it took away the constitutional character of the defense of the unborn child lowering it to the rank of a law. The issue should have remained at the constitutional level, he argued.

Despite these voices, the approval of such a law was a unique legislative accomplishment by a pro-life movement in Latin America and stands in contrast to some of the dynamics seen in other countries in the region. To better understand what led to this development, it is important to consider the socio-economic reality that Peru has experienced historically and in the more recent past.

Christianity, specifically Catholicism, has been the most widely professed religion in Peru for a long time. In more recent years, however, evangelical Christianity has seen significant growth. This is attributed to the countrys increasing religious diversity and the decades of ministry by missionaries and local partners throughout the country. Evangelicalism now represents 14% of the population, according to the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE). This religious development has played a significant role in shaping the country's stance on issues such as the sanctity of life.

Another factor is that the pro-life movement in Peru is represented by various organizations and individuals who are against all types of abortion. One of the most prominent organizations among them is "Con Mis Hijos No Te Metas" (Don't Mess With My Children), which was founded by Milagros Aguayo and her husband among other leaders. It was launched in Lima in 2016 in opposition to the Peruvian government's public policies for the implementation of a gender approach in education. Although it claims to be independent of any political and religious ideology, it has the support of many evangelical Christians and members of the Renovacion Popular party.



The organization has coordinated several large-scale rallies in Peru with tens of thousands of people on the streets. Its ability to mobilize such masses as well as the election of Milagros Aguayo, one of its representative voices, as congresswoman, shows the social and political weight of conservatives in Peru.



Finally, while it's difficult to ascertain a direct link between the timing of this legislation and specific international events, such as the repeal of Roe v Wade in the United States, it seems evident that the global attention and dynamics related to issues like abortion can influence legislative decisions in various countries. The recent landmark ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the constitutional right to abortion has undoubtedly inspired the pro-life movement throughout Latin America.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV (WVNS)  A man was recently arrested and charged with Child Abuse Causing Death.

According to Sergeant Brandon McCormick, of the Greenbrier County Sheriffs Department, on Sunday, September 3, 2023, at approximately 11:00 A.M., EMS came to a home near White Sulphur Springs because of a 2-month-old infant that was unresponsive.

Greenbrier County jury returns life without mercy verdict in double murder case

The infant was immediately flown out of state to a medical facility. The infant ended up dying two days later.

After an investigation performed by West Virginia Child Protective Services and the Greenbrier County Sheriffs Department, an arrest was made. On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, Shane Lee Dolin, 25 of White Sulphur Springs, WV, was arrested and charged.

Dolin is currently being held at Southern Regional Jail.

Stick with 59News for updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
Netflix users are learning all about drug lord Griselda Blanco thanks to a new acclaimed series starring Sofia Vergara.

The six-part series Griselda, which has shot to the top of the platforms most-streamed charts since its release earlier this month, tells the story of the infamous queenpin nicknamed The Godmother of Cocaine.

Throughout the drug traffickers life, which saw her become a leader in the criminal world throughout the 1970s and 1980s while raising her four sons, Blanco ruthlessly betrayed her way to the top, making many enemies in the process.

Sofia Vergara as Griselda Blanco in Netflix series Griselda (COURTESY OF NETFLIX)

However, one person who appeared to be filled with respect for Blanco was Pablo Escobar, the King of Cocaine who was the leader of the Medellin cartel.

Escobar, whose life was explored in the Netflix series Narcos, was responsible for 80 per cent of the global cocaine market, and was one of the wealthiest drug lords ever. At one time, he was bringing in an estimated $420m a week in revenue.

About Blanco, Escobar famously said: The only man I was ever afraid of was a woman named Griselda Blanco.

Ths quote, featured at the start of Griselda, hints that Escobar knew about her power  but the extent of their relationship remains unknown.

An intriguing link, though, is that the pair are both buried at Colombias Monte Sacro Cemetery.

Speaking toDigital Spy about Blancos reputation, Griselda co-showrunner Eric Newman said: She is a true anomaly in that there has never been a woman who achieved that level of prominence in any drug cartel. Ever. And obviously, that immediately piqued our interest.

But we found with Narcos, the way we tell that story, what that show is about, to try to fit the Griselda story into Narcos just seems like it wouldnt do it justice.

Cocaine rivals Griselda Blanco and Pablo Escobar (Miami Dade County / Getty Images)

Blancos son Michael, and his wife Marie, are suing Modern Family star Vergara, who also produced the show, along with Netflix and others involved in the making of Griselda,

They are claiming that the show use the unauthorised image, likeness and/or identity of his family members, and the pair are seeking damages in excess of $50,000, according to TODAY.com.

The lawsuit also alleges that the series relied on recorded conversations the shows producers had with Michael, who was not compensated for their use.

Benjamin Mordes, an attorney representing Michael, recently spoke to NBC News about the lawsuit and said: Netflix, as weve alleged, is using these ideas that were part of interviews that were memorialised, and writings and notes. Nobody else could have those ideas and nobody else could have those stories.

The Independent has contacted Vergaras representatives and Netflix for comment.
Surrounded by members of his family, newly elected Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, takes his oath of office.

A bill filed by Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, would modify grounds for divorce, making it more difficult to end a marriage in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1958 would remove incompatibility as a permissible ground for divorce, effectively abolishing no-fault divorce.

What are your thoughts on the prospect of Senate Bill 1958 passing in Oklahoma? We would like to share your opinion on this topic. Please send your comments, along with your name and city of residence, to yourviews@oklahoman.com or share them in our survey link: https://bit.ly/SenateBill1958

More: 'I have no voice': Oklahomans talk open primaries amid independent voter increase

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: New Senate bill could abolish no-fault divorce in Oklahoma. Weigh in
A Utah woman was sentenced to time in prison after being found guilty of money laundering in connection with a romance scam that stole millions from women, federal officials said.

Over the course of 2017 to 2019, Nelly Idowu, 39, along with her co-conspirators Emmanuel Osaigbovo Adesotu, Nnamdi Joel Chukwu and Julius Omene Fredrick, would create fake online dating profiles and target divorced and widowed women over the age of 65, according to a news release by the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Throughout the scam, the group stole more than $6 million, officials said.

Now, Idowu has been sentenced to six years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, officials said. She is the last defendant to be sentenced in the case.

Idowus attorney did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment.

Adesotu, Chukwu, and Fredrick previously pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy charges, officials said. Adesotu was sentenced to three years in prison, Chukwu was sentenced to one year in prison and Fredrick was sentenced to 46 months in prison.

Their attorneys did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment.

The group would befriend a woman on a dating website or social media and convince her that the fake persona was in urgent financial need, according to court documents.

The urgent financial need would consist of the need to feed co-workers, help family members with medical bills or help U.S. military members stranded overseas return home, the document said.

Then Idowu and her co-conspirators would provide the victims with banking information and tell them to wire the money, deposit checks at a local bank or send cash, the document said.

Many of the victims experienced a large financial loss and others lost their entire life savings, officials said.

Idowu and her co-conspirators preyed on unsuspecting and vulnerable victims, U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah said in the release. The defendants gained their trust and convinced them to send large sums of money, leaving many of the victims in financial despair. My office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to prosecute these online scams, and seek justice for the victims.

Idowu, Adesotu, Chukwu, and Fredrick will be ordered to pay $6,444,787.16 in restitution jointly for the victims, officials said.

Romance scammers trick Missouri woman out of $1.2 million, officials say

Man uses fake profiles to catfish victims and swindle them out of $1 million, feds say

Romance scam led to foreclosure, death, feds say. Kingpin sentenced to prison
A group of current and former staff members at a Boone County middle school banded together and won $1 million playing the Kentucky Lottery this week.

In a Monday press release, the lottery said it was looking for the owner of a Powerball ticket worth $1 million in the weekend drawing. Now, the prize has been claimed and split 30 ways  $24,000 after taxes for each player in the group.

The group of educators, who called themselves the Jones 30 after Jones Middle School in Florence, embarked on a jubilant carpool to Kentucky Lottery headquarters Tuesday. The group cheered as they entered the lobby of the agencys Louisville headquarters, the Kentucky Lottery said in a news release.

The group has been playing together for years, the lottery said. The Jones 30 has consistently played the same set of lottery numbers since 2019.

A group of 30 Kentucky educators took home a $1 million Powerball win this week with this ticket.

We all taught at the same school at one point or another, one anonymous winner told the Kentucky Lottery. Weve got counselors, admins, special ed teachers, the school nurse Some have moved on or retired but we still continue to do it. Weve remained buddies for all of these years.

The groups leader, a retired math teacher, discovered the win the day after the Jan. 27 drawing. The group matched all five white balls, but missed the red Powerball, still winning $1 million, but not the jackpot.

According to the Kentucky Lottery, the teacher hid the ticket in a math book, deeming it to be the safest place for it.

No one looks in a math book, she joked. I knew it would be safe therepage 200. I have checked this a thousand times.

At Kentucky Lottery headquarters in downtown Louisville Tuesday, each player was presented with a check this week. Even after winning, the group plans to continue playing together to keep in touch.

The Kroger grocery story in Hebron will also receive $10,000 for selling the winning ticket.

Do you or a loved one have a gambling problem? Help is available at 1-800-662-4357.

Do you have a question about the Kentucky Lottery for our service journalism team? Wed like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.
CHICAGO  Rebuffed by the State Board of Elections, a group seeking to have former President Donald Trump disqualified from Illinois March 19 GOP primary ballot based on the insurrection clause of the U.S. Constitution is seeking an expedited appeal of the boards ruling in Cook County Circuit Court.

Recognizing a tight timeline for ballots to be prepared and printed, the group is asking the court to move quickly and said it anticipates the case will eventually go before the Illinois Supreme Court.

Democratic justices hold a 5-2 majority on the states high court.

The appeal, filed by five voters who are backed by the group Free Speech for People, was made only hours after the election board said Tuesday that it lacked the authority to decide complex constitutional questions such as whether Trumps actions in the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol made him ineligible for the office under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

Under that section, those who have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, shall not be able to serve in Congress or hold any office, civil or military if they have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution.

To avoid the constitutional issues, the board voted 8-0 to reject an objection to Trump contending the former president knowingly filed a false statement of candidacy stating he was qualified to hold the office of president.

The appeal notes that Illinois election authorities face a Friday deadline for having sufficient ballots printed to mail to military and overseas voters, and that Feb. 8 is the scheduled first day for mailing out vote-by-mail ballots and for early voting to be conducted at local election board offices.

Given the matters of significant public interest at issue in this case, it is highly likely that the case will ultimately be resolved by the Illinois Supreme Court, the appeal said. Thus, a prompt ruling from this (circuit) court, to allow sufficient time for further appellate review in advance of the looming ballot deadlines, is of the utmost importance.

Feb. 8 also is the day the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in an appeal of a December ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court which found Trump had engaged in insurrection in seeking to block the counting of Electoral College votes that made Democrat Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

Colorados high court ordered Trumps name stricken from that states ballot, but stayed its ruling pending the U.S. Supreme Court appeal.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, the states top election official, found Trump ineligible for that states ballot, but that ruling also has been stayed pending appeal.

At Tuesdays Illinois election board hearing, Matt Piers, an attorney for the group objecting to Trumps placement on the ballot, contended board members had a duty to decide the constitutional question of disqualification and that they were misinterpreting previous state Supreme Court rulings over the limitations of their power.

But Trump campaign attorney Adam Merrill countered that Trump did not engage in insurrection and said the board correctly found the constitutional issues of disqualification were beyond its jurisdiction. He contended the insurrection clause was meant to be enforced by Congress and that it does not apply to the office of president.

____
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  The group advocating for the Freedom of Information Act to be voted into the Arkansas Constitution dropped its lawsuit against Attorney General Tim Griffin on January 30.

Group promoting FOI amendment to Arkansas constitution sues Attorney General for ballot access in Supreme Court, requests injunction

Arkansas Citizens for Transparency originally filed the lawsuit on January 23 after Griffin rejected one of the groups ballot proposal submissions.

Arkansas Attorney General certifies multiple Freedom of Information Act ballot measures

Since the lawsuit was filed, Griffin has certified multiple ballot measures issued by the group, and canvassers are now able to begin gathering signatures.

Attorney General Tim Griffin certifies final element of Arkansas FOIA ballot package

Nate Bell, co-founder of ACT, said the group dropped the lawsuit to focus on collecting signatures and fundraising.

The committee voted today to focus our efforts on collecting signatures and fundraising. Im confident that we would have prevailed, but the clock is running on signature deadline. The amendment and act as certified are not our preferred language, but they accomplish our key goals of establishing open government as a constitutionally protected right, making it more difficult for the legislature to reduce transparency and sanctioning those who violate our right to know, Bell said.

Attorney General Tim Griffin responded to the group dropping its lawsuit in a statement:

The petitioners decision to abandon their suit against my office is a triumph for the rule of law and the taxpayer. The case was fatally flawed from inception and destined to fail, as my offices motion to dismiss made clear. Continuing the case would have squandered taxpayer dollars, clogged up the judicial system and generally just wasted everyones time. The real winner is the law and our 80-year-old ballot review process. I am thankful and honored to work with brilliant, experienced staff who day after day demonstrate professionalism and grit. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin

ACT will have to collect 90,704 signatures for each of the ballot measures that were certified and turned in to Griffins office for certification by July 5.

Once the signatures are certified, the measure may appear on the November ballot.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
Xi extends Spring Festival greetings to military veterans

Xinhua) 08:05, January 31, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), extends Spring Festival greetings to the country's military veterans when attending a gala held by the CMC for retired military officers of Beijing-based troops in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended Spring Festival greetings to the country's military veterans.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), extended the greetings when attending a gala held by the CMC for retired military officers of Beijing-based troops on Monday.

At around 4 p.m., amid warm applause, Xi joined the veterans, asking them about their health and lives. They looked back together on the major achievements made by the Party, the country and the military over the past year.

The veterans vowed to rally more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, resolutely follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and implement Xi Jinping's thinking on strengthening the military.

They pledged to implement the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the chairman of the CMC, and make new contributions to building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Superintendent Charles Foust presents data on student achievement in New Hanover County Schools during a school board meeting Tuesday, May 3, 2022. [SYDNEY HOOVER/STARNEWS]

A member of the New Hanover County Board of Education has announced that she intends to submit a motion that would effectively fire Superintendent Charles Foust.

"I notified the board today of my intent to make a motion at our next meeting to rescind the motion to approve the three-year extension of employment contract for Superintendent Charles Foust," school board member Pat Bradford said at a meeting Tuesday.

She did not say why she intends to make the motion, but her statement came up during a discussion about the future of the Career Readiness Academy at Mosley. Bradford noted concerns about getting conflicting information about Mosley.

More: Career Readiness Academy at Mosley to remain open for next school year

Board member Stephanie Kraybill expressed frustration about the possible motion.

"We can't just be throwing out contracts with the superintendent and muddying all the waters," Kraybill said.

This discussion came after Foust informed the board Thursday, Jan. 26 that he would no longer be going through with the closure of Mosley and would not be following through with a potential newcomers school.

The North Carolina State law says that the board of education can terminate the superintendent's contract before the contract term has expired as long as no state funds are used for the purpose, no local funds for teachers and students are used, the local board makes public the funds that are to be transferred or used for the purpose, the local board notifies the state board of the funds that are to be transferred or used for the purpose, and no donation funds are used for the purpose.

If the board terminated Foust's contract, it would be required to pay him one year of salary, which is $253,571. The state pays for $149,164 of that amount and local funds cover $96,492. The remaining amount covers cell phone bills and travel expenses.

Bradford said she intended to submit the motion at the school board's next meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

This isn't the first time Foust's contract termination has been an issue. In 2022, three school board candidates, including Pat Bradford, said they'd explore the possibility of firing the superintendent if elected. Foust also previously faced a petition signed by more than 1,000 people calling for his resignation.

More: School board candidates: Superintendent needs to be held accountable or fired

Meanwhile, the board continued discussing next steps for Mosley.

Board member Stephanie Walker requested to have a more in-depth cost analysis for Mosley. Foust said he has that information ready, but that it contains personnel names and their salaries.

Walker said that since the information can already be found in public record, she would like that discussion to remain as public as much as possible.

Kraybill said she thought the discussion of salaries where faculty can be easily identified in this situation is disrespectful, and board member Hugh McManus agreed.

Under state law, salaries for school employees are public record and cannot be kept secret. The StarNews has filed a public records request with the school district seeking the information for Mosley.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: New Hanover school superintendent contract could be terminated
Berry Accius of the Sacramento community advocacy group Voice of the Youth was busy on the phone Tuesday as news spread of a shooting at Grant Union High School. He was frantically calling Grant High students who are in his groups mentorship program.

I was on the phone hitting up my kids, my kids hitting me up, telling me what was going on, Accius said. And you get fearful because you dont want it to be your kid. And secondly, you get frustrated because its like, Its happening again?

On Tuesday morning, a 14-year-old Grant High student shot a fellow 17-year-old student in a parking lot on campus, police said. The 17-year-old suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his arm, and the 14-year-old was arrested in connection with the shooting.

It doesnt happen just at Grant High, Accius said. Gun violence happens at other schools and throughout Sacramento. But he said these alarming events continue to happen without substantive change as community efforts trying to attack the root causes of youth violence continue to be inconsistently funded.

Priorities are necessary for anti-violence funding, he said.

And thats in young people, giving community organizations more opportunities where we can get funding that can help us create safe spaces for these kids, Accius said. And were not talking about funding that just keeps some staff, creates spaces for the kids to go to that are not closed at 8 p.m., theyre not closed at 5 oclock.

Sacramento Police arrive on the scene where a student was shot in the arm at Grant Union High School on Tuesday.

Accius said there isnt enough of a community focus on youths having access to guns before they have access to educational or job opportunities and thinking violence is the only way to resolve conflicts.

We dont ever go to the root of the problem outside of these isolated incidents, Accius said. How is this kid even thinking about having a gun on campus?

He said the community needs to be asking why the 14-year-old accused of shooting a fellow student on Tuesday felt it was necessary to arm himself.

I think the biggest issue for me is that theres too many guns out there and young people have access to it, Acccius said Tuesday while standing outside Grant High waiting for more information.

Make sure my baby is OK

Debra Cummings, a member of the community group Healing the Hood, was among parents and other community groups gathered in front of Grant High seeking more details about what happened. Healing the Hood, which is part of the Black Child Legacy Campaign, sends out response teams to help community members and victims families when a crisis occurs. She said its important to respond quickly, and only advocates who live in that community can do that.

At the end of the day, its about our communitys kids, Cummings said.

Last week, members of Healing the Hood were among other community advocacy groups who spoke about the need for consistent government funding with California Attorney General Rob Bonta. At the panel discussion in Sacramento, they spoke about the importance of reaching people closest to the problem, unified work from neighborhood groups and a trained, culturally diverse staff of trauma-informed intervention workers to reduce gun violence.

You got to have heart for this work to show up for families, said James Willock, a community intervention worker for Mutual Assistance Network.

Alfonso Miller, whose daughter is a sophomore at Grant High, rushed to the school Tuesday to make sure his child wasnt hurt. He was relieved his daughter was OK, but he was disturbed about what happened to the student who was shot and wounded.

As long as shes OK ... make sure my baby is OK, Miller said. Everything is OK with her. Now, this other student? I dont know. Im sorry to hear that.
Student loan debt for more than 1 million college dropouts grew by nearly $1 billion in recent years, according to a new report.

The amount people owe if they don't finish college balloons, the report shows. It offers a fresh glimpse into how college completion rates have spurred America's student loan crisis as the Biden administration mulls what factors to consider in crafting new forms of debt relief.

According to the report, college students who took out loans between 2013 and 2015 but never finished their degrees collectively owed $918 million more than they borrowed. That number was tallied four years after they started paying back their loans.

For college graduates, the trends are much different. Students who took out loans during the same period but went on to complete their degrees collectively owed $3.2 billion less than they first borrowed.

The findings were published Wednesday by the Higher Education Advisory Group, a research and consulting firm. The study was commissioned by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Using federal databases, the group compiled information on millions of student loan borrowers at nearly 2,000 colleges and universities.

The takeaway? The findings underscore just how important finishing school is if you're going to pay off student loans, according to Michael Itzkowitz, a former Education Department official who wrote the report.

The bottom line is the student debt crisis is getting out of control, Itzkowitz said. One of the main culprits is students who dont complete their college degree.

Be wary of for-profit colleges, data suggests

The study also narrows in on a central topic in the student-loan debate: earning potential, or how much money college students can expect to earn after they graduate and land a job.

Though colleges usually dont make explicit promises about how much money graduates of certain programs can expect to make once they finish their degrees, some schools are more misleading about earning potential than others.

Paying lots of money for a college degree carries different risks depending on what college a person attends. At both public and private institutions, the data indicates that dropping out leaves thousands of students with more debt than they took on in the first place. Graduating, on the other hand, helps students chip away at their debt.

Theres an exception to the trend, though: for-profit colleges. Regardless of whether students finish their degrees, graduates of those types of schools see their student loan debt grow by roughly the same amount.

Fresh talks are underway at the Education Department to consider more regulations on for-profit schools. Those discussions are set to continue through March.

Zachary Schermele is a breaking news and education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Student loan debt's crippling effects hit college dropouts extra hard
There's an important (one-month) birthday that Southwest Florida residents need to be recognizing this week.

E23, the lone eaglet within the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam nest, is celebrating its first month in the nest.

Regional animal icons M15 and F23 hatched their first egg together just before the start of 2024, according to the Dick Pritchett Real Estate Eagle Cam website. Over the course of a chaotic month, the tiny eaglet has seen several highs and lows inside its Fort Myers home.

To celebrate E23's one-month birthday, here's a look back at what January has looked like for the small celebrity:

E23 arrives in the nest before New Year's Day

A New Year's Eve baby! F23 rose up and was visible from its egg at 7:03 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31. The following day, operators posted that E23 was "already active and asking for lunch."

The egg was first laid on Friday, Nov. 24, at 9 p.m.

There was second egg; however, livestream operators posted on Dec. 31 that its hatching was stalled and they no longer saw movement. The following day, they posted that they would both "celebrate E23 and mourn the future life of Egg 2 and all that could have been."

Viewers fall in love as E23 bonds with parents

Days after E23 made its appearance in the nest, the livestream's social media posted a picture of the fluffy eaglet with the caption, "Start your 2024 off with some cuteness overload."

Comments instantly flooded in with remarks about the tiny bird's appearance, ranging from "how adorable" to "what a cute fuzzball." To sum up the immediate feeling toward the new arrival, one fan commented "this little bird  we are all in love."

Over the next two weeks, many witnesses sweet moments in the nest, such as parents tending to the tiny eaglet and responding to its squeaks. Viewers were also treated to more silly moments, such as the eaglet pooping on F23.

It is noted by eagle experts that the birds of prey grow very rapidly in their first 35 to 40 days of life. According to the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, young eaglets experience several different plumage phases before leaving the nest, such as:

Primary down  Eaglets are in the primary or natal down phase and are fluffy grey in color with a whitish head and throat.

Secondary down  Longer, thicker, dark-grey wool covering by their third week.

Transitional  During the transitional stage at age four to six weeks, the eaglet has its first dark brown-to-black pin feathers emerging on the back, shoulders, breast and wings.

Juvenile  Fully feathered by 10 weeks of age and exercises its wings by jumping up and down in the nest.

Possible hook lodged in its mouth, M-15 fishes it out

On Jan. 14, after the eagle family enjoyed having fish for breakfast, operators caught sight of E23 showing signs of distress. They noticed what looked like a possible hook lodged in its mouth.

"F23 attempted to free the material with no luck and multiple tries. When Dad returns, he and F23 were heard discussing the problem and he then freed the hook," operators shared to Facebook. "A wonderful outcome to something that could have been deadly."

Livestream officials used the moment to share a reminder of the threat that fishing hooks and monofilament line pose to wildlife when improperly discarded into the environment.

E23 growing quickly on livestream cameras

Approaching its one-month birthday, E23 has started to ditch its fluffy white exterior and dawn some dark grey feathers.

Longtime viewers of the nest commented that parents are now spending less time in the nest, opting to sit in the branches above to monitor the eaglet. Many also note that E23 is able to sit up and sit along the sides of the nest, learning as they watch their surroundings.

What's next for E23? When will they leave the nest?

The baby eagle is currently in its "transitional" stage of plumage, where an eaglet has its first dark brown-to-black pin feathers emerging on the back, shoulders, breast and wings.

Soon E23 will be standing and walking on its own two feet, exploring the nest with more confidence. This would also mean the start of E23 experimenting with its wing by taking hop flights by hovering above the nest.

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey mentioned that lone eaglets occasionally exhibit play behavior, pouncing on items in the nest, or even tugging the adults feathers.

However, it will be a hot minute until the eaglet actually flaps its wings and leaves the nest. At 10 to 12 weeks of age, eaglets are physically ready to fly. Most eaglets fledge around 12 weeks, which would fall around the end of March for E23.

Want to follow E23's journey to adulthood? Here's where to find the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam:

You can watch the livestream at dickpritchettrealestate.com or on YouTube at SouthwestFloridaEagleCam.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Southwest Florida Eagle Cam: E23 is officially one month old
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Nashville middle school was placed on lockdown Wednesday morning so authorities could investigate reports of a weapon on campus.

According to a Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) spokesperson, amid the Haynes Middle School lockdown, students and staff were asked to shelter in place and no unauthorized individuals were allowed on campus.

At 10:09 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, the MNPS spokesperson told News 2 all students and staff were safe inside the building as police continue to investigate.

 Have breaking come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts 

The Metro Nashville Police Department said the investigation shows a 13-year-old student and a 14-year-old student fought last week. Then, on Wednesday, the 13-year-old reportedly armed himself and confronted the other student in a school restroom.

According to authorities, the 14-year-old ran outside of the school to get away while the 13-year-old admitted to firing one shot from the 9mm semi-automatic pistol after running out of the building.

Officials said the 13-year-old fled to a wood line behind the school, but he was taken into custody, unarmed, by a North Precinct officer on Liberia Street. Meanwhile, the gun was recovered later in the day from the wood line, with some help from an ATF dog that specializes in locating firearms in outdoor settings.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Shortly after 10:30 a.m., police told News 2 that Haynes Middle School was no longer on lockdown, and the 13-year-old student  described as an eighth grader  was in custody.

On Wednesday afternoon, authorities announced the 13-year-old was charged by Youth Services detectives with aggravated assault and gun possession on school property. However, it remains unknown how or where the student got the gun.

No additional details have been released about the incident at the school.

 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.

 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Classes

SOUTH BEND  Alzheimers and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana will offer the free class Alzheimers & Dementia 101 from 10 to 11 a.m. Feb. 5 in the Care Partner Academy. Patty Piechocki, director of the Institute for Excellence in Memory Care, will lead this live/interactive web session. Participants can connect through their computer. Register online at https://alzni.org/caregivers/caregiving/.

SOUTH BEND  RiverBend Cancer Services Wellness House, 3516 E. Jefferson Blvd., will offer the following Living Well with Cancer classes. All classes are free and open to cancer patients, survivors, their families and caregivers; register for all classes by calling 574-287-4197.

 Feb. 5: 10 a.m. Seated Strength; 5:30 p.m. Gentle Yoga.

 Feb. 6: 10:30 a.m. Chair Yoga; 11:45 a.m. Chair Yoga; 5:30 p.m. Empowered Movement.

 Feb. 7: 10 a.m. Seated Strength; 5:30 p.m. General Cancer Support Group.

 Feb. 8: 10 a.m. Yarnwork; 10:30 a.m. Chair Yoga; 11:45 a.m. Chair Yoga; 1 p.m. Debbies Wig Salon.

BUCHANAN  The Buchanan Area Senior Center, 810 Rynearson St., 269-695-7119, offers the following exercise classes and health checks through the end of February. The exercise room is open all hours BASC is open.

 Mondays: 10 a.m. Chair fitness with Linda; 11 a.m. Dancing to the Oldies with CeCe; 2 p.m. Qigong exercise.

 Tuesdays: 9 a.m. Osteo fit with Missy; 5:30 p.m. Powerbeats with Missy.

 Wednesdays: 10:15 a.m. Chair fitness with CeCe.

 Thursdays: 11 a.m. Chair yoga.

 Fridays: 10 a.m. Chair fitness with Lizz.

 Blood Pressure Checks  Always Best Care Senior Services will be at the BASC from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 8 and Feb. 22.

 Hearing Aid Checks  Dr. Michelle Ridenour from Miracle Ear, will be at the center from 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 20, to check ears for wax, clean hearing aids and answer questions. Call the BASC to register.

 Senior Nutrition  SNS/Meals on Wheels of SW Michigan announces the meal site in the Center is open. Lunch starts at noon. Call Kerri at 269-695-7119 by 10 a.m. Monday-Friday to reserve your meal the next business day. Seating is limited. Ask about home delivery service for qualifying homebound seniors. Must be 60 years or older.

 Pamper Your Feet  Monthly foot clinic through Blessed Feet LLC beginning at 9 a.m. Feb. 8. Initial appointment fee is $40; all subsequent appointments will cost $30 (checks payable to Blessed Feet LLC). Not covered under any insurance. Call the BASC to schedule an appointment.

 Fireside Chats with Gayla, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Feb. 8: How to continue to love even when theres a loss. Feb. 22: Group discussion on grief.

GOSHEN  Chair Yoga will be offered by the Elkhart County Parks at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 8 in the Ox Bow Haus Shelter in Ox Bow Park, 23033 County Road 45. Chair Yoga is a gentle form of yoga that is done while seated or using a chair for balance. Wear comfortable clothing. Some mats are available; bring your own if you have one. This is a free class for those 12 years and older. No registration is required.

SOUTH BEND  The St. Joseph County Public Library is offering Yoga for EveryBODY from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 in Ballroom A & B, Community Learning Center, 305 S. Michigan St. Register at sjcpl.libnet.info/events.

Events

BUCHANAN  The Area Agency on Aging has given the Buchanan Area Senior Center several DETERRA drug deactivation system pouches to help people remove outdated and unwanted medications (pills, liquid and patches) from their homes. Stop by the BASC, 810 Rynearson St., between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 7 to have medication safely deactivated and disposed. You may also pick up a DETERRA pouch to take home.

Support Groups

SOUTH BEND  The New Hope Support Group will meet the first and third Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at Little Flower Catholic Church, 54191 N. Ironwood. This interdenominational group is for divorced, widows, widowers and anyone suffering grief due to the loss of a loved one. The group meets in a large area of the basement level of the church. For more information, call C. Forsythe at 574-252-2158 or P. Haden at 574-251-0131. The next meetings will be held Feb. 6 and Feb. 20.

STEVENSVILLE  Join a walking group that allows participants who are grieving to gather in a supportive environment as you walk and talk. Walk at your own pace, benches are available for breaks. Open group for adults only, no need to pre-register. Gather from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Kohn Fieldhouse, (just south of Lakeshore High School) 5771 Cleveland Ave. Walkers will be required to change shoes upon entering the building. Lockers are available to store coats and boots while walking. For more information, contact Jaime Hoover at 269-429-7100.

Blood drives

Medical Foundation will hold the following drives. Register at givebloodnow.com:

 Penn High School, 56100 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 2.

 Christ the King Lutheran, 17195 E. Cleveland Road, South Bend, 8 a.m. to noon Feb. 4.

 KMC Controls, 19476 Industrial Drive, New Paris, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7.

 StateWide Windows, 3518 County Road 6, Elkhart, noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 8.

 Monteith Best One Tire, 3000 W. Market St., Nappanee, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 8.

The American Red Cross will hold the following drives. Register at redcrossblood.org:

 Clinton Frame Church, 63846 County Road 35, Goshen, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 2.

 New Journey United Methodist Church, 302 Cedar St., Niles, noon to 6 p.m. Feb. 6.

 St. Johns United Church of Christ, 101 St. John Road, Michigan City, noon to 6 p.m. CST Feb. 6.

 Sacred Heart Church, 201 Bach St., LaPorte, noon to 5 p.m. CST Feb. 7.

 Marian Universitys Ancilla College, 9601 S. Union, Donaldson, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 8.

 Immanuel Lutheran, 1237 E. Coolspring Ave., Michigan City, 2 to 6 p.m. CST Feb. 8.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Health Briefs for South Bend aea from Feb. 2 to 8, 2024
Bostons iconic destination, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, is getting a new landlord for the first time in 13 years.

Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation took over the area in 2011. Now, an arm of the global lending group, J. Safra Real Estate, is taking the reins.

It has been our honor and privilege to have served Faneuil Hall Marketplace, the City of Boston, and the millions of visitors who have enjoyed their experiences at this historic asset, said Joe Press, Chief Operating Officer at Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation.

Made up of banks worldwide operating under the J. Safra name, the buyer manages more than $300 billion in assets ranging from the Gherkin Tower in London to 660 Madison Avenue in New York City, among others.

Terms of the acquisition were not immediately disclosed. The two companies have been successful and strategic partners in the past.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace has anchored downtown Boston since its construction in 1827, serving as a commercial hub of the city with dozens of shops and restaurants including the infamous Quincy Market.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace, which has been closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, is set to reopen Wednesday, July 1.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a tremendous asset and truly the heart of Boston, said Press. We look forward to working in lockstep with the Boston Planning & Development Agency, the City of Boston and other local constituents to continue the excitement, pride, and success of this world-class destination.

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

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LAKEVILLE  Its a bittersweet feeling that Rebecca Lau has over the closing of Orchid of Hawaii Chinese restaurant, on Bedford Street in Lakeville.

Since its opening 37 years ago by her parents its been a family-owned business and regional staple.

The announcement of its closure has brought an outpouring of love from the community.

I did not expect this level of community response. It only confirms the respect I have for my parents. Its a shame they arent around now to see this reaction, said Lau, who officially took over Orchid of Hawaii in 2017 after the death of her mother.

Wednesday, Jan. 31 was the restaurants last official day of business.

Wai Keung Lau and Susan Ying Lau are at their restaurant Hong Kong Island in Wareham in 1978. They would open Orchid of Hawaii in Lakeville in 1987. It closed its doors for good on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

Upscale, traditional and with a twist Union Straw restaurant opens in downtown Taunton

Family and business go hand-in-hand

Rebecca said that her parents  her mother, Susan Ying Lau, and father, Wai Keung Lau, but who was known as Eddie  immigrated to the United States from China and Hong Kong in their youths separately. They met while working together at a restaurant on Cape Cod, which was owned by Wais family.

Wai and Susan married and settled on the Cape for a while, before deciding to go off on their own, said Rebecca.

The first restaurant they owned was the now former Hong Kong Island in Wareham, which opened in the 70s. This would eventually be followed by the opening of Orchid of Hawaii in 1987. At one point, the family operated five restaurants across the Commonwealth.

Rebecca recalls herself and her four siblings growing up and working in the family restaurants. She has fond memories of working in her parents restaurants in her youth, specifically spending time with her grandfather, who was the executive chef at Hong Kong Island, and who lived on the second floor.

We spent much time around there, especially around the holidays, she said, elaborating they did whatever was necessary, like manning the cash register, packing up take-out orders and bussing tables. She also said school vacations were often spent at the restaurants.

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Orchid of Hawaii Chinese restaurant, located at 201 Bedford St. in Lakeville, has closed down after 37 years of business. Its last day was Jan. 31.

Hard decisions to make

Rebecca said she had been living in New York City for 18 years and working in the jewelry and fashion design industries when her mother got sick. She moved back to Massachusetts to care for her and help out with the businesses.

Ive done a lot to put my life and my career on the side over the last seven years," Rebecca said.

With both parents passed away, she and her siblings were left to decide on the futures of all the familys properties, which included personal property in Newton and commercial properties in Chinatown in Boston.

Originally, with most of the properties, The goal wasnt to sell them. It was to honor what my parents established, Rebecca said.

Orchid of Hawaii Chinese restaurant, located at 201 Bedford St. in Lakeville, has closed down after 37 years of business. Its last day was Jan. 31.

Hong Kong Island in Wareham closes in 2017

Hong Kong Island in Wareham was closed in 2017 and the property was sold off. With other properties, we really tried to make the best out of them, as the original goal was to hold onto them until closer to retirement age.

But ultimately, the decision to sell was based greatly on financial and business reasons, mostly based around the economic downturn associated with the pandemic.

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Even harder decision saying goodbye to Orchid

Lau said, with Orchid of Hawaii, the plan was to find suitable management to take over for her, but that was never found.

Its not new news that its been hard to find the right people, Rebecca said.

Pre-pandemic, the restaurant was profitable, she said. But the last few years were tough on the business, with everything related to costs, such as wages, insurance and inventory, steadily rising, and revenues not meeting that increase.

Rebecca said a For Sale sign has been on the restaurant property since last year, and that is still the case. Everyone has known, she said about staff.

She adds that though running the restaurant was neither her nor her siblings dream, this is a tough decision, sentimentally, for her to say goodbye to Orchid, a place shes known all her life.

Great farewell with outpouring on social media

Rebecca said she does want to return to her prior design career, but she hasnt had a lot of time to decide on plans. The response on social media to Orchid of Hawaii's closing announcement has been universal expressions of support and sadness, with hundreds of comments and shares.

Posts on the restaurants Facebook page have ranged from people proclaiming their fandom of their cuisine for decades, to posting of personal milestones in their lives connected to the restaurant, such as birthdays, first dates, and meeting their future bride or groom, to fond memories based around karaoke, friendly staff, and downing one of their giant scorpion bowls.

Its been both heartwarming and bittersweet, Rebecca said.

She adds that since the official announcement on social media on Jan. 21 the restaurant has been flooded with customers wishing to say their final goodbyes, whether through sit-in dining or take-out.

We were so packed here this weekend, she said, adding it felt like a great farewell.

Former staff have even reached out or visited Orchid to express their loving sentiments to the restaurant and familys legacy.

I will definitely remember faces, and staff. Some of them, theyve seen me since I was a child, Rebecca said.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: End of an era as Lakeville Chinese restaurant closes after 37 years
Rhode Islanders' fascination with low-numbered license plates goes all the way back to 1904, when the General Assembly first began requiring automobile owners to register their cars.

At the time, owning a motor vehicle was a luxury reserved for the elite  and squarely out of reach for most people. But for just 15 cents, you could purchase a pocket-sized directory that made it possible to look up any license plate and find out who was driving.

Simply titled "Who It Is," the guide later became known as the Rhode Island Automobile Directory, and it was published until the 1920s.

Surviving copies are extremely hard to find today, but The Providence Journal recently acquired one from August 1906. Here are some of the highlights.

"Who It Is," a pocket-sized directory of license plates, was published until the 1920s.

Who got Rhode Island's first 10 license plates?

Back in 1906, all license plates were low-numbered license plates: There were only 1,908 cars registered statewide.

The very lowest numbers weren't necessarily held by the state's most powerful politicians, but rather by other prominent figures such as doctors and businessmen. Here's what we know about the people who had plates one through 10.

Plate No. 1: Rowland R. Robinson, Wakefield

As all local license plate aficionados know, passenger plate No. 1 was assigned not to the governor but to Robinson, a country doctor who was one of the first people in the state with a car. He reportedly got that plate because his brother was a state senator, though the exact details of the story are disputed.

According to one account, Sen. Benjamin Robinson was offered the plate but didn't have a car of his own, so he gave the plate to his brother. Another version of the story holds that the state senator threatened to vote against the auto taxation bill unless his brother got the first plate that was issued.

Plate No. 2: J.C. Tucker, Narragansett Pier

Tucker was a businessman and the owner of the Narragansett Pier Company, according to the Independent. Local histories indicate that he operated a hardware and building supply company and was also responsible for building the Atwood House, a large hotel on Ocean Road that was demolished in the 1960s.

Plate No. 3: Richard S. Howland, Asheville, North Carolina

Howland served as the editor-in-chief of The Providence Journal and Evening Bulletin and later moved to Asheville, where he owned the Asheville Citizen newspaper and got into the railroad business. He also served as a director of Providence's Industrial Trust Company.

A sample page from "Who It Is," which listed who held each license plate along with their address and the make of their car.

Plate No. 4: J. Fred Gibson, 341 Broadway, Providence

Gibson was a candy manufacturer and owned a chain of drug stores that offered lunch counter service, according to his 1933 obituary. He also served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives as a Republican in 1905 and 1906.

Plates No. 5 and 6: Alvin H. Eccleston, Broad Street, Providence

Eccleston was one of the most prominent surgeons in Rhode Island and a high-ranking Mason, according to his 1910 obituary in the Evening Bulletin. Before moving to Providence, he served on the Richmond Town Council. Tragically, he died after a collision that occurred when he was sitting in his car as it was being towed.

Plate No. 7: Arthur A. Rhodes, 2127 Broad St., Edgewood

Rhodes came from a family whose history in Cranston goes back to the American Revolution. He ran the Rhodes on the Pawtuxet dance hall along with his two brothers. A Republican, he served as mayor of Cranston between 1920 and 1928.

Plate No. 8: Henry A. Carpenter, 272 W. Exchange St., Providence

Carpenter was a director and manager of the General Fire Extinguisher Company and "one of the most widely-known businessmen in Providence," according to his obituary in The Providence Journal. He served on the Providence City Council from 1905 to 1907 and later became president of the Providence Chamber of Commerce.

Benjamin Clark, who went by B.S. Clark, began publishing "Who It Is" after the General Assembly mandated automobile registration in 1904.

Plate No. 9: Henry O. Potter, 4 South Water St., Providence

Potter was one of the directors of Remington & Sons Cotton Brokers. He ended up giving his plate to his business partner, Edward R. Trowbridge, because he "didn't like to drive those newfangled things," Trowbridge's grandson told The Journal in 1981.

Plate No. 10: Benjamin P. Moulton, Box 1220, Providence

Moulton was Providence's police commissioner from 1914 to 1930 and also served on the City Council. He got the plate because he waited in line and was the 10th person on the first day of car registration, his grandson told The Journal in 1981.

Although the first 10 license plates were all issued to men, some wealthy women did have cars of their own. The first woman who appears in the 1906 directory is Beulah May Nordlinger, who lived at 47 Adelphi Ave. in Providence and drove a Waverly with plate No. 27.

Prominent politicians and Gilded Age heiresses were also among first to register cars

The 1906 automobile directory was dominated by prominent Yankee families. Familiar last names like Tillinghast, Sayles, Hoxie, Burlingame, Metcalf, Olney and Kenyon abound. Joseph Paolino of 138 Knight St. in Providence., who owned a Cadillac with license plate No. 671, is one of the only Italian-Americans listed.

A number of high-ranking politicians were listed in the directory, though they didn't necessarily hold the most coveted plates. Gov. Elisha Dyer Jr. had plate No. 1745, while U.S. Sen. Nelson W. Aldrich had plate No. 1853. Henry F. Lippitt, who succeeded Aldrich in the Senate, had plates No. 23 and 24.

Notable figures from Newport's Gilded Age also make an appearance in the slim volume. Theresa Alice "Tessie" Oehlrichs, an heiress to the Comstock Lode fortune who built Rosecliff, had plate No. 638. Plate No. 1110 belonged to Maude A.K. Wetmore, the heiress, preservationist and prominent Republican who lived at Chateau-sur-Mer.

When this 1906 edition of "Who It Is" was published, there were fewer than 2,000 cars registered in Rhode Island.

And, unsurprisingly, the pocket-sized directory practically doubled as a "Who's Who" for turn-of-the-century industrialists and factory owners.

Charles J. Davol, the president of the Davol Rubber Company, had plate No. 90. Malcolm G. Chace, a textile mill owner who played a key role in bringing electricity to New England, had plate No. 604. And Samuel P. Colt, who formed the U.S. Rubber Company, had plate No. 1187.

"Who It Is" also advertised establishments that catered to motorists, along with garages and car dealers.

The owners of Bristol's Herreshoff Manufacturing Company registered an unusually large number of cars: Nathanael G. Herreshoff had plates No. 488 and 1081, while John B. Herreshoff had plates No. 489, 490, 910, 1090, 1206 and 1411.

Though they're celebrated today for their elegant sailboat designs, the brothers also built hundreds of steam and power yachts, including torpedo boats for the U.S. Navy, pointed out Evelyn Ansel, a curator at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. They were interested in keeping up with the "latest and greatest" technology, which might explain their fascination with cars.

More: Why do Rhode Islanders love low-numbered license plates? Here's what we found

Why the automobile directory stopped being published, and where you can find a copy today

"Who It Is" was published by Benjamin S. Clark, a secondhand car dealer and early automobile enthusiast who went by B.S. Clark and, in 1901, may have been one of the first people ever arrested for speeding in Rhode Island.

For the first few years after Rhode Island made motor vehicle registration mandatory, Clark's store was the only place to obtain license plates, The Journal reported in 1933. Those plates were issued by the State Board of Public Roads, since the Registry of Motor Vehicles (later the Division of Motor Vehicles) hadn't been created yet.

A 1906 ad for "Who It Is," the Rhode Island Automobile Directory, that appeared in The Providence Journal.

Clark died in 1927, and "Who It Is" appears to have ceased publication after that. By then, there were more than 30,000 cars registered in Rhode Island, so the directory had grown increasingly unwieldy.

Today, it's extremely difficult to get your hands on one  unless you're lucky enough to find one on eBay for $5, like this reporter.

The University of Rhode Island does own an undated copy that appears to be from the 1920s, which has been scanned and made available online at digitalcommons.uri.edu/sc_pubs/35. A copy from 1912 can also be found in the Providence city archives.

Do you have a license plate that's been in your family since 1906? Feel free to contact afarzan@providencejournal.com and we'll look it up for you.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Low-numbered license plates are coveted in RI now, but who had them first?
HENDERSONVILLE - A Henderson County woman who was charged with second-degree murder on Jan. 7 after a Laurel Park man was found dead at his home was indicted on a first-degree murder charge Jan. 30 by a grand jury at the Henderson County Courthouse.

Vanessa Ledbetter makes her first Superior Court appearance on Jan. 31 at the Henderson County Courthouse after being indicted for first-degree murder in the death of a Laurel Park man at his home on Jan. 7.

Vanessa Ledbetter, 38, made her first Superior Court appearance Jan. 31. She is charged with the murder of 58-year-old Robin Bracken, who had made an incomplete 911 call Jan. 7, according to the Laurel Park Police Department. Laurel Park Police Chief Bobbie Trotter said Bracken was found dead in the back patio area of his home when officers arrived.

Assistant Laurel Park Police Chief Michael Capps told the Times-News on Jan. 31 that it was a domestic dispute that resulted in a fatal stabbing.

"It was a domestic situation. They were a couple," Capps said.

In North Carolina, the two possible sentences for first-degree murder are life in prison without parole or the death penalty. District Attorney Andrew Murray said he's not able to speak specifically about ongoing cases, but he did provide an explanation for the change in Ledbetter's charges.

"The facts were presented to the grand jury (on Jan. 30), and based on those facts, she was indicted for first-degree murder, and the second-degree murder charge was dismissed," he said.

The Jan. 31 court docket showed her scheduled to appear in Superior Court, but she appeared in District Court. Murray addressed Superior Court Judge William Stetzer just before the court was taking a morning break and requested Ledbetter make an appearance there instead.

More: Woman charged with murder of Laurel Park man makes 1st court appearance

"District Court Judge (E. James) Marshall made the recommendation that Vanessa Ledbetter appear in Superior Court, since Superior Court was in session today," Murray said.

Stetzer agreed, and at 11:20 a.m., Ledbetter was brought into Superior Court. Stetzer went over Ledbetter's affidavit with her and noted that she had appointed attorney Michael Edney as her counsel.

"The court is also to consider bond in this case. For a first-degree murder charge, bond is not required, and the court declines to set one," he said.

"So there's no way of getting bond today?" Ledbetter asked.

"Not today," Stetzer said.

Ledbetter continued asking about the bond, and Stetzer stopped her and said he wouldn't talk to her without her attorney present and suggested when she saw her attorney again to talk to him about it.

Stetzer set Ledbetter's next court date for Feb. 29.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Henderson Co. woman indicted on 1st-degree murder of Laurel Park man
SEBRING, Fla. (WFLA)  The Highlands County Sheriffs Office is investigating the death of one of its deputies after he was found dead outside the Highlands County Courthouse on Wednesday.

According to the sheriffs office, shortly before 10 a.m., Deputy Paul Robitaille, a Detention Deputy with the courthouse, asked his supervisor to take a break.

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Moments later, surveillance footage shows Robitaille walking out of the courthouse to a nearby parking lot. At one point, he was seen talking to another deputy as he walked on the sidewalk on Eucalyptus Street.

The sheriffs office said Deputy Robitaille never gave any indication that something was wrong. He was found dead near the northeast corner of the HCSO headquarters from a self-inflicted wound.

Deputy Robitaille was 56-years-old. He leaves behind a wife and three children. His daughter, Ashlee, is a part-time deputy with the Highlands County Sheriffs Office, a press release said.

According to HCSO, Robitaille joined the sheriffs office on March 5, 2007.

Paul was a great employee with a great attitude. We are all shocked and heartbroken over this and I ask that everyone keep his family, friends and our agency family in their prayers, Sheriff Paul Blackman said. The Sheriffs Office is doing everything possible to comfort and support Pauls family, as well as all of our members, to help everyone get through this.

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More than 50,000 Americans died by suicide last year, with 128 of them being law enforcement officers, the sheriffs office said.

One is too many, Sheriff Blackman said. If you or anyone you know is suffering with a mental crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, I beg you to please ask for help. You do not have to go through this alone. There are people who want to help. If you dont want to talk to someone you know, all you have to do it dial 988 on any phone to talk to someone at Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you have nobody else and want to talk to someone face-to-face, call us. The Sheriffs Office has chaplains and victim advocates available, as well as access to many other avenues to get you help.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
A coalition of top Hispanic civil rights and advocacy groups reached out to congressional leaders on Tuesday in opposition to impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

In a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the 19 organizations called on Congress to redirect its efforts toward a true immigration reform package.

While we, too, have serious concerns about the challenges at our southern border and our immigration system as a whole, this does not warrant unfair and politically driven efforts to remove one of the highest-ranking Latinos in government, a member of the Presidents Cabinet, and a longtime public servant who works to fulfill his oath of office in an exceedingly complex and polarized environment, they wrote.

Hispanic and immigrant advocacy groups have been among the most strident critics of the Biden administrations immigration and border security policies, a majority of which have been implemented by Mayorkas and his Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Yet Mayorkas as an individual holds a special place in the Latino political world: The Cuban-born son of a Romanian mother who fled the Holocaust, his double refugee status has endeared him to a community that values immigrant grit.

And while the policies implemented by Mayorkas have often riled Latino leaders, his calm and collected personal demeanor has maintained his credibility even as allies have turned into occasional foes.

Secretary Mayorkas has demonstrated a consistent commitment to his role, balancing the complex challenges of immigration with a combination of firmness and compassion, wrote the groups.

While not all his decisions have been met with unanimous approval, including from the signers below and other voices within our community, we strongly urge Congress to redirect their efforts to working in a bipartisan manner toward humane and effective immigration reform that helps move the American people forward.

The House Homeland Security Committee is spearheading the impeachment push against Mayorkas after articles of impeachment introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.) were remanded to the panel by a House floor vote.

The committee was marking up the articles of impeachment Tuesday in a hearing expected to stretch into the evening, and the full House could again vote on Mayorkass impeachment as early as next week.

The Latino groups echoed critics of the impeachment push, many of whom have watched incredulously as committee Republicans have stretched apparent policy differences to meet the constitutional standards of impeachment.

The impeachment process driven by House Republicans is a sham, wrote the groups.

While we appreciate that some members of Congress may disagree with the Biden Administration on immigration policy and how Secretary Mayorkas fulfills his related duties, such policy disagreements are not a legitimate basis to accuse the Secretary of high crimes and misdemeanors, which is the Constitutional basis for impeachment. Federal officials have wide discretion over how to implement our laws and Secretary Mayorkas is working in good faith despite decades of congressional inaction  to manage the challenges at our southern border.

The letters signers include UnidosUS, the largest Latino civil rights group, and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the countrys oldest such organization, as well as immigration advocacy groups such as Americas Voice and CASA, and political advocacy groups including Voto Latino and the Latino Victory Project.

The organizations objected both to the direct attack against the first Latino to hold the top DHS job and to the normalization of invasion and replacement theoryrhetoric in the current political debate.

This type of language, borrowed directly from antisemitic, white nationalist rhetoric, makes Americans less safe and undermines Secretary Mayorkas efforts to protect the homeland. National security experts have indicated that the most lethal threat to the American people is domestic terrorism, which is often inspired by this extreme language now being used by sitting Members of Congress in their impeachment efforts, they wrote.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk waves as he arrives at the annual political festival Atreju, organized by the Giorgia Melonis Brothers of Italy political party, in mid-December in Rome. A judge says Musk must give up a compensation package awarded by Teslas board of directors that is potentially worth more than $55 billion. Alessandra Tarantino/AP

A Delaware judge tossed out Elon Musks record-breaking $55 billion Tesla pay package, calling the compensation granted by the EV makers board an unfathomable sum that was unfair to shareholders.

The ruling by Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick comes more than five years after a shareholder lawsuit targeted Tesla CEO Musk and directors of the Austin-based company. They were accused of breaching their duties to the maker of electric vehicles, batteries and solar panels, resulting in a waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment for Musk.

McCormicks 201-page ruling, which can be appealed, nullifies the largest pay package in corporate America. She told parties in the case to work out how Musk would return excess pay.

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In the suit that was filed in Delaware, where Tesla is incorporated, the shareholders lawyers argued the compensation package should be voided because it was dictated by Musk and the product of sham negotiations with directors who were not independent of him. They also said shareholders were given misleading and incomplete disclosures in a proxy statement.

Defense attorneys countered that the pay plan was fairly negotiated by a compensation committee whose members were independent, contained performance milestones so lofty that they were ridiculed by some Wall Street investors and blessed by a shareholder vote that was not even required under Delaware law. They also argued that Musk was not a controlling shareholder because he owned less than one-third of the company at the time.

Shares of Tesla were down nearly 3% in pre-market trading Wednesday.

He wants more

An attorney for Musk and other Tesla defendants did not respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday.

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But Musk reacted to the ruling on X, the social media platform he owns, by offering business advice. Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware, he said. He later added, I recommend incorporating in Nevada or Texas if you prefer shareholders to decide matters.

Musk, who as of Tuesday topped Forbes list of the worlds richest people, earlier this month challenged Teslas board to come up with a new compensation plan for him that would give him a 25% stake in the company. On an earnings call last week, Musk, who currently holds 13%, explained that with a 25% stake, he cant control the company yet he would have strong influence.

In trial testimony in November 2022, Musk denied that he dictated terms of the compensation package or attended any meetings at which the plan was discussed by the board, its compensation committee, or a working group that helped develop it.

McCormick determined, however, that because Musk was a controlling shareholder with a potential conflict of interest, the pay package must be subject to a more rigorous standard.

The process leading to the approval of Musks compensation plan was deeply flawed, McCormick said in the colorfully written decision. Musk had extensive ties with the persons tasked with negotiating on Teslas behalf.

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She specifically cited Musks long business and personal relationships with compensation committee chairman Ira Ehrenpreis and fellow committee member Antonio Gracias. She also noted that the group working on the pay package included general counsel Todd Maron, who was Musks former divorce attorney.

In fact, Maron was a primary go-between Musk and the committee, and it is unclear on whose side Maron viewed himself, the judge wrote. Yet many of the documents cited by the defendants as proof of a fair process were drafted by Maron.

A jaw dropper

McCormick concluded that the only suitable remedy was for Musks compensation package to be rescinded. In the final analysis, Musk launched a self-driving process, recalibrating the speed and direction along the way as he saw fit, she wrote. The process arrived at an unfair price. And through this litigation, the plaintiff requests a recall.

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Greg Varallo, a lead attorney for the shareholder plaintiff, praised McCormicks decision to reverse the absurdly outsized Musk pay package.

The fact that they lost this in Delaware court, its a jaw dropper, said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives. Its unprecedented, a ruling like this. I think going in investors thought it was just typical legal noise and nothing was going to come out about it. The fact that they went head to head with Tesla and Musk and the board and voided this, its a huge legal decision.

The decision could have implications beyond Tesla, said said Sarah Anderson, global economy project director at the Institute for Policy Studies, a progressive research group.

Its an incredibly important decision because it establishes that there is such a thing as excessive compensation, she told the New York Times.

Musks deal

During his trial testimony, Musk downplayed the notion that his friendships with certain Tesla board members, including sometimes vacationing together, meant they were likely to do his bidding.

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The plan called for Musk to reap billions if Tesla hit certain market capitalization and operational milestones. For each incidence of simultaneously meeting a market cap milestone and an operational milestone, Musk, who owned about 22% of Tesla when the plan was approved, would get stock equal to 1% of outstanding shares at the time of the grant. His interest in the company would grow to about 28% if the companys market capitalization grew by $600 billion.

Each milestone included growing Teslas market capitalization by $50 billion and meeting aggressive revenue and pretax profit growth targets. Musk stood to receive the full benefit of the pay plan, $55.8 billion, only by leading Tesla to a market capitalization of $650 billion and unprecedented revenues and earnings within a decade.

Tesla achieved all 12 market capitalization milestones and 11 operational milestones, providing Musk nearly $28 billion in stock option gains, according to a January post-trial brief filed by the plaintiffs attorneys. The stock option grants are subject to a five-year holding period, however.

Defense attorney Evan Chesler argued at trial that the compensation package was a high-risk, high-reward deal that benefited not just Musk, but Tesla shareholders. After the plan was implemented, the value of the company climbed from $53 billion to more than $800 billion, having briefly hit $1 trillion.

Chesler also said Tesla made sure that the $55 billion compensation figure was included in the proxy statement because the company wanted shareholders to know that this was a heart-stopping number that Mr. Musk could earn.
A historic Black church, located in Jackson, Mississippi, will remain standing after it was awarded a $200,000 grant.

On Jan. 15, the Central United Methodist Church learned they would be getting a facelift following an announcement from the National Trust for Historic Preservations African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, which is an organization that has led the movement to save Americas historic places for the last several decades, according to Clarion Ledger.

We recognize the historic significance of the (Central UMC) building but also the role of the church in the congregation, Tiffany Tolbert, senior director for preservation for the African American Cultural Heritage Action sites, said in an interview with the Clarion Ledger. There in Farish Street District they continue to serve as a community gathering space and a place for programming and education. We were very excited to support their dedication to preserving that historic building, so that they can continue in their legacy.

The religious institution was designed by one of its former members Joseph Collins, who was a Black contractor. He wanted the inside to resemble the infrastructure of one of the most known ships in the Bible, Noahs Ark. The $200,000 grant money is a fraction of the $4 million that will help 31 historic Black landmarks across the U.S. be saved so that their legacy will continue to live on so the full story of this country and the contributions of African Americans, according to Tolbert per the Clarion Ledger. The money will help fix CUMCs foundation and roof damage due to the impact of severe weather.

The church has been a part of Jacksons history for over a century and sits within the Farish Street District, which was once home to many Black-owned businesses. After the 70s, tourism in the area began dwindling, causing small businesses to close or move elsewhere and leaving many open shopping spaces. Without occupancy, the once thriving Black neighborhood started to slowly decompose with the last several years being the worst when it came to multiple buildings decaying.

Despite the lack of consumers, CUMC has remained open but eventually ran into some problems due to the structural issues that began to take place. Michelle Henry, a member of the congregation, decided to apply for the grant on behalf of the churchhouse behalf parishioner who submitted the grant application so the exterior could match the interior, which is still intact.

Weather has caused (the beams) to deteriorate and deteriorate to a point where we are unable to detect. Even when we replace the roof, we have not replaced the support beams, because theyre structural beams, Henry told Clarion Ledger. The exterior is rotting, and its causing the eaves and overhangs to rot as well.

She continued, Out of all of the churches that applied from all over the country that were looking for support in preserving their history in this country and in their community, ours was being pushed to the next level. We were really, really excited about (receiving the grant) because not only does it mean that Central can continue on into perpetuity, but this building that has so much history and a community that is so rich with heritage continues on.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Central UM Church (@centralumcjxn)

The churchs current pastor, Rev. Sapada Thomas, who has been overseeing the CUMC since July 2022, is excited that the construction will help the church hopefully last another decade and the spark it will ignite in its faithful members and newcomers that have been joining since he took the reigns in the pulpit.

When youre dealing with the roof problems, you could have leaks that may come inside the church to destroy furniture or walls, Thomas said. Now, we can have a solid roof and a solid structure to continue doing ministry under.

He continued, We are not dead, we are yet alive. And we continue to do ministry here in Farish Street. Even though a lot of businesses and families have left, and the residential area is not what it used to be, we still believe that we can make a difference in this community and in the lives of people by offering what we have to the community.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Clevelands oldest Black Baptist church was awarded funding to help keep their doors open.

Shiloh Baptist Church located on Scovill and East 55th Street was in danger of relocating due to costly repairs needed to the stained glass domed ceiling in addition to other parts of the building.

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We found that our dome was the major problem, that it was beginning to deflect glass and it presented a major safety hazard that we would not be able to inhabit the sanctuary, said pastor Lisa Goods.

For 175 years, the church has been a community institution, Goods said. Despite ongoing issues to the building, including plaster repairs needed and tape on some of the stained glass windows the church congregation refused to leave the community served.

We have had a commitment to this community, she said. This is where our roots are but it is also the most impoverished community, not only in Cleveland, but Central is in the 95 percentile in this nation.

This month, Goods learned the church is one of 31 historic Black churches nationwide to be awarded a $150,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservations African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund in its second round of Preserving Black Churches grants.

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Our building is not only a city of Cleveland but a national historic landmark, said Goods. Dr. Martin Luther King spoke from Shiloh, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Carl, Lewis Stokes.

Pictures of their visits remain on the glass-encased church bulletin boards. Shiloh hopes to safeguard its legacy by launching a capital campaign to raise $3 million. The congregation raised $17,000 to put up netting under the glass-domed ceiling as a temporary fix before learning about the grant awarded.

We were overjoyed to be able to receive this grant, said Goods. This means that we can stay in this building. This means we can continue to be an institution in this community. This means that the services we provide and the worship in this place will continue.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
NEW YORK  A new law designed to increase protections for victims of sexual assault in New York by redefining rape in the states penal code is set to take effect in September.

The Rape is Rape Act, which was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Hochul, updates the legal definition of rape to include other forms of forced sexual conduct.

Under current law, rape is defined as vaginal penetration by a penis. The new law  a version of which has been in the works for over a decade  redefines rape to include nonconsensual vaginal, oral and sexual conduct.

The legislation, which will apply to sexual assault cases committed starting on Sept. 1, will make it easier for victims and survivors of sexual assault to come forward and prosecute perpetrators, Hochul said Tuesday at a bill signing ceremony in Albany,

We are reassuring survivors that when they walk into a police station or approach the witness stand that the full weight of the law is behind them now going forward, the Democratic governor said. Rape will be treated like the horrific crime that it is. The voices have been heard, and we affirm that justice will be served.

According to Hochul, the legislation will ensure that all survivors are equally protected from such crimes while making sure offenders are held fully accountable.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who sponsored the legislation, applauded his fellow lawmakers for the passage of the bill, which he says will be particularly important in helping to protect members of the LGBTQ+ community, who are victims of rape and sexual assault at higher rates than cis-gendered heterosexual Americans.

Rape is Rape, plain and simple, Hoylman-Sigal, one of the few openly gay elected officials to ever serve in the Senate, told the Daily News in an email. In New York State we cannot allow outdated, heteronormative notions of sex to limit our ability to acknowledge that fact and to hold those who commit acts of sexual violence accountable.

The Rape is Rape Act, which was first introduced in the Assembly in 2012, was inspired by a 25-year-old elementary school teacher who was raped by an off-duty police officer.

Even though now-former NYPD officer Michael Pena was charged with rape, criminal sexual act and predatory sexual conduct, he was only convicted of the lesser charges because the jury could not reach consensus on the rape charge, since they couldnt agree whether there had been forced vaginal penetration.

With the signing of this legislation and the expansion of the definition of rape, New York States penal law finally comes into alignment with the experiences of thousands of survivors across New York, Emily Miles, the head of the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, said.

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A federal appeals court has allowed gender-affirming health care for transgender children to continue while a lawsuit against Idahos ban on hormone treatments makes its way through court.

Two transgender minors and their parents sued the state less than two months after Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 71 into law, making it a felony for medical providers to prescribe treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy to children. The parents argued that the law was unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill issued a preliminary injunction against the law in December, days before the states ban was scheduled to go into effect.

Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador appealed the case to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals this month and asked the appeals court to stop Winmills preliminary injunction. Three appeals court judges denied that request Tuesday.

This ruling should be celebrated by everyone who decries discrimination, Paul Carlos Southwick, the ACLU of Idahos legal director, said in an emailed statement. The organization represents the transgender minors, along with other attorneys. We celebrate alongside transgender youth and their families throughout Idaho who will continue to have access to the health care they need and deserve.

A spokesperson for Labrador did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The state is represented by a number of attorneys, including lawyers with Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal advocacy group. One of the attorneys for the organization on the case, Lincoln Davis Wilson, used to work for the attorney general.

Labrador previously compared Winmills ruling to the American eugenics movement, when laws allowed the forced sterilization of people with mental or physical disabilities.

Similarly, Judge Winmills ruling places children at risk of irreversible harm, he said in a statement. History will not look kindly at this decision.

Winmill wrote in December that the purpose of the 14th Amendment is to protect disfavored minorities and preserve our fundamental rights from legislative overreach.

That was true for newly freed slaves following the Civil War. It was true in the 20th century for women, people of color, interracial couples and individuals seeking access to contraception, he said. And it is no less true for transgender children and their parents in the 21st century.

Legal briefs from the state are due to the 9th Circuit in February, and responses from attorneys for the transgender minors are due in March, according to the court docket.
Former San Antonio attorney Chris Pettit. Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Craig Gargotta on Wednesday approved a request by the trustee administering the bankruptcy estates of ex-lawyer Chris Pettit and his defunct law firm to hire the Watts Guerra LLP. The law firm will explore potential claims against four banks that Pettit had accounts at while he was still practicing. Jessica Phelps / Jessica Phelps

Prominent San Antonio law firm Watts Guerra LLP has joined the Chris Pettit bankruptcy case to explore potential claims against four banks where the disgraced ex-lawyer had accounts while still practicing.

Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Craig Gargotta on Wednesday approved an application by trustee Eric Terry, who is administering Pettit and his defunct law firms bankruptcy estates, to bring on Watts Guerra.

I need special litigation counsel to investigate possible claims against the four financial institutions, Terry said on the witness stand before the judge OKd the request.

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The four banks are San Antonios Frost Bank; Texas Partners Bank, doing business as the Bank of of San Antonio; Corpus Christis American Bank; and Winter Park National Bank in Florida.

The trustee already is suing Wells Fargo Bank, where Pettit maintained accounts to hold clients money, for knowing participation in the perpetration of a fraud against the law firms clients, negligence, recovery under the Texas Theft Liability Act and fraudulent transfer.

Some 128 Pettit victims have their own lawsuit against all five banks, alleging they breached fiduciary duties.

If Watts Guerra determines there are claims to pursue, it will have to be decided what claims belong to the bankruptcy estates and what claims belong to Pettits victims.

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Pettit stole tens of millions of dollars from his clients before closing his law practice and surrendering his law license in lieu of discipline in spring 2022. He subsequently filed for bankruptcy protection for himself and his law firm.

In October, he pleaded guilty to three counts each of wire fraud and money laundering. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud charges and up to 10 years in prison on each of the other charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 21. He remains incarcerated in the Karnes County Detention Facility.

The firm

Watts Guerra is a personal injury, mass tort, product liability and commercial litigation firm. It has played key roles in legal battles locally and nationally.

The firm represented Bexar County in litigation to hold opioid drug manufacturers and distributors accountable for costs of the addiction epidemic. It also has filed wrongful death lawsuits against CPS Energy and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas over the 2021 winter storm that led to widespread power and water outages. And it represents plaintiffs in litigation alleging that the heartburn medication Zantac contained a cancer-causing substance.

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Named partner Francisco Guerra IV said he expects about 30 people from his firm will be involved in the Pettit case.

Terry said he chose Watts Guerra, in part, because it will front all of its expenses and only seek reimbursement if there is a recovery from the banks.

Watts Guerra would receive 30% of any recovery, Terry testified. Another firm already representing the trustee, Fort Worths Wick Phillips, would receive 10%. The percentages are slightly higher if the recoveries are achieved after an appeal.

Lawyers for the former Pettit clients already suing the banks initially opposed Watts Guerras retention, arguing in a Jan. 8 court filing that it would only serve to further dissipate estate assets in a case where the assets are already insufficient to satisfy creditor claims.

The parties, however, reached an agreement ahead of the hearing so Watts Guerras retention wasnt opposed.

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Nevertheless, Leif Clark, a former bankruptcy judge who represents the 128 Pettit victims, expressed concerns to Gargotta about the fees and expenses that have been generated in the case.

By our calculation, the current number is $4,359,976.21, which is a fair amount of money, Clark said. Thats fees incurred to date.

He added, More than a year ago, we raised a concern about whether its appropriate for the estate to spend money pursuing causes of action that dont belong to the estate in the first place. This is still a concern that we have, but we would like to see if we can find a way to resolve that without having to bring all these matters back to the court.

Last week, Gargotta ruled that the Pettit clients lawsuits alleging the banks breached their fiduciary duty to them can proceed.

Other action

At an earlier hearing Wednesday, Gargotta heard arguments in litigation brought by one of Pettits largest creditors against a title company and escrow agent over his role in a real estate transaction.

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The Frank & Emma Persyn Family Limited Partnership alleges that Chicago Title of Texas LLC knew or should have known that Pettit, as the partnerships attorney, was disqualified from also serving as the qualified intermediary in an investment property swap known as a 1031 exchange.

Chicago Title wants the court to find that it has no liability on the partnerships claims of negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and negligent misrepresentation.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  In an overnight vote, House Republicans took a step towards impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. They accuse him of failing to enforce immigration laws, but Democrats argue this is about politics.

As expected, the vote was right along party lines and only adds to the growing tension on Capitol Hill over border security.

After hours of fierce debate, the House Homeland Security committee voted to send two articles of impeachment to the full House.

Secretary Mayorkas actions have forced our hand. We cannot allow this border crisis to continue, said Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.)

The articles charge Mayorkas with refusing to enforce immigration laws amid a record migrant surge and breaching public trust by claiming to Congress that the southern border is secure.

The failure to secure the border has been so significant, so catastrophic, so egregious that Congress must now use its power to provide accountability, said Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas).

Its rare for Congress to attempt to impeach a cabinet member and Democrats insist this effort is a political stunt.

Theres no evidence from a constitutional perspective, a reason to impeach him, said Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.).

They argue its Congresss responsibility to fix the broken immigration system.

Secretary Mayorkas has done what he has the authority to do, which is limited. He has been undermined and sabotaged at every step by Republicans, said Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.).

Secretary Mayorkas was not at the hearing, but he sent a letter to the committee defending himself, calling the impeachment proceedings baseless and the allegations false.

The full House could vote on impeaching Secretary Mayorkas as soon as next week. If approved the charges will go to the Senate for a trial.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
House Republicans are focusing their gaze on securing partisan policy changes that Democrats are decrying as nonstarters as a fight over government funding heats up on Capitol Hill.

Both chambers are ramping up talks on the 12 annual government funding bills after top negotiators struck a bipartisan deal on how to divvy up dollars for the full-year appropriations measures.

But Republicans say they still plan to push for the conservative policy riders they pursued in their earlier partisan spending proposals  which Democrats see as a non-starter for spending talks.

If there were going to be sticking points, its probably going to be over the riders, said Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), the head of the subcommittee that hashes out full-year spending for Department of Energy, after huddling with other chairs and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) this week.

We just talked about trying to get as many as possible, Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), the spending cardinal for the subcommittee that crafts funding for the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, said after the huddle.

Johnson earlier this month brokered a deal with Senate Democrats on top-line funding levels for fiscal 2024, allowing appropriators to begin bicameral negotiations. However, Johnson has also said the party will fight to keep its party riders in the bill.

The riders Republicans have pursued include measures targeting diversity initiatives and abortion access.

In remarks to reporters this week, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Democrats are not going to accept riders.

Our leader has said that and Ive said that and thats where we are, she said. She also noted the difficulty Republicans faced in passing some of their partisan funding bills last year.

Those cuts are still there, she said. So we have to turn it around, keeping in mind that they werent able to pass an agriculture bill because of the cuts. Democrats and Republicans said no. Four bills pulled from the floor because Democrats or Republicans said no.

House Republicans had ambitious goals to individually pass all their partisan funding bills last year, but leadership struggled to unify the conference around the measures while navigating a razor-thin majority and divides over spending and abortion.

Congress, after passing three stopgap funding bills, has less than five weeks until it runs up on the first of two funding deadlines in early March to prevent a partial government shutdown.

Some spending cardinals say they are confident in Congresss chances to avert a funding lapse, but staunch conservative resistance to Johnsons spending deal could create headaches for GOP leadership if more Democratic support is necessary to get the bills across the finish line.

House conservatives have repeatedly tanked procedural votes in recent months to put pressure on leadership for steeper spending cuts, despite pushback from other factions of the conference.

Some appropriators have already raised the prospect of using workarounds, like suspension rules, that would allow them to bring up funding legislation despite efforts by conservatives to block consideration. But Democrats could wind up with more leverage as a result.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), who heads the spending subcommittee that assembles the housing and transportation funding bill, said Tuesday he thinks Democrats could strengthen their hand if the House needs to suspend the rules to pass appropriations measures in the week ahead.

While that would allow the House to bring up legislation without having to do a procedural vote first, it would also require two-thirds of the chambers support for passage, instead of the usual simple majority threshold.

We have to have a compromise anyway to get anything across the floor. So I think on some things, we could make it work. But its not the ideal way to operate, Cole told reporters Tuesday when asked about the strategy GOP leadership has had to employ in recent weeks. Through the majority, you need to control the floor.

It certainly would raise the stakes, suspension bills have to pass with two-thirds, said Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr. (Ga.), the top Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration.

While he said doesnt know if would impact Democrats leverage in talks, he added such a move would mean that Democrats will have to be involved.

But House Republicans say that doesnt mean Democrats wont end up coming to the table on riders as spending talks pick up.

Were going to have to deal with those issues, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), who heads the subcommittee that oversees funding for the State Department and other agencies, said this week.

The advantage is that we passed some of these bills and so we show that we have some votes and have some support, he said. The disadvantage is that were down to a majority of, what one?

And the visual that we cant even pass rules on, you know, basic things does not help our leverage or the Speakers leverage. Having said that, we have an opportunity to negotiate, he added.

At the same time, some House GOP appropriators also say theyve begun to identify potential changes that could find bipartisan support in spending talks. That includes what Fleischmann described to reporters this week as a bipartisan and bicameral coalescing around electric transformers.

Diaz-Balart also pointed to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, as another area for common ground in talks.

You see now that the White House has discovered the Pacific Ocean  theyre now freezing their funds to UNRWA. Duh, Diaz-Balart said, while pointing to language hes pressed for that seeks stricter reporting requirements to unlock funding for UNWRA.

But well see what happens when we go to negotiate, he said.

Laura Kelly contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LUFKIN, Texas (KETK)  The Lufkin Police Department is warning people to be vigilant of scammers after two people reported that a scammer was calling people claiming to be a lieutenant.

Erratic driver arrested in Camp County after allegedly admitting to having meth

According to a release from the Lufkin PD, a Houston-area man reported being scammed on Tuesday after someone who claimed to be Lt. Mike Shurley with the Lufkin Police Department called and demanded the man to pay $2,500 in gift cards for failure to appear on a summons.

A Sugarland woman also reportedly told police she received the same type of call from Lt. Shurley but did not give the scammer any money.

The department asks people to stay vigilant and cautious when receiving unsolicited calls or messages, especially if the caller claims to be in law enforcement.

City of Marshall preparing for warrant roundup

If you suspect the caller to be a scammer, the department asks people to consider the following steps:

Verify the callers identity

Ask for the callers full name, badge number, and department

Call the official phone number of the Lufkin Police Department, 936-633-0356, to verify the information

Police said not to share personal information, report the incident to your local police department and provide them with relevant details, warn others of the potential scam and stay up to date on recent scams in your area.

Remember that legitimate law enforcement agencies will not typically request sensitive information over the phone. Scammers often use intimidation tactics or claim theres an urgent matter to trick individuals into providing personal information or money, Lufkin PD said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
A Houthi missile recently put a US destroyer's close-in weapons system to the test, a report said.

A warship's CIWS is usually considered its last line of defense and is for close-range intercepts.

The Tuesday incident marks the latest Houthi missile attack, though not the latest exchange of fire.

A Houthi anti-ship cruise missile fired into the Red Sea came within a mile of a US Navy destroyer on Tuesday, a report said, close enough that the American warship turned to its close-in weapons system  a last line of defense.

Most missiles are shot down farther out. This was the closest that a Houthi attack had come to an American warship, four US officials told CNN, which reported additional details of the incident on Wednesday.

US Central Command initially said on Tuesday that around 11:30 p.m. local time, the Houthis fired a single anti-ship cruise missile from Yemen toward the Red Sea, and it was shot down by USS Gravely.

There was no reported damage or injuries. Centcom declined Business Insider's request for additional information on Tuesday's missile downing.

For several months, the Iran-backed rebels have relentlessly fired one-way attack drones and missiles into key waterways off the coast of Yemen. Many of these threats have been shot down by US warships  and sometimes by British or French forces  though some of the munitions have struck commercial vessels transiting the region. No warships have been struck.

The USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in the US Navy, transits during a passing exercise off the coast of Greenland. Petty Officer 2nd Class Jessica Dowell/DVIDS

US Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are equipped with at least one CIWS, which features a close-range, radar-guided automatic 20 mm cannon that can fire up to 4,500 rounds a minute and has an effective range out to about two nautical miles.

Before a ship's CIWS is engaged, capabilities such as the warship's SM-2 or SM-3 interceptors come into play. These are fired from vertical-launch-system cells before they then intercept and destroy airborne threats. An SM-3 "hits threats with the force of a 10-ton truck traveling 600 mph," according to Raytheon, the weapon's manufacturer.

Warships can also use a chaff mechanism, which confuses a missile's radar.

The incident involving USS Gravely came just hours before US forces struck and destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile that was prepared to launch in Yemen and "presented an imminent threat" to American aircraft in the region, the military said on Wednesday.

The MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System fires during a test aboard guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin. US Navy/Fire Controlman Second Class Andrew Albin

The US has carried out several rounds of preemptive strikes this month targeting Houthi missiles  mostly the anti-ship capabilities  as the rebels were preparing to launch, posing a threat to commercial vessels and American warships off the coast of Yemen.

In addition to these preemptive actions, the US and UK have also conducted widespread strikes across Yemen, targeting Houthi sites such as missile launchers, weapons-storage facilities, radars, and air-defense systems.

Western officials have stressed that these strikes are a direct response to the Houthis' ongoing attacks against commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden  a key global trade route  and that they will continue unless the rebels cease the provocations.

"We're certainly taking aggressive action against the Houthis to try to defend shipping in the Red Sea," John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesperson, said this week. He stressed, though, that the US was "not at war" with the Iran-backed rebels.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Graphic novelist Kazu Kibuishi at his home studio just outside San Antonio with his "Amulet" series of books. The hit graphic novel series concludes Tuesday with "Waverider," the ninth and final "Amulet" book. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

Ask Kazu Kibuishi to describe his bestselling graphic novel series "Amulet," and the Japanese American writer and artist rifles off about as many sci-fi and fantasy influences as that titular stone has facets.

There's the young wizardry of "Harry Potter" mixed with the ancient lore of "The Lord of the Rings." The robo-warrior action of "Ultraman" and the mecha robot battles of "Mobile Suit Gundam." Every animated and illustrated fantasy by legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. Oh, and don't forget '80s popcorn fare by the likes of James Cameron, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.

Throw all those works into one comic book adventure and you have Amulet. Kibuishi's coming-of-age saga is about a young heroine and her magic talisman, which she uses to defend a magical world from an evil king and the demonic "shadows" that would overtake its inhabitants.

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The best-selling graphic novel series "Amulet" concludes Tuesday with "Waverider," the ninth and final book in the saga of main hero Emily Hayes (front). Courtesy Kazu Kibuishi

It's a sequential art epic that spans 16 years and more than 1,900 pages. And youre just in time to see it end.

Waverider, the ninth and final book in the "Amulet" series, debuts Tuesday.

I always intended to make what I would call the pocket epic," said Kibuishi, who lives just north of San Antonio with wife and fellow cartoonist Amy Kim Kibuishi and their two children. "Something kids could put in their backpack that was full of so many big ideas that they could read over and over again. I think the true test of a good book is whether or not they reread it."

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Kazu Kibuishi's latest book "Waverider" concludes his "Amulet" graphic novel series. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

It's certainly drawn its share of fans. Since "Amulet's" 2008 debut with the first book, "The Stonekeeper," the series has topped the New York Times bestseller list and wowed readers around the globe with nearly 7 million copies in print and translations in 21 languages. The debut novel also is an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults and a finalist for the Childrens Choice Book Award.

The "Amulet" saga began with 2008's "The Stonekeeper," the first novel in the series by San Antonio area author and artist Kazu Kibuishi. Courtesy Scholastic

"Amulet" begins with series' heroine, Emily Hayes, and her mother, Karen, surviving a car cash that claims the life of her father, David. Two years later, Emily, her kid brother, Navin, and their mom move to Emily's great-grandfather's house to begin a new chapter. There Emily uncovers a mystical amulet, which later warns her to protect her family from danger. Cue a strange noise from the basement, which turns out to be a monstrous slug that kidnaps Karen.

As Emily and Navin race to their mother's rescue, the walls collapse behind them to expel them into the surreal world of Aleddia, an Earth-like planet with giant mushroom umbrellas and dim forests, inhabited by anthropomorphic citizens and strange automatons, such as a castlelike home that transforms into a giant robot.

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Its a big sci-fi action-adventure story thats geared towards multiple generations, Kibuishi said. "Its also about two kids who have to learn responsibility. Theyre taking a lot of agency thats put into their hands. They basically have to become their parents parents and do what parents do.

Emily (center) is the main hero of the graphic novel series, "Amulet," by author and artist Kazu Kibuishi, who lives just north of San Antonio. Courtesy Scholastic Navin Hayes (center) is the heroic kid brother of main character Emily in the graphic novel series, "Amulet." The nine-book saga is written and illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi, who lives just outside San Antonio. Courtesy Scholastic "Waverider" marks the final installment of the graphic novel series "Amulet" by San Antonio area author and illustrator Kazu Kibuishi. The book releases Feb. 6. Courtesy Scholastic L-R: Emily Hayes, her brother Navin and the robot Miskit from the graphic novel series "Amulet" by Kazu Kibuishi. The sci-fi and fantasy saga features mystical stones, surreal settings and giant robots. Courtesy Scholastic Graphic novelist Kazu Kibuishi at his home studio just outside San Antonio with "Waverider," the final installment in his hit all-ages series, "Amulet." William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

Kibuishi likens Emily's journey to that of Harry Potter or Luke Skywalker, that of a youthful hero who learns how to wield great power while serving as the readers' eyes to a bigger world.

"Shes sort of like a lightning rod for the emotions that occur in the story," Kibuishi said. "Its how she gets into trouble and how she gets out of trouble. Aside from that, I just wanted a tough, young girl character. It's something that I grew up with watching Hayao Miyazaki movies as well."

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That also goes for Miyazaki's graphic novel "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind." The filmmaker behind such Japanese animation classics as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke clearly informs the look and feel of "Amulet," which Kibuishi crafts with a moody, painterly style and mature, character-driven narrative that never talks down to its readers, no matter their age.

"One of the strengths of the series is that Kazu layers the adventures with characters whose moral choices affect the storys outcome," said Graphix VP Publisher David Saylor in a statement to the Express-News. "He doesnt shy away from giving kids lots to think about while they marvel at the wildly imaginative images of robots, flying machines, and fantastical cities that make the world of 'Amulet' feel like a fully realized place."

The hit graphic novel series "Amulet" centers on young hero Emily Hayes (center) and her kid brother Navin (left), along with a colorful cast of anthropomorphic characters and robots. Courtesy Scholastic

Kazuhiro "Kazu" Kibuishi was born in Tokyo in 1978, moving with his mother and brother to the United States in 1982. Missing "Ultraman" and other Japanese shows prompted Kibuishi to draw his own comics. Soon he was drawing inspiration from MAD Magazine artist Mort Drucker, and children's book artist and Disney animator Bill Peet.

But it wasn't until Kibuishi started pursuing a film degree at the University of California, Santa Barbara that he tried to do his own comic book in earnest  and promptly gave up because it was just too much work.

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Focusing on film, Kibuishi worked at an animation studio for a couple of years. Then in 2003, he got what he thought would be his break: a film project with Disney he would co-write and co-direct. Only when the phone rang, it was Disney basically telling him not to do the project. Rather than fight the House of Mouse, he relinquished the rights to the project to the other filmmakers involved and went back to the comics drawing board.

That return led to editing the comics anthology "Flight," followed by a similar kids-version anthology called "Explore." It also led to meeting his future wife, Amy Kim Ganter, an American manga writer and artist who contributed to two volumes of "Flight." The two married in 2007, with Kibuishi's friend and "Understanding Comics" author Scott McCloud officiating the wedding.

Amy Kibuishi, whose own magnum opus is the manga-inspired "Rema Chronicles," likewise praised her husband's "Amulet" work for its rich settings and even richer characters.

"They feel like they're living, breathing characters that have lives once you close the book," she said. "It feels like it's still living even when you're not there. So you're just visiting the world when you open the book, but it's still living."

A box set of graphic novelist Kazu Kibuishi's "Amulet" series. The ninth and final book releases Tuesday. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

Kibuishi noted Emilys story was inspired by the work of two seemingly disparate visionaries: Francis Ford Coppola and Michael Jacksons Captain Eo, the 3D sci-fi short by "The Godfather" director starring the King of Pop that ran at Disney theme parks from the mid-80s to late-90s.

But crafting his own far-out fable wasnt easy. Kibuishi found himself glued to "Amulet" for hours on end, often making several drafts for each page.

For five straight years, I was just grinding, maybe 18 hours a day, he said. And Im not seeing my kids or living my life.

It came to a head in 2012 when Kibuishi was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of bacterial meningitis, a condition so serious he was put into a medically induced coma. After he came out of it a week later, he had relearn how to walk and patch together memories. But the ordeal did more than just give him a second lease on life.

I came out of it with a different perspective, he said. I dont know if Im necessarily slower with my work right now, but Ive decided to slow it down. And I think its richer.

Amulets characters have a similar knack for similar self-discovery. Its one thing to go by the golden Spider-Man rule that with great power there must also come great responsibility. Emily and her fellow stonekeepers learn that with great power there must also come great patience and great wisdom to know when to yield it. And when to walk away.
A 35-year-old Hudson High School teacher was found not guilty by reason of insanity Tuesday in Stow Municipal Court on charges of trespassing and inducing panic.

The teacher was placed on administrative leave Aug. 16 after "an investigation into alleged concerning and inappropriate comments and behavior at work." He was later charged with two counts of trespassing and two counts of inducing panic after he was accused of being on school property on Aug. 17 and 18.

The Beacon Journal does not usuallly identify people charged with misdemeanors. Inducing panic is a first-degree misdemeanor and criminal trespass is a fourth-degree misdemeanor. Representatives from the school declined to comment on the case.

Background on incident: Hudson teacher put on leave due to alleged 'concerning' comments, behavior before arrests

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Stow Court: Hudson teacher not guilty of trespassing, inducing panic
More than 300 reproductive health researchers urged the Supreme Court to follow the science when they hear arguments on mifepristone, a drug used in medication abortion that is under attack by Republican lawmakers and conservative courts.

While detractors have cast doubt on mifepristones safety and effectiveness, the researchers said there is ample scientific evidence to support its widespread availability under guidelines set out by the Food and Drug Administration.

Separately, a group of 263 members of Congress submitted a brief imploring the high court to respect the FDAs authority  given by Congress  to regulate drugs like mifepristone.

This Court should not allow the politics of abortion to obscure the clear, abundant, and plainly sufficient scientific record supporting FDAs decision-making in this case, the scientists brief said.

Those who signed the statement included medical professors, medical doctors, principal researchers, postdoctoral researchers and others hailing from a variety of top institutions, including the University of California, Los Angeles, Brown University, Rutgers University, Johns Hopkins University and the Guttmacher Institute.

Led by lawmakers including Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the congressional brief argued that the case against mifepristone stepped on the toes of Congress.

While Congress permitted some judicial review of FDAs approval decisions, it did not invite federal courts to substitute their judgment for the expert conclusions of FDAs scientists, said the brief, which was signed by 50 senators and 213 members of the House of Representatives.

Since the FDA approved mifepristone in 2000, it has gradually become easier to obtain. Currently, a pregnant person may get a prescription in person or virtually, and the drug may be dispensed in person or by mail.

Most abortions in the United States are done by medication, usually a combination of mifepristone and another drug called misoprostol.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments March 26 from both the Biden administration and the drug manufacturer. The justices will mull limitations that a federal appellate court would have imposed on the drugs availability. The high court paused enforcement of the appellate ruling while it considers the issue.

The appellate ruling would shorten the time frame that mifepristone can be used in a pregnancy from 10 weeks to seven weeks, and would eliminate access by mail.

But medical experts have long said the drug is safe. More than 5 million people have used mifepristone in the U.S. since 2000.

The current threat to mifepristones availability began with a lawsuit in Texas, which landed in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a right-wing judge who said the drugs original approval should be revoked. The case was appealed to the Fifth Circuit, one of the most conservative courts in the nation, which said the drugs approval could stand with more restrictions.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule by the end of June.

Related...
With his Budget just five weeks away, the Chancellor is being assailed with advice about what he can or should do by outside bodies. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has told Jeremy Hunt he should not cut taxes, arguing that the country needs to curb public borrowing. Any spare cash should be spent on health, education and tackling climate change, it asserts. Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, IMF chief economist, said the UKs focus should be on the path towards a fiscal consolidation.

His unwelcome intervention came as the Chancellor was supposedly putting the final touches to a package that would include tax cuts. Mr Hunt rejected the IMFs recommendations, but only up to a point. He has told colleagues that tax cuts in the spring Budget may be smaller than expected because of major structural weaknesses in the economy, notably poor productivity. The fiscal headroom was likely to be lower than in the Autumn Statement, when Mr Hunt reduced national insurance by two percentage points.

But the amount of fiscal headroom available is determined by an outside organisation, the Office for Budget Responsibility. It takes the Chancellors own fiscal rules as a guide and effectively decides how far he can go and still receive its imprimatur. Its influence is considerable. When the ill-starred Kwasi Kwarteng mini-Budget sought to bypass OBR scrutiny, the markets reacted so badly that he and Liz Truss were forced from office. Mr Hunt is similarly trapped. The IMF and the OBR do not seem to subscribe to the notion that tax cuts can boost the economy. The IMF also appears very committed to a high-tax, big-state economic model.

The Chancellor told the Cabinet that what he now calls smart tax cuts can make a big difference in boosting growth, but the very term indicates that he is seeking to lower expectations of anything more dramatic. His party wants something that impresses voters in election year.

Mindful of its vulnerability in this area, Labour is making noises about the importance of wealth creation, with Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, vowing not to reintroduce a cap on bankers bonuses scrapped last year. I would want to be a champion of a successful and thriving financial services industry in the UK, she said. But Labour remains wedded to high levels of public spending, as are the Tories. Until we stop spending far more than we produce, the economy will continue to stagnate.

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If youre not moved by Robbe Harts story, youve got ice in your veins.

Hart, of Emmett, is a single dad to two boys, Emmett, 11, and Wyatt, 10. Every day, he drives from their home in Emmett to school at Greenleaf Academy, the oldest private school in Idaho. Then he drives to Boise Bible College, where hes a student, and then drives to Greenleaf to pick up the boys before driving back home. Its 62 miles in the morning, 72 in the afternoon.

He told his story recently during a press conference for a bill that was proposed Tuesday and would benefit Hart. He also wrote a guest op-ed for the Idaho Statesman this week.

The bill would allow tax credits for parents who send their children to private schools. Parents would receive up to a $5,000 tax rebate per eligible student for school expenses, including private school tuition, textbooks, transportation costs, or to pay for schooling received in smaller learning pods. Parents with special-needs children who have disabilities could receive up to $7,500. The expense for the program is capped at $40 million.

The second part is a grant, a straight payment for families who qualify for the federal earned income tax credit but cant incur those expenses up front and wait for the tax refund to come to them, according to Republican Sen. Lori Den Hartog.

The grant program is capped at $10 million, so all in, its a $50 million proposal.

As it is, the legislation doesnt have any income limits, and its first-come, first-served.

So someone like Hart is going to be competing with thousands of other families, presumably, for the tax credit. That means somebody like Hart could still get shut out, while a wealthy family sending their children to Riverstone gets the break.

When I asked about that, Den Hartog, R-Nampa, bristled at my question about helping wealthy families.

I think it is a complete misunderstanding that families who have made the sacrifice and choice to put their kids in private school today are only wealthy families, Den Hartog said.

I get it. There are parents like Hart out there who arent wealthy and choose to send their kids to private school. But, come on, lets be real: Families who send their children to private schools right now are wealthier than most.

My wife and I dont consider ourselves wealthy (Im a journalist, for crying out loud), but we managed to send our two sons to private schools, first St. Joes and then Bishop Kelly.

I estimate weve spent more than $100,000 over the past several years on private school. I would never expect taxpayers to pay for that family decision.

At the same time, weve spent tens of thousands of dollars on the public school system, including paying for bonds to build new schools and levies to supplement shortfalls in public education funding.

Thats the deal. We all pay into the public education system, whether weve got children in the system or not.

Those who support this proposal say the money should follow the student. But its not the students money. Its everyones money, and the directive of the Idaho Constitution for that money is to establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools.

I feel for Hart. I really do. But hes choosing to not send his kids to school in Emmett, something Idaho taxpayers have provided for him and his family.

Instead of giving Hart a tax break so he can send his sons to a private school, we should be putting that money toward improving and upgrading the public education system.

Setting aside for a moment all the valid arguments about siphoning money from public education, the lack of accountability, the potential for abuse and fraud, the credits benefiting mostly the well-off, theres another argument against school vouchers that is more philosophical  and it has to do with the notion of choice.

Supporters of vouchers, education savings accounts and tax credits claim that parents know whats best for their children.

But what if a parent simply doesnt like their public school  which Idaho taxpayers already pay for  because they dont pray there? They want the choice to send their children to a private religious school.

What if a parent doesnt like their childs public school because it teaches evolution? Teaches that Earth is round, that we landed on the moon or that slavery was bad?

Should Idaho taxpayers, in addition to funding the public school system, now be required to subsidize a parents personal, private choice?

Under this bad bill, we would.

A parent certainly has the freedom of choice to go find a school that meets their wishes and standards, whatever those may be.

Just dont expect Idaho taxpayers to foot the bill.
Hacked-up bodies were found in vehicles within coolers abandoned on a bridge near Mexico's Gulf coast of Veracruz. Grupo Sombra and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel or "CJNG" may be involved. File photo from June 30, 2020 in Mexico City, Future Publishing/Future Publishing via Getty Imag

Hacked-up bodies were found in vehicles within coolers abandoned on a bridge near Mexico's Gulf coast of Veracruz, The Associated Press reported Monday.

Investigators were performing laboratory tests to determine the number of unidentified victims. Authorities believe there may have been a cartel involved after finding a banner in connection with Grupo Sombra and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel or "CJNG."

Despite the news, the Veracruz state interior department told the AP they were not allowing the issue to affect public peace.

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Here's what to know about the bodies found near Mexico's Gulf Coast:

What did law enforcement, investigators find?

In the City of Tuxpan, unidentified body parts of an "undetermined number" of people were placed into Styrofoam coolers in two trucks and found Sunday.

The AP reported that a printed banner was left on the side of one truck containing some of the body parts. A photo with part of the banner read, "Guatemalans, stop believing in Grupo Sombra, and stay in your hometowns" and claimed ownership of the crime to CJNG. The statement has led investigators to believe the victims were Guatemalans.

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Why does the Interior Department believe cartels are involved?

Authorities are trying to find how many people were dismembered in trucks found in Veracruz near the Mexico Gulf Coast on Jan. 28, 2024. Eduardo Verdugo/Associated Press

After the banner was located on the side of the truck seemingly directed at Guatemalans, the Veracruz State Interior Department believed the killings of the unidentified people were about the "settling of scores" between Grupo Sombra and CJNG.

The Grupo Sombra and CJNG dispute started after CJNG moved into Veracruz which led to 14 people being killed in the municipality of Minatitlan, according to the Insight Crime website. Investigators believe Grupo Sombra is battling CJNG for turf in northern Veracruz.

According to the AP, there have been instances of cartels, especially the CJNG, recruiting Guatemalans as gunmen. They often specifically recruit former "Kaibiles"  the special operations wing of the Guatemalan army known for their motto: "If I advance, follow me. If I stop, urge me on. If I retreat, kill me."

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Time Magazine reported about how former Los Kaibiles participated in the "slaughtered and decapitation of 27 campesinos" in 1982. About 250 people in Dos Erres were murdered and thrown into a dry well or a nearby field, according to the National Security Archive website.

What is the Grupo Sombra?

The Grupo Sombra is a cartel that emerged as a division of the Gulf Cartel. During its reign, the Gulf Cartel controlled the border cities of Matamoros and Reynosa which suffered high levels of violence when the Mexican government launched an offensive to capture Gulf Cartel leaders in these cities, according to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Stemming from a division of the Gulf Cartel, the Grupo Sombra emerged to continue upholding some places that they claimed as "territories."

In a 2019 article from the City of Xalapa, the cartel sent a message to rival gangs to respect "not to enter the towns they control" in north Veracruz. Authorities said they found the body of a dismembered man. The article added that Grupo Combra has had confrontations with hitmen from the CJNG and Los Zetas.

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Who are the Jalisco New Generation Cartel?

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel or "CJNG" is one of the largest cartels that came from the former name "Los Mata Zetas." Based in Jalisco, the cartel was known for getting power from brazen intimidation and brutality facilitated by aggressive propaganda, according to the Bookings Institute website.

They also use fear-based control while maintaining beyond the act of conquest to ensure no one rises against them. CJNG tries to neutralize or coopt local community organizers, according to the Bookings Institute website.

Defense Secretary Luis Crecencio Sandoval claimed five rocket launchers have been found in the possession of CJNG, and other cartels, PBS reported. This led to Mexico calling for an investigation into the U.S. military-grade weapons increasingly being found within cartels.

TEXAS POLITICS: Supreme Court sides with Biden over razor wire border dispute

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The State of Veracruz

Veracruz had been one of Mexico's most violent states when the old Zetas cartel was fighting rivals there, and it continues to see killings linked to the Gulf cartel and other gangs, the AP reported. The state has one of the country's highest number of clandestine body dumping grounds, where the cartels dispose of their victims.
A bill to allow any public school employee with an enhanced concealed weapons permit to carry a gun in hallways, classes and lunchrooms across the state passed the Idaho House on Wednesday.

House Bill 415 would require teachers or other employees who want to carry guns to notify their principal, but it does not require them to notify their local school board or students and parents.

The Idaho Association of School Resource Officers and the Boise School District opposed the bill, as did other districts and teachers unions.

Terrorism is upon us, Rep. Edward Hill, R-Eagle, told other lawmakers on the House floor. He said there is a desperate need to secure our schools against this threat and to close the chasm of vulnerability when it comes to school shootings.

Enhanced permits include requirements that a person be 21 or older, have taken an 8-hour gun course, submit to a background check and have lived in Idaho for at least six months.

Records of which school employees are armed would be kept sealed and shared only with local law enforcement. The bill also would require that public schools remove their gun-free zone signs.

Idaho House Bill 415 would remove local control from elected school boards to determine which, if any, staff would be allowed to carry firearms on campus, Idaho Association of School Resource Officers President Morgan Ballis said in a statement, noting that 95% of school shooters are students who could be stopped if they are identified as threats. This legislation is a drastic misprioritization of statewide school safety initiatives with a focus on response over prevention.

Ballis said it would be better if the Legislature focused on behavioral threat assessment requirements for public schools, adding trauma-informed school drills, and defining school resource officers in law, which could allow the state to implement minimum standards for school officers.

This bill misses the mark by demonstrating a deliberate indifference in aligning our state to emergent research and best-practice recommendations in active shooter response, she said.

Despite over an hour of debate and concern from a number of lawmakers that the bill would force guns into school districts that dont want them, or undercut school districts that allow guns in schools with stricter requirements, it passed 53-16.

My concern with this bill is it cuts those guys off at the knees, said Rep. Jack Nelsen, R-Jerome, referring to schools in his district that have developed their own policies on guns. Its going to take that right of the local school board away to make local decisions.

Rep. Dan Garner, R-Clifton, asked Hill whether any superintendents in the state had asked him to bring forward the legislation.

No, Hill said.

Garner voted in favor of the bill.

Rep. Julie Yamamoto, R-Caldwell and a former school principal, said she elected to carry a gun in her school after her school board implemented a policy, but lamented that parents would have no way of knowing whether their childs teacher is carrying a gun. She voted against the bill.

Rep. Greg Lanting, R-Twin Falls, who also voted against the bill, said the Twin Falls School District told him it would immediately lose its insurance policy if this bill became law. It now heads to the Senate to see whether that happens.

Rep. Mark Sauter, R-Sandpoint, said he had real concerns about the bill because it lacked training requirements. Thats what I was really looking for, and Im not seeing that, he said.

Sauter then voted to pass the bill.

Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, said the bill was opposed by the Idaho PTA, the states teachers union and many school boards, noting that these groups would be in the line of fire.

This bill is about forcing it upon the communities that dont want it, she said. There once was a time when the Republican Party supported local control, and I think today would be a great day to get back to those roots.

National studies have shown the U.S. has much higher rates of gun deaths than other peer countries. The U.S. also has the highest rate of per-capita gun ownership, according to the Small Arms Survey, and some of the least-restrictive gun laws in the world.
CHICAGO  In a unanimous, bipartisan vote, the Illinois State Board of Elections on Tuesday dismissed a challenge to former President Donald Trumps place on the states March 19 GOP primary ballot, saying it lacked the authority to decide whether he was disqualified from holding office under the U.S. Constitutions insurrection clause.

Guided by past Illinois Supreme Court rulings that prevent it from deciding complex constitutional issues, the board in an 8-0 vote rejected an objection that Trump knowingly filed a false statement of candidacy saying he was qualified to hold the office of the presidency.

The decision by the board, made up of four Democrats and four Republicans, is expected to be appealed in Cook County circuit court by the group of five voters who filed the objection to Trumps name appearing on the ballot over his role in the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The objectors cited provisions of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, a post-Civil War measure that says those who have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, shall not be able to serve in Congress or hold any office, civil or military if they have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution.

The challenge was backed by Free Speech for People, a group that has mounted similar 14th Amendment challenges in states around the country.

In a post on his Truth Social media site, Trump thanked the state elections board for its vote in protecting the Citizens of our Country from the Radical Left Lunatics who are trying to destroy it.

The VOTE was 8-0 in favor of keeping your favorite President (ME!) on the ballot. I love Illinois. Make America Great Again, Trump wrote.

Trump lost Illinois by 17 percentage points in both the 2016 and 2020 general elections.

The election boards decision followed the recommendation of a hearing officer, former Republican Kankakee County Circuit Judge Clark Erickson, who said that while he agreed with objectors that Trump had engaged in insurrection, the board could not use constitutional analysis to make a ruling on the former presidents access to the ballot.

GOP board member Catherine McRory voted to allow Trumps name on the ballot but said she wanted to be clear that this Republican views that there was an insurrection on Jan. 6.

Theres no doubt in my mind that he manipulated, instigated, aided and abetted an insurrection on Jan. 6, she said of Trump. However, having said that, it is not my place to rule on that today because of the boards lack of jurisdiction to rule on that fact.

Republican board member Jack Vrett warned of a floodgate of ballot objections if the board went beyond its statutory review of candidacy petitions and papers to consider underlying issues.

I think that we do not have jurisdiction to weigh in to the constitutional issue to decide the question of whether the candidate engaged in insurrection, Vrett said.

Matt Piers, an attorney for the group objecting to Trumps place on the ballot, argued that the elections board has the power to decide if the former president should be disqualified from the Illinois ballot and contended that the board wrongly interpreted state Supreme Court rulings on the limitations of its power.

There is no question that this board not only has the authority to determine objections based on the United States Constitution, but indeed you have the clear mandatory duty to do so, he said at Tuesdays board meeting. You signed up for this job. This burden came with you signing up for this job. You may not have anticipated a case of this complexity or of this degree of controversy, but that does not change your statutory and constitutional authority.

Piers argued that the boards ultimate decision  to keep Trump on the ballot because he did not knowingly file a false statement of candidacy attesting to being qualified to be president  was creating new election law and was inconsistent with the facts.

The evidence clearly establishes that the certification that he made at the time he made it was false. He certainly was well aware that ... seeking to prevent the certification of the results of the presidential election was unlawful, was illegal, Piers said.

Piers said there was a fairly fulsome record on which to presume he knew that trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power was illegal.

Trump campaign attorney Adam Merrill countered that Trump did not engage in insurrection, calling it a complicated legal term that has been rarely interpreted."

Mr. Trump has denied ever participating in an insurrection, Merrill told the board. He never advocated violence. Theres nothing in the record that suggests that he did and he always said all of his public statements and Tweets on Jan. 6 were to be peaceful.

Merrill contended the insurrection clause was meant to be enforced by Congress and that it does not apply to the office of president. He said Trumps statement of candidacy cannot be deemed false without actual evidence that the former president knew it was false when he signed it.

Illinois was among more than a dozen states where objections to Trumps ballot qualifications were pending.

Two states have barred Trump from their primary ballots, although both of those cases are under appeal. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear oral arguments on Feb. 8 in an appeal of a December ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court that Trump is disqualified from holding the office of the presidency under the insurrection clause.

A late December ruling from Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, the states top election official, who found Trump ineligible for that states ballot, is under appeal in state court.

The Illinois elections board on Tuesday also quickly dismissed three objections to President Joe Biden appearing on the Democratic primary ballot. The objections included contending Biden violated a provision of the insurrection clause for providing aid and comfort to the nations enemies because of his border and immigration policies.

____
What is immunotherapy and how can it be used to treat cancer?

The human body is perfectly designed for life. It is formed by a great variety of cells that group together to form tissues and organs. These organs, when grouped together and when they contribute to function similarly, create systems.

The immune system is a heterogeneous network of cells, tissues, and organs whose main function is to fight infections and other substances in the body. These substances, known as antigens, can range from germs to bacteria or viruses, chemical or toxic substances, and they can also be cells affected by cancer.

Once the antigen is recognized within the immune system, it is attacked. This reaction is known as an immune response and it mainly consists of producing antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that attack, weaken, and destroy antigens.

Can the immune system be used to fight cancer?

The action of using the immune system to fight ailments is known as immunotherapy. It consists of stimulating this system by supplying certain substances to strengthen it and, subsequently, having greater efficiency when fighting diseases.

Immunotherapy offers a more sustainable approach, which provides long-term protection against cancer. Immunity Therapy Center, located in Tijuana, a few minutes away from the San Ysidro Port of Entry, at Blvd. Padre Kino no. 10133, Zona Urbana Rio, and a few meters away from the access to the Tijuana International Airport, offers immunotherapy treatments against cancer, applied and monitored by specialist doctors.

This therapy uses immune cells to specifically attack cancerous cells. Compared to chemotherapy, immunotherapy is less invasive and it has less adverse effects. This therapy is carried out by obtaining immune cell samples, also known as T cells, that naturally destroy pathogens and cancerous cells, and subsequently, the tumor cells that are usually stealthy, of intrinsic immune cells, and then these are returned to the patient intravenously.

Learn more about this treatment by calling MedBaja at (619) 333-6066 or filling in the following form:

Generally speaking, T cells regulate the activity through control spots and deactivate their offensive potential when they get in contact with healthy cells. Cancerous cells take advantage of this spot to deactivate T cells. Through immunotherapy, immune cells continue to function and when they get in contact with damaged cells, they eliminate cancerous cells.

However, as this is a pathological progressive progress that can be diagnosed in advanced stages, it may be necessary to apply multiple treatments to attack the problem enough. One of the advantages of immunotherapy is that it can be combined with other cancer treatments to improve and accelerate prognosis.

With more than 20 years of experience, Immunity Therapy Center offers an alternative to traditional medicine, providing patients with new possibilities when fighting issues caused by cancer.

INDEX: CANCER TREATMENTS IN MEXICO

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What makes Tijuana a leader in alternative cancer treatments?

Viral anti-cancer vaccine, an innovative alternative treatment in Tijuana

Why is cancer treatment significantly more affordable in tijuana?

How to choose a cancer center in Mexico?
House Republicans took a major step toward impeaching Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Early Wednesday morning, the House Homeland Security Committee voted 18 to 15 to advance two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas over the Biden administration's handling of immigration at the Southern Border.

The first of two impeachment articles advanced by the committee accuses the secretary of a "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law" for failing to detain all migrants not clearly allowed in the country, and instead creating an illegal "catch and release" scheme.

The second article accuses Mayorkas of "breach of public trust" over various alleged false statements he made to Congress, including saying that the border is "closed" and that DHS properly vetted Afghans airlifted to the U.S. after the Taliban takeover of that country.

Mayorkas' "actions created this unprecedented crisis, turning every state into a border state. As a result, thousands of Americans have lost their lives and our nation is experiencing a historic national security, public safety, and humanitarian catastrophe," said House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (RTenn.) in a statement.

The impeachment of a cabinet secretary is a rare event. It's only happened once before in 1876. Republicans argue the move is justified by Mayorkas' lawlessness, which has in turn allowed crime and drugs to surge across the border.

Mayorkas called Republicans' accusations "baseless and inaccurate" in a letter to Green, reports Politico, which cited his department's enforcement activities.

Critics of the Republicans' impeachment efforts note that the requirement to detain all arguably illegal hasn't been upheld by any administration and that the articles themselves are sloppily drafted.

if you're wondering whether House GOP's Mayorkas impeachment effort is serious, consider that the articles of impeachment complain about measures taken by a completely different department that Mayorkas does not control (oops) https://t.co/UtrDBSOni2 pic.twitter.com/wqwRjKu5uN  Catherine Rampell (@crampell) January 31, 2024

The Cato Institute's David Bier noted in a blog post earlier this month that the Biden administration has deported a higher share of border crossers than the Trump administration. Trump's increased detention of migrants did not result in more removals.

Mayorkas' impeachment articles could make it to the House floor by next week. Republicans' thin majority will necessitate near-unanimous GOP support to advance impeachment to the Senate, where any conviction is less likely.

The Senate, meanwhile, is awkwardly working on a bipartisan immigration deal to address many of the issues raised by the Mayorkas impeachment efforts.

The Biden administration has reportedly asked for an additional $14 billion to expand federal capacity to detain and deport more immigrants. The president has also called for more restrictions on migrants' ability to claim asylum.

"What's been negotiated wouldif passed into lawbe the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border we've ever had in our country," said President Joe Biden in a Friday Statement. The deal would also increase the number of available visas by 250,000 reports The New York Times.

Support for the Senate immigration bill is waning. Several Republican senators have come out against it. House Speaker Mike Johnson (RLa.) has said it's a "nonstarter" in the House.

Bier argued in a New York Times essay yesterday that chaos at the southern border will only be solved through increasing avenues for legal immigration. But Republicans' opposition to the Senate border bill is based, in part, on its failure to further limit legal immigration.

Former President Donald Trump has urged Congressional Republicans to oppose any immigration deal as well, promising to "fight it all the way." Trump reportedly thinks sinking an immigration deal will help him in the increasingly inevitable rematch between him and Biden in the 2024 presidential election.

The former president will need all the reelection help he can get given the Democrats' looming deployment of their ultimate weapon: Taylor Swift.

The more enthusiastic corners of conservative media are raising alarm about a potential Taylor Swift psychological operation (PSYOP). A rising chorus of MAGA influencers are arguing that the admittedly inexplicable popularity of Swift is really a sinister federal plot to throw the 2024 election to President Joe Biden.

Fox News Host Jesse Watters kicked things off earlier this month when he ran a segment arguing that Swift was a possible, possibly unwitting, Department of Defense (DOD) asset who was being used to activate Democratic voters.

???? Jesse Watters: "The Pentagon PsyOp unit pitched NATO on turning Taylor Swift into an asset for combatting misinformation online"pic.twitter.com/vUm7XxMlll  Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) January 10, 2024

Swift's headline-grabbing relationship with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, whose team will play in the Super Bowl next month, is just more evidence for the conspiracy theory.

Former GOP presidential candidate and Trump supporter Vivek Ramaswamy intimated on Twitter that the Super Bowl might even be rigged in the Chiefs' favor to create maximum value for a Swift-Kelce endorsement of Biden-Harris.

Swift endorsed Biden in 2020, so another Democratic endorsement from her wouldn't be a huge shock. Since so many of Trump's most ardent fans contend he won the last election, one wonders what exactly they're worried about.

I wonder who's going to win the Super Bowl next month. And I wonder if there's a major presidential endorsement coming from an artificially culturally propped-up couple this fall. Just some wild speculation over here, let's see how it ages over the next 8 months.  Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 29, 2024

The conspiracy theorizing about Swift does raise the question; if Democrats and the DOD are so good at manufacturing popular appeal, why not cut out the middle woman and directly PSYOP America into thinking Biden is a pop icon in his own right?

Scenes from the DMV:

The DMV's most famous landmark might soon fall prey to redevelopment. No, I'm not talking about the Lincoln Memorial or anything like that. I'm referring to Arlington Temple United Methodist Church just across the river from the District in Rosslyn, Virginia.

Don't worry, there's still time to say goodbye to Rosslyn's quirky church atop a gas station. For now, it's just the skywalk to the Metro getting torn down. (edited) https://t.co/mhLHLo81Ut  DCist (@DCist) January 19, 2024

The church sits improbably on top of a working gas station, a delightful bit of urban mixed-use development, built in 1971. The church-gas station combo will soon give way to a large mixed-use development, with apartments, retail, and, mercifully, another church and another gas station.

It's obviously sad to see such a quirky building disappear. Better to be an adult about it and accept the change than go around trying to use the legal process to stop its demolition over the wishes of the property owner.

QUICK HITS

Pandemic learning loss persists.

Biden cites some timeless wisdom from learned sage Elmo. Do you believe Sesame Street is government propaganda now?

I know how hard it is some days to sweep the clouds away and get to sunnier days. Our friend Elmo is right: We have to be there for each other, offer our help to a neighbor in need, and above all else, ask for help when we need it. Even though it's hard, you're never alone. https://t.co/ffMJekbowo  President Biden (@POTUS) January 31, 2024

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sues California over its costly new "climate disclosure" law.

Israel and Hamas might be approaching a ceasefire deal that would result in the release of all civilian hostages.

California's heavily regulated, heavily taxed legal marijuana industry still leaves room for a thriving black market and attendant desert drug massacres.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.

The post Impending Impeachment appeared first on Reason.com.
Imran Khan, sentenced to 14 years on Wednesday, has been in jail since August - AFP

Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to 14 years in jail for illegally selling state gifts, his party said on Wednesday.

The verdict also included a 10-year disqualification from holding public office, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said. The couple were also ordered to pay a fine of 757 million Pakistani rupees (2.1 million).

It is the embattled former prime ministers third conviction in the last few months and comes with just over a week to go until Pakistans elections.

Mr Khan has been bogged down by dozens of legal cases since he was ousted from power in a no-confidence vote in 2022. He says his removal was backed by Pakistans all-powerful military, who he had fallen out with while in office.

Mr Khan has been in Rawalpindis Adiala Jail since last August. His wife turned herself in to the police shortly after the verdict, the PTI said.

Imran Khan with his wife Bushra Bibi - AFP

Another sad day in our judicial system history, which is being dismantled, Mr Khans media team said, repeating his denial of the charges.

Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have faced yet another kangaroo trial in which no right to defence was given to both.

No cross-questioning allowed, no final argument concluded and decision pops up like a pre-determined process in play ... this ridiculous decision will also be challenged.

Intezar Panjutha, Mr Khans lawyer, said the verdict was a sham.

Mr Khan and his wife were charged with illegally selling gifts worth more than 140 million rupees (393,000) that they had received during his premiership, including luxury watches and diamond jewellery.

Supporters of Imran Khan demonstrate for his release - SHAHZAIB AKBER/EAP-EFE SHUTTERSTOCK

Government officials alleged that Mr Khans aides sold the gifts in Dubai. He has said that he legally purchased the gifts.

Mr Khan was also handed a three-year prison sentence in August on the same charge by another court, but that sentence had been suspended on appeal.

Mr Khan, a former international cricket star, had vowed to lead the country a second time after being ousted as prime minister in 2022. But two lengthy prison sentences in a week have thwarted his ambition to contest next months election.

On Tuesday, the former prime minister was sentenced to 10 years in jail on charges of revealing state secrets.

Pakistan has a long history of arresting former prime ministers or sidelining them ahead of elections if they are deemed to pose a challenge to the military, which has long held significant sway in civilian politics.

Mr Khans party says it has been targeted by a military-backed crackdown, with hundreds of supporters, party members and aides being arrested.

Security was stepped up on the streets after Mr Khan was sentenced to 10 years on Tuesday - ARSHAD ARBAB/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK

The former cricketer remains extremely popular in Pakistan.

Khans popularity is titanium, said Mosharraf Zaidi, a Pakistani political commentator. The more the system seeks to diminish his stature the taller he seems to grow.

While he may not be able to take part in Februarys election, his support will remain strong, said Zahid Hussain, a political analyst.

Imran Khan may be out of the election this time but his political support base is not going to vanish, he told The Telegraph.

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.
CANTON  On the day he shot his father to death, 16-year-old Daman Dillard said he saw no other option.

Social workers and investigators had been to the family home on Seventh Street NW before. Collectively, their visits numbered in the teens, he told Stark County Family Court Judge Rosemarie Hall on Tuesday.

Dillard said two things would have happened if he had called police: His father would have talked his way out of the situation, and Dillard would have faced the wrath of a man who insisted on being called "god."

"My father was a good man at one point," the now-17-year-old said during at a hearing to determine where he would be sent for killing 50-year-old Musa El Bey in the early morning of the Fourth of July. "But when he turned, everyone was forced out of our house."

The history of the patriarch pushing other family members away answered a question Hall asked during Tuesday's disposition hearing, the equivalent of sentencing in adult court. The judge noted there were 10 people who came to court to support the youth as she decided where he would spend the next few years of his life. Where had they been when the teen and other family members were being abused?

Dillard said that his father's decisions meant others could not help.

"My entire life was in that man's hands," he said.

Daman Dillard's mother: 'Darkness came over my family'

His mother, Jeana Warren, said she was sorry her son had been put in such a delicate position, one in which he put his own life at risk. She said she had been with El Bey for 20 years, but in the last seven years, "darkness came over my family."

The couple's marriage ended in a dissolution in December 2021.

After hearing about all possible placement options for Dillard, along with testimony from a psychologist and court staff, Hall decided to keep Dillard on electronically monitored house arrest with his older sister. He is to continue online education, stay in counseling and remain under supervision of the court's probation department.

The option was the one requested by his mother, defense attorney Bernard L. Hunt and a guardian appointed to represent the teen's best interests in court.

Dillard had previously pleaded true, the juvenile court equivalent of guilty, to voluntary manslaughter for the fatal confrontation with his father.

Hall sentenced him to spend at least one year in an Ohio Department of Youth Services prison. She suspended the sentence, but warned that it could be imposed if he does not obey the rules: follow all laws, behave well and abide by terms of his probation and all other court orders. She could also impose the remaining 62 days of a 90-day sentence, now stayed, at the Multi-County Juvenile Attention Center.

The judge said the possibility of more severe sanctions would hang over Dillard's head until he is 21, although his probation could end sooner.

Judge Rosemarie Hall: 'It's all in your hands'

Hall said she does not believe Dilllard is ready to be enrolled in high school, but said he might be able to do so next year.

"It's all in your hands to make the progress that we are expecting you to make," Hall said.

Before the decision was made to keep Dillard in the community, the judge heard from the chief of the court's probation office, Tim Wires, about three possible residential placements other than youth prisons like the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility.

He said one facility rejected Dillard because of the severity of the charge against him. Another rejected him because of his limited experience with the criminal justice system; most of their residents were a step away from juvenile prison. The third was not able to provide the intensive treatment recommended by a psychologist who evaluated Dillard for the court.

"We are in uncharted waters," Wires said.

Psychologist Aimee Thomas testified that putting Dillard in the third residential placement or Indian River would be counterproductive. Thomas said it would be best for Dillard to live in a residential setting away from his family. She said he felt the need to protect his family. Thomas described Dillard as intelligent and insightful.

His attorney, Hunt, noted that the teen had not had the chance to be with others his age, to know what they wear, to hear how they talk to their teachers, to learn to move from class to class.

Sister: 'He is incredibly remorseful'

Thomas said it would be beneficial to Dillard to be able to interact with his peers in a relaxed setting. She said he had suffered physical and psychological abuse from his father, whom she described as domineering and possibly mentally ill. She said his was probably one of her more challenging and horrific cases.

Melissa Day, chief of the juvenile division of Stark County Prosecutor's Office, had asked the judge to place Dillard in a residential setting away from his family, at least initially. She expressed concern that his view of himself as a protector could lead to a vigilante mentality.

The psychologist's report said there is a 97% chance that Dillard will be responsive to treatment.

"He is incredibly remorseful," said Alexis Dillard, the older sister with whom he will continue to live. "He very much so misses his dad."

July 4, 2023: 'My son just shot his dad.'

Accepting responsibility: Canton teen admits fatally shooting his 50-year-old father on Fourth of July at their home

Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.On X, formerly Twitter: @nmolnarTR

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton teen gets house arrest for killing father in July 4th shooting
ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo.  An Indianapolis man remains jailed in St. Charles County after allegedly soliciting sex from an undercover police officer posing as a child.

According to court documents, the crimes occurred between January 16 and January 26.

St. Charles County police and prosecutors claim Chandler S. Ingels sent chat messages to someone he believed to be less than 15 years of age but was really an undercover officer. Prosecutors did not specify which chat app Ingels used.

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During the conversation, Ingels suggested meeting the girl for sex in a nearby park. He also sent the undercover officer a nude picture of himself. Ingels was eventually arrested, though police did not specify where.

The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Ingels with enticement of a child and furnishing pornography material to a minor. Ingels remains jailed on a $100,000 cash-only bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Fawn Gray, a Lipan Apache descendant, gives her written input on a poster at a second community meeting held Tuesday by city officials, consultants and members of the Brackenridge Park Stakeholder Advisory Committee at TriPoint. The meeting aired results of a recent survey to find out what San Antonians care most about at the park and help refine the guiding principles that shape future projects. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer

A strong majority of San Antonians who took a survey this month want nature preserved at Brackenridge Park, and many would like more hike-and-bike trails, better interpretation of Native American history and improved maintenance and traffic circulation.

Most thought parking was OK, and half the respondents were open to the idea of limiting traffic in the park.

The survey, which closed Friday, had 2,115 participants who provided nearly 30,000 responses and more than 8,000 comments, all of which will help guide priorities for funding future projects.

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The city is working with an advisory committee this year on a master plan for the 125-year-old park, starting with public feedback as a baseline to be merged with proposals from three previous planning documents.

Asked about the parks connection to Native Americans, 35 percent of survey respondents were very aware of the aboriginal/first people of the area, with another 34 percent somewhat aware and 31 percent not aware.

The equally divided response about the parks links to Indigenous heritage was similar to feedback at an initial community meeting Jan. 8, indicating thats a story that needs to be told much more clearly, Jay Louden, an architect and consultant, told about 100 people gathered Tuesday night at TriPoint for a second such meeting.

Indigenous people inhabited the area for 12,000 years. Native American descendants consider portions of the park sacred, where the spirit waters of the San Antonio River were harnessed for agriculture in the Spanish mission era into the 19th century and gave life to a village that grew into a major city.

Architect and planner Jay Louden addresses a meeting Tuesday to air results of a recent survey asking San Antonians what they care most about at Brackenridge Park and help refine the guiding principles that shape future projects. The results suggest the story of Native Americans who first lived in the area needs to be told much more clearly, he said. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer

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Vincent Michael, left, and Marcus Lincoln watch as Kathleen Trenchard gives her written suggestion for the 1870s Pump House at Brackenridge Park at a community meeting Tuesday night. The meeting aired results of a recent survey to find out what San Antonians care most about at the park and help refine the guiding principles that shape future projects. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer

Asked about the need for more walking and biking paths, 51 percent of survey participants considered it very important, and 28 percent somewhat important.

So this is something that people were interested in  more walking connections and biking connections, Louden said.

A 2017 bond project on the north end of the park will preserve 1920s riverbank walls in an area known as Lambert Beach. Last year, the City Council voted 6-4 to approve a $3.5 million construction contract for the work. But opponents are fighting the planned destruction of 40 healthy native trees and relocation of 19 others.

Surveyed on historical aspects of the park they considered most important to you, 190 people chose its natural ecosystem; 144 identified historic and prehistoric structures; 120 referenced the story of the park. Another 189 said multiple aspects were most important, and 92 chose landscape and historic structures. Other responses in the survey included institutions and areas of interest, most important to 59 respondents, and recreation areas, cited by 46 respondents.

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Matilde Torres, right, and Janet Rodriguez, both Indigenous descendants, consider a list of guiding principles for Brackenridge Park projects before giving their written responses at Tuesdays community meeting. The meeting aired results of a recent survey to find out what San Antonians care most about at the park. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer

Those who took the survey were able to add open-ended comments on what they thought all future projects in the park should do, and their choices among several categories reinforced the emphasis on nature and the parks outdoor beauty. Some 217 chose preserve, improve and enhance nature, 193 supported promote accessibility, inclusiveness and amenities, 152 wanted to preserve culture, historic structure and incorporate nature and 103 favored improve ongoing maintenance and restoration efforts.

Asked to say what those projects should not do, 197 picked destroy natural systems. Another 146 wanted to avoid commercializing the park in ways destructive to its nature and integrity, and 100 said the projects should not restrict access and inclusiveness.

Asked what aspects users were most unhappy about, the overwhelming response by 240 respondents was policies/maintenance/safety, followed by recreational facilities and structures, 93, and deterioration of the parks natural ecosystem, 65.

Polled on parking, 208 said theres enough of it at Brackenridge, 121 said traffic and parking solutions can be found without disturbing nature, and 75 said more parking is needed.

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And on the question of motor vehicle access, 51 percent said they might support limiting traffic in Brackenridge. Another 25 percent said the traffic sometimes poses a hazard for cyclists and pedestrians, while 24 percent wouldnt change anything about roads in the park.

Assistant City Manager Lori Houston promised the crowd at Tuesday's community meeting on Brackenridge Park that the publics feedback is going to be used to do great things within the park that this community will love and cherish. The meeting aired results of a recent survey to find out what San Antonians care most about at the park. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer

San Antonio City Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez addresses Tuesdays community meeting, which aired results of a recent survey about Brackenridge Park. He said the public planning process offers an opportunity to reconcile all those frustrations that I felt and that the community felt far and wide regarding a beleaguered 2017 bond project on the north end of the park. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer

The advisory committee and design consultants took feedback from the audience Tuesday on changes to guiding principles and evaluation criteria that will help decide what projects are presented to the City Council for funding. The Council also will need to approve the criteria first, and the committee will hold one more community meeting before that happens.

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I promise you that the input were getting is going to be used to do great things within the park that this community will love and cherish, Assistant City Manager Lori Houston told the crowd.

Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, whose district encompasses the parks northern half, said hes optimistic and hopeful that the city will regain the communitys trust in the wake of repeated criticism of the beleaguered bond project. He had voted against the construction contract last August, saying he believed more trees should be preserved. Council Member Sukh Kaur, who represents the south half, spoke at the Jan. 8 meeting.
Indonesian Chief Security Minister Mohammad Mahfud MD gestures as he talks during an interview at his office in Jakarta, Indonesia

By Ananda Teresia

JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesia's Chief Security Minister and vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD said on Wednesday he would tender his resignation, a decision his aide said was due to President Joko Widodo taking sides in the campaign for next month's elections.

The office of the president did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegation about his role in the presidential election on Feb. 14, in which he will not compete after having served two terms.

Mahfud said in a live-streamed Instagram statement that he would hand over his resignation letter to Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, once he has the chance to meet the president. He did not say why he would be stepping down.

"I will say my goodbye to the president with honour. I will report to him that I am done (with the job)," Mahfud said.

Jokowi, responding to Mahfud's statement during a trip to Central Java, said he respected Mahfud's decision, according to local media. The president was due back in the capital Jakarta on Thursday.

Mahfud is the running mate of former provincial governor Ganjar Pranowo, who is up against ex-Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, who is running with Jokowi's son and is leading the race.

Andi Widjajanto, a senior official for Ganjar's ticket, told Reuters Mahfud wanted to resign because he saw Jokowi appearing to support Prabowo's ticket.

"Mahfud thought that the President is getting more and more not neutral in the election, the president is taking sides," Andi said.

Other presidential candidates have accused Jokowi of using state facilities to help Prabowo and his son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, win.

The president has not responded to questions about the allegations. Last week, Jokowi said he had the right to campaign for a candidate as long as he did not use state facilities.

Andi said Jokowi's cabinet was "no longer conducive to work in" for Mahfud, as he and some other ministers had not been made involved in decision making processes related to their positions.

Local media have reported that respected Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and several other ministers could quit the cabinet, which could destabilise Jokowi's administration weeks before the voting day.

In his Wednesday statement, Jokowi said the rest of his cabinet "is very solid" despite Mahfud's resignation.

News of Sri Mulyani's potential exit sent the rupiah tumbling last week, prompting the central bank to intervene in the currency market.

Her ministry has said that she was continuing to carry out her duties and on Tuesday, Sri Mulyani held a quarterly news conference on the state of financial markets stability.

Ganjar called on other officials with alleged conflict of interest to follow Mahfud's footstep and also step down, without naming anyone.

Opinion surveys show the pairing of Ganjar and Mahfud in last place in the race to lead the world's third-largest democracy, just lagging another candidate Anies Baswedan, but well behind Prabowo.

(Reporting by Ananda Teresia, Stefanno Sulaiman, Stanley Widianto; editing by Martin Petty, Philippa Fletcher and Mark Heinrich)
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  An inmate is in fair condition after allegedly being attacked by other inmates at Kern Valley State Prison Tuesday morning.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told 17 News that the alleged attack happened around 7:45 a.m. at a yard at the prison, and staff acted by issuing a verbal order.

The verbal orders were allegedly ignored and staff used less-than-lethal 40 mm direct impact rounds to stop the attack, according to CDCR officials.

Long Beach man sentenced for attempted coercion of minor in Bakersfield: DOJ

The inmate who was attacked was taken to an outside medical facility for treatment and he has returned to the prison in fair condition.

At the scene, three inmate-manufactured weapons were found and recovered. The inmates who were believed to have participated in the attack have been placed in restricted housing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
A man stole a live tarpon from an indoor fish pond at Bass Pro Shop in Fort Myers.

More than a month after a man entered a business with a fish net and removed a live tarpon from the store's indoor pond, authorities say the investigation probe continues.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office said a man entered the Bass Pro Shops in Gulf Coast Town Center, 10040 Gulf Center Drive, on Dec. 20 with a fish net in hand, and netted the tarpon.

The sheriff's office said a woman and another man, who filmed the incident with a GoPro, accompanied the suspect.

The individuals then fled the store with the tarpon, authorities said. It's unclear if the tarpon remains missing.

Wade Wilson: Wade Wilson, who faces capital murder in 2019 homicides, challenges legislation

Detectives are working with the sheriff's office's Animal Cruelty Task Force, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers as they attempt to locate the individuals involved.

According to FWC, tarpon is a catch-and-release only fishery and is a threatened species.

The species, known as the silver king for its flashy metallic scales, is beloved in Southwest Florida, with a tournament raising fund for J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel Island each year.

A tarpon can reach 8 feet, weigh about 300 pounds and can take two hours to bring to a boat. The one taken from Bass Pro appears far smaller.

Authorities ask that anyone with information on the Bass Pro incident or the suspect call Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.

Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000, if they lead to an arrest.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Active probe for Bass Pro Shops tarpon theft at Gulf Coast Town Center
Welcome to Investigative Stories from Ukraine, the Kyiv Independent's newsletter that walks you through the most prominent investigations of the past week.

If you are fond of in-depth journalism that exposes war crimes, corruption, and abuse of power across state organizations in Ukraine and beyond, subscribe to our investigative newsletter.

If you enjoy this newsletter, consider joining our membership or supporting us with a one-time donation. Start supporting independent journalism today.

Top investigative stories

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Ukrainska Pravda exposes politically connected NGOs helping men flee Ukraine, overcome travel ban

Almost 900 men in Volyn Oblast alone could have illegally fled Ukraine to avoid mobilization with assistance from local NGOs. The NGOs, backed by politicians and officials, helped the men leave Ukraine by exploiting a loophole in the travel ban designed for volunteers helping the war effort, according to Ukrainska Pravda.

The travel ban, introduced after the start of the Russian full-scale invasion in February 2022, prohibits men of conscription age  between 18 and 60 years old  from leaving Ukraine. One of the very few exceptions to the rule is the Shliakh (Path) system. It allows volunteers bringing in aid to leave Ukraine for a short period of time.

Ukrainska Pravda obtained a list of 900 names of men who allegedly left the country via Shliakh as volunteers with the help of the Volyn Oblast Administration and never returned.

The Shliakh system is notorious for how massively its been misused. NGL.Media, a Lviv-based investigative journalism outlet, has earlier uncovered a large-scale scheme of draft evasion involving 400 NGOs.

While the media outlet couldnt independently verify every name on that list, the journalists focused on the high-profile ones as well as the NGOs allegedly helping them break the law.

Among the NGOs in question is Volyn Youth Active, co-founded by lawmaker Valeriy Sterniychuk, a member of President Volodymyr Zelenskys party, Servant of the People, and two of his aides. One of the aides is Andriy Kostenko, who currently heads the NGO.

According to Ukrainska Pravdas law enforcement sources, at least 18 men Volyn Youth Active vouched for to help them leave Ukraine didnt return. In 2023 alone, the organization entered over 1,000 mens names into the Shliakh system, which journalists claim is an excessive number.

Sterniychuk himself used the backing of Volyn Youth Active to leave Ukraine via Shliakh but has since returned to Ukraine, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

Sterniychuk told Ukrainska Pravda that he exited the NGO when he became a lawmaker in 2019.

Sterniychuk denied any wrongdoing and said he asked the State Security Service (SBU) to investigate the fact that some of the men Volyn Youth Active had aided in leaving Ukraine didnt return home.

Another local NGO, We Believe in Ukraine, has also helped men leave the country despite the travel ban. Among the red flags journalists pointed to is the fact that these men often come from Kyiv, not the western Volyn Oblast, where the NGO is active.

It was founded by Yuriy Gupalo, deputy head of the Volyn Oblast Administration. According to law enforcement sources of Ukrainska Pravda, he used his official position to greenlight exits for men. For that, he allegedly charged them $7,000 per person.

Ukrainska Pravda couldnt reach Gupalo for comment. His boss, the head of the Volyn Oblast Administration, Yuriy Pohulyaiko, refused to comment.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, among the people We Believe in Ukraine NGO assisted in getting permission to leave the country was Yevhen Metzger, former head of the state-owned Ukreximbank.

Metzger became infamous for his clash with journalists in 2021. After he didnt like the questions he was asked during the interview, Metzger and his aide attacked the filming crew of Schemes, an investigative journalism project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, erased the footage from their cameras, and locked the crew in a room for an hour, threatening them.

Metzger told Ukrainska Pravda he doesnt remember the name of the NGO that helped him exit Ukraine in 2022. According to the publication, Metzger received the We Believe in Ukraine permit to leave the country five times that year. Metzger said that a friend recommended this organization as one that can vouch for him. He claimed he traveled abroad to bring humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Watch the full story in Ukrainian here. Interested in the topic? Read more on:

Ukrainian surveillance cameras send data to Chinese manufacturers, posing security threat

Hundreds of thousands of surveillance cameras used in Ukraine transmit information to servers of their Chinese state-linked manufacturers, according to Schemes, an investigative project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

This can pose significant security risks, as China closely cooperates with Russia in many areas, including information exchange.

According to Schemes, cameras produced by China's Hikvision and Dahua manufacturers, banned in the U.S. due to security concerns, are widely used in Ukraine, including on city streets, at public and private facilities, and in people's homes.

An experiment conducted by Schemes with the help of digital security specialists showed that the older versions of these cameras are easy to hack.

Although recently produced devices are better protected against hacker attacks, they still provide data to Hikvision and Dahua, both partially owned by the Chinese state.

Both of these companies are on Ukraine's list of international war sponsors. In spite of that, their products are also used by Ukrainian government agencies and services, such as the "Safe City" public security system.

Russian intelligence services have reportedly managed to access surveillance cameras, including an older Hikvision device, to guide strikes against Ukraine's cities, for example, during the mass missile attack on Jan. 2.

Schemes reported that Ukraine's security services had blocked over 10,000 cameras that Russia could have accessed throughout the full-scale war. Many more remain in use.

Ukraines Interior Ministry told Schemes that the Chinese cameras used by the "Safe City" system work as part of an isolated network, preventing them from entering the wider web and sending data to their manufacturers.

The possibility of the data from Chinese cameras in Ukraine ending up in Russian hands creates a significant security risk.

China has not provided direct military assistance to Russia and urged a peaceful resolution to the war, but has also refused to join the international pressure against the Kremlin and continued to tighten cooperation amid the full-scale war.

A December investigation by Schemes found that thousands of surveillance cameras in Ukraine use the Russian TRASSIR software, which sends data to Moscow servers linked to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

Read the full story in Ukrainian here.

Impact

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SBU arrests ex-Defense Ministry officials over alleged ammo procurement fraud, following media reports

State Security Service (SBU) exposed former and current officials of the Defense Ministry as well as managers of a private company in alleged ammunition procurement fraud, the law enforcement agency said on Jan. 27.

According to the SBU, former and current Defense Ministry officials together with managers of Lviv Arsenal pocketed nearly Hr 1.5 billion (nearly $40 million) the state paid to purchase 100,000 mortar bombs. The payment was made upfront, but no arms were delivered, SBU said.

The SBU handed notices of suspicion to five individuals involved. They didnt name the suspects, but Ukrainian media soon identified them using their sources.

Among the people reported to be arrested as part of the SBU criminal probe is Oleksandr Liyev, former head of the Defense Ministry's department that procures weapons for the military.

According to the SBU and media reports, Liyev was detained while on his way to leave the country. In a Facebook post, apparently written by Liyevs wife, he denied allegations of crime and also of trying to escape justice, saying he was leaving Ukraine for a work trip.

Liyevs replacement at the Defense Ministry, the current head of the procurement department, Toomas Nakhura, is also reported to be arrested as part of the same criminal probe.

In the summer and autumn of 2023, Ukrainian media outlets reported on the departments problematic procurement contracts, including on the deal with Lviv Arsenal, which led to the detentions.

Hromadske journalists found that Lviv Arsenal was not an ammunition producer but one link in a chain of three. The seemingly unnecessary intermediaries connected Ukraine's Defense Ministry and a Croatia-based arms manufacturer, which eventually pulled out of the contract after it allegedly didn't receive the payments from the brokers.

Crackdown on press freedom

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Kyiv Independents journalist loses libel case to notorious ex-official turn businessman in apparent unjust court ruling

The Kyiv Independents journalist and head of investigations Anna Myroniuk (Editors Note: Yes, its me, the person bringing you this newsletter.) lost a defamation case to Vadym Sliusariev, an influential politically connected former State Border Guard official, over an investigative report published in 2021.

The story was published in June 2021 in Kyiv Post, where Myroniuk and other co-founders of the Kyiv Independent then worked, in collaboration with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). The story looked into alleged Chinese cigarette smuggling by the companies co-owned by Sliusariev. The story became the runner-up in the Investigative Reporting category of the 2022 European Press Prize.

In November 2023, the judge of the Kyiv Sviatoshyn District Court Tetiana Dubas, ruled in favor of Sliusariev and his companies, ignoring all the arguments of the defense, which goes against the law. The Ukrainian legislation obliges the judge to give reasoned assessment of the arguments of both sides regarding the presence or absence of the grounds for the case.

The complete absence of a mention of the arguments provided by the defense can indicate an unjust and groundless ruling. Myroniuk appealed, and the appeal case was accepted on Dec. 20, 2023. The Kyiv Independent will update its readers on the outcome of the appeal.

Sliusariev is an influential former official who was the head of the internal security in the State Border Guard Service with the rank of major-general. In 2019, he joined the Servant of The People party and was later elected to its political council, but according to media reports, didnt become its member in the end.

Ukrainska Pravda reported that Sliusariev left Ukraine for Russia days before the start of the Russian full-scale invasion. He only returned in May, according to another investigative outlet, Bihus.Info.

Bihus.Info reported that following the outbreak of the all-out war Sliusariev made a series of purchases from Russia supporters. That includes a Kharkiv-based factory, Rapid, which he bought from close confidants of pro-Russian politicians, Yevhen Murayev and Alexei Azarov.

Meanwhile, in Russia

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Russia imports Taiwanese metalworking equipment despite sanctions

Taiwan has become the biggest exporter of metalworking equipment to Russia during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a joint investigation by the Russian independent media The Insider and Taiwanese The Reporter.

Russia successfully circumvents sanctions, importing tech and equipment for defense production amid its ongoing war against Ukraine, according to the investigation.

Despite the West's initial expectations to suffocate Russia's war machine through sanctions, the effort has had limited effect, as Russia adapted to restrictions, often using third-country intermediaries for import.

Taiwan reportedly banned the 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, the journalist investigation found.

Nearly 80% of the equipment is sent to Russia via intermediaries, Turkey and China, the media reported, citing data from the Russian customs service.

According to Taiwan's customs data, 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 to Ukrainian refugees and imposing sanctions against Moscow.

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 said.

Read the full story in English here.

Latvian member of European Parliament allegedly Russian agent

Tatjana Zdanoka, a long-serving member of the European Parliament from Latvia, is allegedly an agent working with Russian intelligence services, according to the independent Russian media outlet The Insider.

Zdanoka, who represented Latvia in the European Parliament from 2004-2018 and again from 2019 until the present, is alleged to have been a Russian intelligence asset since at least 2015.

The Insider released a story as part of the journalism consortium involving the Estonian media outlet Delfi, Latvian investigative journalism center Re:Baltica, and Swedish newspaper Expressen.

The journalists based their stories on leaked emails between Zdanoka and her alleged Russian handlers and other sources.

Citing interviews and communications obtained, The Insider reported that Zdanoka was primarily motivated by ideology rather than material gain.

Zdanoka's public activity, both concerning her official work as a lawmaker and statements in her private life, display a long-standing pattern of supporting Russia and promoting Russian propaganda.

While a sitting member of the European Parliament, Zdanoka participated as an international observer in a sham Russian referendum on Crimea's annexation in 2014, widely viewed as illegitimate. She also was one of a small group of lawmakers who voted against the European Parliament's condemnation of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in March 2022.

Citing leaked emails and comments from intelligence sources in the Baltics and other Western countries, The Insider alleged that Zdanoka regularly met with known members of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), who are characterized as her "case officers."

When asked about her supposed Russian handlers, Zdanoka told The Insider she could not specifically recall the individuals in question.

The Insider referred its investigation to Latvia's intelligence services.

Earlier in January, a Russian-born professor at Estonia's University of Tartu was arrested on espionage charges.

Read the full story in English here.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Defendant Jennifer Crumbley exits the courtroom during her jury trial at the Oakland County Courthouse, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. Crumbley, 45, is charged with involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors say she and her husband were grossly negligent and could have prevented the four deaths if they had tended to their sons mental health. Theyre also accused of making a gun accessible at home. (Katy Kildee/Detroit News via AP, Pool)

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP)  Hours before a 2021 mass school shooting in Michigan, the mother of a teenager who killed four students said she was worried that he was "going to do something dumb, a man who had a close relationship with her testified Wednesday.

Brian Meloche said Jennifer Crumbley explained to him that she had to go to Oxford High School after a teacher discovered a violent drawing on Ethan Crumbley's math assignment the morning of the tragedy.

Something with Ethan. (She) was worried he was going to do something dumb, Meloche said.

Meloche, who was having an extramarital affair with Jennifer Crumbley at the time, said he knew through social media posts that the parents had recently purchased a gun for the boy.

I asked where the firearm was. ... If something was going to occur it would produce immediate irreparable damage, Meloche testified.

Meloche spoke on the fifth day of trial in the involuntary manslaughter case against Jennifer Crumbley. She and husband James Crumbley are accused of ignoring their son's mental health needs and making a gun accessible at home. Four students were killed Nov. 30, 2021, and more were wounded.

A meeting between school staff and the Crumbleys before the shooting has been a focal point in the case.

The parents were presented with a disturbing drawing their son had scrawled on an assignment. It depicted a gun and bullet and the lines, The thoughts wont stop. Help me. The world is dead. My life is useless.

The school recommended that the couple get him help as soon as possible, but they declined to take him home, saying they needed to return to work, a counselor has testified. Their son stayed in school and later pulled a handgun from his backpack to fire at students.

The Crumbleys are the first parents in the U.S. to be charged in a mass school shooting committed by their child.

Meloche and Jennifer Crumbley repeatedly exchanged messages until her arrest four days later. Pages of their communications were shared with the jury.

Jennifer Crumbley told Meloche she was angry at the school for not checking her son's backpack for a gun. She claimed the gun had been properly secured at home. She also said she didnt know how her sons brain snapped.

Her new priorities, according to a message: Staying out of jail and not going into a financial hole.

Long before trial, Judge Cheryl Matthews barred prosecutors from disclosing the affair. Jennifer Crumbley dropped her opposition during a lively exchange among attorneys on both sides of the case.

Her life is more important than her dignity, Jennifer Crumbley's attorney, Shannon Smith, said. She had an affair. Lots of people have affairs. Doesn't mean you know your kids a school shooter. Doesn't mean you know your child is going to kill people.

Earlier Wednesday, the jury heard more of the prosecutions effort to portray Jennifer Crumbley as a cold, thoughtless parent whose gross negligence contributed to the deaths.

Hours after the shooting, she said her son was "going to have to suffer as a result of what happened, an investigator testified.

I found that odd," said Detective Lt. Sam Marzban of the Oakland County sheriffs office. She was referring to someone who was her son.

Marzban was in charge of getting a warrant to search the Crumbley home and collect their phones.

I told her that there were several dead kids and kids shot in the school. It was on the national news. Even the president had addressed it, Marzban testified.

Jennifer Crumbley seemed irritated and frustrated, he said, especially about giving up her phone.

He said investigators were interested in the phones after seeing text messages from the parents on their son's phone.

Ethan don't do it, Jennifer Crumbley, 45, wrote about an hour after the shooting started.

Smith said last week that Jennifer Crumbley was referring to her son possibly killing himself.

Seventeen-year-old Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, is serving a life sentence. James Crumbley, 47, faces trial on involuntary manslaughter charges in March.

The jury also learned how the parents, possessing more than $6,000, were captured by police. Roughly 13 hours after charges were announced, they were found on a mattress at an acquaintance's Detroit art studio, roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of their home.

A sharp-eyed coffee roaster in the building said he spotted their car in the parking lot and called 911.

Smith insists the parents were not on the run. She has said they couldn't stay at home because they had received threats and that they had planned to voluntarily appear in court.

___

Follow Ed White at https://twitter.com/edwritez
Gov. Kim Reynolds' bill to overhaul the state's area education agencies got a divided response among lawmakers Wednesday, with House Republicans balking at the proposal and GOP senators cautiously advancing it after testimony from dozens of teachers, administrators and parents.

Rep. Skyler Wheeler, R-Hull, told reporters after a subcommittee hearing that he and others would have further discussions about the bill, days after Reynolds released an amended version in response to initial concerns from legislators and advocates.

A short time later in the Senate subcommittee, a 2-1 vote advanced its version of the bill, with chair Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, expressing a desire to make changes.

"I'm not fully convinced that the bill that's in front of us, nor the amendments, truly get to the heart of the matter," said Evans, a former superintendent.

At the beginning of the Senate hearing, as he explained the amended bill to the room, Evans reached over and tossed a printed copy of the first version in the trash can.

"That's probably the appropriate place for the original," Evans said.

Democrats in both committees were staunchly opposed to the bill, with Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, saying "no Iowan asked for this bill."

"We cannot lose those services," Donahue, a special education teacher, said. "They would hurt my students, they'll hurt all students."

Subcommittee members Skyler Wheeler (left) and Sharon Steckman (right) listen as Iowans voice their opinions on HSB 542 Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Iowa State Capitol.

The proposal's frosty reception among some legislators signals another hurdle for one of the governor's defining priorities of the 2024 session.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Reynolds thanked the Senate subcommittee for advancing the bill. She did not mention the House subcommittee.

"The amendment reflects feedback from legislators, parents, teachers, and school superintendents, ensuring that AEAs can continue offering the services they do today," Reynolds said.

Iowas nine Area Education Agencies provide special education services to schools across Iowa. The agencies, known as AEAs, also offer general education services, such as professional training for teachers and free digital resources, and media services, like graphic design and printing.

Under current law, school districts are automatically partnered with the AEAs and divert their federal and state special education funds toward the agencies. A portion of the AEAs' funding also comes through property taxes.

Reynolds' bill would allow school districts to choose whether to contract with their local AEA for special education and other services  or to discontinue their use of the AEA, instead seeking an alternative provider for special education, professional training or whatever else they need that year.

Members of the public listen as a hearing on HSB 542 is held Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Iowa State Capitol.

It would also raise the minimum salary for first-year teachers in Iowa to $50,000 per year, up from $35,500 under current law. Teachers with at least 12 years of experience would receive a minimum salary of $62,000.

More: Kim Reynolds just released her revised bill to overhaul Iowa's 9 AEAs. Here's what's in it.

Lawmakers hear testimony from superintendents, teachers and parents on AEA overhaul

Parents, teachers, administrators, school board members and advocates crowded into hearing rooms Wednesday to lend their input on the proposal.

Those who came to oppose the bill argued that the agencies, long embedded within Iowa's education system, were vital for providing services and collaboration across specialties that require training.

Carolyn Wozny, a speech pathologist at Grant Wood AEA, praised the agencies' "superb" facilities and said that its "highly qualified and specialized" staff were valuable for students with disabilities.

"Please do not jeopardize this enormous asset," Wozny said. "Passing this bill would be catastrophic for school districts, teachers, families, students and AEA employees."

Several superintendents, as well as the Iowa State Education Association and disability advocacy groups, testified against the proposal. So too did several parents and students, who argued they could not have advanced through schooling without their AEA's staff and tools.

"It's very difficult to serve my son," said Suzanne Castello of Grinnell, who said he had multiple disabilities and had been pulled out for four years of homeschooling. "The AEAs help that. They help try to figure out how those teachers can do that."

Educators, parents and other groups voiced their thoughts on HSB 542 regarding an overhaul to the state's Area Education Agencies and an increase for teacher pay Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Iowa State Capitol.

Multiple other district leaders said they supported the bill, arguing that their schools would be better served if the money allocated to AEAs was instead granted directly to districts, who can employ staff and services at their discretion.

"My belief is that schools should be able to control flow-through dollars," said Corey Seymour, superintendent for Clear Creek Amana Community School District. "We have to continue to evolve to support the needs of our school communities. Each district is different."

And Todd Abrahamson, superintendent for Okoboji Community School District, pleaded with other district leaders to step forward and make public concerns that he says have been voiced privately.

"Silence is support," Abrahamson said.

Several other organizations, including Iowans for Tax Relief and Americans for Prosperity, expressed support for Reynolds' bill.

Clear Creek Amana Superintendent Corey Seymour speaks during a hearing on HSB 542 Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Iowa State Capitol.

More: Kim Reynolds walks back Area Education Agency changes, allows general education services

Gov. Kim Reynolds: Current AEA governance is 'unconscionable'

Reynolds, speaking to reporters Wednesday morning ahead of hearings on the bill, defended her proposal as necessary to hold to account agencies that she says don't receive enough oversight.

"You can't police yourself, get all the money, mandate I use you, and not be held accountable when the scores are not reflecting what they should be," Reynolds said. "That's unconscionable."

She expressed frustration at exact costs of AEA services being uncertain, and pushed back when asked whether the timeline laid out under the plan gave districts enough time to decide whether to continue their AEA contract or seek another avenue.

"Well, they have been failing our students with disabilities for 20 years," Reynolds said. "How in good faith can we say, let's just kick it down the road. They'll be okay for another three years, no big deal. Let's do a study. Let's do a study. We know what the results are, for 20 years we've known what the results are."

Educators, parents and other groups voiced their thoughts on HSB 542 regarding an overhaul to the state's Area Education Agencies and an increase for teacher pay Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Iowa State Capitol.

Reynolds said characterizations that the bill could unduly burden rural districts were "absolutely false," while asserting that many schools will retain at least partial contracting with their AEA.

"I don't think you'll see a lot (of districts) completely pull out, you'll see maybe some of your larger schools," she said.

Galen Bacharier covers politics for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Legislature: Chambers split on Gov. Kim Reynolds' special ed bill
District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur listens to people give public comment calling for the council to back a cease-fire in Gaza at the Council Chambers in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Mazatl Cihuatl leads the audience in chanting Free Palestine during public comment and calls for the council to back a Gaza cease-fire resolution at the Council Chambers in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News Bayan Ayad, left, and Omar Ayad, right, hold a Palestinian flag at the back of the council chambers where several community members gave public comment calling for the council to back a cease-fire resolution at the Council Chambers in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur has finally broken her silence on her position on a Gaza cease-fire resolution vote.

Given there is no direct outcome necessitated by the resolution, I will not be signing the memo, Kaur said in a written statement.

After District 8 Council Member Manny Pelaez removed his name in early January from a three-signature memo that would have forced a special City Council meeting to vote on a cease-fire resolution, pro-Palestine activists began looking to Kaur to take his place.

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Kaur is one of four council members who have voiced support for an immediate halt to hostilities in Gaza, where the death toll has exceeded 26,000 Palestinians since Israel launched its military campaign in response to Hamas Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. The Palestinian militant group killed more than 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages.

Kaur for weeks refused to say whether she would join with District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo, the memos other signers, to revive the vote.

Their proposed one-sentence resolution would have called for an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Israel and Palestine and the return of all hostages immediately. Castillo, McKee-Rodriguez and Pelaez initially asked for a Jan. 11 vote, which Pelaez later pushed to February before backing out entirely.

I do not believe the use of the 3-signature memo is appropriate in this case, Kaur said in her statement. She added that her support for a cease-fire and peace in Israel/Gaza remains unwavering.

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Mayor Ron Nirenberg is adamantly opposed to a City Council vote on a Gaza cease-fire resolution, a position shared by a majority of his council colleagues.

No Texas city has passed such a resolution, though not for a lack of trying by activists, who have packed Austin, Houston and Dallas city halls. In recent days, San Antonio activists have interrupted the mayors Dream Ball and council members events in an attempt to pressure them to take action like councils in Seattle, San Francisco, Detroit, Atlanta and, most recently, Chicago.

That tactic so far doesnt appear to be working.
Iowans waved rainbow pride flags and erupted in cheers in the Iowa Capitol hallway Wednesday afternoon as lawmakers announced they were killing a bill that would have removed gender identity protections from the state's civil rights law.

All three members of an Iowa House subcommittee that considered House File 2082 Wednesday said they would not advance it to the full House Judiciary Committee for consideration.

The bill would have removed gender identity protections from the Iowa Civil Rights Act and would have added gender dysphoria "or any condition related to a gender identity disorder" to the definition of a disability that would be protected under the law.

The Iowa Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, ancestry, disability and gender identity. Lawmakers added the protections for gender identity in 2007, when Democrats held the Iowa Legislature and governor's office.

People who fall under one of the protected classes in the civil rights law are protected from discrimination in employment, wages, public accommodations, housing, education and credit practices.

LGBTQ rights groups cheered the bill's failure Wednesday.

"We appreciate the lawmakers who stood against this discriminatory proposal, recognizing the inherent value of safeguarding transgender folks from discrimination in their daily lives," Courtney Reyes, executive director of One Iowa, said in a statement. "The fight for equality continues, but today's outcome is a clear indication that the majority of Iowans stand against discrimination and believe in protecting our civil rights."

'It's dead! It's dead!' Iowans shout as bill removing gender identity from civil rights act fails to advance

Hundreds of LGBTQ Iowans and their allies packed the Capitol hallways to protest the bill, some draped in transgender flags or wearing purple shirts that said "don't legislate hate."

Many lofted signs above their heads with slogans such as Im still human and freedom belongs to all of us.

Some, who were listening to the live stream of the meeting, shouted Its dead! Its dead! as committee leaders announced they would not advance the bill.

Iowans speak out on bill removing gender identity protections from civil rights law on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

Cheers erupted and the crowd broke into chants of We will never go back!

I was a bit pessimistic coming in, I was, said May Coffield, a 35-year-old Urbandale resident. But this is good news.

Coffield said this was her first protest and called the energy simply amazing.

I like being a protected citizen, she said of her decision to show up at the Capitol. It's as simple as that, really.

'We are human beings,' transgender Iowan tells lawmakers in emotional hearing

In an emotional hourlong meeting, as Iowans testified to lawmakers about the bill's impact, chants of "trans rights are human rights!" echoed off the marble walls and filled the room through the closed door.

Elliott Sutton, a nonbinary student at Ankeny High School, talked about being afraid of being denied housing, loans or the right to shop in certain stores if the bill passed.

"If this bill passes, I probably am not going to stay in Iowa because I dont want to live in a state that passes (legislation) that makes my life nearly impossible to live safely in our community," Sutton said.

Iowans speak out Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines about a bill to remove gender identity protections from state civil rights law.

Aime Wichtendahl, a Hiawatha City Council member who is Iowa's first openly transgender elected official, told lawmakers that by considering the bill they were entertaining making Iowa the first state in the country to repeal civil rights protections.

"You seem to think that being trans is some kind of ideology, so I will say it plain," said Wichtendahl, who is running for the Iowa House as a Democrat. "There is no such thing as transgenderism, there is only transgender people. We are human beings. We are American citizens. We are Iowans. And we do not deserve this abuse that we are getting from our government."

Allyson Swim, left center, and Bee Senior, right center, protest a bill removing gender identity protections from civil rights law on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

Annie Sarcone, director of the Des Moines Queer Youth Resource Center, criticized the bill's categorization of gender dysphoria as a disability.

"Gender dysphoria and being trans isnt a disability. Im not disabled," Sarcone said. "Shifting gender identity to a different code will actually make it harder to ensure protection. And quite frankly its disrespectful to people who have a disability who need that protection."

A few people spoke in favor of the bill at Wednesday's subcommittee.

Geralyn Jones, a mother of two from Linn County, said she thinks the bill would give school boards and local governments clearer guidance when enacting future policies. She pointed to the Linn-Mar School District's policy protecting transgender students that drew controversy.

"The school board was more afraid of being sued by a transgender student than securing the rights and protections of all students," Jones said. "They chose to protect one student over another."

House Majority Leader: Removing civil rights protections not 'the wise thing to do'

Iowa Republicans in recent years have passed a flurry of laws impacting transgender Iowans, including banning transgender youth under 18 from receiving gender-affirming medical care, restricting transgender students from using school bathrooms that align with their gender identity and banning transgender women and girls from competing in female sports.

House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, said the fact that the subcommittee chose not to advance the bill is a good indication that its ideas are not going to move through the committee process or receive a vote on the House floor.

Laura Berardi holds a sign in support for including gender identity protections in civil rights law on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

Windschitl said he does not believe the Iowa Civil Rights Act needs to be revisited. He said taking away protections that exist in the law could be looked at as an opportunity to discriminate against those protected classes.

"I would say I dont think that that would be the wise choice or the wise thing to do for those basic civil rights protections that are there," he said.

Rep. Jeff Shipley, R-Birmingham, the bill's author, called the subcommittee meeting "the start of a conversation."

"Theres a lot of interest in this topic," he told reporters following the subcommittee. "There has been for a number of years. There are very relevant matters of law that need to be settled and so this topic is not going away."

Rep. Jeff Shipley, R-Birmingham, speaks out Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines about a bill to remove gender identity protections from state civil rights law.

Shipley said he believes those who oppose the bill and other legislation targeting transgender Iowans have created a retaliatory environment. He said he's received "nasty messages" that he called "frankly unbecoming of people who want a society of law and order."

As Shipley left the committee room, some members of the crowd raised their middle fingers and began chanting profanities at him.

"This behavior is being encouraged," Shipley said. "They want to bully people into submission and its working on a lot of Republican lawmakers. Theyre too afraid of the mob and thats unfortunate."

Des Moines Register reporter Brianne Pfannenstiel contributed to this story.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Bill removing gender identity from Iowa civil rights law won't advance
Members of an Iraqi Shiite militant group attend the funeral of a fighter with the Kataib Hezbollah, who was killed in a US airstrike (AP)

An Iran-backed Iraqi militant group suspected of killing three US soldiers in a drone strike on a military base in Jordan says it has suspended its attacks on American forces  with President Joe Biden having vowed to respond to the strike.

Kataib Hezbollah, the armed faction of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, issued a statement saying it was planning to suspend military and security operations against the occupation forces, referring to the US forces stationed throughout the Middle East.

Concerns have been growing over the spread of violence across the region linked to Israels war on Hamas in Gaza. That conflict was triggered by an attack by Hamas inside Israel in which around 1,200 people were killed and another 240 taken hostage. Hamas are allied to Iran and another Tehran-supported groups have launched strikes and linked it to the situation in Gaza, where health officials in the Hamas-controlled territory say more than 26,000 people have been killed.

The three US soldiers were killed when a drone hit Tower 22, part of a military base in Jordan, in the early hours of Sunday. Dozens more were injured, as the drone struck while most of the soldiers were asleep in their bunks. It was the first time since 7 October that US soldiers had been killed, though there have been more than 150 attacks across Syria, Iraq and Jordan, as well as on a US-led naval coalition protecting ships in the Red Sea, where the Yemen-based, Iran-backed Houthis have been launching attacks along a key maritime trade route.

Kataib Hezbollahs secretary-general, Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, said: As we announce the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces - in order to prevent embarrassment of the Iraqi government - we will continue to defend our people in Gaza in other ways.

His comments come as President Biden said he had finally decided on a response to the deadly drone attack on a US military base near the Syrian border on Sunday, though he dd not provide details.

He did say that the US doesnt need a wider war in the Middle East, echoing comments he and his staff have made consistently since a deadly Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October

Iran, Kataib Hezbollahs backers, have said it is not in anyones interests to open a wider war, but that it would "decisively respond" to any US attack on its territoryu

Kataib Hezbollah took credit for the attack on US soldiers on Sunday  a Pentagon spokesperson said they havent confirmed the groups involvement but it bears their footprints  and various officials have said a response is necessary.

After al-Hamidawi announced the suspension of military activity, Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said the US would respond nonetheless.

Actions speak louder than words, he said. There will be consequences.

The US secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, acknowledged the current volatility of the Middle East in comments on Monday but added that a response to the Jordan attack was likely to be multi-levelled, come in stages, and be sustained over time.

We are going to defend our people, he said. We are going to defend our interests.
The murder trial of Fabian Aranda Rodriguez, 33, began Tuesday. He is accused of fatally stabbing his mother, Maritza Rodriguez, 68, at an Airbnb he had rented on the Northeast Side in 2022. Jessica Phelps/San Antonio Express News

A San Antonio man stabbed his mother repeatedly at a short-term rental home in a Northeast Side neighborhood in 2022, prosecutors said at the start of his murder trial

Fabian Andres Aranda Rodriguez had rented a room at the Airbnb and invited his mother, Maritza Rodriguez, 68, to join him there, prosecutor Rosa Garcia told the jury Tuesday in her opening statement.

They had dinner together, but other guests began hearing yelling and screaming overnight at the five-bedroom home in the 5800 block of Clipper Port, she said.

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Fabian Aranda Rodriguez brutally murdered his mother and stabbed her 37 times in the face and neck, Garcia told the jury.

Aranda Rodriguez was 31 when he was arrested and charged with murder in the May 30, 2022, killing. He pleaded not guilty through an interpreter provided for him by the court. His appointed attorneys, Rafael Leal and Brian C. Kimbrough, did not give an opening statement.

A guest at the home that night told the jury she had used the Airbnb app to rent a room there for an extended stay because it had great reviews. She said the house was quiet when she arrived and settled in.

I fell asleep around midnight and woke up to the sound of a lady yelling, the guest testified. The way she was yelling, it sounded like she was upset, crying, and sounded like it was coming from inside the house, the kitchen downstairs.

The witness said she went back to sleep and was awakened a second time by yelling that sounded louder than the first occasion. She said she sent a text on the Airbnb app to the homeowner, who lived in Houston.

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I said, Your other guests are making a lot of noise, and he said hed figure out who it was, the guest said. I was scared, of the (potential) confrontation and people fighting.

She said she fell asleep again and a short time later was awakened by the sound of a zipper on a suitcase, around 5:30 a.m.

I heard someone bringing down a suitcase and thought they were going to the airport, she told the jury. Then I heard someone come upstairs, and them trying to open the door to my room.

The guest said she asked if she could help the person, and a mans voice said, Oh, sorry, and sounded like he walked away, but then the voice asked her if she had a charger he could borrow. She felt uncomfortable and sent a text asking a friend to call the police. She said she was afraid the person on the other side of the door would hear her call police, and she didnt want to chance anything.

When police arrived shortly after, she already had packed and texted the homeowner that she was leaving.

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As she left, she saw Aranda Rodriguez sitting on a couch, looking scared, she said.

I said, What are you thinking, trying to get in my room?  she said. The officers seemed confused and asked her if they knew each other, she added. Police escorted her to her car around 6:30 a.m. and she left, she said.

A few hours later, she received a call from a San Antonio Police Department detective who asked me all of these questions, she testified.

When the owner of the Airbnb arrived, he told Aranda Rodriguez to leave the house, and then went upstairs to find Maritza Rodriguez dead in a pool of blood on the bed of the room her son had rented the night before, an arrest warrant affidavit said.

Police later found a bloody kitchen knife in an outside trash can, along with bloody clothing that had been wrapped in a brown bath towel, the affidavit stated.

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The case is being heard in the 175th District Court with Judge Catherine Torres-Stahl presiding. Garcia is prosecuting the case with Bexar County Assistant District Attorney Kristen Mulliner.
Semafor Signals

Insights from Haaretz, Semafor, The New Humanitarian, and The New Yorker

The News

Officials from Hamas are considering a three-part ceasefire agreement with Israel, Reuters reported Wednesday. Negotiations have been deadlocked as some hardline Israeli politicians have outright rejected attempts at a deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that his country will not end its military operation in Gaza before it achieves its goal of eliminating Hamas, even as analysts have said the hostilities have reached a stalemate.

If agreed, the deal would see the remaining hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 released in three stages, beginning with civilians, in return for the freeing of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, along with a temporary truce.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Netanyahus coalition government faces collapse if deal agreed

Source: Haaretz

Netanyahu has come under increasing domestic pressure as the war has dragged on, with families of released hostages protesting at his home and storming the Israeli Parliament to demand their relatives be rescued. Its unlikely that his government will survive a ceasefire negotiation, Haaretz reported.

Any proposal worthy of serious discussion will demand significant concessions by Israel, longtime correspondent Amos Harel noted. Netanyahu will be hesitant to agree to such a deal because he will face backlash from members of his coalition government, including extremist cabinet members Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. No matter what Netanyahu decides, either the right or the left will abandon him, Harel wrote.

Some Hamas leaders may be exiled to third countries as part of deal

Source: Semafor

Israeli officials are debating a plan that would allow some Hamas officials to flee to third countries  including Algeria, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia  in exchange for new political leaders in Gaza, Semafors Jay Solomon reported. Still, Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, would be only marginally protected in Algiers or Doha given Israels stated goal of killing every member of Hamas associated with the Oct. 7 attack, Solomon noted.

But Israeli officials are contemplating whether a quickened end to the fighting could then bolster a Biden administration-brokered diplomatic initiative that sought to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia before the war broke out, he wrote.

Thousands killed in siege as Israel blocks aid to Gaza Strip

Sources: The New Humanitarian, The New Yorker

Nearly 27,000 Palestinians have been killed in the months-long conflict as Israel has carried out daily aerial bombardment on the Gaza Strip. Residents of the enclave have been pushed into an ever-shrinking area, and the humanitarian crisis has become increasingly dire as the war has dragged on.

Critics blame Israel for aid, including food and medicine, having been repeatedly blocked from entering Gaza. Future supplies provided by the United Nations may be threatened after more than a dozen nations pulled funding for UNRWA, the agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, following Israeli allegations that some of its employees were involved in the Oct. 7 attack. Pediatrician Dr. Seema Jilani, who spoke to The New Yorker, recently described graphic scenes in Gazas hospitals: She called it a sea of human tragedy and added that the injuries she treated were worse than she had observed in other warzones.
The Israeli military said on Wednesday its warplanes struck Syrian army infrastructure overnight in response to rocket fire from the country.

Last night, a number of launches from Syria toward the southern Golan Heights were identified.

In response, IDF (Israeli) fighter jets struck military infrastructure belonging to the Syrian regime in the area of Daraa overnight, the military said in a statement.

It did not offer details of any casualties or damage caused by the air strikes on southern Syria.

04:07 PM GMT

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04:06 PM GMT

Netanyahu: 'Real effort' being made to return hostages in Gaza

Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that a real effort was being made to return hostages held in Gaza but that it was too early to say how such a move would play out.

This is a real effort, Mr Netanyahu said in a meeting with families of the hostages, according to a statement released by his office.

Its too early to say how it will take place but efforts are being made in these days, in these moments, these very hours.

03:35 PM GMT

Biden top official to meet Wednesday with Netanyahu ally

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is to meet with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in Washington on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The source confirmed reports by the Axios outlet, which added the talks would cover Israels plans for after the conflict with Hamas ends.

A Sunday meeting of US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials produced a proposed framework for a new truce and hostage release.

02:54 PM GMT

Swedish police safely detonate explosive device placed outside Israeli embassy

Swedish police have detonated what was believed to be an explosive device found outside the Israeli embassy in Stockholm.

Embassy staff had notified police of the object, prompting a large response from law enforcement, police said.

Today we were subject to an attempted attack against the Embassy of Israel in Stockholm and its employees. We thank the Swedish authorities for their swift response. We will not be intimidated by terror.  Ziv Nevo Kulman  (@zivnk) January 31, 2024

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Nir Nevo Kulman, Israels ambassador to Sweden, said: Today we were subject to an attempted attack against the Embassy of Israel in Stockholm and its employees. We thank the Swedish authorities for their swift response. We will not be intimidated by terror.

02:39 PM GMT

Houthis to target all British warships near Yemen in self defence

The Houthis have vowed to target all US and British warships operating in waters near Yemen in self defence, the militia announced on Wednesday morning.

Ameen Hayyan, the groups military spokesman, said: All American and British warships in the Red [Sea] ... will be targeted within the right of legitimate defence of our country.

He added that all American and British warships participating in aggression against its country were targets.

It comes as the Iran-backed rebels fired several missiles at a US warship in the Red Sea on Wednesday morning, hours after the US military reported shooting down a missile.

The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces, with the help of God Almighty, fired several ... naval missiles at the American destroyer USS Gravely in the Red Sea, the Houthi statement said.

Earlier, US Central Command said the USS Gravely shot down a Houthi missile at about 11:30 pm (2030 GMT) on Tuesday  the latest in a series of such incidents in the Red Sea.

02:26 PM GMT

IDF discover weapons production site belonging to Islamic Jihad

The IDF has released photos of what it says is a weapons production site belonging to the Islamic Jihad militant group.

Photos released by the IDF which allegedly show a weapons production site - ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES/REUTERS

The site was found in Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip.

Photos released by the IDF which allegedly show a weapons production site - ISRAEL DEFENCE FORCES/REUTERS

On Sunday, Palestinians were seen fleeing the Khan Younis for Rafah as the Israeli military pushed deeper into the city.

02:11 PM GMT

Suspicious object found outside Israel embassy in Sweden

A potentially dangerous object has been found near the Israeli embassy in Stockholm, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports, citing police.

The object was found outside the embassy area and the national bomb squad is on its way to investigate it, a police spokesman said.

01:20 PM GMT

IMF project Gaza war will continue throughout spring

The International Monetary Fund has said its projections will work on the assumption that the Gaza war will continue with high intensity throughout the first quarter of 2024.

It also estimated that growth in the West Bank and Gaza has dropped to about -6 per cent for 2023  a downgrade of 9 per cent from its projections at the beginning of October.

Smoke rises from fighting in northern Gaza - AMIR COHEN/REUTERS

12:54 PM GMT

Ben-Gvir: Hostage deal would be tantamount to a dissolution of government

A deal in which Hamas releases Israeli hostages in return for jailed Palestinians accused of terrorism would be tantamount to the dissolution of government, Israels national security minister has said.

Speaking in the Knesset today, Itamar Ben-Gvir said: We wont allow thousands of terrorists to be released. The numbers presented [in the media] are meant to prepare the ground for another far-fetching deal.

The far-right minister, who recently called for settlements to be built in Gaza, said that while Israel has a moral obligation to return the hostages, it has an equal duty to provide security for its citizens.

Mr Ben-Gvir dismissed the United States efforts to push for a hostage deal by saying that real leadership looks years ahead, understands the meaning of its actions and doesnt act according to pressure and impulses, even not when pressured by such a close friend as the United States.

12:04 PM GMT

Pictured: Palestinians, who left their homes and took refuge in Rafah, are seen among the rubbles of the destroyed buildings

Palestinians, who left their homes and took refuge in Rafah, are seen among the rubbles of the destroyed buildings - Anadolu/Anadolu

11:50 AM GMT

IDF 'strikes Syria' overnight

The Israeli military said on Wednesday its warplanes struck Syrian army infrastructure overnight in response to rocket fire from the country.

Last night, a number of launches from Syria toward the southern Golan Heights were identified, the military said in a statement.

In response, IDF (Israeli) fighter jets struck military infrastructure belonging to the Syrian regime in the area of Daraa overnight.

It did not offer details of any casualties or damage caused by the air strikes on southern Syria.

11:08 AM GMT

Israel 'floods Hamas tunnels'

Israels army has begun flooding Hamass network of tunnels as intense fighting rages in Gaza.

Israeli troops gave journalists a tour of a tunnel they said had been used as a Hamas command centre.

Every war has its own characteristics, and I think that this war, its basic character is about that overground and underground manoeuvre, Dan Goldfus, commander of the 98th Paratroopers Division, told reporters outside of the shaft.

I think the enemy is on the run and is trying to put itself under the civilians as much as it can, he added.

10:28 AM GMT

Pictured: Palestinians wait in long queues in front of bakeries for hours in order to buy bread in Deir al Balah, Gaza

Palestinians wait in long queues in front of bakeries for hours in order to buy bread which is available in limited amounts in Deir al Balah, Gaza - APAImages/Shutterstock/Shutterstock

09:58 AM GMT

Norway urges UNRWA donors to reflect on 'wider consequences' of cutting funding

Norway, a top donor to the UNs Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), is urging countries that have cut funding to the agency to consider the consequences of their actions on the population in Gaza, its foreign minister told Reuters.

The Nordic country on Sunday said it would maintain its funding to UNRWA following accusations that some agency staff took part in the Oct 7 attack by Hamas, in contrast to several other countries that have paused payments.

We are discussing the question of funding with other donors and will continue to do so in the coming days and weeks, said Espen Barth Eide, adding Oslo was standing by its strong commitment to the agency, and to the Palestinian people.

We urge fellow donor countries to reflect on the wider consequences of cutting their funding to UNRWA, he said.

His comments come after the United States said that UNRWA needs to make fundamental changes before Washington will resume funding that was halted over Israeli accusations that some agency staff took part in the Oct 7 attack by Hamas.

09:36 AM GMT

World Health Organisation delivered essential medical supplies to hospital in Gaza

Amid ongoing heavy military operations in the vicinity of the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, #Gaza, @WHO and partners were able to reach the hospital yesterday and deliver essential medical supplies for 1000 patients. The team had also planned to deliver food to the hospital, pic.twitter.com/DiW16UangR  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 30, 2024

09:05 AM GMT

Pictured: IDF entering Gaza in a Merkava 4 tank

IDF entering Gaza in a Merkava 4 tank - Ziv Koren/Polaris / eyevine

08:43 AM GMT

Body of dead Israeli policeman remains in Gaza

The Israeli police announced the death of a policeman in the Oct 7 Hamas attack and said his body is being held by militants in the Gaza Strip.

Ran Gvili is no longer alive ... he was killed fighting against the enemy in the battle of (kibbutz) Alumim on Oct 7.

His body was kidnapped and is being held by a terrorist organisation, the force said in a statement.

Mr Gvilis death brings to 29 the number of dead hostages whose bodies remain in the Palestinian territory, according to an AFP tally.

08:33 AM GMT

Lead of EU red sea mission will be known soon, says top diplomat

Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, said he was hopeful it could be decided later in the day which member state could lead the upcoming EU mission to protect vessels in the Red Sea, adding this operation could be launched before mid-February.

We have to decide which country will take the command, where the headquarters will be and what navy assets the member states will provide, he said before the start of an EU defence ministers meeting, adding he hopes that today it will be decided who will take the lead.

Not all member states will be willing to participate but no one will obstruct (..) I hope that on the 17th of (February) the mission can be launched, Mr Borrell said.

He added the operation will be named Aspides, which means protector.

08:32 AM GMT

Iran warns of decisive response to any type of attack

Amir Saeid Iravani, Irans envoy to the United Nations, warned that Tehran would respond decisively to any attack on its territory, its interests, or Iranian nationals outside its borders, state media reported on Wednesday.

The comment from Amir Saeid Iravani comes a day after Joe Biden, the US president, announced he has decided how to respond to a drone attack by Iran-aligned Iraqi groups that killed US service members in Jordan, without elaborating.

Several Iranian Revolutionary Guards have been killed following Israeli strikes in Syria, with five members dying on Jan 20 and another two on Dec 25.

08:28 AM GMT

Britain set to deploy aircraft carrier to Red Sea

Britain is poised to send an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea to counter drone and missile attacks from Houthi rebels.

The Royal Navy is preparing to step in to replace USS Dwight D Eisenhower when it returns to America, as the Houthis warned of a long-term confrontation in one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes.

James Heappey, the armed forces minister, said on Tuesday that the UK may co-operate with the Americans and step in to plug a gap in the Red Sea.

Read more here

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By Henriette Chacar, Mohammad Salem and Nidal al-Mughrabi

JERUSALEM/GAZA/DOHA (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Wednesday for the closure of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) as his forces conducted more air strikes in Gaza amid diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire and release of hostages in the enclave.

Israel has accused some UNRWA staff of involvement in the Oct. 7 Hamas assault in southern Israel that triggered the war in Gaza. Donors including the United States have paused funding pending an investigation, but aid agencies say ending UNRWA operations would wreck humanitarian efforts in devastated Gaza.

The Palestinians have accused Israel of falsifying information to tarnish UNRWA, which was set up to help refugees of the war at Israel's founding in 1948 and to which more than half Gaza's population look to for day-to-day assistance.

"It's time the international community and the U.N. itself understand that UNRWA's mission has to end," Netanyahu told visiting U.N. delegates, according to his office.

He said UNRWA should be replaced by other aid agencies "if we are going to solve the problem of Gaza as we intend to do".

Earlier, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described UNRWA as "the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza" and appealed to all countries to "guarantee the continuity of UNRWA's life-saving work".

In Gaza, witnesses said Israel had stepped up air strikes on Gaza City, in the north, and bombarded parts of Khan Younis, in the south, despite what appeared to be the most serious peace initiative for months in the Israel-Hamas war.

Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that runs Gaza, is currently studying the proposal, which envisages the release of all remaining hostages seized on Oct. 7. Israel says they number around 136. Hamas has demanded an end to Israel's offensive.

World powers hope to prevent a wider conflict, but tensions in the Middle East remain high after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels said they would keep attacking U.S. and British warships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians.

Relations between Tehran and Washington are also tense after the deaths of three U.S. soldiers in a drone strike in Jordan that U.S. officials blame on Iran-backed militants. Washington has not yet outlined its response, but Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday they would respond to any U.S. threat.

DEVASTATION

Much of the densely populated Gaza Strip has been devastated by almost four months of Israeli bombardment, and most of its 2.3 million residents have been uprooted by fighting that has caused the world's biggest humanitarian crisis.

Gaza health authorities said 26,900 Palestinians had been killed - including 150 over the past 24 hours - so far in the war that was triggered after Hamas fighters stormed into Israeli towns on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 and taking 253 hostages.

Israel's military said its forces had killed at least 25 Palestinian militants in Gaza in the past 24 hours, and that three Israeli soldiers had been killed - taking to 224 the number of troops killed during Israel's ground offensive.

Smoke rose above Gaza City after the latest air strikes, some of which targeted the headquarters of the Hamas-run interior ministry, Hamas-run media and residents said.

The Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza came under fire and tanks pounded areas of Khan Younis around Nasser Hospital, the largest still functioning in the south, witnesses said.

As the health system deteriorates, Palestinian medics say they have formed field medical points to help reach front lines, as treating the wounded in Khan Younis has become increasingly difficult amid street battles and artillery strikes.

"There's a lot of injuries among the displaced who were in the industrial quarter and some schools," said Nassim Hassan, the head of the Emergency Unit at Nasser Hospital, adding that "many of the injured left loaded on carts, tuk-tuks, cars or even on foot."

THREE-STAGE TRUCE

A senior Hamas official told Reuters the Gaza ceasefire proposal involved a three-stage truce, during which Hamas would release the remaining civilians among hostages captured on Oct. 7, then soldiers, and finally the bodies of dead hostages.

The proposal followed talks in Paris involving intelligence chiefs from Israel, the U.S. and Egypt, with the prime minister of Qatar.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations urged Hamas on Wednesday to accept the proposal, saying it would allow more vital food, water and medicine supplies to enter Gaza.

"(Hamas) can continue to dig tunnels, to plan for its next attack, to use civilians and civilian infrastructure as human shields, or it can lay down its weapons and accept the proposal on the table to release every hostage," Linda Thomas-Greenfield told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council.

Palestinians said the fighting in Gaza must end for good.

"Any ceasefire that doesn't end the war and return us to our homes in Gaza City and the north is not worth it," Ahmed, who fled his home in Gaza City for Rafah in the south, said by telephone. "We are exhausted."

(Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell, Fadi Shana, Estelle Shirbon, Jana Choukeir and Nadine Awadalla; Writing by Timothy Heritage and Gareth Jones; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Alex Richardson)
Russia's alliance with Iran and related ties with Hamas are "unforgivable," said Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid in an interview with the Israeli newspaper Vesti published on Jan. 30.

Israel has largely avoided taking sides in Russia's war against Ukraine and has not provided any meaningful military aid to Ukraine. It has a long-standing relationship with Russia, complicated by the significant Russian diaspora in Israel.

There is also a large Ukrainian diaspora in Israel, and the two countries have a visa-free regime and other diplomatic ties.

Israel's relations with Russia have increasingly deteriorated since the beginning of the war with Hamas in October 2023. In a harsh critique of Israel's actions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Israel's bombing campaign against Hamas in Gaza goes against international humanitarian law.

Ukraine and Israel also share a common foe, Iran, which has supplied weapons to Russia and continues to fund Hamas and other militant groups battling Israel.

There has also been speculation that Russia was more directly linked to Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and launched the still ongoing war.

"It is clear that Russia needs Iran today more than ever," said Lapid, a former prime minister of Israel and the current head of the Israeli opposition.

"And the further (Russia commits to its war in Ukraine), the more it depends on the supply of Iranian weapons, thereby turning into a link in the axis of evil."

"States do not break off relations just like that, but they also do not forgive in the event of such an insult," Lapid said, referring to Russia's alliance with Iran.

"There is no doubt that the country's leadership must reconsider its position towards Russia," Lapid said.

"The things voiced by Lavrov and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, the way they unequivocally sided with Hamas, calling it a legitimate organization... Israel will find it difficult to forgive Russia and its leadership for the position they have taken for a very long time," he added.

Lapid acknowledged that some semblance of relations with Russia would need to be maintained for "strategic reasons" but said that the close ties previously seen between the two countries will not be seen again for some time.

Read also: Ukraine sides with Israel. How will it affect Kyivs relations with Arab world, Global South?

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Jacksonville is making a splash in the world of craft beer as it vies for the title of the countrys Best Beer City.

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The voting period runs until February 26 at noon, providing time for supporters to rally behind Jacksonvilles bid for beer supremacy. The winners of the title will be unveiled on Friday, March 8.

To lend your support and help Jacksonville clinch the coveted title, visit the voting platform HERE and cast your ballot for the citys thriving beer culture.

With its diverse array of breweries and renowned beer destinations like Goozlepipe & Guttyworks at Kickbacks, Jacksonville is poised to make a formidable impression in the world of craft beer.

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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.
Noah Ochoa, 24, was charged with assault causing bodily injury after a viral TikTok video showed him getting into a verbal altercation with a woman last May. Bexar County Sheriff's Office

San Antonio police arrested a 24-year-old man accused of hitting a woman and attempting to hit her with a car last May in a local park.

Noah Ochoa was charged with a misdemeanor assault causing bodily injury on Monday. He has since been released on a $3,500 bail, court records show.

In a now-viral social media video by TikTok creator Michael McWhorter, also known as TizzyEnt, Ochoa was seen holding a dog and telling a woman recording him, Let me put my dog up. Ill beat your a--.

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McWhorter, who makes videos about crime and injustices, has made several updated videos about this incident. In November, he asked his 6.1 million followers to help identify the man in the video while asking why police werent doing more to find him.

According to the police report on May 21, Ochoa was allegedly hitting his dog at Olmos Basin Park when a woman commented on what she saw. He then began to get aggressive while using profanity.

The woman told police that Ochoa hit her with an open hand in the back of the head. The first witness on the scene attempted to mediate the altercation but was unsuccessful. Ochoa continued to assault the woman, according to the report.

She said he struck her in the back of the head and then punched her on the forehead, knocking off her hat.

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Ochoa then returned to his vehicle and drove toward the woman, appearing as if he was going to run her over, she told police. The witness stated that no one was hit by the car in this incident.

Two other witnesses saw the alleged attack, the report states.

Ochoas arrest comes more than a week after McWhorters recent update about the incident. In the Jan. 22 video, McWhorter alleged that Ochoa is related to a veteran San Antonio police officer, which could be why it took the department months to turn the case over to the district attorneys office.

McWhorter also alleged that the woman in this incident was told the 911 recordings had been deleted.

The way I see it, either the San Antonio Police Department is completely inept and has dropped the ball on almost every aspect of this investigation or one or several members of the department has actively worked to protect a family member of a veteran police officer, McWhorter said.

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SAPD would not confirm whether Ochoa was related to an officer.

A day after McWhorters video, Police Chief William McManus clapped back in a post on X. He stated that the May 2023 dog incident was investigated and filed with the DAs office in December.

McWhorters video amassed over 500,000 views on TikTok and over 300,000 views on X over the last week.

Ochoas criminal history dates back to 2018 and 2019 when he was arrested on drug possession charges. His arraignment hearing is scheduled for March 4.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan gave President Joe Bidens China strategy a pat on the back Tuesday by proclaiming that it has successfully reduced tensions and prodded Beijing to engage on issues critical to U.S. interests.

Sullivan praised the administrations intensive outreach to Beijing over the past year to lift bilateral ties from the historic low they hit following the Chinese spy balloon incident in February. That derailed a long-planned visit to China that month by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and stoked perceptions on Capitol Hill of Beijings existential threat to the United States.

Blinkens visit to Beijing in June signaled the start of an ongoing eight-month diplomatic outreach campaign that climaxed with Bidens meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in San Francisco in November.

Sullivan pointed to the creation of a U.S.-China Counternarcotics Working Group that had its first meeting Tuesday in Beijing, the resumption of bilateral military-to-military contacts, and an agreement to discuss safe development of artificial intelligence as evidence of the value of that approach.



Critics said at the time that this travel was one-sided  but our strategy was to use those meetings to open up a two-way flow of exchanges, and that's exactly what happened, Sullivan said at a Council on Foreign Relations event. That intensive interaction with China will continue in 2024 with Biden playing a key role.

Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed in their meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, last week that there really is no substitute for leader-to-leader conversation  both of us agreed that we would report back to our leaders and we would get them on the phone sooner rather than later, Sullivan said.

Sullivans speech marked the third briefing in four days in which senior administration officials have lauded the positive impact of their China engagement. That messaging campaign is an explicit push-back on high profile GOP detractors of that approach including Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chair of the House Select Committee on China, who has christened that effort zombie engagement.

The Biden administration is also keen to tout a diplomatic thaw with its biggest strategic competitor at a time of worsening tensions in the Middle East sparked by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has snarled Red Sea shipping lanes with ongoing missile and drone attacks that have continued despite U.S. and British airstrikes. The risk of a wider regional conflict pulling in the U.S. rose after a drone attack by Iranian proxies killed three U.S. soldiers on a base in Jordan on Sunday. That prompted Blinken to warn on Monday that regional volatility was at its highest point since 1973.



A senior administration official admitted last week that Sullivan had failed to persuade Yi to use Chinas economic influence on Iran  which funds and equips the Houthis  to stem the threat to global supply chains. The administration also remains concerned about Chinas no limits partnership with Moscow and possible moves by Beijing to directly support Moscows war effort against Ukraine.

We have not seen the provision of lethal aid but  we have seen support from Chinese companies to help Russia reconstitute its defense industrial base, said Sullivan.

That's a concern for the administration "because we believe that Russia's defense industrial base is basically building up to continue to support an imperial war of conquest in Europe, and that's a fundamental national security interest of the United States, Sullivan said.

Sullivan said that Beijing can also expect the administration to fine-tune China-targeted export restrictions on high technology semiconductors. As the technology evolves, our controls have to evolve," Sullivan said.
Jean Carnahan, the first Missouri woman to serve in the U.S. Senate and a former Missouri first lady, died Tuesday. She was 90.

Carnahan died peacefully after a brief illness, a spokesperson for the family said in a statement.

Mom passed peacefully after a long and rich life, her family said. She was a fearless trailblazer. She was brilliant, creative, compassionate and dedicated to her family and her fellow Missourians.

Carnahan, a Democrat, was appointed to the Senate after her husband, Gov. Mel Carnahan, posthumously won election to the Senate after he was killed in a plane crash 22 days before the 2000 election.

She served two years in the Senate, from Jan. 3, 2001 to Nov. 25, 2002, where she championed issues such as education, children, seniors and working families.

The Carnahan family name is well-known and connected within Missouri politics. Numerous political figures across Missouri shared support for her family and remembrances after news of the death.

Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, said in a statement she will be remembered for her deep, abundant love for the people of this great state.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas posted that We wont let the fire go out  a nod to the title of Carnahans autobiography.

Thank you to Jean Carnahan for a lifetime of love and service to the people of Missouri and our country, he said. My condolences to all who loved her and knew her.

Former U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, called Carnahan a wonderful woman on social media.

Senator Jean Carnahan who survived tragedy with grit and grace, a woman who served others both in and out of the public eye, McCaskill said. I know her family will miss her terribly, along with all of us lucky enough to be her friend.

While in the Senate, Carnahan was also only the fifth woman to ever serve on the Armed Services Committee. She pushed to improve conditions for military personnel, including securing health care benefits for returning National Guard personnel and reservists.

While first lady of Missouri, Carnahan supported on-site day care centers for families, domestic violence shelters and arts education. She also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, according to a news release.

Carnhan wrote seven books, including two that focused on the Missouri governors mansion. Her autobiography, Dont Let the Fire Go Out!, detailed her time as first lady and senator.

Her daughter Robin Carnahan served as Missouri secretary of state from 2005 to 2013 and her son Russ Carnahan was in the U.S. House from 2005 to 2013. He now chairs the Missouri Democratic Party.

Carnahan, born Dec. 20, 1933, in Washington, D.C., is survived by three children and five grandchildren. Her eldest son, Roger Randy Carnahan, was also killed in the plane crash that killed her husband.

The family is planning a public celebration of her life in St. Louis, which will be announced at a later date, according to the news release. Her family will host a private ceremony at Carson Hill Cemetery near Ellsinore in southeastern Missouri, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband and son.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has witnessed over 6 million migrants entering the United States from the southern border under the Biden administration, and a large percentage of them are coming through Texas.

In response, the states Republican governor, Greg Abbott, has taken matters into his own hands. In March 2021, he launched Operation Lone Star, a multi-faceted mission to stop illegal immigration along the Texas border. Now, President Joe Biden and his administration argue barriers the state has erected along the border as part of Operation Lone Star infringe on federal authority. Enforcing border regulation typically falls on federal authorities.

The Biden administration has accused Abbott of dehumanizing immigrants and making it harder for federal Border Patrol agents to do their jobs. Abbott claims Biden isnt doing his job to protect the southern border from foreign invasion, and that while constitutional authority gives him the right to maintain the barriers, Bidens claim over national border authority rests on historic precedent.

The fight has included standoffs at the border and tit-for-tat legal filings.

What have legal fights been over?

Last July, Abbott installed a 1,000-foot floating barrier in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas, prompting a federal lawsuit from the Biden administration. The lawsuit claimed Abbott installed the barrier without necessary federal authorization. Abbott later stated, however, that the barriers directed migrants to appropriate border entry points and prevented the illegal transfer of drugs, weapons, and people into the country. In September, U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra ruled that Texas must remove the floating barrier.

Rather than remove the barrier, Texas immediately appealed to 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed the lower courts ruling and ordered Texas to remove the floating barrier. The battle against Operation Lone Star, however, continued on other fronts.

In October, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in district court and accused Border Patrol agents of cutting, damaging, and destroying a razor wire fence Texas had established to secure the border and prevent illegal immigration. While Paxton described the removal in his lawsuit as without any justification, the Biden administration countered that the wire impeded Border Patrol agents from safely performing their duties.

The district court granted Paxton an emergency restraining order to stop federal agents from destroying the wire. On December 19, a 5th Circuit judge issued the state of Texas an injunction to prevent federal agents from interfering with the wire fence while the case was pending. This injunction did, however, allow an exception for cases constituting medical emergencies.

On January 2, DHS filed an emergency application to the U.S. Supreme Court requesting it freeze the 5th Circuits injunction. DHS argued that newly erected barriers prevented agents from performing their jobs by blocking their access to Shelby Park, a city park in Eagle Pass. A border patrol chief patrol agent, Robert Danley, stated that without access to a certain boat ramp in Shelby Park, federal agents could not respond to distressed migrants in the area.

Texas has the legal authority to control ingress into any geographic location in the state of Texas, Abbott said at a news conference on Friday, January 12.

Later that day, a woman and her two children drowned near the boat ramp Danley described. Three days later, DHS filed a memorandum to the Supreme Court stating that if the Border Patrol had retained its original access to the park, its agents may have been able to rescue the three drowning migrants. The White House also blamed Texas officials for the deaths. Paxton called the loss of life in the Rio Grande tragic, stated that the fencing was established to prevent loss of life in the area, and claimed that the fence deters illegal crossing by routing migrants to safe and lawful entry ports.

On January 14, the Texas Military Department released a statement following its review of the circumstances and concluded that the migrants had already drowned by the time Border Patrol agents requested access to the site of the tragedy.

In a 5-4 vote on January 22, the Supreme Court used a shadow docketa procedure which can be employed in cases requiring immediate actionto lift the 5th Circuits injunction which had blocked border patrol agents from destroying the barriers. The move allowed federal agents to remove state-erected barriers.

The 5th Circuit will hear arguments on February 7 regarding whether Border Patrol agents violated Texas law by cutting the razor-wire barrier, one of the key claims of Paxtons lawsuit against DHS.

Whats next?

Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and others say Gov. Abbott has a constitutional obligation to defy the Supreme Courts ruling. This opinion is unconscionable and Texas should ignore it on behalf of the [Border Patrol] agents who will be put in a worse position by the opinion and the Biden administrations policies, Roy tweeted.

In fact, the one-page Supreme Court order does not prohibit the erection of additional barriers, but simply allows Border Patrol agents to destroy barriers when necessary.

Still, some Democrats have called on Biden to seize the Texas National Guard. Abbott is using the Texas Guard to defy a Supreme Court ruling, former Rep. Beto ORourke wrote on January 24. When Gov. Faubus did this in 1957, Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas Guard to ensure compliance with the law. Biden must follow this example of bold, decisive leadership to end this crisis before it gets worse.

For now, a senior Customs and Border Protection official told Fox News on Friday that the Border Patrol is not planning to remove the razor wire except in emergencies. If we need to access an area for emergency response, we will do so.

In addition to the fencing dispute, DHS sued Abbott on January 3 on behalf of the state of Texas for recently signing a bill making illegal border crossings a state crime punishable by deportation, prosecution, or imprisonment. The suit argues that the bill is preempted by federal law, violates the Constitution, and should be declared invalid. Under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution and long standing Supreme Court precedent, states cannot adopt immigration laws that interfere with the framework enacted by Congress, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta stated, calling the bill clearly unconstitutional.

Texas arguments may ultimately rest on the classification of the migrant crossings as an invasion. The upcoming court decision largely depends on the judges opinion of Abbotts classification of the border situation as an invasion. The judges agreement with his terminology would make the governor more likely to win his case, and would also strengthen Paxtons argument for his lawsuit.

The Supreme Court has never defined the word invade. However, under the Constitution, invasion has historically been interpreted to involve entry plus enmitymeaning illegal entry alone is insufficient to constitute an invasion.

Read more at The Dispatch

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John Bolton, who served as national security adviser under Donald Trump, on Tuesday warned that authoritarian leaders around the world would welcome a second Trump term, adding that the former president is an easy mark for them.

Bolton said that Trump was fortunate to not confront major international crises, other than the COVID-19 pandemic, during his time in office, and argued that Trump would be unfit to handle the challenges facing the present administration, amid the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

When youre in a crisis you need a president who is resolute, who can keep his eye on the prize and worry about our national security, not his own image, Bolton said on CNNs The Source.

Bolton, a frequent critic of Trump, added that his former boss lacks the skills to take on major decisions around national security.

His attention span is short. He doesnt know much about world history or world affairs, Bolton said. He actually doesnt think they matter very much. He thinks his personal relationships with foreign leaders, especially the authoritarian ones, are all that matter.

Yet, the former United Nations ambassador said, Trumps self-absorption makes it nearly impossible for him to understand how his foreign counterparts see him.

I dont think they are really friendly with Donald Trump, Bolton said, naming the leaders of China, Russia and North Korea as examples. I think they think  Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un and others  they think hes a laughing fool. And theyre fully prepared to take advantage of him.

He added, I think they believe hes an easy mark.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden recently told his supporters in South Carolina that many international leaders, presumably U.S. allies, are anxious about the prospect of a second Trump presidency.

I know every one of those heads of state, and Ive known them for a while, Biden said over the weekend. Every meeting I go to internationally, I  as theyre walking out, this is the Gods truth  virtually every one of them pulls me aside and says: Youve got to win. We cant let that happen again. You cant let that happen again.

Trump, however, appears to be cruising to the Republican presidential nomination, amassing endorsements from various members of his party.

He leads Nikki Haley, another former ambassador to the United Nations, by over 30 points in her home state of South Carolina ahead of its Feb. 24 primary, according to polling analyzed by FiveThirtyEight.

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John D. Podesta has been tapped to serve as President Joe Bidens special envoy for climate after John Kerry steps down in the coming months, Podesta and White House officials confirmed to The Washington Post on Wednesday. Podesta, 75, has worked as senior adviser to the president for clean energy since Sept. 2022. Prior to that, he served as counselor to President Barack Obama, helping to broker the 2015 Paris climate agreement, and in various roles in the Clinton administration, including as White House chief of staff from 1998 to 2001. Podesta will reportedly remain at the White Houserather than transfer to the State Departmentunder the new title of senior adviser to the president for international climate policy. Secretary Kerry has put the U.S. back in leadership on climate around the world, he told the Post on Wednesday. And well ensure that we keep up the momentum that has been built up through his efforts. Kerry, 80, announced his plan to bow out earlier this month. The New York Times reported that he is expected to get involved in Bidens re-election campaign, helping to get out the word on the administrations climate achievements

Read it at The Washington Post

Read more at The Daily Beast.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  A local woman celebrated her 100th birthday on Tuesday by reminiscing on all her lifes endeavors, which include meeting the love of her life, piloting planes during World War II and photographing royalty.

Carmen Deel Black was born on January 30, 1924, on a farm in Virginia. She had five brothers and four sisters. Once she graduated high school, Black got a scholarship to the College of William and Mary but turned it down to be with her family in Detroit, as she had two brothers serving in the military at that time. Black said she felt her family needed her more in that moment.

Road work to impact traffic on State Route 353 in Jonesborough through June

Black got a job at a DeSoto car manufacturer as a private executive secretary in Detroit but said she felt an urge to serve her country as World War II consumed the globe. She said she saw an ad for flying lessons one day and decided to save her money for that.

I thought I was better off if I went and took flying lessons, and help with the war effort than it would be to start college right away because I [can] always pick up on my college, she said.

Black learned how to fly and worked for two years with Desoto cars, as it transitioned from automotive to defense production during the war. She flew to California and Virginia to deliver cargo, with a special focus on Virginia Beach.

Black eventually lost all five of her brothers to the war, but she told staff at her Johnson City senior residence, The Waters, that she was thankful to carry their service on by flying supplies to aid the cause.

Once the war ended and her cousin returned home, he introduced her to his friend and foxhole partner Donald Black. The man would soon become her husband in 1946.

Black said they didnt let arguments get in the way of their love.

Our love, that had cared for each other all those years, was far, far more important than a stupid little, say where he thought this was right, I thought that was right. It wasnt important.





Black said she and her husband were married for 72 years and had a full life. They had four children and traveled the world. Her husband Donald was honored for his service at the French Embassy in 2009, which she mentioned as a highlight of their travels.

I flew for about a couple of years, and after that, I purchased a portrait studio and started taking portraits of people. We photographed the Queen from India. She had all that silks and so forth on, and had a diamond necklace on that you wouldnt believe.

Input sought on future of Buffalo Mountain Park in Johnson City

Black said her husband passed away in 2019 and she misses him each day. She still has three of her four children living and The Waters said she loves to socialize with her neighbors and family, and that theyre honored to have her as a resident.

I just thank God that he granted me that much time, she said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told the three leaders of the Baltic parliaments that President Bidens national security supplemental that includes aid for Ukraine is likely to be split up over concerns about border policy reforms, according to a source familiar with the conversation.

Johnson said the decision would ultimately depend on the border text that emerges from Senate negotiators, he told the senior European lawmakers, according to the source.

The Hill reached out to Johnsons office for comment. The Speakers remarks were first reported by Semafor. Johnson spokesperson Raj Shah told Semafor that the comments were made in a hypothetical context.

The remarks come as Johnson and other Republicans have signaled that the Senate deal, which would pair Ukraine aid with changes to migration and border policy, would be dead on arrival in the House if the text of the bill is in line with reports about its contents.

One major rumored provision in the deal that is eliciting strong GOP pushback concerns the executive branch power to halt migration if illegal crossings exceed 5,000 per day. Republicans opposed to the deal argue that the threshold should be far lower.

Former President Trump has pushed for Republicans to reject any bipartisan border deal to rob President Biden of a legislative victory. Democrats have accused Republicans of tanking the deal out of a desire to help Trump in his 2024 bid against Biden, but Johnson said that notion was absurd earlier this week.

While House Republicans are increasingly opposed to more aid for Ukraine, allies in Europe have expressed confidence that Johnson, and a majority in Congress, support continued U.S. assistance for Ukraine.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), one of the negotiators of the border policy reform, said theres still consensus on keeping border policy reforms as part of the larger national security supplemental, which includes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

We have a deal. I think the bigger problem were trying to solve is whether there are the votes in the Republican conference to pass this, he said.

I think demands to have border and Ukraine together have been pretty consistent not just in the Senate but in the House as well.

Even as Congress has yet to move forward on passing new aid for Ukraine, European lawmakers have consistently expressed confidence that Democrats and Republicans will ultimately move forward on continued U.S. military and economic assistance for Kyiv.

The three heads of the Baltic parliaments spoke with a group of journalists Wednesday morning and said the meeting with Johnson was positive, and that he expressed U.S. support for Ukraine.

Lauri Hussar, speaker of the Parliament of Estonia, said the House Speaker expressed his readiness to deliver U.S. assistance to Ukraine, saying there should be a way to find a solution to the problems and domestic issues standing in the way.

He expressed his readiness to work for the solution to continue the helping of Ukraine, Hussar said.

Daiga Mierina, Speaker of the Parliament of Latvia, said the Baltic leaders are confident that there is a majority of support in Congress to provide aid for Ukraine.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to meet with various congressman, with committee leaders, and of course opinions are different, we heard different views, but overall we are pleased to say theres broad support for Ukraine, she said.

Speaker Johnson also affirmed this close partnership [with the Baltics] and that this close partnership would continue going forward.

Emily Brooks contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Chinese premier calls for promoting industrial innovation

Xinhua) 08:16, January 31, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a drone production company in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 30, 2024. Li made an inspection tour in northwest China's Shaanxi Province from Monday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

XI'AN, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for efforts to promote industrial innovation through scientific and technological innovation and accelerate the cultivation of new productive forces.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in northwest China's Shaanxi Province from Monday to Tuesday.

The premier inspected a display devices company on Monday. He stressed that manufacturing enterprises should increase spending on research and development and foster their technological competition edges.

While visiting a smart braking manufacturer, Li urged the company to seize the latest development trend of commercial vehicles and accelerate industrial transformation and upgrading.

The premier also inspected Western Superconducting Technologies Co., Ltd. and encouraged the firm to promote technological development and continuously advance the transformation and industrial application of sci-tech achievements.

During his visit to a material technology firm on Tuesday, Li called on the company to focus on cutting-edge technologies and address key and core technological problems.

At a drone production company, the premier said that the drone industry has broad prospects, calling for stronger efforts to research and develop new technologies and products and better tap the economic potential of the low-altitude airspace.

At the new campus of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Li urged teachers and students to make more progress in building the university-enterprise joint innovation platform and promoting the integration among industrial, academic, and research circles.

The premier fully recognized the achievements of Shaanxi's economic and social development and expected the province to give full play to its advantages, ensure the solid implementation of policies, and make more contributions to overall national development.

Li also presided over a symposium and listened to the opinions and suggestions of local officials on the draft government work report and government work.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a display devices company in Xianyang, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 29, 2024. Li made an inspection tour in northwest China's Shaanxi Province from Monday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Along with friends and family, Vincent Hausman carries the mixed ashes of his grandfather and grandmother into their grave during services on Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Vincent Hausman laughs while recalling his grandfather during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Dr. Benson Hausman is hugged by his daughter Nina during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Dr. Benson Hausman watches workers place the headstone of his father and mother during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Vincent Hausman puts the container with the mixed ashes of his grandfather and grandmother into their grave during services on Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Dr. Benson Hausman looks over the fresh burial site of his mother and father during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Vincent and Benson Hausman stand over the grave during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad The gravestone of Robert and Helen Hausman awaits placement during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad An old photograph of Robert and Helen Hausman on their first date is shown during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Dr. Benson Hausman speaks during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Nina Hausman wipes her eyes after speaking during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. With her is her stepmother, Francisca Frederiks. Robin Jerstad Dr. Benson Hausman speaks during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Dr. Benson Hausman watches workers place the headstone of his father and mother during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Vincent Hausman puts the container with the mixed ashes of his grandfather and grandmother into their grave during services on Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Along with friends and family, Vincent Hausman carries the mixed ashes of his grandfather and grandmother into their grave during services on Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Dr. Benson Hausman smiles while mixing the ashes of his mother and father during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Dr. Benson Hausman speaks during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad Dr. Robert Hausman and wife, Helen, pose for a photo in the 1960s. Hausman was Bexar County's first medical examiner. Photo courtesy of Dr. Benson Hausman

For years, Dr. Robert Hausmans name was synonymous with death.

As Bexar Countys first medical examiner, he was the final word in the community on what happened to loved ones who died unexpectedly.

More than 50 years later, the ashes of Hausman and his wife, Helen, rest together in Mission Park Cemetery North.

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The couples youngest son, Dr. Benson Hausman, traveled more than 5,000 miles from Amsterdam with his wife, Francisca Frederiks, in January to fulfill his mothers wish  to mix her ashes with her husbands so they could be united in death.

Benson Hausman chose San Antonio, where his parents made an impact, as their final resting place.

Robert Hausman was named the Bexar County medical examiner in July 1956. The year before, the Texas Medical Examiner Act allowed any Texas county with a population of more than 250,000 to move away from a justice of the peace system of handling unexpected and violent deaths.

He was the embodiment of the medical examiner concept, the first in Texas, Benson Hausman said, adding that his fathers methods became the basis for investigating fatal highway wrecks.

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But Robert Hausmans career in Bexar County ended in controversy in 1968 after he testified the death of a local Black man was the result of police brutality. Two months after a grand jury declined to indict the six police officers involved, Hausman resigned under pressure.

Coroners in the mid-1900s didnt have the allure and glamour often found in television shows like Body of Proof, CSI and Bones, Benson Hausman said.

The MEs website notes Hausman was the countys first medical examiner, but his son would like more. Hes asked the county to acknowledge his father  a pioneer in the field of forensics  as a historical figure in the form of a plaque, street or conference room.

Theyre making some distinctions, Hausman said. But in my opinion, theres nothing bringing him into the spotlight.

Dr. Benson Hausman is hugged by his daughter Nina during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad

'The Little Doc'

In his obituary, Hausmans wife said her husband fought long and hard to establish a modern and scientifically sound medical examiner system.

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The news of the times documented Robert Hausmans unabashed passion for his work and his clashes with county commissioners over funding to further the system throughout his 12-year tenure.

Standing 5 feet, 2 inches, some fondly called him the Little Doc. A local news report described the medical examiner as a thorough worker with terrier-like tenacity.

The doctor was known for his signature style  a linen suit, white shirt and vivid bow tie. Benson Hausman recalled his father saying that wearing a tie is when a man can be colorful without raising eyebrows.

Born in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), Robert Hausman served as a ships doctor in the Dutch Merchant Marines during World War II.

When he arrived in New York City, Hausman met Helen Rasch, a young woman with a cosmopolitan flair. They married in August 1944.

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He came to San Antonio in 1950 for specialist training in pathology led by Dr. A.O. Severance, who would hire him six years later. After completing his residency at Cornell University, Hausman served as chief pathologist at the Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta from 1953 to 1955.

As a youngster, Benson Hausman often rode with his father to scenes. It was a thrill when his father floored the gas pedal of his powder-blue, two-seater Thunderbird, speeding on the highway to calls blaring from a police radio. At times, he was also by his fathers side, fascinated by the coroners care of decayed remains at gruesome scenes.

The younger Hausman can remember several of the murder cases solved by the coroner. One investigation involved Eunice Beynon, who confessed in 1961 to pouring rat poison into a water bottle in her sister and brother-in-laws refrigerator.

Robert Hausman had an end-of-day ritual to protect the family. The coroner took off his clothes on the back porch and took a shower so as not to bring germs or the smell of decomposing bodies into the home.

After his mothers death in November 2018, Benson Hausman discovered revealing articles about his father in her home.

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In a May 2008 article, historian and columnist T.R. Fehrenbach wrote Hausmans findings became the basis for investigating fatal highway wrecks. He discovered that 60% of highway fatalities in Bexar County involved the consumption of alcohol by one or more drivers.

After local newspapers declined to print his findings, Hausmans work was printed in an Arizona sheriffs publication. Organizations across the country reprinted and corroborated his statistics.

Dr. Benson Hausman and his son Vincent mix the ashes of Benson's mother and father during services Jan. 15 at Mission Park Cemetery to honor the late Dr. Robert Hausman, Bexar County's first medical examiner. Robin Jerstad

Bobby Joe Phillips

David Hausman, 78, the couples eldest son, recalled his fathers disdain for segregation. In the mid-1950s, the family made a revelatory stop at a cafe in southern Georgia. After they received the menus, his father became upset and said they were leaving.

When they asked why, he said, Thats why, and pointed to a sign that read: Whites Only.

It speaks volumes of who my dad was, David Hausman said.

Benson Hausman said in an age when Black men and women are still dying at the hands of police, one of his fathers disturbing cases is more relevant than ever. Fifty-five years ago, his father testified that the death of a San Antonio Black man was due to police brutality.

On May 8, 1968, six police officers arrested Bobby Joe Phillips, reported to have wielded a knife around people at two East Side locations. Witnesses said when he resisted arrest, the officers beat him with blackjacks (a type of baton), pistols and nightsticks.

Handcuffed, Phillips was put in a police vehicle and driven to Robert B. Green Hospital. He died on an X-ray table.

The autopsy showed Phillips had broken ribs, a collapsed lung and severe lacerations to the head, some revealing his bare skull. The cause of death: a broken neck.

SNAP (Snapshot), a Black weekly newspaper, ran autopsy photos of Phillips on the front page. Former council member Mario Salas said the images changed civil rights in San Antonio.

Salas was 18 and just graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School. He said similar abuses had been going on the East Side for years.

Phillips death ignited protests in the Black community.

It made people so angry, Salas said. That incident got me involved in (protesting) police use of force. It just drew upon my spirit to want to do something.

The teen joined the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee  or SNCC  and protested against the Vietnam War. Four days later, he was one of an estimated crowd of 200 that demonstrated in a memorial march from the 600 block of East Commerce Street to Alamo Plaza.

A three-person San Antonio Firemans and Policemens Civil Service Commission held hearings for two days. The commission voted 2-1 that no unnecessary force was used.

In August 1968, a district attorneys grand jury investigation determined that, because of insufficient evidence, no indictment should be returned or further action taken in the case.

Salas said after he heard Hausmans testimony on the Phillips case, he knew the politicians of the time wouldnt let him remain as medical examiner.

Robert Hausman resigned two months later. Benson Hausman said his father was pressured to resign because of disagreements with commissioners over the years and his testimony as medical examiner that Phillips death was caused by police brutality.

There were several forces trying to get him to leave, Benson Hausman said.

Robert Hausman continued his work as deputy chief medical examiner in Queens, N.Y., then private practice in Fort Worth. He eventually went to Amsterdam as a university academic pathologist.

In 1990, Hausman returned to San Antonio, where he died in September 1991. He was 77.

On a cold day in January, Benson Hausmans son, Vincent, helped him mix his parents ashes into one urn. After a ceremony honoring the couple, the group filed outside into 18-degree temperatures.

Several people remembered Helen Hausman, a former member of the League of Women Voters, as a progressive woman.

Nina Helen Hausman, 43, said she learned to live a life of adventure and travel from her Oma, who taught her to love the imperfect men around her while not being subservient to them.

You taught me about unconditional love, Nina Hausman said. Because you loved me unconditionally.

Her brother, Vincent, 44, recalled his grandmothers encouragement to live life to the fullest. Before she died in 2018, he stayed with her for a few months, a time he cherishes.

I loved her, Vincent Hausman said. What a fantastic woman.

He carried the metal urn with his grandparents remains to a freshly dug drum-sized grave.

With bowed heads, the group stood beneath a black funeral tent around the couples headstone. Etched between the deceased couples names was No man is an island, a philosophy they shared.

Benson and Vincent Hausman were the last at the site. Cemetery workers placed the marker over the grave  the last act of a sons promise.
This screenshot of a bystander's cellphone video captures the forceful arrest of Jordan D. Ely Sr., 31, who was taken into custody on a felony drug charge and misdemeanors for resisting arrest and obstruction of justice.

A 32-year-old Akron man forcefully arrested on July 1 who was punched three times by two police officers was found not guilty Monday of resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, following a two-day jury trial.

Jordan Ely previously pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl-related substances, a fourth-degree felony, related to the incident, said Imokhai Okolo, his attorney.

Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands tacked on additional probation time to an existing sentence, Okolo said. Ely will also enter drug treatment.

Jordan Ely: Forceful arrest of man on Copley Road captured on cellphone video, social media posts

"I feel validated, and I feel Jordan feels the same way," Okolo said after the trial.

Although nothing was certain about taking this to trial, Okolo said it was worth it.

"This fight can result in victories," he said.

Escalation in seconds

Jordan Ely Sr. holds his head in his hand as a visiting judge sets the bond for new charges of resisting arrest, obstruction of justice and felony drug possession July 2 following a forceful arrest by Akron police.

The incident, which took place in the Copley Road Family Dollar parking lot, was recorded by body-worn police footage and bystanders who circulated cellphone videos on social media.

In footage of the incident, Ely exits his vehicle, leaving his 1-year-old son in the back seat. He can be seen moving toward the rear of his vehicle.

About Okolo: After Akron police review board snub, Imokhai Okolo works to help those seeking justice

That's when the two officers take him to the ground.

During the arrest, one officer wraps his left arm around and under Ely's neck before punching him twice in the face and head.

Seconds later and with the officers on him, Ely plants his left arm on the pavement and pushes his body up. The two officers continue telling him to stop resisting and give up his hands.

That's when an officer throws a third punch and flattens Ely to the ground, pushing his knee into Ely's back. While this happens, they can be heard telling him to stop resisting arrest.

Shortly after the arrest, officers found a 2.5-gram bag of white powder that tested positive for fentanyl.

Officers explain how the incident began

Okolo cross-examined the two officers involved in the incident during the trial. He asked them why they ran Ely's plates, which led to the arrest. They both testified that they fell back on their training, noting three reasons to run his plates.

Both officers said Ely was driving in a high-crime neighborhood in West Akron. They saw Ely enter the oncoming traffic lane, another potential criminal indicator. As he drove by their cruiser, they reported that Ely turned his head away from them.

Okolo said this was profiling, and argued that the officers ran Ely's plates for seeming suspicious without probable cause.

"So many of us drive through that neighborhood," he said, calling Ely's actions that day benign. "Something needs to change."

Okolo to file lawsuit

With the trial now over, Okolo said he would file a civil suit against the two officers involved in the arrest of Ely and the police department.

Okolo left the Jones Day law firm last year to start an independent practice in Akron, a few months after he was denied a seat on the city's new Citizens' Police Oversight Board.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron man found not guilty of resisting arrest in forceful arrest case
A 15-year-old could face criminal charges after joyriding on a forklift and hitting a building in New Lebanon.

New Lebanon police responded to reports of a forklift hitting a building on W. Main Street on Saturday.

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Witnesses reported seeing suspicious behavior from a person operating the forklift. When they began to investigate, witnesses found that the forklift hit the building, prompting an unidentified person to run from the scene into the nearby woods.

When officers and the fire department arrived on the scene, they assessed the building for any structural damage.

Not long after that, officers noticed a 15-year-old boy emerging from the woods behind the business. The teen admitted to officers that he drank alcohol earlier in the day and found forklift keys in the ignition.

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Attempting to operate one unsuccessfully, he then managed to somewhat operate a second forklift. Losing control, he unintentionally struck the side of the building and fled behind the business, police wrote in a release.

Officers said theres no current indication that he intended to break into the building and wasnt doing anything beyond what could be described as joyriding.

The incident remains under investigation and criminal charges are pending, subject to review by the Montgomery County Prosecutors Office Juvenile Division.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Wednesday morning. He was one of the teens accused in the group beating of a 17-year-old Rancho High School student who later died.

Jonathan Lewis, 17, died following the attack, the Clark County coroners office confirmed. His cause of death was listed as complications of multiple blunt force injuries. His manner of death was listed as homicide. (KLAS)

The 15-year-olds name, details of his plea agreement, or how much time he will serve will not be released due to his juvenile status in the court system. However, Clark County Juvenile District Court Judge Amy Mastin said, under the plea deal, the 15-year-old pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and will be committed to Child Correctional Services.

New videos show students deadly beating near Las Vegas high school

He is one of nine teens, ranging from 13 to 17, arrested and facing charges in the Nov. 1, 2023 beating of Jonathan Lewis that resulted in his death. There is a 10th person of interest in the case who remains at large.

Three other teens from the case also appeared in the courtroom. Attorneys for a 13-year-old and 15-year-old told the judge they are still working on plea deals and plan to return to court next week. There are also two remaining 15-year-olds. The judge ordered one to undergo a competency evaluation and the other is due for an appearance in court.

4 teens accused in deadly beating of classmate enter pleas, trial date set for 2

The four other teens were automatically certified as adults because they were 16 and older. The four face second-degree murder charges. Dontral Beaver, 16, and Gianni Robinson, 17, have trial dates set for April 1. Damien Hernandez, 18, and Treavion Randolph, 16, will have trials at a later date.

Damien Hernandez, 17; Gianni Robinson, 17; Dontral Beaver, 16; and Treavion Randolph, 16, all face second-degree murder charges in the death of Jonathan Lewis. (LVMPD)

Defense attorneys for the teens are claiming this is a case of self-defense because one of Lewis friends allegedly had a knife and Lewis threw the first punch.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
A federal judge has dismissed the Walt Disney Companys lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who was accused of waging a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against the company in retaliation for its opposition to what critics have called the states Dont Say Gay law.

After Disneys public objections to the Parental Rights in Education Act in 2022, the governor and members of his administration ignited a feud that escalated with his administration taking control of the district in which its sprawling park campus operates.

That law  which Republican lawmakers emulated in states across the country and in Congress  has threatened to freeze classroom speech involving LGBT+ people and issues as well as discussion of LGBT+ students, school staff and their families, fuelling anti-discrimination campaigns and lawsuits amid a wave of legislative threats to LGBT+ Americans. That measure and the governors high-profile feud with a massively influential right-wing target also helped fuel his failed bid for the Republican nomination for president.

Disney alleged in its federal lawsuit that the DeSantis administrations dissolution of a decades-old municipal district that allowed the company to effectively control its own land use was a retaliatory political move and an unconstitutional threat to free speech.

In a decision on Wednesday, US District Judge Allen Winsor determined that Disney lacks standing to sue the government, arguing that a plaintiff cannot bring a free speech challenge by claiming that the lawmakers who passed it acted with a constitutionally impermissible purpose.

After weeks of pressure from LGBT+ advocates and Disney employees urging company leadership to publicly lobby against it, then-CEO Bob Chapek announced in March 2022 that the company would oppose the bill and suspend its political donations in the state.

He stated that the company would immediately begin supporting efforts to combat similar legislation elsewhere and pause all political donations in the state pending a review of the companys political giving.

One month later, Governor DeSantis expanded the scope of a special legislative session on the states redistricting plans to also consider the termination of all special districts that were enacted in Florida prior to 1968  including the municipal taxing and government district that allows Disney to tax and regulate its sprawling park and resort properties in the Orlando area.

The Reedy Creek Improvement District was first created in 1967 to give Disney control of its land use, zoning rules and public services without putting a tax burden on Florida residents.

With Disney as the primary landowner for the district, the company is largely responsible for all costs of those municipal services that otherwise would fall under the jurisdiction of county and local governments, including the taxpayers who live within them. In effect, Disney used the Reedy Creek board to tax itself to foot the bill for all of its municipal needs.

The governor and his administration insisted that the initial proposal was intended to block what they called special privileges for big business in the state, but fundraising messages promoting Reedy Creeks demise explicitly mentioned Disneys opposition to the so-called Dont Say Gay bill.

Disney thought they ruled Florida, an email from the DeSantis campaign said on 19 April 2022. They even tried to attack me to advance their woke agenda. Now, parents see Disney for what it is. And now is the time to put the power back in the hands of Floridians and out of the pockets of woke executives.

Moments after the new board voted to effectively strip Disney control of its Florida resort, the company filed a federal lawsuit against the governor and state officials alleging a targeted campaign of government retaliation.

Disney regrets that it has come to this, the lawsuit states.

At the governors bidding, the states oversight board has purported to void publicly noticed and duly agreed development contracts, which had laid the foundation for billions of Disneys investment dollars and thousands of jobs, the complaint alleges. This government action was patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional.

Disney, a political and economic heavyweight in the state, is likely to appeal the latest decision.

This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here, according to a statement from a Disney spokesperson for. If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with. We are determined to press forward with our case.

Judge Winsor dismissed the case without prejudice, which leaves Disney an opportunity to file another complaint against the governor.

Since the lawsuit was filed, Floridas legislative and political threats to LGBT+ people in the state  which prompted a state of emergency from some of the nations largest civil rights groups  have accelerated, with sweeping proposals that critics warn are intended to erase LGBT+ from public life.

This year, Florida lawmakers are considering expanded bans to transition healthcare as well as a measure that opponents are calling the LGBT+ Erasure Act that to regulate the definition of sex across government agencies and issue state identification that only lists sex assigned at birth. Another measure, named by opponents as the Dont Say LGBTQ+ bill, would ban state and local governments from honouring employees pronouns if they do not align with a persons assigned sex at birth, among other measures.

This week, Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles revoked the ability for transgender people in the state to update gender markers on their drivers licenses and ID cards, which Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson characterised as part of a nationwide campaign to humiliate, harass, and use policy to eliminate transgender people from public life.
Members of Mayor Ron Nirenbergs new Charter Review Commission attend their first meeting at Central Library on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Bonnie Prosser Elder, center, a co-chair of Mayor Ron Nirenbergs new Charter Review Commission, establishes ground rules with other members during their first meeting at Central Library on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Camila Kunau, assistant city attorney, talks to members of Mayor Ron Nirenbergs Charter Review Commission during their first meeting at Central Library on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

Mayor Ron Nirenberg is adamantly opposed to a City Council vote on a Gaza cease-fire resolution.

Hes made it clear that he wont put forth such a resolution himself, which he has said could prove to be reckless. But three council members came close to forcing a Jan. 11 special meeting to consider a resolution in support of a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

That effort fell apart after District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez, one of the three, pulled his support  and the council is unlikely to revive it.

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Nirenberg has now asked a commission he recently appointed to consider potential changes to the City Charter to look at how and when council members can call a special meeting.

The Charter Review Commission should consider how those special meetings should differ in purpose, use, and timing from the current policy making process  which is traditionally governed by ordinance through Council Consideration Requests (CCR), Nirenberg wrote in a Jan. 22 memo to commission members.

One of the council members who sought the cease-fire vote worries that the move could weaken the 10-member City Councils power to set its own agenda, which is already small.

In reviewing the memo, it seems that were chipping away at the role of City Council members, therefore chipping away at the democratic process, said District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo. We are all here to ensure that were having conversations that are important to our constituencies, and if were reducing the levers that we have to pull to discuss these policy items, thats essentially restricting our constituents from having their policy ideas and requests discussed as a body.

The Charter Review Commission has been working since mid-December to identify charter amendments that should be placed on the ballot in the November election.

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The mayor and City Council must OK the amendments that will be on the ballot.

Nirenberg told the Express-News that he didnt add special meetings to the commissions charge in reaction to the attempted cease-fire resolution vote.

The aim of asking the Charter Review Commission to review and recommend special meeting definitions  for all special meetings  is to ensure that those meetings in fact remain special and they arent used to bypass the traditional policy-making process, Nirenberg said.

In a written statement, Nirenbergs communications director, Bruce Davidson, said, The mayor received legal advice from the city attorneys office to refer the discussion on special meetings to the Charter Review Commission. Davidson did not elaborate.

City Attorney Andy Segovia did not make himself available for an interview about the reason behind his legal advice.

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Moments of urgency

Council members rarely request a special meeting, something otherwise reserved for the mayor or city manager. To do so, the city charter requires that three council members submit a written request  or what council members refer to as the three-signature memo.

Castillo, Pelaez and District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez did just that Dec. 20. They sought a Jan. 11 special meeting to discuss and take action on a resolution Calling for an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Israel and Palestine and the return of all hostages immediately,  they said in a memo they sent City Clerk Debbie Racca-Sittre.

Three days later, Pelaez asked the mayor to delay that meeting until February. Then, on Jan. 9, to the surprise of McKee-Rodriguez and Castillo, he withdrew his name from the memo.

Before December, council members last forced the clerk to convene a special meeting in 2021.

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Then-District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry, District 9 Councilman John Courage and Castillo sought an October 2021 meeting to discuss concerns with the proposed projects for the citys 2022 bond program. The council members wanted to see more of the bond devoted to drainage and streets infrastructure and less to the citys trail system.

Prior to that, council members in March 2021 called a special meeting to vote on a creating an online sign-up portal for scheduling COVID-19 vaccines  an idea that the citys top health officials had resisted.

The three-signature memo meets moments of urgency to move something forward and to essentially have the larger conversation sooner than later, Castillo said.

Castillo believes council members infrequently band together to call a special meeting because many view a three-signature memo as a divisive means of getting an item on a meeting agenda.

Ultimately, its a way for three council members to force a conversation on something that the chair (the mayor) may not want to have, she said.

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San Antonio operates under a council-manager form of government, where the city manager handles municipal operations and budgets and the City Council sets policy and oversees the city manager. The mayor, the only City Hall official elected by voters across San Antonio, has significantly more power to set councils agenda than individual members.

Too slow?

The other policy-making tool at the councils disposal is the Council Consideration Request.

It takes five members to file a request with the city clerk, which kick-starts what can be a lengthy process of trying to turn a proposal into an actual city policy. It often entails vetting by city staff followed by multiple rounds of workshopping during City Council committee meetings before the mayor and full council vote on the proposal.

District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte has been critical of how long it can take a CCR to land on a Governance Committee agenda, which is the first step on the path to a council vote. City ordinance stipulates that the city clerk will put any CCR regarding policy creation or policy changes on that committees next available agenda.

In practice, however, it takes months  if not more than a year  for the Governance Committee to take up a proposal. Nirenberg chairs the committee, which includes councils four senior-most members.

Whyte wants the city ordinance updated so that every CCR goes to the Governance Committee within 60 days of its filing. The mayor and council will discuss what changes to make to the ordinance at a late February work session.

Whyte also said he would like the Charter Review Commission to recommend a fixed number of days by which the clerk must schedule a special meeting, something absent from current ordinance.

If we are delayed or prevented from doing so, that could negatively affect the issue that were trying to advocate for on behalf of our constituents, Whyte said of scheduling special meetings. Its important that we have a time period  and a short time period  in the ordinance by which a special meeting, if one is needed, is called.

Fuzzy definition

City ordinance doesnt lay out what happens when one or more of the three council members who request a special meeting removes their name  as Pelaez did with the cease-fire resolution request. Castillo said she would like the charter or ordinance to address this.

Nirenberg said hes looking for guidelines on when council members use a three-signature memo to compel a special City Council meeting versus when they file a Council Consideration Request.

Theres not an issue with three-signature memos, Nirenberg said. We just dont have any definition or differentiation of what they would be used for  the scope, and thats whats appropriate for the Charter Review Commission to discuss because this is a provision specifically in the charter.

As part of its review, the commission is examining what guidelines other cities have for special City Council meetings.

The commission subcommittee that is looking at this part of the charter is expected to present its initial recommendation to the full commission in early March. The subcommittee will further refine its recommendations in April based on feedback from the public and other commission members.
Griselda treads the line between reality and fictionalized drama.

The Netflix crime series centers around Griselda Blanco, portrayed by Sofia Vergara, the drug queenpin who created one of the most powerful cartels when she moved to Miami from Colombia, in the 70s and 80s.

The only woman in a male-dominated world, Blanco built an empire  one that was not without blood, savagery and murder  before being arrested for drug trafficking and later charged with first-degree murder by the state of Florida in 1994, per the Tampa Bay Times' reporting.

The state's case against Blanco fell apart after the prosecution's key witness, Blanco's former hitman Jorge "Rivi" Ayala, was found having phone sex with secretaries from the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office. One of the three secretaries fired was cleared of wrongdoing, per the Orlando Sentinel. Blanco was able to cut a plea deal in 1998 after pleading guilty to three counts of second-degree murder, and was sentenced to serve three concurrent 20-year sentences. She was deported to Colombia in 2004 and killed in 2012.

Miami-Dade police department intelligent analyst June Hawkins was among the investigators who built a case against Blanco. Actor Juliana Aiden Martinez takes on the role of the real-life woman and now-retired sergeant.

Martinez tells TODAY.com about meeting Hawkins and how she balanced bringing her own essence into the character.

Hawkins was a single mom and one of the few Spanish speakers on the force. However, as the series shows, she was frequently sidelined by her male colleagues as she attempted to convince them that a woman was the leader behind the new and deadly cartel that emerged in Miami.

She was one of the first female homicide detectives in the metro PD, the Miami homicide unit, and she ended up becoming  as you see in the series  one of the lead detectives in finding Griselda Blanco," Martinez tells TODAY.com.

Juliana Aiden Martinez as June in

June Hawkins operated in a 'world of men'

Martinez says that she had many conversations with Hawkins and related to her since they both are from Miami.

She told me so much about how she had to operate in this world of men. She couldnt be reactive, the actor says. She had to be really still, let things slide by and then just be really dedicated to her job.

What Martinez loved about Hawkins was her subtle resiliency and her contained power.

Shes going to get the job done, Martinez says. That just shows how incredible a woman she was at that time, and that she still is.

Martinez says she didn't want her performance to be a "mimicry" or a "direct imitation" of Hawkins. Rather, she wanted to get to Hawkins' "real life experiences" and the "stories and memories that impacted her" to this day.

Martinez wanted the world to see the "essence" of who Hawkins was and show her inner truth.

June and Griselda are different sides of the same coin

Griselda places two women front and center, both single mothers trying to make lives of their own while being undermined by the men around them.

However, as Vergara noted in Netflix press notes, June and Griselda are not the same.

When you then look at someone like June, a mother trying to fight a male-dominated culture in her workplace, I think more than drawing a comparison, you see more and more why Griseldas self-justification is so wrong, Vergara said. Griselda and June are different sides of the same coin, the two different paths a person can take in order to take care of their family.

Creator and executive producer Eric Newman added in the notes that in the series, Griselda was never a hero to Hawkins, but was inspiring, in a way."

"It was very hard for people to wrap their heads around the fact that the person responsible for helping to make Miami the murder capital of America for a number of years was a woman who was really good at getting people to kill for her," he continued.

June makes the case that not everyone who is oppressed becomes an oppressor, he said.

What the real June Hawkins said about her experience on Miami-Dade force

During a September 2017 interview with Law Enforcement Talk True Crime and Trauma Stories, Hawkins spoke about being a pioneer for women in her field and entering the "boys' club."

It was unique, a two-sided coin, because on the one hand, there was a lot of, I guess ... suspicion and apprehension on the part of my male colleagues about, What the heck, what are these women doing in here now? Hawkins said.

And on the other hand  I have to give them credit  most of them, when once they realized that I was really sincere and this wasnt just a lark for me, then they became my big brother(s), he said.

Hawkins said that working in the homicide department from 1979 to 1981 was one of the things she was most proud of in her career.

Not only the thing Im most proud of, but the thing I enjoyed because I really did impact and help identify (people), she said.

Hawkins explained that since there werent many Spanish speakers on the department, she was the intelligence analyst" who filtered through people and helped identify them.

Without naming Blanco and people involved in the cartels during that time, she said, I talked to informants and Id write all these memos ... I was able to put together a link analysis chart ... I helped our cause and it caught the attention of D.C. We wound up getting financial help down in South Florida because we were just being overrun.

Nelson Andreu, a former West Miami police chief who spent a decade of his life trying to convict Blanco, tells TODAY.com that she was "the most brutal" figure on the drug scene during his time on the force.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
(Bloomberg) -- Plans by military-ruled Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to break away from a West African bloc have the potential to backfire on their already fragile economies and exacerbate widespread food insecurity.

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The trio of nations are all landlocked and among the poorest in the region, with annual per-capita gross domestic product of less than $1,000. Exiting the Economic Community of West African States places them at risk of losing access to a $702 billion market, and exposes them to increased tariffs and restrictions on the movement of goods and financial flows.

The military coup leaders who control Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have managed to score the silliest own goal since the UK voted for Brexit, Charlie Robertson, head of macro-strategy at FIM Partners, said in an emailed note. They take out 8% of Ecowas GDP and lose access to markets like Nigeria and Ghana, which together have a GDP of $467 billion.

Ecowas members benefit from the free movement of goods, capital and people within the bloc. While trade between its 15 members is dominated by Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria, and remains relatively small at about $277 million  or about 15% of the total they conduct  it has the potential to grow to as much as $2 billion over the next few years, the International Trade Centre said last year.

Sub-Saharan Africa has seen nine successful military coups since 2020, and Ecowas has been pushing for a return to civilian rule among those within its ranks. It suspended Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso and imposed far-reaching economic and diplomatic sanctions on them, but the latter two nations have since been readmitted to the bloc and relations had been regularized.

Nigeria, which holds Ecowas rotating chairmanship and generates more than half its GDP, said it deplored the juntas actions, which amounted to public posturing and would deny their populations the right to free movement and trade, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Malis Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop defended the decision to leave Ecowas, saying it posed a threat to his nation and that its push for elections to be held was hurting its people.

This decision was in our best interest in order to protect our interests and work with friendly countries, he told public broadcaster ORTM on Monday. Were not alone, we have Niger and Burkina Faso.

Credit Risks

Besides putting trade at risk, the three nations ability to access credit will also be impacted  they are all reliant on the regional market for financing because they cant access international capital.

Mali and Niger defaulted on their domestic debt in 2021 and 2023 respectively after they lost access to the regional market. Burkina Faso has retained access, but if it is withdrawn its credit rating may be downgraded because of the increased risk of it being unable to refinance its commercial debt, S&P Global Ratings said in an emailed note.

Its a bit early to assess what the impact is going to be, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, the International Monetary Funds chief economist, told reporters in Johannesburg on Tuesday. In general, having an integrated economic area is something thats going to be favorable, conducive to trade and conducive to higher growth. Moving away from this is going to have the opposite effect.

The juntas havent indicated whether they intend leaving the West African Economic and Monetary Union, which seeks to promote financial integration in West Africa and regulates a regional central bank and the French-backed common West African franc thats used by eight countries. Such a move would make it very difficult for commercial banks to continue operating.

Negotiated Solution

The impact of exiting the WAEMU  which is not Moodys baseline expectation  would have credit-negative implications for regional banks across the monetary union, Mik Kabeya, a Moodys Investors Service vice president and senior analyst, said in an emailed response to questions.

On Sunday, Ecowas said it was ready to find a negotiated solution to the political impasse. It hasnt followed through on previous threats to reinstate elected leaders by force.

Putting the threat of military intervention on the table without the desire to follow through, was a show of weakness, not strength, Joachim MacEbong, a senior governance analyst at Stears Insights, said in an emailed response to questions. It has probably emboldened the regimes to think they can negotiate.

Mali and Burkina Faso are scheduled to hold elections this year, according to agreements they struck with Ecowas. Niger has complicated talks with the bloc, preventing its mediators who visited the capital, Niamey, last week from leaving the airport.

The juntas want to stay in power, Ibrahima Kane, Executive Director of Open Society Foundations Africa, said by phone from Dakar, Senegals capital. Naturally they will try to get maximum from the bargain.

--With assistance from Ntando Thukwana, Yinka Ibukun and Moses Mozart Dzawu.

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A federal jury has found 43-year-old Walter Lamar Jackson guilty of assault after he was caught slamming his cellmates head into the concrete floor, seriously harming him.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Jackson was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex Coleman in Sumter County.

On July 15, 2021, he was housed in a special housing unit cell with another inmate. At approximately 5:50 p.m., correctional officers responded to an emergency alarm and discovered Jacksons cellmate lying on the floor unconscious.

Jackson was standing over his cellmates body, slamming his cellmates head into the concrete, which resulted in severe injuries.

The officers immediately stopped the assault and placed Jackson in handcuffs.

Jackson stated to medical personnel that he had attacked his cellmate after giving him three warnings to be quiet.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 20, 2024.

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.
(FOX40.COM)  Scammers in California have evolved their methods beyond fake advertisements, calls and emails. Now, officials say theyre sending fake letters about jury duty directly to home residents.

We have been receiving numerous calls and reports of folks receiving scam letters from the Sheriffs Office, Sutter County Sheriffs Office said in a social media post. We have posted a picture of an example of what is being received by our residents. If you receive a letter that looks similar to this, do not respond or send money.

Common scams circulating in California, heres what to look out for

The letters that the sheriffs office is referring to has a realistic-looking California law enforcement stamp on it with a forged signature from Sheriff Brandon Barnes. It advises the addressee that they failed to appear for scheduled jury duty summons and may ask for financial retribution.

Your failure to appear may result in legal consequences, as it is a violation of your civic obligation to participate in the jury system, the scam letter reads. It is important to understand the impact of failing to appear for jury duty on the administration of justice.

Southern California scam making its way to northern part of state, police say

Sutter County Sheriffs Office said they will NEVER send a letter like this or request money.

Officials said to not respond to the letter or send money. They advised anyone with concerns or questions about letters said to be from the Sheriffs office to call (530) 822-7307.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
A jury on Monday acquitted on self-defense grounds a man who was indicted in connection with a double homicide in White Settlement in 2021.

Christopher Avington was found not guilty of capital murder and murder in the shooting deaths of DeAndrew Bentley, 26, and Trevon Hampton, 25.

A legal advisory on the circumstances under which self-defense may justify an offense was included in instructions to the jury at the trial in the 396th District Court in Tarrant County.

Under the defenses interpretation of the facts, Bentley and Hampton heard on the streets that Avington intended to rob them. They invited Avington to Bentleys apartment to intimidate the defendant with a pellet gun that looked like an a rifle, and Avington shot both men, according to defense attorney Blake Burns.

Burns and Brett Boone were appointed to represent Avington.

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Tarrant County Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Matt Rivers and Jasmine Banks prosecuted the case.

The jury deliberated for about an hour and returned the verdict just after 5 p.m.

Avington, who is 21, was 18 and lived in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, at the time of the homicides.

It is not clear whether the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorneys Office pursued in juvenile court a delinquency petition against a suspect, then 16, whom White Settlement police described as Avingtons accomplice. A case is not currently pending.

Bentley and Hampton were shot to death on Feb. 9, 2021, about 3:45 a.m. in the unit at the Parque Vista Apartments in the 8500 block of La Plaza Drive, according to an police-produced affidavit supporting Avingtons arrest warrant.

Eight people, including at least four children, were at the apartment for a family gathering. No one beyond Bentley and Hampton was injured.

A man who was in the bathroom during the shooting told police he heard Avington earlier in the day discussing robbing people and saw him showing a handgun, according to the affidavit.

Bentleys girlfriend identified Avington as the shooter from a group of photographs.

Scott Wisch was the presiding judge.
Rishi Sunak has said he wants deportation flights to Rwanda to begin in the spring - Steve Finn

The Archbishop of Canterbury and a former president of the Supreme Court are threatening to scupper Rishi Sunaks Rwanda plan.

The Most Rev Justin Welby and Baroness Hale, who declared Boris Johnsons attempt to prorogue Parliament illegal, have together tabled amendments to the Rwanda Bill that would delay and potentially derail the plans to deport asylum seekers.

Their first amendment requires a ruling from the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) that Rwanda was safe for asylum seekers to be laid before Parliament before migrants could be deported to the central African state.

Two weeks ago, the UNHCR issued an analysis that found the Rwanda Bill and its accompanying legally binding treaty incompatible with international refugee law.

It is understood to be the first Lords amendment ever laid by Lady Hale, who became a prominent figure in Westminster in 2019 when, as president of the Supreme Court, she declared Mr Johnsons attempt to prorogue Parliament to secure his Brexit deal unlawful.

The Rwanda Bill secured its second reading on Monday after peers voted by 206 votes to 84 to reject a Liberal Democrat motion to block the progress of the legislation.

However, the Government now faces a major battle with the Lords after the legislation was heavily criticised during the debate by four Tory peers including Lord Clarke, a former chancellor and home secretary, bishops, leading lawyers and diplomats.

It now goes into its committee stage in 10 days for line-by-line consideration, with Lady Hale and the Most Rev Welby, supported by Shami Chakrabarti, the human rights lawyer, among nearly a dozen peers who have laid amendments that water down the Bill.

Lady Hale has also put forward amendments that would restore the ability of UK courts and tribunals to grant legal challenges against the legislation and reverse attempts by the Government to disapply human rights laws.

The changes, if backed by the Lords, would neuter the Bills proposed block on systemic challenges against the legislation under international law including the Refugee Convention, and its limits on claims by individual migrants to those where they face a real and imminent risk of serious and irreversible harm if deported.

A further amendment also seeks to limit the power of ministers to ignore Rule 39 injunctions by Strasbourg judges, one of which was used in June 2022 to block the first deportation flight to Rwanda.

Lady Hales proposal would ensure the Government gave proper regard to such injunctions by the European Court of Human Rights in accordance with international law.

Other peers have also laid amendments that could delay the first Rwanda deportation flights beyond the spring, when Mr Sunak has said he hopes the first will take off, and potentially until after the next general election.

Rishi Sunak speaks to Border Force staff as he fights for his Rwanda plan - Simon Dawson /No 10 Downing Street

Lord Hope of Craighead, a leading Scottish judge, has tabled an amendment that would allow the Bill to pass but would only allow the Government to implement the legislation once the arrangements provided for in the Rwanda treaty have been fully implemented and are being adhered to in practice.

The move is designed to give legislative backing to a report by a Lords committee that demanded flights should not go ahead until Rwanda and the UK had put in place 10 legal safeguards and infrastructure changes to ensure that the country was safe for asylum seekers.

Lord Carlile of Berriew, a prominent crossbench peer and former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, predicted that such an amendment would win the backing of a majority of the chamber as several Conservative peers have voiced support.

He said it was now up to the Government to decide whether it wanted to accept the Lords advice to ensure it got a proper Bill or steamroller its legislation through the upper house.

It is going to be a vivid and energetic committee and report stage, said Lord Carlile. It may be a short Bill, but there is a can of worms creeping out of every corner.

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A juvenile fell to their death while running from police in Texas, officials said.

The chase started on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 30, when officers with the San Marcos Police Department spotted a stolen Hyundai with two people inside, police said in a news release.

The driver and the passenger were identified as juveniles, police said. Officials did not disclose their ages.

Officers tried to pull the vehicle over, but the driver didnt stop, police said. The driver then led police on a chase along U.S. Interstate 35 that crossed into neighboring New Braunfels, at which point police with that department joined the pursuit, officials said.

The driver eventually left the interstate and turned onto a gravel road leading to a rock quarry, police said, but at some point, they lost control and crashed into a boulder.

Both juveniles got out of the Hyundai and tried to escape on foot, police said.

Officers caught and arrested the driver, but the passenger ran toward the quarry and fell down a 70-foot open pit, killing them, according to police.

Investigators are still working to identify the juvenile who fell to their death.

The juveniles are from San Antonio and stole a vehicle in San Marcos, police said, adding that stolen guns and body armor were also found at the scene.

San Marcos police and the Texas Rangers are investigating, officials said.

San Marcos is about 30 miles southwest of Austin.

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Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the north steps of the State Capitol to supporters at a Texas Public Policy Foundation Parent Empowerment rally on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 in Austin. Abbott and his supporters are pushing to have a voucher system, also known as school choice. (Ricardo B. Brazziell /Austin American-Statesman via AP) Ricardo B. Brazziell/Associated Press State Rep. Steve Allison, R-San Antonio, is one of eight incumbents being targeted by a $1.15 million TV ad blitz fby the School Freedom Fund, a national pro-voucher group. Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News A protester, left, pauses to leave a boot at the steps of the Governors Mansion during a rally to boot vouchers on Oct. 7. Hundreds gathered to protest two days before a special session was slated to begin on Oct. 9. Texas House Republicans who voted against school vouchers last year are facing a growing onslaught in their primaries. Julius Shieh/Texas Tribune Spectators in the House gallery await debate on HB1 the school voucher bill lust before noon on November 17, 2023. Bob Daemmrich

Texas House Republicans who tanked Gov. Greg Abbotts school voucher agenda last year are facing a growing onslaught in their primaries as his long-promised revenge tour reaches its final month.

A national pro-voucher group, the School Freedom Fund, is launching a $1.15 million TV ad blitz across eight primaries Wednesday, part of a major ramp-up by Abbotts allies on the issue. Another pro-voucher outfit, AFC Victory Fund, endorsed 13 primary challengers Tuesday and already has sent out multiple mail pieces attacking incumbents. And Abbott himself is set to return to the campaign trial this week to stump for pro-voucher incumbents  and challengers.

It all marks the long-telegraphed fallout from last years legislative sessions, when a group of House Republicans held firm against Abbotts crusade for letting parents use taxpayers dollars to take their kids out of public schools. His effort came crashing down in November, when 21 House Republicans voted to strip a voucher program out of a wide-ranging education bill, House Bill 1.

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Sixteen of those Republicans now are running for reelection, and most are being targeted by Abbott and allied groups. Most are also in the crosshairs of Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is separately working to unseat dozens of House Republicans who voted to impeach him last year.

The School Freedom Fund is an arm of the Club for the Growth, the national anti-tax group. Its new TV ad buy spans broadcast, cable and satellite across the eight districts. The buy targets Reps. Steve Allison of San Antonio, Gary VanDeaver of New Boston, Travis Clardy of Nacogdoches, Ernest Bailes of Shepherd, Hugh Shine of Temple, DeWayne Burns of Cleburne, Glenn Rogers of Graford and Reggie Smith of Sherman.

Candidates need to realize they cant claim to be conservative while simultaneously opposing school freedom and taking cash from radical education bureaucrats, and voters will hold them accountable on election day, School Freedom Fund President David McIntosh said in a statement.

The messaging against the incumbents has been varied. One of School Freedom Funds ads specifically goes after Clardy for saying in a November TV interview that his district does not have a problem with woke teachers. The narrator then calls Clardy wrong and says the Nacogdoches school district brought in a critical race theory specialist for curriculum training.

Other attacks are casting the lawmakers votes against the voucher program as opposition to the other components of House Bill 1, including teacher pay raises and increased public school funding.

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The advertising blitz is being overwhelmingly funded by one man: Jeff Yass, a Pennsylvania billionaire whose top issue is alternatives to public education. He has been a multimillion-dollar donor to the School Freedom Fund, AFC Victory Fund and  more recently  Abbott, cutting the governor a $6 million check in December.

The incumbents, who mostly laid low after casting their decisive votes in November, are increasingly speaking out against the attacks. Rogers said in a direct-to-camera video released Tuesday that he would not cow to the out-of-state voucher lobby, which is pumping millions of dollars into Texas to kill public education.

I have something important to tell you: I cant be bought, I cant be bullied and I cant be intimidated, Rogers told voters. I will only be your representative.

State Rep. John Raney, the retiring College Station Republican who authored the amendment that removed the voucher proposal, sought to set the record straight in a newspaper op-ed published last week. He said House Bill 1 undoubtedly would have passed the House without vouchers if its author had not pulled it down after Raneys amendment passed.

Gov. Abbott took his ball and went home shifting his focus to retaliation at the polls, Raney said. Shame on you, Gov. Abbott.

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After an economic development trip to India, Abbott was set to return to the campaign trail Tuesday with a series of stops to boost mostly incumbents. But on Thursday, he is scheduled to visit Mineral Wells to rally with Rogers opponent, Mike Olcott, Abbotts first known event for a challenger since early December.

One of the new ads from School Freedom Fund boosts Olcott, highlighting his support from the governor and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

Abbott also has made known his anger with another anti-voucher House Republican, Rep. Drew Darby of San Angelo, whose campaign website falsely claimed Abbotts endorsement up until recent days. Abbotts campaign announced Monday it had sent Darby a cease-and-desist letter reminding Darby that Abbott has endorsed his challenger, Stormy Bradley  a true conservative.

Darbys campaign has not responded to a request for comment.

AFC Victory Fund also has been getting more involved in primaries. It already had announced opposition to a dozen of the anti-voucher House Republicans before endorsing specific challengers to them Monday.

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Its latest mail piece portrays the incumbents in a Wanted poster, saying they are being sought for working against schools, teachers, parents, and kids. The mailer says they not only denied school vouchers but also $4,000 pay raises for teachers and over $97 million in funding for our local schools.

The line of attack has put the incumbents on the defensive over the convoluted legislative process that surrounded Abbotts last-ditch attempt at vouchers in November.
Jackie McCraken, wife of defendant Roger McCracken becomes emotional while testifying at her husbands murder trial Tuesday. Jessica Phelps/San Antonio Express News Roger McCracken listens as his wife, Jackie McCracken, testifies at his murder trial Tuesday. McCracken said he killed Ronnie Riddle, a neighbor at a South Side apartment complex, out of fear for his life and that of his family. Jessica Phelps/San Antonio Express News Jackie McCraken, wife of defendant Roger McCracken, listens from the witness stand as the prosecutor, Andrea Vizcarra, asks a question during her cross examination. Jessica Phelps/San Antonio Express News

Prosecutors spent hours Tuesday afternoon grilling the wife of a San Antonio man who said he shot his neighbor because he feared for his family.

Jackie McCracken followed her husband, Roger Lee-Canada McCracken, in testifying at his murder trial. Prosecutors have said his fatal shooting of Ronnie Riddle, 34, on Sept. 11, 2021, was unjustified.

Testimony established that a confrontation between Riddle and the McCrackens turned to shouting after they and their children got home from an evening at Peter Piper Pizza.

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Jackie McCracken testified that Riddles behavior had changed in the prior weeks and that he had been aggressive and angry. She said Wendy Lewis, Riddles girlfriend, had told her about being abused by him.

The night the McCrackens pulled up to their apartment building, Jackie McCracken said, she saw Riddle outside, yelling. It made her nervous, sick to my stomach, and scared for her children, she said.

Roger McCracken testified Monday that he shot twice at Riddle when he saw his neighbor reach behind him, where he was known to carry a gun in his waistband, and that he continued shooting as Riddle ran and got behind a pickup.

Riddle had threatened him over previous calls to police made by McCracken and his wife because of violent sounds coming from Riddles nearby apartment, the defendant said. McCracken said Riddle was hovering over my daughter and my wife and that he was unable to maneuver him out of the way.

Prosecutors have said McCracken emptied almost every bullet in the ammunition clip of his Glock handgun at Riddle, whose own gun was found later in the parking lot.

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Cross-examining Jackie McCracken, prosecutor Andrea Vizcarra focused on a three- to four-second clip from a recorded statement in which the witness had said she was not afraid of Riddle in the moments before the shooting.

That prompted objections from defense attorney Joe Hoelscher, who said it wasnt long enough to provide context. State District Judge Joel Perez allowed the defense to show more of the recording, which included a later moment when Jackie McCracken said she became afraid of Riddle.

Perez has had to admonish the defense attorneys and the prosecutors for mutual sniping during the trial.

A big part of the job is to stand stoic, Perez told them again Tuesday outside the presence of the jury. This is a murder trial. Sometimes the evidence can be very prejudicial. Just take it.

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The judge also ordered the lawyers speak to family members of both the accused and the victim because of reports that they were laughing or shaking their heads during testimony.

One of the defense attorneys, Daniel Mehler, told Perez that some of Riddles relatives had followed him to his car Monday night.

Admonish your families on both sides and tell them I have contempt powers, Perez told the lawyers.

If convicted, McCracken faces up to life in prison.

Staff photographer Jessica Phelps contributed to this report.
With the GOP presidential primary seemingly sewn up by former President Donald Trump, Republicans at the Iowa Capitol say theyre settling back into business as usual and shaking off the divisions of a fractious 2024 caucus that split their ranks for months.

Whatever factions emerged as the product of a divided caucus field are mostly forgotten now, they said, and many who had endorsed other candidates now say they will support Trump in the general election  including Gov. Kim Reynolds, who had said of Trump in November, "I don't think he can win."

This isn't our first rodeo, right? said state Rep. Megan Jones, a Republican from Sioux Rapids who endorsed third-place finisher Nikki Haley ahead of the caucuses. I mean, Iowa has been through this process how many times before? So, I don't think that those feelings last long, and it's not personal.

But it remains to be seen whether Reynolds will be able to wield the same political clout she enjoyed before the caucuses as she moves to enact another ambitious legislative agenda this year.

After stating explicitly for months that she did not intend to endorse anyone in the caucuses, Reynolds expended some of her political capital to back Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was lagging badly in the polls and finished a distant second place on caucus night before dropping out in advance of the New Hampshire primary.

The question remains: How much is left over?

Reynolds had already ruffled feathers among legislators when she waded into the 2022 Republican primary process to muscle out members of her own party who had stood in the way of her plan to use public funds to help families cover the costs of private schools.

She remains popular, according to the Des Moines Registers Iowa Poll, but one Republican said privately that Reynolds may not see the same rubber stamping of her agenda that shes received in recent years.

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, right, waves to supporters as he stands with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds during a New Year's Eve campaign event, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in West Des Moines, Iowa.

The governor has already outlined aggressive new proposals to reshape Area Education Agencies and the state tax code, both of which will require political finessing if they are to gain majority support  even with Republicans firmly in control of the Iowa House and Senate.

State Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton who was a top Iowa adviser to the Trump campaign, said he and the former president harbor no ill will to those who endorsed other candidates.

But the former president has been far less charitable in public, repeatedly lashing out against Reynolds after her endorsement, saying it would be the end of her political career.

We at the Trump campaign welcome everyone to come and support us, because we are a big tent presidential campaign and we want to earn and seek everybody's vote, regardless of who they may have endorsed or supported in the caucuses, Kaufmann said. Gov. Reynolds is still a very popular governor, and we welcome her support.

Shortly after Kaufmann spoke to the Register, Trump threatened on social media to bar donors "from the MAGA camp" if they contribute to Haley's campaign.

"We dont want them, and will not accept them," he wrote on Truth Social.

Reynolds has said she intends to support Trump in the general election, and she told KCCI that she hopes to again have a good working relationship with Trump if he wins the White House.

I supported him in 2016. I supported him in 2020  really did a lot of work in both election cycles, Reynolds said. I wished he would have won. He didnt. I took a different path on this one. But again, I told him, and Ive made it very clear, well support whoever the nominee is. So, hell see that.

Ron DeSantis gets more than half of Iowa Republican lawmaker endorsements

Reynolds was far from the only Republican to endorse this caucus cycle. At least 76 of 98 sitting GOP lawmakers waded into the race on behalf of a candidate.

Of them, about 5% endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy, about 11% endorsed Haley, about 30% endorsed Trump, and about 54% endorsed DeSantis.

Today, lawmakers said, those allegiances are more likely to be the subject of gentle ribbing at the Capitol than a source of lingering animosity.

I have not heard of any animus between members that chose different candidates, said House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley. As a matter of fact, it's just kind of a running jovial thing like 'Ah, you know, your guy won,' or 'Your gal came in third'  It just is what it is. Iowans spoke.

Windschitl said he doesnt expect anything to stymie the governors agenda, though he noted few executives get everything they want.

Gov. Kim Reynolds gives the annual Condition of the State address at the Iowa State Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.

Kaufmann said that Republicans priorities will likely overlap regardless of who they endorsed.

I think that the governor and House and Senate Republicans are so similar ideologically that you're going to see most things happen, because we're all on the same team, regardless of a family fight that may have just taken place, said Kaufmann, who is also chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. I can tell you as the senior adviser in Iowa for President Trump that it's not going to have any impact on me.

Was Kim Reynolds endorsement effective?

Reynolds' endorsement appears to have done little to boost DeSantis standing in Iowa.

He ended the race about where he started  with 21% of the vote, a full 30 percentage points behind Trump.

A December Iowa Poll found that only 31% of likely Republican caucusgoers said Reynolds endorsement made them more likely to support DeSantis.

Still, thats substantially more influential than the endorsements of evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats, who backed DeSantis, or the Americans for Prosperity Action group, which backed Haley. Just 13% and 14%, respectively, said those endorsements would make them more likely to back the candidate.

But endorsements can shape the race in less tangible ways. Reynolds waded into the race at a moment when Haley was gaining ground in the polling; Reynolds potentially blunted her upward momentum and gave DeSantis needed attention at a key moment. She also cut several TV ads on behalf of DeSantis and campaigned with him across the state.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds holds up a signed commit-to-caucus card soon after endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president.

Reynolds said she chose to wade into the race because the country shouldnt gamble on Trump winning the presidency. DeSantis, she said, was a better bet for the country.

"I believe he's the candidate that can win," she said at the time. "And we also not only need somebody that can win, but we need somebody that has the skill and the resolve, which he clearly does, to reverse the madness that we see happening across this country."

David Kochel, a veteran political operative who has worked on numerous caucus cycles, said Reynolds endorsement may have lifted DeSantis in some of the more populous, urban counties where he slightly overperformed expectations compared to Haley.

In Polk County, which is home to Des Moines, Trump won 38%, DeSantis got 27% and Haley came in third with 26%.

I think Kim Reynolds' endorsement probably helped him in some of those places where she does really well, Kochel said. She runs ahead of Trump in all those kinds of precincts. And I think that her imprimatur probably helped DeSantis.

More: Trump and DeSantis beat expectations in 2024 Iowa Caucuses; 6 precincts show how they did it

Reynolds has consistently polled better than Trump, with a greater share of respondents viewing her favorably. And theres no indication from recent Iowa Polls that her standing is substantially diminished.

In August, she was viewed favorably by 81% of likely Republican caucusgoers and unfavorably by 18%.

That was down slightly in December, when she was viewed favorably by 78% and unfavorably by 20%.

In December, Trump was viewed favorably by 72% and unfavorably by 28%.

But at some Trump rallies, Iowans booed when the former president mentioned Reynolds endorsement of DeSantis.

More than her own personal standing, some Iowans worried early on that Reynolds endorsement would hurt Iowas chances at remaining first among states in the Republican presidential nominating process.

Kaufmann, who worked for Trump, said he does not share those concerns.

The president has assured me repeatedly that he supports Iowa's first-in-the-nation status, and I believe he will continue to protect it, he said.

Some Republicans begin to rally around Trump, focus on legislative work

Already, Reynolds and other Republicans are rallying back around Trump.

Vander Plaats, who also lined up behind DeSantis ahead of the caucuses, said he now plans to vote for Trump as the partys nominee in November. He said hes not worried about any backlash from Trump as a result of his decision to endorse someone else.

I think he knows I will continue to be a friend to him, Vander Plaats said. "It was my promise to him several years ago. It remains my promise today. I'll pray for him. I'll cheer him on. I'll still be a voice of accountability. And I think everybody wins when that's the case. We all need friends like that, who will pray for us and be a voice of accountability."

Bob Vander Plaats, Governor Kim Reynolds, and Casey DeSantis applaud as Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis talks with moderator Tucker Carlson during the Family Leadership Summit in Des Moines, Friday, July 14, 2023.

But Vander Plaats also backed away from some of the more critical things he said about Trump before the caucuses.

In a Jan. 9 editorial published in the Register, Vander Plaats wrote that the system and the sheer number of Trump haters will never allow him to win the presidency.

In a post-caucus interview, Vander Plaats said he does think Trump can win the White House.

I've always said I believe (Trump) presents our highest hurdle of winning, he said. That said, when you take a look at President Biden, his record, I mean, I think everybody sees him as being past his prime.  Who couldn't beat him at this stage?

Back at the Capitol, other Republican lawmakers say theyre looking forward to getting back to their legislative business.

At the end of the day, we all just want to do what's right for Iowans, said Rep. Brian Lohse, a Republican from Bondurant. And you know, and that doesn't always mean we agree with every bill but we are able to be friends and continue to work and work together and find the best solutions. So you know, from our standpoint in the Legislature, you know, who we endorse really has nothing to do with the work that we do.

Des Moines Register reporter Stephen Gruber-Miller contributed to this report.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Lawmakers supporting Trump say they hold no grudges over Iowa Caucuses
Kimchi, the spicy fermented vegetable side dish, apparently has an "an anti-obesity effect," according to new research covering 115,000 people. Dirk Godder/dpa

With its hefty helpings of red meat and dishes with names like bulgogi, Korean food is not always associated with eating light. But kimchi, a sour Korean staple made from fermented radish and cabbage, seems to help people stay in shape as they get older.

That's according to a paper published by the British Medical Journal's BMJ Open, in which researchers claim "eating up to three daily servings of the Korean classic, kimchi, may lower mens overall risk of obesity."

The team, from Chung Ang University and Seoul-based World Institute of Kimchi, found radish kimchi to be "linked to a lower prevalence of midriff bulge in both sexes."

The research covered over 115,000 people, most of them middle-aged, and picked up on earlier work showing some kimchi ingredients having "an anti-obesity effect."

The scientists cautioned that their work was based on an observational study, which they said meant causation could not be confirmed. And they reminded kimchi eaters not to overdo it, as eating more than 3 dishes a day could contribute to weight gain.

The team warned also that the popular dish, which has been compared to sauerkraut, is salty. However kimchi - and its fermented leaves in particular - is also a source of potassium, which counteracts the negative effect of salt on the body.
Candidates hoping to serve the last seven-ish months of retired Rep. Kevin McCarthys term filed their paperwork last week for the March 19 special election in Californias 20th Congressional District.

Californias secretary of state sent a certified list of candidates to county elections officials on Jan. 31 so they can start printing ballots.

The special election primary election comes two weeks after the regularly-scheduled primary, where some of the same candidates are running for a two-year term to start in January 2025.

Heres what voters should know:

Why is there a special election?

Theres a special election in Californias 20th, a solidly-red district encompassing parts of Kern, Tulare, Kings and Fresno counties, because former Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, retired from Congress on Dec. 31, 2023. But the two-year House term does not end until January 2025.

McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, left after being ousted as House speaker in October.

The seat will remain empty until the special election fills the seat. U.S. House vacancies must be filled through elections unlike in the Senate, where the governor can appoint an official before an election fills the seat.

How does a special election work?

Since the election is for this abbreviated term, the winner will be sworn into the House of Representatives almost immediately.

If a candidate gets a majority of the votes on March 19, they win outright and become the next representative swiftly.

If not, the top two vote-getters regardless of party advance to a May 21 run-off, where voters will choose candidates again. Whoever wins then will be sworn in almost immediately.

The winner of the special election will serve until Jan. 3, 2025, when this congressional term ends and the next one begins. Thats when the winner of the regularly-scheduled election  the primary is March 5 and the general Nov. 5  will be sworn in for a two-year term.

And yes: That winner is historically is the same candidate if they run in both elections.

When will I get my ballot for the special election?

Voters in Californias 20th will get two primary ballots this year. The special election primary is March 19. There will be a separate ballot than for the March 5 primary.

All California active registered voters get ballots in the mail. People can still vote in person on March 5 and March 19.

March 5 primary: Ballots will start being sent out by Feb. 5. Drop-off locations will open Feb. 6.

March 19 primary: Ballots will start being sent out by Feb. 19. Drop-off locations will open Feb. 20.

Who is running in the special election?

Write-in candidates for the special election can still file paperwork through March 5. But these are the candidates from the secretary of states certified list who will be on the ballot.

Californias 20th is the states most Republican district.

The presumed frontrunner is Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, who served as McCarthys district director for nearly a decade before being elected to the Legislature. Fong is running in both the special and regularly-scheduled elections, but his campaign for the two-year term faces a legal challenge by Californias secretary of state.

Other Republicans considered well-known by analysts who are running for both the special and regularly-scheduled elections are Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and Fresno casino owner Kyle Kirkland. Democrat Marisa Wood, a Bakersfield school teacher who lost to McCarthy in the 2022 election, and Ben Dewell, a no-party-preference scientist, are running in both too.

Candidates listed for only the special election are Republican Anna Zoe Cohen, a high school employee, Democrat Harmesh Kumar, a clinical psychologist and businessman and no-party-preference candidates James V. Cardoza, a real estate photographer and David J. Fluhart, a cannabis grower.

Republicans only listed for the March 5 primary are America First businessman David Giglio, California City Mayor Kelly Kulikoff and former fighter pilot Matt Stoll.

Kern County tech entrepreneur Stan Ellis will be on only the March 5 ballot but has endorsed Fong. Democrat Andy Morales, a security guard, and no-party-preference candidate T.J. Esposito, a businessman, are also seeking the full term.

What is the legal skirmish over Vince Fongs candidacy?

Californias secretary of state asked an appeals court last week to drop Fong as a congressional candidate for the November election. A Sacramento County Superior Court had said in December that the Bakersfield Republican could be on the ballot for Congress and the Assembly.

Before filing under an extended deadline as a candidate in Californias 20th, Fong qualified to run for re-election to the Assembly. The secretary of state said he could not remove himself from the Assembly race or be on the ballot for different seats under California elections code.

A Sacramento judge disagreed with the secretary of states decision and granted Fongs request to run for Congress. The secretary of state, up against a deadline, included Fongs name on the list of candidates for both Californias 20th and the 32nd Assembly district, which he currently represents.

The secretary of state asked an appeals court to erase the Sacramento judges ruling by April 12. If that request is granted, the secretary of state would block Fong from the November ballot.
Authorities claim the crackdown will help the fight against money laundering and corruption - JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP

Kosovo averted a crisis with its restive ethnic Serbian minority on Wednesday by pulling back on a demand that they stop using Serb dinars as currency and switch to the euro.

The Kosovo government had earlier indicated that from Thursday it would insist that the countrys ethnic Serbs no longer use dinars from neighbouring Serbia, but fall into line with the rest of Kosovo and adopt the euro.

Ethnic Serbs were deeply unhappy about the change because they receive their salaries and pensions in dinars, as well as social welfare and child allowance payments.

There were concerns that an enforcement of the new rule could lead to renewed unrest in the north of the country where ethnic Serbs are dominant.

Faced with criticism from its Western backers, the government announced just hours before the ban was to come into force that it would hold off for now.

Kosovos only official currency

Besnik Bislimi, the deputy prime minister, said: We will not implement punitive measures immediately, however we will invest time in informing Serb citizens.

He said the government was committed to eventual transitional periods so that citizens can adapt as quickly as possible, as easily as possible and with minimum damage done.

He insisted that the euro remains Kosovos only official currency.

Kosovo unilaterally adopted the euro in 2002, despite not being a member of the eurozone or the EU.

The currency dispute had risked plunging the Balkan nation back into unrest, just months after a shootout between Kosovo police and masked Serb gunmen at a monastery close to the Serbian border left four people dead.

There are parallels between a bitter two-year battle over car licence plates, in which thousands of ethnic Serbs continued to drive with Serbian-issued registration plates rather than those issued by Kosovo. Ethnic Serbs had resisted the change, sometimes resorting to violence.

Western diplomats had warned that the governments insistence that ethnic Serbs adopt the euro could lead to a renewal of unrest.

Serbia refuses to acknowledge Kosovos declaration of independence in 2008 and tensions between the two neighbours constitute one of the most serious flashpoints in the Balkans.

Direct impact on everyday lives

The US embassy in Pristina said in a joint statement issued by the US, Britain, Germany, Italy and France: We are concerned about the impact of the regulation in particular on schools and hospitals, for which no alternative process seems viable at the moment.

The regulation will also have a direct impact on the everyday lives of the overwhelming majority of Kosovo Serbs who receive payments/financial assistance from Serbia.

The five Nato countries had called for the ban on the dinar to be suspended to allow a longer period of transition.

The request for a more gradual approach was met with anger on social media, with many Kosovars saying there should be no question that the country should use just one currency  the euro.

One Kosovar man asked on Twitter: Dear ambassador, would you allow Russian rubles to be used in Alaska?

Another commented: No country in the world has licence plates from two countries. No country in the world pays with two different monetary units.

Ana Brnabic, the prime minister of Serbia, warned that the enforcement of the regulation could damage the peace process with Kosovo beyond repair, derailing EU-sponsored talks between Belgrade and Pristina once and for all.

Kosovo fought a bloody war of independence against Serbia in the late 1990s. The war was brought to an end after a 78-day Nato bombing campaign forced Serbian forces to withdraw from Kosovo.

Amid continuing tensions, Serbia has raised the combat readiness of its military forces along the border several times in the last year.

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A man withdraws Serbian Dinars from a bank cash machine in northern Serb-dominated part of ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, Kosovo, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. The ban on the Serbian currency was to start on Thursday. USA, Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany called Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to suspend enforcement of a regulation which bans the Serbian currency in Kosovo. (AP Photo/Bojan Slavkovic)

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP)  Kosovo authorities on Wednesday said they would impose the use of the countrys currency, the euro, and abolish the use of neighboring Serbias dinar in the north where most of the ethnic Serb minority lives.

Kosovos Central Bank Governor Ahmet Ismaili said starting Thursday, new rules on local transactions in euros would be applied in the northern municipalities, and all financial institutions there should register in the next month. Four banks and 15 financial institutions use Serbias dinar.

The governor said the new rules were not targeting Serbias dinar.

But the decision has sparked concern among Western powers fearing more tension in Kosovos relations with Serbia. They have urged Pristina to postpone the move.

The euro as the only means of payment and purchase, clearly defined in the Republic of Kosovo, is not a negotiable issue, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said.

There has been no reaction from Belgrade.

The decision has worried residents like Blagica Radovanovic, a retired professor in Northern Mitrovica.

What are we going to do with people who are receiving social benefits, to whom postmen bring (money) directly to their doors? Radovanovic asked. This will cause a great humanitarian catastrophe."

We shall try that the new rules do not have a negative impact or penalize the citizens, Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi said, pledging a public awareness campaign to follow.

The European Union and the United States are pressing both countries to implement agreements that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kurti reached in February and March.

The EU-facilitated normalization talks have failed to make progress, especially following a shootout last September between masked Serb gunmen and Kosovo police that left four people dead and ratcheted up tensions.

Both Serbia and Kosovo have said they want to join the EU, but EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said their refusal to compromise is jeopardizing their chances for membership.

Serbian forces fought a 1998-99 war with ethnic Albanian separatists in what was then the province of Kosovo. About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died. Kosovo eventually declared independence in 2008, but the government in Belgrade does not recognize its neighbor as a separate country.

___

Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. Ivana Bzganovic in Belgrade contributed.
His success in the New York area is nearly legendary. Onwuachi s Manhattan restaurant, Tatiana, earned a best new restaurant nod from The New York Times and is a James Beard Foundation nominee for the same honor.

Yes, my firstborn just started at Howard University last fall, but because of a celebrated chefs recent social post, we already know where well be celebrating my sons future graduation. Kwame Onwuachi, an author, celebrity and preparer of an intimate fete for Queen Bey and her friends, is bringing his talents to within minutes of Howards campus.

On Instagram, Onwuachi declared, After yeearrrrs in the making Im proud to announce my new restaurant, Dogon, coming to Washington DC soon. The 34-year-old restaurateur launches Dogon at Salamander, billionaire Black businesswoman Sheila Johnsons luxurious hotel in the heart of the district later this spring. Dogon will serve specialties from Onwuachis Nigerian, Trinidadian, Jamaican and Creole heritage in a 200-seat dining room.

His success in the New York area is nearly legendary as reservations are already nigh impossible to come by at his chic and fashionable Afro-Caribbean-inspired Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi in Lincoln Center. Last month, The New York Times anointed the eatery, named for Onwuachis older sister, as the best new restaurant in New York City. And just days ago the James Beard Foundation announced Tatiana as a semifinalist for best new restaurant.

Tatiana, a Manhattan restaurant opened by Kwame Onwuachi, above, recently received The New York Times recognition as the best new restaurant in New York City. (Courtesy of Storm)

Raised in the Bronx and the Delta State of Nigeria then educated at the Culinary Institute of America, Onwuachis ascent to celebrity chef status as a Black male is akin to the mercurial rise of Marcus Samuelsson. Hes authored two books: Notes From a Young Black Chef: A Memoir and My America: Recipes From a Young Black Chef. Four years ago, there were reports that actor LaKeith Stanfield would play Onwuachi in a movie adaptation of his life story.

Hes appeared on Top Chef as a contestant and guest judge and received earlier recognition from the James Beard Foundation in 2019 as the Rising Star Chef of the Year. Beyonce once booked Tatiana to celebrate a sold-out show on her Renaissance tour. Theres arguably no hotter chef of color on the rise at the moment.

Dressed in all black with his signature spectacles, Onwuachi fielded some questions via Zoom from Los Angeles to discuss his upbringing in the birthplace of hip-hop, his favorite bodega snacks, his greatest inspiration and more.

Whats the difference between the restaurant culture of Washington, D.C.  the home of Dogon, where you also launched the former Kith/Kin restaurant  and your native New York City, home to Tatiana?

I think New York City is just a bigger city, so theres more [dining] options, and D.C. has limited options. And then that also turns to the professional side of it. Theres not many people to pull from [to hire], as opposed to the millions of people in New York City looking for jobs. So, the talent pool is a little harder. I think D.C.s small, but its mighty, and theres quality over quantity. D.C. has tourists just like New York has tourists. Theres just more of them [in New York City]. But my restaurants bring a unique group of people that come in no matter where I open up.

How did being raised in the Bronx contribute to your success?

I would say it just shaped me as a human. I think in the Bronx, you have to grow up fast. Youre exposed to a lot at a very young age. I think people that come from the Bronx have a true grit about them about making things happen. I think that, coupled with the exposure to all the different cultures in the Bronx, definitely contributed to my career. But I think people from the Bronx are citizens of the world. They just call it like it is. Its a beautiful place to grow up.

Chef Kwame Onwuachi, seen in an undated photo, talked to theGrio about his life. (Courtesy of Storm)

What were your go-to snacks at the neighborhood bodegas growing up?

The powdered donuts! The barbeque Flavor Twists Fritos. Swedish Fish. Sour Patch Kids. [Marinos Italian] icee cups. All of those things.

Explain your decision to bring elements of your past to the menu at Tatiana, like your chocolate brownie inspired by Little Debbie cakes.

I wanted to give a voice to the inaudible, and also tell the stories of the people that make New York City what it is in general, the people in the boroughs that really have built this city. I wanted to tell those stories, also weaving my childhood through that and a little bit of nostalgia. Yknow, dishes that I grew up eating in the Bronx; things that I ended up drinking in the Bronx. We have a nutcracker [cocktail] on the menu. We have an homage to the icee carts on the menu.

I wanted to tell those stories and then also honor San Juan Hill, which was there before Lincoln Center. There was an Afro-Caribbean and Latin community that was thriving before all of that. All of those things gave me the inspiration for Tatiana. But the Bronx for sure, things that I grew up eating, with my sister being the namesake of the restaurant.

Do you think the phenomenon of the celebrity chef has affected the food industry for good or bad?

I think its been great. I think its given people access to food visually, and I think humans in general just receive things visually. I think it exploded peoples interest in cuisine, and not just the basic levels. I think it introduced different styles of techniques and more variety of things. Just, like, bread [for example]. I think growing up, there was not that many types of bread [well-known] in general. Now its brioche and sourdough and things. You find that everywhere. I think that starts with the publicity of food in general and making it more exciting.

I think in a bad way, it maybe glamorized the life of a chef and made it not really realistic. And I think we have that effect in the industry, of getting people that just wanna be famous, or think its just all fun and games, or just shoot straight to stardom by just being on television. Theres not a true honing of the craft. I think that essence has been diluted a little bit.

What is the biggest sacrifice youve made to achieve your success?

Time with family and friends. I dont have that luxury.

Whats been the most memorable night for you thus far at Tatiana?

Probably when Jay-Z and Beyonce bought out Tatiana. It was like after her concert. She came and enjoyed Tatiana just with some friends and family. It was really small and intimate. And it was really great for her to want to celebrate. I just look at it like millions of people go to see her, and she came to see me. Young Guru deejayed. It was really, really cool.

What chef has been most inspirational to you coming up?

My mom. Shes a chef, Jewel Robinson. She started a catering company out of the house, and at a very young age, I had to help out. Thats how I even got into this industry, so I would say her.

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Miles Marshall Lewis (@MMLunlimited) is an author and Harlem-based cultural critic whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, GQ, Rolling Stone and many other outlets. Lewis is currently finishing a cultural biography of comedian Dave Chappelle, his follow-up to Promise That You Will Sing About Me: The Power and Poetry of Kendrick Lamar.

The post Kwame Onwuachi, possibly the hottest chef of color at the moment, reveals his inspiration and sacrifices appeared first on TheGrio.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton before his impeachment trial in the Senate Chambers at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Sep. 6, 2023. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday temporarily blocked the deposition of Attorney General Ken Paxton in the whistleblower case that spurred his impeachment.

Paxton was set to be deposed Thursday, and three top aides were also set to testify in the following days. The depositions could have huge implications for Paxton  anything he says could be used by federal criminal investigators and could put pressure on state lawmakers to revisit the impeachment allegations.

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Paxton is accused in the suit of having fired four employees in retaliation for their claims that he accepted bribes and abused his office to help a friend and campaign donor. He has denied wrongdoing. The Texas Senate acquitted him last fall on those and other claims after a two-week impeachment trial.

The high court on Tuesday did not explain its decision to grant the temporary relief in its brief order. It had denied a similar appeal from Paxton earlier in January. The court has requested a response from the whistleblowers attorneys by Feb. 29.

The third-term Republican filed a motion this month saying he would no longer contest the allegations in the lawsuit and asked a Travis County court to award damages.

The whistleblowers attorneys have said Paxton is desperate to avoid testifying and is attempting to have it both ways  denying the former employees the right to prove their allegations in court while also declining to admit any wrongdoing. Despite Paxtons no-contest motion, the whistleblowers have all agreed they would prefer to continue with depositions and the trial.

A judge in the case initially did not address Paxtons petition and ordered the depositions. Paxton then appealed to the Austin-based 3rd Court of Appeals, which within hours denied his request. He then embarked on this appeal to the states highest civil court.

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Lawyers for Paxton did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the order. Attorneys for two of the whistleblowers remained optimistic.

"We look forward to continuing the fight for justice in this case," they said in a statement. "The people of Texas deserve answers from Ken Paxton."

Former President Donald Trump and his allies, including his son Donald Trump, Jr. and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Green, had been exerting pressure on the court to rule in Paxtons favor. A group run by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller submitted paperwork this week to be admitted as part of Paxtons legal team in the case.

Trump on Tuesday wrote on the social media platform TruthSocial that the legal system was being politicized and abused to attack Paxton.
For five years, vendors hawking grilled meats, fresh fruit and used clothes on the streets of unincorporated L.A. County have been stuck in a strange legal gray area: no longer banned, but not yet regulated.

On Tuesday, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors took a major step toward bringing these sellers out of their regulatory limbo, pushing forward a long-awaited ordinance that would set rules for street vending in unincorporated parts of the county.

In 2018, California decriminalized street vending statewide, opening the door for local jurisdictions to create their own laws around who could sell what and where. Since then, at least 16 cities in L.A. County have created their own rules.

Now the county must do its part, said Supervisor Hilda Solis, adding she believed the rule change would bring marginalized entrepreneurs, overwhelmingly from Latino and immigrant communities, into the countys bustling economy.

Read more: Fontana's Black mayor is cracking down on Latino street vendors. Both sides allege racism

Under the ordinance, street vendors setting up in unincorporated parts of the county would have to register with the countys Department of Economic Opportunity, which would enforce the new rules: no blocking the sidewalk, no selling on private property, no excessive littering, to name a few. Vendors could face fines if they dont comply.

The Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 0 in support of the ordinance, though they will need to take a final vote before it can pass. The ordinance would go into effect six months later.

The supervisors also voted 4 to 0 to move forward on an ordinance from the countys Department of Public Health that would change how food carts are regulated.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger abstained from both votes.

Barger said shed heard from business owners who believed the rule change would create an uneven playing field between bricks-and-mortar businesses and street vendors, who she believed would get off relatively easy for violating the rules.

Kelly LoBianco, head of the Department of Economic Opportunity, said the agency would emphasize a care first approach to enforcement, meaning the emphasis would be on educating vendors about the new regulations rather than fining them for flouting them.

I feel that we have not gone far enough, Barger said. The penalties dont meet what were requiring for restaurants that can get shut down and lose a days business.

Business owners said they were also concerned about unnavigable streets and trash  problems, they believed, that would not improve unless the county cracked down.

Without having a rigorous, effective enforcement, nothings going to happen, said Tony DeMarco, a pawnshop owner and president of the Whittier Boulevard Merchants Assn., which opposed the ordinance.

While bricks-and-mortar business owners lamented an uneven playing field, street vendors and their advocates hailed the rules as some of the best theyve seen since the state decriminalized street vending.

Our hope is that L.A. County can actually be the model, said Doug Smith of Inclusive Action, part of a coalition of groups that have advocated for legalization of street vending. It does not include some of the things we've seen that are really intended to keep them out of the system  things like criminal background checks, really high fees or really significant restrictions on locations.

Smith said, however, that food vendors, in particular, could still face a challenging path to registering with the county as they would need to get a permit from the Department of Public Health, which enforces the states retail food code. Food vendors ubiquitous across the county, such as taco stands, have struggled in the past with the agencys cumbersome rules, and only a small fraction are believed to have the proper permits.

Barbara Ferrer, director of the Public Health Department, emphasized Tuesday that the rule changes under consideration would not apply to "pop-up food stands"  typically larger food operations with big tables and canopies that she said can't be permitted under state law.

Advocates say some jurisdictions have taken a punitive approach when formalizing rules on street vending. In Fontana, for example, unlicensed sellers could be arrested on misdemeanor charges. The city of Los Angeles , which passed its ordinance in 2018 , has been sued over its no-vending zone  tourist-friendly areas such as Dodger Stadium and Hollywood Bowl where city officials contend vendors will add to congestion.

Ritu Mahajan Estes of Public Counsel, which represents the vendors suing Los Angeles, said the law firm supports the countys ordinance, which doesnt have any significant no-vending zones.

She said there were some small tweaks shed like to see: namely nixing the requirements on distancing. Under the draft ordinance, sidewalk vendors cannot be within 500 feet of a day-care nor farmers market.

Its not perfect, but it has a lot of good things, she said.

Other vendors said they worried about how much it could end up costing them to get licensed. The department says it would need to set the registration fee at $604 to offset the regulatory program costs. Officials say they dont plan to charge the first year and have found funding that will allow them to charge $100 annually through mid-2028.

Many of the vendors warn that a fee of $600  if it came to fruition years later would be a death knell to their business.

Rent is high. Food is high. The cost of living is high, Alfredo Gomez, a street vendor in East Rancho Dominguez, told the board through an interpreter. Please, look at the cost, the fees.

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.
Ms Reeves said she wants to be 'a champion of a successful and thriving financial services industry in the UK' - Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg

Labour would not reinstate the cap on bankers bonuses despite previously criticising the move, Rachel Reeves has said, prompting claims of a flip flop on steroids.

The shadow chancellor said she does not have any intention of bringing back the limit imposed by the EU after the 2008 financial crisis to curb excessive risk-taking by City workers, as she wants to keep the industry thriving.

Plans to ditch the cap at twice a bankers annual salary were first announced by Liz Truss chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, in 2022, and taken forward by his successor, Jeremy Hunt.

Mr Kwarteng said the move would encourage global banks to create jobs, invest and pay taxes in the City, warning that the bonus limit was pushing up basic salaries and driving activity outside Europe.

In October last year, as the reforms came into effect, Ms Reeves hit out at the decision on Twitter, claiming that scrapping the cap during a cost-of-living crisis tells you everything you need to know about this Government.

Sharing an article containing a warning from the TUC that removing the limit would fuel a greed is good culture, she tweeted: Today - in the midst of their cost of living crisis - the Conservatives are scrapping the cap on bankers bonuses.

It tells you everything you need to know about this Government.

Labour approach a dog food lasagne

But she now said she would not reverse the change, as she wants to champion a successful and thriving financial services industry.

Andrew Griffith, the science minister, accused Ms Reeves of a flip flop on steroids, adding: How would any business know where they stand under Labour? Which Rachel is going to show up, when.

He compared Labours approach to financial services with a dog food lasagne.

He tweeted: Whilst any U-turn to copy our reforms is welcome, Labours approach to the UKs Financial Services sector is like a dog food lasagne: sort of looks the same and may even fool some people but you really wouldnt prefer it!

Ms Reeves, a former Bank of England economist, told the BBC: The cap on bankers bonuses was brought in in the aftermath of the global financial crisis and that was the right thing to do to rebuild the public finances.

But that has gone now and we dont have any intention of bringing that back. And as chancellor of the exchequer, I would want to be a champion of a successful and thriving financial services industry in the UK.

Stephen Flynn, the SNPs Westminster leader, also hit out at Labour for the change in position.

Alongside a screenshot of Ms Reeves tweet from last year, he wrote: It took Labour three months to back the Tories on this.

It tells you everything you need to know about Labour.

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Labour is planning for all rail services to be back in public hands within five years - ANDRES GARCIA MARTIN/ISTOCKPHOTO

Labour will push ahead with the renationalisation of train operators, Louise Haigh, the shadow transport secretary, said on Wednesday.

She said the party plans to bring the railways into public ownership as private contracts expire, meaning operators would be in public ownership within five years. Because of the contracts expiring, the companies would not receive compensation.

Ms Haighs comments came as Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, prepared to launch a major drive to woo business.

In a speech to business leaders on Thursday, he will pledge to make them his equal partner in government, saying they deserve praise for serving the national interest and stressing that Labour is now the party of business.

Ms Haigh told GB News that Britains railways were broken and that Labours plan to fix them would bring significant savings.

She said: Ill be setting out our plans, actually in just two or three weeks time, which will demonstrate how well save money and how that money will bring those operators into public ownership, all of them, within the first term of a Labour government.

Theres absolutely no compensation provided to the operators.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, with Louise Haigh, the shadow transport secretary - Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

The plan was first conceived during Jeremy Corbyns leadership of Labour, and a spokesman for the party said: Our position remains the same  we will bring railways into public ownership as core contracts expire.

This week, rail passengers journeys have been marred by strikes as members of Aslef, the the train drivers union, walk out across 16 companies.

In his speech, Sir Keir will launch a five-point plan for business and pledge that Labour will do the hard yards, roll up our sleeves and get underneath the bonnet to fix an unprecedented stagnation in British productivity growth.

The speech, in central London, echoes Tony Blairs attempts to woo business in the run-up to the 1997 election. It will be attended by 400 senior business leaders, including FTSE 100 chief executives from a range of companies, as well as 200 international investors and ambassadors.

Labour has said tickets for the event sold out in four hours and hundreds were on the waiting list to attend.

Sir Keir will say: The depth of the changes weve made to transform the Labour Partys relationship with business is something I take immense pride in. Your presence here is a testament to the changes we have made over the past four years.

So all the hard work that has taken us to this point is a vindication and a recognition of that guiding belief. Not just that Labour could be the party of business but that Labour should be the party of business, and that now, four years on, Labour is the party of business.

The Labour leader will set out plans for skills to drive growth, the need to partner with business to make work pay for working people, backing British business and creating the stable economic conditions required for delivering growth.

He will say they are five steps we can take together to begin our walk towards a Britain with its future back, adding: You cant overstate what the British people have been through in the past 14 years. Its not just the permanent cycle of crisis  there is something much more fundamentally broken in the way this country creates wealth.

Richard Walker, the executive chairman of Iceland supermarkets and a former Conservative Party member, will be among the business leaders in attendance.

Mohamed El-Erian, the former chief executive of bond giant PIMCO and the president of Queens College, Cambridge, said it was vital for Labour to get business on side.

He added: Its important because we are a market-based economy where the private sector does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to promoting economic growth and employment. The government just doesnt have the fiscal space to be a direct engine of growth.

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LANSING  A "person of interest" was in custody relating to a false threat of a gun at Pattengill Biotechnical Magnet School Wednesday afternoon.

In online posts, police did not provide any additional information.

A gun threat was reported Wednesday at the school , but was deemed false by Lansing police, according to the department's post over X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Claims of a guy with a gun at Pattengill Magnet School are FALSE," the afternoon post said. "This incident is being investigated as a false threat."

Officers visited the 815 N. Fairview Ave. school, on the city's east side, at an undisclosed time and cleared the building. Police are investigating the incident as a false threat, the department's post said.

ALERT: Claims of a guy with a gun at Pattengill Magnet School are FALSE. Officers from our department are at the scene and have cleared the building. This incident is being investigated as a false threat. pic.twitter.com/qCI4IwRKaQ  Lansing Police (@LansingPolice) January 31, 2024

Pattengill holds students grades pre-K to eighth and provides a foundation in science, technology, engineering and math.

The school district's communication manager, Ryan Gilding, released a statement about the incident and "a full lockdown" Wednesday afternoon.

"This afternoon, we had a false report from the community and out of an abundance of caution, the Lansing Police Department and our Public Safety Department arrived on scene. At no time was any person in danger  the report was false," the statement said.

"Acting with the utmost caution and concern for the safety of our school community, we initiated a full lockdown. This measure, though precautionary, is part of our commitment to ensuring a safe learning environment for all.

"We are pleased to report that, following a thorough and immediate response by our public safety officials, it was determined that the report was false."

Besides the post on X, the Lansing Police Department has not released any other information, and public information director Jordan Gulkis did not provide further comment.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact Sarah Atwood at satwood@lsj.com

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing police: Gun threat at Pattengill magnet school false
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A former Clark County prosecutor accused of attempting to meet an underage girl at a park for sex now faces a federal charge connected to his arrest last year, the 8 News Now Investigators confirmed Tuesday.

Henderson police arrested Tanner Castro in October after they said he tried to meet a person he believed was a young girl at Whitney Mesa Park. Instead, he was communicating with a decoy as part of a law enforcement sting.

The user later agreed to meet the decoy for sexual contact at a predetermined meeting location, police wrote in an arrest report the 8 News Now Investigators obtained shortly after Castros arrest. The sexual contact included having sex in the backseat of the subjects car.

On Tuesday, a federal grand jury indicted Castro on one count of coercion and enticement. The indictment requires Castro to forfeit his iPhone. The court issued a warrant for Castros arrest Tuesday afternoon, records said.

Castro faces two felony charges in Henderson Justice Court, including luring a child with the use of a computer to engage in sexual conduct and statutory sexual seduction, records said. His next court date was scheduled for Feb. 12.

Castro posted a $15,000 bond in his Henderson case in October. It was unclear Tuesday when he could appear in federal court.

The Clark County District Attorneys Office hired Castro as a deputy district attorney in September. The office fired him after his arrest.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A man with 19 previous traffic citations, who admitted to killing a bicyclist last year, agreed to plead guilty Wednesday with the understanding a judge could sentence him to probation or a minimum of a year in prison.

Julius Hopkins, 32, faced charges of reckless driving resulting in death, child abuse or endangerment, and having no drivers license, registration, or insurance, for the Sept. 23, 2023, crash on Nellis Boulevard near Tropicana Avenue in the southeast valley. As part of the deal, prosecutors dropped all charges except reckless driving resulting in death.

Nathan Nate Miller, 32, died hours after Hopkins crashed into him, police said. Hopkins was driving a car registered to him, records showed. The registration, which appeared to be a temporary Nevada plate, expired in March.

Police cited Hopkins at the crash site and released him. Officers later arrested him Thursday, Oct. 26, after friends came to the 8 News Now Investigators with questions about the crash. The 8 News Now Investigators then aired a report on Wednesday, Oct. 18. At that point, Hopkins was not facing any charges.

Nathan Miller was killed when a driver hit him on Nellis Boulevard on Sept. 23, 2023. Miller died hours later in the hospital. (Nicole Miller)

I tried everything in my power to miss Nathan. I promise you, Hopkins told the 8 News Now Investigators from jail in October. It was the scariest moment of my life.

You have no license. You have no insurance. Why were you driving? 8 News Now Investigator David Charns asked Hopkins.

Ive never been in an accident in my life, Hopkins said. I wasnt supposed to be driving, yes. I was not supposed to be driving. Those are facts. Those are facts. But Ive never been in an accident in my life, and I never expected something to happen like that in my life.

The crash report the 8 News Now Investigators obtained reveals an officer deemed Hopkins at fault for the crash, though no enforcement action [was] taken.

As part of a plea deal on a charge of reckless driving resulting in death, Judge Mary Kay Holthus could sentence Hopkins to probation, documents said. Holthus could also sentence Hopkins to a minimum of one year in prison or up to six years, with parole eligibility, documents said. Holthus may also require Hopkins to pay restitution.

Holthus is the same judge attacked in her courtroom on Jan. 3. During that hearing, she was about to sentence Deobra Redden, 30, to jail after previously granting him probation in an earlier case.

The 8 News Now Investigators found at least 19 traffic cases in multiple jurisdictions across Clark County where police cited or ticketed Hopkins dating back to 2010.

Hopkins has 14 traffic cases in Las Vegas Justice Court. His earliest case, filed in September 2010, was on a charge of no insurance, records showed. Hopkins also had traffic cases in Las Vegas Municipal Court, which handles such citations within Las Vegas city limits; Henderson Municipal Court and North Las Vegas Municipal Court, records showed.

Last November, Hopkins employer, a moving company, wrote to a judge in part, We need him to return to work as soon as possible.

Hopkins was out of custody on $50,000 bail, records said. He was scheduled to be sentenced on May 1.

Last year, a new Nevada law decriminalized minor traffic offenses. The bill also abolished the practice of issuing warrants for failure to pay traffic fines or appear in court. Several open cases have no documented event other than the issuance of a citation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A judge is allowing a search team of newspaper staff and attorneys to go through the phone and computers belonging to murdered Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German.

Attorneys for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, police, prosecutors, and the man accused of stabbing German, 69, to death in Sept. 2022 all signed a stipulation enabling that team to search the six electronic devices belonging to German. Police recovered those devices in the immediate aftermath of the celebrated investigative reporters stabbing.

On March 8, Robert Telles, the disgraced former public administrator for Clark County, will stand trial for Germans murder.

Telles attorney, Robert Draskovich, confirmed Tuesday that he and his client intend to keep that trial date.

The trial has been delayed repeatedly because, among other reasons, Telles tried to have presiding judge Michelle Leavitt removed. Telles has also argued, repeatedly, that the investigation into his involvement in the case was improper, and that he was framed for Germans murder.

I was framed: Las Vegas politician accused of killing journalist speaks from jail

Ultimately DNA found under Germans fingernails matched a sample taken from Telles, leading to his arrest in September. He has been in custody at Clark County Detention Center since.

The extensive litigation surrounding Germans phones and computers also dragged on for months.

At issue was whether the devices actually belonged to German, and thus could be searched for evidence. The R-Js lawyers argued that Nevadas shield law trumped the polices right to search the phone. At one point, lawyers for the Las Vegas Review-Journal sought sanctions against Metro, arguing that police illegally searched the devices and then lied about it.

Police searched slain reporters phone  and then lied, Las Vegas Review-Journal says in court motion

It is bad enough that Metro violated this federal statute, unilaterally and secretly breaching this important privilege. But Metro then hid the truth by leading Plaintiffs  and the Nevada courts  to believe, both by its words and by its silence, that it has never searched Mr. Germans phone, the motion stated.

German had published several stories about Telles public office, saying it was in turmoil in the months leading up to his stabbing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Everyone deserves a Night to Shine, and an upcoming event where thats possible is wrapping up registration.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Wednesday, Jan. 31, is the last day to sign up for the Time Tebow Foundations Night to Shine event in Georgia.

The event invites people with special needs 14 years old or older to a free, unforgettable prom night experience.

The event will take place at Kingslands First Baptist Church in Camden County.

You can visit the Night to Shine website or email nighttoshine@kingslandfbc.org to register.

Read: Northbound side of Dames Point Bridge closed due to deadly crash, authorities say

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Typing this column into a not-very-smartphone on a crowded commuter train, I found that rail minister Huw Merrimans surname kept auto-correcting itself to Merriment. Hes provided plenty of it this week.

It seems Merriman has started dabbling in radio criticism. I cant help taking it personally: this is my first week as The Telegraphs radio critic, and a minister is already trying to steal my job. Perhaps he expects me to sort out the strikes. Anyway, he had listened to 10 minutes of the January 19 episode of The News Quiz (Radio 4), and was appalled by it, as he told Sky News.

It wasnt satirical  it was just a diatribe against Conservatives, he said. There wasnt actually anything in it [...] which struck me as being sort of amusing. I listened to that episode too, and found it sort of amusing, but only just. I didnt laugh. But what a change a week makes.

Merrimans complaint  which was widely covered in the press  became the lead story on Andy Zaltzmans topical quiz on Friday. Zaltzman came out swinging, with an episode that mocked politicians of every bent  most notably Merriman  and the BBC itself, while being extremely funny. Theres a risk of Radio 4 humour about Radio 4 humour eating its own tail, but Ive been listening to the programme for about 18 years and I dont think its ever sounded fresher or livelier.

There was, however, one moment when the jokes dried up, and Zaltzman launched into exactly what his show had been accused of  a laughless, anti-Tory diatribe. The government is sleepwalking towards annihilation, riven by self-indulgent, facile in-fighting. Careerist MPs who treat politics as a game should shut up or shove off. On and on it went. If Merriman tuned in halfway through, hed have had steam coming out of his ears. The punchline was that Zaltzman hadnt written any of it; these were all criticisms of the government voiced by former Conservative ministers over the past week. (Thank you to our new writing team of Simon Clarke, Priti Patel, David Davis, David Frost and Conor Burns.)

Minister Huw Merriman labelled last week's The News Quiz a "diatribe against Conservatives" - Thomas Krych/Shutterstock

When I spoke to Zaltzman in 2020  one episode into his News Quiz tenure  he fretted prophetically about accusations of bias. A government will inevitably be more criticised than an opposition, because its the one making decisions. So that might lead to a perception of greater bias than is actually the case. Its easier to joke about people who say and do things that matter; perhaps for this reason, neither of the latest episodes mentioned the Lib Dems. As The Spectators Cindy Yu put it on Friday: The real test is, if and when  when  Labour get in this year, what is The News Quiz going to sound like at that point?

Fridays funniest lines came from Alasdair Beckett-King, who was introduced alongside Lucy Porter as one of the episodes two ostensibly Left-ish guests (balanced by two ostensibly Right-ish ones, Geoff Norcott and Yu). But hes not usually political, more a whimsical surrealist  imagine a young Bill Bailey, with the hair of Ariel from The Little Mermaid (invisible on radio, alas). He had a bone to pick with more conservative colleagues: You see Right-wing comedians out there just doing these unfunny, jokeless political rants, and the audience are clapping. And, speaking as a Left-wing comedian: we invented that. Thats our thing. Get your own thing.

Its a rare joke thats funny and balanced. They say satire is when you criticise the Left and Right equally, Beckett-King mused. No. These people dont understand their history. Satire is when you do an etching of the King with his pants down, and on his bottom youve written something really boring like, Agrarian Reform. Thats satire. Private Eyes Ian Hislop  himself a fan of dusty Georgian cartoons  would probably agree. But he went back even further than Gillray in the first week of his ongoing series Ian Hislops Oldest Jokes (Radio 4).

A laughing matter: Ian Hislop is investigating the history of British humour - Andrew Crowley

An episode on visual comedy studied the medieval grotesques of Oxford (sculptures, not dons) while one on wordplay reminded us that  in the Venerable Bedes account  a pun brought Christianity to England. Eyeing up handsome slaves on sale in Rome, Pope Gregory the Great asked who they were. Angli, came the reply (Angles). No, he corrected them, surely they were Angeli (angels). Christian missions followed.

For all the jokes about bottoms, the series is pleasingly, unashamedly highbrow: there were long quotations from Anglo-Saxon and Latin texts, and hushed visits to archives with the microphone held close to pages of cow- or goat-skin. You can hear that good crunkle of the parchment, as Exeter Cathedral archivist Ellie Jones put it. Crunkle  excellent word. Almost as good as hleahtorsmi (laughtersmith), what Anglo-Saxons called a joker.

Many of the riddles in the codex known as the Exeter Book, gifted by a 10th-century Bishop, remain too filthy to quote in this newspaper. Jones recited one that would have made Frankie Howerd blush. People like jokes. People like filth. Why not? she said. People are people. Politicians come and go; dumb jokes are timeless.

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Isla, 8, (whose parent asked their last name not be used) holds up the sign they made during the March for Trans Youth held at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, on March 1, 2022. The rally was held in response to Governor Greg Abbotts recent order seeking to classify gender affirming care for transgender young people as child abuse as well as ordering state child welfare officials to launch child abuse investigations into reports of young people receiving such care. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News LGBTQ rights supporters gather at the Texas State Capitol to protest state Republican-led efforts to pass legislation that would restrict the participation of transgender student athletes on the first day of the 87th Legislature's third special session on Sept. 20, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images/TNS) Tamir Kalifa/TNS AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 27: Demonstrators rally against a counter-protester while protesting bills HB 1686 and SB 14 during a 'Fight For Our Lives' rally at the Texas State Capitol on March 27, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Community members and activists gathered at the Capitol to protest the bills, which seek to limit healthcare to transgender youth. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Brandon Bell/Getty Images The Texas Supreme Court hears oral arguments for Zurawski v. State of Texas, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Austin, Texas. Mikala Compton/AP

A lawsuit challenging the states new ban on transition care for transgender minors is forcing the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court to weigh the limits of parental rights.

Senate Bill 14, which went into effect Sept. 1, prohibits doctors from prescribing medications like puberty blockers and hormone therapy to minors, and from performing transition-related surgeries on them. The medications are common treatments for transgender minors, while surgery is rare.

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Proponents say the law is necessary to protect children from potentially irreversible medical interventions, while critics say it amounts to discrimination and will harm Texas transgender children and their families.

The courts decision on whether to block the measure will have sweeping consequences for those families, many of whom say their children are at risk without medical help. But it could have broader consequences yet for parental rights, a rallying cry embraced by Republicans on everything from schools to library books to vaccinations.

Both sides were in court this week, making their case.

The states lawyer Natalie D. Thompson argued Tuesday that the justices dont have to decide between Texas parents rights and government regulation: The transgender care ban doesnt dictate what parents should and shouldnt do, it simply limits their available options.

Parents are still the ones who approve available medical intervention or decline available medical intervention, Thompson said. What Senate Bill 14 does is take certain medical treatments off the table entirely. Thats not an interference with a parents right.

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Justice Debra Lehrmann pushed back on Thompson, asking: How is it not an interference when that parent has made that decision based upon his or her consultation with medical professionals, based upon medically sound guidelines?

She noted those guidelines have been supported by many major medical groups, including the American Medical Association and American Psychological Association.

Thompson said the government still has the right to regulate medication, even if a physician believes it may be beneficial. She added that she believes the medical organizations have been ideologically captured or compromised by their political motivations.

Justice Jimmy Blacklock expressed concern that the court was essentially being asked to decide what is, at bottom, a moral and philosophical question, as opposed to a scientific question.

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Are we the way we are because thats how God made us or can we really be a sex that is different from our biology? he said. It seems to me that the resolution of this issue flows from what side of that moral and philosophical debate you take, and its hard for me to see how the court could ever be the appropriate arbiter.

Kennon L. Wooten, who represented the plaintiffs, said the court can avoid having to pick sides by ruling against the law, which she said in effect rids parents of the option of a medical treatment that is widely supported by medical professionals.

A parent ought to have the right to decide to have this medical care given to their children who are suffering or the right to decide to not give that care, Wooten said. Whether that decision stems from some moral or religious place or not doesnt change the inquiry. We still have an infringement in the fundamental parental right to make medical decisions for their children.

Texas is one of at least 22 states, including Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, that have banned transition care for minors in recent years, most of which are being challenged in court.

Many Texas families with transgender children reportedly have chosen to leave the state due to these new policies, though not all have the financial or other means.

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The suit before the high court Tuesday was filed in July by five families with transgender children, three physicians who wish to continue treating transgender youths and two LGBTQ advocacy groups.

A Travis County judge in August had temporarily blocked the law, finding that the law likely infringes on the right of parents to make fundamental decisions about their childrens care and the right of transgender youths to not be discriminated against based on their sex and transgender identity.

Attorney General Ken Paxton immediately appealed the ruling to the Texas Supreme Court; in doing so, he blocked the injunction and allowed the law to go into effect this fall as planned.
Naloxone, sold as a nasal spray under the brand name Narcan, reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A new bill would require California workplaces to stock their first-aid kits with a nasal spray that can prevent opioid overdoses, greatly expanding the range of locations that have the lifesaving medication on hand.

Naloxone, commonly sold under the brand name Narcan, can halt a deadly overdose if administered promptly. When the medicine reaches the brain, it binds to the same receptors as opioids, displacing the drugs so that their dangerous effects are reversed.

As thousands of Californians lose their lives annually to opioid overdoses, state health officials have pushed to expand access to the medication, distributing millions of kits for free.

AB 1976, introduced Wednesday by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), would build on existing requirements for California employers to have "adequate first-aid materials" for workers.

Including naloxone in the kits would ensure its availability in stores, repair shops and other work sites, giving bystanders more places to turn for the lifesaving medication when they see that someone is overdosing, Haney said.

"There's no excuse not to have Narcan available where it can save someone  and that means that it has to be everywhere. It has to be accessible in the same way that a fire extinguisher is," he said.

Read more: L.A. County's push to hand out 100,000 doses of Narcan to fight surge of opioid overdoses

The legislation doesn't specify the number of doses that would need to be stocked in each first-aid kit. The revised rules for workplaces would be adopted by the end of 2026, according to the bill.

It is unclear how much the proposal would cost, but the expense of adding naloxone to first-aid kits would be shouldered by businesses rather than the state, Haney said.

A two-dose pack of Narcan currently goes for roughly $45 online, but Haney expects the price to drop significantly as a result of bulk purchasing and state efforts to bring down costs.

"This is an investment, which we hope is a relatively small one, in protecting yourself and people around you. That's the purpose of a first-aid kit," Haney said. He added that it's "a pretty small cost in the scheme of things, particularly when compared to the potential of saving a life."

The California Chamber of Commerce supports the goals of the legislation but wants to ensure that businesses do not run into problems with the costs and availability of the medication, said senior policy analyst Rob Moutrie. One concern is whether a simultaneous spike in demand from workplaces could squeeze the available supply.

"It comes down to cost and feasibility for us and how we work out those details, but we completely understand his objective," he said. "We look forward to working closely with [Haney]."

The chamber also wants to address concerns about whether employees would face "unintended liability" if an overdose occurs nearby and they dont step in to help or fail to use naloxone correctly, Moutrie said. Most workers "don't have any knowledge of how to handle an overdose," he said.

Read more: One Metro worker revived 21 riders overdosing on opioids. He's not alone

Haney introduced a related bill in last year's session that would have required bars, gas stations, public libraries and residential hotels to keep a nasal spray like Narcan on hand in certain counties deemed to be suffering an overdose crisis. Under that bill, which never made it to the full Assembly for a vote, the California Department of Public Health would have supplied businesses with the medication for free. Officials estimated that the measure would cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars in its first year.

"I think that bill should have passed, but at the same time, it didn't go nearly far enough," Haney said. "There's nothing more widely accessible than the first-aid kit."

Health researchers have advocated for "naloxone saturation"  reaching the point when enough has been handed out in an area that it is readily available whenever an overdose occurs. Narcan nasal spray is the best-known version of the emergency medicine, but it can also be administered as an injection.

Read more: One Metro worker revived 21 riders overdosing on opioids. He's not alone

Having naloxone in workplaces makes sense because it needs to be everywhere, especially as powerful opioids like fentanyl have permeated the drug supply and popped up as an unexpected ingredient in counterfeit pills, putting a broad range of people at risk, said Olivia K. Sugarman, a postdoctoral fellow with the Bloomberg Overdose Initiative at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

"College kids buy Adderall and it's got fentanyl in it  and they have an overdose," she said.

Sugarman added that if the bill passes, people will need an easy way to know where naloxone can be found, like "a sticker in a window." The goal is that even if an employee does not witness an overdose, somebody in the area "would know to go ask" for the medicine, Sugarman said.

The number of people who could be saved by the proposed measure may hinge on how widely the information spreads to those most likely to witness and intervene in an overdose, said Ricky Bluthenthal, a professor in the department of population and public health sciences at USC's Keck School of Medicine.

But he said there is no downside to making the medication available in a wider range of locations.

"It doesn't hurt  and it probably helps with this overall idea that we want to normalize people having access to naloxone," Bluthenthal said.

Read more: Could a Narcan vending machine help stem opioid deaths among young people?

Some California businesses are already required to have naloxone on hand: Stadiums, concert venues and amusement parks must stock Narcan or other medicines that reverse the effects of opioids under a bill signed by Gov. Newsom in October.

Such medication is also required to be on site at licensed alcohol and drug treatment programs, and at community college and Cal State University campuses. In addition, California requires county offices of education to buy supplies of the emergency medicine for middle schools, junior highs, high schools and adult schools. The biggest school district in the state, Los Angeles Unified, began stocking campuses with naloxone more than a year ago amid alarm over student overdoses.

Los Angeles County officials have also undertaken efforts to hand out boxes of naloxone on the streets and in homeless encampments and have set up free vending machines for people leaving its jails.

Haney argued that naloxone needs to be much more widely available to save lives. He recounted hearing from a mother whose son had overdosed at the auto repair shop where he worked.

"If Narcan was there, he would still be alive," Haney said. "There are countless stories like that. ... It's a miracle drug in many ways. But it can't perform miracles if it's not available when we need it."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Peace Palace houses the International Court of Justice in The Hague. (Peter Dejong / Associated Press)

To the editor: Your coverage of the decision from the United Nations International Court of Justice is perplexing and troubling. ("World Court orders Israel to prevent genocide  but falls short of demanding end to Gaza war," Jan. 26)

While reporting in great detail the ICJ's findings concerning claims of genocide by Israel, your story largely ignores a second, and just as important, issue. You devote only one sentence, deep in the article, to the court's finding that the hostages should be released "unconditionally."

This is a crucial humanitarian issue and a profoundly important conclusion. The treatment, or lack of treatment more rightly, of such an important matter is unfair.

The taking and holding of these innocent hostages, and an order for their unconditional release, deserves unbiased coverage.

David A. Lash, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: As a chaplain and cantorial soloist, I'm finding it increasingly challenging to recite many prayers and reflections that I've said forever.

One such prayer reads, in part, "Our thoughts turn to those who have departed this Earth: our own loved ones ... and those of every race and nation whose lives have been a blessing to humanity."

Yet many Israeli Jews are managing to look away from the intense suffering in Gaza.

What blessings to humanity might those innocent Palestinian children have brought to our world? What blessings are we deprived of because of the loss of Jewish souls?

If Israelis and Jews everywhere cannot openly question this without fear of being labeled as "enemies within"  as Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is reported as saying  and if there is an "unprecedented government campaign to stifle critiques of the conflict," then how is Israel different from the very autocracies we rail against?

This is very scary to me.

Mitzi Schwarz, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: Couldn't The Times bother to explain that the ICJ made no findings of fact?

The ICJ expressly deferred any ruling on the merits of the allegations of genocide against Israel. One would never know that from your headline, which suggests that the number of deaths had already been determined to be some kind of crime.

Similarly, your print edition subheadline, "U.N. court tells nation to do more to prevent genocide but does not demand end to war," suggests that Israel has committed genocide.

The decision of the ICJ could be described in many different ways. The Times' description implies that Israel has already been found guilty. This is not good reporting.

Mona Deutsch Miller, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: Your article on the ICJ ruling cites Kobi Michael, a professor at Israel's Institute of National Security Studies, as defending Israel's war actions in Gaza because those actions are no different than what the Americans did in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Obviously, Professor Michael never learned what we all learned in kindergarten: Two wrongs don't make a right.

David Quintero, Monrovia

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Few members of Alexa Rodriguezs family offered support when she came out as transgender. Not until years later, she said, did some warm to the idea given her rising profile as a trans community activist.

Rodriguez was born in El Salvador and directs a transgender advocacy agency in the Maryland, Virginia and Washington area. She said her openness about her identity has incurred puzzlement and scorn within the family. Her aunts, she said, are very old-fashioned. Theres one who doesnt respect me at all, and we get into fights every time were in the same room.

But for others, its been a gift  especially for two young relatives she said have questioned their identity or struggled with coming out, both of whom Rodriguez said see her as a second mom, or auntie.

A recently published study by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, and Trinity University underscores the importance of aunts, aunties and tias, whether related by blood or bonds, in supporting LGBTQ youth who dont necessarily feel supported by their parents.

These family members and othermothers, the researchers say, can help buffer relationships between LGBTQ youth and their parents, serving as confidantes or role models and providing emotional support or even housing stability.

Aunts can actively challenge the homophobia and transphobia that may occur in a youths natal home, they wrote in their study, published in a journal of the American Sociological Association. "The home is not always a sanctuary for queer and trans people. The aunt can infiltrate the borders of the home and be life-giving or lifesaving to queer and trans youth.

'It's painful to see them struggling'

Brandon Robinson, an associate professor of gender and sexuality studies and the studys co-principal investigator, said such relationships can help LGBTQ youth maintain good emotional and mental health.

Aunts can be confidants, the people you come out to as youre exploring your gender and sexuality, they said. Or they can provide housing support when youre having an argument with your parents or just need to get away.

Rodriguez, who came out as trans when she was 12, said the young relatives who have approached her dont feel comfortable discussing things with their parents or anyone else in the extended family.

Ive always been open about myself, and I tell them they can talk to me anytime, Rodriguez said. They saw how family treated me, not being respectful with my name and my gender. I tell them, you dont have to come out just because I did.

One young relative who uses she/her pronouns has had relationships with both men and women but doesnt yet feel safe coming out; the other, a distant young female relative who pursued a same-sex relationship, found her family resistant and after a year or two returned to dating men. She now has a child.

It was confusing for the family to understand her going back and forth, but to me, I understood completely, Rodriguez said. Its painful to see them struggling because of social pressures, but I support them and tell them, do what you need to.

Role of aunts in LGBTQ support little studied

One in 10 young people age 18 to 25 experiences housing instability in the U.S., Robinson said, and LGBTQ youth are estimated to comprise about 40% of that population.

Most housing instability studies among LGBTQ youth focus on those already unhoused and without regular shelter, they said, but little analysis had been done on the extended family networks that might play intervening roles.

Kevin Schmidt-Johnson, in a photo taken in April 2023. Schmidt-Johnson, who became homeless after fleeing the parents he said did not support his coming out as gay, is now a security guard at New Alternatives, a nonprofit for homeless LGBTQ youth in New York City.

Thats what led the researchers to survey 1,000 LGBTQ youth aged 16 to 19 in south Texas and Southern Californias Inland Empire about their family situations. They then interviewed 83 youth deemed most prone to housing instability  those indicating little or ambivalent support from their parents  and found 60% cited aunts or aunt-like relationships with women close to their families as important in making them feel supported.

The study was published last month in Socius.

The authors say the findings suggest researchers should seriously consider the importance of extended kin in the lives of LGBTQ youth, particularly those from other marginalized communities, for whom such relationships are often common and culturally ingrained.

These relationships offer advantages not found at home. For instance, parents are often invested in the gender and sexuality of their children in ways that an aunt or another relative might not be.

Fathers might feel their own masculinity is partly bound up in making sure their sons are masculine and straight, Robinson said. Parents often feel that to be a good parent is to make sure their child is cisgender, straight and gender-conforming. Whereas an aunt might not, because they dont feel it reflects anything about their own parenting or sexuality.

The ways aunts support these youths  referred to as their niblings, the gender-neutral term for children of a sibling  can vary, from social media support to companionship to housing.

Maybe the youths post something about LGBTQ issues on social media, and their aunts like it, Robinson said. Their aunts might go to Pride with them or educate other family members about trans people and correct those who use incorrect pronouns.

Members of Georgia's transgender and non-binary community stroll through the city's Midtown district during Gay Pride Festival's Transgender Rights March in Atlanta, Oct. 12, 2019.

Aunts can prove especially important in giving LGBTQ youths the sense that they have a safety net, they said.

A youth might think, 'If I need to leave, I know I can rely on my aunt,' Robinson said. Thats important because it allows the youth to navigate their parental home. Maybe theyll be less afraid to tell their parents about their gender or sexuality because they know they wont end up on the street or in a shelter. It can empower these youth if they anticipate their aunt will house them.

'Othermothers' more common in some cultures

Such bonds for youth can include people without biological relationships but who have nonetheless formed close bonds, or what in Latino culture is called "comadrisma."

Rodriguez, for example, said shes also counseled the daughter of a longtime friend who is questioning her identity. The girl, who calls Rodriguez Tia  the Spanish term for aunt  confided that her parents resisted when she wanted to cut her hair short; her mom arguing that God had blessed her with long hair, while her father told her she would look like a man.

I tell her, It will grow back, Rodriguez said. Kids might be exploring their identity or just a style, but when parents are not supportive children might make bad decisions that affect their future.

The idea of extended kin is a central part of Black, Latino, Asian, Indigenous and low-income family life, the researchers said, and Black and Latino LGBTQ youth and adults are significantly more likely to have maternal family members who they feel instill resilience. These include sisters, aunts, grandmothers and othermothers.

Additionally, Indigenous mothering networks often support families through trauma and pain endured through historical oppression, displacement and removal of children from their communities.

Indigenous people view kinship in a different way from many other communities, said Sarah Adams, co-creator of Cousins, a group for two-spirit Indigenous youth in Oklahoma. You have this community that may not be biologically related but may be even closer. You feel this love, responsibility and honor to be connected.

In Native American society, two-spirit refers to someone considered to have both a masculine and a feminine spirit. However, the term often encompasses more than gender identity, and tribal definitions can vary.

Cousins 2SLGBTQ youths are primarily mentored by other 2SLGBTQ aunties, including Adams, who they call Auntie Sarah. Most are not biological relationships.

We want them to know theres always space for them in our community, Adams said. It gives them a safety net from all kinds of things that could befall them. Maybe theyre in a hard space and so they can come to an auntie for help. Or we see that theres a change, or a distance, and we can lean in.

Its a tricky balance, Adams said; while she prefers to work in cooperation with families, shes also aware of the high suicidality rates among LGBTQ youth who dont feel supported.

Theres so much fallout when kids dont feel loved and supported by their families, she said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LGBTQ youth: Aunts and othermothers offer support when parents don't
Liam Gallagher has revealed that he would have loved to have been the mastermind behind a number of novelty hits.

The former Oasis frontman, who is preparing to release his debut collaborative album with The Stone Roses musician John Squire, is known for some of the UKs best-loved rock songs, from Wonderwall to Cigarettes and Alcohol.

However, he has now divulged that he would loved to have put his name to pop tracks such as Crazy Frog, Barbie Girl and The Birdie Song.

Appearing with Squire to discuss their self-titled album and forthcoming tour on the Absolute Radio Breakfast Show on Tuesday (30 January), Gallagher was asked which song by another artist he wished was his.

Squire answered that he would have loved to have written Chestnut Mare by The Byrds or "any Beatles song", while Gallagher opted for some more off-piste suggestions.

"Lots of the Roses, Love Spreads is a tune... I am the Resurrection, you know what I mean? he said. Bob Marley, Hendrix and The Birdie Song. I wish Id wrote that. Crazy Frog... Aquas Barbie Girl. Thats me."

Liam Gallagher said he wishes he had writing the Barbie Girl song (PA Archive)

Host Dave Berry also asked for Gallaghers opinions on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in music.

It sounds a bit odd, doesnt it? Its not for me, you know what I mean? he responded. If you cant do it, dont do it. Ive seen and heard stuff theyve done with bands and it just sounds a like a picture on the wall thats a little bit slanted.

Last week, Gallagher and Squire announced their first collaborative 10-track album, Liam Gallagher John Squire, which is due for release on 1 March.

The news comes after the release of their debut single, Just Another Rainbow, which charted at No 16 on the UK singles chart upon its release earlier this month.

I cant wait for people to hear the album. I think the people that are into the Stone Roses and Oasis and that kinda thing, I think theyll f***ing love it. Its spiritual, its crucial, Gallagher said, announcing the news.

It was really inspiring to have those Knebworth gigs fresh in my mind as I started writing, Squire said. Then it was a case of trying to steer it away from all being too rocky, and trying to mix up the sentiments as well.
LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) The Limestone County School District may be adjusting attendance lines. On Monday evening, many families within the district received either a robo-phone call or an email informing them of the possibility of zoning changes.

One News 19 viewer sent us a copy of the email.

Limestone County is one of the fastest growing counties in the State of Alabama. Due to current and anticipated growth at several schools, there is a need to change attendance lines. Your current location in the East Limestone school attendance area has been identified as an area that could potentially be moved to the Ardmore High School area. An informational meeting will be held on Monday, February 5 at 6 p.m. in the Ardmore High School cafeteria. We look forward to seeing you there!

City Council approves rezoning project on Monte Sano

This news came as a shock to many families in the school district.

We were stunned, we had no idea this was coming, said Rebekah Clemons, a mom of three. This was thrown at us over a phone call, she said.

Clemons has three children who attend Limestone County Schools. Her oldest daughter currently attends East Limestone High School.

However, after receiving the phone call from the school district, shes concerned her daughter may be re-zoned to attend Ardmore High School.

Decatur City Council votes against zoning change, blocking apartment complex

This would not be ideal for her family, as they live closer to East Limestone High School.

You know, were two minutes away from the high school [East Limestone] and four minutes away from the elementary school and now were going to be bussed 30, 35 minutes away, Clemons said.

It is about a 20-25 minute drive with no traffic for a regular vehicle between the two high schools. That doesnt account for stops that a bus would be taking.

Clemons said they have stayed in the same part of Limestone County for more than a decade so all her children could attend East Limestone High School and the other schools they are currently zoned for.

Deputies identify one of two women wanted in East Limestone gun theft

We built our second home in the same school district for this reason, Clemons said. Clemons also said she is concerned for dual-income households like hers, where both parents work.

She said her family relies on busses and childcare programs that wont be able to provide their services if her children are moved to a different school.

Based on their address, the Clemons family may not be re-zoned to different schools, but based on the little communication theyve received from the school district, they arent sure.

Were being told to attend these meetings, the meetings may or may not release what zone you are going to be in, she said. Thats a lot she added.

Student arrested after gun found at East Limestone High

News 19 reached out to the Limestone County School District for more information regarding the re-zoning process and the upcoming meetings.

A spokesperson for Limestone County Schools said there will be five meetings over the next week to discuss various schools, however, they did not answer further questions regarding zoning.

The meetings will be:

Thursday, Feb. 1 at Johnson Elementary for Creekside Primary and Creekside Elementary students who will potentially be moved to Johnson Elementary

Monday, Feb. 5 at Ardmore High School for East Limestone students who will potentially be moved to Ardmore High School

Tuesday, Feb. 6 at Elkmont High School for Johnson Elementary, Creekside Primary and Elementary students potentially moving to Elkmont Elementary, along with Ardmore and East Limestone High School students potentially moving to Elkmont High School

Thursday, Feb. 8 at Clements High School for Tanner Elementary potentially moving to Blue Springs Elementary, along with Tanner High School Students potentially moving to Clements High School

Monday, Feb. 12 at Tanner High School for Creekside Primary and Elementary students potentially moving to Tanner Elementary, along with East Limestone High School students potentially moving to Tanner High School

The spokesperson for Limestone County Schools said the change to attendance lines was due to current and anticipated growth at several schools.

Clemons told News 19 that she knows there has been growth in the area, but she isnt sure re-zoning is the way to address it.

We just feel like were being pushed out, you know? she said. Its just not where we thought it was going to go.

Ardmore restaurants eager to welcome customers back after extended closure

Clemons said she hopes the meetings can inform parents of the proposed changes and that the school district listens to input from parents and students.

News 19 also spoke to the parent of an Ardmore High School student about the proposed zoning changes.

Hannah Riley, the mother of a 9th grader at Ardmore High School, said the school has been a blessing for her family.

We pulled him from Giles County [Tennessee] on the first day of school and moved him to Ardmore, and its been one of the best things ever, so we really love the high school, Riley said. Its been great she added.

Riley said she believes Ardmore provides the same level, if not better, academics and extra-curriculars, as East Limestone High School. However, she understands parents frustration about the lack of communication and the surprise of re-zoning.

One dead after bus crash in Limestone County

Riley said shes seen people talk about it all over social media.

There were a lot of parents who were really upset about that, she said. There was one lady who commented on the Facebook thread saying, you know, that she lived like 3 minutes from the school [East Limestone High School] and now shes got to drive like 20 minutes all the way to Ardmore, so I know a lot of people are really upset about it and understandably so.

Other parents that News 19 spoke to off-camera expressed frustration about having to drive further away to attend the informational meeting.

One parent with a child who is zoned for East Limestone said they were frustrated they had to drive 20 minutes to Ardmore High School to learn more about whether their child would be re-zoned for that school. Similar to Clemons, that family only lives a few minutes away from East Limestone.

News 19 is working on getting more information on the proposed school re-zoning process. We will keep you updated.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Lincoln County woman was found dead in Virginia less than 18 hours after she was reported missing, according to the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office.

On Monday, around 9:45 p.m., deputies responded to a missing persons call in the 3500 block of Imperial Lane in Lincolnton. Family members made the call because they were concerned when she didnt return home.

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Officials say 31-year-old Taylor Hope Unell was missing from the camper she was living in and was last seen around 7:25 a.m. by her boyfriend.

Detectives were able to find her location using her phone carrier, which was pinged near I-77 in Virginia just past the North Carolina state line. Virginia State Police were also contacted and helped with the search.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

At 3:37 on Tuesday, Virginia State Police found Unell dead in her vehicle at a rest area in Virginia, officials confirmed.

The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office and the Virginia State Police are investigating this incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office at 704-732-9050, the Lincoln County Communications Center at 704-735-8202 or Lincoln County Crime Stoppers at 704-736-8909.

This is a developing story; check back for updates

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Nantucket is sleepy in the winter. Billionaires like Google CEO Eric Schmidt and banking titan Charles Schwab have not decamped to their multimillion-dollar vacation homes. Weekenders arent wandering the picturesque lanes. Hollywood A-listers are not in town for the annual film festival.

But behind the scenes, things are anything but boring. A protracted fight over a housing development with units for low-income residents has entered a bitter new stage, with a slew of court challenges and allegations that the local government is too cozy with the developers.

The towns Select Board is begging the developers and their local critics to play nice, pushing them to engage in mediation to find an acceptable, economically advantageous solution to the nearly six-year-long dispute around the 13-acre settlement.

Opponents, meanwhile, are demanding to know whether the Select Board has any financial interest in the development and calling the boards request for mediation an illogical puzzle.

The developers responded by challenging a recent court decision that halted construction on the project and issuing a fiery statement accusing their opponents of making unproductive, personal attacks.

One of the projects biggest critics, year-round resident Meghan Perry, called the developers appeal another effort by these developers to try to silence the citizens of Nantucket.

Clearly the developers do not want anyone who cares for this island involved in this project, she said.

Housing Project for Non-Billionaires Makes Waves in Nantucket

Affordable housing is a long-running issue on Nantucket, whereas in many trendy vacation towns across the U.S.year-round residents struggle to subsist alongside the elite who occupy the island over the summer. A 2022 study found a family would need to earn $530,000 a year to afford the median price of a home on the island; the average house price as of this month is more than $4 million.

Developers Jamie Feeley and Josh Posner first proposed the idea of a 156-unit affordable housing development on the south side of the island in 2018. The developers promised at least a quarter of the units would go for under market valuea proposal that, under state law, would allow them to build under flexible rules meant to incentivize affordable housing constructionand that none would sell for more than $1 million. The original proposal featured 60 stand-alone homes and 96 condos.

The plan set off protests from seasonal and year-round residents, who argued the rustic island cannot support such a large, dense development. Hundreds of residents packed the high school auditorium for town hall meetings on the subject; others picketed the proposed construction site. At the time, Tucker Holland, the towns municipal housing director, told The Daily Beast it was the biggest controversy that I can recall in recent years.

The most prominent source of resistance was Nantucket Tipping Point, a group of residents concerned about effects on the islands environment, schools, sewer systems, and other resources. Along with the islands Land & Water Council, the group filed a lawsuit in Nantucket Superior Court last year challenging the state Housing Appeals Committees approval of the project and its subsequent decision to let the developers change their plan to purely condominiums, with no single-family homes. (The Select Board was originally a co-plaintiff but dropped out of the suit after reaching a collaborative agreement with the developers.)

Superior Court Judge Mark Gildea sided with the activists earlier this month, ruling that the housing committee erred in allowing substantial changes to the project after it was approved and sending the proposal back to the Nantucket zoning board for review. The building commissioner revoked the developers permits two days later, bringing construction on the project to a standstill.

The Nantucket Select Board, an elected body in charge of long-term planning, responded by asking the developers, zoning board, Land and Water Council, and Nantucket Tipping Point to engage in mediation to find a way forward. Neither side responded well.

Billionaire Charles Johnson Ends His War Against Nantucket Clam Shack

An attorney for Nantucket Tipping Points attorney, Paul DeRensis, sent a fiery email to the Select Board demanding to know why the Select Board is now suddenly inserting itself into these matters and claiming its involvement implies to us there is now in play a financial interest held by some town agency in this project.

Please disclose transparently what exactly is the Towns real interests or role; what present or planned future monetary interest or role does the Town or any of its agencies, including the affordable housing trust, have in this project, or are being discussed by town agencies with the Developers, he wrote, in an email first reported by the Inquirer and Mirror.

Nantucket Tipping Point would not consent to any mediation until it receives answers to their questions, he added.

The developers, meanwhile, responded to the boards suggestion by appealing the Superior Court decision, arguing that Nantucket Tipping Point and the land council did not have standing to file their suit, according to the Nantucket Current.

In a statement after this story was published, Feeley and Posner suggested they would not engaged in mediation with Nantucket Tippping Point, saying they were [not] inclined to engage with parties outside of the mandated permitting process who are not interested in affordable or attainable housing solutions at a meaningful scale and have advanced unproductive, personal attacks.

Equally important, after six years of permitting process, we are not looking to reimagine the project, the developers wrote. This project will come to fruition in one form or another and will aspire to be as inclusive as possible at that time.

Select Board Chair Dawn Hill Holdgate said she had no idea where the allegations of financial entanglements between the developers and the town government came from. The only financial stake would be to save the taxpayers town counsel fees from more drawn-out litigation, she told The Daily Beast.

Holdgate said she wasnt surprised the debate had dragged on for so long and attracted such heated commentary. The development encompasses some of the islands most hot-button issues, including affordable housing and overdevelopment. Theres a number of reasons why this rises to the top [of local issues], and theyre different and theyre somewhat competing, she said.

But she added that she had seen attitudes toward the project shift in recent years, as real estate prices continued to climb.

Even some people who had been against this [have said], One of these could really solve some of my problems if I need to downsize, she said. Ive just heard a number of people who are warming up to the idea of these condominiums who were vehemently against it before.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Lectures, performances, sing-alongs and art shows are just a few of the events going on around West Michigan in February to mark Black History Month.

The idea first came about in 1915, when thousands of African Americans traveled to Chicago from around the nation to see exhibits highlighting progress by Black people in the 50 years since slavery had been abolished. Inspired by this event, a man named Carter G. Woodson created an organization to promote the scientific study of Black life and history, according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

Over the years, the idea grew and more organizations got involved. Weeks of study expanded into a whole month. February was chosen for reasons of tradition and reform, ASAALH said, and because of the birthdays of two Americans who played a prominent role in shaping Black history  President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass  on the 12th and 14th, respectively.

The traditions, learning and celebrations continue today. In West Michigan, many events are planned to commemorate Black History Month. Find one near you below:

GRAND RAPIDS

Downtown Grand Rapids Black History Tour by Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. | Anytime on GR Walks app. | Details

Over the Top Academy of Dance | All Black & Excellent: Music, Motown & Maurice Chestnut | Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. | Tickets $75 | Details

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, GRAAMA | The Songs That Healed A Nation with Reverend Robert Jones, Sr. | Feb. 1 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details

Grand Rapids Public Museum | Innovators: Celebrating Black History | Feb. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Details

Grand Rapids Public Library | Artist Talk with Octavia Ink | Feb. 4 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Details

Grand Rapids Public Library | Black History Month Storytimes | Feb. 5 through Feb. 8 | Details

DeVos Performance Hall | GR Symphony Presents Symphony with Soul: Leela James | Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. | Details

DeVos Performance Hall | GR Symphony Presents Black Panther in Concert | Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. | Details

Grand Rapids Public Library | The Black Panther and Beyond: The World of Afrofuturism with Dr. Julian Chambliss | Feb. 17 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Details

Grand Rapids Public Library | Movies at Main: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Feb. 17 from 2 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. | Details

Grand Rapids Public Library | Teen Printmaking Workshop with Octavia Ink | Feb. 19 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Details

Knapp Charter Academy | Black History Month Wax Museum | Feb. 22 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Details

Grand Rapids Public Library | Canvas & Cookies with Ella Webber | Feb. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details

Grand Rapids Public Library | Movies at Main: Soul | March 9 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Details

Grand Rapids Public Library | Black Lives are Beautiful | March 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Details

Coit Creative Arts Academy | Black History Performance | Feb. 29 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Details

Eta Pi Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. | In Our Eyes: A Black History Event | Feb. 24 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Details

CALHOUN COUNTY

Kellogg Community College | Community-wide Sing-along: Traditional Hymns and African American Spirituals | Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. | Details

Kellogg Community College | Meet the Greeks: A Panel Discussion | Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Details

Kellogg Community College | African Drum and Dance Performance by Rootead | Feb. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Details

Kellogg Community College | Quiz Bowl (Kahoot! Game) hosted by Terry Burleson and Tania Reese | Feb. 13 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. | Details

Kellogg Community College | Heart Healthy Fitness with Dr. Odell Miller | Feb. 14 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. | Details

Kellogg Community College | Lunch & Learn: Our Culture, Our Community | Feb. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Details

Kellogg Community College | Vocal Performance with Carmen Bell | Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. | Details

Kellogg Community College | Soul Food Luncheon | Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Details

Kellogg Community College | Black-owned Business Showcase | Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Details

Kellogg Community College | From Motown to Mic Drop: A Karaoke Celebration of Black Music | Feb. 27 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. | Details

KALAMAZOO COUNTY

KENT COUNTY

Kentwood Library | Documentary Preview  Black History Month | Feb. 2 at 4 p.m. | Details

City of Kentwood, Woodland Mall | Unity Walk in Honor of Black History Month and African American Live Museum | Feb. 24 at 10:30 a.m. | Details

MUSKEGON COUNTY

Hackley Public Library | Trivia Contest  Black History Month | Feb. 3 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Details

Hackley Public Library | Open Mic Poetry Night | Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. | Details

Muskegon Community College | Guest lecture by Dr. Edward Lewis Hill Jr. | Feb. 8 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Details

Muskegon Community College | Lecture Series: Afros, Fades, and Razorblades | Feb. 8 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Details

Frauenthal Theater | Muskegon Civic Theatre presents The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls | Feb. 9 through Feb. 24, various times | Details

Shiya Ifa | Black History Month Aman Village Warrior Celebration | Feb. 10 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Details

Hackley Public Library | Mac & Cheese Contest | Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. | Details

Hackley Public Library | Sweet Soul Food Dessert Contest | Feb. 10 at 3:30 p.m. | Details

Hackley Public Library | Sweet Soul Food Dessert Contest | Feb. 10 at 3:30 p.m. | Details

Muskegon Community College | Restorative Pathways: Lessons from Rwanda | Feb. 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Details

Queen Esther Missionary Baptist Church | Soul Food Experience/Honoring the Past Celebrating the Present and Inspiring the Future | Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. | Details

Hackley Public Library | The Mountaintop  Theater Performance | Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. | Details

Hackley Public Library | Black Hair Care Clinic | Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. | Details

Muskegon Community College | African American Read-In | Feb 28 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Details

OTTAWA COUNTY

Hope College | Black History Month Lecture with Dr. Sonja Trent-Brown | Feb. 15 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Details

GVSU | Film screening: Judas and the Black Messiah | Feb. 21 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Details

Patmos Library | Black History Art Class: Alma Thomas | Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. | Details

GVSU | For the Culture: Quiz Bowl | Feb. 27 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Details

To add your organizations event to this list, send us an email at ReportIt@woodtv.com. Be sure to include a link.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
(Photo : RICHARD PIERRIN/AFP via Getty Images)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a robust international force to combat Haiti's armed gangs and restore security in the impoverished nation.

Representatives of the United Nations reiterated their call for an intervention force to stabilize Haiti, citing the increasing number of extrajudicial murders of suspected gang members as evidence of the nation's insecurity.

Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, has been beset by humanitarian, political, and security crises, with groups terrorizing the population with frequent kidnappings, rapes, and murders.

UN Chief Calls for Robust International Police Force in Haiti

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry have called for an international force to help quell the escalating violence for months. Still, no nation has volunteered to head the operation, as per SCMP. Without a sufficient security apparatus to combat the endemic gangs, Haitians in Port-au-Prince have begun taking matters into their own hands, according to UN Haiti envoy Maria Isabel Salvador's Thursday report to the Security Council.

The UN office in Haiti, known as BINUH, "has documented the shooting of at least 264 alleged gang members by vigilante organizations," she said, adding that the trend adds "another layer of complexity" to the security situation in the country.

In one of April's first horrific incidents, civilians seized several gang members from police custody, beat them to death, and set their corpses on fire in the street. A few weeks later, Haiti's Minister for External Cooperation, Ricard Pierre, warned that "civil conflict" was imminent without foreign intervention.

Guterres visited Port-au-Prince over the weekend before attending the CARICOM summit of Caribbean nations, where Haiti was a key topic. On Thursday, he reiterated his call for an international force, characterizing the Haitian population as "trapped in a living horror."

Per CBS News, Guterres urged simultaneous action on three fronts: restoring security, pursuing a political solution that restores democratic institutions, and addressing urgent humanitarian needs.

He urged donors to swiftly respond to the United Nations' appeal for $720 million to assist more than three million people, which is only 23 percent funded. According to the head of the United Nations, these three measures are necessary to break Haiti's cycle of suffering and pave the way out of the current crisis.

Read Also: South Africa Gas Leak Blamed on Illegal Gold Processing Kills 17, Including Children

Haiti's Gang Violence

On Thursday, at a summit of Caribbean leaders in Guyana, US Secretary of State Blinken conferred with Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and reaffirmed US support for deploying a multinational force. However, Blinken stated that another nation, not the United States, would need to assume the "dominant nation role."

Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis, the United States' interim deputy representative to the United Nations, stated that the United States has provided $110 million in humanitarian assistance to Haiti this year. DeLaurentis warned, "However, without enhanced security, the humanitarian situation in Haiti will continue to deteriorate."

Andrew Holness, the prime minister of Jamaica, informed members of the Security Council via videoconference that the intergovernmental organization of the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, "will provide the Haitian National Police with personnel training and capacity development."

Recently, Holness hosted a three-day meeting in Kingston with over fifty Haitian stakeholders to discuss transition and interim governance. Holness described the imposition of sanctions on gang members as "a positive and significant step," but he added that sanctions alone are insufficient.

Related Article: Biden Expresses 'Full Support' for Sweden's NATO Bid, Hosts Prime Minister at White House
Charter schools will be barred from hundreds of Los Angeles Unified District school campuses under a new policy that is among the most restrictive of its kind.

The new rules, presented at a school board meeting Tuesday, prevent charters from being sited in campuses that have been identified as serving vulnerable students, accounting for roughly 350 of about 770 school buildings in the district. Charter schools would still be offered space to operate in other LAUSD district school buildings.

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The regulations prevent co-locations in low-performing schools, community schools that provide social services, and schools in the districts Black Student Achievement Plan  immediately impacting about 21 charter schools  now co-located in those buildings  enrolling thousands of students who may need to move to new LA Unified campuses in the fall.

This is one of those situations that, no matter what, were going to have some people dissatisfied on either side, said L.A. school superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who created the new regulations at the direction of the district school board.

Related

Los Angeles Board Votes to Restrict Charters Access to Some District Schools

Carvalho said the new regulations are within the bounds of a 2000 state law compelling California districts to provide classroom space for charter schools. There are currently 50 charter schools co-located in 52 LAUSD school campuses, serving roughly 11,000 students. Thirteen additional charters have requested space for the upcoming school year.

I believe that what has been presented may in many ways alleviate some of the issues, he added. However, we need to be vigilant and honest about unintended consequences of well intentioned policies.

The new rules are a reversal for a city that historically has been friendly to charter schools and was immediately opposed by charter advocates, who threatened legal action in a letter to the school board as soon as the new policy was announced.

Related

In Los Angeles and New York, Fights Escalate Over Sharing Schools with Charters

California Charter Schools Association president Myrna Castrejon said the rules violate state law compelling the district to give space to charter schools, by keeping them out of entire neighborhoods served by schools in the three categories.

In the worst case scenario, of course, the schools are literally evicted from campuses, said Castrejon.

A letter sent to the board by the association said the policy violates a portion of the state law requiring that public school facilities be shared fairly among all public school pupils, including those in charter schools. Castrejon said the policy could create charter school deserts in underserved parts of the district.

The long-simmering conflict over charter schools in Los Angeles reached a flashpoint in September when the board issued a resolution compelling Carvalho to create the policy and spelled out many of the specific components it should contain.

The resolution, which was crafted by board president Jackie Goldberg and board member Rocio Rivas, called for the policy preventing charters from being co-located in school buildings that enrolled vulnerable students in the three groups.

Schools that are struggling the most to educate our students should not be added, continuously, more things to do, said Goldberg, like figure out a bell schedule, and how to share the cafeteria and how to share the playground.

Districts that provide classroom space to charter schools, such as Los Angeles, often decline to offer charters their choice of locations, said Fordham Institute President Mike Petrilli.

But its uncommon for a city to delete such a large chunk of schools from eligibility for co-locations, he said. Its unusual for the district to be so flagrant, and put it down in writing, rather than to just find myriad ways to make life difficult, Petrilli said. It seems very in-your-face.

The new regulations earned generally positive reactions from board members who backed the changes. The board will vote next month to adopt the policy.

While Rivas and Goldberg spoke in favor of the proposed rules, board member Nick Melvoin, who voted in September against the resolution, spoke against them.

Melvoin said the new policy is unneeded because the district is facing enrollment declines. The rules presented by Carvalho, he said, neglect potential solutions, such as the use of private buildings or more strategic school sitings, to mitigate the negative impacts of co-location.

We definitely have enough space for everyone, Melvoin said Tuesday. We just dont allocate it properly.
Russia is sacrificing its internet just to deploy electronic warfare systems to counter Ukraine's drone attacks. This latest information came from Russian telecommunications sources.

They said that the internet is being compromised because electronic warfare units operate on the same frequency as wireless broadband.

Recently, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that it is still unclear what the exact effects of these warfare devices are on the internet.

However, Russia is still deactivating its internet services to test and deploy its electronic warfare systems.

Russia's Internet Suffers as It Deploys Electronic Warfare Systems

Russian media claimed that Russia is already deploying its electronic warfare units to counter drones launched by Ukrainian troops. However, it needs to sacrifice its internet just to do so.

People familiar with the matter said that the Russian government ordered 4G networks to turn off their services at night. This order states that broadband service providers should deactivate their services between Jan. 25 and Jan. 30.

Affected areas include Novgorod, Leningrad, and Pskov in northwestern Russia. Russian officials said that this should be done so that anti-drone units can be deployed.

According to Business Insider, Russia's order came after Ukrainian troops struck targets hundreds of miles from the border in north Russia, thanks to Ukraine's advanced long-range drones.

These include the latest Jan. 21 attack against a gas terminal in St. Petersburg, which is the second-largest city in Russia. On Jan. 28, Ukraine was also able to strike an oil terminal near the said city.

Read Also: Drone Attack Causes Explosion, Fire at Seaport Terminal in RussiaIs Ukraine Involved?

Russia More Dominant in Electronic Warfare

Financial Times reported that Russia has the upper hand against Ukraine when it comes to electronic warfare technology. This was seen in December 2023 after Kyiv struggled to jam and divert the Kremlin's guided missiles and drones.

Ever since Russia launched its full-blown invasion, Ukraine and the invader have been investing heavily in devices and systems that can neutralize each other's drone attacks.

Although military experts claimed that Ukraine is able to keep up with Russia, the Kremlin is still more dominant in electronic warfare.

"The Russians have been producing so many lately that it's becoming a huge threat," said the chief of EW and cyber warfare at Ukraine's general staff, Col. Ivan Pavlenko.

"What's happening here, the massive use of drones, is new... So EW becomes increasingly important," he added.

Related Article: Ukraine-Russia War Ending: Former NATO Commander Shares Prediction
Embattled former Miami-Dade School Board member Lubby Navarro made a brief court appearance Wednesday, seated quietly in the gallery as her attorney told a judge his client satisfied the requirements of her bond and should remain out of jail through her trial date.

But when lead state prosecutor Annette Rasco said she needed more time to interview some of the people who issued Navarro the bond, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Carlos Lopez agreed to hold off on a decision until Feb. 9. Though Navarro has already sent the court a written plea of not guilty, Feb. 9 is also the day of her formal arraignment.

Ms. Navarro is ready for Feb. 9, attorney Ben Kuehne said outside the courtroom Wednesday, Navarro at his side. We will test all the evidence.

Miami, Florida, January 31, 2024- Former Miami-Dade School Board member Lubby Navarro, left, and her attorney, Ben Kuehne, right, walk away from the courtroom after a brief appearance in front of Judge Carlos Lopez in Miami-Dade Criminal Court. Navarro was arrested on Jan. 11, 2024, and charged with fraud and grand theft.

Navarro, 49, was arrested Jan. 11 and is accused by state prosecutors of spending upwards of $100,000 of taxpayer money on some strange personal items  like a silicone fake pregnancy belly  and to upgrade her boyfriends Fort Lauderdale restaurant with goods and appliances. Shes alleged to have racked up charges on two district-issued credit cards while she sat on the School Board in 2022, some of that time as vice chair. She doctored her expense reports, even whiting out some of the purchases, prior to audits, according to her arrest warrant.

READ MORE: Ex-School Board member Navarro accused of using $100K in district funds for travel, shopping

She was charged with one count of organized fraud of $50,000 or more, one count of organized fraud of between $20,000 and $100,000 and two counts of grand theft. Navarro stayed in jail for two days until Jan. 13, when she posted $100,000 bond.

But because she is charged with a form of public corruption for stealing public money, the court requires her to prove that the money she used to get out of jail came from wasnt acquired illegally.

Miami-Dade state prosecutors who penned Navarros detailed 98-page arrest warrant said she was granted increases in her $6,000 monthly office spending account for 10 of the 12 months in 2022. In three cases, she got the district to more than double her monthly spending limit.

READ MORE: Lubby Navarro kept asking for spending limit on district credit card to be upped. It was

Navarros alleged misdeeds were only discovered after she resigned from the School Board in December 2022, a day before a new state law went into effect barring elected officials from working as lobbyists. Navarro, at the time, was a registered lobbyist for the South Broward Hospital District, which includes Memorial Healthcare System hospitals in Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Miramar and Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital in Hollywood. (The hospital district has placed her on unpaid administrative leave and has launched its own investigation of her spending.)

After she stepped down from the School Board, her December 2022 expense report made its way to the school districts chief of staff, Jose Bueno. When he looked through her report, he discovered she spent more than $13,000 in December on her credit card  more than twice the limit. And she had shopped a lot at Walmart and other stores, buying clothing, food and wine.

Investigators say Navarro used public school credit cards to buy refrigerators, a wine cooler and top-of-the-line espresso machines for her ex-boyfriends Fort Lauderdale restaurant. Shes also alleged to have taken him and his family to Walt Disney World and then took him to Las Vegas, where they stayed at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel, all on the public dime.

READ MORE: Lubby Navarro spent lavishly on ex-boyfriends restaurant and him, investigators say

Miami, Florida, January 31, 2024- Former Miami-Dade School Board member Lubby Navarro, right, listens to her attorney, Ben Kuehne, left, in Miami-Dade Criminal Court during a hearing.
Now that the Idaho Legislature has begun the 2024 session, I would like to remind legislators to put the interest of families and students first.

As a single father of two boys who are fifth generation Idahoan, I want to give my children what I consider to be the best education for them. This is why I advocate for expanded educational options in Idaho.

My children are the most important part of my life and the reason I fight so hard every day. I live in a rural area, and I make the sacrifice of driving 62 miles every day to take my boys to a school that is best for them.

Im also attending Boise Bible College to better myself because I want better for my children. I want my boys to know that there is hope for their futures.

Like most parents, I gladly make these daily sacrifices for my sons. But I know that for many families, sacrifices still arent enough to make sure their children can get the same education as those living in wealthy neighborhoods.

Even though I am blessed to be able to afford this chance, it puts a strain on me financially to pay for my childrens education. I pay for other kids to go to school through the tax money I pay on my home, while also paying to send my children to the school that works best for their needs.

As Americans, we should have the right and the freedom to choose where our kids attend school without worrying about finances or zip codes. Thats why I was proud to speak at a recent press conference advocating for the Parental Choice Tax Credit bill.

When I turned on the news in the days afterward, I was upset to hear that education bureaucrats are saying that this bill would take money from public schools. Not only do tax credit programs not come out of public school budgets, the $50 million for this program is also only 2% of the overall education budget  a drop in the bucket for the system, but life-changing for families like mine.

Another claim is that our state already has enough choice. My own experience proves that this idea couldnt be further from the truth. Parents like me struggle daily to afford private schools, and the waiting list for charter schools is long, with nearly 11,000 students at the start of this last school year.

My children love their school. I trust what and how the school teaches, and I dont have to worry about their safety or about them being unhappy. The schools culture works to ensure student success, and my two boys are thriving and enjoy school daily.

Having access to the Parental Choice Tax Credit Program would help us tremendously  not just my family, but also so many others whose children need non-public options they currently cannot afford.

Idaho lawmakers have an opportunity to do the right thing by passing the Parental Choice Tax Credit program. For our sake, I hope they take it.

Robbe Hart is an Idaho native, father, college student, and advocate for expanded educational options in Idaho.
When police arrived at the Levittown home of Michael and Denice Mohn on Tuesday night the deadly and devastating scene quickly unfolded before them.

There was a bloody body in the downstairs bathroom. The man's head was missing. A machete and large knife were found nearby in the bathtub. And police would soon find Michael Mohns severed head wrapped in a plastic bag in a cooking pot in a bedroom next to the bathroom.

As the gruesome and shocking crime scene yielded physical clues, authorities at the time didn't know an online video posted to YouTube would lead them on a digital trail of evidence.

UPDATE: Justin Mohn shot father before Levittown beheading, Bucks County DA says

There, for the world to see, was the man's son, repeatedly holding up his dead father's head for the audience, which ultimately grew to some 6,000 views, as their suspect spouted anti-government sentiments and called for public executions of all federal employees and seizure of federal buildings.

Justin Mohn, 32, who lived in the Upper Orchard Drive home with his parents, would be arrested hours later two hours away in Lebanon County, after police pinged his cellphone and found him armed on a military installation.

His intent for going there is still unclear.

Mohn was charged with murder and other offenses in the beheading of his father. Here is how the crime unfolded, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Bucks County beheading: Levittown man charged with beheading father. He posted grisly YouTube video after

Who is Justin Mohn?: Levittown man in YouTube beheading video sued government, made music

Michael and Justin Mohn home alone in Levittown

At 2 p.m., Denice Mohn, Justin's mother and Michael's wife, leaves the home for work. When she returns she finds the door unlocked, her son missing and her husband's decapitated body.

Her screams prompt a neighbor to call police. She too will call 911 for help.

Police place the murder between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. when Justin Mohn takes to YouTube to post his graphic video, holding up his father's severed head, calling him a "traitor" after identifying him as a 20-year plus public worker. The video is filled with right-wing rantings against various left-wing organizations, and the federal government.

Justin Mohn of Levittown is captured in this screenshot of the gruesome YouTube video he allegedly made after beheading his father in Levittown on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.

What police find in Upper Orchard Drive home of Justin Mohn

At 6:59 p.m., police receive a call for a possible expiration on Upper Orchard Drive. They are told that an elderly male was found in a downstairs bathroom with a large amount of blood around him and that he had been decapitated.

Arriving at the house, they find the headless body of Michael Mohn in a first floor bathroom, a machete and a kitchen knife in the bathtub.

By 8 p.m., authorities find Michael Mohns severed head wrapped in a plastic bag in a cooking pot in a bedroom next to the bathroom.

In another first floor bedroom they find several pairs of bloody rubber gloves. Denice Mohn tells the officers that her son, Justin, and her husbands 2009 Toyota Corolla are gone.

'A real good guy': Remembering Mike Mohn: Father, husband and quiet neighbor whose death shocked the world

Arrest at military installation: What police found when they arrested Levittown beheading suspect at Fort Indiantown Gap

Authorities learn of YouTube beheading video made by Justin Mohn

The officers learn that Justin Mohn had posted the grisly 14.5-minute video to YouTube titled, Mohns Militia  Call to Arms for American Patriots. They watched the video, in which Justin Mohn lifts his fathers severed head and says he is now in hell for eternity after identifying him as a longtime federal employee. Before the video ends, he lifts the head from the cooking pot and displays it again.

Authorities later confirmed Michael Mohen was a retired civil engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers.

Justin Mohn arrested and charged

By 10 p.m., with the investigation ongoing, police ping Justin Mohn's phone outside the gates of the military installation at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County. He is driving his fathers Toyota Corolla.

"We were contacted again with another ping on his cellphone that was inside the installation," said Angela Watson, communications director for the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "He had jumped one of the fences, and was apprehended on foot here at the installation without incident."

Watson added that Mohn was armed at the time of his arrest.

Mohn was arraigned and returned to Bucks County to face murder and other charges.

Reporter Matthew Toth contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Justin Mohn used machete in Levittown beheading of father, cops detail
The European Union must be ready to defend Ukraine with or without the military support of the United States, French President Emmanuel Macron said during a speech in Sweden on Jan. 30.

This is a decisive and testing moment for Europe," Macron said. "We must be ready to act to defend and support Ukraine whatever it takes and whatever America decides.

U.S. financial and military aid to Ukraine has been suspended for months as Republican lawmakers hold $61 billion in continued assistance hostage to demands for tighter immigration and border policy restrictions. The possibility of former president Donald Trump winning a second term in 2024 further undermines the long-term reliability of U.S. support.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Macron argued that Europe must be ready to take control of its own security and future relations with Moscow, regardless of U.S. policy.

Europe had been lucky to have America as a partner but we have to be lucid. Ukraine is part of the European continent and whatever America decides we have to take the right and bold decisions to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," Macron said.

Macron's speech comes on the eve of the European Council's special summit on Feb. 1, where member nations will again discuss a 50-billion-euro ($54 billion) aid package for Ukraine. The aid was blocked in December by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Orban has now said he is willing to compromise on the aid package, following back-channel negotiations and the European Parliament's Jan. 18 proposal to strip Hungary of its voting rights.

Macron on Jan. 30 said the EU needs to do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, and shoulder any cost necessary to defeat Russia.

The real cost to us of a Russian victory in the short and long run is too high for all of us," he said.

Read also: Ex-NATO chief: Not inviting Ukraine to join alliance gives Putin incentive to continue the war

A number of top officials from different countries have recently voiced fears of an escalated conflict with Russia that spills beyond Ukraine's borders and into EU or NATO countries.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, currently visiting Washington, D.C. to make the case for Ukraine funding to U.S. lawmakers, said on Jan. 29 that support for Ukraine is "an investment in our own security because the world will become more dangerous if (Russian) President Putin wins in Ukraine.

German NATO commander Alexander Sollfrank also said on Jan. 29 that member nations should prepare for the possibility of Russian missile strikes in Europe, while Poland's national security agency reported in December that Russia could attack NATO directly within the next three years.

Macron, who has pledged to sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv in February, said the EU must do "much more" to ramp up defense production and urged European partners to "overreact" to Russia's security threat.

He also said Europe cannot leave crucial decisions about arms controls and nuclear treaties to the U.S. and Russia, but must take charge of its own security architecture.

There is no future for ourselves and our children if we are not in a situation to build the new architecture of security of arms control in our neighbourhood," he said.

"We have to be the one who decides for ourselves and not delegate it to others, even if they are very good allies, because they live on the other side of the ocean.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Cabinet of Ministers submits updated draft law on mobilization to parliament

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
While French farmers continued to lay siege to Paris, Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, attended a lavish gala dinner in Stockholm in the company of the King and Queen of Sweden.

King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia and the rest of the family spared no expense at a banquet with the president and first lady at Stockholm Palace.

Also in attendance at the dinner were Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, and Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia.

Dozens of French farmers formed a road blockade in Jossigny, east of Paris - YOAN VALAT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The state dinner took place as French farmers camped out on motorways eating sausages cooked on open fires as part of their protest journey to Paris.

Brigitte chose a structured, floor-length gown in a powder blue shade and sequins around the neckline and waist. She wore diamond earrings.

The dinner included a nod to some French cuisine with moules marinieres.

Despite the unrest in France, Mr Macron chose not to cancel his two-day visit to Sweden which had been postponed once before.

A government source said another cancellation would send out a message of instability and damage Frances credibility.

With the Nordic country close to achieving Nato status following the invasion of Ukraine, Mr Macron said My visit is  to renew our friendship, our partnership in the European Union, and as Sweden prepares to join Nato, our alliance.

Holding a banner which said: Macron, answer us at a blockade on the A10 highway south of Paris, French farmer, Geraldine Grillon, said: Its just too much, were really fed up.

Mr Macron couldnt care less about farmers, she said.

Mr Macron told a gathering of French and local business leaders in Sweden on Wednesday that over-regulation put Europe at a disadvantage to the United States and China.

We need a smarter European industrial policy, he said. We need more investment, more single market and less regulation.

He called for more investments in critical sectors such as defence, space, artificial intelligence and green technologies.

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.
MAGA is the new Republican establishment. By any definition, the new guard ushered in by former President Donald Trump dictates the immediate future of the Republican Party. Its about time Trump and his followers delivered the goods for America instead of making excuses for failure.

When and if Nikki Haley is ultimately defeated in the Republican presidential primary, Ronald Reagans big tent can be folded up and put away.

Not only do [Republicans] support President Trump, we support his policies, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, told MSNBC. And any Republican that isnt willing to adapt these policies, were completely eradicating from the party.

Anybody that makes a Contribution to Birdbrain [Nikki Haley], from this moment forth, will be permanently barred from the MAGA camp, railed Trump after the New Hampshire primary. We dont want them, and will not accept them, because we Put America First, and ALWAYS WILL!

MAGA is now such an ingrained fixture in the GOP that Trump and his followers are perfectly fine casting off any fellow Republicans who might disagree over policy or politics.

More from Cameron Smith: Loneliness is a health crisis plaguing Americans. We need to reconnect with each other

Money, manpower and momentum are all MAGA

This is exactly how the much-maligned Republican political establishment has behaved for as long as I can remember.

Former President Donald Trump speaks after defeating Nikki Haley in the New Hampshire primary election, during his watch party in Nashua, N.H., on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.

As a young Senate Judiciary counsel, I vividly recall Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnells emissary who would descend to the basement in the Dirksen Senate Office Building and explain why we couldnt pursue conservative immigration policies.

The condescending dismissal made me despise what I called establishment Republicans, RINOs (Republicans in Name Only), and squishes. They had the power, they told me how it was going to be, and I could pound sand if I didnt like it.

When it comes to politics, media, and the soul of the GOP, MAGA reigns supreme. A majority of the United States Senate has endorsed Trump.

More than 100 members of the House of Representatives currently support Trump as well as the entirety of House Republican leadership. Trumps most ardent detractors like Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Rep. Liz Cheney, and Sen. Mitt Romney are personae non gratae in the mainstream GOP.

Between the official campaign and aligned political action committees, Trumps fundraising advantage is absolutely massive. The money, manpower, and momentum are all MAGA.

Mitch McConnell is now kissing Trump's ring

Even Sen. Mitch McConnell who has regularly collided with Trump is now bending the knee to Trumps will.

In remarks first reported by Punchbowl, McConnell articulated the difficulties of moving border security legislation without Trumps support.

Politics on this have changed, McConnell said.

The Senate minority leader noted that bipartisan immigration legislation could hurt Trumps political prospects in 2024.

We dont want to do anything to undermine him, McConnell said of Trump.

Yet Trumps MAGA movement refuses to bear the accountability that comes with leadership.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks during a press conference following the Republicans weekly policy luncheon on January 23, 2024 in Washington, DC.

After eight years out of the White House, Republicans welcomed Trumps victory in 2016. He enjoyed Republican control of the Senate and the House of Representatives during his first two years in office.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was certainly a feather in his cap, but Trump failed to rally Republicans on key votes like repealing the Affordable Care Act.

Republicans lost the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections, effectively derailing Trumps legislative agenda for his remaining two years. Without question, Trumps most significant accomplishment while in office was pushing the Supreme Court and federal judiciary in a far more conservative trajectory.

Another view: Sorting out the legal issues surrounding Donald Trump

Trump refuses to accept responsibility for GOP failures

In 2020 Trump lost to President Joe Biden in a referendum election on Trump and the GOPs MAGA leadership. The cycle also cost Republicans control of both the House and the Senate.

President Donald Trump, center, accompanied by from left, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., Vice President Mike Pence, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, speaks after participating in a Congressional Republican Leadership Retreat at Camp David, Md., Jan. 6, 2018.

The State of Georgia turned blue in the United States Senate.

In 2022, MAGA candidates fared poorly in competitive general elections which stymied an anticipated red wave that should have materialized based on an electoral map favorable to the Republicans.

Miraculously, Trump has taken none of the blame for years of GOP political failure.

Two-thirds of the MAGA establishment believes that Trump was actually the rightful winner of the 2020 election and blames McConnell and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy for the remaining poor midterm election performances.

The MAGA Republican power structure fancies themselves the victims of Democrats, the minority in the Republican Party, the deep state, and just about every other possible explanation that doesnt involve a serious look in the mirror.

We must not apply a different standard to MAGA

Many of my conservative friends ask me why I dont fall in line, weather Trumps MAGA leadership unscathed, and live to fight another day.

The answer has never changed.

As a young hill attorney, I always heard senators and House members talking about living to fight another day. The only problem was that day never came. The votes never happened. The problems werent addressed. The American people suffer the consequences of the political class simply blowing in the political winds.

The MAGA movement came to be because Republican political elites became quite disconnected from the people they represented. None of us want leaders who define success as the slowing of American decline. We grew tired of the constant explanations justifying Republican political and policy failures.

Gov. Jeb Bush asked us to please clap. We did not.

Cameron Smith, columnist for The Tennessean and the USA TODAY Network Tennessee

We cant apply a different standard to the MAGA establishment. Trump and the politicians supporting him must deliver fiscal sanity, rein in the regulatory state, and enact policies that restore America as a shining city on a hill.

If were only left with excuses for failure, maybe the establishment has simply continued under Trumps new management.

USA TODAY Network Tennessee Columnist Cameron Smith is a Memphis-born, Brentwood-raised recovering political attorney who worked for conservative Republicans. He and his wife Justine are raising three boys in Nolensville, Tennessee. Direct outrage or agreement to smith.david.cameron@gmail.com or @DCameronSmith on X, formerly known as Twitter. Agree or disagree? Send a letter to the editor to letters@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: MAGA is new GOP. Trump tells Republicans to fall in line  or get out
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  The Champaign County Forest Preserve District is celebrating new state funding to improve one of their preserves.

The states Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday that the Forest Preserve District along with 110 other governing bodies would receive funding this year from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grant Program.

The agency has given the forest preserve $1,125,000, the largest OSLAD grant this year.

Officials with the Champaign County Forest Preserve said the funding will support the River Bend Forest Preserve in Mahomet. They said they are planning to protect wildlife as well as more public access trails and a kayak launch.

Illinois could prohibit owning servals with new bill

Funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grant Program will help the Forest Preserves expand the protection of valuable nature at River Bend in perpetuity while offering more opportunities for residents to connect with the natural world, a release from the Forest Preserve District reads.

The River Bend Forest Preserve features two and a half miles of a floodplain along the Sangamon River. The forest preserve also is home to two lakes, one of which is the largest in the county.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Two bodies were discovered in a Missouri home following a call to police from a concerned mailman, authorities say.

The mailman requested a welfare check at the Ballwin home Tuesday, Jan. 30, when he was unable to fit mail into the stuffed mailbox, Ballwin police spokesperson Mark Reckert said.

When officers arrived, they found the bodies of two people who had been there for a while, police said.

The two victims have not been identified as of Wednesday morning due to the state of the bodies and the stage of investigation, according to Reckert.

Police are investigating the deaths.

Reckert told KSDK there were a lot of moving parts during their investigation, which brought medical examiners, police and fire department crews to the scene.

Ballwin is about 20 miles west of St. Louis.

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Driver reverses into nail salon, killing 61-year-old woman, Missouri police say

Man shoots, kills 27-year-old woman and gets help burning body, Missouri cops say
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is standing behind a new legislative that would bring nitrogen gas executions to the state, ending a yearslong unofficial death penalty moratorium.

Yost announced the new legislative effort at a news conference on Tuesday. Sponsored by Republican state Representatives Brian Stewart and Phil Plummer, the bill will follow the recent use by Alabama state of nitrogen hypoxia for execution.

The Associated Press reported that the Ohio bill would give condemned inmates a choice between lethal injection and nitrogen gas but would require nitrogen gas to be used if lethal injection drugs are not available, according to Rep. Brian Stewart.

Why The Need?

Ohio has not executed anyone since 2018. In 2020, Republican Governor Mike DeWine revealed lethal injection is "no longer an option," citing a federal judge's ruling that the protocol could cause inmates "severe pain and needless suffering."

Stewart has criticized DeWine for postponing numerous executions over pharmaceutical companies' unwillingness to see their products used to put people to death. Stewart also mentioned Florida and the federal government have continued administering lethal injections despite Ohio's unofficial pause.

The Cincinnati Enquirer quoted Yost, who referred to Alabama's execution as a success, from his social media post last week, "Death row inmates are in greater danger of dying of old age than their sentence."

Representative Phil Plummer is placing heavy emphasis on extreme cases that have worked their way through the legal system for so many years.

"We need some closure for the victims in cases like these ones," he said.

Tuesday was not the first time Republican lawmakers have introduced an alternative execution method. In 2019, Rep. Scott Wiggam wanted to use fentanyl seized from drug busts to execute death row inmates. That idea never took off. Other states have allowed firing squads.

However, while Republicans are working to secure new methods, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has called for the end of the death penalty in Ohio, citing several reasons for rejecting capital punishment, including the cost, racial bias, wrongful convictions, and botched executions.

"If we profess to be pro-life how can we justify ending a life no matter the reason?" Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, asked.

The Enquirer went on to report that Stewart, who says he's "pro-life," contended, "If somebody really can't fathom the difference between an unborn child that is innocent and a child murderer, I think their moral compass is pretty faulty." Yost replied, "There's a difference between an innocent life and a guilty life that has received due process."

Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, who has advocated for ending the death penalty in Ohio, condemned the new proposal, "It is unfortunate that anyone would rush to the nearest camera to plead for the introduction of experimental methods to resume the barbaric practice," he told the Enquirer.

On Tuesday, republicans hope to spearhead the debate back to the table.

Ohio has 118 inmates on death row at present. While the debate is on between lawmakers, the state has carried out several executions over the years that include hangings, electrocution, and lethal injection.
A majority of voters in swing states say they wouldnt vote for former President Trump in the upcoming election if he were convicted of a crime, a poll released Wednesday found.

The Bloomberg News/Morning Consult survey found that among voters in the swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, 53 percent of respondents said they were unwilling to vote for the former president if he is convicted in one of his multiple criminal cases.

Forty-six percent of respondents said they are very unwilling to cast their ballot for Trump if he is found guilty, while 7 percent said they are somewhat unwilling. Twenty-nine percent of respondents said they were very willing to vote for Trump if he is convicted of a crime, and 11 percent said they are somewhat wiling.

The survey found that female voters, voters over 65 and voters with a bachelors or post-graduate degree were more likely to say they were unwilling to vote for the former president if he is convicted.

Black and Asian voters were also more likely to say they would not vote for Trump if he is convicted. Three-quarters of respondents who identified as atheist said they would be unwilling to vote for Trump if he is found guilty.

People who voted for Trump in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections were less likely to say a conviction would change their mind this time around, the survey found.

The former president is facing four separate indictments and has been charged with more than 90 felony counts, in addition to a civil fraud case expected to be decided this week.

The survey was conducted Jan. 16-22 among 4,956 voters in seven swing states. The results have a margin of error of 1 percentage point.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Danial Azhar and Rozanna Latiff

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Malaysia's Sultan Ibrahim from the southern state of Johor was installed as the country's 17th king on Wednesday, taking the oath of office in a ceremony at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur.

The monarchy plays a mostly ceremonial role in Malaysia, but its influence has grown in recent years, prompting the king to wield rarely-used discretionary powers to quell political instability.

Under a unique system of monarchy, the heads of Malaysia's nine royal families take turns to be the King, known as the "Yang di-Pertuan Agong" every five years.

Sultan Ibrahim, 65, succeeds Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who is returning to lead his home state of Pahang after completing his five-year tenure as king.

While the monarchy is largely seen as above politics, Sultan Ibrahim has been noted for his forthrightness and outsized personality, often weighing in on the country's political issues.

Known for his large collection of luxury cars and motorbikes, Sultan Ibrahim has wide-ranging business interests from real estate to mining, including a stake in Forest City - a $100-billion China-backed land reclamation and development project off Johor.

Ahead of his installation, Sultan Ibrahim told Singapore's The Straits Times newspaper he intends to be an active monarch and proposed that Malaysia's state oil firm Petroliam Nasional and the country's anti-corruption agency to report directly to the king.

He also spoke of his plans to revive a stalled high-speed rail link project between Malaysia and Singapore, with a border crossing through Forest City.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim later downplayed the statements, saying all opinions can be discussed without disregarding the federal constitution, state media reported.

Sultan Ibrahim takes on his duties as king amid renewed political tensions in Malaysia.

The country has seen ongoing political turmoil since 2018 when the then-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition was ousted from power for the first time since independence, prompting the monarch to play a greater role.

The king largely acts upon the advice of the prime minister and the cabinet but is granted a few discretionary powers under the federal constitution, including the authority to appoint a premier he believes commands a parliamentary majority.

Sultan Ibrahim's predecessor, Al-Sultan Abdullah, exercised such power three times to resolve political uncertainty during his reign, twice after governments collapsed and the latest in 2022, when he appointed Anwar following an election that ended in a hung parliament.

Before stepping down from the throne, Al-Sultan Abdullah called for political stability, responding to media reports this month of an alleged plot to topple the government. Several opposition and ruling bloc leaders have denied being part of the plot.

(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff and Danial Azhar; Editing by Martin Petty and Christian Schmollinger)
Jennifer Barnhill is a columnist for Military.com writing about military families.

"A lot of us have given up careers  became the default parent," Michael Franklin, podcast host, Air Force spouse, and stay-at-home dad told me recently.

"The feeling from the DoD is still that it is a male-centric workforce so we just need to get all the resources to the female spouses," he added, describing how male spouses have quietly observed a lack of support. "The difference is men are less likely to actually come out and say that it's a problem. We're a lot more likely to sit back and say we'll figure it out."

As of 2022, 9.7% of all military spouses are male. There's sizable variation based on branch of service: Just 3.8% of Marine Corps spouses identified as male, compared to a high of 13.8% in the Air Force.

Those roughly 10% face unique challenges, according to research by the Defense Department and Blue Star Families. Male spouses die by suicide at higher rates than female spouses, and female service members married to male civilians have the highest divorce rates in the military.

According to the DoD's Annual Report on Suicide in the Military CY2022, "Male spouses accounted for about 48% of spouse suicides but made up about 14% of all military spouses across the DoD."

Male spouses in the community describe a kind of isolation that comes with being in a group some outsiders don't expect to exist. Instead, what was once a demographic anomaly, a byproduct of a male-dominated military, has become increasingly likely as women have taken on more roles in uniform and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" fades into history.

"I can count on one hand the number of times people either in her unit, her squadron or chain of command, or anybody has called to check on me. And she's deployed three times. And two of those times were back-to-back deployments," said Franklin. "We go through all the same struggles that other spouses go through. It just seems like we're kind of expected to figure it out."

If the military is a "boy's club," then the military spouse community is at risk of being considered a "girls' club." Despite intentional efforts to combat these gendered traditions, replacing the term "wife" with the more inclusive "spouse," male military spouses may still feel like outsiders.

Nearly every male spouse I interviewed has heard the phrase "Hey, ladies!" from a spouse group member or senior military leader. While they acknowledge males are not the majority, this accidental greeting sends a message about who belongs to these groups. Rather than forcing a fit, some male spouses have formed their own communities like Macho Spouse, Manpendent and Dependabros. However, because these groups are not widespread, it may be hard for male spouses to find them.

Despite reporting similar first impressions of these groups, the dozen men I interviewed were diverse. Some were half of a dual-military couple. Some were civilian males married to female service members or civilian males in a same-sex marriage. Some were veterans, some came from military families, and others had no military connection at all. All the male spouses I spoke to did one of two things: They observed subtle messages that told them they didn't belong and pushed through, or they didn't attempt to join military spouse communities in the first place.

"There's a hesitancy to be included and be involved just because 90% of the other spouses are female," said Chris Brennan, a Marine reservist whose wife is still serving on active duty. "I've found that the exclusion factor comes from the fact that their spouses, husbands or significant others aren't comfortable with this singular male being involved or, you know, being included in activities."

Brennan and others reported receiving welcoming messages from military spouses. But despite these efforts, this potential pool of friends and support still feels closed off to male spouses, oftentimes because they don't fit the gendered expectations we have of friendship.

According to research conducted by the Survey Center on American Life, 75% of single men and 65% of single women have a friend of the opposite sex. Those numbers drop to 54% and 43% respectively for those who are married.

In a community in which rumors of cheating can swirl around the fishbowl in no time, the addition of males to the pool of female spouses may come with tension.

Sometimes, the assumption that spouses are female leads to outright blockades, making even those complicated dynamics irrelevant. Jerad Knight, an Army veteran whose husband is serving in the Navy, described trying to join a Facebook group for spouses.

"I got denied three times because I was a guy," he said. "The feedback I got was, this is a group for spouses, not for service members."

After his third denial, he sent the group administrators a message letting them know that he believed he should be admitted because not only was he a spouse, he had been voted the 2023 military spouse of the year for that duty station. Knight was not the only one; nearly half of the dozen male spouses I interviewed mentioned attempting to join Facebook groups only to be denied.

Many of those spouses previously served themselves, as dual-military marriages are quite common. According to the DoD, 14.3% of the active-duty force who are married are in a dual-military marriage. And when we look at the marriage rates by gender, the number jumps significantly with 45.3% of married active-duty females being married to another service member, compared to just 8.5% of male service members who are also in a dual-military marriage.

For some dual-military couples, the decision to step back from active-duty service while a spouse continues on is a practical one.

"I decided to start my transition to retirement because I saw that she was progressing ahead of me," said Jeremy Wilson, Army veteran and spouse. "It takes some getting used to."

Like other dual-military couples I spoke to, the Wilson family had to approach their marriage and military life strategically. Wilson believes their shared understanding of the military lifestyle has been an asset to him in his new supportive role as a military spouse.

For those male spouses who also continue to serve, sorting out family responsibilities like child care while in a dual-military couple can be a challenge. In dual-military marriages, both jobs come first to the DoD, and couples may be forced to make some tough decisions. Some turn to family for support or use their dual incomes to pay for care, if they can find and afford it.

While those dual-military couples have joint experience with service, civilian spouses may have to overcome additional challenges.

Civilian males married to female service members may feel out of their comfort zone when they suddenly find themselves as a secondary breadwinner or primary parent. According to research put out by Rand Corp., "Husbands of military women may also, as a direct result of their spouse's gender, experience stressful circumstances outside the marriage, such as discrimination and social isolation, that erode their satisfaction with the relationship."

These dynamics may contribute to divorce as the same study found that female service members married to civilian males are at a significantly higher risk of divorce than male service members married to civilian females. Enlisted females are at the highest risk, as "7.3 percent of initially married enlisted women dissolved their marriages, compared with 2.8 percent of enlisted men, 3.6 percent of female officers, and 1.5 percent of male officers." While we don't know how many of these females are married to males, Rand estimates that over 80% are.

There are some areas where male spouses are doing better than their female counterparts, though the differences reflect broader gender disparities in American society. They find work faster, are more likely to be employed, make more money when employed, and overall cite higher military lifestyle satisfaction rates than females.

It is hard to say how male military spouses are doing because so few people are asking and even fewer male spouses are part of the conversation. But as the military continues to struggle to recruit and retain female service members while talking about providing support for military families, the DoD might need to stop and take a look at the experiences of male military spouses.

-- In addition to her reporting, Jennifer Barnhill is also the host of Military Dinner Table Conversations, a monthly reverse town hall with military families. She is a 2023 Bush Institute StandTo Veteran Leadership Program Scholar, the editor-in-chief of the National Military Spouse Network's Career Connections Magazine, and the military spouse liaison on The League of Wives Memorial Project.
Science pact sees benefits for China, US

08:39, January 31, 2024 By Zhang Yunbi ( Chinadaily.com.cn

On Jan 31, 1979, then vice-premier Deng Xiaoping and then United States president Jimmy Carter co-signed the landmark China-United States Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement in Washington during Deng's historic US visit.

"We have just completed a meaningful endeavor, yet this is not an end, but a beginning," Deng said in his speech at the signing ceremony.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, and the agreement was one of the first intergovernmental pacts signed by the two countries in the wake of the establishment of the ties.

The agreement, to be signed every five years, has been endorsed multiple times by the two governments, such as China-US Joint Statement in 2011 issued during then president Hu Jintao's US visit.

However, in recent years, Washington has stepped up suppression of and sanctions against China in fields such as science and technology, and some US political figures have publicly opposed extending or renewing the agreement, creating new hurdles to cooperation.

On the other side of the Pacific Ocean, President Xi Jinping has consistently placed great emphasis on such bilateral cooperation.

During his 2015 visit to the US, Xi met and talked with leaders of Chinese and American technology companies in Seattle.

In November in San Francisco, Xi shook hands and exchanged pleasantries briefly with Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla CEO Elon Musk when attending a reception held by friendly groups.

At the San Francisco summit between Xi and US President Joe Biden, Xi pointed out that the two sides should work together to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and they should carry out cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, and science and technology.

"Stifling China's technological progress is nothing but a move to contain China's high-quality development and deprive the Chinese people of their right to development," Xi added.

Following the summit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters that the two sides "agreed to start consultations" on renewing the agreement.

Policy observers in both countries said that policymakers  especially in Washington  have to make resolute decisions to fast track the agreement's renewal, and "decoupling" on technologies will only undermine the US' strengths in these areas.

Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng said that based on the agreement, the two countries "have conducted high-standard, multitiered cooperation in dozens of areas including basic research, public health, energy, environmental protection and agricultural science".

"Such cooperation has benefited not only both countries but also the entire humanity," he said at a reception on Jan 16 marking the ties' anniversary.

Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on US-China Relations, told a forum held by the Carter Center earlier this month that keeping the agreement afloat requires some level of courage.

Washington "has held an ambivalent attitude" toward the agreement and bilateral cooperation on technology, said Su Xiaohui, deputy director of the Department of American Studies at the China Institute of International Studies.

"The US actually recognized the great benefits  not impediments  brought to its national interests over the past decades, but it also fears that its hegemony will be challenged by the growing Chinese military strength empowered by technology  Cooperation in these areas surely can be win-win," she said.

When addressing a forum in Davos, Switzerland, this month, Xue Lan, a professor at the Institute of Public Administration of Tsinghua University, said that bilateral cooperation on fundamental research should be resumed at an early date, and the two sides could probe the possibility in cutting-edge areas such as green technologies.

Over the past week, Beijing and Washington took a step closer on science and technology cooperation by setting out the agenda on AI technologies.

Following talks in Bangkok between senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, which ended on Saturday, both sides confirmed that the first meeting of the US-China intergovernmental dialogue mechanism on artificial intelligence will be held in the spring.

Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said in an interview with the Financial Times last week that the US and China will work together in the coming months to reduce the risks associated with rapidly developing AI technology.

"We are at a moment where everyone understands that AI is the most powerful technology  But I think the one place we can all really agree is we want to have a technology base that is safe and effective," she said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Spain's lower house on Tuesday voted against an amnesty bill due to differences in it's jurisdiction between the ruling Socialists and a Catalan separatist party.

That is a crucial letdown for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and shows the fragility of Spain's socialist-led minority government.

The controversial bill presented by Sanchez seeks to benefit Catalan nationalists facing legal proceedings for separatist happenings in exchange for help securing the prime minister a second term. According to the BBC, this includes those involved in a failed 2017 independence bid, including the ex-president of the Catalonia region.

The law encountered its first critical test on Tuesday, reported the outlet.

Multiple nationalist parties, including Together for Catalonia (JxCat) led by former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, were backing an amnesty, indicating a potential approval of the law by congress.

The BBC reported that it was blocked by JxCat, citing what it said was judicial interference aimed at sabotaging the law.

"We cannot participate in allowing the Catalan independence movement to be exposed to the whims of the politicized Spanish judiciary," said Miriam Nogueras, spokeswoman for JxCat.

Per The Guardian, the draft law would apply to roughly 400 people involved in the symbolic, unilateral independence referendum of November 2014. The poll that followed three years later culminated in the declaration of regional independence and ultimately shoved Spain into its worst political crisis for four decades.

Its most high-profile beneficiary would be Puigdemont. He had fled to Belgium to avoid arrest over his role in masterminding the illegal push to secede from Spain in 2017.

The bill, rejected by 179 votes to 171, will not return for debate in a parliamentary committee and could eventually be sent back for another vote in the lower house. The amnesty bill is set to define Sanchez's second term and has prompted large protests against it reported Reuters.

Catalan separatists Junts voted against the law after they failed to reach a last-minute deal with Sanchez's Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. Junts wanted all exceptions related to terrorism to be removed from the bill since some of its politicians are currently under investigation by courts over alleged terrorism-related crimes.

The bill initially came from Catalan separatist parties Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya and Junts and presented to Sanchez in hopes of mutual benefit.

Sanchez's party declared certain aspects of the terrorism-related charges cannot not be pardoned.

"Junts cannot participate in leaving all Catalan separatism exposed to the arbitrariness of the politicized Spanish judiciary," said lawmaker Miriam Nogueras. She said the current amnesty proposal was too selective and had loopholes.

According to Reuters, the amnesty would cover all events related to the Catalan independence drive from 2012, including a symbolic vote held in 2014 and an independence referendum in 2017, which courts declared illegal.

Furthermore, it's to profit several hundred separatists as well as several police officers who stormed the polling stations during the referendum.

In the past, Sanchez opposed an amnesty and is still rejecting an independence referendum, however argues that the proposed bill seeks to foster reconciliation between the parties.

The Conservative opposition continues to accuse him of undermining Spain's rule of law.
HANOVER TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Appliances stolen during a burglary in Dallas Township were recovered after the alleged thief was selling the items on Facebook Marketplace.

According to the Hanover Township Police Department, on Monday a burglary occurred on Glendalough Road in Dallas Township where a refrigerator, stove, microwave, television, and a table, were stolen from a home.

The same day, the victims daughter stated she found a stove, matching the stolen one, for sale on Facebook Marketplace, police stated.

Suspect wanted for alleged $700 retail theft at Staples

Officers were called and an arrangement to buy the stove from Jerome Sharr, 33, of Wilkes-Barre at the Self Storage Station on the Sans Souci Parkway. As stated in the affidavit, a setup was planned where Sharr was met with police instead of the victims daughter.

Investigators say they found all of the stolen items at the storage unit.

Sharr has been charged with receiving stolen property.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
In a report published by Reuters, Belgian farmers frustrated with rising costs, EU environmental policies, and poor food imports, the farmers blocked road access to the Zeebrugge container port Tuesday for 36 hours.

The reason the port was targeted is because the farmers feel that the port receives economic aid at the expense of farmers. The protesters blocked five roads to trucks, but they did allow cars to pass through. This is following another recent report that hundreds of companies plan to unveil their environmental impact in future reports.

Speaking with reporters an unnamed port authority spokesperson stated it wasn't clear what the consequences of the operations of the port would be and that the port was indirectly in touch with organizers through the police. In addition, The Algemeen Boerensyndicaat Union (ABS, General Farmers Syndicate) called upon its members to join the protest as well. ABS Policy Officer, Mark Wulfrancke, stated "The farmers are desperate, really desperate. We've warned the government for years that this would happen".

Wulftancke has also urged policymakers to ensure that food prices reflect the additional costs European farmers currently face as a result of Europe's inclining environmental standards. In another statement, he said, "We want respect from our government, the European government. The only way to show that respect is to make a policy that is farmer friendly, food friendly. We need a correct price."

In response to this incident among others, Prime Minister, Alexander De Coo is planning to meet with farmers on Tuesday stating to reporters "It is important that they are listened to". Meanwhile, a group of farmers have blocked a square in central Brussels with their tractors and plan to stay there until Thursday.

In a statement farmer Nicolas Fryers stated "We are asking them to review their laws. They talk about being greener but if that happens then there will be land which isn't worked any more and it's difficult enough as it is."
Microsoft outperformed Wall Street predictions for second-quarter revenue on Tuesday, driven by increased attraction to its new AI features.

According to Reuters, Microsoft shares fell 1% in after-hours trading. They climbed 57% last year. Along with a rally in other tech stocks, including Alphabet and Nvidia, Microsoft helped fuel a 24% surge in the S&P 500 in 2023.

How Much Did Revenue Grow?

Revenue grew 18% to $62 billion in the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with the average analyst estimate of $61.12 billion, according to LSEG data.

Revenue at Microsoft's Intelligent Cloud unit, which houses the Azure cloud computing platform, grew 20% to $25.9 billion. Sales of Azure, which Microsoft does not disclose a dollar figure for, grew 30%, compared with a 27.7% consensus estimate from Visible Alpha.

Investors are keeping a close eye on Microsoft's Azure and Office revenues to gauge the sales impact stemming from the company's substantial investment of tens of billions of dollars into data centers this year, all aimed at advancing generative AI.

Reuters previously reported Microsoft's shares have risen significantly this year, briefly making it the world's most valuable listed company, surpassing Apple. Investors are responding positively to Microsoft's focus on artificial intelligence and its strategic partnership with Silicon Valley startup OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.

Forbes also published Microsoft's blowout earnings on Tuesday, stating that the company tallied its best-ever quarterly revenue for its fifth quarter in a row - a stretch directly coinciding with an explosion in investor interest in artificial intelligence and Microsoft-backed OpenAI's debut of ChatGPT.

Per Forbes' report, Microsoft's $62 billion of sales in the three months ending last month topped average analyst estimates of $61.1 billion, according to FactSet, while its $2.93 earnings per share topped forecasts of $2.77.

The booming sales topped the prior quarter's record $56.5 billion, marking an 18% year-over-year increase.

Profits were slightly down last quarter, as the $21.9 billion in net income compared to the September quarter's $22.3 billion profit, but profits remained up about 30% on an annual basis.

Microsoft, headquartered in Washington, has seen a revival in its Wall Street standing, mainly attributed to its role as a frontrunner in the broader AI movement within the tech industry.
A man is facing at least 15 years in federal prison after prosecutors said he installed tracking software on a teen girls phone and rode a bus across the country to sexually assault her.

Samuel Aaron Leonard, 42, of New Port Richey, Florida, was arrested outside the 14-year-old girls home in Vancouver, Washington, in July 2020, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Washington.

He pleaded guilty to production of child pornography and interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor in Tacoma federal court on Jan. 30, prosecutors announced in a news release.

Brett Andrews Purtzer, one of Leonards defense attorneys, described the case as a tough situation for his client while speaking with McClatchy News.

He said since Leonard entered the guilty pleas, the case will move forward with a sentencing hearing set for April 15. Purtzer declined to comment further due to the upcoming hearing.

What led up to his arrest?

In April 2020, Leonard began messaging the teen over social media and told her he was 20 instead of 39, his true age at the time, according to court documents.

He spent months enticing (her) online for sexual abuse, and convinced her to send him explicit images, prosecutors said.

At some point, Leonard mailed the teen a cellphone so they could continue communicating privately, according to prosecutors. She was unaware Leonard installed tracking software on the device, officials said.

The tracking software allowed Leonard to read the girls texts and emails and to keep tabs on her whereabouts, according to the attorneys office.

Leonard also sent her clothes, underwear and other gifts and suggested they could get engaged until she was legally old enough to marry, his plea agreement says.

Leonard told the teen he planned to take a bus to be closer to her and that, when he arrived, he wanted her to join him in his hotel room, according to the plea agreement.

By late June 2020, the girls guardians learned of the messages between her and Leonard and alerted police, resulting in authorities seizing two of the teens phones, prosecutors said.

Afterward, law enforcement started communicating with Leonard while posing as the girl, according to the attorneys office.

The bus trip to Washington

On June 28, 2020, Leonard got on a bus in Florida and brought a large sex toy, handcuffs, and personal lubricant as well as multiple survival style knives, an ax, a handgun, ten pairs of flex cuffs, rubber gloves and duct tape with him, the plea agreement says.

He traveled to Vancouver, Washington, and arrived there the evening of July 1, 2022, with plans to perform sexual acts with the teen, prosecutors said.

Law enforcement knew Leonard was in the area and had an undercover officer message him, while pretending to be the girl, saying her guardian had taken the phone he gave her, according to prosecutors.

In response, Leonard said he would get her a new one, prosecutors said.

Leonard had no idea police were watching when he threw a package containing the new cellphone into the girls backyard on July 2, 2020, according to the attorneys office. Thats when he was arrested.

Inside a hotel room Leonard had booked, authorities found restraints, including flex cuffs and metal handcuffs, duct tape, electrical tape, sex toys and lubricants, prosecutors said.

Leonard told investigators he had similarly traveled to Oklahoma in 2018, where prosecutors said he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old.

His phone had videos of that assault, according to prosecutors.

For the charge of production of child pornography, Leonard faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years in prison, the attorneys office said.

He faces up to 30 years in prison for the charge of interstate travel to engage in sex acts with a minor, according to prosecutors.

With his plea agreement, prosecutors and Leonards defense counsel have agreed to recommend he be sentenced to 20 years in prison, the attorneys office said.

Prosecutors will also argue in support of supervised release for the rest of his life to follow his prison sentence, according to the attorneys office.

New Port Richey is about 35 miles northwest of Tampa.

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CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW)  Authorities in Conway are looking for a man in connection with a fraud investigation at Anderson Brothers Bank on Church Street.

Police began investigating the case on Jan. 16. A surveillance photo released by police shows the man at the bank counter.

Photo courtesy of Conway Police Department

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call Conway police at 843-248-1790.

* * *

Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylors work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
A 33-year-old Mansfield man accused of using Snapchat to send sexually graphic messages and videos to a 14-year-old boy has been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison federal prosecutors said.

Juan Aguilera Duran was charged via criminal complaint in May 2023 and was indicted in August 2023. He pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography in October 2023, according to a news release from Leigha Simonton, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

He was sentenced on Jan. 26 by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O Connor, who also ordered Duran to a lifetime of supervised release.

The Secret Service is committed to using our forensic and investigative capabilities to help catch criminals who prey on the most vulnerable among us, said Christina Foley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Services Dallas Field Office, in the release.

According to court documents, Mansfield police were dispatched on Aug. 13, 2022 to a residence in Mansfield to meet with the 14-year-old who had received sexually explicit messages, images, and videos via Snapchat from Duran.

Search and arrest warrants resulted in Duran pleading guilty to receiving child pornography. He later pleaded guilty to receiving images of child pornography on his computer, according to the release.

This case is a testament to the great work that occurs when agencies collaborate and work together for the common good to fight evil in our community. This particular unit is established to protect our most valuable and vulnerable, our kids, Mansfield police Chief Tracy Aaron said in the release.

The Mansfield Police Department, Tarrant County District Attorneys Office Digital Forensics and Technical Services, and the Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandie Wade prosecuted the case.
Marjorie Taylor Greene has been called out for warning of terrorism even as she peddles defund the FBI merchandise.

Early on Wednesday morning, Republican lawmakers on the Homeland Security Committee voted to bring two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to a vote of the full House.

For the first time in almost 150 years, a cabinet secretary could be charged with high crimes and misdemeanours by Congress.

Republican members of the House are accusing Mr Mayorkas of failing to enforce immigration policies at the border between the US and Mexico.

The articles allege willful and systematic refusal to comply with the law as well as breaching public trust. Little evidence has been put forward in support of the allegations and congressional Democrats and some constitutional experts have said that the proceedings are an abuse of the impeachment process.

Let's talk about border patrol apprehensions between ports of entry at the Southwest border of terrorists, Ms Greene said at the hearing on Tuesday.

Rep Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island fired back, arguing that it is pretty rich hearing the gentlewoman from Georgia express her concern about terrorism when she literally was selling defund the FBI T-shirts and hats on her website for $30 apiece.

$30 for the shirts and another $30 for the hats  you don't get both for just the $30  the leading law enforcement agency tasked with combating terrorism in this country and keeping people safe, and she wants to defund it, he said.

So I am not going to take any lectures from her on securing this homeland from terror.

Mr Magaziner was joined by his fellow Democrats on the committee blasting Republicans for what they see as baseless allegations and misplaced blame for the issues at the border.

Rep Dan Goldman of New York said: When the secretary and the administration have tried to use their limited authority to change policy, to limit the number of people coming to the border, to streamline the process to make it go through ports of entry, Republicans filed lawsuits to stop the administration from doing it.

So again, the hypocrisy of you sitting here accusing Secretary Mayorkas of failing to enforce the law, when you are going to court to prevent him from enforcing the law is hypocrisy at its height. You have created this situation, he added.

And now you want to have the second impeachment of a cabinet secretary ever. You let him do his job. You work with the Senate, your colleagues in the Senate on the legislation needed and then let's figure out how to address the border.

Congressional Republicans have moved away from a deal being negotiated in the Senate that would see further funding for Ukraine as well as investments in border security after former president Donald Trump came out against it  seemingly unwilling to support a bipartisan deal that could be seen as a legislative victory for President Joe Biden ahead of their likely rematch in November.

It could also weaken immigration as a campaign issue for Mr Trump.

This is not a policy debate. This is proof. You can't lie about the numbers, a seemingly frustrated Ms Greene said on Wednesday night.

No matter how much time you keep giving to Representative Goldman, he's not going to be able to spin it and change it for all of you. The facts are the facts. Secretary Mayorkas is breaking the law. We are going to impeach Secretary Mayorkas today on this committee. We don't care how long you go on.

You can keep taking your five minutes and yielding back and forth and go to Goldman. Keep going. We're going to impeach him because he has broken the law. He has violated his oath of office. He is breaking federal immigration law. Americans are dying.

Any shortcomings that Mayorkas have, frankly, are your fault, California Democrat Eric Swalwell argued back. He's asking for authorities to do more, to have more border agents, to have more resources. And so his limitations are caused by you. You put them in place, you won't let them do it.

New Jersey Democratic Rep Rob Menendez raised his voice and shouted down the Republicans in the room, yelling: We have held zero full committee hearings dedicated to emergency preparedness, cyber threats, infrastructure protection, transportation security, Department of Homeland Security management.

We have not lived up to our oversight obligation here on this committee because you all are obsessed with the border, because you bend the knee to the Orange Jesus as you refer to him across the aisle, he added in reference to Mr Trump.

So I'm tired of being lectured. You know, I try to listen here. I try to be a team player ... I try not to engage in partisanship, but I've had it  I've listened to a lot of accusations here today. We are here on a sham impeachment hearing, because of the partisanship of this committee, and enough is enough.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized to victims, parents, and family members of children who have suffered from abuse on social media during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday. Zuckerberg stood up and turned around to offer his condolences to the survivors and their loved ones in the room, while adding that his company was working to prevent further harm from occurring.

Im sorry for everything youve all gone through, Zuckerberg said. Nobody should have to go through what your families have suffered. And this is why we have invested so much and are going to continue industry leading efforts to make sure that no one has to go through the types of things your families have had to suffer.

The stunning moment came after Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) asked Zuckerberg if he planned to apologize to the victims and their families. Have you apologized to the victims? Would you like to do so now? Hawley asked. Theyre here, youre on national television.

Zuckerbergs apology occurred after the Senate summoned the CEOs of five social media platforms to discuss Big Tech and the online child sexual exploitation crisis. Along with Zuckerberg, those subpoenaed included Discords Jason Citron, TikToks Shou Zi Chew, Snaps Evan Spiegel, and Xs Linda Yaccarino.

Lawmakers have accused the platforms of creating digital environments rife with child exploitation while not doing nearly enough to prevent potential abuse. Meanwhile, the room was filled with child safety advocates, survivors, and families who held images of social media abuse victims. As the lawmakers grilled the CEOs, they could be heard cheering and jeering in the background.

You have a product thats killing people, Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) told Zuckerberg as the crowd applauded. You have blood on your hands.

The sexual exploitation and abuse of children on social media has become a crisis in recent years. The number of child sexual abuse materials found by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has increased 87 percent since 2019. As much as 20 percent of children in some countries were found to have been subjected to sexual exploitation online in 2022.

The issue also has bipartisan consensus. In a recent survey provided to The Daily Beast by the AI Policy Institute, 76 percent of voters would be more supportive of politicians and lawmakers who regulated children's social media use, with 81 percent agreeing that more should be done to restrict childrens social media access.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said in his opening statement at the hearing that the abusewas a crisis in America. He went on to lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Big Tech companies that he said facilitated this abuse as well as their CEOs. Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety and their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Meta, apologized to families who said their children were harmed by social media use during a heated hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

The apology came as Zuckerberg, whose firm owns social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, answered questions at a U.S. Senate Judiciary hearing on the impact of social media on children. The hearing looked at child sexual exploitation online, and also included CEOs from Discord, Snap, X and TikTok, and featured a video of children speaking about their experiences with online bullying, abuse and more.

Committee chair Dick Durbin bashed the platforms for failing to protect children, and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham told Zuckerberg that he had "blood on his hands" from a "product that's killing people." Families also attended the hearing, some holding signs sharing their children's stories.

A parent holds a sign at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online exploitation. / Credit: CBS News

When Zuckerberg was asked by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley if he would like to apologize to victims harmed by his product, the Meta CEO addressed families in attendance directly.

"I'm sorry for everything you have all been through," Zuckerberg said. "No one should go through the things that your families have suffered and this is why we invest so much and we are going to continue doing industry-wide efforts to make sure no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer."

Zuckerberg and other social media CEOs touted their child safety procedures online. Meta has previously said that it has spent $5 billion on safety and security in 2023.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologizes to families who attended Senate hearing. / Credit: Getty

The CEOs also said they would work with lawmakers, parents, nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors. Zuckerberg declined to commit to Hawley's suggestion that he set up a victim's compensation fund.

A growing number of lawmakers are urging measures to curb the spread of child sexual abuse images online and to hold technology platforms better accountable to safeguard children. The Senate hearing is part of an effort to pass legislation after years of regulatory inaction by Congress.

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Semafor Signals

Insights from Semafor, Issue One, and TechCrunch

The News

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday grilled several Big Tech CEOs, including TikTok and X executives, on their platforms commitment to online safety for children and teens, but reserved their harshest criticisms for Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

During the nearly four hour-hearing, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) accused Zuckerberg of having blood on his hands in reference to teen suicides connected to Instagram use, and Sen. John Kennedy (R-La) told Zuckerberg that he is wandering around in the foothills of creepy in connection to Metas collection of users personal data to build its algorithm.

In a dramatic moment of the hearing, Zuckerberg stood up and directly apologized to the families of online child abuse victims, including relatives of teens who had died by suicide, who were present at the hearing.

Im sorry for everything you have all been through, he said. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered and this is why we invest so much and we are going to continue doing industry wide efforts to make sure no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer.

Zuckerbergs apology came after Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) pressed him on whether Meta had compensated the families of teens whose suicides have been linked to social media use  a phenomenon that researchers say is backed by evidence but needs more data before establishing a clear correlation.

Lawmakers are hoping that the testimony from Meta, Snapchat, Discord, X, and TikTok will facilitate the passage of several bills aimed at regulating online content that is potentially harmful to children or contributes to sexual exploitation. But experts agree that these bills are unlikely to pass in the few remaining months of this congressional session.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Lawmakers want Big Tech CEOs to publicly support their bills that are unlikely to pass soon

Sources: NBC News, Issue One, Politico

During the hearing, several lawmakers asked the social media executives for a yes or no response on whether they supported bills regulating childrens experience on social media, such as The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and The Stopping Harmful Image Exploitation and Limiting Distribution (SHIELD) Act. This line of questioning gets to the heart of this hearing, wrote NBC deputy tech editor Ben Goggin, with lawmakers hoping to publicly extract legislative support from Big Tech CEOs who are assembling an army of lobbyists in D.C. to slow many of these initiatives, Issue One reported. Even as Congress as long accused social media platforms of harming children, lawmakers are yet to agree on a solution, and observers are worried that there is very little room in an election-year schedule to get any of the bills to a floor vote, Politico reported.

TikTok's China links dragged back into spotlight

Sources: Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Semafor Deputy Washington Bureau Chief Morgan Chalfant

TikTok CEO Shou Chew got an icy reception Wednesday, appearing before Congress a little less than a year after he was grilled about TikTok  and China-based parent company ByteDances  link to the Chinese Communist Party. Lawmakers appeared less concerned about TikToks $2 billion investment into enhancing child protection and focused more on a Wall Street Journal report citing employees who said data is sometimes shared with ByteDance despite TikToks stand-alone U.S. arm dubbed Project Texas.

Meanwhile, in a separate House hearing Wednesday, FBI director Christopher Wray testified that ByteDance is effectively beholden to the Chinese government, who, he added, could control data collection on millions of users, manipulate the platforms algorithm for influence operations, or even control software on devices on which TikTok is installed, Semafors Morgan Chalfant reported.

Zuckerberg lays blame on Apple and Google who were absent from the hearing

Sources: Semafor Technology Editor Reed Albergotti, The Washington Post, TechCrunch

Apple and Google were notably missing from the hearing, meaning they didnt have to answer for [their] dominance in smartphone operating systems, Semafors Reed Albergotti reported. One academic told the Washington Post that Googles absence from the hearing was baffling considering YouTubes immense popularity with children and teens. During his testimony, Zuckerberg said that Apple and Google are ultimately responsible for verifying users ages and getting parental consent because they run the largest app markets. Meta wants to ensure that the playing field between it and its competitors remains level despite Zuckerbergs platforms having more than 3 billion daily users, TechCrunch wrote.
Given the risks, you might expect the ever-more apocalyptic warnings of World War Three, now almost daily trotted out by the politicians and the military, to be more obviously reflected in the behaviour of financial markets.

Even comparatively localised wars tend to be deeply damaging to the economies involved, though there are exceptions which Ill come to.

But world wars are on another scale entirely  hugely destructive events which take decades to recover from. If fought in the modern age, with its lethal nuclear arsenals, it might even prove existential.

Yet markets appear entirely blind to any such threat. A deep insouciance hangs over their every uptick. Donald Trumps warnings of World War Three are dismissed as little more than cynical electioneering; growing geopolitical instability is all Joe Bidens fault and the only salvation is me, he keeps unconvincingly saying.

Similarly with the siren calls of the military for urgent increases in defence spending. What do you expect from armed forces starved close to death, with the so-called peace dividend diverted into burgeoning welfare budgets? They sense their moment, and are understandably going for it.

Whether the world is objectively any more dangerous today than it was two years ago when Vladimir Putin first invaded Ukraine is an interesting question. Markets plainly think not.

Donald Trumps warnings of World War Three have been dismissed as little more than cynical electioneering - David Becker/Getty Images North America

What Ukraine has demonstrated is that it is possible to have localised wars, even when they involve nuclear superpowers, without resorting to the mutually assured destruction of firing off a nuclear missile.

And be in no doubt that the West is in effect already at war with Russia. One of the reasons the UK military is demanding more defence spending is that so much weaponry has been diverted to the defence of Ukraine that it has left Britain short of even basic needs.

But if nuclear weapons have failed to act as a deterrent to military action by an insecure authoritarian regime, they probably have been reasonably effective in limiting the scale of the aggression.

Horrific though the consequences are for besieged Ukrainians, markets take comfort from the way events have played out. Putin is considered very unlikely to also take a tilt at the Nato-guaranteed Baltics, and despite the cost of living crisis, the wider economic impact has been smaller than feared.

Yet the politicians are taking no chances and almost everywhere rearmament has become a top priority. The trouble is that countries dont tend to rearm unless they think there is at least some chance they might have to use those weapons. Nearly all wars begin with rearmament.

Adding further to the sense of global insecurity over the last week is the repudiation by North Koreas Kim Jong Un of his peaceful reunification policy, a move which rightly or wrongly is seen as preparing the country for renewed war with the South and other regional enemies.

In any case, there is an almost total disconnect between market and political narratives when it comes to todays mounting geopolitical tensions.

As far as I can tell, there is no attempt whatsoever by investors to discount what the politicians increasingly frame as a clear and present danger, even by way of what is known as tail risk.

Oil and gas prices have barely moved in response to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, despite the regions key position as a global producer.

This might seem faintly reassuring. If Mr Market thinks there is nothing to worry about, then perhaps there isnt. Unfortunately, it doesnt mean that markets are right.

Historically, investors have collectively tended to be particularly bad at predicting wars, if only because all wars are economically irrational, and it is therefore assumed that this will act as a natural deterrent to waging them.

In a highly influential book, The Great Illusion, published a few years before the outbreak of the First World War, the British journalist Norman Angell argued compellingly that the presiding age of global trade and international integration had made the economic costs of war so great that nobody could possibly hope to gain by starting one  the great illusion being that nations could still benefit from conquest.

Poor Mr Angell. He has been unfairly represented ever since as arguing that war had become impossible because economic interdependence was a guarantor of good behaviour by one state to another. In fact, his argument was only that trade made war less likely.

In the event, it made no difference at all, yet markets continued to believe in the logic of Angells argument even beyond the point of mobilisation. It wasnt until borders started to close, sparking a chain reaction of defaults and a consequent collapse in the banking system, that investors fully appreciated the peril they were in.

Angells way of thinking nonetheless continues to instruct current analysis. For instance, Germany allowed itself to become dependent on Russian gas not just because it was cheap, plentiful and convenient, but because by economically embracing the Russian bear it hoped to tame it. Again, it made no difference.

There is little doubt that as an economy the US benefitted significantly from the Second World War - Joe Rosenthal/AP

Similarly with China, whose integration into the global economy has proved worthless as a guarantor of friendly relations. As tensions rise, Western economies are scrambling to disengage from complex international supply chains and make themselves more self-reliant.

Investors do admittedly wholly take on board the likely stagflationary consequences of this process of de-risking; its going to make goods and services more expensive and thereby crimp consumption.

Even so, markets dont collectively seem to have thought through the wider implications. Why bother with self-sufficiency unless you think war, or at least some kind of effective blockade, might be coming down the line at you?

Few would ever welcome any war, but just occasionally military conflict does have positive economic consequences, despite the destruction it inevitably visits.

For instance, there is little doubt that, as an economy, the US benefitted significantly from the Second World War, finally ridding itself of the scourge of the Great Depression and establishing the country as the worlds dominant superpower and technological innovator.

Angell is therefore not entirely right to argue that nobody profits from war. The key difference here, however, is that the US was not the aggressor; its ascendancy was a byproduct of Japanese and German overreach.

Its also true that all Western economies, including Germany, grew much richer on the rebirth that eventually occurred after the war had ended.

But try telling that to the afflicted during the mayhem of the immediate conflict, when the idea that in the long run everything will be fine again would be regarded as positively insulting.

There is of course a sense in which there is no point in worrying about possible but not yet baked-in events. In a third world war, all bets would be off the table, and finance would change beyond recognition. Any such catastrophe cannot be priced in.

The current complacency is nonetheless an oddity which seems to stand an ever-higher chance of breaking asunder on the rocks of harsh realities.

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Bashir resigned from the BBC in 2021, the same year an independent inquiry concluded that he had been 'devious' and 'dishonest' - NBC Newswire/NBCUNIVERSAL

Martin Bashir may have destroyed evidence relating to his Panorama interview with the late Princess of Wales, the BBC admitted.

The corporation said the disgraced reporter could have either destroyed or removed documentation when he left to join ITV four years after the notorious broadcast in 1995.

By that time, allegations of duplicity by Mr Bashir had already emerged about the way he gained the Princesss trust in order to secure the interview. Claims were made that he ordered the forging of bank statements to make it look as if members of her staff were being paid by the media.

In 2014, a Freedom of Information request was made to the BBC to release all documentation relating to the 1995 Panorama interview.

The applicant complained to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) about the BBCs response and the ICO subsequently published a decision notice. The 2015 notice stated that the corporation had pleaded that it could not provide more documentation than it already had, partly because of Mr Bashirs actions.

Some of the documentation may have belonged to and been destroyed or removed by Martin Bashir when he left the BBC, only a year or two after the event, the report said.

Whilst not ideal, this may realistically be the case.

The Panorama interview with the Princess of Wales in 1995 propelled Martin Bashir into stardom - FD/NEWSPIX INTERNATIONAL

The ICO report stated that, in total, the BBC could only provide 10 documents in answer to an identical information request in 2006.

The fact that the Panorama interview was an exclusive was also given as a reason for such a slender paper trail.

Paperwork would have been kept to a minimum, certainly before transmission, it reports a BBC information manager as arguing.

Much of the communication would have been done deliberately by telephone or meeting, to avoid the need for documented records.

The BBC also claimed that only a very small group had been involved in the making of the programme, and that the majority had since left, limiting the potential availability of records.

The Diana interview propelled the previously little-known reporter into stardom and, after a stint at rival ITV, he went on to enjoy a lucrative career in the United States.

Bashir has always maintained that the forged documents played no role in securing the interview with the late Princess, and has cited a handwritten note by her that appears to support this contention.

Fear, paranoia and isolation

However, in 2021 the then Duke of Cambridge made an excoriating attack on the reporters conduct, saying his interview had contributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolation in the final years of her life.

When the BBC released material under a Freedom of Information request by Andy Webb, a documentary-maker, in October 2021 it admitted it was not releasing everything because Mr Bashir was suffering from illness.

In a letter to Mr Webb and others requesting relevant documents the corporation said that it could not release materials which relate to Martins actions from that time.

The BBC stated: Having carried out the legitimate interest impact assessment that is required when considering competing rights of freedom of information and the privacy and data protection rights of individuals, and our duty of care to Martin, we have concluded that these cannot presently be released.

Mr Bashir returned to the BBC in 2016 as religious affairs correspondent, but he resigned in 2021, the same year an independent inquiry by Lord Dyson concluded that he had been unreliable, devious and dishonest.

A friend of Mr Bashir told The Telegraph that the reporter said he did not destroy any documents and indeed provided the Dyson inquiry with everything in his possession.

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President Joe Biden hinted on Tuesday that he has made a decision regarding the response to the recent drone attack in Jordan, which resulted in the deaths of three American service members.

The attack has been attributed to Iran-backed militia groups by his administration. Biden expressed his desire to avoid escalating the conflict in the Middle East, but refrained from providing further details.

Biden Urges No 'Wider War' in Middle East

US officials are currently working to identify the specific Iran-backed group responsible for the recent attack on American troops. This attack marks the first instance of American casualties in a series of assaults against US forces in the region, following the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7th.

Biden intends to be present at the dignified transfer to commemorate the return of the fallen troops to American soil on Friday. He confirmed his decision when questioned by members of the press, expressing his goal of avoiding any further escalation.

According to a US official, the Pentagon is currently evaluating various options in order to address the recent attack in Jordan. During a press briefing on Air Force One, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby declined to provide advance details on the US response, but hinted that it would be implemented in stages.

In a recent statement, the Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah declared the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces. The group aims to prevent any potential embarrassment to the Iraqi government.

The recent series of attacks on US forces by Iraqi militias has put the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in a difficult position. Sudani came to power with the support of Iranian-allied factions, but has also made efforts to maintain a positive relationship with Washington.

Sudani has strongly denounced the attacks on US troops in Iraq as part of an international effort to combat the Islamic State. Iraqi and US officials initiated discussions on Saturday with the goal of gradually reducing the commission's presence, AP News reported.

Read Also: NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg in Washington To Join American Leaders in Discussing Western Support for Ukraine

US-Middle East Relationship

Iran has long been a prominent adversary of the United States in the Middle East. The hardline Islamic leadership in Tehran seized American hostages in 1979 and provided militants in Iraq with advanced roadside bombs during the mid-2000s, resulting in the deaths and injuries of numerous US troops.

In January 2020, Former President Donald Trump ordered a drone strike that resulted in the death of Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the leader of Iran's Quds Force, which is a part of the paramilitary Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran responded by launching a ballistic missile strike on al-Asad air base in western Iraq, resulting in over 100 US troops sustaining traumatic brain injuries.

The tensions reached a critical point on Sunday as the Biden administration stated its belief that the IRGC provided weapons and training to the militias responsible for the attack on Tower 22, resulting in the tragic loss of three soldiers and the injury of over 40 others.

The deadly attack occurred amidst a series of incidents involving US troops in recent months. From October onwards, there has been a significant increase in the number of attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and on bases housing US troops in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan, carried out by militant groups across the region.

The militants argue that their missile, rocket, and drone strikes are a direct response to Israel's invasion of Gaza, which occurred after Hamas launched an attack on October 7, as per USA Today.

Related Article: Secretary of Defense Assures 'Necessary Actions' after U.S. Troop's Deaths
LEESBURG, Va. (DC News Now)  A Maryland couple was charged in an organized retail theft investigation that stemmed from a shoplifting incident that happened at an Ulta last year.

On Oct. 27, 2023, Leesburg Police Department officers responded to a shoplifting report at an Ulta located at 1606 Village Market Boulevard.

One person displaced by house fire in Prince Georges County

An Ulta representative said the couple came into the store shortly after 3 p.m. and stole merchandise valued at more than $6,400.

Through an investigation, the shoplifters were identified as Roxana Dumitru, 29, and Ionut-Robert Ionescu, 30, both of Laurel, Md.

It was estimated that they are also responsible for stealing more than $158,000 in merchandise from multiple retail stores located in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.

Dumitru was arrested on Jan. 26 in Prince Georges County, Md. and Ionescu was arrested on Jan. 27 in Orange County, Calif. The couple was charged with grand larceny and larceny with the intent to sell.

Both charges are felonies, and they are awaiting extradition back to Virginia.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A man has been arrested after a multi-county chase early Wednesday morning, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP).

Authorities say that 27-year-old Christian Mathaudu, of Maryland, was clocked driving 91 miles per hour on a county road in Salisbury around 1:40 a.m. on Wednesday, January 31.

Photos: Massive fire engulfs Jeep in Huntersville

According to officials, Mathaudu then led law enforcement on a chase that ended on Interstate 85 near Sam Wilson Road in the western part of Mecklenburg County and outside of Charlotte city limits. No one was hurt.

The truck Mathaudu drove was stolen; however, it is unclear where the truck was taken from, officials say. Mathaudu is being held in the Rowan County Jail on a $100,000 secured bond and is charged with the following:

Possession of Stolen Vehicle

Injury to Personal Property

Felony Flee to Elude

Authorities say Mathaudu is also facing other charges not listed. He is expected in court on Friday, February 2.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
A Pennsylvania man beheaded his 68-year-old father, who was an employee of the federal government. He then displayed the severed head in a politically filled YouTube video that criticized the Biden administration.

After decapitating his father Michael at their Middleton Township, Pennsylvania, residence valued at $390,000. During his tirade, Justin Mohn, 32, displayed the severed head while condemning the federal government for "enlightened mobs" and migrants, whom he claims are causing damage to the United States.

YouTuber, Author Justin Mohn Beheads Father

Six hours after its initial upload, the abhorrent fourteen-minute video still aired on YouTube, featuring Mohn holding his father's head atop a bloodied plastic bag.

Mohn continued by stating that he was offering a $1 million bounty to anyone who could kill former Attorney General Bill Barr, FBI Director Christopher Wray, or Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Tuesday evening after 9:00 p.m. ET, Mohn was arrested, according to Levitttownnow, two hours from his residence in Fort Indiana Gap, Pennsylvania. They affirmed that the distressing YouTube video was associated with the same investigation as the victim's beheading.

A Pennsylvania man beheaded his 68-year-old father, who was an employee of the federal government. He then displayed the severed head in a politically filled YouTube video that criticized the Biden administration.

After decapitating his father Michael at their Middleton Township, Pennsylvania, residence valued at $390,000. During his tirade, Justin Mohn, 32, displayed the severed head while condemning the federal government for "enlightened mobs" and migrants, whom he claims are causing damage to the United States.

Six hours after its initial upload, the abhorrent fourteen-minute video still aired on YouTube, featuring Mohn holding his father's head atop a bloodied plastic bag.Mohn continued by stating that he was offering a $1 million bounty to anyone who could kill former Attorney General Bill Barr, FBI Director Christopher Wray, or Attorney General Merrick Garland.

In the video, which was reviewed and saved by Heavy before it was taken down, Justin Mohn expressed his strong opinions about the federal government, illegal immigration, and President Joe Biden. He emphasized his personal connection by stating, "This is the head of Mike Mohn, a federal employee of over 20 years and my father. He is now in hell for eternity as a traitor to his country."

Mohn's name appears often on the YouTube page. Furthermore, according to law enforcement sources, it was revealed that a video uploaded on YouTube by an individual named Justin Mohn was connected to the tragic incident. According to the site, the video showed a man holding up what seemed to be the decapitated head of his father.

The video was on a YouTube page with 115 subscribers. The page remained active on January 30, although the video had been taken down.

In the extensive video, Mohn showcased his father's head and mentioned that the man held a position in the government. He then remarked, "It is said those who commit treason and betray others occupy the lowest pits of hell for all time. The federal government of America has declared war on America's citizens and the American states. America is rotting from the inside out as far left woke mobs rampage our once-prosperous cities turning them into lawless zones."

Mohn passionately expressed concerns about the current state of taxes, emphasizing that the economy is on the brink of collapse and many Americans are finding it increasingly difficult to achieve the American dream.

He then expressed concern about a group of individuals crossing the border without authorization and referred to the current administration in a critical manner. Mohn passionately expressed his concerns about the Biden administration's plans to deploy American troops to Ukraine and face the harsh conditions of a Russian winter.

Read Also: New York Brothers Had Arsenal, Homemade Explosives in Apartment, Prosecutors Say

Who is Justin Mohn?

Tuesday evening after 9:00 p.m. ET, Mohn was arrested, according to Levitttownnow, two hours from his residence in Fort Indiana Gap, Pennsylvania. They affirmed that the distressing YouTube video was associated with the same investigation as the victim's beheading.

Authorities were alerted to the residence shortly after 7pm on Monday, where they discovered a decapitated body in the bathroom. Per Daily Mail, the residence includes Mohn's father, mother Denice, who is 63 years old, his brother Zachary, who is 35, and his sister Stephanie, who is 38.

According to the Amazon.com page bio, Justin Mohn is a prolific author with 7 books under his belt. He is also a talented musician, having released 3 albums and one single. The depth of his life story is truly remarkable, and it is difficult to capture the full essence of his journey. However, a glimpse into his intricate and diverse experiences can be found within his art. He is driven by a strong desire to make a positive impact on the world.

The author's works available on Amazon encompass a variety of titles, such as'"Poems I Wrote While Stoned: A Collection Of Poems.' In addition to his other literary works, he authored a Kindle book titled 'The Punishing.'

Related Article: Sarah Sweeney's Death: Missouri Firefighter's Claim Contradicts Autopsy; Incident Happened Years After Ex-Lover Died in Same Residence
The United States has reiterated its desire to retaliate to a drone strike in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers, and Iran has again stated its willingness to defend itself against any military actions that may come.

The attack, which occurred on Sunday at U.S. military outpost Tower 22, was allegedly carried out by a group calling itself Islamic Resistance in Iraq. United States officials believe the group is backed by Iran, which denies any connection to the group.

Killed in the attack were Spc. Kennedy Sanders, Sgt. William Jerome Rivers and Spc. Breonna Moffet. All served in the U.S. Army Reserve and based out of Georgia. Tower 22, located in the northeast corner of Jordan, has been essential to the support of U.S. military assets operating in Syria.

What Will The American Response Be?

President Joe Biden has been weighing options for response to the drone attack and has reportedly decided on the next course of action.

However, many believe any response, combined with U.S. attacks in western Yemen in response to Houthi threats to maritime targets and the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza and the West Bank, will threaten to broaden violence in the region.

Iranian ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani had this to say regarding any potential retaliation against Iran, according to Associated Press.

"The Islamic Republic would decisively respond to any attack on the country, its interests and nationals under any pretexts," IRNA quoted Iravani as saying. He went on to describe any possible Iranian retaliation as a "strong response," without elaborating.

Iravani also denied Iran and the U.S. had engaged in any dialogue since the attacks, despite reports from Al Jazeera stating that this had occurred.

"Such messages have not been exchanged," Iravani said. "Sometimes, our enemies raise the threat and nowadays we hear some threats in between words by American officials," Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Hossein Salami. "We tell them that you have experienced us and we know each other. We do not leave any threat without an answer."

"We are not after war, but we have no fear of war," he added.
The Houston Chronicle, one of the largest newspapers in the United States, was founded in 1901 and was acquired by Hearst in 1987.

In addition to delivering in-depth coverage of local issues, the Chronicle is committed to covering state, national and international news. The newspaper operates a news bureau in Washington, D.C., that provides coverage of issues of special interest to residents of Houston and Texas.
Russian forces have already used North Korean shells at the front in Ukraine, military intelligence (HUR) spokesperson Andrii Yusov told Ukrinform on Jan. 31.

This comes as an official confirmation of what has been suspected for some time. North Korea has reportedly provided Moscow with at least 1 million shells, as well as short-range ballistic missiles and other weaponry.

"Yes, we can confirm that if we are talking about artillery rounds, such cooperation between the two regimes is being documented. North Korea has already delivered a significant part of artillery rounds to Russia," Yusov told Ukrinform.

"Some of them have already been used and are being used in the war against Ukraine."

Earlier in January, Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin reported the first evidence that Russia also used North Korean missiles in attacks against Ukraine.

"The results of preliminary scientific and technical examination confirm that the missile launched against central Kharkiv on Jan. 2 is a short-range missile produced in North Korea," Kostin said.

The U.S. and nearly 50 countries condemned the transfer and the reported use of North Korean missiles by Russia, calling for an immediate end to the delivery of weapons from Pyongyang to Moscow.

South Korea warned on Jan. 11 that its northern neighbor may also sell Russia new types of tactical guided missiles as military cooperation between the two countries strengthens.

Read also: Russias use of North Korean ballistic missiles not a sign of Moscows depleted domestic capacity

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The number of people injured in a missile attack on the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast has risen to eight, and the police have published footage of the first few minutes after the attack.

Source: National Police in Donetsk Oblast

Quote: "On 30 January, the enemy struck the city twice. Early reports indicate that Russian troops attacked the city with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles and Iskander-M ballistic missiles. Eight civilians were injured in the attack. The oldest wounded person is 64 and the youngest is 27."

Details: Police reported that paramedics provided first aid to the people at the sites of the attack and took them to hospital. Houses, a business and railway infrastructure were damaged.

Background:

At 22:30 on 30 January, Russian forces fired missiles on Pokrovsk. They are likely to have been S-300 anti-aircraft missiles and Iskander-M ballistic missiles.

It was reported earlier that six people had been injured.

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Both teams competing to develop a new homeland missile defense interceptor for the Missile Defense Agency have entered the critical design phase with Northrop Grumman announcing it had passed its preliminary design review, according to Jan. 31 statement.

The teams competing to replace the Ground Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptors with a Next-Generation Interceptor, or NGI, have been working on staggered schedules. The Lockheed Martin and Aerojet Rocketdyne team completed its PDR at the end of September 2023.

Northrop and its Raytheon partner passed through the same gauntlet on Jan. 26, Lisa Brown, who is in charge of the companys NGI program, told Defense News in a Jan. 30 interview.

The teams are now one year ahead of the original contract date for PDR completion and Brown said its PDR wrapped up successfully one month ahead of an established accelerated plan.

Critical Design Review is now expected to take roughly a year. Brown said the team is expecting to reach that milestone in the spring of 2025 and is looking for ways to accelerate the schedule.

Because the program has completed milestones earlier than originally planned and due to an emphasis on digital design methods, both teams remain hopeful they can deliver an interceptor that could make it into underground silos by fiscal 2027, a year faster than the Missile Defense Agency is projecting.

There are 44 GBIs in the ground with the majority in silos at Fort Greely, Alaska, and the rest at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The current interceptors arent equipped to counter a missile that could contain multiple kill vehicles or decoys that make the defeat process more complicated, defense officials have said.

NGI is the result of the Pentagon canceling in August 2019 its Redesigned Kill Vehicle program  which would have upgraded the GBI to be able to pursue more complex threats. That program struggled with insurmountable technical issues resulting in delayed schedules and cost increases. Raytheon, as a subcontractor for Boeing, was the developer for the RKV program.

Roughly eight months after the cancellation of the RKV program, MDA launched the new interceptor push.

The companies are designing the new interceptor using digital methods meant to speed up the design process. As a result, Northrops engineers were able to build hardware earlier and begin testing sooner.

In my 30 years at the company, I would say this is probably the most mature PDR level design Ive ever seen. Frankly, a lot of the components are already at or past the CDR level, Brown said in the Jan. 30 interview.

As part of the PDR process, Northrop held a science fair where attendees could cycle through a large conference room and look at hardware and see actual models running or waveforms being generated, Brown described. This way they could get a good understanding, hands-on, of a lot of the technology that we employ in the interceptor, she said. The company showed its working NGI digital twin.

Northrop even used virtual reality to evaluate how a maintainer might access certain parts of the interceptor with a wrench to ensure good ergonomics and optimal access for repairs and maintenance, Brown added.

We want to demonstrate to MDA that we are a low-risk approach, Brown said.

Northrop is also in the midst of static fire testing its rocket motors. The stage three rocket motor arrived at MDA testing facilities in December and its stage one and two motors should complete static fire testing by the end of the first quarter this year, Brown said.
SAN DIEGO  A Mission Vista High School teacher has been chosen to take part in an exclusive NASA research program, the Vista Unified School District announced.

David Forester, an astronomy, biology and chemistry teacher at Mission Vista High School, has been chosen as one of just eight teachers nationwide to take part in the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP), a year-long astronomy research project.

NASA streams first-ever high-definition video from deep space

Anyone in the science and astronomy education space can apply to the program; most are classroom teachers from middle or high school, or the community college level, Forester said in the announcement. I love multi-disciplinary sciences. Not just the elements and how they interact, but how you tie [the different science fields] all together in complex and interesting ways  where they all blend together in real-world scenarios of what is really going on.

He is representing California as the only winner chosen from this state.

NASAs Mars helicopter damaged, Ingenuity mission ends

In January, the 2024 NITARP project began at the winter meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in New Orleans where the teachers met each another and learned their research topics.

Forester said he plans to share this experience through his astronomy class and the wide variety of extra science electives that Mission Vista offers. Ill take what I learn about using the archives and software to sift through data and show my students how to do it, he said.

The NITARP winners were split into two teams of four with each group having a mentor to help guide their research.

The teachers were able to choose two students to work on the project alongside them and their team. They will attend the online meetings and summer intensive, and help present the results at the AAS meeting in January 2025 in Washington, DC.

Mysterious object found in Milky Way: Black hole or neutron star?

I remember David coming to share the good news about being selected for this project in November, and we were all ecstatic for him, says Mission Vista High School Principal Jeremy Walden. His passion for science, and astronomy in particular, is clear to anyone who has seen him teach, and he works hard to instill that same enthusiasm in his students. David, like so many of the teachers at Mission Vista, embodies what it truly means to be a lifelong learner, and I know that students pick up on that.

For the NITARP project, Forester and his team will be using data from the IPAC archives that have already been pulled down from space satellites. They will learn how to use different software and tools to analyze the data.

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We want to look at Gaia data about active galactic nuclei (AGNs) that have unusual results you wouldnt expect, investigate why were getting the unusual readings, and then hopefully answer a question we dont have fully answered yet, he explained.

The NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP) gives teachers the opportunity to work with professional astronomers for a year-long original research project using NASAs archives of astronomical data from space and ground-based telescopes.

The team will conduct most of its research remotely except for a three to four day visit to Caltech in Pasadena, California, to meet with the team in-person and work on the data. Participants then present the results of their research at the AAS winter conference.

Visit the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program website for more information and to apply for the program.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Renoir LeMarcus Knox gets into his truck Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in the Hillcrest neighborhood in Corpus Christi. The neighborhood is mostly made of empty lots. This is what the social injustice of petroleum looks like, he said. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Construction of the Golden Pass LNG Terminal in June 2023, in Sabine Pass. The photo was taken from the Louisiana side of the Sabine River. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Construction on the Golden Pass LNG Terminal in Sabine Pass. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer A large liquified natural gas transport ship sits docked in the Calcasieu River in June near Cameron, La. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Environmental protestors gather across the street from the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston during the CERAweek energy conference in March 2023. The Climate Criminals parade and protest was hosted by the Permian Gulf Coast Coalition and Save Texas campaign to bring attention to the negative impacts of fossil fuel pollution on Texas and Louisiana communities. Leanora Benkato/Contributor

This column was corrected at 5 p.m. on Feb, 1 to show the government has approved 13 LNG projects, not the Biden administration.

Texans rely on revenues from fossil fuels to keep the state and local governments operating, so President Joe Bidens pause in approving new liquefied natural gas export facilities is a disappointment to many. But consumers should rejoice.

The oil and gas industrys fury was swift and ferocious when the Biden administration announced it would review how it evaluates the climate and economic impact of LNG projects. The American Petroleum Institute cried wolf so loudly youd think the president was ripping natural gas companies limb from limb.

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The administrations decision is going to push investment away from the United States and into other countries, Mike Sommers, APIs CEO, told CNBC. There is as much natural gas awaiting approval at the Department of Energy as the country of India uses on a yearly basis. Thats how much natural gas is being blocked at the Department of Energy.

Sommers and his allies in U.S. Chamber of Commerce make a muddied pitch. They brag about the United States becoming the worlds largest oil producer and largest LNG exporter since Biden came into office. But in the same breath, they complain he is killing the U.S. oil and gas industry.

The administration has already approved 13 new LNG facilities that will double LNG exports from current levels in the next three years, the Energy Department explained. Once completed, the U.S. will export 50% more LNG than any other nation.

This increased capacity has and will continue to support our European, Asian and other allies, the announcement said. Just as it has since 2022 when U.S. LNG played a critical role in helping Europe backfill its lost gas supplies from Russia and reduce its energy.

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The government last updated guidelines used to evaluate the economic and environmental impact of natural gas exports in 1984, when President Ronald Reagan was denying climate change. A pause is necessary to evaluate the impact of expanded LNG exports on global warming.

The oil and gas industry, though, sees a short-circuiting of its LNG expansion plans, which are critical as oil consumption drops. Shell, BP and Exxon Mobil have all touted natural gas as a cleaner fuel to generate electricity. Politicians in petrostates, like Texas, see a threat to their tax base.

API argues LNG enables nations without natural gas to reduce their dependence on coal and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Asia was the primary market for U.S. gas until Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, European countries have bought U.S. gas to reduce their dependence on Moscow.

Critics argue the benefits of switching from coal to gas are exaggerated. Gas burns cleaner than coal, but environmentalists say the delivery network leaks so much that it doesnt make a difference.

Methane, the principle component of natural gas, is responsible for 30% of global warming and is 28 times worse for the climate than carbon dioxide over 100 years, scientists report. Sommers, the Texas Railroad Commission and other industry lobbyists have also fought tooth and nail against regulations to limit methane leaks.

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It takes an enormous amount of energy  and coughs up vast amounts of the carbon pollution driving the climate crisis  to extract, transport and process LNG, the Natural Resources Defense Council explained. Liquefaction terminals cover hundreds of acres, require miles of pipeline and inflict disproportionate hazard and harm upon low-income communities and people of color.

Biden promised hard-hit communities he would reduce the environmental impacts on their families. His administration also committed to weaning the United States off fossil fuels at last years COP28 climate conference.

The bigger challenge is what will happen to parts of the country that depend on oil and gas for their economy. Texas and local governments relied on the industry for more than $750 million in tax revenues in 2021, research from the Resources For the Future and the University of Michigan shows.

If you wonder why Texas politicians deny climate change, its because they dont want to tackle the economic challenges of phasing out greenhouse gas emissions. Oil and gas companies also dont want to switch to clean energy because the rate of return is only 5% to 10%, rather than the 20% to 50% they make on fossil fuels, Dan Pickering, the chief investment officer at Pickering Energy Partners, told NPR.

Stopping additional natural gas exports would benefit consumers, though. Keeping more gas at home could save U.S. consumers $75 billion a year, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis calculated.

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A Mississippi man accused of destroying a statue of a pagan idol at Iowas state Capitol is now being charged with a hate crime.

The statue was brought to the Capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa under state rules allowing religious displays in the building during the holidays. The move drew strong criticism from state and national leaders, including Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Florida Gov. and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, both Republicans. On Dec. 14, the figure depicting the horned deity Baphomet was destroyed beyond repair, according to the group.

Michael Cassidy, a former congressional and legislative candidate from Mississippi, was charged the next day with fourth-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. He told the conservative website The Sentinel that my conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted.

Michael Cassidy stands accused of vandalizing a Satanic display in Iowa.

Now, Polk County prosecutors have charged Cassidy with a more serious offense, the Des Moines Register reported. A document made public Tuesday charged him with felony third-degree criminal mischief. It alleges the act was committed in violation of individual rights under Iowas hate crime statute.

Evidence shows the defendant made statements to law enforcement and the public indicating he destroyed the property because of the victims religion, Lynn Hicks, a spokesman for the Polk County Attorneys Office, said in a statement.

Cassidys attorney, Sara Pasquale, declined to comment on the new charge. In previous court filings, she has accused the Satanic Temple of making filings that are only meant to evoke strong emotions and incite others.

A man recites Christian prayers at a damaged Satanic display at the Iowa state Capitol on Friday in Des Moines, Iowa. The display, which has prompted outrage by some people who say its inappropriate at any time but especially during the Christmas holidays, was damaged Thursday.

Cassidy is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 15. He has raised more than $84,000 for his defense from nearly 2,000 supporters, according to the fundraising site GiveSendGo.

Founded in 2013, the Salem, Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple says it doesnt believe in Satan but describes itself as a non-theistic religious organization that advocates for secularism. It is separate from the Church of Satan, which was founded in the 1960s.
FILE - Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo., second right, gestures during a Capitol Hill news conference Wednesday, April 4, 2001 to discuss the budget. From left are, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., Sen. James Jeffords, R-Vt., Carnahan and Sen. John Breaux, D-La. Carnahan, who became the first female senator to represent Missouri after she was appointed to replace her husband following his death, died Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. She was 90. (AP Photo/Stephen J. Boitano, File)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  Missouri residents on Wednesday mourned the death of former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan, who became the state's first female U.S. senator when she was appointed to replace her husband following his death.

The Missouri state House held a moment of silence to mark Carnahan's Tuesday death at age 90. Her family did not specify the cause of death but said Carnahan died after a brief illness at a hospice facility in suburban St. Louis.

Carnahan, a Democrat, was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2001 after the posthumous election of her husband, Gov. Mel Carnahan, and she served until 2002.

President Joe Biden in a statement said he's proud to have called her a "dear friend.

In the face of unspeakable loss, she found the courage to step up into work shed never imagined, putting the people and values she believed in above her personal comfort in order to serve our nation, Biden said.

Carnahans public memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 10 at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis.

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Matthew Patterson in a statement described Jean Carnahan as a fierce and brilliant public servant and a trailblazer.

Former Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill said she survived tragedy with grit and grace.

I know her family will miss her terribly, along with all of us lucky enough to be her friend," McCaskill said in a statement.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  A faction of the Missouri Senate ended a roughly 16-hour filibuster on Tuesday that was meant to pressure their fellow Republicans into fast-tracking legislation that would make it harder for voters to amend the state constitution.

The Freedom Caucus push comes as abortion-rights supporters are trying to get a measure on the November ballot that would guarantee the right to abortion in the state constitution.

Missouri Republicans have been trying for years to make it harder to amend the constitution. But pressure increased when the campaign to restore abortion rights announced plans to put the issue to a public vote this November.

State Sen. Bill Eigel, a member of the Freedom Caucus, said the hope is for Republican Gov. Mike Parson to put a measure on voter-referred constitutional amendments on the August primary ballot. Then, the higher approval threshold could be in place before the general election.

The abortion question in front of us is the immediate threat. Without question, Eigel said. But I think this has been building for a few years.

Attempts to keep measures that would protect abortion access off the ballot in Missouri are akin to those in some other Republican-led states to target the ballot initiative process, a form of direct democracy available to voters in only about half the states.

Ohio abortion rights advocates have said that last years statewide vote to enshrine abortion rights in their states constitution was as much about abortion as it was a referendum on democracy itself. They said Republicans tried to obstruct the democratic process before the vote and attempted to ignore the will of voters after the amendment passed.

Ohio Republicans called a special election in August in an attempt to raise the threshold for passing future constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 60%. But that effort was defeated at the polls and was widely seen as aiming to undermine the abortion amendment.

Missouri Freedom Caucus members spoke for hours Monday and Tuesday to a seemingly contradictory end: delaying unrelated work to pressure state Senate leaders to act more quickly on the top GOP priority.

The standoff ended Tuesday morning, with Freedom Caucus members allowing a confirmation vote on several gubernatorial appointees they had been blocking.

Eigel said in exchange, a state Senate committee minutes later voted out a Freedom Caucus-endorsed measure that would raise the bar for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

Currently, Missouri voters can enact constitutional amendments by a majority vote. In addition to that requirement, state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Colemans proposal would require the approval of a majority of votes cast in a majority of the states 163 state House districts, including more conservative rural ones.

If passed by the Legislature, Colemans measure would still need voter approval.

Senate leaders said the disruptions by the Freedom Caucus only delayed action on the very policies those members support.

Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden on Tuesday tweeted that nothing has changed in any way relative to voter-referred constitutional amendments. But he said because of the infighting, other top priorities like education reform, tort reform, and Missouris crackdown on illegal immigration are now behind schedule.

It has to be noted that we are in the exact same place that we would have been had certain members of the Senate not chosen to hijack business for the past two weeks, Rowden said.

Speaking to hundreds of allies who gathered in the Capitol halls to show their support, Freedom Caucus members lauded the end of the filibuster as a win.

Meanwhile, those who want to keep the current system rallied a floor below in the Capitol Rotunda.

Our initiative petition process has been a sacred constitution right for Missourians across the political spectrum for more than a century, Missouri Voter Protection Coalition Director Denise Lieberman said to a crowd of more than 100. It is how we make our voices heard.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Missouri Supreme Court has issued an opinion on a racial discrimination and hostile work environment lawsuit at Kansas Citys now-closed Harley-Davidson plant.

But the case isnt over yet.

Raytown father mourning after 9-year-old daughter killed in weekend crash

Just before the Harley-Davidson plant closed in 2019, court documents allege there were incidents of violence toward Black workers.

With swastikas and the N word, multiple nooses hung throughout the plant, attorney Nimrod Chapel Jr. said last October, those might as well be billboards for the plant. Everyone in there was subjected to that.

The lawsuit named both Harley-Davidson and Syncreon, a contractor brought in by the motorcycle manufacturer to help with production.

Court documents say in 2017, a noose was found in the womens restroom. Then in 2018, a swastika was also on the womens bathroom wall, with a black doll hanging by a noose.

Mom charged in death of boy who fell from downtown Kansas City apartment window

Plaintiffs allege that neither Harley nor Syncreon conducted an investigation in the two incidents.

Of the 18 former workers who were involved in the lawsuit, the Platte County Circuit Court dismissed the claims for 11 employees, which sent the case to the states highest court.

The two companies argued the 11 employees didnt actually witness any of the racial incidents.

The 11 appellants have failed to please anything they have personally experienced, Timothy Ertz, lawyer for Syncreon, previously told the Missouri Supreme Court.  Nowhere did they say, I witnessed this. I experienced this. I heard about this. There is none of that.

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But this week the Missouri Supreme Court unanimously ruled the circuit court should not have dismissed the claims.

The Missouri Supreme Court sent the case back to the circuit court for further proceedings.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Three teens have been charged in connection with a recent East Nashville crime spree.

Metro police said the list of incidents is as follows:

Monday, Jan, 29 at the intersection of Chapel & Eastland avenues at 7:10 p.m. (attempted robbery)

Monday, Jan. 29 in the parking lot of Lipstick Lounge, 1400 Woodland Street, at 9:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 29 in the 1600 block of Forrest Avenue at 9:40 p.m. (carjacking)

Wednesday, Jan. 24 outside the post office, 1109 Woodland Street, at 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 24 in the 700 block of N. 2nd Street at 8:45 p.m. (carjacking).

120K fentanyl pills, 28 pounds of meth found after I-24 traffic stop

Police said in regard to the incident at the intersection of Chapel and Eastland avenues, a woman was walking her dog on Chapel Avenue when a gunman got out of an SUV and demanded her belongings at gunpoint. The woman told him she didnt have anything, so the gunman got back into the vehicle and left.

At around 9:30 p.m., a man and woman were reportedly standing in the back parking lot of Lipstick Lounge when an SUV pulled into the lot. The driver and passenger then got out and robbed them of their cellphones and a wallet at gunpoint, according to investigators.

Police said about 10 minutes later, a woman was robbed in the 1600 block of Forrest Avenue. She had just returned home when she reportedly saw the suspect armed with a handgun and running toward her. The suspect pointed the gun at her and demanded the keys to her black 2014 Mercedes C250, which she threw at him before running away. The suspect then drove off in her vehicle.

Rape suspect accused of violently attacking victims he met online

In regard to the incident outside the post office on Woodland Street, police said a woman was leaving the post office and was getting into her car when a gunman stopped her from closing the door, took her belongings, and drove off in a blue sedan.

About 15 minutes later, authorities said a woman was sitting in her silver Hyundai Tucson in the 700 block of N. 2nd Street when a gunman opened the door and demanded she get out. Two men then got into the Hyundai and were followed by a third suspect in a blue sedan.

Shortly after both incidents, a police officer found the blue sedan  a stolen Kia Rio  in Cayce Homes. When the officer activated his emergency lights, the driver jumped out of the Kia while it was still moving, got into the Hyundai taken from N. 2nd Street, and drove off.

The officer did not go after the Hyundai since the Kia was still moving, according to investigators. Police said once the Kia came to a stop, the officer searched it and found the belongings of the victim from outside the post office.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

In the Lipstick Lounge robbery, one of the suspects was about 511 and wore a black hooded sweatshirt and Adidas-style track pants with white stripes down the side. The second suspect was about 57 and wore all black clothing. He also had a short twists hairstyle, according to police.

Just before 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, investigators said four teens, ages 15, 16, and two 17-year-olds, were taken into custody. The Mercedes C250 and Hyundai Tucson were also recovered.

The teens were found driving the Mercedes to Cayce Homes where they then got into the Hyundai taken from N. 2nd Street. A police helicopter followed the Hyundai as it drove around for a few minutes, according to investigators.

Authorities said the teens then fled the area after a police car happened to drive by the area. They returned to where the Mercedes was parked and as they were trying to get into the Mercedes, detectives moved in. The teens ran away, but were arrested a short time later thanks to continued surveillance from the police helicopter.

Police said Kelando Venoy, 17, admitted to driving both the Mercedes and Hyundai. He was found with burglary tools a skeleton/skull mask, and a gray zip-up hoodie. He has been charged in Juvenile Court with two counts of carjacking and aggravated robbery for the incident outside Lipstick Lounge.

Brent Nixon, also 17, admitted to authorities that he fled from the stolen Kia Rio during the incident outside the Woodland Street post office. He has been charged in Juvenile Court with aggravated robbery.

The 16-year-old boy was charged with two counts of vehicle theft and evading arrest.

Police said they also arrested a 15-year-old girl, but she was not charged.

The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges are pending.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  The Mobile County District Attorney has provided new details regarding the shooting that took place at a local high school Tuesday.

Mobile DA Keith Blackwood talked with WKRG News 5 on Wednesday. DA Blackwood said the shooting happened after an argument took place in one of the LeFlore High School hallways Tuesday afternoon.

The 16-year-old female student is accused of pulling a gun on a fellow student, a 15-year-old boy, in the hallway during the lunch period, and firing one round. The boy was grazed by the bullet, and that same bullet, according to DA Blackwood, then struck a 17-year-old boy, who was not the intended target, in the chest.

Tate High School student dies in Highway 29 crash

The suspect is in jail and her bond has been set based on her charges. The bond set includes:

Assault charge  $75,000

Assault charge  $75,000

Discharging firearm in school  $20,000

Person forbidden from having gun  $10,000

That makes the total amount of the bond set is $180,000. She will be on an ankle monitor and house arrest.

This was a terrible incident, Blackwood said. We and our partner in law enforcement work hard every day to make sure that this is not something that happens every day.

Both victims are expected to be okay.

The suspect fled the school and was later found, with the help of her parents, at a relatives house in West Mobile. I think that to live in todays society, you have to have a healthy amount of worry, Blackwood said. So, worry for your kids. I worry about my kids. I think thats perfectly natural.

Blackwood said his office, by law, cannot name the underaged suspect despite being charged as an adult.

WKRG News 5 has been in contact with the suspects mother to hear her side of the story. She has not responded.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Claire Hao is a Hearst Fellow for the Houston Chronicle's business desk, where she is covering electricity, renewable energy and the Texas power grid. She also spends one day a week covering breaking and trending news. Claire can be reached at claire.hao@houstonchronicle.com.

Claire spent her first-year fellowship rotation on the climate and environment team of The San Francisco Chronicle. She has previously interned on the news desks of Bloomberg Law and The Chicago Tribune as well as on the editorial board of The Washington Post.

She is a 2022 graduate of the University of Michigan, where she was the 2021 editor-in-chief of her college paper The Michigan Daily.
Heights resident Bill Weinle boils water on his stove to add heat in his home, which was without power and water, in Houston, on Feb. 17, 2021, after a winter storm left people without power and water along with freezing temperatures. The Texas Public Utility Commission is alleged to have overstepped its authority by holding wholesale electricity prices at the maximum cap for days during the freeze. Karen Warren / Staff photographer

The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in a case closely watched by the states power industry alleging the Texas power grid regulator overstepped its authority during the deadly 2021 freeze when it allowed wholesale electricity prices to stay at the maximum cap for several days.

The Public Utility Commission of Texas, the states utility regulator, appealed the case after the Third Court of Appeals ruled in a surprise decision that its orders increasing the wholesale price of electricity to $9,000 per megawatt-hour cap for five days during Winter Storm Uri were invalid and an operation of executive fiat.

If that decision is upheld, it would throw into question what should be done about the billions of dollars power generation companies made selling electricity at the $9,000 rate. In the wholesale electricity market, power generation companies sell electricity produced by their power plants to retail electric providers, who sell it to residential and commercial customers.

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Persistent freezing weather impaired power plants abilities to operate in February 2021, sending prices skyrocketing and pushing the states grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, to order outages to prevent a total collapse of the grid.

On Feb. 15, 2021, the first day of the outages, the Public Utility Commission of Texas set wholesale electricity prices at its cap in an attempt to incentivize more power plants to sell electricity to the grid. Prices on Feb. 15 had been as low as $1,200 per megawatt-hour but had frequently bumped against the $9,000 cap. Under normal conditions, the wholesale price hovers around $30 per megawatt-hour.

Several retail electric providers filed for bankruptcy or went out of business as a result of being forced to buy power at the cap. Some customers with direct exposure to wholesale prices were saddled with electricity bills costing thousands of dollars for a few days of electricity. And for nearly two days after widespread outages ended, prices remained set at the cap, resulting in $16 billion in overcharges to power companies that could be passed down to consumers.

Oral arguments

The case was brought by Luminant, an electric utility that both buys and sells electricity on the wholesale market. Luminants parent company, power generation company Vistra, said it lost at least $1.6 billion during Winter Storm Uri because it paid incredibly high costs for natural gas to run its power plants and had to buy electricity at or near the price cap to meet its supply obligations when it still lacked adequate natural gas to generate at full capacity.

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Power generation companies Calpine and Talen Energy joined the PUCT in petitioning the Texas Supreme Court to overturn the appellate ruling.

Lanora Pettit of the Texas Attorney Generals Office, representing the PUCT, argued Tuesday that the price cap was meant to correct for market errors that kept prices lower than they should be because outages made it seem like there was less electricity demand on the grid. She said everybody in the market understood that the $9,000 rate was the price that would be charged if outages occurred.

What happened here was  a direction to ERCOT that your algorithms not working the way its supposed to, so please go fix it and get in line with the rules weve already established, Pettit said.

In response to Luminants claims that the PUCTs order was anticompetitive, Macey Reasoner Stokes, a Baker Botts partner representing Calpine and Talen, said there must be a reliable electric grid before a competitive electricity market is possible. The appellate decision didnt say what the PUCT should do instead of its price cap decision in the next emergency, she said.

Some of the respondents go so far as to suggest that the PUC shouldve stood by and risked the collapse of the entire grid in the name of unfettered competition, Stokes said.

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Allyson Ho, a Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher partner representing Luminant, said the Texas Legislature has banned the PUCT from setting prices by regulatory fiat under the Public Utility Regulatory Act.

The agency did the one thing that the Legislature expressly said it could not do, and that is set prices, Ho said.

Justice questions

Luminant has argued that the PUCTs order holding prices at the price cap didnt achieve its intended purpose of incentivizing more supply because generators were unable to produce power regardless of how much they would earn. Justices Jimmy Blacklock and Jane Bland questioned whether they should consider how effective the agencys action was.

Does it matter at all if this is what actually helped save the grid? Blacklock said.

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In response to Luminants argument, Bland noted that the Legislature had decided against repricing and instead adopted a securitization plan that would spread out the costs of the 2021 storm over a longer period of time.

What do we do with that in connection with your argument that the prices need to be unwound? Bland asked.
A Chinese love story with a foreign twist

09:02, January 31, 2024 By Oliver Hassan ( China.org.cn

Oliver Hassan (left) with members of BNU's String Society. [Photo provided by Oliver Hassan]

As a British student currently studying at Beijing Normal University (BNU), with an aspiration to work in China in the future, I'm often asked: "What is it that you love about China?" and "Why do you want to live and work in China?"

These questions may seem somewhat easy to answer, but in recent years, I've always found it difficult to answer succinctly. In the beginning, I was attracted by traditional Chinese culture, but my love for China now goes far beyond enjoying traditional festivals and legends.

Some might say that my love for China was love at first sight  which implies the sort of feeling that fades away with time  but my feeling is not so superficial. My love of China really is a true love, in the same way that a husband and wife are able to love each other for life. If someone asked a man, "What is it that makes you love your wife?", is this possible to answer? In the same way, it is not possible for me to answer why I love China in the way that I do. Though I am not Chinese and do not have Chinese relatives, I nevertheless believe my love for China is not dissimilar from the way in which Chinese people love their own country, as it is also impossible for them to use clear and succinct language to express their love for their country.

My first visit to China was in 2016 with my school and Chinese teacher. At that time, I had studied Chinese for four years. When our teacher announced to us that she had arranged a trip to Beijing, I was ecstatic at the thought, but knew that finding the not-insubstantial amount required to pay for the trip would be a challenge. However, I did not lose hope. Through organizing some cake sales in the school canteen as well as a sponsored swim, within a year, I was able to collect the funds I needed to go to Beijing.

Before going to China, the furthest place I had been to was Normandy, France, approximately 500 kilometers from my hometown of London. I had not flown on a jumbo jet before, let alone been on a long-distance flight. One could say those six days in Beijing were life-changing for me. As I thought at the time that I may have to wait until I start working before I would have the opportunity to return to China, I very much cherished those six days in Beijing. I took over 1,000 photos, used my broken Chinese to write diary entries, and persisted in using Chinese to communicate with the locals. One day, we visited a middle school, where I met a teacher who, seeing my passion for China and Chinese, suggested that I consider coming to Beijing to study in the future.

So, my pursuit of studying, and ultimately working in China, had begun. First, I studied at Tsinghua University for a time, although this was cut short due to COVID-19, before applying for the joint honors degree program that I am currently on, which allowed me to study at BNU for two years as part of the program.

My six months or so at Tsinghua, and what will be two years at BNU, has very much consolidated my aspiration to live and work in China. During my time at BNU, I have tried my best to embed myself into university life and engage with Chinese students naturally, yet proactively. One of the ways in which I've done this, is by pursuing one of my other passions  playing the violin  and joining the university's String Society, of which I am now vice president. Organizing concerts and rehearsing with fellow students has really made me feel a part of the community at BNU. Although I am a foreign student, and my Chinese far from perfect, this foreign identity is nevertheless forgotten. In fact, my Chinese friends outnumber my friends in the UK, and Chinese has become my first language of choice. It has become the norm for me to use Chinese when thinking, such that I believe the way in which I think has become quite different from that of a "standard" Westerner. This is the power of learning a language and why it is so important  it builds bridges, resolves misunderstandings and makes the people of the world more connected.

Though I may be British on the outside, on the inside, I have developed a heart for China, a passion for China, a love for China, and it is this heart for China that is my life force and my destiny.

Oliver Hassan is a British student currently pursuing a dual degree in Chinese language and culture at Beijing Normal University and Cardiff University.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Sonia Garcia is a trending food reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at sonia.garcia@houstonchronicle.com.

A Rio Grande Valley native, she previously was an editor and writer for the Austin digital news startup Austonia after graduating from Texas State University. She enjoys trying new restaurants in Houston, where she lives with her 14-year-old Chihuahua.
Peter Navarro, a former adviser to former President Trump, predicted he could be in prison within less than 60 days, for his conviction of contempt of Congress.

A federal judge sentenced the ex-Trump staffer on Thursday to four months in prison for refusing to comply with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. He had been found guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress in September  one for failing to produce documents related to the probe and a second for not attending his deposition.

So I have said from the outset and on this show that I fully expect this case to go to the Supreme Court; we appealed it within minutes of the prison sentence. The prison sentence was not my judgment  quite harsh, Navarro said Tuesday in an interview with Newsmax host Eric Bolling on The Balance.

So its hard to square that, but I could be in prison within less than 60 days, Navarro added. Thats what the government, the Biden regime, the [Attorney General] Merrick Garland Department of Justice wants. Well see what the judge has to say about it.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said last week he would determine whether Navarros sentence will be deferred after his counsel submits arguments in writing.

Prosecutors contended Navarro displayed an utter disregard for the House Jan. 6 committees investigation and utter contempt for the rule of law. Navarro was also ordered to pay a $9,500 fine.

His defense argued Navarro believed he should not comply with the House committees subpoena due to executive privilege.

Navarro has repeatedly claimed the prosecution is motivated by politics and has argued the charges are a violation of the Constitutions separation of powers.

He nodded to this claim Tuesday, telling Bolling, I didnt want this. But Im at a moment in history where the United States versus Peter K. Navarro will determine the future of the constitutional separation of powers as it pertains to something that goes back to George Washington, which is the use of executive privilege as a way to ensure the best kinds of decisionmaking in the Oval Office.

The concept, which is enshrined already in the Supreme Court, is that if folks like me  the highest advisers to the president  can provide the president with confidential information without worry of adding a leak over to a partisan legislature. He wont get the best information, and he has to be protected too, he continued.

Navarro argued he is the appetizer for the eventual goal to get Trump in prison and prevent him from winning reelection.

If I can go into prison  Im telling you, everybody watching this show  needs to wrap their head around the idea that they can put Donald Trump in prison, he said. Theyre putting me in prison for doing what I thought was my duty out of honor to this country and duty to my oath of honor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
HMS Queen Elizabeth would be likely to operate with both American and British fighter jets if it is called upon to travel to the region - Royal Nay photographer/BBC

Britain and the US stand shoulder to shoulder against Iran-backed groups, Grants Shapps told his US counterpart on Wednesday, with the Royal Navy poised to send an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea.

The Defence Secretary assured Lloyd Austin that the UK would step in to ensure there is a line that cannot be crossed after weeks of attacks by Houthis and other groups across the Middle East.

On a visit to the Pentagon, Mr Shapps described the Houthis as pirates and thugs and sent his condolences to the US after the deaths of three American troops in a drone strike on Sunday.

We are once again standing shoulder to shoulder to ensure that there is a line that cannot be crossed, he said.

It is understood that Admiral Sir Ben Key, the First Sea Lord, provided expert military advice to Mr Shapps as they attended separate meetings to discuss the UKs strategy in the Red Sea.

A Navy source had said the meetings were likely [to] include a discussion on the carrier, which could be deployed to replace USS Dwight D Eisenhower in the Red Sea later this year.

Mr Shapps met senior Biden administration officials in Washington including Mr Austin, Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, and Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser.

A Downing Street spokesman said the meetings included discussions on the situation in the Middle East and our wider defence cooperation.

Speaking at the same meeting, Mr Austin said the relationship between the US and UK was as strong as ever and praised Britain for its support for Ukraine. He added: The US and UK are deeply committed to the rules-based international order.

On Wednesday night, US officials said retaliatory attacks against Iran-backed militants would be a campaign that could last weeks. They are expected to include Iranian targets outside Iran and involve both strikes and cyber operations.

It comes after The Telegraph revealed that Britain is poised to send one of its aircraft carriers to the region to counter drone and missile strikes by the Iran-backed Houthis.

HMS Queen Elizabeth would be likely to operate with both American and British fighter jets if it is called upon to travel to the region.

The warship previously saw combat as part of Operation Shader against Islamic State in 2021, when it hosted F35B stealth fighter jets of the United States Marine Corps. It is being prepared to deploy on Sunday as part of Operation Steadfast Defender.

The exercise is explicitly designed to prepare the alliance for a Russian invasion, with Britain having committed around 20,000 soldiers, as well as tanks, artillery and fighter jets to the drills.

However, The Telegraph understands that HMS Queen Elizabeth could be diverted and sent to the Red Sea if requested.

The Royal Navy is preparing to step in when USS Dwight D Eisenhower returns to America. The carrier deployed from Norfolk, Virginia in October and is expected to go back to the US in May.

It currently has 70 aircraft on board, of which around 50 are F18 Super Hornet strike fighters.

However, Prof Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow for airpower and technology at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), warned that if HMS Queen Elizabeth deployed to the region it could not generate the same embarked air wing capacity as the Eisenhower, even with US Marine Corps F-35Bs embarked.

He added: The UK has not bought enough F-35Bs to regularly generate more than 12 deployed jets on a sustained basis. Even that many permanently deployed would be essentially the whole capacity of the current force.

Prof Bronk said the UKs original requirement had been to have 138 F-35Bs that would enable 36 jets to be deployed on a more or less permanent rotation on whichever of the two aircraft carriers was at sea. He added: The current F-35 force is a fraction of that size, so can only deliver a fraction of that capability.

A Royal Navy source stressed the interoperability the UK and US have demonstrated over the years.

Asked whether Britain had enough fighter jets to put on an aircraft carrier in the event of it being deployed to the Red Sea, they said: Everything we do is with our allies. HMS Prince of Wales practised with US Marine Corps in the autumn last year, showing out interoperability.

Mitchell Reiss, a fellow at RUSI, said: I dont think there is any country where we have greater interop than the US and the UK, and that starts with intelligence-sharing. I think its a testimony to the strength of the alliance that the UK is stepping up in this way to help the US and the West to keep this maritime stretch open.

It comes after weeks of calls for the UK to deploy one of its carriers.

Lord West, a former First Sea Lord, said it was extraordinary that the carrier had not been sent to the region, and subsequently accused the RAF of not having given sufficient priority to providing F35 aircraft, adding that the force considers the fighter jets to be employed for shore-based use.

RAF sources said the carrier would be deployed as and when needed. They said the number of F35s, of which the UK has 33, was nothing to do with the fact the carrier was still in port at Portsmouth.

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Republicans in the state House are urging Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to take action to help Texas respond to the surge in illegal border crossings, including by sending members of the North Carolina National Guard to assist the state with its efforts.

During a news conference Wednesday, Speaker Tim Moore said the entire House GOP Caucus had sent Cooper a letter calling on him to express support for Texas in its ongoing dispute with the Biden administration over border security, and deploy additional North Carolina guardsmen to the southern border.

Around 125 North Carolina guardsmen are already assigned to Texas, and are working under federal border patrol officials, Moore said. Those guardsmen should be directed to work with state authorities as well, he said, as opposed to ineffectual federal authorities.

Moore  who is running for Congress in a GOP-leaning Charlotte-area district  said House Republicans were calling on Cooper to provide state resources to help Texas because the federal government has just willfully abandoned its duty to protect the sovereignty of our nation, and because inadequate border security has had an impact in North Carolina.

In particular, Moore cited the thousands of deaths in North Carolina in recent years at the hand of illicit fentanyl, the trafficking of which through the southern border federal officials have struggled to stop, and which state health authorities estimated was involved in 77% of overdose deaths in 2021.

While Texas may be the direction folks are coming in, North Carolina is now essentially a border state, Moore said. Because the folks dont just stay in Texas, they move all over the country.

North Carolina Republican House Speaker Tim Moore

Republicans across the country have been campaigning on border security and criticizing Biden for the increase in illegal immigration.

The border security dispute between Texas and federal officials, and a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court last week in particular that cleared the way for federal authorities to remove razor wire the state installed at a portion of the border near Eagle Pass, have prompted Republicans across the country to rally behind Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Last week, all three GOP candidates for governor  Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, attorney and businessman Bill Graham, and state Treasurer Dale Folwell  expressed support for Abbott. So did state Senate Republicans, who sent a letter to President Joe Biden calling on him to stop thwarting Texas from effectively guarding the southern border.

Cooper points to bipartisan immigration deal shaping up in Congress

In a statement, Cooper said that Republicans concerned about the border should support the bipartisan legislation that the White House has been negotiating with the U.S. Senate. The bill is strongly opposed by former President Donald Trump, who has vowed to fight it all the way, according to Axios.

A bipartisan U.S. Senate is close to the strongest border security law in a generation but Donald Trump is telling Republicans to stop because a tough border law hurts his campaign, Cooper said. If Republican legislators really wanted a strong border they would release a statement supporting this legislation instead of bowing to Trump and supporting violating the Constitution and rule of law.

Asked about the bill and Trumps calls to Republicans to reject it, Moore said: Ill comment on what Congress does next January, referring to when he would take office if he wins the seat representing the 14th Congressional District.

Rep. Jason Saine, a high-ranking member of House leadership, said border security is the top issue in the state, based on polling and how frequently constituents bring up the issue at campaign events.

A Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll of swing state voters that surveyed 706 registered voters in North Carolina between Jan. 16 and 21 found that 16% of North Carolina voters cited immigration as the single most important issue to them in this years elections, second only to the economy, which was cited by 34% of voters.

The poll, which shows Trump leading Biden in a head-to-head match-up in North Carolina by 10 percentage points, also found that voters in the state trust Trump over Biden to handle the issue of immigration by a margin of 24%.

NC may pass ICE legislation this year

In addition to calling for North Carolina National Guard deployments to Texas, House Republicans called on Cooper to commit to signing into law legislation to require sheriffs to inform and cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement if they charge someone with certain high-level offenses and cant determine the persons legal status.

That bill, similar to previous bills the legislature has sent to Coopers desk in recent years that Cooper vetoed, passed the House in March but wasnt taken up by the Senate.

Moore said he believed the bill will be voted on by the Senate during the legislative short session that begins in late April.

The letter to Cooper also asks him to stop any discretionary cooperation with the federal government to settle and house migrants who are in the country illegally, in North Carolina.

House Republicans said theyre prepared use their supermajority to act on these issues during the short session if Cooper does not.
Breaking news Houston Chronicle

Two Houston residents were arrested this month for allegedly running an unlicensed funeral home company and defrauding people out of life insurance money, Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said.

Harris County court records show Javian Major, 26, and Sandy Broussard, 38, were charged Jan. 2 with forgery and theft, respectively, according to court records. Filing complaints do not say exactly how the cases were connected.

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But Rosen, in a post on social media, alleged that they worked to forge beneficiaries signatures and stole life insurance money from multiple people.

Jeff McShan, a spokesman for Rosens office, said the cases were connected and Broussard is accused of helping Major fraudulently steal money.

Calls to public defenders listed in the criminal cases werent immediately returned as of Wednesday afternoon.

Court filings in Majors case say Precinct 1 investigators received information in May 2023 from the Texas Funeral Service Commission from people complaining about issues regarding the man. One person, for instance, reported he hired Major through a family connection after his girlfriend died, the complaint reads.

Major allegedly asked the man for $1,200 in cash, was late taking the womans body to Houston and then asked the man for the life insurance policy number before filing multiple fraudulent documents to receive the $25,000 from the policy, the complaint asserts.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The addictive social media apps that kids love bear responsibility for serious dangers they present to the same youth, according to five lawsuits filed Tuesday by the Nevada Attorney Generals Office.

TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and Messenger are named in lawsuits that allege the algorithms the platforms use are designed deliberately to addict young minds and prey on teenagers well-understood vulnerabilities.

Endless scrolling, dopamine-inducing rewards, disappearing content, likes, shares, push notifications and other elements are being used to maximize use by young adults and children, according to a news release announcing the litigation. The civil lawsuits  a combined 530 pages  were filed in Clark County District Court in conjunction with the law firms of Nachawati Law Group, WH Law, and Kemp Jones, LLP.

The lawsuits include images of each products advertising methods, account creation steps and addictive features that keep kids coming back for more. The TikTok lawsuit even included a graphic breaking down how the algorithm fed content to addicted users.

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FILE - The icon for the video sharing TikTok app is seen on a smartphone, Feb. 28, 2023, in Marple Township, Pa. TikTok has restricted one tool researchers use to analyze popular videos, a move that follows a barrage of criticism directed at the social media platform about content related to the Israel-Hamas war and a study that questioned whether the company was suppressing topics that dont align with the interests of the Chinese government. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

The lawsuits against Instagram, Facebook and Messenger  all produced by Meta  had pages and pages that were redacted in copies provided to the media.

Instagram, according to the lawsuit, has been exposed by explosive whistleblower testimony saying the company has known for years that its products are both attractive and harmful to young children and teens.

The five social media platforms manipulate young emotions and exploit childrens developing minds for massive financial gain, according to the lawsuits.

The litigation alleges these actions have encouraged problematic internet usage and caused young people harms to mental health, body image, physical health, privacy, and physical safety.

The strategy to prey on young consumers is a big issue in the litigation.

All five of these platforms are enormously popular with young people, and all five are alleged to have sizeable populations of teen users. Further, each platform is alleged to have a large percentage of users under the age of 13, the legal age cutoff for these types of apps. Each of these platforms has also been linked to serious dangers to kids, including auto accidents, increases in drug overdoses, suicides, eating disorders, sexual exploitation and more, according to the Attorney Generals Office.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford.

My commitment to protecting consumers, particularly those that are as vulnerable as our youth, is unwavering, Nevada Democratic Attorney General AaronFord said in a statement contained in the news release. Bringing this litigation is an important step toward ensuring social media platforms put our childrens safety before their profits. I look forward to working closely with our partners to protect the youth of our state.

The lawsuits describe the dangers associated with the five social media apps as design defects and a violation of deceptive trade practices.

For example, Snapchat has a design defect (the design elements) that renders it unreasonably dangerous. Specifically, Snapchat failed to perform in the manner reasonably to be expected in light of its nature and intended function and was more dangerous than would be contemplated by the ordinary user having the ordinary knowledge available in the community, according to the lawsuit.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Mid-States Material Handling and Fabrication has received a $2 million loan from USDA Rural Development. As a pass-thru loan, funds will pass through local fiber provider Colo Telephone.

Several state organizations have collaborated to provide a significant loan for a rural Story County company.

USDA Rural Development recently awarded Colo Telephone Company a $2 million pass-thru loan to help fund a 13,000-square-foot expansion at Mid-States Material Handling and Fabrication in Nevada.

The Iowa Area Development Group wrote the application with help from the Ames Chamber of Commerce.

The loan was received on behalf of the USDA's Rural Economic Development Loan program, allowing Mid-States to access a 0% loan. Though Mid-States is about nine miles from Ames, Mid-States Senior Vice President Randy Vier said it is still considered a rural development.

"(Mid-States) has customers nationwide," Vier said. "The loan gives us that much more capabilities of serving our clientele, not just in Story County but across the state and the entire nation."

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What services does Mid-States provide?

Mid-States Companies has been based in Nevada since its first company opened in 2001. In addition to material handling and fabrication, Mid-States companies include Mid-States Millwrights and Builders, as well as Mid-States Crane and Trucking.

Mid-States offers millwright, design, crane and trucking services. Its fabrication company distributes structural steel products and material handling equipment.

Mid-States will add 13,000 square feet onto their existing 1280 S. B Avenue facility. They also have money appropriated for new manufacturing equipment. The expansion will allow the Story County company to hire nine additional employees in the next two years, folding them into their workforce of 85.

Vier said Mid-States started the expansion last fall and hopes to finish it by December 2024.

More: Ames school district begins search for new superintendent following Julious Lawson's resignation

Mid-States Companies has been based in Nevada since its first company, Mid-States Millwright and Builders, was opened in 2001. It has since added two more companies, Mid-States Material Handling and Fabrication, and Mid-States Crand and Trucking.

A helping hand for local business

The $2 million loan is the maximum any one company can receive from the USDA, according to Vice President of Community Initiatives at IADG Ethan Pitt, who wrote the application on behalf of Colo Telephone and Mid-States.

The USDA doesn't often distribute such significant loans.

"The program maximum fluctuates. It happens to be $2 million now, but a lot of those loans are less than that," Pitt said. "Getting a $2 million loan is pretty substantial. "

For companies like Mid-States to qualify, a rural utility must step up and allow the loan to "pass through" their company. So, the $2 million loan will pass from the USDA to Colo Telephone to Mid-States.

"That money is only available if you have a rural utility provider like Colo Telephone who is willing to basically raise their hand and say, 'We will be their conduit; we will be the pass-thru entity for the REDL," Pitt said. "Without that local partner, the USDA can't deploy the funds."

John Ferrell, the Director of Business Programs at USDA Rural Development, enjoys administering their loan program because he works with diverse projects across the state. He believes that what sets the program apart is that it involves a collaborative effort rather than just a one-on-one relationship with the borrower.

"We work through our partners  our rural electric co-operatives and our telephone associations, they are the actual applicant on behalf of the borrower," Ferrell said. "Collaboratively, they all work together with the borrower to identify the project and figure out what their needs are, and then they all come together to put together a design plan and they submit an application to us."

More: Bids for Ames' new indoor aquatic center are $3 million under budget. City plans to award contracts Feb. 20

Organizations team up to boost projects

IADG, who helped write the loan application, is an economic development partner for rural utility providers across the state. The nonprofit has about 112 independent broadband utility providers as well as more than 20 rural electric co-operatives and rural municipal electrics it works with.

"Our organization helps them with any economic development project they're interested in assisting with," Pitt said. "Sometimes that's helping with community projects, helping with business park or industrial sites, helping local businesses expand or recruiting local businesses. Anything under the umbrella of economic development that our utility partners are interested in, we're there to help."

Colo Telephone provides a fiber network for residents in rural Nevada, and Mid-States is a mainstay in the community, boasting more than 20 years of business.

"Mid-States is a customer, and we would like to support anything that is local when we see their growth in the community is going to be a benefit for everybody," Shane Bellon, general manager at Colo Telephone, said. "With the help of the USDA and IADG, we were able to help them get the loan."

Colo Telephone will be responsible for the loan until it's paid off by Mid-States.

"It's to their credit," Pitt said. "There's some sacrifice there."

Pitt was complimentary of everyone involved and how the "web partners" came together.

Mid-States Material Handling and Fabrication will use its recent $2 million for a 13,000 square foot expansion. A new headquarters, 29 offices and two conference rooms will be included.

More: CyRide security upgrade and sidewalk repairs: Highlights from Ames City Council

USDA loan program stands out nationally

Mid-States' $2 million loan was closed in September of 2023 after a six-month application process, just one piece of the USDA's record-breaking year.

The USDA in Iowa typically funds 20-25 projects yearly. However, in 2023, they supported a record 39 projects and awarded more than double the usual funding, Ferrell said. The federal department funded daycares, hospitals, schools and manufacturers.

Ferrell said Iowa taps into the program at a much higher rate than others do.

"It is due to our rural electric co-operatives and telephone associations in Iowa really taking an interest in their rural communities and trying to be proactive and initiate projects," Ferrell said. "That has been what has made this program truly successful in Iowa."

Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Nevada company plans 13,000-square-foot expansion with $2 million loan
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday he would support removing three California dams, a move that could be a boon to ailing salmon populations. Yet many environmental advocates considered it a hollow gesture given the governors farmer-friendly water policies.

A salmon recovery plan released by the governors office committed to removing dams on Californias Eel River, Ventura River and Malibu Creek for the restoration of habitat for salmon, a critical resource for Native communities and the fishing economy.

Salmon are an integral part of our shared history in California, Newsom said in a news release. Were doubling down to make sure this species not only adapts in the face of extreme weather but remains a fixture of Californias natural beauty and ecosystems for generations to come.

Before the 1950s, an estimated 5.5 million coho salmon, Chinook salmon and steelhead returned to California rivers as part of their natural life cycle. In 2022, only 93,000 of the iconic fish spawned in the states rivers, a number so low it prompted closure of the commercial fishing season.

A report released by CalTrout in 2017 in partnership with the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences found that 74% of Californias native salmon, steelhead, and trout species are likely to be extinct within a century or less if present trends continue.

Newsoms salmon strategy committed to fast-tracking six projects that already had been announced and are in early stages of development. They would either remove or bypass aging dams that have long blocked salmon from returning to rivers where they were born to lay eggs.

In his salmon strategy, he promised to complete an agreement by the end of the year to remove the Scott Dam and replace the Cape Horn Dam along the Eel River. Once completed, the Eel would be the longest free-flowing river in the state, starting in mountains west of the Sacramento Valley and emptying in the North Coast at Fortuna.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which owns the Eel River dams, released a draft plan to remove them in November with a target date for dam deconstruction in 2028.

Newsom also said he would complete plans to remove Rindge Dam along Malibu Creek in western Los Angeles County that would provide the fish another 15 miles of spawning and rearing habitat by next summer. And by 2026, he promised to remove the Matilija Dam on a tributary of the Ventura River in Ventura County.

I got three more years. And I want to put it all out there, Newsom told the Associated Press, saying he planned to complete these projects before he leaves office. The governor visited a flood plain restoration project along Prairie Creek in Redwoods National Park earlier this week.

Newsoms commitment to these projects comes amid the largest dam removal in U.S. history on the Klamath River along the Oregon border. The Yurok Tribe and environmental groups are hoping to restore river health and coho salmon after they were impeded for almost a century.

But many of the states leading environmental research and advocacy organizations have a problem with Newsoms policies, not for lack of habitat restoration projects, but lack of water in rivers. More specifically, water in the Central Valleys rivers.

San Francisco Baykeeper Science Director Jon Rosenfield said Newsoms policies in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta are destroying salmon as we speak.

Rosenfield said the governor has waived environmental requirements to keep water flowing through the Delta for salmon during record wet years. He has sought to seek voluntary agreements with major farmers over how much water they can take instead of regulating minimum flows.

And he is promoting two major water infrastructure projects that would harm fish and wildlife, including Sites Reservoir and a tunnel to divert water from the Sacramento River outside the Delta that Rosenfield says would drive both spring and winter-run salmon closer to extinction.

Im happy for the Eel dam removal, Rosenfield said. Thats great, but they dont paper over whats happening in the Central Valley. These runs are the largest in the state and they support the commercial salmon fishing industry.

A major focus of Newsoms salmon strategy is partnership with Tribal Nations. Salmon were and continue to be at the core of California indigenous culture, both by providing an important food source and forming the foundation of many creation stories.

The plan said Newsom commits to entering agreements with Tribal Nations on co-managed hatchery operations and other salmon management processes, highlighting their contributions. But Bay-Delta tribal leaders say they have been excluded from this and other water policy processes.

How does the governor put out a response on anything impacting tribes without actually meeting with and consulting them? asked Krystal Moreno, a representative of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians on water policy. Its all political posturing until he engages with tribal governments.

Charlie Schneider, project manager at California Trout, has pushed for dam removal on the Eel through years of advocacy. He is overall happy to see the governor adopt long-ignored strategies: restoring floodplains and taking down dams.

I can understand why people are concerned. But we see a lot of good in this, Schneider said. More than anything, its about the potential for funding and regulatory support.
A man was found dead in a car outside of an Ohio nightclub, according to the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office.

Police did not identify the victim, but Facebook posts from friends and family said the victim was Darnell Pate.

Pate was a security guard at Napoleons Bar in Dayton and was leaving work when he was shot, according to WHIO.

We 100% believe this was a targeted attack, Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck told WHIO.

Deputies say the incident occurred around 3 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 29. Upon arrival, they found gunshot wounds to his body, the release said.

According to county dispatch records obtained by the Dayton Daily News, a man called 911 and told dispatchers he discovered his car with gunshots.

Minutes later, the bar owner reported a person sitting in the parking lot with their lights on, according to the Dayton Daily News. The bar owner called again shortly after because he thought the person wasnt breathing, the newspaper reported.

Darnell was resilient, lovable, and beloved by anyone who knew him, John Dixon, who identified himself as Pates cousin, wrote on Facebook.

Pates death is under investigation, according to the sheriffs office.

Pate was the former interim chief of police in New Vienna, according to the Ohio Attorney Generals website. He was fired from the role in 2022 after criminal charges were filed against him stemming for a warrantless arrest, according to WXIX.

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Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley's campaign manager told GOP donors Tuesday that her primary fight against former President Donald Trump is a battle for the future of the Republican Party and the country.

This is a fight for freedom, campaign manager Betsy Ankney said at a briefing with the American Opportunity Alliance, a consortium of GOP megadonors, according to a source familiar with the campaigns presentation.

Ankney also warned that nominating Trump could cost the GOP not just the White House but control of Congress, as well.

It's as stark as any language yet from the Haley campaign to set the stakes of her battle against Trump, who won the party's first two presidential nominating contests, in Iowa and New Hampshire, and has shown no signs of slowing down.

Trump is set to pick up more delegates next week thanks to Nevada's split nominating contests, because he is the only major candidate competing in the state's caucuses. Haley and Trump will face off later this month in South Carolina, where Trump is the heavy favorite despite Haley's experience as governor in her home state.

Haley is looking to stockpile resources for a protracted state-by-state fight against Trump. It would require a massive amount of cash to spread resources across the country, and Haley has spent part of this week on a fundraising swing in New York.

Despite Trumps strength within the party, Haley and her allies have stressed that they will have the resources to take him on. Haley touted her recent fundraising boosts after the New Hampshire primary. SFA Fund Inc., the main super PAC supporting her, announced it raised $50 million in the last six months of 2023. And it got a boost this month from billionaire Ken Griffin, who gave $5 million to the group, CNBC reported.

The American Opportunity Alliance, which includes some of the biggest names in the Republican donor world, heard from Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaigns late last year. Trump campaign co-chair Susie Wiles also met with the group of donors Tuesday, according to The Washington Post. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ankney warned the Republican donors that Trump's nomination could be a drag on Republicans further down the ticket, noting serious GOP losses in each of the last three national elections since Trump became president in 2017. She said Republicans could lose control of the House if Trump is at the top of the ticket, noting that 18 Republicans represent districts President Joe Biden won in 2020.

Ankney also said it is key for the party to make gains in the Senate in 2024, because Republicans have less favorable Senate maps in 2026 and 2028.

Ankney's message also echoed some of Haley's recent criticisms of Trump on the campaign trail, arguing that he is an agent of chaos.

Ankney noted that Trump spent the week after the New Hampshire primary targeting Haley, telling the donors he is "throwing the kitchen sink at us." Haley has struck a similar tone on the campaign trail, as she has criticized Trump's "temper tantrum."

Those early results have prompted many powerful Republicans to declare the nominating fight over and anoint as Trump the winner.

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said last week on Fox News that she didn't see a "path going forward" for Haley and that voters have sent a message that "we need to unite around our eventual nominee, which is going to be Donald Trump.

The chairs of both the GOP Senate and House campaign arms have called Trump the party's "presumptive nominee" for president.

The Trump campaign has leaned into the idea of Trump's inevitability as the nominee, casting Haley's campaign as one with no chance of success.

In a memo released Monday, top Trump campaign aides argued that "Nikki is losing to Donald Trump by every metric used to measure political viability." And Trump and his allies have called for Republicans to rally around him, saying a protracted nominating fight would only delay the inevitable and cost Republicans time and resources that could be devoted to defeating Biden.

Publicly relishing the idea of a one-on-one fight against Trump, Haley's campaign responded to the Trump campaign memo with just an image from the movie "Mean Girls" paraphrasing the line "Why are you so obsessed with us?"

Haley's campaign has argued that she has a path forward to pick up significant numbers of delegates in the states that hold their contests on Super Tuesday in March. Several states holding contests that day, as well as South Carolina during its February primary, allow independent voters (and in some cases Democrats) to participate in GOP primaries.

But that path could prove narrow if Trump continues to finish ahead of her. And Haley herself said on NBC News' "Meet the Press" that she doesn't "have to win" South Carolina's primary as long as she shows "momentum," a result that would leave her winless in the race's first four contests.

"I have every intention of going to Super Tuesday," Haley said Sunday on "Meet the Press," adding later, "Were going to keep on going and see where this gets us."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Houston Mayor John Whitmire speaks at a press conference on Jan. 31, 2024 announcing the arrest of two people accused in fatal roadway shootings. John Wayne Ferguson/Houston Chronicle Police were at a southwest Houston hospital on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 after three teenagers were shot while riding in an SUV on the Southwest Freeway. One of the teenagers, Otraion Lomax, died from his wounds the next day. Courtesy/OnScene.tv

Two men were in jail on murder charges Wednesday, accused in separate shootings earlier this month that left a 59-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man dead after being shot in the head while on Houston roadways.

Mayor John Whitmire and Police Chief Troy Finner, joined by homicide detectives and other officials, announced the arrests at the police departments downtown headquarters, while also touting a traffic enforcement initiative meant to bolster safety on city roads.

MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Texas City man gets 40 years in prison after road rage murder of Bayou Vista restaurateur

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Finner called the Jan. 20 shooting death of Maria Ramirez and the early Friday shooting of Otarion Lomax, 19, senseless.

Were not going to sit by and do nothing about (violent crime), Finner said. Were going to take it to them.

Road rage arrest

Lomax was shot while riding in an SUV on the Southwest Freeway near Hillcroft. Lomax and two others were coming back from bowling in Humble, when they were tailgated by a Toyota Tundra, police said.

The driver of the truck pulled up next to the SUV and opened fire after people in the two vehicles exchanged words, police said.

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Lomax, who had been in the front passenger seat, was shot in the head. He died the next day at a hospital. Two young women who were also in the SUV were wounded.

Police arrested Oscar Vasquez Guzman, 42, on Monday and charged him with Lomaxs killing.

Detectives said they located Vasquez Guzman within three hours of the shooting with the help of video that caught distinguishing characteristics of the truck. Vasquez Guzman was initially arrested on a traffic violation Monday, police said. He was charged with murder Tuesday after being identified by a witness, police said.

Random violence

Police avoided calling the other announced arrest an act of road rage. The shooting was described as random and said the accused shooter, Wydell Jones, might have been under the influence or suffering from some kind of mental illness.

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Jones was accused of shooting and killing Ramirez in the 7000 block of West Gulf Bank.

Detectives said Ramirez was returning from a night out with a friend when the car they were in was shot at. Ramirez was shot in the head and killed.

Jones was identified with the help of witnesses, said police detective Kyle Heaverlo.

These two people were innocent and just trying to go home, Heaverlo said.

Jones was arrested Tuesday night after he was questioned at police headquarters.

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Both Jones and Vasquez Guzman were being held at the Harris County Jail on Wednesday afternoon. Neither had listed defense attorneys.

Arrests amid a crackdown

While Wednesdays news conference was ostensibly about the two homicide arrests, Finner and Whitmire also touted a revamped safe road traffic enforcement program that they said was meant to quell aggressive driving and make a show of force on local roads.

The program was created in 2021, but officials announced Tuesday that it now involved the participation of dozens of local agencies.

Police officials said the program would result in police cars you dont normally see in the areas you drive pull you over in traffic.

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Over a three-hour period Tuesday afternoon, the initiative resulted in more than 195 people being pulled over on the Southwest Freeway, resulting in 222 citations and two people being arrested, police said.

Whitmire called the initiative part of his new administrations tough and smart policy of fighting crime.
Republican candidate Nikki Haley scheduled a Friday night campaign event in Indian Land as she seeks to cut into former President Donald Trumps lead three weeks before South Carolina holds its presidential primary.

Haley, the S.C. governor from 2011 to 2017, is scheduled to speak at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium at Indian Land High School, according to the campaign website and a Haley campaign spokesperson. The school is located at 6100 Charlotte Highway.

Indian Land is in the Lancaster County panhandle in Upstate South Carolina, south of the North Carolina border with Charlotte and east of Fort Mill. Its the fastest growing area in one of the Palmetto States fastest growing counties.

The event will be open to the public. For event information, visit the Haley campaign website.

South Carolinas Republican presidential primary is Feb. 24.

Haley trails Trump

It is the first Haley campaign stop in the area since Republican nominating contest narrowed to just Haley and Trump. Although Haley is from South Carolina, the Real Clear Politics average of polls gives Trump a 30-point advantage over Haley. The website FiveThirtyEight gives Trump a similar 65.8% to 31.5% advantage over Haley in South Carolina.

Haley, from Bamberg County, has banked on a strong showing in her home state to try and rebound from finishes behind Trump in Iowa and New Hampshire earlier in January.

Haley, 52, was ambassador to the United Nations under Trump when Trump was president. But in recent campaign events, advertising and appearances, the two candidates have exchanged sharp jabs at each other over age, ability, and issues.

Haley appeared at a campaign event in August in Indian Land where hundreds of people were in attendance.

Haley is also holding events this week on Thursday in Columbia and Hilton Head, and Sunday near Charleston.

Trump has so far not set any events for York, Chester, or Lancaster counties before the Feb. 24 primary. Trump has a scheduled event for Feb. 23 in Columbia, The State reported.
Texas regulators voted Tuesday to ask for a lawsuit against the federal government over a new EPA rule that would reduce emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds from the oil and gas industry. Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Texas regulators voted Tuesday to ask for a lawsuit against the federal government over a new EPA rule that would reduce emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds from the oil and gas industry. The rules were finalized at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. Hollie Adams/Bloomberg Ships sit in the Houston Ship Channel as flares burn in the background Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in La Porte. Texas regulators voted Tuesday to ask for a lawsuit against the federal government over a new rule that would reduce the oil and gas industry's emissions. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

The regulations would force oil and gas companies industry to reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and smog-forming volatile organic compounds over the next one to two years. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the program would reduce negative climate impacts and improve health, saving on average $7.3 billion to $7.6 billion a year through 2038.

Texas oil and gas operators emit more methane than any other state, according to the EPA.

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Small Texas producers have expressed frustration with the regulations, saying they will push minor operators out of business since compliance requirements include older oil wells that produce nominal crude.

The Railroad Commission, which regulates the oil and gas industry in the state, joined the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to coordinate pushback against the rules through multiple public comments submitted to the EPA.

They accused the federal agency of overreach in their comments, saying the state plan requirements proposed by the EPA are so onerous and time-consuming as to eviscerate the authority given to states. They said the new rules were overly burdensome and unreasonable, including for emissions in remote, unmanned locations.

In her presentation Tuesday, Betsy Peticolas of the Railroad Commissions Office of General Counsel said the rule imposes a number of new standards and finalizes the EPA super-emitter program, where third parties will be allowed to monitor and report methane leaks to the EPA, which Texas agencies had previously said could create too much additional work for them.

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Meeting attendees from nonprofits Public Citizen, the Environmental Defense Fund and Environment Texas asked the commission to reconsider.

We still have significant waste in the industry, and what we have here is an opportunity to work in cooperation with the federal government to curtail that waste, to save money for our operators, and to benefit the public and the planet. So we dont understand why the Railroad Commission would challenge that rule, said Adrian Shelley, Texas office director for Public Citizen.

The panel was not swayed. Commissioner Wayne Christian pushed back directly at a statement from Environment Texas' Luke Metzger, who said state regulators should let the EPA protect public health since they did not seem to be taking the lead themselves: To say weve sat back and done nothing is a bald-faced lie, Christian said.

The Office of the Attorney General did not respond to a question about whether or when they will file suit.
A judge's gavel for the files. Bjoern Wylezich, HO / TNS

A Texas City man was sentenced to 40 years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to murder in the 2022 shooting death of a Bayou Vista restaurant owner, according to the Galveston County District Attorney's Office.

Messiah James Pickens-McCoy, 24, was arrested soon after the Jan. 26, 2022, shooting on a road near the College on Mainland in Texas City.

MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Prosecutors ask for Harris County judge's recusal in some domestic violence cases

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Pickens-McCoy was accused of killing Gregory Sharrets, the owner of the Bayou Bistro and Bar in Bayou Vista, as the two were driving next to each other on state Highway 3 in Texas City. Sharrets was a popular businessman in the small city along state Highway 6, and known for his work hosting military veterans participating in deep-sea fishing trips.

A police report from the time of Pickens-McCoy's arrest said Sharrets' truck tried to enter another lane, occupied by Pickens-McCoy's Mazda, shortly before the shooting. The vehicles didn't touch, but words were exchanged between the drivers and shortly after, the driver of the Mazda opened fire at the truck, according to police.

The shooting was caught on video by another driver's dashcam, according to police.

Pickens-McCoy was arrested after a car chase through Texas City.

His trial was scheduled to begin Monday, according to court records. Instead, he pleaded guilty. Charges related to the chase and the gun used in the shooting were dropped because of the guilty plea, according to court records.
Food Not Bombs volunteer Brandon Walsh and Shere Dore look at tickets they have received for feeding the homeless Monday, May 22, 2023. Walsh is a plaintiff in a new suit against the city over a law limiting where people can share meals with people in need. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Shere Dore is arrested by Harris County Precinct 1 deputy constables as she prepares to feed homeless people with other volunteers from Food Not Bombs on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in front of Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building is seen Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer A man eats a meal from Food Not Bombs on Monday, May 22, 2023, at the Houston Public Librarys Julia Ideson Building in downtown Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Food Not Bombs, a group of volunteers who serve meals outside Houston Public Librarys downtown branch, filed suit Tuesday against the city, alleging that a food-sharing ordinance is unconstitutional. The suit claims that the citys decision to begin ticketing them for feeding people in need at the location violates their First Amendment rights.

The suit argues that the groups food-sharing events, which it says began in 2005, are a form of protest, which is protected under the First Amendment. As their name makes clear, Food Not Bombs is not a charity, but instead a political association expressing a political message that government entities should divest money from war, policing, and weaponry, the suit says, and instead redirect that money to meet basic human needs.

The city did not respond to a request for comment.

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Randy Hiroshige, an attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project who is representing the plaintiffs in the suit, said that going to the courts was the next step following the projects Jan. 8 petition. The organization had helped collect more than 24,000 signatures voicing support for ending the Houston law limiting sharing free meals. The Texas Civil Rights Project is a legal nonprofit whose lawyers often take on suits against policies they believe are unconstitutional.

He said the petition had been filed in the hopes that a new mayoral administration and City Council would choose to stop enforcing the ordinance. Instead, tickets have continued to pile up: Since March, Food Not Bombs volunteers have racked up nearly 90 tickets seeking at least $21,000 in fines. Volunteers are largely asking for jury trials for the tickets, and at a trial, a jury could move to fine volunteers up to $2,000 per incident.

Food Not Bombs advocates for the homeless Tilal Ahmed, center, and Shere Dore provide a meal to a man looking for food by the Houston Public Library - Central Library, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, in Houston. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The new lawsuit joins an existing suit filed in March 2023, which made similar arguments. While that suit also sought for a judge to order the city to stop enforcing the ordinance, it was made on behalf of one member of Food Not Bombs. Hiroshige and Remington Alessi, who is also representing Food Not Bombs, said they wanted to file another suit on behalf of the group as a whole since they are all being impacted.

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The Houston law in question is an ordinance against giving away meals unless you have permission from the property where youre doing it, even if the property is public. It was put in place by City Council in 2012 but largely had gone unenforced for over a decade, municipal records show. The city began ticketing Food Not Bombs in March of 2023.

Around that time, the city began funding meals on the same days that Food Not Bombs serves. The city-funded meals are in a police parking lot near the municipal courthouse, where the city says Food Not Bombs can serve without being ticketed. In response to the 2023 federal suit, the city said ticketing Food Not Bombs was part of "Houston's governmental obligations to ensure food safety."

In Florida and Las Vegas, similar Food Not Bombs cases against city rules limiting food sharing in parks were decided in Food Not Bombs favor. In the case of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., an appellate court said the organizations food sharing was expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment. The publication Florida Bulldog reported that the case cost Fort Lauderdale taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees.
One driver has died after a two-vehicle crash in Lancaster County on Wednesday, South Carolina law enforcement officials said.

The collision happened around 10:30 a.m. on U.S. 521 Bypass near Flat Creek Road, according to Master Trooper Gary Miller of the S.C. Highway Patrol.

The driver of a a 1996 Honda sedan heading south died after the car was struck by a northbound 2023 Toyota pickup truck, Miller said in a statement.

The pickup truck driver was not hurt, Miller said.

The Lancaster County Coroners Office has not yet identified the Honda driver who was killed in the crash.
You may remember from the depths of lockdown  although youd be forgiven for trying to forget  the cavalcade of talking heads that would appear on our televisions, their movements seemingly unimpeded by legislation, to lecture us on the rectitude of being imprisoned in our homes. One such figure was Prof Devi Sridhar.

As chair of public health at Edinburgh University, Sridhar was the doyenne of zero Covid. She was all over the media, and apparently also enjoyed a chummy relationship with Nicola Sturgeon, whom she advised on Covid policy. At one point, they even seemed to cook up plans for an elimination strategy, presumably including border closures with England.

As many pointed out at the time, eliminating Covid was a doomed venture, as those nations that tried it found to their cost. Nowhere succeeded; cases spiked, even in countries capable of inflicting the most illiberal policies imaginable. In China, as late as spring 2022, when most other parts of the world had embraced normality, members of the public were being dragged into forced isolation in Portakabins. Simultaneously, the Hong Kong authorities undertook a mass-cull of pet hamsters amid fears that they might spread Covid-19 to humans.

Now, Sridhar appears to be trying to rewrite history. Conveniently, she has told the Covid Inquiry that she wasnt really calling for zero Covid after all, merely a policy of maximum suppression until a vaccine arrived. And yet in June 2020 Sridhar wrote that as an island, Great Britain is in a strong position to eliminate the virus. Eliminate sounds pretty like a zero Covid approach to me. Like Sturgeon, she pushed the Scottish exceptionalism narrative, claiming in summer 2020 that Scotland could have sought full elimination, were it not for those Typhoid Marys in England.

Sridhar is the latest individual  from increasing numbers of academics to well, Piers Morgan  to begin to suggest that they didnt mean things to go as far as they did. Its irritating, but its a start. We are edging closer to the unspoken truth: that much of what happened during the Covid era was a mistake. One by one, the myths of lockdown are crumbling.

Consider some of the outworkings of those policies. When the vaccines arrived, rather than calmly making the (strong) case for people to have the jab, it was considered desirable instead to browbeat the public with grim emotional blackmail about killing granny and authoritarian policies, such as the vaccine passport. Now we may be paying the price.

The measles vaccine is tremendously effective against a highly infectious disease. Its introduction is believed to have prevented around 20 million cases and 4,500 deaths in the UK alone. The recent UK spate of measles outbreaks owes much to anti-vax disinformation, but also to lockdowns, which denied many children their routine vaccinations.

But heavy-handed attempts to impose jabs against Covid on the entire population when the virus largely affects the over-50s, may well have helped foment suspicion of vaccination in general. Indeed, many experts spoke at the time of the likely unintended consequences of overhyping the vaccine, but thanks to the authorities sledgehammer/nut approach to public health, such warnings were widely ignored.

Concern about the impact of lockdown on children was similarly ignored. Indeed, the idea that children would bounce back from compulsory confinement after being locked inside, denied socialisation and a proper education, has predictably proved a mirage. Overall rates of persistent absence remain stubbornly high; more than double what they were before a pandemic that conditioned many parents and pupils to feel as though attendance was optional. Lockdown may be yesterdays story, but we are still living with its effects.

So too, the relaxed approach towards money-printing. Its the elephant in the room in all discussions of the cost of living crisis. Blame is apportioned everywhere else, from the malign to the ridiculous: Putin to Liz Truss. Rarely, however, do politicians square with the public and admit that the mass printing of vast amounts of currency and more than a year of furlough just might have caused avoidable economic harm. And what of the idea that the NHS could safely focus only on Covid, neglecting other health measures in the process?

Even the myth of the all-conquering Covid leader  those who were supposedly more competent than their counterparts elsewhere  has taken a battering. For years, Nicola Sturgeon was either feted in England, or treated as an impressive visiting dignitary, rather than facing the scrutiny focused on Westminster politicians.

Yet the Covid Inquiry is shattering these notions. Yesterday, former SNP finance minister Kate Forbes described an atmosphere of widespread secrecy; unminuted meetings no one knew about, and deleted WhatsApp messages  which, like those Hebridean ferries, will never see the light of day.

With hindsight, that stirring fantasy of Scotlands vastly superior handling of the pandemic, with exemplarily low infection rates to match, demonstrated merely a Braveheart-level economy with the truth. Apart from a few exceptions, the pandemic has proved the graveyard of many leaders careers. As we will probably see today at the inquiry as Sturgeon takes the stand.

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The parents of OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney, who is accused of stabbing her boyfriend to death in a luxury Miami apartment, were arrested Tuesday in Texas for trying to hack into his computer after the killing, according to law enforcement sources.

Travis County Sheriffs Office records show that Deborah Lyn Clenney, 57, and Kim Dewayne Clenney, 60, were taken into custody on an arrest warrant from another agency.

The couple gained possession of Christian Obumselis computer before police were able to confiscate it and are facing charges related to hacking into the device, according to a law enforcement source. They are expected to be extradited to Miami.

Deborah and Kim Clenney, the parents of OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney, walk out of the courtroom after the hearing in which Judge Laura Shearon Cruz denied her bond. She is accused of murdering her boyfriend Christian Obumseli in April 2022. The hearing took place at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building, in Miami, on Thursday, December 08, 2022.

Miami police, who are investigating the murder that made headlines across the world, said Tuesday night that they were unaware of the arrests. TMZ also reported it Tuesday, stating the arrests were related to evidence tampering.

READ MORE: OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney charged with murder in stabbing death of boyfriend in Miami

Investigators believe Deborah Lyn Clenney and Kim Dewayne Clenney were given access to Obumselis computer by their daughter before she was arrested in Hawaii and charged with his murder four months after his death.

Attorney Larry Handfield, who is representing the Obumselis in a lawsuit, said Tuesday night that the family is at least satisfied that justice is being served.

OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney sits in the courtroom during a hearing where Judge Laura Shearon Cruz will be ruling on setting her a bond. She is accused of murdering her boyfriend Christian Obumseli in April 2022. The hearing took place at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building, in Miami, on Thursday, December 08, 2022.

Clenney, 28, is accused of fatally stabbing Obumseli during a heated argument in April 2022 in their Edgewater condominium, Paraiso Bay. Shes facing a second-degree murder charge.

The Miami Herald was unable to reach Clenneys attorney Frank Prieto for comment as of Tuesday night.

The social media influencer was jailed after a four-month investigation by Miami homicide detectives. Known as Courtney Tailor on social media, Clenney boasted over two million followers on various platforms.

Clenneys defense attorneys have argued the killing was in self-defense and justified. But relatives of Obumseli, who worked in cryptocurrency, have asserted publicly that he was never a threat.

A tumultuous relationship?

In the days following her arrest, investigators uncovered several episodes of what appeared to be Clenney attacking Obumseli. Surveillance video from February 2022 caught her attacking him in the elevator of their Miami apartment building.

The couple had been dating for two years, though court records show their relationship may have been rife with domestic issues. Clenney was once arrested for domestic battery in Las Vegas, and police were called several times to their home in Austin, Texas.

In Miami, staff at the condo building where they lived tried to evict them after numerous complaints. Prosecutors released a series of text messages in which Obumseli accused his girlfriend of stabbing him twice as well as a recording of her screaming at him and using racial slurs.

Clenneys defense attorneys have slammed the recordings, text messages and other evidence as one-sided and being cherry-picked.

Police say Instagram model Courtney Clenney fatally stabbed Christian Toby Obumseli on April 3, 2022 in Miami. Defense attorneys are arguing that she acted in self-defense.

Police were called to the apartment two days before Obumseli was killed. On April 3, 2022, police received a frantic call from Clenney during which she said her boyfriend had been stabbed.

A hearing is scheduled for Thursday morning to compel the defense to provide evidence.
Hey OnPolitics readers! House Republicans approved two articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Tuesday, a move that has been on their wishlist for months.

The Republican-led Homeland Security Committee accused Mayorkas of a willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law and a breach of public trust over his handling of the southern border, USA TODAYs Ken Tran reported.

Heres a quick rundown of why Republicans are railing against the homeland security secretary:

Why are Republicans trying to impeach Mayorkas? House Republicans have long sought to impeach Mayorkas over his management of the policies surrounding undocumented immigrants in the U.S. GOP lawmakers have argued the secretary has deliberately allowed the status quo to continue.

How have Mayorkas and his allies responded? Mayorkas sent a letter to the Homeland Security Committee that his department has provided Congress and your Committee hours of testimony, thousands of documents, hundreds of briefings. He also noted that bipartisan discussions on border policy and immigration reform are ongoing in the Senate, which Mayorkas has been partly involved in recent months.

Whats next? The House's Republican leaders are currently shoring up support for a formal vote to impeach Mayorkas. But if the House votes to impeach an official, that doesn't mean that they'll be removed from office. Senators can ultimately vote on whether they want to boot an individual from their post.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The latest in the battle between House Republicans and Alejandro Mayorkas
Charles Lynch stands outside the U.S. Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles on July 25, 2008. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

For nearly 17 years, the federal government has been after Charles Lynch for running a medical marijuana dispensary.

Prosecutors refused to drop their criminal case against him even as marijuana became fully legal in California and 23 other states. They refused to let it go when Congress forbade the Department of Justice from using its funds to criminally prosecute medical marijuana activities that were consistent with state law.

Prosecutors have pursued Lynch's case  which involves conflicting state and federal marijuana laws  through appeals and delays and criticisms that they were spending too many resources on a case that meant so little.

"Twenty-five percent of my life," Lynch, now 61, said in a Southern drawl at a hearing in downtown Los Angeles this month.

When federal authorities launched their probe in 2007, George W. Bush was in the White House and Lynch was a respected businessman in Morro Bay with a three-bedroom ranch-style house in nearby Arroyo Grande.

These days, he struggles financially, lives in a single-wide trailer on his mom's property in New Mexico and strains to remember the details of the marijuana operation that got him in so much trouble.

"Ive lost track," he testified at the hearing as his mother looked on.

Lynch and his lawyers have portrayed the case as a pointless exercise by the Department of Justice that has cost taxpayers  who are footing the bill for both the prosecution and his public defenders  millions of dollars.

Even the federal judge has expressed impatience, telling the prosecutor: "At some point in time, this case has to be resolved."

Why the federal government continued to pursue the case so ardently remains unclear  even this week, when it took a new twist that caught everyone involved by surprise.

::

In April 2006, Lynch opened a medical marijuana dispensary in the seaside city of Morro Bay. As he would later testify in court, dispensaries seemed "like a pretty common business across the state" but there were none in San Luis Obispo County.

Lynch himself used medical marijuana to help with cluster headaches.

I figured if it could help me along, I understood how it could help other people also, Lynch said in a recent interview with The Times. "Thats one of the reasons I started up the dispensary."

The mayor, city attorney and members of the Chamber of Commerce were at the ribbon cutting for the Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers dispensary. A photo captured the mayor shaking Lynch's hand as he smiled.

Inside the dispensary, Lynch framed his business license and hung it by the front door. Another sign laid out the requirements to purchase marijuana: a valid state ID and a doctor's recommendation.

Among Lynch's many customers was Owen Beck, who'd been diagnosed with bone cancer as a teenager and had his right leg amputated. He visited Lynch with his parents to receive marijuana recommended by his oncologist at Stanford University.

Once he began the process, he noted an "immediate change." He was able to eat and keep food down and his attitude improved.

"I always felt like he was an advocate in my corner," Beck said about Lynch in a recent interview. . "I didn't think he was doing anything wrong."

But while cultivating, using and selling doctor-recommended medical marijuana was allowed under some circumstances in California, federal law  which is independent of those of the states  bans the drug altogether.

"We were still in the Bush administration, and the federal government had not only stuck with blanket prohibition, but they had consistently been expressing concern about state laws and state actors that seemed to undermine or violate these federal law basics," said Douglas Berman, law professor at Ohio State University and director of its Drug Enforcement and Policy Center. "It seemed like in California ... that there was a greater emphasis on enforcement."

Nearly a year after Lynch opened the CCCC, the Drug Enforcement Administration served a search warrant on the dispensary and his home. Authorities seized around 100 marijuana plants from the sales room.

Months later, in July 2007, authorities arrested Lynch. He was indicted on several counts: conspiracy to manufacture, possess and distribute marijuana; providing marijuana to people under the age of 21; marijuana possession with intent to distribute; and maintaining a drug premises.

During a 2008 trial, the prosecutors  including Asst. U.S. Atty. David Kowal  painted Lynch as a common drug dealer who sold pot to teenagers and carried a backpack filled with cash. They said he sold more than $2 million worth of marijuana in nearly a year.

Lynch's defense attorneys stressed during the trial that he opened his dispensary with the blessing of his community and only blocks from City Hall and the police station. They argued that he was told by a DEA official that enforcement on such facilities would fall to local authorities  the implication being that Lynch would avoid federal prosecution if he obeyed the local laws.

That became the basis for their defense, known as entrapment by estoppel, in which a defendant essentially argues that he broke the law based on bad advice from a government official.

Prosecutors argued it wouldnt have made sense for a DEA agent to tell Lynch that, as there was no way for a dispensary to comply with federal law.

The public defenders faced other challenges in the case, including the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court had prohibited defendants from mounting a "medical necessity" defense. That Lynch believed he was operating under California law was also not a permitted defense.

In August 2008, a jury convicted Lynch on five counts of violating federal drug laws.

We all felt Mr. Lynch intended well, Kitty Meese, the jury forewoman, told reporters, including one from The Times. But under the parameters we were given for the federal law, we didnt have a choice.

She added, It was a tough decision for all of us because the state law and the federal law are at odds."

The confusion around how to deal with Lynch also seemed to extend to U.S. District Judge George H. Wu. Wu at least twice postponed sentencing Lynch, at one point saying he was inclined to impose a more lenient sentence than the five years required by federal sentencing guidelines.

In June 2009, Wu sentenced Lynch to one year and one day in prison.

Lynch's lawyers tried to persuade Wu to spare their client prison time altogether.

"As empathetic as I may be to Mr. Lynch's situation, I have to follow the law," Wu said. "I feel I cannot get around the one year."

After sentencing, Lynch told reporters he didn't think he "should be a convicted felon for doing things that the state of California and the city of Morro Bay told me I could do to help people in our area."

But he credited Wu for showing "a lot of compassion."

"The government tried to make me the Pablo Escobar of medical marijuana, and the judge saw past that," he said.

Lynch's case was publicized on television and in newspapers nationwide and was eventually made into a documentary called Lynching Charlie Lynch.

But the legal battle was far from over.

::

In nearly 17 years, Lynch has never spent a day in prison.

Following sentencing, he appealed his conviction to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The government cross-appealed, arguing for the five-year mandatory minimum.

As both parties awaited a decision, the landscape around marijuana continued to shift. All the while, Lynch was out on bond and under court supervision.

He watched as Congress in 2014 made a significant amendment to federal law forbidding the Justice Department from using funds in a way that hinders states from implementing their own state laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana. It was written into a government spending bill.

Read more: Convicted medical pot seller finds congressional allies in legal appeal

In a September 2018 decision, the 9th Circuit upheld Lynchs conviction. In response to the governments cross-appeal, it found that Lynch was required to be sentenced to the five-year mandatory minimum.

The panel also noted that a dispute existed as to whether Lynchs activities were legal under state law. The case was sent back to the district court to make that determination  landing it before Wu once more.

In July 2022, one of Lynch's new federal public defenders, Rebecca M. Abel, filed a motion to stop the government from spending more money on prosecuting the case. She included three expert declarations to show the dispensary was in strict compliance with state law in effect at the time.

Although the government had not backed down, its priorities seemed to shift over the last year. Kowal blew deadlines. Missed a court hearing. Was almost sanctioned.

In a September 2023 declaration to the court, in response to threatened sanctions for not filing a response to Lynch's motion, Kowal said it "was an extremely slow and difficult project" and noted that he's "always been a slow writer."

Kowal declined to comment for this story.

In November, Abel filed a motion to dismiss the case, noting that the government had still not opposed the motion to enjoin spending. She later told the court, "I didnt know how else to get the federal government to pay attention to Mr. Lynch."

Four days before a Jan. 22 hearing  in which each side would be able to present evidence on whether Lynch had complied with state law  Kowal asked for more time. In a declaration to the court, he said he misunderstood that the evidentiary hearing would proceed as scheduled amid the motion to dismiss filed by the defense.

"...the government will not be able to effectively go forward with an evidentiary hearing on the dates scheduled, given again, that it needs additional time to prepare the governments response," Kowal wrote.

Wu denied the request.

::

And so, on a recent Monday, the hearing moved forward in the federal courthouse downtown, less than two miles from the LA Wonderland Marijuana Dispensary.

"Youve changed a lot," Wu told Lynch.

"Ive gotten older," Lynch said, speaking from behind a blue surgical mask.

"We all have," the judge responded.

That morning, Kowal told the judge he was prepared to go forward with what was already in the court record. He said Lynch's sworn deposition "will essentially win the case for us."

Abel slammed her legal adversary, telling Wu that the government had 18 months to do really anything, and, in the last seven months, its done nothing.

If I had performed like the government performed, I would have long ago been fired by this court, by my client, been declared ineffective and would have been replaced. Im not sure why were fighting against individuals when this is in fact the United States government, Abel said. If Mr. Kowal needed assistance, he had hundreds of people to ask for help. I dont understand why the scheduling of one individual affects my clients freedom."

Around 3 p.m. that afternoon, Abel called Lynch to the stand. He talked about the toll the case had taken on his life, including a bankruptcy in which he'd lost his home.

"I was disenfranchised from working pretty much anywhere," Lynch said. "No one would hire me considering I have a federal case hanging over my head."

The hearing lasted hours. The judge took the matter under submission, not yet ruling on whether Lynch had complied with state law.

After the hearing, a Times reporter sent a long list of questions about the case to the U.S. Attorney's office. What is the motivation to continue pursuing this case 16 years later? Is this case a high priority? If yes, could you explain why Asst. U.S. Atty. David Kowal has missed deadlines, missed a court hearing ... and was almost sanctioned?

Before the office responded, yet another filing landed late Tuesday afternoon  the 569th item in the docket.

The government had offered Lynch a plea deal. Lynch said yes.

He agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Prosecutors would recommend a time-served sentence, meaning Lynch wouldn't spend a day in prison.

Im really just grateful to my family, friends and lawyers for standing by me all these years, Lynch said in a phone interview Tuesday night. I kind of felt like it was important for me to take a stand for what I thought was righteous and fair. Thats as true today as it was nearly 17 years ago.

In a statement, the U.S. Attorney's Office said the case dated back to a time "when there was a proliferation of illegal marijuana stores across this district that caused significant concern in many communities."

"Since then, the landscape has changed significantly in California and across the nation," the statement read. "Upon learning that this case was still active, our current leadership determined that limited prosecutorial resources should not be expended on conduct that today would not be prosecuted by our office."

Reuven Cohen, one of the original federal public defenders on the case, marveled at how much time had passed. When he first started on the case, he wasn't married and didn't have kids. He and his wife recently celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary.

His daughters, now teenagers, "have no ability to understand how this case can still be going on when theres literally a marijuana dispensary on every single block in Los Angeles."

Cohen said he originally asked Kowal to allow Lynch to plead guilty to a misdemeanor  telling the prosecutor at the time that, "he was on the wrong side of history."

"This is exactly what I asked for 17 years ago," Cohen said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
FILE - Defense attorney Mark Collins, right, speaks to the judge as defense attorney Steve Nodler, center, listens during the arraignment of former Franklin County, Ohio, deputy Jason Meade, appearing on video screen, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. In his opening statement Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in the murder case against Jason Meade, special prosecutor Gary Shroyer shared publicly for the first time where 23-year-old Casey Goodson Jr.s handgun was discovered. Goodson, who fell when he was shot six times in the back by Meade, also had a gun holster with no strap around his waist, Shroyer said. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon, File)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Prosecutors say a gun that a former Ohio sheriff's deputy said a man was waving at him when he fatally shot him in the back in 2020 was found in the man's kitchen with the safety on.

In his opening statement Wednesday in the murder case against Jason Meade, special prosecutor Gary Shroyer shared publicly for the first time where 23-year-old Casey Goodson Jr.s handgun was discovered. Goodson, who fell when he was shot six times with five shots hitting in the back, also had a gun holster with no strap around his waist, Shroyer said.

Meade, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to murder and reckless homicide in the death of Goodson, who was Black. The sheriffs deputy shot Goodson as he entered his grandmothers house, police have said.

The jury hearing the case was seated Tuesday, and testimony was expected to start Thursday. Jurors made a brief visit Wednesday afternoon to the scene of shooting.

Shroyer emphasized numerous times on Wednesday that Goodson was holding a bag of sandwiches in one hand and his keys in the other at the time he was shot. He also had his Airpods in his ears, Shroyer said. Neither he nor Goodsons family have ever disputed that Goodson could have been carrying a gun but note that he also had a license to carry a firearm.

Based on Meades aiming at vital organs and shooting of an assault style rifle, Shroyer said Meades actions meet the criteria for knowingly and intentionally causing Goodsons death.

Casey did not pose a reasonable threat to him or anybody else at the moment when he pulled the trigger, Shroyer said.

Meades defense team maintained Wednesday that Goodson waved and pointed a firearm at Meade from his vehicle as Meade drove by and that Meade pursued Goodson to his grandmothers home. Meade previously said that Goodson turned to lift his gun before entering the home and aimed it at the deputy, prompting Meade to fire.

Defense attorney Kaitlyn Stephens said that Goodson did not heed warnings to stop and drop his weapon, and that Meade feared for his safety and the safety of others, including those inside Goodsons grandmothers house, and therefore was justified in using deadly force.

You have to look at the totality of the circumstances, Stephens told the jury in her opening statement, and said that they are instructed to look at what a reasonable officer could have believed about the situational need for deadly force.

Officers on the beat are not afforded the luxury of hindsight, Stephens said.

Meade was not wearing a body camera at the time, so there is no video evidence of the shooting.

A federal civil rights lawsuit was filed by Goodsons family and is seeking unspecific damages. It alleges that the Franklin County Sheriffs Office failed to investigate claims of unreasonable force against Black residents and failed to properly train deputies on firing guns at civilians, particularly at African Americans.

A federal judge has paused the lawsuit against Meade and Franklin County until after the criminal case. The officer had argued that simultaneously defending himself in both cases would put him in a no-win situation.

Meades attorneys had sought to have his case tried in federal court as a step toward having the state charges dismissed, and because it was far less likely Meade would be charged with killing Goodson under federal law.

Franklin County prosecutors fought the move in order to keep the charges alive in state court. A federal judge ruled in February 2022 that Meade was not acting in his role as a deputized U.S. marshal at the time of the shooting, and said the murder case must remain in state court.

Meade did not have authority to arrest Goodson as a task force member and was not acting as a federal officer at the time, federal Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. found. Meade was a full-time Franklin County Sheriffs Department deputy on regular assignment with a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force immediately before the shooting.
Editors Note: Laurie Segall is a longtime tech journalist and the founder of Mostly Human, an entertainment company that produces docs, films and digital content focused on the intersection of technology and humanity. She is the author of Special Characters: My Adventures with Techs Titans and Misfits. Previously, she was CNNs senior technology correspondent. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. Read more opinion on CNN.

Sexually explicit AI-generated photos of pop superstar Taylor Swift have flooded the internet, and we dont need to calm down.

Laurie Segall - Angie Speranza

Swift may be one of the most famous women in the world, but she represents every woman and every girl when it comes to whats at stake in the future of artificial intelligence and consent.

Ive been in the trenches covering the impact of technology for nearly 15 years, and I believe sexually explicit deepfakes are one of the most significant threats we face with advances in AI. With the proliferation of AI-generated tools and Silicon Valleys tendency to race to innovate, we are entering a phase of tech that feels familiar  only now, the stakes are even higher.

We are in an era where its not just our data thats up for grabs, its our most intimate qualities: Our voices, our faces, our bodies can all now be mimicked by AI. Put simply: Our humanity is a click away from being used against us.

And if it can happen to Swift, it can happen to you. The biggest mistake we can make is believing that this type of harm is reserved for public figures. We are now seeing a democratization of image-generating apps enabling this type of behavior. Did your crush reject you? Theres an app for that. Now, you can digitally undress her or create your own explicit deepfake starring her.

The problem will only get worse as we move into augmented and virtual worlds. Imagine an immersive environment where a scorned ex invites others to collectively view a sexually explicit deepfake video of the girl who rejected him. Earlier this month, it was reported that British police are investigating the case of a 16-year old who alleged being raped in the virtual world by multiple attackers.

I recently spoke to George Washington University professor Dr. Mary Anne Franks, who specializes in civil rights, tech and free speech. She had a chilling warning: These types of apps and AI tools could lead to a new generation of young men with a my wish is AIs command mentality. If were not careful, not only will we create a new generation of victims, but also a new generation of abusers.

Weve just made all these tools  confused, resentful, angry young men are just using [them] instead of trying to sort through what it means to deal in a healthy way with rejection, Franks said.

Leveraging advances in technology to humiliate women is nothing new. In 2015, I created a series at CNN called Revenge Porn: The Cyberwar Against Women. At the time, non-consensual pornography  where a scorned ex or bad actor published naked photos of women on websites devoted to shaming them  was rampant. Like today, the laws had yet to catch up and tech companies werent yet making changes to protect victims.

During that investigation, I will never forget looking at websites hosted on the dark web that featured non-consensual pornography of teenage girls. A security researcher who specialized in online abuse (and tracking down abusers) showed me the depths of the problem, guiding me through forums and images I will never unsee. On one site, perpetrators compromised teenagers web cameras and forced young girls to perform sexual acts with a threat: If you dont comply, well send your private images weve recorded to all your classmates.

Fast forward to 2024. Imagine your teenager receives a sexually explicit video of themselves in a DM. They never taped a video, but due to advances in deepfake technology, its impossible to distinguish whether its real or fake. In a world where AI makes fiction so believable, truth and our perception of truth arent far apart. The feeling of shame, loss of control and helplessness doesnt change because an image or video isnt technically real.

Swifts deepfake nightmare is just the tip of the iceberg highlighting the existential threat women and girls face. While X may have removed the viral posts (after they were viewed tens of millions of times), there are still a number of alternative sites devoted to this type of exploitative content. One particular site, racking in millions of views a month, features pages of sexually explicit deepfake videos devoted to Swift and other celebrities who did not consent to having their likeness used for pornographic purposes.

The genie is hard to put back in the bottle, and the cure comes with a cost. On Saturday, searches for Swift were blocked on X, with the company telling CNN that the move was temporary to prioritize safety.

In order to protect one of the most famous women on the planet, X temporarily had to make her invisible. While its a temporary move, the message has lasting impact: If one of the most famous women must disappear online in order to be safe, what does that mean for the rest of us?

Ive thought a lot about what would actually move the needle.

From a policy perspective, a handful of states have laws against the creation or sharing of these types of sexually explicit deepfakes. All of those laws vary in scope  so where someone is able to bring charges makes a difference. If, for example, Swift filed in New York as a resident of the state  New Yorks law requires the victim of this type of abuse to prove intent to cause harm, an increasingly difficult feat for AI-generated sexually explicit images, Franks said.

Intent to harm is a very restrictive requirement because, as with other forms of image-based sexual abuse, there are lots of other motives [including] sexual gratification, to make money, to gain notoriety, to achieve social status, Franks said. Statutes that require intent to cause harm give all of those perpetrators a free pass.

To file criminal charges, Swift would be required to track down the perpetrator(s)  which is both expensive and difficult to accomplish, all while risking further exposure. This points to the reality that even states with existing laws have a prohibitively complex road to prosecution.

Someone like Taylor Swift has lawyers and someone who can help do this, Franks said. Your average victim is not going to have any assistance.

Franks says the ideal federal bill would include criminal and civil penalties, citing the bipartisan Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, which would criminally prohibit the disclosure of sexually explicit digital images without consent and provide civil recourse for victims. Because laws banning deepfakes are challenging to enforce, lawmakers in Vermont recently introduced legislation that would hold developers of generative AI products accountable for the harms they create that are reasonably foreseeable. These are first steps, but legislation is being outpaced by the speed at which the technology is unfolding.

It doesnt seem fair to ask Swift to be our spokesperson for this, but I strongly believe that she  and the powerful coalition of fans that share her ethos  may be our best shot at building the momentum needed to create meaningful change starting now. Dont get me wrong, there would be enormous hurdles and a personal cost for any woman, even a woman in Swifts position, but given that shes already reshaped the music industry and created a micro economy from her tour, I wouldnt put anything past her.

In the Swift universe, injustice is a stepping stone, heartbreak becomes an anthem, and every disappointment is an opportunity to grow. Hopefully, we can use this moment to collectively raise our voices to sing the ultimate ballad: one where we have consent over our bodies, online.

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Editors Note: Akanksha Singh is a Mumbai-based journalist covering politics and social justice. She has written for the BBC, The Independent and South China Morning Post, among others. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. View more opinion on CNN.

In recent weeks, India has been gripped by the ghastly murder cases of two women. Yet again, however, the breathless media coverage has lost sight of a bigger picture.

Akanksha Singh. - Courtesy of Akanksha Singh

The murder of 26-year-old Shraddha Walkar has made front page news across the country on account of its gruesome nature. According to police, Walkars partner Aftab Poonawala strangled her, cut her body into pieces and stored them in his fridge, before scattering them across parts of New Delhi.

Poonawala confessed in court to killing Walkar, reportedly claiming he acted in the heat of the moment.

Since the case came to light, Indian media has prodded it from every possible angle, including using the couples different faiths to fuel a love jihad narrative  the right-wing conspiracy theory that Hindu women are lured into relationships by Muslim men.

No stone has been left unturned in the click-bait coverage. Poonawala was apparently inspired by the TV series Dexter, which features a forensic specialist who moonlights as a serial killer. And the couple met on Bumble, a popular dating app. A subsequent piece covered the case from this angle, noting that the murder has prompted women to delete dating apps while experts blame [these] platforms.

As a single woman, and as a journalist, these brash, un-nuanced takes are incredibly frustrating to read.

Why is the onus of womens safety solely on women? Why is it so easy to name and blame everything except the obvious? The issue here is not with the apps, or with the TV series, but with Indias deeply patriarchal society, which offers women little to no agency.

It is against this backdrop that violent murderers like Poonawala emerge.

Walkar had previously flagged concerns for her safety with the Mumbai Police in 2020, but withdrew her initial complaint on a follow-up police visit.

While such actions are not uncommon among victims of intimate partner violence, this aspect of the case  that Walkar was allegedly already a victim of intimate partner violence  has been overshadowed by more sensationalist narratives.

According to the British Medical Journal, one in three Indian women is likely to have been subjected to intimate partner violence. But only one in 10 of these women officially report it.

India is not alone. Globally, according to UN chief Antonio Guterres, every 11 minutes, a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member.

Other similar  equally gory  cases have made recent headlines in India too. Aayushi Chaudhary, a 21-year-old Indian woman, was reportedly found murdered with her body stuffed in a suitcase.

Police have arrested her parents reportedly in connection to a suspected honor killing, a term used to describe murders where the victim has brought shame to their family, typically by choosing to marry outside their faith or caste.

In India, honor killings claimed 145 lives between 2017 and 2019, according to the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs (the actual number is believed to be higher).

But all these stories point to the same underlying issue: control over women through patriarchy. If it takes gruesome headlines to start a conversation about violence against women, how are we ever going to address the role men play in perpetrating this violence?

How are we going to discuss the ways violence fluctuates along lines of class, sexual orientation or caste? (In India, 54% of Dalit women, the group of people most oppressed by centuries old caste hierarchy, reported being physically assaulted and 23% reported being raped.) Will we ever be able to address the minutiae of aggressions women face in the workplace?

Even as a single woman with a fair amount of privilege, Im constantly bewildered by the road bumps I face living in India.

When I moved to Mumbai over four years ago, I was shocked at how difficult it was to find and rent a flat because I was single. The landlords saying he wont rent to a single girl, my broker told me at the time. Its seen as too dangerous. What the danger was or is remains unclear to me till date.

But this is an obstacle every single woman faces in this self-branded city of dreams, exacerbated by factors such as age, faith, caste, sexual orientation and gender expression.

Due to cultural and social beliefs and economic setbacks, most Indians live at home in joint families. Its common to see a bride leave her parents and move in with her husbands entire family after marriage, for example.

Which is why, for the most part, the freedom to roam continues to be restricted to those women who can afford that privilege. Walkar was essentially punished by society for choosing to live life on her own terms, and her choices continue to be dissected by the press.

She chose to find a partner of her own on a dating app; she chose to stay in her interfaith partnership despite her parents objections; she chose to live-in with her partner. The subtext in how this has been covered is clear: serves her right for going against her parents, against the larger values of Indian society.

The failed love marriage (where a woman has chosen her own partner, instead of an arranged marriage) is also a cautionary tale whispered by elderly aunties and grandmothers to the younger women in their lives.

Women are constantly expected to defend their choice to be single, unmarried and child-free. When I tell married people Ive unlearned the idea of settling down with someone as a life milestone, Im frequently told its just a phase Im going through or that I simply havent found the right person yet.

But Im not alone, with an increasing number of women choosing to be single (both in India and globally).

Perhaps if Indian society concerned itself more with how its men are reared than why women are choosing to live life differently today, these conversations wouldnt have to follow the tragic deaths of two young women.

Correction: This article has been updated with the correct spelling of Shraddha Walkars name.

Clarification: This article has been amended to show that Shraddha Walker faced punishment from Indian society on the whole, rather than solely its press.

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In a matter of weeks, Israel could conclude its ground offensive in southern Gaza. Talk in Western capitals has already turned to the day after  what will be needed to rebuild Gaza. Meanwhile, Iran will be focused on rebuilding Hamas and preparing for the next war. If Israel and its allies aim to prevent a repeat of the Oct. 7 attack, they must counter Tehran.

The U.S. and Israel have faced this scenario before. In July 2006, the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah, Irans favorite proxy, attacked Israel in an operation that resembled Oct. 7 in miniature (including the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers). Jerusalems response left Hezbollahs capabilities severely degraded, but the group nonetheless touted its survival as a divine victory.

Read more: Opinion: Why International Court of Justice ruling against Israel's war in Gaza is a game-changer

In hindsight, Hezbollah may have been right. It is now stronger than it was before 2006 and is back to attacking Israel . Hamas networks in the West Bank, Lebanon and even Gaza could follow a similar trajectory even if Israel successfully dismantles the leadership in Gaza.

As Hezbollahs daily rocket attacks into Israel make clear, the group is big enough and well-enough armed to cause real harm despite having been decimated 18 years ago. This recovery was possible in part because of feeble enforcement of United Nations sanctions and the weakness of Hezbollahs domestic rivals. But equally decisive was investment by Iran, which supports many groups across the Middle East, including those accused by the U.S. of killing American service members in Jordan on Sunday. After 2006, Tehrans commitment to rebuilding its devastated proxy Hezbollah proved far stronger than the Wests will to resist.

Read more: Letters to the Editor: Why defeat in Ukraine probably won't signal U.S. weakness to Iran or China

Hamas is not Hezbollah. While the latter is a virtual arm of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Iran-Hamas relationship has been far rockier. Yet over the past decade, Irans support has been decisive for Hamas as well. Tehran has provided the terrorist group with financial support: $70-$120 million a year, through the ups and downs of Western-led sanctions against Iran. Tehrans technical and training support has transformed Hamas from a ragtag militia known for suicide bombings into a well-trained terrorist army with a wide array of missiles , world-class tunnels and decentralized leadership outside Gaza .

For Iran, the investment was a bargain. Hezbollah is seemingly reserved to deter U.S. or Israeli attacks against Iran itself. Hamas, on the other hand, is expendable yet deadly. And after Hamas success of Oct. 7, the groups strategic value to Tehran will only increase: Hamas has forced Israel to expend resources where it would rather not, has isolated Israel on the global stage and may yet drive a wedge between Irans two chief adversaries, Washington and Jerusalem.

If it were possible to utterly destroy the Hamas we know today, Iran would find other extremists to take up its flag, and then fund and equip them. Iran will also be vigilant against Palestinians brave enough to stand up for peace; Tehran will seek to kill them and sustain the chaos that is proving costly to Israel. For the U.S. and Israel, being free of Hamas would mean not only defeating the group itself, but also frustrating Iranian efforts to revive or replicate it.

Accomplishing this will require work along two tracks. The first must focus on disrupting the flow of funds and arms from Iran to the West Bank and Gaza. Tehran has been allowed far too much leeway to ship arms and funds to its proxies. Without significant pushback, Iranian-backed Houthi extremists effectively disrupted global shipping by denying freedom of navigation through a crucial strait. Irans supply lines to its proxies  via land, sea and air  must be cut.

Additionally, efforts to block Irans financial support to its proxies should focus on Tehrans reliance on transferring funds outside the formal financial system. Recent U.S. and Israeli actions have done just that, but because this kind of enforcement has been sporadic, a lot of money still reaches the terrorist groups. A concerted and coordinated effort targeting these money transfers is necessary.

The second track must focus on preventing Gaza from following the path of Lebanon and Syria, where power vacuums allowed Iran to gain influence. Ultimately, the most formidable obstacle to Hamas reemergence will be the establishment of a legitimate Palestinian security force in the West Bank and Gaza to which Arab states and the West can direct aid and support. This underscores a key conundrum for Jerusalem: As the military steps back from Gaza, Israel may be reluctant to support the creation of any Palestinian authority in the strip. The longer it waits to do so, however, the more room it will afford Iran to fill the void that results with a rebuilt Hamas or entirely new groups under Tehrans direction.

Hamas officials have warned that they will repeat the attacks of Oct. 7 again and again . Left to its devices, Iran will make sure that they are able to do so.

Michael Singh is the director of the Glazer Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Matthew Levitt is the director of the institutes Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.

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.
Foreman Tony Chacon watches as Joel Sauno, who is from Mexico and has an H-2A visa for temporary agricultural workers, empties a bucket of freshly picked cherries at South Shore Farms, which is owned by McMullin Orchards, in Utah County, near Spanish Fork, on July 28, 2022. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Americans hold two core beliefs about immigration: the necessity of a secure border is undisputed, and the historical contribution of immigrants to our nation is invaluable. Despite this consensus, federal legislative efforts have repeatedly fallen short of marrying these principles into successful legislation.

Utah, in contrast, has found great success in managing immigration for its betterment. Last year, the state expanded in-state tuition for refugees and asylum-seekers. Utah has also been a leader in occupational licensing reform for immigrants  making it easier for those with foreign training to earn certifications for trades and professions. Both of these measures will help new Americans participate and succeed in Utahs economic future.

The Utah way on immigration is laid out in the Utah Compact on Immigration. The compact, adopted in 2010 by a mix of business, political and civil leaders in Utah, lays out a simple set of principles to guide immigration policy. It emphasizes the need for federal action to smooth immigration processes, the importance of law enforcement, the foundational value of families, the contribution of immigrants to the states economy, as well as the role of welcoming stances in assimilating immigrants into our American society. In 2019, a group of Utahs leaders reaffirmed the compact.

To be clear, its inaccurate to think of Utahs approach as middle of the road. This is not a place where averaging the two extremes in policy is of much use. Instead, the country and Utah need both a secure border and access to the worlds talents. That implies a variety of tools  walls with guards and guiding lights along the legal paths.

This is why efforts, like those embodied in Congresss HR2, will always fall short. This federal proposal recently gained some news coverage in Utah because of a bill in the state legislature. Yet HR2s sole attention to building physical walls and paper barriers misses that the recipe for a secure border includes these ingredients alongside new legal pathways into the country.

Related

The enforcement-only strategy fails to recognize that robust border security and thoughtful immigration reform are complementary, not conflicting, objectives. Creating and expanding legal pathways for immigration is not merely a gesture of compassion. Instead, it is a strategic component of a comprehensive border security framework.

Thats why other federal proposals, like the Dignity Act, for instance, represent a more promising solution. This proposal includes not just $35 billion for border security, but the creation of legal pathways for immigrants. This legislation underscores the principle that effective border security encompasses more than physical barriers; it requires a holistic strategy that includes fostering legal immigration.

Research findings are clear that our immigration strategy cant just be building walls. This is the core advice from Victor M. Manjarrez, a seasoned former Border Patrol agent turned academic. As Manjarrez explains, a system without accessible legal pathways blurs the distinction between individuals seeking a better life and those posing genuine security threats. So a core benefit of pairing legal pathways and border security investments is that it unmasks those who are actual risks to public safety.

Doing the unmasking means taking a few policy steps. We need to hire additional Border Patrol agents, build barriers where they make sense and create guest worker pathways. Each of these reinforces the effectiveness of the others.

In the past, Utah exemplified this style of immigration management. About a decade ago, the state passed a guest worker program to bring needed workers to the state. The U.S. Congress failed to do its part to make it a reality. Today, Gov. Spencer Cox has made similar requests to the federal government, and Rep. John Curtis proposed a federal state-based visa program that would give states more abilities to bring in needed workers.

Utahs leaders can continue leading by example on immigration, championing policies that align with the values and needs of its people and the broader American ethos. By advocating for reforms that simultaneously secure our borders and honor our history as a nation of immigrants, Utah can pave the way for a more effective approach to immigration policy.

Josh T. Smith is the immigration policy director at the Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University and writes a monthly newsletter on immigration policy, Entry Point.
U.S. Rep. Al Green speaks during a press conference over the issue of delayed USPS delivery stemming from a Missouri City processing facility on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Ill-conceived plans and cost-cutting actions are among the reasons for the USPS mail delays that have affected the Houston area, U.S. Rep. Al Green announced in a press release Tuesday night.

Green, along with representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep Sylvia Garcia and U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, met Tuesday with representatives of the National Association of Postal Supervisors. The association is comprised of current and former postal service managers, postmasters and supervisors.

Six people attended the approximately 90-minute meeting in Green's office in Washington D.C., National Association of Postal Supervisors Executive Vice President Chuck Mulidore told the Houston Chronicle on Wednesday.

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WHAT TO KNOW: Everything you need to know about the USPS mail delays in Houston

The meeting focused on the recent mail delays with Mulidore and his colleague, the association's Legislative Director Bob Levi, relaying details of what they've heard from people in the Houston area and providing insight into other USPS topics.

The United States Postal Service North Houston Processing and Distribution Center, 4600 Aldine Bender Rd., is shown Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer A United States Postal Service truck is shown near the USPS North Houston Processing and Distribution Center, 4600 Aldine Bender Rd., Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

"This might be somewhat different than what the Postal Service may or may not say but our folks on the ground tell us it was just a combination of events," Mulidore said.

The association explained plans to put in a high-output package sorter in the North Houston facility didn't go accordingly, which led to backlog and delays at the North Houston site and a site in Missouri City.

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The new sorter didn't fit into the North Houston facility, and the old sorters had already been taken out to make space for the new equipment.

"They were left without a lot of capacity to process parcels there due to whatever caused them to put that machine in there without knowing that it did not fit," Mulidore said.

Mulidore said he had personally never heard previously of a machine not fitting inside a facility.

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Imputing the sorter is part of executing the Delivering for America plan, which is a 10-year project to modernize the post office. The North Houston facility is becoming a regional processing and distribution center as part of the plan. USPS previously said the reason for the delays is the implementation of Delivering for America but never specified what exact part of the plan caused them.

"This process, as with any such transition, takes time," reads a USPS statement from earlier this month. "As with any transition, some unintended and temporary disruptions may occur. We are taking steps to ensure packages are processed as quickly and efficiently as possible and apologize to any customers who may be experiencing issues with delivery of their items."

The Missouri City location is in Green's district, and the U.S. Rep has been looking into the situation for weeks. He has called for more transparency from USPS about the problems plaguing the area.

USPS SCAM: USPS warns of fake text messages about mail deliveries amid delays

Mulidore said he doesn't know when the backlog in Houston will be cleared up.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban revealed the real reason for his opposition to Ukraine's EU membership at a private meeting with Hungarian MPs in March 2023: fear of US influence.

Source: Direkt36, an independent Hungarian investigative journalism project, as reported by European Pravda

Details: On 20 March 2023, Orban was discussing Ukraine's European integration at the so-called EU Grand Council, a Hungarian parliamentary forum convened ahead of European Council summits and attended by senior parliamentary officials, including some from the opposition.

According to Direkt36's sources, Orban then said that Ukraine's accession would create a new "centre of power" in the EU, dominated by the United States and including the Baltic states, Poland and, to a lesser extent, Romania.

Quote: "Let's look at Belarus; there may still be one or two colour revolutions there."

Orban explained at length to those present at the EU Grand Council that this new "centre of power" would threaten the influence of the traditional EU heavyweights, France and Germany. He admitted that he had shared these concerns with Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz and proposed an alternative  a union of Paris and Berlin with the Visegrad Group  but they had apparently not accepted it.

Orban's speech also made it clear that this redistribution of power in the EU worries him, as it interferes with his strategic vision of shifting the centre of the world economy to Asia. He listed the countries with which Hungary wants to strengthen relations  primarily China and India and, after the war, Russia.

Finally, the Hungarian PM said he did not think it was right that "the Americans are dealing with this by splitting the world economy in two", and that instead, "we should be able to develop all kinds of relations with everyone according to our own interests".

Background:

According to Hungarian media reports, Orban acknowledged at the same EU Grand Council meeting that Budapest would not be able to prevent Ukraine from joining the EU.

Earlier, the Hungarian PM had lamented that if Ukraine joined the EU, all Central European support  including that allocated to Hungary  would go to Kyiv.

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Jordan Seymour- Snyder, 8, of Houston left, and his friend Evan Gerhard, 6, of Houston, get a look at the minnows and bugs in the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center's swamp in this 2007 Hearst Media file photo. Nick de la Torre/Houston Chronicle At the time Houston was founded, the Allen brothers commissioned Gail Borden to produce a map of the new city. Reproduced on the 1869 wood map, the original map shows a city of 62 blocks hugging Buffalo Bayou with space reserved for a courthouse, the Congress of the Republic, churches and schools. Within 10 years, the city had outgrown the original site. Houston Chronicle files A detail of one of the original maps of Houston, created by the Allen brothers, at the Antiquarium in River Oaks on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Houston. Annie Mulligan/Contributor The 300 block Main Street in Houston, Texas is seen in this 1856 historic photo. R. MORRIS/Houston Chronicle files About 30 members of IUA Bricklayers Apprentices Local 7 donated about $5000 worth of labor time to finishing the landscaping walls at Allen's Landing Park, Houston, on Buffalo Bayou at the foot of Main. The park, shown here through the Main viaduct, marks the site the Allen brothers chose for their new town in 1837. Tom Colburn/Houston Chronicle Statues of the Allen brothers, Augustus Chapman Allen (left) and John Kirby Allen (right), created by artist Lori Betz, flank the entrance to City Hall on May 11, 2016, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

Was Houston built on a swamp?

The evolution of Houston through the eyes of its founders  The Allen brothers  started off as well-watered, which essentially was another way of saying it was a swamp. Yet Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen envisioned a place for not only the future seat of government, but also the great interior commercial emporium of Texas.

The town of Houston is located at a point on the river which must ever command the trade of the largest and richest portion of Texas, wrote A.C. Allen in an advertisement for the Telegraph and Texas Register  a weekly newspaper in 1836.

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Houston was born August 30, 1836 with the landing of the Allen Brothers here. Gish

Early settlers such as O.F. Allen, one of the Allen brothers nephews, described what people know today as Bayou City as being studded with giant sweet gum trees and water from one to two and half feet deep back in the day.

One could hardly picture the jungle and swampy, sweet gum woods that a good portion of the city is built upon, wrote O.F. Allen in The City of Houston from Wilderness to Wonder, published in 1936. These swampy grounds had to be cleared and drained.

TAKE A LOOK: Allen brothers original map giving birth to Houston goes on display

According to Debbie Harwell, editor of Houston History Magazine, early settlers used nefarious means to erect the city with "free" labor.

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Your lingering questions, answered What have you always wondered about Houston? In this Chronicle series, we aim to dig into some of the many weird, wonderful, curious questions our readers have about the greater Houston area: Why do we call them feeder roads? Is Houston really built on a swamp? If you have something youd like us to get to the bottom of, please submit your ideas here.

O.F. Allen's 1936 book explained where the "free" labor came from: The labor of clearing the great space was done by negro slaves and Mexicans, as no white man could have worked and endured the insect bites and malaria, snake bites, impure water and other hardships, Allen continued, Many of the Blacks died before their work was done.

Left: Allen family - Augustus Chapman (A.C.) Allen, co-founder of Houston, and wife, Charlotte Allen; John Kirby Allen, founder of Houston; S.L. Allen, brother of J.K. and A.C. Allen and pioneer and patriot of Houston, and wife, Mrs. S.L. Allen. Right: A detail of one of the original maps of Houston, created by the Allen brothers, at the Antiquarium in River Oaks on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Houston. Left; A Thumbnail History O Right: Annie Mulligan/Contributor Left: Allen family - Augustus Chapman (A.C.) Allen, co-founder of Houston, and wife, Charlotte Allen; John Kirby Allen, founder of Houston; S.L. Allen, brother of J.K. and A.C. Allen and pioneer and patriot of Houston, and wife, Mrs. S.L. Allen. Right: A detail of one of the original maps of Houston, created by the Allen brothers, at the Antiquarium in River Oaks on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, in Houston. Left; A Thumbnail History O Right: Annie Mulligan/Contributor

George Guillen, University of Houston at Clear Lake professor of environmental science and biology described the land in its early stages as mostly prairie lands. National Geographic defines prairies as enormous stretches of flat grassland with moderate temperatures, moderate rainfall and few trees.

Thats why you call it Bayou City, because the whole area here down to the coast a way and up toward the Sabine Lake is all considered to be low-lying, he said. So, you had bayous that moved through or were created as land went up and down over geological time.

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Although, Guillen says a majority of the land consisted of prairies, marshes and swamps existed as well. National Geographic categorizes an area of land where water covers the ground for an extended time as a marsh  a wetland. Similarly, National Geographic characterizes a swamp as an area of land permanently saturated or filled with water.

Some had been filled in, some had been modified and drained, he said. So, its a combination of both.

Left: Main Street in Houston in the 1880s. Right: Houston's Market Square was bustling in the 1840's. Houston Chronicle Files Left: Main Street in Houston in the 1880s. Right: Houston's Market Square was bustling in the 1840's. Houston Chronicle Files

Explorers documented their experience navigating muddy roadways making traveling difficult at times.

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Houston having been made the seat of government, at once became the attractive point of all Texas ...," said Francis Lubbock, who visited Houston in January of 1837 and later became the governor. Yet while it was eligibly located, having the advantage of good navigation and a very rich tributary country, [Houston] was a very muddy place, almost the entire town tract being black, stiff land, and with very poor drainage, so that, with the immense wagon trade, the roads and streets, although very wide and handsome, were almost impassable in wet weather."

SCULPTED IN HISTORY: Statues of founders find place at City Hall

Preservation Houston program director Jim Parsons said Houstons swamp differed from the traditional kind.

Mike Garver, chair of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, and Sadie Gwin Allen Blackburn examine a marker dating to 1917 during a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for the redevelopment of the Main Street Wharf at Allen's Landing. Blackburn is a descendant of the Allen Brothers, Houston's founders. The area will be returned to its original appearance. Ben DeSoto/Houston Chronicle

The difference between Houstons swamp and an actual swamp is that the land here could, and did, dry out, Parsons said. During a hot, dry summer, all the water would evaporate and the mud would turn to dust, which early observers describe blowing around in huge clouds and covering every surface.

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In the 1850s, a reporter for the Tri-Weekly Telegraph documented the dust by saying:
Hana Ikramuddin is a Hearst Fellow for the Houston Chronicle.

Raised in the Twin Cities, Hana majored in journalism and political science at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

She has held internships with the Star Tribune, APM Reports and Sahan Journal. In her free time, she loves to cook, make chai and take care of her houseplants.
From left: State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas. The two are running to be the Democratic nominee to face Ted Cruz in the 2024 senatorial race. Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-Texas, speaks during a news conference at a town square in Uvalde, Texas, June 2, 2022. Jae C. Hong/AP Texas Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio poses for a portrait at The Houston Chronicle in Houston, TX on Wednesday January 24, 2024. Sharon Steinmann/Staff Photographer U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas poses for a portrait at The Houston Chronicle in Houston, TX on Wednesday January 24, 2024. Sharon Steinmann/Staff Photographer Ryan Zink of Lubbock receives a hug after talking to a large crowd of people attending the Take Our Border Back rally at One Shot Distillery and Brewery on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Dripping Springs, Texas. Zink was charged with one felony and two misdemeanors due to his involvement in the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News People listen to speakers at the Take Our Border Back rally at One Shot Distillery and Brewery on Thursday night, Feb. 1, 2024, in Dripping Springs, Texas. Speakers included Former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, musician Ted Nugent and several people charged with rioting at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Republican congressional candidate Victor Avila addresses the crowd during the Take Our Border Back Convoy rally at One Shot Distillery and Brewery on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Dripping Springs, Texas. Avila and a few other republicans are looking to unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales in Texas's 23rd congressional district. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News People listen to speakers during the Take Our Border Back rally at One Shot Distillery and Brewery on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Dripping Springs, Texas. On Friday morning, some attendees plan to travel to the border town of Quamado, Texas, about 20 miles from Eagle Pass. Members of the convoy say they peaceful protesting to call on the U.S. government to secure the border with Mexico after being fed up with the Biden administration allegedly not enforcing immigration laws. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

When Roland Gutierrez got his first chance to directly confront his main rival in Texas Democratic Senate primary, he wasted no time bringing up their biggest dividing issue: immigration.

In his opening statement at a Sunday debate, Gutierrez accused U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of throwing our president under the bus by backing a recent Republican resolution that charged the Biden administration with spurring an immigration crisis through its open-border policies. The vote, Gutierrez said, played into the hands of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who they are each vying to take on in November.

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The problem with carrying on Cruz and former President Donald Trumps message of chaos is, they dont want to fix the problem, said Gutierrez, a San Antonio state senator. They just want to scare us, each and every day.

The exchange displayed how divided some Texas Democrats remain on how to confront immigration and border policies as Republicans  including Cruz and Trump, the two expected GOP standard bearers in Texas  prepare to make it a focal point of their campaigns in 2024.

It is a question that has long confounded the states minority party, whose leading candidates often struggle to present a cohesive vision for immigration reform while allowing Republicans to shape the issue on their terms  often portraying the border as a hotbed of drugs and violence that Democrats have failed to stop.

Theres no consensus position in their party, Joshua Blank, research director for the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin, said of Democrats. And thats given Republicans a great advantage when it comes to any sort of campaign that centers around the border.

The challenge is especially urgent for Texas Democrats this year, as record numbers of migrants arrive at the southern border and Texas steps up its effort to circumvent federal immigration authority. Those factors could thwart whatever chance Democrats have to reframe the issue around their preferred policies, such as reforming asylum rules and visa programs, as clashes over razor wire and whether President Joe Biden has the authority to shut down the border take center stage.

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U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) speaks to reporters following a special service on Jan. 17, 2022, in Southlake, Texas. Emil Lippe/TNS

I think here in Texas, Democrats are just kind of exhausted on the issue, because we havent been able to make any headway in terms of debating what (Gov. Greg) Abbott and (Lt. Gov. Dan) Patrick have been shoving down our throats, said Marc Campos, a longtime Democratic political strategist in Houston. Were helpless when they haul in a bunch of razor wire or the orange gizmos they put out there in the (Rio Grande).

Distilling a clear message

In the Senate primary, where Allred and Gutierrez have emerged as frontrunners in a field of nine Democrats, the two candidates support many of the same immigration policies but have approached messaging in opposing ways.

At Sundays debate, Allred said he voted for the GOP resolution to make clear that he finds the current border situation unacceptable. He cited the Biden administrations recent announcement that federal authorities encountered a record 302,000 migrants at the southern border in December, a total that includes people apprehended between ports of entry and those who were admitted legally.

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Ill be honest with you, that was a tough vote for me. It was a vote that I saw as being about whether or not we stood for the status quo, Allred said, noting that two other Texas Democrats  Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen  also supported the measure.

Allred, a third-term congressman from Dallas, voiced support for a bipartisan immigration package proposed last year by U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, that would grant legal status to certain undocumented immigrants if they pass a background check and pay a penalty, along with expanding visa programs for temporary and skilled workers.

It would also provide funding for more Border Patrol agents and surveillance technology and establish humanitarian campuses where asylum seekers would temporarily live while their claims are processed.

Gutierrez, an immigration attorney whose state Senate district covers about 400 miles of the border, has offered up a five-point plan that overlaps with parts of Escobars package. It proposes creating a new work program for arriving migrants, streamlining dysfunctional visa programs, enacting measures to combat human trafficking and drug cartels and forming a pathway to normalcy for undocumented workers.

Distilling that into campaign mail ads, stump speeches and 30-second TV hits is not easy. Beto ORourke, the El Paso Democrat who challenged Cruz in 2018 and Abbott in 2022, said the state party has to find a way to proactively campaign on immigration policies that advance the core values and issues that we stand for.

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Weve allowed Republicans to tell us to be afraid that there are rapists and murderers and terrorists who are coming to get us, said ORourke, who hasnt endorsed a candidate in the Senate primary. And we have failed as Democrats to propose an alternative way of looking at immigration and the border.

Some Democrats are following the same pattern this year by pushing essentially a lightweight version of what Republicans are doing and echoing the same language that stokes fear and anxiety about immigrants, ORourke contended.

Even you have Colin Allred voting for a resolution that says that Biden is for open borders, which, in my opinion, doesnt only hurt the president, it hurts Democrats and our ability to articulate a message thats effective, he said.

Allreds campaign referred Hearst Newspapers to his recent statements on the matter, including a CBS News interview in which he said he didnt agree with all the language in that resolution, but Im in the minority. I dont get to dictate the language.

Escobar, who is backing Allred in the primary and who voted against the resolution, said Allred views border issues through a nonpartisan lens and doesnt just talk, he listens and works to find real solutions.

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Lack of consensus

Democrats looking to snap their partys 30-year winless streak in statewide elections have to contend with the fact that most Texas voters support Republican immigration measures, even if Democrats dont.

In a December poll by UTs Texas Politics Project, nearly two-thirds of Texas voters said they support constructing and/or repairing walls or physical barriers on the border between the U.S. and Mexico. Democrats opposed the idea nearly 2-to-1, but they were outweighed by the 91% of Republicans and 62% of independents who voiced support.

Similar trends emerged when voters were queried last year about Texas policies of placing floating buoy barriers and wire along the Rio Grande; deploying state police and National Guard members to the border; and making it a state crime for an undocumented immigrant to be in Texas in most circumstances, the core feature of a new GOP law being challenged in court by the Biden administration.

The polling shows that Republican voters favor their partys main immigration policies far more strongly than Democrats oppose them. That lack of consensus is a real problem for Democratic candidates as the focus intensifies on the border both statewide and nationally, Blank said.

You saw this in the debate. Allred and Gutierrez are striking slightly different paths when it comes to their orientation towards the border, he said. I think Allreds signing-on to GOP criticisms of Biden was in many ways a way for Allred as, Id say, the presumptive favorite in that race, to provide himself with some cover on an issue that Democrats dont really have a response on.

Allred has dominated in early fundraising and led in the few public polls that have been released.

Campos, whos specialized in Houston Latino politics for several decades, said hes never seen it work in Texas for Democrats to go Republican-lite on immigration messaging. As Republicans depict the migrant surge as an invasion, he said, Democratic candidates should remind voters that many migrants want to come to places like Houston and Dallas, and those are the ones that are keeping our economy vibrant. (Campos is not working for either candidate but said hes voting for Gutierrez.)

ORourke said Texas Democrats can both acknowledge the countrys immigration system is broken while also focusing on policies with broad support, like expanding legal ways for more people to come here to work.

If Democrats campaign aggressively on humane treatment of asylum seekers, more legal pathways, on confronting Republican chaos and extremism, and could back that up with steps that President Biden takes over the next 10 months, I strongly believe that it will fire up a lot of young voters and other parts of the Democratic coalition that brought Biden to power in the first place, ORourke said.

But for now, Blank said, Republicans and most independents simply arent thinking in those terms, and Democratic voters havent made it a priority.
Decorations set up to celebrate upcoming Spring Festival in Yongxi ancient town, SW China

Xinhua) 09:03, January 31, 2024

A resident puts up a Spring Festival couplet in Yongxi ancient town in Dazu District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Jan. 30, 2024. Decorations have been set up in the town to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

A local resident prepares decorations in Yongxi ancient town in Dazu District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Jan. 30, 2024. Decorations have been set up in the town to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

Residents walk in Yongxi ancient town in Dazu District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Jan. 30, 2024. Decorations have been set up in the town to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

Residents walk in Yongxi ancient town in Dazu District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Jan. 30, 2024. Decorations have been set up in the town to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

Children run in Yongxi ancient town in Dazu District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Jan. 30, 2024. Decorations have been set up in the town to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee speaks at an informational meeting on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, at New Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee on Tuesday urged the Texas Attorney General's Office not to respond to a request for opinion from Republican state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, who has questioned the legality of the county's new guaranteed income pilot program.

Over 67,000 applications have been submitted for the "Uplift Harris" program, which will randomly select around 1,900 low-income residents to receive $500 in monthly cash assistance for 18 months. The initiative is fueled by $20.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding and is intended to help alleviate persistent poverty and health disparities in low-income areas.

The deadline to apply for the program is Feb. 2.

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MONTHLY CASH ASSISTANCE: What to know about Harris County's guaranteed income program

Bettencourt has questioned whether counties have the authority to carry out a guaranteed income program and if such a policy would violate a clause in the Texas constitution that prohibits the gift of public funds to any individual, according to a Jan. 12 letter he wrote to Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Officials can request a written opinion from Paxton on public matters, but those opinions are not legally binding.

Menefee submitted a brief to the Attorney General's Office arguing Paxton should not respond to Bettencourt's request on the grounds that the question is related to pending litigation. He cited the ongoing case Borgelt v. Austin Firefighters Association, which is set for oral argument before the Texas Supreme Court on Feb. 21.

"The Attorney General is currently litigating fundamental questions underlying the request in the Texas Supreme Court," Menefee wrote. "If any request ever warranted abstention, this is it."

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The pending case is centered on the question of whether the Austin firefighters union's program, in allocating paid leave hours to its members, violated the "gift clause" of the Texas constitution.

Menefee further argued the guaranteed income program does not violate the state constitution's gift clause because it accomplishes a legitimate public purpose and has sufficient controls in place to prove its purpose and measure its effectiveness.

He went on to say that Harris County's guaranteed income program is on firm legal ground as it is "authorized by at least three statutes" and "permitted by the Texas Constitution."

Menefee also pointed to the state's Local Government Code, which gives counties the authority to administer federally-funded community and economic development projects and to "provide for the support of paupers, residents of their county, who are not able to support themselves."

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In a statement, Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis took a jab at the Republican senator.

"No one should be surprised that Senator Bettencourt is enlisting Attorney General Paxton to stand in the way of our efforts to help families put food on the table and make ends meet," Ellis said. "Instead of working toward a truly prosperous, thriving state where everyone can take care of their family and build a better life, state leaders would rather go to their block-and-ban playbook to score political points and maintain a system of inequality they helped create."

Bettencourt responded by defending his request.

"I'm glad Menefee's doing his job, because as a committee chair, I'm doing my job by asking the questions," Bettencourt said. "And regardless of all this diatribe that came especially from Commissioner Ellis, the fact of the matter is that I'm the committee chair of Local Government in the State Senate, and this is the first no-strings-attached UBI (universal basic income) that I know of in the state for a county."

Bettencourt added that it's unclear to him whether the pending litigation cited by Menefee is focused on the same question that he's asking.

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Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo doubled down on her support for the program in a statement.
City leaders including Mayor John Whitmire, Police Chief Troy Finner and Fire Chief Samuel Pena gathered on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer

Houston Mayor John Whitmire has begun carrying out a series of leadership changes across city departments in a step toward delivering his campaign pledge to shake up key municipal operations.

Part of Whitmire's campaign last year focused on criticizing what he viewed as ineffective top-level leadership during former Mayor Sylvester Turner's administration. He promised on several occasions to appoint new officials to oversee critical operations such as the city's housing programs and permitting center.

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Within the first month of his term, Whitmire has appointed new heads for the Finance Department, Department of Planning and Development and the Department of Neighborhoods. The ongoing personnel revamp has led to the departure of several long standing senior officials, some sparking public outcry.

Whitmire's election marked the first time in eight years that the city's top office changed hands. Here are the major personnel announcements made by the mayor or departing city officials.

Director of Houstons Office of Business Opportunity to resign

Marsha Murray, director of Houston's Office of Business Opportunity, will step down at the end of March, according to Whitmire's office.

The Office of Business Opportunity works to improve access to city contracts for small businesses and those run by women, racial minorities and people with disabilities. The office monitors city projects to make sure they allocate a portion of the work to certified minority vendors as required by law. It also tracks project managers' compliance with labor rules such as fair wages.

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Mary Benton, a spokesperson for the mayors office, said Murray will leave her post on March 29, and the administration is searching for a new department head to replace her.

Members of Houston's City Council have long complained about the lack of enforcement when prime contractors fail to make good faith efforts to meet their pre-agreed upon goals to onboard minority subcontractors. Whitmire recently promised to bring together council members and officials from the Office of Business Opportunity and Legal Department to reform the process.

Chief development officer Andy Icken resigns

Houston's chief development officer Andy Icken resigned from his post in March, creating another major vacancy at City Hall that Whitmire is now expected to fill.

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A key position at the mayor's office, the chief development officer is in charge of promoting economic growth and bringing businesses and investors to Houston. The officer manages a number of economic development tools and tax incentive initiatives, including Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones, which have long sparked controversy for trapping city revenue in affluent neighborhoods.

Icken first joined the city about two decades ago and served as Houston's chief development officer under both former Mayors Annise Parker and Sylvester Turner.

During the Parker administration, Icken led efforts to expand the reinvestment zone program and create more than two dozen tax reimbursement deals that led to construction of more downtown residential towers and mixed-use projects. Turner kept Icken in the same role and asked him to get involved in developing Complete Communities, Turners signature neighborhood development program that was later moved to the freshly created Mayor's Office of Complete Communities.

After nearly 18 years spanning four administrations, Icken left the city last week, according to Benton. She added there is currently no timeline to replace Icken, and Whitmire will take the necessary time to review the position and select the right individual.

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Former nonprofit leader appointed to lead Houston housing department

Whitmire announced in late February the appointment of Mike Nichols, a former nonprofit leader, as the new head of Houston's Housing and Community Development Department. Outgoing director Keith Bynam, initially appointed by Turner, stepped down from his role.

NEW HOUSING DIRECTOR: Whitmire replaces housing department head following calls for accountability

The change followed a recent news report showing Bynam allegedly breaking city rules by selling computer equipment directly to employees. Bynam acknowledged the mistake and said he took steps to rectify it. Whitmire promised to hold department officials accountable at the time.

Nichols recently retired as the chief executive officer of the Coalition for the Homeless, a Houston-based nonprofit that coordinates strategy and federal funding for dozens of local groups in the housing space. He previously worked as the interim CEO of the Houston Parks Board and served two terms in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1977 to 1981.

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Whitmire overhauled Houston Housing Authority

The Houston Housing Authority operates independently from the city of Houston, but commissioners serving on its board are appointed by the mayor. In a highly unusual move, Whitmire retained only two of the current commissioners, appointing five new individuals to the seven-member board.

HOUSING BOARD REVAMP: Mayor Whitmire overhauls Houston Housing Authority board, blames agency for housing voucher pause

By law, the board must include two "resident commissioners," or recipients of the housing authority's services. Stephanie Ballard and Kristy Kirkendoll, the current resident commissioners, will remain on the board. The other four members  Kris Thomas, Andrea Cooksey, Max Miller and Chair LaRence Snowden  were replaced. One position was previously vacant.

The incoming commissioners are Kenneth Li, Cynthia Aceves-Lewis, Joseph Jody Proler, Alton Smith, and Darryl Wilson.

WHAT TO KNOW: Everything you need to know about the Houston Housing Authority after Mayor John Whitmire's overhaul

The mayor carried out the board overhaul after repeatedly criticizing the authoritys leadership. Most recently, the agency paused the issuance of all "Section 8" Housing Choice vouchers after reaching full budget utilization.

Whitmire accused the authoritys leaders of failing to provide efficient leadership and mismanaging the agencys finances. Snowden refuted the mayors claims, saying any insinuation of financial mismanagement by the City are unfounded.

David Northern remains the housing authoritys president and chief executive officer.

New Houston airports director

Whitmire's latest staffing change targeted the Houston Airport System, which covers George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport and Ellington Airport, a military-use airport. Combined, these facilities serve tens of millions of passengers annually.

AIRPORT DIRECTOR STEPS DOWN: Mayor Whitmire announces new leader of Houston Airports as part of sweeping, city-wide change

Mario Diaz, who has overseen the system since 2010, submitted his resignation to the new mayor this week. His replacement is Jim Szczesniak, who has worked as the Houston Airports chief operating officer for the past two years and spearheaded the execution of the system's multi-billion-dollar capital improvement program. Szczesniak was previously the director of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, a major cargo hub in Alaska.

Szczesniak is set to oversees all aspects of the airports operations. Besides daily management, the director is also responsible for leading massive renovation projects and monitoring lucrative airport concession agreements. The airport director is also one of the highest-paid city employees in Houston. Diaz received a total compensation of $292,447 in 2023, the fifth highest in the city.

Bush and Hobby airports currently have a four-star and five-star rating, respectively, from international air transport rating agency Skytrax. But Whitmire said during a recent Zoom event hosted by the Chronicle that their services still needed major improvements and that he would bring in new leadership to make the facilities much more efficient and user friendly.

New finance director

One of Whitmire's first moves as mayor was to appoint City Hall veteran Melissa Dubowski as chief of the Finance Department.

Dubowski has been working for the department since 2014 and took on the role of deputy finance director in 2019. During her time as deputy director, she managed the treasury and capital management division, overseeing the city's $11.5 billion five-year capital plan.

NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR: Mayor John Whitmire hires Melissa Dubowski as interim finance director

Meanwhile, former finance director Will Jones took on a new role as deputy controller of financial reporting under Controller Chris Hollins.

The Finance Department assumes the crucial function of maintaining the city's financial health. In the past, its director has also functioned as a senior mayoral aide and played a key role in formulating Houstons annual budgets.

The department is set to face especially steep challenges in the coming years as the city is projected to contend with budget shortfalls of $114 million to $264 million during Whitmires first term.

Longtime planning director replaced

Margaret Wallace Brown, appointed by Turner to lead the planning department in 2019, retired in late January after nearly four decades of work at the city. She was replaced by her deputy Jennifer Ostlind.

DEPARTMENT HEAD RESHUFFLE: Mayor Whitmire begins major department head reshuffle, starting with planning and neighborhoods

Ostlind joined the department in the 1990s. She was promoted to assistant director in 2018 and deputy director in 2022.

The planning department oversees the citys land development, sidewalk construction, historic preservation and transportation planning, among other efforts.

In recent years, planning officials have spearheaded controversial initiatives related to driveway restrictions, new development rules and conservation districts, all of which sparked heightened interest and debate among Houston communities.

Outgoing neighborhoods department head runs for judge

Whitmire has promoted Herbert Sims, an assistant director at the neighborhoods department, to replace the outgoing head, TaKasha Francis. Francis was appointed by Turner in 2016. She has resigned and is currently running for county judge of the 152nd Civil District Court.

Sims has served in various roles within the city for two decades. He specialized in managing the department's budget and finance in his most recent position as assistant director.

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.

Jay Zeidman appointed chair of convention agency

One of the first key leadership changes by the new mayor, though not at the department head level, was the appointment of Jay Zeidman -- a venture capital executive who supported Whitmire's mayoral bid -- as board chairman of Houston First Corporation.

Houston First is a local government corporation responsible for managing the George R. Brown campus and numerous city-owned convention facilities, buildings, venues and parks. It also serves as Houstons destination promoter, tasked with attracting tourists, meetings and special events to the city.

Zeidman, a member of Houston First's board since 2017 and the managing partner at Altitude Ventures, is known for his contributions to conservative political causes. He has donated to, for instance, the campaigns of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

He and his family threw their support behind Whitmires mayoral bid last year. His parents, Fred and Kay Zeidman, each contributed the maximum amount of $5,000 in December 2022. He and his wife, Anat Zeidman, each donated $5,000 in September 2023.

Michael Heckman remains Houston First's president and chief executive officer.

CenterPoint exec tapped for Metro chair

Whitmire on Feb. 13 named CenterPoint Energy executive Elizabeth Brock his choice to lead the Metropolitan Transit Authority's board of directors. If approved by City Council, Brock will be the first Hispanic woman to lead the transit agency.

"She brings a 'customer first' mindset, which is exactly the thinking our community deserves," Whitmire said in a release announcing the choice. "Safety and reliability are key for all who depend on or commute alongside public transportation. I am confident that Elizabeth will use her results-driven expertise to drive Metro to deliver a user-friendly and fiscally responsible transit system to all. She understands that my priority is providing mobility options for all Houstonians."

Brock, who was supportive of Whitmire and Turner, is vice president of energy solutions and business services at CenterPoint Energy. The public-facing role has made her a common fixture on well-heeled city boards, such as Houston First Corporation, the Houston Womens Commission and Evolve Houston. She replaces Sanjay Ramabhadran, who served as Metro chairman for the last two years.

"I look forward to working collaboratively with the mayor, the Metro board, and all levels of government to transform Metro into a best-in-class model of transit, accountability and transparency," Brock said in the announcement.

Transportation planner exits amid uncertainty

As work to remove a new median along Houston Avenue advanced, city chief transportation planner David Fields resigned, effective Feb. 5. In a social media post, he said he was pleased with the city's progress during his four years.

"Houstonians recognize they deserve transportation that works no matter how they travel: walking, rolling, riding transit, or driving," he said.

TRANSPORTATION EXIT: Houston transportation planner resigns as street designs lead to strife

Projects steered by Fields, while cheered by safety advocates and some neighborhood groups, were controversial with some residents who complained of potential worsening traffic and inconvenience.

Because of what Whitmire called a bad design, crews on the same day Fields resigned removed a recently installed median along Houston Avenue south of Washington that led to complaints from nearby residents and businesses, notably Trinity Lutheran Church. Road safety advocates, pedestrians and bicyclists, meanwhile, called the median a needed buffer between them and speeding cars, developed after 14 months of community meetings and design efforts by Fields and others.

The removal of the median, Fields' departure and Whitmires willingness to reconsider projects that took months of planning have left advocates worried about the future.

I can say to me concern is an understatement, said Mehdi Rais, a Montrose area resident who recently helped form Walk Roll Houston, a group aimed at promoting pedestrian safety.

Veronica Davis departure met with dismay

Veronica Davis, a senior leader at the Houston Public Works Department, announced her resignation in late January. As the head of transportation and drainage operations, she made a name for herself by revamping city streets to improve safety.

Observers both inside and outside City Hall expressed regret over Davis's departure. Council Member Tiffany Thomas described the resignation as a "big loss" for the city. Kevin Strickland, president of the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council, said Davis departure "sets us back decades."

The resignation also raised questions about the future of the city's efforts to expand bike lanes and sidewalks in some neighborhoods, projects that Whitmire criticized during his mayoral campaign.

Public Works spokeswoman Katelynn Burns said Davis "was not asked to resign," and Whitmire has given no indication otherwise.
Elon Musk's grant for his $56 billion pay package, the largest payment plan in industry history, has just been denied by a judge for being "deeply flawed."

Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen McCormick ruled that the richest person in the world and Tesla's board of directors failed to prove that "the compensation plan was fair."

According to McCormick, Musk launched a "self-driving process" to gain more foothold in the company.

The disputed compensation package refers to the 303 million split-adjusted stock options Musk received in 2018.

Tesla's stocks closed at $190.93 per share on Tuesday but have since dipped 3% following reports of the Delaware court decision.

In response, the Tesla CEO posted on X (formerly Twitter) to "never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware."

Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 30, 2024

Pay Package Ruling a New Hurdle for Musk's Claim on Tesla Shares

The Chancery court ruling comes in as Musk is pushing to increase his shares to gain 25% of voting control in Tesla.

Musk earlier stated this month that he is "uncomfortable" with being the leader of the car manufacturer without being enough influential that he "can't be overturned."

The CEO currently owns 13% of the company's stake.

The increased share control will supposedly help Tesla push through with its AI and robotic products that can be integrated into its electronic vehicles.

It is worth noting that Tesla's board of directors have discussed Musk's might be "under the influence" of drugs prior to Musk's assertions.

The concerns were prompted after Musk hinted that he is "considering taking Tesla private at $420," a number closely associated with Marijuana.

It is uncertain if Musk's demand for more shares will push through following recent events, but the CEO has already said that he will "build products outside of Tesla" if his requests are denied.

Also Read: Elon Musk Plans to 'Build Products Outside of Tesla' If His Share Was Not Increased

Tesla Shares Dropping

Tesla's shares have been on a decline since the start of 2024 as the company gets involved in more controversies involving its CEO.

Its stocks currently sit almost at the same value a year ago at below $200.

Related Article: Elon Musk's Defamation Case to Push Through in Ireland
The rise of the internet paved the way for creativity to foster more than we can ever imagine. However, protecting your intellectual property has become a major challenge due to technological advancement.

For instance, the rise of AI has sparked various copyright infringement lawsuits due to its nature to imitate the material from where it was trained. However, it can also be used as a way to create a dynamic force to combat piracy.

In addition, blockchain technology when paired with AI has the potential to become a powerful tool to prevent creative piracy.

Whether you are a renowned artist or an aspiring content creator, knowing how to protect your intellectual property is significant in this day and age. Here are some evidence that blockchain and AI can be a beacon of anti-piracy:

Content Tracking With AI

AI can be used to identify and track content due to its advanced models. Creators can explore digital watermarking and fingerprinting to their digital content. This will help you identify and track if your content is being pirated across the internet.

Previously, Adobe introduced Content Credentials to promote open and transparent content creation. The tag will be an indicator if something is AI-generated. This type of label could also be potentially used to watermark content that is not visible to the naked eye.

Read Also: Adobe Introduces Symbol to Promote AI-Generated Content Tagging

Blockchain for Digital Rights Management (DRM)

Blockchain is popularly known for its role in cryptocurrency. It is one way to maintain a secure and decentralized record of transactions. Outside cryptocurrency, content creators can utilize blockchain and enforce usage rules, limit access, and manage licenses through smart contracts.

Moreover, creators can take advantage of the tokenization of their content as a symbol of ownership or access rights. This is useful for various types of digital content like music, videos, and software.

Enforce Smart Contracts via Blockchain

Smart contracts are self-executive contracts wherein the terms are directly written into code. This gives the creators a chance to automate licensing and receive royalty payments.

Most of the time creators fight for their intellectual property due to fair compensation. If their content gets pirated it lessens the potential compensation since it gets offered for free on the internet.

Utilize Machine Learning Algorithms

AI is known for its machine learning system. Using algorithms creators can train the AI to detect piracy by analyzing different patterns. The algorithm will be used to scan social media, websites, and other platforms to detect if there are any signs of copyright infringement.

In addition, AI can also detect the behavioral patterns of the users. This is mostly helpful for being one step ahead of the threat actors since it could monitor suspicious download and upload patterns. Before the content gets redistributed, it will be flagged as copyright infringement.

Related Article: ASCII Theater Streams Popular Movies Through Command Prompt
TikTok has been reportedly struggling to keep its promise to secure its US users' data beyond the reach of the Chinese government, according to The Washington Post.

Despite spending $1.5 billion for a separate unit to oversee data traffic from the US, several data have been reportedly still being accessed by employees from its parent company, the Chinese-based ByteDance.

Internal documents indicated that managers would sometimes instruct employees to bypass official channels in sharing certain data with their parent company.

According to reports and testimonies, much of the data shared is personal information like the user's email address, birth date, and even IP address.

As of writing, there is no confirmation that the Chinese government has actively sought information from Americans via the video-sharing platform.

TikTok has yet to confirm WSJ's reports but said it is "voluntarily implementing our plan to protect U.S. user data."

The company has denied accusations of sharing data with the Chinese government several times.

Also Read: TikTok Removes Data Tracking Tool That Was to Criticize the Platform

Leaked Documents Put Questions on Legitimacy of Project Texas

If the leaked information was indeed true, this puts TikTok's Project Texas at further scrutiny amid calls to fully ban the platform in the US.

Project Texas refers to TikTok's initiative to convince US lawmakers that its "data protection and access control" securities are safe.

This includes integrating an isolated server inside the American-based Oracle cloud environment to contain all recommendation algorithms, advertising engines, e-commerce information, user data, and content moderation systems within US control.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew previously assured lawmakers that the Project "eliminates the concern" of users' data being subjected to China's policies as it does with ByteDance.

The company has since reminded employees of its data-sharing policies and to review TikTok's code for any signs of China breaching before initiating updates.

China Increases Surveillance on US Amid Tensions

Rumors of TikTok's challenges come at a difficult time as the rift between the US and China continues to grow larger.

The Eastern superpower has previously been reported to employ AI systems and advanced technology to spy on its US counterparts.

In turn, US agents have also been monitoring Chinese-based companies for possible data leakage as it becomes bolder in its assertions against China.

The Western country's export ban continues to be implemented as the two nations clash for economic authority over the trade routes.

Related Article: China Spy Agency Employs AI System to Monitor US Officials - Reports
(Photo : Unsplash/Mikita Yo)

The tech giant, IBM, requires its U.S. managers to work from an office or client site for at least three days a week and plans to use badge-in data to track individual presence, per an internal memo dated January 16.

According to a person familiar with the new requirement, employees must live within 50 miles of an IBM office or client site and finalize relocation plans by August. As per the memo, those unable to meet this requirement or secure a remote position must separate from IBM.

IBM's Commitment to Work Flexibility with In-Person Interactions

An IBM spokesperson verified the memo's information to Bloomberg, emphasizing the company's commitment to creating a work environment that combines flexibility with in-person interactions.

"Consistent with that approach, we're requiring executives and people managers in the United States to be in the office at least three days per week," the spokesperson told Bloomberg.

Last May, while IBM CEO Arvind Krishna assured workers they wouldn't be compelled to return to the office, he also cautioned that not doing so could negatively impact long-term careers, making it more challenging to secure promotions. In September, IBM tightened remote work rules for regular employees, emphasizing the need to be more committed to the office to preserve flexible hybrid work. Although this applied specifically to those within 50 miles of an IBM office, the memo mentioned that other workers were only "exempt at this time," suggesting potential future changes.

READ ALSO: Workplace Revolution: 75% of U.S. Employees Believe Four-Day Workweek Could Boost Productivity

Managers Being Summoned Back to the Office

As companies navigate beyond the extensive work-from-home experiment due to COVID-19, IBM has recently extended its return-to-office requirement to managers.

As per a memo from Senior VP John Granger on January 16, remote managers will need to come back to the office at least three days a week starting in August, regardless of their current work location status. Managers enjoying remote work privileges since 2020 will now need to relocate closer to office or client locations, typically within an 80-kilometer radius from a hub, as per an insider familiar with the company.

Although employees with medical issues or on military service are exempt from the policy, the company will assess the attendance of remaining managers using badge-in data. According to the memo, if affected staff members can secure a remote position and do not comply, they must "separate from IBM."

Similar Ultimatum of "Relocate or Quit" from Other Companies

IBM's recent memo follows a trend where various companies, including AT&T, Grindr, and Amazon, have recently issued similar ultimatums, requiring their employees to either relocate or resign in 2023,

Like IBM, AT&T's directive primarily targeted managers. However, despite having only nine open office locations in the U.S., 9,000 employees had to decide between relocating or seeking employment elsewhere. Many workers felt cornered, with one AT&T manager describing it as a layoff masked as a return-to-office policy, a sentiment employment experts also agreed.

RTO Mandates as Layoff Strategies

Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, CEO of hybrid work consultancy Disaster Avoidance Experts, suggests that many companies are employing return-to-office (RTO) mandates as a layoff strategy. According to Tsipursky, this can be observed in cases where companies implement layoffs before or after introducing an RTO mandate, which some companies are transparently using to avoid providing paid severance packages.

Despite projecting positive revenue for 2024, IBM recently revealed plans to cut a percentage of positions in the "low single digits" this year. This aligns with Tsipursky's theory that IBM might be attempting to encourage staff to relocate voluntarily. Regardless of IBM's intent, one thing is clear: compelling employees to move during a cost-of-living crisis or risk losing their jobs is likely to have negative consequences in the long term.

RELATED ARTICLE: Lamborghini Shift Gears, Implements Four-Day Workweek for Staff Without Reducing Wages

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Unsplash/ Manish Tulaskar)

New York officials are considering the creation of "transitional" titles to enable migrants with federal work authorization to join the state workforce, as per a memo circulated by the state Civil Service Commission obtained by The Post. Once in these roles, the workers would receive training and assistance to acquire the necessary skills for permanent positions.

Hard-to-Recruit Entry-Level Jobs for Migrants

According to a memo initially covered by Bloomberg News, state agencies have found 4,000 state jobs that could potentially be filled by migrants, described as "hard-to-recruit" entry-level titles. The plan would enable migrants to bypass requirements such as English proficiency, proof of education, and past employment, as per the memo.

READ ALSO: Work Permit Strife: Rising Tensions Between Newcomers and Immigrants with Longtime US Residents

State Providing Temporary Opportunities for Legal Migrants

To support the over 170,000 migrants who have arrived in the city since April 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul has put forward a $2.4 billion plan. Hochul urged the Biden administration to expedite work permits and boost federal aid for migrants, as allowing migrants to work would positively impact the state's economy and address the humanitarian crisis.

Avi Small, a spokesperson for Hochul, verified the accuracy of the memo and mentioned that the state is still deciding whether to alter the job requirements, saying that the initiative, which has not been implemented yet, aims to provide temporary job opportunities for anyone legally eligible to work in the United States. Small added that Governor Hochul has prioritized modernizing the state workforce and eliminating red tape and has instituted a series of reforms to achieve that goal.

Civil Service Commissioner Timothy Hogues highlighted that the suggested requirements for migrants mirror those of current apprenticeship programs, which, when adopted, relaxed rules would apply to all New Yorkers.

Reduction of Employment Barriers in the United States

Hogues expressed excitement when questioned about the memo by Long Island Assemblyman Ed Ra during a budget hearing on Tuesday, noting that it's part of a broader approach to making government jobs more accessible and reducing barriers, which is no different from traineeships and apprenticeships that allow individuals to up-skill or gain on-the-job experience to meet qualifications.

The suggested temporary transitional jobs include caring for intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals, custodial work, food service, facilities repair, and clerical positions.

The memo concludes that creating these transitional titles benefits the state and its agencies. It aims to connect qualified and motivated individuals with meaningful job opportunities, address the migrant crisis, and contribute to rebuilding the state workforce.

Governor Kathy Hochul has touted the identification of over 40,000 open positions from state employers willing to hire migrants. However, the federal process for approving work authorization has been slow. As of November, only 2,850 out of nearly 47,000 migrants sheltered statewide had received approval for work. State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon mentioned last month that "it is a bottleneck, but it is beginning to break."

RELATED ARTICLE: Starbucks To The Rescue: Coffee Retailer Vows To Hire Thousands Of Refugees In Defiance To Trump

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Unsplash/Josefa nDiaz)

Changes in how we communicate and solve problems at work during the pandemic require critical thinking and strong communication skills.

However, 39% of employees express frustration with their employers not offering effective soft skills training, based on research commissioned by the CFA Institute. As a result, many of us have to develop these skills independently.

According to Barbara Petitt, the managing director of professional learning at CFA Institute, here are the top five soft skills you should focus on today:

1. Curiosity

Curious employees question the norm that broadens the outlook of an idea or project. The most curious individuals can uncover new possibilities often obscured by daily work and life routines. Developing your curiosity skills will aid you in generating innovative solutions more quickly and creatively.

How to develop curiosity skills: Learn about an unfamiliar topic. Petitt explored how the brain works by reading two neuroscience books and gaining a profound understanding of how people absorb new information.

2. Innovation

Curiosity sparks new ideas, but innovation fuels the teamwork and creativity needed to turn an idea into reality.

During Petitt's consulting tenure, she noticed that those who found inventive solutions to client problems were the driving force that inspired colleagues to work together. Furthermore, these innovative individuals were frequently recognized and financially rewarded for their creative approach.

How to develop innovation skills: Engage with your coworkers and customers to generate unique and actionable ideas. Prioritize networking and have discussions about your work that extend beyond completing daily tasks.

3. Speed

Speed is about swiftly acquiring, applying, and communicating knowledge. Due to technology giving us access to a pool of information, decisions that once took weeks are now made within days, if not hours.

When Petitt interviews someone, she requests an example of a challenging professional situation where the candidate had to meet a hard deadline. If the candidate can provide specific details about how they accomplished the task under time pressure, Petitt feels more confident considering them for the job.

READ ALSO: Are You Bad At Your Job? What to Do When You Feel Incompetent

How to develop speed: Volunteer for tasks that interest you and observe how you handle your time. If you find yourself wasting time recovering information due to inadequate note-taking or experiencing productivity loss in the afternoon from over-scheduling your mornings, see these as chances to enhance and adjust your approach.

4. Communication

Our ability to communicate and connect emotionally sets us apart from robots. We can reflect on the past and envision the future.

In the past, effective communication relied on a firm handshake, eye contact, and attentive listening. Nowadays, the skill and intentionality needed to compose a compelling Slack message or initiate a Zoom conversation are crucial investments for success in any job.

How to develop communication skills: Enroll in a course or join a public speaking club like Toastmasters International. According to Petitt, she took a communication course led by a former TV presenter when she had a job that involved a significant amount of public speaking. Confronting her fears and honing her speech structure skills made her a more confident and effective communicator.

5. Vulnerability

In her book "Braving the Wilderness," Brene Brown states, "Courage is built on vulnerability - the skill to handle uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure." It might seem counterintuitive, but this soft skill is especially important now with the trend of job switching.

Think about the common job interview scenario where you're asked to describe dealing with a challenging situation or mistake. The best candidates will discuss the mistake and its resolution and illustrate what they learned, how they applied that knowledge moving forward, and how it positively impacted the organization.

How to develop vulnerability: Be transparent about your weaknesses. Petitt shares that she readily acknowledges her mistakes for personal development and to set an example for those who work for her.

RELATED ARTICLE: Ultimate Guide to Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The dystopian action flick "Badland Hunters," starring Ma Dong-seok, topped Netflix's weekly chart for non-English movies, the global streaming service said Wednesday.

Since its release Friday, the Korean film has garnered 14.3 million total views during the Jan. 22-28 viewing period, and was No. 1 in 82 countries, including Korea, Brazil, Italy and France.

"Badland Hunters" centers on a hunter, played by Ma, better known internationally as Don Lee, who tries to rescue a teenage girl abducted by an ill-willed doctor who wants to experiment on her.

It is the feature directorial debut of stunt coordinator Heo Myeong-haeng, best known for his work for the "The Roundup" film series also starring Ma.

Separately, the occult thriller "The Bequeathed" landed atop the streamer's non-English TV list with 3.1 million views.

The six-part Netflix original series by "Train to Busan" director Yeon Sang-ho tells the story of a woman, played by Kim Hyun-joo, who experiences a string of murders surrounding her after inheriting a burial ground from her uncle.

Two other Korean dramas, "Captivating the King" and "Doctor Slump," made it into the top 10 at No. 7 and No. 9, with 1.5 million and 1.4 million views, respectively. (Yonhap)
The National Assembly launched a committee Wednesday to gather public opinions on national pension reform in an effort to draw a bipartisan agreement on enhancing the financial stability of the system amid population aging.

Revamping the national pension system is one of President Yoon Suk Yeol's key agenda items amid deepening concerns the pension fund could deplete sooner than expected due to rapid aging. The state-run National Pension Service said earlier that the fund is forecast to be exhausted by 2055 after experiencing a shortfall starting in 2041.

Chaired by an honorary professor specializing in social welfare studies, the committee will conduct two rounds of public surveys on several issues, such as premium rates.

The results will then be reported to a parliamentary special committee on pension reform to facilitate bipartisan agreement before the current parliamentary term concludes on May 29.

"The results of the public opinion poll will serve as an important standard and stepping stone for pension reform," said Rep. Joo Ho-young of the ruling People Power Party, who chairs the special committee, urging the committee to reach a conclusion as soon as possible.

Korea is anticipated to have the world's largest share of people aged 65 years or older by 2044 due to rapid aging, according to data from Statistics Korea. (Yonhap)
Hong Kong: Lam Sai-hung ends Singapore visit

Wrapping up his trip to Singapore today, Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung paid visits to the Intelligent Transport Systems Centre, Jurong Island and Changi Airport, and met local officials.

Mr Lam first went to the Singaporean Land Transport Authoritys Intelligent Transport Systems Centre to understand the challenges in Singapores urban traffic management and how the intelligent transport systems could improve transport efficiency. He then visited the Singapore Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal on Jurong Island where he received a briefing on the use of sustainable energy.

In the afternoon, the transport chief toured Changi Airport and met representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. He also met Singaporean Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Noting that Hong Kong and Singapore have all along maintained close bilateral trade relations, Mr Lam said he looks forward to the strengthening of co-operation between the two places as well as collaborating on promoting transport and logistics development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr Lam also met Hong Kong people living in Singapore in the evening to learn about their daily lives.

He will return to Hong Kong tomorrow.

This story has been published on: 2024-01-31. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
U.S. rolls back sanctions on Venezuela following ban on opposition candidate from running for president

Xinhua) 09:12, January 31, 2024

Vehicles run on a highway in Caracas, Venezuela, July 20, 2021. (Photo by Marcos Salgado/Xinhua)

Venezuela's Supreme Justice Tribunal upholds a ban prohibiting the country's opposition presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado from holding public office.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Joe Biden administration reimposed sanctions on Venezuela targeting its oil and gas sector on Tuesday, saying the move was in response to the decision by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government to ban a leading opposition candidate from running for president.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that since the Maduro government failed to honor an agreement it reached in October with the opposition Unitary Platform to allow all opposition candidates to compete in the presidential election later this year, the United States will not renew a relief to Venezuela's oil and gas sector beyond its expiration date of April 18.

The relief, known as General License 44, was issued in October to encourage the Maduro government to fully implement the agreement reached in Barbados.

Additionally, the United States is revoking General License 43, which authorizes transactions between U.S. persons and Minerven, the Venezuelan state-owned gold mining company.

Venezuela's Supreme Justice Tribunal on Friday upheld a ban prohibiting the country's opposition presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado from holding public office.

Asked about the possible reinstatement of the sanctions on Monday, John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, told a White House press briefing that Maduro and his allies "haven't taken those actions" they committed themselves to in the Barbados Agreement.

"Now, accordingly, they got until April to do so, so we have options available to us. I'm not going to preview any of those at this time. But we certainly have options, with respect to sanctions and that kind of thing that we could take," Kirby said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Korea's financial regulator said Wednesday it will make it easier for regional lenders to become nationwide commercial banks, in a move aimed at promoting competition in the banking sector.

"The government announced on July 5, 2023, that it will seek to promote the transition of local banks to commercial banks as a way of promoting competition in the banking sector," the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said in a press release.

"The most representative change will be that a local bank's area of operation will become nationwide once it turns into a commercial bank, promoting competition among banks in its new area of operation," the FSC said.

Currently, a banking act does not specify whether an existing regional lender is required to file for a fresh review to become a nationwide commercial bank.

Under the proposed plan, any existing regional lender will be able to request for a transition into a nationwide commercial bank as long as they meet the minimum criteria  100 billion won ($74.9 million) in capital among others  eliminating the need for them to go through the separate process of closing their existing business while seeking to establish a new business as a commercial bank.

Regional lenders seeking to become a nationwide commercial bank will also be allowed to skip the process of asking for preliminary approval, which is currently required for all new commercial banks.

In addition, banks facing possible indictment of their officials for financial accidents or crimes will be allowed to request for a transition into commercial banks as long as the suspected case does not involve their shareholders.

The FSC said no local bank had yet to ask for a transition into a commercial bank as of Tuesday, but noted a review for such a process may take far less time than one for a fresh business "considering that they (local banks) are already engaged in banking business with necessary personnel, materials and equipment, unlike in the case of a new business." (Yonhap)
Korea's imports of whiskey surpassed 30,000 tons for the first time to hit an all-time high last year amid rising popularity of whiskey-based cocktails, customs data showed Tuesday.

Imports of whiskey products came to 30,586 tons in 2023, up 13.1 percent from 27,038 tons a year earlier, according to data compiled by the Korea Customs Service.

But the combined value of imported whiskeys decreased 2.7 percent on-year to $259.6 million on increased shipments of cheaper ones.

Market observers attributed the sharp increase in volume of imported whiskey to the high popularity of highball cocktails, a mix of usually cheaper whiskey and a carbonated beverage, among those in their 20s or 30s.

Meanwhile, imports of wine dropped for the second consecutive year last year on reduced home consumption following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The volume of imported wine slid a record 20.1 percent to 56,542 tons.

The value of imported wines also decreased to $506 million last year from $581.3 million a year ago. (Yonhap)
Kim Hye-soons 'Phantom Pain Wings' nominated for US book award

By Park Han-sol

Han Kangs I Do Not Bid Farewell and Ma Yeong-shins Moms have been shortlisted for the Emile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature in France, according to the Literature Translation Institute of Korea.

International Booker Prize-winning author Hans novel examines the tragic Jeju April 3 Uprising and Massacre through the perspectives of three women. The 1948 anti-communist military campaign resulted in the purge of around 30,000 civilian demonstrators  nearly 10 percent of the islands population at the time.

Translated into French by Choi Kyung-ran and Pierre Bisiou, the book clinched the Prix Medicis for foreign literature in November, marking the first time a Korean piece received the esteemed French award.

I Do Not Bid Farewell will compete against two other contenders: Japanese author Akiko Kawasakis Horse and Wind and Indian British novelist Salman Rushdies Victory City.

For the prizes inaugural graphic novel category, Mas Harvey Award-winning Moms has been named one of the two finalists alongside The Boy from Clearwater: Book 3 by Yu Pei-yun and Zhou Jian-xin.

Translated into French by Lee Hyon-hee, the book presents a darkly humorous, unfiltered tale of four women in their mid-50s, focusing on the precarious balance they navigate between complicated love lives, sexual adventures and menial jobs.

Launched by the Paris-based Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts in 2017, the Emile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature recognizes an original literary work by an author from the region that has been translated and published in France. The winners for this years iteration will be announced on Feb. 29.

In the United States, the English-language translation of celebrated poet Kim Hye-soons poetry collection, Phantom Pain Wings, has secured nominations in the National Book Critics Circle Awards' poetry category and the Gregg Barrios Book in Translation Prize.

This poignant anthology of 72 poems, the words of which were rendered in English by Korean American poet and translator Don Mee Choi, portrays the endless struggles against injustice through a blend of Kims signature experimental language and elements inspired by Koreas folklore and legends. The awards ceremony will take place on March 21.
By Jung Min-ho

A group of YouTubers originally from North Korea  who now live in South Korea  set out on a trip to the United States to inspire and be inspired by Americans, who share their concerns regarding the human rights violations in the reclusive and repressive country.

Six North Korean defectors, including Park Yu-sung, who promotes human rights and various other issues on their channels, will meet college students, give talks and visit some of the most interesting places in California for nine days, from Jan. 27, and create content out of their experiences.

The project was launched by Freedom Speakers International (FSI), a Seoul-based NGO that supports North Korean refugees in South Korea, as part of its effort to empower them.

The YouTubers will also participate in events organized to raise awareness about the rights abuses through street performances and other activities, which they hope will connect them more deeply with the local people.

What they observe, learn and feel during the trip will undoubtedly be used in their future content for storytelling. Two of the participants said that they plan to create a documentary they can then to film festivals.

Our trip to the U.S. West Coast is centered around inspiring North Korean refugee content creators based in South Korea to be more innovative with their contents, Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder and chairman of the group, told The Korea Times, Tuesday.

This should be the start of them experimenting more with the types of content they create as they engage in public communication about North Korea.

Ahead of the trip, each North Korean refugee content creator had a mentor to help develop their plans. A professional comedian, a former K-pop star, an influencer in Britain and movie directors were among those who helped them with their planning.

Lartigue said that the inspiration for the project came when he heard the song "Generation Wrekked" by Chuck D, a U.S. rapper best known for his work as frontman of influential 80s hip-hop group Public Enemy: When I cant change the people around me I change the people around me.

So I told Lee Eun-koo (FSIs co-head), lets change the situation and people around North Korean refugees, he added. Our goal is to bring fresh perspectives to the narratives shared by North Korean refugees.
The company of famed food entrepreneur Paik Jong-won on Friday signed an initial agreement with the defense ministry to offer advice to improve dining operations amid efforts to enhance troop living conditions.

The ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with TheBorn Korea to come up with measures to improve cafeteria meals, and develop recipes and kitchen utensils suitable for the military.

Under the MOU, the two sides will choose a trial unit to employ such measures and advice from the company next month, with an aim to ultimately establish a standard model for improvement in mess hall operations, according to the ministry.

They also agreed to make efforts to provide employment support for service members who serve as cooks after their discharge.

At the signing ceremony, Paik said he hoped to make efforts to change the military dining experience, noting his son would have to serve in the military in about 10 years, according to the ministry.

Paik, known for his popular franchise restaurants, such as Paik's BBQ, recently starred in the variety show "The Backpacker Chef," where he showed interest in military dining by cooking meals for soldiers at mess halls.

The restaurateur is a retired Army officer and previously oversaw dining operations at the 7th Artillery Brigade during his service, according to the ministry.

All able-bodied South Korean men are currently required to serve at least 18 months in the military due to constant threats from North Korea. (Yonhap)
North Korea said Wednesday it conducted a drill to launch the Hwasal-2 strategic cruise missile the previous day to check its rapid counterattack posture and improve its strategic striking capability.

The launch in the Yellow Sea had "no adverse effect on the security of a neighboring country," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said without giving further details, including how many missiles were launched and how far they flew.

South Korea had said Tuesday the North fired several cruise missiles off the west coast.

Photos released by the KCNA showed a Hwasal-2 cruise missile flying at a low altitude.

Cruise missiles, powered by jet engines, fly low and maneuver, making them hard to detect and intercept.

White stripes were visible on the dark-colored body of the missile, resembling the appearance of a Hwasal-1 cruise missile that was previously launched.

The North first test-fired the Hwasal-1 and Hwasal-2 cruise missiles in September 2021 and January 2022, respectively, and has since launched several Hwasal-1 and Hwasal-2 missiles that are presumed to have a normal flight range of 1,500 kilometers and 2,000 kilometers, respectively.

While the launch of a cruise missile is not a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions banning the North's use of ballistic missile technology, it could pose a serious threat to security as nuclear warheads can be mounted on such missiles.

The latest launch marked the North's third cruise missile launch in a week.

On Sunday, North Korea test-fired a newly developed submarine-launched strategic cruise missile, named the "Pulhwasal-3-31," near Sinpo, a major shipyard for submarines, just days after the strategic cruise missile was tested for the first time last Wednesday.

Hwasal means "arrow" in Korean, and Pulhwasal means "fire arrow."

North Korea has dialed up tensions on the Korean Peninsula in the new year -- an election year for South Korea and the United States -- with weapons tests and hard-worded rhetoric.

The string of launches comes in what appears to be an effort to strengthen its capabilities to deliver nuclear warheads. Earlier this month, the North fired a solid-fuel hypersonic missile and launched what it claimed was an underwater nuclear attack drone.

During a year-end party meeting, Kim Jong-un defined inter-Korean ties as relations between "two states hostile to each other" and vowed to "suppress" South Korea's whole territory in the event of a contingency.

At the latest parliamentary meeting, Kim called for revising the country's constitution to define South Korea as the North's "primary foe" and announced the country will abandon its decadeslong policy of seeking reconciliation and unification with the South. (Yonhap)
The U.S. mission to the United Nations expressed "serious concern" Tuesday over North Korea's launches of what it claimed to be strategic cruise missiles this week, vowing to work with all members of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) to address Pyongyang's threats.

The mission gave the comment to Yonhap News Agency amid speculation that Pyongyang has been engaging in the tests as the cruise missiles, unlike ballistic missiles, are not subject to UNSC resolutions despite their evolving threats.

"All launches by the DPRK are of serious concern, and the United States reiterates its condemnation of Pyongyang's WMD and ballistic missile launches programs," a spokesperson of the U.S. mission said. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We have and will continue to engage with all members of the U.N. Security Council to address these ongoing threats to international peace and security," the official added.

The North conducted a drill to launch the Hwasal-2 strategic cruise missile Tuesday, two days after it fired what it claimed to be submarine-launched cruise missiles, named Pulhwasal-3-31, according to its official Korean Central News Agency.

Hwasal means "arrow" in Korean, and Pulhwasal means "fire arrow." (Yonhap)
North Korea said Wednesday it will hold an eight-day cultural event next month on the occasion of the 82nd birth anniversary of the country's late leader Kim Jong-il.

The people's arts festival will be held Feb. 11-18 in Pyongyang to mark the anniversary, which falls on Feb. 16, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea celebrates the birthdays of its two late leaders  current leader Kim Jong-un's grandfather and father, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il  as two of its most important holidays.

North Korea has yet to officially confirm or designate the birthday of Kim Jong-un, presumed to be born on Jan. 8, 1984, as a national holiday.

Kim Jong-il saw his birthday designated as a national holiday in 1982, when he was 40, eight years after he was designated as the successor to his father and the country's founder Kim Il-sung. (Yonhap)
President Yoon Suk Yeol said Wednesday that the North Korean regime is an "irrational group" that has legalized the preemptive use of nuclear weapons and will likely carry out multiple provocations to interfere with South Korea's April parliamentary elections.

Yoon's remark came as North Korea has ratcheted up tensions on the Korean Peninsula with a series of weapons tests since the start of the year, including back-to-back cruise missile launches last Wednesday, Sunday and Tuesday.

In recent remarks, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also likened inter-Korean relations to those of "two states hostile to each other" and called for revising the North's constitution to define the South as a "primary foe and invariable principal enemy."

"Such actions themselves are anti-national and anti-unification, and provocations and threats that run counter to history," Yoon said while presiding over the annual central integrated defense council meeting at the former presidential compound of Cheong Wa Dae.

"The North Korean regime is an irrational group that has legalized the preemptive use of nuclear weapons as the only (country) in the world to do so. If it was a sensible regime, it would abandon its nuclear weapons and search for a way for its people to live, but the North Korean regime is bent only on maintaining its hereditary, totalitarian regime," he said.

Yoon also said North Korea's suspected weapons trade with Russia is a "very threatening provocative act" against not only global security but also security on the Korean Peninsula.

He further noted South Korea's upcoming parliamentary elections on April 10, which he said are at the center of a liberal democratic political system.

"For the past 70 years, the North Korean regime has worked tirelessly to bring down the Republic of Korea's liberal democratic system, and in years with important political events, it has constantly carried out social disturbances, psychological warfare and provocations," he said.

"This year we expect to see many provocations aimed at interfering in our elections, such as border area provocations, drone infiltrations, disinformation, cyberattacks and rear disturbances," he added, noting the possibility of a North Korean provocation is considered high among foreign security experts.

Wednesday's meeting brought together some 170 people from the government, military, the National Intelligence Service and other fields to discuss ways to respond to various North Korean provocation scenarios.

Unlike previous years, the meeting was also attended by 11 members of the public who have contributed to the nation's defense, marking the start of a new chapter in ensuring an "integrated defense" system, according to the presidential office. (Yonhap)
China's top political advisor meets Rwandan Patriotic Front delegation

Xinhua) 09:24, January 31, 2024

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with a delegation led by Wellars Gasamagera, secretary general of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met on Tuesday with a delegation led by Wellars Gasamagera, secretary general of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).

Wang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that in recent years, the two countries' leaders have maintained communication and exchanges in various ways, leading the continuous development of bilateral relations.

China is willing to work with Rwanda to consolidate strategic mutual trust, deepen high-quality cooperation on jointly building the Belt and Road, strengthen international coordination and push friendly China-Rwanda relations to a new level, Wang said.

He noted that the CPPCC is willing to strengthen exchanges with the Rwandan side and make more contributions to the development of bilateral relations.

For his part, Gasamagera said that the RDF cherishes the brotherly friendship with the CPC, admires China's remarkable development achievements and thanks China for its long-term support for the development of the country.

Rwanda adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to strengthen the exchange of experience with China on party and state governance, achieve common development, jointly implement the three major global initiatives and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with a delegation led by Wellars Gasamagera, secretary general of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
President calls Pyongyang regime 'irrational group'

By Nam Hyun-woo

President Yoon Suk Yeol said Wednesday that North Korea is expected to stage a number of provocations to sway South Korean voter sentiment in the upcoming general elections scheduled for April 10. In response, he called on the military to enhance defense readiness.

The provocations could include, according to the president, not only military moves, but also cyberattacks and fake news.

This year, South Korea will hold an important election, which is the political core of a free democracy, Yoon said during an annual central integrated defense council meeting involving the military, police, government and the general public.

For the past 70 years, the North Korean regime has worked tirelessly to bring down our liberal democratic system, and in years with important political events, it has constantly carried out social disturbances, psychological warfare and provocations. And this year, border area provocations, drone infiltrations, fake news, cyberattacks and other provocations are expected to influence the elections.

Yoon made the comments amid increasing concerns that Pyongyang may attempt to influence Seoul's April 10 general elections through various provocations. The North conducted a series of cruise missile tests last Wednesday, and on Sunday and Tuesday, seemingly posing a threat directed at South Korea.

Also, South Korean intelligence authorities are warning about the growing risks of North Koreas cyberattacks, such as hacking attempts on the election authority, fake news and propaganda using deep fake technologies.

North Korea's cyberattacks have the potential to shut down government functions and disrupt the daily lives of the people, Yoon said.

Also, society could experience significant chaos through fake news and false propaganda. We have to discuss measures to prevent cyberattacks on the countrys key infrastructure and block fake news and propaganda.

Traditionally, North Korea has staged various types of provocations before major elections are held in South Korea, including the 2010 sinking of the ROKS Cheonan, which took place three months before the local elections.

Due to this historical pattern, South Korea has braced for the so-called "North Wind," a term widely used until the late 1990s referring to the strategy where conservatives in the South leverage provocations from the North to influence the sense of security among the South Korean people, aiming to persuade them to choose a conservative candidate.

During a separate press conference, Wednesday, main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung claimed that the Yoon administrations North Korea policy is only escalating the risks of war and mentioning the term North Wind.

If, by any chance, the Yoon administration attempts to play a war game for political gains like the North Wind, it should stop immediately," Lee said.

Irrational group

During the defense meeting, Yoon said the North Korean regime is the only irrational group in the world that has legalized the preemptive use of nuclear weapons.

A rational regime will abandon its nuclear weapons and look for ways to save its people, but the North Korean regime is doing everything it can only to maintain its hereditary, totalitarian rule, Yoon said.

Also, the regime is now trading weapons with Russia, blatantly neglecting international laws and United Nations Security Council resolutions. This is a very threatening provocation to the security of not only the Korean Peninsula but also the international community.

This is the second time that Yoon presided over the annual central integrated defense council meeting. The presidential office stated that Yoon opted to participate in the meeting due to the increasingly serious security environment, prompted by North Korea's recent rhetoric characterizing inter-Korean relations as those of hostile nations and issuing threats to annihilate Seoul.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently said the two Koreas relations are equal to those of two hostile states and called for a revision of its own constitution to define the South as a primary foe and invariable principal enemy.

Such actions are anti-national and anti-unification, and provocations and threats that run counter to our history, Yoon said.

In the meeting, the government conducted risk assessments and examined response measures, focusing on scenarios involving North Korea's potential provocations using long-range artillery. Each ministry and agency presented updates on the present security situation, civil defense preparedness, and the assessment of the integrated defense posture.
Pharmacists say delivery system could cause misuse or abuse of drugs

By Jun Ji-hye

Pharmacists are raising concerns over the possibility of drug deliveries being fully allowed in the country, after President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed regret over the prohibition of the delivery system under the current pilot telemedicine program and signaled his willingness to improve relevant services.

The president made the remarks on Tuesday during a government-public debate on peoples livelihood issues, where he vowed to do his best to get legislation passed to expand telemedicine services, which have been significantly cut back following the transition from the COVID-19 pandemic to endemic status.

Telemedicine based on digital technology brought innovation to medical services, but the end of the pandemic led to limited implementation, and inconveniences remain, including the prohibition of drug delivery, Yoon said.

Yoons remarks embarrassed pharmacists, who have openly opposed the drug delivery system and made joint efforts to block the permission of the delivery in the pilot telemedicine program.

The Korean Pharmaceutical Association earlier said the delivery system could be abused and increase confusion of patients.

The delivery system could violate patients rights to choose a pharmacy and cause misuse or abuse of drugs, said a pharmacist who runs a pharmacy in Seouls Dongjak District. Even if a prescription is fabricated, there will be no way to verify it, if this delivery is allowed.

He also raised concerns over the possibility of the misplacement or loss of drugs during delivery.

Telemedicine, or non-face-to-face medical treatments, which are technically illegal under the current Medical Services Act, were temporarily allowed in Korea in February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling people to use phone consultations and prescriptions for a limited time.

After the public health crisis came to an end, telemedicine continued as a pilot project in June last year with available services significantly narrowed.

Amid growing complaints over limited implementation, the health ministry, Dec. 15, expanded coverage areas and time spans under which one can receive telemedicine services, but did not lift a ban on drug delivery.

The ministry exceptionally allowed drug delivery only for those who suffer from infectious diseases, live on islands or in mountain areas or who have mobility difficulties.

After Yoon spoke publicly about the possibility of allowing the drug delivery, Jeon Byung-wang, who is in charge of health care policy at the ministry, said 9,000 out of 24,000 pharmacies across the country have filled prescriptions for patients who received non-face-to-face medical treatment.

If a pharmacist rejects filling a prescription for a patient of non-face-to-face medical treatment, it will be in violation of pharmaceutical laws, Jeon said, vowing to enhance the governments monitoring over any possible violations in this regard.

Meanwhile, Consumerwatch, a non-governmental consumer organization based in Seoul, welcomed Yoons will to allow drug delivery, calling the current prohibition an outdated regulation.

The pilot telemedicine service has been significantly expanded, but still has limitations as patients cannot get drugs delivered, the organization said. The countrys telemedicine services will be completed when all procedures  from a doctors consultation to drug delivery  are implemented non-face-to-face.
A senior prosecutor indicted for conspiring in 2020 with a then opposition lawmaker to have complaints filed against then ruling camp figures was sentenced to one year in prison by a court Wednesday.

The Seoul Central District Court handed out the prison term to Son Jun-sung, deputy chief prosecutor of the Daegu High Prosecutors Office, after finding him guilty of leaking official secrets and violating the personal information protection law.

Son, who formerly served as an aide to then Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol, was indicted in mid-2022 on charges of secretly asking People Power Party Rep. Kim Woong, just before the general elections in April 2020, to file complaints against three pro-government figures for their alleged involvement in negative news reports about Yoon's wife.

The indictment of Son was filed by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), an anti-corruption investigation agency launched in January 2021. Son's case marks the first guilty verdict among cases directly prosecuted by the CIO.

The court said it can be acknowledged that Son, then as an investigative information policy officer at the Supreme Prosecutors Office, was involved in writing and reviewing written complaints delivered to Kim and thus violated the political neutrality required of prosecutors.

In the preceding trial, the CIO requested a three-year term for Son on the charge of violating the election law and an additional two years in prison on other charges, including a leak of official secrets and a violation of the personal information protection law.

Son has been suspended from duty since being impeached by the National Assembly last month. He vowed to appeal after the court ruling. (Yonhap)
Unique exhibitions, photo zones, merchandise and food will be showcased

By Jung Da-hyun

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will open a pop-up store in Seongsu-dong, a trendy neighborhood in Seongdong District, for a four-day run from Thursday.

It will showcase a variety of Seoul-inspired merchandise and experiences under the theme "Seoul Life."

The store will open at 6 p.m. and close at 9 p.m. on its opening day, and it will then run from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the following days.

Admission is free, and no reservations are needed. However, the city said an on-site reservation system can be installed in case of overcrowding.

The pop-up store will be located at a popular cafe named Ssennue in Seongsu-dong.

The first floor of the two-story store will be decorated under the theme "Seoul Night," featuring exhibitions with LED lights that paint an image of Seoul's nightscape.

The store will also offer delectable desserts featuring the city brand's pictograms. Three types of beverages and four types of chocolate will be provided for free to the first 100 participants who engage in programs at the store.

The store's second floor, called "Seoulite," will represent the people of Seoul. Visitors will be able to engage in quiz games about Seoul and create postcards under the theme of "Life in the City."

In addition, an array of photo zones will be prepared at the store.

The city, in particular, intends to incorporate Seoul merchandise and mascots in the store. It said the photo zones will be designed to appeal to Gen Zers, known for their penchant for posting pictures on social media.

The second floor will also have an exhibition and sales space for Seoul's merchandise, as well as experience zones.

A diverse array of merchandise available for purchase will include popular items like hoodies, pouches, slippers, mini broomsticks and incense sticks.

These sought-after products debuted at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza Design Store on Dec. 30 last year and were designed in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Design Foundation and the Seoul Tourism Organization.

According to the city government, people formed lines to buy the city-themed merchandise up to an hour before the sales began at the store.

They are still available at the store and its online mall.

The city government will also unveil Seoul Ramyeon for the first time at the store, which it created in collaboration with Pulmuone, a food company.

Seoul Ramyeon will be available in two options, one with soup and another with black bean sauce paste.

The city government said that both flavors use dried noodles to reduce calories and provide a healthy culinary experience.

Moreover, Seoul Ramyeon uses one type of packaging for both its seasoning and vegetable flakes to reduce waste.

The pop-up store will also host events to present a range of products, including a Seoul merchandise lottery and free Seoul Ramyeon handouts to visitors.

Entertainer Hong Hyun-hee and her husband Jasson, Seoul's honorary ambassadors, are scheduled to visit the store on its opening day, and will participate in various events.

A portion of the proceeds from the store will be donated to charitable causes.
By Jung Da-hyun

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family unveiled a user-friendly guide to life in Korea for immigrants, Wednesday, underscoring its accessibility to individuals with basic Korean language skills.

This initiative aims to facilitate the integration of immigrants by providing essential information in a comprehensible manner.

The ministry is providing information for living in Korea in 12 diverse languages through the ministry's multicultural family support center Danuri's website and call center. These languages include Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, Mongolian, Russian, Thai, Cambodian, Japanese, Uzbek, Lao, Nepali and English.

The newly released guide is based on previously provided information, tailoring its content to be more accessible for immigrants beyond the 12 specified languages who possess basic Korean language proficiency, according to the ministry.

Comprising the top 10 most necessary topics for immigrants in Korea, the guide offers information on processes such as obtaining a certificate of alien registration, renting a home, utilizing banking or postal services, and activating and using a mobile phone.

While the guide is presented in Korean, the ministry emphasizes its focus on delivering information in a manner that enhances immigrants' understanding, aiming to spread useful information more effectively by overcoming language barriers.

Access to the guide is facilitated through the Danuri website, and physical copies will be distributed as brochures to a total of 231 family centers nationwide.

Furthermore, copies will be provided to pertinent agencies, including the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, so that they can be distributed to immigration offices and community centers, which are frequently used by immigrants.

In order to expand access to information, the ministry is striving to alleviate any difficulties that immigrants from various countries may encounter in obtaining essential information about life in Korea, said Kim Sook-ja, the chief of the Family Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
Victims' families cry foul over presidential veto on special act for investigation

By Lee Hae-rin

Four hundred and sixty days ago, Lee Sung-ki lost his son, Dong-min, to the tragic crowd crush in Seouls Itaewon during a Halloween celebration.

Dong-min, a 180-centimeter tall, fourth-dan taekwondo black belt holder, was a loving son and grandchild who used to give money to his grandmother from his salary every month. However, the elderly woman is still unaware of her eldest grandchilds death because Lee, who still cannot understand exactly why and how Dong-min died, keeps it a secret from her.

Im ashamed to call myself a father, Lee said in front of his sons portrait photo at the memorial altar set up in front of Seoul City Hall, Tuesday. My mom has no idea that her grandson died. She thinks hes traveling overseas, because I couldnt tell her the truth. I just cant.

Hoping to understand what caused the tragedy, he and members of other bereaved families stayed at the memorial altar for the past year, staging hunger strikes and demonstrations.

This winter, they braved freezing weather and held hours-long reverent marches to the presidential office and the National Assembly multiple times, urging the enactment of a special act aimed at investigating the tragedy that took 159 lives.

He collapsed in resentment when President Yoon Suk Yeol rejected the act and offered compensation and a support plan for the families, Tuesday. He grabbed the gate of the Government Complex Seoul during the Cabinet meeting which decided to call on the National Assembly to reconsider the investigation act, and cried in anger until he lost his voice.

We are not asking for money. We can live without money, Lee said. All I want is to find out why our kids died from a disaster like this. Dont buy us out with money, just do us some justice.

Shin Ji-hyun, the mother of the late Kim San-ha who was there with Lee, said the news of Yoon's veto broke her heart.

Yoons approval to reconsider the act convinced her that "they (the government) must be so scared of us," she expressed. Tearfully, she added, "They're so frightened that they keep hiding and insisting unreasonably... but please, I wish people won't use us politically and look at things for what they are. It's so unfair for us and our children."

The victims families believe the government, which, according to the group, has never communicated with them regarding the victims memorial and investigation, ended up silencing them in the most humiliating way, by offering compensation.

This administration has no blood or tears. We asked, begged, and pleaded for this past year (to ascertain the truth), but the government killed us again today (Tuesday) with the veto, said Lee Jeong-min, the head of the family group.

The government didnt consider us as its people, so we will no longer consider this as our government.

According to the government, the special act, driven by the opposition, undermines constitutional principles by granting extensive authority to the investigation committee, which would waste administrative power and resources without a justifiable cause and practical use and deepen social division and distrust.

However, such investigative powers, including the authority to issue orders for accompanying individuals or request searches and seizures, have been given to similar independent investigation committees, such as the one for the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, the family group argues.

The Yoon administration plans to offer the victims families substantial compensation and support, which they have no intention of accepting. We will discuss nothing other than the special act and establishing an investigation committee, the leader of the family group said.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee noted last November that the country failed to thoroughly investigate the Itaewon disaster and recommended establishing an independent body to uncover the truth and punish those in high-ranking positions who are found responsible.

As Yoon's veto attracts mounting criticism from opposition parties, the family group plans to appeal to lawmakers to pass the bill once more.

Ascertaining the truth, that is our one and only dream. And we wont stop until our dream comes true. It will come true, Shin said.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung called Wednesday for the government to restore the hotline with North Korea to reduce tensions on the divided Korean Peninsula as a series of weapons tests and bellicose rhetoric raised concerns about war.

Lee, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), made the remark in a New Year's press conference, where he also vowed to seize victory in the April general elections.

"We strongly condemn North Korea, which is continuing its armed provocations in the East Sea and the West Sea," Lee said. "Chairman Kim Jong-un is throwing away the hopes of unification like an old shoe, and driving its people into misery even worse than the Cold War era."

Lee said that the 1950 Korean War was an accumulated result of small conflicts along the inter-Korean border, as he urged the government to restore the communication channel between Seoul and Pyongyang to prevent history from repeating itself.

"The Yoon Suk Yeol government must immediately restore the war-preventing hotline of peace," he said.

During the conference, Lee also suggested ideas to tackle South Korea's dwindling birthrate and improve the country's economy.

As a birthrate-boosting measure, the DPK leader suggested providing government subsidies to all children regardless of their parent's income, which could potentially be expanded to cover their education expenses and university tuition.

He also suggested forming a national organization to foster dialogue on resolving the issue.

As for the economy, Lee said his party will come up with more policy support for the country to adapt to the changing economic landscape focused on renewable energy sources, and increase investments in science and next-generation technologies, such as artificial intelligence.

"Over the last two years, the Yoon Suk Yeol government ignored people's wishes and went all in to kill its political opponents," he said. "We will seize victory in the general elections and overcome the crisis in state affairs caused by the Yoon Suk Yeol government." (Yonhap)
By Nam Hyun-woo

Only half of the election pledges made by the lawmakers in the current 21st National Assembly have been fulfilled, according to a policy trackers analysis, Wednesday, due to partisan conflicts impeding legislators from serving their duty of improving people's livelihoods.

According to analysis by the Korea Manifesto Center, 225 lawmakers who were elected from their constituencies have fulfilled 51.83 percent of election pledges, which they made during their election campaigns. Out of a total of 298 lawmakers, the analysis did not include lawmakers who earned their seats through the proportional representation system or refused to reveal data.

Of 9,502 pledges, 4,925 were assessed as accomplished because related laws have passed the Assembly and more than 50 percent of the related budget was implemented.

On the other hand, 4,002 pledges, or 42.12 percent, were assessed as ongoing, as they failed to meet those conditions. Since the 21st Assembly is set to close on May 29 and the general elections will take place on April 10, chances are high that most of those pledges will not be fulfilled during this term.

Among all pledges, 78.4 percent were about lawmakers constituencies, mostly about local development projects. On the other hand, only 14.94 percent were about legislation. The center said this shows that lawmakers showed interest mostly in securing budgets for local development rather than their duty of legislation during their activities in the Assembly.

By region, Gwangju showed the highest fulfillment rate with 66.86 percent, followed by Incheon with 63.43 percent and South Chungcheong Province with 58.33 percent. However, the numbers for Gangwon Province and Busan remained at 44.74 percent and 45.2 percent, respectively.

The 21st Assemblys pledge fulfillment percentage was higher than the previous 20th with 46.8 percent and 19th with 51.24 percent, but the center noted that the number managed to top the 50 percent mark.

The center attributed the absence of a supervisory system on lawmakers election pledges to the low fulfillment rate, saying parties which recommend candidates had no system for monitoring and assessing candidates pledges.

The center also criticized that the extreme partisan conflicts in the 21st National Assembly have hindered lawmakers from keeping their word.

It added, Due to the extreme political confrontations, communications and compromises between the rival parties became difficult, and the dialogue and cooperation between the National Assembly and the government disappeared, making it difficult for lawmakers to keep their election promises.
Old tactic may not guarantee victory in general elections: observers

By Lee Hyo-jin

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reformist Party and former chairman of the conservative ruling People Power Party (PPP), is in the media spotlight, again, due to his contentious pledges which critics say are highly likely to cause further social divisions, specifically between generations as well as genders.

After establishing his breakaway party earlier this year, the 38-year-old Harvard graduate announced a proposal to revamp the free subway ride service for riders aged 65 and older. Under current laws, people aged 65 and above can use the subway free of charge in any city, regardless of income.

Lee pointed to this welfare policy as a significant factor contributing to the snowballing deficits of subway operators, vowing that he would replace it with a yearly voucher worth 120,000 won ($90). This provoked a vehement backlash from the Korea Senior Citizens Association, which criticized Lee for spreading malicious lies against the elderly and urged him to quit politics.

Earlier this week, Lee made another pledge to pass a bill mandating military service for women who wish to apply for certain civil service positions such as police officers, maritime police and firefighters.

This promise largely reflects the sentiments of some young men who have been protesting the current policy of requiring military service only for men, saying that conscription should be expanded to include women so as to address what they perceive as unfair.

His recent moves are quite reminiscent of the 2022 presidential election when Lee, then PPP chief, raised the idea of the abolishment of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family as a campaign pledge for the party's then candidate Yoon Suk Yeol. During the election campaign, Lee emerged as a vocal critic of feminist groups, accusing them of neglecting men's rights.

This stance helped Yoon and his conservative party gain support from men in their 20s and 30s, who were once solid supporters of liberal blocs.

Political observers suggest that Lee appears to be employing a similar strategy for the upcoming April 10 general elections.

"After launching his own party, Lee has started to reassemble his primary support base  young men. He recognizes that male voters in their 20s and 30s are not steadfast supporters of the PPP, and aims to regain their support," said Park Sang-byung, a political commentator and professor at Inha University.

For one thing, the outspoken politician's attention-grabbing pledges have boosted the visibility of his newly launched party.

In a Gallup Korea poll conducted of 1,001 adults from Jan. 23 to 25, the approval rating for the Reformist Party stood at 20 percent, surpassing the 16 percent approval level of former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon's new party.

But Park was skeptical about the sustainability of this trend. "If Lee sticks with the current strategy, he will ultimately fail to expand his support base," Park said.

Kim Hyung-joon, a professor at Pai Chai University and former president of the Korean Association of Electoral Studies, commented that the young politician appears to be repeating his past mistakes.

"He appears to believe that the divisive strategy contributed to the PPP's victory in the presidential election. However, this was not the case. It was a failed strategy, considering that the conservative party lost a significant portion of young female voters to its rival, the DPK," Kim said.

The professor was cynical of Lee's old tactic of focusing exclusively on young male voters, believing that it would not pay off in the parliamentary elections.

"Targeting only young male voters while explicitly excluding young women and older adults appears to be an ill-advised strategy, particularly when considering the voter demographic and the relatively high voter turnout among women," he said.

In the 2022 presidential election, women in their 20s and 30s showed a higher voter turnout rate than their male counterparts. Plus, the upcoming general elections mark the first such election in the nation's history where eligible voters aged 60 and older outnumber those aged 30 and under.

Criticisms about the Reformist Party's divisive pledges have also risen within political circles.

"His strategy seems to be focused on gaining attention  being picked up by the media and appearing in broadcasts. That is the path to becoming a celebrity, or what we would call an attention-seeker, not the path for a serious politician," Jang Ye-chan, a member of the ruling party's Supreme Council, said in an interview with Channel A, Tuesday.

In response, Lee said that his proposals reflect his party's efforts to reform the nation.

"The alternatives we propose may, at times, be uncomfortable or perceived as unfavorable by certain individuals. However, these should not be disparaged by being labeled as 'divisive or hate speech.' These new perspectives show how we are genuinely striving for policy changes in Korea," he said.
Lee calls for more peace efforts with Pyongyang, expanded state role to improve lives

By Jung Min-ho

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), blamed President Yoon Suk Yeol for what he described as the countrys security, economic, demographic and democratic crises on Wednesday, claiming that his dogmatic leadership and incompetence resulted in the problems.

At his first press conference this year, ahead of the general elections coming up in April, Lee focused mainly on criticizing Yoon, while calling for restoring communication with North Korea and expanding the state's role in dealing with economic and other issues.

He accused Yoon, who was inaugurated in May 2022, of devoting his time in office so far to killing his political enemies, saying his party would help overcome those crises with better policies after winning the legislative elections.

South Koreas economy, once applauded by the world, is crumbling. A war crisis is looming. We now should be concerned about the countrys sustainability amid the falling population. Our democracy, once regarded as the best in Asia, is under destruction, Lee told reporters.

What is more serious than the crises themselves is that they were created by the government, which is supposed to sort them out.

He called for the Yoon administration to step up efforts to minimize the risk of war with the North, which recently announced that it officially abandoned its long-held unification policy.

In this game of chicken, where both South and North Korea refuse to back down, there is no buffer. Military tensions and risks benefit neither the South nor the North, he said. Our innocent citizens and young people should never be the victims of armed clashes that could have been avoided.

The first thing the administration should do is to restore the inter-Korean hotline, to which the North has remained unresponsive for nearly a year, he said.

The nations chronically low birthrate is another issue highlighted there.

With the national fertility rate  the average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime  estimated to drop further in 2023 from 0.78 the previous year, Lee called for a drastic increase in financial support, including direct cash subsidies for all newborns regardless of their parents incomes.

Through a comprehensive policy package that covers marriage, childbirth and daycare, the state should directly provide basic finances to all newborns and strengthen its support for housing, having children and daycare. In addition, we want to suggest the policy of basic incomes for newborns, Lee said.

The state should also consider expanding support in educational expenses, including all college tuition fees, if necessary.

As for the economy, Lee said his party would be more proactive and creative in supporting startups. One idea he mentioned was to enable financial institutions to invest in them more easily through system reforms.

Lee also said one of the DPKs policy priorities would be renewable energy. He criticized the administration for being too slow in the countrys green transition and promised to continue to help create a better industrial environment for the change.

He defined the Election Day as the day to regain the Korean vision lost under Yoon, calling for more support from voters. But given that his party already holds a sizable majority in the National Assembly, it remains to be seen whether they would be convinced by his message.








China, U.S. launch counternarcotics working group

Xinhua) 09:36, January 31, 2024

Chinese State Councilor Wang Xiaohong, also director of the China National Narcotic Control Committee, meets with a United States interagency delegation led by Deputy Assistant to the U.S. President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jen Daskal, and announces the inauguration of the China-U.S. Counternarcotics Working Group in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Wang Xiaohong met with a United States interagency delegation led by Deputy Assistant to the U.S. President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jen Daskal in Beijing on Tuesday and announced the inauguration of the China-U.S. Counternarcotics Working Group.

Wang, also director of the China National Narcotic Control Committee, expressed the hope that the two sides will take the important consensus of the heads of state meeting as the fundamental principle, mutual respect as the way of getting along with each other, and equality and mutual benefits as the basic principle, carry out practical drug control cooperation, properly address each other's concerns, deepen law enforcement and security cooperation, and inject more positive energy into the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations.

The two sides agreed to implement the San Francisco vision and realize practical cooperation in drug control, law enforcement and security.

Chinese State Councilor Wang Xiaohong, also director of the China National Narcotic Control Committee, meets with a United States interagency delegation led by Deputy Assistant to the U.S. President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jen Daskal, and announces the inauguration of the China-U.S. Counternarcotics Working Group in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
By Jung Min-ho

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Wednesday denounced an opposition lawmaker for co-hosting a seminar at the National Assembly, during which it said ludicrous views on North Korea were expressed.

Rep. Youn Mee-hyang, who was expelled by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea in 2021 amid corruption investigations, came under criticism for collaborating with left-wing civic groups to organize the event for sympathizers of North Korea on Jan. 24.

Among the speakers was Kim Kwang-soo, director of Hana Center, a Busan-based group. He reportedly said, if the North Korean regime starts a war for unification and if that war can bring peace eventually, South Korea should accept it.

He then said South Korean unification campaigners should step up efforts more aggressively beyond the boundary of the national security law as North Korea moves to abandon such efforts.

Other participants also expressed hardline views, criticizing South Koreas expanded security cooperation with the U.S. and Japan and praising North Korea for its self-reliance of national defense.

In a statement, Kang Sa-bin, a deputy spokesman for the PPP, criticized Youn for being part of such an anti-government event at a time when the North is amplifying its nuclear threats.

We strongly condemn Youn for hosting the pro-North Korean seminar at the Assembly, he said. She should apologize to the people over the anti-government acts.




Together with North Korea, Russia can disrupt US-led world order: experts

Editors note This is the first of a two-part series about Russia-North Korea military cooperation, shedding light on its potential dangers and to predict the extent of their ties by analyzing the mindsets of their leaders ED.

By Kang Hyun-kyung

Foreign policy observers are expressing confusion and concern while closely monitoring the risky military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. This collaboration has raised alarms not only in South Korea but also in the United States.

Understanding Russian President Vladimir Putin's intentions, among other factors, is particularly challenging, if not impossible. Moscow's weapons deal with Pyongyang is perceived as disproportionately benefiting North Korea, providing the reclusive state with numerous additional advantages beyond the revenues generated from arms exports.

The recent test-firing by North Korea of a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) with a hypersonic warhead on Jan. 14 triggered speculation that Russia may have played a role in assisting the North in enhancing its hypersonic missile technology.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the IRBM flew 1,000 kilometers, without providing other details about the missiles capabilities.

According to a South Korean media report, the missile reached a maximum speed of Mach 14 and an altitude of 100 kilometers. That suggests that North Korea has made significant progress in its hypersonic missile technology since the initial launch of its hypersonic missile in September 2021.

However, U.S. experts offer a somewhat different assessment of North Korea's missile capabilities.

Robert Peters, a research fellow for nuclear deterrence and missile defense at the Washington D.C.-based think tank Heritage Foundation, said North Koreas recently tested IRBM is hypersonic, but may not be as advanced as North Korea had previously claimed.

There are indications that it was just Mach 5, so it is technically hypersonic but its not hypersonic at the range of like Mach 10 which is some of the systems that were seeking to develop as well as what China and Russia are seeking to develop, he said in a Voice of America talk show streamed on YouTube on Saturday.

Peters noted the significance of North Korea's hypersonic missile test occurring as it increases military cooperation with Russia.

I think this may be another indicator that the Russians may be helping them with some technology transfer, he said.

He added that what North Korea might expect in return for supplying artillery shells and munitions to Russia might not involve hardware, such as fighter jets or submarines, as some speculated.

What I think is far more likely is that (Putin) will provide the North Koreans with technical capabilities so as to help North Koreans particularly in their missile program, he said.

A lingering question remains unanswered: What additional benefits would Putin have gained, beyond addressing shortages of artillery shells, from the deepening military ties with North Korea?

Experts suggest that Russia-North Korea military cooperation constitutes a mutually beneficial deal for both countries, with significant gains that Putin could derive from the arrangement.

Chris Monday, a professor at Dongseo University based in Busan, said North Korea is a useful card for Putin and he will exploit it as a tool to deflect attention from themselves.

For now, Putin needs North Korea for his war with Ukraine, he told The Korea Times. North Korea has the dumb weapons that cannot be electronically jammed, the bullets that the Russian convict brigades use to flush out Ukrainian positions for sophisticated drone strikes, and the cheap missiles used to overwhelm Western defense systems.

He noted that for Putin, North Korean aid is a blunt way to show that the West can no longer mount an overwhelming Desert Storm-style offensive.

The professor indicated that Russia needs outdated conventional weapons from North Korea to evade detection and possible disruption by the Wests modern military equipment.

He added that through military cooperation with North Korea, Putin is also attempting to use South Korea as an example to other countries.

South Korea, in his view, has become overly assertive, he said. Putin will try to use North Korea to deliver selective punishment on South Korea to be a lesson to other countries. He knows he cant invade the European Union. This is fantasy. So South Korea presents a handy target for Putin.

The Russian leader used a similar tactic in domestic politics.

Knowing that he cannot remove all of his critics and rivals, he has been selective and made an example out of someone. Monday said Alexei Navalny, a Russian opposition leader, lawyer and anti-corruption activist, became a victim by reportedly being sent to a remote prison colony, as Putin tried to use the case to warn other critics.

Putin is allegedly upset at South Korea because it is one of the countries having sided with the U.S.-led West against Russia in the war in Ukraine.

Russias foreign ministry reacted furiously to South Koreas announcement on Dec. 27 where it added over 600 types of goods that could potentially be used for military purposes to its export control list for Russia. Those goods include heavy construction equipment and rechargeable batteries.

This is an unfriendly move taken at Washingtons behest, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marina Zakharova said during a news briefing on Dec. 27. It will damage South Koreas own economy and industry.

In an interview with Russias state media, Russian Ambassador to Korea Georgy Zinoviev warned of potential consequences in the event that South Korea provides lethal weapons to Ukraine to assist in the ongoing conflict against Russia. He characterized South Koreas direct weapons shipment to Ukraine as a red line. South Korean law prohibits exports of weapons to war zones.

Russia-North Korea relations showed signs of evolving into a greater international security threat as Putin vowed to make a reciprocal visit to Pyongyang, following Kim Jong-uns visit to Russia in September.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia and North Korea were discussing Putins visit to the North through diplomatic channels and the results would be announced once a decision was made.

Wi Sung-lac, former South Korean ambassador to Russia (2011-2015), said if Putin visits North Korea as he promised, their bilateral relations would deepen further.

It will be Putins second visit to North Korea. His first visit to the North came in 2000, Wi said. Putin is the first and only Russian leader who paid a visit to North Korea. No Soviet head of state had ever visited the North during the Soviet years.

Wi said Putin's potential visit to North Korea would carry more political implications than diplomatic consequences for the two countries. He added that the Russian leader might be using North Korea as a means to convey tailored messages to the West, as well as South Korea.

His message for the West will be that he is against the U.S.-led campaign to reset the international order and that it wont happen because there are other countries, such as Russia, China and North Korea that are against it, and if necessary, they can team up to prevent it from happening, he said.

According to Wi, Russia also wants the South to stop moving closer the U.S. and is signaling that South Korea could face consequences if it does not take heed of Russia's position.

Russia is not comparable to the U.S. in terms of its economic power, but its military and science technology are as strong as those of the U.S. and therefore Russia will try to fully use its influence to negatively affect the international security environment.

He said there is a role Russia can play as an obstructor.

Wi indicated that Russia, constrained by its limited power, may not be able to shape the world order entirely in its favor. However, with its military technology and capabilities, Moscow has the potential to disrupt it whenever it chooses, especially if Russia collaborates with a country like North Korea.
Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho on Wednesday condemned some liberal South Koreans supportive of North Korea's war rhetoric for having an "anti-state" mindset that could undermine the foundation of the South.

The minister made the remark at the start of a screening session of "Beyond Utopia," a U.S. documentary film depicting North Korean defectors' desperate escape from their home country.

Citing a news report that some liberal experts said during a forum at the National Assembly last week that they can accept North Korea's perspective of war for the purpose of peace, Kim criticized them for following North Korea's propaganda.

"Their remarks made in the name of academic freedom carries an anti-state view that undermines the achievements and identity of the Republic of Korea. This cannot be tolerable," he said.

At the latest parliamentary meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for revising the country's constitution to define South Korea as its "primary foe" and to codify a commitment to "completely occupying" South Korean territory in the event of war.

The minister also condemned North Korea's bellicose rhetoric and its latest weapons tests as an "act of political provocation" designed to drive a wedge in South Korean society.

"Our people and the government should be united in realizing North Korea's true nature and repelling the North's deception and propaganda tactics," Kim said.

Meanwhile, after watching the documentary, the minister said in a meeting with around 200 young people that North Korea has been squandering scarce resources on weapons development while turning a blind eye to its people's livelihoods.

The film, directed by Madeleine Gavin, features an arduous journey by North Korean defector families who risked their lives to escape the repressive regime before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and related rescue efforts by South Korean pastor Kim Sung-eun. It hit local cinemas Wednesday.

"The issue of North Korea's human rights cannot be separated from the country's nuclear and missile problem," he said.

Pastor Kim, a human rights advocate who has rescued more than 1,000 North Korean defectors over the past 23 years, called for attention to North Korea's grave human rights violations.

"North Korea has touted itself as the world's best country, but more than 34,000 North Koreans have risked their lives to escape that nation and defect to South Korea," he said.

"I hope this film could give you a chance to realize how precious our freedom is and why we need to protect it. Also I want you to share the pain of North Korean defectors," the pastor added. (Yonhap)
By S Latham

A ginger cat approaches prudently on a snow-laden side street of Uiwang's Gocheon-dong, south of Seoul, stopping and then disappearing into the vacated spaces of this liminal place, once a flourishing neighborhood now awaiting its own destruction. In the depths of winter, mid-January, broken windows, death-rattling pipes, severed wires and hazard tape tell the story of Gocheon-dongs ponderous demise, but there is still life in this fading community, albeit one stuck in limbo.

Not far from Mount Morak, the site of a decisive battle during the 1950-53 Korean War which enabled U.S., South Korean and Turkish allied forces to take control of nearby National Highway No. 1, Gocheon-dong is packed with a mix of red-brick villas, small apartment blocks, older hanok-style houses, industrial blocks and architecturally distinct structures. Remnants and memories of a once-flourishing and youthful community full of children's bookstores, stationery shops, hair salons, hapkido schools, cram schools, butchers, locksmiths, cleaning stores, metal shops and more, fade and crack in and on lifeless buildings.

In 2011, the area was partitioned into two zones  identified by the Korean syllables "Ga" and "Na"  as part of a redevelopment project. The largely residential Na area was vacated after disposal approval in 2022. However, development administration of the more commercial Ga area has stalled, leaving merchants and small businesses stuck in limbo waiting for due process and compensation, as their customer base, once largely residents of Na, has already moved on.

The development, involving heavyweight Korean companies, is part of a broader urban renewal plan underway in Uiwang connecting several redeveloped districts across the city. Mayor Kim Seong-je  who has been central to the easing of the city's green belt regulations  envisions the transformation will turn Uiwang into the most livable city in the country by 2030.

Passing through

Walking through the Na area, theres a subtle cosmopolitan melange of architectural styles, shapes, forms and facades that still manifest the stories and relationships between brick-and-mortar and the people who once called this place home. These traces will be erased to make way for the new concrete behemoths that are to come, optimized to sell modern convenience and luxury. Still, for now, European-inspired dormer roofs angle sharply into the sky. A great many buildings feature tiled exteriors with rounded corners, and beautiful ornamental railings depicting cranes, pines, deer, turtles and mountains. Cylindrical glass features run like spines up narrow corner buildings that split the little roads in two. Most dwellings are no higher than a few floors or the still-abiding trees that command pride of place throughout.

The abstract joh-eun ssal building reaches its height at five floors with an idiosyncratic trapezoid shape dotted with a circular feature window. A friend from Australia suggested it had been designed by a heroin addict. Beside it, narrow staircases zig-zag to rooftop terraces skirted by little arches and pillars, and hanok-style tiled roofs. Neatly patterned brickwork in browns, oranges and reds fills walls. These are the most energy-efficient, the most eco-friendly homes of the country  homes that have already been built.

The piping at Sinyang Village APT is making death rattles in the icy cold. Theres a quaint hair salon lined with floral wallpaper, turquoise cabinetry, large mirrors and faded posters showing yesterday's styles.

In the midst of it all, and at the center of some allegations leveled at authorities over delays, is Gocheon Elementary School painted in bright blocks of yellow, orange, green and red. The school is still in operation, but students will need to move temporarily to alternatives before resettling at a school to be rebuilt nearby. Opposite it was once the Korean Womens Construction Union, the Dreaming Workshop and Josephs Bookstore.

Nestled beside the silent villas of Sageunae-gil sits a brick Presbyterian church. A dormant creeper is tightened over the buildings facade, a white cross on the roof and a steel tower that reaches into the sky with loudspeakers and another cross at its top. The main hall is empty, the basement flooded. Three or four of the area's parochial steeples which jut out against the skyline will soon go too, as will the flags of two Buddhist buildings and the beautiful red manja that greets motorists on the main road.

Life goes on

Life goes on in Gocheon-dong. A large community of cats squat in lonely homes and prowl in the snow. A caring local leaves open cans of tuna and bowls of food for them. They watch from fence tops and poky holes. None of the cats I reached out to for comment responded. Nor did the occasional pedestrian passing quietly through the streets offer much more than a forlorn glance of acceptance. Young couples seem to drift about giggling in the dark of the night here. A locksmith remains open, but the art supply shop is finally being emptied. Removalists heave a washing machine out onto the road and light up cigarettes under the falling snow.

The Good Day Good Trophy shop seems to be closing too  one of the last signs of activity in Na. Outside its front door are cabinets, books, tables, a running machine, a shovel, frames, jars and a sewing machine sitting unresolved.

Further toward the national highway in the Ga area, theres the old hof (beer house) still serving good times under its cosmic-themed painted ceiling to a few faithful clientele. A few shops down is Obongjujo, established in 1974. It's a makgeolli brewery rendered with bold and bright orange paint. If you call ahead, you can still have a tour while sipping on their product.

In a few years, this spot will be leveled under the principle of might is right. After that, maybe there will be a Starbucks here to keep you warm under the long cold shadows cast by 100-meter-high conforming blocks of concrete.
By Jon Dunbar

Mike's Korean Kitchen, a social media culinary project run by a guy named Mike, is returning to Seoul this Saturday for a pop-up event at Southside Parlor in central Seoul's Itaewon.

He will start selling his authentically seasoned Jamaican patties at 11 a.m. and keep going until he runs out.

A Jamaican patty is a bright golden semicircular pocket stuffed with meat.

The patties weigh over 112 grams, and are priced at 10,000 won each.

"I use real Jamaican hot curry powder, lots and lots of real butter," Mike told The Korea Times. "Working on having Crisco but that takes a while... need that if I'm gonna ever try to make a vegan patty."

He added that he uses real fresh scotch bonnet peppers.

"Hopefully this pop-up gets my biggest turnout," he said. "That's what I'm gonna try and prepare for."

Mike is active mostly outside Seoul, with his last Seoul pop-up being held at View 33 in Itaewon on Feb. 7, 2020, for a Bob Marley birthday event he helped organize.

This isn't on Bob Marley's birthday, which falls next Tuesday on Feb. 6, but it's clear Mike has Bob in mind.

"I always try to do something for Bob Marley's bday every year," he said.

Follow @mikeskorean_kitchen or @southsideparlor on Instagram for more information.
South Korea has started the construction of its third and last 3,600-ton-class naval submarine, the state arms procurement agency said Wednesday, amid efforts to bolster defense capabilities against North Korean threats.

Last month, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed a 1.1 trillion-won ($824.2 million) deal with shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean to build the Changbogo-III Batch-II class submarine by 2031.

DAPA said it held talks with Hanwha officials Wednesday to finalize the vessel's production schedule to complete construction by 2029 and deliver it to the Navy in 2031 after trial runs.

The 89-meter-long Batch-II submarine is part of the military's Changbogo-III or KSS-III program to acquire advanced diesel-electric attack submarines.

The Batch-II model is expected to have ten vertical launch tubes for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), up from six equipped in the 3,000-ton Batch-I submarines.

The new submarine's SLBM system is expected to serve a key role for the military's Kill Chain preemptive strike platform designed to eliminate key North Korean nuclear and missile targets if there are clear signs of intended use.

DAPA said the Batch-II submarine will employ the latest noise reduction technology for improved stealthiness and be equipped with a lithium-ion battery, allowing it to carry out longer underwater missions.

The Navy has so far received two KSS-III Batch-I submarines, with another one scheduled to be delivered this year. All three of the Batch-II submarines are currently under construction. (Yonhap)
Seoul to station 145 digital guides to assist older adults with tech usage

By Jun Ji-hye

The government will introduce an outreach program to teach how to use kiosks to older adults in rural areas to ensure that older, less digital-savvy people are not alienated from the growing use of technology.

The measure announced on Monday is part of the Ministry of Education's plans for 2024 to offer literacy education for adults.

A total of 6.73 billion won ($5 million) has been earmarked for the plans, including 185 digital literacy educational programs and 400 classes to teach basic literacy skills and arithmetic.

The outreach program comes as the use of digital platforms and devices, such as kiosks, delivery and shopping apps, have become common outside big cities as they are one of the most effective cost-cutting measures businesses adopt.

The program will utilize a bus equipped with relevant devices and materials that will visit centers for older people or village halls in underserved areas to bring services closer to where they live.

"I have found the use of kiosks inconvenient as I am not used to it. But these days, not many shops offer in-person services even in locations outside Seoul," a 65-year-old Gwangju resident said.

"I hope that the government will offer more educational programs on digital devices for older adults, and at the same time, I hope that companies will refrain from excessive expansion of digital services."

In a similar move, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held a launching ceremony on Tuesday for 145 "digital guides" who will work at major subway stations, large supermarkets or parks in the capital to assist senior citizens with the use of digital devices.

Beginning from Wednesday through the end of June, these guides wearing orange vests will work in pairs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays to help those who experience difficulties using kiosks or booking train tickets and calling taxies via smartphone apps.

Since the city government started the digital guide program in the second half of 2022, some 400 guides have participated, assisting about 270,000 citizens. User satisfaction reached 98.6 percent, according to the city.

Meanwhile, the education ministry will also carry out the first-ever survey this year to look into the digital literacy of people aged 18 or older. The door-to-door survey will then be conducted every three years.

"We will support people who experience rapid changes and continue their learning under difficult conditions," Choi Eun-hee, in charge of human resources management policies at the ministry, said.

"We will continue to expand digital literacy educational programs and actively find those who need such education."

According to the National Institute for Lifelong Education, the number of adults who are not literate and thus need learning at the elementary school level has reached some 2 million, accounting for 4.5 percent of the entire population.

The education ministry has offered similar programs since 2006 and began providing digital literacy education last year.
President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Tuesday to improve services in the digital government, online gaming and telemedicine sectors, saying digital technologies should be a tool to promote people's freedom and welfare.

Yoon made the remark during a government-public debate on people's livelihood issues, the seventh in a series, which brought together some 50 ordinary citizens, including experts and businesspeople from the gaming, medicine and administration fields, and officials from the Presidential Committee on the Digital Platform Government, the interior, culture and health ministries, and the presidential office.

"Even though we have established an excellent digital government, there are lots of areas that are lacking when it comes to the people actually feeling the convenience," he said during the session held at a startup support hub in Pangyo Second Techno Valley in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, noting Korea ranks No. 1 on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's digital government evaluation.

Yoon said large businesses have designated departments or employees to handle administrative work, but the same cannot be said of self-employed people or small business owners, for whom it is a large burden to have to visit multiple places to get various official documents issued.

"Our government will provide a one-stop tailored service that breaks down the walls between ministries and combines the scattered information and data in one place," he said, outlining plans to digitize the required documents for some 1,500 administrative services over the next three years, and replace personal seals, which are still widely used in Korea, with digital stamps.

"Even if we digitize just 30 percent of the required documents, which number 700 million cases every year, we can make savings in our budget in the trillion-won range," he said.

Yoon also talked about the need to protect consumers from unfair practices in the online gaming industry, and especially damage caused by randomized in-game items, saying the government will respond strictly to instances of game operators deceptively profiting off of item purchases.

He further vowed to do his best to get legislation passed to expand telemedicine services, which have been significantly cut back since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)
Impeached ex-President Park's case draws parallels with Yoon's troubles

By Nam Hyun-woo

President Yoon Suk Yeol is still contemplating how to deal with the allegations that his wife Kim Keon Hee received a Christian Dior bag as a gift in an inappropriate manner.

It appears that the two possible scenarios are either to hold a televised interview to address the controversy or remain tightlipped on the issue to avoid giving the opposition ammunition ahead of April's general elections.

According to sources at the presidential office, they are yet to decide how to communicate with the public on the occasion of the Lunar New Year  from Feb. 9 to 12.

An official said Yoons aides have already delivered various scenarios of Yoon engaging with the public, but nothing has been confirmed so far.

Reportedly, working-level aides have already delivered their opinion that the best possible scenario is Yoon taking part in a pre-recorded televised interview with broadcaster KBS, but the president has yet to make a decision.

Korean presidents have often engaged with the public through a New Year press conference or other types of communication methods, but Yoon has not held press conferences on domestic issues since Aug. 17, 2022, during his first 100 days in office.

Due to this, calls are growing that Yoon should communicate with the public this time, but the office has been taking a cautious stance on holding a press conference in line with concerns about possible questions related to Kims luxury bag controversy. Also, Yoons veto on a special counsel probe bill related to other allegations that the first lady was involved in a stock manipulation scandal.

Voice of Seoul, a liberal YouTube-based news channel, claimed in November that the first lady had been gifted the Christian Dior handbag valued at around 3 million won ($2,240) from a pastor in September 2022, who then later, released video footage of the incident. The video was filmed secretly by the pastor using a camera watch device.

Despite the presidential offices efforts to prevent questions about the first lady stealing the show, the handbag controversy continued to snowball, with influential foreign news outlets also reporting on the issue. This aggravated public sentiment toward not only the first lady but also the entire Yoon administration, and triggered calls for Yoon to explain the controversies to prevent the negative sentiment from spilling over onto the entire ruling bloc.

According to a poll by Realmeter, released Monday, Yoons job approval rating stood at 36.2 percent in the fourth week of January, down 0.6 percentage points from a week earlier. The negative sentiment reached 60 percent, up 0.2 percentage points during the same period.

In a poll by Gallup Korea, released on Thursday, 63 percent of respondents said Yoon is not performing his role correctly, and 9 percent of them cited the issue of first lady as the reason for their disapproval.

The Realmeter poll surveyed 2,506 from Jan. 22 to 26 at the request of the newspaper Energy Economy. The Gallup Korea poll surveyed 1,001 from Jan. 23 to 25. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commissions website.

Even if Yoon tackles controversies surrounding his wife during a televised interview, his remarks are anticipated to concentrate on stressing that Kim is a victim of a set-up using a spy cam, and the presidential office will employ measures to prevent such acts.

On Jan. 19, the presidential office said the pastor asked Kim to meet several times, citing that their family members are acquaintances.

Asking for anonymity, a different source at the presidential office said even if theres an interview, there is a fairly good chance that Yoon will not apologize, because the office believes Kim is the victim of a set-up using a spy cam, and hasty apologies may end up giving the opposition a chance to amplify its criticisms of the first lady, not state affairs.

Against the backdrop, some of Yoons secretaries reportedly voiced opinions that Yoon should not follow in the footsteps of former conservative President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached in 2017 for her involvement in a corruption scandal.

On Oct. 25, 2016, a day after a news report that Parks civilian confidant Choi Soon-sil had received drafts of 44 presidential speeches, the former president apologized to the public, saying that she asked for Chois advice before the presidential team was fully operational. However, reports continued on Parks relations with Choi, resulting in the public demanding that Park step down.

In her memoir, former president Park said that the apology was an irreversible mistake, because she intended to apologize for asking for advice from Choi, but the public interpreted it as the presidents admission that Choi was deeply involved in a lot of the state's affairs.

Ruling People Power Party (PPP) Rep. Lee Yong, who is one of the closest lawmakers to President Yoon, wrote on the PPP lawmakers Telegram chatroom on Jan. 20 that former President Park was impeached because she apologized and as soon as (Yoon) apologizes, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea will never stop going after this issue.
Construction of China's first domestic medical isotope test reactor starts

09:42, January 31, 2024 By Fan Wei and Hu Yuwei ( Global Times

Carbon-14 medical isotope developed and designed by Nuclear Power Institute of China under CNNC Photo: Courtesy of CNNC

The construction of the world's most powerful solution-type medical isotope test reactor commenced on Tuesday in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, according to information obtained by the Global Times from the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). This development aims to better address the diagnostic and treatment requirements of tens of millions of people in China.

After becoming operational, this reactor, constructed by the Nuclear Power Institute of China under CNNC, is projected to have an annual production capacity of 100,000 curies of molybdenum-99 and 20,000 curies of iodine-131. This will address the longstanding reliance on imports and the bottleneck issue concerning these two isotopes.

Furthermore, this development is expected to catalyze the downstream industry, generating an output value of more than 4 billion yuan ($0.56 billion), thereby significantly enhancing cancer diagnosis and treatment capabilities in China.

Medical isotopes are typical radioactive isotopes that have been successfully employed in the field of medicine. Carbon-14, a mainstream medical isotope, is utilized in breath tests to detect Helicobacter pylori during routine physical examinations.

Zhao Guang, the director of the medical isotope department at the Nuclear Power Institute of China, told the Global Times that dozens of medical isotopes, such as carbon-14, iodine-131, iodine-125, and strontium-89, are highly sought-after in the detection and treatment of major diseases. However, China has traditionally depended heavily on imports for its supply of medical isotopes.

A research report from the Nuclear Power Institute of China indicates that in recent years, China has depended on imports for more than 90 percent of medical isotopes produced through nuclear reactors, with a limited variety. Meanwhile, there is a gradual increase in domestic demand for medical isotopes.

"At present, the development of medical isotopes in China mainly relies on research reactors. However, these reactors are also allocated for other tasks, severely limiting their capacity for medical isotope production. With the market demand for domestic medical isotopes and their compounds expanding at a rate of 25 to 30 percent annually, the existing reactor capacity falls significantly short of meeting the consistently increasing market needs," said Yao Gang, the head of the Nuclear Power Institute of China, in an interview with the Global Times.

He emphasized that the imbalance between supply and demand not only significantly impedes the progress of nuclear medicine in China but also poses a threat to the lives and health of the public.

In 2009, the world's largest supplier of carbon-14, Canada's National Research Universal reactor, ceased production, leading to the discontinuation of China's carbon-14 supply. Wang Conglin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Nuclear Power Institute of China, told the Global Times that Western countries, including Canada, maintain a monopoly in medical isotope production, and the majority of China's medical isotopes are dependent on imports.

Due to the limited domestic development of the medical isotope industry, there exists a significant gap between the level of nuclear medicine in China and that in developed countries, Wang noted.

Simultaneously, depending on foreign procurement has consistently encountered issues of high prices and uncertain timely supply. Additionally, the international market is confronting supply challenges. The aforementioned research report indicates that in recent years, the global supply of medical isotopes has relied on a few research reactors in countries such as Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, South Africa, and Australia, most of which have exceeded their service life and are grappling with issues like high maintenance costs, challenging waste disposal, and safety risks. It is anticipated that they will be gradually decommissioned around 2025.

The stimulated model of the medical isotope test reactor by the China National Nuclear Corporation Photo: Courtesy of CNNC

"After the medical isotope test reactor is completed, it will attain an annual production capacity of 100,000 curies of molybdenum-99 and 20,000 curies of iodine-131, surpassing the current domestic demand," Li Qing, the chief designer of the reactor, told the Global Times.

Li further explained that the construction cost of the medical isotope test reactor is only one-third of that of a regular nuclear reactor, and the fuel consumption is merely 0.4 percent of the existing technology.

Zhang Jinsong, the technical director of medical isotope R&D at the Nuclear Power Institute of China, told the Global Times that the isotope reactor is expected to be completed and operational by 2027. Upon completion, it is poised to make a significant leap in the production capacity of the two most commonly used medical isotopes, iodine-131 and molybdenum-99, transforming China from an importing country to an exporting country.

It will also reduce the prices of domestic medical isotope drugs, making them more accessible and affordable for more people, according to Zhang.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Backlash expected as victims' families, opposition cry foul

By Nam Hyun-woo

President Yoon Suk Yeol rejecteda special act aimed at investigating the 2022 crowd crush in central Seoul's Itaewon, which resulted in the death of 159 people. The government justified the rejection by stating that the act, driven by the opposition, undermines constitutional principles due to its intent to establish an investigation committee.

The Yoon administration intends to offer compensation and support to the families of the victims rather than pursue a special investigation. This plan is designed to address their needs before a local court rules on lawsuits filed against the government. However, the government's rejection is expected to trigger a backlash, because the families of the victims say they do not want compensation, but wish to find out if the police and civil servants failed to do their jobs to prevent the crowd crush.

Yoon's repeatedvetoes of bills proposed by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are contributing to a growing feeling that the legislative process has ground to a virtual halt.

During a Cabinet meeting, Tuesday, ministers and other Cabinet members decided to call on the National Assembly to reconsider the Itaewon act, which was passed by parliament on Jan. 9. The presidential office said hours later that Yoon approved the decision.

The bill specifies that the investigation committee would have extensive powers, including the authority to issue orders for accompanying individuals or request searches and seizures. This provision raises concerns about the potential infringement of the Constitution's rule of warrant and the violation of the basic rights of the people, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said during the meeting.

Also, there are notable concerns regarding the fair and transparent process of appointing members of the investigation committee. Given the government's responsibility to uphold constitutional values, there is an obligation to carefully scrutinize whether this act should be enacted.

When the president asks the Assembly to reconsider a bill, it necessitates the presence of more than half of all registered lawmakers and approval by two-thirds of the attending legislators for the act to be passed again. This process makes it more challenging to secure approval. Consequently, demanding a reconsideration is widely viewed as a de facto veto by the president.

The Itaewon special act is notable for proposing the establishment of an investigation committee to probe the factors contributing to and identify those responsible for the tragic crowd accident. This initiative comes in response to criticism directed at the police and local authorities for inadequate preparation for crowd control and mishandling the emergency response.

The committee will be comprised of 11 members appointed by the president, with National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo recommending three and the rival parties each recommending four.

As Kim is a former member of the DPK, the government and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) have been against the act due to concerns that the committee would be composed of at least seven members favoring the opposition. This disagreement led the DPK, which holds a majority of seats in the Assembly, to pass the act unilaterally.

Family members of the victims have been protesting Yoons intention to veto the special act. On Monday, a group composed of some of the family members staged a walk-and-bow rally from Itaewon to the presidential office, protesting the envisaged veto and demanding a meeting with officials from the presidential office. On Jan. 18, 10 bereaved family members shaved their heads in front of the presidential office when the ruling party requested Yoon to veto the bill.

In an effort to resolve conflicts, the government said on Tuesday that it is working on a compensation package for the families. The prime minister said, "The government will welcome a law that can heal the wounds of the victims."

Nevertheless, the families of the victims are expressing discontent, asserting that the proposed compensation is humiliating.

For the past two years, we have never spoken of compensation or other financial support, because that is not essence of this issue, Lee Jeong-min, head of the family group, said in a radio interview with broadcaster SBS, Tuesday.

We believe the essence of this issue is finding the truth behind many questions surrounding the tragedy  And we believe there is no time limit in finding the truth and we will continue to make efforts to find the truth (after the veto).

During a press conference after the Cabinet's veto decision, the victims' families said in a statement, The president should exercise his veto power exceptionally when a law seriously harms the basic rights of the people or the general public is opposing it and added that Yoon is refusing the act for reasons that make no sense at all.

The main opposition slammed the veto decision.

How can finding the truth behind the death of 159 innocent people be a waste of the countrys administrative power and resource? DPK spokesperson Rep. Lim O-kyeong said. The Yoon government should stop humiliating the bereaved families and the general public who want to find the truth behind the tragedy.

DPK floor leader Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo also said the governments idea of compensating the families is an attempt to dodge the responsibility of the veto and is an insult to the victims.

This is the ninth bill Yoon has vetoed, which establishes him as the president who has rejected the largest number of bills passed by the National Assembly since the country transitioned to direct presidential elections in 1987.

The presidential office cites the DPKs advancement of a problematic bill as one of the reasons for the rejection. But the president's consistent vetoes on bills approved by the Assembly are supporting views that Yoon is unwilling to compromise.
By William R. Jones

One writer said, "The first step in creative writing is to edit reality." That's exactly what Banana Yoshimoto did in her novella "Kitchen." My friend, Oliver Smith, who is very familiar with Japanese culture moved out of our city into a country area and gifted the book to me.

What is most remarkable about Yoshimoto's piece is that it was written at the age of twenty-four. The English translation arrived by the hand of Megan Backus in 1993. Since then, Yoshimoto has naturally gone on to better and greater works. "Kitchen" did make it into filmography in Japan and Hong Kong.

In one-hundred and two pages, she brings to us a bit of Japanese thinking and culture. Additionally, she enlists a bit of American culture that had spread to the Far East. For example, she writes, "I pulled the futon into the deathly silent, gleaming kitchen. Wrapped in a blanket, like Linus, I slept." Futon is a traditional Japanese type of bedding (usually a mattress with a comforter or quilt cover) that one can fold and store away to allow space to serve other purposes during the day. It is a bit similar to the Korean "yo" which is a sleeping mat placed on the floor with a covering for use as a bed. And, you know Linus, which is a common first name in Sweden, as the fictional character in the comic strip Peanuts. He was always attached to a blue comfort security blanket.

Yoshimoto even captures some Americanisms in her writing. For example: In a table conversation in which two are speaking: "... It makes me very happy. So happy I feel like shouting it from the rooftops." ... "What kind of talk is that? Sounds like it was translated from English." Of course, you recognize the idiom alluding to climbing on a roof to proclaim or announce publicly some news so as to be heard by as many people as possible.

Mikage Sakurai, the primary character, worked part-time as a culinary assistant in a cooking school and her favorite of all places was a kitchen, whether it was spotlessly clean or dirty. The kitchen was a consolation to her in the times when she faced hard realities and needed to adjust and adapt to losses in her life.

So, what's the story about? It centers around Mikage whose 'family steadily decreased one by one,' leaving her alone. Then, came along Yuichi Tanabe (the second primary character) who befriended her and invited her to live with his family of two who gave her unconditional support. Later, Mikage stated," My God - in this gigantic universe there can't be a pair like us." The older sister of sleep robbed the both of them of family members and left them forlorn and desolate to share loneliness together in this big, big world.

A supporting character he/she Eriko Tanabe and I will not say more about this individual lest I give away a good part of the story. Anyway, Erika imparted philosophical advice to young Mikage: If a person wants to stand on her own two feet, I recommend undertaking the care and feeding of something. It could be children, or it could be houseplants, you know? By doing that you come to understand your own limitations. Thats where it starts.

That empirical view rings true for me!

The author (wrjones@vsu.edu) published the novella Beyond Harvard and presently teaches English as a second language.
By Kang Hyun-kyung

There have generally been two types of first ladies in Korea.

One is characterized by a strong commitment to causes, resembling activists. For instance, the late Lee Hee-ho (1922-2019), the wife of the late President Kim Dae-jung, falls into this category. Lee actively used her influence to contribute to the improvement of women's status in the nation. She was a unique first lady who actively expressed her opinions and worked towards her chosen cause.

On the other hand, the majority of other first ladies tended to be more passive, assuming a supporting role behind their husbands. They discreetly sought ways to contribute and support their husbands in managing state affairs, making a conscious effort not to attract attention or overshadow them.

In a sense, first lady Kim Keon Hee is an outlier. She has received lots of unwanted attention from the media since her husband, President Yoon Suk Yeol, took office in May 2022.

Its rare, and perhaps unprecedented, for the wife of an incumbent president to garner headlines. Historically, most presidential spouses have remained in the background, supporting their husbands as they led the country.

It is understandable for first ladies to be overshadowed by their spouses, because the title is not earned through their individual efforts. Instead, the title is automatically bestowed upon them once their spouse is elected president. In other words, they acquire the role of first lady by virtue of their husband's ambition and success in becoming president.

Kim is one of the two Korean first ladies who has drawn a tremendous amount of public attention. The other is the late Yuk Young-soo (1925-1974), who was the wife of former President Park Chung-hee and the mother of former President Park Geun-hye. Park Geun-hye's presidency came to an abrupt end in 2017 when she was impeached.

Yuk has been referenced often these days as the Korean public has begun to draw comparisons with Kim.

Yuk is remembered as a first lady who served as an inspiration to her fellow Koreans during her era.

Kim has been back in the media spotlight since last year when her conversation with a U.S.-based pastor, Choi Jae-young, and footage of him handing over a Dior bag to her as a gift, were secretly recorded and made public on YouTube, months after the interaction occurred.

It is true that the first lady is a victim of what her supporters describe as a hidden camera scam premeditated by malicious plotters. But such an excuse does not justify her actions and thought process. First of all, she should not have accepted the bag. Second, even if Choi pressured her to take it, she should have returned it immediately. More importantly, she should not have met a person like him who is accused of having violated the National Security Law.

The presidential office asserted that Kim was deceived by the pastor, suggesting that it is unfair to level accusations against her. However, many Koreans still wonder why the first lady agreed to meet Choi in the first place.

Yuk was shot dead by a North Korean sympathizer on Aug. 15, 1974, when she attended a Liberation Day ceremony held at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul. She was seated behind her husband, who was delivering a speech.

Yuk was, and continues to be, the most favored first lady among Koreans, garnering widespread support in surveys. She is regarded as a role model for first ladies by the Korean public.

Yuk did not spare constructive criticism for her husband whenever necessary. She confronted Park when he was heading in the wrong direction on policy fronts. She did not hesitate to inform her husband of uncomfortable truths, such as his relatives involvement in bribery cases or other illicit activities, so he could take immediate action to stop it. She was a responsive first lady. She spent most of her time reading and answering letters from Korean citizens. She tried to reach out to the poorest of the poor to offer help.

Yuk is still remembered by many Koreans for her dedication to hearing the voices of the voiceless and trying to make them heard by affecting public policy.

Korean society has changed a lot over the past five decades. The status of women is one of the areas in which a great deal of progress has been made.

Back in the 1970s, women in decision-making positions were certainly scarce, if not virtually nonexistent.

But today, women are everywhere in key positions at virtually every organization as an increasing number of female pioneers broke the glass ceiling in their respective fields.

Some may say that comparing two first ladies who lived in very different times is meaningless due to changes that Korean society has experienced and that each of them needs to be assessed based on the context of their times.

In the 1970s, for example, Korean society was far more Confucianist than it is today, and therefore women in general were expected to be obedient. Like Yuk, self-sacrificing and meek women were regarded as desirable.

But today, thanks to the improvement in the status of women in Korea, they are vocal, aware of their rights and willing to express themselves.

The general publics expectations of a first lady and her role needs to change in accordance with such societal changes, they would argue.

When the Dior bag scandal erupted, some sympathetic YouTubers, in defense of Kim, claimed that a fashionista first lady is far more preferable than one who wears worn-out, cheap-looking outfits, since she represents all Korean women.

But that is an erroneous claim. There is no mandate, whatsoever, given to a first lady to represent her countrywomen. In fact, no one ever asked her to represent all Korean women.

Despite this, first ladies are still entitled to certain perks and their related activities are financed by taxpayer money. This means that there are roles a first lady can and must play as the spouse of the president. And such roles, albeit unspecified, need to be related to the greater cause. First ladies, including Kim, are expected to act responsibly and accordingly.

There is a real-world example Kim can use as a role model.

Michelle Obama, the wife of former U.S. President Barack Obama, set an example for how a first lady can contribute to her country.

During a state dinner with then-Korean President Lee Myung-bak and his wife Kim Yun-ok held in October 2011, Mrs. Obama wore an elegant purple dress made by a New York-based Korean American designer, Doo-Ri Chung.

Her wardrobe choice created a media sensation. There was a lot of Korean media coverage about Michelle Obamas choice of dress with some stories focused on the designer and her upbringing. The U.S. first ladys fashion sense, which was intertwined with public diplomacy, had generated plenty of positive news articles about the U.S. presidential couple and these articles helped Korean readers build a positive image about the U.S. and its leaders.

Kim can find her role in public diplomacy. There are various options she can choose. There is one condition though. She needs to do it for the country, not for herself.




Parties should renegotiate Itaewon investigation bill

As widely expected, President Yoon Suk Yeol vetoed a bill on Tuesday to launch a special committee for investigations into the deadly crowd crash that occurred in Itaewon in 2022. Initiated by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the bill was designed to carry out intensive investigations into the disaster that claimed 159 lives during the Halloween weekend celebrations. While rebuffing the act, wary of the possible repercussions from the bereaved families, the government unveiled a plan to install a memorial facility for the dead while offering financial compensation to the families.

The president deserves criticism for the recent move, as it is the ninth exercise of his veto rights since he took office 20 months ago. It represents the largest number of vetoes being exercised by a head of state since 1987, following former Presidents Roh Tae-woo (7), Roh Moo-hyun (6), Park Geun-hye (2) and Lee Myung-bak (1). Frequent vetoing can be seen as a unilateral way of state administration with the current National Assembly dominated by the majority opposition party.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the DPK have remained poles apart over the matter. The PPP is skeptical of the opposition party, which they think, has been pursuing the special act, to exploit the agonies of the bereaved families for the sake of maximizing its political benefits.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, while presiding over a Cabinet meeting to discuss the issue, expressed concerns that the special act would lead to the misuse of administrative resources and deepen the national divide. The process of nominating the 11 members of the special committee may trigger disputes regarding fairness, Han said. The committee was supposed to be comprised of seven members from the opposition bloc.

The special act stipulates that the PPP and DPK each recommend four committee members while House Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, hailing from the DPK, is entitled to name the other three. As the committee was set to wield tremendous authority over forcible seizures, arrest, and overseas travel bans, the PPP has been worrying about the possible political maneuvering of the opposition party in the pretext of investigative activities.

Despite such concerns, however, it is not proper for the ruling camp to describe the bill as simply a political offensive. Such an attempt would be the equivalent of inflicting yet more damage on the bereaved family members. It is natural to attentively listen to the voices of the families who suddenly lost their beloved children and siblings. The government should sincerely reflect on whether it has tried to assuage the pains incurred by the families.

The government should take a lesson from the Sewol ferry disaster. The protracted duration of the crisis can be attributed to the government's initial shortcomings in addressing the emotional distress of the bereaved families. In the Itaewon case, for starters, Minister of Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, the top official in charge, has not assumed any accountability even though he repeatedly made inappropriate remarks.

The government took flak for having failed to promptly cope with the disaster from the beginning and to thoroughly investigate the case over the past 15 months. Albeit belatedly, it is encouraging that the PPP is seeking to renegotiate the act. Such a move deserves acclaim though it can be regarded as a political gesture, aimed at alleviating possible fallout on the April 10 general elections amid growing repercussions against Yoons veto of the related bill.

Yet there is little possibility for the parties to reach an agreement as they remain far apart without showing signs of budging an inch from their stances. The PPP should employ more proactive approaches in dealing with the bill instead of disregarding it as a mere political offensive. The DPK, for its part, should also refrain from asking for excessive demands, thus disrupting the negotiations.

It is hard to find a solution that could satisfy the rival parties and the bereaved families. Yet the parties should engage in renegotiations in a very sincere manner, and remain mindful of the heartbroken bereaved families.
Fundamental solution needed to create safer work environment

Following a two-year grace period, the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA) came into effect on Saturday for smaller businesses. This regulation applies to companies with fewer than 50 employees, encompassing 837,000 firms and impacting approximately 8 million employees nationwide.

In the event of major on-the-job accidents including deaths, these smaller estalishments can face penalties including a minimum sentence of one year in prison or fines of up to 1 billion won ($749,000), provided they did not have the necessary health and safety measures in place. It's noteworthy that smaller firms were initially exempt from the act when it was initially applied to larger companies in 2022.

The labor sector welcomed the broadening of the law, as workplace fatalities continue to be reported. The smaller businessess associations and the government have expressed deep regret, saying the law could lead to business closures and the firing of employees. Reports found that some restaurants or bakeries were not even aware that they would be subject to the law.

Since it went into effect in January 2022 on companies with 50 or more employees, there have been efforts to improve the law to make it more specific and move toward "self-regulation and prevention as well as punishment. But the implementation of the law faces challenges due to ongoing partisan conflicts, government and Assembly inaction, and a significant number of smaller businesses admitting their financial incapacity to afford safety personnel and establish proper safety systems. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) attempted to pass a revised bill extending the grace period for firms with fewer than 50 employees, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Both parties are now blaming each other, accusing one another of prioritizing their traditional voter bases instead of finding a bipartisan solution.

There is a slim possibility that they may reach a belated agreement during the National Assembly plenary session on Feb. 1, even as President Yoon Suk Yeol in his meeting Monday with ruling PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon and other party leaders called for continued negotiations after expressing strong regret last week. While buying time could offer a quick solution, it may not address the underlying issues and provide a fundamental resolution.

Ensuring workplace safety is important for the workers and for sustainable growth. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, there were 644 workplace deaths in 2022, a small drop over the previous year. While the 2023 figures are still not available, it is expected to drop below 600 according to reports.

The penalty in case of workplace deaths is strict, especially for the smaller firms. To alleviate concerns among smaller establishments, the labor ministry has been releasing figures and information aimed at calming any sense of panic or apprehension. It recently announced that since SAPA went into effect two years ago for firms with 50 or more employees, 510 violations were found with 33 indictments made by the prosecution at the end of last year. Additionally, the labor ministry reported that within the businesses employing five to 49 individuals, the deaths within the restaurant and accommodations sector accounted for less than 1 percent, totaling five out of 644 workplace fatalities in 2022.

The figures, however, underscore the fact that workers across the nation are still exposed to accidents at the workplace. It is imperative that we exert our utmost efforts to prevent such incidents, as they can wreak havoc on families and individuals.

After Yoon ordered related ministries to minimize the confusion and side effects for businesses and to come up with necessary assistance for those smaller firms requiring it," the labor ministry pledged to offer customized consulting, training, and financial assistance in safety. Over the next three months, the ministry plans to assess all 837,000 smaller business establishments to better tailor its support.

Within this time frame, the government should work to provide detailed guidelines for different business types regarding SAPA, and make sure it has enough experts to assist the firms in training and installing safety systems.
By Robert Neff

There is no doubt that for many Korean people in the 19th and early 20th centuries, life was difficult and people did what they could to survive. The idea of eating dogs may have been unthinkable for many of the self-described civilized Westerners, but it wasnt unheard of. Explorers, especially at the poles, ate dogs. In 1912, Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer, ate many of his dogs during his South Pole expedition and found it appealing, claiming it is anything but a real hardship to eat dog flesh.

In Korea's case, I think it wasnt so much the dog meat that bothered Westerners, but the way in which the dog (and other animals) was killed. According to one source from the early 1890s:

[In Korea], goats are drowned by pulling them back and forth in a narrow stream. This is said to take away much of the strong, or rank taste which the flesh retains if the animal is killed in the ordinary way.

Isabella Bird Bishop, an English travel-writer whose pen was truly mightier than the sword, vividly described one of many Korean butcher shops she encountered during her visits in the 1890s:

The smells were fearful, the dirt abominable, and the quantity of wretched dogs and of pieces of bleeding meat blackening in the sun perfectly sickening. The aspect of meat, produced by the mode of killing it, has made foreigners entirely dependent on the Japanese butchers in Seoul and elsewhere. The Koreans cut the throat of the animal and insert a peg in the opening. Then the butcher takes a hatchet and beats the animal on the rump until it dies. The process takes about an hour, and the beast suffers agonies of terror and pain before it loses consciousness. Very little blood is lost during the operation; the beef is full of it, and its heavier weight in consequence is to the advantage of the vendor.

In January 1897, The Independent, a newspaper published in Seoul, reported:

The Governor of Seoul ordered the butchers of the city to change the method of killing beef and adopt the foreign style. But the butchers still hesitate in obeying the order. However, the Governor will do his best to persuade them to adopt the better method within a few months.

Eventually there were changes made, but not for the dogs.

In her book, With Tommy Tompkins in Korea, Lillias Underwood, a missionary, certainly tugged on her readers emotions when she described Korean puppies as being the cunningest and most enticing little furry balls ever seen. But then she added:

And now I must divulge a sad fact. Most of the dogs are bred and kept only to be eaten. A certain season in the fall is the usual time set for slaughter, and then there is a tragedy in every neighbourhood, and an awful fate for thousands of poor dogs. They are dragged away by the dog butcher, screaming and resisting, with terror in their eyes, and  well, let us draw a veil.

She may have drawn the veil but others didnt.

In early August 1884, Ensign Foulk recorded, The other morning I saw a man lasso and hang an unsuspecting dog in the street in a very expert manner. In 1892, The Korean Repository (a magazine published in Seoul), informed its readers: Dogs are killed by slipping a noose over the head and then twirling them till they are unconscious after which they are bled. And, in 1894, a missionary recorded in her journal, Just heard a poor dog howling which quickly ended forever. Some Korean will have a feast now.

Perhaps the most vivid and unsettling account comes from 1908:

Frequently one sees a [Korean] foraging for the evening meal. The method is simple, though unpleasant. He is armed with a short pole, to the end of which is attached a noose. This he throws over the head of the nearest dog, and then proceeds to screw the pole round till the noose tightens, and slowly throttles the dog, who is meanwhile prevented from getting to close quarters with its butcher by thrusts of the pole.

Not all dogs were killed for food or medicine  many were killed out of fear and retribution. Rabies was a real concern, and newspapers and magazines published in Korea are sprinkled with accounts of people attacked by rabid dogs and cats  a member of the British Legation in Seoul died from a rabid cats bite. Rabid dogs even became tools for diplomatic intrigue. In 1901, the Russian minister to Korea suddenly went to Japan with two members of his staff for treatment, because they had been bitten by the ministers little pet dog which died of rabies. Horace Allen, the American minister to Korea, expressed some disbelief in the story but also acknowledged  at least to his sons  Dogs are very dangerous pets.

Lillias Underwood also wrote about the incident:

Many mad dogs run the streets biting men and animals; and many dogs not really so, are doubtless chased to madness by alarmed crowds and stoned to death. Even while these lines are written, four Europeans, and several Koreans, were bitten by rabid dogs during one week. Muzzles although used for cattle and horses are unknown for dogs, pounds and licenses unheard of, and the only check therefore to the dog nuisance is the slaughter I have referred to.

Newspaper accounts, up until the early 1910s, reported local authorities going out and shooting stray dogs in an effort to curb the spread of rabies. The only way to protect dogs was to license them  but even this ran into opposition because some people believed it was another attempt by the government to raise money without raising taxes.

Dogs were also alleged to ruin mens lives. Oftentimes, young boys would answer the call of nature in the street and a friendly dog would assist them in tidying up  no need for toilet paper. However, there are accounts of overzealous dogs emasculating their young masters with their sharp teeth.

Even in dreams, dogs could be dangerous to the superstitious. If you dream of pigs, you will become rich, dream of a pine tree and become a high government official, have visions of grain in your hand and enjoy good fortune, but if a dog bites you in your dream, you will lose all of your money.

Considering dog meat was the subject of so many Westerners accounts of Korea, it is surprising that the earliest picture I could find was taken by Dr. Dezso Bozoky  a physician aboard the Austro-Hungarian warship SMS Kaiser Franz Josef I when it visited Korea in 1908. Titled dog slaughterhouse, his graphic hand-colored photograph shows a full carcass of a half-skinned dog and lumps of meat being sold in Jemulpo (modern Incheon).

It probably doesnt need to be said, but when Seoul History Museum held its exhibit of Bozokys photographs in 2019, the organizers chose not to include that one. I will also refrain from using it as I think it is just too graphic. Surprisingly, considering dogs were such a ubiquitous part of Korean society, there are very few images I could find with Korean canines and so I have had to resort to using images of foreigners and their dogs.

While many Americans were shocked by the method in which Korean dogs were slaughtered, the United States didnt exactly have clean hands. As Lillias Underwood alluded to in her book, in the United States, unwanted puppies were sometimes tied up in a burlap bag and then tossed into the river to cruelly drown. However, in Korea, puppies are rarely drowned or killed as they are too young to eat, and to destroy them would be wasting so much food, so dogs abound to a far greater extent than cleanliness, comfort or safety would allow.

I wish to express my appreciation to Dr. Mozes Csoma, the former ambassador of Hungary to Korea, for providing me with a copy of his book (filled with Bozokys photographs), Justine Tweed for allowing me to use one of her images and Diane Nars and Suk JiHoon for their invaluable assistance.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.
By Robert Neff

In the early 1900s, streetcars were a ubiquitous sight in Seoul as they raced through the streets. Different people viewed them in different ways. To some, they were symbols of modern technology, the awakening of the Hermit Kingdom. To others they were vehicles of liberation. They were greatly responsible for the end of the nightly curfew and the closing of the gates. They helped free women from the social-enforced segregation of their homes. They transported people of all classes, gender and ages.

However, to some of the superstitious people, they were responsible for droughts. The streetcars tracks ran over the back of the dragon sleeping beneath the city, infuriating him and causing him to deny the city rain. Others claimed the electric wires disrupted nature  especially the clouds, which were sucked up leaving the city to suffer from long droughts.

For the foolish and unwary, they were a source of death  horribly mangled beneath the wheels. And that is what happened on Sept. 30, 1903.

The Korea Review, a magazine published in Seoul, reported that a young boy was run over and killed. It explained, Such accidents are very deplorable but they are almost inevitable where the children are so very careless as they are in Seoul and where they all play on the street. However, a Japanese newspaper noted the young boy was actually 13 or 14 years old  perhaps suggesting he should have been more aware of his surroundings than a younger child.

Great excitement ensued, declared the Korea Review, [as the] Korean populace, which does not attempt to decide which party is at fault, attacked the car Not only did they attack the car, they also attacked several foreigners.

It is difficult to give an accurate account of what happened right after the fatal accident because the supporting accounts are muddled and often contradictory. Almost immediately, a large crowd gathered and attacked the streetcar. Presumably, the passengers and crew either joined the mob or fled for their lives. One man, however, was not quick enough to make good his escape.

Eugene A. Elliot, a 30-year-old American from Texarkana, Texas, was dragged down and beaten into a state of semi-unconsciousness. Some accounts claim Elliot was merely a passenger, but others claim he was in charge of the electric car when it struck the boy. Although Elliot was an employee of the streetcar company, it seems very unlikely he was the driver as his role in the company was the clerk. Prior to his arrival in Korea in 1900, he appears to have worked in China as a stenographer.

The Korea Review reported that Elliot was considerably hurt but succeeded in extricating himself from a rather dangerous situation. Unfortunately, the magazine did not elaborate on how Elliot extricated himself from the mob, so we are forced to rely upon a Japanese newspaper's account. According to it, Kumagaye, a telegram deliveryman, happened to ride up on his bicycle. Elliot seized the handle [bars], and Kumagaye dismounted in surprise, whereupon the American mounted quickly and rode off The Korea Review did mention Kumagaye but merely described him as a Japanese who aided [Elliot] to escape  which, incorrectly, seems to imply the deliveryman voluntarily put his own life in jeopardy to help the American.

As Elliot rode away, the mob turned its attention to Kumagaye whom they charged with having abetted the Americans flight. The deliveryman prudently fled to a nearby Japanese shop  Asadas Haberdashery.

Despite the shopkeepers pleas, the mob surged in and completely wrecked the shop  severely injuring Kumagaye and a member of Asadas household. A picture of the destroyed business was published in the Yomiuri Shimbun (newspaper) which reminded the editor of The Japan Weekly (newspaper) of a house in Gifu after the great earthquake. Apparently he was talking about the 8.0 earthquake that struck on the morning of Oct. 28, 1891.

Also caught up in the affair was William H. Emberley, an Englishman and the proprietor of the Station Hotel in Seoul. According to the Korea Review, he acted with great promptness and bravery, and single-handedly drove back the crowd which was acting in a very threatening manner. For his heroic defense of the streetcar companys property, he was handsomely rewarded but it probably meant nothing to him: his young daughter, Pearl, died suddenly on Oct. 9.

According to the Jiji Shimpos correspondent in Seoul, as there were indications of an attack by the ignorant populace on the offices of the electric railway company where several Japanese are employed, the Japanese authorities dispatched four Japanese policemen to help guard the compound. Later it was revealed that the American Legation had asked the Japanese authorities to provide the police.

For nearly 50 minutes the mob wreaked havoc without anything being done to restrain them. The editor of the Korea Review wanted to know where the Korean police were, as one would think that such mob violence would call for police interference if anything would. The streetcar company and the Japanese Legation were also curious as to why the police did not intervene.

The Japan Weeklys editor was incredulous when he learned that six or seven out of every ten of the rioters are said to have been soldiers, and, further, that a party of soldiers and gendarmes under the command of officers passed when the disturbance was at its height but failed to adopt any repressive measures He added that it was hard to believe it was true, but a review of the American diplomatic archive indicates Horace Allen, the American minister to Korea, also reported Korean soldiers were involved.

The Japan Weekly surmised that the rioting soldiers took the opportunity to wreck the shop of the haberdasher, Asada, to whom several of them owed money for clothes. Their idea was to destroy the proofs of their indebtedness."

The governor of Seoul and the Japanese Consul visited the site in an effort to come to an agreement on reparations. The Japanese government demanded the chiefs of police and gendarmes should be reprimanded and were also ordered to offer sincere apologies to the Japanese Legation. The rioters  civilians, soldiers and police  were to be punished. Kumagayes medical expenses were to be paid, and he would receive hazard pay which was to be defrayed by the Korean government. The Korean government was also required to compensate Asada for the damage to his business  if the government delayed in making the payment, interest would be incurred immediately. And, finally, if the incident should be repeated, the Japanese government would establish its own police stations throughout Seoul and the Korean government would be responsible for the costs.

As for the American streetcar company, there were still problems. Two weeks after the riot, it was reported Mrs. Collbran, the wife of the streetcar companys owner, was injured by stones thrown at her.

According to Allen, the presence of Japanese police as a protection to the electric power house, was most distasteful to the Korean [government] and a request was made for them to be removed. This request was eventually complied with, but the American company wanted compensation from the Korean government for its failure to protect the streetcars and their drivers.

The Korean foreign affairs minister [refused] to entertain the subject and [stated] that he wished to hear no more on the subject.

The final outcome of this riot is unclear. Other events dominated the Korean governments attention  the Korean Peninsula would soon be the center of the Russo-Japanese War.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including "Letters from Joseon," "Korea Through Western Eyes" and "Brief Encounters."
The Nelson County Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of a special use permit that would allow a campground to be constructed on two adjacent sites on Virginia 151 next to Rockfish Presbyterian Church.

The sites, two acres each, share an entrance with the church and are primarily wooded.

Kelly Hale has owned the property since 2004. Hale proposed two campgrounds, one for each of the sites she owns. The campgrounds would have teepee style tents used seasonally from April to the end of October.

Hale herself would also be living full time on the property once it was renovated.

She told the commission on Jan. 24 there would be no campfires or children allowed to alleviate some of the discomfort of the campground to those around it. There also wouldnt be any running water beside a water pipe that connects to a well on the property. Guests would have to bring their own water and bathrooms would be portable latrines that are handicapped-accessible.

The community had a lot of concerns about the plans for this campground, especially members of Rockfish Presbyterian.

Rockfish Presbyterian has historical significance and was founded in 1746.

We feel that the proposed use does not protect the historical significance of Rockfish and, in fact, can adversely impact our historic church, Mary Hopkins, a member of Rockfish Presbyterian told the board.

We are not concerned with the simple matter of trespassers on church property but we are very concerned about the possible injury on our property, Leslie Ducan, an elder of Rockfish Presbyterian, also expressed concern.

Although the majority of the community who spoke up against the campground were connected to Rockfish, there were others that had no connection but also had doubts about the plan.

Who does follow up on the special use permits once theyve been granted? Nobody that Im aware of. How many zoning visits have been done on past special use permits that have been approved? I would recommend the county get some enforcement people involved and do follow up on these permits. Paul Davis recommended to the commission board.

Once a special use permit has been granted, it stays with the property forever.

The commission wasnt enthusiastic about the idea either.

This has too many issues for me to be comfortable with, Commissioner Michael Harman said.

Commissioner Philippe Proulxs concerns were about water not being adequately provided and bathrooms not being sanitary.

Commissioner Charles Amante argued these issues could happen with private residents but he also believed it would be a problem for there not to be a full-time onsite manager.

Hale noted earlier that though she would live there, she wouldnt be there all the time.

Proulx recommended denial of the project saying it does not fit with the character of the land and other issues with the plan, with Amante seconding his motion.

The vote was 4-1 to recommend denial of the special use permit, with Commissioner Robin Hauschner casting the lone vote in favor.

The Nelson County Board of Supervisors will take up the permit request. The boards next meeting is Feb. 13 at the Lovingston courthouse. The afternoon session will be from 2 p.m. and evening session will be at 7 p.m.
Officials on Monday announced that a suspect had been charged in connection with the December killing of the Hollywood Cemetery buck, as well as two other deer.

Ryan Shuler, a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, said Jason Walters, 36, of Richmond, was arrested Sunday and charged with 19 separate wildlife violations, including illegal possession of wildlife, trespassing, failing to check and tag a deer and littering.

Charges against another suspect, identified by Shuler as Alan Proffitt, 36, of Richmond, are pending. Proffitt is believed to be an accomplice, Shuler said.

Shuler said officials executed 10 search warrants in the course of the investigation and recovered two sets of antlers, including antlers from the Hollywood Cemetery buck.

The probe stems from photos that were posted to a hunting Facebook page in December 2023. The photos showed Walters posing next to a "non-typical, 29-point buck," which Walters claimed to have shot in Prince Edward County using a muzzleloader, Shuler said.

But several people who saw the Dec. 14 post recognized the animal as a frequent visitor of Hollywood Cemetery in the Oregon Hill neighborhood and reported the post to the DWR, Shuler said.

Shuler thanked the investigators who worked on the case for their hard work and diligence.

"The (officers) involved in the investigation devoted countless hours to gathering evidence in this case," Shuler said. "We appreciate the support of the Richmond and Chesterfield County police departments, as well as Hollywood Cemetery and the James River Park System in bringing the suspect to justice."

"The illegal killing of this deer was a blow to the community," Shuler added. "It damaged the reputation of law- abiding hunters across the Commonwealth.

Walters could not immediately be reached for comment.
TOKYO, Jan 31 (News On Japan) - In a recent social media post, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made a provocative statement regarding Japan's stance on the Northern Territories dispute. Medvedev suggested that "Japanese should commit hara-kiri" in response to Prime Minister Kishida's remarks on the territorial issue.

On the 30th, reacting to PM Kishida's policy speech in which he reaffirmed Japan's commitment to resolving the territorial dispute and signing a peace treaty with Russia, Medvedev posted, "What do I care about 'Japanese feelings' regarding the Northern Territories? They are not 'disputed lands' but Russian territory."

He further intensified his statement by attaching a photo of a hara-kiri scene, commenting, "Especially sad samurais should just commit hara-kiri."

Additionally, Medvedev emphasized the strategic importance of the Kuril Islands, including the Northern Territories, mentioning the deployment of new weaponry in the region.

This provocative remark by the former Russian president has escalated diplomatic tensions and stirred controversy, reflecting the ongoing complexities in the Japan-Russia relations over the disputed territories.
TOKYO, Jan 31 (News On Japan) - From February 1st, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of "Godzilla", with a 3-meter statue of the beast roaring at Step Plaza, modeled after the "original Godzilla" from the 1954 premiere film.

The statue, approximately 1/6th the size of the actual Godzilla, is designed with high fidelity and power, reminiscent of the rampaging monster from the 1950s. With mist that simulates dust clouds and the indispensable BGM of Godzilla, visitors can experience the sensation of stepping into the world of the movies. At night, the statue is also illuminated, allowing visitors to experience the imposing presence of Godzilla shining in the darkness, with various other effects also prepared.

Event Title: HIBIYA meets GODZILLA Organizers: Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, Hibiya Area Management Association Cooperation: Toho Co., Ltd. Location: Tokyo Midtown Hibiya Hibiya Step Plaza Period: February 1st (Thursday) to March 10th (Sunday), 2024 Illumination from 16:00 to 23:00 Godzilla Size: Height approximately 3.3m x Width approximately 4m (about 1/6th the size of the actual Godzilla) Godzilla Model: Based on the original Godzilla from the 1954 movie "Godzilla" Special Site Details will be sequentially released after January 30th (Tuesday).

Realistic photo shooting with AR! By scanning the QR code installed around the Godzilla statue, you can take pictures with the AR camera, offering an immersive experience as if you were part of a movie scene. The AR experience allows you to capture a powerful photo with a filter showing the original Godzilla's heat ray breath. (The AR experience is scheduled to be available from mid-February.)

Source: Dengeki
TOKYO, Jan 31 (News On Japan) - The man claiming to be Satoshi Kirishima, a suspect in a series of corporate bombings in the 1970s, died in a hospital on Monday, January 29, ending what appears to be a nearly 50-year-long life in hiding. However, the details emerging about his life suggest it was far from a typical fugitive's existence.

Known as 'Uchida Hiro' to Acquaintances

A regular at a bar where the man frequented for 25 years, about once a week, recalled, "He was a beloved figure here."

The man, appearing in photos taken at the bar, didn't own a mobile phone and jokingly claimed, "I don't need one. Telepathy works fine for me." He was using the name 'Uchida Hiro' at the time.

An owner of another eatery he frequented mentioned, "He was known as 'Ucchi.' I heard once that he turned down a romantic approach from a woman in her 30s, saying, 'I'm not the type who can make someone happy.'"

Troubles and Police Contact

However, it has also come to light that the man caused disturbances in his neighborhood in the past.

An acquaintance of the man, aged 80, recalls, "It's been over ten years. He used to come home drunk, play the radio loudly, and play his guitar poorly. I got up around midnight once and confronted him."

During this noise dispute, there was police contact. "I called the police because he wouldn't understand. The police came, but probably didn't realize who he was. His appearance was completely different."

When asked by investigators if he regretted his actions, the man, still maintaining he was Kirishima, simply replied, "Yes."

The man's identity remains unconfirmed. The police are rushing to verify it through DNA analysis and other means.

Source: ANN
TOKYO, Feb 01 (News On Japan) - A 73-year-old woman faced court for the first time on Wednesday, accused of impersonating a non-existent younger sister -- a fictitious character designed to avoid age-related workplace bullying. The woman stated in her defense, "My name is Chizuru Yoshino. There are no errors in the indictment."

The imaginary sister's name was given as Kiya Iwata, 48 years old, making her 25 years younger than Yoshino. During the investigation, Yoshino insisted, "I am Kiya Iwata. Currently, I am not in contact with my sister due to a quarrel."

The existence of this fictional sister came to light when Yoshino, posing as Iwata, was caught by a police officer while processing a scooter license. This sparked the investigation.

A year earlier, Yoshino, masquerading as her younger sister, had submitted documents to the Tokyo Family Court for a process known as "acquisition of family register," intended for those without a registry.

Yoshino, to the representative handling the procedure, said, "I have a sister without a registry and want to acquire one for her."

Simultaneously, she submitted forged documents to Ota Ward Office and fraudulently obtained a health insurance card in her sister's name.

Ten months after the application, the court allowed the acquisition, creating a registry for the non-existent Kiya Iwata.

For 13 months, Yoshino lived as a 25-year-younger version of herself. At home, she pretended to live with her husband and imaginary sister. The nameplate displayed both 'Yoshino' and the fictitious 'Iwata.'

A neighbor from the adjacent apartment commented, "I thought she worked at a bar or a snack, judging by her outfits. Occasionally, I saw her leave on a bike."

Yoshino, who was 70 at the time of the offense, had been working as a security guard, despite the retirement age being 65 at her workplace.

In her statement, Yoshino expressed, "I was called an old lady. I wanted to be younger."

Her motivation, as pointed out by the prosecution, was to avoid age-related ridicule at work. She believed working as her 48-year-old fictional sister would prevent such taunts.

The case raises questions about the court's decision-making process in approving the acquisition of a family register for a non-existent person. Koga, an attorney dealing with issues of unregistered individuals, explained, "The procedure doesn't confirm facts based on evidence, but rather if a person can narrate a plausible story, the court might feel compelled to accept it."

As of 2020, the Ministry of Justice recognized 3,235 individuals without a registry. In the fiscal year 2022, there were 74 applications for acquisition of a registry. These cases involve various circumstances, including children born abroad or those whose parents failed to file a birth report.

Koga, on the challenges faced by unregistered individuals, stated, "In a state of complete solitude, there are people who can't link their supposed registry with their current life. For such individuals, registering a family registry is essential when seeking welfare or restarting their lives, which is the intended use of the acquisition application."

Source: ANN
Ishikawa, Feb 01 (News On Japan) - The Noto Peninsula Earthquake, which struck on January 1, 2024, brought a peaceful New Year's celebration to a tragic halt, registering a maximum seismic intensity of 7 and causing significant damage across Ishikawa, Toyama, and Niigata Prefectures. But what exactly happened, and where?

The "Noto Peninsula Earthquake Damage Map" provides a visual narrative of this disaster. It showcases the moments of disaster as captured by viewers and ANN's own footage, all plotted on a map to depict the extent of the damage.

One of the most heart-wrenching scenes displayed is the total destruction of the Sakurada Sake Brewery, a heritage site that had withstood the test of time for 110 years. This tragedy is not just the loss of a building but the erasure of a century-old tradition that had been an integral part of the region's cultural and economic fabric.

The earthquake's aftermath is clearly visible through drone footage, offering a bird's eye view of the devastation. Each frame tells a story of loss, resilience, and the overwhelming power of nature.

Local residents, some of whom have known the Sakurada Brewery for generations, express their disbelief and sorrow at the sight of the rubble. "It was more than a brewery; it was a symbol of our history," one local said, echoing the sentiments of many.

The "Noto Peninsula Earthquake Damage Map" serves not only as a tool for understanding the scale of destruction but also as a poignant reminder of what was lost. It stands as a testament to the resilience of the affected communities and the challenges they face in rebuilding their lives and heritage.

The ongoing efforts to document and map the earthquake's impact are crucial in guiding the recovery process and ensuring that the lessons learned from this disaster are not forgotten.
TOKYO, Feb 01 (News On Japan) - The Family Law Division of the Legislative Council of Japan announced on Tuesday a comprehensive draft proposal to revamp the system concerning child upbringing after divorce. The current Civil Code, which mandates sole custody by either the mother or father, is set for a major overhaul to allow the option of joint custody.

This landmark reform allows parents to determine the nature of custody through mutual consultation. In cases where an agreement cannot be reached, the decision will be made by the family court. This move is a significant step in addressing the increasing incidents of non-payment of child support, introducing a mandatory "statutory child support" payment.

Under the proposed changes, both parents will have the opportunity to play an active role in their child's life post-divorce, potentially benefiting the child's well-being and development. The reform aims to balance the rights and responsibilities of both parents while prioritizing the best interests of the child.

The introduction of "statutory child support" is particularly noteworthy. It addresses a longstanding issue where non-custodial parents often evade their financial responsibilities. This mandatory payment ensures that child support is treated as a priority, not as an optional obligation.

Legal experts and child welfare advocates have long called for such changes, arguing that the current sole custody system often leads to parental alienation and adversely affects the child's emotional health. With these reforms, Japan moves closer to international standards where joint custody is more commonly practiced.

However, the transition to this new system poses challenges. It requires a cultural shift in understanding shared parenting responsibilities and necessitates legal mechanisms to enforce compliance, especially in child support payments.

As the proposal moves towards legislation, it opens a public discourse on the evolving nature of family structures and the legal system's role in supporting children's rights and welfare in post-divorce scenarios.

These changes represent a significant shift in Japan's approach to family law, potentially paving the way for more inclusive and child-centric custody arrangements in the years to come.
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.
Its a good thing President Joe Biden wasnt strapped to a polygraph while giving his State of the Union speech last week because his results would have come back about as clean as O.J. Simpsons. That was especially true when he recited a lot of tall tales  and some whoppers  while toutin
The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District Board of Directors met on Thursday night for its regularly scheduled committee of the whole meeting. All directors were present, in addition to several NRD staff members and seven members of the public. A recap of the hourlong meeting is below.
Japans international Cooperation Agency, JICA, has provided Burkina Faso with $1.3 million destined to finance acquisition of equipment to be used in the maintenance of roads in the West African country.

Burkina Fasos top diplomat Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore signed the grant deal with JICA local resident Keiichi Okitsu.

Traore said that the agreement will give impetus to the countrys road network and will help various production entities to be connected thanks to the road infrastructure, one key component of the economy.

The West African country last year in May unveiled a $28-million plan to improve its road infrastructures.
The judge of a court in Madagascar has postponed to February 06 the ruling on the fate of two colonels of the Army in detention since November 2023 over their alleged plot to carry out a military coup, several days before the presidential polls of November 16.

The two high ranking officers whose identities have not been revealed are detained at the central prison of Tsiafahy.

Their arrest came following a surveillance and suspicion that they tried to convince several other high-ranking officers of various sections of the security apparatus of the African country to prevent the holding of November 16 elections and to remove the regime of President Andry Rajoelina.

They appeared in court on January 16. They have been charged with fomenting a coup and with recruiting soldiers. The country went to presidential polls on November 16 in the backdrop of violence that marked the electoral campaigns. A coalition of several opposition members including two former Presidents challenged Rajoelina in the electoral race.

The independent electoral body, CENI, credited Rajoelina with 58.95 per cent of the votes, making him winner of the elections.

It is unclear if the arrested officers are in league with the opposition.
General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, the Transitional leader of Chad, named Tuesday January 30 members of the election body, lAgence Nationale de Gestion des Elections, ahead of 2024 presidential elections.

A decree signed by the leader appointed 10 people to make up the body.

Chadians will head to the polls late this year 2024, following the adoption of a new Constitution in December 2023 at a referendum, held under an agreement brokered by Qatar between the opposition, Civil society and the junta led by the 37-year old General that seized power following Idriss Deby Itnos death.

Deby himself will be candidate for the polls.

This month, Mouvement Patriotique du Salut [Patriotic Salvation Movement] (MPS), the ruling party, made him its candidate for elections.

The MPS held its 11th Congress in the build-up to the presidential polls that will help choose a replacement to Idriss Deby Itno, the father of the transitional leader, who died in April 2021 reportedly at a war front against rebels.

Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno is likely to face Succes Masra, the current Prime Minister and top figure of the opposition.

Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno named Masra early this month the countrys new Premier.
The 33rd session of the Food and Agriculture Organizations Regional Conference for Africa will convene in Morocco next Spring.

The FAO Regional Conference will be held in two parts: a virtual session for senior officials on March 27-29, which will address the technical aspects of food security and the transformation of agrifood systems in Africa, and a ministerial session from April 18 to 20 in Rabat.

The conference will bring together FAO members from the African region, specialized agencies of the United Nations system, as well as intergovernmental and civil society organizations. Linguistic diversity will be taken into account, with proceedings taking place in English, Arabic, French and Portuguese.

The event will be attended by Ministers of Agriculture and Ministers of other key portfolios linked to the transformation of food systems, covering areas such as finance, trade and industry, forestry, fisheries, environment, science and technology, and health.

The Conference will be held in Morocco under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Wednesday in Rabat between the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The MoU, initialed by Agriculture Minister, Mohammed Sadiki, and the FAO representative, Jean Senahoun, defines the terms of partnership between the two parties and establishes the measures necessary for the success of the 33rd session of the Regional Conference, which will focus on the theme: Resilient agrifood systems and inclusive rural transformation.

Speaking on the occasion, Sadiki said that the signing of this memorandum reinforces the Kingdoms commitment to sustainable and inclusive agrifood systems in Africa. We look forward to welcoming the regional community to share our experiences, explore innovative solutions and strong partnerships for more efficient and resilient agrifood systems, he added.

For his part, Senahoun commended Moroccos commitment to food security and sustainable development, saying that the 33rd session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa would be a crucial platform for discussing the current and future challenges facing agriculture in Africa.
African Countries are gathered in Marrakech from January 31 to February 2 to take part in the political meeting to promote the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) dedicated to African countries.

The event is a collaborative effort initiated by Morocco and the US. The primary objective of the initiative is to encourage African countries to support the PSI, a sustainable global effort to halt the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

The PSI aims to create alliances between states to collaborate and use their national resources to create various legal, diplomatic, and military instruments to prevent the transport of dangerous cargoes by road, air and sea.

The meeting, which is co-chaired by Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs at the US State Department, Bonnie Jenkins and Director of UN & International Organizations at the Foreign Ministry Redouane Houssaini, is attended by ministers and delegations from African countries, as well as regional partners and allies.

Taking the floor, Bonnie Jenkins emphasized the importance of international collaboration in preventing the trafficking of dangerous weapons and highlighted how the PSI has gained significance as a symbol of commitment to global security.

Jenkins expressed her satisfaction at the active participation of several African nations in the PSI initiative, urging governments yet to join to do so promptly. The PSI, she noted, plays a pivotal role in preserving global peace and security by intercepting transfers to and from both state and non-state proliferators. Preventing the trafficking of WMDs and their delivery systems is of paramount importance for the preservation of peace and security in the world.

PSI commitments outlined by the American official include the interception of transfers, the development of information exchange systems among member countries, and the enhancement of national authorities capacities in partner countries to combat proliferation threats effectively.

Highlighting the alignment of PSI principles with United Nations obligations, including Security Council Resolution 1540, Jenkins underscored the need for a coordinated global approach to strengthen non-proliferation measures.

In a video message at the opening ceremony, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita stressed that Morocco has consistently championed multilateral cooperation as the most suitable framework to coordinate international efforts against weapons of mass destruction.

The North African Kingdom, which adheres to all international conventions on disarmament and non-proliferation, will continue its partnership with the United States and African countries to make the PSI an essential part of the African security landscape.

The goal of this international initiative is to stop trafficking of WMD and related materials and their delivery systems, to and from states and non-state actors, added the minister, noting that the Marrakech meeting is the first of its kind and the largest ever held on the African continent.

Moroccos experience has demonstrated the importance of PSI in enhancing coordination to counter WMD proliferation, underlined Mr. Bourita, saying the Marrakech meeting is an opportunity to strengthen African countries engagement as the continent is facing security challenges with the alliance between terrorist and separatist groups and transnational criminal organizations.

The 30,000 km-long African coastline and the lack of regional cooperation also affect the Continents ability to address transnational security threats, said the Moroccan top diplomat.

The increase in trade exchanges between Africa and the rest of the world exacerbates further the Continents vulnerabilities in combatting WMD proliferation and related threats, affirmed Bourita.

While in Morocco, Ms. Jenkins conferred with Moroccan FM on U.S.-Morocco bilateral cooperation and security in Africa.

Bourita went on to applaud the increasing presence of African nations within the PSI, urging these countries to capitalize on this momentum to create effective mechanisms.

Bringing together over 100 countries, the Proliferation Security Initiative is a voluntary and flexible multilateral cooperation framework launched in 2003 with the adoption of the Paris Principles, known as the Interdiction Principles.

Joined by Morocco in 2008, the initiative intends to strengthen cooperation between the various stakeholders, through operational measures to combat the illicit transport of weapons of mass destruction and related materials, and their means of delivery.

While in Morocco, Ms. Jenkins conferred with Moroccan FM on U.S.-Morocco bilateral cooperation and security in Africa.
Newly appointed Moroccos ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, was received Tuesday at the State Department in Washington by the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf.

During this first working meeting, the two officials welcomed the excellent centuries-old and multifaceted relations between Morocco and the United States and discussed means to further deepen and diversify these ties.

The discussions also focused on the importance of building on achievements and exploring innovative cooperation mechanisms to match the shared ambition to strengthen political dialogue and strategic partnership.

The talks, which touched on regional and international issues, showed a broad convergence of views and highlighted the two countries desire to deepen their joint action to promote peace, security and stability in Africa and the Middle East.

The discussions focused on the identification of synergies that could enhance initiatives regarding global issues of common interest and the promotion of shared prosperity.
A delegation of permanent representatives to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) embarked Tuesday on a visit to Laayoune, to get first-hand information about the developmental strides in the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region. The delegation engaged in a series of meetings with local authorities, elected officials, and members of the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra Regional Human Rights Commission.

During a meeting with the Wali of the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, Abdeslam Bekrate, the delegation was briefed on the significant efforts undertaken by the state. The discussions covered various programs and projects aimed at fostering development in accordance with the directives of King Mohammed VI.

The delegation, consisting of ambassadors of Senegal, Gabon, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, UAE, Yemen, Bahrain, Cabo Verde, Comoros, The Gambia, Zambia, Eswatini, and Malawi learned about Moroccos advancements in political, economic, social, and legal domains, and the measures taken under the new development model for the Southern Provinces, initiated by King Mohammed VI in 2015.

Visiting the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra Regional Council headquarters, the delegation members acquainted themselves with the positive impacts of projects implemented as part of the new development model. Presentations showcased the regions potential and infrastructure in economic and social sectors, and the sustainable socio-economic development achieved in the region.

In a meeting with Laayoune Municipal Council President Moulay Hamdi Ould Errachid, the delegation received a detailed presentation on the citys projects across various fields. Ould Errachid reiterated the Councils commitment to the autonomy plan as a realistic solution with consistent international support which ensures the dignity, freedom, and rights of the local population. Historical ties between Sahrawi tribes and the sultans of Morocco were also emphasized.

The delegations visit in Laayoune will continue with meetings with the Regional Investment Center director, Sahrawi tribal leaders, civil society members, and on-site visits to various development projects, including the university campus, the city of trades and skills, the Phosboucraa Foundation, and the African Institute for Sustainable Agriculture Research (ASARI), among others.
Editors note This article is the 12th and last in a series about inter-country adoptions. While over 160,000 Korean children have been adopted abroad since the 1950-53 Korean War, it is believed that many cases have infringed on relevant laws or violated children's right to know the truth about their filiation. The series will review such violations in transnational adoptions of Korean children and elsewhere, and discuss receiving countries' moves for their own investigations. This series is co-organized with Human Rights Beyond Borders.  ED.

By Lee Kyung-eun

In March 2023, I met a delegation from the Swedish government at my office. They were an investigation committee on inter-country adoption abuses, and we had met a year earlier in Europe for an intensive consultation shortly after they began their work.

Sweden wasn't the only country to undertake such investigative efforts. A handful of other Western European countries were or are currently reviewing past inter-country adoption abuses at the urging of adoptees, who have raised concerns about illicit practices in their adoptions. After varying degrees of pressure from the media and adoptees, these governments have agreed to look further into these matters.

During my first meeting with the Swedish investigation committee, I offered three recommendations that are overarching enough to be considered principals for an investigation.

First, as inter-country adoption involves more than one country and entails shared responsibility between the receiving and sending countries, any investigative effort should occur in both countries. Many investigations remain limited to the receiving side, thereby severely undermining the inquiry, especially because many crucial decisions are made in states of origin. Accordingly, I recommended that the investigators visit the country of origin and include the opinions of local experts.

Based on this recommendation, they seemed bewildered to attempt such an investigative endeavor. They reasoned that it could be challenging to collect such opinions because different countries had large waves of adoptees at different periods. For example, since the largest number of Korean adoptions occurred before the 1990s, many Korean adoptees are now in their 30s or 40s or older. Even if the investigators attempted such a feat, they said securing assistance in those states of origin would be challenging. As such, the team didnt even entertain the idea of entering China.

Despite such obstacles, it's notable that Korea was included in the list of countries under investigation, especially in light of European receiving countries' attitudes toward Korea as an exporting country, which we may describe as contradictory compared to other areas of their relationship.

On the one hand, receiving countries deem Korea to be a peer with similar levels of political, economic and social development. On the other hand, Korea has long been a major source of children for adoption; no doubt this has been reinforced by European receiving countries' belief in Korea's inter-country adoption program as transparent, safe and clean. Even amid a wave of inter-country adoption scandals that erupted in the media throughout the world, Korea remained on the periphery. Unlike typical states of origin, Korea is an OECD country where adoptable children are often healthy, fully vaccinated and younger than 2 years old. The major adoption agencies had historically provided comprehensive services, including escorting children overseas to adoptive parents, thus saving adoptive parents a trip to Korea.

With all these convenient services to deliver children to receiving countries from a wealthy, highly advanced state, one wonders why these receiving countries never asked the fundamental question, "Why is this happening in Korea?"

International standards are clear that when a family cannot protect a child, the state must protect that child. Korea, a country that boasts of its turnaround from a recipient to a donor country, has consistently failed to provide sufficient protection for its children, even when it suffers the lowest birthrate in the world. If Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and other receiving countries do not export their children, why not question why Korea does so?

Moreover, looking beyond Korea, in states of origin that suffer from repeated cases of illicit practices, why has it taken so long for receiving countries to mount such investigations? We can conclude that either the receiving countries did not know, which demonstrates a failure in shared responsibility between receiving and sending countries to protect the rights of children, or receiving countries cared more about maintaining a steady source from which to acquire children rather than asking critical questions.

I cannot answer why receiving countries never asked such questions about Korea, let alone other countries of origin. During the past two years, I have asked European diplomats, government officers and experts such questions, but I have never received an answer. This lack of response has not deterred me from asking, and I hope that any adoptee, adoptive family or birth family member will also never stop asking their governments the hard questions.

My second recommendation is not to approach this issue as a case-by-case problem but to examine the systematic flaws and patterns of abuse. One should examine the immigration system of receiving countries, including the rules and procedures that allow children to enter the country for adoption.

Lastly, receiving governments should not rely on adoptees to petition the authorities for investigations. Adoptees have suffered enough injustice. They are not the ones who have to remedy the abuses brought upon them by their own governments' negligence. On the contrary, receiving governments have a duty to pursue investigations actively.

I gave these three recommendations to the Swedish investigation committee, but I also offer these to any adoptee pursuing the truth. Do not be dissuaded by the lack of answers you receive, but keep posing those tough questions and continue your pursuit to the right to origins. Whatever discouragement you may feel, please know that your efforts have been fruitful; otherwise, receiving countries would never be undertaking these investigations.

Human Rights Beyond Borders (HRBB) welcomes the pursuit of truth, justice and rectification or reparation for adoptees in their receiving countries. Therefore, HRBB has started a more active campaign to lobby the receiving countries' governments to bring about better, more fundamental and sustainable changes. Our website is open, so please give your thoughts to contact@hrbb.org.

Lee Kyung-eun (kyung.lee@hrbb.org) is director of Human Rights Beyond Borders and author of the Korean-language book, "The Children-selling Country," and the English book, "The Global Orphan Adoption System: South Korea's Impact on Its Origin and Development."
State senators this week began debating a bill that  at least as its currently written  would switch Nebraska to year-round daylight saving time if three border states and the federal government agree.

The Legislature adjourned Tuesday without voting on a floor amendment to LB 143 by state Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard that instead would immediately adopt year-round standard time if enacted.

Year-round standard time would make drivers between North Platte and Colorado switch their clocks back and then forward again from mid-March to early November should Colorado keep daylight time.

A Unicameral filibuster on an unrelated bill on train crew sizes kept debate on LB 143 from resuming Wednesday. Its unlikely to resume the rest of this week for that reason.

LB 143 would take effect the first Sunday of November after three states adjacent to this state adopt laws for a single year-round standard of time and either Congress or the U.S. Department of Transportation allows year-round daylight time.

Wyoming adopted a similar bill in 2020, followed by Colorado in 2022. An Iowa House subcommittee advanced a year-round DST bill Jan. 16.

The daylight-time bill is separate from a nonbinding resolution (Legislative Resolution 276) by Sumner Sen. Teresa Ibach that would ask Congress to move Nebraskas Central-Mountain time zone line west to the Colorado line and eastern Panhandle county borders.

Former Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, who introduced LB 143 a year ago, saw senators in 2022 give first-round approval to an identical bill before it died with the end of that session.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad, an LB 143 cosponsor, became main sponsor after Briese resigned in October to become state treasurer.

Conrad told lawmakers Tuesday that Nebraskans, who since 1967 have moved their clocks forward an hour in spring and back an hour in fall, have been making clear theyre tired of it.

My primary goal in moving this forward is that we stop changing our clocks twice a year, she said.

Erdman, who unsuccessfully tried to amend Brieses 2022 bill to switch to year-round standard time, renewed his effort Tuesday with the current bill.

The District 47 senator cited a variety of studies saying physical and mental health declines and motor vehicle wrecks increase at the times Americans spring forward and later fall back.

Its quite obvious that the study proves and has proven that permanent daylight saving time is the worst option that we could choose, Erdman said. It also shows that changing the clock twice a year is detrimental to your health.

The studies also hold that human health fares best when sticking to standard time, he said. That includes people who have to do outside things in the morning and children who dont have to go to school in the dark.

Biological clocks work best on standard time, Erdman said. I think the reason they work best on standard time is thats what God created.

Erdman urged his colleagues to make LB 143 a year-round standard time bill and advance it so they would have time to read and consider the studies.

Conrad said she would be fine with that. I think were all aware (of) the partisan dysfunction that has crippled our nations capital, and I am deeply concerned about waiting around to make the change.

Congress has allowed states to opt for year-round standard time, as Arizona and Hawaii have, since it adopted the partial-year DST system with the Uniform Time Act of 1966. But states cant adopt full-year DST alone.

Were Nebraska alone among its neighbors to adopt year-round standard time, Nebraskas Mountain Time counties would fall an hour behind Colorado and Wyoming as well as Nebraskas Central Time counties from early March to mid-November. Thats because Mountain Daylight Time equals Central Standard Time on clocks.

As written  and because Colorado and Wyoming already have passed year-round DST trigger bills  LB 143 would not put those counties an hour behind all their neighbors.
Photo: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Five tech CEOs testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday as part of a hearing focused on online child exploitation. The leaders of Meta, Snapchat, X, TikTok, and Discord were grilled by the bipartisan panel about how they have been addressing widespread safety concerns with their platforms. The hearing room was full of family members holding up photos of their loved ones  children and teens who died by suicide because of online bullying or from overdoses caused by drugs purchased on a social-media site. Here are some of the hearings most dramatic moments.

Hawley vs. Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, became caught in a heated exchange with Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri. Their contentious back-and-forth began when Hawley asked Zuckerberg if he truly believes theres no link between mental health and social-media use, as he had suggested in his opening statement.

Full exchange between Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, which includes Zuckerberg's apology.@HawleyMO: "Who did you fire?"



Zuckerberg: "I'm not going to answer that."



Hawley: "Because you didn't fire anybody, right? You didn't take any significant action." pic.twitter.com/86Z6iyQjjW  CSPAN (@cspan) January 31, 2024

Senator, what I said is I think its important to look at the science. I know people widely talk about this as if that is something thats already been proven, and I think the bulk of the scientific evidence does not support that, Zuckerberg said.

Hawley then proceeded to quote segments of a study Meta had conducted on social media that reportedly found Instagram can worsen body-image issues for its users, particularly young women.

Your own study says that you make life worse for one in three teenage girls , Hawley began.

Thats not what it says, Zuckerberg interrupted.

Thats what it says, Hawley replied, and youre sitting here testifying to us in public that theres no link! Youve been doing this for years!

Zuckerberg apologized to families

The most notable moment of the day came during Zuckerbergs questioning by Hawley. The senator asked Zuckerberg if he has ever apologized to the families who lost loved ones in connection with his platforms.

Theres families of victims here today. Have you apologized to the victims? Hawley asked. Would you like to do so now? Theyre here; youre on national television. Would you like now to apologize to the victims who have been harmed by your product?

BREAKING: Zuckerberg stands up, turns to survivors and parents who lost kids to social media, apologizes to them for harms caused by Meta. pic.twitter.com/NhHrU0mFHH  Senate Judiciary Committee (@JudiciaryDems) January 31, 2024

Zuckerberg turned and stood to the audience, his words audible in the room but not picked up by his microphone.

Im sorry for everything youve all gone through. Its terrible. No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered. And this is why we invest so much and are going to continue doing industry-leading efforts to make sure that no one has to go through the types of things that your families have had to suffer, he said, according to NBC News.

Cotton asked TikToks Singaporean CEO if hes a Chinese communist

Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas has long advocated for a complete ban on TikTok, claiming it poses a significant security and privacy risk to Americans and dubbing it a spy app and a propaganda machine for the Chinese Communist Party.

When it came time to question TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Cotton asked him a series of rapid-fire questions about his personal loyalties, inquiring about his and his wifes citizenship. Chew explained that he hails from Singapore and had even served his country in the military.

Sen. Tom Cotton: "Have you ever been a member of the Chinese Communist Party?"



TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew: "Senator, I'm Singaporean. No."



Cotton: "Have you ever been associated or affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party?"



Chew: "No, senator. Again, I'm Singaporean." pic.twitter.com/1pZaQ64Wxz  NBC News (@NBCNews) January 31, 2024

The line of questioning quickly spiraled out of control. Cotton asked, Have you ever been a member of the Chinese Communist Party?

Chew, seemingly shocked, responded, Senator, Im Singaporean. No.

Cotton continued, Have you ever been associated or affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party?

Chew then replied, No, senator. Again, Im Singaporean.

Graham to CEOs: You have blood on your hands

South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham, the committees ranking member, took Zuckerberg to task, saying that he and the other tech leaders sitting beside him share responsibility for the ills of social media.

Make no mistake:



These social media companies and Big Tech have blood on their hands. pic.twitter.com/WOIbOf1NoN  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 31, 2024

Mr. Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us, I know you dont mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands. You have a product thats killing people, Graham said to applause from the audience in the hearing room.

He alluded to Section 230, a part of federal communications law that protects tech companies from being held responsible for what their users post on their platforms.

When we had cigarettes killing people, we did something about it. Maybe not enough. Youre gonna talk about guns, we have the ATF. Nothing here, Graham said. Theres not a damn thing we can do about it. You cant be sued.

The senator then raised the case of South Carolina state representative Brandon Guffey, who is suing Meta because his teenage son committed suicide after being caught up in a sextortion ring on Instagram. Graham asked Zuckerberg what he would say to Guffey.

Its terrible. No one should have to go through something like that, Zuckerberg said.

Graham then asked, Do you think that he should be allowed to sue you?

Zuckerberg paused and eventually responded, I think that they can sue us.

Graham then said, Well, I think he should and that he can.

Snapchat CEO issued his own apology

Evan Spiegel, the leader of Snapchats parent company, Snap, Inc., also apologized to parents who have lost children after they had purchased drugs through the app.

Mr. Spiegel, there are a number of parents whose children have been able to access illegal drugs on your platform. What do you say to those parents? asked Senator Laphonza Butler of California.

SnapChat CEO Evan Spiegel apologizes to parents for not having prevented overdose deaths of children who got access to these drugs on the platform. pic.twitter.com/R9eqgzaAlZ  CSPAN (@cspan) January 31, 2024

Im so sorry that weve not been able to prevent these tragedies, Spiegel said. We work very hard to block all search terms related to drugs from our platform. We proactively look for and detect drug-related content.
More than seven months after authorities found a 6-year-old boy malnourished at his Auburn home, the criminal charge against his father has been upgraded from aggravated child abuse to murder, Auburn police said.

Mark Watford was arrested on Tuesday and sent back back to the Lee County Jail months after he was released on bond in June.

He will be held without bond until his Aniahs Law hearing, according to records of his indictment. He is set to appear in court for an arraignment hearing on March 11, according to alacourt.

Mark Watford joins his wife Kelly Watford, who was also charged with murder in Sulivan Watfords death.

Officials with Auburn police, fire and EMS found Sulivan Watford unresponsive and malnourished in his Core Drive home when they responded to a call on June 14 about a child in medical distress. He only weighed 21 pounds when paramedics rushed him to East Alabama Health. Auburn Police Detective Terry White described him as very frail and pale and stated his veins were visible.

Sulivan Watford was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Child appeared to be malnourished, police say

Medical professionals found evidence consistent with a drowning while treating the victim and conducting a post-mortem examination at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery. Investigators also found evidence that indicates the child sustained prolonged willful abuse and maltreatment, according to police.

During the Kelly Watfords preliminary hearing, White told the court that he saw water in the boys mouth and health care professionals withdrew watery, fluidly light red blood from the victim.

Prosecutor Garrett Saucer told the detective about a small bruise on the victims clavicle. White said he did not know what caused the bruise.

Dad allegedly blamed death on allergic reaction

During the hearing, police said Mark and Janet Dean, Kelly Watfords mother, told authorities Sulivan Watford died from an allergic reaction to Vaporub. Mark Watford is a nurse.

During that hearing, the prosecution read statements the parents allegedly made to police.

Kelly Watford allegedly told police that Sulivan Watford, the youngest of

seven children, was a picky eater who only consumed fruit and yogurt. Their oldest child is 18.

According to police, Kelly Watford said the child was not feeling well the morning of June 14, so she went to the store to purchase some medication and Vaporub. She said she gave her son VapoRub around 2 p.m. and the bathtub only had enough water to cover his legs.

She said she took the victim to his room after his bath and rocked him and put a onesie on. Thats when he stopped breathing and she called 911, according to her account of the incident.

One of the Watfords other kids told the court that Kelly Watford deliberately left the bathroom door shut with Sulivan Watford still in the bathtub. The testimony said she had told the kids to give us a minute. The unnamed child said their mother was on the phone with 911 about 15 minutes later.

In Mark Watfords statement, he allegedly said Sulivan Watford was underdeveloped with speech and vocabulary issues and he most crawled. He said Kelly Watford mostly took care of her son, fed him and changed his diapers.

Mark Watford said in the statement that his family does not believe in vaccines and does not use birth control. He allegedly stated that Kelly Watford fed the kids organic non-GMO foods without dyes and would not intentional hurt their kids.

He allegedly told police that the previous week Sulivan Watfords hips were showing and he developed a cough on June 13. According to police statements, that was the last day Mark Watford saw his son alive. He blamed the cough on carpet they recently had removed.

During that hearing, the prosecution showed photos extracted from Kelly Watfords phone that they believed contradict those statements.

A photo dated Jan. 24, 2023six months before Sulivan Watfords deathshowed Vics Vapopads in a chair in the boys room. Photos that date back to May 22, 2022 13 months before Sulivans death showed where the carpet was removed.

White said another photo from Dec 24, 2022, showed Sulivan Watford with a small frame and bony hands.

Kelly Watford was represented by defense attorney Algert Agricola, who said during the hearing that Kelly Watford had been completely cooperative with law enforcement.

Agricola claimed that White used coercive tactics when interviewing Kelly Watford, and that White had said it looked like we would have to charge you with murder. White said that he would not have said that if the evidence did not support it. Agricola also requested that any photos and videos from Kelly Watfords phone be made available.

Kelly Watford is also scheduled for arraignment on March 11 and alacourt lists Barbara Agricola as her attorney.
Here for the comments, though I dont have anything interesting to add to this convo myself 

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We could bring up the anecdote about the name lululemon and its owner?

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Me too, girl

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I definitely agree about dog lovers, our society gives them way too much leeway. There is literally no reason for your dog to be in a restaurant with us.

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I love dogs but I also dont understand why people feel their dog cant be left at home while they grocery shop, dine out, go the the doctors etc. its excessive.

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See a someone who worked in animal rescue its a whoole

Mess- I agree to some extent- but then some dogs would

Never seen their owner or get exercise etc. and then its like why did you approve an adoption for that? - b/c thats a whooole

Nother set of bull thats too much to get in to.



A lot of people get a dog and dont realize its like have a kid.





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I will say many dogs have bad separation anxiety and cant be left (or cannot be left long) but that just means the owner needs to know how to make arrangements for that.



Some dogs are truly like having children and many people are not responsible enough for it.

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Im tired of terrible dog owners



Barking, growling, biting.. your dog can be trained you know. Its not cute when your dog is trying to bite someone (I know plenty of owners who laugh when their dog gets mad it pisses me awff lol)



Or ones that let their dog bark alllll night in their backyard jfc

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Yeah, I'm with her on that one, even as someone who loves dogs. Many owners are so weirdly entitled.

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other than service dogs sure

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I saw four dogs, including a giant great dane, at the grocery store yesterday!

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grocery stores too (service dogs omitted obvs)

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I don't mind dogs on a restaurant patio outside in the summer, but never inside the actual restaurant. Obvi service dogs can go where ever.

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Im also so sick of people walking around with their dogs off the leash because they think theyve trained them perfectly. You never know if suddenly the dog will run into the street or freak out.

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I love dogs but certainly not all dog owners. I was recently at a restaurant that allows dogs but it's noisy as hell (loud music, so people literally yell to have discussions) and I just couldn't understand the couple of people who brought their (non-service) dogs there. I felt so bad for the poor dogs in that environment. The restaurant also does take away so get your food to go, dummies.

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as a dog owner, i hate it too. it's not fair to the dogs at all, dogs aren't accessories. i especially hate when people leave their dogs outside restaurants or cafes for HOURS while they're having a meal. just leave your doggo at home.

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im a hiker/walker and people having their dog unleashed on hiking trails is nothing new, but ive noticed now more than ever people have their dog unleashed on my normal neighborhood park walks.

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Agreed. Dogs shouldnt be at restaurants or stores. And more and more, I see people unleashing their dogs on walks and not only is it terrifying for me as someone with a dog phobia, its extremely unsafe for the dog. They could get spooked and run off or run into traffic. They can also attack other dogs or people. Keep your dog on a leash!

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Dog ownership is getting weird as hell. People use being a dog lover as shorthand for being a good person even as they're being super inconsiderate to other people by bringing their damn dog everywhere and letting the dog be a menace to society.

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There was a couple with a dog that came into my restaurant to get food to go and like....NO. Barring service animals I DO NOT GET animals in indoor restaurants or restaurants in general.

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Yeah, the only dogs that should be allowed indoors are trained service animals.

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Dog owners are annoying. Their whole lives center around them the moment they get one.

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i'm a dog owner

i love my current dog

i'm still mourning my dog who died three years ago when i was in my last trimester



BUT i agree so much



to the point that if i see someone at the grocery store with their non-service dog, i will call the store WHILE I AM THERE and snitch on them. i've done it twice now (once at TJs and once at whole foods). i feel mild shame doing it but it really fucking pisses me off especially when stores have very clear signage asking people to not bring their pets in.

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As a dog owner, I could not agree more

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Or in random stores like the grocer, Costco, or even the mall. It's disgusting.

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For real. The dogs don't even wanna be there, it seems lowkey abusive

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we had two patrons complain about the library to the newspaper(??) because we "asked them and their service dogs" to leave for being disruptive.



1. they definitely weren't service dogs and even if they were, we are allowed to ask you to leave if they're causing a disruption.



2. we then got bad reviews on Google for not allowing service dogs which isn't even true :|

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Is the tide finally turning?!?? I have been saying this for years. Theres a farmers market near me that has been no dogs for YEARS and yet every single market there are either people complaining or people who bring their dogs anyway because ~the rules dont apply to them~. Its so fucking rude and entitled. Some of us are allergic!

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I believe in some places, people are required to get a license before becoming pet owners. When I was younger, I thought this was too bureaucratic, but now, my position has evolved and I like it because it ensures that the animal is protected.



Edited at 2024-02-01 12:45 pm (UTC)

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I admit I bring my dog to TJ Maxx and Lowes because they are animal friendly, but I only do so because she is literally the most well behaved dog ever, I legit cant go anywhere with her without people commenting on how good she is. She just loves being around people and is afraid of others dogs because she was a puppy mill rescue so to get her out, Ill bring her to a very dog friendly TJ Maxx in a fancy town full of other little dogs. But Ive never brought her to a restaurant, even outdoor, I get thats a bridge too far. I do bring her to the dog park too for exposure therapy but usually TJ Maxx is her treat for facing her fear and being around other dogs. I realize all this means I am truly a crazy dog person but when you rescue you kind of have to be so idgaf about the judgement, but I also know how far is too far.



Edited at 2024-02-01 01:09 am (UTC)

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I want to fight any and every human being that brings their dogs to a HUMAN doctors office.

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cats 4 lyfe

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Its fucking wild. I love my dog but I also love not having to babysit her when we leave the house. She loves her kennel and we love our freedom.



Plus the stupid idiot doesnt like certain people and shes not a dog person and it seems like a stressful situation for everyone to expose her to all the foot traffic and noise. My baby likes a quiet environment (Im assuming)

She runs away from children and I just want her to be safe and happy.

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Sounds like a cat.

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girl if you like pink just wear pink, sounds like you're letting other people get under your skin for no reason

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Once you let go of those useless opinions and dont let them weigh on you anymore you feel liberated fr



If they dont pay my bills or directly impact my life in another other way then its truly not worth it



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that's the ~it girl dilemma, though - your references have to be obscure to be cool, can't risk your non-barbie pink outfit being mistaken for a ::gasp:: mainstream reference

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insecurITy girl lbr

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I've seen so many girls crying 'cause coquette is the current fashion trend and now "they can't wear it anymore".



like lmao girl, did you actually like-like it if other people just wearing it bothers you?

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Seriously loser behavior!

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Is she an ontder by chance

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Feels like it.

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You caught me! Im Chloe Sevigny and Ive been cosplaying a broke person.

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Edited at 2024-01-31 09:45 pm (UTC)

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did she shave her brows

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They're bleached  she's done it in the past (including for the movie Gummo)

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This feels very Kristen Johnston on Sex and the City coded.

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Such a tiny part yet so iconic.

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nobody smokes anymore

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Im so bored I could die!

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Whatever happened to fun?

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I've only seen her last sceane in SatC and it was the best thing that show made

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Edited at 2024-02-01 02:12 am (UTC)

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i can only say toe-ast bc of this vid

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i can only say bar-ba-qua

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i much prefer the parody version of her than the actual person tbh

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mmmm rich bread

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Literally can't think about Sevigny without thinking about this legend.

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every time i see her name my mind goes directly to those videos

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this is exactly how id expect chloe sevigny to feel lol

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Same! People get so weird and insulting over pink, so it was nice to see it being celebrated instead. And I totally took advantage of it being everywhere. I bought that fuchsia pink satin pillowcase Kitsch made in collab with Barbie, and it brings me so much joy to sleep with every night, lol.

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Lol ITA, I feel the same way about red now being a huge color, bring it on & thank you

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Same! I loved when Valentino did it too. I love all the hot pink options out right now lol.

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Gummo is so repulsive I cant believe thats her favorite when Last Days of Disco is right there wow



I grew up just outside of the town where Gummo is set and now live where it was filmed and its just so over the top disgusting for the realities of either place. Something very classist about rich artists making that movie.

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Weren't there rumors that she and Kate didn't get along? Maybe that sours the movie for her.



And same on Gummo. It makes me physically ill.

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Chloe and Kate reunited with Stillman on Love & Friendship, so if there were issues, they probably got over them

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i like disturbing movies but after watching a breakdown on gummo i don't think i could ever watch it.

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Last Days of Disco is classist too. The filmmaker is a blue blood making blue blood film.



I like Gummo. It's gross and transgressive. There's beauty in the grotesque. I understand the class criticism but I'd rather it be upfront I guess instead of obfuscated? The moments between the boy and his mother in their home I think are beautiful.



Just different tastes.



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Yeah I'm also from the area and you are so right. Gummo is truly my most detested film of all time and her being proud of it gives me a valid reason for the irrational dislike I've always had for her.

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As a stan  yeah... Gummo and Kids was a lot to get through.... I just remember renting Kids in high school and the dude just looked at me like...  holy shit, this is NOT for kids lol

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I finally saw Russian Doll S2 and my non-existent god wtf was that!? S1 was so good 

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I never watched it. I liked season one, but it definitely had some weaknesses in the middle. Luckily, it ended so strong that it made me forget the things I was annoyed by.

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i couldn't even finish it

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I noped out after the first episode of season 2 after binging season 1. Actually, I might not have even finished the episode completely lol.

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Oh. I liked it. It wasnt near as strong as the first season and they didnt know what to do with the guy (the name escapes me) but I thought it had interesting things to say on family trauma and generational myths

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I didn't even bother with it. Season one was perfect, I loved the way it ended. When I saw the trailer for S2, I knew it would mess interfere with my love for season one, so I didn't even bother.

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The Ridgewood mentions seem so random





The two times in my life Ive seen her out and about walking in NYC she was solo and looked absolutely miserable- I have resting bitch face myself but her whole ~vibe was more than that. Celebrities really are just like us.

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Ridgewood, New Jersey?

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LOL this was my question.

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Nah, Ridgewood, Queens. It's becoming a popular place to hang out.

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the knockdown center, which is arguably the last really huge nightlife venue in NYC is out in ridgewood. it isn't random

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ridgewood in queens, more likely. ridgewood is on the queens side of bushwick. lots of great bar and venues out there, as both neighborhoods still have a lot of industrial/warehouse space.

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Nigeria has been looking for years to stem a drop in its oil production, which has dragged government revenues down and didnt allow Africas largest OPEC producer and exporter to take full advantage of the surge in oil prices in 2022.

Also for years, Nigeria has seen an exodus of Big Oil from the restive onshore Niger Delta, where oil theft and illegal tapping of pipelines have often led to oil spills for which the majors have been blamed. International oil companies have been forced time and again to declare force majeure on exports from Nigerias biggest oil export terminals Forcados and Bonny Light, due to pipeline ruptures and spills.

In the leaner and meaner oil industry, after two price crashes in the five years to 2020, Nigerias onshore  with all its security problems  has dropped out of Big Oils core areas of future development as it cant compete with cheaper and more secure exploration and production areas in their portfolios.

Big Oil Quits Nigeria Onshore En Masse

Last year and early this year, more international oil companies divested or expressed interest in selling their onshore assets in Nigeria. The trend from the last few years has become more apparentBig Oil prefers to spend cash on more lucrative and secure projects than on the Niger Delta onshore region plagued by illegal activity for years.

U.S. supermajor ExxonMobil intends to sell its shallow water business in Nigeria to Seplat, the biggest Nigerian energy company by market value. The deal is still bogged down at the Nigerian regulator, although the chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, told Reuters in October that the commission was very optimistic the $1.3-billion sale would move forward. Related: Emissions Pressure Turns Oil Drillers into Grid Drainers

A month earlier, Italys Eni signed a deal with Nigerias energy company Oando PLC to sell Nigerian Agip Oil Company Ltd (NAOC Ltd), the wholly Eni-owned subsidiary focusing on onshore oil and gas exploration and production in Nigeria, as well as power generation. Eni continues to operate in the country, focusing on operated offshore activities. Participations in operated-by-others assets, both onshore and offshore, and Nigeria LNG remain in the Eni portfolio, too.

In line with its plan through 2026, Enis global Upstream business will supplement the core organically led growth with inorganic high-grading activity, adding resources with incremental value while divesting resources that can offer greater value and opportunities to new owners, the Italian major said.

Then in November, Norways Equinor announced the sale of its Nigerian business to local firm Chappal Energies. Equinors assets include a 53.85% ownership in oil and gas lease OML 128, including the unitized 20.21% stake in the Agbami oil field, operated by Chevron.

Like Eni, Equinor said that the transaction realizes value and is in line with Equinors strategy to optimize its international oil and gas portfolio and focus on core areas.

The latest divestment announcement came from Shell, which said earlier this month that it would exit Nigerias onshore oil and gas industry but would remain a major investor in the countrys energy sector through its deepwater and Integrated Gas businesses.

Shell has struggled with its onshore business in Nigeria for years, and has had its fair share of troubles there, including several lawsuits over oil spills from local communities.

Local Firms Take Over Onshore Activities

As a result of regulatory, security, and environmental issues, investments in Nigerias oil and gas industry have slowed over the past few years, leading to a drop in oil production, which has made Africas top oil producer the biggest laggard in the OPEC+ agreement. Nigeria hasnt pumped to its quota under the deal and had its ceiling reduced once before OPEC+ handed it a 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) quota for 2024 at the meeting in November 2023. That meeting was postponed by a few days due to disagreements over quotas with Nigeria and Angola, which had the latter announce it was quitting OPEC.

Nigeria, however, is still part of the cartel and the OPEC+ agreement and even hopes to boost its oil production this year and in the following years.

The administration of the new president, Bola Tinubu, who took office in May of 2023, has been looking to attract investments. In the absence of the deep pockets of Big Oil for onshore operations, Nigeria will have to rely on local oil firms and consortiums of smaller companies to revitalize its onshore oil sector after years of underinvestment and still ongoing oil theft and vandalism on petroleum facilities.

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If companies are now leaving the less capital-intensive onshore operations to focus on offshore operations, it sends a perfect picture of the risk involved in doing business in Nigeria, Seyi Awojulugbe, a senior analyst at Lagos-based security consultancy SBM Intelligence, told Reuters.

Local firms could have an easier time negotiating with local communities, which could make their doing business in Nigerias onshore oil sector easier, Noelle Okwedy, an energy analyst at intelligence firm Stears based in Lagos, told the Financial Times last month.

For local companies who dont have the billions of dollars in capital to invest in offshore assets, buying these assets is a chance for them to expand, Okwedy noted.

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Less than a month after news that Phillips 66 was discussing the sale of some of its assets, the company has been forced to shut down a section of a natural gas pipeline due to a fire.

The natural gas pipeline in the Oklahoma Panhandle ruptured after a fire on Tuesday, with Phillips 66 saying in a Wednesday statement that the fire had been extinguished and the cause of the incident was under investigation, Reuters reports.

No injuries or threats to nearby residences have been reported, and the company said that multiple fire and law enforcement agencies had responded to the fire, according to Reuters.

WSAZ news cited the Elmwood Fire Department as saying that some 13 miles of the pipeline must now be drained due to the rupture, with the surrounding areas closed to the public as the investigation into the cause of the explosion that led to the fire continues.

This is the third such incident at Phillips 66 assets in less than a year. Earlier in January, a fire broke out at one of the companys refineries in New Jersey, and last year, six people were injured in a fire at a Texas refinery.

In early January, the Houston-based refiner said it was actively discussing the sale of $3 billion in non-core assets this year in an effort to cut costs and boost returns. There was no fixed timeline given for the sale, with CEO Mark Lashier saying there was no sense of urgency.

Phillips saw its profits plunge 46% in the second quarter of 2023, and while Q3 brought better news, numbers still failed to live up to analyst expectations, despite the fact that refinery utilization was at a years-long high of 95%.

That underperformance led to the $1-billion share purchase by activist investor Elliott Investment Management in November, during which time the company was criticized for soaring operating expenses.

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The UKs Grain LNG, Europes largest liquefied natural gas terminal, signed on Wednesday a ten-year agreement that will extend the long-term storage and redelivery capacity of Algerian gas company Sonatrach at the Grain LNG terminal from January 2029.

Grain LNG, located on the Isle of Grain in Kent, is the biggest such terminal in Europe and the eighth largest in the world by tank capacity with a site that spans more than 600 acres in total.

National Grids Grain LNG is considered of strategic national importance to UK energy infrastructure and security of supply.

This is the first agreement for 125GWh/d of import capacity, equivalent to 3 million tonnes per annum of LNG, from Grain LNGs competitive auction process which was launched in September 2023.

The successful outcome of the auction further secures the future of Europes largest LNG import terminal into the next decade, the UKs National Grid said in a statement.

This agreement offers Sonatrach guaranteed access to Europes largest LNG import terminal, which helps line up Sonatrachs long term marketing strategy by diversifying its LNG markets, said Mayouf Belgacem, Executive Vice President of Sonatrach.

Grain LNG is currently being expanded to store and deliver enough gas to meet up to 33% of UK gas demand.

The UK has recently seen a significant rise in LNG imports as Europe has diversified its LNG sources.

Elsewhere in Europe, Italys energy major Eni has been increasingly betting on Africa to import large volumes of pipeline gas and LNG to replace pipeline gas supply from Russia, which was Europes top gas supplier before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Eni has been particularly active in securing more natural gas supply for Europe from Africa and has fast-tracked projects in Africa to meet Europes gas demand in the absence of Russian pipeline deliveries.

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Some tankers transporting Russian fuels have started to avoid the Suez Canal route to Asia as ship-tracking data shows operators of vessels carrying Russian oil products may have reached the risk tolerance for passing close to Houthi missiles in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The Red Sea/Suez Canal route is the shortest route for tankers from Russias western ports to Asia. Until recently, traders and operators were relatively sure that cargoes of Russian origin wouldnt be targeted. But last weeks attack on a U.S. and UK-linked tanker carrying Russian naphtha may have prompted the re-routing of some Russia-originated cargoes.

Several tankers loaded from the Baltic and Black Sea ports in Russia have diverted destinations while in the Mediterranean and instead of the Suez Canal, the vessels are now headed toward Gibraltar and further down along the African coast, according to LSEG data and market sources quoted by Reuters.

The current Gibraltar and West Africa positions of a few tankers suggest that those vessels would now travel around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa to reach their Asian customers.

Refining margins for naphtha in Asia jumped to their highest level in nearly two years early this week, following an attack on a tanker transporting Russian fuel.

The petroleum products tanker Marlin Luanda was struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden after transiting the Red Sea, commodity trading giant Trafigura said late on Friday.

The vessel, operated on behalf of Trafigura, was transporting Russian naphtha bought below the price cap in line with the G7 sanctions, a spokesperson for Trafigura told Reuters on Friday after the attack.

This week, other signs emerged that some Russian crude and products will be avoiding the Red Sea.

Two supertankers in the Mediterranean are ready for ship-to-ship transfers (STS) of Urals crude from smaller tankers that loaded at Russias Baltic and Black Sea ports. These two very large crude carriers (VLCC) will then transit around the Cape of Good Hope, Lloyds List reported on Tuesday, citing commodities and data analytics provider Vortexa.

Meanwhile, Russias fuel exports rose to a six-week high in the week to January 28, after a decline in the previous week, data from Vortexa compiled by Bloomberg showed on Wednesday.

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Germany has started exploring options to sell a large stake in energy giant Uniper, which the government nationalized in 2022, with a possible share offering at the end of this year or next year, sources with knowledge of the plan told Bloomberg on Wednesday.

The German government has launched initial talks with potential advisers, according to Bloombergs unnamed sources.

Germany had to nationalize Uniper in 2022 to avoid its collapse amid soaring gas prices and a lack of Russian supply in the wake of the Ukraine invasion and the EU sanction barrage. Uniper and other German energy firms had been amassing losses with the lack of contracted Russian gas supply and the high price they had to pay on the spot market to replace lost Russian volumes.

The total bill for Unipers nationalization came in at $53 billion.

Contacted by Bloomberg about the possible share sale, a representative for Uniper declined to comment on any details, but noted that the European Commission approved the nationalization on the condition that Germany work out an exit strategy to reduce its stake to not more than 25% plus one share by end 2028 at the latest.

After the nationalization, Germany owns more than 99% in Uniper, whose shares are still listed in Frankfurt, but trade is thin.

Considering that trading in Uniper shares is very low volume and frequency, a share sale would be a kind of a new initial public offering or a re-IPO, according to market participants cited by Bloomberg.

Unipers current market capitalization is around $25.8 billion (23.8 billion euros).

In any stock offering by the German government, Unipers shares would likely be priced at some discount compared to the current market price, some of Bloombergs sources said.

A share sale would give Germany a needed cash infusion as its budget has been strained by a recent ruling of the Federal Constitutional. The top court ruled in November that the governments plans to transfer $65 billion (60 billion euros) from unused emergency COVID funding to Germanys new Energy and Climate Fund is unconstitutional and the climate fund should be reduced by that amount.

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Chinese economic activity, a key barometer of oil demand, put some downward pressure on oil prices on Monday after data showed on Wednesday that manufacturing contracted in January for the fourth straight month.

Chinas official manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) rose slightly while remaining in contraction, dampening hopes for a rebound. Chinas January PMI rose to 49.2, up from 49 in December, with levels below 50 considered to be a state of contraction and analysts concluding that China remains challenged by lagging demand and consumption. The new orders subindex increased by 0.3 percentage points, month-on-month, showing only a slight improvement in demand.

The rise in the manufacturing index was mostly driven by a rise in the output component. The overall new orders component and export orders components rose too, but by less and they remain below 50, consistent with softening demand and a decline in exports, analysts at Capital Economics told the South China Morning Post on Wednesday.

"The factory data confirms our view that China, at least for now, is an impediment to global oil demand growth," Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM told Reuters.

Last year saw Chinas manufacturing PMI drop for five months in a row from April, with a brief respite in September before returning to contraction the following month, where it remains so far in 2024. On Wednesday, the data put minimal downward pressure on oil prices, with Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) shedding about 1% in morning trading and geopolitical developments counterbalancing China data. In the meantime, the real estate sector, which accounts for around 25% of Chinas GDP, is experiencing a major setback in the New Year, with a court ordering the liquidation of giant property developer Evergrande.

This year, Beijing is expected to see targeted growth at around 5%, according to the South China Morning Post.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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10 major telecom fraud suspects escorted back to China from Myanmar

Global Times) 09:47, January 31, 2024

Photo: CCTV News

Ten major suspects in telecom fraud cases were handed over by Myanmar and escorted back to China on Tuesday. This is another landmark achievement in the international police and law enforcement cooperation between China and Myanmar, fully demonstrating the firm determination and strong will of the two countries to jointly crack down on transnational telecommunications and network fraud crimes, and maintain security and stability.

According to media reports on Tuesday, in response to the current severe telecommunications network fraud in northern Myanmar, China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has been strengthening international law enforcement cooperation with relevant agencies in Myanmar. On Tuesday, the Myanmar police lawfully handed over six key leaders of the telecommunications fraud group in Kokang region, including Bai Suocheng and Bai Yingcang, as well as four other major criminal suspects.

Multiple criminal groups in the Kokang region in northern Myanmar, led by suspects including Bai Suocheng, have been organizing and establishing fraudulent bases for a long time, and engaging in rampant telecommunications and internet fraud targeting Chinese citizens. They are also suspected of committing serious violent crimes such as intentional murder, intentional injury, and illegal detention. Their criminal activities are extremely heinous, causing severe social harm and deep resentment among the people.

On December 10, 2023, based on the mastery of relevant criminal facts and evidence, China's public security authorities issued a public reward for the arrest of 10 key leaders of the telecommunications and internet fraud criminal group in northern Myanmar. With strong support from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, the MPS dispatched a working group to Myanmar to carry out international law enforcement cooperation.

The working group held multiple rounds of talks and consultations with the Myanmar side, reaching a consensus on jointly combating telecommunications and internet fraud crimes, and making every effort to arrest and hand over the key leaders of the telecom and network fraud group.

According to the MPS, in order to resolutely and thoroughly eradicate the "cancer" of telecom network fraud in northern Myanmar that involves Chinese citizens, the MPS has been continuously carrying out law enforcement and security cooperation with the Myanmar police. The Yunnan public security departments have also been deepening their border law enforcement cooperation with relevant local law enforcement agencies in Myanmar.

As of now, 44,000 suspects involved in telecom network fraud in northern Myanmar have been handed over to China, including 171 key members and 2,908 fugitives online, which is a significant achievement in the fight against telecom fraud.

The public security departments will maintain a high-pressure stance against such crimes, deepen international law enforcement cooperation, and continue to arrest important leaders of telecommunications network fraud groups, so as to resolutely safeguard the safety of people's lives and property, and effectively maintain border security and stability.

According to media reports, with the strong cooperation of relevant departments in Myanmar, 41,000 suspected telecom and network fraud criminals were handed over to China in 2023.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
By Ko Dong-hwan

Manufacturing sectors in the country will begin a transformation by deploying artificial intelligence (AI) technologies around assembly lines in production plants as the government is seeking to resolve a chronic worker shortage problem, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Wednesday.

The ministry will start designing a master plan for AI autonomous manufacturing in the carmaking and shipbuilding sectors, the country's key industries, in the first half of this year. It will launch test projects in different regions nationwide within this year, together with the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, before extending the new method to other sectors.

The change, the ministry said, requires private investments worth a total of 150 trillion won ($113 billion), including foreign investments. To attract the money, the authority said it will roll out a state fund of 14.7 trillion won this year to streamline relevant policies, extend tax exemption incentives and shut down "killer regulations" that hamper investments into future industries.

To spur research and development for cutting-edge technologies, the ministry said it will allow private firms to lead R&D to maximize their performances and achievements. It will also designate the top 40 projects in rising industries where global companies are competing neck-and-neck and infuse 70 percent or more of the research budgets for the country's local firms.

The announcement came as Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun on Tuesday unveiled this year's goal to reach $700 billion in exports, to beat the current record of $683.6 billion from 2022. The ministry also aims to attract $35 billion in foreign investments and private firms' investments of 150 trillion won for local industries.

To reach its goal, the ministry said it will expand the country's free trade network from markets representing 85 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) at present  the world's second-biggest size, according to the ministry  to 90 percent.

To stabilize supply chains for rechargeable battery makers and other local industries in need of critical items from outside the country, the ministry said it will proceed with realizing the national plan to reduce dependence on certain countries for imports. By pushing the ministry's "Industry Supply Chain 3050" pronounced last December, the country will lower the level of reliance on importing lithium and rare earth minerals from 70 percent in 2022 to 50 percent or lower by 2030.

Monitoring the global market, the ministry said that it will select 10 top-priority markets and 30 most popular products to narrow the government's scope of support and maximize exports by local private firms.

Reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 is another national commitment that will see progress this year. A key step is shifting the country's overall power grid to carbon-free energy (CFE), an initiative being pushed by the ministry's Carbon Free Alliance to enhance participation by global firms. The ministry said it will focus on drawing global interest in the alliance and gathering support for CFE, which purportedly approves nuclear power as well as renewable energy resources and hydrogen.
The Texas Railroad Commissionthe states regulatory body for its entire oil and gas industryhas asked the Texas attorney general to sue the Biden Administration over its law designed to lower emissions within the oil and gas industry.

The rule was issued in December by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and deals specifically with methane released in the course of producing oil and gas. It is the second action in less than a week, after last week, Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian sent a letter to President Joe Biden and his Energy Secretary, Jennifer Granholm, chastising the Administration for its pause on new LNG export project permits.

Texas natural gas is saving the free world, and President Biden wants to end it, Christian said last week, adding that the Administrations pause on LNG export plants could recklessly endanger European lives.

When the Biden Administration presented the new methane rule in December, small U.S. oil and gas producers were concerned that it could shut down wells and put them out of business. The EPA argued that the nation's largest industrial source of the super pollutant is from the oil and gas industry.

Armed with deeper pockets to roll out what would certainly be massive changes, larger oil and gas players, such as BP, welcomed the new rule, even congratulating the Administration on achieving an important milestone.

The new regulation is set to take effect in five years, and will require significant investments from oil and gas companies to monitor methane leaks from, among other things, well sites and compressor stations. Some of the smaller oil and gas players may not survive, unable to shell out the cash required for such an ambitious rule.

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The U.S. Department of Energy will provide a loan of $1.5 billion to Holtec, the energy equipment supplier, to reopen the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan.

This is according to a Reuters report citing an unnamed source who said the loan will be made public next month.

This would be the first time ever that a closed nuclear power plant in the United States would be reopened.

A spokesperson for Holtec confirmed the news of the reopening, saying "We hope for a timely approval to bring the plant back to full power operation toward the end of 2025."

As we transition away from fossil fuels, nuclear is going to be a critical part of not only reaching our climate goals but doing so in a way that ensures the lights stay on, Nick Culp also said.

Holtec originally bought the Palisades nuclear plant in 2022 from Entergy with the intention of decommissioning it as federal and state energy policies made it harder for nuclear power to compete with other forms of energy.

However, last year the Biden administration rediscovered nuclear power as a low-carbon option and signaled they would support more nuclearespecially as it emerged the massive buildout in wind and solar that the administration saw as the only way to transition away from oil and gas might not be that easy to do.

As interest in nuclear returned Holtec filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission last October to reopen the facility. A month later, the company had also signed a deal with a Michigan non-profit energy cooperative to buy up to 66% of the power that Palisades would generate.

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The Palisades plant has a capacity of 800 MW, and Holtec last year announced plans to build two new reactors at the sitesmall modular reactors with a capacity of 300 MW each. The company, however, said that without federal funding it would not be able to reopen Palisades and would have to instead decommission it.

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Qatars state firm QatarEnergy has awarded engineering and installation contracts worth a total of $6 billion to develop the next phase of its biggest oilfield, Al-Shaheen, which will boost production at the offshore field by around 100,000 barrels per day (bpd).

The contract award is part of the third phase of Al-Shaheens development since North Oil Company took over the fields operation in July 2017. The company is a joint venture between QatarEnergy, which has 70%, and French supermajor TotalEnergies, which holds the remaining 30%.

First oil from the next development phase at Al-Shaheen is expected in 2027, with more than 200 wells expected to be drilled and a new centralized process complex, nine remote wellhead platforms, and associated pipelines will be installed.

Of the four major Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Installation (EPCI) contract packages for further development of Al-Shaheen, a consortium of McDermott Middle East Inc. and Qingdao McDermott Wuchuan Offshore Engineering Co won one worth $2.1 billion.

The EPC package for a Central Processing Platform valued at about $1.9 billion went to a consortium of McDermott Middle East and Hyundai Heavy Industries. A $1.3 billion EPC package for a riser platform was awarded to Larsen & Toubro Limited, and an EPC package for subsea pipelines and cables valued at about $900 million was awarded to China Offshore Oil Engineering Co (COOEC).

By awarding these contracts, we are taking an important step towards realizing the full potential of Al-Shaheen field, which produces around half of Qatars crude oil today, said Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatars Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy.

Al-Shaheen began commercial production in 1994 and underwent significant development to reach an oil production rate of 300,000 bpd in 2007, QatarEnergy said.

Last month, QatarEnergy signed a deal with Shell under which the Qatari state firm will deliver up to 18 million barrels of crude annually to the supermajor, in the first-ever five-year crude sales agreement for the Qatari company.

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Saudi Arabia is working with advisers to revive a new sale of stock in oil giant Aramco on the domestic market and looks to raise at least $10 billion from the follow-up offering, anonymous sources with knowledge of the plans told Bloomberg on Wednesday.

Currently, Saudi Arabia owns just over 98% of Aramco after selling 1.7% in the initial public offering (IPO) in December 2019. Of the 98% held by the Kingdom, the Saudi government owns 90% of Aramco, while the sovereign wealth fund owns the other 8%.

The Saudis initially aimed to list Aramco on the Saudi stock exchange, Tadawul, and on one major international market, with London, New York, Tokyo, and Hong Kong all rumored or reported to have been in the race.

But in the end, tepid investor demand and the possibility of exposing the Kingdom to lawsuitsespecially with a New York listingforced the rulers to downsize the Aramco IPO.

Saudi Aramco made its debut on the Saudi Stock Exchange in December 2019 and raised around $30 billion in the share listing which became the largest in history.

Since the IPO, Saudi rulers, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have said on several occasions there would be more Aramco shale sales on Tadawul in the future.

Saudi Arabia and its crown prince have planned massive investments in futuristic cities to attract tourists and talent in the digital economy and diversify away from its dependence on oil revenues.

The latest share sale plan now under consideration has the Saudis seeking to raise at least $10.7 billion (40 billion Saudi riyals) from the share sale, according to Bloombergs sources.

Saudi Arabia hasnt reached a final decision on the timing, and plans could still change and the stock offering could be delayed again, they say.

On Tuesday, Saudi Aramco said it was ordered by the Kingdoms leadership to stop work on expanding its maximum sustainable capacity to 13 million barrels per day, instead keeping it at 12 million bpd.

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The United States has ordered all U.S. entities involved in business relations with Venezuelan miner Minerven to start unwinding these relations ahead of a return to a sanction regime in April, after the six-month sanction relief agreed in October 2023 expires.

The move follows threats by Washington that it will reimpose sanctions on Caracas if the Maduro government does not stick to its promise to hold democratic elections.

Since that government instead confirmed a ban on the opposition candidate, Maria Corina Machado, the U.S. had to make good on the threat.

Sanctions, which target primarily Venezuelas oil industrythe biggest contributor to foreign incomewere eased in October in exchange for the abovementioned promise. The U.S. had warned at the start that straying from the original agreement for democratic elections would automatically lead to a return of the sanctions.

The easing helped Venezuela boost its oil export revenues, with expectations for this year at $20 billion, according to Reuters, versus a total of $12 billion in oil revenues for last year. If the sanctions are reimposed, however, the outlook will change drastically.

"Price discounts on Venezuela's crude had reduced a lot and cashing sales proceeds became easier for state company PDVSA. That was helping Maduro," the director of the Latin American Energy Program at Rice University's Baker Institute, Francisco Monaldi, told Reuters.

"If the license is withdrawn in April, the proceeds will be reduced again and the scenarios of strong economic growth and a competitive election will fade," he added.

Following the easing of the sanctions last October, Venezuela had planned to expand its oil production from below 800,000 bpd to over 1 million bpd. The prospects of that happening have now dimmed. Analysts have also forecast a higher risk of domestic fuel shortages if the sanctions snap back in April.

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Via Metal Miner

The frosty relationship between China and Australia continues to thaw, as evidenced in the bi-lateral trade indices indicate. Now, thanks to Chinas growing copper demand, the world possesses one more indicator. According to recently released data, Australia exported 27,500 metric tons of copper ores and concentrates to China in November last year. At U.S. $44.5 million, this represents the highest-ever recorded shipment for any month after 2020. That was the year China forced its unofficial ban on Australian exports.

Up until the end of 2020, Australia provided China with approximately 80,000 tons of copper concentrate each month. According to reports, this constituted around 5% of Chinas overall imports. However, following the establishment of a new government in Canberra in 2022, China gradually lowered tariffs and unofficial restrictions on diverse Australian commodities.

Chinas Copper Demand Superseding Trade Issues

Over the last few months, Chinas copper imports continued to inch up. This not only includes consignments from Australia but also shipments from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a prolonged stand-off with the government over taxes previously blocked export efforts. Nonetheless, the surge in Chinese copper demand has the DRC rushing to fill orders.

Furthermore, according to reports, Ivanhoe Mines and Gecamines recently agreed to restart the ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine. Many expect this to usher in a new phase of production for Kipushi, as it will mean restarting operations almost a century after its 1924 inauguration as the worlds richest copper mine.

Meanwhile, Chinas appetite for imported copper has many analysts surprised. A recent report from Reuters notes that the CCP has been piling up record amounts of copper concentrates and recyclable metals since 2018. Last October, for example, China imported 353,000 metric tons of refined copper. After only ten months of 2023, cumulative imports stood at 2.99 million tons, just 4% below 2022 levels.

According to this report, copper put up quite a strong fight compared to earlier years, despite a downward trend in Chinas economy (these copper price trends and more on MetalMiner Insights). But in all fairness, copper demand is not only high in China, but across most of the world. In fact, analysts expect the need for copper could further accelerate in 2024.

Why the Growing Need For Copper?

Why is the world so hungry for copper? A subsection of market watchers attribute it to the ongoing transition to green power. Of course, one particular sector driving that shift is electric vehicles. Moreover, manufacturing EVs and switching to renewable energy requires tons of copper. For reference, an EV needs thrice the amount of copper as an internal combustion engine car, and larger vehicles require at least ten times more.

Yet some analysts say the demand timing is all wrong, citing challenges like mining operations delays and disruptions. For instance, analysts from Citi report that investment in Chinas power grid surged by more than 6% in 2023, surpassing the growth rates of 1% in 2022 and 5% in 2021.

In Chinas case, the increasing demand for copper, which many expect to reach new highs in 2024, remains puzzling for analysts. However, the countrys opaque system prevents experts from understanding where the CCP will use this imported copper. Will it go to commercial purposes or strategic inventories?

According to a report in The Economic Times, Chinas demand for copper and other metals will increase even further this year after the government increases its economic stimuli. Quoting a report from financial firm ICICI Direct, imports of copper products, copper ore, and unwrought copper are all likely to go up in 2024. (to mitigate price risk from rising copper prices, read The Art of Timing Your Metal Buy).

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The report even anticipates domestic copper production to increase compared to earlier years. Meanwhile, additional copper demand may come from an uplift in the real estate sector and vehicle manufacturers.

By Sohrab Darabshaw

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After going through hell and back over the last several years, Kathy Griffin said shes ready for people to laugh about it.

Griffin will bring her My Life on the PTSD List tour to The Astro in La Vista on Saturday.

This tour is Griffins first in six years. As far as everything shes been through in the meantime, I want to make you guys laugh about it, Griffin said in an interview with The World-Herald ahead of her show.

Griffins current tour represents the latest chapter of her decades-long career as a comedian, TV host and bestselling author.

In 2013, Griffin was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for writing and starring in a record 20 televised stand-up specials. Griffin also made history in 2014, when she received her sixth consecutive Grammy nomination and first win for Best Comedy Album for Kathy Griffin: Calm Down Gurrl.

The title of Griffins current tour is a play on her Bravo series My Life on the D-List, which ran for six seasons and won two Emmy Awards.

As far as the PTSD part, Griffin said she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following the turmoil of the 2017 incident where she appeared in a video depicting her holding then-President Donald Trumps severed head.

She apologized for the video, but not before receiving backlash from many, including Trump. Griffin also lost her deal with CNN and an endorsement following the incident.

I thought you have to be like a combat veteran, but apparently you can get PTSD from, you know, when the president comes down on you and youre on the no-fly list, she said.

Griffin said she became addicted to prescription pills following the incident. On top of that, she was also later diagnosed with lung cancer. She said shes now happily cancer free but is now living with just half a lung on her left side.

Ive got stories, she said. (At the show) were going to talk about addiction and cancer and all the crazy stuff I do for my PTSD where I just look like a crazy person.

Griffin said shes spent the last six years trying to get uncanceled just to be told shes still toxic. However, she said it feels like shes suddenly been given a second chance.

Its almost like America has decided to forgive me, she said. And I dont know why, but I dont care. Im just glad to be back.

Griffin said her work is very improvisational, so shes not sure exactly what shes going to talk about until she gets on stage. However, this show is not a Trump dump, she said.

As of now, I dont even mention Trump in my new show, she said. He just kind of doesnt come up.

Those attending her show can just sit back and relax, she said, because she doesnt do crowd work. She said she hopes anyone coming to her show will keep an open mind.

Chicks are funny. Dont believe the hype, its an old wives tale that theyre not funny she said. I just want to get out there and spew as much funny and give the audience a good time, an escape (and) a relief.

Tickets to Griffins show at The Astro range from $35 to $89. More information and tickets are available at theastrotheater.com. The show will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
A 9-year-old girl was injured after being pinned between two cars that collided after an Omaha police vehicle rolled into one of the cars.

The incident happened in a parking garage near 10th and Farnam Streets around 7 p.m. Sunday. Police had responded to the location after reports of an assault involving juveniles around Lewis & Clark Landing.

Police found at least some of the juveniles in the parking garage, according to a pair of police reports. Its not known how many juveniles were involved, but a police spokesman said they ranged from 6 years old to 14.

As officers chased some of the juveniles on foot, one of the cruisers, a Ford Explorer SUV that wasnt completely placed in park, rolled backward and struck the rear bumper of a parked Chrysler Sebring sedan. That pushed the Sebring sideways into the girl, who police said was standing between the Sebring and an Audi Q3 SUV.

The girl was pinned between the Sebring and Audi. An officer got into the police cruiser and used it to push the Audi away the Sebring. That freed the girl.

The girl was taken by medics to the Nebraska Medical Center with possible abdominal injuries. The police spokesman described the girls injuries as minor. The girl has since been released from the hospital, a hospital spokesperson said.
Class sizes need to be more manageable, especially when special education students are involved, in order to keep teachers from being overwhelmed, a Nebraska lawmaker says.

State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln said she wanted to start a conversation about school class sizes by introducing Legislative Bill 1081. It would require public school districts to follow specific class size limits to decrease the burden for teachers.

Conrad said she knows the bill isnt ready to move out of the Legislatures Education Committee this year, but she sees it as a first step to addressing a problem that contributes to Nebraskas worsening teacher shortage.

I had the opportunity to visit with some former educators who were sharing their experiences with me about why they left the classroom, Conrad said. One of the big drivers for these really talented, passionate educators that I met was that their class sizes were too unwieldy ... they simply couldnt manage the amount of kids they had in their classroom. They got up every day and felt like they were set up to fail.

As teacher positions go unfilled in Nebraska classrooms, student-to-teacher ratios grow to accommodate the lack of staff. A December survey from the Nebraska Department of Education found there were 908 unfilled teaching positions at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, up from 769 last year. This number is likely an undercount due to lower survey participation.

Almost one in four unfilled positions this year are in special education. The special education teacher shortage has caused Nebraska school districts to struggle with providing adequate services to students, especially in more populated districts.

Last year, the Nebraska Legislature hosted a hearing to question Omaha Public Schools officials after the district had to reassign special education students to different schools because they had no teacher.

Spencer Head, president of the OPS school board, said on Tuesday that if LB 1081 were to pass, the district would have to hire 1,000 new teachers to comply with the legislation guidelines.

LB 1081 would require that by the 2025-26 school year, each public school district would have to follow specific student-to-teacher ratios. A general education class led by one teacher could have no more than 24 students. In a co-taught classroom  which includes one general education teacher and one special education teacher  the maximum class size would be 18 students, with no more than 30% of the class consisting of special education students.

The class size limit would be 12 students for special education classes that consist of students with academic or behavioral needs requiring additional adult support. For special education classes with students who have severe needs that require constant supervision, the class size limit would be eight students.

Classes with the students who have the highest needs  such as children who are violent or need intense interventions  would have a limit of six students.

Each of these classes would also require a full-time paraprofessional and full-time special education teacher.

Any classroom for students with multiple disabilities, such as those who may need medical rehabilitation and life skills education, would have a limit of 12 students, but there would be a requirement to have an additional staff person present for every three students. In a full class, there would be four staffers and one full-time special education teacher.

Each school district would be required to file a report with the Nebraska Department of Education to ensure compliance with class size numbers. Districts can apply for a one-year exception waiver to exceed the student-to-teacher ratio, but they cant exceed more than three granted waivers.

If the state education commissioner found that a school district was intentionally refusing to comply with the class size limits, the districts accreditation could be at risk.

We appreciate Sen. Conrads idea, Head said. We agree that smaller student-teacher class ratios are something that are absolutely preferred in education. Its something we do our best to meet.

Head said in OPS, 76% of elementary classrooms, 53% of middle school classrooms and 61% of high school classrooms have fewer than 24 students. It would cost the district roughly $81 million to hire 1,000 teachers in order to fill the gaps.

Jack Moles, executive director of the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association, said that even if schools had enough funds to hire more teachers, they wont be able to find enough with the educator shortage.

We do think what Sen. Conrad is trying to do here is laudable. The intention is well-founded, Moles said. Districts are already struggling to fill teaching positions, especially in special education. There are not teachers out there to pull this off.

Moles said in a survey of 100 of Nebraskas rural school districts, there were 72 special education openings that received a total of 79 applications. Several districts didnt receive a single application from a qualified candidate.

Conrad said she recognized that LB 1081 unintentionally creates some barriers for school districts and might have logistical challenges.

I pledge to work with stakeholders and this community to figure out, if we could agree, that one part of the solution is getting class sizes more manageable, Conrad said. It was really heartbreaking to hear from those teachers who really, really wanted to make a positive difference and were so overwhelmed in the classroom.

Spike Eickholt, a lobbyist for the Education Rights Counsel in Omaha, said the organization supports the bill because appropriate student-teacher ratios mean decreased discipline situations, higher success rates for students and less burnout for teachers. He said the special educator shortage will worsen without proper class size limits.

Its a snowball effect, Eickholt said. Youll have more special education teachers who leave the profession. Those who remain have higher needs and higher burdens on them. Its really unfortunate.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
A new strip club in a shopping plaza at 180th and Q Streets has inspired a city ordinance designed to increase the citys ability to crackdown on business owners whose establishments cause neighborhood problems.

City Councilman Don Rowe proposed the ordinance. The council is scheduled to have a public hearing on it Tuesday, Feb. 6.

Rowe said the ordinance does not target Club180, the bring-your-own-bottle club that opened around Christmastime last year at 18101 R Plaza. Its in the former Two Fine Irishmen restaurant space.

Nor does the proposed ordinance endeavor to prevent performers from going the full monty. That appears to be beyond the citys power, Rowe said, although there is some question about whether the club might need some type of liquor license.

The ordinance was prompted by neighbors concerns about problems the business might cause, Rowe said.

When Two Fine Irishmen switched to Club180, it caused a lot of backlash in the neighborhood, from businesses and homeowners, Rowe said. Because of their location right there on 180th and Q, when theres a neighborhood right out the back door.

He said he received about 75 emails from people concerned about whats going to happen there, about secondary effects. About 75 people packed a community room at the Millard Public Library for a meeting that Rowe held Dec. 28. City Attorney Matt Kuhse joined him, Rowe said.

What came out of that meeting was theyre concerned about those secondary effects, Rowe said. First of all, its a BYOB club. They advertise its BYOB. So theres alcohol. And their (hours) are like 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. So (neighbors) are concerned about people coming out of the place and driving under the influence of alcohol, causing disturbances, whether it be noise, of just disturbing the peace, people wandering in their backyards.

Rowe said he met with Kuhse about what the city could do.

And so we helped put together this ordinance that youre going to see a public hearing on next week about offenses to the public peace, Rowe said. So it really addresses noise, it addresses the parking lot, it addresses a lot of the things that we talked about.

The ordinance creates the offense of Disorderly Premises or Nuisance Gatherings, according to a memo from Kuhse to the council.

This ordinance creates a criminal offense for individuals who allow activities, either on private property or vacant property, in disturbance of the public peace, health, safety and general welfare of the city, Kuhse wrote. This ordinance also includes individuals who own the property where the illegal activity is conducted.

The city currently has laws against many of the behaviors in the ordinance. But under the new ordinance, police can cite not only the people causing the disturbance, but we can also cite the business owner, if they are not a good operator, if they do not handle that properly to limit the impact on the neighborhood. The business owner can be charged as well.

The website for Club180 states it is an exclusive private club with the flexibility of choice for customers to opt for the allure of a one-day membership for $20, or embrace the pinnacle of exclusivity with a $1,000 one-year membership.

Its in a shopping plaza across 180th Street from Millard West High School. There are houses over a wood fence from Club180s back door. The pinnacle of exclusivity shares the shopping plaza with such establishments as a hearing clinic, a gym, a drugstore, a brewpub, a dentists office, a nail clinic and a Montessori school.

The ordinance lists multiple activities in its definition of what makes a place a disorderly premises. Those include disorderly conduct as defined elsewhere in city code, people using drugs or persons engaging in public urination, public defecation, lewd conduct, pandering, or prostitution.

Violating the ordinance would be a misdemeanor offense. If a business owner was convicted three times within an 18-month span, the city could revoke their certificate of occupancy, which would have the effect of shutting down the business.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
Pro-labor law feared to weaken business sentiment, job creation

By Lee Min-hyung

The owner of a Seoul-based Mexican restaurant is concerned about the enactment of a pro-labor workplace safety act, as he will end up spending more on labor and legal consultations. He argued the act will also shrink the overall sentiment for most self-owned businesses, which will do little good in creating more jobs.

The controversial Serious Accidents Punishment Act took effect on Jan. 27 for owners of small businesses with more than five employees but less than 50. The business owners will face prison sentences of more than one year or have to pay fines of 1 billion won ($750,000) in the event of a fatal workplace accident.

The biggest fear is that we will have to allocate a budget for consulting with a labor attorney more frequently than before, he said on condition of anonymity, Wednesday. The owner of the food business employs more than five regular workers.

This is one of the evident downsides of the act from the perspective of small business owners. But more of a problem is that the law will weaken the business investor sentiment, as most of them are likely to walk on eggshells around their employees. This will not help create more jobs across the nation.

Under the act, even small workplaces are required to abide by stricter internal safety control systems, and undergo mandatory inspections of any worksite risk factors and take relevant measures at least once every half a year.

Some others took issue with the unfair application of the act to all industries.

The controversial act does not reflect reality, the head of a local health care business said. For instance, most service industries have very rare reports of serious accidents. This looks unfair for the government and relevant authorities to enforce the regulation on small businesses in such areas.

He acknowledged the purpose of the act is in the right direction, as employers are also responsible for building safer workplaces for their employees. But the act should come with exceptions reflecting the circumstances of the nations small businesses.

If small business owners are arrested for violation of the act and leave their worksite for some time, the business is extremely vulnerable to collapse, he said. This is because most small and medium-sized enterprises or self-employed rely largely on one-person leadership. Against that backdrop, their business morale will be hit by the enactment of the act from a medium- to long-term viewpoint.

Industry officials are also moving to take joint actions in protest of the act. More than 3,000 small business owners and self-employed gathered Wednesday in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, urging the ruling and opposition parties to renew and extend a grace period on the law's implementation for them.

Lim Woo-taek, head of the safety and health division at the Korea Enterprises Federation, also stressed the dire need to revise the act in a way that reflects the reality of small businesses.

Most small businesses are financially insufficient, so they cannot afford to hire professional workers as easily as big firms can, he said. The heightened safety standards  set by the act  will require them to hire legal and labor specialists in the long run.

Even if the government pledges to offer free consulting, this is not enough for more than 800,000 small businesses here to receive the service on time, according to him.
LINCOLN  Gov. Jim Pillen strolled the halls of the Career Academy at the Lincoln Public Schools on Tuesday, learning about the benefits of the program from the students themselves.

Two seniors, Isabel Cressler and Sapphire Guzman, both in the welding and precision machining pathways, led Pillen on a tour around the facility connected to Southeast Community College, which houses more than 700 students.

The Career Academy is made up of 16 pathways  including culinary, criminal justice and education  that juniors and seniors in the Lincoln Public Schools and non-public school students in the Lincoln attendance area can follow to earn high school and college credit.

Pillen, who saw the spaces for welding, precision machining, construction and health sciences, said the program gives students unique opportunities to find their passions and explore different career paths.

Pillen said the program is opening doors for students and showing them the many opportunities they have, whether that be pursuing higher education or entering the workforce.

Its really, really important that we make sure we can lift kids up, he said.

He also noted that a program such as this could help attract students to industries in need of more employees, such as education, nursing and mental health services.

Our futures are about our kids. We can never give up on kids, he said. And career pathways are so important.

The Career Academy runs in conjunction with Southeast Community College, but Director Josh Jones said its actually a triad, not just a partnership. People from within the business community play a big role in the programs success, too.

The school district provides the students and some of the staff, the college is able to provide instructors skilled in their specific trades, and people from the business community give students opportunities for real-life experiences through field trips, internships and apprenticeships.

Its really just all incredible, Jones said.

Cressler and Guzman can both attest to how the Career Academy has helped them prepare for their careers.

Guzman plans to continue following the welding track at SCC after high school and also study automotive technologies. Being able to attend the Career Academy full time this school year has helped her get ready for that next step.

Its given me a start that four years ago I wouldnt have thought possible, she said.

For Cressler, her time in the program has prepared her for her future career in a different way. She plans to attend Hope College in Michigan next fall to study government and politics.

With her experience in welding and machining at the Career Academy, she now has a broader perspective on the importance of union and worker advocacy, which she plans to focus on in her studies, she said.

I understand that welders and machinists and everyone in between are incredibly hard workers, and they deserve to be compensated for that, she said. So it really kind of put the narrative in my mind of where I want to go when I get this degree.

Because of her passion for politics, it was something of a dream come true for Cressler to meet Pillen and be able to show him around her school. Even after the tour was over, she was still ecstatic about the opportunity.

Being someone whos already interested in politics, having the opportunity to meet the governor and show them something Im really passionate about was really special, she said.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
LINCOLN  Students at private and faith-based schools in Nebraska would be able to get a $1,500 state-funded savings account for educational needs under a bill that prompted a contentious hearing Tuesday.

Legislative Bill 1386 drew support from private school families and officials who said that its important to ensure that families can choose the education options that their children need. But it also prompted opposition from those who said the law would damage public schools.

At one point, the hearing before the Legislatures Education Committee turned into a verbal sparring match between committee members and one of the people testifying against the bill.

LB 1386 follows last years passage of major education funding and school choice proposals. Lawmakers approved a bill that guarantees every public school at least $1,500 per student in foundation aid from the state. Another bill, LB 753, provides tax credits for donations to scholarship funds for private and parochial schools  a controversial measure that is subject to a voter referendum in November.

LB 1386 would extend the idea of a basic level of state funding to students at private schools. It would establish education savings accounts with $1,500 for students attending private or parochial schools  money that could be used to cover various costs such as tuition, textbooks, tutoring and other learning materials approved by the State Board of Education. The funds would be available starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, and students must apply for the funds through the State Treasurers Office.

State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, who introduced the bill, said the bill is intended to reduce financial barriers that families face when looking to meet their childrens educational needs.

We need less focus on systems and more focus on students, Hansen said.

According to the bills fiscal note, if 80% of the 33,611 students who attended private school in 2022-2023 applied for this funding, it would cost the state roughly $40 million. If 100% of those students applied, the cost would be more than $50 million.

Hansen said LB 1386 would actually represent a savings for the state, since Nebraska students who opt for private school dont need to be educated at state and local expense in public schools. He said the annual state savings from educating students in private school rather than public school is roughly $500 million.

Others challenged Hansens assertion, noting that public schools have fixed costs that dont go away just because some students leave for private schools.

One of the opponents Tuesday was Tim Royers, Millard Education Association president and sponsor of the ballot initiative campaign to repeal LB 753. Royers said LB 1386 violates an article of the Nebraska Constitution that says the state cant spend public dollars on private schools and that the bill is an attempt to get around the possible success of the anti-753 ballot initiative.

Please respect the will of the people, Royers said.

His testimony prompted pushback from LB 753s introducer, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area, and LB 753 supporter Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, both of whom sit on the Education Committee. Linehan went back and forth with Royers about statements he made against LB 753, while Wayne questioned why he was fine with the state appropriating funds to private colleges and early childhood education, but not private K-12 schools.

Royers said college and early childhood education are voluntary options families can pursue, while K-12 schooling is generally considered necessary for students to complete.

Other arguments against LB 753 came from Connie Knoche with the OpenSky Policy Institute, which also supported the ballot initiative to repeal LB 753. Knoche argued that private schools lack the same accountability standards as public schools and questioned how the state could ensure the funding was used properly.

Taxpayers dont see how this money is used, Knoche said.

Meanwhile, 10 people testified in support of LB 1386, most of them Nebraska parents who spoke about their struggles to afford the academic services their children need. Fremont parent Francisco Solis said his daughter was denied a transfer to a different public school because the school could not accommodate her moderate hearing issues.

I felt like my family was being treated poorly, Solis said.

Solis and other supporters said they would be interested in enrolling their children in private schools, but they cant afford the cost of tuition. Another parent, Jennifer Deroche of Lincoln, said LB 1386 could help cover the costs of a full-time paraprofessional that her son needs at the Catholic school he attends.

Michael Jensen, principal of Sacred Heart Catholic School in North Omaha, said many of the schools families struggle to match the costs of educating each student. He estimated that each student costs the school roughly $12,000 per year, but most families can only pay about 10% of that.

The school is also grappling with a high demand for admissions, Jensen said, with enrollment for preschool and kindergarten already full for next year. Of the schools current 137 students, only six of them are Catholic, he said.

Our community members want what Sacred Heart has to offer, he said.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024
Around 12:25 a.m., a trooper was traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 77 near Van Dorn Street with the vehicles lights and siren on when they hit a patch of ice, lost control and rear-ended a Chevrolet Malibu, which then collided with a Chrysler Pacifica, the press release said. The trooper was on their way to assist with a Lincoln police call.
Timi Dakolo, Iyin Aboyeji, Adebola Williams, Adaora Mbelu, and Bolanle Olukanni were among the personalities present at the launch of the pilot location of The Joy Hub in Surulere, Lagos.

Initiated by Joy, Inc. in partnership with Mentally Aware Nigeria and Olamma Cares, the hub is a non-clinical, non-judgmental, non-discriminatory emotional and mental health walk-in centre where young people dealing with depression, trauma, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts can access help.

Speaking at the event, Chude Jideonwo expressed excitement at the launch while stating that the vision is to build at least 20 more centres across West Africa by the end of 2020, with a hub set up in every community across the continent by 2035.
Senator-elect for Abia North and former state governor, Orji Kalu, said on Thursday that he had put his political enmity with his successor, c, behind him and was prepared to work harmoniously with him in the Senate.

Mr Kalu said this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent in Umuahia, shortly after receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Election Commission in Abuja.

He said: I have forgiven him (Orji) for the benefit of Abia people and we are going to work as one family in the Senate in the interest of Abia and Nigeria.

We are going to have a robust relationship in the Senate because the interest of Abia and Abians is uppermost to me.

NAN reports that Mr Kalu and Mr Orji, who succeeded him in 2007 as Abia governor, had been arch- enemies for almost a decade due to political differences.

Mr Kalu, who won the March 9 National Assembly polls, after two consecutive attempts, said that he would work assiduously to re-write the history of representation in his senatorial district.

There is a lot of work to do for my constituency and we shall work to support the programmes of the Federal Government to ensure they succeed, he said.

Mr Kalu, who was a member of the House of Representatives in the aborted Third Republic, promised that the ninth Senate would reverse the unnecessary delay in the passage of the annual budget.

He said that the Senate would ensure that the Appropriation Bills received expeditious consideration, once they were presented by the president.

The consideration and passage of budget estimates would not exceed three months. Once the president presents the bill in September, by December we would have concluded the consideration.

By so doing, the budget would be ready by January for the presidents assent, Mr Kalu said.

He said that during the consideration of the budget, the ministers would be restrained from embarking on overseas trips.

They must be available during the budget defence. They would not be allowed to travel overseas until the budget is ready, Mr Kalu said.
President Buhari receives in audience Leadership of Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) in State House on Tuesday

According to a report by PM News, Nigerias President, Muhammadu Buhari has expressed concern over the incessant building collapses across the country, and announced what he is going to do to those responsible for the dastard act.

The president said that those responsible for such incidents of professional negligence, leading to collapse buildings would feel the full wrath of the law.

The President gave the warning when he received the leadership of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), led by Mr Obafemi Onashile, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday

According to the president, the dark days of impunity are gone for good, assuring Nigerians that his administration will remain focused and committed to creating an inclusive and diversified economy.

He told members of the Institute that the recent tragic incident in Lagos, and many others across the country, were reminder of the need to strictly adhere to quality standards on construction projects.

Young innocent lives must never be lost due to incompetence and greed. Simply put, no corners must be cut.

I want to assure you that those responsible for such incidents of professional negligence will feel the full wrath of the law, he said.

The President welcomed recommendations and suggestions from the Institute on how to enhance the construction industry, directing that they make a formal submission to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing as soon as possible.

President Buhari, again, used the opportunity to thank Nigerians for clearly expressing their desire to move the nation forward.

Let me start by thanking you for your kind prayers, the President told members of the Institute, who came to congratulate him on his re-election and pledge their solidarity with his administration.

President Buhari added: `Nigerians have clearly spoken of their desire for the country to move forward. On our part, we remain committed to the Change Agenda.

By the grace of God, and with your continued prayers and support, the dark days of impunity are gone for good.

While highlighting the administrations achievements in stimulating the economy in the past three years, the president noted that growing the nations economy means national growth must impact the silent majority.

He said: This is why in the past three years; we focused on key job-creating sectors such as agriculture and infrastructure development.

You will all recall that our agriculture and infrastructure programmes contributed to our exit from recession. This is a clear example of how, if we push inclusive job-creating policies, growth will follow.

We will remain committed to these and other programmes to ensure the success of our nation is felt by the majority of Nigerians.

In his presentation, the President of NIQS, Onashile appealed to the Federal Government to create a Directorate of Quantity Surveying and Projects Costs Management to address the issue of unclear delineation of professional functions amongst construction professions within the Government.

He also made a case for Quantity Surveyors to be mandated and allowed to undertake cost management of projects of all forms on behalf of Government, among others.

The Institute while congratulating the President on his well-deserved re-election, expressed its support and total confidence in his administration and leadership direction which have brought hope, progress and stability to Nigeria.

A high-point of the visit was the conferment of the Fellowship Grade of the NIQS-the highest cadre of membership on President Buhari.

The President was also honoured with the Life Champion of Anti-Corruption Crusade in Nigeria Award.
My position is that Bauchi state is greater that everyone and I assure you that we will make Bauchi state better than we found it  Gov. Bala.

By Umar Usman Duguri.

The affirmation of Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohamed by the election petition Tribunal court, the Appeal Court and the supreme court of Nigeria marks another milestone of an assured four plus four (4+4) tenure in the history of Bala Mohamed, as Governor of matured Bauchi state, a signal of hope and consolidation of more democratic gains.

Since then, Bauchi state has changed its buoy in all locations, hope been rejigged and determination to fulfil desirous task in tandem with the lofty goals of the administration that remain focus in changing the narratives of the state with glossary of agendum.

On several occasions, Governor Bala Mohamed, maintain his stand, that Bauchi State is Bigger than any Indigene of the state, and that I love Bauchi state more than myself. This can aptly, we concurred with the current position of the state when compare with its peers, Bauchi state under the leadership of the Governor has rapidly progressed from the grass to grace.

The narratives have changed, beginning with the socio-economic development of the state which compliment the dreams of the founders of the state to the present government that has a youth agenda in actualizing its docket agenda of governance and leadership in the state. The various infrastructure modify the modern reality against the inherited mythical status, these are; the newly constructed Government House to replace the all colonial government house and the maiden international conference center to provide more economic vibrant and serene working environment for Governance at the top level, added to that is the, 100% furnished state secretariat that have been abandoned since its erection in 70s, plus and third phase of the state secretariat to integrate, extend and provide adequate working place for civil services and other matters related in the state.

According to unblemished Adviser to the Governor on civil service, who was also the former head of civil service, described, the Governor, as unmatched Governor, when it comes to Civil service, he made vital reforms that posterity would judge him as the best governor to improve the wellbeing of the civil service for optimum results we are seeing now in Bauchi state.

Another consolidation project are massive roads to complements the aready Urban Renewal project, the accelerated project and now the renewed economic viable projects statewide, they are; construction of Boi-lere, construction of two maiden flyovers at wunti market to ease gridlock especially during festivity period and weekly durba in the state that cause hold ups sometimes, as well as deliberate attempt to expand the capital city of the state.

Others are; dualization of road from college of legal studies to Government Secondary school Misau, and Re- construction/Re alignment of Darazo- Gabchiyari, construction of Adamani to Disinato Jamaare road, Rehabilitation of Dindima to Yashi to Maimaji road, also, there are construction of Gwalllamidji to Rafin Zurfi road, construction of Sabon Kaura to Birshi Ganduto BRC road, construction of Bayara Township road, construction of Zongo to Gwallagan Mayaka road and Dualization of Road from Setraco Roundabout to Emirs palace Azare, construction of internal roads at the Bauchi state university Gadau Campus, construction of Gyaljaule to lame road and construction of Marraban Darjiya to Beli to Zigau, these projects are still ongoing aside from the already actualized project that is contributing to the monthly internally generated revenues of the state and the federal government.

The newly ministry for humanitarian and disaster management by Governor Bala Mohamed is in tandem with his electoral fulfillment to address any disaster control or eventual happenings that would complement the yearnings and the aspirations of the people of Bauchi state that entrusted him to continue his good leadership. The ministry kicked up its activities on the modalities to cushion the effect of total petroleum subsidy removal by the APC led Government of the day, which Governor Bala Mohammeds technique on the palliative sharing for the N2 billion naira received from the federal government and the governors desire to increase it in an equitable way by additional 2 billion. The distribution is 80% ongoing statewide mindful of political party inclination, sectors, segments etc. the sensory system breakdown are; state gratuities would benefits the sum of five hundred million naira only (N500 million), while local government gratuities would benefits the sum of three hundred million (N300 million naira), and theyll be leave grand of six hundred and eighty million naira only (N680 million naira), and a separate cash transfer to most deserving indigenes of the state to the tune of three hundred and twenty five naira (N325 million naira), and women and youth are benefiting N76 million, and theyll be engagement of 1,000 volunteer health workers to benefit the sum of N 60 million naira only and special package bag of rice to the tune of 88,988 bags of rice worth N2 Billion naira the personal additional and 10-36 sitter school buses to Bauchi, Ningi, Misau, and Katagum local government areas.

Hospitals have been put to order and in the Bauchi state drugs and consumables management agency (DMMA) Governor Bala Mohamed, according to the Director General of the agency overhaul its activities for optimum upshot, among which are; procurement of laboratory equipment worth millions of naira in Burra Hospital, and renovation of staff quarters and pharmacy store worth millions of naira in general hospital Ningi, as well as construction of V.I.P latrines and water tank in Misau, procurement of assorted hospitals equipment worth millions of naira in General Hospital Tafawa Balewa and renovation/rehabilitation of infrastructure and equipment in Bayara Hospital.

Traditional institutions statewide regained its rightful position as the bedrock of meaningful faculty and a bridge between people, till the emergence of Bala Mohamed as Governor of Bauchi state, the whole traditional institution were in dejected and shattered, today in the docket agenda of governor each of the first class emirs palace is undergoing renovation/ furnishing with modern facilities, that has been extended to Districts/hamlets palaces, according to the Governor,  my government would continue to accord the traditional institution the respect it deserves. traditional institution is where I come from and associated with you, all, Im not doing anything for traditional institutions to be praised but I want to leave landmarks for generation yet unborn.

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A team of policemen unlocked the door, cut the rope, and rushed the body to Murtala Mohammed General Hospital where a medical doctor confirmed him dead.

A 37-year-old security officer at Prestige International College, Danmusa Steet, Gadon Kaya, Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State has taken his own life.

It was gathered that the deceased identified as Nuradeen Shehu, hung himself after learning that his ex-wife had remarried.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Hussaini Gumel, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, that the incident occurred inside one of the classrooms of the college.

He said on January 28, at about 10:30 a.m., Abdullahi Abdulsalam of Rijiyar Zaki, brought a report that one Nuradeen Shehu, a security guard at the college, was found motionless after he hanged himself with rope in a classroom.

He explained that a team of Policemen from Gwale Division, led by the DPO, was at the scene and forcefully unlocked the door, cut the rope, and rushed the body to Murtala Mohammed General Hospital where a medical doctor confirmed him dead.

The body was released to the family of the deceased for burial.

The CP said that the police would thoroughly investigate the motives behind the incident.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu for his recent private trip to France.

In a tweet posted on his handle @atiku on Tuesday, Atiku advised President Tinubu to step aside if the responsibilities of governance prove overwhelming for him.

Atiku ridiculed the President for embarking on a private foreign trip while the nation, particularly Abuja and other regions, grapples with the scourge of armed kidnapping.

Atiku called on Tinubu to relinquish his position if he finds it challenging, citing recent incidents like the killing of a grandmother in Abuja and the tragic demise of two traditional rulers in Ekiti state during the Presidents absence.

The former vice president emphasized the urgent need for 24/7 leadership to confront the prevailing insecurity and address the countrys economic challenges.

He wrote, Tinubu is playing fiddle while Nigeria is drowning in the ocean of insecurity.

To imagine that the Commander-in-Chief is on a so-called private visit while kidnappers kill a nursing mother and grandmother in Abuja for failing to pay N90m ransom and two monarchs in Ekiti, among other regular tragedies besetting Nigerians.

If the shoes are too big for Emilokan, he should step aside. Nigeria does not need another Tourist-in-Chief.

The country needs 24/7 leadership to confront the pervasive insecurity and collapsing economy.

Tinubu is playing fiddle while Nigeria is drowning in the ocean of insecurity. To imagine that the Commander-in-Chief is on a so-called private visit while kidnappers kill a nursing mother and grandmother in Abuja for failing to pay N90m ransom and two monarchs in Ekiti, among  Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) January 30, 2024

KanyiDaily had reported how Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen carried out a deadly attack in Ekiti State, resulting in the tragic deaths of two traditional rulers.
A man has been sentenced to life in prison for r3ping his wifes 14-year-old niece and infecting her with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

The judgement was given by Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja. The young man has been identified as Richard Saviour.

During the trial, the State Counsel, Mr Ola Azeez, called three witnesses to prove the prosecutions case while the convict testified in his own defence.

Delivering judgment on the case on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, Justice Oyindamola Ogala held that the evidence provided by all the prosecution witnesses was corroborated and considered the truth.

Ogala said the evidence of the victim was corroborated by the Investigating Police Officer (PW1) and Social Worker from the state Ministry of Youth and Social Welfare (PW3).

According to her, the witnesses established the offence of defilement against the convict.

The testimony before the court clearly depicts the evil perpetrated on this young girl and how she was abused both mentally and physically by the defendant and his wife for years, she said.

Revealing how she indeed cried out for help and was betrayed by those who were supposed to help and support her.

It is imperative to state at this juncture that the actions of the principal of PW2s school and the social worker (PW3) are commendable as same eventually brought some succour and relief to PW2, who unfortunately has been permanently scarred.

Having carefully considered the entirety of facts before the court, it finds that in this instance, the prosecution has satisfactorily proved the one count change the defendant is faced with.

Ogala said the defendant was desperate to distance himself from the allegation by denying the offences.

She said PW2 succinctly narrated what had transpired between herself and the defendant which the defendant denied.

The defendant in his evidence before the court indeed narrated how PW2 (the survivor) had at one instance, after running from home to avoid a beating from his wife, ran to the station and he was subsequently informed that PW2 accused him of molesting her.

The court finds that the totality of the testimony of the defendant who testified in his defence calling no additional witness is in essence a denial of the allegation without more.

He offered no reliable explanations to the charge aside from attempts to depict PW2 as a stubborn girl and one who stole from himself and his wife, she added.

The judge said when the police took the victim to the Mirabel Centre, she was tested and found to be HIV positive.

Thereafter, she was transferred to Marys Home Orphanage and looked after with the help of Positive Action for Treatment Access, a Non-governmental Organisation.

According to the judge, the Mirabel Centre record of PW2s genital findings was that her hymen was absent with slight whitish vaginal discharge and concluded that the finding is consistent with repeated vaginal penetration which lends credence to the facts stated by PW2.

The judge, hence, convicted the defendant on the charge of defilement by unlawful sexual assault and sentenced him to life imprisonment in the Correctional Centre.
Korean Air said Wednesday Japan's antitrust regulator has approved a 1.8 trillion-won ($1.34 billion) merger deal with its smaller rival Asiana Airlines, moving the merger process between Korea's two full-fledged air carriers one step further.

According to Korean Air, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) approved the company's business combination with Asiana Airlines earlier in the day, marking a significant milestone in the two airlines' merger process.

In November 2020, Korean Air signed the deal to acquire a controlling stake in Asiana to create the world's 10th-biggest airline by fleet.

For the merger to be finalized, the airlines must win approval from competition regulators in key markets.

The companies have so far won approval from 12 countries and are waiting for approval from the European Union and the United States.

Korean Air said it has proactively engaged in dialogues with all concerned parties to address various concerns raised by the JFTC.

According to Korean Air, the JFTC requested for Korean Air to submit remedies on select routes between Korea and Japan where the combined market share of Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and its respective subsidiaries would limit competition.

The JFTC concluded that five of the 12 overlapping routes on the network were not subject to competition review, the company said.

Korea Air said it has decided to cede a limited number of slots on seven routes, should other airlines decide to operate on them. These routes include Seoul to Osaka, Sapporo, Nagoya and Fukuoka, as well as Busan to Osaka, Sapporo and Fukuoka.

The JFTC also raised competition concerns about the bilateral cargo network. However, with the decision to divest Asiana's cargo business, the JFTC limited its request for the airline to enter into a cargo block space agreement on select routes.

The divestiture of Asiana's cargo arm is subject to the approval of all remaining competition authorities, and will occur after Asiana Airlines is incorporated as a subsidiary of Korean Air, the company said.

"Korean Air is committed to constructive dialogue with the remaining authorities  the EU and U.S.  to obtain approvals at the earliest opportunity," the company said.

Korean Air Chairman and CEO Cho Won-tae said in a New Year's message to company employees earlier this month that the firm "will complete the acquisition of Asiana Airlines in 2024," while noting that the process "has taken much longer than expected." (Yonhap)
Nigerian Afrobeats superstar, Wizkid has cried out following concerns expressed by fans on social media

People said he looked older during a recent event he attended.

Addressing this via Instagram story, Wizkid revealed that he is feeling lost and down, mostly because his mom recently passed away.

He wrote:

Since my mother left me I have lost myself Wizkid cries out as fans expresses concerns over his appearance at an event

Look in the mirror dont feel myself! Mama left me and I lost myself! Cant wait to feel myself again! Life of a soldier!

Military wit it! Until then I Dey give slap away for free so leave me. Expensive pain !!  He wrote.

See below:
The Tinubu-led Federal government has expressed concerns over Nigerias lagging progress in achieving the global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on sanitation.

The nation is reportedly off-track and is among the countries significantly behind in this critical area.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made the revelation during the National Workshop on Safely Managed Sanitation held in Abuja on Tuesday.

Prof. Utsev highlighted the severe economic impact of poor sanitation, revealing that Nigeria loses approximately $3 billion annually due to issues arising from the use of unsanitary or shared toilets and the prevalent practice of open defecation.

These sanitation challenges contribute to economic losses and pose significant health risks to the population.

Despite these daunting challenges, the Minister assured that the government is taking proactive steps to address the situation.

The National Workshop on Safely Managed Sanitation is a platform to discuss strategies and actions needed to improve sanitation management across the country.

He said, The Sustainable Development Goal target 6.2 for sanitation seeks to achieve by 2030, access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.

We acknowledge that access to safely managed sanitation is not just a basic human right, but an essential foundation for social and economic development.

With only six years to the SDG target date of 2030, progress on achieving the global SDG sanitation target of safely managed services is off-track and regrettably among those furthest behind.

According to Utsev, this came with high disparities in access across wealth quintiles and locations.

He added, In Nigeria, only about half of the population (46 per cent) has access to basic sanitation services and about a quarter are practising open defecation, with only 18 per cent of the population having access to safely managed services.

Achieving the SDG target 6.2 will, therefore, require us to make five times the current progress and triple our investment in the sector.

The Federal Government is committed to the actualisation of the SDG 6 target for Sanitation, and our commitment is motivated by the realisation that it would contribute significantly to the achievement of our national developmental goals and the key priority areas of this government.

He outlined some priority areas, including food security, ending poverty, economic growth, job creation, and inclusivity.

Utsev noted that the opportunities across the sanitation value chain could contribute to a reduction in healthcare costs, improved productivity, job creation and economic growth.

On the cost implication of poor sanitation, the Minister said, The World Bank report in 2012 on the economic impact of poor sanitation due to the use of unsanitary or shared toilets and open defecation cost Nigeria an estimated N455bn, equivalent to $3bn in losses annually, with open defecation accounting for a third of this amount.

These costs include health care, loss of productivity, premature deaths and poor educational outcomes. Social costs of open defecation which cannot be quantified in monetary terms include loss of dignity, lack of privacy and increased vulnerability to physical attacks and violence especially for women and girls.
CP Joseph Eribo, the Commissioner of Police in Taraba State has disclosed that a group of mobile police officers from the 40 Police Mobile Force in Jalingo, the state capital, rejected a bribe of eight million, five hundred thousand Naira (8,500,000:00) offered to them by a suspected kidnapper.

According to him, the suspect was also arrested along the Jalingo-Yola bypass road, while driving a Toyota Starlet with registration number YLA 321 ZY.

Eribo, who spoke yesterday during the parade of suspected criminals arrested by operatives recently, said: When interrogated, the suspect could not give a satisfactory account of himself, hence a search was conducted on his vehicle, and the following items were recovered in his possession: A cash sum of eight million, five hundred and fifty-five thousand Naira (N8,555,000); seven phones; three thousand unused recharge cards; and four amulets.

The suspect bribed the PMF personnel, requesting them to take the whole money and allow him to go, but the PMF personnel refused and arrested him accordingly.

The case is under investigation, and the suspect will soon be charged in court.

In the midst of the situation, the 144 Battalion (Rear) of 6 Brigade, stationed in Jalingo, encountered a clash with bandits who had abducted three individuals within the state capital.

According to a statement by the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for 6 Brigade, Lt. Olubodunde Oni, the bandits were en route to Yorro when the troops confronted them in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

He said, Acting on intelligence regarding the movement of the bandits and their victims from Ardo-Kola to Yorro, troops deployed in Apawa village of Yorro Local Government Area swiftly mobilised to the area and trailed the armed group.

The troops displayed exceptional skill and determination, engaging the criminals with superior firepower.

This forced the bandits to abandon their three abducted victims.

We are pleased to report that the rescued individuals have been reunited with their families as we continue on the trail of the kidnappers.
Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will depart the state today for Beijing, the capital of China, for trade and investment discussions.

During his visit, the governor will visit the headquarters of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) to meet with top officials of the company.

In a statement on Wednesday issued by his spokesman, Gboyega Akosile, the governor will meet with CCECC officials in an effort to deliver on his pledge to provide the public with a multimodal transportation system.

Also, Governor Sanwo-Olu is expected to inspect the headquarters of the Chinese construction giants and some ongoing projects undertaken around Beijing.

Sanwo-Olu will also inspect the Signaling System (CBTC etc.) and Metro projects undertaken by CCECC around Beijing.

The governor would later this week go from Beijing to Dalian to visit the headquarters of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation and the CRRC Lvshun base.

At the stick corporation, Sanwo-Olu will have a high-level official meeting with the chairman of CRRC Dalian, a subsidiary of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation.

The governor would also have a Technical Discussion on the DMUs for the Red Line and EMUs for the Blue Line between LAMATA, CCECC and CRRC Dalian.
From Joshua Chibuzo Andrew

Residents, traders and Motorists in Owerri, Imo State capital city have appealed to the State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma to reconstruct the Polytechnic Nekede road- Aba/Owerri Express that links to Road Safety Junction which emptied at Umuahia/Owerri Road abandoned over the years by contractors .

On visiting the area, our correspondent learnt that the dilapidated State of the road has negatively impacted the lives of the people and economic investments.



Petty traders who have shops along the road have given up on their businesses, just as residents of the area have relocated to other places leaving millions of naira wasted and the pains are really unbearable.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the abandoned road hosts one of the highest vehicular movements when in good condition. This is basically because the popular Timber Market is located along that axis. A ring road that connects Aba Road, Poly Nekede junction to Road Safety, Umuahia Road to Toronto and Uratta Orji, Okigwe Road is really boisterous and economically viable.

The road serves most production companies and Factory hubs sited in that environment which generates tens of millions of naira on daily basis but sadly its dilapidated condition is hindering their productivity

A truck driver, who identified himself as Ephraim Ukachukwu, interviewed by our correspondent, revealed that the road has been in a sorry State, since uzodimmas administration.

He blamed the government for their woes. According to him, the road has been a nightmare to motorists because of its many dilapidated spots with deep gullies.

Also, another business owner Chief Maduako Theodore also lamented and groan under the deplorable conditions of the road without an end in sight to the nightmare.

According to him, the axis is one of the nerve centers of the State economy, wondering why the State Government under His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma should abandon it

Said he: As you can see the road has already become a gully with a massive deep of 5 to 6 feet subsurface while the both sides upper are also terrible. The experience navigating through the road during rainy season becomes more terrible as vehicles break down causing traffic gridlock for hours.  Most times some Okada riders throw their passengers inside the muddy flood.

Whenever it rains here, we are usually thrown into panic, despair and anguished, as the already deplorable road become almost impassable.

The residents lament even as the road is neglected and abandoned by both the State and Local government, albeit, the Local Government administrators who are mere appointees have been stripped off their legitimate power to construct rural roads in the State.

Meanwhile, a business owner in that vicinity, the CEO of Burubia Group of Companies, High Chief Sir Emmanuel Eneremadu in his reaction, made a Compassionate appeal to the Governor, His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma to come to their aid.

Sir Eneremadu who described the Governor as a leader with listening hear expressed hope that he would intervene to ameliorate the situation.

He recounted the loss his company has experienced since last year over the inability of his partners to bring in goods as a result of the deplorable condition of the road

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At least 12 loggers were killed in northeast Nigerias Borno state near the border with Cameroon when their vehicle hit a landmine in an area where Boko Haram jihadists are active, two NGOs working in the region said Wednesday.

The loggers were on their way to the bush to collect firewood when the flat-bed vehicle conveying them rolled over a mine suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram jihadists on the highway outside Pulka village, the NGOs said in two reports seen by AFP on the incident, which happened on Monday.

Northeast Nigeria is at the heart of a more than decade-long jihadist insurgency where militants still target rural areas even after they have been pushed back from the large swaths of land they controlled at the height of the conflict.

Men suspected to be Boko Haram planted explosive and killed 12 people while many were injured along Pulka to Gwoza route, one of the reports read.

According to the other report, which gave the same toll, seven other loggers were injured out of which three are very critical and have been evacuated to Maiduguri for further medical attention.

The Nigerian security forces did not respond to a request for confirmation of the blast.
. let him produce original copy to prove our own fake  Tansian varsity

By Chuks Eke

Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, Chairman of Ranent Industries Company Ltd Oba, Anambra State has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to investigate Tansian University for allegedly forging his company Certificate of Occupancy, CofO bearing an official stamp of the state government, with the intention to lay claim to my land.

He alleged that Tansian university authorities is currently parading the fake CofO to claim the ownership of the land belonging to Ranent Industries Company Ltd Oba, Anambra State where the take-off campus of the university is currently situated until they were driven out recently by court order.

However, the university authorities have in a swift reaction demanded that Ezeonwuka or his Ranent Industry should officials to produce the original copy of the CofO in their possession to be compared with the one in possession by the university authorities to determine which is fake and which is original.

Tansian Varsitys spokesman, Rev. Fr. Justin Ekwe spoke to newsmen yesterday on phone, said: if Ezeonwuka claims that he has the original CofC of the land where the universitys take-off campus is situated, he should produce it so that we can compare it with the one we have to lknow who among us has the original CofO.

But insisting that the CofO being paraded by the varsity authorities in which they are claiming to have bought the premises of Ranent for the purpose of establishing a take-off site for the university is fake, Ezeonwuka issued a disclaimer insisting that the document titled, Building Certificate of Occupancy  Statutory Certificate and other related documents making the rounds, according to it investigation, did not emanate from the Anambra State Government.

According to Ezeonwuka, those title documents they are circulating are fake and forged . in fact,, everything about Tansian University is false,.

We in the Ranent Industries are hereby admonishing the general public and all stakeholders, to pay no attention to the documents, as it is the handiwork of mischief makers whose main target is to defraud unsuspecting individuals and in their desperate attempts to reap where they did not sow, said Ezeonwuka.

He said the fake C of O has been reported to the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force and we will do everything possible under the law to ensure that the masterminds of the fraud are brought to book.

The statement reads: The attention of Ranent Industries Company Ltd Oba, Anambra State has been drawn to a forged Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) of the companys properties being paraded by Innocent Ukeh purporting to have been issued to Tansian University by Anambra State Governor through the office of the Honourable Commissioner for Lands Anambra State.

Members of the public and all stakeholders are by this notice strongly advised to disregard these fake documents in their entirety, as they are the handiwork of unscrupulous persons and mischief makers whose sole motive is to defraud unsuspecting individuals and steal the properties of Ranent Industries Company Ltd.

Ranent Industries Company Ltd Oba was never sold to the founder of the university, late Msgr. John Bosco Akam, Tansian University or whosoever as claimed by the perpetual forgers.

After impasse with Tansian University, Umunya between 2007 to 2010 over ownership of Tansian University where I used my property to help secure provisional operational license for the University, Tansian University and Ranent Industries Company Ltd reached a mutual agreement and settled that the company property was never bought by the late Msgr Akam, therein a Consent Judgment was deposed in the Anambra High Court, wherein it was judged the University was only a tenant with tenancy rate of 10,000,000 per annum.

Msgr Akam paid the rent otherwise referred to as in our Consent Judgement as Honorarium for several years. Suddenly, without notice, apparently acting on the counsels of some Catholic priests, Msgr Akam stopped paying and sued Ranent Industries to Court

Fortunately, Anambra State High Court judgment ordered Tansian University to pay arrears of stay in the property and immediately vacate the take off campus in Oba.

Subsequently, Ranent Industries Company Ltd took all necessary action to successfully recover its landed property, in a more considerate manner.

Unfortunately in their most dangerous desperation, the University forged Renant Industries Companys C of O purporting it emanated from the Anambra State government. But our painstaking investigation, it was discovered that Anambra State Government never issued any documents transfering ownership of the property of Ranent Industries Company Ltd to anyone.

While calling on Anambra State government to investigate this criminal act of forgery and bring the perpetrators to book, we wish to state unequivocally that original land matter and its documents between Chief Ezeonwuka and the late Johnbosco Akam, founder of Tansian university who died about three years ago, ended in 2010.

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A 32-year-old man has killed his father in the US and showcased his head on YouTube.

Justin Mohn has now been arrested and charged with murder hours after severing his fathers head in Pennsylvania and posting it on YouTube.

A self- proclaimed messiah, Mohn decapitated his 68-year-old father Michael on Tuesday and held up the victims head in a politically-charged YouTube, blasting the American government and the Biden administration, the Daily Mail reported.

Mohn is currently in police custody in Pennsylvania. He was arrested after the victims wife found him beheaded inside the home that the trio shared in the quiet Pennsylvania suburb of Levittown.

He has been charged with first degree murder, abuse of a corpse and possession of an instrument of crime with intent.

Hours before his arrest, Mohn held up what he claimed was his fathers head during a politically charged rant, claiming that he was the president of the United State in a video he posted on his YouTube channel.

In that video, Mohn said many saw him as the messiah and wanted him as president, while urging relatives living with federal employees to murder them. He blamed the federal government for woke mobs and migrants he claims are destroying the United States, and ranted against globalists and communists.

The appalling 14 minute clip remained on YouTube for six hours after it was posted at 5:30pm, before it was taken down. It showed Mohn holding up his fathers head in a bloodied plastic bag placed inside a silver, having declared: Violence is the only solution to the federal governments treason.

This is the head of Mike Mohn, a federal employee of over 20 years and my father. He is now in hell for eternity as a traitor to his country, he averred.

According to the Daily Mail, Mohn was arrested after 9pm ET on Tuesday, in Fort Indiana Gap in central Pennsylvania, about two hours drive from his last known residence, driving his fathers car. Police first located his car and then arrested the suspect nearby.

Police were first called to the house just after 7pm on Tuesday and found a headless body in its bathroom, said Chief Joe Bartorilla of Middletown Police Department. We got called to the home and officers went in and discovered the father upstairs deceased, he said.

Were getting contacted by some people in the community that know us, and know him and his family. And were hearing a lot. Obviously hes well known in the community just by the calls were getting. Bartorilla said he had warned the family about the video.

I know he has siblings. We have told (the victims wife) to notify them before they see the video, or the video is sent to them, he added.

Mohn shared a home with his father; his mother Denice, 63; his brother Zachary, 35, and his sister Stephanie, 38. His father is believed to have owned two businesses  a cleaning company, and a literacy initiative, neither of which appear to be linked to the federal government.

The video was posted on Mohns YouTube channel, where he had 115 followers. There are now only four videos on the channel, which feature him singing out of tune and playing music, with a photo of his face. In the beheading clip, he rants about taxes, declaring that the economy is near destruction and most Americans can no longer afford the American dream.

He went on to say he was offering a $1 million bounty to anyone who could kill top officials including FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland and former Attorney General Bill Barr. He also said there was a globalist and communist plot against the United States, before ranting about the federal government and holding up his dads head in a silver bucket.

Mohns rant continued, addressing US postal workers, journalists, federal debt and the federal reserve, the border crisis, Antifa and the woke agenda. He said the traitorous Biden regime wanted to send Americas military overseas to fight for Ukraine and die in a Russian winter.

He claimed to have worked as a contractor for Microsoft, and saw how the company was evading billions of dollars in taxes. He also claimed he whistleblew to the IRS about five years ago, but they simply looked the other way.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has expressed shock at what it described as the insensitivity and impunity of the Chairman of the PDP, Board of Trustees, Senator Walil Jubril, in his declaration of support for the controversial Ruga Settlement of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Jubril has been urging Nigerians to embrace the establishment of the now-suspended RUGA Settlement, stressing that the proposed settlement policy for herdsmen would promote peace and security in the country.

Speaking in his Nasarawa country home, he also explained that the programme would boost food security and improve on the health and standard of living of rural communities.

But Yinka Odumakin, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, Senator Bassey Henshaw and Dr Isuwa Dogo from the South West, South East, South South and Middle Belt respectively, in a joint statement, have reacted jointly.

According to them, the ethnic domination programme seeks to create homelands for Fulani herdsmen all over Nigeria in spite of the terror non-Fulani communities have been subjected to even when these herders are nomads.

Southern and Middle Belt communities have rejected the internal colonialism agenda outrightly, they stated in a press relase.

The statement explained that the PDP BoT chairman has confirmed the fears that this is an ethnic conquest policy that is at variance with nationhood.

Jubril had declared his support for the Ruga settlement said, I and my ethnic group (Fulani) had embraced the programme. Ruga project includes provision of hospitals, schools, water supply and electricity, among other facilities, which will have direct bearing on the lives of herders.

Apart from that, it will also tackle the incessant farmers/herdsmen conflicts as well as boost food security in the country, he said.

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, however, countered that.

We say clearly to Jubril that his appeal to our zones to accept the obnoxious policy is rejected with no thanks.

He should join his fellow ethnic supremacists to pursue Ruga in the states in the North that have accepted Ruga and spare us his sophistry and non-sequitor .

Our opposition to the policy remains unwavering and Ruga will only be implemented in our communities after a military conquest of the entire South and Middle Belt as we have told Femi Adesina that we will keep our lands and lives against Ruga policy.

The group said while they are not members of the PDP, they adopted Atiku as presidential candidate in the last election based on his promise to restructure Nigeria,

But we call on all PDP Governors in our zones to ignore their BOT Chair who has spoken as a champion of his ethnic group but wearing the badge of their party.

We say NO to Ruga!

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More than 200 young change-makers from 65 countries have called for systematic changes in youth employment policies, noting that business as usual is not working for youth.

They issued the recommendations at the end of the three-day International Labour Organisation (ILO) Global Youth Employment Forum, graced by the ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, in Abuja.

The proposals will inform implementation of the ILO Call for Action on Youth Employment, until 2030.

In a communique after the event, the young delegates called for macro-economic and sectoral policies that target employment, rather than just economic growth, and build resilience to climate change.

They also stressed the need for greater investment in access to quality education and skills development systems. This should be complemented by tailored approaches to lifelong learning and skills certification, which utilise technology and protect the rights of those in internships and apprenticeship schemes.

Read Also: Are youths still leaders of tomorrow?

According to the participants, labour market policies should place more emphasis on job quality and targeting, so that the benefits reach young women, young people with disabilities, young migrants and refugees, young platform economy and informal sector workers, youth in the rural economy and in hazardous occupations, and those from indigenous and ethnic groups.

In addition, delegates called for gender equality and greater protection for youth labour rights and related issues, such as the right to time sovereignty, data privacy, Internet access and the right to disconnect.

Speaking at the event, Ryder stressed the important role that young women and men play in identifying solutions and fostering collaboration across sectors and continents.

He reaffirmed the ILOs commitment to working with and for youths, urging all stakeholders to build a future that meets young peoples aims and aspirations.

During the event, Ryder launched the Knowledge Facility of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, a digital platform of tools, publications, databases and thematic resources to support action on youth employment. The importance of partnerships was also underlined during discussions.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce expressed concerns Monday over Korea's proposed regulations aimed at preventing unfair market activities by major online platform businesses.

Charles Freeman, senior vice president for Asia at the U.S. Chamber, issued a statement opposing Seoul's push for the rules designed to step up oversight over market-dominant players to ensure fair competition.

Industry watchers forecast that major platform operators, including Naver, Kakao, Google and Apple could be subject to the rules should they be enacted.

"The U.S. Chamber is concerned about Korea's apparent rush to pass platform legislation," Freeman said in remarks posted on the chamber's website.

"It is critical that the full text of any proposed legislation be made publicly available, and that the government of Korea provide ample opportunity for engagement with a range of stakeholders, including the American business community and the U.S. government," he added.

Freeman claimed that having monitored legislative conversations in multiple countries, the U.S. Chamber can attest that these platform proposals are "deeply flawed."

"They trample on competition that clearly benefits consumers, ignore good regulatory practices fundamental to sound regulatory models, and place governments in a position of violating their trade commitments by arbitrarily targeting foreign firms," he said.

"We urge the Korean Fair Trade Commission to demonstrate the type of transparency and open dialogue that an action of this magnitude requires."

In December, Robert O'Brien, who served as national security advisor for then President Donald Trump from 2019-2021, made a similar case in a contribution to U.S. news outlet The Hill.

He stressed that Korea's proposed regulations would be a "gift" to China, warning they could cause friction with the United States if enacted. (Yonhap)
The last Lagosians heard about former Lagos Gov. Akinwumi Ambodes travail was the N9.9bn stash, for which the FCC busted his Epe and Ikoyi homes last week.

It seems more woes are still in stock for the accountant.

The Lagos House of Assembly is raking up more muck in the past administration of the APC.

A committee now investigates the purchase of 820 buses meant for mass transit under Ambode.

The former governor did not get the House approval for the spending, yet he went ahead to buy 5000 buses, out of which only 820for N7bnwere delivered.

In a motion titled Lagos State House of Assembly Motion Number 2, member representing Eti Osa 2, Gbolahan Yishawu, stated that the executive proposed to spend N17bn to purchase the buses in the 2017 budget. It was not approved by the Assembly.

In the 2018 and 2019 budgets, the state government proposed N24bn and N7bn respectively, but these were not approved.

The state government still went ahead to import 820 buses at N7bn, and out of them, 520 are still awaiting clearance at the ports, he said.

He added that the House was worried that 520 buses were still awaiting clearance from the bonded warehouse and that they were purchased with taxpayers money without approval.

Ambodes proble with state lawmakers dates back the twilight of his administarion expiration early in 2019 when the House was readying an impeachment strategy against him.

It took a long time and psychological warfare before the House even approved the 2019 budget.

Ambodes media handlers are yet to respond officially to the probe storiesas they swiftly did to other allegations against their boss.

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Nollywood classy actress Genevieve Nnaji is trending on Twitter!

The multi-talented actress has been photographed and also videoed with another talent, Lynxxx, in what many of their fans and social media followers are interpreting to be a love affair.

Music star, Tiwa Savage, didnt seem to help matters as she Instagrammed her compliments fine people on Sunday when Lynxxx posted the suggestive photo of him and Genevieve on his Instagram handle.

Hip-hop recording artist and entrepreneur, Chukie Edozien, better known by his stage name Lynxxx, made his debut in the Nigerian music in 2010 when he released his studio album This is Lynxxx and went on to become the first Nigerian artist to be endorsed by the global brand Pepsi.

The originator of Jollof Musik  a genre he describes as an artful blend of music to create great music, is the only son of Chief John D. Edozien, a former deputy governor of old Bendel State.

His Wiki citation states that he attended Corona Primary School Ikoyi, Lagos, and went on to study at Kings College Lagos for his secondary school education.

He attended the University of Hull in the United Kingdom, where he obtained a degree in Business, Economics and Marketing.

After ten years of behind-the-scenes work in the music industry, Lynxxx made his debut as a recording artist in December 2009, with the release of his first official single, Change your Parade, produced by Syndik8 in-house producer and partner, IKON.

The single received a lot of radio airplay and was popular in nightclubs, which helped Lynxxx cultivate a significant fan base through online media, his citation says.
The US District Court of the Northern District of Georgia has issued a warrant of arrest against the chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, over alleged money laundering and bank fraud.

KanyiDaily recalls that the US Attorneys Office in the Northern District of Georgia had accused Allen Onyema of money laundering for moving more than $20 million from Nigeria through United States bank accounts in a scheme involving false documents based on the purchase of airplanes.

According to the US Department of Justice statement released on Friday, Onyemas Chief of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, has also been charged with bank fraud and committing aggravated identity theft in connection with the scheme.

Onyema allegedly leveraged his status as a prominent business leader and airline executive while using falsified documents to commit fraud, said U.S. Attorney Byung J. BJay Pak.

Following the allegation, a warrant of arrest signed by Justin Anand, an American magistrate of the United States District Court of the Northern District of Georgia, has been issued against the businessman.

The court document seen by Premium Times authorized U.S. Marshals Service to take Onyema into custody.

Meanwhile, Onyema has denied the bank fraud allegations against him in a statement issued on Saturday, November 23, 2019.

Onyema said he is innocent of all charges and the US government will find no dirt on him because he has never conducted business with any illegalities.

The Air Peace boss said all the money transfer for the purchase of aircraft passed through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and were all used for the same purpose.

He said his lawyers are working on the allegations which would be refuted.




Coronavirus

The Kano State Government has asked people to stay safe after results of nine Coronavirus suspects came out negative.

The government further disclosed that it has dumped the Yargaya Isolation Center for lack of basic equipment for a Pfizer built hospital.

The Yargaya isolation center had been publicized as fully ready for COVID 19 outbreak management but was subsequently rejected after series of investigations exposed the unreadiness of the centre.

The State Governor, Ganduje has now approved the Dawakin Kudu Pfizer Isolation Centre which is a 70-bed facility.

However, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa told newsmen that the Yargaya centre could have been managed if there was an emergency.

had it even been there was an outbreak of a patients on the COVID 19, we will have still managed the Yargaya Isolation center.

Ibrahim Tsanyawa insisted that Ganduje government is doing a lot to ensure that Kano is free from the COVID 19 Pandemic.

He said Ganduje has commended all health workers in the state who are working round the clock as part of the proactive measures taken against the fear and unwanted spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Kwanar Dawaki Diagnosis Centre, serves as the second Isolation Centre which has 70 beds capacity with 15 Wards and 2 Intensive Care Units with 7 beds capacity each.

At Kwanar Dawaki Centre there are 27 Ventilators, 14 out this are standby and 13 are mobile. There are 20 Oxygen Concentrators with all other equipment that are needed. And all the machines are functional that are ready to manage any eventuality.

While all Wards are piped with Oxygen, water supply is effective and efficient with good conveniences. As power supply is also very encouraging.

In his remarks during the visit governor Ganduje expressed his gratitude to Almighty Allah for making Kano one of the states that COVID-19 did not strike, adding that Though we can say we are prepared but we are still not praying for any patient to be here.

He used the opportunity to reiterate governments resolve to close all borders linking the state at 12 midnight, Friday, emphasising that We are doing our best to see that we take all the necessary measures against this deadly COVID-19. We urge people to continue praying for Allahs protection.

I want to thank our health workers and all other stakeholders for their immense support in this all-important effort. Special thanks goes to the State Task Force on COVID-19, that is chaired by the Deputy Governor, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and Co-chaired by Professor Abdulrazaq Garba Habib, from Bayero University, Kano, a renowned academic of global repute.

He urged people to observe social distancing and hand washing with soap and running water. Adding that hand sanitizer is very crucial. I also urge people to always take advice from health professionals.

It is noteworthy to understand that Kano as of now, has 3 Isolation Centres. These are Kwanar Dawaki Diagnosis Centre, Yar Gaya Isolation Centre and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. While the State Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) is about to be considered as another Isolation Centre.
Rev. Dr Abraham Chingbudu of Word Of Life Bible Church is currently under fire after his members snubbed him during an Altar calling.

In the video making rounds on social media, the Pastor called for a seed of breakthrough in a range of 5000-7000 naira.

The pastor after making some prophetic words as regards the seed sowing, still got snubbed.

He then resulted into counting from 1-7 and yet his non of his members came out.

Watch The Video HERE

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NORMAL  The Community Health Care Clinic in Normal is seeking a new executive director.

In a statement, the clinic said previous director Mike Romagnoli is leaving for a new opportunity and effectively resigned Friday.

During Romagnoli's 20-year tenure at the clinic, which serves thousands of low-income and uninsured residents of McLean County, he launched a dental clinic and mental health counseling program and excelled in his leadership capacities, CHCC said.

As the clinic's board starts to search for Romagnoli's replacement, Sonja Reece has stepped up to direct the clinic on an interim basis. Reece worked out of Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal for several years and headed facilities planning for hospitals across Illinois. She also serves on the McLean County Board of Health and the Behavior Health Coordinating Council.

"Mike was bilingual in Spanish and known as 'Miguel Grande' to our Hispanic patients," said Dr. Paul Pedersen, the clinic's medical director. "He was a tireless advocate for all our patients."

Pedersen wished the outgoing director good luck in his future endeavors.

How nurses' pay changed over the past 20 yearsand what it means for the health care worker shortage Labor shortages may cause further health care inequity
BLOOMINGTON  An Indiana man faces 2022 burglary charges in Bloomington.

Joseph C. Mitchell, 43, is charged with burglary and four counts of identity theft.

The man from Hammond, Indiana, is accused of entering a store on IAA Drive in Bloomington in September 2022 with the intent to commit identity theft and then using another persons name to obtain two cellphones and open three phone lines.

A McLean County grand jury issued a bill of indictment on these charges in June 2023, and a warrant was issued with bond set at $50,000 at 10%. He was issued a notice to appear on these charges on Jan. 26.

Mitchell appeared in court Monday, not in custody. Since the charges predate the Pretrial Fairness Act, his bond was reduced to a $50,000 personal recognizance bond.

He was released and ordered to abide by the statutory conditions of release.

An arraignment was scheduled for Feb. 9.

Data breaches skyrocketed in the first half of 2023. See where they happened most Data breaches skyrocketed in the first half of 2023. See where they happened most Health care, financial services top the list
NORMAL  Heartland Community College on Wednesday unveiled its new 29,500-square-foot Agricultural Complex, which will support the school's agriculture programs and the next generation of students.

The ag industry is integral to the economic health and welfare of Central Illinois, Heartland President Keith Cornille said during a ribbon cutting for the new building. "With this facility we have the learning spaces needed for plant science, soil analysis, precision planting technology, drone technology, heavy equipment, agribusiness, and the many other types of instruction tied to this diverse industry."

The $23 million complex, situated on the west side of the campus on Raab Road, has both instructional and community education spaces, including the McLean County Farm Bureau Agriculture Lab, the GROWMARK FS Atrium and the Funk Family Foundation Outdoor Learning Center.

The complex will serve over 200 students annually in studies revolving around agriculture, though these will extend outward into other fields of study. The college currently offers about 23 classes and three degree programs related to agriculture, as well as certifications in agriculture business, agronomy, precision agriculture and regenerative agriculture.

"There are over 1,300 high school agricultural students in our district," Heartland Board Chair Beck Ropp said. "These are young people who want to take their interests and skills to the next level, and this agricultural complex at Heartland Community College will teach, support and launch those students and so many others into the next generation of agricultural professionals."

Living on a farm in McLean County and having worked in the agricultural industry her entire career, Ropp said she knows the need for agricultural professionals in the industry, and that this complex will create a pipeline of students who can bring their skills, ideas and enthusiasm to the field.

"We're finally getting that sense of family camaraderie that we've been trying so hard to get, because agriculture is about relationships," Heartland Agriculture Program Coordinator Miranda Buss said. "Having them build relationships with one another is important because one of these days they're gonna need each other, and they just don't know it yet."

Buss, who also is an assistant professor, said she taught her agriculture safety class Wednesday morning and was able to take the class to the agriculture lab. With a real tractor inside the lab, she was able to show students its features and safety equipment, giving them a more hands-on experience, rather than trying to explain everything on a classroom whiteboard.

Having joined Heartland in the fall of 2019, Buss said she remembers the agriculture program not having its own space, and sometimes having to share a room or go off campus to get that hands-on experience.

Now instructors have the space and capabilities to pull in planters or work with animals on site in a collaborative environment, as well as offer students an area to hang out or study when they are not in class, Buss said.

"Not only do we have adequate space for students now, but also room to grow, with a high demand for jobs in the agriculture industry," said freshman agriculture student Lauren Monk. "This new building is an outstanding resource to help recruit students studying various areas in agriculture."

Monk, who grew up in Heyworth, said she and other students could not believe what they saw in the complex when they returned to classes after winter break. She said she believes the complex will help address the high demand for jobs in agriculture by not only teaching current students, but by bringing in prospective students.

Heartland will host an agriculture information night at the complex for about 75 students Wednesday night, followed by a Spring Post-secondary Agricultural Conference on Feb. 8.

Heartland Board Member Mary Campbell said she is glad to see the complex provide opportunities for students to excel in their studies and have the infrastructure to operate as a net-zero facility, thanks to a $2 million grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.

"I'm not a farmer, but we have to take better care of the land and we have to know what we're doing," Campbell said. "We have to make the choices, and sustainable agriculture is one big direction that we need to be moving in."

Cornille said he is thankful for all the work from staff and others for bringing this vision into reality, including the Heartland Community College Foundation, which raised over $6 million in private funds.

"Seeing the students' reactions and just watching them interact with everything has been pretty exciting," Cornille said. "The real test is going to come maybe 10 years from now, and young people are coming to Heartland because of agriculture."

23 photos from the 48th Annual MLK Awards Luncheon Friends and family of the I Have a Dream honoree Bradley Ross Jackson (center) I Have a Dream award winners Harini Shloka Ravinuthala, Siddhi Hindurao with Shree Aytam (center) Willie Holton Halbert, Ryleigh Rose Beaulieu, Shirley Boykin Dan Brady, Greg Fraley Memuna Lee, Michael Brown Shari Harris, Barb Waddell, Kiara Armstrong Jeff Jurgens, Mose Rickey, Michael Brown Carol Calhoun, Vanessa Rice, Mamie Duggon Delta Sigma Theta Sorority alumnae Cheryl Jackson, Krystal Shelvin, Cheryl Fluker, Beverly Butler Gay, Debra T. Thomas, Jaeda Thomas Dr. Cathy Lust, Valeda Harvey, Kim Taber Messina Lambert Donise Brown, Arlene Stevens, Carolyn Ware Senator David Koehler, Sharon Chung, Mike Matejka, Kevin McCarthy Dr. Carla Campbell Jackson, "I Have a Dream" honoree Bradley Ross Jackson Virgie Ray, Kiara Armstrong Shari Harris, Barb Waddell, Vanessa Rice Longtime friends Bradley Ross Jackson, Seth Harrison Cheryl Fluker, Chemberly Harris Prajna Kurella, Pritika Jakka Rhonda Smith, Tony Jones Pamela Davidson, Sharon Chung, ISU Interim President Aondover Tarhule, Rose Tarhule Rev. Terrance Thomas, Rev. Elexis Wilson Doris Houston, Terrance Bond, Janet Hood Cody Hendricks, Mose Rickey Dan Brady, Shirley Boykin
NORMAL  Eastern Illinois Foodbank will distribute food to area families in Normal, Farmer City and in other parts of McLean County this month.

The Farmer City distribution will be held from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Trinity Community Fellowship and is open to residents of DeWitt, Piatt and McLean counties.

The Normal distribution will take place from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 at Normal West High School, 501 N. Parkside Road, and is open to McLean County residents.

The foodmobile will travel to northern McLean County on Monday, Feb. 26 and to southern and western McLean County on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Exact distribution sites and times for each town can be found at eifoodbank.org/help.mobile.html.

Participants are asked to bring boxes or bags to transport food. Pre-registration is required at EIFclient.com. Income guidelines apply.

Photos and video: University High, Bloomington and Lincoln at Competitive Cheerleading Sectional
NORMAL  A Normal man has been invited to the nation's seat of power for a federal program honoring local leaders who work to improve the lives in their community.

Long-time labor activist Mike Matejka will be at the White House on Thursday to share how federal resources are making a positive impact in Bloomington-Normal and McLean County.

In an event called "Communities in Action: Building a Better Illinois and Indiana," Matejka will join activists and advocates from the two Midwest states who are making use of the Biden-Harris administration's investments locally through programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed in 2021.

"I think the whole emphasis of this meeting is the Infrastructure Act has been transformative to the community," Matejka said.

Matejka will deliver a presentation to the administration detailing how job prospects and infrastructure projects have increased in the three years since President Biden signed the act into law, including:

A 450% increase in employment at Rivian, from 2,000 to 9,000 in three years

Heartland Community College's EV Maintenance Training Center

Over 400 wind towers generating 2 million megawatts

A massive increase in Union Apprenticeships in the county

$15.8 million federal investment in Connect Transit for electric buses.

"These programs are just making a difference and will make a great difference in terms of our long-term economic stability as a country," Matejka said.

An area of growth that hits close to home is the increase in union apprentices, especially for Laborers International Local 362.

"Looking back over the past decade, over some years we might have taken in five apprentices or eight apprentices. Now we have 58 apprentices," Matejka said.

With the coming construction of the underpass in uptown Normal and federal dollars going to resurface many of the roads throughout Bloomington-Normal and McLean County, he said union workers will have plenty to do.

"Not only thanks to Biden but also Pritzker," Matejka said, "construction workers may be busy for the next 10 years ... anytime you put money in transportation, in infrastructure, that builds your economic base."

Hearkening back to FDR's New Deal and the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s, Matejka said America needs to re-invest in an infrastructure that has fallen to the wayside.

"We kind of let the concrete fall apart ... We need to put money back in our infrastructure and build this country again," he said.

But it's more than roads and rail, Matejka said. He wants to see more investment in broadband access and a continued growth in electric vehicle production.

America needs to "think big and think for the future," Matejka said. "I think he (President Biden) deserves great credit for that. And the return is, people get jobs ... that worker's going to be able to afford a mortgage. You get the ripple effect throughout the economy."

Watch now: Photos from John Penn Retirement Dinner State Rep. Sharon Chung, John Penn, Sen. Dave Koehler Frank Kazenske, Dane Simpson, Mike Matejka Cassie Hammond, Mary Penn, Reno Hammond Dan Brady, Alexi Giannoulias Jason Johnson, Preston Hall Carla Barnes, John Penn Grandkids Doris and Dan Whitecotton Terry and Camille Redman George and Brenda Martinez Melissa Hendricker, Melanie Mathewson Steve and Liz Skinner, Jacob Batara, Nikki Nelson, Paul Segobiano John Penn, Don Knapp, Jennifer Deighan Patrick Penn, Ruth and Chris Graning Don and Norma Penn Meaghan Viola, Carl Baysinger Larry Mertes, Tom and Karen Whalen, Chris Mertes Nikki Nelson, Jake Batara Sen. Dave Koehler, Dan Brady Mark Bielicke, David Riney Blake Estes, Jason Brewer, Dane Simpson Jerry Poole, Mary Hursey Joe and Pam Romolo Dave McBride, Katie Rife, Patty McBride Judy Cook, June Ratts, George Reynar Jennifer Deighan, Don Knapp, Julie and Bob Dobski, Carla Barnes Susana Mendoza, Dan Brady Terry Healy, Susana Mendoza Karen and Chuck Hanson B.J. and Emily Wilken Bob Dobski, Harlan Geiser Sandra and Paul Harmon Tony Penn Sen. Dave Koehler
By Baek Byung-yeul

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are set to showcase their next-generation displays at a business-to-business (B2B) display exhibition in Europe, seeking breakthroughs amid declining demand for home appliances and semiconductors, according to the companies, Tuesday.

The two tech companies are to unveil their next-generation B2B displays at ISE 2024, Europe's largest display exhibition, which is held in Barcelona, Spain, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2.

The companies said that they showcase not only new hardware such as transparent displays, large displays and displays for educational purposes, but also software technologies that emphasize convenient connectivity and management for customers to use displays more conveniently, such as product introductions, advertising and delivering messages to consumers.

Samsung will focus on presenting a connected experience in the B2B environment by expanding its internet of things (IoT) platform known as SmartThings at the exhibition.

Samsung supports SmartThings connectivity in commercial displays such as smart signs and hotel TVs. At its promotional booth, the company welcomes visitors to experience how its SmartThings connected experience works in various environments such as stores, offices and hotels.

Using this feature, customers can automatically turn on or off lighting and menu boards according to store operating hours. In a hotel room, the IoT platform can control the interior mode and automatically execute energy saving for the connected devices. Samsung also enables its customers to develop a customized dashboard containing the information they want to have.

LG Electronics has decorated the exhibition hall with various concepts such as hotel suites, conference rooms, educational spaces, studios and retail stores, allowing visitors to experience innovative products and software.

In particular, it is aiming to strengthen its position in the next-generation commercial display market by showcasing a large number of products from the LG Magnit micro LED product line. Micro LEDs are renowned for their ability to reproduce colors from various angles accurately and vividly while also boasting high durability.

LG will introduce a variety of software including an online software platform for B2B services and a security system for commercial displays such as LG Business Cloud platform, which allows customers to manage commercial display management software in one place through the cloud.

The company also presents the LG Creative Board for education, which shares the screen wirelessly with up to nine smart devices, and a transparent OLED sign for retail stores.
DECATUR  A man called Joe who specializes in housing exotic animals like tigers now has custody of Decaturs wayward serval, a small game African cat.

But dont panic, its not that guy known as Joe Exotic, aka The Tiger King of Netflix series infamy. Anyway, Mr. Exotic is currently caged himself, serving 21 years after being convicted of a murder-for-hire plot to kill a rival who was trying to put his lucrative cub-petting traveling show out of business.

The Joe who looks after Decaturs escaped serval is 78-year-old Joe Taft, who runs the Exotic Feline Rescue Center located in Center Point, Indiana.

Taft is, however, painfully familiar with his nefarious namesake. I quite often get confused with him, he said. And that same guy who made the film about him came out here and filmed for a day and then said Youre not crazy enough to be in my movie. But I do now have several cats that came from him (Joe Exotic).

Taft said his operation, based in Center Point since 1991, has a reputation for doing things right when it comes to taking care of big cats, and smaller ones, that dont have a home anywhere else.

Over the years weve had probably pushing around 600 cats here, he added. Right now, weve got around 140 animals, from servals to tigers, and our biggest tiger probably weighs 600 pounds or more.

Decaturs serval, called Reese, escaped in October from the Decatur apartment of an owner who was keeping it illegally: servals, which grow to more than 30 pounds and are spotted predators native to Africa, are banned as pets in Decatur.

Sgt. Ron Atkins, administrator of the Macon County Animal Control and Care Center, said the male owner was cited for violating the city ordinance on keeping servals. Attempts to reach the owner for comment for this story were unsuccessful.

His escaped pet had stayed out on the lam until November when it was trapped by a landowner who had spotted it prowling his acreage; it was then turned over to Atkins who had been trying to trap it himself.

Once the sergeant had discovered the Exotic Feline Rescue Center and learned it had a solid reputation for doing animal care the right way, he didnt hesitate. It went straight to them after it was captured, he said.

They took temporary custody of it while we worked through the legalities of its possession and their taking ownership of it.

Atkins said his facility had no suitable accommodation for an exotic predatory cat, even a relatively small one. But he did see Reese long enough to note the animal appeared in good condition and none for the worse for having to hunt and provide for itself in the wilds of Central Illinois instead of the African savanna.

And I dont think this thing had to worry about predators like coyotes, added Atkins, noting Reeses size.

Taft said servals range all over Africa and are even no strangers up in the snowline of Mount Kilimanjaro. So they can handle our cold climate," he said. "And your serval has settled in here quite well, actually.

Reese now lives in a spacious pen in a neighborhood that includes a black leopard and a white tiger. And he doesn't seem phased by any of that, said Taft.

The Exotic Feline Rescue Center receives animals that have been confiscated by federal authorities and other law enforcement, the sources ranging from smuggled pets to defunct Las Vegas magic shows.

Taft says his staff includes six qualified keepers and the whole place operates on a budget of $1.3 million a year. All of our animals get incredibly good veterinary care and some of that comes from the University of Illinois, he explained. You dont find too many veterinarians who want to treat tigers.

On the whole, though, he said he would rather deal with tigers generally than servals, which tend to have very short tempers. And the other thing about servals is they smell very bad, he said. They like to scent-mark their territory and well, its pretty nasty stuff.

Smell and temperament aside, it looks like the Land of Lincoln could soon become less friendly turf for servals. Legislation to ban the keeping of the cats as pets has been introduced in Springfield after another one got loose in a Vernon Hills neighborhood and cornered a woman out walking her dog.

State Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, proposed the legislation during the first week of the 2024 General Assembly session. Vernon Hills is part of his district.

Didech's proposal bans the possession of servals and also caracals, kangaroos, wallabies or any hybrid, intergrade or cross of a dangerous animal, building on current law that bans possession of a lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, lynx, bobcat, jaguarundi, bear, hyena, wolf, coyote or nonhuman primate.

While Didech doesn't know why servals weren't included in the original statute, he speculated it's because the species is a newer, trending exotic animal being brought into the United States.

Didech is working with experts at the Illinois Humane Society and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to update the dangerous animals law.

The proposal, known as HB 4446, will be considered during the 2024 legislative session. Didech anticipates it will go before committee sometime in March or April.

PHOTOS: HSHS St. Mary's Hospital hosts Blessing of the Animals service Threewit_Sheryol 10.4.18.jpg Baum_Ruthie 10.4.18.jpg Blessing of the Animals 1 10.4.18.jpg Blessing of the Animals 2 10.4.18.jpg Blessing of the Animals 3 10.4.18.jpg Blessing of the Animals 4 10.4.18.jpg Blessing of the Animals 5 10.4.18.jpg Blessing of the Animals 6 10.4.18.jpg Blessing of the Animals 7 10.4.18.jpg Blessing of the Animals 8 10.4.18.jpg Blessing of the Animals 9 10.4.18.jpg Blessing of the Animals 10 10.4.18.jpg Blessing of the Animals 11 10.4.18.jpg
Have you ever admired someone and the life they have and wanted to "live in their head," to understand their thinking process? Lets climb through that cerebral portal of a local farmer  your choice  and buckle up for the ride.

(Picks up cellphone to get the morning markets from the elevator) Corn and beans are both down again, no surprise there. That puts corn at the lowest price in the last 18 months and beans at the lowest in the last three years. (Flips to another page) What does Stu have in his newsletter this week? Planting intentions  hmmm  corn acreage slightly down, soybean acres slightly up. Thats expected. The corn to soybean price ratio is at neutral because the market cant agree on what it wants, other than cheaper grain.

(Still looking at news on the cellphone) US farmers are losing more Chinese grain sales to Brazil. China imported 70% of their soybeans from Brazil and the US only got 24% of the business. (Thinking to himself) Must be the price. Lets see. Yep. (Reading) US soybeans at the Gulf are priced now at $12.81 a bushel, and at $11.14 a bushel at Paranagua. (Thinking silently) Were losing export demand constantly, better make it up with more domestic use. Were certainly not going to get to take the kids anywhere this summer, much less replace that combine header with cash grain priced where it is.

(Steps into truck cab, thinking) Today is the 31st, I need to see Jerry at the bank to see if my operating loan will let me cover a new combine header for 75 grand. Its only 7:15 so hes not in yet. I have to make my cash rent payment to the landlady tomorrow, so theres another $29,000 check for her 80 acres for this year.

(Parks the truck at Caseys to get coffee, but checks phone again, thinking to himself.) What else is in Stus newsletter? Farm Bill, Farm Bill, Farm Bill, oh, those characters! They are more concerned about politics than good farm policy. They let the farm legislation expire, then had to extend it, now theyre concerned whether their candidate will approve it or not. That is so frustrating! Lets see, why am I here, oh, yes, coffee!

(Sees a neighbor who asks if he has any farmland affected by the new EPA rules?) Yeah, I do and I dont know what Im going to do about that. It is ground I rented a couple years ago, and I am still fighting horrendous weeds, but they are home to one of those endangered caterpillar species, and the EPA is saying I cant use any herbicide on that field. Any ideas? I may give it up to someone else to fuss with the EPA. Hey, I have to run. See you at the ball game tonight.

Where in the world do your groceries come from? Where in the world do your groceries come from? The US imported nearly $200 billion worth of food in 2022
CHICAGO  For years, parents and providers have criticized what they see as a disorganized system for finding children mental health care in Illinois. State leaders are hoping a new partnership will change that.

The Illinois Department of Human Services is partnering with Google to launch a new centralized portal for childrens mental health care, state officials said.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, executives from Google Public Sector and state legislators gathered Monday at Googles Fulton Market office in Chicago to announce that the portal, called BEACON, is slated to launch this summer. The governor said a centralized hub will make finding behavioral health resources much easier for parents and providers.

If you've ever had to search for these resources, it's difficult, Pritzker said.

Beyond a central location to see what state agencies provide care, parents can upload documents to avoid repetition when applying for all these services, he said.

The platform will be accessible to parents, relevant health care providers and educators to monitor what services children may be eligible for from the state.

BEACON is the latest major project following last years Blueprint for Transformation, an executive report on childrens mental health care commissioned by Gov. Pritzkers Childrens Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative.

That report highlighted five solutions for improving child mental health care:

Adjust capacity of services

Streamline processes of services

Intervene earlier

Increase accountability so there is transparency in services

Develop agility to increase system responsiveness

Dana Weiner, lead author of the report and Chief Officer for the initiative, highlighted BEACON as a state of the art tool that will ease the logistical and emotional burden associated with seeking mental health care.

Families that previously had to navigate multiple paths telling the story of their youths challenges dozens of times in the hope that a door to services would open now will have an option for a single centralized place to go for help, Weiner said.

The initiative was launched in 2022 amid concern about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Illinois youth, a sentiment Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton echoed on Monday.

The last few years have been harder than anything that I've seen in my lifetime. The pandemic ripped away normalcy, she said. Understandably, we've seen a surge of mental health struggles in our youngest community members.

IDHS Division of Mental Health contracted with Google Public Sector  a division within the tech giant that partners with governments and universities  to develop BEACON. Officials said the portal will be able to connect caregivers with the myriad health resources offered by an array of state agencies including, but not limited to, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

In this age of technology, we have enormous power at our fingertips, and we are using it to nurture our children and create a healing-centered Illinois, Stratton said. The BEACON portal will centralize and simplify the process of securing mental and behavioral health intervention. It will ease the burden on our care providers.

State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago), a former social worker and chair of the House Mental Health and Addiction committee, said BEACON is a sign of progress in the states mental health system.

If you've lived it, like many of us have, you know that nothing about the mental health care system is easy to navigate, she said. Things have gotten a whole lot better. We still have lots of hill to climb when it comes to children's behavioral health access.
Fear is said to have gripped the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso announced their withdrawal from the membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).



GUTA expressed concerns of how their supply chain from these three West African Countries is going to be greatly interrupted sooner than later.



Ghana imports onions, tomatoes, Maize, Millets and other staple foods from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.



On Sunday, 28th January, 2024, there was a joint communique from the Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso indicating an immediate withdrawal from the ECOWAS. The three countries experienced a power shift when the Military overthrew a democratically elected government.



Subsequently, the regional body imposed certain sanctions on these erring countries.



However, the three Francophone countries described the sanctions placed on them by the ECOWAS as inhumane, hence their withdrawal.



This has necessitated the fear being expressed by GUTA. According the GUTA President, Dr. Joseph Obeng, the earlier a solution is found to this latest economic development the better.



Expressing these sentiments during a radio interview on Joyfm on Tuesday January 30, 2024, the GUTA President said; "It will surely have an impact, and we do not know how its going to affect the free flow of traffic and humans.''



Meanwhile, ECOWAS, in a press release, has denied reception of any formal letter from the gang of three.



In a related development, Ghanas Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Hon. Boniface Gambilla has assured members of GUTA to exercise restraint as he describes their fear as too early.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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Niger's junta has expelled 15 members of the European Union's capacity-building mission, Eucap.



According to the country's Interior Minister, Brig Gen Mohamed Toumba, the individuals had "returned to Niamey on various flights on 24 January" without informing the government.



He confirmed they were ejected from Niger days later on 26 January.



Niger has been ruled by a junta since July when officers seized power from democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum. Soon after, the EU announced measures to impose sanctions on the junta leaders.



According to Niger, the Eucap mission - comprising 120 security officers helping to bolster Niger's forces - was terminated in December after more than a decade of working together.



The junta has indicated its intention to downgrade military ties with European countries, while "diversifying" links with countries such as Russia and Iran.



Niger's anti-Western rhetoric has also raised questions about the future of US troops stationed at a drone base in the northern city of Agadez.

Source: BBC









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The Ghana Police Service are actively in pursuit of Shadrack, a 30-year-old man accused of brutally murdering three individuals, including his girlfriend, Portia Yerebe, and a two-week-old baby, at Asuoso within the Offinso North District, asaaseraio.com reports.



The third victim in this tragic incident is reported to be the suspect's four-year-old stepson.



Shocked residents who made the discovery on Monday night, suggested that the crime might have occurred the previous day.



Upon being notified, the police are reported to have promptly arrived at the scene and are diligently following leads to apprehend the suspect.



The bodies of the deceased have since been transported to the morgue, as investigations get underway.



Alfred Wiafe, the immediate past assemblyman for the area, commented on the situation, stating, "We are yet to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident, but the lady was discovered dead when we went there. We saw a hammer and a machete at the crime scene. We also found a note, and we immediately reported the matter to the police."



He expressed concern about the delayed reporting by residents.



"We are searching for the suspect now. The police say investigations have commenced. But I fault the residents in the neighborhood because this incident occurred for nearly 48 hours, and it is quite shocking that this has now come to the limelight," he is reported to have added.



The shocking incident has left the community in disbelief, with residents calling for justice.



This occurrence adds to the rising concerns about security in the Ashanti Region, which has witnessed a series of murder cases in recent times.



In 2021, the region recorded the highest number of murder cases, totalling at least 72, with 68 males and five females among the victims, according to data from the Statistics Research and Monitoring Unit (SRMU) of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.



The data shows that 306 murder cases were reported to the police from January 1 to June 30 of that year.











Source: ghanaweb.com









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Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayensuano constituency, Samuel Ayeh-Paye has expressed worry over the number of sitting Members of Parliament of the New Patriotic Party who lost their seats in the party's parliamentary election held over the weekend.



The New Patriotic Party (NPP) conducted its primary on Saturday, January 27 to elect parliamentary candidates at constituencies with sitting MPs.



At the end of the election, there were some shocking results with some sitting Members of Parliament such as lawyer Adwoa Safo of Dome-Kwabenya and Freda Prempeh, Tano North, among others failing to retain their seats.



Over 20 incumbent MPs were not re-elected to represent their constituencies in Parliament.



This number adds to the 18 sitting Members of Parliament including Assin Central lawmaker, Kennedy Agyapong, who declined to contest their seats again.



Forming the next Parliament, more than 40 NPP MPs will no longer be in Parliament.



Speaking on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Hon. Ayeh-Paye, who lost this year's parliamentary elections after coming back to contest Ayensuano seat, called on the party to put their things in order to avoid future exits which, to him, will not augur well for the party.



He noted that losing over 40 experienced MPs is no good news, especially when it is not guaranteed that those sitting Parliamentarians who retained their seats will win during the December 7 polls.



"From experience I have acquired in Parliament, I don't think it will help us in our next Parliament. So, let's put things in order to avoid future exits", he cautioned.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Manhyia Palace has directed the Ashanti Youth to apologize to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, for the hasty unwarranted press conference they organized on Wednesday 17th January 2024, to ban and banish Chairman Wontumi from the Manhyia Palace.



Reports say the Palace finds their act highly inappropriate and therefore directs the youth to apologize to the Ashanti Regional Chairman for using the name of the palace to issue those unfair remarks at his person.



The Palace has also advised the youth not to allow themselves to be used as political pawns to advance the selfish interests of politicians at the expense of the image of the Manhyia Palace.



This directive came after the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party was cleared by the Kumasi Traditional Council of all charges levelled against him by the Kokosohene, Nana Kwaku Duah.



It became clear at the hearing that, all the allegations were false and politically motivated. Nana Kwaku Duah was as a result directed by the Council to abstain from all forms of partisan political activities including stepping down as the Chairman of the Council of Elders for the Manhyia South constituency.



Background



A coalition of Asante Youth and Market Queens in the Ashanti Region escalated its efforts to urge the Asanteman Council to ban NPP regional chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, from the Manhyia Palace.



The coalition alleged that Wontumi has shown significant disrespect to the Golden Stool and accused him of denigrating the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, during the vetting of parliamentary aspirants.



The NPP stalwart made headlines after he reportedly declared that he had formed his own Kingdom, making him a more powerful establishment than the Asante monarch. The report also said he [Wontumi] could speak his mind to the King when he disagreed with him on issues. The Ashanti Regional Chairman vehemently denied all these claims and even hinted that these false allegations were sponsored by his political opponents in both the New Patriotic Party and the opposition National Democratic Congress to court disaffection for him in the region and the Palace.



But the Asante group reacted to these unsubstantiated claims with a press conference and series of radio interviews to attack the Regional Chairman without even allowing the claims to be proven.



They went ahead to the Manhyia Palace to declare Chairman Wontumi persona non grata in the Palace without taking their time to ascertain the veracity of the claims.



On Monday, 29th January 2024, Manhyia Palace, through the Kumasi Traditional Council, after hearing both sides of the matter, cleared Chairman Wontumi, over the alleged disparaging comments made against Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Davis Ansah Opoku, the Member of Parliament for Mpraeso Constituency in the Eastern Region, has found himself at the center of a social media backlash after defending the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) boss, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Adu Owusu-Amoah, over an age controversy.



During a recent Public Accounts Committee (PAC) session where the age of the GRA boss was discussed, Opoku, mounted a defense for him, asserting that his age was a personal matter and had nothing to do with PAC's mandate or public interest.



His stance, along with that of deputy finance minister, Abena Osei Asare, sparked criticism on social media, where users have uncovered a tweet from him (Davis Ansah Opoku) in 2015.



The 2015 reads, "Charlotte is 42 and will retire at age 70."



This revelation has fueled accusations of hypocrisy, as Opoku now defends the GRA boss's right to keep his age private while previously he publicly revealed the age of then-Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei.



Social media users have been quick to highlight this inconsistency, questioning the integrity of the Mpraeso MP and accusing him of a double standard in his approach to matters.



In a twist to the episode, Charlotte Osei, the former EC chairperson responded to Opoku's old tweet, with a set of laughter emojis.



She also commented "Ajeiiiii" to one X post that called out the MP. She was tagged along with the MP in the said post.











9 years ago, MP of Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, @OPKlive, was seen heckling the former Electoral Commissioner, Charlotte Osei, @char_osei about her age.



Yesterday, the same man wont allow a public officer to be questioned about his age. Posterity and vindication, Chale! pic.twitter.com/RsbORDwVNb  MacJordan  (@MacJordaN) January 30, 2024















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Ayawaso Central constituency's Member of Parliament, Henry Quartey, has expressed surprise at how his opponent, Moses Abor, secured more than 200 votes in the New Patriotic Partys parliamentary primaries held on January 27.



Before the primaries, Moses Abor, the NPPs former Greater Accra Youth Organiser, confidently asserted he would win with over 70 percent of the votes.



Following the polls on Saturday, January 27, 2024, Henry Quartey, who also serves as the Greater Accra Regional Minister, garnered 594 votes, while Moses Abor secured 326 votes.



Notably, close to 70 delegates abstained from voting, impacting the overall outcome of the results.



In an interview on Face to Face on Citi TV, Henry Quartey addressed the unexpected challenge and the speculation that Moses Abor contested him due to the "Making Accra Work Again" initiative which many believe is making the NPP less popular.



Henry Quartey emphasized the NPP's commitment to internal competition, stating;



The party believes in healthy competition or contests, and if you look at it from President [John Agyekum] Kufuors time right to this time, there have always been elections, and nobody has ever had it on a silver platter."



He further noted that while he went unopposed in 2020, the spirit of the NPP encourages healthy competition.



"In 2020, the constituency thought it wise that I should go unopposed, but this time around, Moses [Abor] wanted to contest me, and that is the spirit of the NPP, and so I dont have a problem with that," he stressed.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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The Korean government has disapproved an offshore wind project pushed by a sub-subsidiary of global investment firm BlackRock, citing a lack of data to prove its financial ability and power system issues in the region, officials said Tuesday.

Kredo Holdings is working to build five wind power generation complexes in waters off the southeastern county of Sinan worth over 10 trillion won ($7.51 billion) and recently filed for winning a business license.

But an electricity commission under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, denied permission, saying part of documents that Kredo submitted failed to meet due criteria needed to prove its financial ability.

The commission also noted the current electrical power systems in the region would not be able to support four out of the five envisioned complexes.

The South Jeolla Province regions have long suffered a lack of power transmission and other related infrastructure.

"The government plans to build an underwater high-voltage direct current transmission system in the Yellow Sea by 2036 and to further seek measures to enhance power transmission capabilities in the region," a ministry official said.

The power capacity by Kredo's five wind power complexes is expected to amount to 2 gigawatts, and if approved, it will be the largest-ever offshore wind power project in Korea.

Last year, Denmark's Orsted was granted a 1.6 GW electricity business license for an offshore wind project off the coast of the western port city of Incheon, which will be the largest such project in Korea when completed in the early 2030s.

In 2021, Global Renewable Power Fund III, managed by BlackRock, became the sole shareholder of KREDO Holdings. (Yonhap)
The executive chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) and senior partner at Africa Legal Associates (ALA), Gabby Otchere-Darko, said Ghanaians will miss President Akufo-Addo when he leaves power come January 2025.



He said Ghanaians need to recognise the work that has been done by the current government though he recognises the current challenges.



Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (31 January) Otchere-Darko said, Maybe when he [Akufo-Addo] leaves and hes gone, then we will miss him.



We will notice it, but not now. After hes long gone, theyll say it. According to him, the hard work of President Akufo-Addo is evident in how he invests in the future of this country.



The way he thinks about the country because of the things that he does to make sure that every child has an opportunity in the future, later on, we will see it.



Otchere-Darko said the NPP government has a lot to celebrate over the last eight years.



Theres been challenges; theres no two ways about it, but in recognising the challenges, also recognise the work that has been done.



I think they [the NPP] have a lot to celebrate if they can articulate their deeds better, he added.









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Flag bearer and leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, has cautioned against the implementation of major electoral reforms in an electioneering year.



Mr. Mahamas concerns is with regards to the Electoral Commission (ECs) proposal to move elections day from December to November starting from the year 2024.



From Mr. Mahamas point of view, the new proposals have the potential to raise doubts about the integrity of the elections, which will not augur well for the country.



The EC has served noticed that the indelible ink will no longer be used after voting. Recently, it proposed to have the elections date changed from December 7 to November 7.



But the NDC has rejected these proposals, urging the EC to postpone the date change to 2028 for a broader consultation.



Mr. Mahama, who raised these concerns at a breakfast meeting with some clergy and faith based organizations in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, believed the proposed changes could lead to chaos if not executed effectively, and questioned why the EC waited this long before proposing these major reforms.



After every election, we sit and consider electoral reforms and we agree on what to do. Since 2020, we have only 9 months to another election and the EC has now come with major changes. No indelible ink and different reforms. When you do that it doesnt build the confidence of the people in the electoral process.



We have returned to IPAC after the Peace Council intervened and now they [EC] are saying they want to change the Election date and that they want to bring a new CI to change the old CI but our concern is why wait till now? You dont spring surprises on people, what if it doesnt work and it leads to some disturbancesso that is our position," he stated.

Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Fueled by increasing temperatures and droughts, severe wildfires are on the rise around the worldas are the smoke-borne contaminants that harm the environment and human health. In 2023, Canada recorded its worst wildfire season ever, with fires releasing more than 290 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere. California also experienced record-setting fire seasons in 2020 and 2021.

The side effects from this pollution range from irritating to deadly. Smoke from the Canadian wildfires drifted as far as Portugal and Spain, and set off air quality alerts in cities across the United States and Canada as it inflicted stinging eyes, stuffy noses and labored breathing on millions of people. The National Institutes of Health estimates all air pollution is responsible for 6.5 million deaths every year globally.

"We know that dangerous air quality levels are a significant threat, but because exposure happens slowly, over time it is more difficult to quantify," said Marisa Hughes, the climate intelligence lead at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, and assistant manager of the Human and Machine Intelligence program.

"A more accurate, higher-resolution model can help protect populations by providing them with information about air quality over time so that they can better plan ahead."

Intelligent weather forecasting

To better understand where smoke pollutants will travel and when, researchers at APL and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to simulate atmospheric models. This family of APL projects will ultimately help forecasters deliver earlier, higher-resolution and more accurate predictions of the movements and evolution of air quality threats, like wildfire plumes.

Current weather forecasting methods rely on models, in which massive amounts of datasuch as atmospheric composition, air temperature and pressureare calculated in complex equations that follow the laws of physics, chemistry and atmospheric transport and produce simulations of future weather events.

The amount of time that each model predicts is called a timestep; to predict further into the future, for multiple timesteps, the models need more computation power, data and time to analyze all the variables.

"In our case, the models are looking at the movement of nearly 200 different pollutants in the atmosphere for every timestep, sequentially. That's approximately 40% of their computation," said Principal Investigator Jennifer Sleeman, a senior AI researcher at APL.

"And then they also have to consider how these chemicals are interacting with one another and how they're decayingthe chemistry is approximately 30% of the computation. It takes a significant amount of computing power to perform air quality forecasting with all of the variables used."

When it comes to forecasting, just one run of the model isn't enough. Researchers use a technique called ensemble modeling, in which they run anywhere from a handful to hundreds of variations of models to account for possible changes in conditionssuch as a cold spell or an incoming pressure systemand use the mean of those variations for forecasting.

This side-by-side video demonstrates the accuracy of the forecast performed by APL's Deep-Learning Network compared to actual ozone data. Credit: Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

"Running one model is computationally challengingso imagine running 50-plus models. In some cases, this is just not feasible due to cost and computing availability," said Sleeman.

This is where APL's AI-assisted method improves upon the speed and accuracy of the forecast. The team developed deep-learning models that simulate ensembles while using fewer, shorter timesteps of input.

"The amount of computation we could save with our networks is tremendous," said Sleeman. "We're speeding things up because we're asking the models to compute shorter timesteps, which is easier and faster to do, and we're using the deep-learning emulator to simulate those ensembles and account for variations in weather data."

The APL researchers and their collaborators at Morgan State University, NASA and NOAA applied the model to NASA's GEOS Composition Forecasting (GEOS-CF) system. Every day, the GEOS-CF produces a five-day global composition forecast at 25-kilometer resolution, or roughly 15 square miles.

"NASA and NOAA have been searching for ways to increase the resolution of these forecasts," said Hughes. "If you live next to a power plant or a highway, the air quality impacts are going to affect you differently."

Trained on a one-year simulation of a GEOS-CF-like system, which includes over 30 ensemble simulations, the deep-learning model has reliably produced 10-day forecasts that are mirroring ground-truth data. Where traditional models can require up to months' worth of data to provide estimates, the deep-learning emulator only needed seven timesteps that encapsulated 21 hours of input data to produce accurate forecasts. By analyzing these models faster, researchers have laid the groundwork to forecast at higher resolutions.

Sleeman recently presented the team's findings as well as other AI-assisted climate research at the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence's Fall Symposium, at the American Geophysical Union Conference and to the American Meteorological Society.

A worldwide effort

Both Hughes and Sleeman credit the advancements of the entire AI community in their efforts.

"If we tried the same thing five years ago, it might not have been as successful as it is today, because we're building on the momentum of this accelerating research," said Hughes. "We're sharing our results and starting to see what methods and architectures are effective when you apply them to different problems around the world."

This is one of several projects that is exploring additional applications of AI to climate intelligence challenges, such as forecasting climate tipping points, as part of the Laboratory's growing efforts to ensure climate security.

Provided by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
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:

Chile's Vera C. Rubin Observatory, home to the world's most powerful digital camera attached to a telescope, is seen in January 2024.

Surrounded by the desert mountains and clear blue sky of northern Chile, astronomers from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory hope to revolutionize the study of the universe by affixing the world's largest-ever digital camera to a telescope.

The size of a small car and weighing 2.8 metric tons, the sophisticated piece of equipment will reveal views of the cosmos as never before, officials from the US-funded project told AFP.

Beginning in early 2025, when the $800 million camera will snap its first photos, the machine will sweep the sky every three days, allowing scientists to reach new heights in their galactic analyses.

Researchers will be able to go from "studying one star and knowing everything in-depth about that one star, to studying thousands of stars at a time," said Bruno Dias, president of the Chilean Society of Astronomy (Sochias).

According to Stuartt Corder, deputy director of NOIRLab, the US research center running the observatory located 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) up the Cerro Pachon mountain, 560 kilometers (350 miles) north of Santiago, the new facility will usher in "a paradigm shift in astronomy."

The project solidifies Chile's dominant position in astronomical observation, as the South American country is home to a third of the globe's most powerful telescopes, according to Sochias, and boasts among the clearest skies on the planet.

Vera C. Rubin Observatory in northern Chile is seen January 24, 2024.

The Rubin Observatory camera's first task will be to complete a 10-year review of the sky, called the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), which researchers hope will reveal information about 20 million galaxies, 17 billion stars and six million space objects.

The survey will give scientists an up-to-date inventory of images of the solar system, allow them to map our own galaxy, the Milky Way, and delve deeper into the study of energy and dark matter.

300 TVs for one picture

The new camera will be able to capture 3,200-megapixel photosresulting in images so large they would require more than 300 average-size high-definition televisions, lined up together, to view just one.

The machine, built in California, will have triple the capacity of the world's current most powerful camera, the 870-megapixel Hyper Suprime-Cam in Japan, and will have six times the capacity of NOIRLab's most powerful camera.

Chile is home to many of the world's most powerful observatories, including at Cerro Tololo, seen January 24, 2024.

The lab's existing top camera, on Chile's Cerro Tololo mountain, is only 520 megapixels, according to Jacques Sebag, head of construction of the Rubin telescope.

Chile's telescopes have come a long way since the 40-centimeter Cerro Tololo telescope, at the country's first international observatory, installed in the 1960s.

"That telescope arrived here on the back of a mule, because there was no road," said Stephen Heathcote, director of the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, only 20 kilometers from Cerro Pachon.

Astronomy capital of the world

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, named in honor of the US astronomer who discovered dark matter, will join several other space observation research centers in northern Chile.

The natural conditions of the region's desert landscapetucked between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountain rangecreate the clearest skies on the planet, thanks to a dry climate with little cloud cover.

Cerro Tololo Observatory, which opened in the 1960s, is seen in Chile January 24, 2024.

The area plays host to telescopes from more than 30 countries, including some of the most powerful astronomical instruments in the world, such as the radio telescope at the ALMA Observatory and the under-construction Extremely Large Telescope, which by 2027 is set to be able to view never-before-seen reaches of the universe.

Many of humanity's most important astronomical discoveries have been made at the Cerro Tololo observatory, such as the 2011 Nobel Prize-winning revelation that the expansion of the universe is picking up speed, a phenomenon known as cosmic acceleration.

Though other influential observatories have been opened around the globe, including in the United States, Australia, China and Spain, "Chile is unbeatable" in the world of astronomy, said Dias, the Sochias president.

 2024 AFP
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Victorian trapper Cyril Grant Lane hunted koalas for many years. Credit: State Library of Victoria, CC BY-ND

Koalas are one of the world's most beloved animal species. They serve as symbols for everything from bushfire destruction to Australian tourism to caramel chocolate bars. These tree-dwelling marsupials get far more attention than many other endangered native species. But Australians haven't always felt this way about our seemingly cuddly teddy-bear lookalikes. Far from it.

Almost a century ago, Queensland announced open season on koalas. Over the next month, well over 600,000 koalas were shot, trapped or poisoned in what has been dubbed "Black August."

These numbers seem shocking. That figure is about the same as the total number of koalas alive today, using the most generous estimate. Today, the koala is endangered in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.

Why did it happen? Back then, koalas were far more plentiful in Queensland. And there was an established tradition of killing Australian marsupials for their pelts, which could be sold on the lucrative international fur market. At least a million koala pelts were sold in the previous 1919 open season.

As attachment to native wildlife has grown and the koala's numbers have dwindled, we have come to think very differently about this creature.

A political miscalculation

Even in 1927, the koala kill was a gamble. Other koala-inhabited states had stopped licensed koala kills, alarmed by plummeting numbers caused by the fur trade, deforestation, bushfire, and disease. As early as the 1880s, worried locals shipped koalas to French Island near Melbourne as an insurance policy against fire and disease. Today, as historian Danielle Clode has written, koalas in South Australia and Victoria are largely descended from these island refugees.

So why did Queensland launch its kill? The economy was not doing well, and the Labor government hoped the open season would tackle high unemployment rates, raise revenue and win votes. Warm, waterproof koala fur was prized in Europe and the United States, where it was put to use in coats, gloves and even sleeping bags.

But the open season came as a shock to many. Scientists knew koala populations were already plummeting at the beginning of the twentieth century. And among the public, affection was growing for the koala.

The backlash was swiftand intense. Brisbane's Anglican Archbishop Gerald Sharp called for protest, and a remarkable range of organizations responded, from city and shire councils to religious groups, women's organizations, universities, scientific bodies, returned soldiers and children's scouts groups.

The Brisbane Courier newspaper ran a "Spare the Bear" campaign, publishing hundreds of protests from indignant readers. Angry constituents deluged the acting premier, William Forgan Smith, with letters. Some deplored the cruelty of hunters who left baby koalas attempting to suckle from their dead, skinless mothers. Others focused their anger on the government. One caustic letter writer suggested an "open season for Cabinet Ministers" might be more appropriate.

Critics were united in their disgust at the mass killing of such a "lovable, non-destructive and quite unique little native animal" which posed no threat to human interests. Koala trappers had their masculinity questionedno "true Bushman" would kill a defenseless animal.

We should be skeptical about one letter writer's claim that "99% of Queenslanders" opposed the killings. But opposition was powerful and widespread.

The government tried to blame the furious response on out-of-touch city dwellers who did not live in Queensland. In fact, locals dominated the protests. At the time, many rural families kept koalas as beloved pets, which made the thought of killing them even more outrageous.

A question of national identity

When British colonists first came to Australia, many found the native animals freakish and backward. One unimpressed naturalist called koalas "torpid and senseless" and doubted their place in "God's plan."

But by the early 1900s, koalas, emus and kangaroos were becoming national symbols. They seemed to represent Australia's new status as a federated nation, and helped settlers feel connected to the land. There was also a growing awareness that native species needed protection from environmental threats.

Books such as Norman Lindsay's Magic Pudding (1918) encouraged readers to care for native animals. In 1925, James Barrett published a book begging for the "right use of our flora and fauna" and stressing their endangered state. He titled it Save Australia.

Perhaps because of their baby-like features, koalas were often depicted by authors and illustrators as good-natured and childlike friends. (In reality, they can be quite grumpy and their screams at night startle many campers). This might explain why fewer people protested to protect possums, the furs of which were also sought during open seasons.

The great U-turn

The 1927 koala open season would be Australia's last. After the backlash, the koala was finally afforded lasting protection in Queensland. The acting premier promised to restock areas stripped of native animals. Even so, the government lost the election it had been trying to salvage.

Hundreds of thousands of koalas were killed before the government reversed course. Newspapers reported an estimated 600,000 koalas died due to the "massacre," but this doesn't account for koalas whose skins were not sold to dealers or young koalas killed with their parents or who starved without them. The total is likely close to 800,000.

The movement against koala-killing was perhaps the first organized conservationist campaign in Australia. It fostered the creation of wildlife societies, campaigns for national parks and nature studies for school students.

You can see the evidence even today. Sydney man Noel Burnett was so appalled by the killing that he opened his own sanctuary, Koala Park, which is still operating.

And whenever news breaks about koala deaths in blue gum plantations, we respond with outrage.

New threats, old choices

Today, koalas are safe from hunters. They're so well known we use them as cuddly diplomats, similar to China's panda diplomacy. But they face new threatsincreasingly severe bushfires, disease, and habitat destruction.

Even as we have grown to love koalas, we have not yet been able to save them. It is now entirely possible these beloved national symbols could be facing a preventable extinction.

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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Since the latest bout of avian flu was first detected in a commercial poultry flock two years ago, nearly 82 million chickens, ducks and turkeys have been killed to limit the spread of the virus.

That's because whole flocks or slaughterhouse lots are killed when a single diseased bird is found, says Northeastern food policy safety expert Darin Detwiler.

Within the last few weeks, a farm in California had to euthanize its 550,000 egg-laying hens when chickens tested positive for the avian flu, as reported by the Guardian and other news sources.

Detwiler says he expects commercial flocks will remain at risk since the rising demand for poultry and the rise of industrial poultry farms create conditions conducive to the spread of avian influenza, a highly pathogenic disease.

"It created this perfect storm," says Detwiler, an associate teaching professor of food policy. "It's just Russian roulette with a larger bull's eye."

Avian flu is not newbut huge farms are

Avian flu, a specific strain of influenza adapted to birds, "is nothing new," Detwiler says, adding that outbreaks between the 1950s and 1980s tended to be smaller and sporadic.

Times have changed, and "what we have to realize is that the poultry population has grown," Detwiler says. "The poultry population as a consumer food really grew in the 1990s. Therefore, bird populations grew radically and operations have become larger and larger."

He says 51 million poultry farm birds had to be "de-populated," using the U.S. Department of Agriculture's terminology, during the last big avian flu outbreak in 201415.

The latest outbreak was detected by the USDA in a commercial poultry flock on Feb. 8, 2022.

Since then, the USDA says, the virus has struck 1,084 commercial and backyard flocks in 47 states and led to the euthanization of nearly 81.74 million birds, mainly egg-laying chickens, broilers, turkeys and ducks.

Inspection and slaughter

One way USDA inspectors detect avian flu in poultry birds is to examine them just before slaughter for disease symptoms, including swelling, purple discoloration, paralysis or sickness, Detwiler says.

The detection of one sick chicken results in the entire lot of chickens being slaughtered and buried or burned according to USDA regulations, Detwiler says. Chickens back on the farm where the sick one originated are also killed, he says.

"In a large lot of chickens, if any one of them is found to show the symptoms of bird flu, they depopulate the entire flock."

"That's pretty much the only way you can control the disease," Detwiler says. "We're talking about exposure, contamination, transmission of disease and control of the flock.

"It's not like the flu is getting worse," he says. It's just that the size and scope of poultry farming is growing so large that bigger and bigger flocks of birds are killed when infections are detected, Detwiler says.

As farms grow, so does controversy

The Business Research Company predicts that the demand for poultry will grow 6.9% from 2023 to 2024, due in part to people's interest in healthy protein and to rising disposable incomes.

Massive poultry farms are opening to meet rising demand, with big poultry now raising "more than a billion birds annually  in densely packed barns" in North Carolina, according to the Charlotte Observer.

The growth of massive poultry operations has resulted in complaints by neighbors, environmentalists and even poultry farmers, most of whom contract with multi-billion dollar companies including Tyson Foods and Perdue Farms, "which control almost all aspects of production," the Observer reported.

Not a food-borne illness

Sporadic cases of avian flu have occurred among people who handle birds, although there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The National Chicken Council says avian flu is not a food-borne illness, although people are encouraged to eat only properly cooked and handled poultry.

The USDA says, "All poultry products for public consumption are inspected for signs of disease both before and after slaughter. The inspected for wholesomeness by the U.S. Department of Agriculture seal ensures the poultry is free from visible signs of disease."

Raw chicken is a culprit in salmonella but it could possibly pose a risk for avian flu as well, Detwiler says. He says the preemptive killing of "millions and millions" of birds shows that federal inspectors consider the risk of avian flu must be taken seriously.

Vaccines for chickens?

Poultry farmers already are taking numerous steps to combat disease transmission, including having workers don hazmat-style suits, Detwiler says.

Poultry companies are looking at other ways to minimize the costs associated with flock eradication due to disease detection, including using hormones to grow larger chicken breasts and growing poultry cells in the lab, he says.

"I believe there's work underway to find some kind of vaccine (for avian flu)," he says.

"Then the goal would be to vaccinate chickens so that (flock eradication) doesn't happen at all," Detwiler says. "As of yet, it hasn't happened."

In the meantime, the USDA says cooking eggs and poultry to the proper temperature, preventing cross-contamination, sanitizing cutting boards and washing hands with warm soap and water for at least 20 minutes after handling raw poultry and eggs will provide "protection against all avian influenza viruses" as well as salmonella and E. coli.

This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu.
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Simon Nampindo (standing) helping to collar an elephant in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda. Credit: Clinton Mwebaze/WCS

A collaborative team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which runs the world's largest field conservation program, has conducted first-of-its-kind research into how global climate change affects African elephants.

The work, published recently in PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, shows that older elephants will have markedly decreased chances of survival, which will not only drastically reduce the species' overall ability to weather the changing climate, but will send ripple effects throughout the surrounding landscape. The team has also modeled possible mitigation scenarios, which WCS is already implementing.

Africa's Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL) is a 15,700-square-kilometer area of savannas, mountains and lakes in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is home to the largest land animals in Africa, with seven national parks, three tropical high-forest reserves and three wildlife reserves, three of which are world heritage sites, covering 88% of the area. It is also home to a population of African elephants whose numbers have dropped so precipitously over the past century that they are now listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation's Red List.

Elephants play a key role in modifying and sustaining their landscapes by dispersing the seeds of the plants they feed upon, felling trees and enriching soil fertility with their dung. They also play an important role in many African cultures.

To date, few studies have focused on the dynamics of the environment, climate change, elephant demography and how the changing habitat influences elephants over long periods. To get a clearer picture of what the elephants' future might look like and what we can do to best ensure their survival, lead author Simon Nampindo, who completed this research as part of his Ph.D. in environmental conservation for UMass Amherst and who is now country director for WCS Uganda, and Timothy Randhir, professor of environmental conservation at UMass Amherst, built a systems dynamic model.

"This model," says Nampindo, "can look at all the different environmental and population dynamics within a system. For the first time, we're able to get a comprehensive vision of what the future might look like for African elephants in the face of climate change."

Nampindo and Randhir built their model using data on the numbers of elephants, historical changes in the landscape and different future climate-change scenarios representing 1.6, 2.8 and 4.3 Celsius of warming over the next 80 years. Finally, they charted the effect each of the climate scenarios would have on five elephant age brackets: under 10 years old, 1130, 3140, 4150, and more than 50 years old, because as Randhir puts it, "any impact on one age class has a community effect throughout the entire population."

"We found that the older elephants will be massively affected by warming under every scenario," says Nampindo. "Elephants are matriarchaltheir leaders are the older cows, and the herds depend on their wisdom, long memories and ability to outsmart prey, and if they are lost to changing climate, it will wreak havoc on the surviving, younger herds, as well as change the genetic profiles and structures of the herd. There will also be ripple effects through the GVL's landscape."

"But," says Randhir, "this model not only tells us what the threats are, we can also use it to tell us which policy possibilities will be most effective in helping African elephants to survive."

In the case of a species like the elephant, which migrates widely across national boundaries, it is especially important to also understand how differing policies could affect future herds so that management agencies can coordinate their responses.

In particular, Nampindo and Randhir find that a coordinated GVL management strategy at the national, regional and local levels is needed to address poaching threats. Well-funded anti-poaching efforts are essential, but they also point to the importance of community-led programs and education in the front-line towns and villages where human-elephant interaction is common. The GVL landscape must also be managed appropriately to reduce the impact of habitat fragmentation, fire and invasive species.

"These results are very important to WCS," says Nampindo. "If we can do a good job at protecting elephants, our efforts will reverberate to other species, such as lions and mountain gorillas."

"More broadly," says Randhir, "the most exciting thing about this systems dynamic modeling is that it can be adapted to any migratory species that move across political boundaries, from fish to birds to lions."

More information: Simon Nampindo et al, Dynamic modeling of African elephant populations under changing climate and habitat loss across the Greater Virunga Landscape, PLOS Sustainability and Transformation (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pstr.0000094 Journal information: PLOS Sustainability and Transformation
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

University researchers in the UK, across all disciplines and at all career stages, are struggling to take action against climate change despite wanting to do so.

Many academics worry about climate change but face several barriers to changing their habits, including the pressure to travel. In one case, a climate researcher conducting fieldwork abroad wanted to use slower and more sustainable forms of transport rather than fly back to work at a research institute in Germany. He was fired.

As large institutions and centers of knowledge, universities play an important role in tackling climate change. Their education and research have an enormous influence on society, but they are also large emittersuniversities and further education colleges represent 2.3% of the UK's carbon footprint.

Researchers can take collective action that helps universities address climate change. Given the right support, they could shape a future where research is more sustainable. But until recently, there has been little attention paid to how the culture and practices of universities either enable or inhibit change.

Along with colleagues, I surveyed almost 2,000 early, mid- and senior career researchers in 127 UK universities. We received responses from a mix of disciplines that were largely reflective of the UK's higher education sector. The results were stark.

What we found

Nearly all (95%) are extremely, very or somewhat worried about climate change. A similar amount (96%) want to do more about the problem in their university, not necessarily within the confines of their roles, but are prevented by high workloads, uncertainty over what they can do and a lack of agency or power to act.

The majority think their university does not give them enough information about how to conduct research in a sustainable way. Funding processes, such as applications for grants to carry out research, do not incentivize low-carbon approaches either, they say.

One academic said, "I don't think anyone scores the carbon footprint of their grants (maybe we should)". They feel that the research culture of universities must change to better address climate change.

There is also a very high level of support for peers: 98% said they think it is appropriate for their colleagues to advocate for university action on climate change. Despite this, there is a great deal of uncertainty about what their peers actually think and do.

Almost half of the researchers we spoke to don't know if their colleagues see climate action at work as a priority, are unsure if their peers know how to address climate change or whether they are reluctant to do so.

Researchers clearly care about climate change, but they're not talking with each other about it.

Not just climate researchers

These findings are particularly striking because most of the researchers that we surveyed (65%) do not research or teach on climate change at all. The importance of climate action is evident to all types of researchers, not just climate scientists.

We found that barriers to taking action differed across disciplines. Climate researchers are more than twice as likely to feel they know how to address the problem and almost three times more likely to think their work can be part of that solution compared with non-climate researchers.

Those working in medicine, health and life sciences do not think their subject area is as relevant for addressing climate change compared to those in other disciplines. That's despite the fact that there are clear links between health and climate change, such as the implications of heat waves and food insecurity.

Different barriers to climate action appear at different career stages. Early career researchers in particular lack institutional support (such as job security or the encouragement to act), are involved in few projects about climate change (whether as part of research or outside of their roles) and feel uncertain about what they can do.

Mid-career researchers were more likely to complain of a high workload thwarting their ambitions. When asked if senior researchers should have a high responsibility for addressing climate change in universities, senior researchers themselves were more likely to think so than early and mid-career researchers, suggesting that they recognize their own potential role.

How to move forward

In the UK, 108 institutions have made a commitment to divest from fossil fuels. Yet almost half of researchers think their universities are not doing enough and some are concerned universities are only paying lip service to the climate crisis. "It talks a lot about it in the university strategy," one researcher said. "But I don't know what [the university] is actually doing."

We found that most researchers think universities have a big responsibility for addressing climate change, along with the research councils that fund a lot of academic work. Researchers say they want to be part of that change and think universities would benefit from enabling thisbut my colleagues and I believe it is essential that the responsibility is not made theirs alone.

To feel able to contribute to climate action, researchers say they need to know what actions to take, how their institutions will support them and space in their workloads to do it.

Our work offers some recommendations for how universities could approach this. These include helping non-climate researchers feel confident to contribute their own expertise and ensuring the challenge to amend university culture and practices is taken up at the highest administrative level.

The UK higher education sector should take note and tap into the concern and motivation of researchers to be part of the solution.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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A typical situation of summer 2022: There were clouds and medium-to-high levels of moisture in the atmosphere but no precipitation. The topsoil was completely dry, and the crops to be harvested in autumn had 100% yield loss in many places (26 July 2022). Credit: Gusztav Jakab

Intensive agricultural cultivation and the resulting changes in soil structure cause low humidity in the near-surface air during heat waves in really dry years. As a result, summer cold fronts roar across the Great Hungarian Plain without the usual thunderstorms and precipitation.

Researchers at the Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences at Eotvos Lorand University explain this weather in a review of articles on topics ranging from the geodynamics to the soil science to the meteorology that made the summer of 2022 so severe in the eastern part of the country.

In 2022, the 7-week period starting in mid-June was disastrous for eastern Hungary. Almost no rain fell for weeks, and in the eastern part of the country, the economic loss of autumn crops was almost total. The cold fronts, which had brought showers and rain to the western part of the country, dried up as they reached the Great Plain, passing through without precipitation and with only strong winds, making the drought situation even worse. Rumors had already started that some mysterious experiment influencing the weather had caused the almost complete drying out and destruction of the maize and sunflower crops in the lowlands that year.

Gabor Timar and Balazs Szekely of the Department of Geophysics and Space Science, and Gusztav Jakab of the Department of Environment and Landscape Geography show in their review article published in journal Land that this is not the case. Rather, the atmosphere was missing one of the most natural things: water.

Severity of the drought occurred in Europe in the extremely hot 2022 summer heat wave. While the western and eastern parts of the continent were damaged by elongated anticyclonic periods, in the Great Hungarian Plain, the fronts occurred at almost normal rates, but they passed without precipitation. Map is made by European Commission GDO Analytical Report 2022. Credit: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Toreti, A., Bavera, D., Acosta Navarro, J. et al., Drought in EuropeAugust 2022GDO analytical report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2022, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/264241

Because of the unusually severe drought, one of the conditions for the formation of thunderstormsa layer of humid air near the surfacewas missing. As a result, the thunderstorms that provided the bulk of the summer rainfall were absent, exacerbating the situation and precluding the possibility of further storms over a period of several weeks.

The researchers conclude that the main reason for this is that the landscape water storage capacity has been significantly reduced due to intensive agricultural cultivation, following the water regulation measures.

In many places, large-scale cultivation and heavy machinery have created a secondary and almost impermeable layer in the soil, which prevents autumn-winter, early spring and early summer precipitation from being stored in the deeper layers of the soil.

An old, dried-up watercourse in autumn 2022 with some renewed vegetation after the September rains, showing the severity of the 2022 drought. Credit: Gusztav Jakab

The upper 20-30 cm of the soil, however, dries out very quickly in the summer heat, and the chances of the remaining evaporation of moisture in the lower layers of the air and the formation of thunderstorms are then greatly reduced. The moisture in the higher air layers therefore does not reach the ground.

Their proposal is therefore to restore wetlands, meadows and pastures in a part of the lowland landscape, estimated to be at least one county in total, and even to divert excess water from elsewhere during the winter and snowmelt floods. Here, in addition to natural or accelerated restoration of soil structure, the re-establishment of vegetation that is highly evaporative during the summer period should be allowed or encouraged.

This can guarantee that rainfall can return in drought years, which will also bring rainwater to agricultural areas. These "evapotranspiration areas" could be created in the lowest areas of the lowlands, on the lowest-value agricultural land with a lower "golden crown" value, where the soil is not optimal for arable farming anyway.

More information: Gabor Timar et al, A Step from Vulnerability to Resilience: Restoring the Landscape Water-Storage Capacity of the Great Hungarian PlainAn Assessment and a Proposal, Land (2024). DOI: 10.3390/land13020146
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Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s11783-024-1803-8

Endosulfan, a broad-spectrum organochlorine pesticide, was widely used in agricultural sectors, including cotton farming, due to its effectiveness against pests. However, due to its environmental persistence and potential health risks, its production and use have been banned in China since March 2019.

A study published in Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering on 15 December 2023 examines the levels of endosulfan residues in cotton fields of Northwest China and assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of local farmers regarding the pesticide's phase-out.

This study embarked on a comprehensive investigation into the prevalence of endosulfan residues in the soils of cotton fields across Northwest China, post its official ban. By collecting and analyzing soil samples from 91 distinct fields, the research aimed to quantify the residual presence of this once widely-used pesticide, offering insights into its environmental persistence.

Concurrently, a survey involving 291 cotton farmers was conducted to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding the discontinuation of endosulfan and their transition to alternative pest management strategies.

This dual approach not only shed light on the effectiveness of the ban in reducing pesticide residues but also highlighted the varying degrees of awareness and readiness among farmers to adopt safer, environmentally friendly pest control methods.

Yang Zhang, the study's co-author, emphasized the importance of bridging the knowledge gap among farmers to ensure the effective adoption of safer pest control alternatives, safeguarding both the environment and public health.

The study's results emphasize the importance of improving farmer education and creating accessible, effective alternatives for pest management. It suggests ongoing pesticide residue monitoring and the promotion of sustainable farming practices.

Contributing to the broader research on pesticide impact and sustainable agriculture, it provides valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and the agricultural sector on handling legacy pesticides and enhancing environmental safety.

More information: Shuyan Zhou et al, Endosulfan residues and farmers' replacement behaviors of endosulfan in the north-west inland cotton region, Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s11783-024-1803-8

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Antitrust agency open to meeting with US tech firms

By Park Jae-hyuk

The Korean government is willing to engage in discussions with American companies not just in Korea but also in the U.S., dismissing the latest claim by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which suggested that the government is hastily regulating dominant online platforms in the market without sufficient dialogue with the American business community and the U.S. government, according to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), Tuesday.

The refutation came after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce urged the FTC on Monday (local time) to show transparency and open dialogue regarding this issue.

The envisioned Platform Fair Competition Act is aimed at banning unfair activities by monopolistic online and mobile platforms by designating specific companies as "influential players." While the FTC is expected to unveil a detailed government plan next month, it is possible that U.S. companies such as Apple, Google, Amazon, and Meta, along with Korean companies like Naver and Kakao, could be among those included in the legislation.

Charles Freeman, senior vice president for Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement that it is crucial that the full text of any proposed legislation should be made publicly available, and that the Korean government needs to provide ample opportunities for engagement with a range of stakeholders.

Having closely monitored legislative conversations in multiple countries, including failed attempts to pass platform legislation in the U.S., the U.S. Chamber can attest that these platform proposals are deeply flawed, he said. They trample on competition that clearly benefits consumers, ignore good regulatory practices fundamental to sound regulatory models, and place governments in a position of violating their trade commitments by arbitrarily targeting foreign firms.

In response, the FTC emphasized that its officials met twice this month with members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) to discuss the planned platform regulations. The antitrust agency also said that its chairman will deliver a presentation to AMCHAM members on March 7.

However, FTC officials failed to meet the representatives of Google, Apple and Meta during their visit to AMCHAM's head office on Jan. 25.

The U.S. tech giants reportedly skipped the meeting due to concerns that Korea's forthcoming competition policy rules might unintentionally provide an advantage to Chinese latecomers such as Aliexpress and Temu. These Chinese platforms are expected to be unaffected by the regulations due to their comparatively lower market shares.

In addition, AMCHAM is not affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, although the two organizations have sometimes cooperated with each other to defend American companies in Korea. An AMCHAM spokesperson explained that the recent statement by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is not related to AMCHAMs official stance.

The FTC told The Korea Times that it will also communicate with American companies in the U.S. if they contact the Korean antitrust agency's officers in Washington, D.C.

To streamline communication in terms of time and cost, our primary engagement has been with AMCHAM. The expectation is that the discussions held with AMCHAM will be effectively conveyed to the U.S. stakeholders, said the head of the FTCs digital economy policy division, who is in charge of handling platform regulations.

Earlier this month, the Center for Strategic & International Studies said in a report that Koreas proposed platform regulations unfairly target U.S. companies which will, in turn, end up helping Chinese rivals gain a larger market share.

Last December, Robert OBrien, former national security adviser for former U.S. President Donald Trump, claimed that Koreas proposed regulations to prevent unfair market activities by major online platform businesses would be a gift to China, warning they could cause friction with the U.S. if enacted.

Consequently, concerns are escalating that the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's efforts to regulate online platforms may be developing into a potential diplomatic dispute with the U.S.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Over the last two decades, and in particular over the last five years, there has been a growing scientific interest in conspiracy theories and people who believe in them. Although, some may think belief in such stories is linked to intelligence, research is beginning to show that how people think could be more important.

Scientists agree that having a measure of skepticism about official accounts of events is healthy and important, but conspiracy theorizing can lead to dangerous consequences for the individual and for society.

Some conspiracy theories, for example the QAnon conspiracy, can be considered a minority belief, with a 2021 YouGov poll showing that 8% of those polled in the UK endorsed this conspiracy theory. However, some beliefs are more widespread. A 2018 survey of people from around Europe found 60% of British participants endorsed at least one conspiracy theory. So, who are the people who are more susceptible to conspiracy theorizing?

There is a dramatically growing body of research endeavoring to understand this question. First, let's re-examine those assumptions about who engages with conspiracy theories.

People with high education levels, such as doctors and nurses, have been reported to propagate conspiracy theories. So it's not just about intelligenceeducation won't necessarily make you immune.

Critical thinking

Research shows that our thinking style can be predictive of susceptibility to conspiracy theories. The dual processing theory of cognitive style suggests that we have two routes which we can use to process information.

One route is the fast, intuitive route which leans more on personal experiences and gut feelings. The other route is a slower, more analytical route which instead relies on elaborative and detailed processing of information.

What you tend to see is that people who are not necessarily smarter but who favor the more effortful, analytical thinking style are more resistant to conspiracy beliefs. For example, a British 2014 study found that those who scored highly for questions such as "I enjoy problems that require hard thinking" were less likely to accept conspiracy beliefs. It also found those who were less likely to engage in effortful thinking styles and more likely to use intuitive thinking showed a higher belief in conspiracy theories.

Similarly, a 2022 study across 45 countries used a cognitive reflection test, which measured engagement in analytical thinking in three questions. It found that participants who engaged in the labor-intensive thinking style were less likely to endorse COVID 19 conspiracy theories.

Critical thinking is a valuable skill, particularly within education, and has been shown to buffer susceptibility to conspiracy beliefs. This is probably because this more arduous thinking style allows people time to identify inconsistencies in theories and look to additional resources to verify information.

Thinking style is not the same as intelligence

A 2021 meta-analysis study indicates that an intuitive thinking style is unrelated to intelligence. So, even really smart people could be susceptible to conspiracy beliefsif they are more inclined to revert to faster, intuitive thinking styles.

Research shows that belief in conspiracy theories is predicted by cognitive biases that come from a reliance on mental shortcuts when processing information. First, conspiracy beliefs seem to be predicted by the flawed belief that big events must have big consequences.

This is known in psychology as proportionality bias. It is difficult to accept that events which have such world-changing consequences (for example, the death of a president or the COVID-19 outbreak) can really be caused by comparably "small" causes (for example, a lone gunman or a virus). This is how thinking styles reliant on gut feelings and intuition can lead people to endorse conspiracy theories.

Another example of intuitive thinking styles influencing conspiracy beliefs is the conjunction fallacy. A conjunction fallacy is the erroneous belief that the likelihood of two independent events occurring together is higher than the probability of the events occurring alone. Have a try at the Linda Problem:

Linda is 31 years old, single, outspoken, and very bright. She majored in philosophy. As a student, she was deeply concerned with issues of discrimination and social justice, and also participated in anti-nuclear demonstrations. Which is more probable?

(a) Linda is a bank teller.

(b) Linda is a bank teller and is active in the feminist movement.

The most probable is (a) Linda is a bank teller as, statistically, the probability of one event occurring is always higher than the combination. However, research shows that higher conjunction fallacy errors are associated with stronger conspiracy beliefs. So people prone to conspiratorial thinking would be more likely to say b.

Exposure to conspiracy beliefs have also consistently been shown to increase people's susceptibility to them, even if they don't realize that they have had a change in belief.

It may sound concerning that anyone could be susceptible to conspiracy beliefs. However, these studies are helping researchers find interventions which can increase analytical and critical thinking styles and so buffer against susceptibility to such beliefs. A 2023 review of 25 different studies found these types of interventions were a promising tool to tackle the dangerous consequences of conspiracy beliefs.

The more we understand about the psychology behind conspiracy theories, the better equipped we are to tackle them.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Distribution of antibiotic resistant bacteria in different soil types following manure application. In this image, CRB community composition in CTC-manure of fluvo-aquic soil was more complex than in black and red soils and manure-indigenous CRB were adapted to the fluvo-aquic soil environment. Manure application led to higher CRB risk in fluvo-aquic soil compared with black and red soils. Credit: Hongna Li Lab

In agroecosystems where manure is applied as organic fertilizer, these antibiotic residues exert strong selective pressure on soil microbial communities. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) from animal manure would increase the concentration of ARB in soils.

The influencing mechanisms of soil types on the distribution of ARB were worthy of further exploration. This study demonstrates that CTC-manure induced more resistance of soil indigenous microbes in fluvo-aquic soil. Lactobacillus, Dyella, Ralstonia, and Bacillus were the key genera, and the study finds that manure control is an effective way to reduce the risk of soil ARB.

The researchers' findings appear in Soil Ecology Letters.

A series of studies on the risk of ARB and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) have been conducted by Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. For example, they found that Chloroflexi was closely associated with ARGs removal, and potential host bacteria of ARGs varied with different antibiotics. They also found multidrug resistance genes increased the most in red soil with antibiotics, and ARGs were directly influenced by microbes, indirectly affected by soil properties.

Professor Li said, "Agricultural production has caused a heavy burden on the environment, and the overall trend of deterioration is still increasing. This is a contradiction that must be resolved. The results of the second national survey of pollution sources released recently showed that the pollution load from agricultural sources exceeded that of industry and cities, highlighting the importance and urgency of agricultural environmental protection work."

"Therefore, we chose and explored agricultural and rural environmental protection issues, hoping to contribute to the solution of environmental problems."

In this study, they found that a higher shift in the operational taxonomic units and the community composition of chlortetracycline (CTC)-resistant bacteria (CRB) were observed in fluvo-aquic soil than in black and red soils.

CTC induced antibiotic resistance development in soil indigenous microorganisms (Streptomyces, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Rhodococcus, and Paenibacillus), and the induction was most obvious in fluvo-aquic soil. Additionally, the key different genera were Microbacteriaceae (black soil), Lactobacillus, unclassified_c__Bacilli and Paenibacillus (fluvo-aquic soil), and Dyella, Ralstonia and Bacillus (red soil).

It was concluded that manure application led to higher CRB risk in fluvo-aquic soil compared with black and red soils. This result suggests appropriate methods according to soil types are important ways to reduce the risk of soil resistant bacteria during manure return.

Professor Li said, "The application of manure to the soil increased microbial resistance, which was even stronger when the manure contained antibiotic residues. Moreover, manure application led to higher CRB risk in fluvo-aquic soil compared with black and red soils. As a result, scientific manure return according to soil types is also important for monitoring the risk of resistance in agricultural practice."

Soil is relevant to our lives; it is fundamental to food security, water security and entire ecosystem health. Monitoring soil antibiotic risk is more important than ever.

More information: Tingting Song et al, Distribution of antibiotic resistant bacteria in different soil types following manure application, Soil Ecology Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s42832-023-0210-6

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Graphical abstract. Credit: Science of The Total Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168680

A new study shows troubling levels of pharmaceutical pollution in the St. Lawrence River and its largest tributaries, especially near and downstream of urban areas. Some of the compounds detected even pose a moderate-to-high risk to aquatic organisms when there's chronic exposure.

Universite de Montreal doctoral student Marc-Antoine Vaudreuil conducted the study under the supervision of Sebastien Sauve, an environmental chemist and professor in the Department of Chemistry. From 2017 to 2021, Vaudreuil took part in a five-year field research program, collecting surface water samples along a 700-kilometer stretch of the 3,000-kilometer river.

The results show that despite the St. Lawrence waters' significant dilution effect, concentrations of four compoundscaffeine, carbamazepine, diclofenac and ibuprofenare high enough to negatively impact growth and reproduction in aquatic fauna.

"Some concentrations exceeded toxicity thresholds for long-term exposure in aquatic life, but for most pharmaceutical compounds, there are currently no Canadian environmental standards," said Vaudreuil.

"With the exception of carbamazepine, most of the compounds do not cause immediate harm, because they degrade fairly rapidly. However, it appears that chronic exposure can be very toxic, especially to organisms in the early stages of growth, such as newly hatched fish."

Vaudreuil added that pharmaceutical contamination of our water resources can also indirectly contribute to antibiotic resistance, which has become a major threat to global health.

Montreal: A case study

The data show that water downstream of Montreal has significantly higher concentrations of pharmaceutical compounds than water in other parts of the St. Lawrence. The contamination extends to Lac Saint-Pierre, 70 kilometers downstream.

"It's amazing that there are still traces so far from Montreal," said Sauve. "We would expect more contamination in the immediate vicinity of the island given that the city has a population of two million and only one wastewater treatment plant to treat 900 billion liters of water per year."

The wastewater treatment technologies currently used in Montreal were not designed to remove pharmaceutical compounds and often have little or no effectiveness for this purpose.

However, Montreal is working on adding ozonation technology to its wastewater treatment facilities, which will remove up to 80 percent of pharmaceuticals.

"But it's a double-edged sword," Sauve said. "The system has to be properly designed because ozone transforms pharmaceutical waste into even more toxic compounds. So you need enough ozone to eliminate these new molecules, too."

Reducing chemical loads

Upgrading wastewater treatment systems will reduce chemical loads and help improve water quality in the St. Lawrence, which is a source of drinking water for millions of people.

But Sauve suggests other approaches be considered, too: for example, targeting wastewater discharge from sites known to produce large quantities of pharmaceutical waste, such as hospitals and nursing homes.

On a smaller scale, he applauds the efforts of the pharmaceutical industry and the public to properly dispose of expired and unused medications.

"We also have to remember that the pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater come from the medications we all take," said Sauve. "So it is important to use them wisely."

More information: Marc-Antoine Vaudreuil et al, Tracking down pharmaceutical pollution in surface waters of the St. Lawrence River and its major tributaries, Science of The Total Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168680
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Credit: Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Jessica Atkin

A love for space exploration led Jessica Atkin, a Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences graduate student in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, to produce the first-ever moondust-grown chickpeas.

Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences graduate student Jessica Atkin was able to produce the first chickpea seeds in a 75% mixture of simulated moondust.

Using simulated moondust, because there's not enough lunar regolith on Earth for experimentation, Atkin and her colleagues grew chickpeas to seed in mixtures of up to 75% moondusta groundbreaking endeavor in several aspects.

As a result of her study, future moon-bound astronauts may have the opportunity to substitute a portion of their prepackaged foods with protein derived from crops grown on the lunar surface.

"The moon doesn't have soil like Earth does," Atkin said. "On Earth, the soil has organic material filled with nutrients and microorganisms, which support plant growth. Those are missing on the moon. This adds to other challenges, such as reduced gravity, radiation and toxic elements."

To help address some of those challenges, Atkin has been developing a soil amendment to improve the structure and nutrient composition of lunar dust, making it suitable for growing crops.

Atkin collaborated on the project with Sara Oliveira Santos, a doctoral candidate at Brown University, who contributed expertise in addressing hydrological issues arising from the small particle size of the moondust.

Moondust research

Atkin has been working on this research under the guidance of her advisors, Terry Gentry, Ph.D., soil and water microbiologist in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, and Betsy Pierson, Ph.D., an expert in plant-microbe interactions in the Department of Horticultural Sciences. Also contributing to the research is George Vandemark, Ph.D., a U.S. Department of Agriculture legume breeder and faculty member at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.

Varying degrees of chlorophyll can be seen in the chickpea moondust study at five weeks.

Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences graduate student Jessica Atkin was able to produce the first chickpea seeds in a 75% mixture of simulated moondust. Credit: Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Jessica Atkin

Using soil regeneration mechanisms from Earth, Atkin leveraged the interaction between beneficial soil fungi and vermicompost, or worm manure, to create a fertile moondust. These amendments help sequester toxic contaminants from the dust, change the soil structure for better hydraulic properties, and increase plant tolerance to stressors and toxins.

Three primary actions help fungi address elemental contamination. First, toxins are sequestered and bound in the soil mixture, making them less available for plant uptake. This prevents contaminants from being taken up by plant roots. If some toxin gets by, the fungus traps it in its own biomass and that of the plant root, limiting the amount of toxins taken into the vegetation and seeds.

Vermicompost is used to provide nutrients and change the physical properties of the lunar dust composition. Atkin said red wiggler worms can be taken to the moon, where they can decompose biowaste such as clothing, hygiene items and food scraps created by astronauts.

Atkin said she chose chickpeas because they are legumes that form beneficial relationships with fungi.

"They are a great protein source and use less water and nitrogen than other food crops," she said. "We used a desi chickpea variety to deal with the space limitations inside a habitat."

Using these techniques, Atkin successfully grew chickpeas to seed in up to 75% lunar regolith simulant, a documented first. However, she noted a caveat: although chickpeas typically take about 100 days to produce on Earth, in lunar mixtures, they required 120 days to mature, and all plants showed symptoms of stress.

Sustainability in space

Atkin said she will continue studying the multigenerational effects and believes that once the soil matrix is transformed, it could lead to the ability to grow other crops.

While Atkin said there are many variables, this could be a solution for long-term waste reduction, and sustainability of lunar travel and exploration.

"The novelty about using vermiculture is that it can all be done in space, whether in a space station or on the moon, reducing the need for resupply missions," she said.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Narcissistic leaders are bad for share value, unless they are seen to stimulate innovation and growth at companies suffering from corporate inertia, according to research that analyzed how CEO narcissism affects stock recommendations from securities analysts.

The study, by Nottingham Business School, Middle Tennessee State University, and the University of Leeds and published in Strategic Organization, is the first to explore the relationship between CEOs who are linked to excessive risk taking and their value to a company.

Securities analysts provide investors with performance forecasts and recommendations on the attractiveness of investing in company stock. Existing research has shown that these recommendations can affect a company's market performance by influencing the price people are willing to pay for the company's shares.

The study analyzed data from the Standard & Poor (S&P) 100 index and covered 75 CEOs from 66 S&P 100 firms over a 10 year period. Researchers adopted widely used unobtrusive methods to measure narcissistic tendencies, including those that are under the CEO's control along with aspects of narcissistic personalities such as arrogance, entitlement and self-absorption.

This included exploring the use of photos in annual reports, first-person singular pronouns in shareholder letters, and cash and non-cash compensation compared to the second-highest paid executives.

The research also looked at whether firm age, size and reputation were mitigating factors against the impact of CEO narcissism, as well as taking into account variables which may affect securities analyst recommendations, including CEO age and tenure, and return on assets, shareholder returns, R&D intensity and institutional ownership of stock.

Narcissistic CEOs were shown to have a negative impact on recommendations, with analysts issuing weaker stock recommendations. This was especially so for larger firms where narcissistic leadership could clash with bureaucracy.

However, the findings also revealed that securities analysts will announce less pessimistic stock recommendations when the firm has an established reputation and appears to be prone to corporate inertia, signaling that they believe a brash leadership style and inclination towards risk-taking could improve its performance by stimulating change and innovation.

Dr. Feray Adguzel, senior lecturer in marketing at Nottingham Business School, part of Nottingham Trent University, said, "Previous research has focused on the firm level consequences of a narcissistic leaders. Our study is one a few that considers their impact on external partiesin this case securities analysts, whose expectations and predictions can have an adverse effect on the legitimacy of a company in financial markets.

"While there are some mitigating circumstances, overall securities analysts do not consider CEO narcissism to be of value to a company and this can have an impact on its strategy and performance. This reinforces the view that narcissism as a CEO personality trait has downsides and underlines the importance of being mindful when boards appoint, monitor and reward a CEOas many leaders with this trait may lack self-awareness and do not have the necessary oversight to protect the company from its harmful consequences.

"This task seems especially urgent now, at a time of great expectations regarding the role well-led companies and institutions can play in tackling the grand challenges society currently faces."

More information: Karynne Turner et al, Chief executive officer narcissism, corporate inertia, and securities analysts' stock recommendations, Strategic Organization (2023). DOI: 10.1177/14761270231218096
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JPL scientist Vanessa Bailey stands behind the Nancy Grace Roman Coronagraph, which has been undergoing testing at JPL. About the size of a baby grand piano, the Coronagraph is designed to block starlight and allow scientists to see the faint light from planets outside our solar system. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A cutting-edge tool to view planets outside our solar system has passed two key tests ahead of its launch as part of the agency's Roman Space Telescope by 2027.

The Coronagraph Instrument on NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will demonstrate new technologies that could vastly increase the number of planets outside our solar system (exoplanets) that scientists can directly observe. Designed and built at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, it recently passed a series of critical tests ahead of launch. That includes tests to ensure the instrument's electrical components don't interfere with those on the rest of the observatory and vice versa.

"This is such an important and nerve-wracking stage of building a spacecraft instrument, testing whether or not everything works as intended," said Feng Zhao, deputy project manager for the Roman Coronagraph at JPL. "But we have an amazing team who built this thing, and it passed the electrical components tests with flying colors."

A coronagraph blocks light from a bright cosmic object, like a star, so that scientists can observe a nearby object that would otherwise be hidden by the glare. (Think of a car's sun visor.) The light reflected or emitted by a planet carries information about the chemicals in the planet's atmosphere and other potential signs of habitability, so coronagraphs will likely be a critical tool in the search for life beyond our solar system.

But if scientists were trying to obtain images of an Earth-like planet in another solar system (same size, same distance from a star similar to our sun), they wouldn't be able to see the planet in the star's glare, even with the best coronagraphs and most powerful telescopes operating today.

The Roman Coronagraph aims to change that paradigm. The innovations that have gone into the instrument should make it possible to see planets similar to Jupiter in size and distance from their star. The Coronagraph team expects these advances will help enable the leap to viewing more Earth-like planets with future observatories.

As a technology demonstration, the Roman Coronagraph's primary goal is to test technologies that have not been flown in space before. Specifically, it will test sophisticated light-blocking capabilities that are at least 10 times better than what's currently available. Scientists expect to push its performance even further to observe challenging targets that could yield novel scientific discoveries.

The Roman Coronagraph was peppered with radio waves to test its response to stray electrical signals. The test was performed inside a chamber lined with foam padding that absorbs the radio waves to prevent them from bouncing off the walls. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Making the grade

Even with the Coronagraph blocking a star's light, a planet will still be exceptionally faint, and it might take a full month of observations to get a good picture of the distant world. To make these observations, the instrument's camera detects individual photons, or single particles of light, making it far more sensitive than previous coronagraphs.

That's one reason the recent tests were crucial: The electrical currents that send power to the spacecraft's components can produce faint electrical signals, mimicking light in the Coronagraph's sensitive camerasan effect known as electromagnetic interference. Meanwhile, signals from the Coronagraph could similarly disrupt Roman's other instruments.

The mission needs to ensure neither will happen when the telescope is operating in an isolated, electromagnetically quiet environment 1 million miles (about 1.5 million kilometers) from Earth. So a team of engineers put the fully assembled instrument in a special isolated, electromagnetically quiet chamber at JPL and turned it on to full power.

They measured the instrument's electromagnetic output to make sure it fell below the level required to operate aboard Roman. The team used injection clamps, transformers, and antennas to produce electrical disturbances and radio waves similar to what the rest of the telescope will generate. Then they measured the instrument's performance, looking for excessive noise in the camera images and other unwanted responses from the optical mechanisms.

"The electric fields we generate with the antennas are about the same strength as what's generated by a computer screen," said Clement Gaidon, the Roman Coronagraph electrical systems engineer at JPL. "That's a pretty benign level, all things considered, but we have very sensitive hardware onboard. Overall, the instrument did a fantastic job navigating across the electromagnetic waves. And props to the team for wrapping this test campaign in record time!"

A wide field of view

The lessons learned from the Coronagraph technology demonstration will be separate from the Roman Space Telescope's primary mission, which includes multiple science objectives. The mission's principal tool, the Wide Field Instrument, is designed to generate some of the largest images of the universe ever taken from space. These images will enable Roman to conduct groundbreaking surveys of cosmic objects such as stars, planets, and galaxies, and study the large-scale distribution of matter in the universe.

For example, by taking repeated images of the center of the Milky Waylike a multiyear time-lapse moviethe Wide Field Instrument will discover tens of thousands of new exoplanets. (This planet survey will be separate from the observations made by the Coronagraph).

Roman will also make 3D maps of the cosmos to explore how galaxies have formed and why the universe's expansion is speeding up, measuring the effects of what astronomers call "dark matter" and "dark energy." With these wide-ranging capabilities, Roman will help answer questions about big and small features of our universe.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Norway's district court in Oslo recently made a decision on fossil fuels that deserves the attention of every person concerned about climate change.

This ruling, which compels energy firms to account for the industry's entire carbon footprint, could change the way oil and gas licenses are awarded in Norwayand inspire similar legal challenges to fossil fuel production in other countries.

The district court judge Lena Skjold Rafoss ruled that three petroleum production licenses, held by energy companies including Equinor and Aker BP, were invalid largely due to the lack of consideration that had been given to so-called "downstream emissions." That is, emissions from burning the petroleum that these firms would extract from the North Sea (also called scope 3 emissions).

This case is a big win for environmental campaigners who have tried to make oil and gas companies account for the emissions that come from burning their products. Similar efforts have been defeated in legal challenges elsewhere over the last few years.

As a researcher of climate and energy law, I have noted in my work how rules on oil and gas licenses are not aligned with national climate targets. I have called for changing these rules so that the downstream emissions the oil and gas from a new field will produce are considered when deciding whether it should go ahead.

Although the judgment only applies to Norway and its implication should not be overstated, it could seed similar arguments in climate litigation elsewhere. This could force governments to consider how drilling for and burning new oil and gas will really affect climate change.

Oil and gas companies applying for exploration and production licenses in new fields are, in most countries, obliged to produce an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for each proposed project. Firms submit these EIAs to the government and they are usually made public. The idea is that public scrutiny and participation will ensure the government's final decision is informed and transparent.

In many countries, EIAs must now account for a project's impact on the climate. But this obligation is typically interpreted as encompassing the emissions from exploration and production onlynot from burning the oil and gas extracted.

Despite previous legal challenges and until this recent decision, regulators and courts in oil-producing countries like Norway and the UK have been reluctant to make firms account for the emissions that come from burning the fuels they produce. This is despite the fact these scope 3 or downstream emissions constitute 67%95% of overall emissions for oil production.

Why consider downstream emissions?

Regulators and companies argue that these emissions are not relevant as they do not form a part of the project under consideration. But regulating demand for oil and gas, through higher emission standards for vehicles for example, is not enough to tackle climate change.

Research confirms that keeping global heating below 2C will require a third of the world's oil and half of its gas reserves to remain underground by 2050. More recent assessments based on limiting warming to 1.5C are even stricter.

Plainly, we cannot keep producing fossil fuels while keeping climate targets alive.

The legal requirements on EIAs in Norway allow room for interpretation, carving a role for courts to clarify if downstream emissions ought to be included. In a 2020 ruling by the Norwegian Supreme Court, in a case dubbed People v Arctic Oil, the court decided that downstream emissions were a relevant consideration for environmental assessment.

However, the case concerned opening new areas for firms to bid for licenses and the court ruled that such an assessment was not required at that stage. This new decision concerns the government awarding production licenses for specific fields.

At this stage, firms should have a much better understanding of the geology of the field they intend to drill in, how much oil or gas is there and the quantity of downstream emissions it should yield. The court argued that the government's interpretation of the law to exclude downstream emissions at this stage is too restrictive and downstream emissions must be considered before granting permits.

Will the decision inspire further legal challenges?

Despite the clear victory for environmental groups, the practical value of the judgment must be carefully considered.

The judgment will most likely result in an appeal from the Norwegian Ministry of Energy and take months or years to make its way to the country's Supreme Court for a final decision. While this might delay the drilling, if the government complies with the judgment and requires oil and gas firms to make the necessary downstream emissions assessment it might still proceed with approving new oil production permitseven if the assessment shows considerable downstream emissions.

Will courts in other countries follow suit? Not every country has a written constitution with environmental rights provisions like Norway (the UK doesn't, for example). But while foreign judgments do not usually serve as precedent, courts often mention applicable decisions in consideration of the relevant facts.

In the UK, a few outstanding cases deal with downstream emissions. For example, environmental campaign groups Greenpeace and Uplift are challenging the government's approval of the Rosebank oil and gas field west of Shetland, in part due to its lack of consideration of downstream emissions.

The UK Supreme Court is also expected to hand down judgment in the Finch case. This will decide whether it was lawful for Surrey County Council to approve an oil development without requiring an assessment of downstream emissions.

This builds on similar legal challenges in response to new fossil fuel production in Australia and the US. The outcomes of these cases could change the assessment process for all fossil fuel projects.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Proposed organizational resilience construct model. The diagram shows a model of organizational resilience with four bubbles showing organizational learning capacity, resiliency management, operational flexibility and business continuity all pointing to a central bubble that shows organizational resilience. The arrows from the bubbles are labeled H1, H2, H3 and H4. The multiplicative effects of RM, OLC, BC and OF are in a box with an arrow pointing to organizational resilience labeled H5. Credit: International Journal of Production Research (2023). DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2023.2296018

Researchers from the University of Sheffield, led by Professor Lenny Koh, in collaboration with Rolls-Royce have unveiled a comprehensive approach to quantifying and enhancing organizational resilience. In a paper, titled "Quantifying Organizational Resilience: An Integrated Resource Efficiency View," published in the International Journal of Production Research, researchers introduce the Organizational Resilience Index (ORI).

Utilizing the Integrated Resource Efficiency View (IREV) framework, the study identifies four key levers crucial for organizational resilience. The results underscore a strong correlation between a composite index encompassing these levers and heightened organizational resilience. The ORI provides leaders and decision-makers with a practical tool to assess and improve resilience effectively.

In tandem with this research, a cutting-edge tool has been developed in partnership with Rolls-Royce, aimed at bolstering resilience and efficiency in high-value manufacturing industries such as aerospace, automotive, and rail.

The tool, born out of Project FPSCRS (Future Proof Supply Chain Resilience and Security), establishes a Resilience Index Scorecard System hosted online, offering a quantitative scale for resilience measurement and qualitative insights.

Already implemented at Rolls-Royce, the tool, co-developed by industry leaders and academic experts, has demonstrated a significant increase in performance. Professor Lenny Koh expressed excitement about the achieved milestones, emphasizing progress to the next phase of collaboration with Rolls-Royce.

The University of Sheffield, through the Sheffield University Management School (SUMS), is engaged in multiple research studies with Rolls-Royce focusing on resilience within the supply chain. The first phase concentrates on Rolls-Royce's internal supply chain, with the aim of extending resilience measurement methods to the broader supply chain.

Given the global shocks affecting supply chains, from the COVID pandemic to geopolitical events, the need for resilience alongside risk management is more critical than ever.

"We are privileged to have co-championed this pioneering work on resilience measurement with Rolls-Royce which have been proven to have led to tangible positive outcomes and significant reach and global impact. Disruptions are the new norm, so we forecast a significant demand for resilience measurement. We look forward to supporting decision makers and leaders using our FPSCRS and ORI methodology and tool for resilience measurement in order to build a resilient system and future," says Professor Lenny Koh.

Peter Ralph, head of security and resilience, Rolls-Royce plc, said, "Organizational resilience is the foundation for supply chain resilience. The FPSCRS and ORI methodology and tool have supported Rolls-Royce and pioneered industry standards on resilience measurement to future proof against disruptions and risks, while improving integrated resource efficiency, resiliency and performance."

"This pioneering work has shaped organizational improvement which led to excellent performance, and support management leadership in complex and advanced manufacturing industry as well as wider sectors globally towards resilience measurement."

More information: S.C. Lenny Koh et al, Quantifying organisational resilience: an integrated resource efficiency view, International Journal of Production Research (2023). DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2023.2296018 Journal information: International Journal of Production Research
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Credit: Aaron J Hill from Pexels

Persuaded by pomp and pageantry, people across the nation are more likely to put faith in a Pennsylvania groundhog's weather predictions than those made by local woodchucks, according to a national survey query made on behalf of a University of Virginia researcher.

Thomas Guterbock, UVA sociology professor emeritus and former director of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service's Center for Survey Research, said responses show 53.4% of Americans chose Pennsylvania's renowned Punxsutawney Phil as their primary marmot prognosticator, while 46.6% would choose a local groundhog.

The survey was conducted by Verasight, a reputable survey firm that offered survey researchers a chance to add one question to a nationwide survey at no cost.

"This result confirmed that a majority of people across the entire country have succumbed to the relentless persuasion of the national media and failed to recognize the autonomy and distinctiveness of their own community's climate," Guterbock said, his tongue planted firmly in cheek. "They place their trust in the media groundhog, even if they live thousands of miles away from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania."

Groundhog Day is a tradition observed in the U.S. and Canada on Feb. 2 that was brought to America by German immigrants. Similar traditions exist across Europe and the British Isles, with animals from bears and badgers to hedgehogs and snakes serving as mock meteorologists.

According to lore, if a groundhog pops out of its burrow on that day, sees its shadow and retreats, six more weeks of winter will follow. No shadow, however, means an early spring.

As an exercise for courses on research methods that he taught for several decades at UVA, Guterbock often sent undergraduate sociology students out to survey people they knew regarding Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil. Students surveyed adults they knew, using demographic quotas to ensure the respondents were diverse in age, gender and ethnicity.

In addition to their knowledge of the tradition, or "groundhog awareness," the surveys measured "groundhog priority," which probes the relative authority of Punxsutawney Phil versus local marmots.

Student-conducted class surveys consistently found the Pennsylvania critter was the preferred authority. In a 2019 student-run survey, 61.2% chose the TV groundhog with only 38.8% believing the forecasting abilities of their local woodchucks.

It is understandable. The people of Punxsutawney have worked hard for more than a century to create a spectacle of themselves and their groundhog worthy of national media attention. This year's festival, the 138th, includes a Groundhog Eve talent show, Groundhog Club Members-Only Reception and the annual Groundhog Banquet.

Held at Gobbler's Knob, a natural amphitheater outside of town, the official showgrounds open at 3 a.m. on Groundhog Day. Tickets may be purchased for access to a heated pavilion featuring food, coffee, a live feed of the proceedings, private portable restrooms, an official souvenir and the chance to have a photo taken with the rodent of the hour.

Phil is then presented to the audiencean estimated 40,000 people have been known to gather in some yearsmakes his prediction and is returned to his residence. This year, he will also make guest appearances at a weekend luncheon and Groundhog Ball with live music, dancing and libations.

"You've got to hand it to the folks in Punxsutawney. They recognized that today all media must have a visual with every story," Guterbock said. "They offer a colorful image of men in top hats pulling a wakeful groundhog out of a boxperfect for TV, Instagram or TikTok.

"Unfortunately, the wild groundhogs in your neighborhood don't make themselves visible to photographers in February. Out of sight, out of mind."

Still, Phil's hegemony makes little sense to Guterbock.

"Suppose that on Feb. 2 it is clear and bright in Punxsutawney, but cloudy in your hometown," Guterbock said. "Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, but the local groundhogs do not. If you believed in the Groundhog Day story and you wanted to know when spring would be coming to your hometown, which groundhog ought you rely upon?"

When Guterbock learned a few months ago that Verasight was offering the chance to add a question to a nationwide survey, he asked for inclusion of a question about groundhog priority.

Verasight has created a high-quality, nationally representative survey panel recruited primarily through scientific sampling, rather than volunteers.

The survey, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3%, showed Punxsutawney Phil was the top meteorologic marmot in both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. In fact, Phil was the top dog across census regions, age groups, gender categories, racial and ethnic categories, and income and education categories.

"Apparently, groundhog priority is the one thing that people on the left and right agree on in this country, as there was no significant difference in the preference for Phil between Republicans and Democrats or even 2020 Trump voters versus 2020 Biden voters," Guterbock said.

Local groundhogs earned significantly greater respect in snowy states that see 30 inches or more of snow per year. In those localities, 60.3% chose their regional groundhogs.

"That phenomenon fits with the anthropological understanding of augury rituals as serving the important function of alleviating anxiety about potential future dangers or adverse events," Guterbock said. "If you live in a place where winter is a big deal, you have more reason to be really concerned about when spring will come, and thus you will be more discerning about which groundhog merits credibility."

Guterbock said the solution to declining loyalty to neighborhood woodchucks may be to provide more media-friendly and photogenic local animals.

"Many today are concerned that we are losing good sources of local news," he said. "Well, we don't just need more local news. We need more local groundhog news."
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Graphical abstract. Credit: Soil Biology and Biochemistry (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.109177

Even the most degraded and poor quality soil can be enhanced by improving its smallest componentsits fungi, archaea and bacteria microorganisms.

To decipher the complex network of soil microbial profiles across Australia, scientists from Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and Flinders University in South Australia examined the biodiversity of savanna ecosystems from 166 research sites and seven geographically distinct vegetation types from the Australian Microbiome Initiative.

The study is published in Soil Biology and Biochemistry.

"Soil microbial profiles contribute most of the biodiversity of ecosystems, not least plant health and growth," says Associate Professor Heng Gui, from the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"This research indicates that soils in the Australian savannah systems harbor a unique microbial association pattern, with the highest proportion of positive linkages, highest modularity and lowest average path length in comparison to soils from other vegetation types.

"Multi-model approaches reveal that the different environmental drivers, including soil properties, temperature and vegetation type, appear to regulate the spatial distribution of topological parameters of the soil microbial networks analyzed in our study."

For example, the dominant bacteria in Australian soil is the drought-tolerant actinobacteriaalso uncovered by researchers mining the Bioplatforms Australia soil database. Once a soil's microbiome becomes unbalanced, it can be very difficult to restore.

Co-author Flinders University Associate Professor Martin Breed says that local and continental scale studies of microbial characteristics help to explain how environmental factors contribute to the symbiotic and indirect relationships between soil microorganismsand how to maintain or restore soil quality.

"Our latest study suggests that ecosystem recovery must rapidly improve in order to keep up with the scale and pace of ecosystem degradation," says Associate Professor Breed, who researches ecosystem health, restoration ecology and genomics, and the associated effects on human health with fellow Flinders University researchers.

"Microbiomics and other studies are working on creative ways for restoration scientists to tackle the complexities of ecosystem degradation."

Another co-author on the Soil Biology and Biochemistry report, Associate Professor Peter Mortimer, from the Kunming Institute of Botany Department of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, says the distribution of forests and other vegetation across countries is intrinsically tied to soil profiles.

"Much more needs to be done on soil microbial geography research on a large scale to understand how environmental factors, including hotter, dryer weather, can affect plants and other conditions."

More information: Heng Gui et al, Continental-scale insights into the soil microbial co-occurrence networks of Australia and their environmental drivers, Soil Biology and Biochemistry (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.109177
Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton warned in a new edition of his memoir Tuesday that former President Donald Trump, if reelected, could attempt to reach a "reckless" deal on North Korea's nuclear program that would alienate South Korea.

Bolton, who served as national security advisor under Trump from 2018-2019, made the prediction in the new foreword of his book, "The Room Where It Happened," as Trump is expected to face President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 presidential election.

"Imagine Trump's euphoria at resuming contact with North Korea's Kim Jong-un, about whom he famously boasted, 'We fell in love,'" he wrote in the 18-page foreword that entails his forecast for what would happen under a potential second-term Trump administration.

"Trump previously almost gave away the store to Pyongyang, and he could try again early in a second term. A reckless deal on the North's nuclear weapons program would further alienate Japan and South Korea, and extend China's influence," he added.

Bolton also forecast that burgeoning military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow would not keep Trump from reuniting with the North Korean leader.

"Pyongyang's emerging role in the Beijing-Moscow axis, including providing ammunition and weapons for Russia to use against Ukraine, will not deter Trump from getting back together with Kim," he claimed.

With Trump having a commanding lead in the Republican nomination race, attention has been gravitating to what policy changes Trump would bring about should he return to the White House.

Trump is known for his leader-to-leader diplomacy with the North, which led to three face-to-face meetings with Kim, though serious negotiations between the two sides stalled following the no-deal summit in Hanoi in 2019.

In the foreword, Bolton also predicted that Taiwan and others along China's Indo-Pacific periphery could face "real peril" in a second Trump term.

"He still shows no recognition of Taiwan's importance, as he earlier ignored Beijing's crushing of Hong Kong's autonomy. The near-term risks of China's manufacturing a crisis over Taiwan will rise dramatically," he said.

He went on to say that it is unlikely Beijing will "physically" invade Taiwan since crossing the Taiwan Strait's open ocean is a "formidable" task. "More likely, China's Navy will blockade the island, and perhaps seize Taiwanese islands near the mainland, just to show that it can," he said.

Bolton also expressed concerns that Trump may believe the "one-China" policy means the U.S. can accept Beijing's absorbing of Taiwan.

"But our Indo-Pacific allies would be justifiably appalled," he said. "The loss of Taiwan's independence, which would soon follow a U.S. failure to resist Beijing's blockade, could persuade most countries near China to follow a 'Finlandization' policy at best."

Finlandization refers to a process by which a powerful nation makes a smaller neighbor refrain from opposing the former's external policy while allowing the latter to keep its independence and political system. (Yonhap)
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A multi-institutional team of researchers characterized how solar radiation from the sun interacts with individual tar balls dispersed over a mountainous region in northern Italy. Credit: Environmental Science & Technology (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03498

Days after a wildfire, a type of smoke can linger in the atmosphere that contains tiny, brown, light-absorbing particles known as tar balls. These particles are believed to have a significant impact on Earth's radiative balance, and as a result, a role in both the warming and cooling of the atmosphere.

The formation of these tar balls is not yet well-known, which makes studying their impact on the environment quite difficult, said Claudio Mazzoleni, a physics professor at Michigan Technological University.

While scientists know that these particles influence both warming and cooling of the atmosphere, more information is needed on exactly how and why. A big gap in this knowledge stems from knowing the extent to which these particles absorb, refract, and reflect solar radiation and lightparticularly complicated processes to characterize, Mazzoleni said.

As part of a project overseen by the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), Mazzoleni and a multi-institutional team of researchers recently set out to determine exactly how solar radiation from the sun interacts with individual tar balls dispersed over a mountainous region in northern Italy.

Mazzoleni noted that studying individual particles requires advanced scientific expertise and instrumentation, which is why he and his team came to EMSL.

"The best way to do it is through single-particle analysis," he said. "EMSL has all of the tools and expertise needed."

Using a combination of spectroscopy tools, the team determined specific optical properties and the refractive index, or the measure of light bending that occurs when passing from one medium to another, of individual tar balls in the region. The team also estimated the particles' radiative forcingtheir impact on the amount of solar energy coming in versus what is radiated back to space.

All of the techniques together help determine the tar balls' potential for having a cooling or warming effect on the region, as well as indicate their impact on other atmospheric processes such as water and ice formation and resulting precipitation, Mazzoleni said. The information also helps reduce uncertainties in climate models pertaining to atmospheric particles that remain after biomass burning events.

The team's research was recently featured on the cover of Environmental Science & Technology.

Complex characterization

What makes tar balls particularly difficult to study is their situation among thousands of other particles in the atmosphere, said Swarup China, integrated research platform leader of Terrestrial-Atmospheric Processes at EMSL and co-author on the paper. Additionally, not all smoke contains tar balls, he said.

Mimicking the composition and atmospheric conditions of these particles within a laboratory setting is also incredibly difficult, China said.

"In the lab, you have a good grasp on what you are generating, but it's still just not the same," he said. "These particles form over periods of time and you need to know the exact atmospheric conditions that form them. That is one of the reasons for looking at them particle by particle."

For their study, the team collected two nighttime aerosol samples directly from the atmosphere at the elevated Climate Observatory Ottavio Vittori on Mt. Cimone, Italy, operated by the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate. Samples were specifically taken at 7,103 feet.

The team used multimodal microspectroscopy at EMSL to probe the individual particles and characterize their chemical composition and carbon functionalities. Then, they applied scanning transmission electron microscopy coupled with electron energy loss spectroscopy at EMSL to retrieve the refractive index of individual tar balls.

Lastly, they estimated the top of the atmosphere radiative forcing using a model known as the Santa Barbara DISORT Atmospheric Radiative Transfer model. With this, they found that a layer of only tar balls above vegetation would exert a mild positive radiative forcing on a clear sky day, but greater positive radiative forcing when clouds were below the aerosol layer. These both indicate that they would have a warming effect on the atmosphere, with greater warming occurring above cloud cover.

One piece of a larger puzzle

Mazzoleni said their recent findings represent one important piece of a much larger tar balls puzzle that still leaves many questions. Many different kinds of analysis in a variety of different conditions, locations, and other parameters are still required to begin to fully understand tar balls and their impact on the environment, he said.

"Different kinds of forests might burn in different conditions that result in different particles that would still be characterized as tar balls," said Susan Mathai, a postdoctoral researcher at Michigan Technological University and lead author of the paper.

Looking toward the future, the team hopes to gather and analyze even more tar balls from different areas and conditions to add further data to existing models.

"The idea would be to collect samples in places where you receive smoke from fires in different destinations at different times in different years," Mazzoleni said. "You need samples from different types of forests. There is still a lot to do. There is lots of uncertainty as aerosol makeup in the atmosphere is very complex. The more data we have, the more understanding we have of certain conditions and the better our modeling will be."

More information: Susan Mathai et al, Optical Properties of Individual Tar Balls in the Free Troposphere, Environmental Science & Technology (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03498
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Strong support for Ukraine means there is "little space" for European politicians to exploit pro-Russia foreign policy messages, a new study shows. Researchers have found widespread backing for Ukraine across the continent, and for policies that help the nation, such as imposing sanctions on Russia.

But public opinion is more mixed on the approach NATO should take and whether Ukraine should become a member.

Experts have found that European nations can be classified into three distinct groups. Citizens of Germany, France and Spain were "solid supporters" of Ukraine. Those in Italy and Hungary were "nearer the fence," while residents of Estonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden and the UK were "staunch supporters."

The study, by Catarina Thomson, Matthias Mader, Felix Munchow, Jason Reifler and Harald Schoen, is published in the journal International Affairs. Researchers analyzed public opinion data about the Ukraine war collected in February 2023 in France, Germany, the UK, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Finland and Sweden, Italy and Spain.

People in the UK were among the staunchest supporters of Ukraine, together with Eastern European nations and Finland and Sweden, who applied for NATO membership following the Russian invasion.

In a second group of countries, which includes France, Germany, and Spain, citizens also blamed Russia for the war and were strongly in favor of standing by Ukraine. A minority of voters believed Ukraine should be urged to accept territorial losses that could help end the war or that economic sanctions against Russia should be lifted.

In this second group of countries researchers found some pockets of pro-Russian sympathy in far-right populist parties, as well as among some groups of leftist parties with a history of close relations with the Soviet Union. Around half of supporters of Germany's Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) attributed some responsibility for the war to Ukraine, and 56% said they would urge Ukraine to concede some territory to Russia.

In a third group of countriesItaly and Hungarypeople supported Ukraine but remained "nearer the fence." More than 40% of Italians attributed some responsibility for the war to Ukraine, as did 55% of Hungarians. In contrast, 20% or less attributed some responsibility to Ukraine in the UK, Eastern European countries, Finland and Sweden, as did between 25% to 35% in France, Germany and Spain.

In all countries older people were more supportive of increasing NATO's troop presence in eastern Europe and admitting Ukraine to the alliance than are younger age groups.

People were more divided regarding policy options for NATO. In some countries, majorities supported both increasing NATO's presence in eastern Europe and Ukraine's admittance to NATO, while in others, majorities opposed these policies. This may reflect perceptions that such steps may lead to a deeper involvement of their country in the RussiaUkraine conflict.

Dr. Thomson said, "European citizens remain united in supporting the Ukrainian war effort. Failure to achieve military successes could however undermine this support. This might be particularly problematic in countries like Germany where the public is more skeptical, and where long-held non-militarist and isolationist sentiments remain.

"Russia may now be 'playing for time,' hoping war-weary publics will demand a conclusion to the war. There are reasons to think that such an approach on Russia's part is unlikely to work. Our findings suggest admitting Ukraine as a NATO member would be politically difficult."

More information: Catarina Thomson et al, European public opinion: united in supporting Ukraine, divided on the future of NATO, International Affairs (2023). DOI: 10.1093/ia/iiad241
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Graphic representation of a microstructured sample (red) for electrical measurements on unconventional superconductors. Gold and platinum are used for contacting. Electrons (green spheres) couple in pairs via vibrational or magnetic fluctuations. Credit: B. Schroder/ HZDR

Superconductivity is well understood in so-called "conventional" superconductors. More recent, however, are unconventional superconductors, and it is as yet unclear how they work.

A team from HZDR, together with colleagues from CEA, the Tohoku University in Japan, and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, has now explained why a new material continues superconducting even in extremely high magnetic fieldsa property that is missing in conventional superconductors. The finding has the potential to enable previously inconceivable technological applications. The study is published in Nature Communications.

"Uranium ditelluride, or UTe 2 for short, is a high-flyer among superconducting materials," says Dr. Toni Helm from the Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory (HLD) at HZDR. "As discovered in 2019, the compound conducts electricity without loss, however, in a different way than conventional superconductors do."

Since then, research groups around the world have become interested in the material. This includes Helm's team, which has come a step closer to understanding the compound.

"To fully appreciate the hype surrounding the material, we need to take a closer look at superconductivity," explains the physicist. "This phenomenon results from the movement of electrons in the material. Whenever they collide with atoms, they lose energy in form of heat. This manifests itself as electrical resistance. Electrons can avoid this by arranging themselves in pair formations, so-called Cooper pairs."

A Cooper pair describes two electrons combined at low temperatures to move through a solid without friction. They make use of the atomic vibrations around them as a kind of wave on which they can surf without losing energy. These atomic vibrations explain conventional superconductivity.

"For some years now, however, superconductors have also been known in which Cooper pairs are formed by effects that are not yet fully understood," says the physicist. One possible form of unconventional superconductivity is spin-triplet superconductivity, which is believed to make use of magnetic fluctuations.

"There are also metals in which the conduction electrons come together collectively," explains Helm. "Together, they can shield the magnetism of the material, behaving as a single particle withfor electronsan extremely high mass."

Such superconducting materials are known as heavy-fermion superconductors. UTe 2 , therefore, could be both a spin-triplet and a heavy-fermion superconductor, as current experiments suggest. Beyond this, it is the heavyweight world championto date, no other known heavy-fermion superconducts at similar or higher magnetic fields. This too was confirmed by the present study.

Extremely robust against magnetic fields

Superconductivity depends on two factors: The critical transition temperature and the critical magnetic field. If the temperature falls below the critical transition temperature, the resistance drops to zero and the material becomes superconducting. External magnetic fields also influence superconductivity. If these exceed a critical value, the effect collapses.

"Physicists have a rule of thumb for this," said Helm. "In many conventional superconductors, the value of the transition temperature in Kelvin is roughly one to two times the value of the critical magnetic-field strength in tesla. In spin-triplet superconductors, this ratio is often much higher."

With their studies on the heavyweight UTe 2 , the researchers have now been able to raise the bar even higher: At a transition temperature of 1.6 kelvin (271.55C), the critical magnetic-field strength reaches 73 tesla, setting the ratio at 45which is a record.

"Until now, heavy-fermion superconductors were of little interest for technical applications," explains the physicist. "They have a very low transition temperature and the effort required to cool them is comparatively high."

Nevertheless, their insensitivity to external magnetic fields could compensate for this shortcoming. This is because lossless current transport is mainly used today in superconducting magnets, for example in magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI) scanners. However, the magnetic fields also influence the superconductor itself.

A material that can withstand very high magnetic fields and still conduct electricity without loss would represent a major step forward.

Special treatment for a demanding material

"Of course, UTe 2 cannot be used to make leads for a superconducting electromagnet," says Helm. "First, the material's properties make it unsuitable for this endeavor, and second, it is radioactive. But it is perfectly suited for the exploration of the physics behind spin-triplet superconductivity."

Based on their experiments, the researchers developed a model that could serve as an explanation for superconductivity with extremely high stability against magnetic fields. To do this, they worked on samples with thicknesses of a few micrometersonly a fraction of the thickness of a human hair (approximately 70 micrometers). The radioactive radiation emitted by the samples, therefore, remains much lower than that of the natural background.

In order to obtain and shape such a tiny sample, Helm used a high-precision ion beam with a diameter of just a few nanometers as a cutting tool. UTe 2 is an air-sensitive material. Consequently, Helm carries out the sample preparation in a vacuum and seals them in epoxide glue afterwards.

"For the final proof that our material is a spin-triplet superconductor, we would have to examine it spectroscopically while it is exposed to strong magnetic fields. However, current spectroscopy methods still struggle at magnetic fields above 40 tesla. Alongside other teams, we are also working on developing novel techniques. Eventually, this will enable us to provide definitive proof," says Helm.

More information: Toni Helm et al, Field-induced compensation of magnetic exchange as the possible origin of reentrant superconductivity in UTe 2 , Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44183-1 Journal information: Nature Communications
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With an analysis of a global dataset of tree tissue, a team led by Penn State researchers demonstrated that the rate of photorespiration in trees is up to two times higher in warmer climates, especially when water is limited. They found the threshold for this response in subtropical climates, like this portion of the Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region, begins to be crossed when average daytime temperatures exceed roughly 68 degrees Fahrenheit and worsens as temperatures rise further. Credit: Warren Reed/Penn State

Trees are struggling to sequester heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in warmer, drier climates, meaning that they may no longer serve as a solution for offsetting humanity's carbon footprint as the planet continues to warm, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers.

"We found that trees in warmer, drier climates are essentially coughing instead of breathing," said Max Lloyd, assistant research professor of geosciences at Penn State and lead author on the study recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "They are sending CO 2 right back into the atmosphere far more than trees in cooler, wetter conditions."

Through the process of photosynthesis, trees remove CO 2 from the atmosphere to produce new growth. Yet, under stressful conditions, trees release CO 2 back to the atmosphere, a process called photorespiration. With an analysis of a global dataset of tree tissue, the research team demonstrated that the rate of photorespiration is up to two times higher in warmer climates, especially when water is limited.

They found the threshold for this response in subtropical climates begins to be crossed when average daytime temperatures exceed roughly 68 degrees Fahrenheit and worsens as temperatures rise further.

The results complicate a widespread belief about the role of plants in helping to draw downor usecarbon from the atmosphere, providing new insight into how plants could adapt to climate change. Importantly, the researchers noted that as the climate warms, their findings demonstrate that plants could be less able to draw CO 2 out of the atmosphere and assimilate the carbon necessary to help the planet cool down.

"We have knocked this essential cycle off balance," Lloyd said. "Plants and climate are inextricably linked. The biggest draw-down of CO 2 from our atmosphere is photosynthesizing organisms. It's a big knob on the composition of the atmosphere, so that means small changes have a large impact."

Plants currently absorb an estimated 25% of the CO 2 emitted by human activities each year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, but this percentage is likely to decrease in the future as the climate warms, Lloyd explained, especially if water is scarcer.

"When we think about climate futures, we predict that CO 2 will go up, which in theory is good for plants because those are the molecules they breathe in," Lloyd said. "But we've shown there will be a tradeoff that some prevailing models don't account for. The world will be getting warmer, which means plants will be less able to draw down that CO 2 ."

In the study, the researchers discovered that variation in the abundance of certain isotopes of a part of wood called methoxyl groups serves as a tracer of photorespiration in trees. You can think of isotopes as varieties of atoms, Lloyd explained. Just as you might have vanilla and chocolate versions of ice cream, atoms can have different isotopes with their own unique "flavors" due to variations in their mass.

The team studied levels of the methoxyl "flavor" of isotope in wood samples from about thirty specimens of trees from a variety of climates and conditions throughout the world to observe trends in photorespiration. The specimens came from an archive at the University of California, Berkeley, that contains hundreds of wood samples collected in the 1930s and '40s.

"The database was originally used to train foresters how to identify trees from different places around the world, so we repurposed it to essentially reconstruct these forests to see how well they were taking in CO 2 ," Lloyd said.

Until now, photorespiration rates could only be measured in real time using living plants or well-preserved dead specimens that retained structural carbohydrates, which meant that it was nearly impossible to study the rate at which plants draw down carbon at scale or in the past, Lloyd explained.

Now that the team has validated a way to observe photorespiration rate using wood, he said the method could offer researchers a tool for predicting how well trees might "breathe" in the future and how they fared in past climates.

The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is rapidly rising; it is already greater than at any time in the last 3.6 million years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But that period is relatively recent in geologic time, Lloyd explained.

The team will now work to unearth photorespiration rates in the ancient past, up to tens of millions of years ago, using fossilized wood. The methods will allow researchers to explicitly test existing hypotheses regarding the changing influence of plant photorespiration on climate over geologic time.

"I'm a geologist, I work in the past," Lloyd said. "So, if we're interested in these big questions about how this cycle worked when the climate was very different than today, we can't use living plants. We may have to go back millions of years to better understand what our future might look like."

Other authors on the paper are Rebekah A. Stein, Daniel A. Stolper, Daniel E. Ibarra and Todd E. Dawson of the University of California, Berkeley; Richard S. Barclay and Scott L. Wing of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and David W. Stahle of the University of Arkansas.

More information: Max K. Lloyd et al, Isotopic clumping in wood as a proxy for photorespiration in trees, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306736120
By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah

In bid to expedite crimes cases, the Commissioner of the Sierra Leone Police, Joseph Ibrahim Lahai has launched a five-day training programme for ten police officers on crime investigations including operating a forensic device.

The event took place at the Kingtom Police facility, Freetown on Monday 22nd January, 2024.

The ten officers selected from different units and departments in the Sierra Leone Police, are being trained by a Chinese Engineer named Huang.

Lahai appreciated China for helping his Directorate, noting that their equipment and programmes are funded by the taxes of the Chinese people.

He said crime scene investigations across the globe require appropriate equipment, adding that the equipment given by the Chinese government would be used efficiently in managing and responding to crime in the country.

As we are now using electronic devices in detecting crimes, the efficient use of the equipment will help standardize our operations to meet with international standards, Lahai said.

He encouraged the participants to make good use of the opportunity.

In his statement, the Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, Xu Peng recalled that the training was precipitated by the donation of the scientific devices last year by the Chinese government to the Sierra Leone Police.

Xu stated that the equipment are modern, and require expertise to be able operate them effectively. He said the Embassy saw the need to fly Huang from China to Sierra Leone, an expert in forensic operation, to train the police officers on the use of the equipment.

Copyright  2024 Politico (24/01/24)
Elon Musk is not entitled to landmark compensation package awarded by Teslas board of directors that is potentially worth more than $55 billion, a Delaware judge ruled Tuesday.

The ruling by Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick comes more than five years after a shareholder lawsuit targeted Tesla CEO Musk and directors of the company. They were accused of breaching their duties to the maker of electric vehicles and solar panels, resulting in a waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment for Musk.

The shareholder's lawyers argued that the compensation package should be voided because it was dictated by Musk and was the product of sham negotiations with directors who were not independent of him. They also said it was approved by shareholders who were given misleading and incomplete disclosures in a proxy statement.

Defense attorneys countered that the pay plan was fairly negotiated by a compensation committee whose members were independent, contained performance milestones so lofty that they were ridiculed by some Wall Street investors, and blessed by a shareholder vote that was not even required under Delaware law. They also argued that Musk was not a controlling shareholder because he owned less than one-third of the company at the time.

An attorney for Musk and other Tesla defendants did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

But Musk reacted to the ruling on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter that he owns, by offering business advice. Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware, he said. He later added, I recommend incorporating in Nevada or Texas if you prefer shareholders to decide matters.

Musk, who as of Tuesday topped Forbes list of the worlds richest people, had earlier this month challenged Teslas board to come up with a new compensation plan for him that would give him a 25% stake in the company. On an earnings call last week , Musk, who currently holds 13%, explained that with a 25% stake, he cant control the company, yet he would have strong influence.

In trial testimony in November 2022, Musk denied that he dictated terms of the compensation package or attended any meetings at which the plan was discussed by the board, its compensation committee, or a working group that helped develop it.

McCormick determined, however, that because Musk was a controlling shareholder with a potential conflict of interest, the pay package must be subject to a more rigorous standard.

The process leading to the approval of Musks compensation plan was deeply flawed, McCormick wrote in the colorfully written 200-page decision. Musk had extensive ties with the persons tasked with negotiating on Teslas behalf.

McCormick specifically cited Musk's long business and personal relationships with compensation committee chairman Ira Ehrenpreis and fellow committee member Antonio Gracias. She also noted that the working group working on the pay package included general counsel Todd Maron who was Musks former divorce attorney.

In fact, Maron was a primary go-between Musk and the committee, and it is unclear on whose side Maron viewed himself, the judge wrote. Yet many of the documents cited by the defendants as proof of a fair process were drafted by Maron.

McCormick concluded that the only suitable remedy was for Musk's compensation package to be rescinded. In the final analysis, Musk launched a self-driving process, recalibrating the speed and direction along the way as he saw fit, she wrote. The process arrived at an unfair price. And through this litigation, the plaintiff requests a recall.

Greg Varallo, a lead attorney for the shareholder plaintiff, praised McCormick's decision to reverse the absurdly outsized" Musk pay package.

The fact that they lost this in Delaware court, its a jaw dropper, said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives. Its unprecedented, a ruling like this. I think going in investors thought it was just typical legal noise and nothing was going to come out about it. The fact that they went head to head with Tesla and Musk and the board and voided this, its a huge legal decision.

During his trial testimony, Musk downplayed the notion that his friendships with certain Tesla board members, including sometimes vacationing together, meant that they were likely to do his bidding.

The plan called for Musk to reap billions if Tesla, which is based in Austin, Texas, hit certain market capitalization and operational milestones. For each incidence of simultaneously meeting a market cap milestone and an operational milestone, Musk, who owned about 22% of Tesla when the plan was approved, would get stock equal to 1% of outstanding shares at the time of the grant. His interest in the company would grow to about 28% if the companys market capitalization grew by $600 billion.

Each milestone included growing Teslas market capitalization by $50 billion and meeting aggressive revenue and pretax profit growth targets. Musk stood to receive the full benefit of the pay plan, $55.8 billion, only by leading Tesla to a market capitalization of $650 billion and unprecedented revenues and earnings within a decade.

Tesla has achieved all twelve market capitalization milestones and eleven operational milestones, providing Musk nearly $28 billion in stock option gains, according to a January post-trial brief filed by the plaintiffs attorneys. The stock option grants are subject to a five-year holding period, however.

Defense attorney Evan Chesler argued at trial that the compensation package was a high-risk, high-reward deal that benefitted not just Musk, but Tesla shareholders. After the plan was implemented, the value of the company, based in Austin, Texas, climbed from $53 billion to more than $800 billion, having briefly hit $1 trillion.

Chesler also said Tesla made sure that the $55 billion compensation figure was included in the proxy statement because the company wanted shareholders to know that this was a heart-stopping number that Mr. Musk could earn. (AP)
By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah

Giving updates about the ongoing treason trial following last Novembers failed coup, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohamed Tarawalley has said the process is not a vendetta.

Tarawalley was speaking at a press conference by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on 19th January this year at the Ministry of Justice, Freetown.

He said the accused were not arraigned based on personal vendetta, but on the evidences that they have against them.

He said the police obtained, and analysed the evidences that brought about charges such as treason, misprision, harbouring, and mutiny among others.

In order to fast track proceedings for the accused civilians, the Attorney General said the matter started at the Magistrate court and then to the High court. He informed the media that the treason trial against the accused civilians is to begin on 1st of February this year.

He said twenty-seven personnel of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces are facing Court Martial, while those serving currently in the Sierra Leone Police are in the civil court.

Thirty civilian suspects, seven police suspects, five military officers and four correctional service officers have been released, the Attorney General said, adding that twenty-seven military offers and thirteen civilians are currently standing trial.

Speaking about the offences of the accused military officers, Tarawalley said they are charged thirty-nine counts of various civil offences, as well as seven counts of mutiny, two counts of failure to suppress mutiny, seven counts of aiding the enemy, twenty-four counts of communicating with the enemy, two counts of stealing public property, and two counts of fraudulent misapplication of public service property.

For the civilians, he said they are charged with treason, murder, misprision of treason and harbouring.

On the 26th November last year, the Wilberforce Military Barracks Amoury was breached together with other key installations including Police Stations. The correctional centres for male and female inmates were forced open and the inmates freed. Eighteen loyal government security personnel mostly soldiers were killed.

Copyright  2024 (Politico (22/01/24)
By Chernor Alimamy Kamara

In his latest address to the nation on the 18th of January 2024, President Julius Maada Bio stated that the ongoing treason trial is not a political witch-hunt but one aimed at unraveling the truth behind the events of November 26, 2023.

He noted that at resumption of the trial of Former President Ernest Bai Koroma on January 17th, his lawyers made an application to the court to permit him to leave the jurisdiction temporarily for specialized medical reasons and the Attorney General vehemently opposed the application.

He said the principle of separation of powers enshrined in the countrys Constitution, is a matter entirely for the courts to determine. He stated that the courts have thus granted the application for the former President to depart from the country purely for specialized medical reasons, and his trial will be suspended for the duration of his absence.

Of course, it is important to note that this humanitarian gesture does not in any way detract from the seriousness of the ongoing trials, he said.

President Bio commended the Police and the Judiciary for their professionalism in handling this most important and delicate trial ever in the countrys history in the best interests of our nation and our justice system. He assured every Sierra Leonean and families of the victims of November 26 that the authorities shall get to the root cause of the matter and bring all those involved, to justice.

He promised to make concerted efforts toward stabilizing the economy and prioritizing foreign direct investments as pathways to revamping the critical sectors of the economy. He further assured of strengthening the legal and regulatory frameworks to make the country competitive for investments.

The President said that only a peaceful and secure country can present a fertile ground for investments and therefore called on everyone to invest in building peace and unity. He said Sierra Leone is a mosaic of diverse cultures, ethnicities, and traditions and that it is this diversity that enriches the heritage and makes everyone unique.

He further said that diversity should be seen as a source of strength, a wellspring of ideas that can propel towards a brighter future, and urged everyone to remember the importance of national pride as citizens embark on this journey towards national unity.

We are Sierra Leoneans, and our pride in our nation should fuel our collective efforts to overcome challenges and achieve greatness. Together, we can build a Sierra Leone that stands as a shining example of unity in diversity, he said.

The President in his address encouraged every Sierra Leonean to build bridges, not walls, and to celebrate the differences and find strength in shared aspirations. He assured that together, the country can forge a path towards a brighter and more prosperous Sierra Leone, where every Sierra Leonean is a stakeholder in the nation's success.

President Julius Maada Bio has been preaching peace and national cohesion since the November 26 failed coup insurrection in Freetown.

Copyright  2024 (Politico (22/01/24)
From Warren County Sheriffs Office: A New Jersey man was arrested by Warren County Sheriffs Department for drug possession on Thursday, Jan. 25.

Rafael DeJesus, 37 of Jersey City, New Jersey, was charged with one count of felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell and one count of felony third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

DeJesus was also charged with two counts of felony fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance for possessing one-eighth of an ounce or more of a narcotic drug.

Police said during a narcotics interdiction detail conducted by Warren County Sheriffs Office and New York State Police Community Stabilization Unit, DeJesus was found to be in possession of over seven grams of crack cocaine. He was also arrested for selling crack cocaine from a Warren County NEU investigation in December of 2023.

DeJesus was arraigned on all four felonies at Warren County CAP court, where he was released under supervision for a non-qualifying offense for bail.
As regional publisher for CNHI Newspapers, John Celestino was always there to lend a helping hand to his community.

He was always on the run from here to there and everywhere, said Russ Petrozzi, owner of Capital Cleaners in upstate New York, who recalled Celestino helping each year with an annual coat drive for local children.

He helped me immensely with Coats for Kids. He was always concerned about helping me make it a success for the kids.

Celestino, 63, a newspaper executive in New York and former Press of Atlantic City circulation and advertising executive, died Friday, a loss Petrozzi said left him totally devastated.

He was always concerned and tried to make Niagara Falls a better place, Petrozzi said. Everyone I know respected him and liked him, and hes going to be sorely missed by everyone.

New York state Assembly member Angelo Morinello, R-Niagara Falls, developed a strong friendship with Celestino over the years. He said the pair dined out together and engaged in frequent conversations that most often focused on family and life, not the state of affairs in Albany or the newspaper business.

We spun away from the media side, and we became personal friends, Morinello said. We would go to dinner, and we talked about food and family. I knew him as a person and as a human being, and I thought he was really and truly a good human being.

Morinello said it was clear to him that Celestino took great pride in his role as the publisher of the two Niagara County newspapers and several other publications in New York state and the Boston area.

He loved his paper. He loved his people. He worked his position to the best of his ability, which I think benefited everyone, Morinello said.

A Philadelphia native, Celestino had a passion for writing at an early age. He graduated from Temple University with a bachelors degree in communications and journalism and hoped to parlay his education into a career as a reporter.

After leaving college, he got his first newspaper job as a telemarketing sales representative at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

He planned to eventually move on to a position in the newspapers editorial department, but his knack for being a salesman kept him on the business side of the operation. He worked for the Inquirer in various sales and sales management positions for 14 years.

In 2003, he accepted a position at The Press of Atlantic City, where he spent 13 years working in the advertising department and as circulation director.

Keith Dawn, former publisher of The Press, said Celestinos infectious energy and enthusiasm, along with his natural leadership qualities, allowed him to be both friend and mentor to those he worked with.

Im trully devastated by Johns passing, Dawn said. John touched so many lives and will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

In the spring of 2017, Celestino was hired as publisher of the Union-Sun & Journal and the Niagara Gazette. He was later promoted to a regional executive post for the newspapers parent company, CNHI LLC.

In his capacity as regional executive, Celestino oversaw the operations of the Niagara Gazette, the Lockport Union Sun & Journal, the Plattsburgh Press Republican and multiple daily and weekly publications in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Donna Barrett, CNHI president and CEO, described Celestino as an accomplished and valued company executive.

John was a shining star for our company, and we are devastated, said Barrett. His positive energy was the driving force behind his success with the newspapers in his region. He brought out the best of everyone on his team, and I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. He was a kind, thoughtful, wonderful man who was devoted to this business.

Celestino lived in Lewiston. He is survived by two daughters, Andrea and Julia Celestino.
STONE HARBOR  After making headlines statewide and beyond with a 1,600% jump in the number of parking tickets written last spring, and pleas from business owners in the 96th Street downtown, Borough Council members are looking for options to avoid the same situation this year.

That could include returning to using parking kiosks where the borough charges for parking. Its not a perfect solution, according to borough Administrator Manny Parada.

All in all, returning parking kiosks would cost more than a half-million dollars, Parada told council members at a January meeting, while he estimates the parking revenue netted $343,711 last year.

Its not the best business plan Ive ever laid out, he said.

Council plans to take up the issue at a February meeting. The first is planned for Feb. 6, with a second Feb. 20.

To be determined before the tourists arrive in droves is whether Stone Harbor should rely on the same remote parking app it used last year, which helped drive a massive spike in parking violations; invest in other options for the parking public; or potentially do away with parking fees altogether, the way neighboring Avalon has avoided charging for parking.

Parada presented options, along with their drawbacks, to council members at the most recent meeting. Among the items for consideration was the potential to create a parking authority, which would take the matter out of the boroughs hands but offer new issues.

For one, he said, council would lose control of parking, and he added that parking authorities in New Jersey often have the power of eminent domain, meaning it could have the authority to take private property.

Under new system, Stone Harbors parking take matching last year About as many people are paying for parking as last year under a new system that uses smart phones instead of meters. But the number of tickets written remains way up.

Last year, citing rising maintenance costs for meters and parking kiosks, Stone Harbor turned to an entirely remote method to pay for parking, using an app called Park Mobile, a system used in several communities.

When parking fees went into effect for 2023 in May, police wrote 564 tickets, where there were 33 written the year before. As part of a report to council last year, Police Chief Thomas Schutta cited the ease of enforcement with the new system, which made it far more efficient for officers.

Indications from merchants and officials are that far fewer people paid for their parking spaces, possibly because they were confused by the new app, or did not realize they needed to pay.

Over the summer, Stone Harbor increased the number of signs in the 96th Street shopping area and elsewhere, reminding people they needed to pay for parking, and had ambassadors downtown to help people load and use the app properly.

Much of the discussion centered on the possibility of installing new kiosks that would allow people to use cash or credit cards to pay for parking.

But the question remains whether the new kiosks will be any easier, especially for older users who may be less familiar with technology.

The tech is not much different than the app, Parada said. If youre struggling with the app, I think youre going to struggle with the kiosks.

The best option for kiosks in the salt air of Stone Harbor uses a touch screen, he said. There also are issues with enforcement, he said, as the kiosks would use a different database than Park Mobile to track who has paid for parking, complicating matters for police.

Avalon gets Stone Harbor to hire more court help to handle overflowing calls on parking tickets There have been enough complaints about parking tickets to the municipal court Stone Harbor shares with Avalon that Avalon asked Stone Harbor to hire someone to handle the extra calls.

There again will be maintenance costs, he added, which the borough avoids with the app.

To cover the areas where the borough currently charges for parking would require 29 new kiosks, Parada said. Otherwise, visitors might need to walk much farther to reach the nearest kiosk, depending on where they park.

Each machine costs about $9,400, which would mean a total investment of close to $275,000, in addition to additional maintenance fees, collecting the cash and other expenses. In addition to indirect costs, the total would be well over $500,000, he said, which is a considerable investment.

Parada questioned who should pay the added expense, the taxpayers or the business owners. The borough also could consider raising the parking rates, saying the current cost is one of the lowest in the county at a quarter for 15 minutes.

While plans are to finalize the talks in February, there did not seem to be much support for the return of parking kiosks among officials.

Additional signs might make more visitors aware they needed to pay to park, but they will not make using the kiosks any easier than using the mobile app.

I mean, now youre just struggling at a kiosk, said Mayor Judith M. Davies-Dunhour. Short of going back to something you drop a coin in, what do we do?

The borough had assumed people would be able to figure out the app, and many didnt.

Stone Harbor parking app switch leads to 1,600% increase in tickets STONE HARBOR  With a switch to a parking app instead of meters, the borough saw a huge incr

A significant portion did, Parada said at the meeting. The number of tickets issued amounts to less than 2% of the successful transactions with the parking system.

A parking ticket in Stone Harbor will set you back $34. Last year, the number of fines amounted to $89,586. Stone Harbor officials maintain they were not interested in the revenue from parking tickets.

Council member Frank Dallahan asked whether the borough should just not write any tickets. Davies-Dunhour said the borough might as well not charge for parking.

That is a possibility on the table. Officials say the main reason the borough charges for parking in the downtown is to encourage turnover, so spaces are available for potential customers rather than being used by people heading to the beach or by downtown employees. If the borough might lose money on parking, maybe it should look for other options such as time limits for parking, council members said.

The parking is an issue for everyone, including the people who are trying to work here, council member Bunny Parzych said.
DES MOINES  A former congressional candidate from Mississippi who admitted to destroying a statue that was part of a display at the Iowa Capitol by The Satanic Temple Iowa has been charged with a hate crime.

Michael Cassidy, 36, from Lauderdale, Mississippi, initially was charged in December with fourth-degree criminal mischief, a serious misdemeanor. The charge carried a penalty of up to a year in jail and a $2,560 fine.

Cassidy, a Christian and former military officer, said in an interview with The Republic Sentinel that he tore down and beheaded a statue of Baphomet, a ram-headed figure often used to represent Satan, that was part of an altar erected inside the Capitol.

I saw this blasphemous statue and was outraged, Cassidy told the conservative website. My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted.

The Satanic Temple Iowa congregation issued a statement on Facebook saying its display had been destroyed beyond repair.

Court records show the Polk County Attorneys Office now is accusing Cassidy of a more serious crime. A charging document filed Friday and made public Tuesday charges Cassidy with felony third-degree criminal mischief committed "in violation of individual rights" under Iowa's hate crime statute.

Trial information filed by the Polk County Attorneys office states Cassidy intentionally damaged, defaced, altered, or destroyed the property belonging to The Satanic Temple, to-wit: a Baphomet Altar, the cost of replacing, restoring, or repairing of which exceeds $750 but less than $1,500, and furthermore, this act was done in violation of individual rights as set forth in Iowa Code section 729A.2.

Cassidy's attorney, Sara Pasquale, declined to comment Wednesday on the new charge.

The Satanic Temple has filed a damage estimate putting the cost to replace the statute at $3,000. The group is also requesting $3,299.55 in restitution for travel and security expenses for food, lodging, van rental, communications equipment and bullet proof vests that were a necessity in completing the task of removing our holiday display at the state capitol.

Glinda Vyn Cooley, a minister and congregation head for the organization, states in the court filing members felt the necessity to wear bullet proof vests due to online threats and public statements made by Cassidy.

We took a team of eight people in order to ensure safety when traveling to and from the capitol building, Cooley wrote. By the time our display was due to be removed, due to the defendant's statements on social and televised media, members of our congregation had been physically threatened online. We feel it is the defendant's responsibility to compensate us for expenses that we would not have incurred during a typical course of activity.

A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 7 in Polk County District Court to hear objections filed by Cassidys attorney over victim impact statements and statement of pecuniary damages filed by the Satanic Temple.

The display, which was permitted for two weeks under state rules that permit religious installations, has sparked outrage and national debate and calls from Republicans for its removal. Others have argued the display is religious expression protected by the First Amendment.

The installation drew strong criticism from state and national leaders, including Gov. Kim Reynolds and then-Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Cassidy has raised nearly $90,000 for his legal defense, according to crowdfunding site GiveSendGo. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 15, according to court records.
Thomas Gibbs, a lieutenant with the Scott County Sheriff's office, announced this week that he intends to run for the Democratic nomination for sheriff.

The primary will be June 4 and the general election will be Nov. 5.

Gibbs, of Bettendorf, has worked for the Scott County Sheriff's Office for 20 years.

He previously ran for the Republican nomination for Scott County Sheriff in 2016. Gibbs came in third in that race behind current Sheriff Tim Lane, who went on to win general election, too. Voters picked Lane again in 2020.

Lane announced his reelection bid Jan. 9 at the Republican Central Committee meeting, according to a Facebook post by the Scott County Republicans. Lane wrote in an email Tuesday he did plan to run for reelection and would send an official announcement in coming days.

Candidates running for county office must file their paperwork for the 2024 primary race between March 4 and March 22.

One other candidate, Chris Laye, announced nearly a year ago his intent to seek the Republican nomination for sheriff.

According to Gibbs' website, as sheriff he would seek accreditation for the office's law enforcement and correctional services, offer more training opportunities, and increase community engagement.

"I believe there are current deficiencies with our law enforcement policy manual which I would like to correct," Gibbs wrote in an email Wednesday morning. "Accreditation helps build community trust that we are doing the right things, and builds confidence in efficiency of government."

Gibbs served in the Air Force for more than five years as a law enforcement patrolman and working dog handler. He then worked for a private security company at the Library of Congress before joining the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., where he was a police officer until 2003.

Gibbs was hired by Scott County in 2004. He was promoted to major in October 2014 by former Sheriff Dennis Conard and now holds the rank of lieutenant under Lane.

Gibbs said before his 2014 promotion he was a Democrat, but Conard's offer was contingent upon changing political parties as the Chief Deputy is a political appointment.

"It was a learning opportunity I could not pass up," Gibbs said. "To honor him I chose to run as a Republican. Upon the unsuccessful campaign, I returned to the Democratic Party. I have felt the Democratic Party to be more inclusive in general."

He has served on the Emergency Services Team and as a firearms and implicit bias instructor.

Gibbs was born in Davenport and grew up in Coralville. Gibbs and his wife Heather have two children, and he serves on the Board of Directors for Ascentra Credit Union.
DES MOINES  Iowa House lawmakers approved bipartisan changes to a bill that would have allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to care for younger children unsupervised at child care centers.

Lawmakers amended House File 2056 to clarify that teenage child care workers would be allowed to watch younger children by themselves only to cover a brief absences of an adult staff member for no more than five minutes.

State Rep. Devon Wood, R-New Market, gave the example of covering bathroom breaks and allowing adult staff to briefly leave the room to grab supplies or snacks for children.

Proponents said the bill will help short-staffed child care centers have more flexibility. The original would have required the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to amend its administrative rules to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to care for infants and toddler up to age 5 at child care centers, without additional supervision, provided that at least two adults employed by the center were present.

Lawmakers in 2022 passed and Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation allowing child care centers the ability to hire 16- and 17-year-olds to work or substitute in their facilities without adult supervision, as long as they're caring for school-aged children. Previously, child care workers had to be 18 to work unsupervised.

Based on current state ratios, the bill would have allowed 16- and 17-year-old workers to care for up to four babies, seven 2-year-olds, 10 3-year-olds, or 12 4-year-olds by themselves in a classroom.

The House Health and Human Services Committee voted 20-1 to recommend passage of the bill as amended, making it eligible to debate and a vote by the full House. Rep. Austin Baeth, D-Des Moines, who declined to sign off on the bill in subcommittee, called the amendment a dramatic improvement from the original bill.

Lawmakers advance bill allowing cameras in nursing homes

The Iowa House Health and Human services committee advanced House File 537 that would allow families of nursing home residents to monitor their rooms using cameras that provide a live video feed. Advocates say the measure gives family members greater ability to monitor the safety of their relatives in nursing homes.

Rep. Joel Fry, R-Osceola, one of the bills sponsors, said concerns about privacy and confidentiality have made it difficult to pass the legislation in the past.

For residents who reside in a shared room, the roommate would have to agree to the use of the camera, and a notice posted to the door would alert visitors and staff.

And I am thankful that the lobby was willing to work with the Legislature in coming up with a compromise that works, I think, for all parties to make sure that the best health care for some of our most vulnerable is being provided.

Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, D-Waterloo, said the state still needs to better with the inspection and staffing of long-term care facilities in Iowa.

And I dont see those two issues improving in the near future, she said. So, therefore, I dont think the folks living in long-term care deserve to sacrifice for those system downfalls. So, at this juncture, I think this bill does a good job of protecting (seniors).

The bill is now eligible for debate by the full House.

House and Senate Judiciary advance several bills

The Iowa House and Senate Judiciary Committee approved a number of bills, most of which had bipartisan support and all of which are now eligible for debate by the full House or Senate.

The only bill that had divided political support was a requirement for businesses to use the E-Verify program to determine all employees are legal U.S. residents. That bill, Senate File 108, passed on the strength of Republican support. The rest of the bills passed by the committee were approved without objections:

Senate Study Bill 3099 would allow state legislators to file legal briefs when a state law passed by the Iowa Legislature is being challenged in the courts.

Senate Study Bill 3026 would increase penalties for swatting, when an individual calls public entities with fake warnings of criminal or violent activity in order to draw a response from law enforcement.

House File 2046 would enhance the penalties for providing or showing obscene material to a minor. It would raise the penalty from a serious misdemeanor to an aggravated misdemeanor.

House File 2048 would make it illegal to disseminate digitally altered pornographic images, or deepfakes, of a person without their consent. Deepfake porn involves creating fake sexually explicit media using someones likeness. Violators could be found guilty of first-degree harassment, an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison and a $8,540 fine.

House File 2049 seeks to close a loophole by stating pornography of children generated by artificial intelligence is sexual exploitation. The bill applies for a person who was a minor at the time the visual depiction was created, adapted or modified, or whose image as a minor was used in creating, adapting, or modifying the visual depiction and is recognizable as an actual person.

According to a new study, infants and toddlers in high-quality child care retain positive benefits longer, provided they are enrolled early enough According to a new study, infants and toddlers in high-quality child care retain positive benefits longer, provided they are enrolled early enough
Israeli commandos disguised as medical workers and Muslim women burst into a hospital in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday and killed three Palestinian militants, one of them lying paralyzed in bed, witnesses and authorities said.

The Israeli military said the three militants were killed in a joint undercover operation by the army, Shin Bet security service and border police in the Ibn Sina hospital in Jenin, one of the most volatile cities in the West Bank.

The military identified one of the men as Mohammad Walid Jalamna, a Hamas member who, it said, was planning an attack inspired by the Hamas-led rampage across Gaza's border into Israel on Oct. 7. A pistol was recovered, the military said.

The military said the two others, the brothers Basel Al-Ghazzawi and Mohammad Al-Ghazzawi, belonged to the Jenin Brigade and the armed wing of Islamic Jihad.

The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the deaths and called on the United Nations to guarantee protection for health centers. "The occupation is committing a new massacre inside hospitals," it said in a statement.

CCTV footage from the hospital showed a group of about 10 people, dressed variously in civilian clothes and medical garb and including three in headscarves and women's clothing, pacing through a corridor, armed with assault rifles.

"We do not want to turn hospitals into battlefields, with patients on the right and doctors and nurses on the left, and terrorists in the middle," Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi told troops near Gaza.

"But we are even more determined not to allow hospitals in Gaza, Judea and Samaria, Lebanon, above ground or in tunnel shafts and tunnels under hospitals, to become a place that is a cover for terrorism," he said, using the Hebrew biblical term for the West Bank.

The hospital's director, Dr. Naji Nazzal, said the Israeli team entered the hospital at around 5:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) and made its way stealthily to the third floor, ringing the bell to enter the ward where the men were sleeping.

"They executed the three men as they slept in the room," he told Reuters. "They executed them in cold blood by firing bullets directly into their heads in the room where they were being treated."

Hours later, a bloodied blue hospital pillow pierced by a bullet remained on a bed, while a folding bed nearby was also stained with blood, apparently from a shot to the head.

Nazzal said Basil Ayman Al-Ghazzawi had been receiving treatment since Oct. 25 for a spinal injury that paralyzed him.

The Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad militant group said the Al-Ghazzawi brothers were members of its armed wing, while Hamas confirmed that Jalamna belonged to its Al Qassam Brigade.

The Israeli military said the three had been hiding in the hospital and said it was "another example of the cynical use of civilian areas and hospitals as shelters and human shields by terrorist organizations." Hamas has denied such allegations.

The dramatic operation in the early hours of the morning was the latest in a series of incidents in the West Bank, which has seen an explosion of violence since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and the subsequent invasion of Gaza by Israel.

Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank, has witnessed some of the biggest clashes, with repeated Israeli attacks on the densely packed Palestinian refugee camp adjoining the city.

Thousands of mourners poured into the streets of the camp during the day as the three men killed in the raid were buried. (Reuters)
Editors note: This article has been updated to reflect the fact that the workshop was not an emergency meeting and was never closed to the public. It was open to the public. The board approved on January 8th to hold the workshop on January 29, 2023.

The Meade School District held a meeting Monday in Sturgis to discuss the possible relocation of Whitewood Elementary fifth graders to Sturgis Williams Middle School.

The session was originally intended to be a workshop meeting, but many parents and community members decided to attend after word spread that the school board was meeting to discuss the possibility of moving the fifth-grade class.

The meeting was packed with attendees. Minutes before the meeting began, extra chairs were brought in to accommodate the overflow of people, but it was standing room only by the opening of the meeting.

Im sure most of you are here for the Whitewood topic, said board president Charlie Wheeler, acknowledging the presence of those in the room.

Two dozen people signed up to speak at the meeting, each given three minutes, all echoing the same point  leave the fifth graders at the elementary school.

An open forum was held in the beginning, but no discussion was made by the board in regards to anyones comments. Anyone hoping to discuss the issue was directed to schedule a meeting with any of the board members, or with Meade School District Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt, at a later date.

Kelly Weis-Schultz had homeschooled her children for three years, then after careful consideration enrolled them at Whitewood Elementary.

My children have not only been living but thriving at this school, Weis-Schultz said, addressing the school board. She mentioned the high marks and achievements that Whitewood has obtained over the years, and how parents are driving kids from all the way out in Deadwood, and other places across the county to attend Whitewood.

This school is incomparable. If we wanted our kids to go to Sturgis we would already be there, said Weis-Schultz. Then she questioned whether the move was purely a financial decision.

I dont see how this would be beneficial, she said. Whitewood Elementary is a perfect example of what education should look like."

Whitewood is a small school, consisting of only one class per grade, but their testing and achievements have been exceptional.

In 2008, Whitewood Elementary received the Blue Ribbon Award. Just five years prior, the school was placed on academic probation due to inefficient test results. In 2022, Whitewood was listed as one of the National Elementary and Secondary Education Act distinguished schools. The award is given to schools that outperform the average in math and English. U.S. News & World Report currently ranks Whitewood as the 55th best elementary school in South Dakota, out of 524 elementary schools across the state, including 468 public elementary schools and 56 private schools.

Jody Wesberg, a former student, took to the podium.

I received an excellent education, and that started in Whitewood, she said. There are two sides to this story, but why do we continue to downsize as this area continues to grow? Whitewood is exceptional.

Brandi Pickering, a mother of two children, said, The level of support that they give there (at Whitewood) is incomparable. I dont think finances or socialization is more important than education.

One after another, parents, current and former students spoke up as they pleaded with the Meade School Board to keep the fifth grade at the small elementary school.

School Board Member Megan Snyder spoke near the end of the comments, informing those in attendance that there would not be a decision made about moving the fifth grade yet.

There is no decision that will be made tonight, just to be clear, she said.

Will Johnson, a father of four, said, I think that the showing you have tonight, even though it's preliminary, speaks volumes of how important this is to us. This is healthy.

Johnson continued, We should shed light on the excellence that is happening at that school. It sends a poor message when you want to start cutting out excellence."

Jeremy Michael's family moved to the Black Hills from Georgia eight years ago. First they lived in Rapid City, then they moved to Sturgis but made the drive every day to take their children to Whitewood for the quality of education.

The drive was three hours round trip, but it was worth it, he said, becoming emotional. Everything is so special in Whitewood, and we made the decision to home-school our children by the time they reached middle school. As someone that was bullied in middle school, its such a fragile and precious time for children  dont take that away from them.

Wormstadt made it clear that he is very pro school choice, but tough decisions have to be made at times for the best of the district and not everyone will be pleased with the choices.

Vice-President of the Meade School District Board, Justin Jutting, spoke after the public forum, noting the great scores of Whitewood.

When it comes to testing, Sturgis and Whitewood are very similar to one another, but when the state aggregates that data it skews it a little." But Jutting agreed that the small school setting does make a difference.

Between budgets and the possible change to teacher salaries coming out of the legislature, if HB 1048 is passed, the board thinks it will add some stress on the school system financially. As of now, Meade County Schools is currently in good financial shape, but that could change over the next several years, depending on enrollment.

This puts us in a tight pickle, Wormstadt said. The pickle the legislature is putting us into is  how do we take care of all of our employees?

We will have the designated requirements to meet our budget without any staff reductions, Wormstadt said, How do we do a better job of planning two or three years out?

The issue of student per teacher ratio, with how much funding the district receives per pupil determines many choices that are made, including moving Whitewood's fifth grade to Sturgis.

Whitewood doesnt balance even, Wormstadt said on the cost of the school based on the number of students for the amount of money the school district receives per student.

In a presentation after the public comments, it was revealed that Meade School District doesnt have to move fifth grade away from Whitewood for FY25, that it could wait until FY26 but would most likely be inevitable by then.

The board and administration stressed that it was smart to have a forward plan with a minimum of two years advance to prepare for student opportunities or reduction of opportunities.

After it was revealed that no vote would be taken on the fate of Whitewood, those in attendance turned their concern to the fact that the meeting seemed almost secretive, only giving parents notice of the meeting the Friday evening before.

Jutting tried to clear up any misunderstanding.

I want to make sure were being good stewards to our district, Jutting said, so we have to do a better job at delivering that information.

Im sorry it came as a surprise. Im sorry social media took it to where it did, Wheeler said. Were not trying to do anything behind anyones back  and which in this day and age seems to be prevalent. That is not how this board operates. But there are conversations that we will have to have, and some of them will not be pleasant.

Wormstadt stressed the importance of good communication and having conversations in public to keep an open forum, not just in meetings, but across social media, and conversations across the community.

Realistically the cost saving (for moving fifth grade) would be two or three years out, and it would be about efficiency and alignment as the district enrollment changes but the cost savings is not much, Wormstadt said to parents in attendance. No one wants to be in this position, but we have to plan ahead."

Mrs. Olsen, the fifth grade teacher at Whitewood Elementary, received a standing round of applause when recognized by the board.

Its possible that a decision could be made about moving the fifth grade from Whitewood to Sturgis at the February meeting, but it could be as late as March or April.
Digital marketing is the cornerstone of marketing in the 21st century. As social media evolves, search engines become smarter, and the internet becomes more integrated into our daily lives, it is crucial for businesses to stay on top of the hottest digital marketing trends.

Marketing is largely a digital field, expressed Natalia Kuvelas, Marketing Manager of Custom Goods. Consistent social media engagement, a functional and optimized website, and targeted ads are the key to making your business known in the digital age.

With 2024 underway, here is a review of the digital marketing strategies that have been on the rise, with all signs pointing toward continual success.

1. Post Consistently on Social Media

Social media is a hub for discovery and relationship building in the digital age. Many people check social media daily, if not multiple times a day. Posting consistently on social media allows your business to be recognized and remembered by your audience.

Social media is at the center of any strong marketing strategy, explained Ryan Rottman, Co-Founder and CEO of OSDB. Posting consistent, engaging content is necessary to build brand recognition and a positive reputation.

When you post consistently, consumers are able to engage with your business frequently. That way, when it's time to shop, they think of your business before your competitors.

2. Partner With Content Creators

Trust is essential to a strong marketing strategy. Your customers need to trust the legitimacy and quality of your business in order to engage consistently with what you offer. Partnering with content creators helps your business establish trust with an audience who may have not heard of your business before.

Content creators are your key to building trust and reputability on social media, offered Maggie Brown, Founder and CEO of Recess Pickleball. They already have an established relationship with their audience. When they endorse your business, their audience can build your business into that relationship.

Beyond just extending the reach of your marketing campaign, partnering with content creators helps your business build a strong network of reliable and consistent customers.

3. Post Content That Encourages Engagement

Simply posting photos of your product or flashy infographics isnt enough to bring consistent traffic to your profiles. Make sure your content is engaging for your audience and brings value to their feed so that you stand out among the crowd.

Content that poses a question or has a direct call to action tends to get the most traction, Greg Hannley, Founder and CEO of Soba Texas expressed. Engaging content catches better in the algorithm, which means your content will not only get more interaction from your audience, but it will also be pushed out to more people.

Before you post on your businesss social media pages, consider asking yourself, is this content engaging, educational, or exciting? Does this post bring value to my audience? If you answer yes, then youre on the right track to building a captivating online presence for your brand!

4. Set Up a Social Shopping Page

Social shopping pages are digital storefronts integrated into social media platforms. Social shopping is seeing a huge rise in popularity, as it allows a streamlined process for discovering and purchasing a product all in one place.

The nature of social commerce impacts shopping behaviors and product discovery, Rachel Autumn Lee, co-founder of Prism Bags, told Forbes in 2022. The seamless and single path to purchase from a social media app allows for quicker purchases and easier sharing of new products between friends.

Set up a social shopping page to help boost your product to a wider spread audience while building an easier shopping process for your customers.

5. Optimize Your Website for Speed and Ease

Your website is the heart of your businesss online presence. It is the reference point for the rest of your digital marketing, so it's important that your website is set up to run quickly and easily.

Your business website is one of the strongest selling points for your credibility and professionalism, explained Max Schwartzapfel, CMO of Schwartzapfel Lawyers. A fast, easy-to-use, and beautiful website says I care about customer experience and is an effective way to demonstrate your aesthetic strengths.

Consider running an audit on your website to make sure there are no broken links or bulky files that slow or interrupt the customer experience. A streamlined and intuitive experience on your website can be key to bringing in customer engagement.

6. Build Consistent Brand Identity Across Platforms

Your brand identity is the elements that identify and distinguish your brand in the consumers mind. Its important to develop a consistent and clear identity across platforms, so customers can recognize your business easily.

Consistency is key to building a strong and recognizable brand identity, said Andrew Chen, Chief Product Officer of CommentSold, a company that helps brands expand their reach with Shopify live selling. Your business should have a clear visual identity, tone of voice, and general aesthetic that is uniquely yours.

Taking the time to build a consistent and thorough brand identity can really help build brand recognition. With a loud and busy digital space, its important to make your business stand out with an eye-catching and clear brand identity.

7. Optimize Your Website for Search Engines

Search engine optimization brings organic search traffic to your website. You can optimize your website for search engines by using relevant keywords on your page, creating intuitive URLs, and having an easy-to-use navigation system.

In a 2022 Forbes article, Geoff Crain, the senior director of sales and marketing at Kingstar Media, stated, Creating and maintaining a strong SEO strategy can help ensure that a brand is being seen by the right audiences, and its a cost-effective method to drive traffic, leads, and sales.

SEO is a key component of any successful marketing strategy. Ranking on Google or other search engines for a relevant search query can bring in a new set of consumers looking for what you offer. Plus, it's a free marketing tool that can be extremely effective.

8. Retarget Shoppers Who Abandoned Their Carts

Shoppers who abandon their carts are great leads for future engagement. They have already shown interest in your business by filling a cart and could be incentivized to return with a little nudge.

An abandoned cart is lead gold. A shopper who finds your website, searches through your products and services, and builds a cart is highly likely to return to your business, even if they didnt go through with the purchase right away, explained Roman Peysakhovich, CEO of Cleango, a company known for their commercial cleaning services.

Retarget shoppers who abandoned their carts with direct emails or personalized messages asking them to come back. Consider offering small deals to bring these customers back around to your business.

9. Analyze Consumer Behavior and Engagement

Reviewing the numbers around consumer behavior and engagement is an often-forgotten part of marketing. However, understanding your consumers is key to building a successful marketing strategy  and you cant understand your consumers without analyzing the data you have at hand.

Its crucial to understand your target audience, what they want, and how they find it, Amanda Howland, Co-Founder of ElleVet Sciences shared. Taking the time to analyze consumer behavior and trends in engagement will allow you to fine-tune a targeted and effective marketing strategy.

Consider reviewing your analytics data, like the keywords youre ranking for and the most popular pages on your website, to better understand your target audience.

10. Create Targeted Ads

Targeted ads are personalized ads based on consumer behavior. They allow you to personalize your ads for the unique patterns and interests of each individual consumer.

Every person has a unique set of interests and needs. Targeted ads help you create a personalized marketing strategy that focuses on what your business offers that the consumer actually wants, stated Asker Ahmed, Director of iProcess Global Research.

Targeted ads allow the consumer to feel seen and help them better understand how your business fits into their lives. A consumer who frequently watches and engages with videos of cats, for example, may be more likely to engage in your pet supply business through a targeted ad with a photo of a cat than a generic ad with another pet.

11. Reach Your Audience With Direct Email Campaigns

While much of marketing is focused on bringing in new customers, it is also important to engage with and acknowledge the customers who are already shopping with your business. Sending updates and exclusive offers to your regular audience through email can be a useful marketing tool to build a returning customer base.

Enticing your audience with exclusive savings and opportunities delivered directly to their inbox is a powerful strategy, said Cody Candee, Founder and CEO of Bounce. It not only enhances brand recognition but also motivates repeat customers, creating a sense of value for those who have purchased from you before."

You can show your return customers how much you value them by reaching out to them directly with special offerings and updates.

Bring in New Business With a Strong Marketing Strategy

A strong marketing strategy is key to bringing in business. With these tips and tools, you will be better able to stand out among the crowd and boost your business online! Consider fine-tuning your digital marketing strategy this year to see new engagement and opportunities for your business.

Lee Enterprises newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content.
Though he did not outright commit to it, Congressman Matt Rosendales Truth Tour with Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz across Montana over the weekend did little to quiet the notion that the eastern Montana Republican will decide to face off in a primary for the U.S. Senate seat with Tim Sheehy this year.

The two members of the House Freedom Caucus, the right-wing arm of the Republican U.S. House caucus, made appearances in Bozeman, Townsend, Helena and Joliet Friday and Saturday in what they told supporters was an effort to get out their messaging and take the temperature of Montanans about who they want representing them at the federal level after Novembers election. Rosendale teased the tour last week on Steve Bannons podcast, where he also hinted at a possible Senate run.

While both danced around the long-rumored Senate run, Gaetz occasionally hinted that Rosendale would indeed file to run against Sheehy  who is backed by the Steve Daines-chaired National Republican Senatorial Committee, Rep. Ryan Zinke, Gov. Greg Gianforte  though Rosendale maintained that a final answer was still up in the air.

I will tell you the overwhelming support that weve had now in Bozeman, stopped in little old Townsend, and here in Helena. Were going to go to Joliet this evening. If the overwhelming support continues, then I will tell you, it heavily influences my decision, Rosendale said in response to a question from a member of the audience who asked directly if hes running for Senate.

Gaetz followed up by saying hed come all the way up from Florida for the very reason to recruit (Rosendale) in this race. He said someone in Bozeman had asked about the NRSC and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., supporting Sheehy in the race.

Gaetz told the crowd he thought Montanans lived here because they didnt like being told what to do but added that Rosendale would need financial support in order to beat Sheehy and what they called the establishment if Rosendale indeed decides to run.

If he runs for the Senate, hes going to get out-spent. I know that. But if you guys can put some resources into his congressional campaign now, we can build up a war chest that is sufficient just to tell our story, just to tell the truth, Gaetz said.  I always say, money is the mothers milk of politics. And Rosendale is thirsty.

More than 100 people showed up to the event with Rosendale and Gaetz at the Broadwater Hot Springs in Helena around midday Saturday, including current and former lawmakers and several candidates for office. Some people provided donations upon entering the event.

After an introduction from Rosendales son, former Republican state House Rep. Adam Rosendale, the two congressmen addressed the crowd for about 40 minutes  talking primarily about their efforts to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and to move the Republican House caucus further to the right, but also at times focusing on what they say are the establishment Republicans working against them on issues like the border and Republican elections.

Oftentimes, those battle lines arent just red shirt versus blue shirt, Republicans versus Democrats. Often, its the corrupt establishment against the rest of us, Gaetz said. You heard my buddy talk about how we sent a shock to that system in January, and then again more recently. But Ill confess that I have an ulterior motive to be on this tour. Because nothing would send a shock to the corrupt system in Washington, D.C., more than parachuting Matt Rosendale into the United States Senate.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., (left) and Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Montana, (right) speak to a crowd in Helena as part of their Truth Tour in Montana on Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Rosendale and Gaetz mostly stuck to the topics theyve hit hardest lately  the border and a deal between Senate Republicans and Democrats coming together which the Freedom Caucus opposes in favor of a government shutdown; fentanyl; a balanced federal budget and reduced spending; outrage over the Biden administrations attempt to hire tens of thousands of IRS agents to keep better track of tax filings and collections, and their efforts to get a more right-wing House Speaker in place.

The two drew raucous applause when Gaetz noted that people had called this session of Congress the least effective in years in terms of the number of bills that passed. They also said they supported the U.S. completely severing ties with the United Nations.

After the event, Rosendale and Gaetz fielded questions from the Daily Montanan and another reporter about what a potential Senate race looks like should Rosendale decide to jump in during the next few weeks, which would be just months until the June 4 primary.

Sheehy announced his campaign last June and reportedly raised $2.45 million in the final quarter of 2023, ending the year with $1.3 million cash on hand, according to Fox News. Rosendales Congressional campaign reported having $1.7 million cash on hand at the end of September. But Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, reported $13 million in cash on hand at the end of the third quarter and raised another $5 million in the final quarter, his campaign said last week.

But the financial and advertising battle has already been underway for months, with groups airing ads both promoting and attacking Sheehy and Tester across digital, TV and radio platforms, and with many more to come.

Politico reported Monday the Senate Majority PAC, which is focused on supporting Democrats in Senate races, placed ad reservations worth $27 million in Montana set to start running this summer.

Just hours later, NBC News reported the Senate Leadership Fund, the top political action committee supporting Republicans in Senate races, had reserved $24.6 million in Montana, while an aligned PAC, American Crossroads, reserved $23.3 million worth of ad buys, for close to $50 million on anticipated spending. The outlet reported those ads would start running Sept. 3 and go through Election Day.

And HuffPost reported last week that Senate Majority PAC was behind Last Best Place PAC, which has spent more than $5 million on ads targeting Sheehy.

The political spending on that race alone is expected to shatter every Montana political fundraising record, as the Senate seat is expected to be one of a few that could determine whether the Democrats hold, or Republicans take back, the majority in the chamber. Tester has held the seat since 2007, and defeated Rosendale in the 2018 race by 3.5 percentage points.

Rosendale told the two reporters at his event Saturday that Democrats were not supporting him and his campaign, and said he was unfazed by any advertising that has already occurred no matter which office he runs for because his conservative strategy has already won him elections before.

Its not always about dollars. It is about ideas, and people around this state and around this country are starving for someone to listen to them and then to actually serve the way that they campaign, Rosendale said.

Gaetz said he was campaigning with Rosendale to continue to push back on who he called shills of the establishment, naming McConnell by name. Sheehy has recently received endorsements from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, and acted as a surrogate for former President Donald Trump at the Iowa caucuses.

Mitch McConnell has a candidate in the Montana Senate race, and it isnt Matt Rosendale. And thats why Im here, Gaetz said. Because Id rather win with Matt Rosendale at 55% of the vote than with Tim Sheehy with 59% of the vote. Because only one of those outcomes gets us a rock-ribbed conservative in the Senate.

The two said they had seen the favor for their brand of Republicanism grow during the past year, using each vote on a debt-ceiling package as an example, and more House Republicans are speaking out against the forthcoming border deal between the Senate and White House, which new House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said Monday was a non-starter because the Freedom Caucus only wants a package that prohibits any illegal border crossings.

Rosendale said that shutting down the government instead is the only leverage we have to force President Joe Biden into signing legislation or an executive order more aligned with what their caucus wants.

As to whether the group is taking direction from Trump on the border issue, as some Republican senators have said, Rosendale said he would not discuss his talks with the former president. Asked if Trump might be involved in down-ballot races this year, he said: I guess we shall see.

Rosendale said if he does decide to get into the Senate race, he will make an endorsement in the 2nd Congressional District race, where a host of Republicans have already declared  including some who said they would drop out if Rosendale chooses to run for re-election instead of the Senate.

And as some Republican candidates in Montana fight to show they support Trumps policies more than other Republican candidates, Rosendale said he has steadfastly stood by Trump, while others have not.

I went to Mar-a-Lago when Alvin Bragg indicted Donald Trump so I could stand beside him. I voted against the electors from Arizona and from Pennsylvania because I saw that there was legitimate claims of voter fraud and of individual elected officials making changes in how the election was conducted without the authorization of those legislators, Rosendale said. Thats how you show that youre a Trump conservative.

Editors note: This story has been updated to correct that Speaker Mike Johnson is from Louisiana.
Whats in a number?

For many in Richmond, 804 is not just an area code, but a point of pride. However, the region has adopted a sibling number into the family.

Some customers in the 804 area code overlay region will be assigned a 686 area code when requesting a new service or an additional phone line. That area includes parts of central Virginia, the Northern Neck and the Middle Peninsula.

Population growth coupled with increasing demands for phones resulted in the eventual exhaust of available 804 numbers. The State Corporation Commission approved the overlay plan in November 2022 following a proposal from the North American Numbering Plan Administrator. The plan took effect Thursday.

Currently, the 804 area includes Richmond, Ashland, Charles City, Chesterfield, Columbia, Hague, Henrico, New Kent, Petersburg, Reedville and Water View. The 686 area code will encompass each of those areas alongside 804.

Phone numbers will remain the same for those with 804 area codes, but 686 numbers will be given out after all the available 804 numbers are taken. For local calls, 686 customers will need to dial 10 digits just as 804 customers do, and dial 1 plus the 10 digits for long distance calls.

The SCC said in a statement that it expects the 804 numbers to run out during the third quarter of 2024, but does not anticipate a rush for people to grab the remaining numbers.

The price of a call, coverage area or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay, and customers can still dial 911 for emergency services and 988 for the suicide and crisis lifeline, according to the statement.

The 686 area code is another example of our regions impressive growth and with its introduction, were excited to welcome new people and businesses to our community, Jack Berry, president and CEO of Richmond Region Tourism said.

While the 804 is beloved among people who live here and builds community pride, our area code doesnt necessarily resonate with visitors who are drawn to our diversity and award-winning restaurant scene, attractions and outdoor activities, he added. One moniker that both residents and visitors are enthusiastic about is the distinctive RVA. We enjoy local and national enthusiasm for the popular RVA brand and expect that to grow in the years to come.

Identifying with a community

Communities across the country use area codes in their branding, such as 305 in Miami, 313 in Detroit and 504 in New Orleans. People sport area code tattoos to represent their hometowns; businesses and events use area codes in their names; and cities host festivals that honor area code numbers.

Nader Hagez, owner of Bistro 804 in the Tuckahoe area, was trying to come up with a name when a friend suggested adding the 804 part as something that would stick even if the restaurant changed locations.

The 804, to us, keeps it local and a friendly reminder of a neighborhood bar, Hagez said. Every day, everyone uses that number.

A number of other local businesses have also used the number as an identifier, such as the Cafe 804 food truck, 804jewelry in Colonial Heights and the Modern 804 vintage store in the Stratford Hills neighborhood.

Last year, Richmond held its inaugural 804 Day on Aug. 4. The block party in Shockoe Bottom featured musicians, artisans and vendors from Richmond and other parts of central Virginia.

Our idea of it is to celebrate local Richmond music, said Rebecca Phillips, program recreation supervisor for Richmond Parks & Recreation. Its really more about 804 being an area, not an area code.

Numerical changes in Virginia

In 1947, AT&T established the original 86 area codes in the U.S., with the entire state of Virginia beginning with 703. The first area code split within the commonwealth occurred in 1973, when the portion of the state stretching from Danville to the Eastern Shore took on the 804 number.

The Eastern Shore and most of Hampton Roads switched from 804 to 757 in 1996 and added a 948 overlay in 2022. The region that includes Danville, Lynchburg and Charlottesville added the 434 area code in 2001.

In certain cases, such as the 540 area code (northwest Virginia) adding an 826 overlay and 757 adding a 948 overlay, NANPA declared jeopardy on the regions, meaning the supply of old numbers was in danger of running out before the new overlays became available.

With Thursdays implementation of 686, NANPA will avoid declaring jeopardy on the 804 area code, which would have placed interim procedures in effect.

Long-term effects

While 686 does not lend itself to simple branding in terms of a specific time or a month/day combination, time will tell if it develops its own niche years or even decades down the road.

An SCC spokesperson said the new area code is not likely to impact existing businesses that can keep their 804 numbers, but the impact on businesses that end up with 686 numbers remains to be seen.

Hagez said that while younger generations might not think twice about the new area code, others of a certain age will have a more difficult time adjusting to the change.

When they changed the Suffolk and Norfolk area to 757, I remember it being offsetting; it just didnt seem right, Hagez said. I think for the ones that are used to the 804, I dont think well ever get used to it.

Phillips viewpoint is that people will not get too bent out of shape about the change, noting that many people in Richmond are transplants who keep their old area codes on their cellphones.

Now, I think if you wanted to change RVA, that would ruffle some feathers, Phillips said. But I dont think the area codes going to change that much anytime soon.

From the archives: 65 photos of Richmond in the 1930s
A percentage of people who suffer cognitive decline likely have undiagnosed liver disease, not dementia, according to a study that a Virginia Commonwealth University-led research team published Wednesday.

The upside of having liver disease and not Alzheimers is that slowing mental capacity can be treated and reversed. One patient who was in a nursing home recovered so well he began driving again.

In a study of 177,000 patients with symptoms of dementia over 10 years, roughly 1 in 10 had undiagnosed cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver, according to the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open.

The results should change the way doctors think about diagnosing dementia, said Dr. Jasmohan Bajaj, the studys lead author.

We need to expand our horizons when we look at patients with dementia, he said.

Liver disease has long been linked to brain dysfunction. When cirrhosis causes mental decline, the condition is known as hepatic encephalopathy, or H.E.

The livers job is to rid the body of toxins. When the liver ceases to function, those toxins travel to the brain, causing confusion or delirium. Without treatment, patients can fall into a coma or die.

As the causes of cirrhosis increase, liver disease has become a growing problem in the United States. Obesity, alcoholism, hepatitis B and C and auto immune disorders can contribute to a loss of liver function.

But H.E. can be treated with relative ease. Doctors often prescribe a laxative or antibiotic to rid the body of the toxin.

A major complicating factor of liver disease is that many patients dont know they have it. It can spread for years without displaying symptoms. If the patients first symptom of liver disease is cognitive decline, a doctor can easily mistake it for incurable dementia.

Liver disease only comes to our attention when they actually have a complication, which is a little too late, Bajaj said.

177,000 patients studied at hospitals

Years ago, Bajaj analyzed a patient who had been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. The man was 71 years old, had tremors and hallucinations and could not remember his birthday. Doctors diagnosed him with Parkinsons disease.

But when he came to the emergency room with abdominal pain, health care providers discovered cirrhosis in his liver. After he was treated for H.E., his memory made a stunning return. Another patient with a similar condition had been in a nursing home. After he was treated for H.E., he was able to resume driving.

It boggles my mind that there could be other patients like this, Bajaj said.

To find out how many, he and his team studied 177,000 patients at Veterans Affairs hospitals who suffered cognitive decline but had not been diagnosed with cirrhosis. The study, which collected data from 2009 to 2019, is believed to be the first of its kind.

Roughly 1 in 10 patients in the study had a lab test that indicated cirrhosis. About half of patients who have cirrhosis develop the cognitive decline known as H.E., meaning somewhere between 5% and 10% of the patients in the study likely had treatable liver disease.

Last year, Bajajs team conducted a follow-up study at the Richmond VA Medical Center, where they analyzed an additional 80 veterans who had possible dementia. Again, about 1 in 10 displayed a lab result indicating liver disease.

Cirrhosis is not reversible

There were limitations to what Bajaj and his team could learn from the study. It is impossible to know how many patients had cirrhosis but not H.E., meaning their cognitive decline was caused by something other than their disease and was not treatable. And it is possible some patients had the bad luck of suffering both H.E. and another form of dementia. For these patients, treating the H.E. would likely still improve their quality of life, even if the dementia persisted, Bajaj said.

Heres the bad news for these patients: the cirrhosis itself is not reversible, and patients who suffer scarring on their liver have a high rate of developing cancer. The only treatment is a liver transplant.

The studys other limitation was that it was conducted on veterans at VA hospitals, and most of the participants were white men. The participants in the study had higher rates of alcohol consumption and obesity, which leads to cirrhosis.

But Bajaj believes the studys results are meaningful for a general population. Undiagnosed cirrhosis was higher in Black and Latino patients, and the participants had higher-than-usual risks for cognitive decline, such as post-traumatic stress syndrome.

I think the results are extremely significant because (of) whatever we can do to help improve a patients quality of life, and if theres a reversible cause of brain dysfunction, we should explore it in people with dementia, Bajaj said.

In 2022, VCU started a standalone institute for the research and treatment of liver disease, the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health.

Today in history: Jan. 31 1865: The 13th Amendment 1919: Jackie Robinson 1958: Explorer 1 1961: Ham the Chimp 2001: Lockerbie Conviction 2012: Facebook 2015: Bobbi Kristina Brown 2016: Novak Djokovic 2017: Neil Gorsuch 2018: Lunar Trifecta 2020: Donald Trump 2022: Moderna Vaccine 2023: Alec Baldwin
Bill Draper, of Richmond, has been photographing the Hollywood Cemetery buck for five years.

He first learned of the buck in 2019, when he saw a cell phone camera picture that someone else had taken of it. At first, he said, he didnt believe it was real.

I showed it to my wife and said, Somebody photoshopped that, Draper recalled. It was the size and majesty of the antlers, he said, that convinced him the photo was a fake.

Draper is an experienced wildlife photographer and has encountered countless deer throughout his life. His experienced eye told him there was no way a creature like the Hollywood Cemetery buck could actually exist, much less roam Richmonds riverside parks.

But later that same year, Draper said he saw the buck in Richmond with his own eyes, a moment that has stuck with him since then.

I was in awe, he said. This deer was so magnificent, it was beyond anything that Ive ever seen.

Since that day, Draper has encountered the buck dozens of times and taken hundreds of photographs, including pictures he took as recently as last October. He was entranced by it.

Never in my wildest imagination would I have expected to see a deer like that  in Hollywood Cemetery, he said.

Draper was not the only person to appreciate and admire the buck. Bob Smet, a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Services, previously described the animal as world class. Over the years, it became a staple of the James River Park System, where it was a regular and widely beloved visitor.

Charges also are pending against another suspect, who officials said they believe is an accomplice to Walters.

Officials said Walters submitted photos to a Facebook hunting page that showed him posing with a large buck, which he claimed to have shot with a muzzleloader in Prince Edward County. But multiple people recognized the animal as the Hollywood Cemetery buck, officials said, and reported the post to the Virginia DWR.

Walters, who also has been charged in connection to the killing of two other deer, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Draper said he was disappointed but not terribly surprised when he heard the news. He has long been concerned about the bucks high visibility and lack of caution, he explained.

The buck would walk freely about Hollywood Cemetery and the surrounding area, Draper said, and did not seem particularly afraid of people. On several occasions, Draper would see social media posts that identified the buck and its exact location, which always made him feel nervous for the animals safety.

Those worries were realized in December, he said.

Appalling, Draper said. Im just sorry that people feel the need to do something like this.

Tamsen Kingry, CEO of the Richmond SPCA, described the killing as cowardly and immoral.

The Hollywood buck was known and admired by many people throughout our community, Kingry said. There was no sportsmanship in what (the suspects) did. We share the communitys outrage about (the bucks) life being so callously and cruelly taken.

Close Pyramid at Hollywood Cemetery Hollywood Cemetery Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery Hollywood Cemetery President's Circle at Hollywood Cemetery Hollywood Cemetery Iron Dog at Hollywood Cemetery Hollywood Cemetery Hollywood Cemetery Hollywood Cemetery Jefferson Davis at Hollywood Cemetery PHOTOS: Hollywood Cemetery Fall is the perfect time to tour Hollywood Cemetery. The colorful changing and falling leaves only enhance the famous funerary landscape. See photos from a fall 2014 bike ride through Richmond's most famous cemetery. [Photos by Phil Riggan] Pyramid at Hollywood Cemetery Hollywood Cemetery Lewis Ginter at Hollywood Cemetery Hollywood Cemetery President's Circle at Hollywood Cemetery Hollywood Cemetery Iron Dog at Hollywood Cemetery Hollywood Cemetery Hollywood Cemetery Hollywood Cemetery Jefferson Davis at Hollywood Cemetery
A Colonial Beach priest who stole money from his church and the town rescue squad agreed to a deal Friday that requires him to serve some jail time but avoid any felony convictions.

Nicholas S. Szobota was convicted Friday in Westmoreland Circuit Court of a misdemeanor charge of embezzlement, court records show. He was ordered to serve a year in jail with nine months suspended on that conviction; Szobota will be allowed to serve his time on weekends starting Feb. 9.

Szobota and his attorney, James Monroe of Warsaw, also agreed that the evidence was sufficient to support two felony embezzlement charges. But the depositions were deferred and will be reduced to misdemeanors with suspended sentences if Szobota complies with various conditions, including paying restitution to an insurance company and submitting to a psychosexual evaluation.

If Szobota fails to live up to his obligations, he would be found guilty of felonies and sentenced accordingly.

According to the evidence presented by Commonwealths Attorney Julia Sichol, between June of 2022 and March of last year Szobota took about a combined $38,000 from St. Marys Episcopal Church and the Colonial Beach Rescue Squad.

Szobota, known in town as Father Nick, was the priest of the church at the time, along with being the president of the rescue squad. In 2022, he led a movement to save the rescue squad at a time when Westmoreland was trying to absorb it into the county system. He came to St. Marys in 2018 after serving as a rector at a church in Maryland.

Sichol told Judge Harold Burgess Jr. that Szobota took the money by improperly manipulating online banking and credit card accounts. Among his unauthorized charges were payments for online pornography accounts. He has already paid back more than half of the money.

Sichol said she conferred with both organizations before making the deal accepted by Szobota Friday.

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Virginia legislators have spoken loud and clear that the children of wealthy alumni should not get a leg up in college admissions.

The General Assembly has passed bills to ban legacy admissions at Virginias public colleges, which would end a practice in which an applicant gets extra consideration because he or she has a close relationship to a member of the alumni, a professor or donor.

The measure is poised for approval by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who believes college admission should be based on merit, a spokesperson for the governor said.

The Senate approved Senate Bill 46 unanimously last week, and on Tuesday, the House of Delegates approved an identical version by a vote of 100-0.

If were going to have an even playing field, lets have an even playing field, said Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, who sponsored the Senate bill.

Sponsored by Democrats, the push to end legacy admissions has been championed by Republicans, too.

It seems to have widespread support, said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond. It gives you a sense where the public is on that issue.

The movement began in June, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions, meaning colleges cannot consider an applicants race as part of his or her application.

Experts in higher education began asking, if affirmative action cant be considered, why should legacy students get an advantage?

Following that logic, Virginia Tech ended legacy consideration. The school has taken fewer legacy students in recent years, and it was no longer a significant factor, Juan Espinoza, a vice provost at Virginia Tech, said in the fall. Legacies made up about 12% of applicants and 20% of the incoming class last year.

The University of Virginia, however, did not follow. It tweaked its application format so that a student can write an essay to describe their relationship with the university and how it shaped him or her.

School president Jim Ryan said the essay prompt was not just an opportunity for the children of UVa graduates but also for the descendants of enslaved people who built and labored at the university.

In 2022, legacies made up about 10% of students offered admission and 14% of the freshman class, Brian Coy, a spokesperson for the school, said in the summer.

The public College of William & Mary, and two selective private schools, Washington and Lee University and the University of Richmond, consider alumni relationships in the application process, the Washington Post reported.

The measure would not affect private schools.

The rate of legacy admissions at Virginia colleges exceeds the national average, VanValkenburg said.

The Associated Press determined that at the nations most selective colleges, the percentage of legacy students in the freshman class ranged from 4% to 23%. At four schools  Notre Dame, the University of Southern California, Cornell and Dartmouth  legacy students outnumbered Black students.

Attorney General Jason Miyares has also called for a change of practice, saying that if colleges truly care about diversifying their enrollment, they should disband legacy admissions. Colleges should judge applications based on what a student can control  such as classes, grades and extracurriculars  not the color of their skin or their parents school, he said.

Colorado is the only state that has banned legacy admissions, the Associated Press reported. Tobias said he would not be surprised if more states follow suit.

A lingering question is how colleges will be affected financially. The reason to allow a legacy student is to ensure donation money from the parent continues to flow. As colleges have received less public funding from the state, they have leaned harder on tuition dollars and donations.

It is unclear how well such a law could be enforced. Legacy applicants likely can still use essays to mention their connection to the school, the same way a Black student can use an essay to explain how race shaped them as a person, even without an essay prompt.

5 things we learned from Mayor Stoney's State of the City speech 1. New use for former Commanders training center 2. Squirrels will keep flying in RVA 3. Thriving Black-owned businesses 4. Gun safety 5. Goal for good roads
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Richmonds newest monument at the corner of Libbie and Patterson avenues was sculpted to convey the sense of foreboding the Black schoolgirl felt as she entered all-white Westhampton Elementary School on Sept. 5, 1961.

An artists conception of steps on the plaza at Libbie and Patterson avenues feed visitors into two 12-foot-by-6-foot hunks of steel, 4 feet apart. The weight of the sculpture reflects the discomfort 12-year-old Daisy Jane Cooper might have felt as she climbed the stairs into a hostile environment.

Matt Lively, who created the work with Tim Harper, said the artists sought to fashion a space that feels like its falling in on you. Harper wanted people to walk through the space and think: What if I was that kid?

But stand at a distance from the sculpture, Strides, and you see something else: The space between those massive hunks of steel forms the shape of a plus sign. Integration  coming together  is the plus that overcomes the negative. Or as a sign in the plaza reads: In 1961, Daisy Jane Cooper walked up these steps and changed the world.

That schoolgirl is now Jane Cooper Johnson, the guest of honor at Tuesdays unveiling. Upon reflection, she has come to understand the sculpture, which was commissioned by Bon Secours and Thalhimer Realty Partners at a cost of about $120,000.

It was the struggle, initially, she said Tuesday of her experience. But the plus sign gives a positive outcome. The result was positive. And that way, the community at large can bond and pull together.

It brings also room for dialogue, and thats whats very important. So that we can understand each other and also empathize and have the compassion. And then that in itself creates a unified community.

About 100 people were unified in their delight at the latest recognition for Johnson, 75, a retired executive assistant for the Virginia Department of Education  an unintentionally ironic career choice, she said.

At the moment she climbed those steps to the entrance, she left childhood innocence behind and was transformed into a civil rights pioneer like her mother, Elizabeth Cooper, who won the legal battle necessary for her daughter to be able to attend her neighborhood school, said James Plotkin, her friend and former classmate.

Plotkins assessment of Johnsons heroism is shared by the commonwealth of Virginia. In 2005, the Virginia General Assembly commended Johnson and her mother as civil rights pioneers.

Elizabeth B. Cooper was the plaintiff in a 1958 lawsuit, filed by civil rights lawyer Oliver W. Hill Sr., requesting that her daughter be transferred from the all-black George Washington Carver Elementary School to the nearby all-white Westhampton Elementary School, which ran from first through eighth grade. The family lived in the historic Westwood community, bordered by Willow Lawn Drive and Patterson Avenue  a mere four-and-a-half blocks from Westhampton school.

The State Pupil Placement Board denied the request, leading to a three-year legal battle before her federal court victory resulted in Daisy Jane Cooper enrolling in the eighth grade at Westhampton in September 1961. The following year, she moved on to Thomas Jefferson High School, integrating her second Richmond public school.

Her mother, Bettie Elizabeth Boyers Cooper, died in 2022. The street the family lived on in Westwood now bears her name in honor. And Plotkin led the drive to honor Jane Cooper Johnson at Thomas Jefferson following their 50th anniversary class reunion. In February 2018, a plaque was placed in the hallway of the high school.

On one side of the Strides sculpture are quotes from Jane Cooper Johnson and a hidden figure for visitors to find  a rendering of a young school girl representing Daisy Jane.

The school property is now the site of a mixed-use development that includes office space, restaurants and other retail, and residences in an affluent neighborhood in Richmonds West End. The 1917 school building, once slated for possible demolition, has been preserved.

Johnson said she was a little numb from excitement and very, very appreciative.

Everyone wants to be appreciated, and those were hard times. And so, Im just deeply grateful to be appreciated, and for someone to appreciate the story  not just about me, but the story and what it represents.

Drew Burrichter, vice president of mission for Bon Secours Richmond, noted that nearby Bon Secours St. Marys Hospital became the first hospital in Richmond to integrate, not long after Daisy Jane Cooper integrated Westhampton School.

So from that time to now, a time when were removing statues from our public spaces, we are proud to be a part of this powerful addition to public art in Richmond, a witness to the potential of the human spirit, he said.

Harper and Lively created Strides in consultation with Richmond artist Paul DiPasquale as Richmond continues to fill its public art spaces with historical context. Like this sculpture, our work  in Richmond and well beyond  is to take the weight of our history and fashion something positive out of a negative.

Her story is now enshrined within the portal of this dynamic sculpture, Plotkin said. As we read her own words on its inside walls, we might see ourselves on her journey, walking in her footsteps alone, day after day, as she ascended the steps and entered classes where the negative energy, the humiliation and hostility she faced, must have been at times overwhelming.

Hopefully, people will emerge from their experience here as Jane emerged from Westhampton: With a positive outlook and high hopes for a brighter future.
Cruise ship spots drifting vessel off coast of Mahahual

Mahahual, Q.R.  Cruise ship Norwegian Prima spotted a drifting foreign vessel off the coast of Mahahual Tuesday. The sighting was reported to the Navy of Mexico who met the ship and foreign vessel that was carrying 12. The cruise ship was on its way to Mahahual when it came across the small boat.

In a statement, the Secretary of the Navy, acting as the Coast Guard, reported that naval personnel provided medical support to 12 people of foreign nationality who were rescued by a cruise ship during its navigation to the port of Mahahual.

Mexican authorities went out in search of the vessel after receiving an emergency call in the Command and Control Room reporting that cruise ship Norwegian Prima sighted and rescued, during its navigation through the Caribbean Sea, 12 people of foreign nationality who were aboard a smaller vessel adrift approximately 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) northwest of Cancun.

An ambulance with Naval Health personnel belonging to the Chetumal Naval Hospital was ordered to go to the cruise ship dock in the town of Mahahual in order to provide the corresponding medical support, they added.

Once the cruise ship arrived at the Mahahual dock, the 12 foreigners were received by naval elements and by authorities from the National Migration Institute (INM), who, when carrying out medical evaluations, showed symptoms of dehydration.

Medical attention was provided to the boat passengers who signed symptoms of dehydration. Photo: Semnar January 30, 2024.

All 12 were subsequently transferred to the INM facilities in the city of Chetumal for the corresponding legal procedures. The 12 on board are said to have been of Cuban nationality and were on their way to the U.S. but experienced problems which left them adrift.
China's most advanced spectroscopic telescope expected to start operations in 2026

People's Daily Online) 09:57, January 31, 2024

China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University plans to construct the Jiao Tong University Spectroscopic Telescope (JUST), a 4.4-meter large aperture multi-functional spectroscopic telescope, at the Lenghu astronomical observation base in northwest China's Qinghai Province. After it is completed, the telescope is expected to achieve significant breakthroughs in time-domain astronomy, exoplanet exploration, and cosmic network structure and evolution.

The JUST is a significant project of the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. It will be located in Saishiteng Mountain, Lenghu town, Mangya city, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai.

The JUST will be installed at Position B, situated at an elevation of 4,322 meters in Saishiteng Mountain, Lenghu town, Mangya city, Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai. (Photo/Chen Bin)

The JUST will feature a lightweight design and multiple spectrometers, enabling swift switching and the timely spectral observations of target sources. It will focus on three research areas: exploring the dark universe, tracking the dynamic universe, and searching for exoplanets.

The telescope is expected to be completed and put into operation in 2026. It will serve as China's most advanced spectroscopic telescope, working in close collaboration with the Wide Field Survey Telescope (WFST) and the Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST), set to be launched this year. This collaboration will yield valuable observational data, contributing significantly to the progress of astronomy in China.

The conceptual design of the JUST. (Courtesy of Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

The high-precision spectrometer of the JUST will revolutionize exoplanet detection efficiency by enabling simultaneous multi-target and high-precision spectroscopic observations, a first on an international scale.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
The U.S. and China launched a joint counter-narcotics working group on Tuesday in the first overt sign of cooperation in tackling the spread of fentanyl since late 2019, before bilateral relations between the superpowers soured.

It follows a key summit in San Francisco in November where U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed to work to curb fentanyl production and export, in a major breakthrough.

Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin. The U.S. has said China is the primary source of the precursor chemicals synthesised into fentanyl by drug cartels in Mexico. China denies this.

"We had in-depth communication and were pragmatic. We reached common understanding on the work plan," China's Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong said at a joint address with the U.S. delegation before the group's inauguration in Beijing.

He added that he hoped the two sides could accommodate each other's concerns and "enhance and expand cooperation to provide more positive energy for stable, sound and sustainable China-U.S. relations".

In Washington, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said both sides had committed to cooperate on increased law enforcement coordination to combat the distribution and export of precursor chemicals for the opioids, to address illicit financing and increase information sharing.

"So that's a good start, but it is just a start. And there's a lot more work to be done," Kirby said, adding there would be another set of meetings on Wednesday.

Tensions

Ties between the two countries have been tense in recent years over a range of issues including the origins of COVID-19, trade tariffs, Taiwan and human rights, hampering Washington's hopes of persuading Beijing to re-join its efforts to stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

In November 2019, in an unusual disclosure of Sino-U.S. cooperation in cracking down on fentanyl crimes, Chinese and U.S. law enforcement jointly announced that they had worked together to break up a fentanyl smuggling ring.

But such cooperation on narcotics fizzled out when COVID-19 arrived, and multiple geopolitical headwinds pushed bilateral ties to their lowest in decades.

At their joint address to the media in Beijing, Jen Daskal, a deputy homeland security adviser at the White House, said Biden had sent a "significant delegation" to underscore the importance of the fentanyl issue to the American people.

When Biden met Xi last year in the United States, he told the story of the child of a friend in Delaware who died of a fentanyl overdose, Daskal said.

"This was a deeply personal story of President Biden but it is unfortunately not a unique story in the United States," she said. (Reuters)
Five criminal gang members terrorizing Riviera Maya captured

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Five men part of a Riviera Maya criminal gang have been captured by State Police and National Guard. The arrests were made Tuesday. Four of the men are reported members while one is said to be a leader.

The five criminals were taken into custody in separate arrests. They are believed members of a criminal group that has been targeting Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

One of those arrested, Roberto Carlos N alias El Tiburon and/or El Mosco and/or El Fresa, is designated as the head of a criminal group of hitmen. He is being held for his alleged participation in homicide, kidnapping, drug dealing and extortion

In separate arrests, Angel Yair N alias Sombra, Wilbert Ivan N alias Jomi, Jose Manuel N and William N were also arrested. The five are members of a criminal group that generates violence in the municipalities of Tulum and Solidaridad, the FGE reported.

Roberto Carlos N is being investigated for the January 4, 2024 murder of two people in Tulum. He is also being investigated for the kidnapping of a Tulum taxi driver who has been missing since January 22, 2024, as well as the disappearance of a minor on December 28, 2023.

Likewise, he is believed related to the homicide of a man, whose body was found dismembered along with a cardboard message, on a section of Playa del Carmen highway on January 21 of the current year.

He is attributed with the murder of two men whose bodies were located in the community of Chumpon in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto on January 22, the FGE said.

Another of the detainees, Wilbert Ivan N, alias Jomi, was served with an arrest warrant for facts possibly constituting the crime of qualified homicide to the detriment of a male found dead on January 22 in Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

In the irregular Nassin neighborhood in Tulum, police arrested Angel Yair N, who was found in possession of drugs and a loaded firearm. He is being investigated for drug dealing in Tulum through the criminal organization. He is also being looked into for his possible relation to the disappearance of a minor in Tulum.

Jose Manuel N and William N were arrested separately in the 2 de Octubre neighborhood of Tulum on drug charges.

A total of 21 people believed connected to criminal groups have been arrested, thereby impacting the structure of this criminal group, mainly with the capture of the head of hitmen and drug dealers, the FGE reported.
Spirit Airlines celebrates 20 years of Cancun flights

Cancun, Q.R.  Spirit Airlines is celebrating two decades of flying travelers between Cancun International Airport and the United States. The airline is commemorating the milestone by giving Guests More Go with limited-time anniversary fares on flights to Cancun for a tropical vacation starting February 7.

For 20 years, weve been pleased to offer our Guests affordable, nonstop service to Cancun, making the popular beach destination more accessible and affordable with the opportunity to save on airfare while enjoying more of Cancuns tourist attractions, said John Kirby, Vice President of Network Planning at Spirit Airlines.

Were grateful to Cancun International Airport and our Guests in Southeast Mexico for embracing our business model and trusting us with their travels for the past two decades.

Spirit passengers are being offered the celebratory flight prices to Cancun until March 6, 2024. Spirit loyalty program passengers are also being offered bonus points on flights to and from Cancun.

Additionally, the Spirit Charitable Foundation commemorated the anniversary with a donation of $20,000 to Keeping Kids in School in Playa Del Carmen. The sizable donation will help remove the financial barriers that prevent many children in Mexico from gaining access to an education.

Spirit currently offers nonstop service from Cancun to nine cities in the United States: Baltimore (BWI), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Houston (IAH), Orlando (MCO), New Orleans (MSY) and Philadelphia (PHL).

Spirit will being offering flight into Tulum March 28, 2024. Photo: Spirit Airlines

The carrier has further invested in Southeast Mexico through Spirit Vacations, which allows travelers to bundle and save with vacation packages on Cancun hotels, resorts and rental cars.

Spirit will further grow its Mexico service this spring with nonstop service from Tulum (TQO) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Orlando (MCO) launching March 28.

It is the only ultra-low-cost carrier to announce service to TQO from the U.S., and the only airline offering nonstop flights from FLL and MCO.
Veracruz suspect in 2009 double murder captured in Bacalar

Bacalar, Q.R.  The main suspect in the 2009 murder of a Veracruz woman and her boyfriend has been captured in the municipality of Bacalar. Police captured the 15-year fugitive Saturday in the town of Rio Escondido.

Nazario N was arrested January 27 during an operation in coordination with elements of the Veracruz Ministerial Police and the Ministerial Police of Quintana Roo.

He is accused of the 2009 murders of his then-girlfriend and a man who were reportedly stabbed to death in the town of San Isidro.

Nazario N has been returned to the state of Veracruz to face charges.
First Amendment scholar Michael McConnell may have understated the case when he wrote that the free exercise clause may well be the most philosophically interesting and distinctive feature of the American Constitution. There is no other part of the Constitution that is so unprecedented among other national constitutions and involves such an interdisciplinary effort to decipher, extrapolate, and apply in constantly evolving social and cultural circumstances. Judge McConnell has dedicated considerable intellectual energy to establishing the historical provenance of the constitutional guarantee of free exercise, which is not derived from the Constitution but protected by it. And it arose to accommodate, rather than to encourage, the religious diversity of the colonies. The stability of a federal government that required cooperation from colonists and colonies had to respect that diversity and maintain religious neutrality. It did so through the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses respectively.

A lot has changed since the founding era. The United States extends now from coast to coast and beyond. The Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses have been made applicable to the states. Religious communities have not remained concentrated in specific regions, and immigration and conversion have resulted in a religious diversity that transcends what is internal to the Christian faith. In the most recent decades, religious affiliation and practice have declined, and suspicion of religious practice has increased.

Legal scholar Thomas C. Berg has identified ours as a fractured, acrimonious era and, rightly, identifies religious liberty as providing one important solution to this in his award-winning book Religious Liberty in a Polarized Age. I wholeheartedly agree with Bergs assessment that it is sad  and incongruous when disputes over religious liberty fuel polarization. Religious freedom is, Berg argues, meant not to aggravate, but rather to calm, conflict among deeply held views. Berg articulates the strongest case for his position, but despite this the scheme falls short in some significant ways.

The most insightful part of Bergs work is his analysis of the factors that have produced the social and cultural polarization were experiencing. Clearly, our present circumstances are complex, and divisions related to views on any debated issue have come to correlate with  views on other debated issues. We have divided into two camps, each with accepted orthodoxies on a variety of issues that may or may not have any coherence among them. Berg identifies partisan politics as the source of this phenomenon. This division is exacerbated by media that drive ever-increasing rates of self-sorting into tribes. Fewer and fewer Americans have even casual exposure to those who are different from them, which creates fear, resentment, and anger. These are precisely the things that define much of our political discourse. Berg proposes strong support for religious liberty where Republican partisans have often resisted it  and where Democratic partisans have often resisted itessentially in all the places where either of these two tribes dominate.

For all the helpful discussion of polarization in part 1, later parts of the book present significant problems. Berg dedicates significant space to framing religious exercise as an important and even nonnegotiable aspect of personal identity even while acknowledging that there are other ways to arrive at arguments for religious freedom. Berg is not at all dismissive of these arguments, especially ones that are religious or theological in nature. In a plural society, especially one marked by religious liberty, we must be open to whatever intellectual path leads citizens to their conclusions on the matter. The problem is that he focuses on the distinctive importance of religion in terms of personal identity (emphasis added). That may be, but to begin with this framing of the significance of religion is not one that will produce a durable detente between the polarized factions that Berg has already identified.

But first, why is Berg phrasing the importance of religion in this way? Because he is setting up a comparison between religious identity and LGBTQ identity to analogize free exercise rights and legal protections for various LGBTQ issues, especially same sex marriage. The two are similar, according to Berg, because of three factors. First, each involves or constitutes conduct that is inseparable from identity. Therefore, a failure to accommodate the distinctive conduct associated with each does harm to a persons identity. Second, each requires conduct in a public settingmarriage and religious practice have both private and public aspects. And third, there is a shared kinship between both groups, which have suffered disabilities as the government has historically been hostile or indifferent toward each at different times in history.

This analogy fails at some significant points entirely independent of whether the legal protection of any particular right is legitimate. First, Berg merely assumes that the pursuit of protecting personal identity is a legitimate function of the state. There is no part of the U.S. Constitution that expresses any concern with interiority in the way that concepts of personal identity require. The origin of constitutional protections of specific actions or behavior may be debated, but that origin certainly cannot be psychological innovations that have emerged in the centuries after the drafting of the Constitution without engaging in a very fluid approach to constitutional interpretation.

Relatedly, the arguments regarding the public purposes of marriage so often articulated before Obergefell have never been answered. The states interest in marriageor any other public institution, including the public aspects of religious practicehas nothing to do with the psychological well-being of citizens. Obergefell has required ongoing structural accommodations to what had been a simple, direct, and ancient scheme for regulating marriage, unlike Loving v. Virginia,which actually simplified marriage regulation by removing a legal prohibition that complicated it. After Loving, the state of Virginia and others that had similar statutes banning interracial marriage were no longer burdened with defining race or determining the race of applicants for marriage licenses. After Obergefell, however, the state no longer has simple and objective standards for defining parenthood, so judicial determinations of parenthood are more complex, intrusive, and subjective. The states analogous creation of structural accommodations for the free exercise of religion would almost certainly be held to violate the Establishment Clause, which is a significant factor in differentiating the practice of religion and the creation of a right to same sex marriage.

Finally, the Constitution explicitly mentions religion. There are a lot of things that it does not mention, like cell phones, nuclear energy, and abortion. But more jurisprudential care is required when extrapolating constitutional principles for application to any aspect of life not mentioned in the text, and legal theorists and the Supreme Court itself often ignore the possibility that it may be the 10th Amendments reservation of powers to the states that apply in such cases rather than a previously undiscovered legal principle lurking in the penumbras and emanations of the explicit text.

Even if these philosophical and jurisprudential issues can be set aside, there are pragmatic reasons to doubt Bergs analogy. These two groups are not mutually exclusive. There are devoutly religious Americans who advocate for LGBTQ rights and often understand this advocacy as an extension of their religious commitments. There are also members of both groups whose opposition to the other is totally intractable, and who would only be further antagonized by the mere suggestion that there are parallels between the nature of or source of legal rights protecting their respective groups. There may be legitimate parallels in the experience of each group if examined from a sufficient distance, but almost certainly not in the minds of those in these two groups.

Berg goes on to argue that both religious exercise and LGBTQ rights should be protected on the grounds that each serves the common good. Again, this is a standard that is external to the Constitution itself, about which there is significant disagreement. The purposes of the Constitution that should guide the interpretation of its specific provisions are clearly stated in the Preamble: justice, peace, and liberty. Berg points to specific ways in which society at large benefits from the protection of both. Hes right in one sense, that we should not shy away from protecting rights, institutions, and cultural norms that accrue a common benefit for Americas citizens. But the mere fact of a common benefit does not justify government action nor an ends-driven jurisprudence to realize that protection. Notions of the common good can evolve when not grounded in immovable first principles, which would then cause the accepted meaning of the Constitution to evolve, too.

The final part of Religious Liberty in a Polarized Age focuses on how we should protect both strong religious liberty and LGBTQ rights, and is a tour de force defense of pragmatic jurisprudence. Since free exercise and LGBTQ rights are analogous, according to Berg, they become a currency in a grand judicially mediated swap meet. Accommodate religious practice here, then abrogate it there to keep the scales balanced in relation to LGBTQ legal protections. This is not unlike the balancing of interests that constitute part of the legislative process in which citizens elected representatives imperfectly wrestle with the best and most attainable ways to order public life through the law.

Berg defends the outcome of the courts decisions in Obergefell v. Hodges, Bostock v. Clayton County, Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, and Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. These cases, however, are radically different in significant ways. The result of a Supreme Court that rules based on maintaining a balance between its treatment of unrelated social issues (especially those treated differently by the plain meaning of the Constitution) is one with too much power, too little principle, and no awareness of its proper constitutional role.

Berg appears not to consider the possibility that the polarization we are experiencing is exacerbated by the inconsistencies that stem not only from an overreaching Supreme Court but a dysfunctional Congress and bureaucracy, too. It usually comes as a surprise to learn that it was the action of unelected bureaucrats rather than Congress that led to the years-long litigation in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, which involved a challenge to a government mandate for employers to provide health coverage for birth control even against religious objections. In these cases and many others, the courts have been used as a tool to circumnavigate more democratic means of securing rights and settling conflict. The fear and suspicion that drive polarization about any number of civil liberties issues may be allayed if all citizens are confident that neither the courts nor the bureaucracy will be weaponized against them in political conflict that would best be resolved through their democratically accountable elected representatives.

Berg is right that our polarized age needs a balm rather than more kerosene to stoke the flames of division. But he misses the mark in this ambitious book. He envisions a Supreme Court with more expansive powers, more pragmatic jurisprudence, and granular concerns beyond its competence or warranted by the Constitution itself. He makes the argument in its most cogent and convincing form, but unfortunately it is neither very cogent nor very convincing.
Fentanyl is the focus of a statewide drug awareness campaign that Virginia first lady Suzanne Youngkin launched Tuesday in Roanoke.

Roanoke City has the highest concentration of overdose deaths of metropolitan areas in Virginia, Youngkin said. When our department of health was considering a very aggressive, boots on the ground education and awareness program, Roanoke was in the bullseye of our concerns.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, so potent that just a few granules of the drug are considered a lethal dose. Its highly addictive, with high likelihood for overdose, according to the U.S. drug enforcement agency.

It only takes one, Youngkin said, repeating the title of the awareness campaign. Dont make that mistake.

On Tuesday, Youngkin, wife of the Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, announced the statewide awareness campaign from inside Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion. Some researchers there study addiction recovery, part of the growing medical sector sprouting up riverside in and around Jefferson Street.

She said the state is rolling out an all-hands-on-deck communication program, starting in Roanoke. The goal is for various agencies  such as public schools, law enforcement, health providers, city hall and others  to collaborate on increasing fentanyl awareness.

What were here today to say is that it only takes one, Youngkin said. One mistake. One friend that tells you its OK. One adult who fails to discuss with a young person the dangers.

From 2020 to 2023, fentanyl overdoses killed 7,000 Virginians, including 381 people in the Roanoke-Salem area, according to a provided data sheet. Thats five Virginians dead from fentanyl overdose each day, including young people, she said.

Families and communities are being rocked by fentanyl, Youngkin said. Fentanyl is a silent killer. It is one that most people take unknowingly.

The drug can be used in manufacture of counterfeit pills, sometimes fatally misleading people who think theyre taking other prescription drugs. Part of the awareness program is encouraging parents to talk to their children about fentanyl.

We know its not a matter of if young people are going to be exposed to a dangerous pill or a dangerous joint, Youngkin said. Its a matter of when.

More Virginia teenagers and college-aged kids, almost 200 of them, died from fentanyl overdoses compared to car crashes in 2022, the fact sheet said. It comes at a time when more than 40% of American youth report daily feelings of distress and sadness, Youngkin said.

There is no single bullet thats going to fix the problems of depression, substance use disorder, a lot of the conflicts that Virginians are feeling today, Youngkin said. We just want to move the needle on awareness.

The fentanyl awareness campaign relates to other state programs, such as Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, a mental health plan called right help right now, and another campaign called one pill can kill, Youngkin said.

So many Virginians have never heard of fentanyl. They have no idea what it is, Youngkin said. We have got to educate our populace, not only about what it is, but what it does to your body, and how dangerous it is.

Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea said three out of four drug-related deaths in the city involve fentanyl.

The greatest and most alarming challenge Roanoke faces today is the loss of life to fentanyl, said the Democrat and longtime city council member. We must tackle this scourge of fentanyl.

Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares said the awareness program will flood Roanoke with resources to combat an invisible war against fentanyl, including training for a lifesaving opioid overdose reversal drug called naloxone.

You cannot prosecute your way out of this crisis, Miyares said. We need prevention. We need education.

Prescription drug companies are paying billions to states and local governments nationwide as settlement for accelerating an ongoing opioid drug use epidemic. Some of Virginias opioid abatement funding will pay for fentanyl awareness materials that include grants, websites, and other prevention tools, Miyares said.

It is a chemical compound that is everywhere, Miyares said of fentanyl. What were trying to do is get that good information to parents, to stress to them having a conversation.

Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Services John Littel said the awareness campaign will serve to combine efforts of schools, healthcare, government, research and other sectors.

Bringing all the players together, Littel said. We want to make sure every part of this mechanism is working together.

People from those sectors were present in the crowd to hear Youngkins announcement. Afterward, they gathered together to discuss the issue, but did so in a closed meeting.

Find more information online at www.itonlytakesoneva.com.
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CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers.
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Photo of accident on Yuan Ching Road at about 3.50pm on Tuesday, 30 January (Photo: SG Road Vigilante/Facebook)

SINGAPORE  A 12-year-old girl died on Tuesday (30 Jan) after being hit by a van in Taman Jurong along Yuan Ching Road. The van driver, a 23-year-old man, was arrested for careless driving causing death.

According to various media outlets, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed it was alerted to the fatal accident at about 3.50pm. The school girl was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic, said the SCDF. One other person was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.

The accident site is in close proximity to two schools, Jurong Secondary School and Yuvabharathi International School.

According to The Straits Times, the victim studied in an international school.

Another incident last week

This incident comes just a week after a four-year-old girl was hit by a car in River Valley on her way home from school. Multiple news outlets reported that she was brought unconscious to the hospital, and later died from her injuries.

A 40-year-old woman was arrested under suspicion of causing death due to careless driving, said the police.

Following the accident last Tuesday (23 Jan), residents urged for the installation of speed bumps and other safety measures at the accident site. It is located at Institution Hill, a 150m stretch of road with a bend and a steep hill.

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.
Yelps list of the Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. came out recently. 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 more than 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 fusion 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% 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.

15 great places for food in Nebraska Chances 'R' Black Crow The Chocolate Bar The Pour House Ole's Big Game Steakhouse Steel Grill Davey's Tavern Back Alley Bakery Bonzai Beach Pizza Hollywood Candy Rowdy's Steakhouse Sehnert Bakery Globe Chophouse Genoa Food Co. Monroe Tavern Bar and Grill
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Tuesday cast the deepening trilateral partnership with South Korea and Japan as a "vision for the world" as Washington strives to leverage it to confront a range of regional and global challenges, including North Korean threats.

Speaking at a forum, Sullivan also stressed that the partnership is not about "any country," while highlighting the "formidable" nature of the relationship among the U.S. and its two Asian allies in various areas, including security, technology and economy.

"The trilateral partnership is not about any country. It's not about China. It's not about North Korea," he said at the forum organized by the Council on Foreign Relations and the 21st Century China Center at UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy.

"It is about being for something, a vision for the world, for the region ... for the world writ large, and we feel that it has helped create a huge amount of momentum behind shared priorities, and we want to continue to develop that," he added.

Sullivan described the three-way partnership as a multi-faceted one.

"The relationship extends to economic coercion, the intersection of technology and national security, innovation, economic investment and vitality  all areas where the three countries have a huge amount of complementary capacity to support and lift one another," he said.

"That is a formidable partnership of three countries with shared values (and) huge capacities across economics, technology, national security and global reach. We are very proud of the work that we've done so far."

Touching on the expanding scope of the partnership, Sullivan noted its "critical" security dimension.

"It has been a source of propulsion for pulling the three countries together, and it manifests in closer intelligence coordination, closer defense cooperation, exercises, joint deterrence, particularly when it comes to the Korean Peninsula," he said. "We'd like to see that continue to evolve."

In the face of North Korea's evolving nuclear threats, China's growing assertiveness and Russia's war in Ukraine, Seoul, Washington and Tokyo have been strengthening their trilateral cooperation that culminated in their first standalone three-way summit at Camp David in August.

The landmark summit produced a series of three-way cooperation agreements, including the "commitment to consult" each other in the event of a shared threat.

"It is very much a work in progress and has to be built on from strength to strength as we go forward," he said. (Yonhap)
Those stories Truman Capote used to tell on The Tonight Show were only the tip of the iceberg.

Out of the spotlight, he was culling other tales, entertaining society friends with the latest gossip and background. Those friends  whom he dubbed the swans  were clearly enamored. What he didnt realize was how protective they would become.

In Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, writer Jon Robin Baitz details the relationship and how his loose lips actually did sink ships.

In an Esquire article, he hinted that this was only the beginning.

Quickly, the swans circled and shunned Capote from their inner circle. In the eight-part series, the friendship  and betrayal  spills out like a third bottle of wine at lunch.

Capote, meanwhile, is the ultimate meltdown king. In Tom Hollanders hands, hes a vengeful, petulant pseudo star, insisting he had the right to write about them.

Meanwhile, the women dig in. Babe Paley (Naomi Watts) leads the charge, even though she is closest to Capote. Dealing with health issues, she considers a reconciliation, then realizes how disingenuous that would be. One by one, the women state their cases and align against Capote.

Gus Van Sant, who directs many of the episodes, frames it like a 1960s film, complete with silver, crystal and high-end linens. Because he has a cast of stellar actors, he can make simple moments shine. Diane Lane, as Slim Keith, doesnt give an inch. She rallies the wavering (Chloe Sevignys C.Z. Guest among them) while Calista Flockhart, as Lee Radzwill, lets them know a friend of Trumans is not a friend of theirs.

Van Sant employs all sorts of techniques in the storytelling. He uses black-and-white photography to cover Capotes Black and White Ball; he lavishes plenty of attention on their bedrooms and never suggests either party is right.

As you watch the eight episodes, youll think Capote was acting like a child. Then, of course, you see the swans reaction. They hunker down at La Cote Basque and arent about to cede the floor.

While Baitz introduces others near the series end (theres a swan-in-training, for example, and a lover who never quite gets Capotes full attention), he doesn't pull the focus from the author and his subjects. Because there are many of them, this Feud is like a phone tree, adding strength as it pushes out.

Hollander knows how to get under Capote's skin. He just never makes him likable enough to justify the womens attention even in the good days.

Where Feud succeeds is in recreating the world they inhabited. Its just as glamorous as you may have remembered and just as confining as you suspected.

As Executive Producer Ryan Murphy showed in Hollywood, American Crime Story and the first Feud, the proper look is everything. If thats not a problem, great acting should follow.

Watts bears that out. As Paley, she brings out all those emotions weve come to associate with the era. Shes a woman whos admired but, in the glare of the spotlight, shes also one who should be pitied. Watts is electric.

Hollander, though, is, too. He makes us care about a man who dug his own grave and never figured how to get out of it.

Feud: Capote vs. the Swans begins Jan. 31 on FX.
REMSEN, Iowa  Law enforcement authorities charged a 34-year-old Iowa man with one count of kidnapping in the first degree following a Plymouth County standoff which was preceded by a multi-county high-speed chase and a statewide Amber Alert Tuesday.

Brandon Duong was arrested by police after an estimated two-and-a half hour standoff which took place in the area of 160th and Sunset Avenue between Remsen and Marcus, Iowa, according to the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office and Woodbury County scanner traffic.

At 3:40 p.m., an Amber Alert was issued for Greene County for a black Toyota Tacoma transporting Bryson Duong, the 7-year-old son of Brandon Duong.

A 2015 black Toyota Tacoma was spotted by the Woodbury County Sheriffs Office near Safford Avenue and 230th Street, south of the Correctionville and Cushing area at approximately 4:40 p.m., according to the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office.

"Brandon Duong, age 34, took his 7-year-old biological son, Bryson Duong, from Greene Elementary School in Jefferson, Iowa. A court order restricting Brandon Duong from having custody had been issued in December 2023," the Iowa Department of Public Safety said in a statement.

The chase through Woodbury, Plymouth and Cherokee counties exceeded speeds of 100 miles per hour.

"Pursuing officers at one point had lost contact with the suspect vehicle but were able to relocate the vehicle near Highway 3 and Sunset Ave, east of Remsen in Plymouth County," the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office said. "During the pursuit it was learned that the suspect Brandon Duong was possible armed with a long rifle. The vehicle continued at short distance after being relocated and crashed, at which time, the driver exited the vehicle with Bryson and proceeded on foot into a field armed with a rifle."

Scanner traffic said the suspect was holding a child on his shoulders. Residents were urged to evacuate. Negotiators were on site and SWAT vehicles were utilized.

The Iowa State Patrol deployed a second armored vehicle in an attempt to corral the suspect around 7:17 p.m.

Police secured the weapon and moved the child away from the suspect at approximately 8 p.m. after lengthy negotiations. The suspect was taken into custody, according to scanner traffic.

"Brandon has been charged with one count of Kidnapping in the First Degree and will be transferred to the Greene County Jail," The Iowa DPS said. "The Jefferson Police Department and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation will continue their investigation to further understand the circumstances that necessitated the issuance of the Amber Alert."
STORM LAKE, Iowa  A warehouse manager at the Tyson Foods pork plant in Storm Lake has pleaded not guilty of stealing more than $48,000 of truck equipment and meat from the company and reselling it for personal profit.

Michael Masters, 65, of Albert City, Iowa, entered his written plea Tuesday in Buena Vista County District Court to two counts of first-degree theft and two counts of second-degree theft.

According to court documents, Masters was a warehouse manager at the Tyson plant at 1009 Richland Drive on Dec. 5, 2022, when he directed another employee under his supervision to take five truck refrigerator units valued at approximately $20,000 off the Tyson property.

Masters later sold them for his own benefit.

Masters also is accused of having an employee take three Tyson semi box trailers valued at $18,130 from the property between June 1-28, 2022, and two more valued at $8,272 on Dec. 7, 2022, and sold them privately for profit.

Between May 4-16, Masters took approximately 24 boxes of meat valued at $2,166 from the plant, court documents said.
LAWTON, Iowa  First-term Iowa District 1 Sen. Rocky De Witt has missed the entirety of the 2024 legislative session so far as he is dealing with pancreatic cancer.

The former Woodbury County Supervisors made the announcement this past week on his Facebook campaign page, "De Witt for Iowa Senate."

"I want to be 100% clear: I fully intend to return to the Iowa legislature, and soon: it is up to God to decide if that is next week, the following, or otherwise. Despite all this, anyone expecting a diminished or weakened version of me will be sorely disappointed, and I plan to return, up to full speed and in 5th gear," De Witt wrote on Facebook. "The thoughts, well-wishes, and most importantly prayers have been a blessing and aren't taken for granted."

De Witt, who defeated Democratic state senator Jackie Smith in 2022, was unable to attend a Saturday forum for Northwest Iowa legislators hosted by the League of Women Voters of Sioux City but did make a December 2023 forum on education with fellow legislators Jacob Bossman, Bob Henderson and J.D. Scholten.

Henderson said in a Facebook post: "Please keep our good friend Rocky De Witt in your prayers as he begins his fight with pancreatic cancer."

The MidAmerican Energy employee of 22 years won his first term representing District 5 on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors in 2016 and was reelected in 2020. De Witt has also worked as a courthouse security officer for the county Sheriffs Office.

Woodbury County Deputy Auditor Michelle Skaff, a former colleague of De Witt's, offered well wishes for him in the comments of his Facebook saying "Prayers from the Skaffs, we are here for you if you need anything!"
Groundbreaking aviator Amelia Earharts tragic and mysterious disappearance while flying over the Pacific Ocean has captivated the world for nearly 87 years, spurring on countless investigations and expeditions for answers on what happened to the beloved pilot.

The most recent group to join the search  a team of underwater archaeologists and marine robotics experts with Deep Sea Vision, an ocean exploration company based in Charleston, South Carolina  says it may have found a clue that could bring some closure to Earharts story.

By using sonar imaging, a tool for mapping the ocean floor that uses sound waves to measure the distance from the seabed to the surface, the group has spotted an anomaly in the Pacific Ocean  more than 16,000 feet (4,877 meters) underwater  that resembles a small aircraft. The team believes that anomaly could be a Lockheed 10-E Electra, the 10-passenger plane that Earhart was piloting when she went missing while attempting to fly around the world.

Deep Sea Vision announced the find through an Instagram post on Saturday, Jan. 27.

Some people call it one of the greatest mysteries of all time, I think it actually is the greatest mystery of all time, said the companys CEO Tony Romeo, a pilot and former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer. We have an opportunity to bring closure to one of the greatest American stories ever.

Solving an underwater mystery

The imagery was taken roughly 100 miles away (161 kilometers) from Howland Island, Romeo said, the next spot where Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan were expected to land following their last takeoff from Lae, Papua New Guinea. The pair was declared lost at sea after an extensive 16-day search conducted by the U.S. government.

Deep Sea Vision scanned more than 5,200 square miles (13,468 square kilometers) of the ocean floor using an advanced autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) known as Hugin 6000, which maps the seabed using sonar technology. The companys expedition began in early September 2023 and ended in December, Romeo told CNN.

Romeo hopes to return to the site within the year to get further confirmation that the anomaly is a plane, which would most likely involve the use of an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) with a camera that would allow the object to be investigated more closely. The team would also look into the possibility of bringing their find to the surface, Romeo said.

While it is possible that this could be a plane and maybe even Amelias plane, it is too premature to say that definitively. It could also be noise in the sonar data, something geologic, or some other plane, said Andrew Pietruszka, an underwater archaeologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, and the lead archaeologist for Project Recover, an organization dedicated to finding MIA soldiers and aircrafts from World War II.

That being said, if I was searching for Amelias plane and had this target in the data set I would want to interrogate it further, Pietruszka said in an email.

More theories on Earharts disappearance

A 2017 History Channel documentary proposed a theory that Earhart and Noonan had crashed in the Marshall Islands  about 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) away from Howland Island  where they were captured and taken to Saipan Island, held hostage and eventually died. The theory was based off a photo from the U.S. National Archives that featured several blurry figures; investigators claimed the aviator and her plane were in the image.

The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, or TIGHAR, theorized in 2016 that Earhart and Noonan survived a rough landing on a reef in the Pacific Ocean but later died as castaways when the pair could not radio for help. The TIGHAR team claimed that a skeleton of a castaway found on the island of Nikumaroro, Kiribati, in 1940 had matched with Earharts height and ethnic origin.

The most widely believed theory, held by the U.S. government and the Smithsonian, is that Earhart and Noonan crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Howland Island when the plane ran out of fuel.

The new sonar image of the proposed missing aircraft is of particular interest because of the anomalys proximity to Howland Island, said Dorothy Cochrane, a curator for general aviation in the aeronautics department of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. In Earharts last communications, her radio transmissions progressively got stronger as she got closer to Howland Island, indicating that she was nearing the island before she disappeared, Cochrane said.

However, the plane-shaped object found by Deep Sea Vision lacks certain features of Earharts Lockheed Electra, such as the twin engines, according to David Jourdan, the cofounder and president of Nauticos, a deep ocean exploration company that has conducted search operations for the lost aircraft.

It is impossible to identify anything from a sonar image alone as sound can be tricky and the artifact could be damaged in unpredictable ways altering its shape. For that reason, you can never say that something is (or isnt) from a sonar image alone, Jourdan said in an email.

Confirming that the newly discovered anomaly is Earharts plane would require returning to the site to further investigate the plane, and more definitively, locating the certification NR16020 that was printed on the underside of the missing Lockheeds wing, Jourdan said. If the plane were to be uncovered at such depth in the ocean, where the temperatures are very cold and with low oxygen content, the plane could be very well-preserved, Jourdan said.

(Earhart) was kind of the rock star of the era, the Taylor Swift of the era  Everybodys pulling for her, they want her to make it around the world, and she disappears without a trace, Cochrane said. Its the mystery of the 20th century, and now into the 21st century.

___
Lawmakers in more than a half-dozen U.S. states are pushing laws to define antisemitism, triggering debates about free speech and bringing complicated world politics into statehouses.

Supporters say it's increasingly important to add a definition that lays out how to determine whether some criticism of Israel also amounts to hatred of Jewish people. In so doing, lawmakers cited the Oct. 7 attacks in which Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 hostages back to Gaza, which sparked a war that has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians.

For anybody that didnt think that anti-Zionism could cross into antisemitism, the rest of the world could see that it had, said Democratic Rep. Esther Panitch, the only Jewish member of Georgia's Legislature and one of the sponsors of a bill that the state Legislature passed last week. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed it into law Wednesday.

Defined in 2016 by the the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

But Kenneth Stern, the author of IHRA's definition, said using such language in law is problematic.

Theres an increasingly large number of young Jews for whom their Judaism leads to an anti-Zionist position, said Stern, director of the Bard Center for the Study of Hate. I dont want the state to decide that issue.

Over the past three months, there has been a rise in protests around the country calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages. A coalition of organizations, including Jewish Voice for Peace and CAIR, issued a joint statement saying the Georgia legislation falsely equates critiques of Israel and Zionism with discrimination against Jewish people.

Measures using the same definition of antisemitism  but in anti-discrimination laws  have advanced in legislative chambers in Indiana and South Dakota. A report from the Anti-Defamation League last year found major increases in antisemitic incidents in Georgia and Indiana, but not in South Dakota, where fewer than 10 a year were recently reported.

Other legislation with the definition is pending in at least five other states this year.

Bill supporters say that more than 30 states have adopted the definition in some way over the years. Before now, the legal definitions  including in New York, the state with the largest Jewish population  came primarily through resolutions or executive orders rather than forceful laws.

In other parts of the country, Iowa incorporated the definition into law in 2022 and Virginia did the same last year, among others.

Lawmakers say their bills are in response to the Oct. 7 attacks, though before that the problem of antisemitism was on the rise in the U.S. and around the globe. Since the Israel-Hamas war erupted, several states passed resolutions condemning Hamas and voicing support for Israel.

Thousands of entities around the world, including the U.S. State Department, major companies and colleges, officially recognized the definition, with groups including the American Jewish Committee supporting it.

However the U.S. Congress and American Bar Association declined to do so. Among those urging lawmakers to vote no are chapters of the ACLU.

"There is fundamental First Amendment harm whenever the state tries to silence pure speech on the basis of its viewpoint," said Brian Hauss, an ACLU lawyer.

Backers of the laws emphasize they're not trying to ban speech but rather decipher between actions that amount to discrimination or hate crimes, which carry different degrees of severity.

This bill is entirely about conduct  adverse or unequal treatment thats prohibited in state law, said South Dakota state Rep. Fred Deutsch, a Republican whose father was a Holocaust survivor. This bill doesnt limit a person or organizations freedom of speech or expression. This week the chamber passed a measure by a 53-14 vote.

Lara Friedman, president of Foundation for Middle East Peace, said the laws could elevate charges, such as those against a protester for property destruction, to the level of a hate crime if the perpetrator is seen with a Palestinian flag.

Georgia State Rep. Ruwa Romman, a Democrat of Palestinian descent, said the definition, when adopted by colleges, stifled students' right to free speech.

When they attempted to host a Palestinian poet or Palestinian culture night, the administration has preemptively canceled the events for fears of being antisemitic, she said.

Some protesters gathered in the Indiana Capitol in recent weeks before the House unanimously advanced a bill incorporating the definition there.

How colleges are acting to prevent or stop antisemitism on campus has become a hot-button issue across the country. Last year, fallout from campus presidents' testimony before Congress led to the resignation of presidents at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania.

Antisemitic incidents are on the rise in most states Antisemitic incidents are on the rise in most states US total 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 US total
PETALUMA, Calif.  Last month, Mike Weber got the news every poultry farmer fears: His chickens tested positive for avian flu.

Following government rules, Weber's company, Sunrise Farms, had to slaughter its entire flock of egg-laying hens  550,000 birds  to prevent the disease from infecting other farms in Sonoma County north of San Francisco.

"It's a trauma. We're all going through grief as a result of it," Weber said, standing in an empty hen house. "Petaluma is known as the Egg Basket of the World. It's devastating to see that egg basket go up in flames."

Emergency declared

A year after the bird flu led to record egg prices and widespread shortages, the disease known as highly pathogenic avian influenza is wreaking havoc in California, which escaped the earlier wave of outbreaks that devastated poultry farms in the Midwest.

The highly contagious virus ravaged Sonoma County, where officials declared a state of emergency. During the past two months, nearly a dozen commercial farms have had to destroy more than 1 million birds to control the outbreak, dealing an economic blow to farmers, workers and their customers.

Merced County in Central California also has been hit hard, with outbreaks at several large commercial egg-producing farms in recent weeks.

Experts say bird flu is spread by ducks, geese and other migratory birds. The waterfowl can carry the virus without getting sick and easily spread it through their droppings to chicken and turkey farms and backyard flocks through droppings and nasal discharges.

California poultry farms are implementing strict biosecurity measures to curb the spread of the disease.

State Veterinarian Annette Jones urged farmers to keep their flocks indoors until June, including organic chickens that are required to have outdoor access.

"We still have migration going for another couple of months. So we've got to be as vigilant as possible to protect our birds," said Bill Mattos, president of the California Poultry Federation.

Past outbreaks affected egg, meat prices

The loss of local hens led to a spike in egg prices in the San Francisco Bay Area over the holidays before supermarkets and restaurants found suppliers from outside the region.

While bird flu has been around for decades, the current outbreak of the virus that began in early 2022 prompted officials to slaughter nearly 82 million birds, mostly egg-laying chickens, in 47 U.S. states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Whenever the disease is found, the entire flock is slaughtered to help limit the spread of the virus.

The price of a dozen eggs more than doubled to $4.82 at its peak in January 2023. Egg prices returned to their normal range as egg producers built up their flocks and outbreaks were controlled. Turkey and chicken prices also spiked, partly due to the virus.

"I think this is an existential issue for the commercial poultry industry. The virus is on every continent, except for Australia at this point," said Maurice Pitesky, a poultry expert at the University of California, Davis.

Climate change is increasing the risk of outbreaks as changing weather patterns disrupt the migratory patterns of wild birds, Pitesky said. For example, exceptional rainfall last year created new waterfowl habitat throughout California, including areas close to poultry farms.

Backyard birds in danger, too

In California, the outbreak has impacted more than 7 million chickens in about 40 commercial flocks and 24 backyard flocks, with most of the outbreaks occurring over the past two months on the North Coast and Central Valley, according to the USDA.

Industry officials are worried about the growing number of backyard chickens that could become infected and spread avian flu to commercial farms.

"We have wild birds that are are full of virus. And if you expose your birds to these wild birds, they might get infected and ill," said Rodrigo Gallardo, a UC Davis researcher who studies avian influenza.

He advises the owners of backyard chickens to wear clean clothes and shoes to protect their flocks from getting infected. If an unusual number of chickens die, they should be tested for avian flu.

Ettamarie Peterson, a retired teacher in Petaluma, has a flock of about 50 chickens that produce eggs she sells from her backyard barn for 50 cents each.

"I'm very concerned because this avian flu is transmitted by wild birds, and there's no way I can stop the wild birds from coming through and leaving the disease behind," Peterson said. "If your flock has any cases of it, you have to destroy the whole flock."

'The birds were just dead'

Sunrise Farms, which was started by Weber's great-grandparents more than a century ago, was infected despite putting in place strict biosecurity measures to protect the flock.

"The virus got to the birds so bad and so quickly, you walked in and the birds were just dead," Weber said. "Heartbreaking doesn't describe how you feel when you walk in and perfectly healthy young birds have been just laid out."

After euthanizing more than half a million chickens, Weber and his employees spent the Christmas holiday discarding the carcasses. Since then, they've been cleaning out and disinfecting the hen houses.

Weber hopes the farm will get approval from federal regulators to bring chicks back to the farm this spring. Then it would take another five months before the hens are mature enough to lay eggs.

He feels lucky that two farms his company co-owns have not been infected and are still producing eggs for his customers. But recovering from the outbreak won't be easy.

"We have a long road ahead," Weber said. "We're going to make another run of it and try to keep this family of employees together because they've worked so hard to build this into the company that it is."
MANASSAS, Va.  It was President Joe Biden's first big campaign rally of the year, a chance to spotlight the issue of protecting abortion rights. Instead, at least a dozen times during Biden's 22-minute speech, demonstrators scattered throughout the audience rose to shout out demands for a cease-fire in Gaza.

A recent speech in Virginia became a fits-and-starts affair. Over and over, the protesters interjected and were drowned out by audience members shouting chants of four more years! and Joe! Joe! Joe!

They feel deeply, Biden said of the demonstrators, who were pulled from the room by security personnel.

The Democratic president is increasingly contending with protests inside and outside his events from progressives upset about his administration's support for Israel in its offensive in Gaza. More than 26,000 Palestinians, mostly women and minors, have been killed in Gaza since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory.

The protests lay bare the tensions Biden is facing within his own party as he struggles with the fallout from his handling of the war while honoring the First Amendment rights of his critics to speak out. Bidens ability to navigate those crosscurrents will be critical to his reelection effort as he tries to energize Democrats this fall, especially young people who are particularly concerned about the war's effects.

Demonstrators disrupted Biden's speech at Mother Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina earlier this month as the president spoke out against racism, and they turned up at a United Auto Workers gathering this past week in Washington where Biden accepted the powerful union's endorsement, and at a political event in Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday.

For most people, you get very few chances in this life to confront the president of the United States, said Niki Thomas, a 29-year-old UAW member who yelled for a cease-fire and was dragged from the room during Biden's speech to the union. There was no way that we werent going to take that opportunity to speak up for for ourselves, for our members, to get a chance to let the president know how we feel.

Protesting is an American tradition, and it's hardly a surprise that a president would see demonstrations on an issue such as the Israel-Hamas conflict. Biden aides and allies say the loud few do not represent the majority who back his policies.

Is it helpful? No. Its not helpful to the presidents ability to mobilize and coalesce his base, Democratic strategist Cornell Belcher said of the protests. But is it fatal at this point? I dont think its fatal. They have to navigate it."

As part of that navigation, he said, Biden needs to show voters what he's doing to end the conflict and contrast that with what Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has said: that the war should be allowed to play out." The former president also has called for U.S. borders to be sealed from Palestinian refugees.

Biden and his aides have said they do not want to see any civilians die in Hamas-ruled Gaza, and Biden helped broker a temporary cease-fire that saw critical aid reach the territory and the release of some hostages held by the militants.

During a visit to Tel Aviv, Biden warned the Israelis not to be consumed by rage." But Biden has also said he believes Israel has the right to defend itself and he has asked Congress for billions to help Israel in its war effort.

The president is concerned, as I said at the very outset, with the 100-plus hostages, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. Hes not looking at the clock and the electoral calendar.

Democratic voters in New Hampshires primary were roughly split on how Biden has handled the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to AP VoteCast. Just 4 in 10 of those who disapproved of how Biden has managed the conflict voted for him. But among those who approve of Bidens leadership in the Middle East, nearly 8 in 10 voted for him.

How the president handles his vocal detractors is important, too. Those who disrupt his events are typically removed by security or event staff. If someone is considered a threat or becomes violent, they may face arrest. No one has been arrested so far.

Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said Biden's response to demonstrators shows he's a president who understands and respects Americans' fundamental First Amendment rights to peacefully protest."

Joe Biden is approaching the situation in the Middle East, not through the lens of politics, but as the commander in chief of this country who was prioritizing American national security and global security," Tyler said. He said Biden was doing so "with the empathy and the decency that complex situations demand."

It's a stark contrast, he said, to how Trump handles dissent.

During the 2016 campaign, Trump's rallies occasionally devolved into violence, with demonstrators kicked or punched as they were escorted out, and Trump calling the disrupters disgusting and troublemakers.

This year, Trump has faced isolated protests at recent campaign events in Iowa and New Hampshire by demonstrators on climate change and other policies.

When he was interrupted at a rally in Indianola, Iowa, shortly before the states Republican caucuses on Jan. 15, Trump taunted from the stage as a protester was quickly removed: Go home to mommy. Your mommy is waiting. Go home to mommy.

At a rally in Rochester, New Hampshire, Trump dismissed protesters as misguided people.

The next night, when a protester interrupted his rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, Trump directed from the stage: You can throw him out.

The pros and cons of using multiple banks, according to banking experts The pros and cons of using multiple banks, according to banking experts
WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump met with leaders of the Teamsters Union in Washington on Wednesday as he tried to chip away at President Joe Biden's organized labor support heading into a likely general election rematch.

Trump participated in a roundtable with the union's executive board, its president and members as he works to win over the blue-collar workers who helped fuel his 2016 victory and who are expected to play a major role in November, particularly in critical Midwestern swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan.

Speaking to reporters after what he called a very productive meeting, Trump acknowledged the union typically backs Democrats, but said of a possible endorsement, Stranger things have happened."

Usually a Republican wouldnt get that endorsement, he said. But in my case its different because Ive employed thousands of Teamsters and I thought we should come over and pay our respects."

As you know, a big part of the voting bloc votes for me."

Union voters tend to vote Democratic, with 56% of members and households backing Biden in 2020, according to AP VoteCast. And Biden has already received significant organized labor backing with early endorsements from the AFL-CIO and others. But Trump is hoping to cut into that support as he casts himself as pro-worker and tries to exacerbate longstanding divisions between union leaders and rank-and-file members.

Days before the meeting, he called on members of the United Auto Workers to oust their president, Shawn Fain, after the group endorsed Biden.

Shawn Fain doesnt understand this or have a clue, Trump wrote on his Truth Social network. Get rid of this dope & vote for DJT. I will bring the Automobile Industry back to our Country.

Trump aides, before Wednesday's meeting, said the fact that it was taking place was a win in and of itself. For the first time, the union has been holding a series of roundtable discussions with candidates from both parties as it weighs its decision, expected following the summer party conventions.

Our members want to hear from all candidates of all parties about what they plan to do for working people as president, Teamsters President Sean OBrien said in a statement. Our union wants every candidate to know that there are 1.3 million Teamsters nationwide whose votes will not be taken for granted. Workers voices must be heard.

OBrien later described the conversation with Trump as pleasant and direct, but said the union was a long way from making a decision. He said it has additional questions for Trump and for Biden, who has yet to set a similar meeting. He said the Teamsters will poll members over the coming weeks.

He acknowledged that Trump has the support of many members.

There's no doubt about (it)," he said, there is union support for President Trump. And there's always union support for President Biden, But even as he praised Biden's record he, added: What you've done in the past doesn't guarantee your future with us. We want to know what you're going to do for our members moving forward.

Biden has long billed himself as the most labor-friendly president in history, and went so far as to turn up on a picket line in the Detroit area during an autoworkers' strike last fall. He was also invited for his own session Wednesday. Biden campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt said Biden looks forward to meeting with the Teamsters and earning their endorsement, but the timing remained TBA.

On Thursday, Biden will travel to Michigan, where he plans to meet with UAW members, according to a campaign official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of a trip that had not been formally announced.

Earlier this month, OBrien met privately with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club, where the two discussed issues including right-to-work laws that allow those in unionized workplaces to opt out of paying dues and fees. They also posed for a side-by-side photo, both flashing thumbs-up signs, that Trump posted online.

We put our cards on the table. It was a very matter-of-fact meeting, he said. He claimed he was, you know, 100%  supportive of unions, but history obviously, you take a look back and theres certain issues that we have with him, he said.

During Trump's presidency, the National Labor Relations Board reversed several key rulings that had made it easier for small unions to organize, strengthened the bargaining rights of franchise workers and provided protection against anti-union measures for employees.

The Supreme Court's conservative majority  including three justices that Trump nominated  overturned a decades-old pro-union decision in 2018 involving fees paid by government workers. The justices in 2021 rejected a California regulation giving unions access to farm property so they could organize workers.

While the Teamsters endorsed Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016, O'Brien stressed the union has a very diverse membership. And our members vote.

Art Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell University, said that in the past unions almost automatically endorsed Democratic candidates. But this year, he said, unions like the Teamsters have required candidates to outline their positions and show how they will support rank-and-file workers to earn their backing.

What the Hollywood strikes tell us about the state of unions in the US What the Hollywood strikes tell us about the state of unions in the US Union support reaches levels last seen when Ronald Reagan led striking Hollywood actors Union drives grow more effective Clashes between workers and employers rising Union membership still below prepandemic levels
WASHINGTON (AP)  The United States on Wednesday attributed the drone attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, as President Joe Biden weighs his response options to the stroke.

The attribution comes as Iran threatened on Wednesday to decisively respond to any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic after the U.S. said it holds Tehran responsible. The U.S. has signaled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Mideast in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that also wounded at least 40 troops at Tower 22, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan thats been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday the U.S. believes the attack was planned, resourced and facilitated by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah. He said Biden believes that it is important to respond in an appropriate way.

Kirby said Biden was continuing to weigh retaliation options to the attack but said the first thing you see wont be the last thing," adding it won't be a one-off.

Kirby dismissed a statement by Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah announcing the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces in order to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government. He said that the group can't be taken at face value, and he added, theyre not the only group that has been attacking us.

Any additional American strikes could further inflame a region already roiled by Israels ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The war began with Hamas attacking Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed more than 26,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly 2 million others from their homes, arousing anger throughout the Muslim world.

Violence has erupted across the Mideast, with Iran striking targets in Iraq, Pakistan and Syria, and the U.S. carrying out airstrikes targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels over their attacks shipping in the Red Sea. Some observers fear a new round of strikes targeting Iran could tip the region into a wider war.

A U.S. Navy destroyer in the waterway shot down an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the Houthis late Tuesday, the latest attack targeting American forces patrolling the key maritime trade route, officials said. The U.S. later launched a new round of airstrikes targeting the Houthis.

The Iranian warnings first came from Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He gave a briefing to Iranian journalists late Tuesday, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

The Islamic Republic would decisively respond to any attack on the county, its interests and nationals under any pretexts, IRNA quoted Iravani as saying. He described any possible Iranian retaliation as a strong response, without elaborating.

The Iranian mission to the U.N. did not respond to requests for comment or elaboration Wednesday on Iravani's remarks.

Iravani also denied that Iran and the U.S. had exchanged any messages over the last few days, either through intermediaries or directly. The pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera, which is based in and funded by Qatar, reported earlier that such communication had taken place. Qatar often serves as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.

Such messages have not been exchanged," Iravani said.

But Iran's government has taken note of the U.S. threats of retaliation for the attack on the base in Jordan.

Sometime, our enemies raise the threat, and nowadays we hear some threats in between words by American officials," Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Hossein Salami, who answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said at an event Wednesday. "We tell them that you have experienced us, and we know each other. We do not leave any threat without an answer.

We are not after war, but we have no fear of war, he added, according to IRNA.

On Saturday, a general in charge of Iran's air defenses described them as being at their highest defensive readiness. That raises concerns for commercial aviation traveling through and over Iran as well. After a U.S. drone strike killed a top general in 2020, Iranian air defenses mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people on board.

Meanwhile, attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels continue in the Red Sea, most recently targeting a U.S. warship. The missile launched Tuesday night targeted the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the U.S. militarys Central Command said in a statement. No injuries or damage were reported.

A Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement Wednesday morning, calling it a victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people and a response to the American-British aggression against our country.

Saree claimed the Houthis fired several missiles, something not acknowledged by the U.S. Navy. Houthi claims have been exaggerated in the past, and their missiles sometimes crash on land and fail to reach their targets.

The Houthis claimed without evidence on Monday to have targeted the USS Lewis B. Puller, a floating landing base used by the Navy SEALs and others. The U.S. said there had been no attack.

On Wednesday, a U.S. military jet struck a surface-to-air missile that was about to launch from Houthi-controlled Yemen, a U.S. official said. The missile was deemed an immediate threat and destroyed. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details ahead of a public announcement.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israels offensive against Hamas in Gaza. 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.

The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday, sparking a fire that burned for hours.

The U.S. and the United Kingdom have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes targeting the Houthis as allied warships patrol the waterways affected by the attacks. The European Union also plans to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea within three weeks to help defend cargo ships against the Houthi attacks, the blocs top diplomat said Wednesday.

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?
JENIN, West Bank  Israeli forces disguised as civilian women and medics stormed a hospital Tuesday in the occupied West Bank, killing three Palestinian militants in a dramatic raid that underscored how deadly violence has spilled into the territory from the war in Gaza.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli forces opened fire inside the Ibn Sina Hospital in the West Bank town of Jenin. A hospital spokesperson said there was no exchange of fire, indicating it was a targeted killing.

Israel's military claimed the militants were using the hospital as a hideout, without providing evidence.

Security camera footage from the hospital shows about a dozen undercover forces, most of them armed, wearing Muslim headscarves, hospital scrubs or white doctor's coats. One carried a rifle in one arm and a folded wheelchair in the other.

PM rejects key demands

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile ruled out a military withdrawal from Gaza or the release of thousands of jailed militants  Hamas' main two demands for any cease-fire  casting doubt on the latest efforts to end a war that has destabilized the broader Middle East.

Netanyahu, speaking at an event elsewhere in the West Bank, denied reports of a possible cease-fire deal to end the war in Gaza and repeated his vow to keep fighting until Israel achieves "absolute victory" over Hamas.

"We will not end this war without achieving all of our goals," said Netanyahu, who is under mounting pressure from families of the hostages and the wider public to reach a deal.

"We will not withdraw the Israeli military from the Gaza Strip and we will not release thousands of terrorists," he said.

Hamas top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said Tuesday the group was studying the latest terms for a deal but the priority was the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and any agreement should lead to a long-term cease-fire.

He said Hamas' leadership was invited to Cairo to continue talks. The militant group, which has reached lopsided exchange deals with Israel in the past, is expected to demand the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners  including high-profile militants  in exchange for the remaining hostages.

Qatar and Egypt, which mediate with Hamas, held talks with Israel and the United States in recent days. U.S. officials said negotiators made progress toward a deal, including the phased release of the remaining hostages over a two-month period and the entry of more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The war in Gaza began when hundreds of Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250 others. Hamas released more than 100 during a weeklong cease-fire in November in exchange for 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Israel's offensive has killed more than 26,700 people in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory. The ministry count does not distinguish between fighters and civilians, but says about two-thirds of the dead are women and minors.

A strike on a residential building in the central town of Deir al-Balah on Tuesday killed 11 people, including four children, according to Associated Press reporters who saw the bodies at a hospital.

The war has leveled vast swaths of the tiny coastal enclave, displaced 85% of its population, and pushed a quarter of residents to starvation.

Hospitals become battlegrounds

Israel has come under heavy criticism for its raids on hospitals in Gaza, which have treated tens of thousands of Palestinians wounded in the war and provided critical shelter for displaced people.

Gaza's health care system, which was already feeble before the war, is on the verge of collapse, buckling under the scores of patients as well as a lack of fuel and medical necessities because of Israeli restrictions and fighting in and near the facilities.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli forces raided the Al-Amal Hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Tuesday, where about 7,000 displaced people were sheltering.

The rescue service said Israeli tanks lined up outside the hospital fired live ammunition and smoke grenades at the people inside. Raed al-Nims, a spokesperson for the aid group, said everyone was ordered to evacuate.

The Israeli military said without elaborating that its forces were operating in the area of the hospital but not inside it.

West Bank crackdown

Violence in the West Bank has also surged since Oct. 7, as Israel has cracked down on suspected militants, killing more than 380 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Most were killed in confrontations with Israeli forces during arrest raids or violent protests.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war.

Israel withdrew troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, but imposed a stifling blockade on the territory, along with Egypt, when Hamas came to power in a violent takeover in 2007. It maintains an open-ended occupation of the West Bank, where more than half a million Israelis now live in settlements.

The Palestinians claim these territories as part of their future independent state, hopes for which have increasingly dimmed since the war began.

2023 in photos: Unforgettable images capture Middle East in turmoil
Starbucks is taking its extra virgin olive oil-infused drinks  which some customers previously complained of sending them straight to the bathroom  nationwide beginning Tuesday.

The lineup, called Oleato, launched in a few U.S. cities last year before slowly expanding to more stores. Tuesdays launch across its U.S. and Canada locations signifies that the chain stands behind the beverage despite subpar reviews from customers and critics.

On the Oleato menu are two drinks: An oat milk latte infused with the extra virgin olive oil; and a new toffeenut iced shaken espresso with golden foam, which is vanilla sweet cream infused with extra virgin olive oil into a cold foam.

The drinks debuted in Italy in 2023, with a Starbucks executive previously telling CNN that its one of its biggest launches weve had in decades.

Oleato is the brainchild of former CEO Howard Schultz, who announced the new line of drinks with much fanfare before he handed the reins over to the current CEO, Laxman Narasimhan.

Schultz met olive oil producer Tommaso Asaro, who introduced him to the practice of consuming a tablespoon of olive oil each day. Schultz picked up the habit himself, wondered if he could combine it with his daily coffee routine, and asked Starbucks beverage team to see if they could pull it off.

Once people had a chance to try the drinks, opinions poured in. One pair of reviewers posted a video titled We Tried Starbucks Olive Oil Coffee Drinks and Seriously Regret It.

Others had mixed feelings but concluded that the drinks seem more like a stunt  something worth trying but not necessarily worth coming back for.

We feel this line of drinks is more for the headlines than the longevity on the menu, Tasting Table noted in its review. A Bon Appetit reviewer wondered if the drinks will turn into a secret menu item, with stores outfitted with carafes of (extra virgin olive oil) in case someone wants a pump of it.

Some customers say its making them have to run to the bathroom, with social media abuzz with complaints.

During an analyst call last year, Narasimhan described the beverage launch as highly successful, calling it one of the top five product launches in the last five years in terms of brand awareness and excitement.

Starbucks reports earnings Tuesday after the bell, with the chain potentially reporting a rocky quarter due to various reasons, including protests and softer holiday sales.

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DES MOINES  Foreign owners of Iowa farmland would be required to report more detailed information, although most of that information would not be made public under legislation that got its first legislative approval Tuesday at the Iowa Capitol.

The legislation was proposed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who raised the topic during her Jan. 9 Condition of the State address. Her proposal would require more robust reporting of information about foreign farmland owners, require the Iowa Secretary of States office to increase its tracking of such ownership and grant the Iowa Attorney Generals Office broader subpoena authority to investigate potential violations of state law about foreign farmland ownership.

Reynolds and state lawmakers in support of the proposal say Iowa already has strong laws regarding foreign land ownership, and her bill would make them even stronger.

I think this is a great piece of legislation thats going to advance our understanding of who our neighbors are, Sen. Dan Zumbach, a Republican from Ryan and a farmer, said during the subcommittee hearing. And I think all of us need to know who they are. Currently, that might be a question. But other than the people of Iowa, Iowas land is the most precious resource we have.  And this bill will clarify who (landowners) are.

Still, the proposal would shield most of the newly reported information from public view. The Iowa Secretary of State would be required to file an annual report on foreign farmland ownership in Iowa  which would be made available to state lawmakers but not the public. Zumbach said he is not concerned with those provisions.

I think the information, when this is all said and done, that the public will be able to have some redacted versions of that of whats going on, Zumbach told reporters. But I think at this point, were good where were at.  I think at this point, I like where the legislation is.

The proposed legislation was approved by Zumbach, his fellow Republican Sen. Dawn Driscoll, of Williamsburg, and Democratic Sen. Todd Taylor, of Cedar Rapids.

Iowas current primary foreign land ownership law says that a non-resident alien, foreign business or foreign government  shall not purchase or otherwise acquire agricultural land in this state. However, foreign people or firms who owned Iowa farmland before Jan. 1, 1980, were allowed to keep it but prohibited from buying more.

There are some exceptions, including farmland used for testing, developing or producing seeds or plants for sale or resale to farmers and land used for research or experimentation, not profits.

Farm group advocates spoke in favor of the governors bill during Tuesdays hearing. There are no lobbying organizations registered in opposition to the bill. Legislative liaisons for the governors and Attorney Generals Office also spoke at the hearing.

We think its a positive change for Iowa. We want to make sure that land stays in the hands of Iowans, said Dan Breitbarth, with the Iowa Attorney Generals Office.

With that first approval, the bill  Senate Study Bill 3113  becomes eligible for consideration by the full Iowa Senate Agriculture Committee.
DES MOINES  Suzanne Castello became emotional, and at times raised her voice as she spoke to Iowa state lawmakers on Wednesday about the aid and services that her son has received from the area education agency in her region.

Suzannes son, Gabe, has dyslexia and dysgraphia, which impact his ability to read and write. In preschool, he had difficulties sitting still and needed an occupational therapist from the local AEA.

For four years, Castello homeschooled her son, and now he attends Grinnell High School. Through all those situations, Castello said the AEA has aided Gabe with specialized professionals and services.

There are deep problems in our school districts in delivery of education, she told lawmakers. "I do not see the AEA as a problem. And I'm really mad that I am in an institution that is depriving school districts of money, and keeps on skimping and skimping and skimping. And then, when there's not enough money to actually get good education, then they say, 'Oh, you're failing, so we're just going to cut the overhead.'"

Castello was one of dozens of people at the Iowa State Capitol on Wednesday to speak against a bill proposed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds that would overhaul the states area education agencies and give schools the ability to opt out of their special education services and seek them from another party.

The bill also met resistance from majority Republican lawmakers in both the House and the Senate on Wednesday as it faced its first hurdle to becoming law in both chambers. Republican Rep. Skyler Wheeler of Hull, the chair of the House Education Committee, declined to advance the bill out of a subcommittee on Wednesday, saying he wanted further conversations before we take action on the bill.

Senate Republicans advanced the bill, but pledged it would see more changes as it moves forward.

Republican Rep. David Young of Van Meter, an assistant Republican leader in the House, expressed skepticism about the bills future in the chamber. He said there is not a lot of appetite for the AEA reforms in the bill but said Republicans support the teacher pay increases included in the bill.

Reynolds pitched the bill as a key piece of her legislative agenda for this years session. She said the change is necessary as the test scores of Iowa students with disabilities have lagged and the state sends a comparatively high amount on those students without seeing top-level results.

"We need to just step back and start to ask some of those questions with the overall objective of making sure that we're doing everything we can to get these kids with disabilities the education that they deserve and hopefully see better outcomes," Reynolds told reporters on Wednesday. "So you can't police yourself, get all the money, mandate I use you, and not be held accountable when the scores are not reflecting what they should be. That's unconscionable."

Iowa's nine AEAs, which are governmental agencies separate from the Department of Education, provide special education to school districts in their boundaries and assist with classroom equipment and media services, professional development and talented and gifted instruction, among other services.

Under the proposal, which Reynolds amended this week, federal and state special education funds would be sent directly to schools, who could then decide whether or not to contract with the AEAs. If they do not, schools would still have the legal obligation to educate students with disabilities, and could obtain that instruction from a third party, like a private company.

Currently, AEAs receive special education funding for the schools in their region and are tasked with providing that education to those districts.

AEAs would also still be allowed to provide the myriad other services they provide to school districts under Reynolds amended proposal, if the district requests them and they are approved by the Department of Education.

The bill would keep in place a $35 million property tax levy that schools can use to pay for the AEAs educational services, but remove a $33 million property tax stream that funds the agencies media services. The education service funds could be used for media services.

Under the proposal, much of the AEAs' operations and oversight would also come under the purview of the state Department of Education. The department director would be in charge of hiring AEA directors, making decisions on combining and dissolving AEAs, and approving budgets submitted by the AEAs.

The bill would also create a special education division in the Department of Education and bring the employees in charge of oversight under the Department of Education. That change would lead to more than 200 AEA staff positions being cut, Reynolds said.

The bill also includes a provision to increase the starting salary for teachers to $50,000. Teachers with at least 12 years of experience would be paid at least $62,000.

School administrators split on proposal

Superintendents spoke both for and against the bill during subcommittee meetings on Wednesday.

Some superintendents who backed the bill said they want to maintain control of the special education dollars for their students, and they said they can provide those same services for a lower cost than the AEAs spend now.

Corey Seymour, the superintendent of the Clear Creek Amana School District, said the Grant Wood AEA has provided vital services to his school district, but he believes school districts should be in charge of funding for their students with disabilities.

Each district is different, and with control of our flow-through funds, we will be able to create an individual education plan for our entire district, he said. If services are adequate and addresses the needs of our district, we will continue to use them.

But others said smaller districts would not be able to provide the same level of services that AEAs provide. Without absorbing the funding from all the schools in the district, they said, AEAs would not be able to pay for services needed by schools with less money.

Brad Buck, the Waukee Community School District superintendent and former Iowa Department of Education director under Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, said the bill would hurt rural school districts and create winners and losers.

There's no way this math works like it's being described, he told Senate lawmakers. I'm just telling you that. It's far more likely that larger districts will come out in better shape and this bill will impact smaller, and especially rural districts.

What does the bill mean for special education?

The bill does not include any cuts to special education funding, and Reynolds has insisted it will lead to improved outcomes for Iowas students with disabilities. But parents of students with disabilities on Wednesday said they were worried the bill would lead to inconsistent services, cuts and a weakening of the special education framework in the state.

Carrie Norris, whose 16-year-old daughter, Lilli, is hard of hearing, said the AEAs services and support have been vital in allowing Lilli to participate in the classroom and be prepared to go to college in the future.

She feels like she can do this because of the therapy that she has gotten from AEA, Norris said. Im not asking you to not look at this bill and wonder if theres budget changes that need to be made. I dont know anything about that. But what I do know is I have a daughter who has benefitted from AEA, and I know shes not the only one in the room.

Speaking to those concerns on Wednesday, Reynolds said the state will continue to provide special education to all students, and schools can continue using their AEA services if her proposal becomes law.

Im not trying to make them go away, I just want some transparency, some accountability, and I want better outcomes for our children, Reynolds said. Thats what I want. Thats my sole focus, is these kids  is to make sure that we are taking care of their needs and were providing adequate education.

Whats next for the governors AEA bill?

After passing the Senate subcommittee, the bill is eligible for a vote in the full committee. The Republicans on that committee, though, cautioned that the bill will likely see a number of changes. Sen. Ken Rozenboom, R-Pella, the chair of the Senate Education Committee, said he believes the AEAs need a tune up, or probably a more major overhaul.

It is unclear whether the bill will advance in the House. After Feb 16, any bill that has not been reported out of a committee is generally not eligible for consideration.

But I believe its also widely acknowledged that we dont have all the answers in front of us today, Rozenboom said. I believe we need to continue the legislative process to find these answers  Ill roll up my sleeves and continue to find solutions that serve our children well.

Rozenboom did not name any specific changes he wants to make to the bill, but he said hed be meeting with superintendents and AEA officials in the coming days to work on a path forward.

Democrats opposed the bill in both subcommittees on Wednesday. They said the bill would consolidate too much power under the Department of Education and worried that the bill was written without input from stakeholders in the state.

"There is no flexibility in this bill," said Sen. Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids. "It takes local control away from our schools and our districts 133 times ... If you're unhappy with the administrative costs, then deal with the administrative costs. Don't throw the whole baby out with the bathwater."

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
DES MOINES  Republican Iowa lawmakers advanced a bill on Tuesday that would set a heightened legal standard in cases where religious freedom is at odds with state law.

The bill, titled the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, is modeled after federal legislation that was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993.

Companion bills were passed by majority Republicans out of House and Senate subcommittees on Tuesday, making them eligible for a vote in the full committees. The lone Democrat on each subcommittee voted against the legislation.

"I've worked on this bill for many years, and I feel like this fleshes out the First Amendment protections that are in the constitution," said Republican Sen. Sandy Salmon of Janesville during the subcommittee meeting on Tuesday. "...This is one that fleshes out our First Amendment right and gives us excellent guidelines to go by when testing a religious liberty case."

Under the bill, courts would need to apply strict scrutiny, the highest legal standard, to claims that a law violates a persons religious liberty. To survive the test, the law would need to serve a compelling state interest and be narrowly tailored to accomplish that interest.

The federal law applies only to the federal government, but at least two-dozen states have passed state-level versions.

Civil rights groups and some business groups were opposed to the legislation, saying it would allow people and businesses to discriminate against people on religious grounds.

Connie Ryan, the executive director of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, said the First Amendment already provides the necessary protections for religious freedom and the bill would allow broad exemptions to state laws for religious actions.

The religious exemption legislation is broad and vague, leaving things open to abuse and potentially harming people, she said. The law could be used by anyone to claim that they dont have to follow any other law, leading to legal chaos.

Opponents of the bill said it could allow someone to refuse to allow a same-sex couple to adopt a child, a landlord to refuse to rent to an unmarried couple, and a business owner to refuse to serve customers based on their religion.

Rep. Lindsay James, a Democrat from Dubuque, voted against the bill in the House. A Presbyterian minister, James said she cares deeply about religious freedom, but that the bill "weaponizes religious beliefs to justify discrimination."

"This creates chaos  I want to be very clear  for our law enforcement, and it gives, which is most frightening to me, the judicial system the vast authority to define what is a, quote, real religion," she said.

The federal law was invoked in a 2014 case involving Hobby Lobby, in which the U.S. Supreme Court decided the law allowed private corporations to deny employees insurance coverage of contraception on religious grounds. A federal judge in Utah, later that year, cited that decision in his decision to exempt testimony in a case in which a fundamentalist Mormon church was accused of using child labor.

Some top employers and business groups in Iowa, including Principal Financial Group and the Iowa Chamber Alliance are registered against the bill, arguing it will make it more difficult to recruit employees and turn away potential business development in the state.

Republican lawmakers have attempted to pass the legislation multiple times, facing similar opposition from business groups. Republicans said the concerns about economic impact have subsided as the bill has been passed in several other states and they have not suffered any economic setbacks.

The bills supporters, including religious organizations, said the legislation introduces a sensible check on the power of the state to impede on a persons religious beliefs and actions. They said the policy has not been a pathway to discrimination in the two dozen other states that have passed it.

Opponents of this legislation can only list hypothetical situations because in federal law and in numerous states where this has been adopted, this legislation has not led to discrimination in the decades that we have lived under religious freedom laws such as this, said Rep. Steve Holt, a Republican from Denison.

Close An empty pitcher and shot sized cups sit on an altar during an ayahuasca ceremony hosted by Hummingbird Church in Hildale, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew that contains an Amazon shrub with the active ingredient, DMT, and a vine containing monoamine oxidase inhibitors that prevents the drug from breaking down in the body causing visions lasting several hours. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Participants lay face down on the grass during an integration circle at an ayahuasca retreat in Hildale, Utah, on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Following each of the three ayahuasca ceremonies, Hummingbird Church asks their participants to partake in integration, or a group reflection and discussion, to help interpret messages they received from the ayahuasca. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The Rev. Siv Limstrand lights candles at the church's cabin in Bolterdalen, Norway, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. The cabin is used for retreats and church groups. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Svalbard Kirke member Lars-Olav Tunheim descends from Plataberget mountain during a hike in Longyearbyen, Norway, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. As climate change impacts the Svalbard archipelago faster and deeper than the rest of the world, its pastor is helping the community of miners and environmentalists grapple with transformation in this unforgiving, awe-inspiring wilderness. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Joshimath town is seen along side snow capped mountains, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 21, 2023. For months, residents in Joshimath, a holy town burrowed high up in India's Himalayan mountains, have seen their homes slowly sink. They pleaded for help, but it never arrived. In January however, their town made national headlines. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes, making them unlivable. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Munni Devi, front, wipes her tears as she and Shanta Devi leave their house, in Joshimath, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 19, 2023. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes in Joshimath, where they snaked through floors, ceilings and walls, making them unlivable. Roads were split with crevices and multi-storied hotels slumped to one side. Authorities declared it a disaster zone and came in on bulldozers, razing down whole parts of a town that had become lopsided. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Loyola University basketball player, Tom Welch, shakes hands with Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the team's official chaplain, before attending practice on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Chicago. The beloved Catholic nun captured the world's imagination and became something of a folk hero while supporting the Ramblers at the NCAA Final Four in 2018. At the age of 103, Sister Jean is using her platform to publish her first book, "Wake Up with Purpose: What I've Learned in My First Hundred Years." In the memoir she tells her story and offers life lessons and spiritual guidance. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Pope Francis, second from left, looks at traditional dancers performing at the Martyrs' Stadium In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. Francis is in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Morning service concludes in the annex of the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. The cathedral is being prepared for Pope Francis' visit to Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Ben Garrett counsels a sailor in his quarters on the USS Bataan on Monday, March 20, 2023 at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. One of the chaplains' roles aboard the ship is help sailors deal with stress Navy life brings. (AP Photo/John C. Clark) A shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau is scanned at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Most of the victims were Jews killed in dictator Adolf Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe. (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk) A sandstorm rolls into Dimona, Israel, as the Hebrew Israelite community marks New World Passover, an annual celebration of their 1967 exodus from the United States, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Now, dozens of their members are facing the threat of deportation. The community do not consider themselves Jewish, but they claim an ancestral connection to the Holy Land. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) Firewalkers dance across a bed of burning coals in a ritual in honor of St. Constantine in the village of Lagkadas, Greece on Monday, May 22, 2023. Firewalking is the most spectacular and public of these annual rituals that also include dancing with icons, prayer, and shared meals by associations of devotees of the Christian Orthodox saint called "anastenaria" that have held similar celebrations for centuries. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A worker asks to a tour guide person to stop taking photos to tourists due to the start of the praying time at Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, June 28, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Worshippers attend a Mass in the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 9, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami stands at the base of a Rudraksha tree, which produces a bright blue fruit at the Kauai Hindu Monastery on July 10, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monks who reside at the temple monastery practice Shaivism, one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the supreme being. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami climbs the rocks along the Wailua river, which is sacred to many Native Hawaiians, at Kauai's Hindu Monastery on July 13, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monastery was founded by guru Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1970. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The memorial of the Rev. Maxim Andre of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, on the peninsula of Kalaupapa, Hawaii, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) A Star of David hands from a fence outside the dormant landmark Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Thursday, July 13, 2023, the day a federal jury announced they had found Robert Bowers, who in 2018 killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue, eligible for the death penalty. The next stage of the trial with present further evidence and testimony on whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison. It stands as the deadliest attack on Jewish people in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/File) Members of the Hebrew Israelite community rally outside of the District Court in Beersheba, Israel, ahead of a hearing on the deportation orders for dozens from their community, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Over the decades, the community has made inroads into Israeli society, and most of them have citizenship or residency rights. But 130 members remain undocumented, and Israeli authorities have ordered them to leave. The orders have left dozens of people, some of whom have lived most of their lives in Israel, in an uncertain legal limbo.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) A girl watches the sunset over the scenic Kadisha Valley, a holy landmark for Lebanon's Maronite Christians, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Friday, July 21, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Lebanese Maronite Christian Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, second left, leads the sermon to commemorate the Feast of the Transfiguration in the Cedars of God forest, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Maya Johnson, 7, of New York, is playfully swung into the lake by her friends during Camp Be'chol Lashon, a sleepaway camp for Jewish children of color, Friday, July 28, 2023, in Petaluma, Calif., at Walker Creek Ranch. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Dean Wiberg, right, volunteers at the evangelical Crossroads Chapel tent, which distributes thousands of free Bibles during the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. For many faith communities, the fair has long been an opportunity to reach a diverse crowd that can top two million. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A horse rider holds a Mongolian flag during a traditional performance at a cultural event organized for the media and entourage following Pope Francis' visit to Mongolia, at the Mongolia Cultural Park, some 40 kilometers out of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Pairs of oxen pull a boat-shaped float with an iconic century-old sacred image of Virgin Mary breastfeeding infant Jesus standing on the bow, during the Our Lady of Remedies procession in the small town of Lamego, in the Douro River Valley, Portugal, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. One of Portugal's largest and oldest religious festivals, the two-week celebrations that culminate with the procession, draw thousands. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) 2023 in religion: Images capture global expressions of faith, spiritualism In the searing heat of Mecca, throngs of Muslims from around the world converged for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. In the round-the-clock darkness of the polar night, a Lutheran pastor in the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard persevered in her ministry to one of the worlds most remote towns. Associated Press photographers were on the scene  there and in scores of other locales ranging from the flood-stricken mountains of northern India to the sacred volcano Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Their mission: Finding myriad ways to convey how faith and spiritualism, in their many forms, manifested themselves around the world in 2023. An empty pitcher and shot sized cups sit on an altar during an ayahuasca ceremony hosted by Hummingbird Church in Hildale, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew that contains an Amazon shrub with the active ingredient, DMT, and a vine containing monoamine oxidase inhibitors that prevents the drug from breaking down in the body causing visions lasting several hours. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Participants lay face down on the grass during an integration circle at an ayahuasca retreat in Hildale, Utah, on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Following each of the three ayahuasca ceremonies, Hummingbird Church asks their participants to partake in integration, or a group reflection and discussion, to help interpret messages they received from the ayahuasca. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The Rev. Siv Limstrand lights candles at the church's cabin in Bolterdalen, Norway, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. The cabin is used for retreats and church groups. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Svalbard Kirke member Lars-Olav Tunheim descends from Plataberget mountain during a hike in Longyearbyen, Norway, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. As climate change impacts the Svalbard archipelago faster and deeper than the rest of the world, its pastor is helping the community of miners and environmentalists grapple with transformation in this unforgiving, awe-inspiring wilderness. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Joshimath town is seen along side snow capped mountains, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 21, 2023. For months, residents in Joshimath, a holy town burrowed high up in India's Himalayan mountains, have seen their homes slowly sink. They pleaded for help, but it never arrived. In January however, their town made national headlines. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes, making them unlivable. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Munni Devi, front, wipes her tears as she and Shanta Devi leave their house, in Joshimath, in India's Himalayan mountain state of Uttarakhand, Jan. 19, 2023. Big, deep cracks had emerged in over 860 homes in Joshimath, where they snaked through floors, ceilings and walls, making them unlivable. Roads were split with crevices and multi-storied hotels slumped to one side. Authorities declared it a disaster zone and came in on bulldozers, razing down whole parts of a town that had become lopsided. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) Loyola University basketball player, Tom Welch, shakes hands with Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the team's official chaplain, before attending practice on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Chicago. The beloved Catholic nun captured the world's imagination and became something of a folk hero while supporting the Ramblers at the NCAA Final Four in 2018. At the age of 103, Sister Jean is using her platform to publish her first book, "Wake Up with Purpose: What I've Learned in My First Hundred Years." In the memoir she tells her story and offers life lessons and spiritual guidance. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Pope Francis, second from left, looks at traditional dancers performing at the Martyrs' Stadium In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. Francis is in Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Morning service concludes in the annex of the Cathedral Notre Dame du Congo in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. The cathedral is being prepared for Pope Francis' visit to Congo and South Sudan for a six-day trip starting Jan, 31, hoping to bring comfort and encouragement to two countries that have been riven by poverty, conflicts and what he calls a "colonialist mentality" that has exploited Africa for centuries. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Ben Garrett counsels a sailor in his quarters on the USS Bataan on Monday, March 20, 2023 at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. One of the chaplains' roles aboard the ship is help sailors deal with stress Navy life brings. (AP Photo/John C. Clark) A shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau is scanned at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Most of the victims were Jews killed in dictator Adolf Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe. (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk) A sandstorm rolls into Dimona, Israel, as the Hebrew Israelite community marks New World Passover, an annual celebration of their 1967 exodus from the United States, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Now, dozens of their members are facing the threat of deportation. The community do not consider themselves Jewish, but they claim an ancestral connection to the Holy Land. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) Firewalkers dance across a bed of burning coals in a ritual in honor of St. Constantine in the village of Lagkadas, Greece on Monday, May 22, 2023. Firewalking is the most spectacular and public of these annual rituals that also include dancing with icons, prayer, and shared meals by associations of devotees of the Christian Orthodox saint called "anastenaria" that have held similar celebrations for centuries. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A worker asks to a tour guide person to stop taking photos to tourists due to the start of the praying time at Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, June 28, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Worshippers attend a Mass in the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 9, 2023. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across Southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors attracted by art and architecture. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami stands at the base of a Rudraksha tree, which produces a bright blue fruit at the Kauai Hindu Monastery on July 10, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monks who reside at the temple monastery practice Shaivism, one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the supreme being. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) Paramacharya Sadasivanatha Palaniswami climbs the rocks along the Wailua river, which is sacred to many Native Hawaiians, at Kauai's Hindu Monastery on July 13, 2023, in Kapaa, Hawaii. The monastery was founded by guru Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1970. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) The memorial of the Rev. Maxim Andre of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, on the peninsula of Kalaupapa, Hawaii, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski) A Star of David hands from a fence outside the dormant landmark Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Thursday, July 13, 2023, the day a federal jury announced they had found Robert Bowers, who in 2018 killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue, eligible for the death penalty. The next stage of the trial with present further evidence and testimony on whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison. It stands as the deadliest attack on Jewish people in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/File) Members of the Hebrew Israelite community rally outside of the District Court in Beersheba, Israel, ahead of a hearing on the deportation orders for dozens from their community, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Over the decades, the community has made inroads into Israeli society, and most of them have citizenship or residency rights. But 130 members remain undocumented, and Israeli authorities have ordered them to leave. The orders have left dozens of people, some of whom have lived most of their lives in Israel, in an uncertain legal limbo.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) A girl watches the sunset over the scenic Kadisha Valley, a holy landmark for Lebanon's Maronite Christians, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Friday, July 21, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Lebanese Maronite Christian Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, second left, leads the sermon to commemorate the Feast of the Transfiguration in the Cedars of God forest, in the northeast mountain town of Bcharre, Lebanon, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. For Lebanon's Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain's harsh snowy winters. They point out with pride that Lebanon's cedars are mentioned 103 times in the Bible. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Maya Johnson, 7, of New York, is playfully swung into the lake by her friends during Camp Be'chol Lashon, a sleepaway camp for Jewish children of color, Friday, July 28, 2023, in Petaluma, Calif., at Walker Creek Ranch. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Dean Wiberg, right, volunteers at the evangelical Crossroads Chapel tent, which distributes thousands of free Bibles during the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. For many faith communities, the fair has long been an opportunity to reach a diverse crowd that can top two million. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell'Orto) A horse rider holds a Mongolian flag during a traditional performance at a cultural event organized for the media and entourage following Pope Francis' visit to Mongolia, at the Mongolia Cultural Park, some 40 kilometers out of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Pairs of oxen pull a boat-shaped float with an iconic century-old sacred image of Virgin Mary breastfeeding infant Jesus standing on the bow, during the Our Lady of Remedies procession in the small town of Lamego, in the Douro River Valley, Portugal, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. One of Portugal's largest and oldest religious festivals, the two-week celebrations that culminate with the procession, draw thousands. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
DES MOINES  A former congressional candidate from Mississippi who admitted to destroying a statue as part of a display at the Iowa Capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa has been charged with a hate crime.

Michael Cassidy, 36, from Lauderdale, Miss., initially was charged in December with fourth-degree criminal mischief, a serious misdemeanor. The charge carried a penalty of up to a year in jail and a $2,560 fine.

Cassidy, a Christian and former military officer, said in an interview with The Republic Sentinel that he tore down and beheaded a statue of Baphomet, a ram-headed figure often used to represent Satan, that was part of an altar erected inside the Capitol.

I saw this blasphemous statue and was outraged, Cassidy told the conservative website. My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted.

The Satanic Temple of Iowa issued a statement on Facebook saying its display had been destroyed beyond repair.

Court records show the Polk County Attorneys Office now is accusing Cassidy of a more serious crime. A charging document filed Friday and made public Tuesday charges Cassidy with felony third-degree criminal mischief committed "in violation of individual rights" under Iowa's hate crime statute.

Trial information filed by the Polk County Attorneys office states Cassidy intentionally damaged, defaced, altered, or destroyed the property belonging to The Satanic Temple, to-wit: a Baphomet Altar, the cost of replacing, restoring, or repairing of which exceeds $750 but less than $1,500, and furthermore, this act was done in violation of individual rights as set forth in Iowa Code section 729A.2.

Cassidy's attorney, Sara Pasquale, declined to comment Wednesday on the new charge.

The Satanic Temple has filed a damage estimate putting the cost to replace the statute at $3,000. The group is also requesting $3,299.55 in restitution for travel and security expenses for food, lodging, van rental, communications equipment and bullet proof vests that were a necessity in completing the task of removing our holiday display at the state capitol.

Glinda Vyn Cooley, a minister and congregation head for the organization, states in the court filing members felt the necessity to wear bullet proof vests due to online threats and public statements made by Cassidy.

We took a team of eight people in order to ensure safety when traveling to and from the capitol building, Cooley wrote. By the time our display was due to be removed, due to the defendant's statements on social and televised media, members of our congregation had been physically threatened online. We feel it is the defendant's responsibility to compensate us for expenses that we would not have incurred during a typical course of activity.

A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 7 in Polk County District Court to hear objections filed by Cassidys attorney over victim impact statements and statement of pecuniary damages filed by the Satanic Temple.

The display, which was permitted for two weeks under state rules that permit religious installations, has sparked outrage and national debate and calls from Republicans for its removal. Others have argued the display is religious expression protected by the First Amendment.

The installation drew strong criticism from state and national leaders, including Gov. Kim Reynolds and then-Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Cassidy has raised nearly $90,000 for his legal defense, according to crowdfunding site GiveSendGo. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 15, according to court records.
One person was found dead early Wednesday following a fire in a detached garage in Farragut, Iowa.

The fire was reported at 12:15 a.m. in the 100 block of Clay Street, Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope said in a statement. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending positive identification.

Witnesses reported seeing a person enter the garage but not exiting, the sheriff said. After the fire was extinguished, human remains were located inside the structure.

Firefighters from Farragut were aided by personnel from Shenandoah, Essex, Riverton, Sidney, Hamburg, Randolph, Tabor and Thurman. The Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Office of the State Fire Marshal are investigating the incident.

Farragut, a town of about 500, is located in southwest Omaha.

Photos: UNI men's basketball vs. Drake at Des Moines, Jan. 27
DES MOINES  Iowa House lawmakers decided to pause the advancement of a bill that would overhaul the state's area education agencies and allow schools to opt out of their special education services.

The decision came after an hour-long subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, in which school officials and parents of students with disabilities pleaded with lawmakers to kill the bill that they worried would hurt special education in the state and threaten funding for the dozens of other services they provide.

Republican Rep. Skyler Wheeler of Hull, the chair of the House Education Committee, said he and Rep. Taylor Collins of Mediapolis, the other Republican on the subcommittee, would have further conversations before moving the bill forward. Democratic Rep. Sharon Sue Steckman of Mason City voted against advancing the bill.

The Senate scheduled a subcommittee meeting on the bill at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Reynolds said the bill, House Study Bill 542, is a response to lagging test scores for students with disabilities in Iowa and the comparatively high amount Iowa spends on students with disabilities without seeing top-level test scores.

Iowa's nine AEAs, which are governmental agencies separate from the Department of Education, provide special education to school districts in their boundaries and assist with classroom equipment and media services, professional development and talented and gifted instruction, among other services.

Under the proposal, which Reynolds amended this week, federal and state special education funds would be sent directly to schools, who could then decide whether or not to contract with the AEAs. If they do not, schools would still have the legal obligation to educate students with disabilities, and could obtain that instruction from a third party, like a private company.

Currently, AEAs receive special education funding for the schools in their districts and are tasked with providing that education to those districts.

AEAs would also be allowed to provide education and media services to schools, if requested.

Reynolds told reporters on Wednesday that the goal of the bill is to elevate education and outcomes for students with disabilities.

"We need to just step back and start to ask some of those questions with the overall objective of making sure that we're doing everything we can to get these kids with disabilities the education that they deserve and hopefully see better outcomes," she said. "So you can't police yourself, get all the money, mandate I use you, and not be held accountable when the scores are not reflecting what they should be. That's unconscionable."

Under the proposal, much of the AEAs' operations and oversight would also come under the purview of the state Department of Education.

The property tax money that funds AEA education services would go directly to schools, and the levy that funds media services would be cut. Schools could still pay for media services with education service funds.

Suzanne Castello, a resident of Kellogg who has a son with learning disabilities that attends Grinnell High School, said the bill is an extension of lawmakers' past actions directing money away from public education.

She said the staff and administrators at Iowa's AEAs are vital for identifying the services that students need.

"If I had to choose between somebody in my community, and somebody who's slick, coming from the outside, who's selling a service, I will choose the people that I know, who are in my community, doing the hard work on the ground," she said.
One of the few bipartisan traditions left in American politics is hating on the presidential debates. Theyre never substantive enough, the moderators always intervene too much or too little, and they have little effect on voters. Who needs 'em?

So reports that President Joe Biden and Donald Trump are contemplating skipping this years edition, put on by the Commission on Presidential Debates every four years since 1988, are hardly surprising. Trump didnt participate in any Republican primary debates either, and the Republican National Committee withdrew from the debate commission two years ago. Biden has declined to commit to its 2024 schedule.

It is left to me to -- well, if I cant quite defend the debates, I can at least say this: Well miss them when theyre gone. The only thing worse than presidential debates may be a campaign without them.

Of course, American democracy long predates the tradition of televised presidential debates.

And the tradition itself had a rough start. Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy famously faced off in 1960, but Lyndon Johnson saw no need to risk a debate in 1964. Nixon, with a commanding lead and embittered by his prior debate experience, likewise declined to debate in 1968 and 1972. It wasnt until 1976, with a matchup between President Gerald Ford and challenger Jimmy Carter, that the modern debate era begins.

The tradition was truly entrenched eight years later by incumbent Ronald Reagan, who agreed to debate Walter Mondale in 1984. The debates had no real upside for Reagan, who was on his way to a landslide win, and he was widely seen to have stumbled during the first debate. Once he established the norm, however, it was off to the races.

The Commission on Presidential Debates was formed in 1987, and has sponsored debates in the last nine presidential elections. Now the burden is on presidents to explain why they cant debate, instead of on the commission to say why they should.

None of this is to say that these debates have been grand exchanges of ideas in the tradition of Lincoln and Douglas in 1858. Yet for all their flaws, the debates do offer something magical: They are a shared national political experience. Devoted partisans on both sides will watch, along with the tiny handful of high-information swing voters who actually pay close attention to political campaigns.

One fact often obscured by Americas highly polarized two-party politics is that the U.S. is a very large and diverse country. Both party coalitions include lots of people who have significant disagreements with each other. The easiest way to manage those disagreements is to keep your partisans focused on the negative aspects of the other side, often by serving up highly caricatured portrayals of your opponents. At this point, it almost seems as if the majority of Democrats and Republicans are convinced that the other partys nominee is senile.

To gainsay that impression and inform voters of the rivals actual positions, put the two candidates side by side on a debate stage. Biden partisans could watch Trump talk in uninterrupted stretches, and vice versa. Thats very unlikely to dramatically change anyones opinion. But it would be a small step toward a healthier society with something more resembling a consensus reality.

The problem is that the media fragmentation that makes debates valuable also makes them increasingly vulnerable. The three-TV-network monopoly had downsides, but it gave national politics some grounding and focus. In todays landscape, almost nothing short of a debate can provide that common focus.

At the same time, politicians have less to lose from ducking debates because they no longer need the cooperation of the mainstream media to get their message out. The difficulty of getting the tradition off the ground was always the fear that the front-runner would regard it as too risky. The flipside is that ducking a debate would also be a risk. Nobody wants to look chicken.

For Trump, in particular, to make hay out of his opponents alleged mental acuity and then hide from the cameras is a bad look. But its only a bad look in a world where people care what mainstream media has to say. A contemporary candidate can speak to his audience through his preferred social media channels and party-aligned media with or without the help of more mainstream outlets.

Beyond that, many more media outlets today are hungry for content.

In any economic environment, returns accrue to the scarce factors of production, which in this case is the candidates themselves. If they want to appear on television, it will be at a time and a setting of their choosing. Presidents, of course, have become increasingly hesitant to do even this. Biden has done fewer press conferences than not only Trump but also Barack Obama. And its hard to blame them. Modern presidents can tweet, vlog, TikTok or whatever else if they want people to hear what they have to say rather than fielding hardballs from reporters trying to trip them up.

Debates, for all their flaws, are a rare opportunity to get out of the information silos and make everyone who pays attention to the news watch and argue about more or less the same thing. That in and of itself obviously doesnt end partisanship or polarization. But its something. And if it fades away, well miss it.
For more than 17 years, the friendly, always smiling face of Piyapit Pete Utthachoo was a part of the Sioux City culinary scene.

As the original owner of Diamond Thai Cuisine, 515 W. Seventh St., and the proprietor of Petes Thai on Fifth, 507 Fifth St., he helped introduce the exotic foods of his native Thailand to the palates of Siouxland residents.

Along the way, Utthachoo turned regular diners into friends, became a favorite among many local chefs, and, regularly, took home the prize as Siouxlands Choice for best Asian cuisine.

Utthachoo died in a Sioux City hospital on Jan. 24. He was 56.

Pete Utthachoo Piyapit "Pete" Utthachoo, the owner and operator of Pete's Thai on 5th in Sioux City, died Jan. 24 at the age of 56.

A few days following his death, Petes Thai on Fifth was buzzing with activity as customers came to pay their respects.

"Weve been very busy," a server said during a lunch rush. "It seems like Pete knew everybody and everybody loved Pete."

That included the server, a young female who had only been employed at the restaurant for the past three months.

Today is the first day Im not crying, the server said. Pete was like a grandfather to me as well as to so many people on staff.

The importance of family

Utthachoo was a part of the family to Bay Lap, his sister-in-law, who was well-known for taking customer orders at both Diamond Thai and Petes Thai on Fifth.

(Pete) was a good man, Lap said. Family meant everything to him.

Indeed, Utthachoo learned to cook partly from his dad, a judge in Thailand who cooked as a hobby.

The first dish I did was Deep Fried Eggs in Tamarind Sauce, Utthachoo told The Sioux City Journal in 2007. I was 5 or 6 when I did it and I had to be careful because when I put the fresh egg in the oil, it would bubble up. (Then) the bubbles would explode.

Following his dads death, Utthachoo moved to the United States with his mother and brother. The family eventually settled on the West Coast after Utthachoos brother studied engineering at the University of California - Berkeley.

Pete's Thai on 5th An assortment of signature dishes including pumpkin curry, shrimp Pad Thai, fresh rolls, Pho, and coconut soup are shown at Pete's Thai on 5th

Making a name for himself on the West Coast

Throughout that time, Utthachoo found employment in the food service industry, initially as a dishwasher and, eventually, becoming sous chef at the prestigious Hyatt Hotel in downtown San Francisco.

Working at the Hyatt as well as other West Coast restaurants, he excelled at fusion foods  meals that combined elements and ingredients from around the world.

A modern take on Thai cuisine became the theme of a Berkeley, California, restaurant that Utthachoo opened with his mom Penny in the early 2000s.

The economy wasnt good in Berkeley, he said. We were open only for two years.

Taking the advice of a friend, Utthachoo moved to Sioux City in 2006, opening Diamond Thai at the end of the year.

Food Thai Thanksgiving Pete Utthachoo, then chef/owner of Diamond Thai Cuisine, shows off a plate of lemongrass roasted chicken with fried rice and mixed vegetables

Introducing South East Asian Cuisine to Sioux City

When I moved to Sioux City, nobody knew what Thai food was, he told the Weekender in 2020. They knew Chinese food or Japanese food but not Thai.

Because of that, Utthachoo began spending time outside of his restaurants kitchen, offering diners a tableside tutorial on Thai cuisine.

Austin Pierce took notice of that and appreciated Utthachoos personal attention.

Im a vegetarian and Pete always steered me to the food that I could eat, the Sioux City-based writer, recalled.

Eventually, Pierce began recommending Utthachoos restaurant to all of his out-of-town friends.

Nobody could believe I could get terrific Thai food in Sioux City, Iowa, of all places, Pierce said.

Pierce even made a believer out of his eventual wife Shelby Pierce.

My first date with Austin was at Diamond Thai, Shelby Pierce, a local business owner, explained. I was hooked on Petes food from the very beginning.

Shelby Pierce was especially impressed by the Utthachoos willingness to satisfy the tastes of his customers.

Pete was always able to cook off the menu, she said. He just had the knack of finding what people wanted to eat.

Peggy La admitted she wasnt too hard to please. The owner of Hong Kong Supermarket loved everything that was on Utthachoos menu.

Oh, the curries that Pete made were always outstanding, she said. So, of course, was the Pad Thai. Thats what Id always tell people. Anything that Pete would make is going to be delicious.

Diamond Thai Cuisine Diamond Thai Cuisine's Pete Utthachoo, left, poses with his mom, Penny Utthachoo, in his Sioux City restaurant in a 2013 file photo. The two, 

A change in scenery

After more than a decade in Sioux City, Utthachoo was tiring of the hectic pace. He wanted a change of pace.

In 2017, he sold Diamond Thai Cuisine to Viengkhone Kee Seummalavahn and Phouthone Lay Ngadoangrath, a married couple who have owned it ever since.

During his time away, Utthachoo assisted in the opening of a restaurant in Utah before purchasing a new Thai eatery in Dubuque, Iowa.

Having worked in several cities in different parts of the country, Ive noticed every place is unique, he said. But none could compare to Sioux City.

Diamond Thai Cuisine Diamond Thai Cuisine's Pete Utthachoo gets a cooking lesson Thursday from his mom, Penny Utthachoo, in his restaurant kitchen. Penny Utthachoo

A Re-'Pete' engagement

After opening Petes Thai on Fifth more than three years ago, Utthachoo was greeted by many familiar faces.

Immediately, old customers came back, he said. They wanted what they had been craving. Instead of ordering a meal by name, theyd order it by number. Instead of ordering our Tom Kha Kai, customers requested the number 19.

This made Downtown Partners executive director Ragen Cote laugh.

I was always the number 38, with pork and no spice, she said. Add a Coke in a glass with a straw and that was the order Id always get.

Cote remembered Utthachoo was always an enthusiastic supporter of the community.

Quirky cuisine and a commitment to the community

Whenever Downtown Partners would sponsor a Restaurant Week promotion, we knew Pete would be on board, she said. If it involved creating a special, off-menu item, Pete was always willing to be creative.

At the Restaurant Week promotion held in April 2023, Utthachoo dazzled diners with Thai-inspired succotash.

Its beef in a tomato sauce served with potatoes and carrots, he allowed with a chuckle. If I served it for breakfast, Id call it Petes Succo-hash.

This was perhaps a throwback to the days when Utthachoo shared a restaurant kitchen with his mom.

After all, there arent many Thai restaurants that had Thai Sukiyaki or Thai Pho on its menu.

fooddiamondthai071thw Owner Pete Utthachoo is shown Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, at the Diamond Thai Cuisine restaurant on Sioux City's West 7th Street.

Creating a gateway

Sioux City Council Member Alex Watters described Utthachoo as iconic.

Nobody introduced more Sioux Cityans to Thai food than Pete, Watters said. Pete opened so many peoples eyes to an entirely unique cuisine.

While many diners might order something traditional like Pad Thai for their first visit, he continued. theyd see what other people would order.

At Petes restaurant, it was OK to look around the dining room and asked what that other table was having. Everything looked and tasted so good.

A cult favorite with restaurant professionals

It was this willingness to try new approach that attracted Chef Clay Lilley to Utthachoos food.

The owner of both The Shack as well as Sioux City SMASH food truck, Lilley spent years working in fine dining establishments.

If you ask chefs in Sioux City where do they eat during their off hours, it would be at Petes, Lilley said with a laugh. My wife and I would eat there alone, order six things off of their menu, eating stuff off of each plate.

The wait staff would sometimes look at us as if were crazy for ordering so much food, he continued. Nope, wed just put the rest in the boxes and eat it as leftovers.

The serious side of fine dining

Despite Utthachoos infectious personality, he was very serious when it came to cooking.

Pete was very particular about his ingredients, La, whose Hong Kong Supermarket was a frequent supplier. explained. He had very definite opinions on what he wanted to use.

That included the mangos which became the star attraction for many of Utthachoos desserts.

Pete knew mangos would only be available for a short period of time, Shelby Pierce said. If it was out-of-season, Pete would take his Sweet Mango and Sticky Rice off of the menu.

A life well lived in and outside of a kitchen

Which is probably what Utthachoos legacy will be.

The first time I had Thai food was at Petes, Cote said. I think that is true for a lot of people.

Yet she will always be touched by Utthachoos affection for his adopted community. So was La.

People learned about Thai food from Pete but they probably also learned about Thai culture from Pete, she said. Pete will be missed because he was an important part of Siouxlands Asian community.

Austin Pierce was simply amazed that traditional Thai cuisine won over so many Sioux City diners.

I overheard customers asking what is a Thai equivalent to Sweet and Sour Chicken, he said. Of course, there would be no equivalent. Still, Pete would take everything in stride, making something delicious that would satisfy the diner.

Pierce and his wife Shelby were such fans of Utthachoos cuisine that they even ate at his Dubuque restaurant on an occasion or two.

You could tell that Pete missed Sioux City a lot and he also missed his customers, Shelby Pierce said. Im so happy Pete was able to come back to a community he loved and became a part of.

According to the Utthachoo family, Petes Thai on Fifth will continue to serve authentic and sometimes not-quite-authentic Thai cuisine.

Though one thing will be missing. Of course, that will be the smile and the infectious personality of the restaurants founder.

Utthachoo may no longer be able to greet customers personally but his memory will remain forever etched in the memories of his diners.
Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here.

Dear Care and Feeding,

How do I remind my husband how miserable we were vacationing in the same house as his family, without seeming like I hate his family? For the record, I do not.

We went away with them last year and stayed together in one house, and no one but his sister and her boyfriend enjoyed themselves. His sister constantly dumped care of her stepdaughter on someone else, and they are a family of dramatic tempers. One house, no matter how big, just does not give enough room for them all to separate from each other when they inevitably start picking and arguing. It was also miserable being confined to one bedroom when our two small children would not sleep well and we didnt want to wake others. After the trip, we discussed it and said that in the future we would travel to the same location, but get our own separate place to stay. My husbands parents ended up telling us that they also did not enjoy themselves. They said in the future they would prefer to bring their camper with a bed they know works for them and stay nearby.

My sister-in-law just reached out to everyone with a house to rent for this summer. My in-laws immediately agreed to it. My husband said he thinks it will be fine, because this time we would have two bedrooms. I said no and reminded him of how unhappy we all were on vacation last year. I told him I will ultimately leave it to him to decide, since it is his family, but if he agrees, I will not be coming on the vacation. I think for him this is just normal, because vacations growing up always included large extended families with lots of blowouts and disagreements. I, on the other hand, actually want my vacationswhich I dont get very many ofto be relaxing. So what can I do? I have two weeks to remind him that this is not what he wanted, and to actually have my vacation with my family.

Stressed Out in Scottsdale

Dear Scott,

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A professional negotiator would tell you that you have already hamstrung your bargaining power by unnecessarily ceding one point. Why should this be his decision, just because its his family? Its your vacation, too, and your children who are going on this vacation. Just because its his family youre visiting does not mean you should not be part of the discussion about what your family does on your vacation time.

Sometimes it is wonderful to pack everyone into one of those giant seven-bedroom houses on Currituck Sound or wherever and spend 168 hours up to the elbows in one anothers lives. A year ago, fresh off a difficult week, your husband agreed with you that this was not the vacation either of you wanted. Due to rose-colored glasses ormore likelya general disinterest in thinking about this stuff, hes drifted from that conviction to a vague, Oh, itll probably be fine this time. You are well within your rights to tell him that you love his family, and you are happy to spend time with them, but that you want to sleep in a separate, nearby house or hotel. You can hang out on the beach with them during the day, maybe stick around for dinner, and then grab some private time in the evenings to recharge and relax.

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After all, it sure sounds like your husband is ceding this kind of planning to the various women in his life. Thats annoying, but its also an opportunity. Go online and find a hotel in the town where your sister-in-law wants to stay. Present it to your husband in a voice full of cheer and I feel certain hell shrug, happy to let you make the plans. Is this fair to you? No. Will it get you what you want? Yes.

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But is it what you want, long term? Even if this version of beach week is more fun and less stressful than last year, is it giving you what you need? Especially if this is the only vacation time you ever get, Id urge you to suggest and plan some different holidays now and then, so you can mix time with his family and the nuclear-unit vacations you crave.

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Want Advice on Parenting, Kids, or Family Life?

Submit your questions to Care and Feeding here. Its anonymous! (Questions may be edited for publication.)

Dear Care and Feeding,

My late husband and I had an argument about money that almost ended our marriage. Now I have a chance to reverse his decision, but Im suddenly not sure if I should. I worked my way through college in the 1980s and my husband made a good career without going to college at all. We had a daughter, Meghan, seven years before twin sons. My husband was adamant that all three kids would earn their own way, and told Meghan that she was on her own for costs after age 18. We fought about itbut I gave in.

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Meghan earned a partial scholarship to a state school but we didnt co-sign her student loans, so she couldnt pay. Instead, Meghan joined the Army, and barely spoke to us. She was assaulted by a fellow officer and wont discuss any of her experiences during the years she served. She did eventually become a doctor, but I wish she could have gotten there any other way.

By the time our sons were teens, the cost of college got through to my husband. We helped them financially, and co-signed student loans for what we couldnt pay. Meghan was furious about this and accused him of loving her brothers more. They werent speaking when he died, about a year later. Im still grieving both his death and their estrangement.

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Its been years, and my sons are thriving. They live an hour away and we talk often. Meghan lives states away and barely texts. We have dinner every few years when she travels through, but nothing I do seems to bring us closer. Im writing my will. I know my husband wanted things split equally between our kids, but I want to leave her more to make up for what I couldnt give her for college. Is this a bad idea? A good idea?

Torn in Tarrytown

Dear Tarry,

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Its a bad idea. Granted, youll be dead, so you wont care, but do you really want your daughters resentment while youre alive to be replaced by your sons resentment once youre gone?

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But more than that, its a bad idea because its a cop-out. Youre putting off attempting to remedy this enormous mistake you made until its painlessfor you. Youd rather have your daughter hate you for the next two or three decades than try to do something about it now? The braver thing to dothe right thing to dois to try to remedy it now, even though it will be difficult, wrenching, and perhaps hopeless.

Many years ago, you and your husband made a terrible decision. Sure, you argued about it, but in the end you went along with it. Its time for you to fly to wherever your doctor daughter lives, take her out for a long, boozy dinner at the nicest restaurant in town, and apologize for everything. Dont shove it off on your dead husband. Tell her you were wrong. Tell her it was horribly unfair. Tell her youre proud of her and all shes accomplished, but that you wish every day that you and your husband had made a different choice when she was 18.

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And tell her you want to find a way to make amends and to be a part of her life. Maybe all that she wants from you is your heartfelt apology. Maybe she wants you to buy her a house. Maybe she wants you to find other, smaller ways to use your resources to make her midlife easier, as a too-late bit of compensation for how you made her youth so much harder. Maybe she doesnt want anything at all from you, and you will return home heartbroken. But your focus should be on what you can do to rebuild your relationship nownot to try to make amends from beyond the grave.

 Missed earlier columns this week? Read them here.

 Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group!

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Dear Care and Feeding,

Two years ago, my daughter Ali, who is now 11, befriended a girl, Rose, now 12, at an after-school art class. Rose seems a little immature for her age, is quite shy, and doesnt seem to pick up well on social cues. One of the things I love most about Ali is that she will notice the kids who might not feel comfortable and make it a point to include them. This is what happened with Rose, as Ali made several friends in the class and always made sure to include Rose. They were in the same art class again the next year, and Roses mom, Laura, started to invite Ali to do things outside of class (we live in a different part of town, so Ali and Rose dont go to the same school). Ali always had fun with Rose, and Laura often told me how the girls in Roses school werent very nice to her and how happy she was that Ali had become a friend, which warmed my heart as a parent.

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When it came time to plan for last summer, Laura and I decided to sign Rose and Ali up for the same dance camp. While planning, I happened to mention other camps Ali was attendingand when summer rolled around, it turned out that Laura had booked Rose into those other camps, too. So for six weeks of the summer Rose and Ali spent all day together. It was a lot. Ali confided in me that she likes hanging out with Rose sometimes, but being with her all day every day was tough. Ali is a social butterfly and likes to make lots of different friends; Rose didnt really try to make other friends, stuck close to Ali, and seemed to get sad if Ali wanted to talk to or hang out with other people. She asked if this summer, we could keep it to one camp with Rose.

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The problem is two-pronged: First, Laura constantly tells me that Ali is Roses best friend, but Ali has a lot of friends. She considers Rose a friend, but not on that level. Laura asked if we could have a standing playdate every Wednesday after school, which I had to decline due to scheduling and because Ali had no interest. Two, how do I manage this summer? Laura has already started to ask about camps. I dont want to lie to her, but I want to make sure Ali has a fun summer. Id welcome any advice on putting up some boundaries here.

Phrustrated in Philly

Dear Phil,

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All I can think about while reading this letter is how hard it must be for Laura and Rose, lonely, fragile Tennessee Williams characters, struggling to make friends in a cold and uncaring world. Remember how proud you were of Alis empathy when she reached out to Rose in the first place. Even though it has become clear that friendship with Rose has its challenges, that empathy remains important and admirable, and I want to make sure that whatever you choose to do, you exhibit as much of it as you can for her mother. Parents of social butterfly children who make friends easily simply cannot understand how unhappy the parents of lonely children feel, and how desperately they can cling to the lifeline of one other kid who really sees and spends time with their child.

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All of this is to say: There is nothing you can do about the first prong of your situation. There is an imbalance in this friendship, and to explain that to Laura is only to exacerbate her pain. (Anyway, she already knows.) As for the second prong, the summer-camp issue, you certainly are under no obligation to coordinate all six weeks of your daughters summer with another family. You should feel free to book some camps while hemming and hawing about your plans whenever Laura asks. (Repeat after me: Our summer is such a mess! We just have no idea what were doing.) But it might be nice to find something more to offer this poor child and mother than a single week. Maybe two weeks?

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Theres another route to consider, though, which certainly places a burden upon you but which you might find appealing nonetheless. Do you like Laura? You dont talk much about how you two get along, but if youre interested in organically deepening the friendship between the girls, you should consider inviting daughter and mother for a long weekend away at the beach, in the mountains, at a campground, or wherever. I can assure you that Laura and Rose would view the invitation as a tremendous gift, one that would make the entire long summer seem much more bearable, maybe even exciting. And Id bet that Aliwho, from your description, seems to really enjoy her time with Rose when there arent a bunch of other kids around complicating matterswould have fun as well. Certainly it would help her feel less torn, and less guilty, about spending time with this friend who needs her so. And who knowsmaybe youll get a real friend out of it, too.

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Related From Slate If You Send Your Kid to Private School, You Are a Bad Person Read More

Dear Care and Feeding,

My daughter is in 5th grade and has been at the same private school for the past four years. She is thriving academically. Its a small school and she is part of a friend group with four other girls. This was great until the beginning of this school year, when one of the girls decided she didnt want to be friends with my daughter anymore, and basically blacklisted her. Now another one of the girls has become very high-drama, lying that another girl threatened to kill her (!?). I reached out to the teacher and the other moms, who delivered basically a meh response. My daughter is very distressed about the dynamics and she is the type of kid who wants to fix everything.

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I want to move her to the public school system because next year will be the start of middle school and a natural time to switch schools, and she will have so many more people to choose from when she makes friends. I do worry that she will find the sheer number of students in the public school overwhelming. But I went to a small private elementary school when I was a kid and remember very well the girl dynamics, and the best thing that happened to me was that I graduated and went on to public school. Im just having a hard time making a decision because she is a very anxious kid. She was also really looking forward to a class trip they all take near the end of 8th grade.

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For what its worth, my older son goes to public school. After what Ive been through trying to get his needs met in the public school system, I dont have any illusions that public school will react any better than private school to issues that come up with my daughter. But my son has managed to find his people in the public school and I want that for my daughter as well. Any advice?

Ambivalent in Anaheim

Dear Ana,

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This is the easiest question anyone has ever sent Care and Feeding. Youre paying thousands of dollars for your daughter to have a shitty time with a bunch of jerks, replicating an experience you didnt even like when you had it yourself. What a great opportunity to do the right thing and send her to public school without even thinking twice.

Dan

More Advice From Slate

My 16-year-old daughter has started going to Quaker meetings. Were atheists and have raised our kids to be atheists, and I feel (I know this is unfair) personally rejected by this. Obviously I cant stop her from going, but can I express my disappointment in a way that owns that I know this is probably an overreaction?
Here at Slate we like to keep tabs on politicians unexpected beard growth, if only to attempt to divine what might be going on in the heads of these famous men. So we must report that a new beard has been spotted, this time on erstwhile Trump White House employee (and Trump family member) Jared Kushner.

This beard, which was first featured in his wife Ivanka Trumps Instagram in mid-January, was subtle at first. But a Jan. 22 Instagram post that appeared to show it at a later and potentially maxed-out stage of growth caught our attention for beingwell, take a look:

Theres something troubling about this beard, aesthetically. Its patchy. Its unshaped. Some here at Slate believe the beard makes Kushner look younger, presumably because the wispy quality of the facial hair only emphasizes how unnervingly youthful the 43-year-old Kushners face is. (Plus, it doesnt hide his dimples.) Some think it makes him look older, presumably because it obscures the youthful crispness of his jawline, and because the blond patches could be mistaken for gray. The gut instinct of many upon first viewing, if social media is any indication, was to react with schoolyard mockery. I get it: Its not a good beard! But I think there are two important things to remember here.

Related From Slate Pour One Out for Casey DeSantis, Americas Premier Wannabe First Lady Read More

First: Not to be too much of a scold, but if you fire off your joke on social media without thinking, you run the risk of buying into the same toxic ideas about masculinity that the Trump family promotes. Yes, theres a long tradition of teasing boys for trying to grow beards beyond their pubescent abilities. Joking about ageand pretending to be more mature than you areis safe, classic comedy terrain. But Kushner is an adult! When we start to get to the real-adult-men-have-full-thick-beards territory, were creeping toward the manosphere that promotes warfare-branded testosterone supplements and thinks real men lift weights, hunt, seduce women (and only women), eschew the arts, and bury their feelingsor else deserve to be pitied as pathetically effete. Yes, I agree, a good strong beard is attractive. But if you think about it for a second, youll realize that beyond their service as contouring for weak chins, beards mostly serve to symbolize traditional rugged masculinity. So, lets not throw out comments that could incidentally hurt the men we love in our lives who, like Kushner, cannot grow full beards. They didnt put their unqualified private equity buddies in charge of handling a catastrophic pandemic when thousands of people were dying! They dont deserve the stray cruelties.

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Second: The problem Kushner has here is not actually with his beard. Its with his hair.

If you look at the photo from Ivankas Instagram account, the two are in black-tie attire. Kushner is wearing what appears to be a velvet suit jacket. His hair is a soft, side-swept helmet, formless and inoffensive. The unkempt beard is jarringly out of place.

You know what could fix this? Some long, greasy locks. An unruly mop. A mullet, even. Unkempt beards call for unkempt hair to match. Hed look strange in the Palm Beach crowd, sure, but at least hed present a coherent look. This beard belongs on a body wearing a hoodie and sweatpants. He may find it slightly harder to do business with Saudi despots, but perhaps the slouchy look could open up avenues for friendships with right-wing tech brosa potential extra diplomatic lane for Kushners political ambitions.

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And it might even do something for his place within the family. Already, he has ceded the more rural-America-LARP visuals to Eric and Donald Trump Jr., who have both grown full beards and are off launching hunting magazines. Kushner, always a city man, never really seemed to want to match the Trump sons aesthetic ambitions and populist cosplay. Still, even if his new beard doesnt fit in with the Trump boys, its a shake-up to his urbane image.

We cant say what drove Jared to grow this facial hair, or what his future plans for it are. But he has an opportunity to do something here that could prove to his father-in-law that hes more than an Ivy League education. Dirtbag Jared would be a weird Jared, sure. But itd better, at least, than this current unnerving presentation.
The Senates long-in-the-works border security and Ukraine aid bill still has not been released, but House Speaker Mike Johnson knows he is firmly against it. So against it, in fact, that hes speaking about the future bill as already deceased.

In a letter to colleagues last Friday, Johnson wrote, The Senate appears unable to reach any agreement. (This was wishful thinking on his part; Senate negotiators hope to release their agreement this week.) If rumors about the contents of the draft proposal are true, Johnson continued, it would have been dead on arrival in the House anyway.

Johnson further trashed the proposal in a House GOP meeting Tuesday morning, saying that it had no way forward or that its not going anywhere, according to members in the room. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has threatened to oust Johnson should he accede to the deal, was pleased with what she heard.

I just heard Speaker Johnson saying its absolutely dead, which is what I wanted to hear, Greene told CNN. As a matter of fact, he said so clear, I dont know why people keep asking me about it, because as it stands right now, theres no way forward.

So is that that, then, for a bill that hasnt even been released yet? Well, its not looking good, and it hasnt since Trump assumed control over the Republican presidential primary.

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But theres a reason why, at least for now, Senate negotiators are still pressing ahead with the deal. Theres a reason why the lead Senate Republican on the deal, James Lankford, is still defending his product on television. And theres a reason why Johnson is speaking out now, in the hopes that the Senate can kill the deal before it reaches his chamber. The thin reed of hope for passage of this package is that Johnson, a nobody as of three months ago, will wilt under the pressure should it arrive in the House.

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It is hard to analyze a bill that hasnt been released. But according to reports and senators briefed on its structure, the bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to immediately turn away migrants crossing illegally if border encounters reach an average of 5,000 a day over the course of a week. The idea is to prevent the sorts of surgessuch as the all-time record of 302,000 encounters in Decemberthat have overwhelmed border and immigration authorities. The bill would also aim to speed up the asylum process to adjudicate claims within six months.

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The main policy objection from Republicans whove vehemently written off the deal is, essentially, that the federal government is putting into statute that the first 5,000 migrants trying to enter illegally each day would earn a golden ticket to Willy Wonkas chocolate factory.

Why would you tolerate 5,000 a day before you sought to suddenly enforce the law? That would be surrender, Johnson said on Tuesday. The goal should be zero illegal crossings a day, not 5,000. And all the presidents authority should be utilized at zero.

But those first 5,000 wouldnt be given work permits, a brand-new car, or anything else. They would still be processed according to the law. As Lankford explained on Face the Nation this weekend, When we got 4,000 or 5,000 people crossing the border, we can no longer process those individuals. And so thats where the threshold has been set.

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Although the text of the bill is still to come, though, the politics underlying this advanced opposition have already arrived.

Trump, despite having called for additional removal authority as president, is working hard to kill the deal because he doesnt want Biden to get a winand neutralize the sting of his top issuebefore the election. Trump owns the House Republican Conference, so his message is theirs. And Senate Republicans are split between more pragmatic, internationalist lawmakers along the lines of Mitch McConnell, and a more MAGA flank. The reason the two issues of Ukraine and the border were linked in the first place was because Republicans, including Johnson, insisted that Congress needed to take action on the southern border before appropriating any more funds to Ukrainian defense. Now Republicans in opposition to the deal are arguing that legislation isnt needed at all, and that Biden already has all the authority he needs to rein in an overwhelmed southern border.

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To translate: A whole lot of Republicans dont want to take an uncomfortable vote. In private, a lot of Republicans would like to make significant progress on border security while reupping Ukrainian munitions; politically, though, voting for more Ukraine aid alongside Bidens border plan is a toughie with Trump so ardently opposed.

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Now, if the vote would be difficult for individual members, imagine being the one who decides whether there will be a vote.

Johnsons confident declarations that this bill is deader than dirt are easy to make now, when the bill is still the Senates problem. Politically, theyre even necessary right now: Trump wants Johnson to make them, and Johnson wants to give the Senate another reason not to pass this bill.

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Because if the Senate were to pass the deal, Johnson would be under a level of pressure that few have experienced. It would be coming from not only a bipartisan Senate majority or the executive branch. It would be from not just the still-meaningful chunk of House Republicans who do support continuing to arm Ukraine. The pressure would be international, with the leader of each American ally pleading with Johnson not to let Ukraine fall and allow for a new era of Russian expansionism to be condoned, or for China to get the green light to take Taiwan. Johnson really would not want images of a fallen Kyiv shown on a split screen with his face.

The path for this bill (or an amended version of it) to become law is narrow. Describing it is a bit like describing Nikki Haleys path to the Republican presidential nomination. But its hard to be sure what Mike Johnson thinks until hes really, truly forced to think about it.
The Supreme Courts eradication of the constitutional right to abortion in 2022s Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization had an immediate and devastating impact on gender equality in the United States. With a single ruling, five justices wiped out millions of womens access to basic health care and handed control over their medical decisions to politicians and judges. It wasnt just the courts judgment, though, that relegated women to a lesser place in the constitutional order; it was also the courts reasoning, which used the centurieslong oppression of women to justify an ongoing oppression of women by way of a deprivation of their rights. Justice Samuel Alitos majority opinion rested largely on the views of dead white men who condoned the rape, beating, and murder of women to maintain female subjugation in every realm of life. And he dismissed his rulings ruinous impact on gender equality in a single conclusory paragraph asserting that abortion restrictions could not possibly discriminate against women.

This week the Pennsylvania Supreme Court responded to that conclusion: no. On Monday, the court issued a landmark opinion declaring that abortion restrictions do amount to sex-based discrimination and therefore are presumptively unconstitutional under the state constitutions equal rights amendment. The majority vehemently rejected Dobbs history-only analysis, noting that, until recently, those interpreting the law saw women as not only having fewer legal rights than men but also as lesser human beings by design. Justice David Wecht went even further: In an extraordinary concurrence, the justice recounted the historical use of abortion bans to repress women, condemned Alitos error-ridden analysis, and repudiated the antiquated and misogynistic notion that a woman has no say over what happens to her own body.

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Related From Slate Biden Is Whiffing It on the Most Important Issue for Democrats Read More

The Pennsylvania Supreme Courts decision thus spurned Dobbs in two ways. First, the majority held that laws regulating a womans body do discriminate on the basis of sex, a truth that has been widely understood by legal scholars for decades. And second, the majority explained that rooting womens rights in the past is, itself, a form of sex discrimination, perpetuating misogynistic beliefs about gender inequality by judicial decree. As it was leaked and then published with almost no corrections to its myriad errors, Dobbs set off a firestorm of real-time criticism within the public, the legal academy, and the media, and that criticism is now finally returning to the courtsin the form of decisions that both defy and rebuke Dobbs chauvinistic logic.

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Mondays ruling in Allegheny Reproductive Health Center v. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services involves a challenge to the Pennsylvania law that generally prohibits the use of state Medicaid funds to cover abortion. The plaintiffs, a group of health care providers represented by the Womens Law Project and Planned Parenthood, focused on the Pennsylvania constitutions equal rights amendment, adopted in 1971, which bars the denial or abridgment of equality of rights because of the sex of the individual. Laws limiting access to abortion, the plaintiffs claimed, abridge this right of sex equality, because they have a near-exclusive impact on women. (While transgender men can also become pregnant, the plaintiffs noted that pregnancy requires reproductive organs typically classified as female, and most pregnant people identify as women.)

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In an opinion by Justice Christine Donohue, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed: To treat a woman differently based on a characteristic unique to her sex, Donohue explained, is to treat her differently because of her sex, which triggers enforcement of our Equal Rights Amendment. The ability to become pregnant and obtain an abortion is unique to one sex. By definition, then, any abortion restriction withholds or diminishes the scope of womens rights, allowing them less freedom to make medical decisions than men. And so, under the equal rights amendment, these restrictions are unconstitutional unless the state can prove that they are narrowly tailored to promote a compelling government interest.

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Any other conclusion, Donohue noted, would disrespect the amendments intention to create a sharp break from the past. Its true that, for most of its history, Pennsylvania banned abortion. This regime, though, was part of a broader unequal treatment of women under the lawa treatment endorsed by the same misogynistic authorities Alito lifted up in Dobbs. Pennsylvanias equal rights amendment was adopted with the intent to abolish this persistent relegation of women to subservient and dependent roles, Donohue wrote. And handing the state a blank check to limit abortion access would contradict this purpose. (The majority sent the case back down to a lower court to apply the new standard rather than formally declaring the Medicaid ban unconstitutional, but the writing is on the wall.)

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In his concurrence, Wecht explicitly linked Donohues equality-based argument to Dobbs flaws. We cannot examine particular laws in their historical context without also examining the society in which those laws developed, he wrote. The Dobbs majority relied upon the patriarchal notions of eminent authorities of old English common law, including Lord Matthew Hale, whose beliefs were driven by his goal of keeping women from encroaching upon the rights of men. Hale, who presided over the hanging of two women accused of being witches, thought that giving women legally enforceable rights over their own bodies was a threat to the freedom of men. He also insisted that marital rape was never a crime because marriage amounted to the wifes (but not the husbands) irrevocable consent to sex. Many of Hales views aligned with those of William Blackstone, another historical key player in Alitos Dobbs analysis, who believed that a married woman had no individual rights of her own. Wecht went on:

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The history represented by Hale and Blackstone is not, as the Dobbs Majority seemed to believe, a neutral survey of history. It was the continuation of centuries of misogyny and oppression that our society has since rejected. The historical limitations upon reproductive freedom that the Dobbs Majority found reveal the perpetuation of the subjugation of women throughout time, just as todays abortion restrictions reveal the present unequal treatment of women.

Drawing on the work of Melissa Murray, Reva Siegel, Aaron Tang, Khiara Bridges, and other leading scholars of reproductive rightsnot one of whom is a dead white manWecht meticulously corrected other aspects of Alitos profoundly flawed historical account. For instance, the Dobbs majority ignored the fact that abortion was widely legal at the founding, at least in early pregnancy. It also ignored the fact that the push to criminalize abortion arose only in the mid-19th century, driven largely by a sexist Victorian impulse to keep women in the home as well as a racist desire to prevent the white, native-born birth rate from being overwhelmed by immigrants and racial minorities. In disregarding this history, the Dobbs Majority dismissed the reality that women lived in the mid-1800s, Wecht concluded. Its failure to look critically at the misogyny that prevailed at the time seems designed to perpetuate the wrongs of our past.

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It was once widely conceded in the legal academy that we are all, as Justice Elena Kagan once quipped, originalists now. But in the new now, we are beginning to see judges push back against the most crabbed and noxious methodologies of originalism, which hold that robed lawyers make for better historians than actual historians, or that it is somehow uninteresting or unimportant when the original meaning of a law replicates the subordination inflicted by its authors. Judges across the country are beginning to apply contemporary scholarship and renew recent understandings of the entire limiting project of relying exclusively on so-called history and tradition as meaningful barometers for modern freedoms. And in the process, they are discovering and explaining to laymen the inherent injustice of so-called originalist outcomes as delineating the bounds of equality and dignity for all.

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The lesson to be gleaned from the Pennsylvania Supreme Courts rejection of both Dobbs cramped methodology and tragic result is not merely that state constitutions will be more essential than ever to protect against the misogynistic and revanchist efforts to restore women to subordinate and indeed powerless vessels. That we already knew. The lesson is also that the conservative project of gluing a misshapen cutout of the past onto a blank canvas of the present is itself an exercise in perpetuating inequality. This is as it was expressly designed to be. So long as judges are capable of independent thought, they will continue to call BS on the very notion that Dobbs-style originalism holds any real utility in ordering a complex, pluralistic, multiracial modern society. If constitutional values like equality are to endure, they will do so in spite of a structurally oppressive history, and not because of it.
Humans are the weakest link in building a robust defense against cyber threats. According to the latest report, 82% of data breach incidents are caused due to the human element. A strict cybersecurity policy can help you protect confidential data and technology infrastructure from cyber threats.

What Is a Cybersecurity Policy?

A cybersecurity policy offers guidelines for employees to access company data and use organizational IT assets in a way to minimize security risks. The policy often includes behavioral and technical instructions for employees to ensure maximum protection from cybersecurity incidents, such as virus infection, ransomware attacks, etc.

Also, a cybersecurity policy can offer countermeasures to limit damage in the event of any security incident.

Here are common examples of security policies:

Remote access policy  offers guidelines for remote access to an organizations network

offers guidelines for remote access to an organizations network Access control policy  explains standards for network access, user access, and system software controls

explains standards for network access, user access, and system software controls Data protection policy  provides guidelines for handling confidential data so as to avoid security breaches

provides guidelines for handling confidential data so as to avoid security breaches Acceptable use policy  sets standards for using the companys IT infrastructure

What Should a Cybersecurity Policy Include?

Here are crucial elements you should include in your cybersecurity policy:

1. Intro

The intro section introduces users to the threat landscape your company is navigating. It tells your employees about the danger of data theft, malicious software, and other cyber crimes.

2. Purpose

This section explains the purpose of the cybersecurity policy. Why has the company created the cybersecurity policy?

The purposes of the cybersecurity policy often are:

Protect the companys data and IT infrastructure

Defines rules for using the company and personal devices in the office

Let employees know disciplinary actions for policy violation

3. Scope

In this section, you will explain to whom your policy applies. Is it applicable to remote workers and on-site employees only? Do vendors have to follow the policy?

4. Confidential Data

This section of the policy defines what confidential data is. The companys IT department comes with a list of items that could be classified as confidential.

5. Company Device Security

Whether mobile devices or computer systems, make sure that you set clear usage guidelines to ensure security. Every system should have good antivirus software to avoid virus infection. And all devices should be password-protected to prevent any unauthorized access.

6. Keeping Emails Secure

Infected emails are a leading cause of ransomware attacks. Therefore, your cybersecurity policy must include guidelines for keeping emails secure. And to spread security awareness, your policy should also have a provision for security training from time to time.

7. Transfer of Data

Your cybersecurity policy must include policies and procedures for transferring data. Ensure that users transfer data only on secure and private networks. And customer information and other essential data should be stored using strong data encryption.

8. Disciplinary Measures

This section outlines the disciplinary process in the event of a violation of the cybersecurity policy. The severity of disciplinary action is established based on the gravity of the violation  It could be from a verbal warning to termination.

Additional Resources for Cybersecurity Policy Templates

There is no one-size-fits-all cybersecurity policy. There are several types of cybersecurity policies for different applications. So you should first understand your threat landscape. And then, prepare a security policy with appropriate security measures.

You can use a cyber security policy template to save time while creating a security policy. You can download a cybersecurity policy templates form here, here, and here.

Steps for Developing a Cybersecurity Policy

The following steps will help you develop a cybersecurity policy quickly:

Set Requirements for Passwords

You should enforce a strong password policy, as weak passwords cause 30% of data breaches. The cybersecurity policy in your company should have guidelines for creating strong passwords, storing passwords safely, and using unique passwords for different accounts.

Also, it should discourage employees from exchanging credentials over instant messengers.

Communicate Email Security Protocol

Email phishing is the leading cause of ransomware attacks. So make sure your security policy explains guidelines for opening email attachments, identifying suspicious emails, and deleting phishing emails.

Train on How to Handle Sensitive Data

Your security policy should clearly explain how to handle sensitive data, which includes:

How to identify sensitive data

How to store and share data securely with other team members

How to delete/destroy data once there is no use for it

Also, your policy should prohibit employees from saving sensitive data on their personal devices.

Set Guidelines for Using Technology Infrastructure

You should set clear guidelines for using the technology infrastructure of your business, such as:

Employees must scan all removable media before connecting to the companys systems

Employees should not connect to the companys server from personal devices

Employees should always lock their systems when theyre not around

Employees should install the latest security updates on computers and mobile devices

Restrict the use of removable media to avoid malware infection

Make Guidelines for Social Media and Internet Access

Your policy should include what business information employees should not share on social media. Make guidelines for which social media apps should be used/or not used during working hours.

Your security policy should also dictate that employees should always use VPN to access the Internet for an extra security layer.

Without having a good firewall and antivirus software, no system in the company should be allowed to be connected to the Internet.

Make an Incident Response Plan

An incident response plan outlines procedures to follow during a security breach. Steps to create an effective plan include:

Identification and Reporting : Utilize intrusion detection, employee feedback, and system logs. Establish a clear reporting channel.

: Utilize intrusion detection, employee feedback, and system logs. Establish a clear reporting channel. Assess and Prioritize : Categorize incidents based on severity and type, such as data breaches or malware.

: Categorize incidents based on severity and type, such as data breaches or malware. Containment : Implement immediate measures like isolating systems, followed by long-term containment strategies.

: Implement immediate measures like isolating systems, followed by long-term containment strategies. Eradication and Recovery : Determine the root cause, then restore systems using patches or backups.

: Determine the root cause, then restore systems using patches or backups. Notification : Keep internal teams informed and, if necessary, alert customers or regulators.

: Keep internal teams informed and, if necessary, alert customers or regulators. Review and Lessons : Analyze the response post-incident, identifying areas for improvement.

: Analyze the response post-incident, identifying areas for improvement. Continuous Improvement: Train staff on the plan and stay updated on evolving cyber threats.

Integrating Cybersecurity Awareness and Culture

To further strengthen your cybersecurity policy, consider adding sections that emphasize the development of a cybersecurity-aware culture within your organization:

Building a Cybersecurity-Aware Culture

Cybersecurity Awareness Training : Regular training sessions for employees to keep them updated on the latest cyber threats and preventive measures.

: Regular training sessions for employees to keep them updated on the latest cyber threats and preventive measures. Simulated Cyber Attack Exercises : Conducting mock drills or simulated attacks to assess and improve the response capabilities of employees and the organization.

: Conducting mock drills or simulated attacks to assess and improve the response capabilities of employees and the organization. Promoting a Security-First Mindset: Encouraging employees to adopt a security-first approach in their daily tasks and decision-making processes.

Advanced Threat Detection and Reporting

Threat Intelligence Sharing : Establishing a system for sharing information about emerging cyber threats within the organization.

: Establishing a system for sharing information about emerging cyber threats within the organization. Incident Reporting Protocols: Detailed guidelines for reporting suspected security incidents or breaches, ensuring prompt and effective action.

Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) Integration

Security in SDLC: Incorporating security considerations at every stage of software development to minimize vulnerabilities in company-developed applications.

Cybersecurity Policy Positioning within Organizational Hierarchy

Policy Enforcement by Leadership : Ensuring top managements commitment to enforcing cybersecurity policies and procedures.

: Ensuring top managements commitment to enforcing cybersecurity policies and procedures. Cybersecurity Champions Program: Designating cybersecurity champions across departments to promote compliance and awareness.

Vendor and Third-Party Security Management

Third-Party Security Standards : Guidelines for assessing and managing the security postures of vendors and business partners.

: Guidelines for assessing and managing the security postures of vendors and business partners. Regular Security Audits of Vendors: Mandating periodic security audits for third-party vendors to ensure compliance with your cybersecurity standards.

Compliance with Global Cybersecurity Standards

Adherence to International Standards : Aligning the cybersecurity policy with global standards such as ISO/IEC 27001.

: Aligning the cybersecurity policy with global standards such as ISO/IEC 27001. Regular Compliance Reviews: Schedule regular reviews to ensure the policy remains compliant with international and local cybersecurity regulations.

Enhancing Data Privacy Measures

Data Privacy Compliance : Incorporating elements of data privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA into the cybersecurity policy.

: Incorporating elements of data privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA into the cybersecurity policy. Employee Data Privacy Training: Educating employees about data privacy best practices and legal obligations.

Continuous Improvement and Adaptation

Feedback Mechanism : Establishing a feedback mechanism to continuously improve cybersecurity measures based on employee suggestions and industry developments.

: Establishing a feedback mechanism to continuously improve cybersecurity measures based on employee suggestions and industry developments. Adaptation to Technological Advancements: Updating the policy to address new technologies and cybersecurity innovations.

Update Your Cybersecurity Policy Regularly

Cybersecurity policy is not something carved in stone. The cyber threat landscape is constantly changing, and the latest cybersecurity statistics prove it.

So you should review your cybersecurity policy regularly to check if it has appropriate security measures to address the present security risks and regulatory requirements.

Reason for Update Implication Evolving Cyber Threats New types of threats emerge, and existing ones become more sophisticated. Technological Advancements As technology evolves, new vulnerabilities may arise, requiring policy adjustments. Regulatory and Compliance Changes Laws and regulations related to data protection and privacy can change. Organizational Changes Mergers, acquisitions, or restructuring may necessitate policy revisions. Incident Analysis Feedback After a security incident, feedback can highlight gaps in the current policy.

The Purpose of Cybersecurity Policies

The primary purpose of cybersecurity policy is to enforce security standards and procedures to protect company systems, prevent a security breach, and safeguard private networks.

Security Threats Can Harm Business Continuity

Security threats can harm business continuity. In fact, 60% of small businesses become defunct within six months of a cyber attack. And needless to say, data theft can cost a company dearly. According to IBM research, the average cost of a ransomware breach is $4.62m.

So creating security policies has become the need of hours for small businesses to spread awareness and protect data and company devices.

READ MORE: What Is Cybersecurity?

Is there Software for Creating a Cybersecurity Policy?

You dont need a specialized software program to create a cybersecurity policy. You can use any document creation tool to write a security policy.

You can also download a cybersecurity policy template and customize it according to your needs to save time.

Cybersecurity Policy Key Points

Cybersecurity is a critical aspect of modern business, essential for protecting sensitive data and maintaining customer trust. A well-crafted cybersecurity policy is not merely a set of guidelines; its a comprehensive framework that safeguards your business against the evolving landscape of cyber threats.

This policy should be a living document, continuously updated to reflect the latest in threat intelligence, technology advancements, and regulatory changes.

In developing your cybersecurity policy, its important to encompass various aspects including data protection, employee conduct, incident response, and regular updates.

By integrating advanced threat detection, promoting a security-aware culture, and ensuring compliance with global standards, your policy becomes a robust shield against potential cyber attacks.

The inclusion of training programs, simulated cyber attack exercises, and a clear incident reporting protocol empowers your employees to be proactive participants in your cybersecurity efforts.

Moreover, extending these practices to encompass vendor and third-party management further fortifies your defense perimeter.

Your cybersecurity policy should also align with international data privacy regulations, ensuring legal compliance while enhancing customer trust. The introduction of feedback mechanisms and adaptation clauses ensures that the policy evolves in line with technological advancements and emerging threats.

Next Steps: Implementing and Enforcing Your Cybersecurity Policy

With a comprehensive understanding of what a cybersecurity policy entails and the steps to create one, the next phase involves its implementation and enforcement within your business. This process includes:

Policy Distribution and Training: Ensure that all employees, from the executive level to the operational staff, are familiar with the policy. Conduct training sessions to explain the policys nuances and importance. Regular Audits and Compliance Checks: Schedule periodic audits to ensure that all aspects of the policy are being followed. Address any compliance issues immediately. Feedback and Continuous Improvement: Encourage employees to provide feedback on the policys effectiveness and suggest improvements. This collaborative approach ensures that the policy remains relevant and effective. Technology and Tools Alignment: Equip your IT infrastructure with the necessary tools and technology to enforce the policy. This may include cybersecurity software, intrusion detection systems, and encryption tools. Incident Response Preparedness: Regularly test and update your incident response plan. Ensure that all employees know their roles and responsibilities in the event of a cybersecurity incident. Policy Review and Update: Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field. Regularly review and update your policy to incorporate new threats, technological advancements, and changes in legal requirements.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your cybersecurity policy not only exists as a document but as an active, dynamic framework integral to your businesss daily operations.

This approach positions your business to effectively counter cyber threats, safeguard your digital assets, and uphold the trust of your customers and stakeholders in an increasingly digital world.

READ MORE:
In recent years, the shift towards renewable energy has gained significant momentum. Among the various green energy sources, solar power represents a key player.

Solar power now boasts its own industry and solar farms are an integral part of the quest for worldwide renewable energy.

What are solar farms, and why are they a pivotal element in harnessing solar energy? Keep reading as we share the various financial aspects of solar farming, with a keen focus on solar farm income per acre.

What is a Solar Farm?

A solar farm, often sprawling over acres, is a large-scale collection of photovoltaic panels, commonly known as solar panels.

Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, playing a crucial role in solar electricity production. How crucial is it? Unlike a traditional power plant, a solar power plant produces clean, renewable energy without emitting harmful pollutants.

How much energy can be generated on a solar farm?

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, a utility-scale solar power plant may require between 5 and 10 acres per megawatt of generating capacity.

Further, research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found the entire United States could be powered by utility-scale solar while occupying just 0.6% of the nations land mass.

The Growth of Solar Farms

The renewable energy market is witnessing a remarkable surge in the establishment of solar farms. The growth is not just a trend but a significant shift towards sustainable energy practices.

The International Energy Agency reports that solar power is the fastest-growing source of new energy worldwide, indicating a bright future for solar farm owners.

The increase is driven by the pressing need to reduce carbon emissions and the growing recognition of solar powers reliability and efficiency.

As solar technology advances and becomes more cost-effective, solar farms are set to play an even more integral role in meeting the worlds energy needs sustainably.

Factors Influencing the Income of Solar Farms

The income generated by solar farms hinges on several critical factors. Understanding these elements is essential for anyone considering investing in solar energy.

The following factors not only affect the viability of the project but also determine the potential returns on investment:

Location: The geographical position of a solar farm plays a pivotal role in its productivity. Areas with higher sunlight exposure naturally yield more energy. Solar farms in sunny states like Arizona and California, for example, often report higher income per acre of solar panels compared to those in less sunny regions.

The geographical position of a solar farm plays a pivotal role in its productivity. Areas with higher sunlight exposure naturally yield more energy. Solar farms in sunny states like Arizona and California, for example, often report higher income per acre of solar panels compared to those in less sunny regions. Size of the Solar Farm: The scale of the solar farm directly impacts its income. Larger farms benefit from economies of scale, reducing the cost per unit of electricity produced. For example, since doubling the size of a solar farm can allow landowners to combine many operating costs, spreading them across more photovoltaic panels, they can significantly increase energy output costs per unit.

The scale of the solar farm directly impacts its income. Larger farms benefit from economies of scale, reducing the cost per unit of electricity produced. For example, since doubling the size of a solar farm can allow landowners to combine many operating costs, spreading them across more photovoltaic panels, they can significantly increase energy output costs per unit. Efficiency of Solar Panels: Technological advancements have significantly improved the efficiency of solar panels. Higher-efficiency panels convert more sunlight into electricity, thus generating more income. The efficiency of solar panels typically ranges from 15% to 20%, but some high-end models reach efficiencies above 22%.

These factors collectively determine the financial performance of solar farms. By optimizing these elements, solar farm operators can maximize their income and contribute more effectively to the renewable energy sector.

Solar Farm Income Per Acre: A Detailed Analysis

Solar farming finances form a complex picture, as income per acre is influenced by a variety of factors.

Precisely, what might one expect in terms of returns from investing in a solar farm? Keep reading for further details about solar income per acre.

Estimating Income Per Acre

To calculate potential income from a solar farm, you first must consider the initial investment, operational costs and the revenue generated from selling the electricity produced.

Typically, the income per one acre of solar panels can vary widely. Factors such as local electricity rates, government incentives, and the efficiency of the solar panels play significant roles in determining income.

On average, reports suggest that a solar farm can generate between $21,250 and $42,500 per acre annually. However, these figures can fluctuate based on the specific circumstances of each solar farm.

Income Fluctuations: Monthly and Yearly Perspectives

The income from a solar farm is not constant and can vary from month to month and year to year.

Seasonal changes can significantly impact the amount of sunlight available for solar panels, leading to higher income during sunny months and a decrease during cloudier periods.

Likewise, the degradation of solar panel efficiency over time can lead to a gradual decrease in annual income.

However, with proper maintenance and the occasional replacement of parts, solar farms can continue to provide a steady source of income for many years, making them a potentially lucrative investment in the renewable energy sector.

Starting a Solar Farm: Financial Considerations

How much does a solar farm cost?

Preparing to launch a solar farm business requires a thorough understanding of both your and the industrys financial profiles.

Fortunately, weve done the research needed to guide potential investors through the initial financial considerations and long-term income projections of starting a solar farm. Just keep reading as we answer the question, How much does a solar farm cost?

Initial Investment and Solar Farm Costs

The initial investment for establishing a solar farm can be substantial. Costs include purchasing land, acquiring solar panels, and setting up the infrastructure.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, commercial solar farms cost $1.06 per watt, compared to residential solar systems that cost $3.16 per watt. Thus, a 1-megawatt solar farm, consisting of between 5 and 8 acres, can cost more than $1 million.

Of course, these figures can vary based on the quality of solar panels, the complexity of the installation, and the location of the farm.

Its crucial, therefore, for investors to conduct a detailed cost analysis and consider potential financing options to manage these initial expenses effectively.

Long-Term Income Projections

Despite the hefty initial investment, the long-term financial outlook for solar farms is promising.

With a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, solar panels offer a prolonged period for income generation. For example, if an 8-acre solar farm costs $1 million to launch, it can potentially generate more than $320,000 in profit per year. In 25 years, that solar farm would have generated $8 million worth of renewable energy.

Still, to project the average solar farm profit over several years, investors must consider factors such as the degradation rate of solar panels, maintenance costs, and potential changes in electricity rates.

Typically, after overcoming the initial investment, solar farms can provide a steady income stream, especially in regions with favorable sunlight exposure and supportive government incentives.

Proper planning and management can turn a solar farm into a highly profitable and environmentally friendly venture.

Challenges and Risks in Solar Power Farming

While solar farming is a promising venture, it comes with its set of challenges and risks.

Owners of solar farms must navigate the following hurdles to ensure the stability and profitability of their investment:

Maintenance: Regular upkeep is crucial for optimal performance. While factors such as the solar farms size can modify it, maintenance costs average about $15 per kilowatt or $15,000 per megawatt of installed capacity, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Therefore, a 10-megawatt solar farm would have annual operating and maintenance expenses of about. $150,000.

Regular upkeep is crucial for optimal performance. While factors such as the solar farms size can modify it, maintenance costs average about $15 per kilowatt or $15,000 per megawatt of installed capacity, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Therefore, a 10-megawatt solar farm would have annual operating and maintenance expenses of about. $150,000. Weather Impacts: Extreme weather conditions can damage solar panels and impact energy production. According to Tomorrow.io, cloudy skies can decrease solar panel production by 25%. Likewise, precipitation, such as heavy snow and large hail, can cause millions in damage to a large solar farm. In fact, severe weather events cost solar operators more than $5.25 billion a year.

Extreme weather conditions can damage solar panels and impact energy production. According to Tomorrow.io, cloudy skies can decrease solar panel production by 25%. Likewise, precipitation, such as heavy snow and large hail, can cause millions in damage to a large solar farm. In fact, severe weather events cost solar operators more than $5.25 billion a year. Market Fluctuations: Changes in energy prices and government incentives can affect profitability. Solar farm owners should prepare for such market fluctuations to protect their investments.

Risk Management Strategies

Effectively managing risk is key to maintaining stable solar farm profits. Fortunately, many high-quality solar panels are sold with warranties of up to 25 years.

However, risk still exists. A variety of strategies can provide risk management solutions to assist solar farmers, including:

Regular Maintenance: Implement a routine maintenance schedule to ensure solar panels and equipment are in optimal condition.

Implement a routine maintenance schedule to ensure solar panels and equipment are in optimal condition. Weatherproofing: Invest in durable solar panels and structures designed to withstand extreme weather conditions.

Invest in durable solar panels and structures designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. Diversification: Diversify income sources, such as by participating in renewable energy certificate markets or offering land for dual use.

Diversify income sources, such as by participating in renewable energy certificate markets or offering land for dual use. Insurance: Secure comprehensive insurance coverage to protect against unforeseen events, including natural disasters and equipment failure.

Secure comprehensive insurance coverage to protect against unforeseen events, including natural disasters and equipment failure. Monitoring Systems: Utilize advanced monitoring systems to promptly detect and address issues, minimizing downtime and maximizing energy production.

Analyzing Costs and Returns of a One-Acre Solar Farm

Like most endeavors, the cost to start a solar farm widely varies based on factors such as the farms size, its location and the type of solar panels installed.

However, to provide a glimpse into the investment, weve gathered cost and return details about a hypothetical solar farm. By focusing on a one-acre solar farm, weve provided an overview of the financial dynamics at a smaller scale.

The average initial investment for a one-acre solar farm that generates .5 megawatts of energy can range from $400,000 to $500,000 to install, according to Angi.

As mentioned above, solar farm maintenance costs about $15,000 per megawatt each year. Solar farmers must also account for other operational costs like insurance to protect their investments further.

Despite these expenses, a one-acre solar farm can yield significant returns, especially with the right location and efficient technology. On average, owners can expect annual returns ranging from $21,250 to $42,500 per acre annually, depending on local electricity rates and solar panel efficiency.

The Future of Solar Farming and Solar Income

The solar energy market is on an upward trajectory, promising a bright future for solar farming.

Industry experts Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie forecast an annual growth rate of 15% in the solar farm sector through 2028. This growth is fueled by increasing demand for renewable energy, technological advancements and supportive government policies.

Innovations and Advancements in Solar Technology

Technological advancements play a crucial role in enhancing the profitability of solar farms. A few recent innovations in solar technology include:

High-Efficiency Solar Panels: New solar panels now boast efficiencies exceeding 22%, significantly increasing energy output per acre.

New solar panels now boast efficiencies exceeding 22%, significantly increasing energy output per acre. Solar Tracking Systems: Solar tracking systems adjust the position of solar panels throughout the day, optimizing exposure to sunlight and increasing energy production by up to 25%.

Solar tracking systems adjust the position of solar panels throughout the day, optimizing exposure to sunlight and increasing energy production by up to 25%. Energy Storage Solutions: Advanced battery systems allow for the storage of excess energy, ensuring a steady supply of electricity even during periods of low sunlight.

Advanced battery systems allow for the storage of excess energy, ensuring a steady supply of electricity even during periods of low sunlight. Smart Grid Integration: Integrating solar farms with smart grids enables more efficient energy distribution and opens up new revenue streams through energy trading.

Integrating solar farms with smart grids enables more efficient energy distribution and opens up new revenue streams through energy trading. Durable Materials: The development of more durable materials for solar panels and structures enhances the lifespan and reliability of solar farms, reducing long-term maintenance costs.

These innovations not only increase the energy output of solar farms but also make them more resilient and adaptable to changing market conditions, securing their place in the future of renewable energy.

Aspect Description Impact on Income Key Considerations Location Geographical position affecting sunlight exposure. Areas with higher sunlight exposure yield more energy, thus higher income per acre. Choose locations with optimal sunlight for maximum energy production. Size of Solar Farm Scale of the solar farm. Larger farms benefit from economies of scale, reducing cost per unit of electricity. Balancing the scale of the farm with investment and operational costs is crucial. Efficiency of Solar Panels Technology and conversion efficiency of the panels. Higher efficiency panels generate more income by converting more sunlight to electricity. Invest in high-efficiency panels for better returns. Initial Investment and Costs Costs for land, panels, and setup. High initial costs can impact short-term income but lead to long-term gains. Detailed cost analysis and financing options are essential for managing expenses. Long-Term Income Projections Potential earnings over the lifespan of solar panels (25-30 years). Steady income stream post-initial investment, influenced by panel degradation. Consider panel lifespan, maintenance costs, and changes in electricity rates. Maintenance Costs Regular upkeep of the solar farm. Average of $15,000 per megawatt annually, impacting net income. Regular maintenance is crucial for optimal performance and longevity. Weather and Environmental Impact Effects of weather conditions on solar panel efficiency and durability. Adverse weather can reduce energy production and damage equipment. Implement weatherproofing and insurance to mitigate risks. Market Fluctuations Changes in energy prices and government incentives. Can significantly affect profitability. Prepare for market fluctuations to protect investment. Technological Advancements Progress in solar technology enhancing efficiency and durability. Increases energy output and reduces long-term costs. Stay updated with the latest advancements to maximize efficiency. Future Prospects Growth forecast in the solar energy market and evolving opportunities. Promising growth rate indicating increasing potential income in the future. Keeping abreast with market trends and technological innovations is key.

FAQs: Solar Farm Income Per Acre

How Does the Efficiency of Solar Panels Impact Farm Income?

The efficiency of solar panels is crucial in determining the income of a solar farm.

Higher-efficiency panels convert more sunlight into electricity, leading to increased energy production per acre.

That means farms with high-efficiency panels generate more electricity and, consequently, more income from the same amount of space.

As technology advances, investing in the most efficient panels available can significantly boost the profitability of a solar farm.

How Do Government Incentives Affect Solar Farm Profits?

Government incentives play a pivotal role in the profitability of solar farms and can significantly reduce the upfront solar farm cost.

The incentives, including tax credits, grants, or favorable tariffs for solar energy, reduce the initial investment and operational costs. They make solar projects more financially viable and increase the return on investment.

By offsetting costs and ensuring a stable income, financial incentives encourage investment in solar energy and contribute to the growth of the renewable energy sector.

How Can Solar Farm Investment Be a Part of a Diversified Portfolio?

Including a solar farm investment in a diversified portfolio can reduce risk and increase stability.

Solar farms offer a unique combination of long-term, stable income streams and low operational costs once established.

The predictable nature of solar income, coupled with the growing demand for renewable energy, provides a hedge against volatility in traditional markets.

Combined, that makes solar farms an attractive option for investors looking to balance their portfolios and invest in future-forward industries.

How Do Community Solar Farms Contribute to Overall Solar Energy Production?

Community solar farms significantly contribute to overall solar energy production by enabling multiple households or businesses to share the benefits of solar power without installing panels on their own properties.

Shared projects increase the accessibility of solar energy, allowing more people to participate in and support renewable energy production.

As a result, community solar farms not only increase the total solar energy produced but also play a vital role in democratizing access to clean energy and fostering community involvement in sustainability initiatives.
It is essential to plan for generational succession well in advance.

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A crucial question in a family business is ensuring future generations most effective business continuation. If the founders of a family business do not address this question in a timely manner, family assets tend to fragment with each generation, making a consensus among numerous individuals increasingly challenging. Disagreements often lead to the sale of a previously thriving business or the complete cessation of family business operations.

This not only disrupts the economic stability of the family but also strains family relationships. Therefore, it is essential to plan for generational succession well in advance. One suitable solution for generational transition is to establish a so-called family holding.

Initial Steps for Generational Transition

The phrase the sooner, the better also applies to business continuity through the next generation. In the early stages, it is essential to sit down with the founder of the family business to understand how the business operates and their intentions for its continuation. The most common challenges in ensuring the survival of the family business include the number of heirs (successors), where the risk of fragmenting the family business is high, as well as reaching a consensus among multiple heirs on the direction of the family business.

Another challenge is when heirs have no interest in actively participating in the family business but still want to derive financial benefits from it. This can be achieved by structuring the business so that some family members are involved in management, some are in control, and others are only in profits. It is a common practice abroad for professional managers who are not family members to take charge of running the family business.

Also, impending disputes between heirs and the associated legal fees and other costs motivate founders to avoid inheritance proceedings. Issues may also arise when partners are unmarried, as the second partner may inherit only to the extent specified in the will. Communication breakdowns can occur if the founder does not inform family members in advance about their vision for the continuity of the family business. This lack of communication may make family members feel slighted or deprived, resulting in potential legal disputes.

Subsequent discussions with the founder should involve family members affected by the family business. This allows them to express their opinions on the founders intentions and assess whether they can envision the business functioning after the founders departure. It also allows clarifying the founders decisions to family members.

The founder should prepare selected successors for future leadership roles in the family business. If not adequately prepared, a successor cannot replace the founder right from the start. Therefore, the founder should give their successor time and tolerate some company management mistakes.

Initiating a family holding involves consolidating assets. The founders assets, intended to be part of the family holding, are compiled for this purpose. Depending on the size and diversification of business activities, an appropriate holding structure is chosen, considering tax optimization. If the family business has an international dimension, the holding structure may include legal instruments from abroad. In the Czech Republic, for example, trust and foundation funds are commonly used for this purpose.

Related article

Related article Family Business: Asset Protection in Crisis Situations Read more

Choosing the Appropriate Legal Entity for the Holding

In Slovakia, the suitable legal forms for the parent company of a holding are a limited liability company, a joint-stock company, or a simple joint-stock company. A limited liability company has the advantage of allowing the exclusion of the transfer of business interests to another person or making it conditional on the consent of the general meeting. This eliminates the risk of third parties entering the family business. Another commonly used practical advantage is excluding business interest inheritance, preventing fragmentation. A limited liability company allows for modifying rights and obligations associated with individual business interests, providing flexibility in organizing relationships between partners, especially regarding decision-making rights and the right to a share of profits. The disadvantage is the transparency of partners in a limited liability company, as they are visible in publicly available extracts from the commercial register.

In contrast to a limited liability company, the advantage of a joint-stock company is the anonymity of shareholders. Although registered in the Central Securities Depository, this list is not publicly accessible. Similarly, it is possible to restrict the transfer of shares to other persons but not entirely exclude them. In a joint-stock company, inheriting shares cannot be excluded.

The simple joint-stock company is Slovakias newest legal form of capital companies, created mainly to serve the developing startup scene. It combines several advantages of a limited liability company and a joint-stock company. For instance, a simple joint-stock company allows limiting or entirely excluding the transferability of all or only some types of company shares. It also allows excluding the possibility of inheriting shares. However, unlike a classic joint-stock company, the list of shareholders in a simple joint-stock company is publicly accessible, removing shareholder anonymity. A simple joint-stock company with an extensive shareholder structure can be established with low share capital.

It is worth noting that after the creation of the parent company, it is advisable to establish internal agreements among partners or shareholders. Founders often want to link the utilization of larger financial resources by family members to specific life milestones, such as weddings, childbirth, completion of higher education, and the like.

Benefits of a Family Holding

A well-established family holding brings numerous benefits. The primary advantage is the integrity of the family business and its smooth operation over multiple generations, achieved by not dispersing decision-making rights among many individuals. Additionally, a family holding allows for a clear overview of the entire family wealth structure. All of this results in both time and economic efficiency in decision-making and management processes. When setting up a family holding, it is crucial to consider tax-efficient solutions. Finally, a family holding serves as a suitable solution for asset protection and ensures the smooth functioning of the family business during the period between the founders death and the conclusion of inheritance proceedings.

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Related article Family Business: The death of the founder Read more

This article has been brought to you by Falath & Partners.

Authors of the article:

Jan Falath, Managing Partner
More than 50 nonsenses were nominated by businesses via an online poll.

VAT on vegetables differs in Slovakia. Sometimes different parts of the same vegetable attract different rates of VAT. (Source: Sme)

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Some caps, or brackets, triggering liability for income and payroll taxes in Slovakia, have remained the same for years, increasing the amount of red tape that entrepreneurs and companies have to deal with. This problem placed first among all 51 "bureaucratic nonsenses" nominated for the 12th annual Bureaucratic Nonsense survey, Lukas Ivan, chair of the Slovak Association of Young Entrepreneurs, announced.

In terms of topics, the nominations pointed mainly to duplicate data provided to the state, unnecessarily required documents or various problems in labour law, accounting and taxes, said Ivan, as quoted by the SITA newswire.

Entrepreneurs and the professional public nominated a total of 51 issues from various areas for the survey. In terms of the ministries under whose competence the individual issues fall, the largest number of nominations went to the ministries of finance, labour and health. Among the identified issues were also shortcomings in the digitisation of the state, and outdated regulations in the field of employment.

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Related article The bureaucratic nonsense of the year is reporting accounts to the Financial Administration Read more

In the Bureaucratic Nonsense of the Year 2023 survey, 1,129 votes were cast in an online poll lasting from December 18 to 31, 2023. The problem that "won" thanks to significantly increasing the administrative burden on companies received 18 percent of the votes.

The winner

The VAT turnover cap in 2024, the annual gross income above which an entrepreneur must register as a VAT payer, has remained unchanged since 2004  but prices have risen and entrepreneurs now reach the limit much earlier. VAT registration typically means significantly increased record-keeping, accounting and reporting requirements. Businesspeople also have to depreciate small assets more frequently, as the given caps have remained the same for 15 years. The long-unchanged amount, 200, for the levy exemption from agreements for working students and pensioners also adds to the administrative burden.

The winner of the latest edition of the survey is the growing bureaucracy resulting from the states reluctance to realise fixed amounts in tax and levy regulations, said Jan Solik, president of the Association of Slovak Entrepreneurs. The main decisive factor is that this problem and the increasing administrative burden is felt by almost every company.

Other nonsenses

In second place came regulation relating to employment. In some cases, employees are also entitled to holiday pay for time they have not actually worked. For example, this is the situation where vacation leave accrues to parents during maternity (or paternity) leave.

Third place went to the states inability to ensure the exchange of data between two registries, even ones which are managed by the same ministry. If an entrepreneur fails to notify the trade register within 15 days of a change in the data of, for example, a responsible representative, he or she risks a fine. However, this information is already held by the register of natural persons, which also falls under the same ministry. However, they are not interlinked.

The different VAT rates for related products ranked high, too. For example, parsley (haulm) has a different VAT rate to root parsley with haulm, and celeriac has a different VAT rate to celery stalks.

The chaos in VAT on so-called healthy foods is a good example of the consequences of adopting legislation without a comment procedure through parliamentary proposals, said Martin Krajcovic, president of the Association of Entrepreneurs of Slovakia. On the one hand, the state wants to support more domestic products on the shelves, on the other hand, it will reduce VAT on a number of foods that do not come from domestic production.

There is a lot to choose from

Despite the fact that this is the 12th edition of Bureaucratic Nonsense, there was no shortage of nominations, said Ivan. This years finalists illustrate a wide range of problems, from the states inability to digitise processes, to outdated regulations, to the chaotic rules that are the practical consequence of bypassing the standard legislative process when passing laws.
Think of it less as the ship of state, and more of a dodgem car.

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He calls it an accident.

The opposition calls it a disgrace.

The police call it a matter for investigation.

But the case of Andrej Danko, his car and a Dubravka traffic light pole is, I submit, more a work of performance art.

It is hard to imagine how a single incident could better encapsulate Slovakia's current, profoundly stupid, political moment  no small achievement, since Danko is competing against his own ministerial nominees, including a culture minister apparently at war with Slovak culture, not to mention the Slovak language, and an environment minister who seems convinced that bears represent the biggest threat currently facing the country.

But Kapitan Danko  to accord him his official military rank , following his 2017 promotion  is not just an old soldier; he is, by Slovak standards, an old master and he paints on a broad canvas.

Skid marks

The agreed facts are as follows.

On the night of Thursday, January 11, our protagonist, who is the leader of the Slovak National Party (SNS) and deputy speaker of parliament, sets out by car in the Bratislava suburb of Dubravka.

Only moments later, his car veers off the road and into a traffic light pole at a pedestrian crossing on the main road running through Dubravka. The pole is located precisely where pedestrians would have been standing, had any been waiting to cross the road.

The collision topples the pole  in fact, the impact is violent enough to rip a hole in the undercarriage of the car, which begins leaking oil.

Danko drives off without calling the police and returns home, a short distance away in the same borough.

The collision has also torn off the car's registration plate, which, along with the trail of leaking oil, makes it almost comedically simple for the police to locate the offending vehicle. However, by the time they get to it, the car is in the garage and Danko is nowhere to be found (or, at least, refuses to answer his doorbell).

By the following morning news has leaked out (the incident was first reported by news website Startitup.sk) and Danko swiftly releases a Facebook video saying, essentially, "my car skidded, happens to everyone, nothing to see here."

As of noon on Friday, January 12  i.e. more than 12 hours after the collision  he has yet to contact the police or submit to a breathalyser test.

That's all you're getting

From this point on, it all gets very muddy as Danko improvises a makeshift, evolving and, above all, lawyerly defence of his conduct.
Slovak learner's language blunders, tourist buses having problems with parking, and the biggest bueaucratic nonsenses.

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Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, January 31 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

11 men (and 0 women) will vie to become president

Igor Matovic (centre left) during the press conference at which he announced his presidential run. (Source: SME - Jozef Jakubco)

On Wednesday morning, Slovensko (formerly OLaNO) leader Igor Matovic announced he was joining the presidential race, even though "at this time yesterday I did not know I would become a candidate".

"First of all, we're going to help people to have enough information, and we're also going to spice up the campaign for the candidates," stated Matovic, adding the campaign needs "a dose of truth".

Matovic admitted that he does not believe he has any chance of winning. According to the Dennik N daily, bookmakers say his chances are "pretty much zero". As Matovic put it during his press conference, the idea behind his running for the post is to "have a democratic candidate's back". He said he had no intention to harm ex-foreign minister Ivan Korcok's candidacy  but warned that the latter would have to face "unpleasant" questions, as would other candidates.

The Slovensko movement submitted the proposal just a few minutes before the deadline. In addition to Matovic, Nations Memory Institute's historian Patrik Dubovsky also announced his candidacy. He attracted publicity last November when he filed a criminal complaint against Smer MP Lubos Blaha for displaying a portrait of communist revolutionary Che Guevara in his parliamentary office. Dubovsky will run as the candidate of the Za Ludi and Krestanska Unia (Christian Union) parties, and is also being supported by Slovensko.

Both Matovic's and Dubovsky's nominations were signed by 15 MPs from the three parties. The other way to get onto the ballot is to submit a petition signed by at least 15,000 citizens, as Korcok has done.

The first round of the presidential election will take place on Saturday, March 23. The second round, should it be required, will take place on April 6.

Related: In alphabetical order, the candidates are as follows: SNS chair Andrej Danko, Patrik Dubovsky, Aliancia party leader Krisztian Forro, pro-Russian politician and former top judge Stefan Harabin, Ivan Korcok, far-right politician Marian Kotleba, diplomat Jan Kubis, Igor Matovic, former police officer and eurosceptic Milan Nahlik, Hlas chair Peter Pellegrini and Robert Svec, another far-right politician.

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FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY

Slovak politics explained in a single traffic accident

SNS leader, presidential candidate and now test driver Andrej Danko.. (Source: TASR)

He calls it an accident. The opposition calls it a disgrace. The police call it a matter for investigation. But the case of Andrej Danko, his car and a Dubravka traffic light pole is, James Thomson suggests, more a work of performance art.

It is hard to imagine, he writes, how a single incident could better encapsulate Slovakia's current, profoundly stupid, political moment.

EVENT FOR NEXT WEEK

Japanese movie festival in Bratislava

The Kino Mladost cinema in Bratislava will screen movies as part of the Japanese Film Festival. (Source: SME - Marko Erd)

Between February 8-11, the Embassy of Japan will be holding the 18th edition of the Japanese Film Festival, showcasing four contemporary movies that reflect various aspects of life in the Asian country.

All the movies will be screened at the Kino Mladost cinema on Hviezdoslavovo Square. Admission is free of charge. For more information about the selected movies, click here.

IN OTHER NEWS

Zeleziarne Podbrezova will not repeat the record 49 million profit it reported for 2022. Last year the ironworks were affected by a drop in orders of 27 percent, meaning it barely made a profit. The last time its production fell more was during the aftermath of the global financial crisis 15 years ago. (Dennik N)

Last year the ironworks were affected by a drop in orders of 27 percent, meaning it barely made a profit. The last time its production fell more was during the aftermath of the global financial crisis 15 years ago. (Dennik N) One of the biggest e-shops in Slovakia, Hej.sk, will close at the end of February. After its closure, electronics retailer Datart, which belongs to the same group, will take care of any warranty claims by Hej.sk customers. (hej.sk)

After its closure, electronics retailer Datart, which belongs to the same group, will take care of any warranty claims by Hej.sk customers. (hej.sk) Poland has extended temporary checks on its border with Slovakia until March 2. (TASR)

(TASR) On Tuesday, Smer chair Robert Fico cancelled a planned meeting with ambassadors due to illness. "However, I have to do everything to be at the European Council session in Brussels on Thursday morning, where all sorts of strange things are being planned against Hungary," he wrote in a Facebook post.

"However, I have to do everything to be at the European Council session in Brussels on Thursday morning, where all sorts of strange things are being planned against Hungary," he wrote in a Facebook post. A total of four projects from Slovakia have been nominated for the annual Innovation in Politics Awards. These include a joint project by municipal waste-management company OLO and the City of Bratislava in the form of the KOLO reuse centre; an inclusive housing project for the Roma community in the town of Lenartov; project Kosice 2.0, which aims to improve the quality of life in the city and increase local civil engagement; and the Investment Ministry's hackathons, which aim to tackle problems in public administration. (TASR)

These include a joint project by municipal waste-management company OLO and the City of Bratislava in the form of the KOLO reuse centre; an inclusive housing project for the Roma community in the town of Lenartov; project Kosice 2.0, which aims to improve the quality of life in the city and increase local civil engagement; and the Investment Ministry's hackathons, which aim to tackle problems in public administration. (TASR) The total net profit of the 25 banks operating in Slovakia grew by almost 380 million year-on-year, or by 46 percent, to 1.2 billion in 2023, according to preliminary non-audited data published by Slovakia's central bank. (TASR)

On Tuesday, Slovak President Zuzana Caputova (left) met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa. The latter was interested in events in Slovakia, and both leaders spoke about the security situation as well. Rudolf Schuster was the last Slovak head of state to officially visit Canada, more than 20 years ago. Caputova also met with Slovaks living in Canada. On Wednesday, she will move to Toronto to open a joint Slovak-Canadian business forum and meet more compatriots. (Source: TASR)

WEATHER FOR THURSDAY

Overcast and foggy. Throughout the day there will be rain or showers in many places. Daytime temperatures will rise to between 0C and 8C. A level 1 wind warning applies to the High and Low Tatra mountain ranges and the surrounding areas. (SHMU)

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P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.

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EU Extending Free Goods Import From Ukraine Detrimental to EU Farmers - Hungarian Official

EU Extending Free Goods Import From Ukraine Detrimental to EU Farmers - Hungarian Official

Sputnik International

The European Commission's decision to extend the free import of goods from Ukraine is detrimental to European farmers, the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture told Sputnik

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Earlier in the day, the European Commission recommended extending the free import of goods from Ukraine and Moldova until June 2025 with a number of measures to protect the member states. Such a decision by the European Commission could "further jeopardize the stability of agriculture and the future of EU farmers," the ministry said. Hungary will keep a ban on the export of products from Ukraine, despite the decision of European Commission, the ministry said.

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Fears of FBI Spying on 'Take Our Border Back' Convoy Show US Democracy Dying

Fears of FBI Spying on 'Take Our Border Back' Convoy Show US Democracy Dying

Sputnik International

US conservative activists have expressed concerns that the FBI and other federal agencies may infiltrate the Take Our Border Back trucker convoy, which is heading to Texas, to smear the movement. Sputnik sat down with former CIA analyst Larry Johnson to discuss the issue.

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The "Take Our Border Back" trucker convoy is driving across the US to Texas. Its stated aim is to mobilize tens of thousands of trucks in order to stop illegal migrants from crossing the nation's southern border. But some conservative activists worry that the rally may turn into a January 6th-style setup if infiltrated by FBI agents and provocateurs. They have called upon US federal agencies to stay away from the movement.Johnson also drew attention to the timing of the rally. Most recently, the Texas authorities, which have carried out Operation Lone Star to prevent the flow of illegals into the state, "seized" a section of the US-Mexico border, blocking federal border patrol agents from accessing it.Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been at odds with Joe Biden from day one of his presidency as the latter cancelled all border restrictions set by his predecessor Donald Trump. Abbott's legal row over the seizure of the part of the border and placing barbed wire there led to the US Supreme Court's ruling that federal agents can interfere and demolish the barriers. Nonetheless, 25 Republican governors signed a letter supporting Texas in the border control fight with the federal government over the "invasion" of migrants.Under these circumstances, the Biden administration has a potential motive to aggravate the situation in Texas, as per the former CIA analyst.Meanwhile, the very fact that many American conservatives are afraid to protest because of potential federal entrapment is revealing and evokes strong memories of the federal agencies' manhunt for January Sixers following the riots in Washington DC, which were then groundlessly labeled by Democrats as "insurrection.""We're on the verge of, if not in the middle of being a fascist state where the power that's consolidated in the federal government and then the relationships with the wealthiest corporations, the pharmaceutical industry, the defense industry, the banking industry, the media industry, they all collaborate to work together to suppress the rights of American citizens, to make it impossible for people to speak their mind," the CIA veteran said.Johnson believes that the protests will take place regardless and will attract a lot of attention on social media. The CIA veteran assumes that the movement over the unfolding border crisis in the US will ultimately force the Biden administration to back down.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240129/george-soros-spending-millions-to-help-turn-texas-blue---report-1116458534.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230124/47-year-jail-time-for-boots-on-pelosis-desk-how-january-sixers-got-draconian-treatment-1106656996.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/specter-of-civil-war-bidens-border-policy-could-lead-to-huge-explosion--ex-pentagon-analyst-1116437378.html

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us border crisis, texas independence, take our border back convoy, january 6, us secret services provocations
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/how-russia-can-disarm-naysayers-on-patriot-missiles-used-to-shoot-down-doomed-il-76-1116518444.html

How Russia Can Disarm Naysayers on Patriot Missiles Used to Shoot Down Doomed Il-76

How Russia Can Disarm Naysayers on Patriot Missiles Used to Shoot Down Doomed Il-76

Sputnik International

President Putin announced Wednesday that Ukraine used a US-made Patriot missile system to bring down the Il-76 transport plane carrying nine Russian crewmembers and servicemen and 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war on January 24. An ex-Pentagon analyst told Sputnik the next steps Moscow will need to take to be heard.

2024-01-31T18:15+0000

2024-01-31T18:15+0000

2024-01-31T19:09+0000

russia

ukraine

michael maloof

vladimir putin

pentagon

us department of defense (dod)

sputnik

analysis

ilyushin il-76

il-76

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Russia will have to take its case regarding the shootdown of the Il-76 to the United Nations to break through the information blockade around the incident put up by Western governments and media, former US Department of Defense senior security policy analyst Michael Maloof believes.The Western media is hardly mentioning this incident at all, Maloof told Sputnik, commenting on Russian President Vladimir Putins remarks earlier in the day revealing that Russian investigators had concluded that the Il-76 was shot down using a Patriot missile system. Now, the revelation that it was a Patriot missile has not been reported whatsoever, at least here in Washington. This is quite extraordinary, and I think that theyre going to want to bury that, the observer said.A week on since the shootdown, Maloof remains confident that the incident was likely caused by a miscommunication somewhere along the line on the Ukrainian side, or an amateurish andcrazy, purposeful criminal act to try to blame Russia.I dont think the US had any knowledge, Maloof said, when asked about the Pentagons possible role in the crisis.They are leaving the execution of the war up to the Ukrainians. And theyre clearly misusing equipment. They are actually siphoning off equipment. As Mr. Lavrov pointed out the other day, theyre finding this equipment winding up in the Scandinavian countries of all places. And now we have evidence that some of the equipment is winding up with the drug cartels in Mexico and being used against our own border patrols. I think all of this has got to stop. And yet the Biden administration wants to send billions more to Ukraine, but not do anything for the border, the observer stressed, characterizing the conflict as a lost cause.Maloof believes the Pentagon could probably figureout who really shot down the Il-76 using radar signatures. If they can get their hands on the radar information and read that data, but clearly there was a shootdown. And whether it was purposeful or not by the Ukrainians, I dont know, but I think the Pentagon is going to have to respond to this. Questions should be raised at the press conferences and certainly addressed to the Pentagon during their daily press briefings [about] what they knew and when they knew it and what did they know.Otherwise, he warned, the Western media and governments will continue to try to cover up the embarrassing criminal behavior of their proxies, just as they have any details about the origins of the Ukrainian crisis going back to before 2022.Look, for eight years, the Western media hardly ever reported on what was going on in Donetsk and the daily shelling that Kiev was launching against Russian-speaking people in the eastern part of Ukraine. No mention at all. And then people wonder whats this all about? Well of course theyre going to wonder because they havent been told anything. And the more thats brought out  its the transparency business of sunshine, revealing and cleansing things, its got to be done. Especially if countries plan to go to war over it, Maloof summarized.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240130/cutthroat-politics-republicans-refuse-to-bail-out-biden-on-border-ukraine-1116480567.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231226/war-is-scary-donbass-children-send-their-message-to-american-children-1115819434.html

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what missile shot down russian il-76, why did ukraine shoot down russian il-76
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/lavrov-takes-part-in-brics-sherpas-sous-sherpas-meeting-1116508012.html

Lavrov Takes Part in BRICS Sherpas, Sous-Sherpas Meeting

Lavrov Takes Part in BRICS Sherpas, Sous-Sherpas Meeting

Sputnik International

Sputnik goes live as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends a meeting of BRICS sherpas and sous-sherpas in Moscow.

2024-01-31T06:31+0000

2024-01-31T06:31+0000

2024-01-31T06:31+0000

world

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sergey lavrov

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Sputnik is live as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends a meeting of BRICS sherpas and sous-sherpas in Moscow. Sherpas and sous-sherpas (junior sherpas) are representatives of the heads of state and government involved in the preparation for this year's upcoming meetings.BRICS includes Russia, Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, while Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Egypt were invited to join the association following the 2023 summit.Follow Sputnik's live feed to find out more!

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Lavrov Takes Part in BRICS Sherpas, Sous-Sherpas Meeting Sputnik International Lavrov Takes Part in BRICS Sherpas, Sous-Sherpas Meeting 2024-01-31T06:31+0000 true PT30M15S

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lavrov takes part, brics sherpas and sous-sherpas, russian foreign minister sergey lavrov
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/nato-is-instrument-of-confrontation-threat-to-russia---kremlin-1116512640.html

Kremlin Blasts NATO as Instrument of Confrontation, Threat to Russia

Kremlin Blasts NATO as Instrument of Confrontation, Threat to Russia

Sputnik International

NATO is controlled by the United States and is an instrument of confrontation, this alliance is a threat to Russia, so Moscow is taking appropriate measures, said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

2024-01-31T11:22+0000

2024-01-31T11:22+0000

2024-01-31T11:37+0000

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NATO is controlled by the United States and is an instrument of confrontation, posing a threat to Russia, so Moscow is taking appropriate measures, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Moscow has repeatedly warned NATO against its eastward expansion, which the Kremlin says could further inflame tensions in Europe. Russia has stressed that the country has no aggressive intentions towards any states, while NATO aims to expand into the post-Soviet space to foment conflicts near Russia's borders. NATO also conducts regular exercises close to the borders of Russia.IMF's Forecast For Russias 2024 GDPThe International Monetary Fund's forecast for Russias 2024 GDP growth can be described as "interesting," Dmitry Peskov said.The IMF expects the growth to be anywhere from 1.1% to 2.6%.Tensions Between Ukraine's Top LeadersMoscow is monitoring the reports regarding the resignation of Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Kiev has many problems."Kiev's failed counteroffensive and problems at the fronts lead to growing contradictions among representatives of both the military and civilian leadership," the official added.The New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing sources, that the Ukrainian government had postponed the dismissal of Zaluzhny due to a leak of information about his possible resignation. The government had planned to fire Zaluzhny, but on Monday evening, when information leaked, it decided to back off, the report said, adding that now the government is slowing down the process.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240127/like-a-walking-war-machine-china-blasts-nato-amid-massive-military-drill-1116424040.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240129/ukrainian-commander-in-chief-zaluzhny-told-to-resign-no-official-decree-yet---lawmaker-1116473518.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/potential-us-attack-against-iran-would-trigger-catastrophic-effect-on-global-economy-1116501709.html

Potential US Attack Against Iran Would Trigger Catastrophic Effect on Global Economy

Potential US Attack Against Iran Would Trigger Catastrophic Effect on Global Economy

Sputnik International

The US won't strike Iran because a war with the country would be "catastrophic" for the global economy, professor Mohammed Marandi told Radio Sputnik on Tuesday.

2024-01-31T00:10+0000

2024-01-31T00:10+0000

2024-01-31T00:10+0000

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An attack on Iran would be catastrophic to the global economy, Mohammad Marandi, a professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, told Sputniks Fault Lines on Tuesday.This possibility, Marandi believes, will prevent the US from attacking Iran directly and will instead continue its attacks on Syria and Iraq, qualifying his comments by admitting he could be wrong.Referring to the recent attack on the US garrison in Al-Tanf that killed three US soldiers, Marandi said the confusion over whether the base is located in Syria or Jordan doesnt really matter because the confusion itself basically shows that the US is carrying out activities in Syria.Attacks on US forces are likely to continue, Marandi asserted, because the US is seen as working hand-in-hand with Israel in its war on Gaza.Leadership in the US is making decisions that harm its interests because they tend to believe their own propaganda, Marandi said, and then they calculate based on that propaganda and  miscalculation.The damage that the United States has done to itself, through supporting genocide, through supporting these hourly massacres and the extermination of the Palestinian people in Gaza is not something we can calculate, Marandi explained. The United States has demolished its credibility across the board.Marandi said he doesnt believe Israel will survive the current conflict. I think it will collapse just like apartheid South Africa collapsed. It is a colonial project. It is an apartheid regime that has been imposed upon the indigenous population in the region and it wont last, he explained, noting earlier that the US is also declining as we speak.We've been talking about [Israel's actions in Gaza] so much over the past three months that it sounds sort of like we're talking about McDonald's or something. This is children being killed morning to night, every day as we speak. This is completely unforgivable. But this is the reality that we live in today.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240128/us-centcom-says-3-servicepeople-killed-25-injured-in-drone-attack-on-base-in-jordan-1116452048.html

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us to attack iran, can the us handle another war, drone attack on us forces, effects of war with iran, israeli genocide
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/putin-on-downed-il-76-jet-ukraine-wants-to-provoke-us-into-retaliatory-actions-1116516148.html

Putin: Ukraine Downed Russian Il-76 Full of Ukrainian PoWs Using US-Made Patriot Missile System

Putin: Ukraine Downed Russian Il-76 Full of Ukrainian PoWs Using US-Made Patriot Missile System

Sputnik International

Six Russian crewmembers, three Russian servicemen and 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed in a Ukrainian surface-to-air missile attack targeting an... 31.01.2024, Sputnik International

2024-01-31T14:06+0000

2024-01-31T14:06+0000

2024-01-31T17:46+0000

vladimir putin

ukraine

russia

belgorod

russian defense ministry

il-76

il-76 aircraft crash in belgorod

prisoner exchange

prisoner swap

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The Russian Il-76 transport plane full of Ukrainian PoWs downed over Belgorod region on January 24 was targeted using an American-made Patriot missile system, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced, citing the findings of Russian investigators. Putin accused authorities in Kiev of trying to provoke Russia into a retaliatory response, but emphasized that Russia would not stop prisoner exchanges in spite of the provocation."Will [the shootdown] stop exchanges? We will not stop exchanges. We have to free our guys," Putin said. "We will continue to bring our guys home, if the Ukrainian side is ready, of course."The president estimated the ratio of Ukrainian PoWs held by Russia in relation to Russian PoWs held by Ukraine is as much as ten to one, and that there are "thousands" of Ukrainian PoWs held by Russia, compared to "dozens" held by Ukraine.Earlier on Wednesday, Russia's Defense Ministry announced that another 195 Russian servicemen had been returned from Ukrainian captivity and brought to Moscow for treatment and rehabilitation in exchange for 195 Ukrainian PoWs.International Investigation a Must"The Ukrainian authorities dropped the phrase somewhere that they would like to conduct an international investigation" into the Il-76 shootdown, Putin said. "We are asking for this, and insist that an international investigation be carried out." Unfortunately, no relevant international organizations have shown readiness to do so to date, the Russian president added.Instead, he said, Western officials and media have been "trying to hush" the incident up."Just look, what's being said in Western media? Nothing. A snap of the fingers and immediately everyone just forgets, everything immediately goes away, the information space is immediately cleared. But we will not forget about the crimes they are committing against our citizens," Putin said.Putin confided that he doesn't fully "understand" why Ukraine shot down the Russian plane, suggesting that the crime may have been designed "to divert the attention of their own population and sponsors from the failures of the so-called counteroffensive, to show that they can still 'do something', to provoke us into retaliatory mirror attacks on civilian, peaceful targets inside Ukraine. Instead, we are using high-precision weapons to hit infrastructure facilities, military targets first and foremost, those of the military industry. They want to provoke us to retaliate. That's my guess," he said.Six Russian Il-76 crewmembers, three Russian servicemen and 65 Ukrainian PoWs perished on January 24 after their plane was shot down over eastern Belgorod region while on route to a planned prisoner exchange. The Russian Defense Ministry immediately accused Kiev of deliberately shooting down the aircraft, saying Ukraine's leadership "knew very well that, in accordance with established...Ukrainian military personnel" were to be "transported by military transport aircraft to the Belgorod airfield" for an exchange.Ukrainian officials and media issued a series of contradictory statements on the incident, with media first confirming that the plane had been shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, but later scrubbing the information. President Zelensky accused Russia of "playing with the lives" of Ukrainian PoWs and called for an "international investigation" into the incident. However, Ukraine's General Staff claimed that the plane was carrying weapons, and said it would "continue to take measures to destroy the missile delivery means" used by Russia, "including in the Belgorod-Kharkov direction." Separately, Ukraine's military intelligence confirmed that a prisoner swap had been scheduled the day the plane was shot down.The US sent several Patriot missile batteries to Ukraine last spring in a bid to shore up defenses against Russian precision strikes targeting military and energy infrastructure. The complex, marginally mobile systems are typically deployed around major cities. However, the Russian MoD indicated last week that the Il-76 was targeted by missiles fired from an area near the village of Liptsy in Kharkov region, about 15 km north of the city of Kharkov, and 5 km from the Russian border, suggesting that the Patriot may have been moved to the region ahead of the provocation.The Pentagon warned Kiev earlier this month that it wouldn't be able to continue to supply Ukrainian operated Patriots indefinitely as cash allocated to arms aid runs out.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/russia-returns-195-soldiers-from-ukraine-controlled-territory---mod-1116515384.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240125/pentagon-says-looking-into-whether-us-weapons-used-in-downing-of-russian-il-76-plane-1116390637.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/russia-returns-195-soldiers-from-ukraine-controlled-territory---mod-1116515384.html

Russia Returns 195 Soldiers From Ukraine-Controlled Territory - MoD

Russia Returns 195 Soldiers From Ukraine-Controlled Territory - MoD

Sputnik International

195 Russian servicemen were returned from Ukrainian captivity on Wednesday and will be brought to Moscow for treatment and rehabilitation, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

2024-01-31T13:52+0000

2024-01-31T13:52+0000

2024-01-31T13:52+0000

russia

russian defense ministry

russia

ukraine

defense ministry

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Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that 195 Russian servicemen were returned from Ukrainian captivity on Wednesday and will be brought to Moscow for treatment and rehabilitation."All those released will be provided with the necessary medical and psychological assistance," the ministry added.The ministry said that the UAE had provided humanitarian mediation efforts during the return of the Russian soldiers from captivity in Ukraine-controlled territory."Upon the return of Russian servicemen from captivity, the United Arab Emirates provided humanitarian mediation," the ministry said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240129/how-many-russian-soldiers-have-been-freed-from-ukrainian-captivity-via-prisoner-swaps-1116471959.html

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russia returns, russian defense ministry, ukrainian captivity
Whilst the Israeli state continues its genocide of Palestinians, western powers have suspended funding to UNRWA  a vital source of food, shelter, and medicine in Gaza. The imperialists hypocrisy knows no bounds. They have blood on their hands.

[Originally published at communist.red]

Famine was imminent in Gaza, wrote UN special rapporteur Michael Fakhri on Sunday. Now, he laments, it is inevitable.

These comments refer not to the genocidal actions of Benjamin Netanyahu and his regime. They refer to the decision of the United States, Canada, Britain, and many other civilised European states to freeze funding for UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for providing aid and assistance to Palestinian refugees.

Just a day after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found it plausible that Israel could be carrying out a genocide in Gaza, Israeli authorities alleged that twelve UNRWA employees (out of a total of 30,000) were involved in Hamas operation on 7 October.

All of these employees were quickly suspended, pending investigation. Nevertheless, a scramble to defund the UNRWA soon commenced amongst the western imperialists.

The US led the charge, rushing to announce that it was extremely alarmed by these allegations. On the basis of what is yet to be proven, it has brought vital aid for Palestinians to a grinding halt.

Following like tumbling dominos, Britain and co. issued similar statements.

This stunt by western imperialism is what, in international law, is described as collective punishment. On the basis of the alleged actions of twelve employees, UNRWA operations  responsible for maintaining essential food banks, schools, and health clinics, and relied upon by hundreds of thousands  will be wound down.

By stopping funding for UNRWA, the main vector for aid entering war-torn Gaza, the western imperialists have turned to weaponizing food against the poor and oppressed.

At a time where famine and disease are ripping through the tiny enclave of Gaza, more Palestinians are expected to perish from these silent killers than Israeli bombs and bullets.

Deadly stunt

By stopping funding for UNRWA, the western imperialists have turned to weaponizing food against the poor and oppressed / Image: United Nations Photo, Flickr

Before this deadly stunt, UN agencies were warning that the amount of aid that gets through was a drop in the ocean. Now, the situation has become even more dire. Basic health facilities, shelter, and medicine will be denied for the Palestinians, whose real death toll already amounts to over 30,000.

From supporting Israels indiscriminate bombing campaign, to carrying out an indiscriminate blockade of aid: the inhumanity of western leaders knows no limit.

What is clear is that in the rules-based order, it is a violation for western powers and their allies to be held to account by the very international law that they use to cynically condemn their enemies.

Since its inception in 1949, UNRWA has been an irritating presence for the Zionist state on account of the fact that it recognises the children of refugees as refugees themselves, implicitly recognising their right to return. And its reports from the frontline were used in South Africas ICJ case against Israels genocide.

The Israeli ruling class will no longer have to tolerate this nuisance, all thanks to its democratic friends.

Indeed, this decision is a blatant attempt to distract from the ICJ ruling, with the free world assuring Israel that, after all, were all on the same side.

Hypocrisy-based order

In the four months of massacre, Israeli bombardment has killed at least 152 UN workers in Gaza. Yet there has been no hue and cry about this gruesome attack on aid workers.

UNRWA buildings  some of the only places resembling safety for millions of displaced Gazans  have been obliterated in Khan Younis and other places. But there have been no calls from western leaders to defund Israel.

Britain assured the public, no less, that it remains committed to humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. The aid Britain is really interested in providing, however, is of a very different nature.

Bombs, artillery, and aircraft carriers for Israel; missiles and airstrikes to protect the profits of the big shipping companies; all alongside disease, famine, and poverty for the people of Palestine and Yemen: such are the tenets of the western imperialists hypocrisy-based order.

We say:
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/russian-air-defense-destroys-20-ukraine-missiles-over-black-sea-crime---defense-ministry-1116519083.html

Russian Air Defense Destroys 20 Ukraine Missiles Over Black Sea, Crimea - Defense Ministry

Russian Air Defense Destroys 20 Ukraine Missiles Over Black Sea, Crimea - Defense Ministry

Sputnik International

The Russian air defense systems on duty destroys 17 Ukrainian missiles over the Black Sea and another three over the Crimean Peninsula, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

2024-01-31T17:03+0000

2024-01-31T17:03+0000

2024-01-31T17:07+0000

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"At about 17:00 Moscow time [14:00 GMT], an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack using 20 aircraft guided missiles at facilities on the territory of Russia was prevented. On-duty air defense systems destroyed 17 Ukrainian missiles over the Black Sea and three more over the Crimean Peninsula," the statement said. Fragments of the Ukrainian missiles fell on the territory of a military unit in the area from the settlement of Lyubimovka in Crimea, but there is no damage to aircraft.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240108/watch-russian-black-sea-fleet-take-on-enemy-uavs-sea-drones-during-drills-1116051985.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/russias-il-76-plane-was-downed-by-western-made-missile---emergency-services--1116511881.html

Russias Il-76 Plane Was Downed by Western-Made Missile - Emergency Services

Russias Il-76 Plane Was Downed by Western-Made Missile - Emergency Services

Sputnik International

The examination of the January 24 Il-76 plane crash in Russia confirmed that the aircraft was downed by a Western-made air defense missile, a spokesman of the emergency services told Sputnik on Wednesday.

2024-01-31T09:41+0000

2024-01-31T09:41+0000

2024-01-31T10:15+0000

russia

russia

ukraine

russian defense ministry

ilyushin il-76

attack

missile

il-76 aircraft crash in belgorod

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A preliminary examination of the damaging parts found in the aircraft shows that the missile belongs to a Western-made air defense system, the spokesman said. The Russian Defense Ministry has said an Il-76 military transport airplane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war set to be exchanged was shot down in the Belgorod region. All the prisoners of war, together with six crew members and three accompanying persons on board the aircraft, were killed. The ministry accused the Ukrainian forces of downing the airplane.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240125/pentagon-says-looking-into-whether-us-weapons-used-in-downing-of-russian-il-76-plane-1116390637.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/russias-rostec-to-unveil-flagship-supercam-drone-at-world-defense-show-in-saudi-arabia-1116509538.html

Russia's Rostec to Unveil Flagship Supercam Drone at World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia

Russia's Rostec to Unveil Flagship Supercam Drone at World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia

Sputnik International

Rostec State Corporation will present the flagship Supercam S350 drone at the World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia, the company told reporters on Wednesday.

2024-01-31T08:53+0000

2024-01-31T08:53+0000

2024-01-31T08:53+0000

military

saudi arabia

russia

world

rostec

drone

uav

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The Rostec State Corporation will present its flagship Supercam S350 drone at the World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia, the company told reporters on Wednesday. The Supercam S350's flight duration is up to several hours, and it has a speed of up to 120 kilometers per hour. The device can be used for monitoring fuel and energy facilities, reconnaissance, territorial defense, and other tasks.The second World Defense Show-2024 will be held in Riyadh on February 4-8. Rostec will present a wide range of weapons to the participants and visitors of the event, in particular armored vehicles, ammunition, helicopters and air planes, small arms, and countermeasures against drones.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231228/russia-to-test-new-remote-controlled-ifv-in-special-operation-zone---rostec-head-1115851372.html

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rostec state corporation, world defense show, rostec to unveil flagship supercam drone
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/taiwan-could-turn-from-uss-pawn-to-victim-at-any-moment-1116511238.html

Taiwan Could Turn From USs Pawn to Victim at Any Moment

Taiwan Could Turn From USs Pawn to Victim at Any Moment

Sputnik International

Taiwan could turn from the US's "pawn" to a victim at any moment, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua said on Wednesday.

2024-01-31T09:02+0000

2024-01-31T09:02+0000

2024-01-31T09:02+0000

asia

donald trump

taiwan

china

beijing

taiwan semiconductor manufacturing company (tsmc)

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In July 2023, former US President Donald Trump told Fox News that Taiwan had taken the semiconductor business away from the United States. Taiwan is one of the world's biggest suppliers of semiconductors, which are used in everything from the auto industry to military equipment. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the world's largest contract chip maker. Taiwan has been governed independently of mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan  a territory with its own elected government  maintains that it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/china-to-oppose-taiwans-independence-promote-peaceful-reunification-1116222142.html

taiwan

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/the-us-economy-is-not-the-american-economy-1116503701.html

The US Economy is Not the American Economy

The US Economy is Not the American Economy

Sputnik International

The US Economy is distinct from the "American Economy" says political analyst Caleb Maupin, as it is focused on propping up global corporations and not the health of the domestic economy.

2024-01-31T02:56+0000

2024-01-31T02:56+0000

2024-01-31T04:10+0000

analysis

javier milei

caleb maupin

world

china

sputnik

russia

nato

joe biden

the critical hour

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Milei's assessment is backward, says author, journalist and political analyst Caleb Maupin speaking to Sputniks Critical Hour on Tuesday.The reason the West has been gutting the welfare state is because it is controlled by global corporations.The US economy is not the American economy. It is the economy centered around big banks, the corporations, ultra monopolies, trust cartels and syndicates based here in the West, Maupin argued.But really, the US government and the US monopolies are the big corporations at the top of our economy [that] are propping up a global system. They're not really concerned about the domestic economy of the United StatesThis is dangerous because as the American empire flounders, it will take increasingly desperate measures to hold onto its hegemony.Maupin warned that we've increasingly got a West led by the United States, the center of the NATO alliance, that is trying to remind everybody who they once were, adding that the bluster coming from the US is it being forced to adjust to the fact that we're having a much more multipolar world [and] that, the world is not going to be centered, economically speaking, around Wall Street and London for much longer.Russia and China do not want a third World War, Maupin said. But he warned that if a World War does start, everyone knows that Russia and China are going to win, adding that the aggressive policies of the US are not strategic for America at all.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20201113/and-a-partridge-in-a-pear-tree-biden-transition-team-packed-with-bp-uaw-private-prison-lobbyists-1081157156.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/uk-considering-sending-aircraft-carrier-to-red-sea-to-deter-houthis---reports-1116508851.html

UK Considering Sending Aircraft Carrier to Red Sea to Deter Houthis - Reports

UK Considering Sending Aircraft Carrier to Red Sea to Deter Houthis - Reports

Sputnik International

The United Kingdom is considering sending an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea to ensure the safety of ships passing through the region from missile and drone attacks by the Houthis, The Telegraph newspaper reported on Tuesday.

2024-01-31T05:49+0000

2024-01-31T05:49+0000

2024-01-31T05:49+0000

world

red sea crisis

united kingdom (uk)

red sea

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The UK navy is preparing to replace the US aircraft carrier USS Dwight Eisenhower when it returns to the United States, the report said. The UK has two aircraft carriers - HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth - designed to carry F-35 fighter jets, the newspaper reported, adding that HMS Prince of Wales will carry out her first combat operation if deployed to the region. The Houthis vowed in November 2023 to attack any ships associated with Israel until it halts military actions in the Gaza Strip. This led US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to announce the creation of a multinational operation to secure navigation in the Red Sea. The United States and the United Kingdom later launched major strikes against Houthi positions in a bid to degrade the rebels' ability to target commercial vessels.Russia denounced both Houthis' actions in Red Sea and West's attack on Yemen as direct threats to global peace and security.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/us-navy-shot-down-houthi-anti-ship-missile-heading-to-red-sea-1116504947.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/un-has-no-plan-b-to-secure-funding-for-unrwa-after-donors-pause-aid---spokesman-1116503624.html

UN Has No Plan B to Secure Funding For UNRWA After Donors Pause Aid - Spokesman

UN Has No Plan B to Secure Funding For UNRWA After Donors Pause Aid - Spokesman

Sputnik International

The UN has no backup plan to get money for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after donors paused their funding, said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

2024-01-31T02:24+0000

2024-01-31T02:24+0000

2024-01-31T02:24+0000

world

united nations relief and works agency for palestine refugees in the near east (unrwa)

philippe lazzarini

the united nations (un)

israel

stephane dujarric

hamas

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There is really no plan B, Dujarric said in a briefing, when asked whether the UN had a way to secure funding for UNRWA.The UN operates on the basis of voluntary contributions and cannot print money, he added. On Friday, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said Israel had shared with the agency data on the alleged involvement of some of its staff members in the October 7 Hamas attack and vowed to hold accountable anyone involved in "acts of terror."The United States, Finland, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, and some other countries have since suspended funding for UNRWA.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240129/un-palestinian-agency-to-run-out-of-money-past-february-without-funding---un-spokesperson-1116477692.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/us-navy-shot-down-houthi-anti-ship-missile-heading-to-red-sea-1116504947.html

Houthis Report New Attack on US Navy Destroyer in Red Sea

Houthis Report New Attack on US Navy Destroyer in Red Sea

Sputnik International

A US Navy warship shot down a Houthi anti-ship missile fired from Yemen toward the Red Sea, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

2024-01-31T04:13+0000

2024-01-31T04:13+0000

2024-01-31T07:16+0000

world

us

houthi

us central command (centcom)

red sea

yemen

red sea crisis

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"Our naval forces fired corresponding ship-based missiles at a US destroyer USS Gravely in the Red Sea," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree told during a televised address.All US and UK ships in the Red and Arabian seas that were involved in attacks against are considered as potential targets of Houthi strikes, he said.Earlier, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that a US Navy warship had shot down a Houthi anti-ship missile fired from Yemen toward the Red Sea."On Jan. 30, at approximately 11:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea. The missile was shot down by USS Gravely (DDG 107)," CENTCOM said on Tuesday. There were no injuries or damage reported in this incident, according to CENTCOM.Iran has repeatedly rejected accusations from Western countries over Tehran's alleged involvement in the Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea. In addition, Iran emphasized that resistance groups in the Middle East, such as the Houthis, do not receive any instructions from Iran.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240128/ex-mp-uk-navys-lack-of-missiles-shows-anti-houthi-op-was-knee-jerk-reaction-1116452910.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/us-response-to-military-base-attack-to-include-strikes-on-iranian-targets-cyber-ops---reports-1116521102.html

US Response to Military Base Attack to Include Strikes on Iranian Targets, Cyber Ops - Reports

US Response to Military Base Attack to Include Strikes on Iranian Targets, Cyber Ops - Reports

Sputnik International

The United States' response to the deadly attack on US forces in Jordan will target Iranian assets outside of Iran as part of a campaign that will include US strikes and cyber operations, NBC News reported on Wednesday citing US officials

2024-01-31T18:54+0000

2024-01-31T18:54+0000

2024-01-31T18:54+0000

military

joe biden

john kirby

iran

jordan

syria

us central command (centcom)

us

middle east

us military base

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The report said the US retaliatory attacks will be a campaign that could last several weeks. The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to Sputnik's request for comment on this matter. US President Joe Biden pinned the blame on unspecified Iran-backed militant groups, while also saying the US was still gathering the facts. Iran has denied it was involved in the drone attack. Tehran says that resistance groups in the Middle East do not receive any instructions from Iran.On Monday, US media reported that US President Joe Biden discussed a "significant military response" to the attack during a meeting with top US officials on Sunday. Later that day, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the White House was seeking to respond to the attack "in a very consequential way," but was not willing to escalate tensions in the Middle East.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240130/biden-says-decided-how-to-respond-to-attack-on-us-base-in-mideast-doesnt-want-wider-war-1116498591.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/why-zaluzhny-may-become-more-dangerous-for-zelensky-if-fired-1116517084.html

Why Zaluzhny May Become More Dangerous for Zelensky if Fired

Why Zaluzhny May Become More Dangerous for Zelensky if Fired

Sputnik International

The fate of Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief General Valery Zaluzhny has not been sealed yet, as behind-the-scenes political strife is continuing in Kiev

2024-01-31T16:12+0000

2024-01-31T16:12+0000

2024-01-31T16:18+0000

valery zaluzhny

world

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is still seeking to replace Zaluzhny despite dismissing the rumors of the general's sacking earlier, the Financial Times reported. The newspaper's sources claimed that Zaluzhny was offered a position as a defense adviser, but that he turned it down.Possible candidates for Zaluzhny's replacement are said to be Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, and Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the country's military intelligence directorate. But the Economist and the Times report that both have refused to fill Zaluzhny's shoes. The British press drew attention to former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's opposition to Zelensky's apparent move: "Firing Zaluzhny, if true, would hit at the heart of national unity," wrote Poroshenko."And the fact that he offered [Zaluzhny] the position of adviser [speaks volumes]. By assuming that role he would have moved away from military affairs while not becoming a political competitor," Dudchak said. "But in Ukraine, two different Western groups are trying to solve their problems: one from Washington, the other from London, with slightly different visions of the future of Ukraine, how to use it and what to do with it now, and in general  there are forces through which they accomplish their tasks."It is these forces who are playing the Zaluzhny card right now, the researcher argued.According to Dudchak, the so-called pro-US faction includes Zaluzhny, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and some figures in the President's Office. The other grouping is pro-British and includes the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense (GUR), its chief Budanov and Syrsky.The decision to replace Zaluzhny could stem from the West's changing goals in Ukraine. The researcher outlined two scenarios, apparently sought by Washington and London: London is more interested in the continuation of the conflict and in waging a "terrorist war." But Washington is much more keen to freeze the conflict, given the forthcoming presidential elections in November 2024.Dudchak pointed out that both Americans and Britons could benefit from freezing the conflict, as they are planning to ramp up the military-industrial complex's capacity and production over the next three to five years. For its part, Russia signaled that it would not tolerate a new flawed Minsk accords-style agreement on Ukraine.Why Has Poroshenko Stepped in?Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's sudden support for Zaluzhny demonstrates that the internal strife among the Ukrainian elites is gaining steam, according to Dudchak.Dudchak noted that Poroshenko was instrumental in fanning the scandal over Zaluzhny's possible overthrow. Poroshenko spread panic in Brussels over the Ukrainian president's effort to get rid of the top general. His actions dealt a blow to Zelensky, and Poroshenko was glad demonstrate his loyalty to Washington by saving its man in Kiev, the researcher argued.Will Zaluzhny Preserve His Position?Even though the Western mainstream press says Zelensky is dead set on firing the top Ukrainian commander, there is a possibility that he will retain his post, the researcher believes."In fact, even if he resigned and went into politics, perhaps this would be the best option for him, because presently it is problematic to achieve any success on the battlefield," said the expert. "In such a position, he could have said what a brilliant commander he is, and that all the failures stemmed from [Zelensky's] decisions, which were not agreed upon with the military leadership. This really happened, there were Zelenskys actions when he or his office tried to control the military, bypassing the commander-in-chief. So this would be a very good option for Zaluzhny. What else does he need? He has enough money, ambitions, and titles. And stepping aside now would be a good option for him. But they didnt let him go," Dudchak concluded.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240130/zaluzhny-has-escaped-zelenskys-control-and-calls-the-shots-in-ukraine--retired-colonel-1116496537.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231209/russia-wont-agree-to-minsk-30-deal-on-ukraine-heres-why-1115498952.html

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Adam Twelve, named after a television police drama and co-owned by driver Yannick Gingras, has been capturing plenty of wins since arriving at MGM Yonkers Raceway in November. The four-year-old male pacer, who raced previously in Indiana, has posted six victories in eight starts at the Hilltop, with his two setbacks being second-place finishes.

Hes been a nice surprise, said Gingras, who owns Adam Twelve with Ben Mondello and FAC Racing. He fit a few classes where we thought he could do some good, figured he could be competitive. Hes been all that and more. Hes got all the qualities to be a nice horse. Hopefully, hell be a nice horse for a long time.

The ownership group purchased Adam Twelve in an onGait.com auction near the end of October. The gelding has worked his way up the conditions ladder at Yonkers and on Wednesday will race in the $32,000 Open for three to six-year-olds. Adam Twelve, trained by Per Engblom, will leave from post one in a field of five and is the 9-5 morning-line favourite.

Its a big step up, said Gingras. Its a short field, which helps, but its going to get tougher. Its a good class and they go with it almost every week at Yonkers. If we can race him consistently in that class, that would be perfect to me. If hes just that, Id be really happy.

Adam Twelve is a son of Luck Be Withyou-Mandys Mattjesty. He was purchased under the name Ponda Puff for $9,000 by trainer Randy Hatton and Patti and Bill Giras Oldfield Farm at the 2021 Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. Bill Gira is a retired Michigan State Police trooper, which inspired the name change, a nod to the show Adam-12, which aired from 1968-1975.

In 2022, Adam Twelve won the Hoosier Stakes for two-year-old male pacers. At three, he won four races at Harrahs Hoosier Park and finished third in the consolation final of the Indiana Sire Stakes series.

Hes a nice horse; he likes his work, said Hatton. They were talking about racing him at Yonkers and I told them hell own that track. He loves a small track. I trained him at home on a quarter-of-a-mile track. He loved it. He would pace around a barrel. Hes definitely a horse for the track. I watch him every time hes in.

For his career, Adam Twelve has hit the board in 24 of 35 races, winning 11 and earning $154,202.

Since arriving at Yonkers, he has been no worse than second at the half-mile point in any of his eight races. Six times, hes been in front.

Hes got crazy gate speed; he can leave with the car, said Gingras. Obviously, at Yonkers, thats a big advantage. Hes good to drive. Hes raced on the front most of the time since weve had him, but the two times he raced out of a hole, he was better. He jogged both times out of the two-hole. Its half-mile racing, so the front is where hes been most, but hes showed he can race out of a hole.

If you can get off the gate up there [at Yonkers], youre going to make plenty of money," said Hatton. "He can leave, he can get home, he can take some air. I know they really havent had to do it yet, but this horse racing off a helmet can explode.

Given the horses success at Yonkers, is it possible Adam Twelve could develop further into a Borgata Pacing Series hopeful?

If in the next six weeks he shows us that hes Borgata material, that would be a home run, but I dont expect it, said Gingras. Hes going to have to show me a lot for us to put him in there. I just think its a tough ask. Its hard for a four-year-old to go and compete with those horses. Theyre more seasoned. Theyre just better, stronger horses.

Plus, at some point, hes going to need a break. Hes been racing since the beginning of last summer. Well let him do his thing right now, but once he shows that hes not quite as sharp, well turn him out and give him a nice break. We all want to have the horse for years, not just a few months.

Racing begins at 7 p.m. (EST) at Yonkers. For free programs, visit the Standardbred Owners Association of New York website.

(USTA)
The death of an 18-year-old Gering woman has prompted reminders about the importance of carbon monoxide detectors in the home.

Gering Fire Chief Nathan Flowers confirmed that Gering crews were called to a Gering home on Jan. 22, at about 8:45 a.m., due to the woman being reported to be in cardiac/respiratory arrest. Police on scene advised that the woman was deceased and medical response was cancelled. Responders did not provide any medical care or have patient contact, he said.

Flowers advised that prior to returning to the station, officers requested the assistance of firefighters and carbon monoxide monitoring equipment. Gering Fire crews immediately requested Black Hills Energy to respond and utilized the departments carbon monoxide detectors in the home. Firefighters confirmed high levels of carbon monoxide in the home and assisted with ventilation. Gering Fire turned the scene over to Black Hills Energy when its crews arrived and was released from the scene around 9:45 a.m. Family members of the woman who died have set up a GoFundMe, but the woman was not identified by authorities.

In a release to the Star-Herald, Gering Fire and Police Department wishes to share the importance of carbon monoxide detectors, Flowers said.

Winter is still upon us and the fire department has seen an increase in carbon monoxide and carbon monoxide related calls for service. Carbon monoxide can enter your home through several avenues. What we are seeing lately is furnaces are either back drafting due to a faulty vent system or the furnace has some issues with the exchanger causing carbon monoxide to leak into the home. Vehicle exhaust can be another avenue for carbon monoxide poisoning. Be sure to contact a licensed HVAC specialist to assist with furnace issues. And always properly ventilate your garage if you are running your vehicles due to colder weather.

Signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure could be headache, dizziness and fatigue, Flowers said. People also experience confusion, nausea and vomiting and shortness of breath.

If you are exposed to carbon monoxide, get to fresh air immediately and contact 911.

He also advised that carbon monoxide detectors can detect carbon monoxide in a building, giving occupants notification when they have an issue. Carbon monoxide detectors are required by the City of Gering IFC code and be properly installed in home.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are early warning devices to notify homeowners when they have a fire or carbon monoxide building up in their home. It is a critical device that can save lives, he said.

Persons who cannot afford a smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector can contact the fire department, which has partnered with businesses like Home Depot to provide families with detectors when they cannot afford them. Flowers also urged people to check their detectors every month.

For more information, contact the Gering Fire Department, 308-436-2441.
Well, what a fun little diddy.

My wife works at Happy State Bank  and I went to high school in Kerrville, Texas.

Its wonderfully strange when two things from different eras of your life meet each other from the first time.

No doubt though, Kerrville is a pretty place.

I remember going to a church plant in the Arcadia theater as a teenager.

I must have been 17 or 18.

We head-banged to live Christian music and thought the world was ours.
U.A.E Ambassador Hassan Ahmed al-Shehhi arrived in Damascus on Monday, according to al-Watan.

U.A.E Ambassador Hassan Ahmed al-Shehhi arrived in Damascus on Monday, marking a significant diplomatic milestone as the first ambassador from the United Arab Emirates to Syria since 2011.

Al-Watan has learned that Shehhi will lead the UAE diplomatic mission, ending a 13-year vacancy that persisted since the reopening of the embassy in Damascus by Charge dAffaires Counselor Abdul Hakim al-Nuaimi.

Previously serving as the UAEs ambassador to Iraq since 2015 and holding the position of his countrys ambassador to Sudan, Shehhi played a pivotal role in the reopening of the UAE embassy in Damascus in December 2018, re-establishing ties after a seven-year hiatus.

In a noteworthy development last March, President Bashar al-Assad and his wife, Mrs. Asma, undertook an official visit to the UAE. During the visit, President al-Assad engaged in official talks with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, focusing on enhancing bilateral relations between the two nations. This meeting underscored the profound historical ties between the brotherly peoples of Syria and the UAE.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Lavrentyev has officially stated that the attempt to normalize relations between Turkey and the Syrian regime has failed, according to al-Modon.

The Special Envoy to Syria from the Russian President, Alexander Lavrentyev, has officially stated that the attempt to normalize relations between Turkey and the Syrian regime has failed. He emphasized that there are no plans for President Bashar al-Assad to visit Russia in the near future.

Normalization collapsed

Lavrentyev revealed to the Russian news agency TASS that the attempts to normalize relations between Ankara and Damascus collapsed towards the end of 2023. He explained that since last fall, the process has halted to some extent. The primary reason cited is the Syrian regimes insistence on obtaining guarantees for the long-term withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syria.

According to Lavrentyev, the withdrawal of Turkish forces is deemed unacceptable by the Turkish side for specific reasons. While no official commitment to an immediate withdrawal has been made, Turkish officials have conveyed that it will occur under specific and favourable conditions. The Russian envoy highlighted former Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglus informal mention of Turkeys intention to withdraw, emphasizing that the reluctance to make it official poses a significant obstacle for Damascus. This is because the Syrian people might not comprehend their governments negotiations with countries occupying parts of its territory, almost equivalent to the size of Lebanon.

Lavrentyev underscored that the normalization of Syrian-Turkish relations remains a priority in Russias approach to the Syrian settlement. He stated, We believe that this is a very important issue, and we need to make progress on it.

In 2023, Lavrentyev noted extensive efforts to achieve normalization, including not just expert-level meetings but also a progression from a tripartite to a quadripartite dialogue with the inclusion of Iran. Meetings involved defense ministers, foreign ministers, and deputy ministers, reflecting the active engagement in seeking a resolution.

Assad will not visit Moscow



On the flip side, Lavrentyev emphasized that President Assad has no plans to visit Moscow in the near future. He reiterated the explanation that the current stage does not necessitate special meetings. Lavrentyev clarified that Assads presence in Syria is crucial at the moment to expedite solutions to pressing challenges, particularly those of a social and economic nature.

He pointed out that addressing these challenges is imperative as Syria continues to grapple with the severe impact of unilateral sanctions, exerting a devastating effect not only on the economy but also on the lives of ordinary Syrians. Lavrentyev stressed the urgency of tackling these issues, given the substantial influence of sanctions on the nation.

Regarding the Constitutional Committee, the Russian envoy mentioned that meetings may resume in March after an 18-month hiatus. He disclosed that an alternative venue might be selected in mid to late February following Omans withdrawal from consideration.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
U.S. officials emphasize the importance of containing the escalation, Athr Press writes.

The Pentagon has reported that the toll from the recent attack on the US base near the Syrian-Jordanian border has climbed to 40 wounded, with three American soldiers killed. U.S. President Joe Biden is currently exploring various options with his administration to respond to this attack.

Pentagon Deputy Spokeswoman Sabrina Singh stated on Monday, At the moment, according to our estimates, more than 40 people have been injured, leaving room for the possibility that this number may increase shortly.

Singh attributed responsibility to Iran, stating, Iran is responsible because it funds groups active in Iraq and Syria that target US military personnel.

According to reports from Politico, President Biden has requested multiple response options that would decisively counter future attacks without escalating tensions in the Middle East. The Pentagon is contemplating potential strikes on Iranian military personnel in Syria or Iraq, as well as Iranian naval facilities in the Gulf, with retaliatory measures anticipated within two days pending the Presidents approval. These strikes would be executed in waves targeting multiple locations.

In a related development, Bloomberg sources revealed that the US is exploring different responses, including launching a covert operation to strike sites and facilities in Iran without publicly acknowledging its involvement. Another option under consideration is a direct targeting of Iranian officials.

Despite the potential military actions, U.S. officials emphasize the importance of containing the escalation. General C. Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, underscored the United States commitment to preventing conflicts in the Middle East, stating, Part of the United States mission is to ensure there is no further escalation in the region, as reported by CNN.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria

Amnesty International has reported that Fidaa Mohammad Qassem, an 18-year-old English student who lives in Kobani, a Kurdish-majority town under the de-facto control of the Autonomous Administration of north-east Syria (AANES), was forcibly conscripted to the Womens Protection Units (YPJ), AANESs female military force.

Russia declares collapse of Syrian-Turkish rapprochement path

The Russian Presidents Special Envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, announced that the matter of normalizing relations between the Syrian regime and Turkey collapsed at the end of the year 2023, Enab Baladi reported.

Lavrentiev explained that the rapprochement path somewhat came to a halt at the end of last autumn because the Syrian side felt it necessary to obtain assurances from the Turkish side that the Turkish military forces present in Syria would withdraw in the long term.

The Russian news agency TASS reported on Monday evening, January 29, from the Russian official that no one says these military forces will be withdrawn in the near future, yet this is unacceptable for Ankara for certain reasons.

Lavrentiev said, Although I believe such statements were issued unofficially and at different levels by the Turkish side, and that they will not stay in Syria, sooner or later Turkey will withdraw its forces once the appropriate conditions are met.

Lavrentiev considered that Ankara does not want to make this path official, which constitutes a significant obstacle for Damascus, because the people will not understand the actions of their government that would negotiate with a country that occupies part of Syrian territory almost twice the size of Lebanon.

UAE sends first ambassador to Syria since civil war began

The United Arab Emirates has dispatched an ambassador to Damascus for the first time since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011, Syrias state media reported on Tuesday, in a new signal of Syrias warming ties with the Arab region.

Incoming Emirati envoy Hassan al-Shehi presented his credentials to Syrias Foreign Affairs Minister Faysal al-Meqdad at the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

Syria has been slowly re-establishing diplomatic ties with the Arab region in recent years after many recalled their envoys and closed embassies in reaction to Syrian President Bashar al-Assads crackdown on protests against him in 2011.

Syrian Kurdish student disappeared in Syria: Fidaa Mohammad Qassem

Amnesty International says that Fidaa Mohammad Qassem, an 18-year-old English student who lives in Kobani, a Kurdish-majority town under the de-facto control of the Autonomous Administration of north-east Syria (AANES), was forcibly conscripted to the Womens Protection Units (YPJ), AANESs female military force, in violation of local law. The authorities deprived her of communicating with her family in violation of international law. On 6 April 2023, Fidaa Mohammed Qassem was returning from English class in Kobani when she went missing.

A close relative told Amnesty International that members of the YPJ conducted an unofficial visit to Fidaa Mohammad Qassems family about two weeks after she had gone missing and claimed that Fidaa Mohammad Qassem had voluntarily chosen to join the YPJ. The YPJ should reveal the whereabouts of Fidaa Mohammad Qassem and allow her to communicate with her family.
The Cowlitz County Board of Health approved former Deputy Health Officer Steve Krager as the interim County Health Officer at their Tuesday meeting.

Krager served along with then-County Health Officer Alan Melnick under an agreement between Cowlitz County and Clark County Public Health, but both resigned Dec. 31 following a decision by the board not to renew the contract. They continue to act as health officers in Clark, Pacific, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties.

The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with the Washington State Department of Health Jan. 3 for Regional Health Officer Jay Miller to temporarily take over as county health officer while they search for a replacement.

So far, the county has reported receiving applications from Krager and Melnick on behalf of Cowlitz County and by Krager acting as an independent contractor.

Under the new agreement, Krager will act as interim County Health Officer for up to two months, but there is no guarantee he will be hired permanently when that time period is up, even if the county does not receive other applicants, Board of Health Chairman Kelly Lane said at the meeting.
The Sons of Norway plans to hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Friday at its lodge located at 224 West Catlin St., Kelso.

A potluck social hour will start at an hour before the meeting.

People can also join the group from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday for breakfast.

The group plans to serve Norwegian waffles, Swedish pancakes, scrambled eggs, baked ham, lingonberry jam, syrup, coffee, tea and juice for $10 for adults and $5 for ages 8 and under.

In March, prices will be raised to $12 for adults and $6 for children, according to the group.
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US bitcoiner Corbin Keegan lives in Playa Blanca, El Salvador, where he is waiting for the promised construction of a futuristic city financed by crypto bonds.

When President Nayib Bukele announced plans to create the world's first "Bitcoin City," a futuristic metropolis financed by cryptocurrency bonds, American Corbin Keegan packed up his life in Chicago and headed for El Salvador.

More than two years later, no brick has been laid, and 42-year-old Keegan ekes out a living in Playa Blanca, a coastal town in the Conchagua municipality named after the nearby volcano meant to power the new city of which he hopes to be the first resident.

"It's going to happen. So I'm staying," he told AFP, sitting in a hammock and sipping coffee as waves crashed on the beach a few meters away.

"I'll wait as long as it takes."

To fireworks and fanfare, Bukele announced in November 2021 that his "Bitcoin City" would boast everything from residential and commercial areas to museums, an airport and a monument to the currency on its central square.

Bukele said geothermal energy generated by the Conchagua volcano would power the city some 200 kilometers (125 miles) east of the capital San Salvador.

It would also power bitcoin miningthe massively energy-consuming process by which bitcoin is created using supercomputers that solve complex mathematical problems.

The president's announcement came just two months after El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt bitcoin as legal tender despite a chorus of warnings about the currency's notorious volatility.

In September 2021, bitcoin traded at about $45,000 and a few months later it reached a record $68,000. But it later dipped to a low of about $16,000 and is today again hovering around $40,000.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele announced in November 2021 that his 'Bitcoin City' would boast everything from residential and commercial areas to a monument to the currency.

'It cannot be stopped'

Bukele had promised the issuing of $1 billion in bitcoin bonds, partly to finance his city. But that did not happen.

The government has invested an undisclosed amount of taxpayer money in the cryptocurrencyvowing at one point it would buy a bitcoin a daythough it is not known whether this has come to pass.

A poll by the Central American University found that hardly anyone used bitcoin last year in El Salvador, where the other legal tender is the US dollar.

According to the UN, more than a quarter of Salvadorans live in poverty, while the US State Department has warned the country's public debt was "on an unsustainable path."

Bukele had promoted the move to bitcoin as a way to bring more Salvadorans, most of them lacking bank accounts, into the formal economyincluding through the receipt of remittances from abroad, a major contributor to GDP.

The change meant that every Salvadoran businesseven neighborhood shopkeepershad to accept the cryptocurrency as payment.

President Nayib Bukele's bitcoin gambit is widely thought to have failed.

But the IMF and World Bank warned that quite apart from currency volatility, the move could leave the country vulnerable to money laundering and other illicit activity that could in turn affect underlying stability.

Despite his crypto gambit widely seen as a failureat least for nowBukele remains immensely popular ahead of presidential elections on Sunday.

Polls show his approval ratings hovering around 90 percent, thanks largely to a crackdown on criminal gangs.

His actions are credited with vastly improving the daily life of crime- and violence-fatigued citizens, but also criticized for human rights violations.

Keegan said people told him he was "crazy" when he predicted a decade ago that one day a country would adopt bitcoin as tender.

What he did not know at the time was that the country would be El Salvador, and that it would take him to a new life in Central America.

In Playa Blanca, nobody uses crypto.

When bitcoiner Corbin Keegan needs money, he rides his rickety motorcycle to the city of Conchagua to draw money from an ATM that disperses bitcoin and dollars.

When Keegan needs money, he rides his rickety motorcycle to the city of Conchagua about 20 kilometers away to draw money from an ATM that disperses bitcoin and dollars.

While he waits for the new city to arise, the self-described jack of all trades fishes and does odd jobs for neighbors who fondly call him "El Gringo."

Keegan would not disclose how much he had invested in bitcoin, but remains convinced that crypto is "the future. It cannot be stopped."

 2024 AFP
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

More robust and more accurate positioning systems are needed to meet the demands of the global economyand Australia is set to enjoy the benefits of its very own system.

Global Positioning Systems turned 50 years old last year with the 'golden' anniversary of the US Air Force being given approval in 1973 to develop the Navstar GPS.

GPS has since become a vital component of everyday life that is largely taken for granted by the billions of people who use it for positioning, navigation and timing every single day.

But that increasing reliance also causes greater risks and experts are warning of the dangers if this important technology can be hacked, jammed or even knocked out completely by a natural disaster such as a huge geomagnetic storm.

That's why developments continue apace in the world of GPSincluding Australia and New Zealand's very own multi-billion dollar positioning system called SouthPAN, which is already active and with more and more services set to be made available in the coming months and years.

The UNSW Australian Center for Space Engineering Research (ACSER) in partnership with the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CVEN) will soon host the International Global Navigation Satellite Systems (IGNSS) Conference to bring together experts, policy makers and tech leaders to discuss important topics concerning the industry.

Here, UNSW academics Professor Andrew Dempster and Dr. Craig Roberts give a sneak peek what people can expect from GPS over the next 50 years.

Australasia gets its own 'GPS' system

What most people generally call GPS is actually a specific system owned by the United States government and now operated by the United States Space Force. It was started in 1973.

However, other countries have since developed their own systems and there are currently three major alternatives: Russia's GLONASS, China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, and the Galileo system developed by the European Union. Collectively they are called Global Navigation Satellite Sytems (GNSS).

India and Japan have also been developing separate systems that are not global. Augmentation systems have been introduced by the US, Europe, Japan and others to overcome some GNSS shortcomings using geostationary satellites (satellites that are always in the same place in the sky).

Australia and New Zealand have now added themselves to the list by joining forces to launch the SouthPAN systemdesigned to meet global performance requirements under the region's unique service area and space weather conditions.

"SouthPAN is technically a satellite-based augmentation system, which means it is still relying on receiving signals from other satellite systems but then utilizes a number of ground stations to process all the data and then correct some of the errors, making it more accurate," says Prof. Dempster, director of ACSER.

"The stated aim is that by 2028 you will be able to use this system via your mobile phone and it will tell you within 10 centimeters exactly where you are."

In recent times uncorrected GPS signals in Australia have only been accurate to within around three to five meters.

The effect of SouthPAN, therefore, will be that every major industry across Australia and New Zealand, from transport and construction to resources and agriculture, will gain significant positioning and navigation benefits.

How GPS can continue to improve agriculture

You may not know that global navigation satellite systems have become vital in the agricultural industry to reduce costs and improve yields.

GPS is used to plan farming areas, map farms and track the yields of crops from different locations, as well as helping farmers to work in more challenging conditions including even in darkness.

So making accurate GPS information even more accurate available and reliable over the next 50 years will only improve crop production.

"On a basic level it's good to know exactly where you are when you are a farmer in your combined harvester because you don't want to be inefficient and waste time or fuel, and also you don't want to drive over your crop and damage it," says Dr. Roberts from UNSW's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

"The more automated it is, via an accurate GPS system, the more productive the process as farmers can reduce fatigue.

"In addition, there is a lot of technical agricultural information that can be paired with the GPS data. For example, grain can be analyzed to show the exact protein levels and if you know precisely where that grain was harvested from you get some very useful knowledge.

"And they can do the same for soil moisture and fertilizer usage for each specific location which over time helps to maximize the yields."

The need for more robust security

A huge number of technological systems would be affected if global positioning systems were hacked or jammed on a major scalefrom airliners to electric grids, from stock markets to ATMs, and any other system that relies on GPS to time their operations.

Such events might be caused deliberately by bad actors in the geopolitical sphere, or by a natural phenomenon such as a geomagnetic storm. Many fear a repeat of the Carrington Event of 1859 would knock out every high level Earth-orbiting satellite in an instant by frying their electronics.

"The problem is that we're now wedded to GNSS and satellite positioning, but it's really vulnerable. The goal for the future is to keep utilizing the systems, but be less vulnerable," says Prof. Dempster.

"There have been studies done that show that every single sector of the economy that can be considered critical infrastructure, relies on GNSS. So many things need accurate positioning, or accurate timing.

"If you take out a major GPS system then there is an awful lot that can go wrong. But people are becoming more aware of the issue and resilience is becoming a bigger thing.

"There is a lot of work being done on the assumption that at some point a major GPS system will go down."

One solution is for navigation services to be provided by satellites in low-Earth orbits (LEO). These would sit at around 5001,000km above the Earthas opposed to the current satellites which are around 20,000km highand would therefore be more protected by the Earth's own atmosphere should significant geomagnetic activity from space occur.

Another benefit is the signals are 20 times stronger than traditional GPS systems, although the low orbit means that each satellite's antenna covers a smaller radius of the Earth's surface and so more of them are required to provide the same coverage.

"When those signals are more robust from satellites in LEO there are a few benefits," explains Dr. Roberts.

"Firstly, the signals become harder to jam or spoof and so there is an extra layer of security.

"The second is that emergency services may be able to benefit more from more robust positioning systems. When signals have to travel 20,000km up and down from Earth, they get can be very weak, and that is why GPS does not really work indoors.

"But with new systems with closer satellites and much stronger signals, the potential for accurate GPS inside of buildings increases and there are possible important applications there for those involved with search and rescue."
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Germany's first large-scale lithium refinery is setting up in Bitterfeld-Wolfen.

Once a byword for environmental disaster due to its heavy industry and mining, the city of Bitterfeld-Wolfen is poised to become a key site for Germany's ambitious green transition.

It is here that the country's first large-scale lithium refinery has been set up, with an aim to play a pivotal role in a European plan to mine and refine its own supplies of raw materials needed to power a fleet of new-generation vehicles.

The white powder the plant will start pumping out from May is a key ingredient in electric car batteries and part of the European Union's recipe to reduce its dependency on foreign imports.

The take-off in demand for batteries was "foreseeable", said AMG's CEO Stefan Scherer, and his company has been "able to ride the wave".

Bitterfeld-Wolfen in eastern Germany had been picked to house the new factory because of its "proximity to clients", Scherer said.

The plant's installation closer to battery makers could counter supply risks for Europe, whose reliance on imports has come to be seen as a liability amid rising geopolitical tensionsmost notably with China.

The Asian giant is not the biggest producer of raw lithium, but possesses a majority of the world's processing capacity, as well as a big chunk of battery production.

The exposure to potentially unreliable suppliersand a desire to have a larger share of the industryis behind EU plans unveiled last year to increase domestic extraction and processing of lithium and 33 other "critical" materials.

"We are already in talks with politicians to discuss the financial resources for future expansion," said Scherer, whose factory is at the center of the new network.

Production potential

The first module at AMG's plant will be able to produce 20,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annuallyenough for around half a million car batteries, depending on the size, said Scherer.

More units could be added over time to increase production fivefold to 100,000 tonnes, enough to cover "up to 20 percent" of the demand in Europe, he speculated.

The EU plan to secure supplies aims to do 40 percent of its processing for the designated critical materials domestically by 2030.

For German industryand particularly automakersbringing lithium production closer to home "increases their resilience in case of international supply chain tension", said Yoann Gimbert, e-mobility analyst at the Transport and Environment think tank.

Companies that need to exchange raw material supplies quickly to get a product that meets their standards could be a case in point.

"Instead of having to laboriously ship these containers back to Asia via Hamburg, you can bring them a few 100 kilometers here to Bitterfeld either by truck or ideally by train and we can exchange them practically within a few days," Scherer said.

While the AMG's project will initially be supplied with lithium from the company's mine in Brazil, the raw product could eventually come from closer to home.

Close to Germany's border with France, the Australia-based group Vulcan Energy began a pilot scheme at the end of last year to filter lithium from subterranean waters.

Mine project

Closer to Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Zinnwald, a small village near the Czech border, an AMG-backed project is taking the more conventional approach to mine lithium ores from the ground.

Sourcing larger amounts of lithium locally will prove to be more of a challengea fact reflected in the European Union's more modest 10-percent target for extraction.

But projects like the one in Zinnwald could still be a "vital cog", Zinnwald Lithium's CEO Anton du Plessis told AFP.

To anchor green industries in the EU, "it needs to ensure that it has the overall supply chain", including extraction, said du Plessis, who hopes to see the Zinnwald mine in full operation by the end of the decade.

While extraction would only be a partial solution, new planned processing capacity in Europe could "fully cover demand", said Cornelius Baehr, an analyst at IW Consult.

Whether all those projects will be realized remains uncertain, Baehr said, and the lead-in times for new production sitessomewhere between five and 10 yearsmeant the EU's 2030 target "will not be easy to reach".

 2024 AFP
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Dutch regulators said Uber failed to specify how long it retains its drivers' personal data.

Dutch regulators on Wednesday imposed a 10 million euro ($10.8 million) fine on ride-hailing app Uber for lack of transparency in treating the personal data of its drivers.

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) said it imposed the fine after 170 French drivers complained to a French human rights organization.

The complaint was handled in the Netherlands because it is where Uber has it European headquarters.

"The DPA found that Uber had made it unnecessarily complicated for drivers to submit requests to view or receive copies of their personal data," the authority said in a statement.

DPA said the process for drivers to request access to their data "was located deep within the app and spread across various menus."

"In addition, they did not specify in their privacy terms and conditions how long Uber retains its drivers' personal data or which specific security measures it takes when sending this information to entities in countries outside the European Economic Area," it said.

Uber has taken steps to improve the situation and has appealed the decision, the statement said.

The company said in a statement that the DPA had "acknowledged that Uber fixed the small number of 'low impact' issues raised by the drivers, while dismissing the vast majority of their claims as unfounded."

"We are committed to continuously improving our data request processes and will always cooperate constructively with the authorities to address their concerns," Uber added.

 2024 AFP
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Many consumers, telecommunications experts, and even reporters nationwide who have been the questions: Why is my cell service still so bad in 2024? And is it getting worse, or am I just noticing it more?

Customers in the mid-Atlantic regionwhich includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delawareexperienced on average 10 problems per 100 interactions with their cell phones in the past six months, according to J.D. Power's latest study of network quality performance. That number is down from last year, when the region's consumers reported 11 problems per 100 interactions, but higher than the nine issues per 100 interactions reported in 2022 and 2021.

"In all honesty, the network is amazing compared to what it used to be," said Carl Lepper, J.D. Power's senior director of technology, media and telecom. But even the major carriers, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, "they do get taxed at times. I've not seen them get worse. I've seen us get more demanding."

Why is my cell reception bad?

Younger, digital-native consumers, who spend more time on their cell phones, report more issues than older users.

Nationwide, members of Gen Zpeople under 28reported being on their phone five hours a day on average, according to J.D. Power's latest study, and had about 15 network problems per 100 interactions, compared with the seven or fewer issues reported by those 60 and older, who have a fraction of the phone-screen time.

Increased phone usage and more reliance on cellular data can strain the network, especially in areas where the population increases but the number of cell towers stays the same.

Overall, Philadelphia's population has decreased in recent years, though more 20-somethings have moved in. In the coming decades, the city and its western suburbs are expected to see substantial population growth.

The cell network "can only handle so much," Lepper said. "At certain times, it will be overrun by heavy usage."

Verizon has seen an increase in data use recently, Hemlin said, with customers streaming high-definition video on their phones and using the devices for work collaboration and gaming.

RootMetrics, an Ookla company, tests cellular network performance by driving through metro areas across the country, and officials there say service has only improved in recent years with the increased availability of 5G, which they say they've found to be faster and more reliable (though that's not always the case).

Of the three major carriers, Verizon has consistently ranked first in J.D. Power's studies and has the best overall quality in 121 of 125 metro areas, including Philadelphia, in RootMetrics' analyses.

A spokesperson for AT&T, which ties Verizon for best performance the Mid-Atlantic in J.D. Power's latest study, said they "continue to look for ways to improve our network and provide better wireless service" and have made $2.2 billion in improvements in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including almost $600 million in the Philadelphia market, from 2020 to 2022.

T-Mobile covers "practically all of the city" with its 4G network, a spokesperson said, and more than 98% with its faster 5G. More than 95% of New Jersey is also covered by its 5G, which has beaten out the other providers in terms of speed the past six months, according to Speedtest by Ookla.

"We design our network to meet the needs of an area based on population and usage," Verizon's Hemlin said. "We're constantly monitoring our network to ensure the best performance possible for our customers."

Still, 'dead zones' persist.

"There are a variety of reasons as to why some customers report 'dead zones' even in populated areas," Stephen Wampler, RootMetrics' director of products and programs, said in a statement. "Some of these reasons can potentially include lack of cell sites nearby, and misconfigured or congested networks."

"The age of smartphone models is another potential reason," he added. "Consumers who use older device models may experience 'dead zones' because some mobile devices may not be able to support all the bands a carrier has deployed."

Because 5G networks can connect to a wider range of frequencies, your network performance could be affected if it's not running on a frequency that produces the highest speeds.

In the Mid-Atlantic, snow storms and other weather events are also known to cause network issues, most of which are temporary, Lepper said.

Searching for cellular solutions

Some local consumers said they sometimes experience poor cell service in the middle of Philadelphia's Center City.

"Actually my phone works better underground on the Broad Street Line than above ground," said Bridgette Henry, 28, of Philadelphia.

In Lower Merion, township commissioner Gilda L. Kramer said she wants all the major carriers to address the issues in her ward, which includes part of Bala Cynwyd and Merion Station. She'd be up for any solutioneven more cell towers in her area.

"I would love to see this problem solved for the neighborhood, It is one thing residents ask me about constantly and I can't do anything about. I cant solve this one, except with patches, which I try to share with people."

Those patches include what Kramer calls a "protocol" developed her husband, who has an IT background. It's a multi-step process, which the couple wrote out after they found it mitigated the issues in their Bala Cynwyd home. The steps include turning on the Wi-Fi calling setting on your phone, making sure the router is in a central location, and extending the Wi-Fi signal across multiple floors with a mesh network, which can cost between $70 and $1,000, or with a wiring system installed by an electrician.

In recent years, Kramer has forwarded the protocol to dozens of neighbors who have complained about having virtually no connection in their home.

"We shouldn't have to do this," she said. "We should have adequate cell service and the providers really need to step up and improve their network of towers to be able to get cell service to the whole neighborhood."

"It's particularly important with people working from home right now," she added, "and it's important for people who are leaving their home to not have their calls drop."

At Fulmer's Bala Cynwyd home, he's spent years trying to address the service problems himself and with his carrier, Verizon. The company recently gave him a free LTE Network extender, valued at $250. The device has helped a bit, Fulmer said, and he and his family have also tried workarounds, such as using Wi-Fi calling, with mixed success.

Nearby in Merion Station, Jill Ringold, 47, who also has Verizon, said she and her husband have spent thousands of dollars rewiring their home, trying in vain to get a strong and consistent cell signal. They keep a landline, she said, so her husband, a physician, can be reached when he is on call. When someone calls his cell phone at home, it often doesn't ring and goes straight to voicemail.

She feels the landline is necessary "for safety," said Ringold, a public health professional. "I don't trust my cell phone if there was some kind of 9-1-1 emergency."

2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Doctoral student Rachael Wagner and Shane Farritor, professor of mechanical and materials engineering, examine MIRA, a surgical robot developed at the University of Nebraska. Credit: Craig Chandler/University of Nebraska-Lincoln

A surgeon's hands could stretch 250 miles above Earth, should an upcoming test of a miniaturized surgical robot aboard the International Space Station prove successful.

Invented by University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Shane Farritor and others, the robot blasted off Jan. 30 from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard a Northrup Grumman Cygnus spacecraft bound for the orbital laboratory. The Cygnus was carried by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

It will be the first surgical robot on the space station and one of the first times remote surgery tasks have been tested in space.

The mission will help identify the next steps for creating surgical technologies suitable for long-distance space travel, but it also has implications for health care here on Earth.

"While space travel is exciting to think about, there is also an immediate need on Earth to help patients get the care they need," said Farritor, Lederer Professor of Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and chief technology officer for Virtual Incision, a startup company he co-founded to bring the miniature robot to the commercial market.

According to a 2018 report published by the American College of Surgeons, about one-third of U.S. counties lack a surgeon, despite half of those counties being home to a hospital. Research from the University of Washington showed that availability of surgeons in rural areas declined by more than 29% between 2001 and 2019.

"Remote surgery has the potential to address these issues so patients can get the health care they need," Farritor said.

Farritor and his team have been preparing a space-worthy version of their robot, named MIRA, for Miniaturized In vivo Robotic Assistant, for about two years.

Sean Crimmins, a senior mechanical engineering major, loads the robotic arm into its case before a shake test. The arm and case were tested at Lincolns NCEE Labs. Credit: Craig Chandler | University Communication and Marketing

The vision for MIRA is to perform surgery in remote areas, whether space, military battlefields or rural areas where no doctor is at hand.

In an experiment to take place in coming weeks, a Lincoln surgeon who has assisted with previous tests of the device will guide spaceMIRA as it uses both "hands" to perform a surgical simulation. The tasks mimic surgical tissue with tension that allows a dissection to be performed. Riding inside an experiment locker the size of a microwave oven, spaceMIRA will use its left arm to grasp, and its right arm to cut, much like a human surgeon in a hospital operating room.

"The two-handed approach is critical in surgical procedures because local tension is key to determining the ideal locations to resect and to cut in the desired way," Farritor explained.

Doctoral student Rachael Wagner of Lincoln and master's student Victoria Nelson of Sioux City, Iowa, spent a week at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, working with NASA engineers to evaluate the robot before it joined the payload for delivery to the International Space Station.

"There is a bunch of testing required for NASA to make sure the payload is safe and meets all their requirements," said Wagner, who serves as engineering lead for the project. "There are also tests to assure ourselves the hardware is up to snuffthat it can survive the launch and work on orbit."

Originally, spaceMIRA was to be pre-programmed to perform surgery-like tasks without human involvement for this experiment. The ground-control element adds an extra layer of difficulty to MIRA's mission. Latencythe delay that occurs while awaiting a signal to travel from the Earth to the International Space Station and backis one of the biggest. Even a half-second delay could cause problems.

"There's lots of obstacles," Farritor said. "As we've learned recently, it can be hard to get the Zoom conference room to work rightlet alone this."

Farritor and his colleagues began developing MIRA nearly 20 years ago. The team will receive data about the robot's performance during the space station tests before MIRA returns to Earth in its locker later this spring. It likely will be a year or more before test results are published.

"It's taken a lot of testing to build up to this, and we're still a long way from telesurgery on an actual patient," Farritor said. "The first step is to demonstrate the technology."
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TinyLlama--the mini AI model with three trillion-token punch. Credit: SUTD

It's called TinyLlama and it's taken the research world by storm because of how much power it packs.

Developed by Associate Professor Lu Wei of Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), research assistant Mr. Zhang Peiyuan, and Ph.D. students, Mr. Zeng Guangtao, and Mr. Wang Tianduo, TinyLlama is a 1.1 billion parameter open-sourced small language model that has outperformed other open-source models of comparable sizes across several benchmarks. A total of three trillion tokens of datasets were pre-trained on TinyLlama within just four months.

Current large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT or Google Bard, developed by large technology firms such as OpenAI or Google, are managed by thousands or even tens of thousands of graphic processing units (GPUs) and require users to connect online to their massive servers. TinyLlama, in contrast, is built on just 16 GPUs and takes up only 550MB of Random Access Memory (RAM). In other words, TinyLlama can readily be deployed on mobile devices, enabling everyone to carry a "mini ChatGPT" in their pocket wherever they go.

According to Marktechpost, a California-based Artificial Intelligence news platform with a community of over 1.5 million AI professionals and developers, TinyLlama's performance in common-sense reasoning and problem-solving tasks highlights the potential of smaller models to achieve high performance when trained with a substantial amount of data. It also opens up new possibilities for research and application in natural language processing, especially in scenarios where computational resources are limited.

Said Prof Lu, also the Director of the StatNLP Research Group, which focuses on natural language processing research, "The importance of small language models cannot be understated, and the reason why TinyLlama was specifically created to be open-sourced was that it will democratize language models by allowing smaller tech companies and research labs to build and develop their own models for a variety of applications. As researchers, our plan is to lay the foundations for small language models, with the aim of making significant scientific advancements in the field.

"Smaller tech firms as well as individual researchers and developers are increasingly demanding small language models that require less resources to run. These models, such as TinyLlama, are therefore more feasible for them to build and more optimal for edge devices such as mobile phones. The compactness of such models also allows them to cater to a multitude of applications that demand real-time machine translation without an internet connection. This means that users can access the language model offline. They need not send their personal information to the server when using it, and through the technique called 'fine-tuning,' we are able to improve it further," Prof Lu added.

The team behind TinyLlamafrom left to right: SUTD Ph.D. students, Zeng Guangtao and Wang Tianduo, Associate Prof Lu Wei and Research Assistant, Zhang Peiyuan. Credit: SUTD

TinyLlama's innovative approach lies in its construction. It is based on the architecture and tokenizer of Llama 2 and incorporates several state-of-the-art technologies. One such technology is FlashAttention, which enhances computational efficiency. Despite its smaller size than some of its predecessors, TinyLlama exhibits exceptional performance in various downstream tasks. It has successfully challenged the notion that larger models are always better, demonstrating that models with fewer parameters can still achieve high levels of effectiveness when trained with extensive and diverse datasets.

With its compact architecture and exceptional performance, TinyLlama can enable end-user applications on mobile devices and serve as a lightweight platform for language model research.

Firms such as leading global consumer internet company Sea Limited and DSO National Laboratories, a national defense research and development organization, have downloaded the TinyLlama source code from GitHub for research purposes.

Dr. Liu Qian, Research Scientist and Team Lead, Natural Language Processing Group at Sea AI Lab, said, "In our language model research projects, we've utilized the TinyLlama project as a nimble and efficient testbed. Its codebase follows a compact and well-organized structure, which allows easy modifications for diverse purposes. With access to several 1B model checkpoints, we swiftly validate hypotheses, obtaining faster feedback compared to the Llama-7b models.

"Notably, TinyLlama's optimization enhancements significantly boost GPU utilization, outperforming the Hugging Face transformers library. This combination of swift prototyping and efficient training positions TinyLlama as a valuable tool, facilitating accelerated iterations in the research community."

TinyLlama is currently available on GitHub, a platform and cloud-based service for developers to store and manage their code. It was trending as the Number One code on Hugging Face, a platform for hosting AI-related projects, out of over 460,000 models for about a week from 3 January 2024. Plans are underway to further improve TinyLlama.
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CEOs Jason Citron of Discord, Evan Spiegel of Snap, Shou Zi Chew of TikTok, Linda Yaccarino of X and Mark Zuckerberg of Meta are sworn in during a US Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave a public apology in US Congress on Wednesday as hostile lawmakers grilled tech chiefs over the dangers that children face on social media platforms.

The executives convened by the US Senate Judiciary Committee were put to task in a session titled "Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis."

Tech giants are confronting a torrent of political anger for not doing enough to thwart online dangers for children, including from sexual predators and teen suicide.

During one round of heated questioning, Zuckerberg was made to stand up and apologize to the families of victims who had packed the committee room.

"I'm sorry for everything you have all been through," he said. "No one should go through the things that your families have suffered."

Also testifying to senators were X's Linda Yaccarino, Shou Zi Chew of TikTok, Evan Spiegel of Snap and Discord's Jason Citron.

"Mister Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us, I know you don't mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands. You have a product that's killing people," said Senator Lindsey Graham.

Zuckerberg told the lawmakers that "keeping young people safe online has been a challenge since the internet began and as criminals evolve their tactics, we have to evolve our defenses too."

He added that, according to research, "on balance" social media was not harmful to the mental health of young people.

"I don't think it makes any sense," said Senator Dick Durbin, who chaired the meeting in response.

"There isn't a parent in this room who's had a child...(who) hasn't changed right in front of (their) eyes" because of an "emotional experience" on social media, he said.

Multi-state lawsuit

TikTok's Chew said "as a father of three young children myself I know that the issues that we're discussing today are horrific and the nightmare of every parent."

US social media platform X, the former Twitter, is expanding its staff of content moderators as pressure grows on tech giants to implement more child protections.

"I intend to invest more than $2 billion in trust and safety. This year alone, we have 40,000 safety professionals working on this topic," Chew said.

Meta also said 40,000 of its employees work on online safety and that $20 billion has been invested since 2016 to make the platform safer.

Ahead of their testimony, Meta and X, formerly Twitter, announced new measures in anticipation of the fiery session.

Meta, which owns the world's leading platforms Facebook and Instagram, said it would block direct messages sent to young teens by strangers.

By default, teens under age 16 can now only be messaged or added to group chats by people they already follow or are connected to.

Meta also tightened content restrictions for teens on Instagram and Facebook making it harder for them to view posts that discuss suicide, self-harm or eating disorders.

Singling out Meta, senators pointed to internal company documents that show that Zuckerberg declined to strengthen the teams devoted to tracking online dangers to teens.

"The hypocrisy is mind-boggling," Senator Richard Blumenthal told the New York Times.

Those documents are part of a major lawsuit brought by about 40 states jointly suing Meta over alleged failures with children.

Under US law, web platforms are largely shielded from legal liability in relation to content that is shared on their site.

While lawmakers would like to set up more rules to increase online safety, new laws have been stymied by a politically divided Washington and intense lobbying by big tech.

One existing proposal is the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, which aims to protect children from algorithms that might trigger anxiety or depression.

Another idea would require social media platforms to verify the age of account holders and completely bar children under the age of 13.

"I don't think you're gonna solve the problem. Congress is gonna have to help you," Senator John Neely Kennedy told the executives.

 2024 AFP
TOKYO, Jan 31 (News On Japan) - Japan's agricultural, forestry, and fishery product exports reached an unprecedented high in 2023, for the 11th consecutive year, despite exports to China experienced a downturn due the backlash over the release of treated water in Fukushima.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries announced that the export value of these products and foodstuffs increased by 2.9% from the previous year, totaling 1,4547 trillion yen. This marks the 11th consecutive year of record-breaking exports.

The surge in dining out globally post-COVID-19 and the prolonged weak yen have contributed positively to this trend.

In terms of individual items, exports of pearls, green tea, and beef saw substantial increases.

However, the situation was different for exports to China. Since the release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in August last year, China's import restrictions continue, leading to a 14.6% decrease in exports to China, amounting to 237.6 billion yen.

Seafood such as scallops and products commonly used in Japanese restaurants, like sake, were among those that saw a decline.

Despite these challenges, the Ministry acknowledged the efforts and diversification of exporters as positive factors. The ministry remains committed to expanding the export value to 2 trillion yen by 2025, despite the ongoing import restrictions by China and other hurdles.

Source: ANN
Festive event held in Laos to celebrate upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year

Xinhua) 09:58, January 31, 2024

VIENTIANE, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The China Cultural Center in Laos hosted an event here to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year.

The event held on Monday was attended by Lao Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Vansy Kuamua, Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Laos Wang Chang, Director of the China Cultural Center in Laos Li Yiping, along with more than 100 participants from Lao and Chinese sides.

At the event, an orchestra from east China's Jiangsu Province presented a wonderful folk music performance to the Lao people. The concert started with the "Dance of the Golden Snake," and concluded with Lao's famous song called "The Land of Freedom."

Speaking at the event, Vansy said Laos and China are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, and the people of the two nations have a long history of friendly exchanges.

"On behalf of the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and the people of all ethnic groups in Laos, I would like to extend my best wishes to the Chinese people and wish you all a happy Lunar New Year," said Vansy.

The China Cultural Center in Laos will continue to organize various activities, such as hand-wrapping dumplings workshop, cultural exhibitions, Chinese traditional costume wearing and other activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2024.

The 78th United Nations General Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Dec. 22, 2023, officially designating the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, as a UN floating holiday.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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The breach of a wastewater lagoon Jan. 6 at JBS sparked a large discussion at Tuesdays Hall County Commission meeting.

Thirty members of the public and representatives of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy attended the meeting.

The NDEE officials were invited by Commissioner Jane Richardson, who said she received many calls after the Jan. 6 incident.

In addition to the breach, Richardson mentioned a $275,000 fine levied against Swift Beef Co. in December for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

Richardson said she looked at the NDEEs public records portal involving JBS and found about 70 entries in 2023. Those entries did not all involve noncompliance issues, but there was at least one JBS entry per month, Richardson said.

Richardson said she left two phone messages at JBS to request the companys presence at Tuesdays meeting, but no one from JBS attended.

Seven members of the public spoke at Tuesdays meeting. They included residents of Eagle Lake, Hidden Lakes, Kuester Lake and Jeffs Lake.

Most were concerned about nitrate levels in lakes and wells.

One of the NDEE officials on hand Tuesday was Brad Pracheil, an administrator in the inspection and compliance division.

Following the breach of the wastewater lagoon, about 4 million gallons of wastewater were discharged, with approximately 2 million gallons leaving the property. Pracheil said on the east side, the wall of the lagoon was basically washed out. It was the smaller of JBS two wastewater lagoons.

After detailing the actions taken by state officials Jan. 6 and thereafter, Pracheil said the NDEE has sent a letter of noncompliance to JBS Swift, citing the company for seven violations of Nebraska Surface Water Quality Standards.

The NDEE documented the unlawful discharge of water pollutants to waters of the state, discharging without authorization, failure to comply with wastewater treatment facility operation and maintenance requirements, failure to comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System reporting requirements, violations of Aesthetic Water Quality and Aquatic Life Water Quality standards and failure to meet the conditions of an industrial stormwater general permit.

JBS has until Feb. 15 to voluntarily comply with requests for a number of corrective measures.

Among other things, JBS is directed to provide a written plan to assess and remediate off-site contamination from adjacent properties and Waters of the State that was discharged during the Jan. 6 release. The NDEE asks JBS to provide a stream sampling plan to monitor water quality in the Wood River and provide documentation demonstrating you have contracted with a third party to conduct an engineering evaluation of the current operational condition of the facilitys wastewater treatment system and a schedule of when the engineering evaluation will be complete. In addition to other demands, JBS is required to provide documentation on the facility plan to temporarily repair the existing erosion observed on the lagoon dikes pending the repairs or improvements identified in the engineering evaluation.

After Pracheils initial report, Board President Ron Peterson asked him if NDEE has the authority to fine a company. Pracheil said the state has the ability to fine a company up to $10,000 per day per violation.

Commissioner Scott Sorensen said that a fine of $10,000 a day probably wouldnt have much impact on a company the size of JBS. Richardson agreed.

In his report, Pracheil said the breach occurred sometime between 5 and 6 a.m. on Jan. 6. The NDEE was contacted at roughly 8 a.m., and Pracheil was contacted about 9 a.m.

We mobilized a team from Lincoln to Grand Island, he said. The group left Lincoln by 10:30 a.m., and arrived at JBS at 12:20 p.m.

The group confirmed the breach and saw the lagoon that had been leaking.

After that, the team went to where the discharge was. They saw where the discharge went into an unnamed tributary and then went down to Wood River, he said.

From 12:54 p.m. to 2 p.m., the NDEE team evaluated the stream above and below the facility and took stream samples.

Between 2 and 3 p.m., JBS worked on damming up the lagoon. At about 5 p.m., the team was told that the discharge had stopped.

On Jan. 7, an NDEE employee who specializes in surface water returned to the area. He worked with Nebraska Game and Parks to count fish kill, Pracheil said. There was a fish kill that happened in the Wood River.

NDEE employees returned to the area Jan. 10 to take sludge samples within the stream of Wood River and analyze that stream.

Those results have come back to the agency, but the report is still pending, he said.

After the breach occurred, Pracheil said, the NDEE notified the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

NDEE officials have continued to visit the area, he said.

Following the breach, JBS reached out to the city of Grand Island and NDEE, Pracheil said. He also said that many of the noncompliance issues with JBS were self-reported by the company.

Also speaking at the meeting was geologist David Miesbach, groundwater and water well standards supervisor for NDEEs water quality division.

A couple of citizens suggested that water be tested in the area at JBS expense.

Richardson said shed like to see a notification system put in place so that area residents know of such a breach in short order, rather than hearing about it three or four days later.

The board voted unanimously to send a letter of concern to JBS. Copies will be forwarded to area state senators.

Commissioner Gary Quandt, noting that JBS is a large employer, suggested that the county and city work together with JBS to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
A traffic checkpoint led to the seizure of a variety of illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia over the weekend, according to Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell.

This is a perfect example of the citizens of this county caring about their community, where they live, and their childrens safety, Ravenell said in a release.

This operation was based on the community giving us a lead here or there and we turned that into three arrests and drugs taken off the streets, he said.

Elijah Grant, 24, and Aretha Brooks, 55, both of 125 Mozel Lane, Bowman were each charged with trafficking cocaine, trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession of ecstasy, possession of a controlled substance (Xanax) and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Emmanuel Johnson, 35, of Rowesville was charged with one count of trafficking methamphetamine.

A safety checkpoint was set up this past weekend on Mozel Lane which resulted in the traffic stop of a vehicle being driven by Johnson, Ravenell said.

Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office Special Operations units obtained search warrants for a Mozel Lane residence after identifying it as an alleged drug house.

Illegal narcotics, a firearm, ammunition and digital scales were allegedly seized.

This is a tribute to the community. They want their community safe, and we are more than happy to oblige, Ravenell said. And were committed to continuing these efforts in the Bowman community.
A 12-hour standoff with an armed suspect this weekend ended peacefully, Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell announced Tuesday.

Were thankful that no one was seriously hurt in this situation, Ravenell said in a release.

There were any number of situations that could have happened out there, he said.

Ravenell said that around 12:15 a.m. Sunday, Orangeburg County Sheriffs deputies responded to a call reporting a kidnapping.

An Orangeburg County woman claimed she escaped from her ex-husband after he kidnapped her at gunpoint.

Investigators learned the male subject traveled to a Melody Lane residence in Cope, where the standoff began.

After the standoff was ended, multiple weapons were located inside the residence, the sheriffs office claims.

The 53-year-old male will face multiple felony charges, the release said. The sheriffs office did not provide the name of the male or specific charges he could face.

We want to thank the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Highway Patrol, EMS, Orangeburg County Emergency Services and the Orangeburg County Fire District and Canaan volunteer firefighters who responded, Ravenell said. This was a team effort.
How many of y'all think coyotes have decimated the deer population in Orangeburg County?

Raise your hand if you think the deer population is on the rise in Orangeburg County and there was never any need for the deer tags.

OK, now that we have that settled, let's talk about something more important. Where are we going to be hunting in the very, very near future? How much more development can we withstand and still have areas suitable for hunting as well as farming?

White-tail deer White-tailed deer cause millions of dollars in damage to South Carolinas soybean fields each year.

I'm a middle-aged guy and I have seen a lot of land get screwed up through the years, but never have I seen land get destroyed at the rate it is being destroyed lately.

I wrote an article back in 2009 about farmland and hunting land disappearing to development, and a lot of people scoffed at me. Even one of my best friends, who actually grew up on a farm and spent most of his life hunting with me, laughed at me.

He told me, "Development of land has no effect on us hunting!" I wonder if he still stands by his statement. I get it, if you've struggled on a farm all your life and you get a chance to sell your land at an incredibly high price, I guess it would be hard to turn down.

But my land will never be for sale as long as I'm alive. If I was starving to death, I would probably crawl down the sidewalk and beg for food before I sold any land. And fortunately for me, my son feels the same way.

I wish more landowners felt the same. It just doesn't make any sense to me how folks spend a lifetime buying tracts of land, especially adjoining tracts of land, and let it all go for the almighty dollar.

I see these same people look around after most of their land is gone and say things like, "Well, I was going to plant a dove field here but can't drop birdshot on that new house without them calling DNR," or "Can't have a man drive for deer because if we sling buckshot either way, we gonna hit the panels in that solar farm." They don't seem to realize when it's gone, it's gone. Houses are usually the last crop grown on a farm.

A similar issue I have quite often with rented land is when families let a family member build a house in the middle of a field I have been farming. They get upset because I'm not interested in farming the land anymore. So I have to go through the whole spiel with them and explain to them why it's just not worth it.

Of course they don't understand that planting a bunch of short rows is too aggravating, and Dicamba or Roundup herbicides drifting over grass, flowers or shrubbery are deadly and a good way to get sued. Also, the new kids in the house never realize that throwing pruned limbs 3 inches in diameter in the edge of my field is very problematic. (I've seen it all.)

I'm a small farmer by most standards if you look at the acreage I farm, but I lost a total of 342 acres in 2023 alone!

That's correct, in one year I lost a total of 342 acres of rented land to development. Now all of the land lost was not just open land, part of it was wooded. However, it's still a big loss to me as a farmer and outdoorsman, and land that will never be farmed or hunted again.

I mentioned solar farms earlier. Can anyone explain the advantage of putting up all these seemingly hazardous panels in a field over growing crops in a field?

There's no way it's cheaper in the long run for producing electricity. Water running over an already existing dam seems pretty clever and economical to me.

Maybe natural gas would even be a better option. I actually asked a lawyer this question. He told me that there are no advantages with solar farms, and it's all BS subsidized by the government. He said in a nutshell, the government is taking tax dollars and helping destroy our lands.

Are there no elected officials willing to take a stand and make an attempt at curtailing some of this development? I never liked government interference in very many things, but this needs to be a priority before it's too late.

Farmers like myself can't afford to compete for land with government-subsidized companies, or with developers who constantly sneak around offering large sums of money to local landowners.

We have developers in our region southern born and bred that love to hunt, but what buying tracts of land and booting the farmers and hunters out mean absolutely nothing to them.

What's even sadder is to see them cater their development plan to people from foreign countries. I turn my TV off every time I see that commercial promoting South Carolina for people to move here -- "Smiling Faces and Beautiful Places."

Developers are instead destroying the beautiful places and putting frowns on a lot of faces.

People, put your land in some type of conservation reserve that protects it from development, offer your land to a local farmer before you consider selling to someone else, help your kids remodel an existing home or buy them a lot in town. Leave them a place in the county to enjoy before there is no country left.
Orangeburg County School District students will begin the 2024-2025 school year Aug. 5, 2024, with teachers returning the last week in July.

OCSD trustees gave unanimous first reading approval to the 2024-2025 academic calendar during the group's Jan. 16 meeting. Trustee Dr. William O'Quinn was absent.

The calendar, which was voted upon by about 730 OCSD stakeholders, will be similar to the current school year's calendar, Assistant Superintendent for Communications, Business and Community Partnerships Dr. Erica S. Taylor said.

The district will have a week off for Thanksgiving and 11 days off for winter break.

The last day of school is May 23, 2025.

In other matters, district Coordinator of Career and Technical Education and K-12 School Improvement Robert Hemby II told trustees that the number of students in the district's Early College and Advanced College programs for the fall semester totaled about 248, which is up from 193 students in the programs in the previous year.

Of the 248 students, about 167 were from Orangeburg-Wilkinson, Branchville and Edisto High Schools.

Both programs have proven successful, with a large percentage of students in the Early College program scoring As and Bs, with Branchville High School students doing the best.

The large majority of high school students in the Advanced College program are also scoring greater than a C.

Hemby said students who get a D or F do not receive credit for the courses. Students are given an opportunity to retake the courses on a case-by-case basis and are provided instructional assistance throughout the process.

The programs enable high school students to take college-level courses toward associate degrees at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.

In other business:

 The district will hold an International Day celebration in recognition of the cultural diversity of the school district's students and staff.

The event will be held at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. International foods will be served. A cultural program will be held at 5:45 p.m. The school district hopes to hold the event annually.

 An MLK Oratory competition is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 30 at the Santee Convention Center. The event begins at 6:30 p.m.

 Trustees were informed the district will be up for a five-year reaccreditation under Cognia. Cognia is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that accredits primary and secondary schools.

The group will visit the district Jan. 31.

 Trustees unanimously approved local courses for the 2024-2025 school year.

The approved courses are not listed in the South Carolina Activity coding manual and need to be approved by the board each year. About 424 students benefitted from the locally approved courses in 2023-2024, according to school district officials.

 State Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, presented a S.C. Senate resolution to the daughter and granddaughter of the late OCSD trustee Peggy James-Tyler for her 41 years of service to education and her 36 years of service on school boards in Orangeburg County. James-Tyler died Aug. 30 at the age of 80.

She had a passion for children, she had a passion for education, Hutto said, describing her as a superstar for education. Peggy, you could always count on her. She was always there. She really did a lot for children. We will always remember her.

Those in attendance gave the presentation a standing ovation.

 The district received about $7 million in revenue for the month of December and spent about $12.1 million for the month for a monthly loss of about $5 million.

OCSD Assistant Superintendent for Finance Gail Sanders said the money is just a paper loss as the district received an additional $11.4 million in revenue and was scheduled to receive an additional $9.8 million by Jan. 19.

The additional money is coming from local and state taxes and will be calculated for the February board meeting, Sanders said.

 Trustees recognized Vance-Providence Elementary School's Kameryn Frazier as the Rookie Teacher for the Month of December.

 Trustees recognized Cope Area Career Center's Carrie Showman as the Employee of the Month for December.

 The district recognized trustees and their work as part of the School Board Appreciation Month, which is January.

 The board read and members signed an ethical principles pledge.

 Trustees voted to donate an out-of-use district activity bus to Hickory Grove Baptist Church for the church's ministry.

 Trustees went into closed session to discuss a student discipline appeal, personnel and contractual matters and to receive legal advice.
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Today is Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. Let's get caught up.

Keep scrolling for celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history. Plus, check out our daily news podcast:

***

The US hasn't seen syphilis numbers this high since 1950. Other STD rates are down or flat

The U.S. syphilis epidemic isn't abating, with the rate of infectious cases rising 9% in 2022, according to a new federal government report on sexually transmitted diseases in adults.

But there's some unexpected good news: The rate of new gonorrhea cases fell for the first time in a decade.

It's not clear why infectious cases of syphilis rose 9% while gonorrhea dropped 9%, officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, adding that it's too soon to know whether a new downward trend is emerging for the latter.

***

House GOP takes party-line vote toward Mayorkas impeachment

The Homeland Security Committee debated all day Tuesday and well into the night before recommending two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the full House, a rare charge against a Cabinet official unseen in nearly 150 years, as Republicans make GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trumps hard-line deportation approach to immigration their own.

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Iran threatens to 'decisively respond' to any US strikes as Biden weighs response to Jordan attack

The U.S. has signaled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Mideast in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that killed three U.S. soldiers and injured at least 40 at Tower 22, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan that's been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.

However, concerns remain that any additional American strikes could further inflame a region already roiled by Israel's ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea.

***

MORE TOP STORIES

***

MORNING LISTEN

Learn about what kind of data drones can collect and the advantages they have over weather balloons and airplanes on the Across the Sky podcast.

***

TODAY IN HISTORY

Today in history: Jan. 31 In 1958, the United States entered the Space Age with its first successful launch of a satellite, Explorer 1, from Cape Canaveral, and more ev

Today in sports history: Jan. 31 In 1988, Washington scores 35 points in the second quarter to overcome a 10-0 deficit and beat the Denver Broncos 42-10 in the Super Bowl. See

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TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS

Celebrity birthdays: Jan. 31 Anthony LaPagilia Bobby Moynihan Charlie Musselwhite Glynn Turman Harry Wayne Casey Johnny Rotten Jonathan Banks Justin Timberlake Kelly Lynch Kerry Washington Marcus Mumford Minnie Driver Nolan Ryan Portia de Rossi Princess Beatrix Tyler Hubbard Tyler Ritter
CHEYENNE  On Monday, Gov. Mark Gordon announced the launch of his new mental health initiative, which identifies five key pillars that are critical to boost outcomes for those battling with mental health issues.

Gordons Mental Health Roadmap is the result of collaborative work among the executive, legislative and judiciary branches of state government that will advance systemic behavioral health reform in Wyoming, according to a news release.

The five key pillars identified in the road map include access to mental health care, affordability, quality of care, innovation, and suicide prevention and anti-stigma efforts.

During a town hall at the state Capitol on Monday, the governor said that mental health care services should not only be accessible, but affordable and of good quality  its not enough just to acknowledge a need for it.

We want to ensure that cost of care is not a barrier for accessing services in Wyoming, Gordon said.

The road map focuses not only on community mental health reform but also targets workforce development, criminal justice reform and suicide prevention. Gordon said state officials are exploring funding of $250,000 to train workforces in behavioral health reform, and he requested an additional $2 million for pediatric virtual services.

Wyoming has a significant shortage of behavioral health professionals, he said. Especially so with pediatric specialization.

The governor also asked lawmakers for another $2 million to contract with mobile crisis services in Wyoming to support first responders, including law enforcement and EMS.

Role of state agencies

Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justice Kate Fox was one of many experts who joined the governor during the town hall discussion.

People ask me, Why is the judiciary involved in these behavioral health projects? And its an easy answer, Fox said. Behavioral health is in our courts.

Fox explained that courts have become the emergency rooms for societys ills, especially related to mental illnesses and substance abuse. Increased incarcerations of people with low-level, nonviolent charges have driven up costs for the state, she said.

(This) is the most expensive and least-effective way of dealing with it, Fox said.

Department of Corrections Director Dan Shannon echoed Fox in his statement regarding increasing costs of incarceration.

Youd be shocked at the amount that are incarcerated that are severely mentally ill, Shannon said. When we fracture a leg, we call EMS ... when a mind is fractured, we call law enforcement.

The governor was also joined by directors from the Wyoming Department of Family Services, Department of Health and Department of Corrections. Department of Health Director Stefan Johansson said the collaboration of so many state agencies to focus on the issue is a huge deal.

We absolutely can have a larger role to do things differently  but also see whats happening, Johansson said.

State agencies, such as the Department of Health, are limited in their understanding of what is actually happening at the local level, he added. It helps to hold these town hall meetings across the state to hear firsthand from the public what gaps in mental health services still need to be addressed. We dont know what we dont know, he said.

What the public has to say

Among those who filled the seats of the Capitols auditorium were public servants, Cheyenne residents, judges and health care specialists. Several stories were tearful anecdotes of a persons experience with suicide, whether personally or with a loved one.

The Cowboy State no longer ranks number one in the country for its per-capita suicide rate, but the governor said theres still a lot of work to be done.

One spokesman from the Laramie County Sheriffs Department said the number of suicide attempts in jails has doubled since 2019, although none of them have resulted in death.

The risk is increasing, and it does impact over 50% of our (jail) population, the spokesman said. Talking to other jails, it is pretty systemic or consistent across the board.

One part of the issue he highlighted was the wait time required to get high risk inmates into the Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston, which Johansson acknowledged as unacceptable.

Part of the reason for extended hospital wait lists, Johansson said, is the occupancy of beds by nursing-level hospital patients in need of long-term care. Once the Wyoming Life Resource Center in Lander is fully staffed, he said, those populations are scheduled to be served in a more appropriate nursing facility setting.

Its a lot of volume competing for a limited resource, the WDH director said. But we cant sit here and say that for another five years without making improvements.

With the governors behavioral health redesign plan set to take effect this summer, criminal justice populations will be one of the three main priority focuses.

Another public comment came from Allison Cunningham, a Cheyenne resident who is deaf. Through the translation of an American Sign Language interpreter, Cunningham told Gordon that 2% of deaf individuals do not receive the health care they need because a number of mental health agencies dont provide interpreters.

Were humans, we have a mind, we have emotions, she said through the interpreter. The Americans with Disabilities Act is established, and it requires that access. I feel that the state needs to set aside money to the centers for these accommodations.

Gordon acknowledged and thanked her for her comment.

As we think about workforce development, its not only that we need to develop not only the talent to deal with mental health issues, but also people with skill sets like interpretation, to be able to communicate properly, he said.

Amy Shaw, a care provider at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, said she is the only comprehensive dementia care specialist in the state, to her knowledge. Shaw told Gordon and his fellow panelists that the state should focus on expanding dementia comprehensive care and telehealth services in Wyoming.

Telehealth and dementia go hand in hand, Shaw said. People dont really understand dementia. And so getting some expertise in how to help families understand that would be valuable.

Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, who also sat on the panel during the town hall, is co-chair of the Legislatures Labor, Health and Social Services Committee. Zwonitzer remarked that Shaws comments are very timely, as he had just met with the Alzheimers Association of Wyomings newest policy adviser last week.

Lawmakers on the committee are currently working with the association to expand Project Lifesaver, a search and rescue program for individuals with Alzheimers or dementia. Furthermore, there are two bills that will be considered in the upcoming budget session designed to help and expand the definition of vulnerable adults.

We are making strides  for the first time in the last decade, that Im aware of  we can push through in 2024, Zwonitzer said.
ENERGY Minister Stuart Young has taken umbrage at comments made by Ronald Harford, former chairman of Republic Financial Holdings Ltd, as he boasted about the success of the energy sector.

Young said whenever somebody becomes a former, their mouth gets big, as he quoted from an article in Fridays Express report where Harford made critical comments.
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.
PHOENIX  A state lawmaker and a prosecutor are moving to enhance the penalty against those who engage in multiple incidents of organized retail theft.

HB 2435 would allow judges to sentence someone who has a record of at least two prior convictions to 4.5 years in state prison. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said the current penalty is 2.5 years.

I have seen, time and time again, that criminals pay attention to sentences and trends within the criminal justice system, she said Tuesday. And word does spread among them.

Mitchell said that includes people who come from other states, where such crimes may not be pursued and those arrested are released without bail.

These are groups that work together, she said. So word will spread and it will be effective.

Pima County Attorney Laura Conover said she agrees that retail theft has become a big problem in Tucson and across the nation.

It has become more visible as shoppers not only face higher prices but also often find that the goods they want are now locked behind glass shelves, requiring them to find a staffer. And in some communities, stores that have been victimized have been shuttered.

But Conover said she is not convinced that tinkering with sentencing laws is the solution.

The key, she said, is focusing attention on those professionally minded criminals, the ones buying and trafficking in those stolen items from the thieves who have taken them from the stores.

We have to use our precious resources with higher level investigations that get at those who are profiting off of the problem, Conover said. And we have the penalties that we need to send them away for quite some time.

What that includes, she said, is the ability to prosecute them for being involved in fraudulent schemes. That is a Class 2 felony which, in the case of repetitive offenders, can mean anywhere from 5 to more than 15 years in prison.

Conover said she disagrees with the contention that a 4.5 year sentence for those who are doing the stealing in the first place will make a difference, particularly in cases where those who are doing the theft are driven by mental health or substance-abuse disorders. She said the only way to actually disrupt whats going on is getting at the root causes.

It doesnt matter if you send this person (to prison) for two years or four years, Conover said.

Theres no treatment in prison, she continued. So they either come out, in two years or four years, in a worse place or in worse shape. And weve done nothing but pay top dollar and burned that taxpayer dollar.

Still, she said, people who are arrested repeatedly and are not getting with the program are already facing felony charges.

Mitchell said has a different view of those who are engaged in retail theft. And the key, she said, is that in order to be convicted of this crime they have to be found guilty of having an intent to resell what they have stolen.

This goes back to debunking the false narrative that is out there that the people that were looking at are people who are just shoplifters who are shoplifting single items in order to support themselves, feed themselves, Mitchell said.

That is not what is happening here, she said. What is happening is these people are targeting stores and taking either large quantities or items with large resale values like alcohol or cosmetics and they are sending it to a fence.

And those proceeds, said Mitchell, go into what she called the stream of criminal commerce which includes funding all sorts of other criminal activities.

Michelle Ahlmer, executive director of the Arizona Retailers Association, which got House Speaker Ben Toma to sponsor the legislation, said all this is different than shoplifting. That is a separate crime, with the penalty based on the value of the stolen items.

So, for example, someone found guilty of lifting something worth less than $1,000 could be sentenced under laws making that a misdemeanor, carrying six months in the county jail with a possible $500 fine.

Steal something worth more than that and the presumptive sentence is a year in state prison.

We actually have resources, in some cases, where we can help them, Ahlmer said. But this, she said, is different.

This is an organized retail crime, you can even go so far as to say syndicate, Ahlmer said. We have apprehended people who have shopping lists, who are told not to steal above a certain level because they will have a higher felony. This is not your average person walking in and putting something in their purse and walking out.

Ahlmer said theres a reason this kind of theft has blossomed.

The burgeoning effect has happened because certain states, certain communities have turned a blind eye to prosecuting, she said. And we are lucky that in Arizona we are lucky that we dont have that situation thanks to Rachel Mitchell and some of the other support weve had throughout the state.

Ahlmer and Conover do agree on one thing: Any retailer who sees this going on should not try to detain a suspected thief.

We do not apprehend, Ahlmer said.

That is for the safety of our staff and the safety of our consumers, she said. We dont want anyone to get in the middle of a conflict.

Instead, she said, incidents can be pursued later with evidence from cameras.

Conover sees it through the lens of what she calls ongoing threat of harm.

We are perhaps less concerned by a corporation losing $20 of food or what have you than we are the person that is told to leave the property and, instead of leaving the property turns around and is very aggressive back on the employee, she said. And Conover said that law enforcement is more focused on that kind of assault than the underlying theft.

The legislation is awaiting a hearing in front of the House Commerce Committee.
In the beginning of 2020, Taurus Tabb bought his first air fryer.

Thanks to that air fryer, Tabb and a little cartoon duck sporting a chefs hat and apron have taken over the city, taking us on a flavorful journey one banana bread at a time.

Tabb is the mastermind behind Duckys Pineapple Banana Bread, a specialty banana bread shop that offers flavors you have never seen before, putting a whole new twist on a classic recipe.

Like so many others, Tabb picked up baking as a hobby during the pandemic. While he had baked before, he started to take things more seriously when he got that first air fryer. Thats when he started making his famous banana bread.

After working from home for a while, Tabb, who worked at Merrill Lynch, was called back into the office again. But Tabb didnt go back  he decided to quit and pursue baking full-time.

Wanting to bring something different to the table, Tabb chose to specialize in banana bread, specifically air-fried banana bread. When using an air fryer, the recipe calls for a lot less ingredients and can be seen as a healthy alternative, Tabb said.

Using an air fryer also allows Tabb to achieve the texture his breads are known for: crispy on the outside, but moist and tender on the inside.

First, when I started out, I made it [the recipe] up, Tabb said. Then I did a little trial run to see if anybody wanted to buy it. I sold it to a couple friends and they loved it. Two years later, here we are.

He had the product ready, but now he needed a name.

Tabb, who was once a producer, also already had the duck design. He reached out to the graphic designer who originally created the duck and added the chefs hat and apron.

Ducky was also the nickname of his late mother. It was truly meant to be.

When it comes to the business, Tabb does it all himself, from the baking to the packaging  not to mention he is constantly doing markets in both Phoenix and Tucson.

In order to keep up with demand, Tabb bakes at least three days of the week. He currently has six air fryers so he can bake 12 breads at a time and typically brings no less than 20 loaves and 60-70 slices to markets.

Sometimes, Tabb is even up at two in the morning crafting his mouthwatering breads.

Tabbs flavors and inclusive menu are what keep customers coming back for more. Strawberry banana, pineapple banana, Mexican chocolate banana, lemon blueberry banana, coffee banana and pumpkin spice banana are just a few of the many flavors Tabb comes up with.

I've come across a lot of people who are allergic to pineapple, so that's when we started branching off to different flavors, Tabb said. I got inspiration from doing different flavors because my friend owns an ice cream shop in Arkansas and he comes up with the craziest flavors. I kind of just piggybacked off his idea and started just messing around with breads.

Duckys is even introducing two new flavors next month, one based off a popular Valentines Day treat and the other involves a popular sandwich cookie. Tabb makes it his mission to stand outside the box and offer something you cant find anywhere else.

Not only does Duckys experiment with flavors, but they also have a vegan and gluten-free menu so everyone can try their unique air-fried recipe.

When making the treats, Tabb said bananas are the key to baking a perfect banana bread. You cant just use any banana thats laying around the kitchen; they have to be perfectly ripe. In fact, they have to be so ripe that the whole peel needs to be almost black, Tabb said.

Since its hard to find-already ripe bananas, Tabb has to buy bananas in bulk a week in advance, storing them in the pantry until they are the perfect shade of dark brown.

With waiting for bananas to ripen, baking multiple loaves of bread, handling the business side and attending at least 12 events each month, Tabb has a lot on his plate, but hes not stopping anytime soon.

In the future, Tabb aims to eventually open a storefront in Tucson where you can satisfy all your banana bread needs. While he works on that, youll continue to see the cutest cartoon duck selling banana bread like youve never seen before.

It's a completely new experience and a completely new dessert, Tabb said. I guarantee nine times out of 10 you've never had an air-fryer dessert. Whenever I mentioned that it's air-fried, everybody's eyes light up.

Visit Ducky's Pineapple Banana Bread's website to order a loaf or check their Instagram to see where they'll be popping up next.
The Arizona Board of Regents has scheduled a special meeting for Thursday, Feb. 1, to review assignments with its executive director John Arnold, who is also University of Arizona interim chief financial officer, and with UA President Robert C. Robbins in private session.

"The board is scheduling a series of special board meetings to proactively address the financial issues at the University of Arizona. The board and university will provide regular updates to the public on progress and outcomes," Regents Chair Fred DuVal told the Arizona Daily Star on Wednesday.

Arnold and Robbins announced the plan Monday to deal with a $177 million budget deficit the UA is operating under this fiscal year.

The "review of assignments" wording is not at all unusual for a regents' executive session.

For instance, the same wording, in that case with ABOR executive director Arnold and with Northern Arizona University President Jose Luis Cruz Rivera, was on the executive session agenda for ABOR's meeting that took place Thursday, Jan. 25.
Arizona proposes to pull back from its flat ban on building new subdivisions served on groundwater in the booming fringes of Phoenix.

A draft of a new proposal would partially walk back a flat ban that the state imposed on the approval of new developments in part of suburban Phoenix that use groundwater. The new draft would, critics say, allow such growth to occur under specific circumstances.

The practice that would now be allowed is commonly called commingling, and the Arizona Department of Water Resources had long opposed it in the past.

The agency drew national attention when it decided to not certify any new subdivisions in some of Phoenixs fastest-growing suburbs that would rely on what a computer model analysis had found to be an over-allocated groundwater supply. The decision provoked an outcry from homebuilders and developers because it will put long-term limits on new housing development in areas with some of the fastest demand for it, in one of the fastest growing counties in the country that faces a major shortage of affordable housing.

Environmentalists and other advocates for tough groundwater regulation praised the earlier rule as a recognition of a reality that the areas groundwater supplies are limited and declining.

The new proposal, however, would allow groundwater to be used for new subdivisions when commingling is used.

In a commingled system, the (subdivision) applicant cant avoid having some groundwater delivered to the subdivision in question. So homeowners in the new subdivision wont have an assured water supply because they would bear the risks of groundwater shortage  a shortage that is already demonstrated in the Phoenix and Pinal AMA, said Kathy Ferris, a former ADWR director and longstanding advocate for restrictions on groundwater pumping across the state. She was referring to the state-run Active Management Areas that govern groundwater use in urban area basins.

But Ferris concerns are off base, said Spencer Kamps, a vice president and lobbyist for the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona.

This is about combining various water supplies to serve development. Every national standard when it comes to utility system requires redundancy and interconnection Its not a physical availability issue. Its an accounting issue. You gotta make sure water is in the system. Phoenix does it all the time.

Kamps also isnt happy, however, with proposals in the new draft that require water providers to reduce their use of groundwater by 25% to 30% when they bring in alternative water supplies to serve new growth. And Ferris is opposed to one of those proposals that is reducing by 5% the the amount that water providers would have to cut back on their existing groundwater use

ADWR spokesman Doug MacEachern declined on Tuesday to immediately respond to questions from the Star about the departments new draft proposal. The department sent copies of it late last week to members of a committee that advised the water policy body on the new regulations and to members of interest groups that have been involved in this issue.

These are works in progress. As we have explained previously, it is not productive to discuss these issues as if they are finished products. They arent. In fact, it would be inappropriate on our part to do so, MacEachern said.

Department officials are hoping to publicly post the draft rules soon, but we cant say with certainty when that will be, MacEachern said. A great deal of time and effort is going into considering and incorporating stakeholder input. We have not yet completed that work.

The new draft rules stated purpose is to give municipal water departments and private water companies an easier, alternative path to be designated by the state as having an assured water supply for 100 years  without increasing their groundwater use.

Kamps and others in the homebuilding community have particularly hoped the new rules will allow the city of Buckeye west of Phoenix to be designated as having an assured supply. That would allow rapidly growing Buckeye, one of the U.S. fastest growing cities, to keep allowing new subdivisions that otherwise would be stopped for not having an assured water supplies. Many new Buckeye subdivisions, including one for 100,000 homes, are now partially or completely stalled due to the ADWR rules approved last year.

The process will not be successful; unless Buckeye can become a designated provider, Kamps said. For now, its a million dollar question that I cant answer as to whether the new rule will accomplish that, he said.

Buckeye officials declined Tuesday to say whether they support the new rules. City of Buckeye spokesman John OHalloran said in a statement to the Star, The collaboration with Governor Hobbs and the substantial progress made in identifying our states water challenges over the past year have been invaluable. Buckeye also looks forward to working with her office and ADWR to finalizing the Alternative Designation of Assured Water Supply that works not only for our city, but other non-designated cities and water providers.

Supporters of a new process to designate assured supplies have said that would force cities and private water companies to use more renewable supplies such as water from Phoenixs Salt River, or imported groundwater  such as the Harquahala Valley, located well west of Phoenix.

Making it easier for cities and water companies to get these designations also would let them get around the states ban on groundwater for new growth as long as they can bring in renewable supplies. In return, the new proposal would require them to buy an additional 25% renewable supplies on top of whats needed to serve new growth  and use that 25% to replace some of their existing groundwater use.

A Water Policy Council appointed by Gov. Katie Hobbs had recommended that proposal to the governor. It appears to have made its way into the new draft largely intact. But the commingling provision wasnt contained in the water councils proposal to the governor, which is one reason that Ferris is concerned that its there now.

Its a separate provision in the new draft ADWR proposal that deals with certificates of assured water supply. They are issued to developers and/or homebuilders of individual, new subdivisions. The designations are granted to cities and water companies that service numerous subdivisions well as apartments, stores and industries.

The commingling proposal would allow groundwater to become a part of an assured water supply under certain circumstances. It could happen if the assured supply certificate applicant can show that another supply will also be used that hasnt been served to other users in that developments service area since 2022 and that its not another groundwater supply from that same area. Plus, the city that would serve this new development would have to come up with 30% more of the renewable supply to replace some of its existing groundwater use.

Ferris argued that allowing mingling of groundwater with a new alternative supply would dilute the value of the newly imported supply. In general, she would prefer not to have any more subdivisions certified for having an assured water supply and switch completely to having entire city or private water company service areas designated with assured supplies.

Certificates ... are never reviewed over their lifetime. Designations apply to all uses of water served by the water provider and must be reviewed by ADWR every 10 to 15 years, now a senior research fellow at Arizona State Universitys Kyl Center for Water Policy.

Kamps opposes the requirements the commingling provision and the alternative designation to bring in 25% to 30% additional supplies because, he says, the burden of paying for that supply will fall on homeowners because only new homes are required to meet the assured water suppl rules for new development.

We opposed homeowners paying for more than 100% of that new water, he said. Were not opposed to commercial, industrial and rental developments paying more than 100.

But the new state proposals plan to reduce the amount of new water supplies that newly designated water providers must bring in to replace groundwater means less reduction in groundwater withdrawals, said Ferris, adding, We want to see it reduced as much as possible.
PHOENIX  Legislators on Tuesday approved an additional $8 million that will let the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs keep busing migrants away from border communities, a program that has transported more than 81,000 people since 2022.

It was just part of a $12.8 million budget transfer approved for DEMA border activities, including another $4.8 million to reimburse local police agencies and prosecutors that deal with border-related crimes.

But before approving the transfers, members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee imposed safeguards to keep future spending in check. The DEMA request came after the agency spent almost all of a $15 million budget for migrant busing and $20 million for local law enforcement reimbursement.

Restrictions approved Tuesday will cap the cost of an in-state bus trip at $60 per person and will require DEMA to report to JLBC before approving reimbursements to any police agencies whose applications are not already in the pipeline. The money is being shifted from other areas of DEMAs border security fund that have been underutilized.

DEMA Director Gabe Lavine told the committee that he had serious concerns about the two restrictions, calling them impractical and infeasible for us to abide by. But lawmakers said they were nonnegotiable.

Otherwise, we can take the $8 million away. Its really that simple, said Rep. David Livingston, R-Peoria. So, if you dont understand that, I apologize. We have made that clear to the governors team.

Christian Slater, a spokesperson for Gov. Katie Hobbs, confirmed that the governors office was involved in negotiations to extend the funding, but added that it was important to continue the programs.

If theres a need, were going to do whatever we need to do to meet that need to keep the border secure and make sure that border communities have the capacity they need to deal with this large influx of migrants, Slater said.

The funding comes as migrant encounters at the southern border set a record of more than 300,000 in the month of December. In the first three months of fiscal 2024, according to Customs and Border Protection, more than 219,000 migrants were stopped in the Arizona sectors of the border.

A surge in migration led then-Gov. Doug Ducey in 2022 to join Texas and Florida in busing migrants out of state, to ease the strain on overburdened border communities. Arizona bused 3,177 asylum seekers to Washington, D.C., in 2022, a trip of more than 2,000 miles that cost the state more than $7.138 million, or $2,247 per person.

Hobbs campaigned against busing, and the number of migrants transported fell sharply in her first months in office. But she expanded the program in May, with DEMA busing migrants to in-state nongovernmental organizations for assistance, in addition to the trips to Washington.

Since then, the number of asylum seekers being bused has grown significantly. A total of 64,374 individuals were bused to in-state destinations in 2023, when another 8,415 individuals were transported to Washington. The program continues, with 5,485 people bused in just one week in January, according to a DEMA report.

The program now only accepts asylum seekers who have been processed by CBP and released to await an asylum hearing. Asylum seekers have to agree to be bused from the border towns where they are released, and are transported to NGOs that help care for them or send them on to their final destination.

Despite the surging numbers, the overall cost of the program has remained about the same and the per person cost has dropped sharply, to about $38 for in-state transportation.

Lawmakers seized on that number, with Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, at one point searching his phone to find the cost of a Greyhound bus ticket from Tucson to Phoenix was less than $60.

But Lavine said the $38 per-person cost does not paint the full picture. The cost of buses varies depending on when they are ordered, the time of day and distance traveled, among other factors, he said.

If we have a bus that has less migrants on it, theyre moving from a further distance, that particular bus might cost more  which reduces our operational flexibility and ability to meet the needs of the local community, Lavine said.

Fluctuations in the number of asylum seekers processed by CBP can make it difficult to coordinate bus pickups, which can make budgeting a challenge, Lavine said. A $60 cap could delay the process and leave asylum seekers released by CBP on the street without resources for 24 hours.

But Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, did not see a problem with that.

So we have people who have traveled hundreds, if not thousands of miles on foot, mostly, from other areas, other countries, and they cant wait a day for you to fill a bus? Kavanagh asked.

DEMA projects that without a significant federal policy shift the number of asylum seekers in Arizona will only increase in 2024.

Hobbs was one of nine Democratic governors who wrote a letter to President Joe Biden and congressional leaders last week calling on the federal government to address the humanitarian crisis caused by the massive influx of asylum seekers.

Communities along the southern border  as well as interior states and cities across the country  lack the vast coordinated infrastructure needed to respond to the humanitarian and public safety concerns of those seeking lawful entry into the United States, the letter said. America needs a federal solution that supports our economy, immigrants and fixes our immigration system.

Citing that need, Democrats on the committee pushed unsuccessfully to have the $12.8 million approved without any strings attached.
Former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich told a House committee Tuesday that states have a constitutional right to secure their borders if the federal government is either unwilling or unable to do so.

The on-ground violence and lawlessness on our southern border that has been caused by the cartels and gangs is extensive, well-documented and persistent. Therefore, it satisfies the definition of an actual invasion as laid out by the Constitution, Brnovich testified in a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.

That reasoning, echoed by several witnesses at the hearing, was belittled by Democrats on the panel as a crackpot legal theory that would have the public believe that federal supremacy over immigration and foreign relations is an open question.

The Constitution is clear, said Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y. The federal government is supreme in these matters, and it is well-settled law that the Constitution gives the federal government primary authority over immigration matters.

Democrats also accused the Republican majority of misapplying the term invasion in an attempt to demonize migrants and to justify violence against them.

The hearing was the latest in a string of immigration-focused hearings in the Republican-led House, and came the same day that the House Homeland Security Committee was debating articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

It also came the same week that a group of senators was expected to unveil a bipartisan immigration reform bill, a measure that Speaker Mike Johnson has already declared dead on arrival in the House, even before seeing details of the bill.

Democrats on the Judiciary Committee called Tuesdays hearing a political stunt, saying lawmakers should instead be focused on solutions like those reportedly in the Senate plan.

Weve got a bill in the Senate that were working on that would be the most comprehensive form of border security ever. President Biden has said that he would sign it and he would close the border, said Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. Thats what I think the Republicans want and what they have campaigned on.

The bills future has been put in doubt, however, since former President Donald Trump urged lawmakers to reject it.

But now Mr. Trump doesnt want that to happen because it might help Joe Biden, Cohen said.

Republicans like Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio said they want to hold off on immigration reform until after this falls elections, to get voter input. In the meantime, he said, the Biden administration should just shut down the border until then.

When new migrants come in its time to say time out, Jordan said. Lets call a halt to it and wait until we have an election and wait and see what the American people say.

The stated intention of Tuesdays hearing was to discuss the constitutionality of states overriding federal direction on matters related to immigration.

Democrats and their sole witness  Omar Jadwat, of the American Civil Liberties Unions Immigrant Rights Project  stressed that more than a century of court rulings, up to the Supreme Court, have repeatedly said that states cannot overrule the federal government when it comes to border policy.

The majority and its extreme MAGA Republican allies make the preposterous argument that the states can ignore the federal government and the Supreme Court, Nadler said. There are so many practical and legal problems with this outrageous and absurd theory, I dont even know where to begin.

But Brnovich and the other witnesses disagreed, repeatedly painting the historic surge in immigration as an invasion, which they said opens the door for states to take action.

Our nation is founded upon the rule of law, and as I sit here today not only as a former federal prosecutor  but as a husband and a parent, I worry that our nation is under assault from the cartels and gangs that have seized control of our southern border, he said.

Brnovich also criticized the Biden administrations decision to cut through barbed wire that Texas authorities placed on the Mexican border as part of that states Operation Lone Star  a state immigration action.

A lot of Arizonans that I talk to ask me, Why was President Biden so quick to tear down the border fence in Texas, but so slow to shoot down the Chinese spy balloon? I think thats an indication of where the priorities really are for this administration, Brnovich said.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

As Arizona gears up for the 2024 elections, it is time to set the tone of political debates and bring attention to the issues that matter most to Arizonans. Tucsons unique concerns and community voices must be heard in our political discourse. We all bear some responsibility in steering the conversation from mere spectacle to substance.

At Center for the Future of Arizona, our extensive statewide survey data spanning 15 years reveals overwhelming agreement among Arizonans, including among Tucsonans, on the importance of addressing key issues such as education, jobs and economic opportunity, infrastructure, and the environment. However, not enough of what Tucsonans want is translating into results that reflect this reality.

Lets consider just some examples from recent findings:

Nearly nine in 10 Tucsonans support equitable access to quality education for all children, but only 22% believe that Arizonas K-12 education is high-quality.

A significant 86% of Tucsonans prioritize protecting rural water supplies. However, in 2022, only 14% of voters in Pima County said they were confident that Arizona will have sufficient water for the next century.

With regard to job satisfaction and availability, only 20% of Tucsonans feel they have the perfect job, with Tucsonans reporting the lowest job satisfaction across eight surveyed metropolitan areas. Many cite a lack of industry opportunities and high childcare costs as barriers to economic success.

Only 16% of Tucsonans are satisfied with their roads and streets  the lowest satisfaction rate in Arizona.

Arizona voters across the state and political spectrum continue to have faith in the fairness, safety, and security of elections. Yet, only 33% of all Arizonans and just 27% of Tucsonans believe our leaders represent the diverse voices of Arizonans.

Voters seem to be getting shortchanged. How do we correct this?

For one, lets let data and facts drive our debates and decision-making.

Its also essential to take election debates deeper and increase the quality of our political dialogue and civic engagement across the board.

Voters want to know where candidates for office stand on the issues most important to them and are tired of the division and partisanship.

The local media have a big responsibility in educating the public by making candidates accountable to the voters. That includes focusing on issues critical to Tucson and moving beyond national narratives  which too often focus on hot-button topics that only a minority of voters care about.

Additionally, our data suggest that we must evaluate the design of elections and explore potential innovations.

One area that needs to be reconsidered is the partisan primary system to ensure results better represent the majority of Arizonans.

The current way that candidates are selected for the general election incentivizes candidates for office  as well as elected officials with their eye on the next election  to cater to the most partisan and small minority of voters in both major political parties who are the most ideological and opposed to compromise or negotiation.

This often leaves the majority of voters feeling that they have little choice but to vote for the lesser of two evils when the time comes for general elections. Efforts like the Make Elections Fair ballot initiative merit consideration. Every Arizona vote should matter.

As the election draws near, it is crucial to hold onto our democratic ideals, stay engaged, and turn hope and possibilities into action.

Change often begins at the community level and has the power to shape broader political landscapes. Tucson is known for its active and involved community. It has taken up vital civic engagement, education, workforce, and environmental initiatives to find solutions to these issues.

Center for the Future of Arizona is committed to ensuring voices from all corners of the state, including vibrant communities like Tucson, are heard. Together, we can shape a political future that reflects our diverse and dynamic state. Look for our new Arizona Voters Agenda coming soon.
James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow James D. Watts Jr. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Just a week after news of chef Jordan Hawley's nomination for a James Beard Award, the downtown Italian restaurant Il Seme has announced it is expanding.

The restaurant, at 15 W. Fifth St., has taken over the space immediately to its west, that formerly was home to BlueHouse Media.

Linda Ford, co-owner of Il Seme, said the new space, which is about 1,500 square feet, will be given over to a bar.

"We'll have bar seating, some bistro seating, some retail space and a pastry case," Ford said. "We're also planning for counter lunch service, where people can either get items to go or eat them there, as the main dining room is closed for lunch.

"We're also planning to have extended bar hours at night, with a short bar menu," she said. "It's just a way to give people a place to get something to eat and drink later at night."

Ford said the hope is that the new addition will be opened by the end of February.

Ford and executive chef Lisa Becklund opened Il Seme in 2022 as a way to keep their staff employed following a devastating fire that forced them to close Farm Bar, their award-winning farm-to-table restaurant at 18th Street and Boston Avenue.

"It's really kind of taken on a life of its own," Ford said, laughing. "Lisa and I had no intention of opening another restaurant when we did this  it truly was supposed to be a temporary, pop-up kind of thing.

"But Jordan and Ella Spencer, the front-of-house manager, and the rest of the team have done such a great job," she said. "They really opened our eyes to the possibility that we could own a restaurant where we didn't have our hands constantly on it, and it would have the kind of quality we want."

Fuji closes

Fuji Sushi Bar, which was the first restaurant in Tulsa to serve sushi, announced on its Facebook page Tuesday that it was closing.

The shop at 8226 E. 71st St. first opened in 1986. Chef and owner Nobu Terauchi later opened a second location on Brookside, and also for a time operated Zanmai Modern Japanese Cuisine at 14th Street and Peoria Avenue.

The post stated, "Thank you for all the memories, Tulsa. We will try to open back up in about six months. Stay tuned!"

Efforts to reach the owners before deadline were not successful.

Le Louvre open for dinner

Le Louvre, 8313 S. Memorial Drive, will now be open for dinner, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The cafe, owned by chef Yakham N'Gom, a native of Paris, France, has been offering pastry creations and bistro-style fare since 2017.

Normal hours have been 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. most days, but customer demand prompted the decision to begin offering dinner service.

The regular menu will be available, which includes crepes with sweet and savory fillings, soups, salads and sandwiches, along with evening specials that will change weekly. For more information: 918-286-6019, lelouvrefrenchcafe.com

MASA readies new location

The MASA food truck, which has been providing Tulsans with its signature empanadas since 2014, is getting ready to open a brick-and-mortar location at 8013 S. Sheridan Road.

A post on the MASA Facebook page states, "Any day now and you will be able to get carry out / take out empanadas, and of course our frozen take & bake empanadas, from our very own location."

MASA offers seven varieties of empanadas, from traditional versions such as the Colombiana with beef, pork and potato and the Pabellon with beef, black beans and ripened plantains, to the Italiana with sausage, pepperoni and mozzarella.

For those who can't wait for the store to open, frozen MASA empanadas are available at such venues as Connor's Corner Store, 404 E. Archer St., next to Isla's Southern Kitchen; and Market 31, 3324 E. 31st St.

Boston Deli Chef's Special

This month's Chef's Special at the Boston Deli, 6231 E. 61st St., will feature a pinwheel of pork loin, stuffed with caramelized onions and Craisins, roasted on the oven's signature Hasty Bake grills and topped with an orange glaze.

This will be served with Potatoes Romanoff, made with smoked cheddar, cream cheese and chives; green bean Almandine, with sliced almonds, butter and parsley; and seared pork belly with pickled apples, an apple puree and a bacon-onion jam.

Dessert, completing the apple theme, is an apple tartlet, with thyme and an apricot glaze.

Cost is $32 per person, and beer and wine pairings are available.

The Chef's Special is available from 5 to 8 p.m. each Thursday in February. Reservations are highly recommended. 918-492-4745, thebostondeli.com.

'Chocolate & Cherries'

Juniper, 324 E. Third St., will host its first chef-driven wine dinner of the year, 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, with a menu that will feature two foods traditionally associated with Valentine's Day: chocolate and cherries.

The dinner will be the first in a proposed monthly series of dinners in which the restaurant's chefs will be encouraged to "get creative and play with their food" and to explore certain themes through creative pairings of cuisine and wines.

The "Chocolate & Cherries" menu is symbolic of the social connections that enrich our lives, such as friendship and partnership, with dishes centered on the concept of two elements working together to make one harmonious experience.

The meal will start with burrata on a toasted pumpernickel crostini, with a pistachio crumble, sumac and cherry gel, followed by chocolate fettuccine and cherries, with crushed hazelnuts, a mulled wine reduction and basil.

Next will be cauliflower and romesco, with shishito peppers, dried cherries and picada sauce. Main course is osso bucco, a braised lamb shank with a dark chocolate demi-glace, whipped potatoes, an herbed panko gremolata and cherry-glazed carrots.

Dessert will be a chocolate cherry torte with kirsch whipped cream and mint.

Cost is $67 per person for dinner only, $92 per person with wine pairings. Seating is limited. For reservations: 918-794-1090.

Braum's new breakfast items

Braum's is spicing up its breakfast menu with two new breakfast burritos.

New to the menu is the Three Meat Burrito, with scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, pepper jack cheese and mustard; and the Spanish Burrito, with scrambled eggs, sausage, tomatoes, onions, guacamole, jalapenos, and pepper jack cheese.

The burritos can be ordered as standalone items, or as part of breakfast combo, with one's choice of beverage and side dish (hash browns, cottage cheese or Greek yogurt).

Breakfast items at Braum's are available from 6 to 10:30 a.m. each day.

Also new to the Braum's menu is the California Chipotle Cheeseburger, which previously had been available only for a limited time. It comes with tomato, guacamole, American cheese and a special chipotle pepper sauce.
Holly Energy Partners-Operating L.P. and Osage Pipe Line Co. LLC have agreed to pay $7.4 million in Clean Water Act civil penalties and to implement corrective measures to settle claims stemming from a pipeline rupture and crude oil spill from the Osage pipeline onto land owned by the Sac and Fox Nation.

In addition to payment of the civil penalties, the settlement requires that the two companies complete the cleanup and remediation of the affected area in Payne County and take additional steps to prepare for and prevent future spills.

The penalty was announced Tuesday by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Justice Department.

The pipeline spill in this case dumped nearly 300,000 gallons of crude oil, contaminating Skull Creek and severely hampering water quality and the aquatic environment in the creek, said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of the EPAs Office of Enforcement and compliance Assurance. EPA and its federal partners are requiring the oil companies who caused the spill to restore Skull Creek, operate safely and take steps to prevent future spills.

Skull Creek is located just north of Cushing.

Oil companies have a responsibility to prevent harmful oil spills, and todays settlement demonstrates that those who violate this duty will be held accountable under the law, said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division.

We appreciate the Sac and Fox Nations steady involvement in monitoring the cleanup efforts for environmental, natural resource, and cultural resource impacts and respect the Nations efforts to be caring stewards of lands owned by its members.

In the complaint, the U.S. alleges that the two related Dallas-based companies are liable under the Clean Water Act for the crude oil spill, which occurred July 8, 2022.

Osage Pipe Line Co. owns the 135-mile, 20-inch-diameter pipeline that transports crude oil from a tank farm in Cushing to the HollyFrontier refinery in El Dorado, Kansas. Holly Energy Partners-Operating is the operator of the pipeline.

The complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma alleges that the spill occurred when a segment of the pipeline ruptured adjacent to Skull Creek about five miles north of Cushing.

From the point of the discharge, Skull Creek flows about three miles before entering the Cimarron River. The pipeline was operating at the time of the rupture and discharged about 300,000 gallons (7,110 barrels) of crude oil into the creek. The land where the rupture occurred, and the adjacent downstream parcel that the creek runs through, are both allotment lands owned by members of the Sac and Fox Nation.

The companies, the EPA, the Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Department of the Interiors Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Sac and Fox Nation responded to the rupture and spill.

The companies are continuing cleanup work in Skull Creek under the oversight of the EPA, and the pipeline was returned to operation at reduced pressure.

The companies were directed to improve their pipeline integrity management program, provide additional training for all their control room operators and expand their spill notification efforts for tribal governments with land interests within the footprint of the pipeline.

The penalties and remedial measures required by the consent decree are in addition to the costs the companies have incurred to clean up the oil spill.

The Sac and Fox Nation is a strong partner in conserving and protecting the environment and natural resources. EPA worked closely with the Nation to keep its environmental staff and leadership updated during the response and cleanup of the Osage Pipeline spill, said EPA Region 6 Administrator Earthea Nance. Todays settlement is an important step in holding the company accountable for the impacts to Skull Creek and other potential effects.

Safeguarding Oklahomas natural resources is of the utmost importance for future generations, said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma.

My office remains committed to furthering environmental justice by ensuring those responsible for oil spills remediate and rectify the impacts to our communities and tribal partners.



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Kevin Canfield Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Kevin Canfield 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

With Zink Lake in the Arkansas River scheduled to open over Labor Day weekend, city officials on Wednesday presented their plans for testing the water quality and sharing the information with the public.

The plan, which is still being finalized, calls for monitoring the levels of E. coli, dissolved cadmium, total petroleum hydrocarbons, pH and other factors used to assess water quality. The information will be posted online and accessible on mobile devices.

Eric Lee, the citys Water and Sewer Department director, said no other public lake in the state has such a testing system whose results are readily available to the public.

Were collecting the data; were sharing the data; and were telling citizens what that data means so they can make their decisions, Lee said.

The water quality monitoring plan proposes five initial testing sites, four within Zink Lake and one upstream near the Gilcrease Turnpike. Two of the testing sites within Zink Lake would be near the reconstructed Zink Dam and the nearby whitewater flume, and two would be upstream.

The city will also track dissolved oxygen and enterococci levels as well as electrical conductivity and water temperature.

Testing would be done at least twice a week, except for dissolved cadmium and total petroleum hydrocarbons, which would be done monthly.

The test results will be posted to an online dashboard showing the current and 30-day average levels of each item measured.

The purpose is to educate the public, to communicate what the results are, and then there are some resources that weve put on for the viewer where people can educate themselves on what everything means, said Brooke Caviness, the city engineer overseeing the project.

Public comment on water monitoring welcome

Lee said the city worked with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality to identify best practices and models for water quality testing from across the nation. It also spent $100,000 to contract with A&M Engineering and Environmental Services Inc., working with Aqua Strategies Inc., to develop the water quality monitoring strategy.

A public meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at ONEOK Boathouse at the Gathering Place. The meeting is designed to give Tulsans a better look at the project and provide an opportunity for public comment.

During a presentation to city councilors on Wednesday, Lee said city staff and the citys consultants will be in attendance to make sure that weve covered all our bases on this.

So if we, based on that feedback we receive, if we see any changes that need to be made, well obviously come back and share those with you, Lee added.

A number of Tulsans, including members of the Arkansas River Rights Coalition and Tulsa Area Arkansas River Advocates, have expressed concern about the water quality of the Arkansas River and have demanded to know how the city plans to ensure that Zink Lake is safe for recreational uses.

Mayor G.T. Bynum said that after decades of talking about putting water in the river, the city is finally going to do it, and he does not want fear to be a factor when visitors consider going out on the lake.

Its important to have that there, Bynum said of the water monitoring program, because this is a brand new thing for Tulsans, and its a brand new experience for Tulsans to have access to, and we dont want it to be fear based. We want the information to be available.

When full, Zink Lake is expected to back up approximately 2.5 miles from the reconstructed Zink Dam. The bridge and the dam, along with the Williams Crossing pedestrian bridge and the whitewater recreational flume, are scheduled to open together over the Labor Day weekend.

Caviness said the city expects to begin filling Zink Lake in March and will use the six months before Labor Day weekend to fine-tune water testing procedures and dam operations protocols.

Neither Zink Lake nor Williams Crossing will be open to the public until Labor Day weekend.

Our dam designer and our flume designer will be tuning on the dam itself and the flume, Caviness said. They are opening gates to different release levels to fine tune operations of the flume and the dam.

No swimming expected at Zink Lake

Bynums chief of staff, Blake Ewing, said the city also will use the upcoming months to enact ordinances setting out what activities are allowed on the lake and its shoreline.

Theres no swimming beach, Ewing said. Right now we are not inviting people to come down and swim as their primary activity. We do anticipate nonmotorized watercraft  in a number of different areas.

And we are trying to make sure that we have a broad array of opportunities for people of all skill sets and ability types. So its not just for the avid kayaker; we want people who are less able bodied than that to be able to interact with the water.

Fishing will be allowed in the lake and river but not in the whitewater flume, Caviness said.

The city and Tulsa County are working to finalize an agreement with the River Parks Authority to operate Zink Dam and oversee activities at Zink Lake and the whitewater recreational flume.

Those discussions have included the possibility of establishing on-site procedures for notifying the public of water conditions in the lake.

Jeff Edwards, executive director of the River Parks Authority, said his organization is working on such procedures, including a way to notify visitors on site when the lake is not available for use.

I think we are going to write in our operating policies a means and method to say that, if we get a ding and a water quality report comes back that could be harmful, then we would cease operations, Edwards said. And we would have the full ability to do that as the end manager by operation of the dam gates.



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Andrea Eger Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Andrea Eger 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

Joy Hofmeister delivered some of her first public remarks since leaving public office one year ago.

At a brief appearance Tuesday evening at a meeting of the Tulsa County Democratic Party, Hofmeister offered thanks to supporters of her failed 2022 bid for governor and responded to the one question asked of her about the state of public education since she was term-limited as Oklahomas top elected education official.

It starts with leadership and holding leaders accountable to be public servants. Thats probably all Im going to say. You fill in the blanks, she told the 75 or so attendees at a midtown Tulsa public library branch. I think we do have to continue to say: `This is our priority. This is important to us.

Hofmeister was a Republican elected twice as state superintendent of public instruction, serving from 2015 to 2023. Then she switched parties in an unsuccessful bid to unseat Gov. Kevin Stitt in the 2022 general election.

Tulsa County had not turned blue (in over a decade) until this last election cycle  and that is thanks to you, Hofmeister told the group. I had been a lifelong Republican, and the party left me.

While she has kept a very low profile, Hofmeister said she has been working the last year on investigating what is needed to increase civic engagement, particularly in rural Oklahoma.

If there is any focus we can have this year  as this is a high-stakes election year  we have to show up, and we cant expect that its just going to happen, she said.

Political engagement at every level is needed, she said, because we are out of practice.

She noted that Oklahoma ranks near the bottom nationally in voter participation and encouraged her party to make the effort to invite and take people along with them to monthly meetings, to ask people in their lives in advance what their plan for voting on election days is, to contact their elected officials about issues theyre concerned about or to thank them for taking a stance they support.

How do we get there? How do we make progress? I believe that is people engaged at every level, she said.

Back on the topic of education, raised by an attendee, Hofmeister said Oklahomans need to be aware of the coming funding cliff of expiring federal relief funds that are paying for education recovery efforts, such as tutoring and other academic interventions and enrichment programs for students.

The need that those programs provided wont be funded unless the state Legislature makes an appropriation, she said. That would be my message: that you talk about sustaining and building the support for students.

Other people are calling that have different views. Other people are filling in the void if your voice isnt there  that say: `Give our money to private school. And private school doesnt have the accountability that public schools do, and they get to select who they teach.

Public school is the only place where we open our arms and say no matter who your parents are, no matter how well you communicate, no matter if you understand our language, no matter if you are suffering from many, many states of setbacks in your life, we will step in, and we are going to learn and grow.



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Tim Stanley Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Tim Stanley 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

Improving the chances of underserved students to stay in college and complete a degree is the goal of what Tulsa Community College officials say is the largest federal research grant in the schools history.

TCC announced on Tuesday that it has been selected to receive $3,717,502 through the U.S. Department of Educations Postsecondary Student Success Grant program to fund evidence-based strategies to improve retention and completion rates for underserved and underrepresented students.

TCC is one of nine institutions selected for the grants and the only one in Oklahoma.

TCC officials made the announcement at a news conference held at TCCs Northeast Campus.

Paula Settoon, TCC dean of libraries and knowledge management, said: What makes this grant different from other grants TCC has received is that it is a research grant. We will be expected to publish and share what we learn. More importantly, this initiative will contribute significantly to advancing the mission of TCC, which is Building success through education.

Over four years of the study, TCC will track 500 students majoring in social sciences, helping them get off to a good start and then offering supports to their progress.

It includes redesigning TCCs First Year Experience course to include a focus on the intended major and new Smart Start sessions. Students will receive specific information about their program of interest, meet the program faculty, and learn about the requirements and the academic rigor from someone in the program.

This grant will allow faculty in the classrooms to have true conversations with students about what kind of job you can get with your degree and what pathway you should follow to be successful in your chosen career, said Angela Sivadon, TCC senior vice president and chief academic officer. By offering students information that focuses on their chosen major, students will be more informed about what to expect as they advance in their education and career.

Officials said that because TCC is a large, multi-campus institution serving a diverse population  27% are first-generation students, 47% are people of color, and 41% are low-income  it is distinctly situated to test the proposed intervention and provide insight for other institutions.

Support for students in the study will be included in the grant, with funds for laptops, hotspots and data plans, as well as JobsEQ User Licenses for academic advisers and interactive data dashboards. Additionally, the grant covers salaries for personnel, including activity managers, Smart Start orientation coordinators, career navigators and faculty coordinators, and faculty stipends.

This remarkable achievement underscores our commitment to student success and creating an environment where all students can thrive, said TCC CEO and President Leigh Goodson. I extend my deepest gratitude to every partner involved in this transformative endeavor. This is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire TCC community.



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Kirsten Lang Tulsa World Meteorologist Follow Kirsten Lang 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

Friday is Groundhog Day. If I were writing this article last week, I would have been screaming at the top of my lungs for an early spring.

I probably would have written about how the ice and the snow and the cold snap have all been too much to bear.

But, rather, here I am with nothing but the thought of how incredibly nice its actually been. What a difference a week can make. Since Monday our afternoon high temperatures have been well above average with nothing but blue skies.

But what comes next  does it really lie in the hands of a groundhog?

Some call Feb. 2 the super bowl for meteorologists. There certainly is hype, as many eyes on Friday morning will turn toward the weather and one little furry critter who goes back into his den to continue his slumber if he sees his shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of winter.

Whether you like to play into the folklore or not, I think we can all agree that weather like we have seen this week is always welcome over a messy ice storm.

Last January on the Lee Enterprises Weather Team podcast, Across the Sky, we spoke with Joe Murgo, a chief meteorologist at WTAJ in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Murgo has covered Punxsutawney Phil  the more or less official groundhog prognosticator  since 2002 and was recently named to Puxsutawneys Hall of Fame. He shared with us some behind-the-scenes details on what its actually like on Groundhog Day at Gobblers Knob, Pennsylvania, where Phil lives.

The whole thing actually started off with Candlemas Day in Europe, which is a Christian holiday, Murgo said. It was brought about because at that time (on Feb. 2) they were halfway between winter solstice and spring equinox  and the Europeans were itching to get past the cold.

When Germans migrated to Pennsylvania, Murgo said, they decided to keep the tradition going. But the whole bit shifted by the late 1800s from using hedgehogs to groundhogs.

A local newspaper actually put out the first forecast, and it continued to grow from there, Murgo said. Now this event can push upwards of 30,000 people in attendance.

In 1993 the movie Goundhog Day was released with Bill Murray. That movie, set in Gobblers Knob, seemed to spark even more interest in the event there.

Before 1993 there werent too many people, Murgo said. But after the movie was released and it was a hit, suddenly thousands of people began to make the trip there.

Murgos first time covering the event was Feb. 2, 2002.

Back then it was still like a party, Murgo said. Now it is much more organized and without any alcohol. Instead, it is like a warmup concert with dancing and games to help keep people warm before Phil comes out.

There is no denying that Phil has a following. But how accurate is this furry fellow?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Punxsutawney Phil has forecast six more weeks of winter more than 100 times, an early spring a little over 20 times, and 10 times with no record.

This would, of course, assume a hard definition of what winter actually is.

Is it cold, or is it snow, and how much snow  I mean, it still snows in spring, Murgo said.

One method uses average temperatures for February and March. If average temperatures for the month are above normal, then the lore considers it an early spring, and if they are below average, a longer winter.

According to NOAA, if this method is used, then that means Phil has been right in his predictions only 40% of the time in the past 10 years.

Its perhaps not the best track record, but its a minor detail to those who follow and celebrate the folklore.



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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

First District Congressman Kevin Hern called Wednesday for aid to Israel to be presented as a stand alone bill instead of part of the border and national security package being negotiated by U.S. Sen. James Lankford.

A spokesman for Hern, though, said references in a joint statement with Republican U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio to the border negotiations as a complete policy failure and a bad border deal were not meant to sink Lankfords efforts.

The spokesman said the assessments were based on press reports and that Hern has not seen the border security agreement.

No formal text of the proposed bill has been published, but those involved say it essentially trades tighter immigration policy for aid to Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion.

Aid to Israel related to its conflict with Hamas is also part of the deal.

Hern and Vances statement comes as loyalists of former President Donald Trump and immigration hardliners try to torpedo the border security portion of the agreement. Lankford said the deal includes much of what Trump and Republicans have said they want and that reports to the contrary are untrue.

Over the weekend, a faction of Oklahoma Republicans meeting in Oklahoma City blasted Lankford for his efforts.

In their joint statement, Hern and Vance said: Senate leadership has attempted to trade Ukraine aid for a bill that would secure Americas border. If news reports are in any way accurate, that border negotiation is a complete policy failure. Its time to address the issues that unite Republicans, not divide them.

We commend the Speaker for standing firm against this bad border deal, and urge him to put a clean, un-offset Israel bill on the floor of the House immediately. Lets put an end to House and Senate Democrats political games on Israel.



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Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi sentenced to 14-year imprisonment in Toshakhana case An accountability court on Wednesday sentenced former Pakistan premier Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 years imprisonment in the Toshakhana case, local media reported. The verdict comes a day after the PTI founder was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in the cipher case by a special court established under the Official Secrets Act.



Accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir presided over the hearing at Rawalpindi's Adiala jail, where the former Khan is incarcerated, The Express Tribune reported.



Imran and Bushra were also barred from holding any public office for the next 10 years and were fined around Rs1,574 million, The Express Tribune reported.



The judge also asked the two to record their statements under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and closed the right of cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses.



The couple were indicted in the reference on January 9.



Reacting strongly to the verdict, the PTI termed it as "complete destruction of every law" and claimed the former premier and first lady have faced "yet another kangaroo trial".



The party further said no right of defence was given to either Imran or Bushra and the case has "no basis" to stand on in any higher court, similar to the cipher trial.




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

Officials asked the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Tuesday to extend from 60 days to 90 days the time between executions by the Department of Corrections.

The motion by Attorney General Gentner Drummond and DOC Director Steven Harpe would alter the execution schedule for six death-row inmates: Richard Norman Rojem, Emmanuel Littlejohn, Kevin Ray Underwood, Wendell Arden Grissom, Tremane Wood and Kendrick Antonio Simpson.

It would not affect the executions of Michael DeWayne Smith on April 4 or Tulsa killer Wade Greely Lay on June 6.

Last year, Drummond asked the court to extend from 30 days to 60 days the interval between executions, citing the DOCs need for additional time to recover.

A similar case is made in Tuesdays motion.

In an affidavit filed with the motion, Harpe notes that the scheduling of an execution date triggers a series of tasks that must be completed by DOC staff, many of which must occur weeks before the slated execution.

The day of an execution affects not only those directly involved in the execution, but the entirety of Oklahoma State Penitentiary, which goes into a near complete lockdown until the execution is completed, says an affidavit by Harpe included with the motion.

Each execution, including the preceding weeks of protocol tasks, involves eight different teams, each of which is comprised of multiple individuals.

In the affidavit, Harpe says, based on the executions Ive overseen, the present pace of executions, one every 60 days, is too onerous and not sustainable.

A total of 36 inmates are on Oklahomas death row.



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Gov. Kevin Stitt said Tuesday he has ordered a new lawsuit against a Florida company over what federal auditors said was his own administrations mismanagement of a $31 million COVID-19 education fund.

A previous lawsuit, filed in 2022, was dismissed by Attorney General Gentner Drummond after he took office in January 2023. At the time, Drummond described the suit as almost wholly without merit. It is clear that a number of state actors and other individuals are ultimately responsible for millions in misspent federal relief dollars.

On Tuesday, though, Stitt again blamed Kleo Inc., the parent company of vendor ClassWallet, for the failures described in a highly critical federal audit of Governors Emergency Education Relief funds.

The pandemic was a difficult and unprecedented time for all Oklahoma families, and it was our goal to do all we could to swiftly ease some of the burdens lower income families faced as they struggled to keep their kids in school or otherwise to do school from home, Stitt said in a press release.

A vendor, which said it would eliminate the possibility of fraudulent use of grant funds, didnt uphold its end of the contract and taxpayer dollars were misused. We have to hold this vendor responsible and protect Oklahoma taxpayers from being left holding the bill.

Federal auditors, though, said the administration, including current State Superintendent Ryan Walters, rebuffed ClassWallets control recommendations and allowed at least $650,000 in inappropriate expenditures. The audit was critical of the administrations oversight of the entire $31 million program.

According to the states online court records system, the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, which is overseen by the governor, filed suit in Oklahoma County District Court on Tuesday.

The lawsuit itself was not available online, and it was unclear who is representing the state, given that Drummond declined to pursue the earlier cause.

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South Korean aero parts supplier KP Aero Industries broke ground on its KP Vina Aircraft Component factory project, worth US$20 million in investment, in Da Nang City, central Vietnam on Tuesday.

Spanning some two hectares at Da Nang Hi-Tech Park, the facility will specialize in manufacturing and assembling components such as auxiliary power units, wingboxes, and winglets for Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

The plant is slated for commercial operation this year.

Delegates attend a ground-breaking ceremony for the KP Vina Aircraft Component factory project, located at Da Nang Hi-Tech Park in Da Nang City, central Vietnam, January 30, 2024. Photo: Le Trung / Tuoi Tre

A few days ago, the Da Nang hi-tech parks and industrial zones authority granted an investment certificate for KP Aero to develop the project.

KP Aero has years of experience in the industry and is a partner of leading aviation companies like Boeing, Airbus, and Korean Air.

Da Nang officials expressed their hope that the project would pave the way for the establishment of an aerospace complex in the central coastal city in the years ahead and for attracting more international investors in the field to the city.

The Da Nang hi-tech parks and industrial zones authority looks to attract around $200 million to develop at least three projects specializing in aerospace, semiconductor chip technology, and high-quality healthcare.

Excavators are seen at the construction site of the KP Vina Aircraft Component factory project, located at Da Nang Hi-Tech Park in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Le Trung / Tuoi Tre

Tran Chi Cuong, vice-chairman of the Da Nang administration, said the KP Vina Aircraft Component plant project is aligned with the citys master plan on socio-economic development and investment priorities for the 2020-25 period and the following years.

As per the plan, Da Nang is striving to become a regional and global investment destination in the aerospace industry.

Once the plant is put into service, it is expected to make significant contributions to the citys industrial production and export revenues, provide employment for residents, and boost local socio-economic growth.

The KP Vina Aircraft Component factory is the second aerospace project to be developed at Da Nang Hi-Tech Park.

In March 2020, Vietnam UAC, a subsidiary of the U.S.-based manufacturer of aerospace products UAC, commenced operations of its Sunshine aerospace parts manufacturing plant at the hi-tech park.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on Monday held a private meeting with Pham Nhat Vuong, chairman of Vietnams largest private conglomerate Vingroup, and the groups senior executives in Hanoi, as part of the formers state visit to Vietnam on Monday and Tuesday.

The meeting was also attended by high-ranking Philippine officials, including Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, Secretary of Trade and Industry Alfredo E. Pascual, Secretary of Agriculture Francisco T. Laurel, and leaders of some governmental agencies and large companies.

At the meeting, Vingroup chairman Vuong introduced the subsidiaries in Vingroups ecosystem which have plans to invest in the Philippine market.

He highlighted VinFast, an electric vehicle (EV) brand under Vingroup with a diverse range of products including electric motorcycles, cars, and buses.

The Vietnamese entrepreneur also presented prospects for cooperation with Philippine partners in developing public services, such as buses and taxis, as well as training students in artificial intelligence and medicine.

President Marcos welcomed Vingroups plans to invest in various sectors in the Philippines, adding that Vingroup is well known in his country.

He also highlighted the alignment between Vingroup and his countrys development directions, especially in EVs and batteries.

The Philippines is restructuring its transport sector, phasing out aging vehicles, and seeking EV suppliers.

The country enacted laws that support EVs and encourage importing EV components to attract foreign investors to get involved in domestic EV assembly in a bid to add value to the economy.

The Philippines also hopes to participate in the EV battery supply chain.

The Philippines is fortunate to have all the necessary ingredients to produce batteries for EVs, with abundant reserves of cobalt, copper, and nickel, the Philippine leader said.

The Philippines is still exporting raw ore so it wants to increase the value of the local economy by processing it domestically and expects to establish a battery factory, he added.

This is in line with Vingroups vision, Marcos said.

He affirmed that the Philippine government would enhance administrative reforms and streamline procedures to create a favorable business climate for foreign investors.

The Philippines' governmental agencies stand ready to make conditions conducive to Vingroup and its subsidiaries doing business in the country.

Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong (left side) presents Vingroups plans to invest in the Philippine market at a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in Hanoi, January 29, 2024. Photo: D.H. / Tuoi Tre

Vingroup chairman Vuong thanked the Philippine president, saying that he would immediately assign the groups member companies to connect with partners and relevant agencies in the Philippines to explore cooperation and investment opportunities.

Vuong added that Vingroup considers the Philippines an extremely important market in its global expansion strategy.

VinFast will be the first company under Vingroup to make an investment in the Philippines this year, with the expected establishment of a network of electric car and motorcycle dealerships.

This is the next step to expand VinFasts network to a minimum of 50 countries and territories this year, with Southeast Asia designated as the key market.

President Marcos visit is his first to Vietnam since taking office in 2022.

The state trip came at a time when the two countries are set to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership next year.

Earlier this month, Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited Vietnam from January 11 to 13.

During his visit, he toured a VinFast manufacturing complex in northern Hai Phong City and conveyed his admiration for the impressive business scale and quality of electric vehicles produced by the Vietnamese company.

Vuong also briefed President Widodo and other visitors on VinFasts plan to invest at least US$1 billion in Indonesia in the long run.

Green and Smart Mobility Joint Stock Company (GSM), a taxi operator and leasing provider under Vingroup, also revealed its scheme to channel $900 million into Indonesia in the upcoming period.

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The VNU-Hanoi University of Engineering and Technology signed a deal on Wednesday morning with Samsung Electronics to initiate a semiconductor training program in Vietnam.

The VNU-Samsung Technology Track program is meant to give masters scholarships to excellent students majoring in semiconductor and microchip manufacturing, Prof. Dr. Chu Duc Trinh, president at the Hanoi-based tech university, said at the signing ceremony.

Accordingly, they will have their skills of designing microchips and producing semiconductors improved.

University juniors, seniors, and graduates will benefit from the program.

During the training process, students will also have a chance to take Korean language classes.

After finishing the Samsung-sponsored training program, master's degree holders can work at the South Korean firm in the semiconductor industry, Trinh said.

Choi Joo Ho, representative from Samsung Vietnam, speaks at a ceremony to ink a deal between the VNU-Hanoi University of Engineering and Technology and Samsung Electronics on January 31, 2024. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre

Choi Joo Ho, representative from Samsung Vietnam, highlighted the crucial role of talent development in laying the groundwork for a nation and fostering advancements in the fourth industrial revolution.

I expect excellent students at the university to become future leaders in the semiconductor industry via the VNU-Samsung Technology Track scholarship program, he stated.

Speaking at the event, Pham Bao Son, vice-president of the Vietnam National University-Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi), said that the prime minister had set a target of training 50,000 highly-skilled engineers by 2030 to serve the semiconductor industry.

The target is a big challenge for universities and training facilities in Vietnam, Son said.

The VNU houses over 3,000 scientists and is training more than 60,000 students, he added.

The university features some 20 majors linked to the semiconductor industry, including electronics-telecommunication, electronic engineering, computer engineering, information technology, and mechatronics.

The University of Engineering and Technology, a unit of VNU-Hanoi, is actively advancing its efforts to strengthen training programs and foster collaborations with companies.

The university boasts a skilled workforce of experts specializing in the semiconductor industry.

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Vietnam and the Philippines are poised to enhance their economic partnership to raise bilateral trade to US$10 billion by 2025.

The commitment was made during talks between State President Vo Van Thuong and his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday.

The Philippine president paid a state visit to Vietnam from Monday to Tuesday at the invitation of State President Thuong.

The two leaders highly valued the multifaceted cooperation between the two nations.

They encouraged firms in Vietnam and the Philippines to spur their cooperation and ramp up investment in various fields, such as food processing, hi-tech agriculture, infrastructure, and gas and oil production, to drive up two-way trade.

Moreover, the two leaders reached a consensus on engaging in deeper delegation exchanges at all levels to strengthen political cooperation.

With regard to their defense and security partnership, the two nations agreed to foster their collaboration in heightening marine and airspace security and fighting cross-border crimes.

Officials attend talks between Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong (right side) and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.. Photo: Nhu Y / Tuoi Tre

Lucio Blanco Pitlo III, research fellow at the Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that through Marcos' trip, the Philippines would focus on rice-related cooperation with Vietnam.

The Philippines is Vietnams largest rice buyer.

Vietnam is exporting both rice and electric vehicles, which demonstrates that a developing country can guarantee food security while moving toward a sustainable production and development chain, he said.

The Philippine researcher believes that the two nations marine security cooperation will cement trust in the region and contribute to maintaining peace and stability at sea.

Manila can learn from Hanois foreign policy and experience in protecting and positioning its interests, he stated.

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Vietnamese carrier Pacific Airlines has proposed offering its backup aircraft for lease if other local airlines are overwhelmed with surging travel demand as the Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, is drawing near.

Pacific Airlines is the only airline in the country to announce that it has arranged one backup aircraft to serve the Tet holiday, about a week away.

Other member airlines under Vietnam Airlines Group, including Vietnam Airlines and Vasco, as well as local carriers can lease the backup plane from Pacific, it said.

Pacific Airlines said it is also ready to operate a daily average of 27 flights departing from Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, and negotiated with its aircraft lessor to increase its fleet size to meet the demand.

As a result, both sides reached a deal for a dry-lease of two aircraft, which are set to serve Pacific Airlines flights scheduled for Tet peak travel periods, including one week ahead of Tet and another after the holiday.

A dry-lease is a leasing agreement whereby the lessor provides an aircraft to the lessee without a crew.

Pacific planned to increase the frequency of flights linking Ho Chi Minh City with central Vietnamese provinces such as Nghe An, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Binh, and Quang Nam between February 4 and 19.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City serves a soaring number of passengers in the run-up to the Lunar New Year holiday, commonly known as Tet. Photo: Cong Trung / Tuoi Tre

While local carriers are rushing to raise the frequency of their flights in the run-up to Tet, residents expressed their concern over a surge in flight delays.

According to statistics from the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV), domestic airlines operated 20,950 flights in December last year, higher than the previous months.

The on-time performance rate of local carriers in December reached 79.4 percent, down nearly five percentage points month on month and lower than the year 2023s average of 84.5 percent.

The number of delayed flights accounted for 20.6 percent, up some five percentage points against the 2023 average figure of 15.5 percent.

Vietnamese carriers will operate 24,200 flights, equivalent to over five million seats during the upcoming Tet holiday, rising two percent and four percent, respectively, versus Tet 2023.

The increase has concerned aviation experts because Tan Son Nhat airport is already overloaded, and possible flight delays would lead to frustration among passengers.

The experts suggested the carriers arrange backup aircraft to reduce flight delays and cancelations caused by bad weather conditions or technical issues.

CAAV has instructed local carriers to implement measures aimed at minimizing flight delays and cancelations.

The directive emphasizes the importance of ensuring that passengers' Tet travel plans are not disrupted due to a shortage of aircraft.

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Read what is in the news in Vietnam today:

Society

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee has approved a plan to pilot a city tour service using 200 electric sightseeing cars. The initiative, proposed by the citys transport authority, is scheduled to commence this quarter and continue until the end of next year.

-- Ho Chi Minh City launched a center for digital transformation on Tuesday afternoon to support agencies, organizations, and enterprises in their transition to digitalization.

-- The upgrade and expansion project for Dong Van Cong Road in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, spanning 2.8km, has been largely completed. It is slated to open to traffic in time for the 2024 Lunar New Year, which is 10 days away.

-- Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City is scheduled to officially implement the Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) model to enhance on-time take-off and landing rates for flights starting Thursday.

Business

-- KP Aero Industries Co. Ltd. from South Korea on Tuesday commenced the construction of its KP Vina Aircraft Component factory with a US$20 million investment at Da Nang Hi-Tech Park in Da Nang City. This facility will specialize in producing, processing, and assembling aircraft parts for Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

-- The total import-export turnover of foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises in Vietnam reached $20.49 billion in the first half of January, marking a 0.9-percent increase compared to the same period in 2023, while domestic enterprises recorded a turnover of $9.3 billion, reflecting a significant growth rate of 12.7 percent, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

-- Vietnams footwear exports generated over $20.2 billion in 2023, experiencing a decrease of 15.3 percent compared to 2022. The country holds the second position globally in footwear exports, accounting for an estimated 10 percent of the worlds export volume, trailing only behind China, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

-- Vietnamese retailer Saigon Co.op has entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with South Korean conglomerate CJ Group to establish a shared ecosystem for logistics services and implement a warehouse system in line with automation standards.

-- Vietnamese property developer Novaland on Tuesday reported a consolidated revenue surpassing VND3.8 trillion ($155.6 million) for Q4-2023, constituting 43 percent of the total revenue for the entire year, and a profit after tax amounting to VND1.6 trillion ($65.5 million).

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A pet pig-tailed macaque broke loose and bit a waitress at a coffee shop in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City while she was serving drinks to customers on Monday.

Rangers in the city teamed up with police in An Phu Dong Ward in the district to capture the aggressive monkey on Wednesday.

The victim was identified as T.T.A.T., 20, who works at a coffee shop on Vuon Lai Street in the ward.

T. told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that while she was carrying a tray of coffee cups to a table on Monday morning, the monkey attacked her.

It bit her right leg and hands.

Due to the bites, she quickly got vaccination.

A pig-tailed macaque runs loose and attacks a waitress at a coffee shop in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Khai / Tuoi Tre

I hope rangers and police officers will swiftly capture the macaque and release it into the wildlife, said a local.

An official from the An Phu Dong Ward Peoples Committee said that the monkey is raised as a pet by a nearby family.

After being notified of the attack, rangers in the city promptly approached the scene to catch the animal.

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In Ho Chi Minh City, the prices of vehicle parking services often increase ahead of or during holidays, especially the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival; however, residents say that a climb of five to 10 times is unacceptable.

Tet is around the corner and residents nationwide are flocking to religious sites or tourist destinations.

They have to pay for vehicle parking services there.

Providers of parking services charge VND3,000-5,000 (US$0.1-0.2) per day for a bicycle, VND7,000-10,000 ($0.3-0.4) for a motorbike, and VND30,000-50,000 ($1.2-2) for three hours for a car on normal days.

However, many parking lots have inflated the prices by several times.

As a case in point, riders have to pay up to VND50,000-70,000 ($2-2.9), even VND100,000 ($4.1) to have a motorbike kept for several hours so that they can admire fireworks shows on New Years Eve.

Car parking prices have been raised to VND150,000-200,000 ($6.1-8.2) from VND30,000-50,000 ($1.2-2) for three hours.

Many people agreed that a slight increase in vehicle parking costs during holidays is acceptable as those working at parking areas have to keep others vehicles while the owners can freely entertain.

However, the vehicle parking service price hikes should be reasonable.

In order to keep the prices in check, local authorities should closely supervise vehicle parking service providers and impose heavy sanctions on those overcharging customers, or even suspend their operations.

A man who works at a parking lot at 264 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City said if customers leave their motorbikes at the parking lot within a day, they must take their vehicles before 10:00 pm and the price is VND10,000 ($0.4) each.

The rate is VND20,000 ($0.8) each if the motorbikes are left overnight. Their owners must take the vehicles prior to 8:00 am the next day.

At another parking lot on Huynh Thuc Khang Street, which is close to Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in District 1, the service charge is VND15,000-20,000 ($0.6-0.8) per motorbike and VND40,000-50,000 ($1.6-2) for overnight parking.

Tran Manh Dung, a 24-year-old resident in Go Vap District, said that he left his motorbike at the parking lot for VND20,000 ($0.8).

He was resigned to having his motorbike kept there despite the high cost as there is no parking area nearby, Dung added.

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Former Vallejo Police Chief Andrew Bidou, left, poses with Detective Mat Mustard after Mustard was named Officer of the Year for 2015, despite months earlier wrongfully accusing a young couple of fabricating a violent kidnapping. Vallejo Police Department

The hit Netflix docuseries American Nightmare introduced millions of viewers to Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn, two former Vallejo residents who endured a horrific home invasion and kidnapping in 2015 only to be publicly branded liars by the Vallejo Police Department. Months passed before Huskins, who was held for ransom and raped twice, was vindicated as a victim rather than a Gone Girl hoaxer.

But another character takes a starring role in the production: Mat Mustard, the lead detective in the botched case.

In a small interrogation room that becomes a pivotal setting in the series, Mustard sits across a table from Quinn as a camera perched in a corner records. Quinn recounts how, just hours earlier, he was blindfolded and drugged by intruders at the couples home on Vallejos Mare Island. But the detective isnt focused on locating Huskins, instead accusing Quinn of killing her and fabricating her disappearance.

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Im a puzzle-maker. And I put a lot of puzzles together, Mustard tells Quinn during 18 hours of questioning. So now I get out my puzzle pieces, and I start figuring out, how do I make it so you look like a monster?

I didnt do anything, Quinn says at one point.

Yeah, you did, Mustard replies.

What the show doesnt reveal is that Mustard  who was never disciplined in the case but rather named Officer of the Year by his department months later  has been embroiled in several controversies within the Vallejo force and in investigations hes handled. He was accused by one colleague of making racist comments, which he denied, and by another of pushing for lower promotion standards so he could be elevated to sergeant.

Mustard, who is still a sworn officer in Vallejo, could not be reached for comment for this story. An automatic reply on his city email said he was out of the office but did not indicate when he would return. A phone number listed in his name has been disconnected. The Vallejo Police Department did not respond to a request for comment.

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In the past, Mustard has defended his work investigating the kidnapping, which was ultimately linked to a former Marine and Harvard University-educated attorney, Matthew Muller, who released Huskins after two days and is now serving a 40-year prison sentence. Muller sent messages to the Chronicle after abducting Huskins, first providing a proof-of-life recording and later attacking police for calling his crime a hoax.

In 2016, Mustard filed a written declaration in a lawsuit the now-married couple filed against him and the Police Department that was later settled for $2.5 million. Mustard stated that from the inception of the case, my main concern was to locate Ms. Huskins, even though he was skeptical of Quinns story because of its outlandish nature.

Quinn said in a phone interview that he was frustrated not only that Mustard derailed the entire investigation, but was not punished for it. They made everything worse, and there was no accountability, Quinn said. And its not just Mustard, but those who enabled him. Why would he ever change if theres no consequences?

Denise Huskins, left, and Aaron Quinn in a scene from the Netflix documentary series American Nightmare. The Vallejo police detective who accused Quinn of killing Huskins and fabricating her disappearance in 2015 was never disciplined. Netflix/Courtesy of Netflix

Mustard has been a Vallejo police officer for more than two decades. The department hired him in 2001, and he became a detective three years later. In 2009, he was elected president of the union representing rank-and-file officers, the Vallejo Police Officers Association.

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In 2012, three years before Huskins was kidnapped, a Solano County forensic pathologist alleged that Mustard pressured her to fit the facts of an investigation to his theory of the case. According to police reports, Mustard was called to a Vallejo hotel room where Michael Daniels had called 911, and where officers had found the body of his girlfriend, Jessica Brastow. A sock with her DNA was in the bathroom garbage can, making Mustard believe Daniels had used it to suffocate her, reports state. Daniels said Brastow had choked while eating.

Dr. Susan Hogan, the forensic pathologist assigned to do the autopsy, didnt find enough evidence to support Mustards theory, she told state investigators who later looked into the matter. Hogan recalled Mustard asking her, What will it take for you to call this a homicide? In September 2013, Mustard emailed Solano County prosecutors, suggesting they needed to charge Daniels, writing, we need to throw it against the wall and see what sticks.

Daniels was ultimately charged, then acquitted in April 2014.

It was less than a year later that Mustard investigated the Huskins kidnapping and concluded, along with department leaders, that it was a hoax. As the documentary recounts, the kidnapper or kidnappers  Huskins and Quinn say at least three people entered their home  attempted to call Quinn on his cellphone, which police had set to airplane mode as they tried to elicit a confession.

Investigators later traced the calls to Quinns phone to a street in South Lake Tahoe where Muller was holding Huskins. Had police monitored Quinns phone and acted quickly, Huskins says in the documentary, they might have rescued her before she was raped a second time.

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Mustard said in his 2016 declaration that he had considered multiple different theories of the crime, including that Quinn had killed Ms. Huskins accidentally, that Huskins had died while the two were experimenting with drugs, and that Huskins wanted to be gone for some reason, and Mr. Quinn was helping her.

Denise Huskins recalls the events of her 2015 kidnapping in Vallejo in the Netflix docuseries American Nightmare. Netflix

Despite Mustards missteps in the case, he remained president of the Vallejo officers union, which came under increasing fire as the department attracted scrutiny for a series of controversial killings by officers and a bevy of lawsuits alleging excessive force. In 2020, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced a review and reform agreement to investigate the departments practices.

In 2022, a former police captain-turned-whistleblower, John Whitney, testified in a deposition related to a wrongful termination lawsuit against Vallejo that there was no accountability inside the police department and that the union could kind of delegate policy to how the chief was going to conduct business. Whitney, who settled his suit for nearly $1 million, said some Vallejo officers had bent their badges to commemorate on-duty killings.

According to Whitney, Mustards influence as union president extended to the promotional exam for officers seeking to become sergeants. After Mustard failed the written portion of the exam, Whitney said, he pressured then-Chief Andrew Bidou to put very little significance on it and made 70% a passing score. Despite the objections of the departments two captains, the chief ultimately went with what Mat Mustard wanted, Whitney testified.

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Mustard was promoted to sergeant in September 2018 and, three months later, was transferred from patrol to lead the investigative division. Within a year, Detective Cpl. Jason Scott, who is Black, submitted a written complaint that Mustard treated him poorly because of his race, which included Mustard making a race-based joke and calling him boy,  according to a city-commissioned investigation completed in 2020 by the law firm Ellis & Makus.

The investigation found Mustard discussed a race-based joke  Mustard denied it had racial connotations  and called Scott boy twice, which Mustard didnt recall. Investigators did not find Sgt. Mustards account as to these issues credible and concluded that he had a motive to provide false information because he faced disciplinary action. Its not clear if Mustard was ultimately disciplined.

As the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns began in March 2020, a jury trial was underway in a Vallejo courtroom for Kenneth Weathersby Jr., a man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting women on two occasions. It became the last jury trial in California for many months.

Mustard testified that he was investigating the first attack, which occurred in July 2018, when a similar crime occurred two weeks later. DNA samples from both cases were sent to Kevin Gazlay, a senior criminalist with the California Department of Justice. Gazlay testified that it was crystal clear that one sample did not match Weathersby  and noted that he had called Mustards personal cellphone to tell him.

Deputy Public Defender Nick Filloy said the government should have disclosed the exculpatory findings earlier but that he learned about them only during the trial. Mustard testified that he didnt know anything about the phone call from Gazlay, but the senior criminalist and others at the Justice Department told jurors that Mustard knew of the evidence as far back as the summer of 2018.

In his closing argument, Filloy quoted Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah to say Mustard was dirty like the corner in the bathroom floor. Weathersby was nonetheless convicted of committing both crimes.
Washington is prepared to pour funds into Hanois chip industry as a move to fortify supply chains, said Jose Fernandez, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, in a quote from Japans Nikkei Asia newspaper.

The U.S. is targeting seven countries, including Vietnam, for part of its CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS Act), which includes foreign aid of US$500 million for improving semiconductor training, cybersecurity, and business climates globally, the newspaper reported on Monday, citing Under Secretary Fernandez, who recently visited Vietnam.

Vietnam should take action before it is too late to attract investment in vital industries, like clean energy and minerals, which can be used for electric vehicles and batteries, Fernandez told Nikkei Asia.

The U.S. will allocate foreign aid under the CHIPS Act based on recommendations by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that are due in February.

We went through a list of countries that we felt had the potential to benefit from our support, and Vietnam was one of the first countries that we thought about, Fernandez said in an interview.

Vietnam is a leading exporter of electronics, clothing, and food, and is considered a key node in U.S. efforts to shift its supply chains away from China.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey data, Vietnam ranks second globally for reserves of rare-earth metals, after only China, though it is unclear how much can be mined.

The U.S. aims to regain its position in a rare-earth market that has been dominated by China's lower-cost production for decades, which Washington sees as its strategic vulnerability, since there was no rare-earth production in the U.S. as recently as 2017.

In reviving its own mines, America has entered a deal with 13 countries to coordinate financial and diplomatic support on minerals, and has offered to help Vietnam survey its rare-earth reserves.

Fernandez pointed out that the world is in a great hunger for critical minerals, and emphasized that the competitive advantage of the U.S. and partners is to do mining that benefits communities, that does not degrade the environment and that brings additional technology and investment.

When asked for comments about U.S. investment moving out of China, he said this is an opportunity for Vietnam, which potentially becomes an even greater manufacturing hub.

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Revisions to Vietnams Land Law, scheduled to come into effect next year, are poised to simplify the process for individuals of Vietnamese origin, better known as Viet Kieu, looking to purchase properties within the country.

While the current Land Law only distinguishes domestic citizens from Vietnamese people residing abroad, the revised version, which will take effect in January 2025, covers an additional term, individuals of Vietnamese origin who do not hold Vietnamese nationality -- referred to as Viet Kieu.

The amended law allows Viet Kieu residing abroad, who are permitted to enter Vietnam, to buy and rent houses that come with land, obtain land-use rights at housing projects, and inherit residential and other types of land adjoining houses, a provision absent from the current law.

They can also directly buy and sell all types of properties instead of being limited to apartments and houses in housing projects, residential areas, and urban areas as they currently are.

Statistics from the Ministry of Construction show that approximately four million foreigners and overseas Vietnamese aspire to acquire homes in Vietnam in the foreseeable future.

Economic expert Dinh The Hien notes that extended legal limitations on acquiring certain property types, combined with complex procedures and documentation requirements to confirm Vietnamese origin, have led many Viet Kieu to opt for purchasing properties in the names of their relatives.

This practice has, in turn, given rise to numerous disputes and legal conflicts.

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Renee Allara, Createability Intern, 2023.

Applications are open for creative practitioners with disability or who are d/Deaf to intern with some of NSWs leading arts and screen organisations.

Up to 10 interns will be selected in 2024 to work with host organisations in Regional NSW, Western Sydney and Sydney including ABC Childrens original team, ABC (Compass), Animal Logic, Belvoir, Bronte Pictures, Erth Visual and Physical Inc, Legs on the Wall, Lingo Pictures, Musica Viva, The Orange Regional Conservatorium, Outloud, Performance Space, SBS Special Broadcasting Service, Sydney Theatre Company, Tantrum Youth Arts, and Varuna  The Eleanor Dark Foundation Limited.

The internship opportunities range from technical TV production roles, digital production, program research, behind-the-scenes theatre roles, to marketing, fundraising, audience development and event support.

Annette Pitman, Chief Executive of Create NSW said: The Createability Internship Program will provide a rewarding opportunity for interns and host organisations alike, matching enthusiastic and talented practitioners with organisations that genuinely embrace access and inclusion. To date, this break-through program has resulted in long-term positive outcomes, including ongoing employment. I encourage all screen and arts workers with disability to apply for this life-changing opportunity to enrich NSW creative industries with their talents and strengths.

Kyas Hepworth, Head of Screen NSW said: Createability internships are breaking down often invisible barriers and connecting passionate practitioners with organisations where their talents are needed. This is an example of the way small steps can lead to positive change with access and inclusion across the screen industry.

Liz Martin, Accessible Arts CEO said, This much-needed internship program can transform how creative industries organisations support people with disability to develop their careers and contribute meaningfully to a more diverse and dynamic screen sector. Increasing access and inclusion paves the way for authentic representation in the stories we tell, the way we craft them, and the lasting impact they have.

Accessible Arts is delighted to partner with Create NSW and Screen NSW to deliver the Createability initiative, and encourages all arts, cultural and screen practitioners with disability or who are d/Deaf to apply.

The Createability Internship Program is delivered through Create NSW and Screen NSW, in partnership with disability advocacy organisation Accessible Arts to grow pathways to employment for arts and screen practitioners with disability or who are d/Deaf. Accessible Arts will provide training for host organisations and interns to improve access and inclusion, helping to remove the barriers people with disability often face in the workplace.

Applications are open via nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding until 11 March 2024.
Legendary stage and screen star Chita Rivera, best known for West Side Story, Chicago and Tick Tick Boom, has died aged 91.

Daughter Lisa Mordente said Rivera died peacefully in New York from a brief illness.

Her career spans nearly seven decades.

In 1957, she was part of the original West Side Story cast where she played the role of Anita  a performance that paved her way to Broadway stardom.

Soon after, Rivera was nominated for a Tony Award her portrayal of Rose in the musical Bye Bye Birdie alongside Dick Van Dyke. A few decades later, she starred in another iconic role: vaudeville performer Velma Kelly in Chicago. She won Tony Awards for best actress in The Rink and Kiss of the Spider Woman and was nominated for eight others.

She is celebrated for being a triple-threat  singing, dancing and acting in numerous Broadway hits throughout the years, as well as being a trailblazer for Latina women.

Her screen credits include Tick Tick Boom, Dora the Explorer, Will & Grace, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, The Carol Burnett Show, Pippin, The Outer Limits, The Judy Garland Show, Chicago, Kalamazoo? and Sweet Charity.

Industry colleagues paid tribute on social media.

The incomparable Chita Rivera was one of the greatest spirits and colleagues Ive ever known, said actor Jason Alexander. She set the bar in every way. I will cherish her always.

Actress Mia Farrow called her an authentic Broadway icon.

No one who was fortunate enough to have seen any of her performances will ever forget the experience, Ms Farrow said.

The Tony Awards called her a Broadway legend  whose grace, talent and passion left an unforgettable mark on the world of theatre.

Rivera was the first Latina to be awarded Kennedy Center Honors, is a recipient of a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and was given a lifetime Tony award.

Source: BBC
A researcher at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy Drug Discovery Institute is working to revolutionize treatment regimens for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) by proving that nebivolol, an FDA-approved drug for high blood pressure, is effective in treating it. Meghana Trivedi, professor of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, has been awarded $1.1 million by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity to support her work.

Aggressive triple-negative breast cancer is more likely to have spread by the time its discovered on exam than other types of breast cancer. Photo courtesy: GETTY Images

In the world of breast cancer, the kind termed triple-negative dangerously lives up to its name  it grows aggressively, is more likely to have spread by the time its discovered and will commonly return after treatment. Still, the name triple-negative means something else, referring to tumors that test negative for estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR) and excess HER2 protein.



Worse still, effective treatments for most breast cancers block the growth-stimulating effects of ER PR and/or HER2, leaving the deadly TNBC with few choices for treatment. Because TNBC lacks specific targets, it is mostly managed by general chemotherapy.

We believe that our studies will demonstrate that nebivolol can be used as an easily available and economically viable treatment in TNBC patients, said Trivedi. Our research will investigate preclinical efficacy as well as pharmacokinetics of nebivolol and mechanism of action by which it exerts its anti-cancer activity in TNBC."

Meghana Trivedi, professor of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, is working to demonstrate that nebivolol can be used as an easily available and economically viable treatment for triple-negative breast cancer patients.

In preliminary studies, Trivedi identified a few potential drugs that target G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for treating TNBC. GPCRs are excellent targets because the drugs targeting them generally have good safety profiles and are used for many chronic diseases including high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney diseases, allergies, heartburn, Alzheimers disease and depression among others. In fact, 30-50% of all FDA-approved drugs target GPCRs. A major focus in Trivedis laboratory research is to identify GPCR targets and drugs in treatment of breast cancer and other types of cancer.

If we can repurpose these drugs that have already proven to be safe for human use, we can make them available to TNBC patients faster, said Trivedi. Surprisingly, GPCRs are virtually unexplored as drug targets in breast cancer, and there is an urgent clinical need to identify novel treatments for TNBC that are both safe and effective.

At least one-third of patients with early-stage TNBC progress to metastatic recurrence in other organs within the first five years of treatment. Patients with metastatic TNBC die prematurely, with median survival of only 12 months, she said.

Trivedis team includes Chad Creighton and Benny Kaipparettu from Baylor College of Medicine, and from the University of Houston, Diana S-L Chow and Michael Johnson.
By Hyunjoo Jin and Tom Hals

(Reuters) -After a Delaware court threw out Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package on Tuesday, the Tesla chief executive and a board seen as captive to him must find a way to negotiate a replacement contract. It will not be easy.

The ruling is spurring on investors who for years have raised concerns about Tesla board independence. This could be a turning point for Musk, who recently said he was uncomfortable transforming Tesla into an artificial intelligence leader if his control did not rise with a new pay package.

"This throws Tesla into a complete sort of tailspin from an executive perspective," said Tesla shareholder Ross Gerber, who said the court decision essentially required new independent board members who would provide CEO oversight. "Then it gets real messy because Elon - it's either his way or the highway," said Gerber, who last year publicly considered a board run as an independent.

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Musk has not said what he will do, though an appeal is almost certain. Tesla shares fell 2.2% on Wednesday.

First, Musk will have to give back what he got if the ruling stands. He has satisfied the 2018 contract terms and received 12 tranches of options worth about $51 billion.

However, the options grant "sits unexercised and undisturbed," the court ruling said, so giving up his earnings may not be complicated.

Deciding what to replace the package with will be a difficult process, since it is unclear who will bargain on Tesla's side. The judge who threw out the package called it an "unfathomable sum" that was unfair to shareholders and questioned the board's independence.

Equilar estimated in 2022 that Musk's package was around six times larger than the combined pay of the 200 highest-paid executives in 2021. Musk was the world's second-richest person, worth $184 billion on Wednesday, Forbes calculated.

TEARS OF ADMIRATION

Delaware Judge Kathaleen McCormick said many current board directors labeled as independent by Tesla, including James Murdoch, Chair Robyn Denholm and Ira Ehrenpreis, showed a lack of independence in the pay decision.

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The judge's ruling described a board with little control over its chaotic CEO. After a settlement with the U.S. securities regulator required Musk to get approval from a Tesla lawyer for some tweets, Denholm described the Musk tweet process as "self-regulating."

The chair said sales of $280 million in stock received for her director service were "life-changing," and the judge described the board members and executives as advisors to Musk. The compensation setting process was "me negotiating against myself," Musk testified.

"They're going to have to refresh the board," said Charles Elson, director of the University of Delaware's corporate governance center. "I mean, he may not like it, but it's going to be very hard to run this company as it did."

Musk could decide to leave, a possibility raised by JP Morgan, but Elson said that would torpedo the value of the 13% stake Musk holds, independent of the pay package. Even before Tesla has announced this year's annual meeting, several shareholders already are promoting resolutions to give investors more control by moving to annual director elections and eliminating a supermajority voting requirement.

McCormick questioned if any pay for Musk was necessary, given his fortune swelled along with Tesla's success, through his stake in the company.

"There are many examples of visionaries with large pre-existing equity holdings foregoing compensation entirely: Zuckerberg, Bezos, Gates, and others so familiar to the world that no first names are required," McCormick wrote.

Musk brings a strong record into any negotiations.

Tesla's stock market value was $53 billion when Musk's package was approved in 2018. It was a money-losing enterprise, struggling to accelerate production of its Model 3 sedan. That was when Musk famously described Tesla as being in "production hell."

By 2021, now profitable, having weathered the pandemic and launched the Model Y small SUV, Tesla's market value reached $1.2 trillion. That became the world's second best selling car or SUV last year, Car and Driver estimated.

Tesla's valuation has fallen to around $600 billion, but that is still more than 10 times what it was when the process began, and the company remains worth more than most auto industry veterans, combined.

(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin and Tom Hals; Additional reporting by Joe White; Writing by Peter Henderson; Editing by Richard Chang)
FILE PHOTO: The Galaxy Leader cargo ship is escorted by Houthi boats in the Red Sea

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Traders were diverting cargoes with Russian oil products around Africa to avoid the Red Sea due to a heightened risk of attacks by Yemens Iran-aligned Houthi group, data from market sources and LSEG showed.

Last week, the fuel tanker Marlin Luanda, carrying Russian naphtha, was attacked in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels.

Since the full EU embargo on Russian oil products took effect in February 2023, traders have rerouted fuel oil, vacuum gasoil (VGO) and naphtha cargoes from Russian ports to Asia and the Middle East via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal as the shortest sea route.

According to LSEG shipping data, fuel oil and VGO loaded on two tankers Nissos Christiana and Alkinoos at the Russian Baltic ports, had turned around in the Mediterranean Sea and were skirting the coast of Africa on their way to India and Singapore.

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Another vessel, Minerva Zoe - loaded with Russian fuel oil - was heading to Singapore but was rerouted and was now waiting near the Senegal port of Dakar.

Shipping companies sailing around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid Houthi attacks in the Red Sea face tough choices over where to refuel and restock, as well as rough conditions at sea, companies and analysts say.

A Malaysia-bound tanker from the Russian Black Sea port of Taman with vacuum gasoil is heading towards Gibraltar, shipping data showed.

Another cargo vessel, Sea Senor, loaded with naphtha at the Baltic port of Ust-Luga has already passed the Cape of Good Hope on its way to Singapore, according to the LSEG data.

Most oil product tankers loaded in Russia head to Asia through the Suez Canal. Some of them add new signage - "No link with Israel" or "No contact Isr" - to deter Houthi attacks, in addition to the usual "Armed guard on board" signs, LSEG data shows.

The U.S. and Britain have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen and reinstated the militia in a list of terrorist groups in a bid to curtail future attacks.

The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, say their attacks on ships in and around the Red Sea are in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
The head of the Army said at least 45,000 reservists and citizens should be trained up in the next three years to top-up the current army size of 74,000 (PA)

Conscription in Britain would teach the young respect and pride and could be life-changing in a good way, some Independent readers have argued.

However others have countered that the British Army simply needs proper funding and to make military service more attractive.

The discussion comes after comments from General Sir Patrick Sanders, the outgoing Chief of the General Staff (CGS), were interpreted as suggesting that conscription could be required in any potential future battle with Moscow due to the British Army being too small.

Sir Patrick, in a speech at the International Armoured Vehicles conference in south-west London on 24 January, said Britain should train and equip a citizen army to ready the country for a potential land war.

Pointing to Sweden introducing a form of military service for its population, the head of the army said at least 45,000 reservists and citizens should be trained up in the next three years to top-up the current 74,000, in what he called a whole-of-nation undertaking.

Heres what you had to say:

Conscription is not going to happen

Every family facing an equal chance of a family member being killed, injured or left with PTSD might mean that politicians and generals face more and harder questions.

Questions about why go to war - is this one for political advantage or oil company profits?

Questions too about competence and corruption in, for instance, the equipment and housing provided.

For these reasons, conscription is not going to happen.

andysmart1948

Teach the young respect and pride

I do think it needs thinking about. It will take the young off the streets and teach them respect and pride. Possibly a career. It would only be a couple of years out of their life and might make them better citizens, hopefully, might...

Then there is the other argument, it teaches them how to use guns etc. So could go the other way. Needs thinking about for sure.

Bubs

Britain needs to expand its regular, professional forces

My first reaction is no.

Story continues

Israel and Russia have conscripted armies and the USA conscripted men to fight in Vietnam. Argentina had hundreds of conscripted youths in the Falklands. From those experiences, we can see just how ineffective poorly trained and disciplined amateur soldiers are, particularly when faced with either well-motivated irregular troops or well-trained professionals.

The exception to the rule (as it so often is) is Finland. However, as with education, I cant see any British government following their lead- far too much of a departure from Thatcherite dogma!

Britain needs to expand its regular, professional forces, probably by tens of thousands, by making military service more attractive. I have served (a while ago now) but would be unlikely to make the same decision now. For one, the shrinking of our forces means theres hardly anywhere left to go, even in the UK, let alone overseas unless youre in the Navy. There are frequent overseas deployments (which are generally detrimental), but these are not the same as an overseas posting.

Pay still isnt great, accommodation is quite often inadequate (a consequence of Portillo selling off the entire MoD estate to private interests whilst making the taxpayer still responsible for upkeep and repairs) and privatisation pervades whole areas of military life now.

The other option would be to continue the privatisation and shrinkage but stop pretending to still be a global military power.

That said, I can see the political attraction of having hundreds of thousands of working-class men and women with years of active military service behind them. It certainly focused right-wing minds after the Second World War and made Attlees political platform much more persuasive and enduring!

Northwing

Life changing in a good way

Other countries have conscription that works well not just as a means of defence but using the armed forces in other ways too. Conscription teaches those called up a lot of things including personal pride, discipline, interpersonal skills and responsibility to others.

I think it would be a great idea. Having been a conscript in Australia when they still had it during the Vietnam War era I thoroughly enjoyed my two years and consider it life-changing in a good way.

Stardust

Plan for the worst scenario

Is it wise to train street thugs to kill professionally? Then this was always the way, remember Wellingtons opinions during the Peninsular War.

It is still best to plan for the worst scenario unless we wish to just capitulate without any fight.

Martyn

Dire need of expansion

Everyone in the UK knows that our armed forces have been hollowed out and are in dire need of expansion. Everyone it seems, except this awful government.

Devon Dumpling

The young are a cause without a rebel

It would be a massive turnaround from the pandemic. Five minutes ago we were too weak to defend ourselves from almost nothing. But now the prospect is trench warfare... hm.

Id bring in conscription in the hope that it builds character. The young are a cause without a rebel, our establishment is the worst in the whole of British history and if you make the young strong enough to defend themselves, be careful what you wish for.

TheRedSquirrel

What would this army be defending?

We dont want a land war, or any war, so we dont need a bigger army. The government, Tory or Labour, can stuff that where the sun doesnt shine.

What would this army be defending? Not democracy, because its been comprehensively traduced. The right of the government to ban the right to strike for millions? The filthy streets, inadequate schools and collapsing healthcare? The pre-eminence of profit for the rich above the wellbeing of the many? The right of the government to bomb people without asking us? The right of Israel to be excused from all law and decency?

We will no longer defend the fading imperial powers. Try forcing us, therell be a general strike. The future lies with the global south. It at least seems to have retained some respect for the law and humanity.

nakaserokid

Properly funded

No conscription, that just turns professional soldiers, sailors and airmen into instructors.

We need properly funded armed services, professional procurement to avoid waste and the equipment required to defend our country. we currently have two aircraft carriers with borrowed air wings and unable to leave port without other nations ships to assist in forming a carrier group, an army short on men, armour, helicopters ammunition and much else and an airforce smaller that British Airways.

Laurence

Some of the questions and answers have been edited for this article. You can read the full discussion in the comments section of the original article.

The conversation isnt over - theres still time to have your say. If you want to share your opinion then add it in the comments of this story.

All you have to do is sign up, submit your question and register your details - then you can then take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking log in on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
Jordan Parker is a breaking news reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. He graduated from Sacramento State University in May 2022 with a degree in journalism. During his time there, he spent three years as a reporter and editor for the university's award-winning student newspaper, The State Hornet. He spent his senior year of college serving as The Hornet's first Black editor in chief, leading the organization to two Pacemaker awards and several other national honors from the Associated Collegiate Press. When he's not chasing down a story, he likes watching movies, traveling and trying new restaurants.

He can be reached at Jordan.Parker@sfchronicle.com.
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Babri Repeating: Social Media erupts after puja allowed in Gyanvapi Masjid

Located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Gyanvapi Masjid was built probably by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1678. Read More

Wednesday January 31, 2024 11:00 PM , ummid.com News Network

Varanasi: Social media users Wednesday January 31, 2024 compared the court order allowing puja in the basement of Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi with Babri Masjid which was consequently demolished and later a temple was built on the same place following a Supreme Court order.

Babri repeating, a social media user who identified him as Shuja wrote on X, formerly Twitter. In his bio, Shuja says he is an activist.

Commenting on the reports about the Varanasi Court Order, Asif Khan, another social media user wrote:

They are using the same modus operandi which they used for Babri Mosque. A Varanasi district court allowed Hindus to offer prayers in southern cellar of Gyanvapi mosque.

They are using the same modus operandi which they used for Babri Mosque.



A Varanasi district court allowed Hindus to offer prayers in southern cellar of Gyanvapi mosque. #GyanvapiMosque pic.twitter.com/m4hKIKiBsX  Md Asif Khan (@imMAK02) January 31, 2024

Author and Journalist, Syed Ubaidur Rahman, writing on social media site X, said the court order was on the expected lines.

"As expected a report by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) strongly suggests the existence of a substantial Hindu temple structure at the #GyanvapiMosque complex in Varanasi, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said. This was the main fear of the Muslims for the last many months (sic)", Syed Ubaid wrote.

Sharing the report that the court allowed Hindus to perform puja in the Gyanvapi Masjid, social media user Wajid Khan wrote:

"Congratulations!! The Indian law is equal for everyone."

Social media user, Razia Masood, writing on Twitter, said:

"Judic!ary Helping P0litical Parties is a New Trend in New Bharat" "Muslims are being hurt again & again by Vi0lating the Places of Worship Act 1991. To what extent is it right to do d!rty p0litics of religion & h@tred between Hindus & Muslims for p0litical gains? #GyanvapiMosque (sic)."

Exactly opposite are the reactions of the social media users who identified them as Hindus.

Rudhra Nandu, who identifies him as a Computer Science student, commenting on the Varanasi Court order, said:

"India is the only country in the world where despite the structure looking like this, Hindus have to prove that the mosque is built over an ancient Hindu temple. The reason for it is because India is a Hindu majority state and tolerance of Hindus (sic)".

Gayatri, who introduces her as "Ex Conservative candidate", commenting on the court judgement wrote:

"I come from a Hindu majority country where Hindus have to fight for their rights to offer prayers in a temple. Thats secularism for you (sic)".

I come from a Hindu majority country where Hindus have to fight for their rights to offer prayers in a temple. Thats secularism for you. #Gyanvapi

#GyanvapiMosque complex. pic.twitter.com/c9wYRPwpys  Gayatri (BharatKiBeti) (@changu311) January 31, 2024

In the Gyanvapi Mosque case, popular as Gyanvapi Mosque-Kashi Vishwanath Temple dispute, the Varanasi Court Wednesday allowed the Hindus to perform puja inside the Vyas Ka Tekhana area of mosque complex which as of now is sealed.

The court in its order asked the District Administration to make the necessary arrangements for puja in the next seven days, advocate Vishnu Jain Shankar, who represents the Hindu community in the court, said while talking to reporters.

Located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Gyanvapi Masjid was built probably by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1678. Hindus claimed the mosque was built after demolishing a temple of Shiva.



After a court monitored survey back in May 2022, Hindu lawyers claimed discovery of Shivling in the historic masjid . The mosque management however claimed that what is being claimed as Shivling was actually a fountain.

Commenting on it, AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi had said that the discovery of shivling in Gyanvapi Masjid was textbook repeat of 1949 when in the similar manner the status of Babri Masjid was changed.

Consequently, Babri Masjid was demolished by the right-wing Hindu extremists, and the construction of a Ram Temple was facilitated by the order of Supreme Court of India .

Interestingly, the Supreme Court of India while granting the permission to build Ram Temple on the site where Babri Masjid stood till December 06, 1992 also observed that there was no proof to show the mosque was built after demolishing any mandir.

The mandir was however built and was opened for Hindu devotees in a controversial ceremony on January 22, 2024.

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Welcome Guest! You are here: Home  Hajj 2024

Hajj 2024: Last date to pay Advance Haj Amount Feb 9

The Haj Committee has not yet finalized the First Balance Amount and payments of other installments for Hajj 2024. Read More

Wednesday January 31, 2024 5:19 PM , ummid.com News Network

Haj 2024 Payment: The Haj Committee of India has asked all Hajj pilgrims who have been provisionally selected after the Haj 2024 Qurrah - draw of lots, held by Digital Random Selection Process to deposit Rs.81,800/- as Advance Haj Amount and submit the pay-in-slip along with original passport and photographs on or before February 09, 2024.

All provisionally selected pilgrims are required to deposit Advance Haj Amount of Rs.81,800/- each. A unique Bank Reference Number provided to each cover must be mentioned in the Remittance Receipt", the Haj Committee of India said. "The amount includes the non-refundable processing fee Rs.300/-, Advance Haj Amount Rs. 80,000/- and Miscellaneous Dues Rs. 1,500/-", it said.

The Haj Committee of India however did not give details of the 'miscellaneous dues'.

The Haj Committee of India further said that other instalments will be decided taking into consideration the finalization of Airfare amount and expenses in Saudi Arabia.

The same will be intimated soon, the Haj Committee said.

The pilgrims who have been selected by computerised draw should note that their selection will be cancelled if they fail to deposit the amount before the due date.

After depositing the amount of Rs.81,800/-, the provisionally selected pilgrims shall submit a copy of the pay-in-slip, medical certificate along with original passport and one photograph to their respective state Haj committees on or before February 09, 2024, failing which their Haj seat will be cancelled", the Central Haj Committee said.

Steps to make Haj 2024 Advance Amount

Payments can be made either:

1. Online Mode through Haj Committee of India website here: hajcommittee.gov.in. .

2. Directly to Haj Committee of India account No. 35398104789

maintained with SBI; or account No. 318702010406010 (Haj Account) maintained with Union Bank of India through any branch of SBl/UBI having core Banking System.

3. By cheque of any branch of SBI/UBI in the respective Bank.

4. Pilgrims can also make payment using Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking or UPI

How to check Unique Bank Reference Number

Selected pilgrims whose names figured in the final list drawn after the Qurrah can check Unique Bank Reference Number by following the steps given below:

1. Go to Haj Committee of India website by clicking here: hajcommittee.gov.in.

2. Enter your Cover No in the box. Your Cover No should start with your state code.

3. Click on the Down Arraow from 'Select State' menu and select your state.

4. Enter Passport No in the box.

5. Click on "Load" button.

6. All relevant details along with Unique Bank Reference Number will appear on the computer or mobile phone screen.

After depositing the Advance amount the Provisionally Selected pilgrims shall submit:

1. A copy of the pay-in-slip

2. Solemn declaration and undertaking

3. Haj Application Form (HAF)

4. Medical fitness and screening certificate as per the format available on the Haj Committee of India website

5. Original International Machine Readable Passports

Hajj 2024 Flight Schedule

The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) had earlier also released Haj policy 2024 (Action Plan for Hajj 2024), listing a total of 25 embarkation points namely: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Srinagar, Ranchi, Gaya, Guwahati, Indore, Bhopal, Mangalore, Goa, Aurangabad, Varanasi, Jaipur, Nagpur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kannur, Vijayawada, Agartala and Calicut.

According to Hajj 2024 Action Plan, the first Hajj flight from India will be on May 05, 2024. The Last Hajj departure flight will be on June 10, 2024. Core Hajj duration will be from June 14 to 19, 2024.

First return Hajj flight from Saudi Arabia to India will be on June 20, 2024 and the last inbound and return flight will be on July 21, 2024.

Detailed Hajj flight schedule (embarkation point wise) will be published soon.

The Haj Committee of India had started receiving through its website hajcommittee.gov.in from December 04, 2023 Hajj Application Form (HAF) of the pilgrims who wished to embark on Hajj 2024 (Haj 1445 AH).

The last date of application was originally fixed as December 20, 2023. It was however extended till January 15, 2024, and then till 12:00 pm on January 16, 2024 in the last minute because of technical glitches in the computer server.

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HCM CITY  In 2024, the Government plans to improve the business environment through comprehensive reforms and policy changes and support businesses in 2024.

au Anh Tuan, deputy general secretary of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the Government should simplify administrative procedures and reduce supervision.

This would let businesses focus on their operations and bolster general growth, he said.

It is also necessary to call for foreign investment, especially in high-quality, high-value projects in sectors that need to be quickly developed, he said.

The Government's Resolution Nos 01 and 02 issued at the beginning of the year have helped stabilise the economy and boost economic growth.

The former focuses on key tasks and solutions for accomplishing socio-economic fiscal targets, improving the business environment and bolstering economic competitiveness.

Resolution No 02 aims to create a healthy competitive environment, increase the number of enterprises, reduce the rate of suspension of businesses, and increase the number engaged in innovative activities and green and digital transformation.

Tuan said authorities should enhance communication with businesses and industry associations to quickly handle difficulties and promote public and infrastructure investments.

Vietnamese enterprises could definitely attract more investors and compete with foreign ones if they have a favourable business environment and simple administrative procedures and rapidly adopt information technology.

In the first month of 2024, Viet Nam had around 13,500 new establishments, showing a significant year-on-year increase of 25 per cent, said the General Statistic Office.

The country also had 13,800 businesses resuming operation.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam expects its agricultural export value to China to increase sharply this year, as China agrees to review regulations permitting official exports of poultry meat from Viet Nam to this market.

Last year, livestock products accounted for only 1 per cent of the agricultural, forestry and fishery export value to China at US$12.2 billion. That was mainly due to Viet Nam not yet being permitted official exports of meat products to China.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said that with a market of 1.4 billion people, China's consumer demand for meat products is up to about $400 billion per year, so the potential for exporting meat from Viet Nam to China is many times higher than that of vegetables and fruits.

In the future, Viet Nam expects livestock products to join the list of products gaining billion dollar export value, if Viet Nam can sign the protocol on poultry meat export with China, and continue to negotiate the protocol on pork export to this market, Nam said.

For many years, most of Viet Nam's livestock products including pork, beef, and chicken and buffalo meat, have been under unofficial quotas at border gates. This export has faced border barriers, and inspection and control according to stricter standards.

At present, Viet Nam ships two products of the livestock industry to China, including bird's nests and milk, under official export according to the protocol on exporting bird's nest signed in 2022 and the protocol on exporting milk signed in 2019 between the two countries.

Thanks to the protocol, Viet Nam's exports of milk and milk products to China have grown very rapidly recent years. Those products have accounted for 93 per cent of the total export value of Viet Nam's livestock products to China.

Tong Xuan Chinh, deputy director of the Department of Livestock Production, said that in 2023, export value of livestock products surged by 26.2 per cent year on year to $515 million.

Meanwhile, the import value of livestock products reached $3.53 billion, down 4.4 per cent compared to 2022.

The export value of livestock products was only one-seventh of the import value of livestock products, and was also too low compared to other agricultural products, said Chinh.

Last year, Viet Nam exported more than 34 million eggs, an increase of more than 3.1 times compared to 2022. In May 2023, Viet Nam exported the first batches of eggs to South Korea.

On July 31, 2023, after four years of ban, Viet Nam's poultry eggs came back to Hong Kong. This market immediately accounted for about 70 per cent of eggs exported from Viet Nam.

On November 2, 2023, Viet Nam and Mongolia officially completed negotiations to export poultry meat and eggs to the Mongolian market.

According to the Department of Livestock Production, in 2023, Viet Nam exported 12,300 tonnes of pork, earning nearly $63.3 million, an increase of 28 per cent compared to 2022. Fresh, chilled or frozen pork products of Viet Nam were shipped to Papua New Guinea, Laos and Malaysia.

Viet Nam's fresh milk exports in 2023 also grew by 1.7 times compared to 2022 to reach $204 million. Especially, fresh milk exports to China skyrocketed from $48 million in 2022 to $123 million in 2023.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam has seven enterprises exporting 700kg of birds nests in total to China, after Viet Nam gained permission for official export of birds nests to this market last year.  VNS
HA NOI High demand during the Tet shopping season has prompted commercial banks to introduce credit offers worth hundreds of billions VN for consumers, said industry experts and insiders.

In the last month, major banks including Vietcombank, ACB, TPBank, SHB, BIDV and consumer finance companies have been rolling out offers with incentives to individual customers.

Industry insiders said there was substantial demand for loans from the public, surpassing the previous year. However, they said it could also be attributed to a decline in income and an increase in unemployment. Despite the high demand, consumer finance companies are exercising caution in disbursing loans, particularly as debt defaults show no signs of improvement.

Since the end of the previous year, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has issued directives urging credit institutions and bank branches to provide additional credit for individual consumption. The SBV emphasised the immediate implementation of solutions utilising data from the national population database to ensure safe and effective lending operations and enhance people's access to bank credit.

Nguyen Quoc Hung, secretary-general of the Vietnam Banking Association (VBA) said it has been a welcome change as consumer credit growth was at its lowest level in the past five years due to economic difficulties, declining incomes and increasing bad debts.

Experts and insiders, however, said a gradual recovery in domestic demand, leading to a resurgence in consumer credit is anticipated in 2024. Economist Nguyen Huu Huan, head of the Finance Market Department at the HCM City University of Economics, said solutions to the surplus liquidity in banks hinge on robust growth in three driving forces: domestic consumption, exports, and public investment.

While domestic consumer demand remains relatively weak, Huan suggested that reducing taxes and fees could contribute to boosting consumption. However, to stimulate consumer credit, the Government must adopt stronger policies, especially in the real estate sector, and measures to make housing more affordable.

Last year, private investment only saw a modest increase of 2.7 per cent, the lowest in the past decade, which had been typically growing by 12-14 per cent annually. Meanwhile, consumer demand saw a mere uptick of 3.52 per cent, with economic growth largely driven by Government spending.

Looking ahead to 2024, Hoang Huy, an analyst at Viet Nam-based Maybank Investment Bank, said he anticipated a resurgence in domestic consumption as the primary driver of growth. This optimism will likely be fuelled by the revival of exports, more stable financial conditions for households, and a gradual recovery in the real estate market.

Experts said that consumer loans from banks, particularly those for home purchase and renovation, will outperform those of consumer finance companies, primarily due to the recent positive changes in the real estate market. Consumer finance companies were expected to face challenges as their primary customer base, those falling below the national income level, continued to grapple with financial difficulties.

"Consumer credit this year will face continued difficulties because borrowers are reducing demand, while lenders are more cautious due to increasing bad debt. Bad debts of consumer finance companies are rising rapidly, forcing them to be cautious in lending," said Professor Dr inh Trong Thinh.

Another impediment to the growth of consumer credit has been Viet Nam's lack of a robust legal framework to handle violations related to lending activities. Addressing this issue will be crucial for instilling confidence in banks and financial companies to lend more freely.

According to a recent survey of banks and financial institutions, handling bad debt in consumer lending is challenging due to the absence of collateral. Moreover, banks and financial institutions lacked the necessary manpower to handle thousands of small individual bad debts. To make matters worse, the traditional method of selling these debts in batches was no longer viable.

For instance, at BIDV, non-collateral bad debts for consumer loans account for less than 1 per cent of the total consumer loan balance. However, the sheer volume of loans, numbering in the thousands, complicated the recovery process due to a manpower shortage.

In practice, selling a portfolio of bad debts was deemed infeasible due to the absence of buyers in the market, given the small scale and lack of collateral of these loans. Additionally, credit institutions were prohibited by investment law from hiring debt recovery services. While debt recovery faces many challenges, legal proceedings and lawsuits are often prolonged and costly. VNS
HA NOI  A delegation of the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) led by Deputy Auditor General Bui Quoc Dung visited the Swedish National Audit Office (NAO) on January 29-30 after attending the 22nd meeting of the Working Group on Environmental Auditing (WGEA) of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) in Finland.

At a working session with the Swedish NAOs representatives, Dung spoke highly of the offices contributions to bilateral and multilateral ties.

He suggested the two agencies step up experience exchange and promote bilateral cooperation, suggesting the Swedish NAO further support and cooperate with the SAV at multilateral forums like INTOSAI.

Deputy Auditor General of the Swedish NAO Claudia Gardberg Morner noted her hope for stronger cooperation between the two countries and the two agencies, saying the Swedish NAO stands ready to share its experience and help the SAV in technical training, especially in such areas as environmental auditing, and the implementation and development of audit standards.

On this occasion, the two delegations engaged in a seminar during which they shared experience in implementing international audit standards and audit activities in the field of environment.  VNS
French expert Charlotte Aguttes Reynier introduced her book on Vietnamese modern art in Ha Noi and HCM City recently.

Viet Nam News reporter Nguyen Binh chats with her about making the book.

What inspired you to write the book Modern Art in Indochina?

Ten years ago, when I was organising painting auctions in the Impressionist and Modern Art speciality at Aguttes, I began to specialise in Asian Modern Art, particularly Vietnamese.

As the sales progressed, it was my task to describe, appraise and present the 1,000 or so works of art related to Asia that passed through my hands over a decade - including almost 150 pieces by Le Pho, 115 by Mai Trung Thu and 100 by Vu Cao am, five by Victor Tardieu, five by Nam Son and 10 by Luong Xuan Nhi.

I carried out many investigations. On these occasions, I regretted the lack of a comprehensive bibliography on the subject, and at the same time, I took great pleasure in exploring and discovering old archives preserved in France.

Two years ago, Guy Boyer, a French art historian and journalist, advised me to compile the results of my work in a book. I thought that there were many collectors, curators and art historians who would be very interested in this information.

I decided to report facts, quotes, extracts from archives, letters and press articles. I let the actors of the past speak for themselves. It's their own words that have fascinated me, and it's these that naturally interest collectors, art lovers and professionals alike.

Did you find something important but not well known about the Indochina School of Fine Arts and alumni while making the book?

I noticed that, as early as 1929, Tardieu, the founder of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, encouraged the organisation of public exhibitions at which students offered their creations for sale.

They subsequently took part in numerous fairs and exhibitions in Ha Noi and Sai Gon throughout the 1930s and 1940s. I wonder if there are any archives relating to these fairs.

I haven't found much information about them and I'm wondering if there are any inventories, lists of works exhibited or old photographs that might exist in Viet Nam. It would be fascinating to consult them  if anyone has any archives on this subject, please let me know.

What are the advantages and disadvantages you faced while writing the book? Did you encounter difficulty and how did you overcome it?

Writing this book was a real pleasure, and also a great challenge, since I had to continue my usual work at Aguttes at the same time. So for one and a half years I devoted my evenings, weekends and vacations to it.

Another challenge was to select the right images and information, and keep them clear and concise.

Throughout this work, I constantly identified new and interesting information that deserved to be shared. The book was originally intended to be 250 pages long, but ended up being 432.

I tried to select, sort and order them so as not to lose the reader. I was helped in this by the kind and enlightened reading of Anne-Sophie Philippon who, with her curious and critical outside eye, was a great help.

I also wanted to develop the biographies of the painters even further, adding images and information on their individual careers. I had to make a few sacrifices.

Ultimately, I wanted to make this information accessible to everyone, especially descendants of the painters mentioned, art collectors and art historians who might not speak French.

Publishing in Vietnamese and English was a priority for me, and this desire brought with it a few additional difficulties. They are nothing compared to the pleasure I experienced during my visit to Ha Noi and HCMC in January, of the welcome expressed by Vietnamese readers for this book, which they can all read.

What was most interesting for you personally about the book?

I think readers particularly appreciate this direct access to facts and writings from the period, rather than my interpretation of them. I wanted to offer in this book what I like to find as factual information when I look at and study a work of art myself.

It's a very good thing to finally make some of these raw archives and testimonies accessible to everyone.

The publication is seen as the first comprehensive book about the role of the Indochina School of Fine Arts. What do you think about this opinion?

Tardieu, the school's founder and first director, was a true manager. He selected talents, gave them the right tools and encouraged them to blossom on their own, to create, to differentiate themselves, to renew modern art in their own country.

Numerous letters written by the students attest to their gratitude, confidence and admiration for their director Tardieu and his team of teachers, including Inguimberty, Nam Son and Alix Ayme.

This book contains many extracts that shed light on the high points of their time at the school, and also on the wonderful human relationships forged between the teachers and their students.

I believe that it is because Tardieu devoted himself with kindness and generosity to guiding his students that they were able to blossom and allow the revival of modern art in Viet Nam.

In this book, I have tried to convey the respectful, demanding and positive working atmosphere of the years 1925-1945.

The book will be distributed in February. Are you satisfied with the book or do you want to change anything?

I'm delighted that it will soon be available to the public. From the outset, I have taken great care to ensure the accuracy of the data, so as not to inadvertently contribute to the spread of false information.

For this reason, over the last few months I have asked many painters' families to reread and check the texts concerning their forebears, and I have also asked many art-loving friends to proof-read.

Finally, Nguyen Phuong Hoa, who took charge of the translation into Vietnamese, and Bui Hoang Anh, who proof-read the whole, have both provided pertinent criticism and comments.

We're not immune to errors, but for the time being, nothing has come to my attention, and I'm relieved about that.

In the future, will you and the auction house research and help to popularise artworks by the Indochina School of Fine Arts alumni who did not settle down and live in France?

For the past 25 years, my daily work has led me to discover the works that are proposed to me. I don't seek to work exclusively on certain painters rather than others.

When I concentrated more precisely on modern Asian art 10 years ago, works by artists who had lived in France for many years came out more regularly, which is natural, as they are more present around me in France.

I was also delighted to discover works by Asian artists who had not chosen to live in France. I then also promoted them, helping to bring their work to light. These include important artists such as Pham Quang Hau, Luong Xuan Nhi, Nam Son, Nguyen Tien Chung, Nguyen Khang and Hoang Tich Chu, you can see some reproductions in the book.

The house will organise its 42nd sale on March 7. Are there any artworks by Vietnamese artists at this sale? If there are, could you introduce them?

We will be presenting works signed by students from the first graduating classes, such as Luong Xuan Nhi, Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu and Vu Cao am.

We specialise in presenting paintings that have been in the same collection for a long time, sometimes several decades. For example, the painting by Luong Xuan Nhi was acquired by the current vendor's father when he was visiting Sai Gon in the early 1950s.

The seller of Mai Trung Thu's silk, acquired in the 1950s in France, found a photograph of this work taken at his parents' home in 1960. The seller of Vu Cao am's silk, a friend and neighbour of the family in the early 1950s, was bought by the current vendor's grandmother and has been preserved ever since.

There is also a fine series of lacquer panels that attest to the genius of the artists who worked tirelessly in the school's lacquer workshop to revive this art form in its own right. VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai touched upon the implementation of agreements reached by high-ranking Vietnamese and US leaders since the two countries elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, at a reception for US Ambassador Marc E. Knapper in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

Khai affirmed that the US is a partner of strategic importance for Viet Nam, and that the Vietnamese government appreciates the USs consistent message supporting a "strong, independent, self-reliant and prosperous" Viet Nam.

Viet Nam stands ready to work together with the US to put in place detailed plans under the high-level agreements and the joint statement on the establishment of the partnership, he said.

Hailing the USs enhancing responsible cooperation with the Asia-Pacific, through the Indo-Pacific Strategy and regional initiatives, the Deputy PM expressed his hope that the country will further support ASEANs centrality and contribute more to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and beyond.

For the recognition of Viet Nam as a market economy, Khai said the matter has drawn the attention of the two countries high-ranking leaders, and suggested the ambassador to help with accelerating the process, expected to be done within this year.

The official also suggested facilitating the enhancement of bilateral cooperation in economy and trade.

For his part, Knapper affirmed that the US is always willing and wishes to cooperate with Viet Nam.

The US plans to realise the signed documents, including the joint statement and action plan, along with the memorandum of understanding in semiconductors this year, he added, stressing that they should be implemented fully.

The US wishes to cooperate closely with Viet Nam to fulfill the promise to the people of the two countries, which is to further strengthen the bilateral relations and the comprehensive strategic partnership and beyond, the diplomat continued.

Mentioning the USs commitment to assisting Viet Nam in semiconductors, the ambassador said to do this, there must be an ecosystem.

US firms want to invest in Viet Nam, but they need a legal environment, easier access to clean, reliable energy sources, information technology infrastructure provided by reliable suppliers, and high-tech workforce, he said, noting that these issues should be resolved within the next 12-18 months.

According to him, under the comprehensive strategic partnership, the two sides also agreed to deepen collaboration in clean energy, and the US is working with the Vietnamese central bank and the Ministry of Finance over the provision of green finance and green bonds.

For the recognition of Viet Nam's market economy, Knapper said that the US Chamber of Commerce is considering it and the work is expected to be done in June.  VNS
HCM CITY HCM City authority on January 31 organised a meeting with consuls general and heads of international organisations, and economic and cultural offices and business associations of foreign countries and territories in the southern metropolis.

Highly appreciating efforts of these units, Nguyen Thi Le, Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee and Chairwoman of the municipal People's Council, said that in the process of development, in addition to its internal resources, the city needs their continued companionship in its work to build itself into a smart city and an economic, financial, commercial, sci-tech, and cultural centre of the region.

The southern metropolis hopes that the consular agencies, organisations, offices, and associations will continue helping promote its image to international friends and bring reliable, potential and goodwill partners to the city, she remarked.

The local authorities commit to continue closely coordinating with and supporting foreign representative agencies in organising economic, cultural, health, and educational exchange activities, contributing to fostering the sides mutual understanding and development.

Roy Kho Ngee Seng, Singaporean Consul General and the head of the consular corps in the city, expressed his desire to continue close cooperation with HCM City to achieve even greater achievements.

He also reaffirmed the commitment to assist in enhancing and expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation between sides involved in this year and beyond.  VNS
Cong Thanh

THUA THIEN-HUE  Having worked at a school for disabled children in Yamanashi, Japan, Sai Koshikawa began a new adventure as a volunteer with the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA), working in Viet Nam, a country she had not yet known.

Sai said she didn't know much about Hue City before she came to work there.

The Japanese was taken to a special education centre, the Tuong Lai School providing education for children with disabilities  where 57 children are given day-time education and rehabilitation exercise after leaving their families every morning.

Sai said children here have different disabilities such as autism, voice disorder or limb disability that limit them studying at normal schools or in society.

Its a hard job for all teachers at the school, as one or two teachers look after a group of 10 or 12 kids. Meanwhile, in Japan, I and two other teachers cover a class, so we could support each other easily, Sai said, adding that there were only nine teachers for a total of 57 children at the school.

I find the job here tough because I do not speak Vietnamese so fluently with my little Vietnamese from a two-month course in Japan before travelling to Viet Nam. It took me more time to understand children with their disabilities and characters. However, love for children and job experiences conquer all. I overcome the first barriers to understand their psychological behaviours by playing and sharing emotions with the disabled children through daily activities.

The Japanese volunteer said she helps children with art exercise, painting and colouring, easing their mental stress.

Most of them find art a favourite session at school after outdoor playground exercise. I often work with some with autism and voice disorder. They could not speak a word clearly, and I support them on how to say a word exactly, or the right gesture as the other children do, Sai explained.

I tried to improve my Vietnamese language from colleagues and friends, even though the local Hue accent is a bit tough for me. I got closer to them (the children) to know what things they love to do or not, and what food or toys they prefer, she shared.

Sai gradually fell in love with Hue, taking heritage trips and food tours after working time at weekends.

An Cuu Market is a favourite site she visits two days in a week, buying fresh food for cooking herself hot pot in Hue gastronomy. Hue-styled noodle with beef, rice with stir-fried mussel rice and steamed tapioca cake are the most common options for the Japanese teacher during her one-year and four months working and living in Hue City.

She said sweetened soup, or Che Hue, a mixture soup of fruit, bean, lotus seeds and different ingredients makes a favourite snack on night walks with friends in the tourism hub.

Sai travels by bicycle from her flat to the school each day, as well as to destinations, markets and shopping for leisure.

The volunteer teacher has two traditional long dresses (ao dai), and one is in purple  the typical colour of Hue City  in festival fashion at school or party.

My father paid a visit to Hue on my suggestion for his vacation. He also loves Hue architecture, pagodas, food and people. It seems that Hue has some similar designs and architecture to Japan.

Sai said she has been given positive support from Hue-born friends and colleagues during working and living in the city, and sometimes she also helps other teachers guide kids at playground or rehabilitation rooms.

Im so happy to hear kids calling my name whenever they need help from me. A boy with autism cannot speak clearly a word, but he could understand with my gesture and signals in little Vietnamese language. A girl with voice disorder could say my name and ask me for what they want, and they are so lovely when I teach them each day, she said.

I even wish to help them more because the children with disability have only few hours at school with us before their parents pick them up each day. They receive guidance and support from teachers in reviving their functions from birth defects, she said.

Sai will be going back her old school in Yamanashi, but her time working at the Hue-based Tuong Lai school will be an unforgettable memory for her.

I love Hue for its peaceful landscape, helpful friends, spicy food and gentle manner of local people. I could find Hue like my home-town and family. I will remember Hue as a benchmark of my life, especially the children with disabilities in Hue.  VNS
Hung Yen province's Department of Public Security said on January 30 that its Investigation Security Agency has launched criminal proceedings against and arrested a local man for the charge of "making, storing, distributing, or disseminating information, documents, and items against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" under Article 117 of the Penal Code.
HA NOI A reunion flight, designated flight number VN218, was organised by Vietnam Airlines (VNA) on the evening of January 29.

The purpose of the flight was to transport disadvantaged workers from HCM City to Ha Noi, allowing them to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) with their families in their hometowns. Many of these workers had been away from home for several years due to the challenges of making a living, and the limited economic conditions they faced made it difficult for them to afford the cost of travel.

The workers selected for the reunion flight had not had the opportunity to return home for many years, and this flight provided them with a rare chance to be reunited with their relatives and families.

The workers planned to stay in their hometowns during Tet to earn additional income for their families. The flight was a source of immense happiness for these individuals, who saw it as a dream come true.

Prior to the flight, many workers gathered at Tan Son Nhat airport in preparation for their journey home.

The reunion flight departed from Tan Son Nhat at 6:00 p.m. and landed at Noi Bai at 8:15 p.m. All workers on the flight received 100 per cent free airfare support. Vietnam Airlines also arranged transportation from Noi Bai airport to various locations in order to help the workers reach their hometowns quickly. This assistance aimed to alleviate the burdens faced by these disadvantaged workers and enable them to enjoy a complete and warm Tet celebration with their families.

ang Anh Tuan, the Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines, expressed his sentiments about the reunion flight, stating that the airline received applications from workers who were facing extremely difficult circumstances. Some of these workers had not been able to go home for many years, while others had never been able to return to their hometowns or meet their grandparents and relatives since their birth.

Despite the fact that Vietnam Airlines had organised similar flights in previous years and had read letters like these before, they were still deeply moved by the stories and situations of the workers. This emotional response served as the motivation for Vietnam Airlines to continue organising the annual Dream Flight - Reunion Journey programme.  VNS
HA NOI  A building for preserving remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who had laid down their lives during wartime in Cambodia was inaugurated at a ceremony held on January 31.

Located in the Cambodian northwestern province of Pailin, its construction worth approximately US$18,000 began on December 29 last year and was funded by Metfone, eMoney, and GIS Cambodia  affiliates of Vietnam's telecoms group Viettel in Cambodia.

Speaking at the ceremony, Metfone CEO Cao Manh Duc stated that over 45 years ago, Vietnamese volunteer soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder with the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation to conduct a campaign to rescue Cambodia from the genocidal Pol Pot regime. In this battle, tens of thousands fell, with the remains of many of them lying across various Cambodian provinces and cities.

Duc noted that Metfone and with partner enterprises have so far constructed two memorial houses of this kind in Battambang and Kampong Thom provinces.

General Ek Sam Oun, Commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces 5th military region, who also attended the inauguration ceremony, told

the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Cambodia, that the Cambodian people remember the significant sacrifices made by Vietnamese volunteer soldiers. He also emphasised Cambodia's duty to collaborate with Vietnam in locating their remains to send them back to their families and homeland.

Over the past two decades, Team K73 of Viet Nams Long An Military Command have left their mark across Svay Rieng, Phnom Penh, Battambang, and Pailin, searching for and repatriating over 2,000 sets of remains of Vietnamese soldiers.  VNS
HCM CITY  Representatives of Shinhan Life Vietnam visited and donated 1,300 free lunch meals to families and pediatric patients undergoing treatment at the Children's Hospital on January 29.

This marks the second consecutive year that Shinhan Life Vietnam has partnered with Children's Hospital 2 in HCM City to provide food and gifts to children at the hospital.

"We hope that this small gift will bring joy to the families of the children undergoing treatment at the hospital, especially as the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday approaches. Hopefully, in the future, we will together carry out more practical activities to share social responsibilities," said Shinhan Life Vietnam's general director Bae Seung Jun.

The donation is part of Shinhan Life Vietnams annual community-sharing programmes. Many employees and agents of Shinhan Life have participated in the programme in the hope of bringing more happiness to pediatric patients and their families at Children's Hospital 2.

Entering its third year of operation in Viet Nam, Shinhan Life remains focused on its business development plans in Viet Nam, contributing to its mission of enhancing the quality of life and providing protection for an increasing number of Vietnamese people.  VNS
One of the prominent changes in the new law, to come into effect next year, is that organisations and individuals who lease land from the state with a one-off rental payment for the entire lease period can choose to switch to land leases in the form of annual land rental.

Nguyen Le Tram, senior associate, ASL LAW

Previously, the 2013 Land Law exclusively allowed businesses and individuals to switch from annual land rentals to a one-time payment for the entire rental duration, with no provision for the reverse.

This will allow businesses to reduce the financial burden during execution of investment ventures. Real estate prices will be adjusted to a more reasonable level, fostering a balance between the interests of buyers and sellers, grounding a more transparent and competitive market.

Undesirable practices such as businesses inflating project details to secure bank loans or improperly mobilising capital are anticipated to diminish. The change is likely to result in a more reasonable adjustment of real estate prices.

The second notable change is the addition of for determining land prices according to market price principles and the elimination of the concept of land price framework and the regulation on the land price list.

According to the revised law, the land price list will be established annually. The initial list will be published and applied from 2026, and subsequently adjusted from January 1 the following year.

According to the new law, land valuation must ensure some principles such as using the land valuation method according to market principles; complying with correct methods, order, and procedures for land; and ensuring honesty, objectivity, openness, and transparency.

This regulation will help solve the problem that land prices are inconsistent with reality and often lower than land prices on the market.

Removing the common land price framework and applying the method of determining land prices according to normal market prices will help reduce land rent disparities. Enterprises with abundant financial resources will have the basis to accelerate site clearance and project implementation.

Businesses also have the opportunity to improve the commercial price of the project. In addition, the nature of the 2024 Land Law takes puts individuals first.

People will receive worthy compensation and be guaranteed legal rights and benefits. This ensures the states recognition of individuals when they make contributions to the locality, region, and country.

For the change on the land price list, the aim is to align with market land prices. However, it is anticipated that this provision will also increase the workload for local authorities.

The outstanding change that cannot be ignored in the 2024 Land Law is that the state leases land by selecting investors through a bidding method for implementing projects.

Through the auction method to allocate land with land use fees collection, land prices will be clearly shown through bidding results, creating a public and transparent environment. In addition, bidding also creates conditions for businesses with thoughtful and wide experience and history of effective land use to have more opportunities to implement initiatives. Enterprises with weak resources or using land for speculative purposes will not be able to survive long term.

Enterprises with clear business projects, healthy finances, good real estate development capacity, and clean land funds will have more opportunities to access land. When these businesses are listed on the stock exchange, this will affect their business results and the stock market price.

However, there are still notable inadequacies in the regulations. First, when the land price bracket is removed and the land price list approach is used to determine market price, the state is required to prepare sufficient budget resources to ensure compensation.

This will inevitably create a huge pressure on the state budget. Charging land prices close to market prices can cause businesses land use costs to increase. Real estate prices are at risk of continuing to escalate. These are issues that require close attention. Besides this, the updated land price list will also increase the workload pressure on local authorities.

Second, regarding the regulation of land auctions, the policy has not handled the situation of land price differences between localities, especially as there are no sanctions to handle violations in determining land prices by auctions.

Third, with regarding determining land prices according to market price principles, when recovering land to build projects, the law should be designed according to each region, each project, and each land recovery. Some areas will rely on the market price to be adjusted, but there are some situations where land prices are decided by agreements among the relevant parties. In short, there needs to be a good operating mechanism to avoid complaints and lawsuits.

In addition, the land recovery mechanism must be soft and flexible. This means that projects that are in the development plan for the benefit of the nation should let the state - as a representative - recover the land.

If businesses control the transfer and negotiate with each other, it will be very difficult and prolong project implementation. However, there are also areas where the state doesnt need to take over, so the transferee enterprise can negotiate on its own.

The 2024 Land Law aims to complete the land legal system under socialist-oriented market economic institutions in the context of international integration; resolve overlaps and problems; strengthen land management in terms of quality and economic value; and clarify the rights and interests of the state, land users, and investors.

The change that the 2024 Land Law will bring to society cannot be denied. Nonetheless, those who intend to join the Vietnamese property market still need more time to complete the legal framework from the implementation guidance documents to specifically assess the impact of the revised Land Law on the economy, especially real estate.
Last year's global economic unrest led to a decrease in employment demand worldwide that was coupled with a marked rise in production and business costs. Vietnam witnessed a significant impact due to the downturn experienced in two major sectors, the real estate market and corporate bonds. The challenges these sectors face have led to reduced capital absorption by businesses and an escalating trend in bad debts, among other difficulties.

Within the first 10 months of 2023, the country had witnessed the establishment and return to operation of more than 183,500 new businesses, marking an almost 3 per cent increase on-year. However, the number of businesses withdrawing from the market was over 146,500, seeing a rise of 20 per cent.

Despite the challenges, Vietnams economy is on a positive trajectory, supported by a series of measures from the government. According to the assessment from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, all three drivers - investment, exports, and consumption - show promising growth potential in the year ahead. Exports in particular are gradually gaining momentum since the end of last year. Retail and consumption are approaching double-digit growth, and the investment sector shows favourable opportunities in state and private investment, as well as from overseas, especially in emerging areas like renewable energy and semiconductors.

Adecco Vietnams survey reveals caution, however, with 74 per cent of businesses expecting limited-to-modest growth in 2024. In addition to the 37 per cent that plan to maintain their workforce size, a further 35 per cent intend to increase headcount by less than 25 per cent. Businesses in retail, education, and IT have plans to increase recruitment more significantly.

Nevertheless, 18 per cent of firms surveyed plan to cut down their workforce, an 8 per cent increase compared to the start of 2023, primarily in manufacturing and real estate.

The top priority for recruiters is candidates with change management and leadership skills, as chosen by 47 per cent of surveyed employers, with technological and digital skills also highly valued.

From the perspective of employees, the unpredictable job market has increased caution in searching for new opportunities. According to the survey, 29 per cent have no intention of changing jobs, while 36 per cent are open to new opportunities but not actively seeking new employment in the next 12 months.

Compared to last year's survey, where salary was chosen as the most important factor by a significant margin, it was opportunities for development, along with welfare benefits, listed as most prized by employees.

While analysing the top factors contributing to the movement of talent across the Asia-Pacific region, compensation and benefits also emerged as the most significant factor, with 67 per cent choosing it as their primary consideration when switching roles. In comparison to other countries within the region, Vietnam, at 57 per cent, lags more expensive locations, such as Hong Kong (88 per cent), Singapore (82 per cent), and South Korea (78 per cent).

Consequently, salary expectations across Asia-Pacific are high. In reality, Vietnam leads with 23 per cent of respondents, followed by India at 21 per cent, receiving a salary increase of over 20 per cent in their current roles. In contrast, when changing employers, a significant 46 per cent in Vietnam and 91 per cent in India expect a base salary increase of over 20 per cent.

Given such high salary expectations, organisations need to relook their pay strategies for 2024. Aligning employee salaries with market demands will be crucial to enticing and retaining top talent.

Recruitment soaring in tech titan positions A number of foreign-invested enterprises are relocating their operations to the north, creating greater demand for local recruitment.

Talent acquisition and recruitment policies transforming ManpowerGroup Vietnam on December 5 released its 2024 Salary Guide to provide an in-depth industry overview and salary ranges for various roles and levels across 10 key industries grounded in real data and projections.
The collaboration will see the debut of a wide range of treatment and specialised medical activities, along with the application of advanced medical methods and techniques from a team of experts.

Through long-term investment in Vietnam, the plan aims to leverage specific phases, ranging from joint ventures to expand outpatient treatment services, to focusing on helping patients access high-quality healthcare services at affordable costs.

IHH Healthcare Singapore is a major healthcare group in Asia, managing reputable and highly trusted healthcare brands like Gleneagles, Mount Elizabeth, and Parkway.

With a long and well-established track record of medical expertise and clinical outcomes, its hospitals have a profound understanding of Asian patients, especially in oncology.

This event marks another important turning point for Long Chau as it forays into developing new business models for medical examination and treatment, particularly for fatal diseases such as oncology.

Meanwhile, FPT Long Chau, a subsidiary of FPT Digital Retail JSC and a member of tech giant FPT Group, has established its position by retailing prescription drugs, including oncology treatment drugs. It operates a popular pharmacy chain in Vietnam through the application of high-tech solutions and excellent customer service.

It operates a popular pharmacy chain in Vietnam through the application of high-tech solutions and excellent customer service.

At the signing ceremony, FPT Long Chau officially announced its expansion into the Vietnamese healthcare ecosystem.

More than just a pharmaceutical retail chain serving medical needs, FPT Long Chau is gradually building a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem by establishing the Long Chau Vaccination System for disease prevention.

This event marks another important turning point for Long Chau as it forays into developing new business models for medical examination and treatment, particularly for fatal diseases such as oncology.

This is an important milestone for the improvement of medical treatment in Vietnam. We are building a healthcare ecosystem step by step, not just a pharmacy chain, but also creating a balance between basic healthcare and long-term care, said Nguyen Bach Diep, chairwoman of the Board of Directors at FPT Retail and general director of FPT Long Chau.

Nguyen Bach Diep, chairwoman of the Board of Directors at FPT Retail and general director of FPT Long Chau

Building a healthcare ecosystem is not only an investment in individual health but also an important step towards the sustainable development of society, Diep noted.

Peter Chow, acting CEO of IHH Singapore, said, IHH Healthcare and its many healthcare brands have been contributing to the international healthcare industry for decades, with a mission to take exemplary care of our patients by consistently raising the bar in clinical, operational, and service excellence.

We appreciate the achievements FPT Long Chau has made as a top pharmaceutical retailer in Vietnam and are honoured to help build a more robust healthcare ecosystem. This cooperation is not just about sharing expertise and advanced treatment techniques, but also about creating a comprehensive healthcare environment that can improve the lives of the Vietnamese people.

Peter Chow, acting CEO of IHH Singapore

FPT Long Chau is dedicated to providing practical healthcare services that meet the needs of the community.

Starting from June 2023, FPT Long Chau began offering vaccination services at reasonable prices to protect and maintain public health.

More information about FPT Long Chau https://nhathuoclongchau.com.vn/

Meanwhile, IHH Healthcare Singapore (IHH SG) is the largest private healthcare provider in Singapore.

It operates over 1,000 beds - close to half of all private hospital beds in the country - across four multiple award-winning hospitals  Gleneagles Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and Parkway East Hospital, where more than 1,500 accredited specialists provide quality and effective multi-disciplinary specialist care.

IHH SG also operates more than 35 patient assistance centres worldwide to reach out to an international pool of patients.

IHH SG is part of IHH Healthcare, which manages 83 hospitals in 10 countries worldwide.

For more information, visit https://www.ihhhealthcare.com/singapore/

Indonesia encourages MSME to enter digital ecosystem Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan has urged regional governments to support the micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to step up digital transformation so as to enhance competitive edge for domestic products.

FPT launches automotive technology subsidiary in Texas Global technology services provider FPT on December 14 officially launched its automotive technology subsidiary - FPT Automotive in Texas, USA as part of its moves to expand itss footprint in the market.
The aftermath of the Tubbs Fire, which destroyed some neighborhoods in Santa Rosa, is seen in November 2017. People with homes in wildfire-prone areas are often turning to the FAIR Plan, Californias insurer of last resort  but are encountering delays. George Rose/Getty Images

Around 8:30 a.m. each weekday, an employee with Santa Rosa-based Sadler & Company Insurance Brokers Inc. calls Californias backstop insurer, hoping that by 4 p.m. they will come off hold and can speak with someone.

Its emblematic of problems at the FAIR Plan, Californias fire insurer of last resort, where response times have dramatically slowed, partly due to new software, even as demand has ramped up.

The bottom line is that its extremely difficult, said Jay Zemansky, president of Sadler & Company Insurance Brokers. Getting updates on insurance quotes for clients now can take 15 days or more, he said, whereas four months ago, it took about three days.

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Butte County homeowner Joe Cardoza has also noticed delays as he has tried to renew insurance for his Magalia home. He has used the FAIR Plan for two years, and each December he got the renewal paperwork  but this year, nothing came.

Im one of those people whos pretty much on top of everything in my life, and when I got to the middle of January, I knew I had not yet received my paperwork, he said.

The FAIR Plan, created by the state Legislature in 1968 and controlled by a pool of all property insurers licensed in the state, is intended to cover people who otherwise cannot find insurance. People in high fire-risk areas have been forced to turn to it in rising numbers in recent years, as wildfire damage has increased and numerous insurers have stopped offering policies in the state. The FAIR Plan is not an ideal solution for homeowners, given its high rates and the fact that supplemental insurance is necessary to cover liability, theft and water damage  but many people, especially in wildfire-prone areas, have found alternative coverage difficult to find.

The number of FAIR Plan policies has grown more than 25% in since the end of 2022, and it now has more than 350,000 policies.

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A software update in late October, combined with the rapid growth, appears to have slowed service down.

Unfortunately, quotations for some applications were delayed due to the high volume of applications combined with our recent system modernization, a FAIR Plan spokesperson told the Chronicle in a statement earlier this month.

Zemansky said he had to relearn how to use the system after the software update.

They completely changed everything in the middle of this crisis, he said.

According to a FAIR Plan statement, brokers were offered early notifications, training and weekly webinars as the new system rolled out. The FAIR Plan also tripled its number of customer service representatives and doubled the underwriting team to handle the growth.

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These changes have greatly reduced delays and brought service levels back to a more normal level, the insurance program stated.

Zemansky says the delays continue. For some clients, quotes to receive FAIR Plan insurance take so long that their previous insurance expires and they are left uninsured while waiting for a FAIR Plan response, Zemansky said.

We just accept what it is and then do what we have to do for the client, he said.

Cardoza, the Butte County homeowner, called his broker to see what the holdup on his paperwork was. California insurers are required to offer renewals 45 days before policy expiration  Cardozas policy ends Feb. 27, and as of Jan. 29, he still had no renewal notice.

The broker attributed the delay to the FAIR Plans software system update, Cardoza said.

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Regardless of what system you change over to, youve got to make sure the process continues in a timely fashion, he said.

Cardoza called the Insurance Commissioners office and the FAIR Plan to address the issue. Someone from the FAIR Plan apologized to him and promised to provide the renewal shortly, he said.

Cardoza believes that even if he does not receive the renewal before Feb. 27, he will stay insured, since the issue is not his fault.

He believes there are a lot of people out there in a similar situation, though they are not aware of it.

You may have people who dont (look) through their paperwork, he said.
The HOA, signed on January 26, is the first step in the commercialisation of the Nam Du and U Minh (NDUM) fields, located in Block 46/07 and Block 51 Production Sharing Contracts in shallow water. The agreement forms the basis for detailed negotiations over a fully termed GSPA and also serves as a precursor to allow the submission of an updated Field Development Plan (FDP) for the NDUM fields, the approval of which is key for progressing to a final decision from Jadestone.

The company is preparing to submit an updated FDP in the near future, which will specify the development concept for the NDUM fields, along with associated capital and operating cost estimates, and a schedule to 'first gas'.

The HOA stipulates a daily contract quantity of 80 million standard cubic feet per day under a take-or-pay arrangement over a targeted minimum plateau period of 55 months, with the earliest possible 'first gas' date in late 2026. The initial wellhead gas price in the HOA is comparable to the price of recent Vietnam pipeline gas imports, and subject to annual escalation.

The NDUM fields, in which Jadestone currently has a 100 per cent working interest, contain, at best estimate, gross aggregate resources of 171.3 billion standard cubic feet of gas and 1.6 million barrels of liquids, as evaluated by energy consultancy ERCE in 2017. Jadestone estimates significant upside potential surrounding the existing discoveries, with any future resource additions likely to represent straightforward tie-backs to the NDUM core facilities.

Paul Blakeley, president and CEO of Jadestone said, Securing a signed HOA is a crucial step which helps restart the commercialisation of our discoveries in Vietnam, and regain momentum for the development of this significant asset within our portfolio. While there remains significant work ahead to deliver a GSPA and a detailed project plan, this is a clear signal of intent from the government to see this resource developed. The NDUM gas fields could deliver significant medium-term production growth for Jadestone, further diversifying our asset base and increasing our gas volumes while decreasing our emissions' intensity  all key elements of our strategy."

"The likely timing of a final decision on NDUM would result in capital expenditure occurring no earlier than mid-2025. The project could also help reduce Vietnams reliance on expensive gas imports and would also contribute to the countrys energy transition and stated goal of net-zero by 2050, as well as creating local jobs and economic benefits," Blakeley added.

JERA inks deal with EVN on decarbonisation JERA Co., Inc.(JERA) has signed an MoU with Vietnam Electricity (EVN) committing to establish a decarbonisation roadmap for EVN.

PetroVietnam sets ambitious targets Riding on positive growth, state-run Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) has set high-pressure goals for the last three months of 2023 to ensure sustainable development in the long term.
Nestle has coordinated with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour's Golden Heart Charity Fund, Dong Nai Labour Federation, and My Hao Town Red Cross in Hung Yen, along with several other organisations to donate the nearly 6,000 products to union members, workers, women, and children across the country. The gifts include Milo barley milk, Maggi soy sauce, Nescafe coffee, and Nestea iced tea.

Nguyen Thi Nhu Y, chairwoman of Dong Nai Labour Federation, said, "We want to express our thanks and recognition for the contribution of Nestle Vietnam in helping our trade union to take care of disadvantaged workers. The companys support will enable workers to celebrate the warm and joyful Lunar New Year."

As the world's largest food and beverage company, Nestle is conscious of its corporate social responsibility in its production and business activities. Every year, the company coordinates with charities, engages in community activities, and grants many gifts of nutritional products to poor households in many provinces and cities nationwide.

Since 1995, Nestle Vietnam has been helping partners to deliver the most effective support for the community and to improve the quality of life for Vietnamese people. Nestle Vietnam has been awarded the title 'Typical Enterprise for Labour' four times since 2019. The award is part of a scheme that is chaired by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, and the Vietnam Confederation of Commerce and Industry.

In addition, the company has been listed as among the top 10 most sustainable businesses in Vietnam's manufacturing sector for three years running in recognition of its in environmental, social, and governance achievements.

Nestle Vietnam kicks off its Tet 2024 campaign with message "Cau Du La Duoc" Ahead of the Lunar New Year, Nestle Vietnam has kicked off the campaign Cau Du La Duoc (Wishing for just enough is fine) to encourage people to share their new year wishes with each other and together make efforts to turn them into reality. The event is taking place on January 5, with thousands of valuable gifts for consumers.

Nestle makes another $100 million investment into Nestle Tri An in Dong Nai On January 9, Nestle Vietnam announced an additional investment of $100 million into the Nestle Tri An factory in the southern province of Dong Nai, raising the total investment capital of the factory to $500 million.

F&B titans injecting new cash for facilities The domestic food and beverage industry remains one of the most attractive segments in Vietnam, with local and foreign companies beefing up investment.


The information was revealed in a report titled Food delivery platforms in Southeast Asia 2024 by Momentum Works on January 30.

According to the report, Southeast Asias food delivery platforms' gross merchandise value (GMV) climbed by a modest 5 per cent on-year to reach $17.1 billion in 2023, mirroring the growth rate observed in 2022.

The increase was driven primarily by the regions smallest food delivery market, Vietnam (+$300 million or 27 per cent on-year), followed by Malaysia (+$200 million or 9 per cent on-year). Thailand and Indonesia registered low single-digit growth, while Singapores topline remained flat.

With continuous pressure to achieve sustainable profitability, most incumbent food delivery players have continued to rein in food delivery subsidies and adopt differentiated strategies to compete.

As of the end of 2023, Grab is estimated to account for 55 per cent or $9.4 billion of the regions food delivery GMV, a 6.8 per cent increase from the year before.

Most food delivery markets in Southeast Asia experienced very modest growth, except for Vietnam, where total GMV grew by almost 30 per cent despite cost controls from almost all the players. Vietnam led the growth across all six major markets.

Among all food delivery platforms, Grab continues to maintain a significant market share of 47 per cent in Vietnam. ShopeeFood has risen to become the second most popular option in the country, holding 45 per cent of the market share. It is followed by Baemin and Gojek with 5 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively.

The report highlighted that the food and beverage (F&B) sector has recovered, but competition intensified, with most major shifts expected to continue into 2024. In 2023, the total F&B service expenditure in Southeast Asia finally exceed pre-pandemic levels, with many large operators seeing clear growth.

In 2023, there was a significant increase in the number of Chinese chain restaurants expanding overseas, and many of them chose Southeast Asia as their first destination. Mixue opened its first overseas store in Vietnam in 2018, and the Chinese brand now has close to 4,000 stores in the region.

Aside from the F&B recovery and entry of Chinese brands, the other two key trends are the digitalisation of F&B, as well as the divergence of platform strategies with the common theme of consolidation.

After one to two years of cost reductions, operational optimisation, and sometimes lay-offs, most platforms have achieved some level of profitability. The consolidation that is already happening in the sector is expected to continue into 2024.

Food delivery market looks to restructure The impairment of Baemin in the food delivery sector may open a new opportunity for the current players to conquer to gain the remaining market share.

Food delivery firm Baemin bids farewell to Vietnam Baemin, the South Korean food delivery firm, has announced its departure from the Vietnamese market, effective from December 8.
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Hello Bello, a diaper-maker of the stars, has emerged from bankruptcy under new ownership vowing to clean up its financial mess.

Founded in 2019 by actors and couple Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, Hello Bello made Waco home to its first wholly owned diaper factory. The company took over a used facility on Texas Central Parkway, secured tax breaks from Waco and McLennan County, and pledged to create 110 jobs.

But start-up struggles exacerbated by supply chain issues prompted Hello Bello in October to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In a press release announcing the filing, Hello Bello made it clear the move was meant to facilitate a sale to New York-based Hildred Capital Management firm that did acquire the company in December. Hildred has announced Hylands Naturals CEO Will Righeimer would oversee the new acquisition.

Hylands Naturals is another company in the Hildred portfolio.

I am thrilled to guide the partnership between two prominent industry leaders that are dedicated to enhancing the parenting journey, Righeimer said in a Hello Bello press release. The synergy between our companies will empower us to provide unparalleled support to parents, from newborns to young children, through a comprehensive range of high-quality pediatric products and consumer healthcare essentials.

Hello Bello is well positioned for accelerated growth, building on a well-established customer base that appreciates the value and quality of the Hello Bello brand, the press release says.

Hello Bello was the doing business as name of Unconditional Love Inc. It touted its plant-derived baby products, including diapers, wipes, shampoo, lotion and diaper rash cream, upon introducing itself to consumers in 2019. Products appeared on Walmart shelves, and Hello Bello also built a strong online presence.

We are excited to be part of the Hildred family of companies, Hello Bello President Erica Buxton said in a press release. Hildred has a great deal of experience in this space and with their partnership, we are confident that we will continue to not only make great products but increase our efficiency and manufacturing capacity for our customers and retail partners.

We will now be in a stronger financial position and benefit from operational expertise from both Hildred and similarly situated businesses in its portfolio.

Nothing in the press releases mentions the Hello Bello manufacturing facility on Imperial Drive, and whether it has a secure place in the company. Messages to Hildred on that subject had not been returned by late Friday.

A Hello Bello press release from Dec. 16, 2020, announced the company had chosen Waco for the company expansion of its wholly-owned diaper distribution and manufacturing center.  Hello Bello will modernize the former Domtar facility in a state-of-the-art manufacturing center located at 2101 Texas Central Parkway, with construction expected to be completed by Q2 2021 for a summer grand opening.

The press release said Hello Bello chose Waco for its central geographic location, access to retail and supply partners, availability of raw materials in the region and cost efficiency.

We welcome yet another California company that sees the benefits that Texas, Waco and McLennan County have to offer, McLennan County Judge Scott Felton said at the time.

Waco Mayor Dillon Meek said the announcement was primarily important due to the 110 full-time jobs to be created and the $31 million capital investment.

Hello Bello received a $2.5 million economic development grant from Waco and McLennan County. In a separate development, it secured a lease on a 124,000-square-foot speculative building on Exchange Parkway near Wacos Amazon fulfillment center.

I have not heard that they are moving out of our building, said real estate agent Gregg Glime, who brokered the building lease on Exchange Parkway.

Kris Collins, senior vice president for economic development at the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, said local leaders are working with the company to determine whether any changes will be needed to its $2.5 million economic development agreement.

Waco and McLennan County did provide incentive support to Hello Bello in 2021, Collins said. These programs are performance based and payment provided to the company to date were based upon the companys demonstration that it had met the metrics required. The companys new leadership has reached out to our team to provide updates on the pathway for continued long term success in Waco for the business, its employees and the community.

We are working with the company leadership to determine the next steps with the incentive agreements and if any modifications will be needed. In that case, agreement amendments would require consideration of both the Waco City Council and the McLennan County Commissioners Court.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said Tuesday the citys struggling 911 dispatch center is finally hiring more staff and improving substandard response times. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said the citys struggling 911 dispatch center will have only four outstanding vacancies by Feb. 17. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said Tuesday that the citys troubled 911 dispatch center is finally on the mend  filling job vacancies and improving its response times.

The Police Department unit, which has long suffered from high turnover, staff shortages and substandard response times, will have only four outstanding vacancies by Feb. 17, Thao said. In September, the city had 14 vacancies to fill in its dispatch service.

The 911 center is budgeted for 76 dispatcher positions and is in the process of checking backgrounds for 40 candidates to fill the remaining vacancies. Applicants must go through background checks before the city selects them to move forward with the process. Training can take up to eight months.

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I dont know when was the last time we had that low number of vacancies here, but that is a huge win for the city, for constituents of Oakland and for our dispatchers to help alleviate the load, Thao said.

In 2023, the dispatch unit received more than 1.2 million 911 calls  averaging about 3,500 calls per day, according to the Oakland Police Department. Dispatchers often work overtime shifts to address the demand. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

Residents have long complained about the citys slow 911 response time, and city officials have acknowledged the problem. But the crisis came to a head last summer when the state threatened to withhold funds that underwrite 911 services if Oakland didnt improve its response time.

In 2023, the dispatch unit received more than 1.2 million 911 calls  averaging about 3,500 calls per day, according to the Police Department. Dispatchers often work overtime shifts to address the demand.

According to a letter from the California Office of Emergency Services sent on July 26, Oakland is required to respond to 911 calls within 15 seconds 90% of the time, but was doing so only 46% of the time. The city was required to submit a remediation plan to improve services within 30 days and had one year from the time the letter was sent to meet state standards. The amount of funding at stake was not specified by the Cal OES, but the states overall spending on local 911 support last year was around $170 million.

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Thao said Tuesday the city didnt have an update on the states funding decisions, but that the dispatch center is improving its response times. In August, just 37% of 911 calls were answered within 15 seconds  the slowest performance of the year.

By December, 50% of 911 calls were answered within 15 seconds, Thao said, adding that she expects to see further improvements as vacancies are filled.

On Tuesday, Thao toured the dispatch center and spoke to workers.

Antoinette Blue, a dispatcher with the department for 10 years, said she typically answers up to 600 calls per day. That number can increase to 1,000 calls per day in the summer. We are a busy city, she said. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

Antoinette Blue, a dispatcher with the department for 10 years, said she typically answers up to 600 calls per day. That number can increase to 1,000 calls per day in the summer.

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We are a busy city, she said, adding that the new hires have helped improve the work environment.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man has been arrested in connection with a gun found during a series of searches at homes in October.

Members of the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force found a 9mm handgun in a Pontiac Torrent that was parked at 2107 Weis Court during the Oct. 23 search. A bag of marijuana was also found in the vehicle.

DNA samples from the weapon were later linked to Tianzo Earl McNabb, according to court records.

On Tuesday, McNabb was arrested for felon in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana. Bond was set at $20,000.

Court records show McNabb is currently on probation for weapons charges in a July 25, 2021, incident where he allegedly fired a shot during an argument with a neighbor on West Mullan Avenue. He also has a prior felony conviction from Cook County, Illinois, records state.

Photos: Guns in Northeast Iowa crime cases
CHICAGO  Illinois' election board kept former President Donald Trump on the state's primary ballot Tuesday, a week before the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on whether the Republican's role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol disqualifies him from the presidency.

The board's unanimous ruling came after its hearing officer, a retired Republican judge, found that a "preponderance of the evidence" shows Trump is ineligible to run for president because he violated a constitutional ban on those who "engaged in insurrection" from holding office. Still, the hearing officer recommended the board let the courts make the decision.

The eight-member board, composed of four Democrats and four Republicans, agreed with a recommendation from its lawyer to let Trump remain on the ballot because it didn't have the authority to determine whether he violated the U.S. Constitution.

Board member Catherine McCrory prefaced her vote with a statement: "I want it to be clear that this Republican believes that there was an insurrection on Jan. 6. There's no doubt in my mind that he manipulated, instigated, aided and abetted an insurrection on Jan. 6."

However, McCrory said she agreed the board doesn't have jurisdiction to enforce that conclusion.

Trump cheered the decision in a post on his social media network, Truth Social. "The VOTE was 8-0 in favor of keeping your favorite President (ME!), on the Ballot," Trump wrote.

An attorney for the voters who objected to Trump's presence on the ballot said they'd appeal to Cook County circuit court.

"What's happened here is an avoidance of a hot potato issue," attorney Matthew Piers told reporters after the hearing. "I get the desire to do it, but the law doesn't allow you to duck."

The issue will likely be decided at a higher court, with the U.S. Supreme Court scheduled next week to hear arguments in Trump's appeal of a Colorado ruling declaring him ineligible for the presidency there.

The nation's highest court has never ruled on a case involving Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was adopted in 1868 to prevent former confederates from returning to office after the Civil War but has rarely been used since then.

Some legal scholars say the post-Civil War clause applies to Trump for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election and encouraging his backers to storm the U.S. Capitol after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Dozens of cases were filed around the country seeking to bar Trump from the presidency under Section 3. The Colorado case is the only one that succeeded in court. Most other courts and election officials ducked the issue on similar grounds to Illinois, contending they don't have jurisdiction to rule on the obscure constitutional issue.

Maine's Democratic Secretary of State also ruled that Trump violated the 14th Amendment and is no longer eligible for the White House, but her ruling is on hold until the Supreme Court issues a decision.

Trump's critics argue he's disqualified by the plain language of Section 3, which forbids those who swore an oath to "support" the Constitution, then "engaged in insurrection" against it from holding office. They contend the former president is ineligible just as if he didn't meet the constitutional threshold of being at least 35 years old.

Trump's attorneys argue the provision is vague and unclear and that Jan. 6 doesn't meet the legal definition of an insurrection. Even if it did, they argue, Trump was simply exercising his First Amendment and isn't liable for what occurred and the bar on office shouldn't apply to presidents.

Though Trump blames Biden for the lawsuits because several were filed by liberal nonprofit groups, there is no evidence the president was involved. On Tuesday, before the Illinois ruling, Biden said he didnt have a problem with Trump being on presidential ballots.

Section 3 was heavily used immediately after the Civil War, but after Congress granted an amnesty to most former Confederates in 1872 it fell into disuse. Legal scholars can only find one example of it being deployed in the 20th century  against a socialist who was not seated in congress because he objected to U.S. involvement in World War One  and only used a handful of times since Jan. 6.

The Illinois board members avoided the issue by concluding that, under state law, all they can do is assess whether the basic paperwork candidates fill out is true. The only way to remove Trump would be by concluding he made a false statement when he swore under oath in that paperwork that he was eligible for the office he sought.

Board member Jack Vrett, a Republican, warned that would create a dangerous precedent, given the dozens of election boards in the state that follow the main one's lead.

"If we allowed them to say, 'Don't just look at the papers, look at the underlying allegations,' that would open a floodgate," Vrett said.

"Every possible school board candidate would seek to challenge the qualification" of their rival, Vrett added, "based on some alleged criminal conduct."

Today in history: Jan. 30 1933: Adolf Hitler 1948: Mohandas K. Gandhi 1968: Tet Offensive 1972: "Bloody Sunday" 1981: Ticker Tape Parade 1993: Los Angeles 2005: Iraq 2006: Coretta Scott King 2017: Donald Trump 2020: Coronavirus
As the toll from the COVID-19 pandemic continued to mount, antiviral medications such as Paxlovid were hailed by health officials as an important way to reduce the risk of severe illness or death.

Yet the drugs have remained underused, studies have found. In Boston, a group of researchers wanted to know why  and what could be done about it.

Their new findings, published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suggest that some vulnerable patients were not offered the prescription medicines at all, and that doctors need more education to make sure the drugs get to patients who could benefit.

Researchers from the VA Boston Cooperative Studies Program delved into records from the Veterans Health Administration to look more closely at what happened to high-risk patients who never got Paxlovid, remdesivir or molnupiravir. They focused on 110 patients who received organ transplants or had other medical conditions such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia that were likely to leave them immunocompromised and thus at greater risk from COVID-19 despite being vaccinated.

Their analysis in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that 20% of those patients turned down the drugs when they were offered. But the remaining 80% of patients were never offered such treatment in the first place.

In some cases, medical providers decided not to give patients the COVID-19 drugs because they were worried about how they could interact with other medications patients were already taking, including cholesterol-lowering statins and a drug used to reduce the risk that a transplanted organ would be rejected. In other cases, doctors demurred because their patients had experienced COVID-19 symptoms for more than five days beforehand, beyond the recommended window for getting Paxlovid.

Despite public alarm about "Paxlovid rebound," in which symptoms recur after treatment, none of the medical records noted it as a reason not to give the drug, the study found. But in almost half of the cases in which people weren't offered the medication, no reason was given by medical providers other than patients having mild symptoms, the researchers found.

But people with mild symptoms early in their illness are "exactly the target group for getting the treatment," said Dr. Paul Monach, who heads the rheumatology section at the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and was the study's lead author.

The drugs are recommended for people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of severe illness due to their age or medical conditions  the same kind of patients the Boston researchers were scrutinizing. The CDC urges doctors to treat high-risk patients within five days rather than waiting for their symptoms to worsen.

"Every case starts off mild," and it's unpredictable whether they will become more severe, said Dr. Davey Smith, an infectious disease specialist at UC San Diego who was not involved in the study. "It might not be until the fifth or sixth day that you get into trouble  and by that time it's too late to take these medications."

Smith said he was especially alarmed that people whose immune systems were weakened were not getting the antiviral drugs. "Those are the people who are still coming into our hospital. And those are the ones who are dying. ... It breaks my heart every time I see them in the hospital and they just didn't get the medication."

The Boston researchers said their findings suggest that physicians need more education about when to consider using the drugs. Patients, in turn, could be encouraged to reach out to medical providers sooner after they start showing symptoms.

Monach added that some Veterans Health patients who weren't offered the drugs went home before their coronavirus test results were returned. Clinical staff such as nurses phoned them to follow up, but did not appear to have mentioned the possibility of antiviral medication, based on the records reviewed by the researchers.

"That doesn't mean that people weren't doing their jobs," Monach said, "but I don't think those people had been informed, as part of their normal jobs, what the indication would be for giving Paxlovid."

Concerns about Paxlovid and other COVID-19 medications not reaching patients who could benefit have persisted since soon after the drugs became available. Just months after Paxlovid received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, a national survey from the COVID States Project found that among people infected with the coronavirus between May and early July of 2022, only 11% reported having taken antivirals. Among a higher-risk group of people  those over the age of 65  the rate was 20%, "higher, but still low."

Another study of patients in the Veterans Affairs health system found that as of early 2023, less than a quarter of outpatients who tested positive for coronavirus infections were receiving any kind of anti-COVID medication. And researchers have also found alarming gaps in who is getting Paxlovid, with Black and Latino patients obtaining such treatment at markedly lower rates than white and non-Latino ones, even among immunocompromised patients.

"I have been banging my head against the wall for my colleagues not using medications," Smith said.

If physicians or patients are concerned about "rebound," he said, "COVID has this waxing and waning of symptoms anyway," whether you take medication or not. "And we know this medication, in higher-risk individuals, keeps people out of the hospital and from dying."

One patient recently told him, "'Well, the last time I got COVID, I didn't take the medicine and I was fine,'" Smith said. The problem is "that's true until it's not. You can only dodge the bullet so many times," and the risks grow for an individual as they age. "Every time that you get COVID, you are getting it at a time when you are older."

Chronic absenteeism is still up in schools across the US Chronic absenteeism is still up in schools across the US An improving situation, but not enough
RICHFIELD, Minn.  Travelers in northwestern Minnesota can shake off their trepidation about hitting the winter roads knowing Taylor Drift is clearing a path ahead of them.

The snowplow named for Taylor Swift was the runaway winner of Minnesotas fourth annual Name a Snowplow contest, with eight new names announced Tuesday. Taylor Drift received 12,027 votes, nearly twice as many as the second-place finisher, Clark W. Blizzwald  honoring the star character of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

In order of votes received, the other winners out of 49 finalists were Dolly Plowton, Waipahinte  a Dakota word for snowplow  Beyonsleigh, Youre Killin Me Squalls, Fast and Flurrious, and Barbies Dream Plow.

Minnesotans vote in huge numbers for these," Gov. Tim Walz said at a news conference. "Thousands and thousands of Minnesotans come up with incredible creativity. The governor stood beside an orange-painted plow with a sticker bearing its new name, Barbie's Dream Plow.

Walz thanked the states snowplow drivers for braving dangerous conditions, working 12-hour shifts and clearing 200 miles or more at a time.

The eight winning names were assigned to snowplows in different districts, with Taylor Drift going to one in northwest Minnesota and Barbie's Dream Plow going to another in the Twin Cities metro.

The often-icy state began naming its roughly 800 plows in 2020. More than three dozen names already grace trucks scraping snow off Minnesota highways.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation started the contest as a way to cheer people up during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Anne Meyer, a spokesperson for the agency.

We have a lot of fun with this contest each year, but I also hope in its own way it increases the security and safety of the men and women who operate our snowplows, Meyer said.

Meyer urged people to slow down and keep a good distance from snowplow drivers. About 100 snowplows get hit each winter season in Minnesota, she said. The Name a Snowplow contest is a way to personalize both the massive trucks and the people who drive them.

Waipahinte is the first Dakota name applied to a snowplow by popular vote.

Outside the contest, employees of the state's Department of Transportation gave three snowplows a Dakota name  Icamna-Blizzard  and Ojibwe names  Giiwedin-The North Wind and Goonodaabaan-Snow Vehicle  in previous years to acknowledge the highways the state plows adjacent to tribal lands.

With over 50,000 snowplow name submissions since 2020, the response in Minnesota has prompted states and cities across the country to hold similar contests to name snowplows, including Alaska, California, Ohio and Massachusetts.

Previous winners over the years in Minnesota include Plowy McPlowFace, Darth Blader, Blizzard of Oz, Scoop Dogg and Han Snolo.

Lesser-known ski destinations in the US Lesser-known ski destinations in the US Lost Trail Ski Area, Montana Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia Whiteface Mountain, New York
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (30 January 2024)

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled three attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 30th, 32nd, and 44th mechanised brigades close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy lost up to 140 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and repelled three attacks of assault groups of the AFU 60th and 63rd mechanised brigades close to Yampolovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 290 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, and five motor vehicles.

In the Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems took more advantageous lines and positions.

In addition, strikes were delivered at enemy manpower and military hardware near Krasnoye, Andreyevka, Novomikhailovka, Kurdyumovka, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The enemy lost up to 310 troops killed and wounded, two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, and 11 motor vehicles.

In addition, during the counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops engaged one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system and two Msta-B howitzers.

In South-Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces jointly with aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and military hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade near Ugledar and Konstantinovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The enemys losses amounted to up to 60 Ukrainian troops, one tank, and two motor vehicles. During counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops neutralised two UK-made FH-70 howitzers and one D-30 gun.

In Zaporozhye direction, the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery neutralised manpower and hardware of the AFU 3rd National Guard Brigade of Ukraine near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

During the day, up to 40 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer have been neutralised.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the active actions of the Russian Group of Forces and complex fire damage caused to the enemy, the AFU losses amounted to 45 troops, two motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers.

Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation hit during the day: a fuel depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a radar station of the German-made IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile system, as well as manpower and military hardware in 112 areas.

Air defence systems shot down 12 projectiles of the HIMARS and Uragan multiple launch rocket systems, as well as a U.S.-made JDAM guided aerial bomb.

In addition, 86 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down, including close to Zolotarevka, Popasnaya, Kremennaya (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Verkhnekamenskoye, Yampolovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Ocheretovatoye, Shevchenkovo, Mirnoye, Konstantinovka, Lyubimovka (Zaporozhye region) and Korsunka (Kherson region).

In total, 568 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 11,431 unmanned aerial vehicles, 456 air defence missile systems, 14,847 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,211 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,902 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 18,042 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Leya Stewart has been missing for seven months now, and her family remains without closure over her disappearance.

The 43-year-old Juneau County woman was last seen on July 4 in a rural area just east of Mauston. Her mother, Vera Weiland, and Kathleen Engelman, Stewarts aunt, have ideas about what they believe happened to her and maintain law enforcement has not done enough to solve the case.

Im very irritated, Weiland said. We should have found her by now. All I do is walk down the street and keep looking everywhere.

Juneau County Sheriffs Office Detective Shaun Goyette, who is in charge of the case, said authorities continue to treat Stewarts disappearance as a missing person case. He said foul play has not been ruled out.

I understand the frustration because they have the same unanswered questions that we have, Goyette said of Stewarts family members. We want answers. We want to bring Leya home.

Goyette said Stewart was last seen by an independent witness who said she appeared possibly intoxicated walking barefoot on 19th Avenue north of 43rd Street in the town of Lemonweir around 1:15 p.m. on July 4. He added that the witness had seen her walking in that area on prior occasions.

Weiland said her daughter would never hurt anybody. She and Engelman strongly suspect foul play in her disappearance. The series of events leading up to her disappearance and tips from numerous people have led Engelman and Weiland to fear Stewart is dead.

Theres so many different theories, Goyette said. We just have no evidence to direct us into one of those theories.

Stewarts last known location before she was reportedly seen walking on 19th Avenue was at a friends house down the road from Weilands on 43rd Street, where she was with the friend and three other associates.

Weiland said the friend told her he had kicked Stewart out over an argument regarding religion when he dropped off Stewarts cigarettes and cellphone at Weilands house on July 4. Stewart was kicked out right before she was spotted by the witness in her last known location, Goyette said.

Roughly six hours after dropping off the cigarettes and phone, Weiland and Engelman said the friend dropped off Stewarts shoes and said that Stewart left his house on her own accord.

She wouldnt leave without her phone, her cigarettes, or her shoes, Weiland said. She said Stewart, who was living at her mothers house at the time of her disappearance, had been acquainted with the friend and one of his associates for more than four years.

Goyette confirmed that the argument Weiland described occurred, based on interviews with the associates, and that the friend had dropped off Stewarts shoes, phone and cigarettes.

Engelman said Stewart normally would have gone straight to her mothers house after such an incident. She believes the Sheriffs Office has not fully investigated all the tips she has forwarded, some of which came from Facebook messenger.

We are positive that lots of people know where shes at but theyre all so scared that they wont talk, Engelman said, adding she believes that if Stewart was from a wealthier or more influential family, the Sheriffs Office would be doing more to find her.

Goyette disputed Engelmans assertion that the department does not treat all missing-person cases equally.

Weve done well over 70-some interviews, processed residences, vehicles, and were still getting tips here and there come in, Goyette said. (Were) following up on those and doing more interviews.

Goyette said the department has followed through on all the tips and leads sent to him and other department personnel.

A lot of the tips and information that she is receiving is information that we were already aware of and followed up and conducted interviews, he said, adding that some of the tips are hearsay three or four times removed.

They are assumptions as to what happened, Goyette said of those tips. If there is something that we need to go out and follow up on, we do.

Photos taken of 10 vehicles that were in the area where Stewart was last seen on July 4 were posted on Facebook by the Juneau County Sheriffs Office on Jan. 4. Since releasing those photos, Goyette said he has spoken with three of the owners. Those interviews generated information relevant to the case, he said, but he did not divulge further details.

The department also has searched electronic devices belonging to all four of the people with whom Stewart was last seen and interviewed them multiple times. The four have fully cooperated with the investigation, Goyette said. Officers have searched the house where Stewart was last reported to be and its surroundings numerous times, as well as other areas that tips have indicated she might possibly be.

Theres no wavering on their cooperation, Goyette said of the people Stewart was last known to be with. Their version of what transpired that day has stayed consistent throughout. Every time we talk to them, they do remember more information. Thats just human nature.

The Wisconsin Department of Justices Division of Criminal Investigation, the State Crime Lab and the Statewide Intelligence Center are assisting the Juneau County Sheriffs Office in the case.

Anyone with information regarding Stewarts disappearance is encouraged to contact the department at 608-847-5649.
Explainer: How the border standoff between Texas and the federal gov't might further split America

Xinhua) 10:25, January 31, 2024

Photo taken on Jan. 30, 2024 shows a U.S. House Homeland Security Committee meeting to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States. Republicans in the U.S. House announced impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of "willfully and systematically refusing to obey the law" on immigration issues, leading to a failure to control immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in the southern U.S. state of Texas are in a standoff with the federal government over a sharp immigration dispute.

Observers have argued that the standoff reflects the nation's political fray, warning against a potential constitutional crisis that might further split the country. They also believe immigration will emerge as a critical issue in this year's election.

"UNPRECEDENTED" STANDOFF

Immigration has long been among the most controversial topics in the United States.

In recent years, the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States have been at odds over immigration issues. After Democrat Joe Biden became President of the United States, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other Republicans frequently challenged the Biden administration over policy on illegal immigration, accusing it of inaction.

These Republicans have chartered buses and planes to send illegal immigrants to Democratic-led cities. The White House has criticized Abbott and other Republicans for using immigrants as a "stunt" for political purposes.

The Texas authorities disagreed with the federal government regarding border law enforcement, and the case was taken to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Earlier last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Texas cannot block Border Patrol agents from cutting the razor wires set by Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border as part of the state's response to a "crisis at the border."

Abbott has refused to obey the ruling, with the Texas National Guard continuing to roll out razor wires along the border. Abbott said the Constitution had granted Texas the right to defend and protect itself and that Biden had failed to fulfill his duty to secure the U.S. border by allowing millions of immigrants to enter the country illegally from the southern border.

"Under President Biden's lawless border policies, more than 6 million illegal immigrants have crossed our southern border in just 3 years. That is more than the population of 33 different States in this country. This illegal refusal to protect the States has inflicted unprecedented harm on the People all across the United States," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

A CBS News report called the "standoff" between Texas and the federal government at the southern border "unprecedented."

A POSSIBLE "CIVIL WAR"?

The standoff between Texas and the federal government has further aggravated the partisan divide in the United States.

Last week, 25 other GOP governors released a joint statement in support of Abbott and Texas' constitutional right to self-defense. Trump, who is running for president in 2024, has also sided with Abbott.

Far-right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has even called for a "national divorce" in the United States to split the country based on political ideology into "red" Republican states and "blue" Democratic states.

Republicans in the U.S. House announced impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of "willfully and systematically refusing to obey the law" on immigration issues, leading to a failure to control immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border.

However, House Democrats accused Republicans of abusing their impeachment power to undermine efforts to address immigration issues.

Democratic members of Congress, including Joaquin Castro, have called on the Biden administration to take a tougher stance with Texas, such as "federalizing" the Texas National Guard and subjecting them to a Supreme Court ruling and relevant federal laws.

"Greg Abbott and the Republicans in Texas have become bloodthirsty," said Castro on a press call with other Texas Democrats.

The New York Post wrote in an editorial that the "war" between Biden and Abbott puts the United States at risk of a constitutional crisis.

In an interview on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said his state does not want a confrontation with the Biden administration.

However, when asked whether this situation will "turn into a civil war," Patrick reiterated that Texas has a constitutional right to secure its border. "We believe constitutionally we are right, we have a right to defend our citizens, we have a right to defend this country, and we are just doing our job."

IMPACT ON ELECTION

Immigration, one of the most politically divisive and complex matters in the United States, is emerging as a top issue in the 2024 election.

As the primary season for the 2024 U.S. presidential election gets underway, a recent opinion poll showed that immigration is the top policy concern for American voters.

Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of the interviewed in the poll believe the immigration problem has worsened during the Biden administration.

Biden said the White House team is negotiating with members of both parties on an immigration bill to seriously address the "crisis at the border."

American columnist Julio Ricardo Varela believes that public opinion may pressure Biden into taking a tougher stance on immigration issues to hedge Trump's advantages on immigration issues. While Latino voters helped Biden win in 2020, Biden's choice to be more like Trump on immigration may backfire on him for the 2024 election.

Trump has always taken a tough stance on immigration issues, advocating the large-scale construction of a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Since announcing his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump has continued to play the "immigration card" and repeatedly attacked the Biden administration over immigration and border policies.

In the 2016 presidential election, border security was a crucial issue believed to have helped Trump win. His supporters consisted of white, blue-collar workers and individuals with less education who wanted the federal government to implement stricter immigration and border policies.

As the 2024 race increasingly becomes a likely rematch between Trump and Biden, immigration will emerge as a key 2024 election wedge issue.

Photo taken on Jan. 30, 2024 shows a U.S. House Homeland Security Committee meeting to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States. Republicans in the U.S. House announced impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of "willfully and systematically refusing to obey the law" on immigration issues, leading to a failure to control immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Photo taken on Jan. 30, 2024 shows a U.S. House Homeland Security Committee meeting to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States. Republicans in the U.S. House announced impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of "willfully and systematically refusing to obey the law" on immigration issues, leading to a failure to control immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Photo taken on Jan. 30, 2024 shows a U.S. House Homeland Security Committee meeting to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States. Republicans in the U.S. House announced impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of "willfully and systematically refusing to obey the law" on immigration issues, leading to a failure to control immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Photo taken on Jan. 30, 2024 shows a U.S. House Homeland Security Committee meeting to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States. Republicans in the U.S. House announced impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of "willfully and systematically refusing to obey the law" on immigration issues, leading to a failure to control immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Photo taken on Jan. 30, 2024 shows a U.S. House Homeland Security Committee meeting to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States. Republicans in the U.S. House announced impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of "willfully and systematically refusing to obey the law" on immigration issues, leading to a failure to control immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Fran Lebowitz in the 2020 docuseries Pretend Its a City, directed by Martin Scorsese. Netflix

Writer Fran Lebowitz has been an astute cultural observer for the past 50 years, and shes found the perfect outlet for her wit as a prolific public speaker. Lebowitz, 73, also found an ideal screen partnership with Martin Scorsese, who directed the HBO documentary Public Speaking (2010) and the Netflix series Pretend Its a City (2021), which both showcase her critiques of contemporary American life.

The Social Studies and Metropolitan Life author returns to San Francisco on Wednesday, Feb. 7, for Unscripted at the Curran Theater, where she will be in conversation with journalist Jose Antonio Vargas. In a recent phone interview, she discussed issues ranging from Donald Trumps ongoing legal troubles to artificial intelligence in the arts and the dilemmas facing cities post-COVID. She also weighed in on whether great talkers are born or if they can be created.

I think its just something in you, at least its true of me, said Lebowitz from her home in New York. Its like having a trick thumb. In general, its just something youre born with.

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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

More Information Unscripted: Fran Lebowitz in Conversation with Jose Antonio Vargas: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7. $40.50-$60.50 Curran Theater, 445 Geary St., S.F., 415-358-1220. www.sfcurran.com

Q: What are your thoughts on the $83.3 million judgment awarded against Donald Trump to E. Jean Carroll?

A: It seems to me incredibly unlikely he has this amount of money. Im a little torn as to whether I would like him to pay her this amount of money or whether I would like him not to have it. Truthfully, I think every single American deserves $84 million from him just having to listen to him all these years.

Q: Do you think his legal issues will affect the presidential election?

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One of the most shocking moments of my life was when he won. The year he actually won, not the year he didnt win and said he won. Do I think hes going to win? I dont know. If I knew the future, I wouldnt buy the wrong lottery ticket every week.

Q: We just had a ballet premiere in San Francisco, Mere Mortals, that used AI-generated images. What are your thoughts on the arts and artificial intelligence?

A: It seems to me to be generally a bad thing. It certainly is a bad thing for artists themselves. Even the really young ones who say this is great because I can use this, what theyre using is someone elses work. To someone as old as me, all this stuff seems like stealing. Set design is artificial to begin with; maybe if I went to this ballet, I would think that this was great. If I was a dancer, I would wonder how long until it replaces the dancers.

Writer and public speaker Fran Lebowitz will be in conversation for the Curran Theaters Unscripted series on Wednesday, Feb. 7, with journalist Jose Antonio Vargas. Brigitte Lacombe

Q: Were you always a gifted talker?

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A: This is something that as a child, I was punished for nonstop. Saying something at all to any adult who told you to do something was called talking back. My first day in kindergarten, it ended with me sitting on the corner with a Band-Aid pasted across my mouth, holding up a sign saying I am a chatterbox. I always talked. It used to be called too much, now its called a profession.

Q: Youve talked about some of the past offers to adapt your books: Would you consider it now?

A: Im certainly the only writer I know who said no to these movie companies. They offer you a lot of money and, truthfully, its a lot of money for nothing. But I didnt think it was going to be the right thing for me. There was a big Broadway producer who wanted to make a musical out of (Metropolitan Life). You can easily see that would have been a terrible idea. I have many regrets, as everyone does, but thats not one of them.

Q: Whats working or not working in contemporary urban life?

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A: What I see thats wrong with cities, in the sense of not recovering from the pandemic, is simply that people dont go back to work. In Europe they didnt say, Would you like to go back to work? They said, Go back to work! Because if you say, Would you like to go back to work?, who is going to say yes? Where I was staying in San Francisco was a place with lots of office buildings, and they were empty.

San Francisco also is very specific. When I started going in the 70s, it was a completely different planet, not just a different city. But once the tech thing was going on, they were the ones who raised all those rents. And then when the pandemic happened, they said, We invented not going to work, dont go to work. And they left. They are culpable for this in San Francisco. Its not that Im saying, Why dont you want to go back to work? Im saying, Lucky for you, Im not your boss.

Fran Lebowitz has made talking into a rare art form, as the Martin Scorsese documentary Public Speaking and series Pretend Its a City have shown new audiences. Brigitte Lacombe

Q: Youve said that a city of just rich people isnt an interesting city. Do you think that ended up being a prophecy fulfilled?

A: Every person with a brain in their head knows that its better to live in cities. Its more fun, more interesting, you dont have to drive everywhere. Cities are stupidly expensive now, but also, we act as if we cant make laws. We could say, You cant park capital the way its being parked in real estate. Theres these giant, horrible buildings that ruined the skyline of New York, and theyre empty. I dont mean theyre unsold, theyre sold, theyre just empty. By the way, what is an $80 million apartment  what does that even mean? If I was the mayor or the governor, whoever makes these decisions, I would say, You cant do this.

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Q: Thank you for your time today.
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

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Ryan Murphys limited series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, with most episodes directed by Good Will Hunting's Gus Van Sant, 71, tells the scandalous story of writer Truman Capotes betrayal of the high-society ladies he called his swans. The cast is stellar: Naomi Watts, 55, Diane Lane, 59, Molly Ringwald, 55, Calista Flockhart, 59, Demi Moore, 61, Chloe Sevigny, 49, and in his last role, the late Treat Williams.

Heres what you need to know to enjoy one of the most star-studded, bitchy epics on TV in years, with some inside insights from its executive producer, Jon Robin Baitz, 62, who used to see Capotes friends around New York in the 80s and hung out with a couple of them:

Its about a great writers calamitous fall

As Capote, Tom Hollander, 56, fresh off the triumphant miniseries The White Lotus: Sicily, equals Philip Seymour Hoffmans Oscar-winning performance in 2005s Capote. His 1965 true-crime hit In Cold Blood made Capote the toast of Manhattan and Hollywood, and everyone who was anyone attended his famous 1966 Black and White Ball (recreated in the show). But after he shocked his swans by spilling their most embarrassing secrets in Esquire magazine in 1975, most of them cut him off, and he spiraled fatally into drugs and drink.

Baitz says Hollander captured each stage of the writers decline with precision. Between takes Tom was on his phone watching footage of Truman from the particular period he was working on, Baitz says. He knew where Truman was at each particular moment, how drunk he was in each scene.

Pari Dukovic/FX

The top swan was Babe Paley

Naomi Watts plays Capotes favorite swan, Babe Paley, the imperially slim, infinitely stylish wife of CBS chief Bill Paley (Treat Williams). As Feud tells it, Bill humiliated Babe by bedding Nelson Rockefellers wife Happy (The governors wildebeest wife, that fat-ankled harridan! as Feuds Capote calls her, to comfort Babe). Watts captures Babes insecurity and beautiful hauteur, her bond with Capote, and the poignancy of losing him as she faced terminal cancer. She was one of the most-photographed women in America, Baitz says. He made her glitter and she made him shine. They were two wounded children together. They ameliorated each others loneliness.
A nurse at a hospital in Varanasi, India, looks at X-ray results for a patient suspected of having tuberculosis. India has the highest incidence of TB in the world, according to the World Health Organization. Now the illness is starting to become more common in the Bay Area. Rajesh Kumar Singh/Associated Press 2014

The largest county in the Bay Area witnessed a 19% jump in new tuberculosis diagnoses in 2023 compared to the previous year.

According to data released by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department on Tuesday, the increase follows a 6% rise in cases in 2022, indicating a troubling trend. San Jose now holds the unfortunate position of having the nations second-highest rate of tuberculosis, or TB, among metropolitan regions in the United States, trailing only Honolulu.

These data do not reflect an outbreak, but rather a widely dispersed and increasing community health risk for a contagious illness, Santa Clara County said in a statement. The county recorded 168 cases of TB in 2023, up from 141 in 2022.

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Health officials attribute the spike in cases to delayed access to health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also noted that individuals born in or having lived in countries where tuberculosis is prevalent, coupled with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems, face an elevated risk for infection.

Tuberculosis ranks as the second leading infectious cause of death globally, following COVID-19, based on data from 2022. Approximately 1 in 4 individuals, or 2 billion people, worldwide carries the TB bacteria, with 10 million becoming actively ill each year.

Transmission occurs when individuals inhale bacteria during prolonged close contact with someone carrying infectious TB disease. It is less contagious than COVID or the flu, and the onset of symptoms can take months or even years.

A majority of affected individuals exhibit latent tuberculosis infection, or LTBI, characterized by an absence of symptoms and noncontagious status. Researchers estimate that in Santa Clara County alone, around 170,000 people, and potentially 13 million across the United States, may have LTBI.

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For the majority of people getting diagnosed with TB in Santa Clara County, its likely they had the bacteria that causes TB for many years and didnt know it, said Ann Loeffler, Santa Clara Countys tuberculosis controller, in a statement.

She emphasized that active surveillance was vital to prevent the diseases spread. The health department encourages residents at increased risk to seek testing and treatment for TB, which is typically identified through a simple skin or blood test.

Early detection and treatment can keep you healthy and protects the people you live with from getting sick, Loeffler added.

As of 2023, data from Santa Clara County reveal that approximately 97% of diagnosed TB cases occurred among individuals born outside the United States. However, 64% of these individuals had resided in the U.S. for at least the previous 10 years.

Santa Clara County reported a 19% rise in new tuberculosis cases in 2023 compared to the preceding year, but treatment and vaccines are available. Laura Morton/Special to the Chronicle 2016

While most commonly affecting the lungs, tuberculosis can impact any part of the body. Symptoms may include an unexplained persistent cough lasting more than several weeks, coughing up blood, chest pain, fever and weight loss.

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TB can be treated with antibiotics for four, six or nine months, depending on the drug regimen, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some cases are resistant to antibiotics.

Across California, the percentage of people with active TB who died from the illness in 2020 rose to 13%  the highest number since 1993  according to the state health department.

Of particular concern is the heightened vulnerability of young children, who are more likely than adults to develop TB disease after exposure and can become severely ill.

There has been a vaccine against TB for years, known as bacille Calmette-Guerin, or BCG, but it is no longer part of routine childhood vaccinations in the United States because of the countrys low rates of TB. Countries with high rates of TB include China, India and the Philippines.

We are seeing a rise in tuberculosis cases, but once we can identify a case, we can quickly begin treatment to cure the patient, said Dr. Harleen Sahni of Santa Clara Valley Healthcare, which operates the recently opened Valley Health Center Lundy tuberculosis clinic to provide testing and treatment. This is the only such TB clinic in our county, and it provides a wide range of comprehensive health assessments and medical treatments. It even includes a cutting-edge airborne isolation facility to prevent the spread of airborne diseases.

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Quarterly Activities Report

Sydney, Jan 30, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Work on the DFS continued during the quarter. Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited ( ASX:COB ) ( COH:FRA ) ( CBBHF:OTCMKTS ) is managing the delivery of the Broken Hill Cobalt Project (BHCP) Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS). As previously advised, three engineering firms have been contracted to provide design and costings as per the following allocation of expertise:



- Worley is completing the process plant design and reviewing COB's test work program (including the Demonstration Plant).



- GHD is designing the non-process plant infrastructure and tailings/mine waste management (co-disposal in integrated waste landforms). GHD is also preparing the EIS and associated permit applications.



- SRK is preparing the resource and reserve statements, based on the resource block model and mining studies.



COB is delivering all other aspects of the DFS.



Demonstration Plant operations



Operations continued at the Demonstration Plant during the quarter - concentrate was calcined and then processed through the leach circuit, producing Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP). Demonstration Plant operations continue to provide provided engineering data for the DFS and production of MHP for supporting studies including thickening, filtration, materials handling, bagging, and downstream refining into cobalt sulphate. Samples produced continue to be evaluated internationally as part of our partner program.



The plant will continue to operate through the first half of 2024 to provide further evaluation of:



- Equipment performance - assisting with equipment selection and materials of construction durability/suitability.



- Optimisation strategies:



- developing improved procedures that can be translated to the commercial plant.



- producing samples of solids and liquids for supporting studies - e.g. filtration equipment selection at vendor laboratories.



- generating stack emissions data - e.g. scrubber off gas characterisation.



- flowsheet optimisation - e.g. impact of operating temperatures on water evaporation/balance.



These evaluations will also provide significant information for detailed design studies that follow on from the DFS. These continued operations also allow for third-party due diligence studies for project financing, ultimately training future operators and developing documentation for the commissioning of the commercial plant.



The Demonstration Plant's operating philosophy is to treat packages of feed through the circuits. Typically, the targets are 30-tonne packages of feed through the calcine circuit and 10-tonne packages of feed through the leach circuit. These quantities represent approximately 100 hours of continuous operation for respective circuits, excluding ramp-up and shutdown periods. Each 'package' then allows COB to evaluate specific operating parameters or equipment arrangements.



Operations over the quarter have delivered multiple MHP packages, ranging from smaller samples for analysis and assessment to a larger sample for use in engineering studies needed to evaluate and specify equipment for the BHCP processing facility.



Resource update



During the quarter, COB released a BHCP Resource Update, noting:



- Measured Resources increased by 32% when compared with the former estimate (2021).



- The updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Broken Hill Cobalt Project (BHCP) now comprises 126.5 Mt at 867 ppm cobalt equivalent (CoEq) (690 ppm cobalt, 7.5% sulphur and 134 ppm nickel) for 87 kt contained cobalt, 9,510 kt sulphur and 17 kt nickel (at a 275ppm CoEq cut-off).



- Infill drilling has supported an improved resource classification for the Big Hill deposit with 31% of tonnes classified as Measured and a further 54% classified as Indicated.



- Measured and Indicated resources now comprise 66% of the total Mineral Resource.



- The estimate is a major stepping stone in the completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and will form the basis of detailed mine planning and scheduling.



*To view the full quarterly report, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/6XDAFQLA





About Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited





Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX:COB) (FRA:COH) (OTCMKTS:CBBHF) is an exploration and project development company. Work programs advancing the Broken Hill Cobalt Project in New South Wales continue. Our ambitious goals are subject to funding availability. Cobalt is a strategic metal in strong demand for new generation batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries now being widely used in clean energy systems.

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Quarterly Activities Report 31 December 2023

Perth, Jan 31, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) is pleased to provide the December 2023 Quarterly Activities Report. Horizon is an exploration and production company within the Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie regions of Western Australia.



A key focus for the Company is on near term production and exploration upside within our 1,000 km2 tenement package. The company holds numerous multi - commodity assets including 1.28 Moz of gold resources, the Nimbus Silver Zinc project in Western Australia and listed investments including Richmond Vanadium Technology ( ASX:RVT ) which holds the world class 1.8Bt Richmond vanadium project in northwest Queensland.



Activities during the quarter centred on updating resource models following drilling at Pennys Find, and preproduction activities commencing at the Cannon Project including construction of a dewatering pipeline between Cannon and Golden Ridge. The purchase of Bridgetown Greenbushes Lithium tenements and initial soil and rock chip sampling was also undertaken.



The balance sheet was strengthened with the completion of the divestment of 62 non-core tenements to Northern Star for $3.1 million, and receipt of $3 million in TSX listed Vox Royalty Corporation common shares which have been escrowed for 4 months.



In addition, the Company has continued to advance the high-grade Cannon, Pennys Find and Rose Hill underground developments, and prepare environmental studies required for statutory approvals work on other projects, whilst also exploring potential joint ventures, and review of further consolidation and divestment opportunities.



To view the full quarterly report, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/YN77P4K2





About Horizon Minerals Limited





Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed.

Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline.

Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage.

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December 2023 Quarterly Activities Report

Sydney, Jan 31, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Tamboran Resources Limited ( ASX:TBN ) ( TBNNY:OTCMKTS ) successfully completed the 10-stage stimulation program over a 500-metre (1,640-foot) horizontal section of Mid Velkerri B Shale within the Shenandoah South 1H (SS-1H) well in Beetaloo Basin exploration permit EP 117. Flow back commenced in January 2024 and the Company is on track to announce 30-day initial production (IP30) flow rates in Q1 2024.



Diagnostic fracture injection test (DFIT) of the Mid Velkerri B Shale in SS-1H demonstrated an over pressured regime, with a pore pressure gradient of at least 0.54 pounds per square inch (psi) per foot, in line with results demonstrated at Tanumbirini (0.51 - 0.56 psi per foot).



The Company announced a Strategic Partnership and received a US$10 million (A$15.2 million) equity investment from Liberty Energy Inc. ( NYSE:LBRT ) (Liberty), a leading North American energy services firm. Liberty plans to import a modern frac fleet into the Beetaloo Basin in 2024.



Tamboran and APA Group ( ASX:APA ) signed three agreements for the development of the Beetaloo Basin: an Early Works Agreement to develop a pipeline to connect the proposed Sturt Plateau Compression Facility (SPCF) to the Amadeus Gas Pipeline; an Early Works Agreement to develop a large diameter pipeline to connect Tamboran's acreage in the Beetaloo Basin to the East Coast gas grid; and an enduring Partnering Agreement.



Tamboran's Security holders voted in favour to redomicile the Company in the USA via a Scheme of Arrangement. Securities remain listed on the ASX via CHESS Depository Interests (CDIs).



The Company successfully raised A$55 million via an Institutional Placement and Entitlement Offer on a 1 for 6.2 basis at A$0.16 per CDI. The placement was supported by a A$7.6 million investment from the Company's largest shareholder, Mr. Bryan Sheffield, and existing shareholders.



As at 31 December 2023, the Company had a cash balance of A$47.8 million. Tamboran received an additional A$14.2 million in January 2024 relating to the Retail Entitlement Offer.



Tamboran Resources Corporation Managing Director and CEO, Joel Riddle said:



"The second quarter has seen significant activity as we progress towards our proposed Pilot Project in the deeper section of the Mid Velkerri B Shale at Shenandoah South. The successful stimulation program at SS-1H was carried out in December 2023 and we look forward to announcing IP30 flow rates from the well during the first quarter of 2024.



"The Company successfully raised A$55 million from our existing shareholders and new strategic partner Liberty Energy, a highly regarded onshore energy services firm. The funding is expected to support our activities and purchase of long lead items until the sanctioning of the proposed Shenandoah Pilot Project.



"Finally, we advanced key commercial agreements with APA Group in the form of three signed agreements for the development of the Beetaloo Basin. Our strategic partnerships with APA Group, Liberty Energy and Helmerich & Payne strongly position the Company to accelerate the development of our significant Beetaloo Basin acreage position to initially support both the Northern Territory and East Coast gas markets, which are both expected to be short of gas during the decade."



*To view the full quarterly report, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/WSUU5126





About Tamboran Resources Corporation





Tamboran Resources Corporation (ASX:TBN) is a natural gas company that intends to play a constructive role in the global energy transition towards a lower carbon future by developing low CO2 unconventional natural gas resources in the Beetaloo Sub-basin within the Greater McArthur Basin in the Northern Territory of Australia. Tamboran's key assets are a 25% working interest in EP 161 and a 100% working interest in EP 136, EP 143 and EP(A) 197 which are located in the Beetaloo Sub-basin.

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Quarterly Activities Report

Perth, Jan 31, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - QX Resources Ltd ( ASX:QXR ) holds four 100% owned hard-rock lithium projects, covering 355km2, strategically centred around Western Australia's prolific Pilbara province, hosting some of Australia's largest lithium deposits.



QXR projects are Turner River (E45/6042 & E45/6065), Western Shaw (E45/4960 & E45/6107), Split Rock (E46/1367) and Yule River (E45/6159).



During the quarter, the Company announced the results of the rock chip sampling and geological mapping program undertaken during the prior quarter. Further rockchip sample results were returned with up to 3.8% LiO2 and 1.3% Rb2O at Turner River. These new samples, taken from new areas of interest within Turner River, are located some ~250m from where the first samples were reported last year which include ~10kg 'wheelbarrow-sized' samples grading 4.9% LiO2.



With an expanded zone of interest, QXR will reinforce its focus on Turner River with detailed trenching and sampling, once recently flown detailed airborne geophysics data over Turner River is assessed by QXR's specialist consulting team, to target new areas and to better define mineralised extensions under shallow cover to define new drilling targets.



Liberty Lithium Brine Project



The Company entered an Option to Purchase Agreement and an Operating Agreement (Agreements) to earn a 75% interest of the 102km2 Liberty Lithium brine project in California, USA (Project), from vendor IG Lithium LLC (IGL) (ASX announcement 5 October 2023).



The Liberty Lithium Brine Project, located in SaltFire Flat, California, is made up of 1,265 contiguous claims over 102km2 (25,300 acres), being one of the largest single lithium brine projects in the USA (for scale, equivalent to 2x area of Sydney Harbour or half the size of San Francisco city). An extensive lithium brine surface anomaly with elevated lithium results up to 215mg/L Li extends over 10km (ASX announcement 26 July 2023). Geophysical analysis shows a large basin over 1,000 metres deep and indicating brine aquifer targets at depth. The Project's geological setting mirrors Albemarle's nearby producing Silver Peak lithium brine deposit in Clayton Valley USA and major Argentina brine projects.



The first vertical diamond drill hole has been completed at 369 metres depth. The target horizons were intersected at 49m depth and 329m depth. Large brine volumes (>20,000 litres) were pumped into containers. Samples were sent to the lab with results expected in mid-February. Fine grained sediments, gravels and coarse alluvial fan material were intersected down the length of the hole.



The second vertical diamond drill hole is located 4km to the south and is centred over a significant MT geophysical target that has been interpreted as suggesting a series of conductive brine bearing aquifers at depth. Drilling of the second drill hole has advanced significantly in January. Both holes are positioned within an extensive lithium brine surface anomaly of over 10km defined in auger samples.



*To view the full quarterly report, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/5086YL1D





About QX Resources Ltd





QX Resources Limited (ASX:QXR) is focused on exploration and development of battery minerals, with hard rock lithium assets in a prime location of Western Australia (WA), and gold assets in Queensland. The aim is to connect end users (battery, cathode and car makers) with QXR, an experienced explorer/developer of battery minerals, with an expanding mineral exploration project portfolio and solid financial support.

Lithium portfolio: QXR's lithium strategy is centred around WA's prolific Pilbara province, where it has acquired a controlling interest in four projects through targeted M&A - all of which sit in strategic proximity to some of Australia's largest lithium deposits and mines. Across the Pilbara, QXR's regional lithium tenement package (both granted or under application) now spans more than 350 km2.

Gold portfolio: QXR is also developing two Central Queensland gold projects - Lucky Break and Belyando - through an earn-in agreement with Zamia Resources Pty Ltd. Both gold projects are strategically located within the Drummond Basin, a region that has a >6.5moz gold endowment.

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Quarterly Update

Sydney, Jan 31, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Haodex Limited ( NSX:HAO ) is pleased to update the market on its activities for the quarter ended 31 December 2023. Haodex has achieved significant milestones with the Meccle ecommerce marketplace app, garnering over 3 million social media impressions, experiencing consistent growth in downloads, and Haodex securing official admission to the Sichuan Provincial Council, positioning the company for strategic collaboration and potential financial support for the advancement of its flagship project.



Meccle Ecommerce Marketplace App Achievements:



Since the launch of the Meccle ecommerce marketplace app on August 22, 2023, we are thrilled to report several major milestones.



a. Social Media Traction



Meccle has successfully generated over 3 million impressions across major social media platforms. This widespread visibility attests to the platform's appeal and relevance, capturing the attention of a diverse audience within Meccle's target customer base.



b. Continual Growth in Downloads and App Registrations:



The momentum of Meccle continues to build, with consistent growth in downloads and app registrations. Active user engagement reflects a positive response to our innovative approach to ecommerce.



Admission into the Sichuan Provincial Council for Promotion of International Cooperation and Investment



Subsequent to the 31 December 2023 period, the Company is pleased to announce that Haodex has its official admission to the Sichuan Provincial Council for Promotion of International Cooperation and Investment. This membership is expected to result in a fruitful collaboration, potentially providing significant financial support for the advancement of our flagship project, Meccle.



Strategic Collaboration in Sichuan Ecommerce Pilot Zone:



As a member of the Sichuan Provincial Council, Haodex is positioned to benefit from valuable building and warehouse resources in the Sichuan Ecommerce Pilot Zone. This strategic collaboration aligns seamlessly with our commitment to innovation in the ecommerce sector and promises to enhance our distribution network, facilitating 2-4 day delivery to our customers.



Looking Forward:



As we conclude this quarter, Haodex remains focused on innovation, collaboration, and sustained growth. Anticipating further milestones and achievements in the upcoming quarters, we are excited to share these developments with our stakeholders.



*To view the quarterly report, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/XGLCZ316





About Haodex Limited





Haodex Limited (NSX:HAO) is an Australian company focused on forward thinking online platforms and global projects.

Haodex owns 78% of and operates 2 omnichannel marketplaces, being MonkeyKing Australia (www.monkeykingaustralia.com) and BulkBuy (www.bulkbuyworld.com), and owns 100% of a short term Chinese accommodation hosting business, Franks Haus (www.frankshaus.com).

MonkeyKing is an online e-commerce platform which sources Australian products from Australian suppliers to distribute to consumers in Asia, mainly China.

BulkBuy is a wholesale e-commerce marketplace which allows users to participate in group buying deals. BulkBuy enables merchants to set up an online store and sell products directly to customers at wholesale prices by allowing several customers to participate in group buying deals (crowd-ordering).

Franks Haus is an online platform for leasing private properties, mainly for short term accommodation, in China. The platform will attract tourists

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Rep. Nancy Pelosi talks with reporters about sea level rise along San Franciscos waterfront on Friday. Shes being criticized for suggesting some pro-Palestinian protesters are connected to Russia in an interview Sunday on CNN. Eric Risberg/Associated Press

It was cruel for Elon Musk and other conservatives to spread conspiracy theories that Paul Pelosi had hired his accused attacker, David Pape, as an escort. Of all people, Rep. Nancy Pelosi should understand the harm caused by using a public position to disseminate unsubstantiated rumors to malign others.

So it is jarring to hear Rep. Pelosi insinuate during an interview on CNN that protestors calling for a cease-fire in Gaza are agents of Russian President Vladimir Putin while offering no evidence in support of her claim. It is also unsettling to hear her call for the FBI to investigate American citizens for activity that is protected under the First Amendment.

If this had been Donald Trump calling for the FBI to investigate Americans who expressed opposition to Putin, or opposition to any other human rights offender, would the media simply let that pass? Why the double standard for Pelosis wild anti-Palestinian and pro-Israel conspiracy theory?

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Colin Gallagher, San Francisco

Porter plays both sides

Regarding Democrats are in no mans land on the Israel-Hamas war (Joe Garofoli, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 28): I have to take issue with Joe Garofolis commentary on the Israel-Gaza war and the views of Californias Senate candidates.

Garofoli described Rep. Katie Porters views as nuanced. She supports a cease-fire  as long as all hostages are released, Israel is secure and the Palestinians have a free state. Calling for a cease-fire once we resolve issues that have withstood resolution for decades is the same as opposing a cease-fire.

This is a case of a politician wanting to appease an important constituency by pretending to agree with them when she does not.

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Although I stand with Rep. Barbara Lees call for a cease-fire, I much prefer Rep. Adam Schiffs honest opposition over Porters disingenuous support. It is disappointing to see this kind of political double-speak from Porter, a candidate who portrays herself as a straight shooter.

Michael Kushner, Oakland

Stop the fighting

Regarding What does genocide mean? Are Israel and Hamas guilty of it? (Letters to the Editor, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 29): The letter writer does not see Israels brutal assault on Gaza as a genocidal attempt to destroy Palestinians.

Maybe in a couple of years, geopolitics will have shifted and Hamas will find itself possessing the resources and alliances needed to invade Israel, destroy most of its infrastructure, drive nearly all Israelis out of their homes, kill tens of thousands, and block access to food, fuel and medicine for the refugees who remain.

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Hamas propagandists would explain that this is self-defense, not genocide: Hamas needs to destroy the Israeli government  who could expect Palestinians to tolerate having such violent neighbors  and total war is the only way they can see to do it.

Israels present-day supporters seem to think a justification like this is reasonable. It defies belief.

For the sake of all humanity, please demand an immediate cease-fire.

Harry Chomsky, Albany

Living in a news desert

Regarding How American newspapers have been Stripped for Parts  (Datebook, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 28): My small city has no independent press, so the citizens of Brisbane depend solely on our local government for news.

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We have a newsletter from our city manager and a newsletter from a City Council member who publishes the Chamber of Commerce newsletter. In it, we read monthly columns from our mayor, district supervisor and school superintendent. City staff issues a newsletter and theres a news section on the city government website.

Unsurprisingly, the news about our local government is good.

I have not yet watched the documentary, Stripped for Parts, in which there is a suggestion that government funding of journalism could help stop the decline of local news.

My experience of our local state-run news media is that government accountability goes missing. Only the free press can keep our elected officials accountable.
Alphabet, Googles parent company, announced its fourth-quarter earnings report, leaving analysts and investors singing their praises. A record-breaking $65.52 billion in advertising revenue, representing a 13% year-over-year jump.

Search, the ever-reliable mainstay, boogied to a 12.7% growth, while YouTube, the rising star, sashayed with a 15.5% increase. Even Google's network, which stumbled slightly earlier in the year, managed a respectable two-step, recovering from a 2.6% dip to a 2.1% decline.

Alphabet's overall sales hit an all-time high of $86.3 billion, surpassing analyst predictions and eclipsing the previous record of $76.7 billion.

It seems brands are flocking back to Google. They're recognizing the platform's power. This surge in popularity, however, carries whispers of potentially higher advertising costs and fiercer competition.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai said, We are pleased with the ongoing strength in Search and the growing contribution from YouTube and Cloud. Each of these is already benefiting from our AI investments and innovation. As we enter the Gemini era, the best is yet to come.

Googles AI initiatives are playing a key role in its success. With AI fueling its engines and record-breaking results, Google is betting big on Gemin.
In the directorial domain, Zoya Akhtar is a name that needs no introduction. Her cinematic vision and oeuvre stands a true testament to the artistic diversity and unparalleled storytelling magic she has. Zoya's distinctive ability to craft narratives that transcend cultural boundaries and resonate with the global & Indian diaspora underscores her exceptional directorial acumen!

Zoya Akhtar's directorial repertoire is a canvas of creativity, where each stroke paints a unique and compelling colour and outcomes in a beautiful picture! From the vibrant tapestry of Luck By Chance to the riveting narratives of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and the socially poignant Gully Boy, and of course, many others, Zoya continually explores varied genres, showcasing a versatile range that distinguishes her within the film industry. Her films are not merely projects; they are experiences, meticulously constructed with a blend of intellectual depth and universal appeal.

What distinguishes her uniquely, is her commitment to delivering films that are both critically acclaimed and commercially successful that reinforcing her status as a trailblazer in contemporary Indian Cinema.

While the audience cannot wait for her next masterpiece, its an understatement to say; her 15-year directorial journey stands as a beacon of artistic brilliance, and we eagerly anticipate the continued evolution of her cinematic legacy!
H&M, the popular Swedish fashion retailer, made an unexpected announcement, revealing a change in leadership. Outgoing CEO Helena Helmersson decided to leave the company after four years, citing the demanding nature of the role. She will be replaced by Daniel Erver, who has been with H&M for 18 years, previously heading the core H&M brand.

This leadership change at H&M occurred concurrently with the announcement of a 4 percent decline in sales for December and January compared to the previous year. However, H&M's shares further dropped by 8 percent following the announcement of the leadership change and disappointing sales figures. Analysts expressed concerns about the company's ability to meet its profitability targets, with doubts raised about the credibility of its 10 percent operating margin goal.

H&M faces stiff competition from rivals like Zara and Shein, both of which have seen strong sales growth. The company has been focusing on profitability over sales volume, aiming to achieve a 10 percent operating margin.

H&M's chairman, Karl-Johan Persson, expressed optimism about the company's prospects for improvement in the coming year, despite the recent challenges.
Hyundai Motor India Ltd. today announced its participation in the 1st ever Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024. The event is a unique government initiative that provides a platform for all the global OEMs to showcase their technologies, products and industry best practices that support a sustainable growth of the Indian automotive landscape. The event is scheduled between 1st to 3rd February 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Hyundai Motor India will participate in the event and will be present in Hall 6 to host all the visitors.

Commenting on the participation, Mr. Un Soo Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said, "Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024 is a one of a kind global mobility show in India which brings together the entire mobility value chain under one roof. Hyundai Motor Companys vision of Progress for Humanity aligns with this unique initiative of the government as this provides an opportunity to present our products, and technologies highlighting our commitment to India. We have curated a unique interactive pavilion with multiple engagement zones for visitors to showcase Hyundai Motor Indias technologically advanced products & technologies. I look forward to welcome all to our pavilion.

Key Highlights at Hyundai Motor India Pavilion:

Mobility for All

The theme for Hyundai Motors Indias Bharat Mobility Global Expo is Mobility for All. This resonates well with the Companys brand ethos of providing smart mobility solutions to its customers. Hyundai Motor India goes beyond making cars and focuses on giving mobility solutions that not only fulfil customers need but create new benchmarks in the industry. The Hyundai pavilion will showcase its various benchmark products like Hyundai IONIQ 5, new Hyundai CRETA, TUCSON, VERNA and its social initiatives like Samarth and Localisation and technologies like Smart sense ADAS and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric vehicle.

Sustainable Mobility solutions

In line with Hyundai Motor Companys vision of Progress for Humanity, Hyundai Motor India will showcase its benchmark products like the Hyundai IONIQ 5 electric, futuristic Hyundai NEXO, Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV). The vehicles can be experienced by the visitors and are a remarkable example of Hyundais forward thinking and futuristic approach towards sustainability.

Hyundai will also showcase its unique Vehicle-to-Load technology wherein music band Traffic Jam will do an entire performance using Hyundai IONIQ 5 as its power source.

Inclusivity for All

In 2023, Hyundai had announced a unique initiative named Samarth which aims to provide mobility solutions to customers with special abilities. Hyundai Motor India has always been a customer centric organisation and with Samarth Initiative, specific products that enhance the usability of Hyundai cars will be developed which will cater to customer needs from all walks of life.

Hyundais pavilion is a reflection to Companys commitment to Samarth initiative and the Hyundai pavilion has been designed to be wheelchair friendly. Hyundai has created a special wall where visitors can get to know about the initiative and also take a special pledge in support of this initiative which can be shared on their social media platforms as well.

Localization Zone

Since the inception of Hyundai Motor India, localization has played a key role in its operations. Hyundai has been the largest exporter of cars that are Made in India, for the world. Hyundai has created a special localization zone to showcase the extent of its India operations and usage of parts sourced from Indian original equipment manufacturers for all the visitors.

Engagement Activities

#FansOfHyundai: Hyundai Motor India has prepared an engaging gaming experience wherein the visitors can experience Hyundai cars in a virtual environment.

Unleash the star in you: A unique photo opportunity has been created with the brand ambassadors of Hyundai i.e. Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone wherein audiences will get a digital poster style photograph as a memento featuring themselves along with the actors.

ADAS Simulator: Hyundais Smart Sense ADAS simulators will give the visitors of how ADAS functions in real world using our state of the art simulators. Visitors can also experience the new Hyundai TUCSON in an immersive VR headset configuration wherein the user sits in the vehicle and various feature experiences are given to the user using the VR Headset.
Are machines the genie which spring from Aladdins Lamp of Science to supply every need and desire of man, or are they Frankensteins monsters which will destroy man who created them?, asked MIT president Karl T. Compton in an article he wrote in the 1938 issue of MIT Technology Review.

Well, the notion (or rather fear) that tech advancements take away peoples jobs is not new.

Comptons conclusion was that technological unemployment is a myth.

Those historical concerns about technological unemployment, particularly in 1938 and the early 1960s, are relevant even today: in the context of contemporary fears surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation. Compton at the time argued that technological progress did not lead to overall job loss, citing the creation of new industries and expanded markets.

Googles recent strategic shift, steering its ad division toward AI-powered sales, stands as a noteworthy milestone in seamlessly integrating AI into corporate functions. The search engine giant laid off hundreds of workers in its ad sales team. And then we saw SAP, the German software giant, joining the bandwagon of tech companies investing heavily in AI, allocating over $2 billion for the integration of AI into its business as part of a comprehensive transformation programme.

These incidents are sparking questions about substantial job losses amid the AI advancements.

Are these signs of an impending apocalypse, foretelling more job losses due to the rise of AI? Or does this shift signify a transformative phase, emphasising adaptation and prosperity in a dynamically evolving professional landscape? What are the overarching implications of AI on employment? Adgully seeks to unravel the answers to these pressing questions and delve deeper into the multifaceted aspects of this paradigm shift in this two-part series.

Apocalyptic? Not really

Experts are of the opinion that AI will not supplant human workforce; rather the human race is entering an era of job evolution, and transformation.

Googles pivot to AI-powered ad sales is a bellwether for the tech industrys broader embrace of AI, a trend that is stoking fears of job losses, opines Tarun Nazar, Co-Founder & CEO, Neokred. Yet, he adds, history suggests that AI will transform jobs rather than eliminate them en masse.

According to him, the key to mitigating job displacement lies in pre-emptive upskilling, with support from both the tech industry and government initiatives. As AI takes over routine manual tasks, humans in their new job categories will be focused on human creativity and strategic insight will emerge. Far from an employment apocalypse, were entering a phase of job evolution, emphasising the irreplaceable value of human ingenuity, he says.

Googles transition to ad sales driven by AI is part of a larger trend of sectors incorporating AI, says Sumit, CEO and Co-founder, DashLoc.

Even while AI can simplify procedures, worries about employment displacement still exist. Automation has a complicated effect, impacting both mundane chores and fresh prospects. The role of AI is frequently viewed as an enhancement to human capabilities rather than a complete replacement. AI development and maintenance employment could grow as technology develops. Retraining and upskilling initiatives, for example, are proactive steps that must be taken to address job displacement. The ways in which society, business, and politics react to these revolutionary shifts will determine the overall effect on employment, he adds.

Although there is a human factor in advertising, the majority of the process is supported by automation, opines Yantra founder-CEO Vikram Bhandari. However, he adds, with AI-powered sales, Ads have become more targeted and impactful, benefiting both customers and organisations. AI technologies, by enhancing efficiency through the automation of routine tasks, are simultaneously driving a shift in the job market. According to him, the impact on the job market hinges on various factors, including the industry, specific roles involved, and how organisations navigate the technological shift. Rather than an apocalyptic scenario, the future is likely to involve a transformation of job roles, giving rise to new roles and industries. The key lies in preparing the workforce for adaptation to the changing landscape through upskilling and reskilling, Bhandari adds.

Google has unleashed the era of collaborative intelligence, where humans and AI will join forces to drive business growth and optimisation, says Amandeep Kaur, Founder & CEO, Phoenix TalentX Branding.

So what about the transition to AI-powered sales at Google?

According to Kaur, Googles decision to transition its ad division to AI-powered sales is part of a broader trend where companies are increasingly leveraging AI to enhance efficiency and productivity. While automation and AI can lead to job transformations, she insists that it doesnt necessarily mean widespread job losses in an apocalyptic way.

It often results in the displacement of certain tasks, but new roles and opportunities also emerge. Like people will now need to upskill or reskill themselves into deep AI technology stack experts or learn to use AI in their respective fields like AI-leveraged marketing or branding or sales. If AI is powering everything then you will need people to create such products too and that is an opportunity in the market for talent. Also sometimes companies choose to downsize underutilised or underperforming roles under the garb of AI-led business model transformation; so you cant attribute all job losses to AI, Kaur adds.

Googles move towards AI-driven sales in its ad division mirrors a broader trend in the tech industry, emphasizing efficiency and automation, says Kajal Malik, Co-founder and CBO, PickMyWork.

This shift, according to her, doesnt necessarily imply a looming wave of job losses, but rather a transformation of job roles. The future job scenario, therefore, is expected to find a harmonious balance between AIs efficiency and the unique contributions of human creativity and management. The onus is on the tech industry to ensure ethical AI development and invest in programmes for workforce retraining. Collaborative efforts between public and private sectors, coupled with an emphasis on adaptability through lifelong learning, will be key for a sustainable workforce evolution.

(Tomorrow, Part 2 of this report will explore the need for collaboration between the tech industry and governments, and the potential long-term consequences for employment trends)
In 2021, Shark Tank debuted in the Indian market, providing a valuable platform for a diverse range of entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses. One remarkable success story from the show is Rare Planet, now recognized as India's largest airport retailer. Rare Planets outstanding performance in the last two years after securing a deal on the show has now created a landmark achievement marking the way for the first-ever exit for a Shark with a 3.5x return on their investment. Started as a venture in the first year of BTech by Ranodeep Saha and later joined by Vijaya Kumar TR as Co-Founder, the success of this company stands as a testament to the opportunities and recognition that Shark Tank India has brought to aspiring entrepreneurs in the country.

Ranodeep Saha's exceptional pitch with co-founder Vijaya Kumar TR in Season 1 of Shark Tank India left a lasting impression on the sharks, particularly Namita Thapar. The pitch seamlessly integrated the company's commitment to social responsibility, prompting Thapar to make an independent investment in the company. Within just two years of securing funding for the show, Rare Planet has achieved remarkable growth, witnessing a 5X revenue increase and double-digit PAT profit.

Namita Thapar was impressed by Rare Planet's remarkable revenue achievements and commendable impact on the lives of over 10,000 artisans. Since the initial investment by Namita and their appearance on Shark Tank India 1, Rare Planet's footprint has expanded significantly by 12X growth in stores across India. Starting from a presence in 5 airports, the company now operates in over 37 airports with 50 stores nationwide. The company has diversified its offerings, introducing Rare Planet Luxe, a luxury format, situated across multiple airports. This format will be extended further in new airports in the pipeline. Also, the new format SITARA for Indian Fashion Accessories brand across 9 Airports, and brand 2M Minimart for Convenience Retail format across Tier 2 airports.

Rare Planets airport retail stores boast an extensive inventory of over 10,000 unique handcrafted items, and decor, ranging from mugs, copper bottles, cups, and plates, to Kulhads, along with stationery, jewellery, and accessories all created by more than 10,000 local artisans who are associated with the company. Notably, most of these artisans are women, pouring passion, hard work, love, and care into beautiful products every day. Beyond fostering artistic endeavors, Rare Planet is actively involved in making a positive impact on the lives of its artisans. The company contributes to education funds for the children of these artisans, thereby enabling them to dream big. This noble cause has resulted in over 8,000 artisans experiencing a substantial 180% increase in their income, facilitating the education of over 1,000 children.

Comments

Namita Thapar, Executive Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals LTD

Rano stands out as a founder who personifies humility, determination, and an unwavering passion for supporting artisans. Meeting his parents in Kolkata left a lasting impression on methe pride in their eyes while recounting his entrepreneurial journey truly touched my heart. This is one story to watch out for, picture abhi baaki hai.

Vijaya Kumar TR, Co-Founder, Rare Planet

Namita Ma'am has been a guiding force for us, meeting with us on multiple occasions to provide invaluable insights into our overall strategy. Her expertise, particularly in pricing and marketing, has played a pivotal role in our exponential growth.
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump is making it clear that if elected president again, he will not hesitate to deploy the U.S. military on American soil. Kyle Grillot/Special to the Chronicle 2023

By now weve all had a chance to hear the sound bites: Donald Trump boasting, to the bone-chilling applause of his MAGA base, his plan to declare martial law. As a former military professor, I feel it my duty to spell out for the American people what that would look like.

Two days in particular  a study in contrasts from Trumps final year in office  should provide the clearest understanding of what to expect should the GOP presidential front-runners campaign slogan of revenge and retribution become our reality.

Because the difference between those two days, and the presidents actions, could not be any starker.

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Unlike Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump was reportedly holed up in the White House, watching the Capitol riots unfold in real time on television, while for hours resisting calls to send in the National Guard to restore calm  a day from the previous summer witnessed a much different commander-in-chief: one not shy, but eager, to deploy the military to disperse a crowd.

On the morning of June 1, 2020, someone in the presidential chain of command looked into obtaining the Active Denial System  a weapon deemed by international treaties and conventions to be so heinous, so over-the-top, it is banned from ever being deployed by any nation on another nations soil  in preparation for clearing a largely peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in Lafayette Square.

This Orwellian crowd control device Trump sought to unleash on the BLM protesters, and would likely seek to normalize in a second term  is shaped like a standard satellite dish, fits on the back of a jeep and shoots out pulsed directed energy waves similar to a microwave oven  all designed to make you feel, right down to your nerve endings, like youre being set on fire.

On paper, the device may sound innocuous enough: a two-second burst of microwaves that can heat the top 1/64 inch of your skin almost instantly to a temperature exceeding 130 degrees. But as a now taken-down demonstration video of the weapon shows, it can turn a healthy young military recruit into a screaming, writhing human, doubled over in pain and begging for it to stop within seconds.

Another equally troubling weapon also requested that day is one with which I am less familiar: the Long Range Acoustic Device. Suffice it to say, its a sound cannon with an extremely high decibel range known to cause permanent hearing loss.

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America owes an immeasurable debt of gratitude to the military commanders who stonewalled this last-minute, seemingly spontaneous attempt by the White House to get its hands on these weapons. But dont count on that guardrail a second time. Not under a scenario where Trump pre-vets and installs a more amenable military chain of command ahead of time. Buckle up  because heres what that would look like:

The 47th president invokes the Insurrection Act and declares martial law, granting himself sweeping power to deploy U.S. armed forces on Americas streets. Military leaders who dare speak out against him, such as former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley, are rounded up and summarily executed. Meanwhile, SEAL Team 6 is deployed to assassinate his political rivals.

Reporters who dont toe the line are rounded up, newspapers that dont print what theyre told are shut down and broadcast media outlets that air any news not pre-approved by the White House are forced off the air. Detention camps for undocumented immigrants (and God knows who else) start going up everywhere, and armed personnel begin going door-to-door to round them up, along with anyone else unfortunate enough to wind up on Trumps enemies list.

In response, citizens fill the streets, as Americans have done since our nations founding, with large protests breaking out across the country. Picture the 2017 Womens March from Trumps first time around, only bigger. And thats where the you-know-what really hits the fan. With news outlets favorable to the new administration broadcasting, for all to see, the fate that awaits anyone/everyone who fails to heed the warning:

Protestors are sent fleeing not by water cannons, but by sound cannons, covering their ears and screaming in pain, while others are targeted by the heat ray, fleeing just as quickly, as if on fire from a burning building; all compounded by the inevitable spectacle of those who slip or fall, disappearing off camera, presumably trampled in the stampedes. Sights, sounds and suffering of such startling proportion deliver a clear message to every single person  from your average citizen to local officials, from Capitol Hill to the Supreme Court  who might dare challenge this wanna-be dictators authority: You could be next.

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The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), in collaboration with Google Cloud India, Antler in India, Paytm, Protean, and Startup India announces the 'Build for Bharat' initiative. The initiative aims to tackle diverse challenges in digital commerce, promoting industry innovation to develop practical solutions in this space.

Build for Bharat intends to tap into Indias technological and entrepreneurial potential with an expected participation of 200K+ participants representing startups, companies, and colleges. Prioritizing a participative and ecosystem-driven framework, the initiative is organized at a national scale across 50+ cities with top experts, leaders, VCs, and incubators onboard.

To kick-start the initiative, an event took place on December 4, unveiling the problem statements for participants and extending an invitation for registration. Covering Retail, Mobility, F&B, Financial Services, and Logistics sectors, the initiative is designed to deliver three distinct outcomes as follows:

Category 1  'NextGen Ventures' is designed to supercharge venture creation on ONDC. Open to aspiring founders exploring multiple ideas or early-stage founder teams working on an idea, this track provides a pathway to raising capital, launching, scaling companies, and incubating new businesses.





Category 2 includes Scalable solutions and invites participation from organizations or individuals including students with a focus on solving friction points faced by Network Participants.





Category 3 includes Foundation solutions, exclusively for college students (18+) to identify proof of concept for the friction points faced by NPs.

Prizes and Collaborations:

Category 1 winners in 'NextGen Ventures' will enjoy exclusive opportunities from Antler in India and mentorship from industry stalwarts. They receive a chance to avail equity-free grants of up to INR 5 Crores. Winning teams also gain the opportunity to join Antler Residency, opening avenues for potential VC funding. This residency program not only offers capital but also serves as a platform for early founders to validate their ideas, build their teams, and launch and scale their companies. Moreover, Google India will provide shortlisted teams with Cloud credits accompanied by valuable tech guidance.

Category 2 eligible winners are slated to receive Cloud credits from Google Cloud India for shortlisted teams and also for eligible winning startups.



Category 3 winners benefit from Google Cloud India's contributions, including Cloud credits for shortlisted teams and also credits for eligible winning startups.



T Koshy, MD and CEO at ONDC, said, "We are excited to organize this nationwide initiative focused on building innovative solutions for India's rapidly growing digital commerce ecosystem. Initiatives like 'Build for Bharat' will unleash the talent and potential of India's startup and student community to drive meaningful impact at scale. Through grants, investments, and recognition, we hope to nurture the best ideas into sustainable businesses.

Bikram Singh Bedi, Managing Director at Google Cloud India, said "Google Cloud is committed to empowering India's entrepreneurial energy and technical capabilities. The 'Build for Bharat' initiative, provides a platform to develop scalable solutions that can transform the digital ecosystem on a large scale. By bringing together students, startups, and businesses, we aim to foster collaboration and innovation towards an inclusive digital economy.

Nitin Sharma, Partner and Co-founder, of Antler in India, said, At Antler, we were one of the first VCs to go very deep into a thesis on the game-changing potential of ONDC, asking ourselves whether it could do digital commerce what UPI did to payments. E-commerce requires moving atoms, not just bits, and also requires aggregation of a large number of small players. ONDC has a massive vision around reimagining and unbundling commerce, and we are committed to making more investments in the space. Through the Build for Bharat initiative, we want to enable high-potential Indian founders with resources, an expert network, community, and capital to build on ONDC.



Sudhanshu Gupta, Senior Vice President, Paytm said As a buyer and seller network participant for ONDC, our mission is to bring the power of e-commerce to every seller and buyer in the country. Paytm se ONDC Network has gained massive popularity among users by unlocking the power of the inter-portable network through pricing and availability. We are excited to be a part of the 'Build for Bharat' initiative which aims to foster innovation and address the diverse challenges within the digital commerce landscape. This pan-India initiative will bring together the best minds in the country who will fuel a surge of innovative ideas to shape the future of digital commerce in India.



Suresh Sethi, MD, and CEO, of Protean eGov Technologies said 'Build for Bharat' is a brilliant initiative to bring together students, startups, and businesses to unlock Bharats technological and entrepreneurial capabilities. As pioneers in creating DPIs for the nation, we are delighted to be a part of this collective effort that helps us further our mission of enabling population-scale digital, social, and financial inclusion through technology.
White, a leading independent brand experience company specializing in creating meaningful brand experiences with powerful storytelling, announces its visual rebranding and reveals a new logo. This strategic transformation marks a significant milestone for the company as it embraces a new identity and embarks on a vision to harness the power of experiences for brands and help them connect with their audiences on a human level. In addition to this, the agency fortifies its core differentiator with an integrated approach to amplify the brand's message using the most impactful medium or combination of media.

White, with a renewed focus, will continue to stay at the forefront of the ever-evolving landscape of brand experiences while embracing a refreshed vision and brand identity. With an intent to create memorability with a clean aesthetic and a touch of playfulness, the rebranded logo and identity seek to convey a contemporary longevity with a modern yet timeless design, relevant in the long term. The visual elements of the rebrand reflect the company's dynamic approach to shaping brand experiences in an ever-changing world.

Speaking on the rebranding, Vishesh Sahni, Founder and CEO, White, said, We have undertaken this transformative rebrand journey as a conscious, strategic shift. Our impact lies in crafting some of Indias most captivating experiences which we have largely succeeded in, because of our visceral understanding of culture. Whether it is building cultural narratives for brands, tapping into globally relevant cultural trends, or even creating its own industry-standard culture, our rebrand is intended to encapsulate this approach. In todays ever-evolving field of brand experiences, it only makes sense for us to set new benchmarks and call ourselves Creators of Culture-first Experiences.

With nearly a decade-long track record, White has amassed a wealth of over 100 partner brands; and more than 80 custodians of culture, across its 3 offices in Gurugram, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Solidifying its position as a creative force shaping brand experiences, the agency is driven by a deep understanding of human emotion, giving rise to innovative and thought-provoking concepts. Having consistently challenged the norm of experiential marketing in India, White has created intrigue with meaningful collaborations; compelling installations, rich story craft, and tech-driven concepts that foster engagement.

Some standout projects of White include the 15th and 16th editions of the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour, featuring evolved formats and culture-forward collaborations. In the last quarter alone, the agency has acquired various noteworthy clients and executed prominent experiences for them. These include the global launch of Indian Single Malt Whisky Longitude 77 and the Indian launch of Don Julio tequila; ultra luxury festive immersions for HNI guests of Cartier & Burberry; stirring interventions for Apple and an experiential offsite for Philip Morris India.
The Federal Council

Bern, 31.01.2024 - The Federal Council approved the 2023 Foreign Policy Report at its meeting on 31 January 2024. The report reviews Switzerland's foreign policy in 2023 and takes stock of the Foreign Policy Strategy (FPS) 202023.

In 2023, the world faced a high degree of uncertainty as a result of various crises and wars. Violence is now very much on Europe's doorstep, with Russia's continued military aggression against Ukraine, the still worrying situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023 and Israel's ongoing military response, the civil war in Sudan, and the heightened tensions in the Sahel region.

In addition to these man-made crises, there were numerous natural disasters, including earthquakes in Turkey, Morocco and Afghanistan. In the face of these tragedies, Switzerland stepped up its humanitarian commitment and reiterated its stance in support of compliance with international law and international humanitarian law.

Commitment to peace in Ukraine and the Middle East

The Federal Council plans to allocate CHF 1.5 billion to Ukraine and the region as part of its international cooperation for the period 202528. On 29 September 2023, it also decided to provide funding of CHF 100 million for humanitarian demining over the next four years. Alongside these essential steps for the country's reconstruction, Switzerland is actively participating in discussions on the peace formula launched by Ukraine. It has also pushed for the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute Russia's crime of aggression in Ukraine and taken a stance against the re-export of war materiel to Ukraine.

In the Middle East, Switzerland condemned the Hamas attack of 7 October in the strongest possible terms and worked for the release of all hostages, respect for international humanitarian law, protection of the civilian population, access to humanitarian aid, prevention of regional escalation and a political solution to the conflict. On 22 November, the Federal Council decided to draft specific legislation banning Hamas.

Negotiating mandate with the European Union

The prospects for stabilising and developing our relations with the EU grew more favourable in 2023. On 15 December, the Federal Council adopted a new draft negotiating mandate and opened formal consultations with Parliament's foreign affairs committees and with the cantons. These consultations are still ongoing.

In 2023, the Federal Council completed exploratory talks with the EU on the package approach proposed by the Federal Council in February 2022. To ensure overall coordination, it set up a project organisation structure led by the head of the FDFA, which is responsible for organising regular meetings with representatives of the cantons, economic partners and social partners.

Switzerland on the UN Security Council

Switzerland has a seat on the UN Security Council from 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2024. As an elected member, it attends all meetings of the Council and its subsidiary organs, and is entitled to speak and vote on all matters under discussion. Within the Council, Switzerland has honed its role as a bridge-builder, while also setting its own priorities: building sustainable peace, protecting civilians, addressing climate security and enhancing the effectiveness of the Security Council.

The results of Switzerland's first year on the Security Council have therefore been generally positive: it was well prepared, its participation was appreciated by the other members and it was viewed as a credible partner. However, due to geopolitical polarisation, the Security Council is currently unable to fulfil its mandate optimally, being hindered by the veto system, as in the case of Ukraine and the Middle East.

Review of the FPS 202023

Despite the high level of uncertainty currently facing the world, the majority of FPS 202323 objectives have been achieved. For the first time, the Federal Council formulated specific objectives for the 201923 legislative period. It used the FPS to define geographical and thematic sub-strategies, accompanied by objectives and targeted measures, thus creating a cascading strategy. Strategy development, implementation and monitoring are the result of an interdepartmental process that has given Swiss foreign policy more direction and greater coherence. This methodology will be retained during the next legislative period.

Address for enquiries

For further information:

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Dunkin is facing a class-action lawsuit related to charges for its milk alternatives.

A lawsuit filed this month claims customers who are lactose-intolerant or have milk allergies may pay up to $2 extra at Dunkin Donuts when substituting oat or almond milk for dairy in their beverages. The upcharge, says the lawsuit, is discrimination, reports NBC News.

Being able to drink milk is a choice for some people, but its not for others. Lactose intolerance is a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, said Bogdan Enica, an attorney representing the 10 plaintiffs named in the legal complaint.

The complaint, filed in a district court in Northern California, follows a similar class-action lawsuit Enicas law firm filed against Starbucks in 2022. Enica said Starbucks filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which is pending approval by the court.

The lawsuit against Dunkin points out that the chain already modified its regular beverage offerings to remove caffeine and sugar at no additional cost for those with diabetes, weight-control issues or hypertension. NBC News reports the lawsuit seeks damages amounting to no less than $5 milion, which is the minimum amount that lawsuits need to seek to fall under the jurisdiction of a district court under the Class Action Fairness Act.
A Seattle artist has designed a new collection of Starbucks drinkware.

Damon Brown is the artist behind Starbucks upcoming line of drinkware celebrating Black art and culture.

The collection, which will be available in participating U.S. and Canada Starbucks stores starting Jan. 30, was inspired by Browns idea of community.

For the color palette, Brown chose shades of pale blue, green and cream.

The color is an intentional play on the classic color palette of red, black and green that you may typically see represented in Black art or during Black History Month to make it more modern and purposeful, Brown said in a press release. There was a conscious effort to put a stylistic modern shape with this movement and put some hairstyles in there with some different braids and those kinds of things that you classically dont see on merchandise.

The three pieces of drinkware will be marked with Browns brand name, Creative Lou, which is based on a nickname from childhood.

Heres a look at the line

The 24-ounce cold cup

The 24-ounce cold up Damon Brown designed for Starbucks. (Courtesy, Starbucks)Starbucks

Damon Browns cold cup depicts two people looking outward together, almost holding hands. In the background, geometric shapes are open to interpretation. In the background, the shapes show community, said Brown. I created them so that you feel represented, and you feel your place.

16-ounce stainless steel tumbler and 24-ounce cold cup

The 16-ounce stainless steel tumbler and 24-ounce cold cup designed by Damon Brown (courtesy, Starbucks)Starbucks

Two people in motion walk toward each other in the design for a 16-ounce stainless steel tumbler and a 24-ounce cold cup, with bright accents of red.

My goal for this collection was for it not to feel that its one month only  but taking it farther and giving you something more artistic that can be enjoyed and celebrated beyond February  when it should be every day for us, said Brown.
An 83-year-old Alabama woman has agreed to move out of her home of 60 years, bringing an end to a legal battle that reached the states highest court.

Corine Woodson inherited her late husbands share of a nearly 41-acre property in Auburn when he died in 2022.

And for the past 20 years, a local developer, Cleveland Brothers, Inc., has been fighting in court to buy the land and build a subdivision.

After settling her appeal in a lawsuit this week, Woodson will not keep her home, said her attorney Jacy Fisher, of Gregory Varner & Associates in Birmingham.

Fisher told AL.com that she could not provide additional details about the settlement, as the terms are confidential.

Corine is very satisfied with the settlement and is grateful to God for answering our prayers, she said in an email.

In the original case in Lee County, District Judge Russell Bush ordered Woodson to pay a $3.97 million bond to the Cleveland Brothers while her appeal proceeded.

Were also grateful to our financial sponsor because, if she hadnt put up that $3.97M bond, we wouldnt have been able to appeal & wouldnt have had the opportunity to explore such a settlement, just one week before our brief was due, Fisher said. Although I was excited about the opportunity to argue this case before the Alabama Supreme Court, Im happy to see an 18-year-old partition case (especially one that falls under the old partition statute) end with Mrs. Woodson preserving some of her familys legacy.

She added that she appreciated the Cleveland Brothers, Inc. for their reasonableness and consideration in the agreement.

Woodson and her late husband made their home on the property decades ago. But the single property is co-owned by the descendants of her late husbands ancestors, passed down through the family for generations.

Woodson inherited a share of the property when her late husband passed away in 2022, and she was added as a party to the case.

Woodson offered to buy the entire property in January 2023, per court records, but a judge in Lee County ruled last year that she waited too late to make an offer. In September, Woodson appealed her case to the Alabama Supreme Court, asking the justices to let her buy the property.

The property is under tenants in common status. That means ownership stakes of the land are held as percentages, rather than divided up by owners with individual parcels.

Some family members already sold their shares of the land to Cleveland Brothers, Inc.

Woodson inherited an 11% share of the land. A court-ordered appraisal found the propertys value to be $3.97 million.

On Monday, Woodson filed to dismiss her appeal, per court records.

Its unclear when shes moving or where shell live. Woodson, as well as her power of attorney, listed in court records as Mavis Melissa Woodson, did not return requests for comment.

Billy Cleveland, partner at Cleveland Brothers, Inc., did not respond to a request for comment. He told AL.com in November that the company wasnt trying to oust Corine Woodson from the house.

Woodsons husband, Willie Woodson, inherited his share of the Auburn land thats been co-owned by descendants of his ancestors and passed down through the family for generations. His ancestor, Ben W. Woodson, who was a sharecropper, originally owned the property in 1911 and left it to his 12 children or their heirs and descendants when he died, per court records.
A new home on Second Avenue South in Birminghams East Lake is catching a lot of eyeballs - not just for its look, but its price tag.

The 2,100-square-foot Caribbean-style long home, with three bedrooms and two baths, has a price tag of $569,000.

It comes fully-furnished, with designer grade furniture, Tempur-Pedic mattresses, a stand-up shower and two tubs, wifi, a side Lanai porch, chefs gas stove, and other amenities, such as a tankless gas water unit and underground electricity.

It sits in a residential neighborhood among homes in various states of repair that would sell for a fraction of its asking price, and near abandoned houses showing decades of neglect.

Not long ago, this property was an overgrown, unoccupied lot with a ramshackle house filled with critters, according to its builder.

Its the latest project for a Birmingham company whose owners have ambitions to build a variety of single family homes in different price ranges in the Woodlawn and former Groveland communities.

Andre Halston and his wife, Kimberly, are the inspiration and brains behind FlipBama, the company that built the home, which finished construction this month.

A former chef, Halston came to Alabama to pursue a second career in building. He particularly wants to revitalize communities to give people a reason to stay, to come back and care.

Its bothersome when there are properties around here, or any community, that are burned out, dilapidated, people just gave up, dont care, and nobody does anything with them, he said.

Well, Im a guy who cares and Ill do something if it makes sense, because I want people to come back.

Halston said he wanted to try a house building project in the neighborhood, similar to Avondale, in what appeared to be a forgotten area.

The design is his. He said it might look more at home in Mountain Brook, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, or any one of Birminghams suburbs.

He said he was recently asked by someone almost with a scowl on his face why he would build a home in that community.

First of all, why not? he said.

Do you feel that people in this community do not deserve a home like that? Thats not a fair response in 2024. Somebody has to have belief in these communities, or theyre going to go away, or no one will want to come here. Hopefully, other builders will come.

He says hes prepared to work with anyone wanting to move in. The house is furnished, even with a library of cookbooks. In theory, all a new owner would need would be a toothbrush.

Construction took about 10 months, and the home has unique design touches and amenities throughout. The master bedroom has a spa bathroom, smart toilets, heated porcelain flooring, and a heated shower floor. Theres a retractable ironing board built into the wall, and a sliding closet door.

The guest bedroom has oversized vanity sinks and maple cabinets. A third bedroom can be converted to an office space. The main hallway closet has a heated shoe-drying station, and a large utility closet is concealed behind a bookcase doorway.

The kitchen seamlessly connects to the great room, which has a fireplace. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow one-way visibility out onto the neighborhood. The house is fully fenced, with room for parking in the front and back.

I want people to feel grand, I want people to feel pride, I want people to feel a sense of accomplishment, and change within this community, he said.

Halston has other plans.

A few blocks closer to Interstate 20 on Second Avenue South, he plans two homes similar to the Caribbean long home, with adjoining driveways on adjoining plots. He says the home design is the best use of narrow lots.

And several blocks away on Fourth Avenue North and 66th Street North, he wants to build 14 homes around a park, within sight of Interstate 59.

You have to give people some hope that theres going to be a difference, he said.
Alabamas new Commerce secretary says the days of Alabama being a premier destination for industry investment may be coming to an end if the United Auto Workers are able to successfully organize in the states auto plants.

Ellen McNair, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce since January, released a statement Wednesday promising a fight against an ongoing UAW drive in Alabamas auto manufacturing operations, which she said places our states main economic driver in the crosshairs.

The statement comes at the same time the Business Council of Alabama CEO Helena Duncan announced a website, Alabama Strong, online advertisements, and a campaign to provide Alabamians with a full and thorough picture of the economic dangers that unionization presents, as Duncan stated in an op-ed.

Earlier this month, Gov. Kay Ivey said, in a statement posted on the Alabama Department of Commerce page, that the union push by the UAW means that Alabamas model for economic success is under attack.

The campaign comes in response to a renewed push by UAW to organize in Southern auto plants. In January, UAW announced that about 1,500 workers at Mercedes-Benzs Vance auto plant have joined the union.

Auto plants in the Deep South have long resisted unionization for decades, with high profile drives to organize failing in right-to-work states. The ultimate goal of the unions drive, according to UAW materials, is to reach the 70% threshold of workers signed with the union.

In McNairs statement, she noted that five automakers - Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda and Toyota - have invested roughly $15 billion in their operations in Alabama.

All of this happened, she said, without the involvement of the UAW. Those operations could shift to Mexico or other locations, McNair warned.

The fact is neither the industry nor its Alabama workforce would really be better off with a union, McNair stated. We respect the right of Alabamas autoworkers to make their own decision on the union issue. At the same time, we urge them to get all the facts before they sign campaign cards or make a commitment they may regret...

With so much on the line, were urging the states autoworkers to carefully evaluate those union promises at this critical moment. The future of Alabamas auto industry  and the states long-term growth prospects  hangs in the balance.
Alabama has filed a request for a lethal injection execution for a 2004 double murder. The filing was made several days after Alabama executed a death row inmate using nitrogen gas, the first such execution in history.

The Alabama Attorney Generals Office filed a motion Monday with the Alabama Supreme Court to have Jamie Mills executed using lethal injection for his role in the 2004 murders of Floyd and Vera Hill in Guin in Marion County.

There is no doubt that Mills committed those offenses, the motion states. As set out more fully below, Millss convictions and sentence are final because he has completed his direct appeal, state post-conviction review, and federal habeas review. Accordingly, it is time for this death sentence to be carried out.

More from Alabama Reflector

The request did not say why the state is pursuing lethal injection instead of nitrogen gas.

According to the filing, Mills and his common-law wife drove to the Hills residence, where the two let them in to make several phone calls. Afterward, the four of them went to the shed where they kept items to sell as part of a yard sale.

The filing said that the women proceeded back to the house, leaving Floyd Hill and Mills in the shed, at which point Mills beat Hill to the ground. The women then returned to the shed and found Floyd on the ground. Mills then beat Vera on the back of the head with a hammer, as JoAnn stood in the corner.

According to the motion, Mills then locked the shed and stole several items from the couples home, including a tackle box and pills, a purse, a wallet, a phone and a police scanner. The items netted about $140.

Mills was charged with three counts of capital murder in December 2004, convicted in August 2007 and was sentenced to death by the jury by a vote of 11-1. Mills appeals have been denied at the federal and state level.

The Alabama Supreme Court had not acted on the motion as of Tuesday afternoon.
Opinion.

I googled a simple question yesterday. A question a child might have. One a child might be more comfortable asking Siri than, say, someone with a body. A question they might type into a phone, or computer at school, or the library.

Is God real?

A.I. was quick to respond. In a fraction of a second it answered the question that has flummoxed philosophers since the stone age.

According to Wikipedia, there is no scientific evidence that God exists, it said.

So

Ban the internet! Burn it! Shame it! Or simply call it names.

I asked Google other questions a child might ponder.

What is sex? I asked (on my work computer no less, so please understand, H.R.)

I would tell you what A.I. said about sex, but I genuinely dont think we know each other well enough.

We live in an amazing age. Unfiltered, unverified information flies fast and free and almost everyone has access to all the worlds real or imagined knowledge  pictures and all. And yet somehow, access to library books has become the political flash point.

As my colleague Williesha Morris so eloquently points out, Alabamians want to ban or move everything from Black history and LGBTQ existence to Amish romances and Rush Limbaughs time-traveling takes on history.

Because everybody disagrees with somebody.

So Im here, Alabama, to speak up for Rush Limbaugh. While I cant imagine buying my kid a copy of Rush Revere  Limbaugh atop a talking horse named Liberty galloping through space and time to teach middle school kids about his America  Id never try to keep others from such a pastime.

Ill stand up for Shelley Shepard Grays A Perfect Amish Romance, too. I wouldnt read it for pleasure, but the excerpts Ive seen do explain why some Alabama parents want it banned:

Honestly, she was a little bit embarrassed by her love for the books, such an excerpt reads. The moving stories, all filled with happily ever afters made her so happy. They were her secret addiction, her catnip, the way she was able to sleep at night. They were how shed gotten through the last three years.

It sounds like sex. But with books. Hmm.

The truth is it doesnt matter if I like a book. It doesnt matter if you like a book. Because if a crowd of angry people can determine what you, or your loved ones can access or read, another angry crowd can determine what they cant.

Bill OReilly found that out the hard way. He was all in favor of banning books to keep kids from leftist views. But when Florida book banning laws made his own words subject to censor, well, that was a different story.

Its absurd, OReilly told Newsweek.

Because banning is just common sense when it comes to somebody elses words. When its your words being blocked, well, thats censorship or cancel culture or communism.

It is just too easy, always but certainly these days, to want to silence ideas you dont like.

Dont like books about gay people? Move em. Shred em. Shame the reader and blame the library.

Dont like books about slavery? Move em and call it patriotism. Check em out and never return em.

Dont like books about Billys two mommies? Call the governor. Pass a bill. Remove em, in the name of your god.

Dont like books about somebody elses god? Move em. Scorch em. Send them to your idea of hell.

Dont like books about Barack Obama? Ban em. Dont like books about Rush Limbaugh? Can em. Dont like stories about book banning? Damn em, and the author they rode in on.

Shame em and blame em and flame em in the name of God, or good, or the way you think things ought to be.

And youll make a profound point. If not about the books, then about yourself.

In the end thats all its about. Because your kids already know how to google.

John Archibald is a two-time Pulitzer winner for AL.com.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Feb. 6 on whether former President Donald Trump can be excluded from the ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. DANIEL SLIM/TNS

As the Supreme Court prepares to decide whether former President Donald Trump can be barred from this years ballot for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky and other legal scholars are disputing Trumps argument that his disqualification would violate his freedom of speech and the rights of his supporters.

Trumps violent, incendiary speech calling on others to violate the law is not the kind of speech afforded First Amendment protection, according to a court filing Tuesday by Chemerinsky and other academic leaders. They included Lee Bollinger, former president of Columbia University, Martha Minow, former dean of Harvard Law School, and First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams.

The court is scheduled to hear arguments Feb. 8 on whether Trump can be excluded from the ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars anyone from seeking or holding public office who has taken part in, or aided, an insurrection or rebellion against the government. The justices are considering Trumps appeal from a decision by the Colorado Supreme Court in December that would remove him from the states presidential ballot, but the high courts ruling will apply to other states, including California, that are considering similar action.

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Trump contends his Jan. 6 speech calling on the crowd he had assembled to march to the Capitol and fight like hell was not an insurrection. Though five people died and hundreds were injured, the event was simply a political protest that turned violent, his lawyers told the court, and he advised them to protest peacefully and patriotically.

But in Tuesdays filing, Chemerinsky and his academic colleagues said Trumps words were intended, at least, to incite his supporters to prevent legislators, through threats of violence, from voting to certify the presidential election.

Quoting a 1969 Supreme Court ruling, they said the First Amendment does not protect speech that is both directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and likely to incite or produce such action.

In another Supreme Court filing Tuesday, the liberal advocacy group Common Cause said the case is a moment of truth for American democracy. Trumps actions on Jan. 6, and his open and ongoing support, even today, for the insurrectionists and their cause poses the greatest danger to our free democratic system since the Civil War, the group said.

Trump, meanwhile, has drawn support from Republican-led states and conservative legal organizations arguing that he cannot be disqualified under the 14th Amendment.

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One filing came from three former attorneys general  Edwin Meese, who served under President Ronald Reagan; Michael Mukasey, who held the office under President George W. Bush; and William Barr, appointed by Trump. They argued that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was not self-executing and could be used to exclude a candidate only if Congress agreed to do so.

That was disputed Tuesday by Kermit Roosevelt III, a University of Pennsylvania law professor and great-great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt.
Irene Williams has been dealing with flooding for as long as she can remember. At 76 years old, shes lived in the majority Black neighborhood in north Alabama since the 1960s.

Williams told AL.com that each time it rains, water drains from the hilltop to her home.

When it rains, itll flood from there to my porch, she said. I have to wade in water all the way.

The neighborhood on Strain Road, divided east and west by Interstate 65, does not have storm drainage or sewer services.

And though sewer lines pass through the neighborhood, the city of Athens does not provide sewer service to the houses. Williams and her neighbors use septic tanks, and some say their homes have experienced flooding for years.

A group of neighbors, organized by the Limestone County chapter of the NAACP, went to the Athens City Council meeting in November to ask for help concerning various community needs.

Black Athens residents at the Jan. 22, 2024, city council meeting.Kayode Crown

After hearing resident complaints, the city cleared eyesores in the area and put up some streetlights. But, months later, residents say they still need sewer services and flooding abatement.

Neighbors returned to the city council this month after the NAACP gave the city an ultimatum to develop an infrastructural plan by the end of January to address the communitys needs.

The group is unhappy that it is almost the end of the month, and there is no sign that the city will meet the deadline.

The city has refused to meet the needs of the community and is serving more affluent communities with the sewer lines that pass through the neighborhoods, said Diane Steele, the political action chair of the local NAACP chapter.

Athens mayor Ronnie Marks told AL.com that the city is using surveys to identify the communitys needs.

Athens mayor Ronnie Marks listening at the Jan. 22, 2024, city council meeting as Black residents call for remedy flooding issues and sewer services provision to the Strain Road neighborhood.Kayode Crown

And well come up with the best plan we can to address not only the drainage issues but the sewer issues, he said.

Steele believes the citys survey endeavor is a stalling tactic because the flooding and sewer issues have already persisted for years.

She told AL.com that some of the neighbors have been dealing with the same issues since they were children living there. They are grown now. They are adult people down here still talking about the same issue, she said.

Williams, who will be 77 in February, said the flooding damaged her houses foundation, and she had to replace parts of the floor and remake the bathroom.

She said the incessant flooding leads to mold growth.

Ollie Turner, a representative of Limestone County NAACP speaking at the Jan. 22, 2024, Athens city council meeting.Kayode Crown

There was so much mold  Im allergic to mold, she said as she showed AL.com ongoing repairs to replace the flooring and address the mold.

She would like to be hooked to the citys sewer system for better sanitary living because right waste water from her washing machine flows into the street.

It would help me with my kitchen sink and everything, she said. My dishwater goes in the barrel out there, where I have to keep cleaning all the slop out.

Rickey Williams, a neighbor and relative of Irene Williams, told AL.com that he, too, would like to connect to the citys sewer system, rather than depending on a fieldline to take waste water from his house to the surrounding woods.

But that may come with a price tag of about $4,000, a fee that a city spokesperson said the city is legally required to collect.

They need to let us do it for free, Rickey Williams said.

Ollie Turner, another NAACP representative, said he believes that the city is neglecting the area because most of the residents historically have been Black people.

I feel that in my heart of hearts, Turner told AL.com.

It takes time, but does it take a lifetime? Turner added.

Irene Williams, 76, poses for picture in front of her house.Kayode Crown

Willie Hardy is 63 and said he now collects monthly disability checks after a workplace accident years ago. Hardy said he barely survived a crash when his truck hit a deer on the dark road right across from his house.

Speaking at the Athens council meeting on Jan. 22, Willie Hardy thanked the city for new street lights.

I want to thank you guys for putting up the lights along Strain Road, Hardy told the city council. That helps us a lot because it was almost impossible to see once you came across that bridge.

The next day in front of his house on Strain Road, Hardy told AL.com that he regularly experiences flooding.

Hardy told AL.com that he does not want to pay the $4,000 fee to link the citys sewer line but does not mind that his monthly bill would go up to get the sewer service.

Thats why a lot of people dont want to do it because the connection fee is going to hit them deep, said Hardy.

The connection fee is a one-time payment. And the average increase in monthly utility bills after connection to the sewer system is $35-$40, a city spokesperson told AL.com.

Wilbert Woodruff does not reside in the problematic areas but called for speedy attention and constant updates on any progress when he spoke at the city council meeting this month.

He said that new developments around the area are enjoying better city services.

This is just not some community out in rural Limestone County, he said. This is the city of Athens. It is your responsibility to bring these people the services they need.
UPDATE: ALEA on Thursday canceled the alert. No additional details were provided.

EARLIER: Authorities are searching for a Vernon teen missing since Tuesday night.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency on Wednesday issued an emergency missing child alert for 16-year-old Derick Anthony Cowen Jr.

Derick was last seen about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday in Vernon, which is in Lamar County.

He was wearing a black beanie, white shirt with a blue paint splatter pattern, a blue and yellow letterman-style jacket, black sweatpants, and black boots with two different colored strings.

He is 5-feet, 6-inches tall and weighs 150 pounds.

No additional information about his disappearance has been released.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Vernon Police Department at 205-695-7103 or 911.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issued a memo last Friday telling county tax collectors to no longer allow people to update their gender identities on driver licenses and to prove that the gender on the license is the persons biological sex using a primary identification document, records show.

Critics are calling the move an attack on trans people.

The memo, titled Driver License Operation Manual-Issuance requirements-IR08-Gender requirements (Recission), was issued as part of a review of the departments policies to better align the services provided by the Department and its partners to our stakeholders, wrote Deputy Executive Director Robert Kynoch.

Director Dave Kerner ordered a review of policies last January to ensure they are consistent with state law, a spokesperson said Tuesday. Kerner is a former mayor of Palm Beach County.

The memo rescinds the existing policy of issuing a new license if a Florida resident wishes to alter the gender marker on his or her license. Now, a replacement license can be issued only if a license or permit is lost or stolen or if there is a change in information such as an address.

A persons drivers license must correspond to their biological sex, the memo states, which they must prove with supporting documentation.

Furthermore, the term gender in s. 322.08, F.S., does not refer to a persons internal sense of his or her gender role or identification, but has historically and commonly been understood as a synonym for sex, which is determined by innate and immutable biological and genetic characteristics, the memo reads.  Permitting an individual to alter his or her license to reflect an internal sense of gender role or identity, which is neither immutable nor objectively verifiable, undermines the purpose of an identification record and can frustrate the states ability to enforce its laws.

County tax collectors must use a persons supporting documents to establish their gender identity, the memo continues. Meanwhile, misrepresenting ones gender, understood as sex on a drivers license should be considered fraud, and subjects an offender to criminal and civil penalties.

Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani first posted a copy of the memo on X Tuesday, criticizing it as an attack on trans people. She told the South Florida Sun Sentinel she found out about it Monday night.

Im incredibly frustrated by another weaponization of state agencies by Gov. DeSantis, Eskamani said Tuesday. It just seems the state has no filter in how far theyll go in attacking trans people.

The Florida Democratic Party also condemned the new policy in a media release.

Florida Republicans obsession with trans people has to stop, FDP Chair Nikki Fried said in the release. Instead of addressing our raging property insurance crisis or out-of-control rent hikes, the GOP continues to pursue blatantly transphobic policies to serve their made-up culture wars. Erasing and criminalizing trans people is absolutely disgusting and cant be allowed to stand.

The memos requirements about biological sex also raise questions for people who have already had their gender identities updated or people who appear to be the gender they identify as but not the sex they were assigned at birth.

Are you going to check peoples genitals? Eskamani asked.

In response to criticisms, an FLHSMV spokesperson said in a statement that the change in policy was necessary because it aligned with state law and protected the security and reliability or Florida drivers licenses.

Expanding the Departments authority to issue replacement licenses dependent on ones internal sense of gender or sex identification is violative of the law and does not serve to enhance the security and reliability of Florida issued licenses and identification cards, the statement read in part. The security, reliability, and accuracy of government issued credentials is paramount.

The agency also said in the statement that the only thing that has actually changed since Friday is the process of replacing a license, but no changes have been made to the process of establishing gender on a newly issued Florida credential, governed by s. 322.08, F.S.

However, one of the listed updates to the policy states that the customers gender as displayed on the driver license or identification card must be taken from a primary identification document.

The Florida statute currently requires people to include their gender along with their other information in their drivers license application, but it doesnt specify what is meant by gender or how that information must be provided.

A bill moving through the Florida House is seeking to change that. It replaces the word gender with sex and requires applications for drivers licenses and any other state-issued identification card, as well as the printed card itself, to include birth sex instead of gender identity.

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2024 South Florida Sun Sentinel. Visit at sun-sentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The United States on Wednesday attributed the drone attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, as President Joe Biden weighs his response options to the stroke.

The attribution comes as Iran threatened on Wednesday to decisively respond to any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic after the U.S. said it holds Tehran responsible. The U.S. has signaled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Mideast in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that also wounded at least 40 troops at Tower 22, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan thats been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday the U.S. believes the attack was planned, resourced and facilitated by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah. He said Biden believes that it is important to respond in an appropriate way.

Kirby said Biden was continuing to weigh retaliation options to the attack but said the first thing you see wont be the last thing, adding it wont be a one-off.

Kirby dismissed a statement by Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah announcing the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces in order to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government. He said that the group cant be taken at face value, and he added, theyre not the only group that has been attacking us.

Any additional American strikes could further inflame a region already roiled by Israels ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The war began with Hamas attacking Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed more than 26,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly 2 million others from their homes, arousing anger throughout the Muslim world.

Violence has erupted across the Mideast, with Iran striking targets in Iraq, Pakistan and Syria, and the U.S. carrying out airstrikes targeting Yemens Houthi rebels over their attacks shipping in the Red Sea. Some observers fear a new round of strikes targeting Iran could tip the region into a wider war.

A U.S. Navy destroyer in the waterway shot down an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the Houthis late Tuesday, the latest attack targeting American forces patrolling the key maritime trade route, officials said. The U.S. later launched a new round of airstrikes targeting the Houthis.

The Iranian warnings first came from Amir Saeid Iravani, Irans ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He gave a briefing to Iranian journalists late Tuesday, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

The Islamic Republic would decisively respond to any attack on the county, its interests and nationals under any pretexts, IRNA quoted Iravani as saying. He described any possible Iranian retaliation as a strong response, without elaborating.

The Iranian mission to the U.N. did not respond to requests for comment or elaboration Wednesday on Iravanis remarks.

Iravani also denied that Iran and the U.S. had exchanged any messages over the last few days, either through intermediaries or directly. The pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera, which is based in and funded by Qatar, reported earlier that such communication had taken place. Qatar often serves as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.

Such messages have not been exchanged, Iravani said.

But Irans government has taken note of the U.S. threats of retaliation for the attack on the base in Jordan.

Sometime, our enemies raise the threat, and nowadays we hear some threats in between words by American officials, Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Hossein Salami, who answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said at an event Wednesday. We tell them that you have experienced us, and we know each other. We do not leave any threat without an answer.

We are not after war, but we have no fear of war, he added, according to IRNA.

On Saturday, a general in charge of Irans air defenses described them as being at their highest defensive readiness. That raises concerns for commercial aviation traveling through and over Iran as well. After a U.S. drone strike killed a top general in 2020, Iranian air defenses mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people on board.

Meanwhile, attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels continue in the Red Sea, most recently targeting a U.S. warship. The missile launched Tuesday night targeted the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the U.S. militarys Central Command said in a statement. No injuries or damage were reported.

A Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement Wednesday morning, calling it a victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people and a response to the American-British aggression against our country.

Saree claimed the Houthis fired several missiles, something not acknowledged by the U.S. Navy. Houthi claims have been exaggerated in the past, and their missiles sometimes crash on land and fail to reach their targets.

The Houthis claimed without evidence on Monday to have targeted the USS Lewis B. Puller, a floating landing base used by the Navy SEALs and others. The U.S. said there had been no attack.

On Wednesday, a U.S. military jet struck a surface-to-air missile that was about to launch from Houthi-controlled Yemen, a U.S. official said. The missile was deemed an immediate threat and destroyed. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details ahead of a public announcement.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israels offensive against Hamas in Gaza. 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.

The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday, sparking a fire that burned for hours.

The U.S. and the United Kingdom have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes targeting the Houthis as allied warships patrol the waterways affected by the attacks. The European Union also plans to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea within three weeks to help defend cargo ships against the Houthi attacks, the blocs top diplomat said Wednesday.
A legendary stand-up comic took to social media to mourn the death of a soldier who died in a weekend drone strike on a U.S. base in Jordan near the Syrian border that also wounded more than 40 others.

Comedian George Wallace posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to remember Spc. Kennedy Sanders, a family member.

Mourning the loss of a brave, beautiful family member, Kennedy Sanders, in Jordan, he posted. The President of the United States just called to pay respect, and to award her the rank of Sergeant. Love you forever, Kennedy.

Mourning the loss of a brave, beautiful family member, Kennedy Sanders, in Jordan. The President of the United States just called to pay respect, and to award her the rank of Sergeant. Love you forever, Kennedy. pic.twitter.com/EJYNS5ziTq  George Wallace (@MrGeorgeWallace) January 31, 2024

Sanders and Spc. Breonna Moffett became close friends soon after enlisting in the Army Reserve five years ago. Sgt. William Jerome Rivers served a tour in Iraq before joining the same company of Army engineers.

All three are from Georgia. Families of the slain reservists said they were shocked when uniformed military officers came to their doors to deliver the news Sunday.

While President Joe Biden has promised the U.S. will respond, Moffetts parents said they hope theres no escalation in violence that kills more American troops. Their daughter celebrated her 23rd birthday overseas just nine days before she was killed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A 48-year-old Mobile man accused of a Chickasaw motel murder has been captured on the Mississippi coast, the Mobile County Sheriffs Office said Wednesday.

Tuesday morning, Chickasaw police contacted the sheriffs office and asked for assistance regarding a death at the Best Inn on West Lee Street in Chickasaw.

Officers found 38-year-old Christopher Ryan Martin dead from an apparent gunshot wound underneath his chin. A 9mm shell casing was found underneath Martin, near his neck, according to the sheriffs office.

Investigators reviewed surveillance video from the hallway outside the room where Martins body was found and saw a man enter the room about 3:40 a.m. About a minute later, a gunshot was heard and the man was seen leaving the room and departing the hotel in a dark SUV, according to the sheriffs office.

Ultimately, the suspect was identified as 48-year-old Cornelius Lavette Smith.

Mobile County investigators, along with U.S. Marshals, tracked Smith to Island View Casino in Gulfport, Miss. He was taken into custody without incident and is awaiting extradition to Mobile, where he will be formally charged with murder.
The COVID-19 public health emergency has had a negative economic impact on small businesses. In response, the Penny Foundation and the city of Birmingham have partnered once again to fund grants to support small businesses in the Birmingham metropolitan area.

The Penny Foundation will give out grants to small businesses located in certain neighborhoods of the city. With $125,000 of funding available, applicants can receive between $1,000 and $2,500 in grant money. The money can be used on necessities such as mortgage, rent, utilities, building improvements and developments.

Council President Darrell OQuinn, President Pro Tem Wardine Alexander, and Councilors Clinton Woods, Crystal Smitherman and LaTonya Tate each contributed $27,500 from their offices American Rescue Plan Act funds.

The Penny Foundations Founder Lyord Watson spoke at Birmingham City Hall Tuesday.

The Future Forward business grant cycle plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and sustainability. Its not just about financial support; its an investment in the potential of organizations to make a lasting impact, Watson said. The grant cycle allows us to identify and empower businesses that align with our mission, driving positive change in our communities. Its a partnership beyond funding  its about collaboration, growth, and creating a meaningful difference together.

Watson told AL.com that small businesses frequently require assistance with supplies, or need help with a relatively small purchase that would help them level up their services.

A number of different needs, with a lot of businesses, and when you talk about creatives, often times while thinking about small businesses, they will have creative looks and they needed support around supplies for their art

Businesses can apply for funding between Feb. 1 and 15. Grant winners will be announced Feb. 29.

Eligible applicants must:

 Own a small business with a valid business license in Birminghams District One, District Five, District Six, District Seven, or District Nine.

 Be currently active and open for business, and able to show proof of operation before Feb. 15, 2020.

 Agree to implement proposed services or upgrades within one month of the awarded grant.

 Have less than 25 employees.

 Agree to use an approved/licensed professional consultant and/or other identified professional service provider.

 Stay in business for one year after receiving the grant or pay the appropriate pro rata share of the funds back to Penny Foundation.

More information is available at pennyfoundation.org/futureforwardfund.
For a few minutes Wednesday during a Birmingham Rotary Club meeting, John B. McLemore lived again, at least in the ears of those at the Harbert Center.

I should have given you like a rated R warning, podcaster Brian Reed told the crowd, after playing a few recorded conversations from the late Bibb County man at the center of his 2017 work, S-Town, complete with a barrage of expletives.

McLemore, as anyone who has listened to S-Town can attest, was not afraid to turn the air blue on a host of subjects, especially his hometown of Woodstock.

S-Town took its name from McLemores nickname for Woodstock, if a more polite rendering for the uninitiated. It was a reflection of his state of mind.

Reed said his relationship with McLemore was one of the most memorable of my life.

See also: Who is John B. McLemore, figure in S-Town podcast?

It began when McLemore contacted Reed, a reporter with This American Life, about an alleged murder he said was being hushed up by Bibb County authorities.

Reed was able to confirm that the killing didnt happen, but his association with McLemore took a different turn when the antique clock restorer took his own life in 2015.

At the time, Reed said he was also involved in an elaborate whistleblower story involving the Federal Reserve. At the same time, though, he was receiving snippets of conversations recorded in Bibb County by McLemore dealing with fights in gas stations, drinking and small-town scandals.

I remember thinking I had two whistle-blowers in my life at the same time, he said. And I felt special.

S-Town recounts McLemores life, death and the tangled tale of his friends and family. The name wasnt ideal, Reed said, but accurately reflected the sensibilities of its main character. McLemore was a man who could assault any listener with obscenities when reflecting on his surroundings, but just as easily summon an introspective quote from Kahlil Gibran, rendered in the intonations of his dirt-road Alabama accent.

In fact, when it came time to actually title the podcast, Reed and others tried out other, less colorful names.

Bibb County. Too boring.

John B. Blah.

This American Life host Ira Glass suggested The Vulgar Horologist.

Reed even thought of An Eyesore Among Eyesores, using a quote from Faulkner. Reed said his wife nixed this one.

But S-Town was like a code word among McLemores friends and acquaintances into McLemores consciousness, he said. It seemed to sum up this inspiring, irritating, vulnerable yet lacerating man.

The podcast, mixing storytelling with the tapestry of a Southern gothic novel, tapped a deep nerve. As of 2020, S-Town had been downloaded more than 80 million times. It has inspired talk of a motion picture, and turned tiny Woodstock, pop. about 1,500, into a stop-off for pilgrims from around the world.

Part of its allure is McLemore himself, Reed said, and telling his story involved tapping into McLemores personal talent for storytelling.

I have a story to tell, and Im going to take you through the story, and its going to be worth it, he said. And were betting on the fact that, like a novel, the question of what this story is about - is it a podcast? is it journalistic - the work the listener has to do serves as its own momentum.

But the story was also rigorously fact checked, he said, sharing a chain of emails to confirm just one detail - that the seniors gathering for cards at the Woodstock community meeting room played Skip-Bo, not Uno or bridge.
Blue Origin, the rocket company owned by Jeff Bezos, has been making noise testing a big new rocket engine on Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville is loving it.

For older residents of the Rocket City, this months long, loud test fire, the latest in a series of engine tests, was an echo of the 1960s when NASA tested Saturn V engines in the same test stand.

Blue Origin has modified and renovated the historic stand under an arrangement with NASA. Because of its bottomless water supply from the Tennessee River, the stand is a famously safe way to fire a rocket engine and flood it in seconds if needed.

For some who heard, the test was one of those I wasnt expecting that moments that remind the area that the Rocket City nickname means what it says. Military, NASA and private companies have all tested rocket engines at the test stands or elsewhere on the base under the supervision of the Redstone Test Center.

Kent Lyman of Huntsville said on Facebook that he timed the test fire. About 7 minutes, Lyman said. Longest Ive ever heard!

Im in west Huntsville it was loud! Steve Bradford also said on Facebook.

Agreed!!, replied Traci Bishop Clark. I didnt know what was happening, sooo loud!!

Longest test I have ever heard, and Ive been in this neighborhood for 60 years, Mary Ann Porter Burns replied.

Lol I rolled down my window to make sure a 737 wasnt about to crash on top of me, Micheal Cooke said.

Blue Origin builds rocket engines in Huntsville at a large plant in Cummings Research Park. For the company, its a combination with test capability on the arsenal, its own engine factory nearby and United Launch Alliance, a commercial rocket builder and potential engine customer, a few miles away on the Tennessee River.

North Alabama might become even more important to Blue Origin. December reports in financial news publications said the company owned by Jeff Bezos has shown interest in possibly buying ULA itself. That would put the companys engine manufacturer, Arsenal test stand and rocket builder all within 20 miles of each other in north Alabama.

The test was announced in advance by Redstone Arsenal. NOISE ALERT: The rumble youll hear today (Monday, Jan. 22) is the sound of a rocket engine hotfire testing at Redstone Arsenal, one Facebook post said.

Afterward, people posted their neighborhoods on social media to give an idea how far the rocket was heard. The test, called the Queen Mother of burns by one poster, was heard in Hampton Cove across a mountain and the city from the test stand.

We are by Gate 7, Jamie Nave Granziano said on Facebook, referring to an entry and exit gate on the Arsenals west side, we HHHEEAAARRRDDDDDD IIIITTTTTTT!!

Blue Origin is involved in several facets of space travel. The company launches commercial astronauts to the International Space Station and paying customers who want to experience short-term space flight.

Project Kuiper is Bezos plan to launch thousands of broadband satellites into low Earth orbit linked to ground antenna and designed to connect people in countries with no reliable Internet connections.

Elon Musks SpaceX company has a similar fleet of communication satellites called Starlink circling the Earth and linking places previously out of reach of the Internet.

NASA had to move Saturn V and later engine tests to south Mississippi after noise from the big rockets engines famously rattled pictures on walls in Huntsville.
Reports of black bears in the Florida Panhandle are not uncommon.

When the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office received a call of two bear cubs wandering along a roadway north of Crestview, Fla., thats likely what deputies expected to find -- even though the man who reported the bears said they didnt look like black bears.

A deputy responded to the scene about 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 5, locating the cubs along Old River Road in the unincorporated Baker community, according to the sheriffs office.

And the man who first spotted the cubs were right -- they were definitely not the black bears common to Northwest Florida.

Instead, they were Kodiak bear cubs -- a species native to Alaska, meaning the cubs were about 3,600 miles from their natural habitat. Kodiaks are a subspecies of the brown or grizzly bears and considerably larger, with males growing to an excess of 10 feet tall when on its hind legs and weighing up to 1,500 pounds.

In comparison, male Florida brown bears weigh between 250-450 pounds, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game says Kodiaks live exclusively on the islands in the Kodiak Archipelago and have been isolated from other bears for about 12,000 years. There are an estimated 3,500 Kodiak bears living in the wild.

So how did two end up in Florida -- about 100 miles east of Mobile?

In the video posted by the sheriffs office Wednesday, deputies can be heard speculating they may have come from the zoo.

Investigation determined, however, that the cubs had instead escaped from an inadequate enclosure located on property belonging to a self-proclaimed bear trainer on Old River Road.

The man, who was not identified, is facing numerous Florida wildlife violations.

The sheriffs office said it did not release the video or information until the FWC investigation was complete.

The cubs were friendly and appeared healthy to the sheriffs office. In the video, they can be seen calmly interacting with the man who reported them and the deputy who responded to the call.

They were turned over to the FWC and transported to a secure location. A request for information on the suspect or the status of the bear cubs was not readily available from the FWC on Wednesday.
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg donated $200,000 to a group supporting San Francisco Mayor London Breeds reelection. Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press

Mike Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York and an unsuccessful presidential contender, is backing San Francisco Mayor London Breeds reelection effort with a $200,000 donation.

Campaign finance documents show Bloomberg recently donated the money to Forward Action SF, Supporting London Breed for Mayor 2024, an independent political committee that is not directly affiliated with Breeds reelection campaign.

But Bloomberg is not the only big donor pumping money into the race, nor is his donation the largest. Billionaire businesswoman Mimi Haas, the mother of Daniel Lurie, one of Breeds opponents in the race, has given $1 million to an independent political committee supporting her sons candidacy, a representative confirmed Tuesday.

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Bloomberg served as mayor of New York for three terms, from 2002 to 2013. When Bloomberg mounted an unsuccessful run for president in 2020, Breed endorsed him after now-Vice President Kamala Harris dropped out. He positioned himself as a centrist fixer-upper who could appeal to both Democrats and Republicans. Breed has tried to occupy a similar position in San Francisco, focusing on ways to fix its sclerotic bureaucracy and focusing on public safety.

At the time, Breed told the Chronicle that Bloombergs track record of what hes done as New York City mayor and what hes done afterward has been significant in her decision.

Now, it appears hes returning the favor.

Spokespeople for Bloomberg and the political action committee were not immediately available for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Mike Bloomberg is a mayor who knows what it takes to address big-city challenges, thats why hes supporting Mayor Breed, campaign spokesperson Maggie Muir said. Hes been working with her on issues around homelessness and making government more efficient, so he understands firsthand the work shes been doing and its impact on San Francisco.

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The infusion of cash comes amid what promises to be a high-stakes political contest, where Breed faces challenges from Supervisor Ahsha Safai and Lurie, a nonprofit founder and an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune. Another possible contender is Mark Farrell a former supervisor and interim mayor, who told the Chronicle last year he was considering jumping into the race after supporters urged him to challenge Breed. Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskins name has also been floated as a possible candidate, though he has told the Chronicle he has no plans to run.

After his stint as mayor of the Big Apple and his more ambitious pursuit of the White House, Bloomberg has turned his attention to local politics across the U.S. and has mentored hundreds of civic leaders through a leadership camp he sponsors at Harvard University. Some 275 mayors and hundreds of top aides attended the yearlong Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative in the past six years.

Very few cities have done the math to think about what kind of capacity do we need internally to summon, nurture, feed, maintain complex collaborations over time?  James Anderson, the head of Bloomberg Philanthropies government innovations programs, told Time magazine in July. That is a skillset and a competency that is absolutely required in this day and age.

Beyond Bloombergs contribution, the pro-Breed committee has also reported donations from several prominent real estate developers, including TMG Partners and Prado Group. It reported raising more than $265,000 in its Jan. 29 filing with the citys Ethics Commission. The committee recently began advertising in Chinese-language newspapers like Sing Tao Daily.

The political committee supporting Lurie, which calls itself Believe in SF Lurie for Mayor 2024, has also recently started advertising on billboards in the city. Dan Newman, a strategist for the committee, said it has so far raised about $3.5 million from more than 60 donors, including the $1 million contribution from Luries mother.

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Corey Cook, a professor of political science at St. Marys College in Moraga, said that while candidates donors become a side issue in every campaign, it typically doesnt resonate much with voters.
Stacy Shadwrick hasnt had any disciplinaries during this stint in prison. Shes completed her classes and shes on work release. But the 53-year-old is stuck in an Alabama prison, unable to get back out on parole despite an appeal for leniency from the prominent judge who sentenced her.

In 1993, Roy Moore, who was an Etowah County Circuit Judge at the time, handed down a life sentence for Shadwrick for a gas station robbery. But shortly after, he took the unusual step to write the Alabama parole board on Shadwricks behalf.

Her sentence was especially harsh due to the Habitual Felony Law and I regret not being able to show more leniency under the circumstances, Moore wrote in a letter to the parole board in the 90s.

During an interview with AL.com, Shadwrick said she was addicted to drugs most of her life. When she was 21 in 1991, she stole $146 from a convenience store in Rainbow City during an armed robbery. No one was injured.

At 22, she pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery. Because of her past shoplifting convictions, Moore sentenced her to life in prison. He didnt have a choice due to the states habitual offender laws at the time.

That was more than 31 years ago. And despite various parole boards giving her freedom over the decades and not thinking shes a threat to the public, this board wont budge to let her out of the states overcrowded prisons.

As recently as five years ago, Shadwrick would have had a good shot at being paroled. Alabama used to parole most prisoners, granting parole for more than half of those who were eligible in 2017 and 2018. But not anymore.

Last year, the Alabama parole board  under new leadership  denied more than 9 out of 10 inmates who came up for parole.

The last time she was out on parole, Shadwrick said, she messed up. She was sent back to prison after she was caught with $10 worth of meth and a pipe. The court sentenced her to a few months in prison followed by probation  but it didnt matter, not really. She was back in the system.

Her short sentence for possession ended. Time served.

But Shadwrick has been in prison ever since.

Shes had her case before the parole board twice in the last five years, most recently in 2022. Each time she was denied. And this time, the board pushed her off for five years to wait for another hearing.

Im doing everything Im supposed to do, Shadwrick said. I would think they would want me to complete all the programs, which Ive done.

From a prison phone, Shadwrick told AL.com that her problems trace back to drug addiction. She described an abusive father and alcoholic mother, and said, when she was 11, she found her mother dead. Thats when, according to Shadwrick, she started running away from home and using drugs like Ts and blues.

Its that addiction that she said has messed up her chances at parole before. Shes been paroled a few times since that 1993 conviction, she said, before getting sent back to prison on revocations for missing a drug test or shoplifting from Walmart or not reporting to her parole officer. Court records show her last felony was in 2003, when she walked off her work release job. She came back a few hours later.

Each time, she was sent back to prison to continue serving her original life sentence.

Shadwrick, like others sentenced under the old three-strikes law, is set to be monitored for the rest of her life. That means, anytime she is paroled, shes liable to serve out that life sentence for any technical misstep, whether or not criminal charges come from it.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge David Carpenter said judges are supposed to be able to decide how much mercy someone deserves and how much punishment is fair.

The reason you have judges is to make a judgment, he said. Is this someone who should be going to prison for the rest of their life?

Carpenter said people sentenced under Alabamas old habitual offender laws should be resentenced under todays guidelines.

They need to be able to put this behind them once and for all like anyone else who has served their time, said the judge. And you cant do that if you always have the looming threat of being sent back to prison for life for a minor charge or no charge at all.

Last year, women were paroled at a higher rate than men. About 20% of those who had a hearing were granted, compared to about 7% of men.

Shadwrick has been at Columbianas Alabama Therapeutic Education Facility  a facility for inmates who have demonstrated they arent a danger to others.

She just went back to work release.

Shadwrick mailed copies of certificates of programs shes completed, ending with her cosmetology certificate. She also earned the prisons award for the most pleasant personality, a paper she folded delicately and enclosed in a letter to AL.com.

What else do they want from me? Stacy Shadwrick, who was denied parole

If Shadwrick can find her way out of Alabamas penal system, shes determined to stay clean.

When asked why this time is different, she sighed. Shes only in her 50s, but Shadwrick said that when she looks in the prison bathroom mirror, she sees an old woman.

Im too old for this, she said. I cant do this anymore. My kids and my grandkids miss me and they need me.

Even though Ive done everything they want me to do, and Ive been in no trouble. What else do they want from me?

This project was completed with the support of a grant from Columbia Universitys Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights in conjunction with Arnold Ventures.










English News China builds ecological monitoring network to better protect lucid waters, lush mountains

Alwihda Info | Par pd - 31 Janvier 2024



"The national ecological monitoring network takes species diversity and habitats as its monitoring objects, with the goals of highlighting supervision, finding problems, and accumulating data. It focuses on the composition, structure, and functions of biological communities and species, enabling comprehensive monitoring of all types of ecosystems within a 100 km radius of each monitoring station," said Dong Mingli, an official with China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

By Kou Jiangze, Yao Xueqing, Li Maoying, People's Daily Early in the morning, Shen Wei arrived at the Gehu Lake, upstream of the Taihu Lake in east China's Jiangsu province, with a toolbox, to conduct routine water quality and aquatic organism monitoring. Meanwhile, Shen's colleagues were sampling water from the lake with a water collector for the monitoring of planktonic algae.



After the sampling was completed, Shen, deputy chief of the ecological department of the Changzhou Environmental Monitoring Center, which initiated a comprehensive ecological monitoring network for water bodies on the plains of Changzhou, returned to the lab with his colleagues and started analyzing samples.



"We discovered Novaculina chinensis, a national second-class protected aquatic wild animal, and we have found it at multiple locations many times," said Shen. According to him, this indicated that the ecological condition of Gehu Lake was improving.



The monitoring of planktonic algae also had some positive findings - diatoms, the dominant species in the winter lake, were at normal levels and varieties.



Ecological monitoring is essential for obtaining an objective and accurate understanding of the ecological conditions in a given area, implementing scientific ecological protection and restoration measures, and evaluating their outcomes.



Recently, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, issued a work plan on national ecological quality supervision and monitoring for the 2023-2025 period.



According to the plan, China will set up a national ecological monitoring network and designate 55 sites as the first batch of national stations for monitoring ecological quality, including a station in Xishuangbanna, southwest China's Yunnan province, and the comprehensive ecological monitoring network for water bodies on the plains of Changzhou.



The first batch of national stations for monitoring ecological quality cover major ecosystem types such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, deserts, oceans, cities, and farmlands. They span across 44 key ecological conservation and regulatory areas in China, as well as other important ecological regions and urban clusters with frequent human activities.



Compared to environmental monitoring, ecological monitoring features richer content, more complex indicators, and more diverse methods.



"The national ecological monitoring network takes species diversity and habitats as its monitoring objects, with the goals of highlighting supervision, finding problems, and accumulating data. It focuses on the composition, structure, and functions of biological communities and species, enabling comprehensive monitoring of all types of ecosystems within a 100 km radius of each monitoring station," said Dong Mingli, an official with China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment.



In the Xishuangbanna national nature reserve in Yunnan, Yuan Shengdong and other scientific researchers from the Xishuangbanna tropical rainforest ecosystem station walked into the depths of the dense forest to carry out routine field monitoring at designated plots, including measuring, marking, sampling, and recording.



For most of the year, the staff at this station are out in the field. "We collect millions of monitoring data every year, including various types such as biology, meteorology, hydrology, and soil," said Yuan.



He further explained that studying the dynamics of tropical rainforests requires long-term data accumulation, as short-term observations do not yield immediate results. Therefore, researchers need to diligently work day by day to gather the necessary data for studying the changes in the rainforest ecosystem.



Dong said that the national ecological monitoring network takes monitoring stations as regional centers, monitoring plots as the primary objects, and ground mobile patrols as a supplement. Working in sync with remote sensing, it integrates satellite resources, manned and unmanned aerial vehicles, ground fixed and mobile patrol monitoring, and other observation methods to establish an integrated sky-ground ecological monitoring technology system, Dong explained.



It is learned that satellite remote sensing monitoring boasts a wide coverage. It can monitor land surface changes promptly and discover ecological damages, serving as the primary means for ecological supervision.



Unmanned aerial vehicles are flexible and responsive. They can carry visible infrared sensors, hyperspectral sensors, LiDAR and other payloads to conduct on-site investigations and technical calibrations of damage clues and changes of ecological types in key areas. This provides data support for the verification of ecological damages and validation of remote sensing parameters.

Ground monitoring mainly utilizes video surveillance, patrols, plot monitoring and other means to conduct real-time monitoring of key sensitive areas and discover problems like human interference.



Ecological monitoring not only aims to present the current status and changes in regional ecological quality but also focuses on enhancing the ability to proactively detect ecological issues.



"For example, cyanobacterial bloom is a prominent issue in the treatment of the Taihu Lake. The monitoring station utilizes historical data to study the competitive growth mechanisms of aquatic plants and cyanobacteria, providing technical support for scientific and precise artificial restoration of the ecological environment," said Pan Chen, director of the Changzhou Environmental Monitoring Center.



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)










English News China sees rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce exports

Alwihda Info | Par pd - 31 Janvier 2024



In Zhuhai, Guangdong province, the customs department is working to streamline cross-border logistics for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Eligible goods to be exported are allowed to go through customs clearance procedures through a "simplified declaration, list-based release and summary statistics" approach. This effort has attracted many logistics companies such as SF Express, DHL, and Cainiao to conduct e-commerce business at the Zhuhai Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, with export destinations reaching over 200 countries and regions.

By Du Haitao, People's Daily According to customs statistics, China's cross-border e-commerce logged total imports and exports of 2.38 trillion yuan ($330.9 billion) in 2023, up 15.6 percent year on year. In particular, exports totaled 1.83 trillion yuan, up 19.6 percent from a year ago, while imports stood at 548.3 billion yuan, up 3.9 percent.



The rapid development of cross-border e-commerce demonstrates China's immense market vitality and growth resilience. It not only meets the diverse and individualized needs of Chinese consumers but also helps Chinese products reach global markets, becoming an important driving force for foreign trade development.



At night, warehouses of cross-border e-commerce companies in the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone, south China's Guangdong province were still bustling - numerous products were being packed and waiting to be sent to consumers around the world via international flights after customs clearance.



With the development of globalization, an increasing number of Chinese companies are turning their attention to overseas markets in search of greater development opportunities. Cross-border e-commerce exports have become an important pathway for this expansion.



China is actively promoting the healthy, sustainable and innovative development of cross-border e-commerce. It encourages local authorities to leverage industrial and resource advantages to build innovative cross-border e-commerce pilot zones, and develop a model that integrates cross-border e-commerce and industrial belts, so as to facilitate business-to-business exports for cross-border e-commerce enterprises.



According to Zhu Siqiao, associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under China's Ministry of Commerce, in the face of increasing global trade uncertainty and sluggishness, cross-border e-commerce, relying on flexible, efficient, and resilient supply chains, provides more value-for-money products to global consumers and injects new impetus into global trade growth.



In 2023, relevant departments have continuously improved policies related to customs clearance, taxation, foreign exchange, and innovated regulatory models to promote cost reduction and efficiency improvement for enterprises. They encouraged cross-border e-commerce pilot zones, industry organizations, and companies to actively participate in "Silk Road e-commerce" and Belt and Road economic and trade cooperation, so as to ensure the steady and sustainable growth of cross-border e-commerce exports.



"We have successfully established a foothold in overseas markets thanks to cross-border e-commerce exports and overseas warehouses," said Lyu Qiang, general manager of Verage, a baggage manufacturer based in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province.



"Not only is the delivery and after-sales service more convenient, but we can also collect timely feedback from foreign consumers through e-commerce platforms. This allows us to continuously optimize our products," said Lyu.



Since 2023, Verage has achieved sales of over 20 million yuan through cross-border e-commerce platforms, with a year-on-year growth of over 70 percent.



Hangzhou Customs has been actively exploring new models and applying new scenarios for the development of cross-border e-commerce, supporting traditional industries in expanding overseas markets through new business forms, and aiming to better facilitate the exports of Chinese products with cross-border e-commerce overseas warehouses.



Zhu believes that the rapid development of digital technology and the advancement of regional cooperation will create a better environment for the development of cross-border e-commerce.



Cross-border e-commerce connects different industries, allowing various sectors such as clothing, footwear, baby care products, furniture, and appliances to access global markets. Additionally, cross-border e-commerce also drives the transformation of traditional manufacturing and trading enterprises, promoting the development of new business forms.



Shandong Jiongxin Trading Co., Ltd. based in a cross-border e-commerce park in Jining, east China's Shandong province, recently signed a garlic trade order worth $12,000 with a foreign client.

After joining the cross-border e-commerce industrial park, the profit margin of the company's orders has increased by 50 percent, said Han Ju, general manager of the company.



In Zhuhai, Guangdong province, the customs department is working to streamline cross-border logistics for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Eligible goods to be exported are allowed to go through customs clearance procedures through a "simplified declaration, list-based release and summary statistics" approach. This effort has attracted many logistics companies such as SF Express, DHL, and Cainiao to conduct e-commerce business at the Zhuhai Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, with export destinations reaching over 200 countries and regions.



The Guangzhou Customs in Guangdong province has created a one-stop oversight model for cross-border e-commerce export returns. It allows companies to ship export e-commerce returns that meet resale conditions back to the Nansha Comprehensive Bonded Zone, where unpacking, sorting, shelving, storage, and re-export can be handled in one go.



In 2023, the Guangzhou Customs facilitated over $240 million worth of cross-border e-commerce export return declaration and over 31 million "bundled" export packages.



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)
By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.  William Shakespeare.

If you are cynical and look at the Donald J. Trump phenomenon, you could say to yourself, Who cares, it doesnt matter; even if he wins in 2024, he will be gone in four years.

Yet, many folks are just not comfortable with conflict, civic or otherwise; especially the kind of angst that comes and goes, only to blister again like a civic boil. To be honest, when we are most comfortable, change gives us the willies. In the end, the comfort game is a prayer for more of the same.

Politics reflect our affinity for the status quo. A Bush family vote was a comfort vote. Indeed, politics were the Bush family business. The Billary vote was a comfort to the point of complacency. If you liked Bill; why not Hillary? Alas, a smug American left tripped over its assumptions in 2016then prudently kicked Bills wife to the curb. A Barack Hussein Obama vote provided the ultimate comfort, a prostrate virtue signal. A vote that said America is not racist.

Good luck with that.

And today with the Biden family, we are witnessing the compound dividends of toxic tenure, being there, as they say, with a family of grifters. Indeed, being in the political swamp long enough for the patriarch to rot and float to the toplike a cadaver that has been in the water too long.

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. never held a real job outside of politics. Joe literally stayed on, inside the Beltway, long enough to get lucky in 2020; albeit, with a tail wind from a frantic, if not, hysterical establishment and a plague, politicized by a partisan media, Big Pharma, and doctors alike. (Tony Fauci takes a bow here.)

In Donald J. Trumps first act, Covid is a deus ex machina!

Somehow a political party, indeed a country, seems to get what it deserves. Albeit, in theory, with democracy, eventually the wisdom of crowds prevails.

If Trump had lost in 2016, it would not have hurt his brand. He would still be a celebrity, a player, and a successful business tycoon. But the Donald, being Trump, would not stay down for the count after 2020; guys like Trump do not go quietly into the night.

So in 2024 Trump is leading a crusade for justicegarnished with deja vu and sugarplums of justice, if not revenge. Surely, DT doesnt need a job, money, or another hobby and his many partisan detractors have pretty much given him another full-time job now as a defendant.

In many ways, chaps like Donald Trump and Elon Musk are brothers by another mother, victims of their own success; some might say excess. Unlike oligarchs on the Davos left, Trump and Musk are unapologetic entrepreneurs, believing as they do, like JFK, that a rising economic tide floats all boats.

Unfortunately for social democrats and their dependent camp followers, success is a river that courts envy on both shores. As we now see in the Levant, the green-eyed monster is keen on anti-Semitism. Envy is the vice that demonizes extraordinary success, be it national, like Israel, or personal, like Trump and Musk.

Alas, the vanquished heirs of Marxism, communism, and the Internationale have few arrows left in their quivers today except envy, hate, and bigotry.

The American presidential election of 2024 is sure to be, as they say in Ireland, a shite show. So win or lose, how are we to assess the Trump phenomena?

Trump is not a Republican or Democrat. He just wears a red hat and goes his own way.

We could give Trump credit for the Abraham Accords and for putting a leash on Iran; Shia and Sunni terrorists saw team Biden as at first weak, and now as a lame duck. Islamists helped to unravel most of what Trump achieved. Indeed, America is now fighting two proxy wars with no ends in sight.

Still, there are some Trump bells that can not be unrung:

Donald J. Trump, in the first instance, made Hillary a historical footnote. Hillarys exit was good for America and fortunate for the world.

The attempt by the D.C. establishment to undermine the Trump administration also exposed the ugly truth of partisan incest. Indeed, we now know, in some detail, just how biased and corrupt the Justice Department, the FBI, the Intelligence Community, and the Department of Defense have become. DEI, BLM, and gender-bender campaigns say all that needs to be said about the cultural and social dumpster fire inside the Beltway.

Surely, Trump blowback also validated the deep state theory. Americans now know how they are ruled (and routinely abused) by smug, unelected, tenured, privileged apparatchiks, all masquerading as honest cops or civil servants. Federal service is civil to the extent that it serves partisan agendas. Over the years, D.C. has become, like most of urban America, a partisan political Democrat party monoculture.

Likewise, the Trump drama exposed the toxic threats to democracy posed by unofficial and largely partisan collusion between the feds and Silicon Valley to manage news, narratives, and elections. Indeed, before Trump, we never knew how many big sisters worked with Big Brother.

And speaking of sisters, add one last credit to the Trump ledger.

D.J. Trump may have created a sure lane for the next vice-president, or president, to be a conservative woman. Not because sex matters, but because there is such a plethora of worthy ladies-in-waiting on the common sense, conservative side of the American bench these days.

And finally in 2024, for voters, the wisdom of crowds will finally get a bona fide and much needed acid test. And here we give Joe Robinette the last word. Democracy is indeed on the ballot in 2024. So good luck with that too.

G. Murphy Donovan writes about the politics of Intelligence and national security.

Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required.
In the 18 years since Israel withdrew its military and civilians from the Gaza Strip, Hamas has fired approximately 30,000 rockets and mortars at Israel: about 12,000 from 2007 until 2019, another 4,360 during eleven days of war in 2021 and, over 12,000 in the current war, which has displaced over 150,000 Israelis. Since Israels 2005 Disengagement, Hamas has also attempted to invade aerially, navally, and through tunnels, and executed a range of other assaults, including airborne arson attacks and ecoterrorism, shootings, abductions, and the brutal massacre of about 1,200 people on October 7, 2023, leading to the fourth major Israel-Gaza war in 14 years.

Thus, by now it should be clear that mainstream policy thinking on Gaza has failed. Ignoring hard facts to nurture illusions about Gazans coexisting peacefully alongside Israelis condemns everyone to perpetual war.

The latest opinion poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) reveals harsh realities that demolish any fantasies about a postwar Gaza living peacefully alongside Israel. Large majorities of respondents in both the West Bank and Gaza expressed a commitment to violence against Israel (over 60%) and support for the October 7th massacre despite the resulting war and devastation (over 70%).

The poll is based on in-person interviews of 1,231 adults (750 in the West Bank and 481 in the Gaza Strip) and was conducted during the pause in the current war (November 22nd to December 2nd).

Other key findings:

The most popular Palestinian figure is arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti, a Fatah leader imprisoned by Israel after being convicted of extensive terrorist activities, including attacks that murdered five Israelis.

After the end of the war, if the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are run by the Palestinian Authority (PA), 70% would oppose an Arab contingent helping the PA to maintain security.

64% oppose the idea of a two-state solution.

When asked which party should rule the Gaza Strip after the war, 60% selected Hamas; 16% selected a PA national unity government without President Abbas; 7% selected the PA with Abbas; 3% selected one or more Arab countries; 3% selected a national unity government under Abbas, and 2% selected the Israeli army.

Hamas' disastrous governance has been obvious for decades, but shocking new examples regularly emerge. Hamas diverted billions in international aid for military purposes, like building an underground city of terror (including this 50-meter-deep tunnel large enough for use by vehicles). Even more evidence has surfaced, from Gaza hospital director Ahmed Kahlot, that Hamas uses hospitals and ambulances for military purposes.

And yet Gazans still support Hamas in large numbers, prefer Hamas rule over any alternative, and support the 10/7 massacre.

The U.S. seems to think that a reformed PA could run Gaza, but that ignores two inconvenient facts:

the latest poll shows that the PA is deeply unpopular and would likely lose any election or be promptly overthrown, and the PA has an abysmal track record of corruption and was too weak to prevent a Hamas-led coup in Gaza, less than two years after Israel's withdrawal. So why would the PA perform any better this next time?

No Arab government wants the thankless burden of governing Gaza. And the latest poll indicates that Gazans themselves don't want any outside Arab power to manage security.

So who would actually achieve the de-radicalization upon which a Palestinian state in Gaza is predicated? Who could be trusted to ensure that the general population is primed for peace and that the textbooks used to educate children are not full of hatred and incitement, as they have been for decades? Even the UN has been teaching hate to Gaza's children. So which political entity has the popularity, authority, and morality to educate for coexistence and to ensure that all aid money rebuilds Gaza as Singapore instead of Somalia?

Despite no answer to this fundamental question, the international community -- including the U.S., EU, and UN -- still clings to the delusional idea that if they just pressure Israel into accepting a future Palestinian state in Gaza, that impoverished, overcrowded, and radicalized territory will suddenly flourish and peacefully embrace Israel.

While Japan and Nazi Germany were successfully de-radicalized, that was only after the kind of absolute defeat and extended occupation that the international community would never allow for Gaza. Looking at the various rulers of the Gaza Strip since 1967 -- Israel (1967-2005), the PA-Hamas (2005-2007), and Hamas (2007-2023) -- nobody has successfully governed, much less de-radicalized Gaza. And the latest poll excludes any foreign Arab power from doing so.

So those who are pressuring Israel to stop fighting before Hamas has been conclusively defeated and who have no credible plan for deradicalizing the Gaza Strip are condemning Israelis and Gazans to a state of perpetual conflict, as the latest poll reveals. That is not a two-state "solution" but rather an endless-war problem.

Noah Beck is the author of The Last Israelis, an apocalyptic submarine thriller about Iranian nukes, Hamas, and Hezb'allah.

Image: Apaimages
It has been said that intellectuals can reduce a city of stone to sand. Unfortunately, this is especially true as todays thinking class wages all-hands-on deck warfare against Western Civilization. The most prominent of these attacks is the Diversity, Inclusion and Equity (DIE) movement but DIE is not, however, the only assault. Less obvious, but of no less importance, is how scholars now attack Western Civilization by celebrating, indigenous cultures that had largely been replaced by Western Civilization. These enemies are not romantics wanting to return to nature by living off the grid sans modern conveniences. Rather, the enemies of Western Civilization want it replaced.

This animus toward Western Civilization invites reverting to the Dark Ages of Europe. If, after all, any cultural practice is as valid as any other, why spend billions on modern medicine? Hire witch doctors and save a fortune.

This civilizational de-evolution is hardly hypothetical. Over a million Americans now identify themselves as pagan or witches along with others holding new age beliefs that resemble pre-modern spirituality. Salem, MA has become famous as Witch City whose annual witch-themed events draw huge crowds. According to a recent Pew survey, 28% of Americans answered none when asked their religion. Large numbers of Latinos, especially younger immigrants, embrace brujeria -- a religion that pre-dates Christianity. Read about it in Brujeria: The Magic and Power of Witches of Color.

Americans praising pagan rituals and so on are hardly misguided, according to some academics. For these professors, these primitive beliefs as equal or even superior to Western Civilization. Nor are these admirers anthropologists who might sympathetically depict the traditions of the Arctic-dwelling Intuits. Rather, they champion these pre-modern cultures. As one article in Science, circulation of over one million, put it, Faced with the profound challenges of a rapidly changing environment, society needs other ways of knowing to illuminate a different way forward. Thanks to the leadership of Indigenous scholars and allied collaborators, Indigenous knowledge is receiving long overdue recognition for its potential to provide solutions for the mutual thriving of lands and cultures. An urgent question is how institutions can appropriately support (and not hinder) Indigenous sciences key role in creating a sustainable future. That is, seek advice on solving contemporary American problems from people surviving in the rain forest.

This is hardly inconsequential rhetoric. According to the Science article, a 2022 White House conference called for elevating the knowledge of indigenous people on such topics as land management all the while noting our misguided attempts to erase them physically and through forced assimilation. Indeed, thanks to National Science Foundation funding, some 54 indigenous scholars at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) will tackle the worldwide problems of climate disruption, hunger, and sustaining native culture.

According to these experts, The goal is to identify and advance models of ethical and effective integration of Indigenous and Western sciences by creating mutually respectful and reciprocal relationships between them. Western and non-western science are thus co-equal in solving the worlds pressing problems.

Meanwhile, the American Museum of Natural History, a prestigious research institution, has just spent $19 million dollars on a new exhibition featuring the Tling, an Alaskan native population. The displays feature shaman masks and philosophies of spiritual healing. These shamans are described as doctors not witch doctors or faith healers. Though their creation myths and self-reported history are folklore, Museum curators treat these accounts as verified fact. Picture these curators putting on an exhibition that asserted that the Bible was literally true -- creationism. Remarkably, the museum experts feel no need to warn visitors that a distinction exists between folklore and demonstrated scientific fact.

This blurring of myth and scientific fact reflects an ideological agenda. The government agencies sponsoring the museum hope to increase diversity of voices and perspectives that will, hopefully, enhance cultural understanding. Just how obscuring the distinction between fact and an invented reality helps anyone is ignored. Rather, the message is that when it comes to truth, there is no need for scientific verification if the truth is offered by indigenous people. We now possess our own truths, so just pick your truth and be happy.

Finally, there is the celebration of the contribution of indigenous people featured at the 2024 DAVOS meeting, the conclave of the worlds most powerful political and economic leaders. In fact, listening to the people from the rain forest and similar backward areas was a central feature of the conference. Thankfully for those who might have eaten and drank too much, Chieftess Putanny Yawanawa of the Amazonian Yawanawa tribe cured the attendees discomfort with a shamanic ceremony. These many indigenous experts spoke on the balance of nature and economies plus offering cutting-edge technologies incorporating Indigenous knowledge. Davos 2024 also launched the The Indigenous Peoples Knowledge and Leadership Network, which will bring together indigenous experts and representatives across the World Economic Forums 10 centres (six) of impact, as a space to foster greater public-private cooperation through Indigenous knowledge. Note the capitalization of Indigenous as a sign of respect.

It is tempting to dismiss this fascination with indigenous knowledge as clever virtue signaling. But it should be taken seriously. Over time and institutional financial support, the verbiage can grow in the next version of DIE. Nor does focus on indigenous knowledge enhance Western Civilizations diversity. It is a rival, since the indigenous way of knowing explicitly rejects modern science in favor of an incoherent hodgepodge of folk tales, multicolored noisy ceremonies, and advice that is opinion totally beyond empirical proof. World leaders are paying fortunes to hear this babble, but how many of them would trust their physical well-being to African shamans? Probably none but those who follow the money, may see big bucks in what is celebrated at prestigious forums such as DAVOS. Will universities now hire Indigenous consultants, and they now hire DIE functionaries?

The comparison with DIE is instructive. Three decades ago, who would have predicted that many American students at elite universities would now believe that science was just the white way of seeking knowledge, and oppressed people should embrace their own knowledge, not empirically tested (White) evidence? Or that wealth should depend on skin color, not personal accomplishment? Crazy ideas can infiltrate society, even dominate public discourse, as the current state of American higher education demonstrates,

Celebrating such knowledge invites de-evolution, a return to the Dark Age or worse. To quote Thomas Hobbes, life would be solitary, brutish, and short. Yes, who is to say what is the best society, but for those who want to reject Western Civilization, there are countless sites on our planet that would accommodate them. The 2025 DAVOS conclave should be held among the Korowai tribe in New Guinea attendees can see for themselves the benefits of ending Western Civilization.

History and merely observing todays world shows that Western Civilization is not the default human condition. It may, in fact, be the exception, and it is certainly not permanent once established. It is fragile and not everyone wants it. Countless intellectuals are railing against it, and they should be taken seriously. Few Americans, and millions of those besieging our Southern border, want to live on a pile of sand.

Image: PxHere
The burden of overregulation weighs heavily upon American industry. It saddles the business world with burdens that stifle initiative and diminish profits.

One Supreme Court decision that reinforces and codifies this government regulation is Chevron U.S.A. v. National Resources Defense Council. The 1984 ruling over a Clean Air Act regulation held that when confronted with ambiguous provisions of federal statutory law, judges must defer to the reasonable interpretations of agency officials over any others.

This blank-check approach to the law made it difficult to challenge oppressive regulation and further empowered an already top-heavy bureaucracy. Soon, Chevron became the rule to make all rules.

Now, Chevron is being challenged, and it is about time.

A Tool of the Political Parties

Chevron has been used by both political parties to advance their goals. The Reagan administration used it (some say for the good) to curb leftist judicial activism, trying to block its de-regulatory program. Liberals have used it (most say for bad purposes) to add layers of regulations to laws that promote their leftist ideology.

Most recently, Chevron has been used mainly by the Left. What is problematic about this SCOTUS precedent is not just the socialistic regulations but how the coercive power of the State is instrumentalized by the Left to curtail and chill private initiative and free enterprise.

Shielded by Chevron, instead of the infamous legislating from the bench, judges now defer to the executive branchs radical interpretations and execute [laws] from the bench. The rash of White House executive orders can be sourced back to the Chevron privilege.

Thus, Chevron has been used in tens of thousands of cases to give power to technocrats. Some have labeled the ruling as the Roe v. Wade of federal rulemaking. Under its blanket referrals, anything can be justified. Most frequently, common sense is sacrificed.

A Fishermen's Protest Goes Rogue

Conservatives have finally managed to challenge Chevron.

It began innocently enough with a simple case. Atlantic herring fishermen in New Jersey and Rhode Island provided the pretext.

The National Marine Fisheries Services interpreted an ambiguous 1976 statute as meaning that fishing vessels must carry federal conservation monitors on board certain voyages at a cost of $700 a day. When the fishing companies protested the cost (not to be found in the statute), the federal government prevailed, relying on Chevron.

The fishermens appeal ended up on the Supreme Court docket, where the court chose not to limit the case to the narrow issue of fish monitoring but to enlarge it by questioning Chevrons framework used to overregulate. Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and a similar case now await judgment.

Positions of the Left and the Right

Predictably, the Left supports the Chevron deference option, enlisting the help of labor, environmental, and civil rights activists. They are only too willing to arrogate to the federal government all the powers needed to regulate and hamstring the lives of citizens. The rule of technocratic experts is part of a leftist utopia where everything is decided by government officials who constantly infringe on the space and freedoms of the citizenry.

Those opposing Chevron have no problems with consulting with experts on complex issues. However, they contest the systematic favor enjoyed by government agencies over all other experts. The one-size-fits-all nature of many state regulations fails to consider other factors that might benefit production or services.

Those involved in the business know that organic developments and processes are also needed for human flourishing. Indeed, the fishermen claimed they were the most interested party in maintaining herring populations.

To reduce everything to rigid government rules and processes easily leads to an abuse of power and the stifling of economies.

The True Nature of the Lefts Mania for Regulation

Regulations have a limited yet vital role in keeping order in society. However, the tendency to reduce everything to regulations using tools like Chevron is problematic.

The leftist mania for overregulation is much more a moral than a legal issue. It is drawn from the lefts materialistic worldview that refuses to consider any spiritual or moral dimension to things.

The incomplete vision does not correspond to reality. Thus, the Left tries to make its system work by imposing its skewed perspective upon society by regulation. There is never enough regulation in a leftist regime.

The Socialist Conception of Life

According to the Lefts conception of life, only matter exists, and the primary purpose of life is to avoid all risk and suffering and maximize pleasure and passions to the greatest possible extent. This program must take place in the context of total freedom and equality. Everything must be regulated to provide a platform for this unrealistic utopia.

Socialists also deny the notion of sin and fallen nature. Thus, they believe all misfortunes and sufferings are by nature unjust. The proliferation of regulations supports systems, structures, and entitlements that supposedly overcome or mitigate the sufferings of life.

It never works. It only ends up with calls for ever more regulations in the vain hope of reaching this utopia where nothing goes wrong and everything is unrestrained.

Three Roles of Overregulation in Socialist Society

Thus, overregulation has three roles to play in a socialist society:

First, the regulations replace morals in keeping some sense of direction in a society where every vice is allowed. The government must intervene in everything with regulations to prevent suffering or unhappiness. Social workers and bureaucrats abound to create and implement regulations.

A cold, sterile pseudo-order reigns supreme. In a socialist world, no one can be blamed for laziness or negligence. Instead, unjust systems, social structures like the family, and, ultimately, God are to blame when things go wrong. Government intervention is needed to diminish such threats to well-being.

Regulations as the Great Equalizers

Second, regulations are the great equalizer in a socialist society. Everyone is a number in the face of these rigid rules. Since inequality is a source of suffering in the leftist ideology, regulations make sure everyone is treated in the same mechanistic fashion without nuance or mercy.

This regulation prevents the formation of self-regulating associations based on the principle of subsidiarity, which allows people to develop their trades more freely and creatively.

Regulations also promote equality by carrying forward the class struggle narrative in which regulations protect the oppressed classes from negligence and supposed abuse by the oppressor classes.

Overregulation Facilitates Decadence

Finally, overregulation helps facilitate the destruction of western Christian society and social structures, which is in line with leftist goals.

In a society where Christian virtue, especially charity, is practiced, a simple framework of rules is enough to keep things functioning well. Where vice reigns, the contrary is true.

To the degree that people lose virtue, regulation proliferates to curb abuses. Every transgression against the State begets a new regulation that is supposed to prevent further abuses. Soon, the government books are full of regulations, putting bureaucrats in charge of the smallest things. And still, the process never ends. As the chaos grows, it requires exponentially more regulation for ever more minor situations or processes.

The socialist system destroys a framework of virtue that requires effort, suffering and selflessness. It replaces it with a system of resentment, envy, and control.

A Promise Never Fulfilled

Such is the mentality behind the Chevron deference. The overturning of the ruling will significantly help those who oppose the drift to socialism.

However, it will not resolve the problem of overregulation. The real solution consists of rejecting the liberal proposition that the purpose of life is to minimize suffering and maximize pleasure. It calls for refusing to embrace a life reduced to regulated pleasures and bland mediocrity.

Such a proposition does not respect the reality of fallen human nature that explains lifes suffering. It does not include Gods loving Providence that provides the elements to overcome these obstacles.

Count on socialism to never deliver the happiness it promises.

Image: Chevron Corporation
The standoff at Eagle Park creates a special moment known in the ed biz as a teachable moment regarding the Constitutions doctrine of federalism.

The chief point to grasp here is that 13 independent sovereign states created and adopted the US Constitution. They were already associated as confederate sovereignties under the Articles of Confederation, and each was determined to retain its sovereignty notwithstanding the Constitutions ratification.

The peculiar phrasing of the preamble to the Constitution, while technically accurate, may be seriously misleading. The preambles phrasingWe the People of the United Statesdo ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of Americacannot help but give the impression that there was a plebiscite undertaken in adopting the Constitution. But that is not so.

There was no plebiscite. To the contrary, the Constitution was adoptedratified is the term normally employedby the states precisely as required in Art VII of the Constitution itself:

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

No doubt, under the American doctrine of popular sovereignty, a state convention to ratify the Constitution can appropriately be viewed as the act of the state sovereign (the people) through their state as agent. Nevertheless, it would have been equally accurate and less misleading to have phrased the preamble as We the States of the United Statesdo ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Image Andrea Widburg using a YouTube image.

The 13 states adopted the Constitution on September 17, 1788, following New Hampshires June 21, 1788, ratification convention. So, in the span of just13 years, the 13 sisters by the sea coursed from British Colony (Battle of Lexington/Concord, April 18, 1775) to Sovereign State (Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776) to Confederation of Sovereignties (Articles of Confederation, March 1, 1781) to Federation of Sovereignties (Ratification by New Hampshire, June 21, 1788).

The Constitutions federalism doctrine is briefly and somewhat awkwardly described in the Tenth Amendment:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The same document can be restated this way: Every State of the United States is a sovereign state possessing all powers of a sovereign state except as otherwise provided by a state or the federal constitution, and the United States of America is a sovereign state possessing no powers whatever except those powers granted it in the United States Constitution, either expressly or by necessary implication.

The 10th Amendments meaning can be understood this way: Imagine someone asking, Does a state have power X? The answer is Yes, unless the state or federal constitution provides otherwise. The corollary question is, Does the United States have power X? The answer is No, unless the federal Constitution grants that power.

With federalism now under our belt, lets cop a gander specifically at Texass conduct at Eagle Pass.

Article IV, Sec. 4 of the US Constitution provides:

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.

Let us accept as true, based on publicly available facts, that (a) The State of Texas is under invasion across its southern border, and (b) the US federal government invites and supports this invasion.

Applying the above-stated constitutional principle to these facts means that the US federal government is in open rebellion against the U.S. Constitution.

Moreover, under the common legal principle qui facit per alia facit pe se (He who acts through another, acts for himself), the federal government is itself invading the State of Texas by using illegal aliens and, therefore, is acting treasonously.

We now turn to the delicate question of whether Texas has the right to reject the federal invasion.

Article 1, Sec. 10, Clause 3 of the Constitution states in relevant part:

No State shall, without the Consent of Congressengage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

Thus, the question becomes: Does the sovereign State of Texas possess the legal right to repel the migrant invasion over its Mexican border? As the Attorney General of Arizona extensively and credibly argued, the answer is a resounding YES!

There is an equally delicate follow-up question that needs to be addressed. Many people are proposing that Texas should secede from the Union. Thats a terrible idea, dividing those who oppose the federal governments lawlessness and raising a plethora of issues beyond those presently faced. Instead of fleeing from federal treason, Texas should spearhead a campaign to repulse he federal treason and drain the federal swamp. Possession, not secession!
We are currently witnessing a depraved reality. Israelis are traumatized following the massacre by Hamas  and rather than offering empathy and compassion for Israel, much of the world has turned against the country. In fact, antisemitic demonstrations have surged to new heights, engulfing world capitals as well as New York and Washington.

At the same time, a perverse phenomenon is being played out. During the recent Christmas holidays, Jesuss name was profaned, injected into the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. U.S. representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) (D-N.Y.) drew parallels between the persecution of Jesus and modern-day Israel. On Instagram, she posted this: Jesus was part of a targeted population indiscriminately killed to protect an unjust leaders power. And the high Christian holiday is about honoring the precious sanctity of a family that, if the story were to unfold today, would be Jewish Palestinians.

AOC ignored the sadistic murder of entire Israeli families by Hamas terrorists. The so-called unjust leader AOC is referring to is essentially Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister. Israels leader and the rest of the civilized world were appalled by the Nazi-like atrocities committed by Hamas, but apparently AOC was not. And, in her ignorance, she neglects Jesuss ministry and sense of justice, which would certainly have excoriated the Hamas butchery.

AOC was not the only one to distort history. Father Edward Beck, a Catholic priest and religion commentator, was interviewed on CNN about pain and suffering in the world during the holiday season. He noted, What I am struck by is that the story of Christmas is about a Palestinian Jew  how often do you find those words put together? A Palestinian Jew  born into a time when his country was occupied, right? I mean, you cant make up the parallels to our current world situation right now.

This outrageous falsification of history was best exemplified by Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, who, according to the AP (December 23, 2013) proclaimed in Bethlehem, Jesus was a Palestinian messenger of hope. Abbas, a Muslim, whose regime has oppressed Christians and caused the Christians who once made up the majority population of Bethlehem to flee to Santiago de Chile, was cynically using Jesus to appeal to the Christian world.

Jesus was born a Jew and died as one. During Jesuss time, the word Palestine did not even exist.

In the year 135, the Romans finally defeated the Jews revolting against them. They determined to erase all traces of Jewish indigeneity. They renamed the land of Israel Syria Palaestina and King Davids capital, Jerusalem, Aelia Capitolina. The name was derived from the Philistines, a people from the Aegean Sea who had invaded and settled the coastal region of southern Israel.

The Arabs during the early British Mandatory years, living in what is today Israel, identified themselves as Southern Syrians, not as Palestinians. For political expediency, this changed after the Jewish people declared statehood in 1948. The Jews, until statehood, were known as Palestinian Jews, and their passports identified them as such.

Jewish and Christian links to the land of Israel are being erased with the imprimatur of UNESCO, a U.N. agency. UNESCO makes a mockery of its purported mission for authentic cultural preservation. The Muslim world makes up a majority of the U.N.s membership, and Muslim nations, coupled with the likes of AOC, are engaged in this charade. That is why in 2011 the U.S. and Israel withdrew their dues from UNESCO.

Dennis Ross, former Middle East envoy in the Clinton administration, recalled that during the Camp David Summit in July 2000 with Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) chairman, and Ehud Barak, Israels prime minister, Arafat told Clinton that the Temple didnt exist in Jerusalem, but rather, it was located in Nablus. Arafat argued that there was no trace of the temple on the Temple Mount! Moreover, Arafat had disclosed to a delegation of Arab leaders that the holy Jewish temple was not in Jerusalem, but in Yemen. Mahmoud Abbas, Arafats successor, was a double-denier  he denied the existence of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and denied the Holocaust.

Israeli and Western archaeologists have discovered tangible evidence of biblical accounts. Yet Palestinian Arabs have sought to gain legitimacy and indigeneity by seeking to repudiate Jewish indigeneity in the land of Israel. To that end, Palestinian officials at the Al-Aqsa Mosque doing renovations in 1996 discarded artifacts from Solomons Temple. Israeli archaeologists raised their concern over how the Waqf (Islamic Council) was trying to obliterate evidence of Jewish history. Nevertheless, as Smithsonian Institute Magazine revealed, archaeologists have found various artifacts in the discarded shards from Solomons Temple.

The same Smithsonian Institute Magazine reported that a 1929 publication written by Waqf historian Aref al-Aref, titled A Brief Guide to the Haram al-Sharif, states that the Mounts identity with the site of Solomons Temple is beyond dispute.

The Palestinians, AOC and her progressive friends in Congress, and Hamass Western sympathizers not only lack empathy for Israeli victims, but also accuse Israel of aggression and oppression. The fact that Hamas deliberately attacked Israel, and indiscriminately targeted innocents, does not bother them. Their goal is to delegitimize the Jewish state, ultimately achieving Israels disappearance. But history and truth will not be obfuscated despite Palestinian political will.

Image: scottgunn via Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0.
J.P. Morgan Chase, the nations largest bank, is being accused in two California lawsuits of failing to protect elderly women who were duped into transferring large sums into their accounts, then wound up losing their life savings. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Senior citizens have recently been warned of the financial swindle known as pig-butchering, in which theyre induced to invest in ventures like cryptocurrency  supposedly for huge profits  or make payments to avoid financial harm before the scammer makes off with their money. Now a bank is being accused in two California lawsuits of failing to protect elderly women who were duped into transferring large sums into their accounts, then delivered the funds to their supposed benefactor and wound up losing their life savings.

J.P. Morgan Chase, the nations largest bank, has known for some time about these schemes and how its agents assist in perpetrating them, and has a duty to protect its customers, lawyers for the women wrote in the suits, filed Monday in Los Angeles and San Mateo counties.

Chase has a long history of failing to protect its elderly customers in the face of obvious fraud, said Anne Marie Murphy, a lawyer for the two women. The suits said their losses totaled more than $2.2 million.

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The suits seek compensation from Chase for the womens financial losses even though the bank is not alleged to have profited from them. Murphy said the swindlers in both cases have disappeared and are unlikely to be found, and that California law allows those who assist in an elder scam to be held responsible for the harm.

Peter Kelley, a Chase spokesperson, said Tuesday that the San Francisco-based bank is diligent in protecting its customers.

When customers visit our branches to complete wire transactions, our bankers ask questions, raise awareness around various scam scenarios and provide clear warnings that once a wire is sent, you may not be able to recover your money, Kelley said. Scammers impersonate companies, banks, government agencies and even family members to try to trick consumers out of their hard-earned money. We urge all consumers to ignore phone or internet requests for money or access to their computer or bank accounts.

In one lawsuit, Alice Lin said she was a 79-year-old widow in the Los Angeles suburb of Alhambra when she was contacted online in the summer of 2022 by a man who called himself Justin. He convinced her that he was her friend and could make huge profits for her by transferring her funds to cryptocurrency investments, with a purported investment application installed on her mobile phone.

Lin then met with a Chase employee, who, according to the suit, was required to seek authorization from the bank branch manager for the transactions but failed to do so. Over the next few weeks, the suit said, Lin transferred her life savings, more than $720,000, to the bank and then to Justins supposed investment fund, while the bank never contacted her or her daughter, a co-holder of the account, or performed any risk assessment of the transfers.

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The second suit was filed by Diane Artemis Yaffe of Redwood City, who in the summer of 2022 was a 76-year-old widow who kept small sums in her Chase account, mostly to care for her award-winning show dogs.

The suit said she was contacted by a man claiming to work for Amazon, where she had made some purchases from the account, and was told she was being charged for some computers. When she denied buying them, the suit said, she was transferred to a purported fraud department, where a man posing as an Internal Revenue Service agent told her she could be prosecuted for money-laundering and other crimes unless she paid him large sums.

Bank of America, where Yaffe held a larger account, refused to approve two transfers of funds, her lawyers said. But after the supposed IRS agent told her to withdraw her money from Bank of America, the suit said, she transferred it to Chase and, over the next five weeks, withdrew $1.846 million from four Bay Area bank branches and wired it overseas.

In one instance, the suit said, an employee at the banks Menlo Park branch took Yaffe into a private room and said he would refuse to authorize the transaction, telling her, If you were my mother, I would not let you do this. Yaffe then took a short drive to the banks San Carlos branch, which promptly approved the withdrawal, the suit said.

The purported agent told Yaffe that another IRS agent would return the funds to her home, along with a document that would clear her name, but no one ever arrived, the suit said. She has filed complaints with the FBI and local law enforcement agencies.
ProPublica, the left-leaning investigative outfit, got itself a big scoop: That Mexico's president, Andres Manuel Lopez-Obrador, on the other side of Joe Biden's open border, has had close government aides apparently on the take from Mexican drug cartels in his climb to power.

In a long, long, engrossing story by longtime investigative reporter Tim Golden:

According to more than a dozen interviews with U.S. and Mexican officials and government documents reviewed by ProPublica, the money was provided to campaign aides in 2006 in return for a promise that a Lopez Obrador administration would facilitate the traffickers criminal operations. The investigation did not establish whether Lopez Obrador sanctioned or even knew of the traffickers reported donations. But officials said the inquiry  which was built on the extensive cooperation of a former campaign operative and a key drug informant  did produce evidence that one of Lopez Obradors closest aides had agreed to the proposed arrangement.

While the story is interesting, the obvious thing, lo obvio, sin embargo, is that the news outlet doesn't underline the significance of its own story.

Here is what in the news trade is known as the "nut graf," the sentence near the top that tells the readers why they need to keep reading:

The case raised difficult questions about how far the United States should go to confront the official corruption that has been essential to the emergence of Mexican drug traffickers as a global criminal force. While some officials argue that it is not the United States job to root out endemic corruption in Mexico, others say that efforts to fight organized crime and build the rule of law will be futile unless officials who protect the traffickers are held to account.

Democracy? Doing nothing? I would argue that that's not what this is about. That horse left the barn years ago.

What matters is that there's a border surge going on. Cities in the U.S. are being bankrupted, kids are being thrown out of their parks and schools, crime is skyrocketing, and fentanyl is pouring across the border, killing 109,000 Americans in the last year. It's the number one issue in the U.S. for voters and now we learn we're dealing with a Mexican president who's part of the problem.

The report found that government operatives very close to the sitting Mexican president found pretty conclusive evidence that AMLO's operatives were on the take from drug cartel leaders associated with the Sinaloa cartel, including the Beltran-Leyva group, and the now-Supermaxxed drug lord, Edgar Valdez Villareal, otherwise known as "La Barbie," who was busted in 2010 and extradited to the U.S. A former bagman of La Barbie's had come forward around 2008 after La Barbie, a notoriously ruthless killer, took out his brother and told the DEA what he knew about the AMLO camp's corruption dating from 2006. The DEA actually busted La Barbie based on the prospect of getting him to cooperate for a new operation to take out corrupt Mexican officials such as those associated with AMLO.

While this story is worth attention all by itself, it's the crisis now that draws attention. Were the cartels not so fat and happy on AMLO's watch, it's doubtful ten million illegals would have crossed so easily into the U.S.

.So while much of the story focuses on activity more than a decade ago, the eventual election of AMLO to Mexico's presidency in 2018 did have consequences, starting with an end to drug cooperation between the two countries which is to say, against the people-smuggling cartels.

First he sidelined the Mexican commando teams that had been the most trusted partner of U.S. law-enforcement and intelligence agencies. He then shut down a federal police unit that the DEA had trained and vetted to work with the Americans on big drug cases. When DEA agents arrested a former Mexican defense minister, Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, on drug-corruption charges in October 2020, Lopez Obrador turned on the agency even more forcefully. With the military high command pressing the president to act in Cienfuegos defense, Mexican officials made clear that counter-drug cooperation was at risk. After U.S. Attorney General William Barr dropped the case and repatriated the general, Lopez Obrador declared the Merida accord dead and pushed through strict new limits on how U.S. agents could operate inside Mexico. Lopez Obradors long-standing promises to carry out a crusade against political corruption have produced almost no meaningful results.

So what's that again about why this should matter to us? A contest between doing nothing and Mexican democracy? Not exactly. Right now there's a border surge unlike any ever seen on this planet going on. That's why we pay attention to cartels and Mexican governments.

As Golden notes, the cartels have grown big and powerful on AMLO's watch as president, controlling about a quarter of the country. His cartel-fighting policy is "hugs, not bullets."

And more to the point, the millions of illegals entering the U.S. from our Southern border involveds the cartels, combined with the optimal-for-them situation of Joe Biden's open borders.

The cartels control who crosses the border, and illegal border crossers pay cartels "taxes" and "crossing fees" to get across.

Was AMLO involved here? Was Joe Biden involved here? Did money change hands at their levels, too?

With ten million illegals now in the U.S., that's a lot of money going to cartels with a Mexican government on the take and a Biden administration inviting them in.

It's known that corrupt Colombian officials and the entire Nicaraguan government have been enriching themselves from the border surge. Scattershot information indicates that Mexican officials benefit, too.

But this ProPublica report indicates that the corruption goes all the way to the top, with the Mexican government fully protecting its cartel buddies so they can exploit the migrants and themselves get rich. It certainly does explain AMLO's refusal to condemn Nicaragua or Venezuela, both likely narcostates, the way other countries in the hemisphere have, over various bad behaviors.

If AMLO is cartel'ed up, that changes the equation on the border surge going on right now.

If the Mexican government is a narcostate no different from Venezuela, then a hard hand, not negotiations, and not that secret agreement that Joe Biden and AMLO supposedly pulled off to damp down the surge until after elections, as reported by Todd Bensmann, is the only way to handle the surge.

Close the border. Sanction Mexican officials. Drop the free trade agreement. Threaten to reveal all that is known about public corruption, unless AMLO plays ball on the border surge. That we don't is a mystery. We don't have to overthrow their government, we just need to send them the kind of message they'll understand, being drug dealers and all. The law of the drug world is the law of the jungle. Strength, not concessions, is what is going to get their attention.

And while we are at it, Joe Biden would have known these things, being at the top of the U.S. intelligence pyramid. So is he, too, implicated? If drug dealers can buy off Mexican top officials, is it farfetched to wonder if maybe they bought off a few Americans on the other side? Funny how there is so little reporting, and so few arrests on this front, yet we have the perfect storm of cartel payoffs in Mexico and an open border in the states.

Wonder why.

Image: Screen shot from Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador video, via YouTube
Has RipCurl done a 360?

The internationally popular surfing apparel company from Australia has just pulled its ad for a male surfer competing as a transgender woman named Sasha Lowerson from Instagram.

According to the Daily Mail:

Australians are calling for a national boycott of iconic surf brand Rip Curl for using a transgender woman in their social media accounts, as the brand moves to scrub any trace of the promotion. Rip Curl came under fire for using Western Australian professional longboarder and transgender woman Sasha Lowerson in a promotion for women's surfing last week. Lowerson, 44, featured on the Rip Curl Women Instagram page on Thursday as part of the company's Meet The Local Heroes of Western Australia campaign. It comes just months after Rip Curl severed ties with pro-surfer and shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton - one of the world's most famous surfers - reportedly over her opposition to transgender people competing in women's sport. The post featuring Lowerson has since been deleted from the Rip Curl Women Instagram page, but hundreds of Australians kept attacking the company on other posts across its social media platforms.

Obviously, they hadn't been listening to their customers.

According to Sky News Australia:

Thanks to the actions of Rip Curl over the past five days, the once iconic Australian surf brand is living proof that women are finally fighting back against companies using transgender women to promote products for women and girls.

It wasn't a picture made in heaven for the company, given that in order to feature Lowerson, they dumped popular women's surfing champion Bethany Hamilton, who had refused to compete with transgender surfers because she believes such competitions are fundamentally unfair. I wrote about that here.

The response was apparently so bad, and from so many places, that, well, the ad is gone now.

#RIPRipCurl had been trending on Twitter. The Daily Mail reported that the angry scoring from previous fans continued.

What's amazing here is that not only do this company's executives not know who their customers are -- neither in Malibu, where angry surfers were reported on Twitter, nor in Australia where fans don't seem to forget an error, nor in Hawaii, where Bethany Hamilton and her fierce supporters live -- and what their attitudes are, they seemed to have missed the lesson of Bud Light, which collapsed as a top beer brand when it presented a man posing as a flippant woman as its standard-bearer. It also presented an executive who clearly had contempt for Bud Light's customers.

Bud Light has yet to recover from that marketing disaster, yet here Rip Curl goes, right off the Bud Light cliff.

Well, they can break a good brand that way, and the surfing community has many options to choose from for its board shorts and other sartorial decisions, not just Quiksilver and Billabong, but many smaller local brands, which are prized.

They may have caught themselves in time, but some damage is done, not just in their marketing decision but because everyone now knows that they are stupid.

Image: Wikipedia // public domain
Recently, Donald Trump Jr. responded to a question by Timcast IRL co-host Luke Rudkowski about Ukraine.

Trump Jr. said, "We're creating a class of billionaire oligarchs in Ukraine" by way of the country's corruption.

Previously, he mocked Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky for seeming ungrateful for the aid received. Earlier, Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis described Russia's full scale invasion as a "border dispute," then backtracked.

It's disturbing to hear so many ridiculous talking points from channels that I've otherwise thought to be pretty good. It's reminiscent of when Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014. Most of the libertarian communities I was part of immediately went off the deep end, inspiring me to write this trilogy of essays.

Today, Russian propaganda is as prominent, brazen, and aggressive as it was in 2014, and as I imagine that it was it was during the 1930s Holodomor when Russia last tried to exterminate Ukrainians.

Then, the New York Times denied that the Holodomor -- the great famine -- was happening, and the Welsh journalist who exposed it, Gareth Jones, was assassinated.

For a point of reference, and maybe a clue as to why Ukrainians are fighting so hard, my late friend and once-co-author, Russian-American economist, Dr. Yuri Maltsev estimated that the Soviet Union slaughtered 60 million people, and this barbarism neither started nor ended with the Soviet Union. Besides the Holodomor, there are a handful of genocides which I doubt most of the readers here ever heard of: the Circassian Genocide, the Genocide of the Don Cossacks (see The Cossacks by Shane O'Rourke), the 75% reduction of Kamchatka's native population, the repeated 16th century massacres of Novgorod because of ... get this ... Western influence (read: "NATO Expansion").

For much of Europe, and certainly Ukraine, this is the context in which this war is happening.

Add to this historic observations of Russia's relentless expansionism, their annexation of 20% of Georgia territory in 2009, and their brutality in Chechnya in the 1990s, possibly killing a tenth of their population, and their persistent calls for genocide of Ukrainians.

Here's a playlist

Idiotic conservatives who attempt position American decadence against Russian traditionalism (something which isn't remotely true, if you scratch the surface) might as well be the communists of a couple generations ago, aghast that people are risking their lives to flee the workers' paradise into West Berlin.

More subtle agents, witting or unwitting, simply magnify every Ukrainian failure, ignore every Ukrainian success (liberating Kharkiv and Kherson, and clearing the Russian Navy from the western Black Sea), ignore the historic contexts such as the Holodomor and the Budapest Memorandum, and ignore every Russian atrocity in Ukraine and at home, like the suspicious deaths of at least fifty of prominent Russian businesspeople and officials since the full scale invasion began.

Since even before the days of Potemkin villages, Russia has prioritized perceptions in ways that West does not.

In Russian military doctrine, propaganda is woven into everything, including their Principles of War, while in NATO militaries, principles are strictly tactical.

In 2014, I assembled this collection of incidents, which includes explicit calls to carry out massacres to blame on Ukraine.

One of the compromises we make to live in a relatively free society is that it's hard to quash propaganda from well-organized foreign actors.

Let's at least talk about it and identify what we know.

Twitter's recent release of 9 million tweets from a Russian troll farm demonstrates that they disproportionately target conservatives, though not exclusively.

Russia has also promoted Black Lives Matter and the green movement in its propaganda operations targeting the West.

Communist groups stage creepy pro-Russian rallies, such as this one here. They hold influence over both white nationalists, where they can be found and black nationalists.

Upon Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine, the 2004 Communist Party U.S.A. candidate for president, John Parker, visited occupied Luhansk in eastern Ukraine to demonstrate support for Russia. The CPUSA, in the past, has been known to take funding subsidies from the U.S.S.R. Ties apparently have never been broken.

In 2016, separate Russian-linked social media groups promoted both anti-Islam and pro-Islam protests in Texas, encouraging both sides to "battle in the streets."

If conservatives have ever heard of Yuri Bezmenov, it's probably in the context of relating his interview about "ideological subversion" to the cultural tensions in the West.

There are more important lessons to learn from his interview and lectures.

According to Bezmenov, 85% of Russian spy resources went into messaging, not espionage. The Russians were interested in extremely small influencers, including, fifty years ago at least, talkative barbers and taxi drivers. I strongly suspect that they found a way to pay me (yes, me!) $35 per month in 2008 for a tiny little Ron Paul blog I ran that echoed voices that took the Russian perspective in their invasion and annexation of a fifth of Georgia (more on that here).

Bezmenov also discussed how, in the countries they targeted, they nurtured the careers of influencers they considered helpful, and attempted to destroy the careers or the people who opposed them.

Thoughtful criticism of Ukraine should acknowledge the historic context including the Budapest Memoradum by which Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security guarantees, and the realities of Russian war crimes and rhetoric. And while we must tolerate foreign influence as part of living in a relatively free society, let's do the work of understanding and describing it.

Roman Skaskiw is an American of Ukrainian ancestry. He lived in Ukraine for ten years where he founded and ran a software company. He's also a U.S. Army veteran.

Screen shot from Russian Media Monitor video, via YouTube
There now arises a new hue and cry for not only defunding UNRWA but also defunding the UN itself and kicking the whole basket of international Deplorables out of America. As one might suspect, Donald Trump defunded the UNRWA:

Then there is the United Nations Human Rights Council, whose mission is purportedly to protect human rights around the world. Donald Trump pulled funding and refused to allow the U.S. to participate in these Third World, Jew-hating bull sessions. When Joe Biden became president, he rejoined the council. He did so on the same day as Eritrea, which usually ranks below North Korea in those freedom indexes, just to give you an idea of the quality of the membership.

A number of our allies, and the US, have temporarily ceased funding the UNRWA. But why, and why are reasonable people suggesting we be done with the entire, corrupt, anti-democratic, and anti-American mess?

Graphic: United Nations Building New York, NY, Wikimedia Commons.org. Public Domain.

We now know that at least 12 of UNRWAs employees took part in the Hamas massacre of Jews on Oct. 7, not merely offering logistical help or coordination, but sometimes participating in the actual kidnapping and murdering of civilians. As of this writing, the UN fired nine of its employees  which seems like a small price to pay for murder. The U.S., Britain, Germany, and Australia, among others, have temporarily paused funding to UNRWA, which has been a major tool for funneling international money to Hamas.

It will surprise no one, I suspect, to learn weve been funding the very people participating in a slow-motion genocide of Israel, our ally.

Indeed, Israel provided the U.S. with intelligence proving around 1,200  or about 10 percent of UN employees in Gaza  have direct links to Hamas or Islamic Jihad. Nearly half of UNRWAs employees are close relatives of members of various terrorist groups. When UN Watch translated 249,000 user posts in the UNRWA chat group right after the terror attack, thousands of them praised Hamas (May Allah keep their feet steady and guide their aim.) Most of those excited by the news were likely teachers. And that is vital to remember.

All Marxist and Islamist movements know stealing the minds of the young is essential to ruling the future:

The UNRWA, tasked with running schools, has not only propped up terror groups on Israels border, but it has educated successive generations of Arabs in hating Jews and the West, and believing in the fantastical right of return. The UN not only continues to foster the false hope that Arabs will rule a Judenfrei West Bank and Jerusalem, but that refugees will one day return to Israel proper. The return of nearly 6 million refugees would mean the end of Israel. Which is the point. This fantasy has helped scuttle virtually every attempted peace deal.

America funds about one-fifth of the UNs basic operating budget. Of course, we fund considerably more than that, including UNRWA, by a variety of means. Merely hosting the UN gives that malignant, terrorist-supporting organization legitimacy it does not deserve.

Our home-grown Democrats/socialists/communists (D/s/cs) are aghast. We cant possibly defund an organization as essential as the UNRWA! The UN is vital to world peace! Considering countries like Morocco, Cuba and China sit on the Human Rights Council, and the vast majority of the UN would love to see Israelthe only democracy in the region, and our ally--wiped from the face of the Earth, one might reasonably ignore their wailing. But we cant hold the entire UN, or even the whole UNRWA responsible for a few bad apples!

Why not? The UN's fellow travelers demand we abolish Americas police for the actions of a few bad apples. Their partial success has resulted in some murders, billions in property damage, innumerable assaults, and has turned our major, D/s/c-ruled, cities into third world war zones. Our police bad apples have primarily committed false arrest and perjury. Thats a bit different than the demonic horrors of October seventh, and the jihadists oft stated promise to keep committing similar slaughters until every Jew is dead. Our bad apples arrest people who shouldnt be arrested, the UNRWAs bad apples slaughter thousands and swear to finish the job. A large part of their determination consists of teaching Palestinian children to murder Jews. They're no more fond of Americans.

As for the UN, why should America, the brokest nation in history, pay for an organization dedicated to the destruction of democracy and particularly, the destruction of America and her allies? We can treat with our allies without that blight within our borders, and if our enemies want to treat with us, there is regular air service to America.

Its long past time we put America first, our allies second, and stop funding and appeasing those seeking our destruction.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Samsung is rapidly completing all the formalities before bringing the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 to the market. Over the past few weeks, the devices have picked up several regulatory certifications around the world. They have now been spotted on the Bluetooth SIG and GCF (Global Certification Forum) websites too, hinting at a nearing launch.

Bluetooth SIG and GCF certify Samsungs Galaxy A35 and A55

The GCF certified the Galaxy A35 with the model numbers SM-A356E and SM-A356E/DS. The Galaxy A55 picked up the same certification with the model numbers A556B/DS, SM-A556E/DS, and SM-A556E. All of these are global versions of the phones, with DS at the end indicating dual-SIM variants. Samsung will also release the duo in the US. It has already received the FCC certification for the former. The latter should follow soon.

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Apart from the model numbers, the listings on the GCF website dont reveal anything else about the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55. The Bluetooth SIG certification, meanwhile, confirms support for Bluetooth V5.3 on both models. Note that the latter picked up the Bluetooth certification last week. The former has also now gained it, including the global, US, Canadian, and Chinese versions.

All of these developments hint at a nearing launch of the two mid-range smartphones. When we say nearing, we dont mean it is happening within a week or two. Samsung likely still has a lot of things to do before it unveils the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55. Rumors suggest the devices will go official in April or the earliest in March. You can expect more leaks, rumors, and certifications for the phones in the coming months.

Both devices will bring a few notable upgrades

A few weeks ago, we exclusively leaked the official renders of the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55, revealing their design. The two phones look identical but have a key differentiating factor on their frame. The latter has antenna lines, while the former doesnt. This means Samsung will upgrade the Galaxy A55 to a metallic frame while the other model will get a plastic frame.

This doesnt mean the Galaxy A35 wont improve upon the Galaxy A34. Most notably, it is rumored to feature a 50MP primary rear camera, which should be a much newer sensor than the 2023 models 48MP unit. Both new devices should also bring a few more iterative upgrades, including a newer processor and the latest version of One UI based on Android 14. Stay tuned for the official launch of the phones.
All the fun and exciting AI features that Samsung unveiled during Unpacked seemed to have overshadowed Googles generative AI features. This is because the latter only announced a few on-device generative AI features that make use of the Gemini Nano model. Well, thats gradually changing. Gboard Smart Reply is now compatible with two more messaging apps.

In case you dont know, the Google Pixel 8 Pro (Review) was the first phone released with on-device generative AI, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 series followed soon after. Whereas Samsungs AI offerings were more robust, Googles seem to be lacking a bit.

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The Pixel 8 Pros AI features include Recorder Summarize. This is a feature that will transcribe a full audio recording and give you an AI-generated summary of what was discussed in the recording. Next, Magic Compose in Google Messages brings generative AI into the app, which assists people with the messages they want to type up.

The last feature is called Gboard Smart Reply. This is a feature that uses generative AI to suggest the next message you should send in a conversation. It uses conversational awareness to ascertain what the conversation is about and gives you a suggestion of what you should type next.

Gboard smart reply is making it to two more apps

While Gboard can be used with any messaging app, the smart Reply feature was only compatible with WhatsApp at the beginning. Its unfortunate, but it does make sense. WhatsApp is probably the biggest messaging platform on the planet. However, if youre not part of the WhatsApp user base, then you were out of luck.

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Not long after Google officially launched Gboard Smart Reply, we got word that two more apps have been added to the list. These two editions are actually a bit surprising, seeing as there is a plethora of much larger applications that have yet to gain compatibility. These two apps are Line and KakaoTalk.

In case you dont know what these applications are, Line is a telemedicine service that lets you book appointments, talk with doctors over video calls, and pay for constellations. KakaoTalk is a popular Korean messaging service. It has an impressive 53 million monthly active user base.

Were not quite sure when Smart Reply is going to make it to more apps. So, youll have to stay tuned for more news on this topic.
Google has announced the expansion of its passkey upgrades feature that you can currently find on Pixel phones, and is working with new partners to bring the added security to more accounts.

Passkey upgrades is a feature that Google added to Pixel phones as part of its December Pixel feature drop in 2023. At that time it also introduced new AI camera features coming to the Pixel 8 series phones. If youre unfamiliar with passkeys, thats not surprising. Passkeys have yet to gain wide adoption but they are available on a handful of apps and websites. If you have accounts with companies like eBay, Best Buy, or Adobe for example, youll be able to set up and use passkeys instead of passwords. Apple also supports passkeys for its accounts on iOS.

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Google is trying to spread the good word about passkeys because theyre more secure than traditional passwords. They also provide more resistance against phishing attacks and you dont have to remember anything. using a passkey is as simple as unlocking your device with your face or fingerprint, or your PIN/pattern/password, Google says.

Google expands passkey upgrades to include new partners on Pixel devices

If you have a Pixel phone, and youve never used or set up passkeys before, its really rather easy. Especially now with the passkey upgrades. Google made it dead simple by having the password manager guide you through the process. That being said, its not as simple as an alert just popping up and telling you hey, youve got accounts that can be upgraded to passkeys. Youll still need to get to the right location in settings to change things over.

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In settings, scroll to passwords and accounts, then tap on the little cog wheel button to the right of the Google account which should be at the very top. From there, tap on Google Password Manager and youll see a message about upgrading passkeys at the top of this page with a simplify your sign-in message. This little card will tell you how many of your accounts that are stored on the phone will support paskey upgrades. And after tapping on that card password manager walks you through a few steps for each account.

Google is working to get more accounts and companies to adopt passkeys. For the time being, you can use them with 10 different accounts. This includes Best Buy, DocuSign, eBay, Uber, Yahoo Japan, Kayak, Adobe, PayPal, TikTok, and Money Forward. These accounts are partners for Googles password manager to help guide you through passkey upgrades feature. But passkeys are still supported on a number of other websites outside of it, such as Dashlane, GoDaddy, and NVIDIA. Passkeys are also the default for Google accounts.

The passkey upgrades will spread to other platforms

Google doesnt say when, but it does confirm that the passkey upgrades feature of Google Password Manager will expand to other platforms. It simply says in the future though. So theres currently no telling how long it will take or what platforms are included.
Samsungs foldable smartphones are rumored to undergo a major design overhaul this year. Industry insiders say the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 will feature bigger and wider displays. A newly published Samsung patent might have revealed what the new Fold will look like.

Samsung patent shows a wider book-type foldable smartphone

Samsung has been making foldable smartphones since 2019. Over the past five generations, the devices have evolved significantly in terms of design and functionality. However, the company has yet to address one of the biggest complaints with the design of its Fold-series foldables. The cover display is too tall and doesnt feel like a standard smartphone.

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While the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is wider than previous models, its cover display still has an aspect ratio of 23.1:9. That is much taller than normal bar-type smartphones. For example, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Foldable enthusiasts and Samsung fans have been calling for the company to look into this. It might finally listen this year with the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Spotted by Pigtou, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently published a patent application from Samsung for a foldable smartphone design. The accompanying documents contain sketches of the patented design. The publication collaborated with leaker David Kowalski, aka Xleaks7, to create a concept device based on these sketches.

The results are the images you can in this article, above and below. The phone is significantly wider than the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Its cover display might have a similar aspect ratio as the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Samsung also seems to have made the device thinner than before. The 2023 model already folds shut without leaving any gap. With a thinner build, it would feel less bulky in the pocket.

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This could be the Galaxy Z Fold 6

There is no way to verify that we are looking at the Galaxy Z Fold 6s design here. However, as the publication pointed out, Samsungs early foldable phones look similar to the sketches in its patents. Based on this, the device shown in this patent should be an upcoming foldable. There are also rumors about the Fold model getting a wider form factor.

Connecting the dots, the phone seen in this Samsung patent could be the Galaxy Z Fold 6. The device is expected to arrive in July or August this year alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 6. We should come across more leaks about rumors about the duo in the coming months.
Sometimes, the best part of the smartphone experience isnt about the smartphone itself, its about the accessories. These auxiliary devices are designed to add a multitude of functionalities to your phone, no matter how feature-packed the phones are. Well, if you just bought yourself a Samsung Galaxy S24, then you probably want to know some of the best accessories you can buy for it to extend its functionality.

Thats what this post is about! Were going to go over some of the best accessories that you can use for this already great device. This list will include items such as headphones, Bluetooth speakers, selfie sticks, smart watches, Etc. These are all the best products that can be used with your Galaxy S24 to make the great experience even better. Be sure to check back every now and then, as this list will be constantly updated.

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Before jumping in, if youre still on the fence about whether or not to pick up a Galaxy S24, you should read our preview. It has all the information you need to know about this phone and its larger sibling. The base Galaxy S24 comes in at $799. Its chock full of a ton of amazing software and AI features that only make the experience that much better. Be sure to give it a try.

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Best rugged case case

Shield Case for Galaxy S24

The Galaxy S24 is great, its sturdy, its well built but its not indestructible. No matter how many high-quality and premium materials a phone is made from, it can still be damaged in a fall. This is why phones need sturdy cases. Samsung has a strong Shield case for the Galaxy S24. Coming in at $34.99, this case is sure to keep your phone protected when the unfortunate happens.

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Since this is a Samsung product, you know that its made with quality in mind. This shield case is made from high-quality materials that help protect it against drops and scratches. Since its built to provide unparalleled protection, it has a few features that increase its durability rating. For starters, there is a ridge pattern on the back. This adds additional thickness to the case that protects the phones back plate during the fall. It manages to do this without making the case itself bulkier.

Also, the corners of the case have additional padding. Falls on the corner are some of the worst, as all the impact force is concentrated on one area of the glass. So, its so much easier for the screen to break that way. Having additional padding on the corners reduces the risk of cracking the screen in the case of a corner fall.

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Speaking of protecting the screen, this case has a raised lip that extends past the screen. So, if the phone happens to fall face down, the case will make contact with the ground and not the phones display. So, this further reduces the chance of the phone cracking its screen.

On the back of the phone, the same thing goes for the camera package. You can never control where your phone lands when it falls, and theres always the chance that it could fall directly on the cameras. When that happens, you run the risk of having a cracked camera lens. However, this case fully encompasses the cameras so that it makes contact with the ground before any of the cameras do.

This just shows that Samsung really wants you to keep your Galaxy S24 for the long haul. The Shield case is a very tough case that will keep your phone protected for years to come. Thats convenient, as this phone does have seven years of software updates.

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Best thin case

Thinborne Samsung Galaxy S24 Case

You want to keep your phone protected, so the natural thing to do is slap a case on it. However, people often dont want bulky cases that weigh their phones down and add extra thickness. For people like that, theres a Thinborn case for the Galaxy S24. A premium case coming in at $60, the Thinborne Samsung Galaxy S24 Case will keep your phone protected while maintaining a thin and very manageable profile.

So, a case like this seems to be a bit counterintuitive; how can a case so thin add any protection? Well, this case isnt exactly an OtterBox, however, it can still keep your phone protected in the case of a drop. The materials, while thin, are very high quality. The case is made from 600D Arabic fiber. This is a material thats characterized by its high impact resistance while meaning thin and light.

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Most other cases are made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or polycarbonate (PC). These materials are tough, but they cant be quite as thin as airmen fiber and maintain their durability. So, while the Thinborne case is thin, its still plenty durable and strong enough to keep your phone safe.

This case is thin enough to allow for wireless charging, which is great for people who have fully converted. Aside from that, this case is also MagSafe-ready. If youre a person who cares about using MagSafe accessories, youll be able to do so using this case. The magnets are strong enough so that the phone will stick to whatever accessory youre using without falling off. So, this case adds additional functionality to the actual phone, which is always great to see.

As for the design itself, this case is made from Airmen fiber. This not only protects the phone, but it also gives it an extremely sleek and stylish look. It has an elegant look to it. The recurring pattern runs down the phone and just adds to the overall elegant aesthetic. Its the equivalent of putting a fancy business suit on your phone. Its extremely elegant and it adds to the already elegant look of the Galaxy S24.

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Best TWS earbuds

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro

Since were talking about a Samsung phone, what better earbuds to get the Samsung earbuds? A flagship phone is as great as a Galaxy S24 and deserves flagship earbuds that are as great as the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. Theyre definitely up there in price weighing in at $299.99. However, the price is well justified. Using your Galaxy Buds with your Galaxy S24 brings some notable benefits, and this is a true testament to the powerful ecosystem that Samsung has built with its devices.

Saying that the Galaxy Buds2 Pro are a quality pair of earbuds is an understatement. These are the best earbuds that have come out of the company so far, and they really bring an extremely high-quality listening experience in just about every way.

Starting off with the audio quality, these buds use a powerful set of drivers tuned by AKG. So, you know that everything you listen to is going to sound absolutely amazing. Youll hear a very well-balanced sound with powerful bass and great treble. This means that, no matter what genre you listen to, whether it be older or newer, everything will sound great. These earbuds are designed for people of all kinds of musical tastes.

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The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro support 24-bit audio. This is great for the audiophiles out there who want to get the most out of their music. Youll enjoy clear audio with less noise.

Speaking of noise, these earbuds come with some of the best active noise cancellation on the market. They use an enhanced noise cancellation technology thats miles above its predecessors. The technology analyzes the noise in your area and intelligently filters it so that you can listen to your music without any interruptions. If youre in traffic, on the bus, under an AC, etc., the noise cancellation technology will be able to isolate you with your music. Its as if they turn the world on mute.

When it comes to battery power, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro should get you about a full days worth of battery power including the case. If you want to further stretch the battery power, then you can turn the ANC off. This will extend the battery power to up to 29 hours on a single charge.

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Best smartwatch

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic

If youre going to be using a Galaxy phone, then you may want to also use a Galaxy Watch. Samsung has this line of Galaxy-branded smartwatches that interact flawlessly with its phones. So, a powerful phone deserves an equally powerful smartwatch, and the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic will be the perfect match for you. Coming in at $399.99, this is one of the pricier smartwatches you can get, but its well worth it if you want a powerful smartwatch to carry your Galaxy experience.

When it comes to this watchs performance, youre getting a perfectly smooth experience. This is Samsungs own hardware were talking about, and that goes for the processor as well. So, you know that you wont have to worry about any sluggish performance at all. Smartwatches are used as auxiliary devices, but if they perform poorly, they can definitely drag down the entire experience. This is why the smooth and fluid experience you get with the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is a welcome treat.

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Moving on to the software front, this uses Googles Wear OS 4 operating system. This is a powerful wearable computing platform, and it comes with several benefits. For starters, you can expect plenty of software updates to come over time. Software updates keep everything running smoothly and provide the Smartwatch with new features over time.

Also, Wear OS gives you access to a full library of apps you can download to your smartwatch to boost the overall experience. There are fitness apps, clock apps, watch faces, games, and many other types of apps. So, feel free to browse the app store

When it comes to the design, the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic looks just like an expensive traditional timepiece, so you will love it if you want to go for that aesthetic. Everything is professionally engineered and looks absolutely gorgeous. Whether youre using the black color or the silver color, your watch will look like a fabulous addition to your wardrobe. Samsung put years and years into refining the design of the smartwatch, and it shows.

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Also, this smartwatch has a rotating bezel. Its a crown that goes around the display that you can physically rotate. You can use this to select items in the operating system. This is one of the best smartphones you can get on the market, and the fact that it is 100% compatible with your Galaxy S24 only sweetens the deal

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Best portable charger

Rasbes Solar Portable Charger

The Galaxy S24 has great battery life, but any phone can use a good portable charger. You never know when youre going to be trapped in traffic or left in the middle of nowhere. This is why a good portable charger comes in handy. The Rasbes Solar Portable Charger is a charger to get because it comes with some neat features. Its an incredibly useful tool to have, and it is worth more than its $23.99 price tag.

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Right off the bat, this portable charger has a massive capacity of 38,800mAh. Thats almost 10 times larger than your phones battery. Obviously, because of several factors, you wont be able to charge your phone 10 times using this charger, but youll be able to charge it multiple times over and keep it charged for the long run.

If you need to charge this portable charger, you can plug it into an outlet. However, this is a solar charging Bank. This means that it charges by being exposed to sunlight. So, if it ever happens that you are in the middle of nowhere, and there are no Outlets to charge it with, you still have another source of energy. This is another factor that adds to this portable charger is utility. So, it can really come in handy in the event of an emergency.

This is a portable charger thats made with the outdoors in mind. Not only because its solar powered, but because this is very durable. The last thing you want is a portable charger that breaks on you. The Rasbes Solar Portable Charger is made from very sturdy materials to keep it from getting damaged during a fall. Its made from shockproof materials to keep all the internals from getting broken. Also, this portable charger is IPx6 water-resistant. This means that it wont be damaged if caught in the rain. You just need to be sure that you dont submerge it completely.

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Adding to this portable chargers utility is a set of powerful LED lights on the very front. This is perfect in case you need a light in an emergency. In the event of a power outage, while youre charging your device using the charger, you can use the flashlights to light your way.

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Best wall adaptor

ACEFAST GaN 65W Fast Charger

So, it should be common knowledge that Samsung no longer provides a charger in the box with its phones. So, if you want to have a charger, you have to use one from home. If you dont quite have a charger that can charge this phone to its full charging speed, then you may want to look into the AceFast GaN 65W charger. This is a very robust charger thats not only meant to charge one device. Its actually meant to charge multiple devices and act as an HDMI pass-through.

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When it comes to charging your phone quickly, this charger will not have any issues. The Galaxy S24 charges at 25W, and this charger tops out at 65W. So it will charge your phone at full capacity. Along with charging your phone, it can also charge other devices. Since it has a 65W peak speed, it could also charge some laptops. Many Chromebooks only use 45W charging, and even some of Samsungs Galaxy books use 68W charging. So, this adapter is perfect for those. It can even charge your Nintendo Switch.

If youre in a pinch and have to charge more than one device at a time, this will be a good option for you. This AceFast charger comes with a USB-C 3.1 port and a USB-A port. So, if you have multiple devices that you need to charge at the same time, you can do so. You wont have to choose between charging a laptop and charging your phone anymore. Its able to deliver enough power to quickly charge all of your devices at once.

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Do you want to watch the big game on the big screen, but you can only access it through your laptop? Well, you wont have to worry about that. This adapter also acts as an HDMI pass-through. This means that youll be able to pass a signal from your computer through the adapter and to your TV. This is incredibly useful if you want to give a presentation or play games on a larger screen.

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Best Bluetooth speaker

MEGUO Bluetooth Speaker

The Galaxy S24 has a set of amazing speakers, but you just cant beat a dedicated Bluetooth speaker. Whether youre trying to crank up some jams or play some music to relax to, having a Bluetooth speaker is a must. The company MEGUO is known for making affordable products that are nice and quality. If youre looking for a Bluetooth speaker that brings a lot of amazing features and a small price, look no further. This speaker brings quality audio along with an amazing aesthetic.

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Theres no point in having a great and amazing Bluetooth speaker if the sound is low quality. This speaker comes with a pair of high-quality and well-tuned drivers that provide a great and immersive sound. No matter what youre listening to, everything will sound amazing. Theyre tuned to give a Hi-Fi sound with a great range of frequencies. The total output of this speaker is 20W, which is enough to fill an entire room with sound.

If youre looking for a quality built speaker, then this is definitely for you. This speaker is built for the outdoors, being made out of rugged and strong materials. It has a thick outer casing that can protect the speaker during a drop. Not only that, but the grille is also well-built. When it comes to water resistance, the speaker has an IP56 water and dust resistance rating. This means that its protected from most forms of solids, and it is secure enough to survive being out in the rain. Youll just want to avoid completely submerging this speaker in water. The companys focus on durability means that this speaker will survive for the long haul.

Not only does the speaker sound good, but it also looks good. It has an array of LED lights that shine when youre playing music. The LEDs exist on the inside of the speaker, and there is a lighted band that wraps around the phone. These lights change color, and they make for an absolute spectacle of a site. So, this speaker is not only a treat for the ears, but it is also one for the eyes.

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Best selfie stick

SYNCWIRE 55-inch Selfie Stick

The Galaxy S24 is a Samsung flagship phone, and if its one thing that Samsung flagship phones have, its a flagship-grade camera package. Undoubtedly, youre going to want to use this camera to record some vlogs or take selfies. Youre going to want to have a quality selfie stick with you. Well, that is exactly what the SYNCWIRE 55-inch Selfie Stick is. Coming in at $27.98, this is a selfie stick that goes above and beyond what a typical selfie stick can do.

First off, this isnt just a selfie stick, its an all-in-one device. This versatile tool can extend your reach by up to 55in (140cm). Thats almost 6ft, so you know youre going to have some incredible range. Since the selfie stick is able to stretch so far, its built from quality materials. It was crafted using ABS plus PC black injection molding technology. You can extend it to its full length without worrying about it bending. So, you can use this selfie stick worry-free

Besides being a selfie stick, this is also a handy dandy tripod. The handle folds outward to reveal three legs that will stand your phone up. This gives you a nearly 6-foot-tall tripod that you can use when you need to take stationary videos. When youre finished, you can compact it down to a size small enough to carry in a bag or maybe even fit in that pocket.

Also, this acts as a remote control shutter button. All you have to do is press the button on the remote, and your phone will take a picture. The Bluetooth remote is rechargeable and its able to take over 20,000 on a single charge. You can use the remote while its inside the selfie stick, but you can also detach it and use it as a shutter button at long distances.

If youre looking for a versatile item to get your vlogging and selfies done, then look no further than this device. It is certainly one of the best on the market

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A San Diego federal judge known for opinions supporting the Second Amendment has struck down  again  a California law requiring background checks for ammunition purchases. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle 2023 U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego has struck down a California law requiring background checks for ammunition purchases for the second time. After he overturned a gun law in 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom described him as a stone-cold ideologue  a wholly owned subsidiary of the gun lobby. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle 2022

A federal judge has struck down  for the second time  a California law requiring background checks for purchasers of ammunition, saying it violates the constitutional right to keep and bear arms for self-defense.

The law, which took effect in 2019, treats all citizens as if they do not enjoy a right to buy ammunition. It forces Americans to entreat and supplicate the state for permission, U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego wrote Tuesday in a ruling that halts enforcement of the law.

Benitez had blocked enforcement once before, in 2020, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the law a day later while considering the states appeal. The case remained on hold until 2022, when the court returned the case to Benitez to reconsider under a Supreme Court ruling that placed new limits on the governments authority to regulate firearms.

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In that ruling, which overturned a New York law requiring individuals to show a need for self-defense in order to carry concealed weapons in public, Justice Clarence Thomas said any restrictions on firearms must be consistent with this nations historical tradition of firearms regulation, from colonial times to the post-Civil War years. Benitez said the California law does not pass that test.

Between 1791 and 1868, Citizens were free in every state to buy ammunition at any time and without qualification, the judge said. Because these laws are not consistent with the Nations history and tradition, they must yield to the Constitution.

The ruling was praised by Chuck Michel, president and general counsel of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, a National Rifle Association affiliate that challenged the state law.

This law, like most of Californias gun control laws, has not made anyone safer, Michel said. But it has made it much more difficult and expensive for law-abiding gun owners to exercise their Second Amendment right to defend themselves and their family, and has blocked many eligible people from getting the ammunition they need.

In response, attorney Esther Sanchez-Gomez of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence said, Judge Benitez has once again legislated from the bench to the benefit of the gun lobby. We are confident that his misguided decision will be reversed.

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Attorney General Rob Bontas office said he would immediately ask the 9th Circuit for a stay that would allow the law to be enforced while the state appeals.

Background checks save lives, Bonta said. Well continue to fight to keep Californians safe and ensure these vital protections remain in place.

Benitez was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2004. His first significant gun ruling was in 2017, when he blocked enforcement of the states ban on possessing guns with high-capacity magazines, a law that was reinstated by the 9th Circuit but is being reconsidered under the Supreme Courts new standards. Since 2017, the NRA and its allies have filed challenges to state gun laws in the San Diego federal court, and Benitez has agreed to hear them as cases related to his 2017 ruling.

After Benitez overturned one of the gun laws in 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom described the judge as a stone-cold ideologue  a wholly owned subsidiary of the gun lobby.

A separate state law requires gun purchasers to undergo checks of their criminal records and any other potentially disqualifying factors before acquiring firearms. Californias voters approved a ballot measure in 2016 requiring background checks for ammunition buyers every four years, but the Legislature passed a law mandating the checks before each ammunition purchase.

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Customers who have previously bought ammunition can simply show their drivers license or other identification, pay a dollar for an automated background check and have it completed within minutes. First-time buyers often must pay $19 and wait several days for clearance.

Benitez said about 1 million ammunition background checks are conducted each year in the state and 11% are rejected, a rate he said was excessive.
Brian Shepperd, left, director of case management, and Kimberly Davis, care coordinator supervisor, of Urban Alchemy walk along Geary Boulevard during a point-in-time count of the homeless population in San Francisco on Tuesday night. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

Outreach workers fanned out in the darkness across San Francisco on Tuesday night to count as many homeless people as they could find.

While they may not have felt it personally, the stakes were high.

The results of the tally, which wont be released until the summer, will have broad implications for San Francisco and the upcoming mayors race. London Breed, who is running for reelection, will be asked to answer for the citys relentless homelessness crisis and worsening drug epidemic, which is afflicting many unhoused San Franciscans.

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Communities across the country have been conducting federally mandated point-in-time counts biennially for years to help paint a picture of the scope of Americas homelessness crisis.

Two years ago, San Francisco was one of the few cities in the state to record a decline in its homeless population. The city tallied 7,754 homeless people, marking a 3.5% overall drop from 2019 and a 15% drop in unsheltered homelessness, meaning people living on the street, in tents or in vehicles. Breed touted the data as proof that her approach to homelessness was working.

This years count took place amid a battle over clearing of homeless encampments. An ongoing lawsuit filed against the city by the Coalition on Homelessness places limits on encampment sweeps.

Brian Shepperd, left, director of case management, and Kimberly Davis, care coordinator supervisor, of Urban Alchemy look over a map of their count area during a point-in-time count of the homeless population in San Francisco on Tuesday night. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Brian Shepperd, right, director of case management, and Kimberly Davis, care coordinator supervisor, of Urban Alchemy walk through an alley in their count area during a point-in-time count of the homeless population in San Francisco on Tuesday night. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Tina OCollins surveys Turk Street during a point-in-time homeless count in February 2022. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Homeless woman Demetria Block waits for a bus as Shireen McSpadden, executive director of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing for San Francisco, takes part in the point-in-time one-night homeless count in San Francisco in February 2022. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of seven unhoused people, alleges that San Francisco routinely violates its own policies, as well as state and federal laws, by clearing homeless encampments and unlawfully seizing belongings without offering adequate shelter.

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Emily Cohen, a spokesperson for the citys homelessness department, expected that the count would find an increase in the citys sheltered homeless population  meaning those staying indoors in a shelter  because hundreds of additional beds have opened since the last count in 2022.

I would assume the segment of the population thats indoors will grow, but I dont have a sense of where we are overall because the inflow is so hard to predict, she said.

San Francisco has also added supportive housing units for the homeless, but the overall number of unhoused people could still rise since the rate of people becoming homeless remains high.

San Francisco shelters have capacity to serve about 3,240 people.

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Although San Francisco has added more than 1,000 temporary shelter beds over the past six years, city officials in March estimated it would cost nearly $1 billion and require 6,000 new supportive housing units and shelter beds to end unsheltered homelessness over the next three years.

On Tuesday night, Cohen piled into a minivan with two employees from the nonprofit Urban Alchemy, Brian Shepperd and Kimberly Davis, as they set out to survey a portion of Lower Nob Hill and the Tenderloin.

San Francisco mostly stopped using general volunteers for its point-in-time count in 2022, turning instead to workers from nonprofit homeless service providers and city departments. The change appeared to help make the process more efficient, because those doing the counting were more familiar with the landscape and the streets.

Chalu Banarsee hugs Kimberly Davis, whom he knows from city homeless services, during a point-in-time count of the homeless population in San Francisco on Tuesday night. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

An example came when the team rolled up to Ada Court, in the Tenderloin just off OFarrell Street, and saw what seemed to be four unsheltered people on the sidewalks. They got out to check more closely, and one of the men sitting on the concrete sprang to his feet  it turned out he was not unsheltered, though he was homeless.

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Kim! he cried. Davis broke into a grin and hugged him. The man, 48-year-old Chalu Banarsee, actually lived at the same shelter where Davis is a care coordinator.

You get home soon, she said with mock seriousness.

I will, Banarsee said, beaming. So good to see you out here.

As Davis left the alley, she said it was good that the team didnt count Banarsee as unsheltered since he wasnt. Im glad I know a lot of people out here. Makes the counting maybe a little better, she added.

These counts have wide implications on funding allocations and policy decisions. Yet, theyre far from precise and provide only a one-night snapshot.

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City officials in 2022 estimated that as many as 20,000 people experienced homelessness that year, or more than double the number of people tallied during the point-in-time count.

Alameda County, which sent more than 1,000 volunteers out last week to conduct its count, estimates that about double the number of people tallied during the one-night count will seek homeless services over the course of the year.

On Tuesday night, the San Francisco team didnt talk to the most of the unhoused people they passed and instead stuck to counting. In many cases, this left them with the challenge of choosing whether to mark someone down as homeless  or consider that they may just be using drugs or hanging out but have a place to go home at night.

I dont want to assume someone is homeless if theyre not, said Shepperd, who was participating in his first count. But Im looking for stuff like are they carrying a lot of bags? What does their hygiene look like?

That night, it was difficult to determine whether a woman named Shannon Gaines, who stood at a bus stop with her miniature pinscher, Vanessa, was homeless. She was carrying one backpack.

When approached by a reporter, Gaines said she had been homeless off and on for nearly 10 years.The last time she stayed in a shelter was two years ago when her laptop and phone were stolen. Since then, shes has spent her nights either sleeping on the streets or at her friends places, she said.

Its way worse, she said about the citys homeless crisis over the past decade.

Its even more difficult to capture an accurate count of the number of families experiencing homelessness. For the safety of their children and out of fear that child protective services could take their children away, many parents work to make themselves invisible, Cohen said.

San Francisco tallied 205 unhoused families in 2022, but family advocates and service providers call that a gross undercount.

More than 1,220 homeless families sought services through the city this year, and the San Francisco Unified School District estimated that 2,370 students experienced homelessness last school year, although they use a different definition of homelessness than does the city.

This year the city worked with nonprofit providers to call every family on the shelter waiting list to ask where they were sleeping Tuesday night in hopes of capturing a more complete count.
A contestant on BBC series The Apprentice has apologised and received specialist training after social media posts about Israel.

Asif Munaf, a doctor from Sheffield who has also appeared on BBC One show Dragons Den, was spoken to by producers so he could understand why his posts may cause offence.

His posts included remarks on the Hamas invasion of Israel, Zionism, Islam and masculinity.

The PA news agency understands that Mr Munaf had numerous conversations with HR and diversity and inclusion teams and also spoke to senior members of the production team after his posts were discovered.

The wellness brand owner is competing in series 18 of the business-style reality programme, which returns to screens on Thursday on BBC One, for Lord Alan Sugars 250,000 investment.

Meet the new hopeful candidates battling it out for Lord Sugars 250,000 investment and mentorship. Watch brand-new #TheApprentice on #BBCOne and #iPlayer from 1 Feb at 9pmhttps://t.co/zQUH5Sgxnk  The Apprentice (@bbcapprentice) January 23, 2024

A spokesperson for The Apprentice said: After filming had taken place, we were made aware of concerns over social media posts that Asif had made after he had left the process.

As soon as we were alerted, we took immediate action and spoke to Asif in detail on this.

Asif took part in specialised training to understand why his posts may cause offence.

We are committed to providing an inclusive environment on and off screen.

In a statement, Mr Munaf said: I apologise for any offence caused by my online content/social media.

It was not my intention to offend anyone, and I am of course open to all views.

The beliefs I hold and have shared are based on the values that I was brought up with.

He has also denied allegations of antisemitism on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday.

Mr Munaf is one of 18 entrepreneurs on The Apprentice in the latest series and has appeared on Dragons Den, where he sought a 50,000 investment for a 10% stake in his company Date Smoothie.

He was told by Dragon panel member Touker Suleyman youre not a businessman and entrepreneur Peter Jones told him he would rather he saved lives by staying in his profession as a doctor before he also declared himself out in 2018.

In September, the BBC published new guidance on social media which said that employees must not bring the corporation into disrepute and are required to be respectful in public.

Lord Sugar, along with other flagship presenters such as Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker, face additional requirements including having expectations on impartiality.

They are not allowed to make attacks on political parties or criticise the character of individual politicians in the UK.
Beach Boys star Brian Wilson said my heart is broken after announcing the death of his beloved wife Melinda Ledbetter Wilson at the age of 77.

The US singer-songwriter credited his late wife, who died peacefully at their home on Tuesday, as being the emotional security he needed to have a career in the music industry.

The couples relationship inspired a biopic in 2014 titled Love & Mercy starring John Cusack and Paul Dano as Brian, which follows him under the sway of a controlling therapist, before finding his saviour Melinda, played by Elizabeth Banks.

Elizabeth Banks played Melinda Ledbetter Wilson in 2014 biopic Love & Mercy (Ian West/PA)

Sharing a series of pictures on Instagram, Wilson said: Melinda, my beloved wife of 28 years, passed away this morning. Our five children and I are just in tears. We are lost.

Melinda was more than my wife. She was my saviour. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career.

She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart. She was my anchor. She was everything for us.

A statement from their five children described their late mother as a force of nature and one of the strongest women you could come by.

She was not only a model, our fathers saviour, and a mother, she was a woman empowered by her spirit with a mission to better everyone she touched, the statement said.

We will miss her but cherish everything she has taught us. How to take care of the person next to you without expecting anything in return, how to find beauty in the darkest of places, and how to live life as your truest self with honesty and pride.

Among those sending their condolences was US actor Alec Baldwin, ahead of his arraignment on a charge of involuntary manslaughter over the fatal shooting on the film set of Rust.

He said: So sorry.

Meanwhile musician Graham Nash said: Im deeply sorry for your loss, Brian, and for the terrible hurt you are all feeling. My heart, love, and prayers are with you and your family.
Ministers have sought to play down concerns as new post-Brexit checks on food and drink imports come into force.

The long-delayed new rules are part of the UK Governments introduction of a series of checks this year.

But fears have been expressed about disruption to supply chains, with MPs also warning that the new border regime could present serious biosecurity risks to the UK.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said that there would be no interruption to food on supermarket shelves as a result of the new rules.

Home Secretary James Cleverly (Victoria Jones/PA)

Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to Paris, he said: The UK has always been a consumer of international products and unsurprisingly French products are very, very popular in the UK. Were not going to lose that appetite.

Were going to make sure that these sensible, responsible checks are done in a way that makes no interruption to the supply of food to the shelves, so people dont need to worry about that.

We of course want to make sure that we maintain good quality food available on the shelves and weve always been able to do that. And we will continue doing that now.

On the eve of the arrangements coming into force, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee wrote to Secretary of State Steve Barclay to express unease about some of the preparations the Government has made.

Goods from Britain have faced similar controls from the EU since it left the blocs single market at the start of 2021, but the UK has repeatedly put off checks in the other direction.

Writing to the Defra Secretary, committee chairman Sir Robert Goodwill said he was concerned over plans that would see departmental funding for spot checks on products of animal origin at Dover reduced by around 70%.

The Conservative MP said: We remain concerned about the location of the physical checks that will be undertaken for commercial loads.

MPs have written to Environment Secretary Steve Barclay outlining concerns about the new regime (PA)

Under the new post-Brexit system, dubbed the Border Target Operating Model, health checks on foods arriving at Dover will be carried out at a facility in Sevington, Kent, about 22 miles inland.

Your Department informed us that Sevington will provide a modern and purpose-built site for goods and live animals that arrive through both the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel, Sir Robert wrote.

Defras justification appears to be that it is located to support the smooth flow of goods out of both points of entry without disrupting traffic flows out of the Port of Dover.

However, the inland border facility at Sevington will require vehicles to travel 22 miles unsupervised across Kent, presenting potentially serious biosecurity risks, but also compromising compliance.

We understand that drivers will be under no obligation to go to Sevington, if asked to do so. As such, we have real and reasonable concerns about the geographic dislocation of the inland border facility from the point of entry.

The Dover Port Authority has already been among those expressing concern about the plan, as well as the prospect of funding cuts.

A Government spokesperson said: We have strict border controls in place to protect food and animal health safety and these, along with our high biosecurity standards, remain unchanged.

Following careful consideration of the options for border control posts in Kent, we announced our intention to consolidate physical controls at the inland border facility at Sevington.

We are confident that Sevington will have the necessary measures in place to appropriately mitigate biosecurity risks that relate to this facility being located away from the point of entry.

Rules are set to be updated further in the months to come.

By April 30, medium-risk animal products from the EU will undergo documentary, identity and physical checks.

From October 31, safety and security declarations for EU imports will become mandatory, along with a more streamlined dataset for imports.

European countries are likely to be watching the rollout and impact of the new regime closely.

Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin this week said Irish officials have been in touch with exporters and Ireland should be well prepared, but urged agri-food businesses in particular to ensure they are ready for the new rules.
A coalition unhappy with the proposed transgender guidance for schools has called for it to be withdrawn and for the Government to rethink its approach.

The group of organisations has published its own guide for people responding to the consultation, advising them to state that schools and colleges should only engage with parents of a gender-questioning child with the explicit consent of that young person.

Long-awaited draft guidance for schools and colleges on how best to support pupils questioning their gender was published by the Department for Education (DfE) in December.

It stated that parents should not be excluded from decisions taken by a school or college relating to requests for a child to socially transition, such as wishes to change names, pronouns and clothing.

It added that schools and colleges should make parents aware if their child requests a change  except in the very rare situation where parental involvement may raise a significant risk of harm to the child.

Consultation on the guidance runs until March 12.

The organisations Mermaids, LGBT Foundation, Stonewall, Gendered Intelligence and Trans Learning Partnership have now produced a guide advising people how to make clear their opposition to the proposals.

The coalition said the guide is aimed at helping individuals and organisations to respond effectively to the consultation of the draft guidance.

On the issue of pronouns, the guide advises respondents they can describe the negative impact of refusing to use someones pronouns and that they might state that not using a trans pupils chosen pronouns (no matter their age) could be considered discrimination or harassment.

In a statement accompanying the guidance, with signatories including Liberty and Amnesty International UK, the groups said they strongly oppose the Governments exclusionary and unhelpful proposals.

They stated: The proposed guidance, which remains in draft, seeks to deny the existence of transgender pupils, discouraging them from coming out and being their authentic selves, and could lead to young people being forcibly outed to parents and teachers.

This approach will erase decades of progress in making schools places that value difference and reject discrimination. It hampers teachers ability to tackle bullying and ultimately risks causing more harm and exclusion of trans young people.

Schools desperately need guidance that offers practical advice on creating school environments that support trans pupils to thrive.

We are calling on the Government to listen to LGBT+ youth and inclusive educators, withdraw the guidance and rethink their approach.

When the DfE guidance was published before Christmas, Biology Matters at centre-right think tank Policy Exchange said it was a powerful rebuttal against activist demands which for too long have played havoc with the wellbeing of children, while the gay rights organisation LGB Alliance described it as a welcome step in the right direction.
Rosie Jones has praised the incredible work of Comic Relief ahead of taking part in a night of live comedy for the charity.

The comedian, who has has ataxic cerebral palsy  which causes slow speech, will be joining the line-up for Comic Relief  Live At The London Palladium.

However, Jones said that she would not be making jokes about Comic Relief co-founder Sir Lenny Henry when joining him for the event next month.

The stand-up evening also includes This Way Up actress Aisling Bea, The Masked Singer presenter Joel Dommett, and The Great British Sewing Bee host Sara Pascoe.

TV Personality and comedian, Rosie Jones supports Red Nose Day 2024 (Rebecca Naen/Comic Relief)

Jones told the PA news agency: Comic Relief is something which is pretty close to my heart and away from being a comedian, I am also a woman with cerebral palsy.

I was a child with disabilities and just seeing what Comic Relief has done for decades when it comes to people with disabilities and what they need all around the world is pretty incredible.

And for me to give back and be able to part of this amazing fundraising powerhouse is just a joy and an honour.

According to the NHS, cerebral palsy can cause a range of conditions from difficulties walking to speech problems and stiff movements.

Jones has appeared on comedy panel shows The Last Leg and 8 Out Of 10 Cats, fronted TV programmes such as Am I A R*tard? and Trip Hazard: My Great British Adventure and acted in episodes of Casualty.

The comedian has also made campaign videos and been in a Red Nose Day sketch, spoofing The Traitors, for Comic Relief.

The London Palladium night will pay homage to how Comic Relief began 39 years ago with Sir Lenny.

Jones said: I dont think I will make any jokes about Sir Lenny because he has always been a hero of the mine and (also because of) what hes done for Comic Relief (which) from the start (has been) incredible.

Im just so, so thrilled, to be honest, to be part of the line-up and I for one will be celebrating so no jokes will come from (me) about Lenny.

She also said that she will not be taking the night seriously which will be about having a laugh and having a celebration and see her tell jokes that are a little bit rude.

This year, Jones also takes part in a sketch to launch Red Nose Day 2024 on Wednesday alongside This Morning star Alison Hammond, presenter Davina McCall, actress Dame Joan Collins, Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey, and Britains Got Talent judge Simon Cowell.

The celebrities are seen answering Sir Lennys call to help Comic Relief.

Actor and comedian Sir Lenny, 65, who co-founded the charity in 1985 alongside Love Actually screenwriter Richard Curtis, has been hosting the BBC show Red Nose Day for decades.

Last year, Doctor Who star David Tennant was hosting the charity fundraiser and told audiences that was flying without our captain for the first time and showed a brief sketch featuring Sir Lenny.

In a statement, Sir Lenny said: When we first started Comic Relief back in 1985, I never dreamed wed still be here today.

I thought wed probably do three shows and that would be it, but fast-forward nearly 40 years, and that enthusiasm and determination to step up and help others has never wavered.

As life president of Comic Relief, Im excited to see some new and familiar faces come forward now to present the big night and lead us into the next chapter.

The fundraiser supports people going through homelessness and poverty as well as fleeing war and climate change.

Comic Relief  Live At The London Palladium is on February 26 and Red Nose Day returns to BBC One on March 15.
A deal to reduce checks and paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is the best that could be delivered for the people of Northern Ireland, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said.

The agreement between the UK Government, published on Wednesday, is expected to lead to the restoration of the devolved powersharing institutions at Stormont within days.

The deal will see the end of routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Great Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland.

It has persuaded the DUP to end its two-year boycott of the Stormont Assembly.

Sir Jeffrey told the BBC Talkback show that he is absolutely convinced the deal is the best one he could have secured.

The Stormont powersharing institutions are expected to return within days (Liam McBurney/PA)

He said: Measured against our seven tests I am satisfied with the progress we have made.

I am satisfied that in terms of our core objectives we have delivered for the people of Northern Ireland.

Is it perfect? No, it isnt.

Have we delivered everything we would have wanted at this stage? No, we havent.

Sir Jeffrey said the agreement has removed the so-called Irish Sea trading border.

He said: We believe that where goods are moving within the United Kingdom and its internal market, there shouldnt be checks, there shouldnt be customs declarations, because that is what a border means.

There should not be a border within the UK internal market. These proposals remove that border.

There will no longer be checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, except where, as happens across the UK, there is smuggling or criminality.

He also said now all goods manufactured in Northern Ireland will be available for sale in the rest of the UK.

He said: Businesses in Northern Ireland, if all they do is sell their goods to Great Britain then their goods will be fully acceptable in Great Britain.

The Government has guaranteed that.

There is a new goods guarantee built into these new arrangements that goods manufactured in Northern Ireland will always be available for sale in Great Britain.

Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill is poised to become first minister at Stormont (Niall Carson/PA)

The DUP leader also said the automatic appliance of EU laws to Northern Ireland would end.

He said: At the moment EU law automatically applies to Northern Ireland, whether it is a change to EU law or a new EU law.

Under the (Northern Ireland) Protocol we had no say, the Assembly was not consulted on that, there was no democratic scrutiny in Northern Ireland of those laws, they just automatically applied. These new arrangements end that.

Article 7A of the Withdrawal Act, which is a UK law, will be amended to end the automatic pipeline of EU law applying to Northern Ireland.

What that means, we will have new democratic scrutiny mechanisms in the Assembly.

The Assembly will be able to scrutinise any new laws that are coming forward. Assembly members will be able to say if they think that law is going to be harmful to Northern Ireland and our ability to trade, in other words divergence.

The Assembly will be able to say no, that law should not apply in Northern Ireland and the UK Government has the right to veto that law on behalf of Northern Ireland.

There is a new process that is being put in place that ends the dynamic alignment of EU law in Northern Ireland.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said he is comfortable with the deal (Niall Carson/PA)

Meanwhile, other Stormont parties have been meeting with Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin, in Belfast.

Speaking after her meeting, Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill, who is poised to become first minister when Stormont is restored, said the Assembly election held two years ago shows the change across the islands political landscape.

She said: I will work with whoever wants to come at it with an attitude of fair play, work with whoever wants to respect the Good Friday Agreement, and I will work with anybody who wants to deliver good public services.

Regardless of who occupies the government in Britain, I would expect from them, whether its Labour or Tories, who unfortunately have failed on this on so many occasions, to respect the Good Friday Agreement.

There is no doubt the Assembly election two years ago demonstrated the change that is happening right across our island and there is no doubt that there is a healthy conversation about constitutional change.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said he had a good meeting with Irelands foreign affairs minister.

Mr Beattie said he told Mr Martin about how the Ulster Unionists have been kept out of discussions in relation to the agreement between the DUP and the British Government.

He added: I think everybody is pretty comfortable with what the deal is.

I dont think anybody is concerned. I think everything that is going to happen is going to happen within the confines of what has already been agreed in regards to the Windsor Framework.
Catherine Zeta-Jones has called for the lights to be dimmed on Broadway in memory of Tony-winning star Chita Rivera, who has died at the age of 91.

The pioneering dancer, singer and actress, died peacefully on Tuesday in New York after a brief illness, her daughter Lisa Mordente confirmed in a statement given to the PA news agency.

Riveras agent, Merle Frimark, said it was with immense personal sorrow that she also announced the death of beloved Broadway icon Rivera  who had been a dear friend of over 40 years.

President Barack Obama presents the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom to Chita Rivera at the White House in Washington in 2009 (J Scott Applewhite/AP)

During her decades long-career, Rivera garnered 10 Tony nominations for her roles in Broadway shows including Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago and Merlin, winning best leading actress in a musical for her performance in The Rink and Kiss Of The Spider Woman.

She also received the coveted Kennedy Centre Honour in 2002, and was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009  which is the highest honour the US can give a civilian.

Welsh actress Zeta-Jones, who won best supporting actress at the Academy Awards playing Velma Kelly in the film adaption of Chicago  the role Rivera played in the Broadway original  said on Instagram: There are no words to tell you what an incredible impact you have had on my life.

From dreaming of being you as a little girl, then meeting you and then being deeply connected to you by playing the one and only Velma Kelly in Chicago.

There will never, ever, be anyone like you Chita, ever. Dim the lights on Broadway! Or, may I suggest, we just plug the plug. I love you Chita, sleep tight my Queen.

Meanwhile Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber said farewell to Rivera on Instagram, sharing a picture of the pair as they received lifetime achievement awards at the Tonys in 2018.

You redefined the words theatrical legend, he said.

Ill never forget how we laughed backstage before we got lifetime Tonys. I stifled hiccups through my speech. I am truly honoured to have shared a moment with you.

Born in Washington DC, Rivera rose to fame in 1957 as Anita in the original production of West Side Story and was still dancing on Broadway in 2015s The Visit  which won her a Tony Award nomination for best leading actress in a musical.

Tick, TickBoom! director Lin-Manuel Miranda described Rivera, who made a cameo in the 2021 film, as a trailblazer who has had many iconic Broadway roles because she was an absolute original.

When we filmed the diner scene in ttB (Tick, TickBoom!), she wasnt available for the shoot dates, so I left a chair empty in the diner for those three days, he said on Instagram.

The whole shoot, people kept trying to move the chair or clear space and Id have to say no, were GOING to get Chita, I dont know how but were going to do it.

Eight months later on our reshoots, she joined us and held court all day. It remains one of the all time joys of my life. She was magnificent. She IS magnificent, not ready for the past tense just yet.

My heart is with everyone in Chitas galaxy of family and friends.

Rivera added author to her revered list of accomplishments last year, after publishing autobiography, Chita: A Memoir.

Her funeral will be held in private, while donations in her memory can be made to Broadway Care/Equity Fights Aids, her agent said.

Rivera is survived by her daughter Mordente, siblings Julio, Armando and Lola del Rivero, along with her many nieces, nephews and friends.
A Government package to restore powersharing at Stormont has delivered fundamental change to UK/EU arrangements on post-Brexit trade, the leader of the DUP has insisted.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson claimed his party had negotiated clear alterations to the Windsor Framework by ending routine checks on goods moving from Great Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland.

Major changes to the UK/EU legal framework would require the approval of Brussels.

Downing Street, however, has insisted the measures unveiled on Wednesday do not require specific EU sign-off, characterising them instead as operational changes to the framework, without altering the fundamentals of the bilateral deal.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: I wont speak for the EU but this is a negotiation between the UK and the DUP. This is not about altering the fundamentals of the Windsor Framework.

He added: We do believe that the changes that we are implementing are significant.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris both spoke with EU executive vice-President Maros Sefcovic on Wednesday to outline the proposals contained in the Governments Safeguarding The Union command paper.

In a statement, the EU Commission said it would carefully analyse the measures.

The executive vice-president and the Foreign Secretary both agreed on the high importance of seeing the Northern Ireland Executive restored and delivering for the people of Northern Ireland, the commission added.

Irelands deputy premier Michael Martin, who met political leaders in Belfast on Wednesday, said he did not expect Brussels would have any difficulties with that has been tabled.

On Tuesday, prior to the command papers publication, the UK and EU did announce a joint move on trade tariff quotas that will increase the ability of Northern Ireland traders to import internationally-sourced agri-food goods via UK free trade deals with other countries.

Wednesdays paper commits to replacing the Windsor Frameworks green lane process at Northern Ireland ports, which requires percentages of goods to be checked as they arrive from Great Britain, with a UK internal market system that will govern the movement of goods that remain within the United Kingdom.

Checks would still be carried out but on a risk-based/intelligence-led model to combat illegality and disease, rather than routine stops of disembarking lorries.

Sir Jeffrey has hailed the move as a key concession that will effectively scrap the contentious so-called Irish Sea border for goods destined to remain within the UK.

DUP leader Sir Jeffery Donaldson during a joint press conference with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris at Hillsborough Castle (Niall Carson/PA)

Speaking at a joint press conference at Hillsborough Castle with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton Harris, the DUP leader said: I have absolutely no doubt any reasonable person reading this lengthy document, there is a lot of substance in this document that points to change, and I believe that is what we have delivered.

So, one of my core objectives was to ensure that where goods are moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and staying within the United Kingdom, there would be no checks on those goods, save whether theres a suspicion of smuggling or criminality.

The Windsor Framework gave us a green lane, which involved the continuation of some checks and some declarations. That has gone and, by any measure, that represents a fundamental change to the way that goods coming from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are dealt with.

Mr Heaton-Harris said the package did not involved any weird dealings with Brussels and everything in the package had been delivered in good faith.

He added: Theres a whole chapter in here (the command paper), chapter four, which will take you through the further changes and their impacts on the Windsor Framework in no uncertain terms, and the Government is committed to all of that chapter four.

The Conservative MP said the package represented the right deal for Northern Ireland and the Union.

Mr Heaton-Harris said the Government would deliver quickly on the commitments made, with two pieces of legislation set to be fast-tracked through Parliament on Thursday.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson, whose is sceptical about the deal, heavily criticised the Government in the Commons (PA)

The Stormont Assembly could sit again as soon as Saturday.

This is the right deal for Northern Ireland and the right deal for the Union, said Mr Heaton-Harris.

It strengthens and further protects the UK internal market and the union, both now and in the long term.

Sir Jeffrey added: Todays agreement, I believe, is a positive and decisive step forward for Northern Ireland.

The measure to reduce checks is part of a wide-ranging deal agreed between the DUP and the Government that is set to bring about the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland after a two-year hiatus.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said reviving powersharing in Northern Ireland offered the prospect of a brighter future.

The DUP has agreed to drop its two-year blockade of Stormont in exchange for the Government measures aimed at addressing its concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements that created economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

While Sir Jeffrey has secured the backing of a majority of senior party colleagues to accept the deal, there are those within the DUP who remain deeply sceptical of the proposed agreement to restore powersharing.

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson demonstrated that on Wednesday, voicing his concerns and heavily criticising the Government as the package was debated in the Commons.

He said the continued application of EU law in Northern Ireland was the result of spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying Government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

Challenged by reporters on Mr Wilsons remarks, Sir Jeffrey insisted his party was not split.

He said when his 130-strong party executive deliberated on the package in a five-hour meeting on Monday night the majority in favour was very wide and absolutely decisive.

Sir Jeffrey also hit out at critics outside his party, namechecking TUV leader Jim Allister to ask directly what progress he had made over the last two years.

DUP leader Sir Jeffery Donaldson said his critics had delivered a big blank sheet of nothing (Niall Carson/PA)

He suggested Mr Allister and other vocal opponents of the deal had delivered a big blank sheet of nothing when it came to removing the sea border.

Under the deal, the post-Brexit red lane for transporting goods from GB to NI and on into the EU single market will remain, but the command paper offers measures aimed at reducing the volume of trade required to use that red-tape heavy route, with a prediction that 80% of goods will now move free of routine checks through the internal market system.

The package includes future proof commitments that rule out future EU/UK protocols or agreements that would see Northern Ireland treated differently to the rest of the UK.

As well as moves to cut Brexit bureaucracy on Irish Sea trade, the command paper includes a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Irelands constitutional position within the United Kingdom.

The Government will also provide the legislative underpinning to give the Stormont Assembly a democratic oversight function in respect of new EU laws set to be introduced in the region.

The oversight procedures already outlined in the Windsor Framework include the so-called Stormont brake mechanism that enables 30 or more MLAs to flag a concern about a new EU law.

The Government is obliged to assess whether those concerns meet a threshold that could then result in the UK vetoing the application of the law in the region.

The command paper also includes commitments to ensure Northern Ireland goods will always be able to be sold in the GB market regardless of any divergence in EU and UK standards.

In respect of further UK divergence from EU standards, there is also a legal requirement that new Westminster legislation is assessed as to whether it impacts on trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

If it does, there will be a statutory duty for the relevant minister to make a statement considering any impacts on the operation of Northern Irelands place in the UKs internal market.

A requirement that saw certain goods sold in Northern Ireland to display a label stating not for sale in the EU will now to extend to cover the whole UK.

The package also includes the creation of two new bodies aimed at strengthening trade links between GB and NI  the East West Council and Intertrade UK.

Other measures in the deal include a drive to press ahead with the stalled devolution of corporation tax powers to Northern Ireland and a commitment from Government to hold cabinet meetings in periodically in the region.

The Government will also enter into exploratory talks with the US on allowing pre-clearance checks on customs and immigration to take place at Belfast International Airport on passengers flying directly to the US.

There are no direct flights at the moment but the move is being seen as a potential incentive for airlines to consider operating routes from Northern Ireland to the US.

The return of Stormont will see the Treasury release a 3.3 billion package to support under-pressure public services in Northern Ireland.

The financial package, announced by the Government before Christmas, includes money to settle the demands of striking public sector workers in the region this year.
The Government is due to publish the details of its deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which sets the stage for the return of the Stormont powersharing institutions.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has already said that the agreement will remove all post-Brexit checks on goods destined for Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

The unionist party has been using a veto power to block Stormonts devolved institutions for almost two years in protest at the post-Brexit arrangements that have created trade barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

DUP leader Sir Jeffery Donaldson has said checks on goods destined for NI from the UK would end (Liam McBurney/PA)

However, Sir Jeffrey announced earlier this week that his party was prepared to return to Stormont, dependent on the UK Government implementing the various legislative assurances and other measures it has offered.

This is expected to lead to the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland within days and will see Michelle ONeill become the regions first ever nationalist first minister.

The Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin will take part in a round of talks with Northern Irelands main political parties and business leaders in Belfast on Wednesday.

Speaking ahead of the meetings, Mr Martin said the Irish Government has no issue with streamlining and ensuring a seamless passage of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Mr Martin also paid tribute to Sir Jeffrey, praising him for his leadership, saying he has opened a path to a functioning Executive and Assembly.

Well await the publication of the documents today by the British Government, Mr Martin added.

I think it would be prudent to examine those and we will do that. The British Government and the European Union have worked hard to address many of the practical concerns about the outworking of Brexit and Northern Ireland.

We need to move forward for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland in terms of economy, in terms of jobs, in terms of public services.

He added: But my sense is that the (EU) Commissions main concern is the single market, not necessarily the transfer of goods between GB and Ireland.

So my view is that the Commission all along, has been cooperative and constructive in endeavouring to get a resolution to all of these issues, so that people can get about their daily lives in a less constrained way.

He also referred to the changes that will come into effect from today, which will see goods exporting from Ireland to Britain being subjected to checks for the first time under Brexit rules.

All of this has been about really trying to manage what was the fundamental change in over 50 years, and the impact on Northern Ireland has been significant, Mr Martin added.

It is understood the Government will introduce two statutory instruments at Westminster to give legislative effect to the commitments it has made on trade and sovereignty.

The return of Stormont will also see the Treasury release a 3.3 billion package to support under-pressure public services in Northern Ireland. The financial package includes money to settle the demands of striking public sector workers in the region this year.

Speaking on Tuesday, following meetings with other Stormont parties, Sir Jeffrey said the deal would represent a significant change in addressing unionist concerns over Brexits so-called Irish Sea border.

He said: On checks, on goods, moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and staying within the UK there will no longer by physical checks, identity checks, save where, as is normal in any part of the UK, there is a suspicion of smuggling, of criminal activity; that is the same for every part of the United Kingdom.

On customs paperwork, customs declarations, supplementary declarations, will be gone.

(left to right) Sinn Fein representatives MLA Conor Murphy, president Mary Lou McDonald and vice-president Michelle ONeill (Liam McBurney/PA)

Sinn Fein has focused on the imminent return of the Stormont Assembly, with party leader Mary Lou McDonald stating that Irish unity is now within touching distance as she hailed the significance of her party assuming the role of Stormont first minister for the first time.

Ms McDonald said the expected appointment of her party colleague Michelle ONeill into the job in the coming days would be a moment of very great significance.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he believes the conditions exist for the return of the Stormont powersharing institutions (Victoria Jones/PA)

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he would publish the Governments proposals on Wednesday.

He added: I believe that all the conditions are now in place for the assembly to return.

Sir Jeffrey announced his support for a Stormont return after receiving the decisive backing of the 130-strong party executive during a five-hour meeting on Monday night.

He said DUP party officers, a key 12-strong decision-making body, had also mandated him to move forward on the basis he was proposing.

Support for the deal is not unanimous within the DUP and several senior figures remain opposed to the proposed agreement to restore powersharing.
Grieving families and patients have demanded that ministers do more to tackle the burden of brain tumours.

Campaigners have handed in petition signed by more than 80,000 people to Downing Street calling for more investment and research into brain cancer.

Antiques Roadshow expert Theo Burrell, who was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) in June 2022, and Danny Clarke from the BBCs The Instant Gardener, whose sister Margot McLellan died from GBM, joined Brain Tumour Research officials to hand in the petition.

Brain tumour campaigners outside Downing Street (Victoria Jones/PA)

Ms Burrell told the PA news agency: Brain tumours are heavily underfunded, they need more investment, and we need to raise more awareness so that we can improve treatment options and ultimately find a cure.

Weve seen in other cancers, where more investment is put forward, better results  like leukaemia and breast cancer.

So we need to bring brain tumours up to speed with those other types of cancers.

Mr Clarke said: I never really paid much attention to the disease before because it never affected me in any way, so (my sisters diagnosis) was my first experience of it.

And it just brought to light what a terrible illness it really is.

Brain tumour campaigners, Dan Knowles, Sam Suriakumar, Theo Burrell, Danny Clarke and Nicola Nuttall hand in a petition to 10 Downing Street (Victoria Jones/PA)

Dan Knowles, chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, told PA: Were calling on the Government to make a step change in investment in research into brain tumours in the UK, so that we can find a cure for this devastating disease.

Brain tumours kill more people under the age of 40 in the UK than any other type of cancer

If you get diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour, youve got less than 50% chance of making it beyond one year.

Were here to try and find a cure for this disease and find the investment thats needed so that we can do the research so we can change peoples lives.

They were joined by Nicola Nuttall, from Barrowford, Lancashire, whose daughter Laura was just 23 when she died in May last year.

Laura was passionate about raising awareness and finding a cure, she said.

Laura Nuttall with her mother Nicola and father Mark in 2021 (Peter Powell/PA)

It broke her heart every time she heard of another young person diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Its eight months since we lost our beautiful daughter, we miss her every minute of every day but I know campaigning for change is what she wanted us to do, so that in the future other families dont have to endure the same devastation that we have.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: Brain cancer is a devastating disease, which is why weve made 40 million available for research projects specifically looking for new treatments and therapies to tackle this illness.

Were investing in research infrastructure, workshops and training for clinicians to further progress developments in this field. And we continue to encourage further applications for research funding from successful candidates through the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

It comes as the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign group performed a demonstration outside Parliament to highlight that tens of thousands of people have missed out on the 62-day cancer treatment target.

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron with representatives from up to 50 cancer charities in Parliament Square, London (Lucy North/PA)

Oncologist Professor Pat Price, co-founder of the campaign group, said: Let this be the end of accepting the unacceptable when it comes to cancer.

Were calling on all (political) parties to acknowledge the cancer crisis and commit to delivering a plan to tackle it.

An NHS England spokesperson said: The NHS has treated over 1.2 million people for cancer since 2020, and in the last year alone almost three million people received potentially lifesaving cancer checks and over 336,000 people started treatment  with over 90% of patients starting treatment within a month, despite record demand.

NHS staff continue to work hard to prioritise the longest waiters and most urgent cases, and recent efforts mean more people are being diagnosed at an early stage than ever before and survival rates are higher than ever.

It is vital people continue to come forward if they are concerned about symptoms  getting checked saves lives.
Supervisor Ahsha Safais ordinance directs the city to prioritize city-owned open space at Brotherhood Way and Orizaba Avenue for the development of a new library serving the Oceanview, Merced Heights, Ingleside and Lakeview neighborhoods. It passed on an 8-3 vote. Salgu Wissmath/The Chronicle

San Francisco legislators are trying to pressure Mayor London Breeds administration to move forward with plans to build a library at a specific location on the southwest side of the city, a project that Supervisor Ahsha Safai has accused Breed of blocking because hes challenging her reelection bid.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday passed an ordinance that directs the city to prioritize city-owned open space at Brotherhood Way and Orizaba Avenue for the development of a library serving the Oceanview, Merced Heights, Ingleside and Lakeview neighborhoods. City officials started considering that site years ago as a possible spot to construct a replacement for an existing library on Randolph Street that Safai said is far too small to properly serve the community.

But Safai, whose district includes the proposed library site, said last month that he was dismayed to learn that Breeds administration had begun to consider other locations for the project. He told the Chronicle at the time that he suspected Breed might be trying to punish the community because she was angered by his challenge to her position as mayor.

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Breeds office has denied that claim. At a Dec. 12 public question-and-answer session with supervisors, Breed said there wasnt enough community agreement on the proposed new location and that she also had concerns about the cost of building on the originally planned site, especially in light of the citys budget challenges. Safai said supervisors had already put some funding for the library project on reserve.



At Tuesdays board meeting, Safai told his colleagues that the project has undoubtedly grown in cost and size in recent years, but its a solvable problem.

There is no alternative site, he said.

The current neighborhood library branch on Randolph Street is so small that schoolchildren who use it sometimes had to do so in shifts, community members have said. A new facility could more than double the size of the current building.

Safais ordinance passed on an 8-3 vote after he watered down language that would have required the city to build any new library in the area at the open space along Brotherhood Way and Orizaba Avenue. The amended version of the ordinance requires only that the city make that location a priority.

Supervisors Myrna Melgar, Rafael Mandelman and Matt Dorsey voted no.

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Contrary to the assertions of some, theres no consensus that this proposed location is the best location, Melgar said. Her district borders the site.

In a statement after the vote, Jeff Cretan, a spokesperson for Breed, did not commit to pursuing the project at the location sought by Safais legislation.
H&M has hired a new boss to help boost the fashion giants fortunes as it saw annual profits lag behind expectations.

The Swedish retail chain said Helena Helmersson has decided to step down as the firms chief executive officer.

Ms Helmersson, who had been in the role for four years, said she has mixed feelings about her exit, but found the role very demanding at times.

H&M has replaced her with Daniel Erver, who was worked for the group for around 18 years across a range of roles.

Karl-Johan Persson, chair of the H&M group, said: The board of directors would like to express a big thank you to Helena for her valuable contributions during a very intense time.

Helena is an appreciated leader that has decisively and effectively led and navigated the H&M group through a time largely marked by pandemic, geopolitical and macro-economic challenges.

During this time, we have gradually taken clear steps towards our long-term goals.

Ms Helmersson said: t is with mixed feelings that I have informed the board of directors of my decision to leave the CEO role.

I am very proud of what we together have achieved during the last years when we have navigated through pandemic, and several geopolitical and macro-economic challenges.

However, it has been very demanding at times for me personally and I now feel that it is time to leave the CEO role, which of course has not been an easy decision.

It came as H&M revealed a pre-tax profit of 8.7 billion Swedish Krona (660 million) for the year to November 30, slightly below market expectations.

The retailer reported on Wednesday that net sales grew by 6% to 236 billion Swedish Krona (17.9 billion) for the year.

It added that sales are 4% lower for the two months to January 29 this year, after the end of the previous financial year.
Here are answers to some of the key questions surrounding the Government package that is set to deliver the restoration of powersharing in Northern Ireland.

 What led to the current Stormont stalemate?

During the Brexit divorce talks, former prime minister Boris Johnson negotiated the Northern Ireland Protocol with the EU in order to ensure the continued free movement of goods on the island of Ireland.

However, this led to the requirement for checks on goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and was deeply unpopular with unionists, who described it as an Irish Sea border.

After feeling that the Government was not responding fast enough to his concerns, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson collapsed the Stormont powersharing institutions when he withdrew Paul Givan as first minister almost two years ago.

In response, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak negotiated the Windsor Framework with the EU, introducing new rules on the movement of goods and a veto for the implementation of EU law in Northern Ireland.

However, Sir Jeffrey insisted this did not go far enough, leading to months of protracted negotiations that have culminated in the command paper Safeguarding The Union, published by the Government.

Paul Givan announces his resignation as first minister in February 2022 (Peter Morrison/PA)

 Why has the DUP agreed to the deal?

Sir Jeffrey has insisted the new arrangements have removed the Irish Sea trading border and restored Northern Irelands place within the UK internal market.

The deal will see the end of routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Great Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland, as well as a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Irelands constitutional position within the United Kingdom.

The DUP leader says this is the best deal that could be achieved for the people of Northern Ireland and has persuaded him to end his boycott of the powersharing institutions.

Sir Jeffrey has long argued in favour of restoring devolved government, providing his concerns over post-Brexit trade and sovereignty were addressed.

 Does this represent a major change to the trading arrangements agreed with Brussels?

It depends who you listen to.

Sir Jeffrey says his party has delivered fundamental change to the Windsor Framework by ending routine checks on goods moving from Great Britain to and staying in Northern Ireland.

Downing Street, however, has insisted the measures unveiled on Wednesday do not require specific EU sign-off, characterising them instead as operational changes to the framework, without altering the fundamentals of the bilateral deal.

The EU, for its part, has said it will carefully analyse the measures.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris both briefed EU executive vice-president Maros Sefcovic on the paper on Wednesday.

Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin has suggested Brussels will have a role, telling reporters in Belfast that the EU/UK Joint Committee will need to look at the package.

Mr Martin made clear he did not anticipate any push-back from the European Commission on what has been agreed between the DUP and UK.

(l to r) Jamie Bryson, Jim Allister and DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson attend a rally in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol in Lurgan, County Armagh in 2022 (Liam McBurney/PA)

 Who is opposed to the DUP leaders move?

Not everyone in the DUP supports accepting the arrangements that will lead to a return to powersharing.

A meeting of the partys ruling executive, where Sir Jeffrey presented the proposals to members, lasted for more than five hours on Monday night.

He was ultimately able to secure the backing of the executive, insisting the margin of support was decisive, and the endorsement of the majority of his 12 party officers.

However, just hours after the command paper was published on Wednesday, senior DUP MP Sammy Wilson launched a scathing broadside against the Government in the House of Commons in a clear sign of the differing opinions at the highest levels of the party.

The arch Brexiteer claimed the ongoing application of EU law in Northern Ireland was the result of a spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying Government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

On top of internal tensions, Sir Jeffrey faces criticism from some in the wider unionist and loyalist community.

They insist the Stormont boycott should only end when the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol, and the subsequent Windsor Framework, are scrapped entirely.

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister is a vocal critic, describing the DUP as protocol implementers.

High-profile loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, who live-tweeted elements of the private DUP executive meeting after securing an audio feed from a wired-up mole inside the party, has challenged Sir Jeffrey to a public debate on the new measures.

There have also been suggestions on social media that roads could be blocked in loyalist areas as part of protests against the deal.

The DUP leader has hit back, claiming his opponents have delivered a big blank sheet of nothing when it comes to removing the Irish Sea border.

Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill is set to become Northern Irelands first nationalist first minister (Niall Carson/PA)

 So what happens next?

The Government aims to fast-track two statutory instruments through Westminster on Thursday.

One will provide legislative assurances on Northern Irelands constitutional position within the UK with the other delivering the changes to the trading system by amending the Internal Markets Act.

Their passage would pave the way for the DUP to give the green light for a Stormont return.

MLAs have already been put on notice on the prospect of a hastily-recalled sitting.

The expectation is Stormont could be back up and running as soon as Saturday, when the Assembly chamber at Parliament Buildings would witness the historically significant moment of the appointment of its first-ever nationalist first minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper has told Mayor of London Sadiq Khan there is no legal barrier to cars being donated to Ukraine through the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) scrappage scheme.

Mr Khan asked the Cabinet minister in December to enable 4x4s and other suitable vehicles that would otherwise be scrapped to be sent to Ukraine, with their owners still receiving a payment.

The mayor had previously made it clear he did not believe altering the Ulez scheme for exporting vehicles would be possible under current laws.

Mark harper told Mr Khan we do not consider there to be any legal barrier to sending cars to Ukraine (Lucy North/PA)

Mr Harper wrote a letter to Mr Khan on Wednesday which stated: We do not consider there to be any legal barrier to allowing vehicles to be donated to Ukraine.

You have identified legal obstacles that relate to the processes and design of your scheme and DfT (Department for Transport) and DLUHC (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) officials have been working with TfL (Transport for London) to identify routes to overcome these.

The Transport Secretary claimed it is a reasonable certainty that vehicles donated to Ukraine through the Ulez scheme would be highly unlikely to leave the hands of the Ukrainian army and return to the UK.

He also said the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has created a bespoke process for recording when it is notified of a vehicle being exported to the eastern European country, enabling TfL to avoid multiple scrappage payments being paid for the same vehicle.

Commenting on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Mr Khan wrote: Encouraging news from the Transport Secretary  lets keep working together to get this done.

Mr Khan hopes a programme for exporting non-Ulez compliant vehicles to Ukraine could be used by other cities with scrappage schemes.

He has instructed his officials to work through the details of the Governments proposals.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko suggested donating vehicles scrapped under the Ulez scheme to help with Ukraines war against Russia (Niall Carson/PA)

Kyivs mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reportedly wrote to his London counterpart to suggest donating vehicles as part of the scrappage scheme to assist with Ukraines war effort against Russia.

The Ulez area was expanded to include the whole of the capital in August last year, making it the worlds largest pollution charging area.

People who drive in the zone in a vehicle that does not meet minimum emissions standards are required to pay a 12.50 daily fee or risk a 180 fine, reduced to 90 if paid within 14 days.

A 160 million scheme run by TfL enables residents, small businesses, sole traders and charities scrapping non-compliant cars to claim grants.
The average price paid for motor insurance in the final quarter of 2023 was around a third, or 157 in cash terms, higher compared with a year earlier, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

Between October 1 and December 31 2023, the average price paid for private motor cover was 627, up from 470 during the same period a year earlier.

The ABI pointed to surging costs for insurers, such as longer repair times, higher repair costs, and the rising price of replacement vehicles.

Rising repair costs are due to a mixture of the price of labour, energy costs, and vehicles becoming more sophisticated, with electric vehicles requiring more specialist expertise to repair, the ABI said.

Its motor insurance premium tracker analyses nearly 28 million policies sold in a year and is based on the price customers pay for their cover rather than what they are quoted.

Mervyn Skeet, the ABIs director of general insurance policy, said: Were acutely aware of the impact that rising motor insurance premiums continue to have on motorists.

Rising repair costs and other factors outside of insurers control mean there is no single action that could bring down premiums. However, we are determined to do all we can to put the brake on.

We are working with our members to understand what actions can be taken to help motorists manage costs. The cost of paying monthly (premium finance) is one of a number of topics we continue to discuss with our members and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Weve also been very clear, and continue to underline, that cutting insurance premium tax would provide immediate relief for stretched consumers.

The ABI estimates that insurance premium tax currently adds around 67 to the average motor premium. The tax is levied on insurers but the cost is passed on to customers through the prices they pay.

NEWS | Motor Insurance Premiums Continue to Rise as Insurers Battle Costs Read our latest press release https://t.co/j3FjlyPYHP  ABI (@BritishInsurers) January 31, 2024

Recent research by consumer group Which? indicated that in September 2023 those paying monthly for an annual policy faced paying around 309 more on average over the year than those paying in one go.

Younger motorists, who often pay the highest premiums, may be more likely to pay monthly, Which? said.

Specialist brokers may be able to help people who are finding it hard to get insurance. The British Insurance Brokers Association can help put people in touch with a specialist broker.

A Financial Conduct Authority spokesman said previously that the body has already told insurers they must ensure their products provide fair value and it expects firms to continue to support customers in financial difficulty and reflect on whether they can do more to support people with lower financial resilience.
Executives from steel giant Tata to be questioned over Port Talbot plans

Executives from steel giant Tata will be questioned by MPs on Wednesday following the companys decision to close its blast furnaces at its biggest UK plant  with the loss of up to 2,800 jobs.

Politicians and union leaders will also appear before the Welsh Affairs committee, including Minister for Economy at the Welsh Government Vaughan Gething and the Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies.

Steelworkers will stage protests outside Parliament to warn of the impact on jobs of shutting down the blast furnaces at the site in Port Talbot, south Wales.

Workers from Tatas Port Talbot steelworks gather at College Green, in Westminster (Lucy North/PA)

Tata plans to switch to a more environmentally friendly production of steel, which requires fewer workers.

The committee says it wants to understand the decisions impact on the steel industry in Wales, the local community and the Welsh economy.

The future of the UK steel sector will also be discussed.

Alasdair McDiarmid, assistant general secretary of the Community union, said: I look forward to putting forward the case for our credible multi-union plan for Port Talbot and the Welsh steel industry to the Committee.

The UK Governments bad deal for steel would be devastating to the Welsh economy and, in degrading Britains primary steelmaking capacity, represents a grave threat to the UKs sovereignty and national security apparatus.

Were very pleased that there has been such strong support for our plan from the Labour benches, along with a firm commitment to 3 billion of investment in our steel industry over the next decade.

At this critical juncture, we need to see far more ambition from the current government, whose ministers over the last week alone have refused to confirm whether they think the UK should even have the ability to produce virgin steel.

Its important that Conservative MPs  including those on the Committee who will have workers from Port Talbot, Trostre and Llanwern living in their constituencies  now make the case to the ministers that steel communities across the country feel badly let down, and will never forgive this government if they continue with the destructive bad deal agreed with Tata.

Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB national officer, said: These steel workers have got everything on the line  their jobs, the security of their families, the whole future of their town.

They need to hear first hand Tata bosses try and justify why their putting thousands of people out of work.

The UK has gone from a huge steel exporter 15 years ago, to now importing 2 billion worth every year. Soon we wont even be able to make primary steel in this country.

Its a national disgrace.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: If Tata are committed to UK steel and want to benefit from that investment  as they say  it is vital that they heed Labours call not to make any irreversible decisions about Port Talbot until after the general election.

That means shelving its plan to shut down both blast furnaces and make mass redundancies.

Tata says it is losing 1 million a day, adding that the switch to greener production will save thousands of jobs.
The loss of 2,800 jobs through the planned closure of blast furnaces at the biggest steel plant in the UK is just the tip of the iceberg, a union official has warned.

Politicians, unions and executives from steel giant Tata are being questioned by MPs on Wednesday following the companys decision to close its blast furnaces at Port Talbot in South Wales.

Officials from Community, the GMB and Unite told the Welsh Affairs Committee that the job losses will be devastating for the local and national economy.

Charlotte Brumpton-Childs from the GMB said the scale of job losses cannot be over-estimated.

The 2,800 job losses proposed are just the tip of the iceberg because of the knock-on effect on people who work in the logistic supply chain, nearby cafes where workers buy their bacon butties, and even dance schools attended by steelworkers children, she said.

We have one member who signed a mortgage agreement two weeks before this announcement was made, and a senior union rep in his late 20s who wants a job for the next 50 or 60 years.

This is not a dying industry  it is vibrant and could be providing jobs for the next 100 years.

Alasdair McDiarmid, assistant general secretary of Community, said that under a union plan, 600 jobs would be affected but other work could be created and any redundancies would be voluntary.

He said Tatas plan is based on price rather than what is best for the industry and workers.

We are now live and taking evidence from: Alasdair McDiarmid, Assistant General Secretary, Community Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB Nick Kardahji, Unite Watch the session: https://t.co/zHdoJUVpAL  Welsh Affairs Committee (@CommonsWelshAff) January 31, 2024

No other steelmaker in Europe is following Tatas proposals, making the UK an outlier as the only company giving up blast furnaces, he said.

Nick Kardahji of Unite, which has put forward its own plan for Port Talbot, said he believes Tata could be more ambitious without the need for any job losses.

Steelworkers travelled from Port Talbot on Wednesday and staged protests outside Parliament as well as attending the committee hearing.

Tata plans to switch to a more environmentally friendly production of steel, which requires fewer workers.

The company says it is losing more than 1 million a day, adding the switch to greener production will save thousands of jobs.
Leading universities in the UK are using gig-economy employment practices for staff in their research departments, a union has warned.

Two in three research-only staff in UK universities are employed on fixed-term contracts  a figure which has changed little in the last decade, a report by the University and College Union (UCU) has found.

The figure is even higher at some of the universities in the Russell Group, which includes some of the most prestigious and research-intensive UK institutions, data has suggested.

The unions analysis of Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) staff data for 2021/22 showed that 88% of research-only staff at the University of Oxford were employed on fixed-term contracts.

A number of Russell Group universities had a high proportion of research-only staff employed on fixed-term contracts  including Kings College London (96%), the London School of Economics (96%) and the University of Manchester (80%).

Jo Grady, general secretary of the UCU, said the report shines a light on the widespread use of gig-economy style short-term contracts for staff working in university research departments.

The UCU report warned that insecure employment can affect the mental health of staff and make long-term decision planning difficult.

It added that endemic casualisation can have a negative impact on research culture, affecting research activity, research integrity and academic freedom.

The UCU sent freedom of information (FoI) requests to 103 UK higher education institutions that employ at least 20 research-only staff and/or where research staff made up at least 5% of the academic staff.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the UCU, said universities needed to commit to reducing the use of fixed term contracts and move their research staff to genuinely secure contracts (Liam McBurney/PA)

The FoI, sent in May, asked questions about the employment of research-only staff  including whether researchers are successfully redeployed at the end of their contract, and whether enhanced redundancy pay is offered to staff who are dismissed at the end of their fixed-term contract.

The UCU report used the FOI responses and HESA data on research staff terms of employment to score institutions out of 100 on their level of support for researchers to tackle insecure employment.

In the league table produced by the union only eight universities were given a score above 50, whereas 39 universities received a score of less than 30.

Dr Grady said: This report shines a light on an area that universities would rather keep shrouded in darkness. Namely the widespread use of gig-economy style short-term contracts for the staff who prop up university research departments.

The poor scores across the board on areas like fixed-term contracts, proper redeployment processes and decent redundancy provision speaks of a sector that urgently needs to update its attitudes to employment practices.

Critically, the worst practices are not confined, as one might expect, to the least financially secure institutions. Far from it: five of the 24 Russell Group universities are in the bottom half of the table. At Oxford, for example, a staggering 88% of research staff are employed on a fixed-term contract.

She added: Universities need to work with UCU towards a more sustainable model for the employment of research staff. They need to commit to reducing the use of fixed term contracts and move their research staff to genuinely secure contracts.

And they need to put systems in place that support continuity of employment and minimise the risk of redundancy at the end of funded research projects.

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), said: HESAs staff record is always a valuable resource for monitoring developments in the sector workforce. It provides coverage of academic staff across all providers and thus provides definitive information about the sector as a whole.

The latest data regarding contract types shows that, across the sector as a whole, 70% of academic staff are on permanent contracts, up from 67% in 2021-22.

HE institutions use small numbers of flexible contracts for research staff which are usually linked to external funding awards. The employment arrangements within autonomous universities are for institutional-level discussions.

A spokesperson for London School of Economics (LSE) said: We are working closely with the union on their proposals to reduce any unnecessary use of fixed term and hourly paid roles, and to improve the experience of staff who are in such roles.

We do not, however, agree with the picture this report paints, which covers significantly varied roles across research and teaching.

A spokesperson for the University of Oxford said: We are aware of staff concerns about the use of fixed-term contracts in some areas, particularly those supported by short-term sources of external funding.

Our current university-wide pay and conditions review is exploring these arrangements and considering approaches that might be taken to reduce the percentage of staff on fixed-term contracts.
An opposition MP has defended calling Rishi Sunak Pontius Pilate during exchanges over the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Independent Angus MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) said he shouted the remark as the Prime Minister was washing his hands from answering points raised by Alba Partys Neale Hanvey.

Conservative MP Richard Drax had complained in the Commons about the extremely unpleasant heckle heard during Prime Ministers Questions and defended Mr Sunaks response to the conflict.

Independent MP Angus MacNeil (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA)

Mr MacNeils jibe came just minutes after Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle pleaded with MPs to exercise self-restraint in debates.

Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor who presided over the trial of Jesus and ordered his crucifixion.

Mr MacNeil, who previously sat as an SNP MP, told the PA news agency: It was myself who said it, the PM was washing his hands from answering the points raised by Neale Hanvey.

During PMQs, Mr Hanvey (Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) said Mr Sunak had called him naive in November after he appealed to the Prime Minister to choose de-escalation and peace over violence, death and destruction.

He said: So far, over 26,000 souls have perished in Gaza. In a powerful and moving open letter in Mondays New York Times, the Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council cited Deuteronomy, I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse  choose life, accusing President Biden of choosing death.

If the Prime Minister wont listen to me or the ICJ (International Court of Justice), will he listen to the Rabbinical Council or will he call them naive too?

Mr Sunak replied: Ive been clear on multiple times that were deeply concerned about the impact of the fighting in Gaza on the civilian population.

Too many people have lost their lives and there is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support in Gaza.

I wont go over all the debates weve had about the conditions that are necessary for an immediate pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, but I can assure the House were doing everything we can to get more aid into the region as quickly as possible.

Conservative MP Richard Drax (David Woolfall/UK Parliament/PA)

Mr Drax, raising a point of order with Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing, initially claimed an SNP MP was responsible for the Pontius Pilate comment before withdrawing it after it was vehemently denied by SNP chief whip Owen Thompson.

South Dorset MP Mr Drax said: That language is extremely unpleasant because Pontius Pilate washed his hands and handed Jesus across to a murderous death.

That is not what the Prime Minister is doing, he has an impeccable record on this topic and is leading with great courage and conviction in a dispute, a war in Gaza that is indeed highly emotive.

Dame Eleanor said: Its very sad if somebody made the comment which (Mr Drax) has described.

She added: I dont care who made such a remark, it is wrong to try to whip up bad feeling in this House or anywhere else about the tragedy that is unfolding in Israel and Palestine.
Package to restore powersharing right deal for Northern Ireland and the Union

A Government package to restore powersharing at Stormont is the right deal for Northern Ireland and the Union, the Northern Ireland Secretary has insisted.

Chris Heaton-Harris was speaking at a joint press conference at Hillsborough Castle with DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson after the Government published measures that would end routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Great Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland.

A command paper titled Safeguarding The Union commits to replacing the current green lane process, which requires percentages of goods to be checked as they arrive from Great Britain, with a UK internal market system that will govern the movement of goods that will remain within the United Kingdom.

Sir Jeffrey has hailed the move as a key concession that will effectively scrap the contentious so-called Irish Sea border for goods destined to remain within the UK.

Mr Heaton-Harris said the Government would deliver quickly on the commitments made in the deal, with two pieces of legislation set to be fast-tracked through Parliament on Thursday.

The Stormont Assembly could sit again as soon as Saturday.

This is the right deal for Northern Ireland and the right deal for the Union, said Mr Heaton-Harris.

It strengthens and further protects the UK internal market and the Union, both now and in the long term.

Sir Jeffrey said: Todays agreement I believe is a positive and decisive step forward for Northern Ireland.

The measure to reduce checks is part of a wide-ranging deal agreed between the DUP and the Government that is set to bring about the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland after a two-year hiatus.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said restored powersharing in Northern Ireland offered the prospect of a brighter future.

The DUP has agreed to drop its two-year blockade of Stormont in exchange for the Government measures aimed at addressing its concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements that created economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson speaks during a joint press conference with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris at Hillsborough Castle (Niall Carson/PA)

While Sir Jeffrey has secured the backing of party colleagues to accept the deal, there are those within the DUP who remain deeply sceptical of the proposed agreement to restore powersharing.

Speaking in the Commons, East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson voiced his concerns as he heavily criticised the Government.

When the Northern Ireland Assembly sits, ministers and Assembly members will be expected by law to adhere to and implement laws which are made in Brussels, which they had no say over and no ability to amend, and no ability to stop, he said.

This is a result of this spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying Government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

Under the deal, the post-Brexit red lane for transporting goods from GB to Northern Ireland and on into the EU single market will remain, but the command paper offers measures aimed at reducing the volume of trade required to use that red-tape heavy route, with a prediction that 80% of goods will now move free of routine checks through the internal market system.

It is understood the EU has been kept up to date with the shape of the Governments package of measures.

Downing Street has said the deal contains significant changes to the Windsor Frameworks operation, but is not about altering the fundamentals of the framework.

But Sir Jeffrey insisted the deal had resulted in clear changes to the Windsor Framework.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin speaks during a visit to the Ulster Museum in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA)

If there are any changes to the framework, they would be examined and decided upon within the existing EU/UK Joint Committee system.

A move already approved by the Joint Committee, and announced on Tuesday, will see Northern Ireland given barrier-free access to internationally sourced agri-food goods that are currently freely available in GB through UK free trade deals with other countries.

Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin suggested Brussels would have a role in approving the moves announced on Wednesday.

I think the EU Commission will look at this, he told reporters after meeting political leaders in Belfast.

I think thats the whole purpose of the Joint Committee and indeed the various mechanisms that are in the Windsor Framework is to go through issues as they arise.

But I do not anticipate any particular difficulties in respect of the EU side.

The command paper said the replacement of the green lane would ensure there will be no checks when goods move within the UK internal market system save those conducted by UK authorities as part of a risk-based or intelligence-led approach to tackle criminality, abuse of the scheme, smuggling and disease risks.

The paper adds: This will ensure the smooth flow of goods that are moving within the UK internal market.

As well as moves to cut Brexit bureaucracy on Irish Sea trade, the command paper includes a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Irelands constitutional position within the United Kingdom.
Port Talbots steelworks could help to support the UKs defence industry, the Welsh Secretary has said.

David TC Davies said very little steel produced at the South Wales plant is going into the defence industry, but the installation of an electric arc furnace would change this.

The UK Government has committed to investing 500 million in electric arc furnace technology at the site, but around 2,800 jobs are expected to be lost as a result of the transition.

Tata plans to invest 750 million in the furnace, alongside funding for a support package for the employees expected to be made redundant.

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Davies said: The Government have looked very carefully at this, there is very little steel being produced by Port Talbot going into the defence industry, but the defence industry is being supplied with steel from an electric arc furnace by Sheffield Forgemasters.

And there is absolutely no reason why an electric arc furnace built at Port Talbot, using support from the UK Government, cannot help support our defence industry in years to come.

He was responding to Conservative MP Chris Clarkson (Heywood and Middleton), who said: Steelmaking is essential to our national security, as is reaching net zero.

The problem is the Welsh Labour Government cant make its mind up which is more important. After trying to kill off the steel industry with their green measures, they now complain this Government isnt doing enough to support it.

Does the (Secretary of State) think that they do not really know their Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) from their Nalgo (National and Local Government Officers Association)?

Elsewhere in the session, shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens described the job losses at Port Talbot as a kick in the teeth for our proud workers.

Ms Stevens said: Tata workers I met last week know the virgin steel they make is vital to supporting our renewable energy aspirations, like offshore wind in the Celtic Sea.

So the loss of 3,000 jobs is a kick in the teeth for our proud, skilled Welsh steel workers, it will devastate local economies and the sovereign steel-making capacity that would build the wind turbines we need.

Welsh Office minister Fay Jones replied: The investment from this UK Government has saved thousands of jobs across the United Kingdom, of course the transition board is now working with the individuals affected in Port Talbot and that is a proper and right thing to do.

Ms Stevens said: She boasts about the transition board but that only exists because of the Governments failure to protect jobs and vital industries.

But let me ask her this: each year Port Talbot provides enough virgin steel to deliver the UKs 20230 wind targets by itself, so when her Governments intervention shuts the blast furnaces early can she tell the House where that steel is going to come from?

Will it be coming from India? And we will be surrendering our ability to create jobs, investment and cheaper bills here in Britain.

Ms Jones replied: Indications so far are that moving away from iron-making in the UK would not have a direct impact on national security.

Shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

Labour MP for Ogmore Chris Elmore said: Last week in the steel debate, the Secretary of State said he understands, and I quote, the devastation that people will feel in Port Talbot and in the whole community who face the job losses at the plant and beyond.

Why is it then that the Secretary of State, or indeed the Business Secretary, didnt put in a red line over job losses while this work was done, especially with Tata this morning doubling down on those losses in the Welsh Affairs Select Committee? It is nothing short of a disgrace.

Mr Davies replied: As the honourable gentleman knows, Tata approached the UK Government and said they were intending to pull out of the United Kingdom.

If Tata had pulled out completely from the United Kingdom, it would have immediately cost 8,000 jobs and many thousands more in the supply chain.

The Government therefore acted to take the only deal which was available, which was to build the electric arc furnace and save thousands of jobs.
Lawmakers, political advisors make proposals to address trend of aging population at local two sessions

10:29, January 31, 2024 By Xu Yelu ( Global Times

As the number of elderly people continues to grow, ensuring that they are well taken care of and have support in their senior years has become a major concern for the whole of society. During the recent local two sessions period, lawmakers and political advisors have put forward various suggestions to help address the urgent issues faced by the elderly in terms of elderly care, which experts said on Tuesday will produce significant effects and alleviate the challenges brought about by current elderly care issues from multiple perspectives and levels.

As of the end of 2022, the elderly population aged 60 and above in China reached 280 million, accounting for 19.8 percent of the total population. In order to actively respond to the aging population, foster new economic growth drivers, and improve the quality of people's lives, the State Council, China's cabinet, on January 15 unveiled a sweeping guideline on promoting the development of the "silver economy," or the elderly care industry.

"With an increasingly aging population, the role of the 'silver economy' as part of China's national economy will become more and more important. Its proportion in consumption, investment and total demand will become higher and higher," Li Chang'an, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies of the University of International Business and Economics, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs stated during a routine press conference that the country will support the local exploration of including high-skilled aged care professionals in the scope of urban household registration, providing them with the necessary protection and more care.

Facing the continuous growth of the elderly population, many places such as Hebei, Anhui, and Liaoning provinces have provided home-based age-friendly renovations and home-based elderly care support services for special and vulnerable elderly people.

Zhang Chuan, a young lawmaker from Hunan Province, proposed to develop a pilot program for mutual support elderly care in rural areas, which not only meets the basic needs of the elderly such as food, accommodation, and medical care, but also enriches their various spiritual needs. Zhang found that there is an increasing number of empty-nesters in rural areas, and these elderly people have a strong attachment to their hometowns. When they get older, they are unwilling to leave their hometowns and move to the cities with their children. "How can we ensure the elderly to enjoy their senior years in the familiar and adapted rural areas?" Zhang and his colleagues began to consider this major issue, the Global Times learned on Tuesday.

In May 2023, Zhang started exploring the mutual support elderly care model in his village. They established a senior citizens' association in the village, including physically fit and relatively younger elderly people, and then provided assistance to those who were physically weak and older. While meeting the normal living needs of the elderly, they also organized activities such as chess, singing, and square dancing to satisfy their spiritual needs.

Although it is still in the exploratory stage, after half a year, Zhang found that this model might be one of the solutions for rural elderly care, effectively addressing issues such as daytime care, emotional communication, cultural and recreational activities, and spiritual comfort for the elderly.

In the Hepan community of Dadong district, Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, 90-year-old Meng Guizhen solved the problem of bathing difficulty by making an appointment with a specialized bathing service organization. Wu Chunying, a deputy to the Liaoning Provincial People's Congress, said that through policy guidance, the community have gathered more service resources "by their side" for the elderly, helping them enjoy a happy old age without leaving their homes.

In Qinghai Province, 234 urban community day care centers and 1,403 rural mutual assistance happiness homes have been established. Among them, Xining city, the provincial capital, has established more than 270 cafeterias and elderly homes in urban communities and suburban villages by introducing catering companies and establishing subsidy systems.

Focusing on the medical needs of the elderly, many places are actively exploring new ways of integrating medical care and elderly care, and strengthening policy and institutional guarantees. Relying on the strength of grass-roots health clinics, Nanxun district in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, actively builds rehabilitation nursing homes with outstanding rehabilitation functions and forms an orderly referral mechanism with hospitals.

Wu Xiaoli, a deputy to the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress, said that Nanxun district has established a dispatch center based on home bed management, accurately dispatching medical resources throughout the district to serve the elderly. In the future, by expanding the coverage of long-term care insurance and enriching digital means, home-based elderly care people can enjoy more timely and effective medical services.

The population aged 60 and above in Beijing, a mega-city with a population of 20 million, has exceeded 20 percent, with existing elderly care institutions and beds still unable to meet the demand. At the ongoing 16th Beijing Municipal People's Congress, Liu Fang, a deputy to the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, proposed to promote the coordinated development of medical care and elderly care integration in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

To develop the "silver economy," efforts should be made to build a national university for the elderly and open its schools to society, according to the guideline issued by the State Council, such as managing the complicated problems of TV operation, encouraging the editing and publication of large-print books suitable for the elderly, and developing literature, radio, film, television, music, short video and other content industries for the elderly.

Experts said that the current environment of China's elderly care is complex, and it needs to be solved from multiple angles and through multiple channels. The approach suggested in the above-mentioned proposals is a good reflection of local characteristics and should achieve good results, Xi Heng, professor at the School of Public Management of the Northwest University in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The focus of future social elderly care services in China is how to establish a multi-level elderly care service system based on home care, supported by communities, with sufficient institutional support and the integration of medical and elderly care. Additionally, expanding the supply of elderly products and services and continuously improving the quality of elderly products and services are also crucial, Xi said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Greenfern Industries (NZX: GFI ) is pleased to announce the appointment of non-executive independent director Elizabeth Plant.

Elizabeth is an experienced clinician and senior manager with superior skills in influencing, risk management, and in leading the implementation of change that then remains in place. She is formerly Chief Medical Officer of EQALIS Pharmaceuticals Ltd (now Cannasouth), a position she had held for four and a half years. In this role she had been responsible for the delivery of education packages and clinical information to health professionals and consumers, as well as coordinating licences to operate through Medsafe. She had set up and worked closely with a group of senior clinicians on a Clinical Advisory Board for the company and has produced a series of prescribing publications and education presentations.

Previously to that she was a consultant specialising in clinical pharmacy service development, medication safety, medication management, electronic medication management, quality improvement and audit, clinical change management, leadership and workforce development, cultural organisational change, and strategic development.

Elizabeth will be an invaluable governance leader for GFI as it transitions away from a startup business to a more established medicinal cannabis and biotechnology company.

We are very pleased to bring in a director with such extensive background in this industry. Elizabeth is a welcome addition to developing the next phase of Greenfern as we move to commercialisation said Marvin Yee, Chairman of the Board

The current board of directors consists of Marvin Yee, Simon McArley, Kirsten Taylor, and Dan Casey and they would all like to extend a warm welcome to Elizabeth as they look forward to having her knowledge and prior experience in the cannabis sector to bolster the current governance board.

New Medicinal Cannabis Product Assessment

GFI also recently received a New Medicinal Cannabis Product (NMCP) registration for its (GFI-04) Cannabis based ingredient. This means that their GFI-04 cannabis flower (starting material for export) complies with the minimum quality standard, as set in Part 1 of the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019. GFI through its partner Ampyl Sciences Ltd will move to export this first consignment upon receiving its license to export a controlled drug. Greenfern has previously been granted an export license in August 2022 when it prepared a small consignment that they sent to an Australian GMP laboratory for testing purposes.

Managing director Dan Casey says Its great to see the company finally moving towards recognising the next step of its journey and exporting premium grade medicinal cannabis, grown right here in Taranaki, New Zealand, to the world. While it has been a long and winding road in what is a highly regulated industry, we do believe we are now entering the next phase of our journey where we expect to begin to receive more significant and consistent revenue streams.

Greenfern expects to complete between 8-10 harvest per year out of its new facility in Taranaki and will look to secure further and larger binding offtake agreements which will allow them to look to scaling up their current model.

The company also received their fourth year of Toitu Envirocare net zero certification last week. This certification just exemplifies the companys commitment to environmental sustainability and good practices.

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Robots created to help in healthcare environments have been tested successfully by experts.

The Spring (Socially Assistive Robots in Gerontological healthcare) units will be used to assist patients, alleviate their anxiety and relieve pressure on nursing staff as part of a trial conducted in Paris, France, by staff from the UKs National Robotarium.

The robots have artificial intelligence and are said to be capable of natural conversations, can understand patient needs, and assist with routine tasks.

The trials took place in three phases at Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris.

A Spring robot standing alongside people in a hospital (Broca Living Lab APHP Spring project/PA)

The robots greeted patients, answered questions, provided directions, and were able to understand conversations involving multiple people at the same time.

By carrying out simple but repetitive duties, robots also reduced potential physical contact between clinicians and patients as part of the trial, with early feedback suggesting the use of socially assistive robots may lower infection transmission risk while boosting productivity of nurses and doctors.

Researchers hope the robots will help alleviate patient anxiety, in turn freeing up time for hospital staff.

Professor Anne-Sophie Rigaud, head of department at Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris, said: Our patients are increasingly interested in robotics and the evolution of hospital services, which they see as the logical evolution of our society.

We believe that the ARI robot could in future become an essential element of patient care in hospitals, thanks to its capacity for social interaction and guidance.

Older adults have also expressed that theyre pleased with the design of the robot and thought that it would be useful to provide information and companionship to patients with cognitive disorders.

The Edinburgh-based National Robotarium is funded through the 1.5 billion Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal.

It is supported with 300 million in funding from the Scottish Government and 300 million from the UK Government.

The Robotarium is a partnership between Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh.

Oliver Lemon, a professor of AI and academic co-lead at the National Robotarium, said: Todays rapid advances in AI are truly inspiring and open up a world of possibilities for its positive impact on various sectors, including healthcare.

One of the most significant contributions of robotics and AI is its ability to conserve resources and alleviate human workload, therefore providing valuable new tools for enhancing healthcare delivery.

Oliver Lemon (Heriot-Watt University/PA)

The prospect of robots seamlessly collaborating with hospital staff to enhance the patient experience is now closer to reality.

Promising initial trials at Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris have demonstrated our robots ability to converse effectively with patients and their companions simultaneously.

We believe that the Spring project marks a significant milestone in the development of interactive robotics, and we are proud of its achievements, while recognising the exciting challenges that lie ahead.

UK Government minister for Scotland, Malcolm Offord, said: The early trials into helper robots successfully demonstrates the great potential such advanced technology has to deliver vital support to health staff, improve patient care and prevent the spread of infections and diseases.

The UK Government has invested 21 million in the National Robotarium helping foster world-leading research and support high-quality jobs, investment and growth, as part of our more than 2.9 billion investment to level up across Scotland.

Neil Gray, the Scottish Governments wellbeing economy, fair work and energy secretary, added: I welcome this progress using artificial intelligence to help ease the pressure on health service staff.

With Scottish Government support, the National Robotarium is using cutting-edge research to help drive innovation and artificial intelligence to deliver creative solutions to real world challenges.
A wealthy aristocrat was allegedly spotted walking in a park with her lifeless baby in a sling more than a month after going on the run with her partner.

Constance Marten, 36, and Mark Gordon, 49, are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of the manslaughter of their daughter Victoria.

It is alleged the couple travelled across England and lived off-grid on the South Downs in a bid to keep the baby after four other children were taken into care.

On January 5 last year, Greater Manchester Police launched a missing persons inquiry after finding a placenta in the couples burnt-out car on a motorway near Bolton.

Abandoned items near the Peugeot on the M61 included a bible, a bag of more than 30 mobile phones, five used nappies and a cat in a cat box.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon (Greater Manchester Police/PA)

The defendants spent hundreds of pounds on taxis taking them from the North West to Essex, London and the south coast, jurors have heard.

On February 19, Pauline Mason and her husband went to Stanmer Park in Brighton for some fresh air.

Mrs Mason was in a mobility scooter and her husband was walking when she saw a tent near Stoney Mere Way.

She told jurors: I noticed a tent, the tent was royal blue, it was not very big. I just thought it might be a hiker.

My husband had walked ahead of me and I shouted to him, Come over, whats that tent doing there?

He said, Dunno, someone is sleeping out on a cold night. I was taken aback by it then continued on my scooter.

Further on, she noticed a mum with baby, Mrs Mason said.

Prosecutor Tom Little KC asked: What did you notice, if anything, about the baby?

Mrs Mason said: The mother was focused on the baby, her eyes were totally focused on that baby and my eyes went from her to the baby.

The baby was in a sling. She was holding her around the babys head to steady it.

The child was very pale, did not make any sound and her head was wobbling, floppy and unsteady, the witness said.

She was very surprised to see the child had no hat, socks or booties on and was only wearing a cardigan and leggings.

Mrs Mason said the woman looked tired and she felt sorry for her.

A few steps behind was Gordon, she said, adding: He looked at me and acknowledged that I had looked at the baby and gave me a smile.

Mr Little said: At that point in time, as you had seen the baby for six to eight seconds, you then continued on your fresh air turn around Stanmer Park. Did you think the baby was alive?

Mrs Mason replied: I kept thinking and thinking about that baby. I thought that the colour, it did not go.

CCTV footage of Constance Marten holding baby Victoria under her coat in east London (Metropolitan Police/PA)

She spoke about her experience that mixed-race babies were rosy cheeked, adding: There was no colour and that baby was white.

I do think that baby had died. It was dead.

Asked if anything else caused her to think that, she said: It was inappropriately dressed. There was no blanket, no hat, no socks, thin cardigan.

Mrs Mason said she continued up the path but looked back towards the couple because she could not believe what she had seen.

Cross-examining for Gordon, John Femi-Ola KC asked if she could have been mistaken about seeing him.

She replied: Yes, I might have been but I believe that they connected and as soon as I saw her and him behind her I knew they were together.

On seeing the baby, she said: I was quite shocked when I saw it. I did not want to believe it.

I did not want to know it was dead.

CCTV footage of Constance Marten, Mark Gordon and baby Victoria in a doner kebab shop (Metropolitan Police/PA)

On February 27, Marten and Gordon were arrested in East Sussex.

Days later, Victorias body was found in a Lidl supermarket bag covered in rubbish in a disused shed.

Previously, jurors viewed CCTV of Victoria alive and moving around with the defendants in East Ham, east London, on January 7 last year.

The couple moved on to Whitechapel, where Gordon had bought a two-person tent and camping bedding, including a childrens unicorn sleeping bag, in Argos, the court was told.

The couple allegedly abandoned a buggy and were carrying Argos bags and a Lidl bag when they got into a black cab shortly after midnight on January 8.

In a statement read to the court, taxi driver Abdirisakh Mohamud said he became suspicious and uncomfortable during the journey.

The male passenger allegedly asked the driver if he was a Muslim, whether he was trustworthy and if there were cameras in the cab.

Mr Mohamud said he told the man there were cameras, even though there were not, because he wanted to feel safe.

CCTV footage of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon arriving in Newhaven (Metropolitan Police/PA)

The man then asked him: Are you sharing this conversation with anyone? and Mr Mohamud said no, jurors heard.

He asked the couple why they were wearing blue Covid facemasks, and the woman said she was a Muslim and it was her hijab, the court heard.

On being told by the driver that it was not a hijab, she allegedly told him it was the only thing she had.

The man said he was wearing a mask because he had a problem with his hair, the witness said.

Mr Mohamud said he decided to drop the couple off early in Green Lanes, Haringey, rather than Enfield Tesco Extra where they had asked to go.

He said: The more I thought about it, the more concerned I felt about the baby.

Another taxi driver, Hasan Guzel, described hearing meowing noises when he drove the defendants from Haringey to Newhaven in East Sussex early on January 8.

He said: I heard what sounded like a cat meowing. I was annoyed at first because I thought she had a pet without telling me.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon seated with a dock officer at the Old Bailey (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

I could see it was a baby, I could see the noise was coming from a baby.

I thought, why didnt she tell me about this, its been nearly four hours we have been travelling.

He said that when he dropped them in Newhaven, it was cold and dark and he was concerned as to what they were going to do next.

The couple were captured on CCTV heading towards the South Downs at around 6.30am and were not spotted again until they were seen at a Texaco garage four days later, on January 12.

The defendants, of no fixed address, deny manslaughter by gross negligence between January 4 and February 27 last year.

They are also charged with perverting the course of justice, concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of a child.

The Old Bailey trial continues.
The number of asylum seekers being removed to Rwanda under Rishi Sunaks 240 million scheme could be quite low, the Home Secretary has conceded.

James Cleverly told MPs on Wednesday he was unable to say how many of the 33,085 people identified as potentially eligible would be sent to Kigali if flights get off the ground.

He told the Commons Home Affairs Committee the total could be nearly at that figure, but said it could also be small if other work to reduce small boat crossings is successful.

So far, the UK has paid Rwanda 240 million under the Prime Ministers plan to stop the boats, but ministers expect to pay an additional 50 million next year.

No migrants who make unauthorised crossings have been removed because of the legal challenges that resulted in the Supreme Court finding the scheme unlawful.

Rishi Sunak has made stopping the boats a priority (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

But the Home Office has identified 33,085 people as eligible for removal since Mr Sunaks Rwanda policy became law in July under the Illegal Migration Act.

The Governments sweeping asylum reforms are meant to see people deemed to be arriving in the country illegally detained and swiftly removed as well as being denied the right to claim asylum but parts of the law are yet to come into force.

Under persistent questioning over how many of those people will end up in Rwanda, Mr Cleverly insisted the scheme remains uncapped but said he could not speculate about the figure.

The answer is entirely dependent on other work were doing in parallel, he added.

It may well be if were successful with returns agreements, if circumstances in other countries change, it may well be that the figure is quite low.

It could be nearly at that figure, but the point is the number of people that we might send to Rwanda is entirely contingent on a whole set of other work that were doing.

Mr Sunak is trying to revive the policy by passing legislation deeming Rwanda a safe country and ratifying a new treaty with Kigali. The Rwanda Bill is currently making its way through a House of Lords that is hostile to the scheme.

(PA Graphics)

Mr Cleverly also had a tussle with committee chairwoman Dame Diana Johnson over whether the 94,062 asylum claims awaiting a decision is a backlog.

He told her: You keep describing it as a backlog  its the caseload. Its a queue.

I think your use of the word backlog implies something that I disagree with.

There are a number of cases that were working through. At any given time someone who has arrived will be added to the caseload, by your definition if someone arrived yesterday that would be a backlog.

Mr Cleverly joked that sessions like this are a trip to the dentist, we can all pretend we enjoy it  we really dont  but we also recognise it is quite important.

Mr Sunak had promised to abolish by the end of last year the legacy backlog of 92,601 claims made before the end of June 2022.

The Home Office was reprimanded by the UK Statistics Authority for claiming it had been achieved when 4,537 of those applications were still outstanding.

It comes as the Home Offices permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft told the committee the Bibby Stockholm barge housing asylum seekers in Portland, Dorset, currently costs 120 per person per night to run, compared with the latest average of 140 per person per night in hotels.

The running costs exclude set-up costs and mean the barge still meets the value for money test, he said in a letter to committee chairwoman Dame Diana Johnson.

When those are included, there is a total-life saving from use of the Bibby Stockholm of 800,000.

The overall price per person changes depending on how many people are on board and the average hotel costs also fluctuate as the Government seeks to end the use of such accommodation.
An email disclosed at the UK Covid-19 inquiry showed there was concern among figures in the Scottish Government that the Spanish government would block entry to the EU were the country to become independent.

The message appears to have been sent from the email address of then-deputy first minister John Swinney, but was signed by someone named Scott.

The Scottish Government has contacted the inquiry about the email and said in an advisory statement that it was written by a civil servant and not the Deputy First Minister himself, or anyone in his office or communicating on his behalf.

It stated: Im extremely concerned about this. Spain is now being held to a much higher level of scrutiny and performance than other countries.

If it is not added to the exemptions list, ministers will have to explain why not when it has an estimated point prevalence rate of 0.015 compared to 0.33 when the decision not include (sic) was originally taken  0.015 is verging on green.

There is visible action from the Spanish authorities to do whatever it takes to suppress outbreaks (compare and contrast with outbreaks in England).

Scotlands former first minister Nicola Sturgeon leaves the UK Covid-19 Inquiry hearing, after giving evidence (Jane Barlow/PA)

It wont matter how much ministers might justify it on health grounds, the Spanish government will conclude it is entirely political; they wont forget; there is a real possibility they will never approve EU membership for an independent Scotland as a result.

Discussing the email at the inquiry, the former first minister said: These are decisions that were taken for public health reasons that were difficult decisions.

She said: I hoped that the decisions my government would take would keep Covid at the lowest possible level, so that it took the lives of fewer people, minimised the disruption to peoples livelihoods and the education of children.

I accept that there will be genuine and serious scrutiny of the content of decisions that were taken, and some of those decisions I wish I had taken, my government, had taken differently, some  I think  were right.

My motives in this were only ever about trying to do the right thing to minimise the overall harm that the virus was doing.

The toll it took, in Scotland, as in other parts of the UK, was far too high, so I didnt do that as successfully as I wish I was able to, but perhaps in some ways the measures we took had some impact.
There were flaws and deficiencies in the Scottish Governments guidance around care homes early in the pandemic, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The former first minister said care homes were one of the most important parts of the pandemic response to scrutinise as she spoke of regrets that her government did not get everything right.

Towards the end of her evidence session at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry chaired by Lady Hallett, Ms Sturgeon was asked about the discharge of hospital patients who had not tested negative for Covid-19 into care homes.

She was questioned by lawyer Kevin McCaffrey, representing the Scottish Covid Bereaved group.

The former first minister said: I do not think we got everything right around care homes and I deeply regret that.

There were undoubtedly flaws and deficiencies in that guidance, but the advice at the time was isolation  keeping people as separate as possible  was the best way to protect people in care homes, and clearly that didnt have the effect that we wanted it to have.

Ms Sturgeon went on to say she wished she could turn back the clock to prevent the loss of lives in care homes due to Covid-19.

I would do everything in my power and I wish I could turn the clock back and do different things that would have reduced the loss of life in care homes, the former first minister said.

The former first minister spoke of her deep regret (Jane Barlow/PA)

She added that leaving people in hospitals would not be without risk.

I desperately wish we could have had the ability to do things in a way that didnt result in the outcome that did materialise, she said.

Earlier in the inquiry, former health secretary Jeane Freeman said she would have lifelong regret around any care home deaths caused by the Scottish Governments decisions.

The governments response in the adult care sector was not adequate, she admitted.

Ms Freeman said that while 348 care homes had outbreaks of Covid-19, some care homes that received discharges did not have outbreaks.

I am not saying that the discharge from hospital without a test had no impact, what I am saying is that it was one of the factors, she added.
Nicola Sturgeon is to begin giving evidence at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry amid ongoing scrutiny around the deletion of WhatsApp messages.

The former first minister will give evidence for a full day as the inquiry, before Baroness Heather Hallett, holds hearings in Edinburgh.

Several figures in Ms Sturgeons government have already faced questions at the inquiry about their deletion of WhatsApp messages during the pandemic.

Ms Sturgeon has conceded messages had not been retained on her own devices but said she had managed to retrieve copies to submit to the inquiry.

She has said informal messages were handed over to the inquiry last year.

Scottish Government ministers and officials have said decisions were routinely recorded on the official system even if messages were deleted in line with policy.

Liz Lloyd, who was Ms Sturgeons chief of staff while first minister, has already spoken to the inquiry (Jane Barlow/PA)

Last week, Ms Sturgeons former chief of staff Liz Lloyd gave evidence to the inquiry.

After message exchanges between the pair were shown in evidence, Ms Lloyd denied a decision about guest limits on weddings during the pandemic was made on the hoof.

In one message seen by the inquiry, Ms Sturgeon referred to then prime minister Boris Johnson as a f****** clown.

Current First Minister Humza Yousaf, in his evidence to the inquiry last Thursday, offered an unreserved apology for the Scottish Governments frankly poor handling of requests for WhatsApp messages.

He has announced an external review into the Governments use of mobile messaging.

Ms Sturgeon may also face questions about her decision to provide public health expert Professor Devi Sridhar with her SNP email address to privately be contacted.

It is understood Ms Sturgeon forwarded any such emails to the Scottish Government and offered to supply the inquiry with them if required.

John Swinney told the inquiry he manually deleted messages (Jane Barlow/PA)

Former Scottish Government ministers Kate Forbes and John Swinney gave evidence to the inquiry on Tuesday.

Mr Swinney said he manually deleted messages between himself, Ms Sturgeon and Mr Yousaf in a practice which could date back to 2007.

The inquiry was earlier told that meetings of senior ministers outside the cabinet  known as the gold command  were not minuted.

Ms Forbes said she was surprised these and Scottish Government Resilience Room meetings went unminuted.

Discussing the external review into messaging, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: As the First Minister outlined, he has commissioned an externally led review into the use of mobile messaging apps and non-corporate technology in the Scottish Government.

This will take particular account of Government interaction with statutory public inquiries.

During this period, we will continue to keep our records management policy under review in line with legislation.

The external review will inform a wider internal records management policy review.

More detail on the external and internal reviews will be given in due course.
Taxi drivers have spoken of their concerns after picking up a wealthy aristocrat and her partner while they were on the run with their newborn baby.

Constance Marten, 36, and Mark Gordon, 49, are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of the manslaughter of their daughter Victoria.

It is alleged the couple travelled across England and lived off-grid in a bid to keep the baby after four other children were taken into care.

CCTV footage of Constance Marten, Mark Gordon and baby Victoria in a German doner kebab shop in East Ham, London (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Jurors have viewed CCTV in which the child was allegedly carried under Martens coat, only being briefly glimpsed when the couple stopped in East Ham.

On Wednesday, the jury viewed more CCTV footage of the couple after they reached Whitechapel in east London.

While there, Gordon had bought a two-person tent and camping bedding, including a childrens unicorn sleeping bag, in Argos, the court was told.

The couple allegedly abandoned a buggy and were carrying Argos bags and a Lidl bag-for-life when they got into a black cab shortly after midnight last January 8.

In a statement read to the court, taxi driver Abdirisakh Mohamud said he became suspicious and uncomfortable during the journey.

The male passenger allegedly asked the driver if he was a Muslim, whether he was trustworthy and if there were cameras in the cab.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon deny manslaughter by gross negligence of the little girl between January 4 and February 27 last year (Greater Manchester Police/PA)

Mr Mohamud said he told the man there were cameras, even though there were not, because he wanted feel safe.

The man then asked him: Are you sharing this conversation with anyone? and Mr Mohamud said no, jurors heard.

Mr Mohamud said in his statement that he feared something was not right.

He asked the couple why they were wearing blue Covid facemasks, and the woman said she was a Muslim and it was her hijab, the court heard.

On being told by the driver that it was not a hijab, she allegedly told him it was the only thing she had.

The man said he wore a mask because he had a problem with his hair, the witness said.

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Constance Marten (left) and Mark Gordon (right), seated with a dock officer, in the dock at the Old Bailey, central London (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

Mr Mohamud said he decided to drop the couple off early in Green Lanes in Haringey rather than Enfield Tesco Extra where they had asked to go.

He said: The more I thought about it, the more concerned I felt about the baby.

Another taxi driver Hasan Guzel described hearing meowing noises when he drove the defendants from Haringey to Newhaven in East Sussex early on January 8.

He said in his statement that he had stopped when a woman waved at him and she told him to wait while her friend got in.

They initially asked to be taken to Portsmouth then changed the destination to Newhaven, jurors heard.

Mr Guzel said he had charged 475 for a three-hour trip.

CCTV footage of Constance Marten holding baby Victoria under her coat outside Special Connection in East Ham, London (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Describing the woman, he said: I thought she had a bag under her coat as she looked quite big in the chest area.

During the journey, he said: I heard what sounded like a cat meowing. I was annoyed at first because I thought she had a pet without telling me.

I could see it was a baby, I could see the noise was coming from a baby.

I thought why didnt she tell me about this, its been nearly four hours we have been travelling.

He said that when he dropped them off in Newhaven, he saw it was cold and dark and he was concerned as to what they were going to do next.

The couple were captured on CCTV heading towards the South Downs at around 6.30am last January and were not spotted again until they resurfaced at a Texaco garage four days later, on January 12.

Marten allegedly bought items including Haribo sweets, mini cheddars, matches, bottles of water and a filled glass bottle of petrol which she paid for in cash.

Gordon was filmed carrying the Lidl bag which then appeared to be blowing in the wind as if it was empty.

On the morning of last January 16, Nicholas Frost allegedly spotted him emerging from a blue tent in woodland in Stanmer Park, Brighton.

In a statement, Mr Frost said he and his wife had been walking their dog when he saw the man he later recognised from the news.

He said: I thought to myself it was unusual because you never see people camping in that area. It was also very cold, not camping weather. It was about minus two degrees.

The male came out from inside the tent. This startled us and the male appeared to be startled as well.

He added: I definitely got the impression that he did not want to be seen.

The witness said the male was carrying two bags including an orange bag-for-life which looked like it had stuff in it.

Mary Thomsen, 66, told jurors she was on a trip to Asda when she spotted a bright blue tent last February.

She said: I said to my husband: They must be bloody freezing or mad because no-one would want to be out camping, it was so cold.

Mrs Thomsen said the sighting played on her mind, saying: For that time of year it was out of place.

The court has heard how the couple became front-page news last January when Greater Manchester Police launched a missing persons inquiry after finding a placenta in the couples burnt-out car on a motorway near Bolton.

The defendants spent hundreds of pounds on taxis taking them from the North West to Essex, London and the south coast, jurors have heard.

Last February, Marten and Gordon were arrested in East Sussex.

Days later, the body of baby Victoria was found in a Lidl supermarket bag covered in rubbish inside a disused shed.

The defendants, of no fixed address, deny manslaughter by gross negligence of the little girl between January 4 and February 27 last year.

They are also charged with perverting the course of justice, concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of a child.
More than half of the UKs top websites that were warned they faced enforcement action from the data protection watchdog over advertising cookies are now compliant with the law.

The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) said 38 of the 53 firms it issued a warning to in November have made changes to their advertising cookies to comply with data protection law, with four more committing to being compliant within the next month.

The regulator said several other organisation are working to develop alternative solutions, and it added it will provide further clarity on those cases in the next month.

Under UK data protection law, companies must give users fair choice to opt out of tracking using cookies, which are often then used to serve people personalised adverts online.

 Last year, we wrote to 53 of the UKs top websites about their cookie practices. To date, 38 organisations have changed their cookies banners to be compliant and 4 have committed to reach compliance within the next month. Find out more: https://t.co/KdNSZeOjak pic.twitter.com/4SZ6dRyLu4  ICO  Information Commissioner's Office (@ICOnews) January 31, 2024

Companies are still able to show users adverts when someone has rejected all tracking, but the ads must not be tailored to the person browsing.

The ICO has previously issued guidance to help ensure firms make it as easy for users to reject advertising cookies as it is to accept all  often using consent banners which pop up when a user first lands on a website  but the watchdog said in November that some of the UKs top 100 websites were not complying with data protection law on this issue.

The regulator wrote to these firms, giving them 30 days to comply or face potential enforcement action.

On the response to the regulators November warning, Stephen Almond, executive director for regulatory risk at the ICO, said: We expect all websites using advertising cookies or similar technologies to give people a fair choice over whether they consent to the use of such technologies.

Websites using advertising cookies must give people choice over whether they consent to the use of such technologies. Where organisations continue to ignore the law, they can expect to face the consequences. Read our guidance on cookie practices: https://t.co/xTcAycNwnz pic.twitter.com/YE6nC6kYxC  ICO  Information Commissioner's Office (@ICOnews) January 31, 2024

Where organisations continue to ignore the law, they can expect to face the consequences.

We will not stop with the top 100 websites. We are already preparing to write to the next 100  and the 100 after that.

Mr Almond added the ICO is developing an AI solution to help accelerate its efforts to spot websites using non-compliant cookie banners.

Our advice to all organisations is to take action now to become compliant, he said.

We can already see the ripple effect of our intervention, with many organisations making changes to cookie banners without receiving a letter from us.

As well be steadily working our way through the list of websites offering services to UK users to give them all the same message, it makes sense to be compliant before the regulator comes knocking.
A campaigner who lost her father, brother and son in the Tunisia terror attack has said she is determined to still travel after being made an MBE by the Princess Royal.

Suzanne Richards, 54, from Wednesbury in the West Midlands, set up the Smile for Joel charity after Charles Patrick Evans, 78, Adrian Evans, 49, and Joel Richards, 19, were killed by a lone gunman.

A total of 30 Britons were among 39 who died in the attack in the resort of Port El Kantaoui near Sousse on June 26, 2015.

Ms Richards was given the honour for services to people bereaved by homicide at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.

Suzanne Jacqueline Richards from Smile For Joel (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Her 24-year-old son Owen, who survived the attack, was with her as she was given the award.

She told the PA news agency she is determined to still see the world after Anne asked whether she still travels.

She said: She (Anne) knew all about the charity, she knew all about what happened in Tunisia and the work that were doing, which was lovely that she knew all about it.

We explained what Im still trying to do, raising awareness to holiday safety, and she said that was a great idea and she asked if I still travelled and I said yes.

We lost so much that day, Im still determined to travel and so is Owen to see the world.

She said the day was very bittersweet and that she would change it all today if she could have her father, son and brother back.

She added: People say time is a great healer but its not. I think time just gives you strength to try and deal with those good days and bad days, but just keep going, especially with myself and the charity Im able to talk about my dad and my brother and son every day, which keeps me going and makes me smile.

My dad and brother and Joel would be absolutely ecstatic to see what Ive won, but I would change it all today if I could and have them back here.

When I first had the letter to say that Id been nominated, I cried. It was very emotional.

Suzanne Richards arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice in London (Nick Ansell/PA)

After being awarded the honour in the Kings birthday honours list last year, she said she would share it with Owen.

He told PA: It was an incredibly proud moment for me today to watch mum. I see all the work that she does back at home for the charity, late nights, packing teddy bears, packing wristbands, planning events, the stress.

Its so heartwarming to see that recognition go here, all the way to Buckingham Palace.

My mum is inspiring and fantastic and she really deserves this.
The aurora borealis seen over Tracy Therrien's cabin.

If youve always wanted to see the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, 2024 could be your year.

According to Erica Grow Cei, a public affairs specialist and meteorologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Space Weather Prediction Center, the aurora is expected to be especially strong through 2025.

We are entering a period of expected increased activity on the sun. Some types of space weather, called Coronal Mass Ejections, or CMEs, can cause the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, to reach farther south and look more spectacular, she said in a statement. This period of higher activity is likely to last through this year into 2025, but the technology doesn't yet exist to predict precisely when a strong geomagnetic storm will happen.

USA TODAY had a chance to witness the phenomenon firsthand on a trip to Yellowknife in Canadas Northwest Territories, organized for journalists by Expedia, and the wispy green light in the sky did not disappoint.

But the aurora can also be unpredictable and hard to spot. Seeing it is not always a matter of just going somewhere northerly and cold and staring up at the sky, so if youre planning a Northern Lights trip, youll want to go somewhere that has other activities youre equally excited to do.

Tips for seeing the aurora

 Get expert help: Tracy Therrien, owner of Bucket List Tours in Yellowknife, hosted one of the viewings USA TODAY attended and said in an interview that its always better to go with a professional.

When the aurora first comes out, most times shes actually white in color to the naked eye, and for some people, its hard to distinguish the aurora from a cloud, which is why we encourage you to go with aurora guides, she said. They need to know in the beginning it may be just white in color, but as she gets stronger and stronger, thats when we see the color to the naked eye, but we can always see the color through the camera.

 Avoid the full moon: Therrien also said its best to avoid a full moon when youre planning your trip because even that celestial bright light can wash the aurora out, and to stay in the location for at least four or five days, not including travel, to maximize your chance of seeing the lights.

The aurora borealis seen over Tracy Therrien's cabin.

 Stay a while: The longer the stay, the better the chances, but more than anything to take a day or two of rest, she said. The five-night stay guarantees that much more of a chance of seeing her, just staying those couple of days.

Expedias Northern Lights viewing guide also includes tips like going somewhere remote, away from the light pollution of cities, wearing the right winter clothes for extended periods in below-zero temperatures, and using a tripod to best capture your photos.

 Get the right gear: Different tour companies rent out the needed gear to withstand the cold temperatures. During USA TODAYs trip in late January, temperatures in Yellowknife reached below 30 degrees Fahrenheit  which locals called warm, compared to the week prior  but with a set of insulated snow boots, snow pants, parka, mittens, neck gaiters and headgear, the group was able to explore the outdoors for extended periods comfortably.

Therrien said renting gear can be a way to help travel more economically  not having to pack bulky winter clothes will save space in your luggage for souvenirs.

Why Yellowknife is a great place to see the Northern Lights

There are plenty of places on Earth where the aurora is visible, but according to the Canadian Space Agency, Yellowknife is an especially good place for viewing.

"The city is located under the auroral oval, a huge oval centered on the Earths north magnetic pole where the northern lights (aurora borealis) often occur," an agency spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Yellowknife has experienced more frequent and stronger aurora recently because the Earths magnetic field is being buffeted by more frequent and stronger storms in the solar wind, storms that begin at the sun. Like the Earth, the sun has seasons and the sun is currently in its stormy season, with the peak forecasted to occur later this year."

Joe Buffalo Child of indigenous-owned North Star Adventures added: "We also have no mountains or oceans near Yellowknife, which gives us a stable weather system that provides plenty of clear nights. In the Dene language, we say 'yake nagas,' which means 'the sky is stirring'  theres nothing else on Earth like it."

Other things to do in Yellowknife

Getting ready for snowshoeing at Aurora Village.

While youll likely be able to see the aurora on a trip to Yellowknife, its always possible the weather wont cooperate. Cloudy skies can block your view, so you should take advantage of the city's other activities.

USA TODAY had a chance to go snowshoeing, tubing, snowmobiling and dogsledding during our two-day visit, and we got to sample local restaurants as well.

Arctic Duchess Adventures' Hot and Cold Therapy sauna.

Aurora Village, a popular Northern Lights viewing site just outside of downtown Yellowknife, also hosts activities and local speakers to help you better understand your surroundings.

Therrien said another operator recently opened a polar plunge and sauna. Located by the frozen shore of Great Slave Lake, Jake Olson of Arctic Duchess Adventures offers a relaxed atmosphere for travelers to lounge in the warm sauna  with a clear view of the sky and often the aurora  and the opportunity to do a polar plunge safely. Unlike other plunges, Olson installed a pool right off the lake to ensure no one would go below the ice and installed lights at the bottom for a visual sense of security.

Yellowknife is also the capital of the Northwest Territories, and there are daily tours of the legislative assembly. A wildlife museum also recently opened in the city, and theres a glassworks downtown where you can create a memento of your visit.

How to plan your trip

Expedia has a Northern Lights booking guide, not just for Yellowknife but for other global destinations, including those in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Alaska.

Some cruise lines also offer Northern Lights expeditions, so its best to research and determine which destination or option best suits your travel needs.

Dogs recovering after a dogsledding run.

Wherever you go, be sure not just to do it for Instagram.

Patience is key, and experimenting with your camera settings is the secret sauce to capturing the Northern Lights, professional nature photographer Dave Sandford said in a statement. That said, dont forget to savor the moment. It doesnt matter how many times Ive been fortunate to see them in person. I always make a point to put the camera down and lose myself in the extraordinary experience of the Northern Lights.

Contributing: Josh Rivera, USA TODAY

Editors note: The reporter on this story received access to this trip from Expedia. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of reviews.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why you should plan a Northern Lights trip in 2024
January 30, 2024: The American F-16 fighter first flew fifty years ago, and the Americans didnt realize how many F-16 fans were pilots in the Ukrainian Air Force. Currently some Ukrainian pilots have been training in F-16s and deliveries of dozens of F-16s will begin in the next few months. F-16s have been the worlds most popular post-Cold War combat aircraft. Communist governments and the Soviet Union collapsed by 1991 and eastern European nations, recently under communist rule, wanted to join NATO so the Russians, Communist or not, would be less likely to return. During the last three decades these former Communist controlled nations joined NATO and have been replacing their Russian weapons with Western models.

The Ukraine War that began in early 2022 was often a desperate battle for Ukrainians. Nevertheless, Russia suffered heavier casualties. Two years later the Russians have lost 370,000 soldiers and 17,000 armored vehicles, a third of them tanks. So far Russia has lost 20,000 thousand artillery systems which includes howitzers, large caliber mortars and MLRS (Multiple Launcher Rocket Systems). Ukrainian losses have been nearly half as much, but Ukraine is one third the size of Russia.

Aircraft losses have also been heavy, with over 600 manned and unmanned aircraft lost by both sides. Currently Russia has 1,100 jet fighters and strike aircraft. Russia is a large country and most of these aircraft are stationed in distant areas of Russia with about a third of the aircraft concentrated against Ukraine. Russia started this war with a larger air force than Ukraine had. Russia has an aircraft production industry. While crippled by sanctions, Russia can still build some new warplanes each year and repair and refurbish even more of them.

Ukraine also produces aircraft, but those production facilities have been the target of many attacks and operate at low levels of productivity. Ukraine depends on its NATO allies for replacement aircraft. Eastern European NATO nations once used Russian warplanes and are phasing them out in favor of Western models, like the F-16. These NATO nations have already donated dozens of their older Russian warplanes to Ukraine. This is done as they receive newer Western aircraft, mainly F-16s.

Ukraine noted this and asked for preference to receive F-16s but had to convince the Americans that they could quickly adapt to them. Ukrainian MiG and Sukhoi pilots demonstrated that they could quickly adapt to F-16s.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has lots of experience with MiG-29s and Su-27s, and uses them extensively. Some have been modified to handle Western anti-radar missiles as well as GPS guided bombs. While the Ukrainians have made good use of their MiG-29s, they always wanted Western aircraft, especially F-16s.

The F-16 and MiG-29 are both considered 4th generation, 1970s and 80s, aircraft. The 5th generation, so far, consists of the American F-22 and F-35 as well as Chinas J-20. Each generation has been about twice as expensive, on average, in constant dollars, as the previous one. But each generation is also about twice as safe to fly and cheaper to operate. Naturally, each generation is more than twice as effective as the previous one. The Russians had a hard time developing their 5th generation, although some of the derivatives of their Su-27 are at least generation 4.5. Other nations did the same and it wasnt until the 2020s that there were three different fifth-gen fighters purportedly in service. There were several decades between fourth and fifth generation aircraft, which is partly due to the end of the Cold War in 1991 and China not becoming a major military power until two decades later.

The MiG-29 dates from the 1980s and was the last aircraft designed by the now defunct MiG company. Rival Sukhoi later introduced two new aircraft, the Su-24 and Su-35. Both performed poorly in combat over Ukraine.

The MiG-29 entered service in 1983. Some 1,600 MiG-29s have been produced so far, with about 900 of them exported. The 22-ton aircraft is roughly comparable to the F-16, but it depends a lot on which version of either aircraft you are talking about. Russia is making a lot of money upgrading MiG-29s. Not just adding new electronics but also making the airframe more robust.

The MiG-29 was originally rated at 2,500 total flight hours. At that time, Russia expected MiG-29s to fly about a hundred or so hours a year. Didnt work out that way. India, for example, flew them at nearly twice that rate, as did Malaysia. Eventually Russia offered an upgrade to the airframe so that the aircraft could fly up to 4,000 hours, with more life extension upgrades promised. This has not been easy, as the MiG-29 has a history of unreliability and premature breakdowns, both mechanical and electronic, which indicates a flawed design.

Western warplanes are built to last longer. The F-16C was originally designed for a service life of 4,000 hours in the air. Advances in engineering, materials, and maintenance techniques extended that to over 8,000 hours. Because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, F-16s sent to these areas flew over a thousand hours a year more than what they would fly in peacetime. That led to a refurbishment program to extend F-16C flight hours to 10,000 or more.

The U.S. Air Force had to refurbish several hundred of its 22-ton F-16 fighters, because their replacement, the 31-ton F-35, did not arrive on time. Most existing F-16s are old, and by 2016, many were too old to operate. Back then the average age of F-16s was over 20 years, and the average aircraft has over 5,000 flight hours on it. In 2009 the first Block 40 F-16 passed 7,000 hours. In 2008 the first of the earliest models, Block 25 F-16s, passed 7,000 hours. While older F-16s are being retired for their age, they tend to have at least twice as many flight hours as their Russian counterparts. Because of greater durability and ease of maintenance, the seemingly more expensive Western fighters are actually cheaper in the lifetime of an aircraft because they last longer and are easier to maintain than equivalent Russian designs.

The Block 70 F-16 was also sold to Slovakia which ordered 14, Bulgaria asked for eight and Bahrain received 16 new F-16s plus twenty older F-16s upgraded to Block 7o. South Korea upgraded over a hundred of its F-16s to the Block 70 standard. The F-16V was the popular choice for post-Cold War members of NATO, like Slovakia and Bulgaria, seeking to replace early model MiG-29s. New users of the F-16 also purchase spares, maintenance equipment, training, aircraft accessories, like look and shoot helmets plus tech support and assistance in setting up maintenance and support facilities. These can be used for other aircraft types and are a good investment. The sale includes air-to-air missiles and smart bombs as well.

The F-16V was introduced in 2012 as the last model of the F-16 but production of the F-16 did not as planned in late 2016 because possible further sales of the F-16V became a reality. Additionally it became possible to upgrade some or all of the older F-16s to the Block 7o standard. These Block 7o upgrades are not always possible, or practical, for the oldest models of the F-16. These upgrades include replacing many structural elements as well as installing more powerful engines and the most modern electronics and fire control systems available.

Although production of the F-16 ceased temporarily, its manufacturer Lockheed Martin, also known as LockMart, continues to do upgrades and refurbishments, and produce new F-16Vs due to buyer demand.

The changes in the V model are considerable. The airframe is upgraded and strengthened to enable 12,000 flight hours per aircraft. The electronics undergo an even more extensive upgrade which involves replacing the mechanical radar with an AESA phased array radar, an upgraded cockpit, a Sniper targeting pod, a Link 16 digital data link and upgraded navigation gear. The newly redesigned cockpit is all digital and flat screen touch displays that replace dozens of gauges and switches and make it much easier to fly. AESA and the new fire control system make it possible to track multiple aircraft at once as well as track vehicles on land or vessels at sea. The targeting pod enables the pilot to confirm visually what is on the surface and promptly attack it with smart bombs or missiles. LockMart initially expected to get orders for at least 700 newly built F-16V or less expensive upgrades. An upgrade brings in as little as $10 million per aircraft while five or ten of these upgrades equals the price of one new F-16V. But when you have orders for hundreds of F-16V upgrades you have a lot of F-16 work.

The F-16 thus follows the path of previous best selling fighters. During the 1947-1991 Cold War Russia built over 10,000 MiG-21s and the U.S over 5,000 F-4s. After 1991 warplane manufacturing plummeted about 90 percent. However, the F-16 has been popular enough to keep the production lines going strong into the 2020s. The U.S. still has about 1,200 F-16s in service, with about half with reserve units. F-16s built so far went to 27 countries before Ukraine requested them. America has hundreds in storage, available for sale on the used airplane market. The end of the Cold War led to a sharp cut in U.S. Air Force fighter squadrons. Moreover, the new F-35 is on its way to replacing all U.S. F-16s by the late 2020s. The U.S. has plenty of little-used F-16s sitting around, while many allies need low cost jet fighters. Many current F-16 users planned to replace the F-16 with the F-35 but that aircraft costs more than twice as much as a new F-16V so air forces are seeking to operate a mixed force of F-35s and late model F-16s. A current example of this is Poland, which is sending its older MiG-29s to Ukraine. These have a few good years left, which is all Ukraine needs.

Since the 1990s most F-16s produced were for export and some cost as much as $70 million each, like the F-16I for Israel. Some nations, like South Korea, built over a hundred F-16s under license. The 16 ton F-16 also has an admirable combat record and is very popular with pilots. It has been successful at ground support as well. When equipped with 4-6 smart bombs, it is an effective bomber. Since first entering service some 4,600 F-16s have flown over 12 million hours. Despite fears that a single engine fighter would be less safe, F-16s have, in the 21st century, suffered an accident rate (loss or major damage) of 2.4 per 100,000 flight hours.

The F-16 is one of the most modified jet fighters in service. While most are still called the F-16C, there are actually seven major mods, identified by block number like 32, 40, 42, 50, 52, 60, 70 and 72, plus the Israeli F-16I, which is a major modification of the Block 52. The F-16D is a two seat trainer version of F-16Cs. The various block mods included a large variety of new components and can choose from five different engines, four sets of avionics, five generations of electronic warfare gear, five radars and many other mechanical, software, cockpit and electrical mods.

Until Block 70 came along the most advanced F-16 was the F-16 Block 60. The best example of this is a special version of the Block 60 developed for the UAE (United Arab Emirates). The UAE bought 80 Desert Falcons, the F-16Es which are optimized for air combat. It is a 22 ton aircraft based on the Block 52 model, which the KF-16 was originally, but with an AESA radar and lots of other additional useful accessories. Block 70 goes beyond Block 60, especially in terms of electronics and airframe enhancement to extend flight life.

The most successful F-16 user is Israel which set a number of combat records with its F-16s. Israel plans to keep some of its late model F-16s flying until 2030 as it retires the oldest ones. At the end of 2016, Israel retired the last of its 125 F-16A fighters. The first 70 were acquired in 1980 and 1981 and included 8 two-seater F-16B trainers. One of the F-16As achieved a record by being the single F-16 with the most air-to-air kills, 6.5, all achieved in 1982 using three different pilots. Israel received 50 used F-16As in 1994 including 14 B models and used these mainly as trainers.

The Ukrainians are well aware of the F-16s track record, especially when compared to the MiG-29. Thats why Ukraine keeps asking for F-16s.
Canva

You might not put too much thought into the banking accounts you use and how you use them, but this can be a costly mistake. If you are a middle-income earner (defined by the OECD as those with an income that is two-thirds to double the U.S. median household income), you should be mindful of where you keep your money to ensure that it is making money  or at the very least, that you aren't losing it to hidden bank fees.

GOBankingrates breaks down eight banking mistakes commonly made by middle class Americans.

Not using high-yield savings accounts

If you're keeping your cash in a traditional savings account, chances are you are not earning as much interest as you could be.

"The national average is only 0.06% APY, while many online banks offer over 2% APY," said Derek DiManno, founding financial advisor at Flagship Asset Services. "That difference really adds up over time."

Keeping too much cash in checking

Most checking accounts are not interest-bearing accounts, and even the ones that do pay interest typically have much lower APYs than what you would get elsewhere. While you should have some cushion in your checking account, keeping too much cash there is a mistake.

"Beyond your one- to two-month buffer, excess funds would be better in savings earning interest," DiManno said.

Not shopping around for the best CD rates

CD accounts are a great way to earn guaranteed interest on your cash, but the offerings will vary greatly from bank to bank.

"Issuers like online banks and credit unions often offer higher yielding CDs than national banks," DiManno said.

Using out-of-network ATMs

While some banks allow for fee-free withdrawals at any ATM, the majority will charge a fee for using an out-of-network ATM. While you might find these ATMs convenient, you are throwing money away on unnecessary fees.

"ATM surcharges can add up," DiManno said. "Try to use your bank's ATM or in-network machines as much as possible."

Paying monthly fees on your checking account

Depending on your checking account, you might be paying a monthly maintenance fee and not even realize it. Make sure your account does not charge a fee, and if it does, switch to a free account ASAP.

"Many online and local banks offer great checking with no monthly fees and minimums," DiManno said.

Not setting up automatic transfers to savings

If your goal is to build up your savings, whether as an emergency fund or for another goal, automating the process will ensure you get there. If you have to manually transfer money each month, you're less likely to do it.

"Automating transfers helps effortlessly build your savings each month," DiManno said.

Keeping your emergency fund in an uninsured account

It's true that you can typically earn more money on your cash when you invest it instead of holding it in savings, but emergency funds should always be kept in a secure account.

"Savings should be in FDIC insured accounts, while long-term investments can afford more risk," DiManno said.

Not taking advantage of CD laddering

CD laddering is a strategy that involves investing in multiple CDs and setting each one to mature at a different time.

"Laddering CDs can help retain access to cash while still earning higher rates," DiManno said.

This story was produced by GOBankingRates and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.
The Education Department has agreed to extend its student loan relief talks after mounting pressure in recent weeks, according to an agency official and an email sent to federal negotiators.

The Education Department confirmed the news after USA TODAY reported it on Wednesday.

The decision is not unheard of in Washington. But reconvening was not the original plan. Word of another round of talks follows weeks of advocates, progressive lawmakers and members of the departments own loan relief committee urging the Education Department to return to the table after negotiations ended bitterly in December.

James Kvaal, the undersecretary of education, said in a statement following USA TODAY's report that the department looks forward to the conversations, which are set for mid-February.

The Biden-Harris Administration will never stop working to deliver student debt relief for borrowers, he said.

Many members of the federal panel came away from the last round of discussions in December unsatisfied. They urged Biden administration officials  many of whom have been scarred by the Supreme Courts rebuke of their first relief plan  to think bigger about bringing more forgiveness to larger swaths of Americans, despite the legal and political hurdles they could face.

Jessica Ranucci, an attorney at the New York Legal Assistance Group who serves on the committee, said she's eager to get back to the table.

"Borrowers facing financial hardship need debt relief just to have the opportunity to get by," she said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Specifically, advocates are hoping to delve deeper into the types of hardship the federal government should consider when canceling borrowers student loan debt. In early December, the Education Department proposed fully relieving debt for borrowers whove been paying back their loans for more than two decades. They were also considering forgiveness up to $20,000 for some borrowers whose payments have ballooned due to interest.

Critics said the scope of those ideas was too narrow.

This isnt broad enough, said Sherrie Gammage, a negotiator representing borrowers who attended four-year programs.

If this is the primary broad-based relief, I think it's going to be very disappointing, said Sarah Butts, another committee member.

The Education Department and the White House have said the Biden administration is committed to providing relief as quickly as possible to the largest number of Americans who need it. The federal government has forgiven $132 billion in student loan debt for more than 3.6 million Americans since Biden took office, the White House says.

"I wont back down from using every tool at our disposal to get student loan borrowers the relief they need to reach their dreams," Biden said last month.

Despite the administration's accomplishments, progressives in Washington are wary. As Biden's first term comes to a close, his reelection chances are far from certain. The staunchest student loan relief advocates in Congress, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., want action sooner rather than later.

In a statement, she praised the decision to add another round to the negotiations.

"This is a significant opportunity to cancel as much debt as possible for Americans getting crushed by student loans," she said.

The fourth session will be held virtually on Feb. 22 and 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern. Members of the public are invited to join.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Student loan relief talks extended by Biden administration
President Bidens United Nations (U.N.) ambassador called for fundamental changes to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) before the United States resumes funding to the body.

Last week, the Biden administration announced it was halting funds to UNRWA due to allegations that a dozen of its staff members had been involved in Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

UNRWA brought this information to us, and they are conducting an investigation. Theyre taking it very seriously. So, Im not going to get ahead of the investigation that they are conducting, but I know that we need to see fundamental changes before we can resume providing funding directly to UNRWA, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at a U.N. Security Council stakeout Tuesday.

And as you know, we shouldnt let that cloud the great work that UNRWA does, Thomas-Greenfield added. UNRWA has provided essential humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people and UNRWA is the only organization on the ground that has the capacity to continue to provide that assistance.

The State Department announced Friday that the U.S. was suspending funding to the agency. The Biden administration restored the funding in 2021, after it had been halted under the Trump administration.

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, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said last week.

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, Miller continued.

GOP presidential primary candidate Nikki Haley, a former U.N. ambassador under Trump, went after Biden on Tuesday over his decision to restore funding to UNRWA in the first place.

I sat in President Trumps office and said, We have got to stop the money to UNRWA. The State Department fought me on it. And the reason I did that is, I knew all the officials at UNRWA, Haley recalled in an interview on Fox Newss Fox and Friends.

It is not something that is safe for us, or for our friends. And we knew that, and Biden and the State Department once again went back and gave that money. Its terrible, she said.

Some within Bidens party have called on him to restore the funds, arguing the decision is only compounding the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Cutting off support to @UNRWA  the primary source of humanitarian aid to 2 million+ Gazans  is unacceptable, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) wrote Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Among an organization of 13,000 UN aid workers, risking the starvation of millions over grave allegations of 12 is indefensible.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Dr. Muhammad Harara is one of just five physicians left in Nasser Hospital, the last major medical facility still functioning in the Gaza Strip. The rest of his colleagues have fled or been killed.

Since the early days of the war, an NBC News crew has followed Harara and his fellow health workers on their hospital rounds, recording how they cope with the gravely injured, the bloodied and the terrified  all while surrounded by Israeli soldiers and tanks.

Harara, 27, whose sharp beard and lean features sit atop rumpled blue scrubs, checks on patients lying on filthy, blood-stained floors who are increasingly being operated on with little or no anesthetic. Food and painkillers have run out. With the roads around Nasser Hospital a battlefield, thousands of people are trapped inside, including 850 patients, according to the international charity Doctors Without Borders.

Harara is a general practitioner who dreams of one day becoming a plastic surgeon. While invariably impassive to the point of laconic on camera, he occasionally admits that the death and devastation affect him.

We lost a lot of people today, Harara said in the 16th week of the war, his deadpan words wrung of all emotion by weeks of violence. I feel very, very sad for what happened today.

Israeli attacks on Gaza continue (Belal Khaled / Anadolu via Getty Images)

Israel has ordered people in parts of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, to evacuate the area after the military switched focus from the north of the enclave to the south. Thousands of people here have already been displaced at least once, having fled the north when Israel first launched its assault.

The Israeli government and military say they are hunting Hamas fighters in a bid to gut the militant group after its Oct. 7 attack, in which some 1,200 people were killed and another 240 kidnapped.

More than 26,000 people have been killed across Gaza, most of whom are women and children, according to local authorities, whose figures United States and United Nations officials say are accurate.

Follow live updates

In Nasser Hospital, death is everywhere, Harara said on a recent day this month, when the Israel Defense Forces began to intensify its assault on Khan Younis.

The situation here is miserable and the smell of death is everywhere, he told NBC News.

I feel like the Al-Shifa Hospital scenario is repeating itself, Harara added, referring to the Gaza City hospital stormed by Israeli troops in November, provoking international shock and alarm.

Israel says Hamas uses hospitals, including Al-Shifa, as militant bases, something Hamas and hospital staff deny. A U.S. intelligence assessment found that Al-Shifa was used to store some weaponry and house command infrastructure.

Harara used to work at that hospital until he was forced to flee. His family is currently in Rafah, on Gazas border with Egypt, but he cannot make the journey to visit them because of the siege, he said.

Gaza Doctor Khan Younis (NBC News)

The corridors and rooms in Nasser Hospital are strewn with people, some in well-worn clothes, others in hastily tied medical gowns. Many of the injured are frantic, wide-eyed; others stare vacantly ahead. All await amid a clamor of shouts and groans, punctuated by the metronome beep of hospital machines and the rumblings of bombs and heavy gunfire nearby.

On a recent day this month, Harara wheels a patient through the hospital, a gunshot victim he believes has bleeding inside his chest cavity. A nurse shouts for someone to bring blood; Harara orders a CT scan.

Today, like other days in this war, I spent all day in the emergency department, Harara said. A lot of injured came to the hospital. The situation was very, very bad."

Most of the cases he deals with involve amputations. But its not just the wounds from bombs and bullets.

We lack medical equipment and the simplest medication to deal with pain, he said. Many old diseases now appear recently in the hospital due to a lack of hygiene in the families who live in the hospital.

Giving a snapshot into how fast the situation is deteriorating, cases of diarrhea among children in Gaza rose from 48,000 to 71,000 in just one week in December, UNICEF, the U.N. childrens agency, said in a statement this month  equivalent to 3,200 new cases every day. The prewar average was 2,000 cases per week, according to UNICEF.

Its executive director, Catherine Russell, said that Gazas children were living through a nightmare.

Gaza Doctor Khan Younis (NBC News)

The U.N. and humanitarian groups have criticized Israels campaign not only for the high civilian death toll, but for its damage and destruction of hospitals, as well as other civilian sites such as schools, mosques and bakeries. Israel blames Hamas, accusing it of hiding its weapons and fighters at these sites and saying that, despite the risk of collateral damage, it has no choice but to target them.

Harara sees the worst of this humanitarian crisis. But his hardship does not end when he leaves the hospital.

His home in Khan Younis is now a thin plastic tarp near the hospital under which he sleeps and eats with other men.

After a days work, NBC News recently accompanied him as he walked near the hospital with a friend, chatting and checking the news on his phone. He bought some stale bread and a can of tuna from a young boy who was hawking the tins from a makeshift stall and a busted plastic chair.

He then paid coins to another street trader pouring coffee into see-through plastic cups. Harara may have finished his shift but others had not; ambulances drove by while he bought his evening meal.

Then Harara returned to his tarp to dine. His kitchen was a pop-up table, littered with detritus and meager foodstuffs. The sun was setting, and this was his first meal since morning, a fast he broke by mixing the can of tuna and a lime, scooped up with a flat bread.

He made tea on an electric stove powered from the nest of wires and multiplugs dangling precariously in the corner, fueled by what little electricity supply Gazans are still afforded.

I come to the tent to eat something after hard work in the hospital, he said with remarkable impassiveness on a day in which he says he saw nine patients die. I havent eaten anything since the start of the day. Now I am very hungry.
With labor shortages subsiding but still concerning, just 4% of CEOs are making return to office a top priority in 2024, according to a recent survey by The Conference Board.

"CEOs are throwing their hands up when it comes to getting workers back into the office full time," Diana Scott, human capital center leader at The Conference Board, told Yahoo Finance. "Hybrid work is getting the job done, and they have bigger things to worry about. Attracting and retaining talent is their No. 1 priority for 2024."

The Conference Board surveyed more than 1,200 executives, including 630 CEOs, across the United States, Latin America, Japan, and Europe.

Executives are increasingly resigned to a scenario where employees don't clock into the physical office every day, as hybrid work arrangements  mingling work-from-home and in-office time  have become the normal routine for many white-collar workers.

Chart courtesy of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (Federal Reserve Bank of SF)

Remote work persists

After full-time remote work peaked at around 60% during the pandemic, hybrid work has settled in, with about 30% of paid workdays being done remotely.

"Over the past six months, weve been seeing the fallout of rigid return-to-office policies on both sides of our business," Gwenn Rosener, co-founder of recruiting and staffing firm FlexProfessionals, told Yahoo Finance.

The firm has seen an uptick of job seekers fleeing return-to-office mandates in search of flexible work options, as well as corporate clients digging in their heels while they search for months to land workers willing to work in the office full-time.

"Both sides of the tug of war do seem to be compromising more, especially on the business side when rigid in-office policies are killing their ability to retain and attract the employees they need to drive growth," she said.

Persistent talent shortages continue to stymy hiring efforts, according to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey. A hefty 7 in 10 employers say they are struggling to find talent with the skills they need, according to the report.

The San Francisco Fed economists found little evidence that the shift to remote and hybrid work has affected productivity  neither harming nor helping it. (Getty Creative) (Westend61 via Getty Images)

'Little evidence' that remote work hurts productivity

The shift to remote and hybrid work has reshaped society in important ways, and these effects will likely continue to evolve.

For example, with less time spent commuting, some people have moved out of cities, and the lines between work and home life have blurred.

However, lack of performance and productivity are not what has been dinged, according to a recent survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. The study found little evidence that the shift to remote and hybrid work has affected productivity  neither harming nor helping it.

And consider this: While some executives insist employees are unproductive and ineffective at home, a University of Pittsburgh study found that office mandates don't improve employees' or companies financial performances, but they can make workers less satisfied with their jobs and work-life balance.

An analysis of S&P 500 firms that implemented in-office attendance requirements found that the mandates did not boost financial performance or value, which remained on par with that of companies allowing virtual work.

However, researchers did observe "significant declines in employees job satisfaction"  perhaps explaining why 80% of employers who forced a return to offices later expressed regret over the decision.

These mandates may have less to do with productivity or profits and more to do with "managers using return-to-work mandates to reassert control over employees and blame employees as a scapegoat for bad firm performance," Mark Ma, the author of the report and a University of Pittsburgh business professor, told Yahoo Finance.

"Clearly, managers should stop viewing remote work as a threat," Ma said. "Instead of blaming remote employees as not being productive or loyal to their employers, managers should embrace remote work as an opportunity to develop a long-term, flexible workplace strategy that could both encourage high employee performance and foster employee loyalty."

Catering to every preference

Vivian Reilly, 47, is an accountant in Manchester, N.H., who joined her firm Lekas, Edgar & Co. in August. She has chosen to spend her first year going into the office even though she is only required to come in three days a week.

"I would rather go in to learn from my coworkers in person," Reilly told Yahoo Finance. "I think it definitely helps me with my performance. I am new to the field, and I have too much to learn."

"Companies today are realizing that hybrid is the best option as it caters to both types of employees  ones that want to go in the office, and ones that want to work from home." (Getty Creative) (Mayur Kakade via Getty Images)

In fact, recent surveys show that a large proportion of young and new employees like Reilly want to work in the office.

"If this is the case, firms can decide the availability of remote work opportunities for different employees," Ma said. "For example, for employees who just join a company, the firm may require a high percentage of these young workers to work in the office and get trained."

For Steve Gold, 46, a lawyer with Hurwit & Associates in Newton, Mass., the opportunity to work from home is "a gift," he told Yahoo Finance. "The office is available whenever I'd like to go, but there is no requirement to go in."

As a father of two kids  one in middle school and another in elementary school  having the flexibility not just to attend the occasional school concert, but to spend time with them after school is something Gold "would be willing to trade a lot to have," he said. But with this position, he doesnt have to.

"Companies today are realizing that hybrid is the best option as it caters to both types of employees  ones that want to go in the office, and ones that want to work from home," AJ Eckstein, a Gen Z career expert and founder of The Final Round career platform, told Yahoo Finance.

Pay and promotions take a hit

Still unanswered: Will those workers opting to log in from home ultimately feel the brunt of the slew of layoffs announced since the beginning of the year?

Workers who worked remotely five days a week were 35% more likely to be laid off in 2023 than their peers who put in office time, according to employment data provider Live Data Technologies. The analysis showed 10% of fully remote workers were laid off last year, compared with 7% of those working in an office full time or on a hybrid basis.

Why? Perhaps because when a hiring manager gets news they have to cut staff, its easier to lop off someone they dont have a close face-to-face relationship with.

Another shocker finding: Remote workers are 31% less likely to get promoted than in-person counterparts, The Wall Street Journal reported from an analysis of 2 million workers also conducted by Live Data Technologies.

The hybrid model takes hold

While the return-to-office movement is percolating, many big companies seem to have compromised on three days a week for now. IBM just announced that it's requiring executives and people managers in the United States to be in the office at least three days per week, a company spokesperson told Yahoo Finance.

She also confirmed that those who don't take this mandate seriously risk losing their job.

"IBM is focused on providing a work environment that balances flexibility with the face-to-face interactions that make us more productive, innovative and better able to serve our clients," she added.

Last summer, Google began putting some muscle in its policy by tracking office visits by badge swipes and indicating that in-office attendance would be part of performance reviews, which, in turn, impacts promotions and pay increases.

Remote jobs are also becoming less attractive pay-wise, another nudge from employers to more in-person time.

While the back-to-the-office movement is percolating, many big companies seem to have compromised on three days a week for now. (Getty Creative) (NickyLloyd via Getty Images)

Payscales 2023 Compensation Best Practices Report found that about a quarter of employers surveyed pay employees who dont come into an office less than those who do for the same position.

Thats not the case at Reillys workplace.

"We do feel in-office provides a lot of learning opportunities among staff and mentoring of the newer staff but understand flexibility is also important," Kerry Lekas, managing partner of Lekas, Edgar & Co., told Yahoo Finance.

"Winter in New England, doctors appointments, service work being done at home, kids, pets  all of these things are part of life and can create chaos in a schedule," she said. "We find that giving staff the flexibility to deal with and handle these things and work at home creates a positive atmosphere when we are at the office."

Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a workplace futurist, a career and retirement strategist, and the author of 14 books, including "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work" and "Never Too Old To Get Rich." Follow her on X @kerryhannon.

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(Reuters) -Insurer Health Care Service Corp said on Wednesday it would buy Cigna's Medicare business that manages government-backed health insurance for people aged 65 and older for $3.3 billion in cash.

The sale consists of Cigna's Medicare lines, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplement and Medicare drug plans, as well as a unit called CareAllies that works with physician groups and other healthcare providers.

The divestiture marks a change in Cigna's strategy for the sector it had entered with its $3.8-billion acquisition of HealthSpring in 2011.

Health Care Service holds a license to provide Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans in five U.S. states. It employs more than 27,000 people and 18.6 million members.

The vast majority of Cigna's revenue comes from its commercial business and pharmacy benefits division, which it bolstered with the $52-billion purchase of Express Scripts in 2018.

Cigna's Medicare Advantage business generated 4.4% of the company's $179.4 billion revenue from external customers in 2022. Its plans currently serve 3.6 million Medicare members.

The deal is expected to close in early 2025, Health Care Service said.

(Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
WASHINGTON  Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to conclude that the state can lawfully bar former President Donald Trump from the Republican primary ballot because of his actions in 2020 that culminated in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

The case concerns, among other things, whether Trump "engaged in insurrection" under Section 3 of the Constitution's 14th Amendment and is therefore prohibited from serving as president.

Griswold, a Democrat who is the top election official in the state, filed a brief ahead of Supreme Court arguments next week that defended Colorado's process for determining whether candidates are eligible.

"Over the decades, Colorado has repeatedly relied on this state court procedure to resolve ballot access and other election disputes presenting novel and complex issues of both fact and law, including issues of constitutional magnitude," Griswold's lawyers wrote.

The same state process is used to determine whether candidates for president are barred from serving for other reasons, such as whether they are the required minimum age of 35, the lawyers added.

The state, they said, "should not be forced to include a candidate found by its courts to have violated his oath to support the Constitution by engaging in insurrection."

Trump and the six Colorado voters who brought the challenge have already filed their briefs.

The case will be closely watched, as other states could follow suit if Trump is kicked off the ballot in Colorado.
Dolly Parton sings Rocky Top during a football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.

Country music icon Dolly Parton says that a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" reboot is still in the works after being put on hold in 2022, according to Business Insider.

"They're still working on that," Parton told Business Insider. "They're thinking about bringing it back and revamping it."

Parton, 78, was an uncredited producer of the original 1990s series starring Sarah Michelle Geller, as well as the 1992 film it's based on starring Luke Perry and Kristy Swanson, according to Business Insider.

According to Hollywood Reporter, director/producer Fran Rubel Kuzui attempted to reboot "Buffy" with a new movie in 2009, but the project was criticized for not involving "Buffy" creator Joss Whedon. In 2018, Whedon and Monica Owusu-Breen collaborated on a proposed "Buffy" reboot with a Black lead, according to Deadline.

Parton told Business Insider that she was heavily involved in the original series production despite living in Nashville while the show was filmed in Los Angeles. She worked closely with the business people there through conversations.

"I have to give more people more credit on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' than me," Parton told Business Insider. "A lot of people did so much sweat on that. That little show did great."

Reception from reboot/revamp news of 'Buffy'

The writer of the upcoming "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" reboot has promised fans that the new version won't attempt to replace beloved characters.

Owusu-Breen, the showrunner of the "Buffy" reboot announced in 2018, responded to the online backlash by saying that the original show and characters can't be replaced after the series was rumored to star a Black actress in the lead role.

"There is only one Buffy," she wrote on X. "But here we are, twenty years later And the world seems a lot scarier. So maybe, it could be time to meet a new Slayer."

https://twitter.com/monicabreen/status/1022507356964278272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1022507356964278272%7Ctwgr%5E53967b1f97488f59c094b9f6a3dd0276e1c9c20d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Fbuffy-the-vampire-slayer-reboot-dolly-parton-producer-2024-1

More details about 'Buffy'

The television show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" premiered in the spring of 1997 and based on the 1992 movie, written by Whedon, the creator of the series.

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" ran for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003 on The WB network and later expanded into the 'Buffyverse' with the spin-off series "Angel" and numerous novels and comic books.

Buffy was a teenage girl who took on vampires and other monsters, and the show was like an action-packed soap opera. When she wasn't taking out blood-sucking demons, she was experiencing her first break-up or the loss of her mother.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dolly Parton gives update on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' reboot
The idea of a four-day workweek has been an enigma of sortson one hand, employees are keen to go to great lengths to have it, and the well-being and productivity benefits are significant. Yet only a handful of countries have tried it out and even fewer companies have made it the norm.

Germany is now set to join the likes of the U.S., Britain, and Portugal in piloting a shorter workweek.

The program, which is set to start on Feb. 1, will last six monthsthe same as its peers experimentsand will include hundreds of employees across 45 participating companies, Dale Whelehan, CEO at Auckland, New Zealandbased 4 Day Week Global, the nonprofit leading the pilot, told Fortune.

The tricky timing

The program follows a 100:80:100 principle, wherein participating companies stick to 100% pay in 80% of the time while, in theory, achieving 100% output.

"This is essentially a human resource transformation project and it is a productivity intervention. Organizations are really struggling to grapple with improving their productivity or output of their businesses' performancethat's because they're fundamentally missing the foundation of a business which is run by its people," Whelehan said.

The four-day workweek, with its reputation for yielding promising results in past trials, will be rolled out at a tricky time for the German labor market, which faces a slew of pressures including farmers protests, a shortage in skilled workers, and sluggish economic growth.

In addition, recessionary fears and soft global demand are expected to cause a hiring freeze in the country through 2024. Groups of doctors and metalworkers also went on strike last yearboth over wages and working hours (the metalworkers' union IG Metall demanded a 32-hour workweek, which it secured in a deal last month).

The debate surrounding working hours in Germany is a contentious onean overwhelming 73% of Germans are in favor of cutting the workweek short while receiving the same wage.

"This conversation on the working time has been in the collective conscious of the public for quite a while, and there's a great level of debate around whether this will work or not work," Whelehan said.

As such, Germany, which is home to a large population of part-time workers, boasts lower hours worked in a year than the OECD average of 1,752 hours per year. And although the country has relatively low unemployment rates, having a labor force that works 21% less than the OECD average remains a strain on the economy. The countrys finance minister Christian Lindner has also been vocal about how working fewer hours could hurt prosperity.

Longer hours actually needed?

The four-day workweek pilot in itself is unlikely to have significant ripple effects. But given how demographic changes are driving shifts such as a shortage in availability of skilled workers, Germany needs policies that can incentivize people to work longer hours, argues Holger Schafer, a senior economist at the Institute of German Economy.

The four-day workweek wont help any of the problems currently affecting the labor market. On the contrary, our most serious problem is the labour shortage caused by demographic change. Working fewer hours wont alleviate that. We need better incentives to work longer hours to compensate for demographic change, he told Fortune.

But reports have found links to higher productivity from having an additional day off in the workweek, something that has been observed in past pilots. Germany has seen productivity slide in recent years as a result of poor infrastructure investmentso could a shorter week help address that concern? Maybe not, Schafer said. He thinks it can be hard to gauge productivity improvements from a short program involving voluntary participants.

The pilot study wont generate an answer to the question whether or not the four-day workweek can be successful, he said, adding that one shortcoming is that the sample set of participating companies wont be compared to companies that maintain a five-day week, leaving many German companies unrepresented.

A more likely outcome, Schafer suggests, is that employers and employees will find new avenues to achieve flexibility by accommodating individual needs and preferences.

Whelehan said that the 4DWG was working on recruiting "control participants," or companies that don't shrink their work hours, as points of reference when assessing metrics like productivity in future pilots. He acknowledged that there are areas of work as the pilot programs are very much a work in progress.

"You have to start research somewhere. This is us building the evidence case to showcase that something like this may work," Whelehan said. "We're still so young in the conversation about a four-day week."

Benefits of the shorter workweek

Companies that have participated in four-day week pilots, such as in the U.K., have seen success in curbing burnout and sick days while improving job retention. Some German companies involved in the project are looking to make similar strides in the workplace. Advocates of the pilot have argued that a shorter week could be a magnet for untapped parts of the countrys labor market.

Im absolutely convinced that investments in new work pay off because they increase well-being and motivation, subsequently increasing efficiency, Soren Fricke, cofounder of Stuttgart-based event planning company Solidsense, which is participating in the pilot project, told the outlet. The four-day week, if it works, wont cost us anything either in the long run.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
January 30, 2024: In mid-January 2024 Russia lost one of their nine remaining A-50U AWACs (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft in Ukraine. This A-50U was shot down off the Ukrainian coast, in the Sea of Azov. Another A-50U was damaged by friendly fire but managed to land safely. At the same time, a nearby a multi-engine Il-22 airborne command aircraft was mistakenly fired on by Russian anti-aircraft forces. A Russian missile damaged the aircraft, and it made an emergency landing at a nearby Russian airbase. It was a bad day for rare and expensive specialized Russian aircraft.

These aircraft cost about $300 million each to build, and Russia cannot afford to build any new ones. In 2019 the Russian Air Force received its sixth A-50U AWACs aircraft and described in some official detail the capabilities of this new version. In 2015 A-50Us were spotted operating in Syria, where the first four A-50Us delivered were apparently getting some practical experience in a combat zone. In Syria American and Israeli aircraft were active and available for the A-50U to practice their new detection and tracking capabilities on. The Syrian experience also made it possible to tweak the A-50U capabilities in spotting large naval and land targets and directing airstrikes at them.

The new U version entered service in 2011 but foreign ELINT electronic intelligence experts did not have a good opportunity to see how effective it was until 2015. To do that you have to get your ELINT aircraft close to an A-50U in a combat zone. In this case, the most effective ELINT aircraft turned out to be several American F-22s stealth fighters quietly and apparently undetected operating over Syria. Officially the F-22s were there to perform missions where effective stealth was a requirement. That meant reconnaissance missions during periods when the Russians or Syrians were angry at the U.S. Russia had some of its most modern electronic warfare systems operational and vulnerable to close examination by American and Israeli ELINT.

In addition to American ELINT aircraft, there were several new F-35Is owned and operated by Israel. These have been seen flying near the Syrian border, but no one was sure if an F-35I or two slipped across the border to seek action the F-22s had monopolized until 2018. The F-22 and F-35 have more than stealth in common. Both have impressive software that automatically operates the many passive sensors that dont broadcast and reveal their position, on board both aircraft. The U.S. Air Force recently admitted that the F-22 was, as was always suspected, carrying out ELINT missions. The F-35 uses a similar but different array of sensors and apparently more powerful software to control the collection and analysis of what is out there and do it in real time. The Israelis have installed a lot of their own hardware and software in the F-35I, which is why it isnt called F-35A and both Israelis and Americans want to see what the Israeli version of ELINT does, compared to the F-22 and, one suspects, an F-35A pretending to be Israeli for the purpose of playing with the hostile electronics found in Syria.

Having the new version of the A-50 there was a bonus. By the end of the 1990s, the A-50 was long overdue for an upgrade and the money wasnt available in the 1990s, a period when most of the A-50s didn't fly much at all because there was no money to pay for it. The original A-50 first entered service in 1984 and 40 were built by the time the Cold War ended in 1991. The A-50 is based on the Il-76 transport. After over a decade of development, the A-50 became a growing presence in Russian air operations during the late 1980s. But many defects and deficiencies, especially compared to the American AWACS were noted, and an upgrade was planned, but delayed after the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.

The inspiration for the A-50 was the U.S. Air Force E-3 AWACS, which entered service in 1977. This was a continuation of American AWACS development that began in 1944. The first AWACS appeared in 1945 when the U.S. Navy deployed radar-equipped aircraft to control large numbers of airborne warplanes in combat. The Navy continued developing airborne early warning and control aircraft in the 1950s, the E-1, and replaced it with the E-2 in the early 1970s. This one is still in service as the E-2 Hawkeye naval surveillance aircraft.

The original A-50 used less capable technology than the U.S. AWACS. The A-50 radar only had a range of 200 kilometers, compared to 400 for the E-3. The A-50U uses modern digital, rather than analog systems and has increased range and accuracy. The new computers allow 150 aircraft to be tracked and this is done more quickly and with fewer equipment breakdowns. The more powerful radars and computers make it possible for the A-50U to maintain a view of distant aircraft more accurately and, Russia implies, provides some capability of positively detecting stealth aircraft. That capability may have been enhanced by modifications made to A-50U electronics because of their experience in Syria. Larger flat screen displays replaced the older bulky CRTs. The A-50U can control ten warplanes at a time while those aircraft perform air-to-air or ground attack missions. The upgrade also included welcome crew amenities like a rest area with a galley and improved toilet for the ten equipment operators and five flight personnel on board.

Russia has also developed a new version of the A-50, the A-100. These aircraft are based on the more recent Il-76 model; the IL-76MD-90. The A-100 has all the modern electronics and other upgrades of the A-50U but also has a new radar, which can spot aircraft 600 kilometers away and ships up to 240 kilometers distant. The A-100 first flew in 2017 and was supposed to enter service in 2020. Whether it did is still unknown.

China bought some of the older A-50s and were so dissatisfied that they switched to a new AWACS design based on the Boeing 737-800 airliner. The 157 ton Il-76 jet is considered less reliable and more expensive to maintain than the twin-engine, 79 ton, Boeing 737-800. Chinese airlines, some of them controlled by the Chinese Air Force, have been using the 737-800 since 1999. This was a year after this model entered service. That means no matter how much Russia upgrades the A-50, they are still stuck with an expensive aircraft to carry everything around.

By 2017 the presence of modern Russian S300/S400 air defense systems in Syria, along with their own ELINT aircraft and the first foreign excursion by the A-50U at the same time F-22s and F-35s are in the neighborhood, is another reason why Russia has been rather cozy with Israel even though Russia is technically an ally of Iran and the Assad government. There are apparently understandings that the Israelis will not do anything, as specified in a long list of potential troublemaking, to embarrass Russian arms salesmen in the Middle East and elsewhere.

While the A-50U may be a much more capable AWACS, the Russian air force cannot afford many of them, with only six purchased in the eight years since the new version became available. There have been no export sales either. India still operates three of the older A-50M models and has expressed an interest in upgrading them to the U standard if the price is right and the promised performance is real. Meanwhile, India is looking at the many AWACS offered by Western firms. China is happy with its own locally developed AWACS and not interested in what Russia has to offer. The Russian air force recently listed 22 older A-50Ms in service but most of these are basically retired in the hope that money will be available for upgrades to the U standard.
"I just get a bee in my bonnet sometimes and just go for it," 80-year-old Shirley Ellicott said of the knitting challenge

Laura Cowdery Great-Grandmother Hand-Knits Wedding Dress in Just 3 Weeks: 'It's Amazing What Two Needles Can Do'

A crafty great-grandmother has pulled off her most impressive project yet  a hand-knitted wedding dress!

Over the years, 80-year-old Shirley Ellicott of Whitsbury, England, has created everything from scarves and shawls to christening gowns and prom dresses using her self-taught sewing, knitting and crochet skills.

Recently, she got the itch to tackle an even bigger challenge: her first wedding dress.

Laura Cowdery Great-Grandmother Hand-Knits Wedding Dress in Just 3 Weeks: 'It's Amazing What Two Needles Can Do'

"Ive sewn a wedding dress before, but have always wanted to knit one. I wanted to do it properly, so I found a pattern and off I went," Ellicott told local newspaper Salisbury Journal. "I just get a bee in my bonnet sometimes and just go for it.

In only three weeks, she turned several skeins of yarn into a chic, 1930s-style white long-sleeved cotton dress featuring a mix of knit patterns, rose-shaped pearl-effect buttons and even a wide train.

Related: Bride Cuts off The Bottom Half of Her Wedding Dress During Reception Turns it into a Jacket (Exclusive)

The design, which has more than 1,000 stitches, can be worn with the buttons in either the front or the back, according to the BBC.

Laura Cowdery Great-Grandmother Hand-Knits Wedding Dress in Just 3 Weeks: 'It's Amazing What Two Needles Can Do'

Its amazing what two needles can do," Ellicott  who has five children, 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren  told Salisbury Journal of her wedding-fashion masterpiece.

The dress is currently on display at a local charity shop in Fordingbridge, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale will go to support the charity's community outreach efforts.

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.

Ellicott told the BBC her passion for knitting began when she was just 5 years old, and it remains her favorite pastime. I knit, I sew, I crochet  whatever I can do with my hands, I will have a go at, she said, noting that it was actually her husband who pushed her to finally tackle the "bucket list" project.

Related: Watch Bride Try On Her Mother's Wedding Dress Thirty Years After Parents Exchanged Vows: 'I Had to Wear It!'

"Ken, my husband, he said to me, Why dont you make that wedding dress you keep on talking about?' I said, OK,'  she recalled to the BBC.



While her stunning bridal dress awaits its new home, Ellicott has already turned her thoughts to her next knitting project: a jacket.



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Read the original article on People.
Arguing that a "fair and impartial jury cannot be found" in the area where four Idaho college students were killed in 2022, lawyers for the accused killer are asking that his capital murder trial be moved to a different location so it would be heard by jurors who have not been exposed to more than a year of news coverage about the case.

The "extensive, inflammatory pretrial publicity, allegations" made about Bryan Kohberger, who stands accused of the killings, the "small size of the community, the salacious nature of the alleged crimes, and the severity of the charges" he faces makes pulling an unbiased group of local people impossible, his lawyer Anne Taylor said in a two-page filing filed Tuesday, posted to the public docket Wednesday.

Kohberger is charged with stabbing to death four University of Idaho students in November 2022  a crime that has rocked the quiet Idaho college hamlet of Moscow and garnered international attention.

Because the crimes hit home for so many who might one day be tasked with deciding Kohberger's fate, his lawyer argues simply enlarging the jury pool within Latah County "will not do anything to overcome that pervasive prejudicial publicity" since the local population is too small and close-knit "to avoid the bias in the community" toward their client  and so they need a jury from elsewhere, as well as moving the trial outside the area.

Prosecutors have signaled they do not agree  that the "national, if not international attention" the case has received makes moving it out of the county futile.

"It's not Moscow. It's not Latah County. It's everywhere. So, I don't think that a change of venue is going to solve any of these problems," Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson, leading the case against Kohberger, said at a pretrial hearing Friday when the issue was raised. "I have people, friends in this community who have traveled to Mexico. And they say, 'You're from Moscow?' And immediately, they want to talk about this case."

"Just because it's a horrific crime doesn't mean a local juror who may have heard about it can't be fair-minded about the facts before them  or that they're going to be motivated to convict the wrong person," said Matt Murphy, a former prosecutor in Orange County, California and an ABC News legal contributor. "They're arguably all the more motivated to find the right person. When you're talking about brutal murder  getting it wrong means the real killer may still be a danger to their families and their neighborhoods."

PHOTO: In this June 27, 2023, file photo, Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom for a hearing at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow, Idaho. (Pool/Getty Images. FILE)

MORE: University of Idaho murders: The timeline of events

"The way the right is written is  a jury of your peers  and while it's right to consider in high-profile cases like this, because it's so high-profile, moving it to another Idaho county won't necessarily help," David Calviello, former New Jersey prosecutor who is now a criminal defense attorney, told ABC News. "While it may be difficult to get a fair and impartial pool that's not a reason itself to kick it."

There's a "very high bar" to clear for this change to be granted, Murphy said  and extensive attention to the case is not enough.

"Successful motions to change venue are exceedingly rare," Murphy said. "Essentially, the defense has to establish that they cannot find 12 fair jurors in the current jurisdiction, which is a tall order. It's not just that people have heard about the case, they must be fundamentally unable to follow the law and biased towards the defendant."

In court on Friday, Thompson argued the local community offers a reason they "should" keep the case in Latah County  rather than grounds for moving it.

"We at least owe Latah County, the people of Latah County, the attempt to seat a jury here first. And not just rely on, 'There's been a lot of publicity.' There's been a lot of publicity everywhere," Thompson said.

The prosecutor's team has already drafted a "fairly comprehensive" juror questionnaire for parties' review, Thompson said, "So that the court and counsel can assess the level of knowledge and the feelings of the potential jury pool."

"We believe that we can select an appropriate panel of jurors from Latah County. We have the tools to work with that, that we've discussed with your honor," he told the judge.

Prosecutors allege that in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022, Kohberger, then a criminology Ph.D. student at nearby Washington State University, broke into an off-campus home and stabbed four University of Idaho students to death: Ethan Chapin, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21.

After a six-week hunt, police zeroed in on Kohberger as the suspect, arresting him in December 2022 at his family's home in Pennsylvania. He was indicted in May and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. At his arraignment, he declined to offer a plea, so the judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.

Kohberger could face the death penalty if convicted.

His lawyers have said their client wasn't in the home where the homicides occurred and was driving around alone that night.

A trial date has not yet been set.

Prosecutors have been pushing to hold the trial this summer, but in court Friday Kohberger's lawyer said they did not believe that timeline was "realistic in any way," given the complexity of the case and the weighty potential sentence  especially if the trial remains local.

"If a trial were to happen in Latah County, we would suggest looking at summer 2025," Taylor said in court. "There are a lot of things that we have to still do."

ABC News' Julie Scott contributed to this report.

Idaho college murders: Bryan Kohberger's lawyers request change of venue, outside jury pool originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Israeli Security Forces may have violated international law in the raid they conducted inside a hospital in the West Bank that resulted in the death of three Palestinian men both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad claimed as members, several experts told ABC News.

Israeli commandos disguised themselves as doctors and patients to infiltrate the Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin on Monday and killed three Palestinian men whom Hamas and the Islamic Jihad both claimed as members, Dr. Wisam Sebehat, general director of the Palestinian Health Ministry in Jenin, told ABC News.

One member of the Israeli group had a wheelchair, two carried a doll in a baby carrier, several wore nurses' clothing, another wore doctors' clothing and several others were dressed in civilian clothing, Sebehat said. Doctors and patients are granted "protected status" in armed conflict under the Geneva Convention.

An initial statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described the raid as a "joint IDF, ISA, and Israel Police counterterrorism activity". The IDF has since clarified to ABC News that their forces were not involved in physically carrying out the operation.

PHOTO: In this image taken from surveillance video provided by the Palestinian Health Ministry, Israeli forces disguised as civilian women and medical workers hold weapons in a hallway at the Ibn Sina Hospital in the West Bank town of Jenin, Jan. 30, 2024 (Palestinian Health Ministry via AP)

MORE: US readies retaliatory strikes for drone attack by Iran-backed militants

The experts cautioned that ultimately the International Criminal Court is the body that can determine if international law was violated during the raid, but they pointed to elements of the Rome Statute, the governing treaty of the ICC, and the study on the rules of customary international humanitarian law the IDF may have violated in conducting the raid. The United States, along with China, India, Russia -- about 40 countries total -- did not sign the Rome Statute and are not party to the ICC, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.

The ICC is different from the International Court of Justice, which issued a preliminary ruling last week in a case brought by South Africa against Israel accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians. The ICC can "exercise jurisdiction" in the form of preliminary examination, investigation and, at times, ultimately trials, over "genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes," it says.

Israel is not a member of the ICC and rejects the court's jurisdiction, but the ICC prosecutor has investigated Israel's actions toward Palestinians before.

It's a violation of international law to feign protected status, in this case, by dressing up as a doctor or patient, "in order to invite the confidence of the adversary and then proceed to kill or injure them," Aurel Sari, associate professor of public international law at the University of Exeter, told ABC News. This violates the prohibition to kill or injure the adversary by resorting to perfidy, Sari said.

"The rule is part of customary international law in both international and non-international armed conflicts, which means Israel is bound by it," Sari said.

"Based on what has been reported, it appears that the Israeli Security Forces involved in the operation in the Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin did resort to perfidy in violation of the law of armed conflict," Sari added.

It's unclear if the IDF used disguises to gain access to the hospital or to gain the confidence of the adversaries they were targeting directly.

The other possible violation of international law the IDF may have committed in this case is violating the prohibition on attacking combatants who have been incapacitated by wounds or sickness, or attacking persons "hors de combat," associate professor of international law Tom Dannenbaum told ABC News.

One of the Palestinian men who was killed, Basel Ghazawi, was being treated in the Ibn Sina Hospital and was paralyzed, Sebehat said. The IDF denied the reports that Ghazawi was paralyzed.

PHOTO: Journalists gather outside of Ibn Sina Hospital following a deadly Israeli military raid in the West Bank town of Jenin, Jan. 30, 2024. (Majdi Mohammed/AP)

MORE: Israeli soldiers in disguise raid West Bank hospital

Ghazawi had been in the hospital undergoing treatment for three months. He was injured after a drone attack in Jenin in October, Sebehat said. His older brother, Muhammad Ghazawi, and their friend, Muhammed Jalamneh, were in the hospital room with Basel Ghazawi when all three were killed by the Israeli Security Forces, according to Sebehat.

"Combatants who have been incapacitated by wounds or sickness are protected from attack as persons 'hors de combat,'" under international law, Dannenbaum said. "Clearly, someone who is paralyzed is incapacitated in that respect, so an attack on that individual would be prohibited. Violating that prohibition would be a war crime."

The IDF accused Jalamneh of transferring weapons and ammunition "to terrorists in order to promote shooting attacks and planned a raid attack inspired by the October 7" Hamas terror attack on Israel, the IDF said in a statement about the raid.

"Along with Jalamneh, two additional terrorists who hid inside the hospital were neutralized," the IDF said in the statement. The IDF did not specify why the two other men were killed but said all three men were Hamas operatives.

"For a long time, wanted suspects have been hiding in hospitals and using them as a base for planning terrorist activities and carrying out terror attacks, while they assume that the exploitation of hospitals will serve as protection against counterterrorism activities of Israeli Security Forces," the IDF said.

The IDF has repeatedly claimed that Hamas uses hospitals in Gaza to mask terrorist activities. The IDF has said it is only targeting Hamas and other militants in Gaza and alleges that Hamas deliberately shelters behind civilians, which the group denies.

PHOTO: In this image taken from surveillance video provided by the Palestinian Health Ministry, Israeli forces disguised as civilians and medical workers hold weapons in a hallway at the Ibn Sina Hospital in the West Bank town of Jenin, Jan. 30, 2024. (Palestinian Health Ministry via AP)

The ICC would ultimately be the body that could determine if a war crime was committed or if international law was violated in this raid. In March 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin for crimes related to the invasion of Ukraine.

"To conclude that a war crime has been committed, criminal tribunals avail themselves not rarely of years of investigations and assessments," Robert Kolb, professor of public international law and international organization at the University of Geneva, told ABC News.

More than 26,000 people have been killed in Gaza and over 65,000 others injured since Oct. 7, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. In Israel, at least 1,200 people have been killed and 6,900 others injured since Oct. 7, according to the Israeli prime minister's office. Israeli officials say 556 IDF soldiers have been killed, including 221 since the ground operations in Gaza began.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect a clarification the IDF issued after publication of our story. Initially, the IDF said the raid on Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin was conducted by the IDF, Israeli Security Forces and Israeli Police in a statement on Monday, Jan. 29. After publication of our story, the IDF clarified that only Israeli Security Forces conducted the operation on the hospital. The IDF made this clarification on Jan. 31.

ABC News' Michael Mendelsohn and Jordana Miller contributed to this report.

Israeli Security Forces may have violated international law in West Bank hospital raid, experts say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran will respond to any threat from the United States, Iranian Revolutionary Guards' chief Hossein Salami said on Wednesday, as Washington weighs its response to the killing of American servicemen by Tehran-aligned militants.

"We hear threats coming from American officials, we tell them that they have already tested us and we now know one another, no threat will be left unanswered," Salami said, according to semi-official Tasnim news agency.

In January 2020, the Revolutionary Guards targeted the Ain al-Asad U.S. base in Iraq following a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad that killed Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the elite Quds Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Iran's envoy to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, also warned on Wednesday that Tehran would respond decisively to any attack on its territory, its interests, or Iranian nationals outside its borders.

The comments from Iranian officials come a day after United States President Joe Biden announced he has decided how to respond to a drone attack by Iran-aligned Iraqi groups that killed U.S. service members in Jordan, without elaborating.

Several Iranian Revolutionary Guards have been killed following Israeli strikes in Syria, with five members dying on Jan. 20 and another two on Dec. 25.

On Monday, another Israeli strike hit what Tasnim described as an "Iranian military advisory centre" in Syria, killing two, but Iran's envoy to Syria denied the details on the target and said the casualties were not Iranian.

On Jan. 15, Iran attacked what it says was an Israeli "spy headquarters" in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Tom Hogue and Andrew Cawthorne)
AUSTIN, Texas  Federal investigators say a local want ad for a yoga instructor in Costa Rica helped them capture the woman who killed rising pro cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson in 2022.

Kaitlin Armstrong was convicted and sentenced to prison for 90 years in November for gunning down Wilson in Austin, Texas in a jealous rage. Investigators had been searching for Armstrong for more than a month and believed she was moving around Costa Rica looking for work as a yoga instructor.

In an interview with the CBS crime program 48 Hours, Deputy U.S. Marshals Emir Perez and Damien Fernandez said they had run into dead ends in the beachside town of Santa Teresa before placing the ad on a local Facebook page seeking an instructor as soon as possible."

An undated photo provided by the U.S. Marshal's Service of Kaitlin Marie Armstrong.

After several days of getting no responses, a woman finally answered and set up a meeting. That person turned out to be Armstrong.

She had cut and darkened her hair, and she had plastic surgery on her nose to change her appearance. Armstrong was still wearing a bandage on her face when Perez met the woman at a hostel and recognized Armstrong's eyes from photographs. Local police made the arrest, and she was returned to Texas for trial.

I noticed that she had a bandage on her nose and possibly her lips were swollen, and I saw her eyes, Perez said. The eyes are the exact same ones that I saw in the picture. And this is her 100 percent.

Wilson, a Vermont native and former alpine skier at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, was an emerging star in gravel and mountain bike riding when she was killed in a friends apartment in Austin. She had been preparing to participate in a Texas race that she was among the favorites to win.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: How killer of cyclist Mo Wilson, Kaitlin Armstrong, was captured
Key takeaways

More than one million Americans are incarcerated, and a significant portion of those individuals are parents or guardians of minor children.

People with felony records face challenges securing life insurance due to the perceived risk associated with their criminal history, resulting in higher premiums.

Felons can take steps to increase their chances of obtaining life insurance, such as understanding and mitigating perceived risk factors, researching insurance carriers that may be more lenient, and considering alternative options like guaranteed issue policies or group life insurance through employers.

Every year, millions of Americans, ranging from those with minor offenses to serious felonies, find themselves behind bars. This is a situation that can create complications for many matters, including securing a life insurance policy. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 1.2 million Americans were currently incarcerated at the end of 2022, a two percent increase from the year before. Notably, a significant portion of those incarcerated  41 percent  are parents or guardians of young kids.

If you are looking to get life insurance on someone currently in prison, youre going to run into many roadblocks. Most insurance companies will not approve life insurance for inmates. The risk of insuring someone in prison is deemed too high for insurers to accept.

Those who have been released from prison will have better chances, but obtaining life insurance for people with felonies can still be challenging. Some companies may view those charges as a risk factor, making it potentially expensive and difficult to get life insurance for felons. However, it is possible to navigate these challenges and potentially get life insurance on someone who was in prison. Those with felony records can take specific steps to improve their chances of getting coverage. Heres what you need to know.

Do life insurance companies check criminal records?

Life insurance companies will typically look at an applicants criminal history. In most cases, the life insurance application will include a question asking the person applying for insurance about any prior convictions on their record.

Moreover, the insurance company is likely to conduct a background check on you. If your criminal history surfaces during this check and contains information that you didnt disclose, the company may choose to deny your application outright and not allow you an opportunity to explain your situation. In addition, you will have an alert on your consumer file with the Medical Information Bureau (MIB). When you apply elsewhere, if that insurance company is a member of the MIB, then the insurer will see this coded alert that essentially suggests they conduct further investigation before making a decision on your coverage.

Even if an insurance company were to approve you for coverage, they typically have two years to investigate any aspect of the policyholder that may have been misrepresented. If they discover you lied or purposely omitted critical information, the insurer has a right to reduce your beneficiarys death benefit or even deny the claim entirely. For that reason, the advisable course of action is to be honest with the insurance company during the application process.

Its worth noting that a felony is not an automatic disqualifier when it comes to applying for a life insurance policy. It will depend on your circumstances and the specific insurance companys underwriting guidelines, but some companies are willing to extend coverage to people with criminal records. Typically, the premiums for these policies will be higher than people without a criminal history, as providers view these clients as a higher risk. But coverage may be available.

How to buy life insurance as a felon

To start the process of purchasing life insurance, its essential to understand how insurance companies view the risk that you pose. Additionally, you should know the factors that life insurance providers consider when offering coverage to individuals with felony records so you can improve your chances of finding a suitable provider.

Reducing your risk

People who were incarcerated are normally considered high-risk liabilities. For that reason, many insurance carriers are hesitant to take on such policyholders as clients. However, each insurance company assesses risk differently. There are several ways you can reduce the risk that insurers perceive by being upfront and having the details of your incarceration readily available. Typically, a person with a felonys risk profile is determined by considering the following factors:

The severity of the crime

The frequency of criminal activity

The amount of time that has passed since the conviction occurred

Depending on the nature of the crime for which you were convicted, you might be eligible for insurance coverage soon after serving your sentence and any parole or probation requirements. Demonstrating positive changes in your life, like having a steady job and no additional charges, could increase your chances of being looked at more positively by life insurance companies.

Finding a carrier

Insurance companies all weigh risk using their own set of metrics, so they may not reach the same decision when determining whether or not to insure someone with a felony. For that reason, it is best to research each carrier before requesting a policy quote to set expectations. You will likely have the best luck working with a licensed insurance agent or broker who has knowledge about insurance providers that offer coverage to felons.

As an alternative, you may be able to find a carrier by searching for providers that specialize in high-risk applicants. To find the best coverage at the best rate, request quotes from multiple providers before making a decision.

Selecting a policy

If you are trying to get life insurance as a person with a criminal record, you might find a guaranteed issue policy to be the most suitable choice. This type of policy offers coverage without considering your medical or criminal history. Keep in mind that guaranteed issue policies are usually more expensive than other life insurance options like term life, so they might not be the best fit if youre on a tight budget.

How a felony impacts your life insurance

Having a felony on your record can affect your ability to get life insurance. If your case is serious or involves repeated offenses, an insurance company might reject your application. Its crucial to know that life insurance companies typically only consider applicants who are not currently in prison. If youre in jail or awaiting trial, getting coverage may require waiting until the case is resolved and youre no longer incarcerated. For this reason, it is unlikely that you can get life insurance on someone in prison.

However, individuals with felony convictions seeking life insurance still have options. Insurance companies assess risk on a case-by-case basis, meaning each applicant is evaluated based on their unique situation. Consider working with an independent insurance agent or broker familiar with the market; they can assist you in choosing the best provider and policy.

When applying for life insurance, disclose your felony conviction and be upfront about your situation. Insurers often verify the information against public records, and providing false information will likely result in automatic denial of your application.

If your application is denied, you might explore group life insurance through an employer to maintain coverage. Alternatively, you could apply for guaranteed issue life insurance until you qualify for a more suitable policy.

What convictions make you ineligible for life insurance?

Every insurance company has its own guidelines regarding who its willing to insure. In some cases, one company may choose not to offer coverage to a person with a specific conviction while another insurance provider may be willing to offer coverage. With that in mind, there are some convictions that most insurance companies tend to treat as disqualifying.

These convictions include:

Kidnapping

Sexual assault

Murder

Conspiracy to commit any of the above charges

Some insurance companies may also be averse to insuring people with drug trafficking charges. However, most drug-related charges are no longer viewed as entirely disqualifying. It may depend on the severity of the charge and the type of substance involved.

Other options for coverage

In addition to the previously mentioned guaranteed issue life insurance option, individuals with felony convictions have other alternatives for obtaining life insurance:

Group life insurance: If you find an employer offering life insurance as part of its employee benefits, you can sign up for a policy. These policies usually dont require the detailed medical or criminal history disclosures that individual policies do, making it easier for felons to get coverage. Group insurance rates are often lower since they are shared among a group, but keep in mind that this coverage is typically limited to your employment duration with the company.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment: While not exactly life insurance, these policies can provide financial relief to family members in the event of your death, if resulted from an accident, or serious injury. Its important to note that there wont be a death benefit if you pass away from illness, disease, or underlying medical conditions.

Guaranteed issue life insurance: Also known as guaranteed life insurance or guaranteed acceptance life insurance, this policy doesnt require health screenings or medical exams for approval. Its a type of whole life policy with a typically lower death benefit, and it stays in place as long as you keep paying premiums.

Finding life insurance as a felon is challenging but not impossible. Thorough research, risk reduction and selecting the right policy can help felons provide financial protection for their families after their passing. Even if a traditional insurance policy is unattainable, a guaranteed issue policy could be a viable option for securing coverage.

Frequently asked questions
The New Mexico Department of Justice has decided not to press charges against three police officers involved in the shooting death of a Farmington man in April, after they responded to the wrong house during a domestic violence call.

In a letter released Jan. 26, the New Mexico Department of Justice said it had made its decision following a review of the fatal shooting last year of Robert Dotson, 52, who was killed in the doorway of his house in Farmington after the officers opened fire because he had a gun.

The letter, signed by Deputy Attorney General Greer E. Staley, said the Department of Justice found that the officers "did not use excessive force under the circumstances when they discharged their weapons" and that "the officers' initial approach to the Dotson home, although they erroneously approached the wrong house, was reasonable, appropriate and consistent with generally accepted police practices." The department was aided in its investigation by Seth Stoughton, a former police officer and professor at the University of South Carolina's Joseph F. Rice School of Law.

In September, Dotson's family filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of New Mexico against the Farmington Police Department for wrongful death and other claims.

A screen grab from body camera footage released by the Farmington Police Department shows Robert Dotson, 52, in his doorway before he was shot and killed by police officers on April 5, 2023. / Credit: Farmington Police Department

Police knocked on Dotson's door at 11:30 p.m. on April 5, according to the complaint filed by Dotson's family in court. Dotson grabbed his gun from the top of the refrigerator and went to open the front door. The complaint says "police vehicles were parked down the street and did not have their lights on."

Three officers standing outside the door immediately opened fire, according to the complaint. Dotson was hit by 12 bullets. His wife, Kimberly, wearing just her robe, came down the stairs to find out what happened, the complaint says, and the officers fired an additional 19 bullets at her but missed.

When Dotson's wife emerged in the doorway, she opened fire with a handgun, the public safety agency said shortly after the incident, prompting return fire from the officers.

The New Mexico Department of Justice said that the officers' "approach, knock on the door and announcement at the incorrect address did not foreseeably create an unnecessarily dangerous situation."

"Unexpectedly, Mr. Dotson opened the front door and storm door, then partially exited the house while raising a firearm into a firing position and pointed in the direction of the officers," the letter adds. "At that moment, Professor Stoughton concluded that Mr. Dotson presented an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm to the officers, and all three reasonably fired their weapons."

The letter added that when Kimberly Dotson fired toward the officers, "those shots again created a second imminent threat of death or great bodily harm to the officers."

Staley said that, after considering the findings, the state would be unable to meet the standard of proof to hold the officers accountable for the use of excessive force. "Therefore, we have determined that no criminal charges can be sustained under these circumstances," Staley said.

An attorney for the Dotson family expressed disappointment in the findings. "One of the disturbing things about the decision not to prosecute the police is the feeling that you may not be safe in your own home, because certainly Mr. Dotson was not," the attorney, Doug Perrin, told local CBS affiliate station KRQE.

Farmington Police Department Chief Steve Hebbe said in a statement that he appreciated "the AG's office and their exhaustive look at this case. At the same time, this was extremely tragic, and I continue to say that I am extremely sorry for the Dotson family's loss."

Stephen Smith, Cara Tabachnick and Elias Lopez contributed reporting.

U.S. troops killed in drone strike identified

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Where Trump's legal cases stand ahead of fraud trial ruling
By Peter Hobson

CANBERRA (Reuters) - An Australian court on Tuesday heard closing arguments in a class action lawsuit alleging that a weedkiller produced by Bayer caused cancer, the first such case in Australia to reach this stage.

Bayer has already paid billions of dollars to settle claims that exposure to its glyphosate herbicide, Roundup, damaged health, in most cases by causing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer.

The company faces more than 50,000 claims in the United States, with the latest ruling requiring it to pay $2.25 billion to a single Pennsylvania man and driving its share price down.

The Australian lawsuit is one of relatively few outside the United States and is a test case for the country, where Roundup is widely used. It is against subsidiaries of Bayer and brings together more than 1,000 claimants.

If the judge at the Federal Court in Victoria rules in the coming months that Roundup caused lymphoma, the court will then consider whether Bayer was negligent regarding the risks its products posed and should pay damages.

Bayer says Roundup and glyphosate are safe. It said it "fully stands behind its glyphosate-based products, which have been used around the world for almost 50 years."

Damages are likely to be smaller than in the United States, a spokesperson for Maurice Blackburn, the firm representing the claimants, said. But a Maurice Blackburn lawyer has said each person should get a "significant" sum.

The lead claimant is 41-year-old Kelvin McNickle, who says he used Roundup to spray weeds for over two decades on his family's property and while working for a vegetation management company. He developed lymphoma aged 35.

His lymphoma recurred shortly before the trial began and he is currently undergoing treatment, Maurice Blackburn said.

Four other cases have been filed in Australia. Three have been permanently stayed by the Federal court and the fourth, another class action, has been paused pending the outcome of the McNickle claim, Bayer said.

MONSANTO

Roundup was originally produced by U.S. agrochemical company Monsanto, which Bayer acquired for $63 billion in 2018.

The product has been under scrutiny since the World Health Organization's cancer research agency concluded in 2015 that glyphosate was probably carcinogenic to humans, though without concluding whether it posed a risk in real world use.

Bayer agreed in 2020 to pay up to $9.6 billion to settle ongoing Roundup lawsuits in the United States but did not get court approval for an agreement to prevent future cases.

Bayer said in its most recent annual report that it faced 31 Canadian lawsuits relating to Roundup, including 11 seeking class action certification. It did not mention any other claims outside the United States.

The company has replaced glyphosate with new active ingredients in its products for household use in the United States to reduce the risk of litigation, since most claims have come from home users.

It continues to sell glyphosate-based weedkillers to farmers, who rely on it heavily.

Regulators including in the United States continue to allow Roundup to be used, with the European Commission last year renewing glyphosate's approval for another 10 years.

Bayer has a mixed record defending its product in U.S. courts, winning 10 of the last 16 Roundup trials.

(This story has been corrected to clarify that Bayer has changed the household version of Roundup, and not phased out sales of the household version, in paragraph 15)

(Reporting by Peter Hobson; Editing by Stephen Coates)
NEW YORK (AP)  Military personnel stationed at Camp Lejeune from 1975 to 1985 had at least a 20% higher risk for a number of cancers than those stationed elsewhere, federal health officials said Wednesday in a long-awaited study about the North Carolina base's contaminated drinking water.

Federal health officials called the research one the largest ever done in the United States to assess cancer risk by comparing a group who live and worked in a polluted environment to a similar group that did not.

The study found military personnel stationed at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune were at higher risk for some types of leukemia and lymphoma and cancers of the lung, breast, throat, esophagus and thyroid. Civilians who worked at the base also were at a higher risk for a shorter list of cancers.

The study is quite impressive, but cannot count as final proof that the tainted drinking water caused the cancers, said David Savitz, a Brown University disease researcher who is consulting for plaintiffs attorneys in Camp Lejeune-related litigation.

This is not something we're going to be able to resolve definitively, he said. We are talking about exposures that happened (decades ago) that were not well documented.

But he said the new research will add weight to arguments made on behalf of people who got sick after living and working at the base.

Camp Lejeune was built in a sandy pine forest along the North Carolina coast in the early 1940s. Its drinking water was contaminated with industrial solvents from the early 1950s to 1985. The contamination  detected in the early 1980s  was blamed on a poorly maintained fuel depot and indiscriminate dumping on the base, as well as from an off-base dry cleaner.

Before wells were shut down, contaminated water was piped to barracks, offices, housing for enlisted families, schools and the base's hospital. Military personnel and families drank it, cooked with it and bathed in it.

The contamination has spawned a wave of litigation by law firms who have aggressively sought out clients with TV ads.

People who got sick after being at Camp Lejeune have accused the Marine Corps of failing to protect the health of its personnel and criticized the federal government for being slow to investigate. Marine Corps officials have repeatedly said that federal environmental regulations for these cancer-causing chemicals were not finalized until 1989, after the wells were shut down.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, or ATSDR, an Atlanta-based sister agency to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has done about a half-dozen studies focused on health problems in people at Camp Lejeune. Those studies were smaller than the new one, and had varied focuses, including male breast cancer rates and birth defects in children born to base personnel.

The earlier studies pointed out health risks, but the new work more fully establishes the scope," said Richard Clapp, a Boston University emeritus public health professor who has been involved in past Camp Lejeune research.

Dr. Aaron Bernstein, the head of the ATSDR and CDCs environmental health programs, called the new study remarkable for being bigger and more rigorous than past research.

In the new paper, the ATSDR investigated cancer in about 211,000 people who were stationed at or worked at Camp Lejeune between 1975 and 1985 and compared them to about 224,000 people at California's Camp Pendleton  which was not known to have polluted groundwater  during the same time period.

Frank Bove, a senior epidemiologist, has led the agency's Camp Lejeune research for many years and was in charge of the latest study. He relied on staff at Battelle Memorial Institute and others to comb through cancer registries across the country to look for cases tied to either base.

They found a similar number of malignant cancers in each group, about 12,000. But the numbers  and the relative risks calculated from those numbers  were higher in the Camp Lejeune population for a number of specific types of cancer. That list included some that weren't clearly identified in some earlier studies, most notably thyroid cancer, Clapp said.

A federal law signed by President Joe Biden in August 2022 included language to address concerns of people who developed certain health problems they believe were linked to Camp Lejeune water contamination. It gave them a two-year window to file claims.

The new study may lead to inclusion of thyroid cancer to be added to the list of diseases for which Camp Lejeune personnel and their families might one day be compensated, Clapp said.

The paper, which underwent external peer review, is being submitted for publication, agency officials said.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
January 31, 2024: While many other users have been dissatisfied with the NH90 helicopter; Ukraine regards these helicopters as useful even if they are second rate in the West. Compared to existing Russian helicopters Ukraine is using, the recycled NH90s are still an improvement. Australia has 45 NH90s and can either destroy them or donate them as is. If there were buyers, these older NH90s would be worth $20 million each. There are no buyers because the NH90 was a failed European effort to compete with American helicopters. NH90 was superior to Russian models and Russia is the only other major helicopter supplier.

In 2022 Norway became the latest in a long list of dissatisfied customers for the Airbus NH90 helicopters. These helicopters have been in production since 1995 and entered service in 2007. Norway was one of the first customers, ordering 14 NH90s in 2001 for naval and coast guard duties. Airbus agreed to deliver these by 2008 but was not able to deliver on time and delays continued for over a decade. Norway wanted to cancel the deal and get a refund for payments already made. This is nothing new for the NH90 and these disputes tend to eventually be settled before ending up in a very newsworthy trial with more testimony and detail than Airbus wants to see publicized.

The Norway nightmare comes after an even more embarrassing example in 2021 when Australia decided to retire its 48 NH90 helicopters early and replace them with cheaper and more reliable American UH-60s. Australia called its 48 NH90s the MRH90. Six of the Australian helicopters were the Airbus MRH-90 ASW anti-submarine warfare model. These are being replaced by six more American MH-60R helicopters for ASW work. The navy already has some MH-60Rs and that experience reinforced the UH-60 reputation for being cheaper to operate per flight hour as well as cheaper to buy than the NH90.

The new UH/MH-60s for Australia will join 29 AH-64E Apache gunships also ordered to replace 22 Airbus Tiger gunships that began arriving in 2004. Australia decided to replace the Tigers in 2016 for many of the same reasons that made the MRH-90s expendable. It took longer to select a new gunship, even though there were only three viable candidates: the AH-64E and smaller and cheaper models like the American AH-1Z and Italian A129. The only other producer of military transport and gunship helicopters is Russia, and these are rarely considered by Western buyers because of performance issues.

The Tiger costs about as much as the AH-64, a heavier ten-ton gunship that has been in service since the 1980s. The six-ton Tiger has a crew of two and a max speed of 280 kilometers an hour. It cruises at 230 kilometers an hour and usually stays in the air about three hours per sortie. It is armed with a 30mm automatic cannon, 70mm rocket pods with 19 rockets per pod, and various types of air-to-ground missiles. Tiger can carry up to eight Hellfire type missiles at once. It can also carry four French Mistral anti-aircraft missiles.

The first twelve Australian AH-64s will arrive in 2026 and the rest by 2028. The AH-64E is the latest iteration of the famous tank buster gunship which has been used by the U.S. Army since 1984 when the AH-64A entered service. So far about 2,400 Apaches have been delivered to customers in various versions. The latest model, the AH-64E, entered service in 2011 and attracted many export customers, including India, Saudi Arabia, and Britain. The AH-64 is a heavily armed and armored attack helicopter with a maximum takeoff weight of 11.5 tons. Efforts to develop a replacement for Apache have had a difficult time coming up with a new gunship that is worth the cost of developing to replace the constantly upgraded Apache. For that reason, production of Apache is expected to continue until at least 2040 and possibly even 2050. The Apache of 2021 is a much different and better helicopter than the original 1986 model.

The basic shape of the helicopter gunship has not changed since the AH-1 first appeared in the 1960s. As China has discovered, designing, and building helicopters is even more difficult than developing jet fighters and commercial airliners. Usable helicopters did not appear until 1945 but widely useful military and civilian models did not appear until the late 1950s when the UH-1 entered service.

Airbus became a serious competitor for American commercial air transport manufacturers but was less successful with their Eurocopter division, which incorporated French, German, and Spanish helicopter manufacturers. There are still British and Italian firms competing for military and civilian sales. Eurocopter took on the UH-60/AH-64 dominance of the military helicopter market and largely failed to match the success of the American manufacturers.

The MH-60R and MRH90 are similar in capabilities but the MRH90 costs about 20 percent more. MH-60R entered service in 1985 and is considered more reliable than the MRH90, which entered service in 2007 and had a lot of equipment and reliability problems, some of them still unresolved. Despite that 471 have been built so far. The UH-60 model has been produced in large numbers so far, with more than 4,000 in service or on order.

In 2010 Australia received eight of the 50 NH90 helicopters it ordered and was not happy with the aircraft's performance. The Australian experience was similar to what the Germans and other customers encountered with their NH90s. The overall complaint is poor reliability, design, and durability. Many more spare parts must be stocked than was originally planned. There have been long waits to get needed spares from the manufacturer NHIndustries, which is a French division Airbus that develops and produces military helicopters.

The German Army conducted an evaluation of their new NH90 helicopters and were not pleased. Their conclusion was that, for combat missions, another model helicopter should be used whenever possible. A particular problem was the lack of ground clearance. The NH-90 can't land on a piece of ground with any obstacles higher than 16 cm. That makes many battlefield landing zones problematic. That assumes you can even get on a NH90 and find a seat. The passenger seats cannot hold more than 110 kg (242 pounds). Combat equipment for German troops weighs 25 kg (55 pounds), meaning any soldier weighing more than 85 kg (187 pounds) must take stuff off, put it on the floor, then quickly put it back on before exiting. Then there's the floor, it's not very sturdy, and combat troops using the helicopter for a short while cause damage that takes the helicopter out of action for repairs. Worse, there is the rear ramp. It cannot support troops carrying all their equipment, making it useless for rapid exits of combat troops. There is not enough room in the passenger compartment for door gunners. There are no strap downs for larger weapons, like portable rocket launchers or anti-aircraft missiles. The passenger compartment also does not allow for carrying cargo and passengers at the same time. The winch is not sturdy enough for commandos to perform fast roping operations. And so on. The Germans were not pleased with the NH-90.

Germany was one of the first customers for the NH-90s and plans to procure 122. It may take until 2030 to complete that purchase. The ten-ton NH-90 can carry 21 troops or twelve casualties on stretchers, plus the crew of two. It first flew in 1995.

Europe already has several veteran helicopter manufacturers, as does the United States. Airbus wants to be competitive across a wide range of aircraft and has found that experience is more expensive and time-consuming than expected. Their experience in Australia and Norway are examples of how initial success is difficult to sustain.
By Jan Strupczewski

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -European Union leaders will propose on Thursday holding an annual debate on a planned 50 billion euro ($54 billion) aid package for Ukraine in an effort to overcome opposition from Hungary, according to draft summit conclusions.

The EU aid is to help cover Ukraine's needs for 2024-2027, with 33 billion euros in cheap loans and 17 billion in grants from the EU budget to give Kyiv stable financing as it fights off Russia's invasion.

Hungary, which cultivates close ties with Moscow, has been pushing for an annual review that would give it a right to veto the disbursements every year. This goes against the idea of predictable funding and other EU countries reject it, but if the money is to come from the EU budget, it requires unanimity among the 27 EU countries, so Hungarian consent is necessary.

In the latest version of the draft summit conclusions, seen by Reuters, EU leaders say they could hold yearly debates on how the EU money is being spent by Ukraine, based on reports by the European Commission.

This would not give Hungary a right to veto the money, but it could air concerns.

"The European Council will hold a debate each year on the implementation of the facility with a view to providing guidance on the EU approach towards the situation stemming from Russias war of aggression against Ukraine," the draft read.

It was not clear if Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban will agree to such a deal on Thursday.

HUNGARY STILL NOT ON BOARD

On Wednesday, Hungary's ambassador told his EU counterparts at a preparatory meeting that Budapest still wanted the veto mechanism and other EU countries rejected it.

Diplomats also say Budapest wants not only an annual veto right, but also does not wish to contribute to higher servicing costs of joint EU borrowing for the recovery fund, arguing it had not received its money because of rule of law concerns.

Because the recovery funds for Hungary are still frozen and the scheme runs out in 2026, Budapest also wants the EU to extend the life of the programme by two years to 2028.

EU diplomats and officials argue neither an exemption from contributing to higher interest costs nor an extension of the recovery fund programme are legally possible.

Diplomats said use of the EU budget, called a "solution at 27" because all countries must sign off, was still the preferred outcome, but that the 26 EU countries other than Hungary could also find a solution outside the EU budget among themselves, if needed, to secure Ukraine funds.

"If a solution at 27 is impossible, then we will have to move at 26," one EU diplomat said after a discussion of EU ambassadors on the issue.

Organising financing outside the EU budget, without the need for Hungarian approval, would be more expensive and complex and more politically challenging, but perfectly possible using the same method the EU employed to pay out 18 billion euros to Kyiv in 2023, diplomats said.

($1 = 0.9240 euros)

(Reporting by Jan Strupczewski, writing by Philip Blenkinsop; editing by Julia Payne and Andrew Cawthorne)
A federal judge in Florida on Wednesday dismissed Disney's lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis over the loss of a long-standing planning district, ruling that Disney lacked standing to bring the suit.

U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor said Disney's claims of injury resulting from the appointment of board members to a new district created by Florida lawmakers was "in the past."

Disney also failed to show damages from specific actions the new board has taken or will take because of the governors alleged control of it, Winsor wrote.

"In fact, Disney has not alleged any specific injury from any board action," Winsor said.

Winsor was nominated by President Donald Trump in 2018 and was sworn in in 2019.

A Disney spokesperson said in a statement following the ruling:

This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here. If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with. We are determined to press forward with our case.

A spokesperson for DeSantis said in a statement:

"As stated by Governor DeSantis when he signed HB 9-B, the Corporate Kingdom is over. The days of Disney controlling its own government and being placed above the law are long gone. The federal courts decision made it clear that Governor DeSantis was correct: Disney is still just one of many corporations in the state, and they do not have a right to their own special government. In short  as long predicted, case dismissed."

The origins of the suit lie in the battle over the passage of a bill, which DeSantis signed into law in summer 2022, that limited discussion of gender and sexuality in schools. Dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by opponents, the bill restricted teaching those subjects to fourth grade and above.

Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Joe Burbank / Tribune News Service via Getty Images file )

Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek came out against the bill following vocal opposition on social media from Disney employees.

In response, Florida state lawmakers began taking steps to dismantle what was then known as Disney's Reedy Creek Improvement District, the planning area it had maintained de facto control over since the late-1960s. That control allowed the company to make building and infrastructure changes in and around Walt Disney World.

Last February, the Legislature effectively stripped away Disney's control over Reedy Creek, renaming it the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and appointing five officials backed by DeSantis to serve on a newly created board.

Disney sued, claiming DeSantis and the Legislature had dissolved Reedy Creek in retaliation for and in violation of the company's First Amendment rights. It alleged in a separate lawsuit that the new Oversight District was failing to properly preserve records.

In December, The Associated Press reported that about 50 out of 370 employees had left the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District since it its takeover, "raising concerns that decades of institutional knowledge are departing with them, along with a reputation for a well-run government."

CORRECTION (Jan. 31, 2024, 5:40 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated what grades are covered by the law limiting discussion of gender and sexuality in schools. It restricts teaching those subjects to fourth grade and above, not third grade. It also misstated the court the judge serves on. He is a U.S. district judge, not a state judge.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade have been subpoenaed to testify at a Feb. 15 hearing about allegations that Willis has financially benefitted from Wade, her alleged romantic partner.

The subpoenas, first reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, were revealed in a lawsuit against the Fulton County district attorney's office filed by Ashleigh Merchant, the lawyer for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, who made the allegations about the relationship in an effort to have the charges dismissed.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, whos overseeing the Trump election interference case, scheduled the Feb. 15 hearing to address Romans motion to dismiss the charges and the misconduct allegations against Willis and Wade.

Merchant alleges in the lawsuit that the DAs office is not complying with the Georgia Open Records Act by intentionally stalling requests for documents. She said that the office has refused, without adequate explanation, to provide Romans legal team with many of the requested materials that are known to exist and which are not subject to any exception in the Act and some of which have been outstanding since September of 2023.

Merchant asks the court to order the DAs office to hand over the records she seeks or show that they cant be provided. She also requested that the court award her team the expenses incurred in trying to get the DA to comply with the law.

In a statement to NBC News, Jeff DiSantis, a spokesperson for Willis, said her office has provided Merchant with the information she is entitled to and an update on the status of the others, in compliance with the law.

Merchant also says in the lawsuit that Roman has asserted that Willis and Wade should be disqualified because Willis used taxpayer money to pay Wade, with whom she has had a romantic relationship at the time, and, in turn, has received financial benefits from such payments in the form of vacations, hotel stays and other personal gifts.

Former President Donald Trump moved last week to adopt Romans motion to dismiss the election interference charges, citing the allegations of an improper relationship between the prosecutors.

Willis has not responded to the allegations. A judge has given her until Feb. 2 to file a written response with the court. Willis office said she plans to do so.
Gazas Health Ministry says 150 people have been killed in the territory in the last 24 hours and an additional 313 were wounded as Israeli forces continue to battle militants, even in the northern part of the territory.

The north, where entire neighborhoods have been flattened, was the initial target of Israel's ground offensive in late October.

Israel's military said Wednesday that its forces killed more than 15 Hamas militants in northern Gaza over the past day and targeted militant infrastructure in a school.

The latest deaths bring the Palestinian death toll from Israels offensive to 26,900, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. It does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths but says most of those killed were women and children.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his call for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Hamas Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that sparked the war killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and about 250 people were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.

Currently:

 Top US diplomat set to return to the Mideast for 5th time since Gaza conflict began

 Iran threatens to decisively respond to any US strikes as Biden weighs response to Jordan attack.

 UN agencies rally around agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza as some top donors cut funding

 EU aims to launch a Red Sea naval mission within 3 weeks to protect ships from rebel attacks.

 South Africa says Israel is already ignoring UN court ruling ordering it to prevent deaths in Gaza

 Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.

Here's the latest: US SAYS ISLAMIC RESISTANCE IN IRAQ IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DRONE ATTACK IN JORDAN

WASHINGTON  The United States has attributed the drone attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday the U.S. believes the attack was planned, resourced and facilitated by the group.

The Sunday drone attack on a military base in Jordan killed the three troops and injured at least 40 others. Kirby says President Joe Biden will continue to weigh response options to the attack but the first thing you see wont be the last thing.

JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told a group of ambassadors to the United Nations from primarily European countries that Hamas has infiltrated the main aid provider to Palestinians in Gaza and that it must be shut down.

Netanyahus remarks on Wednesday follow Israel's allegations that 12 employees with the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, participated in Hamas Oct. 7 attacks in Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.

Those allegations prompted several countries to freeze funding to the agency, which fired nine of the workers. UNRWA said the agency, which employs 13,000 workers in Gaza, should not be punished for the alleged actions of a dozen employees.

Netanyahu told the group of eight visiting ambassadors that an alternative and impartial aid provider should be found.

Israel has long railed against UNRWA, accusing it of tolerating or even collaborating with Hamas and of perpetuating the 76-year-old Palestinian refugee crisis. The Israeli government has accused Hamas and other militant groups of siphoning off aid and using U.N. facilities for military purposes.

RELATIVE OF HOSTAGE SAYS ISRAEL'S LEADERS SHOULDN'T PUT POLITICS ABOVE CAPTIVES' FATE

TEL AVIV, Israel  A relative of a hostage being held in Gaza says he is concerned Israeli leaders are putting their political fortunes above the fate of the captives.

The families of hostages have been following with hope and anguish reports about a potential agreement emerging between Israel and Hamas that could set roughly 100 hostages free and bring about a halt in the war. They have also watched with trepidation as political considerations have seeped into the deliberations, with far-right members of Israels governing coalition vowing to topple the government if the deal makes too many concessions to Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday confirmed that talks were underway.

Gil Dickmann, whose cousin Carmel Gat was abducted on Oct. 7 from southern Israel, said he feels insecure about the chances for a deal. At the same time, he said the current talks appeared serious and were the first chance at progress since the one previous deal in late November.

He said he hoped Netanyahu wouldnt prioritize his political survival over the hostages freedom.

The life of the coalition should not come before the lives of the hostages, Dickmann told The Associated Press.

ISRAELI PROTESTERS TRY TO BLOCK AID TRUCKS

JERUSALEM  Dozens of Israeli protesters have tried to block humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, despite an order barring them from approaching a border crossing the trucks are using.

According to video released by an activist group behind the demonstrations, police, including mounted officers, scuffled with the protesters Wednesday.

The protesters have been gathering near the Kerem Shalom crossing for several days, saying aid should not be allowed into Gaza while hostages are still being held there. They say the aid could act as leverage to force Hamas to release the hostages.

Activists said up to 40 people were detained, a figure that could not be independently confirmed. Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Israeli military this week sealed the area to prevent such protests from recurring. It was not immediately clear how close the crowd got to the crossing, and deliveries into Gaza did not appear to be disrupted.

Kerem Shalom is the main goods crossing between Israel and Gaza.

Israel imposed a siege on Gaza in the first days of the war barring the entry of aid. While it relented under U.S. pressure, the amount of aid has been a fraction of what went into the territory before the war.

UN HUMANITARIAN AID CHIEF SAYS RELIEF TO GAZA IS GROSSLY INADEQUATE

UNITED NATIONS  In a passionate address to the U.N. Security Council, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths called for Israel to allow more aid into Gaza.

Griffiths frequently broke from his prepared remarks as he made his address Wednesday.

The relief remains grossly inadequate. And to say its grossly inadequate, as it says here, is grossly inadequate. Its much, much more difficult, Griffiths said. Its the congestion, its the rain, its the lack of certainty about what tomorrow will bring.

NETANYAHU SAYS EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO TRY TO SECURE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES

JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip that efforts were underway to bring about the captives release.

Netanyahu told the representatives of 18 families that efforts were being made at these moments to return the hostages. In a statement about the meeting from his office Wednesday, he did not disclose details on talks on a new hostage release agreement.

Netanyahu met the families as Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. were mediating talks meant to strike a deal between Israel and Hamas that could free the roughly 100 remaining hostages and usher in a temporary cease-fire in Gaza.

Hamas-led militants captured about 250 people, including children, women and older people, in their Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, an assault that triggered the war.

More than 100 captives, mostly women and children, were released during the first and only deal between the sides in late November.

WHO SAYS GAZA HEALTH SYSTEM IS USING DONKEY CARTS TO TRANSPORT PATIENTS

GENEVA  The head of the World Health Organization said the destroyed health system in Gaza has resorted to using donkey carts to transport injured patients, and that one major hospital has only one functional ambulance.

At a press briefing Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said more than 100,000 Gaza residents are either dead, injured, missing or presumed dead in the war with Israel.

Tedros added that the risk of famine is high, with many medical staff and patients receiving only one meal per day.

He warned that decisions by donor countries to pause funds for UNWRA, the biggest supplier of humanitarian aid in the crisis, will have catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza.

The United States and more than a dozen other countries have announced plans to suspend contributions to UNRWA after Israel alleged that 12 of its workers participated in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel. U.N. officials fired most of the workers and vowed an investigation.

US SANCTIONS COMPANIES AND PERSON IN LEBANON AND TURKEY

BEIRUT  The U.S. slapped sanctions Wednesday on three companies and one person in Lebanon and Turkey, accusing them of funneling funds to Irans Revolutionary Guard and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The U.S. Treasury announced sanctions on Turkish company Mira Ihracat Ithalat Petrol (Mira), which it said purchases, transports, and sells Iranian commodities on the global market; on its chief executive, Ibrahim Talal al-Uwayr; and on Lebanon-based Yara Offshore SAL and Hydro Company for Drilling Equipment Rental, both of which it said have sold large quantities of Iranian goods to Syria.

The sanctioned companies generated hundreds of millions of dollars worth of revenue from selling Iranian commodities, including to the Syrian government, the U.S. Treasury said in a statement.

The move comes as the region is waiting for Washingtons response to a strike, likely launched by one of the regions Iranian-back militias, that killed three U.S. troops Sunday at a base in Jordan near the Syrian border.

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL AGAIN CALLS FOR A CEASE-FIRE

UNITED NATIONS  U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called again for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Speaking to the U.N.s Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Guterres said he condemned the horrifying attacks by Hamas and other groups but at the same time, nothing can justify the collective punishment of the people in Gaza.

The ongoing conflict and relentless bombardment by Israeli forces across Gaza have resulted in killings of civilians and destruction at a pace and scale unlike anything we have witnessed in recent years, Guterres said. I am horrified by incessant military strikes that have killed and maimed civilians and protected personnel, and that have damaged or destroyed civilian infrastructure.

EU AIMS TO LAUNCH A RED SEA NAVAL MISSION WITHIN 3 WEEKS

BRUSSELS  The European Union plans to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea within three weeks to help defend cargo ships against attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen that are hampering trade and driving up prices, the blocs top diplomat said Wednesday.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he wants the mission to be up and running by Feb. 17. Officials say that seven EU countries are ready to provide ships or planes. Belgium has already committed to send a frigate. Germany is expected to do the same.

Last week, U.S. and British forces bombed multiple targets in eight locations used by the Iranian-backed Houthis. It was the second time the two allies have conducted coordinated retaliatory strikes on the rebels missile-launching capabilities.

The Houthis have waged a persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October, but Borrell insisted that the EU mission will not take part in any military strikes.
By Idrees Ali, Alexandra Alper and Michael Martina

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Wednesday added more than a dozen Chinese companies to a list created by the Defense Department to highlight firms it says are allegedly working with Beijing's military, as part of a broader effort to keep American technology from aiding China.

New additions to the list, first reported by Reuters, were posted on the Department of Defense website and include memory chip maker YMTC, artificial intelligence company Megvii, lidar maker Hesai Technology and tech company NetPosa.

Amid strained ties between the world's two biggest economies, the updated list is one of numerous actions Washington has taken in recent years to highlight and restrict Chinese companies that is says may strengthen Beijing's military.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said China opposed the move and called it an abuse of state power, adding that it ran counter to the U.S.'s "alleged commitment to market competition and international fair trade."

China's foreign ministry urged the United States to "immediately rectify the above discriminatory practices" and provide Chinese firms "a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment" to operate in.

"(This) violates the principles of market competition and international economic and trade rules that it has always advocated, and undermines the confidence of foreign enterprises in investing and operating in the United States," spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular briefing on Thursday.

Hesai Group said it does not sell products to any military in any country and it does not have ties with any military. The company said it was disappointed to be added to the list.

YMTC, and Megvii did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

While being placed on the list doesn't involve immediate bans, it can be a blow to designated companies' reputations and represents a stark warning to U.S. entities and companies about the risks of conducting business with them. It could also add pressure on the Treasury Department to sanction the companies.

In addition, the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act added some teeth to the "Section 1260H" list, prohibiting the Defense Department under Section 805 of the law in coming years from contracting with any of the designated companies.

"The Defense Department's updated 1260H list underscores China's unwavering commitment to its military-civil fusion strategy," said Craig Singleton, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

"Being listed on 1260H poses major reputational risks to Chinese companies," he added, noting that some Chinese firms have tried to be removed from the list.

Other firms added on Wednesday include China Three Gorges Corp, China Construction Technology Co and Yitu Network Technology, as well as publicly traded companies Chengdu JOUAV Automation Tech Co, Chengdu M&S Electronics Technology Co, Guizhou Aviation Technical Development Co, and ShenZhen Consys Science & Technology Co.

They join previously listed aviation company AVIC, BGI Genomics Co, China Mobile, energy company CNOOC and China Railway Construction Corp.

Separately on Wednesday, senior U.S. officials, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, warned that hackers linked to China's government are preparing to cause "real-world harm" by targeting critical U.S. infrastructure, such as water treatment plants, the electric grid, oil and natural gas pipelines, and transportation hubs.

(Reporting by Alexandra Alper, Michael Martina, Karen Freifeld and Idrees Ali; Additional reporting by Antoni Slodkowski in Beijing; Editing by Chris Sanders, Doina Chiacu, Lisa Shumaker, Jonathan Oatis, Sonali Paul and Tomasz Janowski)
The New Mexico Justice Department has declined to file charges against police officers who went to the wrong address on a call last year and fatally shot the homeowner when he answered the door armed with a gun.

The Justice Department said that after a review, there is no basis for pursuing a criminal prosecution against three Farmington police officers.

The fatal shooting of Robert Dotson, 52, on April 5 prompted an apology from Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe, who called it a tragedy.

The officers were responding to a domestic violence-related call at a house around 11:30 that night, but they mistakenly went to a different house across the street, officials have said.

Video released by the police department shows the officers discussing whether they were at the right address before the door opens and the shooting occurs.

The state Justice Department review included a report by Seth W. Stoughton, a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, whom the state attorney generals office hired to review the shooting.

Stoughton wrote in his report that the way the officers approached the Dotson home was reasonable, even though they approached the incorrect dwelling.

In this case, Mr. Dotson opened the front door and storm door, then partially exited the house while raising a firearm into a firing position, pointed in the direction of the officers, Stoughton wrote.

The state Justice Department notified the local district attorney and Hebbe, the police chief, of its decision Friday, the department said in a statement.

Robert Dotson and wife Kim Dotson. (Courtesy Law Office of Mark A. Curnutt)

Department prosecutors also met with members of Dotson's family to explain the decision, the statement said.

Dotson was a longtime auto mechanic and a doting family man, his wife said. An attorney for the family, who has sued the city of Farmington and the three officers involved, has said Dotson was blinded by a flashlight when he opened the door.

"Why would he not raise his gun? said the attorney, Tom Clark.

The decision by the state Department of Justice likely means the end of any possible state criminal charges against the officers, Doug Perrin, an attorney for the Dotson family, said. He wasnt aware of any other agency considering charges.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in New Mexico, alleges that the first officer who shot at Dotson "opened fire instantly" and that the two others then also fired.

"Mr. Dotson opened his front door and was blinded by police flashlights. The police did not announce themselves, and Mr. Dotson had no idea who was in his yard shining bright lights at him," the suit says.

It seeks damages under the Wrongful Death Act, as well as compensatory and punitive damages. It does not specify dollar amounts.
By Lucy Craymer

WELLINGTON (Reuters) -New Zealand will start talks on Wednesday with Australia about cooperating with the AUKUS trilateral defence partnership between, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said, adding Washington needed to do more in the Pacific to counter other political influences there.

Peters heads to Australia on Wednesday for an inaugural joint meeting of New Zealand and Australian foreign and defence ministers, and said the talks would also canvas what joining an expanded AUKUS grouping of Australia, Britain and the U.S. would mean for Wellington.

Pillar two (of AUKUS) is the examination we're going to look at beginning tonight and tomorrow and going forward," he told Reuters in an interview.

"Pillar two" of the AUKUS pact is separate from the first pillar designed to deliver nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia, but what any new agreement would entail is not yet public. New Zealand has had a nuclear free policy since the 1980s, damaging defence ties with the U.S., and there has been no indication this will change.

Peters also said the U.S. had neglected the Pacific since the Second World War, and that had created a vacuum that others had filled.

"They have certainly upped their game, but they need to work with greater intensity on the immediate problems at the ground level of many of the island nations, he said.

Peters did not mention China by name, but jostling between Washington and Beijing for influence in the Pacific has increased in recent years over issues including security, defence, aid and infrastructure.

Peters, who held the role of foreign minister from 2005 to 2008 and again from 2017 to 2020, returned to the role in late 2023 when a new conservative coalition government was elected.

In 2017, Peters launched a Pacific Reset pouring aid and boosting engagement with the region in an effort to woo small neighbouring Pacific island nations at a time when China was dramatically increasing its presence in the region.

Peters criticised the prior government for not taking a stand on political issues.

Taking some glorified isolationist stance in this new environment is not in our national interest, he said.

Its so fundamental that if you dont have capacity to ensure youve got peace in any environment then theres a high likelihood that youre not going to have it.

The current New Zealand government has asked ministries to cut spending since they came into office as they try to return the countrys accounts to surplus. Peters, however, said that he would like to be able to expand the reach of the countrys foreign office.

We are not an indulgent Foreign Service, we are undercooked compared to those countries we compare ourselves to, Peters said. We need more people out there particularly on the trade side.

New Zealand was not in a benign security environment and the country needed to build secure relationships and partnerships in the region, he said.

We are going to make, alongside our friends, a stand for the safety and the security of the part of the world we live in."

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
A Pennsylvania man has been arrested after allegedly killing his father, before displaying his decapitated head in a gruesome YouTube video while spouting right-wing conspiracy theories.

Justin Mohn, 32, is accused of killing his father, Michael Mohn, police told NBC News. While police did not release the victims age, public records show him to be 68.

Mohn was taken into custody about 100 miles away from the crime scene on suspicion of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and possessing an instrument of crime with intent, according to a court docket released early Wednesday.

He was arraigned at 4 a.m. and denied bail, Middletown Township Police Capt. Pete Feeney said.

In the YouTube video, which was titled "Mohn's Militia - Call To Arms For American Patriots" and is cited in a police complaint, Mohn is seen wearing gloves and holding his father's head in a plastic bag. Later, the head can be seen in a cooking pot.

Mohn says his father was a federal employee for 20 years and refers to him as a traitor, calling for the death of all federal officials and attacking President Joe Biden's administration, the Black Lives Matter movement, the LGBTQ community and antifa activists. YouTube removed the video, which is more than 14 minutes long, hours after it was posted.

PA man arrested after allegedly decapitating his father and posting video of it on YouTube (YouTube)

In a statement, a YouTube spokesperson said the video was taken down because of its "strict policies prohibiting graphic violence and violent extremism."

"The video was removed for violating our graphic violence policy and Justin Mohns channel was terminated in line with our violent extremism policies. Our teams are closely tracking to remove any re-uploads of the video, the statement said.

Prior federal lawsuits

Mohn has filed at least three lawsuits against federal agencies, including the U.S. government, claiming they negligently caused him to take out student loans between 2010 and his graduation from Pennsylvania State University in 2014, a court filing shows.

He paid a filing fee of $2,000 and, after his claims were dismissed, he sought to have the judge recused from the case because of what he claimed was a personal bias and a conflicting personal financial interest.

In a legal opinion on the case, the judge called the accusations entirely speculative and without factual basis and said Mohns complaints were the inaccurate allegations of a disappointed college graduate.

Mohn also sued his former employer, Progressive Insurance, in 2020, alleging wrongful termination and sex discrimination against men. He was hired as a customer service representative in October 2016 and was fired in August 2017 after he kicked open the facilitys doors, court records show.

A district court ruled that Mohn failed to establish a case of discrimination.

When Mohn was filing his lawsuit, his parents were giving him about $540 a month, he indicated in the court filing. Shortly before Progressive fired him, he had taken a trip to Vegas to see if he could pursue a music career, according to the lawsuit.

He represented himself in the lawsuits.

Mohn was highly active on social media, where he promoted his self-released music and books, including dystopian science fiction.

A nonfiction book released via Amazon in 2017, titled "The Revolution Leaders Survival Guide," contains the transcript of a letter to then-President Donald Trump warning of "a peaceful revolution helped led by the author if positive change does not come to America and the world soon."

Gruesome scene

The suspect's mother, Denice Mohn, found his father's body and called police around 7 p.m. Tuesday.

When police arrived at the family home in Middletown Township, they found Michael Mohn in a downstairs bathroom, decapitated, with a large amount of blood around him, according to a police complaint. A machete and a large kitchen knife were found in the bathtub.

Police found Michael Mohns head inside a plastic bag in a cooking pot in a bedroom next to the bathroom, according to the complaint. They also found bloody, clear rubber gloves in another bedroom. In the YouTube video, the suspect is seen wearing similar gloves.

Middletown Pennsylvania Police Outside House (via WCAU)

Denice Mohn told police that shed last been home at 2 p.m. and that her son was the only person there with his father. When she returned to the home that evening shortly before calling police, her son was missing along with a car registered to her husband that had been in the driveway, according to the complaint.

Police later stopped Mohn in Fort Indiantown Gap, about 100 miles away from the crime scene, driving the car that was missing from the family home. Fort Indiantown Gap, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has a National Guard training facility.

We didnt know where he was going and what his intentions were when he left here, Feeney said. Fortunately, we were able to get a location based on his cellphone.

The phone pinged near the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery and again just outside the National Guard base, where police found the car outside, Angela Watson of Pennsylvania's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, which oversees the National Guard, said Wednesday.

Mohn had jumped over a fence and entered the base, she said.

The National Guard and the Pennsylvania State Police were both contacted to help find Mohn, and officers took him into custody "without incident" around 9:25 p.m., Watson said. She added that Mohn was "armed with a firearm." No one was injured when he was on the base.

Middletown Township Detective Lt. Stephen Forman said police had had a couple of prior contacts with the suspect, some as far back as 10 years ago and some more recent.

There was no attorney listed for Mohn in court records.
A plaque commemorating the Black family who owned a patch of California beach that was seized in 1924 by segregationist government officials has been stolen, authorities in Manhattan Beach said this week.

The copper plaque at Bruce's Beach Park was dedicated last year after family heirs sold the land back to the government for $20 million.

"The Manhattan Beach Police Department immediately opened an investigation to identify, locate, and apprehend those responsible for this unfortunate incident," the department said.

There are no leads in the case, city spokesperson Alexandra Latragna said.

"There hasnt been any evidence uncovered that this was related to a hate crime," she said.

The sign and memorial for Bruce's Beach (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images file)

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who championed returning Bruce's Beach to the family that originally owned the land, said Tuesday that the plaque was stolen from Bruce's Beach Park, which is next to the historic Bruce family parcels but occupies land the family never owned.

Hahn said the theft may open "old wounds" but expressed hope that the crime was targeted because of its material and not because of what it recognizes.

"I hope that the plaques theft is unrelated to the painful history of Bruces Beach and my decision to return the property to the Bruce family, and more related to the string of recent bronze thefts we have seen," she said in a statement.

The Bruces Beach Park plaque is made of bronze, which is roughly 88% copper and 12% tin. The park is operated by the city of Manhattan Beach.

The plaque was installed in February 2023 and dedicated the next month. "The stolen plaque held significant historical and cultural value," the Manhattan Beach Police Department said.

The plaque notes that the Bruces settled on the Strand in Manhattan Beach after they were turned away from other coastal communities. It says the process of seizing their property also ensnared the property of neighboring Black families, as well as that of several white families who had plans to develop their parcels.

"The city's actions at the time were racially motivated and wrong," the plaque says.

It expresses hope for a future that includes "respect and inclusion."

The county has its own plaque atop the former Bruce's Beach parcels, and it remained there this week, Hahn said.

County government took over the Bruces' contiguous, beachside parcels in 1995 in a series of transactions involving the city and the state. Charles and Willa Bruce purchased the land in 1912 and 1920 and developed the property into Bruce's Lodge, which attracted Black tourists, as well as Black homeowners who wanted to live or vacation near the attraction.

Some white neighbors responded with hostility, racism and legislation. The City Council moved to take the property in 1924 under the guise of building a park. By 1927, the Bruces, who had arrived as a vanguard in the Western wing of the Great Migration away from the Jim Crow South, had moved away.

The park that the City Council said would be built when it moved to take the property in 1924 remained unbuilt until 1956.

In 2022, the county returned the property to Bruce family heirs. The next year, the family sold it back to the county for $20 million, sparking discussion about reparations and the value of a gilded stretch of coast shouldered with heavy history.

At the time, Hahn was happy to see the Bruces' heirs take the money.

"The seizure of Bruces Beach nearly a century ago was an injustice inflicted upon not just Willa and Charles Bruce but generations of their descendants who almost certainly would have been millionaires," she said last year.

Latragna, the city spokesperson, said the investigation into the theft continues.
January 31, 2024: The West African nation of Mali faces another bad year in 2024. That is saying something because this nation of 23 million is one of the most corrupt in the world and also one of the ten poorest in the world. Per capita GDP is about a thousand dollars and most of the population are subsistence farmers. About 70 percent of the population are farmers and their crops account for about 40 percent of GDP. Most of the exports are cotton and livestock. Then there is gold. Mali is one of the top 20 gold producers.

Politics is complicated by high levels of corruption, ethnic rivalries, and Islamic terrorism in the north. This kept Mali from achieving a lasting peace and much prosperity in the north. Since 2012, when a separatist rebellion in the north was defeated, there have been efforts to revive the fragile economy up there. In 2021 the situation got worse when there was another military coup. The Mali military has staged three government takeovers since 2012. The last one, in May 2021, was because of an internal dispute within the military. Since the May 2021 coup foreign donors have warned that most of the foreign aid would stop coming if Mali did not carry out a significant reduction in corruption, government ineffectiveness and overall instability. None of these three military takeovers were about corruption, but rather anger at the corrupt politicians stealing money meant to finance operations against Islamic terrorist and separatist minorities in the north. The colonels running the military government are unwilling to step down and are trying to make it on their own, despite the large number of UN peacekeepers and French troops dealing with the Islamic terrorist problem up north.

The May coup was led by the army colonel who had earlier been appointed deputy head of the CNT (National Transitional Council). The colonel replaced the civilian who originally held the job as CNT leader. After that the military-dominated CNT rapidly replaced many existing CNT officials with army officers or civilians known to be pro-military. When foreign donors, including France, criticized this, the army threatened to seek financial aid elsewhere. There was no elsewhere for the Mali coup leaders, at least not one they could afford. The Mali officers threats said a lot about their motives, which was mainly about maintaining their power and helping themselves to a portion of foreign aid. The coup leaders did have one source of wealth, the Mali gold mines. In late 2021 protestors tried to block access to one of the largest mines, but that effort only lasted a few days before the security forces cleared the roads. Since then, exports have been stable although not much of the income has been spent on improving infrastructure. A lot of the export income still disappears into the foreign bank accounts of government officials.

Mali has long had problems in the sparsely populated north, where most of the population is Tuareg or Arab. Most of the Mali population is black African and prefers to live south of the Niger River in the more populated and prosperous south. Animosity between dark skinned Africans and lighter skinned people from the north has been around as long as the two groups have been in contact. Arabs first moved south of the Sahara in large numbers over a thousand years ago and often came as conquerors and slavers. Although many of the black Africans encountered converted to Islam, the lighter skinned Arabs, including the non-Arab Tuareg and Berbers, considered themselves superior. This racist attitude has persisted, and the black Africans often reciprocated. This is one reason why the majority Tuareg of northern Mali constantly rebel. Not only is the Mali government corrupt but it is dominated by black Africans, which is what 90 percent of Malians are. Officially, Islam and most African governments deny that such ethnic tensions exist. This in itself is progress, but the animosities remain and often become quite deadly. The slaving also continues and sometimes gets into the news. This happened a lot in Sudan since the 1990s as the government encouraged Arabized tribes to raid non-Moslem black African tribes and take slaves. In northern Mali retreating al Qaeda men sometimes took newly enslaved blacks with them.

Meanwhile the CMA (Coordination of Azawad Movements) coalition in the north has agreed to put aside their disagreements and form a unified group. CMA had long been a pro-government Tuareg coalition that had not resolved all their clan and family disputes. Azawad is the Tuareg term for their homeland in northern Mali and several other North African nations. The 2015 peace deal ended the Tuareg support for Islamic terrorism, but not the ethnic animosities. These local, and often ancient, disagreements and feuds are often not connected with the 2012 rebellion in the north nor the continuing Islamic terrorism problems, but they do cause security problems that interfere with rebuilding the economy and much else. The Tuareg peace deal was stalled for years because the black majority in the south did not want to even consider granting as much autonomy as the Tuaregs demanded. The two groups have always been at odds but were only united in the same country by the colonial French in the 19th century. Like most African countries that were formerly European colonies, dividing the post-colonial nation is not an acceptable option and the colonial borders are considered sacrosanct.

The current mess began when France took swift action in January 2013 by leading a military operation to clear Islamic terrorists out of northern Mali. Aided by Chad and a growing number of other African peacekeeping contingents, this effort continues and is somewhat open ended. The French acted because in 2012 Tuareg tribal rebels (with the help of al Qaeda affiliated Islamic terrorists) in northern Mali chased out government forces and declared a separate Tuareg state. The Mali army mutinied because of a lack of support from the corrupt government down south and took control of the capital. The army is still in charge and not showing any signs of confirming the old peace deals with the CMA.

Several Islamic terror groups maintain bases in Mali, near the Niger border. The most prominent of these is ISGS (Islamic States in Greater Sahara). Islamic terrorists near the Niger border took advantage of the departure of French counterterrorism forces in 2021 by seizing and holding territory in Mali. This began with more attacks on the Niger border. The departing French and G5 counter-terrorism forces had kept the Islamic terrorists out of Mali. The Mali army and a small number of Russian Wagner Group military contractors have been unable, or unwilling, to carry on with that effort or prevent the Islamic terror groups from crossing the border and advancing into Mali. ISGS is one of the two ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) groups in the region. When they showed up in 2018, ISGS operated mainly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, especially the area where the three borders meet.

Since late 2022 ISGS have been working to take control of the border between Mali and Niger. Mali responded with soldiers and a handful of Wagner Group mercenaries but that was unsuccessful. After that Mali did nothing about the situation as its security forces and the UN peacekeepers were needed elsewhere. The Niger government was also unable to respond and sought to negotiate a deal with ISGS. Appearing in 2015 as an affiliate of ISIL and part of ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) that changed in 2021 when ISGS declared itself separate from ISWAP and declared northern Mali and some areas in Niger and Burkina Faso its future caliphate. The ISIL affiliated Islamic terrorists are far more violent than the more numerous al Qaeda. This also means casualties for the 12,000 UN peacekeepers. ISGS violence involves attacks on Islamic terror groups that refuse to take orders from ISIL.

The tri-border (Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso) area has been a terrorist hotspot since 2018 because Islamic terror groups can just cross the border to escape any effective counterterrorism efforts. For that reason, this area has been called the Menaka Region. Previously this area was just part of the larger Gao Region, centered on one of the few cities in the north. The area being fought over is near where the borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso meet. Menaka has become ungovernable because so many Islamic terrorists and bandits now operate here. The French counterterrorism forces regularly searched for and attacked specific Islamic terrorist targets. The Mali government underestimated how important the French forces, with their airmobile troops, UAV surveillance and ground attack aircraft were in keeping the Islamic terrorists from establishing themselves inside Mali. The current Mali military government has no clear plan for dealing with this situation and is withdrawing its counterterrorism forces south, to protect the capital and the more prosperous and populous south. Niger has suffered five military coups since independence in 1960. The recently deposed government was the first elected government in Niger to succeed an elected government. Its a common pattern in Africa, where the generals believe they can run the government better than elected officials. This is generally untrue. The generals lack the local and international legitimacy of an elected government and tend to be less adept at government administration than the professional politicians.

In 2023 Malis military government had hoped that hiring Russian Wagner Group mercenaries would enable Mali to maintain control of northern and central Mali. These two regions have been under growing attack by Islamic terror groups, but the Russians made things worse rather than better. Malis military government is running out of people to blame for the mess they got themselves into. The problems began when the military government ordered the independent French Barkhane counterterrorism force out of Mali, and it was gone by the end of 2021. Since then, Mali forced the 15,000 UN peacekeepers to start withdrawing.

The government forced the French and G5 peacekeepers out by the end of 2021. In 2017 Mali, Chad, Niger, the Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso had agreed to form a new G5 counter-terrorism force that would work in cooperation with the similar but larger and better equipped French force that had been operating in the Sahel since 2014. The Sahel is the semi-desert area south of the Sahara Desert that covers much of northern Africa.

Back then the French concluded that the Sahel was still troubled by thousands of Islamic terrorists and that this situation could not be taken care of quickly. In order to maintain pressure on the Islamic terrorists, France established a special force of 3,000 troops to fight Islamic terrorists throughout the Sahel, particularly Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso. This French force grew to some 4,000 troops equipped with 200 light armored vehicles, 20 transport and attack helicopters, six jet fighters and three large UAVs. There are also two twin engine C-160 air transports available for use within the Sahel. Supplies and reinforcements were regularly flown in using long-range transports (like the C-17) belonging to NATO allies (especially the U.S. and Britain). From the beginning the French force included a thousand French troops in Mali and the rest dispersed to other Sahel bases and ready to quickly move anywhere in the region that Islamic terrorist activity had been detected. The G5 nations already cooperated by sharing intelligence and providing quick access to their territory by the French force. In addition, the Americans provided satellite and UAV surveillance and other intel services (especially analysis and access to nearly all American data on Islamic terrorist activities in the region). Each of the G5 member countries contribute from 500 to 2,000 personnel and consist largely of special operations troops. Many of these troops have already worked with their French counterparts or been trained by French or American special operations advisors.

All this was meant to keep the Islamic terrorists in the Sahel weak and disorganized. That worked until 2023 when the current Mali military government ordered the French/G5 force out, but AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb), which has been around since 2007, was still in business as gangsters smuggling drugs and illegal migrants north and getting support from Islamic terrorists in Europe and the Persian Gulf. Islamic terrorists continue to carry out attacks in Mali, mainly the north and in the G5 states to let the world know that Islamic terrorists were still present in the area.

The peacekeepers were eager to be gone from Mali. That was because of their high casualty rate. UN peacekeepers in Mali suffered 26 dead during 2016, the highest number of any UN peacekeeping operation and 90 percent of UN peacekeeper deaths in 2016, even though the Mali force comprises less than 15 percent of all UN peacekeepers. The Mali peacekeepers have been in this situation for three years in a row. Over a hundred peacekeepers (mostly UN, but some French) have died in Mali since they arrived in 2013. This is the highest casualty rate of all current UN peacekeeping operations.

Mali wanted to keep the 13,500 UN peacekeepers who maintain government control over the rebellious north. These peacekeepers are supplied by AU (African Union) nations and some of the African nations supplying these peacekeepers were withdrawing that support. A few percent of the peacekeeping force consists of troops from NATO nations that supply specialized services, especially transport helicopters and other services. People in areas where the peacekeepers are stationed warn that the security situation will deteriorate once the peacekeepers depart because the military government has not got the ability to maintain local security. Thats going to hurt the economy and cause more residents to flee the country. This is how corruption often ruins the local economy. Then again, elected officials were often corrupt. The pattern is that too many corrupt elected officials leads to rebellion or, more likely, a coup by the military, who tend to be no more effective than the people they replaced.

There was growing opposition among UN members for maintaining the expensive peacekeeper force, which is the most dangerous the UN has ever been involved with. The Mali peacekeeping operation costs about half a billion dollars a month and that is about the only foreign aid Mali gets now that the military government is in control. Most foreign aid was halted because the government was stealing so much of the aid. It is difficult to steal any of the money spent on peacekeepers, but the government was apparently trying to do just that.

Once the UN voted to maintain the Mali peacekeeping force for another year, the military government began harassing the peacekeepers and threatening to expel all of them. The peacekeepers serve on contracts (with the UN) for varying periods, usually between two and six months. The withdrawal of the peacekeepers began on July 1st and was completed by the end of 2023.

After many delays, national elections are scheduled to be held in February 2024. The results may improve the situation in Mali, but that is not guaranteed.
ATLANTA  The lead prosecutor in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump in Georgia reached a temporary agreement with his wife in their divorce proceedings Tuesday, canceling a court hearing Wednesday where he had been expected to testify about an alleged improper relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

Cobb County Superior Court Judge Henry Thompson said in a court filing that special prosecutor Nathan Wade and his wife, Jocelyn Wade, agreed there was no longer a need for a hearing Wednesday, when Nathan Wade was likely to testify about allegations of a romantic relationship with Willis.

Trump and a co-defendant in the election interference case have cited the allegations of a romantic relationship in their efforts to get the charges against them dismissed.

The parties, by and through their counsel of record, have entered into a temporary agreement addressing all issues presently before the Court, Thompson wrote in a court filing Tuesday.

The details of the agreement were not immediately clear, and Thompson noted that the parties "have further agreed that the terms and provisions of this temporary agreement shall not be filed with the Court.

An attorney for Joycelyn Wade said in a statement Tuesday that the agreement resolves issues of temporary alimony and attorney's fees that were set to be heard in court on Wednesday.

"While this negates the immediate need for a hearing, it does not settle the case," said Andrea Dyer Hastings, noting that her legal team was still obtaining information from Nathan Wade to divide the couple's assets after over 26 years of marriage.

"Our aim is to guide our client towards a just and equitable divorce resolution  without political agenda or public scrutiny. We are not connected to, nor concerned with, any other case," she added.

Michael Roman, one of Trump's co-defendants, first accused Wade and Willis of having an improper relationship.

A court filing in Wade's divorce proceedings this month included credit card statements showed that he had purchased plane tickets for Willis for trips together.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is presiding over the election interference case, has set a Feb. 15 date for a hearing on the allegations and Roman's motion that Willis and Wade should be disqualified from prosecuting the case. Willis is also expected to respond to the allegations for the first time this week.

An attorney for Roman who previously said she had asked the Cobb County judge to unseal the Wades' divorce records did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.

Charlie Gile reported from Atlanta and Zoe Richards from New York.
Democratic lawmaker Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri is under investigation by the Department of Justice for her campaign's spending on security services, she confirmed in a statement Tuesday.

Bush said she used campaign funds to hire protective services in the face of "relentless threats" to her life and physical safety since becoming a member of Congress. She also said she hired her husband as part of her security team, using campaign funds as security is not provided by the House.

She said she is fully cooperating with the investigation but told reporters allegations she used federal funds to pay for personal security are "simply false."

More political news: 25 states with Republican governors sign letter supporting Texas in border control fight

Who is Cori Bush?

Representative Cori Bush (D-MO) participated in a rally calling for a ceasefire in Gaza on Oct. 20, 2023 and raised her fist in a show of solidarity with thousands of demonstrators. Bush, a member of the progressive group of lawmakers known as "the Squad," has been brought under investigation for her campaign spending after she said she used it to hire her husband as a security detail in the face of threats as a public figure.

Cori Bush is a Democratic representative from Missouri. Her district covers part of St. Louis.

First taking office in 2021, Bush is part of the progressive faction of lawmakers known as "the Squad," along with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib.

Bush is running for re-election in what could be a competitive primary against a well-funded opponent, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, local station KSDK reported.

U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) attends a press conference calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East outside of the U.S. Capitol on December 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. Bush has been brought under investigation for her campaign spending after she said she used it to hire her husband as a security detail in the face of threats as a public figure.

Why is Cori Bush under investigation by the Department of Justice?

Bush said the Department of Justice is reviewing her spending on security, which she said was paid for by campaign funds, rejecting the allegations that she used federal funds to pay for personal security.

"I hold myself, my campaign and my position to the highest levels of integrity," Bush said. "I have complied with all applicable laws and House rules and will continue to prioritize the rules that govern us as federal elected officials."

Bush said many of the allegations focus on the fact that she hired her husband, Cortney Merritts, who was once her security guard, as a part of her team because of his experience and because she claimed he can provide services "at or below fair market rate."

She also said many complaints come from right-wing organizations, leading to additional investigations from the Federal Election Commission and the House Committee on Ethics.

The Office of Congressional Ethics investigated her spending last year and voted to dismiss the case, she said Tuesday. "I look forward to the same outcome from all impending investigations."

Fellow lawmakers weigh in on Rep. Cori Bush investigation

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., reiterated that Bush is cooperating with the investigation.

"Like any other American, she is entitled to the presumption of innocence," Jeffries spokesperson Christie Stephenson said in a statement Tuesday. "It is our expectation that the investigation will follow the facts, apply the law and be conducted in a professional manner."

Still, Republicans piled on the criticism. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), said that most members don't get security. He also pointed to her support in the past for "defund the police" as being contradictory to her having a security detail.

On the steps of the Capitol, Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-Texas), called Bush's husband a "thug" and said "maybe if she wouldn't be so loud all the time maybe she wouldn't be getting threats," according to a video clip aired by CNN.

Bush responded to Nehls on X, demanding an apology.

"@RepTroyNehls just called my husband, a Black man and army veteran, a thug. And Im the loud Black woman who needs to be silent in order to be safe from violence, or else?" she wrote. "This is the kind of rhetoric that endangers Black lives."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri under investigation by DOJ: What to know
Former President Donald Trump is revealing his so-called America First ethos for what it is: Me First opportunism.

U.S. Sen. Todd Young is calling him out on it, but he's going to need a lot of his Republican colleagues to join in.

Trump rose to favor among Republican voters in large part as an isolationist promising to build a big, beautiful wall and shut down the Southern border (as well as restricting immigration more broadly). But, now, as a candidate running to retake his old job amid cries of a border crisis, Trump is reportedly bullying Republican members of Congress to stand back and stand by.

Indiana Republican Sen. Todd Young speaks during a U.S. Senate debate, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)

Senate negotiators have closed in on a compromise that would enable the Department of Homeland Security to automatically turn away migrants and asylum seekers once border crossings exceed as few as 4,000 per day, CNN reported. The potential deal, which also includes Ukraine aid, would amount to a crackdown on border crossings beyond anything Democrats have been willing to sign onto in the past.

Trump wants Republicans to kill the deal. The reason: The border is a great issue to campaign on. The more chaos the better (for Trump).

Briggs' mailbag: I'm back at IndyStar  ask me anything!

Republicans must decide: Secure the border or appease Trump?

Examples of Trump elevating personal interests over professed policy goals are too numerous to name, but his cynical intervention to block progress on his most energizing campaign issue offers the clearest proof yet that Trump fights only to fulfill his own ambitions.

Young, the Indiana senator, is among the few Republicans willing to defy Trump.

"I hope no one is trying to take this away for campaign purposes," Young said, per CNN.

Young added that "there are a number of us who wont be looking to third parties and assessing the propriety of passing this bipartisan proposal."

Sen. Young shows democracy can work: Readers' views on democracy, Supreme Court's legitimacy and more

The question is what that number is. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly told Republicans that Trump's opposition to a border deal put them in a quandary, remarks that were interpreted to mean McConnell is ready to throw in the towel on the border in order to maintain peace with Trump and win back a Senate majority.

January 2, 2024: Migrants cross the Rio Bravo river, known as Rio Grande in the United States, into the US through Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua State, Mexico. US border police have in recent weeks reported approximately 10,000 crossings by migrants every day, many of them fleeing poverty and violence in Central America.

That could work as a strategy for achieving a partisan victory, but it won't help Republicans reach their goal of slowing down border crossings. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, laid out the stakes while talking to reporters in mid-January.

To those who think that if President Trump wins (the election), which I hope he does, that we can get a better deal  you wont, Graham said, per NBC. You got to get 60 votes in the United States Senate.

To my Republican friends: To get this kind of border security without granting a pathway to citizenship is really unheard of. So if you think youre going to get a better deal next time, in 25, if President Trumps president, Democrats will be expecting a pathway to citizenship for that. So to my Republican colleagues, this is a historic moment to reform the border.

Many Democrats, aghast at what they perceive as President Biden's willingness to cave on Republicans' border demands to boost his own reelection prospects, would be as happy as Trump to let a compromise fall apart, even if that dooms aid for Ukraine.

But, for Republicans who sincerely believe securing the border is a top priority, there's no better opportunity than now. They have to decide whether they want to act or forfeit their power for the sake of a former president's ego.

Young is among a few lonely Republican voices calling for action.

Contact James Briggs at 317-444-4732 or james.briggs@indystar.com. Follow him on X and Threads at @JamesEBriggs.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Todd Young is the lone Republican fighting Trump to secure US border
The MV Bahijah exports live animals across the world - ABC NEWS

A ship carrying about 14,000 sheep and 2,000 cattle is marooned off the coast of Australia in sweltering heat after it was forced to abandon a trip through the Red Sea, causing outcry from people concerned about the animals welfare.

The vessel left Australia on Jan 5 for Israel, where it was to unload its cargo, but was diverted from its course in mid-January amid the threat of attack by Yemens Houthi militia before being ordered home by the Australian government.

The animals are now in limbo and could be discharged in Australia, where biosecurity rules would require them to be quarantined, or be sent back to sea for a month-long journey to Israel around Africa, avoiding the Red Sea, industry officials and the government said.

The stranding underscores the widening impact of militia strikes on ships in the Red Sea, the main maritime route between Europe and Asia, which have disrupted global trade.

It also underscores the risk to Australias live animal export industry, which sends hundreds of thousands of animals to the Middle East each year.

Live export trade is rotten to its core

Farm and exporter groups say the animals on board the MV Bahijah are in good health but with temperatures close to 40C, animal welfare advocates are appalled.

Josh Wilson, a member of parliament for Fremantle, where the ship was loaded, said the animals ordeal shows the live export trade is rotten to its core.

What is being contemplated is a 60-day voyage for 14,000 sheep on a stinking hot and literally stinking metal vessel, he told 10 News.

Its very hard to imagine that that is consistent with the animal welfare standards that Australians expect to be applied to Australian animals.

The agriculture ministry said it had seen no evidence of significant health concerns with the livestock, and was working with the exporter and industry bodies to ensure biosecurity and animal welfare standards are maintained.

The exporter, the Israeli company Bassem Dabbah, has asked the Australian government for permission to load more fodder and veterinary supplies, and sail for Israel around Africa, said Geoff Pearson, head of livestock at the industry body WA Farmers.

Reuters was unable to contact Bassem Dabbah. The ships manager, Korkyra Shipping, did not respond to a request for comment.

Canberra said the ship had applied to unload some animals before sailing with the remainder.

Lucrative market in Middle East

Australia is a large exporter of live animals, shipping more than half a million sheep and half a million cattle last year.

Most cattle go to Asian markets such as Indonesia and Vietnam but the Middle East is by far the biggest destination for Australian sheep.

Israel is a key market, receiving 86,100 sheep worth $6.5 million and 10,848 cattle worth $14 million from Australia in the first three months of last year, trade data show.

Australias Labor government has pledged to outlaw exports of live sheep in the coming years but it faces angry opposition from farm groups, who say this would put people out of work and destroy farming communities.

New Zealand banned exports of live animals after a vessel carrying more than 5,800 cattle sank in rough weather in 2020, leaving dozens of sailors missing and dead animals floating in the sea.

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.
Speaker Mike Johnson privately told House Republicans the Senates bipartisan immigration deal has no way forward, according to lawmakers who attended a closed-door meeting Tuesday  the latest blow to a major national security package intended to unlock critical aid to Ukraine as former President Donald Trump urges Republicans to kill it.

Leaving their conference meeting, House Republicans said Johnson made clear the immigration deal is absolutely dead.



I just heard Speaker Johnson saying its absolutely dead, which is what I wanted to hear, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia told CNN. As a matter of fact, he said so clear, I dont know why people keep asking me about it, because as it stands right now, theres no way forward.



Rep. Roger Williams of Texas added that Johnson, said its not going anywhere.

The House GOPs warning to the Senate comes as Trump has called on Congress to tank the border deal as he rails against chaos at the border in his fight for the White House. Democrats and even some Republicans believe that Trump is simply trying to preserve a potent campaign issue and deny President Joe Biden a legislative achievement by derailing a deal cut by one of the most conservative senators, James Lankford of Oklahoma.

At a news conference later on Tuesday, Johnson denied pushing to kill the Senate border deal in order to help Trump on the campaign trail, but the speaker said that he has spoken to Trump at length.

No, Manu, thats absurd, Johnson told CNN. I have talked to former President Trump about this issue at length and he understands that we have a responsibility to do here.

Johnson added, The president of course, President Trump, wants to secure the country. President Trump is the one that talked about border security before anyone else did. He ran on, as you remember, building the wall. Why? Because he saw this catastrophe coming. He knew that if we did not get control of it, we would be in this situation.

Attacks on the Senate compromise have ramped up from House Republicans and Trump now that negotiators have a deal in hand, though final text of an agreement has not yet been released. The House GOP push to kill the deal puts aid to Ukraine in peril at a key moment in its fight against Russia and underscores Trumps strong hold over the conference as well as the stark divide between House and Senate Republicans.

Senate negotiators have agreed to empower the US to significantly restrict illegal migrant crossings at the southern border, according to sources familiar with the matter, a move aimed at ending the migrant surge that has overrun federal authorities over the past several months.

Biden said in a statement on Friday the deal that Senate negotiators have worked toward is both tough and fair.

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, he said. 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.

But House Republicans have dismissed the deal, insisting that any border security legislation must closely mirror HR 2, a hardline conservative immigration bill that is dead on arrival in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Trump, meanwhile, has argued that Republicans should not accept any kind of compromise and said on Monday that a bill is not necessary.

The attacks from House Republicans and Trump have set up a major contrast with the Senate where Lankford has been one of the key negotiators working to get a deal and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has repeatedly stressed the importance of continuing aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Senate GOP leaders debate whether to ditch border deal in order to approve funds for Israel and Ukraine

Senate Republican leaders are debating whether to shelve the emerging bipartisan border security deal and instead move ahead with a separate bill that includes money for Ukraine and Israel, according to Sen. John Cornyn, the top Republican from Texas.

Cornyn told reporters if there are no votes for the border deal, they should move forward with the rest of the funding package.

I support the aid to Ukraine and Israel and the Indo-Pacific. It would be nice to change the status quo on the border. But if there is not the political support to do that then I think we should proceed with the rest of the supplemental, he said.

The issue was debated behind closed doors in McConnells office Tuesday evening.

No decision, said Cornyn. Just a lot of discussion about the fact that were kinda stuck.

McConnell raised these same concerns last week at a private meeting for all Republican senators, arguing that the politics of the issue had changed with Trumps opposition and senators may need to break up the package.

Asked if enough Republicans would back a bill that didnt include the border provisions so it could get 60 votes to break a filibuster, Cornyn said, I dont know. Thats what each side needs to whip and count the votes. Because this is not where we started.

House Republicans slam immigration deal

Senior House Republicans on Tuesday attacked the Senates immigration compromise, despite not having final text, and vowed that it will not pass the House.

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan told CNN, I havent seen it, but based on what Ive heard, I think thats a nonstarter.

He added, Everyone knows that the border is not secure and even Democrat mayors know that. So why dont we just say stop, timeout, no more, no more migrants come in. You can have some special exception if someone needs a special surgery or something. Other than that, just stop it.

The Senate deal would 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 Department of Homeland Security would also be granted new emergency authority to shut down the border if daily average migrant encounters reach 4,000 over a one-week span. If migrant crossings increase above 5,000 on average per day on a given week, DHS would be required to close the border to migrants crossing illegally not entering at ports of entry. Certain migrants would be allowed to stay if they prove to be fleeing torture or persecution in their countries.

Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida called the deal trash, and attacked senators for considering it.

Its a ham-handed deal that does not make sense in the real world. Thats my position, he said. If the biggest compromise you can get in the United States Senate is for 5,000 entrants per day, then we need new United States Senators across the board. What theyre talking about over there is insane.

Other more moderate House members threw cold water on it as well.

Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota added, the borders an absolute disaster and we should not be looking at half-measures.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Ted Barrett, Kristin Wilson and Haley Talbot contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Former President Donald Trump met with the Teamsters Union on Wednesday in an attempt to slice into one of President Joe Bidens prior lines of support.

Trump attended a meeting with Teamsters President Sean OBrien and Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman, the union's executive board, as well as other members for a roundtable at the groups headquarters in Washington, D.C.

"We had a very strong meeting with the Teamsters," Trump told reporters, and said he thinks there is a "good shot" that he gets their endorsement.

"Usually a Republican wouldn't get that endorsement," Trump said, while arguing that he was in a stronger position than other Republicans and that the union "never had...a better four years than they had during the Trump administration."

Biden, who was also invited to participate in a Teamsters rank-and-file roundtable Wednesday, was endorsed by the union in the 2020 election.

Biden looks forward to meeting with the Teamsters and earning their endorsement in this year's election, a Biden campaign official told NBC News. It was not clear if the president would meet with the group Wednesday.

The Teamsters said the roundtable would be an opportunity for candidates to discuss how the next president and the group "can work together to empower and protect workers, promote high labor standards and strengthen the American economy while expanding the middle class.

The union said former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Trump's rival for the GOP nomination, has received an invitation to meet with the group as well.

In meeting with the Teamsters, Trump is eyeing union members who tend to vote Democratic. The union also endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016.

However, as the election draws nearer, the Teamsters president said the group is open to lending Trump an ear in his effort to win them over.

Our members want to hear from all candidates of all parties about what they plan to do for working people as President, OBrien said in a statement before Wednesday's roundtable.

OBrien added that their members are essential to every trade industry in this country, and dont all fall into one political alignment.

Our members are working in all 50 states and represent every political background, including no affiliation, OBrien said. Our union wants every candidate to know that there are 1.3 million Teamsters nationwide whose votes will not be taken for granted. Workers voices must be heard.

Despite Trumps move to meet with the Teamsters and garner union support, Biden has already succeeded in earning endorsements from a handful of unions for the 2024 race, including from the United Auto Workers last week.

Biden also received an early endorsement from the AFL-CIO in June.
The US has reimposed economic sanctions against a Venezuelan state-owned mining company and says it could go on to reimpose further sanctions on the countrys oil and gas sector after Venezuelas Supreme Court barred main opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado from running for president last week.

The US Treasury on Monday revoked General License 43, which had authorized dealings with mining conglomerate CVG-Minerven. The Treasury said US companies have until February 13 to wind down transactions that were previously authorized by that license.

While US economic sanctions against the mining company are unlikely to cause significant damage to the Venezuelan economy, the US State Department has crucially signaled it intends to renew oil and gas sanctions from April 18, if theres no progress between Venezuelas authoritarian president Nicolas Maduro and the opposition particularly on allowing all presidential candidates to compete in this years elections, it said in a statement.

Venezuelas Vice President Delcy Rodriguez described the move as blackmail on Tuesday, warning that Caracas would stop cooperating in repatriation flights for Venezuelan migrants from the US if Washingtons economic aggression intensifies.

Sanctions against Venezuela were first imposed in 2017 and gradually increased as the South American countrys political crisis deepened in the following years.

In October, the Biden administration lifted general economic sanctions targeting Venezuelas mining and oil industries, in support of an agreement struck in Barbados between Maduro and the opposition to hold free and fair elections in 2024.

But on Friday, the Supreme Court upheld a decision to disqualify Machado, the oppositions main presidential candidate. The courts ruling amounts to a repudiation of the agreement, both the opposition and the United States have claimed.

Units of El Palito refinery near Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. - Matias Delacroix/AP

Actions by Nicolas Maduro and his representatives in Venezuela, including the arrest of members of the democratic opposition and the barring of candidates from competing in this years presidential election, are inconsistent with the agreements signed in Barbados last October by representatives of Nicolas Maduro and the Unitary Platform, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday.

Earlier on Monday, White Houses spokesperson John Kirby had said Maduro had until April to return to the negotiating table and commit to what was agreed last year, including holding free elections where all candidates are allowed to run, or sanctions could be reimposed.

Reinstating oil and gas sanctions could cause substantial damage to Venezuelan exports which are largely dependent on oil, analysts have said. It also has the potential to impact the US domestic gas market because several US companies, including Chevron, operate in Venezuela and Venezuelan crude is regularly exported to refineries in the US Gulf Coast, data from the US Energy Information Administration show.

In an interview with CNNs Isa Soares on Tuesday, Machado warned millions more Venezuelans could flee the country if Maduro doesnt comply with commitments to hold free elections. The only way people will stop fleeing is that they see a future in their country and that is only possible if we defeat Maduro, she said.

Machado also commented on Rodriguezs warning that Venezuela could stop cooperating on repatriation flights, saying, You can imagine that it breaks my heart to see our people being used in such a hard and unlawful way. I want Venezuelans to come back to our country and to come back freely to our country because they have a future in our land.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
As Senate negotiators neared an agreement on a long-awaited bipartisan border deal, House Speaker Mike Johnson told ABC News Tuesday that while he hasn't seen the bill yet, the agreement is a "nonstarter in the House."

"From what we've seen, clearly, what's been suggested in this bill is not enough to secure the border," Johnson told ABC Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott. "And we have to insist -- we have a responsibility, a duty, to the American people to insist that the border catastrophe is ended. And just trying to whitewash that or do something for political purposes -- that it appears that may be -- is not going to cut it and that's a nonstarter in the House."

The border agreement worked out by Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., comes as part of a national security spending bill that also includes aid packages for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

MORE: Senate nears bipartisan border deal that Trump calls 'disaster'

PHOTO: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks to reporters about the upcoming impeachment vote on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, in the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan 30, 2024. (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA via Shutterstock)

On the House floor Wednesday, Johnson criticized the rumored details from the emerging Senate border deal.

"But apparently, we're concocting some sort of deal to allow the president to shut down the border after 5,000 people break the law. Why is it 5,000? If you add that up, that'd be a million more illegals into our country every year before we take remedial measures. This is madness. We should be asking what kind of enforcement authority kicks in at 5,000 illegal a day. The number should be zero," he said.

"Anything higher is simply surrender. Anything higher than zero is surrendering our border, surrendering our sovereignty and our security."

House Republicans have been coming out against the border deal, despite not yet seeing the bill's full text. This comes as former President Donald Trump has encouraged Republicans to reject the deal.

Trump on Monday said that "a border bill is not necessary," blasting the ongoing negotiations.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden talks with journalists before departing for Joint Base Andrews en route to Palm Beach, Florida, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30, 2024. (Lenin Nolly/NurPhoto via Shutterstock)

Johnson said he has spoken with Trump about this issue "at length," but called any allegations that he's trying to kill the bill to give Trump a win for his campaign "absurd."

"We have a responsibility here to do our duty. Our duty is to do right by the American people to protect the people the first and most important job," Johnson told Scott.

During a closed-door meeting with his conference last week, Johnson assured House Republicans that the deal is "dead on arrival" in the House, according to multiple members who were in the room -- leaving big questions about the prospect of additional aid to Ukraine.

MORE: House Republicans push toward historic impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

PHOTO: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas meets with the Tribal Homeland Security Advisory Council (THSAC) at DHS Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 10, 2024. (Polaris, FILE)

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., is among the House Republicans criticizing the bill.

"I think to really clarify what the President [Trump] is saying -- that this deal sucks," Donalds told ABC News. "It's a bad deal and to give cover to Joe Biden for his terrible policies on the border."

While Senate Republicans continue to work on the border deal with the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, House Republicans are working to impeach him.

MORE: DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas calls impeachment against him 'baseless'

The House Homeland Security Committee, led by Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., brought two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas on Tuesday, arguing the secretary has demonstrated "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law" and "breach of public trust."

"Alejandro N. Mayorkas knowingly made false statements to Congress that the border is 'secure,' that the border is 'no less secure than it was previously,' that the border is 'closed,' and that DHS has 'operational control,' of the border (as that term is defined in the Secure Fence Act of 19 2006)," the articles claim.

PHOTO: Chairman Mark Green, center, is joined from left by Rep. Clay Higgins, Rep. Michael McCaul, and Rep. Bennie Thompson, at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30, 2024. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

President Biden told reporters Tuesday that he's exhausted all executive authority to address the immigration crisis at the southern border.

"I've done all I can do," he said as he left the White House.

The president turned up the pressure on Republicans to reach a compromise on Friday, saying he would "shut down" the border when it's overwhelmed, if given new emergency authority through this deal.

"Give me the border patrol. Give me the people, give me the people who judge it. Give me the people who can stop this and make it work," Biden said Tuesday.

ABC News' Justin Gomez, Allie Pecorin, John Parkinson and Quinn Owen contributed to this report.

Without seeing all border deal details, Speaker Mike Johnson says it is a 'nonstarter' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A woman was hospitalized with serious injuries after she was rescued from a garbage truck in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Monday, officials said.

They believe she was in a dumpster emptied into the hopper, the garbage cargo container behind the cab, as the truck was on its daily route, the Manchester Fire Department said in a statement. She was stuck amid refuse that was compacted four times, it said, though it wasn't entirely clear whether that was the source of her injuries.

"She was dumped at some point," Fire Chief Ryan J. Cashin said in an interview at the scene.

What she was doing in the dumpster remained a mystery. Cashin said a sanitation worker on to the truck spotted the woman in the hopper via the vehicle's video system, which has at least one camera trained inside the hopper.

The woman was standing and had been yelling for help when firefighters arrived, the fire department statement said.

She was saved with the help of a rescue basket that was lowered into the hopper from a ladder truck, which was used almost as a crane.

The woman was taken to a trauma facility, the fire department said. Her exact condition was unavailable, and representatives of the facility, Elliot Hospital, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"I have never seen one like this," Cashin said.
The heads of the worlds leading social media companies testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, facing a combative, angry group of lawmakers whose patience with the risks to young people posed by the platforms appeared to have run out.

Here are some of the highlights.

Fiery rhetoric from senators

Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz questions Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg during the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on online child safety on Wednesday. (Jose Luis Magana/AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina laid into the social media CEOs, blaming them for the deaths of children who have used the platforms, whether from suicide or drug overdoses.

You have blood on your hands, Graham said before telling them it was time for Congress to repeal a statute that protects the companies from being sued by their users.

You have a product thats killing people. ... You cant be sued, you should be! he said. It is now time to repeal Section 230.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota brought up instances of children who committed suicide after being bullied on social media.

"I'm so tired of this. It's been 28 years ... since the start of the internet, she said. We haven't passed any of these bills, because everyone's 'double talk, double talk.' It's time to actually pass them."

In an especially heated exchange with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas demanded to know why the company didnt do more to protect children from harmful images and contact from known pedophiles.

Cruz criticized a warning screen that alerts Instagram users that they may be about to view images depicting child abuse, but then allows them to choose to either get resources or see results anyway.

Mr. Zuckerberg, what the hell were you thinking? Cruz asked.

Alright, senator, Zuckerberg responded. The basic science behind that is that when people are searching for something that is problematic, its often helpful to, rather than just blocking it, to help direct them towards something that could be helpful to getting them to get help

I understand get resources, Cruz interrupted. In what sane universe is there a link for see results anyway?

Well, because we might be wrong, Zuckerberg replied.

Zuckerberg offers apology to families who have suffered

Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg faces the audience as he testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation on Wednesday. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

Pressed by Republican Sen.Josh Hawley of Missouri to address the families in the hearing room who had lost loved ones in their use of social media platforms, Zuckerberg stood, turned around and did just that, saying he was sorry for the things that your families have suffered.

Im sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered and this is why we invest so much and we are going to continue doing industrywide efforts to make sure no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer," Zuckerberg continued.

Snapchat CEO also apologizes to parents

Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel speaks during the Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

After defending his platform as fundamentally different from Instagram, TikTok and X because user likes are not part of the algorithm that guides content, Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel was confronted by Democratic Sen. Laphonza Butler of California, who, like Hawley, asked him to address the families of children who died of overdoses of drugs purchased on Snapchat.

"I'm so sorry that we have not been able to prevent these tragedies," Spiegel said, citing measures taken by the company to protect and educate users about the dangers of fentanyl.

In response, Butler said, "I know that there are good efforts. None of those things are keeping kids from getting access to drugs on your platform."

TikToks ties to China come under further scrutiny

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was one of the social media platform heads testifying at the Senate Judiciary hearing on Wednesday. (Susan Walsh/AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Shou Zi Chew, TikToks CEO, faced withering questioning from senators that largely centered on its ownership by the Chinese government and the Chinese company ByteDance.

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas pressed Chew on the companys data collection policies, leading to one particularly sharp exchange.

Have you ever been a member of the Chinese Communist Party?" Cotton asked Chew.

"Senator, I'm Singaporean. No," he responded.

That answer wasnt good enough for Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who noted that TikTok was banned in Chews home country.

Today in the Judiciary Committee, I asked @tiktok_us CEO Shou Chew about some of the risks his company poses to Americans, including our children.



He and his family live in Singapore, where TikTok is banned for children - so why do we allow it here?  Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) January 31, 2024

I am worth more than $270

Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee also went after Zuckerberg about an internal Meta document that placed a lifetime value to the company of a young user at $270.

How could you possibly even have that thought? It is astounding to me, Blackburn said. She then invited members of the gallery to stand who wore T-shirts that read I am worth more than $270.

Blackburn also echoed Cruzs line of inquiry.

"It appears that you're trying to be the premier sex-trafficking site in this country," she told Zuckerberg.

Of course not, senator, Zuckerberg shot back. Senator, thats ridiculous.

Cover photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP


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YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. Czechia wants the countries in the South Caucasus to be at peace and prosperous, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Czechia Marketa Pekarova Adamova said in Yerevan.

We definitely support sovereignty of countries, but at the same time, the best circle would be to support the countries in the international level as part of the UN or other bodies, which are designed for that purpose, she said at a press conference with Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan when asked how Czechia can support the Armenia-Azerbaijan talks.

She said that Czechia seeks to achieve a result when the South Caucasus countries will be at peace and prosperous.

Our values are based on protection of human rights, thus we are always trying to emphasize that it is important to care for the people, to respect human rights as a priority. We will continue to support the refugees, over a hundred thousand people were forced to leave their home. I will travel to Baku after this visit. We will express our support to the Armenian people, the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Czechia Marketa Pekarova Adamova said.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. The Union of Miners and Metallurgists of Armenia has expressed deep concern over the latest wave of disinformation and fake news campaigns targeting the Armenian mining sector.

In a statement, the union warned that the fake accusations and defamatory statements could even have serious consequences for the Armenian economic stability.

The union said that the disinformation is spread by both foreign and domestic entities, including Armenian environmental organizations.

Armenias mining sector recorded significant progress in the recent years in terms of sustainable management. Although we didnt expect the Armenian environmental organizations to notice or encourage these changes, but we at least hoped that pursuant to national interests they would be cautious in order not to support Azerbaijans political goals of misrepresenting Armenia as a regional disaster and preventing investments into our country, the union said in a statement.

It said that Azeri officials and organizations cite the defamatory accusations made by Armenian organizations in their statements.

It is well-known that Azerbaijan is trying to sabotage by all possible means the Armenian economy. We recall with regret the Yeraskh steel plant project. Azerbaijan deployed its entire resources to undermine this project, which led to the factory being moved and our economy suffered millions of dollars in damages, the union said.

The union added that Azerbaijan is constantly targeting with its fake news the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, the Kapan and Kajaran Combines, the Amulsar gold mine, which is yet to be re-launched, the Ararat gold plant and Teghut.

We dont seek to restrict anyones right to express concerns, but we want to remind that non-professional assessments, unfounded accusations and disinformation lay the groundwork for Azerbaijans propaganda and put doubt on the prospect of having responsible and modern mining in our country, the union added.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan has held a meeting with the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Czechia Marketa Pekarova Adamova.

Simonyan and Adamova held a one-on-one meeting followed by enlarged-format talks involving the delegations, the parliaments press service said in a press release.

Speaker Simonyan said that Armenia greatly values the development of its friendly relations with Czechia. The sides noted that the two countries have managed to develop strong interstate relations and a multilateral agenda of cooperation ever since establishing diplomatic relations.

Speaking about the 2023 ethnic cleansing campaign perpetrated by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh, Speaker Simonyan briefed the Czech parliamentarians on the current issues, particularly on the negotiations process and the Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan.

Armenias position regarding the establishment of peace in the region is clear, we must establish peaceful relations based on the mutual recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity. The policy pursued by Azerbaijan recently, however, has been leading this process into a deadlock, the Speaker of Parliament of Armenia said. He added that a long-term EU monitoring mission is of vital importance for Armenia in terms of security. We appreciate Czechias contribution in this issue, he said.

The President of the Chamber of Deputies of Czechia Marketa Pekarova Adamova praised Armenias efforts in the direction of establishing peace in the region and expressed confidence that Czechia will try to contribute to the resumption of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks.

The sides also discussed the opportunities for developing inter-parliamentary relations.

The need for continuously expanding the agenda aimed at democratic values was highlighted.
He will be 1st recipient of award named after Chhatrapati Shivaji

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the recipient of the first 'Shiv Sanman Puraskar,' which will be given in the name of legendary Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The award distribution ceremony will be held on February 19 at Satara in Maharashtra.

Udayan Raje Bhosale, a descendant of Shivaji Maharaj and a Rajya Sabha BJP MP, made the announcement on X on Wednesday.

"The prestigious Shiv Sanman Puraskar, given on behalf of the royal family and Shiv Bhakts (devotees of Shivaji Maharaj) has been announced for Shri Narendra Modi. The award will be presented on the occasion of Shiv Jayanti at Sainik School Maidan in Satara on February 19," Bhosale tweeted.

The PM is expected to visit Maharashtra on February 19 to attend the event. If he visits, it will be his fourth tour of Maharashtra in the last couple of months.

Bhosale visited the award distribution ceremony venue along with state administration and police officials to inspect and review the preparation and security arrangements for the event.

Last year in Pune, Modi was conferred Lokmanya Tilak National Award, which is presented every year on August 1  Lokmanya Tilaks death anniversary  by the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust to honour the legacy of the revolutionary freedom fighter and nationalist.
ED quizzes Soren for over 7 hrs, likely to be in court today

Patna. New Delhi: Ahead of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren met governor C.P. Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhawan on Wednesday and tendered his resignation.

On Wednesday, the ED officials questioned Mr Soren for more than seven hours in the money laundering case linked to the alleged land scam. According to sources, after his arrest, Mr Soren was taken to the ED office. Reports indicate that he will likely be produced before the special court on Thursday.

While the ED grilled Mr Soren, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislators gathered at the CM residence and elected party general secretary Champai Soren as the leader of the legislative party. The JMM leaders said that a consensus was reached on Champai Soren.

Earlier, there was speculation that Mr Sorens wife Kalpana Soren's name could be proposed as the new chief minister. Reports suggest that some JMM members, including a few among Mr Soren's relatives, opposed the move and asked the party leaders to drop the idea of proposing Kalpana Sorens name to avoid a revolt in the party. Subsequently, a consensus was reached on the name of Champai Soren for the post of chief minister.

Speaking to the media after meeting with the governor, Champai Soren said, We have submitted a letter with the signature of 43 MLAs. The ruling coalition has the support of 47 MLAs, but a few of them were not available today. They will be available at the time of the floor test.

Congress MLA Alamgir Alam, who also met the governor along with Champai Soren, said, The governor wants some time to analyse the situation and assured us that he will revert soon. We have staked a claim and are ready for the floor test. We have the strength to form the government and are waiting to form the government."

On Tuesday, responding to the BJP claims that the Jharkhand chief minister was evading the ED investigation into an alleged land scam case, Mr Soren chaired a meeting with coalition MLAs.

Political observers, however, are of the view that the confusion has deepened in the state after Mr Soren's resignation on Wednesday. They argue that if the governor is not convinced by the ruling coalition's claim of a majority to form a government in the state, he may recommend President's Rule.

However, the senior JMM leaders claim that the ruling alliance has already presented the letter of support with the signatures of 43 MLAs, which is more than the required number to form the government. The ruling coalition has the support of 47 MLAs. They will be present during the floor test in the state Assembly. We will pass the floor test easily.

Meanwhile, the police stepped up security outside the CM house, the governors residence and the ED office and also imposed Section 144 in these areas. Sources said that security was heightened in the area, fearing violent protests by the JMM supporters who had been camping at Ranchis Morabadi ground ever since the ED started grilling Mr Soren on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the ED officials reached Mr Soren's Ranchi residence at 1.20 pm to question him in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. According to the sources, Mr Soren was asked as many as 40 questions as part of a probe into a "huge racket of illegal changes in land ownership by the mafia" in Jharkhand. He was also questioned in two other money laundering cases.

Mr Soren (48), who is also the executive president of the ruling JMM, had earlier been questioned in connection with the case on January 20.
The writer is an author and journalist based in Delhi-NCR. His latest book is 'The Demolition and the Verdict: Ayodhya and the Project to Reconfigure India', and hes also the author of 'Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times'. He tweets at @NilanjanUdwin.

The inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22 turns into an audio-visual spectacle

The pran pratistha ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22 had little to do with religiosity and was essentially an audio-visual spectacle.

Significantly, the event was conspicuous by erasing the lines between religion and the Indian State. This marked a big stride from the blurring of lines between religion and politics per se. The shadow of religion on politics, many would argue, always existed despite the founders of the Indian Republic choosing a secular character for the nation. This darkness became more ominous from the 1980s when the agitation for constructing the Ram temple was started by the Sangh Parivar. It has become all the more conspicuous from 2014 onwards after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office ten months after emphatically declaring: Yes, I am a Hindu nationalist.

The origins of this agitation followed the deeply revivalist 1983 Ekatmata Yagna, when waters from rivers considered holy by Hindus were paraded across the country by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Later, the movement gathered pace from late 1985 after protests by conservative sections among Muslims against the Supreme Courts Shah Bano ruling triggered a panic response from the Rajiv Gandhi government. He eventually passed a law to nullify the verdict. The VHP and leaders of its ideological fountainhead, the RSS, argued this was an instance of the Congress and the Indian State appeasing Muslims. Driven by myopic vision, Rajiv Gandhi opted to facilitate opening the lock on the Babri Masjid for Hindu devotees to enter and offer prayers without restrictions.

Yet, although later Prime Ministers, especially P.V. Narasimha Rao, under whose watch the Babri Masjid was demolished, allowed the issue to remain a ticking time-bomb, no one formally embraced the issue and the movement as thoroughly as Mr Modi has.

There is little ambiguity the central figure on January 22 was not Lord Ram or his idol(s). Instead, the spotlight was more on Mr Modi and the entire ceremony was more of an event than a religious consecration. The sheen from the function had earlier faded after the shankaracharyas decided to stay away and it became a celebrity-heavy gathering. Carpet-to-carpet television coverage via video feeds by Doordarshan ensured that nothing else was telecast during the ceremony. Although in days prior to the ceremony, most TV channels had gone ballistic insofar as coverage from Ayodhya was concerned, few details were available on its run-order. Viewers were therefore all eyes because they knew little of what was to come next.

Undoubtedly, viewer-interest was high in the live proceedings. In the absence of empirical evidence, there is no knowing whether the semi-constructed temples inauguration was endorsed by the people. But, given the tumultuous gathering of devotees from the day it was opened to the public, it appears that they have accepted its incompleteness without much rancour. There is no indication that they are critical of Mr Modi for also enacting the role of a high priest of Hinduism while being the PM too. It must be recalled that the people have been prepped up for this as it wasnt the first time Mr Modi publicly performed a religious ritual. In 2014, when he first contested from Varanasi, Mr Modi was first denied permission by the district administration to perform Ganga aarti before the polling day. But after his victory, he did so with then BJP president Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah in full glare of TV cameras after prior intimation to TV channels. Thereafter, on almost every visit to the city, he repeated the act and even went to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, not just as a devotee but to perform religious rituals.

This practice continued throughout his first term as PM in several cities till the climax as polling was ending in 2019. At that time, he headed to the Kedarnath shrine and closeted himself alone, with the exception of a camera-person briefly, inside the cave room where he appeared to be meditating deeply. The impact this had on voters turning out during the last phase of polling was noted then. Subsequently, in December 2021, three months before crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the PM addressed the gathering at the inaugural of his flagship Rs 800-crore Kashi Vishwanath Dham project in Varanasi. Mr Modi projected more of a Baba image than that of a Prime Minister, initially by a prolonged dip in the Ganga while performing religious rituals in a luminous hue of saffron. Later, after performing rituals, while delivering his mandatory speech, Mr Modi donned the role of chief of a monastic order. In the speech, he claimed that virasat (heritage) and vikas (development) go hand in hand. Significantly, whenever Mr Modi refers to Indian heritage, it is intrinsically Hindu, suggesting that the nation does not have any non-Hindu heritage worth its name.

Although Mr Modi merely continued with the past practice of turning out in Hindu religious attire, his performative act in Ayodhya is different as the temple inauguration came at the end of a watershed agitation, for close to four decades. Further, the event in Ayodhya drew greater public response and critical review because of the buildup, and the importance of the day being underlined by Mr Modi. He said it was not just a date on the calendar but the dawn of a new era. January 22, he added, marked the beginning of the expansion of consciousness from Dev (God) to Desh (country) and from Ram to Rashtra (nation). On that day, he said, the foundation for Indias next 1,000 years has been laid.

It is true that on January 22, Mr Modi resembled to the core the high priest of Sanatan Hinduism. However, it must be noted that that scale of the event and the nature of the Ayodhya ceremony was more grandiose and significant. But if detailed scrutiny is made of the Prime Ministers public functions in the backdrop of temples or religious events from the time he assumed office, it would be evident he has been true to his style from the beginning. Significantly, the Supreme Court in November 2019 in its judgment called for a closure to the fierce conflict between Hindus and Muslims based on prejudice and distrust. In the 40 months since the foundation stone for the temple was formally laid, no progress was made towards bringing the curtain down on this bitter dispute. As the ruling party pushes towards another electoral victory even as the controversy surrounding the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi and the Shahi Idgah in Mathura rages on, India stares at a new round of antagonism that may leave deeper scars on the nations psyche.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

In the Biskek parliament, a female member of parliament denounced the fact that there is no female representation in the religious administration, sparking a lively debate in the country. In the last 20 years, a generation of women with a good religious education has grown up in Kyrgyzstan, who want to be protagonists in the Islamic community and society

Bishkek (AsiaNews) - At the Zogorku Kenes, the Bishkek parliament, MP Dinara Asimova denounced the fact that there is not even a single woman in the Religious Administration of the Muslims of Kyrgyzstan (DUMK), sparking a great discussion in the country.

The muftis responded that in reality there are women active in the management structure of national Islam, who organize the opening of training centers especially dedicated to women, but there is no official information on the presence of women in the central apparatus of the muftiat.

Parliament mandated the State Commission for Religious Affairs to monitor issues related to the education of women in madrasas, and collaboration in the activities of religious institutions.

According to the Dumk spokesperson, Maksat Atabaev, "in Kyrgyzstan there are 109 madrasas, and over half are for women, where they receive only theological knowledge, without specializations that allow them to work".

Women who complete religious studies immediately dedicate themselves to the family, marrying and having children, but hasty marriages often cause divorce and domestic violence. The Dumk has no staff to deal with these issues, and the women have no one to turn to, as Asimova noted in her speech.

Atabaev also informs that "in the last 10 years we have opened 51 centers for women and youth, with activities aimed at preventing negative religious tendencies, strengthening knowledge of family values and raising children, and also addressing crises for avoid divorces".

The spokesperson explains that "it is not correct to distinguish the central administration from the local ones", without clarifying the percentages of women who collaborate in the capital or in the regional centers, "there are many collaborators in many structures". When asked about the number of women involved, Atabaev replied that "women are not meat to be sold", provoking further reactions from public opinion.

The leader of the Muslim women's association Mutakalim, Zamal Frontbek, notes that the section dedicated to women was opened in Dumk as early as 2013, but no women were involved in its activities.

Only in the regional offices have some been hired with very low salaries, and currently the women who collaborate with them are all volunteers, while in the Bishkek office "probably the only woman who works is the cleaner", comments the activist, while we would like women who have questions and problems to be able to talk about them with other women.

Frontbek gives the example of Turkey, where in the 83 muftiats there is always a woman as vice-mufti, and there are women teachers and managers also in the fatwa office, especially to evaluate the many cases of domestic violence.

We are not Afghanistan or Pakistan, where women are completely ignored, adds Zamal, noting that in Islam there are no rules that prevent women from working in religious administrative institutions.

Over the last 20 years, a generation of women has grown up in Kyrgyzstan who have received a good religious education, capable of being protagonists in the life of the Muslim community and society.

The director of the Mutakalim maintains that women should also participate in the Muslim kurultaj, the assembly where the mufti is elected, as delegates with the right to vote, while currently they can only be present as guests.

The association that you represent was formed precisely after your speech at that meeting in 2017, and since 2021 the Ulema Council has been discussing the possibility of granting women an active role in the kurultaj, but so far the responses have been negative.

The only concession to women so far has been the promise to open special courses to work in Muslim administrative structures, but so far they have not yet been activated. Kyrgyz female Islam is growing more and more, the activists insist, because "we are talking about the religion of all our people, not just that of its male members".
The death toll from the 10 January unrest has risen to 22 people. The country faces socio-economic collapse. For Fr Giorgio Licini, Secretary General of the Bishops' Conference of Papua New Guinea, The common citizens, the Churches, the State, and the government are equally responsible.

Port Moresby (AsiaNews)  Events on 10 January in Port Moresby will be remembered as Black Wednesday. On that day, protests turned violent in the capital of Papua New Guinea after sharp cuts to civil servants salaries.

Prime Minister James Marape blamed the problem on a computer glitch"; however, as a result, hundreds of shops were attacked, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency, followed by clashes that left at least 22 people dead.

As the seriousness of the countrys social crisis became clear that day, the Catholic Bishops' Conference issued a statement. Tragically there was loss of human lives, reads the press release signed by the Archbishop of Port Moresby, Card John Ribat.

Many of our citizens and small business farmers that rely on these stores for the sale of their local produces have suffered. This can but add to the growing unemployment.

The destruction on 10 January was caused by a lawless mob taking full advantage of the police inability to do their work, the statement goes on to say.

We are getting reports that even Catholics and Christians who go to church and some who are involved in pastoral ministries, prayer groups, youth ministries joined in the mayhem on the day. Hence, We feel sad and ashamed that they did not show courage and resilience of their faith and allowed themselves to go with the flow of the mob.

Events on 10 January are a wake-up call for the government, but also for the local Catholic Church, which expects to welcome Pope Francis in a visit this summer.

Ultimately, There should be realistic, deliverable and achievable policies on labour, employment, youth, social security, national security, unaddressed issues, the statement says.

Also writing in the wake of Black Wednesday, Fr Giorgio Licini, PIME missionary and secretary general of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, notes that the blame game started as if there was somebody more responsible than others. But we need to take collective responsibility. The common citizens, the Churches, the State, and the government are equally responsible.

More specifically, he writes that The Churches are too fragmented now. The mainline traditional Churches have lost a lot of their moral ascendence on the communities.

The new Evangelical and Pentecostal communities largely confuse faith, politics and money pursuing the Prosperity Gospel rather than the conversion of hearts and righteousness of life. The drop in general education and critical thinking is driving the country into the abyss of religious fundamentalism, he adds.

Following the events of that day, the prime minister reshuffled his cabinet, "but those who failed to control and discipline the police, Fr Licini notes, are still in charge of the police.

Indeed, Those who just a few months ago astonishingly told the Parliament that there is no employment emergency in the country are still sitting somewhere in Waigani making or helping make decisions. Waigani is a suburb of Port Moresby where parliament is located.

Some are looting the city, that is perhaps because others are looting the country. Morally and politically, if not financially.

Photo: Still from local broadcaster AFPTV on 11 January 2024 in Port Moresby.
Today's news: 14 more years in prison for former premier Imran Khan and wife in Pakistan. Sultan of Johor sworn in as new king of Mlaysia; Pyongyang confirmed third cruise missile launch in seven days.

INDIA

A court in Kerala yesterday sentenced to death 15 members of the Popular Front of India (an Islamic organization banned by the central government in 2022) for killing, in 2021, a local leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the ruling Hindu ultranationalist party . In the same days, a member of the Social Democratic Party of India, the political wing of the Popular Front, was also killed, presumably by people belonging to the BJP and its paramilitary organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

PAKISTAN

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife were sentenced to 14 years in prison, in addition to the 10 years that were imposed yesterday in another court case. The sentences come just over a week before the parliamentary elections on 8 February and include, among other things, a disqualification from political life for the next 10 years. According to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Khan's party, these were show trials to weaken the party ahead of the elections.

MALAYSIA

Johor's ruler Ibrahim Iskandar was sworn in as Malaysia's new king in Istana Negara today, becoming the second ruler of the southern state to ascend the throne after his father, who reigned from 1984 to 1989. Malaysia's nine royal houses are alternate to the throne for five-year terms, under a rotation system in place since independence in 1957. The new monarch has said his priorities include stamping out corruption, proposing that the anti-corruption agency report directly to the king.

NORTH KOREA

Pyongyang confirmed that it had yesterday launched its third cruise missile in the space of a week: even if the Hwasal-2 missiles do not constitute a violation of the UN resolutions that prevent North Korea from possessing a certain type of weapon, they represent a threat to neighboring countries because they can carry nuclear warheads, according to a statement from Seoul.

IRAQ  IRAN

The Iraq-based pro-Iranian Kataib Hezbollha militia has announced the suspension of all its military operations against US troops in the region, a decision aimed at avoiding "embarrassment" to the Iraqi government, the militia's secretary general, Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, adding however that they will continue "to defend our people in Gaza in other ways". According to the Pentagon, Kataib Hezbollah is responsible for the killing of three American soldiers on the border between Syria and Jordan on Sunday.
At the General Audience, Francis spoke of a "particularly dark" vice, which must be shaken off immediately without brooding when it leads to the hatred of others. But a "holy indignation" also exists when faced with injustice. The pontiff issued another appeal for the "helpless victims of wars" in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis dedicated todays weekly General Audience in the Paul VI Hall to anger, a "particularly dark" vice that only benevolence, openness of heart, meekness, and patience" can counteract in our hearts.

For the pontiff, Men do not stay together if they do not also practice the art of forgiveness, as far as this is humanly possible. In fact, Wrath is a vice that destroys human relationships. It expresses the incapacity to accept the diversity of others, especially when their life choices diverge from our own.

Such an emotional state does not stop at the misconduct of one person, but throws everything into the cauldron: it is the other person, the other as he or she is, the other as such, who provokes anger and resentment. One begins to detest the tone of their voice, their trivial everyday gestures, their ways of reasoning and feeling.

For this reason, the Apostle Paul  as we have heard  recommends to Christians to face up to the problem straight away, and to attempt reconciliation: Do not let the sun go down on your anger (Eph 4:26). It is important that everything dissipate immediately, before sundown.

If some misunderstanding arises during the day, and two people can no longer understand each other, perceiving themselves as far apart, the night cannot be handed over to the devil. The vice would keep us awake at night, brooding over our reasons and the unaccountable mistakes that are never ours and always the others.

It is no accident that, In the Lords prayer, Jesus makes us pray for our human relations, which are a minefield: a plane that is never in perfect equilibrium. In life, we have to deal with trespassers who are in fault with us, just as we have never loved everyone in the right measure.

To some we have not returned the love that was due to them. We are all sinners, all of us, and we all have accounts to settle: do not forget this. We are indebted, we all have accounts to settle, and therefore we all need to learn how to forgive so as to be forgiven.

Not everything that comes from wrath is wrong. We are not responsible for the onset of wrath, but always for its development, the pontiff explained.

[A]t times it is good for anger to be vented in the right way. If a person were never to anger, if a person did not become indignant at an injustice, if he did not feel something quivering in his gut at the oppression of the weak, it would mean that the person was not human, much less a Christian.

For Francis, Holy indignation exists, which is not wrath but an inner movement. Hence. We must distinguish well: zeal, holy indignation, is one thing; wrath, which is bad, is another.

In the end though, It is up to us, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to find the right measure for the passions. To educate them well so that they turn to good and not to evil.

In greetings to Italian pilgrims, the pope mentioned that tomorrow Italy marks the National Day for Civilian Victims of War.

"To the prayerful remembrance of those who have died in the two world wars," he said, we also associate the many - too many - civilians, helpless victims of wars. Unfortunately, the latter still cause bloodshed on our planet, like in the Middle East and Ukraine.

May the victims cry of pain touch the hearts of national leaders and give rise to projects for peace. When you read stories these days, there is so much cruelty in war, so much! Let us ask the Lord for peace, which is always meek, not cruel.
Technically similar to the fourth-generation Tucson, the Santa Cruz entered series production at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in June 2021 for the 2022 model year. Not long now, the 2025 model year facelift will be out with a revised front end and minor updates to the interior.

Photo: Hyundai

HVAC

Our spy photographers have recently caught a pair of prototypes testing with manufacturer plates in the United States . They also managed to capture a pic of the facelift alongside the 2024 model, which shows different lights, bumpers, and grilles.Out back, differences are far more inconsequential. From the sides, the only changes appear to be new alloy wheel designs. To sum it up nicely, the South Korean automaker is toning down the crossover-inspired styling of the Santa Cruz in favor of more truck-like styling. It's no Maverick, thoughThe most affordable new truck in the United States of America is clearly related to the Ranger and F-Series, which makes it a bit more appealing to prospective customers who are sick of crossovers yet not ready to upgrade to a body-on-frame truck. On the other hand, the Santa Cruz is a more American product than Ford's smallest truck.The Maverick is manufactured in Mexico together with the Bronco Sport, which shouldn't be confused with the body-on-frame Bronco that Ford assembles in Michigan. In addition to pricing and looks, another big advantage over the Santa Cruz is the available hybrid powertrain that was previously standard for the 2022 and 2023 model years.Similar to the 2025 Hyundai Tucson , which premiered in November 2023, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz is expected with a reconfigured interior. Similar to the Ioniq 5 electric hatchback on stilts that Hyundai advertises as being a crossover, the Tucson brings together a couple of 12.3-inch displays in the form of a digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen infotainment system. The big news, however, is that Hyundai revamped thesystem's controls with good ol' physical buttons and rotary knobs instead of touch-sensitive buttons.The compact-sized crossover also had its gear selector moved from the center console to the steering column. From a mechanical standpoint, engine and transmission choices carry over. This should also be the case with the Santa Cruz, which comes with two 2.5-liter engines and two 8-speed transmissions. A free-breathing 2.5 and a torque-converter automatic are standard, whereas the single-turbo 2.5 comes with a dual-clutch box.Dubbed "Sport Adventure Vehicle" on the South Korean automaker's website rather than a Tucson with a bed, the Santa Cruz is currently retailing at $26,650 for the most spartan of specifications available. Its most powerful version packs 281 ponies, payload tops 1,411 pounds (640 kilograms), and maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds (2,267 kilograms) for the 2.5-liter turbo engine.Given that Hyundai's only pickup truck for the US market sold rather poorly in 2023, the 2025 model year refresh couldn't come soon enough. As opposed to 94,058 deliveries for the Maverick, of which 52,361 were hybrids, the Santa Cruz moved 36,675 examples last year in the United States.
Operating out of Hong Kong, Guillaume Barras is a leading figure on the citys custom motorcycle scene. He is the areas official organizer for the Distinguished Gentlemans Ride, as well as the founder and frontman at Angry Lane. The firm has a large catalog of riding gear and other wearables, but what were here for are the exceptional customization ventures taking place on its premises.

Photo: Maxime Champigneulle

Photo: Maxime Champigneulle

CFRP

Guillaume and his team regularly indulge in such projects, and the results never cease to impress or make an impact. They dont always have to be fully-fledged customs, though, so the guys were happy to take more of a restomod approach on the build well be looking at today. The suggestion to do things this way was made by the client, a professional racing driver who sought some antique English charm in his life.He snatched up a Triumph Bonneville T140 from 1977 and took it straight to the Angry Lane headquarters within an hour. Guillaume had a chat with him to see exactly what he was after, and it didn't take long for a restomod treatment to be highlighted as the logical solution. Improving reliability was paramount, because Triumph bikes from that era were notoriously fussy and in need of constant maintenance.Otherwise, it was all a matter of refurbishing various bits, replacing others, and adding some neat custom touches to give this T140 a personality of its own. Starting with the powertrain-related work, the motorcycles parallel-twin engine was dismantled and treated to an extensive makeover. In the process, it gained a myriad of replacement items like fresh valves, pistons, and cylinders, among others.The pushrod tubes were known for their tendency to leak, so Angry Lane took all the necessary steps to get them sealed up once and for all. Only then did Guillaume and his crew turn their attention to the intake and exhaust, with the former receiving a youthful pair of Amal MK1 Premier carbs and mesh-covered velocity stacks. On the other hand, the exhaust system is the work of Paul Bryant over in New Zealand.It is a neat two-into-one setup with heat-wrapped headers and a shiny reverse megaphone muffler, which lives down low on the right-hand side of the rear wheel. Speaking of the creatures footwear, it now comprises black-anodized aluminum rims and stainless-steel spokes from Buchanans. The hubs were wrapped in a layer of ceramic coating, and some dual-purpose Heidenau K60 Scout rubber made its way onto the alloy hoops at both ends.For improved stopping power front and rear, the shop ditched all the factory braking equipment in favor of EBC discs and AP Racing calipers. The new paraphernalia is hooked up to HEL hoses all-round, but Angry Lane hasnt toned things down in the suspension department, either. Although the OEM forks are still in play, they now feature a full suite of modern internals and are held in place by bespoke CNC-machined triple clamps.At six oclock, the stock suspension hardware has been deleted altogether, making room for adjustable Ohlins shock absorbers to take its place. Upgrades to the Bonnevilles electrical goodies include a Pazon electronic ignition system and a lithium-ion battery from Antigravity. Everything is wired through a Motogadget controller, yet this wasnt the only part supplied by the German brand.The others are located in the cockpit area, with a compact speedometer sitting center-stage to act as the bikes only instrumentation. In addition, the bar-end turn signals and mirrors are Motogadget items, too, all attached to an LSL handlebar along with a mixture of Renard Speed Shop and KustomTech controls. The T140 s front end is finished off with a vintage-looking headlamp.Peek at the back, and youll notice a Bates-style taillight placed on an off-the-shelf rear fender, right above a simple license plate holder and in front of a looped subframe. The frame tubing in that area was modified with the help of Thom Lonnen, then topped with a mesmerizing brown leather bench seat upholstered by Guillaumes brother Ben.Small but stylish saddlebags accompany the new seat on each side, closing up the subframe triangle in the process. The same type of leather was used on the grips, kick-start pedal, and shifter for visual continuity. Angry Lane kept the Bonnevilles unmistakable fuel tank, but had it embellished with a Monza-style filler cap and a glossy coat of olive-green paint. Triumph logos are present on the sides, done in white and outlined in black for ample contrast.The olive hue made its way onto the headlight bucket and rear fender, too, while the front mudguard was left unpainted. It is a heavily reworked carbon fiber item from a Ducati, so it wouldve been a shame to hide thebeneath a layer of paint. The finishing touches on this build came in the form of stainless-steel nuts and bolts all-round, as well as a USB charging port integrated into the right saddlebag.
The fires that broke out at GM's Factory Zero these past few months have raised serious concerns regarding the safety of the plant. The latest of them caused damages of over $1 million and brought massive concerns to safety officials.

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General Motors opened Factory Zero back in November 2021 following an investment of $2.2 billion to retooling the facility and convert it into anmanufacturing center.Back then, the event took place in the presence of President Joe Biden , who toured the manufacturing plant and drove the Hummer EV. Both the Hummerand pickup truck, as well as the Chevrolet Silverado EV, roll off the production line of the plant located on the Detroit-Hamtramck border.The plant is the first GM production center to build EVs only and also the first of its kind for the city. Unfortunately, it has had to deal with more issues than any plant building-powered cars in the area. Production centers such as the Detroit Assembly Complex, where Stellantis is building the Jeep Grand Cherokee, did not report any fire incidents.But it is not all milk and honey at Factory Zero. During the past few months, first responders have grown used to receiving emergency calls from the facility. The latest incident caused major damage, which was estimated at $1 million in content and $300,000 in property, as reported by Automotive News.Furthermore, the fire sparked concerns regarding the protocol for battery fires at the EV manufacturing center.Back then, the cause of the fire is believed to be a forklift accidentally puncturing a battery materials container. It took the firefighters approximately seven hours to put out the fire, which broke out near the loading dock. One of them was injured and admitted to hospital, while all others were exposed to the toxic gases released by the batteries.The fire in December was the eighth since the summer of 2023, according to Dennis Hunter, chief of fire prevention for the Detroit Fire Department. And the volatile chemistry of the battery is to blame. First responders are worried due to the growing number of such facilities in Michigan and across the country.The administrators of Factory Zero and the fire department are collaborating to set up a better response plan that would reduce hazards. The plan focuses on handling EV batteries in a way that would prevent them from overheating or catching fire. EV plants need uniform standards from the National Fire Protection Association for storage and handling of electric cars' batteries, which would force manufacturers to work on prevention.The representatives of the plant stress that the workers' safety is a top priority. Furthermore, the factory needs improved protocols to identify the location of fires in such large facilities. Factory Zero covers a huge 11.6 million-square-foot area. Approximately 2,000 people work there.
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GM delivered around 2.6 million vehicles while the Japanese carmaker fared a little over 2.24 million  not because of lack of trying. For example, out of the 25 best-selling cars, SUVs, and trucks in America, Toyota had five nameplates on the list while GM had just three  but that was still enough to keep the crown.Among the top performers, Toyota also counted on the Corolla series, of course, as it sold more than 232k examples, enough to claim 13th place. That's only natural, as the Corolla is a regular in these tops alongside the Highlander, Tacoma, Camry, or the legendary RAV4 . Plus, it also has many options to attract customers  Corolla Hatchback, sedan, GR Corolla, and Hybrid versions.Of course, the run-of-the-mill Corolla sedan is the cheapest option  it starts from just $22k for the 2024 model year and can be had in LE, Hybrid LE, SE, Nightshade, Hybrid SE, Hybrid Nightshade, XSE, and Hybrid XLE trims. Still, even the most expensive Corolla sedan won't have an MSRP higher than $27,250, which is quite a bargain, indeed.Naturally, that also means Toyota doesn't make a hefty profit on each example. But there is a way to raise the prices and still come out cheaper than others without attracting suspicions  the next-gen Corolla sedan could also arrive as a fully electric four-door and try to end Tesla Model 3's supremacy in the field ofsedans  the base model from Tesla was 12th overall in America with almost 233k estimated deliveries.Of course, Toyota is not saying anything about the next Corolla arriving on the US market as a fully electric sedan. Although the twelfth iteration has been around since 2018, we are not even sure that the Japanese automaker will introduce an all-new generation for the 2025 model year since the mid-cycle facelift is still young after it arrived for the 2023MY. On the other hand, if Toyota wanted to battle the Tesla Model 3 sedan, a zero-emissions Toyota Corolla would be an excellent pick for a rival  it's slightly smaller, and that allows them to lower the prices accordingly.How about the design? Well, the virtual automotive artist behind the Evren Ozgun Spy Sketch channel on YouTube has that slightly different interpretation of the next Corolla sedan, and it's clearly an EV. From the design standpoint, the pixel master has combined elements from the bZ4X crossoverto keep the 'beyond Zero' atmosphere and also kept the connection with the Corolla series at the rear.Interestingly, there's also a glimpse of the cockpit  which has a minimalist appearance, just like a Tesla Model 3. However, unlike the other, there's a digital instrument cluster and a smaller central touchscreen. So, how do you like this hypothetical Toyota Corolla EV sedan?
Back in 1999, at the International Toy Fair in New York, Danish toymaker LEGO and the infamous Lucasfilm announced a partnership that would grow to light up the early years of many of us with incredible toys, recreations of all the wonders we got to see in the Star Wars movies. So that's 25 years of Star Wars LEGO sets, more than enough of a reason for LEGO to kickstart a year-long celebration of the partnership.

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As you're reading this the German city of Nuremberg is host to Spielwarenmesse, the first major international toy fair of the year. It is there where LEGO announced part of its plans for 2024, and they are all related to the connection it has to Star Wars.First and foremost we got wind of a special 25th anniversary logo which will be included throughout 2024 on all related sets, old and new. Then, something interestingly titled the LEGO Star Wars 25-Second Film Festival was announced.This will kick off on March 1 and calls on LEGO and Star Wars fans around the world to shoot on their phones and whatnot 25-second clips either recreating their favorite Star Wars moments or simply inventing new ones. It's unclear at this point if there is some sort of competition involved in this as well.What got us all pumped up about this bit of news is that it includes some details on the upcoming LEGO products related to this universe. And boy, do we have a great share of starships coming our way!The Starship Collection line, as LEGO calls it, includes, first and foremost, new recreations of the Millennium Falcon and the Invisible Hand. We also get two distinct sets centered around the Tantive IV. You can read the details on each of them below.The Millennium Falcon has been recreated in LEGO form time and again, both through official sets and with original ideas. For this year, the toymaker is gifting us (well, not quite gifting, as the thing costs $84.99) a new version of Star Wars' most recognizable ships.This one comes together after no less than 921 pieces have been assembled correctly, and it measures 5 inches (13 cm) high, 9.5 inches (24 cm) long, and 7.5 inches (19 cm) wide. That makes it a member of the mid-scale LEGO Star Wars Starship Collection.The set comes with a buildable stand that is meant to show the Millennium Falcon in a dynamic position, as it were in flight. On top of the toy itself and the stand, LEGO throws into the same package a nameplate and a 25th anniversary brick.The new Millennium Falcon will be in LEGO stores on March 1, but it can already be pre-ordered. As said, the price for it is $84.99, and the toy is meant for adults.The Invisible Hand, the main weapon of the Separatist fleet in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, is also part of the Starship Collection, and it will launch on March 1 with an asking price of $49.99.For that money, LEGO throws in 557 small pieces of scrambled plastic bricks. When assembled, they form a ship that is 7 inches (17 cm) high, 11.5 inches (30 cm) long, and 3.5 inches (9 cm) wide.The toy is highly detailed, as it shows stuff like the hangar where Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi landed, and it can even mimic the way the ship broke up as it entered the atmosphere of Coruscant.Just like with the Millennium Falcon, a buildable stand with a nameplate and a LEGO Star Wars 25th anniversary brick are also being offered with the set. It too is suitable more for adults than for children.Tantive IV is perhaps not as famous as the Millennium Falcon, but it too is iconic. After all, it was Princess Leia's personal starship before being destroyed at the Battle of Exegol. That's why LEGO decided to celebrate with not one but two sets.The first is the ship itself, which comes together by correctly assembling 654 plastic pieces. When complete it stands 6 inches (15 cm) high, 12.5 inches (32 cm) long, and 4 inches (11 cm) wide on its own support and it too accompanied by a 25th anniversary brick.The second LEGO toy dedicated to this ship is actually a diorama, and it shows the moment when Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers boarded the ship in Star Wars: A New Hope.The set comprises the corridor where Vader's troops fought Captain Antilles' troopers, and seven minifigures: Darth Vader, 2 stormtroopers, 2 rebel fleet troopers, and Captain Antilles.LEGO will be selling both these sets starting March 1, and it's asking $79.99 for the ship and $54.99 for the boarding scene.No proper Star Wars celebration would be complete without R2-D2, and LEGO knows this. That's why it included a new recreation of the lovable droid, and a very complex one at that.No less than 1,050 bits of plastic need to come together to form an R2-D2 that is 9 inches (24 cm) high, 6 inches (16 cm) wide, and 4 inches (11 cm) deep. The finished toy features a 360-degree rotating head, an attachable third leg, an attachable periscope, and attachable tools.The droid is suitable for children aged 10 and above, and it will launch on March 1 complete with a 25th anniversary minifigure of Darth Malak with a lightsaber, a display stand, and an R2-D2 information plaque.LEGO is charging $99.99 for the new R2-D2.The above is only the beginning of what we're promised will be a LEGO Star Wars-filled year, so stay close for more insane sets to be revealed.
The Fiat 500 is going back to America and is doing it the right way. The electric variant of the iconic tiny model plays on the same team as Jennifer Lopez.

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The car shows up in JLO's latest music video featuring Latto for her single "Can't Get Enough," from her ninth studio album "This Is Me Now." It is her first major musical project in almost a decade. The 30-second teaser video shows the 54-year-old star dancing and walking as if the street is a catwalk where the Fiat 500e is also making a splash.The first part of the short teaser brings footage from the first Fiat commercial in which Jennifer Lopez starred to promote the 500C. As the video shows, she hasn't changed much over the years. But the Fiat has as it has gone electric.It is one more episode of the long-term partnership between Fiat and Jennifer Lopez. The star advertised for the 500 for the first time more than a decade ago.The new Fiat 500e version is the second drop of the 2024 Fiat 500e collection in the United States. Customers can order it starting March 12. The first one was the RED edition, unveiled back in December and available for order in the US starting in the first quarter of 2024 as the first electric vehicle from Stellantis.The model comes with an electric motor, which generates 111 horsepower (113 metric horsepower) and 148 pound-feet (200 Newton meters) of torque. The city car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kilometers) per hour in 8.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 93 mph (150 kph). It doesn't sound like the type of car JLO is accustomed to. She's been spotted driving a Rolls-Royce Phantom , a Drophead Coupe, and other ultra-luxury, ultra-expensive models.A lithium-ion battery, with a capacity of 42with a Level 2 (11) charge time of four hours and 15 minutes, stores enough energy to make the electric Fiat drive as far as 149 miles (240 kilometers) before it needs to be plugged in again.The spot can be watched on Fiat brand's social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and on YouTube. Fiat brags about being the first automotive brand to incorporate a product drop strategy to create a buzz and encourage customer loyalty. We have yet to see if the strategy works. The one creating a buzz will indeed be Jennifer Lopez.Fiat and JLO originally teamed up in 2011 to promote Fiat's return to America. It was, unfortunately for both of them, an absolute fiasco, with the Italian brand selling only 605 units last year. The 500 was not part of the carmaker's portfolio in the US.Fiat will drop (meaning release) several limited-run variants of the model to keep it interesting and fresh to customers.The 500 is coming back to America the year Fiat celebrates 120 years as an automaker.
German eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) Lilium is already making plans for the time when its global fleet will expand, and these plans include a strategic collaboration with AJW Group.

As one of the most exciting and innovative products in the emerging AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) industry, the Lilium Jet is sure to be met with a growing customer demand. An expanding fleet across the globe also implies a well-developed Aftermarket Service Business, which includes things like training, in-service support, ground operations, and material management. That's where AJW comes in  the reputable aircraft component parts, repair, and supply chain solutions provider was officially confirmed as Lilium's material management partner.What makes the Lilium Jet innovative is the proprietary DEVT (Ducted Electric Vectored Thrust) technology that is supposed to improve several parameters, including aerodynamic efficiency and noise profile, while also making the electric aircraft easier to maneuver. The German company wanted to adapt the existing jet engine technology to electric propulsion. As a result, this eVTOL jet or power-lift eVTOL incorporates a single-stage rotor/stator system driven by an electric motor, with engines integrated into its wing flaps.In nearly ten years, the German startup has successfully tested five generations of its eVTOL jet. The flexible platform can be configured as a six-passenger air taxi, a luxury private jet, or a cargo aircraft. The private jet version, which is said to be launched in Europe as the Lilium Pioneer Edition Jet, will reportedly cost somewhere between $7 to $10 million. It will sport a high-end, ultra-comfortable cabin with multiple customizations available. Lilium has already secured top-tier partners worldwide. For instance, the Dubai-based ArcosJet brokerage company was confirmed as the exclusive official dealership for private sales of the Lilium Jet to customers across UAE, Israel, and Cyprus. In the US, private customers will have access to the German eVTOL jet through EMCJET, a Texas-based brokerage company. The eVTOL will initially be available to customers in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio and gradually expand its network.When it comes to battery cells, Lilium has secured partnerships with Customcells and InoBat. InoBat will produce battery cells for the eVTOL jet at two facilities in Slovakia. One of them is set to start production this year, while the second one will be adapted for large-scale production in the future. InoBat will get support from Gotion High-Tech, known as the battery cell supplier for nearly 80% of all Volkswagen Group's electric vehicles. The Customcells battery cells, on the other hand, will be produced in Tubingen, Germany.Lilium started manufacturing its first aircraft in late 2023 and is gearing up to enter commercial service in Europe as soon as next year, based on the EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) approval.
Japanese automaker Mazda sells no fewer than four rear-biased vehicles in Australia, beginning with the MX-5 soft top and its RF sibling. The other two are utility vehicles based on the manufacturer's new Large Product Architecture, and both of them have been hit with a recall over a manufacturing defect.

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According to the Department of Infrastructure, an estimated 5,257 examples of the CX-90 and CX-60 feature a power steering assembly gear set that may not operate as intended. In the worst-case scenario, the driver could experience a sudden increase in power steering effort. Mazda Australia didn't offer any further information about said issue, but fret not because Mazda North American Operations did earlier this month under recall campaign 24V-022.For the United States, the CX-90 is recalled to the tune of 43,752 units. The CX-60 isn't sold in this part of the world, but rather the CX-70 will join the CX-90 later this year with two-row seating. Mazda did confirm the CX-70 for Australia, which is kind of curious given that it overlaps with the CX-60.Turning our attention back to 24V-022, the automaker determined in December 2023 that excessive spring force causes grease to be pushed out from the gear teeth. This, in turn, results in the lack of oil film, therefore leading to a sticking condition. The momentary loss of power steering assist may take the driver by surprise, but this condition doesn't cause the steering to lock up.Back on December 11, the automaker implemented the permanent countermeasure in vehicle production. According to Mazda, the spring force applied to the worm gear was reduced. The recalled CX-90s will have the aforementioned spring replaced with the improved part, and dealers have also been instructed to regrease the gear teeth.Customers in the US will be informed about recall 24V-022 via first-class mail on March 18, whereas those in Australia will be contacted as soon as remedy parts become available. Mazda didn't offer an estimate, meaning that the remedy spring will become available no sooner than spring 2024.According to documents published by the, the repair should take approximately 40 minutes. Both mild-hybrid I6 and plug-in hybrid I4 vehicles are recalled in the US market. For Australia, the CX-90 is available with either the 3.3-liter M Hybrid Boost I6 or the 3.3-liter M Hybrid Boost I6 turbo diesel.Dubbed G50e and D50e in Mazda Australia vernacular, these lumps are connected to an eight-speed automatic. The G50e may be more powerful at 254(340 hp), but the D50e has the upper hand in terms of peak torque (550 Nm or 406 lb-ft).The CX-70 is coming to Australia with the inline-six gasser, whereas the narrow-bodied CX-60 can be had with either I6 engine or in e-Skyactivflavor. The plug-in hybrid is built around a free-breathing I4 with 2.5 liters to its name. Its 17.8-battery pack and 90-horsepower electric motor enable an electric range of 76 kilometers. In the United States, the EPA estimates the electric driving range at 26 miles.
Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 30, 2024

This is insulting to shareholders  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 31, 2024

Should Tesla change its state of incorporation to Texas, home of its physical headquarters?  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 31, 2024

Elon Musk caused a good laugh in 2018 when he advanced a bold compensation package worth $55 billion if Tesla exceeds $650 billion in market capitalization over a ten-year period. At the time, the company was only worth $59 billion, so you understand how crazy impossible the target was. According to the plan Musk proposed to shareholders, he was to be paid only if Tesla reached a series of what appeared like laughably impossible milestones.The plan set capitalization targets in $50 billion increments, all the way to a market value of $650 billion. In addition to market cap goals, the company also set revenue and adjusted profit goals. The wording was such that Musk would get nothing if Tesla missed any of these targets. Even if Tesla's value would've doubled in 10 years from the then value of $59 billion, the compensation would still be zero. Moreover, Musk would have to hold onto his newly awarded shares for at least five years before he would be allowed to sell them.As incredible as the plan sounded back then, the craziest thing was that Tesla surpassed a $650 billion valuation after only three years. Thus, the package entered into effect, and Musk was awarded 1% of the company's value in stock options, or 1.68 million shares. After that happened, a disgruntled Tesla shareholder (Richard Tornetta), who only had nine Tesla shares at the time, filed a lawsuit. He claimed that Musk controlled the board, and the shareholders who approved the compensation package weren't made aware of this controlled relationship.Now, judge Kathaleen McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery voided Musk's compensation package on the grounds that it was too high. According to the judge's opinion, "the plan is the largest potential compensation opportunity ever observed in public markets by multiple orders of magnitude250 times larger than the contemporaneous median peer compensation plan and over 33 times larger than the plan's closest comparison, which was Musk's prior compensation plan.Ultimately, the plaintiff argued, and the judge agreed, that the goals Tesla needed to achieve in order for Musk to win the massive payday were easier to attain than what was led to believe. This leaves Tesla and Elon Musk in a predicament, as many wonder what this decision means for them. Will Elon Musk have to give up on a big chunk of his Tesla shares? Most likely, the answer is no. For once, the ruling can be appealed at the Delaware Supreme Court.Besides that, Tesla can come up with a new compensation proposal that would satisfy this court's decision. Or, if that's not possible, a new compensation package to shield Musk from the consequences of this court decision. This comes at a time when Musk is seeking another compensation package to surpass 25% of voting power. Musk currently owns a 13% stake in the company.Elon Musk responded to the court decision with a "Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware" statement. He also started a poll on X on whether Tesla should change its state of incorporation to Texas. Almost 90% of about one million people who voted agreed with this decision.
It's not uncommon for actors to be avid car enthusiasts. Because their social and financial status allows them, most of them often have entire garages filled with wheeled beauties. A select few even go as far as having customs made to their exact specifications.

I know, when reading the above your mind immediately flies to male actors the likes of Kevin Hart or Jason Momoa, but actresses are in this business as well. And their kind (meaning actresses with a soft spot and a lot of knowledge about cars) doesn't get any more visible than Sydney Sweeney The 26-year-old is presently enjoying her best years so far. Her latest movie, Anyone But You, is already in cinemas, and two more are on the way: Madame Web (February) and Immaculate (March).None of the above flicks have anything to do with vehicles, but that doesn't mean Sweeney isn't into them. After all, she did grow up in a family of mechanics and picked up enough skill to film herself restoring a 1969 Ford Bronco on her TikTok channel, Syd's Garage.We're bringing Sweeney up again because her connection with Ford became even deeper. An official collab between the two parties will see the creation of two custom Mustangs of the 2024 model year, one of which will be handed over for free to a lucky Sweeney/Ford fan.Both cars are inspired by the actresses' own 1965 Mustang (nicknamed Britney), and are described as a blend of retro charm and a modern aesthetic. Sweeney's touch comes in the form of the vehicles' paint jobs (Robin's Egg Blue with crushed glass clear coat), and the 20-inch chrome rims.Sweeney placed her autograph on the engines of the Mustangs . There is also the Ford x Sydney Sweeney heart bolt emblem (you're probably used to it from the clothing line previously released by the two parties) on the side of the cars, the dashboard, and embossed on the leather seats. Finally, special color-changing LEDs have been fitted across the headliner.All you have to do to get a shot at getting your hands, for free, on the Mustang created by Ford and Sweeney is head over to Ford's Instagram or TikTok channels, follow the company, and comment using the #FordMustangContest hashtag to the post announcing the competition.The contest is already up and running, and it will conclude on February 7. It is only open to U.S. residents (but not those in Alaska and Hawaii) above 18 years of age. Further details on terms and conditions can be found here 2024 is just beginning, and seeing how this is the year when Ford is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Mustang its probably safe to assume a lot more publicity stunts such as this will follow. Stay close to see what the Blue Oval has planned next.
An investigation was opened into the facelifted Model 3 at the beginning of January 2024 by federal regulators in Australia due to a potential breach of motor vehicle regulations. Under Australian Design Rule 34/03, five-seat vehicles must be equipped with a visible top-tether point for all three rear seats. For some reason or another, Tesla removed the flap that accesses the rear center seat's top-tether point.

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The pre-facelift Model 3 featured a flap on the parcel shelf behind, allowing for easy access to said tether point. In the Highland, the rear center seat's top-tether point is hidden under a trim panel. ADR 34/03 clearly states that the top-tether point has to be accessible without the use of tools, which is why Tesla Australia was forced by the federal transport department to halt deliveries on January 18, 2024.As expected, the stop-delivery order also resulted in a recall. Customer deliveries for the Aussie market kicked off in December 2023. Through January 17, 2024, the Austin-based automaker delivered 505 examples of the Highland in this part of the world.The owners of said vehicles will be contacted by Tesla Australia to schedule a service appointment. Service centers have already been told to carry out a part replacement to provide access to the top-tether restraint anchorage of the rear center seat.Owners shouldn't secure a child seat on the rear middle seat until the remedy is completed. Highland owners can also take matters into their own hands by contacting Tesla Australia for additional information at [email protected] or 1800 646 952.As opposed to thein the United States of America, the Department of Infrastructure publishes complete lists of vehicle identification numbers. In this case, the 17-character VIN list starts with LRW3F7FS6PC026007 and ends with LRW3F7EK3PC026225. It should be noted that LRW stands for Tesla's Chinese division, meaning that the Model 3 Highland for the Australian market is assembled by Tesla at Giga Shanghai in China.Launched in the United States at the beginning of the year, the Model 3 Highland carries a starting price of $38,990 for the rear-wheel-drive version. The Dual Motor Long Range is $45,990 back home in America, with Tesla promising 341 miles (549 kilometers) of driving range and 4.2 seconds from 0 to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour).The Performance is nowhere to be seen, but hearsay suggests a March 2024 to April 2024 release window. In Australia, which uses thetesting procedure, the Dual Motor Long Range offers up to 629 kilometers (390 miles) on a full charge.Including taxes, duties, and fees, the more desirable of the two specifications is advertised with a driveaway price of $77,642 in Australia. The lesser version is $67,142. Converted to freedom eagles, that'd be $44,290 and $51,215, respectively.
We all held our breath for the entire five-minute car chase scene in which Tom Cruise drove the tiny ol Fiat 500 in Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning, which premiered in July 2023. But the producers of the blockbuster failed to tell us something important about that car.

Photo: Boxoffice Movie Scenes | YouTube

We've done car chases in Mission: Impossible movies before. But nothing like this one. pic.twitter.com/4NH8ngFs41  Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) June 14, 2023

In the seventh film of the Mission Impossible franchise, Tom Cruise crashed the 1960s Fiat, an Abarth , actually, the moment he pressed the accelerator and started coming up with excuses to show he was not used to such tiny cars. Minutes before, he had just done a similar car chase in a BMW 5 Series.So he wasn't exactly expecting a tiny yellow car, which was over half-a-half-a-century-old, to help him get away from the villains and the police both, trying to avoid pedestrians and baby strollers in the process.Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) drove it along the cobblestone streets of Rome like no tomorrow, drove it down the Spanish Steps, rolled over in it, stopping right beside the Fontana del Moro in Piazza Navona, and eventually ended up in the passenger's seat trying to drive it again. And that was because Grace, the woman he was handcuffed to, had no idea how to drive."We've done car chases in Mission: Impossible movies before. But nothing like this one," Tom Cruise posted on former Twitter/current X in June 2023.And you know Tom Cruise. He does all those stunts himself , breaking bones in the process, healing with the speed of light, and doing them again. But what we did not know was that the Fiat 500 was not your usual Fiat 500.We all noticed that what the car from the 1960s did was way above its normal capabilities. But there was something that those who made the movie kept a secret for a while. Neil Courbould, the special effects supervisor, disclosed the secret of the super Fiat.The scene was originally supposed to be simple. But Tom Cruise simply fell in love with the Fiat and, together with the screenwriters, he decided to set up a more interesting scene. And everything was possible because the Fiat had gone through a heart transplant. Its two-cylinder engine with a 479 cc capacity was removed and replaced by a 500-horsepower electric motor from a Tesla. No other information on the car that donated the engine or on the battery pack that stored the energy to get that tiny car going was revealed.Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning received two Oscar nominations for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. The 96th Academy Awards ceremony is set to take place on March 11.
Electric vehicles are less complex than internal combustion-engined vehicles. But when it comes to software, pretty much every vehicle on sale today is tremendously more complex than new cars, trucks, and crossovers from merely a decade ago.

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Back in July 2023, software-related concerns have forced Volvo to push back deliveries of the EX90 flagship crossover. Fast forward to January 2024, and the Swedish manufacturer acknowledged yet another software-related concern affecting the EX30 subcompact crossover utility vehicle.According to a correspondence forwarded to dealers worldwide, Volvo is working around the clock to fix the problem. The company hasn't provided any details in regard to said problem, but we do know that a software update is under development.Automotive News Europe understands that said update will be made by dealers rather than over the air, which makes OTA functionality look useless. On the other hand, positive examples do exist. Austin-based Tesla comes to mind. Earlier in January, it recalled 200,000 vehicles over a software bug affecting the rearview camera feed. Rather than wasting owners' time at Tesla service centers, the problem was addressed with an OTA update.ANE further understands that EX30 deliveries have been delayed by two weeks , which clearly isn't a big deal. On the other hand, every single day counts in this particular business. We also have to remember that Volvo's B-segment crossover may become its best-selling electric vehicle to date. This expectation is the very opposite of wishful thinking, for the EX30 carries a competitive MSRP.Excluding the $1,295 destination charge, Volvo 's new crossover is $34,950 for the Single Motor Core specification. The Plus kicks off at $38,900, whereas the Ultra is a reasonable $40,600 in the United States market. All-wheel drive is available on the Plus or Ultra, with the Pluscosting $6,000 more than the two-wheel-drive version.Scheduled to arrive at US dealers for the 2025 model year, the EX30 is produced in China. Basesd on the same Geely-designed platform as the smart #1, the EX30 will also be manufactured in Belgium starting 2025. Rear-wheel drive by default, the EX30 uses lithium-iron-phosphate battery cells for the standard-range battery and nickel-manganese-cobalt cells for the extended-range battery.When it comes to driving range,estimates range from 344 kilometers to 480 kilometers. Over in the United States, the Swedish automaker expects up to 275 miles (443 kilometers) for the Single Motor Core with the standard 18-inch wheels. Limited to 110 miles per hour (180 kilometers per hour), the EX90's far more affordable brother packs up to 422 horsepower and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm).Volvo says zero to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) takes 3.4 seconds, putting the EX30 Twin Motor Performance in the same league as the larger and heavier Kia EV6 GT. The gold standard of electric crossovers, however, is the soon-to-be-updated Tesla Model Y. In addition to 310 miles (499 kilometers) of EPA-rated range for the Dual Motor Long Range, the Model Y can shoot to 60 in as little as 3.5 seconds for the Dual Motor Performance.
Waze remains a must-have companion for modern drivers who want to deal with nightmare traffic more conveniently. Still, it's no secret that the application sometimes misbehaves in horrible ways.

The Google-owned company keeps rolling out updates at a painfully slow pace, with the new releases typically addressing just a small fix that wasn't even widespread.The latest iOS update is living proof, as it indeed corrects a bug in the application but leaves many others without a fix after a month and a half of wait.Waze version 4.101 landed on the App Store on January 29, promising a fix for a glitch that prevented railroad crossings from being shown correctly. It's an important release, considering railroad crossing warnings help prevent fatal accidents, but it leaves users waiting for more. The previous update was released on December 14 as version 4.100, so you can imagine that users hitting other bugs were eagerly anticipating a new build.It's not like Waze has nothing to improve in the app.The most recent problem plaguing Android Auto and CarPlay is that the vehicle icon goes missing randomly. As I told you in a different story, the vehicle icon mysteriously disappears with and without navigation on the screen. Most Android Auto users claim the icon is no longer displayed when navigation is not enabled.In my case, Waze removes the vehicle icon on CarPlay when turn-by-turn guidance is running on the screen. The biggest shortcoming is that you can no longer see your location on the map, as the vehicle icon indicates your position as you drive.Waze has never confirmed that it's investigating the error, so it's unclear if a fix for this problem is even coming.Meanwhile, users also complain about routing issues, claiming the application sends them on alternate routes that don't make sense. However, this isn't always a bug, as Waze always looks for the fastest route. It's one of the magic parts of the app, as it helps get you to the destination faster without considering other factors, such as how difficult the route would become for you. As long as you get there faster, Waze suggests the route, obviously according to your navigation settings. Waze voice commands have also been broken for a few weeks. It means users can no longer speak a destination in the application, so they must rely on touch input to set up navigation. It's a major problem for people who want to set a new destination while driving, as the only workaround is to pull over and use touch for configuration. The bug has plagued Android and Android Auto since December, possibly after the latest update, but no fix has appeared on the radar yet.
31 January 2024 19:00 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Nowadays, most countries in the world are moving to a new stage of the industrial fourth revolution in the use of environmentally friendly methods of exploitation, extraction, and processing of fossil raw materials. Green energy, or renewables, is becoming a substitute for the third industrial revolution.

On this basis, Azerbaijan is a country that has taken the existing environmental problems seriously and is rapidly moving towards sustainable development and environmental protection. However, there are still existing problems, such as the pollution of rivers by Armenian companies near the border with Azerbaijan, where water crosses through and plays a vital role in ensuring the life of flora and fauna in all countries of the South Caucasus. The Armenian authorities do not pay heed to the appeals and demands of both Azerbaijani and Armenian organisations, which demand to stop work at the Amuldag gold mine. Thanks to the joint efforts and cooperation of Armenian and Azerbaijani organisations, the activities planned to start at the Arazdayan metallurgical plant were recently stopped.

As stated by more than 100 NGOs and environmental activists from Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Amuldag gold mine project poses a threat to biodiversity and water resources. The Armenian government and Lydian Armenia did not take into account the results of the environmental impact assessment of the mine.

Despite numerous protests by international organisations and several decisions against it, mining wastes containing heavy metals generated by the exploitation of the Amuldag (Amulsar) gold mine are discharged into the Bargushad (Vorotan) River and eventually pollute the Araz River through the Hakari River. Such exploitation of the Amuldag (Amulsar) gold mine poses a serious threat to the entire region surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains as well as to its population.

Armenia becoming a laboratory mouse by US companies

There is one more significant problem, which the Armenian authorities selfishly treat: they permit the building of American biolaboratories for military purposes on their territory. The Armenian authorities have turned their territory into a place for testing of the "guinea pig" type. Since 2010, the Armenian authorities have been opening US reference laboratories. The American side claims that the alleged purpose of these institutions is to guarantee the health of the agricultural sector (animals) and to create ultra-modern laboratories for observation and monitoring of possible threats to human health. These laboratories are also known to have a dual purpose: they are financed by the military, and their activities are strictly classified.

Officials of these structures say that these are former laboratories of sanitary epidemiological stations that were modernised with the funding of Washington. Armenian Prime Minister N. Pashinyan calls these laboratories the property of Armenia, despite the U.S. financial support for their modernization. It became known that Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan signed an agreement with the Pentagon on opening the 13th laboratory on the territory of Armenia. According to many assumptions, this laboratory will be located in Gyumri near the 102nd Russian military base, where there is also one of the laboratories near an Armenian school.

It is important to note that biolaboratories, despite their names, work with pathogens (viruses), i.e., they are laboratories with a biological factor, which raises fears and concerns about the possibility of creating, modifying, and spreading various pathogens. It is also worth adding that the U.S. spends huge amounts of money to maintain and create laboratories around the world. For example, in Ukraine, they spent more than $200 million, whereas the number of biolaboratories in Ukraine is more than 30. In Georgia, $150 million, and in Kazakhstan, more than $130 million. In Armenia, these laboratories exist and operate in Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Ijevan, and other regions. As of today, there are 13 units of such biolaboratories in Armenia.

Armenia creates a number of problems in the region, not only because of its political dependence but also because the country is used as a purposeful business object by various Western organisations. This means that the future of the country is quite murky, and most importantly, reaching a long-term agreement on any issue with it is not a simple matter.

The Metsamor nuclear power plant, which has remained unused since the Soviet era but is considered a source of serious danger, is still a threat to the security of the region today. In such a case, Armenia seriously harms the nature of not only Azerbaijan but also other states, as well as the Caucasus region as a whole.

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Abbas Ganbay is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @Noend33

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31 January 2024 11:21 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ruled out two IndiGo pilots after the airline's flight from Delhi to Baku left Monday night without permission from the air traffic controller, Azernews reports, citing Indian media.

Sources at the Indira Gandhi International Airport said IndiGo flight 6E 1803 from Delhi to Baku took off at 7:38 p.m. Monday without the air traffic controller's permission to depart.

"The matter is being investigated. Both pilots have been suspended pending completion of the investigation," a spokesman for India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said.

In a separate statement, the airline said, "The incident is under investigation, and appropriate action will be taken if necessary."

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31 January 2024 17:26 (UTC+04:00)

Nigar Hasanova Read more

Azerbaijan is working to join the transit system within the framework of a partnership with the European Union (EU).

Azernews reports that Jafar Guluzadeh, head of the Customs Regulation Department of the State Customs Committee (SCC) Customs Administration General Department, said this at the CEO MeetUp Logistics & Trade event organized by Caspian Energy Club and Azerbaijan Transport Forwarding Companies Association Public Union.

According to him, within this framework, a computerized transit system is being implemented in Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan expressed its position to join this convention, our country received informal observer status in Oslo, the capital of Norway. After the legislative work is completed, the monitoring group will carry out an evaluation. Work on its sub-base is being carried out. The web transit project has also been implemented," added the head of the department.

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31 January 2024 17:41 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The Governor of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) gave detailed information about the Banking sector at the press conference held on January 31, Azernews reports.

Access to paid information is limited

Find the plan that suits you best.
31 January 2024 15:19 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

After twenty years, People's Artist Fidan Hajiyeva has once again played in Fikrat Amirov's opera "Sevil", performing the role of Gulush.

"In 1998, when I was just taking my first steps on the opera stage, I played in this opera with our legendary People's Artist, Khuraman Gasimova. The artistic director was People's Artist of the USSR Farhad Badalbayli. The opera premiere was a great success. Among the audience were prominent government officials and representatives of culture and science. And we were very pleased when, after the performance, the National Leader Heydar Aliyev came backstage, expressed kind words, talked very warmly with the creative team, and wished for further success. Unforgettable impressions and a great holiday," Fidan Hajiyeva said.

"Sevil" is a lyrical and psychological opera in four acts, written in 1949-1952. by the great composer Fikrat Amirov with a libretto by Talat Ayyubov, based on the drama of the same name by the prominent playwright Jafar Jabbarli.

It was first staged at the Azerbaijan Opera and Ballet Theatre in Baku in 1953.

The opera is dedicated to the themes of freedom and education for Azerbaijani women. The events cover two periods: 1918-1919 and ten years later.

There were several editions of the opera. The current one was staged by Honored Artist Hafiz Guliyev.

The parts in the opera were performed by the honoured artists Ilaha Afandiyeva, Tural Aghasiyev, Farid Aliyev, Azer Rzazade, Inara Babayeva, and actors Fahmin Ahmadli and Taleh Yahyayev.

The opera was conducted by the laureate of international competitions, Orkhan Gashimov.

Note that Baku will host Fidan Hajiyeva's First International Opera Festival from April 27 to May 3.

The event is co-organized by the Vocal Music School of People's Artist Fidan Hajiyeva with the support of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Media partners are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, Milli.Az, and Turkic.World.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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31 January 2024 10:15 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Regarding the snap presidential elections scheduled for February 7, 2024, polling stations will be opened at the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia, as well as at the Consulates General in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, Azernews reports, citing the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Russia.

Citizens of Azerbaijan over 18 years of age, temporarily or permanently residing in the territory of the Russian Federation, will be able to participate in the voting. For this purpose, it is necessary to present a valid passport or identity card of a citizen of the Azerbaijan Republic to the representatives of the polling station.

Citizens who plan to travel to the Russian Federation during the presidential elections and wish to vote, please also bring absentee voting certificates.

Polling stations will be open from 08:00 to 19:00 local time.

The addresses of polling stations are:

Moscow city, Voznesensky pereulok, 15

St. Petersburg, 2nd Sovetskaya Street, 27

Yekaterinburg, 5, Karla Libknecht Street

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31 January 2024 10:33 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Under the coordination of the Energy Ministry in January 2024, Ukraine received another batch of assistance from Azerbaijani partners, including 25 cargoes of energy equipment for reconstruction works, Azernews reports, citing Ukrainian Energy Ministry.

"Quick and high-quality renewal of energy equipment during the war is a challenge for energy workers. But thanks to partners, Ukraine can promptly restore damaged facilities, thus strengthening energy security," said Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko.

In total, since March 2022, Ukraine has received from Azerbaijan 92 cargoes of energy equipment weighing more than 1,585 tons, including 51 power transformers, 111 transformer substations, and other equipment. Thanks to this assistance from partners, Ukraine has carried out a large-scale repair campaign in the energy sector - more than 2.2 GW of capacity has been added to the energy system.

This is the fourth tranche of aid from Azerbaijan.

It includes:

transformer substations,

power transformer,

wires,

disconnectors and other equipment for rehabilitation and repair works.

The equipment received from Azerbaijan between November 2023 and January 2024 has been distributed among 24 enterprises in the energy sector, namely operators of electricity distribution systems, heat supply, gas, coal, and nuclear enterprises.

"We thank our partners for this support. The provided equipment is used by Ukrainian power engineers to restore facilities that continue to be subjected to hostile shelling, particularly in frontline regions.

"The works carried out make it possible to keep the stable operation of the energy system and meet the needs of consumers in electricity and heat supply," Galushchenko said.

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31 January 2024 12:53 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

The sixth session of the commissions on the delimitation and security of the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will be held on January 31, Azernews reports.

The press service of Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan's office shared information about it, adding that the meeting will be held on the border in the Ijevan and Gazakh regions.

The last session of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Commissions was held on November 30 under the joint chairmanship of Deputy Prime Ministers Mher Grigoryan and Shahin Mustafayev.

Recall that during an interview with local media journalists, the President of Azerbaijan touched upon the issue of the eight occupied villages by Armenia and their return to Azerbaijan, where he also said that the next meeting of the commissions on the delimitation of the borders of the Gazakh-Tovuz region is scheduled for January 2024.

"This issue was also discussed during my contacts with the Armenian Prime Minister, including during the conversation "on the feet" in St. Petersburg. It is also on the agenda of the Delimitation Commission. I must also say that the next meeting of the Delimitation Commission is scheduled for this month, and there will be one topic: the issue of delimitation of this region, the Gazakh-Tovuz region," said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during the interview.

The peace treaty process between Armenia and Azerbaijan depends on the will and desire of these sides to achieve it, excluding the use of violence and manipulation against each other. However, there are some "forces" in Armenia that stick to decisions based on fear and personal gain and push others towards revanchist ideas.

In addition, it should be noted that Azerbaijan has expressed preference for resolving the conflict within the region - either bilaterally or through the mediation of countries like Georgia, Turkiye, and Russia.

However, despite all these efforts, the Armenian side presented certain baseless arguments and claims every time, preventing possible results in the negotiations. For example, in his speech to the OSCE, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan reiterated Armenia's assertion that, after Azerbaijan's "ethnic cleansing" of Garabagh, "Baku is eying an attack on Armenia".

For his part, Azerbaijan's Jeyhun Bayramov said that all the Garabagh Armenians left of their own volition and were free to stay in their homes. He accused Yerevan of needlessly dragging out the peace process and railed against "biased and one-sided actions by certain third parties [that] seriously affect the process."

The minister added that despite all the adverse effects, Azerbaijan is committed to the negotiations and successful results.

"We publicly offered Armenia to meet on the mutual state border or in an impartial and neutral third country," the minister said.

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31 January 2024 13:35 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Recently, Armenian bloggers have started spreading different versions of information about French spy Martin Ryan detained in Baku on December 4, Azernews reports. Armenian-born journalist Leo Nikolyan speaking to Kernews spilled the beans about detained Ryan, saying that, Martin is a Frenchman who wanted to make a big fortune for himself.

"Seeing all the problems existing in France with taxes and different standards, he wanted to go elsewhere. He hesitated between several countries, especially Canada, the United States, or even Russia, where things are going well economically, but also Armenia, Dubai, or Qatar. He was interested in the developing country of Azerbaijan. Baku is the pearl of the Caucasus, the capital of Azerbaijan, with a Turkic-speaking population. It is a secular country that has developed and enriched itself enormously. So, Martin moved there five years ago. So, after studying the market, he decided to settle in Azerbaijan because restaurants and cafes are growing like mushrooms there, more than in Paris.

Martin decided to bring them high-quality products made in France, especially for sauces. He starts his business in Mercorama. Everything goes well for him, he earns a living and gets engaged to a beautiful woman. However, since France has a significant Armenian community, this affects French foreign policy. The president of the republic, Emmanuel Macron, has a position on Armenia, and Azerbaijan is unhappy because of this situation."

According to the journalist, French intelligence services visited Martin Ryan last year.

"These are two diplomats of the French embassy. They have a diplomatic passport, because you must know that all embassies have several employees and some under diplomatic cover are spies. The US has the CIA, Israel has the Mossad, Russia has the FSB, and France has the DGSE... These two people from the DGSE go to him, introduce themselves, and ask him to work for them. Martin refuses, however these men tell him that he has no choice or his parents will have an accident. They also threaten to ruin his company by blocking his goods coming from France at customs. Martin initially refused to cooperate with them, but then he had to give in under pressure," he said.

According to him, Martin Ryan distributed food products, and bases for making sauces for all restaurants in Baku.

"All embassies are in the capital. The Iranian restaurant is frequented by diplomats and the Iranian community. The American restaurant is frequented by American embassy staff. His informants are restaurant owners who are Martin's clients. Martin Ryan was under surveillance by Azerbaijani special services, he was arrested, and his cell phone was confiscated and searched. He has been in preventive detention since December 4. Two French agents could not be arrested because they were diplomats with immunity and were expelled from Azerbaijan. France responded by expelling two diplomats from Azerbaijan. It's an eye for an eye. And Martin Ryan, a simple businessman, has no diplomatic immunity. He has become a victim of French foreign policy," the journalist believes.

"I am outraged that our government does nothing. I hope that our new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal will move in this direction. Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has asked Azerbaijan for the release of a French citizen, even though it was she, through her ministry and her embassy, who lured this man into this trap! The French state is responsible for this situation. We intimidated the French citizen and put pressure on his family," Nikolyan concluded.

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31 January 2024 14:18 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

NATO Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Javier Colomina, told Armenian media that NATO supports the normalisation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azernews reports.

"We support the bilateral format of negotiations as well. At the end of the day, the two countries have to decide how they will move forward, so we will support anything that will eventually lead to peace. We believe that the principles underlying the processrespect for sovereignty and territorial integrityare fundamental," the special envoy said.

The special envoy noted that NATO does not take sides between partners unless there is a violation of the principles and basic elements of the UN Charter.

Recall that the active phase of the largest NATO exercise since Cold War Steadfast Defender 2024 started near the borders of Russia.

According to the information, the exercise involves all types and branches of the armed forces, including tens of thousands of military personnel and hundreds of units of military equipment.

According to the scenario of the exercise, the fictional state "Occasus" annexed the territory of a neighbouring country and then stopped any activity for a while, pumping the population with propaganda. After that, it allegedly attacked another neighbour, a NATO member state. The alliance countries were forced to invoke the fifth article of the organization's charter on collective defence.

It is noted that the exercise involves 90 thousand troops from all 32 countries of the alliance. The manoeuvres will be held in the Baltic States, Poland, and Germany.

According to the author of the article, military correspondent Andrei Kots, the scenario of the exercises implies a conflict in the area of the Suvalki corridor, through which Russian forces can make their way to the Kaliningrad region.

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31 January 2024 16:24 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing today that the best guarantee of peace in the South Caucasus is the use of the principles of trilateral agreements reached by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Armenia, Azernews reports.

"We are confident that the best guarantee of establishing stability and sustainable long-term peace in the South Caucasus is the early resumption of the implementation of the set of trilateral agreements at the highest level, concluded between 2020 and 2022," Zakharova said.

According to the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the mentioned agreements include a non-alternative roadmap for reconciliation between Baku and Yerevan, as well as the elaboration of a peace treaty between the countries.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also commented on Yerevan's rapprochement with NATO, calling it unsafe for the region.

"If someone wants closeness, it is necessary to understand how safe it is and what it will lead to. To begin with, it is necessary to understand what is beneficial to Armenia itself and its national interests," the official said.

"We need to open a map and see in which region and between which neighbours this country is located; read history textbooks."

In turn, NATO is very encouraged by Yerevan's shift towards the Alliance in foreign and defence policy and wants even greater closeness.

Javier Colomina, NATO Special Representative for the South Caucasus, who has become a frequent visitor to the region, frankly stated this in an interview with Armenia's Armenpress. He has made seven visits in two years alone and is quite satisfied with the fact that "over the past few years, Armenia has decided to politically and practically intensify cooperation with NATO."

"I know it's a difficult decision, and it will probably take a long time, but we certainly encourage our partners to come closer to us, and that's what Armenia is doing," Colomina said.

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31 January 2024 19:10 (UTC+04:00)

Dr. Saja Faruq Abdullah has officially started her duties as the UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

Dr. Abdullah submitted her appointment letter (credential) to the Azerbaijani Deputy Foregin Minister Yalchin Rafiyev, and thus her official term of office began.

"It is a great honor and privilege for me to begin my duties as the UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan and to help create a better future for children in the country. I look forward to working with the Government of Azerbaijan and partners to strengthen our support for children, especially in the areas of health, education, child protection and climate. As the government prepares for the COP29 conference, UNICEF stands ready to provide technical assistance to ensure that children and youth are at the center of this important climate event," said the newly appointed UNICEF representative. king to our website.

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31 January 2024 12:18 (UTC+04:00)

Nigar Hasanova Read more

In November 2023, Greece increased the cost of importing natural gas from Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union, was informed about this.

In November alone, Greece spent 64.2 million euros on gas imports from Azerbaijan, compared to 57.7 million euros in October, which means an increase of 11.3 percent.

In November, Greece imported 158.3 million cubic metres of natural gas from Azerbaijan, compared to 161.7 million cubic metres in October, which indicates that the import volume decreased by 2.1 percent.

During the first 11 months of 2023, approximately 1.8 billion cubic metres of gas worth 808.8 million euros were exported from Azerbaijan to Greece.

It should be noted that the transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) began on December 31, 2020. Through the corridor, gas is transported from the Caspian region to European countries via Georgia and Turkiye.

The cost of the project was 33 billion dollars. It is expected that the capital costs of the SGC project will be fully repaid within 8-10 years.

In July 2022, Azerbaijan and the EU agreed to increase the volume of supplies through the Southern Gas Corridor from the current 10 billion cubic metres to 20 billion cubic metres in 2027.

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31 January 2024 10:54 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Traffic in the area of the French airport Toulouse-Blagnac is hampered due to protesting farmers who arrived at the air harbour on tractors, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

It is noted that the ring road near the airport is blocked. Access is through the parking lot from the shopping centre.

In France, farmers' protests have been gaining momentum in recent weeks. They are blocking key highways, blocking traffic with tractors, haystacks, and piles of manure. Farmers have also pelted prefectures and administration buildings with manure and waste. They demand recognition of the importance of their activities and denounce the government's agricultural policies, which they believe make them uncompetitive.

According to French intelligence, the number of protesting farmers tripled on Monday, with the protest movement expected to last at least five days.

According to an internal Interior Ministry document cited by the media, after a lull over the weekend, "the number of farmers participating in the protests tripled on Monday and rose from 3,000 in the morning to 9,000 in the evening."

According to French intelligence, "regardless of what Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announces," authorities expect "the blockades to last at least five days," until Saturday morning.

Authorities fear a tightening and widening of the protest movement. The farmers express their determination to see major changes in the French government's agricultural policy and will closely follow the meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

Recall that earlier, the Armenian Diaspora held a protest in the French city of Nice on January 2728, with slogans demanding the "release of separatists" serving time in Baku prison, the defence of "artsakh" (Khankandi), and the "return of artsakh armenians" back to Garabagh.

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31 January 2024 20:15 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The Crafoord Prize is one of Sweden's largest scientific prizes, awarded since 1982 by the Swedish Academy of Sciences to laureates in one of four categories: mathematics and astronomy, Earth sciences, biological sciences and research on the treatment of polyarthritis, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets.

The 2024 Craford Prize in Astronomy was awarded to Douglas Gough from the University of Cambridge (UK), Jorgen Christensen-Dalsgaard from Aarhus University (Denmark) and Connie Aerts from the University of Leuven, Belgium.

In the field of mathematics, the prize was awarded to Claire Voisin from the Institut de Jussieu Mathematics (France). The Kraford laureates in the field of astronomy brought new knowledge about phenomena that cannot be perceived by the human eye, developed methods that reveal the secrets inside the Sun and stars. Claire Voisin, in turn, specialized in algebraic geometry, which can be used to describe shapes that cannot be visualized.

"Thanks to the efforts of scientists, we can now study the stars in a completely new way. We have a new method with which we can measure the elements inside stars, which was previously impossible," says Bengt Gustafsson, emeritus professor of theoretical astrophysics at Uppsala University and a member of the Royal Uppsala University.

The new technology allows researchers to measure the radius of stars and the composition of their interior, as well as determine their more accurate age. Thus, it has recently been concluded that the Sun is several hundredths of a percent smaller than previously thought.

New methods are also used in the study of alien planetary systems.

"We have discovered planetary systems ten billion years old, that is, much older than ours," notes Jorgen Christensen-Daalsgaard.

The award will be presented at the Crafford Days in Lund and Stockholm on May 13-16 this year.

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31 January 2024 20:30 (UTC+04:00)

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar is visiting Venezuela with the aim of strengthening energy collaboration in the oil, gas, and mining fields between the two nations, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

On Tuesday, Bayraktar first met with Venezuelan Petroleum Minister Pedro Rafael Tellechea Ruiz in the capital, Caracas.

We came (here) to evaluate the collaborations we can develop in the fields of oil and natural gas exploration, production, trade, and services, Bayraktar said, sharing photos from the meeting.

Following the meeting between the delegations, oil-rich Venezuela and Turkiye signed a memorandum of understanding for oil and natural gas cooperation.

For his part, Tellechea on Instagram said he had a productive meeting with Bayraktar.

We reviewed various issues of strategic cooperation and the great window of opportunity that exists for investments in oil and gas, Tellechea wrote.

Later in the day, the Turkish minister met with Venezuelas Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez.

During this meeting, Bayraktar and Rodriguez discussed issues of strengthening alliances on energy and mining between both nations to increase commercial exchange and encourage direct investments, Venezuelas vice president wrote on X.

Bayraktar also met with Ecological Mining Development Minister William Serantes Pinto.

We discussed investment and cooperation opportunities in the field of mining, Bayraktar said on X.

The two ministers also held consultations on areas in which Turkish companies like the state-owned mining and chemicals company Eti Maden, MTA (Mineral Research and Exploration General Directorate),and Turkish Petroleum International Company (TPIC) could operate in Venezuela.
Good morning.



Thank you for joining us today.



I want to acknowledge the presence of ourPrime Minister and other government officials,representatives from the diplomaticcommunity, and of course members of themedia.



Press conferences of this nature are veryimportant and serve an important purpose ofproviding information to our citizens.



As a Government, the Davis administrationremains committed to transparentlycommunicating with Bahamians on issues ofnational importance.



For many Bahamians, a key concern iselectricity.



As outlined in our Blueprint for Change, webelieve that every Bahamian citizen deserveaccess to an affordable and consistent supplyof energy.



This fundamental view also applies tobusinesses  especially small and mediumsized companies who contribute to oureconomic growth and advancement.As the Minister of Energy and Transport, mymission is clear.



I am committed to leading an energy transitionthat gives birth to a brighter, cleaner, and moresustainable future.



At the launch of the RFP for Family IslandsNew Energy Generation via Micro-Grids, CleanFuel & Renewables, I indicated that the RFPfor New Providence would be announcedshortly.



Well, the time has now come.



I am pleased to announce the launch of aRequest for Proposals (RFP) for NewProvidence Micro-Grids and New EnergyGeneration via Renewables with EnergyStorage Systems.







Good morning.

Thank you for joining us today.

I want to acknowledge the presence of our

Prime Minister and other government officials,

representatives from the diplomatic

community, and of course members of the

media.

Press conferences of this nature are very

important and serve an important purpose of

providing information to our citizens.

As a Government, the Davis administration

remains committed to transparently

communicating with Bahamians on issues of

national importance.

For many Bahamians, a key concern is

electricity.

As outlined in our Blueprint for Change, we

believe that every Bahamian citizen deserve

access to an affordable and consistent supply

of energy.

This fundamental view also applies to

businesses  especially small and medium

sized companies who contribute to our

economic growth and advancement.

As the Minister of Energy and Transport, my

mission is clear.

I am committed to leading an energy transition

that gives birth to a brighter, cleaner, and more

sustainable future.

At the launch of the RFP for Family Islands

New Energy Generation via Micro-Grids, Clean

Fuel & Renewables, I indicated that the RFP

for New Providence would be announced

shortly.

Well, the time has now come.

I am pleased to announce the launch of a

Request for Proposals (RFP) for New

Providence Micro-Grids and New Energy

Generation via Renewables with Energy

Storage Systems.
U.S. abrupt probes into Chinese firm dent confidence in U.S. market

Xinhua) 10:29, January 31, 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The United States' abrupt probes into a Chinese company have undermined Chinese investors' confidence in the U.S. market, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday.

The interrogations of Chinese individuals in the U.S., as well as the confiscation of their cellphones, computers and other personal devices, have severely disrupted the normal operations of Chinese firms and businesspeople, said the spokesperson in response to the issue.

The U.S. side should immediately cease its harassment while ensuring a safe, transparent and equitable business environment for Chinese companies and businesspeople, said the spokesperson.

China will closely monitor the situation and steadfastly safeguard the rights and interests of Chinese businesses and citizens, the spokesperson added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A federal court filing this week points to a possible delay in the retrial of former top NC political donor Greg Lindberg on bribery and fraud charges. The trial is scheduled now to begin on Nov. 6.But lawyers for Lindberg's co-defendant, John Gray, filed a motion Wednesday asking for his case to be delayed until April 2024. The motion indicates that the federal governmentGray has faced multiple changes in lawyers since the case started. His current legal team, two Asheville-based attorneys, officially joined the case on Sept. 26.according to Wednesday's motion.Gray's attorneys wrote.The federal government would not need to retry Lindberg and Gray at the same time. But US District Judge Max Cogburn already has delayed the retrial once for both men because of earlier issues related to Gray's legal representation.A status conference in the case is scheduled for Oct. 13.Gray's latest motion arrived on the same day that a lawyer for Lindberg appeared at the state Court of Appeals in a separate case. Lindberg is challenging a state Superior Court ruling related to a $600 million judgement against him. The Universal Life Insurance Company, or ULICO, argued to a three-judge appellate panel Wednesday that Lindberg is trying to delay paying the debt.In a court filing in another case, ULICO claimed that Lindberg owes at least $1.9 billion to his top creditors.The retrial is tied to federal charges that Lindberg attempted to bribe state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey withafter Causey's 2016 election. Causey worked with federal law enforcement officials, including wearing a surveillance wire, to collect evidence against Lindberg and associates.Lindberg was convicted in March 2020 and was sentenced to a seven-year federal prison term. But the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals tossed out that conviction in June 2022. Appellate judges ruled that mistakes in Cogburn's jury instructions hadLindberg's convictions.A second federal trial related to a separate 13-count indictment against Lindberg already has been delayed. Originally scheduled this summer, that case will now be pushed back until after the bribery and fraud retrial.Before the legal action against him, Lindberg had attracted attention in the last decade as a top donor to political campaigns in North Carolina. He supported Democratic Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin's unsuccessful 2016 re-election bid. Goodwin lost to Causey.Later Lindberg became the largest financial contributor in 2017 to the NC Republican Party and two groups supporting then-Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, a Republican. Forest lost the 2020 governor's race to the incumbent Democrat, Gov. Roy Cooper.
The annual Raleigh Children's Business Fair is coming to Raleigh this weekend.This year's fair is free to attend and will allow children ages 6-14 to advertise and sell their products to the public. In past fairs, children have sold items like holiday decor, jewelry, baked goods, and artwork, which are eventually judged at the end of the event and awarded prizes based on theirsaid Jacob Chace, a Blundell Fellow at the Pope Foundation, during an interview with the Carolina Journal.The 2023 edition marks the 6th year of granting Raleigh's young people an opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurship. Each year, these children begin the daunting process of launching their startup by making a brand, creating a product, and then selling it to the fair's attendees. The fair opens Raleigh's children to the increasingly complex business world, setting them on an early trajectory for success later in life.The fair is hosted each year by the John William Pope Foundation, a Raleigh non-profit dedicated toThe Pope Foundation was founded in 1986 by John William Pope and his wife, Joyce Pope, to improve the lives of all North Carolinians through charitable donations in public policy, education, humanitarian work, and the arts. It also is a donor to the John Lock Foundation, the founding organization of Carolina Journal.Like other similar fairs across the country, the Raleigh Children's Business Fair was created as part of a broader national program designed by the Acton Academy. The Acton Academy was founded in 2010 in Austin, Texas, by Laura and Jess Sandefer to facilitateby creating nationalTo achieve this stated goal, Acton employs programming like the Raleigh Children's Business Fair to encourage an entrepreneurial spirit within young people, showing children how they can secure a brighter future for themselves and their families.For questions and more information about the fair, please visit the Children's Business Fair's Facebook page or their website to join their mailing list for information on future fairs.
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?
Iran and Hamas are suddenly arguing with each other, as Iran reportedly claimed that Hamas' brutal massacre of 1200 Israelis on October 7 was a response to the 2020 assassination of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qassem Soleimani by the United States, prompting Hamas to retort that the reason for the murderous assault wasAccording to Al Jazeera, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the repressive military right arm of the Iranian theocratic government which was labeled a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) by the U.S. State Department in 2019, issued a statement saying,Referring to the killing of Razi Mousavi, a brigadier general with the IRGC who was responsible for coordinating military action by Syria and Iran, on Monday in Damascus, the IRGC added,Hamas responded, according to the Jerusalem Post.Palestinian leadership, whether the Palestinian Authority or Hamas, repeatedly uses the supposed threat to the Al-Aqsa mosque as an excuse to launch attacks against Israel. The Second Intifada, which lasted from 2000-2005 and in which, according to the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, 1,137 Israelis were murdered, was referred to by Palestinians as the al Aqsa intifada.Between May 2001 and May 2002, the following massacres occurred: five Israelis murdered by a suicide bomber at the HaSharon Mall in May 2001; 21 Israelis murdered by a suicide bomber at the Dolphinarium Discotheque in June 2001; 15 Israelis murdered by a suicide bomber at Sbarro's Pizza in August 2001, including six children and a 31-year-old woman who was the only child of her parents and was five months pregnant; 11 Israelis murdered in a bus bombing on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem on December 1, 2001; 12 more Israelis murdered the very next day in a Haifa suicide bombing; 11 more Israelis murdered in a bus attack 10 days later in Immanuel; six Israelis murdered in an attack at a bas-mitzvah in January 2002; 11 more Jews killed in an attack on a yeshiva in March 2002, including a five-month-old child; 11 Jews murdered in a bombing at cafe Moment in March 2002; 30 Israelis killed as they celebrated Passover in Netanya on March 27, 2002; 16 Israelis murdered in a suicide bombing four days later at the Matzah restaurant, and 16 Israelis murdered in Rishon LeZion in May 2002.Yet Muslims are allowed free access to the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism where the two Biblical Temples stood and where al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock stand today. It is the Jews who must be guarded by Israeli soldiers when they visit the Temple Mount, often denied access because of fear of Muslim rioting.
America's illegal immigration crisis is shattering century-old records with alarming numbers.

2023: 3,201,144

2022: 2,766,582

2021: 1,956,519

2020: 405,036

2019: 859,501

2018: 404,142

2017: 310,531

2016: 415,816

2015: 337,117

2014: 486,651

2013: 420,789

2012: 364,768

2011: 340,252

2010: 463,382

On President Biden's inaugural day, he introduced policies that incentivize illegal immigration:

 Paused Deportations

 Suspended "Remain in Mexico"

 Stopped Border Wall Construction

Since Biden's policy changes, over 8 million people have illegally entered the country, with millions more slipping past border patrol undetected.

This surge in illegal immigration is a national security crisis, costing American taxpayers hundreds of billions per year.

Major U.S. cities, grappling with the escalating financial burden, are slashing budgets for essential services such as fire, police, and education.

President Biden holds the power to halt this crisis that is draining America's resources and endangering its citizens.

The solution is as simple as the actions that led to this crisisBiden should use his pen to reverse his executive orders.



"No great nation can be in a position where they can't control their borders. It matters how you control your borders. Not just for immigration, but it matters for drugs, terror, and a whole range of things."  Joe Biden

"We simply cannot allow people to pour into the United States undetected, undocumented, unchecked, and circumventing the line of people who are waiting patiently, diligently, and lawfully to become immigrants in this country."  Barack Obama

"All Americans, not only in the States most heavily affected but in every place in this country, are rightly disturbed by the large numbers of illegal aliens entering our country. The jobs they hold might otherwise be held by citizens or legal immigrants. The public service they use imposes burdens on our taxpayers. That's why our administration has moved aggressively to secure our borders by hiring a record number of new border guards, by deporting twice as many criminal aliens as ever before, by cracking down on illegal hiring, and by barring welfare benefits to illegal aliens."  Bill Clinton

Excellent 11 minute video at: https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/1752498124877336987

Words in the video are nice but their actions speak louder than their words.

Lets not forget the standing ovation that Clinton received for this.
Home health company owner Yogesh Pancholi, 43, was sentenced to nine years in prison for a nearly $2.8 million healthcare fraud and wire fraud scheme.

Mr. Pancholi owned and operated Livonia, Mich.-based Shring Home Care, according to a Jan. 31 news release from the Justice Department. Despite being excluded from billing Medicare, he purchased the company using others' information to conceal ownership.

In a two-month period, Mr. Pancholi and his co-conspirators billed and were paid nearly $2.8 million in fraudulent Medicare claims. He then transferred these funds through shell companies' bank accounts and eventually into his accounts in India.

In September, he was convicted of conspiracy to commit healthcare and wire fraud, two substantive counts of healthcare fraud, two counts of money laundering, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of witness tampering.






From new procedures to evolving uses of artificial intelligence, here are seven notes on gastroenterological technology that ASCs and providers should monitor over the next five years:

Artificial intelligence

1. GI Alliance has partnered with Ambience Healthcare to build a suite of artificial intelligence documentation tools, specifically for gastroenterology to allow an 83% reduction in new patient documentation time.

2. St. Petersburg-based Florida Digestive Health Specialists added ambulatory cloud EHR eClinicalWorks' AI tools and virtual scribe Sunoh.ai to assist with patient information charting and streamlined workflows.

3. Artificial intelligence can also be used in the diagnosis process, with a trial conducted by three Italian research centers and published in the journal Gastroenterology finding that computer-aided polyp detection increases adenoma detection rates over high-definition colonoscopy alone.

Evolving procedures

4. Orlando, Fla.-based AdventHealth Center for Interventional Endoscopy gastroenterologist Kambiz Kadkhodayan, MD, performed the world's first "Candy Cane" endoscopic procedure in September on an emergency room nurse.

The procedure removes a problematic portion of the patient's small bowel using a repurposed endoscopic device and then creates a channel for food, all without needing traditional surgery by using an endoscope and other FDA-approved devices.

5. United Digestive physician Daniel Mullady, MD, a gastroenterology and interventional endoscopy specialist at the Center for Digestive and Liver Health in Savannah, Ga., completed the first peroral endoscopic myotomy in the area in October.

The minimally invasive procedure is used to treat esophageal motility disorders, particularly achalasia, with comparable results to surgery.

New tech partnerships to know

6. West Long Branch, N.J.-based gastroenterology group Allied Digestive Health partnered with Provation, a software company that focuses on clinical productivity and workflow automation and allows physicians and nurses to document patient visits and procedures across any internet-enabled device in their practice.

7. The gastroenterology group also recently partnered with medical data intelligence platform Lynx.MD, which uses AI and privacy technology to pull information from healthcare datasets to enhance gastroenterology data resources, including imaging, video and lab data.
Irving, Texas-based Christus Health has shared plans to develop a new emergency hospital campus with a freestanding emergency department and inpatient beds.

The campus will be located on the existing Palestine, Texas-based Christus Magnolia Medical Plaza Campus. The plaza joined Christus in 2017 and features six physicians, four nurse practitioners and four physician assistants, according to a Jan. 29 Christus news release.

The emergency campus project features a nearly 20,000-square-foot facility that will have an ED with laboratory and imaging services. Ambulance arrivals will be accepted at the new ED.

"We have had a footprint in Palestine for a number of years now, and this is a great way for us to continue to extend our health care mission to the community," Chris Glenney, senior vice president for group operations at Christus Northeast Texas, said in the release.

An additional 40 full-time jobs including registered nurses, radiology and laboratory technologists, and more positions will be added as a result of the project.

News of the emergency hospital campus comes after the nonprofit Catholic health system shared plans to develop a new Christus HealthPark campus in Mount Pleasant, Texas, which will bring on more than 50 full-time staff.

Christus Trinity Clinic will also open its first primary care clinic in Mount Pleasant as part of the HealthPark project.

The construction for the emergency hospital campus in Palestine is expected to begin in around 120 days and will be complete toward the end of summer in 2025, the release said.






Venture capital firm General Catalyst's pending acquisition of Akron, Ohio-based Summa Health adds an "unusual wrinkle" to what Fitch Ratings has called a "make-or-break" year for nonprofit hospitals, the ratings agency said in a Jan. 31 report shared with Becker's.

The deal, expected to be completed by the end of the year, would see Summa Health becoming a fully owned subsidiary of General Catalyst's Health Assurance Transformation Corp., or HATCo. If approved, Summa would be transformed from a nonprofit system to a for-profit.

"How it ultimately fares for Summa, and how it potentially shapes the [nonprofit] hospital sector, remains to be seen," Fitch said in the report. "Day-to-day operations should not look much different for Summa, which remains the market leader in its Northeast Ohio service area. Though leverage is elevated, Summa's balance sheet remains adequate to cushion against operating margins that are expected to be breakeven or better in FY24, which led Fitch to affirm its ['BBB+'] ratings and stable rating outlook for Summa Health last June."

HATCo CEO Marc Harrison, MD, told Becker's switching Summa to a for-profit system is "how we transform the industry holistically."

"It does not appear that traditional models, whether it's conventional non-for-profit medicine or unconventional [private equity], is actually really changing the industry holistically, and I think it has to be both a good investment in doing the right thing and then we can make big change," he said.

Fitch said Summa, like many of its peers, is "struggling with containing higher labor expenses and the need to use expensive agency nurses and other personnel to maintain staffing levels in support of rebounding patient volumes post-pandemic."

"Summa's planned conversion into a for-profit organization sheds more light on the longer-term transformation taking place within healthcare, (i.e., operating as efficiently as possible while improving patient access and patient care, and making more and better use of technology)," Fitch's report said. "Some of these things are being done as vendor/customer relationships and some through alignment/partnerships. This is a move that is likely to draw some regulatory scrutiny. That said, private equity purchasing [nonprofit] hospitals could proliferate over time, if Summa/HATCo proves to be successful."

Dr. Harrison and General Catalyst CEO Hemant Taneja have pushed back on the idea that the acquisition of Summa is "another private equity deal." They said in a Jan. 17 blog post that the acquisition is not a "quick flip but a long-term commitment to transformation that benefits the community."
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic is entering into a $150 million buyout deal with Abu Dhabi Health Services Co., postbulletin.com reported Jan. 30.

According to documents filed by state-owned Abu Dhabi Health Services on Jan. 29, Mayo will sell 25% of its shares in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates. The hospital is Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, a 741-bed facility.

Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City was established in 2019, and in 2020, collaborated with Mayo, which made a substantial investment of $50 million in cash and other non-material assets, acquiring a 25% equity stake.

According to Mayo Clinic's annual financial reports, the partnership encompasses agreements on hospital expertise, brand licensing and research contributions.

"Abu Dhabi Health Services Co. (SEHA) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Mayo Clinic's interest in Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC). Following the completion of the transaction, SSMC will be wholly owned and operated by SEHA. Mayo Clinic and SEHA remain committed to serving patients from the UAE, the surrounding region and abroad," a Mayo spokesperson told the publication.

Mayo did not give an explanation as to why it was selling its stake.

The initial agreement was set for a duration of 20 years, with the possibility of extending it by an additional 10 years. Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City committed a "conditional pledge" of $150 million to Mayo Clinic, which corresponds to the current buyout amount.
Safety-net hospitals, or anchor institutions, must reform themselves in addition to any outside aid received from business leaders and government, the presidents and CEOs of Henry Ford Health and America's Essential Hospitals argue in a piece published by Harvard Business Review.

Detroit-based Henry Ford's Bob Riney and America's Essential Hospitals' Bruce Siegel, MD, joined with Texas A&M University's business school professor Leonard Berry, PhD, for their Jan. 31 HBR commentary.

In it, the authors push for anchor institutions, business leaders and the government to take specific actions in an "all-hands-on-deck approach" to strengthen health systems throughout the U.S. that serve higher proportions of uninsured or underinsured patients and lower proportions of commercially insured patients than their metropolitan-area counterparts that serve more affluent areas.

The authors use the term anchor institutions instead of safety-net hospitals. The latter term has been subject to some scrutiny lately, with some arguing that the lack of a universal definition for these hospitals complicates funding efforts.

"No innovative approach to helping anchor health systems will succeed if the health systems themselves don't reform their own approaches to delivering their essential care and services," the authors posit. Mr. Riney, Dr. Siegel and Dr. Berry suggest anchor systems take the following steps:

Become even more efficient. Anchor systems need to take efficiency to a high level and cannot afford the waste that "plagues U.S. healthcare generally," the authors note. Investments must be justified and activities that provide insufficient benefit to the expense must be eliminated.

Enlist capable partners. As providers of essential community services, anchor institutions are better off if they pool key resources through creative collaborations with the right partners. Mr. Riney points to Henry Ford's $2.5 billion collaboration with the NBA's Detroit Pistons and with Michigan State University to build, over a 10-year period, a new hospital, a medical research building, and residential and recreational facilities in downtown Detroit. "The net result will be better healthcare access; modern, state-of-the-art facilities; and an economic multiplier as housing, hotels, retail stores, and other amenities attract leisure and commerce visitors, not just hospital visits," the authors note.

Scale strategically. Some safety-net hospitals have improved their position through mergers with aligned systems. The 2017 combination of Greenville Health and Palmetto Health that resulted in Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health is one example cited by authors. "Done carefully, consolidation can strengthen these institutions by giving them greater influence in negotiating with payers and suppliers and enabling them to share best operational practices," they write.

Create centers of excellence. In Miami, Jackson Health has built a large heart institute that now serves patients who otherwise may not have used the local public hospital system. The Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University, a public institution in Richmond, Va., attracts patients from across the region while providing the services of a major cancer center to that city's vulnerable populations. Attracting patients from across the income spectrum can buoy anchor institutions' commercial payer mix and generate new lines of revenue by becoming the option of choice in their market for specific medical conditions.

"Anchor health systems occupy a unique, indispensable place in U.S. health care," the authors write. "Their challenges are many, far-reaching, and woefully underappreciated. Without these institutions working at their full potential, individuals, communities, and U.S. health care as a whole are jeopardized. These bedrock organizations cannot be allowed to wither."

Mr. Riney's, Dr. Siegel's and Dr. Berry's complete suggestions and those business leaders and government can be found in the full article on HBR, available here.
MBABANE  While the Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo toured four schools around Mbabane, SANU lecturers made noise outside the ministry yesterday.

The Southern Africa Nazarene University (SANU) lecturers said the purpose of the visit was to make noise so that they could be attended to by the minister and hear their longtime concerns. Asked if they were aware that the minister was touring schools in the ongoing fact-finding mission, the lecturers responded to the negative.

Demonstrated

The lectures, who demonstrated while carrying placards outside the ministry, said they had visited the Minister of Education and Training, Nxumalo, as his children as the institution (SANU) fell under the ministry. The lecturers said they wanted to inform the minister about the managements failure to address their concerns. They claimed that their pension and medical aid contributions had not been remitted for some time and their lives were under threat, claiming that they were no longer accepted in hospitals. Government is quick to say an institution should make means to make its own money other than relying on subventions. Institutions need money to make more money, they said. However, the lecturers visit to the ministry remains hearsay to the institutions management.

In an interview yesterday, SANU Registrar Sipho Mhlanga said management was not aware of the decision by the lecturers to visit the ministry. Mhlanga said the management only heard that the lecturers had a meeting on Monday after their representatives met the management last Friday. Asked what was discussed during the Friday meeting, Mhlanga stated that the lecturers complained about transport, following their 80 per cent pay in January. He said management suggested that the lecturers should attend on alternate days pending a resolution to the issue. The representatives left to consult the members. We only heard that they were at the ministry yesterday, Mhlanga said. When the claims made by the lecturers were put to Mhlanga, he said management was aware of the salary issue which is still on the table.

Consultant

Management is committed to finding solutions to the issues affecting the lecturers. We have been engaging with the lecturers representatives. We have also engaged a consultant for a programme that will start on February to April in trying to resolve the issues affecting the school, he said. On the pension issue, Mhlanga stated that they were yet to deliberate on it.

He said the sad thing was that the managements efforts were let down by distrust among the lecturers. He stated that some of the allegations made by the lecturers against the management were new to them.
At least two dozen hospital mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, affiliations and partnerships were unwound or called off throughout the past 24 months.

Here are the ties between health systems that were unwound or deals that were abandoned before completion over the past two years, in reverse chronological order:

1. The University of Minnesota will purchase the four academic health facilities that make up M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center, a change of hands slated for completion in 2027 that would mark the end of the affiliation shared between Fairview, the university and U-M affiliated physicians. The organizations partnered in 2018.

2. Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health and Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic Health System in January 2024 ended their efforts to combine into a 25-hospital regional system. A spokesperson for Essentia said Marshfield's financial situation drove the decision to step away more than a year after merger talks began.

3. Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine terminated its letter of intent in January 2024 to purchase Coatesville, Pa.-based Brandywine Hospital from West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health. Penn Medicine said it determined that it would be unable to build infrastructure for the project in the space available on the hospital's campus.

4. In December 2023, Walnut Creek, Calif.-based John Muir Health called off its plans to acquire San Ramon (Calif.) Regional Medical Center from majority owner Tenet Healthcare. The withdrawal came one month after the Federal Trade Commission sued to block the deal.

5. Baton Rouge, La.-based Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and Ocean Springs, Miss.-based Singing River Health System mutually called off negotiations for a deal in which the former would acquire the latter. Talks between the organizations began in March and were halted in October 2023.

6. Albuquerque, N.M.-based Presbyterian Healthcare Services and West Des Moines, Iowa-based UnityPoint Health called off a planned $11 billion merger in October 2023. The systems said they had reached an agreement after "significant planning and consideration." No official reason was given immediately for the decision. The merger would have created a cross-regional system with nearly 50 hospitals.

7. Louisville, Ky.-based Norton Healthcare and Brentwood, Tenn.-based LifePoint ended a joint venture known as Regional Health Network of Kentucky and Southern Indiana in August 2023. Norton Healthcare took on full ownership of two hospitals in Indiana upon the JV's unwinding.

8. Centennial, Colo.-based Centura Health folded into CommonSpirit Health in August 2023, with the Chicago-based system now managing 20 Centura hospitals with plans to retire the Centura brand. CommonSpirit Health and Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth announced in February 2023 an end to their Centura Health joint venture, with AdventHealth now managing and operating five of the hospitals that were part of the Centura system.

9. Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health and Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services halted their merger efforts to form a 50-hospital system in July 2023 after rolling out the plan to combine in November 2022.

10. Tewksbury, Mass.-based Covenant Health called off its plan to acquire Day Kimball Healthcare, a health system based in Putnam, Conn., in March 2023. The proposed deal faced opposition from a group of local residents concerned that Covenant, a Catholic health system, would limit services provided at independent Day Kimball, particularly reproductive services.

11. New Bern, N.C.-based CarolinaEast Health System ended its partnership with Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health in March 2023. The affiliation was formed in May 2021. CarolinaEast CEO Michael Smith said in a news release that it is no longer in the best interests of both health systems to maintain the affiliation agreement.

12. In February 2023, State University of New York Upstate Medical University and Crouse Health System abandoned merger plans, which were proposed in April 2022 by the Syracuse, N.Y.-based systems. The FTC had voiced opposition to the deal, claiming it would leave Syracuse with just two hospital systems  Upstate and St. Joseph's Health  and give the combined entity a 67 percent share of commercially insured inpatient services in Onondaga County.

13. West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health and Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine announced in February 2023 their decision to no longer pursue a strategic alliance, which was unveiled in July 2021. The systems said they will continue to work together in "areas of mutual interest."

14. Worcester, Mass.-based UMass Memorial Health and Gardner, Mass.-based Heywood Healthcare called off affiliation plans in January 2023. The systems had signed a nonbinding letter of intent in May to explore Heywood joining UMass Memorial Health, but UMass Memorial President and CEO Eric Dickson said "the difficult healthcare environment" makes it an inopportune time for the corporate affiliation.

15. Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica announced in November 2022 its exit from a joint venture with Welltower for 147 skilled nursing assets. ProMedica had held a 15 percent interest in the JV.

16. Elkins, W.Va.-based Davis Health System and Morgantown, W.Va.-based WVU Medicine ended an affiliation in August 2022 over Davis' choices of EHR vendor.

17. Tucson, Ariz.-based TMC Health ended its bid in early June 2022 to buy Santa Cruz Valley Regional Hospital in Green Valley, Ariz., which later closed.

18. Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare and Dallas-based Steward Health Care System abandoned their proposed deal involving five Utah hospitals in June 2022. The decision came 13 days after the Federal Trade Commission challenged the transaction.

19. Two New Jersey health systems  Saint Peter's Healthcare System and RWJBarnabas Health  terminated a definitive agreement to merge in June 2022. Leadership of New Brunswick-based Saint Peter's Healthcare System and West Orange-based RWJ Barnabas Health agreed to call off the deal after the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit to block the transaction.

20. Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth Health and Manchester, N.H.-based GraniteOne Health canceled their proposed merger in May 2022 after the state Attorney General's Office said the move would violate the New Hampshire constitution.

21. In April 2022, St. Louis-based Ascension and Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth unwound their joint venture, Amita Health, which was formed in 2015 and provided healthcare services in the greater Chicago area with 15 acute-care hospitals, four specialty hospitals and immediate and outpatient care centers.

22. Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health and Englewood (N.J.) Health ended merger plans in April 2022. The Federal Trade Commission challenged the deal in 2020, arguing it would give Hackensack Meridian control of three of the six hospitals in Bergen County and raise healthcare costs.

23. The boards of Lifespan and Care New England  both based in Providence, R.I.  withdrew their merger application in February 2022 after the Federal Trade Commission announced it would file suit to block the deal.

24. Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, Calif., and Providence, a Catholic health system based in Renton, Wash., announced in January 2022 that they would end their affiliation.

25. Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic abandoned its plan in January 2022 to buy West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health's Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia.
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics in Madison formed a "Strike Team" to create oversight and determine the possible cause of surgical site infections that occurred after colorectal surgery.

While it was active, the team was responsible for meeting monthly to review cases where patients who had undergone colorectal surgery subsequently came down with surgical site infections to determine how it may have occurred and what measures can be put in place to prevent it from happening again. The team published the results Jan. 30 in the Journal for Healthcare Quality.

The team's continuous activity was disrupted by the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, but results from the time it was regularly reviewing cases of surgical site infections following the procedure led to a "statistically significant reduction in SSIs," researchers wrote.

Infection rates rebounded following the Strike Team's disbandment due to the pandemic, which while not ideal, still underscored its usefulness when it had been in place.

Managing surgical site infections in the context of healthcare "requires a resource-intensive, multidisciplinary approach with numerous strategies to improve adherence to infection control bundles," the authors of the research wrote, pointing to the positive outcomes from the implementation of their strike team.

Becker's reached out to the University of Wisconsin Health to verify whether the Strike Team had been reimplemented since the initial brunt of the pandemic had eased. This story will be updated if more information becomes available.
Physicians have been saving time and seeing more patients at health systems that have been early adopters of artificial intelligence-powered clinical documentation tools, the Association of American Medical Colleges reported.

Health systems using the DAX co-pilot tool from Microsoft subsidiary Nuance include Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health, Durham, N.C.-based Duke Health, Palo Alto, Calif.-based Stanford Health Care and Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health, according to the Jan. 30 story.

"We're not at a place where I would say you should absolutely give this to every doctor," Patricia Garcia, MD, associate chief medical information officer for ambulatory healthcare at Stanford Health Care, told AAMC. "If I had to describe it in one word, I would say, 'Hopeful.'"

For one, the technology still needs to improve its note-taking accuracy and brevity, while privacy and cybersecurity concerns have to be addressed, according to the article. Nuance says physicians deploying DAX are spending two to seven minutes less on each appointment and half the time on documentation, adding five more patient visits to the average day.

"We have to focus on burden reduction for our clinicians," David McSwain, MD, chief medical informatics officer at UNC Health, told AAMC. "If we only use this technology to improve revenue, that would be an extremely negative outcome of this innovation."

Similar tools include an Epic-based version of DAX, the Oracle Digital Assistant, an emergency room app from Meditech and Google, and an eClinicalWorks platform with sunoh.ai, according to the article.
Columbia, Md.-based MedStar has reached an agreement with the Justice Department after allegedly depriving individuals with disabilities access to medical care by excluding the presence of their support persons.

The Justice Department alleges that the health system violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not adjusting its COVID-19 visitor rules to accommodate people with certain disabilities.

According to the complaint, this affected people with certain disabilities' ability to get medical care independently, as they couldn't have their support persons with them. As a result, they couldn't receive equal care without their support person's help.

In the proposed consent decree, which the court needs to accept, MedStar has agreed to pay $440,000 to compensate several eligible individuals who were affected by the policy.

The health system also said it would change their policies to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act, train their staff on the new rules, and inform the department if they exclude support persons in the future, as stated in the agreement.

The Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland worked together on this issue, according to a Jan. 30 news release from the Justice Department.

A MedStar spokesperson told Becker's that in May of 2021 the Department of Justice brought to its attention concerns raised by certain patients who were impacted by the visitor restrictions it put in place during the peak of COVID-19.

"Delivering exceptional care to all our patients is at the core of all we do, and we have always wholeheartedly encouraged support persons accompanying patients with disabilities to ensure equal access to high-quality health care. As a result of the resolution, we have clarified our visitation policies and will provide training for associates who regularly may be called upon to recognize when a patient requires a support person," the spokesperson said. "We are pleased to address the government's concerns and will continue to welcome support persons as we provide the best possible care to all our patients."
Theodore Christopher, MD, the head of emergency medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, has been disciplined after he reportedly left a first-year resident unattended so he could go to a different area of the hospital for a diagnostic procedure he needed. During the procedure, he was put under anesthesia, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Jan. 30.

The procedure was scheduled during his daytime shift Oct. 30 and his absence left his direct reports and resident physicians searching for another supervising physician to guide them. Dr. Christopher did not communicate about his absence to the on-call physician or those who reported to him, the Inquirer reported. The outlet says it acquired the information from three hospital sources who wished to remain anonymous.

While patient care was prioritized and not affected, the situation concerned many, particularly since Dr. Christopher, the leader of the department, was absent from his job.

The hospital subsequently placed him on leave throughout November.

At a December staff meeting once he returned, Dr. Christopher apologized to his staff for not following proper protocols.

A spokesperson for the hospital told Becker's that "Dr. Theodore Christopher was experiencing an acute medical condition," on the day he left his post. The spokesperson noted that he did take steps that day to confirm patients under his care were stable.

"There were no negative impacts on patient care and accepted standards of patient care and resident physician supervision were followed," the spokesperson confirmed.

Dr. Christopher self-reported that he did not personally contact a back-up attending physician. However, another member of the department contacted back-up. Accordingly, there was no change to the usual staffing levels. There were also reported to be multiple attending physicians on-site and patients were always under attending physician care.

However, according to the Inquirer, the emergency medicine leader had a record of leadership issues, including being unavailable at times during scheduled shifts.

Internal investigation documents obtained by the Inquirer revealed that management complaints and allegations of gender discrimination have also been made against Dr. Christopher. However, ultimately the investigation did not find him at fault, but recommended other department changes instead.

In 2020, the health system also had an external law firm investigate conduct allegations against Dr. Christopher and found that many residents and physicians interviewed for the report said they felt "there is a lack of leadership, primarily by the chair, or that they do not trust leadership."

The 2020 investigation did not confirm the allegations, according to the Inquirer.

The most recent complaint against the physician will be investigated internally, and if findings of misconduct are discovered, it will move forward to the state's Board of Medicine.

The spokesperson for Jefferson University Hospital also shared that it "is committed to fostering a secure and inclusive work environment that values and respects the contributions of every employee," adding that the system takes "allegations of discrimination seriously."
After laying off 5% of its corporate workforce in November, Walgreens will lay off 145 more workers, most of whom are corporate employees, the company confirmed to Becker's.

The news, first reported by Crain's Chicago Business on Jan. 30, also follows 504 Walgreens corporate layoffs in May.

A spokesperson for the company, which is reportedly working to sell its $4 billion specialty pharmacy business partnered with dozens of health systems, told Becker's the layoffs are to reduce costs.

The decision was "difficult but necessary," the spokesperson said, as Walgreens has "significant cost savings and growth goals to deliver."

No WARN notices have been filed and Walgreens declined to clarify where the roles are located, so it is unclear which states will be affected.
Physician shortages are a recognized challenge in the U.S. healthcare system. The scarcity of anesthesiologists, specifically, carries major implications.

Mismatched supply-demand for anesthesia dates back to the early 2000s. In a 2002 survey commissioned by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, 47% of hospital administrators reported a restriction on operating room numbers and hours due to a lack of availability of anesthesia providers, research shows.

Anesthesiologist shortages not only strain healthcare delivery and access but can also risk patient safety and surgical outcomes. Increasing overlapping coverage by anesthesiologists is associated with increased surgical patient morbidity and mortality, according to a 2022 study in JAMA Surgery.

The aging population will require more procedures with monitored sedation, spiking demand for anesthesia. Rising demand for surgeons and surgeries will need to be matched with an increase to the supply of anesthesia services; it has been previously been suggested that the number of anesthesiologists needed is 50% of the total number of surgeons, with the remaining need met by CRNAs, according to the Journal of Medicine, Surgery and Public Health.

While rapid growth in the number of CRNAs has eased some of the unmet demand for anesthesia, this category of anesthesia providers still requires supervision by a board-certified anesthesiologist in many states with a capped ratio of physician to CRNAs.

Below are 30 states and Washington, D.C., ranked by active anesthesiologists as a percentage of their overall active physicians (including surgeons). The 15 states with the highest proportion of anesthesiologists to physicians and 15 with lowest proportion are reflected. Data, from September 2023, is sourced from KFF and includes active allopathic and osteopathic physicians.

Highest densities

Indiana: 13.12%

1,211 anesthesiologists

9,227 physicians

Montana: 12.38%

142 anesthesiologists

1,147 physicians

Nevada: 11.87%

417 anesthesiologists

3,514 physicians

Utah: 11.63%

479 anesthesiologists

4,118 physicians

Washington: 11.60%

1,359 anesthesiologists

11,713 physicians

Wyoming: 11.44%

61 anesthesiologists

533 physicians

Iowa: 11.29%

518 anesthesiologists

4,590 physicians

Colorado: 11.12%

840 anesthesiologists

7,551 physicians

Nebraska: 10.93%

323 anesthesiologists

2,955 physicians

Wisconsin: 10.85%

1,063 anesthesiologists

9,795 physicians

Oregon: 10.77%

703 anesthesiologists

6,529 physicians

Kansas: 10.63%

430 anesthesiologists

4,046 physicians

Oklahoma: 10.60%

549 anesthesiologists

5,181 physicians

Texas: 10.39%

3,987 anesthesiologists

38,357 physicians

Arizona: 10.29%

1,091 anesthesiologists

10,601 physicians

Lowest densities

Rhode Island: 4.79%

143 anesthesiologists

2,987 physicians

South Dakota: 6.52%

68 anesthesiologists

1,043 physicians

Delaware: 6.75%

116 anesthesiologists

1,718 physicians

District of Columbia: 6.81%

333 anesthesiologists

4,890 physicians

Michigan: 7.15%

1,692 anesthesiologists

23,666 physicians

North Carolina: 7.30%

1,212 anesthesiologists

16,612 physicians

North Dakota: 7.31%

72 anesthesiologists

985 physicians

Idaho: 7.34%

106 anesthesiologists

1,445 physicians

Minnesota: 7.46%

757 anesthesiologists

10,149 physicians

Connecticut: 7.73%

742 anesthesiologists

9,605 physicians

Mississippi: 7.97%

298 anesthesiologists

3,741 physicians

West Virginia: 8.04%

222 anesthesiologists

2,761 physicians

Pennsylvania: 8.09%

2,428 anesthesiologists

30,011 physicians

Louisiana: 8.19%

653 anesthesiologists

7,975 physicians

Massachusetts: 8.23%

1,900 anesthesiologists

23,075 physicians

New York: 8.27%

4,680 anesthesiologists

56,592 physicians
Several members of Congress have introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reauthorize the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, a law that provides federal funding to prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among healthcare workers.

The law, signed in March 2022, is named for Lorna Breen, MD, a physician who worked in New York City during the pandemic and died by suicide April 26, 2020.

It has already provided $100 million in funding for mental healthcare for providers in the U.S., including $5.6 million for providers at Charlottesville, Va.-based UVA Health, Richmond-based Virginia Commonwealth University, and Fairfax, Va.-based George Mason University, according to a Jan. 30 news release from lawmakers. However, provisions of the law related to funding are set to expire at the end of 2024.

The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act  introduced by U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Todd Young and U.S. Reps. Jen Kiggans, Susan Wild, Buddy Carter, and Debbie Dingell  would reauthorize grant programs through 2029.

According to the release, the move would reauthorize a grant program for employee education; reauthorize a grant program for training healthcare workers and students in strategies to prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions and substance use disorders; and reauthorize a national evidence-based education and awareness campaign.

The reauthorization is supported by the American Hospital Association.

AHA Executive Vice President Stacey Hughes said in a statement: "Reauthorizing the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act is critical in providing our caregivers the support they deserve. Doing so will also help ensure patients and communities continue to have access to high-quality, compassionate and accessible care."

A full list of supporters is available here. The full text of the reauthorization bill is available here.












Between Medicare cuts and changes in insurer policies, orthopedic leaders have to think strategically when it comes to payer negotiations.

For Stephen Holtzclaw, MD, the new CEO at U.S. Orthopaedic Partners, evidence will be key, he said. Bundled payments have done well at USOP practices in Mississippi, and he wants to grow them across the group's network.

"The fact that Mississippi has done so well, we can use that as a proof statement," Dr. Holtzclaw told Becker's. "But also the high-quality physicians and the fact that we can do things in ASCs for a lower cost and higher quality should be an automatic interest for an insurance company. Why pay a higher cost and potentially higher complications at a hospital when you can move things to an ASC and save money and have higher quality? That's really the pitch there. I think they see and understand that we just need to get in front of them and show our worth."

Nicholas Grosso, MD, president of the Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics in Bethesda, Md., said he hopes relationships between physicians and payers can become less "one-sided."



"When we formed CAO, it put us in a much stronger position to negotiate," he said. "We were able to negotiate better reimbursement rates on our fee-for-service. We tried to build relationships with the payers, and we had better relationships with some because we were really built to get to this value. We saw the writing on the wall. We knew value-based care was going to come eventually and just took a lot longer than we thought it would.  I really hope going forward it's more cooperative. I mean, there's always going to be that tension there. They're the payer and we're the provider. But as we move toward capitated care, that kind of shifts the dynamic. I'm hoping it's not just an adversarial relationship where we go to the table and try to see who can take advantage of each other, because I think if we work together, we could get to that value-based care."
MBABANE  The first man to appear before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry alleged that his nearly 90-year-old mother kicked her sons out of the homestead and now stays with her 36-year-old boyfriend.

Ndoda Mkhwanazi (49) of Mhlane, in Matsapha, alleged that they were told that the boyfriend, who is younger than him, was their cousin. He wondered how their cousin could sleep in their mothers house. During his appearance before the commission, which has been tasked with investigating allegations of malpractice in the Office of the Master of the High Court, Mkhwanazi informed the commission that this was one of the reasons that some people committed murder. My mother is almost 90 years old but uhlala nemfana lona 36 (she stays with a 36-year-old boy), alleged Mkhwanazi.

Judge Lorraine Hlophe asked if the boy was Mkhwanazis relative. In response, Mkhwanazi alleged that it was his mothers boyfriend. I heard he was there even last night. They say he is our cousin, he said. The Chairperson of the commission, Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini, enquired what Mkhwanazis sister said about the matter and his response was that they spoke the same language with their mother. If the allegations made by Mkhwanazi are anything to go by, when the alleged boyfriend was born, his (Mkhwanazi) mother was already an elderly woman of around 64 years old. Other members of the commission are Judge President Sifiso Nsibande, Judge Mzwandile Fakudze and Judge Maxine Langwenya. Mkhwanazi appeared before the commission because he was not satisfied with the manner in which the estate of his father, Samuel, was handled, he said.

He told the commission that after his father died in September 2003, he went to stay with one of his sisters due to challenges he encountered at home. He said at the end of 2008, he and his brothers were allegedly called by their mother and four sisters, who told them that they had reached maturity, as a result they should leave the homestead and find women to marry.

Mkhwanazi stated that he decided to go to Johannesburg due to the challenges he faced at home and his elder brother found a flat to rent at Mahlabatsini, in Matsapha, while their younger brother remained at home despite the situation. He said their sisters were older than him and his younger brother. He informed the commission that before their father died, he had a shopping complex, SGood is Nice, at Sigodvweni, which had four shops, three of which were rented out. Mkhwanazi also said his father had motor vehicles; a Ford van and Mercedes Benz.

lobola

He also mentioned an Isuzu van which was bought by his mother after the death of his father. He said there were cattle after lobola was paid for some of his sisters. The cattle, according to Mkhwanazi, were taken to certain homesteads at Siphofaneni and Nkambeni for rearing. His father also had a plot at Sterksroom and another at Wilmer Park. Mkhwanazi said when he was in Johannesburg in 2014, his sister, Khetsiwe, who was employed in the neighbouring country, was visited by another of their sisters. According to Mkhwanazi, Khetsiwe allegedly told him that they had sold one plot in Eswatini and they would give him his share of the sale later on. On the day in question, submitted Mkhwanazi, his sister arrived and they went to a bank in Campton Park where she withdrew R11 000, which she said was his share of the sale of the plot. I enquired as to where the rest was because I knew that my father was worth more than that. She said I would get the balance when I returned to Eswatini.

He said despite that there were issues when he left for the Republic of South Africa, he came back to Eswatini and confronted his mother about the rest of the money he believed was due to him. My mother asked if my sisters had not given me any money. I approached the Masters Office and I was given a file to peruse. In the file, only the two plots were mentioned and it was stated that, regarding one of the plots, we had agreed to give it to our mother. The other properties were not mentioned. I was surprised because there was my signature and I was surprised how they obtained it. I wondered how I could have agreed to give my mother the plot when she was the one who chased us away, from our home. I went to stay on my own and due to financial constraints, I couldnt hire a lawyer. I received a call from the master (referring to the secretary of the commission) yesterday and I was surprised, Mkhwanazi submitted to the commission.

Judge Dlamini wanted to know if his (Mkhwanazis) fathers estate was reported to the Masters Office. He said he would not know because when the elders did certain things, children were not involved. When asked if there was a family meeting after the death of his father, Mkhwanazi informed the commission that there was a meeting where a handwritten piece of paper was produced, which was purported to be a will and it was read out. He alleged that this happened in the presence of then Lawyer Lucia Lukhele, who is now a magistrate. Judge Hlophe asked about the marriage regime of Mkhwanazis parents and he said; I dont know because I was not there. Judge Hlophe said from Mkhwanazis submission, the marriage regime was probably a civil rites union.

Judge Langwenya wanted to find out what happened after Mkhwanazis father had died. The complainant said his mother continued to operate the shop at the shopping complex. When asked what his issue with the Masters Office was, he said: Everything should start afresh. We must all be called and all of our fathers property be brought back and distributed accordingly, maybe I could be able to go back home. I need to know from the master what happened to my fathers property. The master never called me. I wonder how they continue to distribute someones property when one of us is not present. Mkhwanazi said when he perused the masters file, he discovered that his father had only E550 in the bank. He said it was concerning to him that his fathers estate was distributed in his absence. Judge President Nsibande said his concern was that at the Masters Office, Mkhwanazi saw the file, but did you tell the master that you were not satisfied with the way things were going? Mkhwanazi said he was advised to hire an attorney but he did not have money. He told the commission that the master was suppose to give him a cheque, but that did not happen.
The UK government has announced a new internal market scheme with a body set up to encourage trade within the Union, while pledging to push corporation tax setting powers for NI in its deal with the DUP to restore power-sharing.

And it said it would enter talks with the US on options for introducing pre-clearance checks on customs and immigration for passengers travelling on direct flights from Belfast International Airport and the USA. However, there are currently no transatlantic flights departing from the airport.

The newly-published Safeguarding the Union document is described as aiming to fully protect Northern Ireland and its place in the Union.

It says it has a shared vision of a stable, certain future for NI with people and businesses able to draw on benefits of membership of the UK and its internal market as an indivisible part of the UKs economic union while also retaining full access to the EU market for goods.

And it ends routine checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, adding that it had also provided written guarantees on biosecurity to the EU to always protect against disease risks on the island of Ireland.

Taken together, these substantive changes will ensure a permanent smooth flow of internal UK trade, the deal said.

It said the old post-Brexit NI Protocol requirements were overly burdensome and were inappropriate for internal movements within the UK.

The Windsor Framework agreement of February last year replaced requirements of the NI Protocol with a new system of a green lane and red lane, with first for goods staying in NI and the latter for goods travelling onwards.

Now Safeguarding the Union scraps requirements for international customs paperwork and supplementary declarations in favour of a shorter, simpler dataset containing standard commercial information.

The new UK internal market system would integrate commercial data collection by UK authorities with internal data collection carried out by every modern business, the deal adds.

This will ensure that the data collection within the UK Internal Market Scheme is rightly focused on preventing Irish businesses seeking to piggyback on the advantages of the UKs internal market, or otherwise exploiting the arrangements.

It also announces a new UK East-West Council to advance the opportunities of the UK internal market, which would look at setting up a Northern Ireland hub in London. And the council would also look at setting up a new twinning programme between schools in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Recognising the increased costs for hauliers and ferry users between NI and GB, the Government will establish a specific strand of work to boost port connections and infrastructure between NI and GB, with a 10m fund for strategically important NI ports.

It also provides 150m for an enhanced investment zone to be used flexibly between tax incentives and spending on interventions. Tax incentives will be offered over a number of defined tax sites, scalable based on the number and size of those sites.

It vowed to reanimate the process of devolving corporation tax powers to the NI Executive, acknowledging the process had stalled following commitments in the Stormont House Agreement.

That is why we are committed to a rapid, focused process, supported by the necessary resource from within HM Treasury, on the implementation of corporation tax devolution through a new Joint Exchequer Committee. The committee will take forward urgent work on this process once a new Finance Minister is in place."

Part of the duties of Intertrade UK will be to examine if there is trade in the red lane which could move within the UK internal market system.

Only agrifood goods connected to registered NI food and feed operators will be qualifying Northern Ireland goods for the purpose of SPS checks, controls and processes. Agrifood goods from Ireland or elsewhere which do not have the necessary connection with an NI food or feed operator will have to undertake the relevant SPS controls when moving from NI to Great Britain.

The NI Business Brexit working group of 14 industry bodies welcomed the progress in settling post-Brexit trading arrangements.

On the face of it, mitigations against the long-term challenges of regulatory divergence, a dedicated focus on GB suppliers and a further reduction in checks are particularly welcome.

It continues to be our shared aspiration that the arrangements, as they continue to evolve, will deliver a unique platform that unlocks economic growth and investment. We will take time to study the detail, consider its practical implications and what it means for our members day-to-day.

We encourage the UK and EU to adopt a laser-like focus on business engagement with a constructive, solutions-focussed approach to help firms adjust to any new arrangements.
The listing says the property includes an 872-seater auditorium, a drinks bar and would be suitable for concerts

The auditorium including balcony and stage at the former Green Pastures Church building in Ballymena

Restaurant area at the former home of Wrightbus in Ballymena. The space is now available for rent

The former home of Wrightbus in Ballymena is now up for rent

The former home of Ballymena evangelical church Green Pastures has gone on the market for rent, complete with a drinks bar.

But the building used by the church, founded by ex-Wrightbus owner Jeff Wright in 2007, is being described in marketing materials as an event space rather than a place of worship.

Wrightbus went into administration in 2019, with many of its buildings sold off by administrators, including the Fenaghy Road space now on the market through CBRE NI.

Accusations of governance issues at Green Pastures Church, which is a registered charity, led to the Northern Ireland Charity Commission announcing a review into it in May 2022.

The commercial property practice said the building was being used as offices and an auditorium. However, the identity of the owner is unknown.

A sales brochure from CBRE NI said the space would be suitable for concerts, events or other similar uses.

Interior of the building in Ballymena

It added: The auditorium/event space over ground floor and balcony area can accommodate 872 seats. The ground floor consists of a large commercial kitchen and dining area, recreational spaces, offices, restrooms and the primary section of the auditorium which provides seating for 566 attendees.

"The first floor provides private offices, lounge areas, and a drinks bar along with the balcony section of the auditorium which offers extra seating for a further 306 attendees.

The space would be suitable for concerts, events or other similar uses.

Restaurant area at the former home of Wrightbus in Ballymena. The space is now available for rent

While the brand and assets of Wrightbus were sold to Bamford Bus Company in 2019, the administration of the old Wrights Group continued with the sale of many of its properties.

In early 2021, Green Pastures vacated the building on Fenaghy Road to move to its new super church called The Gateway, on the outskirts of Ballymena at Ballee. The Fenaghy Road property was then sold by the administrators.

The auditorium including balcony and stage at the former Green Pastures Church building in Ballymena

Creditors were owed a total of 60m when Deloitte was appointed administrators in September 2019 following trading problems at the bus manufacturer, famous for manufacturing the red Routemaster bus for Transport for London.

In total, five Wrightbus companies went bust  Wrightbus, Wright En-Drive, Wright Composites, Wrights Group and Metallix.

In November 2022, it emerged that 14 people, including Jeff Wright and his two sisters  the children of Wrightbus founder Sir William Wright  were facing directors disqualification proceedings in connection with the insolvency of Wrightbus. The case is continuing though proceedings were dropped against four people.

Conduct which can lead to a boardroom ban includes continuing to trade to the detriment of creditors at a time when the company was insolvent; failing to keep proper accounting records; failing to prepare and file accounts or make returns to the Companies Registry; failing to submit tax returns or pay tax or other money due to the Crown; and failing to co-operate with the receiver/insolvency practitioner.
Business has welcomed the substance of the deal between the Government and DUP, which ends routine checks on goods coming from Great Britain to Northern Ireland  while promising other economic incentives.

The Windsor Framework replaced the post-Brexit NI Protocol with a new system of a green lane and red lane, the first for goods staying in NI and the other for goods travelling on to the Republic or further afield.

The new deal replaces the green lane with the UK internal market system, and scraps requirements for customs paperwork and supplementary declarations in favour of a a shorter, simpler dataset.

It creates the East West Council and Intertrade UK to foster closer relations between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, and to encourage trade in the Union. And it vows to also bolster trade from Northern Ireland to Great Britain through legislation.

The deal provides 150m for an enhanced investment zone in NI, a location where favourable conditions can be created to encourage business and investment, with the money to be used flexibly between tax incentives and interventions.

The document also promises to fast-track the implementation of a lower corporation tax rate in Northern Ireland. This would in theory enable the economy to compete more effectively for investment with the Republic, where the rate is just 12.5% compared to 25% in the UK.

But questions were raised on whether the documents promise means that an earlier Treasury finding that the tax would not be devolved until Northern Irelands public finances were deemed to be on a sustainable footing can be discarded. The Government has been asked for comment.

Dr Esmond Birnie, a pro-Brexit senior economist who opposed the NI Protocol, said the deal would make life easier for business, subject to legislation enacting the commitments.

"The measures are not perfect and like all trade law relationships they will evolve over time and there will almost certainly be periodic disputes and tensions regarding interpretation and implementation between Stormont, the UK Government and the EU, he said.

He said he did not believe the Irish Sea Border had disappeared completely but that it had been smoothed down a bit and welcomed the intervention on corporation tax. If anything, the argument for a lower NI rate is stronger now than 10 years ago, given the average UK rate has gone to 25% but the Republic remains at 12.5% with a much lower effective rate.

Johnny Hanna, partner in charge of KPMG in Northern Ireland, said: Our business community will welcome any further simplifications relating to trade with Great Britain which the new deal seems to deliver on.

"It is now time to fully exploit our unique dual market access position to create economic growth and investment and, in that regard, we also welcome the commitment for swift progress on the matter of devolved corporation tax powers, which has been long awaited.

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said the 150m investment zone was a positive development and suggested it should focus on areas of under-investment west of the Bann.

Overall, Northern Ireland has moved forward this week and having the Executive and Assembly restored will create political stability which is the bottom line for any successful economy, he said.

Howard Hastings, managing director of Hastings Hotels, said the devolution of corporation tax would be welcome in the longer term but said he was sceptical about the effectiveness of investment zones. A similar model of business incentives operates as an enterprise zone in Coleraine.

Enterprise zones been spoken of so many times though theyve yet to deliver anything concrete to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Its from the old handbook but our post-Brexit position should give us the opportunity to look at things afresh, he said.

Andrew Webb, chief economist of business advisors Grant Thornton, said it remained to be seen if the note of urgency around corporation tax meant that the Treasurys old stipulation of the public finances being required to be on a sustainable footing would be disregarded.

Brian Reid, managing director of sandwich company Deli-Lites in Newry, said the fact that the deal would restore power-sharing was positive but added: We have always been a big fan of the protocol and the Windsor Framework and while this is welcome, we have already changed our processes three times so its a bit more reading and research for us. Its not going to make a massive difference.

The document states that the UK is committed to a rapid, focused process, supported by the necessary resource from within HM Treasury, on the implementation of corporation tax devolution through a new Joint Exchequer Committee.

It adds: "The committee will take forward urgent work on this process once a new Finance Minister is in place."

Northern Ireland already has one enterprise zone, which works on a similar basis to the investment zone.

The 20-acre Atlantic Link Enterprise Campus (ALEC) was opened on land formerly owned by Ulster University in 2017 but has only one tenant, Prescient Data Centre.

A BBC NI report in 2021 said the campus had cost the council 3m since 2015, including buying the site and connecting up utilities.

Last year commercial property agents NRE has said it has been instructed for the first time to seek expressions of interest for the remaining space.
Beat Carnival claims Belfast councillors ignored calls for additional time and money

The founder of a Belfast arts group that has worked on the citys St Patricks Day parade for almost two decades has hit out at the councils preparations for the celebrations.

The Beat Carnival has been working on the event since 1998, and in 2006 produced the parade in its entirety.

Director David Boyd said after the council trialled a new way of delivering the march in 2022, his group gave feedback calling for more time and money.

Beat hoped the commission for the next St Patricks Day would be confirmed immediately after the parade, allowing a full year of preparation.

In the event, the council offered the commission in January last year, leaving only six weeks to get things ready.

The timeframe and the budget were just too small, and we did not have adequate time to work with performers or participants to give them the best experience, Mr Boyd said.

None of that was taken on board and the tender process for this year wasnt opened until November last year, which is far too tight of a timeframe.

The 2023 budget of 100,000 was also cut to 95,000, even after we submitted a report outlining that we had true costs of more than 100,000.

Why was it cut even further when the council say that they want to support the infrastructure in Belfast and celebrate the culture of the city?

One of the reasons we decided not to tender is because we cant keep producing work that is [worth] more than whats being paid for.

We are taking the decision to value ourselves and value Belfast artists who give their time and skill to deliver this event.

This is supposed to be the big year for culture in Belfast, but all that we are experiencing is a shambles.

Belfast City Council said 300,000 had been allocated to this years celebrations, covering the parade, the musical showcase and a number of other events across the city.

A spokesperson said that because of a reallocation from underspends elsewhere, a slightly increased budget had been allocated to the parade previously that was not replicated in this financial year.

Our overall budget for this years St Patricks Day programme is 300,000,the spokesperson continued.

This includes an allocation of 95,000 towards a parade on March 17.

We acknowledge concerns raised in relation to our procurement process. We are currently reviewing this feedback, and a report will be brought back to elected members for consideration in due course.

Councillors were told earlier this month that the fourth and last open call for tenders had received no responses.

Officials admitted last November they had found it difficult to hire a company to cover the music and that organisations interested in applying had seen the funding offer as too low.

Mr Boyd said a company from Donegal had now been hired to organise the event.

He continued: We have found our organisation around the parade very successful over the years because we have good relationships with communities.

But now, a company not from Belfast  and not even from Northern Ireland  is paid from Belfast funds, instead of Belfast artists, to deliver the parade.

Its highly likely that Belfast artists and Belfast communities will not be supported this year in the significant way they have been in previous years.

Mr Boyd said Beat was working in conjunction with unionist communities in the hope of encouraging more people to take part in the festivities.

From the start, our big job has been to make this celebration into something more inclusive, he added.

Within the first three years we made the parade 50-50 in terms of performers and community involvement, which was a big achievement.

We hoped to continue to ensure that different communities were being supported and included in the St Patricks Day celebrations.
The TV host recently revealed had to sell his Belfast house to pay a tax bill.

Belfast presenter Eamonn Holmes has branded HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) the department of thievery after discussing tax reforms on his GB News Breakfast Show.

The 64-year-old broadcaster interviewed Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis who argued the Government should cut taxes on family-run businesses.

Supporting the move, Mr Holmes said: "Whatever people like the Chancellor do, they balance books and they make these political decisions.

"What I like about you and what you're proposing, is you obviously are doing the right thing. And I always believe that we should all be seen to do the right thing.

"My eyes light up when I see you want to abolish the IR35 reforms, which will mean nothing to anybody until the Department of Thievery - HMRC - comes and steals it from you as I have been affected by this drastically as well.

"I just want to say continue to do the right thing, good luck to you, and thank you very much indeed."

It comes after the TV host recently revealed he had to sell his Belfast house to pay a tax bill.

In a wide-ranging and candid interview with his former UTV colleague Gerry Kelly, Holmes expressed anger at having to sell his home in the Belmont area of east Belfast and said he had lost two appeals against HMRC which cost him hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal fees.

I had a house here until six weeks ago when I was forced to sell it by the Inland Revenue (HMRC). Its something Im very bitter about, he said on the show.

"Because people think you earn lots of money and therefore you have to pay. Its like they have taken away everything I ever worked for.

He revealed that tax officials ruled he was a staff member with broadcasters and not a freelance and demanded 10 years of retrospective tax and national insurance payments from him, though he didnt disclose the figures.

People think its only the Eamonn Holmeses of this world that theyre after. But its not. The country is broken. Politicians lie all the time. Theres no money here. They have to steal money everywhere they can, he added.

An HMRC spokesperson said: Its our duty to ensure everyone pays the right tax under the law, regardless of wealth or status.

We take the wellbeing of all taxpayers seriously and do everything we can for those who engage with us to get their tax affairs in order, including by offering affordable payment plans.
A Co Londonderry cattle farmer has been fined 20,000 after destroying a Second World War heavy anti-aircraft battery.

James Thompson (77) pleaded guilty to damaging or destroying a protected monument.

The offence occurred between February 19, 2019, and October 19, 2022, after he was officially notified of the historic importance of the anti-aircraft battery in 2005.

Thompson, who is a cattle and sheep farmer, excavated a four-acre section of his farm in the Culmore area of Derry to facilitate the construction of a laneway for cattle to move through his farm.

It was during this construction that an underground concrete foundation adjacent to the anti-aircraft battery, which was used for a radar mat and a ramp, was damaged or destroyed.

Imposing the 20,000 fine at the citys Crown court, Judge Neil Rafferty KC said that while he was satisfied Thompsons actions were not an act of vandalism, by digging up the underground foundation he had failed in his duty as a custodian to current and future generations of people.

A prosecution barrister told the court that by excavating and reseeding the four-acre protected site, Thompson had added 32,000 to the value of his land, which he has been farming since 1993.

He added that in October 2021 an archaeologist from the Historic Environment department went to the site and discovered that it had been interfered with.

The defendant, of Coney Road, Derry, was interviewed and admitted digging up the site but said he did not realise that the underground concrete structure was a protected monument.

He believed the adjacent anti-aircraft battery placement was the protected monument.

Defence barrister Stephen Chapman said: The more interesting parts of the monument were not visible from the adjacent road and Mr Thompson has told me that in the past 50 years only one member of the public has ever asked him for permission to look at it.

In terms of culpability, Judge Rafferty said Thompson, as an experienced and respected farmer, should have been familiar with his land maps and would have known that the underground monument existed.

In relation to the damage caused by Thompson, Judge Rafferty said all of the above-ground structures were still intact.

As regards the value of the damage caused, Judge Rafferty said that it was difficult to assess, as the monument was probably not on the to-do list in terms of the local tourism industry.

But to members of historical societies, archaeologists and academics, it was a priceless way to study how these things were put together in the 1940s, he said.

It is necessary to protect our heritage and such monuments must be protected.

Judge Rafferty said it was a unique site in Northern Ireland, as it was the only radar site of its kind in existence.

He said the monetary gain to the defendant was 32,000 but, in view of his immediate admissions and previous good character, he was reducing the fine to 20,000.
Royal Courts of Justice where the High Court and the Court of Appeal sit

The mother of an IRA murder victim is pressing ahead with legal attempts to obtain damages from a former British spy allegedly involved in the killing.

Eilish Morley has already secured judgment against Peter Keeley in a High Court claim over the death of her son nearly 34 years ago.

Eoin Morley was abducted and murdered in Newry, Co Down in April 1990.

Masked men dragged him from his girlfriend's house in the Derrybeg estate and shot him twice.

The victim was a member of the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO), a splinter republican paramilitary organisation.

Mrs Morley has already settled civil actions against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the PSNI about alleged state collusion with the IRA killers.

She also sued Mr Keeley, who uses the pseudonym Kevin Fulton, over his alleged role in her sons death while working for a covert British military intelligence unit.

Back in 2014 Mrs Morley was granted a default judgment against the ex-spy after he failed to enter a defence to the claim.

Since then, proceedings have been on hold because of issues over the writ and to await the outcome of the related cases against the MoD and police.

Lawyers representing Mrs Morley returned to the High Court today as part of a renewed application for an assessment on the level of damages Mr Keeley should pay.

During the review a judge gave directions on obtaining a forensic accounting report and making an attempt to serve proceedings on the defendant.

Adjourning the hearing, Mr Justice Rooney listed it for a further update in May.

Outside court Mrs Morleys solicitor, Kevin Winters, commended her determination in pursuing a case against the former British agent.

Mr Winters said: In the absence of any prosecution, despite overwhelming evidence, she has been left to take this civil action to have him held liable.
The daughter of a former UUP leader has been selected to stand in the General Election.

Diana Armstrong will contest the Fermanagh-South Tyrone seat  the UKs most marginal constituency.

It is currently held by Sinn Fein with a 57-vote majority.

Ms Armstrong, a local councillor, is the daughter of Harry West, a former UUP leader and MP.

She was confirmed by the Fermanagh-South Tyrone Ulster Unionist Association on Wednesday night.

She said voters deserved to be represented at Westminster.

Michelle Gildernew was elected in 2001 and held the seat to 2015. Tom Elliott took it back for the UUP, but Ms Gildernew was returned in 2017 and held the seat in 2019.

The Fermanagh-South Tyrone constituency has a history of being a very marginal seat. For many years the people of this area havent had any representation at Westminster, she said.

We have heard a lot about no representation at Stormont in the past two years, however with the exception of a two-year period, Fermanagh and South Tyrone have not had representation at Westminster for over 20 years.

I ask that you all help to change that. We need strong representation at Westminster  that is where the finance comes from to support departments, the economy, jobs and employees in Northern Ireland.

Being part of the United Kingdom is positive for the people.

A spokesperson for the Fermanagh and South Tyrone Unionist Association said: Diana Armstrong will be an exceptional parliamentary candidate for this constituency and will restore our representation in Parliament.

"Dianas family has a deep political connection to unionism, with her late father Harry West, former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and former Stormont Agricultural Minister serving as Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone in 1974.

"Her cousin James Cooper served with distinction as chairman of the Ulster Unionist Party under the late David Trimble.
A judge will rule "before Easter" if a north Belfast man is guilty of the double sectarian murders of two Catholic workmen nearly 30 years ago.

James Stewart Smyth has been on trial accused of killing Eamon Fox (41) and 24-year-old Gary Convie in May 1994.

Closing submissions were made by the Crown and defence on Wednesday, with Mr Justice O'Hara revealing he will give his ruling on whether 57-year-old Smyth committed the murders by the end of March.

Mr Fox and Mr Convie were working on a building site in the Tigers Bay area of Belfast and were sitting in a Vauxhall Polo eating lunch when the car was riddled with bullets fired from a gunman standing in an adjacent children's playground.

The attack was admitted by the UVF and it's the Crown's case that Smyth - a former member of the UDR from Forthriver Link in north Belfast - was the gunman.

As well as denying the murders of Mr Convie and Mr Fox, Smyth has also denied the attempted murder of a third workman on the same date.

He has also denied possessing a Sten sub-machine gun and a quantity of ammunition with intent, and of being a member of the UVF.

During a non-jury trial that was opened at Belfast Crown Court last October, the Crown called witnesses including former UVF commander turned supergrass Gary Haggarty.

From the witness box, he implicated Smyth as the gunman and said the workmen were murdered due to "pure sectarianism."

During Wednesday's hearing, Haggarty's reliability was questioned by defence barrister Michael Borrelli KC who branded Haggarty "a dangerous witness" and a "liar."

First to address the senior judge was Kieran Murphy KC who highlighted three "substantial parts of the case".

These, he said, were Smyth's DNA located on the collar of a jacket found along with the murder weapon 11 days after the shooting; Smyth's previous "bad character" of involvement in a sectarian murder in Ballymena in January 1994 and Haggarty's evidence.

Pointing out Smyth opted not to give evidence at his trial, Mr Murphy said the defendant's involvement in a murder just months prior to the murders of Mr Convie and Mr Fox indicated he was "a man who was well willing and was able to obtain a gun and with little or no qualms ... to kill Catholics."

The prosecutor said Smyth's failure to take the stand meant he could not be questioned about this bad character, his DNA on the jacket or any other allegations about his involvement in the murders in January and May 1994.

Mr Murphy concluded by telling Mr Justice O'Hara the "combined circumstances of this case" and the lack of any evidence or explanation given by Smyth "led to an inevitable conclusion that Mr Convie and Mr Fox were murdered by Mr Smyth.

"We respectively submit that he should be found guilty on all counts."

Next to address the trial judge was Mr Borrelli, who said the Crown had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Smyth was the gunman.

He said the defence had made "concessions" regarding Smyth being on the run and in the company of Haggarty and others in the UVF around May 1994 - but it has never been proven how or when Smyth's DNA came to be on the jacket.

Regarding Haggarty, Mr Borrelli described him as a "dangerous witness" and a man motivated by revenge.

He added: "The man is a liar, he is a dangerous liar. He spent years living a lie to his family, his friends, his fellow terrorists.

"You are dealing with a man who is an impulsive, professional liar and of course he can give detail about these offences because he was involved in it."

The defence barrister also raised the issue of eyewitness accounts of the gunman, all of who spoke of a man "noticeably taller" than Mr Smyth.

After listening to closing submissions, Mr Justice O'Hara said: "I will now consider my judgment which will be given before Easter."
Co Armagh road closed after lorry overturns



The Castleblaney Road outside Keady is currently closed due to a lorry having overturned.

The blocked road is likely to be closed for a number of hours. No injuries have been reported at this time.
MBABANE  The absence of an instrument in the form of a gazette establishing the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of the Master of the High Court might render its operations a nullity.

The commission, which was established by Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala on January 16, 2024, has been conducting its duties without a gazette. According to a legal expert, for the commission to be lawful and have the commissioners remunerated by government, there had to be a gazette issued. The legal expert said the lack thereof might result in all the operations of the commission nugatory and/or of no value.

Findings

The non-availability of the gazette, according to the expert, who is a senior lawyer, could also see findings and recommendation made by the commission being of no force and effect. The commission has, so far, heard six cases out of the 54 complaints pending before it. Secretary of the commission, Siphiwo Nyoni, when asked whether there was a gazette establishing it, he said: We did send a gazette to the Office Of the Attorney General and we are still waiting for it. It has been gathered from impeccable sources that upon the request for the issuance of the gazette, the Office of the Attorney General (AG) forwarded a correspondence to the secretary of the commission, where he raised some concerns. The correspondence, which was written on behalf of the AG by Senior Parliamentary Counsel, Wendy Ndlela, is dated January 22, 2024.

In the memorandum, the Office of the AG stated that: We are concerned about the implications of the proposed gazette vis-a-vis the sentiments echoed in the High Court case No.906/2021, which we are aware is on appeal, you may want to appraise us on the status of the matter, reads part of the correspondence. The High Court case referred to in the letter by the Office of the AG, is the one where the CJ and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) sought to interdict the Parliament Select Committee from investigating alleged gross maladministration, abuse of power and embezzlement of estate monies at the Office of the Master of the High Court. In the now impugned judgment, Judge Ticheme Dlamini found that it would not be prudent for the CJ to empanel the bench to hear the matter as he was conflicted.

The CJ and the commission then filed an application for leave to appeal the judgment that was issued by Judge Ticheme on April 8, 2022. Supreme Court Judge Jacobus Annandale, who was sitting as designated single judge of the Supreme Court when he heard the matter, granted the CJ and the JSC leave to appeal the judgment. He found that there were prospects of success. This means that the abovementioned matter is still pending in court. During the announcement of the commission, this publication asked the CJ to clarify what would happen to the court case. In response, he said they would see what would happen with the case, but the commission would continue executing its duties. He stated that the issue that was in court was, who had the authority to appoint a commission of inquiry. He said he appointed the commission in terms of Section 139 (5) of the Constitution. Section 139 (5) provides that:Subject to the provisions of the Constitution, the chief justice is the head of the Judiciary and is responsible for the administration and supervision of the Judiciary.

Concerns

The AG, Sifiso Khumalo, when reached for comment, confirmed that his office had raised some concerns on the issue. We are awaiting the response from the registrar of the High Court, he said. He was responding to questions seeking to establish if the gazette had been issued. This publication had also asked him to state the reasons for the non-issuance of the instrument and if the commission was backed by any legislation to continue working without the gazette. Meanwhile, last week, the Law Society of Eswatini (LSE) caused to be issued a correspondence to the CJ, wherein it presented 22 reasons, why it felt the commission should be stopped. In the letter, the law society brought it to the attention of the CJ that the legal authority to establish a commission into the Masters Office vested in the minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, being the minister with responsibility for the Judiciary and the administration of estates. According to the LES, the responsibility was assigned to the minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs by His Majesty the King in terms of Legal Notice No.189 of 2015.

Power

The LSE contended that by appointing the commission the CJ allegedly acted beyond his legal authority or power which could not be derived from Section 139(5) of the Constitution. It was the lawyers argument that the minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs was the right person to do so as per Section 3 of the Commissions of Enquiries Act of 1963. Section 3 of the Commissions of Enquiries Act provides that the function of appointing a Commission of inquiry vests in the executive (a minister of State). The commission which is headed by Supreme Court Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini is made up of five judges. Other members of the commission are, High Court Judge Mzwandile Fakudze (deputy chairperson) Industrial Court Judge President Sifiso Nsibande. High Court Judge Maxine Langwenya, Industrial Court Judge Lorraine Hlophe and its secretary is Deputy Supreme Court Registrar Siphiwo Masuku, who is also a lawyer by profession. The commission as per its terms of reference is expected to submit its report within 90 days.
The threats to block roads that have been shared on social media. Pic: Kevin Scott

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said loyalists blocking roads in response to the DUPs deal with the Government to restore Stormont would achieve nothing.

Earlier, police had said they were aware of uncorroborated social media posts suggesting roads could be blocked in protest against the deal to restore Stormont.

The messages, which have been shared widely on WhatsApp, claim the protests will take place on Friday, February 2  with the Shankill Road a 100% no go area.

Loyalists staged a protest outside Larchfield Estate on Monday night as DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson briefed the party executive on the deal with the Government to restore power-sharing.

During a press conference with Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, the DUP leader responded to a question about the reported plans to block roads.

How will blocking roads in Northern Ireland deliver change? said Sir Jeffrey.

"Some of those who are our critics really don't want Stormont back  that is the reality.

"Yes, I did share platforms with people. And all of us declared what our objectives were, all of us.

"The difference between me and those who are my critics tonight is very clear and very simple  I got off the platform and went and did something to secure my objectives.

"My critics got off the platform and did nothing, he added, stating some live in a bygone area.

The WhatsApp messages claim the loyalist protests are against this supposed Stormont deal.

It outlined a number of roads in north and east Belfast that are confirmed roads to be blocked.

Obviously more locations to be released when everybody get back to this today numbers etc [sic]. Shankill 100% no go.

The messages do not include a supposed time the alleged road closures will occur.

DUP return to Stormont: Who is Jamie Bryson's 'mole'?

A spokesperson for the PSNI said: Police are aware of these uncorroborated social media posts suggesting roads could be blocked on Friday, February 2.

Police will continue to monitor tensions surrounding the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and work with communities and partners to fulfil our statutory obligations.

In November 2021, a bus was hijacked and set on fire at a loyalist estate on the outskirts of Belfast.

Four masked men boarded the double decker in Church Road at an entrance to the Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, at about 7.45pm and ordered the driver and passengers off.

The bus was then set alight across the road.

A bus was hijacked and burned in a loyalist area of Newtownards, Co Down, in an apparent protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol the week before.

In April 2021, there was also a week of violence involving rioting youths from the nationalist Springfield Road and loyalist Shankill Road which saw police being attacked with missiles and fireworks.

Trouble re-erupted at Lanark Way that November.

Some protests and marches were held by unionists and loyalists across Northern Ireland in 2022 against the Northern Ireland Protocol.

However, the Parades Commission were made aware of the vast majority of the protests before they took place.
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson challenged his critics while speaking to the media at Hillsborough Castle (Niall Carson/PA)

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has hit out at unionist critics of his deal with the Government, accusing some of them of living in a bygone era.

Sir Jeffrey said that many of those who have attacked the agreement which paves the way for the restoration of the powersharing institutions simply do not want Stormont to return.

Sir Jeffrey appeared withNorthern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris at Hillsborough Castle (Niall Carson/PA)

The DUP leader spoke to the media alongside Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris at Hillsborough Castle hours after the Government unveiled proposals which will remove post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Great Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland.

While Sir Jeffrey has stated the deal is enough for his party to return devolved government to Northern Ireland, some unionists and loyalists have been critical, with TUV leader Jim Allister branding the DUP protocol implementers.

The DUP leader had previously appeared alongside Mr Allister at rallies in opposition to the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol.

TUV leader Jim Allister has been an outspoken critic of the DUP (Liam McBurney/PA)

But Sir Jeffrey responded by challenging Mr Allister to state what progress he had made to address unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

He said: Some of those who are our critics really dont want Stormont back  that is the reality.

Some, he said, live in a bygone era.

Yes, I did share platforms with people. And all of us declared what our objectives were, all of us.

The difference between me and those who are my critics tonight is very clear and very simple  I got off the platform and went and did something to secure my objectives.

My critics got off the platform and did nothing.

He added: I can demonstrate very clearly what we have delivered and its there for everyone to read.

My question to my critics is: What have you delivered? What change have you secured?

Well, I have to say that I think if they were to set out in a paper the changes that they have secured, thats what it would look like.

Holding aloft the blank back page of the deal he had struck with the Government, he continued: A big blank sheet of nothing.

Jamie Bryson, a loyalist activist, has challenged the DUP leader to a public debate (Liam McBurney/PA)

Another vocal critic of the DUPs approach has been loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, who has challenged Sir Jeffrey to a public debate with him or Mr Allister over the new agreement.

The DUP leader said: I will wait on their response to my challenge. I say to Jim Allister: you publish a document setting out the changes you have secured to the Windsor Framework, the changes you have secured to the Northern Ireland Protocol, the changes you have secured to safeguard Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdom.

When Jim has given us a credible response which demonstrates the change he has delivered on all of these things, then Ill consider a discussion.

Sir Jeffrey also responded to reports that some roads may be blocked as part of loyalist protests against the return of Stormont.

He said: How will blocking roads in Northern Ireland deliver change? How will that restore Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom? How will that make Northern Ireland work?
The proud family of a pioneering former police officer and abuse survivor who took on the Church of Ireland (CoI) have paid tribute to a man who did it his way.

Eddie Gorman, from east Belfast, spent 20 years with the RUC before bringing a historic case against the CoI over child abuse he suffered at the hands of paedophile minister Rev Bill Neely.

In one of the first cases of its kind, the CoI settled out of court with Mr Gorman for 100,000 and later issued an apology for the actions of the former clergyman and scoutmaster.

Eddie Gorman in his RUC uniform

Despite finally seeing justice, Mr Gorman described the settlement as a bittersweet pill in December, revealing he had received a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Mr Gorman passed away peacefully with his family by his side on January 4. They submitted the below obituary to this newspaper in memory of their beloved.

Read more Child abuse survivor who took on the Church of Ireland dies of cancer

 Eddie Gorman, November 28, 1962  January 4, 2024

Eddie was born on November 28, 1962 to George and Betty Gorman, in Iserlohn, Germany, his father still being in the military and posted abroad.

He was the youngest of four boys and is survived by two brothers.

Although born abroad, Eddie grew up in Belfast, on the Cregagh Estate in Mayfair Avenue, and went to Knockbreda secondary school from 1975 to 1982.

On leaving school he spent a short time in the then GPO but soon after would join the RUC, where he would work for the next 20 years, most notably in the Benevolent Fund, where he would advise and console relatives of officers who had been murdered or injured  a job he relished and where friendships were made and remained for the rest of his short life.

Eddie Gorman was targeted in church and at the scouts

Eddie was a son, brother, friend, colleague, husband, father, partner and grandfather; each knowing him in a different capacity. His daughter Kathy was born in 1988 and son Philip in 1990 and in recent years his grandchildren Keegan, Rebecca and Thomas, with a fourth due in June this year.

Eddie could be described as being his own man. A man of not just opinions, but of conviction and he would be quite forthright and unwavering at times, sometimes to the detriment of his career, but for the most part he put principle before gain. Some of his more sympathetic colleagues have said he maybe did not gain the respect he deserved from his superiors because of his views on certain subjects!

After leaving the police he pursued an entirely different career in hospitality with his partner, who had a catering background, and amongst other projects they took on a derelict building in the centre of Portrush and created Albany Lodge.

Eddie Gorman as a schoolboy

Several other redevelopment projects later and they end up in the Canary Islands and Cyprus for a while before returning to NI in 2018.

In 2013, Eddie first became unwell with heart trouble and over a period of time received 11 stents around the heart; subsequently a pacemaker was put in.

Not in the best of health, he then received devastating news at the end of August last year: he had lung cancer which had spread to the chest and brain and was terminal.

Eddie being Eddie, he put up a good fight as he had some targets he needed to achieve, the most important being his legal case against the Church of Ireland for child sexual abuse, a case which was finally settled in his favour just weeks before his untimely death.

The Church of The Pentecost, Mount Merrion Avenue, east Belfast

Eddie most definitely did it his way. A man not afraid of telling you how it was; a man who would happily help you out if you needed it, and then some; a man dedicated to his kids and grandkids and a man who will be missed so much by those who really knew him.

Those who would like to honour Eddies memory can do so by making a small donation to Marie Curie, or indeed any of the cancer charities. Thanks to the NHS and cancer charities, Eddie got to stay at home throughout his illness and was able to die in the comfort of his own surroundings with family by his side 24/7.

His private cremation took place on January 10, 2024.
Former First Minister and DUP leader Dame Arlene Foster has said she hopes the deal on the table to restore power-sharing is acceptable to most unionists.

Speaking to the BBCs Womans Hour programme, she said she is "very pleased" to see a pathway back to devolution.

Current DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson made clear from the outset his reason for collapsing the institutions, she added.

Dame Arlene said that unlike the collapse of Stormont by Sinn Fein in 2017 over the Irish language, the issues over the NI Protocol could only be addressed by the government.

"I dont think Sir Jeffrey or anybody else could have foreseen this or would have wanted to have been out for such a long period of time," she says.

"But I think we should be positive today, we should celebrate the point that we are at today and we should see an administration up and running very, very shortly."

Writing in the Express on Wednesday, Dame Arlene said she hopes those with genuine concerns about the deal will try and work to deal with the remaining problems.

"I hope my unionist friends and colleagues can now get on the front foot, rather than shooting themselves in the foot, and put forward the positive case for the Union and the United Kingdom.

Arlene Foster announced her resignation as leader of the DUP and as NI first minister in 2021 after an internal revolt.

More than 20 DUP NI Assembly members and four MPs signed a letter voicing no-confidence in the leadership.

She said it had been the privilege of her life to serve the people of Northern Ireland.

She became leader of the party in December 2015 and, the following month as leader of Stormont's largest party, she was appointed first minister of Northern Ireland.

She was the first woman and the youngest person to hold both jobs.
Boris Johnson has attacked Rishi Sunaks new Brexit deal with the DUP  warning that it could tie the UK to EU rules on the trade of goods in future.

Mr Sunaks government has set out its deal with the DUP to remove routine checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland in a bid to restore powersharing at Stormont.

The so-called green lane process  which requires percentages of goods to be checked in NI as they arrive from GB  will be rebranded as the UK internal market system.

But Mr Johnson, and some leading right-wing Tory rebels, have claimed that the new agreement could thwart Britains post-Brexit freedom to diverge from EU rules.

Watch: Rishi Sunak thanks DUP for their steps to restore government

The former PM  who has continually criticised Mr Sunak since he was kicked out of No 10 in 2022  called on the government to have the courage to ditch more Brussels regulations.

We must retain the appetite and the courage to diverge from the low-growth high-regulation European model, said Mr Johnson on X, formerly Twitter.

We must at all costs avoid a return to anything remotely like the disastrous Chequers formula, whereby artificial concerns about the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland are used to keep the whole of the UK in alignment with EU rules.

Mr Johnsons former Brexit negotiator Lord David Frost  believed to be part of a small cabal of right-wing MPs and ex-advisers plotting to bring down Mr Sunak  said he agreed with the former PM.

The trouble-making Tory peer warned that Wednesdays new agreement with the DUP should not slow the push to diverge from the EU.

Under the new deal set out in the command paper, the post-Brexit red lane for transporting goods from GB to NI and on into the EU single market in the Republic of Ireland will remain.

But routine checks will be removed from green lane on goods from the GB destine to stay in NI and replaced with checks on when smuggling and disease risks are suspected. The government prediction that 80 per cent of goods will now move free of routine checks.

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill glad the DUP 'made the right decision'

The government has pledged to amend domestic law  specifically a section of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act  to affirm the fact that new EU laws will not automatically apply in Northern Ireland, and must first be subject to democratic oversight by Stormont.

In respect of further UK divergence from EU standards, there is also a legal requirement that new Westminster legislation is assessed as to whether it impacts on trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Former home secretary Priti Patel and former business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg challenged Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris to explain how the UK would be able to diverge on EU rules without risking arrangements for Northern Ireland.

Mr Heaton-Harris insisted that the deal did not change the freedoms and powers we have secured through Brexit. The minister added: It will not reduce our ability to diverge, nor our commitment to do so, should it be in the interest of the United Kingdom.

But fellow right-winger Theresa Villiers  the former Northern Ireland secretary  also said she was troubled by the deal and the prospect of it being rushed through parliament.

It is vital that theres nothing in the deal which prevents Great Britain from diverging from EU rules, she told The Telegraph.

However, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has hailed the plan  claiming it would effectively scrap the contentious so-called Irish Sea border for goods. There should not be a border within the UK internal market  these proposals remove that border.

The DUP has agreed to drop its two-year blockade of Stormont  but there are those within the unionist party who remain deeply sceptical of the proposed agreement.

Sammy Wilson MP, the most outspoken, said the UK would still have to follow EU rules. This is a result of this spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying government  refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

Legislation promised in the deal is set to be fast-tracked through parliament on Thursday to enable the swift restoration of the institutions at Stormont  possibly as soon as Saturday.

No 10 had insisted earlier this week that the DUP deal would not mean the Windsor Framework agreement Mr Sunak struck with the EU Commission would not have to be reopened.

But Downing Street said on Wednesday that the deal contains significant changes to the Windsor deals operation  but is not about altering the fundamentals of the framework.

Nevertheless, it is understood the EU has been kept up to date with the package. And implementation of changes will be examined by the EU-UK joint committee in the weeks ahead.

A requirement that saw certain goods sold in Northern Ireland to display a label stating not for sale in the EU will now to extend to cover the whole UK.

The Sunak government is also creating two new bodies. An UK East-West Council will bring together representatives from government, business and the education sector from Northern Ireland and Great Britain. And Intertrade UK will promote trade within the UK.
In one of the heartlands of unionism, it is the morning after the long night before, and word of the DUP deal is discussed by many.

Residents in east Belfast on Tuesday welcomed Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons agreement which has paved the way for the imminent restoration of Stormont, but it has cost the party at least one voter in the Shankill.

Speaking under the shadow of loyalist murals, the views of voters on the Newtownards Road were at odds with the anti-Protocol placards adorning many lampposts in the area.

Stand Firm, the posters read. Power-sharing OR Protocol.

Watch: Shankill and Falls react to DUP deal to return to Stormont

However, Brian Miller (76) welcomed the progress made by the Lagan Valley MP in terms of undoing the damaging aspects of post-Brexit trade agreements.

We had to get back at some time, it went on long enough and we cant stay in limbo with all the strikes, he said. I havent seen the details of the deal, but I believe him when he says it is enough.

Mr Miller believes Sir Jeffrey must now return to Stormont and take up the role of deputy first minister.

We are a democratic country and election results should be respected, I have no issue with a Sinn Fein first minister, he said.

But Jeffrey needs to serve alongside.

Brian Miller (76) welcomed the progress made by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

Sharon (60), who did not wish to share her surname, also has trust in the DUP leader.

Its about time Stormont was back  Jeffrey has pushed and pushed and held out long enough, she said. But the strikes are hurting people.

A neighbour is taking me to a hospital appointment that I cannot afford to cancel on Thursday. I rely on buses to get around and have been really put out.

The fed-up resident said everyone wants normality after two years without a government.

Things have gone from bad to worse, she continued. We dont know whats on the table, but things couldnt get any worse.

Im keeping my fingers crossed and well find out in six months if its worked out.

Many other local residents believe that Sir Jeffrey has made the right decision.

I supported him at the start, but it went on too long and too many people were suffering, one told this newspaper. Something had to give.

They too said Sir Jeffrey must take the seat he won at Stormont in the 2022 Assembly election to serve as deputy first minister, adding: I dont trust anyone else to do it.

DUP return to Stormont: Who is Jamie Bryson's 'mole'?

Even a staunch loyalist agreed the boycott of the devolved institutions needed to end. The DUP backed themselves into a wee corner, he said. I believed in them walking out, but they should not have been getting paid.

Overall, the DUP is better going in and seeing what is going on. If they dont get what they want, the British Government are complete liars and they can always walk back out.

Bus driver Lee Maxwell (29) said he has no interest in the ins and outs of the deal, he just wants to see Northern Ireland moving again. Money needs to be invested in the public sector, especially the health service  that is the priority, he said.

Even the most cynical residents agreed the time had come to restore power-sharing  although they said they want to see the details of the deal. Its hard to trust any politician, but I wouldnt be listening to your man [Jamie] Bryson, one added.

Lee Maxwell (29) believes resolving public sector crisis trumps politics.

Gavin Robinson was among the names put forward by residents in the east of the city for who should serve as deputy first minister if Sir Jeffrey chooses to stay at Westminster, albeit that would mean standing down as MP for East Belfast and being co-opted as an MLA.

The DUP leader even had some residents in the Falls Road area on his side on Tuesday.

Mark McCann was optimistic that, depending on the nature of what has been agreed, things could soon be a lot better in Northern Ireland.

He now wants to see rules put in place to stop any one party from bringing down Stormont in the future. [Theres] nothing getting done  its just like everything [has] been put to a stop the last couple of years, Mr McCann added.

Martha Shields said its about time the largest unionist party agreed to form an executive.

Im fed up with those people out striking  one thing and another, she added. Nobody cares about ordinary people.

Residents views at odds with anti-Protocol poster on Newtownards Road in east Belfast.

Meanwhile Brendan Keane is very happy about the deal and hopes everyone has learnt the right lessons. Im a firm believer in look to the future rather than the past, he said.

I wish all the politicians good health and good will and the ability to relate well to each other because if they can do that we will all benefit.

However, those on the streets of the Shankill Road were much more critical of Sir Jeffrey and his party. DUP voter Scott Carson branded the deal a sell out and insisted Sir Jeffrey should have stuck to the principles of what the people wanted.

Yes, it is tiring at times, but the DUP has sold out, he said. Next time going to the election box [my vote] will be for Jim Allister.

Meanwhile Freda McKernan said she would love to see the details of what they [the DUP] signed before making her mind up. I just hope theyve made the right decision, she added.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said he wont claim that every battle has been won with the DUPs deal with the Government to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

The DUP leader said: "This is our achievement, after two years of hard work and negotiation."

He said it would provide "real change delivering progress for everyone in Northern Ireland" amid "long and protracted negotiations".

"I won't claim that every battle has been won or even that every battle is finished," he told reporters.

But he said the deal "gives us an opportunity to bank the progress that we have made, the gains and the changes we have secured, and continue making the case for further change".

A command paper setting out the details of the deal was issued on Wednesday afternoon.

Read how todays live coverage unfolded:
Recording understood to have been made by executive at crunch DUP meeting

A leaked audio recording of the DUPs crunch meeting has heard Sir Jeffrey Donaldson complaining about repeated leaks to the media.

In a partial recording of Monday nights meeting obtained by the Belfast Telegraph, Sir Jeffrey is heard explaining to party officials that the reason for the short notice of the gathering was because the longer the gap between notices and meetings, the more likely that it gets out.

Unfortunately in recent weeks, every decision we make, every meeting we hold, gets into the hands of the media. In some cases, in less than an hour of those decisions being made, said Sir Jeffrey in the recording.

That impacts on the way we do business, it certainly impacts on the way we conduct ourselves as a party.

It undermines trust within the party I want you to understand the constraints we are operating in, as a political party at this time I appreciate so many of you (inaudible).

Sir Jeffrey gathered members of his party on Monday evening to vote on the deal struck by the DUP and the UK Government on changes to previous EU withdrawal agreements.

DUP return to Stormont: Who is Jamie Bryson's 'mole'?

It is understood the audio was obtained after a senior DUP executive member entered the meeting wearing a wire, with the audio relayed back to loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, who was live-blogging the information on X, formerly Twitter.

The new audio emerged after much of the dramatic hours-long meeting was shared on social media by Mr Bryson.

At one point, Mr Bryson claimed the PSNI had been brought in to try and block phone signals, something the police denied, stating it had no involvement.

He also claimed Sir Jeffrey told those present that efforts to block mobile phone signals had been unsuccessful.

Mr Bryson said the move showed the depth of feeling of those opposed to the deal.

All Im prepared to say on it is that there are people in the DUP who feel so strongly about this, and who feel this is such a betrayal that extraordinary steps had to be taken, he said.

It may be the case that we have to direct some friendly fire towards each other in the coming weeks and months, but it shows the depth of feeling at a senior level in the DUP.

People are grown adults, theyve been around politics for a long, long time; they take their own decisions and they take their own risks.

Nobody is under duress to me. I will never be exposing anybody no matter what.

The DUP has said it will conduct an investigation into the incident.
The Assembly is set to hold its first sitting on Saturday, according to Michelle ONeill.

She said on Wednesday there is an "understanding" that the Assembly would meet to appoint First and Deputy First Ministers, as well as other Executive members, on Saturday.

Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey has written to MLAs today to say a sitting of the Assembly may be held at short notice.

At Prime Ministers Questions, Rishi Sunak said the return of power-sharing offered the prospect of a "brighter future for Northern Ireland".

He said: After constructive dialogue over past months, I welcome the significant steps the DUP have taken to make restoration of the Executive possible.

"I also thank the other political parties in Northern Ireland for the patience they have shown.

"After two years without an Executive there is now the prospect of power-sharing back up and running, strengthening our Union, giving people the local, accountable government that they need and offering a brighter future for Northern Ireland.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was an important moment and we now need all sides to come together to get Stormont back up and running for the people of Northern Ireland.

The Executive collapsed two years ago after the DUP walked out in protest at post-Brexit trade arrangements.

However, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said his party will to return to Stormont once the Government implements the various legislative assurances and other measures it has offered.

In a letter to MLAs on Wednesday, Mr Maskey said the Assembly may be in a position to elect my successor and appoint Ministers in the time ahead.

I have made it clear since May 2022 that if the parties indicate to me that the business of electing a Speaker and Deputy Speakers can be conducted successfully, I will arrange for a sitting of the Assembly at the earliest opportunity and summon Members to it, he said.

While I have not yet had such an indication, I am mindful that the situation may change quickly following developments elsewhere in the next few days. Preparations are therefore being made to enable a sitting of the Assembly to be held at short notice, if required.

I will seek to give Members reasonable warning of a sitting but I am also aware of the importance of the business to be done. Therefore, Members may receive less notice than normal.

"In January 2020, the Assembly was summoned within 24 hours and a similar timeframe may be necessary on this occasion, depending on when I receive communications that parties are ready to move to conduct the necessary business.

On Wednesday Tanaiste Micheal Martin is chairing talks with political parties and business leaders in Belfast.

Speaking after her meeting with Mr Martin, Ms O'Neill said the Assembly election held two years ago shows the "change" across the island's political landscape.

She said: "I will work with whoever wants to come at it with an attitude of fair play, work with whoever wants to respect the Good Friday Agreement and I will work with anybody who wants to deliver good public services.

"Regardless of who occupies the government in Britain, I would expect from them, whether it's Labour or Tories, who unfortunately have failed on this on so many occasions, to respect the Good Friday Agreement.

"There is no doubt the Assembly election two years ago demonstrated the change that is happening right across our island and there is no doubt that there is a healthy conversation about constitutional change. I think that is something we should all embrace and be very relaxed about having a conversation about the future.

"I don't see any contradiction of pursuing our ideological beliefs that are set out in the Good Friday Agreement.

"My priority for today is the executive and getting it back up and running. We can do the two things at the one time."

Ahead of the meetings, Mr Martin said the Irish Government has "no issue" with streamlining and ensuring a seamless passage of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he would publish the Government's proposals on Wednesday.

He added: "I believe that all the conditions are now in place for the Assembly to return."

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said he had a "good meeting" with Ireland's foreign affairs minister in Belfast.

Mr Beattie said he told Mr Martin about how the Ulster Unionists have been "kept out" of discussions in relation to the agreement between the DUP and the British Government.

He added: "We had a long conversation in regards to legacy, I reiterated the point I have made many times is that the Irish Government needs to do more in regards to legacy. They haven't done enough."

Mr Beattie added: "I think everybody is pretty comfortable with what the deal is. I don't think anybody is concerned. I think everything that is going to happen is going to happen within the confines of what has already been agreed in regards to the Windsor Framework.

"What we are really talking about is the application of the Windsor Framework and certain things that may well change.

"I think Sinn Fein have known about this since last year and they are not jumping up and down, the European Commission is not jumping up and down, the Irish Government is not jumping up and down. So it tells you that it falls within an agreed framework."

Sir Jeffrey announced his support for a Stormont return after receiving the "decisive" backing of the 130-strong party executive during a five-hour meeting on Monday night.

He said DUP party officers had "mandated" him to move forward on the basis he was proposing.

Support for the deal is not unanimous within the DUP and several senior figures remain opposed to the proposed agreement to restore power-sharing.
MDONJANE  In one of the most shocking incidents to be recorded in recent history in the country, a 12-year-old boy purportedly bludgeoned his five-year-old neighbour to death.

The boy assaulted the victim with a hammer on the head several times. When the five-year-old boy was rushed to hospital after the incident, his face had been severely disfigured. The incident has left the community of Mdonjane perplexed and devastated. It is said *Ncaba became enraged after the younger boy, Junior Shabangu (5), insulted him. In fury, the 12-year-old reportedly struck Junior on the head with the hammer three times.

Blood

The younger boys lifeless body, whose face was disfigured and drenched in blood, was discovered by Ncabas father in a hut, with severe injuries. The community is in shock and struggling to make sense of the ordeal. The two boys are neighbours and their homesteads are about 10 metres apart from each other. In a quest to ascertain the details of the incident, this publication paid a visit to Mdonjane, which led it to Ncabas homestead located in a rural area, on the outskirts of Luyengo. The homestead does not have access to modern conveniences like electricity and running water. The household relies on firewood for cooking meals and has a dog, several chickens and cattle. Subsistence farming is the main method of earning a livelihood at this household, as there were fields which were littered with maize and other crops. There were three small stick-and-mud houses, which were without electricity.

Ncabas father, aged 73, was found preparing to leave his homestead. He was requested by this publication to narrate the events leading to the horrific incident. I arrived from the fields on Monday morning, when I was drawn by strange moaning coming from one of the huts. I was outside one of the huts and assumed that it was the dog, which usually stays inside. The sound persisted, and I ended up going inside to check, only to find Junior lying on the floor with his face swollen and bleeding profusely, he shared. The father mentioned that next to the boys body was a hammer. In disbelief, he told this publication that he called his sons name but there was no response. According Ncabas father, he knew from the get go, that his son was supposedly behind this atrocious act.

Mother

He disclosed that he immediately called the deceased boys mother, and informed her about his discovery. Within a few minutes, the elderly man recalled that the boys mother arrived and witnessed her son, struggling to breathe. Instantly, he suspected that the boy died on the spot. His mother took the body out of the hut, while we tried calling the police. However, he was presumed dead when they arrived, he narrated. According to Ncabas father, the police recorded statements from both him and Juniors mother. He revealed that they then conducted their investigations which led them to where Ncaba was, at a particular homestead in Matsapha. He was asked how the young boy could have reached there. The father mentioned that his son always had a way to get to faraway places. He said the boy would oftentimes walk long distances to get to his intended destinations. The police got hold of him and took him to the police station for questioning. This is when he revealed that he was insulted by the younger boy. Ncaba said he dragged the little boy into one of the houses, where he then assaulted him three times on the head, the father alleged.

He highlighted that what baffled him was that his son did not show any remorse for what he had done. Chief Police Information and Communication Officer Senior Superintended Phindile Vilakati confirmed that on Monday at 10am, a five-year-old boy of Mdonjane died after being smashed with a brick hammer several times on the head by a 13-year-old boy while at home. Vilakati said the investigation was ongoing. This month, this publication reported about a 12-year-old boy who shot to death a seven-year-old at their homestead at Luve.
Family members of a woman killed in a central London bus crash have paid tribute to their beloved daughter, sister, partner.

Catherine Finnegan, known as Kathleen, died after she was hit by a bus at Victoria Bus Station on Monday morning.

Ms Finnegan, 56, from County Galway, died at the scene despite efforts of land and air ambulance crews.

Her family paid tribute via the Metropolitan Police, and said: Our beloved daughter, sister, partner, most adored auntie and treasured friend Catherine Finnegan, known as Kathleen, lost her life on January 29.

The scene where a pedestrian was killed after being hit by a bus at London Victoria bus station (Jonny Dyer/PA)

She will be remembered as a very unique lady who had the fast Irish wit and who made her family and friends so very proud of her bright, clever personality.

She was a whirlwind in any room and lit up this world with her energy, enthusiasm for life and joy.

She will be forever in our hearts.

Officers were called to a collision between a bus and a pedestrian at 8.59am.

Reports suggested a Number 13 double-decker bus crashed into a shelter at the busy transport hub.

The scene where a pedestrian was killed at London Victoria bus station in central London (PA video)

The female bus driver, in her 40s, was taken to the hospital and later discharged.

In 2021, Melissa Burr was killed at the station after bus driver Olusofa Popoola accidentally accelerated into the back of a stationary bus, shunting it into her.

She was using a pedestrian walkway at the bus station and crossed towards the door of a 507 bus parked at its stop before she was hit.

Victoria bus station was closed late last year for works designed to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility for partially sighted passengers.

Problems highlighted included an unconventional layout of pedestrian crossings, use of markings and a lack of tactile paving, as well as one crossing that directed pedestrians into a bus stop.

Police asked any witnesses who have not yet come forward to call 020 8543 5157 quoting CAD 1417/29Jan.
The Law Society, the professional body for solicitors, brought the case (PA)

Parts of the Governments response to an independent review into the criminal legal aid system were unlawful, the High Court has ruled.

The Law Society of England and Wales took ministers to court after they did not increase the rates criminal defence solicitors receive for legal aid work by a bare minimum of 15% as recommended by the 2021 review by Lord Christopher Bellamy KC.

At a hearing in London, the professional body for solicitors previously claimed the decision to instead increase the funding by 9%, followed by a further 2% rise in 2024, was unlawful.

In a ruling on Wednesday, Lord Justice Singh said officials did not breach their duty to provide a criminal defence service in failing to increase the fees to the suggested 15%.

However, the judge, sitting with Mr Justice Jay, said the decision to not obtain further financial evidence about the impact of increasing fees less than the recommendation was unlawful.

The court also found the Government unlawfully failed to ask whether lower fee increases would, or might, still deliver the aims and objectives of the independent report.

The judges said: In our judgment, the Lord Chancellors reasons for not carrying out any further modelling on the basis of uplifts lower than the 15% recommended do not bear scrutiny.

A three-day-hearing in December was told there is a risk the legal aid system  which pays for representation during police investigations and in court for suspects who cannot afford it  will fail to meet basic needs of representation and is terminally broken.

Judges heard standard fees for solicitors in magistrates courts and police stations are often loss-making and there is an acute issue of people having to represent themselves in magistrates courts.

Lord Justice Singh and Mr Justice Jay received written evidence from several criminal defence solicitors about their working conditions.

In Wednesdays ruling, they said: What this impressive body of evidence brings home is the women and men working up and down the country at all hours of the day and night, in difficult and stressful circumstances, carrying out an essential service which depends to a large extent on their goodwill and sense of public duty.

Lawyers for the Ministry of Justice, which had defended the claim, said the fee increase figure was a high-level, political decision.

Sir James Eadie KC said the fee rise was the largest increase in funding for criminal legal aid for over 10 years and also included plans for systemic reform of fee schemes.

The barrister also said the decisions made were not obstacles that affected people entitled to legal aid.

Former deputy prime minister Dominic Raab was also previously Lord Chancellor (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Following the ruling, Law Society president Nick Emmerson called on the Government to implement the full recommendations of Lord Bellamys report.

He said: We are delighted the High Court has recognised that then Lord Chancellor Dominic Raabs decision was irrational.

We may have won the court battle but its the public who will lose out in custody suites and courtrooms across the country unless the Government takes immediate action to stop the exodus of duty solicitors from the profession.

We are already seeing that there simply arent enough solicitors to represent suspects at police stations and magistrates courts day and night across the country.

This situation will only get worse, with potentially dangerous consequences for society.

The ruling was also welcomed as hugely significant by the Criminal Law Solicitors Association.

The bodys chair Daniel Bonich said: We are an ageing and endangered species and without significant investment we will become extinct rather abruptly.

Without us, the police and the courts cannot function, denying justice for defendants, witnesses, and victims. The Government needs to act now to avert disaster.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: While the claimants were successful on specific narrow grounds, the majority of their arguments were rejected by the court. We will consider the judgment carefully.

Just this week we announced a consultation that would lead to 21 million being invested in criminal legal aid solicitors.

We expect our existing reforms to increase spending on criminal legal aid by up to 141 million a year.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during Prime Ministers Questions in the Commons (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA)

An opposition MP has defended calling Rishi Sunak Pontius Pilate during exchanges over the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Independent Angus MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) said he shouted the remark as the Prime Minister was washing his hands from answering points raised by Alba Partys Neale Hanvey.

Conservative MP Richard Drax had complained in the Commons about the extremely unpleasant heckle heard during Prime Ministers Questions and defended Mr Sunaks response to the conflict.

Independent MP Angus MacNeil (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA)

Mr MacNeils jibe came just minutes after Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle pleaded with MPs to exercise self-restraint in debates.

Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor who presided over the trial of Jesus and ordered his crucifixion.

Mr MacNeil, who previously sat as an SNP MP, told the PA news agency: It was myself who said it, the PM was washing his hands from answering the points raised by Neale Hanvey.

During PMQs, Mr Hanvey (Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) said Mr Sunak had called him naive in November after he appealed to the Prime Minister to choose de-escalation and peace over violence, death and destruction.

He said: So far, over 26,000 souls have perished in Gaza. In a powerful and moving open letter in Mondays New York Times, the Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council cited Deuteronomy, I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse  choose life, accusing President Biden of choosing death.

If the Prime Minister wont listen to me or the ICJ (International Court of Justice), will he listen to the Rabbinical Council or will he call them naive too?

Mr Sunak replied: Ive been clear on multiple times that were deeply concerned about the impact of the fighting in Gaza on the civilian population.

Too many people have lost their lives and there is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support in Gaza.

I wont go over all the debates weve had about the conditions that are necessary for an immediate pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, but I can assure the House were doing everything we can to get more aid into the region as quickly as possible.

Conservative MP Richard Drax (David Woolfall/UK Parliament/PA)

Mr Drax, raising a point of order with Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing, initially claimed an SNP MP was responsible for the Pontius Pilate comment before withdrawing it after it was vehemently denied by SNP chief whip Owen Thompson.

South Dorset MP Mr Drax said: That language is extremely unpleasant because Pontius Pilate washed his hands and handed Jesus across to a murderous death.

That is not what the Prime Minister is doing, he has an impeccable record on this topic and is leading with great courage and conviction in a dispute, a war in Gaza that is indeed highly emotive.

Dame Eleanor said: Its very sad if somebody made the comment which (Mr Drax) has described.

She added: I dont care who made such a remark, it is wrong to try to whip up bad feeling in this House or anywhere else about the tragedy that is unfolding in Israel and Palestine.
The issue of care home deaths was raised with former first minister Nicola Sturgeon (Peter Byrne/PA)

There were flaws and deficiencies in the Scottish Governments guidance around care homes early in the pandemic, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The former first minister said care homes were one of the most important parts of the pandemic response to scrutinise as she spoke of regrets that her government did not get everything right.

Towards the end of her evidence session at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry chaired by Lady Hallett, Ms Sturgeon was asked about the discharge of hospital patients who had not tested negative for Covid-19 into care homes.

She was questioned by lawyer Kevin McCaffrey, representing the Scottish Covid Bereaved group.

The former first minister said: I do not think we got everything right around care homes and I deeply regret that.

There were undoubtedly flaws and deficiencies in that guidance, but the advice at the time was isolation  keeping people as separate as possible  was the best way to protect people in care homes, and clearly that didnt have the effect that we wanted it to have.

Ms Sturgeon went on to say she wished she could turn back the clock to prevent the loss of lives in care homes due to Covid-19.

I would do everything in my power and I wish I could turn the clock back and do different things that would have reduced the loss of life in care homes, the former first minister said.

The former first minister spoke of her deep regret (Jane Barlow/PA)

She added that leaving people in hospitals would not be without risk.

I desperately wish we could have had the ability to do things in a way that didnt result in the outcome that did materialise, she said.

Earlier in the inquiry, former health secretary Jeane Freeman said she would have lifelong regret around any care home deaths caused by the Scottish Governments decisions.

The governments response in the adult care sector was not adequate, she admitted.

Ms Freeman said that while 348 care homes had outbreaks of Covid-19, some care homes that received discharges did not have outbreaks.

I am not saying that the discharge from hospital without a test had no impact, what I am saying is that it was one of the factors, she added.
Flowers and tributes near to the scene in south Bristol where two teenage boys, aged 15 and 16, died after a stabbing attack by a group of people who fled the scene in a car. Picture date: Monday January 29, 2024.

Three more arrests have been made by detectives investigating the deaths of two teenagers in Bristol, police said.

Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, were stabbed following an incident in Ilminster Avenue, Knowle West on Saturday night.

Two boys, aged 15 and 16, have been arrested on suspicion of murder while a 46-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

Mason Rist, 15, and 16-year-old Max Dixon (right) died in the attack on Saturday evening (Avon and Somerset Police/PA)

All three are currently in police custody.

Avon and Somerset Police said the total number of people arrested as part of the inquiry was now eight.

The others arrested are:

 a 15-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of murder. He has since been bailed with conditions, including to not enter Bristol.

 a 22-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.

 a 44-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.

 a 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. He remains in custody.

 a 20-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place. He has been released with no further action in relation to the murder offence and bailed in relation to the offensive weapon offence.

Superintendent Mark Runacres, Bristols policing commander, said: Detectives from the major crime investigation team are making significant progress with their inquiry and these arrests reflect this.

Masons and Maxs families have been updated and specialist family liaison officers continue to provide them with support.

Police have previously said they did not believe the stabbings were rooted in a gang war.

There have been outpourings of grief following the deaths of the two boys (Ben Birchall/PA)

Detectives do not yet know whether the suspects and victims were known to each other, or whether the boys died in a case of mistaken identity.

Local residents went to help the teenagers and police were on the scene in minutes to provide first aid.

The boys sustained stab wounds and were taken to two hospitals, Southmead Hospital and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, by ambulance, where they died in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A vigil was held at the scene of the stabbings on Sunday evening, with people lighting candles and placing flowers.
The UK could send an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea as the threat from Iran-backed Houthi rebels continues, the armed forces minister has indicated.

James Heappey suggested that a British aircraft carrier could be sent to the region to replace the USS Dwight D Eisenhower when it is returned to America.

The UK has already engaged in a series of airstrikes on Houthi targets in cooperation with the US, while the warship HMS Diamond is also stationed in the Red Sea to protect shipping in the key trading route.

But Mr Heappey, in an interview with the House magazine, suggested a UK aircraft carrier could plug a gap in the future.

Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey (Victoria Jones/PA)

Referencing the nickname of the US carrier, he said: Theres no real need for more carrier mass  for more carriers to be in the region than the Ike an provide. Shes a very capable ship.

So our judgment was that with the Ike on station  the Eisenhower on station  and with jets available from Akrotiri, that we were able to meet the challenge as it is now.

He indicated the Royal Navy could step in when the Eisenhower goes home, if we were needed to plug a gap in US deployments, or if the situation deteriorates and we need more.

He added: The fact is the Eisenhower cant stay there forever. And so theres a thing about just maintaining a carrier presence in the region where we might cooperate with the Americans to provide a capability there.

Retired admiral and Labour peer Lord West of Spithead has been among those suggesting UK could send an aircraft carrier to the region.

The UK currently has two aircraft carriers in service, the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.
Earhart became the first woman to cross the Atlantic solo when she landed in a field outside Derry in 1932.

A grainy sonar image recorded by a private pilot has reinvigorated interest in one of the past centurys most alluring mysteries: What happened to Amelia Earhart when her plane vanished during her flight around the world in 1937? (Ben Margot/AP)

On 2 July 1937, Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan took off from Papua New Guinea, nearing the end of their record-setting journey around the world never to be seen again. Until today.

Deep Sea Vision found what appears to be Earharts Lockheed 10-E Electra.

That message was posted on Instagram by the South Carolina-based underwater exploration company on 27 January alongside a series of yellow sonar photographs of a distinctly plane-shaped object lying 16,000 feet below the waves on the floor of the Pacific Ocean.

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The Charleston company believes that shape could just be the missing plane in which the legendary American aviatrix Amelia Earhart disappeared 87 years ago, a discovery that promises to solve one of the 20th centurys most enduring mysteries.

Deep Sea Visions 16-member team used a state-of-the-art Hugin undersea drone to survey more than 5,200 square miles of the Pacific before it found what it believes to be the wreck of Earharts plane.

The companys thrilling discovery  if that is what it proves to be  was made possible by Tony Romeo, a pilot and former US Air Force intelligence officer, who sold off a commercial real estate portfolio in order to bankroll the $11m hunt for Earhart.

This is maybe the most exciting thing Ill ever do in my life, Mr Romeo told The Wall Street Journal.

I feel like a 10-year-old going on a treasure hunt.

We always felt that a group of pilots were the ones that are going to solve this, and not the mariners.

Earhart, who was born in Atchison, Kansas, on 24 July 1897, was a natural adventurer who saw her first plane at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines in 1907, obtained her pilots licence in 1922 and became the first female passenger to cross the Atlantic by air in 1928, just a year after Charles Lindberghs celebrated solo flight.

Having been flown out of Trepassey Harbor, Newfoundland, in a Fokker F.VIIb on 17 June by pilot Wilmer Stultz and landed in Pwll near Burry Port in South Wales almost 21 hours later, Earhart quickly became a celebrity, nicknamed Lady Lindy, sponsored by Lucky Strike cigarettes and paid handsomely to undertake a lengthy lecture tour.

She was dismissive of her role in the exploit, however, remarking: Stultz did all the flying  had to. I was just baggage, like a sack of potatoes... Maybe someday Ill try it alone.

She did precisely that four years later, setting out from Newfoundland alone on 20 May 1932 in a Lockheed Vega 5B and arriving in a cow pasture in Culmore, just north of Derry in Northern Ireland.

Although she had been aiming for Paris, Culmore was close enough and the achievement brought her worldwide fame and the United States Distinguished Flying Cross, Frances Legion of Honour and the National Geographic Societys Gold Medal for her trouble, as well as the hearty congratulations of President Herbert Hoover.

Her disappearance in 1937 alongside Noonan, her navigator, came during an attempt to become the first woman to complete a circumnavigational flight of the globe, setting out from Miami, Florida, on 1 June after a botched first attempt on a journey that would take the duo across South America, Africa, the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia.

Earhart and Noonan were last seen at Lae Airfield in New Guinea on 2 July during the penultimate refuelling stop of the attempt before losing contact not long afterwards near Howland Island, en route to Honolulu in Hawaii for the final 7,000-mile leg of her 29,000-mile round trip.

Neither Earhart, Noonan nor their Lockheed were found despite the US Navy and Coast Guard mounting the largest search-and-rescue operation in its history.

The pair were finally declared dead in absentia on 5 January 1939 but her legacy has remained a source of fascination ever since and inspired songs by Joni Mitchell and The Handsome Family, film biopics starring the likes of Rosalind Russell, Diane Keaton and Hilary Swank and even a Barbie doll in 2018.

According to Mr Romeo, Deep Sea Visions submersible has now photographed what the team believes is the missing plane around 100 miles off Howland Island.

However, rival experts are preaching caution against what they consider to be over-excitement about the find, given that several competing explanations for Earharts disappearance have also been offered.

Ric Gillespie, an expert on the doomed pilots career, told CBS News in 2018 that he believes she actually crash-landed on Gardner Island  350 nautical miles from Howland  and spent a week calling out for help before finally expiring when her plane was washed out to sea.

Mr Gillespie reported people hearing distress calls believed to be from Earhart as far away as Florida, Texas, Iowa and Canada on ham radio sets.

The experts own organisation, the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, also claims to have found its own evidence, including human bones, to prove its counter-theory, according to CBS.
The military base known as Tower 22 in north-eastern Jordan (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

The United States has attributed the drone attack that killed three US service members in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, as President Joe Biden weighs his response options to the strike.

The attribution comes as Iran threatened on Wednesday to decisively respond to any US attack on the Islamic Republic after the US said it holds Tehran responsible.

The US has signalled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Middle East in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that also wounded at least 40 troops at Tower 22, a secretive base in north-eastern Jordan that has been crucial to the American presence in neighbouring Syria.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US believes the attack was planned, resourced and facilitated by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah.

He said Mr Biden believes that it is important to respond in an appropriate way.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Mr Kirby said Mr Biden was continuing to weigh retaliation options to the attack but said the first thing you see wont be the last thing, adding it wont be a one-off.

Mr Kirby dismissed a statement by Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah announcing the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces in order to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government.

He said that the group cannot be taken at face value, and he added, theyre not the only group that has been attacking us.

Any additional American strikes could further inflame a region already stirred by Israels ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The war began with Hamas attacking Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed more than 26,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly two million others from their homes, arousing anger throughout the Muslim world.

Violence has erupted across the Middle East, with Iran striking targets in Iraq, Pakistan and Syria, and the US carrying out airstrikes targeting Yemens Houthi rebels over their attacks shipping in the Red Sea.

Some observers fear a new round of strikes targeting Iran could tip the region into a wider war.

A US Navy destroyer in the waterway shot down an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the Houthis on late Tuesday, the latest attack targeting American forces patrolling the key maritime trade route, officials said.

The US later launched a new round of airstrikes targeting the Houthis.

The Iranian warnings first came from Amir Saeid Iravani, Irans ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He gave a briefing to Iranian journalists late on Tuesday, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

The Islamic Republic would decisively respond to any attack on the county, its interests and nationals under any pretexts, IRNA quoted Mr Iravani as saying. He described any possible Iranian retaliation as a strong response, without elaborating.

The Iranian mission to the UN did not respond to requests for comment or elaboration on Wednesday on Mr Iravanis remarks.

Mr Iravani also denied that Iran and the US had exchanged any messages over the last few days, either through intermediaries or directly.

The pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera, which is based in and funded by Qatar, reported earlier that such communication had taken place. Qatar often serves as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.

Such messages have not been exchanged, Mr Iravani said.

But Irans government has taken note of the US threats of retaliation for the attack on the base in Jordan.

Sometime, our enemies raise the threat, and nowadays we hear some threats in between words by American officials, Revolutionary Guard commander Gen Hossein Salami, who answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said at an event on Wednesday.

We tell them that you have experienced us, and we know each other. We do not leave any threat without an answer.

We are not after war, but we have no fear of war, he added, according to IRNA.

On Saturday, a general in charge of Irans air defences described them as being at their highest defensive readiness.

That raises concerns for commercial aviation travelling through and over Iran as well. After a US drone strike killed a top general in 2020, Iranian air defences mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people on board.

Meanwhile, attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels continue in the Red Sea, most recently targeting a US warship. The missile launched Tuesday night targeted the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the US militarys Central Command said in a statement. No injuries or damage were reported.

A Houthi military spokesman, Brig Gen Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Wednesday morning, calling it a victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people and a response to the American-British aggression against our country.

Mr Saree claimed the Houthis fired several missiles, something not acknowledged by the US Navy. Houthi claims have been exaggerated in the past, and their missiles sometimes crash on land and fail to reach their targets.

The Houthis claimed without evidence on Monday to have targeted the USS Lewis B Puller, a floating landing base used by the Navy Seals and others. The US said there had been no attack.

On Wednesday, a US military jet struck a surface-to-air missile that was about to launch from Houthi-controlled Yemen, a US official said.

The missile was deemed an immediate threat and destroyed. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details ahead of a public announcement.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israels offensive against Hamas in Gaza. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel.

The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday, sparking a fire that burned for hours.

The US and the United Kingdom have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes targeting the Houthis as allied warships patrol the waterways affected by the attacks.

The European Union also plans to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea within three weeks to help defend cargo ships against the Houthi attacks, the blocs top diplomat said Wednesday.
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres met behind closed doors with 35 donor nations and appealed again for a restoration of funding and new donations for the embattled UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

The UN chief briefed the ambassadors, including from the European Union, late on Tuesday on actions he had taken following accusations that 12 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) participated in Hamas October 7 attacks in southern Israel.

He has called the Israeli allegations horrific and launched an investigation.

Palestinians search for the bodies after an Israeli strike in Zuweida, Gaza Strip, Monday, January 29, 2024 (Adel Hana/AP)

Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters after the meeting that the secretary-general appealed to many countries that suspended funding to UNRWA after the allegations to reconsider and urged other countries including those in the region, to step up to the plate.

Mr Mansour said 153 UNRWA staff have been killed in Gaza since October 7  the largest number of UN personnel killed in an operation since World War II  and urged donors not to take steps that constitute a collective punishment against millions of Palestinian refugees.

He praised Norway, Spain and others who said they would not suspend aid.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters earlier that no other organisation than UNRWA has the infrastructure to do what they do in Gaza and the Middle East and its not feasible in any way, shape or form to quickly replace the UN agency.

Mr Dujarric also told reporters that every year UNRWA provides a list of its 13,000 staff in Gaza to Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

As far as Im told by UNRWA, concerns have not been raised when the list of staff have been shared, he said.
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God, our Heavenly Father, has always desired to be close to us, to have a relationship with us. As Christians, we acknowledge that God exists and that Christ was resurrected. Despite knowing this, many of us have absolutely no idea what it means to have a relationship with God. What does it mean to trust God? What is expected of us and what should we expect from God? Should one pray despite the feeling that no one is listening? The problem for many Christians is that the beginning of our relationships with God is not motivated by love but by expectation. A lot of us grow up in churches that tell us that having a relationship with God comes with the territory of belief. We know we are expected to have a relationship with God, but dont otherwise feel led to cultivate a relationship with God. When we open our hearts to a real relationship with God through Christ, we discover Gods unconditional love for us and it stirs up a passion inside of us to love people. We dont have to struggle to do the things He calls us to do because we are secure in Him.

"God takes residence in us, invites us to die to ourselves and become a new creation in Him."

God is all about family. He designed our family model to mirror His. The Bible tells us, For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Hebrews 2:10). God wants to bring many children to His glory. The apostle John confirmed why God created mankind when He said, Behold the manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed when we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:1-3). God is our Father and wants a relationship with us based upon the family relationship He created. Because we are His children, we are to follow the example set by Christ. But because of mankinds rejection of God, the human family has become broken. We continue to struggle with this daily.

One of Gods key commandments is to honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you (Exodus 20:12). God has created a great relationship model for us but too few of us are actually experiencing this beautiful relationship. If you have had the experience of a loving father and mother who set examples of love and respect for each other and also showed you what it means to love unconditionally, you already have a solid understanding of the type of relationship God wants with you. However, if you come from a broken home, you may struggle with the loving Father concept.

The relationship that God wants to have with us is rooted in love. John 3:16 is the perfect example of Gods perfect love for you: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. No other verse in the Bible summarizes Gods relationship with humanity and His ultimate love for us. It tells us that the love God has for us and the extent of that love is so great that He sacrificed His only Son on our behalf. Gods love for us inspires our love for God.

Many of us have heard someone say I want to be close to God or I feel far from Jesus or have even said some of these things ourselves. We say these things because we have been led to believe our relationship with Jesus is based on proximity  a sliding scale of near and far based on faithfulness of our spiritual devotion. But a relationship with Jesus requires more than just being close with Him. Jesus longs to become perfectly one with you. God takes residence in us, invites us to die to ourselves and become a new creation in Him. He invites us into an intimate relationship with Him: union with Christ. Union with Christ refers to relationship between the believer and Jesus Christ. There are countless passages throughout the Bible that reveal that believers are joined in Christ: We are the branches and Jesus is the vine (John 15:5); Jesus is the head and we are His body (1 Corinthians 6:15019); Christ is the foundation and we are living stones in the foundation (1 Peter 2:4-5). Nothing is more basic or central to knowing and enjoying God than union with Christ. Its at the heart of our Christian faith. Jesus Christ is dwelling in us and because of this, Jesus is available to us anytime and in anyplace because we believe.

God desires to welcome you into His eternal family as His glorified child. Its important that you make it a priority to grow in your relationship with Him. Having a personal relationship with God begins the moment we realize our need for Him, admit that we fall short as sinners, and in faith receive Jesus Christ as Savior. As soon as we become children of God, we receive the Holy Spirit, who will begin to work on our hearts. Include God in your daily life. Pray to Him, read His Word daily and reflect on verses in Scripture in an effort to know Him better. Trusting in God to get us through each day and believing that He is the true sustainer of life is how we can not only begin, but also sustain a personal relationship with Him.

Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council.
Separatist leader Egianus Kogoya gestures as he sits on a captured Susi Air plane in the central highlands of Indonesias Papua region, Feb. 7, 2023.

Separatist rebels in Indonesias restive Papua region on Wednesday said they would like to release a New Zealand pilot taken hostage nearly a year ago, but officials in Jakarta and Wellington were delaying negotiations for his freedom.

In response, a government spokesman said authorities did not trust the claim by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), which had initially demanded that Papua be freed from Indonesia in exchange for pilot Philip Mehrtens, and later agreed to negotiate with a third-party mediator.

Rebels in Nduga regency captured the pilot on Feb. 7, 2023, after attacking his plane and setting it on fire. Mehrtens is the longest they have held anyone captive.

We at TPNPB headquarters agreed to release the New Zealand pilot, because he was a pilot from our neighboring country and most Australians and New Zealanders are supporters of an independent Papua, rebel spokesman Sebby Sambom said in a statement.

And we also detained him not as an enemy, but as a friend living with TPNPB troops.

BenarNews contacted Sambom for details about Mehrtens potential release.

Were trying to find the best solution, he told BenarNews.

Sambom said the group had tried to negotiate with the governments of New Zealand and Indonesia.

Indonesian military has made efforts to search for Mehrtens but has been unsuccessful.

Four Indonesian soldiers were killed last April when rebels ambushed security forces who the military said were conducting an operation to rescue the pilot.

Mehrtens, a pilot for Susi Air, a small airline operating in remote areas of Indonesia, was kidnapped after his plane landed in Paro district, Nduga regency. The rebels freed five passengers.

The Liberation Army has been seeking independence from Indonesia since 1963, when Papua, a former Dutch colony, was annexed by Jakarta. The Free Papua Movement has waged a low-level guerrilla war against Indonesian rule ever since.

Indonesia considers Papua as sovereign territory and has rejected any calls for a new referendum. It also deployed thousands of troops and police to quell unrest, which often resulted in human rights violations and civilian casualties.

No follow-up discussions

Government spokesman Bayu Suseno, who works for a military and police task force dealing with the Papua insurgency, doubted the sincerity of Samboms statement that the rebels would like to release the pilot.

They want to release him? When? Why trust armed criminals? Bayu told BenarNews.

He said the government had tasked Nduga regencys leader Edison Gwijangge, who is related to rebel leader Egianus Kogoya, to talk to the Liberation Army, but no deal had been reached.

We put the pilots welfare and safety first, Bayu said.

Meanwhile, Papua police spokesman Benny Ady Prabowo said he was unaware of any plan to free the pilot.

Indonesian military information chief Nugraha Gumilar and presidential adviser Theo Litaay did not respond to BenarNews requests for comment.

Sambom said the rebels held a high-level meeting in April 2023 with a New Zealand delegation in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, but there have been no follow-up discussions since.

He also said rebels received a positive response from Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo to a letter they sent him last May, but there was no further action.

We think that the New Zealand government and the Indonesian government are both unable to talk with us about freeing the Kiwi pilot, and they dont understand humanity, because for the sake of humanity we have to talk to free the New Zealand pilot, Sambom said.

The New Zealand government has not commented on the latest statement by the rebel spokesman. Its foreign ministry previously said it was working with Indonesian authorities to secure Mehrtens release.

Papua issue not easy to solve

Adriana Elisabeth, a Papua researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency, said the government is more concerned about the upcoming Feb. 14 presidential election than it is about the hostage situation.

Whoever becomes president, the Papua problem will be a challenge that is not easy to solve. The pilot case is just one aspect of the Papua conflict, she told BenarNews.

Adriana said the release was delayed because the rebels demand for independence in exchange for the hostage could not be met.

She added that the only path to a solution was a political dialogue held on the condition that the hostage is freed.

Without an agreement on this, it is hard to find a solution, Adriana said.

Yan Christian Warinussy, spokesman for the Papua Peace Network NGO, said there had been no serious effort to free Mehrtens.

Both sides need to be sincere, he told BenarNews.
Humanitarian aid donated by Indias government for people displaced by a volcanic eruption in Papua New Guinea is loaded onto a Royal Australian Air Force transport plane at Jacksons International Airport on Jan. 29, 2024.

Tons of disaster relief supplies for people who fled a volcanic eruption in Papua New Guinea have been airlifted to the affected region this week, more than a month after the goods arrived in the country.

The medical supplies and other goods donated by Indias government in December, totaling about 17 tons, started arriving on the island of West New Britain on Monday with Australian air force help. The Pacific island countrys small military doesnt have a transport plane.

We were unable to get the assistance from the government to airfreight the supplies so approached the Defence Force who liaised with the Australian Defence who sent this help, National Disaster Office director Lusete Mana told BenarNews on Tuesday.

The aircraft was here on another mission but was sent to assist the airfreight for this week, he said.

The eruption of Mt. Ulawun on Nov. 20 displaced about 26,000 people and created urgent humanitarian needs, disaster officials said at the time. Many of the displaced are still living in two makeshift care centers.

Photos posted on the Facebook page used to disseminate information to the public about disasters in West New Britain show other aid being distributed in the region in late December.

Aside from India, humanitarian aid also has been provided by Australia, the United States and China, according to West New Britains disaster office. Two palm oil companies in West New Britain have provided trucks to transport humanitarian supplies.

Aid donated by Indias government for people displaced by a volcanic eruption in Papua New Guinea is unloaded at Hoskins in West New Britain island on Jan. 29, 2024. [Handout/West New Britain Provincial Disaster Office]

Papua New Guineas Rabaul Volcano Observatory lowered Ulawuns alert level on Jan. 9 but said it wasnt completely quiet. It continues to monitor Ulawun with one seismic station after the station closest to the volcano was knocked out of action on Nov. 20 by a powerful pyroclastic flow of superhot gas and volcanic debris

It was the largest pyroclastic flow on record for the volcano and devastated a vegetated area of seven square kilometers (2.7 square miles), according to the observatory.

We were thinking of moving people back to their homes but the volcano has not died down completely, there is still seismic activity taking place, Clement Bailey, director of West New Britains provincial disaster office, told BenarNews.

The affected people are still accommodated in two major care centers and are unsure whether to return to their homes or not.

Heavy rains have compounded difficulties for the region by causing mudslides that can bury homes and roads, Bailey said.

Papua New Guinea is prone to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes because of its location on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Ocean. The country of an estimated 12 million people has about 40 active volcanoes.

Locals were prepared for the possibility of an eruption because of an alert from the volcano observatory and there were no deaths or injuries.
Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat reacts on the day the Constitutional Court delivers its verdict on its bid to amend a law against insulting the monarchy, in Bangkok, Jan. 31, 2024.

UPDATED at 5.08 a.m. ET on 2024-1-31

The Thai Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday that the Move Forward Partys campaign to amend the countrys royal insult law amounted to an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy, and ordered it to immediately cease reform efforts.

Thailands Lese-Majeste law, also known as Article 112, prohibits insulting the king or members of the royal family and carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison.

Reforming the contentious piece of legislation was a key plank of Move Forwards election campaign last year. It argued that the law was used to stifle dissent and was incompatible with democracy.

If the defendants are allowed to continue their actions, it would not be far-fetched to result in the overthrow of the democratic system with the king as head of state, the court said in its judgment.

The court ordered the Move Forward party to stop all activity, including the use of speeches, publications and advertisements, aimed at repealing or amending Article 112 of the Criminal Code.

Move Forward won the highest number of seats in parliamentary elections last year, but its bid to lead Thailands first pro-democracy government after nearly a decade of army-backed rule was blocked by conservative MPs and senators.

The partys liberal campaign promises, which included plans to rewrite the constitution and end business monopolies, antagonized the countrys traditional ruling elite.

Its former leader Pita Limjaroenrat was thwarted twice in his effort to become prime minister. The Constitutional Court last week ruled that Pita was not guilty of violating election law and could return to Parliament.

Pita Limjaroenrat (C) attends a press conference at the Thai parliament in Bangkok on January 31, 2024, after Thailand's Constitutional Court ordered Pita and the Move Forward Party to stop campaigning for Lese-Majeste reform immediately. [AFP]

Responding to the court decision, Pita said his party had no intention of overthrowing the monarchy.

This is not just about me, this is not just about our party, but about the future, he said at a press conference. Its about the health of democracy and the political landscape going forward.

Pita said he was concerned about the rulings effect on the boundary between the legislature and judiciary, as well as a loss of opportunity to discuss the issue with maturity.

Frightening

Despite widespread calls from pro-democracy advocates and human rights groups to abolish the Lese-Majeste law, pro-royalist authorities have said it is necessary for upholding law and order.

Under the previous administration of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, a former army chief who spearheaded a military coup that toppled a civilian government in 2014, the royal defamation law was used to arrest and jail activists and leaders of the youth-led protest movement.

Move Forward supporters had feared the court decisions could provide a pretext for authorities to attempt to dissolve the party.

The Constitutional Court disbanded Move Forwards predecessor, Future Forward, in 2020 and banned its leader from politics for a decade over a campaign loan issue.

After Wednesdays ruling, efforts to reform Lese-Majeste would be within the purview of cabinet and the courts only, Dr. Nuttakorn Vititanon, a political scientist at Chiang Mai University, told BenarNews.

If we want to pin our hopes on amending the law to reduce the penalty or make the law more clear, especially in terms of who can file a complaint, we will no longer be able to touch it if we consider the Constitutional Court's ruling."

In the case of ordinary people, it is even more frightening. Anyone who proposes to amend Article 112 could be sued under Article 112 themselves.

Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon receives a garland from her supporter on her arrival at Southern Criminal Court in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. [AP]

Earlier on Wednesday, a prominent protest leader was given a two year suspended sentence for violating Article 112. Patsaravalee Mind Tanakitvibulpon, 28, was found guilty in the Bangkok Criminal Court of delivering a derogatory speech critical of the monarchy at a 2022 rally.

Patsaravalee defended her speech in court, stating, I spoke with respect and good intentions. It was necessary to address the relationship between the monarchy and Thai politics, where there is ongoing debate.

Before the judgment, Patsaravalee told the media she was facing three separate charges under Article 112. She called for public support for a draft law on amnesty for those affected by political cases.

Wilawan Watcharasakwet and Jon Preechawong in Bangkok contributed to this report.

This story was updated to include quotes from Pita Limjaroenrat and analyst Dr. Nuttakorn Vititanon.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the morning. High near 40F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with snow showers. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
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Northern Berkshire County public school districts are poised to receive big money for preschool services.

Hoosac Valley Regional School District is set to get $672,000, and North Adams Public Schools $316,000, the state Department of Early Education and Care announced last week. In all, Gov. Maura Healeys administration announced $13.1 million to 21 of the states school districts to go toward expanding access to preschool statewide.

The $13.1 million round of funding, which was included in Healeys 2024 budget proposal, will support 2,456 slots for children across 164 classrooms, according to the department.

Our new Gateway to Pre-K' agenda is  expanding high-quality Pre-K access to even more communities, lowering costs for more families, and ensuring our hardworking providers have the support they need to deliver high-quality care, Healey said in a news release.

The money comes through the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative, which establishes a districtwide preschool program across classes in public and community-based early education and care programs, according to the department. This approach promotes kindergarten readiness across the community, regardless of where a child is enrolled in pre-k.

So how exactly will the money be spent locally?

Hoosac Valley Regional School District Superintendent Aaron Dean said the grant money, which is a continued grant from years past, will allow the district to shore up and expand its preschool programming.

Coming into this school year we were able to add a full-day program at one classroom at the elementary school; all of our programming up to that point had been half-day options, Dean said. Then we added two off-site classrooms that we support  one at Magic Seasons in Adams, and one at the youth center in Cheshire.

The money goes in part toward standardizing the early elementary experience, and getting services to kids as early as possible.

This year were going to look to expand and have two more full-day programs in the elementary school, which will allow more access for 4-year-olds, and well be able to maintain our half-day programs for 3-year-olds, Dean said.

North Adams Public Schools Superintendent Barbara Malkas said the district has received a CPPI grant for the last five years, and that the money has bolstered early education opportunities in Northern Berkshire County and North Adams.

We have six pre-K classrooms. Three of those are full-day, 4-year-old programs, Malkas said. The other three classrooms are half-day programs with a morning program then an afternoon program for our younger pre-K students. That has all happened through the use of these grant funds.

Also as a result of the grant money, Weve been able to partner with Child Care of the Berkshires, the YMCA  before they decided to temporarily suspend early child care  we also have a partnership with Berkshire County Head Start, Malkas said.

Its allowed us to work with other agencies, and that collaboration has led to a consistency of academic focus in those early education programs, she said.

The $316,000 will go toward continuing to build out this preschool programming, curriculum and partnerships.

In October, the Berkshire Family Y announced the Northern Berkshire YMCA would temporarily stop offering child care, citing inadequate staff to comply with state regulations. Dean said the district wasnt particularly affected by the closure.

Malkas said that due to the preexisting collaboration with the Y, NAPS was able to work with Child Care of the Berkshires to make sure families affected by the Y's temporary halt still had child care access.

Earlier this month the state Department of Early Education and Care approved changes that will increase reimbursement rates for child care and early education providers statewide, and address access inequity in Western Mass. State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, led the effort for the early education rate increases.

The public school district preschool programs in Northern Berkshire are free of cost.

We have a community thats increasingly economically disadvantaged, Dean said, so its important for us to be able to offer that programming free and get kids in the doors as early as possible to prepare them for the school.
Among its suggested education reforms, the Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy recommends "moving away from a rigid one-teacher, one-classroom model."
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Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
Joe Bidens Transportation Security Administration is moving forward with plans to expand facial-recognition technology at 430 U.S. airports despite the fact that a bill has been introduced with bipartisan support calling for the government to end the invasive policy of stealing the biometric data of millions of airport passengers.

The TSA says it will install enhanced Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) devices at the airports, an upgrade from previous units used in a pilot program at nearly 30 U.S. airports.

The latest CAT scanners, known as CAT-2 units, incorporate facial recognition technology by capturing real-time pictures of travelers and comparing them against their photo IDs. These units have been deployed at nearly 30 airports nationwide and will now be rolled out at more than 400 federalized airports in the coming years, reports MSN.

As of now, participation in facial recognition screenings is supposedly optional for travelers, who can choose to stick with the standard physical ID verification process. But there have been countless firsthand accounts from airport passengers who have indicated that they were not given any option by TSA to reject the face scans.

The CAT-2 units utilize one-to-one verification, comparing photos against government-issued identification. They say they delete the images from their system soon after taking them (who are they fooling, we know they keep this data for a very long time if not indefinitely).

According to MSN: The TSA emphasizes that photos are not stored after a positive ID match, except during limited testing for evaluating technology effectiveness. This testing involves a block of two to four weeks at specific locations, with data collected and submitted to the DHS Science and Technology Directorate for independent analysis.

Heres the catch: TSA may not keep the data for more than a few weeks, but they have no control over Homeland Security and other entities to which they pass the information on.

A bipartisan group of senators, led by Senators John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), introduced legislation in November 2023 to ban TSA from using facial recognition, citing privacy concerns. The governments increasing reliance on facial recognition has prompted calls for greater regulations around its quickly expanding usage.

The senators say their bill, called the Travelers Privacy Protection Act, or TPPA, would prevent the agency from further exploiting the technology and storing travelers biodata.

The decision by the Biden regime to go ahead and expand this invasive, tyrannical tracking program in the face of congressional concerns, tells you all you need to know about this regime. They could care less what the people or their representatives think about their globalist beast-system policies.

The senators stressed that the overwhelming majority of Americans are unaware that they have the right to opt out of the facial screenings. Nobody is asked if they wish to grant permission for the government to scan their faces, its just sneakily performed on the spot.

Airports are supposed to have a sign alerting travelers that their photo will be taken as part of the pilot program and that they have the right to opt out, but most passengers say the signs are so small they didnt even notice them.

Michele Bachmann, a former Republican member of Congress from Minnesota who ran for president in 2012, contacted me this past weekend to inform me of a recent experince encountered at a U.S. airport.

I walked up to the agent at security in Norfolk; rather than handing her my ID she told me to put it in a card-reader machine. Then she said, look into the camera. Before I could respond, the camera had taken my picture. She told me the camera matched my face with my ID! There was no choice.

I also recently reported that the TSA is allowing illegal aliens to board airplanes without showing any ID at all. They are politely asked if they will submit to a face scans but have the option of saying no.

This is part of the two Americas system that is taking shape in this country. One set of standards applies to foreign nationals and another to U.S. citizens. Two Americas  often operating within the same jurisdiction within a two-tiered system of justice which they refer to as a democracy. Any U.S. citizen who complains about this system, or even questions it, risks getting placed on a government watchlist of persons considered to be, as described by the globalists who run the government and media, a threat to our democracy.

It wont be long before this face-scanning technology is required of patrons checking into hotels, casting their votes in elections, checking into a hospital, and any number of other everyday functions in life. This is the beast system envisioned by the WEFers associated with the Great Reset and Fourth Industrial Revolution. These technocrats envision an Orwellian world of total information awareness, where they have the right to scoop up your personal information while performing literally every daily function, tracking and monitoring you in real time. This is so they can assess whether you are staying within your soon-to-be allotted daily carbon footprint. Once the central bank digital currencies are in place, they will simply put a freeze on your bank account when youve surpassed your carbon limit for the month. And if you have a complaint, who will you lodge it with? The whole system will be run by non-human artificial intelligence!

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AI Cartoons: A journey into Harbin's winter wonderland

People's Daily Online) 10:32, January 31, 2024

Editor's Note: This winter, Harbin city, the snowy capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, became one of the most popular ice and snow travel destinations, captivating countless travelers nationwide with its winter landscapes and heartwarming hospitality. What unique travel experiences await visitors in Harbin? Join the adventure with two cartoon pals from southern China as they head north to this amazing winter wonderland!

Visiting St. Sophia Cathedral

The Saint Sophia Cathedral, an iconic landmark in Harbin, stands as a well-preserved example of Byzantine-style architecture in China. Constructed in 1907, this former Russian Orthodox church is a testament to the cultural exchange between China and Russia. Harbin boasts a unique blend of Oriental and European architectural styles. Strolling through the streets of Harbin, one can see a variety of buildings in styles such as Byzantine, Baroque, and modern European, creating the feeling of walking in a "world architecture museum."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Wu Chengliang)


The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh addressing the conference on 'Strengthening Indo-US Relationship in Amrit Kaal - Aatmanirbhar Bharat' organised by Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, in New Delhi on January 30, 2024. (Photo: PIB)

NEW DELHI (PTI): India and the US are "natural partners" and the cooperation between the two countries would act as a force multiplier for a rules-based world order, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday, amid increasing global concerns over China's military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.



India can be an avenue of "de-risking" for American companies as the country can provide high returns, he said, noting that American capital and technological know-how can help India become a developed nation by 2047.



The Defence Minister was addressing a conference on 'Strengthening Indo-US Relationship' organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC).



Singh said the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts have not much impacted India's defence sector and asserted that India has become a strong country, capable of securing national interests and giving a befitting reply to anyone casting an "evil eye" on it.



"India and the US support a free, open and rules-based international order. Due to this, there is a lot of alignment in our strategic interests," he said.



"Besides, our economic relationship is a win-win proposition for both the countries. The current relationship is driven by twin congruences of shared values and aligned interests, which is a guarantee for long sustainability and robustness of ties," he said.



Singh said the capital and technological know-how from the US can help India achieve its goal of becoming a developed country by 2047, while investments in the country can give American companies high returns and an avenue of de-risking.



He added that to deal with the challenges faced by the rules-based international order and maintain strategic autonomy, it will be necessary for American businesses to de-risk by investing in India.



The Defence Minister said sensing the need of the present times, India and the US are working together in different fields, including defence technology and space.



He made special mention of the defence technology and trade initiative through which both nations are working towards further strengthening the defence technology partnership.



"India is the largest democracy in the world, and the US is another big democracy. When two big democracies cooperate with each other, it will definitely make the democratic world order stronger," Singh said.



"This will act as a force multiplier for rules-based order across the globe. Our work together will be beneficial not only to us but to the entire world," he said.



Elaborating on the Government's vision behind the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, Singh said the nation is moving forward at the right pace with which it won't stumble in the times to come.



He enumerated the decisions taken by the Ministry of Defence to promote self-reliance, such as earmarking 75 per cent of the defence capital procurement budget for the domestic industry.



This, Singh said, has helped India find a place among the top 25 countries which export defence equipment.



"The Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts have not much impacted the defence sector. India has become a strong country, which is capable of securing national interests and giving a befitting reply to anyone who casts an evil eye," he added.



Singh asserted that the aim of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' is not to cut off from the global system and not to work in isolation.



"It is rather the commitment to collaborate with friendly countries. The 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' campaign promotes companionship based on 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (The world is one family)," he stressed.



Singh listed out the "sweeping changes" made in every sector in India to keep pace with friendly countries.



"We have made reforms in FDI and labour laws to attract foreign investment and take advantage of our skilled workforce. We are also working on next-generation infrastructure projects," he said.



The Defence Minister said infrastructure sectors like roads, railways, waterways, and electricity have made unprecedented progress.



"India is developing a world-class infrastructure," he said.



The Defence Minister asserted that the Government has laid the groundwork for a strong and self-reliant 'New India', and the American investments can play a vital role in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat'.



Terming it as a win-win situation for both countries, he stated that India's fast-growing economy, its demographic dividend, skilled workforce, and huge domestic market guarantee high returns to US companies.



Singh emphasised that business and commerce are correlated to the security and defence of the country, terming the connection as deep.



He asserted that the Government gives equal emphasis to defence and security and business and commerce, as "one cannot move ahead, in today's era, by keeping business and strategic interests separate." Singh said the joint initiative 'NISAR' between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) will ensure cooperation in many areas such as earth science, disaster management and climate change.



NISAR is a joint earth-observing mission between NASA and ISRO.


The lack of certainty over the passenger cap at Dublin Airport may compel carriers at one of the worlds largest airline groups to focus on other airports if a decision is delayed.

That is the warning from the director of low-cost Spanish airline Vueling, Jordi Pla Pintre, who is one of a number of airline executives to call on Fingal County Council to raise the current 32 million passenger per annum cap at Dublin airport to 40 million passengers per annum.

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Vueling is part of the IAG Group that also owns Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia.

In a submission, Mr Pla Pintre, on behalf of Vueling, told the council that "retaining the existing cap of 32 mppa restricts airlines' ability to grow volumes into Dublin.

He said: "The lack of certainty over the cap makes it challenging to forecast effectively and may compel IAG carriers to focus on other destinations or airports if a decision is delayed.

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Mr Pla Pintre said "IAG cannot stress enough the urgency for Fingal County Council to make a decision to increase the passenger cap.

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"Delaying this decision poses significant economic risks to the Irish economy and an accelerated process where additional resources is deployed to review this application is essential.

"Fingal County Council should consider granting an immediate interim increase in the passenger cap at Dublin airport pending the consideration of the full planning application.

Mr Pla Pintre said "an increased passenger cap to 40 mppa is essential for maintaining and developing global routes and connectivity to and from Dublin Airport.

He said: "This increase would act as a catalyst, bolstering the viability of existing routes and fostering the establishment of new ones. Lifting the passenger numbers provides our business with the certainty needed to consider additional flights on existing routes and to explore establishing new routes into Dublin.

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In its submission, Emirates warned that without the increase in passenger numbers to 40 million, it means we are unable to grow our business and may need to look at other destinations or airports as a more viable option".

The submission states that the increase in Dublin Airport's passenger capacity from 32 million to 40 million "is seen as crucial for the potential growth of Emirates services into Ireland. The new infrastructure will deliver additional aircraft stands and expansion of the aprons, which in turn allows greater efficiency at the airport.

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US carrier JetBlue is to launch its transatlantic services out of Dublin next month to JFK New York and Boston. Its vice president of government and airport affairs, Jeffrey Goodell, told the council that raising the passenger cap "will enable JetBlue and other airlines to begin or grow our offerings in Dublin, resulting in a more competitive and diverse offering for consumers".

Hainan Airlines said it would resume flights between Beijing and Dublin in April.

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Its representative said "the route will operate on Tuesday and Saturday. We would like to increase the frequency to four flights per week. We havent got the slot due to lack of infrastructure".

Director with Westjet, Jared Mikoch-Gerke, warned that without long term growth in sustainable infrastructure at Dublin Airport "it will be difficult to continue to add capacity and new routes into the market.

Westjet operates services between Dublin and Canada. Mr Mikoch Gerke said Westjet is "expecting to fly approximately 84,000 seats from Dublin in 2024, compared to the 18,000 we operated in 2014.

He said Dublin Airport "is already facing critical capacity constraints as was demonstrated by the DAAs challenge and requirement to limit capacity growth in 2024 as a result of approaching their current passenger cap of 32 million passengers.

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HiSky Europe operates flights between Dublin and Romania and Moldova and its deputy chief executive, Victor Sula, told the council that both countries have the potential to use Dublin as a connecting hub for transatlantic flights.

He said: However, the growth of our operations at Dublin have stopped due to limited capacity at the airport. Additional slots at better times are not available for a few years.

The DAA airport expansion application is facing opposition from residents living in north Dublin. Fingal County Council is due to make a decision on the application next month.
Here are answers to some of the key questions surrounding the deal that is set to deliver the restoration of powersharing in the North.

What led to the current Stormont stalemate?

During the Brexit divorce talks, former British prime minister Boris Johnson negotiated the Northern Ireland Protocol with the EU in order to ensure the continued free movement of goods on the island of Ireland.

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However, this led to the requirement for checks on goods travelling between Britain and Northern Ireland and was deeply unpopular with unionists, who described it as an Irish Sea border.

After feeling that the British government was not responding fast enough to his concerns, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson collapsed the Stormont powersharing institutions when he withdrew Paul Givan as first minister almost two years ago.

In response, British prime minister Rishi Sunak negotiated the Windsor Framework with the EU, introducing new rules on the movement of goods and a veto for the implementation of EU law in Northern Ireland.

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However, Mr Donaldson insisted this did not go far enough, leading to months of protracted negotiations that have culminated in the command paper Safeguarding The Union, published by the UK government.

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Paul Givan announces his resignation as first minister in February 2022 (Peter Morrison/PA)

Why has the DUP agreed to the deal?

Mr Donaldson has insisted the new arrangements have removed the Irish Sea trading border and restored Northern Irelands place within the UK internal market.

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The deal will see the end of routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland, as well as a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around the Norths constitutional position.

The DUP leader says this is the best deal that could be achieved and has persuaded him to end his boycott of the powersharing institutions.

Mr Donaldson has long argued in favour of restoring devolved government, providing his concerns over post-Brexit trade and sovereignty were addressed.

Does this represent a major change to the trading arrangements agreed with Brussels?

It depends who you listen to.

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Mr Donaldson says his party has delivered fundamental change to the Windsor Framework by ending routine checks on goods moving from Britain to and staying in Northern Ireland.

Downing Street, however, has insisted the measures unveiled on Wednesday do not require specific EU sign-off, characterising them instead as operational changes to the framework, without altering the fundamentals of the bilateral deal.

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The EU, for its part, has said it will carefully analyse the measures.

British foreign secretary David Cameron and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris both briefed EU Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic on the paper on Wednesday.

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Tanaiste Micheal Martin has suggested Brussels will have a role, telling reporters in Belfast that the EU/UK Joint Committee will need to look at the package.

Mr Martin made clear he did not anticipate any push-back from the European Commission on what has been agreed between the DUP and UK.

(l to r) Jamie Bryson, Jim Allister and DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson attend a rally in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol in Lurgan, Co Armagh in 2022 (Liam McBurney/PA)

Who is opposed to the DUP leaders move?

Not everyone in the DUP supports accepting the arrangements that will lead to a return to powersharing.

A meeting of the partys ruling executive, where Mr Donaldson presented the proposals to members, lasted for more than five hours on Monday night.

He was ultimately able to secure the backing of the executive, insisting the margin of support was decisive, and the endorsement of the majority of his 12 party officers.

However, just hours after the command paper was published on Wednesday, senior DUP MP Sammy Wilson launched a scathing broadside against the British government in the UK parliament in a clear sign of the differing opinions at the highest levels of the party.

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The arch Brexiteer claimed the ongoing application of EU law in Northern Ireland was the result of a spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

On top of internal tensions, Mr Donaldson faces criticism from some in the wider unionist and loyalist community.

They insist the Stormont boycott should only end when the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol, and the subsequent Windsor Framework, are scrapped entirely.

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister is a vocal critic, describing the DUP as protocol implementers.

High-profile loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, who live-tweeted elements of the private DUP executive meeting after securing an audio feed from a wired-up mole inside the party, has challenged Mr Donaldson to a public debate on the new measures.

There have also been suggestions on social media that roads could be blocked in loyalist areas as part of protests against the deal.

The DUP leader has hit back, claiming his opponents have delivered a big blank sheet of nothing when it comes to removing the Irish Sea border.

Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill is set to become the first nationalist first minister (Niall Carson/PA)

So what happens next?

The British government aims to fast-track two statutory instruments through Westminster on Thursday.

One will provide legislative assurances on Northern Irelands constitutional position with the other delivering the changes to the trading system by amending the Internal Markets Act.

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Their passage would pave the way for the DUP to give the green light for a Stormont return.

MLAs have already been put on notice on the prospect of a hastily-recalled sitting.

The expectation is Stormont could be back up and running as soon as Saturday, when the Assembly chamber at Parliament Buildings would witness the historically significant moment of the appointment of its first-ever nationalist first minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill.
A deal to reduce checks and paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is the best that could be delivered for the people of Northern Ireland, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has said.

The agreement between the UK government, published on Wednesday, is expected to lead to the restoration of the devolved powersharing institutions at Stormont within days.

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The deal will see the end of routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Great Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland.

It has persuaded the DUP to end its two-year boycott of the Stormont Assembly.

Mr Donaldson told the BBC Talkback show that he is absolutely convinced the deal is the best one he could have secured.

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The Stormont powersharing institutions are expected to return within days (Liam McBurney/PA)

He said: Measured against our seven tests I am satisfied with the progress we have made.

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I am satisfied that in terms of our core objectives we have delivered for the people of Northern Ireland.

Is it perfect? No, it isnt.

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Have we delivered everything we would have wanted at this stage? No, we havent.

Mr Donaldson said the agreement has removed the so-called Irish Sea trading border.

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He said: We believe that where goods are moving within the United Kingdom and its internal market, there shouldnt be checks, there shouldnt be customs declarations, because that is what a border means.

There should not be a border within the UK internal market. These proposals remove that border.

There will no longer be checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, except where, as happens across the UK, there is smuggling or criminality.

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He also said now all goods manufactured in Northern Ireland will be available for sale in the rest of the UK.

He said: Businesses in Northern Ireland, if all they do is sell their goods to Great Britain then their goods will be fully acceptable in Great Britain.

The Government has guaranteed that.

There is a new goods guarantee built into these new arrangements that goods manufactured in Northern Ireland will always be available for sale in Great Britain.

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Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill is poised to become first minister at Stormont (Niall Carson/PA)

The DUP leader also said the automatic appliance of EU laws to Northern Ireland would end.

He said: At the moment EU law automatically applies to Northern Ireland, whether it is a change to EU law or a new EU law.

Under the (Northern Ireland) Protocol we had no say, the Assembly was not consulted on that, there was no democratic scrutiny in Northern Ireland of those laws, they just automatically applied. These new arrangements end that.

Article 7A of the Withdrawal Act, which is a UK law, will be amended to end the automatic pipeline of EU law applying to Northern Ireland.

What that means, we will have new democratic scrutiny mechanisms in the Assembly.

The Assembly will be able to scrutinise any new laws that are coming forward. Assembly members will be able to say if they think that law is going to be harmful to Northern Ireland and our ability to trade, in other words divergence.

The Assembly will be able to say no, that law should not apply in Northern Ireland and the UK Government has the right to veto that law on behalf of Northern Ireland.

There is a new process that is being put in place that ends the dynamic alignment of EU law in Northern Ireland.

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Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said he is comfortable with the deal (Niall Carson/PA)

Meanwhile, other Stormont parties have been meeting with Tanaiste Micheal Martin, in Belfast.

Speaking after her meeting, Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill, who is poised to become first minister when Stormont is restored, said the Assembly election held two years ago shows the change across the islands political landscape.

She said: I will work with whoever wants to come at it with an attitude of fair play, work with whoever wants to respect the Good Friday Agreement, and I will work with anybody who wants to deliver good public services.

Regardless of who occupies the government in Britain, I would expect from them, whether its Labour or Tories, who unfortunately have failed on this on so many occasions, to respect the Good Friday Agreement.

There is no doubt the Assembly election two years ago demonstrated the change that is happening right across our island and there is no doubt that there is a healthy conversation about constitutional change.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said he had a good meeting with Mr Martin

Mr Beattie said he told Mr Martin about how the Ulster Unionists have been kept out of discussions in relation to the agreement between the DUP and the British government.

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He added: I think everybody is pretty comfortable with what the deal is.

I dont think anybody is concerned. I think everything that is going to happen is going to happen within the confines of what has already been agreed in regards to the Windsor Framework.
A British government package to restore powersharing at Stormont has delivered fundamental change to UK-EU arrangements on post-Brexit trade, the leader of the DUP has insisted.

Jeffrey Donaldson claimed his party had negotiated clear alterations to the Windsor Framework by ending routine checks on goods moving from Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland.

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Major changes to the UK/EU legal framework would require the approval of Brussels.

Downing Street, however, has insisted the measures unveiled on Wednesday do not require specific EU sign-off, characterising them instead as operational changes to the framework, without altering the fundamentals of the bilateral deal.

The British prime ministers official spokesman said: I wont speak for the EU but this is a negotiation between the UK and the DUP. This is not about altering the fundamentals of the Windsor Framework.

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He added: We do believe that the changes that we are implementing are significant.

British foreign secretary David Cameron and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris both spoke with EU Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic on Wednesday to outline the proposals.

Maros Sefcovic spoke to David Cameron about the British governments plan (Liam McBurney/PA)

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In a statement, the EU Commission said it would carefully analyse the measures.

The executive vice-president and the Foreign Secretary both agreed on the high importance of seeing the Northern Ireland Executive restored and delivering for the people of Northern Ireland, the commission added.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin, who met political leaders in Belfast on Wednesday, said he did not expect Brussels would have any difficulties with what has been tabled.

On Tuesday, prior to the command papers publication, the UK and EU did announce a joint move on trade tariff quotas that will increase the ability of Northern Ireland traders to import internationally-sourced agri-food goods via UK free trade deals with other countries.

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Wednesdays paper commits to replacing the Windsor Frameworks green lane process at Northern Ireland ports, which requires percentages of goods to be checked as they arrive from Great Britain, with a UK internal market system that will govern the movement of goods that remain within the United Kingdom.

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Checks would still be carried out but on a risk-based/intelligence-led model to combat illegality and disease, rather than routine stops of disembarking lorries.

Mr Donaldson has hailed the move as a key concession that will effectively scrap the contentious so-called Irish Sea border for goods destined to remain within the UK.

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DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson during a joint press conference with the Northern Ireland Secretary (Niall Carson/PA)

Speaking at a joint press conference at Hillsborough Castle with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton Harris, the DUP leader said: I have absolutely no doubt any reasonable person reading this lengthy document, there is a lot of substance in this document that points to change, and I believe that is what we have delivered.

So, one of my core objectives was to ensure that where goods are moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and staying within the United Kingdom, there would be no checks on those goods, save whether theres a suspicion of smuggling or criminality.

The Windsor Framework gave us a green lane, which involved the continuation of some checks and some declarations. That has gone and, by any measure, that represents a fundamental change to the way that goods coming from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are dealt with.

Mr Heaton-Harris said the package did not involve any weird dealings with Brussels and everything in the package had been delivered in good faith.

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He added: Theres a whole chapter in here [the command paper], chapter four, which will take you through the further changes and their impacts on the Windsor Framework in no uncertain terms, and the government is committed to all of that chapter four.

The Conservative MP said the package represented the right deal for Northern Ireland and the Union.

Mr Heaton-Harris said the British government would deliver quickly on the commitments made, with two pieces of legislation set to be fast-tracked through UK Parliament on Thursday.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson, who is sceptical about the deal, heavily criticised the British government (PA)

The Stormont Assembly could sit again as soon as Saturday.

This is the right deal for Northern Ireland and the right deal for the Union, said Mr Heaton-Harris.

It strengthens and further protects the UK internal market and the union, both now and in the long term.

Mr Donaldson added: Todays agreement, I believe, is a positive and decisive step forward for Northern Ireland.

The measure to reduce checks is part of a wide-ranging deal agreed between the DUP and the Government that is set to bring about the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland after a two-year hiatus.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak said reviving powersharing in Northern Ireland offered the prospect of a brighter future.

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The DUP has agreed to drop its two-year blockade of Stormont in exchange for the British government measures aimed at addressing its concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements that created economic barriers between Northern Ireland and Britain.

While Mr Donaldson has secured the backing of a majority of senior party colleagues to accept the deal, there are those within the DUP who remain deeply sceptical of the proposed agreement to restore powersharing.

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson demonstrated that on Wednesday, voicing his concerns and heavily criticising the British government as the package was debated in parliament.

He said the continued application of EU law in Northern Ireland was the result of spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

Challenged by reporters on Mr Wilsons remarks, Mr Donaldson insisted his party was not split.

He said when his 130-strong party executive deliberated on the package in a five-hour meeting on Monday night the majority in favour was very wide and absolutely decisive.

Mr Donaldson also hit out at critics outside his party, namechecking TUV leader Jim Allister to ask directly what progress he had made over the last two years.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said his critics had delivered a 'big blank sheet of nothing' (Niall Carson/PA)

He suggested Mr Allister and other vocal opponents of the deal had delivered a big blank sheet of nothing when it came to removing the sea border.

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Under the deal, the post-Brexit red lane for transporting goods from GB to NI and on into the EU single market will remain, but the command paper offers measures aimed at reducing the volume of trade required to use that red-tape heavy route, with a prediction that 80 per cent of goods will now move free of routine checks through the internal market system.

The package includes future-proof commitments that rule out future EU/UK protocols or agreements that would see Northern Ireland treated differently to the rest of the UK.

As well as moves to cut Brexit bureaucracy on Irish Sea trade, the command paper includes a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Irelands constitutional position.

The British government will also provide the legislative underpinning to give the Stormont Assembly a democratic oversight function in respect of new EU laws set to be introduced in the region.

The oversight procedures already outlined in the Windsor Framework include the so-called Stormont brake mechanism that enables 30 or more MLAs to flag a concern about a new EU law.

The British government is obliged to assess whether those concerns meet a threshold that could then result in the UK vetoing the application of the law in the region.

The command paper also includes commitments to ensure Northern Ireland goods will always be able to be sold in the British market regardless of any divergence in EU and UK standards.

In respect of further UK divergence from EU standards, there is also a legal requirement that new Westminster legislation is assessed as to whether it impacts on trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

If it does, there will be a statutory duty for the relevant minister to make a statement considering any impacts on the operation of Northern Irelands place in the UKs internal market.

A requirement that saw certain goods sold in Northern Ireland to display a label stating not for sale in the EU will now to extend to cover the whole UK.

The package also includes the creation of two new bodies aimed at strengthening trade links between Britain and Northern Ireland  the East West Council and Intertrade UK.

Other measures in the deal include a drive to press ahead with the stalled devolution of corporation tax powers to Northern Ireland and a commitment from the UK government to hold cabinet meetings periodically in the region.

The British government will also enter into exploratory talks with the US on allowing pre-clearance checks on customs and immigration to take place at Belfast International Airport on passengers flying directly to the US.

There are no direct flights at the moment but the move is being seen as a potential incentive for airlines to consider operating routes from Northern Ireland to the US.

The return of Stormont will see the UK government release a 3.3 billion (3.8 billion) package to support under-pressure public services in Northern Ireland.

The financial package, announced before Christmas, includes money to settle the demands of striking public sector workers in the region this year.
Updated: 1.45pm

Emergency services remain at the scene of a fire at an apartment building in south Dublin.

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Dublin Fire Brigade responded to calls of a blaze on the upper floor of an apartment block in Sandyford.

In a statement, Dublin City Council confirmed the fire brigade was alerted to the incident at around 9.40am on Wednesday morning.

Firefighting operations in #Sandyford have now concluded



Firefighters fought the fire for 2 hours and left the scene at 1230 hours pic.twitter.com/ZKzE2zhd2U  Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) January 31, 2024

Five fire engines, two district officers, an emergency tender, a 42-metre ladder and the service's incident command unit were dispatched to the scene.

Corrig Road was closed to traffic due to the incident, with motorists being urged to use alternative routes.

By 1.30pm, the council confirmed: "The fire is now under control. There is a motor still there damping down."
Updated: 10am

The Government has "no issue" with the streamlining of trade processes for goods travelling between Northern Ireland and Britain, Micheal Martin has said.

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The Tanaiste is in Belfast on Thursday to meet with political and business leaders in the North, as the UK government is due to publish the details of its deal with the DUP aimed at restoring powersharing.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has already said that the agreement will remove all post-Brexit checks on goods destined for Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

The unionist party has been using a veto power to block Stormonts devolved institutions for almost two years in protest at the post-Brexit arrangements that have created trade barriers between the North and Britain.

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DUP leader Sir Jeffery Donaldson has said checks on goods destined for NI from the UK would end (Liam McBurney/PA)

However, Mr Donaldson announced earlier this week that his party was prepared to return to Stormont, dependent on the UK government implementing the various legislative assurances and other measures it has offered.

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This is expected to lead to the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland within days and will see Michelle ONeill become the Norths first ever nationalist first minister.

Speaking in Belfast on Wednesday morning, Mr Martin commended Mr Donaldson on his leadership, saying the DUP leader has opened a path to a functioning executive and assembly.

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Well await the publication of the documents today by the British government, Mr Martin added.

I think it would be prudent to examine those, and we will do that. The British government and the European Union have worked hard to address many of the practical concerns about the outworking of Brexit and Northern Ireland.

We need to move forward for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland in terms of economy, in terms of jobs, in terms of public services, the Fianna Fail leader said.

Deal

It is understood the UK government will introduce two statutory instruments at Westminster to give legislative effect to the commitments it has made on trade and sovereignty.

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The return of Stormont will also see the Treasury release a 3.3 billion package to support under-pressure public services in Northern Ireland. The financial package includes money to settle the demands of striking public sector workers in the region this year.

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Speaking on Tuesday, following meetings with other Stormont parties, Mr Donaldson said the deal would represent a significant change in addressing unionist concerns over Brexits so-called Irish Sea border.

He said: On checks, on goods, moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and staying within the UK there will no longer be physical checks, identity checks, save where, as is normal in any part of the UK, there is a suspicion of smuggling, of criminal activity; that is the same for every part of the United Kingdom.

On customs paperwork, customs declarations, supplementary declarations, will be gone.

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(left to right) Sinn Fein representatives MLA Conor Murphy, president Mary Lou McDonald and vice-president Michelle ONeill (Liam McBurney/PA)

Sinn Fein has focused on the imminent return of the Stormont Assembly, with party leader Mary Lou McDonald stating that Irish unity is now within touching distance as she hailed the significance of her party assuming the role of Stormont first minister for the first time.

Ms McDonald said the expected appointment of her party colleague Michelle ONeill into the job in the coming days would be a moment of very great significance.

UK Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he believes the conditions exist for the return of the Stormont powersharing institutions (Victoria Jones/PA)

UK Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he would publish the UK governments proposals on Wednesday.

He added: I believe that all the conditions are now in place for the assembly to return.

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Mr Donaldson announced his support for a Stormont return after receiving the decisive backing of the 130-strong party executive during a five-hour meeting on Monday night.

He said DUP party officers, a key 12-strong decision-making body, had also mandated him to move forward on the basis he was proposing.

Support for the deal is not unanimous within the DUP and several senior figures remain opposed to the proposed agreement to restore powersharing.
The State has successfully applied to have the trial of a man accused of an attempted murder in Dublin over seven years ago heard before the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

Jason OConnor (45), of Whitestown Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, is accused of the attempted murder of Charlie Cooper at Parslickstown Green, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, on December 5th, 2016.

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Mr OConnor is also charged with the possession of a 9mm firearm and 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition with intent to endanger life at the same location and on the same date.

At a hearing of the non-jury court on Wednesday monring, State solicitor Michael O'Donovan made a successful ex-parte application, where only one side is represented, to try Mr OConnor at the three-judge court.

The State can apply for a certificate to transfer a trial to the Special Criminal Court if it is believed the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice.

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Mr OConnor was not required and did not attend the brief hearing before presiding judge Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, who granted the application and adjourned the matter to February 7th.
The High Court has refused an injunction preventing the deportation of a Somalian man on Thursday to France.

The man failed in an application to prevent his return to the EU country he was last in, France, and where he was refused international protection. He had spent four years in Germany where he was also refused protection.

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He arrived here in August 2022 and sought protection on the basis that he was fleeing the Somalian Islamic militant group Al Shabbab, who killed his father and two brothers.

When protection was refused, he brought an appeal claiming if returned to France, where he was homeless, he would face poor reception conditions for asylum seekers and that this was a breach of his European Convention rights. An appeals tribunal found country of origin information indicated France was a safe country and rejected his appeal.

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He then brought a High Court judicial review challenge to that decision and also sought an injunction preventing his deportation to France which had agreed to accept him and deal with his protection application.

That was refused by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland just before Christmas.

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Last Friday, the judge was told the judicial review was being withdrawn, and new proceedings were being issued, and an injunction was also sought stopping his deportation which was scheduled for Thursday, February 1st, and for which he had been requested to turn up at Dublin Airport at 6.30am.

New challenge

At the centre of his new challenge was a claim that no decision had been made by the Minister for Justice in relation to an EU regulation which governs the return of international protection applicants to the country they first arrived in.

Known as the Dublin III Regulation, Article 17 relates to established family reunification rights of protection applicants. It says a country in which the applicant arrived can either consider the protection application itself under Article 17 or request another country in which the applicant has also arrived to take him back and deal with the application.

Eamonn Dornan BL, for the man, said the transfer cannot occur without a decision on his clients application being first made under Article 17 of the Dublin III Regulation.

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He also argued the failure to provide clarity on the Article 17 process has led to confusion amongst applicants and that there was no formal application process or form for doing so.

Sarah-Jane Hillery BL, for the international protection authorities and the minister, submitted that the man is no longer an asylum seeker as his protection claim has been rejected elsewhere. Here, he was making the epitome of an 11th-hour application, she said.

The man can continue his judicial review challenge from France and there is a mechanism for his return to Ireland if it transpires he is successful in the case, she said. France will no longer be obliged to accept him after February 22nd.

Ms Justice Hyland said there was no challenge here to a refusal under Article 17 as no such refusal exists.

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There was an application to compel the minister to make such a decision, but the judge said she cannot characterise that argument as fair or arguable given that the latest application to the minister was made just five days before the new High Court proceedings were brought.

It was also an attempt to challenge the transfer to France decision on the basis that it was outside the powers of the Dublin III regulation.

"This is a collateral attack given that the transfer decision was challenged in the previous judicial review proceedings and those proceedings were withdrawn", she said.

That argument would not meet one of the requirements for an injunction of a "fair issue to be tried", she said.

She also said that the man could have made his application in 2022.

She agreed the State will lose the right to return him to France under the Dublin Convention, whereas if he turns out to be right in his proceedings here, he will be entitled to be returned to Ireland.
A man involved in shameful robberies where he attacked people he approached while begging, took items from an unconscious man on the street and held up a launderette with a knife has been jailed for seven years.

Andrew Cash (32), of no fixed abode, appeared before Judge Pauline Codd in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to counts of theft, robbery, attempted robbery and assault causing harm at locations across Dublin between May and November, 2020.

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Garda Ruth Finnegan told Sarah Connolly BL, prosecuting, that Cash pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and assault causing harm of a man coming home from a night out, leaving the victim unable to remember his own name and requiring hospitalisation.

On the evening of November 9th, 2020, the man had been out socialising with friends when he stopped in Crane Lane, Dublin 2, for a cigarette.

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Cash and another person approached him and asked for a cigarette. Cash then grabbed the man and punched him in the face.

Cash left the scene, before returning a few moments later with two others and again attacking the man. They pulled him to the ground, kicking him to the body multiple times and stamping on his head.

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CCTV played to the court showed a nearby bystander intervening. A member of the group rifled through the injured man's pockets before they all left, but nothing was taken.

The court heard gardai were called to the scene, where they found the injured man covered in blood and extremely upset. Garda Finnegan said: We couldn't even get his name out of him. He was completely disorientated.

The man was taken to St James' hospital. He had cracked front teeth, facial swelling, back pain, headaches and a minor bleed on the brain. He was suffering with a concussion and discs in his back had slipped.

A witness to the assault provided gardai with a description of the attackers. Cash was arrested later that night for a separate robbery incident, and was identified because he was still wearing the same clothes.

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Victim impact statement

In a victim impact statement handed in to the court, the man said he had always thought Ireland was a safe place, but doesn't think this anymore and is considering leaving the country.

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The man said he's afraid to go out with friends or leave his house, and can't sleep without having nightmares.

The court also heard evidence of three other incidents where Cash had been involved in robberies or attempted robberies.

Sergeant Kevin Cassidy told Diane Stuart BL, prosecuting, that in the remaining incidents, that Cash had told a pair of young men that he had a knife and wasn't afraid to use it before robbing one and attempting to rob the other.

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The two men had been socialising on South William St, Dublin 2, on September 15th, 2020 when Cash approached them begging for change.

One of the men gave Cash some money, but he then became agitated and said he had a knife.

The court heard he ordered the two young men to empty their pockets and that he had no hesitation about slashing their faces".

One of the men gave him 20, before Cash punched him in the eye and told him not to get smart". The other man said he had no money to give.

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Cash was later identified by nearby CCTV and arrested.

Garda Kieren McGovern said Cash also pleaded guilty to a sole count of robbery of a launderette on Dunville Ave in Rathmines on October 21st, 2020.

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Cash walked into the launderette, pulled up his top and produced a knife with a dark brown handle. He directed the staff to the back of the shop and then took 50 from the till.

Cash was identified from CCTV from the launderette and arrested.

Theft from unconscious man

The court also heard that Cash had pleaded guilty to theft on May 7th, 2020, when he took a debit card and mobile phone from an unconscious man on Patrick Street, Dublin 8. The man was intoxicated and had passed out.

Aidan McCarthy BL, defending, said his client had been in State care since the age of three and had grown up in foster homes.

He said his client was homeless and using drugs at the time of the offending, and had been drinking since the age of 9 and using drugs since 12 years old.

Mr McCarthy said his client was institutionalised and that upon release in the past, he has no idea what to do when he's out of prison".

It's sad that the structure of prison is the best and most stable structure that he's ever known, Mr McCarthy said, I wonder: had I been in care since the age of three with no familial structure, with alcoholic parents and in the machinery of the State  would I be somewhere else?

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Cash has 66 previous convictions, for robbery, burglary, threats to kill, assault, attempted theft, theft, criminal damage, public order and failure to appear.

In sentencing, Judge Codd said she would take a totality view in respect of the matters before her, but that she considered the assault and attempted robbery from Crane Lane to be the most significant offending.

She said some of the victims were people who had attempted to help him and described it as shameful that he would then attack them.

Judge Codd said the aggravating factors were Cash's relevant previous convictions, the violence used, the threat or use of knives, and that he had effectively returned with a posse in the Crane Lane incident.

In mitigation, the judge said she also considered Cash's guilty plea, his personal circumstances and that he has been homeless for a very long time. She said it's quite clear that from a very young age the accused has had a very difficult life.

At almost 33 years of age now, he does seem to be mindful that he needs to address his entrenched substance abuse issues and work towards recovery.

Judge Codd said it was an indictment on the State system that someone could come through it without being offered appropriate counselling for the very obvious trauma that has been visited on him". However, she said Cash was at an age where he must find the strength in himself to take responsibility of his own mental welfare.

Judge Codd sentenced Cash to a global sentence of eight years, but suspended the final year to give him an opportunity to show that he can reform.
A teenage boy driving a car loaded with stolen power tools reached speeds of almost 200km/h after leading gardai on a chase in Dublin before crashing into a lorry.

Dublin Childrens Court heard its very, very lucky no one was killed during the pursuit on July 13th last year, which commenced on the M50.

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The boy (17) was charged with five counts of endangerment of life, dangerous driving, being unlicensed, having no insurance, impeding arrest and possessing stolen property and a knife.

Garda Keith Nolan told Judge Paul Kelly on Wednesday that traffic was heavy when the teen was spotted driving north.

Gardai saw him holding his mobile phone and signalled him to stop, but he kept driving up to 150km/h in a 100km/h zone and cut across three lanes of traffic.

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He took the Ballymun exit at last minute and made an illegal turn at a roundabout. The boy drove over the traffic island and rejoined the M50 southbound on the hard shoulder at 160km/h.

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Garda Nolan said that the boy turned onto N2 at speed, and the garda pursuit vehicle was travelling at 185km/h and not gaining any distance on this vehicle.

At Junction 2, The Ward, the teenager collided with the trailer of a 40-foot heavy goods vehicle, which disabled the car.

The teen, who has no prior criminal convictions, fled the car, jumped a fence and hid in bushes.

Gardai searched the car and found 9,369 worth of power tools belonging to four injured parties.

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There were also different sets of number plates for the make and model of the car, along with the plates that were supposed to be on the vehicle. They also recovered two six-inch kitchen knives.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) urged the judge to refuse jurisdiction and transfer the case to the Circuit Court, which can impose lengthier sentences.

However, the boy pleaded with the judge to keep the case in the Childrens Court. His barrister said that the youth was a vulnerable young man who owed money and had been threatened by older, more serious criminals to transport the tools.

The defence said they took advantage of the boy, who was accompanied to court by his father.

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In reply, the garda said the teenager did not divulge that and made no comment throughout his interview.

State solicitor Michelle Sheeran submitted that his actions could have had catastrophic consequences, and its very, very lucky no one was killed.

Judge Kelly noted the teen wanted to plead guilty but agreed with the DPP that the case must be dealt with at a higher level.

The boy, who cannot be identified because he is a minor, was remanded on continuing bail pending the preparation of a book of evidence. Legal aid was granted.
A status yellow wind alert is in place, covering seven counties across the North and northwest.

In the Republic, a warning covering Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo and Galway began at 8am and will remain in place until 1pm.

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Met Eireann said there will be strong and gusty south-west winds for the duration of the alert.

Meanwhile, the UK Met Office has issued a similar warning for Antrim and Derry.

The yellow wind alert began at 9am, and will remain in place until 5pm on Wednesday evening.

A gale warning was also in place overnight, covering Valentia to Malin Head to Carnsore Point and the Irish Sea. It is also due to end at 5pm.
New releases this week include a historical non-fiction book that gets a perfect score

Fiction

1. Green Dot by Madeleine Gray is published in hardback by W&N on February 1st

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 GREEN DOT by @gray_madeleine_ (out 2/27) is the 20 somethings novel you need! Author @caitlinmoran says, I wolfed GREEN DOT down over two nightsEvery sentence sparkles. Preorder this anti-corporate, office love affair novel now: https://t.co/jsR8F10zU9 pic.twitter.com/cmbsExZ2xZ  Henry Holt & Company (@HenryHolt) January 18, 2024

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Australian writer Madeleine Grays impressive debut novel, Green Dot, plunges us headlong into the restless existence of twenty-something slacker Hera. An academic high-achiever with solid friendships but still directionless, Hera is drifting through life until, forced to make a living, she lands a job as an online community moderator at a Sydney news outlet. Here she meets older journalist, Arthur, with whom she begins an ill-advised but all-consuming affair. As the story unfolds, what begins as a laugh-out-loud observation of office politics, full of sharply penned scenes that fans of Fleabag will love, slowly gives way to a deeply poignant and at times, heartbreakingly detailed, journey of messy self-discovery. In Green Dot there are no outright villains, nor is anyone 100% angelic  and its that skill in layered characterisation that will have you riveted until the final page.

8/10

(Review by Amanda Willard)

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2. My Friends by Hisham Matar is published in hardback by Viking. Available now

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'The question is, my boy  and it has always been the most important question  how to escape the demands of unreasonable men.



MY FRIENDS, by Booker shortlisted, Pulitzer prize-winning author Hisham Matar, is out now. pic.twitter.com/LP5MKKO0tO  Viking Books UK (@VikingBooksUK) January 17, 2024

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Love, friendship and longing. Theyre the three themes youll come across in Hisham Matars My Friends, a story about friends living in political exile. Readers are introduced to Khaled Abd al Hady, a literature student who, when visiting London, attends an anti-government demonstration in front of the Libyan embassy. The spur-of-the-moment decision is one that impacts the rest of his life, leaving him, and two others, longing for their beloved country. My Friends isnt just a story about political exile  its about the country that defines us and the actions we would take to protect our beloved home.

8/10

(Review by Maryam Munir)

3. The Fury by Alex Michaelides is published in hardback by Michael Joseph. Available February 1st

(Michael Joseph/PA)

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Former film star Lana Farrar invites a small group of friends to a private Greek island  as you do  to relax in the sun, reconnect and be wined and dined. But the holiday is anything but relaxing, quickly turning from a happy get-together to a gripping murder mystery. Winds batter the island, leaving the group stranded, arguing with each other and then caught up in a terrifying search for the murderer. The plot thickens as the increasingly desperate search is hampered by shocking secrets revealed by Lanas friends. The book is narrated by Elliot Chase, who is both charming and evil, with a cunning plan to split Lana from her husband and marry her. The Fury is surely set to follow suit of Michaelidess first book, The Silent Patient, and become a bestseller.

8/10

(Review by Alan Jones)

Non-fiction

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4. Lovers In Auschwitz: A True Story by Keren Blankfeld is published in hardback by WH Allen. Available now

I'm thrilled to share the cover for my book, LOVERS IN AUSCHWITZ, releasing January of 2024 from @LittleBrown !



Stunning jacket design by the talented Lucy Kim @lucykimdesign.#coverreveal #bookjacket #bookdesign #LoversInAuschwitz #nonfiction pic.twitter.com/ppS9pTbFg2  Keren Blankfeld Taqqu (@kblankfeld) June 6, 2023

In this poignant and moving true story, the lives of two Holocaust survivors, Zippi Spitzer and David Wisnia, unfold against the backdrop of Auschwitz, one of the most notorious death camps in history. The narrative guides us from the circumstances that led them to Auschwitz to the daily struggles for survival, culminating in a remarkable reunion over 70 years later. This compelling tale of love and sacrifice is presented with great sensitivity, offering readers a genuine glimpse into the atrocities committed at Auschwitz. The resilience and strength of character required to endure the war, with all its profound experiences and losses, are vividly portrayed. Amidst the darkness, the story beautifully reveals not only how love can emerge, but what individuals were prepared to do to save others, defying the odds and prevailing over the darkest of times. An absolute must-read.

10/10

(Review by Jacqueline Ling)

Childrens book of the week

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5. Theres A Tiger On The Train by Mariesa Dulak, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb, is published in paperback by Faber & Faber. Available February 1st

"An absolute must have for classrooms and libraries."



With a message for children & parents alike, our #BookOfTheDay is the delightful #picturebook, There's a Tiger on the Train by @mariesadulak, illus. by @rebecca_cobb. 



Learn more: https://t.co/bDVk6HC3k1 @FaberChildrens pic.twitter.com/eQEcnXpq4Z  ReadingZone.com (@readingzone) January 29, 2024

Theres A Tiger On The Train is a captivating childrens story about a boy and his dad taking a trip on a train for a seaside outing. The story follows a lovely cadence of rhyming couplets, with a three-year-old able to jump in to fill in the gaps and be part of reading the book. While there is the anticipation of reaching the beach, the adventure turns out to be the train ride itself  with a whole host of different animals joining as fellow passengers. Quite the commotion unfolds, which is brought to life with great illustrations. Will the little boys father look up from his phone to see the crazy scenes?

8/10

(Review by Lauren Westmoreland)

BOOK CHARTS FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 27th

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HARDBACK (FICTION)

1. The City Of Stardust by Georgia Summers

2. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

3. Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

4. The Beholders by Hester Musson

5. The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman

6. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

7. The Secret by Lee Child & Andrew Child

8. Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

9. The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake

10. Murder On Lake Garda by Tom Hindle

(Compiled by Waterstones)

HARDBACK (NON-FICTION)

1. Charles III by Robert Hardman

2. Bored Of Lunch Healthy Slow Cooker: Even Easier by Nathan Anthony

3. Empireworld by Sathnam Sanghera

4. The Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World by Bettany Hughes

5. Politics On The Edge by Rory Stewart

6. The Traitors: The Interactive Game Book by Alan Connor

7. Deliciously Ella Healthy Made Simple by Ella Mills (Woodward)

8. How They Broke Britain by James OBrien

9. Pinch Of Nom Express by Kay Allinson & Kate Allinson

10. Unruly by David Mitchell

(Compiled by Waterstones)

AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NON-FICTION)

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear

2. The End And The Death: Volume III by Dan Abnett

3. Unruly by David Mitchell

4. None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

5. The Diary Of A CEO by Steven Bartlett

6. Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken

7. The Queen Of Poisons by Robert Thorogood

8. How They Broke Britain by James OBrien

9. The Fellowship Of The Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien

10. Gotta Get Theroux This by Louis Theroux

(Compiled by Audible)
Ukraine and Russia have exchanged 195 prisoners of war each, Russias defence ministry has said.

The swap happened on Wednesday, it added.

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It comes a week after Russia accused Ukrainian forces of shooting down a military transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war who were going to be swapped for Russian counterparts.

Missiles fired from across the border brought down the plane in Russias Belgorod region on January 24, the defence ministry said.

The crash killed all 74 people onboard, including six crew members and three Russian servicemen, local authorities in Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, said.

Moscow said 65 Ukrainian prisoners were on the plane.

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Our people are back. 207 of them. We return them home no matter what.



We remember each Ukrainian in captivity. Both warriors and civilians. We must bring all of them back. We are working on it.



The Ukrainian team has done another excellent job. Budanov, Yermak, Usov, Maliuk, pic.twitter.com/ZNNdTz3mKO Advertisement  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) January 31, 2024

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The incident also led some Russian officials to publicly question the possibility of future prisoner swaps.

Ukrainian officials confirmed last week that a prisoner swap was due to happen that day but said it had been called off.

It said it has seen no evidence the plane was carrying prisoners.

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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 207 Ukrainians were freed in Wednesdays exchange.

There was no immediate explanation for the different figures.

We remember each Ukrainian in captivity. Both warriors and civilians. We must bring all of them back. We are working on it, Mr Zelensky wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Among the Ukrainians released are members of the armed forces, national guard, border service and national police, said Andrii Yermak, head of Ukraines Presidential Office.

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He said some of them were captured while defending Mariupol, Azovstal and Snake Island.

The Russian military said, without providing details or evidence, that the Russian prisoners of war faced deadly danger in captivity and will be flown to Moscow for treatment and rehabilitation.
Hotelier Robert Bigelow told Reuters on Tuesday he gave Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump $1 million (922,000) for his legal fees and agreed to donate another $20 million (18.5 million) to a pro-Trump outside group for campaign purposes.

"I gave him $1 million towards his legal fees a few weeks ago. I made a promise to give him $20 million more, that will be to the super PAC," the Nevada-based owner of Budget Suites of America said in an interview.

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The commitments, which have not been previously reported, show some big money is coalescing around Mr Trump, the runaway frontrunner to clinch the Republican presidential nomination to face Democrat Joe Biden in the November US general election.

Mr Bigelow's donations also highlight the unusual role some political donors are playing as Mr Trump faces four pending criminal cases this year.

Criminal cases

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Those cases include two over his efforts to reverse his 2020 presidential election loss, one over his handling of classified documents upon leaving office and another over his hush money payments to a porn star.

Mr Bigelow, who also founded Bigelow Aerospace and funds investigations into extraterrestrial life, said he felt Mr Trump was being unfairly targeted in the criminal cases and that his sympathy towards the former president had motivated the donation.

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"I was just sympathetic. They didn't solicit anything from me," Mr Bigelow said. The $20 million would be spread out but "starts right away," he added.

The Justice Department says it acts without political bias.

All of Mr Trump's Republican rivals, bar former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, have dropped out of the race, and Mr Trump is all but assured of clinching the nomination.

Mr Trump and his team have been seeking to peel wealthy benefactors away from Ms Haley, making calls trying to convince donors to switch sides. Mr Trump has gone so far as to warn the donors they would be banished from his orbit if they made further donations.

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Mr Bigelow initially backed Florida governor Ron DeSantis for the Republican nomination, but dropped him in part over his strict anti-abortion policies.

Bills and fines

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For all of Mr Trump's political success, however, his legal costs are rapidly mounting.

Mr Trump was hit last week with an $83 million verdict in a defamation case brought by writer E Jean Carroll, and a judge is set to rule any day now on the New York Attorney Generals request for $370 million in penalties for his misrepresentations to banks about his net worth.

The New York Times reported earlier on Tuesday that pro-Trump groups spent some $50 million on legal bills and "investigation-related" expenses in 2023. Reuters was not immediately able to confirm that figure.

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Mr Bigelow said he could not remember the exact name of the entity to which he sent the $1 million, but Mr Trump's Save America PAC has been an important vehicle for paying his legal fees. When asked whether he was considering donating more to help pay Mr Trump's legal fees, Mr Bigelow declined to comment.

Mr Bigelow said he had dinner with Mr Trump on Monday night at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

"It was supposed to be one hour. It was over two hours. And we still ran out of time," Mr Bigelow said, declining to provide details of their conversation.

Mr Bigelow said he was concerned about turmoil in the Middle East and felt confident in Mr Trump's capacity to navigate crises given his 2017-2021 term in the White House.
Family members of an Irish woman killed in a central London bus crash have paid tribute to their beloved daughter, sister, partner.

Catherine Finnegan, known as Kathleen, died after she was hit by a bus at Victoria Bus Station on Monday morning.

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Ms Finnegan (56), from Co Galway, died at the scene despite efforts of land and air ambulance crews.

Her family paid tribute via London's Metropolitan Police, and said: Our beloved daughter, sister, partner, most adored auntie and treasured friend Catherine Finnegan, known as Kathleen, lost her life on January 29.

The scene where a pedestrian was killed after being hit by a bus at London Victoria bus station (Jonny Dyer/PA)

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She will be remembered as a very unique lady who had the fast Irish wit and who made her family and friends so very proud of her bright, clever personality.

She was a whirlwind in any room and lit up this world with her energy, enthusiasm for life and joy.

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She will be forever in our hearts.

Officers were called to a collision between a bus and a pedestrian at 8.59am.

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Reports suggested a Number 13 double-decker bus crashed into a shelter at the busy transport hub.

The scene where a pedestrian was killed at London Victoria bus station in central London (PA video)

The female bus driver, in her 40s, was taken to the hospital and later discharged.

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In 2021, Melissa Burr was killed at the station after bus driver Olusofa Popoola accidentally accelerated into the back of a stationary bus, shunting it into her.

She was using a pedestrian walkway at the bus station and crossed towards the door of a 507 bus parked at its stop before she was hit.

Victoria bus station was closed late last year for works designed to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility for partially sighted passengers.

Problems highlighted included an unconventional layout of pedestrian crossings, use of markings and a lack of tactile paving, as well as one crossing that directed pedestrians into a bus stop.
Chinese government hackers are busily targeting water treatment plants, the electrical grid, transportation systems and other critical infrastructure inside the United States, FBI director Chris Wray will tell House politicians on Wednesday in a fresh warning from Washington about Beijings global ambitions.

Mr Wray will say there has been far too little public focus on a cyber threat that affects every American, according to a copy of prepared remarks he will give before the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

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Chinas hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if or when China decides the time has come to strike, Mr Wray will say.

The comments align with assessments from outside cybersecurity firms including Microsoft, which said in May that state-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting US critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the US and Asia during future crises.

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The following month, Mandiant said suspected state-backed Chinese hackers had used a security hole in a popular email security appliance to break into the networks of hundreds of public and private sector organisations globally.

Mr Wray and other senior US officials have for years been sounding the alarm not only about the Chinese governments hacking prowess but about Beijings determination to steal scientific and industrial research from American businesses.

China has called those accusations groundless even as multiple criminal indictments have laid out detailed evidence.

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Today, and literally every day, theyre actively attacking our economic security, engaging in wholesale theft of our innovation, and our personal and corporate data, Mr Wray said.

The committee was established last year with a mandate of countering China, kicking off with a primetime hearing.

The Chinese government has lashed out at the committee, demanding that its members discard their ideological bias and zero-sum Cold War mentality.
Iran said it would decisively respond to any US attack on the Islamic Republic following President Joe Bidens linking of Tehran to the killing of three US soldiers at a military base in Jordan.

The US has signalled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Middle East in the wake of the Sunday drone attack which also injured at least 40 troops at Tower 22, a secretive base in north-eastern Jordan that has been crucial to the American presence in neighbouring Syria.

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Any additional American strikes could further inflame a region already roiled by Israels ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The war began with Hamas attacking Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage.

Since then, Israel has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly two million, sparking anger throughout the Muslim world.

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From left: Kennedy Sanders, William Jerome Rivers and Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, three US army reserve soldiers killed in the drone strike (Shawn Sanders and US army via AP)

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Violence has erupted across the Middle East, with Iran striking targets in Iraq, Pakistan and Syria and the US carrying out airstrikes targeting Yemens Houthi rebels over their attacks shipping in the Red Sea.

Some observers fear a new round of strikes targeting Iran could tip the region into a wider war.

A US navy destroyer in the waterway shot down an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the Houthis late on Tuesday, the latest attack targeting American forces patrolling the key maritime trade route, officials said.

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The Iranian warnings first came from Amir Saeid Iravani, Irans ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He gave a briefing to Iranian journalists late on Tuesday, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

The Islamic Republic would decisively respond to any attack on the county, its interests and nationals under any pretexts, IRNA quoted Mr Iravani as saying. He described any possible Iranian retaliation as a strong response, without elaborating.

The Iranian mission to the UN did not respond to requests for comment or elaboration on Wednesday on Mr Iravanis remarks.

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Mr Iravani also denied that Iran and the US have exchanged any messages over the last few days, either through intermediaries or directly. The pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera, which is based in and funded by Qatar, reported earlier that such communication had taken place. Qatar often serves as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.

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Such messages have not been exchanged, Mr Iravani said.

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But Irans government has taken note of the US threats of retaliation for the attack on the base in Jordan.

Sometime, our enemies raise the threat, and nowadays we hear some threats in between words by American officials, Revolutionary Guard commander General Hossein Salami, who answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said at an event on Wednesday.

We tell them that you have experienced us, and we know each other. We do not leave any threat without an answer.

We are not after war, but we have no fear of war, he added, according to IRNA.

On Saturday, a general in charge of Irans air defences described them as being at their highest defensive readiness. That raises concerns for commercial aviation travelling through and over Iran as well.

After a US drone strike killed a top general in 2020, Iranian air defences mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people on board.

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(PA Graphics)

Meanwhile, attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels continue in the Red Sea, most recently targeting a US warship. The missile launched on Tuesday night targeted the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the US militarys Central Command said. No injuries or damage were reported.

A Houthi military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Wednesday morning, calling it a victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people and a response to the American-British aggression against our country.

Brig Gen Saree claimed the Houthis fired several missiles, something not acknowledged by the US navy. Houthi claims have been exaggerated in the past and their missiles sometimes crash on land and fail to reach their targets.

The Houthis claimed without evidence on Monday to have targeted the USS Lewis B Puller, a floating landing base used by the navy seals and others. The US said there was no attack.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israels offensive against Hamas in Gaza. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperilling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

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The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday, sparking a fire which burned for hours.

The US and UK have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes targeting the Houthis as allied warships patrol the waterways affected by the attacks.

The European Union also plans to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea within three weeks to help defend cargo ships against the Houthi attacks, the blocs top diplomat said on Wednesday.
Norways ageing king Harald V is on sick leave until February 2nd because of a respiratory infection, the Norwegian palace has said.

The 86-year-old monarch, who has repeatedly said he has no plans to abdicate unlike his second cousin, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, has been admitted to hospital several times in recent months.

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In December, he was admitted with an infection and treated with intravenous antibiotics.

He was also in hospital last August with a fever.

Harald, who has been seen using crutches in recent years, had an operation to replace a heart valve in October 2020 after being taken to hospital with breathing difficulties.

The heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon, has stepped in and taken over his fathers duties, the royal household said.

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Haralds duties as Norways head of state are ceremonial, and he holds no political power.

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He ascended to the throne on the death of his father, King Olav, in 1991.
Nicola Sturgeon is to begin giving evidence at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry amid ongoing scrutiny around the deletion of WhatsApp messages.

The former Scottish first minister will give evidence for a full day as the inquiry, before Baroness Heather Hallett, holds hearings in Edinburgh.

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Several figures in Ms Sturgeons government have already faced questions at the inquiry about their deletion of WhatsApp messages during the pandemic.

Ms Sturgeon has conceded messages had not been retained on her own devices but said she had managed to retrieve copies to submit to the inquiry.

She has said informal messages were handed over to the inquiry last year.

Scottish Government ministers and officials have said decisions were routinely recorded on the official system even if messages were deleted in line with policy.

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Liz Lloyd, who was Ms Sturgeons chief of staff while first minister, has already spoken to the inquiry (Jane Barlow/PA)

Last week, Ms Sturgeons former chief of staff Liz Lloyd gave evidence to the inquiry.

After message exchanges between the pair were shown in evidence, Ms Lloyd denied a decision about guest limits on weddings during the pandemic was made on the hoof.

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In one message seen by the inquiry, Ms Sturgeon referred to then UK prime minister Boris Johnson as a f****** clown.

Current First Minister Humza Yousaf, in his evidence to the inquiry last Thursday, offered an unreserved apology for the Scottish Governments frankly poor handling of requests for WhatsApp messages.

He has announced an external review into the UK governments use of mobile messaging.

Ms Sturgeon may also face questions about her decision to provide public health expert Professor Devi Sridhar with her SNP email address to privately be contacted.

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It is understood Ms Sturgeon forwarded any such emails to the Scottish government and offered to supply the inquiry with them if required.

John Swinney told the inquiry he manually deleted messages (Jane Barlow/PA)

Former Scottish government ministers Kate Forbes and John Swinney gave evidence to the inquiry on Tuesday.

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Mr Swinney said he manually deleted messages between himself, Ms Sturgeon and Mr Yousaf in a practice which could date back to 2007.

The inquiry was earlier told that meetings of senior ministers outside the cabinet  known as the gold command  were not minuted.

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Ms Forbes said she was surprised these and Scottish Government Resilience Room meetings went unminuted.

Discussing the external review into messaging, a Scottish government spokesperson said: As the First Minister outlined, he has commissioned an externally led review into the use of mobile messaging apps and non-corporate technology in the Scottish Government.

This will take particular account of government interaction with statutory public inquiries.

During this period, we will continue to keep our records management policy under review in line with legislation.

The external review will inform a wider internal records management policy review.

More detail on the external and internal reviews will be given in due course.
The chief executives of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies are giving evidence before the Senate Judiciary Committee about child safety on their platforms.

The hearing comes as US politicians are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young peoples lives.

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While Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is a veteran of congressional hearings since his first one over the Cambridge Analytica privacy debacle in 2018, it will only be the second time for TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew and the first for Linda Yaccarino, the chief executive of the former Twitter.

The hearing began with recorded testimony from youngsters and parents who said they or their children were exploited on social media.

Theyre responsible for many of the dangers our children face online, US Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee, said in opening remarks.

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Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.

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Social media CEOs are sworn in (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

In a heated question and answer session with Mr Zuckerberg, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley asked the Meta CEO if he has personally compensated any of the victims and their families for what they have been through.

I dont think so, Mr Zuckerberg replied.

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Theres families of victims here, Mr Hawley said. Would you like to apologise to them?

As parents rose and held up their childrens pictures, Mr Zuckerberg turned to face them and apologised for what they have been through.

Mr Hawley continued to press Mr Zuckerberg, asking if he had take personal responsibility for the harms his company has caused.

Mr Zuckerberg stayed on message and repeated that Metas job is to build industry-leading tools and empower parents.

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To make money, Mr Hawley cut in.



Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg turns to address the audience (Susan Walsh/AP)

South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, echoed Mr Durbins sentiments and said he is prepared to work with Democrats to solve the issue.

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After years of working on this issue with you and others, Ive come to conclude the following: social media companies as theyre currently designed and operate are dangerous products, Mr Graham said.

He told the executives their platforms have enriched lives but that it is time to deal with the dark side.

Beginning with Discords Jason Citron, the executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work they have done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.

Snapchat had broken ranks ahead of the hearing and began backing a federal bill that would create a legal liability for apps and social platforms who recommend harmful content to minors.

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel reiterated the companys support on Wednesday and asked the industry to back the bill.

Mr Chew said TikTok is vigilant about enforcing its policy barring children under 13 from using the app. Ms Yaccarino said X, formerly Twitter, does not cater to children.

We do not have a line of business dedicated to children, Ms Yaccarino said. She said the company will also support Stop CSAM Act, a federal bill that make it easier for victims of child exploitation to sue tech companies.

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Yet child health advocates say social media companies have failed repeatedly to protect minors.



(PA)

When youre faced with really important safety and privacy decisions, the revenue in the bottom line should not be the first factor that these companies are considering, said Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of Design It For Us, a youth-led coalition advocating for safer social media.

These companies have had opportunities to do this before they failed to do that. So independent regulation needs to step in.

Meta will likely be a central focus of the hearing, with the Menlo Park, California, tech giant being sued by dozens of states that say it deliberately designs features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms and has failed to protect them from online predators.

New internal emails between Meta executives released by Senator Richard Blumenthals office show Sir Nick Clegg, president of global affairs, and others asking Mr Zuckerberg to hire more people to strengthen wellbeing across the company as concerns grew about effects on youth mental health.

From a policy perspective, this work has become increasingly urgent over recent months. Politicians in the US, UK, EU and Australia are publicly and privately expressing concerns about the impact of our products on young peoples mental health, Sir Nick wrote in an August 2021 email.

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The emails released by Mr Blumenthals office do not appear to include a response, if there was any, from Mr Zuckerberg. In September 2021, The Wall Street Journal released the Facebook Files, its report based on internal documents from whistleblower Frances Haugen, who later testified before the Senate.

Meta has beefed up its child safety features in recent weeks, announcing earlier this month that it will start hiding inappropriate content from teenagers accounts on Instagram and Facebook, including posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders.

It also restricted minors ability to receive messages from anyone they do not follow or are not connected to on Instagram and on Messenger and added new nudges to try to discourage teens from browsing Instagram videos or messages late at night.

The nudges encourage children to close the app, though it does not force them to do so.

But child safety advocates say its actions from the companies has fallen short.

Looking back at each time there has been a Facebook or Instagram scandal in the last few years, they run the same playbook. Meta cherry picks their statistics and talks about features that dont address the harms in question, said Arturo Bejar, a former engineering director at the social media giant known for his expertise in curbing online harassment who recently testified before Congress about child safety on Metas platforms.

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Instagram promises features that end up hidden in settings that few people use. Why is quiet mode not the default for all kids? Mr Bejar added.

Meta says that some of the new work will help with unwanted advances. It is still not possible for a teen to tell Instagram when theyre experiencing an unwanted advance. Without that information how can they make it safer?

Googles YouTube is notably missing from the list of companies called to the Senate on Wednesday even though more children use YouTube than any other platform, according to the Pew Research Centre.

Pew found that 93% of US teenagers use YouTube, with TikTok a distant second at 63%.
Georgina Haigs father Russell was always chastising her for being late, and in the end he had the last laugh.

We had this ongoing argument about what it meant, says the Australian actor. It was me being, Youre too uptight about it, and Dad being, Its a choice, its a power thing.

Georgina Haigs film about her relationship with her father screens at the Peninsula Film Festival and is in the running for an AACTA award. Credit: Wayne Taylor

Haig recently appeared in NCIS: Sydney, and played Paula Yates in the miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, but is perhaps best known for her roles in Secret Bridesmaids Business, Snowpiercer and Back to the Rafters (she took over the role from Jessica Marais in Amazons 2021 reboot of Packed To The Rafters).

When her father died in late 2022 after finally succumbing to the cancer he had lived with for 25 years, Haig found herself charged with the messy business of dealing with what she calls the horrible death admin.
Feud: Capote vs the Swans 

Binge

Im not sure a unified theory of Truman Capote is possible. The literary prodigy turned socialite had a vast and ultimately tragic life, but his comet-like rise and fall across the 20th century feels pertinent to 21st century archetypes. This limited series, the second season of producer Ryan Murphys old-Hollywood anthology, pulls together the recriminations from Capotes later years and interweaves it with period elegance. The elements overlap and the storytelling repeatedly shifts, but the breadth feels appropriate.

Tom Hollander as Truman Capote in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans. Credit: Pari Dukovic/FX

With a drink at hand and his head tilted upwards, the English actor Tom Hollander (Pirates of the Caribbean, The White Lotus) portrays Capote as a rapscallion mother hen, dispensing gossip and advice to the patrician queens of 1960s and 1970s New York society. Theres a Gaugin, he tells Babe Paley (Naomi Watts), suggesting a lavish purchase as the price her husband, Bill (Treat Williams), should pay for his latest infidelity. Capotes swans  Babe, C Z Guest (Chloe Sevigny) and Slim Keith (Diane Lane)  are his platonic loves.

Created by playwright and screenwriter Jon Robin Baitz (Brothers & Sisters), with most episodes astutely directed by filmmaker Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk), the narrative is galvanised by Capote rupturing that bond in 1975, when he used the lives of his confidantes as barely fictionalised material for a prominent book excerpt. Whether its due to creative laziness or parasitic need, the roman a clef is seen as an attack and they boycott their closest companion.
Clare has vowed to fix the funding gap that has left almost all Australias public schools underfunded and most of its private schools overfunded, but says states must stump up more cash, too. An analysis by this masthead found loopholes and the watering-down of the Gonski agreements meant the missing 5 per cent in public school funding is closer to a shortfall of about 15 per cent in jurisdictions such as Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Education Minister Jason Clare. Credit: AAP WA will have to kick in the same amount as the Commonwealth under its deal, taking the total extra funding for schools in WA to $1.6 billion. Yet, a Coalition-era loophole that allows states to write off 4 per cent of their funding for public schools on other non-school spending  such as capital depreciation and even private school buses  will remain open for WA. Governments in Victoria, NSW, SA, and Queensland did not say if they would match any extra federal spend dollar-for-dollar.

Clares office confirmed that the 2.5-percentage point Commonwealth increase so far applied only to WA, as negotiations with other jurisdictions continued. The federal offer may yet go up for some, particularly the NT where it already spends more as the territory struggles to fully fund schooling. Clare told this masthead he had spoken to other state education ministers overnight but did not answer questions on negotiations and potential offers put forward. No public school is on track to reach 100 per cent [of the resourcing standard], he conceded, except in the ACT, which already fully funded public schools. WAs been quick off the blocks to do a deal here, he said. I want to work with every state and territory and make sure that we can do the same.

In Victoria, where a particularly tight state budget looms this year, Premier Jacinta Allan said she expected an extra 5 percentage points from the Commonwealth as part of negotiations. We expect our fair share, she said. NSW Education Minister Prue Car said state governments were facing unprecedented pressure to continue to provide world-class services to a growing population and public schools have not been funded to the levels agreed under Gonski. NSW last year vowed to accelerate its funding for public schools to reach the Schooling Resource Standard by 2025. Parliamentary costings suggest a boost in Commonwealth funding of 5 percentage points for all jurisdictions would cost about $4.7 billion over four years. WA Education Minister Tony Buti said a no disadvantage clause in its new federal agreement, which was yet to be formally signed, meant that if any negotiations with other states results in further improvement, we will receive them.

Under the deal, disadvantaged schools will get the money first in 2025, and strings will apply to how the Commonwealth money is spent to better target resources to help student and staff wellbeing and those falling behind their peers. Those conditions are based on recommendations from an expert-led review that last month called for public schools to be fully funded urgently, as the achievement gap between the richest and poorest students grows. While the detail is still being worked through, Clare said the conditions were not intended to create more red tape for public school principals already struggling to manage tight budgets. Clare pointed to one proposal in that report he was now considering: paying experienced teachers more to work in the most disadvantaged schools. That report also talks about transparency and accountability, he said. Making sure that we can track the money [so] its invested in the ways that are going to help our kids to succeed.

Clare said the WA funding was new money not offset by changes to non-government schools, which are still overfunded by hundreds of millions of dollars a year but now tracking down to be at the Schooling Resource Standard by 2029. Loading The Australian Education Union, which backs a 5 percentage point boost in Commonwealth funding for public schools, said the WA deal should be seen as a first step rather than a final agreement because WAs funding share was still artificially inflated by about $230 million through the 4 per cent loophole. Short-changing our schools is short-changing our students at a time when we can least afford it, said AEU federal president Correna Haythorpe. We have a teacher shortage crisis caused by crippling workloads, unacceptable achievement gaps between children from different backgrounds and locations and a worrying decline in student mental health and wellbeing.
Collection

Melbourne hit list February 2024: Hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out, right now

Colombian-style loaded hot dogs, jolly good smash burgers, beef cheek and omelette or lobster gratin rolls, octopus sandos and Karen Martinis take on the fish burger  youll want to grab this months hit list with both hands.
An alleged ringleader accused of commissioning and directing a series of fires targeting Melbourne restaurants and tobacco stores linked to a rival criminal syndicate has faced court charged with arson and extortion.

Majid Alibadi, from Epping, was taken into custody by detectives from the Lunar and Viper taskforces in Bundoora just after 3pm on Tuesday. He was later charged with 18 offences, including four counts of arson and one of extortion.

A screengrab taken from footage of police arresting on Tuesday a 25-year-old man accused of directing a series of suspicious fires across Melbourne last year. Credit: Victoria Police

According to charge sheets, Alibadi in September 2023 allegedly helped an associate to demand a shop owner pay $2000 per month or their store would be damaged.

Some of the arson charges relate to the 2023 torching of Melbourne businesses including Glenroy tobacco store GVT on October 9, causing $451,000 in damage; Docklands restaurant Karizma on November 18 and 20, causing $700,000 in damages; and Melrose Events reception centre at Tullamarine on December 8.
Two men have been charged over the alleged firebombing of a Burgertory restaurant in Caulfield late last year, with police also confirming that the alleged arson attack was not a hate crime, something the owner claimed at the time.

Victoria Police arrested a 27-year-old man in Carnegie and a 25-year-old man in Dallas on Wednesday morning. The 25-year-old has been taken to hospital for treatment of injuries unrelated to his arrest, police said.

One of the men arrested on Wednesday following a lengthy investigation into the Burgertory fire. Credit: Victoria Police

The 27-year-old man, who is from St Albans, was charged with arson and the theft of motor vehicle. He was bailed and will appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

The 25-year-old man, of Preston, is accused of arson, robbery, the theft of motor vehicle and other offences. He was remanded and will appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Washington: The United States is actively pursuing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel and exploring options with partners in the region, the State Department spokesperson said.

Matthew Miller declined to give details on the departments internal work on the issue, but told a news briefing on Thursday (AEDT) the effort has been an objective of US President Joe Bidens administration.

US President Joe Biden. Credit: AP

We are actively pursuing the establishment as an independent Palestinian state, with real security guarantees for Israel, because we do believe that is the best way to bring about lasting peace and security for Israel, for Palestinians and for the region, Miller said.

There are any number of ways that you could go about accomplishing that. There are a number of sequencing of events that you can carry out to accomplish that objective. And we look at a wide range of options and we discuss those with partners in the region as well as other partners inside the United States government, Miller said.
Mahsa Amini's death ignited 11 nights of unrest in Iran. (Photo: Lisi Niesner/Reuters)

A drone attack in Jordan has reignited the embers of contention between the United States and Iran, casting a long shadow over the precarious balance of power in the region. On an otherwise unremarkable Sunday, the tranquility of Tower 22, a U.S. military base in northeastern Jordan, was shattered as a drone, reportedly deployed by Iranian-affiliated militants, claimed the lives of three American servicemen and inflicted injuries on numerous others.

This brazen act of aggression has thrust the Biden administration into a delicate position, balancing the imperative for a resolute response with the overarching goal of averting a broader regional conflict.

Iran's riposte to the anticipatory murmurings of U.S. retaliation was swift and unequivocal. Hossein Salami, the chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, issued a stern warning, asserting, "We hear threats coming from American officials, we tell them that they have already tested us and we now know one another," according to semi-official Tasnim news agency reports cited by Reuters. "No threat will be left unanswered," Salami added, delineating a stance of resolute defiance.

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's envoy to the United Nations, echoed this sentiment, articulating to Iranian journalists, as reported by The Associated Press, "The Islamic Republic would decisively respond to any attack on the county, its interests and nationals under any pretexts." This chorus of warnings underscores Tehran's readiness to engage in a tit-for-tat escalation, should the U.S. choose to cross the Rubicon of direct military action.

Within the corridors of the White House, the calculus of retaliation is being weighed with a keen awareness of the broader implications. John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, intimated that the U.S. response might comprise "multiple actions," signaling a potentially multifaceted approach to the crisis. The strategic ambiguity of this statement leaves room for a range of actions, from diplomatic demarches to targeted military strikes, each carrying its own set of repercussions and potential for escalation.

Experts in international relations and military strategy are closely monitoring the unfolding situation, offering insights into possible U.S. courses of action. Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official, suggested to Newsweek, "The U.S. response should be guided by understanding the difference between an attack on Iran itself with disrupting its allied groups that are pushing Tehran's 'hegemonic vision' for the region."

Melamed's analysis points to a calibrated response that targets Iranian proxies without engaging Iranian assets directly, a maneuver designed to avoid a full-scale confrontation.

Echoing this sentiment, Michael Butler, an associate professor of political science at Clark University, speculated to Newsweek about the likely trajectory of U.S. retaliation. "I'd expect a calibrated escalation that seeks to inflict significant costs on Iran without directly attacking high-value military targets inside of Iran," Butler remarked. This perspective underscores a preference for a measured response that penalizes Iran's regional proxies while steering clear of actions that could trigger a broader war.

As the Biden administration deliberates its next move, the specter of Iranian retaliation looms large, with Tehran's leadership making it abundantly clear that any perceived aggression will be met with a robust counter-response. The intricate dance of deterrence and retaliation playing out between Washington and Tehran not only shapes the immediate security landscape of the Middle East but also bears profound implications for the global order, underscoring the high stakes involved in this geopolitical chess game.
research news

UB students mix fieldwork, AI to map and understand Greenland glacial ice

Kristin Poinar (center), who joined the UB geology faculty in 2018, has worked hard to create a lab culture that she says values equal-access principles  openly sharing research information and experiences, with everyone invested in the research. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

UB students are mixing fieldwork with the latest developments in AI to map and understand the ever-changing glacial ice in Greenland. This work is taking place in the Glacier Modeling Lab in the Department of Geology, led by Kristin Poinar, assistant professor, glaciologist and student mentor. Data from NASA satellite missions has turbo-charged the amount and rate we can learn about Earths ice sheets, Poinar explains. Were harnessing AI and UBs supercomputers to do this even faster. At the same time, not everything is observable from orbit, so we complement this with a boots-on-the-ice approach.

The AI approach is complementing fieldwork, which has been perennially difficult to perform in the extreme conditions found on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Photos: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

AI takes on the ice sheet

Over the past two years, PhD student Naureen Khan has worked to finetune a deep learning model to detect crevasse fields in the Pakitsoq region of western Greenland. Previously, researchers looked at satellite imagery and determined the crevasses by eye, based on years of training and experience. Khans approach substantially improves the speed and precision of the procedure. According to Khan, understanding crevasses is critical, as they are often the highway system moving meltwater to the bed ice sheet, which can cause more glacier sliding and ultimately increased sea levels. With the technology advancement in machine learning, especially in deep learning and AI, Khan says, we can now use that computational resource to detect complicated crevasse fields and streams from the ice region, which was not possible before. Khan presented her research at the American Geophysical Unions fall meeting last December in San Francisco. While researchers at other universities are working on detecting Antarctic crevasses, which tend to be wider and clearer, Khans work in Greenland is unique and advanced. The AI approach is complementing fieldwork, which has been perennially difficult to perform in the extreme conditions found on the Greenland Ice Sheet.

Not only is [climate change] affecting the ice in general, but its also making conducting fieldwork and leaving instruments out a lot more difficult, says postdoctoral researcher Jessica Mejia, who traveled to Greenland twice in 2023 to coordinate deployment of GPS stations on the ice. Photos: Jessica Mejia / UB Glacier Modeling Lab



Fieldwork is changing, too

Not only is [climate change] affecting the ice in general, but its also making conducting fieldwork and leaving instruments out a lot more difficult, says postdoctoral researcher Jessica Mejia, who traveled to Greenland twice in 2023 to coordinate deployment of GPS stations on the ice. The devices, set up near crevasses and left out in the elements for months at a time, are measuring how quickly the crevasses are growing. Mejia says extreme winds, as well as unexpected ice melt, delayed some of their work last summer. But with determination and flexibility, the team was still able to collect data. Mejia has conducted an initial review of the data and says they captured a new crevasse opening where they didnt expect. PhD candidate Courtney Shafer is also working in the field, studying how water is being transported inside the ice sheet. Understanding where these cracks are forming and allowing water to infiltrate the ice sheet allows you to understand where the ice sheet is experiencing these speedups, Shafer says. Her fieldwork is focused on a firn aquifer  liquid water inside the layer of old snow near the surface of the ice sheet. The liquid water can persist, even when air temperatures are below freezing, because the firn acts as an igloo, insulating it from the cold. She used seismoelectrical technology to achieve her research goal. The seismoelectric method, an underused technology in earth science, uses an explosion or a sledgehammer impact to shake the ground, Poinar explains. As the compressional waves travel downward through the glacier, they rapidly vibrate the ice and any water it contains. This generates a small electric field, which the lab scientists measure with large copper electrodes placed at the glacier surface. They use the travel time of the downward waves to figure out the subsurface electric properties at hundreds of different levels below. We are using the seismoelectric to locate both the top and the bottom of the aquifer, Shafer says. Previous radar measurements are limited by the strong reflectivity of the water table, so they can only locate the top surface.

Mentoring is the lab culture
The company has earlier said it will close both blast furnaces in Port Talbot, the UK's largest steelworks, by the end of 2024

Tata Steel would consider additional future investments in its Port Talbot plant in the UK, if more government funding was made available, the company's Chief executive T V Narendran said on Wednesday.

The UK government has already agreed to a 500 million pound package to support the loss-making steel plant which was facing shutdown over high carbon emission. The plant employs around 8,000 people.

As part of its restructuring plan backed by the government funding, Tata Steel will replace the blast furnaces at the unit with electric furnaces to use recycled steel in order to reduce carbon emission. However, the installation of low-emission system will lead to a loss of 2,800 jobs as electric furnaces need less manpower.

"The electric arc furnaces need not be the end, it is the beginning," Narendran told the Welsh Affairs Committee of the House of Commons.

Earlier, steel unions had also suggested the UK government to put more money into securing the future of Tata Steel.

The company has earlier said it will close both blast furnaces in Port Talbot, the UK's largest steelworks, by the end of 2024.

Narendran told the Committee on Wednesday that "if there is funding available" for greener ways of making steel, Tata would discuss it.

Tata Steel said it is currently losing around 1 million pound a day from its operations in the town, and keeping a blast furnace open on the site and making steel from scratch would lead to a further lose of 600 million pound.

Meanwhile, in his questioning, Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP of Aberavon which covers Port Talbot, accused Tata Steel of bluffing when it persuaded UK ministers to pay 500 million pound towards its future plans.

Kinnock said: "I put it to you that when you threatened the British government, which it sounds like you did, you would close completely.

"I don't actually believe that was the case.

"If that is correct... then it was not a choice between total closure and 8,000 job losses. It was a choice between your plan and the multi-union plan which would have actually saved 2,500 jobs.
International patient revenue also grew by 25 per cent Y-o-Y, taking its share in hospital revenue to around 9.4 per cent this quarter

Delhi-based Max Healthcare Institute reported a 30 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) rise in consolidated net profit for the December quarter (Q3 FY24) at Rs 289.34 crore, up from Rs 222.41 crore recorded for the same period last year, according to data posted on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Maxs revenue from operations rose to Rs 1,334 crore, a 16.9 per cent Y-o-Y increase.

Quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-Q) profit after tax (PAT) grew by 4.57 per cent, while revenue fell by 2.06 per cent. Max Healthcare stock was up 6.71 per cent on BSE on Wednesday. Click here to follow our WhatsApp channel

Max Healthcare highlighted that the above figures do not include the revenues from three of its hospitals. "Three of our hospitals  Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Max Saket Super Speciality Hospital (East wing), and Max Balaji Hospital (Max Hospital, Patparganj)  are partner healthcare facilities and hence not part of the listed entity. The press release includes numbers of these partner healthcare facilities as well," it said.

If we add the revenues from these partner facilities, which Max has also included in its investor presentation, then the net profit for the December quarter grew by 26 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 338 crore, while the revenue from operations rose to Rs 1,779 crore, a 14 per cent Y-o-Y jump. The jump is attributed to a 15 per cent jump in average revenue per occupied bed (ARPOB) during the quarter.

Max Healthcare noted that ARPOB improved to Rs 76,800 in Q3 FY24 versus Rs 66,800 in Q3 FY23. Meanwhile, the bed occupancy fell by 4 per cent Y-o-Y to 73 per cent in the December quarter.

Another reason for the rise in revenue is the better speciality and patient mix. The Oncology department, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, increased its share in Maxs revenue to 25.8 per cent from 23.4 per cent in Q3 FY23.

International patient revenue also grew by 25 per cent Y-o-Y, taking its share in hospital revenue to around 9.4 per cent this quarter. Both in-patient occupancy and out-patient consultations grew in Q3.

Abhay Soi, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Max Healthcare, said, "We continue to witness positive trends on all parameters like ARPOB, Ebitda per bed, etc., even during this quarter, translating into revenue and profitability growth, despite expected softness in occupancies due to the festive season."

The hospitals total expenses increased by 12 per cent in comparison to the same period last fiscal, with the main drivers being growing employee benefit expenses and the purchase of drugs, consumables, and implants.

Max Healthcare also announced the execution of a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) to acquire 100 per cent equity of Starlit Medical Centre, which had entered into a Business Transfer Agreement with Sahara India Medical Institute Limited for the purchase of its healthcare undertaking consisting of the 550-bedded Sahara Hospital in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on a slump sale basis. The consummation of the transaction is expected in Q4 FY24.

On further expansion, Soi said, "Our entry into central Uttar Pradesh through the acquisition of Sahara Hospital will strengthen our presence in Northern India and will act as a stepping stone in growing Max Healthcares presence in the region."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a telephonic conversation with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in December had discussed advancing the arrival of foreign workers from India to the State of Israel

With Israel's construction sector suffering a severe manpower crisis post the October 7 conflict with Hamas, some 10,000 workers from India are to make their way here starting next week, industry sources said on Wednesday.

These 10,000 workers will reach in batches of 700 to 1,000 a week, a source in the Israel's Builders Association (IBA) told PTI here.

With Israel's latest conflict with Hamas in Gaza a little short of four months, and a ban on the entry of Palestinian workers and the departure of several thousand other foreign workers, the Israeli construction industry has been facing a deep crisis and several ongoing projects are getting either stalled or delayed.

Following the conflict, Israel has banned the entry of Palestinian workers. The departure of several thousand other foreign workers, the Israeli construction industry has been facing a deep crisis.

Israeli business daily The Calcalist in a report in Hebrew last week said that the quota of foreign manpower for the construction industry has been increased from 30,000 to 50,000 and that the Israeli government last month approved the arrival of 10,000 workers from India.

The IBA source confirmed to PTI that the details in the Calcalist report were correct.

When asked about the arrival of the first batch of workers, the source said, We hope they'll come next week.

The workers to arrive in Israel would be part of the private recruitment track, which was approved by the government in parallel with the bilateral (inter-governmental) track to enable rapid recruitment of workers into the construction industry.

The IBA is looking to hire workers also from other countries such as Mexico, Kenya and Malawi. Screening of workers is said to have begun three weeks ago in India, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.

To date, out of about 8,000 workers examined, about 5,500 have been found suitable for work in Israel the vast majority Indian, The Calcalist had reported.

The Indian construction workers are at a high professional level. Many of them were previously employed in the Gulf countries, so these are skilled manpower. Most of them are fluent in English, and those who have worked in the Gulf also know Arabic, which is a great advantage, an industry source was quoted by the business daily as saying.

The selection process is led by IBA's CEO Igal Slovik and Izchak Gurvitz, who heads the association's division dealing with workers' issues and the selection team.

Israel's Ministry of Housing and Construction is currently said to be working on a proposal to increase by another 10,000 the hiring of workers through the private track.

This will increase the total quota of foreign workers employed in the industry from 50,000 workers today to 60,000.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a telephonic conversation with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in December had discussed advancing the arrival of foreign workers from India to the State of Israel.

Israel's Minister of Economy, Nir Barkat, during his trip to India in April last year, had spoken to officials and his counterpart in New Delhi about hiring Indians in various sectors, including the construction sector.

The discussions then revolved around bringing in almost 160,000 people in various sectors.

About 18,000 Indians are working in Israel, mostly as caregivers. Most of them decided to stay back in Israel and did not leave the country during the war because "they felt quite secure" and "also because the salaries are quite attractive".

Israel and India also inked an agreement in May last year during the then Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen's visit to New Delhi that will allow 42,000 Indian workers to work in the Jewish state in the fields of construction and nursing, a move that was then seen "to help deal with the rising cost of living and assist thousands of families waiting for nursing care".

A statement released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry then said that 34,000 workers will be engaged in the construction field and another 8,000 for nursing needs.
Maratha community people during a silent protest in Mumbai to demand reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. Photo: Kamlesh Pednekar

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court challenging the Maharashtra government's move to grant Kunbi caste certificates to the Maratha community members in the state.

The PIL, filed on Tuesday by one Mangesh Sasane, who claims to be the chairman of the 'OBC Welfare Foundation', said the state government by granting Kunbi certificates to the Maratha community was "eating into" the reservation of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

The petition is likely to come up for hearing on February 6, as per the HC's website.

The plea challenges five government resolutions issued from 2004 permitting the Marathas to seek Kunbi caste certificates.

"Earlier, the process of granting Kunbi certificates to Marathas was difficult but with every agitation, the process was made easier. This was just to facilitate the Marathas (for reservation)," the petitioner's advocate Ashish Mishra claimed.

The petition said that in 2021, the Supreme Court declared the Maharashtra government's decision granting reservation to Maraths as unconstitutional.

"Now the government, by permitting the Marathas to get Kunbi certificate and enjoy reservation benefits, is giving them backdoor entry," Mishra claimed.

On January 20, Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil began a march to Mumbai from Antarwali Sarathi in Jalna, demanding issuance of Kunbi certificates to all Marathas, which would entitle them to benefits under the quota earmarked for the OBCs.

The state government recently issued a draft notification stating that blood relatives of a Maratha person, who has records to show he belongs to the Kunbi community, would also be recognised as Kunbi.

An agrarian community, Kunbi falls in the OBC category, and Jarange, spearheading the agitation for reservation for the Marathas since last August, has been demanding Kunbi certificates for all Marathas to enable them to avail quota benefits in government jobs and education.

Soon after the government issued the notification, the activist called off his march to Mumbai.

The government has invited suggestions and objections to the notification till February 16.
Shiv Sena MLA Anil Babar has passed away, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday. He was 74.

Babar was the legislator from Khanapur in Maharashtra's Sangli district.

Shinde said with Babar's demise, he has lost a guide and a close associate and the state has lost a senior representative of the people.

His cremation will take place with full state honours, the CM said.
In a bid to boost exports, the Ministry of Finance announced late on Tuesday that it is reducing the import duty on parts used to manufacture mobile phones to 10 per cent from 15 per cent earlier.

According to the notification, the components on which the duty has been reduced include battery covers, main lens, GSM Antenna, SIM socket, screw, back cover, and other mechanical items of plastic and metal, among others. Click here to follow our WhatsApp channel

This comes just a day before the Centre is set to announce its Interim Budget 2024 in the Parliament.

Notably, several companies had been pushing for duty cuts on over a dozen components, to reduce the cost of making mobile phones in India. The companies said that it would level the playing field with competitors like China and Vietnam.

According to the industry body India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), import duties on mobile phone components in India, such as camera modules and chargers, currently range from 2.5 per cent to 20 per cent.

It also said that India levies the highest tax among six comparable manufacturing nations, including China, Vietnam, Mexico, and Thailand. "Unless they are lowered, India's mobile phone exports growth could slow down," it said.

Moreover, the exports from India have been increasing. In 2022-23, the exports of mobile phones doubled to $11.1 billion as compared to 2021-22. According to a report by Reuters, the industry expects exports in 2023-24 to rise to $15 billion. As of August, the number has already touched $5.5 billion.

Apart from Apple, mobile phone exporters in India include South Korea's Samsung and China-based Xiaomi. Apple iPhones are currently assembled in India. Soon, the company may also start producing iPad and AirPods here, to move away from China.

"The Indian government's tariff cut on mobile phone parts is a positive move, potentially boosting domestic production and enhancing Indias export competitiveness," said Prabhu Ram, head (Industry Intelligence Group) at CyberMedia Research.

"While complete self-sufficiency remains unrealistic, prioritizing lower tariffs to scale up production is welcome. This could incentivize other smartphone brands to prioritize exports from India, aligning with the policy vision of making in India for the world."

Ankur Gupta, practice leader (Indirect Tax) at SW India added, "With mobile phone exports surpassing the $10 billion mark, minimising reliance on imports and nurturing local capabilities is imperative for India to establish a commanding presence in the global supply chain for cellular mobile phones, reinforcing its position as a key player in the international market."

According to Ram, the immediate impact on final prices of the mobile phones is unknown yet as only basic components are covered in the notification.
Iranian-backed Houthis have fired one anti-ship cruise missile towards the Red Sea, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

The missile, which was fired on Tuesday, was shot down by the US Navy's missile destroyer, the USS Gravely, it said adding that No injuries or damage was reported.

"On Jan. 30, at approximately 11:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea. The missile was shot down by USS Gravely (DDG 107). There were no injuries or damage reported," CENTCOM wrote on 'X'.

Iran-backed Houthis recently fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles at the US Ship Maersk Detroit transiting the Gulf of Aden.

"On Jan. 24 at approximately 2 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the U.S.-flagged, owned, and operated container ship M/V Maersk Detroit, transiting the Gulf of Aden," CENTCOM posted on X.

"One missile impacted in the sea. The two other missiles were successfully engaged and shot down by the USS Gravely (DDG 107). There were no reported injuries or damage to the ship," the CENTOM further said.

Earlier, the US and UK carried out additional strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, CNN reported, citing a joint statement.

The countries attacked the rebels' infrastructure on Monday and struck eight sites, as per a joint statement from the US and UK.

The two countries conducted the strikes, and Canada, the Netherlands, Bahrain, and Australia supported the attacks, according to CNN.

Notably, the strikes on Houthi targets were "successful" and destroyed missiles, weapons storage sites and drone systems, a senior military official and a senior defence official stated.
The Maldives Prosecutor General, Hussain Shameem, on Wednesday, was attacked in broad daylight in the capital city Male. The incident comes amid the ongoing political crisis in the island nation.

Shameem, appointed by the main Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), was rushed to the Maldives's ADK Hospital and is currently receiving treatment. Former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih heads the MDP.

Shameem was on his way to work when an unidentified man attacked him with a hammer, causing injury to his left arm. According to the prosecutor's office, Shameem is in a stable condition at the moment.

Opposition plans to impeach Muizzu

The development followed two days after the MDP announced its plan to impeach Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu.





Also Read: Amid diplomatic spat, India slips to 5th spot on Maldives' tourism chart The MDP holds a majority in the Maldivian Parliament, while Muizzu's government is an alliance of his ruling party, the Progressive Party of Maldives, and the People's National Congress (PPM/PNC) coalition.

The Opposition's decision followed a day after major clashes broke out between the ruling party and the Opposition MPs in the country's Parliament on Sunday.

According to media reports, the opposition parties, the MDP and the Democrats' parliamentary group decided to withhold approval for four members of Muizzu's cabinet ahead of the voting, which led to the clash. However, the ministers were appointed by Monday evening.

The MDP and Democrats, together, have 56 MPs between them. According to the law, the president can face impeachment charges with 56 votes.

Muizzu govt moves Supreme Court over impeachment law

Notably, the Muizzu government on Tuesday, approached the country's Supreme Court over the recent amendment to Parliament's standing orders which makes the process of impeachment easier.

The political turmoil in the island nation has also been exacerbated by Muizzu's strong "anti-India" stand. The MDP and the Democrats, on January 25, issued a joint statement, labelling the shift in foreign policy as 'extremely detrimental' to the country's long-term development.

(With inputs from agencies)
AGCO (NYSE: AGCO), a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, today announced the launch of FarmerCore, a transformative global initiative to deliver a next-generation farmer and dealer experience. The launch of the new end-to-end distribution model is a significant milestone in advancing AGCOs Farmer-First strategy and solidifying its commitment to helping farmers across the globe become more profitable, productive and sustainable.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240130732479/en/

FarmerCore revolutionizes sales and service using tools that put dealers in closer proximity  onsite and online  to farmers. From product research to in-season uptime, the program develops and integrates digital and physical elements across the purchasing journey and product ownership lifecycle to create a leading on-farm offering.

AGCOs strategy remains focused on putting the farmer at the center of everything we do, said Eric Hansotia, Chairman, President and CEO of AGCO. The FarmerCore initiative further solidifies our pledge to prioritize farmers, blending physical and digital experiences to build brand loyalty and deepen customer engagement. Ultimately, were going to bring our entire business to the farmer through digital tools, service trucks, local parts access and more in partnership with AGCOs global dealer network.

FarmerCore is built on three pillars: the on-farm mindset, smart network coverage and digital engagement. The on-farm mindset positions dealers to meet customers needs at every stage of the ownership journey. Smart network coverage de-emphasizes the one-size-fits all outlet approach, moving toward a hub-and-spoke model that adds light retail outlets, service centers and parts-only locations. Digital engagement gives farmers 24/7 online access to sales and support, including online parts purchasing, dealer digital storefronts, online configurators and more.

Many AGCO dealerships already deploy aspects of the FarmerCore program, including mobile service fleets, alternative format outlets (e.g., parts-only stores) and digital tools to enhance customer support. In fact, the FarmerCore model has proven successful at the regional level through AgRevolution, an AGCO-owned, full-line agricultural equipment dealer serving farmers in Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana.

We provide farmers with an outstanding on-farm experience that spans the entire ownership journey, said Stacy Anthony, CEO of AgRevolution. Our farmer-first mentality, combined with implementing FarmerCores assets, enables greater engagement across our region and helps us deliver exceptional customer outcomes and value. I am excited at the unlimited potential this innovative, farmer-first model will deliver to AGCOs dealer network and farmers around the world.

With FarmerCore, mobile assets bring buying and servicing to the farm. While dealership locations will continue to anchor farmer support in local communities, mobile and digital channels allow farmers to engage on their terms.

FarmerCore will be implemented in close partnership with AGCOs global dealer network and will become a leader in ag machinery support, across every aspect of the ownership lifecycle. The program launches globally this year in select North and South America dealer organizations, with continued expansion throughout 2024.

About AGCO

AGCO (NYSE: AGCO) is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology. AGCO delivers customer value through its differentiated brand portfolio including core brands like Fendt, GSI, Massey Ferguson, Precision Planting and Valtra. Powered by Fuse smart farming solutions, AGCOs full line of equipment and services helps farmers sustainably feed our world. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, USA, AGCO had net sales of approximately $12.7 billion in 2022. For more information, visit www.AGCOcorp.com. For company news, information, and events, please follow us on X: @AGCOCorp. For financial news on X, please follow the hashtag #AGCOIR.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240130732479/en/
Andersen, the fastest-growing independent, multidisciplinary professional services organization in the world, has extended its valuation capabilities and team through the addition of collaborating firms in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. The announcement follows the launch of Andersens global valuation practice and the addition of valuation capabilities in Brazil last year. These additions bolster the organizations rapidly growing platform in the region which already boasts tax and legal coverage in more than 18 countries throughout Latin America.

The new firms joining Andersens platform in Latin America include:

First Capital Group (Argentina)  Based in Buenos Aires, First Capital Group is a team of finance professionals with over 30 years of experience providing business and financial solutions, including valuation services.

Valoriza (Chile)  With offices in Santiago and Miami, Valoriza is an independent firm providing thorough and insightful valuations with a focus on corporate valuations and M&A for the mid-market.

Valuaciones de Chile (Chile)  Based in Santiago, Valuaciones de Chile provides independent valuation services focused on real estate, assets, and machinery and equipment.

Confianza (Colombia)  Located in Bogota, Confianza specializes in machinery and equipment appraisals, providing clients in Latin America with comprehensive support in their financial operations.

Giron Valuation Services (Mexico)  Operating out of Estado de Mexico, Giron Valuation Services (GVS) is a team of professionals with extensive experience providing business valuations and financial advisory services to both local and global clients.



Valuation is a significant area of growth for Andersen, and you can expect to see us rapidly expand our global valuation practice in other key markets throughout Latin America and globally, said Mark L. Vorsatz, global chairman and CEO of Andersen.

Were proud to be working alongside these firms as we extend our global valuation service offering across Latin America, added Sid Luckenbach, managing director of Andersens global valuation practice. These new firms are a strong cultural fit for Andersen, sharing our commitment to independence, seamless client service, stewardship, and excellence.

Andersens global valuation team works with companies, funds, high-net-worth individuals, and family offices to provide valuations of businesses, tangible and intangible assets, and complex securities for tax, financial reporting, and transaction advisory purposes. Andersen clients span a range of industries with diverse valuation needs around the globe.

Latin America continues to be an exciting market for growth for us, said Leonardo Mesquita, Andersens regional managing director for Latin America. "Our clients are increasingly requiring independent valuations throughout the region, and we look forward to meeting their valuation needs as one firm.

Andersens global valuation practice has a presence in more than 25 countries across North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia.

About Andersen:

Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax, legal, and valuation professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 15,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 425 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240130572046/en/
Integrum Energy Pvt. Ltd.

News Summary

Integrum Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Gujarat Government at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2024. Over a period of 5 years, Integrum Energy plans to enable development of more than 700  800 MWs of wind and solar Hybrid projects in the state of Gujarat at total investment of Rs 5000 Crs.
Celebrate the most romantic day of the year at the Worlds Most Romantic Building. The Empire State Building (ESB)  the number one attraction in the U.S. by Tripadvisor travelers for two consecutive years  announced today that it will host themed movie screenings; offer an over-the-top, bucket list Valentines Day date for one lucky couple; and provide a special engagement package for couples who plan to tie the knot this February.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240130140269/en/

Worlds Most Romantic Building: Empire State Building Celebrates Valentines Day with NYC's Most Romantic Date Experience, Engagement Package, and Film Screenings (Photo: Business Wire)

Empire for Two  This year, one lucky couple can book the Empire State Buildings first ever private Valentines Day dining experience, that for a $10k price tag gives them access to the entire 86 th Floor Observatory all to themselves, as well as a three-course dinner with wine pairing high atop the exclusive 102 nd Floor, that is also closed for the entirety of the date. Curated and prepared by the head chef at STATE Grill and Bar  the Empire State Buildings signature restaurant on ground level  dishes include options like lump crab with caviar, porcini crusted filet mignon, and a decadent chocolate cake, accompanied by a live musician and themed decor. Before dinner, the couple will embark on a private tour of the Empire State Building with Champagne. The lavish Empire for Two ticket package is available for Feb. 14 at 8:30 p.m. and must be reserved by Feb. 12.

 This year, one lucky couple can book the Empire State Buildings first ever private Valentines Day dining experience, that for a $10k price tag gives them access to the entire 86 Floor Observatory all to themselves, as well as a three-course dinner with wine pairing high atop the exclusive 102 Floor, that is also closed for the entirety of the date. Curated and prepared by the head chef at STATE Grill and Bar  the Empire State Buildings signature restaurant on ground level  dishes include options like lump crab with caviar, porcini crusted filet mignon, and a decadent chocolate cake, accompanied by a live musician and themed decor. Before dinner, the couple will embark on a private tour of the Empire State Building with Champagne. The lavish Empire for Two ticket package is available for Feb. 14 at 8:30 p.m. and must be reserved by Feb. 12. As IF!  Gather your girlfriends this Galentines Day for a one-time screening of the quotable comedy Clueless on the Empire State Building Observatorys 80 th Floor on Feb. 13. Fans will enjoy drinks and snacks from Culture POP, Dylans Candy Bar, and Robs Backstage Popcorn included with their ticket. Mixologists will shake up complimentary espresso martinis  courtesy of the newly opened, 23,000 square foot Starbucks Reserve located at the base of the building  for guests to sip on with the movie before they take in the views from the 86 th and 102 nd Floor Observatories.

 Gather your girlfriends this Galentines Day for a one-time screening of the quotable comedy Clueless on the Empire State Building Observatorys 80 Floor on Feb. 13. Fans will enjoy drinks and snacks from Culture POP, Dylans Candy Bar, and Robs Backstage Popcorn included with their ticket. Mixologists will shake up complimentary espresso martinis  courtesy of the newly opened, 23,000 square foot Starbucks Reserve located at the base of the building  for guests to sip on with the movie before they take in the views from the 86 and 102 Floor Observatories. Its a Sign  Channel the romance of Sleepless in Seattle  the classic 90s love story that features scenes filmed at the Worlds Most Romantic Building  in a special screening on Feb 14. Guests will enjoy the film screening on the buildings 80 th Floor with complimentary drinks and snacks from Culture POP, Dylans Candy Bar, Robs Backstage Popcorn included with their ticket. In a nod to their deep Seattle heritage, Starbucks Reserve will serve complimentary espresso martinis to guests before they recreate the movie magic on the 86 th and 102 nd Floor Observatories.

 Channel the romance of Sleepless in Seattle  the classic 90s love story that features scenes filmed at the Worlds Most Romantic Building  in a special screening on Feb 14. Guests will enjoy the film screening on the buildings 80 Floor with complimentary drinks and snacks from Culture POP, Dylans Candy Bar, Robs Backstage Popcorn included with their ticket. In a nod to their deep Seattle heritage, Starbucks Reserve will serve complimentary espresso martinis to guests before they recreate the movie magic on the 86 and 102 Floor Observatories. Happily Ever Empire  Toast to forever with ESBs exclusive engagement experience this February. The Happily Ever Empire package includes an exclusive guided tour of the Observatory Experience; a private, roped-off corner of the 86 th Floor Observatory to pop the question; and a bottle of Champagne to toast to your yes!

 Toast to forever with ESBs exclusive engagement experience this February. The Happily Ever Empire package includes an exclusive guided tour of the Observatory Experience; a private, roped-off corner of the 86 Floor Observatory to pop the question; and a bottle of Champagne to toast to your yes! Love Lights  On Feb. 14, the Empire State Buildings world-famous tower lights will shine in a pink heartbeat in its annual Valentines Day gift to New York City. Text CONNECT to 274-16 to receive real-time information about the Empire State Buildings tower lights.



There is no better backdrop than the Empire State Buildings unparalleled views as you celebrate love this Valentines Day, said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. We are excited to offer the exclusive opportunity for one couple to have our iconic Observatory all to themselves in New York Citys most romantic date.

The Empire State Building Observatory Experience recently underwent a $165 million reimagination that features an interactive museum with nine galleries, brand-new bespoke Observatory host uniforms, and iconic Observatories on the 86th and 102nd Floors.

Hi-res imagery can be downloaded here. More information about the Empire State Building and tickets can be found online.

About the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building, the World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience creates an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. The Empire State Building Observatory Experience welcomes millions of visitors each year and was declared "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, the #1 attraction in the US for the second year in a row in Tripadvisors 2023 Travelers Choice Awards: Best of the Best, and the #1 New York City attraction in Lonely Planets Ultimate Travel List.

Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok.

Source: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.

Category: Observatory

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240130140269/en/
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Postal Code
J'den

Redefining the skyline of Jurong Lake District, J'den sets a new precedent for integrated living. One where you are emboldened to realise the potential of Singapore's next largest business district, providing broadened prospects and golden opportunities for growth.
It is a dark night of the soul for timid middle-schooler Orion (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) in the Netflix release Orion and the Dark, which hits the platform this Friday, February 2.

Adapted by screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and director by Sean Charmatz from Emma Yarletts 2014 childrens book, the Dreamworks Animation production is a witty and phantasmagorical adventure that follows the pantophobic youth, on the eve of an academic field trip, when a mischievous shadow figure named Dark (Paul Walter Hauser) whisks him off to meet a gaggle of ornery Night Entities (including star-turns by Angela Bassett, and Natasia Demetriou) and their sunny nemesis, Light (Ike Barinholtz).

To help transform Yartletts watercolor renderings into an animated feature, Charmatz, production designer Tim Lamb, and art director Christine Bian turned to visual effects supervisor M. Scott McKee, a former cg supervisor and lighting director with whom Lamb had collaborated on Dreamworks Trolls franchise.

My role as the visual effects supervisor is to work with the production designer, art director, and director to find a visual language, says McKee. We wanted this to be timeless  different from whats expected of cg these days, which is hyper-realistic, supersaturated, lots of contrast  and leaned more on illustrative design.

Visual references for early scenes in Orions school and home in 1990s Philadelphia included early Wes Anderson movies and the midwestern suburbia of director Jason Reitmans Juno. We wanted to get back to a cinematic time before digital took off and technology advanced so much, both in cinema and computer graphics, comments McKee.

Theres a different style to films in the mid-1990s when films relied on what they shot and processed in the laboratory, he continues. At the beginning of the movie, we kept our tones muted and made references to that period. We put an old Apple computer in the corner of Orions bedroom. We also referenced the charming watercolors of Emma Yartletts illustrations. To [emulate that] illustrative style and the style of early 2d animation, we used irregular line work to break up hard objects. In compositing, we also broke up edges and softened character edges using transparency.

Dreamworks Animation set the look for production designs by working with Mikros Animation in India, which handled the majority of the film in its Bangalore studio. Jungler in Paris assisted animation in a couple of key sequences.

The character of Dark, bringer of night, sprang from a screenplay line that described the specter as an inky cloak. Dark is a scary character, but he had to be likable, observes McKee. Hes a spirit, so we played with opacity on his edges. When light affects him, he becomes more transparent, and to make him an inky character, we broke up his edges.

Darks hulking silhouette allowed expressive character poses punctuated with glow-in-the-dark teeth and eyes that gave the character an Alice in Wonderland Cheshire Cat whimsy, combined with inky qualities derived from physical elements.

They had this idea before I joined the film, and I ran with it, recalls McKee. We spent countless hours recording ink drops on paper. We used a [Sony] a7R camera, shooting down, with different macro lenses. Wed take a drop of ink and then record it. It was tricky because every drop did something different. The way ink expands, ebbs, and flows on paper is amazing, but that can last as long as five seconds, so we took that visual language and art-directed it. We used the footage as a reference and sometimes used bits of footage in composites. We also built a 2d template and created procedural effects that we could control. It was a lot of texture projection, but it started with real ink.

When Dark takes flight with Orion, effects artists used volumetric effects to depict ink trails through space and swooping through a forest. The inky leading edge was always some form of projection, adds McKee. In Darks first flying scene, we wanted it to feel like he was starting a journey, like an artist starting a painting with a brushstroke. That effect was a little bit more 2d and illustrative. We felt that our audience is sophisticated enough to understand a mix of styles, including 2d animation and Orions journal sketches peppered through the movie.

In the film, Orion meets five Night Entities  luminescent Dreams (Bassett), fuzzy Sleep (Demetriou), buzzy Insomnia (Nat Faxton), fluffy Quiet (Aparna Nancheria), and cranky robot Unexplained Noises (Golda Rosheuvel). The characters drew inspiration from objects in the bedroom of a sassy little girl, Hypatia (Mia-Akemi Brown).

Dreams is like a lamp that projects colored stars, explains McKee. Sleep is like a stuffed animal thats been loved so much. Unexplained Noises is like a Sony Walkman from the 1980s  my favorite, the Sportsman. Insomnia is frenetic, and his job is to keep people awake, so its like hes on coffee. Each Night Entity emits distinctive particle trails. Insomnia emits numbers, like an alarm clock. Sleep emits zs that pop up, drift, and dissipate. All of the Night Entities glowed, with glittery, sandy textures floating around. We generated those effects in [Side Effects] Houdini.

One of the biggest challenges for visual effects was the depiction of scenes overflying cities as the division of night and day spreads across the globe. McKee assembled a matte painting team at DreamWorks to handle epic aerial shots, taking cues from Emma Yarletts book, and then focused on transitions between Darks fluid ink effect and Lights golden illumination.

The transition from dark to light is dramatized most poignantly in a scene where the bringer of night becomes disheartened and allows a sunrise to consume him. The filmmakers transitioned from night to sunrise using volumetric lighting and then generated dazzling brightness as Darks rival, Light, floods the world with radiance.

Light is at first beautiful, happy, punchy, and saturated, states McKee. After Dark dissolves, things become very apocalyptic and smoggy. That was one of our hardest sequences. We wanted Light to feel overexposed and oppressive yet still feel the environment around him. We desaturated characters, and that was another challenge  how to show the character of Light against a big bright background? We treated Light like an incandescent light bulb, with a glow inside his chest. And then, we used that color to separate him from the extreme whites.

Orion travels through dream environments, including a pink liquid realm of suspended animation where Hypatia attempts to rescue the boy from paralyzing dreams. The production rendered dormant Orion in desaturated tones, while Hypatia was more saturated in pastel shades. The oozing pink environment took inspiration from the oily fluid dynamics of vintage Hasbro Arts & Crafts tie-dye kits.

The films finale, where characters struggle against a swirling vortex, was one of several nods to the films of Steven Spielberg. The first thing we thought of for that scene was Poltergeist, notes McKee, referring to Spielbergs 1982 haunted house production. We brought in images from Poltergeist and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, showing how light responds, backlighting [characters], and thats how we tied in those effects. Earlier, when [Orion and Dark] are in a forest, we used imagery from E.T. as a reference. Spielberg was a huge influence.

The creation of magical effects that felt tactile and relatable was key to articulating themes of a little boy embracing his fears. It was probably the most important thing that we focused on for the entirety of the project, concludes McKee. This was not so much of a hyper-real fuzzy style but more of the 2d illustration style. That all stemmed from Tim and Christines designs  Mikros delivered final images very close to the key art. It was an amazing international team.
The Scott L. Probasco, Jr., Distinguished Chair of Free Enterprise (Probasco Chair) will host Dr. Russell Sobel, Professor of Economics & Entrepreneurship at The Citadel, to present a talk entitled "Creative Destruction, Entrepreneurship, and Discovery" on Feb. 22 at 5:15 p.m. at the Common House, located at 1517 Mitchell Ave.





The event will open with a cocktail reception to be followed by a full dinner during Dr. Sobels presentation.





The term creative destruction came from renowned Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeters work exploring the process in which new technologies, procedures, and businesses replace those of the past.Entrepreneurship is therefore both creative  in that it breeds innovation - and destructive, as it destroys processes and procedures of old. Dr. Sobel's talk will explore this process, its modern relevance, how economies can best cope with it, and its political impact.





I am particularly excited about opening this conversation in the Chattanooga business community, said Dr. Claudia W. Kramer, UTCs current Probasco Chair. Dr. Sobels research and expertise are a perfect match for our city of entrepreneurs and innovators, and I know that this talk will spark excellent discourse among attendees.





The event is free to attend and open to the general public. Attendees are simply asked to register here . Valet parking will be provided.





I love having the opportunity to venture off campus and connect with the community through events like this one, said Dr. Kramer. Anyone is invited to attend, and you dont have to have any prior connection to the university to join us. Im looking forward to seeing new faces as we continue to expand our reach.




The Womens Fund of Greater Chattanooga has hired a new executive director, Melody Shekari.

Ms. Shekari officially joined the team on Monday. She has extensive experience managing teams, working with notable stakeholders and advocating for policy issues.

Most recently, she worked as an attorney and consultant at her own firm, Shekari Law PLLC, where she consulted with local officials and worked on federal grant applications.

Ms. Shekari earned a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics from Bentley University, a Master in Public Administration from the University of Washington, and a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Southern California.

The timing also allows Ms. Shekari to join Policy and Advocacy Director Joanna Theolene in attending the Tennessee Statewide Women's Policy Conference on Thursday and Friday.

In other news, the Women's Fund of Greater Chattanooga received a $20,000 grant from the Unum Inclusive Impact program, and these funds will support its ongoing justice initiatives.
An employee with Shadys Corner at 1402 Cemetery Ave. called police and said two women slapped each other. One was a light-skinned black female and the other was a blonde white female, both in their early 20s. There was no further information about either woman. The bar needed a report for the beer board. No victims came forth to police.

* * *

A woman on Pine Manor Drive called police to report she was hearing noises outside her home. She didnt want to speak with police. Officers checked the area and didnt find anything.

* * *

A caller told police two young men tried to break into her vehicle on E. 13th Street and they left in a white Hyundai sedan. She didnt want to speak with police. The information was BOLOed.

* * *

A woman told police she was having issues with billing on her Prime account and wanted to cancel it. She said she googled a number on the Internet for Amazon customer service which directed her to download an app. Within a few minutes of downloading the app, she noticed her phone had been hacked. Immediately she turned her phone off and then had to cancel her bank account and order a new phone.

* * *

Police were called to Taco Bell at 3151 Broad St. where a woman was asleep inside and refusing to leave when asked by staff. An officer spoke with the woman and got her to leave the restaurant without any further incident. She was banned from Taco Bell.

* * *

A man called police and said a woman wouldnt leave his friends residence on Maple Street Court. An officer arrived and spoke to a man who said the woman was causing a scene and refused to leave. The woman and man both claimed to be the only person on the lease for the address, but couldnt provide paperwork. Officers reviewed both of their I.D.s, and the mans address matched the residence, while the womans didnt. Officers then asked the woman to pack her things and leave, and she did.

* * *

Officers spoke with a man on Cameron Lane via Google Translate. What officers were able to determine was that the man and another person were sub-leasing parts of the house and had allowed another man to rent a room. The other man was kicked out before the cold, but due to the cold was allowed to come back and stay. At some point in the night the other man came back and was knocking on the mans window. Police were not sure who the actual owner of the house was or if they know that the man and another man are sub-leasing the rooms. The man who was kicked out, then allowed back, was not there when police arrived. The man who was kicked out had belongings on the porch for him to pick up, police assume after he is kicked out for real.

* * *

A man on Highway 153 told police he had shipped an iPad through UPS to his daughter. When the package arrived, the iPad was not in the package. The man requested a report so he could get the item replaced.

* * *

A woman told police her house lights were not on when she arrived to her residence on 15th Avenue and she believed someone turned them off. Police checked her house and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It appeared that her power was out. She didnt believe that and said that someone messed with her house and it had happened before. She continuously changed the topic of conversation and started talking about things that happened a year and two years ago. She said she didnt need police after they checked her house.
Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report:

ARNOLD, MARCUS TODD

201 EADS ST CHATTANOOGA, 374124088

Age at Arrest: 38 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE



BARBEE, STEVE DOUGLAS

2414 HICKORY VALLEY RD CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 37 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



BLANKS, JAMES TORRIANO

5212 WEIGELIA DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37411

Age at Arrest: 45 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY

AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING

AGGRAVATED RIOT



BONDS, SHADARA NICOLE

713 DODSON AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37404

Age at Arrest: 34 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY)



BROWN, LEBRON TERRELL

CHATTANOOGA, 37344

Age at Arrest: 35 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

RESISTING ARREST

EVADING ARREST



BYRD, ERICA MICHELLE

727 EAST 11TH STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37403

Age at Arrest: 38 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

ASSAULT

ASSAULT ON FIRST RESPONDER



COFFMAN, BOWE TAYLOR

106 SUNRAY DRIVE FLINSTONE, 30725

Age at Arrest: 32 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

VOP DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE



COSBY, DAVID LAMAR

9609 BIRCHWOOD PIKE HARRISON, 37363

Age at Arrest: 23 years old

Arresting Agency: Chatt Housing Auth

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY

AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING

AGGRAVATED RIOT



DANIEL, CHARLES EVERETT

2023 JENKINS RD CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 30 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT



DANIELS, JEREMY EVONNE

220 CULVER STREET APT.

7 RED BANK, 37405Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: Red BankAGGRAVATED ASSAULTATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDERCRIMINAL CONSPIRACYAGGRAVATED KIDNAPPINGAGGRAVATED RIOTDAVIS, NADIA GISELLE3826 BENFORD DR CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 25 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)EVANS, LAMAR MAURICE1608 WILCOX BLVD #B CHATTANOOGA, 37408Age at Arrest: 31 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffAGGRAVATED ASSAULTATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDERCRIMINAL CONSPIRACYAGGRAVATED KIDNAPPINGAGGRAVATED RIOTRAPEAGGRAVATED KIDNAPPINGFLETCHER, CHRISTOPHER ROBERT845 SWANSON ROAD RINGGOLD, 30736Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeNONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORTNONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORTHEFFNER, THOMAS JAMES1202 POPLAR STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 28 years oldArresting Agency: Chatt Housing AuthAGGRAVATED ASSAULTATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDERCRIMINAL CONSPIRACYAGGRAVATED KIDNAPPINGAGGRAVATED RIOTJACKSON, TONEY TERRELL3642 SALUDA STREET CHATTANOOGA, 374061642Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)JACKSON, TONY LAMAR7824 BASSWOOD DR CHATTANOOGA, 374162403Age at Arrest: 22 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffHARASSMENTSTALKINGJOHNSON, DESMOND MARCELLE8202 CICERO TR CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 27 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYREGISTRATION, EXPIREDDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEJOHNSON, JA QUAN LAMAR3400 JENKINS ROAD CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 27 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffAGGRAVATED ASSAULTATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDERCRIMINAL CONSPIRACYAGGRAVATED KIDNAPPINGAGGRAVATED RIOTJOHNSON, KEVIN ANDREW1744 SANTA BARBARA CIRCLE SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffTHEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)LOWE, CHRISTOPHER LAMAR2406 WHEELER AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDFAILURE TO APPEARMEALOR, TIMOTHY WAYNE271 MCBRIAR RD TRENTON, 30752Age at Arrest: 61 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDFUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN ANOTHER STATE)MILLRANEY, ETHAN LEE2830 RA GRIFFITH HWY JASPER, 37374Age at Arrest: 22 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDTHEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)PERRY, ANTAVIUS DEANTE1408 CAROUSEL ROAD CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 18 years oldArresting Agency:FAILURE TO APPEARAGGRAVATED ASSAULTATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDERCRIMINAL CONSPIRACYAGGRAVATED KIDNAPPINGAGGRAVATED RIOTPICKETT, BRANDON GWIN1817 BOLLINGER ROAD SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, 37377Age at Arrest: 35 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEPRY, KAYLE ANN VIRGINIA701 VETERANS RD TRENTON, 30752Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDPROSTITUTIONPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEQUICK, BRITTANY RICHELLEHOMELESS ROSSVILLE, 30741Age at Arrest: 28 years oldArresting Agency: CollegedaleBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)RICHARDSON, DUANE ESTIL911 MASTERSON AVE HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffSPEEDINGEVADING ARRESTRECKLESS ENDANGERMENTDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYIGNITION INTERLOCK VIOLATIONROBINSON, NEONNA J521 LATTIMORE STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 23 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)SANDOVAL ESCOBAR, AROLDO GUSTABO2823 4TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffFUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN ANOTHER STATE)SHARP, D ANGELO LADARIUS4191 10TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 22 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDOMESTIC ASSAULTSMITH, ERIC DEWAYNE9122 DALLAS HOLLOW RD SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 40 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBURGLARYSMITH, JASON LEE84 BRADLEY STREET DUNLAP, 37327Age at Arrest: 49 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALESMITH, LAWARREN JESSIE940 FORTWOOD STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37403Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDVIOLATION OF PROBATION (EVADING ARREST)SPIVEY, ANTWON DEWAYNE1402 SUNNYFIELD LN EAST RIDGE, 374123644Age at Arrest: 45 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSESURINA, JOSEPH ANTHONYHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37402Age at Arrest: 25 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffASSAULT (SIMPLE)TOWNSEND, ROBERT LEE727 E MAIN ST CHATTANOOGA, 374033104Age at Arrest: 64 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONT SUB CRAVIOLATION OF PROBATION (DRVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEWILKERSON, RICHARD MELVIN1023 RYAN RDG SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 39 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffUNLAWFUL ACTION BY HOME IMPROVEMENTSERVICES PROVWILSON, NECOLE MICHELLE2300 NORTH CHAMBERLAND AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 44 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDCRIMINAL IMPERSONATION

Here are the mug shots:

ARNOLD, MARCUS TODD

Age at Arrest: 38

Date of Birth: 06/13/1985

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE BARBEE, STEVE DOUGLAS

Age at Arrest: 37

Date of Birth: 08/20/1986

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

BLANKS, JAMES TORRIANO

Age at Arrest: 45

Date of Birth: 04/17/1978

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY

AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING

AGGRAVATED RIOT BONDS, SHADARA NICOLE

Age at Arrest: 34

Date of Birth: 08/15/1989

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY) BROWN, LEBRON TERRELL

Age at Arrest: 35

Date of Birth: 07/12/1988

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

RESISTING ARREST

EVADING ARREST BYRD, ERICA MICHELLE

Age at Arrest: 38

Date of Birth: 09/29/1985

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

ASSAULT

ASSAULT ON FIRST RESPONDER COFFMAN, BOWE TAYLOR

Age at Arrest: 32

Date of Birth: 10/29/1991

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

VOP DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE COSBY, DAVID LAMAR

Age at Arrest: 23

Date of Birth: 08/09/2000

Arresting Agency: Chatt Housing Auth



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY

AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING

AGGRAVATED RIOT DANIEL, CHARLES EVERETT

Age at Arrest: 30

Date of Birth: 09/10/1993

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT DANIELS, JEREMY EVONNE

Age at Arrest: 36

Date of Birth: 02/22/1987

Arresting Agency: Red Bank



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY

AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING

AGGRAVATED RIOT

DAVIS, NADIA GISELLE

Age at Arrest: 25

Date of Birth: 06/18/1998

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

EVANS, LAMAR MAURICE

Age at Arrest: 31

Date of Birth: 07/20/1991

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY

AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING

AGGRAVATED RIOT

RAPE

AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING FLETCHER, CHRISTOPHER ROBERT

Age at Arrest: 30

Date of Birth: 08/28/1993

Arresting Agency: East Ridge



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT

NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT HEFFNER, THOMAS JAMES

Age at Arrest: 28

Date of Birth: 11/27/1993

Arresting Agency: Chatt Housing Auth



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY

AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING

AGGRAVATED RIOT JACKSON, TONEY TERRELL

Age at Arrest: 33

Date of Birth: 09/19/1990

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

JACKSON, TONY LAMAR

Age at Arrest: 22

Date of Birth: 10/02/2001

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

HARASSMENT

STALKING JOHNSON, DESMOND MARCELLE

Age at Arrest: 27

Date of Birth: 02/13/1996

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

REGISTRATION, EXPIRED

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE JOHNSON, JA QUAN LAMAR

Age at Arrest: 27

Date of Birth: 02/07/1993

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY

AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING

AGGRAVATED RIOT JOHNSON, KEVIN ANDREW

Age at Arrest: 33

Date of Birth: 03/06/1990

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)

THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE) LOWE, CHRISTOPHER LAMAR

Age at Arrest: 33

Date of Birth: 12/13/1990

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASS

MEALOR, TIMOTHY WAYNE

Age at Arrest: 61

Date of Birth: 04/11/1962

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN ANOTHER STATE) MILLRANEY, ETHAN LEE

Age at Arrest: 22

Date of Birth: 04/17/2001

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE) PERRY, ANTAVIUS DEANTE

Age at Arrest: 18

Date of Birth: 06/22/1999

Arresting Agency:



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

FAILURE TO APPEAR

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY

AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING

AGGRAVATED RIOT PICKETT, BRANDON GWIN

Age at Arrest: 35

Date of Birth: 11/18/1988

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE PRY, KAYLE ANN VIRGINIA

Age at Arrest: 36

Date of Birth: 06/25/1987

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

PROSTITUTION

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE QUICK, BRITTANY RICHELLE

Age at Arrest: 28

Date of Birth: 04/20/1995

Arresting Agency: Collegedale



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

RICHARDSON, DUANE ESTIL

Age at Arrest: 33

Date of Birth: 07/18/1990

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

SPEEDING

EVADING ARREST

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

IGNITION INTERLOCK VIOLATION ROBINSON, NEONNA J

Age at Arrest: 23

Date of Birth: 12/14/2000

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)

SHARP, D ANGELO LADARIUS

Age at Arrest: 22

Date of Birth: 04/11/2001

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

DOMESTIC ASSAULT SMITH, ERIC DEWAYNE

Age at Arrest: 40

Date of Birth: 11/24/1983

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

BURGLARY

SMITH, LAWARREN JESSIE

Age at Arrest: 30

Date of Birth: 02/20/1993

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (EVADING ARREST) SPIVEY, ANTWON DEWAYNE

Age at Arrest: 45

Date of Birth: 04/18/1978

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE SURINA, JOSEPH ANTHONY

Age at Arrest: 25

Date of Birth: 01/02/1999

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

ASSAULT (SIMPLE) TOWNSEND, ROBERT LEE

Age at Arrest: 64

Date of Birth: 02/12/1959

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONT SUB CRA

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (DRVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE WILKERSON, RICHARD MELVIN

Age at Arrest: 39

Date of Birth: 04/08/1984

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

UNLAWFUL ACTION BY HOME IMPROVEMENTSERVICES PROV WILSON, NECOLE MICHELLE

Age at Arrest: 44

Date of Birth: 11/01/1978

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD



Last Date of Arrest: 01/30/2024

Charge(s):

CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION




3/17/2024

The Chattanooga Mocs tee off Monday for the Spring Break Shootout. The field takes on the south course at Lake Jovita Golf Club. The ladies look to make it 2-for-2 in March following last ... more
The Chattanooga Police Department announced the recent hire of its new Director of Public Affairs, Ms. Keaira Turner.

A native of Birmingham, Ms. Turner brings to the department nearly a decade of experience in strategic communication with a focus on government affairs/communication. In her last role, Ms. Turner served as the public relations manager with the Birmingham Police Department, where she expanded its Public Information Division with new and innovative strategies to improve communication between the police department and the citizens of Birmingham.

Ms. Turner obtained her bachelor's and master's in Communication Studies and Integrated Media Communication to help organizations visualize their communication and messaging to their constituents. Under her leadership, Ms. Turner envisions propelling Chattanooga Police Departments messaging and unlocking the great stories that the current administration is doing to enhance what CPD has to offer to our citizens.

I look forward to working with CPD and helping carry out Chief Murphys vision of bringing fresh light and a set of ideas for creating various strategies on communicating what CPD is doing for the community, said Ms. Turner.

Ms. Turner joins Sgt. Victor Miller, the departments Public Information Officer, and Austin Riddle, the departments social media coordinator. Chief Celeste Murphys vision for the unit is to consistently communicate innovative strategies for community safety and the selfless service of the men and women of the department. The community can follow the Chattanooga Police Department on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
An international research team has developed a method for rapidly discovering new types of materials that function at extremely high temperatures of several thousand degrees Celsius. These high-performance ceramics could one day form the basis for more robust coatings, batteries and radiation-resistant devices. Dr. Rico Friedrich, research group leader at Dresden University of Technology (TUD) and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), made a key contribution to these promising results, which were recently published in the journal Nature.

Electronic devices that function at lava-like temperatures of several thousand degrees Celsius? A new class of high-performance materials could soon make this possible. A team of researchers led by materials scientists at Duke University (USA) has presented a computational method that can be used to rapidly develop hundreds of representatives of a new class of materials that are so heat-resistant and electronically stable that they could enable devices to function in extreme heat. These materials are ceramics made from so-called high-entropy metal carbonitrides or borides. This special type of compound forms highly disordered structures, so-called high-entropy phases. The random distribution of cations in the material leads to a high degree of reflection and interference of waves, resulting in special mechanical, electronic and thermal properties.

Using thermodynamic data to make precise predictions Rico Friedrich from the Chair of Theoretical Chemistry at TUD and the HZDR Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research is part of this research consortium. He heads the DRESDEN-concept research group "Autonomous Materials Thermodynamics - AutoMaT", which is mainly concerned with the data-driven design of two-dimensional nanomaterials and the optimization of their electronic and magnetic properties. Friedrich carried out some of the extensive calculations for the new method called "Disordered Enthalpy-Entropy Descriptor" (DEED).

DEED is a formula that precisely weighs up both energetic and entropic influences, i.e. the disorder in a material, in the formation of these ceramics. This enables predictive power for the synthesizability of these complex systems across many material classes that far surpasses previous approaches. To optimize its mode of action, DEED requires a large amount of thermodynamic data on inorganic materials, such as that available in the AFLOW database, which contains around 3.5 million stored compounds. The stability of the new ceramics can be reliably evaluated in relation to this data.

Successful production in the laboratory "In its first demonstration, DEED predicted the synthesizability of 900 new formulations of high-performance materials, 17 of which were subsequently successfully produced and tested in laboratories. The finished ceramics have a metallic appearance and dark grey or black look. They feel like metal alloys, such as stainless steel, and have a similar density. And although they look metallic, they are hard and brittle like conventional ceramics. They could form the basis for new wear- and corrosion-resistant coatings, thermoelectrics, batteries, catalytic converters and radiation-resistant devices," explains Dr. Friedrich.
Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Chief Justice John Garrett was one of the 2023 AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honors awardees. Cherokee Nation citizens Dwight W. Birdwell, Sue Harjo, Jerry Holderby, Pat Riley Reeder and Dorothy Sullivan were also 2023 awardees. The organization is currently accepting nominations for the 2024 AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honors.
WDEC kicks off in Shanghai

10:34, January 31, 2024 By Chen Xi ( Global Times

Photo: Courtesy of China's Ministry of Education

The 2024 World Digital Education Conference (WDEC) started in Shanghai on Tuesday, gathering more than 800 educators, officials, and tech leaders from over 70 countries and regions.

Keynote speakers noted that the event has become a global platform for discussions on the transformative impact of digital education and fostering international collaboration, with many international guests expressing their eagerness to deepen cooperation with China in digital education to build a shared future.

Simona-Mirela Miculescu, president of the General Conference of UNESCO, highlighted the immense potential of digital education for enhancing the quality and relevance of learning.

She emphasized the profound importance of digital education on a global scale and the need to address the rapid emergence of generative AI tools, advocating for a human-centered vision aligned with ethical principles.

Colin Bailey, president of Queen Mary University of London, acknowledged China's strides in digital education and stressed the importance of ensuring accessibility for everyone within the country.

Expressing his firm belief in the pivotal role of cooperation with China, Bailey emphasized the ongoing importance of such partnerships.

"We haven't got all the answers, and that's very important, especially with internationalization," he told the Global Times. He stressed the significance of bringing people together and fostering collaboration among individuals with diverse views, backgrounds, and ideas.

Bailey articulated the potential of collaboration to push boundaries. He pointed out that when people from different cultures converge, each bringing unique perspectives and ideas, it creates an environment conducive to innovation and progress. This collaborative approach, he said, holds the key to addressing the evolving challenges in the digital education landscape.

The conference, themed "Digital Education: Application, Sharing, and Innovation," witnessed the official establishment of the World Digital Education Alliance, featuring participation from 41 countries and regions.

Huai Jinpeng, China's Minister of Education, pledged continued contributions from China to the world's digital education landscape. He highlighted China's commitment to expanding international exchanges and cooperation in this area.

Viktor Sdobnyakov, president of Minin University in Russia, commended China's expertise in utilizing the digital environment for the rapid exchange of information and replication of best practices. He expressed his university's active collaboration with Chinese institutions and participation in the newly formed alliance.

The international version of a Chinese smart education platform was also launched during the conference.

Media reported that since its March 2022 launch, the platform has attracted over 100 million registered users and accumulated 36.7 billion views. It boasts over 88,000 educational resources for primary and secondary schools and more than 10,000 high-quality courses for vocational education.

China boasts the world's greatest amount of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) and its MOOC system, recognized as an international brand in higher education, was also spotlighted during the event.

With 341 global courses launched, nearly 25.4 million learners have participated, according to Song Yi, an official with the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education.

As the conference progresses, multiple parallel sessions on digital education are scheduled to be held, with the event set to conclude on Wednesday. This marks the second iteration of the WDEC, following the inaugural conference held in Beijing in February 2023.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
New Delhi, Jan 31 (UNI) Ahead of the budget session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged the Members to not disturb the proceedings of both Houses and said, "Those who have become habituated to creating ruckus will introspect as to what they have done in the past ten years."

"No one remembers those who created ruckus...no matter how harsh the criticism is, no one remembers it. On the other hand, a large section of people still remember those who benefited the House with their good ideas," Prime Minister Modi told reporters outside Parliament.

PM Modi also said the BJP would present the full budget once the new government is formed.

"You know when election time is near, usually a full budget is not kept...Following the same tradition, we will also present the full budget before you after the formation of the new government," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister said at the end of the first session held in this new Parliament building, the Parliament took a very significant decision, and that decision was the 'Narishakti Vandan Act'.

"On January 26, we saw how the country experienced the bravery, strength, and determination of women power...adding that at the beginning of the budget session today, the interim budget will be presented under the guidance of President Droupadi Murmu Ji and tomorrow by Nirmala Sitharaman Ji. In a way, this is a festival of realization of women's power."

The Budget Session of Parliament began on Wednesday with an address by President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Interim Budget on Thursday.

The session will continue till February 09.

Meanwhile, ahead of the Session, the government on Wednesday convened an all-party meeting to ensure smooth functioning of both Houses.

UNI JA KK
The two most populous countries of the world, China and India, both suffer from skewed sex ratios due to a cultural preference for boys that causes families to abort or abandon their daughters. From 20002020, 115 boys were born for every 100 girls in China, while in India that ratio was 110 boys for every 100 girls. This has led both countries to ban the use of ultrasounds to determine the sex of the baby, although the illegal use of ultrasounds is common.

In Chinese and Indian cultures, giving birth to a girl is traditionally seen as a burden on the family, as women end up joining their husbands family once they are married. (In India, the wifes family also needs to pay an expensive dowry.) On the other hand, having a boy not only means passing down the family name and inheritance but also means gaining a daughter in marriage.

In China, the problem has been exacerbated by 40 years under the one-child policy, which led parents to abort their baby girls for a chance to have a son. Since 2016, the government has loosened the policy as the country fears a demographic time bomb. As of last year, China has abolished all fees and fines associated with having more children. While young people have rejected some of the more traditional ideas about gender, in 2021, there were still 112 male births per 100 female births.

Over in India, the country has 9 million missing girls from the past two decades due to sex-selective abortions, according to a 2022 report from Pew Research Center. As CT reported last year:

Despite the current significant disparity, researchers found that bias toward sons is waning among all religious groups in India and say that the annual number of missing girls has dropped from about 480,000 in 2010 to about 410,000 in 2019. Though Christians comprise 2.3 percent of Indias population and only 0.6 percent of the missing, Pew nevertheless estimates that Christians account for 53,000 of the countrys missing girls.

When Chinese and Indians immigrate to the United States, leaders of immigrant churches and ministries differ in how they discuss the topic of abortion and gender preferences as ultrasounds are widespread. Honor-shame dynamics have strongly influenced both Chinese and Indian cultures, and sex, unplanned pregnancies, and abortions are not commonly spoken about.

CT talked to six church leaders, all based in the US, about how they broach the topic of the sanctity of life and gender equality with their congregants and how new immigrants view these topics. Answers are ordered from those who speak about the issue more publicly to those who do so more privately.

Article continues below

Ruth Zhou, director of ministry at a Chinese ministry in Monterey Park, California

At my church, abortion, the sanctity of life, and gender equality are addressed in Sunday sermons. Sometimes we have conferences or lectures about rejecting abortion, sometimes it is mentioned in our fellowship groups. Most of our congregants do not support abortion or gender selectionthey accept the gender given by God.

I have counseled some women who are considering abortion often due to conflicts in the marriage. I listen to them share from their heartmostly they complain a lot. Sometimes they want me to support their decision, but I reply firmly that I wont support them to get an abortion.

I try to persuade them, telling them that the baby in a moms womb is life and that there is no difference between the fetus in a moms womb and after birth. They might say, I have no ability to raise the baby, and I try to persuade them to keep it, saying that if she doesnt want to raise the baby, you can give birth first and let someone else adopt it, which is better than having an abortion. Then I pray for her, letting her heart be touched by the Holy Spirit.

James Hwang, former executive director of Chinese ministries at Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) and former senior pastor of Clear Lake Chinese Church in Houston

I emphasize the value of life and gender equality, as per biblical teachings, and preach on these topics from the pulpit. I usually have at least one yearly message around Mothers Day to emphasize Gods plan and purpose for women. For instance, I preached on the four Gentile women in Jesus genealogy (Matt. 1), Gods call to mutual submission (Eph. 5:21), and how both men and women were created in Gods image (Gen. 1:27). So, the topic of every life, male or female, is a sacred creation is preached multiple times each year.

My personal experience with my own familywe are blessed with three daughtersreflects these values. Despite knowing their gender through medical procedures, abortion was never a consideration.

Most Chinese families still hold to the tradition of carrying on the family name and naturally prefer to have at least one son. In the past, this meant families would keep trying until they had a son. This tradition did not lead to abortion until the Chinese Communist Party started to enforce the one-child policy in 1979.

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For our Chinese immigrant congregants, many of them only became Christians after they came to the US, and they are working very hard to become a new creation and learn about this new worldview. As far as I can remember, none of my congregants have sought my counseling as to whether they should have an abortion due to the sex of the baby. Some have come to me when the mothers health was at risk.

Larry Varghese, ordained priest at Mar Thoma Syrian Church in Atlanta

I have often addressed the sanctity of life from the pulpit, but on the particular issue of abortion, I usually speak in smaller, more personal settings as it provides an opportunity to give a more nuanced response. Not every situation is the same, and from the pulpit, unintentional generalizations may cause some to not seek clarifications.

The topic of the equality of sexes is addressed at all levels and settings as possible. I reference Genesis 13 (the creation of humanity, the culminating act of creation in Gen. 2, and the impact of gender relations from Gen. 3). I reference women of the Bible, their roles, and their impact. I also point out the nuances of Pauls thoughts on women throughout his letters, as letters are by nature contextual. For instance, what does long hair imply in Corinth? What do we know about women with short hair in that time and place? Was this the culture of the day or something Paul is laying out for all time?

The South Indian Christian immigrants that I am familiar with usually have an ultrasound done and are ready to know the gender. Few choose to not know the gender for personal reasons (often out of an unspoken solidarity with how life would have been, had they stayed in India), but even they will still have an ultrasound to know the health and development of the child.

Most of the immigrant couples who settled here from the southern state of Kerala following the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 were primarily supported by working women, often nurses. I think the self-selected demographic that immigrated reflects a continued appreciation of women, and so the viewpoint toward female children isnt what it was once was.

Pastor Chen Daode, pastor at Mandarin Baptist Church in Los Angeles

At my church, we will discuss the topics of abortion and gender equality, yet there are no specific sermons on it. Instead, it is implied from certain Scriptures, such as Psalm 139:1314: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. At that time, we will apply it to the sanctity of life. The message of equality between men and women is implied in the creation account in Genesis and in Galatians 3:28.

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I have found that modern young Chinese people, including immigrants from mainland China, seem not to care whether they are having a boy or a girl. Perhaps it is because they have more progressive ideas or because they are further from home. In my time as a pastor, Ive never had a young couple tell me they were considering abortion due to the gender of their child.

I only know of some couples whose first child is a son and who hoped to have a daughter with their second child. Therefore, no one pays too much attention to the fact that ultrasounds can be used to identify the gender here in the United States.

Joy Cheng, founder and director of Family Ministry at FEBC Chinese in La Habra, California

In my ministry, we provide resources and help Chinese churches with customized ministry planning and walk with them to build up their own family ministry. I use Genesis 12, Psalm 139, and Jeremiah 1:5 to emphasize the special design and value of life and the sexes. I believe only Gods eternal truth can help people value their sexuality and their life, and sustain them to live to their fullest potential. When the topic of abortion comes up, I provide them with resources for other options and try to help them think before they make decisions.

Most of the Christians I serve have never heard about the gospel before they came to the US. For many, even after they became Christians, what God says about life and marriage and the sexes is still unknown and vague to them. Therefore, I develop ministries and courses to help them build their new life in Christ and Gods truth.

When I teach Gods design of marriage, I emphasize the different functions of each gender and the importance of unity and equality in marriage. When teaching about parenting, I explain about the sanctity of life, the parents stewardship, and children as property of God.

For expectant parents, ultrasounds provide an opportunity to see and bond with their unborn child. I personally have never encountered anyone who decided to abort the child after they found out the sex of the baby.

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Anil Yesudas, an interfaith catalyst in Chicago

I dont have direct conversations about abortion in my ministry. But in general, we do everything to dissuade a person from going for an abortion even if we know that there will be some medical problems with the child. Those are the children that teach us how to love. And every life is priceless.

Nobody has come to us recently with those issues, but we know what our position is. Our position is that the girl or the boy child are equal. We have cherished our daughter and we have cherished our son.

Indian families tend to keep quiet and tell very few people if they plan to have an abortion. If they do tell people of the older generation of Christians, the older people wont push back unless they have a very strong biblical conviction. Usually they dont want to give any opinion, good or bad, positive or negative. They just act as if, I dont understand all these things. But they understand these things. They are kind of [promoting] abortion by trying to be neutral or feigning ignorance.

My mom and dad were evangelists in India, and we lived next door to the government hospital. One of the nurses was a Catholic and did not believe in abortions. From time to time, somebody would come and they would look for abortion. So she would inform my mom and tell her to speak to the lady sitting on the bench.

My mom would talk to them and end with, I think you should just walk away. Dont tell anybody, just walk away. Its better to keep your baby. And these random women would really get up and walk away from the hospital. She did that for many years, quietly, because if the hospital staff had known, they would have blocked her from coming.

[ This article is also available in  and . ]
Turkish Christians are shaken by last weekends terrorist attack on a Catholic church in Istanbul.

Claimed by ISIS, it comes amid threats that have already caused some believers to shy away from Sunday services. And like the rest of their nation, Christians are confused by details that eschew easy explanations.

Everyone is a little nervous, questioning the future, said Ali Kalkandelen, president of the Association of Protestant Churches (TeK). And for the next few weekseven monthseveryone will watch their backs.

Two masked gunmen casually walked into Mass at Santa Maria Catholic Church on Sunday morning, shot into the air, and killed one person. Security footage then shows them leaving the building, only slightly less casually than when they entered.

A statement issued by Martin Kmetec, archbishop of Izmir and president of the Episcopal Conference of Turkey, expressed his communitys shock that an innocent person was killed in a sacred space of faith in God. It demanded better security for churches, a curb on the culture of hatred and religious discrimination, and that the truth be revealed.

Shortly thereafter, security services arrested two foreign nationals, from Russia and Tajikistan. ISIS later published a statement saying the attack was in response to its call to target Jews and Christians everywhere. The statement was followed by another from a group calling itself ISISs Turkey Province, which said that it fired its pistols during the unbelievers polytheistic rituals.

While ISIS has conducted multiple terrorist attacks in Turkey, this is the first claimed by a local branch. The so-called province first emerged in 2019 but had only produced one propagandistic video.

But on January 4, ISISs spokesman called for worldwide targeting, which it later tallied to 110 attacks in 12 countries, killing or wounding at least 610 people. Turkey had already detained 2,086 suspected terrorists and arrested 529 since June 2023. Dozens more were detained following the Santa Maria attack, and 23 will be deported.

Kalkandelen said that amid the ongoing arrests, church attendance has declined. Families have kept their children at home, while new believers and seekers keep their distance. The TeK statement expressed condolences to the Catholic community, confidence in the authorities, and a plea to stop provocative discourse.

This terrorist attack is obviously not an isolated or freak act, stated the Protestant association. From now on, the dark power behind it must be fully exposed so that it can no longer  terrorize Christians, minorities, and anyone with common sense.

Condemning the attack, Istanbuls mayor said the second referent was imprecise.

There are no minorities in this city or this country, we are all actual citizens, stated Ekrem Imamoglu. He later added, We will never allow those who try to disrupt our unity and peace [to attack] the places of faith in our city.

An Istanbul parliamentarian called attacks on Christian citizens treason. President Recep Erdogan personally called Anton Bulai, the parish priest. Flowers and candles were laid in the 19th-century cathedral, with a Turkish flag draped over the door.

Turkey is ranked No. 50 on the Open Doors World Watch List of the 50 nations where it is hardest to be a Christian. It counts 169,000 believers in the country, while the US State Department estimates there are roughly 7,00010,000 Protestants.

The Ecumenical Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox church, Bartholomew I, paid his respects at the church the day after the attack. His community has recently swelled with an influx of 100,000 Russians and Ukrainians following the war. But Turkeys 25,000 Catholics have experienced violence before.

Back in 1981, a Turkish citizen attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II. In 2006, a priest was killed in the Black Sea city of Trabzon. In 2010, a bishop was stabbed and decapitated. Located next to a fish market along the Bosphorus Straits, the Santa Maria church now making headlines had suffered threats in 2011 for illuminating its cross, and in 2016 a mob had tried to break down its door.

More recently since the war in Gaza, anti-Israel graffiti was sprayed on the walls of Istanbuls Orthodox Church of St. Mary of the Mongols and Phanar Greek Orthodox College. Most of Turkeys synagogues have been closed amid widespread Turkish protests.

Kalkandelen said that for the past few years, the Protestant community has witnessed only sporadic violence. Its most recent annual human rights report tallied only one incident of vandalism among its 186 national fellowships in 2022, alongside the stabbing of a pastor and the beating of a pastors child.

But for more than a decade, Turkish media has incited hostile attitudes against the West. It has increased since the Israel-Hamas war, with Erdogan defending Hamas as a legitimate resistance group. Popular sentiment links Christians with America and Europe, Kalkandelen said, keeping the community tense.

We were almost expecting something to happen in the country, he said.

But what happened was odd.

They killed one person, could have killed more, but we cannot understand why, said Soner Tufan, general manager of Petra Media Group, a Turkish evangelical radio station. One or many, it doesnt matter from their perspective.

His broadcasts have urged Christians to remain calm, he added, and there have been debates on if there was a hidden plan to spark chaos in society. Prayer has been recommended.

Local reporting offered mixed testimony about the victim. Identified as 52-year-old Tuncer Cihan, footage shows gunmen following him into the church. One relative said he was mentally ill and not actually the target. His uncle said he was considering Christianity. It is reported that he had been attending the church since December, and Kalkandelen said Bulai, the Santa Maria priest, told him Cihan was a believer but not yet baptized. But the district mayor stated that the cleric called him simply a good person.

Cihan was buried in an Alevi cemetery belonging to Turkeys largest Muslim minority.

We have two communities who are today united in sorrow, stated an Istanbul priest.

Such evidence might suggest an honor killing. But the mayor also stated that Bulai told him the terrorists gun jammed during the attack. Perhaps more victims were intended.

Seated in the front row of Sundays Mass, unharmed, was Polands consul general and his family. Local reporting stated that the attackers drove a car from Poland over a year ago but never previously used it. Furthermore, the Santa Maria church is known as Italian, administered by Franciscan friars. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni visited Turkey just a week earlier.

Maybe it was a political message, said Kalkandelen.

Whatever the explanation, it is being received ominously by local Christians. The Istanbul priest said the community was in shock and would likely have to reevaluate its security posture.

But aware of this possibility, a local Catholic praised her priest as someone who helped everyone regardless of their race or religion.

He wanted that church to be open to everyone who wanted to come in, stated Layla Yedicam, but thats not going to be the case anymore, I dont think.

The church will reopen on Thursday.

Kalkandelen has been encouraging believers to keep going to church. He quoted 2 Timothy 1:7God has not given us a spirit of fear. Giving in would slow church growth, he said, and with the lack of witness, seekers might turn their back on Christ.

Whether the violence was religious or political in intention, Kalkandelen believes that it was above all a spiritual attack.

Satan will never stop attacking Christians, he said. Do not let this become a stumbling block in our relationship with God.
Home News 10 churches shut down, worship hall converted into mosque after terror attacks in Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria  Recent Muslim extremist attacks in an area of central Nigeria resulted in dozens of deaths and the closure of 10 Baptist churches, including one now used as a mosque, a denominational leader said.

The attacks in Plateau states Mangu County by Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists included an assault on one village that killed 24 Christians, said Plateau Baptist Conference President Koeleh Kelvin Saleh. The raids drove 500 church members from 10 villages and resulted in the closure of a Baptist church in each community, he said.

One of the church worship places in the affected Christian communities was converted into a mosque by the Muslim Fulani herdsmen who took over three communities, Pastor Saleh told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

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An attack by herdsmen in Kantoma village on May 16 resulted in the slaughter of 24 members of Bethel Baptist Church, including Pastor Mangmwos Tangshak Daniel, while nine members of a Baptist church in Jwak Maitumbi village were killed, Pastor Saleh said.

The sad thing is that, we didnt have a place to bury the corpses of our church members killed in the Kantoma attack, and so corpses were dumped in a mining pit, he said.

Officials feared that burying so many mutilated bodies would lead to further security threats, so a church leader arranged for a mass burial in a neighboring area, he said.

An understanding was brokered with the Mararaban Kantoma community, which is of another local government area, for these bodies to buried there, Pastor Saleh said. Nobody was ready to release his land for such, and in fact the bodies littered the ground from morning to evening, and so when they searched and found a mining pit, an agreement was brokered with the community to push the bodies into the mining pit.

The burial of Pastor Daniels body was carried out separately afterward, so that it can be used as a contact from his family to other families who hadnt the opportunity to give the Christian rites of burial to their relations, because they were just pushed into a mining pit, he said.

The mass burial was undertaken under tight security watch. Its so pathetic that while the burial was ongoing, the Muslim Fulani herdsmen were shooting at Christians at the burial site, he added. The presence of police personnel who were at the burial site helped because they also fired warning shots, which halted the attacks from the herdsmen.

The burial was completed hurriedly because of the herdsmen shootings, Pastor Saleh said.

The Christians there lost a lot; the church was destroyed, and theres no single house standing in Kantoma  all houses of Christians have been destroyed, he said. Its one of the communities where we had the largest Baptist church. The ruins of the community have been taken over by the herdsmen who now use the place to graze their cattle.

The herdsmen have also stolen windows and doors from destroyed homes, he said.

The situation in Kantoma is horrible. Christians who survived the attacks have nowhere to return to, he said. A few Christians who attempted to return there to salvage anything they can find in their destroyed houses had to be accompanied by security agents. And this they did hurriedly.

Accompanied by security agents, Pastor Saleh and other Christian leaders visited the affected areas and discovered that Fulani herdsmen had taken over three Christian communities, he said.

In fact, one of the church buildings which served as a worship hall for Christians has been converted into a mosque, he said.

Humanitarian challenge

The attacks have created a serious humanitarian challenge to try to meet the needs of church members scattered to other areas.

Weve had an emergency meeting of the Plateau Baptist Conference in order to map out how well be able to reach out to the displaced Christians, Pastor Saleh said. At the moment other unaffected churches have taken in the displaced Christians, and theyre accommodated by some families and households.

The denomination has held emergency fund collections in churches for the displaced, he said.

Weve had to do this because most of the victims escaped with nothing except their lives, Pastor Saleh said. Right now, we have about 75 families hosting the displaced members from the affected communities in their houses here in Jos. There are about 200 displaced people being cared for.

Baptist churches also raised 2 million naira ($2,220), which along with a 1 million naira ($1,110) gift was used to purchase food, blankets and mats for more than 100 displaced people in Mangu town and in other areas.

We have also gone there and reached out to them with food items and clothing, he said.

Another center for displaced Baptist members in Barkin Ladi town provides aid to 35 families, he said.

In Pankshin, the situation there is really pathetic  those who were displaced had to move into hostels at the Federal College of Education, Pastor Saleh said.

The 78 displaced people there include members of other denominations such as the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) and Assemblies of God.

The Christians in Pankshin are those displaced from the axis of Wokshina, Panyam, and Gindiri areas, he said, adding that the camp there includes 44 children. They need food, clothing, medical supplies and medicines. The needs are overwhelming, as the 3 million naira we raised is like a drop of water in an ocean. We are calling on spirited individuals all over the world to please come over to assist us. The sad reality is that no government institution has assisted these people in anyway.

The displaced hope to return to their communities and rebuild their houses, for which theyll need roofing sheets and other materials, but that depends on whether the government can restore a safe living environment, he said.

Weve never as a church had it this bad in Plateau state, Pastor Saleh said. The current attacks in Plateau state in the rural communities have affected the Baptist church immensely.

Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023, according to Open Doors 2024 World Watch List report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300.

Nigeria was also the third highest country in the number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings, such as hospitals, schools and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report.

In the 2024 WWL of the countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.

This article was originally published by Christian Daily International.
Home News Death of comedy 'a danger' to country, Vivek Ramaswamy warns Babylon Bee CEO

Former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy stressed the importance of comedy to a free society and floated the idea that "wokeism" could legally be treated as a religion under civil rights statutes, thereby preventing employers from forcing it on their employees.

After Ramaswamy dropped out of the GOP primary and endorsed former President Donald Trump earlier this month, The Babylon Bee took flak on social media for a satirical headline suggesting that Ramaswamy had been offered a job in the administration running the White House's 7-Eleven.

Ramaswamy took the joke in stride, sarcastically telling Dillon that he found it "devastating" and that he might have to undergo therapy because of it. The two went on during their wide-ranging discussion to talk about the dangers of being too easily offended, and the threat that such a mindset poses to free speech.

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Vivek Ramaswamy sits down with Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon to discuss rallying behind Donald Trump, social media censorship, Nikki Haley ruining America, and how he really felt about that one 7-Eleven joke.



Timestamps:

0:08 That 7-Eleven Joke

4:20 Comedy

9:01 DeSantis and Nikki pic.twitter.com/sUjY80UxdA  The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) January 26, 2024

Noting that there is "a hunger for sanctimony right now," Ramaswamy said there is "a hierarchy of holiness" in the culture that finds its ultimate expression in the impulse to clamp down on speech.

"We live in a society of hierarchies," Ramaswamy said. "There's the intersectional hierarchy of who's the higher victim on a totem pole, and then there's the opposite totem pole based on who's actually more virtuous, based on sanctimony shown to those who may have been in a more oppressed class."

"And it's just a weird thing going on in our culture more broadly, where people are so eager to be offended that they even lose their anchoring to what they're actually offended about in the first place," he added.

Ramaswamy suggested the impulse to censor jokes and other speech is ultimately one that emerges from "self-indulgence," and warned that it poses a threat to liberty.

"Humor being treated as harmful is not dangerous; that's annoying," he said. "I think the part that's dangerous is the people who most will abuse the death of comedy or the assault on comedy, will be those who actually are in power, [who] are using it to silence dissent."

Humor has the ability to hold leaders accountable more than anything else, Ramaswamy said, who noted how even the ancient Romans were able to get what they wanted from their emperors by mocking them.

"If we think about the greatest tyrants or autocrats throughout human history, what they eventually do is they suppress comedic relief," he said. "But one of the things that they're most responsive to is actually people who are hitting them at the expense of a joke. That actually is a way that you hold people accountable, especially the kinds of people who need to be held accountable."

Ramaswamy added that he believes comedy "is one of the levers we have to hold people in positions of power accountable for their failures," and that losing it is both "a loss" and "a danger" for the country.

The two later pivoted to talking about Big Tech censorship and how private companies are getting involved with stifling dissent. Dillon noted that The Babylon Bee's Twitter account was suspended after the outlet labeled U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health Rachel (Richard) Levine their "Man of the Year."

Their account was reinstated in November 2022 after Elon Musk took over the company.

Ramaswamy also suggested that liberal "wokeism" has all the trappings of a religion, and that it could potentially be labeled as such under civil rights statutes, which he said would prevent employers from forcing their employees to accept it.

"The religion prong of the civil rights statutes say that you can't discriminate against an employee based on his religion if you're a large employer, but it also means that you can't force your employee to bow down to your religion," he said.

"So if what's happening today  effectively threatening to fire somebody because they wore a MAGA hat or they had the wrong political posts online  if that's effectively like forcing your employee to bow down to your religion, then I think you have a good argument in the tech companies cases that forcing the employees to do that [is a civil rights violation]," he insisted.

Ramaswamy brought up how a federal court ruled in 2016 that a belief system known as "Onionhead" was considered a protected religion for the purposes of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits religious imposition by an employer.

In EEOC v. United Health Programs of America, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York ruled in favor of plaintiffs who alleged reverse religious discrimination when they were fired for declining Onionhead-related meetings and workshops.

"If Onionhead counts as a religion, modern woke leftism definitely meets the Supreme Court's test to a tee: a comprehensive belief system, certain words you can't say, clothes you can't wear, apologies you must recite," Ramaswamy said. "So I wouldn't go so far as to say there's no precedent for it."

Ramaswamy conceded that such is "a little bit more creative as a legal argument."
Home News Bill allowing Maine to seize children from parents opposed to gender transition dies

A bill that would have given the state of Maine authority to seize a child from their parents if the child expressed confusion about their sex and wanted body disfiguring trans procedures was killed by lawmakers.

The Maine Legislatures Standing Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing last week discussing LD 1735, also known as An Act to Safeguard Gender-Affirming Health Care.

In a 12-0 vote last Thursday, members of the committee voted in favor of a motion declaring that the legislation ought not to pass. The committee, which includes three members of the state Senate and nine members of the state House of Representatives, consists of seven Democrats and five Republicans.

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Introduced by State Rep. Laurie Osher, D-Orono, the measure declares: A law enforcement agency may not knowingly make or participate in the arrest or participate in any extradition of an individual pursuant to an out-of-state arrest warrant for violation of another states law against providing, receiving or allowing a child to receive gender-affirming health care or gender-affirming mental health care in this State, if that care is lawful under the laws of this State, to the fullest extent permitted by federal law.

The legislation defined gender-affirming health care as medically necessary health care that respects the gender identity of the patient, including interventions to suppress the development of endogenous secondary sex characteristics, interventions to align the patients appearance or physical body with the patients gender identity and other interventions to alleviate symptoms of clinically significant distress resulting from gender dysphoria.

In addition to prohibiting law enforcement from cooperating with other states seeking to enforce bans on the body-mutilating procedures, the measure would have granted a state court emergency jurisdiction over a child if he or she has been unable to obtain [so-called] gender-affirming health care or gender-affirming mental health care.

The proposed legislation also included a section allowing the state to seize a child from his or her parents for the purpose of obtaining gender-affirming health care or gender-affirming mental health care for the child.

The introduction of the proposed law comes as over 20 states have enacted bans on some or all forms of trans procedures performed on children, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and sex-change surgeries, including castration and double mastectomies.

In contrast, 14 states have either adopted "shield" laws or implemented executive orders that allow for such body-deforming procedures to be performed on children who exhibit confusion about their sex.

Liberty Counsel founder and Chairman Mat Staver, whose organization describes itself as a Christian ministry that proclaims, advocates, supports, advances, and defends the good news that God in the person of Jesus paid the penalty for our sins and offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who accept him as Lord and Savior, cheered the defeat of LD 1735 in a statement on Friday.

This reprehensible medical mutilation trafficking bill attempted to legalize kidnapping in Maine to subject minors to damaging and often irreversible procedures, he said. There is no sane logic in the world that could justify trafficking gender-confused children. The unanimous vote killing this bill sends a clear message that parents have the fundamental right to protect their children.

The American College of Pediatricians has warned that puberty blockers, frequently prescribed to youth suffering from gender dysphoria, can cause osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility.

Other side effects include an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers.

Jamie Reed, a former employee at a pediatric gender clinic at Washington University in St. Louis, wrote an op-ed for The Free Press last year detailing how a 17-year-old girl who was prescribed testosterone suffered severe vaginal bleeding that soaked through an extra heavy pad, her jeans, and a towel she had wrapped around her waist.

Another patient treated at the same gender clinic who was prescribed testosterone developed an enlarged clitoris that extended below her vulva and chafed and rubbed painfully in her jeans.

However, other prominent medical professional groups, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, have expressed support for "gender-affirming care" and has expressed opposition to "any laws or regulations that discriminate against transgender and gender-diverse individuals, or that interfere in the doctor-patient relationship."
Home News Evangelist Hans Schmidt returns to church months after being shot in head while preaching

Hans Schmidt, the 26-year-old military veteran and outreach director of Victory Chapel First Phoenix in Arizona, who was shot in the head while street preaching last November and wasn't initially expected to recover, has returned to his church, his wife announced Sunday, saying, "he walks, he talks, [and] he even plays the drums."

In a fresh update on her husband's "miracle" recovery, Zulya Schmidt, who shares two young children with the preacher, published videos and photos in an Instagram post showing him smiling and playing the drums at their church.

"We serve a miracle working God. He walks, he talks, he even plays the drums," she wrote about her husband in the post. "God has done an incredible work in Hans' life, and every day, he continues to improve. Please continue to pray for a full restoration."

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In a statement on its website, Victory Chapel First Phoenix stressed that their prayers have been answered.

"We are rejoicing and thanking God for the miracle we have seen," the church's statement reads. "Hans has been released from the hospital and is home with his family. Please continue to pray for this family as they navigate the road to recovery."

Schmidt, a former military medic, was shot in the head on the evening of Nov. 15, 2023, at the intersection of 51st Ave and Peoria in Glendale, Arizona, while doing church outreach before a Wednesday night service.

"Single entry point on the side on the left temple. The bullet traveled through his brain. ... No one heard the shot or saw where it came from," family friend Brad Currell wrote in a GoFundMe campaign that has raised more than $78,000 as of Tuesday on behalf of the Schmidt's family.

"Police detectives reviewed the intersection video footage. He initially fell but got back up and was walking and talking but bleeding. No one had realized what happened at first. He had started seizures and vomiting, and they took him to the hospital."

The latest update comes just over a month after Zulya Schmidt revealed that her husband was making "stunning progress" but was still not able to speak.

At the time that Schmidt was shot, his wife said he had been preaching on the street for about a year.

"He's been doing that for over a year, and usually he street preaches for 30 minutes before every evening service for our church," she told CBN News. "That day, he just ended street preaching early, and I thought that was odd."

She said her husband packed up the sound system and drove back to the church. She eventually noticed he was bleeding. She had no idea he had been shot.

"I had no idea what really had happened," she said. "He drove our vehicle to the church [and] unloaded the sound system."

Schmidt was eventually rushed to a local hospital, where doctors did not realize he had been shot until they did a CT scan, and he became unresponsive.

"My heart sank," the faithful wife said. "I just felt sick to my stomach."

She said doctors and investigators did not think that her husband would still be alive today. She said neurosurgeons told her that because of the bullet's location in her husband's brain, it could not be removed.

In the aftermath of the shooting, the pastor's wife also recalled hearing a detective say, "We'll know more after the autopsy."
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Home News West Virginia bill would make schools, libraries criminally liable for 'obscene' content

West Virginia lawmakers are considering a bill that would make schools, public libraries and museums criminally liable for exhibiting or distributing obscene content to minors.

House Bill 4654 would amend a section of the Code of West Virginia to remove criminal exemptions for schools, public libraries and museums found to be displaying or distributing "obscene matter" to children.

The state code considers obscene material to be content that features or describes sexually explicit content or specific bodily functions.

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The bill was introduced earlier this month and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which removed the legislation from the agenda and held a hearing last Wednesday in the House chamber, reported The Parkersburg News and Sentinel.

During the Wednesday hearing, supporters read from books such as Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human, citing it as an example of obscene material featured in multiple schools and libraries. The graphic novel includes details about sex and sexuality, and it is targeted at a young adult audience.

Wood County Schools officials removed the book from the shelves in January 2023 after it was challenged, according to The News and Sentinel. Jessica Rowley, a Wood County resident, held up a copy of the book during the hearing.

"It was in Parkersburg South High School and was put in the library by a high school principal," Rowley said, asking them if state officials want their children to read this type of literature.

Daniel Curry, a minister at the Camden Avenue Church of Christ in Parkersburg, another supporter of the bill, argued that adults have a "God-given responsibility" to protect children. He also questioned why obscene materials are necessary to have in libraries.

Various representatives from the West Virginia Library Association and library officials from around the state also spoke during the hearing. Brian Raitz, director of the Parkersburg & Wood County Public Library, asserted that parents can monitor what their children read.

"We protect your freedom; your freedom to read," Raitz said. "We believe we should not be that gatekeeper. In order to best serve our community and protect the children there, we believe that the parents have the best ability to do so. In our library, our policies reflect that."

Another opponent of the bill, Andrew Schneider, executive director of Fairness West Virginia, argued that legislation like HB 4654 blocks access to books and other materials related to LGBT issues.

"The stories and books about our lives are not obscene," Schneider claimed. "Nothing in HB 4654 changes that. Let's be clear: This is a bad bill."

Throughout the country, multiple parents have spoken out during school board meetings about the books their children are exposed to, arguing that they have a right to determine what content their kids should be exposed to.

In June, a group of interfaith parents demonstrated against the Montgomery County Public Schools system in Maryland for requiring their children all students to participate in LGBT-inclusive lessons. The parents demanded the school restore their right to exempt their children from being exposed to LGBT lessons and books.

The American Library Association released data in September 2022 ahead of "Banned Books Week" that showed an increase in efforts to ban or restrict books in school libraries.
Home News 1,200 UNRWA staffers have ties to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad: intelligence report

An Israeli official has claimed that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency is a "haven for Hamas' radical ideology" after an Israeli intelligence report estimated that around 10% of the agency's 12,000 staffers in Gaza have ties to Hamas and other Islamic terrorist groups.

According to the dossier provided to the United States and reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, estimates suggest that about 1,200 UNRWA employees in Gaza have links to Hamas, the terror group that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Additionally, the intelligence suggests that about half of the agency's employees have family members who belong to extremist groups, both of which the U.S. has recognized as foreign terror organizations since 1997.

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Evidence within the intelligence report came from cell phone data, interrogations with Hamas fighters and documents discovered on the bodies of dead militants.

The report comes days after the United Nations announced that at least nine UNRWA employees were terminated amid allegations they participated in Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre that killed over 1,200 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians, including 31 Americans. About 240 others were abducted.

The Oct. 7 attacks sparked an Israeli military offensive in Gaza seeking to eradicate Hamas and free the hostages. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 26,000 people have been killed since the war began. Those figures don't differentiate between combatants and civilians.

"UNRWA's problem is not just 'a few bad apples' involved in the October 7 massacre," a senior Israeli government official told WSJ. "The institution as a whole is a haven for Hamas' radical ideology."

The UNRWA did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment.

Nine countries, including the U.S., have halted aid to UNRWA following accusations that at least 12 of the agency's employees had connections with Hamas' attacks against Israel. In addition to the nine who were terminated, the U.N. says one has been killed, and the identities of two others are being clarified.

Six workers of UNRWA allegedly took part in the Oct. 7 massacre, according to the intelligence report reviewed by WSJ, and two are accused of helping to kidnap Israelis. Seven of the 12 accused employees were reportedly primary or secondary school teachers.

Two employees were tracked to locations where multiple Israeli civilians were murdered, and others are believed to have assisted with procuring weapons and coordinating logistics for the attack.

On Monday, The Times of Israel provided more details about the intelligence dossier, noting that the report alleges a UNRWA school counselor from Khan Younis worked with his son to abduct a woman from Israel.

The report described a social worker with the agency who is believed to have brought the body of a dead Israeli soldier to Gaza. The same social worker allegedly distributed ammunition and helped to direct vehicles on Oct. 7.

TOI reports that a third employee was described as taking part in the massacre at Kibbutz Be'eri where 97 people died.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini responded to the recent allegations against the agency in a Saturday statement, urging the countries that suspended funding to the agency to reconsider their decision.

"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. The U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the highest investigative authority in the U.N. system, has already been seized of this very serious matter," the commissioner general stated.

Lazzarini stated that OIOS is investigating the accusations and that external experts will conduct a review of UNRWA to "strengthen its framework for the strict adherence of all staff to the humanitarian principles."

"I urge countries who have suspended their funding to re-consider their decisions before UNRWA is forced to suspend its humanitarian response. The lives of people in Gaza depend on this support and so does regional stability," the statement continued.

UNRWA employees have previously faced scrutiny for their alleged ties to terrorist groups.

In November, a report from Israeli Channel 13's Almog Boker claimed a teacher with UNRWA held captive one of the hostages Hamas abducted during its attack. The teacher allegedly kept a man in his attic for over a month and barely provided him with any food and neglected the man's medical needs.

At the time, the UNRWA and the U.N. said in a statement that they were taking the allegations seriously and requested more information from the Israeli journalist.

"Despite repeated demands, the journalist has not responded," UNRWA stated, adding that it asked the journalist to remove his post because it was "unsupported by any evidence or verifiable facts in support thereof may amount to misinformation."

Members of UNRWA have also been accused of celebrating Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre. In 2008, Reuters reported that a former headmaster and science teacher at a U.N. school in Gaza built rockets for the Islamic Jihad terror group.
Home News 6 pro-life activists convicted of FACE Act felonies, face over 10 years in prison

A devout Christian father of 11 children is facing prison time alongside five other pro-life activists after being convicted of violating a federal law against blocking access to abortion clinics.

A federal jury found Paul Vaughn guilty on Tuesday of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act when he and five others blocked access to an abortion facility in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, in March 2021.

In addition to Vaughn, the other defendants found guilty of obstructing access to the Mount Juliet facility were Chester Gallagher, Heather Idoni, Calvin Zastrow, Coleman Boyd and Dennis Green.

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A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 2. The six pro-life activists are facing up to 10.5 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine not to exceed $260,000.

"These defendants knowingly chose to violate laws they disagreed with," said U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee in a statement released Tuesday.

"The jury's verdict today is a victory for the rule of law in this country and a reminder that we cannot pick and choose which laws we follow. It is also a testament to the outstanding work done in this case by the trial team and our law enforcement partners."

The Thomas More Society, a religious liberty law firm that helped to represent Vaughn, has expressed disappointment with the jury decision and intends to appeal the verdict.

"This was a peaceful demonstration by entirely peaceable citizens  filled with prayer, hymn-singing, and worship  oriented toward persuading expecting mothers not to abort their babies," said TMS Senior Counsel Steve Crampton in a statement.

"Unfortunately, the Biden Department of Justice decided to characterize Paul Vaughn's peaceful actions as a felony' conspiracy against rights,' to intimidate and punish Paul and other pro-life people and people of faith."

Crampton described the jury decision as "a frustrating setback, for Paul, for his family, and for the extended pro-life community," adding that he believed the Biden administration's "pattern of arresting and prosecuting peaceful pro-life advocates is disturbing."

In October 2022, Vaughn was one of originally 11 people indicted for their blocking of the entrance to the Mount Juliet clinic, which was advertised by Gallagher and Boyd on social media.

Seven of the 11 defendants faced conspiracy charges under the FACE Act, while the remaining defendants were charged with misdemeanors that carried a punishment of up to one year in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannefelser released a statement at the time condemning the indictments as the latest example of "the Biden administration's egregious abuse of the Justice Department."

"Pro-abortion Democrats will stop at nothing to protect the abortion industry that spends millions to elect them while demonizing pro-life advocates working to save lives and turning a blind eye to violence against them," stated Dannenfelser in 2022.

The FACE Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994, coming in response to a reported increase in violence against abortion facilities and personnel.

"We simply cannot  we must not  continue to allow the attacks, the incidents of arson, the campaigns of intimidation upon law-abiding citizens that has given rise to this law," said Clinton in 1994, as quoted by The New York Times.

"No person seeking medical care, no physician providing that care should have to endure harassments or threats or obstruction or intimidation or even murder from vigilantes who take the law into their own hands because they think they know what the law ought to be."

While often used against pro-life activists blocking entrance to abortion facilities, the FACE Act has been occasionally used to prosecute pro-choice vandals of pregnancy resource centers.

In 2023, for example, four individuals were indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida for their alleged vandalizing of a pro-life pregnancy care center.
Home News Catholic group rails against 'sexualized and effeminate' depiction of Jesus in Spain Institute of Social Policy blast artwork as an 'abomination'

A Catholic group in Spain expressed outrage regarding a "sexualized and effeminate" depiction of Jesus Christ that is being used to promote Easter week in Seville.

The artwork, which was designed by Seville artist Salustiano Garcia, shows a thin, semi-nude Jesus in front of a red background with His grave linens suggestively placed over his genitals after His resurrection.

Spanish celebrations of Holy Week feature prominently in the historically Catholic country, especially in Seville.

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According to the Council of Brotherhoods and Guilds, which organizes Holy Week events in the city, the depiction shows "the radiant side of Holy Week" in the "purest style of this prestigious painter," according to The Daily Mail.

The Institute of Social Policy (IPSE), a conservative Catholic group, disagreed, denouncing the painting as a "sexualized" and "effeminate" portrayal of Jesus, according to a post by the group on X.

Este cartel es una verdadera aberracion.



? Un Cristo sexualizado y amanerado



Desde el Instituto de Politica Social (IPSE), consideramos una ofensa grave este cartel que descontextualiza completamente el verdadero significado de la #SemanaSanta.



Exigimos su retirada isofacta pic.twitter.com/6amhDQX3E5  Instituto de Politica Social (@IPS_Esp) January 27, 2024

"We consider this poster a serious offense that completely decontextualizes the true meaning of [Holy Week]," the group wrote. "We demand its [immediate] removal."

The group also described the painting using the Spanish word "aberracion," a strong word that can be translated into English as "outrage" or "abomination."

Other conservatives in Spain railed against the portrayal, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Javier Navarro, a member of Spain's conservative Vox Party, claimed in an X post that the portrayal "sought to provoke" and failed in its purported aim of "encouraging the faithful to participate in Holy Week in Seville," according to AFP.

Garcia defended his artwork to Spanish newspaper ABC as a "gentle, elegant and beautiful" depiction of Christ that was based on his own son and fashioned with "great respect."

"To see sexuality in my image of Christ, you must be mad," he said, suggesting that there was nothing in that piece that couldn't be found in other artistic depictions of Jesus going back centuries.

Juan Espadas, a politician with the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, also defended the artwork, claiming it exhibited a combination of "tradition and modernity," according to AFP.

Controversy similarly erupted last year over an artistic display by Swedish artist Elisabeth Ohlson in the European Parliament that showed Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount while accompanied by homosexual men dressed in leather attire associated with BDSM fetishism.

MEPs from Italy, Spain and Poland denounced the artwork, which was displayed in a restricted area of the E.U. Parliament building, as disrespectful and blasphemous.

Italian MEP Maria told The Times (U.K.) that it "represents Jesus surrounded by apostles dressed as sadomasochistic slaves."

Jorge Buxade, also a member of Spains Vox party, accused the European Parliament at the time of giving a platform for the LGTBIQ+ lobby with the complicity of leftist parties.
Home News Catholic priest asks US to probe Nigerian government's role in 'jihad' against Christians

WASHINGTON  A Nigerian Catholic priest is calling on the Biden administration to consider investigating the Nigerian governments role in the ongoing jihad against Christians.

Father Ambrose Ekereku, a Catholic priest from Nigeria, addressed the hostility to Christianity that has come to define his country in a speech at the fourth annual International Religious Freedom Summit on Tuesday. His remarks came during a breakout session discussing violations of religious freedom in the West African nation, Ukraine and Armenia.

What is happening in Nigeria is a systematic jihad, genocide and ethnic cleansing, he said. Ekereku maintained that the targeting of Christians by a predominantly Muslim ethnic group known as the Fulani isnt a new development but one that goes back more than a century.

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Explaining that the Fulani migrated to Nigeria from Senegal and Mauritania in the 19th century, Ekereku noted that Islamic conquests brought them to the country. While the Fulani established an Islamic caliphate that lasted for about 90 years, Ekereku told the audience of religious freedom advocates that the British colonial masters interrupted the conquests that [were] going on.

According to Ekereku, when Nigeria declared independence from Great Britain, the Fulani claimed that the British handed Nigeria back to them. Now, they have continued that jihad.  Thats what is going on.

This thing is not new, he reiterated. What is going on now is not new.

Suggesting that the government has failed to effectively respond as Nigerians are being kidnapped, raped, maimed and butchered by these terrorists, Ekereku warned that it's not going to stop unless the international community comes to our aid. He described Nigerians as helpless because Christians dont know where to go.

Ekereku vehemently denounced the claim touted by some leaders that climate change is causing the Fulani to target and massacre Christians: It is not. It is jihad that is going on. It is not farmer-herder clashes.

Some prominent Christian leaders who have spoken out against the Fulani attacks, such as Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, have suggested that international efforts need to tackle the harmful effects of climate change, which he accused of exacerbating ancient rivalries.

Even the Church is not able to speak as it should because if  I said what Im saying now in the pulpit in Nigeria, they would come for me the next moment, he lamented. They would kill me.

While many religious freedom advocates are calling for Nigeria to be reinstated on the U.S. State Departments list of Countries of Particular Concern reserved for the worlds worst persecutors of religious freedom, Ekereku suggested that such an action does not go far enough, insisting that Nigeria  should be held accountable because there are those in government and the security services who are complicit in the violence. He called on the U.S. and others to take action and stop these killings.

A 2022 report published by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law sought to quantify the number of Christians who lost their lives in Nigeria. The report, released in November 2022, found that Islamic jihadist groups were responsible for killing more than 4,000 Christians in the first 10 months of the year alone. The document attributed the deaths of 2,650 of the 4,020 Christians killed in Nigeria to Fulani and Islamic terror groups affiliated with them.

Ekereku wasnt the only religious leader residing in a country plagued by religious persecution to speak at the International Religious Freedom Summit.

Mykhail Brystyn, who serves as the director of the Department of Religious Freedom at the Christian ministry Mission Eurasia, detailed his experience as a pastor residing in the Ukrainian city of Melitopol as the country has been invaded by Russia.

In February 2022, my city was occupied by the Russian military, he recalled. While his church continued gathering people for prayer in addition to providing people with food, clothes and medicine, it didnt take long for the Russian military to begin conducting interrogations of church ministers.

Brystyn described how six months after Russia first occupied Melitopol, his church was captured by Russian occupational authorities who interrupted the worship service and took everyones fingerprints. According to Brystyn, Our church was [the] third in our city to be closed by the Russian military. Today, Russian officials have closed 15 churches in our city.

Asserting that all churches are closed in Russian-occupied Ukrainian cities, Brystyn reported that most priests and pastors like me have been threatened, intimidated, humiliated, detained, beaten and deported. He added, Some priests and believers are still in Russia, freezing to death while some of them were killed.

As long as Russian occupation of Ukrainian territories continues, the new face of religious persecution will endure because where there is Russia, there is no freedom at all, he predicted. I believe that religious freedom will return to the occupied territory only when they are liberated and returned under control of [the] Ukrainian government.
Home News Dutch under 60 can now starve themselves to death with help from their doctor

A Dutch medical federation has lifted the age limit for patients seeking to die by ceasing to eat and drink.

Last week, the Royal Dutch Society for the Promotion of Medicine (KNMG) shared the new guidelines, titled Care for people who consciously stop eating and drinking to hasten the end of life. The previous guideline from 2014 did not recommend assisting people younger than 60 to die of starvation and dehydration.

People increasingly need control over their own end of life. They have various options for this, including consciously stopping eating and drinking, the KNMG stated. Every competent person can choose and implement this themselves. Good guidance from healthcare providers is important.

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The medical federation opted to drop the initial guidance due to several cases of individuals younger than 60 requesting to die in this manner.

"The reason for maintaining an age limit in the old guideline was that at the time, no patients were actually described who were under the age of 60, and who brought the process to an end," Alexander de Graeff, who chairs the committee behind the new guidelines, explained in a statement to NOS.

De Graeff added that he believes if patients want to end their lives, then it's better for them to do it with guidance than without guidance."

As the outlet reported, there have been multiple cases within the last 10 years of people under 60 ending their lives, sometimes without the help of hospice, by ceasing to eat and drink. Approximately 700 people in the Netherlands die every year by deliberately depriving themselves of food and water.

Academic Hospice Demeter has temporarily stopped admitting patients who are physically healthy but are seeking to die, even if theyre over 60, according to NOS.

Niels Mulder, chairman of the Dutch Psychiatry Association, told NOS that someone expressing a desire to die should speak with a mental health professional to explore why they feel this way. Mulder also proposed that hospices work to offer mental health care so that these people can still see life prospects.

The Royal Dutch Society for the Promotion of Medicine did not respond to The Christian Posts request for comment.

According to a brochure from the Dutch Association for a Voluntary End of Life, the cessation of eating and drinking can be more difficult for younger people attempting to end their lives this way while they are still healthy, as it can take longer to die.

In November, the Dutch news outlet NL Times reported that a poll conducted by Kieskompas of nearly 200,000 people found that 80% of the Dutch supported allowing elderly people who feel they've reached the end of their lives to obtain assisted suicide.

Ten percent of participants said they opposed expanding eligibility for legal assisted suicide to include those who merely think their useful lives have come to an end, while another 10% did not express an opinion.

According to a DutchNews report from last April, more than 8,700 people died by euthanasia in the Netherlands last year, a 14% increase from the previous year. The report also noted a 34% increase in the number of euthanized patients who had been suffering from dementia.

Another study, "Does Legalizing Assisted Suicide Make Things Better Or Worse?" released in November 2022 by the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, found that nations that have legalized assisted suicide or euthanasia have higher rates of self-initiated suicides. The study also found that women were the most likely to die by self-inflicted suicide in jurisdictions that have permitted euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Wesley J. Smith, chair and senior fellow at the Discovery Institute's Center on Human Exceptionalism, told CP at the time that the studys results did not surprise him.

Assisted suicide advocacy is, literally, suicide advocacy, even if promoters deploy deflecting euphemisms such as, aid in dying, Smith said. A society cant be pro-some suicides and then be surprised that some suicidal people outside the permitted categories think it includes them.
Home News Mike Johnson warns of global threats to religious freedom, calls on Biden to protect Uyghurs

WASHINGTON  The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson urged the Biden administration to take stronger action against the Chinese Communist Party as the ruling government's treatment of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority group continues to invite allegations of human rights and religious freedom violations.

Johnson, R-La., addressed the crowd gathered at the annual International Religious Freedom Summit Wednesday, highlighting his background as a religious freedom litigator and discussing the threats to religious freedom worldwide.

"North Korea's Kim Jong-un, for example, continues to exercise a dark influence in denying all freedoms to his people, especially religious freedom," the 52-year-old lawmaker said.

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"The regime in Myanmar continues to engage in genocidal attacks against the Rohingya Muslims. In Nigeria, Christians and minority Muslims are attacked and killed by mobs of terrorists. Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua and Miguel Diaz-Canel in Cuba hunt down and imprison Catholic priests and Baptist pastors who simply preach the Gospel and speak out against the regime."

Johnson singled out the Chinese Communist Party's religious freedom violations, noting that "Tibetan Buddhists and Falun Gong practitioners are placed in forced labor camps, and they have their organs harvested by the Chinese Communist Party."

He detailed how "in the Uyghur Autonomous Region, Uyghur Muslims are suffering under the Chinese Communist Party's genocidal campaign of forced sterilization, forced detention and re-education."

"Millions of Uyghurs have been detained in these camps where they're kept in cramped cells, and they're tortured and brainwashed," he added. "At this moment, the U.S. has an opportunity and an obligation to prevent genocide and punish those who commit it."

After the crowd erupted into applause, Johnson issued a plea to the White House: "As China makes its forced labor efforts harder to detect, we call on the Biden administration to fully enforce the letter and the spirit of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act."

"This should not be a partisan issue," he continued. "We should all be united on this. It's who we are as Americans. And we must use all of our resources to prevent American involvement in Uyghur genocide."

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in December 2021, was approved by the U.S. Senate in a unanimous vote in July 2021, while the U.S. House of Representatives approved it in a 428-1 vote in December 2021.

The law established the policy of the U.S. to "prohibit the import of all goods, wares, articles, or merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured, wholly or in part, by forced labor from the People's Republic of China and particularly any such goods, wares, articles, or merchandise produced in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China."

Additionally, Johnson shared his belief that there is a direct connection between the treatment of religious minorities in the aforementioned countries and the lack of opportunity for their citizens.

"All these countries, some of the most repressive in the world, also have the least to offer their citizens in terms of economic prosperity and social mobility. And that's no surprise because if you're going to restrict and torment people for their religious beliefs, it's going to be a tyrannical regime."

"Economic prosperity grows when the people are allowed to follow their faith. Freedom flourishes where freedom is allowed," he declared.
Home News Ohio man sentenced to 18 years for firebombing church that hosted drag show

An Ohio man who attempted to burn down a because it planned to host drag shows has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for violating federal law.

Aimenn Penny, a 20-year-old resident of Alliance, was sentenced on Monday to 18 years in prison plus three years of supervised release for trying to destroy the Community Church of Chesterland, which is affiliated with the theologically liberal United Church of Christ.

Penny pleaded guilty last October to the charges of violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and using fire and explosives to try to commit a felony.

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"This sentence holds Mr. Penny accountable for carrying out violence against an Ohio church because he disagreed with the way congregants chose to express their beliefs," Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the U.S. Justice Department's National Security Division said in a statement Tuesday.

"Such acts of extremist violence have no place in our communities and the Justice Department is committed to bringing to justice those who would use or threaten violence to prevent their fellow citizens from freely exercising their fundamental rights."

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said that she hoped "this significant sentence sends a clear and resounding message that this type of hate-fueled attack against a church will not be tolerated in our country."

"This defendant tried to burn down a church simply because its members created space for and provided support to the LGBTQ+ community," stated Clarke.

"The Justice Department will vigorously investigate and prosecute such senseless, bias-motivated violence against people exercising their constitutionally protected right to practice their religion and express their beliefs."

In March 2023, Penny threw two Molotov cocktails at the Community Church in hopes of burning down the building in response to its decision to host a drag show.

By the end of the month, Penny was arrested and charged with one count of possessing a destructive device and another count of malicious use of explosive materials.

The arrest came through a joint effort by the FBI Cleveland Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Chester Township Police Department, according to Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office.

"The FBI leveraged its task force and its specialized resources to identify, locate and subsequently arrest the subject earlier today," said Nelsen in a statement last year.

"We thank the collaborative work and strong partnership of the Chester Township Police and Lake and Geauga County local authorities who assisted."

Community Church held the drag queen story hour show as scheduled, with the congregation thanking authorities for providing extra security.

"The number of cruisers we hear were present, the 'swat-style' vans, the Chagrin Falls' tactical mobile unit' which we were told was parked nearby ... this overwhelming presence would have put caution in the mind of any group hoping to make an opportunistic threat," stated the church.

"Taking the preparations made by our own team with the Fairmount team, together with the law enforcement contingent, helped make the day a resounding success! And the only memory resulting from the day's event at the church was Joy and Love! So much Love!"
Home News Pastor mauled to death by pit bulls after saving wife in attack

An Indiana pastors wife is remembering her husband of nearly 50 years as a hero after he died protecting her from two stray pit bulls that mauled him to death when he tried to chase them off their property on Tuesday.

"I say he saved my life," Betty Mundine told 13News about her late husband, 85-year-old William Mundine, who led Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church.

"He was a hero, she said.

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The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department told Fox 59 that the attack from the pit bulls occurred around 10 a.m. on Tuesday when they were called to the citys east side.

Holly Watkins explained that she and her grandmother were outside their home when the two dogs tried to attack them, but they ran inside their home. Watkins said her grandfather went outside to chase the dogs off their property and they responded with the attack.

"My granddaddy came out to try to shoo them away, and two pit bulls, I guess, they attacked him," Watkins told 13News.

Although she is remembering her husband as a hero, the pastors wife is in mourning, according to her daughter.

"My mother is distraught," Melissa Mundine told 13News. "These dogs are just loose, and they've been on the loose for weeks."

Kurt Christian, chief communications officer for the Indianapolis Animal Care Services, said in a statement cited by Fox 59 that a day before the pastor and his family were attacked, they had received a complaint about the stray dogs and investigated reports of what was described as one brown and one black pit bull-type dog attacking people and dogs on the citys near northeast side.

Officers were unable to locate the dogs in question at that time. According to procedure, IACS established a sweep schedule wherein officers would be dispatched to the area those animals were last seen between three to four times a day for the next 10 days, Christian explained.

He said an animal control officer was searching for the dogs in the area on Tuesday when they received a report that two dogs were attacking a person in the 2300 block of North Kenyon Street.

After an ACO and EMS arrived on-scene, they requested IMPD and additional ACOs to assist. IMPD officers arrived and located a victim with injuries consistent with multiple dog bites. The victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition, Christian said.

One of the dogs had become so aggressive that an IMPD officer was forced to shoot it.

An IMPD officer discharged their firearm at the aggressive dog, and an ACO did locate the wounded black dog to impound it, he said.

Officials later confirmed that a brown pit bull that had eluded IACS officers was eventually caught, according to Fox 59.

The pastors family told 13News that aggressive dogs have been terrorizing their neighborhood regularly and they want whoever is responsible for their presence to be held accountable.

"Every day, they just come in people's yards," Watkins said Tuesday. "Like just last night, we were in the backyard  and they ran up on us  and we just had to kinda run and wait for them to leave."

"Find the dogs," the pastors daughter said. "Find the owners of the dogs and let's get this situation handled."
Home News Texas father sues Assemblies of God, accuses Chi Alpha leaders of sexually abusing teenage son

Some seven months after Daniel Savala, an itinerant minister and convicted sex offender with ties to the Chi Alpha Campus Ministries sponsored by the Assemblies of God, was arrested for sexually abusing two boys, a Texas father has filed a lawsuit accusing the nations largest Pentecostal denomination of negligence that allowed his 13-year-old son to be abused by multiple men.

Also named as defendants in the lawsuit filed in the Harris County Court last Thursday by Stephen Holt on behalf of his teenage son, identified only as L.H., are Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, College Station; North Texas Assemblies of God, and Mountain Valley Fellowship.

Holt is also seeking monetary relief over $1,000,000 for the harm experienced by his son due to the malice, gross negligence, . or both of each of the defendants under Texas law.

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Savala, according to CBS affiliate KWTX, was identified as the "spiritual mentor" of the former leader of Chi Alpha's ministry at Baylor University, Christopher Hundl, 38. Hundl was charged with allowing Savala to sexually abuse two of his family members last summer, The Waco Tribune-Herald reported.

According to the arrest warrant, Hundl allegedly brought the two boys to Savala's Houston home several times between the summer of 2021 and March 2022. Texas' sex offender registry records show that Savala was charged in 2012 for sexual abuse of a minor, a third-degree felony, which he committed in Alaska between 1995 and 1997, when he served as youth pastor at Clover Pass Community Church in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Days before Hundl's arrest, the board and elders of Mountain Valley Fellowship Church in College Station, Texas, also announced that they had dismissed their lead pastor, Eli Stewart, for his relationship with Savala.

"In April 2023, the Board and Elders of Mountain Valley Fellowship learned of allegations that Lead Pastor Eli Stewart continued to refer young men to Daniel Savala for faulty spiritual guidance despite knowing that Savala was a convicted sex offender," the church leaders wrote.

"The Board and Elders commissioned an independent investigation into those allegations, and as the investigation began in early May, it quickly became clear that Eli Stewart had fallen into sinful practices unbecoming of the office of a pastor and that he had neglected his duty to protect his flock from a known predator, both of which disqualify him from ministry," they wrote.

Stewart, who graduated from Ketchikan high school in 1998, was a regular attendee of CPCC and member of Savalas youth group.

The lawsuit alleges that Stewart was sexually abused by Savala as a youth in Ketchikan, and following Savalas indictment in 2012, he petitioned Chi Alpha members to write letters on Savalas behalf requesting leniency.

On information and belief, AG and Chi Alpha were made aware of Savalas history of sexually abusing minors shortly after his conviction. Despite this knowledge, after his release, Savala moved to Texas and became involved with Chi Alpha at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in Huntsville, Texas, where Stewart was serving as part of the Chi Alpha pastoral team, the lawsuit says.

In about 2017, Stewart relocated from SHSU to College Station where he relaunched a Chi Alpha chapter at Texas A&M University and planted Mountain Valley Fellowship where he served as the lead pastor until he was terminated last year.

During his tenure as pastor of MVF, Stewart allowed members of the TAMU Chi Alpha chapter, including Ryan Hoffart (Hoffart), William Johnson (Johnson), Bo Randolph (Randolph) and Alex Owens (Owens), to serve as group leaders to youth and/or be around youth, including L.H., at MVF. He also allowed youth at MVF, including L.H., to be with and around Savala and thereby subjected to his deviant sexual propensities toward minor males, the lawsuit states.

In October 2021, Hoffart took L.H. to Savalas home in Houston, Harris County, Texas where, among other things, Hoffart and Savala: a. made L.H. strip off his clothing and sit naked with the two of them in a small sauna; b. asked L.H. to touch Savalas penis; c. attempted to grab L.H.s penis; and d. made other inappropriate comments and engaged in other inappropriate conduct with L.H., who was merely thirteen years old at the time, it adds.

In August 2022, the teenagers father alleges TAMU Chi Alpha members took him with them on a leadership trip to Colorado, without his permission and made him engage in skinny dipping and other acts of grooming L.H. as they preyed upon his innocence.

At another Chi Alpha gathering in November 2022 attended by the teenager, TAMU Chi Alpha members showed L.H. their penises and played with themselves; b. a Chi Alpha member stroked his own penis in front of L.H. until he became erect.

It further noted that the teenager was dry humped by Hoffart, Johnson, Randolph, and Owens.

Various Chi Alpha members showed L.H. their testicles or anuses; e. various Chi Alpha members pushed L.H.s face into their crotches and made sexual noises and pulled L.H.s pants down; and f. various Chi Alpha members played a game called Fire Truck where they would rub their hands on L.H.s thighs and into his crotch.
Home Opinion Christians in Nigeria are being slaughtered. Does anyone care?

In the face of growing global apathy, the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Christ continues to be a tragic reality in Nigeria. As the Muslim Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram terrorists rampage across the country, Christians find themselves caught in the crossfire, bearing the brunt of a deadly campaign of violence and persecution.

The statistics are staggering: According to some reports, at least 4,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria in 2021 alone. This number, which includes both targeted attacks and collateral damage, represents a significant increase from the previous year and paints a grim picture of the ongoing persecution faced by believers in the region.

Here are some other shocking statistics, as summarized by Lisa Zengarini at Vatican News in April 2023, which used an Intersociety report on the plight of Christians in Nigeria:

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Over the past 14 years at least 52,250 Nigerian Christians have been brutally murdered at the hands of Islamist militants, more than 30,000 of whom during the eight-year presidency of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, often criticized during his tenure for not doing enough to combat growing insecurity in the country.

In the same period 18,000 Christian churches and 2,200 Christian schools were set ablaze.

About 5 million Christians have been displaced and forced into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps within Nigeria and refugee camps at regional and sub-regional borders.

The Fulani herdsmen, driven by their hatred for Christians, have been responsible for most of these attacks, often targeting Christian villages and communities. Their tactics range from arson and looting to mass kidnappings and forced conversions to Islam. Meanwhile, Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist group, continues to wreak havoc in the northeastern part of the country, with a particular focus on targeting Christian communities.

Despite the severity of the situation, the international community has been slow to respond, with many governments and organizations turning a blind eye to the plight of Nigerian Christians. Even within the country itself, there is a concerning lack of awareness and concern for the suffering of these communities.

Writing on X (formerly Twitter) author Nancy Pearcey asked, Why is the Biden administration turning a blind eye to persecution of Christians? She goes to quote from an article by Family Research Councils Washington Stand, Despite 52,000 Deaths, Bidens State Dept. Leaves Nigeria Off Religious Freedom Watch List for 3rd Year, that notes:

For the third consecutive year, the Biden administrations Department of State has left Nigeria off of its list of Countries of Particular Concern, a list that catalogues the countries around the world that have perpetrated or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom. The move comes despite the fact that Nigeria leads the world in the number of Christians that have been killed for publicly practicing their faith.

While countless atrocities occur around the world at any given time, the plight of Christians in Nigeria is one of the worst cases of religious-based persecution happening right now. Again, as Washington Stand explains, Since 2009, when the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram began its campaign of violence, approximately 52,250 Nigerians have been murdered for their Christian faith, far and away the largest number of Christians killed in any country in the world.

Even if the progressive global community refuses to stand with Nigerian Christians, we must. As Christians, we must bring attention to those in Nigeria who are suffering and being slaughtered simply because they are Christians. We must pray for their safety and well-being, and call on our government to take action to address this crisis. We must not be silent in the face of such atrocities but rather raise our voices in defense of the innocent and oppressed. In the words of the Apostle Paul, we are called to bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

Let us heed this call, remembering that our brothers and sisters in Nigeria are not forgotten but are precious in the sight of our Heavenly Father. May we be ever vigilant in our efforts to bring light into the darkness, and may God grant comfort and strength to those who suffer for His name.

Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center.
Home Opinion Does Alistair Begg have a point about gay weddings?

A contentious debate among believers was reignited last week.



This firestorm erupted after advice from pastor and Bible teacher Alistair Begg surfaced, where Begg advised a grandmother that she should attend her grandchilds wedding to a transgender individual. The advice came after Begg asked if the grandchild knew what the grandmother believed about sexuality and sin and if the grandchild knew that the grandmother could not celebrate the union. After the grandmother confirmed that, Begg advised her to go, take a gift, and demonstrate the loving kindness of God to those who are hostile to Him.

I am not at all surprised by the opposition he has received; this is a painfully familiar issue for me.

Over a decade ago, my identical twin brother married another man. After much wrestling and prayer, my wife and I decided to attend the wedding.

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Before I get too far, let me make a few disclosures. First, let me state unequivocally that no Christian can celebrate something that the Word of God calls sin. And Scripture is clear that homosexual behavior, like all sexual behavior outside of marriage between a man and a woman, is a sin. Second, let me state that what I am sharing here is not prescriptive, meaning I am not telling anyone that they should do as I have done. If your conscience does not allow you to come to the same conclusion that I came to, that is more than OK. No one should ever violate their conscience in making a decision like this.

When my wife and I decided to attend my brother's wedding, we did so knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that he and his partner had no question where we stood, biblically and relationally. If we were not confident of this, we would have felt guilty of passive approval. My brother was in a relationship with his partner for several years before they married. Over those years we had very direct and honest conversations about what we believed the Bible says about all sexual sin, including homosexual behavior, and what we believed about Gods ability to restore and redeem human sexuality.

My brother and I even had a heated discussion the day before their wedding. There would be no way to mistake our motives. It was abundantly clear that we were not celebrating or endorsing their choice. In fact, the first words out of the officiant at the ceremony were: Now, we know that there are some here that disagree with this union, but you have chosen to be here because you love [them]. For that, we thank you. We attended the ceremony as a demonstration that no matter what choices they made, we loved them.

I believe that a particular logical fallacy is driving many of the responses to Beggs advice to this conflicted grandmother and has been at the heart of the debate since we had to face this reality almost 14 years ago. It is called the False Equivalence Fallacy. A false equivalency is an informal fallacy in which an equivalence is drawn between two subjects based on flawed or false reasoning. The flawed reasoning here is that presence and celebration are the same thing. If you are present, you are by default celebrating.

I am currently deep in my 40s, and over the years I have known many parents who not only attended but in many cases even funded the heterosexual wedding ceremonies of their children who were marrying partners that they would not have chosen. Many of these parents were extremely grieved by the union.

In each of these cases, the parents recognized that they could not control their child's choice. They could express their concern and disagreement with their adult children, but they could not make their decisions. Choices were made to attend, and even sometimes fund the weddings, to demonstrate their unconditional love for their kids and do their best to preserve the relationship. But when you add to the dynamic a gay relationship and all objectivity to discern the difference between resolved attendance  often accompanied by deep grief  and celebration go out the window.

Let me frame presence through a theological lens. Jesus spent time in the presence of people who offended the religious leaders of His day. In the synoptic Gospel accounts of the calling of Matthew (Levi), we see the Pharisees expressing disgust at Jesus eating with sinners. Jesus responded that it was not the healthy who needed a physician, but rather the sick (Luke 5:31-32). God incarnate was present sharing a meal with sinners. But lets take presence a step further. God is omnipresent. Psalm 139:7-8 states:

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

Though He is grieved by sin, God has been present for every sin committed by all humanity, throughout all time. This means that He has been present for every gay wedding that ever was, and ever will be. Even if our sin blinds us to His presence, He is, and always will be right there. A.W. Tozer makes a great distinction between Gods omnipresence and His manifest presence, and I think that it would be good to clarify here as well. He writes that the manifest presence of God is what makes Heaven, Heaven. If Gods manifest presence were to show up, people would be on their faces repenting. We can believe in the omnipresence of God, and rightly understand that His presence in no way means endorsement of sin, mine or anyone elses.

I know what objection comes next. Well, if you show up to love your family members, it is just going to push them further into sin. We must stand against their sin, even withdrawing relationships to help them come to a place of repentance. That is what will cause them to wake up to their sin, right?

Well, that is not what led me out of my gay identity and gay relationship.

When I was 19 years old, I surrendered my gay identity and relationship to the Lord. I began a long journey of surrender and discipleship. I had been a believer in Jesus since I was 4 years old and knew exactly what the Bible taught about homosexuality. That mere knowledge did not make me repent. Rather, it was the truth of Scripture coupled with the relentless grace and kindness of God, demonstrated through Christians who loved me through my mess.

Seven years after that surrender, I married my wonderful wife, Suzanne, and I entered into full-time ministry discipling men and women like me who were following Jesus out of an LGBT identity. For 10 years I ministered at a parachurch organization in Portland, Oregon, not only to these men and women leaving LGBTQ, but I also led a group for parents and family with loved ones who had embraced an LGBTQ identity. Six years ago, I even began speaking in front of state and federal lawmakers opposing laws and policies that strip religious freedom and therapeutic choice for those who have struggled like I had.

For so many of the families I have ministered to over the years, the pain and grief surrounding an event like this are excruciating, and the relational stakes couldnt feel higher. Many families are given an ultimatum that to not attend the wedding will cause irreparable damage to the relationship. With the majority of mainstream Christianity ready to judge you if you go and your loved ones are ready to cut their losses if you dont, it is insulting and cruelly dismissive to say that a parent, grandparent, or sibling is guilty of celebrating sin if they decide to be present at a wedding of this nature.

God never left me, even when I was sinning. He led other believers to press into relationship with me as tangible demonstrations of His love, grace, kindness, and unchanging truth. In 27 years of this journey, I have never met someone who repented and came back to Jesus because they were cut off from their family. In fact, that only drove most of those whom I have ministered to further away from God and into the arms of the LGBTQ community, who are more than ready to receive the outcast.

I hope that we, as Christians, can have better conversations about all of this. I hope that before we start pronouncing judgments, maybe we could start with a little attempt at empathy or kindness. I know that the parents I minister to, and those I know who have left LGBTQ identity would appreciate more understanding on this front.

To Alistair Begg, you may not have known the hornet's nest you were kicking when you gave this advice to this struggling grandma, but I am so grateful that you did. If more parents were empowered with the permission to show up incarnationally for their LGBTQ-identified kids, holding fast to truth while demonstrating unconditional love, I believe many more prodigals would make their way back home.
Home Opinion What I saw in Israel

Like many Americans, I watched in horror as the peaceful calm of a Shabbat morning was shattered by Hamas terrorists on October 7th. Having visited Israel twice before, I read and watched the events unfold with heightened interest, yet I was a distant bystander, unable to offer direct, tangible help to the victims.

That changed last week when I traveled to Israel with a group of American Christians just 100 days after the attacks. Our mission was to aid two of the villages impacted, Netiv HaAsara and Kfar Aza. As I engaged with the survivors and walked amongst the ruins, I stepped into the shadow of a haunting past as evil incarnate once again visited the Jewish people.

Comprehending the complexity of this conflict is a daunting task for an outsider. Candidly, my initial assumption was that the attacks on the border villages were partly due to their proximity to Gaza, viewed by Palestinians as pseudo-settlements that agitated fears of Zionism. Nothing could be further from the truth.

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The Israelis living closest to the Gaza border are, in fact, overwhelmingly committed to peace and a two-state solution. They actively strive for better relations with the Palestinian people. I encountered individuals who regularly facilitated medical care in Israel for Palestinians and learned that the kibbutzim along the border often employ Palestinians, among the 140,000 who enter Israel daily on work permits.

One story was that of Shmuel from Netiv HaAsara. He had formed a fruitful business partnership with a man from Gaza, which abruptly ended when his partner stopped responding to calls and texts on the Wednesday prior to the attacks. Shmuel described his horror and shock to learn that this man was actually a "judge" within Hamas, responsible for enforcing Sharia law in Gaza, including carrying out executions.

When the terrorists attacked these villages, they knew not only the exact location of the armories but also the homes of the leaders of each village and those of the security teams and first responders. They gathered this intelligence deliberately and deceptively for years before the attacks, betraying the goodwill of the Israelis who were literally living out the promise of a two-state solution.

The bitter irony of October 7th is that those most committed to peace were the targets. This has triggered a fundamental shift in the Israeli psyche, bringing about an unprecedented level of unity on this matter. The international community simply does not fully grasp this new reality.

In light of this, what does an end to hostilities look like? Is it a hostage exchange for a cease-fire, like the one that existed on October 6th? A renewed occupation of Gaza, which Israel unilaterally left in 2005? Or perhaps a grand compromise involving the surrounding nations that would finally lead to the elusive two-state solution?

Speaking with everyday Israelis, survivors, soldiers, and government leaders made one thing clear: Israel will not tolerate an outcome that allows Hamas to remain in power. This is not simply a political statement, it is a moral imperative. There is now little debate or question as to the nature of the enemy and Israels moral duty to eradicate Hamas.

But what could possibly constitute the defeat of Hamas, which has a firm grip over the Palestinian people? With around 10,000 of their estimated 40,000 fighters killed, simply increasing this body count wont lead to peace for Israel because Hamas will still be able to claim victory.

Even if Hamas loses nearly all of its fighting forces but retains control over the Gaza Strip, it will have achieved what no other Arab power has managed in the last 75 years: launching an attack on Israel without losing its territorial holdings. In the context of the Holy Land, land is the ultimate measure of power and success.

A regime can withstand severe economic and political turmoil, with its military forces depleted and its population suffering, but as long as it maintains control over its land, a regime can and will survive. For Hamas and its allies, true ideological defeat is inextricably linked to some form of territorial loss.

The international community will see the end of Israel's military campaign when they have achieved a notable reduction and intensification of control over the Gaza Envelope, likely evidenced by the establishment of an expanded security buffer.

This outcome serves as both the only practical response by Israel and the only one that will signal clear defeat for Hamas in the eyes of its supporters and allies. Only then will there be an opening for lasting political and ideological change within Gaza.
Christian parents call for change to Church of England school policy

Christian parents who challenged transgender ideology in their children's school have written to the Archbishop of Canterbury calling for a change to the Church of England's educational policy.

Nigel and Sally Rowe withdrew their children from a Church of England school on the Isle of Wight in 2017 over its affirming policy towards transgender pupils.

They allege that it was suggested by the school that they and their son, who was six at the time, would be "transphobic" if they did not comply with the policy.

They also allege that the Church of England's school guidance, "Valuing All God's Children", was used against them by the school.

They appealed to the government for help, but it refused to intervene, prompting the Rowes to take legal action. They were given permission for a judicial review but the government settled with the couple in September 2022 before the case could go to court and agreed to review its guidance.

The Rowes say they feel "vindicated" after the government published its long-awaited draft transgender guidance for schools in December.

The draft document said that schools are not obligated to allow children to 'socially transition' - a term used for changing names and pronouns.

The Rowes have written to Archbishop Justin Welby asking that Valuing All God's Children be withdrawn in light of the government's draft guidance and "as a matter of urgency for the sake of protecting the children".

They have also requested a meeting with Welby.

"Regardless of what the government says, the Church of England should be upholding biblical teaching about the differences between men and women and the scientific fact that people cannot change their biological sex," they said.

"Sadly, the Church of England has failed to uphold these truths and continues to persist in upholding guidance that directly contradicts biblical truth and is harmful for children."

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which has supported the couple for the last seven years said the Church of England had "an opportunity to end the social contagion of harm and confusion in its schools".

"The CofE's guidelines need to be rooted in biological reality and biblical truth, sadly they are not, and therefore not only lack integrity and credibility, but encourage and allow harm," she said.

"A braver approach is now needed by the CofE to end the influence of transgender ideology in the classroom with clear guidance provided on how gender distressed children can be compassionately supported outside of the learning environment.

"In 2017 the Christian Legal Centre and the Rowes were the first to raise alarm bells over transgender ideology which was capturing schools and the CofE. They were treated shamefully for doing so and have never received an apology.

"Only now has the government and wider public woken up to the danger's extreme transgender ideology and sex education pose in UK schools. Now it is time for the CofE to do the same."

The Archbishop's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Christians get counting to reduce plastic waste

Christians across the UK are being encouraged to do their bit in the war against plastic waste by taking part in a nationwide count.

The Big Plastic Count will see thousands of people across the country count up all the pieces of plastic they throw away between 11 and 17 March.

The campaign is a partnership between Christian development agency Tearfund and charities EveryDay Plastic and Greenpeace UK.

They want to gather evidence about plastic waste before major UN talks taking place in Ottawa, Canada, from 23 to 29 April.

Tearfund has called the talks a "once-in-a-generation chance to change our relationship with plastic".

Over 40,000 people, including thousands of school children, have already signed up to take part in the Big Plastic Count and Tearfund is asking Christians to get involved too.

The charity's senior economist Rich Gower said, "Every thirty seconds someone dies from disease linked to plastic pollution and rubbish. For people living in poverty, there is no time to waste.

"The Big Plastic Count is a great opportunity for thousands of us in the UK to come together and show we want this plastics crisis solved.

"It's a powerful reminder to the Government that people across the UK and worldwide are getting on with tackling plastic pollution. We need global politicians to agree on a strong Global Plastics Treaty this year."

The last Big Plastic Count uncovered that just 12 per cent of the UK's plastic packaging is recycled, despite households throwing away nearly two billion pieces each week. The rest is burned, shipped abroad or sent to landfill.

Most of the plastic waste recorded during the Big Count (83%) was from food and drink packaging, the most common being for fruit and vegetables.

"Plastic is all around us, impossible to avoid," said Gower.

"That's why we need to count together - to show world leaders and big businesses that we care and want alternatives to be much easier to find. Your evidence will help create the much-needed pressure calling for ambitious action at the global treaty talks, and help make a future that's free of plastic waste.

"We know plastic pollution is having a huge impact on our neighbours around the world, so taking action can be part of loving our neighbours. But also of loving God - who asks us to take care of his beautiful creation."
Nicaragua released imprisoned priests, but repression is unlikely to relent  and the Catholic Church remains a target

Bad news has been the norm for Catholics in Nicaragua, where clergy and church groups have been frequent targets of a wide-ranging crackdown for years. But on Jan. 14, 2024, they received a happy surprise: The government unexpectedly released two bishops, 15 priests and two seminary students from prison and expelled them to the Vatican.

Those released included Bishop Rolando Alvarez, a high-profile political prisoner who was detained in 2022 for criticizing the government and then sentenced to 26 years in prison for alleged treason.

They also included priests detained by President Daniel Ortega's government in late December 2023 for expressing solidarity with Alvarez and other political prisoners. Days later, Pope Francis criticized the regime in his New Year's message and then called for "respectful diplomatic dialogue."

Nearly six years after mass protests erupted against Ortega and then were brutally repressed, these prisoner releases offer some hope to Nicaragua's opposition. As my research has shown, however, the Ortega regime is unrelenting in trying to retain power, which suggests this is not necessarily a turning point. In fact, the government reportedly took yet another priest into custody on Jan. 16.

Why target the church?

Ortega first led Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990, after his left-wing revolutionary organization, the Sandinista National Liberation Front, or FSLN, spearheaded the overthrow of dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle. In the 1980s, the FSLN clashed with the Vatican and church hierarchy over the group's socialist politics, even as many poorer Nicaraguan Catholics embraced them.

When Ortega took office again in 2007, however, he did so with the blessing of Christian leaders. During the 2006 elections, he had turned to alliances with Catholic and Protestant elites to return to power in exchange for adopting conservative social policies like banning abortion.

Over the next decade, Ortega remained popular, presiding over economic growth in collaboration with business leaders and developing new public infrastructure and services.

Yet he and the FSLN party he controlled were also consolidating power and governing in an increasingly authoritarian manner. Ortega won reelection in 2011 and then retained power in fraudulent elections in 2016. Opposition candidates were disqualified, and Ortega's running mate was his wife, Rosario Murillo.

Unexpectedly, Ortega's popularity and his relationship with the church came crashing down in April 2018, when the government announced cutbacks in social security benefits for retirees. Nicaraguans from all backgrounds took to the streets, and Ortega and Murillo responded with a furious crackdown, unleashing police and pro-government paramilitaries armed with military-grade weapons.

Cathedrals and churches tried to offer refuge to protesters, but over 300 people were killed. Church leaders facilitated a national dialogue between the government and an opposition coalition, but withdrew as repression continued.

When popular Catholic leaders criticized violence against protesters, the regime began viewing the church as a rival threatening Ortega's waning legitimacy. Police, paramilitaries and FSLN supporters started harassing and attacking clergy and Catholic institutions.

In 2019, the pope recalled Silvio Baez, the auxiliary bishop of Managua and a prominent critic of Ortega, from Nicaragua. Yet other bishops and priests still found themselves in the regime's crosshairs.

Some fled into exile or were blocked from entering Nicaragua if they traveled abroad. Others who stayed were kept under surveillance. Priests who expressed support for political prisoners or continued to criticize the regime, even in vague terms, could be arrested or beaten.

The government expelled 12 formerly detained priests to the Vatican in October 2023 after what the regime called "fruitful conversations." But Alvarez, the highest-profile political prisoner, was still held by the government and was stripped of his citizenship after refusing to go into exile in February 2023.

Broader patterns of repression

Attacks on the church are a symptom of the Ortega regime's absolute intolerance for dissent.

With over 3,000 nongovernmental organizations shut down since 2018, the church has become Nicaragua's only major nonstate institution with nationwide reach.

In a country where over 40% of the people identify as Catholic, many normally turn to the church in times of need. Suppressing Catholic institutions means Nicaraguans must turn to the state for aid, which monitors citizens and has been accused of denying services for perceived disloyalty.

At least 27 Catholic and secular universities have also been closed or seized by the government, as have more than 50 media outlets.

The government's decision to expel clergy on Jan. 14 is also in line with its tendency to either block opponents' reentry into Nicaragua or force them into exile. In many cases, Nicaragua has then revoked critics' citizenship, as when it expelled 222 political prisoners in February 2023 to the United States.

When imprisonment or threats have not shaken critics' resolve, Ortega and Murillo appear to have decided that keeping them abroad is best. Not only does this reduce the risks of anti-regime action in Nicaragua, but it may diminish international scrutiny of political prisoners' mistreatment.

Cautious criticism

Since 2018, repression in Nicaragua has come in waves, with the brutal violence that repressed the protests shifting toward an environment of constant surveillance, legal actions against independent institutions and opponents, and periodic arrests. Moments of seeming calm, however, have often been followed by harsh crackdowns, such as a slew of arrests ahead of the 2021 elections.

Even as repression has mounted, the Vatican has been cautious about criticizing Ortega and Murillo, and some Nicaraguans and Catholics abroad have urged the pope to do more. Yet the Vatican's restraint has not appeared to decrease threats against clergy or limits on activities like religious processions.

In January 2024, however, Francis pointedly called attention to the crisis during two speeches, days after a dozen priests were arrested. One week later came the release of Alvarez and his colleagues  free to leave Nicaragua, but not to come back.

Catholic leaders remain Nicaragua's most popular figures, according to independent polling. This makes them a continued threat to Ortega and Murillo's quest for total control. Ezequiel Buenfil Batun, the priest detained Jan. 16, belonged to a religious order whose legal status was revoked that same day, along with several other nongovernment organizations.

As many Nicaraguans lose hope of conditions improving and dozens of political prisoners remain jailed, any positive news like the priests' release is welcome. But it holds no guarantees of broader change ahead.

Kai M. Thaler is Assistant Professor of Global Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
Should Christians attend a same-sex 'wedding'?

Christian Concern's Communications Manager Paul Huxley considers recent advice that Christians should attend a same-sex ceremony.

The last couple of weeks have seen many pastors and theologians chime on the question of whether faithful, Bible-believing Christians should attend the same-sex 'marriage' of a family member.

The question was first brought up by Alistair Begg, an influential pastor who has had a long and faithful public radio ministry.

In an interview, he said:

"I mean, you and I know that 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."

He's right: it is a huge responsibility. With his experience and his solid track record, it makes his answer even more surprising.

He asks the grandmother if her grandson is clear that she is a Christian and that she "can't countenance in any affirming way the choices that he has made in life". When she says yes, he gives her the advice: buy a present and attend the ceremony.

Begg's advice is clearly motivated by kindness and a zeal for evangelism. He rightly wants to see the grandmother be clear to her grandson about her Christian beliefs. He wants her to do that while simultaneously offering surprising, lavish generosity to someone at risk of thinking that Christians hate him.

Some, including FIEC National Director John Stevens, have agreed with Begg.

But, like many others who have responded to the comments, I'm convinced this is a deeply unwise counsel.

Here's why.

Same-sex 'marriage' isn't marriage

It's worth making clear straight away that same-sex 'marriage' is not marriage.

The law may call these relationships 'marriages', but Christians believe that marriage was created by God, not society. Marriage can only exist between one man and one woman, so a male-male or female-female relationship cannot be marriage.

Several years ago, the well-known pastor John Piper explained why he wouldn't attend a same-sex ceremony leading with this point. He also explained how this distortion of marriage defiles the God-given imagery of Christ and the Church as husband and bride  a point also made by Carl Trueman in his critique of Begg's advice.

In this respect, it would be significantly easier for a Christian to attend an Islamic or Hindu wedding (without participating in any elements of worship) because the purpose of the event  to marry a man and a woman  is legitimate.

A wedding is participatory and celebratory

Up to this point, I'm sure Alistair Begg and others who have taken his side would agree. They might want to say that it is possible to go to such a ceremony without in any way condoning what is happening.

I think the nature of a same-sex 'wedding' makes this impossible.

Let's consider a typical Church of England Marriage Service and what is involved.

This may seem strange to consider  aren't same-sex marriages not yet possible in the Church of England?

Actually, they are. If one of the couple has a Gender Recognition Certificate, they are legally allowed to 'marry' in a Church as if they are man and woman, husband and wife.

A Church of England marriage service typically starts with these words:

"In the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we have come together to witness the marriage of N and N, to pray for God's blessing on them, to share their joy and to celebrate their love." (Common Worship)

From the start, the service is set up as a celebration. Those in attendance are not merely witnessing but participating.

Then come the declarations. The minister says:

"I am required by law to ask anyone present who knows a reason why these persons may not lawfully marry, to declare it now" (Common Worship)

A Christian who remains silent at this point, knowing that under God's law (if not British law) this marriage is not possible or legal, is unravelling their witness.

Shortly after comes the question:

"Will you, the families and friends of N and N, support and uphold them in their marriage now and in the years to come?"

To which the congregation is expected to give a hearty "we will".

What is the Christian to do at this point? Remain silent? Shake their head? Shout no?

Maybe it would be possible for a Christian to attend in this way  to witness clearly to their family that God disapproves of this relationship. They could dress in dark, solemn colours, maybe hold a sign and heckle the minister throughout.

It is very difficult to imagine this achieving Begg's aim of gracious generosity.

The reality is that attending such an occasion is an endorsement.

How capable is the Christian?

Let's say that the Christian is skilfully able to navigate all those challenges. Maybe the wording in the ceremony makes the event less participatory. Maybe someone smart and skilful could dodge these problems and avoid the appearance of condoning what is happening.

Does that make it good advice to a grandmother?

Sadly, a typical Christian is nowhere close to being equipped for this Lion's den, particularly those asking celebrity pastors for advice.

The ceremony and reception are going to present this union as beautiful and good. Many Christians who know and believe what the Bible says on sexuality will still be emotionally vulnerable to this kind of deception. A strong story, the smiles on peoples' faces, music, dance, wine; many Christians have been tempted by such things to believe that sin isn't such a big deal after all.

On top of those temptations, the Christian is going to be pressed by others in attendance: "wasn't that beautiful?", "they make such an adorable couple, don't they?". How many Christians would deftly handle that situation without either compromising or causing a scene?

What about the 'weaker brother'?

In a Twitter thread, Ash Cunningham made some of these points, then applied the principle of the weaker brother from 1 Corinthians 8 (see also Romans 14). He speculates about a pastor who believes they could attend such a ceremony:

"But what about my brothers and sisters who haven't done the same thinking as me? What about those who feel constantly on the back foot in a culture that completely rejects their sexual ethics and they see me seemingly affirm that which I ought not to affirm?

"Could that not cause them to give up, or to relegate it to a lesser-mattering issue? In vs 13, Paul presents it as an absolute no-brainer  If attending will scatter my brother then I will not attend. Even though I have the authority and right to do so, it would be a sin (vs 12)."

This principle is often misunderstood or not applied properly, but I believe he's right here. Taking this action would very likely be a deep cause of concern and division within a church.

Is this 'a wisdom issue'?

Some have suggested that since the Bible doesn't speak directly to this issue, it is only a wisdom issue, that Christians can agree to disagree on.

While technically true  partly because the Bible would view 'same-sex marriage' as nonsensical  it fails to reflect analogically from the Bible's teaching.

'Wisdom issues' are normally situations where the Bible presents examples of two contradictory examples. For example, Proverbs 26:4-5 tells us both to "answer a fool according to his folly" and not to "answer a fool according to his folly". Wisdom is  in part  to apply the correct principle when things are not straightforward.

However, I have not yet seen an example from scripture quoted by Begg's defenders of the kind of actions recommended  where someone is commended for attending a celebration of what God calls an abomination and bringing a gift to those involved.

Immoral sexual practices are closely linked with idol worship in scripture. Throughout the Old Testament in particular, faithful kings and prophets are applauded for destroying these idols and disrupting these practices  not for expressing disapproval while turning up with a gift.

This is not confined to the Old Testament. Theologian Robert Gagnon and pastor Regan King both alluded to 1 Corinthians 5, in which the apostle Paul warns about a man in the church having sexual relations with his father's wife.

As Gagnon argues, incestuous marriage is a very close parallel to same-sex 'marriage' and it is completely implausible that he would offer Begg's advice.

It is also hard to believe that Begg or his defenders would tell Christians to attend an incestuous marriage with a gift.

There are better ways to show love

The purpose of Begg's advice  to reflect the amazing grace of God towards sinners  is praiseworthy. But for those reasons and others, I think this is a bad mistake, which I deeply hope he will reflect upon.

There are other ways to show the family member love in this situation.

Dave Brennan of Brephos gave one example:

"I think a good way of showing love for someone like this would be to go all out on their birthday, for example, and still show them love in all sorts of ways, but not celebrate the sinful 'marriage'."

This rightly disconnects the gift and grace from the occasion and connects it to the person. Love is clearly being shown to the grandson and not to the immoral partnership.

Christian love "does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth." (1 Cor 13:6 ESV).

If a family member is committing themselves to a partnership that will distance themselves from God, that you believe is damaging them, you need to make it clear you cannot celebrate it, because you love them.

By all means send gifts, but not for the 'wedding'.

All this may not be enough  some will still take this as hateful conduct and cut themselves off from this relationship. Christians who 'fall short' of Begg's advice should not be made to feel like the broken relationship was their fault.

Jesus would comfort them:

"...everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19:29 ESV)

This article was first published on the website of Christian Concern and is printed here with permission.
Graydon Smith, minister of natural resources and forestry right, met with employees at the Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper mill following the announcement of a $5 million investment for the plant's green power generation infrastructure.
Beatrice Loayza at The Current:

In the 1996 television documentary Chantal Akerman par Chantal Akerman, the Belgian filmmaker describes the life of her maternal grandmother, Sidonie Ehrenberg, an aspiring artist. As a wife and mother living in Poland, Ehrenberg painted despite the gendered restrictions imposed upon her by her Orthodox Jewish milieu. After the Nazis invaded the country, Ehrenberg was sent to Auschwitz, where she was killed in 1942 along with her husband. Her daughter Natalia survived; she was still a teenager when the camps were liberated. Ehrenbergs artworks were never found after the war, yet Natalia, Akermans mother, preserved something of them in her memories of childhood. Ehrenberg used enormous canvases, and her subjects were straightforward: womens faces gazing outward, and thats all, Akerman explained in the documentary.

The genius and audacity of Akermans work lies in its recognition that such seemingly unremarkable images contain bounties, and that marginalized lives like Ehrenbergs, decimated by time and silenced by tragedy, possess spectral qualities that, until Akerman began making films, had yet to be evoked in any art form.

more here.
In November 2023, the Cambridge Open Zettascale Lab announced the deployment of the U.K.s fastest AI supercomputer: Dawn Phase 1.1 Powered by the latest Intel GPUs and CPUs aboard liquid-cooled Dell servers, the Dawn supercomputer combines breakthrough artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced high-performance computing (HPC) technology to help researchers solve the worlds most complex challenges

Accelerating breakthrough

Dawn vastly increases the U.K.s AI and simulation compute capacity and supports some of the largest-ever computing workloads for scientific, industrial, and academic research applications. Its expected to drive discoveries and advancements across a wide range of compute-intensive research areasfrom bioscience to fusion energy and climate modeling.

The coupling of AI and simulation methods is a growing and increasingly essential part of climate research, said Professor Emily Shuckburgh, Director of Cambridge Zero and the Institute of Computing for Climate Science. Dawn, an incredible new resource at Cambridge, will enable software engineers and researchers at the Institute of Computing for Climate Science to accelerate their work addressing the global challenges associated with climate change.

Collaborating on the future

Dawn was developed from an innovative co-design partnership among the University of Cambridge, the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Dell Technologies, and Intel.

Dawn considerably strengthens the scientific and AI compute capability available in the U.K., and its on the ground, operational today at the Cambridge Open Zettascale Lab, said Adam Roe, EMEA HPC technical director at Intel. Im excited to see the types of early science this machine can deliver and continue to strengthen the Open Zettascale Lab partnership.

The technology enabling this powerhouse

The Dawn Phase 1 supercomputer runs 512 4th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors and 1,024 Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 accelerators on 256 Dell PowerEdge XE9640 server nodes. These Intel Max Series GPUs are Intels highest density processor, packing over 100 billion transistors into a 47-tile package and offering up to 128 gigabytes of high bandwidth memory. In addition, innovative direct liquid cooling (DLC) technology built into the Dell PowerEdge XE9640 servers gives Dawn higher levels of compute density, performance per watt, and energy efficiency than traditional air-cooled HPC systems. In STAC-A2 benchmark testing, direct liquid cooling enabled the Dell PowerEdge XE9640 to cool over 3kW in a 2U form factor, offering 4.3x the space efficiency of an air-cooled HPC system and smashing the previous space-efficiency record by 2.3x.2

On the software side, UK SME StackHPCs Scientific OpenStack provides Dawn with an AI- and simulation-optimized cloud supercomputing software environment. Dawn also uses the oneAPI open software ecosystem and frameworks to help developers rapidly optimize for AI and HPC workloads and ensure code portability.

Scaling up opportunities 10X-100X faster

Dr. Paul Calleja, Director of Research Computing Services at the University of Cambridge, explained how vital Dawn is for scientific research: The U.K. needs leading-edge computational resources so that its research community can compete on the global stage. Nowadays, science uses simulation and AI as the main driving forces to accelerate that discovery process. Without the compute, without the AI capability, science is held back. With these capabilities, we can push the discovery process 10 times or 100 times faster than without them.

The Dawn supercomputer also moves the country closer to reaching exascale computingthe compute threshold of a quintillion (1018) floating point operations per second. This level of compute is needed for ultracomplex simulations and calculations, allowing future revolutionary discoveries in physics, bioscience, climate science, and other crucial research.

Fusion has long been referred to as an exascale grand challenge, said Dr. Rob Akers, Director of Computing Programmes & Senior Fellow at UKAEA. Dawn will form an essential part of a diverse UKRI supercomputing ecosystem, helping to promote high-fidelity simulation and AI capability ensuring that UK science and engineering is first in the queue to exploit the latest innovation in disruptive HPC hardware.



I firmly believe that the many collaborations coalescing around Dawn will be a powerful ingredient for extracting value promised by the exascale  for the U.K. to deliver fusion power to the grid in the 2040s, Dr. Akers added.

Investing in the AI frontier

Dawn is only the beginning. At Novembers AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, UK Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan announced the formation of the AI Research Resource (AIRR). This 300 million investment in AI innovation will pair Dawn with the Isambard-AI supercomputer at the University of Bristol to make a massive amount of AI-specialized HPC capacity available to public researchers, academia, and industry.

Frontier AI models are becoming exponentially more powerful, Secretary Donelan said in her announcement. Britain is grasping the opportunity to lead the world in adopting this technology safely so we can put it to work and lead healthier, easier and longer lives.

This means giving Britains leading researchers and scientific talent access to the tools they need to delve into how this complicated technology works. That is why we are investing in building the U.K.s supercomputers, ensuring we cement our place as a world leader in AI safety, continued Secretary Donelan.

Planning for the next Dawn

As the name implies, Dawn Phase 1 is only the first step for the Cambridge Open Zettascale Labs AI supercomputer. Dawn Phase 2 promises to raise the bar for AI supercomputing in Great Britain even higher.

Dawn Phase 1 represents a huge step forward in AI and simulation capability for the U.K., deployed and ready to use now, Dr. Calleja said. Weve got really fast results from the machine, so for a system straight out of the blocks, its working extremely well. Dawn debuted at number 41 on the TOP500 list of the worlds most powerful supercomputers in November 2023.3 Dr. Calleja revealed that Cambridge, Dell, and Intel aim to deliver Dawn Phase 2with 10 times higher AI compute performanceas soon as 2024.

Tariq Hussain, Dell Technologies head of UK Public Sector sums up the importance and potential of these kinds of partnerships for the future of AI advancement: Collaborations like [this one], alongside strong inward investment, are vital if we want compute to unlock the high-growth AI potential of the U.K.  Its also important to embrace the full spectrum of the technology ecosystem, including GPU diversity, to ensure customers can tackle the growing demands of generative AI, industrial simulation modeling and ground-breaking scientific research.

About Intel

Intel hardware and software powers AI training, inference, and applications in Dell supercomputers and data centers, through to rugged edge servers for networking and IoT to accelerate AI everywhere. Learn more.

About Dell

Dell Technologies accelerates your AI journey from possible to proven by leveraging innovative technologies, a comprehensive suite of professional services, and an extensive network of partners. Learn more.

[1] Based on Cambridge Open Zettascale Labs own performance analysis compared to the TOP500 List June 2023, based on theoretical peak FP16 FLOPS throughput.

[2] Dell Technologies, You Can Have Your GPU and Cool It Too, November 6, 2023, accessed December 2023.

[3] TOP500 List November 2023
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In 2018, the national council of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahomathe fourth-largest Native American tribe in the USrepealed its free press act. The act, passed in 2015, protected the Nations independent media, Mvskoke Media, which had closely investigated wrongdoing in the tribal government. The council evidently decided the paper was looking too closelyand that it focused too much on negative news. The bill repealing the free press act dissolves the outlets editorial board which has served as an intermediary between government officials and reporters, places the Department of Commerce in charge of approving content, and puts Mvskoke reporters under the nations employee policies, which include the right to monitor employees computer systems, chat groups, and emails, Tristan Ahtone reported for CJR at the time. Although the US Constitution guarantees freedom of the press, tribal nations have their own constitutions and laws.

Enter Angel Ellis, then a reporter for Mvskoke Media, who, alongside her colleagues, decided that the repeal could not stand. In 2011, Ellis had uncovered embezzlement in the tribal government, winning her an award, from the Native American Journalists Association, and a warningfrom the council, for insubordination. (She has also covered Indigenous issues for mainstream publications.) For three years following the repeal, Ellis lobbied lawmakers, raised awareness, and advocated door-to-door across the Nation, drumming up support for press freedom to be enshrined in its constitution. In September 2021, the Nation voted yes.

Rebecca Landsberry-Baker was the editor of Mvskoke Media from 2008 to 2013, and was on the board when it was dissolved. I really felt the weight of that moment, she told The Guardian. She decided to document the fight to do something. The result was Bad Press, a documentary, codirected with Joe Peeler, that came out last year and has been playing the film festival circuit in the US, Canada, and Europe for the past few months, winning a Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression at Sundance. When I saw the film at the Atlantic Festival in September, I found it to be a compelling watch, with the suspenseful pace of a thriller, making what might otherwise be drya constitutional amendmentlook, sound, and feel like a blockbuster.

Ellisstraight-shooting, often swearingis the central character, and rightfully so. (She refers to successfully amending her Nations constitution as a democracy boner.) Through her eyes, and in Peelers and Landsberry-Bakers deft hands, we come to understand the history of journalism in tribal nations. (Of 574 Indian nations in the US, only five have laws guaranteeing freedom of the press.) The film also raises important questions for journalism at large: the specter of local news deserts and the sustainability of community news; the battles marginalized journalists face when writing about their communities, and the choice they face between telling the truth, however unsavory, and feeding harmful stereotypes; the objectivity of the media in covering press freedom when it is invested in a particular result; and, perhaps most important, why anyone outside the Muscogee Nation should care at all. As the film rolled out, I spoke with Ellis. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.



AR: In the documentary, theres a scene where you speak to a freelance colleague who relays a question her editor asked: Why should anyone outside the Nation care about the repeal of the press law? That question struck me in so many ways, because its about hierarchyhow some stories are more important than others because they appeal to the mainstream. How do we get past this question?

AE: We rank and file things according to the culture thats dominant. Lindsey [the freelancer colleague] is a great Indigenous journalist, but her editors were saying, Why should I care? What they were actually saying was, Why should old white fuckers care? My answer to that has always been that marginalized communities, Indigenous communities, BIPOC communities, were the canary in the mine. You should care because when your neighbor suffers, you will suffer. We should ask ourselves better questions, like Where is our compassion for other peoples rights when ours dont feel threatened at all? If each of us thought, I feel safe to use my words on behalf of your rights, no one would have to stand by themselves.

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Why do you think journalists from marginalized communities carry this burden about not showing their community in a certain negative light? You talk about this in the documentary as a concern of yours

When I was really young and doing journalism in the tribal setting, I felt that pressure, because I would see the outside media flock and they would jump on a story about somebody doing something wrong. It was the first time I realized that mainstream media harms marginalized communities. You feel like you want to help your community navigate that system, so I would think, What does my audience really need from this? versus, What does an outside audience really need to understand? Those were really different things. There came a point, about halfway through my career, where I almost said, To hell with that outside audience, I dont care anymore. The outside world wants you to scrape away your local ties and your local thought; you have to be part of this big picture. I contribute because I can fit into the small pie [of my community]. That small pie is the reason I am valuable. I work as an Indigenous reporter. I wanted to be a matriarch and a reporter, and I wanted to serve both those roles.

Do you remember a time when you had to confront this burden; when you had to uncover wrongdoing regardless?

It was the very first story I ever got an award for. One of our tribal leaders was moving into his last term; he was the incumbent who couldnt run again, and he was taking the opportunity to really clean up corruption and it was having just chaotic consequences. There was infighting between different clans and different neighborhoodsdifferent families were just eating each other apartand I knew I had to capture that moment. I needed to get a snapshot so that we could see what it looks like when we try to strengthen ourselves from the inside out. I could see that it was going to upset the people who had their fingers in the honeypot. They were going to get big mad. But in order to keep our gaming revenue, we had to do it. The National Indian Gaming Commission was about to rip our gaming license away, because there was so much graft. And so I did that story, and eleven of our tribal people were investigated for embezzlement. But I still felt so proud of that story, because I knew what was captured was our own words, not just the mainstream going: Embezzling chiefsthats a great, sexy story. They didnt dig into the factors that made it easy for graft and fraud to exist. They didnt care about the people who were hurting because of the fraud. The people who were missing out and not having funding because it was being stolen. We talked to them.

I remember you saying in a question-and-answer session, after the documentary was screened at the the Atlantic Festival, that your community is very sensitive to outsiders and they take time to trust. Did you find in the beginning that that trust was there for youas an insider, but one who was trying to uncover wrongdoing? Did you get that buy-in immediately, or did you have to work at it and convince people?

I earned it with blood, sweat, and tears my whole life. It was almost like for every person who sees the system and is hurt by it, you have to suffer alongside them before they understand that youre not going to hurt them, too. It took a long time for the buy-in to work. I train a lot of newsrooms on this. It is particularly true for really any marginalized community. You cant just go on day one and expect them to unload their deepest secrets and their deepest hurts to you, because sometimes they only have the energy to tell it once. You almost have to come to the table multiple times to say, Look, heres me still being me, even though I dont have what I want from you. Im still here for you. And you have to become a part of that community in a way. I had to sit down with people knowing that they were not going to talk to me for maybe four or five timesgo to their kids ball games and just go to shoot the shit sometimes, so they could know that I wasnt there to just take off with the story and never speak to them again. So many of our communities are treated that way.

The media in your community is partly funded by the government. When freedom of the press was repealed, you had to be managed and edited by government officials. Talk to me about this funding model.

Tulsa has a vast news ecosystem; we could never compete with their advertising base. And who wants to buy ads when the only people youre targeting are the poorest, most marginalized people in the market? So what we pitched is publicly funded media as a service to the people. It comes from that PBS-type, education- and service-oriented information model. About two-thirds of my budget comes from the government and then a third comes from commercial printing. Now that we have this constitutionally protected press, and now that Im in charge, were also trying to add a third factor, and thats grant funding. Were trying to have a really diverse model thats much healthier, and harder to dismantle or slow down.

Theres a scene in the documentary where two members of the community said that the only reason you were fighting for freedom of the press is to protect your budget. How did you navigate having to educate people to say, We are protecting our budget because were trying to serve you. Its for your own benefit?

It became a really good question because a few of the elders or some aunties would come by and say, Hey, they say youre just worried about your salary, and then I had the opportunity to say, Heres the big thing you need to understand about a newspaper. Its not like you spend a lot of money on computers; you only buy those once every three years. But I have to pay people to write; 75 percent of my budget is salaries. If its a human-driven business without the human beings, how do we do it? And then theyre like, That makes a lot of sense. I would also have the opportunity to say, By the way, since the dawn of time, since we started this newspaper fifty years ago, theyve always paid our budget. Theyve always paid our salaries. It changes nothing. Theyll still have to approve our budget. Its not like I can come and inflate it arbitrarily. Youll get the audit reports. All it does is put a line in the constitution that says the people deserve information and we will fucking pay for it. A lot of people would say, Ah, I like this. What you see nationallyhow misinformation gets usedthose tactics were playing out heavily on our people. So those [community members accusing Mvskoke Media of just wanting to protect their budget], they were listening to one or two people who would just give them a certain catch line, and they would echo it out into the world, and I would have to spend a lot of time and energy trying to [clear up] a lie that has made its way around the world before the truth even puts its shoes on. That was the race that we were in. I would tell myself, too, Look at their followers [on Twitter]. Three or four hundred likes. Ive got twenty-two thousand. I think were good.

They may have four hundred likes now, but that can grow. These pieces of misinformation can scale, right? Doesnt that worry you?

You dont get your trust card and keep it forever; its not a lifetime appointment. Every journalism outlet, no matter the audience, if youre not putting some energy into continuing and demonstrating why you should be trusted, then youre probably going to have issues come up later. In our community, I feel like its extra important because we have so much face-to-face interaction. I go up to the elders lunch on a Thursday, just to show up and hear what they have to sayto know that Im there with my ears on. And theyll ask about something that theyve heard, and if I dont have the answer, I always tell them that Im going to go do some digging and come back to them with some answers. That gives them that extra boost of confidence to know that Im serving their information. Im doing that work on their behalf.

When freedom of the press was repealed, you had to submit your work to a member of the government who became your de facto editor. In that time, were there things that you wanted to do that you couldnt?

I look at our archives and I do see gaps. I think of almost everything from the archive perspective. When I start the staff meeting every week, Im like, What is happening this week that we must capture? So looking back on that time period, three or four years ago, theres some things that were going to have to really dive into, to correct the narrative. Those are happening slowly. Right now, were doing a lot of coverage on our court system. We couldnt report on McGirt v. Oklahoma. [Jimmy McGirt, who had been convicted of serious sexual offenses by an Oklahoma court, challenged the states jurisdiction, claiming that only the tribal nation could prosecute him; the Supreme Court ruled in his favor in 2020.] We couldnt get anybody on the record; we were really hampered on what we could do. Now we have this [ruling] handed down from the Supreme Court that gives our tribe jurisdiction, but a lot of people dont realize what its done to our courts: theyre overburdened; theyre not keeping up. Were having to do really in-depth coverage.

When freedom of the press was repealed, you were covering local elections. A referendum vote for press freedom was also on the ballot. How do you cover elections under these conditions, when the government could shut you down at any minutea government that, in this case, wanted press freedom to stay repealed?

[During a previous election] we got to turn the cameras on from the time we picked up the ballots all the way through counting. The next time they wouldnt let us. The election board, on behalf of the chief, asked me to turn the camera off. I said, Ill do whatever you need, but Ill damn sure tell everybody why. And they were like, Never mind. When covering elections under censorship, you have to be prepared. Its not gonna be easy. Youre not gonna make friends. That was one of the things I dealt with a lot. I felt very lonely and very separated from my community during that time.

I think that was the intention the powers that be had. That was the tool that worked in their favor. Once I got brave enough to start speaking up no matter what, I felt reconnected, and the people surrounded me and protected me. But they use that fear to separate you so you dont have that support. When you are connected to the people, it will breathe life into you every single time. I couldnt tell you how many times there was an auntie that would pull me aside and give me a talking-to and tell me, Dont you walk around with your head down. I see you. Youre kicking ass. You keep going. And it would just mean the whole world to me. And so I would keep doing it.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Guatemala has a new reformist president. Will he get a veteran muckraker out of jail?

Ayodeji Rotinwa is a CJR fellow.
A senior United Airlines UAL.O executive highlighted the widespread loss of experience in the aviation industry since the COVID-19 pandemic and said it may have contributed to recent problems at Boeing BA.N.

Experience counts and they need to have a good experienced team righting the ship, Executive Vice President Finance Gerry Laderman told the Airline Economics conference in Dublin.

Part of the problem for lots of industrial companies is nobody realized the difficulties that we were all going to get hit with as we came out of COVID, Laderman said.

Principally the supply chain but also a lack of senior people and a lot of retirements: the knowledge base. That impacts everybody, and I think that is part of what happened at Boeing and  it will take time.

Laderman said he would not comment on whether there should be management changes at the planemaker.

Boeing said on Monday it was withdrawing a request for a key safety exemption that could have allowed regulators to speed up certification of its coming 737 MAX 7.

Lawmakers had been pressuring the planemaker to withdraw the petition following a mid-air cabin blowout on Jan. 5 on a 737 MAX 9 that has exposed numerous safety and quality control concerns at one of the worlds two major jetmakers.

Investigators are examining whether bolts were missing or incorrectly installed on the Alaska Airlines jet.

The reactions of influential executives like Laderman, who is seen as one of the most prolific buyers of Boeing jets having started at Continental before it merged with United in 2010, are being watched closely at this weeks air finance gathering.

Conference delegates said Boeings decision raised questions about the timing of the larger and more widely sold MAX 10, whose certification had been expected a year after the MAX 7.

United is a leading operator of the MAX 9, which was partially grounded for three weeks following the blowout.

It has also ordered 277 of the larger MAX 10, for which Boeing has also been expected to ask for an exemption.

Laderman deflected a question on efforts by United to secure more competing A321neos after Reuters reported that CEO Scott Kirby had recently visited Airbus to open negotiations.

I dont keep track of his travel anymore  I do know that hes in the (United) leadership conference today, said Laderman, who is shortly due to retire after recently stepping down as chief financial officer.

The A321neo is in strong demand with few available soon. Laderman said Airbus also has its share of delivery problems.

Yes theres a Boeing issue. But keep in mind, for very different reasons, Airbus has issues too, related mostly lets say to the supply chain.

(Reporting by Hepher; Editing by Conor Humphries and Mark Potter)
Meta Platforms Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg rejected requests from his top leadership in 2021 to expand teams overseeing child safety and well-being, according to documents and emails released by Congress.

A proposal to add headcount for well-being efforts was sent to Zuckerberg by Nick Clegg, then vice president of global affairs, in August of that year. Clegg asked to hire 45 more employees at the company, then known as Facebook Inc., to work on child safety, including efforts against bullying, harassment and self-harm.

From a policy perspective, this work has become increasingly urgent over recent months, Clegg wrote in an email to Zuckerberg. Politicians in the US, UK, EU and Australia are publicly and privately expressing concerns about the impact of our products on young peoples mental health.

Leaders at the company, including senior product executive Naomi Gleit, Chief Product Officer Chris Cox and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, backed the plan for more well-being employees, according to the emails released by the Senate Judiciary Committee in advance of a hearing Wednesday about online child safety.

Cleggs August 2021 request wasnt approved. A follow-up email he sent Zuckerberg in November 2021 included a revised and smaller headcount proposal, acknowledging the original plea for more employees was not funded.

Just a few weeks after Cleggs August 2021 proposal, the Wall Street Journal released a series of stories about the company known as The Facebook Files. The stories used internal documents to show that the company knew its products could lead to harmful effects for some people, including teenage girls who used its photo-sharing app, Instagram.

A Meta spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Zuckerberg is scheduled to testify Wednesday about the impact of Metas social networking apps on children. The documents will most certainly be a focus for lawmakers, who have been critical of Metas effect on teens. The company emails were given to the committee in response to a letter sent by lawmakers to Meta that asked for documents related to the companys research on the mental and physical health harms associated with its products.

The committee didnt release any emails from Zuckerberg responding to Cleggs proposals.

Clegg appeared to hint at the stories in his November email to the CEO, noting that the topic of well-being and user safety had taken on a new level of urgency. This work & narrative has of course become a more critical focal point for policymakers, regulators, et al in recent weeks  this is not likely to diminish going forward, he said.

I am supportive of this and will follow up, Sandberg wrote in response to Clegg. As you know, we have overall budgeting issues across the board so no promise on what will happen.

The documents and emails released by the committee dont specify whether Meta hired more people in response to Cleggs November request.

Cleggs proposal to expand the team working on well-being efforts came during a year in which the company added more than 13,000 new jobs  an increase of 23%. Facebook changed its name to Meta Platforms Inc. in October 2021.

The company has faced significant pushback for years on its child safety practices from whistleblowers, lawmakers and parents. Last October, more than 30 states filed a lawsuit against Meta alleging its social media apps were feeding harmful content to youth.

Zuckerberg, according to prepared testimony, will focus on the positive impacts of Instagram and Facebook apps, while emphasizing the companys safety features. Meta has about 40,000 people currently working on safety and security, and has spent more than $20 billion on those efforts since 2016, according to a transcript of his remarks released in advance of the hearing.

Top photo: Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., during the Meta Connect event in Menlo Park, California, US, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. Meta Platforms Inc. introduced its latest lineup of head-worn devices, staking fresh claim to the virtual and augmented-reality industry just ahead of Apple Inc. pushing into the market.

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
* Imam Ali, the son of the Kaaba and the qiblah of the people of faith*

  

 

((Imam Ali (peace be upon him), the Commander of the Faithful, is the light and direction of faith and guidance for every believer who turns to pray towards the Holy Kaaba. When a Muslim turns his body towards the Kaaba during his prayers, he is turning towards the spiritual light that radiates from within it. God - Glory be to Him - wanted the birth of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) has the unique, blessed, and special place inside the Kaaba to make it a miracle, a sign, a sign, and a symbol of faith, piety, and justice. And how desperate is everyone who turns to the Holy Kaaba, the direction of prayer, to feel in his heart that he is heading toward the direction of faith, the path to the straight path.)





Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is the shortest, fastest and most effective way to reach the pleasure of God - Glory be to Him - and achieve prosperity and success. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is a qiblah, and the qiblah is the direction, and it has a religious meaning, and it is the direction to which the Muslim faces during prayer. At the beginning, it should be emphasized that the Holy Kaaba in Mecca is the only qibla for Muslims, in compliance with the command of God - Glory be to Him - this is a settled matter. The Holy Kaaba has been honored by God - the Almighty - and made it a qibla for Muslims, towards which every Muslim must turn during every prayer. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is a light and a direction of faith for believers to obtain spiritual light and guidance.

What is meant by the qiblah is the direction, direction, and path, as Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is the direction and path of true faith. One of the places where the word qibla is mentioned in the Noble Quran is in the Noble Verse, when God Almighty said in His Noble Book: "And We revealed to Moses and his brother, Reside in houses for your people in Egypt, and make your houses a direction of direction and establish prayer, and give good news to the believers [Yunus: 87]. The verse clearly refers to a matter May God grant the people of Israel to make the house of the Prophet of God, Moses, and the house of his brother Aaron, a qibla. What is meant here is a destination and a way to draw closer to God.





Whoever belongs to authentic Muhammadan Islam, adheres to and adheres to its directives, as he (may Gods prayers and peace be upon him and his family) said about Imam Ali (peace be upon him) in a hadith known as the hadith of status: "You are to me as Aaron was to Moses, except that there is no prophet after me. According to the hadith of the Messenger of God (PBUH), Ali (PBUH) is to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the same position as Aaron to Moses in everything: faith, morals, knowledge, and upbringing... except for prophecy, as there is no prophet after him. If Aaron was a direction and guidance (qibla) for the pleasure of God, then Imam Ali (peace be upon him), who is in the same position as Aaron to Moses, is a path, direction, light, guidance, and direction for the pleasure of God. Rather, it represents the best and quickest way to obtain the pleasure of God - Glory be to Him - after the Messenger of God (PBUH), as it is the door of knowledge and the direction of faith. The Messenger of God (PBUH) said: (I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate. Whoever wants knowledge should come to the gate). He (PBUH) said: (I am the abode of wisdom and Ali is its gate). He also said (PBUH): (I am the city of wisdom and Ali is its gate).





* Imam Ali Walid the Kaaba *





One of the blessings of Imam Ali Al-Murtada - peace be upon him - is that he was born in the interior of the Holy Kaaba in the Sacred House of God, so that it would increase more light, and in his birth there is more than one indication of the connection of the Holy Kaaba with Imam Ali (peace be upon him), for they are both qibla, so the Kaaba is a qibla for prayer and Imam Ali is a qibla for faith. The birth of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) in the interior of the Holy Kaaba is a miracle by divine will, which results in specialness for the newborn and draws attention to creation that the newborn is chosen, chosen, unique and special, as no one was born before or after him and the wall of the Holy Kaaba split open to receive his birth.





Being born inside the Holy Kaaba is not just a coincidence, but rather a unique miracle, distinction, honor, choice and selection by the Creator - the Almighty - for His servant, the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali Al-Murtada - peace be upon him - to be unique and distinguished among the people since his birth, as he is the guardian Imam, guardian and caliph. After the Messenger of God (may God bless him and his family and grant them peace), there are inevitably great goals from his birth in the Holy Kaaba.

One of the characteristics of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is that his love is a sign of faith (the believer), and his hatred is a sign of hypocrisy (the hypocrite), as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him: "Your love is faith and your hatred is hypocrisy. Turning to the Holy Kaaba as a qibla in prayer in compliance with the command of God - Glory be to Him - to perform prayers, and to seek His pleasure out of obedience and response to the request of the Creator - Glory be to Him - even though it is an inanimate material, just a building of stone and clay. However, the Qiblah of the Holy Kaaba emanates from it the light of spirituality of faith, and how beautiful and wonderful it is for a Muslim to be aware when he turns to the Holy Kaaba to seek nourishment from the light of spirituality of faith, including the light of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him)... The Holy Kaaba has become more and more honorable with his light (peace be upon him).

Whoever knows Ali will not be surprised at all that he is the direction and address of the people of faith, the Commander of the Faithful, and the Imam of the pious. Since no one knows Ali - peace be upon him - and his status, knowledge, faith and justice (peace be upon him) except God - Glory be to Him - and His Messenger (peace be upon him), according to what was narrated on the authority of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) when he said: "No one knows you, O Ali, as I truly know you except God and me. Just as no one knows God - the Almighty - and the Messenger of God (PBUH) except Ali (PBUH), according to what was stated on the authority of our master, the greatest Messenger Muhammad (PBUH), when he said: "O Ali, no one knew God except me and you, and no one knew me except God and you. And no one knows you except God and me. And he (PBUH) said: "O Ali, no one has truly known God except me and you, and no one has truly known you except God and me.





One of the characteristics and distinctions of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is that the greatest Messenger (peace be upon him) is his educator. He is the one who took care of him after his birth, supervised his upbringing and education, and made him the door of his knowledge. He (peace be upon him) guided and directed that whoever wants knowledge and knowledge should come to it through its door, and he is Ali Ibn Abi. Talib (peace be upon him) said (peace be upon him): "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate. Whoever wants the city, let him come to the gate.





Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is the kiss of knowledge, the kiss of faith, the kiss of culture, the kiss of literature, and the kiss of courage. It is the Qibla for Muslims and believers after the Messenger of God (may God bless him and his family and grant them peace), and it will remain the Qibla of faith and believers until the day they are resurrected.





Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is the Commander of the Faithful and he is the symbol of faith and he is the direction of guidance for every believer who heads to pray towards the Holy Kaaba, to be nourished with the light and spirituality of Ali (peace be upon him). When a Muslim turns his body towards the Kaaba during his prayers, he is heading towards the spiritual light that radiates from within it. The Light of Faith God - Glory be to Him - wanted that unique, blessed and special birth in the interior of the Kaaba to make Ali a miracle, a sign, a sign, and a symbol of faith, piety, and justice.





Everyone who turns to the Holy Kaaba, the direction of prayer, is in dire need of feeling in his heart that he is heading to the direction of faith and the path that leads to the straight path.





Congratulations to everyone who loves, follows, and follows the path of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), the Qibla of faith, the Commander of the Faithful, the Master of Muslims, the Imam of the pious, the leader of the venerable, the dragonfly of religion, and the voice of human justice... who was born in the interior of the Holy Kaaba and was martyred in the prayer niche, so that his entire life would be linked to the Qibla of prayer, the Holy Kaaba. ; He was born inside it and was martyred heading there. May Gods peace be upon you, O Abu Al-Hasan, O Commander of the Faithful, and the kiss of the people of faith on the day you were born, the day you were martyred, and the day you will be resurrected alive.





Ali Al Gharash
The company behind a global recall of sleep apnea machines said Monday it will stop selling the devices in the U.S., under a tentative agreement with regulators that could cost the manufacturer nearly $400 million.

Device maker Philips has recalled more than 5 million pressurized breathing machines due to risks that their internal foam can break down over time, leading users to inhale tiny particles and fumes while they sleep.

The company first announced the problem in mid-2021, but efforts to repair or replace the machines have dragged on for years, frustrating patients in the U.S. and other countries.

The Dutch manufacturing giant said it has agreed to a consent decree with the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Justice. The deal has not yet been finalized and will have to be approved by a U.S. judge. Philips executives disclosed the tentative agreement during a quarterly earnings update.

Under the agreements terms, Philips would continue servicing previously sold machines in the U.S., but couldnt sell new ones until it meets corrective actions laid out by the FDA. Company executives said they have set aside $393 million for operational changes and upgrades needed to comply.

The company promised it would put safety and quality at the center of everything we do with a greater level of accountability, Philips CEO Roy Jakobs told analysts and investors.

The FDAs website warns patients that the risks of ingesting the sound-dampening foam could include headache, asthma, allergic reactions and more serious problems. In November, the agency issued a new warning that the machines can overheat, in rare cases causing fires.

The agency said it cannot comment on Philips announcement until a final agreement is signed and filed with the court.

In 2022, the FDA took the rare step of ordering Philips to step up its outreach to customers about the recall including clearer information about the health risks of its products. At the time, the agency estimated only about half the people in the U.S. with affected machines knew they had been recalled.

Customers trying to obtain refunds or new or refurbished devices from the company have reported months of delays.

Most of the recalled devices are continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machines. They force air through a mask to keep passageways open during sleep. The company has also recalled certain lines of ventilators and other breathing devices.

Untreated sleep apnea can cause people to stop breathing hundreds of times per night, leading to dangerous drowsiness and increased heart attack risk. The problem is more common in men than women, with estimates ranging from 10% to 30% of adults affected.

On Monday, Philips again pointed to company-commissioned studies suggesting that inhaling foam from its machines is unlikely to result in appreciable harm to patients. The company has discontinued several of the recalled models.

The latest announcement does not resolve 675 personal injury lawsuits filed against the company over the devices. Those cases have been consolidated in a federal court in Pennsylvania.

Philips faces similar legal challenges in Canada, Australia, Israel and Chile, according to the companys update.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
BERKELEY, New Jersey  In February 2023, 14-year-old Adriana Kuch was assaulted by classmates at her high school and a video of the attack was posted online. Days later, Kuch died by suicide.

This week, Kuchs family filed a lawsuit against officials with Central Regional School District, accusing them of ignoring a culture of violence at Central Regional High School, where Kuch was a freshman when she died, nj.com reports.

It is the defendants job to provide a safe and secure environment for the students at Central Regional High School, the familys lawyer, William Krais, tells nj.com. They catastrophically failed Adriana, leading to the emotional distress, humiliation and embarrassment that ultimately caused her to take her own life.

USA Today reports the lawsuit claims school officials not only did not protect Adriana from the physical assault, they also didnt do enough to protect her from public humiliation and online bullying, saying that it led to her suicide.

The lawsuit also accuses district officials of failing to follow the states anti-bullying procedures following the attack and posting of the video. District officials also did not investigate the incident in a timely manner, the lawsuit says, according to USA Today.

NJ.com reports the lawsuit is seeking punitive damages. It was filed by the girls father, Michael Kuch Sr., and stepmother, Sarah Kuch.

Adriana was the light of our lives, and one year after her horrific and needless death, we are still waiting for justice, Michael Kuch Sr. tells nj.com. Its clear this school has a serious bullying problem that none of the school administrators care to admit or address.

NBC News reports video shows students attack Adriana without warning in a school hallway. Four students are facing criminal charges in connection with the attack.
Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Surgery Partners's year-to-date stock performance.

Surgery Partners : "That industry has been up and down and up and down...It is too hard for this guy, I'm taking a hard pass."

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Energy Transfer's year-to-date stock performance.

Energy Transfer : "It is still not too late to buy ET, Energy Transfer."

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon DigitalOcean's year-to-date stock performance.

DigitalOcean : "I'm going to have to do some work on that one and come back to you. I just don't know why that stock's acting as poorly as it does given the fact that the business is good."

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Vodafone's year-to-date stock performance.

Vodafone : "I haven't liked Vodofone in 20 years, and it's really rewarded my dislike...I am willing to recommend the stock of Verizon."

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon CRISPR Therapeutics' year-to-date stock performance.

CRISPR Therapeutics : "I like those guys, but I have no illusions. they're losing a lot of money, and we don't like to recommend stocks that are losing a lot of money."

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon MP Materials' year-to-date stock performance.

MP Materials : "That stock just never lifts...I'm not against it."

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U.S. President Joe Biden takes some questions from members of the press before departing in Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House on January 18, 2024 in Washington, DC.

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he has made a decision on how to respond to the drone attack that killed three U.S. soldiers and injured dozens of others at a base in northeast Jordan.

As Biden departed the White House on Tuesday morning, a reporter asked him whether he had made a decision in response to the attack by Iran-backed militants Sunday. He replied, "Yes."

Biden vowed Sunday to retaliate and "hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner [of] our choosing" for the deadly attack, which injured more than 30 soldiers.

Asked whether he holds Iran responsible for the attack, he said he does "in the sense that they're supplying the weapons to the people who did it."

The attack led to the first U.S. deaths at the hands of Iranian-back militant groups since the Israel-Hamas war began Oct. 7. The explosives-laden drone blew up near a shelter where some troops slept at a logistics support base in northeast Jordan, two U.S. officials told NBC News. Eight of the injured were evacuated from the country to receive higher-level care and are stable, U.S. Central Command said Sunday.

Iran's mission to the United Nations denied the country's involvement in the drone strike.

"Iran had no connection and had nothing to do with the attack on the U.S. base," the mission said in a statement Monday published by the state news agency IRNA, Reuters reported.

"There is a conflict between U.S. forces and resistance groups in the region, which reciprocate retaliatory attacks," it added.

In a statement Sunday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for drone attacks on Al-Shaddadi base in Syria, Al-Rukban and Al-Tanf bases at the Syria-Jordan border and the Zevulun naval facility in Israel. It is unclear whether the Islamic Resistance in Iraq is responsible for the attack on U.S. troops in Jordan.
LIANYUNGANG, CHINA - JANUARY 17, 2024 - A large number of cars are ready to be shipped for export at the port of Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China, January 17, 2024. (Photo credit should read CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

BEIJING  China failed to replace Japan as the world's largest exporter of cars in 2023, despite coming close to doing so, data released this month showed.

Japanese customs data showed the country exported 5.97 million vehicles last year, more than the 5.22 million vehicle exports that China customs data reported.

However, manufacturing association data from both countries showed that China did edge out Japan: 4.14 million passenger car exports versus 3.978 million in 2023, according to figures available online and accessed via Wind Information.

More than 70% of China's car exports in 2023 were of gasoline-powered vehicles, according to the Ministry of Commerce, noting that new energy vehicle exports were growing rapidly.

Many of those gasoline-powered cars went to Russia, said Sarah Tan, economist at Moody's Analytics.

"After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many auto manufacturers had left the country only to have that gap filled by Chinese manufacturers," she said. "In the first eleven months of 2023, auto shipments to Russia rose about six times that of 2022 in value terms."

Mexico was also a major destination for Chinese exports of gasoline-powered cars, Tan said, while auto exports to Belgium and the U.K. were mostly new energy vehicles.
CNBC's Jim Cramer said Wednesday that Starbucks ' setback in its China and the U.S. segments will eventually get better, given its strong brand, execution, and profitability. However, he added that investors should not get too excited in the short term since the turnaround of the coffee giant will take some more time. After the closing bell on Tuesday, Starbucks reported a fiscal 2024 first-quarter earnings miss on its top and bottom lines. Full-year 2024 revenue guidance was also lowered. for global revenue. Shares rose in the premarket on a better-than-feared situation. But by midday Wednesday, the stock was slipping. SBUX 1Y mountain Starbucks 1 year Everybody knew things were going to be rough this quarter. In fact, Cramer has been cautioning Club members for weeks leading into the print. "China is not doing well in any way shape or form," Cramer said Wednesday. "[CEO Laxman Narasimhan] is assuring us that the long-term is good. ... I believe it will come back," he added. Starbucks explained that a tough economy in China and a hit to U.S. sales due to negative impacts from Middle East protests caused the occasional drinker to pull back purchases. "We experienced a slower-than-expected recovery in China, driven by a more cautious consumer," said Narasimhan on the company's post-earnings call. The company also mentioned "misconceptions" about the company's position in the Israel-Hamas conflict and "softening of U.S. traffic" as factors that affected results. Starbucks is a holding in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust , the portfolio used by the CNBC Investing Club.
United Parcel Service  The stock continued lower Wednesday, one day after falling more than 8% on a disappointing 2024 revenue outlook and an announcement of 12,000 layoffs . Jim said, "I don't know if [CEO] Carol Tome can keep the job." The fact is, he added, e-commerce is very strong and "she's not participating in it." Walmart  Founder Sam Walton liked the idea that people shouldn't have to own fractional shares, Jim said, praising the retailer's 3-for-1 stock split . "Very smart move by Walmart" to entice the individual investor with a smaller share price, Jim added. General Motors  Shares on Wednesday added to their 7.8% gain in the prior session on a strong quarter and 2024 guidance. "People like internal combustion engines. [CEO] Mary Barra has a lot of them," Jim said. If GM slows down on electric vehicles, then the automaker can return more money to shareholders, he added. Jim's CNBC Investing Club owns Ford Motor , which reports next month. Boeing  The stock was up Wednesday after the aircraft maker hit its free cash flow target . Boeing did pull 2024 guidance as it deals with ongoing 737 Max issues. But CEO Dave Calhoun didn't pull the 2025-2026 outlook. Calhoun made it clear he's "taking ownership" of the 737 Max problems, Jim said. "These planes will be back in the air in a matter of months," Jim predicted. Novo Nordisk  The maker of GLP-1s Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss eclipsed $500 billion in market value after strong quarterly results. "And they announced Phase 3 study on osteoporosis ... and it works," Jim said. Ozempic and Wegovy compete with Club name Eli Lilly 's Mounjaro and Zepbound. Lilly is the most value drug company in the world with a $611 billion market cap, as of Wednesday. Tesla  Shares were down slightly Wednesday after a Delaware judge voided Elon Musk's pay package. "I think the Delaware judge had it with that man" and what is viewed at the conflicted board that gave Musk the deal in the first place, Jim said.
FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on "oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation" and alleged politicization of law enforcement, on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 12, 2023.

The FBI shut down a major China-backed hacking group that attacked hundreds of routers and had been working to compromise U.S. cyber infrastructure, FBI Director Christopher Wray announced Wednesday at a House committee hearing.

The group, code-named "Volt Typhoon," hacked into hundreds of office and home office routers to allow the Chinese government to access their data, Wray told the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. He said the routers were outdated, which made them "easy targets."

The hackers had been targeting U.S. water treatment plants, the power grid, oil and natural gas pipelines, and transportation systems, he added.

"Today, and literally every day, they're actively attacking our economic security, engaging in wholesale theft of our innovation, and our personal and corporate data," he said.

Microsoft in May helped surface the threat of the Volt Typhoon hackers, warning they had been active since 2021 and were targeting U.S. cyber infrastructure. The company urged impacted customers to change their security details.

The hacks have become increasingly sophisticated, Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said at the hearing. She explained that Chinese hackers are able to "live within a computer's operating system" in a way that makes them difficult to identify.

"They've elevated their ability to act like a system administrator so you really can't tell that's a Chinese actor," Easterly said.

Given the current presidential race, Wray added that the FBI was specifically focused on preventing Chinese election interference. Ahead of Taiwan's recent presidential election, the self-governing island reported several China-backed disinformation campaigns aimed at influencing its election.

"We should absolutely expect that foreign actors will attempt to influence and that they will interfere," Easterly said speaking about the 2024 election. "To be very clear, Americans should have confidence in the integrity of our election infrastructure because of the enormous amount of work that's been done."

Wray said an app like TikTok already gives the Chinese Communist Party a possible avenue into the U.S. election since it collects Americans' private user data and is beholden to Chinese government mandates.

The officials' comments add to a slew of warnings about the threat of China to U.S. cybersecurity. In July, Chinese hackers also compromised the email accounts of the U.S. ambassador to China and other officials. And last year, the U.S. government identified and shot down a Chinese spy balloon.
Former British Chancellor George Osborne addresses guests during a visit to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce on July 1, 2016 in Manchester, England.

LONDON  A former British finance minister on Wednesday joined cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase as a global advisor, beefing up the company's regulatory bargaining power at a time when it faces severe scrutiny stateside.

Coinbase announced that George Osborne, who served as Britain's chancellor of the exchequer from 2010 to 2016, will join the company on its global advisory council.

He'll join the likes of Mark Esper, the former U.S. Secretary of Defense and Patrick Toomey (R-PA) on the council, which is in place to "advise Coinbase on our global strategy as we grow our reach around the world."

Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase's chief policy officer, said the company was "pleased to have George join our council at an exciting time for us in the U.K. and globally."

"George brings with him a wealth of experience in business, journalism and government. We look forward to relying on his insights and experiences as we grow Coinbase around the world," Shirzard added.

Osborne will serve in an advisory capacity at Coinbase, helping connect the company with politicians and regulators to help further the cause of forming crypto-friendly regulations.

While chancellor of the exchequer, Osborne launched a slew of austerity policies aimed at reducing the budget deficit, including freezing child benefits, reducing housing benefits, and implementing a two-year pay freeze for public sector workers. He also tried to stimulate business activity by cutting corporation tax.
Company logo of pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline is seen at their Stevenage facility, Britain October 26, 2020.

GlaxoSmithKline on Wednesday lifted its long-term outlook following the smash-hit launch of its new RSV vaccine.

The shot targeting the severe and in some cases life-threatening virus booked around 1.2 billion ($1.5 billion) in sales after only being on the market for roughly half a year.

GSK in November had forecast 2023 sales for the shot, Arexvy, between 900 million and 1 billion, following its strong launch in the U.S.

The launch of the first-ever vaccines targeting respiratory syncytial virus from GSK and Pfizer last year has proved to be a boon for both companies  though Pfizer saw fewer sales from its shot than its competitor did.

GSK said it now expects to generate more than 38 billion in sales by 2031, up from a previous forecast of 33 billion. In 2023, the British drugmaker raked in 30.3 billion.

GSK now anticipates sales will rise by more than 7% on a compounded annual growth rate between 2021 and 2026, with adjusted operating profit rising more than 11% during that span. In 2021, it had guided for growth rates of more than 5% for revenue and more than 10% for earnings.

The company's RSV shot in part drove the higher forecast. The vaccine is approved for use in adults aged 60 and older, but could eventually get a greenlight for those ages 50 to 59, Chief Executive Officer Emma Walmsley said on a media call.

An expanded approval of the vaccine could address another 15 million vulnerable patients, she noted.

"We are really excited about the prospects of this vaccine as part of our high-value portfolio in adult vaccination that will continue to support these upgraded outlooks for the longer term," Walmsley said.

She added that GSK is planning for at least 12 major product launches, most of which will be in the next four years.

Arexvy became the world's first RSV vaccine to win approval from a regulatory body in May following a green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The shot later won approvals in the U.K., Canada, Japan and several other countries.

With $1.5 billion in sales last year, Arexvy is now a "blockbuster" vaccine, which is when a product rakes in annual sales of at least $1 billion.
Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stands at a campaign event at the Los Angeles Harbor Grain Terminal on September 29, 2023 in Long Beach, California.

A judge on Wednesday dismissed a federal lawsuit Disney filed against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other defendants that alleged they retaliated against the company for publicly criticizing a controversial parental rights education law backed by the governor.

Judge Allen Winsor ruled that Disney lacked legal standing to sue DeSantis and the secretary of Florida's Commerce Department on a claim of violating its First Amendment rights.

Winsor also ruled that Disney's claims "fail on the merits" against members of the board of a special improvement district in which the company operates its parks and resort.

The judge on that point cited federal appeals court rulings which hold that when a law is constitutional on its face, a plaintiff cannot sue on free-speech grounds "by claiming that the lawmakers who passed it acted with a constitutionally impermissible purpose."

Disney on Wednesday said it will appeal Winsor's ruling.

Disney had effectively controlled the district's board since 1967 until the Florida legislature last year significantly changed its structure and renamed it the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The governor, who pushed for that change, now picks board members, subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

After the CFTOD was created, it voted to toss out a development agreement with Disney that had been approved by its predecessor, the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

Disney had accused the defendants of punishing the company with the changes to the board after the company in 2022 denounced legislation dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by critics. Now law, the legislation limits school classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity.

DeSantis had touted the law, and his fight with Disney, during his unsuccessful run for the Republican presidential nomination.

DeSantis and the other defendants had asked the judge to toss out Disney's suit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee.

A Disney spokesperson told CNBC on Wednesday, "This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here."

The spokesperson also said that if the ruling were "left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with."

"We are determined to press forward with our case."

DeSantis' spokesman Jeremy Redfern, in a statement, said, "As stated by Governor DeSantis when he signed HB 9-B, the Corporate Kingdom is over. The days of Disney controlling its own government and being placed above the law are long gone."

"The federal court's decision made it clear that Governor DeSantis was correct: Disney is still just one of many corporations in the state, and they do not have a right to their own special government," Redfern said. "In short  as long predicted, case dismissed."

Martin Garcia, chairman of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, said, "I'm delighted that this lawsuit, which was nothing more than a distraction, is now behind us. Our board and the district will now continue to make the appropriate changes to operate and function as an independent government agency to promote transparency and accountability while bringing more prosperity to more people in Florida."

The ruling does not affect a Florida state lawsuit by Disney seeking to reverse the CFTOD board's decision to undo the company's development agreement with the board's predecessor.

In his ruling in the federal suit, Winsor said that because Disney was seeking injunctive relief in its suit, "it must allege an imminent future injury," not that DeSantis had injured it in the past by appointing members to the CFTOD board.

"And it has not alleged facts showing that any imminent future appointments will contribute to its harm," Winsor wrote.

"The analysis could be different if the Governor had not yet made any appointments," the judge said. "But as things stand, if this court enjoined future appointments, Disney would face the same situation it faces now: it would be operating under the CFTOD board, over which it has no control."

The judge wrote that Disney also lacks standing to sue the Commerce Department secretary, writing that "Disney struggled to articulate any injury attributable to the Secretary."

"At best, it contends that the Secretary's duties include 'maintain[ing] the Official List of Special Districts,'" Winsor wrote. "But that list  or the Secretary's authority in keeping it  does nothing to affect the CFTOD Defendant's authority."
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Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg meets Founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group Jack Ma (not pictured), at the China Development Forum in Beijing, China, March 19, 2016. Shu Zhang | Reuters

Like many Facebook and Instagram users, marketing veteran Victor Lee is inundated with ads from Chinese online retailer Temu when he opens one of his Meta apps. Recently, he saw a promotion on his Instagram feed for a generic golf bag. Lee, a newbie golfer who's been shopping for equipment, was intrigued enough to click on the ad. He then landed on Temu's storefront. "They know I'm a golf enthusiast," said Lee, a former senior executive at toy giant Hasbro who is now president of digital advertising firm Advantage Unified Commerce. "They look on my Instagram, they see I follow a lot of golf players and golf shoes and stuff. You don't need a lot of tracking mechanisms to know this person likes golf." Lee ended up skipping out on the purchase because it wasn't what he wanted. But his experience is increasingly one that's shared across Facebook's massive userbase. Temu and rival Shein are spraying ads across Facebook and Instagram as they try to build their brands and snag consumers from Amazon and Alibaba's AliExpress. Temu is owned by PDD Holdings , a Chinese company that moved its principal office to Ireland last year. Shein was founded in China and relocated its headquarters to Singapore in 2022. In reaching U.S. consumers, both companies are taking advantage of lower production costs in China while benefiting from trade rules that exempt them from paying import tariffs on shipments that don't exceed $800, U.S. lawmakers have claimed. Lee, who analyzes the digital ad industry even when it doesn't overlap with his golf pursuits, said using Facebook to pay for downloads is a familiar strategy. Mobile gaming companies have spent big bucks to generate downloads, while discount online retailer Wish and viral video app TikTok have at times flooded users' feeds with promotions. "Once they get that download, that's it," Lee said. "They're less reliant on the download, and more reliant on upselling the people that have the app. That's not a new strategy. They're just so big and they're spending so much that you're noticing this strategy." One big difference now is that Temu and Shein are having an outsized impact on Meta's financials and presenting a potentially distorted picture about the company's growth rate. As Meta prepares to update Wall Street on Thursday with its fourth-quarter earnings reports, analysts and investors are trying to gauge how much of an impact two online retailers from the China region are having on the company's top line, and the sustainability of that growth given the limited track record of those clients. Meta is expected to report revenue growth of 22% for the quarter to $39.2 billion, according to analysts surveyed by LSEG, formerly Refinitiv. A Meta spokesperson declined to comment for this story.

Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

Rise of the Chinese retailers

Temu launched in 2022, while Shein, which was founded in 2012, didn't start aggressively advertising on social media until the last couple years. Meta finance chief Susan Li said on the last earnings call in October that the company has "benefited from spend among advertisers in China reaching customers in other markets," echoing comments she made in April. Although Meta didn't name Temu and Shein by name, analysts widely speculated that they were most responsible for the sales lift, considering their explosive growth of late. JMP analysts estimated that Temu and Shein spent roughly $600 million and $200 million, respectively, on Facebook and Instagram ads in the third quarter. That would suggest they accounted for about 3% of Meta's total growth in the period, according to JMP. Research from data.AI prepared for CNBC shows that Temu notched 73.87 million downloads in 2023, up more than 500% from a year prior. Shein's downloads increased around 52% over that stretch to 36.93 million. Heading into Thursday's earnings report, Meta is on a tear. The stock hit a record last week and and then again this week, and has continued to rally. It's now up 12% this year after almost tripling in 2023. That followed a miserable 2022, when Meta lost almost two-thirds of its value. The company suffered from soaring inflation, rising interest rates and a broad rotation out of tech stocks. It also was reeling from Apple's iOS privacy change in late 2021 that made it much harder for brands to target users.

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Meta bulls recognize the benefit of fresh spending coming from Chinese retailers but say the company doesn't rely on it. Chris Mack, a portfolio manager at Harding Loevner, said the rise of Temu and Shein illustrate "the power of Facebook as a platform for reach." However, he said the company's hefty cost-cutting initiatives (20,000 job cuts last year), investments in artificial intelligence and more disciplined operations are driving the story on Wall Street. The company has also had two years to adjust to Apple's changes and develop new ad technologies, helped by AI. "China has been a sort of a cherry on top of what they've been able to do  it just gives that extra tailwind," said Mack, whose firm owns more than $500 million in Meta shares, according to FactSet. "This business works regardless of what happens there." Still, every point of growth counts for a company that suffered from three straight quarters of declining revenue in 2022 and is expected to show expansion in the low teens for 2024 far below historic standards.

From that vantagepoint, Temu and Shein represent potential risks. One issue is the legal battle between the two. In December, Temu sued Shein, alleging questionable business practices and a "mafia-style intimidation of suppliers," according to legal documents. That was a month after Shein confidentially filed to go public, with an expected debut in the U.S. sometime in 2024. But China's powerful internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China, recently engaged in a security review of Shein's supply chain presence in the country, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC. The review focuses on how Shein handles information about its employees, partners and suppliers in the region, The Wall Street Journal reported.

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Then there's the import rule, which Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., called a "loophole that is being abused to tilt the playing field against American companies." Gallagher, who chairs the select committee on the Chinese Communist Party, said in a statement in June that Temu and Shein are "dodging import taxes and evading scrutiny on the millions of goods they sell to Americans." In its 2022 annual report, published before the Temu and Shein spending boom really took off, Meta said it generates "meaningful revenue from a limited number of resellers serving advertisers based in China." The company said revenue could be hurt from action taken by the Chinese government due to issues including "the trade dispute with the United States" and other potential penalties. Brian Wieser, principal at consulting firm Madison and Wall, said that in highlighting Chinese retailers during its earnings calls, Meta is telling investors, "it's a big risk factor to at least be aware of." A Shein spokesperson told CNBC in an email that ad spending was ongoing and that the company "continues to execute a variety of marketing activities globally, including online/mobile marketing such as in-app and email as well as out-of-home advertising." A Temu representative didn't respond to requests for comment.



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In a December analysis of Meta's China-U.S. cross-border ad revenue, Wieser estimated that more than $7 billion in sales last year came from China. The only number Meta provides is for the Asia-Pacific region, which accounted for $6.9 billion in third-quarter revenue, or about 20% of the total. Meta isn't the only U.S. internet company affected by the speedy growth from Temu and Shein. "There's no question that Temu and Shein are having an impact in the market," Etsy CEO Josh Silverman told analysts on his company's third-quarter earnings call. "You don't get that big that fast without taking share from many people, and I think we and most players in e-commerce have had some impact." Silverman added that Etsy has to pay more for digital ads because "those two players are almost single-handedly having an impact on the cost of advertising, particularly in some paid channels in Google and in Meta."

Money to spend
A pharmacist displays boxes of Ozempic, a semaglutide injection drug used for treating type 2 diabetes made by Novo Nordisk, at Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, U.S. March 29, 2023.

Norway's giant wealth fund, the world's largest, touted the possibility that Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk and U.S. rival Eli Lilly could be on course to become the first health-care members of the trillion-dollar club.

The comments come as the two companies are seen as the primary beneficiaries of skyrocketing demand for diabetes and weight loss drugs.

Novo Nordisk, Europe's largest firm by market capitalization, on Wednesday reported stronger-than-expected 2023 earnings, as sales of its hugely popular drug Wegovy continued to soar. The company's market valuation surpassed $500 billion on the news.

The largest pharmaceutical company in the world by market value, Eli Lilly currently stands at roughly $612 billion.

Gemma Game, head of healthcare sector strategy at Norges Bank Investment Management, said Tuesday that the launch of safe and effective weight loss drugs last year had helped to make Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly household names.

The brand names of individual medicines, such as Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, and Eli Lilly's Zepbound, have become familiar to many.

"The story is far from over," Game said. "For the billion [of] people living with obesity around the world today, this is really exciting. Fewer than a fraction of 1% have been treated so far. So, we're early on in the launch trajectory."

NBIM, the world's biggest single stock market investor, holds a 2.5% stake in Novo Nordisk and a 0.98% stake in Eli Lilly, according to LSEG data.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to a crowd during a campaign rally on September 25, 2023 in Summerville, South Carolina.

A fund intended to pay the legal bills of former president Donald Trump's allies backed chiefly by reported QAnon supporters has spent nearly $400,000, the bulk of which went to a single law firm, new records showed Wednesday.

The Patriot Legal Defense Fund received more than $1.5 million between its creation in mid-July and the end of December, according to documents filed with the Internal Revenue Service.

Of the total spent by the group, $221,000 went to the firm Brand Woodward Law, mostly in the form of professional and legal fees.

Another $150,000 from the fund went to the law firm Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher for the nondescript purpose of "services rendered," the IRS filing shows.

The fund was created by Trump campaign advisor Susie Wiles and former campaign aide Michael Glassner to help pay the bills of Trump's supporters facing lawsuits arising from their "participation in the political process," according to its records.

Of the fund's 23 contributors, the biggest contribution by far came from the Caryn L. Hildenbrand Living Trust, which donated $1 million in mid-November.

The trust is associated with Caryn Borland and her husband, Michael Borland, who together gave more than $1 million toward Trump's reelection bid in 2020, The New York Times reported.

The Borlands have reportedly expressed support for QAnon, the internet-born conspiracy theory involving a belief that Trump and his allies were fighting a behind-the-scenes war against a global sex-trafficking ring run by powerful Satan-worshipping, cannibalistic pedophiles.

In 2020, then-Vice President Mike Pence canceled plans to attend a Trump campaign fundraiser hosted by the Borlands in Montana after their link with QAnon came to light, according to the Associated Press.

When CNBC called a phone number associated with Caryn Borland and asked to speak with either her or Michael, a person who answered the phone hung up.
The GoDaddy banner hangs outside of the New York Stock Exchange as the website hosting service makes its initial public offering on April 1, 2015.

Activist investor Starboard Value on Wednesday sent a letter to web services company GoDaddy , urging management to continue moving "in the right direction" by setting specific and realistic growth targets and providing investors with more detail on how management will improve margins.

Starboard has a more than 6% stake in the company, and has been pushing the company to expand free cash flow and improve margins.

Starboard managing member Peter Feld wrote in Wednesday's letter that while GoDaddy had made a good first step on its most recent earnings call in setting new profitability targets, "a few months of share price outperformance do not solve a multi-year problem."

GoDaddy CEO Aman Bhutani signaled on that call that the company wanted to "be responsive to the feedback from investors" on growth and expansion, a tacit acknowledgment of Starboard's initial letter.

GoDaddy shares are up around 47% since the November earnings call.

Starboard still believes there is more work to be done. GoDaddy should aim for at least 40% growth and profitability for fiscal 2025, Feld wrote. Feld also highlighted GoDaddy's "robust and increasing" free cash flow, and said the company should continue to repurchase its undervalued shares.

"On revenue growth, we would again urge GoDaddy to be prudent with its growth guidance and not provide guidance that is based on an aspirational view of the business," Feld wrote.

The activist investor noted that GoDaddy's multiple is still heavily discounted relative to its peer group. Of the 20 companies in the peer group in Starboard's letter, GoDaddy has a higher multiple than only Teradata and Box .

Starboard believes GoDaddy can achieve free cash flow of $9 per share by this fiscal year, and $14 per share by fiscal 2026. Those targets are higher than GoDaddy's $6.10 free cash flow per share for the fiscal year ending September 2023, according to FactSet data.

That growth can be fueled in part by "discrete cost savings," Feld wrote, including trimming costs in technology and development. Starboard expects GoDaddy could generate more than $4 billion in free cash flow over the next three years.

The letter was sent to Bhutani and Chief Financial Officer Mark McCaffrey, as well as GoDaddy's board. Starboard sent its first public letter to GoDaddy in September and says it has had a position in the company since 2021.

GoDaddy did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

Starboard is widely regarded as a leading activist investor, with a focus on operations improvement and active engagement with management. It has led campaigns at or engaged with numerous companies in recent years, including Box, Bloomin' Brands and Salesforce , according to data from 13D Monitor.

WATCH: Starboard's Jeffrey Smith on the state of the market
Wall Street is shaking off Starbucks' weak quarterly report, seemingly taking executives at their word that the company's challenges are "transitory."

The coffee giant's stock ticked higher in morning trading, hours after it reported fiscal first-quarter earnings and revenue that missed Wall Street's estimates and lowered its full-year sales outlook.

Shares closed Wednesday down about 1%. Including Wednesday's move, shares have fallen about 14% over the last year, dragging the company's market cap down to roughly $105 billion.

Some investors had prepared themselves for worse news on Tuesday evening. Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Harbour wrote in a note to clients that the company's earnings per share and U.S. same-store sales growth was better than some had feared, "likely supporting the stock."

Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan blamed three headwinds for the disappointing results: war in the Middle East weakening its local licensees' sales, "misperceptions" in the U.S. over the company's stance on the Israel-Hamas war, and a "more cautious" consumer in China.

Executives also tried to convey that those challenges are expected to subside as fiscal 2024 progresses.

Starbucks is already trying to bring back its U.S. customers through promotions and social media spending that clarifies its position on the Middle East. Executives also said the company has several new drinks on the way, which could attract the occasional customers.

While Starbucks lowered its full-year outlook for revenue and same-store sales growth, it reiterated its forecast for fiscal 2024 earnings per share growth. BMO Capital Markets analyst Andrew Strelzik wrote that investors were likely expecting the company to lower its earnings outlook as well, so reaffirming that forecast could lift the stock price in the near term.

Others took that as a sign of the company's overall strength.

"[It illustrates] the multifaceted strength of Starbucks's business model and its ability to deliver results even in a more erratic top-line environment," William Blair analyst Sharon Zackfia wrote in a note to clients.
Chipmaker Nvidia and Google parent Alphabet were among the tech sector's investor favorites in 2023. One investor, however, has set his sights on another company offering a "value angle" on both semiconductors and artificial intelligence. That stock is semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology . Micron makes dynamic random access memory chips and NAND flash memory chips. DRAM, or dynamic random access memory, is a type of semiconductor memory needed for data processing. NAND is another type of memory that stays viable without a power source. "With AI, we're going to use a lot of memory. And so, the reason we like [Micron] is the consolidated industry structure that exists in this memory business today. It used to be much more fragmented, and it's such a mature industry, that it's really ... consolidated down to a couple of players," Aaron Dunn, portfolio manager at Morgan Stanley's U.S. Value Fund, told CNBC's " Street Signs Asia " on Jan. 24. Micron is the third-largest player in the memory sector, coming after just South Korea's SK Hynix and Samsung , he added. The company is also set to get a boost from the surge in AI adoption, especially as more data centers are built, noted Dunn, who is also co-head of value equity at Morgan Stanley. "Memory is going to ride right alongside the processors in the memory side, as we kind of build out for AI and build out our computing power in the cloud. And so, we think that's a huge benefit for Micron, and you've already seen it the stock was up 70% last year, and we still think there's substantial upside in the stock," he added. Over the last 12 months, shares in Micron are up around 44%. MU YTD mountain Year-to-date shares in Micron Like Dunn, several analysts from Goldman Sachs, UBS, Bank of America and Wolfe Research are bullish on the stock, naming it as one of their top stock picks for 2024. Wolfe Research said Micron will likely benefit from a strong recovery in 2025 in both the DRAM and NAND space. The research firm's bull case scenario assumes a 40% year-on-year growth in DRAM and 50% for NAND  giving the company a 42% overall year-on-year growth rate for 2025. And Goldman Sachs wrote , "with sector valuations relative to the broader market at or near the highs on a 10-year lookback, we continue to recommend stocks where we see potential for positive EPS revisions such as Nvidia (Buy, Conviction List) and Micron (Buy)." Of 37 analysts covering Micron, 29 have a buy or overweight rating on the stock at an average price target of $99.11, giving it upside potential of around 11.3%, according to FactSet data.
China, South Africa see broad cooperation prospects in automotive industry

10:46, January 31, 2024 By Zou Song ( People's Daily

More and more Chinese cars are appearing on the streets of South Africa, such as Haval series of Great Wall Motors (GWM), Rubik's Cube of Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd. (BAIC) and Tiggo 5X of Chery.

According to recent statistics released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa, the cumulative sales of Chinese vehicles in South Africa exceeded 22,000 units in the first three quarters of 2023. Currently, two Chinese car brands rank among the top 10 in the country in terms of sales volume.

South Africa is the largest automotive market in Africa. An insider said that Chinese vehicles offer good value and provide local consumers with more choices.

A vehicle manufactured by a Chinese automaker runs on a highway in South Africa. (People's Daily/Zou Song)

More Chinese automakers are investing in South Africa, establishing factories, and gradually gaining a foothold, contributing to the overall rapid development of the South African automotive industry.

"Three generations of my family are owners of GWM vehicles, from sedans to pickups and to SUVs. We are loyal fans of Chinese vehicles," said Thomas Walkford from South Africa.

"The GWM vehicles offer perfect durability and comfort, with a remarkable advancement in technological features. The performance of my recently purchased Haval H6 is beyond all my expectations," Walkford noted.

"That's awesome! This car has an interior design inspired by an aircraft cockpit, with hidden door handles and distinctive headlight design that makes it easily recognizable on the streets," said a young South African named Elvin, who's a fan of the BAIC Senova X55, which was honored as the Compact Family Car of the Year in South Africa last year.

In 2023, Chinese vehicles have consistently received accolades in the South African Car of the Year Awards and the Festival of Motoring in Johannesburg. During the 15th BRICS Summit held in Johannesburg last year, models of Chinese brands such as GWM, BAIC, and Chery were chosen as official vehicles.

In recent years, the overall quality of Chinese automobiles has significantly improved, leading to increased acceptance among South African consumers.

Andlye Durmanzwini, a South African car dealer, said African consumers value good performance and low fuel consumption, reliability, as well as comprehensive after-sales services and easily accessible spare parts.

"It is rare that most Chinese brands possess all of these characteristics," he said.

In 2023, an off-road pickup truck of GWM won the "best pickup of the year" award in South Africa. Li Qiang, general manager of GWM South Africa, noted that Chinese automotive brands are increasingly focusing on product quality, emphasizing vehicle features and suitability, which is a key reason for gaining trust from local consumers.

Chinese commercial vehicles are also favored in the South African market. Larry Tao, who drives a medium-sized bus in Johannesburg, bought a vehicle manufactured by BAIC Foton five years ago.

"This Chinese vehicle was reasonably priced, has sufficient power and low fuel consumption, and performs well on uphill and downhill terrains. The passengers are also very satisfied with it," Tao said, adding that he has recommended Chinese vehicles to fellow drivers.

Local employees assemble vehicles in a workshop of the Coega assembly plant of Chinese automaker FAW in South Africa. (People's Daily/Zou Song)

By the first half of 2023, the Coega assembly plant of Chinese automaker FAW in South Africa had sold over 15,000 trucks, and secured the largest share in the South African truck market in the first quarter.

Hiraaz Kalman, who owns a transportation company that operates freight services between South Africa and Mozambique, said that FAW trucks are covered by special paints so that they can adapt to the humid coastal climate, resulting in durable bodies and higher resale value.

In the facility of BAIC in South Africa's Coega Special Economic Zone, multiple batches of local employees have become proficient in the production process under the guidance of Chinese workers.

This facility is the first overseas vehicle production plant of BAIC. With a total investment of $226 million, it aims to become a global production and export base focusing on South Africa and radiating Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and other regions.

Over the past seven years, it has directly or indirectly created over 3,000 jobs and benefited more than 150 local small- and medium-sized enterprises through subcontracting.

Farhana Paruk, a senior executive at the Gordon Institute of Business Science at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, noted that Chinese automotive investments in South Africa have effectively stimulated local employment. Additionally, Chinese vehicles are better suited to the market, leading to an increase in brand value.

The rapid development of the Chinese automotive industry, particularly in the field of electric vehicles, offers valuable lessons for the South African automotive sector to learn from, she added.

Paul Zilungisele Tembe, a senior researcher with the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute at the University of South Africa, said that South Africa has a relatively well-established foundation and marketing network of the automotive industry, and is actively attracting foreign investments to achieve industrial upgrading.

Chinese automotive brands can leverage the South African market to expand their presence in more regions globally, leading to mutual benefits and win-win outcomes, he noted.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Morgan Stanley reiterates Microsoft as overweight Morgan Stanley raised its price target on the stock to $465 per share from $450 following earnings. "Q2 results well illustrated Microsoft's leading position in GenAI and unique ability to monetize this technology." Morgan Stanley reiterates Alphabet as overweight Morgan Stanley raised its price target on the stock to $165 per share from $150 and said it's standing by Alphabet shares after earnings on Tuesday. " GOOGL's efficiency workstreams shined thru, driving higher EBIT/FCF (even with higher capex)." Bank of America reiterates Meta as buy Bank of America said it's bullish heading into Meta earnings on Thursday. "We think Meta's strong AI assets could lead to positive product surprises and revenue momentum in 2024. Maintain Buy." Bank of America reiterates Advanced Micro Devices as buy Bank of America said it's standing by its buy rating following earnings on Tuesday. "We rate AMD Buy. It serves a $80bn+ addressable market opportunity in PC, server, high-end gaming, deep-learning and related markets where AMD has less than 30% value share currently." Citi downgrades Deutsche Bank to neutral from buy Citi downgraded Deutsche Bank ahead of its earnings report on Thursday. "We see few positive surprises with 4Q23, as we model a small PBT [profit before tax] miss during the quarter and expect existing revenue and capital return guidance to be reiterated and, if anything, we also see a risk of heavier cost guidance." Deutsche Bank downgrades Johnson Controls to hold from buy Deutsche Bank said investors should wait for a better entry point for the multinational conglomerate. "It is not easy to downgrade a stock after multiple years of underperformance vs. peers, and while we could continue to wait for a better exit point, we no longer feel that we can pitch JCI with conviction to institutional investors." William Blair upgrades Check Point to outperform from market perform William Blair said the software company is at an inflection point. "We are upgrading our rating on Check Point Software from Market Perform to Outperform based on our belief that the stock can reach an inflection point in 2024 and has a significant valuation gap relative to competitors such as Palo Alto Networks." KeyBanc upgrades Commvault to overweight from sector weight KeyBanc said in its upgrade of the data protection and management software company that Commvault's value proposition is increasing. "Stabilizing model transition and GM [gross margin] with expanding product set and value proposition drive upgrade." Roth MKM upgrades Plug Power to buy from hold Roth MKM said it's getting more confidence in the stock after visiting the company's plant. "Upgrading shares of Plug to Buy (from Neutral) and raising our target to $9 (from $4.50). Our visit to the Georgia green hydrogen plant gives us confidence the facility is ramping smoothly and all major technical issues are handled, addressing our prior concerns about backlog and margin visibility." Argus downgrades UPS to hold from buy Argus downgraded the stock following earnings on Tuesday. "Though UPS appears well positioned to benefit from a number of positive trends, including the continued growth of e-commerce, recent results have disappointed at both the top and bottom lines." Canaccord upgrades Stryker to buy from hold Canaccord upgraded the biomedical stock after its earnings report. " SYK delivered a strong Q4 in the face of a tough Q4/22 comp, beating on the top and bottom lines and continuing to note healthy capital demand." UBS upgrades TechTarget to buy from neutral UBS upgraded the marketing services company and said it's bullish on its proposed transaction with media marketing company Informa Tech. "We are upgrading TTGT shares to Buy from Neutral." Morgan Stanley downgrades SoFi to underweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said in its downgrade of SoFi that it sees too many "near-term revenue headwinds." "Revenue growth is still set to slow meaningfully in '24, as Lending pressures grow and keep a lid on growth over the medium-term. Downgrade to UW." Barclays downgrades Verizon to equal weight from overweight Barclays downgraded the stock on valuation. " VZ valuation more fairly aligned with trend improvements; Downgrade to EW." JPMorgan reiterates Apple as overweight JPMorgan said it's standing by Apple heading into earnings on Thursday. "Heading into the EPS print, we believe the range of outcomes on revenue are narrower than perceived by the debate on iPhone momentum, and instead the bigger driver of the stock price and ability to retain the premium multiple might be the direction of earnings revisions, lead by margins." Baird reiterates Tesla as outperform Baird designated the stock as a "bearish fresh pick" after a judge ruled to strike down Tesla CEO Elon Musk's pay package. The firm said it was sticking with its long-term outperform rating. "A court decision this afternoon ruled to strike down Elon Musk's pay package which was initially drafted in 2018. We believe this will create a negative overhang on the stock until additional clarity is given and expect shares to trade down on this news." UBS initiates GFL Environmental as buy UBS said it sees "rate cycle tailwinds" for the waste management company. "We see a buying opportunity with GFL shares trading near an all-time ~3.0x EV/EBITDA discount to peers and expect continued deleveraging to be a re-rating catalyst." Wells Fargo reiterates Spotify as overweight Wells Fargo raised its price target on the stock to $280 per share from $250. "We raise our target from $250 to $280 as we bake in SPOT's significant cost cuts."
As the U.S. presidential election comes into the spotlight, Goldman Sachs has assessed the potential impact on global markets by changes in regulation, taxation, and other government policies. The Wall Street bank said in a note that if former President Donald Trump returns to power, risks would increase around potential tariffs on European exports and reduced U.S. support for Ukraine. However, it sees U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies potentially gaining if Trump delivers on a cut to corporation taxes. The investment bank sees large and mid-cap German stocks on the DAX and MDAX indexes as most vulnerable in this scenario due to the high number of export-led companies. "For Europe, the prospect of tariffs on exports to the U.S. (a Trump proposal) and any reduction in funding for Ukraine (gaining support among Republicans) would both be significant negatives for European stocks, in our view," said Goldman Sachs strategists led by Sharon Bell in the note to clients on Jan. 24. Trump has proposed a 10% tariff on all U.S. imports , which could hit Europe hard as it's a major trading partner. Current U.S. President Joe Biden opposes Trump's tariffs proposal. About 20% of exports from the EU go to the United States , with machinery, pharmaceuticals and chemicals taking up a large share, according to the bloc's statistics agency Eurostat. On average, European companies generate 25% of sales in the U.S., but most come from U.S.-based businesses rather than exports from the EU, according to Goldman Sachs. In such a scenario, the proposed import tariffs will not impact revenue from the American subsidiaries. The investment bank said that while high trade correlation sectors like industrials and autos look most vulnerable, defensive markets like Switzerland's SMI index and U.K.'s FTSE 100 "should both be shielded from the direct impact of any tariffs." The Wall Street bank also revealed that a key area of possible resilience lies in its own basket of European companies that have over 50% of sales exposure to the U.S. Stocks in the basket include names like Holiday Inn -owner Intercontinental Hotels Group , Boeing aircraft parts maker MTU Aero Engines , Europe's largest defense contractor BAE Systems , construction groups Ashtead and CRH , and Irish food and ingredients supplier Kerry Group . "In our view, these companies are better thought of as a U.S. pocket embedded in the European stock market rather than a group of companies making things in Europe and selling into the U.S.," the Goldman strategists said. As these companies run substantial U.S. operations and assets, Goldman also sees them as benefiting from potential U.S. corporate tax cuts under Trump. The Republican front-runner has vowed on the campaign trail to lower it further to 15% if he is elected to a second term. With regards to a second presidential term for Biden, the strategists said they would expect "much lower risk for Europe in terms of trade/funding for Ukraine." However, they flagged that Biden has mentioned increasing the rate of corporate tax, "which would have an impact on US-exposed companies."  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting.
Boris Nadezhdin, the Civic Initiative Party presidential hopeful, arrives at the Central Election Commission to submit signatures collected in support of his candidacy, in Moscow on January 31, 2024.

It's less than six weeks until Russia's presidential election in mid-March, and the country's political establishment is gearing up for the vote.

Anti-war candidate Boris Nadezhdin said on Wednesday that he had submitted 105,000 signatures to Russia's Central Election Commission as he prepared to challenge incumbent, Vladimir Putin, in the upcoming vote.

Whether the CEC will accept all those signatures will be closely watched. There are concerns that the commission could try to disqualify Nadezhdin  a long-standing figure in Russian politics but a vocal critic of the war  from running in the vote.

A top official in Russia's Security Council claimed the West could try to "shake up" Russia's internal politics in the run-up to the presidential elections.
Greenwash activists take part in the final day of four days of The Big One climate protest activities organised by Extinction Rebellion (XR) on 24 April 2023 in London, United Kingdom. Mark Kerrison | In Pictures | Getty Images

The head of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative believes there is still a "real challenge" in scaling the flow of investment to companies that are transitioning to become greener. Eric Usher, who heads up the UN partnership with banks, insurers and investors, said that there are areas more clearly understood to be green investments  such as renewable energy  which are "mobilizing a lot of capital today." "The money is starting to move away from the really non-green stuff. But the real challenge is everything in between  some would say the '50 shades of green'," Usher said during a "IOT: Powering the Digital Economy" panel moderated by CNBC's Steve Sedgwick at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This refers to companies still working toward making their businesses more sustainable, making them more difficult to label as truly green investments, according to Usher.

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"If you're going to work in helping deal with heavy emitting sectors and you're going to put more capital in to help them reduce [emissions], that's going to increase your emissions profile," he explained. "So there's a lot of definitional stuff that's needed before the capital is going to flow really at scale," Usher added. The UNEP FI was founded in 1992 and says on its website that it was the first organization to engage the finance sector on sustainability. Amid the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, sustainability issues and investment moved firmly into the spotlight as investors poured money into newly set up funds. More and more businesses strived to make their businesses more sustainable amid severe weather events across the globe. But signs of a so-called "greenlash" have been growing across places like the U.S. and Europe as the cost of implementing environmental policies has faced resistance from citizens, prompting some governments to water down their targets.

Net-zero work 'hasn't stopped'
Volkswagen, like other car giants, are pushing heavily into AI to boost their technology credentials and make their cars smarter.

German automaker Volkswagen has established its own artificial intelligence lab, the company said Wednesday, reflecting growing ambitions from the car industry to adopt the buzzy technology.

In a press release, Volkswagen said its new AI lab will serve as a "globally networked competence center and incubator" to produce proofs of concept in the field of the tech surrounding automotive innovations.

AI labs are research and development hubs for exploring artificial intelligence breakthroughs. Common examples of such labs are those of OpenAI, which Microsoft has backed with billions of dollars, and Google's DeepMind, which the Alphabet -owned tech giant acquired in 2014.

Volkswagen claimed it would bring its lab's AI innovations to its own vehicles to make them smarter.

"We want to offer our customers genuine added value with artificial intelligence. We aim to link external digital ecosystems with the vehicle, creating an even better product experience," says Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group and Porsche AG.

"Collaboration with technology companies is crucially important for us. In [the] future, we intend to simplify cooperation in organizational and cultural terms."

Volkswagen isn't planning on manufacturing any production models of its own, but the company intends to hold talks with partners about licensing its proprietary AI technology for use in their vehicles. Volkswagen did not name any potential partner.

The carmaker said some of the AI solutions pursued by the lab will deal with optimizing electric vehicle charging, predictive maintenance for cars and linking vehicles with customers' homes through internet-connected devices.

The company also said it would explore AI uses to enable in-car voice recognition.

The announcement comes as other auto firms are pushing heavily into artificial intelligence to boost their technology credentials and make their cars smarter.

French carmaker DS automobiles began integrating ChatGPT into its vehicles late last year. Mercedes-Benz and Microsoft started testing in-car ChatGPT support as early as June 2023. Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD, meanwhile, launched an AI-powered smart car system to better compete with rivals on advanced technologies, such as automated parking.
"In the final analysis, Musk launched a self-driving process, recalibrating the speed and direction along the way as he saw fit," the judge wrote. "The process arrived at an unfair price. And through this litigation, the plaintiff requests a recall."

"The stockholder plaintiff in this derivative lawsuit says so. He claims that Tesla, Inc.'s directors breached their fiduciary duties by awarding Elon Musk a performance-based equity-compensation plan."

"Was the richest person in the world overpaid?" asked McCormick in her decision.

That plan had offered Musk the chance to secure 12 tranches of Tesla stock options, which would vest if the company's market capitalization increased by $50 billion and Tesla achieved a revenue target.

The package made the Tesla and SpaceX boss a centibillionaire and the richest person on the planet.

The pay package that Tesla granted Musk in 2018 was the largest compensation plan in public corporate history, McCormick noted in her 200-page ruling.

Musk can appeal the decision to the Delaware Supreme Court.

Chancery Court Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick told the parties in the lawsuit to confer on what would be a final order directing Musk to return the compensation he has received under the plan.

McCormick ruled that Tornetta had proved that Musk "controlled Tesla" and that the process leading to the board's approval of his compensation was "deeply flawed."

She wrote that Musk had "extensive ties" with the people who were negotiating for Tesla on the package, including members of management "who were beholden to Musk," among them General Counsel Todd Maron, his former divorce attorney.

"There is no greater evidence of Musk's status as a transaction-specific controller than the Board's posture toward Musk during the process that led to the Grant," McCormick wrote.

"Put simply, neither the Compensation Committee nor the Board acted in the best interests of the Company when negotiating Musk's compensation plan. In fact, there is barely any evidence of negotiations at all," she wrote. "Rather than negotiate against Musk with the mindset of a third party, the Compensation Committee worked alongside him, almost as an advisory body."

Musk did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

In a tweet late Tuesday afternoon, Musk wrote, "Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware."

In a later tweet, he started a poll with the question: "Should Tesla change its state of incorporation to Texas, home of its physical headquarters?"

Tornetta's lawyer, Greg Varallo, in a statement said, "We are enormously grateful for the Court's thorough and extraordinarily well-reasoned decision in turning back the Tesla board's absurdly outsized pay package for Musk."

"The Court's hard work will redound directly to the benefit of Tesla investors, who will see the dilution from this gargantuan pay package erased," Varallo said.

McCormick's ruling hinged on a finding that Musk, rather than its board of directors and shareholders, controlled Tesla, at least when it came to the question of setting his compensation.

The judge wrote: "In addition to his 21.9% equity stake, Musk was the paradigmatic 'Superstar CEO,' who held some of the most influential corporate positions (CEO, Chair, and founder), enjoyed thick ties with the directors tasked with negotiating on behalf of Tesla, and dominated the process that led to board approval of his compensation plan."

Tesla and Musk's attorneys, the court decided, "were unable to prove that the stockholder vote was fully informed because the proxy statement inaccurately described key directors as independent and misleadingly omitted details about the process."

Earlier this month, Musk began angling for 25% of voting control over Tesla.

He currently owns about 13% of the company's stock outright.

"I am uncomfortable growing Tesla to be a leader in AI & robotics without having ~25% voting control. Enough to be influential, but not so much that I can't be overturned," he wrote in a post on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.

Musk owns X and runs it, having purchased it in late 2022.

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Mosier Plateau, one of the many landscapes between Mosier and The Dalles which will form part of the eventual trail linking the two towns.
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Government is somebody coming up with a plan that sounds great on paper, only to be hilariously thwarted by human nature within minutes of it passing.

The most difficult thing about running a country is that it's full of people. The entire history of government involves somebody coming up with a plan that sounds great on paper, only to be hilariously thwarted by human nature within minutes of it passing (see: Prohibition). The world is full of these stories, and they prove time and again that it's really hard to get human beings to do something they just don't want to do. That's why ...

5 Gun Buyback Programs Result in More Guns Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images Gun buyback programs are a kind of soft gun control policy in which everybody wins -- you offer cash to people to give up their firearms, but without actually forcing them to do so. The guns are then destroyed by the state, and are thus off the streets forever. Dudes like their guns, but they probably love cash even more, so, for a small fee, you can prevent tragedy down the road. And even if only a small fraction of gun owners hand their firearms in for cash, that's still fewer guns in circulation, which can only be a good thing, right? Flying Colours Ltd/Digital Vision/Getty Images

"Shit. I guess I do want to get high more than I want to shoot a mother-fucker." Advertisement The Backfire: A study shows that, long term, these programs result in more guns. How? Well, imagine you see a product advertised on late night television that looks awesome, but that you're not sure you want or need. For example, some new combination lawnmower and treadmill that we'll call a lawnmill (patent pending). But, you remember that you don't actually have a lawn, and that 100 percent of treadmills wind up getting turned into expensive coat racks, so you resist the urge to grab the phone. Jupiterimages/Stockbyte/Getty Images

"Don't look at them, honey. Just keep walking. They'll only spend your exercise on crack." Advertisement Now imagine that the government has made a promise that they will pay cash money for any unwanted lawnmill (no, wait -- treadmower!) you have, no questions asked. Suddenly there's less financial risk in ordering -- if it turns out you don't want it, you know you have a waiting buyer. The same thing applies to guns. Those who aren't sure if they actually need one are more inclined to buy one if they know they can cash it back in if they change their mind. Or say they have a small, shitty gun and are thinking about upgrading. Hey, just sell the shitty one to the government, earn a tidy profit, and put that cash toward the purchase of a brand new, much more lethal weapon! Digital Vision./Photodisc/Getty Images

Squirrel hunting just got fucking awesome. Advertisement Advertisement The thing is, it's not like there's no historical precedent for this type of thing. And in fact, the historical example is much, much more insane ...

4 Put a Bounty on Snakes, You Get More Snakes Tom Brakefield/Stockbyte/Getty Images What's worse than a termite infestation? A cobra infestation. And what's worse than a cobra infestation? Nothing. Nothing is worse than a cobra infestation. Advertisement So, back in the days of British-controlled India, the British governor of Delhi was understandably upset when he faced this exact problem. In between his screams of terror, the governor offered a bounty on cobra skins, opting to crowdsource the extermination via what he probably assumed were top-notch snake-charming skills. Sure enough, the local populace cashed in on the bounty, slaughtering snakes wherever they found them. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Please tell us that wasn't in your pants. It was in your pants, wasn't it? Advertisement Advertisement Problem solved! Right? The Backfire: As rich as the British Empire was, and as keen as it was to see an end to cobras, it made the fatal error of setting the bounty too high. Specifically, the reward for each dead snake was significantly higher than the cost of breeding and raising a snake. Yeah. You know where this is headed. Photos.com

"Um ... ma'am ... these aren't the eggs I ordered." Instead of going out and hunting cobras like they were supposed to, people stayed at home and set up cobra farms, producing thousands more cobras to eventually slaughter and sell their corpses to the government for profit. Advertisement Of course, the governor, noticing he was still thigh-deep in cobras, eventually caught on to this racket and called the bounty off. Unfortunately, that meant everyone in Delhi was now stuck with thousands of useless, costly cobras. Shrugging at the capriciousness of the cobra-skin market, the cobra farmers returned to their day jobs, releasing their unprofitable snake populations into the city, resulting in a much worse infestation. Not to be outdone by the British, the French recreated this sordid tale, substituting Hanoi for Delhi and rats for cobras. At first their bounty on rat tails resulted in an epidemic of tailless, pissed-off rats, but eventually the siren call of having "rat farmer" on your resume proved impossible to resist. Photos.com

"OK, now get my flute. I need to march them into town." Advertisement Advertisement Of course, we'd never make the same mistake today. Oh wait, scratch that, let's wait and see how the Utah coyote bounty program pans out. Maybe you should lock your doors.

3 Mexican Anti-Pollution Policy Increases Pollution Digital Vision./Photodisc/Getty Images Although it looks like the climactic battle scene in a post-apocalyptic thriller, this is what Mexico City looks like from the air, thanks to 460,000 vehicles belching smog daily into the atmosphere: Via Geographyblog.eu

It's what they call a "farty sunset." Advertisement Advertisement To deal with this problem, in 1989 the city enacted a policy called Hoy No Circula ("You Don't Drive Today"), which simply banned a certain percentage of the city's cars from driving each day. The way they did it was by license plate number -- if yours ended in a 5 or a 6, then you weren't allowed to drive your car on a Monday, so you would have to carpool, take a cab, or bike your ass to work. The next day, you could drive, but somebody else would have to walk, etc. The hope was that by taking tens of thousands of cars off the road every day, they would start to see an improvement in pollution levels and a greater appreciation for public transportation. Foolproof! Toby Burrows/Digital Vision/Getty Images

"Life sure is grand here in Fakeopolis, where everything works out the way it never does." Advertisement The Backfire: First of all, apparently underestimating the lengths people will go to in order to not do as they're told, Hoy No Circula only restricted car use between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., leaving drivers with a cool seven hours with which to make up for the day's lost pollution. Air pollution levels increased during the off hours, showing that people would rather work a 17-hour day than take the bus. But those who wanted a more convenient way to get around the law simply bought a second car. The policy applied to cars, not people, and thus didn't restrict anyone from driving a different car with different plates on those "off" days. Not only did this increase the number of cars in Mexico City, but people usually opted to buy really cheap, shitty, hyper-polluting used cars as their backup, so they were polluting more on their off days than when they were allowed to drive their regular car. Thinkstock Images/Stockbyte/Getty Images

On the upside, though ... wait, there was no upside. Advertisement Advertisement But what about those who did the right thing and left the car at home? They screwed up as well. See, most of them opted to call a cab on days they weren't allowed to drive. It just so happens that Mexican cabs are mostly Volkswagen Beetles, which are so heavy on pollution that they stopped selling them in the United States back when the original Star Wars movies came out. So an increase in taxi use translated to a total increase in pollution. Did Mexico learn its lesson from all this? Hell no -- seeing that the policy had no effect, they expanded Hoy No Circula from weekdays only to Saturday as well.

2 Fishing Quotas Are Bad News for Fish Digital Vision./Photodisc/Getty Images Advertisement As their collective name suggests, fish are very prone to being fished. When fish fishability meets our love of Friday dinners, the result is that fish run the risk of being fished to extinction for the crime of being delicious. To avert this threat, the European Union established the total allowable catch section of the Common Fisheries Policy. Or, in everyday language, a fishing quota that slaps penalties on anyone who catches too many or the wrong kind of fish. This is a neat and easy way to ensure that fishing vessels aren't sweeping the sea clean like Mr. Burns. Advertisement And it's very simple -- when the boats return with their catch, authorities look at what they came back with and assess their penalties accordingly. Nobody caught with too many illegal fish will be in business for long, damn it! Darrin Klimek/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Enjoy your life in jail, assholes. Advertisement The Backfire: The thing is, the checking of the catch has to happen on shore -- the ocean is a big place, and there's no way authorities could go from boat to boat. The fishing vessels didn't have an incentive to stop catching illegal fish; they had an incentive to stop arriving at shore with illegal fish. So, if the boat caught too many fish, or the wrong kind, the captain could bring the whole haul to shore with his handcuff-ready hands outstretched, or he could just fucking dump the excess fish back into the ocean and return only with the amount that he's allowed by law, whistling innocently. And no, we don't mean throwing the fish back alive -- the process of sorting through a catch is pretty time intensive, so the vast majority of rejected fish are dead and well on the way to rotten. NA/AbleStock.com/Getty Images

Which eventually makes it extremely easy for you to find a good spot on the beach! Advertisement Advertisement As a result, in some areas, two-thirds of the total catch is made to walk the plank in the quest for perfect specimens of the right species. In the North Sea alone, 1 million metric tonnes of fish is thrown back each year (for our American readers, that's about 2 nautical hogsheads-on-Tuesday). And all of those rotting fish carcasses pollute the sea enough to kill many of the still-alive fish that somehow avoided being caught in the first place.
Do you know whats mind-blowing about Bob Newharts night at the 1961 Grammy Awards? It wasnt that he won an award or two, nor that Newhart was honored for leaving his hometown of Chicago to record his debut comedy album at a club hed never heard of, the Tidelands Motor Inn in Houston. The truly incredible fact was that Newhart had never performed in front of a live audience before recording that album  one that would go on to win the years biggest prize.

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The Bob Newhart comedy origin story is bonkers. His comedy career began when hed call a buddy who worked at an ad agency and perform extended prank calls as an airline pilot or the manager of a yeast factory. Another friend heard about Newharts funny phone bits and suggested recording them to sell to radio stations. A few stations bought in, and the hilarious recordings ended up in the hands of an executive at Warner Bros. The guy thought Newharts phony phone calls would make a funny album and wanted to record them at one of the comics club gigs. The problem: Newhart had never performed in front of an audience.

With recording contract in hand, Newhart found himself an agent, who had difficulty booking a comic whod never done his act in front of paying customers. Five months later, Newhart finally got a booking at Tidelands Motor Inn as an opening act. On February 10, 1960, my performance was recorded for my first album, and I became the newest pledge to the fraternity of working stand-up comedians, Newhart writes in his memoir, I Shouldnt Even Be Doing This. There was no secret ceremony. I simply went backstage at the end of the night and poured myself a double scotch.

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The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart sold like gangbusters, soon hitting #1 on the charts. Not the comedy charts (which didnt exist at that time)  the music charts. The album was so popular that Warner Bros. demanded an immediate follow-up, which was a problem since Newhart had used all of his material on the first one. He scraped together enough bits to get The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back in stores before the end of the year. It reached #2 on the charts, right behind his debut album.

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That year at the Grammys, Newhart pulled off a feat that no comedian will ever match again. It was Newharts hasty follow-up record, The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back, that won the award for Best Comedy Performance. But the big shocker was The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart beating out Frank Sinatra and Harry Belafonte for Album of the Year. At that point, Best New Artist was kind of a given, making Newhart a triple Grammy winner on the night.

Another way to wrap your head around the year Newhart had? It turns out my two albums held the No. 1 and No. 2 spots for two consecutive weeks. This record stayed in place until the simultaneous release of Guns N Roses Use Your Illusion I and II in 1991, the comic has explained. When my daughter Jennifer delivered the news that Axl Rose had supplanted my record, I was philosophical about it: Well, you hate to lose a record, especially when you dont know you hold it, but at least it went to a friend.
This Sunday, the very likely final season of Curb Your Enthusiasm begins. This will be its 12th season, but ever since the six-year gap between Seasons Eight and Nine, the irregularity in between each season has made the show a little tough to keep up with.

Fortunately, Larry David is still the same misanthrope he was in Season One, so you likely wont get lost if you tune into the final season before catching up. But in case you want to know those things you dont really need to know, heres a quick primer

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10 Cheryl Ever since Larry and Cheryl broke up in Season Six, Cheryl Hines has only appeared in a few episodes each season, so dont be surprised if you dont see much of her this go-around. Honestly, its been good for the show to have Larry back in the dating world, as its opened up some new, interesting doors over the past couple of seasons, most notably the three-episode arc in which Larry was dating Lauren Graham, who played a mom with a kid on the spectrum, but who Larry just thought was an asshole. Plus, Hines IRL husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been busy saying objectively weird shit on the presidential campaign trail, so shes had her hands full defending his various conspiracy theories. She is in one of the trailers for Season 12, so she definitely will show up, most likely hand-in-hand with Ted Danson. Speaking of whom

9 Ted Danson Since Season Nine, Ted Danson and Cheryl David have been an on-again, off-again couple, now that Ted has divorced Mary Steenburgen. While most of the changes to the series have been fine over the last few seasons, this relationship rubs me the wrong way. Perhaps because, in real life, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen seem like one of Hollywoods most normal, charming couples so it bothers me that theyd break up, even if its only in Larrys fictional world of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

8 Young Larry Season 11 dealt with Larry working on a new pilot called Young Larry. The autobiographical sitcom  which starred Ted Danson as Young Larrys uncle  was mostly a series of disasters last season, but the final episode was somewhat ambiguous about the shows status. Most likely, Young Larry will be ignored in the final season, but who knows?

7 Irma Kostroski I was happily surprised to see Tracey Ullmans character, Irma Kostroski, in the trailer for Season 12. Much of Season 11 dealt with Larry dating this hilariously repulsive city councilwoman in order to influence her vote on a law pertaining to gates around pools in L.A. (Larry, who had no gate around his pool, had a man drown in it at the beginning of Season 11, which the dead mans brother blackmailed him about. Larry, of course, only dated Irma in order to get the gate law repealed.) In the final episode, Irma learned of Larrys motives and broke up with him, seemingly ending the characters arc. However, shes popped up in the new trailer, which is fantastic as shes the funniest new character on Curb in years. Advertisement Advertisement

6 Leon J.B. Smooves Leon Black is still living in Larrys guest house, and hes still the same hilarious, sex-crazed layabout hes always been. Lets just hope he gets a spin-off or something after Curb ends because I can never get enough of this character.

5 Susie Much like Leon and Larry, Jeffs wife Susie is the same character shes always been. She still screams insults at Larry and Jeff and provides some of the shows most consistent laughs. Advertisement Advertisement

4 Jeff Jeff is pretty much the same too, even in the wake of Jeff Garlins firing from The Goldbergs for inappropriate conduct. The closest Curb Your Enthusiasm ever came to addressing any of that was in the beginning of Season 10, when Jeff is repeatedly mistaken for Harvey Weinstein. Besides that, it seems Curb just wants everyone to forget about any headlines featuring Garlin.

3 The New Funkhauser Probably the biggest loss to Curb Your Enthusiasm was when Bob Einstein died in 2019. His character, Marty Funkhouser, last appeared in Season Nine, and though he was absent for the last two seasons, he was said to be overseas as opposed to being dead. In his absence, a new Funkhouser was introduced by way of Martys cousin Freddie Funkhauser played by Vince Vaughn. While Vaughn keeps up with the improvisation on Curb just fine, his character doesnt really work. For starters, hes much younger than Larrys typical friends, so its hard to figure out where he suddenly came from. Also, hes being played by Vince Vaughn, who is definitely a celebrity thats big enough to play himself on the show. Are you telling me that Ted Danson, Jon Hamm, Seth Rogen and Michael York exist in this universe, but Vince Vaughn doesnt? That very idea is distracting, and every scene with him makes me wonder, Why is Vince Vaughn on this show? Advertisement Advertisement

2 Richard Lewis Despite being visibly unwell for years, Lewis has still managed to appear in an episode or two of Curb Your Enthusiasm over the past few seasons, and the trailer reveals that hell be in this season, too. This is exactly the kind of friend we want for Larry; its just too bad Lewis cant do more. Play
Rock gets another crack at writing and directing despite his very mid efforts so far

Chris Rock is directing a new movie, a remake of the well-loved Danish film Another Round about a group of teachers who try to stay drunk all day. Because the Internet, people were immediately mad, protesting that its too soon for a new version of the 2020 movie and that Rock could never comprehend its very Scandinavian mindset.

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But maybe a better reason to question Rocks remake is this: Can the stand-up legend make an awesome movie? Hes had a few swings now as a writer/director and cant seem to nail it. His best is 2014s Top Five, with even positive reviews like the National Newspaper Publishers Associations Dwight Brown damning Rock with faint praise: Top Five gives us a glimpse of his comic genius. Just a tad.

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That was a step up from 2007s I Think I Love My Wife, currently at 17 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. USA Today lamented that there was very little that's clever, romantic or witty in this formulaic romp. 2005s Head of State in which Rock runs for President? The Washington Post grumbled that it isn't as sharp, fast or funny as Rock's stand-up routines.

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Why cant Rock seem to crush one of his writer/director efforts? Here are a few theories:

1 Rock the Moviemaker Is Competing with Rock the Stand-up Washington Posts Rita Kempley nailed it  while Head of State might have been viewed as a promising debut if the writer/director was named Chad Rock, it couldnt help but pale next to Bring the Pain and Bigger and Blacker, the steller stand-up specials Rock released in the years leading up to the film. Theres very little thats as sharp, fast or funny as those classics, setting an impossible standard for a first-time movie director.

2 Rock Might Be His Own Worst Enemy One problem when everyone says youre a genius? You probably arent going to argue. Mid-1990s Chris Rock, coming off humbling turns on Saturday Night Live and In Living Color, likely would have sought counsel from other comics and filmmakers on any writing/directing jobs. For all I know, hes done that on all of his movie efforts, but when push comes to shove, Rock likely trusts his own instincts over the advice of others who can provide valuable outside perspective. Someone whispering Maybe you should cut that overlong scene never hurts. Advertisement Advertisement
Its tough to take orders and notes from people, Larry David says on todays episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast. I cant have a boss. To prove it, David reminisced about the different times he quit Seinfeld in a petulant huff, despite describing the show as one of his first positive professional experiences.

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Im always the happiest when Im in charge of my own stuff, David admits by way of explaining why he kept quitting the sitcom that made him a very rich man. Example #1: The first time, (NBC) had hired a guy. After we got picked up for the first four shows, they hired somebody to be the executive producer, to be the boss, he explains. And he called us into his office, me and Jerry. And he gave us notes on the first couple of shows.

Its not unusual for first-time creators to get network feedback but David wasnt having it. He talked and then when he was done talking, I looked at him and I said, No. I said, No, Im not doing one thing. And with that, David and Seinfeld left the meeting. I said to Jerry, Hey, good luck with this thing because Im not gonna be able to do this. The shows at this point were just scripts  no episodes had even been filmed  but David was determined to walk away. Jerry said, No, no, dont worry about it. And sure enough, that was the end of that. And I didn't have to do any of the notes. Castle Rock just let me be in charge.

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Example #2 is more of the same. After a successful second season, David and Seinfeld were once again summoned to the network office. So we go to the meeting, he remembers. And (NBC is) giving me things that they want in the show for the following season. Things I don't want to do. So I don't say anything. and then when the meeting's over, we gather in the parking lot and there must be like 12 of us and I said, Good luck. Im not doing it. My hand will not obey the command from my brain to write what they want me to.

Another ultimatum led to another backdown from NBC. From that point on, I never had any other problems at all. That was the end of it, David said. Like George Costanza's impetuous resignation from Rick Barr Properties and David's own almost walk-away from Saturday Night Live, David's angry resignations didn't always end up with him leaving the job. NBC continued giving us little notes here and there, things you could do easily. But when it came to bigger stuff, I realized that all I gotta do is say No.

David had the luxury of saying no because he wasnt married and had no kids, meaning there were no obligations to anyone but himself. I wasnt risking anything. And I had no problem going back to New York, he says. Davids advice to young writers and other creatives? Stay single, because thats the only way you could really do what you want.
Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the foreign affairs department of the Canadian government, said it is investigating a data breach in its internal network.

Early results [of the investigation] indicate there has been a data breach and that there has been unauthorized access to personal information of users, including employees. The department is contacting those affected with mitigation measures to ensure that sensitive and personal information is secure, GAC told Global News.

The data breach affected the remote access to GACs network and several employees were asked to stop working remotely. As per CBC News, which viewed the emails sent to the employees, the data breach affected two internal drives, emails, calendars, and contacts of several staff members.

Another email sent to the staff members, according to CBC News, said the GACs internal systems were vulnerable between December 20, 2023, and January 24, 2024, and information of anyone using a Secure Integrated Global Network (SIGNET) laptop is possibly exposed. SIGNET is the secure network used by the GAC.

The data breach occurred because of the compromised Virtual Private Network (VPN), managed by the Federal Governments Shared Services Canada, used by remote workers to access GACs headquarters. The scope of the data breach is as yet unclear.

We continue to take several steps to protect employees personal information and safeguard our corporate networks following the discovery that Virtual Private Network (VPN) managed by Shared Services Canada (SSC) was compromised and used to access Global Affairs Canada (GAC) HQ VPN-related network traffic, said the internal message to the staff, as reported by Global News. However, the GAC didnt reveal the details of the threat actors responsible for carrying out the attack.
Cyberattacks in the healthcare industry undermine our ability to deliver quality care and can endanger the safety, and even the lives, of our patients. Unfortunately, hackers see our industry as a prime target, particularly for ransomware and data privacy attacks. None of us want to hear the news that a hospital has been breached, nor be the person in that hospital who has to deal with the aftermath. Every time I hear about a breach, I get a deep feeling of unease.

Cyberattacks are inevitable, but successful attacks dont have to be. As leaders in healthcare and cybersecurity, we must be extra vigilant in understanding our vulnerabilities and providing our organizations with the best defense possible, even as we face ongoing budget constraints and a challenging cybersecurity talent shortage.

As I look at 2023 and beyond, I see three areas that are top of mind for myself and many of my colleagues in healthcare. Each of these priorities presents both challenges and opportunities:

The growth of IoMT devices and the increase in vulnerabilities they pose.

A more challenging regulatory environment, not just in terms of the technology, but also in our ability to manage the administrative side.

The opportunity to leverage automation, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity consolidation to improve protection and mitigate the effects of budget and personnel issues.

Here are the priorities I believe are mission-critical for leaders in healthcare cybersecurity:

1. Securing IoMT

IoMT devices represent a huge opportunity for practitioners to improve the quality of care and for patients to reap the benefits of important advances in treatment. But the dramatic growth of these devices puts a strain on cybersecurity departments. Why?

A Larger Attack Surface

IoMT increases the attack surface significantly. In my hospital, we now have about 2,000 IoMT devices and that number is bound to keep growing as we modernize more equipment.

A Lack of Control

As cybersecurity teams, we dont have the kind of control over IoMT devices that we have with other devices across our organizations, even IoT. Manufacturers dont have consistent update policies and IoMT devices tend to have a lot of vulnerabilities. While new regulations in Europe and elsewhere govern their use, manufacturers are lagging behind with security.

A Lack of Visibility

You cant protect what you cant see. For many healthcare organizations, getting visibility into the full range of IoMT devices must be a top priority for 2023 and beyond. In our organization, we tend to isolate IoMT devices from the rest of the network. This doesnt guarantee they are not vulnerable, but it enables us to have greater visibility into them. We can see where we have vulnerabilities and how adversaries are trying to exploit them. We only allow IoMT devices onto our network when they pass through our firewall.

Cybersecurity consolidation has been another initiative that has helped us mitigate IoMT risks. With consolidation, we have greater visibility and control through a single console. While IoMT manufacturers have been slow to offer proper protections, adjustments at our end have stopped threats before they could seriously affect operations.

2. Managing regulatory compliance

In Belgium, we were operating under NIS1 for several years, whereby hospitals were not placed in the category of critical infrastructure. Fortunately, this is changing as we move to NIS2.

In our organization, we are preparing for the coming changes by going for an ISO 27001 certification. Weve built our cybersecurity framework according to NIST and CIS guidelines, which serve us well in meeting regulatory compliance requirements.

One of the challenges facing smaller hospitals such as ours is finding the manpower to deal with a changing regulatory environment, particularly when it comes to administrative requirements. We chose to invest in technical solutions, such as the decision to embrace cybersecurity consolidation three years ago.

On the technical side, we have good visibility into our networks. We have XDR security, segmenting, and all of our logs on one platform. This all helps the regulatory environment. But dealing with the administrative side is a manpower challenge for us, as it is for many healthcare institutions, mainly, as we all deal with a shortage of qualified personnel.

3. Leveraging automation, AI, and cybersecurity consolidation

The ongoing personnel shortage is one of the reasons why I see automation, AI, and cybersecurity consolidation as top priorities for the healthcare industry. The more we can do with machines, the more we can ease the burden on ourselves and our staff. The same with using consolidation to eliminate tools and centralize management consoles.

But automation, AI, and cybersecurity are not merely a short-term fix to a current personnel challengethey are the future of cybersecurity. Humans cant possibly compete with machines when it comes to tasks like sorting through logs or recognizing patterns. A human might be the final step for an action a SOC might take, but humans must rely on machines to help them do their jobs.

Looking ahead

Beyond these priorities, there are other steps we can take as cybersecurity leaders to advance our industry and support the delivery of secure, high-quality, modern healthcare.

We all benefit from more knowledge sharing. In cybersecurity, and particularly in healthcare, we are not competitors. We all have the same goals. The more we can collaborate, the better off we are as an industry and as a community.

I also think we must recognize our limitations, but also our strengths. Healthcare may not be the highest-paying field when it comes to cybersecurity, but people who come into our field have a huge opportunity to contribute to society. We must find people who are passionate about working in healthcare and, as leaders, we must express our own passion about working in healthcare. For me, I love the significant challenges as well as the opportunity to contribute to the greater good.

One more takeaway: it may seem obvious, but if youre a cybersecurity leader in healthcare, create a plan. Dont just buy tools because they offer a quick fix. Make a roadmap and know where youre going. And if the roadmap happens to embrace strategies for IoMT, compliance, automation, AI, and consolidation, youre already on the right path.

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Article by IG Market Analyst Tony Sycamore

When will Apple report its latest earnings?

Apple is scheduled to report its first (Q1) earnings on Thursday, February 1, 2024.

The backdrop

Apple Q4 2023 earnings, reported in early November, beat analysts' expectations for sales and earnings per share, but the company said its quarterly revenues fell 1% year over year.

Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, said, "We now have our strongest lineup of products ever heading into the holiday season, including the iPhone 15 lineup and our first carbon-neutral Apple Watch models, a major milestone in our efforts to make all Apple products carbon neutral by 2030."

Digging deeper into the Q4 2023 earnings report, the following highlights could be observed.

 An all-time revenue record in Services of $22.31 billion vs the $21.35 billion expected. The Services segment includes subscriptions like iCloud Storage, App Store and Apple Music.

 A September quarter revenue record for iPhone of $43.81 billion. Furthermore, the iPhone was the only hardware line for Apple to show growth in the quarter, as Apple's Mac and iPad business contracted during the quarter. The period only included about one week of iPhone 15 sales.

 The Wearables section, which includes Air Pods and Apple Watches, fell over 3% YoY.

Net Sales by Category

Source Apple.com

Of concern to shareholders, Apple's sales in Greater China, its third largest market, were flat on the year. Chinese government officials are banned from using Apple's devices in favor of homegrown products like Huawei. Outside of the public sector, the Chinese consumer remains cautious, as the Chinese economy remains tepid.

Net Sales by Segment

Source Apple.com

What to look for in Q2?

In its Q4 Earnings call, CFO Luca Maestri guided that Apple expected December quarter revenue to be like last year's.

After a recent broker upgrade, which helped to spark a sharp move higher in the Apple share price, there will be interest in commentary around the following topics.

 The potential for long term gains as the company integrates AI into iPhones.

 Prospects for the Vision Pro virtual reality headset, which is scheduled to launch on February 2  a launch which seems to be lacking "buzz".

 Whether Apple continues to win market share in a contracting Chinese market.

 An update in iPhone 15 sales.

 The impact of the removal of the Oxygen feature from Apple Watches after its legal setback.

 Insights into the iPhone 16 due for release in September of this year.

Key Financials - Summary

Wall Street's expectations for the upcoming results are as follows.

 EPS: $2.11 vs $1.46 per share previous quarter

 Revenue: $117.95 billion vs $89.5 billion

Apples Sales Revenue

Source Trading Economics

Technical Analysis

Following an almost 48% gain in 2023, Apple's share price has shaken off some New Year nerves to be trading higher in January, just 2.5% below its $199.62 all-time high.

Providing Apple's share price remains above a band of support near $180.00/75, which includes the 200-day moving average at $181.45, recent lows in the $180 area, and uptrend support, we expect to see Apple's shares break above resistance at $199 in the coming months towards $220.00.

Aware that if Apple's share price were to see a sustained break below $180/75, it would warn that a deeper pullback is underway, initially towards the $165.57 low from last October.

Summary

Apple is scheduled to report its first (Q1) earnings on Thursday, February 1, 2024. Ahead of the release, Apple's share price is holding above important support at $180/75 but below its all-time high at $199.62. An earnings beat and positive forward guidance should catalyse a push to new all-time highs.
We seem to be about to send one of our two aircraft carriers  which have been collecting barnacles in Portsmouth for many months now  to the Red Sea to help counter drone and missile attacks from Houthi terrorists.

The USS Dwight D Eisenhower, which is currently doing the job, is set to return home from the region. As a result, according to armed forces minister James Heappey, we may co-operate with the Americans and step in to plug the looming Eisenhower-shaped gap in the Red Sea.

An important mission, no doubt. The Houthis are trying to disrupt global shipping  acts of terror that reach right into our homes. But can we really achieve it effectively?

Of the two carriers, only HMS Queen Elizabeth has ever been sent into combat. Once. And only after its initial sea trial was aborted following a leak. HMS Prince of Wales remains untested. The Government has not said which of the two it might send.

HMS Queen Elizabeth, right, and HMS Prince of Wales at Portsmouth Royal Navy base

Aircraft carriers are essentially floating airbases which allow nations to project power abroad. In this case they could enable our F-35 Lightning fighter jets to conduct attacks against enemies from close range for months at a time. They are theoretically integral to our defence.

The problem is that they are huge targets for our enemies and we cant afford the necessary aircraft, escorts, support craft and manpower needed to deploy them effectively.

We dont even have enough F-35s to make full use of them and the recruitment crisis in the Navy is so bad that last year it had to use LinkedIn to advertise for a rear admiral due to a lack of available serving personnel to fill the role.

Given the importance of the job, Britains history as a great naval power and the fact that they cost 8billion between them, we should accept they must be deployed before long.

Plus, the operation could be a rigorous test: for the ships, for the sailors, and for whatever support craft we can muster  though I suspect well just use American ones.

But I worry. I worry that this decision has been made prematurely because of the torrents of criticism directed at the Navy for allowing two multi-billion pound monoliths to float idly in Portsmouth. I worry that once deployed they might not be able to do the job.

An Osprey aircraft lands on the Prince of Wales, which has not yet been sent into action

Not because of a lack of ability on the part of our service women and men, who remain unparalleled in the world; or of the quality of the ships which are testaments to the genius of British engineering. But because I fear that this decision is a political one.

The language around the deployment is resolutely conditional  a sure sign of political evasiveness. The ships may need to plug the gap; we might cooperate with the Americans if we were needed.

This is not the time to gamble with our military credibility. If we are not yet in a world war, we are in a world increasingly at war. So I worry, finally, that if the ships do go in and are called upon when inadequately prepared, the result will be not the global projection of power, but its opposite. And that is something we simply cannot afford to risk.

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Why do we continue to fool ourselves that Northern Ireland is part of this country? It is not.

The fantasy that it is so is not doing anyone any good. The Province stands on a trap-door, waiting for the moment when the bolts are released and it goes spinning and tumbling through the floor to whatever fate awaits it under Dublin rule.

If Dublin is by then run by the republican militants of Sinn Fein, as is highly possible, the events will be more dramatic still.

The, er, provisional position of the six counties of Northern Ireland is the result of a comprehensive British surrender to terrorist violence, made in 1998 under heavy pressure from America, above all from President Bill Clinton.

Like many embarrassing defeats and retreats, it has been disguised and softened by a decent interval in which we can get used to the embarrassment and prepare ourselves for the hauling down of our flags to the sound of sad bugle calls. When it comes, and I cannot see how it can now be avoided, it will be the first transfer of territory in Western Europe since 1945, resulting from violent war.

The Chief Minister of the Province will be the choice of Sinn Fein's leader Michelle ONeill. The Party is dedicated to the end of British rule there

The British political and media class, as usual more or less blind to the real issues which beset this country, see the unending rows over the border in Ireland as a feature of our exit from the EU. In fact, it is all about Northern Irelands exit from the UK. This week we are likely to see another major step towards that exit.

The Chief Minister of the Province will from now on be the choice of Sinn Fein, a party dedicated to the end of British rule there.

Currently this choice is Michelle ONeill, daughter of a former IRA prisoner and member of a long-established Republican family, who has emerged as Sinn Feins leader in the North.

This is an odd position, as her party wishes to wipe Northern Ireland from the map and of course abolish the Stormont mini-Parliament from which it is governed. She is by implication dedicated to the abolition of her own post.

But this is nothing like nor as odd as the other facts about Northern Ireland which we hide from ourselves.

How is it that IRA men convicted of crimes such as the attempted murder of Margaret Thatcher (and the actual murders of several others) in Brighton walk free, while those who served in British forces during the Troubles are to this day being legally pursued for alleged crimes?

What solid, objective evidence do we have that the IRA ever got rid of its huge stocks of guns, ammunition and explosives, provided with the help of the Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi and also of many Americans who dropped money into pro-IRA collecting boxes over many years?

Why doesnt the IRA, which has a long tradition of violently imposed discipline and lethal factional war, ever do anything about the so-called dissident republicans who have continued to let off bombs and attack police officers since peace was proclaimed?

How is it that Sinn Fein can raise money abroad when no British mainland party can legally do so (a task made all the easier in the US by the partys modish selection of women to adorn its leadership platforms)?

Who really runs Sinn Fein anyway? This is a risky question to ask in Belfast, but as recently as 2019 the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed its previous assessment that the IRA Army Council retained its oversight of the party. Its supposed boss in Dublin is the interesting Mary Lou McDonald.

But how was it that she was chosen unopposed (she was the only candidate for the job) in 2018? Nor is she some marshmallow moderate.

She once chose to attend and speak at a Dublin memorial ceremony for the wartime IRA chieftain Sean Russell, famous for going to Nazi Germany in 1940 to offer his services to Hitler. He died on the U-boat that was bringing him back to Ireland, and his (much-vandalised) statue in Dublin is as far as I know the only monument to a Nazi collaborator anywhere in Western Europe.

In the Province now there are many signs that London rule is coming to an end. Thousands of British troops left long ago.

Hugely expensive surveillance equipment in sensitive areas was dismantled and taken away for ever. The police Special Branch, a formidable weapon against the terrorists, was disbanded. IRA veterans have been welcomed into mainstream politics on fat tax-funded salaries, and, in the case of the late Martin McGuinness, invited to royal banquets.

The Crown of St Edward, symbol of authority in our Kingdom, has been removed from police badges. Flying of the Union Flag is severely limited by law. Does this look to you like an IRA defeat, as we are always told it was?

Some years ago, I slipped into the Sinn Fein bookshop on the Falls Road in Belfast. I was a little nervous, as the movements then leader, Gerry Adams, had once called publicly for me to be decommissioned.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson addresses the media in Belfast yesterday

In our only face-to-face (or perhaps beard-to-beard) private meeting he had dropped his usual mask of affability to express some pretty strong personal hostility. I could see his point. Id been actively undermining his publicity tours of the US.

But Mr Adams wasnt there that day, and as I looked around the shelves of militant Republican memorabilia, I chanced on a copy of Ambrose Bierces acid little book The Devils Dictionary.

I looked up the word peace, as you do in Belfast, since you are constantly told that it exists there. If this is peace, amid the shootings, the occasional bombs, the less-occasional sectarian forced evictions, the 25-foot high peace walls separating supposedly reconciled communities, and the busy smuggling and protection rackets, what can the term possibly mean?

And there I found it defined as an interval of cheating between two periods of conflict. Well, exactly. I bought the book with untraceable cash, and slipped out again, wondering what clever person had chosen to place such a subversive volume there.

For we have now had more than two decades of cheating while the British government and people have tried to fool themselves about the Belfast Agreement reached in Easter 1998. I say reached because it is inaccurate to say it was signed. The representatives of Sinn Fein, the Irish Republican Armys political arm and by far the most important people there, never signed it.

It was pretty clear, from whispers and rumour in London and Belfast that night, that huge concessions had been made to Sinn Fein. And so it proved, though I suspect most people east of the Irish Sea have never read the text of what the UK government had agreed to. I have, and have carefully kept a copy ever since.

The core of it remains very simple. As soon as twin referendums in Northern Ireland and the Republic vote for unity, the Irish border will be abolished and the whole island of Ireland will be ruled from Dublin.

Our Parliament must legislate to hand the territory over. And then what? Irish police  and perhaps, if things go badly, Irish troops  patrolling the Protestant streets of Belfast under the direction of a Sinn Fein government in Dublin?

The Democratic Unionist Party, led by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, knows all this. That is why, while it cannot now undo the 1998 deal, it struggles and thrashes in its bonds. One day that trapdoor will crash open. Why do we pretend to ourselves that it will not?
Novelist Truman Capote was first skyrocketed into the spotlight thanks to his exquisite story-telling - but it was the author's scandalous spilling of the deepest and darkest secrets of Manhattan's most notable socialites that would become the forefront of his story.

So sensational was his decision to expose the inner workings of New York society's elite members that the subsequent fallout is now serving as the inspiration for a wild new FX drama series, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.

The Alabama-raised writer integrated himself into the very-elite high society following the success of his novella Breakfast at Tiffany's, which inspired the Oscar-winning movie of the same name, as well as his non-fiction crime novel In Cold Blood.

He was certainly an unexpected addition to the aristocracy - but what would become all the more surprising was his decision to turn on his new friends and release a shocking tell-all revealing the intimate details of their lives.

Truman recounted explosive affairs and love triangles, and told stories of cheating, lying, and even murder - shattering the perfect image that the group had created and lifting a lid on the numerous scandals that were going on behind close doors.

Novelist Truman Capote spilled some of the darkest and deepest secrets of Manhattan's most notable socialites in an explosive 1975 expose. He's seen in 1966

The writer (seen with Marilyn Monroe in 1955) integrated himself into high society, only to turn on them and release a shocking tell-all revealing the intimate details of their lives

Decades on, his fascinating story is now set to be retold in a new FX series made by Ryan Murphy, entitled Feud: Capote vs. the Swans (seen)

Reading about the inner workings of the top socialites engulfed the nation, but despite its success, Truman's expose ultimately contributed to his downfall.

Suddenly, the star was viewed as a traitor and completely alienated from his established circle, who worried they might fall victim to his stories next.

The author struggled to come to grips with the sudden ostracization that it caused - and he ultimately began on a downward spiral that saw him battle drugs and alcohol for years before passing away from liver disease at 59.

Decades on, his fascinating story is now set to be retold in a new FX series made by Ryan Murphy, entitled Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, which will premiere today.

As the world gears up for the show's release, FEMAIL is lifting the lid on Truman's rollercoaster-ride tale from start to finish.

Take a look back at how he transformed himself from a small-town Alabama boy who had turned to writing to cope with his turbulent childhood to a prominent author and worldwide celebrity.

In addition, see how he managed to gain the trust of the rich and famous, only to use them as the subjects of a book - which ultimately got him exiled and lead to the demise of his own career.

Turning to writing to escape his sorrow: Abandoned by his parents at a young age, Truman became 'obsessed' with penning stories - and wasted no time in becoming a prolific author after finishing school

Truman was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 30, 1924, but moved to Monroeville, Alabama, to live with some relatives when he was two years old after his parents divorced

Truman has been described as a 'lonely child,' who, after being abandoned by his parents, turned to books to escape his sorrow. He's seen in 1946

Truman was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 30, 1924, but moved to Monroeville, Alabama, to live with some relatives when he was two years old after his parents divorced.

His neighbor in Alabama was the now-famous author Harper Lee, who is best known for writing the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, and the two became close friends as kids - a bond that would last well until adulthood.

Truman has been described as a 'lonely child,' who, after being abandoned by his mother and father, turned to books to escape his sorrow.

He taught himself to read and write from a very young age and it's been said he would carry around a dictionary and notepad almost everywhere he went.

In 1932, when he was eight, he reunited with his mom and relocated to New York City to live with her and her new husband.

By age 11, he was 'obsessed' with writing and would spend 'three hours' penning short stories every day after school.

After graduating from a private Manhattan high school called the Dwight School in 1942, he switched his focus to writing full-time. He's seen in 1946

In 1945, Truman (seen in 1947) caught the attention of Random House publisher Bennett Cerf due to a short story that he had released, who gave him a $1,500 advance for his first novel

Other Voices, Other Rooms was released in 1948 and it was a big success, earning a spot on the New York Times bestseller list for nine weeks. He's seen in 1949

During high school, he landed a job as a copy boy in the art department for The New Yorker - and it only cemented his love of writing.

His second novel, The Grass Harp, came out in 1951, and it too was immensely popular - which lead to him adapting the book into a Broadway play a year later. He's seen in 1950

'Not a very grand job, for all it really involved was sorting cartoons and clipping newspapers,' he later recalled of his first position.

'Still, I was fortunate to have it, especially since I was determined never to set a studious foot inside a college classroom.

'I felt that either one was or wasnt a writer, and no combination of professors could influence the outcome. I still think I was correct, at least in my own case.'

After graduating from a private Manhattan high school called the Dwight School in 1942, he switched his focus to writing full-time.

In 1945, he caught the attention of Random House publisher Bennett Cerf due to a short story that he had released, who gave him a $1,500 advance for his first novel.

Other Voices, Other Rooms was released in 1948 and it was a big success, earning a spot on the New York Times bestseller list for nine weeks and propelling Truman into the spotlight almost immediately.

Arguably his biggest work came in 1958, when he released the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's, which went on to inspire the major motion picture of the same name in 1961. He's seen in 1954

The movie starred Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard (seen in the flick) and was nominated for a whopping five Academy Awards - two of which, it won

His second novel, The Grass Harp, came out in 1951, and it too was immensely popular - which lead to him adapting the book into a Broadway play of the same name a year later.

After that, Truman released the non-fiction novel In Cold Blood in 1966, which chronicled the horrific murders of the Clutter family - a Kansas couple who were brutally killed, along with their two teenage kids, inside their home

Amid his newfound fame, Truman turned his focus to theater and the big screen for a few years, writing the screenplay for a series of shows and movies like the musical House of Flowers and the 1953 John Huston film Beat the Devil.

Arguably his biggest work came in 1958, when he released the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's, which went on to inspire the major motion picture of the same name in 1961.

The movie starred Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard and was nominated for a whopping five Academy Awards - two of which, it won.

After that, Truman released the non-fiction novel In Cold Blood in 1966, which chronicled the horrific murders of the Clutter family - a Kansas couple who were brutally killed, along with their two teenage kids, inside their home.

The book went on to become the second best selling true crime tome in history - and between that and the success of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman became a prominent figure in Hollywood.

Integrating himself into high society: Following the success of his books, Truman grew close to some of New York City's top socialites - and learned their deepest and darkest secrets along the way

Between the success of Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood, Truman (seen in 1965) became a prominent figure in Hollywood

In November 1966, he threw a lavish masquerade ball at the Plaza Hotel in NYC that garnered quite the buzz among the high society. He's seen at the party with Katherine Graham

By the late 1960s, Truman had integrated himself into the world of celebrity. He was often spotted hanging out with A-list stars and partying alongside the most elite socialites.

And the former small-town Alabama kid was certainly enthralled by the sudden jet-set and star-studded lifestyle that was thrust upon him.

In November 1966, he threw a lavish masquerade ball at the Plaza Hotel in New York City to honor The Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham - and the party garnered quite the buzz among high society, as thousands clamored to get their hands on an invite.

Truman took the guest list very seriously, and reportedly spent months picking who would be allowed in.

It was ultimately attended by the top of the crop including actors, directors, producers, business moguls, writers, musicians, political figures, socialites, and even royals - including the Duke of Windsor Edward VIII and his wife, Wallis Simpson, 'Lady Bird' Johnson, the then US First Lady, and Frank Sinatra and his wife, Mia Farrow.

Throughout the late '60s and early '70s, Truman grew especially close to a group of socialites in Manhattan, who he later referred to as The Swans.

His circle included Babe Paley - who was married to media mogul William Pale, the head of CBS at the time - Jacqueline Kennedys youngest sister Lee Radziwill, Slim Keith, Gloria Vanderbilt, C.Z. Guest, Marella Agnelli, Pamela Harriman, and Carol Matthau, among others

It was attended by the top of the crop including actors, directors, producers, business moguls, writers, musicians, political figures, socialites, and even royals. Truman is seen at the party

Throughout the late '60s and early '70s, Truman grew especially close to a group of socialites in Manhattan, who he later referred to as The Swans. He's seen with Lee Radziwill in 1966

His circle included Jacqueline Kennedys sister Lee (left), Slim Keith, Gloria Vanderbilt (right), C.Z. Guest, Marella Agnelli, Pamela Harriman, Carol Matthau, and Babe Paley

'They were elegant influencers. None of them married poor men, or dreamed of having a real career,' BBC has said of the elite women who Truman surrounded himself with.

Spending so much time with the rich and famous meant Truman learned many of their deepest and darkest secrets - which he would eventually release to the world in a shocking expose. He's seen with Lee

'They drank, they smoked, they wore extravagant but tasteful jewelry. And although their style can seem stodgy now they were the fashion leaders of their day.'

'The Swans were all on the international best-dressed lists, they were each celebrated in the fashion press and beyond, and they all knew one another,' Telegraph added.

'They changed husbands as regularly as changing lightbulbs  occasionally taking each other's.'

Spending so much time with the rich and famous meant Truman learned many of their deepest and darkest secrets - which he would eventually release to the world in a shocking expose.

'Truman sailed on their yachts, flew on their planes, stayed at their estates, supped at their tables, and heard their most intimate tales,' author Laurence Leamer previously wrote about him in his biography.

The shocking expose that got him exiled: Truman released a tell-all about the inner workings of the elite - but despite it's success, it ultimately lead to the downfall of his career

Truman (seen with Lee before the fallout) released the first part of his tell-all in 1975, in which he exposed many personal details of the lives of numerous socialites

While Truman didn't use real names the people in the story, it wasn't hard to piece together who each character was inspired by in real life - and it did not go over well with his new friends

While Truman originally intended to write a non-fiction novel about everything he learned during his time with The Swans, the book kept getting delayed for various reasons.

In one part, he told a story about a woman who had murdered her husband to steal his money. Some people thought he was talking about Ann Woodward, who had accidentally shot her husband, William (seen together)

Instead, he sold one of the chapters, called La Cote Basque 1965 - named after the restaurant they would often meet at - to Esquire magazine, who included it in an issue in October 1975.

While Truman didn't use real names for most of the people in the story, it wasn't hard to piece together who each character was inspired by in real life - and it did not go over well with his new-found friends.

He exposed many personal details of the lives of numerous socialites, revealing everything from who was sleeping with who to detailing their explosive affairs, love triangles, and cheating allegations - and it had major implications on the aristocracy, as well as his placement in it.

In one part of the chapter, Truman wrote about a woman named Ann Hopkins who brutally killed her spouse in an attempt to steal his money.

Suddenly, Truman (seen two years after its release) was viewed as a traitor and completely alienated from his established circle, and he struggled to come to grips with ostracization

And many were quick to notice that numerous details of the crime in Truman's story were strikingly similar to socialite and model Ann Woodward's.

In 1955, Ann had shot and killed her husband, banking heir William Woodward Jr., but she had claimed in the trial that she believed he was an intruder entering her house.

A jury ruled that it was an accident and she was never charged with any crime, but Truman's tale of a money-seeking murderer raised eyebrows about what had really happened between Ann and William. Days before La Cote Basque 1965 dropped, Ann took her own life.

Suddenly, Truman was viewed as a traitor and completely alienated from his established circle, who worried they might fall victim to his writings next.

And while many would think that the success of the chapter would have boosted Truman's career, he struggled to come to grips with sudden ostracization that it caused - and ultimately began on a downward spiral.

A tragic ending: After being ostracized from his newfound friend group, Truman struggled with drug and alcohol use and spent years in and out of rehab before dying at age 59

Truman (seen in 1980) battled drug and alcohol addiction and spent years in and out of various rehabilitation centers - before he passed away from liver disease in 1984 at age 59

'What did they expect? Im a writer, and I use everything,' he once said of the scandal. 'Did all those people think I was there just to entertain them?'

Having failed to anticipate the backlash that La Cote Basque 1965 would inevitably cause, Truman's personal life soon began to crumble.

He battled drug and alcohol addiction and spent years in and out of various rehabilitation centers - before he passed away from liver disease in 1984 at age 59.

'There's no doubt he was shaken by the reaction,' his editor Joseph Fox later said of the aftermath of Truman's story.

He never finished the novel that he was working on about his time as a socialite, in fact, he didn't release another book after In Cold Blood, but everything he had written about his time with the socialites was ultimately published in 1986, two years after his passing, in a book called Answered Prayers.

To the end, Truman would repeatedly voice his shock at the social suicide that resulted after he aired his friends' dirty laundry.

Now, his fascinating story is set to be retold in Ryan's upcoming eight-part FX series, Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, which will premiere January 31

It will star Tom Hollander as Truman, as well as Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloe Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald, and Treat Williams

'What did they expect? Im a writer, and I use everything,' he once said of the scandal. 'Did all those people think I was there just to entertain them?'

Now, his fascinating story is set to be retold in Ryan's upcoming eight-part FX series, Feud: Capote vs. the Swans.

The show will reveal how Truman integrated himself into The Swans, 'befriending them and becoming their confidante, only to ultimately betray them by writing a thinly veiled fictionalization of their lives, exposing their most intimate secrets,' according to an official synopsis.

It will star Tom Hollander as Truman, as well as Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloe Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald, and Treat Williams.
Social media users from across the globe have put their partners to the test

A new TikTok trend has been devised by Gen Z in order to determine whether your relationship is genuine.

The so-called ketchup test, which has been tested out by social media users around the world, uses the household condiment to test their partner.

It involves a woman pouring ketchup onto the countertop and asking their partner to clear it up, and if they are willing to, they pass the test.

With more than 150 million views on TikTok, the test has caused a storm on social media, and involves two simple steps.

First, women squirt the sauce over a kitchen surface. They then ask their male counterparts to clean the mess up, and if they oblige they pass the test.

Maggie (left), from the US, gave her partner (right) a shock when she squirted ketchup all over the kitchen surface

Its predecessor, the 'orange peel theory', tested relationships similarly.

The phrase is an umbrella term for partners carrying our small acts of love that lighten their partner's load.

The theory began with a TikTok clip that shows a conversation between two former partners from the US, reminiscing. One said they miss how their former lover would peel an orange for them - a task they always make a mess of.

It quickly prompted others began to share their stories of people who show them love in subtle but significant ways.

Some people even admitted to breaking up with their partners because they weren't being treated to these acts of love.

Now, the trend has a spin-off theory, the ketchup test, which demands a small act of service.

Kate (right), from the US, didn't have to say a single word for her partner (left) to clear up the red sauce

Content creator Maggie was impressed by her partner who dutifully cleaned up the sauce despite being confused

In one instance, Kate, from the US, poured the sauce over the counter, and her boyfriend cleared it up without saying a word.

Maggie, from the US, received a different reaction from her partner. 'What are you doing? No,' her significant other exclaimed as she went to pour the sauce.

She responded and said: 'Clean it up.'

He questioned: 'What is wrong with you?' However, he proceeded to clean the sauce up.

Maggie captioned the clip, which received over 15 million views: 'So surprised he actually passed this one #ketchuptest.'

Elsewhere, content creator Mindy McKnight, from Utah, received a shock when her husband licked the sauce up rather than using a paper towel.

'I thought you weren't going to be the idiot, but you were,' she said.

'Was definitely not expecting this,' she captioned the clip.

Vidya Gopalan, from Phoenix, also put her husband to the test. Her husband dutifully complied but remarked: 'That was a lot of ketchup you wasted.'

Kate didn't have to say a single word for her partner to grab a piece of paper towel and clean up her mess

Social media users took to X, formerly called Twitter to share their thoughts, and many were unimpressed

The test has received a negative reception on X, and people believe there are better routes to figure out if a romantic relationship is genuine.

One said: 'If you use TikTok to test your relationship you get what you deserve.'

'Really? The Ketchup test! I'm so glad I was born when I was and not later, said another.

A third agreed and said: 'I'm unsure why so many people want to display their relationships, like it is some sort of contest.

'These meaningless public displays for a few clicks will inevitably lead to long-term term damage in their private lives.'

Another added: 'We have finally reached the stage of our civilization's development where we can entrust food condiments with the fortunes of our love life.

'What an age to be alive.'
Her sister Katelyn suffers from an infection and tends to need breaks

Mum Emily Boazman breastfeeds her baby niece to help out her sister

A mum-of-three has divided opinions after revealing she breastfeeds her niece to give her sister a 'break'.

Emily Boazman, from the US, is close with her sister Katelyn and tries to help out any way she can with the newborn.

But she caused a stir on TikTok after sharing videos nursing her niece while Katelyn takes time for herself.

'I share these videos in hopes that it will help re-normalise breastfeeding other people's babies,' Mrs Boazman told FEMAIL.

'It was such a common practice for so many years and it shouldn't be looked down upon.'

Emily Boazman, from the US, often breastfeeds her niece to give her sister Katelyn a break. Mrs Boazman told FEMAIL: 'I share these videos in hopes that it will help re-normalise breastfeeding other people's babies'

Hundreds of women on TikTok praised the 'generous' and 'beautiful' act, and many said they too have breastfed other babies. But others disagreed, with some describing it as 'weird'

'This used to be such a normal part of culture. Now it's considered weird. It truly "takes a village" and I think it's so special to be able to feed my niece.'

The video shows Mrs Boazman breastfeeding her niece while her sister sits down in the background eating breakfast.

Hundreds of women praised the 'generous' and 'beautiful' act, and many said they too have breastfed other babies.

'I absolutely love this,' one wrote, another said: 'I nursed my sister's baby when she couldn't.'

Someone else added: 'Wet nursing is normal. It's part of the whole takes a village, we used to all be together.'

But others disagreed, with some describing it as 'weird'.

'My jealousy would never allow this. that type bond is really special,' wrote one.

'I don't know, my jealousy would never allow this. That type of bond is really special,' another said.

'Weird AF to me I would never let someone nurse my baby,' one more wrote.

According to the Australian Breastfeeding Association, breastmilk from another mum is the 'next best option' when extra milk is needed

In another video Mrs Boazman explained Katelyn has C.diff - also known as Clostridioides difficile or C. difficile - which is a type of germ that can cause diarrhoea and colitis.

'When she had her twins, she did not have a good breastfeeding experience. She did not make milk, it was just awful,' she said.

Both sister took beef liver to help with her milk production and to avoid turning to formula.

Mrs Boazman said her sister was 'hardly able to open her eyes' for five days so she stepped in to help care for the babies.

According to the Australian Breastfeeding Association, breastmilk from another mum is the 'next best option' when extra milk is needed.

'In Australia, donor breastmilk may be offered to premature or very sick babies in hospitals that are connected with a milk bank,' the website states.

'Donor milk is offered to premature and very sick babies in hospitals that have a milk bank, if the mother is unable to produce enough of her own breastmilk.

'In other situations, parents may source donor milk informally, sometimes through milk-sharing groups on social media.'
Tesco has issued a warning to customers that they could lose their Clubcard points permanently.

The supermarket chain has urged customers to use their unspent Clubcard points - which amount to 18million in total across the UK - before they are due to expire.

This relates to Clubcard vouchers issued in February 2022, which can be used in Tesco stores and online to save money on the cost of food, groceries, fuel or a Tesco Mobile deal.

Shoppers require a minimum of 150 points on their Tesco Clubcard to be able to request a voucher.

Since 1995, Clubcards have helped Tesco shoppers to make savings as they shop. Every pound you spend equates to one Clubcard point. Pictured: File image of a Tesco clubcard

Vouchers issued in February 2022 will expire on Thursday February 29, so be sure to spend them and avoid getting caught out.

Emma Botton, Tesco Group customer director, said: 'Household budgets are still under pressure, and we want to help them stretch further.

'Tesco Clubcard continues to be the best way to get great value, and with more than 18m worth of vouchers due to expire at the end of the month, we're reminding customers to spend them now.'

Every pound you spend in store or online equates to one Clubcard point.

When you redeem these points in the form of vouchers to spend in Tesco, they are worth one penny per point.

Those with Clubcards can also access discounts on select products in store and online, as well as exchanging points for other rewards.

It comes after customers were left fuming over a change in the Clubcard rules in June last year leaving them 'hundreds of pounds out of pocket'.

Previously customers were able to swap their Tesco vouchers for up to three times their worth at more than 100 High Street brands called 'Reward Partners'.

Alongside discounted prices, the Tesco Clubcard Reward Partner scheme also allowed customers to earn points to spend on meals, travel and days out.

But the changes, which were due to take effect from June 14, meant customers can now only able to claim two times the value of their vouchers at places including Virgin Atlantic, Disney+, Legoland and Cafe Rouge.

The supermarket chain was forced to push back the deadline for the voucher points as thousands of people trying to claim their rewards caused their systems to crash.
An autistic Dutch woman has died at home by assisted suicide, with her parents and best friend by her side, after sharing a harrowing final message to her online followers.

Lauren Hoeve, from the Netherlands, was diagnosed with ME, which is also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome, in 2019.

Over the past five years, the book blogger battled extreme exhaustion and excruciating pain which left her bed-bound.

She also began to experience post-exertional malaise (PEM), where she would struggle with extreme nausea, pain and fatigue - which she described as 'absolute torture' on X, formerly known as Twitter.

In 2022, Lauren - who was also diagnosed with ADHD - began documenting her journey to euthanasia. Assisted death has been legal in the Netherlands for the past 22 years.

Pictured: Lauren Hoeve's parents confirmed she passed away peacefully last Saturday after a four year battle with ME

On her blog 'Brain Fog', Lauren explained how her GP told her he respected her wish to be euthanised but could not do it himself because of her psychological conditions.

After this, Lauren was put on a waiting list for an appointment with an euthanasia specialist, which took longer than usual due to the pandemic.

In April 2023, she met with several doctors who concluded she was 'mentally competent' of making the decision to be euthanised.

Earlier this month, Lauren told her 7,800 X followers: 'My last day will be on Saturday, January 27th. The euthanasia will happen between 1:30 and 2:30pm.'

She wrote on her blog: 'I chose to make the date and time public because you have all been so excited for this moment with me. I know from experience how supportive it can be to know when it is happening, so that you can reflect on it for a moment or light a candle if you wish.'

On 27 January, Lauren - who passed away at home - signed off her X account by sharing a meme with her followers.

She wrote: 'This will be my last tweet. Thanks for the love, everyone. I'm going to rest a bit more and be with my loved ones. Enjoy a last morbid meme from me.'

She then posted a meme featuring a toddler wearing a sunglasses and giving a thumbs up to the camera as a doctor smiles beside them, with the caption: 'Me getting euthanized'.

Lauren thanked her 7,800 X followers for the love they'd shown her and shared this 'morbid' meme

Lauren Hoeve (pictured), from the Netherlands , was diagnosed with ME, which is also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome, in 2019.

Pictured: Lauren on her way to watch a screening of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour movie in the Netherlands last November with her mother

What is ME and why is it so misunderstood? Also known as ME - or myalgic encephalomyelitis - CFS can affect anyone, but is most common in women in their mid 20s to mid 40s. The most noticeable symptom is extreme tiredness, but others include problems sleeping, joint or muscle pain, headaches, flu-like symptoms, and a fast or irregular heartbeat. Treatments include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), specific exercises, or medication to target nausea, pain or issues with sleeping. An estimated 250,000 people in the UK and one million people in the US live with the condition. It affects their lives so severely they often spend their days in darkened rooms, unable even to watch TV or listen to music. But despite the increasing evidence about the reality of ME, which affects 17million people across the world, it remains incurable, and many still think that sufferers are just lazy. The cause of ME remains unknown but it has been suggested that infections such as glandular fever and pneumonia can trigger the condition. Symptoms of ME include: - feeling extremely tired all the time and struggling to go about everyday activities - feeling tired after resting or sleeping - problems with memory and concentration - taking a long time to recover after physical activity The ME Association, which was established in 1980, offers support to those struggling with the condition. Advertisement

Lauren's post has been seen by more than 1.5m X users and struck a chord with followers.

One replied: 'Thank you for sharing your journey to this farewell. And for you the beginning of peace that you long for.'

'Have a beautiful last few hours,' another added.

A third said: 'I think of you and the people around you and wish you beautiful last moments.'

'Have a few loving last hours,' a fourth said. 'Thank you again for everything you have done for our community.'

'May you find your peace,' a fifth wrote.

An update on her website confirmed: 'Lauren passed away peacefully at 1.55 pm in the presence of her parents Leonie and Peter and her best friend Lau.

'We would like to thank you for your compassion and support. Leonie, Peter and Lau.'

Lauren's mother wrote in a blog post that her 'heart bleeds' for her daughter.

She wrote: 'Please know that we have done everything realistically possible to find a way out.

'She still wanted to get so much out of life, but she doesn't want to live to be 30 years old like this, let alone 60 or 80 years old.'

On her blog, Lauren said that she 'always felt stuck in life' as a result of her autism, ADHD and ME.

Before her diagnosis, Lauren enjoyed climbing, running and was also training a former service dog, who she sadly had to rehome following her diagnosis.

She wrote on her blog: 'I was constantly trying to face my fears and step out of my comfort zone.'

In her final blog post, Lauren shared some advice to her followers that she 'would have liked to hear [herself] at one point or another.

She wrote: 'Don't be afraid to be vulnerable. It's completely okay to say that you don't know something, that you haven't studied something enough (yet) to form an opinion.

'Related: It's also okay to admit when you've done something wrong. We are all human and we are constantly learning. Being able to admit mistakes is a beautiful quality that I always appreciate in people.'

As well as urging her readers to 'invest in a good mattress and pillow', Lauren also recommended writing down any compliments or loving messages they receive that they can return to when they are feeling 'less mentally strong'.

Pictured: Lauren before she died of assisted suicide aged 28 last week. Over the past five years, the YouTube book blogger battled extreme exhaustion which left her bed-bound

Lauren's mother (pictured) wrote: 'She wrote: 'Please know that we have done everything realistically possible to find a way out. She still wanted to get so much out of life, but she doesn't want to live to be 30 years old like this, let alone 60 or 80 years old.'

Lauren posted this photo of her enjoying New Years Eve in bed while her mother and loved ones sit beside her

Lauren posted this photo of her during a trip to the zoo before she was diagnosed with ME in 2019

What's more, Lauren recommended keeping a diary and taking photos and videos of daily life - before adding: 'Don't forget to look through your own eyes, instead of always through a camera.'

Elsewhere, Lauren urged people to write down their funeral plans for their loved ones, after revealing: 'I designed the funeral invitations myself and I'm very proud of it.'

She also asked that readers refrain from giving chronically ill people unsolicited medical advice.

Lauren also added: 'Do the things you want to do now, as quickly as possible. I got sick in the prime of my life and thought I would still have plenty of time, but no one has that guarantee. You never know what could happen. Don't delay, live!'

In 2017, Merryn Crofts became the second person in the UK to have ME listed on their death certificate.

Pictured: Merryn Crofts. The 21-year-old became the second person in the UK to have ME cited on their death certificate when she passed away in 2017

The 21-year-old drama student spent the final years of her life bed-bound and weighed only five stone when she tragically passed away.

The youngster was unable to take more than two teaspoons of food before suffering immense gut pain and vomiting, a coroner was told.

Merryn's mother, Clare Norton, sobbed as she told Rochdale Coroner's Court how her 'beautiful' and 'energetic' daughter was left wheelchair-bound and reliant on tube feeding.

In August 2011, Merryn, then 15, was diagnosed with hives and swelling shortly after coming back from a family holiday in Mallorca.

Tests in early 2012 revealed that at some point she had contracted glandular fever - a virus which can trigger ME.

Despite dozens of medical appointments - including mental health checks for panic attacks - Merryn's condition deteriorated as she suffered breathing problems, exhaustion and excruciating hypersensitivity to touch, light and sound.

She was eventually diagnosed with ME in the summer of 2012.

In the Netherlands, the Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act was passed in April 2001 and became law one year later.

Discussing her decision to go down the euthanasia route, Lauren said: 'It was decided to let me go because my suffering is unbearable.'

It legalises physician-assisted suicide in specific instances where a patient's suffering is unbearable and shows no prospect of improvement.

The patient's assisted suicide request must also be made of their own volition and the more than one doctor must sign off on the request.

It is the law in the Netherlands that the assisted suicide must be carried out in a 'medically appropriate' manner with a doctor present.

It is not clear how Lauren's assisted dying was facilitated, but it comes nearly five years after 17-year-old Noa Pothoven was legally allowed to die at home after medics allowed her to refuse food and drink.

The Dutch teen from Arnhem felt that life had become unbearable and she could no longer carry on after she was attacked and sexually assaulted on three separate occasions, beginning when she was just 11 years old.

In a social media post one day before her death, Noa made her decision public.

She wrote: 'I deliberated for quite a while whether or not I should share this, but decided to do it anyway.

It comes nearly four years after 17-year-old Noa Pothoven (pictured) was legally allowed to die at home after medics allowed her to refuse food and drink

'Maybe this comes as a surprise to some, given my posts about hospitalisation, but my plan has been there for a long time and is not impulsive.

'I will get straight to the point: within a maximum of 10 days I will die. After years of battling and fighting, I am drained. I have quit eating and drinking for a while now, and after many discussions and evaluations, it was decided to let me go because my suffering is unbearable.'



In April 2023, it was announced that parents in the Netherlands can euthanise their terminally ill children aged 12 and over under plans to widen the country's existing end of life laws to cover terminally ill children aged one to twelve.

The Dutch Government announced plans to expand euthanasia regulations to include doctor-assisted death for terminally ill children between one and 12 years old.

The rules would apply to an estimated five to 10 children per year, who suffer unbearably from their disease, have no hope of improvement and for whom palliative care cannot bring relief, the government have said.

'The end of life for this group is the only reasonable alternative to the child's unbearable and hopeless suffering,' the government said in a statement.

Dame Esther Rantzen (pictured in summer 2020) revealed that she has joined assisted-dying clinic Dignitas earlier this month

In December 2023, it was reported that more than 530 British citizens had ended their lives at Dignitas since the Swiss clinic opened in the 1990s.

Under current British law, the practice of assisted suicide is illegal and carries a 14-year prison term. As such, dozens of desperate Brits choose to travel abroad to end their suffering.

Earlier this month, Dame Esther Rantzen revealed she has joined the assisted-dying clinic following her battle with stage-four lung cancer.

The veteran broadcaster, 83, has urged MPs to hold a debate when Parliament returns into 2024 for a free vote on assisted dying, where politicians are not controlled by the party whip.

In September 2020, a champion of the Dutch euthanasia system has admitted that British critics are right to warn that assisted dying is a slippery slope to random killing of the defenceless.

Dr Bert Keizer said that the type of patients whose lives are ended in the Netherlands has spread far beyond the terminally ill and now includes physically and mentally healthy old people who find that their life no longer has content.

Dr Keizer, one of his countrys most prominent practitioners of euthanasia, said that, in future, assisted dying in the Netherlands is likely to be extended to prisoners serving life sentences who desperately long for death and disabled children whose parents believe their suffering is hopeless.

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details
Her billionaire husband Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar was sworn in as Malaysia's new king in a lavish ceremony on Wednesday.

But Raja Zarith Sofiah, 64, is no less interesting than the outspoken motorcycle-riding, social media-loving ruler with whom she shares six children.

The new Queen of Malaysia, who was born into another Malay royal family, is an Oxford graduate, a passionate art enthusiast and a prolific writer who has authored four children's books and also contributed to a newspaper column.

She can speak five languages, including Chinese, French and Italian, and is a strong advocate for improving the use of English in Malaysia.

Her charitable work, compassion and generosity have seen her be dubbed the 'Queen of Hearts', according to local media.

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, pictured, and his wife Raja Zarith Sofiah. The new Queen of Malaysia, who was born into another royal family , is an Oxford graduate, a passionate art enthusiast and a prolific writer who has authored four children's books and also contributed to a newspaper column

Born on 14 August 1959, Raja Zarith is the third child and second daughter of the late Sultan Idris Shah II of Perak and Raja Perempuan Muzwin binti Raja Arif Shah.

She started her education in Kuala Kangsar before moving to the prestigious Cheltenham Ladies' College, with other former pupils including actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, Elon Musk's ex-wife Talulah Riley and Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy.

The royal then attended Somerville College at the University of Oxford, obtaining her Bachelors in Chinese Studies in 1983 and her Master's in 1986.

She married Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar in 1982 and was given the title of Queen of Johor, a state in Malaysia, in March 2015, following her husband's crowning as King of Johor.

Her foundation, Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor (YRZSNJ), was established in 2012 'to help bridge communities through educational initiatives in Malaysia and also abroad', according to its website.

A statement about the organisation read: 'YRZSNJ supports a diversity of platforms in which discussions and cooperation are encouraged, based on mutual respect of different faiths and ethnicities of shared values and principles while simultaneously also actively conducting various programmes related to the education sector in order to contribute to empower future generations.'

In 2017, the royal, who is the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia chancellor was given an honorary degree from the University of Nottingham.

University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus CEO and Provost Professor Graham Kendall told the institution's website: 'Her contribution to society and education is immense and today we want to recognise her contribution in advocating related causes for the betterment of society.'

The royal (pictured) can speak five languages, including Chinese, French and Italian, and is a strong advocate for improving the use of English in Malaysia

Her charitable work, compassion and generosity have seen her be dubbed the 'Queen of Hearts', according to local media

In 2017, she led Queen Camilla (pictured right) - then Duchess of Cornwall - on a tour of an international school in Kuala Lumpur during a visit to Southeast Asia with Charles, the then Prince of Wales

She is also the Royal Patron of Oxford University Malaysia Club and will occasionally be invited to deliver keynote speeches at academic conferences around the world.

In 2017, she led Queen Camilla - then Duchess of Cornwall - on a tour of an international school in Kuala Lumpur during a visit to Southeast Asia with Charles, the then Prince of Wales.

As well as being enthusiastic about education, the Queen of Malaysia is a keen artist, with her work having been featured in souvenir books and exhibitions.

Elsewhere, the royal discussed her mixed heritage and her Peranakan Chinese maternal grandmother.

She noted in a Facebook post on her household's page that her 'Chinese grandmother is as Malaysian as I am myself.'

'At the age of sixty, I realise that there is still so much for me to learn,' she wrote, reported local media. 'One thing I do know for sure, is that my Chinese grandmother is as Malaysian as I am myself.'

She continued: Children are actually  if left to their own pure and innocent thoughts and their own understanding of the world  oblivious about racial differences.

'It is us  as parents  who consciously, or unconsciously, make them aware about these differences,' Raja Zarith said.

She added: 'As a parent, I was determined for my own children to know and accept that my grandmother was Chinese, in the same way that they know that their own paternal grandmother was English.'

The royal's (pictured centre right) foundation, Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor (YRZSNJ), was established in 2012 'to help bridge communities through educational initiatives in Malaysia and also abroad', according to its website .

As well as being enthusiastic about education, the Queen of Malaysia (pictured) is a keen artist, with her work having been featured in souvenir books and exhibitions

Raja Zarith's husband Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, 65, was sworn in as the nation's new king this morning under a unique rotating monarchy system which sees the rulers of nine Malaysian states take turns as monarch for five-year terms.

Now known as the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, or 'He Who is Made Lord', the Sultan boasts an estate estimated to be worth some 4.5billion, according to Bloomberg - but his real wealth is thought to be far greater thanks to his extensive business empire that ranges from real estate to telecoms and power plants.

His fleet of private jets is rivalled only by his collection of some 300 luxury cars, including one said to have been a gift from none other than Adolf Hitler - an acquaintance of one of his predecessors.

And any nefarious party attempting to dispute the monarchy would face the wrath of the Sultan's very own private army.

Ibrahim, the ruler of Johor state, took his oath of office at the royal palace in a ceremony witnessed by other royal families, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Cabinet members, earlier today.

King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar salutes the guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, on January 31, 2024

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, center left in front, signs documents during the oath taking ceremony as the Malaysia's 17th king at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024

The king plays a largely ceremonial role in Malaysia, as administrative power is vested in the prime minister and Parliament.

But the monarch is the nominal head of the government and armed forces, and is highly regarded as the protector of Islam and Malay tradition.

READ MORE: Malaysia crowns its new billionaire king: Tycoon Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, 65, who owns 300 luxury cars including one gifted by Adolf Hitler, a fleet of private jets and his own ARMY becomes country's new monarch Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar (L) attends the oath taking ceremony of the 17th King of Malaysia at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jan. 31, 2024 Advertisement

All laws, Cabinet appointments and the dissolution of Parliament for general elections require his assent, and the king also has the power to proclaim an emergency and pardon criminals.

Meanwhile, Sultan Ibrahim has made clear his intentions to rein in lawmakers and bring about stability in a nation whose politics are historically unstable, with more than 20 parties vying for control.

The new monarch succeeded Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang state, who presided over a tumultuous period that included COVID-19 lockdowns and two collapsed governments.

Abdullah was forced to intervene three times in the past to decide who became prime minister - twice after the government imploded, and most recently in November 2022 when elections led to a hung parliament.

Sultan Ibrahim has indicated he will maintain this hands-on approach.

He said in an interview with the Singapore Straits Times published last month that he would not want to waste five years on the throne as a 'puppet king', and will focus on deepening unity in the country while fighting political corruption.

It is thought Sultan Ibrahim will seek to bolster the rule of incumbent Prime Minister Anwar, who in 2018 was pardoned by a previous monarch Muhammad V after being imprisoned on sodomy and corruption charges that he says were politically motivated.

The Sultan is also vocal about welfare issues and takes annual road trips on his motorbike to meet the people in his state, holding clinics and rallies to hear the concerns and desires of his people.

But his focus on the struggles of Malaysia's poorest is juxtaposed with his incredible wealth - something Sultan Ibrahim has no reservations about flaunting.

He flew from Johor to today's ceremony in the capital Kuala Lumpur on a gold-and-blue Boeing 737 - just one of several private jets under his command.
Fans of huvudroll - or, Swedish meatballs - will be able to enjoy IKEA's beloved dish at a fraction of the cost after the company announced it's offering some of its main meals at half price every Friday.

The offer is part of IKEA's 'Swe-Dish Fridays,' in which the discount will apply across breakfast, lunch and dinner at restaurants in its UK stores.

IKEA's famous Meatballs meal will be available for just 2.45, and the Small Cooked Breakfast will be on offer for just 1.35.

Kids can also eat for under 50 pence - with the Children's Pasta and Tomato Sauce dish available for just 45p.

The offer begins from Friday 2nd February, and will continue every Friday across IKEA's UK stores until the end of August 2024.

Fans of Swedish meatballs will be able to enjoy IKEA's beloved dish at a fraction of the cost after the chain announced it is to offer 50% off main meals every Friday (stock image)

The offer is part of IKEA's 'Swe-Dish Fridays,' in which the discount will apply across breakfast, lunch and dinner at restaurants in its UK stores

The discount is available exclusively to IKEA Family members across the chain's UK stores, which gives the perfect excuse for families to treat themselves to their favourite IKEA meal at a bargain price.

Dishes include IKEA's celebrated Meatballs meal - which includes eight pieces and served with mashed potatoes, peas, cream sauce and lingonberry jam - for a cool 2.45.

For those wanting to get their day off to a strong start and fuel their shopping trip, the Small Cooked Breakfast will be available for just 1.35, with the vegetarian equivalent available for only 1.25.

Meanwhile, kids don't need to miss out on the deal as the Pasta and Tomato Sauce dish, served with a piece of fruit and soft drink, can be purchased for a generous 45p.

Other dishes that will be slashed by 50% on Fridays include the Salmon Fillet meal, which can be purchased for 3.60, while the Fish and Chips will cost only 3.45.

Karen Hughes, Country Food Manager at IKEA UK and Ireland said: 'We can't wait to introduce our amazing half-price food offers to all our IKEA Family members dining at our restaurants, every Friday.

'What better way to end the week than a trip to IKEA, fuelled by a delicious, affordable, and hearty meal.'

To be eligible for the promotion IKEA Family Members must purchase an Eligible Meal at any IKEA UK store during the Offer Period.

IKEA's famous Meatballs meal will be available at an amazing price of just 2.45, and the Small Cooked Breakfast will be on offer for just 1.35 (Photo: Shutterstock)

Other dishes that will be slashed by 50% on Fridays include the Salmon Fillet meal, which can be purchased for 3.60, while the Fish and Chips will cost only 3.45 (Photo: Shutterstock)

IKEA Belfast is to offer slightly lower discounts on the included dishes, while the offer excludes purchases from IKEA Aberdeen OCP.

Meanwhile, across the pond in Stockholm, Sweden, vintage IKEA furniture designed last century was sold for tens of thousands of pounds in December.

At a chic Stockholm auction house, 122 carefully-curated items with unusual provenance went under the hammer on December 18: vintage furnishings from flatpack furniture retailer IKEA were sold for a total of 37,000 euros (32,000).

Collectors' interest has blossomed over the years for IKEA pieces that have become design icons, as the Swedish company - normally known for more budget-friendly piece - celebrated its 80th anniversary last year.

Inside the showrooms at Stockholm's Auktionsverk, the world's oldest auction house, the pieces, which date from the 1950s to the 1990s, were all marked with the stamp of the famous Swedish brand known around the world for its DIY furniture.
Dumpster diving is the controversial five-fingered discount without the criminal consequences - and it's earned one woman a staggering $2 million in discarded goods that she's found while rummaging through the garbage.

Jennifer Llenas, 40, has been digging in the trash since she was in college. Now, 20 years later the thrifty sifter has found hordes of valuable goods, including expensive cookware, hair tools and vacuum cleaners - still in working condition.

Although Baltimore-based-Jennifer now owns a marketing agency and could buy the items full price from the store, she says she enjoys 'rescuing' goods thrown away by stores so they don't go to waste.

'I find it fun - it's like treasure hunting,' the mom-of-two beamed.

Jennifer Llenas, 40, has been dumpster diving for 20 years, finding $2 million worth of garbage goodies including robot vacuum cleaners, expensive cookware and hair tools

The Baltimore mom-of-two says 'nothing' makes her happier than finding things she can donate to people that need it, and she also loves finding luxury items for herself and her family

'I go maybe once a week - I just go whenever I'm out running an errand, I'll go check out the dumpsters,' she shared.

She shares her gift for the thrift with her family and friends, even giving some of her precious finds with her family.

'My sister loves when I find decorations and kitchenware to go in her home,' she quipped.

Although the busy mom has found plenty of high-value items in the garbage, she admitted her habit probably doesn't save her a ton of money - because she keeps the things she likes rather than the things she actually needs.

'But thinking of everything I've found, it works out about $100,000 a year,' she marveled.

Jennifer first started the hobby after an art professor suggested she have a hunt through a dumpster for materials.

Now, she has a successful marketing business and is married with a house where she is raising her two teenage children, but she still likes a rummage when she sees a dumpster.

When she finds a haul of goods, she loads them into her truck before taking them back to her home to sort through, repairing any items that have been damaged in the trash.

The marketing professional said that 'nothing' makes her happier than finding things she can donate to people that need it, she loves finding some luxury items for herself and her family too.

The marketing professional could now buy the items full price from the store, she enjoys 'rescuing' goods thrown away by stores so they don't go to waste

Despite donating a substantial amount of her findings to charities or people who need it, Jennifer admitted her hobby can be bittersweet, as so many products are wasted

'It's really sad that the stores could take this stuff and donate them somewhere they will be used but they don't, 'Jennifer said

Some of her impressive - and pricy - finds include a $600 Dyson Airwrap hairdryer in perfect condition - complete with all the attachments, a $500 Roomba vacuum cleaner and a $400 Le Creuset Dutch oven.

It's not all homewares, with Jennifer also finding beautiful designer handbags, pricey jewelry, unworn clothes, beauty supplies, non-perishable food packages, books and school supplies in her dumpster shopping.

Jennifer says she dumpster dives so she can can help others (pictured are some of her dumpster finds)

Her family's home is now kitted out with a full home security system, robot vacuums on every floor, a voice-activated bin and high-end cookware - all sourced from dumpsters.

'My house isn't cluttered but if I find things I need or can use, I will hold onto them,' she shared.

Despite donating a substantial amount of her findings to charities or people who need it, Jennifer admitted her hobby can be bittersweet.

'It is really fun but sometimes it does make me sad - once I found a dumpster full of kids art supplies. That really affected me,' she recalled.

'I get a lot of feedback from the places I donate to. They're very thankful,' she gushed.

'It's really sad that the stores could take this stuff and donate them somewhere they will be used but they don't,' she continued.

'Sometimes the stores even destroy things before they dump then, with paint or bleach, and it breaks my heart. I find that even worse than throwing it away.'

The eagle-eyed treasure hunter admitted that sometimes she gets asked if she's poor or a hoarder, she does it mainly to help other people who can use it.

'You can't dumpster dive anywhere - Maryland has quite relaxed laws around this so it's okay for me to do here,' Jennifer explained.

'I do get asked if I'm poor and that's why I do it - but it's just a hobby for me,' the mom continued.

'I do it more because I can help others than myself.'
King Frederik X of Denmark appeared to be in high spirits - as he today arrived in Poland for his first overseas trip since Margrethe II's abdication earlier this month.

The recently-ascended royal, 55, was all smiles while meeting with the Polish president Andrzej Duda in Warsaw this morning.

The pair seemed to enjoy each other's company as they chatted during an official welcoming ceremony at the country's Presidential Palace.

Frederik wrapped up warm with a winter coat worn over a light puffer, teamed with black leather gloves.

Snaps of him from the day also showed he was wearing a black suit and blue shirt, along with a purple tie.

King Frederik X of Denmark appeared in high spirits as he arrived in Poland for his first overseas trip since Margrethe II's abdication earlier this month

It's the King's first trip abroad since his mother abdicated after 52 years on the throne.

His goals for the three-day visit are energy efficiency and climate-friendly farming.

Frederik will also be leading a Danish business delegation which includes 38 participating companies in Poland.

After the welcoming ceremony at the Palace, he and Denmark's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lars Lkke Rasmussen, took part in a discussion with President Duda, which was followed by an official luncheon.

Next on the agenda are a wreath-laying ceremony at a tomb in memory of unknown soldiers, erected after World War I; visits to the Sejm (the lower house of Polish government) and Senate; and a round-table discussion on energy efficiency.

The evening will wrap up with a Grand Dinner in the Kubicki Arcades at the Royal Palace in Warsaw.

It comes as, last week, Fredrik unveiled his new signature - and it shares an important detail with King Charles'.

The Danish Royal Family's official Instagram account posted a photo of a 100th birthday card that had been signed by the new King.

The recently-ascended royal, 55, was all smiles while meeting with the Polish president Andrzej Duda in Warsaw this morning

Snaps of him from the day also showed he was wearing a black suit and blue shirt, along with a purple tie

It's the King's first trip abroad since his mother abdicated the crown after 52 years on the throne. His goals for the three-day visit are energy efficiency and climate-friendly farming

Frederik will also be leading a Danish business delegation which includes 38 participating companies in Poland

Frederik wrapped up warm with a winter coat worn over a light puffer, teamed with black leather gloves

The pair seemed to enjoy each other's company as they chatted during an official welcoming ceremony at the country's Presidential Palace

After the welcoming ceremony at the Palace, he and Denmark's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lars Lkke Rasmussen, took part in a discussion with President Duda

President Duda and King Frederik appeared to be in high spirits as they spoke during an official welcoming ceremony

The duo chatted as they walked by the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. Frederik is in Poland until Friday

They captioned the post: 'In a small town in Northern Jutland, a 100-year-old birthday boy today, as the first, receives a congratulation from His Majesty the King.'

The post went on to explain how Frederik has decided to continue this tradition of sending cards to members of the public celebrating their 100th, 105th and 110th birthdays.

On top of this, the King also re-iterated how he will send his congratulations to couples celebrating their 60th, 65th, 70th and 75th wedding anniversaries.

Alongside this, the Danish Royal Family posted a picture of the birthday card - which was printed on white paper and featured their cypher.

Underneath the printed message of congratulations, King Frederik debuted his new signature for the first time since becoming the official monarch.

Just like King Charles, the monarch signed his name with an 'R' for 'Rex', which is Latin for King.

Frederik looked to be deeply immersed in conversation with the Polish President as he kicked off his trip

The Danish King, who is in Poland for three days, appeared to be in high spirits on day one of his Poland trip

The royal smiled as he and the president chatted away. Both will be present at a dinner this evening

Although Queen Mary's new signature has not been revealed, she will also presumably use 'R' - like Queen Camilla.

In September 2023, King Charles and Queen Camilla signed birthday cards for the UK's oldest living man and woman. John celebrated his 111th birthday this summer while Ethel turned 114.

Shortly after the Queen's passing in September 2022, Buckingham Palace revealed the new royal cypher - which features the initials of the King's name Charles and title Rex, as well as the Roman numeral III.

Earlier this month, the Danish Royals shared an intimate and very telling glimpses from behind-the-scenes of King Frederik's proclamation.

Queen Margrethe signed her historic abdication papers with her son and grandson Prince Christian, 18, present in Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.

The Queen's last words before leaving the Council of State were: 'God save the King.'

Following this, the new King addressed the crowds that had gathered outside the royal palace from the balcony.

Poignant behind-the-scenes footage posted on the Danish Royal Family's Instagram page shows the moment Frederik nervously approached the balcony to make his first public appearance since becoming King.

The father-of-four - who was wearing his military regalia - took a deep breath as he looked to an aide for the go-ahead to walk onto the balcony.

The evening will wrap up with a Grand Dinner in the Kubicki Arcades at the Royal Palace in Warsaw. Frederik pictured during an official welcoming ceremony

From inside the Palace, Queen Mary - who was dressed in an elegant white dress by Soeren Le Schmidt for the occasion - is seen clinging to her daughter Princess Josephine.

The 13-year-old looked suitably smart in a black coat with gold buttons and her hair styled in a half-up, half-down fashion and secured with a bow.

While Prince Christian stood behind his mother and siblings, 16-year-old Princess Isabella - who was wearing a red coat - placed her hands lovingly on her younger brother Prince Vincent's shoulders.

The footage then jumps to Queen Mary walking up to the balcony to join her husband in waving to the crowds of royal fans.

The pair looked overcome with emotion as they shared a loving look before then being joined by their four children.

From inside the Palace, King Frederik's younger brother Prince Joachim - whose four children were stripped of their royal titles in January 2023 - pensively took in the scene unfolding on the balcony.

The royal, 54, attended the ceremony without the support of his wife Princess Marie and their two children, Count Henrik, 14, and Countess Athena of Monpezat, 11.

After Queen Margrethe stripped her grandchildren of their royal titles, Joachim and his second wife relocated to Washington DC - where the royal works as defence industry attache at the Embassy of Denmark - with their children.
Caffe Nero will open its first-ever 24-hour drive-thru branch later this year - and it's just a stone's throw from the nation's capital.

Opening in spring, the 1.2 million site will offer customers the chance to pick up a caffeinated treat at any point in the day - and drivers of electric vehicles will even be able to charge their cars while they wait.

The Nero Group operates over 620 cafes across the UK, helping to employ a total workforce of more than 6,500 people.

This makes it the fourth-largest coffee chain in the UK, behind other popular brands Costa, Starbucks and Greggs.

Caffe Nero will open its first-ever 24-hour drive through branch in London later this year. Pictured: A Caffe Nero branch in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

The chain will open at London Stansted Airport, which will have five Caffe Nero outlets once the newest shop opens to customers.

It will be situated just 500 yards from the main terminal building on the main road drivers use to enter and leave the airport.

Gerry Ford, group chief executive of Caffe Nero, said: 'I didn't want to open such a store until we found a location had a format where we could offer a premium experience, combined with the convenience you would look for in a drive-through. Our partnership with Stansted Airport allowed us to achieve just that.

'This store is an experiment for us. It allows Caffe Nero to expand its store format, and it will be the template for further drive through stores in the future'.

It comes as rival chain Starbucks announced a major change to its drive-through and mobile orders in the US and Canada.

Customers in these countries will now be allowed to use a reusable cup for drive-through and mobile orders - as well as in-store - in an effort to reduce waste.

Anyone who brings a reusable cup will receive a 10 cent discount, with Rewards members receiving 25 'bonus stars'.

The move is part of the coffee giant's commitment to reduce plastic waste by 50 percent by 2030.

Michael Kobori, chief sustainability officer of Starbucks, said: 'At Starbucks, we envision a future where every beverage can be served in a reusable cup'.

'We know our customers are passionate about the planet, and now, they can join us in our efforts to give more than we take, no matter how they order.'
Mama June has spoken out for the first time since the devastating death of her 29-year-old daughter Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell.

The reality star, 44, who is best known for her appearances in Toddlers and Tiaras and later Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo, candidly opened up to DailyMail.com about her tragic loss, describing her daughter's agonizing final days - and how her children are coping with her death.

Anna, who was survived by daughters Kaitlyn, 11, and Kylee, eight, died December 10 of adrenal cancer aged just 29.

Mama June, whose real name is June Shannon, and the rest of the family have now detailed the day of her death, speaking out from their home where her daughter spent her final days.

Mama June has spoken out for the first time since the passing of her daughter Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell

Anna, who was survived by daughters Kaitlyn, 11, and Kylee, eight, died December 10 of adrenal cancer aged just 29

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Mama June shared that Anna had been staying at her house in the days leading up to her passing.

'She passed away in mine and Justin's home. Eldridge and the girls and her were living there for three weeks and one day.

'[I was] hearing her scream my name at night, hearing her little oxygen cord going round... She would not keep her oxygen on for anything.'

The doting mom continued: 'The day before she passed away Kaitlyn was helping us give [Anna] medicine - and she would only take it for Kaitlyn.

'The final things that we all made sure that we said in the last couple of days... I can't tell you how many times I said I love you.'

Anna's sister Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird, 24, added: 'She fought until the very end. You could tell at the end that she was ready. She was done.

'She fought as much as she could so I was telling her, "It's okay, everybody's here."'

The mom-of-two passed away when the rest of her family 'were all standing around her in the living room.'

Anna was diagnosed with stage four adrenal cancer in January 2023 after complaining of stomach pain

Mama June, whose real name is June Shannon, and the rest of the family have now detailed the day of her death

Lauryn continued: 'It definitely happened very quickly. It went from one to five years to 10 months very quickly.'

Asked how Anna's kids were coping, Mama June explained: 'I think Kaitlyn is still in shock. Unlike Kylee, Kaitlyn was there when Anna took her last breath.'

Lauryn added: 'Everybody was screaming because we just didn't really know what to do or anything.

'I can't imagine if that keeps me up at night, I'm sure at times it must keep Kaitlyn up but teenagers aren't going to say that. We always make sure to ask her how she's doing, if she's okay, tell her that it's okay to cry.'

Discussing the impact of the loss, June said: 'I have my good days, I have my bad days  certain things that I'll do remind me of her...

'We do talk about her quite a bit. We all carry her with us.'

Lauryn added: 'It sucks. Going on in life and her not being here really kind of f*cks with you at the end of the day.'

But she said their focus was now 'keeping her memory alive for her kids.'

'We're always reminding them "your momma loved you, your momma is always here with you."'

The family said their focus was now 'keeping her memory alive' for Anna's kids. Pictured: Mama June with husband Justin and Anna's daughter Kaitlyn

Anna underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy in an attempt to beat her cancer but, over the summer, the From Not to Hot star revealed that Anna's cancer was terminal (pictured with husband Eldridge)

Mama June first announced Anna's death in a heartbreaking Instagram post that read: 'With the breaking heart, we are announcing that @annamarie35 is no longer with us'

Mama June first announced Anna's death in a heartbreaking Instagram post that read: 'With the breaking heart, we are announcing that @annamarie35 is no longer with us.

'She passed away in my home last night peacefully at 11.12pm. She gave one hell of a fight for 10 months she passed away with her family around her...

'We love y'all and continued prayers and thoughts for our family [during] this difficult time,' she added.

Accompanying the caption was a photo of Mama June and her family, including Anna, who sported short hair amid her cancer treatments.

Anna was diagnosed with stage four adrenal cancer in January 2023 after complaining of stomach pain.

The Mayo Clinic reports adrenal carcinoma is a rare cancer that affects the adrenal glands in the kidneys.

The adrenal glands produce hormones that deliver instructions to virtually every organ and tissue in the body.

She underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy in an attempt to beat her cancer but, over the summer, the From Not to Hot star revealed that Anna's cancer was terminal.

Mama June had previously sat down with DailyMail.com to discuss the lengths she and Justin had been going to in order to help Anna during her treatment

The TV personality also confirmed that the mother-daughter duo had put their previous grievances aside in order to focus on Anna's health battle

Mama June had previously sat down with DailyMail.com to discuss the lengths she and Justin had been going to in order to help Anna during her treatment.

She explained: 'In the weeks that she has chemo, we take her to Atlanta. We stay there all week from Monday till Saturday, to make sure that she's close to the hospital if anything major happens because it is two hours away.

'So we say it there and then we bring her back home. Then that next week is kind of rough for her so we stay in Georgia to make sure she doesn't need anything.'

'Honestly, the people that have been there for her since she's been diagnosed is me and Justin, Eldridge and the girls,' the mom said. 'There's no other family that come up there and sit with her during her treatments.'

The TV personality also confirmed that the mother-daughter duo had put their previous grievances aside in order to focus on Anna's health battle.

The pair had endured an extremely fractured relationship - following Mama June's public battle with alcohol and cocaine addiction in recent years.

But Mama June said that the family had been working through arguments and undergoing counseling as she worked to repair her relationship with her daughters.
She said she will keep having children until she can no longer conceive

A woman who already has 19 children is about to welcome her twentieth - revealing that she doesn't plan on stopping and sees motherhood as a business.

Martha, from Medellin, Colombia, is only 39 and wants to continue having children until her body physically cannot conceive anymore - even if she doesn't know who has fathered her brood.

Seventeen members of the giant family are under 18 years old, with Martha receiving financial support from her government for each child.

'I see being a mom like a business, practically,' Martha, who has conceived all of her kids with different men, said.

Martha, from from Medellin, Colombia, is only 39 and says she plans to continue having children until her body physically cannot anymore

The giant family live in a small, three bedroom house in Colombia, with the eldest child having to sleep on the sofa

However, the busy mom says because she has so many children, the money she receives barely covers the cost of raising and caring for them.

'The truth is, as the government helps me for each child, I receive a little money for each one,' she explained.

Martha said she gets the equivalent of $76 for her eldest children and around $30.50 for the youngest ones.

It means that each month, the Colombian state pays her around $510 to care for her children.

Martha also receives help from the local church and her neighbors, accusing the absent fathers of her children as being 'irresponsible.'

However, she admits life in the small three-bedroom house can be very challenging, with the eldest child having to sleep on the sofa.

Martha said she sometimes struggles to provide adequate meals for everyone on a limited budget.

She said she will continue to have children until her 'body doesn't allow it,' as her current crop will 'leave home when they grow up.'

Martha said she sometimes struggles to provide adequate meals for everyone on a limited budget (pictured holding one of her children)

Each month, the Colombian state pays her the equivalent of $510 to care for her brood of children

Martha also receives help from the local church and her neighbors, accusing the absent fathers of her children of being 'irresponsible'

The busy mom says because she has so many children, the money she receives barely cover the cost of raising and caring for them

Despite having a staggering amount of children, Martha says she will continue to have more kids because it is 'profitable' for her.

Last year, a single mom of 13 went viral after revealing she needed her 23-year-old daughter's help to help buy a house for her brood.

Veronica Merritt was tired of the 'crappy little house' her family was forced to inhabit, but couldn't afford a larger space due to being on a single income.

So when the 37-year-old came across a large house on Craigslist, she was willing to 'do anything' to get her family into it.

Her eldest daughter, 23, pitched in $10,000 by combining her savings, tax return, and stimulus so that the family could purchase the house.

Many have called her situation 'sad' and criticized her for not being able to support her large family by herself, however Veronica later clarified she paid her daughter back within a year of borrowing the money.
The mother of a woman who was euthanised at 28 has insisted she was 'happy' with her daughter's decision to end her 'terrible suffering' with ME.

Leonie Hoeve, from the Netherlands, was by her daughter Lauren's side last week when she died by assisted suicide in their family home.

The mother-of-two previously lost her son Pieter Jan to bone cancer and said that that it was 'very sad and surreal' to now face life without her daughter in an emotional blog post.

In 2019, Lauren was diagnosed with ME - also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome - and left bed-bound. Her devastating diagnosis meant she had to give up running, climbing and her beloved dog.

Over the past four years, Lauren also began to experience post-exertional malaise (PEM), where she would struggle with extreme nausea, pain and fatigue - which she described as 'absolute torture' on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Pictured: Lauren on her way to watch a screening of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour movie in the Netherlands last November with her mother

After years of delays caused by Covid, Lauren - who had built an online following by documenting her assisted suicide journey - peacefully passed away on 27 January, surrounded by parents Peter and Leonie and best friend Lau.

Last month, the mother - who was regularly pictured pushing Lauren around in a wheelchair on her Instagram - wrote about her complicated feelings towards losing her daughter on Lauren's blog 'Brain Fog'.

In the post, the mother-of-two said she had always had a 'deep-seated fear' of losing her children and that her heart 'bleeds' for them.

Leonie said that her daughter's ME diagnosis was the 'final straw for her' - having already struggled with autism and ADHD.

The mother wrote: 'It gives a powerless feeling. No one can do anything about it, this is beyond our control and I know it can happen to anyone. Lauren is completely unlucky with this package.'

Asking Lauren's followers to be understanding of her decision, Leonie continued: 'Please know that we have done everything realistically possible to find a way out.

'She still wanted to get so much out of life, but she doesn't want to live to be 30 years old like this, let alone 60 or 80 years old.

'This suffering is terrible for her, and also for me as a mother to see it. I guide, support and do everything for her, with all my love, together with Peter.'

Lauren's mother (pictured) wrote: 'She wrote: 'Please know that we have done everything realistically possible to find a way out. She still wanted to get so much out of life, but she doesn't want to live to be 30 years old like this, let alone 60 or 80 years old.'

Lauren posted this photo of her enjoying New Years Eve in bed while her mother and loved ones sit beside her

Although Leonie said the process is 'very difficult', she said she is 'happy' and can understand why Lauren chose to go down this route - as 'the alternative is not feasible at all'.

Describing how there will be a 'big void' in their lives, Leonie added: 'The mourning has already started a long time ago, "living mourning" as they say. Every day I say goodbye to a part of my life with her, just as I felt with my son.'

She ended the post by saying: 'The only thing I see as a bright spot is that I no longer have to fear losing my children. I know where they are.'

In an emotional post on Lauren's blog over the weekend, her family wrote: 'Lauren passed away peacefully at 1.55 pm in the presence of her parents Leonie and Peter and her best friend Lau.

'We would like to thank you for your compassion and support.'

In November, Lauren's friends and family took her to a special screen of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour movie - and her mother was pictured lovingly holding her hand as they travelled to the cinema in an ambulance.

On her blog 'Brain Fog', Lauren explained how her GP told her he respected her wish to be euthanised but could not do it himself because of her psychological conditions.

Lauren Hoeve (pictured), from the Netherlands , was diagnosed with ME, which is also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome, in 2019.

Lauren thanked her 7,800 X followers for the love they'd shown her and shared this 'morbid' meme

What is ME and why is it so misunderstood? Also known as ME - or myalgic encephalomyelitis - CFS can affect anyone, but is most common in women in their mid 20s to mid 40s. The most noticeable symptom is extreme tiredness, but others include problems sleeping, joint or muscle pain, headaches, flu-like symptoms, and a fast or irregular heartbeat. Treatments include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), specific exercises, or medication to target nausea, pain or issues with sleeping. An estimated 250,000 people in the UK and one million people in the US live with the condition. It affects their lives so severely they often spend their days in darkened rooms, unable even to watch TV or listen to music. But despite the increasing evidence about the reality of ME, which affects 17million people across the world, it remains incurable, and many still think that sufferers are just lazy. The cause of ME remains unknown but it has been suggested that infections such as glandular fever and pneumonia can trigger the condition. Symptoms of ME include: - feeling extremely tired all the time and struggling to go about everyday activities - feeling tired after resting or sleeping - problems with memory and concentration - taking a long time to recover after physical activity The ME Association, which was established in 1980, offers support to those struggling with the condition. Advertisement

After this, Lauren was put on a waiting list for an appointment with an euthanasia specialist, which took longer than usual due to the pandemic.

In April 2023, she met with several doctors who concluded she was 'mentally competent' of making the decision to be euthanised.

Earlier this month, Lauren told her 7,800 X followers: 'My last day will be on Saturday, January 27th. The euthanasia will happen between 1:30 and 2:30pm.'

She wrote on her blog: 'I chose to make the date and time public because you have all been so excited for this moment with me. I know from experience how supportive it can be to know when it is happening, so that you can reflect on it for a moment or light a candle if you wish.'

On 27 January, Lauren - who passed away at home - signed off her X account by sharing a meme with her followers.

She wrote: 'This will be my last tweet. Thanks for the love, everyone. I'm going to rest a bit more and be with my loved ones. Enjoy a last morbid meme from me.'

She then posted a meme featuring a toddler wearing a sunglasses and giving a thumbs up to the camera as a doctor smiles beside them, with the caption: 'Me getting euthanized'.

Lauren's post has been seen by more than 1.5m X users and struck a chord with followers.

One replied: 'Thank you for sharing your journey to this farewell. And for you the beginning of peace that you long for.'

'Have a beautiful last few hours,' another added.

A third said: 'I think of you and the people around you and wish you beautiful last moments.'

'Have a few loving last hours,' a fourth said. 'Thank you again for everything you have done for our community.'

'May you find your peace,' a fifth wrote.

In her final blog post, Lauren shared some advice to her followers that she 'would have liked to hear [herself] at one point or another.

She wrote: 'Don't be afraid to be vulnerable. It's completely okay to say that you don't know something, that you haven't studied something enough (yet) to form an opinion.

'Related: It's also okay to admit when you've done something wrong. We are all human and we are constantly learning. Being able to admit mistakes is a beautiful quality that I always appreciate in people.'

As well as urging her readers to 'invest in a good mattress and pillow', Lauren also recommended writing down any compliments or loving messages they receive that they can return to when they are feeling 'less mentally strong'.

What's more, Lauren recommended keeping a diary and taking photos and videos of daily life - before adding: 'Don't forget to look through your own eyes, instead of always through a camera.'

Elsewhere, Lauren urged people to write down their funeral plans for their loved ones, after revealing: 'I designed the funeral invitations myself and I'm very proud of it.'

She also asked that readers refrain from giving chronically ill people unsolicited medical advice.

Lauren also added: 'Do the things you want to do now, as quickly as possible. I got sick in the prime of my life and thought I would still have plenty of time, but no one has that guarantee. You never know what could happen. Don't delay, live!'

In April 2023, it was announced that parents in the Netherlands can euthanise their terminally ill children aged 12 and over under plans to widen the country's existing end of life laws to cover terminally ill children aged one to twelve.

The Dutch Government announced plans to expand euthanasia regulations to include doctor-assisted death for terminally ill children between one and 12 years old.

The rules would apply to an estimated five to 10 children per year, who suffer unbearably from their disease, have no hope of improvement and for whom palliative care cannot bring relief, the government have said.

'The end of life for this group is the only reasonable alternative to the child's unbearable and hopeless suffering,' the government said in a statement.

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details
The actress at the centre of a storm after she was cast to play Shakespeare's Richard III has announced she will not play the role as a disabled character after receiving backlash from advocacy groups.

Michelle Terry, who will play the villainous protagonist at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London from May 9 to August 3, has released a statement confirming she will not 'alter her physicality' in the performance.

Her statement comes after the production received backlash on social media from disabled performers and groups who argued the role should be played by an actor who has scoliosis.

Shakespeare's 16th century play describes its evil protagonist as 'hunchbacked' and 'deformed'. Modern medical interpretations of the monarch's physicality suggest he suffered from what we now diagnose as scoliosis.

After Terry was cast in Elle While's production of the play, the Disabled Artists Alliance, which represents disabled people and creative organisations in the industry, published an open letter to The Globe Theatre in which it said members were 'outraged and disappointed' by the decision.

Michelle Terry, who has been cast to play Richard III at Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London, has confirmed she will not play the role with a disability

The statement, posted on X/Twitter, read: 'To see The Globe announce this casting within this production is shocking. [Richard III's] disabled identity is imbued and integral to all corners of the script.

'The production cannot be successfully performed with a non-physically disabled actor at the helm.'

It continued: 'This role belongs to us. It is offensive and distasteful for Richard to be portrayed by someone outside of the community. It reduces disability down to a disguise and physical act, rather than a true grounded understanding of what disability means.'

The actress acknowledged the 'pain' and 'hurt' caused by the decision to cast her in the role after disabled rights groups blasted the 'offensive' casting

The Alliance called for 'an immediate recast of Richard to accurately reflect the truth of the script and his disabled identity'.

Other disabled actors in the industry also expressed their dismay over the casting on X.

Brittanie Pallet, a professionally trained disabled performer, wrote on X: 'Why is an artistic director of any theatre firing themselves to play the lead when it's not their casting or lived experience?

'The misrepresentation and misinformation causes actual daily harm to the lives of real disabled people.'

She continued: 'The work we make is, in varying degrees, a reflection of our society and our beliefs about the people we share the world with. Most people's only experience of disabled life is through the stories we tell so it's bloody dangerous when we get that wrong.'

As the backlash began to build, The Globe released a statement defending the casting decision.

It read: 'We recognise the barriers to access in our industry and to our organisation and we are working hard to address that.

'We believe the Shakespearean canon is based on a foundation of anti-literalism and therefore all artists should have the right to play all parts in, and the casting across all our work year-round is no different.'

Today Terry herself published a response to the criticism in which she said she acknowledges 'any pain or harm' that the disabled community felt as a result of her casting - however she insisted the casting process is carried out 'consciously' and 'rigorously'.

The statement, as reported by The Stage, read: 'I will not alter my physicality to explore [the role]. I will not be playing Richard with a visible or physical impairment, and we will frame this production in such a way as to make it very clear the lens through which this interpretation is being explored.'

Terry added she could understand some may feel her casting is a 'missed opportunity for a disabled artist to play a disabled character'.

However the actress insisted the opportunity 'will come around again' and stressed that the production had not 'forgotten disability'.

She concluded: 'We must come together as a sector, from all our respective communities, and collectively address the inequities and injustices in our industry and our society.'
Are you finding youre now a tad too warm when you wrap up in your trusty puffer or teddy coat, but cant yet face braving the elements armed with only a jacket? Then its official: its trench coat weather.

Theres no coat more quintessentially British than a trench. The perfect layer for days when the forecast appears temperamental, an elegant trench can be thrown on to avert any fashion crisis.

When it comes to design, no one does it like British fashion house Burberry. Its iconic check-lined trenches are just as desirable now as when they were first launched in 1912.

Yet while the term trench coat instantly conjures an image of a beige, Inspector Clouseau style, they have undergone an evolution of late.

Since Daniel Lee took control of Burberry as creative director last year, weve seen the trench in various colours and prints, while the silhouettes are more relaxed, with details such as dropped waists and oversized belts.

Trench coat, 165, karen millen.com

Trench, 175, anthropologie.com; dress, 250, jigsaw-online.com; heels, 205, bobbies.com; bag, 445, demellierlondon.com

Now the High Street is bustling with new colourways, fabrics and details, too.

Cherry red is proving to be a trending colour for 2024, so youll be sure to stand out for all the right reasons in the belted coat by Karen Millen (165).

The strong shoulders and balloon sleeves give a statement look, while the belt allows for the waist to be cinched in for a chic silhouette. Pair with black boots and let the coat take centre stage.

The Anthropologie trench (175) is the perfect grown-up alternative to a denim jacket. Dont be afraid to double up and wear over jeans and a top for a casual yet pulled together outfit, or throw it over your favourite midi dress.

Want a high fashion look at a High Street price? New Looks grey-blue trench (above left) is only 59.99.

If youre after an updated trench but prefer a subtle shade to a bold colour, the patent faux-leather style by Jigsaw (399) is a great option. The oversized look, epaulettes and belted design create a structured yet flattering shape.

So whether you go for colourful chic or keep it classic, a trusty trench will see you through to spring in style.

Trench coat, 59.99, newlook.com; shirt, 29.99, and skirt, 49.99, zara.com; boots, 149.99, johnlewis.com

Scarf, 150, aspinaloflondon.com; trench, 399, jigsaw-online.com; gloves, 205, mulberry.com
A British woman who has just moved to Australia shared the grim reality of trying to find a home in Sydney in the middle of a rental crisis.

Ellie warned fellow Brits that moving Down Under was not easy and showed dozens of house hunters lining up at rental inspections for two-bedroom apartments in the city's Eastern Suburbs.

She went to five home opens in and around Bondi claiming 70-100 people turned up to each one.

'Do NOT move to Sydney... if you think it's going to be easy. I moved from London to Sydney with no idea of the rental crisis,' Ellie said in a TikTok video.

She explained that the 'competition is crazy' for rentals in Sydney, and with so many people she could barely see the apartment.

'There's a queue to get in and then you literally couldn't even see it there's so many people in there,' Ellie said.

In the caption, she wrote that moving to Sydney isn't all 'sunshine and rainbows' but 'mass rejection, queues and a rental crisis'.

Many people chimed in agreeing with the traveller, with some suggesting she look further away from the city.

'I had 96 applications for my three-bed rental,' a homeowner said.

One user suggested: 'You need to go out of Central Sydney. Like Chatswood Parramatta Cronulla or Hornsby. It's a lot easier!'

However others slammed those migrating Down Under claiming they are making the rental crisis worse.

'Wouldn't have a rental crisis if you people stopped moving here,' one man said.

A British woman who has just moved to Australia shared the grim reality of trying to find a home in Sydney in the middle of a rental crisis (pictured: Aussies queuing up to view a rental)

Sydney isn't the only Australian city battling a worrying rental crisis.

Earlier this month, videos emerged online of hundreds of people lining up outside an apartment in Melbourne's CBD.

'It seems impossible to find a two-bedroom apartment in Melbourne city right now,' one woman wrote.

'Apartment inspections here are something else.'

The rental crisis across Australia has been a nightmare for many for more than a year.

Victoria introduced a ban on 'rental bidding' - asking for or encouraging higher offers than the advertised price and playing potential tenants off against each other - in March 2021 in the hope of cooling the market.

From December 17, 2022, licensed real estate and property agents in New South Wales were also prohibited from soliciting rent bidding.

However, rents have continued to climb and vacancy rates have barely improved.

According to PropTrack, NSW vacancy rates have fallen to levels not seen since 2003, while prices have increased by 3.2 per cent.

Meanwhile, annual data from the Rental Affordability Index found that every capital city had experienced a decline in rental affordability, with low-income renters such as single parents, pensioners and job seekers among the most vulnerable.
One of the country's busiest NHS trusts has sparked alarm after unveiling plans to rake in more cash from private patients.

With the goal of creating an 'income generation source', Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) wants to rent out its facilities to a private provider to treat patients willing to pay.

Trust bosses insisted the controversial plan would allow money 'to be reinvested in NHS staff, care and services', MailOnline can reveal.

But campaigners, union chiefs, and MPs have attacked the proposal, warning that it could lead to a 'two-tier' health service and worsen existing backlogs faced by NHS patients.

Dr John Puntis, co-chair of the Keep Our NHS Public campaign group, said: 'Patients without the funds to afford private treatment (the vast majority) will be particularly aggrieved by what they perceive as queue jumping.'

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) wants to rent out its facilities to a private provider to treat patients willing to pay

The retired consultant paediatrician warned that poorer patients will be faced with difficult decisions regarding 'their financial priorities'.

On the other hand, Dr Puntis argued patients able to afford private treatment on an NHS site will worry about 'undermining NHS services by creating a two tier system'.

He also warned that Leeds Teaching Hospitals' proposals had the potential to make waiting lists at the Trust even longer.

Dr Puntis told MailOnline: 'Consultants have to agree job plans and if they decide to spend more time on private work they do less in the public sector, in which waiting lists then get longer.

'There is only one pool of staff and at present it is already smaller than it should be.

'A private unit will also have to employ a range of non-medical staff and all of these will have been trained in the NHS.

Dr Puntis also warned the move could create conflicts of interest among NHS staff.

He said: 'NHS patients will see doctors who are also working sessions for a private company and deriving some of their income from this, who will say "if you want fast treatment you can pay privately".'

NHS statistics show more than 92,000 patients were waiting to begin treatment at Leeds Teaching Hospitals as of the end of November.

It means that, out of 150-plus trusts in England, Leeds has the 15th biggest backlog.

Additionally, 38 per cent of patients stuck in the queue were waiting longer than 18 weeks for their treatment plan to begin.

NHS standards state that 92 per cent of patients should be seen within 18 weeks of referral.

The notice was published by LTHT on a Government tender website on January 16.

It lists three objectives for the project.

Your browser does not support iframes.

First is to 'offer patients the opportunity to receive private healthcare on an LTHT site', and the second to 'support LTHT clinical teams who provide private healthcare to do so on an LTHT site'.

The final objective is to 'create an income generation source which will allow money to be reinvested in NHS staff, care and services.'

It continues that LTHT wants to 'engage' with private hospital operators who may be interested in a 'collaboration' at some or all of its sites.

The notice also reads: 'The Trusts research suggests a strong market opportunity for a private patient service offering specialist care at St James University Hospital site (SJUH).'

SJUH is home to the Leeds Cancer Centre  one of the largest providers of cancer care in the UK.

Longstanding delays to cancer care one of the most pressing concerns in the NHS since the country emerged from the Covid pandemic.

Official NHS data for November show only 71.9 per cent of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days. The target is 75 per cent.

Just 90.1 per cent waited a month or less for their first cancer treatment to begin after a decision to proceed with surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The target is 96 per cent but this has never been met.

Fewer than two-thirds (65.2 per cent) of patients started their first cancer treatment within two months of an urgent referral.

NHS guidelines state 85 per cent of cancer patients should be treated within this timeframe. But again, this target has never been met.

LTHT, which boasts of its 1.4billion taxpayer funded budget, said exploratory meetings with interested parties will be held 'as soon as practicable' and as soon as March 2024.

UNISON said it understood the private provider would offer care at 'all levels'  not just special procedures.

UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Gary Cleaver said: 'The NHS exists to ensure quality healthcare can be provided to whoever needs it. It does not exist to make money.

'These plans are financially driven, they are not about best meeting the needs of the people of Leeds.

'The proposals have the potential to leave the poorest people in the city in an even worse position.

'The trust is in a difficult position after years of the health service being starved of government funding, but it must reconsider these proposals.'

Daisy Cooper MP, Lib Dem health spokesperson, said the plan was symptomatic of the 'Government's neglect of our NHS'.

She said: 'Millions are waiting in pain and are looking to the Government to get a grip of this crisis.

'People shouldn't be forced to fork out their own money to get the urgent care they need.'

An LTHT spokesperson defended the notice, claiming it would benefit both the trust and the local community.

They said: 'It's really important to us that any potential partnership will not in any way impede our ability to provide NHS care.

'Many trusts of a similar size already do this and it can be a valid and vital way to support and provide new investment in NHS services.

'In addition, it would create new jobs, opportunities and economic benefit for Leeds and the region.'

However, the spokesperson added the Trust was only currently 'exploring the market' and 'is not committing to anything'.

The trust already treats some private patients at its sites.

On its website it boasts how a major benefit of having a private op at the trust is if things go wrong during a procedure, taxpayer-funded specialist and emergency care is available directly there, unlike some private hospitals.

LTHT didn't respond to MailOnline's request for how much money from its private patient business had previously been reinvested in NHS staff, care and services.

The furore over LTHT's private expansion comes after it emerged the NHS cancelled cancer and hip operations during the Covid pandemic while continuing to perform breast enlargements and nose jobs for private patients.

NHS trusts are allowed to supplement their usual taxpayer-funded income by selling private services on the side.

Guidelines say they should ideally provide private treatment in a separate building  but it could be in a different area of the hospital or after NHS hours.
Doctors should not only check for high blood pressure but track changes each visit, new research suggests.

A UK study involving more than a million readings found variability in blood pressure is a major predictor of heart attack and stroke risk.

Patients with fluctuating readings could be at greater risk of a 'cardiovascular event' than those with high-but-steady blood pressure, kept under control with medication.

Experts said the findings should be adopted by health professionals to identify and treat patients who are in greatest danger.

Imperial College Researchers followed more than 8,000 UK patients with high blood pressure for more than 20 years.

A UK study involving more than a million readings found variability in blood pressure is a major predictor of heart attack and stroke risk. Patients with fluctuating readings could be at greater risk of a 'cardiovascular event' than those with high-but-steady blood pressure, kept under control with medication

They found that variation in systolic pressure  the upper number representing the pressure as your heart pushes blood out  over time was a strong predictor of stroke, heart attack and atrial fibrillation.

This was even the case in patients who had blood pressure readings within a healthy range  but which varied between visits, according to the results published today in the European Heart Journal.

Blood pressure can vary over the course of the day but the impact of blood pressure variability over the longer term has been less clear.

Half of participants, the majority of which were male with an average age of 64, were taking a calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, to manage their hypertension.

READ MORE: How can I lower my blood pressure without taking more drugs? Ask the GP DR MARTIN SCURR Advertisement

They were then split into three, based on their average systolic blood pressure and their blood pressure variability.

Among patients with an average systolic blood pressure of less than 140 mmHg  borderline high blood pressure  those with the highest variability were at 16 per cent greater risk for heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events compared with the group with lowest variability.

It also showed that more than half (53 per cent) of incidents occurred in patients whose blood pressure was well-controlled with medication  below 140 mmHg  suggesting the threshold and treatment is insufficient.

Excess heart attack and strokes were still seen in those with readings of 130-135 mmHg, the Pfizer-funded study found.

Researchers said the findings indicate that a systolic blood pressure variability of 13mmHg or more over five years may be associated with significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events.

They also highlight that data from the trial show that one blood pressure medication, a drug called amlodipine, was effective in lowering blood pressure variability and could help to reduce risk

Almost one in three UK adults (30 per cent) are thought to have high blood pressure, with heart and circulatory diseases responsible for 170,000 deaths a year, roughly one every three minutes.

Professor Peter Sever, from the National Heart & Lung Institute at Imperial College London, and senior author of the study, said: 'We've long known that high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke.

'But our latest findings highlight the importance of tracking variability in blood pressure over time as well.'

He added: 'Crucially, we need international guidelines for clinicians to be updated to reflect these latest findings and to include blood pressure variability as a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke.'

Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: These findings once again shed light on the predictive significance of blood pressure variability for the risk of heart attack and stroke.

'The study suggests that monitoring blood pressure variability could be a vital addition to routine health checks, helping to spot patients who remain at risk despite appearing to have well-controlled blood pressure.

The challenge identified by this study for the future, is how to reduce blood pressure variability and smooth the blood pressure profile, beyond the lowering of blood pressure itself which we know is protective against heart attack and stroke.

'An estimated 30 per cent of adults in the UK have high blood pressure, which is around 16 million adults. Getting your blood pressure checked and treated if its elevated is one of the most important things you can do to prevent heart attack and stroke and help save lives.
Pharmacists should not be considered a substitute for GPs, campaigners said today as Rishi Sunak faced backlash over his 'revolution'.

Under blockbuster NHS plans designed to free up millions of doctors' appointments, chemists have been given new powers to hand out prescriptions for seven common ailments.

It means patients battling minor illnesses, such as a sore throat or earache, can now bypass their GP.

But critics have slammed the 'risky' scheme, with pharmacists battling their own crisis that has left the sector on the 'brink of collapse'. Patients have complained of 'terrible' queues and 'nightmare' experiences.

Former health secretary Therese Coffey has also admitted her own worries surrounding overprescribing prescriptions.

Under NHS plans to free up millions of appointments with family doctors, chemists will be able to dish out contraceptive pills to women. High street pharmacists will also get powers to hand out prescriptions for common ailments, meaning patients battling minor illnesses can bypass their GP. Under wider plans, pharmacists will be offering more blood pressure checks to at-risk patients, with a commitment to deliver 2.5 million a year by spring 2025

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Meanwhile, The Royal College of GPs has itself said that thousands of patients will inevitably need 'the expertise' of a doctor, rather than just rely on a pharmacist.

Dennis Reed, of Silver Voices, which campaigns for elderly Brits, told MailOnline: 'We have every respect for the skills of pharmacists.

'But they are not qualified doctors.

'What might present as symptoms for a common condition could have much more serious underlying causes, and the patient may go away from the chemist feeling reassured, only to need critical care at a later stage.'

He said the scheme, part of a wider push to ease pressure on overwhelmed GPs is a 'false economy, intended to conceal the primary care crisis'.

Everything you'll now be able to get from your pharmacist Pharmacy First The service will see pharmacists give advice and, where clinically necessary, offer prescription-only treatment for a range of minor illnesses. The service It will be limited to seven conditions at first, with ambitions to expand as the service matures. These include: Sinusitis

Sore throat

Earache

Infected insect bite

Impetigo

Shingles

Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women under 65 NHS Contraception Service Up until December, pharmacists were only permitted to dispense contraceptive pills after they have been initially prescribed by a GP and offer advice on different types of contraception. But they can now sign up for the new service to dish out contraceptive pills without patients having to go through general practice. The NHS hopes at least 500,000 women a year will be able to get free contraceptive pills on the high street. Blood Pressure Checks Community pharmacies have long offered blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar testing. But now a wider range of trained pharmacy staff can provide the Blood Pressure Check service, which allows people over the age of 40 to check if they are at risk of a heart attack or stroke. Officials hope the programme will see up to 2.5million blood pressure checks will be delivered by spring 2025. Advertisement

Mr Reed added: 'What we need is timely face to face appointments with a family doctor, not a diluted and risky alternative.'

Speaking in the Commons today, Ms Coffey also praised the scheme, but admitted she had concerns surrounding overprescribing.

The Tory MP for Suffolk Coastal said: 'This is the sort of sensible approach, which frankly did meet some resistance from my side of the department, worries about overprescribing prescriptions.

'But its treating pharmacist like proper professionals, most importantly of all, quicker access to care, necessary care that patients will now properly enjoy.'

Under the newly-launched Pharmacy First service, patients can turn to thousands of chemists for illnesses like sinusitis, impetigo, infected insect bites and shingles.

Pharmacists will also be able to assess and treat women under the age of 65 who are battling uncomplicated UTIs.

Pharmacists are fully qualified professionals who undertake a five-year degree.

They do not, however, have full access to patients' NHS records and are instead only able to view summaries, which contain basic information such as allergies. But plans are in place to change that.

Writing in The Telegraph today Mr Sunak said: 'Local pharmacies are at the heart of our communities  and they are close to my heart too, as my mum set up and ran our local pharmacy in Southampton when I was growing up.

'So we are launching Pharmacy First across England  starting a mini revolution in high street healthcare.

'This new service will make it quicker, easier and more convenient for millions of people to access NHS care for common conditions.

'It will save people time and hassle to get the straightforward medication they need quickly.'

Mr Sunak said 'simple' reforms amount to the biggest shake-up in pharmacy for years and will trigger benefits across the NHS.

Eight in 10 people live within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy and many have private consultation rooms, which can help put patients at ease, he noted.

Since December, pharmacists have also been able to dish out contraceptive pills to women.

A wider range of trained pharmacy staff can also provide the Blood Pressure Check service.

Both form part of the string of measures designed to ease pressures on GPs.

Despite criticism over the scheme, experts also hailed it as a 'step forward' in helping prevent GPs working 'below their pay grade'.

Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, told MailOnline: 'Community pharmacies are already a source of great information for many patients.

'Giving pharmacists, who are highly trained healthcare professionals, the right to provide more medicines and initiate treatments expands choice and access for patients in England.

'Pharmacists are integral to primary care and they are keen to provide these additional services.'

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Writing in The Telegraph today Mr Sunak said: 'Local pharmacies are at the heart of our communities  and they are close to my heart too, as my mum set up and ran our local pharmacy in Southampton when I was growing up. So we are launching Pharmacy First across England  starting a mini revolution in high street healthcare'

Under blockbuster NHS plans designed to free up millions of doctors' appointments, chemists have been given new powers to hand out prescriptions for seven common ailments. It means patients battling minor illnesses, such as a sore throat or earache, can now bypass their GP from today

Meanwhile Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute for Economic Affairs, said: 'GPs spend far too much time doing work that is below their pay grade and treating people who have relatively trivial illnesses.

'Most patients do not want to hassle of hanging on the telephone at eight in the morning to get a GP appointment and most GPs dont want to waste time prescribing paracetamol.'

He told MailOnline: 'On the face of it, Pharmacy First therefore seems a step forward.'

NHS data has long shown that GPs, who earn 118,000-a-year, on average, are under huge pressure and treating a record number of people.

Family doctors have reported cramming in up to 90 appointments per day in some areas, warning that rushing patients through in conveyor belt-like scenes risks missing serious illnesses.

More than 7,000 GPs are needed in the next 12 years There were 27,487 fully qualified, full-time equivalent GPs working in England in December, equating to one GP for every 2,078 patients, on average. However, a ratio of 1,800 patients per GP is widely recognised by industry bodies as the 'safe limit'. As it stands, another 4,238 GPs would need to be recruited to meet this ratio, MailOnline analysis suggests. However, the ONS projects there will be an extra 6.6million people living in the UK as of 2036. Assuming this growth kept in line with current demographic trends, this would see Englands population hit 62.2million. Under this figure, 34,536 GPs would have to be working in the NHS to meet the one per 1,800 patient ratio, meaning an additional 7,076 family doctor positions are required over the next 12 years. Advertisement

The British Medical Association recommends GPs should not deliver more than 25 appointments a day to ensure safe care.

But family doctors have already warned patients will still require the 'expertise of a GP'.

Following the scheme's announcement last year, chair of The Royal College of GPs, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, said while it was 'keen to see initiatives that will ease pressure on our struggling service', many patients will 'need the expert diagnostic skills and expertise of a GP'.

GPs have also warned that checking record updates coming from pharmacies will add to their workload instead of saving them time.

Community pharmacy IT systems will automatically send details of patient consultations to GP IT systems, meaning family doctors must 'check and update the patient's record'.

Meanwhile, the Doctors Association UK (DAUK) has urged ministers to urgently review why pharmacies are paid 'more than double' per consultation compared with GPs.

Pharmacy contractors delivering the service will receive a 1,000 monthly fixed payment, subject to delivering a minimum number of consultations.

According to DAUK calculations, this will equate to roughly 48 per consultation  more than double the 23 per consultation that GPs currently receive.

NHS statistics show there were just under 27,500 fully-qualified GPs working across England in December.

This is just under 2,000 fewer than the figure recorded in the same month in 2016.

This is despite the population growing by around 2million over the same period.

Many GPs are retiring in their 50s, moving abroad or going private because of rising demand, NHS paperwork and aggressive media coverage.

This has led to an appointment crisis in general practice, with patients being forced to endure the 8am scramble  with only four in 10 patients securing same day appointments and three in 10 forced to wait more than a week to see their family doctor.

Others are forced to complete an online e-consult to reach their practice.

Pharmacies are battling their own crisis. Just 11,414 community pharmacies offering crucial NHS services remain, the fewest since records began. Almost 400 shut their doors in 2022/23 alone.

Real-time NHS England data shows the count as of December 31, 2023 may be as little as 10,273.

Pharmacies are battling their own crisis. Just 11,414 community pharmacies offering crucial NHS services remain, the fewest since records began. Almost 400 shut their doors in 2022/23 alone. Pictured, a social media user complaining about a 'ridiculous' queue in Boots in Redhill last year

Members of the Pharmacists' Defence Association, which represents thousands of pharmacists in the UK, also revealed they are worried that 'the hurried launch' of the Pharmacy First scheme will result in a spike in violence and abuse from the public, whose expectations will have been raised. Pictured, a social media user shared a picture of a queue at Boots in November

Boots have closed branches en masse in recent months, while LloydsPharmacy has shut its doors completely.

While MPs broadly welcomed the scheme today, MPs also warned it would not make up for the pharmacy closures seen over the last decade.

Shadow health minister Preet Kaur Gill told the Commons: 'This announcement wont make up for the 1,000 pharmacies which have been closed under the Conservatives or the 2,000 GPs that have been cut since 2015.

'Patients today are still waiting over a month to see a GP if they can get an appointment at all.'

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Daisy Cooper added: 'The minister will be aware that since 2015 there have been almost 700 permanent closures of pharmacies and the Company Chemists' Association (CCA) now estimates that there is eight a week that are closing, including one in my constituency [St Albans].'

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: NHS scheme to treat more patients in pharmacies could be hit by chemists quitting for jobs in GP practices, industry leaders warn Advertisement

Pharmacy bodies argue the sector is struggling due to NHS underfunding, spiralling drug prices and costs, staff shortages and an ailing GP service.

Members of the Pharmacists' Defence Association, which represents thousands of pharmacists in the UK, also revealed they are worried that 'the hurried launch' of the Pharmacy First scheme will result in a spike in violence and abuse from the public, whose expectations will have been raised.

The software required to operate the service was also only made available to the pharmacy workforce this morning by NHS England, the union said.

Nine in ten chemists across the country have signed up to the scheme, backed by 645millon in funding over the next two years.

It will be offered by both high street and online pharmacies, who will undertake the service via a video appointment and deliver the prescription in the post.

Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, welcomed the move but warned funding pressures were a 'stranglehold' on the sector.

She said: 'This nonsense cannot go on and this stranglehold of chronic underfunding must be relieved now to ensure our community pharmacies continue to exist and can deliver to the potential the Government is expecting.'

Health leaders also warned the initiative could fail unless GP surgeries are banned from recruiting more pharmacists.

The CCA, which represents chains including Boots and Superdrug, says so many pharmacists are now working for GPs they are struggling to recruit.

The NHS has incentivised GPs to recruit non-medical staff, such as pharmacists, physiotherapists and paramedics, in a bid to plug staffing gaps and ease pressure on family doctors.

The shortage in pharmacists working in the community has driven up locum pharmacy rates, increasing the cost of trading, and leading to temporary closures, the CCA said.

This is because pharmacies are not allowed to open unless there is at least one pharmacist on site.
A major syphilis outbreak is gripping the US with cases reaching their highest level since the 1950s, official data shows.

An annual report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed 207,300 cases of the STD  which can cause sores on the genitals and mouth  were diagnosed nationwide in 2022, the latest year available.

That marked a 17 percent rise in a year and an 83 percent surge compared to five years ago.

The data also showed a 30 percent rise in cases of congenital syphilis  when the mother passes the disease to her baby  which is a particular cause of concern because it puts them at risk of stillbirth and birth defects.

The above graph shows the rate per 100,000 people for the total number of syphilis cases recorded in the US since the 1940s. It reveals they are starting to tick up again

The two maps show how the rate of syphilis cases has shifted across the US since 2013

Syphilis is often known as 'the great pretender' as the disease has overlapping symptoms with several other STDs, which can lead to health professionals overlooking symptoms entirely. Here are five warning signs of the disease to look out for

Symptoms of syphilis include sores which can erupt across the body in more serious cases of infection. The patient shown above had syphilis and an HIV infection

Overall, data showed 2.5million Americans caught an STD in 2022  the same levels as last year. But while other diseases like chlamydia have remained flat, syphilis cases have grown.

Dr Laura Bachmann, the acting director of the CDC's division on STD Prevention, said: 'Within the STI epidemic, syphilis is one infection that stands alone.

'It has emerged as a unique public health challenge.'

The US Department of Health and Human Services secretary Xavier Becerra branded the figures as 'unacceptable'.

He said: 'The Biden-Harris administration is committed to addressing this urgent issue and using all available means to eliminate disparities in our health care system.'

The department said it will establish a new taskforce to focus on reducing rates of syphilis in the US.

Syphilis rates plunged in the 1940s and 50s amid successful public health campaigns and the widespread use of condoms and penicillin.

By the late 1990s, the CDC had launched the National Plan to Eliminate Syphilis from the United States  saying the goal was within their grasp.

But within the last decade, rates have again started to take off. Experts have pointed to a slew of reasons for the uptick, including falls in condom use, fewer local sexual health clinics and rampant drug use.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection spread via contact with sores which usually appear around the pubic area or mouth.

Symptoms appear within three to four weeks of an infection and are often not noticed or dismissed as mild abrasions or heat rash.

The disease can then enter a second stage, where the sore disappears and is replaced with a rash that can last for weeks.

Without treatment, patients run the risk of the disease spreading to the brain and the spinal cord which can cause complications including headaches, stroke and meningitis  or inflammation of the brain's protective linings.

There is particular concern over the disease in pregnant women because the bacteria can infect the placenta and developing infant  causing complications including vision and hearing loss and low birthweight.

Treatment for the disease involves administering antibiotic injections to patients.

Data from the CDC showed that there were 3,755 babies with congenital syphilis born in the US in 2022  a 10-fold increase on a decade ago and a 31 percent spike in a year. Of these, 282 resulted in stillbirths or infant deaths.

The above shows that syphilis is not confined to just the LGBT population, and is becoming more common in other groups

The above shows the number of cases of congential syphilis recorded in the US, or syphilis infections in pregnant people. These run a risk of birth complications

The above shows syphilis cases by age group, with rates highest among men in their early 30s

South Dakota currently has the highest rate of general syphilis infections at 84 cases per 100,000 people.

That is more than double the rates in the second-highest state, New Mexico.

Experts said the outbreak in South Dakota is linked to infections being transmitted in the native American community.

Data also showed that among those being diagnosed with syphilis, 29 percent were only having sex with other men.

A further 22.6 percent of cases were diagnosed among men who have sex with women  and 24.8 percent of cases were diagnosed in women.

Within weeks of infection, syphilis can cause sores to appear in the mouth or around the genital area. These are infectious and can pass on the disease

She added: 'We cannot continue to use decades-old prevention strategies to address today's STI epidemic.

'People need testing and treatment to meet them where they are.'

Dr Philip Chan, a medical officer at Brown University, told NBC News: 'I think it's unknowingly being spread in the cisgender heterosexual population because we really arent testing for it.

'We really arent looking for it.'
Shares in tool hire company Speedy Hire plunged after a nasty profit warning.

The company, which rents out everything from hammer drills and LED lights to generators, said it has been hit by a slowdown in trading, contract delays and a mild winter reducing demand for heating products.

As a result, it expects profits to be lower than previously thought. Shares tumbled 18.1 per cent, or 6.5p, to 29.5p.

Speedy Hire has been hit by challenges across the construction sector. Revenues from its national customers  some of the UKs biggest contractors  rose 3 per cent in the third quarter to December 31.

But this was less than the 5 per cent growth it reported in the first half of its financial year.

Profits hit: Speedy Hire said it has been hit by a slowdown in trading, contract delays and a mild winter reducing demand for heating products

And while the group has secured deals, it warned that it will take longer than expected for revenues to come in.

While investors appeared concerned by the latest update, some in the City remained optimistic.

Although disappointing, this is due to events beyond Speedy Hires immediate control, said Peel Hunts Andrew Nussey.

And analysts at Liberum said that while sentiment will no doubt be adversely affected by todays update the company has shown it has levers for growth.

On the wider market, the FTSE 100 rose 0.4 per cent, or 33.57 points, to 7666.31 and the FTSE 250 edged up 0.2 per cent, or 38.34 points, to 19349.5.

Private equity firm 3i made gains following an upgrade from analysts at Barclays ahead of its third-quarter update on Thursday.

The investment bank said the focus will be on Action  the Dutch non-food discount retailer and most successful company in the blue-chip firms portfolio  which should report strong trading over Christmas. Shares rose 2.6 per cent, or 64p, to 2497p.

Stock Watch - Argentex Shares in currency firm Argentex crashed to a record low after it warned that tough market conditions and the rising cost of doing business will hit profits. In November, the group expected its results for 2023 to be around the same as the previous 12 months when it made 50.4million of revenue and an 11.3million profit. But yesterday it revised its outlook by forecasting revenues of 49.8million and a profit of at least 8million. Shares plunged 19.4 per cent, or 13.6 p, to 56.4 p.

Auction Technology Group saw its value shoot up by almost a fifth following a positive update.

The company, which operates online market places that allow bidders to access items such as paintings, sofas and antiques, said revenues rose 3 per cent to 35million in the three months to the end of December.

As a result, it said it remains on track for its revenues to increase between 5 per cent and 8 per cent across its financial year. Shares soared 19.8 per cent, or 90.5p, to 547p.

Clinical trial specialist Hvivo will start paying an annual dividend from this year as it cashes in on rising demand for its services.

The group, which recruits healthy adult volunteers and infects them with a medical-grade version of a virus to test the effectiveness of drugs and vaccines being developed by biotech and pharmaceutical companies, reported that revenues increased 15.5 per cent to 56million in 2023.

In a further dose of good news, Hvivo has already secured 90 per cent of its revenue for this year and expects to make 62million. Shares surged 8.4 per cent, or 2.2p, to 28.5p.

Heading in the other direction was Deliveroo after its German-based rival Delivery Hero, which held a 4.5 per cent stake in the group, sold its holding at a huge discount to the price it paid three years ago.

Shares slid 3.1 per cent, or 3.8p, to 118.1p.

There was some respite for Synthomer after it said it has reduced its debt bill by half since the start of 2023.

Shares in the chemicals group added 3.9 per cent, or 5.3p, to 140p.

Kromek, a Durham-based technology group, is cashing in on demand for its products that are being used to detect nuclear threats in Ukraine as well as cancer in hospitals around the world.

The company said it remains on track to report record revenues for this year, having increased its first-half sales while losses narrowed. Shares rose 0.9 per cent, or 0.05p, to 5.75p.
Pressure is mounting on Diageos chief executive after the drinks giant posted sliding sales and profits.

Drinkers downgrading to cheaper booze in the US, and a perfect storm in Latin America and the Caribbean, saw the Guinness maker issue a subdued set of half-year results.

A strong performance in the UK was not enough to offset declining sales elsewhere and ease the pressure on Debra Crew, who took over in June. As such, the FTSE 100 group saw sales fall 1.4 per cent to 8.6 billion in the six months to the end of December. Profits were down 11 per cent to 2.6billion.

Shares remain down around 15 per cent since Crew, 53, succeeded Sir Ivan Menezes.

She conceded that the past six months have been challenging for Diageo and our sector but said she expected an improvement in the second half.

Sales slump: Drinkers downgrading to cheaper booze in the US, and a perfect storm in Latin America and the Caribbean, has put the pressure on Diageo boss Debra Crew (pictured)

Let me be clear, we are not satisfied with these results, she said. And I am restless to get this business to perform to its full potential.

Consumers are still facing multiple headwinds. Our consumers are resilient, but theyre also still cautious and choiceful. Premiumisation continues, but there are still some pockets of downgrading.

Sales in North America, its largest market, fell 2 per cent in the six months to the end of December with single malts down 27 per cent.

Johnnie Walker fell 13 per cent and George Clooney-founded Casamigos tequila dropped 14 per cent. More affordable spirits such as Buchanans and Bulleit jumped 36 per cent and 19 per cent respectively.

Crew also bemoaned a perfect storm of problems in Latin America and the Caribbean where sales fell 18 per cent amid weak demand for spirits such as Scotch whisky as well as a build-up of unsold stock.

The poor performance in the region triggered a profit warning in November that resulted in the biggest fall in Diageo shares on record.

Nonetheless, yesterdays update showed the UK remained a bright spot, with sales up 9 per cent in the half-year.

This was largely thanks to the bumper performance of Guinness, which saw a 24 per cent rise in sales in Britain.

The gain in the UK helped lift sales across Europe 10 per cent.

And Nuno Teles, Diageos UK boss, played down fears drinkers in the UK were trading down. He said: The cost-of-living crisis is something we are aware of, and consumers will be looking at how to address it.

But the reality is that Guinness  which is a premium product  is growing well ahead of the beer sector.

He said bumper events, such as Six Nations Rugby, underscored Britons eagerness to splash out on booze.

Diageo said that as many as 300,000 pints of Guinness are sold at Twickenham on England match days.

But Aarin Chiekrie, an equity analyst at investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown, said the outlook for profits for the rest of this year remains murky.

He added: The medium-term looks slightly brighter, but improvements in the Latin American and Caribbean market will be key and to a large extent thats outside of Diageos control.

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, added: All is certainly not lost at Diageo, but the performance in Latin America and the Caribbean has left a bitter taste in the mouth, from which it may take some time to recover.

Crew started her career as a military intelligence officer in the US army, before working at consumer titans such as Pepsico, Kraft Foods, Nestle and Mars.
Fine: The Prudential Regulation Authority slapped HSBC with a 57.4m penalty

HSBC has been fined nearly 60million for serious failings over the way it protected billions of pounds of customers money.

The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) slapped the banking giant with a 57.4million penalty.

It was the second biggest fine imposed by the PRA, which is part of the Bank of England.

The regulator said HSBC failed over many years to comply with deposit protection rules.

The size of the fine  which was reduced from 96.5million for co-operation  reflects the seriousness of the failings between 2015 and 2022, the watchdog said.

Under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), customer deposits are protected up to the value of 85,000.

Banks and building societies must put in place systems and controls to ensure vital information is logged correctly so the FSCS can make payments to savers in the event of a firm going bust.

Sam Woods, deputy governor for prudential regulation at the Bank of England and chief executive of the PRA, said: The serious failings in this case go to the heart of the PRAs safety and soundness objective.

'It is vital that all banks comply fully with our requirements around preparedness for resolution.

He said HSBC fell far short of its obligations in this area and failed to disclose its failings to us in a timely manner.

But the PRA said it did not believe that HSBCs breaches were deliberate or reckless.

HSBC  which has been led by Noel Quinn since March 2020  said it was pleased to have resolved this historic matter.

The PRAs final notice recognises the Banks co-operation with the investigation, as well as our efforts to fully resolve these issues, the bank added.

It paid 1.5billion in 2012 after an investigation by the US Department of Justice into money laundering by Mexican drug cartels.
Morrisons is selling its 337 petrol forecourts to private equity stablemate Motor Fuel Group (MFG) in a 2.5billion deal.

As part of the tie-up, MFG will buy more than 400 locations from the supermarket that will offer ultra-rapid electric vehicle chargers.

At the same time, Bradford-based Morrisons is taking a 20 per cent stake in MFG.

Both companies are controlled by US buyout group Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).

Morrisons is battling to turn around its fortunes after a run of dismal financial results since it was taken over by CD&R three years ago.

Sell-off: Morrisons is selling its 337 petrol forecourts to its private equity stablemate Motor Fuel Group

The supermarket said it did not expect any job losses as part of the deal and would continue to supply the food sold at the forecourts.

Billed as a new strategic partnership between the two companies, Morrisons said the deal would fund further investment in its grocery and food-making business and strengthen its finances.

Morrisons chairman Sir Terry Leahy said about 2billion would be invested back into the supermarket group.

The deal will also help the supermarket address its 5.5billion debt pile.

Clive Black, analyst at investment group Shore Capital, played down the likely impact on the supermarket sector.

We do not think it rocks the UK grocery market apple cart, he said.

Morrisons is battling the increasingly popular discounters Aldi and Lidl.

Industry data published yesterday showed that Morrisons hold on the grocery market was sliding even further.

The beleaguered grocer held 8.8 per cent of the market over the three months to January 21, whereas it held 9.1 per cent a year earlier, according to Kantars latest numbers.
AIM-listed labour supplier Hercules Site Services has opened a construction skills academy to train recruits for work on major British infrastructure projects.

The labour supply specialist plans to teach up to 400 students during the first year at the academy in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, approximately 15 miles from the site of the proposed HS2 high-speed railway line.

Hercules said the new school will help improve the skills shortage impacting the UK construction industry, which requires an extra 225,000 workers by 2027 to satisfy demand, according to a recent report by the CITB.

Launch: Hercules Site Services plans to teach up to 400 students during the first year at a new construction academy in Nuneaton, Warwickshire

Entrants will be able to study health and safety courses, T-levels, national vocational qualifications and degree-level apprenticeships.

They can also take specialist courses on highways, overhead powerline awareness, utility detection and working at height.

Informal learning organisation the National Open College Network, the Construction Industry Training Board and the Energy & Utility Skills Register will accredit the qualifications.

Commenting on the launch, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon MP said: 'We are building a skills and apprenticeships nation, Hercules Construction Academy will enable more people to gain the skills and experience they need to build a successful career in the construction industry, while ensuring the sector can continue to tap into the talent pipeline they need.

'I'm also delighted it will expand access to more Degree Level Apprenticeship opportunities, allowing people of all backgrounds to earn while they learn without the student debt and climb the ladder of opportunity.'

The academy will also train staff to work on current major projects, including HS2, the Lower Thames Crossing and the 96billion of infrastructure improvements planned by the UK water sector between 2025 and 2030.

Brusk Korkmaz, chief executive and founder of Hercules, said the 'landmark launch represents an incredibly exciting time for Hercules and the wider industry.

He added: 'We recognise the rapidly changing training and skills landscape, and we believe we can deliver the very best in construction training throughout the UK.'

MP for Nuneaton Marcus Jones said: 'I know this project will take on hundreds of entrants in the next few years and train and upskill applicants who will go onto important careers in construction and infrastructure.'

The academy's launch comes about a fortnight after Hercules reported annual revenue jumped by 71 per cent to a record 84.7million thanks to solid growth by its labour supply business.

Hercules gained prominent clients during the period, such as water company Anglian Water and building firms Galliford Try and Balfour Beatty.

In October, it won a five-year contract from Balfour Beatty Rail to provide specialist staff for work on live tracks.

This helped the Cirencester-based group deliver record earnings before nasties of 4.1million and almost quadruple pre-tax profits to 641,000.

Since the end of September, Hercules has finalised its first-ever acquisition, buying a majority stake in white-collar recruiter Future Build Recruitment.

Hercules Site Services shares were 0.4 per cent higher at 26.6p on early Wednesday afternoon, although they have plunged by just under half since listing on the junior AIM market two years ago.
A mother has claimed that 250,000 worth of jewellery has been stolen from her family's safety deposit box.

Kulvinder Kaur, 39, says that thousands of pounds worth of items belonging to several relatives have completely vanished from two safety deposit boxes.

Precious items belonging to her and her sister had been stored in a box in her father's name, while another relative also had pieces missing from another box.

The missing jewellery includes pieces made from 24 carat gold, some of which were owned by her late mother and therefore have a lot of 'sentimental value' to her and her family.

Police have been baffled by the case and, despite investigating CCTV footage and security logs inside the safety deposit centre have not been able to find any evidence to suggest they were stolen.

Kulvinder Kaur has claimed that 250,000 worth of jewellery has been stolen from her family's safety deposit box in Birmingham, including these gold pendants and chains

The missing jewellery also includes pieces made from 24 carat gold such as this necklace, earrings and two bangles

These two gold bangles, which are decorated with green and red gems, have also gone missing from Kulvinder's safety deposit box

Kulvinder, of Wolverhampton, told MailOnline: 'It's devastating. All we want are answers. If you can't put your stuff in a bank, where are you supposed to stick it? I'm not going to let it drop.'

She said her father and mother opened a safety deposit box with a company around 25 years ago in order to have a safe space to store their family's jewellery.

Kulvinder's mother passed away in 2016 and since then the account has been held in her father and her sister's name.

Another relative also has a safety deposit box at the same company, although she currently lives away from the midlands.

Kulvinder says she last withdrew the jewellery from the safety deposit box, which costs over 200 a year, in February, 2022, when she wanted to wear it for a family birthday party.

Her sister then returned it the following day, which she claims is when she last saw all the jewellery inside the safety deposit box.

But on September 13 last year, Kulvinder again decided she wanted to take out the jewellery but realised that she did not have the key.

Kulvinder was not aware at the time that her sister had it and therefore went to the bank with her father to see if they could access it in any way.

She and her father told the company that they had lost the key and, after checking that her father was the account holder, agreed to use a locksmith to open the safe.

They then took all of the jewellery that was in the box and put it into a plastic bag, without checking if it was all there, before driving home.

One the missing pieces of jewellery is a gold bangle, which can be seen here being put on a man's wrist

Her family's jewellery collection also included this intricate gold necklace

Pieces of jewellery that have gone missing from Kulvinder's family's safety deposit box

These beautifully designed piece of gold jewellery, which has been decorated with pink gems, were also included in the family's collection

It wasn't until Kulvinder and her father arrived home that they realised that most of the jewellery had vanished.

She said: 'Most of the jewellery was gone. My mother's items were gone. We had this handkerchief with four of our bangles on, which was gone.'

After making the shocking discovery, Kulvinder immediately told her other relative to check her own box, which was held with the same company.

She went to the vault the next day, on September 14 and also discovered that she had items missing.

Following the realisation that her family's items had mysteriously vanished, Kulvinder submitted a formal complaint to the safety deposit box company.

Her father then met with the company's senior staff the next day to discuss what could be done.

However, they told him there was no way that anyone would have been able to access either box without the account holder present.

They added that any safety deposit box can only be opened by the account holder, either accompanied by a staff member or on their own and said they do not have any duplicate or master keys that would allow them to open any of the boxes.

Kulvinder said the firm declined to open an inquiry into the incident.

Kulvinder is however adamant that her jewellery has been stolen.

The bank told Kulvinder there was no way that anyone would have been able to access either box without the account holder present (Stock image)

She said: 'We are not in any financial difficulty. We wanted an opportunity to divide the jewellery all together between our family.

'We are a close knit family and we would tell each other if we had taken any of the items out of the safety deposit box.'

Kulvinder has since been in contact with West Midlands Police who opened an investigation into the incident.

However officers later decided to close the case after they were unable to find any substantial evidence that the jewellery has been stolen.

Kulvinder said the police had gone through the company's logs and looked through CCTV but did not find any possible leads.

She has also contacted her local MP Stuart Anderson and is planning to contact her local Police and Crime Commissioner to see if they can pursue her case further.

Kulvinder said she has contacted nearly all of the pawnbrokers in the UK who sell the same kind of jewellery, but unfortunately has found none of her own pieces being sold.

She has also raised awareness of her case with her local community and has warned any locals who own a safety deposit box to check that all their items are still there as soon as possible.

West Midlands Police said: 'We received a report of theft last October. We carried out enquiries and currently there is insufficient evidence to identify a suspect.

'We've spoken to the family and we will look to investigate any fresh information we receive.'
Dr Alan Keightley was head of religious studies at a West Midlands college when he began writing to Ian Brady in 1992.

He received hundreds of letters from him and, from this archive, Dr Keightley has written a biography that sheds a unique light on Bradys evil.

Today, in our third extract, he reveals how Brady thought he was untouchable. But then he planned another bloody killing...

The Moors Murderers, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, never expected to be caught.

After cold-heartedly slaughtering four young people in Manchester and burying each of them in peat graves on Saddleworth Moor, they felt omnipotent.

When I talked to Brady in prison 30 years later, I asked him if they had thought about the prospect of living into middle age, or even beyond. He told me they discussed a long-term plan to convert a farmhouse.

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Moors Murderers, Ian Brady (pictured) and Myra Hindley, never expected to be caught

We looked at two in the Manchester area. One had a well in the cellar.

Clearly they believed they could go on killing for as long as they pleased. That they were stopped after the next murder was down to something Brady had never allowed for  his own carelessness.

This fact would come to haunt him, and he would admit to me in the end that his life had been a failure.

Bradys criminal activities had never lived up to his expectations of himself as a successful bank robber.

As for the murders, he broke his own rules  he left a trail that could be traced back to him and Hindley and incriminating evidence everywhere, on paper, in photographs, on tapes.

Here was the arch-criminal who boasted that the police would never take him alive or gather the evidence to convict him  only to be arrested with hardly a murmur and the case against him as watertight as it could possibly be, short of a grovelling confession.

The terrible fact is that, for a while after the murder of Lesley Ann Downey, their fourth victim, Brady and Hindley became bored with their crimes.

The couple began seeing more of Hindleys sister, Maureen, and her husband, a layabout with a police record named David Smith (pictured together). Brady had long had a hankering to bring them into their activities, not least because he fancied Maureen

Power, once attained, becomes a curiously empty experience, Brady told me. He was so restless he thought of leaving Hindley and twice packed a bag to do so, but she begged him to stay.

They looked for a diversion and considered how they could start a small race war in Moss Side, the area where Manchesters immigrant community was concentrated.

We had no political or racial motive, Brady told me. It was simply an existential challenge. They did extensive research on this and on another possible project  derailing an express train.

Their relationship continued to have an undercurrent of violence. He hit her hard once when, while they were having a row in the car, she vented her fury by driving fast and exceeding the speed limit. He was furious with her for taking the needless risk of being stopped by the police.

But then he rarely managed to live up to his own self-image as the cool, dispassionate killer, a face that would melt into the crowd. His rage was in danger of drawing attention to him.

Brady was always spoiling for a fight and carried a knife with him at all times. He loved to walk around with a revolver under his waistcoat and became obsessed with firearms.

He liked to wake up in the mornings and see his Smith & Wesson .38 lying on the table beside him, glinting in the sunshine, as he recalled.

He carried it with him, ready for the police if they tried to catch us off guard to make a surprise arrest. The couple began seeing more of Hindleys sister, Maureen, and her husband, a layabout with a police record named David Smith. Brady had long had a hankering to bring them into their activities, not least because he fancied Maureen.

Now the four of them began taking trips out to Saddleworth Moor, where Brady and Smith would practise shooting at an old oil drum. Without knowing it, Smith once stood on the grave of 12-year-old John Kilbride, Brady and Hindleys second victim.

Brady lured 17-year-old Edward Evans back to the couples home and killed him in front of Hindley and Smith

At night they drank heavily and Brady talked to Smith about carrying out armed robberies. But Smith got very nervous when Brady produced his guns. Brady took against Smith. He found him irritating and intellectually inferior. Now he was also proving undependable, as Brady always suspected he might.

Brady was worried that, if they went on a robbery, Smiths nerve would crack and he would have to shoot him  which would lead the police to Myra and himself.

He decided instead that he would get rid of Smith and once got close to luring him up to the moor to kill him. But Hindley argued him out of it.

For the rest of his life, Brady would regret listening to her and missing the opportunity of eliminating the man who would eventually cause their ruin.

One night Brady and Smith were discussing plans to rob a gas and electricity showroom when a drunken Brady asked Smith: Are you capable of murder?

Then he added: Ive done it. Ive killed three or four. Their bodies are buried on the moors. You and Maureen were sitting near one of them.

A few days later, he returned to the subject, telling Smith he had photographs to prove his murders. Then, still feeling Smith doubted him, he promised: Ill do another one.

In what happened next, Brady had a double motive. He would convince Smith that he really was a killer. He would also test Smiths nerve for the robbery that they were planning.

This murder was conceived and executed within the space of five hours, Brady told me. That evening, he and Hindley drove into the centre of the city. At 10.30pm, they parked the car close to Manchester Central station and Brady went to the station bar to buy some wine.

Hanging around nearby was 17-year-old Edward Evans, whom Brady recognised. He had seen him in a Manchester gay pub a couple of times, but the two had never spoken.

Brady walked over to Evans and asked him if he wanted to come back for a drink. Evans had been planning to meet friends, but they had not turned up, and he was only too happy to salvage what was left of a wasted evening.

For a while after the murder of Lesley Ann Downey, their fourth victim, Brady and Hindley became bored with their crimes

He accepted what  according to Brady  was a covert invitation to sex. They got into the car and all three drove to Bradys and Hindleys home. As they got out of the car, Brady whispered to Hindley: Fetch Smith.

Hindley went to Smiths flat in a block nearby, chatted for a while and then asked him to walk her home because the lights were out on the estate and she was afraid of the dark streets. Smith told his wife he would be back soon and, picking up a walking stick, left with his sister-in-law.

Meanwhile, at home, Brady had had sex with Evans. When Hindley and Smith arrived, he let them in. Then he went back to the living room and walked behind the settee that Evans was sitting on.

He told me: I picked up an axe that had been placed out of sight and I brought it down with great force on to his head. I was aiming to kill him instantly, but he turned round and the blade bounced off.

Evans screamed out as I rained down blows to his head. He was writhing on the floor to protect himself. Smith joined in the fray and started to kick Evans and hit him with his stick. Myra was in the room watching.

[This was denied by Hindley and Smith  both claimed they were not in the room when Evans was killed.]

Myras grandmother was woken up by the noise and shouted down to ask what was happening. Myra shouted something in reply, but I was too occupied to know what it was.

Evans was still alive. I fetched a length of electrical flex from the kitchen, put a cushion cover over his head and strangled him. He stopped gurgling. It was suddenly quiet. The walls, floor and carpets were spattered with blood.

Smiths jeans were covered in blood and his stick lay in a pool of blood. I handed the axe to him so that his fingerprints were on the handle. I lit a cigarette and muttered something about it being the messiest murder I had committed.

Myra spread a white cotton blanket on the floor and we lifted the body on to it and knotted it up. We wrapped a large sheet of polythene around the bundle, and Myra held her grandmothers bedroom door closed as Smith and I struggled upstairs with it. I was wearing a shoulder holster and a gun, which was hindering my movements. I took them off and put them into Myras empty bedroom.

This was a fatal mistake. I should have asked Smith to carry Evans single- handedly. I would then have had no reason to put the gun down upstairs. It would then have been under the divan bed downstairs as usual and I could have used it at the arrest.

Back home, covered in blood and retching, he woke up Maureen (pictured with Brady and her sister) and spluttered: Ive just seen somebody killed. Weve got to do something. We are going to the police'

It took the three of us almost three hours to clean up the blood in the living room, using buckets of soapy water and rags. The plan was to take the body to the moor next day.

At that stage, Brady felt that Smith had passed the initiation test. Although Smith seemed calm as he left to go home, in truth he was terrified that he would never get out of the house alive. When he finally left, he ran home, his mind full of terrors.

Thirty-seven years later, Smith explained: You think you would shout blue murder, but I knew if I did that, I wouldnt even make it to the front door. I had to show no emotion, no bad reaction, or Evanss murder wouldnt be the only one that night.

Back home, covered in blood and retching, he woke up Maureen and spluttered: Ive just seen somebody killed. Weve got to do something. We are going to the police.

But what if Brady was waiting outside, keeping watch on them? They decided to wait until daylight. At the first signs of dawn, they slipped out, armed with a knife and a screwdriver, and hurried to the nearest telephone kiosk.

Constable Keith Edwards answered the telephone at 6.07am in Hyde police station. My name is David Smith, said a voice. Theres been a murder.

A police car was sent to pick up Smith and when it arrived he was so terrified he jumped in the back before it had come to a halt.

At the police station he told detectives the story of the night before and spoke of other murders and bodies on the moors. He warned the police that Brady had guns in the house. Thirty policemen headed for Bradys house, headed by Superintendent Bob Talbot.

In December 1965, police searched the home of Brady and Hindley after Edward Evans was killed. The house was pulled down in the 1980s

A bread man was delivering in the street and Talbot commandeered his white coat and basket. Then he walked up the front path, went round the side and knocked on the back door.

Hindley answered. She was ready to leave for work in her tweed jacket and skirt and white stiletto shoes.

Talbot looked at the womans back-combed honey platinum hair, thick black eye make-up and lipstick, little realising that this face would come to haunt the front pages for a generation and go down in the annals as Britains most infamous female serial killer.

Talbot said: I have received a report that an act of violence took place here last night.

Hindley replied: Theres nothing wrong here.

But Talbot swept past her, went into the living room and saw Brady, dressed only in a string-vest, sitting on the divan bed and calmly writing a letter to his boss explaining that he would not be in work that day because he had sprained his ankle.

This was true. It had happened in the fracas the night before.

The policeman went upstairs and found Hindleys grandmother sitting up in bed sipping tea. Then he tried the second bedroom, but the door was locked. He asked for the key and Hindley told him it was at her office. Talbot said he wasnt leaving until he had checked the bedroom.

Back downstairs in the living room, no one was speaking. Hindley looked at Brady for help, and then he broke the silence. You had better give him the key, he told her, then, turning to the police officer, said: A fight got out of hand last night.

Police would discover suitcases in a left-luggage office containing more incriminating evidence, including photographs of Lesley Ann Down (pictured) and the notorious tape recording of her being assaulted

Upstairs, the superintendent unlocked the bedroom door, went in and saw the large parcel covered with a grey blanket under the window. A few books were scattered on top. He felt the grey bundle and found that he was touching a human foot.

There was a carrier bag on the bedroom floor with a hatchet inside. Alongside it was a stick covered in blood and a cardboard box containing two loaded revolvers.

Talbot walked back down the stairs into the living room and told Brady to get dressed.

Brady put on his shirt and trousers and slipped into his shoes, watched by Talbot and another policeman.

Brady told me years later that he intended to kill both of them where they stood and had decided which one to shoot first. Then he and Hindley would make a run for it in the car. If they were cornered, he would shoot her dead and then blow his own brains out.

He bent down to tie his shoe laces and felt underneath the divan bed with his right hand for the loaded revolver. It wasnt there. The superintendent had already found the guns in the bedroom, where Brady had absent-mindedly thrown them just a few hours before.

Brady realised he was finished. The date was October 6, 1965. He once told me: Its the only date I ever remember. I was deceased that day.

Reflecting on the arrest, he said: The house was surrounded by police and all the exit roads were blocked but I still believe that if we had been given ten seconds warning to reach the revolvers and rifle, we could have got away.

And then? Probably death in hours or days.

At the police station, Brady was charged with the murder of Edward Evans. Meanwhile, police searching the house found a photograph album with pictures of Brady and Hindley in remote spots on the moor.

In an exercise book of Bradys doodles and drawings, the name John Kilbride appeared  the name of a boy the police knew to be missing and presumed dead.

By the time Hindley was also charged with Evanss murder, the police were out on Saddleworth Moor trying to spot likely graves, using the photographs as clues.

Soon the police would discover suitcases in a left-luggage office containing more incriminating evidence, including photographs of Lesley Ann Down and the notorious tape recording of her being assaulted.

In custody, Brady was coming to terms with his fate. He told me he had two chances to escape during this period, once through an open window in the police station and on another occasion at Risley remand centre.

He was being escorted across a car park when a dense fog came down and he could have made a run for it. He didnt because he didnt want to leave the girl, as he called Hindley, to face the music on her own.

Defending her became his passion. All my evidence at the trial was to get her off. I felt total indifference for everyone except her.

He told me that was why he also turned down an opportunity to kill himself when he was on remand.

Hindley was equally protective of him. She instructed her lawyer not to cross-examine Brady in any way that might damage him.

She and Brady were able to see each other briefly on their way to and from the court and he warned her that she should show some remorse in the dock.

I told her to put some small flakes of tobacco in her eyes to at least give the appearance of crying. She ignored my advice.

As for himself, Brady added: I felt detachment and contempt during the trial. I was finished, and all the huffing and puffing around me meant nothing. I stared at the judge at one point and smiled. He nearly had a heart attack!

Hindley's back-combed honey platinum hair, thick black eye make-up and lipstic would come to haunt the front pages for a generation. Bradys criminal activities had never lived up to his expectations of himself as a successful bank robber

I cast my mind out into deep space, looked back at the speck of dust called Earth, and imagined all its pomposities and little wars and laughed. It put everything in the right perspective.

Thirty years after he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the Moors Murders, Brady told me the fate that he would have preferred: execution by lethal injection, though he would have settled for hanging if necessary.

He said: When a person is sentenced to life or 30 years, they should then go from court to a special unit where on the table in the cell there is a capsule of potassium cyanide. They should be told that the capsule kills in 10 seconds.

If, by morning, they have not chosen to take the capsule, they should know they will serve 30 or 40 years in the garbage cans that pass as prisons in Britain.

He thought most would opt to die. This would be popular with the public as it saves money.

Brady did not get his wish to die because in the period between the murders he and Hindley committed and their trial, MPs had voted to abolish capital punishment.

He resigned himself to permanent imprisonment with no hope of release even before the jury pronounced him guilty.

Often, he said to me that he didnt deserve any sympathy and had no wish for it.

Ian Brady believed that nothing he could say or do would make any difference.

Ian Brady: The Untold Story Of The Moors Murders by Dr Alan Keightley is published as an ebook and is available from Amazon at 4.99
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The Houthis, a Yemeni terror group, have put themselves at the centre of the crisis unfolding in the Middle East after attacking ships in the Red Sea.

Founded in the 1990s by Hussein al-Houthi, from whom they take their name, the group gained power amidst political turmoil in Yemen following the Arab Spring.

Militants swept out of their heartlands in the north of Yemen, rapidly capturing the capital and seat of power in Yemen, Sana'a, along with the regime's stocks of advanced missiles.

They then held off an invasion by a coalition led by Saudi Arabia, which feared the Houthis because they are allied to the Saudi's mortal enemies, Iran.

Now in control of the western coast of Yemen, the Houthis have been launching missiles and drones at ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with another Iranian ally, Hamas, which is fighting Israel in Gaza.

To defend international shipping lanes, America and Britain have begun bombing the Houthis whilst also trying to avoid sparking a wider regional war.

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Satellite pictures show shelters in Hodeida, Yemen, in January 2023 following the string of airstrikes by US and UK forces

US President Joe Biden had warned of further bombardment if the Houthis did not stop attacking vessels in the Red Sea. Pictured top, a northern facility along the coast in Yemen in March 2021. Pictured bottom, the same facility on January 12, 2024 after airstrikes by the United States and Britain

Founded in the 1990s, the Houthis were opposed to the country's dictatorial ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Religiously Zaydi (a branch of Islam similar to Iran's Shias), they trace their lineage back to the Zaydi Imamate which ruled the western part of Yemen for hundreds of years.

They believe that only the Zaydis have the authority to sit as imams and rule. They are also allied to Iran, and have adopted Iran's enemies: Saudi Arabia, the US and Israel.

Their flag, which is printed in the Iranian colours of white, green and red, bears the slogan: 'Allah'hu akbar. Death to America. Death to Israel. A Curse Upon the Jews. Victory to Islam.'

Between 2014 and 2023 they waged war on both the Yemeni state and a Saudi-led coalition of Arab countries trying to oust them, both of which ended in failure.

As of the start of this year, the fighting had settled into a stalemate and both sides were engaged in diplomatic talks - until Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7.

In the wake of that atrocity, Israel marched into Gaza on a mission to wipe out Hamas and the Houthis - which are allied to Hamas via Iran - began a new war in solidarity with them.

The 250-metre long Marlin Luanda burning after it was struck by a Yemeni missile on January 26; the fire raged for up to 20 hours, according to the French military. Yemen's armed forces took immediate responsibility for the strike, labelling the vessel a 'British oil ship' as it said the attack was part of its continued campaign of 'practical solidarity' with Palestine amid Israel's ongoing war with Hamas

The Houthis' ballistic missiles are Iranian-made and have a range of up to 2000 kilometres. The Houthi outfit emerged in the 1990s but gained international attention in 2014 during a rebellion against Yemen's government, sparking the ongoing civil war

An RAF Typhoon aircraft sits in a hanger at RAF Akrotiri near Limassol in Cyprus after returning from a raid in Houthi-controlled Yemen on January 12. Britain and the US led the series of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen early on Friday morning in response to attacks against trade vessels in recent weeks that had led to a number of companies suspending operations in the area

A fighter jet takes off from the USS Dwight D Eisenhower on January 12 as the US launches airstrikes against Houthi targets. The Houthis, who say they are acting in solidarity with Gaza, have carried out a growing number of missile and drone attacks on what they deem Israeli-linked shipping in the key Red Sea international trade route

Houthi supporters hold their weapons aloft during a demonstration against the US designating the militia a terror group. January 22, outside Sana'a

Initially they fired missiles at Israel itself but, when they were all shot down, they began targeting ships in the Red Sea instead.

Officially, they are targeting ships with links to Israel but, in reality, they have been striking any ship with links to the West.

This has forced many ships to divert away from the Suez Canal - the main route of goods from Asia to the West - and go via Africa instead, adding cost.

The US and Britain are now bombing the terror group to defend international shipping lanes, but have so-far failed to stop the attacks.

Today it was reported that the UK could send an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea as threats from Houthi rebels continue to escalate.

James Heappey, the armed forces minister, suggested that a British aircraft carrier could be sent to the region to replace the USS Dwight D Eisenhower when it is returned to America.

The UK has already engaged in a series of airstrikes on Houthi targets in cooperation with the US, while the warship HMS Diamond is also stationed in the Red Sea to protect shipping in the key trading route.

But Mr Heappey, in an interview with the House magazine, suggested a UK aircraft carrier could 'plug a gap' in the future.

Referencing the nickname of the US carrier, he said: 'There's no real need for more carrier mass  for more carriers to be in the region than the Ike an provide. She's a very capable ship.

'So our judgment was that with the Ike on station  the Eisenhower on station  and with jets available from Akrotiri, that we were able to meet the challenge as it is now.'

He indicated the Royal Navy could step in 'when the Eisenhower goes home, if we were needed to plug a gap in US deployments, or if the situation deteriorates and we need more'.
A magistrate has blasted a suburban wife who slammed a little boy's head into a basin - after her lawyers tried to claim she was 'loving' and 'kind'.

Mamta Dogra, from Sydney's south, appeared in front of the Downing Centre Local Court to plead for leniency on Tuesday afternoon.

Her lawyer cited glowing references calling her 'wonderful' and 'generous' and assured the court 'the community can feel safe' they weren't at risk from her.

That did not go down well with Magistrate Glenn Bartley - whose judgment, read by Daily Mail Australia, cites witnesses describing how Dogra had left a school-aged boy 'screaming and crying' with 'blood dripping down his face' during a 2018 incident.

Dogra then told the boy to 'shut up' and refused to call an ambulance.

Mamta Dogra threatened the boy, six, to keep her brutal attack a secret - which has only just come to light in court

'Slamming [the boy's] head into a hard sink scarcely fits that [description],' His Honour said.

'Young children cannot protect themselves from the actions of adults... where that protective trust is abused.'

Dogra has now moved to South Australia, frustrating options for sentencing her.

Her solicitor Damien O'Dea, from Adelaide, objected to Mr Bartley's findings and guilty verdicts.

Mr O'Dea said: 'Your Honour, your judgment said she fabricated evidence... tried to make up events to respond to witnesses.'

'My client is deserving of credit,' he argued.

Magistrate Bartley responded: 'How? I found her guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

'I found beyond reasonable doubt she was... scratching people and pushed [the boy] into a hard object. I didn't really accept her as a source of great truth.'

Dogra was found guilty on four counts of assault, including inflicting actual bodily harm on the boy.

Mr Bartley rejected Dogra's plea to have no convictions recorded on the four assault charges, for fear of losing her consultancy job at Medibank in Adelaide.

He described an argument by Mr O'Dea that Dogra should avoid conviction because she might then fail criminal and and working-with-children checks as 'out of touch with reality' and 'so overwhelmingly unarguable'.

The magistrate was unable to give Dogra an Intensive Corrections Order, which is in effect a jail sentence served in the community, because she lives in South Australia, and it requires supervision

Dogra abused the boy on this suburban street, slamming him against a bathroom sink and causing his head to bleed

'I reject that,' His Honour said. 'She slammed [the six-year-old boy's] head into a hard sink causing laceration to his head.

'In any event, convictions are unavoidable.'

The magistrate also rejected arguments by Dogra that 'money was tight', given that at one point she had been represented by three different lawyers.

'This case has gone on for a long time... on and on and on and on and on', he said.

The magistrate was unable to consider giving Dogra an Intensive Corrections Order, which is in effect a jail sentence served in the community, because she lives in South Australia, and it requires supervision.

He said on the balance of all the charges she had not passed the threshold required for imposing such an order.

He imposed a three-year Community Corrections Order upon her and slapped her with fines totaling $17,500.
Chance's uncle set up a GoFundMe to pay for the funeral

EXCLUSIVE

A father has opened up about the moment he picked up his ten-week-old son and realised he was dead - and has lashed out at neighbours who falsely claimed he was aggressive towards his partner.

Renee Lockett put her son Chance Ford in his cot when she got home after a day out with extended family in Ballarat, Victoria, before 9pm on January 20.

Her partner Jake Ford dropped her and the little boy off at home in Alfredton while he drove his children from a previous relationship back to their mother's house.

The couple, who also have a three-year-old together, had planned to go out again and continue celebrating birthdays with uncles and cousins, so Ms Lockett started preparing bottles and a nappy bag while Chance had a sleep.

Within the time it took Mr Ford to drop his other kids home and drive back, his youngest son had stopped breathing.

Following a well-publicised police investigation, Chance's cause of death was revealed to be sudden infant death syndrome - when an otherwise healthy infant suddenly dies in their sleep.

Now, Mr Ford has broken his silence and told Daily Mail Australia neighbours didn't find his son dead on the living room floor, as they claimed, but that he was the one who found his lifeless body.

Pictured: Chance Ford smiling with one of his brothers before he died on January 20

Jake Ford and Renee Lockett (pictured) had two children together. Their oldest son is three

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: The tragic truth of baby Chance's death: Family share the distressing story of how two-month-old boy died Renee Lockett and Jake Ford are pictured Advertisement

'He was laying upstairs and I went to pick him up,' Mr Ford said.

'My heart instantly completely sank when I picked him up.

'I immediately screamed and was filled with a feeling I could never even describe.'

Ms Lockett and her 13-year-old stepson raced into the room when they heard screaming.

She grabbed Chance while Mr Ford grabbed his oldest son and they ran to a family member's home nearby to get help.

Despite what neighbours told the media at the time, Mr Ford said he wasn't aggressive towards his partner - he only followed her across the backyard that evening because he wanted to know what happened.

Neighbours also wrongly said on social media, in a series of now-deleted posts, that he chased her up the road - some falsely accused him of wielding an axe.

'Never at any stage did I believe Renee had done anything wrong or would hurt our baby,' he said.

'I was just trying to process what was happening if anything unusual had happened while trying to understand what was wrong with our boy and how I could help him.'

'It hurt as parents that people believed my son was left alone all by himself on a lounge room floor basically to be discovered by strangers.'

Chance Ford's dad said his youngest son's personality was starting to shine through in the days before he died

Chance Ford's cause of death was SIDS, when an infant dies suddenly and unexpectedly in their sleep (scene pictured)

Ms Lockett gave the baby to a trusted loved one and felt so panicked and overwhelmed that she ran.

Mr Ford said she believed Chance was with people who cared for him when she left and still believed everything would be OK.

'While I will never exactly know what was going through Renee's head or why she got so overwhelmed, I do understand that everything just got too much to handle,' he said.

'I think she just couldnt bare to stay anymore to see baby not be OK.'

Mr Ford recalled the moment he stood outside with his 13-year-old looking through his front door watching paramedics try to revive his son.

He tried to comfort his oldest son and didn't want him to watch the scene unfold.

Neighbours had been gathering around the home to see what was going on, including one who watched from the back door.

Mr Ford had been asked to leave the home by emergency workers.

'She was watching my son being worked on, while I was told I had to leave and wasn't allowed inside,' he said.

'I could not be with my son in what was to be his final moments.'

'His final breaths were taken in a room full of strangers, and I felt as though my rights as a father had been taken from me.'

Mr Ford wanted his son to know he was there for him and that he wasn't alone.

Police arrived on the scene and began an extensive investigation into the boy's death

What is sudden infant death syndrome? Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) - sometimes known as cot death - is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby. In the UK, just under 300 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every year. This statistic may sound alarming, but SIDS is rare and the risk of your baby dying from it is low. Most deaths happen during the first six months of a babys life. Infants born prematurely or with a low birthweight are at greater risk. SIDS also tends to be slightly more common in baby boys. SIDS usually occurs when a baby is asleep, although it can occasionally happen while theyre awake. The exact cause of SIDS is unknown, but its thought to be down to a combination of factors. Babies who die of SIDS are thought to have problems in the way they respond to these stresses and how they regulate their heart rate, breathing and temperature. Advertisement

'I just wanted to hold him as long as I could let him feel loved and give my boy a kiss,' he said.

He said Chance's personality was starting to shine through in the days before he died, babbling and showing off his 'big, beautiful smile'.

'He was an extremely adored brother and son who will be greatly missed more than I could ever even begin to express,' he said.

Chance's uncle Joseph Ford created a GoFundMe page to help pay for the funeral.

Chance was only 10 weeks old and lit up our world,' he said on the fundraiser page.

'The impact this little bubba boy had on his parents, siblings and greater family is immeasurable.

'We are all shattered with our world changing and life as we know it, or knew it, being completely different and unrecognisable as we navigate our way through.'
IN the story told by her ardent nationalist supporters over the past four years, Nicola Sturgeons performance during the awful spring of 2020, when the UK went into lockdown, was her finest hour.

Famously, as spring turned to summer that year  and then into autumn and winter, too  the First Minister took to her podium daily at the Scottish Governments HQ in Edinburgh to dispense advice to a grateful public watching at home. It saw her ascend to saint-like levels of popularity.

Ive moved my Pilates class so I can make sure to see her, one Glaswegian lady told me that summer. For millions of frightened people sitting at home, she evolved into a cross between Florence Nightingale and Holly Willoughby: ever-present, as if holding back the plague herself.

The effect that Ms Sturgeons podium vigil had on the Scottish public reached its apogee when, in a moment worthy of Kim Jong Uns North Korea, national broadcaster STV put together a video of school children thanking her for her efforts.

Ms Sturgeon will today sit before Lady Hallett and her UK-wide Covid Inquiry. The former First Minister could end up as its most high-profile political casualty yet

The children of Scotland would like to say thank you  to Nicola, our First Minister... we are so grateful. Thank you for always keeping us safe. Working so hard. For being strong for us, it declared.

That, however, was then. Today, it is Ms Sturgeons turn to sit before Lady Hallett and her UK-wide Covid Inquiry. And if the shocking revelations coming out of it are anything to go by, she could end up as its most high-profile political casualty yet  with the people of Scotland turning their backs on her.

I was one of the people who sat at home listening to the podium every morning saying, Oh thank God were not in England, declared Elaine Johnston last week. She is a member of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, and lost her brother Robert to the disease.

I trusted Nicola Sturgeon. I felt she was honest and trying to be open with us. To find out that that was just a facade... I dont understand how they can hold their heads up... she concluded of Ms Sturgeon and her clinical advisers.

The evidence to the inquiry has already revealed that the facts are wildly at odds with the facade Ms Sturgeon presented.

Take her pious claim during the pandemic to be above politics. Not for her, she declared, any cheap attempts to use the virus as a political campaigning tool. Pointing to the hated Tory Government, she made it clear she would never stoop to that.

Except, the SNP did. On June 30, 2020, preaching from the podium as usual, she told Scottish viewers: Were not dealing with politics at the moment... anybody trotting out political or constitutional arguments is in the wrong place completely.

Yet the inquiry has published a minute of a Scottish Government cabinet meeting from that very morning showing ministers were doing just that.

It declared that during the meeting, SNP ministers had agreed consideration should be given to restarting work on independence and a referendum, with the arguments reflecting the experience of the coronavirus crisis...

It is clear the SNP had quickly latched on to the popularity of adopting a different model to London, where their supposedly cautious and canny approach would be contrasted with the perceived chaos in Westminster.

Ms Sturgeon's Whatsapp messages have been deleted, despite a public promise in 2021 that, in any public inquiry, she would disclose emails, WhatsApps, private emails...whatever

EDDIE BARNES: It looks like Ms Sturgeon and her colleagues were systematically doing their best to avoid scrutiny

It is also clear that Ms Sturgeon and her advisers relished going into battle with Westminster. In one message given to the inquiry, her chief of staff is recorded telling the First Minister, I just want a good old-fashioned rammy (spat) with London. Mrs Sturgeon is recorded replying: Yeah, I get it.

When Scots went to the polls in May 2021 to elect a new Scottish Parliament, the SNP based its election campaign on the First Ministers caring qualities, even releasing a poster depicting an empty podium emblazoned with the words Protect our NHS. The message was that only First Minister Sturgeon could offer that protection and the SNP stormed to victory.

But its not just the politicisation of the pandemic that is now coming to light. Trust in Ms Sturgeon is also ebbing as the inquiry reveals her loose relationship with transparency.

READ MORE: SNP civil war as ex-minister Kate Forbes swipes at Nicola Sturgeon over deleted Covid WhatsApps and lack of minutes for key meetings Advertisement

Firstly, its emerged the SNP sought to block applications under Freedom of Information laws in the hope of keeping secret its behaviour during the pandemic.

Now we have learned from the inquiry that Ms Sturgeons WhatsApp messages have been deleted. This despite a public promise at a Press briefing in 2021 that, in any public inquiry, she would disclose emails, WhatsApps, private emails...whatever, and that nothing would be off limits.

It turns out that, for many Scottish Government ministers and officials, getting rid of such material was routine. Only yesterday at the inquiry, former Deputy First Minister John Swinney said he manually deleted text message exchanges with Nicola Sturgeon. And a senior Scottish official has disclosed that WhatsApp deletion was his pre-bed ritual.

Ms Sturgeon says messages kept on colleagues phones have now been passed to Lady Hallett. But this hardly adds up to the categorical assurance she gave three years ago. Indeed, it looks like Ms Sturgeon and her colleagues were systematically doing their best to avoid scrutiny.

Ms Sturgeons hapless successor as First Minister Humza Yousaf clearly now believes its time to distance himself from his one-time mentor: on Thursday, he delivered a grovelling apology to Parliament for what he described as the frankly poor handling of requests for WhatsApp messages.

But nor is he coming out of this well  in private correspondence handed to the inquiry, he was shown describing an opposition politician who wanted basic information about the pandemic as a t**t and an a***hole. Hardly statesmanlike. For UK ministers, there will be no little schadenfreude in seeing the Scottish First Minister coming under pressure. Relations between the two administrations collapsed in the months after the pandemic struck.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) a few days ago, Ms Sturgeon said: I did my level best to lead Scotland through the pandemic as safely as possible

No10 grew irritated by what it saw as Ms Sturgeons politicised attacks and breaches of confidence. And to be fair to her, its not as if Whitehall covered itself in glory during the pandemic either.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) a few days ago, she said: I did my level best to lead Scotland through the pandemic as safely as possible and shared my thinking with the country on a daily basis. I did not get every decision right  far from it  but I was motivated only, and at all times, by the determination to keep people as safe as possible.

Today, she will doubtless talk up her unstinting record over those crisis-hit months and deny claims she played politics with the pandemic. Theres no question Ms Sturgeon worked hard. She was on top of her brief and took many decisions in good faith. But the revelations of recent weeks are prompting Scots to question whether theyve been duped.

Many have noticed that the SNPs more cautious approach didnt actually do much: excess deaths, at 3 per cent of the population, ended up the same in Scotland as in England. And the SNPs claim to be more competent than Whitehall is fraying, too.

As the inquiry heard last week, at the very start of the outbreak, Scottish civil servants noted that the UK Government was fully engaged and mobilised in a way that the Scottish Government simply isnt.

The big question now is whether Scots will turn on their former leader and a SNP Government they once trusted with their lives.

A recent poll suggested they are already doing so: a majority of Scots, including a quarter of SNP voters, say they no longer trust her.

Among hardline Nationalist supporters, Ms Sturgeon remains revered. Nothing that happens this week is likely to change their view. Within Scotlands quiet majority, however, her legacy grows thinner by the day. Increasingly, they feel they were played.

Nicola Sturgeon was leader of a political party that has spent every waking hour of its 17 years in power thinking about how to wrestle Scotland out of the UK.

If the court of Scottish opinion concludes she used the pandemic to do so, then it will be curtains not just for any hopes she may harbour for a comeback  but for the cause of Scottish independence itself.
The sight and smell of the 30 charred bodies that still smouldered as Haim Otmezgin pulled up to the site of the Nova Festival on October 7 will never leave him.

But Haim, a 50-year-old top official of ZAKA, a rescue and recovery organisation that was tasked with cleaning up the 1,200 killed by Hamas on Black Saturday in accordance with Jewish customs, had a job to do.

As the commander of the special units at ZAKA, he was in charge of coordinating the response to the deadly attacks, and ensuring that all the bodies were accounted for and treated properly as soon as possible.

But the brutality with which Hamas had killed more than 360 innocent partygoers at the Nova Festival shocked even him, a volunteer who had been working for ZAKA since he was just 18 years old.

Haim, who spoke to MailOnline through a translator, said: There were at least 30 bodies that were burned alive.

Haim Otmezgin (pictured) is a top official of ZAKA, a rescue and recovery organisation that was tasked with cleaning up the 1,200 killed by Hamas on Black Saturday in accordance with Jewish customs

More than 360 people were killed at the Nova Festival on Black Saturday

A man holding a weapon grabs another man next to a car during an attack by Hamas militants on October 7

READ MORE: Touching moment Israelis dance at dawn to last DJ to perform before Hamas stormed Nova festival and butchered innocent revellers as thousands gather in Tel Aviv to mark 100 days since October 7 attacks that triggered country's bloodiest conflict Advertisement

Many needed to have water poured on them because they were still burning 12 hours after because of the fuel they used to set them on fire.

Their bodies were soaking with this fuel that [caused them to burn for a long time].

Hamas didnt just use fire as a weapon of war against partygoers at the festival. Sexual violence was used to humiliate the victims at the site, many of whom were young women.

He said: 'When I go back to the memories, I remember lots of bodies were mutilated to pieces.

Organs were separated from their bodies, women had been shot in their very private areas, the upper parts of their legs, their heads.

Women were undressed and then they were shot.

A few bodies that were hit by rocks in a very barbaric way, in a way that crushed the skull.

I saw [stab wounds] in very specific areas on women, around their genitals.

Haim, who became aware of reports of a Hamas attack early that morning arrived at the site of the Nova massacre at 9:30pm, says his role as a leader at ZAKA meant he had to prevent these images from affecting him.

He says he had to become a machine, and was forced to make some incredibly difficult decisions on his way down from his base in Petah Tikva to Kibbutz Re'im.

Haim, who spoke to MailOnline through a translator, said: There were at least 30 bodies that were burned alive'

Destroyed cars and belongings left at the Nova Festival site where hundreds were killed and dozens taken by Hamas

Destroyed cars are seen at the rave party site near the Kibbutz Re'im

Relatives of Israelis killed at the Nova music festival plant trees in memory of the victims

Israeli women May, left, and Lilach, right, comfort each other as they visit the marker for Tifret Lapidot, their friend who was killed on October 7, 2023 at the Nova music festival

On the way from Petah Tikva to the south, I saw a few civilians waving at my ambulance.

I started thinking I know I need to get south, but maybe in order to prepare for this, I should let myself into this situation slowly and see what these people wanna say.

I thought that they probably want to tell me something in regard to whats going on in the south.

So he slowed down, and let the civilians, who had a car, approach him.

They said: We have two of them.

I asked them: What two? What are you talking about?

And they just showed me two dead bodies, young women, both shot in their heads.

He had no choice but to take their bodies, and continue down to the site of the festival.

More and more civilians tried flagging him down as he made his way down with the womens bodies in tow, each one holding a different person slaughtered by Hamas fighters, who were still rampaging throughout southern Israel.

Haim said he had to make the very difficult decision to keep going, in spite of the horrors he saw.

I understood that I couldnt just stop and take every person on the way, so I carried on.

We needed at least 15 ambulances and a few trucks in order to take all the dead bodies that were found on the way to the festival, he added.

This was, as Haim put it, when he made the transition from being a human being to a machine.

Hang-gliding Hamas terrorists were seen flying into Israel on October 7

Dozens of hostages were taken from the Nova Festival

A terrified IDF officer asked Haim: How long does it take for a body to rot?

I basically [was] just seeing these images, and just translated it into data.

READ MORE: Haunting exhibition reveals the devastation left behind by Hamas in the wake of the Nova Festival massacre including piles of shoes, toilet cubicles sprayed with bullet holes and discarded tents Advertisement

Haim said that he did not expect his day would turn out like this, when he was awoken at 6:42am that morning, next to his sleeping wife.

He was called, and told to immediately report to his base, not knowing how important his job was to become.

The ZAKA officer was so in the dark that wasnt sure whether to wake his children up, not knowing how long he would be away for.

But he knew enough to know that October 7 would be the most consequential in Israels modern history.

This was cemented at 7:30pm, at his base in Petah Tikvah. There, while preparing for a threat with a then-unknown magnitude, he received a call from the Nova Festival.

A terrified IDF officer asked him: How long does it take for a body to rot?

Taken aback, Haim told the officer he needed more details. The ZAKA officer said he was told:I have a carpet of dead bodies in the middle of the forest, I don't know what to do with them.

Destroyed cars and personal effects are still left scattered around the Supernova Music Festival site

Cars and belongings left at the Nova Festival site

Ela Bahat touches a picture of her 30-year-old son Dror, who was killed on October 7

Nobody explained to me what to do with them. I don't have any way of treating them. I dont have the equipment, the volunteers to deal with this. Maybe you can help me with this.

Haim, still unsure what the officer mean, said he asked to speak on a video call. It was then, watching a blurred and jumpy video streamed from a smartphone, that Haim understood the scale of the atrocity.

He said the officer told him that he had counted at least 125 bodies, but that there were many more that needed to be counted.

In the four hours after he arrived at the site of the Nova massacre, his team had to clear as many bodies, in line with Jewish customs, as possible. He said ZAKA was able to clear 237 bodies in just four hours, while still under fire from Hamas rockets and guns.

But with dozens more bodies at the Nova Festival site alone, and hundreds more across Israel, Haim said his physical health took a toll as he carried his work on.

I didnt stop working for 60 days. I was only getting four hours of sleep a night, and I lost 9 kilos in two months because I didnt have time to eat.

It wasnt only his physical health that suffered.

Personal items from the Nova music festival site that have been put on display for family and relatives to collect at the Kochav HaYam complex

The family of Liraz Assulin, 38, who fled from the Nova festival and was killed during the deadly October 7 attack by gunmen

A person looks at photos of people who were killed and kidnapped during the October 7 attack by Hamas gunmen from Gaza

Haim said he refused to think about what he was seeing on October 7, instead focusing on the main task at hand as he worked.

He said it was only months after the attack, when he spoke to his colleagues, that he began to process the horrors he bore witness to.

I didnt want to think about it, but I felt that I needed to speak out after hearing that these things were being ignored and denied.

For the first two weeks after October 7, many people were chasing after me in order to give my testimony. The police, international media, big networks around the world were asking to hear the story.

But I was escaping. I didn't want to do it, and I still had this excuse of having many things to do, still operating everything.

It wasnt a lie; We were still operating on a lot of the highways. I spent more than 60 days on duty.

But I had the privilege of escaping. I didnt put on any news channels, or social media. I was completely disconnected, focusing on the mission.

Maybe it was easier to do this, more convenient.

Destroyed cars and personal effects are still left scattered around the Nova Music Festival site

Israeli soldiers drive by the rave party site, where scores were killed, near the Kibbutz Re'im

Destroyed cars are seen at the rave party site near the Kibbutz Re'im

You can never be a total machine in front of these scenes and images of what we saw. But what we witnessed over there was bigger than any physical or mental difficulty.

His 13-year-old son kept begging him for details, driven by morbid curiosity and fear for his father.

He said he would always push the requests back, claiming that there was little signal in the south of Israel, and conveniently forgetting to tell his son about what he saw whenever he went back.

But Haim couldnt tell his family about the horrors of what he saw, as they didnt deserve to be weighed down with even a fraction of the horrors he witnessed at the site of the festival.

Theres a balance between being supported by my family, and keeping them away from the sights as a professional. You can tell part of the story, but not all of it.

Haim said he rarely told people about what he did at work even before Black Saturday.

Whenever I come back from any operation that ZAKA conducts, people ask me what happened, whats going on, tell us about it.

Usually I tell them: Read about it in the papers, I dont want to talk about it.

He said that Black Saturday was a wakeup call for Israel: It reveals the reality of how naive we were about the values of war.

This war was about humiliating us. It was about deep hate, it was about defiling [us].
Nicola Sturgeon will face her day of reckoning at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry today amid a flood of revelations about the way she handled the pandemic.

After two weeks of explosive evidence, the former First Minister will have to face a public grilling over the key part she played in Scotlands response to coronavirus.

Her appearance comes after yet another day of damning evidence at the inquiry, which has already heard Ms Sturgeon deleted all of her WhatsApp messages from the time.

Among the latest bombshell disclosures, Cabinet minutes revealed that she was given full power to unilaterally impose restrictions on the country.

It also emerged that Ms Sturgeons Cabinet did not approve the decision to close schools in 2020  and it was only taken during private talks with her closest political ally, the then education secretary John Swinney.

Nicola Sturgeon will appear before Lady Hallett on Wednesday

The damaging new evidence led to claims last night that Ms Sturgeon had adopted an authoritarian approach to leadership and decision-making. In another day of revealing evidence before Baroness Hallett, the inquiry heard:

No assessment was carried out on the likely impact on children before the decision to close schools was made;

Former finance secretary Kate Forbes claimed she was left in the dark about secret meetings of Ms Sturgeons Gold Command group  and said it was surprising that no minutes were taken;

The First Minister was furious after then-health secretary Humza Yousaf revealed in Cabinet that he had discovered 100million extra for business support without telling anyone;

Mr Swinney said he manually deleted his private messages with Ms Sturgeon and Mr Yousaf  in a practice that could date back as far as 2007.

Scottish Conservative Party chairman Craig Hoy said: This is Nicola Sturgeons day of reckoning. Bereaved families expect answers for her shameful cover-up and efforts to exploit the pandemic to push her independence obsession.

She has a host of questions to answer. Its now obvious that her promises to provide all her communications were a pack of lies, and she was already deleting them on an industrial scale. Again and again, she opted for the tactics that characterised her time in office  secrecy, unaccountability and outright deception. He said evidence heard at the inquiry had revealed her authoritarian, ranting style of government.

READ MORE: Forbes kept in the dark as Sturgeon made Covid decisions Kate Forbes at the inquiry yesterday Advertisement

Evidence published by the inquiry yesterday included a Cabinet minute, dated December 2020, showing the meeting had agreed to delegate to the First Minister the responsibility for finalising proposals in response to the threat posed by the new variant of the virus and all decisions that might be required.

Meanwhile, care home bosses are demanding an explanation from Ms Sturgeon over a deadly delay before she brought in testing of patients being discharged from hospitals to care homes, as the policy in Scotland was only announced on April 21, 2020, five days later than England.

Relatives of Covid victims have also pleaded with her to tell the truth on all aspects of decision-making when she gives evidence in Edinburgh today.

The Scottish Lib Dems urged her to answer ten key questions, including why she deleted WhatsApp messages after promising to hand them over to the inquiry.

Party leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: There are no guarantees that Covid was the last pandemic we will face. The ability to learn lessons for next time is being shattered by chaotic record keeping, a failure to properly log the context of decisions and the indefensible mass deletion of messages at the top of government.

A spokesman for Ms Sturgeon declined to comment ahead of the evidence session.

A spokesman for Mr Yousaf said making government more open and transparent is a priority for the First Minister.
Sigmund Freud, the great Austrian psychoanalyst, is sadly unavailable to provide evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry during its visit to Scotland.

Were he alive and in town, however, I wager he would have been able to shed some light on the goings-on which, today, culminate in the appearance of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Freud came up with a wonderful theory called der Narzissmus der kleinen Differenzen or, in English, the narcissism of small differences. More than 80 years after his death, it perfectly explains not just the SNPs appallingly politicised behaviour during the Covid crisis, but their entire way of working.

Freuds theory was based on observing neighbouring communities. These communities usually had much in common, he noted.

But the more they had in common, he noticed, the more likely they were to engage in feuds  over extremely minor things.

Nicola Sturgeon sought to find differences with the rest of the UK on Covid rules, the inquiry has heard

The reason, Freud decided, was because of our need to feel unique and special. People couldnt handle finding somewhere else that was just like them. Thus, he argued, driven by a narcissistic need to prove our specialness, people hunted out any and every tiny difference to demonstrate the fact.

Narcissistic

Let us put Nicola Sturgeon and her SNP acolytes on Freuds Viennese couch, shall we?

It all feels rather familiar. There, at the Border, is the hated England; bigger, noisier but, even more annoyingly (for Nationalists), incredibly like Scotland.

Same road signs, same shared history, same culture, same language. It is infuriating!

Hence the narcissistic need felt by Ms Sturgeon and her fellow Nationalists to hunt down those tiny areas of difference to show we in Scotland are indeed unique.

It has been the SNPs calling card for more than a decade. And at the inquiry, those few bits of evidence about Ms Sturgeon which have survived the Nationalists shredder have revealed this miserable attitude in spades.

Of course, let us remember that on the big calls  the emptying of NHS wards, the shifting of elderly people to care homes and the decisions on lockdown  the SNP Government did the exact same as London.

No, it was only on the little things that the First Minister sought to find difference.

For example, we learned this week that at the very start of the pandemic, before lockdown, Ms Sturgeon attended a crisis meeting with Boris Johnson and UK ministers.

There it was agreed by all that cancelling mass gatherings should be kept under review. The four chief medical officers of the UK, including Scotlands, were tasked with examining the evidence to see if it was required.

Yet, as was revealed in Mondays evidence session at the inquiry, Ms Sturgeon couldnt have that.

Instead, she beetled straight out of the meeting and rushed to her podium, where she announced Scotland would be banning gatherings of more than 500 people pronto  all to upstage Mr Johnson who was speaking a few hours later.

The credo of small differences between the UK and Scotland was thus established immediately.

There was the petty row over the UK Governments change of messaging from Stay Safe to Stay Alert (Ms Sturgeon refused to back it). Even when there was no conceivable reason not to walk in lock-step with the rest of the UK, Scottish nationalism in the form of Ms Sturgeon only reluctantly followed suit, such as over recommendations on Christmas gatherings.

And it is this need to emphasize the tiny, indeed, often imaginary, differences that exist between Scotland and England that has defined the Sturgeon-style period in power. Continued by Humza Yousaf, its a belief system that must be pursued even when there is no sense to it.

Farce

There is the recent farce over XL bullies. It was surely obvious to anyone with a brain that, after England announced a ban on breeding the dogs before Christmas, Scotland would have to follow suit.

Not if youre a Nationalist. Because, you see, unlike England, Scotland had a very controlled regime when it came to dogs. That is something that is quite unique to Scotland, declared Mr Yousaf (Freud would nod in recognition).

Only when reality intruded on Mr Yousafs nationalistic narcissism did he finally accept reality. There was the idiocy over the bottle Deposit Return Scheme last year when  despite clear warnings from manufacturers  SNP and Green ministers decided, again, that showing up difference with England was the most important factor in their deliberations.

The doomed attempt to introduce a plan ahead of England (where many Scottish firms sent their products) foundered inevitably at immense cost. We can go on.

Recall the delayed introduction of Freeports, which got held up in Scotland for months because, again, SNP and Green ministers couldnt be seen to adopt wholesale an idea that came from London.

Eventually a compromise was reached: to satisfy nationalisms narcissistic need for difference, our masters in Edinburgh decided they had to be called Green Freeports. Satirical show The Thick of It doesnt come close.

Theres even an attempt to find difference over rats.

Across the UK, so-called glue boards, on which rodents get stuck and meet a thoroughly horrible end, are being restricted for use by professionals only. But Scotland is moving to ban them outright  we need to show were nicer to rodents, you see.

This will have a devastating impact on human health and safety, says Ian Andrew, the chief executive of the British Pest Control Association.

He clearly hasnt understood the issue. Who cares about rats running amok in Scottish hospitals and schools? The point here is for Scotland to look different, duh.

Irony

The great irony of course, is that where Scotland really could do substantive things differently  refashioning our clapped-out model of public services, remaking the NHS or powering up growth sectors, for example  the SNP has cavilled and shrunk back from reform. That would require courage and a plan; two things the Nationalists lack.

What a miserable state this is. As someone who believed in devolution and saw the creation of the Scottish parliament as an opportunity to take better decisions closer to people, its hard to say its been worth it all, given the mess the SNP has made of it.

The truth is Scotland and England arent very different. Its a reality the SNP cant bear. And by obsessing over the minor differences between us, the upshot is that theyve distracted Scotland from tackling the big challenges we face.

Scotland doesnt just need a decent psychoanalyst. As the Covid inquiry is revealing, it desperately needs a new government too.
Kate Forbes was left in the dark about secret government meetings of senior ministers during the coronavirus pandemic, she told an inquiry yesterday.

The former finance minister said she had no idea that vital Gold Command meetings were being held by a small cabal, including Nicola Sturgeon.

She told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in Edinburgh yesterday she found it surprising that no minutes were recorded during the private government gatherings.

Ms Forbes also said she had kept all of her WhatsApp messages sent during the pandemic and did not believe Holyroods order to delete messages applied to exchanges between senior ministers.

The inquiry heard the Nationalist MSP for Skye, Badenoch and Lochaber eventually attended Gold Command meetings on 11 occasions, in mid and late 2021 and early 2022, but did not attend any in 2020.

Former Finance Minister Kate Forbes arrives at the Covid Inquiry yesterday

Ms Forbes said: This list is drawn directly from the diary, so I dont recall attending Gold [in 2020]. I dont recall even being aware that it existed until later on in the pandemic.

The inquiry heard there were six meetings between September 2020 and January 2021. Jamie Dawson, KC, lead counsel to the inquiry, said this had been worked out by looking through material the inquiry had received  because it did not receive minutes of the meetings.

He added: There may be more but were trying to piece together what all of these actually were.

Inquiry chairman Baroness Hallett asked Ms Forbes why, given that she was one of the most senior ministers in the Scottish

Government, she had been absent from the meetings.

Ms Forbes told her: I wasnt invited. Im not even sure I was aware they existed because I remember when I was invited to my first one not really knowing what it was until somebody explained it.

Lady Hallett asked if she would have been expected to have been invited. Ms Forbes said she would have expected to be invited to any meeting where there are significant financial implications.

Ms Forbes told Mr Dawson she expected the meetings to be recorded in minutes, and said: Corporate memory was critical.

So I was Cabinet Secretary for the two-and-a-half years but of course officials would come and go, teams would sometimes change, and if individual officials couldnt recall how things had been approached the last time the decision was made, then it would be much more challenging to make the decision again.

Ms Forbes became the finance secretary at the beginning of 2020, as Covid was being spread across the globe after its first outbreak in Wuhan, China, and told the inquiry that she has retained messages sent during the worst of the crisis.

She told Mr Dawson she did not retrospectively erase messages and did not delete any of the WhatsApp messages with Cabinet Secretaries, with special advisers and with her private office until January 2022.

She added: In January 2022 a junior member of my private office stated that it was now required government policy for messages with private office to be deleted, going forward, to which I acquiesced because I believed it was an instruction, and that only applied to that particular member, a junior member of private office, and I dont recall it applying to anybody else in and around the Cabinet or government.

READ MORE: Sturgeon's day of reckoning: former First Minister to appear before Covid Inquiry after another day of revelations Nicola Sturgeon will appear before Lady Hallett on Wednesday Advertisement

Ms Forbes said she had provided her exchanges to the inquiry in the spirit of being completely open.

Use of WhatsApp messages by senior Holyrood ministers and officials during the pandemic has caused political uproar, with First Minister Humza Yousaf apologising for his governments frankly poor handling of requests for WhatsApp messages to be handed over.

Officials and politicians deleted their messages, even after it was announced there would be an inquiry, to the outrage of bereaved families who want answers.

Craig Hoy, chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, described Ms Forbess evidence as devastating criticism from one of the SNPs own senior figures. Mr Hoy said: Kate Forbess evidence made it obvious that, even as a senior Cabinet Secretary, she was initially locked out of Nicola Sturgeons shady inner circle, which was calling the shots at the beginning of the pandemic.

It was absolutely extraordinary  and damning evidence of the secretive way in which the former First Minister operated  to hear Ms Forbes testify that she was not even aware of the groups existence until much later.

Ms Forbes, who became finance secretary in February 2020 after Derek Mackay quit amid a scandal, said that when she started the job she could not recall being aware of information about the virus beyond what was in the public domain.

She presented the 2020 draft Budget with around 14 hours notice, and she told the inquiry that they went straight into budgeting for the pandemic and never stopped being in that Budget period as more details about the threat from the virus emerged. But she said more should have been done.

She told Mr Dawson: I think it would be fair to say that over the period of February, in hindsight, there should have been a lot more discussion about how to budget for the pandemic, and it was indeed in response to the funding that was made available on March 11 that we really got into that territory.

The MSP expressed her immense sorrow at the toll the pandemic took on the people of Scotland.

She said: Can I use the opportunity to express my immense sorrow at the devastation that was wreaked amongst so many families, but also the personal cost and loss for those that had to shield, those that had to isolate and particularly those who were separated from families during that period.

Ms Forbes narrowly lost to Mr Yousaf in the SNP leadership contest when Ms Sturgeon quit last year.
John Swinney admitted that he manually deleted messages to senior colleagues throughout his ministerial career.

The former Deputy First Minister told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry yesterday he had deleted all texts sent to Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf.

Mr Swinney, who served as Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, also confirmed the Cabinet signed over power for coronavirus decision-making to then First Minister Ms Sturgeon.

He told Jamie Dawson, KC, lead counsel to this part of the inquiry, he rarely contacted Ms Sturgeon by text or other informal means and said the texts would only be used to set up phone calls.

Defending his deletions, which he said were in line with guidance from the Scottish Government, Mr Swinney said: I was advised by my private office that I should not hold information that was relevant to the Governments official record in what were called ungoverned sources.

John Swinney gives evidence at the inquiry yesterday

'Throughout my ministerial career I have deleted material after I have made sure any relevant information was placed on the official record of the Government, and that was the approach I was advised to take.

The Nationalist politician added: That was advice given to me by my private office as far back as 2007 when I entered government and it was also consistent in my view with the Governments record management policy.

READ MORE: Sturgeon's day of reckoning: former First Minister to appear before Covid Inquiry after another day of revelations Nicola Sturgeon will appear before Lady Hallett on Wednesday Advertisement

Mr Swinneys correspondence with Mr Yousaf, which was found on the First Ministers device, has been handed to the inquiry.

Craig Hoy, chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, said Mr Swinneys admission he deleted texts when he knew the inquiry was bound to follow was astonishing.

He added: Equally breathtaking was his assertion that destroying records and avoiding accountability was par for the course during his time in office. When asked whether he should have deviated from this dubious practice with an inquiry into a global pandemic looming, the former Deputy First Minister played the daft-laddie card.

He claimed he may have misunderstood the SNPs message deletion policy and never thought to challenge its defects  but this faux-naivety is fooling no one. He was a senior minister complicit in co-ordinated efforts to cover the SNP Governments tracks.

Evidence also revealed minutes from a Cabinet meeting which signed off on Ms Sturgeon being given full powers to impose decisions on the country in the pandemic. This included Ms Sturgeon ordering schools to shut without consulting the Cabinet.

The inquiry heard the decision to close them on March 18, 2020, was made after talks between Ms Sturgeon and Mr Swinney.

Cabinet minutes the day before revealed ministers were told there was only the active consideration given to the closure of schools but the evidence was not yet clear.

But Mr Swinney disclosed he had been given further advice from education officials, following UK-wide discussions, about what the next steps were likely to be.

READ MORE: Forbes kept in the dark as Sturgeon made Covid decisions Kate Forbes at the inquiry yesterday Advertisement

He told Mr Dawson: On March 17, after the Cabinet meeting, I received this update which indicated that there was a growing assumption that Sage [the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies] on March 18 would provide the epidemiological advice that it would be advantageous to close schools.

Mr Swinney added: I was concerned we were in danger of operating an unsafe situation and, for that reason, the First Minister and I concluded in conversation that it would be appropriate for her to make that point clear on the 18th.

My justification would be that events were moving at an absolutely ferocious pace and I had to give clarity to the education system about what was likely to be pertaining in the days to come.

In further damning revelations, the inquiry was told there was not an equality impact assessment on childrens learning and development if schools were closed, nor was there one on the mental health of youngsters who would become shut away at home.

Ministers did not consider any alternative to the drastic move.
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

A Melbourne truck driver who was so high on a cocktail of drugs he could barely stand when he delivered concrete slabs to a construction site has avoided jail.

Hasan Osman, 40, was filmed 'out of it' at the Fitzroy North construction site in July 2023 with footage showing him as he swayed while he stood in one spot with his head slumped before he nearly toppled over when he tried to move.

The construction site where Osman was delivering the 10-tonne load was just metres from a primary school and an aged care facility.

Osman also stalled his prime mover and mounted a kerb, nearly hitting a crane spotter, before he parked in a service lane.

'He's very lucky he didn't kill anyone,' fellow truck driver Rebecca Church told Nine News.

'It's a dangerous job already... If we're not on top of what we're doing or the (concrete) panels aren't strapped down properly they could fall.'

Footage shot at the Fitzroy North construction site showed Osman barely able to stand up

The truckie was delivering a 10-tonne load of concrete slabs to the site (stock image)

Osman, from Dallas in Melbourne's north, was found guilty this week of one charge of driving under the influence of drugs.

Melbourne Magistrates Court heard he had GHB, synthetic cannabis, and methylamphetamine in his system.

He also has a number of other traffic offences on his record going back to 2004 including driving while disqualified, speeding, careless driving and drug driving.

Despite the magistrate calling Osman's behaviour a 'recipe for disaster' he avoided jail and was fined $1,500 and disqualified from driving for four years.
Drunk late-night diners have been called out for leaving behind a massive mess at a McDonald's and putting workers' safety at risk, as a shocking video emerges.

The footage, shot at a McDonald's restaurant on King Street in Newcastle, NSW, was shared on social media, sparking disgust from many Australians.

The video shows tables in the restaurant strewn with rubbish, including paper bags, plastic cups, and empty food boxes scattered everywhere.

Drinks have been spilled on the floor, and two customers are shown falling asleep at their seats.

The video quickly sparked comments from social media users expressing their shock at the condition of the restaurant.

Aussies described it as 'typical' of the King Street store during late weekend nights

The McDonald's dining area was littered with empty packaging, and food and drink was spilled on the tables and floor

'That's what happens when you employ people who don't care,' one said.

'King Street has always looked like that on the weekend. Everyone comes for a drunk feed when the clubs close,' another said.

However, some Australians came to the defence of the restaurant workers, claiming they shouldn't be forced to clean up after intoxicated diners.

'These drunk idiots are the lowest of the low. I feel sorry for the workers who have to deal with this mess,' one person told Daily Mail Australia.

A Google review stated: 'My wife and I felt intimidated by a large crowd of young people who were very noisy and hassling staff.

'There was rubbish on all the tables and floors. No cleaning had been done for a while, as staff were too afraid to leave the safety behind the counter.'

Another said: 'Occasional drunk fights. Even just driving past it late at night will mean seeing something interesting or keeping your foot hovering over the break pedal,' a second added.

'Expect to see a lot of vomit there if you happen to be there after about 2am,' another wrote.

A McDonald's spokesperson said its King Street restaurant had implemented 'a number of safety procedures' to protect both staff and patrons.

These measures include 24-hour CCTV surveillance, alarm systems and security guards on overnight shifts from Friday to Sunday.

'McDonald's has a zero-tolerance policy for anti-social behaviour and expect our restaurants, people and customers to be treated with respect and decency at all times,' they said.

'We also follow strict cleaning, sanitation, and hygiene procedures in all restaurants, including routine dining-room cleaning.

A Maccas customer was pictured asleep against a wall

One customer was passed out at the table

'We are working with the restaurant to ensure we continue to provide a safe and clean restaurant and a great customer experience.'

In September last year, the King Street store made headlines after a 23-year-old man ran to the McDonald's for assistance after he was allegedly assaulted and set on fire.

A 20-year-old man was later hit with multiple charges, and the case remains before the courts.
Under the roaring blades of Marine One, President Biden finally faced reporters more than 48 hours after three American soldiers were killed and dozens more injured in an Iranian-backed drone attack.

Busy Candidate Joe was on his way to donor events in Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday, after being out of sight all of Monday.

And yesterday, President Joe didn't have much to say for himself.

Asked if he's decided how the United States of America will respond to the murder of its own, the President said, 'Yes.'

His words were barely audible over the drone of the engines.

Asked whether America's response will deter future Iranian proxy attacks on U.S. soldiers Joe answered, 'We'll see.'

Then he toddled off to his aircraft.

Perhaps, it was all by design. The White House doesn't put the President next to a noisy helicopter when they want him to take questions.

Nonetheless, this is the degree of seriousness that we've come to expect from an administration that loses track of its Secretary of Defense.

'I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East. That's not what I'm looking for,' the President squeaked yesterday.

Unfortunately, it appears that war is widening whether Biden wishes it or not.

As the world holds it breath, Iran's threats are now filling the vaccum left by Silent Joe.

Tehran has reportedly warned Biden not to strike targets on their soil or risk a cycle of retaliation.

Under the roaring blades of Marine One, President Biden finally faced reporters more than 48 hours after three American soldiers were killed and dozens more injured in an Iranian-backed drone attack.

After the October 7th terror attacks in Israel, the President and his national defense team repeated an apparent warning to the mullahs of Iran, like B-movie action heroes.

If the rogue regime was considering capitalizing on the chaos of the Israel-Gaza war to advance its regional domination, Biden had one word for them: 'Don't.'

Well, Mr. President  they did.

Again and again.

Since mid-October, Iranian trained and financed militias have attacked American assets in the region at least 160 times across multiple countries.

The White House has done little in response  making the President look like Bugs Bunny drawing lines in the sand for Yosemite Sam.

Shades of Obama?

'We have been very clear to the Assad regime,' President Obama warned in August 2012, as Syria's dictator Assad massacred his people, who had risen to oppose him, 'that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus.'

Then, a year later, when horrific videos emerged showing Syrian civilians foaming at the mouth, gasping for breath and writhing on hospital room floors  the telltale signs of sarin gas poisoning  President Obama did nothing.

Of course, America does not want war in the Middle East. But neither did the U.S. nor Europe want war with Germany more than eight decades ago. How often does this lesson need to be learned and forgotten?

The best Biden can muster is 'we'll see?' Is this deterrence? Or deference?

His cabinet and staff has employed the same bloodless rhetoric.

Sergeant William Rivers (center), Specialist Breona Moffett (right) and Specialist Kennedy Sanders (left) were indeed sacrificed to a naive fantasy in which Iran wants peace and the United States and Israel are the real aggressors.

The U.S. 'response could be multi-leveled, come in stages and be sustained over time,' muttered U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

'We are not seeking a conflict with the regime in the military way,' said White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who returned to work from extended sick leave just in time for a photo opportunity in the White House, had pathetically little to add.

Biden and the Democrats always hold themselves up as enlightened problem solvers. If only they are given power, they tell us, they'll solve the world's most intractable conflicts through dialogue, negotiation, and humility.

Somehow that strategy always ends in hundreds of millions of dollars in hard cash payments, sanctions relief, or some other type of wealth transfer.

The checks always cash. But the genius plan never works.

Not once.

When President Donald Trump took out Iranian terrorist general Qasem Soleimani, we were told our president was a madman hellbent on World War III. That didn't happen.

But on peacenik Joe Biden's watch, war appears on every horizon.

This is the same administration whose National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, said a week before Hamas' butchery on 10/7 that 'the Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades.'

More delusional wish-casting.

It's only going to get worse as America barrels headlong into a presidential campaign.

Self-described 'very historic person', White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre went on national television to claim our three fallen American soldiers died serving the Biden administration.

Not the flag or the nation.

Serving Joe Biden.

The saddest part is that  that's true.

Sergeant William Rivers, Specialist Breona Moffett and Specialist Kennedy Sanders were indeed sacrificed to a naive fantasy in which Iran wants peace and the United States and Israel are the real aggressors.

Self-described 'very historic person', White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre went on national television to claim our three fallen American soldiers died serving the Biden administration.

The wages of Joe Biden's spineless appeasement are now being paid in American blood.

Nothing will change the minds of Iran's fundamentalist dictators. They will always want Americans dead.

So, we now have a staggering foreign policy crisis, and the president looks more like a candidate on the campaign trail than a commander in the Situation room.

Maybe he'll tell his wealthy campaign supporters how the nation will respond to being attacked. For everyone else  including those watching from their lavish apartments in Tehran and Qatar  the message is clear: Joe wants to wish this all away.

He is careful not to upset the pro-Hamas campus radicals and street protestors with belligerent talk of retaliation, national defense, or pride. The socialists, the anti-capitalists, the anti-imperialists don't like that talk.

But the rest of us demand justice. We demand a president with courage.

Instead, we have a decrepit grasping old cynic who does little more than glad-hand donors and avoid reporters.

Joe Biden's feebleness has been a punchline throughout his presidency.

Now, it is deadly serious.

Now, it is getting Americans killed.
Automaker Toyota has been forced to stop producing several of the diesel engines it fits into some of its most popular models due to a major software issue, potentially lengthening wait times for some vehicles in Australia.

The company has suspended the production of the engines fitted into 10 vehicle models, including the HiLux utes and LandCruiser four-wheel-drives, after an investigation found 'irregularities' in horsepower output testing for the certification of three diesel engine models used by Toyota.

The investigation found that software different to that used in the car-maker's mass production lines had been used to measure the power of the engines, producing 'manipulated' results which made them 'appear smoother with less variation'.

In response Toyota said the discovery had 'shaken the very foundations of the company' and promised a 'drastic reform' of its corporate culture.

Automaker Toyota has been forced to stop producing several of the diesel engines it fits into some of its most popular models due to a major software issue

Toyota has temporarily suspended shipments of the affected engines and the company has also temporarily paused shipments of vehicles fitted with these engines.

A spokesperson for Toyota Australia told Daily Mail Australia the impact on the company's vehicles shipped into the country is unclear.

'We are seeking information on any impact to vehicles in the Australian market,' the spokesperson said.

'We have been informed that there is no variation in the power, torque or other powertrain-related values and in addition there is no compromise to the emissions, safety or driveability of the vehicles.

'We will keep our customers and dealers updated as more information is confirmed. We apologise for any inconvenience that they may experience.'

The suspension in production is expected to increase wait times for in-demand models such as the HiLux and Land Cruiser

'We deeply apologise to our customers who have been supporting affected vehicles and waiting for a long time,' Toyota said.

Ten vehicle models produced by the major automaker including the LandCruiser have also been affected by the engine issue (stock image of a Toyota vehicle)

Other vehicle models that have also been affected by the engine issue include the Toyota Fortuner SUV, Toyota HiAce, and the Toyota Landcruiser Prado.

The company said planned reforms will ensure Toyota vehicles continue to meet strict standards that are in line with their product certifications.

Despite the issue Toyota said that the affected engines still meet the vehicle engine output standards.
A elderly Chinese immigrant who hoped to spend a peaceful retirement in San Francisco will return to China in despair for good on Saturday after suffering a series of violent assaults in the crime-ridden city.

Rongxin Liao, 87, has been repeatedly hospitalized since his arrival 24 years ago including one notorious March 2021 incident caught on video where he was kicked out of his walker while waiting for a bus in the Tenderloin district.

He had planned to spend the rest of his life in the US after the death of his wife, but has given up on his dream after the unrelenting violence left his family in terror.

'I don't want to be a drag to my son here,' he told Sing Tao Daily.

'I don't want him to worry about me all the time.'

The series of attacks left Rongxin Liao afraid to leave his assisted living facility in a city wracked by violence

Liao will leave San Francisco for the last time on Saturday before returning to the Chinese city of Guangzhou which he left 24 years ago

Liao was waiting for a 31 bus on a Sunday morning in March 2021 when 24-year old Eric Ramos-Hernandez launched a flying kick at the elderly senior that sent him sprawling to the ground.

Surgeons had to drill into his skull to repair serious head injuries that left him unconscious with a blood clot, requiring multiple stitches and four nights in hospital.

Ramos-Hernandez spent just seven months in jail before being released on a mental health diversion.

Liao, who lives in an assisted living facility, had already been beaten unconscious in another unprovoked attack in the Tenderloin district three years earlier.

The police investigation was dropped in that case when no suspect could be identified.

But final straw was another assault in October 2023 when he was repeatedly punched by an attacker as he visited Walgreens for his medication.

He was taken to hospital to be treated for blood loss, finally convincing his family that he should return to China to be cared for by his younger son.

'It's too dangerous here,' said elder son Jing Liao who emigrated alongside his father.

'Public safety situation in San Francisco has become worse and worse.'

Homeless people fill the streets near Liao's home in San Francisco's Tenderloin District

Drug overdose deaths have reached an all-time high in the Golden Gate City, with 752 deaths recorded in 2023

Anti-Asian hate crimes in San Francisco spiked 567 percent in 2021 as Chinese people bore the brunt of prejudice about the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 247 incidents recorded compared with just 19 reported in 2014, and hate crimes across the state increased 20 per cent in 2022.

The San Francisco Police Department Crime Dashboard shows crimes in most major categories were down in January on the same month last year.

But robberies were up 14.5 percent last year and motor vehicle theft up 5.6 percent on 2022.

Liao required six stitches to close a wound on his head and spent four nights in the hospital after the attack in 2020

And the city has become an international by-word for urban squalor with the proliferation of open-air drug markets and an exodus of businesses and retailers.

Chinese media mocked the city as it prepared to host its President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November.

Headlines included the phrases 'garbage city, 'ruined city' and 'fallen city', while the Chinese site Phoenix said the city had fallen into a 'death cycle.'

'San Francisco was once a jewel on the West Coast of the United States, but as the Democrats advanced their radical agenda,' one article claimed.

'Now it has become a Mecca of crime, the streets are in disarray, and it is rapidly slipping towards the status of a ghost town.'

Further fury was sparked by Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor London Breeds' decision to remove vagrants' from the city's streets for Xi's visit, angering locals who'd been calling for such a move for years.

Data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner showed that San Francisco has entered its deadliest year on record for drug overdoses with 752 accidental overdose deaths as of December 6.

It tops the highest year on record - 2020 - when 726 people died.

And the city stands to lose $200 million a year in lost tax revenue through its business exodus.

Liao was waiting for a bus in San Francisco in February 2020 when a man ran up to him and knocked him to the ground with a kick

Surveillance video captured the shocking attack that took place in the Tenderloin district

The attacker, 23-year-old Eric Ramos-Hernandez, ran off after the assault, leaving Liao unconscious and bleeding on the ground

Liao, a retired steel worker who gained US citizenship in 2005, became a figurehead for the successful recall election of ultra-progressive San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin in 2022.

Boudin has since been replaced by Brooke Jenkins, who has struck a more moderate tough-on-crime stance since entering office.

Across the bay in Oakland, Alameda County DA Pamela Price faces a recall over her own woke policies, which have been blamed for a 21 percent spike in violent crime in just a year.

But Liao sees no prospect of improvement and said goodbye to his friends at a farewell dinner on Sunday.

'Every day there is crime in San Francisco,' he said.

'Old people have to be careful.'
EXCLUSIVE

A real estate executive's teenage son still hasn't paid back the schoolgirl whose stolen American Express card he used for a wild vodka-fuelled bender during Schoolies Week in Byron Bay.

Lachie Chittenden, 18, son of former Colliers real estate managing director Peter Chittenden, bought 14 vodka drinks in just 29 minutes during a boozed-up frenzy.

But his big night of fun was fuelled by the credit card of another private schoolgirl celebrating Schoolies Week, who was a stranger to him, after he had blown all his own cash on the pokies.

Now his victim, Jemma Fricke, from Brighton in Melbourne's south-east, has revealed she's still not got her money back more than two months later.

Chittenden tried to keep his arrest and court case a secret, and didn't even tell his rich father, who only found out about it from Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.

'It's crazy how his dad didnt know,' Ms Fricke, whose own father is global managing director of a consultancy firm, told Daily Mail Australia.

'This is very interesting because I havent really been told anything thats been happening. I didnt know that the court case was on Tuesday.

'Was he ordered to pay back the money?'

A real estate mogul's teenage son still hasn't paid back schoolgirl Jemma Fricke (pictured) whose stolen credit card he used for a vodka-fuelled bender at schoolies week in Byron Bay

Lachie Chittenden, 18, (pictured left) bought 14 vodka drinks in just 29 minutes during a boozed-up frenzy on the stolen card

She hoped the court would make Chittenden return the $156.77 he spent on her card as she was still waiting to be repaid nine weeks after the incident.

The former Scots College student - where school fees are up to $48,630 a year - pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a charge of dishonestly obtaining the 14 drinks by deception.

The case was heard at Moss Vale Local Court, near his family's sprawling nine-bedroom, 67-hectare farmhouse home in Berry, in the NSW Southern Highlands.

But the charges came as a surprise to his shocked father - who now runs his own real estate firm, Woodhill - when he was approached by Daily Mail Australia.

'I know nothing about anything, which is very embarrassing, but also very disappointing on the other side,' Mr Chittenden senior told Daily Mail Australia.

'I am very unhappy I found out this way through you. I will attend to that immediately and that's all I can do.

'He's a young boy doing those sorts of stupid things. There's no need, he has access to things he can do - that's just a childish stupid thing. He has money.'

He added: 'I won't have anything [further] to say because I don't want him to get punished for the rest of his life for one moment of extreme stupidity.

'I'll leave it at that.'

Chittenden, whose father is also a stock and station agent, gave his occupation as a farmhand and the home address he gave police was confirmed by his father to Daily Mail Australia.

Court documents reveal Ms Fricke was celebrating Schoolies Week in Byron Bay at the same time and place as Chittenden.

Teenager Lachie Chittenden (left) tried to keep his arrest and court case a secret, and didn't even tell his rich father, who only found out about it from Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday

Lachie Chittenden, 18, son of former Colliers real estate managing director Peter Chittenden, still hasn't repaid the $156.77 bill he ran up on Jemma's AmEx card (father and son are pictured together at a charity event in 2019)

Chittenden and his victim Jemma Fricke were both celebrating Schoolies Week at The Northern Hotel in Byron Bay but did not know each other

She had her driver's licence and two bank cards stolen from a pocket of her handbag at the Northern Hotel in Byron Bay on November 28, 2023, sometime after 9pm.

Police told the court Chittenden then bought a round of four vodka raspberries in the same hotel at 9.28pm, running up a bill of $44.79 which he paid by tapping her card at the bar.

He then bought two more identical rounds at 9.35pm and 9.46pm, before a final round of two more of the vodka drinks at 9.57pm, for a total cost of $156.77.

But whenever he used her card to pay for the drinks by tapping at the bar's cash register, the court heard she got notifications about the payments on her phone.

Ms Fricke realised her cards were missing - and she was not buying those drinks - so alerted security, who then used CCTV and till receipts to trace it back to Chittenden.

They tracked Chittenden down in the bar and confronted him, and found the stolen AmEx card in his shirt pocket.

Police were called to the scene and immediately arrested him for fraud before he told them he had 'consumed the drinks' and added: 'I did everything. I was stupid.

'I tapped the card. I spent all my money on the pokies.'

He said 'some man' had given him the AmEx card and added: 'So I thought I'll take it.'

The former student of Scots College - where fees are up to $48,6430 a year - pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a charge of dishonestly obtaining the 14 drinks by deception

Chittenden (pictured), who told police he was a farmhand, bought three rounds of four vodka raspberries and then a final round of two more during the 29-minute boozefest

The case was heard at Moss Vale Local Court, near his family's sprawling nine-bedroom, 67-hectare farmhouse home in Berry in the NSW Southern Highlands (pictured)

Chittenden told police he had 'too much' to drink and officers noted he appeared to be 'moderately affected' by the booze binge when they quizzed him around 11pm.

'His movements were sluggish and his speech was slurred,' court documents reveal.

'The accused apologised to police for his actions, was co-operative, and made a full admission.'

The case was originally heard in Byron Bay Local Court in January but was moved to Moss Vale Local Court instead at a hearing last week.

On Tuesday, Magistrate David Degnan received an email from Chittenden's lawyer pleading guilty to the single charge of dishonestly obtaining by deception.

The case was adjourned for sentencing at Picton Local Court on Friday.
Kiwis are flocking to Australia for the higher wages on offer, leading to concern of a New Zealand 'brain drain'.

New Zealand broadcaster and journalist Duncan Garner told his podcast audience on Tuesday that his son had farewelled a good friend who was headed across the Tasman 'chasing the promise of a better life and higher wages'.

'Their (Australia's) job market and pay rates are leaving NZ for dead,' Garner said.

Broadcaster and journalist Duncan Garner said Kiwis are abandoning New Zealand for the higher wages of Australia

Garner than compared the wages for various occupations in the two countries.

According to Garner, nurses in New Zealand earn $NZ72,000 ($A66,000) while in Australia they can pull in $NZ96,000 ($89,000), while for Kiwi primary school teachers it is $66,000 ($61,000) at home versus $98,000 ($91,000) over the Tasman.

Builders in New Zealand make just $NZ66,000 ($58,000) while in Australia they take home NZ$103,000 ($95,000), while for chefs the gap is $NZ55,000 ($51,000) versus $NZ71,000 ($65,000).

Workers in retail get $NZ 50,000 ($46,000) in New Zealand as opposed to $NZ71,000 ($65,000) in Australia.

The higher wages on offer Australia have been cited as a factor in the shortage of nurses in New Zealand.

Last year it was reported 5,000 New Zealand-based nurses had registered to work in Australia over a six-month period, while fewer than 200 Australian nurses migrated the other way.

'The gap in wages between the two countries has opened up to be a gulf,' Garner said.

'No wonder our police officers, teachers, nurses have departed in their numbers. and there are huge relocation allowances on offer.'

According to Garner nurses in New Zealand cannot make the same salaries as they do in Australia

He lamented New Zealand simply wasn't 'competing' against the wages on offer in Australia.

Garner's listeners largely agreed.

'Retail in Aussie gets more than me being a teacher in NZ,' one wrote.

'My partner works over there as a mechanic on 110k pa instead of 60K pa here,' another commented.

'Im a nurse, gonna move at the end of the year.'

'My teacher niece just left for Aus at double her pay, 11 kiwi teachers are starting at the same Aus school this year,' another said.

One person also noted Australia's different industrial relations laws.

The higher wages on offer in Australia has been cited as a reason for the shortage of nurses in New Zealand

READ MORE: New Zealand mother who migrated to Australia before giving up and moving back home reveals the Aussie traits that drove her out of the country Advertisement

'Not to mention afternoon and night shift and weekends pay rates are way more over here and NZ dont even do it,' they said.

However, some doubted Garner's figures.

'I'm in aus and no retail staff get $71k. The average wage here is about $50k if youre lucky,' they said.

For some the higher wages still wasn't enough to consider a move.

'Money isn't everything. Aussie culture is different, ppl are horrible over there and it's not easy to make friends, ppl aren't very nice,' one person said.

It was reported in August last year that one third of New Zealand workers were considering moving to Australia to chase higher wages.

What was particularly concerning for New Zealand, according to the research by the Massey and Otago universities, was that the more highly educated and skilled Kiwi workers were particularly tempted to make the move.

The new Australian citizenship pathway for New Zealanders announced in April was a also a factor in luring Kiwis across the Tasman.

Under the new rules New Zealanders have access to Australian citizenship and its benefits after four years.

In the last financial year, 15,000 more New Zealanders migrated to Australia than migrants going the other way, which represented around a 200 per cent increase on the previous financial year.
It was sold for $60 million to real estate firm R2 after last being priced at $121 million in 2017

The diamond-shaped office building is known by locals for its resemblance to female genitalia

Chicago's 'Vagina Building' has sold for only half of its previous price

A Chicago office tower known by locals as the 'Vagina Building' has sold for only half of the $121 million it fetched when it was last sold in 2017.

The 41-story building was bought by R2, a private equity real estate firm, for $60 million - $10 million less than the expected price.

Sitting at 150 N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago's Millennium Park, the Smurfit-Stone Building is jokingly referred to as the 'Vagina Building' because of its unique architectural design.

The diamond-shaped building is split down the middle and has a slit cut out in the top.

Locals affectionately dubbed it the vagina building because it is one of the only buildings in the skyscraper-strewn Windy City that does not appear phallic.

A Chicago office tower known by locals as the 'Vagina Building' has sold for only half of its previous $121 million price

The 41-story building was bought by R2, a private equity real estate firm, for $60 million - $10 million less than the expected price as well as half the former cost

Sheldon Schlegman of A. Epstein and Sons designed the 582 foot skyscraper and has not spoken out about rumors that the building was constructed to be feminist icon

Sheldon Schlegman of A. Epstein and Sons designed the 582 foot skyscraper and has not spoken out about rumors that the building was constructed to be feminist icon.

Despite reports that the building was designed to be a feminine counter to the masculine thrust of most skyscrapers, the myth is unconfirmed.

It was reported that R2 was making a deal to purchase the 661,477-square-foot tower last June.

In 2017, the building was sold for $121 million in a deal with CBRE Investment Management.

The sale is reportedly the first major office tower sale of more than $50 million in Chicago since July 2022.

Since the start of the pandemic - demand for office space has dramatically dropped as companies have continued to extend work-from-home policies to their employees.

Now that employers are demanding that their workers return to the office for work, corporate working spaces are expected to be in demand again.

But Chicago has also developed a bad reputation for crime in recent years, with the city's downtown losing multiple flagship retailers after repeated smash-and-grab incidents.

Sitting at 150 N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago's Millennium Park, the Smurfit-Stone Building is jokingly referred to as the 'Vagina Building' because of its unique architectural design

The diamond-shaped building is split down the middle and has a slit cut out in the top - when lit up at night, the outline is thought to look like female genitalia

It's an urban myth amongst Chicago residents that the city's skyline is phallic shaped with the Diamond Building being the only skyscraper that is not

R2 CEO Matt Garrison described the skyscraper as 'an instantly recognizable Chicago icon' with 'bold architecture' in an email to CoStar News.

Garrison said the tower, built in 1984, is in excellent condition but that the company is looking to update some of the amenities to keep up to date with the demands of tenants.

The CEO is predicting that by offering cheaper purchase prices - the firm can secure tenants and add new ones while other landlords struggle to improve their properties.

'Sentiment in office capital markets is at an all-time low,' Garrison said. 'But people forget about the size and depth of Chicago's 200 million-square-foot office market. Lease rollovers alone in Chicago are bigger than most urban markets in the country.'
The Big Apple's City Council overwhelmingly voted to reject Mayor Eric Adams' veto of a bill that will force NYPD officers into doing significantly more paperwork after nearly every interaction they have with a member of the public.

Adams, a Democrat and former police captain, has argued vehemently against the bill, saying it will effectively drown officers in paperwork thereby threatening public safety.

In a vote of 42-9, the progressive council voted Tuesday afternoon to override Adams' veto of the 'How Many Stops Act.'

The mayor would have needed two more votes in order to beat the override. The bill initially passed the council back in December by a vote of 35-9, with seven members abstaining.

The new law will mandate that police officers record details including the apparent age, race, and gender of anyone they stop, even those they come into contact with during low-level encounters, like preliminarily questioning someone who may have witnessed a crime.

The beleaguered mayor previous spoke out against the passage of the bill - to limited avail, as Tuesday's vote proved

The bill was full-heartedly backed by most members of the progressive council, including Speaker Adrienne Adams (pictured)

The embattled mayor has insisted that the bill will only inhibit officers from doing their life-saving work by dumping a sea of unnecessary paperwork on their desks.

He added that the bill will likely lead to guesswork from officers when it comes to determining demographic information about the people with whom they're interacting.

The bill was supported by the grand majority of the council, including Speaker Adrienne Adams, who says the new bill will hold officers accountable for unlawful stops and therefore mitigate potential racial profiling.

NYPD officers are feeling demoralized by the bill - another vote of no confidence in the force by the city's government.

'Todays over-ride is one more step toward the city council goal: destroy the worlds best police department,' said Paul DiGiacomo, the NYPD Detectives Endowment Association president.

'Thanks to the politicians the divide between the police and citizens will grow. And so will retirements of our best most experienced detectives. Heartbreaking.'

Right up until the very last moment possible, Adams was leading an ultimately unsuccessful campaign to quash the legislation.

His efforts included a Saturday night ride-along with officers in Harlem and the South Bronx, for which nine councilmembers joined.

He also trotted out Yanely Henriquez, a mother who continues to mourn her 16-year-old daughter, Angellyh Yambo, who was killed by a stray bullet on her way home from school in 2022.

Mayor Eric Adams has insisted that the 'How Many Stops Act' will bog officers down with mountains of paperwork that will prevent them from doing their jobs

The bill will force officers to document demographic details about individuals during every low-stakes encounter they perform

'This is not a police stop bill, this is a police interaction bill, which is a bit different and I dont think thats what the council people had in mind when they introduced this,' said Adams.

'Every second and every minute should go to finding bad people - not doing paperwork,' he said during a CBS interview.

However, the New York Post reports that some members of the council say Adams didn't do enough to sway voters who could have potentially been won over.

'If the mayor cant take 10 minutes out of his day to call members, Im wondering how serious he is about this,' a council source told the outlet ahead of the vote.

Adams was accused of executing a publicity blitz as opposed to picking up the phone to call members whose votes may have been winnable. The mayor claims to have reached out directly to councilmembers.

In another blow dealt to the mayor Tuesday, the council also rejected Adams' veto of a bill that will ban solitary confinement in NYC jails.

Department of Correction guards will be allowed to isolate violent inmates for no more than four hours in what will be called a 'de-escalation' unit.

Adams failed to successfully convince an additional two councilmembers to vote against the bill

A man, right, is surrounded by three units of New York Police Department officers who attempt to calm the man down October 3, 2023 in New York City. The agitated man claimed abusive police behavior after he and his car were pulled over for an inspection

For the last two years, NYPD officers have handed over their badges in record numbers, a pattern that Adams has called a 'law enforcement crisis.'

In 2022, some 3,700 officers handed in their badge, the highest number reported since the 9/11 attacks more than 20 years ago.

Last year, nearly 250 officers quit during the first two months of the year.

This time last year, nearly every precinct was understaffed, causing response times to go up and forcing mayor's office to zero-in on the problem of police recruitment, which the passage of today's bill does not serve to help.
Iran has told the United States through intermediaries that any strike on its own soil would cross a red line and provoke reprisals on American targets in the region, according to a report.

The grim warning came as the world holds its breath to see how Joe Biden will respond to the killing of three U.S. soldiers by Iranian-backed militias.

Biden on Tuesday said he had already made his decision regarding reprisals for the deaths on Sunday - but did not disclose what it was.

He spent Monday sequestered with his military and national security advisers weighing up a range of options drawn up and debated over decades: among them striking Iranian assets in the Persian Gulf; taking on Iran-backed militias in Syria and Iraq; launching a cyberattack and - the most fraught option - launching strikes on Iranian territory, to take out commanders and key military sites.

On Tuesday, The Guardian reported that Tehran has told Washington via intermediaries that if it strikes Iranian territory directly, Tehran will itself hit back at American assets in the Middle East.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, is seen on January 16 addressing Iranian clerics. Iran has reportedly warned the US not to strike targets within Iranian territory

Iranian officials have insisted they did not order the strikes which killed three U.S. soldiers, but are known to supply and fund the groups that did

Joe Biden is seen on Monday in the Situation Room with Lloyd Austin, the Secretary of Defense. Biden said on Tuesday he has made up his mind about reprisals

Biden and his team have insisted the U.S. is trying to avoid escalation, and the president does not want another war to deal with - especially in an election year.

'I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East, that's not what I'm looking for,' he said on Tuesday at the White House.

Pressed about concerns raised by his own administration about the risks of escalation, the president replied: 'We'll see.'

Administration officials are saying that the reprisals will be carried out over time, in a series of strikes.

Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, said on Monday: 'We will respond decisively to any aggression, and we will hold responsible the people who attacked our troops. That response could be multileveled, come in stages and be sustained over time.'

From left to right: Spc. Kennedy Sanders, Sgt. William Jerome Rivers and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett. The three U.S. Army Reserve soldiers from Georgia were killed by a drone strike on Sunday

A U.S. official told ABC News the strikes will be carried out 'over the course of several days', and hit 'multiple targets.'

The official would not specify if the targets are inside or outside of Iran, but added: 'These are going to be very deliberate targets - deliberate strikes on facilities that enabled these attacks' on U.S. forces.

There have been over 160 attacks launched by Iranian-backed militias on U.S. targets in Iraq, Syria and Jordan since the October 7 terror attack.

The various militia groups, which call themselves the 'Axis of Resistance', say they are attacking the U.S. to force them to end their support for Israel's war in Gaza. Analysts say Iran is simply taking advantage of the chaos.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's foreign minister, said he felt Iran was winning people over to its way of thinking.

He said the White House knew well that 'a political solution' was required to end the horrors in the Gaza Strip and the wider issues in the Middle East.

'Diplomacy is moving forward on this path,' he said. 'Benjamin Netanyahu is nearing the end of his criminal political life.'

Iran's deputy interior minister, Seyyed Majid Mirahmadi, held a meeting with his Syrian counterparts, amid acknowledgment that an attack on Iranian-backed militias in Syria was the most likely path.

Mirahmadi and his Syrian allies discussed the crisis and insisted the 'Axis of Resistance' was on the verge of victory, The Guardian reported.

And Javad Zarif, the former Iranian foreign minister, said he believed Israel's 'aura of invincibility' had cracked.

'The foreign policy of the Israeli regime is based on two axes: oppression and invincibility,' he said.

The three U.S. service members killed in Sunday's attack on a base in Jordan have been named as Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia - all from an Army Reserve engineering unit from Georgia.

The White House on Tuesday said that Biden has spoken to the families of all three, and they agreed to his request to attend the 'dignified transfer' ceremony, when their remains land back in the United States at Dover Air Force base.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday the militias 'do not take orders' from Iran and act independently.

But Tehran is widely known to be the driving force for the attacks on the U.S. targets. Biden's own aides, according to The New York Times, admit the efforts to hit targets in the region in response to drone and missile attacks - to 'restore deterrence,' the administration says - have failed.

Iran has suggested any strikes within Iran itself would cross a red line. Former CIA chief of staff Jeremy Bash said escalation is 'unavoidable'.

He said: Biden 'cannot avoid the international challenges even in an election year.'

He added: 'There is a sense that our deterrence measures to date have not been received by Tehran as we hoped, so escalation is unavoidable.'

The president again warned that the U.S. would hold those responsible 'to account.' He met with members of his security team including Austin, who has been working at home for weeks after being hospitalized

The drone attack late Saturday night impacted a US outpost located in the northeast part of the country known as Tower 22, near the Syria border, and resulted in at least 34 other injuries

Now Biden has made his call, retaliation are believed likely begin a few days later and come in waves, against a range of targets.

Campaign officials hope that the 81-year-old president, who spent six years as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has deep relationships with many key players in the Middle East, will impress wavering voters with his calm and competence.

The Pentagon and State Department have spent decades drawing up scenarios and creating lists of possible targets.

The New York Times reported that the U.S. has identified the major drone-making factories, and their overseas suppliers, which are working to help Russia in Ukraine, and providing armaments to the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The working assumption of American officials, the paper said, is that Sunday's attack was by an Iranian-made drone.

The Pentagon has existing plans for potential strikes on Iranian missile sites and air bases, in case a conflict broke out between Iran and Israel. Israel has been carrying out high-profile bombing runs, practicing attacks on the Natanz nuclear site and the underground facility at Fordow.

The U.S. has even formulated a cyberattack option against Iran, code-named 'Nitro Zeus,' the New York Times reported.

The cyberattack would disable Iran's air defenses, communications systems and crucial parts of its power grid.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was back at work at the Pentagon for the first time since his December surgery for a procedure he did not disclose to the White House in advance. He attended a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Pentagon Monday

Republicans, led by Trump, are demanding Biden take decisive action. Trump backed away from attacking Iran in November 2020, shortly after the election.

He asked for options on attacking Iran's main nuclear site, a day after a U.N. watchdog report showed Iran had finished moving a first cascade of advanced centrifuges from an above-ground plant at its main uranium enrichment site to an underground one, in a fresh breach of its 2015 nuclear deal with major powers.

But Trump ultimately decided against taking the dramatic step, privately worrying about the implications of an all-out war with Iran.

On Sunday, Trump said he would have been tougher against Iran. 'Three years ago, Iran was weak, broke, and totally under control,' he wrote on Truth Social.

'Thanks to my Maximum Pressure policy, the Iranian Regime could barely scrape two dollars together to fund their terrorist proxies.'

He said the fault lay with Biden's decision in September to unfreeze $6 billion of Iranian cash, held in Qatar, in response to Iran releasing five U.S. hostages.

Trump said Biden was now funding 'bloodshed and carnage', and condemned the decision.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's latest and most advanced aircraft carrier, was deployed to the eastern Mediterranean in response to the attack by Hamas on Israel

A handout photo made available by the Iranian Army office on January 19 shows a missile being launched during a military drill in the Persian Gulf

In November, the House blocked the unfreezing of the cash: the decision now goes to the Senate.

'Then Joe Biden came in and gave Iran billions of dollars, which the Regime has used to spread bloodshed and carnage throughout the Middle East,' said Trump.

'This attack would NEVER have happened if I was President, not even a chance - Just like the Iranian-backed Hamas attack on Israel would never have happened, the War in Ukraine would never have happened, and we would right now have Peace throughout the World. Instead, we are on the brink of World War 3..'

Other Republicans echoed Trump's call for a swift and incisive response to Iran's actions.

Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, called for 'crippling costs' for Iran, saying the pain must be felt 'not only on frontline terrorist proxies, but on their Iranian sponsors who wear American blood as a badge of honor.'

Senator John Cornyn, the Texas Republican, demanded strikes on Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina senator, said: 'The only thing the Iranian regime understands is force. Until they pay a price with their infrastructure and their personnel, the attacks on U.S. troops will continue. 'Hit Iran now. Hit them hard.'

Donald Trump, seen at a rally on Saturday in Nevada, said Biden had been weak on Iran

Sen. Lindsey Graham demanded Biden: 'Hit Iran now. Hit them hard'

And Dan Crenshaw, a member of the House representing Texas, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, said it was time to repeat Trump's order to kill Qasem Soleimani, leader of the Quds Force, whose January 3, 2020 death in a U.S. drone strike stunned Iran.

'Time to kill another Iranian general, perhaps?' said Crenshaw. 'That might send the right message.'

Biden is aware of the increasing cost of foreign wars - Ukraine, Gaza - on his election campaign, and concerned about escalation.

He has few good options, analysts say.

'There are no good choices, but the deaths and wounds of so many U.S. troops and SEALs demand a strong response,' said James G. Stavridis, the retired Navy admiral who now works for the Carlyle Group, a global investment firm.

Stavridis told The New York Times that there needed to be significant reprisals.

'A multi-day air campaign against all proxies, coupled with a 'last chance warning' to Iran is warranted,' he said.

'The Pentagon should be creating options that go directly against Iranian weapons production facilities, naval assets and intelligence systems in case the mullahs want to go another round. A strong offensive cyberattack would be another viable option, either alone or in conjunction with kinetic strikes.'

Aaron David Miller, a former U.S. Middle East peace negotiator now at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told Politico: 'His options range from bad to worse. Not responding is not conscionable, but there are risks of provoking a true regional war.'

He aded: 'They know that Iran can not afford a direct conflict with the United States, but it could fully unleash Hezbollah on Israel or American assets, and it could spiral.'
China, Nauru relations embark on fast track: FM

Xinhua) 11:23, January 31, 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The reopening of the Chinese embassy in Nauru shows that China-Nauru relations are embarking on a fast growth track, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing when answering a relevant query. Wang said that on behalf of Nauru, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea congratulated China on the reopening of the embassy, and reiterated that Nauru is firmly committed to the one-China principle and regards the principle as a fundamental foreign policy.

Aingimea also noted that China-Nauru relations have developed rapidly and been warmly received in Nauru since the resumption of diplomatic ties, and that Nauru looks forward to what the two countries can do together.

After officially resuming diplomatic relations on Jan. 24, China and Nauru each agreed to open an embassy in the other's country at an early date. Through the concerted efforts of both sides, the five-star red flag is once again flying high over Nauru just five days on, a sign that China-Nauru relations are embarking on a fast growth track, Wang said. This also shows that the historic trend of commitment to the one-China principle will not be stopped, and that the global family of commitment to the one-China principle will grow even larger, he said.

China stands ready to work with Nauru for equal-footed engagement, close communication, sincere cooperation and common development, aiming to advance bilateral relations steadily and bring more benefits to the peoples of the two countries, Wang said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A Michigan school official has revealed that she thought it was 'strange' that mass shooter Ethan Crumbley's parents didn't take him home after they were called to the school over concerns about their son's mental health.

Ethan Crumbley, 17, shot and killed four of his Michigan high school classmates on November 30, 2021.

The teenager's parents have now been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter each in the deaths of four of the shooting victims while Ethan has been sentenced to life in prison.

At the trial of Jennifer and James Crumbley Nick Ejak, who was in charge of discipline at Oxford High School, told the jury he found it 'odd' and 'strange' that the couple declined to immediately take their son home after they were called to the school to discuss a disturbing drawing he had made.

The drawing showed a gun, a bullet and was detailed with phrases such as 'blood everywhere', 'the thoughts won't stop help me,' and 'my life is useless.'

Jurors at the involuntary manslaughter trial of Jennifer Crumbley were shown disturbing drawings by mass shooter son Ethan hours before he opened fire at Oxford High school, killing four

At the trial of Jennifer and James Crumbley Nick Ejak, who was in charge of discipline at Oxford High School, told the jury he found it 'odd' and 'strange' that the couple declined to immediately take their son home

Ethan Crumbley, 17, shot and killed four of his Michigan high school classmates on November 30, 2021

Ethan Crumbley stands with his attorneys Paulette Loftin, left, and Amy Hopp, in court in December

Jennifer told police in an interview how she had texted with her son just minutes before the shooting, saying she had asked if he was OK at 12.21pm and he replied saying he had just gotten back from lunch.

She said she told him he could talk to his parents and they wouldn't judge him, and he replied 'I know, I love you.'

Ten minutes later he fired his first shot and went on to kill four students, Hana St. Juliana, 14, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, Tate Myre, 16, and Justin Shilling, 17, and injure seven others over the next nine minutes before he was detained by police.

The newly released police station interview, conducted just hours after the shooting, shows the parents telling police: 'I really wish we would have taken him home.'

Jennifer and her husband are accused of contributing to the deaths at Oxford High School by neglecting their son's needs and making a gun accessible at home.

It is the first time parents have ever been charged in a US mass school shooting.

Part of the case against the couple is that they bought Ethan a new gun just days before the shooting.

But they insisted target practice is a family hobby, and James told the investigator that he took his son to the shooting range 'all the time' and added 'I've been trying to teach him safely.'

Crumbley's parents, James and Jennifer have both been charged in connection with the shooting

Jennifer Crumbley in court on Tuesday, she is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter

Jennifer Crumbley's attorney Shannon Smith listening to testimony during the trial on Tuesday

Jennifer was shown the depraved etchings at a meeting with school staff but allowed her son to remain in school

Jennifer became emotional after seeing video of her son walking through Oxford High School during the Nov. 30, 2021 shooting rampage in the courtroom of Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews

The pair later asked for a lawyer again saying: 'we would like a lawyer present from here on out' and Jennifer, who could be seen on her phone throughout the interview, said she was messaging someone to find an attorney.

After the charges against them were announced - the couple went missing, but their lawyers insisted they were not on the run.

'The Crumbleys left town on the night of the tragic shooting for their own safety. They are returning to the area to be arraigned. They are not fleeing from law enforcement despite recent comments in media reports,' the attorneys said.

However, it was revealed on day two of the trial that Jennifer had sent a text to her boss a day before the involuntary manslaughter charges were announced saying 'We're on the run again. Helicopters. Not sure where to. I'll message you.'

Other new evidence has been unearthed in court this week and presented in the case against Ethan's parents.

Evidence shows Jennifer and her husband James were riding horses and didn't respond when Ethan sent her text messages on March 17, 2021 saying their house was haunted.

She had told her husband earlier that day that she wanted to 'get drunk and ride my horse,' according to a message displayed to the jury.

Ethan said he was scared because 'demons' were 'throwing bowls.'

Justin Shilling, 17, (left) and Tate Myre, 16, (right) were also killed in the senseless shooting

Madisyn Baldwin, 17, (left) and Hana St Juliana, 14, (right) died in the 2021 shooting rampage at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit

Police say Crumbley's first victim was freshman Phoebe Arthur (pictured), who was shot in the face but miraculously survived. A total of 13 people were shot, four of whom died

By the day of the shooting, four different employees had reported alarming behavior from Ethan Crawley

Ethan texted his mother about his paranoia and fears that someone was in their home, but she didn't reply

'Can you text back?' he asked his mother.

It also emerged that in April 2021, seven months before the school attack, Ethan Crumbley told a friend that he was 'mentally and physically dying.'

He said he asked his father to take him to a doctor but was told to 'suck it up.'

The main issue at stake is the disturbing homework shown to his parents just hours before he carried out his murderous rampage.

On the morning of the shooting, school counselor, Scott Hopkins, called Ethan's parents in to discuss drawings Ethan had made of a gun with the words 'the world is dead'.

Ethan had also scrawled the words 'blood everywhere', 'my life is useless' and 'the thoughts wont stop, help me' over the book.

His parents discussed the drawings with Hopkins, and decided he could go back to class.

Hopkins said on Monday: 'If I believed he (the shooter) was a threat to people, I wouldve taken different actions.'

ATF Special Agent Brett Brandon holds up and identifies the SIG Sauer murder weapon used by Ethan Crumbley in the Oxford High School shootings

Jennifer and James Crumbley confronted Ethan in a police station just hours after the shooting, with the mom asking her son 'Why?', while James repeated 'I love you'

James later said he was a 'perfect' kid and never did anything wrong

School officials later said that Crumbley talked his way out of trouble by claiming the drawings were part of plans to create a video game.

On Tuesday, then-school dean Nicholas Ejak was questioned over why Crumbley wasn't removed from the school and why his bag wasn't searched after the meeting.

He said: 'It wasn't necessary... that I do that because I didn't have any reasonable suspicion to do that.'

By the day of the shooting, at least four employees had raised concerns about Ethan's behavior.

As well as the drawings, a teacher had told management they had seen him researching bullets and another teacher spotted him watching a video of a person gunning people down.

In one email to Ejak, a teacher wrote that he 'was on his phone looking at different bullets'.

She added: 'Now that he's on my radar, I'm also noticing that some of his previous work that he's completed from earlier in the year leans a bit toward the violent side.'

Despite the reports, Ethan was allowed to return to class after the meeting with his parents, and he later emerged from a bathroom with a pistol and began firing on fellow students.

Police said Crumbley's first victim was freshman Phoebe Arthur, who was shot in the face but miraculously survived. A total of 13 people were shot, four of whom died.

He walked up and down hallways firing off shots until police arrived and took him into custody.

Both of his parents have been in jail for more than two years awaiting trial, unable to afford a $500,000 bond. James Crumbley is due to stand trial in March.

Ethan, who is now 17, was sentenced to life in prison in December after he pleaded guilty to murder, terrorism and other crimes. Ethan was 15 at the time of the shooting.

Smith told jurors Thursday that the mother was 'hypervigilant' about her son and shouldn't be blamed for the deaths. Jennifer is expected to testify in the days ahead.

Smith wants to challenge some evidence by having Ethan or his doctors speak to the jury. But his lawyers have said he would invoke his right to remain silent and also would not waive a right to privacy with psychiatrists.
The UK could send an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea as threats from Iran-backed Houthi rebels continue to escalate, the Armed Forces minister has indicated.

James Heappey suggested that a British aircraft carrier could be sent to the region to replace the USS Dwight D Eisenhower when it is returned to America.

The UK has already engaged in a series of airstrikes on Houthi targets in cooperation with the US, while the warship HMS Diamond is also stationed in the Red Sea to protect shipping in the key trading route.

But Mr Heappey, in an interview with the House magazine, suggested an aircraft carrier could 'plug a gap' in the future.

Referencing the nickname of the US carrier, he said: 'There's no real need for more carrier mass  for more carriers to be in the region than the Ike can provide. She's a very capable ship.

Sailors line the flight deck of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales

Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey

Houthi fighters lift rifles, Yemen and Palestine flags and Houthi emblems march during a rally and parade against the America-Britain airstrikes

'So our judgment was that with the Ike on station  the Eisenhower on station  and with jets available from Akrotiri, that we were able to meet the challenge as it is now.'

He indicated the Royal Navy could step in 'when the Eisenhower goes home, if we were needed to plug a gap in US deployments, or if the situation deteriorates and we need more'.

He added: 'The fact is the Eisenhower can't stay there forever. And so there's a thing about just maintaining a carrier presence in the region where we might cooperate with the Americans to provide a capability there.'

Retired admiral and Labour peer Lord West of Spithead has been among those suggesting UK could send an aircraft carrier to the region.

The UK currently has two aircraft carriers in service, the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

Fears that the Middle East tinderbox may soon ignite in spectacular fashion were today exacerbated after Houthi chiefs said they were preparing for a 'long-term confrontation.'

A Yemeni man leans over a vehicle of Houthi fighters carrying machine guns

Mohamed al-Atifi, the Houthi defence minister, said in a statement to the Times on Tuesday: 'We are prepared for a long-term confrontation with the forces of tyranny. The Americans, the British, and those who coordinated with them must realise the power of the sovereign Yemeni decision and that there is no debate or dispute over it.'

Iran-backed Houthi rebels already went after British assets last week, carrying out an attack on a British oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, mounting fears that Israel 's war against Hamas following the October 7 attacks could consume more of the Middle East.

Yahya Sare'e, the spokesman for the Yemeni armed forces, said it had targeted the oil tanker 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 spokesman 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.

Iran-backed militants also killed three US soldiers in a drone attack over the weekend, piling pressure onto President Joe Biden to put more boots on the ground.

'While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq,' Biden said in a statement following the strike. 'Have no doubt - we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing,' he warned.

At least 34 personnel were also injured in the Sunday attack in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border, according to a statement from US Central Command.

The US military said the attack occurred at a base near the Syrian border.

It did not name the base, but a person familiar with the matter identified it as Tower 22 in Jordan - a base which holds a strategically important location, at the most northeastern point where the country's borders meet Syria and Iraq.

Iran's mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Monday that Tehran was not involved in the attack.

Over in Europe, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Germany risked being drawn into World War Three if Russia defeats Ukraine and takes over the nation's land.

Zelensky, 46, appeared on a German talk show to lobby Berlin into giving his nation's army long-range Taurus missiles, and praised leader Olaf Scholz for recognising that Russia was 'drawing closer.'

'My impression is that the chancellor [Scholz] has understood a few things better: that Putin is not just a name, but a threat, and not only for Ukraine,' Zelensky said.
Polish Madeleine McCann 'faker' Julia Wendell has revealed she regrets making the sensational claims online after she received torrents of abuse and death threats in the wake of her headline-grabbing stunt.

The 22-year-old became infamous last February after she insisted she was the missing British toddler in spurious posts on social media with her username '@IamMadeleineMcCann'.

Her claims led to Wendell even appearing on talk show Dr Phil after being flown across the Atlantic by American media personality Dr Fia Johansson to discuss the far-fetched possibility.

But finally she was persuaded to take a DNA test and the results proved conclusively that she had no relation to Madeleine, after which Wendell returned to Poland to live with her father. This was before a MailOnline investigation revealed that Wendell had previously claimed to be three other missing girls.

Wendell has now told a BBC podcast series how she 'regrets' the entire bizarre affair and insists she 'never meant to hurt anyone - including [the] McCanns' - adding: 'I really want to know who I am'.

The 'fantasist' claims she suffered from gaps in her memory following childhood abuse and became suspicious about her upbringing after her parents dismissed questions on whether she was adopted. When she began posting online to look for answers, she upset a number of people, some of whom began sending her virulent messages online.

'I knew that there will be people who will not believe me or hate me, but I didn't expect that I will get death threats, for example,' she said of the abuse she received.

''I was trying to be strong even when people said, 'you should die.' 'You should be raped.' 'You should be killed.' 'You should be murdered.' 'You shouldn't exist in this world.''

Julia believed she was Madeleine McCann after seeing resemblances between sketches of suspects and her abuser, she told the BBC

Julia Wendell told the BBC of her abuse as a child and difficulties remembering her upbringing

Madeleine McCann disappeared from a hotel in Portugal in 2007, aged three

Julia told BBC Radio 4s new podcast, Why Do You Hate Me? she latched on to the belief that she was Madeleine McCann after later seeing sketches of a potential suspect in the case that bore similarities to her abuser.

'I know [what] my abuser looks like. And I know this is very, very similar to the suspects from [the] Madeleine McCann page,' she explained.

She claims people thought she was looking for fame and attention, generating very angry responses online after she began posting on her '@iammadeleinemccan' [sic] Instagram page, looking for answers.

According to Julia, the abuse went so far that one person even claimed to have put a bounty on her head.

She said she also received support from some followers when she explained her story and shared the abuse she had received online.

Julia maintains that there was no malintent behind her claims, and that she really did believe she was the British toddler.

She said she 'just wanted to say sorry' to parents Kate and Gerry McCann 'because every person can react in a different way and maybe it brought them more sadness.'

BBC disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring said she spoke to people connected to the McCanns and the family's official search organisation, Find Madeleine, who said they were willing to accept Julia's apology.

In her desperate search for answers, Julia's story was heard world over after she appeared on US show Dr Phil in June 2022 to talk through her claims - but was unable to back them up.

On the programme, Dr Phil said: '[Julia's mother] says she went to the hospital and gave birth to you.'

Julia replied: 'She said, yes. When I asked her for DNA before this whole situation, when I asked her for some pictures from her pregnancy, some childhood pictures she refused.'

Wendell had claimed she was never shown photos of herself in her early years or a birth certificate, her parents had quickly refuted this  and provided evidence.

They said in a statement: 'For us as a family it is obvious that Julia is our daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin and step niece. We have memories, we have pictures.

'Julia also has these photos, because she took them from the family home with the birth certificate, as well as numerous hospital discharges.

'We always tried to understand all situations that happened with Julia. Threats to our address from Julia, her lies and manipulations, activity on the internet... we've seen it all and we've tried to prevent it, explain it, we've asked her to stop.'

Julia Wendell, 21, appeared on the US show Dr Phil where she said she started suspecting she was the missing British girl in June 2022, without providing any proof to back up her claims

Wendall (right) was assisted by Dr Fia Johansson (left), a private investigator and psychic medium, in submitting DNA samples

Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire went missing in May 2007 just a few days short of her fourth birthday

Around the same time, Julia said she submitted DNA tests, which showed she was of primarily Polish heritage, with 'negligible influence from Lithuania and Romania'.

Her parents distanced themselves further from the claims, saying Julia had fabricated the story and that 'it's obvious she isn't' Madeleine.

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

Julia was assisted by Dr Fia Johansson at the time, a private investigator and psychic medium helping to solve her client's mystery.

She said upon revealing the test results: 'This story is much more complicated than a simple girl from a small town in Poland making a claim to get attention.

'She truly believed what she was saying, and with so many questions about her childhood it is easy to understand where she was coming from.

'What is amazing is parent's refusal to resolve this nagging question for Julia. In any case, upon the revelation, she decided to be back with her dad. I personally wish her well.'

Julia herself has spoken openly about her difficult childhood, finding herself isolated at school and receiving sexual abuse.

She told the BBC she was in therapy aged 20 and realised there were large gaps in her memories from childhood.

Julia previously said publicly: 'I don't remember most of my childhood but my earliest memory is very strong and it's about holidays in a hot place where there is a beach and white or very light coloured buildings with apartments. I don't see my family in this memory.'

She also insists she has many physical similarities with missing Madeleine, including a coloboma of the iris - a rare eye abnormality affecting the shape of the pupil.

She said she also had a similar laugh and dimple to the missing girl.

Madeleine, from Rothley in Leicestershire, vanished during a family holiday at Praia da Luz in Portugal in 2007 then aged three.

This would make her around 20 now, two years younger than Julia  a fact that left many sceptical.

Police now hope they may get closer to solving the tragic mystery of the missing girl with a trial honing in on prime suspect Christian Brueckner.

Convicted rapist Brueckner, 45, is separately 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 Madeleine's case, Brueckner's lawyers are said to have been given hope by recent claims that German investigators failed to find physical evidence tying him to McCann during an operation in Portugal earlier this year, in which they searched an area near a lake.

Christian Brueckner is the main suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann

Authorities gather at a makeshift base camp in the Arade dam area, Faro district, during the search operation in Silves, Portugal, 25 May 2023

The operation, which began on 23 May, stemmed from a European Investigation Order addressed by the German authorities to Portugal and focused on the Arade dam

Last month it was reported that he might have taken photos of the missing toddler and buried them in an underground hideaway at a reservoir in the Algarve.

The convicted paedophile is alleged to have taken 'trophies' from his victims in the past.

Brueckner - who has only been named Christian B. in Germany - reportedly maintains his innocence privately to his lawyers.

Why Do You Hate Me? airs on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesdays from 31 January, and will be available on BBC Sounds.

Rape Crisis England and Wales runs a free support line for victims of sexual abuse. If you are affected by the issues mentioned in this article, you can call 0808 500 2222 or use the online chat. Both are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Northern Ireland is on the brink of a return to power sharing for the first time in two years after the DUP ended its Stormont boycott.

After tense talks that ran into the early hours of yesterday, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party was ready to back a deal that will see Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill installed as the first ever republican First Minister.

Sinn Fein's national leader Mary Lou McDonald claimed the move meant the reunification of Ireland was now within 'touching distance'.

The arrangement includes 3.3billion in new funding for Northern Ireland, together with promises from Government that post-Brexit trade barriers between the Province and the rest of the UK will be eased.

Tory Brexiteers yesterday demanded to see the detail of the agreement, amid fears that it could weaken the UK's ability to diverge from EU rules.

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party was ready to back a deal that will see Ms O'Neill installed as the first ever republican First Minister

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party was ready to back a deal following tense talks last night. The new deal includes 3.3billion in new funding for Northern Ireland, together with promises from Government that post-Brexit trade barriers will be eased

Sinn Fein's President Mary Lou McDonald (left) with Ms O'Neill. Ms McDonald claimed the return of power sharing meant the reunification of Ireland was now within 'touching distance'

The DUP walked out of Stormont in February 2022 in protest at post-Brexit trade checks blamed for driving a wedge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The political deadlock has left Stormont paralysed. Sir Jeffrey yesterday said the new deal would mean 'zero checks, zero customs paperwork on goods moving within the United Kingdom'. He added: 'That takes away the border within the UK between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and that is something that's very important.'

Downing Street declined to confirm his assessment, saying new proposals would be published following consultation with other parties in Northern Ireland.

Ministers remain nervous that the fragile deal could collapse if hardline loyalists judge that the detail does not match Sir Jeffrey's rhetoric. Some members of the DUP's executive were so concerned by the plan that they attended Monday night's crunch briefing 'wired up' to enable loyalist activist Jamie Bryson to conduct a live commentary from outside on what were supposed to be private discussions.

Mr Bryson said: 'If, as I suspect, the legislation is at variance with Sir Jeffrey's glossy power point presentation, then he has a very big problem.'

Under the terms of the Brexit deal, Northern Ireland has full access to the EU's single market to prevent the need for a hard border with the Republic.

But the arrangement has led to EU checks on certain goods entering from Great Britain, triggering unionist anger and shortages of some goods.

Stormont in Northern Ireland has been vacant since the DUP walked out of the power sharing agreement in February 2022. The DUP walked out in protest to post-Brexit trade checks, which they blamed for driving a wedge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK

Rishi Sunak shaking hands with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, following the agreement of the Windsor Framework

Rishi Sunak's Windsor Framework deal last year dealt with some of the problems but was not enough to win over the DUP.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, who will publish details of the legislation today, said he now believes that 'all the conditions are now in place' for Stormont to return.

The plans include a 'screening mechanism' to reassure unionists that proposals to diverge from EU laws will not create barriers to trade within the UK.

Whitehall sources suggested the agreement would make only limited changes to the UK's deal with the EU. The Windsor Framework, signed by Mr Sunak last year, will not be amended.
A doctor has been banned from practising for two years after allegedly telling a female patient that 'your boyfriend is very lucky' during a breast examination and for 'inappropriate physical contact' with another female patient.

Dr Nathem Al-Naser was deregistered for two years by the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) following a hearing into his behaviour after allegations made by the Medical Board of Australia.

From a complaint made in 2020 the tribunal heard a woman went to the doctor, who owns and works at two general practices in Canberra, seeking a prescription for a contraceptive pill.

The tribunal found Dr Al-Naser performed a breast examination on the patient 'without taking procedural steps to ensure [her] dignity and privacy were respected and maintained'.

Dr Nathem Al-Naser has been deregistered for two years by the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal

In doing so he over-stepped professional boundaries, including sexual boundaries, by making the comment that the woman's 'boyfriend is lucky'.

Dr Al-Naser also failed to keep adequate records of how and when diagnoses were made or of a treatment plan.

The tribunal noted that previously Dr Al-Naser had restrictions placed on him by medical watchdog the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency in 2019 following a complaint by a female patient.

During that hearing Dr Al-Naser was forced to deny allegations he kissed the patient in 2013 and discussed his sex life with her.

Regarding that incident, Dr Al-Naser told ACAT the woman had asked him for the opioid pain-relief medicine OxyContin, which she said all her 'friends were using'.

Dr Al-Naser claimed it was his refusal to meet this request that led to the complaint against him.

The tribunal (pictured) found Dr Al-Naser has breached 'professional boundaries' in how he dealt with two female patients

However, he conceded he 'did have a level of familiarity with [the female patient] and that some of our communication was of a personal nature'.

This included sharing intimate details of his sexual relationship with his wife and asking the woman about sex toys.

The tribunal found that with these incidents the doctor failed to maintain professional boundaries and had also made inappropriate physical contact with the patient.

In imposing the two-year ban, the tribunal noted Dr Al-Naser had 'a lengthy and unenviable disciplinary history with sanctions or restrictions imposed' and questioned his level of remorse or insight into his actions.

The tribunal highlighted submissions made by the doctor that they said downplayed the seriousness of his transgressions.

Accordingly the ban was intended to impose 'personal and financial imposts'.

Dr Al-Naser has been practising for 24 years and previously worked as a senior medical officer at the Calvary Hospital Emergency Department.

While he cannot perform any medical duties during the length of his deregistration, he can still take part in the management of his two practices.
New York is considering easing the qualifications needed for thousands of jobs in order to hire migrants who are legally able to work in the US.

Officials in Albany are hoping to create a system in which migrants who have received federal work authorization can participate in the state workforce, according to the New York Post.

According to a memo written by the state Civil Service Commission, New York agencies have identified some 40,000 state jobs that migrant workers could potentially do.

Many of the 'hard-to-recruit, entry-level titles' require basic qualifications including proficiency in English and proof of education and prior employment - but foreign employees would be allowed to flout these.

Governor Kathy Hochul's office say the initiative would 'would offer temporary employment opportunities that are available for anyone who can legally work in the United States'

Just under 3,000 of the tens of thousands being sheltered by the state have been federally approved to work

In a statement, a spokesperson for Governor Kathy Hochul said that she has 'prioritized modernizing our State workforce and eliminating red tape, and she has instituted a series of reforms to achieve that goal.'

'This initiative, which has not yet been implemented, would offer temporary employment opportunities that are available for anyone who can legally work in the United States,' they added.

Timothy Hogues, the State Department of Civil Service Commissioner, said the department is 'very excited about this' during a budget hearing on Tuesday.

He explained that the recommended changes would be similar to already existing requirements for apprenticeship programs, and that, if adopted, the lowered standard of requirements would apply to all New Yorkers.

'This is no different from our traineeships and apprenticeships that we have that allow individuals to up-skill or get the time on the job to be able to meet the qualifications,' he said.

'This is just a bigger part of our holistic approach to opening up government and making these jobs available and reducing the barriers.'

Some of the jobs migrants - with no educational background and potentially no ability to speak English - would be considered qualified for under the new proposal include: caring for mentally disabled individuals, food service labor, and clerical positions.

The memo argues that allowing migrants with federal workforce approval to serve in theses roles would be a 'win-win' for the State and its agencies, which will better be able to 'connect qualified and motivated individuals with meaningful jobs and opportunity; help solve the migrant crisis; and rebuild the State workforce.'

Hochul has previously said that her office has identified more than 40,000 open positions in the state for which employers are willing to onboard migrant workers.

In terms of acquiring federal work authorizations, the process for some of the 47,000 migrants currently being sheltered in New York is a slow one.

The Post reports that by last November, just 2,850 had been approved for employment.

According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams' administration, 172,400 people have come through their intake system since the spring of 2022

Roberto Medina serves chicken and hot chocolate from a makeshift food stand outside a shelter for migrants on Randalls Island in New York on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024

People, mostly newly arrived migrants, receive an afternoon meal from Trinity Services and Food For the Homeless, across from Tompkins Square Park on January 24, 2024

New York City in particular has struggled under the weight of tens of thousands of migrants arriving at its borders in need of places to stay and other accommodations.

In 2023 alone, the city dealt with the arrival of more than 100,000 migrants.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has pleaded for state and federal aid as it is estimated the migrant crisis will cost the city $12billion over the next three years - a number the Hochul administration is likely attempting to offset slightly with the new working plan.

New York is a Right to Shelter state and is required to house the asylum seekers but shelters have filled up at an astronomical rate.

In Manhattan, a number of landmark hotels have been turned into makeshift shelters and temporary housing.

Back in September, Hochul said: 'We have to get the word out, that when you come to New York, you're not going to have more hotel rooms, we don't have capacity.

'So we have to also message properly that we're at a limit - if you're going to leave your country, go somewhere else.'
Eagle-eyed viewers noticed Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang standing as far away as possible as comedian Dave Chappelle made a surprise appearance at last week's episode end credits.

Chappelle, 50, who has hosted the show multiple times in the past and even saw rumors of writers boycotting when he did so in 2022, did not appear in the most recent episode proper but arrived to wave goodnight to the audience.

The comic has often pushed boundaries and caused outrage with what many see as jokes at the expense of the transgender community which he argues has caused people to protest his shows and even throw eggs at him.

He never spoke but stood next to a star-studded lineup as host Dakota Johnson thanked musical guest Justin Timberlake and guest stars like Jimmy Fallon, Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran.

Yang, who is gay and vocally supportive of LGBT causes, was seen standing as far away as possible from Chappelle and appeared perturbed.

Eagle-eyed viewers noticed Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang (pictured left) standing as far away as possible as comedian Dave Chappelle made a surprise appearance at last week's episode end credits

Yang, 33 was seen standing as far away as possible from Chappelle and appeared perturbed

At one point, the 33 year-old and fellow cast member Sarah Sherman appear to be discussing Chappelle turning up as the end credits roll.

Yang appears to say 'Oh' at one point as Sherman clearly tries to get a view of the legendary comic.

Neither of them appear to greet Chappelle at any point during the goodnights, with Yang remaining in the corner.

The show and Yang have yet to publicly comment on the episode.

Also not appearing to address Chappelle was Molly Kearney, the only non-binary cast member in the show's history. Kearney uses they/them pronouns.

Kearney, Sherman and Yang all appeared sparingly in that episode and Kearney only appeared in a pre-recorded sketch and did not appear in the end credits the last time Chappelle hosted in 2022, according to Paste Magazine.

Saturday Night Live staff writers were rumored to be boycotting that weekend's show over the decision to have Chappelle host it, according to reports.

However, a representative for Chappelle said there had been no signs of a boycott when they had attended meetings with the writers during the week.

After the announcement that Chappelle would be hosting, non-binary SNL writer Celeste Yim posted a picture of themselves in what appeared to be the writer's offices to their Instagram Stories.

The show and Yang have yet to publicly comment on the episode

Comedian Molly Kearney, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, also did not appear in the end credits

Saturday Night Live staff writers were rumored to be boycotting a 2022 show over the decision to have Chappelle host it

Over the picture, they wrote: 'I'm trans and non-binary. I use they/them pronouns. Transphobia is murder and it should be condemned.'

While Yim did not directly reference Chappelle, the timing suggested their post was criticism of Chappelle being chose as host. Yim is still a writing supervisor on the series.

Chappelle has been widely criticized in recent years for a steady stream of jokes involving transgender people.

Critics have labeled them transphobic - but fans say Chappelle is just exercising his right to free speech.

In his 2017 Netflix special, he spoke about pitching a movie idea to a Hollywood producer about a superhero who gets his power via raping women.

Other critics have complained that some of his recent stand-up specials have featured long digressions that played more like airing of grievances than comedic routines.

Chappelle's new Netflix special The Dreamer, debuted December 31.

During the show, which was shot the Lincoln Theater in Washington, DC, he makes jokes not only about the trans community, but the disabled as well saying, 'theyre not as organized as the gays. And I love punching down.'
Constance Marten's lover has refused to watch CCTV footage of his baby daughter shown to jury - as the runaway aristocrat and her boyfriend stand trial accused of killing the infant.

Barely two weeks old, the secret infant could be seen writhing around helplessly in the corner of a kebab shop, waving her little fists in the air.

The accused father Mark Gordon, 49, closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands to block out the shocking footage, which was shown to the court.

And his lawyer John Femi-Ola KC requested a break in proceedings, saying it was quite stressful for his client to view the footage.

Constance Marten, 36, and her partner Gordon are accused of going on the run in a desperately selfish bid to stop the baby being taken into care after losing custody of their four previous children.

Barely two weeks old, the secret infant could be seen writhing around helplessly in the corner of a kebab shop, waving her little fists in the air

Jurors were for the first time shown baby Victoria's face, weeks before she was found dead

The couple are seen sitting in a German doner kebab shop, putting the baby in a new buggy

Once they put the baby in the buggy, they are then seen covering it

Constance Marten, 36, and her partner Gordon are accused of going on the run in a desperately selfish bid to stop the baby being taken into care

Yesterday jurors at their manslaughter trial at the Old Bailey were shown CCTV footage of tiny Victoria laid out on a seat next to her mother in an east-London eatery on January 7 last year.

Despite the couples disappearance making front-page news, oblivious diners were seen eating just yards from the infant, who was moving around under a scarf as Marten tried to assemble a buggy the pair had just bought from Argos. In the footage, the tiny infant is too young to be able to hold her head up as her parents  who are accused of causing her death days later  bundle her into the buggy before covering her up out of sight.

But within hours, they had ditched the buggy in a deserted alleyway in Whitechapel in the East End before Marten was seen on CCTV walking away carrying something in a Lidl bag for life.

Prosecutor Tom Little KC has told jurors that the child was transferred to a red reinforced Lidl bag for life where it would appear it spent much of its life before it died.

Marten is yet to appear at the trial.

Earlier, jurors were shown images of the baby being carried by Marten outside a shop in East Ham.

Pacing back and forth rocking a bundle hidden in her jacket, the masked mother was then seen unzipping the coat to reveal the child cradled in her arms.

The dark-haired infant appeared dressed only in a babygrow despite the freezing temperatures.

Accused father Mark Gordon, 49, closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands to block out the shocking footage, which was shown to the court

Baby Victoria is kept zipped up inside Marten's jacket as she waits outside a shop in East Ham

Marten then unzips the jacket and exposes the baby who is dressed in just a babygrow to the cold

The defendants deny manslaughter by gross negligence of the little girl between January 4 and February 27 last year

The clip was taken just two days after Greater Manchester Police launched a major missing persons inquiry when the couples car exploded into flames on a motorway, forcing them to abandon the vehicle, leaving the babys placenta behind.

The defendants are accused of spending thousands of pounds on taxis taking them from the North West to Essex and on to East London to evade authorities.

Cab driver Colette Franklin  who took the defendants from Harwich to Colchester for 30  described how Gordon slid down his seat when a police car came towards them.

In London, Gordon was later seen wearing plastic bags on his shoes revealing how ill-equipped they were for the weather, jurors have been told. In the capital, the couple bought a childrens sleeping bag and a tent from Argos costing a total of 91.51. They then allegedly resorted to camping in a 40 thin and flimsy tent on the South Downs National Park, where Victoria died.

A dog walker who spotted them in mid-February described the aristocrat, who hails from a wealthy family with links to the Royal Family, as appearing homeless.

Paul Rogers said the couple were rummaging through bins, adding: As I got closer, I noticed they looked a bit dishevelled, a bit dirty, possibly homeless.

Police eventually arrested the pair near Brighton on February 27 and the body of their baby was later found in a Lidl supermarket bag covered in rubbish inside a disused shed.

The defendants deny manslaughter by gross negligence of the little girl between January 4 and February 27 last year.

They also deny perverting the course of justice, concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty, and causing or allowing the death of a child. The case continues.
When it was broadcast in 1995, the Panorama interview with Princess Diana was the most remarkable, and arguably most consequential, in British TV history.

Three decades on, it has become one of the biggest scandals in the BBC's history  a towering monument to dishonesty and a dearth of journalistic integrity.

Not only did disgraced reporter Martin Bashir use appalling methods to entrap Diana, the corporation colluded in covering up the scandal. Yet three years after Lord Dyson's excoriating report laid bare the magnitude of the deceit, the broadcaster seems to have learned no lessons.

Its bosses have fought tooth and nail to keep secret a cache of 3,000 documents linked to Bashir's interview.

Investigative journalist Andy Webb believes they could provide evidence of a plan, drawn up by senior management as late as 2020, to mislead the public about what was known about Bashir's tactics.

When it was broadcast in 1995, the Panorama interview with Princess Diana was the most remarkable, and arguably most consequential, in British TV history

BBC bosses have fought tooth and nail to keep secret a cache of 3,000 documents linked to Bashir's interview

Despite dismissing the emails as 'irrelevant', the BBC spent more than 200,000 of licence fee-payers' money on legal fees in a futile bid to thwart an FOI request for the data.

And when it finally handed over the files last night, after missing a deadline imposed by a judge who had questioned the corporation's honesty, vast tracts were concealed in censor's black ink.

If the information was truly 'irrelevant', why? This only fuels suspicion that the BBC is engaged in a cover-up of the cover-up.

The public interest in divulging these internal emails is overwhelming. Yet in its arrogance, there is no sign the broadcaster understands it is doing anything wrong.

On its website, the BBC pompously says its values are 'trust' and 'accountability'. But the more we learn of its skulduggery, the more those words ring hollow.

The cost of militancy

Of all the tired cliches trotted out by the unions to justify the crippling rail strikes, perhaps the most disingenuous is they have their members' interests at heart.

Could anything be further from the truth? With industrial action having now dragged on for 18 months, train drivers are on course to lose more in wages than if their militant leaders had accepted the latest pay offer.

Of all the tired cliches trotted out by the unions to justify the crippling rail strikes, perhaps the most disingenuous is they have their members' interests at heart (Pictured: An Aslef picket line in Waterloo on January 29)

Furious commuters, whose trains have been cancelled, will be tempted to blame their predicament on the Government

When this week's walkout ends, the dispute will have cost them an average of 4,900. The deal Aslef rejected was typically worth 4,750. Many rail workers want the chance to vote on it. But their hard-Left union boss, Mick Whelan, would rather use them as cannon fodder in a political war.

Furious commuters, whose trains have been cancelled, will be tempted to blame their predicament on the Government.

Why, they will ask, have ministers failed so lamentably to avert this hugely disruptive strike? The answer is simple: Aslef wants confrontation, not compromise.

It dreams of renationalisation and a Labour government bending to its whim. And it hopes this damaging guerilla war on rail operators will bring that closer.

A reckless proposal

Most people would agree that children should not be permitted to make decisions about their gender or irreversible medical treatments without parental consent.

Not, it seems, Sir Keir Starmer. In announcing that Labour will ban trans conversion therapy if it wins the election, he will effectively remove their involvement.

In announcing that Labour will ban trans conversion therapy if it wins the election, he will effectively remove parental involvement

While it is a complex issue, he should realise there is little support for this.

By pursuing such a reckless proposal, he risks unleashing unintended consequences. Parents, doctors and others who suggest a confused child should wait before taking permanent, body-altering drugs or having surgery could be criminalised.

So the question is, which does he care more about: Bringing in a ban to appease radical trans campaigners  or the health and wellbeing of vulnerable young people?
A total ban on foreign state ownership of the media could be considered following a decision over the takeover of the Telegraph, the media minister has suggested.

MPs warned a possible sale of the newspaper to an Abu Dhabi-backed group would leave the UK vulnerable as you 'can't separate sheikh from state'.

They voiced fears that the newspaper and The Spectator magazine, also owned by Telegraph Media, would become a 'PR arm' for the Gulf state.

Alicia Kearns, the Tory MP who chairs the foreign affairs select committee, tabled an urgent question on the deal yesterday which prompted a debate.

She told the Commons: 'The concern here is not foreign ownership, it is foreign state ownership. You cannot separate sheikh and state.

MPs warned a possible sale of the newspaper to an Abu Dhabi-backed group would leave the UK vulnerable as you 'can't separate sheikh from state'

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer is overseeing a probe into the proposal by RedBird IMI, which is 75 per cent funded by the UAE, to buy the two titles

'This is something that will make us vulnerable not for five years, not for ten years, but for the rest of our lives.'

Responding to their concerns, Julia Lopez, the media minister, said she was 'concerned about government ownership of any media institution'. She also suggested a total ban on foreign state ownership of the Press.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer is overseeing a probe into the proposal by RedBird IMI, which is 75 per cent funded by the UAE, to buy the two titles.

The Government is considering whether to block the takeover and a final decision could still be weeks away.

SNP MP John Nicolson yesterday added: 'I'm not in favour of a newspaper being owned as a loss-making PR arm of a foreign state by access to our daily news cycle.'

An investigation into the sale by Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been extended and will report by March 11.
The federal and Western Australian governments are trying to find a quarantine facility to house thousands of sheep and cattle stranded in heatwave conditions aboard a ship that's been at sea for almost a month.

About 16,500 animals are packed into the MV Bahijah livestock carrier, which is understood to be anchored in waters off the coast near Perth awaiting a decision.

The ship was reportedly ordered by the Federal government to turn back from its journey to the Middle East 25 days ago due to security concerns in the region.

Since then, it's been on a voyage to nowhere and arrived back in Australian waters in recent days.

Authorities are working on quarantine measures to allow thousands of cattle off a ship off WA

The federal and WA governments are trying to find a quarantine facility to take 16,500 head of sheep and cattle stuck aboard a ship in heatwave conditions.

Premier Roger Cook said the ship was likely to dock at Fremantle in the next day depending on traffic in the port.

'The information I have is that the animals are in good condition and good health but obviously everyday they stay on that ship will compromise that situation,' he told reporters on Tuesday.

'We're in the hands of the Commonwealth in relation to this but stand ready to support (it).'

Mr Cook said the WA Department of Agriculture was working with the federal government on a plan to unload some of the animals into a quarantine facility.

This included identifying and 'standing up' an appropriate facility with biosecurity measures capable of handling the volume of animals.

'It's a difficult situation but it's ultimately the Commonwealth's jurisdiction,' he said.

RSPCA WA said action needs to be taken to protect the animals' health and welfare.

Chief executive Ben Cave said sending them back to sea would be cruel and barbaric.

'Heatwave conditions are forecast for the rest of the week,' he said on Tuesday.

'These animals have already spent nearly a month on rolling seas in cramped conditions, standing in their own waste and there really is no other humane choice but to get them off the ship now.'

Mr Cave also called for independent vets to be allowed to inspect the livestock, which are understood to have been initially loaded onto the ship in Australia.

Perth's temperature is forecast to peak and 38C on Wednesday and 39C on Thursday.
Police responded to a report of the discovery of a body just before 11am Tuesday

A man in his twenties has been found dead in Thorpe Park's car park, prompting police to start an urgent investigation.

The man, who has not yet been named, was found dead inside a car at the popular Surrey theme park, which is currently closed for winter.

Police were called just before 11am on Tuesday morning following a report of the discovery of a man's body at the site on Staines Road, Chertsey.

A spokesperson said: 'An investigation into the circumstances of the death is underway, but it is not believed to be suspicious.'

The man is believed to be an Amazon delivery driver, according to Surrey Live.

'Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic incident,' a spokesperson for Amazon UK told the outlet.

'We're working with our delivery service provider and the police as they investigate.'

General view of the entrance to Thorpe Park's car park, where a man was found dead Tuesday

Surrey Police said they were called to the scene at 10:55 on Tuesday morning by South East Coast Ambulance Service, having discovered the body.

The man was found in a car in the closed car park, which is not due to reopen until March 24.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Last Thursday, a man was found dead in a car park outside Ombersley Street East Police Station in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire.

It was revealed on Friday that police were not treating the case as suspicious.

West Mercia Police said there is no evidence of third-party involvement and a coroner was informed.

A spokesperson for the West Midlands Ambulance Service added: 'We were called to reports of a medical emergency on Ombersley Street East at 8am yesterday.

'One ambulance and a paramedic officer attended the scene. On arrival we discovered one patient, a man.

'Sadly it quickly became apparent nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.'

A general view of Thorpe Park, a popular amusement park in Surrey, Britain

Thorpe Park is a British resort between Chertsey and Staines-upon-Thames in Surrey.

Last year, it pulled in as many as 1,500,000 guests over the course of the year.
Striking train drivers are on course to lose more in wages than if their militant union bosses had accepted the latest pay offer.

Industry figures obtained by the Mail show that, after this week's strikes, thousands of drivers will have lost an average of nearly 4,900 since walkouts began 18 months ago.

But they would have received 4,750 if their ASLEF union had accepted the Government's 8 per cent offer.

The deal would see the average train drivers' salary rise to 65,000 for a four-day week.

Meanwhile, ASLEF boss Mick Whelan enjoyed a 10,000 pay hike while complaining that his members had not received a rise for several years.

ASLEF boss Mick Whelan enjoyed a 10,000 pay hike while complaining that his members had not received a rise for several years

He pocketed nearly 119,000 in 'salary and expenses' in 2022, according to the union's recently published latest accounts. This was up more than 9 per cent from 108,610 the year before.

Mr Whelan has refused to put the eight per cent offer in a vote to his members. Ministers and rail bosses insist it is the final offer.

ASLEF's latest strike campaign started yesterday, with industrial action lasting until February 5.

Train drivers for operators South Western, South Eastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern and Thameslink walked out today, bringing trains across most of the south to a halt.

Tomorrow, drivers for Northern and TransPennine Express will go on strike, with more operators walking out on different days until the end of the week.

Tory MP Greg Smith, who sits on the Commons transport committee, said of the figures: 'The data doesn't lie  striking doesn't pay.

'But, amazingly, the union bosses clearly always get quite a good deal, funded by their members.

'We're in the territory of them taking the p*** now. The offer on the table is more generous than the majority of people in the UK have seen in their pay checks this year. They need to get real.'

Mr Whelan has refused to put the eight per cent offer in a vote to his members. Ministers and rail bosses insist it is the final offer

Fellow Conservative Paul Howell, who also sits on the committee, said: 'The members surely have to question the guidance being given by their union bosses.

'It's just leading them down a path to losing more and more money.

'From the very start, given that drivers already earn 60,000, it's been difficult to justify these strikes. Even more so now.'

Transport Secretary Mark Harper tweeted: 'ASLEF still refuse to put this offer to a vote of their members.

'The taxpayer protected the jobs of train drivers during the pandemic, and ASLEF now repay those same taxpayers by disrupting their journeys.

'When some say 'get round the table', that means even more taxpayers' money to ASLEF when there is already an offer on the table.'

ASLEF's latest strike campaign started yesterday, with industrial action lasting until February 5

Strikers lose a day's pay when they walk out and ASLEF, which has more than 20,000 members, has called more than 15 national strike waves since summer 2022.

It comes amid a furious row over rail bosses refusing to use new legislation to limit the impact of the walkouts.

Today Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the Mail that commuters would 'rightly expect' unions to be forced to run at least 40 per cent of trains, which is possible under the new laws.

But none of the 18 operators hit by the walkouts is using the 'minimum service level' legislation despite it coming into force last month.

It means barely any trains will run on strike days.

Today Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the Mail that commuters would 'rightly expect' unions to be forced to run at least 40 per cent of trains

It comes after the Mail also revealed that rail chiefs have been pocketing huge bonuses and pay hikes of up to 61 per cent despite refusing to use the new laws.

The Government passed the minimum service legislation in December, effectively allowing operators to force the unions into ensuring a certain number of trains run during walkouts  and the minimum required is 40 per cent.

Mr Whelan defended not putting the eight per cent offer, which would be over two years, to his members in a vote.

Asked, 'why don't you think 60,000 is a reasonable salary to drive a train?', he said: 'Nobody has offered us a straight pay deal... it's the terms and conditions that go with it that's unacceptable.'

An ASLEF source added that the union's members wanted to continue striking despite the amount they have lost in pay.

'We're a very democratic union. It's up to the members to decide what they want to do and they want to strike and have voted overwhelmingly to do so,' they said.

A separate dispute with the RMT rail union was finally settled last year after its members were given a chance to vote on the Government's pay offer.
A Trump administration official is critically-ill after being shot during a carjacking in crime-ridden Washington DC, whose perpetrator then killed another victim.

The heavily liberal-leaning city has seen carjackings skyrocket of late, with 953 in 2023 alone, nearly nine times as many as there were in 2018.

Mike Gill, a married father of three, was blasted by the unnamed suspect on K Street NW around 5:45pm Monday. He was collecting his wife, an education lawyer, at the time of the incident and was inside the car when he was struck.

Gill managed to get out of his car, but collapsed shortly afterwards.

He served as chief operating officer of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during Donald Trump's time in the White House. .

Mike Gill, pictured, is critically-ill after he was shot by a carjacker while collecting his lawyer wife in Washington DC Monday evening. The unidentified robber went on to target a second driver who was shot dead. Cops in New Carrolton, Maryland, shot and killed the suspect Tuesday morning

The suspect behind Gill's carjacking and the deadly carjacking of a second motorist is seen on CCTV. He has been killed, but has not yet been named by police

This is the scene of Monday evening's carjacking where Mike Gill was shot and critically-injured

Cops are seen in Carrollton County, Maryland, on Tuesday morning, where the unnamed carjacking suspect was shot dead

A witness told the Washington Post that his wife 'ran toward her husband and grabbed his hand,' asking him what happened, but getting no response.

The victim was wearing 'a dress shirt and sweater, sprawled on the pavement with one foot still in the passengers side of a car. His right hand was twitching as blood pooled around his head,' Yolanda Douglas added.

A spokeswoman for Gill said: 'We can confirm that Mike Gill was the victim of the shooting at the 900 block of K Street Northwest on Monday evening and is in critical condition.

'Out of respect for the family, we have nothing additional to add at this time.'

Gill's work in government dates back to at least 2016, when the city of Washington appointed him to represent the GOP on their Board of Elections.

He also served as the chief of staff to CFTC Chairman Christopher Giancarlo and was Chief Regulatory Reform Officer for the commission.

He served as a lawyer at a private firm and the vice president of a trade association prior to his government worked.

He was a deputy director of the 1992 Bush-Quayle re-election campaign and also worked for Republican members of the Senate and House, holding a top level security clearance.

Gill, seen here with his wife and three children in a photo from just two weeks earlier

A spokeswoman for Gill said: 'We can confirm that Mike Gill was the victim of the shooting at the 900 block of K Street Northwest on Monday evening and is in critical condition'

The suspect made a third unsuccessful attempt to carjack a vehicle on Third Street NE, before taking the car of a person he shot, in this case fatally

The carjacker went on a spree that spanned both Washington DC and Maryland and left at least one man dead, in addition to Gill's injuries.

Over an hour after the shooting that involved Gill, he unsuccessfully tried to carjack someone in the 1000 block of Third Street NE at around 7:05 p.m.

Just ten minutes later, the suspect made a third unsuccessful attempt to carjack a vehicle on Third Street NE, before taking the car of a person he shot, in this case fatally.

Family members identified the victim as 35-year-old Alberto Vazquez, according to NBC Washington.

At some point after carjacking and killing Vazquez, he's believed to have left the car in Takoma Park before catching a rideshare and stealing another vehicle.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning at 2:15 a.m., he's believed to have shot from a passing car at a transit officer near Baltimore on the northbound I-95.

Just 15 minutes later, he allegedly shot at a Maryland State Trooper on southbound I-95.

By about 3 a.m., he's believed to have fired at a marked Washington police cruiser near Pennsylvania Avenue SE.

Finally, at 4:30 a.m., police found a disabled car on the 7500 block of Annapolis Road. As they surveyed the scene, the accused carjacker walked up to them, producing two handguns.

The officers fired at the man, who later died from his wounds at a nearby hospital.

Jeffery Carroll, the assistant chief of DC police, did say that the man had a criminal history and appeared to be going through a mental health crisis at the time.

Carjackings have been a massive problem in the nation's capital under Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser, nearly doubling to 959 in 2023 alone, per Axios.

The numbers become even more stark when compared to 2018, when there were just 148 carjackings.

Carjackings have only risen in the city every year since.

Over the weekend, the city saw a shocking 60 carjackings in 72 hours, according to Fox 5 DC.
Dozens of hours of phone calls and months of communication between journalists and the chair of an inquiry into the ACT's former top prosecutor are being relied upon in court to argue the inquiry head was biased.

Former director of public prosecution Shane Drumgold is taking legal action against former Queensland judge Walter Sofronoff over his findings in an inquiry about how the prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann was handled.

Mr Sofronoff was in constant communication with The Australian newspaper columnist Janet Albrechtsen before and during his inquiry, Mr Drumgold's lawyer Dan O'Gorman told the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Mr Sofronoff made 65 phone calls to journalists between February and July 2023, totalling almost ten hours, Mr O'Gorman said, citing phone records.

Of these, 55 were to people from The Australian - predominantly Ms Albrechtsen - totalling seven-and-a-half hours, he said.

Walter Sofronoff made 55 calls to Janet Albrechtsen (pictured) - a columnist for The Australian

Walter Sofronoff (pictured) led the Board of Inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann's rape trial

During the public hearing part of the inquiry, Mr Sofronoff made 10 calls to The Australian, eight of them to Ms Albrechtsen, the court was told.

Mr O'Gorman is seeking to use text messages, phone records and emails between the journalist and the inquiry head to prove he had an apprehended bias against Mr Drumgold.

Confidential documents - including the draft report - were handed to journalists that shouldn't have been, Mr O'Gorman said.

'Ms Albrechtsen received confidential information relating to the inquiry and Mr Sofronoff's terms of inquiry,' he argued.

'This is in the context of Ms Albrechtsen, over a number of months, exhibiting an attitude adverse to Mr Drumgold.

'In the months leading up to and during the inquiry Ms Albrechtsen was writing numerous articles critical of Mr Drumgold.'

Mr Sofronoff had gone against his own media practice code for the inquiry in contacting the journalists directly, Mr O'Gorman contended.

Other journalists made contact with the board of inquiry through official channels, he said.

Shane Drumgold (pictured) stepped down as ACT Director of Public Prosecutions after the Soronoff Inquiry last year

Brittany Higgins is pictured in France with her fiance David Sharaz. Ms Higgins alleged Bruce Lehrmann raped her. He strongly denies the allegations

Lawyers for Mr Sofronoff and the ACT government raised concerns parts of the evidence were not admissible as it was not relevant to the case and would constitute hearsay.

Justice Stephen Kaye is yet to rule on whether the evidence is admissible or whether Mr Sofronoff could be cross-examined.

But he warned Mr Drumgold's team against using the case as a 'fishing expedition'.

'This is not an inquiry into the inquiry, this is strictly a judicial review on very confined administrative law grounds,' he said.

Mr Sofronoff's review of Mr Drumgold's prosecution of Mr Lehrmann found he lost his objectivity and lied to the chief justice.

But the decision to charge and prosecute Mr Lehrmann was the correct course of action.

The judicial review is not focusing on the merits of the Sofronoff inquiry's findings, but rather if they were reached in the correct lawful manner.

The matter is due to return to court on February 13.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar branded GOP congressman Troy Nehls racist Tuesday after he called her fellow 'Squad' member Cori Bush 'loud'.

Bush is currently under investigation by the DOJ for spending hundreds of thousands of dollars of campaign cash on personal security, including services provided by her now-husband.

Earlier this week, Bush confirmed she was under investigation and that her team is working with Justice.

Nehls, of Texas, offered his criticism of Bush, who was elected in 2020 partially on a platform of defunding the police:

'She doesn't even support the police. But the idea to pay her thug money to try to help protect her this and that, for what?

'Maybe if she wouldn't be so loud all the time, maybe she wouldn't be getting threats,' he said.

The loud black woman trope is racist and tired. The Congressman should apologize and all members of Congress should condemn him. No one in our government deserves to be threatened regardless how loud they advocate for their positions and blaming the victim of harassment and https://t.co/B60X1dd910  Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 31, 2024

Omar, an ally of Bush's, who is dealing with her own scandal at the moment, came to the defense of her friend and called Nehls' language 'racist.'

'The loud black woman trope is racist and tired. The Congressman should apologize and all members of Congress should condemn him,' Omar wrote on X.

'No one in our government deserves to be threatened regardless how loud they advocate for their positions and blaming the victim of harassment and threats cant be condoned.'

When asked by a CNN reporter whether Bush 'deserves' to be threatened, Nehls replied:

'No, what I'm saying is, is that when you're out there talking the way she does ... She's pretty radical. And maybe she should tone it down a little bit.'

The Missouri lawmaker, who married one of her bodyguards, has spent more than $750,000 on security since she was elected in 2020 out of her campaign account.

'I can confirm that the Department of Justice is reviewing my campaigns spending on security services. We are fully cooperating in this investigation,' she said in a statement on Tuesday.

'Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life,' she told reporters on the House steps.

She added that as a 'rank-and-file member of Congress' she is not entitled to personal protection.

Like Bush, Omar has also funneled campaign money to her spouse.

In 2021, the Somali-American politician paid $2.9 million to a consulting firm run by her husband, which amounted to 80 percent of the company's revenue.

Texas Rep. Troy Nehls criticized Bush for spending campaign dollars on her now-husband's security services, saying that if she were not 'so loud' about some of her positions, she would likely not face as many threats

Rep. Ilhan Omar (right) jumped to her fellow squad-member's defense (left) by accusing Rep. Troy Nehls of using racist language in his criticism of her

A watchdog has demanded the Federal Election Commission (FEC) investigate the $62,000 Rep. Cori Bush paid her now-husband as a security guard from her campaign account

Bush claims she used campaign funds to retain security services, including her husband who she said has 'extensive' experience in the field.

'I have not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services. Any reporting that I have used federal funds for personal security is simply false,' she insisted.

Bush, who has backed calls to defund the police and advocated for reparations for black people, is now facing a federal probe into her staggering expenditure.

The Justice Department on Monday subpoenaed the House Sergeant at Arms for records related to the misuse of funds for private security.

When confronted by the media on Monday night, Bush insisted she wasn't the subject of the investigation and scolded reporters for asking the question.

The investigation follows an ethics watchdog demanding an investigating into the $62,000 she paid her now-husband Cortney Merritts from her campaign funds.

The nonpartisan Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) asked FEC acting general counsel Lisa Stevenson to look into whether Squad member and BLM activist Bush 'used campaign funds for personal use.'

It was revealed that Bush, D-Mo., married Cortney Merritts in a private ceremony in early 2023. In 2022 he was on the payroll of her re-election campaign.

Bush confirmed that the FEC and Ethics Committee are also investigating the matter.

'These frivolous complaints have resulted in a number of investigations, some of which are still ongoing. The Federal Election Commission and the House Committee on Ethics are currently reviewing the matter, as is the Department of Justice. We are fully cooperating in all of these pending investigations,' Bush said.

Bush, R-Mo., married Cortney Merritts (pictured) in a private ceremony last year

'The loud black woman trope is racist and tired. The Congressman should apologize and all members of Congress should condemn him,' Omar wrote on X

'It appears Rep. Bush's campaign may have made payments for services that were unnecessary or above fair market value because of her personal relationship with the payee,' FACT executive director Kendra Arnold said in the complaint.

'If so, these payments would qualify as either impermissible payments to a family member or an impermissible gift.

While hiring family members is frowned upon, it is not illegal. It would only be illegal if push paid her now-spouse over 'fair market value.'

Payments to family members must be for 'bonafide services' related to their official duties.

'In accordance with all applicable rules, I retained my husband as part of my security team to provide security services because he has had extensive experience in this area, and is able to provide the necessary services at or below a fair market rate,' Bush insisted.

'Therefore, we request the FEC investigate whether Rep. Bush converted campaign funds for personal use by paying a salary that was not for bona fide services at fair market value,' FACT wrote.

'Ultimately, if one or more campaign laws are found to have been broken, we request the FEC hold the respondents accountable.'

Merritts was paid as Bush's security guard despite not having a license - which is required by the St. Louis Police Department, according to a Fox News report. Merritts was reportedly also not licensed to practice security in Washington, D.C.

Bush, 47, initially took heat in 2021 for spending $500,000 on private security despite her impassioned pleas to 'defund the police.'

'I'm going to make sure I have security because I know I have had attempts on my life and I have too much work to do,' the former Black Lives Matter activist told CBS News in August 2021. 'So, if I end up spending $200,000, if I spend  10 more dollars on it, you know what? I get to be here to do the work.'

'So, suck it up,' she added, 'defunding the police has to happen. We need to defund the police and put that money into social safety nets because we're trying to save lives.'

Cori Bush + Cortney Merritts together at the 2020 inauguration. He was on her re-election payroll last year

Two St. Louis cops were then fired for moonlighting on her security team without getting permission from their superiors.

Bush's campaign paid Merritts 24 bi-weekly installments of $2,500 in 2022 for security services. It paid another $250,000 to PEACE Security, a St. Louis-based firm, and $50,000 to a Nathaniel Davis, according to FEC records.

'Any time a member of Congress puts someone with a close personal relationship on the campaign payroll, increased scrutiny is necessary to ensure the legal standard has been met, which in this case is that the payments were for 'bona fide services at a fair market value,'' Arnold said in a statement.

'Both the fact that reportedly Bush's husband isn't licensed to provide security services for which he was paid, and that she was simultaneously paying large amounts to another company for the same services raise red flags that warrant an investigation by the FEC,' she added.
A man has been charged with murder over the suspicious disappearance of a young Colombian national in Victoria.

The 49-year-old from Mt Eliza will appear in Melbourne Magistrates court on Wednesday charged over the disappearance of 28-year-old Sergio Cuesta last September.

Mr Cuesta was last seen when dropped by a friend at a Jabiru Drive address in Chelsea Heights, 30km southeast of Melbourne.

Colombian student Sergio Cuesta, 28, disappeared more than four months ago in the outskirts of Melbourne

He had earlier been at a birthday dinner in the CBD, on the night of September 16.

A concerned female friend, who was also at the dinner, alerted authorities after failing to hear from him for five days.

Police arrested two men on Tuesday over his disappearance.

A 48-year-old Cranbourne man was released without charge.

A man has been charged with murder over the Colombian's disappearance in September

But on Wednesday afternoon the missing persons squad charged the Mt Eliza man with murder.

Three firearms, a pill press, various quantities of what appear to be dried cannabis and cocaine, cannabis plants, a crossbow and a conducted energy device were seized from a Mt Eliza property.

After initial inquiries by local police, Mr Cuesta's disappearance was deemed suspicious and the missing persons squad took over the investigation.

Prior to his disappearance, he had been living in an apartment on Queens Road and was subject to an expired student visa.

He was also on bail in relation to drug offences and was known to have contact with people suspected to be involved in trafficking.

Detectives remain keen to speak to anyone with information about his movements in the lead-up to his disappearance.
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

A furious truck driver has stormed over and threatened to smash the window of another motorist's vehicle in a road rage incident caught on camera.

The footage was taken from inside the cabin of the man's car in the Gold Coast suburb of Southport in south-east Queensland on Wednesday morning.

In the motorist's video a hi-vis wearing truck driver can be seen shouting at him from the other side of the road as vehicles wait at lights.

A Gold Coast truck driver has been caught on camera storming over to confront another motorist in a road rage incident on Wednesday

READ MORE: Terrifying moment family is targeted in road rage attack as driver pelts objects at their car on a Queensland highway Advertisement

Suddenly the man in the hi-vis decides to take it up a notch by storming over to his antagonist's vehicle.

'Keep going, keep going, hit me car,' says the driver while filming as the man in hi-vis approaches.

As he pulls up outside the window the would-be assailant flips the bird and then shapes to throw a mighty punch at the car window but delivers the blow with little force.

'You want to smash me car up?' the man inside the car taunts.

As the man in hi-vis walks back to his own medium-sized truck the car driver continues to goad him.

'Keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going,' he says.

Those commenting on the video, which was posted on the Channel Nine Facebook page, said the incident needed more context.

'These sort of movies are so one-sided. What did the guy behind the camera do to get him so aggravated????' one person asked.

'Always best to know both sides of the story first.'

'Doesnt matter what happens he should keep his cool,' one person replied.

A number noted the truck driver's seeming bluff.

The truck driver shaped to smash in the driver's side window but delivered the blow with little force

'Acting tough but backed out punching the window,' one person said.

'Hahaha couldnt knock the froth off a cappuccino,' said another.

There were calls for the truck driver to be sacked.

'That attitude, driving an 8-ton chunk of steel, makes for a deadly accident waiting to happen,' one commenter warned.

'This bloke needs to be assessed for his right to even drive.'

Another saw the incident as symptomatic of society's ills.

'Whats wrong with people these days??, the asked.

'So, much anger and horrible behaviour!!! Just relax.'

Queensland police have been contacted for comment.
A self-proclaimed 'messiah' decapitated his 68-year-old father - then held up the victim's head in a politically-charged YouTube video blasting the federal government and the Biden administration.

Justin Mohn, 32, is in custody in Pennsylvania after his father Michael was found by his wife, beheaded, inside the home that the trio shared in the quiet Philadelphia suburb of Levittown.

The alleged killer's mother called police to report that she discovered her husband's body inside the bathroom and he had no head, according to court documents seem by LevvitownNow.

Police then recovered a large kitchen knife and a machete from the bathtub, after finding the man's head inside of a plastic bag which was placed in a cooking pot in a bedroom.

Hours before his arrest, Mohn held up what he claimed was his father's head during a politically charged rant in which he claimed that he was the president of the United State that he posted on his YouTube channel.

Mohn said many saw him as the messiah, and wanted him as president, while urging relatives living with federal employees to murder them. He blamed the federal government for 'woke mobs' and migrants he claims are destroying the United States, and ranted against 'globalists and communists'.

Justin Mohn pictured during the grotesque video in which he apparently brandished his father's severed head while saying his dad was 'in hell'

Justin Mohn's father, Michael, and his mother, Denice. Michael was found beheaded in a bathroom on Tuesday at the family home

The house is pictured on Tuesday night with officers outside and crime scene tape

The appalling 14 minute clip - which remained on YouTube for six hours after it was posted at 5:30pm, before being taken down - sees Mohn hold up his father's head in a bloodied plastic bag, having declared: 'Violence is the only solution to the federal government's treason.'

He says: 'This is the head of Mike Mohn, a federal employee of over 20 years and my father. He is now in hell for eternity as a traitor to his country.'

DailyMail.com has been unable to confirm whether Mike Mohn was a federal employee. Retirement age for federal employees is typically 62 years old.

DailyMail.com has chosen to obscure the disturbing images from the clip. Officially, police have called Michael Mohn's death as 'suspicious.'

LevitttownNow said Mohn was arrested after 9pm ET on Tuesday, in Fort Indiana Gap in central Pennsylvania, around two hours from his last known residence, driving his father's car. He will be taken back to Bucks County, where his father was found dead.

Police first located his car and then arrested the suspect nearby.

They confirmed the victim had been beheaded and that the YouTube video was part of the same investigation.

Police were first called to the house just after 7pm on Tuesday and found a headless body in its bathroom, said Chief Joe Bartorilla of Middletown Police Department.

The police charging documents showing that Mohn will be charged with murder in the first degree, abuse of a corpse and possession of an instrument of crime with intent

'We got called to the home and officers went in and discovered the father upstairs deceased,' he said.

'We're getting contacted by some people in the community that know us, and know him and his family.

'And we're hearing a lot. Obviously he's well known in the community just by the calls we're getting.'

Bartorilla said he had warned the family about the video.

'I know he has siblings. We have told (the victim's wife) to notify them before they see the video, or the video is sent to them,' he added.

Mohn is listed as living there with his father; his mother Denice, 63; his brother Zachary, 35, and his sister Stephanie, 38.

His father is believed to have owned two businesses - a cleaning company, and a literacy initiative, neither of which appear to be linked to the federal government.

Another older photo shows Mohn holding up a CD. He was arrested Tuesday night, two hours drive from his family's home

From right: Justin Mohn, his father Michael and mother Denice; Zachary Mohn, with his girlfriend Cherry, and Stephanie Mohn

Justin Mohn's brother Zachary and his girlfriend Cherry. It is unclear where they were at the time of the murder

Justin Mohn was arrested on Tuesday, 100 miles from the family home

The video was posted on Mohn's YouTube channel, where he had 115 followers. There are now only four videos on the channel, which feature him singing out of tune and playing music, with a photo of his face.

In the beheading clip, he rants about taxes, declaring that the economy is 'near destruction' and most Americans can 'no longer afford the American dream.'

Mohn went on to say he was offering a $1 million bounty to anyone who could kill top officials including FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland and former Attorney General Bill Barr.

He said there was a 'globalist and communist' plot against the United State, before ranting about the federal government and holding up his dad's head in a silver bucket.

Mohn's rant continued, addressing US postal workers, journalists, federal debt and the federal reserve, the border crisis, Antifa and the woke agenda.

Justin Mohr, far right, is seen with his siblings in a photo from their mother's Facebook page

Denice Mohr, Justin's mother. It is unclear where she was at the time of the murder

He said 'the traitorous Biden regime' wanted to send 'America's military overseas to fight for Ukraine and die in a Russian winter.'

Mohn ranted against 'tax-evading big tech companies' and those behind the U.S. prison system.

Mohn railed against a 'network of evil' he said was 'plaguing' America.

He claimed to have worked as a contractor for Microsoft, and saw how the company was 'evading billions of dollars in taxes'. He claimed he 'whistleblew to the IRS about five years ago, but they simply looked the other way.'

Mohn said he had uncovered a scheme while living in Colorado, whereby the companies created 'a constant level of unemployment, and a constant level of homelessness, and a constant level of crime, to fill up the prisons.'

Mohn said: 'When I filed a complaint to the FBI of this labor racketing, they showed up at my door to threaten me with arrest.'

Justin Mohn is seen in his YouTube video, uploaded at 5:30pm on Tuesday, ranting against the federal government, the Biden administration, migrants and the LGBTQ community

The deeply disturbed Mohn said 'Satan wants America to fall so he can unleash his plan on the world.'

Mohn then proclaimed: 'I and many other leaders know how to fix America, but we have to fight for it.'

He said many within the political parties saw him as the best candidate for president before the 2020 election - and said the former governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper, and former governor of Ohio, John Kasich, would confirm his story, because their 2020 campaigns 'were sacrificed for me'.

Mohn said he felt he could have been 'the first unanimously-elected candidate for both parties since George Washington.'

He added: 'But I was betrayed by the FBI, the federal courts, and my own family, because there are people who believe I am the messiah. This belief that I am the messiah is why you have never heard this story on the news, because it would spread that belief.

'I'm not saying I am the messiah, as I would never compare myself to Jesus Christ. I'm just saying, that's why I was betrayed.'

And he ended by quoting the Bible at length, saying he had 'a sacred task.'

Mohn set about trying to make a career in music, with albums he put on his YouTube channel

One of Mohn's self-published books, which expand on his claim to be a messiah

Clues to Mohn's downwards spiral are to be found in a legal battle against the United States government, with Mohn suing them for negligently providing him with a student loan which made him 'an overeducated white man', unable to find work.

Mohn, in a filing made shortly before Christmas, sought to blame the government for his woes. The filing was the fourth time Mohn attempted to sue, seeking $10 million in damages from the federal government - a case which has no legal grounds.

He said in the filing that he was a 2014 graduate of Pennsylvania State University, with a degree in agribusiness management.

According to his complaint, Mohn 'began paying his monthly student loan six months later. But then Mr Mohn could not find a full-time job at some unpleaded later time. He obtained only part-time jobs.'

Mohn said he then moved to Colorado, to take a full-time job at a credit union, and later took a job with an insurance company.

But, according to his complaint, he saw 'his work post-graduate years as 'malemployment.''

In previous social media posts, Mohn ranted about a 'civil war' between him and his followers and what he calls 'The Cult.'

In one unhinged post, he wrote: 'Even my own family upholds this Cult belief and is willing to go to jail to prove it. Donald Trump, if this does not get fixed ASAP then you will also be in jail for the rest of your life after I sue you for everything you own - that's not a threat that's a promise b****.'

The alleged killer's Facebook accounts appear to have been taken down as of Wednesday morning, and his name is not searchable on X.

Mohn appears to have wanted to carve out a career as a musician.

On his YouTube page, he writes: 'Justin Mohn released his first album, 'The Story Of Humanity,' in September of 2017. His second album, 'Colofunkinrado,' was released September of 2018. His music style is a blend of rock, funk, and hip-hop, using piano and organ as primary instruments along with explicit lyrics, drums, synthesized bass, and other synthesized instruments.'

Mohn, who lived in Colorado after failing to find work in Pennsylvania, tried to be a musician and an author

Mohn also wrote poetry and conspiracy-laden manifestos.

One of his books was entitled: 'Poems I Wrote While Stoned: A Collection Of Poems'.

Another, 'The Punishing,' is set in the year 2481, with Satan ruling the world.

'After rejecting their Messiah and straying from the word of God, humanity falls under complete control of Satan and his minions  a race of artificially modified humans, who no longer call themselves Homo Sapiens, but rather, Homo Demonicus,' the blurb reads.

Another appeared to preview his warped plan, entitled: 'America's Coming Bloody Revolution.'

Its blurb reads: 'Similar to Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' published in 1776 which helped inspire the American Revolution, the short, easy to understand pamphlet explains why another revolution is likely in America and how it could be successful.'
The comment appears to be in reference to a New York Times report that tied campaign group Code Pink to a Chinese propaganda network

Nancy Pelosi told pro-Palestine protesters outside her home to 'go back to China where your headquarters are' during a tense exchange in October

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has faced a backlash after telling pro-Palestine protesters to 'go back to China' following media reports about the group's financial backing.

A clip taken in October which was widely shared Tuesday by campaign group Code Pink shows Pelosi appearing visibly aggravated with protesters outside her San Francisco home.

The women chant 'Pelosi is allowing the murder of thousands of people' and 'ceasefire now' as the Democrat attempts to get into her vehicle.

A frustrated Pelosi snaps 'go back to China, where your headquarters are' in an apparent reference to a New York Times report that tied Code Pink to a Chinese propaganda network.

Two of the activists are seen lying underneath the politician's car, one of whom is also holding a dog on a leash.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has faced a backlash after telling pro-Palestine protesters to 'go back to China '

Two of the activists are seen lying underneath the politician's car, one of whom is also holding a dog on a leash

'We did this because we have been trying to get Pelosi to sit at the peace table with us since 2007' one protester said

In October, Pelosi told our members calling for a ceasefire to go back to China.



These same women have been protesting for peace at her house for 17 years.



Pelosi takes thousands of dollars from AIPAC every year. Whos the foreign agent here? https://t.co/ZIG3yodwIC pic.twitter.com/kzjUkH1JVI  CODEPINK (@codepink) January 29, 2024

'I guess she fell for that New York Times article or maybe she planted it' one of the activists tells the camera shortly after.

'We did this because we have been trying to get Pelosi to sit at the peace table with us since 2007' another said.

The group also chalked 'ceasefire please now Pelosi' onto the pavement outside her home.

'Pelosi stop supporting genocide' could also be seen written on to the sidewalk.

Social media users criticized Pelosi, including Trending Politics co-owner Collin Rugg, who posted on X that Pelosi has 'lost it.'

'If we couldn't even say that the @#$?! COVID virus was from China, I expect every news agency in America to interrogate Pelosi for her racism,' Mark Hemingway, posted on X.

It comes after earlier this week Pelosi linked ceasefire protesters with Russia.

'They are in front of my house all the time,' Pelosi told CNN. 'I have a feeling for what feelings they have. But we have to think about what we're doing.

The group also chalked 'ceasefire please now Pelosi' onto the pavement outside her home

'I guess she fell for that New York Times article or maybe she planted it' one of the activists tells the camera shortly after

'They are in front of my house all the time,' Pelosi told CNN, 'I have a feeling for what feelings they have. But we have to think about what we're doing'

Adding: 'But for them to call for a cease-fire is Mr. Putin's message, Mr. Putin's message.'

'Some, I think, are connected to Russia' she told the outlet.

Security has been a concern at the Pelosi residence after the former speaker's husband was attacked by an intruder in October 2022.

Paul Pelosi was asleep at their San Francisco home just before 2:00am on October 28 when 42-year-old David DePape broke in and beat him with a hammer.

Police bodycam video shows two officers arriving at the Pelosi's home, knocking on the door and waiting around 20 seconds before it is answered.

Paul, in a pajama top and boxer shorts, answers the door as he and DePape both vie for control of a hammer.

They each have a hand on the weapon while Paul has a drink in his left hand.

An officer asks, 'What's going on man?' DePape replies, 'Everything's good.'

Body camera image from San Francisco police show David DePape with Paul Pelosi at the Pelosis' San Francisco home, in the early hours of October 28, 2022. DePape was found guilty of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official. He faces up to 50 years in prison

Prosecutors say DePape admitted to breaking into the Pelosis' San Francisco residence with the intention of getting the senior Democrat to acknowledge her party's 'lies' - on pain of smashing her kneecaps. She was not home at the time

Finding only her then-82-year-old husband at home, DePape engaged in what he told officers was a 'pretty amicable' exchange, during which Paul Pelosi, pictured, managed to call for help from law enforcement

The officer says, 'Drop the hammer.' The suspect tells them, 'Ummm... nope.'

Then, Paul attempts to twist the hammer out of DePape's hand, but the suspect regains control of the weapon and begins to strike multiple times.

The two police officers rush in and tackle DePape, shouting, 'Give me your f*****g hands.'

They restrain the attacker as Paul lies collapsed and prone on the floor with liquid and ice on the ground around the two men.

The indictment in the case said that blood was 'swelling' out of the victim's head and that Paul required surgery on a skull fracture in two places and was treated for serious injuries to his right arm and hands.

The 911 call reveals Paul telling an emergency dispatcher that someone came into his home.

Paul is heard trying to alert the dispatcher to who he is and the danger he's in as he says, 'There's a gentleman here just waiting for my wife to come back, Nancy Pelosi.'

When the dispatcher asks who the man is, DePape says, 'I'm a friend of theirs.' The over two minute long 911 call comes to an end as Paul tells the dispatcher the suspect has told him to get off the phone.

Following the arrest, officers called in a Code 3 meaning that the situation was a medical emergency requiring immediate response.

DePape was found guilty of attempted kidnapping in November last year and faces up to fifty years in jail.
A hero father died after rescuing his daughter from a rip current in Western Australia.

Warren 'Wazza' Laing was swimming with his 14-year-old daughter, Miley-Jayde, at Middleton Beach in Albany when she got caught in a rip on January 14.

Tragically, the hardworking father lost his life after he saved her.

WA Police said that Mr Laing was brought to shore by a member of the public who attempted to provide first aid before paramedics arrived.

He was then rushed to the hospital where he later passed away.

A GoFundMe campaign launched by his sister-in-law, Alisia Coyne, aims to raise sufficient funds to give the father-of-three 'the send-off he truly deserves'.

'He was the heart and soul of the family. He brought happiness and laughter to everyone who knew him or met him,' she wrote.

'Wazza loved the water and if you didn't find him at the local pool, you found him down the beach with the kids, nieces and nephews.

'He died a hero and he will always be remembered as such.'

Warren 'Wazza' Laing (pictured with his three children) drowned while saving his 14-year-old daughter from a rip current on January 14

She explained that Mr Laing was the primary source of income for his three children, aged 24, 17, and 14, as well as his wife of 17 years, Rennae, before his sudden death.

'Wazza was the provider for his family, and now with him gone, Rennae and the children need support,' Ms. Coyne wrote.

'If you can donate any amount, it would be truly appreciated so we can ensure our hero is given a send-off equal to the man that he was when he was alive.'

Mr Laing (pictured with his family) was remembered as 'loving, kind and gentle' in his obituary

The fundraiser has already received more than $1,500 from 17 donors.

Mr Laing's obituary said: 'He was always loving, kind and gentle to family and many friends.

'He would do anything for anyone. Have a Coopers on us. Love forever.'
A Filipino immigrant who moved to Australia in search of a better life was sadly killed when his van collided with a truck on a notorious intersection in rural Victoria.

Reymark Recalde was killed when the Toyota Tarago he was travelling in with friends collided with a semi-trailer about 12:45pm on December 18 at the Deakin Ave and Sixteenth St intersection in Mildura, in the state's north-west.

One other person was seriously injured in the crash and has since recovered, while two others sustained minor injuries and the truck driver was unharmed.

The intersection is known by locals as being dangerous as it is the main road carrying traffic into Mildura from Adelaide and the towns of Lake Cullulleraine and Merbein. A number of previous crashes have been reported at the site.

Mr Recalde had only arrived in Australia just a few weeks earlier on November 29 with the intention of relocating permanently after being impressed with the country when he visited during his career as a cargo ship seaman.

Reymark Recalde tragically died after he was involved in a car crash weeks after moving to Australia

The crash was at a notorious intersection in Mildura that locals have been campaigning to have upgraded for years. A picture of the site shows two intersections next to each other

Mildura Mayor Liam Wood said the Mildura Rural City Council has been fighting with the state government through VicRoads for five years to get funding to upgrade the intersection.

An extended family member of Mr Recalde who lives in Queensland has launched a GoFundMe asking for financial support for his parents back in the Quezon province of the Philippines.

'Reymark took it upon himself to provide for his parents by working as a seaman for the last seven years,' she said.

'He happily said to one of my aunts that of all the countries where the shipping line he works for has docked, he found Australia to be the best.

'Equipped with determination and hope, he decided to explore Australia with the possibility of calling this beautiful country home.

'His dream was to give his parents comfortable lives in their prime years and pay them back for all the sacrifices they have made.

'For reasons difficult for anyone to understand, not even three weeks in Australia, the van he was travelling in with his new acquaintances, got involved in an accident.'

She added his family was shattered by Mr Recalde's death and were still working to repatriate his body to the Philippines and give him a proper burial.

'We are hoping that in the next two weeks, he will finally be with his family,' she said on Saturday.

The Deakin Ave and Sixteenth St intersection was the site of another crash over the weekend, which fortunately was not fatal.

A local petition demanding action by VicRoads has been signed by more than 500 people.
Two men have been arrested after a branch of a popular gourmet burger chain run by an outspoken pro-Palestine entrepreneur was burned down, with police stating the alleged arson was 'not a hate crime' as the owner suggested.

Burgertory's Caulfield branch in Melbourne's south east burned down about 4am on Friday, November 10 last year. No one was inside at the time.

On Wednesday Victoria Police investigating the 'suspicious' fire arrested at 27-year-old man at an apartment in Carnegie in Melbourne's south east around 9.15am.

They later arrested a 25-year-old man in Dallas in the city's north about 11am.

Both men are currently assisting police with enquiries and arson-related charges are expected to be laid.

On Wednesday Victoria Police investigating the 'suspicious' fire arrested at 27-year-old man at an apartment in Carnegie in Melbourne's south east around 9.15am (pictured)

Burgertory's Caulfield branch in Melbourne's south east burned down around 4am on Friday (pictured)

The fire came shortly after Burgertory's founder, Hash Tayeh, received criticism for leading cries of 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' at a Melbourne rally.

Mr Tayeh claimed the fire was linked to his involvement in a pro-Palestine rally and alleged it was a hate crime.

Hours after he made the claim, two groups of around 200 people each - one largely pro-Palestine and the other largely pro-Israel clashed near a synagogue and the Burgertory store.

One man was pepper-sprayed by police and another reported receiving minor injuries after being hit by a rock.

But on Wednesday police insisted the fire was not a hate crime.

Hash Tayeh (pictured with his wife), 32 - who founded Burgertory in 2018 which has since become Australia's biggest independently-owned burger chain - claimed the suspected arson was a hate crime but Victoria Police said it wasn't

Hours after Mr Tayeh made the claim, two groups of around 200 people each - one largely pro-Palestine and the other largely pro-Israel clashed near a synagogue and the Burgertory store (pictured)

'We know this incident was not a hate crime; it wasn't motivated by prejudice or politics,' Moorabbin Investigation and Response Inspector Scott Dwyer said.

'Not only did this blaze destroy a business, it also put innocent members of the public at risk of being injured.'

Mr Tayeh's legal team told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday, the burger chain has been doing everything possible to help investigators.

'Burgertory has been assisting Victoria police with the investigation, including providing all evidence of threats and intimidation received by Burgertory prior to the arson attack and are pleased the investigation has now progressed.

'The matter is now before the courts and therefore it is not appropriate to further comment.'

Ten fire crews battled to extinguish the blaze, which gutted the restaurant and shattered its glass windows, for around half an hour.
An Aussie dad has set fire to his treasured boardshorts in a furious protest against Rip Curl over their use of a transgender woman to promote the iconic brand.

Western Australian longboarder pro and transgender woman Sasha Lowerson became the face of women's surfing in an Instagram post by the firm last week.

Lowerson, 44, featured in the company's Meet The Local Heroes of Western Australia social media campaign on Thursday.

It comes just months after Rip Curl severed ties with pro-surfer and shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton - one of the world's most famous surfers.

The split was reportedly triggered by her opposition to transgender people competing in women's sport.

The move has angered many Aussies, including one outraged dad, Steve Gleeson, who burned his Rip Curl shorts in an angry reaction to the social media campaign.

'Go woke, go broke  f*** you, Rip Curl,' he said to the camera before throwing his boardshorts into a fire where they were engulfed in smoke and flames.

An Aussie dad has set fire to his treasured board shirts in a furious protest against Rip Curl over their use of a transgender woman to promote the iconic brand.

'Go woke , go broke  f*** you, Rip Curl,' he said to the camera before throwing his board shorts into a fire where they were engulfed in smoke and flames

Western Australian longboarder Sasha Lowerson featured in a Rip Curl promotion for women's surfing, which triggered an angry backlash from consumers

Another man, Tomislav Stojanovic, filmed himself tossing away his reef booties.

'I'm in Bali, I've just heard about Rip Curl  F*** you Rip Curl,' he can be heard saying in the footage.

The posts featured the hashtags #GoWokeGoBroke #savewomenssports #StopReplacingWomen and #boycottripcurl with commenters calling for Aussies to cut ties with the surf brand.

'Taking my money elsewhere. Why do you hate women?' one follower asked.

'Rip Curl was always one of my favourite brands in this industry - bummer, I'll never spend another dime with em,' posted another.

'RIP for me Rip Curl!!! Not supporting any more!' added another.

There were also several messages of support for Hamilton in the row.

'Bethany is an icon. She's better without this company,' posted a follower.

'There will be no-one better than Bethany to represent women in women's surfing - RIP Rip Curl,' added another.

One commentator even accused Rip Curl of removing comments as it goes into damage control.

'Why are you deleting comments? Delete as much as you like, people already know where you stand when it comes to biological women,' they posted.

Rip Curl has not yet made a public statement about the removal of the Lowerson promotion.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Rip Curl for comment.

The promotion featuring Lowerson has since been removed by Rip Curl, but Aussies are still calling for a boycott of the company's products

Surfing, which will feature as a new sport at the Paris Olympics in 2024, adopted its International Surfing Association's policy for transgender participation in early 2023.

The policy is recognised by the Olympic Committee and states: 'Eligibility criteria applying to transgender (trans) people and/or people with sex variations must be evidence-based, rights-respecting, and developed on a sport-by-sport basis.'

It states that surfers that were born as biological males must maintain set standards of testosterone levels continuously for 12 months to be eligible to compete in a women's event.

Hamilton and fellow Aussie surfing legend Kelly Slater have previously called for a separate transgender division in the sport.

Hamilton also previously threatened to boycott the sport over its transgender policy.

While many followers support her stance, she has also been labelled a 'homophobe' and 'transphobe' on her Instagram account.

Last year, Lowerson told Daily Mail Australia she has received support from top surfers that 'made me regain my faith in humanity'.

'The current number six in the world, who I hadn't seen since before my transition, I paddled up to her and she saw me and said, "Look at you, you look amazing".

'The 2016 world champ Rachael Tilly [also] came up and said hello, she said, "It's so good to see you here",' said Lowerson.

'I initially had a lot of fears for my safety, but there were little things, little acts of kindness.'

Lowerson's own personal Instagram account - where she says she is a 'West Aus Girl looking to always go on more Surf adventures' - has been set to private.

She became the target of personal abuse and social media attacks in the wake of the Rip Curl promotion.
A man accused of murdering a teenager whose body was discovered in Tasmanian bushland has pleaded not guilty.

Christopher Mark Jordan, 37, appeared via video link from prison in Launceston Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning.

He was charged on July 27 with the murder of Shyanne-Lee Tatnell, whose remains were found a day earlier off a track near Nabowla in the state's northeast about 12 weeks after she went missing.

It is alleged Jordan murdered the 14-year-old on April 30 in the town of Scottsdale, which is home to a few thousand people.

The man accused of murdering Shyanne-Lee Tatnell (above) has pleaded not guilty

Jordan entered a plea of not guilty and will next appear in court in relation to the matter on March 12.

He did not enter a plea to charges of failing to comply with ammunition storage requirements, and possessing a controlled plant and prohibited import.

Shyanne-Lee was last seen on the night of April 30 near the North Esk River in the city of Launceston, about one hour's drive from Scottsdale.

Her disappearance sparked large-scale searches, including an operation involving 180 people - the biggest search ever conducted in northern Tasmania.
Four migrants were filmed clobbering two NYPD officers to the ground in Times Square...before being released without bail.

The incident began at around 8:30 p.m. Saturday night on West 42nd Street, as the pair of cops told the violent quartet men to get moving.

That's when a fight started to break out between a suspect in a yellow sweatshirt and the police officers.

According to the NYPD, the migrants then started to attack the officers, kicking them in the head and body while the two officers try to pin down one of the other men, tearing off his sweatshirt.

The migrants then ran away, leaving the unidentified police officers on the ground while they made their getaway east on 42nd Street toward Seventh Avenue.

This is the moment a gang of four migrants began clobbering two NYPD officers in New York's Times Square

The gang are said to have struck after being asked to keep moving without cops. The suspected attackers were later arrested...and subsequently freed without bail

At around 10:44 p.m. that night, four of them - Darwin Andres Gomez Izquiel, 19, Kelvin Servat Arocha, 19, Juarez Wilson, 21, and Yorman Reveron, 24 - were arrested.

They were all charged with Assault on a Police Officer, Gang Assault, Obstructing Governmental Administration and Disorderly Conduct but were released without bail.

New York has come under fire for its progressive laws aimed at stopping people who can't afford to make bail languish in prison for months on end.

Critics say it has led to a spike in violent criminals being freed straight back onto the streets - and emboldened them to reoffend, knowing there'll be few consequences.

Jhoan Boada, 22, was arrested Monday night and charged with Attempted Assault on a Police Officer and Gang Assault.

Police sources confirmed the men's migrant status to the New York Post.

The officers cuts to the face for one and body bruises for the other - at the scene.

Reveron, the eldest of the men arrested, already has two open cases for assault and robbery in Manhattan, having stolen from and assaulted a Nordstrom Rack employee in November.

Times Square is one of New York's most famous tourist meccas - but it also has a reputation for being a rough area filled with criminals

The worker had caught him attempting to swipe an item worth $130 before he allegedly 'pushed, punched and bit' them.

He also allegedly punched a loss prevention officer at the famous Herald Square Macy's while trying to commit a robbery with two other suspects.

Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry condemned the attacks and the criminal justice system that allowed at least one of these men to re-offend in a statement.

'Attacks on police officers are becoming an epidemic, and the reason is a revolving door we're seeing in cases like this one,' Hendry said.

'It is impossible for police officers to deal effectively with crime and disorder if the justice system can't or won't protect us while we do that work.'

The incident remains under investigation by 'progressive' Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office.

The attack comes as New York City in particular has struggled under the weight of tens of thousands of migrants arriving at its borders in need of places to stay and other accommodations.

In 2023 alone, the city dealt with the arrival of more than 100,000 migrants.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has pleaded for state and federal aid as it is estimated the migrant crisis will cost the city $12billion over the next three years - a number the Hochul administration is likely attempting to offset slightly with the new working plan.

New York is a Right to Shelter state and is required to house the asylum seekers but shelters have filled up at an astronomical rate.

In Manhattan, a number of landmark hotels have been turned into makeshift shelters and temporary housing.

Back in September, Hochul said: 'We have to get the word out, that when you come to New York, you're not going to have more hotel rooms, we don't have capacity.

'So we have to also message properly that we're at a limit - if you're going to leave your country, go somewhere else.'
Musk's top spot on the list of billionaires is now in jeopardy as Bernard Arnault is just $2 billion behind in the rankings while his own fortune is on the line

The compensation plan was one of Musk's most valuable assets

Elon Musk could lose his position as richest man after a Delaware judge's court ruling put the CEO's future fortune in jeopardy.

A judge ruled on Tuesday that Musk must hand back the biggest pay packet in corporate history.

Judge Kathleen McCormick found that the $55 billion awarded to Musk five years ago was a result of the CEO strong-arming Tesla directors.

McCormick in her ruling found that the process leading to the boards approval of his 2018 compensation package was 'deeply flawed' because of how close Musk was to some of its members.

The South African businessman could lose his top spot in the rankings for wealthiest person.

Elon Musk could lose his position as richest man after a Delaware judge's court ruling put the CEO's future fortune in jeopardy

A judge ruled on Tuesday that Musk must hand back the biggest pay packet in corporate history and found that the $55 billion awarded to Musk five years ago was a result of the CEO strong-arming Tesla directors

Musk reacted to the ruling on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, tweeting: 'Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware.'

Musk currently holds a net worth of $210.6 billion, putting him at number one on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List.

Bernard Arnault is holding down the second position - and is wavering just $2 billion below the Tesla CEO in net worth. Tuesday's ruling could make all the difference to that ranking.

Musk's stock options from the compensation plan were one of his most valuable assets, worth at least $51.1 billion.

The pay package was a large proportion of his net worth and without it Musk's fortune would drop to $154.3 billion. He would fall to third-richest person, behind Arnault and Jeff Bezos.

Musk's closest competition - Arnault - is a 73-year-old French businessman, investor and art collector.

Arnault is the founder, chairman and CEO of LVMH, the world's largest luxury goods company which oversees more than 75 brands.

The brands include designers, such as Louis Vuitton and Dior, as well as wines and spirit companies, like Hennessy and Moet et Chandon, and various other categories of expensive goods.

Musk didn't hold back his frustration as his net worth was put at risk by the judge's bombshell decision.

Bernard Arnault (pictured) is next in line as the richest person in the world, and now that Musk's fortune is on the line he could take over the top spot

Arnault is the founder, chairman and CEO of LVMH, the world's largest luxury goods company which oversees more than 75 brands

He reacted to the ruling on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, tweeting: 'Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware.'

'I recommend incorporating in Nevada or Texas if you prefer shareholders to decide matters,' Musk wrote in another post on X.

Users on X had mixed opinions on Tuesday's court ruling. 'Its total b*lls**t that a judge in the United States of America is able to prevent a company from paying you whatever sum the board deems appropriate,' one user responded.

'Sir, you incorporated in Delaware because you tried to avoid paying corporate taxes in the state your business was headquartered. If thats not factual, please let us know why you incorporated in Delaware,' another X user accused.

Others fired at the state of Delaware - home of President Joe Biden - for the decision, 'Since when is Delaware a state,' a user joked.

Judge Kathleen McCormick found that Musk had 'extensive ties with the persons tasked with negotiating on Teslas behalf', including General Counsel Todd Maron, who was his 'former divorce attorney'.

Defense lawyers said the pay plan was fairly negotiated by a committee of independent directors, contained lofty performance milestones, and was blessed by a shareholder vote that was not even required.

McCormick ordered directors back to the drawing board in a bid to come up with an appropriate pay package for the world's richest man.

The parties are to confer on a form of final order implementing this decision and submit a joint letter identifying all issues, including fees that need to be addressed to bring this matter to a conclusion at the trial level,' she wrote.

Musk's stock options from the compensation plan were one of his most valuable assets, worth at least $51.1 billion

Musk owns 13 percent of Tesla stock but announced a bid earlier this month to secure a quarter of its voting stock.

'I am uncomfortable growing Tesla to be a leader in AI & robotics without having ~25% voting control,' he wrote on X.

'Enough to be influential, but not so much that I cant be overturned.'

Tesla's shares fell around 3 percent in the aftermath of the ruling.
Nevadans for Palestinian Liberation, the group that posted the video, have encouraged voters to reconsider casting a ballot for the Biden-Harris ticket

Two women have accused an aide to Vice President Kamala Harris of barring them from entering a campaign event because they were wearing hijabs.

A video that has amassed 1.8million views on X appears to show two women being blocked from entering a campaign event in Las Vegas over the weekend.

The video, posted Tuesday morning by an account called Nevadans for Palestinian Liberation, was filmed by a woman who can be heard but not seen.

She and another woman, who is briefly shown to be wearing a hijab - headscarf worn by some Muslim women - confront a young man who is staffing the event about not being let in despite having an invitation.

The women question the staff, who the Las Vegas Review-Journal report are from both the state and county Democratic Party, about why they are being denied entrance before beginning to make the claim that it is because of their hijabs.

A spokesman for the Democrat party said the women were banned for disrupting previous events.

Two Muslim women have accused Biden-Harris campaign staffers of Islamophobic discrimination after they were barred from an event in Las Vegas over the weekend

When the staff don't directly respond to their questions, the pair chide them with labels like 'racist' and 'Islamophobic.'

'Is it because of our scarves?' asked one of the women after being told they would not be allowed in.

The local outlet reported that an aide with the Biden-Harris re-elect campaign said the two women were part of a group of people who were not allowed in the event because of previous disruptions they had caused.

As passersby continue to file into the event, the women tell them: 'They're (the campaign staff) disinviting us because we have hijabs on our heads.'

The women then attempt to use identity politics to shame the staffers, calling out the young man for apparently being part of the LGBT community and another black female staffer for persecuting a fellow minority group.

In a statement, the campaign aide said: 'As a policy, the campaign will disinvite individuals known to have disrupted prior events.'

In Nevada, earlier this month, pro-Palestinian activists attempted to shut down an event at which the state's junior senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat, was speaking.

One of the individuals present at that disruption was blocked from attending the Saturday event.

When the staff don't directly respond to their questions, the pair chide them with labels like 'racist' and 'Islamophobic'

The women then attempt to use identity politics to shame the staffers, calling out the young man for apparently being part of the LGBT community and another black female staffer for persecuting a fellow minority group (Muslims)

For all those voters who were not sure about who to vote for in the upcoming election, please ask yourselves if you are ok with the openly, blatant racism we are seeing here by the Biden/Harris ticket.  Nevadans for Palestinian Liberation (@npl_palestine) January 30, 2024

A thread on X, written underneath the video by Nevadans for Palestinian Liberation, identifies the women as Muslim and shows pictures it claims are of the women's invitation to and wristbands for the event.

'For all those voters who were not sure about who to vote for in the upcoming election, please ask yourselves if you are ok with the openly, blatant racism we are seeing here by the Biden/Harris ticket,' read one of the posts below the original video.

'Not only are they funding and giving political cover to Israel to commit a genocide against the Palestinian people but they are also discriminating against Americans for their religious beliefs.'

CAIR - the controversial Islamic advocacy organization - has called on the vice president to issue a response to the video.

'The American people deserve to know whether these women were profiled and barred from an event featuring Vice President Harris because they were visibly Muslim,' said Robert McCaw, the group's Government Affairs Director, in a statement reported by the Review-Journal.

'We encourage Vice President Harris to take appropriate action to address this apparent incident of profiling.'
A man has been given a lengthy jail term for a sickening attack on a teenage boy and his mother in the car park of a McDonald's restaurant.

Christopher John Corley, 29, who was on a drug-fuelled bender at the time of the assault, was sentenced to more than five years for the crime in the northern Adelaide suburb of Paralowie.

The District Court was told that before the daylight robbery and assault, Corley approached a 16-year-old boy inside the McDonald's on July 5, 2022, and shook his hand.

The boy walked to the car park with the food and drinks he had bought and Corley, who had been using methamphetamines, followed him.

As the teenager got to his mum's car, Corley ran up and punched him in the face, causing the boy to fall to the ground and drop the food and drinks.

Christopher John Corley (pictured left) has been given a lengthy jail term for a sickening attack on a teenage boy and his mother (pictured on the ground) in the car park of a McDonald's

READ MORE: Celeste Manno's stalker Luay Sako knew EXACTLY what room to go to in order to murder her Luay Nader Sako (left) is led into the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne Advertisement

As Corley picked up food items from the ground, the boy's mother approached him.

Corley wanted her car keys and when she refused, there was a scuffle and he pulled the woman to the ground.

Her son was able to pull Corley off his mum, which caused him to leave.

But Corley came back a short time later and grabbed the car keys and again picked up some food from the ground.

Early the next morning, the police were called to the Lyell McEwin Hospital morning after reports a man was fighting with others in the Emergency Department,' the Advertiser reported.

The man who was fighting was Corley, and he kicked a police officer in the thigh while being arrested.

The teenager's victim impact statement said he was not able to see his terminally ill grandmother before she died as he did not want his injuries to distress her.

'The extraordinary shock and trauma that he experienced would be difficult for anyone to move on from, and perhaps more difficult for someone of his young age,' Judge Slattery said.

'He is to be commended for his bravery in protecting his mother, and certainly should not feel as if he has somehow let her down.'

Corley had not slept for days before the assault after 'burying' himself in drugs and alcohol, the court heard.

He said he was ashamed of what he did and planned to follow a career in music and art in Western Australia when his jail term is over.

Corley was sentenced to five years and four months jail, backdated to July 6, 2022, the day he was arrested in the hospital.

'There is no doubt that (the victims) must have been absolutely terrified by your actions, which were remarkably violent, brazen, unprovoked and occurring in broad daylight,' the judge said.
Two former senior Boeing staffers have said they wouldn't fly on the firm's killer 737 Max after its latest safety fiasco - and one said he urge his family not to set foot on one either.

'I would absolutely not fly a Max airplane,' said Ed Pierson, a former Boeing senior manager told the LA Times, following the January 5 incident which saw a door plug blow out of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 in mid air.

'I've worked in the factory where they were built, and I saw the pressure employees were under to rush the planes out the door' he explained

Adding: 'I tried to get them to shut down before the first crash.'

Returning the Max 9 to service was 'another example of poor decision making, and it risks the public safety' Pierson told the publication.

Ed Pierson, a former Boeing senior manager she he would 'absolutely not fly a Max airplane'

Joe Jacobsen, a former engineer at Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration, expressed his concerns about the jets returning to the skies too soon and said he'd urge his family not to set foot on a Boeing 737 Max

Joe Jacobsen, a former engineer at Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration, agreed, telling The Times returning the jets to the skies was 'premature.'

'Instead of fixing one problem at a time and then waiting for the next one, fix all of them,' Jacobsen said.

'I would tell my family to avoid the Max. I would tell everyone, really,' he said.

A faulty door plug detaching caused a panel to detach at 16,000 feet from a Max 9 plane on an Alaska Airlines flight on January 5.

The Max 9's were temporarily grounded by aviation regulators pending safety checks but are now once again in the skies.

A photo shows the blown out window. It is offered as a door on the aircraft. Alaska chose not to take this option - although the frame of the prospective door was entirely ripped out by the fuselage failure

Alaska flight 1282 left Portland just after 5pm local time on Friday when a window blew out at 16,000 feet, ripping a child's shirt off

Other iterations of Boeing's Max have also been at the center of safety scandals, including the Max 8 which had two crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.

The plane's computer system was to blame, with Boeing accused of bolting too-large engines onto a 60 year-old airframe, then trying to use software to solve that imbalance.

'Our long-term focus is on improving our quality so that we can regain the confidence of our customers, our regulator and the flying public,' Stan Deal, Boeing Commercial Airplanes' chief executive, wrote in a message to employees Friday evening.

Adding: 'Frankly, we have disappointed and let them down.'

Jennifer Homendy of the National Transportation Safety Board said the blow-out at 16,000ft was an 'accident, not an incident'

The Boeing 737-9 MAX rolled off the assembly line just two months ago, receiving its certification in November 2023, according to FAA record posted online

'Each of our 737-9 MAX [planes] will return to service only after the rigorous inspections are completed and each plane is deemed airworthy according to FAA requirements,' Alaska Airlines said in a statement.

'Let me be clear: This won't be back to business as usual for Boeing,' FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a statement last week.

'The quality assurance issues we have seen are unacceptable,' Whitaker said. 'That is why we will have more boots on the ground closely scrutinizing and monitoring production and manufacturing activities.'

The FAA also noted that it would not allow Boeing to expand production of its Max fleet, including the 737 Max 9.

Just weeks before the Alaska Airlines incident Boeing asked the FAA to exempt the latest variant of its 737 Max plane from safety inspections despite the risk of engine malfunction.

FAA officials said that Boeing was working to fix the hazard which could cause the engine housing from overheating and breaking off during flight, the Associated Press reported.

In the meantime, federal officials told pilots flying the 737 Max 7, which is not yet used by airlines, to limit use of an anti-icing system in some conditions to avoid damage that 'could result in loss of control of the airplane.'

Boeing unveiled their 737 Max 9 in 2015, and since its Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) approval in 2017 has become one of the most widely used aircraft in the world.

Wreckage of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-MAX plane is seen on March 11, 2019

But it has a deeply troubled reputation and plunged Boeing into the greatest crisis in the Chicago-headquartered firm's history.

A year after going into service the plane it had its first crash: in October 2018 a 737 Max operated by Indonesian airline Lion Air crashed shortly after take off, killing all 189 on board.

Five months later, in March 2019, a second 737 Max - this one operated by Ethiopian Airlines - crashed again shortly after take off, killing all 157 on board.

Three days later the planes were grounded by the FAA.

It later emerged that Boeing staff, in internal messages, were cavalier about FAA regulations and critical of the Max's design - in particular a computer system blamed for both deadly crashes.

One said it the aircraft was 'designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys.'

The 737 design dates back to the 1960s and Boeing was criticized for adding large engines to an old airframe instead of using a 'clean sheet design'.
Is your Bully XL affected by the ban?

Desperate XL Bully owners have vowed to protect their beloved pets with just hours left to apply for an exemption certificate for their dogs or face putting them down from tomorrow.

Lovers of the breed insist their dogs 'should be judged on what they have done' rather than be banned by the Government after a series of horrific attacks in recent years that have killed and maimed dozens of people.

From February 1 it will become a criminal offence to have an XL Bully without an exemption, and owners face having the dogs seized by police and given an unlimited fine.

The RPSCA says as it stands there could be as many as 20,000 dogs that still have not been registered with the Government under new rules brought in to stop serious and fatal attacks by the breed.

On December 31 a separate law came into effect forcing XL Bully owners to muzzle their dogs while out in public - sparking some owners to wear grills over their own faces in solidarity with their beloved pets.

Is your Bully XL affected by the ban? Email matthew.lodge@mailonline.co.uk

Video posted on TikTok shows one XL Bully being given a soft toy of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak by their owner

The XL Bully proceeds to bite down on the chew toy while rolling around on the floor

People hold placards and signs at a protest against the XL Bully ban in Mancgester

XL Bully owner Eamonn Mcgeady wears a muzzle along with his pet dog Lexi in a pub in protest at new restrictions on the breed

One owner posted a video on TikTok showing her walking her muzzled dog the day before the ban comes into place

An XL Bully owner wears a muzzle while out walking his dog, which is also muzzled, after new laws were put in place

Multiple people have been killed by the breed, including Ian Price who was attacked by two suspected American bullies last year, 10-year-old Jack Lis who was mauled to death in 2021 and toddler Bella-Rae Birch who was savagely assaulted by her family's pet XL Bully in March the same year.

How to apply for a Certificate of Exemption to keep an XL Bully dog Since December 31, 2023, it has been an offence to sell, abandon or give away an XL Bully and the dogs must be on a lead and muzzled in public. From February 1 2024 it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless your dog has a valid Certificate of Exemption. To apply for the ban you must pay a fee of 92.40 and you will receive a ten digit payment reference. You must also have a third party public liability insurance for banned dog breeds. Owners will also need to provide their dog's microchip number. Applications must be completed by noon on January 31, 2024. To apply click here. Source: Gov.uk Advertisement

The Government has insisted it had to put the ban in place as the breed is 'disproportionately involved' in serious and fatal dog attacks.

The Scottish Government says it will introduce similar restrictions after suggestions it could become a safe haven for dogs following the ban in England. Northern Ireland is also set to make a decision on implementing similar rules soon.

The RSPCA says so far more than 30,000 XL Bullys have been registered under the Government scheme, and those who haven't done so yet have until midday today to join.

As part of the scheme XL Bully owners can claim 200 in compensation if they pay to have their dogs euthanised or 100 if they do so using a charity service.

The UK's chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss has warned people not leave it too late to register if they want to keep their pets.

XL bully owner Ellie Londsdale, from Featherstone in West Yorkshire, has urged the ban to be scrapped.

The 23-year-old said he dog, called Frankie, is 'the softest thing' and insisted 'it's not just an animal, it's family'.

She told the BBC: 'Any dog can hurt anyone - it's not one specific breed, [it's] if you bring it up wrong. I don't get why people are saying it's just XL Bullys.

'I understand why people are scared of him - he's big and muscly and got a big scary muzzle... but if you got to know him you'd know he's not [scary].'

Danielle Thomas, from South Tyneside, has got an exemption for her XL Bully called Bailey.

Ms Thomas, who took in the dog in June from a family friend, said he is 'absolutely brilliant' and hit out at the new rules.

She told the BBC: 'The dogs should be judged on what they have done.'

'In the wrong hands they can cause damage but if you bring them up in a loving home and care for them, they do treat you with the same respect.'

Ahead of the full ban tomorrow, some owners have posted heartfelt tributes to their pets on social media, with one woman even posting a video appearing to show her XL Bully biting down on a soft toy of Rishi Sunak.

Dog owner Terry Wigzell takes his muzzled XL Bully 'Duke' for a walk ahead of his application for an exemption today

Owners of the breed have had to walk their dogs on leads and with a muzzle since the turn of the year

Dr Samantha Gaines, dog welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: 'We are deeply saddened by tragic incidents involving dogs and we agree that there is an urgent need to provide protection for the public - but banning XL bullies is not the answer.

READ MORE HERE: Police forces across Britain are spending at least 2.2million housing XL Bullys in kennels amid crackdown on dangerous dogs Advertisement

'Instead, we want to see the UK Government commit to the enforcement and improvement of current breeding and dog control regulations, and to promoting responsible dog ownership and training. Improving the way dogs are bred, controlled and treated throughout their lives is key to preventing dog bite incidents.

'As a member of the Dog Control Coalition, the RSPCA remains vehemently opposed to breed-specific legislation; an outdated approach which fails to protect public safety and seriously compromises dog welfare, and we will continue to campaign against legislation that unfairly punishes dogs based on their appearance.

'The ban on XL bullies not only remains devastating for so many dogs, but is also taking a heavy toll on owners, on rescue centre staff who have grown close to dogs in their care, and to veterinary teams who face the prospect of being asked to put to sleep healthy dogs whose behaviour poses no risk.

'There is a huge risk that rescue centres and the veterinary profession will not be able to cope with the demands put on them by this law.'

In the lead up to the full ban, which comes into effect tomorrow, the Government also introduced restrictions on the breed meaning they must be microchipped and neutered to prevent breeding.

Since December 31 it has been illegal to allow XL Bullys off the lead or be unmuzzled in public, while breeding, selling or abandoning them has also been outlawed.

It was revealed this week that police forces are spending at 2.2million to house them in kennels amid the crackdown.

Furious XL Bully owners have lashed out at the new restrictions, holding protests and posting videos showing them muzzling themselves in solidarity with the animals.

Posting on a Facebook support forum for owners, Save our Bully's UK, user Kayleigh Heath uploaded a picture and wrote: 'They sit for us WE stand for them, finally cracked the muzzle. Daddy wears one, kuba wears one, no dramas at all.'

One XL Bully owner appeared on social media wearing a muzzle in solidarity with his dog

XL Bully owners are pictured protesting in central London in September last year

In Cheshire another dog owner staged a one-man protest by wearing muzzle and guzzling a pint through a straw at his local pub.

Eamonn Mcgeady, 51, and six-month-old dog Lexi wore matching protective guards on their visit to the Straw Hat, in Ellesport.

His daughter Elle, 19, said he did it to make a point about new legislation on the breed - and left her feeling proud. Elle, an apprentice engineer from Chester, said: 'I just don't agree with the muzzle.

'We'd be happy enough to walk her on a lead but we're not happy with the muzzle - it's just not nice to see.'

Earlier this month, XL Bully owners in Manchester held a protest against the imminent ban on the breed that they say has turned their lives 'upside down'.

Owners of the crossbreed pups  the rehoming and breeding of which has now been outlawed  rallied in the city centre, waving signs that read 'don't bully our bullies' and others that called for the law to be rolled back.

Protesters also laid down roses that they said represented the lives of XL Bully dogs that had been euthanised in the run up to the ban on owning the canine without a licence tomorrow.

One dog owner even posted a bizarre XL Bully rap singing 'No Rishi can't put me down' and refusing to muzzle her 40kg hound in public.

Mandy Hughes - whose TikTok videos protesting new laws banning XL Bullies have gone viral - has vowed to go to prison than apply for an exemption for her six-year-old bulldog Elsa.

Footage of the 57-year-old singing lyrics including: 'Don't you put no muzzle on me, stop putting the blame on me' have racked up half-a-million views.

Ms Hughes, from Allithwaite in Cumbria, rapped in remixed version of Jack Harlow's Lovin on Me: 'Why you putting a ban on me? Stop putting the blame on me.

'I'm a Bully baby, I might lick you to death. I'm no 'kill a baby'.

More than 600,000 people have also signed a UK Parliament petition calling for the ban on the breed  linked to up to 14 deaths since 2021  to be overturned.

The Government announced in September it would ban XL Bully dogs, with Defra listing a set of physical characteristics used to define the type of dog.

It describes the type as large and powerfully built, with a muscular body and blocky head, meaning similar dogs - such as American Bulldogs - could meet the criteria.
House Republicans voted along party lines after midnight Wednesday to move toward impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for a 'willful and systematic' refusal to enforce immigration laws.

The Homeland Security Committee debated all day Tuesday and well into the night to recommend two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas to the full House as border security becomes a top 2024 election issue.

It's a rare charge against a Cabinet official unseen in nearly 150 years, as Republicans make GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump's hard-line deportation approach to immigration their own.

All committee Republicans voted in favor, while the Democrats unified against it.

'We cannot allow this man to remain in office any longer,' said Chairman Mark Green.

House Republicans voted along party lines after midnight Wednesday to move toward impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for a 'willful and systematic' refusal to enforce immigration laws

All committee Republicans voted in favor, while the Democrats unified against it

The impeachment articles charge that Mayorkas 'refused to comply with Federal immigration laws' amid a record surge of migrants and that he has 'breached the public trust' in his claims to Congress that the US-Mexico border is secure.

The Homeland Committee hearing Tuesday devolved into chaos with Democrats pulling delay tactics and even Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., comparing Donald Trump's hardline immigration stance to Adolf Hitler.

The frenzied and drawn-out hearing dragged out late in the night due to the highly political nature of the resolution, which accuses Mayorkas of high crimes and misdemeanors.

Democrats offered amendments and other procedural motions to keep the hearing live and delaying the vote.

Majority Leader Steve Scalise insisted the impeachment articles would advance to the House floor next week.

The Mayorkas impeachment resolution launched to the forefront as border crossings reached fresh records in recent months - including 300,000 in December alone - speeding ahead of the Joe Biden impeachment inquiry.

'This is a terrible day for the committee, the United States, the Constitution and our great country,' said Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the committee's ranking Democrat.

Referring to Trump's 'Make America Great Again' campaign slogan, Thompson said the 'MAGA-led impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas is a baseless sham.'

The Houses proceedings against Mayorkas have created an oddly split-screen Capitol Hill, as the Senate works deliberately with the secretary on a bipartisan border security package that is now on life support.

The Homeland Security Committee - including Chairman Mark Green (pictured right) and Michael McCaul (pictured left) debated all day Tuesday and well into the night to recommend two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York called the proceedings a 'political stunt' ordered up by Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (pictured left)

Only one Cabinet member has ever been impeached before - War Secretary William Belknap in 1876.

He was not convicted in a Senate trial - and if Mayorkas is impeached by the House, he likely won't be by the current Democrat-led Senate either.

Republicans are currently operating on a two-seat majority - and cannot pass the resolution on the floor without near-unanimous support.

Reps. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., and Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, both told reporters they are undecided on how they'll vote.

Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., is 'leaning no,' with his office telling DailyMail.com he is still talking to constitutional experts before deciding how to vote.

Even moderates, who in previous months have been more hesitant to commit to impeaching a Biden Cabinet member, are now seemingly on board.

They say they aren't worried about thwarting bipartisan Senate immigration negotiations because they have no faith that the Senate, which is working with Mayorkas, will come up with a meaningful deal.

Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., said his understanding of the deal is that it has 'very little to do with border security and more to do with immigration processes.'

'If we were to not impeach Mayorkas,' he told reporters, 'I don't still I don't then see the president coming to the table and seeing that as an olive branch to come actually do something meaningful.'

'I think they can both happen at the same time,' Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., said of Senate negotiations and impeachment.

Meanwhile during the Homeland Security hearing, California Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia compared Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler.

Republicans moved forward two articles of impeachment against Biden's border chief Mayorkas - one accusing him of willfully subverting immigration laws through catch-and-release and another accusing him of obstructing and lying to Congress.

But Democrats angrily hit back at the GOP-led impeachment during the markup, trying to tie their hardline immigration policies to a dictatorship.

Democrat Rep. Garcia went further, likening former President Donald Trump to Hitler, because he 'speaks about immigrants with the same rhetoric that Hitler claiming that immigrants like me and my family and they 'pollute the blood of this country.''

'He wants chaos,' Garcia added, saying the Trump and 'MAGA' border security plan includes 'alligator moats, bombing northern Mexico, shooting migrants in the legs, and electrifying the fence and putting spikes.'

'This is all about trying to get Donald Trump reelected,' the Democrat claimed, as House Republicans have swatted away Senate-led, bipartisan immigration negotiations in favor of pushing through impeachment.

Democrat Robert Garcia of California uses a graphic as Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee move to impeach Secretary Mayorkas

Chairman Mark Green is leading a full committee markup to impeach Sec. Mayorkas

Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., touched on the high-profile battle between the Biden administration and the state of Texas, claiming Republicans have been 'sabotaging' Biden's efforts to secure the border.

Abbott and Biden are locked in a legal battle after Abbott sent the National Guard to Eagle Pass, Texas, to apprehend migrants and kicked federal agents out of Shelby Park, a popular place for migrants to pass.

'So your own party is sabotaging and undermine this administration's efforts to address the border while you are trying to impeach him by saying that they're not addressing the border. The hypocrisy is the least of it,' said Goldman.

'Your attack on the rule of law and our democracy is the worst of it. And you better be careful about the bed that you make.'

Goldman said on Monday that if Republicans impeach Mayorkas over what he deems to be mere policy differences, Democrats could impeach a future Republican Homeland Security over a child separation policy like that under Trump, for example.

Mayorkas lashed out at House Republicans trying to impeach him, saying he would not be swayed by 'politically motivated accusations and personal attacks you have made against me.'

Mayorkas wrote a scathing seven-page letter to House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., Tuesday morning, just hours before the GOP was set to move forward impeachment articles against him.

'I assure you that your false accusations do not rattle me and do not divert me from the law enforcement and broader public service mission to which I have devoted most of my career and to which I remain devoted,' he said.

The Homeland Security secretary insisted he's done the best he can with the tools available to him - and any further restrictions will take an act of Congress.

Mayorkas has been involved in bipartisan Senate talks on a national security aid and border package that House Republicans have largely rejected.

Mayorkas has lashed out at House Republicans trying to impeach him, saying he would not be swayed by 'politically motivated accusations and personal attacks you have made against me'

'This is all about trying to get Donald Trump reelected,' Garcia claimed, as House Republicans have swatted away Senate-led, bipartisan immigration negotiations in favor of pushing through impeachment

Green fired back in a statement to DailyMail.com, calling Mayorkas' '11th-hour response' this morning 'inadequate and unbecoming of a Cabinet secretary.'

He maintained that the GOP investigation has 'established' that Mayorkas 'willfully and systemically refused to comply with the laws of the United States and breached the public trust. '

'A letter at 4:48am on the morning of our markup, repeating the same false claims and doubling down on his commitment to his continued lawless conduct, indicates the contempt with which he views Congress, the American people, and the Constitution he swore an oath to defend,' continued Green.

In December 2020, former President Trump's last full month in office, there were 92,000 border encounters. In December 2023, there were around 250,000. Mayorkas suggested that took extreme policies from the Trump team.

'I think it is unconscionable to separate children from their parents as a tool of deterrence,' he said, referring to a part of the Trump administration's zero tolerance border policy in 2018.

'I believe that law enforcement at the border can be tough and humane. It is our responsibility to the American people to work through our differences and try to reach solutions together.'

Republicans cite Mayorkas' 'willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law' as hundreds of migrants continue to flood into the U.S. every day.

They contend Mayorkas is guilty of 'high crimes and misdemeanors' that amount to a 'refusal to comply with the law' on immigration and a 'breach of the public trust.'

The impeachment resolution stated: 'Alejandro N. Mayorkas willfully and systemically refused to comply with the immigration laws, failed to control the border to the detriment of national security, compromised public safety, and violated the rule of law and separation of powers in the Constitution, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.

Passage requires only a House majority. The Senate would hold a trial, and a two-thirds vote is required for conviction, an exceedingly unlikely outcome in the Democratic-run Senate.

Democrats say Republicans have held a sham of an impeachment process against Mayorkas and lack the constitutional grounds to impeach the secretary.

Goldman suggested the GOP's efforts opens the door to making impeachment political.

'The Republicans are going to open the door to impeach a secretary because they don't like how that secretary is doing his job, well, what happens if there's another child separation policy?' he said, referring to Trump's 'zero tolerance' policy.

They also say Republicans are part of the problems at the border, with Republicans attacking Mayorkas even as they have failed to give his department the tools it needs to manage the situation.

'They dont want to fix the problem; they want to campaign on it. Thats why they have undermined efforts to achieve bipartisan solutions and ignored the facts, legal scholars and experts, and even the Constitution itself in their quest to baselessly impeach Secretary Mayorkas,' the department said in a statement Sunday.
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This video is no longer available

A woman has allegedly been stabbed with a paint scraper in Sydney's eastern suburbs, leading to the dramatic citizen's arrest of a 21-year-old man.

Emergency services were called to Roberts Avenue in Randwick at about 4.30pm on Wednesday after reports of a stabbing.

The woman, 48, was found with up to 12 wounds to her head and upper body and was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital. Her injuries are considered non-life threatening.

Police believe the woman was in an argument with a man known to her before he allegedly stabbed her with a paint scraper.

Dramatic footage shows three brave Good Samaritans running after a man before holding him down outside of a grocery store.

A woman has allegedly been stabbed with a paint scrapper in Sydney's eastern suburbs, with a 21-year-old man arrested over the attack (pictured, woman in an ambulance)

Dramatic footage shows a man being held down outside of a grocery story by a group of brave good Samaritans (pictured)

Two witnesses took chase and made a dramatic citizen's arrest on Frenchman's road (pictured, police at the scene)

One of the men can be heard telling him to 'get down and don't f***ing move' while another is seen holding the back of the man's shirt.

Dressed in a black track pants, white t-shirt and shoeless, blood can be seen on the ground next to where the man was being apprehended.

He was taken under police guard to Prince of Wales Hospital.

Smoke alarm tester Tom Artemjev was driving along Frenchmans Road when he witnessed the alleged attack.

'I pulled my handbrake in the middle of the road, jumped out of the car, a fella in a orange construction shirt and I were chasing him down to make sure nothing happened to him,' he said.

The group ran several hundred metres from the apartment block where the alleged incident occurred to keep up with the man before taking him to the ground.

The 21-year-old was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital under police guard as a precaution (pictured)

The footpath near where the grisly incident occurred was covered with blood (pictured)

'I was just walking down here when I saw three lads run down here and rugby tackle a man,' witness Hannah said.

'They just took him down and sat with him while police came,' she said.

The footpath near where the grisly incident allegedly took place was seen covered in blood.

Police have established numerous crime scenes in the area as forensic investigations scour for evidence.

A statement from NSW Police urged motorists and members of the public to avoid Roberts Avenue as it remains closed for investigations.
The Royal Academy has outed one of its own former members for being the only known prestigious academician to have been a slaveowner.

John Singleton Copley and his wife enslaved three servants at their farm in Beacon Hill, Boston, during the 18th century.

The American artist is revealed to have had links to slavery in the Royal Academy's (RA) Entangled Pasts exhibition which delves into the art institution's past links to colonialism and the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Copley was elected as an academician - one of the most prestigious groups of painters, sculptors, architects, and printmakers - in 1779, 11 years after the Royal Academy opened.

Earlier this month the RA was criticised for slapping a trigger warning on the exhibition in which it warned it 'will contain themes of slavery and racism, and historical racial language and imagery'.

The Royal Academy has outed former member John Singleton Copley as being a slaveowner. The American artist and his wife enslaved three servants at their farm in Beacon Hill, Boston, during the 18th century

A Royal Academy staff member poses with a sculpture titled sculpture The First Supper (2021-23) by artist Tavares Strachan showing as part of the Entangled Pasts exhibition

According to The Times, Lucy, Cato and Snap were enslaved by Copley and his wife Susannah Clarke - the daughter of a senior East India Company official in Boston.

One information board within the exhibition reads: 'Copley is the only Academician known to have owned enslaved people, although many others, including those who supported abolition, worked for patrons whose fortunes were derived from enslavement and plantation ownership.'

Copley was the son of Anglo-Irish traders dealing tobacco which was likely to have been produced by slaves in the Caribbean, the RA states.

His 1778 oil painting - Watson and Shark - has been loaned for the exhibition and shows a Black sailor as the central figure attempting to rescue a teenage cabin boy from a shark attack.

Copley had originally painted the sailor as white but later changed his mind to include a Black figure, RA analysis revealed.

The Times says Entangled Past's catalogue also outs the academy's first president, Joshua Reynolds, to having 'benefited from the labour of a servant of African heritage' as well as profiting from those involved in the West India trade.

Royal Academy of Arts has slapped a trigger warning on its exhibition Entangled Pasts which is about colonialism

The trigger warning displayed by the Royal Academy of Arts for its new exhibition about colonialism

The new show at Burlington House (pictured) looks at narratives of empire, enslavement, resistance, abolition and colonialism and runs from February 3 to April 28

As well as Copley and Reynolds, the exhibition features works by JMW Turner, Ellen Gallagher, Yinka Shonibare, and Hew Locke.

Artist and curator Lubaina Himid said earlier this month it was a 'huge, rich, layered filling in of gaps', showing how Black people had contributed to Britain.

'It will seem like a journey through time,' she said, though she added some paintings were 'difficult'.

The new show looks at narratives of empire, enslavement, resistance, abolition and colonialism and runs from February 3 to April 28.

MailOnline has contacted The Royal Academy for comment.
A king penguin that mysteriously travelled 6,000km to Australia has left animal experts baffled.

The Friends of Shorebirds South East (FOSSE) had just completed a survey of local wildlife along the Coorong, a stretch of coastline south of Adelaide, on January 15 when the Antarctic penguin suddenly appeared from the water.

Despite being a long way from home, the aquatic bird was fearless enough to walk up to the group's car before making 'strange braying calls'.

The same holidaying penguin visited fisherman Steve Jenkins a couple weeks later on Australia Day at Wreck Crossing, along the Coorong.

A king penguin has shocked a group of local bird watchers after emerging from the waters along the Coorong, a stretch of coastline south of Adelaide on January 15 (pictured)

FOSSE's president, Jeff Campbell, said the penguin could have landed on the beach to moult - a three or four-week process where all of the bird's feathers are replaced.

Mr Campbell said the bird approached them, seemingly out of curiosity, and that he 'wouldn't be surprised if this bird has never seen a human before'.

'It's come from a sub-Antarctic island like Heard Island or Macquarie Island and has landed here, so probably never encountered a human before and didn't know humans could be dangerous,' he told the ABC.

Footage of the encounter taken by Mr Jenkins shows the penguin slowly waddling along the sand just metres away from the fisherman.

He told the national broadcaster that the bird stayed for a couple of hours until he started to pack up and leave.

Mr Jenkins posted the footage to a locals Facebook page with the caption 'the things that say hello on Australia Day'.

The penguin was about 6,000km away from it's natural habitat in Antarctica and was surprisingly curious to get close and personal with locals (pictured)

Seeing a king penguin on Australian shores is extremely rare, with only two recorded sightings in the past 40 years.

The last sighting was in 2004 at Port MacDonnell, near the Victorian border, and prior to that was in 1987 near the Canuda National Park, west of Mount Gambier.

What would usually be a once in a lifetime event was instead the second time seeing a king penguin for FOSSE's secretary Maureen Christie was also present for the 2004 sighting.

Ms Christie said the penguin's current location is currently unknown and urged beachgoers to not get to close to the penguin if they encounter it.

She also said that dogs are a particular danger to the animals as they would likely be inquisitive of them and could be attacked.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal took aim at Brexit yesterday, accusing those supporting Britain's withdrawal from the EU of making false promises of 'happier days for the British economy and English people'.

The newly minted 34-year-old premier made the remarks in his maiden speech before France's National Assembly, where he gave an impassioned defence of the EU and slammed the National Rally party, whose leader has described the bloc as 'the enemy of the people'.

'Less Europe means less power for France. I will just take one example - Brexit. Its supporters promised happy days for the British economy and the English people,' Attal said.

'Last week, because of Brexit, the last blast furnaces in Great Britain closed and steel is no longer produced in the United Kingdom! On the contrary, in France, notably thanks to investments from Europe, industry is making a comeback,' he declared from the podium.

But the impact of Attal's speech was undermined by the crisis engulfing his own country as thousands of disgruntled farmers took to the streets in protest against cheap imports threatening their livelihoods - and excessive bureaucracy.

The demonstrators used their tractors to block roads across France, smearing manure on government offices and threatening to mire Paris in gridlock as they demanded fair competition.

Authorities said there were still 120 roadblocks in place across France on Tuesday evening, with more than 12,000 farmers and 6,000 tractors involved.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal gestures as he speaks to the lawmakers at the National Assembly, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024

Authorities said there were still 120 roadblocks in place across France on Tuesday evening, with more than 12,000 farmers and 6,000 tractors involved

Farmers form a convoy with their tractors and block the roads in Chilly-Mazarin, a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France on January 30, 2024

A placard reading 'Attal, we will not die in silence witout saying anything' as farmers of the CR47 union (Coordination rurale 47) resume their Paris-bound tractor convoy after an overnight stop-over in Pierrefitte-sur-Sauldre, near Orleans, on January 31, 2024

Many farmers form a convoy with their tractors and block the roads on the A6 Road following French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's speech

In his speech defending France's position at the helm of the European Union, Attal made light of Tata Steel's recent decision to close the remaining two blast furnaces at the UK's largest steelworks later this year - a move that puts some 2,800 jobs at risk.

That came after British Steel said last year it would close its two remaining furnaces.

Both companies intend to build new electric arc furnaces, which are more environmentally friendly.

But these are unlikely to come into operation before the end of 2025.

Attal said that France would also suffer a decline of its domestic industries should the National Rally come to power.

'Those who advocate ending the application of treaties are supporters of a disguised ''Frexit'' that would weaken France,' the 34-year-old said.

National Rally, led by 28-year-old firebrand Jordan Bardella under the guidance of Marine Le Pen, has long advocated for pulling back from the EU and is currently polling well ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance ahead of June's European Parliament elections.

Meanwhile, Macron's government is trying to ward off the farmers besieging Paris with traffic-snarling barricades of tractors and hay bales.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused painful economic shocks, including higher costs for fertilisers and fuel for machinery, bringing farmers' anger to a head in France and other European countries.

Climate change and pressure for more sustainable and productive agriculture are also squeezing the 500,000 or so French agriculteurs, who already have to compete against counterparts from further afield.

To cite just two examples, chicken imports have surged and imports of cherry tomatoes from Morocco have exploded from 300 tons to 70,000 tons per year since 1995, according to a Senate study in 2022 about the dwindling competitive strength of French farms.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal delivers a speech following parliamentary group's remarks to his government statement of general policy before the National Assembly, French Parliament's lower house, on January 30, 2024

Attal was one of the first to publicly back Macron when he decided to run for president in 2017. Pictured: Macron and Attal while he was still a junior minister in 2019

A convoy of tractors drive down the A1 motorway as they try and reach Charles de Gaulle Airport, as part of a co-ordinated farmer's convoy to blockade the French capital, on January 30, 2024

Farmers warm themselves around a bonfire as they block a highway with their tractors, in Ourdy, south of Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024

Tractors are lined up during a blockade by farmers on the A4 highway to protest over price pressures, taxes and green regulation, grievances that are shared by farmers across Europe, in Jossigny, near Paris, France, January 31, 2024

'Everything we warned of 30 years ago is coming true,' said Damien Brunelle, a farmer of cereals and other crops in the Aisne region northeast of Paris. 'Our countryside is emptying.'

'Everything we buy has gone up,' Bruelle said. 'But we're not getting the same revenue.'

When the Ukraine war pushed up prices, Brunelle got 400 euros (341) per ton for the wheat he grows, he says. A ton now brings him just 190 euros (162).

Another common grievance from protesters is that they're being suffocated by red tape and tied down by French and EU rules that govern farming, land use and the distribution of billions of euros in agricultural subsidies.

Farmers complain that they're losing to rivals from countries with fewer constraints and lower costs.

'We're worried because they don't have the same regulations as us,' said Stephanie Flament, a farmer of cereals and beets east of Paris.

'It will be cheaper for the consumer, so where will consumers or companies turn to process flour and so on? To products that cost less.'

Attal, who has been tasked with calming the farmers' anger just three weeks into his time as PM, has signalled his intention to offer more concessions to France's agriculture sector.

In his speech to parliament yesterday, he called agriculture 'our strength, and our pride', waxing lyrical about the importance of farming as part of France's national identity.

'It feeds us in the literal sense but also because it constitutes one of the foundations of our identity, of our traditions', he declared.

Attal told lawmakers that 'new support measures' would be announced in the coming days, and today is set to meet the Farmers' Confederation for talks.

A banner reading 'Let's fight for our means of production' hangs from a tractor, as farmers take part in a road block protest on the A6 highway near Lisses, south of Paris, on January 30, 2024

French gendarmes are silhouetted by spotlights atop a tractor as they prepare to escort farmers of the CR47 union (Coordination rurale 47) on their Paris-bound tractor convoy

Many farmers form a convoy with their tractors and block the roads on the A6 Road following French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's speech

Macron meanwhile, speaking during a diplomatic visit to Sweden, said he was opposed to a trade deal between the European Union and South American bloc Mercosur, which has emerged as a key grievance for farmers worried about foreign competition.

But the French President also said that it was 'too easy' to blame all the farmers' woes on the EU.

Macron said authorities would 'try to simplify the rules' to help farmers and vowed to show 'flexibility' on certain regulations.

After more than a week of intensifying French protests, disgruntled farmers in other European countries joined the movement.

Dozens of Italian farmers staged a protest with tractors near Milan on Tuesday, the latest in a series of small demonstrations across the country.

Spanish farmer unions said they would join the movement with a number of protests, while Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis offered to speed up financial aid to farmers to stave off protests engulfing other countries.

Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium and Romania have all seen protests in recent days.

Much anger is directed at environmental requirements included in the EU's updated Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the bloc's forthcoming 'Green Deal'.

France's government has so far taken a soft approach to the protests, while making clear that any attempt to block Paris airports or the Rungis wholesale food market to the south of the city would be a red line.
Nicola Sturgeon insisted she did not make 'extensive' use of WhatsApp during Covid today as she faced a grilling at the Covid Inquiry.

The former First Minister stressed that discussions about the response to the pandemic took place 'formally' as she kicked off a full day of questioning.

Amid a backlash at swathes of messages being deleted, she said there was 'nothing' important in them that would not have been in the official record.

Ms Sturgeon also stressed that the mood in the Scottish government had been 'serious, purposeful and collegiate' as she dismissed suggestions she saw the crisis as a way of furthering her 'mission' of breaking up the UK.

'I have not said and I'm not saying today that I never used informal means of communication,' she said.

'What I am saying is that I did so very rarely and not to discuss issues of substance or anything that could be described as decision making.

'There was a high degree of formality around the decision making of the Scottish Government.'

The evidence sessions began after Ms Sturgeon was heckled on arrival at the venue in Edinburgh, where the probe is sitting as it considers Scottish issues.

The SNP MSP was greeted with shouts of 'where are your WhatsApps?'

Nicola Sturgeon insisted she did not make 'extensive' use of WhatsApp during Covid today as she faced a grilling

The former first minister stressed that discussions about the response to the pandemic took place 'formally'

Ms Sturgeon was heckled over her deleted WhatsApps today as she arrived to face a grilling at the Covid inquiry

Several figures in Ms Sturgeon's government have already faced questions at the inquiry about their deletion of messages during the pandemic.

Ms Sturgeon has conceded messages had not been retained on her own devices but said she had managed to retrieve copies to submit to the inquiry.

She has said informal messages were handed over to the inquiry last year.

Scottish Government ministers and officials have said decisions were routinely recorded on the system even if messages were deleted in line with policy.

Last week, Ms Sturgeon's former chief of staff Liz Lloyd gave evidence to the inquiry.

After message exchanges between the pair were shown in evidence, Ms Lloyd denied a decision about guest limits on weddings during the pandemic was made 'on the hoof'.

In one message seen by the inquiry, Ms Sturgeon referred to then prime minister Boris Johnson as a 'f****** clown.'

First Minister Humza Yousaf, in his evidence to the inquiry last Thursday, offered an 'unreserved' apology for the Scottish Government's 'frankly poor' handling of requests for WhatsApp messages.

He has announced an external review into the Government's use of mobile messaging.

Ms Sturgeon said today that WhatsApp had become 'too common' a means of communication within the Scottish Government.

She said: 'When people are sending messages on WhatsApp, they don't think, including me and therefore messages, when they are looked back at later on, can be open to different interpretations because people haven't really thought about the words they're using.

'And I think that certainly would be true of some of the exchanges that the inquiry has been looking at.'

Asked by Mr Dawson if she recalled receiving an email about the importance of retaining messages on August 3 2021, Ms Sturgeon replied: 'I do not as far as I am aware, I did not receive that.'

Mr Dawson asked: 'You recall, I would imagine, in a general sense that such a notification was sent out?'

Ms Sturgeon said: 'I would say this: that I don't think I would have required to see that to know that matters that were relevant to know the matters that were relevant.'

The former first minister said she had 'always assumed there would be a public inquiry'.

Ms Sturgeon may also face questions about her decision to provide public health expert Professor Devi Sridhar with her SNP email address to 'privately' be contacted.

It is understood Ms Sturgeon forwarded any such emails to the Scottish Government and offered to supply the inquiry with them if required.

Former Scottish government ministers Kate Forbes and John Swinney gave evidence yesterday.

Mr Swinney said he 'manually' deleted messages between himself, Ms Sturgeon and Mr Yousaf in a practice which could date back to 2007.

The inquiry was earlier told that meetings of senior ministers outside the cabinet  known as the 'gold command'  were not minuted.

Ms Forbes said she was 'surprised' these and Scottish Government Resilience Room meetings went unminuted.

Discussing the external review into messaging, a Scottish Government spokesman said: 'As the First Minister outlined, he has commissioned an externally led review into the use of mobile messaging apps and non-corporate technology in the Scottish Government.

'This will take particular account of Government interaction with statutory public inquiries.

'During this period, we will continue to keep our records management policy under review in line with legislation.

'The external review will inform a wider internal records management policy review.

'More detail on the external and internal reviews will be given in due course.'

Appearing before the official inquiry on Monday, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said the SNP had a clear 'mission' to 'destroy the UK'.

He pointed to 'direct evidence' that had been presented about the Scottish Cabinet discussing how the pandemic could enhance the push for independence.

And Mr Gove, who was responsible for coordinating with the devolved administrations, claimed Ms Sturgeon's remarks in private sometimes had a 'political complexion'.

The minister denied that the Westminster Government had also been playing politics, saying: 'I think the most important thing that we felt was to ensure that lives were saved across the UK.'

Despite repeatedly attempting to 'gazump' Westminster with announcements during the pandemic, Ms Sturgeon was always adamant she had no intention of politicising it.

Ms Sturgeon was exchanging messages with chief adviser Liz Lloyd on October 31, 2020 as Mr Johnson was announcing another national lockdown

On June 30, 2020 Ms Sturgeon told a briefing on the raging crisis that anyone 'trotting out political or constitutional arguments is in the wrong place completely'.

But records of a Scottish Cabinet meeting from the same day, highlighted at the Covid Inquiry, showed it covered 'restarting work on independence and a referendum' and suggested that arguments should 'reflect the experience of the coronavirus crisis'.

WhatsApp messages between Ms Sturgeon and her then chief of staff Liz Lloyd also revealed they wanted to start a 'good old-fashioned rammy' with the UK Government.
Britain was hit by Storm Ingunn today with trains cancelled as 100mph wind gusts swept in after the storm underwent explosive cyclogenesis in the North Atlantic.

The storm, named by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, became a 'weather bomb' this morning as its central pressure falls by up to 50 millibars over 24 hours.

The criteria for such an event is 24 millibars within that period, meaning the low pressure system had an extremely rapid deepening at double the required rate.

The storm brought winds of 106mph to the Aonach Mor mountain in Scotland today, as well as 70mph on South Uist, 60mph at Stornoway and 46mph in Edinburgh.

Ingunn was described by BBC Weather as an 'exceptional storm', with a 155mph gust recorded today by a weather station in the Faroe Islands - making it stronger than any gust from the Great Storm of 1987 which hit the UK with a maximum of 115mph.

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation revealed 'one or two brief tornadoes' were possible especially in North or West Scotland due to 'intense low-level shear'.

More than 40 train services were cancelled in Scotland this morning over safety concerns, while ferry operator Calmac axed all departures on five of its routes.

The winds also led to a raft of popular attractions being closed, including Edinburgh Castle, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Stirling Castle and Craigmillar Castle.

Some recycling centres in County Durham were shut, while National Trust properties Seaton Delaval Hall and Cragside in Northumberland were also closed

All Western Isles schools and nurseries were shut for the whole day due to the winds as well as more than ten in the Sutherland and Lochaber areas of the Highlands.

Tourists hold onto umbrellas in strong winds outside Edinburgh Castle which is shut today

Strong winds outside Edinburgh Castle today which is closed due to the weather warning

The Met Office has issued yellow wind warnings covering parts of northern England, all of Scotland and a section of Northern Ireland from 5am this morning until 7pm this evening

Forecasters say the rain and wind will hit Britain as an active cold front moves southwards, producing 'line convection'  which is a narrow band of heavy rain and strong gusty winds

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation said 'one or two brief tornadoes' are possible within the shaded area today - especially in parts of Scotland - due to 'intense low-level shear'

The Met Office has issued yellow wind warnings covering parts of northern England, all of Scotland and a section of Northern Ireland from 5am until 7pm today.

READ MORE Full list of UK storm names for 2024 including Storm Jocelyn and how the Met Office decides what each is called Advertisement

Forecasters warned of 'injuries and danger to life' from 'flying debris' and 'large waves and beach material being thrown onto seafronts, coastal roads and properties'.

They said tiles could be blown from roofs, power cuts may occur and there was a chance of longer journey times as road, air and ferry services are affected.

Services between cities such as Dundee and Glasgow and Aberdeen to Edinburgh were cancelled today while services linking Inverness to a number of northern towns were also withdrawn due to the weather.

Speed restrictions have been put in place across much of the ScotRail network and safety inspections are set to continue on sections of the track throughout the day.

Meanwhile, ferry operator Calmac has cancelled all departures on five of its routes, with many more services under review for the rest of the day.

@RadioX #therequesthour Toby I'm sat watching the roof of my shop rip off in 82mph winds. Yet ANOTHER storm in NW Scotland. The shop looks like it's auditioning for the house in UP! Would you play Misery Business by Paramore because my business is absolutely causing me misery! pic.twitter.com/9zzi5FEJ2s  Emma Teague (@Osrs_jorvika) January 31, 2024

No ferries will sail from Oban to Colonsay, or from Mallaig to Armadale, while there are warnings other scheduled departures from Ardrossan and Ullapool may be cancelled at short notice too.

READ MORE Scottish village sets provisional new UK record January temperature of 19.6C Advertisement

The Met Office also said some roads and bridges could close. Cumbria Police warned motorists to 'take extra care if driving this morning' due to the winds.

The force added: 'Please drive with caution, allow extra time for your journey and be mindful for the potential for trees, branches and other debris in the road.'

And the Met Office said: 'Take care in particular if you're travelling over higher ground or on roads running north to south such as the A1(M), with gusts locally reaching 65mph.'

Very strong south-westerly gusts will develop this morning. Over North West Scotland, these windy conditions will be accompanied by heavy rain for a period, during the morning and early afternoon.

The rain and wind will hit as an active cold front moves southwards, producing 'line convection'  which is a narrow band of heavy rain and strong gusty winds.

Forecasters said that this meant people should be prepared for rain to suddenly intensify and for winds to sharply peak.

Wind gusts are expected to be between 55mph and 75mph within the warning zones, with the potential to reach 85mph in parts of the far north of Scotland.

A stunning sunrise behind Souter Lighthouse at South Shields in Tyne and Wear this morning

The sun rises on the North East coastline at Mardsden Rock in South Shields this morning

Ships pass through the English Channel amid a beautiful sunrise near Dover in Kent today

'That could cause some damage, that could cause some disruption to transport, ferries, and bridges,' the Met Office's Aidan McGivern said.

'So a yellow warning is in place for much of the northern half of the UK, northern England, parts of Northern Ireland, much of Scotland.

'The very strongest winds will accompany the heaviest rain as well, across the far north and north-west of Scotland during Wednesday morning.'

However, southern parts of the UK will remain dry and breezy today, with temperatures reaching a peak of between 10C (50F) and 12C (54F).

Yesterday's top UK temperature was 10.6C (51.1F) at Swanage in Dorset, while the low was -8.8C (16.1F) at both Braemar in Aberdeenshire and Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands.
A widower was left in shock after British Gas handed him a 23,000 energy bill and ordered him to pay it within a week.

Charlie Walton, 85, lives by himself in Pegswood, Northumberland, and spends half of the year in Spain. He 'couldn't believe it' when the bill came through.

After receiving the shock news, British Gas informed him that he must pay up the sum of 22,897.48 within one week, by January 26.

Prior to the shock bill, Mr Walton had paid all of his quarterly bills, including the last one in November which told him he was 45 in credit.

Despite this, the bill was dated between June 2020 and January 2024.

Charlie Walton, 85, was left in shock after British Gas handed him a 23,000 energy bill and ordered him to pay it within a week

Mr Walton lives by himself in Pegswood, Northumberland, and spends half of the year in Spain. He 'couldn't believe it' when the bill came through

Retired firefighter Mr Walton said: 'I couldn't believe it. It was a massive shock. I'm on my own now, my wife died, and it's just a small house. It's just incredible that I've got a bill of that size.

'It got it on the Saturday and they told me I had got to pay by January 26. I could have been in Spain at the time and I wouldn't have seen it.

'Unfortunately it came on Saturday and I couldn't get in touch with anybody. All I could do was speak to these machines and they couldn't answer anything. I had to wait until Monday.

'I was quite concerned. I'm 85 and there's not a lot I can do. It's just as well I have got my son-in-law and my daughter to help me out because I'm absolutely hopeless on the phone and the internet.

'My son-in-law Chris tried to get in touch but they wouldn't really take a lot of notice of him. We spoke to them together on Tuesday but we haven't heard anything since. I have had no real explanation as to what they're doing and it's almost been a week now.'

Mr Walton asked his son-in-law Chris Berriman, 65, to help him to contact British Gas. The pair pointed out their concern, following the Post Office scandal, that this could be happening to a lot of British Gas customers and wanted to raise awareness of the issue.

Mr Berriman, who lives in Felton, Northumberland, said: 'Charlie has a home in Spain so he spends six months of the year abroad and he turns everything off when he leaves. He was very upset and he was worried about his credit rating as the bill had to be paid in a week.

Prior to the shock bill, Mr Walton had paid all of his quarterly bills, including the last one in November which told him he was 45 in credit

Retired firefighter Mr Walton said: 'I couldn't believe it. It was a massive shock'

'When he got the bill through it was from 2020 to the present day. But he's been paying direct debits since 2020!'

The retired company director said British Gas told them on the phone that Mr Walton had been switched to a new banking department.

Mr Berriman, who is married to Charlie's daughter Nicky, 56, said: 'The lady tried to explain that there must be a glitch in the system. She said that they had suspended that bill while they looked into it. Nobody has been in touch yet.

'Following on from what happened at the Post Office, you don't want this happening to anybody. Is this going to happen to someone else? We don't want an older person living on their own to be sent another gas bill like that. It's going to frighten the life out of them.'

Mr Walton added: 'I'm very concerned as you can see what's been happening with the Post (Office). It's frightening.'

British Gas have now said that the bill was sent to the wrong address.

A spokesperson for the energy provider said: 'We're sorry for any upset that this has caused. The bill does not relate to Mr Walton's energy supply and we're following up with the housing developer to identify the correct address.

'We'll be reaching out to Mr Walton to apologise for not resolving this sooner and reassure him that he will no longer receive these bills.'
The crossbow attacker shot dead by police armed with an arsenal of weapons and a gas mask was a convicted stalker who broke into his victim's house.

Bryce Hodgson, 30, was killed by armed officers after he was caught trying to force his way into the three-storey home in South East London at about 5am yesterday.

He was a stalker convicted under a five-year court restraining order and had been banned from entering Bywater Place in Surrey Quays where the shooting happened.

Hodgson forced his way into a home where the stalking victim he had previously targeted lived. Police said he wore body armour and carried two crossbows, a knife and an axe.

He was also described as a cannabis smoking 'dark horse' who neighbours said often appeared 'anxious' and 'on edge'. Two people with minor injuries were rescued from the flat. Hodgson was shot twice and given first aid but died at the scene.

A neighbour said he moved into the flat last summer. 'You would see him outside the front smoking weed and cigarettes,' they told the Mirror. 'He smoked a lot. He was a dark horse, nervy, but I never saw him being aggressive.'

Mr Hodgson was a convicted stalker under a five-year court restraining order at the time. He had been banned from entering Bywater Place, where the shooting happened just before 5am on Tuesday.

Bryce Hodgson, 30, (pictured) was killed by armed officers after he was caught trying to force his way into a three-storey home in Surrey Quays, Southwark, on Tuesday at around 5am

A forensic tent pictured yesterday on the scene on a quiet cul-de-sac in Southwark, south east London

A gas mask and crossbow arrows were seen by the house at Bywater Place, Surrey Quays

Mr Hodgson appeared in court last June and pleaded guilty to 'stalking involving serious alarm or distress' by entering a woman's bedroom without consent, sending text messages demanding that she open her door and describing vivid sexual fantasies between January 1 and April 29 last year.

He was spared prison after the court noted his 'previous good character', and was ordered to undergo 12 months of supervision and complete 120 hours of community service. He was subject to a restraining order until July 2028.

The 30-year-old was born in Sheffield but lived in Middlesbrough until 2015.

Footage from the scene showed officers gathered around the house on a quiet cul-de-sac in south east London as two people were led out of it.

Armed police said they were forced to fire after Mr Hodgson managed to break in, having threatened the residents while also wielding a hatchet and knife.

His mask, body armour, crossbow bolts and military boots were left strewn across the road.

Neighbours in Rotherhithe, south-east London, said they heard a man and woman screaming and shouting minutes before the shooting.

They were ordered to stay away from their windows as armed officers descended on the Bywater Place estate.

Footage showed officers gathered around the house last night before leading two people out

Officers could be heard shouting at residents to 'get out of the house' before they attempted to talk to the attacker

Scotland Yard said police were called after Hodgson tried to force his way into a building just before 5am yesterday.

Unarmed officers initially tried to speak to him but were threatened.

It is thought the armour and weapons were left scattered on the street after officers stripped him of them to perform first aid outside the building after the incident.

Valeria Bocanera, 37, a neighbour who was woken by the incident, said: 'It went on for about a minute or so and then it went silent.

'My neighbour could see the body out of her window and it was uncovered and just lying on the floor.'

Other neighbours also described being woken by shouts and banging. One woman said: 'You could hear all the police shouting to each other.

'We just stayed indoors and the police later told us not to come out.'

A ground-floor window at the rear of a property was broken and an upstairs window was wedged open. The curtains had been pulled across the other windows.

A tent was in place where Hodgson died and officers patrolled the area to reassure the community after the shooting.

Police were called to a property (middle left) in Bywater Place, Southwark, at 4.55am on Tuesday

Last night, the Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed he had been carrying an array of weapons, adding: 'After arriving at the scene, the armed officers then entered the house where the man was shot.

'We can confirm two shots were fired from a police issue firearm, which will be subject to further analysis.

'The man, who was wearing body armour, was taken outside the property and given first aid but, sadly, died at the scene.' Earlier yesterday, the watchdog said it had begun an 'independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting'.

The Met's assistant commissioner Matt Twist said he 'firmly believed' the actions of the officers prevented further loss of life.

Detective chief superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh said his 'thoughts are with all those affected' by the early morning drama. 'I understand the local community will be concerned at the events that have taken place,' he said.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is now investigating the incident

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, offered his support to those impacted by the incident.

Fatal police shootings are rare in the UK, with no more than three occurring per year since 2017.

The most recent death was that of Giedrius Vasiljevas, 40, who was shot at his home in Dagenham, east London, in November last year after calling 999 to say he had loaded guns and wanted to take his own life.
Rishi Sunak is facing fresh calls to act on immigration today after figures suggested 156,000 homes a year will be needed just to accommodate inflows.

Tories have sounded alarm after eye-watering projections indicated that the population is now due to hit 70million by 2026 - a decade earlier than previously thought.

The Office for National Statistics estimates numbers will go from 67million in mid-2021 to reach 73.7million by 2036, with 6.1million of that growth down to net migration.

According to calculations from the Centre for Policy Studies, that level of population growth will require at least 5.7million more homes in England over the next 15 years.

Around 41 per cent of that - 2.34million homes, or 156,000 a year - is accounted for net migration.

The think-tank warned that net migration is 'exacerbating' the housing crisis. Even if the government met its original target of building 300,000 homes a year it is below the 382,000 needed between 2021 and 2036. The figure for 2022-23 was 240,000.

Rishi Sunak is facing fresh calls to act on immigration today after figures suggested 156,000 homes a year will be needed just to accommodate inflows

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Long-term net migration reached an eye-watering record of 745,000 in 2022, according to the ONS

According to the ONS projections net migration will hit 315,000 a year from 2028 onwards  putting a strain on public services.

The 9.9 per cent hike in the population between 2021 and 2036 includes net inward migration of 6.1 million, as well as 541,000 more births than deaths.

The estimates come with the caveat that should net migration be lower then they can change significantly.

Critics last night likened the population increase to 'five cities the size of Birmingham'.

Others claimed the figures showed the Government needed swift action to prevent a looming crisis and called on Mr Sunak to deliver on his pledge to bring migration down.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman said: 'These numbers are too high, placing pressure on schools, the NHS and housing.

Recent government measures will help a bit but they're very late. We need a cap on overall numbers so we can hold government to account and fix this problem.'

Her comments were echoed by Robert Jenrick, who resigned as immigration minister over the Government's watered-down Rwanda asylum plans.

He said: 'From 2028, they forecast net migration at 315,000. This will only deepen the housing crisis.

'There is no democratic consent for this outcome. After leaving the EU, the power to change this, and set us on course for far more sustainable numbers, is in Parliament's hands.'

Campaigners also warned the figures threatened to overburden the state.

Migration Watch chairman Alp Mehmet said: 'This population increase is equivalent to five cities the size of Birmingham.

'The Government must now take strong action to get the numbers down before it is too late.'

Karl Williams, Centre for Policy Studies research director, said: 'For decades, we have failed to build enough new homes to meet demand from those already living in the UK and record net migration has only exacerbated the problem.'

Rishi Sunak faced mounting pressure last night as it emerged that migrants will account for 92 per cent of Britain's population explosion in the coming years (File Image)

This chart illustrates how changes in the assumptions on net migration change the figures

The number of dependants accompanying people on work visas has been rising sharply

Downing Street last night said Mr Sunak believed immigration levels were 'too high and must come down quickly'.

The PM's official spokesman said the Government was already introducing the toughest ever package of measures to curb migrant numbers, as well as pursuing radical measures to stop the boats carrying illegal migrants across the Channel.

It came as James Cleverly confirmed that foreign care workers will be barred from bringing their family with them to Britain in less than six weeks.

Writing exclusively in the Mail, the Home Secretary said: 'Our system needs to be fair, and it needs to be seen to be fair.

'I've been clear that migration is too high and we must get back to sustainable levels. The British people want to see action, not words.'
Police have busted a suspected drugs cartel who attempted to smuggle 10million of cocaine stashed in banana boxes.

Three men have been arrested after the haul of narcotics was seized on a ship at Portsmouth International Port, in Hampshire.

The cocaine arrived at the island city port from the Dominican Republic in two shipments on January 20 and January 26.

Cops from the Metropolitan Police and officers from UK Border Force uncovered the drugs, which were hidden within the cardboard packages of the fruit boxes.

The two shipments were traced to an address in Acton, west London, where Met cops arrested three suspected cartel members.

The huge haul of drugs was uncovered stashed inside banana boxes at Portsmouth port

Police cut open the drugs with a knife to find the cocaine hidden in the lining of the cardboard

The narcotics had been smuggled from the Dominican Republic (pictured is one of the boxes where the drugs were hidden)

Three men aged 31, 34 and 37 were all arrested on suspicion of importation of cocaine. They remain in police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Sanderson, whose team is leading the investigation, said: 'Officers continue to crack down on the crimes that impact Londoners the most. We know drugs blight communities by contributing to anti-social behaviour, violence and cause devastating addiction issues. The Met will continue to target those who illegally import drugs to London.

'Working closely with UK Border Force has been integral in acting so quickly and arresting those suspected of these offences.

'I have no doubt these drugs were intended to be sold across London and beyond. By working together we can dismantle large-scale drug networks who profiteer from vulnerable people and cause misery.'

The bust is the latest cocaine haul destined for the Hampshire port - which is also the home of the Royal Navy - to have been busted.

In April 2022 a huge 1.5-tonne stash - worth almost 120million - was uncovered by Dutch cops on a cargo ship heading to Portsmouth.

The cocaine arrived at Portsmouth port in two shipments on January 20 and January 26.

Three men aged 31, 34 and 37 were all arrested on suspicion of importation of cocaine. They remain in police custody

The vessel, the Atlantic Clipper, was stopped by the authorities in the port city of Vlissingen, part of the ships route from Turbo, in Colombia, to Portsmouth.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and their Dutch counterparts replaced the drugs with dummy packages in a bid to catch gang members in the UK.

In July a corrupt dock yard worker behind the smuggling ring was jailed for 21 years for his part in the operation.

Michael Jordan, 45, was found guilty following a retrial at Portsmouth Crown Court after a previous jury was unable to reach a verdict.

He was the second Portsmouth dock worker to have been convicted over the haul.

David Oliver, 45, from Portsmouth, was previously jailed for 14 years after admitting the conspiracy charge.

Lorry driver Ahmet Aydin, 49, from Turkey, was jailed for 13 years after changing his plea to guilty during his trial.
Marcus Rashford was involved in a furious 3am bust-up with a French woman after his tequila bender in Belfast  and threw her out of the room they were staying in.

In chaotic scenes after his 12-hour drinking session, the Manchester United ace chucked the brunette's clothes into the corridor after she accused him of cheating on her.

Shocked guests at the five-star hotel in Northern Ireland said they were woken by the woman raging as Rashford ordered her out of their room.

Rashford's mystery companion accused him of kissing another woman at a nightclub earlier in the evening.

Witnesses told MailOnline she picked up her belongings from the corridor floor and marched down to reception and demanded a separate room from the Premier League star.

Marcus Rashford was reportedly involved in a furious 3am bust-up with a French woman after his tequila bender in Belfast

Rashford arrives for training at Carrington today in his Lamborghini to face the ire of his teammates

The Manchester United ace chucked the brunette woman's clothes into the corridor of the Fitzwilliam Hotel after she accused him of cheating on her

A hotel source told MailOnline it was 'strange' because Rashford paid for everything at the hotel with wads of cash he carried in a duffel bag.

'Marcus and his group came back to the hotel sometime after 2am and went up to his suite,' they said.

'He was with a woman who I thought was his girlfriend who was staying with him.

'But all of a sudden there was a lot of noise and raised voices when she apparently started accusing him of kissing another woman at Thompsons Garage nightclub.

'She was shouting at him and accusing him of not respecting her. Rashford's security got involved and got her out of the suite  and wouldn't let her back in.

'Guests were woken by the noise. Rashford himself then threw all her stuff out into the corridor  and closed the door on her.

'She ended up having to come to reception in tears asking for a separate room.

Rashford (circled) going for drinks at Lavery's after arriving in Belfast on Wednesday evening

Rashford's mystery companion accused him of kissing another woman at Thompsons Garage nightclub (pictured)

READ MORE: Marcus Rashford returns to training TODAY to face 'fuming' teammates for first time since crisis talks Advertisement

'Rashford clearly enjoyed himself in Belfast but the strange thing was he was paying for everything out of wads of cash he kept in a duffel bag.

Rashford, 26, booked a suite costing 1,500 a night at Belfast's Fitzwilliam Hotel on Wednesday night. He stayed on Thursday night.

At 5.30am on Friday Rashford flew back to Manchester on a private jet and phoned his club at 8am to say he was too ill to train.

The bust-up with his French companion confirms that Rashford's relationship with childhood sweetheart and on/off girlfriend Lucy Loi is definitely over following speculation in November that the pair were getting back together.

Rashford will today face his 'furious' teammates for the first time since showdown talks on Monday with United manager Erik ten Hag and football director John Murtough in which he had 'taken responsibility for his actions'.

On Tuesday it was revealed how the club were willing to offer the player counselling.

There have been concerns over Rashford's dramatic loss of form this season, and former Premier League strikers Chris Sutton and Alan Shearer expressed their alarm over the revelations surrounding the 12-hour tequila binge in Belfast.

Rashford pictured arriving at Carrington on Monday morning for talks with Erik Ten Hag and football director John Murtough

Waitress Sarah Adair, pictured, said she was invited on a night out with the footballer and his entourage

Marcus Rashford visited Larne FC before going on a 12-hour bender in Belfast

He posed for pictures with some young players at Larne FC prior to his boozy night out

The night kicked off with a trip to Italian restaurant Villa Italia, where Rashford and his entourage enjoyed food and drinks

Rashford went to this nightclub after midnight, having spent the afternoon drinking with his entourage and waitress, Adair

Rashford was spotted going into a nightclub late at night, and reportedly asked if there were any clubs that would stay open beyond 3am if he paid them enough money

United's coaching staff are thought to be concerned Rashford's lifestyle is impacting his form

Rashford held crunch talks with Erik Ten Hag and football director John Murtough on Monday

It is the second time this season that he has upset Ten Hag by going to a nightclub.

Timeline of Marcus Rashford's trip to Belfast and the fallout Wednesday, January 24 9.55am Rashford arrives for training with Manchester United in the morning. 4.21pm He leaves Manchester on a private jet bound for Belfast. 5.17pm He checks in at the Fitzwilliam Hotel. The footballer and his entourage go to the Dirty Onion pub and Lavery's bar. Thursday, January 25 1.06pm Footballer is pictured visiting Larne FC, where his friend Ro-Shaun Williams has just signed. 2pm He goes to an Italian restaurant with his entourage and two women, where he meets Sarah Adair. 4.30pm The group leave the restaurant in the afternoon, before going to Villa Italia in the evening. Friday, January 26 12.30am Rashford and his group go to Thompson's Garage nightclub. 2am The group leave and head back to the Fitzwilliam Hotel. Sources close to the player insist this was at 1.15am. 2.50am Rashford passes out fully clothed in his hotel room. 5am The footballer and his minders leave the hotel. 7am They board a private jet at Belfast airport. 8am Rashford touches down in Manchester and calls in sick for training. Sunday, January 28 The striker is dropped for Manchester United's FA Cup match away at Newport County. Manager Erik Ten Hag vows to deal with the 'internal matter'. Monday, January 29 8.45am Rashford arrives at training with his agent brother Dwaine Maynard, where he has talks with Ten Hag and football director John Murtough. Advertisement

United are taking the situation very seriously and are committed to supporting Rashford physically and mentally through another dark period.

The club say professional help is available to the player, although it is up to Rashford if he wants to accept it.

Manchester United legends David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, and Rio Ferdinand have been rallying around the star and offering support and guidance after United staff reportedly raised concerns about his recent behaviour.

It is understood Rooney was 'happy' to get in touch with his former teammate after being asked to intervene by 'people around' Rashford, according to The Sun.

While Beckham and Ferdinand have reached out to offer advice after United staff had become fearful over a 'series of worrying allegations' over Rashford's behaviour.

Speaking on his Five podcast on Monday, Ferdinand said Rashford wasn't behaving like an 'elite' sportsman.

'You have to have that self-awareness... "am I putting myself in a position where people could pick at me?" or "I could be tripped over here",' he said.

'So if you are going to go in on a Friday training session and arrive back that morning, that's not really - if you are talking about elite sportsman - is that the right prep? That's the first question that I ask. I'd say no.'

Gary Neville, speaking on BBC Sport, opened up on how he thought Sir Alex Ferguson would have handled the incident, the latest involving Rashford on a night out.

'He would have given him a dressing down, Neville told the BBC. 'But he would have said similar things - make sure you do it at the right moments, the right time.'

Neville has warned that the player needs to be 'careful' and that he should focus on his football in a bid to return to his best.

'To me, going out for a drink or going out for a night out is something that every football player will do and should do so I've got no problem with that whatsoever,' Neville added. 'They need to enjoy themselves.

'It's just all about choices and timing. Manchester United have just had a winter break. They've had a couple of weeks off so there was a better moment for him to choose to go out. I would say, go out and have your moment where you relax with your friends, but your timing has to be right.

'Marcus himself knows - he's an experienced player now, we're not talking about a young lad - but he's done it a couple of times in the last few months.'

While former United striker Dimitar Berbatov also raised concerns.

'There is no excuse for it,' the Bulgarian told Betfair. 'I'd like to find an excuse because I'll always try to defend the players because I've been there.

'I know how it is, what it sometimes takes from you. You want to relax - and you can do it - but only if you don't skip training the next day.

'From what I understand, he was not sick. It sounds like he didn't feel confident and fit enough to go to training, which doesn't look good for him in a professional way.

'First and foremost, you're a footballer and this is your number one priority, no matter what, you need to be at training when you're not sick or you don't have family problems.'

He added: 'If you go partying and then the next day you don't go to training then I don't see how I can defend this behaviour.'

Berbatov said it is imperative that United get to the bottom of why Rashford is acting this way or he risks 'not going in the right direction'.
Ministers will publish the Government's deal with the Democratic Unionist Party which sets the stage for the return of the Stormont power-sharing, amid fears it will force the whole UK to remain aligned with EU trade rules.

After tense talks that ran into the early hours of yesterday, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party was ready to back a deal that will see Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill installed as the first ever republican First Minister.

But questions have arisen over the detail of the arrangement and how it will affect Britain.

The arrangement includes 3.3billion in new funding for Northern Ireland, together with promises from Government that post-Brexit trade barriers between the Province and the rest of the UK will be eased.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has already said that the agreement will remove all post-Brexit checks on goods destined for Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

But Tory Brexiteers fear it could weaken the UK's ability to diverge from EU rules, with the so-called 'Irish sea border' for goods simply moved to include the whole of the UK.

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party was ready to back a deal that will see Ms O'Neill installed as the first ever republican First Minister

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party was ready to back a deal following tense talks last night. The new deal includes 3.3billion in new funding for Northern Ireland, together with promises from Government that post-Brexit trade barriers will be eased

Sinn Fein's President Mary Lou McDonald (left) with Ms O'Neill. Ms McDonald claimed the return of power sharing meant the reunification of Ireland was now within 'touching distance'

The Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin will take part in a round of talks with Northern Ireland's main political parties and business leaders in Belfast later today.

Speaking ahead of the meetings, Mr Martin said the Irish Government has 'no issue' with streamlining and ensuring a seamless passage of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Speaking on Tuesday, following meetings with other Stormont parties, Sir Jeffrey said the deal would represent a 'significant change' in addressing unionist concerns over Brexit's so-called Irish Sea border.

He said: 'On checks, on goods, moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and staying within the UK there will no longer by physical checks, identity checks, save where, as is normal in any part of the UK there is a suspicion of smuggling, of criminal activity; that is the same for every part of the United Kingdom.

'On customs paperwork, customs declarations, supplementary declarations, will be gone.'

Sinn Fein's national leader Mary Lou McDonald claimed the move meant the reunification of Ireland was now within 'touching distance'.

The DUP walked out of Stormont in February 2022 in protest at post-Brexit trade checks blamed for driving a wedge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The political deadlock has left Stormont paralysed. Sir Jeffrey yesterday said the new deal would mean 'zero checks, zero customs paperwork on goods moving within the United Kingdom'. He added: 'That takes away the border within the UK between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and that is something that's very important.'

Downing Street declined to confirm his assessment, saying new proposals would be published following consultation with other parties in Northern Ireland.

Ministers remain nervous that the fragile deal could collapse if hardline loyalists judge that the detail does not match Sir Jeffrey's rhetoric. Some members of the DUP's executive were so concerned by the plan that they attended Monday night's crunch briefing 'wired up' to enable loyalist activist Jamie Bryson to conduct a live commentary from outside on what were supposed to be private discussions.

Mr Bryson said: 'If, as I suspect, the legislation is at variance with Sir Jeffrey's glossy power point presentation, then he has a very big problem.'

Under the terms of the Brexit deal, Northern Ireland has full access to the EU's single market to prevent the need for a hard border with the Republic.

But the arrangement has led to EU checks on certain goods entering from Great Britain, triggering unionist anger and shortages of some goods.

Stormont in Northern Ireland has been vacant since the DUP walked out of the power sharing agreement in February 2022. The DUP walked out in protest to post-Brexit trade checks, which they blamed for driving a wedge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK

Rishi Sunak shaking hands with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, following the agreement of the Windsor Framework

Rishi Sunak's Windsor Framework deal last year dealt with some of the problems but was not enough to win over the DUP.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, who will publish details of the legislation today, said he now believes that 'all the conditions are now in place' for Stormont to return.

The plans include a 'screening mechanism' to reassure unionists that proposals to diverge from EU laws will not create barriers to trade within the UK.

Whitehall sources suggested the agreement would make only limited changes to the UK's deal with the EU. The Windsor Framework, signed by Mr Sunak last year, will not be amended.
Were you affected by the scandal? Email: richard.percival@mailonline.co.uk

Fujitsu will not work out how much compensation to pay Post Office staff victims of their Horizon software until a public inquiry reaches its conclusion, bosses have said.

The technology giant pledged it would contribute towards compensation payments for subpostmasters who were wrongfully convicted after failures in its Horizon IT software made it look as though money was missing from their branches.

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 700 Post Office branch managers were convicted. A public inquiry was launched in September 2020 and is being led by retired high court judge Sir Wyn Williams.

But on Wednesday Fujitsu said it had still not yet set aside a provision for compensation in its latest financial update.

Chief financial officer Isobe Takeshi said: 'In the UK, people are talking about paying compensation as soon as possible.

Northern Irish subpostmistresses Katherine McAlerney, Heather Earley, Deirdre Connolly and Maureen McKelvey ahead of giving evidence at the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry

More than 700 Post Office branch managers were convicted after failures in its Horizon IT software

'But as the direction of the inquiry becomes clear we want to work on appropriate compensation.

'We take this matter very seriously. We want the facts to become clear from the statutory inquiry.'

Chief financial officer at Fujitsu Isobe Takeshi

Mr Takeshi said Fujitsu remained 'fully committed' to cooperating with the process and that he is hoping for a 'swift resolution'.

He added: 'First and foremost, on behalf of the Fujitsu Group, I would like to convey our deepest apologies to the subpostmasters and their families, and reiterate that we regard this matter with the utmost seriousness.

'Our company's UK subsidiary has been co-operating fully with the ongoing UK statutory inquiry, which has been investigating complex events that have unfolded over many years, and going forward we remain fully committed to offering our complete support and co-operation.

'I would also like to emphasise that our global board of directors is maintaining strict supervision over the matter, including the handling of the ongoing inquiry.

'It is our sincere hope that the inquiry allows for a swift resolution that ensures a just outcome for the victims.'

The Post Office recently awarded a contract worth more than 36million to Fujitsu to extend the use of Horizon until spring 2025 (File image)

Last month, Paul Patterson, Fujitsu's Europe chief executive, said the company had a 'moral obligation' to help fund redress for sub-postmasters convicted using data from its Horizon IT system.

READ MORE: Post Office chairman Henry Staunton SACKED by the Government as fury over the Horizon scandal continues to grow Advertisement

Speaking to MPs, he said: 'We were involved from the very start, we did have bugs and errors in the system and we did help the Post Office in the prosecution of subpostmasters.

'We have a part to play and to contribute to the redress fund for sub-postmasters. We don't have a number yet.'

Business secretary Kemi Badenoch said she had written to the Japan-based chairman of Fujitsu to arrange meetings.

Asked whether she expected to see Fujitsu paying compensation to the wrongly convicted sub-postmasters and mistresses, Badenoch told Sky News: 'I certainly expect that that will happen in due course.'

She added: 'But it is absolutely right that Fujitsu takes part in making sure that all of the postmasters receive full and fair compensation.'

The long-running battle for justice accelerated dramatically after ITV broadcast the drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, which highlighted the scandal earlier this month.

Former subpostmistress Jo Hamilton and campaigner Alan Bates

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells ran the Post Office while it routinely denied there was a problem with its Horizon IT system

Alan Bates, the campaigning former sub-postmaster the ITV drama centered on, has said the fight is not over for many of those still awaiting compensation.

The ordeal also tells the story of Jo Hamilton, who ran a Post Office in South Warnborough, Hampshire. She pleaded guilty in 2008 to false accounting for fear of going to prison.

The Post Office had accused her of stealing 36,000. However, Ms Hamilton's conviction quashed in 2021 by the Royal Courts of Justice.

Three other women affected by the scandal - Deirdre Connolly, Katherine McAlerney, Heather Earley and Maureen McKelvey - attended the inquiry in London in person last week.

The UK Government has set aside 1bn in compensation for more than 4,000 people, which includes the 700 convicted in cases prosecuted by the Post Office between 1999 and 2015 using Horizon data.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said legislation will be introduced to exonerate subpostmasters convicted in England and Wales and he has vowed to get 'justice and compensation' for victims.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government is working on its own legislation to exonerate those wrongly convicted in the Horizon scandal.

Since its inception, ministers have spent 2.9bn on the Horizon system. According to annual accounts, this includes 95.6mn since 2021 to extend a contract with Fujitsu until April 2025.
A former NHS doctor who stars on the next series of The Apprentice has been given diversity and inclusion training by the BBC after a string of 'anti-Semitic' posts on social media.

Dr Asif Munaf, who now owns a wellness brand, wrote on X that Zionists are a 'godless, satanic cult' who look 'odiously ogre-like', and said he hoped his children were 'strong enough' to 'overcome the trial of the Zionist antichrist'.

The former medic, who lives in Sheffield, is one of the contestants in the 18th series of the BBC One show, which begins on Thursday.

A spokesman for The Apprentice said: 'After filming had taken place, we were made aware of concerns over social media posts that Asif had made after he had left the process.

'As soon as we were alerted, we took immediate action and spoke to Asif in detail on this. Asif took part in specialised training to understand why his posts may cause offence. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment on and off screen.'

Dr Asif Munaf, who now owns a wellness brand, wrote on X that Zionists are a 'godless, satanic cult' who look 'odiously ogre-like'

The doctor, from Sheffield, will be among the 18 hopefuls on the 2024 series trying to secure funding from Lord Alan Sugar for their business ventures

A source said the contestant would not have been allowed on the show had his posts emerged before filming took place.

Dr Munaf said in a statement: 'I apologise for any offence caused by my online content/social media. It was not my intention to offend anyone, and I am of course open to all views.

'The beliefs I hold and have shared are based on the values that I was brought up with.'

At least three of the tweets remain online.

In one, sent on October 19, he wrote: 'My sons have been alive during a once-in-a-century pandemic and an apocalyptic genocide during their first five years on earth.

'I pray they are strong enough physically, spiritually & psychologically to overcome the trial of the Zionist antichrist. Hard times create strong men.'

Dr Munaf, who boasts of his 'extremely high IQ' and good looks, has made several derogatory comments about women, and asked in one online video: 'Have you ever met a beautiful feminist?'

On December 20, in another comment regarding the Israel-Hamas war, he wrote: 'Since the genocide began, Muslim Zionists have crawled from under their rocks. I knew of a few before the current ethnic cleansing.

'By [sic] the sheer volume is staggering. Many are unsurprisingly from the Indian subcontinent Colonial inferiority complex. Hideous ogre-like creatures.'

Dr Munaf boasts of his 'extremely high IQ' and good looks

Dr Munaf asked 'have you ever met a beautiful feminist?' in a derogatory video and is said to have posted an Instagram clip titled 'Don't Trust What Women Say'

His offensive social media posts were first reported by Jewish News after he appeared on Dragons' Den.

He has also promoted an account on X called the University of Masculinity, which has previously retweeted a series of posts by misogynistic influencer Andrew Tate.

READ MORE - Lord Sugar wants King Charles to be his star signing for the BBC show's 20th series Advertisement

Tate, 37, his brother Tristan, 35, and two Romanian women - Luana Radu and Georgiana Naghel - were indicted in June for human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women - allegations they deny.

Asif appeared on Series 15 of Dragons' Den, where he pitched his smoothie company 'DATE Smoothie' and attempted to win a 50,000 investment for a 10 per cent stake.

But he was turned away by the dragons, who said his 'thinking was completely wrong in terms of his brand'.

After applying for The Apprentice, he described his rejection on Dragons' Den as his 'biggest business fail', adding: 'Was far too early but I learnt some great business insights from the Dragons.'

Asif described his biggest business success to date as 'launching a business whilst working 12-hour shifts as a doctor during Covid'.

The Apprentice's 18th series will air on Thursday, with 18 candidates vying for Lord Alan Sugar 's attentions and investments, alongside his advisors Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE

He also boldly describes himself as 'Beauty, brains, body and business' on his CV, and hopes to win Lord Sugar over with his business plan focusing on vitamins and supplements.

'I've got an extremely high IQ. I've got an extremely high bench press. And to top it off, I'm quite good on the eyes,' he said.

'With my range of vitamins and supplements, I would make sure [Lord Sugar] is fit, sharp and firing for at least another 20 series!'

The Apprentice's 18th series is headed for screens on Thursday, with 18 candidates vying for Lord Alan Sugar's attentions and investments, alongside his advisors Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE.

The 2024 intake battling for the 250,000 investment and mentorship are as varied and bloodthirsty as ever, with the candidates ranging from a UK Garage artist to two pie company owners to a pharmacist to a yoga teacher.

Lord Sugar has previously spoken out against anti-Semitism in the past, but would not answer a question about Dr Munaf at the launch of The Apprentice on Tuesday.
A top London lawyer who sank a Saudi princess's millions into a 17million superyacht, a boat firm and properties across the globe has said 'my laptop is all I have left' and his life has been 'destroyed' - as she sues him for 31million.

Ronald Gibbs, a former partner at 'magic circle' firm Linklaters says he has been reduced to working 'cash in hand' as a boat captain due to a protracted court battle with Saudi royals.

The legal case is over his management of a $25million investment fund for Princess Deema Bint Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud since 2011.

The money was earmarked for a property purchase in Paris, but when she changed her mind it was instead sunk into assets all over the world, including a 17million 40-metre superyacht, London properties and a 3.3million apartment in Montenegro.

The princess and her brother HRH Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud later complained that Mr Gibbs failed to return the princess' millions after being first asked to do so in 2013.

And now the case has finally reached the High Court, as the princess sues Mr Gibbs for about 31m, representing her initial investment and profits she says she should have made.

Top London lawyer Ronald Gibbs (pictured outside the High Court) who is being sued by a Saudi princess for for 31m has said 'my laptop is all I have left'

The money was earmarked for a property purchase in Paris, but when she changed her mind it was instead sunk into assets all over the world, including a 17million 40-metre superyacht (pictured)

But representing himself, Mr Gibbs, 66, told Mr Justice Calver he has been left financially ruined by three years of legal wrangling and reduced to facing the princess' team of top lawyers by himself with nothing more than a 'small laptop and a 50 printer.'

Claiming he is now reliant on 'cash handouts' as a boat captain, the formerly high-flying lawyer said: 'This has destroyed my life and my health.

'Every asset I have got has massive debts against it. Most firms of accountants have refused to act for me or my companies.

'You can't get blood out of a stone. There is no point asking me to pay funds I don't have.

'I can't get loans. My credit is effectively zero.

'If I didn't have an old age pension I would have struggled to pay the Tube fare today.

'My small laptop is basically all I have.'

The court heard that until 2006 Mr Gibbs was an asset finance lawyer who rose to become a partner at Linklaters, one of the prestigious top five 'magic circle' London commercial legal firms.

In 2011, after quitting the firm, he agreed to help the princess invest a $25m investment pot handed to her by her father, former Saudi defence minister Sultan bin Abdulaziz, on his death.

The money was invested in a swish apartment at the Regent Hotel in Porto, Montenegro, superyacht company Silver Arrows Marine Limited and a 17m customised 40-metre Sunseeker 131 superyacht, named Elysium after the abode of the blessed dead, a fictional realm of ideal happiness from Greek mythology.

The company, whose past projects have included collaborating with Mercedes Benz on a unique yacht based on the lines of one of their cars, is controlled by experienced yachtsman Mr Gibbs, who has also taken the helm of Elysium.

Ahead of this week's trial, a judge ordered that a five-bedroom house (pictured) Mr Gibbs owned in King's Road, Richmond-upon-Thames - valued online at around 4m - must be sold and the proceeds used to pay off the princess

Simon Atrill KC, for the princess, said Mr Gibbs had in 2018 signed an agreement that he would liquidate the investment portfolio by selling the assets, but failed to do so.

After summary judgment was entered against him for breach of that agreement in April last year, he was ordered to pay about 2m in interim damages to the princess.

He did not pay and in December, ahead of this week's trial, a judge ordered that a five-bedroom house Mr Gibbs owned in King's Road, Richmond-upon-Thames - valued online at around 4m - must be sold and the proceeds used to pay off the princess.

The judge, Master John Linwood, found that Mr Gibbs and his ex-wife Sandra Gibbs had 'colluded in an attempt to mislead the court' by producing a fake deed of trust in a bid to prove that most of the value of the house was owned by Mrs Gibbs and their children.

As the full High Court trial began, the princess' barrister said she is suing for return of her original investment, as well as gains her financial advisors could have made with it since 2018, totalling around 31 million.

'She seeks the long-awaited return of her money that was transferred to the defendant, a former Linklaters partner in 2011 - plus further compensation reflecting the loss of use of that money,' Mr Atrill said.

'He has never paid a penny of what he owes, all while spending millions on his superyacht and yacht-building business, maintaining his multi-national property empire, and making significant sales of assets, generating millions of pounds that he directed elsewhere than to the claimant.'

The money was invested in a swish apartment at the Regent Hotel in Porto, Montenegro

The case revolves around the 2018 settlement agreement, under which Mr Gibbs is obliged to begin liquidating the assets which represent the princess' money and return the cash to her - and which Mr Atrill said he is in breach of.

'This should be a straightforward case,' he told the judge.

'Mr Gibbs' failure to sell the assets or return the funds is, among other things, a straightforward breach of the settlement agreement.'

Although Mr Gibbs was debarred from defending the claim because of non-disclosure of evidence and failure to pay the sums ordered in interim damages, Mr Atrill said he had previously put forward arguments that could amount to defences.

Mr Gibbs had claimed the settlement agreement allowed him to 'continue to manage the portfolio' and liquidate it over time and that he had 'no liability' to ensure the princess gets back at least her original investment, said the barrister.

But Mr Atrill said the arguments were 'wrong' and added: 'Mr Gibbs held the assets in question on trust for the claimant and was required to liquidate those assets and transfer the net proceeds to her nominated account, but in breach of trust failed to do that.

'His application of the cash and liquidated proceeds in any other way than by way of transfer to her nominated account was also a breach of trust.'

The trial continues.
Furious parents have accused an elite $42,000-a-year all-boys school of being 'woke' after it made the controversial move to admit girls.

Around 30 protestors gathered outside Newington College, located in the inner-west Sydney suburb of Stanmore around 8am on Wednesday morning, to voice their opposition to the controversial decision.

The prestigious school - which charges annual fees of $42,201 for a year 12 boy to attend the college - announced in 2023 that girls will be admitted to the school as early as 2026.

Furious parents have gathered at Newington College (pictured) in Sydney's inner-west holding placards to protest the school's move to go co-ed.

Poll Would you send your kid to a co-ed school? Yes, of course No, single sex only Would you send your kid to a co-ed school? Yes, of course 449 votes

No, single sex only 250 votes Now share your opinion





The school is set to become fully co-ed by 2033.

Protestors held up messages on placards calling on the school's leadership council to scrap the decision with one sign stating the college has already lost '$5m in bequests'.

Another demanded a new vote on the co-ed policy.

'Demand school council transparency and accountability,' it read.

One father demonstrating outside the school said the move was all part of 'this woke, toxic masculinity palaver'.

'It's ridiculous that after 160 years of thinking it a good idea to have a boys only school for the development of boys without being influenced by considerations of what they should look like or how they should act in front of girls. Why is that wrong after 160 years?'

The move marks the first time in the school's 161-year history that female students will be admitted to college.

Several parents who gathered outside the college said students were afraid to speak out against the decision over fears they could lose their place at the college, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.

Parents who were outraged by the school's decision had initially planned to meet up at Stanmore Park before making their way to the school to stage a 'peaceful and silent' demonstration.

Outraged protestors (pictured) including parents gathered outside the prestigious college to protest the school's decision

Newington College has been an all-boys school throughout the school's 161-year history (pictured Newington College student)

Protestors who gathered also handed out stickers to parents who were dropping their sons off at the school.

The headmaster of the college, Michael Parker, wrote to the parents of students earlier warning them about the planned protests.

Mr Parker said that the school would place more staff around the 'perimeter of the college' to protect students.

He said in the letter that while those who are staging the protest have a right to voice their opinion, the school's focus will remain on the start of the new school year.

'There will be several hundred boys starting their first day at Newington tomorrow and they will be experiencing all sorts of mixed feelings as they walk through the gate at this threshold moment,' the letter stated.

Several parents who gathered outside Newington College (pictured) said students were afraid of speaking out against the move for fear of being removed from the college

The headmaster of the college, Michael Parker, wrote to the parents of students earlier warning them about the planned protests

Former student John Ramarque wrote in a change.org petition that was set up in November last year in opposition to the school becoming co-ed that the move poses a threat to the school's proud 'culture'.

'As a proud member of Newington College in Stanmore, NSW, Australia, I have witnessed firsthand the unique culture that has been cultivated over generations.'

'This culture is being threatened by recent decisions made by our headmaster and council. The decision to make our school co-ed is not just a change in policy; it's an erosion of our heritage.'

Hundreds of parents and former students commented on the posts with many voicing their support for the college to remain an all-boys school.

The headmaster of the college said extra staff would be deployed around the school grounds to protect students while the protests were changed (pictured)

Hundred of parents who have opposed the school's move to go co-ed (pictured) also signed the petition that was set up by a former student last year who said the move would threaten the school's culture

'As a former K-12 student and a current father of a Wyvern boy and another boy enrolled, I'm truly upset by this news,' one parent said.

'We signed up for a boys school and this choice has been taken away from us with no parent input whatsoever.'

'Parents enrol their children at Newington College because they want an academic boys school,' another parent wrote.

'Ive never seen any girls school merging co-ed. Not sure why a school with long history of boys education wants to change.'

The petition has since received 2,378 signatures with 2,500 the target.
A photo of her being treated in hospital has been leaked on social media

The woman mauled by a shark in Sydney Harbour was enduring fresh agony last night after a 'sensitive' photo of her in hospital was leaked.

Lauren O'Neill, 29, lost litres of blood - and nearly her entire leg - after the bull shark ripped open her flesh below the knee and bit through to the bone on Monday evening.

Her limb was saved by a team of expert surgeons at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney's CBD who operated on her multiple times throughout Monday night into Tuesday morning - and she's now expected to make a full recovery.

However, a photograph is now circulating on WhatsApp showing a large wound on Ms O'Neill's lower leg.

The image - which Daily Mail Australia will not publish - shows a medic holding her foot.

Ms O'Neill's bandages appear to have been removed and her painted red toenails are visible.

Lauren O'Neill, 29, lost litres of blood after the shark ripped open her leg below the knee and bit through to the bone. Ms O'Neill is pictured on a stretcher

Lauren O'Neill (pictured) who was mauled by a bull shark in a shocking attack in Sydney Harbour

St Vincent's Hospital said an investigation into how the image became public has been launched.

'St Vincent's has become aware of photos in the public domain that appear to have been taken in the Emergency Department and are related to those of a patient injury,' hospital spokesman David Faktor said.

'St Vincent's takes patient privacy obligations extremely seriously and is investigating this issue as a matter of priority.

'We have sincerely apologised for any part St Vincent's played in the photos being taken.'

It's not clear how the photo came to be leaked, but multiple hospital staff and police officers in the hospital's emergency department when Ms O'Neill arrived.

Earlier on Wednesday, the hospital released a statement on Ms O'Neill's behalf, revealing she had been taking a 'short dip close to shore' when the horrifying attack took place.

There were fears she might lose her leg but doctors now believe she will make a 'full recovery'.

Ms O'Neill thanked her heroic neighbours for rushing to her rescue, including vet Dr Fiona Cargo, who stemmed the blood flow until paramedics arrived.

Ms O'Neill said she 'wishes to thank the heroic and very kind neighbours for the critical assistance provided'.

She was also 'immensely grateful to the NSW Ambulance paramedics and Kings Cross Police for their swift and caring actions at the scene'.

Ms O'Neill, who works for the NSW government in the Department of Climate Change, highlighted the care of 'clinicians at St Vincent's Hospital, particularly the specialist surgical teams who worked through the night'.

She also thanked her 'beautiful family, friends and colleagues for their unflinching care and support'.

The keen kayaker and swimmer is now focusing on her recovery and thanked the public for their 'outpouring of support and kindness.'

Emergency services rushed to a private wharf in in Elizabeth Bay at 7.45pm on Monday to find Ms O'Neill with a severe bite to her right leg and suffering 'major blood loss'.

Ms O'Neill was attacked near a jetty in Elizabeth Bay in Sydney Harbour (map pictured)

Dr Fiona Crago (right), her wife Georgia (left) and their neighbours gave first aid to Ms O'Neill until emergency services arrived

But before that, vet Dr Crago and her wife Georgia, who live in a nearby apartment, ran to help after hearing repeated screams of 'shark attack!'.

'She was severely mauled on her right leg and she was losing a lot of blood,' Dr Crago told Channel 10.

'Neighbours had already started to render first aid to her. We had quite a few people that were so helpful.

'People were throwing down towels and blankets to keep her warm but I just focused on what I had to do, which was to stem the blood flow and bandage the leg as best I can with what I had and just stabilise it. And then put a tourniquet on.'

Dr Crago, whose actions saved Ms O'Neill's life, said she normally carried bandages due to her work but in recent days did not have the usual amount to hand as she had swapped cars.

Emergency services rushed to Elizabeth Bay at 7.45pm on Monday to find Ms O'Neill with a severe bite to her leg and suffering 'major blood loss'. A blood-stained boardwalk is pictured at the scene

SHARK VICTIM LAUREN O'NEILL'S FULL MEDIA STATEMENT Lauren was taking a short dip close to the shore when she was bitten by a shark. She wishes to thank her heroic and very kind neighbours for the critical assistance they provided her. Lauren is also immensely grateful to the NSW Ambulance paramedics and Kings Cross Police for their swift and caring actions at the scene. She would also like to thank all the clinicians at St Vincent's Hospital, particularly the specialist surgical teams who worked through the night. Her likely full recovery is testament to their extraordinary skills. Finally, Lauren would like to thank her beautiful family, friends and colleagues for their unflinching care and support. She would also like to thank the public for their outpouring of support and kindness, and as she turns to focusing on her recovery, asks that her privacy, and that of her family's be respected. Advertisement

'But as a strange coincidence, my wife had actually gone up the road and bought two new compression bandages yesterday for another purpose, so I knew exactly where they were and just grabbed them, so it was quite lucky,' she said.

Her wife Georgia, who was interviewed on Monday night in the aftermath of the attack, said the victim had suffered a broken bone.

'If she got bitten (further) out there, she wouldn't have survived,' Georgia said.

A friend of the couple said Ms O'Neill owes them her life.

'Fiona knew what she was doing tonight if it wasn't for her and her wife Georgia the poor victim would have died,' the friend told Daily Mail Australia.

'I'm so so proud of them, their deserve an award. That girl got lucky tonight having them home.'

Ms O'Neill's mother Petra thanked Ms Crago, whose quick action and medical knowledge saved her daughter's life.

'It means a lot that the community was there at the critical moment to render assistance, in particular the vet...' Mrs O'Neill wrote online.

'(It) shows what a lovely community you are.'

But Ms Crago refused to accept plaudits.

'I'm in no way heroic, I just did my job and I just did what I was trained to do,' she said.

Ms O'Neill was taken by ambulance to St Vincent's hospital where she remains in a stable condition. She is expected to have surgery today.

Elizabeth Bay resident Michael Porter, who rang triple zero, also praised Ms Crago.

'She was an absolute hero... and I think she saved her life,' he told the Today Show.

'She had wraps and tourniquets and just got straight into emergency mode, and we were all just sort of there together as a team.'

Mr Porter said Ms O'Neill was swimming outside a 'netted harbour pool,' and was 'swimming around the boats'.

'Her leg was sort of trailing behind her, and the water behind her was all red with blood.

One resident said there was 'blood everywhere' (pictured: Ms O'Neill on the wharf)

He added despite being in a 'complete state of shock' from the trauma of the attack, Ms O'Neill was 'very lucid'.

'People were holding her hand and helping her and she was extremely brave the whole time,' he said.

'She had serious bleeding. Her injuries are severe,' a NSW Ambulance spokesman told Daily Mail Australia on Monday night.

Ms O'Neill studied science at the University of Sydney and works for the NSW government in the Department of Climate Change.

She has volunteered for a range of charities and organisations from 2012, when she was 15.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Ms O'Neill has given her time to the SES, the Fred Hollows Foundation, Pink Ribbon Day, Daffodil Day, and Spinal Cord Injury Australia.

She has served meals for the homeless, helped create a map of wheelchair-accessible public toilets, and walked foster dogs.
A coroner has fought back tears as she opened inquests into the deaths of two young girls, a man and a woman who were found stabbed in their necks at a house near Norwich.

Norfolk area coroner Samantha Goward appeared to begin to cry as she first opened the inquest into the death of eight-year-old Natasha Kuczynska, who died at a house in Costessey.

The child was found with her 12-year-old sister Jasmin Kuczynska, father Bartlomiej Kuczynski, 45, and aunt Kanticha Sukpengpanao, 36, at the house on January 19.

Ms Goward apologised to those in attendance at the hearing in Norwich this morning as she appeared to battle the tears when reading that schoolgirl Natasha died from stab wounds to the neck, before reaching for a tissue.

The coroner told the hearing that Natasha's her body, like those of the other three, was identified in hospital by her neighbour of two-and-a-half years, Louise Smith.

The bodies of Bartlomiej Kuczynski and his two children were found by police at the home in Costessey on Friday, January 19

Jasmin Kuczynski, 12, and her sister, eight, were described as 'beautiful girls' by neighbours

Kanticha Sukpengpanao, 36, had arrived in the UK on December 27, her best friend said

Natasha's provisional medical cause of death was recorded as 'sharp force injuries of the neck'.

The coroner said Jasmin, who was also a school pupil, died of an 'incised wound of the neck'.

She said that structural engineer Mr Kuczynski, who was born in Poland, died of a 'stab wound to the neck' and was found at his home address.

The coroner said that a report had been requested from the mental health trust.

Ms Goward said that businesswoman Ms Sukpengpanao, who lived in Benjapruek village in Khlong Luang Pathuum Thani province in central Thailand, died of 'stab wounds to the neck'.

All four of the inquests, which were opened separately, were adjourned until a pre-inquest review hearing on April 29.

Norfolk Police said the deaths of Ms Sukpengpanao, Jasmin and Natasha are being treated as murder.

The death of Mr Kuczynski is not being treated as suspicious, and officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the killings, the force said.

Mr Kuczynski's wife Thai-born wife Nanthaka who was the mother of the girls had reportedly left on an early shift to work at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital before the killings took place.

Norfolk Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), and the watchdog said it has started an independent investigation into contact the force had with the man prior to the deaths.

Police at the scene in Costessey, Norfolk, on Friday after four bodies were found at a property

The family lived together on Allan Bedford Crescent at Queen's Hills, a new estate in Costessey

IOPC regional director Charmaine Arbouin said: 'Norfolk Constabulary established that the man had made a 999 call to the force shortly before 6am on January 19.

'During that call the man expressed concerns for his own mental state, saying he was confused.

'He was advised to seek medical advice and police did not attend.

'At around 7am the force received a call from a dog walker concerned for the welfare of those within the home.

'Officers attended shortly after and, tragically, found the man, a woman and two children dead.

'Following a mandatory referral from the force we have decided to investigate and will be examining if the force's handling of the contact they had with the man was appropriate and in line with force policy, training and procedures.'

The IOPC is also investigating an earlier referral from Norfolk Police made on Friday when the force disclosed that it had investigated reports of a missing person at the house in Costessey on December 14 last year.

Neighbours have said that multiple police cars had attended the house on that day when Mr Kuczynski was reported missing, and a search of nearby woodland was launched using a drone.

But the search was cancelled after he was found walking in a nearby road, and he was reportedly taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for a mental health assessment, but left the site unescorted before it was carried out.

A spokesman for the NNUH said: 'We can confirm that the patient was taken to the emergency department by police on December 14.

'Following a comprehensive clinical assessment, the patient was assessed as having mental capacity and he left the unit before being reviewed again by the team.'

The Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed that Mr Kuczynski had been one of its patients.

The trust which has been under fire over patient care in recent years said it was conducting an externally led serious incident review into its contacts with him.
It's not often you see people willing to queue more than an hour for a jacket potato. Nor to board a plane and travel 6,500 miles across two continents just to get a nibble of a spud.

It's something that has flabbergasted Ben Newman too to see queues snaking through the quaint market town of Tamworth, Staffordshire, every day outside his modest trailer.

The 39-year-old father-of-nine is instantly recognisable by his trademark pink-mohawk, but there's a heartfelt reason behind the rock star look after suffering his own health battles.

The jacket potato king got the punk hairstyle to raise money for kidney research and it's something that has stuck ever since.

His business has exploded since he started uploading videos onto TikTok last year just to 'keep an eye on my kids'.

More fondly known as Spud Man, the son of a potato merchant is regularly mobbed when fans see him walking through the town.

It's beyond the wildest dream for him and his wife Sarah Simpson, 37, AKA Spudwife, and something that seemed unimaginable when he started out the business under a different name two decades ago, aged just 18.

He now sells up to 1,000 meals a day priced between 4 and 5 from inside his tight-knit cream-coloured trailer.

Ben Newman, 39, has been left flabbergasted by the large queues that form outside his modest jacket potato van

Ben - The Spudman - with customer April Hall from Telford. He has built an online community of two million people on TikTok

He suffered three failed kidney transplants - in 2014, 2016 and 2019 - and will be on dialysis for the rest of his life.

People have been flocking from as far as the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia to his humble jacket potato van after his videos took the internet by storm racking up 2.6 million followers and 41.6 million likes on TikTok.

'It's all been beyond my wildest dreams,' he said.

'I just try and have fun with the videos. People seem to enjoy the livestreams but I enjoy filming people's responses when I give them a free spud.

'I've seen the Binley Mega Chippy comparison but I like to feel we've worked a little harder than that.

'They were a meme and it happened by chance. We know it will drop off but we want to keep going for as long as we can and to put Tamworth firmly back on the map.

'If we do well, so does the town. It's all about promoting local businesses and also every jacket potato seller out there.

'There is one in your own town, go and support them.

'My grandad was a farmer and my dad was a jacket potato merchant, I think they would be proud.'

Ben, the son of a potato merchant, is regularly mobbed when fans see him walking through the town

Queues snake through the quaint market town of Tamworth, Staffordshire, every day outside his modest trailer

He has no idea how he became an unlikely tourist attraction for young people after originally joining TikTok to keep an eye on his children

The 39-year-old father-of-nine is instantly recognisable by his trademark pink-mohawk, but there's a heartfelt reason behind the rock star look

He suffered three failed kidney transplants - in 2014, 2016 and 2019 - and will be on dialysis for the rest of his life

According to Ben, people travel to meet a TikToker, but they return for the jacket potato

Although he has been asked if he would tour the UK, Ben is adamant about bringing more trade to Tamworth, as well as promoting other jacket potato traders across the country

Ben quickly become an internet sensation because of his humble jacket potatoes, is using his newfound fame to help his hometown of Tamworth

One pair of customers travelled all the way from Malaysia, just to meet the TikToker and try his food

Ben, also known as @spudarmy on TikTok, has amassed a huge following of 1.9 million by sharing his culinary tips, often handing out free jackets to a few lucky customers

Fans can't get enough of the potatoes, with one writing on social media: 'Went and saw the spudman today. Definitely a top tier potato'

He has no idea how he became an unlikely tourist attraction for young people after originally joining TikTok to keep an eye on his children.

Since then, his simple videos of him sharing culinary tips and daily life as a jacket potato vendor on his trailer have exploded in popularity.

Ben has even earned his own personal fanbase in Hawaii and admits he is still baffled by his newfound fame and becoming a millennial craze.

Fans can't get enough of the potatoes, with one writing on social media: 'Went and saw the spudman today. Definitely a top tier potato.'

Another wrote: '4 hour drive, an overnight hotel stay and early morning queuing to see Spudman. Worth it for every smile. What a nice bloke too'.

Ben, of Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, said: 'I still can't quite get my head around what's happening. It's just been crazy and absolutely mind-blowing.

'I have no social media training or experience. When my son, who is now 16, put TikTok in front of me I just thought "I need to keep an eye on you on this".

'But I soon realised it wasn't just for dancing girls, so I uploaded a few videos of me making a potato using just a Go-Pro and a decent camera.

'When they began hitting a few thousand views each I thought I could use this to promote the business. But I never expected what happened next.

'It was October and we had around 400,000 followers, which I was chuffed with to be honest, then all of a sudden it started to explode.

'For no real reason that I'm aware of, some videos were getting millions of views. One has had almost 100 million views.

'We worked out if you sat down to watch that video 100 million times, you'd be watching it for 60 years.

'All of a sudden people from across the world were turning up - from South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and USA.

The father-of-nine, who struggles to walk through his hometown without being mobbed by fans, has attracted hour-and-a-half long queues to Editha Square - a patch he has traded from since he was 18 years of age

He now sells up to 1,000 meals a day priced between 4 and 5 from inside his tight-knit cream-coloured trailer

People have been flocking from as far as the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia to his humble jacket potato van

His fame has spawned Spud Man merchandise sold online in the form of keyrings, tote bags, aprons and clothing (Pictured: Huge queues outside Spud Man's van)

People travel for miles and then stand in queues for hours just to get a taste of Ben's jacket potatoes

Spud Man has become a tourist attraction with the best seller the classic cheese and beans (Pictured: Jacket potato with coleslaw, cheese, and beans)

'The most surreal moment was this couple from Malaysia, who hadn't come to the UK for a holiday - they came just solely to see me.

'They caught a flight to Gatwick and then hired a car to drive to little old Tamworth solely for a jacket potato.

'The amount of people I've been able to connect with and meet from all over the world is just crazy and incredibly humbling.

'Every single customer has been awesome. Its not just millennials, we have middle-aged families here too.

'We've become a tourist attraction. Our best seller is probably the classic cheese and beans.'

Ben says he can't even walk through his home town anymore without being stopped in the street due to his new local celebrity status.

His fame has spawned Spud Man merchandise sold online in the form of keyrings, tote bags, aprons and clothing.

He added: 'It has opened up some incredible opportunities for me. I honestly can't walk through town anymore without being stopped.

'I never sought celebrity status, I just wanted my little jacket potato van to do well. I won't tour or open my own shop - I love my trailer too much.

'I just try to be authentic and honest and I think that's what people like. I don't really know, you'd need to ask them.'

Last weekend he raised over 11,000 for Kidney Research UK by giving away 2,200 free jacket potatoes to people in the town.

He said: 'There's not a lot of dialysis patients who are as active as me and I want to try and show a positive side of it and help support the charity where I can.

'I'm trying to put out a positive message to them and that they can be normal whilst having kidney failure.'

Ben has been at the same location for more than 20 years after setting up his own business called Newman's Catering at the age of 18.

He became Spud Man around two years ago and believes his late father, who was a jacket potato merchant, would be proud of his recent success.

In the wake of the pandemic he started using his @spudarmy account to promote his business but said he 'never believed' this would be the outcome.

Customer April Hall, 38, a support worker, travelled an hour from Telford, Shropshire, to try a Spudman jacket potato with cheese and tuna yesterday.

She said: 'Some of the guys I support have been going on about him for weeks after watching all of his stuff online.

'I'm not really into social media that much so it all seemed a bit bizarre to me but I promised them we would go and see him.

'We came early to avoid the queues and he is such a nice man. The jacket potato was lovely too.

L-R Kathryn Mangles, Zak, and Steven Deere customers from Nottinghamshire with jacket potatoes

The queue in Tamworth for Spudman snaking through the market town

Rebekah Lee and Alex Manders customers from Lichfield

L-R Archie Povey, Bill Bellamy and Lewis Rochelle customers from Cannock. Lewis, a McDonald's manager, said he wanted to see what the fuss was about

'It's amazing to see normal, down to earth people making it in life so credit to him. He has done really well to get this following and we were happy to support him.'

Another customer, McDonald's manager Lewis Rochelle, 18, of Cannock Staffordshire, said: 'I just wanted to see what the fuss was about.

'I paid 5 for a jacket with cheese and beans and it was really good, so it was well worth the trip.

'I saw his videos before Christmas when he had about a hundred thousand followers - but its just exploded.

'Every one in two videos is about him at the moment. It's mad. I've not had to travel far but it was great to meet him and get a photo with him.'

Regular Lee Vickers, 29, of Tamworth, added: 'Spud man has put Tamworth well and truly on the map - it's unreal what he's doing for himself.

'He deserves all the success in the world. He always puts the graft in, he's a top guy and above all he sells top-quality hearty spuds.'
Migrants are continuing to arrive at the port of Dover with more than 1,000 crossing the Channel already in 2024.

The latest arrivals come as the Home Secretary says the number of asylum seekers being removed to Rwanda under Rishi Sunak's 240 million scheme could be 'quite low'.

James Cleverly told MPs on Wednesday he was unable to say how many of the 33,085 people identified as potentially eligible would be sent to Kigali if flights get off the ground.

He told the Commons Home Affairs Committee the total could be 'nearly at that figure', but said it could also be small if other work to reduce small boat crossings is successful.

So far, the UK has paid Rwanda 240 million under the Prime Minister's plan to 'stop the boats', but ministers expect to pay an additional 50 million next year.

The port of Dover pictured this morning as a group of people believed to be migrants arrive

Migrants are continuing to arrive at the port of Dover with more than 1,000 crossing the Channel already in 2024

The latest arrivals come as the Home Secretary says the number of asylum seekers being removed to Rwanda under Rishi Sunak 's 240 million scheme could be 'quite low'

A group of people thought to be migrants are driven away from Dover in Kent

No migrants who make unauthorised crossings have been removed because of the legal challenges that resulted in the Supreme Court finding the scheme unlawful.

But the Home Office has identified 33,085 people as eligible for removal since Mr Sunak's Rwanda policy became law in July.

Under persistent questioning over how many of those people will end up in Rwanda, Mr Cleverly insisted the scheme remains 'uncapped' but said he could not 'speculate' about the figure.

'The answer is entirely dependent on other work we're doing in parallel,' he added.

'It may well be if we're successful with returns agreements, if circumstances in other countries change, it may well be that the figure is quite low.

'It could be nearly at that figure, but the point is the number of people that we might send to Rwanda is entirely contingent on a whole set of other work that we're doing.'

French beaches will also be kept under surveillance from the air for the first time in a new crackdown on Channel migrant crossings.

Cleverly last night hammered out details of a deal for 'eyes in the sky' to be deployed against small boats.

James Cleverly told MPs on Wednesday he was unable to say how many of the 33,085 people identified as potentially eligible would be sent to Kigali if flights get off the ground

Arrivals at the port of Dover in Kent on Wednesday morning

The arrivals are brought into Dover from a Border Force vessel

The number of migrants who have crossed the Channel already in 2024 has passed 1,000

A group of people thought to be migrants are driven away from Dover in Kent

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin (R) shakes hands with Britain's Home Secretary James Cleverly at the French Interior Ministry at the Hotel de Beauvau, in Paris on January 30, 2024

Home Office sources said routine air patrols would be a 'game changer' in the Channel crisis.

The aircraft  potentially including drones and helicopters  will be funded by the British taxpayer as part of an existing 500million deal agreed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and president Emmanuel Macron last March.

Intelligence on the movements of migrants and people trafficking gangs will be passed from the air to French ground-based teams, so they can sweep in and stop the boats.

The significant measures  thought to cost several million pounds a year  were confirmed after Mr Cleverly met with French counterpart Gerald Darmanin for the first time this week.

The summit in Paris agreed to 'expedite deployment of key aerial surveillance equipment, ensuring unprecedented levels of coverage', a Home Office spokesman said.

It will allow French law enforcement 'to intercept crossing attempts as quickly as possible'.
A judge has urged police to carry out an inquiry after bungling paedophile hunters mistook an innocent man in a supermarket for their target - leading to his wrongful arrest.

The vigilantes had been hoping to snare Michael Chapman, 39, who had sent sexual messages to five people on social media he believed were young teenage girls, but which were in fact social media accounts run by the group.

When Chapman suggested an Asda store in Eccles, Greater Manchester, as a meeting place, several members of the unnamed vigilante group went along for the sting on December 19, 2021.

Once they were there, one of the group picked out a man she mistakenly believed was Chapman. The man, who understood nothing about what was going on, was then arrested as a result of being 'completely misidentified' by the group member.

Chapman, from Eccles, was finally apprehended two weeks later, Manchester Crown Court heard. As he was hauled before the courts, a judge ordered an investigation to be carried out to find out what went wrong.

The innocent man was shopping at an Asda superstore in Eccles, Greater Manchester (pictured), on December 19, 2021, when he was confronted by paedophile hunters

Michael Chapman, 39, was handed a two-year suspended sentence after having sexual online chats with five people he believed were teenage girls. He was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days

Judge Sarah Johnston said she was not 'ascribing blame' over the innocent man's arrest, but she told wanted to know whether an investigation has already been carried out by police, and urged a probe to be launched if not.

'It seems to me to be a situation which is going to arise again, if steps are not taken to ensure that these cases are investigated properly by those who are responsible for such investigations,' she said.

Prosecutors told how Chapman had been messaging the five 'decoy' accounts on social media sites over a six week period, between November 2020 and January 2021. The users told him that they were 13 or 14-year-old girls.

During the chats he sent videos of himself masturbating and engaged in disgusting messaging with the 'girls'. In the conversations, the idea of meeting up was raised. Chapman suggested a location as being an Asda store in Eccles.

Members of the paedophile hunter group attended the shop on December 19, 2021, where one of them 'completely misidentified' him and picked out an innocent man. 'After a proper investigation, this defendant was arrested on January 5, 2021,' prosecutor Nick Clarke said.

Chapman was only summonsed to court in September last year, after analysis of his phone was not deemed to be 'high priority', the court heard.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, three counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Defending, Ellen Shaw said Chapman had no previous convictions and had not committed any further offences following the delays which were not his fault. Chapman was sentenced to two years, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also told he must carry out a sexual offences program, which the judge said was 'the surest way of ensuring that conduct is not repeated'.
A batch of 'super-strength' ecstasy tablets in the shape of Donald Trump's face may have been involved in the deaths of three teenagers at a popular nightclub.

Police are investigating after the 'Trump pills' were recovered by security staff from the SWG3 club in Glasgow in August.

Scott Allison and Marcus Dick, both 18, died after attending a dance event at the venue last summer.

An 18-year-old woman also died on January 2 after partying at SWG3 on New Year's Eve - with drugs similarly suspected as being the cause.

A report published by Public Health Scotland yesterday included a red alert on drug trends issued by Police Scotland.

A batch of 'super-strength' ecstasy tablets in the shape of Donald Trump 's face may have been involved in the deaths of three teenagers at a popular nightclub

Scott Allison (left) and Marcus Dick (right), both 18, died after attending a dance event at SWG3 last summer

The turquoise Trump pills, which contain MDMA, were identified as potential killers.

Concerns have also been raised over drugs shaped like the Netflix and Twitter logos.

The RADAR (Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response) report stated: 'The below are images of MDMA tablets recovered in August 2023 by events venue security staff in the West of Scotland.

'Some of these tablets have been reported to be linked to the deaths of young people.'

SWG3 cancelled all the raves it had planned in January to carry out a 'detailed review' after the death of the third teenager earlier this year.

The club, police and Glasgow City Council are working closely together to determine how the deaths occurred.

Chief Supt Faroque Hussain from Police Scotland told the Daily Record: 'We continue to work in partnership to reduce substance harm as well as exploring solutions to help address the significant level of drug deaths in Scotland.

SWG3 (pictured), police and Glasgow City Council are working closely together to determine how the deaths occurred

'The illegal consumption of drugs can have a devastating effect on vulnerable people, their families and communities. That's why we are leading on the National Crime Agency's UK wide working group which seeks to tackle this harm by focussing on three key elements  health, intelligence and enforcement.

'Police Scotland is committed to disrupting organised criminality in all its forms, including the supply of drugs in our communities  but we can't tackle this alone and we rely on the support of the public to help us build intelligence on any drug-related issues.'

The concerns over the Trump pills come following a similar warning in 2020 over orange-coloured drugs.

The rate of drugs deaths in Scotland is currently the worst in Europe with fatalities from benzos, heroin and cocaine remaining critically high.

Kirsten Horsburgh CEO of Scottish Drugs Forum said: 'Deaths of young people are tragedies for families. People need basic information to know how to limit risks and what to do if something goes wrong.

'We need to be putting these messages out continually and consistently.

'People who own or manage clubs need support to learn how to reduce risk and licensing authorities in local government need better understanding of what actually reduces risk  education and support  rather than a simplistic zero tolerance approach that just makes drug use higher risk and drives drug use into more dangerous settings.'
The man suspected of decapitating his father and posting a video showing the severed head during an unhinged political rant launched an audacious $10 million lawsuit against the US government in 2020.

Justin Mohn, 32, alleged in his lawsuit that the government misled him and his parents about the risks involved in his student loan considering he would be unable to find work as an 'over educated white man.'

On Tuesday night, Mohn was taken into custody in Pennsylvania hours after his dad, Michael Mohn, 68, was found headless in his home in a quiet Philadelphia suburb. The suspect is charged with murder and abuse of a corpse.

According to his suit, which he filed in Colorado, Mohn took out his student loan in 2010 which he used to pay for his education at Penn State. He graduated in 2014 with a degree in Agribusiness Management.

Mohn claims 'the Department of Education encourages high school students to attend college but does not advise white male students of the risks of a college education financed through student loans,' he writes in the suit.

Mohn, who lived in Colorado after failing to find work in Pennsylvania, tried to be a musician and an author

In his bizarre lawsuit, Mohn said that he could not get a job or save money because of 'affirmative action'

Mohn goes on to say that because of 'affirmative action,' he was unable to find work which resulted in him being forced to go back and live with his parents. Police in Pennsylvania say that the suspect was living at home at the time of his father's killing.

The suspect said that he began making loan repayments of $80 a month six months after he graduated in 2014. A year later, he moved to Colorado work for a credit union business.

He says in the suit that the obligation to pay back the $80 caused him 'quality of life damages.'

In October 2016, he began working in another job for higher pay but that he was 'terminated from that role at an undisclosed time. As result he incurred a 'snowball effect' of debt.

He goes on to say that his debts of $12,000 have negatively impacted his credit score.

In 2020, Mohn self-published a book about a man who move to Colorado Springs, Colorado titled The Second Messiah: King of Earth.

The lead character 'slowly and painfully learns the dark secret of Colorado involving a widespread Satanic Cult, the Democratic Party, and the Cold War. Eventually, Buster gets more attention than he thought was possible for any artist, but not in the way a normal celebrity does - in the way a religious icon does.'

Mohn says that the book is 'loosely based' on his life living in Colorado.

Mohn's lawsuit was specifically targeted at US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, shown here with President Joe Biden in June 2023

Mohn studied agribusiness here at Penn State between 2010 and 2014

Justin Mohn's father, Michael, and his mother, Denice. Michael was found beheaded in a bathroom on Tuesday at the family home

In 2022 suit, Mohn says that this is the third time that he has attempted to sue the United States Department of Education and Secretary Miguel Cardona.

Mohn alleges Cardona failed to advise him on the 'risks and appropriateness of college loans for a college education . during his loan application/origination process constituting fraud.'

The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning that the claim cannot be refiled.

Following his failure to find employment, Mohn appears to have wanted to carve out a career as a musician and author.

On his YouTube page, he writes: 'Justin Mohn released his first album, 'The Story Of Humanity,' in September of 2017. His second album, 'Colofunkinrado,' was released September of 2018. His music style is a blend of rock, funk, and hip-hop, using piano and organ as primary instruments along with explicit lyrics, drums, synthesized bass, and other synthesized instruments.'

Mohn also wrote poetry and conspiracy-laden manifestos.

One of his books was entitled: 'Poems I Wrote While Stoned: A Collection Of Poems'.

Another, 'The Punishing,' is set in the year 2481, with Satan ruling the world.

'After rejecting their Messiah and straying from the word of God, humanity falls under complete control of Satan and his minions  a race of artificially modified humans, who no longer call themselves Homo Sapiens, but rather, Homo Demonicus,' the blurb reads.

Another appeared to preview his warped plan, entitled: 'America's Coming Bloody Revolution.'

Its blurb reads: 'Similar to Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' published in 1776 which helped inspire the American Revolution, the short, easy to understand pamphlet explains why another revolution is likely in America and how it could be successful.'
Nicola Sturgeon broke down in tears today as she faced an intense grilling over deleting her Covid WhatsApps.

The former First Minister repeatedly choked up during a bruising session at the official inquiry, admitting that a 'large part' of her wished she had not been in charge during the pandemic.

The emotional moment came after Ms Sturgeon acknowledged that messages about the pandemic response had not been kept.

Despite being shown examples of discussions that have survived relating to key policies on restrictions, she insisted all important matters were dealt with 'formally'.

But she admitted that 'perhaps shouldn't have' given Professor Devi Sridhar a separate SNP email address to contact her on.

She was also forced to dismiss criticism for buying what have been described as 'burner' phones on Parliamentary expenses, insisting they merely were for staff who working from home.

Ms Sturgeon argued that that the mood in the Scottish government had been 'serious, purposeful and collegiate' - rejecting suggestions she saw the crisis as a way of furthering her 'mission' of breaking up the UK.

Asked by inquiry counsel Jamie Dawson about her experience of the pandemic, Ms Sturgeon choked up saying in many ways she wished she had not been in Bute House at the time.

She said her aim had been to be the 'best First Minister I could be', flatly denying that she saw the situation as a 'political opportunity'.

'It is for others to judge whether I succeeded,' she added.

Ms Sturgeon initially said her WhatsApp messages 'weren't retained'. But the KC persisted: 'Did you delete them?' Ms Sturgeon said: 'Yes, in the manner I have set out.'

The evidence sessions began after Ms Sturgeon was heckled on arrival at the venue in Edinburgh, where the probe is sitting as it considers Scottish issues.

The SNP MSP was greeted with shouts of 'where are your WhatsApps' and 'excess deaths'.

In other key moments from the Covid inquiry session today:

Ms Sturgeon told the hearing that she used a personal phone to conduct government business, saying she had not been advised it was inappropriate;

She said she had 'never seen messages before' in which an official reminded civil servants in a WhatsApp group where the 'clear chat' function was and that 'plausible deniability is my middle name';

Messages exchanged between Ms Sturgeon and her former chief of staff Liz Lloyd showed the SNP leader having a detailed conversation about how to change hospitality rules;

Ms Sturgeon fended off questions about whether she repeatedly 'gazumped' Westminster by announcing action before Boris Johnson, saying the Scottish public was 'desperate' to know what was going on;

Ms Sturgeon conceded it was 'instinct' for her to campaign for independence, but said her only aim in the early stages of the pandemic was to 'do the best we could to keep people safe'.

The inquiry heard how an email sent to top SNP figures expressed concerns the Spanish government would block an independent Scotland from joining the EU if pandemic travel restrictions remained.

The former First Minister choked up during a bruising session at the official inquiry today

The former First Minister stressed that discussions about the response to the pandemic took place 'formally' as she kicked off a full day of questioning

A bombshell email shown at the inquiry showed Ms Sturgeon's deputy raised concerns about putting Spain under travel restrictions because 'there's a possibility they will never approve EU membership for an independent Scotland as a result'

Ms Sturgeon again welled up as she rejected the idea she had seen a 'political opportunity'.

'I didn't see an opportunity of any description in Covid. I saw a threat, a risk, a catastrophe. My memories of the early part of 2020 was first fear at what might be about to unfold and confront the country,' she said.

'At times in these early days I felt overwhelmed by the scale of what we were dealing with.

'Perhaps more than anything I felt an overwhelming responsibility to do the best I could.'

She insisted that in those 'days and week' it 'wasn't true' that she perceived a political opportunity.

In further tetchy exchanges with Mr Dawson, the former SNP leader said: 'I have not said and I'm not saying today that I never used informal means of communication.'

'What I am saying is that I did so very rarely and not to discuss issues of substance or anything that could be described as decision making.

'There was a high degree of formality around the decision making of the Scottish Government.'

Several figures in Ms Sturgeon's government have already faced questions at the inquiry about their deletion of messages during the pandemic.

Ms Sturgeon has conceded messages had not been retained on her own devices but said she had managed to retrieve copies to submit to the inquiry.

She has said informal messages were handed over to the inquiry last year.

Scottish Government ministers and officials have said decisions were routinely recorded on the official system even if messages were deleted in line with policy.

The inquiry heard today how there was concern the Spanish government would block an independent Scotland from joining the EU if travel restrictions during the pandemic remained.

An email  copied to Ms Sturgeon and a number of senior Government figures  sent on July 19 2020 from the email address of then deputy first minister John Swinney, but signed off by someone named Scott, said he was 'extremely concerned' about travel restrictions remaining on the country when there was a 'point prevalence rate of 0.015'.

'It won't matter how much ministers might justify it on health grounds, the Spanish government will conclude it is entirely political; they won't forget; there is a real possibility they will never approve EU membership for an independent Scotland as a result,' the email read.

Discussing the email at the inquiry, Ms Sturgeon said: 'These are decisions that were taken for public health reasons that were difficult decisions.'

The former first minister fought back tears as she said she takes it 'very personally' when her motives behind actions during the pandemic are questioned.

'I take it very, very personally when people question the very motives because I know the motives were absolutely in good faith and for the best reasons,' she said.

Lead counsel to the inquiry Jamie Dawson KC put it to Ms Sturgeon she wanted to be 'the person who had driven Covid out of Scotland', which she rejected.

The former first minister said: 'I hoped that the decisions my government would take would keep Covid at the lowest possible level, so that it took the lives of fewer people, minimised the disruption to people's livelihoods and the education of children.

'I accept that there will be genuine and serious scrutiny of the content of decisions that were taken, and some of those decisions I wish I had taken, my government, had taken differently, some  I think  were right.

'My motives in this were only ever about trying to do the right thing to minimise the overall harm that the virus was doing.

'The toll it took, in Scotland, as in other parts of the UK, was far too high, so I didn't do that as successfully as I wish I was able to, but perhaps in some ways the measures we took had some impact.'

Ms Sturgeon also insisted she did not believe the pandemic would 'soon be over' as a result of the introduction of the vaccine.

She added: 'We're no longer in a pandemic but people are dying from Covid every week as we speak. Covid has not gone away. Arguably, Covid will never go away.'

The ex-SNP leader rejected accusations that the pandemic response was run on her 'instincts'.

In an exchange over a fanzone in Glasgow for the 2020 European Championships, which took place in 2021, Ms Sturgeon was shown an email between then health secretary Humza Yousaf and national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch where they claimed her 'instinct' was to cancel the event.

Ms Sturgeon told the inquiry: 'I had an instinct, I tested it again with the experts, I asked for advice, I considered that advice and, on the basis of that advice, decided the opposite of what my instinct had started out telling me.'

Last week, Ms Sturgeon's former chief of staff Liz Lloyd gave evidence to the inquiry.

After message exchanges between the pair were shown in evidence, Ms Lloyd denied a decision about guest limits on weddings during the pandemic was made 'on the hoof'.

In one message seen by the inquiry, Ms Sturgeon referred to then prime minister Boris Johnson as a 'f****** clown.'

Current First Minister Humza Yousaf, in his evidence to the inquiry last Thursday, offered an 'unreserved' apology for the Scottish Government's 'frankly poor' handling of requests for WhatsApp messages.

He has announced an external review into the Government's use of mobile messaging.

Ms Sturgeon said today that WhatsApp had become 'too common' a means of communication within the Scottish Government.

The messages highlighted at the inquiry today showed Ms Sturgeon and Ms Lloyd engaged in a detailed discussion in October 2020 about what times to allow restaurants to stay open until

Nicola Sturgeon was heckled over her deleted WhatsApps today as she arrived to face a grilling at the Covid inquiry

Nicola Sturgeon insisted she did not make 'extensive' use of WhatsApp during Covid today as she faced a grilling at the Covid inquiry

She said: 'When people are sending messages on WhatsApp, they don't think, including me and therefore messages, when they are looked back at later on, can be open to different interpretations because people haven't really thought about the words they're using.

'And I think that certainly would be true of some of the exchanges that the inquiry has been looking at.'

Asked by Mr Dawson if she recalled receiving an email about the importance of retaining messages on August 3 2021, Ms Sturgeon replied: 'I do not as far as I am aware, I did not receive that.'

Mr Dawson asked: 'You recall, I would imagine, in a general sense that such a notification was sent out?'

Sturgeon's key quotes from Covid inquiry On 'weaponising' Covid for independence campaign: 'I didn't see an opportunity of any description in Covid. I saw a threat, a risk, a catastrophe. My memories of the early part of 2020 was first fear at what might be about to unfold and confront the country. 'At times in these early days I felt overwhelmed by the scale of what we were dealing with. 'Perhaps more than anything I felt an overwhelming responsibility to do the best I could.' On deleting WhatsApps: 'I operated from 2007, based on advice, the policy that messages, business relating to government should not be kept on a phone that could be lost or stolen and insecure in that way, but properly recorded through the system. 'I would want to again underline that communication was extremely limited and would not relate it to matters of substantive government decision-making.' On giving Professor Devi Sridhar her SNP email address for 'private' communications: 'On reflection perhaps I shouldn't have done that... 'But if I had been in any way trying to direct her to a private email address, I doubt if I would have put my government email address in there as well.' On regretting being First Minister during Covid: 'I was the first minister when the pandemic struck. 'There's a large part of me wishes that I hadn't been but I was and I wanted to be the best first minister.' 'It is for others to judge whether I succeeded.' On her main regret of the pandemic: 'Of the many regrets I have, probably chief of those is that we didn't lock down a week, two weeks, earlier than we did.' Advertisement

Ms Sturgeon said: 'I would say this: that I don't think I would have required to see that to know that matters that were relevant to know the matters that were relevant.'

The former first minister said she had 'always assumed there would be a public inquiry'.

Ms Sturgeon told the inquiry: 'I operated from 2007, based on advice, the policy that messages, business relating to government should not be kept on a phone that could be lost or stolen and insecure in that way, but properly recorded through the system.

'I would want to again underline that communication was extremely limited and would not relate it to matters of substantive government decision-making.'

The messages highlighted at the inquiry today showed Ms Sturgeon and Ms Lloyd engaged in a detailed discussion in October 2020 about what times to allow restaurants to stay open until.

Ms Sturgeon wrote: 'I am having a bit of a crisis in decision making in hospitality, not helped by the fact I haven't slept. The public health argument says stick with 6pm/no alcohol for level 3. But I suspect the industry will go mad  and I worry we could derail debate.'

But the MSP said today: 'I look at this and I don't consider that there is anything in that, wouldn't be reflected through the decision making and the evidence of the decision making of the government and undoubtedly hospitality and the impact on hospitality.'

Pressed that there was nothing in the public record stating 'we should prob stick with 6 it's all so random', Ms Sturgeon said: 'This is why I don't think WhatsApp should be used to have substantial discussions  four years on we can put on a different interpretation.

'But there were moments that whatever we would do, would cause difficulty and harm for somebody.'

Mr Dawson said: 'This was a discussion that related to an important decision made in the course of the pandemic.'

Ms Sturgeon replied: 'That would have been discussed and recorded at Cabinet.'

The MSP was interrogated about a report she used Parliamentary expenses to purchase an 18 Nokia phone and SIM cards in March 2020.

She insisted that the so-called 'burner' was bought to divert calls from her constituency office to staff forced to work from home during lockdown.

Ms Sturgeon was adamant she had 'never to the best of my knowledge seen, held and certainly not used any of these phones'.

Ms Sturgeon also faced questions about her decision to provide public health expert Professor Devi Sridhar with her SNP email address to 'privately' be contacted.

'On reflection perhaps I shouldn't have done that,' she said.

'But if I had been in any way trying to direct her to a private email address, I doubt if I would have put my government email address in there as well.'

In an exchange about so-called 'gold command' meetings chaired by Ms Sturgeon during her time in Bute House where not minutes were taken, Mr Dawson asked if there was a 'theme' developing where her government sought to hide discussions at the meetings.

'No  I would very, very strongly refute that,' the former first minister said.

'I have look at all of the cabinet papers and minutes over that whole period  it runs to thousands of pages.'

She said the records went further than just decisions made and covered the rationale behind them.

Ms Sturgeon was pressed on not attending the 'Operation Nimbus' planning exercise in early 2020.

That included senior politicians from the wider UK and devolved administrations, drawing up a 'battleplan' for Covid in a scenario where the death toll hit 840,000 by the middle of April

The former SNP chief defended missing the exercise, saying it was not 'abnormal' to delegate ministers and 'not everyone can be at everything at once'.

The issue of Ms Sturgeon 'gazumping' wider UK decisions was discussed at the hearing.

Regarding one episode where she announced the conclusions of a Cobra meeting before then-PM Boris Johnson, the ex-SNP leader said she had a 'duty to the people of Scotland'.

'I was surprised to speak before him, not because I went too quickly but because by the time I did it he hadn't.'

Ms Sturgeon said she had a 'strong commitment' to working with the other UK nations on Covid. But she added: 'I had a duty as First Minister of Scotland to the people of Scotland.'

Mr Dawson put it to Ms Sturgeon she wanted to be 'the person who had driven Covid out of Scotland', which she rejected.

The former first minister said: 'I hoped that the decisions my government would take would keep Covid at the lowest possible level, so that it took the lives of fewer people, minimised the disruption to people's livelihoods and the education of children.

'I accept that there will be genuine and serious scrutiny of the content of decisions that were taken, and some of those decisions I wish I had taken, my government, had taken differently, some  I think  were right.

'My motives in this were only ever about trying to do the right thing to minimise the overall harm that the virus was doing.

'The toll it took, in Scotland, as in other parts of the UK, was far too high, so I didn't do that as successfully as I wish I was able to, but perhaps in some ways the measures we took had some impact.'

Former Scottish Government ministers Kate Forbes and John Swinney gave evidence to the inquiry yesterday.

Mr Swinney said he 'manually' deleted messages between himself, Ms Sturgeon and Mr Yousaf in a practice which could date back to 2007.

The inquiry was earlier told that meetings of senior ministers outside the cabinet  known as the 'gold command'  were not minuted.

Ms Forbes said she was 'surprised' these and Scottish Government Resilience Room meetings went unminuted.

Discussing the external review into messaging, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'As the First Minister outlined, he has commissioned an externally led review into the use of mobile messaging apps and non-corporate technology in the Scottish Government.

'This will take particular account of Government interaction with statutory public inquiries.

'During this period, we will continue to keep our records management policy under review in line with legislation.

'The external review will inform a wider internal records management policy review.

'More detail on the external and internal reviews will be given in due course.'

Appearing before the official inquiry on Monday, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said the SNP had a clear 'mission' to 'destroy the UK'.

He pointed to 'direct evidence' that had been presented about the Scottish Cabinet discussing how the pandemic could enhance the push for independence.

And Mr Gove, who was responsible for coordinating with the devolved administrations, claimed Ms Sturgeon's remarks in private sometimes had a 'political complexion'.

The minister denied that the Westminster government had also been playing politics, saying: 'I think the most important thing that we felt was to ensure that lives were saved across the UK.'

Despite repeatedly attempting to 'gazump' Westminster with announcements during the pandemic, Ms Sturgeon was always adamant she had no intention of politicising it.

Ms Sturgeon was exchanging messages with chief adviser Liz Lloyd on October 31, 2020 as Mr Johnson was announcing another national lockdown

On June 30, 2020 Ms Sturgeon told a briefing on the raging crisis that anyone 'trotting out political or constitutional arguments is in the wrong place completely'.

But records of a Scottish Cabinet meeting from the same day, highlighted at the Covid Inquiry, showed it covered 'restarting work on independence and a referendum' and suggested that arguments should 'reflect the experience of the coronavirus crisis'.

WhatsApp messages between Ms Sturgeon and her then chief of staff Liz Lloyd also revealed they wanted to start a 'good old-fashioned rammy' with the UK government.
The billionaire husband of bra tycoon Michelle Mone today admitted to playing a 'senior' role in the 16million purchase of a Spanish cable factory at his fraud and embezzlement trial.

Doug Barrowman exercised his right to refuse to answer questions from prosecutors after taking the stand knowing he has the threat of a five-and-a-half year prison sentence and six-figure fine hanging over his head if found guilty.

His defence lawyer Borja Castiella, the only person he agreed to be quizzed by, promised to be 'very quick' before rattling off just 16 questions to his wealthy client in under eight minutes.

Some of the Glasgow-born father-of-four's answers in English, translated into Spanish through a translator sitting beside him at the Provincial Court of Cantabria in the northern port city of Santander, were just a few words long.

Barrowman arrived at court flanked by two men in suits and later left the court via a back door before getting in a taxi. Baroness Mone, 52, did not appear to be present at the court in Santander for the latest installment of his trial.

Billionaire businessman Doug Barrowman leaves the court today by the back door flanked by his business partners at the end of day two of an alleged tax crime in a Spanish Court

Barrowman is pictured leaving court after answering only a handful of questions

Barrowman (pictured left, in the centre) arrived at the Spanish court on Wednesday flanked by two men

He and 52-year-old wife Baroness Michelle Mone - seen at a British Asian Trust reception at London's Guildhall in February 2017 - have been criticised over Covid contracts

The couple are separately being investigated by Britain's National Crime Agency for alleged fraud, over the award of more than 200million in VIP lane Covid-19 contracts in 2020 to PPE Medpro - a firm with which they were linked.

Only two of the other six defendants, all British associates of Barrowman in the May 2008 cable plant purchase with bank finance by their now-defunct company B3 Cable Solutions Spain, had time to give evidence on the first day of the trial yesterday.

The seven businessmen are accused of a 500,000 (433,000) tax fraud and misappropriation totalling 6.3 million (5.35 million) and are facing prison sentences of up to six years if found guilty of both offences.

They were prosecuted despite being cleared of blame by a commercial court over the October 2012 bankruptcy of the cable factory they bought from French multinational Nexans in Maliano near Santander. More than 200 workers lost their jobs.

The prosecution case revolves around the huge July 2008 payment by B3 Cable to 'linked' UK company Axis Ventura.

Spanish prosecutors refute the British businessmen's claim it was a consultancy fee for work related to the cable firm purchase, claiming the cash was syphoned out of B3 Cable and transferred to the UK as part of their thirst for an 'illicit benefit' they all profited from personally.

And they allege Barrowman and his associates defrauded the Spanish Treasury by offsetting part of the payment - 1,665 million (1,423 million) - against tax in B3 Cable's 2009 annual return.

Mone's husband confirmed he was a co-founder of Aston Ventures, Axis Ventura's trading name, after being asked to walk the 10ft separating the front bench of the public gallery where he has been following the proceedings to the stand.

Lingerie entrepreneur Baroness Mone was not present at the Spanish court today

Doug Barrowman gives evidence at court again today with his business partners

Barrowman exercised his right to refuse questions from prosecutors after taking the stand

His defence lawyer Borja Castiella, the only person he agreed to be quizzed by, promised to be 'very quick' before rattling off just 16 questions to his wealthy client in under eight minutes

He answered, 'Yes I did, would you like me to explain' when asked whether he participated in the cable plant purchase project.

He went on to tell the court he attended two meetings in Paris with Nexans' bosses, including its then-president and CEO, one to discuss the potential acquisition in October 2007 and another in March 2008 when the deal was nearing completion.

Confirming he was also involved in negotiations to secure bank cash for the purchase, Barrowman said: 'I have a lot of experience in dealing with banking and raising finance so it was very important for me to be present in the negotiations with Landbanski at senior level.'

Seeking further clarification, his lawyer asked him: 'Was your participation in this project at senior level?'

Barrowman, mentioning a figure of 65 million thought to relate to a euro value estimate of the cable factory's real value with all its assets included, replied: 'Very much so. It was for 65 million and my involvement would have been required for that.'

He added: 'I'm a chartered accountant by training but I have spent my entire career in corporate finance and venture capital buying companies.'

Confirming he had resigned as an Axis Ventura director and sold his shares in the company two months before the factory purchase went through, Barrowman told the court: 'I resigned on March 31 2008 because I had spent 10 very intensive years managing companies and I was tired working long hours seven days a week.'

He and 52-year-old wife Baroness Michelle Mone - seen at a British Asian Trust reception at London's Guildhall in February 2017 - have been criticised over Covid contracts

Doug Barrowman and his wife Baroness Michelle Mone, pictured here at Cheltenham Racecourse in March 2019, say they have been 'treated as a punchbag'

He was seen getting into a taxi after leaving from the court through a back entrance

Earlier in the day co-defendant Mark Price Williams, an Axis Ventura director and one of the three main shareholders in B3 Cable Solutions, told the court he devoted his 'entire life' during eight months to the cable plant purchase.

He dismissed claims Axis did nothing to justify its payment on the project, telling his lawyer after also refusing to answer questions from prosecutors: 'I gave my lawyers so many documents showing them the work that had been done they told me to stop sending them.'

Insisting Axis representatives slashed Nexans' initial asking price for the cable factory, he told the court: 'Doug Barrowman and associate Paul Ruocco negotiated with the bank regarding financial matters.

'They had the experience, the contacts and the knowledge of all the banks that would fund such a deal and they did a large amount of diligence to get the best deal.'

State prosecutors want Barrowman jailed for three years if convicted of misappropriation and two and a half years for the alleged tax crime.

Paul Ruocco and Mark Price Williams, who together with Barrowman held nearly 60 per cent of B3 Cable's shares, are facing identical prison demands.

Four other men, former B3 Cable directors named as David Powell, Timothy Eve, Stephen Ellis and Michael Walton, risk being jailed for up to six years each if convicted of both offences.

The seven Brits are also facing fines of up to 1.7 million if convicted.

Doug Barrowman, arriving at court in Santander in Spain claims he was neither a shareholder or director of Axis at the time a 5.5million invoice was created and paid

British billionaire businessman Doug Barrowman in court today in Santander, Spain, accused of an alleged tax crime alongside six fellow defendants

Barrowman (pictured in court), 58, could face five and a half years in prison if convicted

Lingerie tycoon Michelle Mone, currently on a House of Lords 'leave of absence' amid an ongoing UK probe into alleged Covid PPE fraud involving her and her husband, has opted to stay away from the start of the scheduled six-day trial.

It is due to continue tomorrow with prosecution witnesses before resuming next week.

Barrowman and his co-defendants were given permission today to return to the UK after their court quizzes but told they should be available online for the final day next Thursday when they will be offered the chance of a 'last word.'

The three trial judges will then retire to consider their verdicts, which will be delivered in writing at an undefined future date.

Barrowman and his wife have had 75 million of assets frozen or restrained under a court order obtained by the CPS as part of the National Crime Agency's probe into PPE Medpro, a company led by Barrowman.

The UK investigation is running separate to the ongoing Spanish trial and has no bearing on it.

Earlier this month Baroness Mone and her family said they had been 'treated as a punchbag' after lying about having no connections to a PPE company awarded 200million of government contracts.

In a statement published by Lady Mone on X, formerly Twitter, Barrowman said it 'suits the agenda' of the UK Government to 'scapegoat' him and his wife for their part in supplying items designed to protect against coronavirus infection through the firm PPE Medpro.

Michelle Mone, here at the State Opening of Parliament in London in June 2017, was made a Conservative peer by then-Prime Minister David Cameron in August 2015

Baroness Mone, pictured here during the State Opening of Parliament in January 2019, announced in December 2022 she was taking a leave of absence from the House of Lords

Doug Barrowman was in the dock in Santander alongside six fellow defendants

Doug Barrowman and the other six Britons accused of fraud have denied all charges

Lady Mone had admitted she lied when she denied having connections to the company, a consortium led by her husband, which was awarded contracts worth more than 200million to supply gowns and face masks.

The lingerie entrepreneur stands to benefit from its 60million in profits that have been placed into a trust by her husband.

The court previously heard how Axis Ventura's former finance director David Powell said Barrowman had a leading role in the cable factory purchase.

He told the court as he became the first of the seven defendants to take the stand: 'Doug Barrowman and Paul Ruocco were the senior managers.

'Their speciality is identifying the price of a potential acquisition and arranging the money.

'Once the price had been agreed their roles began to change and they were more exploring the finance options.'

State prosecutor Begona Abad Ruiz asked him during a tense cross-examination after he said the work Axis had done on the deal included arranging bank financing and co-ordinating external due diligence so the lender would release cash.

Mr Ruiz asked: 'Why are there no documents in B3 Cable to demonstrate this?'

Mr Powell responded: 'That's not true, there are thousands of documents. Many have already been provided to the court,.

Lady Mone, here at the Scottish Business Awards in Edinburgh in May 2014, was behind the lingerine firm Ultimo

Prosecutors have frozen or otherwise restrained a reported 75million of assets held by Lady Mone and her husband including this six-bedroom townhouse in Chester Square, London

He admitted telling a Spanish financial expert assisting him to keep the payment 'confidential', but insisted: 'It was because I didn't want it to become a cause of canteen gossip.'

Accountant Timothy Eve, an Axis partner, declined to be cross-examined by the state prosecutor and only agreed to answer questions from his defence lawyer Virginia Moreta.

In earlier legal arguments before the trial proper began, the four defence lawyers acting for the seven defendants said the time limit for prosecuting the tax crime ran out on May 25, 2014.

Barrowman's lawyer said a criminal complaint presented by prosecutors 17 days earlier was too vague to affect statute of limitation legislation and did not accuse named individuals of any wrongdoing.

But Ernesto Saguillo, one of the three judges who threw out the attempts to have the trial halted at the eleventh hour, said: 'Whether questions like the time limit on the tax crime allegation has been interrupted or not is something we will deal with when it comes to verdict and sentencing.'

Fellow judge Paz Aldecoa ruled all seven defendants did not have to attend court for the remaining four sessions after they had all taken the stand.

Mr Barrowman declined to comment as he left court in a taxi.

One of his co-defendants asked a journalist as he left: 'Why are you taking a photograph?'

The trial continues.
Labour have performed another U-turn under Sir Keir Starmer as they ruled out reinstating a cap on bankers' bonuses if they win the general election.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said Labour 'don't have any intention of bringing that back' as she vowed to be a 'champion' of the City of London.

The reversal of the party's position comes just weeks after Labour branded the Tories 'out of touch' for lifting the bonus cap.

The Conservatives pointed to Sir Keir's latest U-turn as fresh evidence Labour 'don't have a plan of their own'.

It also stirred up a row with Labour's left-wing, with ex-leader Jeremy Corbyn accusing his successor Sir Keir of making 'a political choice to enrich the wealthy'.

The cap, which limited bonuses to two times an employee's annual salary, was introduced by the European Union after the 2008 financial crisis.

Labour have performed another U-turn under Sir Keir Starmer after shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves ruled out reinstating a cap on bankers' bonuses if they win the general election

The cap, which limited City bonuses to two times an employee's annual salary, was introduced by the European Union after the 2008 financial crisis

Just three months ago, Ms Reeves had been a vocal critic of the Conservatives' decision to axe the cap

It stirred up a row with Labour's left-wing, with ex-leader Jeremy Corbyn accusing his successor Sir Keir of making 'a political choice to enrich the wealthy'

Britain abolished the measure at the end of October last year as part of a post-Brexit shake-up of City rules.

Ex-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng had first revealed plans to scrap the bonus cap as part of his disastrous 'mini-Budget' in 2022 when he was briefly in charge of the Treasury.

Most of the measures in Mr Kwarteng and ex-prime minister Liz Truss's ill-fated 'Growth Plan' were subsequently scrapped amid economic turmoil.

But the move to abolish the cap survived after Rishi Sunak, himself a former Chancellor and investment banker, took over from Ms Truss in Downing Street.

Mr Kwarteng argued at the time that lifting the limit would help London to compete with other global financial hubs such as New York, Paris and Frankfurt.

In an interview with the BBC, Ms Reeves, a former Bank of England economist, revealed Labour had reversed their previous opposition to the scrapping of the cap.

She said: 'The cap on bankers' bonuses was brought in in the aftermath of the global financial crisis and that was the right thing to do to rebuild the public finances.

'But that has gone now and we don't have any intention of bringing that back.

'And as chancellor of the exchequer, I would want to be a champion of a successful and thriving financial services industry in the UK.'

Little over three months ago, Labour had criticised the Tories for lifting the bonus cap during the cost-of-living crisis hammering families.

Darren Jones, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said: 'When Truss says jump, Sunak says how high.

'At a time when families are struggling with the cost of living and mortgages are rising, this decision tells you everything you need to know about the priorities of this out-of-touch Conservative Government.'

Ms Reeves herself had also previously been a vocal critic of the Tories' decision to axe the cap.

Labour today published a plan vowing to streamline City regulations, with a promise to slim down the Financial Conduct Authority's handbook by cutting out 'outdated and prescriptive rules'.

It follows a review, carried out by shadow City minister Tulip Siddiq, which included input and advice from top City of London figures, including former HSBC chairman Sir Douglas Flint and Barclays chairman Sir John Kingman.

In her forward to the report, Ms Reeves said Labour would be both 'proudly pro-business, pro-worker' in government.

Tory Treasury minister Bim Afolami said: 'It'll be the City's door that Labour come knocking on first when they hike taxes to pay for the 28billion spending spree.

'After years of calling for higher taxes on the UK's financial services sector  Labour can't say what they'd do differently because they don't have a plan of their own.

'Whilst Labour snipe from the sidelines, it is the Conservatives who are unlocking post-Brexit freedoms so the UK can continue to boast the best financial services sector in the world.'

Mr Corbyn said: 'Refusing to scrap the two-child benefit cap is a political choice to impoverish the worst-off.

'Refusing to reinstate the bankers' bonus cap is a political choice to enrich the wealthy.

'4.2 million children are living in poverty, but will nobody think of the bankers?'
A women's charity has been accused of flouting equality law by advertising for applicants who 'identify' as female.

Dundee Women's Aid (DWA) said in a job advert that it welcomes 'all applicants who identify as women within all sections of the community, particularly from the LGBT community'.

Campaigners say this means the organisation is welcoming applications from men who declare they are women  meaning vulnerable women in need of help may deal with people who are biologically male.

The row comes after Roz Adams, a former support worker at Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, claimed unfair dismissal in a tribunal that concluded earlier this month.

The Dundee Womens Aid (DWA) advert which has sparked controversy

Ms Adams said she had been accused of being transphobic.

The Edinburgh charity's decision to put a transgender woman in charge triggered a backlash, with many women concerned about their rights to female-only spaces.

The DWA advert for a domestic abuse practitioner said: 'Women only need apply under Schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010. The successful candidate will be required to join the PVG [Protecting Vulnerable Groups] Scheme.

'Dundee Women's Aid welcomes applications from all applicants who identify as women within all sections of the community particularly those from the LGBT community.'

Caroline McAllister, of the women's rights group Women Won't Wheesht, claimed that women were being 'gaslit' by DWA.

She said: 'When survivors of domestic and sexual abuse are told that this is a service provided by women, for women, it is unacceptable that is not being provided.'

Caroline McAllister, of Women Wont Wheesht, claimed women were being gaslit by DWA

In a letter to DWA, the group said that DWA was 'unable to provide a single-sex service to women seeking help', adding it was 'concerned that, despite your assurances that you provide a service for 'women, young people and children', that this is disingenuous, at best'.

The group said that 'service users should not be expected to question whether the public information you provide is true'.

It added: 'In Dundee, the city with the highest incidences of domestic violence rates in Scotland, it appears that you are offering mixed-sex trauma care, but suggesting to vulnerable survivors that you are offering single-sex care'.

The group claimed the DWA had breached anti-discrimination laws and its recruitment policy was 'likely to be unlawful'.

The letter to DWA has been signed by former staff members, previous users of the service, former Labour MSP Marlyn Glen, academics and women's rights campaigners.

DWA failed to respond to the Mail's inquiries.

Dr Marsha Scott, of Scottish Women's Aid, declined to comment on the claims by Women Won't Wheesht.She said: 'We are an affiliative network, and all our members are autonomous.'
A dad says he has the heart of a 90-year-old and can no longer play with his son after a Covid booster jab he was forced to take to keep his job left him gravely ill.

Daniel Shepherd, 44, won a landmark legal case after being left severely unwell by the jab, but the damage has already been done and is still affecting him two years later.

Mr Shepherd received two Covid-19 vaccinations when he worked at Baptist Care South Australia in 2021 and suffered adverse reactions to the jab both times.

He didn't want to get a third dose when he started a new job with the Department for Child Protection (DCP) on October 19 that year.

But the father-of-one was told on January 28, 2022, that he had to get a booster shot to keep his job as a child and youth worker.

READ MORE: Nurses who were stood down during the pandemic for refusing to get a Covid vaccine are being sacked despite the lifting of mandates Ella Leach (pictured) said she is one of 'at least 50' Queensland Health staff who lost their jobs for refusing a mandated Covid vaccine even after the rule was repealed Advertisement

Mr Shepherd was given a Pfizer mRNA jab on February 24 that year, but a day later he suffered serious chest pains.

'It felt like someone had their knee right on my chest,' he told 9News on Wednesday.

The pain kept getting worse until March 11, when he thought he was having a heart attack and was rushed to Adelaide's Ashford Hospital. There he was diagnosed with post-vaccine pericarditis - an inflammation of the membrane around the heart.

The illness meant Mr Shepherd was only able to work for a few months in a part-time administrative position.

DCP acknowledged the pericarditis was caused by the Pfizer mRNA booster shot, but it denied workers compensation liability, saying it was a legal government directive and so was excluded under the SA Emergency Management Act.

Mr Shepherd's barrister, Dr Peter Salu, said DCP 'were looking to that direction to (say) "We're not liable" and the judge said "No".'

'It is not surprising that some people who receive a dose of Covid-19 vaccine will sustain injury as a result,' Judge Mark Calligeros, the SA Employment Tribunal's deputy president, wrote in his judgment.

'It would be astonishing if parliament intended that an employee of the state, injured adhering to an EM (Emergency Management) Act direction, was to be precluded from receiving workers compensation.

'I am not satisfied that parliament intended to deny compensation to employees of the state injured by heeding a vaccination mandate designed to protect the health and welfare of citizens.'

Judge Calligeros added that Mr Shepherd was required to be vaccinated to continue working in healthcare.

This was 'because (the state) sought to protect and reduce the risk of infection to the public and general and those members of the public receiving healthcare services in particular.

'It would be ironic and unjust if Mr Shepherd was denied financial and medical support by complying with the state's desire to preserve public health.'

In a landmark ruling, the judge ordered that Mr Shepherd should get weekly income support payments and the payment of medical expenses.

Daniel Shepherd (pictured with his son) was once an active youth worker, but said he is now stuck with the heart of a 90-year-old after being forced to get a Covid shot to keep his job

The ruling came despite SA Health still enforcing a mandatory Covid vaccination policy for some employees, even though similar policies have been dropped in other states.

Pericarditis generally clears up within a few months, but Mr Shepherd's symptoms have severely affected his health for almost two years - including limiting the time he can play with his five-year-old son.

'It's really heartbreaking to say "Sorry buddy, daddy's tired",' he said. Even today, with just mild exertion (I get) chest pains and it's followed by fatigue, severe fatigue.'

Though he is struggling, Mr Shepherd is hoping that sooner rather than later he will be well enough to return to work.

'I really don't know. I've just got to wait and see, I've got to eat well and live well and hope it can shake it.'

The SA Government said it is reviewing whether it needs to make changes to the Emergency Management Act.
A teenage girl has died after being hit by a car near a school despite attempts by two off-duty paramedics to save her.

The 15-year-old was struck by a vehicle by Thomas Telford School, Shropshire, at around 5.30pm last night.

She was rushed to the Birmingham Children's Hospital where she later died.

The driver of the car was not injured and no arrests have been made, West Mercia Police said.

The road was closed for a number of hours as investigations were carried out.

The 15-year-old was rushed to the Birmingham Children's Hospital where she later died

The spokesperson added: 'We received a call around 5.15pm yesterday evening with a report of a collision on West Centre Way in Telford. Officers attended the incident to find a pedestrian and car involved.

'A girl aged 15-years-old was taken to the Birmingham Children's Hospital where she sadly died from her injuries.

'No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.'

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service added: 'We were called at 5.28pm to a road traffic collision involving a car and a pedestrian at the junction of the B502 and Old Park Roundabout in Dawley.

'Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, a Critical Care Car from Midland Air Ambulance and a passing-by Patient Transport Service crew attended the scene.

'Upon arrival, we found a teenage girl who was the pedestrian being cared for by two off-duty ambulance staff, she was assessed and had sustained life-threatening injuries.

'She received advanced life support at the scene which continued en route to Birmingham Children's Hospital where she was conveyed under emergency blue light conditions for further treatment.

'The driver of the car did not require treatment.'
An immigrant who sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl has been handed a meagre three-month jail sentence before he is set to be deported.

Srikanth Jagilapu, 28, was sentenced in the Southport District Court after pleading guilty to two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12.

The court heard Jagilapu was alone with the girl twice after meeting her at a swimming pool in a building complex where he was holidaying in September 2021.

The girl followed the then 26-year-old into the pool's toilet before kissing her on the mouth and touching her genitals underneath her swimmers.

An Indian immigrant has been sentenced to just three months in jail after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in a pool toilet on two occasions (stock image)

The court heard the girl's friends planned to film Jagilapu in the act after they didn't believe she had 'nearly been raped' during the first incident.

Crown prosecutor Jessica Guy said the 11-year-old yet again followed Jagilapu into the toilet block for about 10-20 seconds before retuning visibly distressed.

After telling her friends she had been assaulted in a similar manner, they held the toilet door closed to keep him inside before a member of the public came to their aid.

While Judge Deborah Holliday said he had not used any force in the assaults, she also described his conduct as unequivocally serious.

The court was told the incidents came after the group of girls had given Jagilapu fake names and told him they were 16 years old.

Judge Holiday dismissed Jagilapu's claims they had lied about their age as his defence.

'Even if that defence was available, (her) appearance, which was clearly one of a child, would mean (it) was not held on reasonable grounds,' she said, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin.

Jagilapu was sentenced to just three months in prison for his crimes but was also handed a 12-month sentence with a two year suspension.

Judge Holiday said it was probable that Jagilapu would either be deported or sent to an immigration centre after completing his initial stint in prison.

The Indian national was living in Australia on a bridging visa after completing university degrees and was working to send money to family back home at the time of his offending.
A Rotherham councillor has provoked fury by falling asleep and snoring during a meeting to discuss child sexual exploitation in the town.

Alan Atkin, 66, who put the embarrassing snooze down to his age and weight, has had the Labour whip suspended by party officials.

Mr Atkin was one of the councillors told about the serious suspected Asian grooming gang problem in Rotherham in a 2005 seminar but did not speak out publicly. He said this was at the request of police rather than fear of accusations of racism.

Mr Atkin, who has served as a member of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council since 1996, was attending an improving lives select committee meeting when he fell asleep during a briefing about the current state of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in the area. The job of the committee is to scrutinise the support for the survivors of sexual abuse.

When asked what had happened, he said: I fell asleep, guilty as charged. I havent recently been well so I am going to seek medical intervention.

Mr Atkin said he didnt fall asleep for long but admitted it was embarrassing.

Rotherham councillor Alan Atkin, 66, has had the whip withdrawn after he provoked fury by falling asleep and snoring during a meeting to discuss child sexual exploitation

Councillor Atkin was attending an improving lives select committee meeting at Rotherham Town Hall (pictured) when he fell asleep during a briefing about the current state of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in the area

He also told the BBC: Ive not been sleeping for a while and I have had a lot going off in my life. Im trying to arrange a meeting with the doctor at the moment to see whats wrong with me. Its something I have been putting off for ages.

Im a human being, people fall asleep sometimes. I put it down to my age and my weight.

I have probably got sleep amnesia or something. I have just ignored it. I have apologised. It shouldnt have happened.

If it hadnt been for the subject matter we are talking about it wouldnt be a story. People fall asleep at work all the time, dont they?

It happened, I wish it wouldnt have happened. I was probably asleep for two minutes. Everybody is making a mountain out of a molehill.

Rotherham hit the headlines in 2014 when a report by Professor Alexis Jay estimated that 1,400 girls were sexually exploited between 1997 and 2013 by men of predominantly Pakistani heritage.

The report revealed that seminars in 2004 and 2005 for councillors and senior officers presented the abuse in the most explicit terms. The report added: After these events, nobody could say we didnt know.

Mr Atkin was one of the councillors informed of CSE at a seminar. He said: We were told by the police to keep quiet about it. Thats all I am going to say. Its all water under the bridge now, Ive suffered with that for the last ten years.

Following the meeting on Tuesday Chris Read, the leader of Rotherham Council, said Mr Atkin had lost the party whip.

He said: The Labour Party takes tackling child exploitation incredibly seriously. The response of the council to threats to children has been transformed under our leadership in recent years, as the presentation to Scrutiny this morning showed. Cllr Atkins conduct in todays meeting was far from the standard of professionalism and diligence we expect from our elected officials, and as such we have suspended the whip from Cllr Atkin.

We are a changed Labour Party, and the public have a right to know that all Labour Party elected officials are of the highest standard.

But news of the incident provoked anger.

Sammy Woodhouse, a Rotherham abuse victim who has campaigned for change on behalf of victims, commented on X: Rotherham Councillor Alan Atkin needs to be removed with immediate effect.

Tory councillor Lewis Mills, who also attended the meeting, commented: I could not believe my ears when Cllr Atkin started snoring during the Improving Lives committee, if this is how he shows respect to the survivors when receiving an update on CSE then he does not deserve to sit on the committee or represent Rotherham residents.
Shamed Russell Brand has spoken publicly for the first time about multiple rape allegations he faces - denying the accusations and describing them as 'hurtful attacks'.

Brand, 48, appeared on Tucker Carlson's X show Wednesday during a rambling and wide-ranging 45-minute interview where he referenced the allegations he faces and the ongoing police and BBC investigations several times.

'Of course I deny any allegations... that have been advanced,' he said, adding: 'I reject the allegations in the strongest possible terms.'

The star of Arthur and Forgetting Sarah Marshall described the crimes he's accused of as 'appalling' before adding criticism he faces is a 'deliberate profound attempt to shut down any dissent in an astonishingly aggressive way'.

During the discussion, he says that at the time of the documentary his infant son who was 12 weeks old at the time was undergoing heart surgery.

'My son was born with a heart condition, while this was happening he was undergoing heart surgery at 12 weeks old,' he told Carlson.

Brand has been questioned by police twice in relation to a total of nine alleged offences and police inquiries are ongoing. He has always maintained that his relationships were consensual.

Russell Brand shown here during his appearance on Carlson's show on January 31

Brand has always vehemently denied the claims made against him and claimed his relationships were 'always consensual'

British police said in September they had launched an investigation into a number of allegations of non-recent sexual offences following media reports that women had accused Brand of a string of sexual assaults.

Brand has rejected what he has described as 'very serious allegations', saying on his social media channels he has never had non-consensual sex.

There was no immediate response to a request for comment on Sunday's report from representatives for Brand.

Speaking on Carlson's broadcast, Brand said: 'I put myself in a vulnerable position by being very promiscuous.'

'Attacks like this, accused of what I consider to be the most appalling crimes, is very painful and hurtful. But there are consequences to the foolish way I lived in the past,' he continued.

MailOnline revealed this week that Brand, who shares three children with his wife of seven years, Laura Gallacher, was running his business operation out of a disused pub in the town of Pishall, Oxfordshire.

The report goes on to disclose that Brand, despite his consistent claims that he has been canceled as a result of the sexual assault allegations, makes nearly 5 million per year from his controversial content.

When Brand initially bought his premises, he reportedly told locals of his plans to turn into a cafe and wellness center, but has since turned it into the headquarters of his global operation.

Carlson joined Brand for an interview in 2023 shortly after the host was fired by Fox News

During another portion of the Carlson broadcast, Brand's attention turned to David Icke.

Ep. 70 Governments colluded to shut down and destroy Russell Brand. This is his first interview since that happened. Watch it when you get a minute. It's one of the most brilliant explanations of the modern world you'll ever hear. pic.twitter.com/bCZDTYfZAZ  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) January 30, 2024

'It terrifies me to contemplate, Tucker, that people like Alex Jones and in our country, David Icke ... appear to have been ahead of the curve,' Brand said. Adding that it was 'extraordinary' for how long the pair have been speaking about 'globalization.'

Allegations of holocaust denial have been labelled at Icke since his 1995 book And the Truth Shall Set You Free. In the book, Icke alleged that prominent Jewish families 'helped finance Adolf Hitler.'

He also wrote that schools 'indoctrinate children with the unchallenged version of events' with the mainstream account of the Holocaust thanks to their use of free copies of the film Schindler's List.'

Brand and Icke's relationship goes back nearly 20 years. In 2008, Icke appeared twice as a guest on the Forgetting Sarah Marshall star's infamous BBC Radio 2.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, Jones, who is most known for his denials regarding the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting which saw 20 children shot dead, is not overtly anti-Semitic but 'has featured antisemitic guests on his show.'

One such guest, Kanye West, admitted in a December 2022 interview on the show that 'liked Hitler.' Icke himself has been a guest on Jones' InfoWars show on multiple occasions.

Brand pictured with Holocaust denier David Icke in 2008 at the height of Brand's ill-fated Hollywood career

Brand's shift from left-wing darling to a popular with the right has been described as the 'grift drift'

This week, liberal watchdog Media Matters published a study on Brand's move from being a left-wing darling to someone 'uncritically platforms right-wing figures and baseless conspiracy theories.'

Less than ten years ago, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld called Brand 'left-wing commie scum.' In the past 18 months, Gutfeld regularly speaks glowingly about Brand saying that the actor chose 'truth' over 'stardom' in walking away from his movie career.

Media Matters calls Brand's shift the 'grift drift.'

Brand said in the appearance that he believes that 'authoritarianism' is being weaponized with words such as 'care, concern, safety, and convenience' but that the ultimate goal is for individuals to lose their freedoms.

'It seems to me that we're in a time where we lurch from one crisis to another. The crisis is always used to legitimize certain solutions and a docile or terrified public is willingly to participate in this proposed solutions that usually involve giving up their freedom,' he went on.

'We're continually being invited to give up our freedom in exchange for safety or convenience and it seems that this process is radically escalating. And I feel that this is something that we will see more of in the coming year.'

Brand has been questioned by detectives from London's Metropolitan Police over allegations of historical sex offences.

British police said in September they had launched an investigation into a number of allegations of non-recent sexual offences following media reports that women had accused Brand of a string of sexual assaults.

Brand has rejected what he has described as 'very serious allegations', saying on his social media channels he has never had non-consensual sex.

There was no immediate response to a request for comment on Sunday's report from representatives for Brand.

'A man in his 40s attended a police station in South London on Thursday 16 November 2023,' the Metropolitan Police said in a statement, declining to confirm whether it was Brand.

'He was interviewed under caution by detectives in relation to three non-recent sexual offences. Enquiries continue,' the force added.
Fans of popular game show Wheel of Fortune have been left baffled after a contestant 'definitely' gave the right answer, but lost out on $40,000.

Contestant Megan, a married California high school choir director, needed to guess a two-word answer for the category of 'Living Thing'.

After spinning the wheel, host Pat Sajak walks her to the puzzle board that reads: '_ _ n _ ' _ R _ _ _ _'.

With a few letters guessed correctly, the board now reads: 'P _ N _' '_ RC_ _ D', and with just a few seconds on the timer she starts to rhyme off potential answers.

Megan blurts out her final guess of what sounds like 'pink orchid', or faintly sounds like she said 'something orchid'.

The contestant, Megan, who is a married California high school choir director had needed to guess a two-word answer for the category of 'Living Thing'

As the timer goes off, the correct letters are filled onto the board, which Megan realizes spell out 'pink orchid'.

Sajak tells her: 'You might have been overthinking a type of orchid, I am sorry that didn't work out for you.

The host then reveals that the prize for the bonus category would have netted her $40,000, compared to the $14,007 she ended up leaving with.

While Megan seemed happy enough to be walking home with her prize, fans on social media are convinced she said the correct answer.

One person posted: 'What did she say? It sure sounded like the right answer.'

Another commented: 'Am I tripping or did she say pink orchid.'

While an adamant fan added: 'She said it. We back it up three times. I hope they make it right.'

One other said: 'Hey Wheel of Fortune, I definitely heard the contestant say 'pink orchid' at the beginning of that final puzzle and rewound it to make sure. You owe her some $$$.'

While Megan seemed happy enough to be walking home with her prize, fans on social media are convinced she said the correct answer

Last December, contestant Gishma Tabari went viral after giving a peculiar response to a triple toss-up puzzle.

Social media users said the response was amongst the 'worst guesses ever' on the popular game show.

Faced with: 'TH- -RITI-S_-GR-E' - Tabari guessed the answer to be: 'THE BRITISH OGRE'.

It left both fans and longtime host Pat Sajak, bemused.

Sajak threw her a lifeline and asked her to state her answer for a second time - only for Tabari to repeat her flub.

Despite the online commotion and her terrible answer, Tabari accomplished her goal of actually being on the show she had watched since the age of 5

The correct answer was of course, 'THE CRITICS AGREE' - but social media quickly grew abuzz.

'Why did I say it again?' Tabari thought to herself.

'The funny part was, right before I went on, I went to my husband, Saman, and I was like  "My fear is that I'm gonna go on the show and I'm gonna say or do something stupid that everyone's gonna laugh". That's exactly what happened.' she told Fox News.

Tabari explained how she believes her guess was simply a product of her creativity.
Soaring UK immigration will place huge 'pressure' on housing, schools and the NHS without action to curb numbers, senior Tories have warned.

Politicians on the Right have sounded the alarm after eye-watering projections indicated that the population is now due to hit 70million by 2026 - a decade earlier than previously thought.

The Office for National Statistics estimates numbers will go from 67million in mid-2021 to reach 73.7million by 2036, with 6.1million of that growth down to net migration.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak facing increasingly shrill calls to act after figures suggested 156,000 homes a year will be needed just to accommodate inflows.

And there are warnings that the health service, already buckling, will struggle to accommodate the extra numbers, while schools in some areas may be unable to award places to local children. According to the Migration Observatory, in 2019 there were more than a million children living in the UK who were non-UK or Irish citizens.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman said: 'These numbers are too high, placing pressure on schools, the NHS and housing.

Recent government measures will help a bit but they're very late. We need a cap on overall numbers so we can hold government to account and fix this problem.'

Former home secretary Suella Braverman said: 'These numbers are too high, placing pressure on schools, the NHS and housing.'

Rishi Sunak is facing fresh calls to act on immigration today after figures suggested 156,000 homes a year will be needed just to accommodate inflows

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Long-term net migration reached an eye-watering record of 745,000 in 2022, according to the ONS

Her comments were echoed by Robert Jenrick, who resigned as immigration minister over the Government's watered-down Rwanda asylum plans.

He said: 'From 2028, they forecast net migration at 315,000. This will only deepen the housing crisis.

'There is no democratic consent for this outcome. After leaving the EU, the power to change this, and set us on course for far more sustainable numbers, is in Parliament's hands.'

According to calculations from the Centre for Policy Studies, the predicted level of population growth will require at least 5.7million more homes in England over the next 15 years.

Around 41 per cent of that - 2.34million homes, or 156,000 a year - is accounted for net migration.

On the health side, there were 27,487 fully qualified, full-time equivalent GPs working in England in December, equating to one GP for every 2,078 patients, on average. However, a ratio of 1,800 patients per GP is widely recognised by industry bodies as the 'safe limit'.

As it stands, another 4,238 GPs would need to be recruited to meet this ratio, MailOnline analysis suggests.

However, the ONS projects there will be an extra 6.6million people living in the UK as of 2036.

Assuming this growth kept in line with current demographic trends, this would see Englands population hit 62.2million.

Under this figure, 34,536 GPs would have to be working in the NHS to meet the one per 1,800 patient ratio, meaning an additional 7,076 family doctor positions are required over the next 12 years.

Latest NHS England data shows that just 67.9 per cent of the 31.5million GP appointments that took place in November were face to face

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What does the latest GP appointment data show? Appointments: 31.5million Face-to-face: 67.9 per cent Same day: 42.6 per cent Wait of over two weeks: 17.2 per cent Seen by GP: 45.5 per cent Source: NHS England GP appointment data for November Advertisement

The think-tank warned that net migration is 'exacerbating' the housing crisis. Even if the government met its original target of building 300,000 homes a year it is below the 382,000 needed between 2021 and 2036. The figure for 2022-23 was 240,000.

According to the ONS projections net migration will hit 315,000 a year from 2028 onwards  putting a strain on public services.

The 9.9 per cent hike in the population between 2021 and 2036 includes net inward migration of 6.1 million, as well as 541,000 more births than deaths.

The estimates come with the caveat that should net migration be lower then they can change significantly.

Critics last night likened the population increase to 'five cities the size of Birmingham'.

Others claimed the figures showed the Government needed swift action to prevent a looming crisis and called on Mr Sunak to deliver on his pledge to bring migration down.

Campaigners also warned the figures threatened to overburden the state.

Migration Watch chairman Alp Mehmet said: 'This population increase is equivalent to five cities the size of Birmingham.

'The Government must now take strong action to get the numbers down before it is too late.'

Karl Williams, Centre for Policy Studies research director, said: 'For decades, we have failed to build enough new homes to meet demand from those already living in the UK and record net migration has only exacerbated the problem.'

Rishi Sunak faced mounting pressure last night as it emerged that migrants will account for 92 per cent of Britain's population explosion in the coming years (File Image)

This chart illustrates how changes in the assumptions on net migration change the figures

The number of dependents accompanying people on work visas has been rising sharply

Downing Street last night said Mr Sunak believed immigration levels were 'too high and must come down quickly'.

The PM's official spokesman said the Government was already introducing the toughest ever package of measures to curb migrant numbers, as well as pursuing radical measures to stop the boats carrying illegal migrants across the Channel.

It came as James Cleverly confirmed that foreign care workers will be barred from bringing their family with them to Britain in less than six weeks.

Writing exclusively in the Mail, the Home Secretary said: 'Our system needs to be fair, and it needs to be seen to be fair.

'I've been clear that migration is too high and we must get back to sustainable levels. The British people want to see action, not words.'
Emmer said Ethics should probe Omar for House rule: 'A Member of the House shall behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect credibly on the House'

'Sleep in comfort knowing I am here to protect the interest of Somalia from inside the U.S. system,' Omar said according to a disputed translation

A top Republican is demanding the Ethics Committee probe Rep. Ilhan Omar over a speech where the Squad progressive allegedly declared she is 'Somalia first.'

According to one translation of a now-viral clip of remarks Omar made in Somalian, she said her allegiances lie with Somalia over the U.S.

'We are an organized society, brothers and sisters, people of the same blood, people who know they are Somalis first, Muslims second, who protect one another,' Omar said, according to a widely circulated translation of a clip.

Following massive backlash and calls for her to resign or even be deported, House GOP Whip Tom Emmer is demanding an ethics investigation into her 'appalling' rhetoric.

According to a letter obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, Emmer asked the House Ethics Committee to probe whether the Minnesota Democrat had violated Rule XXIII, clause 1, which states: 'a Member of the House shall behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect credibly on the House.'

Omar claims that translation is not accurate and that 'propagandists' are twisting her words.

The House's number three Republican is demanding the Ethics Committee probe Rep. Ilhan Omar over a widely shared clip of remarks she made in Somalian that one translation suggests she was saying her allegiances lie with Somalia over the U.S.

'We are an organized society, brothers and sisters, people of the same blood, people who know they are Somalis first, Muslims second, who protect one another,' Omar said, according to a widely circulated translation of a clip where she was speaking in Somalian

'No sitting member of Congress should be able to blatantly spew anti-American rhetoric and get away with it. I am demanding an ethics investigation into Ilhan Omar's appalling, Somalia-first comments to ensure that she starts taking her oath of office and commitment to the 5th district of Minnesota seriously,' said Emmer, a fellow Minnesotan, in a statement.

Emmer has joined the calls for the Somali-born progressive to resign over her remarks.

The clip was first shared by Somaliland Ambassador Rhoda Elmi, who called them 'unbecoming' and 'lacking in common decency.'

Somaliland is an unrecognized state that Somalia views as its own territory.

Omar, the first Somali-American in Congress, said in the clip she would do everything in her power to prevent the disputed, breakaway territory from entering a sea-access deal with Ethiopia.

'Sleep in comfort knowing I am here to protect the interest of Somalia from inside the U.S. system,' Omar said, according to the widely-shared, translated version of the video.

Omar reportedly said in her speech that 'the US government will only do what Somalians in the U.S. tell them to do. They will do what we want and nothing else.'

'They must follow our orders and that is how we will safeguard the interest of Somalia,' she adds. 'We Somalians must have the confidence in ourselves that we call the shots in the U.S.'

'Together we will protect the interests of Somalia.'

'It's not only slanted but completely off,' Omar said of the subtitles in the clip the Somaliland ambassador shared. 'But I wouldn't expect more from these propagandists.'

In a translation Omar claims to be more accurate, she says she told her Somali constituents who were worried about the Somaliland-Ethiopia deal:

'The US government will do what we ask it to do. We should have this confidence in ourselves as Somalis. We live in this country. We are taxpayers in this country. This country is one where one of your daughters sits in Congress.'

'While I am in Congress, no one will take Somalia's sea.'

'The United States will not back others to rob us. So, do not lose sleep over that, O Minnesotans. The lady you sent to Congress is on this, and she is as cognizant of this interest as you are,' Omar went on according to her preferred translation.

'Somalia belongs to all Somalis. Somalia is one. We are brothers and sisters, and our land will not be balkanized. Our lands were taken from us before, and God willing, we may one day seek them.'

Omar has railed against U.S. lawmakers' so-called allegiance to a foreign country before.

'I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country,' the congresswoman said in 2019, suggesting pro-Israel groups were demanding fealty from U.S. lawmakers.

In a post on X, she said of U.S. lawmakers' staunch support for Israel: 'It's all about the Benjamins baby.'
Martin Scorsese has had a private audience with Pope Francis, ahead of making his new screenplay about Jesus, which is expected to begin filming later this year.

The renowned director, 81, met with the Pope on Wednesday after Scorsese attended his weekly 'general audience', which allows the public an opportunity to see and pray with the Pope.

The 81-year-old who has been a Catholic his whole life despite describing himself as not a 'regular church-goer' said in December 2023: 'After many years of thinking about other things, dabbling here and there, I am most comfortable as a Catholic. I believe in the tenets of Catholicism.'

His upcoming film will be an adaption of the book 'A Life of Jesus' by Shusaku Endo written in 1966 and will be much shorter than his other films, with a running time of around 80 minutes.

It will be set in the present day, to make it 'timeless' and will examine 'Jesus' core teachings in a way that explores the principles but doesn't proselytize'.

'I'm trying to find a new way to make it more accessible and take away the negative onus of what has been associated with organized religion,' he said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

The renowned director, 81, met with the Pope on Wednesday in a private meeting, although it is not yet clear what the pair discussed, Scorsese does have a new film about Jesus that will begin filming this year

Scorsese's new film, which is currently unnamed, will be an adaption of the book 'A Life of Jesus' by Shusaku Endo written in 1966

Director Martin Scorsese (centre), with his daughter Francesca (left) and actress Lily Gladstone, as he attends Pope Francis' weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, on Jan 31, 2024

Martin Scorsese, 81, has been a Catholic his whole life despite describing himself as not a 'regular church-goer'

Mr Scorsese first spoke of his new project last May when he attended the 'The Global Aesthetics of the Catholic Imagination' at the Vatican, which gathered around 40 filmmakers, writers and poets who have seen Catholicism as integral to their work.

At the event Scorsese said: 'I have responded to the Pope's appeal to artists in the only way I know how: by imagining and writing a screenplay for a film about Jesus.'

Shusaku Endo was also the author of Silence a book that was adapted into a film by Scorsese in 2016, which followed the story of two Portuguese Jesuit missionaries, played by Adam Driver and Andrew Garfield, who must contend with various forms of persecution as they travel through 17th-century Japan to proselytize locals and track down their mentor, played by Liam Neeson.

The film was screened in a special viewing at the Vatican as Pope Francis is the first Jesuit Pope.

Jan 31, 2024: Pope Francis receives Martin Scorsese, The Vatican, Rome in a private capacity

May 27, 2023: Pope Francis met with Scorsese during a conference promoted by La Civilta Cattolica and Georgetown University at the Vatican

October 23, 2018: Martin Scorsese kisses Pope Francis' hand as they participate in the presentation of the new book 'Sharing The Wisdom of Time' about the pontiff's discussion with young people in Rome, Italy

November 30, 2016: Pope Francis Scorsese during a private audience at the Vatican

The filmmaker was also joined by the Pope for the launch of the book Sharing The Wisdom Of Time in 2018, where he stooped to his the hand of the leader of the Catholic Church.

Scorsese spoke with La Civilta Cattolica at the same time, about the movie and his own religious beliefs.

'Well, I'm interested in how people perceive God, or, I should say, how they perceive the world of the intangible,' he explained.

'After many years of thinking about other things, dabbling here and there, I am most comfortable as a Catholic. I believe in the tenets of Catholicism. I'm not a doctor of the church. I'm not a theologian who could argue the Trinity. I'm certainly not interested in the politics of the institution.

'But the idea of the Resurrection, the idea of the Incarnation, the powerful message of compassion and love  that's the key.'

Scorsese was raised as a Catholic and attended a Catholic school as a children.

However his religious films have not been without controversy, in 1988 Scorsese adapted the book 'The Last Temptation of Christ'.

Which depicted Jesus with both a sexual desire and allowed him to think about the possibility of going against his true calling; dying for our sins.

The production was met with strong opposition globally, leading to it being axed by Paramount and after the film was picked back up again by Universal, the evangelist and producer Bill Bright offered to buy the film's negative from Universal in order to burn it.

Private audiences with the Pope are usually strictly reserved for heads of state, government leaders, new Vatican ambassadors to the Holy See or groups of bishops in an ad limina visit.

Although every Wednesday morning the Pope is seen by worshippers at a general audience.

However private meeting with celebrities are not unheard of, in November he met with Brendan Rodger and his Celtic players after their 2-0 defeat at Lazio.

The Vatican has been approached for comment.
Rishi Sunak today pressured Sir Keir Starmer to spell out how he would fund Labour's promised 28billion a year splurge on green projects.

The Prime Minister warned it was 'incumbent' on the Labour leader to explain to voters how he would pay for his spending plans ahead of the general election.

He claimed 'typical Labour economics' had seen Sir Keir 'keep the spending but drop the payment plan' as the pair clashed over the economy at Prime Minister's Questions.

It came after Sir Keir had sniped at 'Tory chaos' on mortgages following an ex-minister's claim he quit his 120,000-a-year role because he could not afford soaring repayments.

'A Tory MP counting the cost of Tory chaos,' the Labour leader crowed in the House of Commons.

Rishi Sunak pressured Sir Keir Starmer to spell out how he would fund Labour's promised 28billion a year splurge on green projects

It came after the Labour leader had sniped at 'Tory chaos' on mortgages following an ex-minister's claim he quit his 120,000-a-year role because he could not afford repayments

Ex-minister George Freeman revealed he could not afford his soaring mortgage

Sir Keir is under increasing pressure over Labour's green prosperity plan - announced in 2021 - which pledges to invest 28billion a year until 2030 in green projects if they win power.

The Labour leader has already watered down the promise and hinted he could scale back the investment due to the state of the economy and Britain's public finances.

There have even been reports Labour could scrap the 28billion figure altogether amid Tory attacks over how it would comply with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves 'fiscal rules'.

During PMQs this afternoon, Mr Sunak warned Labour's green spending pledge would have the 'biggest impact' on the cost of living squeeze affecting households.

During his exchanges with Sir Keir, the PM said: 'He has no plan to pay for this 28billion and that's typical Labour economics, because they want to keep the spending but drop the payment plan.'

Mr Sunak jibed that is was the 'same old story' for Labour as he referenced the 'EdStone' unveiled by former leader Ed Miliband, now the party's shadow energy security secretary, before the 2015 general election.

'It's the same old story, the honourable member for Doncaster North (Mr Miliband) has carved a promise in stone and everyone else just looks away in embarrassment,' the PM told the Commons.

Mr Sunak also slated Sir Keir's recent claim that Tory tax cuts represented the Conservatives 'trying to salt the ground' for an incoming Labour government.

The Labour leader used his questions to quiz the PM about Tory mortgage 'chaos' and claimed the Government had 'forfeited the right to be lecturing others about the economy'.

Sir Keir seized on Conservative MP George Freeman's admission he quit his 120,000- a-year ministerial job last year because he could not afford his soaring mortgage.

The Mid-Norfolk MP cited a spike in repayments as the reason behind his departure as science minister during Rishi Sunak's November reshuffle.

He wrote on a blogpost: 'Why did I stand down? Because my mortgage rises this month from 800pcm to 2,000, which I simply couldn't afford to pay on a ministerial salary.'

Sir Keir said today: 'One of the most difficult experiences of any member of this House is speaking to those at the sharp end of this Government's cost-of-living crisis.

'So nobody could fail to be moved by the plight of the member for Mid-Norfolk.

'His mortgage has gone up 1,200 a month, he's been forced to quit his dream job to pay for it.

'A Tory MP counting the cost of Tory chaos. After 14 years, have we finally discovered what they meant when they said 'we're all in this together'?'

Mr Sunak replied that 'millions of mortgage holders across the country are benefitting from support with their mortgages', adding: 'It's important that, rather than take the approach that (Sir Keir) just did is to actually focus on the practical support.'

Sir Keir later accused Tory MPs of laughing at an Iceland employee who is struggling to pay his mortgage.

The Labour leader started by saying: 'This week I met one of the employees at Iceland in Warrington, Phil.'

After being interrupted by heckling during his question in the Commons, Sir Keir said: 'Laughing at an employee at Iceland who's struggling with his mortgage, shame.

'He told me that his mortgage is going up by a staggering 1,000 a month, Prime Minister. He doesn't want other averages, other people, other stories, that's what's happening to him.

'If the member for Mid-Norfolk on a 120,000 can't afford this Tory Government, how on earth can people like Phil?'

Mr Sunak referenced the recent cut to National Insurance as he replied: 'Thanks to this Government, Phil and millions of other workers, not just at Iceland but across the country, are benefitting this month in their pay packet for a tax cut worth 100s for someone on an average salary.'
President Joe Biden will finally visit East Palestine a year after a train derailment devastated the Ohio community, the White House announced on Wednesday.

The president was criticized in the weeks after the harrowing incident for not visiting the site of the toxic crash.

Donald Trump did visit the site as did Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted the president would go to fulfill the vow he made to see the devastation but, for months, would not say when Biden would make the trip.

Biden will go sometime in February, the White House now says, without giving a specific date.

President Joe Biden will finally visit East Palestine a year after a train derailment devastated the Ohio community

The president has traveled to other disaster sites across the country in the months a Norfolk Southern train hauling hazardous materials ran off the tracks on Feb. 3, 2023. The accident resulted in a days-long fire that released poisonous fumes into the air. Hundreds of residents were evacuated.

In March, Biden told reporters he would visit East Palestine 'at some point.'

During his trip next month he will meet with residents and examine the cleanup efforts.

East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway told Fox News said the best time for Biden to visit would be in 2025 'when he is on his book tour,' which indicates he didn't think the president would win a second term in the White House.

'The President is always welcome to our town,' he added. 'That being said, I don't know what he would do here now.

Trump, who is in the lead for the Republican presidential nomination, visited East Palestine shortly after the derailment. He said ahead of his trip that the people in that town 'were abandoned.'

On Wednesday he was critical of Biden's visit.

'With the World blowing up around us, with the Middle East on FIRE, Biden has finally decided to visit East Palestine, Ohio, a year late, and only to develop some political credibility because EVERYTHING else he has done has been such a DISASTER. I know those great people, I was there when it counted, and his reception wont be a warm one. Worst President in History!,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.

Trump won Ohio by 8 points in the 2020 election. The state, which used to be considered a bellweather, has become increasingly red.

Republican Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who joined Trump on his trip to the community, has been a heavy critic of Biden for not visiting.

'I think that he sees this community not as a Biden community, and therefore he's not doing anything for it,' Vance told Fox News in September. 'It is shameful conduct. When you're the President, you serve the people no matter who they voted for. And East Palestine deserves much better from their government.'

The White House points out that, within hours of derailment, the Environmental Protection Agency had trained emergency response personnel on the ground in East Palestine to aid state and local emergency and environmental response efforts. And that the Department of Transportation was also there to aid efforts.

A view of the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio

The derailment caused a fire that released toxic fumes into the air

Donald Trump visited East Palestine a few weeks after the derailment last year

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, left, and Tristan Brown, deputy administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in East Palestine shortly after the accident

The small town of mainly white, working-class citizens is still dealing with the effects of the derailment and resulting chemical spill.

Hazardous chemicals that spilled from the train included vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate and ethylene glycol monobutyl.

Residents reported headaches, rashes, sore throats, nausea, and other medical issues in the aftermath. Federal authorities have tested the drinking water and say it is safe but concerns about environmental pollution and long-term medical effects remain.

Norfolk Southern agreed to pay for the clean-up effort after pressure from the federal government.

The railroad is slated to pay hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of the derailment, and to reimburse EPA for the tens of millions of dollars that the agency has already spent.

The Department of Justice is also suing Norfolk Southern and seeking penalties under the Clean Water Act.
Rap lyrics, including those from a song titled 'Aim for the Head,' written by one of the suspects in the killing of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay can not be used during the trial, a federal judge ruled.

Prosecutors sought to have the music by Karl Jordan Jr. - who rapped under the pseudonym 'Yadi' or 'Young Yadi' - be part of the four-week trial.

But, on Tuesday, Brooklyn Federal Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall ruled they can't be used as evidence for Jordan's role in gunning down Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, inside a Queens recording studio in 2022.

'Jordans lyrics do not mention Mizell, the recording studio in which Mizell was killed, the other shooting victim, or any alleged accomplices,' Hall added.

'Nor does the Government claim that Jordan wrote or performed these lyrics around the time of the alleged murder.'

The decision is a blow to prosecution efforts as they try to convince a jury that Jordan, 40, and co-defendant Ronald Washington, 59, killed Jay in a drug deal gone bad. The case remained unsolved for years until 2020 when prosecutors charged the two men in the case.

A federal judge ruled that rap lyrics by one of the suspects in the killing of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay (pictured) can't be used at trial

Karl Jordan Jr. (left), now 40, the hip-hop star's godson, is on trial for Jam Master Jay's murder. He is being tried along with co-defendant Ronald Washington (right), 59

In her 14-page order, Brooklyn Federal Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall traced the evolution of hip-hop over five decades, referencing tracks from over a dozen artists before ultimately finding the lyrics inadmissible.

'From the genres nascence as an oral tradition, rap artists have played the part of storytellers, providing a lens into their lives and those in their communities,' Hall wrote.

Prosecutors had sought to introduce several lines written by Jordan that described first-person accounts of violence and drug dealing, including: 'We aim for the head, no body shots, and we stick around just to see the body drop.'

Those lyrics didnt detail the specific crime, Hall wrote, but 'merely contain generic references to violence that can be found in many rap songs.'

She pointed to similar lines written by rappers Nas, Ice Cube and Vince Staples, along with interviews with artists like Fat Joe and Future who have publicly discussed the distance between their art and real lives.

Diving further into the genre's past, Hall cited the political activism of artists like A Tribe Called Quest and Queen Latifah, along with the role 'gangsta rap' played "as a portal for others to see into Americas urban centers."

'The Court cannot help but note that odious themes - including racism, misogyny, and homophobia - can be found in a wide swath of genres other than rap music,' she added in a footnote, even referencing lyrics from the Rolling Stones and Jason Aldean, a controversial county music star.

'In the context of rap music, however, the Court must remain cognizant that hip hop is fundamentally an art form that traffics in hyperbole, parody, kitsch, dramatic license, double entendres, signification, and other literary and artistic conventions to get it point across,"' the judge wrote.

The use of rap lyrics in criminal prosecutions has become a contentious subject in several high-profile cases, including the ongoing racketeering trial of Young Thug. In that case the judge allowed the lyrics to be presented at trial - a decision that defense attorneys say amounts to racist "character assassination" meant to poison a jury already skeptical of rap music.

In California, rap lyrics are banned from being used at trial without judicial review. Lawmakers argued the use of the creative outlet could prejudice a jury.

In her ruling on Tuesday, Hall wrote that courts should be 'wary' about allowing the use of hip-hop lyrics against criminal defendants because 'artists should be free to create without fear that their lyrics could be unfairly used against them at a trial.'

She said there could be specific exceptions in cases where lyrics discuss the precise details of a particular crime.

The exterior of the studio location in Queens where Jam Master Jay was shot and killed in 2002

The stairs leading to the studio where the rap superstar was killed. Though he was shot in 2002, it wasn't until 2020 that arrests were announced

Prosecutors say the men entered a Queens recording studio, upset over being cut out of the drug deal, and Jordan shot Mizell at point-blank range

A gun found at the scene of the killing of Jam Master Jay. Jordan shot him in the head with a 40-caliber bullet from a few inches away, 'killing him instantly' in a 'brazen murder,' prosecutors alleged

The body of Jason Mizell, a.k.a. Jam Master Jay, a member of the pioneering rap trio Run DMC, is removed from a recording studio where he was shot and killed in October 2002

Prosecutors say the men entered a Queens recording studio, upset over being cut out of the drug deal, and Jordan shot Mizell at point-blank range.

The men fled the scene and avoided apprehension for years. The murder became an infamous cold case until prosecutors announced Jordan's and Washington's arrests in 2020.

The suspects face a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of at least 20 years in prison if convicted. The government has said it would not seek the death penalty.

Mizell worked the turntables alongside rappers Joe 'Run' Simmons and Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels as the group helped bring hip-hop into the mainstream in the 1980s with hits like 'Its Tricky' and a remake of Aerosmiths 'Walk This Way' off the best-selling 1986 album 'Raising Hell.'

Some of their songs advocate against illegal narcotics, and the group even recorded a 'Just Say No!' anti-drug public service announcement in the late 1980s for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Miranda Gonzalez said that as the spotlight faded, Mizell turned to the drug trade, serving as a middleman to sellers and buyers across the country.

A few simple calls, she said, could earn him 'hundreds of thousands' of dollars.

Mizell was 37 and a father-of-three when he was shot dead after allegedly acquiring 10 kilograms of cocaine from a Midwest distributor, which Washington, Jordan and others planned to distribute in the Baltimore area.

But the dealer involved in the sale refused to work with Washington, cutting both defendants out of a potential $200,000 payday, she alleged.

Mizell worked the turntables alongside rappers Joe 'Run' Simmons and Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels as the group helped bring hip-hop into the mainstream in the 1980s with hits like 'Its Tricky' and a remake of Aerosmiths 'Walk This Way' off the best-selling 1986 album 'Raising Hell'

Mizell was 37 and a father-of-three when he was shot dead after allegedly acquiring 10 kilograms of cocaine from a Midwest distributor, which Washington, Jordan and others planned to distribute in the Baltimore area

The suspects face a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of at least 20 years in prison if convicted

Jordan, who was 18 at the time, and Washington, who was then 38, thought they would be part of the lucrative Baltimore deal and became enraged when Mizell told them they were cut out leaving them with nothing.

Gonzalez said in the days leading up to his death, Mizell acted troubled and carried a gun.

On the night of October 30, 2002, however, he barely had time to react when the two men and an accomplice, Jay Bryant, showed up at his studio in Jamaica, Queens.

Bryant was charged last year after he was seen going into the building the night of the killing and his DNA was recovered at the scene. He will be tried separately in 2026.

In the prosecutors' account of the murder, Mizell was in his recording studio in Hollis, the Queens neighborhood in eastern New York City where he and the two defendants grew up.

The studio was a neighborhood hangout, prosecutors said. Mizell's manager, Lydia High, was there, along with Mizell's friend Tony Rincon, while three other people were working on music in the enclosed recording suite.

Byrant, a friend of Jordan whom Mizell did not know, entered the front door and let Washington and Jordan in through a locked back fire exit, both armed with handguns, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say Washington waved a gun and ordered one person to lie on the floor just as Mizell stood up from a couch to greet his godson.

Another shot hit and wounded another man in the studio at the time, Mizell's friend Uriel 'Tony' Rincon, before the killers fled, Gonzalez said on Monday during opening statements.

Jordan shot him in the head with a 40-caliber bullet from a few inches away, 'killing him instantly' in a 'brazen murder', Gonzalez told the jury. All three defendants fled moments later.

'It was an ambush, an execution,' she said. 'And you will learn that it was motivated by greed and by revenge. He was murdered in his own studio by people he knew.'

Lawyers defending Washington and Jordan both bluntly told the jury that the defendants did not kill Mizell.

They argued that the police still haven't figured it out, and they urged jurors to be skeptical of witnesses who are cooperating in exchange for leniency on their own legal troubles.
Pennsylvania police found a machete and a large kitchen knife next to the beheaded body of a man allegedly murdered by his own son.

Justin Mohn, 32, decapitated his 68-year-old father Michael in the Levittown home they shared, police said. He then held up his dad's head in an unhinged YouTube video where he called him a traitor and blasted the federal government using right-wing conspiracy theories.

The alleged killer's horrified mother, Denice, 63, called police on Tuesday to report finding her husband's headless corpse in a bathroom at their home with a 'large amount of blood around him', according to court filings seen by LevittownNow.

Police discovered the man's head inside of a plastic bag which had been placed in a cooking pot in a bedroom next door to the bathroom, where they recovered a large kitchen knife and a machete from the bathtub. Detectives also retrieved bloody rubber gloves in a first-floor bedroom.

Mohn, a Penn State graduate, previously posted a revolutionary pamphlet tiled 'America's Coming Bloody Revolution' that claimed Americans would soon have to choose between 'losing freedom' or 'killing their family.'

Justin Mohn, 32, was arrested late on Tuesday in Pennsylvania after he decapitated his 68-year-old father Michael, according to police

Justin Mohr, far right, is seen with his siblings in a photo from their mother's Facebook page

From right: Justin Mohn, his father Michael and mother Denice; Zachary Mohn, with his girlfriend Cherry, and Stephanie Mohn

In the 2020 pamphlet, he claimed 'Americans will have to weigh what is worse - allowing themselves to lose freedom and independence or killing their own family members, teachers, coworkers, bosses, judges, elected leaders, and other older generations.'

Mohn went on to say family members could be 'traitors' who 'wish to take away the freedom and independence that comes with America, democracy, and free market capitalism.'

The document was published by Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, as reported by Newsweek, but has since been taken down from the platform. It included chapters titled, 'Why a Violent Revolution is Inevitable' and 'How Revolution Can Be Successful.'

Its blurb read: 'Similar to Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' published in 1776 which helped inspire the American Revolution, the short, easy to understand pamphlet explains why another revolution is likely in America and how it could be successful.'

It's unclear if Mohn was a Trump supporter - while his rants included hatred against president Joe Biden and rhetoric popular in the MAGA and Qanon movements, some of his comments towards the former president were more threatening than admiring.

The document was published by Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing but has since been taken down from the platform

Justin Mohn's father, Michael, and his mother, Denice. Michael was found beheaded in a bathroom on Tuesday at the family home

The house is pictured on Tuesday night with officers outside and crime scene tape

Mohn was charged on Wednesday with murder in the first degree, abuse of a corpse and possession of an instrument of crime with intent - and is being held with no bond until his first court appearance on February 8.

In the disturbing 14 minute clip YouTube video recorded hours before his arrest, Mohn declared he was the president of the United States.

The appalling clip - which remained on YouTube for six hours after it was posted at 5:30pm Tuesday - sees Mohn hold up his father's head in a bloodied plastic bag, declaring: 'Violence is the only solution to the federal government's treason.'

Mohn said many saw him as the messiah and wanted him as president, while urging relatives living with federal employees to murder them.

He blamed the federal government for 'woke mobs' and migrants he claims are destroying the United States, and ranted against 'globalists and communists'.

He added: 'This is the head of Mike Mohn, a federal employee of over 20 years and my father. He is now in hell for eternity as a traitor to his country.'

DailyMail.com has been unable to confirm if Mike Mohn was a federal employee. Retirement age for federal employees is typically 62 years old.

The police charging documents showing that Mohn will be charged with murder in the first degree, abuse of a corpse and possession of an instrument of crime with intent

DailyMail.com has chosen to obscure images from the clip, which is too disturbing to reproduce.

Levitttown police said Mohn was arrested after 9pm ET on Tuesday, in Fort Indiana Gap in central Pennsylvania, around two hours from his last known residence, driving his father's car.

Police say Mohn, who was armed, had jumped the fence at the National Guard Training Center in the area and was armed. His vehicle was found outside one of the fences.

'He had jumped one of the fences and was apprehended on foot here at the installation without incident,' said Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs communications director Angela Watson.

Cops confirmed the victim had been beheaded and that the YouTube video was part of the same investigation.

'We got called to the home and officers went in and discovered the father upstairs deceased,' said Chief Joe Bartorilla of Middletown Police Department.

'We're getting contacted by some people in the community that know us, and know him and his family. And we're hearing a lot. Obviously he's well known in the community just by the calls we're getting.'

The suspect's mother told police she had left the home about 2pm on Tuesday and returned just before 7pm, when she found the front door unlocked and her husbands' white Toyota Corolla missing.

Chief Bartorilla said he had warned the family about the video.

'I know he has siblings. We have told (the victim's wife) to notify them before they see the video, or the video is sent to them,' he added.

Mohn is listed as living there with his father; his mother Denice, 63; his brother Zachary, 35, and his sister Stephanie, 38.

His father is believed to have owned two businesses - a cleaning company, and a literacy initiative, neither of which appear to be linked to the federal government.

Another older photo shows Mohn holding up a CD. He was arrested Tuesday night, two hours drive from his family's home

Justin Mohn's brother Zachary and his girlfriend Cherry. It is unclear where they were at the time of the murder

Justin Mohn was arrested on Tuesday, 100 miles from the family home

The video was posted on Mohn's YouTube channel, where he had 115 followers. There are now only four videos on the channel, which feature him singing out of tune and playing music, with a photo of his face.

In the beheading clip, he rants about taxes, declaring that the economy is 'near destruction' and most Americans can 'no longer afford the American dream.'

Mohn went on to say he was offering a $1 million bounty to anyone who could kill top officials including FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland and former Attorney General Bill Barr.

He said there was a 'globalist and communist' plot against the United States, before ranting about the federal government and holding up his dad's head in a silver bucket.

Mohn's rant continued, addressing US postal workers, journalists, federal debt and the federal reserve, the border crisis, Antifa and the woke agenda.

Denice Mohr, Justin's mother. It is unclear where she was at the time of the murder

Mohn said 'the traitorous Biden regime' wanted to send 'America's military overseas to fight for Ukraine and die in a Russian winter.'

He ranted against 'tax-evading big tech companies' and those behind the U.S. prison system and railed against a 'network of evil' he said was 'plaguing' America.

The suspect also claimed to have worked as a contractor for Microsoft, and saw how the company was 'evading billions of dollars in taxes'. He claimed he 'whistleblew to the IRS about five years ago, but they simply looked the other way.'

Mohn said he had uncovered a scheme while living in Colorado, whereby the companies created 'a constant level of unemployment, and a constant level of homelessness, and a constant level of crime, to fill up the prisons.'

Mohn said: 'When I filed a complaint to the FBI of this labor racketing, they showed up at my door to threaten me with arrest.'

Justin Mohn is seen in his YouTube video, uploaded at 5:30pm on Tuesday, ranting against the federal government, the Biden administration, migrants and the LGBTQ community

The deeply disturbed Mohn said 'Satan wants America to fall so he can unleash his plan on the world.'

Mohn then proclaimed: 'I and many other leaders know how to fix America, but we have to fight for it.'

He said many within the political parties saw him as the best candidate for president before the 2020 election - and said the former governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper, and former governor of Ohio, John Kasich, would confirm his story, because their 2020 campaigns 'were sacrificed for me'.

Mohn said he felt he could have been 'the first unanimously-elected candidate for both parties since George Washington.'

He added: 'But I was betrayed by the FBI, the federal courts, and my own family, because there are people who believe I am the messiah. This belief that I am the messiah is why you have never heard this story on the news, because it would spread that belief.

'I'm not saying I am the messiah, as I would never compare myself to Jesus Christ. I'm just saying, that's why I was betrayed.'

And he ended by quoting the Bible at length, saying he had 'a sacred task.'

Mohn set about trying to make a career in music, with albums he put on his YouTube channel

One of Mohn's self-published books, which expand on his claim to be a messiah

Clues to Mohn's downwards spiral are to be found in a legal battle against the United States government, with Mohn suing them for negligently providing him with a student loan which made him 'an overeducated white man', unable to find work.

Mohn, in a filing made shortly before Christmas, sought to blame the government for his woes. The filing was the fourth time Mohn attempted to sue, seeking $10 million in damages from the federal government - a case which has no legal grounds.

He said in the filing that he was a 2014 graduate of Pennsylvania State University, with a degree in agribusiness management.

According to his complaint, Mohn 'began paying his monthly student loan six months later. But then Mr Mohn could not find a full-time job at some unpleaded later time. He obtained only part-time jobs.'

Mohn said he then moved to Colorado, to take a full-time job at a credit union, and later took a job with an insurance company.

But, according to his complaint, he saw 'his work post-graduate years as 'malemployment.''

In previous social media posts, Mohn ranted about a 'civil war' between him and his followers and what he calls 'The Cult.'

In one unhinged post, he wrote: 'Even my own family upholds this Cult belief and is willing to go to jail to prove it. Donald Trump, if this does not get fixed ASAP then you will also be in jail for the rest of your life after I sue you for everything you own - that's not a threat that's a promise b****.'

The alleged killer's Facebook accounts appear to have been taken down as of Wednesday morning, and his name is not searchable on X.

Mohn also appears to have wanted to carve out a career as a musician.

On his YouTube page, he writes: 'Justin Mohn released his first album, 'The Story Of Humanity,' in September of 2017. His second album, 'Colofunkinrado,' was released September of 2018. His music style is a blend of rock, funk, and hip-hop, using piano and organ as primary instruments along with explicit lyrics, drums, synthesized bass, and other synthesized instruments.'

Mohn, who lived in Colorado after failing to find work in Pennsylvania, tried to be a musician and an author

Mohn also wrote poetry and conspiracy-laden manifestos.

One of his books was entitled: 'Poems I Wrote While Stoned: A Collection Of Poems'.

Another, 'The Punishing,' is set in the year 2481, with Satan ruling the world.

'After rejecting their Messiah and straying from the word of God, humanity falls under complete control of Satan and his minions  a race of artificially modified humans, who no longer call themselves Homo Sapiens, but rather, Homo Demonicus,' the blurb reads.

In one song published in 2019, Mohn complained about living at his parents' home on his mom's advice so that he could pay off his debt.

Mohn went on about his father being jealous of him and that he would not let him succeed.
A Pennsylvania man charged with beheading his father lived a fantasy life where he believed he was a successful musician, author and presidential candidate.

Justin Mohn, 32, released Spotify tunes including 'I Miss Lauren', 'Cold War Waste Town' and 'They Came for Justin Mohn', including lyrics such as 'f*** my life... I'm sorry it's not your fault.'

His various fiction and non-fiction books, including biographies seemingly written by Mohn in the third person praising his genius, cover a range of conspiracy theories and dystopian scenarios with eerily similar characters to himself.

Now in custody in Pennsylvania, he was arrested Tuesday night after displaying his father's head in a sickening YouTube video where he detailed his politically charged manifesto.

His unhinged rant included proclaiming himself to be the 'Messiah' and urging relatives of federal employees to murder them, a far cry from his Spotify musician bio that claimed, 'he only wishes to bring positive change to the world.'

Justin Mohn, 32, seen in one of his bizarre album covers named 'Justin's Stalkers'. His Spotify musician bio states that 'his life story is unbelievable and there may not be enough words to describe him'

The alleged killer released four albums in his failing music career, including 'Cold War Waste Town' (left) and 'Colofunkinrado' (right)

Mohn pictured during the grotesque video in which he apparently brandished his father's severed head while saying his dad was 'in hell'

He is alleged to have beheaded his father, Michael (left, pictured with his wife Denice). Michael was found beheaded in a bathroom on Tuesday at the family home

His various social media profiles included a Spotify account that noted how 'his life story is unbelievable and there may not be enough words to describe him.'

'But one may begin to understand his complexity and experiences through his art,' it continued. 'He only wishes to bring positive change to the world.'

The bio claimed he has authored six books as well as releasing four albums, one of which is called 'Justin's Stalkers.'

According to an Amazon author account believed to be Mohn's, his published books expand on his belief that he is the chosen one, with one titled, 'The Second Messiah: King on Earth.'

The description, seemingly written by Mohn in the third person, states: 'The only thing more absurd than this fiction book is the fact that it is loosely based on the life of author and musician Justin Mohn, whose four year stay in Colorado caused multiple lawsuits and changed the possible outcomes of the 2020 U.S. Presidential election by exposing 3 Presidential candidates as corrupt which forced them to drop out of the race.'

This was referenced in his unhinged YouTube rant on Tuesday, where he claimed the former governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper, and former governor of Ohio, John Kasich, 'sacrificed' their campaigns to clear a path to the White House for Mohn.

Justin Mohn seen in his booking mugshot

Mohn had previously lived in Colorado, and he claimed in his YouTube manifesto that he had uncovered a scheme while living there, whereby companies created 'a constant level of unemployment, and a constant level of homelessness, and a constant level of crime, to fill up the prisons.'

The book supposedly follows a young musician who becomes a 'religious icon' in Colorado, before 'he slowly and painfully learns the dark secret of Colorado involving a widespread Satanic Cult, the Democratic Party, and the Cold War.'

Other works published by the 'author' include a collection of poems titled 'Poems I Wrote While Stoned', and 'The Revolution Leaders Survival Guide: How Schools, Workplaces, And Social Norms Kill The Genius Inside All Of Us.'

He also claimed another of his dystopian novels, 'They Will Burn This Book', had been 'compared to novels such as 1984.'

One of Mohn's self-published books, which expand on his claim to be a messiah

Another of Mohn's published books is a book of poems titled 'Poems I Wrote While Stoned'

Mohn's Spotify musician bio claims he 'only wants to bring positive change to the world'

The Spotify account, which boasts just five monthly listeners, was unearthed following Mohn's twisted YouTube clip and subsequent arrest.

He blamed the federal government for 'woke mobs' and blamed them for migrants destroying the United States, in a confused rant that also took aim at 'globalists and communists.'

The clip was shared online around 5:30pm, and remained on YouTube for six hours before it was torn down over the gruesome scenes, where he held what he claimed was his father's head in a bloodied plastic bag.

'Violence is the only solution to the federal government's treason,' he declared.

'This is the head of Mike Mohn, a federal employee of over 20 years and my father. He is now in hell for eternity as a traitor to his country.'

DailyMail.com has chosen to obscure the disturbing images from the clip. Officially, police have called Michael Mohn's death 'suspicious.'

DailyMail.com has been unable to confirm whether Mike Mohn was a federal employee. The father is believed to have owned two businesses - a cleaning company, and a literacy initiative - neither of which appear to be linked to the federal government.

Mohn, who lived in Colorado after failing to find work in Pennsylvania, tried to be a musician and an author

Denice Mohr, Justin's mother. It is unclear where she was at the time of the murder

Police confirmed that Mohn was arrested in Fort Indiana Gap in central Pennsylvania roughly four hours after the clip surfaced, after cops found him driving his father's car.

Police were first called to the house just after 7pm on Tuesday and found a headless body in its bathroom, said Chief Joe Bartorilla of Middletown Police Department.

'We got called to the home and officers went in and discovered the father upstairs deceased,' he said.

'We're getting contacted by some people in the community that know us, and know him and his family.

'And we're hearing a lot. Obviously, he's well known in the community just by the calls we're getting.'

Bartorilla said he had warned the family about the video.

'I know he has siblings. We have told (the victim's wife) to notify them before they see the video, or the video is sent to them,' he added.

Justin Mohn was arrested on Tuesday, 100 miles from the family home

Another older photo shows Mohn holding up a CD. He was arrested Tuesday night, two hours drive from his family's home

The video was posted on Mohn's YouTube channel, where he had 115 followers. There are now only four videos on the channel, which feature him singing out of tune and playing music, with a photo of his face.

In the beheading clip, he rants about taxes, declaring that the economy is 'near destruction' and most Americans can 'no longer afford the American dream.'

Mohn went on to say he was offering a $1 million bounty to anyone who could kill top officials including FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland and former Attorney General Bill Barr.

He said there was a 'globalist and communist' plot against the United State, before ranting about the federal government and holding up his dad's head in a silver bucket.

Mohn's rant continued, addressing US postal workers, journalists, federal debt and the federal reserve, the border crisis, Antifa and the woke agenda.

He said 'the traitorous Biden regime' wanted to send 'America's military overseas to fight for Ukraine and die in a Russian winter.'

Mohn ranted against 'tax-evading big tech companies' and those behind the U.S. prison system.

Mohn railed against a 'network of evil' he said was 'plaguing' America.

He claimed to have worked as a contractor for Microsoft, and saw how the company was 'evading billions of dollars in taxes'. He claimed he 'whistleblew to the IRS about five years ago, but they simply looked the other way.'

The deeply disturbed Mohn said 'Satan wants America to fall so he can unleash his plan on the world.'

Mohn then proclaimed: 'I and many other leaders know how to fix America, but we have to fight for it.'

Mohn said he felt he could have been 'the first unanimously-elected candidate for both parties since George Washington.'

He added: 'But I was betrayed by the FBI, the federal courts, and my own family, because there are people who believe I am the messiah. This belief that I am the messiah is why you have never heard this story on the news, because it would spread that belief.

'I'm not saying I am the messiah, as I would never compare myself to Jesus Christ. I'm just saying, that's why I was betrayed.'

And he ended by quoting the Bible at length, saying he had 'a sacred task.'
Numerous emergency crews and authorities responded to a gas pipeline explosion near the Texas-Oklahoma border last night.

Videos of the explosion posted by officials show scorching flames rising 500ft into the sky - scorching farm fields and electrical lines in the area.

Authorities from the Booker Fire Department and Elmwood Fire Department responded to the scene and shared photos of the inferno, large enough to be picked up on satellite. Officials have not yet confirmed what caused the blast.

According to ABC7, the explosion occurred at NS 154 Rd and EW 29 Rd, near the state border of Beaver County, Oklahoma and Darrouzett, Texas and was visible over 30 miles away to the public.

The explosion was also visible to locals in Elmwood and Logan in Oklahoma, and Booker, Texas.

Videos of the explosion posted by officials show over 500 feet scorching flames emitting from the blast - burning farm fields and electrical lines in the area

Authorities from the Booker Fire Department and Elmwood Fire Department responded to the scene and shared photos of the inferno, large enough to be picked up on satellite

According to local news, the explosion occurred at NS 154 Rd and EW 29 Rd, near the state border of Beaver County, Oklahoma and Darrouzett, Texas and was visible over 30 miles away to the public

DailyMail.com has reached out to both the Booker Fire Department and Elmwood Fire Department for a comment.

The pipeline is reportedly owned by DCP Midstream, later acquired by Philips 66.

A spokesperson from Philips 66 told Newsweek that the blast occurred at 9.15pm local time yesterday and confirmed that the pipeline had been shut down.

'There have been no injuries associated with the incident and no health threats to neighboring residences.

'Phillips 66 has shut in the affected section of pipeline and has made the appropriate regulatory notifications.

'[The company's] first priority in responding to this incident is ensuring the safety and health of its workers, emergency responders and the surrounding community,' said the spokesperson.

The pipeline is reportedly owned by DCP Midstream, later acquired by Philips 66

A spokesperson from Philips 66 said that the blast occurred at 9.15pm local time yesterday and confirmed that the pipeline had been shut down

An official investigation into the incident is underway

Gas explosions usually occur when a gas pipe is leaking. In confined spaces, the gas will mix with the air and increase the pressure of the space.

A spark or flame, including a speck of static electricity can cause the gas to ignite and explode.

Survivors of gas explosions often suffer third-degree burns, traumatic brain injuries, loss of limbs, blindness and other extreme injuries.

Victims of explosions often require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term physical therapy.

An official investigation into the incident is underway.
A man who dressed up in NHS clothing and carrying a fake ID so he could access resuscitation and children's areas of a hospital has admitted breaching the peace.

Lee Woods 'repeatedly' accessed Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital over several months and behaved in a 'disorderly manner', court papers state.

The 28-year-old - who was not an employee - pleaded guilty at Glasgow Crown Court to a single charge of breaching the peace.

The flagship 575million complex he is accused of accessing includes the Royal Hospital for Children, the Queen Elizabeth Maternity Unit and two Accident and Emergency units.

Woods, of Greenock, is said to have claimed he was a charge nurse, repeatedly gaining access to the resuscitation and children's areas of the hospital, and behaving in a disorderly manner.

Lee Woods, 28, dressed up in NHS clothing at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

The flagship 575million complex he is accused of accessing includes the Royal Hospital for Children, the Queen Elizabeth Maternity Unit and two Accident and Emergency units

Patrick Brechany, defending, told the court: 'He circumstances are highly unusual.

'I wonder if the court would benefit from a criminal justice social work report for this matter.'

READ MORE - Man accused of dressing up as a nurse to access Scotland's biggest hospital including children's areas over several months is charged Advertisement

Sheriff David Taylor agreed and deferred sentence until the end of February where more information surrounding the circumstances will be heard.

Following his arrest in July, an alert from the NHS anti-fraud team was sent to security chiefs across Scotland's 14 health boards, informing them of an incident at the sprawling hospital.

NHS Lanarkshire, which neighbours the Glasgow health board, urged its staff to remain vigilant.

Workers were told that a man had been 'apprehended allegedly impersonating a nurse at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital'.

The staff memo added: 'This person had allegedly accessed the hospital in this way on a number of occasions between March and the date of his arrest.

'The male was allegedly wearing an NHS uniform with a lanyard and a falsified identification badge detailing his position as a charge nurse.'

A spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said at the time: 'We can confirm that an individual was arrested at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in July 2023.

'We would like to reassure members of the public that our security teams work very hard to ensure the safety and security of our facilities.'
Montana's Governor Greg Gianforte defended the state's decision to remove a teenage girl from her parents' custody after refusing to let her transition to a boy.

Dad Todd Kolstad and stepmom Krista Kolstad were devastated when their daughter Jennifer, 14, was taken away from them by Child Protection Services last week.

Jennifer told friends she wanted to kill herself, causing CPS to go to the house and investigate. They admitted her to hospital after she expressed wanting to transition to male and be called Leo. Such surgeries for minors are illegal in Montana.

Hospital staff then demanded Jennifer be moved to a specialized center in Wyoming - where gender transitions are legal for minors - but her parents refused.

Ten minutes later, CPS showed up at the Kolstad's house with police and papers to remove their daughter from their care, accusing them of refusing treatment.

Now, staunch Republican Gov Gianforte has doubled down on Montana's decision, saying that he followed 'state policy and law' in this 'tragic case.'

Montana's Governor Greg Gianforte has defended the state's decision to remove a 14-year-old teenager from her parents' custody after they refused to refused to transition her gender

Jennifer pictured with parents Todd and Krista Kolstad. Their daughter was legally taken away from them after being accused of not letting her transition to a male - at the age of 14

He also named his second-in-command, Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras, as the person who reviewed the case and made the final decision, rather than himself.

Gianforte said he has asked Juras to 'continue monitoring' Jennifer's case as she now lives in a 'Youth Dynamics' group home in Montana and is in CPS's custody.

He then vowed that he will continue to sign and pass laws which 'strengthen our families and protect Montana kids.'

Gianforte also pointed out that he has banned medical treatments for gender dysphoria in children - including outlawing puberty blockers, hormonal treatments, and sex change surgeries.

The Montana Governor said in a statement: 'To give them their best shot at reaching their full potential, children deserve to grow up in happy, healthy homes with loving families. Sadly, this ideal is not always realized.

'Unfortunately, our society finds children whose life, health, and wellbeing are at serious risk from abuse and neglect, and only as a last resort, should they be removed from their home.

'Upon hearing recent allegations related to a child welfare case, I asked Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras  an experienced attorney, constitutional conservative, mother, and grandmother  to review it.

'Consulting with the director of DPHHS and personally examining case documents, Lieutenant Governor Juras has concluded that DPHHS and the court have followed state policy and law in their handling of this tragic case.

The Gov named his second-in-command, Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras, as the person who reviewed the case and made the final decision, rather than himself

'I have asked the lieutenant governor to continue monitoring the case as it progresses.

'Further, Senate Bill 99, which I signed into law in April 2023, prohibits medical and surgical treatments to treat minors with gender dysphoria and also prohibits the use of taxpayer resources for such treatments.

'Our administration will continue to advance policies that strengthen our families and protect Montana kids, like what we have done to promote adoption and to ban permanent, invasive, life-altering medical procedures on children, like puberty blockers, hormonal treatments, and sex-reassignment surgeries.'

The ordeal began in August 2023 when Child Protective Services (CPS) went to the Kolstad's home in Glasgow to inspect the house and interview Jennifer, later determining that she needed to transition to get better.

Krista, who is Jennifer's step mother, and the girl's biological father, Todd Kolstad, said Jennifer had a tough upbringing and several undiagnosed mental health concerns, including attention-seeking behavior and lying, which they believe caused the urge to transition and were overlooked by social services.

Krista told DailyMail.com: 'It's been horrible... Our family unit will never be the same. Even if they returned our daughter to us now, you're not going to have the same family unit... it's created a lot of animosity on Jennifer's part towards us, she doesn't believe she has to listen to us as her parents anymore.'

Mr Kolstad said: 'I love my daughter unconditionally, and only want her to refrain from making decisions until she has the maturity and life experiences to understand what the consequences are for her actions.

The Kolstads said Jennifer had a traumatic upbringing. Her birth mother walked out when she was young and was only around sporadically.

Statements from Jennifer and her sister's counselor showed the girls describing their biological mother as uncaring, abusive and 'crazy.'

Jennifer has also been repeatedly bullied at school. Mr and Mrs Kolstad even moved districts to try and give their daughter a fresh start at a new school.

'She's always wanted to be the super pretty, super popular girl, and who doesn't?' said Krista. 'But she's always been the crazy smart kid who was in math club.'

When Child and Family Services arrived at the family home, the family let the case worker inspect their house and speak to their daughter alone, but warned her that she had a history of making up stories.

During the interview, Jennifer claimed to have drank toilet bowl cleaner and taken an overdose of painkillers in an attempted suicide.

Her parents said this seemed highly unlikely because Mrs Kolstad had been working at home all day, and Jennifer did not have access to either substance and had expressed no symptoms of illness.

Despite their doubts, Mr and Mrs Kolstad agreed to take Jennifer to the local hospital to be checked.

Blood work confirmed Jennifer had not consumed any toxic substances.

But medical notes mentioned that Jennifer identified as male and wanted to be called Leo.

'Our daughter began demanding that she be called Leo, he and him. We explained that this is in her history but not something we would agree to as her parents. The hospital staff ignored our request,' said Mr Kolstad.

Jennifer had first expressed her desire to change gender to her parents aged 13.

Jennifer (left) pictured with parents Todd and Krista Kolstad and her sister

Her parents told her she was too young to make such as decision and sent her to counselling to explore why she felt that way.

Mrs Kolstad said: 'It wasn't new, but she hadn't brought it up in a year. She never came to us and said, "You need to call me this, you need to call me that." That was never an issue.'

Mr and Mrs Kolstad, who are Christian, let the hospital staff know of their objections, and asked that Jennifer be called by her birth name.

'The hospital continued to call our daughter Leo, even though she's a minor and after I stated it's against our wishes, our religion and our core family values.

'The hospital told me to call their lawyer if I have an issue as they will do what the patient tells them,' Mrs Kolstad said.

While medical transitioning of minors is banned in Montana, Mrs Kolstad said the hospital told her that 'social transition' was a 'gray area of the law.'

Jennifer was placed under 24 hour supervision due to her threats of suicide, but Mrs Kolstad said an aide was placed outside her door who would regularly speak to Jennifer about having top surgery and how she was non binary.

Along with CPS, Mr and Mrs Kolstad agreed that Jennifer would benefit from specialized in-patient treatment and counseling at a mental health hospital.

There were six facilities in Montana, as well as one in Wyoming. Mr and Mrs Kolstad raised concerns about Wyoming, as the state allows minors to have gender-affirming care such as hormone blockers and surgical procedures.

They were worried this may happen without their consent.

But just hours later, Mr and Mrs Kolstad were informed there was a bed available in Wyoming Behavioral Institute and that Jennifer must go immediately.

They stated they reiterated their concerns and said they had questions that needed answering before they agreed.

CPS immediately showed up at the Kolstad's house with papers removing their daughter from their care.

While Jennifer was in Wyoming, she was given men's hygiene products such as body wash and deodorant.

After a month in the Wyoming facility, Jennifer was moved to a Youth Dynamics group home in Montana where she has remained ever since.

Jennifer with her step mother Krista (left) before any social transitioning took place. Jennifer (right) after medical staff had allowed her to be socially transitioned, against her parents' wishes

Jennifer with step mother Krista, who has brought her up since she was seven years old

Here, Jennifer has been allowed to wear a chest binder along with only men's clothes, shave her head and attend all-boys groups.

The Kolstads were assigned a public defender, who advised them to 'play nice' and go along with CPS's recommendations.

'We have followed their advice for the last few months and now our rights are being completely stripped away,' Mrs Kolstad said.

On January 19, the couple lost custody of their daughter to CPS, who said that allowing Jennifer to be transgender is 'in her therapeutic interest' and that her parents are 'not following recommended therapy.'

CPS was given custody of Jennifer for six months. After that, the plan is to place Jennifer in the care of her birth mother, who now lives in Canada but has never really been a part of her life.

Mr and Mrs Kolstad have chosen to defy a judge's order to remain silent on the case.

They were due to appear in court yesterday to respond to charges of contempt of court as well as hear the proposed treatment plan for Jennifer going forward, but the hearing has been delayed due Mrs Kolstad's very sick father in Ohio needing care.

CPS in Glasgow, Montana, told DailyMail.com it had no comment to make.

Meanwhile, Mr and Mrs Cox, another couple who lost custody of their son, saw their child taken from their home after the Indiana Department of Child Services warned a county court the teen was in physical and emotional danger.

According to court records, their son had developed an eating disorder and was at risk of self-harm.

A county judge ordered he was put in a foster home that supported the teen's chosen gender identity, and banned the Coxes from talking about their faith with their teens during visits.

The Indiana Court of Appeals admitted that a parent-child disagreement usually does not warrant a child's removal but said this was an 'extreme case.'

Their son is now a legal adult and cannot be made to return home, but the Coxes said they are worried their other children will meet the same fate.
She pleaded guilty Monday to third-degree sexual abuse, lascivious acts with a child and dissemination and exhibition of obscene materials to minors

The former middle school reading teacher tendered her resignation in August

A former Iowa teacher accused of sexually abusing three students between the ages of 13 and 14 has pleaded guilty to all six counts.

Cassidy Kraus, 24, entered a guilty plea Monday. She was charged with one count of third-degree sexual abuse, two counts of lascivious acts with a child and three counts of dissemination and exhibition of obscene materials to minors.

The Westside woman's arrest came in October, just months after her July wedding. She posted $10,000 bond and was subsequently released from county jail.

The charges stem from incidents that took place in 2022 and again in 2023, beginning with the middle school reading teacher sending 'obscene material' to three minors over Snapchat.

According to the criminal complaint, Kraus 'knowingly disseminat[ed] obscene material' to one victim between January 2022 and May 2022 and to two other victims between January 2023 and June 2023.

Cassidy Kraus, 24, pleaded guilty to six counts stemming from the sexual abuse of three students between the ages of 13 and 14

The former middle school reading teacher was arrested in October, just months after she wed her husband (pictured)

Kraus was charged with one count of third-degree sexual abuse, two counts of lascivious acts with a child and three counts of dissemination and exhibition of obscene materials to minors

Kraus then took the abuse a step further, 'fondling or touching' a 13-year-old in May 2022 and 'touching [her] genitals to any part of the body of the child.'

The third-degree sexual abuse charge stemmed from her 'performing sex acts' on a 14-year-old between January 17 and January 31, 2023.

As part of her duties as a teacher, the 24-year-old was a 'mandatory reporter of child abuse,' the complaint noted.

According to a statement from the school district, a report was made in August of the same year alleging Kraus sent sexually-charged photos to students.

She was put on leave amid an investigation in conjunction with local law enforcement.

Kraus tendered her resignation in lieu of termination on August 25.

Three days later, the IKM-Manning School Board approved her resignation during a special meeting.

The 24-year-old attended school in the very district where she later taught and committed the crimes.

The counts stemmed from the abuse of three teenage students between 2022 and 2023, starting when Kraus send sexually-charged Snapchats to one minor victim

She pleaded guilty to 'fondling or touching' a 13-year-old in May 2022 and performed 'sex acts' on a 14-year-old in January of the following year

Kraus herself was a student in the IKM-Manning School District where she later taught and committed the crimes

She was ran track for the IKM-Manning Wolves and appeared in a 2017 interview with a local news station, beaming after finishing third place in her events.

After graduating, Kraus attended Iowa State University and made the dean's list several times throughout her academic career.

The sexual abuse count and the two counts of lascivious acts with a child are Class C felonies. Each carry a maximum 10-year prison sentence under state law.

The three counts of dissemination and exhibition of obscene materials, a misdemeanor charge, carry a possible sentence of one year.

Kraus faces a maximum of 33 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 11.
Democratic Senator Joe Manchin's wife Gayle was hospitalized after the car she was in was hit by a suspect fleeing cops, police have revealed.

The 76-year-old mother-of-three was at a work conference in Birmingham, Alabama, when she was involved in the collision.

The federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission was on her way to the airport when the suspect's SUV hit the car being driven by her colleague Guy Land.

The assailant who had outstanding warrants for illegal gun possession had been trying to evade cops for seven minutes before the accident.

Mrs Manchin was taken to UAB Hospital and is recovering.

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin's wife Gayle was hospitalized after the car she was in was hit by a suspect fleeing cops, police have revealed

The 76-year-old mother-of-three was at a work conference in Birmingham, Alabama, when she was involved in the collision

Homewood police Sgt. John Carr said the suspect was already wanted on attempting to elude and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm.

The suspect is being held in the Homewood City Jail and is facing multiple felony charges.

'On Monday, my wife Gayle and her colleague Guy Land were involved in a car accident on the way from the airport to the hotel in Birmingham, Alabama for an Appalachian Regional Commission event that was planned for today ', Manchin said on Monday.

'Both were admitted to UAB Hospital and are receiving excellent care. She remains in stable condition but will stay there for a couple of days for precautionary measures. We want to thank the first responders who answered the call and were first on-site to provide assistance and support.'

The couple have been married since 1967 and have three children together.

More to follow
A sanctioned Russian businessman has won a Supreme Court appeal over a money fight with his ex-wife, but legal issues remain in his bid to avoid what could become the highest-value divorce case in English history.

Vladimir Potanin, estimated to be worth around 15.7billion ($20billion), wanted to overturn a Court of Appeal decision allowing Natalia Potanina to bring a multibillion-pound claim against him in London.

Lawyers for the billionaire took his bid to stop Mrs Potanina's claim going ahead at a Supreme Court hearing in the capital in October, arguing that Mr Potanin faced 'prolonged litigation' in the English courts, which are 'renowned for their generosity' in cases of this kind.

Mrs Potanina's legal team said the Court of Appeal took the correct approach and that she had 'earned her share' of the family's wealth after years of marriage.

Appeal judges were previously told that Mrs Potanina is seeking around 5 billion from her ex-husband following the breakdown of their marriage.

Vladimir Potanin (pictured) took his bid to overturn a Court of Appeal decision allowing Natalia Potanina to bring a multibillion-pound claim against him in London to the Supreme Court

Lawyers for the billionaire launched a bid to stop Mrs Potanina's claim going ahead at a hearing in the capital today, arguing that Mr Potanin faces 'prolonged litigation' in the English courts which are 'renowned for their generosity' in cases of this kind. Pictured: Vladimir Potanin and Natalia Potanina

In a three to two majority ruling on Wednesday, Supreme Court justices ruled in Mr Potanin's favour and concluded that the Court of Appeal's stance on an earlier procedural issue was 'wrong in law' and had come amid a 'dystopian situation' in the litigation.

READ MORE HERE: Sanctioned Russian businessman worth 16.5bn takes money fight with his ex-wife to UK Supreme Court in bid to avoid what could be priciest divorce case in English legal history Advertisement

Mr Potanin's lawyers claimed that the judges' decisions over the procedure for bringing court proceedings following a foreign divorce could deter 'divorce tourism'.

But Lord Leggatt, with whom Lord Lloyd-Jones and Lady Rose agreed, also sent the case back to the Court of Appeal to consider other legal issues that have yet to be resolved.

Lord Leggatt said questions about when it could be appropriate for an English court to make financial orders 'in a case involving foreign parties whose connections with this country are slight and whose dispute has already been heavily litigated in a foreign court appear ripe for consideration by this court'.

He added: 'But such consideration must await a case in which the issues actually arise from the decision under appeal.'

Lord Briggs and Lord Stephens provided dissenting arguments over the case.

Mr Potanin and Mrs Potanina, both in their early 60s, wed in Russia in 1983, where they lived throughout their married life, and have three adult children.

The businessman claims the pair separated in 2007 with a Russian court granting a divorce in 2014.

The Supreme Court was told that Mrs Potanina (pictured in 2019) wants half of the value of his shares in mining firm Norilsk Nickel, half the dividends on the shares since 2014, and half the value of a Russian property known as The Autumn House

Mr Potanin claims the pair separated in 2007, with a Russian court granting a divorce in 2014. But Mrs Potanina argues that they did not separate until 2013 when their marriage 'ended suddenly'. Pictured: The couple on their yacht Anastasia - named after their daughter - in 2010

But Mrs Potanina argues that they did not separate until 2013 when their marriage 'ended suddenly'.

Proceedings in Russia led to an award of 66million ($84million) being made to Mrs Potanina, Mr Potanin's lawyers told the court.

But this was disputed by Mrs Potanina's lawyers, who claim it was a 32million ($41.5million) award.

The Supreme Court was told that she wants half of the value of her ex-husband's shares in mining firm Norilsk Nickel, half the dividends on the shares since 2014, and half the value of a Russian property known as The Autumn House.

Mrs Potanina's lawyers said in 2019 that the size of her claim over the company's shares could be as much as 7.1billion ($9billion), her ex-husband's legal team said.

In June 2022, Mr Potanin - then described as Russia's second richest man and owner of conglomerate Interros - was hit with UK sanctions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The billionaire was accused of continuing to 'amass wealth' as he supported Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime by buying Rosbank and shares in Tinkoff Bankonith since the start of the conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) meets with Vladimir Potanin (right) in the residence in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow, Russia, 10 December 2018

Mr Potanin blocked his ex-wife's attempt to bring a case against him in England in November 2019, with a High Court judge ruling that her claim was an example of 'divorce tourism'.

In May 2021, the Court of Appeal cleared the way for Mrs Potanina to take her case forward in relation to a procedural issue now overturned by the UK's highest court.

Law firm Payne Hicks Beach, which represents Mr Potanin, said the Supreme Court decision affected 'the threshold of what constitutes a substantial, solid case' for someone bringing legal proceedings following an overseas divorce, arguing that it may 'ultimately deter 'divorce tourism'.

Baroness Shackleton, representing the billionaire, commented: 'Divorce tourists will now have their claims subject to fair and robust scrutiny before being granted leave in this jurisdiction. It is long overdue.'

Frances Hughes, a partner at law firm Hughes Fowler Carruthers representing Mrs Potanina, said she was 'delighted that this decision means that the Court of Appeal will now focus on the merits of her case rather than on procedure', adding that a hearing was likely in 2024.
Republicans are turning up the heat on President Biden to get remote federal employees back to work.

A bombshell report late last year revealed that all federal agencies are less than 50 percent occupied - wasting an estimated $2.8 million per day.

That's a staggering statistic since federal agencies spend about $2 billion taxpayer dollars per year to operate and maintain federal office buildings - and over $5 billion annually in leases.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is taking action to ensure accountability on the part of the Biden administration by demanding 'proof' of return-to-office plans.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) wrote to all agencies in April 2023 stating that the 'expectation' is that they would increase in-person work at federal offices - but they have not abided by the directive.

Comer says in a letter obtained by DailyMail.com to OMB Director Shalanda Young that the public's 'perception' of federal agencies is being 'damaged' by reports that federal workers are resisting Biden's demand to increase in-person work.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is taking action to ensure accountability on the part of the Biden administration by demanding 'proof' of return-to-office plans

As a result, he is requesting OMB provide a 'status report' on all agency plans to increase in-office work and outline any resistance by the federal workforce.

Earlier this month, Biden's Chief of Staff Jeffrey Zients ordered Cabinet heads to ensure that their workforce returns to the office this year.

According to a memo obtained by DailyMail.com, he wrote that federal employees should be in the office at least 50 percent of their work time in order to achieve the goals of the administration.

Zients highlighted the State Department's 'expectation' that all employees are in the office at least 3-4 times per week because there's 'no substitute' for 'engaging face-to-face' when it comes to diplomacy.

But he also acknowledged that 'some of your agencies are not where they need to be.'

Comer acknowledges Zients' memo in his letter, saying Republicans are joining the chief of staff in 'demanding proof' of return-to-office plans and progress.

'Over and above the effort to increase in-person work, this highlights concerns the federal workforce may believe it can do as it sees fit, regardless of which administration is in charge,' Comer and Subcommittee Chairman Pete Sessions add.

Earlier this month after Biden's Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin's secret hospitalization also raised serious questions about the administration's work from home policies.

The defense secretary was released from the hospital last Monday after 15 days of recovery after a surgery for prostate cancer on December 22.

After he was admitted to the hospital due to complications on January 1, he didn't tell President Biden of his whereabouts until three days later.

Earlier this month after Biden's Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin's secret hospitalization also raised serious questions about the administration's work from home policies

After Austin was admitted to the hospital due to complications on January 1, he didn't tell President Biden of his whereabouts until three days later

It also came to light that the president wasn't aware that Austin was under general anesthesia during the initial surgery and Austin's staff believed he was simply working from home the week of the procedure.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, raised questions about the frequency of Cabinet heads working from home after Austin went 'AWOL' for days.

She wrote a letter to OMB Director Shalanda Young last week first obtained by DailyMail.com asking about the 'frequency' of Austin's work from home schedule.

'Is Secretary Austin working from home so frequently that he can disappear into the hospital for an entire week to undergo invasive surgery, and folks simply just think he's working from home again?' she inquired.
The FBI violated the constitutional rights of wealthy Beverly Hills residents when it seized safe deposit boxes during a raid on a business accused of money laundering, a court has found.

Agents took around $86 million in cash along with expensive items like Cartier bracelets, Rolex watches and gold bars from around 1,400 boxes when they stormed US Private Vaults in March 2021.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the brazen search violated the Fourth Amendment rights of the customers because the FBI didn't have individual warrants to take the personal belongings in each box.

The court's three-judge panel ordered the FBI to destroy records relating to the boxes and to hand back the money and belongings they seized.

The FBI violated the constitutional rights of wealthy Beverly Hills residents when it seized safe deposit boxes during a raid on a business accused of money laundering, a court has found

The FBI suspected the company of letting drug dealers store fentanyl, guns and cash in the boxes, and these items were also found inside some of the deposits. US Private Vaults executives have since pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder drug money

One of the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit, Jeni Pearsons (pictured), who had $20,000 in silver and $2,000 in cash seized, said the win was 'incredibly gratifying'

Paul and Jennifer Snitko (left) and Joseph Ruiz (right) are some of the victims that had items taken from their boxes and not returned

Agents had a warrant to raid US Private Vaults - but the warrant stated it 'does not authorize a criminal search or seizure of the contents of the safety deposit boxes'.

It allowed them instead to seize business computers, money counters and surveillance equipment.

As for the boxes, they were instructed only to 'inspect the contents in an effort to identify their owners  so that they can claim their property', according to the warrant.

The FBI suspected the company of letting drug dealers store fentanyl, guns and cash in the boxes, and these items were also found inside some of the deposits.

US Private Vaults executives have since pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder drug money and was forced to close.

However, depositors who have not been accused or charged with any crime had their life savings, family heirlooms and expensive possessions retained in the probe and the feds refused to give them back.

More than a dozen of the wealthy locals are suing the federal government over the move. They said the appellate court's latest ruling is a 'win' in the build up to their civil case.

One of the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit, Jeni Pearsons, who along with her husband had $20,000 in silver and $2,000 in cash seized, said the win was 'incredibly gratifying'.

'Hearing these judges just knock them down a peg and talk through the situation, this extraordinary overreach and an actual breaking of civil rights  it was just really, really gratifying,' she told Fox News.

Agents took around $86 million in cash along with expensive items like Cartier bracelets, Rolex watches and gold bars from around 1,400 boxes when they stormed US Private Vaults in March 2021

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the brazen search violated the Fourth Amendment rights of the customers because the FBI didn't have individual warrants to take the personal belongings in each box

Attorney Rob Johnson (pictured) from the Institute for Justice is leading the class action lawsuit against the government

'I do think that the FBI is watching this case. And I hope that if they do continue with civil forfeiture processes, that they put structure in place so that it's transparent and that it's not just a free-for-all all, which is what this seems to be.'

Pearson added that the FBI said it had lost the $2,000 it seized from her safety deposit box.

Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Rob Frommer, who is representing Pearson and others in the case, said the ruling has helped to 'expose the government's attempt to steal innocent people's things' but it won't prevent it from happening again.

'I think this ruling on its own is important, but it won't stop the FBI's grasping hand,' he told Fox News. 'Yeah, they got their hand slapped just now. But unless there's real consequences, they'll just view this as a dry run for the next time.'
Elon Musk has railed against Delaware, saying businesses should never incorporate there, after a judge in the state ruled he is not entitled to his $55 billion Tesla compensation package.

'Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware,' Musk fumed on Twitter. He later added, 'I recommend incorporating in Nevada or Texas if you prefer shareholders to decide matters.'

The compensation plan in question, which helped make Musk the richest person in the world, consisted entirely of performance-based grants of Tesla stock, which Musk was required to hold for at least five years. Those shares will now be cancelled.

The ruling on Tuesday from Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick came in a shareholder lawsuit against the Tesla CEO and directors of the company, alleging breach of duties and unjust enrichment for Musk.

Delaware is a popular state for incorporation precisely because of its specialized commercial litigation system, known as Chancery Court, which has procedures and precedents that are well-known to fleets of corporate attorneys.

Elon Musk is expressing his rage at Delaware , claiming businesses should never incorporate there, after a judge in the state voided his record $55 billion pay package

Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick ruled that Musk was effectively a controlling shareholder, and his compensation should have been subject to stricter review

The Blue Hen State also offers certain corporate tax advantages  although other states such as Wyoming have lower corporate tax rates, but are not popular incorporation spots because they lack Delaware's legal infrastructure.

Delaware's Chancery Court does not use juries, and the judges who decide its cases have typically spent their entire careers in corporate litigation.

Few other states have a separate court system devoted specifically to equity law, meaning that complex shareholder lawsuits could end up in front of judges who hear all manner of cases, and be decided by juries of laypersons.

Corporations and their executives tend to find reassurance in Delaware's well-developed body of case law, which offers guidance as to what actions and decisions will hold up against lawsuits.

Delaware's legal precedents have historically granted wide latitude to corporate officers in their decision making, though some critics argue recent chancery rulings display a streak of anti-business thinking.

Although Delaware is sometimes described as a 'tax haven', the state levies an 8.7 percent corporate income tax as well as a gross receipts tax. But its complex corporate tax rules are generally considered business-friendly.

Only two US states, Wyoming and South Dakota, do not levy either a corporate income tax or a gross receipts tax. The Tax Foundation ranks those two states as having the best business tax climates, while Delaware ranks a middling No. 21.

In a post on X, the social media platform he purchased in 2022 for $44 billion, Musk posted a poll asking his followers whether Tesla should change its state of incorporation to Texas, where its physical headquarters are located.

Of the two options, 'Yes' and 'No', more than 87 percent of respondents had selected 'Yes' as of Wednesday morning. Musk has in the past used Twitter polls to guide business decisions.

Musk additionally posted screenshots of a Wall Street Journal opinion article from November, which criticized Delaware's Court of Chancery as vulnerable to 'assertive progressive politics' that could undermine the wide latitude historically granted corporate executives.

The authors, former US Attorney General Bill Bar and former Labor Department official Jonathan Berry, pointed out that Texas, Georgia, Utah and Wyoming had recently moved to set up their own designated business courts, challenging Delaware's key advantage.

The Delaware ruling against Musk on Tuesday came more than five years after a shareholder lawsuit alleged a waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment for Musk.

At issue was his 10-year compensation package, granted in 2018, which offered him 12 separate stock grants, each tied to its own performance goal, and each representing 1 percent of Teslas total outstanding shares.

Musk achieved all 12 goals, but was barred from selling any of the shares for at least five years per the agreement.

The package granted stock option awards for approximately 304 million shares that Musk can buy at about $23.33 each, well below the Tuesday closing price of $191.59.

The shares in question will now be cancelled, but Musk had not exercised any of the options yet, meaning that his ownership stake in Tesla remains at 13 percent.

The plan had a $55.8 billion maximum value, and $2.6 billion fair value at the grant date, making it by far the largest CEO pay package in corporate history.

The shareholder's lawyers argued that his compensation package should be voided because it was dictated by Musk and was the product of sham negotiations with directors who were not independent of him.

They also said it was approved by shareholders who were given misleading and incomplete disclosures in a proxy statement.

Defense attorneys countered that the pay plan was fairly negotiated by a compensation committee whose members were independent.

They argued it contained performance milestones so lofty that they were ridiculed by some Wall Street investors, and was blessed by a shareholder vote that was not even required under Delaware law.

They also argued that Musk was not a controlling shareholder because he owned less than one-third of the company at the time.

Chancellor McCormick determined, however, that Musk was effectively a controlling shareholder, with a 21.9 percent stake in the company, influential 'Superstar CEO' status, and deep ties to the directors charged with setting his compensation.

Bernard Arnault (pictured) surpassed Musk as the richest man in the world after the ruling

In light of those facts, McCormick found that Musk's pay package should have been subject to a more rigorous standard of review.

'The process leading to the approval of Musks compensation plan was deeply flawed,' McCormick wrote in the colorfully worded 200-page decision. 'Musk had extensive ties with the persons tasked with negotiating on Teslas behalf.'

Following the decision, Musk lost his status as the world's richest man on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List, which listed him at No. 2 with $185.1 billion on Wednesday morning, down from $210.6 billion a day earlier.

Bernard Arnault, the French founder and CEO of luxury goods company LVMH, topped the list with a net worth of $210.6 billion.
The Biden administration is preparing a wave of strikes and cyber attacks that could last 'weeks' in response to the Iranian-backed drone attack that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan.

U.S. officials have given public and private signals that the operation it is planning will be multi-faceted.

Officials told NBC News it will include Iranian targets outside Iran and would consist of both strikes and cyber operations.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said it will be 'multileveled' and the White House has said it would be 'tiered'.

Potential targets reportedly include Iranian commercial interests and proxy groups with forces in Iraq and Syria.

President Biden is believed not to be planning attacks inside the territory of Iran, despite the urgings of some Republicans in Congress.

President Joe Biden has said he has decided how the U.S. will respond to the drone attack that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan. His administration has floated a 'tiered' and 'multileveled' response

Biden told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he has decided on a response, but his administration has yet to reveal any plans, saying the U.S. will respond at a time and place of its choosing.

'I do hold them responsible in the sense they are supplying the weapons to the people who did it,' Biden said at the White House when asked if he holds Iran responsible.

When asked if he held Tehran directly responsible, he said: 'We will have those discussions.'

But he also cautioned: 'I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East, that's not what I'm looking for.'

On Tuesday night, Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani told reporters that giving a 'strong response to enemies' who target the country is 'the fundamental policy of Iran,' according to a report in the state-controlled Islamic Republic News Agency.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. response to the drone attack that killed three U.S. troops will be 'multileveled'

Iran's United Nations Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani has said Iran will retaliate to attacks on its interests

Biden says he holds Iran responsible for providing the weapons to the militia behind the attack as he faces a monumental decision on how to hit back

'It's very possible that what you'll see is is a tiered approach here  not just a single action but potentially multiple actions,' said national security spokesman John Kirby

He vowed a 'decisive response' to attacks on 'Iran's territory, or its interests or citizens abroad. He claimed in a letter to the UN Security Council that Iran 'is not responsible for the actions of any individual or group in the region'  despite the U.S. pointing to decades of support for proxy groups that carry out attacks and rely on Tehran for arms, funds, and training.

Blinken, speaking on Monday, added: 'We will respond decisively to any aggression, and we will hold responsible the people who attacked our troops. That response could be multileveled, come in stages and be sustained over time.'

Aboard Air Force Once, national security spokesman John Kirby provided only a sketch of what was under consideration. 'It's very possible that what you'll see is is a tiered approach here  not just a single action but potentially multiple actions.'

The Pentagon and the White House have pointed to the Iran-backed militia Kata'ib Hezbollah, which is based in Iraq, but has not made a final public determination.

The group's Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi said in a statement Tuesday: 'As we announce the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces - in order to prevent embarrassment of the Iraqi government - we will continue to defend our people in Gaza in other ways.'

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at a security forum in San Diego that he told Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in a meeting in Thaland that China had an 'obligation' to use its influence with Tehran to get Houthi rebels to stop attacking commercial shipping interests in the Red Sea.

Biden is planning to travel to Dover Air Force Base on Friday to attend the dignified transfer ceremony for the return of the three U.S. troops.
A teenager who plotted to shoot up three schools, churches, and a police station and drew up a 30-person 'kill list' has been jailed.

Lily Whitworth, charged under her legal birth name William, wrote a worrying four-page manifesto and 'schizophrenic rants', and planned to buy an AR-15.

Her targets included Timberview Middle School, where she attended in 2014 to 2016, Prairie Hills Elementary, and Pine Creek High School - all in Colorado Springs.

Whitworth was charged with two counts of attempted murder last April, but confessed to second-degree assault under a plea bargain.

Judge Theresa Slade jailed her for six years, with a mandatory three-year parole, at Elbert County Courthouse on Tuesday.

Whitworth was arrested on March 31 last year when police were called to her home by a family member who said she punched holes in walls and was ranting about shooting up schools.

Lily Whitworth, charged under her legal birth name William, wrote a worrying four-page manifesto and 'schizophrenic rants', and planned to buy an AR-15

Elbert County Sheriff's deputies picked there way inside the house around huge piles of rubbish that made it hard to move, an affidavit read.

'There were numerous containers filled with half-eaten food with mold growing inside and numerous alcoholic beverage containers laying around the house,' it read.

Deputies noticed two holes punched in the wall and when they arrived at Whitworth's room they saw the door was ripped off its hinges.

'There was trash piled up beside her bed so high that it was level with it, there was a hole in the wall beside the bed, and the sheets on the bed that were supposed to be white were stained brown,' the affidavit read.

Whitworth was asleep so police woke her up and asked her if she wanted to shoot up a school, to which she nodded, then asker her why.

'Why does anyone do it?' she replied.

The wannabe shooter said there was 'no specific reason' why she chose her old middle school, and admitted she had suicidal thoughts.

Whitworth said she was 'about a third' of the way through her planning, having studied the layout of the school, picked her weapons, and started a manifesto over the past two months.

She said the manifesto was four pages long and full of 'schizophrenic rants', but told the deputy 'I hope not' when asked if she was schizophrenic.

Whitworth (pictured left with her sister Melissa before she started transitioning) was arrested on March 31 last year when police were called to her home by a family member who said she punched holes in walls and was ranting about shooting up schools

Asked how much she knew about school shootings, she said 'too much' and that a page of her manifesto listed mass killers.

The page called Columbine High School shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold 'losers' and Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter Adam Lanza 'too smart', while serial killer Israel Keyes was a 'degenerate'.

Other people listed were Donald Trump, a 'con mam' (sic), alt-right YouTuber Lauren Southern ('pathetic') and 'bad cops' were 'useless garbage'.

Deputies also saw a dry ease board in her room with a labeled floorplan of Timberview Middle School in preparation for the shooting.

The manifesto also had more floorplans, the names of 30 people she planned to kill in her shooting spree, a list of firearms and how to 3D-print them, and information about building improvised explosives.

There were also names of other targets, including local churches and police stations.

Another notebook had a drawing of a clock to be used as a detonation device, with 'remove clock intemials (sic) and drive a screw into the desired detonation time on the face of the clock' written next to it.

Whitworth told the deputies she watched a YouTube video on how to make the detonator, and remarked how bad its safety procedures were.

A leather-bound notebook listed 'ways I want to die', listing murder, burning alive, freezing, and drowning.

Police also found a copy of The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

Whitworth's family said they made a 'family decision' to report her to police after she began ranting about her plans and sent a horrifying text message to her mother.

'How clear do I have to make it. I'm going to walk into Timberview Middle School with an AR,' the text read.

Whitworth was charged with two counts of attempted murder last April, but confessed to second-degree assault under a plea bargain

Her sister Melissa Whitworth-Mathes previously told media: 'We are also victims in the cases against Lily, and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened and what we had to do to protect the public'.

District Attorney John Kellner praised Whitworth's family for telling police before she was in a position to harm anyone.

'We often question how tragedies happen after it's too late,' he said.

'In this case, a family member had the courage and strength to pick up the phone and call for help.

'I encourage everyone when it comes to school security, if you see something concerning to report it right away. That call may save lives.'

Whitworth did not speak when she was sentenced, but earlier told the court: 'I was in too deep, way too deep. The choices I've made, I regret.'

Her lawyers asked for Judge Slade to only give Whitworth probation so she could be admitted to a supervised sober-living facility to be rehabilitated.

They argued sending her to jail would be harmful to both her rehabilitation and to community safety.

However, Slade ruled that wasn't enough and Whitworth needed to be sent to jail - but gave her less time than the 10 years prosecutors asked for.
Is your Bully XL affected by the ban?

XL Bully owners will march on Downing Street tonight in a last ditch attempt to change the looming law banning the breed.

A candlelit 'sit down' vigil will be held outside the gates leading to No 10 where distraught owners will hold onto 'cute' pictures of the hounds ahead of the ban which comes into force at midnight.

Desperate owners have been wearing grills over their faces in solidarity with their pooch having to wear a muzzle.

While others are contemplating moving to the Netherlands as a way of escaping the ban.

People who own them as pets have taken to drastic measures to protect their beloved XL Bullys, including renting out entire fields to let them run free and undertaking muzzle training so they can comply with new legal requirements.

From midnight it will become a criminal offence to have an XL Bully without an exemption, and owners face having the dogs seized by police and given an unlimited fine.

Is your Bully XL affected by the ban? Email matthew.lodge@mailonline.co.uk

Sophie Coulthard, pictured with her dog Billy. She has been muzzle training with her 'couch potato' dog since December

XL Bully owner Eamonn Mcgeady wears a muzzle along with his pet dog Lexi in a pub in protest at new restrictions on the breed

Stephanie Vine, pictured with her XL Bully Colin and her Jack Russell Bella, says she is considering leaving the country

Lindsey Beaumont, pictured here with her pet dog Rosie, has been renting fields so her XL Bully can run free

Kaylee Hankins, pictured here with Isla, her XL Bully who died in October, says the ban is 'absolutely unnecessary'

Furious XL Bully owners have hit out at the Government's looming ban on the breed, branding it 'absolutely unnecessary' and saying they are even considering leaving the country over it.

Lovers of the breed insist their dogs 'should be judged on what they have done' rather than be banned by the Government after a series of horrific attacks in recent years that have killed and maimed dozens of people.

Multiple people have been killed by members of the breed, including Ian Price who was attacked by two suspected American bullies last year, 10-year-old Jack Lis who was mauled to death in 2021 and toddler Bella-Rae Birch who was savagely assaulted by her family's pet XL Bully in March the same year.

On December 31 a separate law came into effect forcing XL Bully owners to muzzle their dogs while out in public - sparking some owners to wear grills over their own faces in solidarity with their beloved pets.

READ MORE HERE: Are you breaking the law? Rules on XL bullies and how you get an exemption explained Advertisement

Those who have decided to keep their dogs have spoken of their fury at the ban and revealed some of the surprising steps they have taken to protect their beloved pets.

Lindsey Beaumont, 42, from Ashford, Kent, says she's forking out to hire a nearby field so her XL Bully, Rosie, can run free once a week.

Her autistic son Joe, 16, enjoys a special relationship with two-year-old Rosie, while she's also close with other members of the family, including Joe's great-grandmother Doreen Anderson, 83.

She says she's also now unable to get health insurance for her dog, and worries what might happen if Rosie fell ill.

'She's registered and insured - but only third-party insurance,' mother-of-two Mrs Beaumont explained.

'Having registered her means she's a banned breed, meaning I can no longer get health insurance for her.

'Also it's the muzzle... Now I have to hire a field once a week for Rosie to have a proper run around.

'It's the only place she can be off the muzzle and the lead, but even to put her in the car I have to muzzle her. It ruins her training but she's actually doing really well. It has affected us all.

'My son [Joe] can't walk her anymore; not that he can't or shouldn't, but just because how people are towards her now.If you see a dog with a muzzle you instantly assume they're dangerous.

'To leave a 16-year-old child with a large dog... it's the perception of what people see.

'I get so many people who come up to me who are very sympathetic. I'd say around 75 per cent of people are really understanding and accepting.

'But there are some who all they see is a large dog.'

She is now looking for other fields near her, other than the one she currently pays 10-an-hour to hire.

She said: 'The same field every week isn't very stimulating. I know people who have fields, but they had to have a fence all the way around.

The health insurance is a massive worry. I'm a 'safe rather than sorry' kind of person.

'Dogs do get ill and have accidents. If Rosie gets cancer or anything serious like that, we'll have thousands and thousands of pounds we'll have to find.

'It's ridiculous. If anything the insurance should probably be less now, as she's on a lead and wearing a muzzle all the time.'

Sophie Coulthard pictured with her dog Billy. She said the ban was being based 'on looks' and not the training that dogs are given

Ms Coulthard, who registered her dog Billy (pictured) on Monday, says some owners are reluctant to do so as it means admitting their pets are dangerous

Colin the XL Bully (pictured) is so unwell he wouldn't survive the operation to get neutered, his owner says

Meanwhile, Sophie Coulthard, a leadership and wellbeing consultant from Southwest London, said she felt the ban was being based on looks alone.

The 39-year-old has registered her, one-year-old 'couch-potato' of an XL Bully dog Billy and has been training him with a muzzle since December.

But she believes dog attacks will continue despite the ban, saying those who exploit the bully breed to intimidate others or use them as a status symbol will simply move on to another breed once the ban comes in.

Speaking on Wednesday she said: 'I walked Billy in the park yesterday, on a lead and with a muzzle and thought, 'Is my dog the most dangerous dog here?'.

READ MORE HERE: Panic among XL Bully owners as they are yet to receive exemption certificates on the eve of the law banning them in the UK coming in - as others say they cannot afford to get the 92.40 documents Advertisement

'I think the amount of training I've done and Billy's nature mean he's absolutely not the most dangerous dog on our walks.

'It's just such a shame that's not taken into account - it's only looks.'

She says she and Billy were attacked themselves recently by a golden cocker spaniel.

She registered Billy on Monday, but believes many responsible XL Bully owners are reluctant to do so, as it feels like an admission that their dog is dangerous.

'A lot of people are feeling like it's almost like you're saying your dog's dangerous by adding them to the list,' she said.

'That's why a lot of people have resisted or are very emotional about it... It's quite nerve racking.

'The public have been very supportive. I love my dog and I would never want to put him in harm's way, so I will be reluctantly following the rules because I want to keep him safe.

'The ban gives a perception of public safety, but I don't think it does anything at all for public safety.

'I know that having a large, powerful dog breed I have a responsibility as an owner, but I know other owners don't take that responsibility seriously.

'I think anyone who had a dog like this to intimidate people or use it as a status symbol will just move onto another breed.

'It's a short-term solution.'

XL Bully owner, Samantha Shillam said she was concerned about not getting her certificate in time for the deadline of February 1

Samantha Shillam posted about her worries on an XL Bully Facebook group

Owners of the XL Bully breed asked others whether they had experienced the same issue

Steph Vine, whose XL Bully Colin suffers with epilepsy, fears her dog may be taken from her and put down within a matter of months - and is even seriously considering moving abroad to protect him.

Panic among XL Bully owners yet to receive exemption certificates By Gina Kalsi XL Bully owners who are yet to receive their exemptions for the breed are concerned that they will not get their certificates through before the deadline. One XL Bully owner, Samantha Shillam, wrote on Facebook: 'I have applied and I am 100 per cent sure I did everything correctly but this waiting list is making me really worried as I haven't received anything yet. 'I just need my boy to be safe and sound and at home where he belongs.' Ms Shillam posted on a group of owners of the dog breed, and initially said she has been in a 'real panic' since applying for the certificate, before asking others if they had been denied. Another owner, Damo John, said: 'I had one exemption accepted then one denied, just tried again now both certificates came.' A woman in the group, who goes by the name Millie, said that she had applied for the exemption today and was eagerly awaiting a response. Another owner then said she had been waiting three weeks for a reply from the government regarding her application. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) stated that it could take a couple of days to process applications, adding that some owners will not receive their exemptions before February 1. The department said that if the authorities ask to see a certificate during this in-between stage, owners can show them evidence that they have applied. You can read more here. Advertisement

Colin was diagnosed with epilepsy at the end of last year - just as restrictions on his breed were beginning to be considered by the government.

Mrs Vine, from Chatham, Kent, has been told by neurologists that her two-year-old pup is unlikely to survive a neutering operation, which is required in order to get an exemption.

Despite the 38-year-old and her MP, Tracey Crouch, repeatedly asking the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for an extension for Colin, they've had little more than an unsympathetic rebuttal back from the government department.

Mrs Vine is appealing for an extension for Colin while he adapts to his new epilepsy medication, and has set up an online petition for her dog

The local authority worker said: 'I can't even watch the news anymore... All these little ones they're just chucking away like rubbish.

'We're supposed to be a nation of dog lovers.

'We're doing the lead walking and the muzzle, but Colin's neurologists say he needs to be stable for at least three months before he can be neutered.

'They say if we put him under now, there's a very high probability that he won't come back. He would be having his life put at risk, hence the petition.'

Mrs Vine, having been unable to get an exemption for Colin, fears he could be put down and that she could even be thrown into prison by the neutering deadline in June.

'We're now at the stage of saying, do we just go to another country?

'Come June, they will find Colin and he will be taken away and I could be put in prison.

'I've never had so much as a parking ticket and my husband works for the police.

'Colin's a family pet - he wouldn't even survive in the wild. He may look scary, but he's really not.

'Moving to a different country is a hundred per cent a serious consideration - I can't let him suffer.

'We initially looked at Scotland or Ireland, but they have now followed suit. It's about seeing where would work... Maybe the Netherlands.

'We have a matter of months before he could potentially be taken and put to sleep, and he's not done anything wrong.

'I just think it's mad.'

People hold placards and signs at a protest against the XL Bully ban in Mancgester

Kaylee Hankins was unfortunate enough not to have the opportunity to register 16-month-old 'loyal family companion' Isla, as she sadly passed away in October following an operation.

But the 32-year-old says the loss of her XL Bully dog is made all the harder by the fact she can't get another of the same breed.

The mother-of-two says Isla was semi-famous among locals in the Cotswolds market town of Minchinhampton, and is sorely missed by all.

Ms Hankins said Isla had sadly died following major surgery on a blockage in her intestines.

'It was horrible,' she said. 'I still think the ban's ridiculous.

'I've met lots of XL Bullys and every single one has been like Isla.

'I think it's absolutely unnecessary. People probably now think they're scary dogs, whereas everyone near me loved Isla because she was a soft, friendly dog with humans and other dogs.

'I would love to get another XL Bully, but you just can't now, which is really sad. They're good dogs.

'I would get another XL Bully if we could, without a doubt.'

Video posted on TikTok shows one XL Bully being given a soft toy of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak by their owner

The XL Bully proceeds to bite down on the chew toy while rolling around on the floor

One owner posted a video on TikTok showing her walking her muzzled dog the day before the ban comes into place

An XL Bully owner wears a muzzle while out walking his dog, which is also muzzled, after new laws were put in place

The Government has insisted it had to put the ban in place as the breed is 'disproportionately involved' in serious and fatal dog attacks.

The Scottish Government says it will introduce similar restrictions after suggestions it could become a safe haven for dogs following the ban in England. Northern Ireland is also set to make a decision on implementing similar rules soon.

How to apply for a Certificate of Exemption to keep an XL Bully dog Since December 31, 2023, it has been an offence to sell, abandon or give away an XL Bully and the dogs must be on a lead and muzzled in public. From February 1 2024 it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless your dog has a valid Certificate of Exemption. To apply for the ban you must pay a fee of 92.40 and you will receive a ten digit payment reference. You must also have a third party public liability insurance for banned dog breeds. Owners will also need to provide their dog's microchip number. Applications must be completed by noon on January 31, 2024. To apply click here. Source: Gov.uk Advertisement

The RSPCA says so far more than 30,000 XL Bullys have been registered under the Government scheme, and said before the midday deadline that up to 20,000 might not have been added to it yet.

As part of the scheme XL Bully owners can claim 200 in compensation if they pay to have their dogs euthanised or 100 if they do so using a charity service.

The UK's chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss has warned people not leave it too late to register if they want to keep their pets.

XL bully owner Ellie Londsdale, from Featherstone in West Yorkshire, has urged the ban to be scrapped.

The 23-year-old said he dog, called Frankie, is 'the softest thing' and insisted 'it's not just an animal, it's family'.

She told the BBC: 'Any dog can hurt anyone - it's not one specific breed, [it's] if you bring it up wrong. I don't get why people are saying it's just XL Bullys.

'I understand why people are scared of him - he's big and muscly and got a big scary muzzle... but if you got to know him you'd know he's not [scary].'

Danielle Thomas, from South Tyneside, has got an exemption for her XL Bully called Bailey.

Ms Thomas, who took in the dog in June from a family friend, said he is 'absolutely brilliant' and hit out at the new rules.

She told the BBC: 'The dogs should be judged on what they have done.'

'In the wrong hands they can cause damage but if you bring them up in a loving home and care for them, they do treat you with the same respect.'

Ahead of the full ban tomorrow, some owners have posted heartfelt tributes to their pets on social media, with one woman even posting a video appearing to show her XL Bully biting down on a soft toy of Rishi Sunak.

Dog owner Terry Wigzell takes his muzzled XL Bully 'Duke' for a walk ahead of his application for an exemption today

Owners of the breed have had to walk their dogs on leads and with a muzzle since the turn of the year

Dr Samantha Gaines, dog welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: 'We are deeply saddened by tragic incidents involving dogs and we agree that there is an urgent need to provide protection for the public - but banning XL bullies is not the answer.

READ MORE HERE: Police forces across Britain are spending at least 2.2million housing XL Bullys in kennels amid crackdown on dangerous dogs Advertisement

'Instead, we want to see the UK Government commit to the enforcement and improvement of current breeding and dog control regulations, and to promoting responsible dog ownership and training. Improving the way dogs are bred, controlled and treated throughout their lives is key to preventing dog bite incidents.

'As a member of the Dog Control Coalition, the RSPCA remains vehemently opposed to breed-specific legislation; an outdated approach which fails to protect public safety and seriously compromises dog welfare, and we will continue to campaign against legislation that unfairly punishes dogs based on their appearance.

'The ban on XL bullies not only remains devastating for so many dogs, but is also taking a heavy toll on owners, on rescue centre staff who have grown close to dogs in their care, and to veterinary teams who face the prospect of being asked to put to sleep healthy dogs whose behaviour poses no risk.

'There is a huge risk that rescue centres and the veterinary profession will not be able to cope with the demands put on them by this law.'

In the lead up to the full ban, which comes into effect tomorrow, the Government also introduced restrictions on the breed meaning they must be microchipped and neutered to prevent breeding.

Since December 31 it has been illegal to allow XL Bullys off the lead or be unmuzzled in public, while breeding, selling or abandoning them has also been outlawed.

It was revealed this week that police forces are spending at 2.2million to house them in kennels amid the crackdown.

Furious XL Bully owners have lashed out at the new restrictions, holding protests and posting videos showing them muzzling themselves in solidarity with the animals.

Posting on a Facebook support forum for owners, Save our Bully's UK, user Kayleigh Heath uploaded a picture and wrote: 'They sit for us WE stand for them, finally cracked the muzzle. Daddy wears one, kuba wears one, no dramas at all.'

One XL Bully owner appeared on social media wearing a muzzle in solidarity with his dog

XL Bully owners are pictured protesting in central London in September last year

In Cheshire another dog owner staged a one-man protest by wearing muzzle and guzzling a pint through a straw at his local pub.

Eamonn Mcgeady, 51, and six-month-old dog Lexi wore matching protective guards on their visit to the Straw Hat, in Ellesport.

His daughter Elle, 19, said he did it to make a point about new legislation on the breed - and left her feeling proud. Elle, an apprentice engineer from Chester, said: 'I just don't agree with the muzzle.

'We'd be happy enough to walk her on a lead but we're not happy with the muzzle - it's just not nice to see.'

Earlier this month, XL Bully owners in Manchester held a protest against the imminent ban on the breed that they say has turned their lives 'upside down'.

Owners of the crossbreed pups  the rehoming and breeding of which has now been outlawed  rallied in the city centre, waving signs that read 'don't bully our bullies' and others that called for the law to be rolled back.

Protesters also laid down roses that they said represented the lives of XL Bully dogs that had been euthanised in the run up to the ban on owning the canine without a licence tomorrow.

One dog owner even posted a bizarre XL Bully rap singing 'No Rishi can't put me down' and refusing to muzzle her 40kg hound in public.

Mandy Hughes - whose TikTok videos protesting new laws banning XL Bullies have gone viral - has vowed to go to prison than apply for an exemption for her six-year-old bulldog Elsa.

Footage of the 57-year-old singing lyrics including: 'Don't you put no muzzle on me, stop putting the blame on me' have racked up half-a-million views.

Ms Hughes, from Allithwaite in Cumbria, rapped in remixed version of Jack Harlow's Lovin on Me: 'Why you putting a ban on me? Stop putting the blame on me.

'I'm a Bully baby, I might lick you to death. I'm no 'kill a baby'.

More than 600,000 people have also signed a UK Parliament petition calling for the ban on the breed  linked to up to 14 deaths since 2021  to be overturned.

The Government announced in September it would ban XL Bully dogs, with Defra listing a set of physical characteristics used to define the type of dog.

It describes the type as large and powerfully built, with a muscular body and blocky head, meaning similar dogs - such as American Bulldogs - could meet the criteria.
Democrat Rep. Cori Bush paid her husband thousands of dollars for providing security services, but his most recent work experience is in the moving and railroad industries.

Bush confirmed Tuesday that she is under a federal investigation for allegedly misusing campaign funds for to pay for thousands of dollars in security services, which she has adamantly denied.

She has spent more than $750,000 on security since she was elected in 2020 out of her campaign account - including over $100,000 to her husband Cortney Merritts, who she married in 2023.

The progressive Squad member claimed Tuesday that her husband has 'extensive experience' in the security industry and he is 'able to provide the necessary services at or below fair market rate.'

But it wasn't immediately clear what training or 'extensive' experience Merritts has in the security industry beyond his time in the Army.

Merritts is the owner of a moving company called Vetted Movers, according to his LinkedIn account.

The company was established in 2018 after Merritts served in the Army and worked in the railroad industry as a former conductor a yardmaster for 20 years, he wrote on Yelp.

Last year Merritts was on the payroll of her re-election campaign

'We are a veteran owned and operated company. I've dealt with logistics for 20 plus years in the military and with the railroad,' Merritts wrote on the company's Yelp page.

'With both I've learned that doing a job properly and promptly is the only way to do business. Your items will be handled with care and packed, loaded or unloaded with skill and expertise. Moving can be stressful. Our job is to take away that stress.'

Merritts told Fox News in October 2023 that he was not working for Bush's campaign before backtracking and admitting that he was indeed working for her.

'I don't have a role in the campaign, man,' Merritts initially replied when asked about his role on Bush's team.

He then backtracked when pressed, saying: 'I'm still in the campaign...I still do security with the campaign.'

Bush was first elected to Congress in 2020 and is currently running for re-election in 2024.

Merritts has raked in over $100,000 since Bush added him to her campaign's payroll in January 2022.

The House Ethics Committee cleared a previous complaint made by the Committee to Defeat the President, which Bush says has exonerated her of any wrongdoing.

However, another watchdog filed an ethics complaint demanding an investigation into funds given to her husband by her campaign.

The nonpartisan Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) asked Federal Election Commission (FEC) acting general counsel Lisa Stevenson to look into whether Bush 'used campaign funds for personal use.'

The Justice Department on Monday subpoenaed the House Sergeant at Arms for records related to the misuse of funds for private security.

When confronted by the media on Monday night, Bush insisted she wasn't the subject of the investigation and scolded reporters for asking the question.

But she changed her tune on Tuesday and issued a public statement on the Capitol steps.

'Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life,' she told reporters on the House steps Tuesday after confirming she is 'cooperating' with the DOJ.

She added that as a 'rank-and-file member of Congress' she is not entitled to personal protection.

Bush's confirmation that she is under a federal criminal investigation shook both Republican and Democrats, who say if she's guilty she could be booted from Congress.

'If she has violated the law and she's indicted, and she's found guilty, then she obviously should be removed, 100 percent,' Moskowitz, D-Fla., told DailyMail.com.

'Just like what just happened with George Santos,' he added about the disgraced former Republican congressman.

In December, the House Ethics Committee found former Rep. George Santos stole donor funds to spend on OnlyFans and Botox and filed false election reports. He was later voted out of office by his colleagues.

Merritts posted on his business Yelp page that he has 20 years experience in the Army and working on railroads

Cori Bush + Cortney Merritts together at the 2020 inauguration

Santos was only the sixth member of the House to be expelled by a vote in congressional history.

'They should throw the book at her,' Republican Tim Burchett of Tennessee told DailyMail.com. 'Its a crazy amount of money.'

'She hired her husband who wasn't qualified to be that form of security guard,' he added. 'Well I guess were going to have to decide that; are we going to allow that activity to happen.'
This is the amazing moment a spontaneous folk music performance broke out on a Ryanair flight from Belfast to Lanzarote with a passenger playing the fiddle and another doing an unplanned Riverdance.

Musician Sean Magee launched into a lively rendition of 'Las Vegas in the Hills of Donegal,' made famous in the 90s by folk group Goats Don't Shave.

Accompanied by fellow musicians Nathan Carter and Matthew Crampsey, the trio are currently some of the biggest names in Irish folk music.

Video taken from the flight shows fellow passengers laughing, singing and clapping along, as the plane makes its way to the Canary Islands.

And as the song was underway, a female passenger suddenly got up and began doing a Riverdance, getting into fun spirit on the plane.

The footage was recorded by Danny Walters who was jetting off for a holiday with his wife.

Musician Sean Magee launched into a lively rendition of ' Las Vegas in the Hills of Donegal'

Accompanied by fellow musicians Nathan Carter and Matthew Crampsey, the trio are currently some of the biggest names in Irish folk music

Video taken from the flight shows fellow passengers laughing, singing and clapping along, as the plane makes its way to the Canary Islands

A female passenger suddenly got up and began doing a Riverdance, getting into fun spirit on the plane

Passengers then turned to the woman dancing and began filming her

Sean, also holidaying with his wife, asked his pal to 'pass him the fiddle' midway through the flight, claims Danny.

'We got on the plane and the boys were sitting behind us,' said Danny. 'About an hour or so in, we heard someone say 'guys, give us me fiddle over!'

'Sean had paid to have an extra seat for his fiddle, so he didn't have to leave it in the hold.

'I just happened to be sitting in front - so once I saw the fiddle come out, I brought out my camera.

'Then it all broke into Las Vegas in the Hills of Donegal - everybody loved it!

'I think it really shortened the flight for us all.'

Danny even caught up with the musician during their holiday in Lanzarote - when the couple decided to stop by one of Sean's gigs on the island.

'While we were in Lanzarote, a couple of the boys from the plane got gigs, so we went down there for the craic - and they were very good!'
A father-of-two was shot and killed during a crime spree in Washington DC which left Trump official Mike Gill in a critical condition.

Police say that Alberto Vasquez Jr, 35, was gunned after being approached by the unknown suspect at approximately 7:15pm on Monday evening.

The suspect approached Vasquez and his girlfriend and demanded the keys to his car before shooting him and leaving with the vehicle, Vasquez was rushed to hospital where he died.

Earlier that same night, the suspect blasted Mike Gill, a former Trump administration official, who is now in a critical condition in hospital.

Vasquez had grown up in Woodbridge, Virginia, and had moved to DC just a few years ago, with his parents describing him as charismatic and funny.

Police say that Alberto Vasquez Jr, 35, was gunned after being approached by the unknown suspect at approximately 7:15pm on Monday evening

Vasquez had grown up in Woodbridge, Virginia, and had moved to DC just a few years ago, with his parents Antoinette and Jacob, seen here, describing him as charismatic and funny

The suspect approached Vasquez and his girlfriend in the 300 block of N Street, Northeast, seen here, and demanded the keys to his car before shooting him and leaving with the vehicle

Speaking to News4, his mother Antoinette Walker and father Jacob Walker said he had worked for banks and law firms in the capital and leaves behind two young daughters.

His father Jacob told the outlet: 'He would never hurt anyone. Nothing makes any sense. He didn't know my son, you just shot him. You didn't know him, he gave you the keys.'

Antoinette added: 'They gave up the keys and, for whatever reason, the guy still shot him and ended up killing my son.'

Jacob added: 'This doesn't make much sense, it is senseless. He would never hurt anyone, he was charismatic, funny.' Antoinette also described her son as being 'the life of the party'.

Police say the shooter carjacked multiple people and shot at police during the spree.

At some point after carjacking and killing Vazquez, he's believed to have left the car in Takoma Park before catching a rideshare and stealing another vehicle.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning at 2:15 a.m., he's believed to have shot from a passing car at a transit officer near Baltimore on the northbound I-95.

Just 15 minutes later, he allegedly shot at a Maryland State Trooper on southbound I-95.

Mike Gill, pictured, is critically-ill after he was shot by a carjacker while collecting his lawyer wife in Washington DC Monday evening

The suspect behind Gill's carjacking and the deadly carjacking of Vasquez is seen on CCTV. He has been killed, but has not yet been named by police

The suspect also opened fire on a Sixth District cruiser while it was driving, the officer was not injured

By about 3 a.m., he's believed to have fired at a marked Washington police cruiser near Pennsylvania Avenue SE.

Finally, at 4:30 a.m., police found a disabled car on the 7500 block of Annapolis Road.

As they surveyed the scene, the accused carjacker walked up to them, producing two handguns.

The officers fired at the man, who later died from his wounds at a nearby hospital.

Jeffery Carroll, the assistant chief of DC police, did say that the man had a criminal history and appeared to be going through a mental health crisis at the time.

Gill had served as chief operating officer of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during Donald Trump's time in the White House.

This is the scene of Monday evening's carjacking where Gill was shot and critically-injured

Cops are seen in Carrollton County, Maryland, on Tuesday morning, where the unnamed carjacking suspect was shot dead

A witness told the Washington Post that his wife 'ran toward her husband and grabbed his hand,' asking him what happened, but getting no response.

The victim was wearing 'a dress shirt and sweater, sprawled on the pavement with one foot still in the passengers side of a car. His right hand was twitching as blood pooled around his head,' Yolanda Douglas added.

A spokeswoman for Gill said: 'We can confirm that Mike Gill was the victim of the shooting at the 900 block of K Street Northwest on Monday evening and is in critical condition.

'Out of respect for the family, we have nothing additional to add at this time.'
Post-Brexit rules demanding checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland are to be axed in order to get the province's government up and running after a two-year hiatus, it was confirmed today.

Ministers dropped a command paper titled 'Safeguarding The Union' that commits to replacing the current 'green lane process', which requires percentages of goods to be checked as they arrive from Great Britain, with a 'UK internal market system' that will govern the movement of goods that will remain within the United Kingdom.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has hailed the move as a key concession that will effectively scrap the contentious so-called Irish Sea border for goods destined to remain within the UK. The arrangement includes 3.3billion in new funding for Northern Ireland.

The move will be put to a vote in the Commons tomorrow night, raising hopes that the power-sharing executive can restart as soon as the weekend, after two years idle.

The move to reduce post-Brexit checks on GB-NI trade would represent a change to the current EU/UK Windsor Framework agreement and therefore would require Brussels approval. It is understood the EU has been kept up to date with the shape of the Government's package of measures.

And some Tory Brexiteers have voiced concerns that the plan may force the whole UK to stay more aligned with EU rules than it otherwise might.

Former PM Boris Johnson tweeted: 'Four years on from Brexit we celebrate the restoration of this country's democratic power to make its own laws and rules....

'We must retain the appetite and the courage to diverge from the low-growth high-regulation European model.

'We must at all costs avoid a return to anything remotely like the disastrous ''Chequers'' formula whereby artificial concerns about the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland are used to keep the whole of the UK in alignment with EU rules.'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said restored power-sharing in Northern Ireland offered the prospect of a 'brighter future'.

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party was ready to back a deal that will see Ms O'Neill installed as the first ever republican First Minister

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party was ready to back a deal following tense talks last night. The new deal includes 3.3billion in new funding for Northern Ireland, together with promises from Government that post-Brexit trade barriers will be eased

Sinn Fein's President Mary Lou McDonald (left) with Ms O'Neill. Ms McDonald claimed the return of power sharing meant the reunification of Ireland was now within 'touching distance'

There were also signs the DUP is not united in support of the bill, with East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson telling the Commons: 'When the Northern Ireland assembly sits, ministers and assembly members will be expected by law to adhere to and implement laws which are made in Brussels, which they had no say over and no ability to amend, and no ability to stop.

'This is a result of this spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying Government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.'

He added: 'Is Northern Ireland going to find it's got the ability to stay tied to the United Kingdom, or will the Government proceed happily to change laws here regardless of the impact it has on Northern Ireland?'

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris replied: "On the fourth anniversary of leaving the European Union, I can tell him absolutely that this agreed package of measures will not change the freedoms and powers we have secured through Brexit or through the Windsor framework.

"It will not reduce our ability to diverge nor our commitment to do so should it be in the interest of the United Kingdom."

After tense talks that ran into the early hours of yesterday, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party was ready to back a deal that will see Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill installed as the first ever republican First Minister.

Sir Jeffrey has already said that the agreement will remove all post-Brexit checks on goods destined for Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

hailed the move as a key concession that will effectively scrap the contentious so-called Irish Sea border for goods destined to remain within the UK.

'There should not be a border within the UK internal market. These proposals remove that border,' he said.

The measure is part of a wide-ranging deal agreed between the DUP and the Government that is set to bring about the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland after a two-year hiatus.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said restored power-sharing in Northern Ireland offered the prospect of a 'brighter future'.

Mr Sunak told the Commons: 'After two years without an executive, there is now a prospect of powersharing back up and running, strengthening our Union, giving people the local, accountable government that they need, and offering a brighter future for Northern Ireland.'

The DUP has agreed to drop its two-year blockade of Stormont in exchange for the Government measures aimed at addressing its concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements that created economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

The post-Brexit red lane for transporting goods from GB to NI and on into the EU Single Market will remain, but the command paper offers measures aimed at reducing the volume of trade required to use that red-tape heavy route, with a prediction that 80 per cent of goods will now move free of routine checks through the internal market system.

Downing Street has said that the deal contains 'significant' changes to the Windsor Framework's 'operation', but is not about altering the 'fundamentals' of the framework.

The formal implementation of any changes to the framework are expected to be examined and decided upon within the existing EU/UK Joint Committee framework in the days and weeks ahead.

The command paper said the replacement of the green lane would ensure there will be 'no checks when goods move within the UK internal market system save those conducted by UK authorities as part of a risk-based or intelligence-led approach to tackle criminality, abuse of the scheme, smuggling and disease risks'.

The paper adds: 'This will ensure the smooth flow of goods that are moving within the UK internal market.'

As well as moves to cut Brexit bureaucracy on Irish Sea trade, the command paper includes a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Ireland's constitutional position within the United Kingdom.

Legislation will be tabled with the purpose of 'affirming Northern Ireland's constitutional status underpinned by, among other provisions, the Acts of Union'

Sinn Fein's national leader Mary Lou McDonald claimed the move meant the reunification of Ireland was now within 'touching distance'.

The DUP walked out of Stormont in February 2022 in protest at post-Brexit trade checks blamed for driving a wedge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The political deadlock has left Stormont paralysed. Sir Jeffrey yesterday said the new deal would mean 'zero checks, zero customs paperwork on goods moving within the United Kingdom'. He added: 'That takes away the border within the UK between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and that is something that's very important.'

Downing Street declined to confirm his assessment, saying new proposals would be published following consultation with other parties in Northern Ireland.

Ministers remain nervous that the fragile deal could collapse if hardline loyalists judge that the detail does not match Sir Jeffrey's rhetoric. Some members of the DUP's executive were so concerned by the plan that they attended Monday night's crunch briefing 'wired up' to enable loyalist activist Jamie Bryson to conduct a live commentary from outside on what were supposed to be private discussions.

Mr Bryson said: 'If, as I suspect, the legislation is at variance with Sir Jeffrey's glossy power point presentation, then he has a very big problem.'

Under the terms of the Brexit deal, Northern Ireland has full access to the EU's single market to prevent the need for a hard border with the Republic.

But the arrangement has led to EU checks on certain goods entering from Great Britain, triggering unionist anger and shortages of some goods.

Stormont in Northern Ireland has been vacant since the DUP walked out of the power sharing agreement in February 2022. The DUP walked out in protest to post-Brexit trade checks, which they blamed for driving a wedge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK

Rishi Sunak shaking hands with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, following the agreement of the Windsor Framework

Rishi Sunak's Windsor Framework deal last year dealt with some of the problems but was not enough to win over the DUP.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, who will publish details of the legislation today, said he now believes that 'all the conditions are now in place' for Stormont to return.

The plans include a 'screening mechanism' to reassure unionists that proposals to diverge from EU laws will not create barriers to trade within the UK.

Whitehall sources suggested the agreement would make only limited changes to the UK's deal with the EU. The Windsor Framework, signed by Mr Sunak last year, will not be amended.
A 19-year-old Colombian model shared a heartwarming post on Facebook for her soldier boyfriend just five days before he murdered her, stabbing her 24 times and stuffing her lifeless body in a suitcase at his home.

Isabella Mesa had traveled to Medellin from Mexico, where she was living with her mother and three-year-old son, and returned to her native country to spend time with Sebastian Villegas, 21 - an army soldier she met online over a year ago.

On January 23, Mesa reposted a sketch of a man and woman hugging with a caption in Spanish that read, 'All my life I dreamed of someone like you.'

The victim wrote Villegas' first name on the post and added a sun and a star.

He replied with four heart eyes emojis and wrote, 'I love you my love.'

Isabella Mesa was killed by her soldier boyfriend, Sebastian Villegas, at his home in Medellin, Colombia on Sunday. The 19-year-old Colombian woman met the 21-year-old suspect, who confessed to the crime, online about a year ago and was in a long distance relationship with him. Mesa was living in Mexico with her mother and child and recently traveled to see him

Sebastian Villegas made appeared before a Medellin, Colombia judge via an online hearing Tuesday and declined to accept a murder charge although he had confessed to killing his girlfriend, Isabella Mesa, whom he stabbed 24 times and stuffed in a suitcase at his home Sunday

Isabella Mesa reposted a Facebook message and dedicated it to her boyfriend, Sebastian Villegas, a soldier in the Colombian army, on January 23, just five days before he murdered her and placed her body inside a suitcase at his home

DailyMail.com could not confirm if Mesa's last post on Facebook was created before or after she arrived from Mexico.

Villegas was on vacation and asked his mother if Mesa could stay over at their residence from January 25 to February 2, Medellin prosecutors said.

A close friend of Mesa who spoke to Noticias Caracol under the condition of anonymity that the couple attended a party at a farm residence Sunday, but as the night drew to a close they got into a heated argument.

'The altercations began at the party. When (the party) was over at the farm where we were, they started to struggle, she told him to let her go, not to grab her,' the woman said. 'He was jealous of everyone, he was obsessed, he was extremely possessive.'

Mesa left with Villegas to his home, where he attacked her before fleeing.

His mother made the gruesome discovery in one of the bedrooms and alerted his army battalion. After speaking to his mother and stepfather, he voluntarily turned himself in at a police station in the Medellin neighborhood of Bello.

Isabella Villegas had moved from her native Colombia to Mexico, where she worked as a model and lived with her mother and three-year-old son

A friend of Isabella Mesa told Noticias Caracol that Sebastian Villegas argued with Mesa at the end of party Sunday, hours before he killed her. The woman said that Villegas was 'jealous' and 'obsessed' with Mesa

Medellin law enforcement officials recovered the body of Isabella Mesa from her boyfriend's home Sunday evening

Isabella Mesa was a mother to a three-year-old boy and lived in Mexico, where she moved from Colombia to pursue a career in modeling

Villegas made his first court appearance via camera on Tuesday. He faces up to 50 years in prison if he is convicted.

'The idea is that she was going to spend time with him, but what the mother tells us is that at no time did they see any act of violence prior to these events,' Medellin prosecutor Yiri Amado told reporters.

Mesa's best friend, Michelle Velez, honored her memory with a touching tribute on Facebook the featured pictures from their early teen years.

'I feel so proud of the woman you were becoming, the wonderful mother you were for that baby you loved so much,' Velez wrote. 'You deserved everything good in this life, since I met you we lived so many moments together which I will always carry in my heart and in my mind, I will never, ever forget you and believe me, justice will be done.'

Velez revealed that they had previously spoken about women who were victims 'feminicides' and how they 'so afraid that one day' they could find themselves as victims.

'Today, with all the pain in my soul, I have to say goodbye to you, my best friend, my partner, my crazy person... I wonder why you? You only brought us all happiness,' she wrote. 'I don't understand why they took your life away like this. You didn't deserve it. Recently we were talking about everything that would be our life, we were planning our trips, talking about all our dreams.

'How difficult it is to assimilate that you are no longer here today, that I will never be able to see you again; It hurts me so much to remember that a few days ago when we were talking about everything in our lives, you held my hand and asked me if we would become old ladies together? With all the security in the world I gave you a YES, I made a promise and look now what happened we won't be able to keep it.'
The accused killer of rap pioneer Jam Master Jay walked right up to the superstar in a Queens recording studio and gave a half handshake before shooting him dead and 'shrugging' off his limp body, a tearful witness testified.

'He walked directly to Jay and gave a potential handshake, a half a handshake,' Uriel 'Tony' Rincon said from a witness stand on Wednesday about Karl Jordan Jr. Thats when I hear a couple of shots. I dropped my phone looked at him [Jordan] at the same time I see Jay fall.

As I see Jay falling, I see Jordan shrug Jay off him.'

The killer fled the scene following the October 2002 shooting, and it wasn't until 2020 that prosecutors charged Jordan, 40, and Ronald Washington, 59, in the October 2002 killing of the Run-DMC star. The two men are now on trial in federal court over the murder.

Witnesses had been uncooperative for years leading the case to go cold. Rincon, who was shot himself in the encounter, admitted he was scared to name names - despite seeing the killer's tattoo as he fled the area.

Rincon detailed his fears about identifying the shooter and even said Jordan approached him at the rapper's funeral to ask if he saw the killer.

I said no. I felt uncomfortable that he was probing to see if I did,' Rincon said.

A federal judge ruled that rap lyrics by one of the suspects in the killing of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay (pictured) can't be used at trial

Karl Jordan Jr. (left), now 40, the hip-hop star's godson, is on trial for Jam Master Jay's murder. He is being tried along with co-defendant Ronald Washington (right), 59

The friend of Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, fled New York City after the killing and it wasn't until 2017 that he told police what he saw.

I explained what I saw with the events that transpired and explained that I didnt bring them up sooner because I was concerned for my mother.

His [Jays] wife and children needed closure and deserved to know what happened,' Rincon said as he cried throughout his testimony.

Rincon was the prosecution's star witness on Wednesday. He spent hours on the stand recounting the night Mizell was killed. Prosecutors have said the murder was a drug deal gone bad.

Mizell worked the turntables alongside rappers Joe 'Run' Simmons and Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels as the group helped bring hip-hop into the mainstream in the 1980s with hits like 'Its Tricky' and a remake of Aerosmiths 'Walk This Way' off the best-selling 1986 album 'Raising Hell'

Mizell was 37 and a father-of-three when he was shot dead after allegedly acquiring 10 kilograms of cocaine from a Midwest distributor, which Washington, Jordan and others planned to distribute in the Baltimore area.

But the dealer involved in the sale refused to work with Washington, cutting both defendants out of a potential $200,000 payday, prosecutors alleged.

Jordan, who was 18 at the time, and Washington, who was then 38, thought they would be part of the lucrative Baltimore deal and became enraged when Mizell told them they were cut out leaving them with nothing.

Defense attorneys argued that police still haven't figured it out, and urged jurors to be skeptical of witnesses who are cooperating in exchange for leniency over their own legal troubles.

Ronald Capehart who claims to know Jam Master Jay speaks to the media outside the Brooklyn Federal Court as his killer face trial

Michael Hueston, defense attorney for Karl Jordan Jr, is seen outside the Brooklyn courthouse on Wednesday

Washington's attorney Jacqueline Cistaro is spotted walking into the federal court house ahead of Wednesday's testimony

Prosecutors say the men entered a Queens recording studio, upset over being cut out of the drug deal, and Jordan shot Mizell at point-blank range

A gun found at the scene of the killing of Jam Master Jay. Jordan shot him in the head with a 40-caliber bullet from a few inches away, 'killing him instantly' in a 'brazen murder,' prosecutors alleged

The body of Jason Mizell, a.k.a. Jam Master Jay, a member of the pioneering rap trio Run DMC, is removed from a recording studio where he was shot and killed in October 2002

Rincon and Mizell were playing video games moments before the fatal shooting, he testified. The two met through mutual friends years earlier and Rincon regularly worked for Mizell.

Jordan and Washington came through the door of the studio, Rincon recalled as he pointed at both suspects to identify them as the people he saw in the studio.

When he heard the shots, Rincon recalled how he dropped his phone in time to see Mizell fall to the ground.

He essentially fell on him and Little D [aka Jordan] had to shake Jason off him,' Rincon said.

That is when Washington told a woman in the studio to stay down, Rincon said. Washington was at the door and never moved during the shooting.

Jordan ran out roughly 15 seconds after the killing, as Rincon said he made note of the suspect's neck tattoo. It was also then that Rincon felt pain in his own leg from a bullet wound. He called for Jay, just hoping the Run-DMC member would respond.

I was putting pressure on my leg. Randy [Allen] exited the control room a second or two later,' Rincon said. Randy grabbed the gun and went out the door where Little D and Tenard went.

A police officer testified Tuesday about Allen showing up at the precinct, telling cops about the shooting and then officers responding to the studio.

I just said, I got shot and my friends not moving. He needs help more than I do,' Rincon said from the witness stand about what he told officers.

I did not tell them who shot him because I was scared. I was surprised at what I saw and what happened.

Police did not make any arrests in the initial aftermath and the case would later go cold. Rincon talked about how he didn't want to ID the killer to make sure his mother was safe.

Mizell worked the turntables alongside rappers Joe 'Run' Simmons and Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels as the group helped bring hip-hop into the mainstream in the 1980s with hits like 'Its Tricky' and a remake of Aerosmiths 'Walk This Way' off the best-selling 1986 album 'Raising Hell'

Mizell was 37 and a father-of-three when he was shot dead after allegedly acquiring 10 kilograms of cocaine from a Midwest distributor, which Washington, Jordan and others planned to distribute in the Baltimore area

The suspects face a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of at least 20 years in prison if convicted

Rincon said at Mizell's funeral that Jordan approached him as he walked with his mom.

I was walking back to the car with my mom when Little D came up to me with a couple of friends and asked if I saw who did it,' Rincon said. I said no. I felt uncomfortable that he was probing to see if I did.

However, defense attorneys pounced on interviews between police and Rincon where Rincon said he didn't know who killed Mizell. Jordan's Defense Attorney Mark DeMarco asked about Rincon telling officers he didn't have an ID.

Yes I was scared and not trusting of the situation,' Rincon said.

DeMarco then asked if it was a lie and whether Rincon gave the false evidence because he was scared. Rincon admitted he was afraid and was still scared testifying on Wednesday.

'Are you lying today? the defense attorney questioned. No, Rincon said.
The conservative firebrand said she is not looking to get involved in the race yet

Greene said there are some 'good candidates' in the crowded Colorado primary

Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has warned her GOP colleague Lauren Boebert she should be 'very concerned' after finishing fifth in a straw poll of voters in her new Colorado district.

Boebert was first elected to represent Colorado's 3rd District in 2020, but last month she announced she was shifting her reelection bid to the more conservative 4th District after fellow Republican House member Ken Buck said he would retire from Congress.

It appears Boebert has an uphill fight to earn the district's GOP nomination after a string of controversies and her husband's arrest dominating headlines.

Rep. Greene said Boebert should be 'very concerned' after coming in fifth in a straw poll of Republican voters in Colorado's 4th District

Rep. Greene (left) and Boebert attending a House Freedom Caucus news conference in 2021

Rep. Lauren Boebert (left) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene scream 'build the wall' as President Biden delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress

Her fifth place finish out of nine candidates in the straw poll last week followed the first debate among Republican candidates running for the seat.

'I saw that she came in fifth place in the straw poll over the weekend which she should be very concerned about,' Greene said in an interview with The Hill. 'I think that's a serious primary and it seems like there are some good candidates in there.'

Greene said it will remain to be seen what happens with the polling in the Colorado district, but she is not looking to get involved in the race just yet.

'I think she's got to earn those people's support,' Greene said of Boebert.

While Greene isn't jumping in to tip the race for now, there has been no love lost between the two far-right Congresswomen in Washington where they've exchanged hostilities on and off the House floor.

Last January during the Speaker election, Greene and Boebert reportedly almost got into a screaming match in a women's restroom near the House floor over Boebert's opposition to Kevin McCarthy.

Their animosity toward each other then spilled into public view over the summer when they had a heated exchange on the House floor.

Greene accused Boebert for copying her over a resolution to impeach President Biden, reportedly calling Boebert a 'little b***h' to her face.

In November, Greene posted about 'vaping groping' Boebert in a rant on X, a reference to an incident over the summer where Boebert was caught on camera for touching her date's crotch and vaping during a Denver performance of the musical Beetlejuice before being kicked out of the theater.

In 2022, it was reported the two had to be physically separated at a House Freedom Caucus event where they nearly came to blows.

Boebert's relocation was a move that would have put her in a safe Republican congressional district should she beat out fellow GOP candidates for the party nomination.

Rep. Boebert speaking at a House Freedom Caucus news conference in Washington in 2023

In 2022, the conservative firebrand barely eked out a victory over Democrat Adam Frisch in the 3rd District. She won that race by fewer than 600 votes.

In announcing her district move in December, Boebert said it was a fresh start after her divorce and 'personal mistakes.' The 37-year-old mother of four and grandmother's divorce was finalized last fall.

But Boebert has joined crowded field of Republicans vying to fill the Colorado seat being vacated by Congressman Buck. Out of 117 votes cast in the straw poll, Logan County Commissioner Jerry Sonnenberg led with 22 votes, former Colorado House Minority Leader Mike Lynch received 20 votes, local filmmaker Deborah Flora received 18 votes and Colorado House Minority Whip Richard Holtorf came in fourth with 17 votes. Boebert received 12 votes.
A 'Walter Mitty' police chief is now facing gross misconduct proceedings after wearing a Falklands War medal despite being 15 at the time of the conflict.

Suspended Northamptonshire Police commissioner Nick Adderley, 57, will now be the subject of an accelerated disciplinary hearing following allegations he misrepresented his military service.

The married father-of-two, who was among the frontrunners to take on the Met before Sir Mark Rowley became commissioner in 2022, is accused of wearing the South Atlantic Medal at a string of events including the Police Bravery Awards in July.

The county's police and crime commissioner said the decision to pursue gross misconduct proceedings against him was taken after the Independent Office for Police Conduct produced a report which concluded there was a case to answer.

Stephen Mold said: 'I am grateful to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for the work it has carried out to date into the allegations against Chief Constable Nick Adderley. I am now convening an independent panel to consider the allegations.'

Nick Adderley will now face an accelerated disciplinary hearing following allegations he misrepresented his past by wearing a Falklands War campaign medal despite being 15 at the time of the conflict

Video footage has revealed how Mr Adderley flaunted the South Atlantic Medal, which was awarded to British military personnel who served in the 1982 war between Britain and Argentina.

A complaint was received from a member of the public, before a mandatory referral of the complaint was made to the Independent Office For Police Conduct who are now looking into the allegations.

Mr Adderley previously said he was 'very proud of his Cadet, Royal Navy and Police Service', adding he also wears medals awarded to his brothers with no further clarification.

'I wear all my medals with pride and have always worn the two medals my brothers gave me to wear when one became critically ill and one emigrated, alongside my own.

'Having been made aware of this complaint, which has a private family impact upon me personally, I immediately took advice last week regarding the protocol and have changed the side of my chest on which these medals are worn.

'I look forward to providing the IOPC with a fulsome response at the earliest opportunity and I fully appreciate that they have a job to do.'

Mr Adderley, 57, claimed that he had served for a decade before joining the police force in 1992.

But court documents reported in The Sun show he held a licence to sell alcohol at the Hooton Arms pub in Wirral, Merseyside, from 1989 to 1990.

Mr Adderley would have only been 15-years-old at the time of the conflict with Argentina in 1982

The police chief served in the Navy for two years, worked as a lorry driver and sold houses for six years as a civilian, according to contemporaries.

The IOPC said it will wait until the end of its criminal investigation before deciding whether to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether crimes were committed.

In a statement, the watchdog said: 'We have sent a report relating to disciplinary matters to the police, fire and crime commissioner for Northamptonshire alongside our recommendation that the chief constable's conduct should be considered at a misconduct hearing, for potential breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour, which could amount to gross misconduct.

'The standards identified are honesty and integrity and discreditable conduct.'

Mr Adderley pinned the 1982 campaign medal to his chest  despite not joining the Royal Navy until two years later

The statement added: 'Our criminal investigation into allegations that the chief constable of Northamptonshire, Nick Adderley, has misrepresented his military service is ongoing.

'At the end of the investigation, we will decide whether or not to refer a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider any potential offence.'

Mr Adderley took over as head of the Northamptonshire force in 2018 after joining the police service in 1992 and serving in Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Staffordshire.
The Biden administration has spoken of resuming payouts to a disgraced UN agency in Gaza and praised its 'extraordinary' efforts, despite evidence of deep-rooted ties to Hamas extremists.

The US State Department froze funding to the agency, known as UNRWA, along with a cascade of other countries, after Israeli intelligence officials revealed some Palestinian staffers took part in Hamas' Oct 7 massacres.

Washington's UN envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Tuesday praised UNRWA for its 'great' and 'extraordinary' work and spoke of the need to 'resume funding' as soon as the UN had cracked down on its extremist members.

'We need to see fundamental changes before we can resume providing funding directly to UNRWA,' said Thomas-Greenfield.



The Biden administration's UN envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield praised the 'great work' of the disgraced UN agency

Many UN staffers in Gaza have expressed support for the Oct 7 Hamas massacres in Israel

'We shouldn't let that cloud the great work that UNRWA does.'

Meanwhile, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on Tuesday said the US had sent all but $300,000 of about $121 million budgeted for UNRWA to the agency for the financial year starting in October.

Poll Should the UN's agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, be dissolved? Yes No Not sure Should the UN's agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, be dissolved? Yes 61 votes

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He suggested the impact on UNRWA's life-saving aid operations would be minor.

The White House is at odds with Republicans, who say that UNRWA's ties to Hamas and the Oct 7 bloodbath mean that funding should be cut permanently and the agency broken apart and replaced.

'Not a single penny of our tax dollars should go to UNRWA,' Florida Republican lawmaker Brian Mast posted on X/Twitter.

'UNRWA is a front: plain and simple. While it masquerades as a relief organization, it has built the infrastructure to support Hamas and has indoctrinated Palestinian children to hate all Jews.'

UNRWA announced on Friday that it had fired some staff after Israel provided the agency with information about their involvement in the Oct 7 bloodbath, which saw some 1200 killed and 240 kidnapped.

Hillel Neuer urged a House foreign affairs committee to 'dissolve' UNRWA and presented extremist messages from Hamas-supporting Palestinian teachers in UN schools

Neuer presented incendiary messages from a Telegram group for 3,000 Palestinian teachers with the UN aid agency there, UNRWA

UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that of 12 people implicated, nine were fired, one is dead, and the identity of the remaining two was being clarified. The US and other donors temporarily paused funding pending an investigation.

Guterres met with dozens of UNRWA donors in New York for more than two hours on Tuesday to discuss the UN action being taken in response to the Israeli allegations and hear concerns. Several ambassadors described the meeting as constructive.

The top UN diplomat urged them to reconsider their funding cuts.

An Israeli intelligence dossier includes accusations that some UNRWA staff took part in abductions and killings during the Oct 7 raid that sparked the Gaza war and alleges some 190 UNRWA employees have doubled as Hamas or Islamic Jihad militants.

The dossier reportedly says that about a tenth of UNRWA staff in Gaza have ties to Hamas.

The Palestinians have accused Israel of falsifying information to tarnish UNRWA.

Congress on Tuesday learned of how widespread support is for Hamas among Palestinian teachers working at the UN's schools on Gaza.

Matthew Miller suggested the State Department's funding freeze would not significantly affect UNRWA's work

Hillel Neuer, the director of UN Watch, which monitors the UN, told lawmakers about his probe into a Telegram channel for 3,000 UN teachers in Gaza that was filled with posts by members praising the bloodbath.

As well as sharing files and curriculum materials, the teachers also celebrated Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, praising the terrorists who raped and murdered civilians as 'heroes' and sharing photos of dead or captured Israelis.

One member of the group commented on a photo of a dead Hamas fighter.

'Our martyrs are in heaven,' he wrote, adding that Israel's 'dead are in hell.'

Neuer told the House subcommittee that the UN agency should be permanently 'dissolved.'

'It's time to stop pretending that UNRWA is at all fixable,' said Neuer.

'The very existence of a Telegram group of 3,000 teachers in which members celebrate Hamas atrocities is but a symptom of the core problem of UNRWA: its true purpose is to undo the 1948 creation of Israel.'

The UN agency for Palestinians, known as UNRWA, provides aid and education for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, like this school in Hebron

UNRWA employs 13,000 people in Gaza, running the enclave's schools, its primary healthcare clinics and other social services, and distributing humanitarian aid.

Defenders of the agency privately admit that Palestinian staffers often hold trenchant views against Israel  but say they broadly represent the range of opinion across Palestinian society.

UN Gaza aid coordinator Sigrid Kaag said on Tuesday that 'there is no way that any organization can replace or substitute (the) tremendous capacity ... of UNRWA.'

But Israel has vowed to stop the agency's work in Gaza after its war there is wrapped up. Government spokesman Eylon Levy on Tuesday said the agency was 'fundamentally compromised.'

He accused it of 'hiring terrorists on a massive scale, letting its infrastructure be used for Hamas military activity and relying on Hamas for aid distribution in the Gaza Strip.'

After the Oct 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people, mostly civilians, its military launched an air, land and sea offensive that has claimed some 27,000 lives, mostly women and children, says Gaza's health ministry.
A second saw a youth armed with a knife attempting to steal mobile phones

This is the shocking moment a young teenager attempted to attack another with a knife in broad daylight.

Video footage filmed by an Uber driver in Rotherhithe, south east London on Tuesday shows one teenager in a dark hoodie with a blade in his right hand.

The teenager starts off fighting with the other youth. Several punches are exchanged before the knife is fully seen.

Footage then shows the boy, with blade in hand, walking up to the other teenager and threatening to stab him. The boy then cycles away.

The incident is the latest terrifying incident to plague south east London after a surge in knife crime over the last 12 months.

The youth approaches the boy and attempts to attack him in broad daylight during a fight

The teenager attempted to fight back several times during the incident in Rotherhithe

Police have launched an investigation into the incident and are making enquiries

The youth quickly left the scene after the incident which took place on Tuesday

Figures released by the Met Police show there were 501 knife crime incidents in Greenwich in 2023, a 24.3 percent increase on 2022.

Meanwhile in Southwark, 736 incidents occurred in 2023, a 3.5 percent increase on 2022.

A Met Police spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We are aware of a distressing video circulating on social media which shows a male holding a knife and waving it at another person.

'This video was taken on Rotherhithe New Road, SE16, at around 12:25hrs on Tuesday, 30 January.

'Officers were made aware of this incident and attended the scene shortly after. Despite searching the area, there was no trace of the man at this time.'

They added: 'We would like to reassure local residents that enquiries into this incident are ongoing.

'We would encourage anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed anything or who has any information about the identity of the male to get in touch with police as soon as possible.

'You can call us on 101 or post on 'X' @MetCC and quote CAD 5003/3.'

Meanwhile, four teenagers were convicted of two murder charges each after police detectives pieced together a complex case through detailed analysis of CCTV footage.

Alagie Jobe, 19, Hussain Bah, 19, a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old were convicted of two counts of murder last Friday at Inner London Crown Court.

A double murder investigation was launched on November 26, 2022 after two 16-year-olds  Charlie Bartolo and Kearne Solanke  were found with fatal stab injuries just one mile apart in Greenwich.

Initially, there was no obvious link between the two murders. However, police quickly identified a sequence of events.

Hussain Bah and Alagie Jobe were convicted for the murders of Charlie Bartolo and Kearne Solanke

Bartolo and two friends were riding motorbikes on Sewell Road at around 5pm when Bartolo was deliberately rammed by a car which came towards him. He was thrown over the bike handlebars and into the air.

Solanke, Jobe and the 16-year-old defendant got out of the passenger side where Bartolo had fallen before stabbing him eight times in the head.

CCTV footage shows each of the attackers used large knives to injure Bartolo. During the incident, Kearne had also been accidentally stabbed by one of his friends.

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Two others who got out of the driver's side of the car did not physically participate in the violence  although the driver was armed with a knife.

Solanke then got back into the car with the rest of the group, and they all drove away.

But, when the car reached Titmuss Avenue only a mile away, the group abandoned the car and left Kearne to die on the pavement.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn said: 'I am glad that all four defendants have been found guilty. It was an unusual case in that the murder of Kearne Solanke, was obviously not what the group had set out to achieve.

'However, we successfully proved that the group, in the course of their joint attack, intended to cause death or at least really serious injury and, one of their members was, sadly, an inadvertent victim of that.

'This case demonstrates the utter devastation caused by knife crime and people who arm themselves with large knives, not only risk killing those they see as enemies, but also people they consider their friends. My thoughts, and those of my team, remain with the families of both Charlie and Kearne.'

Meanwhile, police arrested two teenagers, aged 14 and 15, after several mobile phones were stolen in Greenwich.

Police were called to Eastside Park last Sunday at around 11:30am. Victims reported the pair snatched the phones from their hands while on e-bikes.

Similar calls were received about more incidents between Deptford and the O2.

Using data and quick time intelligence to link the pattern, officers managed to locate two teenagers. Seven mobile phones and one machete were recovered.

Both were arrested on suspicion of theft while the 14-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and later charged. He appeared at Bromley Magistrates' Youth Court on Tuesday, January 30.

Three of the phones have been returned to their rightful owners and work is ongoing to trace the owners of the remaining phones.

Charlie Bartolo, 16, was rammed off his motorbike by a car before five killers jumped out and stabbed him repeatedly in Sewell Road, Abbey Wood, southeast London on November 26, 2022

One of the attackers, 16-year-old Kearne Solanke (pictured), was accidentally knifed in the shoulder by his friend as they set upon Charlie

The number of knife crimes, robberies and advance fee scams in England and Wales have increased over the past year, after falling during the pandemic

12,786 knife offences were carried out in London in 2022/23. the latest figures show

Superintendent Jim Corbett, who leads on emergency response across south east London, said: 'We know theft is a big worry for people, and it is frightening to have something snatched from you.

'As soon as we started getting the calls officers responded. They quickly identified suspects who were arrested and a number of mobile phones - and a machete  were recovered.

'We will continue our work to crack down on this type of crime which has a significant impact on victims.'

The incidents comes as the latest figures released by the Met Police show that knife crime in the London Borough of Greenwich and Southwark, where the incidents took place, increased.

The latest ONS data shows 12,786 knife offences were carried out in London over the year leading to March 2023, a 16 per cent increase from the year before.

The total number of crimes recorded by police in England and Wales stood at 6.7 million in 2022/23, compared with 6.3 million in 2021/22.
Student loan debt for Americans who dropped out of college grew by $1 billion, new data revealed, as millions are hoping to get their debt wiped out by a new Biden administration forgiveness program.

A new report from the Higher Education Advisory Group found borrowers who took out loans from 2013 to 2015 but never completed college collectively owe $918 million more than they borrowed in the first place four years later in 2017 to 2019.

Those who took out loans and did complete college in the same time frame owe $3.2 billion less than the amount they first borrowed.

The report, commissioned by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, used federal databases to analyze debt of 3.9 million student loan borrowers from 1,949 institutions of higher education.

'College completion is critical to success. And if you complete your degree, youre more likely to show an ability to pay down your student loans compared with those who enter college, but never finish,' said the report.

Data shows borrowers who took out loans from 2013 to 2015 but never completed college collectively owe $918 million more than they borrowed in the first place four years later

'If these borrowers now owe more than they initially borrowed, it may indicate that they earn too little to keep up with accumulating interest on their federal loans.'

The report also found that the type of institution, regardless if completion, can play a role in how much money student loan borrows owe.

According to the analysis, students who complete their programs at for-profit institutions owe $951 million more four years later and those who did not finish owe $337 million more than they first borrowed.

President Joe Biden has been facing pressure to cancel student loan debt after the Supreme Court struck down his plan to forgive $400 billion in debt.

Federal student loan interest resumed in September and payments picked back up in October after a three-year pause that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two weeks ago, Biden fast-tracked a new student loan forgiveness plan which wipes out debt for certain borrowers who have been in repayment for the last decade.The plan, which will come into effect in February, will apply to borrowers who took out relatively small loans and are enrolled in the Biden administration's new income-driven payment plan.

'[Borrowers] who took out less than $12,000 in loans and have been in repayment for 10 years will get their remaining student debt cancelled immediately,' Biden said.

The plan was originally set to begin in July but is going into effect six months earlier. applies to borrowers enrolled in the new income-driven repayment plan known as Saving on a Valuable Education plan (SAVE).

President Joe Biden fast-tracked a new student loan forgiveness plan which wipes out debt for certain borrowers who have been in repayment for the last decade.

The Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden 's $400 billion student loans forgiveness plan in June 2023. The justices ruled 6-3 against Biden's plan

'This action will particularly help community college borrowers, low-income borrowers, and those struggling to repay their loans,' said Biden.

'It's part of our ongoing efforts to act as quickly as possible to give more borrowers breathing room so they can get out from under the burden of student loan debt, move on with their lives and pursue their dreams.'

The SAVE plan offers far more generous terms than several other income-driven repayment plans that its meant to replace. Previous plans offered cancellation after 20 or 25 years of payments, while the new plan offers it in as little as 10. The new plan also lowers monthly payments for millions of borrowers.

There are 30 million people eligible for the SAVE plan, with 6.9 million currently enrolled, according to the White House.

Counterintuitively, those with smaller student loan balances tend to struggle more. It's driven by millions of Americans who take out student loans but don't finish degrees, leaving them with the downside of debt without the upside of a higher income.
The mugshot of a 22-year-old thief arrested by California police in the middle of a burglary is going viral as viewers praise her looks.

Alexis Yancy, 22, and Isaac Rocha, 22, have been arrested for allegedly stealing items from a home in Visalia just before 1am on January 29.

But it is Yancy's mugshot that has grabbed the public's attention with Instagrammers commenting on how glamorous she looks.

Many commentators noted Yancy's height and said that she had 'stolen their heart'.

Alexis Yancy, 22, has been arrested for allegedly stealing items from a home in Visalia just before 1am on January 29

Isaac Rocha, 22, has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, possession of stolen property, conspiracy, resisting arrest and outstanding no-bail warrants

Visalia Police Department officers responded to a call from 1100 block of West Buena Vista Avenue about a vehicle parked in the alleyway and items being taken out of a house.

According to the officials, they saw three people fleeing the scene and soon set up a perimeter to arrest both the suspects.

The officers said in a Facebook post that Rocha, who was reportedly driving the suspect vehicle, had allegedly been found in possession of the stolen items from the victim's home in the trunk.

Yancy was charged with burglary, possession of stolen property, conspiracy, and resisting arrest.

She has been detained at the Bob Wiley Detention Facility and her bond is set at $60,000.

Yancy was charged with burglary, possession of stolen property, conspiracy, and resisting arrest

But it is Yancy's mugshot that has grabbed the public's attention with Instagrammers commenting how glamorous she looks

But Yancy's mugshot is now flooded with viewers saying that she has 'burglarized their heart'.

One user wrote: 'Your honor the only thing she burglarized is my heart.'

Another user added: 'Number five on the wall, number one in our hearts.'

One user chimed in: '5 feet tall y'all really think she's capable?' while another added 'The only thing shes guilty of stealing is our hearts.'

Yancy is due to appear in court today.

Rocha was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, possession of stolen property, conspiracy, resisting arrest and outstanding no-bail warrants.

Officials also recognized as one of the suspects from a previous assault with a deadly weapon that occurred at the same location earlier that evening.
A driver has pleaded not guilty to killing the daughter of an Ecuadorian politician who died after being struck by a Mercedes on London's Wandsworth Bridge

Octavian Cadar, 38, is accused over the death of 27-year-old psychology graduate Vanessa Sagnay de la Bastida, who was known as Charlotte.

Ms Sagnay died after being hit while crossing Bridgend Road, in Wandsworth, south London just before 10pm on March 16 2022.

On Wednesday, Cadar appeared at the Old Bailey for a plea hearing before Judge Anthony Leonard.

The defendant denied a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, saying: 'Not guilty, but guilty to careless driving.'

Charlotte Sagnay de la Bastida was the daughter of Ecuadorian politician Carlos Sagnay de la Bastida (pictured together)

Octavian Cadar, 38, is accused over the death of 27-year-old psychology graduate Vanessa Sagnay de la Bastida, who was known as Charlotte

The 27-year-old, who studied psychology at the University of St. Andrews and graduated with a master's degree from King's College London died after being hit while crossing the road just before 10pm on March 16 2022

Members of the victim's family and her fiance, Michael Williams, who witnessed the fatal incident, sat in court for the short hearing.

Judge Leonard set a five-day trial from July 29 with a pre-trial hearing on July 19.

Cadar, of Clydesdale Way, Belvedere, Bexley, south-east London, remains on unconditional bail.

Miss Sagnay de la Bastida was the daughter of Ecuadorian politician Carlos Sagnay de la Bastida.

His niece is Harriet Clapham, a private art collector and the wife of Sotheby's director Harry Primrose, Lord Dalmeny.

Despite an Air Ambulance attending the scene, nothing could be done to save Miss Sagnay de la Bastida, who was employed by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust as a research assistant within their Department of Psychology.

Following the tragedy, Charlotte's closest friend Kristina Smirnoffa wrote: 'It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Charlotte Sagnay de la Bastida at the young age of twenty-seven.

Octavian Cadar, 38, denied a charge of causing death by dangerous driving in court today

Charlotte Sagnay de la Bastida with fiance Michael Williams

Despite an Air Ambulance attending the scene, nothing could be done to save Miss Sagnay de la Bastida, who was employed by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust as a research assistant within their Department of Psychology

'Charlotte was everything, a loving fiance to Michael, a caring friend, a kind daughter, a hard worker, a fantastic cheerleader.

'Charlotte was the main character in most of our lives. Charlotte lit up every room she walked into.

'She was a true princess and a fighter. She was beautiful inside and outfor the way she thoughtfor the way her eyes sparkledfor the way she lifted others up around her.

'She was taken from us so soon, so suddenly, without a goodbye. Charlotte will be missed dearly.'

At the time Detective Constable Jenny Burr, who led the initial investigation, said: 'Wandsworth Bridge is a popular and busy route across the Thames and it is likely that people either witnessed the collision, or may have dash-cam footage that could assist our investigation.

'I am appealing to those people to get in touch. Our thoughts are with her family.'
German music rights firm BMG, which signed Waters in 2016, recently parted ways with the 80-year-old rock star following a series of controversies including a slew of inflammatory remarks he made about Israel.

Waters told Variety in November he had been 'fired' by the company after the relatively new CEO Thomas Coesfeld canned a planned release of a newly-recorded rerun of a Pink Floyd album. Sources have now told the magazine they have parted ways.

BMG officials told DailyMail.com they were aware of the report but would not comment on it.

The band's former bassist had been slated to release a new version of the 1973 album 'Dark Side of the Moon' - but the project was reassigned to UK-based band Cooking Vinyl.

It comes after he allegedly sang that his agent was a 'f***ing Jew' in an improvised song, and appeared to dress as a Nazi at a Berlin gig in May.

Pink Floyd 's Roger Waters has finally been dropped by his record label months after he was accused of anti-Semitism for backing Hamas ' October 7 attack against Israel

German music rights firm BMG, which signed Waters in 2016, recently parted ways with the 80-year-old rock star following a series of controversies including a slew of inflammatory remarks he made about Israel

Waters told Variety in November he had been 'fired' by the company after the relatively new CEO Thomas Coesfeld (pictured) canned a planned release of a newly-recorded rerun of a Pink Floyd album

The claim about the song came from Rogers' former producer Bob Ezrin in The Dark Side of Roger Waters, a documentary produced by the Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Ezrin, who has also worked with huge names like Lou Reed, U2, Taylor Swift and Aerosmith, said he was 'embarrassed' to admit that he didn't challenge the bassist on his ditty about Bryan Morrison.

He added: 'It was my first inclination that there may be some anti-semitism under the surface.

'Now, Roger knew that I'm Jewish, so I didn't know whether this was another one of those button-poking things that he was doing, just to see if I would react, or if he just didn't even get how offensive that might be to a Jewish person.'

He is convinced that Waters genuinely doesn't see himself as anti-semitic despite the nature of his alleged comments.

Ezrin concluded: 'I don't believe that Roger sees himself as an anti-semite, in the same way that most people don't see themselves as racist.

'But he walks like one, he quacks one, he swims like one - so you know, from my point of view he's functionally a duck.'

Bryan Morrison, the alleged subject of Waters' improvised song according to Mr Erzin, died in 2008 aged 66 after spending two years in a coma following a fall from a horse.

The documentary also broadcasts claims Waters wanted a giant floating pig at his concerts to be emblazoned with the Star of David and slogans that contained denigrating language about Jewish people.

Music mogul Bryan Morrison, who was allegedly the target of an anti-semitic ditty sung by Roger Waters while in the recording studio. He died in 2008

Pictured: An inflatable pig emblazoned with insults aimed at Donald Trump at a 2016 Roger Waters concert in California. Claims have been made that Waters wanted a similar pig to be plastered with anti-semitic language

In an email, allegedly sent by Waters in 2010, he appears to suggest to his backstage team that the pig should be made with 'dirty k***', 'follow the money' and 'scum' written on the sides.

The word 'k***' is a notoriously offensive word used to denigrate Jews, while the money reference is a classic anti-Jewish trope, says the new film.

The pig was eventually made without these terms, but with the Star of David and dollar signs, and has been a feature of Waters' concerts.

Gideon Falter, chief executive of the CAA, said: 'Roger Waters has repeatedly used his enormous platform to bait Jews, but he always claims that he is not antisemitic.

'We believed that there was further evidence out there to the contrary, and the release of The Dark Side of Roger Waters now puts the evidence we obtained in the hands of the public.

'It is hard to imagine a rockstar emblazoning the N-word above their concerts, but Mr Waters demanded that his crew do exactly that with the K-word. Not only that, but he seems to have spent time humiliating and harassing his Jewish staff.

'One cannot help but watch this film and wonder what kind of person uses their power to this effect. Is Roger Waters an anti-semite? Now people can make up their own minds.'

Waters himself has repeatedly denied he is anti-semitic, saying that the allegation has arisen from past comments about the Israeli government, which he says sees him as an 'existential threat to their settler-colonialist, racist, apartheid regime'.

After his appearance in a Nazi-esque coat in Berlin in May, he released a statement denying that he harboured anti-semitic beliefs.

Pictured: Roger Waters dressed in a long black leather coat with a Nazi-style armband during a concert at the O2 Arena in London in June this year

Roger Waters previously said claims he is an anti-semite are 'bull***' and 'vicious lies' after he was condemned for wearing a 'Nazi-style' trench coat on stage - including in Germany

Members of the Jewish community demonstrated outside The O2 Arena in June before a Roger Waters performance

'My recent performance in Berlin has attracted bad faith attacks from those who want to smear and silence me because they disagree with my political views and moral principles,' he said.

'The elements of my performance that have been questioned are quite clearly a statement in opposition to fascism, injustice, and bigotry in all its forms.

'Attempts to portray those elements as something else are disingenuous and politically motivated.

'The depiction of an unhinged fascist demagogue has been a feature of my shows since Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' in 1980.

'I have spent my entire life speaking out against authoritarianism and oppression wherever I see it.

'When I was a child after the war, the name of Anne Frank was often spoken in our house, she became a permanent reminder of what happens when fascism is left unchecked.

'My parents fought the Nazis in World War II, with my father paying the ultimate price.

'Regardless of the consequences of the attacks against me, I will continue to condemn injustice and all those who perpetrate it.'
Former Co-op boss Paul Flowers has arrived at court using a wheeled walking frame as he faces trial over an alleged 68,000 fraud.

The 73-year-old ex-Labour councillor was seen attending Manchester Crown Court today for a hearing over claims he committed fraud by abusing his position.

He is accused of carrying out the crime while acting as a power of attorney for Margaret Mary Jarvis and  after her death  when he acted as an executor.

No pleas were entered today as the case was adjourned to March 1.

Former Methodist minister Flowers previously suffered a stroke the day before he was due in court accused of fraud, a judge was told last September.

Flowers was not present for a brief hearing scheduled then at Manchester Magistrates' Court where he was due to appear accused of defrauding a woman and using cheques while 'dishonestly' acting as power of attorney.

Former Co-op Bank boss Paul Flowers, 73, appeared at Manchester Crown Court today

The ex-Labour councillor, pictured using a wheeled walking frame to enter the court building, is alleged to have carried out a 68,000 fraud by abuse of position

District Judge Tom Mitchell adjourned the hearing for a month after being told Flowers had a stoke on August 29, the day before he was first due to first appear in court.

Flowers is a former Methodist minister, Labour councillor in both Rochdale and Bradford and chairman of Co-op Bank between 2010 and 2013.

Elizabeth Ridgway, defending him, asked for last September's hearing to be adjourned.

She told how her client had sent an email on August 30 to say he had had a stroke the previous day and had been in hospital.

A letter was also received from community psychiatric services which said the stroke had impacted Flowers' mobility and he was struggling to leave his home in Swinton, Salford.

Ms Ridgway said the letter asked for Flowers to be given time to recover his physical and mental health.

District Judge Mitchell said at the time: 'A person must be before the court before they can be dealt with. He has to appear here at some point.'

Flowers served more than 15 years as a Labour Party councillor on Rochdale and Bradford councils.

During this period, in 2010, he was appointed to the party's finance advisory board by then Labour leader Ed Miliband.

In 2009, the Co-operative Bank merged with Britannia Building Society and it was later revealed the merger led to a 1.5billion capital shortfall requiring an emergency rescue for the bank in 2013.

The fraud trial for Paul Flowers was adjourned until March 1 at Manchester Crown Court

Former Co-op Bank boss Paul Flowers in 2014, the year after it needed an emergency rescue

Then-Labour leader Ed Miliband, pictured, appointed Flowers to the party's finance advisory board in 2010

Its owner, the Co-op Group, was wiped out and the bank is now owned by private equity groups.

A report concluded there had been broken corporate governance and executive management failings at the bank.

Flowers is accused of fraud by abuse of position.

The full charge against Flowers listed in court reads: 'Between 28/6/16 and 28/10/17 at Salford committed fraud in that while occupying a position, namely Enduring Power of Attorney, in which you were expected to safeguard, or not act against the financial interests of Margaret Mary Jarvis, you dishonestly abused that position intending thereby to make a gain, namely staircase, carpets and 11 cheques paid to the defendant, for yourself, contrary to Sections 1 and 4 of the Fraud Act 2006.'
10 major criminal suspects transferred back to China from Myanmar

Xinhua) 13:09, January 31, 2024

Criminal suspects escorted by Chinese police officers are pictured on a charter flight to China, Jan. 30, 2024. The Myanmar police on Tuesday handed six key leaders of Kokang telecom fraud gangs and four other major criminal suspects over to China, according to China's Ministry of Public Security. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

KUNMING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar police on Tuesday handed six key leaders of Kokang telecom fraud gangs and four other major criminal suspects over to China, according to China's Ministry of Public Security.

The ten suspects were escorted by Chinese police officers back to China via a charter flight that landed in Kunming on Tuesday evening, the ministry said, adding that it is another landmark achievement of Chinese and Myanmar police cooperation in law enforcement.

It demonstrates the firm determination and strong will of the two countries to jointly combat transnational telecom fraud crimes and work together to maintain security and stability, it said.

The ministry said that for a long time, multiple criminal groups in the Kokang region in northern Myanmar have openly organized armed fraud gangs and carried out telecom fraud crimes against Chinese citizens. They were also suspected of multiple and severe violent crimes such as intentional homicide, intentional injury, and illegal detention.

On Dec. 10, 2023, the Chinese police issued a public reward for 10 ring leaders of the telecom fraud criminal gangs in the Kokang region and sent a working group to Myanmar.

Tuesday's successful handover took place after China and Myanmar reached a consensus following multiple rounds of talks and consultations.

An officer of the ministry said that 44,000 telecom fraud suspects have been handed over to China from Myanmar so far, including 2,908 fugitives.

The Chinese police will always maintain a high-pressure posture to crack down on such crimes, and continue to deepen international law enforcement cooperation and arrest ring leaders of telecom fraud criminal gangs, said the officer.

Criminal suspect Bai Suo Cheng is escorted by Chinese police officers at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Criminal suspect Bai Suo Cheng is escorted by Chinese police officers at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Criminal suspect Liu Zheng Mao is handed over to Chinese police officers at the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Criminal suspect Liu Zheng Xiang is handed over to Chinese police officers at the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Criminal suspect Wei Huai Ren is handed over to Chinese police officers at the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Criminal suspect Xu Lao Fa is handed over to Chinese police officers at the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Criminal suspect Bai Ying Cang is handed over to Chinese police officers at the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Criminal suspect Bai Suo Cheng is handed over to Chinese police officers at the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Criminal suspects are escorted by Chinese police officers at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Mark Zuckerberg today stood up during a Senate hearing and apologized to families who say social media contributed to their children's suicide or abuse.

The Meta chief, who runs Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, was rebuked by Senator Josh Hawley who asked him to address the public gallery directly during the hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

'I'm sorry for everything you've all gone through,' Zuckerberg said. 'It's terrible. No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered.'

Zuckerberg appeared alongside TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Discord boss Jason Citron, X chief Linda Yaccarino and Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel.

All were grilled by Republicans about how they protect teenagers and children on their respective apps.

Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham used the occasion to chastise the Silicon Valley titans, claiming they don't do enough to protect kids from pedophiles and harmful content.

The bosses insisted that they do their utmost to shield youngsters from anything inappropriate, but conceded that they cannot always keep track of accounts due to the size and scale of their products.

Bosses of social media giants Facebook , TikTok , Twitter , and Snapchat are being grilled by Congress on the dangers their platforms bring to childr

Senator Ted Cruz said every parent in America was 'terrified about the garbage that is directed at our kids'.

'I have two teenagers at home, and the phones they have are portals to predators, to viciousness, to bullying, to self-harm... and each of your companies could do a lot more to prevent it,' he said.

Cruz pointed to a 2013 report that Instagram's algorithm was connecting pedophiles to accounts that advertised the sale of child porn - some of them run by children themselves, or featuring sex-trafficked kids.

'This content wasn't just living in the dark corners of Instagram, the algorithm was helping pedophiles to find it by promoting graphic hashtags,' he said.

He then held a blown-up screenshot of an Instagram prompt that asks users if they want to 'get resources' or 'see results anyway' when browsing harmful images.

The warning read 'these results may contain images of child sexual abuse', with an explanation underneath.

'You gave users two choices: "Get resources or see results anyway",' Cruz said, speaking directly to the Meta founder.

'Mr. Zuckerberg, what the hell were you thinking?', barely pausing long enough for the Meta founder to respond.

Senator Ted Cruz had a blown-up graphic put behind him showing and Instagram warning screen to users searching for child sexual abuse material

Zuckerberg said the 'basic science' behind the warning was that it was better to direct people searching for such content to get help, rather than blocking it

'I understand get resources, [but] in what sane universe is there a link for "see results anyway"?'

'Well, because we might be wrong,' Zuckerberg replied.

'We tried to trigger this warning when we think that there's any chance that there...'

'Ok you might be wrong... let me ask you, how many times was this warning screen displayed?' Cruz interjected.

Zuckerberg replied: 'I don't know the answer to that off the top of my head.'

Cruz said that was interesting because he asked it last June in an oversight letter and Meta refused to answer.

'Will you commit right now, to within five days answering this question for this committee?' he said.

'I'll personally look into it, but I'm not sure if we have that data.'

Cruz then asked how many time a user who got the warning clicked 'see results anyway'.

'I'm not sure if we stored that, but I'll personally look into this and we'll follow up after,' Zuckerberg replied.

'What follow up did Instagram do, when you have a potential pedophile clicking on that thinking "I'd like to see child porn" - what did you do next, when that happened?

Zuckerberg replied that Instagram took down anything that it thought was sexual abuse, and reported it to authorities

But Cruz wanted to know if anyone checked if the results actually were child porn, given he said 'we might be wrong'.

Zuckerberg said it was 'probably one of the factors' that helped lead to users being reported - and that Meta made 26 million reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, more than than the rest of the industry combined.

'You gave users two choices: Get resources' or see results anyway',' Cruz said, speaking directly to the Meta founder

Senator Lindsey Graham began the session with a stirring rebuke of all five tech bosses, accusing their platforms of killing young people, but zeroed in on Meta.

'Mr. Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us, I know you don't mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands,' he said.

'You have a product that's killing people. When we had cigarettes that were killing people, we did something about it - maybe not enough.

'You gonna talk about guns, we have the ATF... [but] nothing here, there's not a damn thing anybody can do about it (social media), you can't be sued.'

Senator Graham said internal Meta emails showed Zuckerberg was warned about the dangers of his apps, but decided not to hire 45 people to 'do a better job of policing this'.

'So the bottom line is you can't be sued. You should be, and these emails would be great for punitive damages, but the courtroom's closed to every American abused by all the companies in front of me,' he continued.

Senator Lindsey Graham began the session with a stirring rebuke of all five tech bosses, accusing their platforms of killing young people

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg , whose company runs Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, was sworn in to give evidence

He said social media was the last industry he would give blanket immunity from liability to, and it was time to repeal laws that did so.

'After years of working on this issue with you and others, Ive come to conclude the following: social media companies as theyre currently designed and operate are dangerous products,' Graham said.

'They're destroying lives, and threatening democracy itself. These companies must be reined in, or the worst is yet to come.'

Graham later said though social media had many upsides, the 'dark' side was becoming 'too great to live with'.

'I am tired of talking. I'm tired of having discussions,' he said.

'Open up the courthouse door. Until you do that, nothing will change. Until these people can be sued for the damage they're doing, it is all talk.

'I'm a Republican who believes in free enterprise, but I also believe that every American who's been wronged has to have somebody to go to to complain. There is no commission to go to that can punish you.

'There's not one law in the book because you oppose everything we do, and you can't be sued. That has to stop, folks.'

Families of kids 'killed by social media' pack hearing

The hearing started with recorded testimonies from kids and parents who said they or their children were exploited on social media.

Senator Chris Coons thanked families who held up photos of children who they said took their own lives after being sexually exploited via social media.

'This room is packed as far as the eye can see,' he said.

'The families that are here because they want us to see you, and to know your concern.

'You have contacted each of us in our offices expressing your grief, your loss, your passion, and your concern.'

Families hold up photos of victims of child exploitation and suicide in the audience behind the five tech bosses

Zuckerberg was asked to apologize to them during the hearing, and turned around and did so

Coons responded to Zuckerberg's reference to a National Academy of Sciences study that found 'at the population level' there was no proof of a link between social media and harm to young people.

'Well it may not be at the population level, but I'm looking at a room full of hundreds of parents who have lost children,' he said.

'Our challenge is to take the data and make good decisions about protecting families and children from harm.'

Coons said that when a door flew off Alaska Airlines flight 1282 earlier this month, dozens of planes were grounded for safety checks, even though no one died.

But nothing at all ever happened for social media companies, he said.

Among parents who lost children to suicide due to social media sexual exploitation was South Carolina state representative Brandon Guffey, who is suing Instagram.

Gavin Guffey, 17, died in 2022 after falling victim to sexual extortion, or 'sextortion,' where scammers posed as a girl and tricked the 17-year-old into sending a nude photo. They then demanded cash not to release it.

Rep Guffey learned what had led to the tragedy after he and his younger son began receiving messages demanding money in exchange for nude images of the late teen.

The lawmaker is now suing Meta for wrongful death and gross negligence, among other accusations. He claims the company is not doing enough to protect minors from online predators.

The lawsuit also accuses the company of sparking mental health issues in children such as depression and anxiety - and that it uses algorithms to target teens while not keeping them safe.

Many of the families stood up whenever Zuckerberg responded to questions from senators

Many of the photos were directly behind the tech bosses as they sat for their testimonies

South Carolina State Rep Brandon Guffey (right) has filed a lawsuit against Instagram's parent company after his son Gavin (center) was driven to suicide by a sextortionist

Zuckerberg claimed the responsibility should lie with app stores like those run by Apple and Google, to enforce age restrictions.

'My understanding is Apple and Google, or at least Apple, already requires parental consent when a child does a payment with an app,' he said.

'So it should be pretty trivial to pass a law that requires them to make it so that parents have control anytime a child downloads an app.'

Meta earlier this month, in preparation for the hearings, proposed its own legislation along those lines.

After grilling Zuckerberg, Cruz moved on to TikTok, asking about a Chinese law that forces all companies to support and cooperate with national security efforts.

Chew replied that TikTok wasn't available in Mainland China and an entity called Project Texas was created to put the US version 'out of reach' of such obligations.

Cruz said the law compelled companies to lie to protect national security secrets.

He then referred to an earlier statement in the hearing by Chew where he insisted that the Chinese Government never asked for TikTok data and it was never provided.

'I do not believe you, and the American people don't either,' Cruz said.

Cruz said an app that was 'essentially the same' as TikTok in China was promoting science and education videos and limited the amount of time children could use it

'In the US, you are promoting to kids self-harm videos and anti-Israel propaganda. Why is there such a dramatic difference?' he asked.

Chew said that wasn't accurate and there was a lot of beneficial content on TikTok.

Cruz then compared hashtag volume on Instagram and TikTok - twice as many for things like Taylor Swift and Donald Trump non Instagram.

But it was eight to one for #uyghur - an oppressed minority in China - and 30 to one for #tibet, 57 to one for references to Tiananmen Square, and 174 to one for protests in Hong Kong.

'Why is it that on Instagram, people can put up #HongKongProtest 174 times compared to TikTok? What censorship is TikTok doing at the request of the Chinese Government?' Cruz asked.

'None. Senator, that analysis is flawed and been debunked by other external sources,' Chew replied.

He said this was explained by not all videos carrying hashtags and that you couldn't selectively choose a few words - before he was cut off by Cruz

'What's the difference between Taylor Swift and Tiananmen Square? What happened at Tiananmen Square?' he asked, rhetorically.

'There were massive protests during that time,' Chew replied, insisting users could freely post about it.

'Our algorithm does not suppress any content simply based on... it doesn't'

'You're selectively choosing some words over some periods [and] we haven't been around as long as other apps.'

Hundreds if not thousands of Chinese pro-democracy protesters, mostly students, were massacred when the Chinese military stormed Tiananmen Square, in the center of Beijing, in June 1989.

Information about the event is one of the most heavily censored things in China.

Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg, X Corp's CEO Linda Yaccarino, TikTok's CEO Shou Zi Chew and Discord's CEO Jason Citron attend the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The tech chieftains have been convened by the US Senate Judiciary Committee where they will be asked about the effects of social media in a session titled 'Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis'.

The hearing could be grueling for executives confronting political anger for not doing enough to thwart online dangers for children, including from sexual predators.

'There are no tools to hold the company accountable. Instead, survivors and advocates are left to plead with these companies to choose safety over profit,' US Senator Dick Durbin, who heads the judiciary committee, said.

'They're responsible for many of the dangers our children face online.

'Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.'

Zuckerberg is a veteran of congressional hearings since his first one over the Cambridge Analytica privacy debacle in 2018.

But it will only be the second time for TikTok boss Shou Zi Chew and the first for Linda Yaccarino, the chief executive of X.

What social media companies say they are doing

Beginning with Discord's Jason Citron, the executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work theyve done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.

Snapchat had broken ranks ahead of the hearing and began backing a federal bill that would create a legal liability for apps and social platforms who recommend harmful content to minors.

Damning Meta emails New internal emails between Meta executives released by Senator Richard Blumenthal's office show Nick Clegg, president of global affairs, and others asking Zuckerberg to hire more people to strengthen 'wellbeing across the company' as concerns grew about effects on youth mental health. 'From a policy perspective, this work has become increasingly urgent over recent months. Politicians in the US, UK, EU and Australia are publicly and privately expressing concerns about the impact of our products on young peoples mental health,' Clegg wrote in an August 2021 email. He wrote that the company is being constrained by a lack of investment in these efforts, 'which means that were not able to make changes and innovations at the pace required to be responsive to policymaker concerns.' Among the problem areas the email notes are excessive use, as well as bullying and harassment and suicide and self-injury. The emails released by Blumenthals office don't appear to include a response, if there was any, from Zuckerberg. In September 2021, The Wall Street Journal released the Facebook Files, its report based on internal documents from whistleblower Frances Haugen, who later testified before the Senate. Clegg late last year, proposing a scaled-down investment and telling Zuckerberg that the funding is important to ensure the company can back up its 'external narrative of well-being on our apps'. Its not clear if there was a response from the CEO. Advertisement

Spiegel reiterated Snapchat's support on Wednesday and asked the industry to back the bill.

Chew said TikTok is vigilant about enforcing its policy barring children under 13 from using the app. Yaccarino said X, formerly known as Twitter, doesn't cater to children.

'We do not have a line of business dedicated to children,' Yaccarino said.

She said the company would also support Stop CSAM Act, a federal bill that make it easier for victims of child exploitation to sue tech companies.

Zuckerberg said he was proud of the work his teams did to improve online child safety, not just on our services but across the entire internet.

Shou claimed the average of American TikTok user was older than 30, but admitted many children used the platform.

Ahead of their testimony, Meta and X, formerly Twitter, announced new measures seeking to satisfy any political pushback.

Meta, which owns the world's leading platforms Facebook and Instagram, said it would block direct messages sent to young teens by strangers.

By default, teens under age 16 can now only be messaged or added to group chats by people they already follow or are connected to.

Meta also tightened content restrictions for teens on Instagram and Facebook making it harder for them to view posts that discuss suicide, self-harm or eating disorders.

Zuckerberg is expected to tout the more than 30 existing tools and features designed to help parents and teens, according to a prepared testimony released ahead of the hearing.

The company has been beefing up its child safety features in recent weeks, announcing earlier this month that it will start hiding inappropriate content from teenagers accounts on Instagram and Facebook, including posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders.

It also restricted minors' ability to receive messages from anyone they don't follow or aren't connected to on Instagram and on Messenger and added new 'nudges' to try to discourage teens from browsing Instagram videos or messages late at night.

The nudges encourage kids to close the app, though it does not force them to do so.

But critics and child safety advocates say its actions fall short of meaningful changes that would address kids' safety.

Arturo Bejar, a former Meta engineering director known for his expertise in curbing online harassment recently testified before Congress about child safety on Meta's platforms.

'Looking back at each time there has been a Facebook or Instagram scandal in the last few years, they run the same playbook,' he said.

'Meta cherry picks their statistics and talks about features that dont address the harms in question.'

'Instagram promises features that end up hidden in settings that few people use. Why is 'quiet mode' not the default for all kids?' Bejar added.

'Meta says that some of the new work will help with unwanted advances. It is still not possible for a teen to tell Instagram when they're experiencing an unwanted advance. Without that information how can they make it safer?'

Twitter said Yaccarino was in Washington last week to meet with senators to talk about how the company is addressing child sexual exploitation, along with a broad range of other topics that included privacy, artificial intelligence, content moderation and misinformation.

Google's YouTube is notably missing from the list of companies called to the Senate Wednesday.

That's even though more kids use YouTube than any other platform, according to the Pew Research Center. Pew found that 93 per cent of American teens use YouTube, with TikTok a distant second at 63 per cent.
A migrant who was connected to a gang of four accused of brutally beating up two police officers in Times Square has been seen in handcuffed in court - as investigators assess new footage of the horrific attack.

Jhoan Boada, 22, was arrested Monday night and charged with attempted assault on a police officer and gang assault following the shocking New York City bust-up.

He was seen being perp walked into Manhattan Criminal Court that night.

Boada, who was arraigned in court this afternoon and later released, was escorted by an officer while wearing handcuffs and a Lakers t-shirt.

Jhoan Boada, 22, was arrested Monday night and charged with attempted assault on a police officer and gang assault following the shocking New York City bust up

Boada, who is yet to have his arraignment hearing in court, was seen being escorted by an officer while wearing handcuffs and a Lakers t-shirt

It is understood investigators are using new information and witness accounts to determine specific role of each defendant in the attack, which occurred on Saturday

He was arrested 48 hours after the first four men were apprehended on Saturday night. The DA Alvin Bragg's office released the four migrants from custody.

Three of the men - Darwin Andres Gomez Izquiel, 19, Kelvin Servat Arocha, 19, and Juarez Wilson, 21 - were release on recognizance, meaning they were freed from custody without bail while their case is pending.

Yorman Reveron, 24, was granted supervised release without bail.

On Wednesday evening, Jhoan Boada was also released without bail because he has no criminal history.

But it is understood the DA's office is now investigating additional footage they did not have when the asylum seekers were arraigned and released.

Investigators are believed to be using new information and witness accounts to determine specific role of each defendant in the attack, which occurred on Saturday.

The DA's spokesperson said: 'Violence against police officers is never acceptable.

'It is paramount that we conclusively identified each defendant and specify each participants role in the incident.

'Every defendant charged so far is facing felony charges that carry a penalty of up to seven years.

'This is an active, ongoing investigation - if anyone has additional information, please call 212-335-9040.'

The horrific incident began at around 8.30pm on West 42nd Street, when a pair of NYPD officers told the violent quartet men to get moving.

A fight then broke out between a suspect in a yellow sweatshirt and the police officers.

According to the NYPD, the migrants then started to attack the officers, kicking them in the head and body while the two officers tried to pin down one of the other men, tearing off his sweatshirt.

This is the moment a gang of four migrants began clobbering two NYPD officers in New York's Times Square

The migrants then ran away, leaving the unidentified police officers on the ground while they made their getaway east on 42nd Street toward Seventh Avenue.

At around 10.44pm on Saturday night, four men - Izquiel, Arocha, Wilson, and Reveron - were arrested.

They were all charged with assault on a police officer, gang assault, obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct but were released without bail.

New York has come under fire for its progressive laws aimed at stopping people who can't afford to make bail languish in prison for months on end.

Critics say it has led to a spike in violent criminals being freed straight back onto the streets - and emboldened them to reoffend, knowing there'll be few consequences.

The officers were left with cuts to the face and body bruises.

Reveron, the eldest of the men arrested, already has two open cases for assault and robbery in Manhattan.

A Nordstrom Rack employee had caught him attempting to swipe an item worth $130 in November before he allegedly 'pushed, punched and bit' them.

He also allegedly punched a loss prevention officer at the famous Herald Square Macy's while trying to commit a robbery with two other suspects.

Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry condemned the attacks and the criminal justice system that allowed at least one of these men to re-offend in a statement.

'Attacks on police officers are becoming an epidemic, and the reason is a revolving door we're seeing in cases like this one,' Hendry said.

'It is impossible for police officers to deal effectively with crime and disorder if the justice system can't or won't protect us while we do that work.'

The attack comes as New York City struggles under the weight of tens of thousands of migrants in need of places to stay and other accommodations.

In 2023 alone, the city dealt with the arrival of more than 100,000 migrants.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has pleaded for state and federal aid as it is estimated the migrant crisis will cost the city $12billion over the next three years - a number the Hochul administration is likely attempting to offset slightly with the new working plan.

New York is a Right to Shelter state and is required to house the asylum seekers but shelters have filled up at an astronomical rate.

In Manhattan, a number of landmark hotels have been turned into makeshift shelters and temporary housing.

Back in September, Hochul said: 'We have to get the word out, that when you come to New York, you're not going to have more hotel rooms, we don't have capacity.

'So we have to also message properly that we're at a limit - if you're going to leave your country, go somewhere else.'
Constance Marten was allegedly seen in a park with her lifeless baby in a sling eight days she was caught by police.

Aristocrat Marten, 36, and Mark Gordon, 49, are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of the manslaughter of their daughter Victoria.

They been accused of travelling across England and living off-grid on the South Downs in a bid to keep the baby after four other children were taken into care.

On January 5, last year, Greater Manchester Police launched a missing persons search after finding a placenta in the couple's burnt-out car on a motorway near Bolton.

The defendants spent hundreds of pounds on taxis taking them from the North West to Essex, London and the south coast, jurors have heard.

More than a month later on February 19, the pair were allegedly spotted by passerby Pauline Mason and her husband in Brighton.

A taxi driver who Constance Marten (pictured) paid 475 for a three-hour trip has said he thought he heard a cat 'meowing' in his cab before he realised the aristocrat and her partner had a baby with them

Jurors have viewed CCTV in which the child was allegedly carried under Marten's coat, only being briefly glimpsed when the couple stopped in East Ham

Constance Marten (left), 36, and Mark Gordon (right), 49, are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of the manslaughter of their newborn daughter Victoria

The Masons saw Marten and Gordon with baby Victoria - who was already dead, the court heard.

Pauline Mason and her husband had gone to Stanmer Park in Brighton for some 'fresh air'.

Mrs Mason was in a mobility scooter and her husband was walking when she saw a tent near Stoney Mere Way.

She told jurors: 'I noticed a tent, the tent was royal blue, it was not very big. I just thought it might be a hiker.

'My husband had walked ahead of me and I shouted to him, ''Come over, what's that tent doing there?''

'He said, ''Dunno, someone is sleeping out on a cold night''. I was taken aback by it then continued on my scooter.'

Further on, she noticed a 'mum with baby', Mrs Mason said.

Prosecutor Tom Little KC asked: 'What did you notice, if anything, about the baby?'

Mrs Mason said: 'The mother was focused on the baby, her eyes were totally focused on that baby and my eyes went from her to the baby.

'The baby was in a sling. She was holding her around the baby's head to steady it.'

The child was very pale, did not make any sound and her head was 'wobbling', 'floppy' and 'unsteady', the witness said.

She was 'very surprised' to see the child had no hat, socks or booties on and was only wearing a cardigan and leggings.

Mrs Mason said the woman looked tired and she felt sorry for her.

Mark Gordon was allegedly seen walking past a Texaco garage in Newhaven in footage that was shown in court during their trial

He seemed to be carrying a red bag as he allegedly walked past the garage at 6.09am on January 12, last year

The defendants, of no fixed address, deny manslaughter by gross negligence of the little girl between January 4 and February 27 last year

A few steps behind was Gordon, she said, adding: 'He looked at me and acknowledged that I had looked at the baby and gave me a smile.'

Mr Little said: 'At that point in time, as you had seen the baby for six to eight seconds, you then continued on your fresh air turn around Stanmer Park. Did you think the baby was alive?'

Mrs Mason replied: 'I kept thinking and thinking about that baby. I thought that the colour, it did not go.'

She spoke about her experience that 'mixed-race' babies were 'rosy cheeked', adding: 'There was no colour and that baby was white.

'I do think that baby had died. It was dead.'

Asked if anything else caused her to think that, she said: 'It was inappropriately dressed. There was no blanket, no hat, no socks, thin cardigan.'

Mrs Mason said she continued up the path but looked back towards the couple because she 'could not believe' what she had seen.

Cross-examining for Gordon, John Femi-Ola KC asked if she could have been mistaken about seeing him.

She replied: 'Yes, I might have been but I believe that they connected and as soon as I saw her and him behind her I knew they were together.'

On January 5, last year, Greater Manchester Police launched a missing persons search after finding a placenta in the couple's burnt-out car on a motorway near Bolton

Jurors have today been shown images of the inside of the burnt-out Peugeot 206

Belongings including a baby romper were found near the burnt-out car

A variety of other clothes and bags were also found in Amblecote Playing Field, near the burnt out Peugeot 206 on the side of the M61

A pack of Pampers nappies for new babies was also found near the car

On seeing the baby, she said: 'I was quite shocked when I saw it. I did not want to believe it.

'I did not want to know it was dead.'

On February 27, Marten and Gordon were arrested in East Sussex.

Days later, Victoria's body was found in a Lidl supermarket bag covered in rubbish in a disused shed.

Previously, jurors viewed CCTV of Victoria alive and moving around with the defendants in East Ham, east London, on January 7. last year.

The couple moved on to Whitechapel, where Gordon had bought a two-person tent and camping bedding, including a children's unicorn sleeping bag, in Argos, the court was told.

The couple allegedly abandoned a buggy and were carrying Argos bags and a Lidl bag when they got into a black cab shortly after midnight on January 8.

In a statement read to the court, taxi driver Abdirisakh Mohamud said he became 'suspicious' and 'uncomfortable' during the journey.

The male passenger allegedly asked the driver if he was a Muslim, whether he was 'trustworthy' and if there were cameras in the cab.

Mr Mohamud said he told the man there were cameras, even though there were not, because he wanted to feel 'safe'.

The man then asked him: 'Are you sharing this conversation with anyone?' and Mr Mohamud said 'no', jurors heard.

He asked the couple why they were wearing blue Covid facemasks, and the woman said she was a Muslim and it was her 'hijab', the court heard.

On being told by the driver that it was not a hijab, she allegedly told him it was the only thing she had.

The man said he was wearing a mask because he 'had a problem with his hair', the witness said.

Mr Mohamud said he decided to drop the couple off early in Green Lanes, Haringey, rather than Enfield Tesco Extra where they had asked to go.

He said: 'The more I thought about it, the more concerned I felt about the baby.'

Another taxi driver Hasan Guzel described hearing 'meowing' noises when he drove the defendants from Haringey to Newhaven in East Sussex early on January 8.

He said in his statement that he had stopped when a woman waved at him and she told him to wait while her 'friend' got in.

They initially asked to be taken to Portsmouth then changed the destination to Newhaven, jurors heard.

Mr Guzel said he had charged 475 for a three-hour trip.

Describing the woman, he said: 'I thought she had a bag under her coat as she looked quite big in the chest area.'

During the journey, he said: 'I heard what sounded like a cat meowing. I was annoyed at first because I thought she had a pet without telling me.

'I could see it was a baby, I could see the noise was coming from a baby.

'I thought why didn't she tell me about this, it's been nearly four hours we have been travelling.'

He said that when he dropped them off in Newhaven, he saw it was cold and dark and he was 'concerned as to what they were going to do next'.

The couple were captured on CCTV heading towards the South Downs at around 6.30am last January and were not spotted again until they resurfaced at a Texaco garage four days later, on January 12.

Marten allegedly bought items including Haribo sweets, mini cheddars, matches, bottles of water and a filled glass bottle of petrol which she paid for in cash.

Gordon was filmed carrying the Lidl bag which then appeared to be blowing in the wind as if it was empty.

On the morning of last January 16, Nicholas Frost allegedly spotted him emerging from a blue tent in woodland in Stanmer Park, Brighton.

In a statement, Mr Frost said he and his wife had been walking their dog when he saw the man he later recognised from the news.

He said: 'I thought to myself it was unusual because you never see people camping in that area. It was also very cold, not camping weather. It was about minus two degrees.

'The male came out from inside the tent. This startled us and the male appeared to be startled as well.'

He added: 'I definitely got the impression that he did not want to be seen.'

The witness said the male was carrying two bags including an orange bag-for-life which 'looked like it had stuff in it'.

Mary Thomsen, 66, told jurors she was on a trip to Asda when she spotted a 'bright blue' tent last February.

Defendants Marten (pictured) and Gordon, of no fixed address, deny manslaughter by gross negligence of the little girl between January 4 and February 27 last year

Artists impression of Mark Gordon, 49, appearing at the Old Bailey, London on January 25

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon are see in the dock at the Old Bailey in a court drawing as they listen to evidence on January 31

She said: 'I said to my husband: 'They must be bloody freezing or mad because no-one would want to be out camping, it was so cold'.'

Mrs Thomsen said the sighting played on her mind, saying: 'For that time of year it was out of place.'

The court has heard how the couple became front-page news last January when Greater Manchester Police launched a missing persons inquiry after finding a placenta in the couple's burnt-out car on a motorway near Bolton.

The defendants spent hundreds of pounds on taxis taking them from the North West to Essex, London and the south coast, jurors have heard.

Last February, Marten and Gordon were arrested in East Sussex.

Days later, the body of baby Victoria was found in a Lidl supermarket bag covered in rubbish inside a disused shed.

The defendants, of no fixed address, deny manslaughter by gross negligence of the little girl between January 4 and February 27 last year.

They are also charged with perverting the course of justice, concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of a child.

The Old Bailey trial continues.
Horrified staff saw 'blood all over the floor' as a teacher who was stabbed during an 'altercation' with youngsters in school uniform ran into a pharmacy pleading for help.

Staff at Sharman's Pharmacy in east London said the teacher, in his 40s, entered the shop yesterday evening having just been stabbed in the back near Forest Gate Community School.

Police were called at about 5.25pm to reports of a stabbing on Woodgrange Road in Newham.

A woman who works as a dispenser at the pharmacy described the terrifying ordeal, saying: 'He ran inside and said, ''Help! I'm a teacher at the school and I've just been stabbed.''

'There was blood all over the floor. He had been stabbed in the back.

'We quickly called the police and the ambulance, and a man from the health centre over the road came to help.'

Staff at Sharman's Pharmacy in east London (pictured) said they saw 'blood all over the floor' when a teacher entered the shop having been stabbed

Gulzarin Iqbal (pictured), a physician associate at the nearby Lord Lister Health Centre, said there was 'a lot of blood' when he went to the aid of the stabbed teacher

She added: 'The emergency services were here almost immediately and they took him away.'

Dr Parvesh Patel, a pharmacist at Sharman's sister shop Mansons Pharmacy, added: 'I guess he thought a pharmacy was the safest place to be.'

It is understood some involved in the attack were in school uniform - with the teacher reportedly just two weeks into his new job.

Gulzarin Iqbal, a physician associate at the nearby Lord Lister Health Centre, said there was 'a lot of blood' when he went to the aid of the stricken man who had been stabbed with a 'long knife' outside the east London school.

Mr Iqbal, 27, said: 'I had finished with patients for the day and was doing paperwork when I heard people arguing outside.

'It sounded like a man and a group of younger people. Their voices were raised, but I thought it might be just a normal altercation - it is east London.

'But then I heard someone scream and so I ran outside to see what was happening.

'By this time the group had gone, but I could see people in the pharmacy.

'I ran across the road and there was a man lying face down on the floor.

'There was a lot of blood.'

The teacher is believed to have been stabbed in the back near Forest Gate Community School (pictured)

He added: 'He was a teacher at the school - apparently he had only started a couple weeks ago.

'He said he was familiar with some of the kids, but not all. Some were students in uniform and some weren't, apparently.'

Mr Iqbal added that the teacher claimed he had been stabbed with a 'long knife' but the weapon was not around.

'I immediately applied pressure to the wound, which was on his back,' he said.

'There's always the worry of death after a stabbing, as people can bleed out.

'You just never know what the outcome is going to be.'

He added: 'The people at the pharmacy called the police and ambulance, and when the police turned up, I told the officer to apply pressure so I could go get supplies from the health centre.

'By this point my arms were covered in blood.

'I brought back a defibrillator, just in case, and a heart monitor to check his vitals.

'The ambulance arrived about five minutes later.

'I just did what anyone else would have done.'

He described the victim as an 'African male, in his 40s, of average build.'

Police said that man's injuries are not life-threatening.
Tears of joy flowed briefly in Ukraine today after the country traded hundreds of prisoners of war with Russia, just a week after Moscow claimed Kyiv had shot down a plane carrying Ukrainian captives to an exchange.

The crash of a Russian military cargo plane near the border with Ukraine - which Russia said killed 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war - had thrown doubt on future prisoner swaps between the two sides.

But in a series of coordinated announcements today, both sides hailed the latest agreement to free more than 400 people captured during the course of the war that is approaching the two-year mark at the end of February.

Pictures from an undisclosed location in snowy Ukraine showed men weeping into the flag of their country, warmly embracing each other and phoning loved ones - using video calls so they could see their faces for the first time in months.

Others marked their new-found freedom by sharing a pack of cigarettes.

Russia's defence ministry said 195 of its soldiers were freed, while Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said 207 people, both soldiers and civilians, had been returned.

'Our people are back. 207 of them. We return them home no matter what,' Zelensky said in a social media post, confirming they had arrived back in Ukraine.

Tears flowed in Ukraine today after the country traded hundreds of PoWs with Russia

In a series of coordinated announcements today, both sides hailed the latest agreement to free more than 400 people captured during the course of the war that is approaching the two-year mark at the end of February, leading to emotional scenes as Ukrainians came home

The releases came just a week after Moscow claimed Kyiv had shot down a plane carrying Ukrainian captives to an exchange. The crash of a Russian military cargo plane near the border with Ukraine - which Russia said killed 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war - had thrown doubt on future prisoner swaps between the two sides. Pictured: A ball of fire rises from the crash site

Russia's defence ministry said '195 Russian servicemen... were returned home'.

The exchange was brokered by the United Arab Emirates - which has played a role in several previous swaps - Moscow said.

Ukraine said the youngest soldier returning home was 20, while the oldest was 61.

Members of the armed forces, National Guard, Border Service and national police were released said Andrii Yermak, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office.

The freed Ukrainians also include those who fought in Mariupol and on Snake Island - a scrubby rock in the Black Sea that secured worldwide fame when the Ukrainians stationed there issued an expletive-laden radio message to Russian attackers.

Mariupol, once home to more than 400,000 people, was all but raised to the ground by Russia's forces who lay siege to it in the early months of Putin's invasion in 2022.

The city was fully captured by Moscow's forces on May 20, 2022 when the last Ukrainian troops - who had hunkered down in the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works and continued to hold out for weeks - surrendered to the invading army.



The announcement of the swap - in a flurry of statements and photos released simultaneously by Moscow and Kyiv - contrasted sharply with the rhetoric surrounding last week's crash.

Zelensky has accused Moscow of 'playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners' while Moscow says Ukraine committed a 'terrorist act'.

Pictures from an undisclosed location in snowy Ukraine showed men weeping into the flag of their country, warmly embracing each other and phoning loved ones - using video calls so they could see their faces for the first time in months

Pictured: A released Ukrainian prisoner of war reacts as he speaks on a mobile phone to a loved one after a swap, at an unknown location in Ukraine, in a picture released January 31

Members of the armed forces, National Guard, Border Service and national police were released said Andrii Yermak, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office

Uncertainty remains after the Russian plane was crashed in a fireball in the western Belgorod region on January 24.

Moscow says it was ferrying 65 Ukrainian PoWs on the way to a scheduled exchange, but has not provided evidence of this claim.

President Vladimir Putin said it was 'obvious' Ukraine shot it down and claimed Kyiv knew dozens of its soldiers could have been on board.

On Wednesday, he said a US Patriot system was used to down the plane.

'This has already been established by forensics,' Putin said in a televised appearance.

Ukraine has not outright denied Moscow's version of events, but questioned whether captured Ukrainian soldiers were actually on board and said Moscow never told it in advance that PoWs would be flown near the border.

Officials in Kyiv have called for Moscow to publish photos of the dead PoWs' bodies or provide other evidence to back up its claims.

Wednesday's exchange - which took place exactly a week after the plane was shot down - was the 50th swap between the two sides since Russia invaded, Kyiv said.

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's ombudsman for human rights, gave the figure on on social media, adding that a total of 3,035 PoWs have been repatriated.

Ukraine said more than 3,000 PoWs have now been returned. A similar number of Russians have also been freed, with most exchanges based on a one-for-one format.

Thousands who have been captured or surrendered throughout the near two-year war are thought to still be in captivity.

Ukraine said the youngest soldier returning home was 20, while the oldest was 61

The exchange was brokered by the United Arab Emirates - which has played a role in several previous swaps - Moscow said. Pictured: A soldier speaks to loved once on the phone

Former Ukrainian prisoners of war share a pack of cigarettes after being released today

On the battlefield, both sides reported ongoing fights for territory across the sprawling frontline.

Putin said Wednesday Russian troops were holding ground on the around the east Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, an embattled industrial hub.

Russia launched a costly bid in October to seize the town, that has been caught up in fighting since 2014 after it briefly fell to Moscow-backed separatists.

Putin said in a televised event that Moscow's forces 'broke through the enemy's defenses and reached the outskirts of Avdiivka.'

'They captured 19 houses and are holding them,' he added, without elaborating.

The mayor of Avdiivka told AFP last week that Russian forces entered the war-battered town for the first time, but were pushed back.



Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesman for Ukraine's army, said Ukraine's forces were 'firmly on the defensive' in the eastern Donetsk region. 'The enemy does not stop trying to surround Avdiivka,' he said in an interview with state TV.

Pictured: A bus returning released Ukrainian prisoners of war is seen as they reach Ukraine-controlled territory at an undisclosed location near the Ukraine-Russia border

Freed PoWs step down off the bus. A man wipes tears from his eyes with a Ukrainian flag

The released soldiers are seen on a snowy field, draped in the Ukrainian flag

Russian forces have been trying to capture the strategic town - which Ukrainians see as a symbol of resistance - for months.

Putin's troops control territory to the north, east and south of Avdiivka, which had a pre-war population of around 32,000 people.

Ukraine has said its forces were fending off attacks and holding out against Russia's efforts to surround the town.

The capture of Avdiivka would provide a much needed victory for Russia to bring home as the second anniversary of its offensive and the March presidential election approaches.

It lies in the eastern Donetsk region, which the Kremlin says is part of Russia, along with four other occupied Ukrainian regions.

Ukraine also said Russia fired drones and missiles overnight in the latest aerial bombardment.

On the diplomatic front, Kyiv is hoping for a breakthrough this week over unlocking 50 billion euros ($54.2 billion) of aid from the EU.

However, it also announced today that it would only be able to send slightly over half (52 percent) of the shells it promised to Kyiv by March this year.

Uncertainty remains after the Russian plane was crashed in a fireball in the western Belgorod region on January 24, a week ago today

Moscow says the plane was ferrying 65 Ukrainian PoWs on the way to a scheduled exchange, but has not provided evidence of this claim after the plane was shot out of the skies. Pictured: A Russian police officer is seen near the crash site the following day, January 25

The crash site of the Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane near the village of Yablonovo in Russia's Belgorod region, in this still image from video published January 25

EU leaders will meet on Thursday to discuss future support for Kyiv.

They are hoping to reach a final agreement over a massive four-year financial aid package that was blocked by Hungary last year.

Meanwhile, The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday found Russia had violated some parts of a UN anti-terrorism treaty by not investigating financial support for separatist groups in eastern Ukraine in 2014, but did not order compensation as requested by Ukraine.

The United Nations' top court declined to rule specifically on alleged Russian responsibility for the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, as Kyiv had asked it to do.
A pregnant primary school teacher who took her own life while battling acute 'morning sickness' went from feeling 'over-the-moon' at discovering she was expecting for the first time to being 'reduced to a shell'.

Jessica Cronshaw, 26, was given CPR and rushed to hospital where her daughter Elsie was delivered by caesarean section at 28 weeks in a bid to save her life. Four days later the tiny premature baby died - followed by her mother a day later.

Her grieving family wept as a coroner yesterday that failings by medics had contributed to her worsening mental health. Her sales executive partner Eddie Leck said: 'It felt like no-one was listening to us'.

Miss Cronshaw's decline was described in heartbreaking detail by her mother, Susan, who told how her 'outgoing' and 'energetic' daughter stopped seeing friends and became 'extremely skinny with sunken eyes, pale skin and hair matted'.

The young mother-to-be had hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), an acute form of nausea and vomiting from which the Princess of Wales suffered during each of her pregnancies.

Jessica Cronshaw, 26, was 28 weeks pregnant with her daughter, Elsie, when she tragically took her own life

Following the coroner's ruling yesterday, charity Pregnancy Sickness Support said there must be 'systemic change in approach to HG management'  and that such a tragedy must never happen again.

Medics failed to ask her about Miss Cronshaw's mental health despite her saying she was feeling 'down'. She was also wrongly told that the one medication which did relieve her symptoms could harm her unborn child, prompting her to cut her dose.

Just over six weeks later, Miss Cronshaw's mother Susan tragically found her hanged in her bedroom at the family home in Accrington, Lancashire.

While she was resuscitated and taken to hospital where her daughter Elsie was delivered by emergency caesarean in a bid to save her life, neither survived.

What is hyperemesis gravidarum? Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a condition that causes persistent and excessive vomiting during pregnancy. Sufferers can be sick lots of times every day and be unable to keep food or water down, impacting their daily life. It is unlikely to harm the baby, but if it causes a women to lose weight during pregnancy there is an increased risk their baby will have a low birth weight. It is different to sickness during pregnancy - often called morning sickness - which is normal and affects eight in 10 pregnant women. For most, this stops or improves around weeks 16 to 20. Meanwhile, HG may not get better by this point and can last until the baby is born. Symptoms of HG include prolonged and severe nausea and vomiting, being dehydrated, weight loss and low blood pressure. Being dehydrated raises the risk of having a blood clot  deep vein thrombosis  but this is rare. It is not clear what causes the condition, or why some women get it and others don't. Some experts think it may be linked to the changing hormones in the body that occurs during pregnancy. And there is some evidence that it runs in families and women who suffered it during their first pregnancy are more likely to have in any subsequent pregnancies. Women suffering from HG can be given medicine to improve their symptoms, such as anti-sickness drugs, vitamins B6 and B12 and steroids. Some women have to be admitted to hospital if their nausea cannot be controlled with medicines at home. They may require fluids and anti-sickness drugs to be administered through an IV. Source: NHS Advertisement

Since her death, Miss Cronshaw's family have spoken out about a lack of support for mothers-to-be who are struck down by the crippling condition.

On Tuesday, coroner Kate Bisset said she was 'satisfied that her care contributed to a deterioration in her mental health' which in turn led to the 'impulsive' decision to end her life.

Ms Bisset highlighted 'failings' in Miss Cronshaw's treatment and said in her findings: 'The absence of comprehensive care for Jessica's severe pregnancy sickness was a contributing factor to her mental health deterioration.

'This case should serve as a reminder to healthcare professionals about the critical importance of addressing the wide-ranging impacts of hyperemesis gravidarum, including its mental health aspects.'

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins last week highlighted the tragedy as she announced new support for mothers-to-be across England.

And charity Pregnancy Sickness Support said there was 'a direct correlation' between her sickness, 'her severe mental health decline and subsequent death'.

The charity added that the inquest's findings must be 'a pivotal moment for healthcare systems, emphasising the necessity for timely, integrated care addressing both physical and mental health challenges in pregnancy'.

Charlotte Howden, chief executive of Pregnancy Sickness Support, said: 'The coroner's detailed investigation reveals significant care gaps for women with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

'This is a major advancement in acknowledging their comprehensive care needs. It is imperative that healthcare providers across the UK enact necessary changes to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy.'

And Dr Caitlin Dean, spokesperson and trustee at Pregnancy Sickness Support, who advocated for Miss Cronshaw's family at the inquest, added: 'The inquest's acknowledgement of the link between inadequate HG treatment and severe mental health issues is a long-overdue revelation.

'For too long, the severity of HG has been underappreciated. This marks a crucial turning point for how this condition is perceived and treated.'

The charity said hospitals and health trusts should see the findings of the inquest as 'an impetus for reviewing and improving their practices' and 'ensure that the tragedies experienced by Jessica Cronshaw and her family are not repeated'.

Dr Dean added: 'What's shocking and scary is that the failings in this case are more often than not the experience a woman with HG has of the healthcare system.

'The vast majority of women say they are not listened to, are just dismissed as having morning sickness. That is absolutely normal and what's got to change and until that changes, there will be another death like this.'

The inquest heard that since her death, Miss Cronshaw's family have spoken out about a lack of support for mothers-to-be who are struck down by the crippling condition.

Praising the family's campaign as Miss Cronshaw's mother and partner wept in court, coroner Ms Bisset said there needed to be more 'public awareness' of the 'crippling impact' of HG.

Welcoming the coroner's comments, the family said afterwards that they were 'grateful' to her for recognising the 'severe and devastating' effect it had on Miss Cronshaw.

Her family wept as a coroner ruled that failings by medics had contributed to her worsening mental health. Her partner Eddie Leck (pic) said: 'It felt like no-one was listening'

'Jess's family now hope that this will lead to a major change in the care and treatment for women suffering HG so that such a tragedy will not happen again,' they added.

The severe nausea affected 'driven and confident' Miss Cronshaw within weeks of finding out she was pregnant for the first time in May 2022, her inquest was told.

'She went from an outgoing, energetic young woman to struggling to lift her head from the pillow at times,' her mother Susan Cronshaw told the hearing.

Miss Cronshaw had to take time off work and ended up confined to bed, the inquest heard.

In September, she was put on new medication which enabled her to eat slightly more.

Later that month, she was wrongly informed over the phone by a midwife that it could harm her unborn child and began reducing her dose.

The inquest heard a statement from obstetrician Dr Shambhavi Singh who said she could not recall telling midwife Allison Whitehead that Miss Cronshaw needed to reduce her dose.

But Ms Bisset said the midwife ought to have been able to rely on being given correct information by a doctor.

Miss Cronshaw became increasingly paranoid, believing engineers installing fibre optic cables in the street were trying to hack into her phone.

In his own statement, Mr Leck described a 'rapid transformation from an energetic, active woman to a woman who barely had the strength to get out of bed in the morning'.

Speaking of the repeated medical appointments, he said 'it felt like no-one was listening to us'.

After being found hanged on November 14, 2022, she was given CPR and rushed to hospital where her daughter Elsie was delivered by caesarean section in a bid to save her life.

But four days later the tiny premature baby died at the side of her mother, who was in intensive care.

Her mother, Susan, told the hearing: 'She went from an outgoing, energetic young woman to struggling to lift her head from the pillow at times'

The following day the family were told Miss Cronshaw had suffered irreversible brain damage and agreed to the withdrawal of life support.

She died on November 19.

Questioned by Mr Holden, midwife Ms Whitehead said she had never heard of Xonvea when Miss Cronshaw called the antenatal unit asking for a repeat prescription.

'She was a different Jess to the one I knew': Mother describes teacher's heartbreaking decline Details of Miss Cronshaw's decline were described in heartbreaking detail by her mother. A 'high achiever', Miss Cronshaw was a 'driven, confident and loyal' daughter who 'achieved everything she set her heart on', her mother said in a statement read to the inquest. Mrs Cronshaw said her daughter had been 'elated' at learning that she and Mr Leck were expecting a baby in May 2022. But the onset of intense nausea meant she had to take time off from her job as a teacher at St Nicholas Primary School in Accrington and ended up being confined to bed, she said. When a doctor at Wigan Infirmary A&E told her it was 'just morning sickness' she was left feeling 'deflated' as she 'knew it was more than morning sickness', she added. 'She found it difficult to maintain conversation on the phone,' Mrs Cronshaw said. 'She said all she could do was lie in bed.' In June, she was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) by a doctor at her local surgery, Peel House Medical Practice, in Accrington. 'Jess told me she was feeling a lot better, believing she would receive advanced care,' her mother said. But the only direct support the surgery offered her for the condition was a leaflet outlining the support available for HG, the inquest was told. In the weeks that followed, Miss Cronshaw continued feeling constant sickness and was losing weight. She was finally admitted to Burnley General Hospital and placed on an intravenous drip and given medication. Her mother said this didn't help, adding: 'I believe Jess thought the medical professionals weren't taking her seriously. 'She was being sick multiple times a day, feeling weak and not eating.' Mrs Cronshaw said a doctor simply advised her to 'eat as often as you can', saying she could go to McDonald's if she wanted. 'We were extremely frustrated,' she said. 'We explained she could not eat.' Her daughter began withdrawing from friends, saying she had a sickness bug as she didn't want to tell them she was having a baby so early in the pregnancy, she added. Mrs Cronshaw said a 12-week scan at the end of July 'should have been the most magical time, but the hyperemesis gravidarum took it away from us'. At an antenatal appointment the following month, she said her daughter felt 'out of place', clutching a sick bowl while seated alongside 'blooming' mothers-to-be. She said a consultant changed her medication to a new drug called Xonvea and said she would be 'back at work in two weeks'. The new drug enabled her to eat slightly more, but she continued to have no energy and spent most of her time in bed, she said. 'Each day was a struggle,' Mrs Cronshaw said. 'Jess looked very unwell, she was extremely skinny with sunken eyes, pale skin and hair matted. 'This was a different Jess to the one I know.' She added: 'I thought the professionals were more focused on how the baby was doing than how Jess was presenting.' On September 30, she said her daughter was informed by phone that she needed to reduce her dose of Xonvea due to the risk of 'side-effects' to her unborn baby. Philip Holden, representing Miss Cronshaw's family, put it to the midwife who made the call, Allison Whitehead, that she now understood that Xonvea was not in fact dangerous to an unborn baby. 'Absolutely,' she answered. Continuing her statement, Mrs Cronshaw said the call had been 'a pivotal moment that would ultimately lead to the most tragic consequences for Jess, Elsie and our whole family'. As she tried to reduce her dose, Miss Cronshaw's condition deteriorated again and she stopped eating almost entirely. At another appointment at her GP surgery on November 8 her daughter said she felt 'low', she said. But Mrs Cronshaw said she was 'shocked' that she wasn't offered help with her mental health. 'This was a huge missed opportunity,' she added. She said had been 'obvious red flags' which weren't acted upon by medical professionals. Telling her daughter over the phone that the medication she was taking could harm her unborn baby was 'completely unacceptable', she added. 'She would do anything to make sure Elsie was ok. 'She would have been the most amazing mum to Elsie. 'I'm broken by this. Watching her was soul-destroying.' Advertisement

She said she 'tactfully' passed on the advice about it being potentially harmful to an unborn child in good faith after speaking to two doctors.

Saying 'hindsight is a wonderful thing', the midwife said in retrospect she should have booked a consultant appointment for Miss Cronshaw.

'It was a very busy shift,' she added. 'I'm human, I didn't do it.'

She said she had since read up on Xonvea in her own time and accepted that it was not dangerous to an unborn child.

Ms Whitehead said she had not picked up any concerns over Miss Cronshaw's reaction to her advice.

But she said it could be 'difficult to grasp' a mother-to-be's state of mind over the phone.

'I think a face-to-face conversation would have perhaps altered my reaction,' she added.

The inquest heard a review carried out by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust found there had been 'red flags' in what Miss Cronshaw said about how she was feeling which should have led to a mental health referral.

Mothers-to-be who suffer from vomiting now have regular weight checks as well as closer monitoring of whether they are struggling mentally, it was told.

In addition, pregnant women must not have their medication changed without a consultation with an obstetrician.

However, Ms Bisset said she plans to write a 'prevention of future deaths' report highlighting concerns raised by Miss Cronshaw's family.

Obstetrician Dr Helen Collier, who prescribed Xonvea to Miss Cronshaw after alternatives failed to help, said the drug was safe to use throughout pregnancy.

Asked by Philip Holden, representing the family, if it had been 'appropriate' for another doctor to recommend cutting the dose without seeing the patient face-to-face, Dr Collier replied that it would have been 'preferable' to have spoken to her directly.

Miss Cronshaw's family's campaign has been supported by charity Pregnancy Sickness Support and Hyndburn MP Sara Britcliffe, who last July raised their concerns in a Westminster Hall debate.

Announcing changes to maternal care at last week's inaugural Women's Health Summit, hosted by The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Health Secretary referenced the deaths of Miss Cronshaw and her daughter.

Highlighting the 'enormous mental and emotional toll' that pregnancy and birth can have on women, Ms Atkins said: 'This was demonstrated in the case of a young woman who passed away when extreme pregnancy sickness left her unable to eat, drink or complete daily tasks.'

In response, Ms Britcliffe said: 'I am so happy that through their tireless work and by bringing Jess' story to Parliament, Jess and Elsie's family have made a difference and created change for all women who suffer from HG in the future.'

In a narrative conclusion to the inquest, the coroner said: 'If love alone could have saved Jessica and Elsie, I am quite sure we would not be sitting here.

'Jessica Elizabeth Cronshaw was, and is, a very much-loved daughter, granddaughter, sister, partner and friend.

'Importantly, it must not be forgotten that she was also a much-loved mother, a mother who loved her baby daughter and had hopes, dreams and aspirations for a long and happy life with her partner and daughter.'

The cause of death for Miss Cronshaw was recorded as hypoxic brain injury, caused by hanging, while Elsie was found to have died from 'severe intrauterine hypoxia caused by maternal hypoxic arrest'.

The coroner referenced 13 'interactions' between Miss Cronshaw and hospitals, doctors and midwives in the months before her death  but she was not offered mental health support.

On October 3, Miss Cronshaw had described anxiety and a feeling of isolation due to being away from work.

But a doctor recorded that 'he did not consider that Jess was depressed and did not consider she met the threshold for referral to peri natal mental health services'.

On October 11, Miss Cronshaw told a midwife she felt down and missed the children she taught at school but there was no discussion of mental health.

And on November 8, six days before she was found hanged, Miss Cronshaw told how she felt 'down', although she did not disclose any thoughts of suicide or harm.

At earlier consultations in August and September, she was not asked about her mental health or 'wellbeing', the inquest was told.

Coroner Ms Bisset highlighted how a subsequent investigation into Miss Cronshaw's care, carried out by Royal Blackburn Hospital, found there were 25 areas in which her care 'should or could have been done differently'.

These included her remaining on 'the standard antenatal care pathway despite ongoing symptoms of Nausea and Vomiting', failure to assess her condition or symptoms, and a lack of access to her GP records.

Meanwhile, the investigation found communication with Miss Cronshaw and her family appearing 'flippant' at times so they 'felt as if their concerns were not listened to'.

Ms Bisset said: 'I am certain that all the clinicians involved in Jess' care had the best intentions. However, there were failings in her care.'

She said that 'further exploration of (Miss Cronshaw's) mental health ought to have happened'.

But the coroner added that she 'cannot be satisfied it is more likely than not that if this care had been different, Jess' mental health would not have deteriorated to the extent to which it did and thus she would not have died at the time at which she did'.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust was approached for comment.

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit samaritans.org
Laurence Fox is preparing for a fresh High Court showdown over accusations he was labelled a 'racist' on social media - just days after he lost a 2million libel war for branding two men 'paedophiles'.

The controversial actor-turned-politician is suing Mukhtar Ali Yassin for libel over a row on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A hearing in London on Wednesday heard that Fox is suing over four tweets sent during the exchange in May last year.

News of the legal clash comes after Fox lost his 2million libel case, with a judge ruling he defamed RuPaul Drag Race star Crystal and former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake by calling them 'paedophiles'.

Fox was found to have libelled the pair after targeting them with the slur after they called him racist during an exchange on X over Sainsbury's decision to mark Black History Month.

The Lewis star - who founded the Reclaim Party - tried but ultimately failed to counter-sue the pair and actress Nicola Thorp over their tweets accusing him of racism. The judge ruled these were not defamatory. Fox has vowed to appeal.

Laurence Fox is preparing for a fresh High Court showdown against a man who called him a 'racist' on social media (Fox is seen on Monday)

The controversial actor's latest legal war comes days after he lost a costly libel case at the High Court (Fox is pictured on Monday)

Fox is pictured with his girlfriend Elizabeth Barker during his High Court hearing on Monday

During the latest High Court hearing today, Ben Gallop, representing Mr Fox, said Mr Yassin had made 'seriously defamatory allegations of racism against my client that are bare comments'.

Mr Yassin is defending the claim.

Judge Mrs Justice Collins Rice ruled that a hearing should take place to decide whether the posts were statements of fact or opinion, and what should be included in any future trial.

Neither Mr Fox nor Mr Yassin was present in court on Wednesday, with the preliminary hearing to be held at a later date.

It comes two days after the same judge ruled that Mr Fox libelled two people - former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake and former RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Crystal - by calling them 'paedophiles' on X in October 2020.

Mrs Justice Collins Rice said on Monday that Mr Fox's allegations, made during an exchange about a decision by Sainsbury's to mark Black History Month, were 'seriously harmful, defamatory and baseless'.

In the same judgment, she dismissed counter-claims brought by Mr Fox against Mr Blake, Crystal, whose real name is Colin Seymour, and broadcaster Nicola Thorp, after they described him as 'a racist'.

Drag artist Crystal celebrated the High Court ruling, telling Sky News: 'We've had a victory on all counts and it's incredibly liberating and satisfying after three long years of this.

Ben Gallop, representing Mr Fox, said Mr Yassin had made 'seriously defamatory allegations of racism against my client that are bare comments'

Drag queen Crystal hailed his High Court libel victory against Laurence Fox

Simon Blake (left), Nicola Thorp and Colin Seymour (right) pictured on November 22

'I think if I'd known at the outset that it was going to be three and a half years later and we'd still be talking about this I may have thought twice [about taking Fox to court].

'But he's a bully, and accusations of paedophilia against people in the queer community, against drag queens, are old, old tropes and I didn't want to stand for it and let that slide.

'It honestly felt that if I didn't pursue this to the very end it would be a tacit admission. I needed to see it through and make it clear that this had no basis in fact.'

Fox suggested after the ruling that his counterclaim was unfairly dismissed because the judge 'could not define what a racist was' and called the ruling a 'nothing burger'.

Mr Fox, who founded the Reclaim Party, indicated following the decision that he plans to appeal.

Speaking to his followers from the back of a black cab, controversial actor said: 'People from all around the world, we all know what it means.

'But a judge, 2million in to a trial, doesn't want to define the meaning of the word racist?

Fox kisses his girlfriend Elizabeth Barker outside court after Monday's verdict

'She can't tell me what that means but she can tell me I have suffered no serious harm as a result of the allegation?

'It's like - boohoo sweetheart! We're going to have a fight about this because I live on words. I live on the meaning of words.

'So we're left with no opportunity but to take it up the road to another judge who's going to have to define the meaning of the word racist.'

The actor and right-wing activist told the High Court that a tweet by actress Nicola Thorp calling him 'unequivocally, publicly and undeniably a racist' ended his career.

But in her ruling, Mrs Justice Collins Rice said: 'Mr Fox's labelling of Mr Blake and Mr Seymour as paedophiles was, on the evidence, probabilities and facts of this case, seriously harmful, defamatory and baseless.'

She added that Fox did not attempt to show the allegations were true or provide 'any other defence' recognised in law.

Fox has vowed to appeal the ruling.
President Joe Biden revealed he's given Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders' a posthumous promotion to sergeant, making the announcement in a moving phone call with her parents.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution posted a video of Shawn Sanders and Oneida Oliver-Sanders receiving a phone call from Biden to express his sympathy at the loss of their daughter.

Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, was one of three soldiers killed in a weekend drone attack on U.S. service members in Jordan.

'I wish I didn't have to make this call. I know, you know, everybody knows there's nothing anybody can say or do,' Biden says on speakerphone as the parents listen. 'I've been there. So we understand. I just want you to know that you're in my prayers, in my heart.'

Biden also asked for their blessing to attend the dignified transfer of remains Dover Air Force base on Friday, which they granted.

Shawn Sanders and Oneida Oliver-Sanders received a phone call from President Joe Biden about the death of their daughter

Kennedy Ladon Sanders was 24 when she was killed in attack on U.S. troops in Jordan

WATCH: Shawn Sanders and Oneida Oliver-Sanders were in their living room Tuesday morning, less than 48 hours after learning that their 24-year-old daughter, Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, was killed in a weekend drone attack on U.S. service members in Jordan. Then President Joe pic.twitter.com/gCzus6kgBC  Atlanta Journal-Constitution (@ajc) January 30, 2024

The president called all three families of the fallen to express his sympathy and ask about attending the ceremony, the White House said on Tuesday.

He rang the Sanders at their home in Waycross, Georgia.

Shawn Sanders, 51 and a former Marine, told the newspaper that he promised his daughter if she decided to make a fulltime career in the Army, she would climb the ranks.

'Thank you, sir,' Shawn Sanders said when Biden told them of her promotion.

'You don't know how much that means to us,' Oneida Oliver-Sanders, 48, said.

Both of them wept when Biden gave them the news. Kennedy had put in her papers for a promotion to sergeant and was still waiting to hear if she would get the promotion when she died.

During the six-minute phone call, Biden offered words of comfort and mentioned his own losses: his son Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015; and his first wife and baby daughter, who were killed in a car accident in 1972.

'I got one of those calls,' he said of that day 52 years ago.

'You won't believe it now, and hope (you) won't be angry when I say it, but a day will come  when you walk by a park Kennedy played in, or you open a closet and you smell the fragrance of her clothing or something like that, and you'll smile before you cry,' Biden said.

'That's when you know you're gonna make it. It takes a hell of a long time to get there, but I promise you you'll get there. I know that is no consolation now.'

Biden called Shawn Sanders and Oneida Oliver-Sanders at their home in Georgia

President Joe Biden called the families of the soldiers killed in the attack on Tuesday

He also said he was looking at Kennedy's picture and 'she had such a beautiful smile. God love her.'

Oliver-Sanders told the president: 'I just appreciate your words.'

The president also offered the Sanders the number of a phone just outside the Oval Office so they could call if they needed anything or wanted to meet with him at the White House.

He started to give them a 202 phone number when Shawn Sanders interrupted him: 'We got a roomful of people. And I think it'd be in our best interest if you take you off speakerphone and get the number.'

They put him back on speaker afterward and Biden joked: 'I'm president of the United States of America - quote 'the most powerful man in the world' they keep telling me but they don't let me have a phone.'

The Sanders laughed at his statement.

Also killed along with Kennedy Ladon Sanders were Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia.

Kennedy's parents have described how she was close with fellow fallen soldier Breonna Moffet, who died in the same attack.

Onedia told Fox News: 'She made a lot of friends during her time in the military, even people who she went through basic training with.

'Breonna Moffet was one of the ones she grew a close relationship with. Every time she called me or Facetimed me Breonna Moffet was always somewhere nearby.'

Shawn and Onedia Sanders, seen here, also have described how Sanders was close with fellow fallen soldier Breonna Moffet, who died in the same attack

Kennedy Ladon Sanders' she died in an Iranian-backed blast on the base near the Syrian border over the weekend

While Shawn told the outlet: 'She was the life of the party. She enjoyed life.

'She was very competitive, she was goal-oriented and loved the service and serving our country. I miss her right know, this morning has been tough for me.'

When asked if she joined the army reserves due to her family being involved in the military, Sanders said: 'We have family that has served.

'I don't know where the influence came from, but she enjoyed her time in the service.

'Me being prior service, I am always focused on her commitment to the army and understanding the ultimate sacrifice.

'I came home, her big brother came home. My dad came home. A lot of us don't have the opportunity to come home, and for those who don't we should honor them.

'I am gracious to be part of it and that so many people are willing to reach out and share their sentiment about her duty to the country.

Oneida added: 'I just want everyone to know that Kennedy was a fun-loving person and lived her life to the fullest and enjoyed life.

'I encourage everyone to do the same and whenever you think about Kennedy, whether you knew her or not, just think about how joyful of a personality she was.'

Shawn Sanders, seen here during his time in the military, said his father and Kennedy's brother had all be in the service, with his daughter following in their footsteps

The drone attack late Saturday night impacted a US outpost located in the northeast part of the country known as Tower 22, near the Syria border, and resulted in at least 34 other injuries

The three soldiers died alongside William Rivers during the deadly suicide drone attack in Jordan on Saturday.

The troops were in their sleeping quarters at the time and the Pentagon confirmed Monday that the victims were likely in bed.

The three were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, a US Army Reserve unit based out of Fort Moore, Georgia.

Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Biden was asked how he knew Iran was responsible for the fatal drone attack on U.S. troops in Jordan last week.

He responded: 'I do hold them responsible in the sense they are supplying the weapons to the people who did it.'

When asked if he held Tehran directly responsible, he said: 'We will have those discussions.'

Pressed about concerns raised by his own administration about the risks of escalation, the president replied: 'We'll see.'

When asked if he has made a decision how the U.S. will respond, he said: 'Yes.'

He added: 'I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East, that's not what I'm looking for.'
Former President Donald Trump says he is interviewing 'various law firms' as he readies an appeal after a jury's stunning decision finding him liable for $83 million after his second defamation trial.

Trump issued a long post about his effort  but did not mention Alina Habba, the attorney who represented him at trial who has been criticized for failing to restrain her client in the courtroom and for failing to object to evidence admitted at trial. Trump's post came after Habba raised potential conflict of interest issue against the judge in the case  then suddenly backed down.

But a Habba spokeswoman tells DailyMail.com her role will continue, saying there was 'nothing changing with Alina's position.'

'I am in the process, along with my team, of interviewing various law firms to represent me in an Appeal of one of the most ridiculous and unfair Witch Hunts our Country has ever seen - The defamation Sham presided over by a Clinton appointed, highly partisan, Trump Hating Judge, Lewis Kaplan, who was, together with certain other Radical Left Democrat Judges, one of the most partisan and out of control activists that I have ever appeared before,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

'He was a bully who demanded two trials, rather than one, denied me Due Process, would not allow me to put forth vital evidence (of which there was much!), and only allowed me to be on the witness stand for minutes, telling my lawyer what to ask, and telling me to only give one word answers, as his wife and friends sat in cordoned off front row seats watching with glee.'

Former President Donald Trump said he is interviewing law firms for an appeal after a jury found he is liable for $83 million in damages in his second E. Jean Carroll defamation case

Then Trump hyped his decision process as if it were a sweepstakes, although some people who represented him in the past have backed away or complained about non-payment.

'This entire HOAX is a disgrace to our American System of Justice. Any lawyer who takes a TRUMP CASE is either CRAZY, or a TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOT. I will make my decision soon!' Trump wrote.

Habba, a Bedminster, New Jersey based lawyer who also represented Trump in his $100 million lawsuit against the New York Times, issued a defiant statement to reporters outside Manhattan Federal Court after the jury's decision last week, saying she was 'proud' to represent her client.

'I'm not having any second thoughts representing President Trump', she told reporters. '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.'

Habba brought Trump to testify in the trial. She said after the $83 million defamation verdict she was proud to represent him

Trump said he was interviewing firms in appeal after a case he called a 'defamation sham'

A jury found Trump liable for $83 million in damages

Then she fired off a letter claiming Judge Kaplan may have had a conflict of interest with Roberta Kaplan, who represented E. Jean Carroll suggesting it may have tainted the verdict  only to do a sudden 180 after Kaplan threatened her with sanctions.

Habba cited a New York Post article based on an unidentified law partner who said the judge and Roberta Kaplan had a 'mentor-mentee relationship' at a top New York law firm decades ago. She said Carrol's team had received 'preferential treatment.'

Roberta Kaplan shot back with her own letter, saying she and the future judge had overlapped for two years when she was a junior associate and that she had no recollection of ever interacting with him.

She said Habba was seeking to create 'a false narrative of judicial bias' and threatened possibly raising professional sanctions against her.

Then Habba followed with a sudden turnaround. 'Since Ms. Kaplan has now denied that there was ever a mentor-mentee relationship between herself and Your Honor, this issue has seemingly been resolved, she wrote.'

Then she raised still further concerns  but only in a footnote about 'potential bias hostility towards defense counsel' that she would raise in a later appeal.

She was criticized by legal experts for stating 'no objection' some of the judge's evidentiary rulings, which can limit opportunities for appeal. Judge Kaplan threatened her with jail time when she tried to bring in new evidence late in the trial. She called Trump to testify, which put him on the stand for just minutes, and the judge struck some of his comments from the record before he walked out of the courtroom amid proceedings.
An RAF technician, who groped a male colleague during a drunken birthday night out in Ayia Napa, has been cleared of sexual assault after blaming the incident on 'sexsomnia'.

Air specialist Jayon McKenzie had been serving at the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus when he and a few comrades went drinking in a hotel at the holiday resort, notorious for boozy behaviour, to celebrate his birthday.

The alleged victim woke up at around 5am to find Mr McKenzie performing a sex act on him and told his colleague that 'what he did was not acceptable'.

Now the 28-year-old has been cleared at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, claiming that he was asleep at the time of the incident and 'was not aware of what he was doing'.

William Peters, who was prosecuting, said that the 24-year-old victim fell asleep in a single bed in the same room as Mr McKenzie at around 4am.

Air specialist Jayon McKenzie, 28, (pictured) has been cleared of sexual assault at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, claiming that he was asleep at the time of the incident and 'was not aware of what he was doing'

The RAF technician had been serving at the Akrotiri base in Cyprus when he and a few comrades went drinking in a hotel at the holiday resort, notorious for boozy behaviour, to celebrate his birthday

Around an hour later, he woke up to the sound of his phone going off and found Mr McKenzie performing a sex act on him.

When the air technician realised that his victim had woken up he whispered 'for f*** sake' and 'rolled back onto his side'.

The prosecutor added: '[The victim] did his trousers up, got up and left the room.

READ MORE: RAF serviceman claimed he was asleep when he drunkenly groped male colleague in Ayia Napa hotel, court told Advertisement

'He told some of the others what had happened and sent AS McKenzie a message saying 'I know what you did'.'

Shortly after the incident, the victim told the police that Mr McKenzie was 'adamant that he didn't know who I was and he wasn't aware of what he was doing'.

He added: 'He said that I was just a body. He didn't see me as me and apparently I was just a body.'

It is thought that this was the last time the men spoke to one another but the air specialist wrote a letter to the alleged victim saying: 'I can never forgive myself for what I have done.'

The apology letter added: 'I remember just before you came into the room I felt scared.

'If you did not message me I would have thought it was a f***ed up dream.

'None of this is an excuse, I just want you to know.

'I have not been able to process any of it.

'I'm sorry.'

After the conversation, Mr McKenzie confided in a female colleague that the whole incident 'felt like a dream'.

When the air technician realised that his victim had woken up he whispered 'for f*** sake' and 'rolled back onto his side'

The court heard that the RAF technician accepted that the sex act had taken place but claimed that he had been asleep at the time or 'in a similar state' (Stock Photo)

The court heard that the RAF technician accepted that the sex act had taken place but claimed that he had been asleep at the time or 'in a similar state'.

Fiona Edington, who was defending the air serviceman, said that Mr McKenzie claimed he had been suffering from 'sexsomnia' - a rare condition, also known as sleep sex, where someone involuntarily initiates sexual behaviour while sleeping.

But the alleged victim argued that Mr McKenzie must have known what he was doing as he had said the words 'for f*** sake'.

He told the court he said it 'as if he had been caught in the act'.

Mr McKenzie was then found not guilty of sexual assault due to his defence of 'automatism', where someone is not aware of their actions.
Joe Biden's brother James will sit for a closed-door transcribed interview next month as Republicans ramp up their impeachment probe after months of back-and-forth.

James Biden's cooperation comes after several Biden families members and close associates have been hauled into the Capitol for questioning as Republicans move their investigation forward.

Associates Mervyn Yan and Rob Walker, Eric Schwerin have already testified this month. In addition, Joey Langston and Tony Bobulinski will be grilled in February.

'We look forward to his testimony,' House Oversight Chairman James Comer wrote on X about James Biden.

The GOP is narrowing in on two checks for $200,000 and $40,000 from James Biden to Joe labeled as 'loan repayments.' They claim the funds come from 'laundered money' that can be traced back to the Chinese.

Earlier this month, Republicans announced that Hunter Biden will also appear for a closed-door deposition on February 28.

BREAKING



James Biden will appear for a transcribed interview on February 21, 2024. We look forward to his testimony.  Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) January 31, 2024

Joe Biden 's brother James will sit for a closed-door transcribed interview next month

Top Republicans were preparing to issue a second round of subpoenas to Hunter Biden to compel him back to Capitol Hill for a closed-door deposition

The back-and-forth between top Republicans James Comer and Jim Jordan with Hunter's attorney Abbe Lowell comes after his shock made-for-TV appearance on Capitol Hill in blatant defiance of their subpoena last week

Staff for the committees and lawyers for Hunter Biden were working to schedule his appearance after he defied a congressional subpoena last month in a spectacular PR 'stunt' on the Hill.

'Hunter Biden will appear before our committees for a deposition on February 28, 2024. His deposition will come after several interviews with Biden family members and associates. We look forward to Hunter Biden's testimony,' announced Chairmen James Comer and Jim Jordan.

Earlier this month, they postponed indefinitely a procedural vote to advance a Hunter contempt of Congress charge for president's troubled son, 53, as negotiations for his closed-door deposition continued.

Hunter defied a subpoena last month requiring him to sit for a closed-door deposition as part of the GOP impeachment investigation into whether President Joe Biden was connected to or profited from his son's shady business deals.

Instead of showing up for his required testimony, Hunter appeared outside of the Capitol to deliver a dramatic tirade slamming 'shameless' Republicans, while saying he'd only testify in a public forum.

Weeks later, during a hearing marking up his contempt of Congress charge, Hunter arrived on Capitol Hill in a shock made-for-TV appearance in blatant defiance of their subpoenas.

The president's son staged the spectacular stunt and sat and listened as GOP Rep. Nancy Mace said he 'had no b***s' and 'should be in jail' for refusing to sit for a deposition behind closed doors.

About 17 minutes later he got up and walked out as Marjorie Taylor Greene started to question him over his business deals and the ongoing impeachment probe into his father Joe.

He was hit with a flurry of questions by reporters after he stormed out - including being asked 'what kind' of crack he smokes and why he put his father Joe on speakerphone over 20 times to speak with his business pals.

House GOP Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., had previously announce a contempt vote would take place this week - but it has now been postponed

Comer & Jordan Statement on Hunter Biden Deposition



Hunter Biden will appear before our committees for a deposition on February 28, 2024. His deposition will come after several interviews with Biden family members and associates. We look forward to Hunter Bidens testimony.  Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) January 18, 2024

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise. Scalise is currently battling cancer

 Floor Vote Announcement: Next week the House will vote to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress for repeatedly defying subpoenas.



Enough of his stunts. He doesn't get to play by a different set of rules. He's not above the law.  Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) January 12, 2024

Hunter caused a circus as cameras and reporters swarmed him for the very brief appearance amid the scandal over his shady foreign business deals.

Last week it was revealed Hunter is filming a top-secret documentary to set the record straight about his battle with addiction to crack cocaine and his financial woes.

Republicans started ripping Hunter for the 'made-for-TV publicity stunt.'

Hunter walked into the committee hearing room with his attorneys Abbe Lowell and Kevin Morris and sat down in the first row

Hunter Biden showed up on Capitol Hill at the start of a markup to hold him in contempt of Congress

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., wrote on X: 'The Congressional subpoena served to Hunter Biden was for a closed-door deposition, not a made-for-TV publicity stunt. These terms are not negotiable.'

GOP Whip Tom Emmer said 'another day, another ridiculous PR stunt by Hunter Biden.'

'If this is the Biden family's strategy to distract the American people from their disturbing pattern of corruption, it's a pointless one.'

Hunter walked into the committee hearing room with his attorneys Abbe Lowell and Kevin Morris and sat down in the first row, silently taking in the chaos that then unfolded in front of him as lawmakers grappled with the remarkable turn of events.

The top Democrat on the committee Jamie Raskin appeared to be aware that the president's son was going to disturb proceedings with his shock entry.

'Who bribed Hunter Biden to be here today?' asked Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. 'You are the epitome of white privilege coming into the Oversight Committee spitting in our face, ignoring a congressional subpoena to be deposed.'

'You have no b***s to come up here,' she spewed. 'I think Hunter Biden should be arrested right here and right now,' Mace continued. 'I'm looking at you!'

'I believe that Hunter Biden should be held completely in contempt. I believe he should be hauled off to jail right now!' the fired up Republican congresswoman remarked.

Democrat Jared Moskowitz - who also seemed to be aware of the stunt - asked for a show of hands from the lawmakers on who wanted to hear from Hunter, since he was in front of them.

He put Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., on the spot, daring him to question Hunter since he came to the public hearing, and threatened to make the contempt vote 'bipartisan.'

'Listen, I'll make this bipartisan. I'll vote for the Hunter contempt today. You can get my vote. You can get my vote but I want you to show the American people that you're serious.' Moskowitz taunted before submitting subpoenas for Republicans who didn't comply with the January 6 Committee's requests for testimony.

Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, departed a House Oversight Committee meeting at Capitol Hill

Hunter walked into the committee hearing room with his attorneys Abbe Lowell and Kevin Morris and sat down in the first row, silently taking in the chaos that then unfolded in front of him as lawmakers grappled with the remarkable turn of events

Hunter then stormed out of the hearing room following Moskowitz's remarks, immediately after Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., started speaking, less than 30 minutes into the hearing.

'I think it's clear and obvious for everyone watching this hearing today that Hunter Biden is terrified of strong conservative Republican women because he can't even face my words as I was about to speak to him,' said Greene.

'What a coward,' she exclaimed.

Republicans say that his 'obstruction' of their impeachment investigation has forced them to take the president's son to court to compel his cooperation - or he will face up to a year in jail.
We had a Stan Laurel moment at the Covid inquiry when Nicola Sturgeon started blubbing. She didnt quite remove her bowler hat and start scratching her head the way Stan would after being biffed by Oliver Hardy but it was a close-run thing. All simply because a barrister asked knuckleduster Nicola if she felt she was the right person to have been first minister of Scotland.

Seconds earlier she had been eagerly dishing out the ordure, pooh-poohing Boris Johnsons qualifications and smirking that the man who won the 2019 election was the wrong person to be prime minister full stop.

At this answer the inquirys Jamie Dawson KC cast a delicate fly and asked: Did you consider yourself to be the right person to be first minister? That was all it took to bring on the waterworks.

The chin wobbled, her watering gaze fell and she quavered: I was the first minister when the pandemic struck  theres a large part of me wished that I hadnt been, but I was, and I wanted to be the best first minister. Boo hoo hoo. Granite springs a leak.

Further lamentations followed when Mr Dawson, who had a nicely disguised asperity, wondered if Ms Sturgeons Scots Nats played lockdown for political advantage. This is hardly a new theory. Did the SNP pettily alter Edinburghs Covid policies from those of London simply so that it could parade the differences. Once again, Dawson KC had punctured Sturgeons dam.

Nicola Sturgeon weeps as she gives evidence to the UK Covid Inquiry in Edinburgh today

Questions from the inquiry's barrister, Jamie Dawson KC, managed to puncture her dam

I felt an overwhelming responsibility to do the best I could, she mewed. So the idea that in those horrendous days I was thinking of a political opportunity, I find, well, it just isnt true. And there was a repeat of the whimpering Stan routine with her mouth forming a rictus and a blinking back of tears.

The Olivier awards will be asking for a demo tape. She was as good as Celia Johnson in Brief Encounter. All it required was Rachmaninovs second piano concerto and a sepia wash and the inquirys breezy judge, Lady Hallett, could have sashayed up and down the aisles of the Edinburgh hearing room selling choc ices and Kia-Ora.

All the old Sturgeon tricks were on show: The head wobbles, the bouncing on toes as she affirmed the oath and the legalistic sentences in which you could almost hear the semi-colons.

She present herself as a retired Mother of the Nation, but despite references to Gold Command meetings, private offices, underpinning rationales, the use of action as a verb and endless salient points, it all felt terribly Trumpton. For all the talk of mighty decisions this was Potemkin government. The money  root of any states power  was coming from London.

Mr Dawson was an improvement on his fruity London counterpart Hugo Keith KC, but the inquiry again busied itself naively with politics. The focus was on WhatsApp messages, some of which Ms Sturgeon grudgingly admitted she deleted (initially she tried the formula I did not retain them). Did her cabal try to keep others out of the loop? Of course, yet she was never going to admit that.

These lawyers approach politics in such a priggish way. Mr Dawson accused Ms Sturgeon of being political. What did he expect? Shes a politician. Boris Johnsons fault during Covid, arguably, was that he wasnt political enough. The whole of lockdown was intensely political.

Civil servants, NHS bosses, broadcasters and others created a vast socialist project in which medical protection was but one consideration. You will never hear the inquiry probing that because it hails from the same world.

Ms Sturgeon arriving at the inquiry at Edinburgh International Conference Centre today

The former first minister - seen walking into the conference centre - grudgingly admitted deleting some of her WhatsApp messages from the lockdown

Our local rescue-dog service is seeking a home for a Patterdale terrier and says the breed has an exceptionally high prey drive. Thats a euphemism for born killer.

The same is true of Nicola Sturgeon and is why she was such a vote winner. But eventually even a Patterdale goes down a hole and meets its match and this has happened to her. Shes finished. Thats why she cried.
The Pennsylvania man accused of decapitating his own father before showing off his head in an horrifying YouTube video has been pictured smirking in his mugshot.

Justin Mohn, 32, was charged on Wednesday with the first degree murder of his father Michael Mohn, 68, who was found beheaded in his Levittown home on Tuesday. After the brutal murder, Mohn held up his dad's head in an unhinged YouTube video where he called him a traitor and blasted the federal government.

A former college roommate of Mohn at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, who lived with him for two years, told DailyMail.com the self-proclaimed messiah showed signs of paranoia as early as 2016, and believed the government was out 'to get him'

I don't really know how I could have heard about it and not be surprised, he said. 'It's not hard to see how he got to the stage of where he was in that video from when I knew him.'

While Mohn often ranted against the Biden administration, his former roommate went on to say the alleged killer was always antiestablishment and had a 'deeply paranoid side' - regardless of who was in the White House.

Justin Mohn, accused of decapitating his own father before showing off his head in an horrifying YouTube video, has been pictured smirking in his mugshot

Justin Mohn, 32, was arrested late on Tuesday in Pennsylvania after he decapitated his 68-year-old father Michael, according to police

From right: Justin Mohn, his father Michael and mother Denice; Zachary Mohn, with his girlfriend Cherry, and Stephanie Mohn

'Trump was in office when I was his roommate and he was saying a lot of pretty conspiratorial stuff about that administration too,' he shared. 'I don't think he was like a right winger, he was so disconnected from it all'.

The roommate added: 'It doesn't really matter what the politics of it were, he was going to be convinced that the government was out to get him no matter who was in charge.

'He would talk to me for hours about the government and all of these different forces that were out to get him and how he was. He was anti-establishment. He was going to be the revolutionary was his opinion then too.'

In the disturbing 14 minute clip YouTube video recorded hours before his arrest, Mohn declared he was the president of the United States and held up his father's head in a bloodied plastic bag as he slammed the LGBTQ community, the Black Lives Matter movement, antifa and the federal government at large.

Police have said it appears Mohn was reading from a script.

The roommate claims Mohn was prone to violent outbursts, and regularly bragged to his him about the fights he was involved in - once destroying their shared apartment over dirty dishes.

'I came back to find it completely trashed, he had punched holes in the walls, broke up the mirror,' he said. 'When I confronted him about it, he basically said that he blacked out didn't remember doing any of it and that he was really mad.

'He was definitely prone to outbursts, and like, you know, fits of rage and that sort of thing. He would say that he had extreme PTSD but not go into detail about it or what caused it.'

The house is pictured on Tuesday night with officers outside and crime scene tape

The former roommate said Mohn also had his father stay for a weekend visit while studying at UCCS and that their relationship appeared to be 'good'.

'He (Michael Mohn) was a really nice guy that two of them seemed to get along. He spoke about his dad having a job in the government, but everything he said was hard to believe. He would never go into specifics.'

DailyMail.com has been unable to confirm if Mike Mohn was a federal employee. Retirement age for federal employees is typically 62 years old.

Mohn also reportedly worked as a debt collector, and was obsessed with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

He was described as a loner with no friends, who wasn't 'capable of having a girlfriend.'

The alleged killer's horrified mother, Denice, 63, called police on Tuesday to report finding her husband's headless corpse in a bathroom at their home with a 'large amount of blood around him', according to court filings.

Police discovered the man's head inside of a plastic bag which had been placed in a cooking pot in a bedroom next door to the bathroom, where they recovered a large kitchen knife and a machete from the bathtub. Detectives also retrieved bloody rubber gloves in a first-floor bedroom.

Justin Mohn's father, Michael, and his mother, Denice. Michael was found beheaded in a bathroom on Tuesday at the family home

Neighbors check the Mohn home on Wednesday. They walked into the back yard consoling each other as they checked the house

On the YouTube clip, Mohn said many saw him as the messiah and wanted him as president, while urging relatives living with federal employees to murder them. He blamed the federal government for 'woke mobs' and migrants he claims are destroying the United States, and ranted against 'globalists and communists'.

DailyMail.com has chosen to obscure images from the clip, which is too disturbing to reproduce.

Levitttown police said Mohn was arrested after 9pm ET on Tuesday, in Fort Indiana Gap in central Pennsylvania, around two hours from his last known residence, driving his father's car.

Police say Mohn was armed and had jumped the fence at the National Guard Training Center in the area. His vehicle was found outside one of the fences.

'He had jumped one of the fences and was apprehended on foot here at the installation without incident,' said Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs communications director Angela Watson.

Another older photo shows Mohn holding up a CD. He was arrested Tuesday night, two hours drive from his family's home

Justin Mohn was arrested on Tuesday, 100 miles from the family home

One of Mohn's self-published books, which expand on his claim to be a messiah

In the beheading clip, he rants about taxes, declaring that the economy is 'near destruction' and most Americans can 'no longer afford the American dream.'

Mohn went on to say he was offering a $1 million bounty to anyone who could kill top officials including FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland and former Attorney General Bill Barr.

He said there was a 'globalist and communist' plot against the United States, before ranting about the federal government and holding up his dad's head in a silver cooking pot.

Clues to Mohn's downwards spiral are to be found in a legal battle against the United States government, with Mohn suing them for negligently providing him with a student loan which made him 'an overeducated white man', unable to find work.

He said in the filing that he was a 2014 graduate of Pennsylvania State University, with a degree in agribusiness management.

In previous social media posts, Mohn ranted about a 'civil war' between him and his followers and what he calls 'The Cult.'

In one unhinged post, he wrote: 'Even my own family upholds this Cult belief and is willing to go to jail to prove it. Donald Trump, if this does not get fixed ASAP then you will also be in jail for the rest of your life after I sue you for everything you own - that's not a threat that's a promise b****.'

The alleged killer's Facebook accounts appear to have been taken down as of Wednesday morning, and his name is not searchable on X.
Reports emerged that Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) and his wife Gisele separated after she deleted all social media following progressive backlash against her husband for supporting Israel in its defense against Hamas terrorists.

But Gisele Barreto Fetterman came back on X, formerly Twitter, to slam the rumors and explain she was just taking a break from social media.

'I posted several months ago that i would be talking (sic) a break from social media. I was bored with it  i am a Pisces  it wasn't adding anything to my life .. but leaving social media is somehow more exhausting than having it?!' she wrote on X Wednesday morning.

She added: 'You guys really are terrible, respectfully.'

Rumors swirled this week that Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) and his wife Gisele Barreto Fetterman are separated after she deleted her social media amid fall out for her husband's support for Israel

Gisele, however, reactivated her X account on Wednesday to dispel the speculation, claiming she was just 'taking a break from social media' and calling those reporting on her marriage 'terrible'

The speculation garnered traction after a New York Times intern Misha Schizarella posted that Gisele had deleted all her pictures with her husband on social media and said: 'According to reports she is currently single.'

After Sen. Fetterman's wife pushed back against the reports, X added a community note to Schizarella's post showing that once Gisele's account was reactivated, the images of the couple together were still there.

'Community Notes is wrong as usual,' Schizarella pushed back, claiming that at the time of her post Gisele's account was inactive and that it was only reactivated nine hours after reporting of the separation emerged.

'All pictures on her Instagram with John Fetterman are still deleted,' Schizarella added.

Schizarella also noted that on Tuesday evening, before Gisele's return to X, her husband liked multiple pictures of Israeli actress Gal Gadot.

A New York Times intern posted on X that the two were reportedly separated after Gisele deleted her social media accounts

Sen. Fetterman's support for Israel has placed him in opposition to many within the Democratic Party and among his supporters who do not share his views

The Fetterman couple has been married since 2008 and have three children.

But reports of tension emerged after Sen. Fetterman expressed his fervent support for Israel, which also sparked widespread criticism from progressive wings of the Democratic Party.

Protesters descended on Fetterman's home in Braddock, just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and shouted: 'Fetterman, Fetterman, you can't hide. You're supporting genocide.'

The first-term senator replied by trolling the pro-Palestine protesters with a large Israeli flag unfurled from his rooftop as they continued to chant below.

Some on social media say that Gisele was also targeted for her husband's support for the Jewish State after it was attacked by Hamas terrorists operating out of Gaza.

It is cited as one reason for their alleged separation, but nothing has been confirmed as of Wednesday morning.
Nicola Sturgeon's tearful denials of 'politicising' Covid took a major hit yesterday as an email showed fears that a Covid travel ban on Spain would wreck Scotland's chances of joining the EU.

The message appearing to be from John Swinney's account in July 2020 was highlighted as Ms Sturgeon gave evidence at the official inquiry.

The intervention came as senior figures in the Scottish government considered whether rising cases in Spain meant it should be removed from the list of safe countries.

The email read: 'It won't matter how much ministers might justify it on health grounds, the Spanish government will conclude it is entirely political; they won't forget; there is a real possibility they will never approve EU membership for an independent Scotland as a result.'

After the email was flagged at the hearing, the Scottish government contacted the inquiry about the email last night and said in a statement that it was written by 'a civil servant and not the Deputy First Minister himself, or anyone in his office or communicating on his behalf'.

The bombshell email came after Ms Sturgeon repeatedly choked up as she insisted she had not sought to weaponise the pandemic for her independence cause.

She argued this afternoon that the decision to keep Spain on the safe list a day later was made on 'public health grounds', rather than with EU membership in mind.

However, quarantine requirements for travellers Spain were reinstated six days later on July 26 as cases rose sharply.

In other key moments from the Covid inquiry session:

Ms Sturgeon told the hearing that she used a personal phone to conduct government business, saying she had not been advised it was inappropriate;

She said she had 'never seen messages before' in which an official reminded civil servants in a WhatsApp group where the 'clear chat' function was and that 'plausible deniability is my middle name';

Messages exchanged between Ms Sturgeon and her former chief of staff Liz Lloyd showed the SNP leader having a detailed conversation about how to change hospitality rules;

Ms Sturgeon fended off questions about whether she repeatedly 'gazumped' Westminster by announcing action before Boris Johnson, saying the Scottish public was 'desperate' to know what was going on;

Ms Sturgeon conceded it was 'instinct' for her to campaign for independence, but said her only aim in the early stages of the pandemic was to 'do the best we could to keep people safe'.

A bombshell email shown at the inquiry showed Nicola Sturgeon's deputy raised concerns about putting Spain under travel restrictions because 'there's a possibility they will never approve EU membership for an independent Scotland as a result'

The message from John Swinney in July 2020 was highlighted as Ms Sturgeon gave evidence at the official inquiry this afternoon

Ms Sturgeon repeatedly choked up as she insisted she had not sought to weaponise the pandemic for her independence cause

The ex-first minister, pictured leaving the inquiry hearing, argued the decision to keep Spain on the safe list was made on 'public health grounds', rather than with EU membership in mind

Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: 'This bombshell email proves that the SNP Government were debating the impact of public health decisions on their independence campaign at the height of the pandemic.

'It is the latest piece of compelling evidence to totally undermine Nicola Sturgeon's claim that her obsession with breaking up the UK was put on hold amid Covid.

'The shameful reality is that her government were constantly gaming their independence push when they should have been focused solely on public health.'

Ms Sturgeon repeatedly seemed on the verge of tears during a bruising session at the official inquiry, admitting that a 'large part' of her wished she had not been in charge during the pandemic.

The emotional moment came after Ms Sturgeon acknowledged that messages about the pandemic response had not been kept.

Despite being shown examples of discussions that have survived relating to key policies on restrictions, she insisted all important matters were dealt with 'formally'.

But she admitted that 'perhaps shouldn't have' given Professor Devi Sridhar a separate SNP email address to contact her on.

She was also forced to dismiss criticism for buying what have been described as 'burner' phones on Parliamentary expenses, insisting they merely were for staff who working from home.

Ms Sturgeon argued that that the mood in the Scottish government had been 'serious, purposeful and collegiate' - rejecting suggestions she saw the crisis as a way of furthering her 'mission' of breaking up the UK.

Asked by inquiry counsel Jamie Dawson about her experience of the pandemic, Ms Sturgeon choked up saying in many ways she wished she had not been in Bute House at the time.

She said her aim had been to be the 'best First Minister I could be', flatly denying that she saw the situation as a 'political opportunity'.

'It is for others to judge whether I succeeded,' she added.

Ms Sturgeon initially said her WhatsApp messages 'weren't retained'.

But the KC persisted: 'Did you delete them?'

Ms Sturgeon said: 'Yes, in the manner I have set out.'

The evidence sessions began after Ms Sturgeon was heckled on arrival at the venue in Edinburgh, where the probe is sitting as it considers Scottish issues.

The SNP MSP was greeted with shouts of 'where are your WhatsApps' and 'excess deaths'.

The former First Minister stressed that discussions about the response to the pandemic took place 'formally' as she kicked off a full day of questioning

Sturgeon's key quotes from Covid inquiry On 'weaponising' Covid for independence campaign: 'I didn't see an opportunity of any description in Covid. I saw a threat, a risk, a catastrophe. My memories of the early part of 2020 was first fear at what might be about to unfold and confront the country. 'At times in these early days I felt overwhelmed by the scale of what we were dealing with. 'Perhaps more than anything I felt an overwhelming responsibility to do the best I could.' On deleting WhatsApps: 'I operated from 2007, based on advice, the policy that messages, business relating to government should not be kept on a phone that could be lost or stolen and insecure in that way, but properly recorded through the system. 'I would want to again underline that communication was extremely limited and would not relate it to matters of substantive government decision-making.' On giving Professor Devi Sridhar her SNP email address for 'private' communications: 'On reflection perhaps I shouldn't have done that... 'But if I had been in any way trying to direct her to a private email address, I doubt if I would have put my government email address in there as well.' On regretting being First Minister during Covid: 'I was the first minister when the pandemic struck. 'There's a large part of me wishes that I hadn't been but I was and I wanted to be the best first minister.' 'It is for others to judge whether I succeeded.' On her main regret of the pandemic: 'Of the many regrets I have, probably chief of those is that we didn't lock down a week, two weeks, earlier than we did.' Advertisement

Ms Sturgeon again welled up as she rejected the idea she had seen a 'political opportunity'.

'I didn't see an opportunity of any description in Covid. I saw a threat, a risk, a catastrophe. My memories of the early part of 2020 was first fear at what might be about to unfold and confront the country,' she said.

'At times in these early days I felt overwhelmed by the scale of what we were dealing with.

'Perhaps more than anything I felt an overwhelming responsibility to do the best I could.'

She insisted that in those 'days and week' it 'wasn't true' that she perceived a political opportunity.

In further tetchy exchanges with Mr Dawson, the former SNP leader said: 'I have not said and I'm not saying today that I never used informal means of communication.'

'What I am saying is that I did so very rarely and not to discuss issues of substance or anything that could be described as decision making.

'There was a high degree of formality around the decision making of the Scottish Government.'

Several figures in Ms Sturgeon's government have already faced questions at the inquiry about their deletion of messages during the pandemic.

Ms Sturgeon has conceded messages had not been retained on her own devices but said she had managed to retrieve copies to submit to the inquiry.

She has said informal messages were handed over to the inquiry last year.

Scottish Government ministers and officials have said decisions were routinely recorded on the official system even if messages were deleted in line with policy.

Last week, Ms Sturgeon's former chief of staff Liz Lloyd gave evidence to the inquiry.

After message exchanges between the pair were shown in evidence, Ms Lloyd denied a decision about guest limits on weddings during the pandemic was made 'on the hoof'.

In one message seen by the inquiry, Ms Sturgeon referred to then prime minister Boris Johnson as a 'f****** clown.'

Current First Minister Humza Yousaf, in his evidence to the inquiry last Thursday, offered an 'unreserved' apology for the Scottish Government's 'frankly poor' handling of requests for WhatsApp messages.

He has announced an external review into the Government's use of mobile messaging.

Ms Sturgeon said today that WhatsApp had become 'too common' a means of communication within the Scottish Government.

The messages highlighted at the inquiry today showed Ms Sturgeon and Ms Lloyd engaged in a detailed discussion in October 2020 about what times to allow restaurants to stay open until

Nicola Sturgeon was heckled over her deleted WhatsApps today as she arrived to face a grilling at the Covid inquiry

Nicola Sturgeon insisted she did not make 'extensive' use of WhatsApp during Covid today as she faced a grilling at the Covid inquiry

She said: 'When people are sending messages on WhatsApp, they don't think, including me and therefore messages, when they are looked back at later on, can be open to different interpretations because people haven't really thought about the words they're using.

'And I think that certainly would be true of some of the exchanges that the inquiry has been looking at.'

Asked by Mr Dawson if she recalled receiving an email about the importance of retaining messages on August 3 2021, Ms Sturgeon replied: 'I do not as far as I am aware, I did not receive that.'

Mr Dawson asked: 'You recall, I would imagine, in a general sense that such a notification was sent out?'

Ms Sturgeon said: 'I would say this: that I don't think I would have required to see that to know that matters that were relevant to know the matters that were relevant.'

The former first minister said she had 'always assumed there would be a public inquiry'.

Ms Sturgeon told the inquiry: 'I operated from 2007, based on advice, the policy that messages, business relating to government should not be kept on a phone that could be lost or stolen and insecure in that way, but properly recorded through the system.

'I would want to again underline that communication was extremely limited and would not relate it to matters of substantive government decision-making.'

The messages highlighted at the inquiry today showed Ms Sturgeon and Ms Lloyd engaged in a detailed discussion in October 2020 about what times to allow restaurants to stay open until.

Ms Sturgeon wrote: 'I am having a bit of a crisis in decision making in hospitality, not helped by the fact I haven't slept. The public health argument says stick with 6pm/no alcohol for level 3. But I suspect the industry will go mad  and I worry we could derail debate.'

But the MSP said today: 'I look at this and I don't consider that there is anything in that, wouldn't be reflected through the decision making and the evidence of the decision making of the government and undoubtedly hospitality and the impact on hospitality.'

Pressed that there was nothing in the public record stating 'we should prob stick with 6 it's all so random', Ms Sturgeon said: 'This is why I don't think WhatsApp should be used to have substantial discussions  four years on we can put on a different interpretation.

'But there were moments that whatever we would do, would cause difficulty and harm for somebody.'

Mr Dawson said: 'This was a discussion that related to an important decision made in the course of the pandemic.'

Ms Sturgeon replied: 'That would have been discussed and recorded at Cabinet.'

The MSP was interrogated about a report she used Parliamentary expenses to purchase an 18 Nokia phone and SIM cards in March 2020.

She insisted that the so-called 'burner' was bought to divert calls from her constituency office to staff forced to work from home during lockdown.

Ms Sturgeon was adamant she had 'never to the best of my knowledge seen, held and certainly not used any of these phones'.

Ms Sturgeon also faced questions about her decision to provide public health expert Professor Devi Sridhar with her SNP email address to 'privately' be contacted.

'On reflection perhaps I shouldn't have done that,' she said.

'But if I had been in any way trying to direct her to a private email address, I doubt if I would have put my government email address in there as well.'

In an exchange about so-called 'gold command' meetings chaired by Ms Sturgeon during her time in Bute House where not minutes were taken, Mr Dawson asked if there was a 'theme' developing where her government sought to hide discussions at the meetings.

'No  I would very, very strongly refute that,' the former first minister said.

'I have look at all of the cabinet papers and minutes over that whole period  it runs to thousands of pages.'

She said the records went further than just decisions made and covered the rationale behind them.

Ms Sturgeon was pressed on not attending the 'Operation Nimbus' planning exercise in early 2020.

That included senior politicians from the wider UK and devolved administrations, drawing up a 'battleplan' for Covid in a scenario where the death toll hit 840,000 by the middle of April

The former SNP chief defended missing the exercise, saying it was not 'abnormal' to delegate ministers and 'not everyone can be at everything at once'.

The issue of Ms Sturgeon 'gazumping' wider UK decisions was discussed at the hearing.

Regarding one episode where she announced the conclusions of a Cobra meeting before then-PM Boris Johnson, the ex-SNP leader said she had a 'duty to the people of Scotland'.

'I was surprised to speak before him, not because I went too quickly but because by the time I did it he hadn't.'

Ms Sturgeon said she had a 'strong commitment' to working with the other UK nations on Covid. But she added: 'I had a duty as First Minister of Scotland to the people of Scotland.'

Mr Dawson put it to Ms Sturgeon she wanted to be 'the person who had driven Covid out of Scotland', which she rejected.

The former first minister said: 'I hoped that the decisions my government would take would keep Covid at the lowest possible level, so that it took the lives of fewer people, minimised the disruption to people's livelihoods and the education of children.

'I accept that there will be genuine and serious scrutiny of the content of decisions that were taken, and some of those decisions I wish I had taken, my government, had taken differently, some  I think  were right.

'My motives in this were only ever about trying to do the right thing to minimise the overall harm that the virus was doing.

'The toll it took, in Scotland, as in other parts of the UK, was far too high, so I didn't do that as successfully as I wish I was able to, but perhaps in some ways the measures we took had some impact.'

Former Scottish Government ministers Kate Forbes and John Swinney gave evidence to the inquiry yesterday.

Mr Swinney said he 'manually' deleted messages between himself, Ms Sturgeon and Mr Yousaf in a practice which could date back to 2007.

The inquiry was earlier told that meetings of senior ministers outside the cabinet  known as the 'gold command'  were not minuted.

Ms Forbes said she was 'surprised' these and Scottish Government Resilience Room meetings went unminuted.

Discussing the external review into messaging, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'As the First Minister outlined, he has commissioned an externally led review into the use of mobile messaging apps and non-corporate technology in the Scottish Government.

'This will take particular account of Government interaction with statutory public inquiries.

'During this period, we will continue to keep our records management policy under review in line with legislation.

'The external review will inform a wider internal records management policy review.

'More detail on the external and internal reviews will be given in due course.'

Appearing before the official inquiry on Monday, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said the SNP had a clear 'mission' to 'destroy the UK'.

He pointed to 'direct evidence' that had been presented about the Scottish Cabinet discussing how the pandemic could enhance the push for independence.

And Mr Gove, who was responsible for coordinating with the devolved administrations, claimed Ms Sturgeon's remarks in private sometimes had a 'political complexion'.

The minister denied that the Westminster government had also been playing politics, saying: 'I think the most important thing that we felt was to ensure that lives were saved across the UK.'

Despite repeatedly attempting to 'gazump' Westminster with announcements during the pandemic, Ms Sturgeon was always adamant she had no intention of politicising it.

Ms Sturgeon was exchanging messages with chief adviser Liz Lloyd on October 31, 2020 as Mr Johnson was announcing another national lockdown

On June 30, 2020 Ms Sturgeon told a briefing on the raging crisis that anyone 'trotting out political or constitutional arguments is in the wrong place completely'.

But records of a Scottish Cabinet meeting from the same day, highlighted at the Covid Inquiry, showed it covered 'restarting work on independence and a referendum' and suggested that arguments should 'reflect the experience of the coronavirus crisis'.

WhatsApp messages between Ms Sturgeon and her then chief of staff Liz Lloyd also revealed they wanted to start a 'good old-fashioned rammy' with the UK government.
A Florida mom has been banned from dropping off her kids at a Christian prep school because she placed her OnlyFans advert across her car.

Michelle Cline, 35, wanted to grow her online X-rated business so decided to put a sticker on her car - but parents at her child's $8,360-a-year school in Tavares, Florida, have revolted in outrage.

Cline, whose explicit alias is Piper Fawn, says she's now been forced to drop her kids off from across the street because of the backlash she's faced at Liberty Christian Preparatory School.

She has argued that it's her legitimate business and is not against the law.

Michelle Cline, 35, wanted to grow her online X-rated business so decided to put a sticker on her car - but parents at her child's $8,360-a-year school in Tavares, Florida, have revolted in outrage

Cline, whose explicit alias is Piper Fawn, says that now she's been forced to drop her kids off from across the street because of the backlash she's faced at Liberty Christian Preparatory School

The mother poses with her car sticker, advertising her OnlyFans

On her OnlyFans page, the mother writes: 'I'm just a down home southern girl that likes to have a little fun on camera. I hope you guys enjoy what you see! I have tan skin like an island. Come check me out yall!'

She charges $13.99 a month for her X-rated content online.

Cline told WFTV: 'My husband and I had this, you know, behind closed doors lifestyle that we've now decided to share.

'I was forced to take it off or not come on campus.'

The Christian school's officials told her to stop using the main entrance because of her car advert.

They told her that if she wants to use the main drop off, she needs to remove it.

On her OnlyFans page, the mother writes: 'I'm just a down home southern girl that likes to have a little fun on camera. I hope you guys enjoy what you see! I have tan skin like an island. Come check me out yall!'

Cline added: 'That one seemed like an easy thing to say for sure. For me, it supports my family.

'This provides a very comfortable way of life for us, and it's legal. I pay taxes just like everyone else.

'I didn't break the law, I just offended people.'

One outraged parent Lexy Thomas said: 'It's not just a tiny little emblem on the back of a car. It is taking up the entire back windshield of two vehicles.

'That's a distraction to my children. No matter how poorly or how good I parent, porn is there, and that's the first thing they're seeing when they're going into a place that should be educating them.'
A police officer has appeared in court to deny sending offensive messages mocking a persons disability.

PC Ashley Cooper, a response officer in Southwark and Lambeth in south London, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court this afternoon charged with two counts of sending grossly offensive messages.

The 31-year-old officer from Epsom, Surrey, has been suspended from duty since October 2023 after allegations emerged that he sent offensive messages on WhatsApp mocking a persons disability.

Scotland Yards anti-corruption detectives launched an investigation into Coopers behaviour after the claims first came to light.

Today the Met officer pleaded not guilty to sending a still image on a public network on February 11 2021.

PC Ashley Cooper (pictured today) was suspended from duty in October 2023 following allegations that he sent offensive WhatsApp messages mocking a person's disability

He also denied sending a moving image on a public network that was grossly offensive, indecent or obscene on December 29 2020.

District Judge John McGarva granted Cooper unconditional bail until his trial takes place later this year.

The one-day trial is scheduled to take place at Westminster Magistrates court at 10am on May 30.

Judge McGarva told Cooper: You have pleaded not guilty to two offences involving grossly offensive or indecent messages.

The Met officer pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to sending a still image on a public network on February 11 2021

The court is going to need to decide whether you are guilty. The facts in this case are largely agreed.

If you dont attend your trial it can go ahead in your absence. If you dont go to trial you dont have as good a case as we dont hear your side of things.

Yesterday commander James Harman, who leads the forces Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command, said: I know many people will be concerned and disappointed to hear that an officer has been charged with a criminal offence.

Legal proceedings are now under way and it would be inappropriate to comment further until that process concludes.
Tributes have been paid to an ex-soldier and Afghanistan war veteran who is believed to have taken his own life after suffering from suspected PTSD.

Kevin 'Harry' Harrison, 57, was found dead in his home on Monday morning after reports to police of 'gunshots' at the property in Preston, Lancashire.

His friend, ex-serviceman Tony Nugent, said Harry was a respected soldier who had served in 'every combat conflict zone' since the Falklands War in 1982.

He said the unemployed, single former medic had struggled with what he had witnessed during roughly 22 years in the armed forces.

He pleaded with other former soldiers struggling with their mental health to seek support - saying the case highlighted the lack of help for veterans.

Kevin 'Harry' Harrison, 57, (pictured)was found dead in his home on Monday morning after reports to police of 'gunshots' at the property

His friend, ex-serviceman Tony Nugent, said Harry (pictured as a young man) was a respected soldier who had served in 'every combat conflict zone' since the Falklands War in 1982

The unemployed, single former medic was said to have struggled with what he had witnessed during roughly 22 years in the armed forces

Mr Nugent said: 'My best friend Harry decided that he could no longer deal with the demons which haunted him from deep inside his memory and in the early hours today he took his own life.

'Unfortunately, Harry suffered with PTSD caused obviously by the things he saw and dealt with in his service career.

'I know from my many times visiting Harry that he was in a very dark place. He tried as he could but in the end, he decided that it was time to sleep the eternal sleep.

'My heart is ripped to shreds for you and all our brothers and sisters who could not and cannot find the help they so desperately need.

'If anybody out there is struggling, please talk to somebody, contact a veterans helpline, speak to your friend, GP etc... just please speak with somebody.'

Mr Nugent said Harry had joined the Royal Corps of Transport, now known as the Royal Logistics Corps, as a driver at the start of his career.

In the 1990s, in Bosnia, Harry was awarded a citation from the local government for his work setting up the medical supply chain for citizens caught up in the war

Yet he spent the majority of his time in Royal Army Medical Corps and went on numerous tours around the world.

In the 1990s, in Bosnia, Harry was awarded a citation from the local government for his work setting up the medical supply chain for citizens caught up in the war.

His last stint overseas was spent in Helmand province, during the war in Afghanistan.

Mr Nugent said his friend of 35 years had touchingly sent him a bottle of his favourite brandy just before he took his own life.

He said: 'I had known Harry for about 35 years and I can honestly say he was one of the kindest, funniest, compassionate, caring people I have ever known.

'He always put others first.

'Yesterday, Harry sent me a bottle of Asbach, a drink we always had on hand when the weekend sessions happened, which arrived today in post.

Mr Nugent said his friend of 35 years had touchingly sent him a bottle of his favourite brandy just before he took his own life

'This shows just how much of a caring friend he was.'

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: 'We were called at 5.47am on Monday January 29, to an address in Whitby Avenue, Ingol, Preston, to a report of a concern for welfare.

'Officers attended and very sadly the body of a man in his 50s was found at the property. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

'The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed in due course to HM Coroner.

'Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the death.'
Talk about American dystopia.

In an apparent and horrifying act of governmental overreach, a troubled teenager has been removed from her home after Child Protective Services determined that she needed to transition.

The parents in question don't seem to be neglectful bigots.

They simply think, as many rational people do, that irreversibly medicalizing a teenager might cause more harm than good.

These parents say they listened when their daughter, aged 13, said she thought she might be a boy. They agreed to send her to a therapist  not to change her mind, but to further explore her confusion.

Imagine that.

Talk about American dystopia. In an apparent and horrifying act of governmental overreach, a troubled teenager has been removed from her home after Child Protective Services determined that she needed to transition. (Pictured: Jennifer with step mother Krista, left. And after socially transitioning, right).

These parents say they listened when their daughter, aged 13, said she thought she might be a boy. They agreed to send her to a therapist  not to change her mind, but to further explore her confusion. Imagine that. (Pictured: Jennifer and Krista).

But here we are, in a culture so reactionary that nuance no longer exists  that a stranger who works for one of the most fallible, problematic government agencies can usurp parental rights and put a child on course to hormone treatments and even surgery.

It's nothing short of indoctrination.

The case in question involves Jennifer Kolstad, now 14 years old, from Glasgow, Montana. While at school in August 2023, Jennifer (her first name is a pseudonym) told friends she wanted to commit suicide.

These friends went to the police and, later that night, the CPS showed up at the Kolstad house. Jennifer's father Todd and stepmother Krista were cooperative. They allowed the case worker to look around their home and interview Jennifer alone, but prefaced this with critical information: Jennifer  they claimed  was a troubled child who had issues with telling the truth.

While talking to the case worker, Jennifer said she had taken an overdose of pills and swallowed toilet-bowl cleaner  despite Krista saying she'd been home all day and nothing was amiss.

Still, they took Jennifer to the hospital, where they say blood work determined her system was clean. But her medical notes are also said to have indicated that Jennifer considered herself a boy and preferred to be called 'Leo'.

That's when this nightmare began. Todd and Krista have since lost custody.

'I love my daughter unconditionally,' Todd said, 'and only want her to refrain from making decisions until she has the maturity and life experiences to understand what the consequences are for her actions'.

Does that sound crazy to you? It does to the brain trust at Montana's CPS, who, Krista says, allowed an aide to talk to Jennifer during her hospital stay about having a double mastectomy. At fourteen years old.

We know that the human brain isn't fully developed until the mid-to-late 20s. Research shows that adults make decisions using the prefrontal cortex  where rationality lives  while teenagers use the amygdala, the emotional part.

It's not crazy to reconsider inculcating impressionable young minds with thoughts of procedures that can leave a child permanently infertile or without body parts. In fact, nothing makes more sense.

We have no longitudinal studies on transitioning during childhood. We have no data on the long-term physical and psychological impacts.

What we do have is a medical establishment, backed by a super-progressive left, acting with utmost surety and hubris.

Whatever happened to 'first do no harm'?

But here we are, in a culture so reactionary that nuance no longer exists - that a stranger who works for one of the most fallible, problematic government agencies can usurp parental rights and put a child on course to hormone treatments and even surgery. (Pictured: Jennifer with parents Todd and Krista, and her sister).

It's not crazy to reconsider inculcating impressionable young minds with thoughts of procedures that can leave a child permanently infertile or without body parts. In fact, nothing makes more sense. (Pictured: Jennifer with parents Todd and Krista).

Still, the Kolstads say they agreed with CPS recommendations to have Jennifer admitted for specialist in-patient treatment at a mental health institution. However, they were concerned when the agency told them the only place available was in Wyoming.

That state allows minors to have gender-altering medical procedures: hormone blockers and surgery. These are illegal in Montana.

The Kolstads tried to raise their objections, saying there were questions that needed answering before they consented.

But just ten minutes later, CPS was at their door with the police, who took Jennifer away  to Wyoming.

After one month, she was transferred back to Montana to live in a group home, where she has been allowed to 'socially transition', binding her chest, shaving her head and joining all-boys groups. She is still there.

Understandably, the Kolstads now feel they have no choice but to go public.

Ask yourself: Would such a gross, unthinking violation of parental rights happen to a privileged couple? The kind of people who have the money to hire top lawyers, who might make some low-wattage functionary of a state agency think twice?

'Our rights are being completely stripped away,' Krista told DailyMail.com.

Be afraid. Be very afraid. People like the Kolstads are test cases. If this kind of custodial and medical interference flies in the courts, the rich and powerful are, in fact, next.

Montana's governor Greg Gianforte, a staunch Republican, has doubled down on this decision, stating that he personally put his female lieutenant governor in charge of reviewing Jennifer's case.

'Unfortunately', he tweeted yesterday, 'our society finds children whose life, health, and wellbeing are at serious risk from abuse and neglect, and only as a last resort, should they be removed from their home'.

If CPS has evidence that Jennifer has been abused and neglected by her father and stepmother, it would behoove them to show it.

In fact, if the Kolstads are indeed abusive or neglectful parents, wouldn't they be facing criminal charges by now?

Guess we'll just have to take Gianforte's word that his lieutenant governor  who, as far as we know, is no expert in child psychology or gender identity  is correct to tear apart this family and potentially alter an adolescent's future.

Krista is alarmed that the system is overlooking Jennifer's history abandoned by her birth mother, an alleged pattern of lying and attention-seeking  while reducing her agony solely to issues of gender.

She is right to be. The lawsuits filed by young detransitioners, who say they were pushed into surgeries by the medical establishment, are just beginning.

One case to watch is Isabelle Ayala, who is suing the American Academy of Pediatrics and her doctors in Rhode Island for transitioning her from female to male when she was 14 years old.

Now 20, she says she was put on a rapidly moving conveyor belt by 'a collection of actors who prioritized politics and ideology over children's safety, health and well-being'.

Montana's governor Greg Gianforte (pictured), a staunch Republican, has doubled down on the decision. If CPS has evidence that Jennifer has been abused and neglected by her father and stepmother, it would behoove them to show it.

The lawsuits filed by young detransitioners, who say they were pushed into surgeries by the medical establishment, are just beginning. One case to watch is Isabelle Ayala (pictured), who is suing the American Academy of Pediatrics and her doctors in Rhode Island for transitioning her from female to male when she was 14 years old.

Ayala says that childhood sexual abuse and the very common confusion that accompanies young girls as they physically develop  she began puberty at age 8  left her feeling she might be better off as a male.

And so she went online, where she found a transgender activist group offering this advice to kids: If you want to transition fast, claim you're suicidal.

'I learned that I had to convince [my doctors and family] that if they don't affirm me, I'm going to kill myself,' Ayala said.

Of course, there will always be some children who truly feel from a very young age they have been born in the wrong body. This is not an argument to negate or deny their torment. But those numbers, we will likely learn, are probably vanishingly small.

'There was zero medical health diagnosis, zero psycho-behavioral diagnosis, nothing other than simply taking Isabelle's word for what she needed,' Ayala's lawyer told the New York Post.

America needs to adopt the European model: The U.K., Norway, Finland and Sweden  the latter the first European country to offer gender reassignment for minors  have all slowed this process down, taking a far more cautious and thoughtful approach.

But here in the U.S., what passes for debate on this issue breaks down to politics: Red states are increasingly banning gender-affirming care for minors, while blue states want all guardrails removed.

To say what should be painfully obvious: There is a middle way. There is a serious, adult conversation to be had about how to treat such children  one that recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, that each child, their circumstances and family dynamics are unique.

Progressives ignore this at their peril.

To anyone still wondering why Donald Trump has so much traction, you need only to look at what's happening to the Kolstads.

In Joe Biden's America, migrants with zero security checks can flow over the borders. Mentally unwell homeless people who pose threats to law-abiding citizens can't be forcibly hospitalized. But confused kids can be taken from loving parents who are doing their best.

This is America. This is a disgrace.
Police today released the mugshots of two teenagers who accidentally stabbed one of their own gang members to death as they murdered another boy during a ride out.

Charlie Bartolo, 16, was rammed off his motorbike by a car before five killers jumped out and stabbed him repeatedly in Sewell Road, Abbey Wood, southeast London on 26 November 2022.

One of the attackers, 16-year-old Kearne Solanke, was accidentally knifed in the shoulder by his friend as they set about Charlie.

Kearne, known as Havoc, got back into the car with his accomplices who drove a mile away to Thamesmead where they dumped the car and their friend, leaving him to die of his injuries.

The two 16-year-olds were reported dead in separate 999 calls within six minutes of each other.

Alagie Jobe (left) and Hussain Bah (right), both 19, are facing life sentences after they were convicted of murdering both boys at Inner London Crown Court last week

The two 16-year-olds, Charlie Bartolo (left) and Kearne Solanke (right) were reported dead in separate 999 calls within six minutes of each other

The killers were members of Thamesmeads T-Block gang involved in a postcode feud with rivals from Abbey Wood.

READ MORE: Teenage thugs who accidentally stabbed one of their own gang members and left him to die after murdering another boy face jail Advertisement

Alagie Jobe and Hussain Bah, both 19, are facing life sentences after they were convicted of murdering both boys at Inner London Crown Court last week.

Two other teenagers, aged 17 and 16, were also found guilty of the two murders by a jury.

Bah and Jobe will be sentenced on 7 February while the other boys, who cannot be named, will be sentenced on 23 February.

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones, KC, had told the court emergency services were called to Sewell Road at 5.05pm after Charlie was attacked.

Charlie was found to have suffered multiple stab wounds, including a large stab wound to his head.

He was taken from the scene to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, but despite the best efforts of emergency medical staff, Charlie died from his injuries at 6.24pm.

At 5.11pm, so just six minutes after the 999 call had been made in respect of Charlie Bartolo, another 999 call was made, and another ambulance was requested.

On November 16, 2023, Charlie Bartolo and Kearne Solanke lost their lives after sustaining stab injuries

The incident unfolded when Kearne Solanke, allegedly part of a group of five individuals, intentionally knocked Charlie off his moped using a 4x4 vehicle and then proceeded to stab him in the head

This time the call was to attend Titmuss Avenue, in Thamesmead, only about one mile away from where Charlie Bartolo had been found.

On this second 999 call the caller said that a 16-year-old had been stabbed and was bleeding heavily.

This 16-year-old was named Kearne Solanke. Kearne had been stabbed in the shoulder, causing a deep wound so serious that there wasnt time even to get him to hospital.

Mr Emlyn Jones said the killers drove back to safe territory abandoned the car and dumped Kearne.

The 17-year-old got out of the car and went back to him.

In a 999 call played in court he said: Someones been stabbed bro, please hurry up, ambulance we dont need police please, hes losing a lot of blood.

Hes struggling to breathe, please, please quick, hes losing a lot of blood from his shoulder.

Hes breathing but hes losing a lot of blood.

His name is Kearne. Hes breathing, hes alright, hes just got an open wound.

Youre good boy, youre good, just dont think about it, you have to keep your eyes open, Im telling you bro on my Mums life. Stay with me please.

He told the operator: He didnt say what happened Ive just seen him on the floor.

Hes a friend of mine. We didnt see anything we just saw him on the side of the road, we just bumped into him. I think its a stab wound.

The 17-year-old then went to a nearby youth club where he was seen on CCTV reenacting the murder, the court heard.

He was seen talking to another boy making stabbing and slashing motions and pointing to his head.

The 17-year-old later admitted to police he had a problem, he had a beef with Abbey Wood.

And that, Im afraid to tell you, is the depressingly petty reason for these killings - they arose from a sort of post-code rivalry between Abbey Wood and the neighbouring Thamesmead, Mr Emlyn Jones said.

The guilty verdicts marked a significant development in a case that has drawn attention due to the involvement of the teenagers

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn said: My team of detectives worked relentlessly to identify the groups movements across South East London on the day of the murders'

Bah, Jobe and the 16-year-old insisted they were not at the scene and claimed they were misidentified

The killers drove to enemy territory in Abbey Wood armed to the teeth with large knives looking for a victim and found Charlie.

As you will see from the CCTV, once he had been knocked off his bike, he stood no chance, and the defendants wasted no time in jumping out, knives already drawn to complete the attack.

The whole thing takes less than a minute.

Jurors were shown CCTV footage of the car hitting the motorbike head on before the attackers jumped out and repeatedly stabbed Charlie as he flailed around on the pavement.

The Nissan Qashqai had been stolen in Erith the previous day.

A video was found on Kearnes phone of him filming himself vaping in the back of the car about 25 minutes before the stabbings.

Bah, Jobe and the 16-year-old insisted they were not at the scene and claimed they were misidentified.

The 17-year-old accepted he drove the car away after the stabbing.

Jobe, of Sidcup Road, Eltham, Bah, of Mottisfont Road, Greenwich and the two youths, who cannot be named, each denied but were convicted of two counts of murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn said: My team of detectives worked relentlessly to identify the groups movements across South East London on the day of the murders.

Even though some of the CCTV did not pick up their faces, my officers worked incredibly hard to identify them via their clothing including trousers and footwear. This was crucial in placing them together before and after the attack on Charlie.

I am glad that all four defendants have been found guilty. It was an unusual case in that the murder of Kearne Solanke, was obviously not what the group had set out to achieve.

However, we successfully proved that the group, in the course of their joint attack, intended to cause death or at least really serious injury and, one of their members was, sadly, an inadvertent victim of that.

This case demonstrates the utter devastation caused by knife crime and people who arm themselves with large knives, not only risk killing those they see as enemies, but also people they consider their friends. My thoughts, and those of my team, remain with the families of both Charlie and Kearne.'
A mother and son have appeared in court following the death of a dog lover was killed by two Rottweilers.

Rachel Walshe, 69 from Netherton in Merseyside, appeared in South Sefton Magistrate Court on Wednesday January 31. In the court, she pleaded guilty to being the owner or person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death.

Her son Brian Walshe, 41, faced the same charge but did not enter any plea.

Marie Stevens, 40, was allegedly bitten on the legs and arms by two dogs in Liverpool, on Friday, August 18 2023.

Magistrates were told that the dog loving Mrs Stevens was given first aid by police after the attack in Netherton. She was then taken by ambulance to hospital where she was treated and later discharged.

Marie Stevens (pictured), 40, was allegedly bitten on the legs and arms by two dogs in Liverpool, on Friday, August 18 2023 and later died on September 3

Mrs Stevens, from Brighton-Le-Sands, was described by friends as a dog lover whose chocolate Labrador was a guest of honour at her marriage ceremony when she wed her husband

The prosecution said the incident happened at 5.45 pm on August 18 when Mrs Steven's path crossed with the defendants. Gayle McCoubrey, prosecuting, said the dogs attacked Mrs Stevens 'causing significant injuries'

However, on September 3, emergency services were called to her home in Brighton-le-Sands, Crosby, after reports she had collapsed and died.

Mrs Stevens, who worked in a care home, was described by friends after the tragedy as a dog lover whose chocolate Labrador was a guest of honour at her marriage ceremony when she wed her husband Steve.

Gayle McCoubrey, prosecuting, said that the incident happened at 5.45 pm on August 18.

She said: 'The victim was walking along Park Lane West, Netherton when her path crossed with the defendants who were walking their Rottweilers, both on leads.

Ms McCoubrey said the dogs attacked her 'causing significant injuries.'

South Sefton Magistrates Court where Rachel Walshe, 69, pleaded guilty to being the owner or person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death. Her son Brian Walshe, 41, faced the same charge but did not enter any plea

Chairman of the Bench, Christopher Parkinson, said that they declined jurisdiction and Mrs Walshe, who was wearing a dark waterproof jacket and her son, wearing a dark waterproof coat, were both given unconditional bail after the ten-minute hearing.

The case was adjourned pending a further hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on February 28 2024.

Five supporters of the victim were crowded into the public gallery in the small courtroom and a man and woman were present supporting the defendants.

The dogs involved in the incident were seized by police officers and remain in secure kennels.
A vegan restaurant has been forced to start serving meat because it has too few vegan customers.

Adonis Norouznia said he made the decision to change Nomas Gastrobar's menu after too many customers would come to the restaurant only to leave once they read the vegan-only menu.

Meat alternatives have been added to to their mainly vegan selection of the restaurant in Macclesfield, Cheshire with the aim to to improve profits.

But the decision has caused an angry backlash from vegans who have messaged the owner Adonis Norouznia and vowed to not visit.

Mr Norouznia, who is also vegan, said he was forced to make the decision to pay his staff's wages and has criticised the 'astonishing' amount of 'nasty' comments he has received.

Adonis Norouznia set up Nomas Gastrobar with his wife three years ago. He said they had to make the decision to sell meat due to a lack of customers

But the decision has caused an angry backlash from vegans online who have messaged the owner and vowed to not visit

The company said it had previously explored several options which would allow it to remain open.

It said it kept drinks prices the same amid the cost of living crisis while also trying a variety of money-saving deals.

But these steps did not help and it said the meat introduction was needed to help them pay for staff wages and rent.

The previously plant-based restaurant said it had many customers walk out of the building after seeing it only had a vegan menu.

Nomas Gastrobar serves a vegan brunch until 12pm, including a 13.75 full English vegan breakfast and a selection of pancakes.

From 12pm, the lunch menu is available - which includes a range of vegan burgers and pizzas.

Although the menu remains mainly vegan, the company said it has brought in the meat options 'for those who want them'.

A spokesperson for Nomas Gastrobar said: 'Firstly, we'd like to thank everyone who has shown their support over the last 24 hours.

The plant-based restaurant said it had many customers walk out of the building after seeing it only had a vegan menu

'It means the world at such a difficult time.

'We understand that our decision to start serving meat on our menu may come as quite a shock to people, it certainly did to us.

'However, daily, we witness people walking into Nomas Gastrobar seeing the vegan menu and then walking out.

'Or even saying "Is it all vegan" and then leaving.'

Mr Norouznia also said some customers refused to pay for full English breakfasts after being surprised the bacon and sausages were plant-based, according to The Telegraph.

It will now be adding pork sausages, bacon, eggs, as well as serving pork and chicken gyros and beef burgers in the coming weeks.

The restaraunt spokesperson added: 'In answer to comments like "Is there no other way", we promise, we have explored so many avenues.

'When the new menu does happen, the majority of it will still be vegan.

'There will be a few meat alternatives for those who would prefer them.

'We've seen a few comments like "I was planning to visit but now I won't".

'Unfortunately, that doesn't mean a lot.

'Right now we are not taking enough money to pay our wonderful team's wages or rent to our landlord, people's thoughts on visiting don't help us pay these bills.

'We've found it pretty astonishing, some of the nastiness in the comments.

'We have made this choice out of a place of survival for our family-run business and seeing people who are meant to 'love all beings' being awful to each other has really been upsetting.

'We're living in a climate where well-established plant-based businesses are closing.'

The spokesperson added: 'We moved to this county six years ago and this business is our only source of income, we need to make it work and therefore have to try whatever we can.'

The restaurant, formerly known as Ethos, was created by Adonis Norouznia and his wife three years ago.

Originally from Greece, the couple moved to the UK in 2018,

Mr Norouznia previously had a career in hospitality, which included a stint working as a operations manger for a luxury hotel in Santorini, according to The Manchester Evening News.

After sharing their reasons, diners rushed to praise the restaurant staff for their transparency.

Emily Harris said: 'It must be such a hard decision. Especially being vegan yourself. But I'd much rather you guys stick around, you're amazing.'

Milan Bufanovic said: 'Full support for that decision.'

Jake Gorman said: 'You being transparent about it is good. You don't have to tippy toe around the world to survive and keep afloat.'

Erin Bramwell said: 'We'll still be visiting and will always support you.'

The announcement from Nomas Gastrobar comes after several other previously vegan or vegetarian restaurants have made the same decision and started selling meat.

In August Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council U-turned on its vegetarian cafe at a eco-education hub and added meat after a customer backlash.

And in September 2022 a vegan restaurant in Somerset was similarly slammed for adding meat to its menu, with some customers saying 'selling meat is worse than closing'.

These decisions from businesses could be seen as a sign that the vegan trend is fading following the spike in vegan restaurant closures last year.
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman poured cold water on rumors that he and his wife had separated, telling DailyMail.com that 'everything is wonderful' with the couple.

Reports emerged Tuesday that the Democrat and his wife Gisele separated after she deleted all social media following progressive backlash against her husband for supporting Israel in its defense against Hamas terrorists.

'She's right upstairs in my office right now. And this is absurd. I am not even sure why that we'd even be addressing,' Fetterman told DailyMail.com Wednesday.

'I don't even understand why there's rumors because my wife clearly got tired of the online abuse from the same kind of crazies that show up at my home on Friday nights,' the senator continued.

On Friday evening, pro-Palestine activists protested outside of Fetterman's home.

'So how that now can turn into there's an issue with our marriage is outrageous,' he added. Like I said, she's here in town right now and everything is wonderful.'

Sen. John Fetterman called the rumors about his marriage 'outrageous'

Fetterman waved a Israeli flag after pro-Gaza protesters demonstrated at his home Friday

The rumors, he added, are 'very strange.'

Gisele Barreto Fetterman came back on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday evening to slam the rumors and explain she was just taking a break from social media.

'I posted several months ago that i would be talking (sic) a break from social media. I was bored with it  i am a Pisces  it wasn't adding anything to my life .. but leaving social media is somehow more exhausting than having it?!' she wrote on X Wednesday morning.

She added: 'You guys really are terrible, respectfully.'

Rumors swirled this week that Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) and his wife Gisele Barreto Fetterman are separated after she deleted her social media amid fall out for her husband's support for Israel

Gisele, however, reactivated her X account on Wednesday to dispel the speculation, claiming she was just 'taking a break from social media' and calling those reporting on her marriage 'terrible'

The speculation garnered traction after an X (formerly Twitter) user misha (@schizarella), who claims to be an intern at the New York Times, posted that Gisele had deleted all her pictures with her husband on social media and said: 'According to reports she is currently single.'

However, The Times later confirmed to DailyMail.com that there is no one associated with The Times with that name.

Still, after Sen. Fetterman's wife pushed back against the reports, X added a community note to Schizarella's post showing that once Gisele's account was reactivated, the images of the couple together were still there.

'Community Notes is wrong as usual,' Schizarella pushed back, claiming that at the time of her post Gisele's account was inactive and that it was only reactivated nine hours after reporting of the separation emerged.

'All pictures on her Instagram with John Fetterman are still deleted,' Schizarella added.

Schizarella also noted that on Tuesday evening, before Gisele's return to X, her husband liked multiple pictures of Israeli actress Gal Gadot.

An account posted on X that the two were reportedly separated after Gisele deleted her social media accounts

Sen. Fetterman's support for Israel has placed him in opposition to many within the Democratic Party and among his supporters who do not share his views

The Fetterman couple has been married since 2008 and have three children.

But reports of tension emerged after Sen. Fetterman expressed his fervent support for Israel, which also sparked widespread criticism from progressive wings of the Democratic Party.

Protesters descended on Fetterman's home in Braddock, just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and shouted: 'Fetterman, Fetterman, you can't hide. You're supporting genocide.'

The first-term senator replied by trolling the pro-Palestine protesters with a large Israeli flag unfurled from his rooftop as they continued to chant below.

Some on social media say that Gisele was also targeted for her husband's support for the Jewish State after it was attacked by Hamas terrorists operating out of Gaza.
This is the astonishing moment a shoplifter and his wheelchair-bound accomplice rammed their way through Target employees in a brazen raid in California.

In a video posted by Arisley Pacheco, the unknown duo is seen speedily approaching the exit while security guards and employees create a barricade.

As the shoplifter and his co-conspirator approach the door, the shoplifter is seen pulling his accomplice's wheelchair from the front and the pushing through the employees.

The guards are seen trying to resist the robbers' attempts by not moving but are pushed aside as the duo makes their way out and runs away.

In a video posted by Arisley Pacheco, the unknown duo is seen speedily approaching the exit door while security guards and employees create a barricade

As the shoplifter and his co-conspirator approach the door, the shoplifter is seen pulling his accomplice's wheelchair from the front and ramming through the employees

The guards are seen trying to resist the robbers' attempts by not moving but are pushed aside as the duo makes their way out and runs away

While the incident happens, a woman is heard saying : 'Y'all, it is getting wild here at Target.

'Y'all, it is getting wild here at Target! My man told me to mind my business but I can't help it.'

As they thieves are seen running outside of the store, the woman is heard yelling 'Oh'.

Multiple customers are also seen witnessing the incident.

Officials have not identified any suspects or launched an investigation into the case.

This comes months after a California sheriff claimed Target is allowing shoplifters to run rampant and hindering cops' efforts to crack down on crime.

In November 2023, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper took to X - formerly Twitter - to share his outrage last week, writing 'I can't make this stuff up' and detailing how the company had allegedly hindered his team's efforts to help the stores tackle crime.

He said Target had told his officers they weren't allowed to arrest anyone in store as they didn't want 'negative press' and staff did nothing when shoplifting happened.

'We don't tell big retail how to do their jobs, they shouldn't tell us how to do ours,' Cooper said.

'Recently, we tried to help Target. Our Property Crimes detectives and sergeant were contacted numerous times by Target to help them with shoplifters, mostly who were known transients,' the sheriff claimed.

As they thieves are seen running outside of the store, the woman is heard yelling 'Oh'

Officials have not identified any suspects or launched an investigation into the case

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper took to X - formerly Twitter - to share his outrage last week, writing 'I can't make this stuff up' and detailing how the company had allegedly hindered his team's efforts to help the stores tackle crime

But when he met with the head of regional security, he said he was told they 'could not contact suspects inside the store; we could not handcuff suspects in the store; and if we arrested someone, they wanted us to process them outside behind the store in the rain.'

'We were told they didnt want to create a scene inside the store and have people film it and put it on social media,' Cooper added.

'They didnt want negative press. Unbelievable.'

He accused the chain of choosing to lock up products and hike up prices instead of tackling crime, saying: 'Yet somehow, locking up deodorant and raising prices on everyday items we need to survive is their best answer.'

Two weeks ago, Walmart and Target announced they had begun locking up underwear and socks - which was met by great surprise from Bay Area shoppers.

Two Target stores in the Bay Area - in Richmond and Pleasant Hill - have locked up underwear.

Target has underwear and socks behind lock and key in two stores in California - as the store battles annual theft losses of $500 million

Products are locked behind glass as a person shops at a Target store in the Harlem neighborhood in Manhattan on September 28, 2023 in New York City.

One customer wanting to buy boxer shorts had to wait ten minutes for a staff member to come and unlock the case containing them.

Meanwhile, a Walmart store in the Hilltop area is also locking up underwear. Staff there say they are hit by shoplifters every day.

Pictures show the underwear behind plastic cases under lock and key at Target's White Plains store in New York. Similar measures can be seen in place at other branches in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Orange County, California.

'It comes to the point of how ghetto does it look that they have to lock up the socks or whatever it is that they have under the key,' shopper Olga Leon told NBC Bay Area.

Earlier this month, California Governer Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, outlined a crackdown on theft in the state.

He said: 'I'm calling for new legislation to expand criminal penalties for those profiting on retail theft and auto burglaries.'
Heartbreaking images of items found by police at the scene of a burned-out car were shown to runaway aristocrat Constance Marten's trial.

Constance Marten, 36, and Mark Gordon, 49, are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of the manslaughter of their daughter Victoria.

On January 5 last year, Greater Manchester Police launched a missing persons inquiry after finding a placenta in the couple's burnt-out car on a motorway near Bolton.

Pampers nappies, dummies and a baby's sleeping bag were all found near the burned Peugeot 306 on the M61 motorway.

Other abandoned items near the Peugeot included a bible, a bag of more than 30 mobile phones and a cat in a cat box.

On January 5, last year, Greater Manchester Police launched a missing persons search after finding a placenta in the couple's burnt-out car on a motorway near Bolton

Belongings including a baby romper were found near the burnt-out car

A pack of Pampers nappies for new babies was also found near the car

Hhats, gloves and a wig with tape attached were found in Amblecote Playing Field near the burnt out Peugeot 206 on the side of the M61

Five nappies were also found on the playing field near the car

Toiletries including Sudocrem and baby wipes were also found in the playing field

Constance Marten was allegedly seen in a park with her lifeless baby in a sling eight days she was caught by police.

Marten and Gordon have been accused of travelling across England and living off-grid on the South Downs in a bid to keep the baby after four other children were taken into care.

The defendants spent hundreds of pounds on taxis taking them from the North West to Essex, London and the south coast, jurors have heard.

On February 19, more than a month later after the search for the pair started, the pair were allegedly spotted by passerby Pauline Mason and her husband in Brighton.

A taxi driver who Constance Marten (pictured) paid 475 for a three-hour trip has said he thought he heard a cat 'meowing' in his cab before he realised the aristocrat and her partner had a baby with them

Jurors have viewed CCTV in which the child was allegedly carried under Marten's coat, only being briefly glimpsed when the couple stopped in East Ham

Constance Marten (left), 36, and Mark Gordon (right), 49, are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of the manslaughter of their newborn daughter Victoria

The Masons saw Marten and Gordon with baby Victoria - who was already dead, the court heard.

Pauline Mason and her husband had gone to Stanmer Park in Brighton for some 'fresh air'.

Mrs Mason was in a mobility scooter and her husband was walking when she saw a tent near Stoney Mere Way.

She told jurors: 'I noticed a tent, the tent was royal blue, it was not very big. I just thought it might be a hiker.

'My husband had walked ahead of me and I shouted to him, ''Come over, what's that tent doing there?''

'He said, ''Dunno, someone is sleeping out on a cold night''. I was taken aback by it then continued on my scooter.'

Further on, she noticed a 'mum with baby', Mrs Mason said.

Prosecutor Tom Little KC asked: 'What did you notice, if anything, about the baby?'

Mrs Mason said: 'The mother was focused on the baby, her eyes were totally focused on that baby and my eyes went from her to the baby.

'The baby was in a sling. She was holding her around the baby's head to steady it.'

The child was very pale, did not make any sound and her head was 'wobbling', 'floppy' and 'unsteady', the witness said.

She was 'very surprised' to see the child had no hat, socks or booties on and was only wearing a cardigan and leggings.

Mrs Mason said the woman looked tired and she felt sorry for her.

Mark Gordon was allegedly seen walking past a Texaco garage in Newhaven in footage that was shown in court during their trial

He seemed to be carrying a red bag as he allegedly walked past the garage at 6.09am on January 12, last year

The defendants, of no fixed address, deny manslaughter by gross negligence of the little girl between January 4 and February 27 last year

A few steps behind was Gordon, she said, adding: 'He looked at me and acknowledged that I had looked at the baby and gave me a smile.'

Mr Little said: 'At that point in time, as you had seen the baby for six to eight seconds, you then continued on your fresh air turn around Stanmer Park. Did you think the baby was alive?'

Mrs Mason replied: 'I kept thinking and thinking about that baby. I thought that the colour, it did not go.'

She spoke about her experience that 'mixed-race' babies were 'rosy cheeked', adding: 'There was no colour and that baby was white.

'I do think that baby had died. It was dead.'

Asked if anything else caused her to think that, she said: 'It was inappropriately dressed. There was no blanket, no hat, no socks, thin cardigan.'

Mrs Mason said she continued up the path but looked back towards the couple because she 'could not believe' what she had seen.

Cross-examining for Gordon, John Femi-Ola KC asked if she could have been mistaken about seeing him.

She replied: 'Yes, I might have been but I believe that they connected and as soon as I saw her and him behind her I knew they were together.'

Jurors have today been shown images of the inside of the burnt-out Peugeot 206

A variety of other clothes and bags were also found in Amblecote Playing Field, near the burnt out Peugeot 206 on the side of the M61

Some of the items found in Amblecote Playing Field and near the burnt out Peugeot 206 on the side of the M61

Other clothes including a beige shawl and a brown fluffy jacket were found

Female clothing found included a knitted hat and baggy trousers

A pink dressing gown and a blanket were also found

Other pieces of clothing found included a fleece and a chequered top

Sanitary pads and a pregnancy test were discovered in Amblecote Playing Field near the burnt out Peugeot 206

Baby items including tiny socs, dummies and a beaker were also found

On seeing the baby, she said: 'I was quite shocked when I saw it. I did not want to believe it.

'I did not want to know it was dead.'

On February 27, Marten and Gordon were arrested in East Sussex.

Days later, Victoria's body was found in a Lidl supermarket bag covered in rubbish in a disused shed.

Previously, jurors viewed CCTV of Victoria alive and moving around with the defendants in East Ham, east London, on January 7. last year.

A total of 23 handwritten notes were found near the car

A copy of the New Testament of the Bible with a black cover was also found

Police found a small bag containing jewellery

A black and red large rucksack was also found

Officers also found a pair of blue walking boots

A plastic bag containing water damaged correspondence was also found

A plastic shopping bag with an Oyster card in it was also discovered

A makeup bag filled with cosmetics was also discovered

The couple moved on to Whitechapel, where Gordon had bought a two-person tent and camping bedding, including a children's unicorn sleeping bag, in Argos, the court was told.

The couple allegedly abandoned a buggy and were carrying Argos bags and a Lidl bag when they got into a black cab shortly after midnight on January 8.

In a statement read to the court, taxi driver Abdirisakh Mohamud said he became 'suspicious' and 'uncomfortable' during the journey.

The male passenger allegedly asked the driver if he was a Muslim, whether he was 'trustworthy' and if there were cameras in the cab.

Mr Mohamud said he told the man there were cameras, even though there were not, because he wanted to feel 'safe'.

The man then asked him: 'Are you sharing this conversation with anyone?' and Mr Mohamud said 'no', jurors heard.

He asked the couple why they were wearing blue Covid facemasks, and the woman said she was a Muslim and it was her 'hijab', the court heard.

On being told by the driver that it was not a hijab, she allegedly told him it was the only thing she had.

The man said he was wearing a mask because he 'had a problem with his hair', the witness said.

Mr Mohamud said he decided to drop the couple off early in Green Lanes, Haringey, rather than Enfield Tesco Extra where they had asked to go.

He said: 'The more I thought about it, the more concerned I felt about the baby.'

Another taxi driver Hasan Guzel described hearing 'meowing' noises when he drove the defendants from Haringey to Newhaven in East Sussex early on January 8.

He said in his statement that he had stopped when a woman waved at him and she told him to wait while her 'friend' got in.

They initially asked to be taken to Portsmouth then changed the destination to Newhaven, jurors heard.

Mr Guzel said he had charged 475 for a three-hour trip.

Describing the woman, he said: 'I thought she had a bag under her coat as she looked quite big in the chest area.'

During the journey, he said: 'I heard what sounded like a cat meowing. I was annoyed at first because I thought she had a pet without telling me.

'I could see it was a baby, I could see the noise was coming from a baby.

'I thought why didn't she tell me about this, it's been nearly four hours we have been travelling.'

He said that when he dropped them off in Newhaven, he saw it was cold and dark and he was 'concerned as to what they were going to do next'.

The couple were captured on CCTV heading towards the South Downs at around 6.30am last January and were not spotted again until they resurfaced at a Texaco garage four days later, on January 12.

Marten allegedly bought items including Haribo sweets, mini cheddars, matches, bottles of water and a filled glass bottle of petrol which she paid for in cash.

Gordon was filmed carrying the Lidl bag which then appeared to be blowing in the wind as if it was empty.

On the morning of last January 16, Nicholas Frost allegedly spotted him emerging from a blue tent in woodland in Stanmer Park, Brighton.

In a statement, Mr Frost said he and his wife had been walking their dog when he saw the man he later recognised from the news.

He said: 'I thought to myself it was unusual because you never see people camping in that area. It was also very cold, not camping weather. It was about minus two degrees.

'The male came out from inside the tent. This startled us and the male appeared to be startled as well.'

He added: 'I definitely got the impression that he did not want to be seen.'

The witness said the male was carrying two bags including an orange bag-for-life which 'looked like it had stuff in it'.

Mary Thomsen, 66, told jurors she was on a trip to Asda when she spotted a 'bright blue' tent last February.

Defendants Marten (pictured) and Gordon, of no fixed address, deny manslaughter by gross negligence of the little girl between January 4 and February 27 last year

Artists impression of Mark Gordon, 49, appearing at the Old Bailey, London on January 25

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon are see in the dock at the Old Bailey in a court drawing as they listen to evidence on January 31

She said: 'I said to my husband: 'They must be bloody freezing or mad because no-one would want to be out camping, it was so cold'.'

Mrs Thomsen said the sighting played on her mind, saying: 'For that time of year it was out of place.'

The court has heard how the couple became front-page news last January when Greater Manchester Police launched a missing persons inquiry after finding a placenta in the couple's burnt-out car on a motorway near Bolton.

The defendants spent hundreds of pounds on taxis taking them from the North West to Essex, London and the south coast, jurors have heard.

Last February, Marten and Gordon were arrested in East Sussex.

Days later, the body of baby Victoria was found in a Lidl supermarket bag covered in rubbish inside a disused shed.

The defendants, of no fixed address, deny manslaughter by gross negligence of the little girl between January 4 and February 27 last year.

They are also charged with perverting the course of justice, concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of a child.

The Old Bailey trial continues.
Shocking video shows wild horses being roped and dragged through the dirt by contractors hired to remove the animals from public land in Nevada.

Footage obtained by Wild Horse Education shows one of the animals being towed by an ATV. Another clip shows a helicopter nearly colliding with a herd as they try to evade it.

The troubling videos come amid the East Pershing Wild Horse Gather, an initiative launched by the Bureau of Land Management on December 28.

The agency seeks to remove 2,875 wild horses from public lands to 'prevent undue or unnecessary degradation' and 'restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship.'

However, critics argue that the government is acting in the interest of profiteers. The group contracted to remove horses has also been accused of animal welfare violations.

As of January 29, the BLM reported that 24 wild horses died and 2,048 had been captured in just a month.

Shocking video shows a wild horse being towed behind an ATV as part of the federal government's efforts to remove them from public lands

Another clip shows a helicopter nearly colliding with a herd of frantic horses

The Bureau of Land Management seeks to remove 2,875 wild horses from public lands to 'restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship'

On January 24, Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Steven Cohen (D-TN) penned a letter to BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning, imploring her to pause the East Pershing Complex gather operation.

'This plan calls for a massive expansion of the number of wild horses and burros set to be rounded up throughout the West,' the letter read.

'It is inconsistent with Congressional directives regarding this program, and we implore BLM to reconsider the scope of these gather operations.'

Titus and Cohen also expressed concern about gathering nearly 21,000 horses compared to the nearly 7,000 scheduled for roundups last year.

'Tripling the number of animals gathered in the coming months is antithetical to BLMs directive to humanely capture wild free-roaming horses and burros and set them up for adoption,' they wrote.

'This is exacerbated by the use of helicopters that regularly create frightening and deadly situations for horses and burros.'

Titus introduced a bill in 2022 to ban the use of helicopters, titled the 'Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act.'

The bill was introduced into Congress in May 2023 and referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands the following month.

Contrary to the wishes of animal rights advocates, no wild horses in the East Pershing Wild Horse Gather will be treated with fertility control.

Roundups in the coming year are expected to extend into other states including New Mexico, Wyoming, California, Arizona, Utah and Colorado.

However, their methodology has been extensively criticized by advocates and lawmakers alike. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) introduced a bill in 2022 to ban the use of helicopters

Cohen and Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) wrote a letter to BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning, begging her to stop the East Pershing Complex gather operation in Nevada

After being captured, the BLM says the horses will be adopted or sold

Speaking to Dailymail.com, Laura Leigh, president and founder of Wild Horse Education, criticized the BLM for failing to create a welfare policy.

Rather, she explained, the agency created an internal standard 'where they literally police themselves.'

'It clearly doesn't work,' Leigh said. 'It doesn't work in range management. It doesn't work off-range with the adoption program that still leaves horses vulnerable to slaughter. And it absolutely does not work at the roundup.'

The adoption program in question allows for a title transfer, which strips horses of the rights they are guaranteed under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.

'It's basically a subsidy. People get $1,000 to adopt a horse and, in a year, get a title,' Leigh explained. 'And then after they get that title, a lot of them are still landing in the slaughter pipeline.'

The BLM also offers a sale program that leaves older horses particularly vulnerable.

'Last year, nearly 2,000 horses were sold for $5 to $25 with an immediate title transfer,' Leigh said. 'That's something that nobody's talking about because they're predominantly older horses, not the younger horses that go through the adoption program.'

She attributed the legal loophole to a change in policy beginning in 2004, when former Montana senator Conrad Burns introduced the Burns Amendment into that year's budget bill. This created provisions for a title transfer.

'So before that, a wild horse was considered a wild horse for its entire life, and the protections meaning it couldn't be sent to slaughter carried through the horse's lifetime,' Leigh said.

'Once that title transfers, a wild horse loses all of its legal protection and becomes a domestic animal.'

However, advocates argue that the operation caters to the wishes of cattle ranchers - with the agency's previous acting director, William Perry Pendley, characterizing the horses as an 'existential threat' to rangelands

Sampson Livestock LLC, the company contracted to carry out the roundups, has been criticized for violating animal welfare including through the 'unnecessary and inhumane use of excessive force'

According to the BLM, 24 wild horses died and 2,048 had been captured as of January 29 - two dozen killed in a month

Under Sampson's watch, a semi-truck overturned in October, leading to the death of seven horses (not pictured)

Opponents suggest the gathering operation is carried out to benefit cattle ranchers, and the BLM has claimed itself that excessive horse numbers were damaging rangelands.

Beyond ranchers, Leigh argues that the operation is in the best interest of private property owners.

'We tend to focus on livestock,' she said. 'But we forget about the fences and the energy transmission lines and all of those other things. We forget about recreation. That's also driving all wild things into smaller and smaller spaces.'

The BLM saw an increase in roundups under its former acting director, William Perry Pendley, who served during the Trump administration.

Pendley characterized wild horses as an 'existential threat' to rangelands - a point disputed by environmentalists, who argue that cattle have a far greater presence on the lands than horses.

Shayne Sampson of Sampson Livestock LLC was awarded $1.16 million by the BLM last year to conduct roundups, according to USAspending.gov.

The American Wild Horse Campaign, an advocacy group, alleges the contractor has a concerning history.

Under Sampson's watch, a semi-truck carrying 39 wild horses overturned in October 2023. The animals were captured as part of the Roberts Mountain Complex operation and were being taken to a holding facility in Utah at the time of the accident.

Three horses were killed and four more euthanized due to the extent of their injuries. Many of the surviving animals suffered wounds and bruises.

According to the advocacy group, the contractor has a record of animal welfare violations including an instance where a foal was roped and forcefully thrown to the ground in an 'unnecessary and inhumane use of excessive force.'

Other complaints include overuse of an electric prod at a previous roundup and several instances where horses died from broken necks after running into trap panels.

'Roundups need to stop until we get an enforceable welfare policy, period,' Leigh said. 'We see the same thing year after year and they just keep making excuses.'

Wild Horse Education began litigation to get a humane handling policy in 2009, shutting down numerous roundups.

The group has since taken the BLM back to court. The most recent lawsuit was filed in July and is moving through the court system.
A Mississippi man accused of destroying a statue of a horned pagan idol at Iowa's state Capitol has now been charged with a hate crime.

Michael Cassidy, a former congressional and legislative candidate, was charged with a misdemeanor of fourth-degree criminal mischief after he whacked the head off of the bizarre horned statue on December 14.

The figure, depicting the horned deity Baphomet, was 'destroyed beyond repair,' according to the group that erected it inside the civil building. The statue was dressed in a red robe and flanked by a symphony of electric candles.

Cassidy said at the time: 'My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted.'

Michael Cassidy, 35, was arrested for allegedly tearing down the Iowa Satanic Temple's Baphomet display on Thursday morning

The display featured a statue of Baphomet - a goat-headed figure used to represent Satan along with the seven tenets of Satanism, Satanic symbols and lots of candles

The statue was brought to the Capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa under state rules allowing religious displays in the building during the holidays.

The move drew strong criticism from state and national leaders, including Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Florida Gov. and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, both Republicans.

Now, Polk County prosecutors have charged Cassidy with a more serious offense.

A document made public Tuesday charged him with felony third-degree criminal mischief. It alleges the act was committed 'in violation of individual rights' under Iowa's hate crime statute.

Lynn Hicks, a spokesman for the Polk County Attorney's Office, said: 'Evidence shows the defendant made statements to law enforcement and the public indicating he destroyed the property because of the victim's religion.'

Cassidy was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief after he allegedly ripped the head off Baphomet inside the Iowa State Capitol

The Satanic Temple has put up the display in the rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol

The display features a mirror-covered ram's head figure with a red cloak and wreath and an altar covered in candles

Cassidy's attorney, Sara Pasquale, previously accused the Satanic Temple of making filings that 'are only meant to evoke strong emotions and incite others.'

Cassidy is scheduled to be arraigned February 15.

He has raised more than $84,000 for his defense from nearly 2,000 supporters, according to the fundraising site GiveSendGo.

Founded in 2013, the Salem, Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple says it doesn't believe in Satan but describes itself as a 'non-theistic religious organization' that advocates for secularism.

It is separate from the Church of Satan, which was founded in the 1960s.
Four individuals have been charged and had arrest warrants issued for them by the Department of Justice over alleged smuggling of US electronics

Four Chinese nationals have been charged with crimes relating to the smuggling of US made electronic components, including parts for military use, to Iran.

Baoxia Liu, aka Emily Liu, Yiu Wa Yung, aka Stephen Yung, Yongxin Li, aka Emma Lee, and Yanlai Zhong, aka Sydney Chung, are alleged to have smuggled the controlled items through China.

According to Department of Justice, the group did so for the benefit of those affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The four individuals are charged with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and of submitting false export information.

According to an indictment the items smuggled could be used to produce UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle), ballistic missile systems, and other military uses.

The indictment comes as China's relationship with Iran faces increased scrutiny after strikes on US bases in the Middle East.

The group are said to have smuggled US goods to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members of which are seen here during a military drill in 2022

According to an indictment the items smuggled could be used to produce UAVs, seen here in a 2020 handout from the US Air Force

The indictment also says that some of the proponents smuggled to Iran could be used to build ballistic missile systems, like the one above

The indictment says that as early as May 2007 and continuing until at least July 2020, they used front companies in China to funnel the electronics and components.

These items then made there way to sanctioned Iranian entities with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Other groups that allegedly benefited include the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).

The DOJ said that the defendants concealed the fact the goods were destined for Iran and made material misrepresents to companies in the US regarding their final destination.

The Department of Justice said that if convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for violating IEEPA.

They also face ten years for smuggling goods from the US, and a further five years for each count of submitting false export information.

Arrest warrants have been issued for the defendants who at this time are fugitives.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division said: 'For more than a decade, the defendants allegedly orchestrated a scheme to smuggle U.S. manufactured parts to the IRGC and the Iranian agency charged with developing ballistic missiles and UAVs.

'Such efforts to unlawfully obtain U.S. technology directly threaten our national security, and we will use every tool at our disposal to sever the illicit supply chains that fuel the Iranian regimes malign activity.'

These items then made there way to sanctioned Iranian entities with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, seen here

A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) drone, manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc

U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia said: 'Our indictment alleges a years-long, complex conspiracy to violate U.S. laws by procuring U.S. technology with military uses for entities in Iran who would do us harm  a serious offense that endangers our national security.

'Our office, along with our federal law enforcement partners, will continue to turn over every stone to find those who break our laws and put us at risk.

'We are committed to making sure that U.S. technology is kept out of the hands of those taking aim at the United States and its citizens through robust enforcement of U.S. sanctions.'

It comes after a dire warning from Congress last year revealed that the US has very little knowledge of how deep China's network of espionage is through the nation.

Members of the bipartisan House China Select Committee released a memo detailing how the U.S. has failed to combat Beijing's infiltration - and it could get worse.

The threat comes from the united front, a political strategy Xi Jinping has called his 'magic weapon'.

Members of the bipartisan House China Select Committee released a memo detailing how the U.S. has failed to combat Beijing's infiltration. China's President Xi Jinping is seen here

It's the plan the CCP uses to influence beyond its circle without the information appearing to come directly from the Chinese government.

China spends billions on the united front system each year. United front is affiliated with some 600 groups in the U.S., according to a 2020 Newsweek report, that are all in regular touch with the CCP.

'United front work damages U.S. interests through legal and illegal technology transfer, surveillance of Chinese diaspora communities, promotion of favorable narratives about the PRC through ostensibly independent voices, and the neutralization or harassment of critics of the CCP,' the new report found.

'The United States has no direct analogue, and the U.S. Government has struggled to counter united front work with traditional counterintelligence, law enforcement, and diplomatic tools,' it warned.

The background memo is meant to guide Americans to remain vigilant if they are targeted by China's influence operations.
A 60-year-old woman who stripped naked last year in the meltdown on Frontier Airlines flight from Orlando to Philadelphia has been slapped with federal charges.

Dulce Huertas, from Philadelphia, now faces charges of interference with flight crew members and attendants, simple assault and indecent exposure, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

She had two cocktails before pulling down her pants in between packed rows of passengers and popping a squat on the floor, prosecutors said.

As the crowds of passengers roared in disgust and shock, she said 'I don't give a f*ck' told multiple people 'f*** you' and exclaimed 'I gotta go pee!'

A video captured the outrageous moment on the flight from Orlando, Florida, to Philadelphia in November, and later went viral on social media platforms.

Dulce Huertas who stripped naked last year in the meltdown on Frontier Airlines flight from Orlando to Philadelphia has been slapped with federal charges.

Huertas, from Philadelphia, now faces charges of interference with flight crew members and attendants, simple assault and indecent exposure, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office

A federal criminal complaint signed by FBI Special Agent Kyle Kapron details the meltdown on the flight and charges she now faces.

When the plane was about to land at Philadelphia International Airport, Huertas was seen standing from her seat and saying: 'I have to pee.'

She reportedly yelled and cursed at a flight attendant who asked her to stay seated, the complaint reads.

After the plane landed, Huertas allegedly started cursing at passengers nearby. The captain had to instruct all passengers to remain seated because of Huertas' behavior.

When the seatbelt sign was turned off, and passengers began to rise from their seats, Huertas allegedly pushed them out of the way as she moved to the front of the aircraft.

It follows by what thousands of social media users observed in the viral footage, as she approached the forward lavatory of the flight.

She stated: 'sorry, everybody,'; and pulled her pants and underwear down as she squatted as if to urinate in the aisle,' the complaint reads.

The crazed woman exposed her anus and genitalia, the complaint alleges, noting that there were children nearby.

Despite insisting that she didn't give a f*ck - Huertas quickly pulled her pants back up and stood up.

She had two cocktails before pulling down her pants in between packed rows of passengers and popping a squat on the floor

She reportedly yelled and cursed at a flight attendant who asked her to stay seated, the complaint reads

When the seatbelt sign was turned off, and passengers began to rise from their seats, Huertas allegedly pushed them out of the way as she moved to the front of the aircraft

The complaint says Huertas did not urinate, but cursed at passengers and she stood up.

She charged toward the front of the plane again and allegedly told one flight attendant, 'Let me pass, let me pass.'

The flight attendant stood in her way while another attempted to disarm the main cabin door, fearing that Huertas might open the door and activate an emergency slide.

In her final minutes on the flight, Huertas reportedly bumped a flight attendant with her belly, yelled and cursed at people around her, and threatened to kill multiple passengers.

Huertas has been charged with indecent exposure in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, interference with flight crew members and attendants and simple assault, the complaint filed Monday says.

If convicted, Huertas will face a maximum possible sentence of 21 years and three months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $355,000 fine.

According to the FAA's annual year-end data, the number of unruly passenger reports has significantly dropped from its record point two years ago.

There were 2,075 unruly passenger incidents filed in 2023. In comparison, 5,973 were registered in 2021 and 2,455 were recorded in 2022.

'The rate of unruly passenger incidents steadily dropped by over 80 percent since record highs in early 2021, but recent increases show there remains more work to do,' the FAA said.

This isn't the first time an unruly passenger has been caught displaying outrageous behavior on a budget airline flight

Last month, a Polish man was arrested in Colombia after he punched a police officer while he was being removed from a Spirit Airlines flight

In July a woman was caught urinating on the floor of a plane after complaining that staff had prevented her from using the bathroom for two hours

But there have been multiple instances when unruly passengers have been caught displaying outrageous behavior on budget airline flights.

Last month, a Polish man was arrested in Colombia after he punched a police officer while he was being removed from a Spirit Airlines flight. The man had allegedly consumed too much liquor on the flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport in Barranquilla.

A Delta flight in September from Atlanta to Barcelona was forced to turn around after a passenger on board had diarrhea on board which 'ran all the way through the plane'.

In a text message sent to Air Traffic Control, the captain was succinct in explaining the problem: 'Divert to ATL  passenger diarrhea all over aircraft  biohazard.'

Air traffic control audio recordings also reveal one of the pilots confirming the situation over the radio.

'It's just a biohazard issue, we had a passenger who had diarrhea all the way through the airplane so they want us to come back to Atlanta.'

In July a woman was caught urinating on the floor of a plane after complaining that staff had prevented her from using the bathroom for two hours.

Video posted online showed an unidentified woman squatting in the corner of what appears to be a Spirit Airlines jet urinating as a flight attendant, wearing Spirit Airlines' black and yellow uniform, films her.

The woman yells at the flight attendant, saying she has needed to pee for two hours, but was told she was not allowed to and the bathroom doors were closed.
The brewing giant behind Britain's best-selling bitter has been ridiculed over claims a tax dodging move to cut the alcohol strength is designed to boost health.

Heineken is cutting the alcohol by volume (ABV) in its John Smith's Extra Smooth from 3.6 per cent to 3.4 per cent.

The reduction appears small, however it delivers a multi-million pound reduction in duty as it brings the bitter down below a key tax threshold of 3.5 per cent.

The change slashes the duty payable on a pint of beer sold over the bar by 23p, bringing it down from 39p to 16p. And the figure on a multipack of 18 cans comes down by 7.94 - from 13.61 to 5.67.

Heineken has made clear it is not passing this saving on to customers, which means it will keep this multi-million pound windfall. Instead, it is putting up the price of kegs to publicans by 1.7 per cent.

Dr Sadie Boniface, Head of Research, Institute of Alcohol Studies, said: 'Although from a public health perspective it is good if alcoholic drinks are reduced in strength, there are reasons to be sceptical that Heineken has done this on health grounds'

Heineken claimed the reduction in alcohol was all about helping people drink in moderation and therefore lead a more healthy lifestyle. However, sceptical health experts pointed out that the very small reduction in alcohol will make little difference to public health

A cold pint of John Smith's Extra Smooth will cost 23p less in payable duty as Heineken reduce the per cent of alcohol. Heineken has made clear it is not passing this saving on to customers, which means it will keep this multi-million pound windfall

The brewing giant has launched a spin campaign claiming the move to a lower alcohol level is driven by a desire to support the health of drinkers.

Sceptical health experts pointed out that while the change will generate massive tax savings for the company, the very small reduction in alcohol will make little difference to public health.

The tactic of cutting the alcohol and duty payable without cutting prices has become known as 'drinkflation'. It has already been used by other famous brands, including Foster's, Old Specked Hen, Bishops Finger and Spitfire.

A number of other drinks, including wines and gins, have also reduced the alcohol level in order to cut the duty payable without reducing prices.

Heineken claimed the reduction in alcohol was all about helping people drink in moderation and therefore lead a more healthy lifestyle.

It said: 'We know consumers are increasingly choosing lower ABV products as part of a balanced lifestyle.

'Acknowledging this trend we have made the decision to brew John Smith's Extra Smooth at a slightly lower ABV.

'Reducing the alcohol content of the UK's No.1 keg ale brand removes millions of alcohol units across the UK - aligned to our long held position of promoting moderation.'

Dr Sadie Boniface, Head of Research, Institute of Alcohol Studies, said: 'Although from a public health perspective it is good if alcoholic drinks are reduced in strength, there are reasons to be sceptical that Heineken has done this on health grounds.

'Reducing the strength of John Smith's bitter by 0.2 percentage points saves them a considerable amount of alcohol duty, as it moves them into a much lower tax band.

'In 2022, they sold 32.9 million litres of John Smith's in the off-trade. Using today's duty rates, this change from 3.6 per cent to 3.4 per cent saves them in the region of 14.5 million.

'This is just the savings for sales in places like supermarkets, there will be further savings for sales in pubs in addition to this.

'If they were really concerned about consumers' health, they would reduce the strength by more than 0.2 percentage points, and they could reduce the strength of other Heineken-owned products, like the 6 per cent cider Scrumpy Jack.'

Alcohol duty expert, Colin Angus, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield, said: 'It is true that consumer preferences appear to have shifted, with more people choosing lower alcohol or even alcohol-free options.'

However, he said: 'I'm sceptical that Heineken are sincerely interested in 'promoting moderation'.'
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reportedly tasked officials with developing proposals that would allow the U.S. to recognize Palestinian statehood after the war in Gaza ends.

It marks a profound shift in U.S. policy which has long been to oppose recognition of Palestine as a state until after a settlement is reached between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

But it comes as President Joe Biden faces intense pressure from within his own party to take a tougher line on Israel and offer more backing to Palestinians under siege in Gaza.

A senior U.S. official told Axios that recognition could be the first step to resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict, rather than the last.

That will infuriate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who insists Israel must retain security control over the entirety of Palestinian territory.

Palestinian Hamas supporters hold a Palestinians flag during a protest demanding that staff who were fired in the Gaza Strip over allegations that they took part in the Oct. 7, attack on southern Israel be returned to their jobs and that countries resume funding of the agency

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reportedly asked officials to begin developing proposals that would allow the U.S. to recognize Palestinian statehood after the war in Gaza ends

However, he may face a concerted push by the West.

Details of the U.S. plan emerged soon after the British foreign secretary said it was time for the U.K. to consider recognition of Palestine.

'We should be starting to set out what a Palestinian state would look like  what it would comprise, how it would work,' he said Monday.

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton immediately condemned any idea of Palestinian statehood.

'After the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, the Biden administration wants to reward Hamas and their allies? A Palestinian state would be a terrorist enclave dedicated to Israel's destruction,' he said on the social media platform X.

Attitudes in the Arab world have also hardened since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Saudi officials have said any normalization agreement with Israel would have to come with a pathway to Palestinian statehood.

Officials told Axios that Blinken had asked for a review of options but that nothing had been decided.

Blinken reportedly asked for analysis of how a demilitarized Palestinian state would work, an idea that Netanyahu has floated in the past.

People bury Palestinians, including those who were killed in Israeli strikes and fire, after their bodies were released by Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at a mass grave in Rafah

An Israeli soldier takes up position on the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024

The idea is to find a two-state solution that would not protect Israeli security, said the official.

Tension in the Middle East has spiraled in recent weeks as Iranian-backed militias have attacked international shipping and U.S. forces in the region.

On Wednesday, Israeli forces pounded areas in northern and southern Gaza after Hamas said it was reviewing a proposal for a ceasefire and release of hostages.

Health authorities in Gaza say 26,900 people have been killed there since Oct. 7, including 150 during the past 24 hours.
Boeing has been sued by shareholders who said the company prioritized profit over safety and misled them about its commitment to making safe aircraft, before a mid-air cabin panel blowout on an Alaskan Airlines 737 MAX 9 in January.

The suit filed on Tuesday says that, following two deadly MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, Boeing spent more than four years assuring investors that it was 'laser-focused' on safety and would not sacrifice safety for profit.

Shareholders said Boeing's statements were false and misleading because they concealed the 'poor quality control' on its assembly line, and caused its stock price to be inflated.

Boeing's share price fell 18.9 percent from the January 5 Alaska Airlines incident to January 25, 2024, the day after the Federal Aviation Commission barred Boeing from expanding MAX production because of safety concerns.

The decline wiped out more than $28 billion of market value for the Virginia-headquartered planemaker.

Boeing's new 737 MAX-9 is pictured under construction at their production facility in Renton, Washington in a file photo

Boeing's share price fell 18.9 percent from the January 5 Alaska Airlines incident to January 25

A Boeing spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit when reached by DailyMail.com on Wednesday.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia covers shareholders from October 23, 2019 to January 24, 2024, and is led by Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa.

'The disregard for safety displayed in these series of events involving Boeing aircrafts are deeply concerning,' said Diossa in a statement.

'We believe that this case has the potential to effect changes in Boeing's practices to protect passengers and ensure their safety in the future.'

Rhode Island's state employee retirement fund is a significant institutional shareholder in Boeing.

Other defendants in the suit include Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun and his predecessor Dennis Muilenburg, and Chief Financial Officer Brian West and his predecessor Gregory Smith.

The January 5 blowout caused the FAA to temporarily ground 171 MAX 9 planes, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations at Alaska Air Group and United Airlines.

No one died on the Alaska flight, but some passengers on the plane have sued Boeing and the carrier.

On Wednesday, Boeing said it couldn't provide full-year financial targets because of uncertainty over its planes.

It also reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, which included a $30 million loss, $22 billion of revenue and $3.38 billion of cash flow.

Boeing shares are down more than 45 percent from five years ago amid safety concerns

Other defendants in the suit include Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun (above) and his predecessor Dennis Muilenburg

On Wednesday, Boeing said it couldn't provide full-year financial targets because of uncertainty over its planes

For all of 2023, Boeing lost $2.2 billion, its fifth straight loss in a slump that began with the lengthy grounding of the 737 MAX following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 that claimed at total of 346 lives.

Despite the loss, Boeing shares jumped six percent near midday. Shares had fallen nearly 20 percent since January 5 prior to Wednesday's results.

The Alaska Airlines accident has put Boeing back under the microscope, with lawmakers questioning Calhoun last week on Capitol Hill in the company's most challenging episode since the MAX crashes.

US air safety regulators grounded 171 MAX 9 planes for three weeks following the January 5 incident, in which a panel on the fuselage blew out, necessitating an emergency landing.

The Federal Aviation Administration last week cleared the jets to return to service following inspections. Airlines have resumed service so far on 129 MAX 9 planes that were grounded, Calhoun said.

But the FAA also said it would not permit Boeing to boost production on the MAX until the company improves safety and quality control.
Critics accused her of having a 'death wish' by swimming at night

Lauren O'Neill, 29, almost lost her right leg after she was attacked by a bull shark

The woman mauled by a shark in Sydney Harbour has faced two cruel blows as internet trolls call her out and a sensitive photo of her mauled leg circulates online.

Lauren O'Neill, 29, lost litres of blood - and nearly her entire leg - after the bull shark ripped open her flesh below the knee and bit through to the bone on Monday evening.

Her limb was saved by a team of expert surgeons at St Vincent's Hospital, in Sydney's CBD, who operated on her several times throughout Monday night into Tuesday morning. She is now expected to make a full recovery.

Residents who provided first aid at Sydney's Elizabeth Bay said Ms O'Neill had been swimming outside a 'netted harbour pool', and was 'swimming around the boats'.

The incident has raised questions about why Ms O'Neill decided to go for what she described as 'a short dip' at dusk - with low light and visibility one of the factors that increase the chance of a shark attack.

'My first reaction is, why is someone in the harbour at night?' marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said on Sunrise on Tuesday.

'It's not advisable. It's an area of high shark activity. We need to recognise where the best places to swim are and where to maybe not,' he said.'

Many internet trolls had little sympathy for Ms O'Neill's plight.

'Must have had a death wish,' one person wrote online.

'First mistake was going in the water at that time of the day,' a second said.

A third shared: 'If you grow up near an ocean, then you understand that the most dangerous time to swim is dusk and dawn.'

'How ridiculous to go swimming in the evening,' a fourth agreed.

Lauren O'Neill, 29, (pictured) was accused of having a 'death wish' by cruel internet trolls

Ms O'Neill is pictured on a stretcher just moments after being attacked by a shark on Monday

Lauren O'Neill (pictured) was mauled by a bull shark in a shocking attack in Sydney Harbour

Others leapt to Ms O'Neill's defence, saying she had endured a horrifying ordeal.

'My god, people - she is an unfortunate person who has life-threatening injuries - does it make you feel any better to put her down,' one person wrote.

'How does her family feel? Some comments here are downright disgusting and made by people who are base human beings. Grow up!'

'I agree all these self-righteous people make me sick,' a second said.

On Thursday night, a leaked photo revealed the significant wound on Ms O'Neill's lower leg.

The image, which Daily Mail Australia will not publish, displays a medic holding her foot, with Ms O'Neill's bandages apparently removed and her painted red toenails visible.

St Vincent's Hospital has launched an investigation into how the image became public.

Ms O'Neill was attacked near a jetty in Elizabeth Bay in Sydney Harbour (map pictured)

The 29-year-old spoke out about the attack for the first time on Wednesday afternoon, saying she was taking a short dip close to the shore when the animal bit her.

'(Lauren) wishes to thank her heroic and very kind neighbours for the critical assistance they provided her,' a statement issued on her behalf on Wednesday said.

A vet and other neighbours have been praised for their quick-thinking after the attack, including applying tourniquets to Ms O'Neill's leg to stem the bleeding.

She is expected to make a full recovery, which she credited to the 'extraordinary skills' of medical staff.

Ms O'Neill thanked her family, friends and colleagues for their unflinching care and support.

'She would also like to thank the public for their outpouring of support and kindness, and as she turns to focusing on her recovery, asks that her privacy and that of her families be respected.'

The avid kayaker and swimmer remains at St Vincent's Hospital, where she was rushed for surgery following the attack.

The incident was the first serious attack inside the harbour since 2009, when navy diver Paul de Gelder lost his right leg and hand to a bull shark
Richmond was initially released from custody last week after his initial arrest over his involvement in the riots

A rioter who allegedly used a metal baton to assault police officers as they attempted to defend the Capitol on January 6 has been jailed after being deemed a 'threat to society'.

Chief James Boasberg agreed with prosecutors that Edward Richmond Jr, 40, was a danger to the community after being released from custody last week.

FBI agents found an AR-15 assault rifle inside the military veteran's closet when they searched his home in Geismar, Louisiana.

Richmond is prohibited from possessing firearms after a manslaughter conviction for fatally shooting an Iraqi cow herder in the hand while serving in the army.

A prosecutor wrote in a court filing that: 'The government is concerned that, under growing pressure, he may snap again.'

This image from police body-worn camera video, contained and annotated in the Justice Department's statement of facts, supporting the arrest warrant for Edward Richmond Jr

Richmond was dressed in tactical gear when he attacked police outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to an FBI agent's affidavit

Body camera footage captured Richmond repeatedly assaulting police officers with a black baton in a tunnel on the Capitol's Lower West Terrace, the FBI said.

The judge presiding over the case described Richmond's conduct at the Capitol on January 6 as 'pretty troubling to me'.

Richmond was dressed in tactical gear when he attacked police outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to an FBI agents affidavit.

Prosecutors say Richmond was trying to live 'off the grid' with untraceable income before his arrest on charges including civil disorder and assaulting police.

The judge said he was less concerned about Richmond posing a flight as prosecutors argued.

Last Wednesday, a federal magistrate judge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ordered Richmond's release from custody.

Prosecutors managed to persuade Boasberg to overrule the magistrate's decision on the case.

Boasberg has ordered Richmond to surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service next Monday.

The judge presiding over the case described Richmond's conduct at the Capitol on January 6 as 'pretty troubling to me'

FBI agents say they found an AR-15 assault rifle, seen here, inside the military veteran's closet when they searched his home in Geismar, Louisiana

Richmond is the sole caregiver of his 16-year-old son, and the judge agreed to give him time to make arrangements for his son's care while in jail.

Boasberg told Richmond, who appeared remotely alongside his attorney John McLindon, that: 'I know it's important to you. It's important to me also.'

McLindon said prosecutors are relying on 'antiquated incidents' in Richmond's life to argue he is a danger to the community.

His attorney wrote: 'There is not one shred of evidence that in the last three years he has engaged in any type of violence or crimes. He has simply worked and raised his son.'

Richmond was 20 when an Army court-martial panel convicted him of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced him to three years of military confinement for killing Muhamad Husain Kadir in February 2004.

The Army said Richmond shot Kadir in the back of the head from about six feet away after the man stumbled.

Richmond testified that he didn't know Kadir was handcuffed and believed the Iraqi man was going to harm a fellow soldier.

Rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington

The chaos on January 6 (pictured) erupted as the Senate and House of Representatives met to certify Joe Biden's victory in November's presidential election

Richmond initially was charged with unpremeditated murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The panel of five officers and five enlisted soldiers reduced the charge to voluntary manslaughter. He was also dishonorably discharged.

Victoria Sheets, prosecutor, wrote: 'January 6 was not a one-time, innocent mistake, but rather one example of a pattern of dangerous behavior; of responding to tense situations with violence.'

Sheets said the rifle found in Richmond's home was registered to his ex-wife. Prosecutors plan to charge Richmond with a crime in connection with the gun, Sheets said.

'He knows he's not supposed to have this weapon,' she told the judge. 'He knows what those weapons can do.'

A witness helped the FBI identify Richmond as somebody who had traveled to Washington with several other people to serve as a 'security team' for the witness for rallies planned for Jan. 6, the affidavit says.

The chaos on January 6 erupted as the Senate and House of Representatives met to certify Joe Biden's victory after the 2020 presidential election.

Over 100 police officers were injured during the riot. More than 1,200 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol attack.

In August, Trump was indicted on felony charges for working to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the violent riot by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol.

The Justice Department held him accountable for an unprecedented effort to block the peaceful transfer of presidential power and threaten American democracy.
Government reshuffles have ended plenty of political careers, but it's not often that they save a life.

Mike Freer believes he is the exception. When Downing Street told him on the evening of September 16, 2021, that Boris Johnson was moving him from the whips' office, he cancelled plans for a surgery in his Finchley and Golders Green constituency the following day and stayed in Westminster.

The switch meant that while terrorist fanatic Ali Harbi Ali was lurking outside his north London constituency office, apparently waiting for him with a knife, Mr Freer was nine miles away in Whitehall preparing to take up a new role as equalities minister  a dream job for the openly gay MP.

One month later, Ali murdered fellow Tory MP Sir David Amess in a frenzied knife attack at his constituency office in Southend.

'Not many people can say Boris saved their life,' Mr Freer says with a thin smile.

But the incident was no joke. In fact, it changed his life and was the trigger for his decision yesterday to walk away from front-line politics.

As an outspoken supporter of Israel, and MP for one of the most heavily Jewish constituencies in the country, Mr Freer was used to intimidation, abuse and even death threats

When Boris Johnson was moving him from the whips office, he cancelled plans for a surgery in his Finchley and Golders Green constituency the following day and stayed in Westminster while a terrorist fanatic was apparently lurking outside his north London constituency office with a knife. Pictured: Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Mr Freer visit the Jewish Care campus, Golders Green

Pictured: Ali Harbi Ali, left, and his later victim, Conservative MP Sir David Amess

Mr Freer and his husband's nerves faced a further shredding in December when his constituency office was subjected to a serious 'arson' attack

As an outspoken supporter of Israel, and MP for one of the most heavily Jewish constituencies in the country, Mr Freer was used to intimidation, abuse and even death threats.

A decade earlier, the organisation Muslims Against Crusades urged its supporters to target him. Referencing the stabbing of Labour MP Stephen Timms by an Al Qaeda supporter, the group posted a picture of Mr Freer online with the message 'let Stephen Timms be a warning to you'.

When members of the group burst into an event he was holding in a mosque, one said he was a 'Jewish homosexual pig defiling the house of Allah'. 'I'm not Jewish, and I'm not a pig,' he observes drily as he discusses the 'unsophisticated threat'.

Many more incidents were to follow in the coming years, including numerous threats, abusive notes left on his car and mock petrol bombs placed on the steps of his constituency office.

But it was the near miss with Ali which set off the chain of events that led him to decide to quit politics.

'Who knows what would have happened?' he says.

Following a 'heavy security review' with the police, his location is now monitored and he was advised to wear a stab vest when making scheduled appearances in his constituency, such as holding surgeries in supermarkets.

Police have advised him to be careful where he parks his car. Nowadays he takes a step back if he is stopped by a constituent in the street. His husband, Angelo, became 'incredibly jittery' about his safety after the incident, to the point where he insists on picking him up from the Tube station rather than letting him walk home.

Mr Freer said: 'You shouldn't really have to think: Am I going to survive the day?'

A decade earlier, the organisation Muslims Against Crusades urged its supporters to target Mr Freer

Many more incidents were to follow in the coming years, including numerous threats, abusive notes left on his car and mock petrol bombs placed on the steps of his constituency office. Pictured: A burnt out window at the rear of Conservative MP Mike Freer's office

Following a 'heavy security review' with the police his location is now monitored and he was advised to wear a stab vest when making scheduled appearances in his constituency, such as holding surgeries in local supermarkets

The couple's nerves faced a further shredding in December when Mr Freer's constituency office was subjected to a serious arson attack.

Two suspects have been charged with the incident, which Mr Freer believes was motivated by his views, and which he now says was the 'final straw' in his domestic debate about whether to stay in politics.

Last year he told his association that he would stand at the next election, and polls suggest his seat could survive as an island of blue in the red sea of Labour London. But at home, his family's 'jitters' had gone into overdrive in the wake of the arson attack, leading to a series of 'tense' conversations over Christmas.

'It was a tough decision  it's taken a long time to come to it,' he says. 'I've oscillated between thinking I'm not going to quit, I'm going to carry on and thinking, no, I can't do this without my husband by my side.

'It's not his fault, by the way  he's always said, 'look, I'll support your decision'. And he's seen for himself the level of support and warmth taken from the Jewish community. But I know he worries and he frets when I'm on the Tube. And that's quite a burden you know, when you're putting that stress on your family, on your partner.'

Quitting politics in an area where he has served for 34 years, first as a councillor and since 2010 as an MP, is 'a wrench'. But he adds: 'When someone worries that, 'are you going to come home at night'  you have to take that seriously.' Mr Freer says the rise of social media has intensified the abuse faced by MPs. 'Social media has an awful lot to answer for,' he says.

Not that he's used Twitter for the past six years after a supporter of former Labour MP George Galloway sent him a picture of Mr Freer mocked up as a concentration camp victim following an online spat.

Last year he told his association that he would stand at the next election, and polls suggest his seat could survive as an island of blue in the red sea of Labour London. Pictured: With then-Mayor of London Boris Johnson in 2015

His husband Angelo became 'incredibly jittery' about his safety after the incident, to the point where he insists on picking him up from the Tube station rather than letting him walk home. Pictured: Mike Freer after winning the Finchley & Golders Green constituency in 2019

Quitting politics in an area where he has served for 34 years, first as a councillor and since 2010 as an MP, is 'a wrench'. Pictured: Rishi Sunak laughs at a joke as he talks with pupils at Wren Academy in Finchley, north London, on December 14

Jeremy Corbyn also comes in for criticism for allowing a climate of anti-Semitism to build during his years as Labour leader. 'Before Corbyn, people realised anti-Semitism wasn't acceptable. It was never going away, but it was contained. And then under Corbyn the floodgates opened and we've never been able to push that back.'

Mr Freer is an outspoken supporter of Israel and his local Jewish community  so much so that he is often mistaken for being Jewish.

'I'll sit in the [Commons] tea room having a bacon sandwich and people will say, 'you can't eat that, you're Jewish',' he says.

He is convinced that his stance on the issue has been a driving factor in the years of abuse and threats he has suffered, despite the fact he is not slavishly uncritical towards the Israeli government.

'I'm a strong supporter of the two-state solution,' he says. 'I'm not completely Israel, come hell or high water. But, yes, I do support the Israeli government on the eradication of Hamas, very firmly and very robustly.'

Mr Freer is also angry at the anti-Semitism faced by many of his constituents, particularly in the wake of the October 7 attacks on Israel by terror group Hamas.

'I know of no other schools that need security other than Jewish schools,' he says. 'I don't know places of worship that need security. I don't know shops  shops might have security for shoplifting, but not to stop their shoppers being attacked.'

He does not know what he will do after the election. 'Maybe I'll drive an Uber,' he quips. Despite the abuse, he says being an MP for an area he loves has been 'an amazing job'.

'It's a job I enjoy  it gets under your skin,' he says.

'It's a real emotional wrench to give up, not just being an MP but actually the seat  Finchley and Golders Green has been my home.'
A veteran minister is quitting frontline politics after being subjected to a campaign of death threats and intimidation over his pro-Israel views.

Justice minister Mike Freer told Rishi Sunak yesterday that he will step down at the election following a string of threats and incidents, which culminated in an arson attack on his constituency office in December.

The 63-year-old has suffered more than a decade of intimidation and says he feels 'lucky to be alive' after narrowly escaping a confrontation with terrorist killer Ali Harbi Ali, who murdered fellow Tory MP Sir David Amess.

Mr Freer told the Mail that he could no longer put his family through the anxiety of knowing he might be targeted every time he stepped outside. He said his husband Angelo had become 'incredibly jittery' since it emerged that Ali had visited his Finchley and Golders Green constituency office with the intention of killing him.

On police advice, Mr Freer has had to wear a stab vest when attending scheduled public events in his constituency. Last month's arson attack in north London was 'the final straw'. An email sent after the attack informed him he was 'the kind of person who deserved to be set alight'.

Justice Minister Mike Freer told Rishi Sunak today that he will step down at the election following a string of threats and incidents, which culminated in an 'arson' attack on his constituency office in December

Last month's 'arson' attack was 'the final straw'. One email sent after the attack informed him he was 'the kind of person who deserved to be set alight'. Pictured: Mr Freer's offices after the attack

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Mr Freer said he could no longer put his family through the anxiety of knowing he might be targeted for his views every time he steps outside

The 63-year-old has suffered more than a decade of intimidation and says he feels 'lucky to be alive' after narrowly escaping a confrontation with terrorist killer Ali Harbi Ali (left), who murdered fellow Tory MP Sir David Amess (right)

The incident led to 'tense' conversations with family members over Christmas, before he decided he would step down.

EXCLUSIVE CLICK HERE to read the full, devastating interview with Justice Minister Mike Freer Advertisement

Mr Freer said quitting politics would be 'a real wrench', but added: 'Obviously your husband or your family's views have to carry a lot of weight. And when someone worries that, 'are you going to come home at night', you have to take that seriously.'

He said all MPs sadly had to accept a certain level of abuse as 'par for the course' in modern public life. But he added: 'You shouldn't really have to think, am I going to survive the day?'

Mr Freer's decision will lead to fresh questions about security for MPs, who have faced increased threats in recent years. It may also reignite the debate about the toxic influence of social media on public life.

In the past decade, Sir David and Labour MP Jo Cox were murdered in their constituencies. Labour's Stephen Timms was stabbed by an Al Qaeda sympathiser in 2010 but survived.

Mr Freer said he suffered his first serious death threat the following year, when the group Muslims Against Crusades told him to 'let Stephen Timms be a warning to you' and urged supporters to target him. A dozen supporters of the group then burst into an event he was holding at North Finchley mosque, with one calling him a 'Jewish homosexual pig' who was 'defiling the house of Allah'.

In the intervening years he has suffered numerous threats, including abusive notes left on his car and fake petrol bombs placed on the doorstep of his constituency office.

Since the murder of Sir David, Mr Freer's husband has taken to insisting that he is picked up from the Tube station and is reluctant to let him walk the streets on his own.

Mr Freer will tell Rishi Sunak today that he will step down at the next election. Pictured: Sunak laughs at a joke as he talks with pupils at Wren Academy in Finchley, north London, on December 14

He narrowly avoided encountering Ali outside his constituency office in 2021 after being called in to Westminster by Boris Johnson. Pictured: Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Mr Freer visit the Jewish Care campus, Golders Green

The incident led to 'tense' conversations with family members over Christmas, before he decided he would step down. Pictured: A burnt out window at the rear of Mr Freer's office in Finchley

His decision will lead to fresh questions about security for MPs, who have faced increased threats in recent years. Pictured: The aftermath of the 'arson' attack at Mr Freer's office

Mr Freer is not Jewish but believes his outspoken views on Israel and strong support for the Jewish community have led to him being targeted by anti-Semites. He narrowly avoided encountering Ali outside his constituency office in 2021 after being called in to Westminster by Boris Johnson to be promoted to a new job during a government reshuffle.

He said: 'Who knows what would have happened? Would he have attacked me? If he did attack, would I have survived?

'Given what he did to David, I think it's unlikely he wouldn't have attacked me and I think it's unlikely that I would have survived that kind of frenzied attack. That's luck.'

Mr Freer is scathing about the impact of social media on public life saying that sites such as X/Twitter and Facebook had 'an awful lot to answer for'.

He quit Twitter six years ago following an online spat with George Galloway, which ended up with one of the firebrand former Labour MP's supporters sending Mr Freer a picture of himself mocked up as a concentration camp victim.

He is also highly critical of Jeremy Corbyn, saying the former Labour leader 'let the cork out of the bottle  he made anti-Semitism respectable again'.

Mr Freer, whose constituency is home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the country, says the October 7 attacks on Israel by terror group Hamas had led to an upsurge in anti-Semitism.

With major pro-Palestine demonstrations taking place in central London most Saturdays, he says many of his constituents 'won't come into central London at all' on those days because of the risk of intimidation and abuse.

Mr Freer is the latest of dozens of MPs to announce they will quit Parliament at the next election.

But, unlike most, polls suggest he would have held his seat. And he is clear that he has no truck with plotters trying to undermine Mr Sunak.

'This is very much driven by personal circumstances,' he said. 'It is not a reflection on the Prime Minister, it is not a reflection on the Government. I still believe the Prime Minister can win.'
Did YOU see what happened? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk

This is the moment a man scaled a statue in Piccadilly Circus and started scrolling through his phone.

Onlookers were surprised to see a bald man with a beard in blue jeans and a grey jacket climb up the Eros statue in London.

He appeared unperturbed by a large police cordon and the buzz below, preferring to scroll on his phone instead.

Footage from later in the night showed firefighters on a cherry picker speaking the man.

Piccadilly Circus Underground station was closed for more than an hour while respond to the incident.

Did YOU see what happened? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk

This is the moment a man scaled a statue in Piccadilly Circus and started scrolling through his phone

Onlookers were surprised to see a bald man with a beard in blue jeans and a grey jacket climb up the Eros statue in London

The Metropolitan Police told MailOnline: 'Police are in Piccadilly Circus after a man climbed the Eros Statue at around 6pm.

'Officers are concerned for his welfare. Cordons are in place while they speak to the man.

'The London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade are also on scene.'

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: 'Firefighters were called at 1812 to reports of a man who had climbed a fountain in Piccadilly Circus.

He appeared unperturbed by a large police cordon and the buzz below, preferring to scroll on his phone instead

Footage from later in the night showed firefighters on a cherry picker speaking the man

Piccadilly Circus underground station was closed for more than an hour while respond to the incident

Two fire engines were sent to the scene and one of the Brigade's 32 metre turntable ladders also attended.

Crews liaised with Metropolitan Police officers before leaving the incident in the care of the Met shortly after 2000.'

The Eros statue has been climbed on a number of times since it was installed in 1893.

The famous London statue rising above the tourists and traffic in Piccadilly Circus has been the victim of mistaken identity for almost its entire existence.

Commonly referred to as Eros, the Greek god of love, the statue is in fact (and has always been) a depiction of Anteros - Eros's brother.

Other names for the statue include the Shaftesbury Monument and the Angel Of Christian Charity.

MailOnline has contacted TfL for comment.
Lidia Thorpe said she would support in 'every way' she can

Sunrise host Nat Barr has confronted Lidia Thorpe after her uncle set up camp in a public park, refusing to leave until the government gives it back to Aboriginal people.

Robbie Thorpe established 'Camp Sovereignty' at Kings Domain in Melbourne on Tuesday and says the park is unceded Aboriginal sovereign land.

He has been joined by others who say they're willing to stay 'forever', unless the large park, 1km south of the city's CBD, is returned to the people of the Kulin nation.

Mr Thorpe held a similar demonstration at the park for 60 days in 2006.

The Kings Domain Resting Place is a burial ground for 38 Aboriginal people.

The protest follows the recent return of parkland in Melbourne's north to traditional owners and a $100million claim made for Sydney's Balmoral Beach.

Sunrise host Nat Barr has confronted Lidia Thorpe about her uncle's land claim in Melbourne

Senator Thorpe has thrown her full support behind her uncle's land claim and was confronted by Sunrise host Natalie Barr on Thursday morning.

'It is an incredibly complex issue that people are struggling to understand,' Barr said.

'Out there today, people are watching who will say, "I can't be held responsible for what happened in the past." Can you understand that? What do you say to them?'

Senator Thorpe hit back, saying colonisation had a devastating impact on Indigenous people.

'We were 100 per cent of the population in the country before the colonisation and the boats came,' she said.

'We are the most incarcerated - 23,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have been taken away from their families - and its list goes on.

'We are the most incarcerated women in the world - Aboriginal women.

'So we want peace. We want unity. We'd like to have a treaty, which is about a peace agreement.

'And I understand that there is fear. But don't listen to the politicians who create this fear. Listen to the ones that want to unite the country and get on with it. So that we can be proud of where we live and who we are as a nation.'

Robbie Thorpe (pictured) wants to open a cultural interpretation centre at the Melbourne site

Greens MP Tim Read (left) is pictured with Mr Thorpe (centre) on Wednesday

Senator Thorpe also addressed the divided state of the nation post-referendum and said Camp Sovereignty was a peaceful gathering open to all Australians.

'The sit-in at Kings Domain, or Camp Sovereignty, is a peaceful gathering. Everyone is welcome to come down, engage in truth-telling, share stories around the fire, and contribute to healing our country from the grassroots up,' she said.

'This is an opportunity for everyday Australians to join the conversation about treaty and peace, shifting away from the division observed every 26th of January.'

Barr's co-host, Matt 'Shirvo' Shirvington, then questioned the senator on whether the park sit-in was the best way to address the issue.

'Robbie has done this before,' Shirvo explained.

'In 2006 he did it for 60 days. Essentially, he is making it his life's work, isn't he?

'He is not going to leave until he gets some sort of resolution. Is this the best way to do this?'

Senator Thorpe said the protest was not about 'taking people's backyards'.

'It's not about taking anything away from everyday Australians. It's about making your lives better by understanding the country that you live on,' she said.

'Understanding the true stories. I mean, what they now call Kings Domain has been a gathering place for thousands of generations. We want to bring it back to it being a gathering place for everybody.'

Mr Thorpe has thus far complied with requests to remove tents and marquees from the space

His niece, senator Lidia Thorpe, said she would support the group in 'every way' she can

Indigenous activists hope to build a stone house in Kings Domain as a cultural interpretation centre while removing all traces of the 'Windsor crime family'.

They plan to rename the park 'Yalukit Willam', its traditional name, and hold ceremonies for education and healing.

Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and the area surrounding the Royal Botanic Gardens are all within Kings Domain.

Mr Thorpe said if his group does not 'win', they will have nothing left.

He said he is trying to work with the City of Melbourne to help foster an 'Aboriginal culture close to the CBD'.

Police have visited the camp several times and Mr Thorpe has thus far complied with requests to remove tents and marquees.

Camp Sovereignty's organisers held a meeting with council members on Wednesday morning to work out a path forward for their protest.

Greens MP Tim Read also visited the camp on Wednesday to talk with Mr Thorpe about his ambitions and to call on others to join in.
Surfers and swimmers in California witnessed a rare event up close as a pod of orcas were seen hunting and ripping a dolphin apart near the coast.

Footage from the moment shows a group of surfboarders off the coast of La Jolla in San Diego watching orcas jumping through the water.

As they quietly float on their boards, the orcas are seen emerging near the end of a pier and throwing a dolphin out of water.

The pod then attacks and rips the mammal apart as it sinks into the water.

Footage from the moment shows a group of surfboarders off the coast of La Jolla in San Diego watching orcas jumping through the water

As they quietly float on their boards in the water, the orcas are seen emerging near the end of a pier and throwing a dolphin out of water

The pod then attacks and rips the mammal apart as it sinks into the water

During this time, a man is heard saying: 'Oh my god, they are literally eating the dolphin.'

A few seconds later, the pod is seen swimming off into deeper waters as a man quickly swims parallel to the killer whales.

Two other people are also seen floating in the water as they watch the pod swim by.

This comes a month after a pod of orcas appeared for the first time in two years in California.

During this time, a man is heard saying: 'Oh my god, they are literally eating the dolphin.

A few seconds later, the pod is seen swimming off into deeper waters as a man quickly swims parallel to the killer whales

The Eastern Tropical Pacific pod with nearly 12 killer whales, including two calves, had been seen in the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The Palos Verdes Peninsula is a sub-region of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Harbor Breeze Cruises spotted the black and white killer whales on their first trip around midday on Monday and posted pictures of the pod on their Facebook page.

The pod was sighted again at around 3pm by Harbor Breeze, but the whales were busy hunting dolphins this time.

'These are mammal-eating orcas and they were actively hunting dolphins yesterday. They ended up killing two dolphins,' said Jessica Rodriguez of Newport Coastal Adventures, another whale-watching charter that spotted the orcas.

Out of the three kinds of killer whales, it is estimated that close to 200 Transient orcas reside off the California coast and prefer to hunt marine mammals

The Eastern Tropical Pacific pod with nearly 12 killer whales, including two calves, had been seen in the Palos Verdes Peninsula

Harbor Breeze Cruises spotted the black and white killer whales around midday on Monday and posted pictures of the lot on their Facebook page

In a video posted by one of the whale watchers, which they called a 'once in a lifetime experience', the animal is seen jumping in and out of the water.

According to the Orange County Register, this pod of orcas typically spends time off Mexico and rarely ever travel to Southern California.

Orcas usually travel in pods with up to 40 individuals. Each pod makes its specific clicking sound, allowing members to recognize each other easily.

Out of the three kinds of killer whales, it is estimated that close to 200 Transient orcas reside off the California coast and prefer to hunt marine mammals.

Orcas are also one of the most unpredictable marine mammals  showing up sporadically, making their recent appearances even more special.
The Biden administration is preparing a wave of strikes and cyber attacks that could last 'weeks' in response to the Iranian-backed drone attack that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby made repeated comments Wednesday about the duration of the the coming U.S. response, preparing the public for a response he made clear would be more than a one-off.

'The first thing you see wont be the last thing,' Kirby said.

'We will do what we need to do to make sure that those responsible are held properly accountable,' he vowed.

He also went further than previously when attributing the broader group that U.S. intelligence assesses perpetrated the attack.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby spoke about the coming U.S. response to the drone attack that killed three U.S. troops. 'The first thing you see wont be the last thing,' he said

'We believe that the attack in Jordan was was planned, resourced, and facilitated by an umbrella group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which contains multiple groups, including Kata'ib Hezbollah.'

But he held back on definitive statements. 'This certainly has the earmarks of the kinds of things that Kata'ib Hezbollah does.'

'The attribution that the intelligence community's comfortable with, this was done by the umbrella group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq,' Kirby said.

U.S. officials have given public and private signals that the operation it is planning will be multi-faceted.

Officials told NBC News it will include Iranian targets outside Iran and would consist of both strikes and cyber operations.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said it will be 'multileveled' and the White House has said it would be 'tiered'.

Potential targets reportedly include Iranian commercial interests and proxy groups with forces in Iraq and Syria.

President Biden is believed not to be planning attacks inside the territory of Iran, despite the urgings of some Republicans in Congress.

President Joe Biden has said he has decided how the U.S. will respond to the drone attack that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan. His administration has floated a 'tiered' and 'multileveled' response

Biden told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he has decided on a response, but his administration has yet to reveal any plans, saying the U.S. will respond at a time and place of its choosing.

'I do hold them responsible in the sense they are supplying the weapons to the people who did it,' Biden said at the White House when asked if he holds Iran responsible.

When asked if he held Tehran directly responsible, he said: 'We will have those discussions.'

But he also cautioned: 'I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East, that's not what I'm looking for.'

On Tuesday night, Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani told reporters that giving a 'strong response to enemies' who target the country is 'the fundamental policy of Iran,' according to a report in the state-controlled Islamic Republic News Agency.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. response to the drone attack that killed three U.S. troops will be 'multileveled'

Iran's United Nations Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani has said Iran will retaliate to attacks on its interests

Biden says he holds Iran responsible for providing the weapons to the militia behind the attack as he faces a monumental decision on how to hit back

'It's very possible that what you'll see is is a tiered approach here  not just a single action but potentially multiple actions,' said national security spokesman John Kirby

He vowed a 'decisive response' to attacks on 'Iran's territory, or its interests or citizens abroad. He claimed in a letter to the UN Security Council that Iran 'is not responsible for the actions of any individual or group in the region'  despite the U.S. pointing to decades of support for proxy groups that carry out attacks and rely on Tehran for arms, funds, and training.

Blinken, speaking on Monday, added: 'We will respond decisively to any aggression, and we will hold responsible the people who attacked our troops. That response could be multileveled, come in stages and be sustained over time.'

Aboard Air Force Once, national security spokesman John Kirby provided only a sketch of what was under consideration. 'It's very possible that what you'll see is is a tiered approach here  not just a single action but potentially multiple actions.'

The Pentagon and the White House have pointed to the Iran-backed militia Kata'ib Hezbollah, which is based in Iraq, but has not made a final public determination.

The group's Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi said in a statement Tuesday: 'As we announce the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces - in order to prevent embarrassment of the Iraqi government - we will continue to defend our people in Gaza in other ways.'

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at a security forum in San Diego that he told Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in a meeting in Thaland that China had an 'obligation' to use its influence with Tehran to get Houthi rebels to stop attacking commercial shipping interests in the Red Sea.

Biden is planning to travel to Dover Air Force Base on Friday to attend the dignified transfer ceremony for the return of the three U.S. troops.
The crossbow attacker shot dead by police armed with an arsenal of weapons and a gas mask was a convicted stalker under a five-year court restraining order.

Bryce Hodgson, 30, was killed by armed officers after he was caught trying to force his way into the three-storey home in South East London at about 5am on Tuesday.

His neighbours revealed he was a 'troubled individual' who stressed about losing his hair prematurely.

He was a stalker convicted under a five-year court restraining order and had been banned from entering Bywater Place in Surrey Quays where the shooting happened.

Hodgson was confronted by unarmed neighbours before he was shot by armed police. Although he received first aid, he died at the scene.

Hodgson forced his way into a home where the stalking victim he had previously targeted lived. Police said he wore body armour and carried two crossbows, a knife and an axe.

Bryce Hodgson, 30, (pictured) was killed by armed officers after he was caught trying to force his way into a three-storey home in Surrey Quays, Southwark, on Tuesday at around 5am

A knife at the scene near Bywater Place in Surrey Quays, south east London

A forensic tent pictured yesterday on the scene on a quiet cul-de-sac in Southwark, south east London

He was also described as a cannabis smoking 'dark horse' who neighbours said often appeared 'anxious' and 'on edge'. Two people with minor injuries were rescued from the flat. Hodgson was shot twice and given first aid but died at the scene.

A neighbour said he moved into the flat last summer. 'You would see him outside the front smoking weed and cigarettes,' they told the Mirror. 'He smoked a lot. He was a dark horse, nervy, but I never saw him being aggressive.'

Another said he was a chain smoker who was worried about losing his hair, which was potentially falling out because of stress.

'He was one troubled individual. He always looked stressed and kind of haunted. He was always outside smoking. He had a job in computers as far as I know,' they told The Evening Standard. 'He was very timid and always looking over his shoulder. He was young but his hair was coming out it looked like due to stress.'

Mr Hodgson was a convicted stalker under a five-year court restraining order at the time. He had been banned from entering Bywater Place, where the shooting happened just before 5am on Tuesday.

A gas mask and crossbow arrows were seen by the house at Bywater Place, Surrey Quays

Mr Hodgson appeared in court last June and pleaded guilty to 'stalking involving serious alarm or distress' by entering a woman's bedroom without consent, sending text messages demanding that she open her door and describing vivid sexual fantasies between January 1 and April 29 last year.

He was spared prison after the court noted his 'previous good character', and was ordered to undergo 12 months of supervision and complete 120 hours of community service. He was subject to a restraining order until July 2028.

Hodgson, from Thurlow Park Road, West Dulwich, was ordered to pay 85 costs and a 154 victim surcharge.

A second charge was dropped by the CPS of breaking the terms of his bail by breaching a night-time curfew.

The 30-year-old was born in Sheffield but lived in Middlesbrough until 2015.

Footage from the scene showed officers gathered around the house on a quiet cul-de-sac in south east London as two people were led out of it.

Armed police said they were forced to fire after Mr Hodgson managed to break in, having threatened the residents while also wielding a hatchet and knife.

His mask, body armour, crossbow bolts and military boots were left strewn across the road.

Neighbours in Rotherhithe, south-east London, said they heard a man and woman screaming and shouting minutes before the shooting.

They were ordered to stay away from their windows as armed officers descended on the Bywater Place estate.

Footage showed officers gathered around the house last night before leading two people out

Officers could be heard shouting at residents to 'get out of the house' before they attempted to talk to the attacker

Scotland Yard said police were called after Hodgson tried to force his way into a building just before 5am yesterday.

Unarmed officers initially tried to speak to him but were threatened.

It is thought the armour and weapons were left scattered on the street after officers stripped him of them to perform first aid outside the building after the incident.

Valeria Bocanera, 37, a neighbour who was woken by the incident, said: 'It went on for about a minute or so and then it went silent.

'My neighbour could see the body out of her window and it was uncovered and just lying on the floor.'

Other neighbours also described being woken by shouts and banging. One woman said: 'You could hear all the police shouting to each other.

'We just stayed indoors and the police later told us not to come out.'

A ground-floor window at the rear of a property was broken and an upstairs window was wedged open. The curtains had been pulled across the other windows.

A tent was in place where Hodgson died and officers patrolled the area to reassure the community after the shooting.

Police were called to a property (middle left) in Bywater Place, Southwark, at 4.55am on Tuesday

Last night, the Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed he had been carrying an array of weapons, adding: 'After arriving at the scene, the armed officers then entered the house where the man was shot.

'We can confirm two shots were fired from a police issue firearm, which will be subject to further analysis.

'The man, who was wearing body armour, was taken outside the property and given first aid but, sadly, died at the scene.' Earlier yesterday, the watchdog said it had begun an 'independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting'.

The Met's assistant commissioner Matt Twist said he 'firmly believed' the actions of the officers prevented further loss of life.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is now investigating the incident

Detective chief superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh said his 'thoughts are with all those affected' by the early morning drama. 'I understand the local community will be concerned at the events that have taken place,' he said.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, offered his support to those impacted by the incident.

Fatal police shootings are rare in the UK, with no more than three occurring per year since 2017.

The most recent death was that of Giedrius Vasiljevas, 40, who was shot at his home in Dagenham, east London, in November last year after calling 999 to say he had loaded guns and wanted to take his own life.
A federal judge has dismissed Disney's lawsuit accusing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of retaliation against the company for criticizing state limits on classroom discussion of sexuality.

US District Judge Allen Winsor, a Trump appointee, issued the ruling on Wednesday in Tallahassee federal court, finding that Disney lacked standing to sue DeSantis and other state officials.

The dispute began after Disney last year criticized Florida's classroom discussion ban on gender and sexuality, dubbed the 'Don't say gay' law by opponents.

DeSantis and his allies responded by stripping Disney of its special control over the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which had given the company virtual autonomy around its theme parks, including the Walt Disney World Resort.

DeSantis and other defendants had urged Judge Winsor to dismiss the case, saying Disney could not sue them over constitutionally enacted state laws such as the one rescinding Reedy Creek's special status.

A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed Walt Disney's lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and members of a state board for allegedly retaliating against the company

In his ruling, Windsor agreed with the defendats' argument that, if a law is constitutional on its face, a plaintiff cannot challenge by claiming lawmakers deviously crafted it with the intent to suppress free speech.

A DeSantis spokesman celebrated the ruling in a statement declaring 'the Corporate Kingdom is over.'

'The days of Disney controlling its own government and being placed above the law are long gone,' he said.

'The federal courts decision made it clear that Governor DeSantis was correct: Disney is still just one of many corporations in the state, and they do not have a right to their own special government,' the spokesman added.

Disney vowed to push on with its court challenge in spite of the ruling.

'This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here,' a Disney spokesperson said.

'If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with. We are determined to press forward with our case.

DeSantis began repeatedly attacking what he termed 'woke Disney' in public appearances as he geared up for his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, an effort he abandoned earlier this month.

State lawmakers stripped Disney of its control over the special development district that since 1967 had given the company control of the area surrounding Disney World.

The newly formed, DeSantis-appointed district, known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board, then voided contracts that Disney pushed through just before the prior board was replaced.

Since the takeover, more than 10 percent of the district's 370-employees have left their jobs, with many saying in exit interviews that the district has been politicized and is now permeated by cronyism.

The dispute began after Disney last year criticized Florida's classroom discussion ban on gender and sexuality, dubbed the 'Don't say gay' law by opponents

Disney vowed to push on with its court challenge in spite of the ruling. CEO Bob Iger is seen above

Disney responded by suing the governor and board members for allegedly punishing the company for its political comments.

In asking the judge to deny DeSantis' motion to dismiss, Disney had accused DeSantis and his appointees of using political institutions to punish opposing viewpoints.

'That premise is not just legally unsupported, it is profoundly un-American,' Disney said in court papers.

But Judge Winsor ultimately rejected Disney's claim against DeSantis and the state's Secretary of Commerce.

He found that the company failed to demonstrate that DeSantis has 'actual control' over the board, and 'struggled to articulate an injury' caused by the secretary.

He noted that since the supervisors have already been appointed, Disney would face the same situation it faces now if the court enjoined future appointments.

'It would be operating under the control of the CFTOD board, over which it has no control,' he wrote.

Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Chairman Martin Garcia responded to the ruling in a statement saying: 'I'm delighted that this lawsuit, which was nothing more than a distraction, is now behind us.

'Our board and the district will now continue to make the appropriate changes to operate and function as an independent government agency to promote transparency and accountability while bringing more prosperity to more people in Florida.'

The new board has separately asked a state judge to declare prior agreements, which were favorable to Disney and limited board action for decades, improper and void. That case is still pending.

Disney allegedly gave the previous board and its employees millions of dollars' worth of tickets, discounted hotel stays, and other benefits that were 'akin to bribes of public officials,' according to a report issued by the new board in early December.

Disney shares were trading down 1.1 percent late Wednesday afternoon.
FBI director Christopher Wray has expressed serious doubt that Xi Jinping would go through with his promise to Joe Biden not to interfere in the 2024 election.

Wray was testifying to Congress about the threat of Beijing's army of hackers wreaking 'havoc' on U.S. critical infrastructure when he was asked about reports that China's president's made assurances that he won't meddle in the vote.

'China has promised a lot of things over the years. So, I guess I'll believe it when I see it,' Wray said.

He warned hackers linked to the Chinese government are targeting critical U.S. infrastructure and preparing to cause 'real-world harm' to Americans.

Chinese hackers outnumber FBI cyber agents by about 50 to one, he said, and are part of the world's biggest hacking army.

FBI director Christopher Wray has expressed serious doubt that Xi Jinping would go through with his promise to Joe Biden not to interfere in the 2024 election

Water treatment plants, the electric grid, oil and natural gas pipelines and transportation hubs are among the targets of state-sponsored hacking operations, he told the House of Representatives Select Committee on competition with China

Wray spoke the same day U.S. officials announced that they had disrupted a sweeping Chinese cyber-spying operation.

'They're not focused just on political and military targets. We can see from where they position themselves across civilian infrastructure, that low blows aren't just a possibility in the event of conflict, low blows against civilians are part of China's plan,' Wray said.

The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.

Wray stressed that U.S. government concerns were not linked to Chinese Americans or Chinese nationals in the U.S., who he said were themselves often targets of Beijing's 'aggression'.

The hearing came at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and China over the status of democratically governed Taiwan, China's rapid military build-up, economic and technology competition, and Beijing's human rights record.

According to U.S. media reports, China's President Xi Jinping told President Joe Biden in November that Beijing would not interfere in the 2024 U.S. election.

The officials told the hearing they had confidence in the U.S. election infrastructure.

Wray was testifying to Congress about the threat of Beijing's army of hackers wreaking 'havoc' on U.S. critical infrastructure when he was asked about reports that China's president's made assurances that he won't meddle in the vote

Wray has repeatedly said Beijing is trying to undermine the United States through espionage campaigns, intellectual property theft and cyberattacks.

The Chinese government has previously accused the United States and its allies of spreading 'disinformation' through its accusations against what Washington says are state-sponsored hacking groups.

Wray testified along with General Paul Nakasone, commander of U.S. cyber command, and other top federal cybersecurity officials. Nakasone, who steps down from his position this week, was greeted by the committee with a standing ovation.

'This is the cyberspace equivalent of placing bombs on American bridges, water treatment facilities, and power plants.

'There is no economic benefit for these actions. There is no intelligence gathering rationale,' said Republican Representative Mike Gallagher, the committee's chairman.

Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said the United States has 'found and eradicated' Chinese cyber intrusions in aviation, water, energy and transportation infrastructure, and said Americans need to prepare for an unexpected attack.

The hearing is one of the highest-profile events conducted by the year-old bipartisan select committee, set up in part to explain to Americans why they should care about addressing growing threats posed by the top U.S. geopolitical rival.

Gallagher reiterated calls to ban or force the sale of short-video sharing app TikTok, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, saying its continued unfettered use in the U.S. would 'be bordering on national suicide'.
The parents of an OnlyFans model who was arrested for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend to death said they knew police were monitoring their every move.

Suspected murderer Courtney Clenney's parents, Kim and Deborah Clenney, have now been arrested for accessing their daughter's boyfriend's computer, prosecutors say.

The mom and dad were taken into custody at their home in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday for evidence tampering. A request was made by police in Miami, where their 27-year-old daughter allegedly stabbed Christian Obumseli to death in April 2022.

Kim Clenney, 60, is accused of taking the crypto-trader Obumseli's computer from the murder scene after it was missed by investigators, before accessing it with a password supplied by his daughter.

But now, a previously unseen interview with TMZ, filmed before the parents' arrest this week, shows they had a hunch that prosecutors were after them too.

Deborah Clenney told the interviewer: 'Every word we say to each other is being recorded. The prosecution plays dirty.'

Kim, left, and Deborah Clenney, right, were arrested at their home in Austin, Texas , on Tuesday after a request from police in Miami

Courtney Clenney attracted millions of followers on social media where she documented her life with boyfriend Christian Obumseli

Kim, her husband, huffed and smiled when Deborah said this to the camera.

She continued: 'And I think they would use anything we say to each other.

'They tried to act like I was manipulating her by texting her to say even though it was self-defense.

'So I think they would use anything against her that they possibly could.'

Kim Clenney added: 'They will do and say everything to win this case.'

The father allegedly handed the contentious laptop to his daughter's defense lawyers after finding nothing but a crypto exchange, TMZ reported, but was arrested along with his wife for evidence tampering.

Mugshots of the couple have now been released by officials in Texas, showing the two following their arrest.

The couple will appear virtually in court in Miami to face a bond hearing.

Kim and Deborah Clenney seen walking out of a previous court hearing for their daughter are expected to face a bond hearing on Wednesday

The porn star, who has more than two million Instagram followers, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and remains in prison awaiting trial.

Clenney and Obumseli had been dating for less than two years at the time of his death on April 3, 2022.

She was previously arrested for domestic battery in Las Vegas, and police were called to their home in Austin, Texas, on several occasions.

The pair moved to Miami at the beginning of the year. Staff and residents at the One Paraiso building where they lived reported multiple domestic disturbance complaints and had even moved to evict the couple.

When the stabbing occurred, police reports cite officers arriving at their Miami home at around 5pm on an aggravated battery call.

She was pictured wearing a blood-soaked robe and sweatpants, while Obumseli was rushed to hospital after being stabbed in the torso.

He was pronounced dead on arrival. Clenney initially claimed self-defense to officers and avoided charges.

Clenney seen sitting in a courtroom during a preliminary hearing in December 2022. She is currently standing trial for Obumseli's murder

His family say she was physically abusing him. She insists she killed him in self-defense

Clenney and Obumseli worked together to create content for her online profiles

First responders were confronted with a gruesome scene when they arrived at the couple's Miami apartment in April 2022 after Clenney stabbed her boyfriend to death

But she was charged with Obumseli's murder several months later while at a rehab center in Hawaii.

Earlier this month it emerged that Clenney had been seen with mysterious cuts, bruises and taped up fingers in a drunken Aspen photoshoot two months before she stabbed her boyfriend to death.

She performed the intoxicated photoshoot on the same ski trip where she was seen in shocking footage berating and smacking the crypto investor.

A person involved in the shoot where she appeared battered and bruised told DailyMail.com: 'She would use Facetune herself to edit blemishes and any imperfections.

'So, what you didn't see in the Instagram photos was that she had a scrape on her arm and it was bleeding, as well as a bandage on her fingers, and missing nail.'

Her attorneys say she was acting in self-defense when she stabbed Obumseli, but his family and lawyers say she was the aggressor.

To bolster her self-defense story, Clenney's attorney previously asked that Obumseli's corpse be dug up and inspected by a medical examiner.

Miami Attorney Katherine Fernandez said Clenney claimed to have stabbed Obumseli in the chest after he grabbed her by the throat at the Miami apartment in April, according to the Miami Herald.

OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney took these battered and bruised images after showing up drunk to a photoshoot, an insider claimed

Clenney is shown on April 3 after allegedly stabbing Obumseli on the balcony of their home. She is covered in blood as her dog looks at her

Clenney being being taken away during an evidentiary hearing on September 6

Clenney said she threw the knife at her boyfriend from more than 10 feet away but Fernandez said the autopsy revealed a deep wound that could only be inflicted from a close distance.

Released 911 audio following the stabbing revealed Clenney told her former lover, 'baby, I'm so sorry' after allegedly plunging the knife in.

She didn't tell the operator she had stabbed him, but sobbed to him about how sorry she was.

In the background, Obumseli, 27, could be heard crying out: 'I can't feel my arm.'

Graphic case photos have revealed she stabbed her much larger boyfriend inches above a tattoo of her name in cursive on the left side of his chest.

At the time, Obumseli's family said it showed she intended to kill him, then regretted it once she saw what she had done.

Clenney is being sued for negligence by Obumseli's family, after being arrested and charged with second-degree murder four months after the killing.

Her lawyers claim she attacked her boyfriend after a 'history of abuse' and had filed a restraining order against him just days before the attack.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre rejected claims that President Joe Biden's trip to East Palestine, Ohio, is a 'political stunt' and refused to say if he'll drink the water while he's on the ground.

'This is not about some sort of political stunt here,' she said at her Wednesday press briefing. 'This is about this president being a president for everyone and showing up for this community. That's what it is about.'

'I'm not going to get into some sort of political stunts about drinking water,' she addded.

Biden will finally visit East Palestine a year after a train derailment devastated the Ohio community, the White House announced on Wednesday. The president was criticized in the weeks after the harrowing incident for not visiting the site of the toxic crash, where, one year after the accident, residents remain scared about the safety of their drinking water and potential medical ailments.

'I'm not going to get into some sort of political stunts about drinking water,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said

'We felt the time was right,' Jean-Pierre said of the visit, which is scheduled for next month. She added that Biden was invited by the mayor and community leaders to come visit.

'The president has always said he would go when it is most helpful to the community,' she noted. 'And with this invitation, obviously, very recent, and the current status of the recovery, we felt that the time was right.'

'We are working with them to figure out the best time in February,' she said.

Donald Trump did visit the site as did Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The White House has insisted the president would go to fulfill the vow he made to see the devastation but, for months, would not say when Biden would make the trip.

Biden will go sometime in February, the White House now says, without giving a specific date.

President Joe Biden will finally visit East Palestine a year after a train derailment devastated the Ohio community

The president has traveled to other disaster sites across the country in the months a Norfolk Southern train hauling hazardous materials ran off the tracks on Feb. 3, 2023. The accident resulted in a days-long fire that released poisonous fumes into the air. Hundreds of residents were evacuated.

In March, Biden told reporters he would visit East Palestine 'at some point.'

During his trip next month he will meet with residents and examine the cleanup efforts.

East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway told Fox News said the best time for Biden to visit would be in 2025 'when he is on his book tour,' which indicates he didn't think the president would win a second term in the White House.

'The President is always welcome to our town,' he added. 'That being said, I don't know what he would do here now.

Trump, who is in the lead for the Republican presidential nomination, visited East Palestine shortly after the derailment. He said ahead of his trip that the people in that town 'were abandoned.'

On Wednesday he was critical of Biden's visit.

'With the World blowing up around us, with the Middle East on FIRE, Biden has finally decided to visit East Palestine, Ohio, a year late, and only to develop some political credibility because EVERYTHING else he has done has been such a DISASTER. I know those great people, I was there when it counted, and his reception wont be a warm one. Worst President in History!,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.

Trump won Ohio by 8 points in the 2020 election. The state, which used to be considered a bellweather, has become increasingly red.

The White House repeatedly emphasized the trip was not political.

'The president has always said he's a president for folks who live in red states, for folks who live in blue states,' Jean-Pierre noted. 'He is a president for all.'

Republican Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who joined Trump on his trip to the community, has been a heavy critic of Biden for not visiting.

'I think that he sees this community not as a Biden community, and therefore he's not doing anything for it,' Vance told Fox News in September. 'It is shameful conduct. When you're the President, you serve the people no matter who they voted for. And East Palestine deserves much better from their government.'

The White House points out that, within hours of derailment, the Environmental Protection Agency had trained emergency response personnel on the ground in East Palestine to aid state and local emergency and environmental response efforts. And that the Department of Transportation was also there to aid efforts.

A view of the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio

The derailment caused a fire that released toxic fumes into the air

Donald Trump visited East Palestine a few weeks after the derailment last year

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, left, and Tristan Brown, deputy administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in East Palestine shortly after the accident

The small town of mainly white, working-class citizens is still dealing with the effects of the derailment and resulting chemical spill.

Hazardous chemicals that spilled from the train included vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate and ethylene glycol monobutyl.

Residents reported headaches, rashes, sore throats, nausea, and other medical issues in the aftermath. Federal authorities have tested the drinking water and say it is safe but concerns about environmental pollution and long-term medical effects remain.

Norfolk Southern agreed to pay for the clean-up effort after pressure from the federal government.

The railroad is slated to pay hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of the derailment, and to reimburse EPA for the tens of millions of dollars that the agency has already spent.

The Department of Justice is also suing Norfolk Southern and seeking penalties under the Clean Water Act.
The Taliban effectively took control of the Afghanistan following Biden's military withdrawal from the country in August 2021

Military veterans spoke at a hearing about the atrocities their Afghan partners are facing under Taliban rule

Witnesses described the gruesome horrors inflicted by the Taliban on the United States' Afghan allies since President Biden's botched military withdrawal from the country in August 2021.

A panel testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Wednesday nearly two and half years after the Biden administration withdrew troops from Afghanistan.

They recounted second-hand the horrific incidents that translators, Afghan defense officials and civilians have endured, including the torture, rape, mutilation and murder performed by the Taliban on U.S.-aligned Afghans.

Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., who lost his legs after stepping on an explosive device during his service in Afghanistan, described multiple cases of abandoned allies getting killed or tortured by the Taliban following Biden's military withdrawal.

'An Afghan police chief who had helped the United States, was tortured for 49 days, and then was hanged,' Rep. Brian Mast said at the hearing.

Another Afghan police officer was 'shot dead in front of her husband and children while she was eight months pregnant.'

Taliban fighters atop vehicles with Taliban flags parade along a road to celebrate after the US pulled all its troops out of Afghanistan, in Kandahar on September 1, 2021 following the Talibans military takeover of the country

A helicopter displaying a Taliban flag flies above Taliban supporters gathered to celebrate the US withdrawal of all its troops out of Afghanistan

'A military officer arrested in August with no charge. A week later, his family received his body without his head,' Mast continued.

Thomas Kasza, a Green Beret with 15 years in uniform, testified that one of his allies, Omar, was killed after being identified in a National Geographic documentary about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

'While the Taliban had me, they showed me the Retrograde movie and accused me of working with the foreign forces in it,' Omar told Kasza, which the Green Beret then recounted to the committee.

'They asked me what my job was, and I told them I cleared IEDs. They found me through the Retrograde movie and are still asking villagers and family members about me.'

Soon after, Omar succumbed to the wounds he received from 16 days of Taliban torture.

'We are here to talk about Taliban reprisals,' Kasza added. 'Theres the case study: Nat Geo gave the Taliban a target package. The Taliban used it.'

A key issue at hand in the hearing was whether the U.S. recognizes that its Afghan allies are currently being hunted as reprisals for their service.

The Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Vitoria Nuland said in September that there is not a 'consistent pattern' of those Afghans who worked and supported our efforts in Afghanistan 'being murdered by the Taliban.'

However, Democrat Rep. Jason Crow disagrees.

'It is well documented that there are reprisals, that people are being hunted down and tortured, and killed,' Crow, a former Army Ranger recounted.

'These are our brothers and sisters who fought with us, who served with us a great personal expense, who, you know, protected so many of us.'

'Many of us would not be here today, if it hadn't been for the service of our Afghan brothers and sisters,' the Democrat continued.

President Joe Biden speaks about the end of the war in Afghanistan on Aug. 31, 2021

A Taliban fighter watches over laborers building a road in a remote region of Afghanistan

Another witness, Michael Cizmar - who served in the Army and later the FBI - also spoke about the Taliban-inflicted horrors experienced by U.S. allies.

'We have record of countless acts of hideous violence ... the beheading of two 12-year-old boys after the fall of Panjshir; the hanging of two members of the National Directorate of Security after they were granted amnesty, and the list goes on,' he told the committee.

'Afghan Security Officers and their families now live day to day under the most severe conditions, with the Taliban actively hunting them,' he continued.

Cizmar also testified about U.S.-trained Afghan sniper instructor that was murdered in front of his family in January 2023.
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

A 21-year-old man has been charged after he was arrested by tradies for allegedly stabbing a woman in the head and upper body with a paint scraper.

Emergency services were called to Roberts Avenue in Randwick at about 4.30pm on Wednesday after reports of a stabbing.

The woman, 48, was found with up to 12 wounds to her head and upper body and was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital. Her injuries are considered non-life threatening.

Police believe the woman was in an argument with a man known to her before he allegedly stabbed her with a paint scraper.

Dramatic footage shows three brave Good Samaritans ran after a man and held him down outside of a grocery store.

A woman has allegedly been stabbed with a paint scrapper in Sydney's eastern suburbs, with a 21-year-old man arrested over the attack (pictured, woman in an ambulance)

Dramatic footage shows a man being held down outside of a grocery story by a group of brave good Samaritans (pictured)

Two witnesses took chase and made a dramatic citizen's arrest on Frenchman's road (pictured, police at the scene)

One of the men told him to 'get down and don't f***ing move' while another held the back of the man's shirt.

Dressed in black track pants and white t-shirt while shoeless, blood could seen on the ground next to where the man was apprehended.

He was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital under police guard.

Smoke alarm tester Tom Artemjev was driving along Frenchmans Road when he witnessed the alleged attack.

'I pulled my handbrake in the middle of the road, jumped out of the car, a fella in a orange construction shirt and I were chasing him down to make sure nothing happened to him,' he said.

The group ran several hundred metres from the apartment block where the alleged incident occurred to keep up with the man before forcing him to the ground.

'I was just walking down here when I saw three lads run down here and rugby tackle a man,' witness Hannah said.

'They just took him down and sat with him while police came.'

The 21-year-old was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital under police guard as a precaution (pictured)

The footpath near where the grisly incident occurred was covered with blood (pictured)

The footpath near where the grisly incident allegedly occurred was seen covered in blood.

Police have established numerous crime scenes in the area as forensic investigators scour for evidence.

Do you know more? Email tips@dailymail.com
A brave schoolgirl who saved her beloved guinea pig from the clutches of a snake has recalled why she risked her own life, much to the horror of her parents.

Rosie Wightman, 12, has become an internet sensation after her Brisbane KIIS FM radio star uncle Kip posted extraordinary footage of her desperate efforts to save her pet Maxibon on Sunday afternoon.

Rosie was cleaning out the guinea pigs' cage when she noticed Maxibon running around the backyard of their home on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

She went out to grab him and swung into action when she found the small white animal in the jaws of a snake.

The distraught girl picked up the reptile and swung it around several times until it finally let go of Maxibon, who scampered away.

Stunned Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington expressed shock at Rosie's bravery when she appeared on the show on Thursday.

Rosie Wightman (left) appeared on Sunrise with her beloved guinea pigs and mum Grace (right) to relive the terrifying ordeal

'I would have been regretting it for the rest of the time so I just got it,' Rosie explained.

'It was around his neck at first and I was like, 'If I swing it around, it won't be as tight'.

'Then it let go of Maxibon but then it grabbed back on to his little legs.'

Both she and Maxibon escaped unscathed but were shaken for a few days.

'He is fine. He did have a few little puncture marks - not puncture marks, a few scratches but he is okay,' Rosie said.

'After he was dropped by the snake, he ran straight back to where he was.

'But then after I picked him up, he did not hesitate to run away. He was like, "get me out of this place!".'

Rosie's mother Grace will never forget her daughter's horrifying screams which alerted the family to the harrowing ordeal.

'I've never heard her scream like that before. Her little voice is still hoarse,' Ms Wightman recalled.

Rosie put herself in harm's way to save her guinea pig Maxibon from the snake

READ MORE: Woman recalls moment she was bitten by deadly snake Kasey Leadbetter was bitten by a brown snake as she slept Advertisement

'We came out and found Rosie swinging a python with the guinea pig attached to it.

'I literally stopped. I was like, 'Is this actually happening?'

'It was the wildest thing.'

It took a while for the Wightmans to realise the ordeal was captured on CCTV.

'For about an hour after, we were like, 'no-one is going to believe us',' Ms Wightman said.

'Then we were like, 'The cameras!'. '

'When we realised it was on camera, we thought 'this is going to go crazy'.'

As a result of her heroic actions, Rosie is now allowed to start own YouTube channel.

'I feel so bad now. I'm like, 'No, you're starting high school, let's just settle into the year ' but now I'm like, 'Let's go,' Ms Wightman said.

Rosie added: 'With the YouTube channel, I sort of want to do a morning routine, get readies with me but with the guinea pigs as well, put a carrot, see which moisturiser, what to do first, it will be fun.'

No snake content was a strict condition put in place by her parents.

The 12-year-old (pictured, centre) and her dad managed to free the pet from the snake's grip

'We've had a good snake talk,' Ms Wightman said.

'We're like, 'Never again, we're grateful you're fine but next time, step away, We'll buy you two more guinea pigs.'

Her uncle's Instagram post has since gone viral with hundreds of viewers praising Rosie for saving her pet.

'Well done, Rosie! What a legend you are!' a viewer commented said.

Another added: 'She much braver then me, I would have just ran screaming.'

'I can imagine the noise of this chaotic scene - incredible young lady!'
A 13-year-old British schoolgirl facing a forced marriage to her cousin in Pakistan has been dramatically rescued, it can be revealed today.

The wedding of the pretty, dark-haired child had been arranged secretly by her father  but was halted at the 11th hour before she was flown back to the UK last weekend.

The girl's plight emerged when her mother sent a text message begging for help to a neighbour back in England.

The girl's 40-year-old mother told the Mail yesterday: 'I messaged my neighbour in alarm because my child was about to be married to a grown man on the orders of her father.

'We went to Pakistan last August on a family holiday. When we got there, I found out my husband had tricked us both.

A 13-year-old British girl has been rescued from a forced marriage to her cousin in Pakistan after the wedding was halted at the 11th hour (stock photo)

The girl was rescued thanks to her neighbour in the UK, a worker for women's anti-abuse charity Jeera International, who alerted the police and the Government's Forced Marriage Unit (stock photo)

'He abandoned us, left us with his relatives and returned to England. His family took over our lives and his sister said that my daughter was to be married to a 19-year-old cousin, even though she is a child. I was desperate to save her. My violent husband had destroyed my mobile phone with a hammer. He gave me no money when he left us and gave our passports to his family.'

It was in late October that the mother made her desperate plea for help. Crucially, the neighbour she contacted  who lives near the family's semi-detached house in the Home Counties  belonged to a women's anti-abuse charity, Jeena International, which sounded the alarm to British police, social workers and the Government's Forced Marriage Unit.

Officials at the British Embassy in Pakistan were called and, after several weeks, persuaded the 52-year-old father's family to return the passports. Lawyers in England were brought in to advise the mother, and in December a London court ruled she and her child must be returned to Britain.

A court order stating that the girl was in danger of a forced marriage was issued to Interpol, which alerted airports in case the child was spirited out of Pakistan by her father's relatives.

While extreme, her case is not an isolated one. Britain's Forced Marriage Unit investigated 297 cases in 2022, almost half linked to planned weddings in Pakistan. Some 30 per cent of victims were under-age children, and often British citizens.

'In Pakistan, she did not go to school for five months,' says the girl's mother, who cannot be named to protect her daughter's identity.

'She was kept inside, and I think she overheard what was being planned for her. I believe she was frightened. She has told me that never wants to see her father again.

'My daughter, who is intelligent, good at schoolwork and has lots of friends in England, was excited to go on holiday to Pakistan. Instead, she was nearly married off to an adult in a country she hardly knew.

'The cousin was my husband's sister's son. In Pakistan, although child marriages still happen, the legal age for a girl to wed is 16. She only knows a British way of life.'

The mother and daughter have returned home to an empty house because the father sold all their furniture over Christmas.

A court order stating that the girl was in danger of a forced marriage was issued to Interpol (stock photo)

He has told the British authorities he plans to leave the UK and remain in Pakistan, says the mother, who has been left penniless.

Well-wishers have raised money for two mattresses and some tinned food for them.

'I cannot contemplate a divorce because our community disapproves of it,' said the mother.

She and her husband underwent an arranged marriage in Pakistan in 2007 with 400 guests. It was organised within a week when he was visiting from the UK. 'I never met him until the wedding. I knew he lived in England, but I had never been there,' says the mother, a science and maths graduate who speaks good English. 'But I was by then 25 and pleased to marry. I was determined to make it work out for us.

'I found out very soon he was a controlling character, a narcissist. He slapped me in the face once or twice.'

For the first six years of the marriage, the man left his new wife in Pakistan where she lived with his parents. 'It was cooking and cleaning all the time. My mother-in-law told me what to do,' she said.

'At first they seemed pleased with me, but soon I became like a slave. My husband visited once or twice a year from England where he worked as a factory official. I was very unhappy about this.'

Eventually she persuaded her husband to bring them to England, and he bought a house for the family. 'I had said to him that I was not married to his parents, but to him. I was prepared to forgive and forget the past for the sake of our marriage,' she said.

But in England, things got worse for her. She was not allowed outside the house apart from to take her daughter to school occasionally.

In the UK, she knew no one in the local Punjabi community. 'He never let me talk to anyone, even at the school gates,' she says.

She began to sell her clothes on the internet to earn money. But when her husband found out, he took the money.

'He punished me by slapping my face, and throwing my things on the street outside. He got hold of my mobile phone and broke it with a hammer so I was out of touch with my family in Pakistan. I had nobody to turn to for help,' she said.

By chance, a friendly neighbour called. She gave the mother her phone number in case she wanted to be friends.

The number turned out to be a precious gift. Faced with her daughter's forced marriage last autumn, she used her daughter's mobile to text the neighbour in England.

The neighbour  who also cannot be named for legal reasons  said: 'I realised it was serious. I am a volunteer with Jeena International which helps women in ethnic communities. I told them about this mother and her daughter.'

Jeena founder Rani Bilkhu said: 'This mother has decided to speak as a warning to others from the Punjabi community about the danger of their daughters being sent from the UK to enter underage forced marriages in Pakistan.

'We told the social services in our area, but they had not contacted the mother at any point. That is very worrying. We want British social services to take these cases seriously.'
The final words of a hero father who died after rescuing his daughter from a rip current in Western Australia have been revealed.

Warren 'Wazza' Laing was swimming with his 14-year-old daughter, Miley-Jayde, at Middleton Beach in Albany when she got caught in a rip on January 14.

The dad helped his 14-year-old get back to shore safely, but then he had trouble with the conditions himself.

'He told her, 'you need to let go  Miley, let go of my hand',' his sister-in-law Alisia Coyne told 7NEWS.com.au.

'He managed to get her out and then disappeared.'

Tragically, the hardworking father lost his life after he saved her.

WA Police said that Mr Laing was brought to shore by a member of the public who attempted to provide first aid before paramedics arrived.

He was then rushed to the hospital where he later passed away.

A GoFundMe has been launched by Ms Coyne, and aims to raise sufficient funds to give the father-of-three 'the send-off he truly deserves'.

'He was the heart and soul of the family. He brought happiness and laughter to everyone who knew him or met him,' she wrote.

'Wazza loved the water and if you didn't find him at the local pool, you found him down the beach with the kids, nieces and nephews.

'He died a hero and he will always be remembered as such.'

Warren 'Wazza' Laing (pictured with his three children) drowned while saving his 14-year-old daughter from a rip current on January 14

She explained that Mr Laing was the primary source of income for his three children, aged 24, 17, and 14, as well as his wife of 17 years, Rennae, before his sudden death.

'Wazza was the provider for his family, and now with him gone, Rennae and the children need support,' Ms. Coyne wrote.

'If you can donate any amount, it would be truly appreciated so we can ensure our hero is given a send-off equal to the man that he was when he was alive.'

Mr Laing (pictured with his family) was remembered as 'loving, kind and gentle' in his obituary

The fundraiser has already received more than $1,500 from 17 donors.

Mr Laing's obituary said: 'He was always loving, kind and gentle to family and many friends.

'He would do anything for anyone. Have a Coopers on us. Love forever.'
Doomed news website The Messenger's staff found out their workplace was shutting after less than a year from media reports, triggering panic in the office.

Employees had their accounts deactivated shortly after 1 pm PST on Wednesday, with the newsroom plunged into chaos as it went dark.

Editor-in-Chief Dan Wakeford told staff, 'I am not in the loop. Trying to find out now,' after employees asked if there would be any update from management.

Founder and CEO Jimmy Finkelstein emailed staff claiming he'd been working until Tuesday night to try and secure the future of the publisher by raising capital.

He added: 'Unfortunately we have been unable to do so, which is why we havent shared the news with you until now.

'This is truly the last thing I wanted, and I am deeply sorry.'

The Messenger was launched in May 2023 by CEO and founder Jimmy Finkelstein (pictured) with $50 million in funding is now shutting down

But angry staffers took to social media to claim they'd heard their workplace was shutting down from media reports, rather than their boss himself.

Senior writer and critic Jordan Hoffman gave a dramatic account of an instant message sent by a colleague fearful of losing medical insurance.

He said: 'The last thing I saw in The Messenger's slack was a panicked colleague writing "wait, what about our insurance coverage, I have a surgery boo" and then we all got booted out!!!'

Staff are believed to have been let go without severance pay and their health insurance benefits have been canceled.

Adrian Carrasquillo posted on X: 'How unfortunate to learn The Messenger would shut down via the New York Times. I am saddened because so many journalists did great work, but particularly the stellar politics team that I worked with.

'We consistently broke news, were on the trail, and made a name for the organization. Just a week ago I had this big scoop below  many of my colleagues did the same often.' He shared a link about the Republican National Committee shuttering Hispanic community centers.

The Messenger was launched in May 2023 by Finkelstein, with $50 million in funding.

The company was reportedly losing tens of millions of dollars and only brought in around $3 million in revenue. It had hoped to bring in $100 million in revenue for 2024 - a goal that raised eyebrows when first mooted, which has since been proven to be wildly-ambitious.

Funding for The Messenger came from backers including Josh Harris, a co-founder of the private-equity giant Apollo, and Thomas Peterffy, the former chief executive of Interactive Brokers.

Finkelstein tried to save the company and in early January said he had raised $10 million.

The organization hired about 300 hundred people, including journalist from Politico, Reuters, NBC News and The Associated Press.

Finkelstein and The Messenger's president Richard Beckman planned to hire 550 journalists within a year.

According to its website, 'The Messenger was founded to champion balanced journalism in an era of bias, subjectivity, and misinformation.'

After the publication launched, the politics editor, Gregg Birnbaum, quit after clashing with the chief growth officer, Neetzan Zimmerman.

Finkelstein and The Messenger's president Richard Beckman (pictured) had planned to hire 550 journalist within a year after it launched

The site received poor reviews and employees reportedly grew tired of trying to meet demands.

Last week, the Los Angeles Times has slashed over a fifth of its workforce - one of the worst days in the paper's 142-year history - as it faces $40million in revenue losses.

The paper's owner, biotech billionaire Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong, said the loss of 115 workers was necessary as the business is losing $30million to $40million per year.

'Today's decision is painful for all, but it is imperative that we act urgently and take steps to build a sustainable and thriving paper for the next generation. We are committed to doing so,' Soon-Shiong said.

News publishers have seen major losses after Meta's Facebook moved away from news content, ending partnerships with outlets and banning Canadian users from sharing news over a law that requires tech firms to pay fees to news organizations.

BuzzFeed closed its news operation last year, with feminist news website Jezebel also shuttering - although it has since begun publishing again.
Post Office scandal victim Alan Bates has revealed he will reject a 'cruel' and 'derisory' compensation offer from the Government following years of alleged mistreatment at the hands of his former workplace.

The former sub-postmaster, whose struggle to exonerate his and others' named following a mass of wrongful convictions inspired the ITV drama Mr Bates vs. The Post Office, said he would be turning down the government's offer, which was just one-sixth what he had asked for.

After receiving the offer today, he told the Telegraph: ''Full and fair' might be His Majesty's Government's interpretation, but in reality the offer is derisory, offensive and after all this time, yes, cruel.'

Bates, who for the last two decades has fought his wrongful conviction brought about by the faulty Horizon software created by Fujitsu, is one of around 4,000 people told they will be eligible for compensation.

Hundreds of Post Office branch managers who were wrongly convicted in the Horizon IT scandal could have their names cleared by the end of the year.

Alan Bates (pictured) said he was rejecting the government's paltry compensation offer

The Horizon scandal was dramatised in Mr Bates vs. The Post Office

The Post Office carried out around 700 private prosecutions against sub-postmasters using evidence from the Horizon software, despite knowing there were serious flaws in the system

Mr Bates told the Telegraph: ''Full and fair' might be His Majesty's Government's interpretation, but in reality the offer is derisory, offensive and after all this time, yes, cruel.

'I will absolutely be turning this offer for financial redress down.

'It's just a terrible way to treat human beings - and I have heard from several subpostmasters who have received similarly derisory offers, while others are still waiting.'

READ MORE: Moment Post Office hero Alan Bates and his wife fight back tears as they learn they've been gifted a free holiday by Richard Branson amid outrage over Horizon scandal Advertisement

He said the offer had been made on Wednesday, 111 days after his claim - prepared with the help of forensic accountants engaged by his lawyers - had been submitted.

'I have been in the queue along with all the others in the scheme, but if my case is an example of the way they are going to treat all cases, we may as well start looking at a legal action again and let the judiciary decide.'

Mr Bates was among more than 500 people who received an average of about 20,000 after a High Court ruling in 2019.

Mr Bates, now 69, and Ms Sercombe used their life savings to buy a Post Office Branch in Llandudno, North Wales, in 1998.

The businessman, who was a meticulous record keeper, started seeing unexplained losses in the branch's accounts by the end of 2000.

He had his contract as a subpostmaster terminated by the Post Office in 2003 after he refused to accept liability for 1,200 worth of recorded losses.

He contended the money never existed and was due to a software glitch.

Mr Bates and his partner kept the shop, but the termination of the Post Office contract meant they lost an investment of around 60,000.

In 2009, he set up the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance (JSFA), as the Post Office was in the process of pursuing the prosecutions of 736 former postmasters and postmistresses.

In 2019 a judge ruled that the Horizon IT system had 'bug, errors and defects' and the Post Office agreed to settle with all 555 claimants who joined in the legal action.

Mr Bates revealed in December last year that he had turned down the OBE for his campaigning in disgust at Mrs Vennells retaining her honour.

ITV's new drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office has drawn a renewed interest in the scandal, with Mr Bates being played by Toby Jones (pictured in the role)

Postmasters accused of theft by Post Office celebrate outside the High Court in London after they have had their convictions overturned

Blanket legislation to exonerate subpostmasters convicted in England and Wales will be introduced within weeks and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said they were victims of 'one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nation's history'.

The scandal saw the Post Office take up private prosecutions against sub-postmasters across the country between 1999 and 2015 for allegedly stealing funds from their branches.

But the evidence centred on data from Horizon, a piece of accounting software with severe 'bugs, errors and defects', a high court judge found in 2021.

Mr Justice Fraser, ruling in 2021, said that there was a 'material risk' that shortfalls in branch accounts were caused by the system.

He condemned the Post Office, which took up around 700 private prosecutions, for knowing 'there were serious issues about the reliability of Horizon', but carrying on with legal battles regardless.

The scandal is seen as one of the UK's biggest miscarriages of justice and has gained recent national attention over recent days thanks to Mr Bates Vs The Post Office airing on ITV

'By representing Horizon as reliable, and refusing to countenance any suggestion to the contrary, POL [Post Office Limited] effectively sought to reverse the burden of proof: it treated what was no more than a shortfall shown by an unreliable accounting system as an incontrovertible loss, and proceeded as if it were for the accused to prove that no such loss had occurred,' Mr Justice Fraser said at the time.

'Denied any disclosure of material capable of undermining the prosecution case, defendants were inevitably unable to discharge that improper burden.

'As each prosecution proceeded to its successful conclusion the asserted reliability of Horizon was, on the face of it, reinforced.

'Defendants were prosecuted, convicted and sentenced on the basis that the Horizon data must be correct, and cash must therefore be missing, when in fact there could be no confidence as to that foundation.'

The long-running battle for justice accelerated dramatically after ITV broadcast the drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, which highlighted the scandal earlier this month.

Bates previously said he welcomed the 'good news' but said the fight is not over for many of those still awaiting compensation.

Rishi Sunak speaking during the first Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) session of the year at the House of Commons

Alan Bates sits alongside wife Suzanne Sercombe as the couple appear on ITV's This Morning. Calls have been made for Mr Bates to receive an honour for his campaign to expose the Post Office scandal

'It is a leap forward, but it ain't over yet,' he told BBC Radio 4's The World At One programme.

'The devil is in the detail and we're yet to see that. We're still going to have to keep pushing the whole issue forward until everyone is sorted.'

Earlier this month, Downing Street backed called for Bates to be awarded a knighthood for his central role in exposing the Post Office scandal and fighting to clear the names of wrongfully convicted sub-postmasters.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokeswoman said it would be 'common sense' to honour the former subpostmaster after a mass quashing of convictions was announced.

The PM's press secretary argued that it is 'hard to think of someone more deserving of being rewarded through the honours system than him'.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has joined forces with a Labour peer and a former top judge in a bid to give the United Nations refugee agency an effective veto over the Government's Rwanda scheme.

Justin Welby formally supported a series of amendments neutering the new legislation.

The changes were put forward by Labour peer Baroness Chakrabarti, a former member of Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet, and were backed by Mr Welby and former head of the Supreme Court Baroness Hale.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Bill says it is for Parliament  and not the courts  to declare Rwanda a safe country, so removals flights can get off the ground by spring and deter small boat Channel crossings.

But now the Archbishop is backing changes which would instead give the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) the final say on whether the east African nation is safe.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, supported a series of amendments to the Rwanda Bill, including changes that would give the UN High Commissioner on Refugees the final say on whether the east African country is safe

Baroness Chakrabarti, a former member of Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet, tabled amendments to require British courts to give 'proper regard' to so-called 'pyjama injunctions' issued by the ECHR

The amendments will 'require positive UNHCR advice on the safety of Rwanda to be laid before Parliament before claims for asylum in the UK may be processed in Rwanda', House of Lords papers show.

Anyone granted asylum would be brought back to Britain rather than remaining in Rwanda, they add.

The changes would mean that 'no person will be removed to the Republic of Rwanda' without the UNHCR giving the go-ahead, and the agency's decision-making role would be written into UK law.

Last year the UNHCR positioned itself as a leading opponent of the Rwanda scheme, and its evidence played a key role in persuading Supreme Court justices to declare the policy unlawful in November.

In further moves to up-end Mr Sunak's Bill, Baroness Chakrabarti and her two allies tabled amendments which would scupper Government proposals to ignore 'pyjama injunctions' issued by Strasbourg judges.

Instead, the changes would require British courts to give 'proper regard' to so-called Rule 39 orders issued by the European Court of Human Rights in relation to Rwanda cases.

The trio also moved to delete Government measures to 'disapply' the Human Rights Act and sought to restore the ability of UK courts and tribunals to block Home Office attempts to remove migrants.

Earlier this week the Archbishop was blasted by Tory MPs after he said the Rwanda scheme was 'leading the nation down a damaging path'. He told the House of Lords on Monday night the Bill was 'damaging Britain's reputation and the rule of law'.

His interventions come despite his insistence in 2022, shortly after the Rwanda scheme was unveiled, that although he opposed the policy 'the details are for politics'.

An aide to Home Secretary James Cleverly said: 'We simply disagree with [Mr Welby] and believe the Bill and our partnership with Rwanda do not truly reflect the criticisms he makes.'

The aide also pointed out the UNHCR already operates a scheme sending refugees to Rwanda.

Tory backbencher Tom Hunt suggested it was time to review bishops' right to take part in parliamentary debates.

Baroness Hale, the former head of the Supreme Court, also backed moves to 'disapply' the Human Rights Act and sought to restore the ability of UK courts and tribunals to block Home Office attempts to remove migrants

Last night Mr Hunt said of Mr Welby's stance: 'Each day that passes that he continues to make these sort of interventions the Church of England loses more and more followers.'

Alp Mehmet of Migration Watch UK, which campaigns for tougher border controls, said: 'All this unsurprising alliance of lords spiritual and temporal will achieve, if the amendments succeed, is in thwarting the will of the majority while encouraging more people  mostly young men  to risk their lives to get to the UK.'

A Lambeth Palace spokesman said: 'The amendments [the archbishop] has supported ensure that our immigration policy complies with the rule of law.'

Human rights challenges have left the Rwanda scheme floundering in legal limbo for 18 months.

Mr Sunak's Bill aims to declare Rwanda a safe country and overcome objections raised by the Supreme Court. A new treaty with the east African nation also sets out a list of safeguards for asylum seekers sent there under the plan.
READ MORE: Mark Zuckerberg stands up and apologizes to victims of social media after Senators accused him of endangering children

'It appears that youre trying to be the premier sex trafficking site in this country,' Blackburn said to Zuckerberg

Meta Chief Mark Zuckerberg and Sen. Marsha Blackburn got into a heated back-and-forth on Wednesday when the Tennessee Republican accused Facebook of facilitating sex trafficking.

Blackburn at one point accused Zuckerberg of wanting to turn Meta into the 'premier sex trafficking site in this country.'

She first accused Zuckerberg of wanting to 'bring kids in early' to its Instagram Creators - a program for wannabe Instagram influencers.

The Republican senator accused Meta during a Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday of seeing 'younger teenagers as valuable but an untapped audience.'

She asked Zuckerberg how his company ensures that their Instagram Creators program 'does not facilitate illegal activities' when you 'fail to remove content pertaining to the sale of minors.'

Meta Chief Mark Zuckerberg and Sen. Marsha Blackburn got into a heated back-and-forth on Wednesday when the Tennessee Republican accused Facebook of facilitating sex trafficking

Zuckerberg responded: 'Senator, our tools for identifying that kind of content are industry leading, that doesnt mean were perfect. There are definitely issues that we have, but we continue '

Blackburn cut in: 'Mr. Zuckerberg, yes, there are a lot that is slipping through. It appears that youre trying to be the premier sex trafficking site in this country.'

'Of course not, Senator. Senator, thats ridiculous,' Zuckerberg fired back. 'No, it is not ridiculous. We dont want this content on our platforms.'

'Why dont you take it down?' Blackburn asked.

'We do take it down,' the Meta CEO claimed.

But Blackburn exploded at Zuckerberg, exclaiming: 'No you are not, you are not!'

'Weve been working on this stuff for a decade. You have an army of lawyers and lobbyists that have fought us on this every step of the way,' she stated during the testy moment.

Earlier in the hearing, Zuckerberg stood up and apologized to families who say social media contributed to their children's suicide or abuse.

The Meta chief, who runs Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, was rebuked by Senator Josh Hawley who asked him to address the public gallery directly during the hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

'I'm sorry for everything you've all gone through,' Zuckerberg said. 'It's terrible. No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered.'

Zuckerberg appeared alongside TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Discord boss Jason Citron, X chief Linda Yaccarino and Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel.

All were grilled by Republicans about how they protect teenagers and children on their respective apps.

Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham used the occasion to chastise the Silicon Valley titans, claiming they don't do enough to protect kids from pedophiles and harmful content.

The bosses insisted that they do their utmost to shield youngsters from anything inappropriate, but conceded that they cannot always keep track of accounts due to the size and scale of their products.

Bosses of social media giants Facebook , TikTok , Twitter , and Snapchat are being grilled by Congress on the dangers their platforms bring to childr

Senator Ted Cruz said every parent in America was 'terrified about the garbage that is directed at our kids'.

'I have two teenagers at home, and the phones they have are portals to predators, to viciousness, to bullying, to self-harm... and each of your companies could do a lot more to prevent it,' he said.

Cruz pointed to a 2013 report that Instagram's algorithm was connecting pedophiles to accounts that advertised the sale of child porn - some of them run by children themselves, or featuring sex-trafficked kids.

'This content wasn't just living in the dark corners of Instagram, the algorithm was helping pedophiles to find it by promoting graphic hashtags,' he said.

He then held a blown-up screenshot of an Instagram prompt that asks users if they want to 'get resources' or 'see results anyway' when browsing harmful images.

The warning read 'these results may contain images of child sexual abuse', with an explanation underneath.

'You gave users two choices: 'Get resources or see results anyway',' Cruz said, speaking directly to the Meta founder.

'Mr. Zuckerberg, what the hell were you thinking?', barely pausing long enough for the Meta founder to respond.

Senator Ted Cruz had a blown-up graphic put behind him showing and Instagram warning screen to users searching for child sexual abuse material

Zuckerberg said the 'basic science' behind the warning was that it was better to direct people searching for such content to get help, rather than blocking it

'I understand get resources, [but] in what sane universe is there a link for 'see results anyway'?'

'Well, because we might be wrong,' Zuckerberg replied.

'We tried to trigger this warning when we think that there's any chance that there...'

'Ok you might be wrong... let me ask you, how many times was this warning screen displayed?' Cruz interjected.

Zuckerberg replied: 'I don't know the answer to that off the top of my head.'

Cruz said that was interesting because he asked it last June in an oversight letter and Meta refused to answer.

'Will you commit right now, to within five days answering this question for this committee?' he said.

'I'll personally look into it, but I'm not sure if we have that data.'

Cruz then asked how many time a user who got the warning clicked 'see results anyway'.

'I'm not sure if we stored that, but I'll personally look into this and we'll follow up after,' Zuckerberg replied.

'What follow up did Instagram do, when you have a potential pedophile clicking on that thinking 'I'd like to see child porn' - what did you do next, when that happened?

Zuckerberg replied that Instagram took down anything that it thought was sexual abuse, and reported it to authorities

But Cruz wanted to know if anyone checked if the results actually were child porn, given he said 'we might be wrong'.

Zuckerberg said it was 'probably one of the factors' that helped lead to users being reported - and that Meta made 26 million reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, more than than the rest of the industry combined.

'You gave users two choices: Get resources' or see results anyway',' Cruz said, speaking directly to the Meta founder

Senator Lindsey Graham began the session with a stirring rebuke of all five tech bosses, accusing their platforms of killing young people, but zeroed in on Meta.

'Mr. Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us, I know you don't mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands,' he said.

'You have a product that's killing people. When we had cigarettes that were killing people, we did something about it - maybe not enough.

'You gonna talk about guns, we have the ATF... [but] nothing here, there's not a damn thing anybody can do about it (social media), you can't be sued.'

Senator Graham said internal Meta emails showed Zuckerberg was warned about the dangers of his apps, but decided not to hire 45 people to 'do a better job of policing this'.

'So the bottom line is you can't be sued. You should be, and these emails would be great for punitive damages, but the courtroom's closed to every American abused by all the companies in front of me,' he continued.

Senator Lindsey Graham began the session with a stirring rebuke of all five tech bosses, accusing their platforms of killing young people

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg , whose company runs Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, was sworn in to give evidence

He said social media was the last industry he would give blanket immunity from liability to, and it was time to repeal laws that did so.

'After years of working on this issue with you and others, Ive come to conclude the following: social media companies as theyre currently designed and operate are dangerous products,' Graham said.

'They're destroying lives, and threatening democracy itself. These companies must be reined in, or the worst is yet to come.'

Graham later said though social media had many upsides, the 'dark' side was becoming 'too great to live with'.

'I am tired of talking. I'm tired of having discussions,' he said.

'Open up the courthouse door. Until you do that, nothing will change. Until these people can be sued for the damage they're doing, it is all talk.

'I'm a Republican who believes in free enterprise, but I also believe that every American who's been wronged has to have somebody to go to to complain. There is no commission to go to that can punish you.

'There's not one law in the book because you oppose everything we do, and you can't be sued. That has to stop, folks.'

Families of kids 'killed by social media' pack hearing

The hearing started with recorded testimonies from kids and parents who said they or their children were exploited on social media.

Senator Chris Coons thanked families who held up photos of children who they said took their own lives after being sexually exploited via social media.

'This room is packed as far as the eye can see,' he said.

'The families that are here because they want us to see you, and to know your concern.

'You have contacted each of us in our offices expressing your grief, your loss, your passion, and your concern.'

Families hold up photos of victims of child exploitation and suicide in the audience behind the five tech bosses

Zuckerberg was asked to apologize to them during the hearing, and turned around and did so

Coons responded to Zuckerberg's reference to a National Academy of Sciences study that found 'at the population level' there was no proof of a link between social media and harm to young people.

'Well it may not be at the population level, but I'm looking at a room full of hundreds of parents who have lost children,' he said.

'Our challenge is to take the data and make good decisions about protecting families and children from harm.'

Coons said that when a door flew off Alaska Airlines flight 1282 earlier this month, dozens of planes were grounded for safety checks, even though no one died.

But nothing at all ever happened for social media companies, he said.

Among parents who lost children to suicide due to social media sexual exploitation was South Carolina state representative Brandon Guffey, who is suing Instagram.

Gavin Guffey, 17, died in 2022 after falling victim to sexual extortion, or 'sextortion,' where scammers posed as a girl and tricked the 17-year-old into sending a nude photo. They then demanded cash not to release it.

Rep Guffey learned what had led to the tragedy after he and his younger son began receiving messages demanding money in exchange for nude images of the late teen.

The lawmaker is now suing Meta for wrongful death and gross negligence, among other accusations. He claims the company is not doing enough to protect minors from online predators.

The lawsuit also accuses the company of sparking mental health issues in children such as depression and anxiety - and that it uses algorithms to target teens while not keeping them safe.

Many of the families stood up whenever Zuckerberg responded to questions from senators

Many of the photos were directly behind the tech bosses as they sat for their testimonies

South Carolina State Rep Brandon Guffey (right) has filed a lawsuit against Instagram's parent company after his son Gavin (center) was driven to suicide by a sextortionist

Zuckerberg claimed the responsibility should lie with app stores like those run by Apple and Google, to enforce age restrictions.

'My understanding is Apple and Google, or at least Apple, already requires parental consent when a child does a payment with an app,' he said.

'So it should be pretty trivial to pass a law that requires them to make it so that parents have control anytime a child downloads an app.'

Meta earlier this month, in preparation for the hearings, proposed its own legislation along those lines.

After grilling Zuckerberg, Cruz moved on to TikTok, asking about a Chinese law that forces all companies to support and cooperate with national security efforts.

Chew replied that TikTok wasn't available in Mainland China and an entity called Project Texas was created to put the US version 'out of reach' of such obligations.

Cruz said the law compelled companies to lie to protect national security secrets.

He then referred to an earlier statement in the hearing by Chew where he insisted that the Chinese Government never asked for TikTok data and it was never provided.

'I do not believe you, and the American people don't either,' Cruz said.

Cruz said an app that was 'essentially the same' as TikTok in China was promoting science and education videos and limited the amount of time children could use it

'In the US, you are promoting to kids self-harm videos and anti-Israel propaganda. Why is there such a dramatic difference?' he asked.

Chew said that wasn't accurate and there was a lot of beneficial content on TikTok.

Cruz then compared hashtag volume on Instagram and TikTok - twice as many for things like Taylor Swift and Donald Trump non Instagram.

But it was eight to one for #uyghur - an oppressed minority in China - and 30 to one for #tibet, 57 to one for references to Tiananmen Square, and 174 to one for protests in Hong Kong.

'Why is it that on Instagram, people can put up #HongKongProtest 174 times compared to TikTok? What censorship is TikTok doing at the request of the Chinese Government?' Cruz asked.

'None. Senator, that analysis is flawed and been debunked by other external sources,' Chew replied.

He said this was explained by not all videos carrying hashtags and that you couldn't selectively choose a few words - before he was cut off by Cruz

'What's the difference between Taylor Swift and Tiananmen Square? What happened at Tiananmen Square?' he asked, rhetorically.

'There were massive protests during that time,' Chew replied, insisting users could freely post about it.

'Our algorithm does not suppress any content simply based on... it doesn't'

'You're selectively choosing some words over some periods [and] we haven't been around as long as other apps.'

Hundreds if not thousands of Chinese pro-democracy protesters, mostly students, were massacred when the Chinese military stormed Tiananmen Square, in the center of Beijing, in June 1989.

Information about the event is one of the most heavily censored things in China.

Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg, X Corp's CEO Linda Yaccarino, TikTok's CEO Shou Zi Chew and Discord's CEO Jason Citron attend the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The tech chieftains have been convened by the US Senate Judiciary Committee where they will be asked about the effects of social media in a session titled 'Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis'.

The hearing could be grueling for executives confronting political anger for not doing enough to thwart online dangers for children, including from sexual predators.

'There are no tools to hold the company accountable. Instead, survivors and advocates are left to plead with these companies to choose safety over profit,' US Senator Dick Durbin, who heads the judiciary committee, said.

'They're responsible for many of the dangers our children face online.

'Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.'

Zuckerberg is a veteran of congressional hearings since his first one over the Cambridge Analytica privacy debacle in 2018.

But it will only be the second time for TikTok boss Shou Zi Chew and the first for Linda Yaccarino, the chief executive of X.

What social media companies say they are doing

Beginning with Discord's Jason Citron, the executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work theyve done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.

Snapchat had broken ranks ahead of the hearing and began backing a federal bill that would create a legal liability for apps and social platforms who recommend harmful content to minors.

Damning Meta emails New internal emails between Meta executives released by Senator Richard Blumenthal's office show Nick Clegg, president of global affairs, and others asking Zuckerberg to hire more people to strengthen 'wellbeing across the company' as concerns grew about effects on youth mental health. 'From a policy perspective, this work has become increasingly urgent over recent months. Politicians in the US, UK, EU and Australia are publicly and privately expressing concerns about the impact of our products on young peoples mental health,' Clegg wrote in an August 2021 email. He wrote that the company is being constrained by a lack of investment in these efforts, 'which means that were not able to make changes and innovations at the pace required to be responsive to policymaker concerns.' Among the problem areas the email notes are excessive use, as well as bullying and harassment and suicide and self-injury. The emails released by Blumenthals office don't appear to include a response, if there was any, from Zuckerberg. In September 2021, The Wall Street Journal released the Facebook Files, its report based on internal documents from whistleblower Frances Haugen, who later testified before the Senate. Clegg late last year, proposing a scaled-down investment and telling Zuckerberg that the funding is important to ensure the company can back up its 'external narrative of well-being on our apps'. Its not clear if there was a response from the CEO. Advertisement

Spiegel reiterated Snapchat's support on Wednesday and asked the industry to back the bill.

Chew said TikTok is vigilant about enforcing its policy barring children under 13 from using the app. Yaccarino said X, formerly known as Twitter, doesn't cater to children.

'We do not have a line of business dedicated to children,' Yaccarino said.

She said the company would also support Stop CSAM Act, a federal bill that make it easier for victims of child exploitation to sue tech companies.

Zuckerberg said he was proud of the work his teams did to improve online child safety, not just on our services but across the entire internet.

Shou claimed the average of American TikTok user was older than 30, but admitted many children used the platform.

Ahead of their testimony, Meta and X, formerly Twitter, announced new measures seeking to satisfy any political pushback.

Meta, which owns the world's leading platforms Facebook and Instagram, said it would block direct messages sent to young teens by strangers.

By default, teens under age 16 can now only be messaged or added to group chats by people they already follow or are connected to.

Meta also tightened content restrictions for teens on Instagram and Facebook making it harder for them to view posts that discuss suicide, self-harm or eating disorders.

Zuckerberg is expected to tout the more than 30 existing tools and features designed to help parents and teens, according to a prepared testimony released ahead of the hearing.

The company has been beefing up its child safety features in recent weeks, announcing earlier this month that it will start hiding inappropriate content from teenagers accounts on Instagram and Facebook, including posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders.

It also restricted minors' ability to receive messages from anyone they don't follow or aren't connected to on Instagram and on Messenger and added new 'nudges' to try to discourage teens from browsing Instagram videos or messages late at night.

The nudges encourage kids to close the app, though it does not force them to do so.

But critics and child safety advocates say its actions fall short of meaningful changes that would address kids' safety.

Arturo Bejar, a former Meta engineering director known for his expertise in curbing online harassment recently testified before Congress about child safety on Meta's platforms.

'Looking back at each time there has been a Facebook or Instagram scandal in the last few years, they run the same playbook,' he said.

'Meta cherry picks their statistics and talks about features that dont address the harms in question.'

'Instagram promises features that end up hidden in settings that few people use. Why is 'quiet mode' not the default for all kids?' Bejar added.

'Meta says that some of the new work will help with unwanted advances. It is still not possible for a teen to tell Instagram when they're experiencing an unwanted advance. Without that information how can they make it safer?'

Twitter said Yaccarino was in Washington last week to meet with senators to talk about how the company is addressing child sexual exploitation, along with a broad range of other topics that included privacy, artificial intelligence, content moderation and misinformation.

Google's YouTube is notably missing from the list of companies called to the Senate Wednesday.

That's even though more kids use YouTube than any other platform, according to the Pew Research Center. Pew found that 93 per cent of American teens use YouTube, with TikTok a distant second at 63 per cent.
Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill is set to become the first republican First Minister

Rishi Sunak's latest post-Brexit deal on trading rules for Northern Ireland was yesterday hailed on both sides of the Irish Sea.

MPs said it had 'turned the impossible into the possible' by almost entirely eliminating checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea in a huge boost for Britain-Northern Ireland trade.

They also praised it for cementing Northern Ireland's place in the UK by ending the automatic application of new EU law in the province.

Crucially, Stormont looks set to sit again within days for the first time in two years, with the DUP ending its boycott on power-sharing with Sinn Fein. It means key decisions in areas such as health and education can be made, helping to create a 'brighter future' for people in the province.

The arrangement will unlock 3.3billion in new funding, allowing for public sector pay rises and an injection of funds into key regional services. Legislation enshrining the deal in law will be voted on today in the Commons.

Rishi Sunak 's latest post-Brexit deal on trading rules for Northern Ireland was yesterday hailed on both sides of the Irish Sea

Routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are to be removed as part of a deal presented by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill is set to be installed as the first ever Irish republican First Minister as early as this weekend

It is expected to pass, with Tory Brexiteers thought to be broadly supportive of the deal.

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill is set to be installed as the first ever republican First Minister as early as this weekend.

Unveiling the plan in the Commons yesterday afternoon, on the fourth anniversary of the UK's exit from the bloc, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said: 'Today we have presented a plan which will deliver the long-term change that Northern Ireland needs.

'It will strengthen Northern Ireland's place in our union and guarantee the free flow of goods across the entire United Kingdom. It's only by sticking to this plan that we will become a more united and prosperous country together.'

His Labour counterpart Hilary Benn described the agreement as a 'great achievement' while DUP deputy leader Gavin Robinson said: 'We have turned the impossible into the possible.

'We have turned the undeliverable into the deliverable.'

At a joint press conference near Belfast last night, Mr Heaton-Harris added that the deal would unlock a 'brighter future' for Northern Ireland within the UK.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the deal would deliver 'real change and progress for everyone in Northern Ireland'. He said: 'Today's agreement I believe is a positive and decisive step forward for Northern Ireland.'

The DUP walked out of Stormont in February 2022 in protest at post-Brexit trade checks blamed for driving a wedge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The political deadlock has left Stormont paralysed.

But the new deal, which builds on another agreement Mr Sunak struck with Brussels last February called the Windsor Framework, mostly wipes away checks on goods. They will only take place when smuggling or other criminality is suspected.

Brussels has given the deal its seal of approval.
Royal Navy chiefs are celebrating after ministers agreed to send an aircraft carrier to the Middle East  but the move faces huge issues.

It comes after the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group said it would intensify 'self-defence' attacks on any US and British warships deployed in the Red Sea.

The Mail has been told Admiral Sir Tony Radakin urged politicians to use one of the 3.5 billion platforms when the crisis began in October.

But the Chief of the Defence Staff was overruled as ministers opted to send Cyprus-based RAF Typhoons on 3,000-mile trips.

Some naval officers considered the RAF's contribution 'token' and 'not-sustainable'.

As Houthi terror attacks on international shipping have continued, Britain's hugely expensive carriers, including HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales (both pictured in Portsmouth Harbour) have remained anchored at home. Now Royal Navy chiefs are celebrating after ministers agreed to send an aircraft carrier to the Middle East

It comes after the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group (pictured carrying weapons on vehicles at a parade against American-British airstrikes) said it would intensify 'self-defence' attacks on any US and British warships deployed in the Red Sea

The rebels, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have been attacking ships in and around the Red Sea, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war

The absence of a UK carrier has left the US to conduct almost the entirety of air strikes on Houthi military infrastructure.

The rebels, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have been attacking ships in and around the Red Sea, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war.

Yet as their terror attacks on international shipping have continued, Britain's hugely expensive carriers have remained anchored at home.

Following the government's U-turn however, the 'senior service' has begun a frantic effort to ensure a carrier is ready to sail. The Mail has learned HMS Queen Elizabeth is at the highest readiness as she is due to depart on a major Nato exercise on Sunday.

The absence of a UK carrier has left the US to conduct almost the entirety of air strikes on Houthi military infrastructure

The carrier would apparently be diverted from the Steadfast Defender exercise should the threat to cargo ships and tankers persist (pictured, members of the Yemeni Coast Guard affiliated with the Houthi group patrol the sea)

An official Navy source said: 'The carriers have proved they can operate on their own and with our US allies'

The carrier would apparently be diverted from the Steadfast Defender exercise should the threat to cargo ships and tankers persist.

An official Navy source said: 'The carriers have proved they can operate on their own and with our US allies.

'What that would look like in terms of combining assets with the US will be being considered.'

As part of this process, concerns have emerged about the extent to which the Royal Navy's flagship will require US support.

Following the government's U-turn, the 'senior service' has begun a frantic effort to ensure a carrier is ready to sail. The Mail has learned HMS Queen Elizabeth is at the highest readiness as she is due to depart on a major Nato exercise on Sunday

Sources have also raised the alarm about the UK's main weapon system, Paveway IV. The precision guided bombs apparently require a pilot to fly their aircraft to within 'danger close' range of their targets

Anxious officers have suggested the UK will need Airborne Early Warning systems and a means to refuel HMS Queen Elizabeth's fleet of F-35B stealth jets.

Sources have also raised the alarm about the UK's main weapon system, Paveway IV. The precision guided bombs apparently require a pilot to fly their aircraft to within 'danger close' range of their targets.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey suggested the UK could provide an aircraft carrier to replace the USS Dwight D Eisenhower. But according to sources, the US may already have assigned a replacement carrier.
Mr Chalk also argued the Rwanda Bill was not in conflict with international law

Illegal migration is a challenge to democracy and puts 'unacceptable pressure' on resources in countries like the UK and US, the Justice Secretary has said.

In a Washington speech yesterday, Alex Chalk argued criminal gangs were undermining trust in nations that abide by the rule of law.

He also defended the Government's Rwanda Bill, arguing that Parliament  rather than people smugglers  should decide who comes to the UK.

Addressing legal professionals at Johns Hopkins University yesterday, he said: 'It is clear that unmanaged illegal migration is putting unacceptable pressure on the resources of rules-based countries like ours.

'The actions of criminal gangs smuggling people across borders brings those very rules into disrepute.'

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said political instability, hunger, climate change and population growth were fuelling illegal migration across the world, including to the UK

Migrants travelling across the English Channel (File Image). Mr Chalk argued criminal gangs were undermining trust in nations that abide by the rule of law

Migrants are escorted to be processed after being picked up by the RNLI (File Image)

Mr Chalk said political instability, hunger, climate change and population growth were fuelling illegal migration across the world, including to the UK. Further action was needed to prevent small boat crossings, he added, because 'dangerous' tactics used by criminal gangs were causing 'too many to perish'.

He said those criminal gangs didn't care whether the migrants crossing the Channel lived or died after taking their money, which he added was around 300,000 per small boat.

Mr Chalk also argued the Government's proposed Rwanda legislation was not in conflict with international law, saying: 'The Bill has been crafted very carefully and has been calibrated so that we are within the four corners of our international legal obligations.'
Ms Manno had been Sako's 'first and only true love'

Bought knife and hammer day after his arrest for stalking

The deranged stalker who murdered Celeste Manno in her own bed knew exactly where she was sleeping after finding detailed plans of her home online.

Ms Manno was stabbed 23 times to death by Luay Nader Sako on November 16, 2020, a year after he commenced a relentless stalking campaign against her.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Victoria heard Sako's twisted love for the 23-year old turned to hatred after she reported his outrageous behaviour to police.

Luay Nader Sako is led into the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne. He had found where Celeste Manno lived online before killing her in her own bed

The knife used by Luay Sako to murder Celeste Manno

Sako purchased a knife and a hammer a day after his arrest in August that year and embarked on an online research effort to track down his former work colleague.

Sako, 39, of Roxburgh Park, pleaded guilty to Ms Manno's murder on April 6 after trying to contest the charges on bogus mental impairment claims for years.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Rajan Darjee revealed Sako found the floor plans of the home Ms Manno lived in with her doting mother Aggie Di Mauro in Mernda, 26km north-east of Melbourne's central business district.

The court heard Sako made at least three trips past Ms Manno's home before carrying out his murderous act.

'He went online, he found the floor plan of the house and that's where he identified where her bedroom was,' Dr Darjee said.

'Clearly he did that because he wanted to know where the bedroom was because he wants to go in. He wants to engage her.'

Sako murdered Ms Manno just hours after she went 'Instagram public' with her new boyfriend Chris Ridsdale.

After seeing the Instagram post, Sako drove to Ms Manno's Mernda home, parked his car out the front, scaled her fence, broke into her bedroom window with a hammer and stabbed her to death.

Sako used this hammer to smash his way into Celeste Manno's bedroom

Sako knew Celeste Manno was home after seeing her white car (pictured) parked out front

Sako left blood stains on the back gate. He jumped over it to enter the backyard and smash through Ms Manno's bedroom window

On Wednesday afternoon, Sako's barrister Tim Marsh - who he sacked on the eve of the trial before asking him to represent him again midway through the pre-sentence plea - claimed Sako believed Mr Ridsdale had mocked him in the image.

'Mr Sako says that he perceived then most specifically Mr Ridsdale to be laughing at him, humiliating him,' he said.

'Hew describes seeing the photograph of Mr Ridsdale smiling and believing (he) was laughing maniacally at him.'

Dr Darjee said by that stage Sako's unbridled love of Ms Manno had turned into jealous rage.

'He was clearly, increasingly, seeing her as ... a malignant object than a positive object and when someone starts seeing someone who they have loved as a malignant object then they start thinking about destroying that individual. And that's what happens,' he said.

Ms Manno had initially extended kindness to Sako and escorted him out of their workplace on the day he was sacked from his call centre job at Serco a year earlier.

Without warning or consent, Sako then kissed her on the cheek.

A week later, the obsessive social media messages began.

Until his arrest three months before the murder, Sako had held an idealised view of Ms Manno, describing her as his only true love.

Prosecutor Patrick Bourke KC told the court Sako had never been romantically attracted to anyone in his entire life before his obsession with Ms Manno.

'He has had no positive experiences of being romantically attracted to another person. The victim being the first person he has fallen in love with,' he said.

'This murder was the outcome of the very first occasion this accused found himself in a position of having romantic feelings, desires for someone else.'

Sako murdered Ms Manno just hours after she went 'Instagram public' with her new boyfriend Chris Ridsdale (pictured)

Celeste Manno fought for her life but didn't stand a chance in the surprise attack carried out in her bedroom in the dead of night

Dr Darjee, who appeared in court for Sako in an effort to convince Justice Jane Dixon that the killer was suffering from a series of mental conditions at the time of the murder, claimed Sako's love turned to hate when she reported him to police for his continued harassment.

'He has a very fragile sense of self and fractured identity so when he feels that that might be threatened or crumbling he has to do everything he can to protect himself,' he said.

An intervention order taken out by Ms Manno against him - an order he breached - was described as 'the straw that broke the camel's back'.

'From his perspective (he was insulted) because it didn't fit with his self perception,' Dr Darjee said.

That hatred saw Sako belittle his victim's weight after killing her.

Dr Darjee told the court Sako made derogatory comments about Ms Manno's appearance in the months before he killed her.

Sako made particular note of Ms Manno's appearance during a contested intervention order hearing at the Heidelberg Magistrates' Court in August that year.

The cowardly killer told Dr Darjee he thought it 'memorable' because Ms Manno appeared 'larger' than he remembered her a year earlier.

'It's just a drive-by isn't it. It's irrelevant,' Mr Bourke suggested. 'He meant that she had put on weight.'

'He was clearly denigrating her,' Dr Ragee agreed.

Luay Sako has been described as a vile and cowardly demon

Sako sent dozens of messages to Ms Manno over Instagram (pictured) before ending his correspondence with a three-and-a-half page rant. He would murder Ms Manno months later

In making his final submissions to the court, Mr Bourke described Ms Manno's murder as cold and calculated, calling for him to be jailed for life.

'It was the sight of Ms Manno on this night with another man that triggered those motivations of jealousy rage and humiliation,' he said.

'He had only one intention. And that was to kill .. she's in her bedroom, in her home, asleep at 3.30 in the morning where she lives with her mum and that's where the accused decides to go ... when she could not be more vulnerable. That's part of the plan.

'He doesn't rock up to her work place ... he doesn't walk up to her at a supermarket.'

Mr Bourke said Sako had not shown a shred of remorse for what he had done, instead blaming everyone but himself.

'There have been no expressions of remorse, not even expressions of regret that this has occurred,' he said.

'There is much evidence of the accused blaming any number of other people for this offending - police, the deceased, her mother, her brother.'

But Mr Marsh urged Justice Dixon to sentence Sako to a fixed period that would allow the killer to re-enter the community as an old man.

'Mr Sako will in significantly advanced age before he is eligible for parole. What additional benefit would the imposition of a life sentence give when you consider he's already aged 39?'

Ms Manno's mother Aggie Di Mauro (centre) urged Justice Jane Dixon to provide her daughter with the justice she deserved

The incident took just two-and-a-half minutes, with Sako then driving directly to a local police station to taunt them about what he had done.

Both Ms Manno and her mother had pleaded with Sako for him to leave her alone in the months before he struck.

The court heard Sako peppered Ms Manno with creepy, lewd and menacing messages via Instagram through various accounts, concluding with a three-and-a-half-page rant in which he demanded she withdraw her police complaints against him.

Ms Manno's murder came on the heels of a string of female victims viciously murdered by male stalkers in Melbourne.

In 2019, Aiia Maasarwe was on her way home in Melbourne in January 2019 when she was followed, raped and murdered by Codey Herrmann after getting off a tram in Bundoora.

A year earlier, 22-year-old Eurydice Dixon was stalked for more than an hour before being raped and murdered in Carlton North's Princes Park by a stranger.

Ms Manno's mother Aggie Di Mauro this week begged Justice Dixon not to fail her daughter with a soft sentence.

'As a grieving mother I can't accept what the justice system delivers,' she said.

'The expectation of the law has, that any parent is subjected to accept leniency or mercy shown to their child's killer is unreasonable - cruel and inhumane.

'My sweetie was failed miserably. She was failed by a flawed system, the police and she was failed by me. Something I'll have to live with for the rest of my life because of this beast. So I'm begging you, please don't allow Celeste to be failed by the system that already failed her all over again.'

The hearing continues.
Cost of stamp duty and hassle of moving are biggest barriers to downsizing

A total of 50% plan on staying in their current home after they retire

Survey of 2,000 adults over the age of 55 looked at attitudes to downsizing

Only 14 per cent of homeowners aged over 55 who are not yet retired plan on downsizing, new data suggests.

It is the latest evidence of the so-called 'later-living logjam' that is plaguing the housing market in Britain.

This is because reluctance to downsize affects the levels of supply in the property market, and prevents growing families from being able to find suitably sized homes to move into.

Indeed, experts said this later-living logjam has a 'ripple effect' across the board and hinders housing prospects further down the property ladder.

A new survey of 2,000 adults over the age of 55 looked at attitudes to downsizing their property

IF NOT YET RETIRED, WHAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR FUTURE RETIREMENT PLAN? Staying in my current home - being the most recent home purchased/rented 50% Downsizing to a smaller home 14% Staying in my current home - being the most recent home purchased/rented - and releasing equity 7% Rightsizing to a home that is the same size but in a different location 6% Other 3% Living with family 2% Moving to a retirement community 1% Source: Pegasus

Steve Bangs, of Pegasus, said: 'The downsizing dilemma is significant for the industry for two reasons  not only does it underline the lack of supply and need to build more homes fit for all, but it also underscores a huge concern with the overall health of the housing market.

'If older homeowners remaining in larger family homes feel they can't move, upsizing families will also find themselves at a loss.

'This will in turn have a ripple effect right across the board, slowing down transactions and hindering housing prospects for first-time buyers.'

The later-living provider surveyed more than 2,000 adults over the age of 55 and found that 50 per cent are planning on staying in their current family home after they retire.

This figure jumps to a significant 68 per cent of those aged 71 to 75 years old.

The survey went on to highlight some of the main barriers to downsizing. Some homeowners would be willing to move to a smaller home but the barriers to doing so prove too substantial to overcome.

For a total of 37 per cent of respondents, the hassle of moving is too much. And then there is the potential cost of stamp duty, which is a consideration for 35 per cent of people.

These were the biggest barriers to downsizing, followed by a lack of suitable housing, which was an issue for 26 per cent.

BARRIERS IN PLACE THAT ARE PREVENTING YOU FROM DOWNSIZING? The hassle of moving home, including the lengthy process 37% The costs of moving, including stamp duty 35% There are no barriers in place 28% Lack of suitable housing to meet my needs (size, style, location) 26% I don't know / haven't given it as much thought yet 14% The lack of tenure options (rental) 7% Lack of support from my family 6% Source: Pegasus

Tomer Aboody, of MT Finance, concurred that the high costs of moving, particular stamp duty was proving too big a hurdle for some potentail downsizers.

He said : 'The high cost of stamp duty is one of the main reasons why older downsizers are not selling up and moving to smaller properties.

'We have been calling for stamp duty reform for a while as this would encourage downsizers to sell and bank as much equity as possible to boost their savings and help cover rising costs.

'At the same time, this would free up much-needed family homes for those trying to move up the ladder.

'A smaller property would not only be more manageable for downsizers in terms of maintenance but also cheaper to run and heat.'

Only 14 per cent of over 55s homeowners plan on moving to a smaller home when they retire

The Pegasus survey suggests that attitudes to downsizing are shifting, however, with those who are most inclined to downsize being younger - at 88 per cent for those aged between 55 and 65 years old.

This is compared with only 8 per cent of those aged between 66 and 75 years old.

To help ease the logjam, Pegasus is calling for more support for later-living developers through fast-tracked planning.

Other industry experts agreed that there is currently a lack of suitable housing for older people to move into and better planning laws could help improve access.

Mr Bangs added: 'England's rigid planning system fails to provide a framework that enables and encourages the delivery of homes in the later living sector.

'This puts the UK decades behind countries like the US, with our nation's perception of later living and the reality of age-specific housing completely mismatched.

'The lack of supply of quality mid-sized and smaller homes combined with the lack of awareness of a step that exists before moving into a dedicated care-led facility keeps the sectors potential capped for consumers.'

The cost of stamp duty and the hassle of moving are some of the biggest barriers to downsizing

The latest research is backed by official Government statistics which show that of the people who moved home last year, only 3.4 per cent were aged over 65, compared with 42 per cent who were aged under 34.

Speaking about the Pegasus research, North London estate agent Jeremy Leaf said: 'I am not at all surprised that the figure is only 14 per cent, particularly as mid-fifties is relatively young to be thinking about downsizing.

'Generally speaking, we find people think more about downsizing in their sixties and seventies rather than earlier, unless they have other health issues.

'However, the earlier such decisions are made, the better. We find, on the ground, that people often leave it too long and then don't have the energy or motivation to do it.

'The most successful moves are invariably those who plan ahead, particularly if their existing properties are not particularly suitable for later living, with lots of stairs etc.

'The lack of suitable housing to move into is an issue. In planning terms, that could be improved with greater accessibility to retirement housing. People want to feel comfortable where they are and have accommodation that suits their later needs.'
Looking up in the night sky, you might not realise it.

But our moon is actually shrinking  and it could be disastrous for NASA.

According to a new study, the moon is shrinking because its dense, metallic core is gradually cooling down.

As a result, the lunar surface is contracting and becoming more brittle  and in turn more prone to seismic tremors known as 'moonquakes'.

If these tremors cause landslides, they could be a danger to NASA's Artemis astronauts after they eventually land on the moon, scientists from the University of Maryland warn.

Earth's moon shrank more than 150 feet in circumference as its core gradually cooled over the last few hundred million years. Pictured is the moon's south region with blue boxes denoting proposed locations of the upcoming Artemis III moon landing. Magenta dots indicate possible epicentres of a very strong moonquake in the early 1970s

Why is the moon shrinking? The moon is shrinking as it cools - a process that's been happening since it formed nearly 4.5 billion years ago. The moon is shrinking because its dense, metallic core is gradually cooling down and contracting. The moon wrinkles as its interior cools and shrinks - much as a grape does as it dries to become a raisin. But unlike the flexible skin on a grape, the moon's crust is brittle - causing sections of crust pushing against one another. So-called 'moonquakes' are a result - which could threaten human moon missions. Advertisement

The moon has been shrinking very gradually in the 4.4 billion years since it formed, according to the team of experts.

It has shrunk more than 150 feet in circumference as its core has cooled over the last few hundred million years.

'The main reason the mon is shrinking is because the interior of the moon is still hot and cooling,' Dr Thomas R. Watters, a geologist at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, told MailOnline.

'As the interior cools its volume is reduced and the crust  the outermost rocky layer  adjust to the change.'

In much the same way a grape wrinkles when it shrinks down to a raisin, the moon also develops creases as it shrinks.

But unlike the flexible skin on a grape, the moon's surface is brittle, causing faults to form where sections of crust push against one another.

This is causing the moonquakes  and could lead to landslides that put any moon dwellers in danger.

'As we get closer to the crewed Artemis mission's launch date, it's important to keep our astronauts, our equipment and infrastructure as safe as possible,' said study author Nicholas Schmerr, a geologist at the University of Maryland.

'This work is helping us prepare for what awaits us on the moon  whether that's engineering structures that can better withstand lunar seismic activity or protecting people from really dangerous zones.'

For their study, the scientists linked a group of faults located in the moon's south polar region to one of the most powerful moonquakes recorded by Apollo seismometers, back on March 13, 1973, dubbed the N9 event.

Using models to simulate the stability of surface slopes in the region, the team found that some areas were particularly vulnerable to landslides from seismic shaking.

Scientists say moonquakes have happened before and could happen again. Here, arrows point to 'scarps' - long structures interpreted to be tectonic in nature and the result of a thrust fault - on the moon's south pole

Pictured, a portion of the interior wall and floor of Shackleton crater at the lunar south pole. Boulder falls (white arrows) suggest that recent seismic shaking events were experienced in the crater

Space agencies are generally interested in landing at the southern region of the moon (pictured) due to the rich reserves of water ice there

READ MORE: NASA's moon landing pushed back to 2026 Artemis II is delayed to 2025 and Artemis III won't happen until 2026 Advertisement

The experts say the continuing shrinkage of the moon has led to notable surface warping in its south polar region.

As it happens, the lunar south is where the Artemis III mission  the first mission to put people on the moon in over 50 years  aims to land.

Later in the Artemis programme, likely after 2030, NASA aims to set up a base camp in the lunar south.

Space agencies are generally interested in landing at the southern region of the moon due to the rich reserves of water ice there.

It could be a source of drinking water for moon explorers and could help cool equipment, or be broken down to produce hydrogen for fuel and oxygen to breathe.

But moonquakes and the resulting landslides have the potential to destroy the Artemis base camp, including buildings and infrastructure.

The study authors are concerned about shallow moonquakes (SMQs), which occur near the surface of the moon, just a hundred or so miles deep into the crust.

Artemis Base Camp: By the end of this decade, NASA aims to set up a base camp in the lunar south region (artist's impression)

Artemis is the successor to NASA's Apollo programme of the 1960s and 1970s. In this famous NASA photo, astronaut Buzz Aldrin Jr. poses for a photograph beside the US flag on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969

Similar to quakes on Earth, they can be strong enough to damage buildings, equipment and other human-made structures.

But unlike earthquakes, which tend to last only a few seconds or minutes, shallow moonquakes can last for hours and even a whole afternoon.

The researchers will continue to map out the moon and its seismic activity, hoping to identify more locations that may be dangerous for human exploration.

Although the next moon landing has recently been delayed to 2026, this is still relatively soon, especially considering we're still learning about our lunar neighbour.

'Light seismic shaking may be all that is necessary to trigger regolith landslides,' the team warn in their paper, published in The Planetary Science Journal.

'The potential of strong seismic events from active thrust faults should be considered when preparing and locating permanent outposts and pose a possible hazard to future robotic and human exploration of the south polar region.'
Whether it's a slow love song or an upbeat dance anthem, songs have a unique way of evoking emotions in people.

Now, scientists have revealed exactly where in the body different types of music are felt.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, sad songs evoke a response in the heart and the pit of the stomach.

Meanwhile, aggressive songs really do get us hot-headed, according to researchers from the Turku PET Center in Finland.

'Music's influence on the body is universal,' said Vesa Putkinen, lead author of the study.

Scientists have revealed exactly where in the body different types of music are felt. Somewhat unsurprisingly, sad songs evoke a response in the heart and the pit of the stomach. Meanwhile, aggressive songs really do get us hot-headed

Whether it's a slow love song or an upbeat dance anthem, songs have a unique way of evoking emotions in people (stock image)

READ MORE: Maps reveal where in the body different types of LOVE are felt Advertisement

Music is often described as the 'universal language that everyone speaks', with previous studies showing that when people across cultures hear their favourite song, they can't resist moving.

However, until now, little research has looked at how music evokes bodily sensations across cultures.

In their new study, the team enlisted 2,000 participants  half of who were from Europe or North American, and half from China.

The participants were shown silhouettes of human bodies, and asked to indicate which bodily region they thought would be activated in response to different styles of music.

The results revealed that the different styles of music caused very different bodily sensations.

Sad or tender songs were felt in the head, chest and pit of the stomach, while scary or aggressive songs were mostly felt in the head.

Meanwhile, both happy and danceable songs were felt in the head and the feet.

The researchers also discovered that the emotions and bodily sensations evoked by music were similar across Western and Asian listeners.

The researchers also discovered that the emotions and bodily sensations evoked by music were similar across Western and Asian listeners (stock image)

READ MORE: Does vinyl actually sound better? Experts reveal how records stack up against digital Advertisement

'Certain acoustic features of music were associated with similar emotions in both Western and Asian listeners,' said Professor Lauri Nummenmaa, co-author of the study.

'Music with a clear beat was found happy and danceable while dissonance in music was associated with aggressiveness.

'Since these sensations are similar across different cultures, music-induced emotions are likely independent of culture and learning and based on inherited biological mechanisms.'

According to the researchers, the findings suggest that music may have emerged as a way to boost social interaction.

'People move to music in all cultures and synchronized postures, movements and vocalizations are a universal sign for affiliation,' Dr Putkinen said.

'Music may have emerged during the evolution of human species to promote social interaction and sense of community by synchronizing the bodies and emotions of the listeners.'
A deadly type of bird flu has been found in gentoo penguins for the first time, sparking fears the virus could spread among Antarctica's remaining colonies.

Researchers from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) found about 35 penguins dead in the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic on 19 January.

Samples taken from two of the dead penguins came back positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus, said Ralph Vanstreels, a veterinarian who works with SCAR.

The Falkland Islands government said that many more gentoos were dying under similar circumstances.

As of 30 January, 'there are over 200 chicks dead alongside a handful of adults', said government spokesperson Sally Heathman.

A deadly type of bird flu has been found in gentoo penguins for the first time, sparking fears the virus could spread among Antarctica's remaining colonies (stock image)

READ MORE: Alaska polar bear dies of bird flu in world's first fatal case for the species Advertisement

The deaths confirm that gentoo penguins are susceptible to the lethal disease that has decimated bird populations across the world in recent months.

However, gentoos rarely travel between the Falklands off Argentina's coast and the Antarctic Peninsula, which lies some 800 miles (1,300 kilometres) to the south.

That means traveling penguins are unlikely to drive the spread to the southern continent, said Vanstreels, a researcher affiliated with University of California-Davis.

'The role that gentoo penguins could have, instead, is to serve as local reservoirs of infection,' he said.

'That is, maintain a pool of susceptible hosts that never leaves the islands.'

Gentoos rarely travel between the Falklands off Argentina's coast and the Antarctic Peninsula, which lies some 800 miles (1,300 kilometres) to the south (stock image)

What is bird flu? Bird flu is an infectious disease caused by a variant of the influenza A virus. It is unique in that it can be transmitted directly from birds to humans. There are 15 different strains of the virus, with the H5N1 strain known to affect humans. Humans can catch bird flu through close contact with live infected birds. Advertisement

Heathman said the Falkland Islands government was also awaiting test results from rockhopper penguins and 'preparing for a large-scale outbreak.'

In nearby South Georgia, authorities ruled out a report of bird flu suspected in king penguins after a detailed survey of the site, said Meagan Dewar, who leads SCAR's Antarctic Wildlife Health Network.

Hundreds of thousands of penguins gather in tightly packed colonies on the Antarctic continent and nearby islands, which could enable the deadly virus to easily jump between individuals.

Conservationists are more concerned about other species, Vanstreels said.

Elephant seals and fur seals have died in larger numbers from bird flu in South Georgia, following mass casualties in those species in South America.

'This is especially concerning because South Georgia is home to 95 percent of the world's population of Antarctic fur seals,' he said.

'If that population collapses, the species will be in a critical situation.'
A Russian ransomware gang allegedly infiltrated a technology company responsible for handling top-secret documents from US intelligence agencies, like the FBI.

The notorious group Blackcat, also known as ALPHV, is threatening to release the classified documents if the company, Technica, does not contact them soon.

Technica is a veteran-owned company that provides technology solutions to support the Federal Governments mission to defend and protect America.

ALPHV claimed it stole 300 GB of documents that reportedly included Department of Defense contracts and the names, phone numbers and social security numbers of Technica employees. .

The Russian attack comes as a FBI director warned Wednesday that China hackers are preparing 'to wreak havoc' in America.

Russian cybergang ALPHV reportedly stole 300 GB of top-secret and classified U.S. intelligence and FBI documents from Technica Corporation

Cybersecurity analyst and security researcher, Dominic Alvieri, confirmed Technica was hacked, and posted a screenshot of ALPHV's confirmation on X with what appears to be a sample of 29 separate documents obtained by the cybergang.

The motive behind the alleged attack is unclear and it remains unknown if it is associated with the Kremlin.

Technica's company works to 'support the Federal Government and their mission to support, to defend and protect America's citizens,' according to its website, making the alleged breach all the more concerning.

'Incidents like this shouldn't be considered in isolation,' Brett Callow, a threat analyst at the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, told the Daily Dot.

'Exfiltrated data can be combined with information obtained in other attacks and from other sources, so breaches can be more significant than they may seem.'

Dailymail.com has reached out to Technica for comment.

Russian ransomware group ALPHV says it will release the top-security documents to the public unless Technica Corp contacts it soon.

Last month, the FBI thought it successfully shuttered ALPHV for good after a fight to seize the dark web leak site and enabled more than 500 victims to restore their system.

'In disrupting the BlackCat ransomware group, the Justice Department has once again hacked the hackers,' said U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco at the time.

'We will continue to prioritize disruptions and place victims at the center of our strategy to dismantle the ecosystem fueling cybercrime,' she added.

Yet only a day later, ALPHV claimed to have 'unseized' its website from the FBI, suggesting a continued battle for control over the site.

ALPHV has attacked numerous corporations in recent years, going so far as to hack casinos and shut down their databases, only promising to release the systems once they receive a large sum of money.

ALPHV has become the second-most prolific hacking group in the world, having targeted hundreds of computer networks.

When the FBI seized ALPHV's site, it said in its search warrant that the ransomware group had attacked more than 1,000 victim's networks including 'critical infrastructure entities, medical facilities, school districts, law firms, and financial firms' around the world.

The U.S. Department of Justice said the global loss amount from ALPHV ransom attacks 'is in the hundreds of millions and includes ransom payments, destruction and theft of proprietary data, and costs associated with incident response.'

FBI Director Christopher Wray told the U.S. House Select Committee that the U.S. is at risk of hackers from China's communist party. He said the hackers will 'wreak havoc' and 'cause real-world harm' to Americans

The alleged cyberattack comes as FBI Director Christopher Wray warned that hackers in China are preparing to 'wreak havoc' and will 'cause real-world harm' to Americans.

Wray testified before the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and called for action against the People's Republic of China (PRC).

'The PRC's cyber onslaught goes way beyond prepositioning for future conflict,' he said at the hearing.

'Today, and literally every day, they're actively attacking our economic security, engaging in wholesale theft of our innovation, and our personal and corporate data.'

Chinese hackers are allegedly targeting U.S. water treatment plants, electrical infrastructure, and oil and natural gas pipelines, Wray testified, adding that the PRC can destroy America, if and when it decides to attack.

The Chinese hackers are working 'to find and prepare to destroy or degrade the civilian critical infrastructure that keeps us safe and prosperous,' Wray said.

'And let's be clear: Cyber threats to our critical infrastructure represent real-world threats to our physical safety.'
With war expanding in the Middle East, Russia's invasion of Ukraine still raging and China threatening to invade Taiwan, the world has arguably not been closer to the brink of nuclear war in generations.

Researchers have begun sounding the alarm once again about the risks of a nuclear winter: picture an Earth hidden from the sun by as much as 165 million tons of soot and freezing 16 degrees Fahrenheit down from global mean temperatures.

All-out nuclear war could shrivel up harvests worldwide, reducing global calorie production by 90 percent according to agricultural and atmospheric scientists.

But an international team of researchers has found a briny, savory answer: vast seaweed farms, strung along the ocean's surface with ropes and buoys, could help save as much as 1.2 billion lives.

All-out nuclear war may reduce global calorie production by 90 percent, but an international team of researchers has found a briny, savory answer: vast seaweed farms strung along the ocean's surface with ropes and buoys could help save as much as 1.2 billion lives

These 15 US cities are likely targets of a nuclear attack - based on population density, air distance to a strategic military facility, emergency preparedness, and ease of evacuation - according to an analysis conducted by independent financial experts at 24/7 Wall Street

The team estimates that a life-saving average yield of as much as 33.63 tons of dry kelp or seaweed could by farmed each year  over just a modest ocean surface area and on a reasonable budget.

'If you use the more productive areas, you need around around 416,000 sq-km [160,619 square-miles] of ocean,' the study's lead author, environmental scientist Dr. Florian Ulrich Jehn, told DailyMail.com, 'which is about the size of Colombia.'

Dr. Jehn, the data science lead for the Colorado-based Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters (ALLFED), collaborated with Louisiana State University's Department of Ocean and Coastal Science, one German astrophysicist, and scientists from both Texas and the Philippines on the project.

The economic cost of this crash program to keep billions fed during a harsh nuclear winter, Dr. Jehn said, would come to less than past successful US programs.

'In the paper we compare the scale-up with the airplane production in the US in the second world war,' Dr. Jehn said in an email interview.

'We estimate that the scale-up would likely need less resources than this and should therefore be feasible,' he added, 'but this is still work in progress.'

One factor that Dr. Jehn says is still ambiguous, although his team is still crunching the numbers, was what the actual price of seaweed might reach in such a scenario.

The study's lead author, environmental scientist Dr. Florian Ulrich Jehn, told DailyMail.com that around 416,000 sq-km or 160,619 square-miles of ocean 'about the size of Colombia' would be needed for the project. Above, fishermen harvest 'maesaengi' seaweed off South Korea

Dr. Cheryl Harrison, who runs Louisiana State's Biophysical Ocean Modeling Lab, said that vertical ocean convection has been well-documented during winter months at high latitudes, but nuclear winter would bring the cycle closer to the equator which would aid kelp farming

Their study, published this month in the journal Earth's Future, leveraged oceanic climate models of the dramatic changes set to occur amid a true nuclear winter.

'When the surface of the ocean gets cold, the water gets denser, so it sinks, driving vertical circulation,' study co-author Dr. Cheryl Harrison told DailyMail.com.

The result would be a convection-like churn that would drive nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths up to the surface  effectively fertilizing the regions needed for this massive aquatic farming program.

'This is formally called "penetrative convection,"' Dr. Harrison explained, 'and is the reverse of the convection that happens on your stove when you boil pasta, with sinking cold water instead of rising warm water driving the vertical circulation.'

However, people need not imagine a future shoveling salty, wet sea plants onto their plates for every meal, these researchers emphasized. Only 15 percent of the food currently eaten by humans would shift to kelp. Mostly it would be redirected to animal feed and biofuels

READ MORE: Nuclear war in the US would wipe out 300 MILLION! New models reveal the 'devastating' impact A nuclear attack on the United States' missile silos (highlighted in yellow) would blow radioactive fallout to every state and parts of Mexico and Canada, killing more than 300 million people in its wake. Scientists simulated the aftereffects of an 800-kiloton warhead hitting every one of the 450 silos at once to cripple the US arsenal - using weather patterns recorded through 2021 in their models. Advertisement

Dr. Harrison, who runs Louisiana State University's Biophysical Ocean Modeling Lab, said that this process has been well-documented during the winter months at high latitudes, but nuclear winter would bring the cycle closer to the equator.

'In Nuclear winter, it stays cold for years, so it just keeps going, churning up deep water and the nutrients there,' as she put it via email.

'Since it is dark and cold these nutrients don't get used up as quickly by phytoplankton, the algae that are the base of the food web in the ocean.'

More human-friendly ocean greens, like seaweed, according to Dr. Harrison, 'does well in these conditions, making it a great alternative food source.'

However, people need not imagine a future shoveling salty, wet sea plants onto their plates for every meal, these researchers emphasized.

Because the iodine found in seaweed can be toxic to humans at such high quantities, the kelp's contributions to the food web would likely be more indirect.

Seaweed farms, they estimate, would would replace only 15 percent of the food currently eaten by humans, but would mostly be redirected to animal feed and biofuel production.

The researchers believe that as much as 50 percent of current biofuel production and 10 percent of livestock and other needed animal feed could be taken care of by this Colombia-sized archipelago of kelp farms.

The project also has less apocalyptic, worst case scenario uses, Dr. Harrison told Live Science, noting that it could also serve as humanitarian aid following more likely disruptions to the global food supply chain.

Everything from a massive asteroid impact or a gigantic volcanic eruption down to a regional crop failure or a local drought, could be compensated for with a similar seaweed farming program.

'Throughout history, large eruptions have caused famine both regionally and globally,' Dr. Harrison pointed out.

'Either way, we need a plan to feed ourselves in these sudden sunlight reduction scenarios.'
Forget being merely a hotspot - South Korea is 'on fire', according to one TikTok traveller.

Adriana Neptuna asks: 'Why isn't this a more popular holiday destination?', adding: 'It's literally jam-packed full of cute things to do.'

Australian-born Adriana pinpoints one attraction in particular as an example - the Sky Capsule in the coastal city of Busan, which she labels in a TikTok clip as 'definitely a bucket-list activity'.

The Sky Capsule is a railway elevated to a height of 10m (32ft), with passengers travelling back and forth along the beachfront in colourful pods decorated with quirky cartoon characters and retro designs.

Adriana told MailOnline Travel: 'It gives you 360-degree views of the incredible scenery. On one side is the rugged coastline and on the other side are beautiful forests, mountain ranges and the city of Busan.'

TikToker Adriana Neptuna describes the Sky Capsule in the South Korean coastal city of Busan as 'definitely a bucket-list activity'

Australian-born Adriana (above) told MailOnline Travel: '[The Sky Capsule] gives you 360-degree views of the incredible scenery. On one side is the rugged coastline and on the other side are beautiful forests, mountain ranges and the city of Busan'

She recalled going at sunset which 'definitely added to the magic'.

The 1.2-mile (2km) journey takes around 30 minutes, says Tripadvisor, and runs from Haeundae Mipo to the seaside village of Cheongsapo.

It costs just 30,000 South Korean won (18) for a one-way journey for two people, according to Haeundae Blueline Park (HBP).

The park, which operates the Sky Capsule, said the ride is part of an old abandoned railway that has been transformed as part of an 'eco-friendly initiative'.

The Sky Capsule is a railway elevated to a height of 10m (32ft), with passengers travelling back and forth along the Busan beachfront in colourful pods decorated with quirky cartoon characters and retro designs

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Adriana explained that each pod can fit four people and is private, meaning you 'don't share with anyone you don't know'.

Touching on the railway's history, she praised the overall regeneration project as 'something tourists can now appreciate', which encourages them to 'explore more rural areas up and down the coast of Busan', including the 'excellent glass walkways jutting out into the sea'.

Other visitors of the Sky Capsule gave it mixed reviews on Tripadvisor.

'MissIndy' said it's 'a pretty coastline, but it would be better experienced by walking the route', while 'Jon M' called it a 'typically overrated "tourist attraction".'

In a more positive review, 'Fikri' praised the 'amazing train', adding: 'The place is so beautiful and it has many amazing stations where you can stop and take a picture. But beware because it's quite windy there. I really love this place.'

Adriana explained that each pod can fit four people and is private, meaning you 'don't share with anyone you don't know'

The 1.2-mile (2km) journey takes around 30 minutes, says Tripadvisor , and runs from Haeundae Mipo to the seaside village of Cheongsapo

The Haeundae Beach Train (above) runs alongside the Sky Capsule at ground level

Offering advice to future visitors, 'Hyejin L' recommended travelling in the direction from Mipo Station to Cheongsapo 'if you want to see the sea better' and then taking the walking trail back to Mipo Station 'to feel the nature properly'.

The Sky Capsule is one of many ways to explore Busan's beachfront with HBP.

On its website, the park says the attraction is part of an 'eco-friendly redevelopment of the old railway facility of the East Sea South Line'.

This also includes the Haeundae Beach Train, which runs alongside the Sky Capsule, at ground level.

The sightseeing railway 'operates six stops along the scenic coastline from Mipo to Songjeong', according to Korea To Do.

For those who prefer to walk, the Busan Green Railway is a coastal walking trail on a wooden deck that runs alongside the beach train and covers the same distance, the website adds.

For more from Adriana visit www.wanderlicious.co.uk/post/sky-capsule-busan-haeundae-blueline-park and www.tiktok.com/@wanderlicious.adri.
All eyes were on new Married At First Sight bride Lauren Dunn as she stepped out to attend her first event as an influencer over the weekend.

The 32-year-old PR maven, who is tipped to be at the centre of all the drama on the series, turned heads as she attended a luxury Veuve Clicquot party on board The Jackson in Sydney.

Lauren, who already boasts 12,900 followers on her food account, commanded attention in a strapless teal dress with a plunging neckline.

She accessorised her look with a choker necklace that had multiple small pendants and a bracelet on her left wrist.

The former AFL WAG was joined by her co-star and fellow MAFS groom Tristan Black, who embodied went casual in a white polo T-shirt and black chinos.

All eyes were on new Married At First Sight bride Lauren Dunn as she stepped out to attend her first event as an influencer over the weekend

The former AFL WAG was joined by fellow MAFS groom Tristan Black, who embodied went casual in a white polo T-shirt and black chinos

Dunn went about her best efforts to keep a low-profile, avoiding getting her picture taken with other reality stars.

Meanwhile, Tim Robards was also in attendance.

The 41-year-old OG bachelor was seen mingling with Wesley Senna Cortes, who appeared on the latest season of the dating show.

Laura Csortan (pictured) Skye Leckie, Al Perkins, Ollie Skelton, and beauty guru Michael Brown were among the guests in attendance

Tim Robards was also in attendance, dressed in a crisp white linen shirt left casually unbuttoned at the top, paired with matching shorts

The 41-year-old OG bachelor was seen mingling with Wesley Senna Cortes, who appeared on the latest season of the dating show

Laura Csortan, Skye Leckie, Al Perkins, Ollie Skelton, and beauty guru Michael Brown were also among other guests in attendance.

The event featured champagne-soaked moments, Clicquot-inspired canapes, deluxe oyster bar and of course all the best vibes being with your friends cruising through Sydney's Harbour dancing to Sydney's hottest DJs.

Limited tickets to experience Veuve Clicquot in the Sun are on sale for $155 here.
Australia's youngest MP Georgie Purcell has reacted to Channel Nine's excuse that an artificial intelligence image-generator enlarged her breasts in a news bulletin graphic.

The Animal Justice Party MP, 31, slammed Nine on Tuesday for airing a doctored photograph of her during its Melbourne news bulletin on Monday night.

The picture made her boobs bigger and turned her white dress into a crop top, exposing a toned midriff.

Director of 9News Melbourne Hugh Nailon issued a grovelling apology to Ms Purcell on Tuesday, and said 'the automation by Photoshop created an image that was not consistent with the original'.

On Wednesday, Ms Purcell told Nova 100's Ben, Liam & Belle she has accepted the apology from network for the gaffe, but has doubts about their explanation.

Australia's youngest MP Georgie Purcell has reacted to Channel Nine's excuse that an artificial intelligence image-generator enlarged her breasts in a news bulletin graphic

'Nine has claimed it was an accident but whether it was intentional or not, I think it just raises a bigger issue about the impact it could have on negative body image especially for young women,' she said.

'I've accepted Nine's apology but I do have doubts around the reasoning I hope lessons are learnt from it.'

Shortly after Nine issued their apology, a spokesperson for Photoshop's manufacturer Adobe embarrassed the network saying that the use of its AI features would have needed a human to make the adjustments.

'Any changes to this image would have required human intervention and approval,' the spokesperson said.

The Animal Justice Party MP, 31, slammed Nine on Tuesday for airing a doctored photograph of her during its Melbourne news bulletin on Monday night. Ms Purcell is pictured next to Jacinta Allan in the graphic, in a bulletin presented by Nine newsreader Alicia Loxley

Ms Purcell was featured in the Nine News bulletin after she criticised Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan's decision not to ban duck shooting in the state.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the heavily tattooed politician shared the image from the segment alongside the original photo, which was taken last year.

'I endured a lot yesterday. But having my body and outfit photoshopped by a media outlet was not on my bingo card,' she wrote.

'Note the enlarged boobs and outfit to be made more revealing. Can't imagine this happening to a male MP. What gives?'

Ms Purcell noted the photo couldn't have been shown her real midriff for one very obvious reason - she had her stomach tattooed in 2020.

On Wednesday, Ms Purcell told Nova 100's Ben, Liam & Belle she has accepted the apology from network for the gaffe, but has doubts about their explanation

'Hot tip 9 I've got my whole stomach tattooed,' she added.

Mr Nailon apologised to Ms Purcell after Daily Mail Australia approached the network for comment.

'I would like to sincerely apologise to Georgie Purcell for a graphic error that occurred in last night's bulletin,' he said.

'Our graphics department sourced an online image of Georgie to use in our story on duck hunting. As is common practice, the image was resized to fit our specs.

'During that process, the automation by Photoshop created an image that was not consistent with the original.

'This did not meet the high editorial standards we have and for that we apologise to Ms Purcell unreservedly.'

Ms Purcell is the youngest woman in any Australian parliament and the second youngest ever to be elected to Victoria's Legislative Council.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter ) , the heavily tattooed politician shared the image from the segment (left) alongside the original photo (right)

She recently opened up to Daily Mail Australia about the horrifying moment photos of her working as a stripper while studying law at uni were leaked online.

Then aged 19, she thought her future dreams of working in law or politics were over she came across the photos posted on Facebook.

'I worked far away from where I studied and grew up so I wouldn't meet anyone I knew, and while I felt there was nothing wrong with that line of work, I knew many others would think otherwise,' Ms Purcell said.

'Then one day I was sitting at the hairdresser and when I logged into Facebook, I saw I was tagged in a picture without my consent which showed me working as a stripper and there were tonnes of comments.

'I grew up in a small country town in Geelong so everyone kind of knows everyone and it just spread really quickly and viciously.'
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is one of the biggest shows on Disney+.

And now a new 50-minute documentary takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the hit fantasy.

A Hero's Journey: The Making of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which is now available to stream on Disney+, gives fans an insight into the show's young stars.

Featuring Walker Scobell, 14, as the title character, the original eight-part series centres around the hero's discovery that stories of the Greek Gods he knows from storybooks are real.

Percy is put the test as a demigod alongside his friends Annabeth, played by 14-year-old Leah Sava Jeffries, and Grover, portrayed by 17-year-old Aryan Simhadri,

A new trailer for the 'making of' reveals how the school-age actors bonded while filming the series.

Also featured in the teaser are scenes of the young actors training with swords for the show's many action scenes.

Elsewhere, the actors are seen shooting scenes in a giant artificial 'lake' and performing stunts.

A Hero's Journey: The Making of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which is now available to stream on Disney+, gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the popular series

The new documentary reveals how the young stars managed the challenge of performing in a big budget series while having to complete lessons for school.

The documentary, A Heros Journey: The Making of Percy Jackson is directed by Joel Edwards.

Based on the books by Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Olympians has been an instant hit on the streaming giant since it dropped in December.

The new documentary reveals how the young stars managed the challenge of performing in a big budget series while having to complete lessons for school. (pictured)

Episode one of the series managed to grab 26.2million views in its first three weeks.

The show was created by Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg and follows two films - The Lightning Thief (2010) and Sea Of Monsters (2013) - each starring Logan Lerman as Percy.

There has also been a musical, The Lightning Thief, which ran from 2014 to 2019 both off-Broadway and on.

It also reveals how the school-age actors bonded while filming the series
Abbie Chatfield didn't hold back on Tuesday when she launched an extraordinary tirade against NSW's popular tourist destination Byron Bay, despite moving there just two years ago.

The reality star, 28, slammed the renowned coastal town in the latest episode of her It's A Lot podcast, claiming the way it is perceived does not reflect its reality.

'Everyone acts like Byron Bay has the nicest beaches in the world. Have you been to Perth or Tamarama or literally anywhere else in Australia?' she began.

'People says it's so beautiful but you can't actually think that. No Ubers, no reception and everything closes at 2pm. There's nowhere to get a facial.'

Chatfield said that you 'can't chill' in Byron Bay because there's nothing to do there, before mocking the town's beauty industry.

Abbie Chatfield (pictured) launched an extraordinary tirade against NSW 's popular tourist destination Byron Bay on Tuesday

'The only facials are like turmeric and goo. Give me a f**king needle in my face!' she raged.

'Everyone thinks Byron is what it used to be, when in fact it is just... fine. When I was younger it was like Yamba, it used to be very chill, very quaint. There were lots of crochet shops.'

Abbie's fans were quick to praise her for speaking her mind about the renowned holiday hotspot.

'The beaches in WA s**t all over Byron. Highly overrated,' one fan sniped.

'Could not agree more! Glad someone said what everyone else is thinking,' a second user added.

'Not often I agree with her, but she's so spot on!' a third person chipped in.

'People says it's so beautiful but you can't actually think that. No Ubers, no reception and everything closes at 2pm. There's nowhere to get a facial,' Abbie said

Chatfield appears to have recently soured on Byron because in 2021 she liked the area enough to purchase a $1.45million cottage there (pictured)

Byron Bay has a population of just 6,500 and is a popular tourist destination due to its stunning beaches and laidback atmosphere and typically would not be a place a person would consider if they wanted a bustling environment.

Chatfield appears to have recently soured on Byron because in 2021 she liked the area enough to purchase a $1.45million cottage there.

Sharing footage from inside her new home, Abbie revealed that her first purchase for her new property was a custom timber table for her kitchen.

Located in the Byron Bay Hinterland of NSW, her new home was described as a private retreat.

She has also been spotted holidaying there on several occasions, most recently at the start of this month when she was seen walking her dog in a white crop top.
Bethenny Frankel sneered at 'bitter' Lisa Vanderpump for her 'jealousy' in reaction to Raquel Leviss' bombshell 'Scandoval' interview.

The eyes of the public zeroed in on Raquel last March when it emerged she had conducted a torrid affair with her Vanderpump Rules co-star Tom Sandoval - while he was still with his girlfriend of nine years Ariana Madix.

Ariana promptly dumped Tom and received an outpouring of sympathy, while Raquel was subjected to a deluge of backlash so fierce that she quit Vanderpump Rules and retreated to a mental health facility for two months.

Raquel resurfaced in August to give a tell-all interview about the scandal on Bethenny's podcast - leaving Lisa 'disappointed' that Raquel did not go to her first.

Now, on an episode of her podcast ReWives, Bethenny shot back at Lisa and insisted that Raquel remains 'thrilled' at the way the interview went.

Bethenny Frankel (pictured) sneered at 'bitter' Lisa Vanderpump for her 'jealousy' in reaction to Raquel Leviss ' bombshell 'Scandoval' interview

Raquel resurfaced in August to give a tell-all interview about the scandal on Bethenny's podcast - leaving Lisa (pictured) 'disappointed' that Raquel did not go to her first

'Cry me a river,' said Bethenny. 'Where was she going to share her story? At Pump, over some rose, that she's recovered from, and trauma? I don't think so.'

She added: 'Sorry, not sorry, we're still all bitter that Raquel months ago came on my podcast and is thrilled she did. That was like the epic, epic example of jealousy.'

Bethenny marveled that 'people are still bitter that Raquel came over to my podcast, which she's still thrilled about. Like, I'm thrilled, iHeart's thrilled, Raquel's thrilled. Lisa Vanderpump, not thrilled? We'll take it. We're all good.'

She clarified: 'And I like Lisa! And Lisa's won- you know, great. Enjoy your success. Enjoy your life. Enjoy your life. Enjoy your bar. Enjoy your shows. Enjoy Bravo.'

Bethenny declared: 'All good, but we're all okay that you're disappointed. We're fine with it because we're appointed and thrilled.'

Lisa, whose Bravo series Vanderpump Rules was the launchpad for Raquel's career, made her remarks about the Bethenny interview earlier this month.

'I wish shed actually come to me instead of sitting in the safety of somebody elses podcast,' Lisa told Page Six during the latest season premiere of Vanderpump Rules.

'Had she come to me, I think I wouldve been good to her. Because its one thing just saying this out here, just saying that out there,' she added.

It emerged last year that Raquel (left) had conducted a torrid affair with her Vanderpump Rules co-star Tom Sandoval (center) during his nine-year relationship with Ariana Madix (right)

Ariana (center) dumped Tom (left) and received an outpouring of sympathy, while Raquel (right) was subjected to a deluge of backlash so fierce that she quit Vanderpump Rules

'And some of it wasnt true! Like I was paying her like an intern. I know exactly how much money she made. It was six figures. It was good!'

Appearing on Bethenny's podcast Just B in August, Raquel claimed that she 'hadn't seen a penny' out of the Scandoval drama.

Lisa quickly disputed this version of events, telling TMZ Raquel had in fact earned $361,000 for the 10th season of Vanderpump Rules, where much of the Scandoval drama unfolded in front of reality TV cameras.

'I feel like Ive been portrayed as the ultimate villain,' Raquel told Bethenny in August. 'My mistakes that Ive made on camera live on forever.'

She blamed alcohol and heartbreak for her behavior, saying that she had entered treatment in order to 'try to understand my actions.'

Addressing her viewers and co-stars, she issued an emotional apology for 'the hurt that I brought to a lot of people.'

She explained: 'I was not careful in my actions and I was not thinking long-term. I was completely wrapped up in heartbreak and wanting to get certain needs met.'

Raquel also laid the blame on alcohol, saying: 'When I was filming, I was drinking a lot to ease that anxiety and in a reality TV environment, I wasnt getting that safe space for me to express my emotions in a healthy way.'

'I feel like Ive been portrayed as the ultimate villain,' Raquel told Bethenny in August: 'My mistakes that Ive made on camera live on forever'

Ariana was scathing in her reaction to the interview, saying Bethenny's interview with Raquel had 'impacted' her mental health

Sharing that she was 'remorseful' for the 'pain' she had brought upon Ariana, she nevertheless did not expect her former gal pal to forgive her.

Ariana was scathing in her reaction to the podcast, saying Bethenny's interview with Raquel had 'impacted' her mental health.

Her wrath was directed less at Raquel than at Bethenny, who in speaking to Raquel had brought up the fact that Ariana and Tom never got married or had children.

Ariana noted that Tom would have been regarded as her common-law husband 'in many states,' saying of Bethenny's remarks: 'I find that hurtful in regards to other women in relationships who don't have children. Maybe they can't have children or don't want children or don't want to get married.'

She went on: 'None of those peoples relationships are less meaningful because of that...she should know better than to say that about anybody.'
Alabama Barker was seen while spending time with her father, Travis Barker, and her stepmother Kourtney Kardashian in a photo that was shared on her Instagram account on Tuesday.

In the snap, the 18-year-old social media personality kept her head down as the 48-year-old drummer wrapped his arms around his wife.

The performer's daughter - who recently opened up about dealing with critics - also penned a short message in her post's caption that read: 'Italy I miss you.'

Kardashian, 44, left a short message in the post's comments section to let her stepdaughter know that she would be 'taking you back' to the getaway destination.

Alabama also shared a selfie that featured Travis with her photoset, in which they both pushed out their lips as they posed for the shot.

Alabama Barker was seen while spending time with her father, Travis Barker, and her stepmother Kourtney Kardashian in a photo that was shared on her Instagram account on Tuesday

The reality television figure lovingly embraced her father as they stepped out on what appeared to be a shopping trip.

The social media personality went on to share a shot that showed her wearing a tight-fitting dress as she made her way down a staircase.

She also included a shot that was taken just after she paid a visit to a Louis Vuitton store.

Travis shares Alabama with his former wife, Shanna Moakler, whom he married in 2004.

The pair started a family with the birth of their son Landon, 20, in 2003, and they welcomed their daughter two years later.

The Blink-182 member also serves as a stepfather to his former wife's daughter Atiana, whom she shares with Oscar De La Hoya.

Travis and Moaker remained together until 2008, when they formally dissolved their union.

The performer went on to marry Kardashian in 2022, and they welcomed their son Rocky in November of last year.

The performer's daughter - who recently opened up about dealing with critics - also penned a short message in her post's caption that read 'Italy I miss you'

Alabama also shared a selfie that featured Travis with her photoset, in which they both pushed out their lips as they posed for the shot

The reality television figure lovingly embraced her father as they stepped out on what appeared to be a shopping trip

She also included a shot that was taken just after she paid a visit to a Louis Vuitton store

Alabama spoke about her baby brother Rocky, whom Travis shares with Kardashian, during an interview with E! News, where she voiced her approval for his name

Alabama spoke about her baby brother during an interview with E! News, where she voiced her approval for his name.

The social media personality stated that Rocky was 'a cool name. We all have very authentic, weird names.'

The drummer's daughter went on to express that she was enthusiastic about spending time with her baby brother.

'I just think having another family member is always awesome. And getting to know a new person, it's gonna be so fun and so exciting.'
Dame Joan Collins radiated showbiz glamour when she surfaced in Beverly Hills this week for a glamorous event with her fifth husband Percy Gibson.

The legendary actress betrayed no hint of her 90 years as she posed up a storm at the Maybourne hotel on Percy's arm.

Percy, the longest-lasting of Joan's husbands, is more than 30 years younger than she is, a gap she dismisses in interviews by joking: 'If he dies, he dies.'

They were attended the Prince's Trust x Dame Joan Collins DBE Lunch, honoring Joan's association with the charity founded by the now King Charles III in the 1970s.

While there, she stood for pictures with James Bond-turned-silver fox Pierce Brosnan, 70, who flashed his unmistakable smile for the cameras.

Dame Joan Collins radiated showbiz glamour when she surfaced in Beverly Hills this week for a glamorous event with her fifth husband Percy Gibson

While there, she stood for pictures with James Bond-turned-silver fox Pierce Brosnan, 70, who flashed his unmistakable smile for the cameras

The legendary actress betrayed no hint of her 90 years as she posed up a storm at the Maybourne hotel on Percy's arm for a Prince's Trust x Joan Collins DBE lunch

For their latest outing, she teamed a sleek hot pink jacket with an elegant frock that featured a black and pink floral pattern straight out of the Dynasty era.

Sharpening her features with makeup including a slick of rose lipstick, she festooned herself with jewelry including an elaborate necklace.

Pierce was seated at Joan's side during lunch, where the guest of honor rose to her feet at one point to cheerfully address the attendees.

The celebrity-strewn guest list included Renfield heartthrob Nicholas Hoult, who went ultra-casual in a t-shirt that bared his toned arms.

Victoria Gore, Margot McKinney, Jeremy Green and Stephen Fry all gathered together with Pierce, Joan and Nicholas for a group shot to remember.

Paris Hilton's mother Kathy Hilton was also on hand for the festivities, which she attended alongside her steamy son Barron Hilton II.

Joan received her damehood in 2015 and was presented with the honor by Charles, then Prince of Wales, who remarked: 'And about time, too.'

At the moment, Joan is still twirling about in the publicity whirlwind for her 19th and latest book Behind The Shoulder Pads: Tales I Tell My Friends.

Pierce was seated at Joan's side during lunch, where the guest of honor rose to her feet at one point to cheerfully address the attendees

Paris Hilton's mother Kathy Hilton was also on hand for the festivities, which she attended alongside her steamy son Barron Hilton II

The event that Pierce, Joan and others attended was thrown in honor of Joan's association with the Prince's Trust, the charity founded by the now King Charles III in the 1970s

Appearing on KCAL News in Los Angeles last week, she clarified that her new release is 'not really a memoir, so I don't do all that stuff about, you know: "Oh, my parents," and all of that, which a lot of people think: "Oh, I don't wanna read about her childhood," and stuff. You can go and read my other books.'

Meanwhile, Behind The Shoulder Pads is filled with 'funny stories and anecdotes,' stretching back to her early career in the waning years of Old Hollywood.

The book is sprinkled with names of her glittering acquaintances, such as Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly.

One childhood story she did include in her new book was her hilarious reaction upon the birth of her little sister, the late Jackie Collins.

Joan recalled on television that 'when I was four years old I was woken up and taken off to stay with an aunt for no reason whatsoever - I didn't know - and then when I came back three days later, my mother was lying there holding this creature.

Looking the baby, little girl demanded: 'What's that?' and her mother Elsa replied: 'This is your new baby sister Jacqueline Jill,' to which Joan snapped: 'What a stupid name! Can I go and play with my cat?'

Joan then asked: 'Where did she come from?' - and her parents duly 'prevaricated. They didn't tell me where she came from.'

Jackie, who enjoyed a thunderous career as a writer of 'bonkbuster' romance novels, died in 2015 at the age of 77 after a secret six-year battle with breast cancer.

The celebrity-strewn guest list included Renfield heartthrob Nicholas Hoult, who went ultra-casual in a t-shirt that bared his toned arms

Victoria Gore, Margot McKinney, Jeremy Green and Stephen Fry all gathered together with Pierce, Joan and Nicholas for a group shot to remember

By contrast to the sparkling froth of Joan's latest book, her previous releases include Past Imperfect, a searing 1978 memoir pulling back the curtain on the dark side of her showbiz career and her marriages.

The book had no shortage of sinister moments, such as when 20th Century Fox chief Darryl Zanuck attempted to force himself on her in a hotel hallway.

'I wondered how to get out of this without having to knee him in the groin,' she wrote. 'Luckily Dorothy Dandridge and a makeup man came walking down the corridor and I made my escape, vowing to keep out of Mr Z.'s way in the future.'

Joan was married at 18 to her first husband Maxwell Reed, an actor who drugged and raped her on the first date, then left her to make her way home alone.

'In the fifties, a girl could walk around London streets in the dark and not be concerned about muggers or rapists,' she wrote in Past Imperfect. 'Since I had been raped once that evening anyway, the odds were against it.'

Their brief, turbulent marriage ultimately ended after after he tried to sell her for a night to an Arab sheikh for 10,000, prompting her to leave him.

Her subsequent husbands included Anthony Newley, with whom she welcomed her daughter Tara and her son Sacha.

She also wed former Beatles manager Ron Kass, who fathered her daughter Katie, and ex-pop act Peter Holm, whom she dismissively refers to now as 'the Swede.'

At the moment, Joan is still twirling about in the publicity whirlwind for her 19th and latest book Behind The Shoulder Pads: Tales I Tell My Friends

Joan remarked in recent years that of all her marriages 'The only one I didnt understand was the Swede. That was such a total mistake.'

Her marriage to Peter Holm also resulted in a temporary rift with Jackie, who despised him, but who mended fences with Joan upon their breakup.

When Joan threw a party celebrating the divorce, Jackie gave out t-shirts reading 'Holm is not where the heart is,' and 'Holm-less.'

Now however Joan has found the right man - she joked to Jonathan Ross in 2020 that her marriage to Percy had run as long as the previous four marriages combined.
The Inbetweeners stars James Buckley and Joe Thomas reunited as they posed for an Instagram selfie on Tuesday.

The actors, who played characters Jay Cartwright and Simon Cooper, seemed pleased to see one another as they were all smiles in the snap.

They showed their friendship is still going strong nearly 10 years after the hit franchise - which followed four teenage boys navigating their way through sixth form - wrapped for good.

James, 36, who currently hosts a podcast with his wife Clair, penned: 'Me and Joe the other night. He's on instagram by the way @itsjoethomas.'

Fans of the hit E4 sitcom took to the comments and begged the stars for a 'reunion' episode and also referenced the shows famous catch phrase, 'Oooo friend'.

The Inbetweeners stars James Buckley and Joe Thomas reunited as they posed for an Instagram selfie on Tuesday

Joe and James (right and second right) starred together on The Inbetweeners as Jay Cartwright and Simon Cooper (pictured with co-stars Simon Bird and Blake Harrison in 2011)

One wrote: 'I legitimately don't think either of you look any older than you did on the show'

Another agreed: 'Honestly if they just shaved they could easily do a new series of the inbetweeners'

A third said: 'I agree. That would be so good, even just a one off special'.

Another gushed: 'Easily could do Inbetweeners again, none of you look much older than on the show!!

'Would be the best TV comeback show ever to be fair.'

Several other fans referenced the show, adding: 'Oooooooooooh FRIEND.'

'A podcast with the 4 of you would LITERALLY break the internet..I'd pay ANYTHING for that to become a reality,' added another.

Although The Inbetweeners initially received a bad start, the show has since been described as one of the most successful British sitcoms of the 21st century.

The actors showed their friendship is still going strong nearly 10 years after the hit franchise - which followed four teenage boys navigating their way through sixth form - wrapped for good

Fans of the hit E4 sitcom took to the comments and begged the stars for a 'reunion' episode and also referenced the shows famous catch phrase, 'Oooo friend'

During its initial run, the sitcom spanned three series between 2008 and 2010 and has two movies.

The franchise wrapped in 2014 and its stars have all gone onto other projects since.

Simon Bird - who starred as the studious Will McKenzie - went on to play a long-running role in Friday Night Dinner, while Blake appeared opposite Brenda Blethyn in the short-lived ITV1 sitcom Kate and Koji and Joe starred in White Gold.

In the newest episode of his podcast, In Sickness and In Health, James revealed that one of his most iconic lines in the show simply came from behind-the-scenes jokes he and his co-stars were having.

James said: 'That whole voice just came from how we speak to each other..

'The sorry thing came about ages before we put it on TV. That's how we wtalk to each other all the time.'

Clair added: 'I did notice that. I spent a lot of time with you four guys because I was there when you made the first film. And you were just, you guys were awful to each other, you were awful.

'You just slap each other's d**ks all the time. You made life really difficult for each other.'

James went onto say: 'The making of the show was never the priority. It was fun at the time.

'We would have been all four of us, the writers, if it had been any other film set, we would have been sacked, pulled into HR, cancelled, it was a good time to be alive!'

James has 'surprised' himself by becoming the highest-paid star on Cameo, having raked in 1 million dishing out personalised messages for fans on the celebrity greetings website.

The actor recently explained that despite the success of the series, a reboot could never be on the cards because the jokes could not be done these days.

The series even spawned two movies but James doesn't believe the show could ever come back (The Inbetweeners 2, 2014)

He said: 'It was all justified because they were never the heroes. They were idiots and they got what they deserved.

'That's why it can't come back - you can't have men in their late thirties acting like they're in sixth form and getting away with that stuff.'

James added that despite being constantly asked about bringing the show back, there is 'no amount of money' that would make him agree to it.

'I always get asked if I'd ever do more and I said 'For no amount of money' and that quote got run away. I didn't mean about money - it means more to me than money.'

'I'm always surprised by the success of anything.'

In Sickness and In Health is available on all streaming platforms, with new episodes every Tuesday.
Australian Idol judge Kyle Sandilands did not hold back as he criticised a group of contestants on Wednesday night over their repetitive song choices.

Kyle, 52, and fellow judges Marcia Hines, 70, and Amy Shark, 37, met five different contestant who all auditioned with the same song - Amy Winehouse's 2007 hit Valerie.

Sandilands looked disheartened when four of the auditionees mangled the song by performing it out of tune.

'Oh no, not an Amy Winehouse song again. We have heard that 1000 times and every time it's horrible,' Kyle told one heartbroken contestant.

'The most important thing is song choice. When three or four people come in performing the same song in a row then instantly your eyes start rolling.'

Australian Idol judge Kyle Sandilands (pictured) did not hold back when criticising a group of contestants on Wednesday over their repetitive song choices

Fortunately, a fifth contestant finally nailed the tune by performing a heartfelt and pitch perfect rendition of the song.

'You control, engage, you were looking at us and we felt drawn into the performance. That is probably the best version of Valerie we have seen,' Kyle told 26-year-old Rohan Amaral from Sydney, and then advanced them to the next round.

'Yes, you deserve a spot,' Kyle said.

Kyle, 52, and fellow judges Marcia Hines, 70, and Amy Shark, 37, met five different contestant who all auditioned with the same song - Amy Winehouse 's 2007 hit Valerie. Pictured: A contestant performing the song

It comes after Kyle broke down during the show's premiere on Monday after watching a moving performance by the show's first auditionee.

The usually stoic KIIS FM radio star was brought to tears by musician Dylan Wright who dedicated his song to his late mother.

Singing Better Be Home Soon by Crowded House, the father-of-two touched Kyle so deeply with his audition, the radio star couldn't keep his emotions at bay.

Sandilands looked disheartened when four of the auditionees mangled the song by performing it off-key and out of tune

Dylan's moving performance honoured his mother who died a decade ago after a years-long battle with acute lymphoblastic Leukemia.

The judges were stunned to silence, with Marcia Hines breaking it to say: 'That's one of the most heartfelt performances I've seen You've touched me.'

It was at this point Kyle struggled to get his words out as he became teary-eyed.

'That was so beautiful. I don't usually cry in the presence of other men, but what a sweetheart you are. I loved that,' he added.
A broadcaster's inappropriate use of AI imagery of Australia's youngest MP has been described by a government minister as a wake-up call for how businesses use the technology as the fallout from the saga continues.

Victorian Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell, 31, was shocked to watch a story on Nine News' Melbourne bulletin on Monday about the state's decision to keep allowing duck hunting and see a photo of her with enlarged breasts and her dress turned into a crop top.

Nine has since apologised and blamed the imagery on an automation function during the resizing of a photo, sourced online through Adobe's Photoshop program.

The program has an artificial intelligence (AI) function that can realistically fill, edit or remove elements from an image.

Victorian state MP Georgie Purcell (pictured) has raised raises questions about the use of AI

The Victorian Animal Justice Party MP was shocked to see the AI-generated image of herself on Channel Nine's Melbourne news bulletin

READ MORE: Why Australia's youngest MP wore a dress covered in horrific abuse to parliament Georgie Purcell wore gendered online abuse to work on International Women's Day in 2023 Advertisement

However, Adobe said humans would have been involved in the process.

'Changes to this specific image would have required human intervention and approval,' a spokesperson said in a statement.

Ms Purcell said the incident raises questions about the use of AI while expressing doubts about the network's explanation for the image fail.

She has accepted Channel Nine's apology issued after Daily Mail Australia contacted the broadcaster for comment.

'It's quite confronting seeing your own body altered on the nightly news after one of the worst days of work that you have ever had, and I'm used to the ... sexist mistreatment of women in politics,' Ms Purcell told ABC News Breakfast on Wednesday.

'I have accepted Nine's apology because I'm satisfied in every other way they have handled it.

'I'm not sure I buy the AI excuse.

'I have deep concerns that AI is moving at a pace that our laws can't keep up with and I think we need to seriously consider looking at them.'

She told Nova 100's Ben, Liam & Belle that she hoped that lessons are learnt from it.

'Nine has claimed it was an accident but whether it was intentional or not, I think it just raises a bigger issue about the impact it could have on negative body image especially for young women,' Ms Purcell added.

Georgie Purcell has expressed doubts over Channel Nine's explanation for the AI fail

Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic told AAP the federal government is working towards the safe and responsible use of AI.

'One of the big reasons we've undertaken all the work we have is to get to a point where we've got the safe and responsible use of AI and that people in business understand how AI should be used,' Mr Husic said.

'This is a wake-up call for the way that businesses may use AI.'

Earlier in January, Mr Husic revealed the government's interim response to generative AI.

Safeguards are being considered for high-risk critical industries such as water and electricity, health and law enforcement.

They could include regulating how products are tested before and after use, along with further transparency on design and data.

Talks are initially focused on developing a voluntary safety standard.
Comedian Tim Minchin launched his hit Groundhog Day The Musical in Melbourne on Wednesday.

And the 48-year-old, who is still grieving the loss of his beloved mother Ros just weeks ago, put on a brace face at the event.

The funnyman appeared to be good spirits, telling jokes and gamely interacting with the media.

Tim cut a casual figure, wearing a smart open-neck brown shirt which he matched with a pair of baggy vintage trousers.

He also sported his trademark beard and wore his long auburn hair parted down the middle.

Comedian Tim Minchin, 48, launched his hit Groundhog Day The Musical in Melbourne on Wednesday. (pictured)

The Australian premiere of his hit show comes as Tim is still grieving the loss of mother Ros, who died at the age of 74 in November after a three-year battle with blood cancer. Pictured: Tim gives his mum Ros a cuddle during a red carpet appearance in 2016

Tim was later seen posing with Groundhog Day The Musical co-creator Danny Rubin and cast members Andy Karl and Elise McCann.

Based on the hit Bill Murray comedy from 1993, Groundhog Day The Musical will make its Down Under debut at Melbourne's Princess Theatre on Wednesday.

The extravagant production, featuring music and lyrics by Tim, premiered in London in 2016 and headed to Broadway in New York the following year.

The Australian premiere of his hit show comes as Tim is still grieving the loss of mother Ros, who died at the age of 74 after a three-year battle with blood cancer in November.

'My mum died yesterday,' Tim told a stunned audience during a live performance in Sydney.

The British-born songwriter shared several stories about his mother and played a variety of songs he had written about her during the show.

Tim poses with Groundhog Day The Musical co-creator Danny Rubin (second from right) and cast members Andy Karl and (far right Elise McCann.

During one of his stories, Tim revealed his mum Ros was diagnosed with terminal blood cancer back in 2020.

The Matilda composer received a standing ovation at the end of the show before making the devastating announcement.

He said he decided to go ahead with the show despite the family tragedy before an emotional performance to White Wine in the Sun.

He then ended the show by asking the audience to help him sing the final song for the night, Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.

Tim cut a casual figure for the event, wearing a smart open-neck brown shirt which he matched with a pair of baggy vintage trousers
Married At First Sight has been rocked by a runaway groom scandal.

On Wednesday night's episode, gay groom Michael was left heartbroken after learning that his match Simon had done a runner before their wedding.

He received the devastating news from the show's relationship expert John Aitken.

'Well Michael, it's highly unusual for me to come and visit a participant but I've got some really disappointing and shocking news,' Aikten told the stunned retail worker.

'After the bucks and the hen's night, your match Simon decided to send us an email saying that he no longer wanted to be a part of the experiment.'

Gay groom Michael (pictured) was left heartbroken after learning that his match Simon had done a runner before their wedding on Married At First Sight

An emotional Michael was lost for words, stuttering before burying his head in his hands.

'Well that's definitely a hard blow,' he said through tears, before saying that it felt like his heart had been 'ripped out' of his chest.

'I want to be understanding of his side but I would love to know why,' he sighed.

'After the bucks and the hen's night, your match Simon decided to send us an email saying that he no longer wanted to be a part of the experiment,' John Aitken said

An emotional Michael was lost for words, stuttering before burying his head in his hands

Attempting to soothe the heartbroken singleton, Aitken said, 'I don't want you to take this personally.'

The psychologist continued, 'This happened because your match couldn't cope with the experiment and the unknown and the pressure that was going to go on them.'

However, he then confirmed that himself and the show's other relationship experts still had hope that they could find the perfect man for Michael.

'We are now looking closely at new matches for you because we want to find you the fairytale,' he said optimistically.

Single dad Simon (pictured) ditched the experiment after filming the buck's night episode

Channel Nine and EndemolShine Australia, the production company behind MAFS, are said to be 'deeply disappointed' with Simon's decision to quit the show.

Breaking his silence in October, Simon told Daily Mail Australia: 'MAFS wasn't what I thought I wanted at this point in my life, that's all.'

Expressing his remorse, he added, 'I just felt bad for whoever they set me up with. I did initially leave, but they managed to coax me back... I gotta look out for myself.'

At the time, one production insider explained: 'It's complete and utter chaos! Simon leaving was a blindside.'
Richard Simmons shared an inspirational message with his fans on his Facebook account on Tuesday morning.

The 75-year-old fitness instructor admitted that, while he was aware of the ridicule he often received from detractors, he had learned to love the person he had become over the years.

The reclusive figure - who recently voiced his disapproval for a controversial biopic centered on his life - also gave his fans recommendation for uplifting songs to listen to in hard times.

Simmons began by writing: 'For as long as I can remember, people have made fun of me. And people still to this day make fun of me. But you know what? I am glad to be me! And you should be glad that you are you.'

The media personality then showed his fondness for Gloria Gaynor, as he wrote: 'Three songs to listen to: I Will Survive I Am What I Am and  This Is Me. These songs will uplift you.'

Richard Simmons shared an inspirational message with his fans on his Facebook account on Tuesday morning; seen in 2013

Simmons has shared several uplifting messages on his Facebook account over the past few days, and he asked his fans to 'forgive someone who has hurt you' in a post that was shared this past Friday.

The media figure, who was known for his formerly outgoing personality, abruptly stopped making public appearances in 2014, and many of his fans voiced their concerns about his well-being over the following years.

However, the fitness instructor's former representative, Tom Estey, provided a statement provided a statement to the New York Post in 2022 and expressed that he was 'happy, healthy and living the life he has chosen to live.'

Development on a biopic centered on Simmons' life began as early as April of last year, when Pauly Shore expressed his interest in portraying the fitness instructor.

At the time, the 55-year-old actor claimed that he had established contact with the reclusive media figure and was attempting to secure his blessing for the project.

The performer went on to portray the fitness instructor in a short film entitled The Court Jester, which premiered last week during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

It was subsequently revealed that Shore would, in fact, play Simmons in a full-length biopic earlier this month.

The reclusive media figure was quick to disavow the project, and he shared a post on his Facebook account earlier this month to let his fans know via Variety that he had 'never given my permission for this movie.'

The 75-year-old fitness instructor admitted that, while he was aware of the ridicule he often received from detractors, he had learned to love the person he had become over the years

Simmons has shared several uplifting messages on his Facebook account over the past few days, and he asked his fans to 'forgive someone who has hurt you' in a post that was shared this past Friday

The media figure, who was known for his formerly outgoing personality, abruptly stopped making public appearances in 2014, and many of his fans voiced their concerns about his well-being over the following years; seen in 2013

The performer went on to portray the fitness instructor in a short film entitled The Court Jester, which premiered last week during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival

The reclusive media figure was quick to disavow the project, and he shared a post on his Facebook account earlier this month to let his fans know via Variety that he had 'never given my permission for this movie'

The Warner Bros. subsidiary The Wolper Organization, which is producing the project, issued a statement to express that they 'would love to have [Simmons] involved' with the upcoming movie.

The production company added: 'We respect his desire to privacy and plan to produce a movie that honors him, celebrates him and tells a dramatic story.'

Shore went on to stress that the project would not lampoon Simmons' achievements during an interview with Variety, and he stated that the feature's creative team 'don't want to bug him.'

The performer added that the project's producers 'want to pay homage to him and kiss his feet and say he's done beautiful stuff.'
Justin Timberlake revealed on Tuesday that NSYNC, the boy band that catapulted him to worldwide fame, are working on new music.

He and his old bandmates Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and JC Chasez all rocketed to stardom together in the 1990s.

In 2004, they went on a temporary hiatus that stretched into an indefinite breakup, but they remained personally friendly with one another.

Last year they sent their fans into a frenzy of delight when they got back together for the song Better Place in the animated movie Trolls Band Together.

Now, Justin has appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show and let slip that the band might have even more music in the pipeline.

Justin Timberlake revealed on Tuesday that NSYNC, the boy band that catapulted him to worldwide fame, are working on new music

(from left) Justin and his old bandmates Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, Lance Bass and JC Chasez all rocketed to stardom together in the 1990s; pictured 1998

'Yeah, we've been in the studio, so there may be a little something in the future too,' he said, eliciting a rapturous round of applause from the studio audience.

Better Place came seven years after Justin had a solo global mega-hit with the song Can't Stop The Feeling! for the original Trolls movie.

Can't Stop The Feeling! became the bestselling song of the year in its native America and netted Justin, who co-wrote it, an Oscar nomination for best original song.

Years later, Justin returned to perform a song for the same franchise and got his old NSYNC pals back together, with Better Place as a result.

At the moment, Justin is rolling out his new album Everything I Thought It Was - the first since his widely derided 2018 offering Man Of The Woods.

The pop hunk released the new album's first two singles last week, beginning with a sonorous romantic ballad entitled Selfish.

Selfish shares its title with a 2011 song by Justin's ex Britney Spears, who gave a scathing account of their doomed romance in her memoir last year.

Britney's devoted fanbase sabotaged Justin's new song Selfish by sending Britney's song of the same name soaring to the top of the iTunes charts.

Last year they sent their fans into a frenzy of delight when they got back together for the song Better Place in the movie Trolls Band Together; they are pictured at the film's premiere

Now, Justin has appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show and let slip that the band might have even more music in the pipeline

At the moment, Justin is rolling out his new album Everything I Thought It Was, which includes his new single Selfish; pictured in the Selfish music video

His return to music comes months after his ex Britney Spears released her memoir The Woman In Me, serving up a scathing portrayal of their relationship

She also wrote that she fell pregnant by Justin in 2000, and although she wanted to keep the baby, he persuaded her to have an abortion because he 'wasn't ready to be a father'

Then this past weekend, Justin went on Saturday Night Live and performed Selfish - as well as giving a live debut to the album's second single Sanctified.

In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, Justin dished that John Lennon's song Jealous Guy was an influence on his Selfish.

Referring to his own pop ballad, Justin said: 'We were talking about the song itself and just breaking down the idea that you just don't hear that from men often, that they would express an emotion that makes them vulnerable,' via ABC.

Justin, who was a child star in the Mickey Mouse Club, added that 'growing up the way I grew up, you're taught not to do that.'

His return to music comes months after Britney released her memoir The Woman In Me, serving up a blistering portrayal of their relationship.

Among other bombshell revelations, she wrote that she fell pregnant by Justin in 2000, and although she wanted to keep the baby and 'dreamed of having a family,' he persuaded her to have an abortion because he 'wasn't ready to be a father.'

Desperate to keep the matter under wraps, Britney suffered through an 'excruciating' at-home procedure that she described in the memoir as 'one of the most agonizing things I have ever experienced in my life.'
Mitch Eynaud made a return to Married At First Sight on Wednesday night to support his brother Jayden in his search for love.

The former 'groom', 28, was paired with Ella Ding in season 9 of the matchmaking show but left her broken hearted during final vows when he broke things off.

Now the heartbreaker has returned to the Network Nine show to help his younger brother, 26, find a suit ahead of his own arranged marriage.

Mitch certainly left his mark on the series, letting his 'trust issues' and 'commitment issues' get in the way of finding love, but says he since 'regrets' his behaviour.

'I didn't trust the experiment and obviously looking back on it now, I wish I did trust it a bit more,' he told producers.

Mitch Eynaud, 28, (right) made a return to Married At First Sight on Wednesday night to support his brother Jayden, 26, (left) in his search for love

He added: 'It was very difficult for me to open up and be myself and that's something I regret, but Jayden and I are very different... He's going to go all the way.'

Jayden is a professional kickboxer and security guard from Queensland, but insists he's nothing like his older brother.

'He's my brother, I love him to death, but when it comes to relationships we're very different,' he said, admitting he's a big 'softy' on the inside.

The former 'groom' was paired with Ella Ding (left) in season 9 of the matchmaking show but left her broken hearted during final vows when he broke things off

The hunk appears to be a proud 'romantic' and says he's the complete opposite of his 'smart a*s' brother.

Despite having very different views on relationships, it was clear the brothers have a a very close and playful bond.

As Mitch helped Jayden try on suits for his wedding, the older brother pointed out Jayden was wearing the exact same suit he did when he 'married' Ella.

Now the heartbreaker has returned to the Network Nine show to help his younger brother find a suit ahead of his own arranged marriage

'I think I can pull it off better,' Jayden joked as he adjusted the collar of his beige suit.

Jayden has been paired up with Eden Harper, a 28-year-old recruitment manager living on the Gold Coast.

Jayden and Eden are set to be one of the stand out couples this year, with production sources dubbing them early fan favourites.

Married At First Sight Australia continues Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine and 9Now.
Jodie Whittaker had a sweet reunion with her Doctor Who co-star Mandip Gill on Tuesday, as they both attended The Radio Times Covers Party at Claridge's Hotel in London.

Jodie, 41, and Mandip, 36, starred together in the hit BBC show as the first female Doctor and her companion Yasmin Khan, respectively.

The characters shared a romantic connection in show and the two actresses became best friends after starring together for three series.

Jodie looked the picture of sophistication in a black satin dress layered over a sheer long-sleeved turtleneck.

The Broadchurch star added a pop of colour with a pair of metallic burgundy boots and toted a black leather handbag.

Jodie Whittaker had a sweet reunion with her Doctor Who co-star Mandip Gill on Tuesday, as they both attended The Radio Times Covers Party at Claridge's Hotel in London

Jodie, 41, and Mandip, 36, starred together in the hit BBC show as the first female Doctor and her companion Yasmin Khan, respectively (pictured on show in 2022)

Mandip caught the eye in a bright red dress with a pair of strappy black high heels, while styling her curls in a half-up-half-down hairstyle.

Also in attendance at the glitzy event was Ainsley Harriott who looked dapper in a grey blazer and trousers.

He added a black waistcoat underneath and a collared white shirt, completing the smart look with spotted tie.

Monica Dolan cut a classy figure in a black semi-sheer blouse, with flowing trousers and a bejewelled belt and matching clutch.

Mark Pougatch and Lady Victoria Scott looked in high spirits, with Mark donning an electric blue suit and Lady Victoria sporting a many layered red beaded necklace.

Richard Arnold looked sharp in a dark green velvet suit with a navy blue T-shirt underneath.

Monica Galetti looked striking in a quirky black and grey patterned coat, with wide sleeves and a large collar.

Steven Moffat and Sue Vertue looked loved-up as they arrived arm-in-arm at the star-studded bash.

Also in attendance at the glitzy event was Ainsley Harriott who looked dapper in a grey blazer and trousers

He added a black waistcoat underneath and a collared white shirt, completing the smart look with spotted tie

Monica Dolan cut a classy figure in a black semi-sheer blouse, with flowing trousers and a bejewelled belt and matching clutch

Mark Pougatch and Lady Victoria Scott looked in high spirits, with Mark donning an electric blue suit and Lady Victoria sporting a many layered red beaded necklace

Richard Arnold looked sharp in a dark green velvet suit with a navy blue T-shirt underneath

Monica Galetti looked striking in a quirky black and grey patterned coat, with wide sleeves and a large collar

Steven Moffat and Sue Vertue looked loved-up as they arrived arm-in-arm at the star-studded bash

Jeremy Vine looked in high spirits as he posed outside the hotel alongside his daughter, Anna.

Strictly star Johannes Radebe looked typically handsome in a grey blazer with an open collared white shite and black trousers.

Martin Kemp stood out in a burgundy tuxedo and matching shirt as he arrived with his wife Shirlie.

Dame Prue Leith donned an eye-catching bright red dress with faux-fur detailing and a glitzy star print velvet scarf.

Natascha McElhone dazzled in a plain dress and a long metallic gold cardigan, with a trio of matching gold necklaces.

Dan Walker looked suave in all-black, opting for a smart suit paired with casual grey and black trainers.

Cliff Parisi and his daughter Mandy complemented each other by both donning bright blue ensembles.

Will Mellor wore a navy velvet tuxedo jacket as he held tightly onto his wife Michelle McSween's hand.

Jeremy Vine looked in high spirits as he posed outside the hotel alongside his daughter, Anna

Strictly star Johannes Radebe looked typically handsome in a grey blazer with an open collared white shite and black trousers

Martin Kemp stood out in a burgundy tuxedo and matching shirt as he arrived with his wife Shirlie

Dame Prue Leith donned an eye-catching bright red dress with faux-fur detailing and a glitzy star print velvet scarf

Natascha McElhone dazzled in a plain dress and a long metallic gold cardigan, with a trio of matching gold necklaces

Dan Walker looked suave in all-black, opting for a smart suit paired with casual grey and black trainers

Cliff Parisi and his daughter Mandy complemented each other by both donning bright blue ensembles

Will Mellor wore a navy velvet tuxedo jacket as he held tightly onto his wife Michelle McSween's hand

She stunned in a black minidress layered underneath a sparkly mesh number with faux fur shoulders

She stunned in a black minidress layered underneath a sparkly mesh number with faux fur shoulders.

Dawn O'Porter and Dee Koppang twinned for the evening, in complementary black minidresses and coats.

Stefanie Martini looked fashion forward in a beige plaid suit as she posed with her The Gold co-star Tom Cullen.

Philippa Perry and Sir Grayson Perry put on typically showstopping displays in brightly coloured coats, while Grayson added pink platform high heels and eye-catching face paint.

Miquita Oliver gave a glimpse of her toned midriff in a black crop top teamed with satin trousers and an oversized blazer.

Louis Theroux looked excited in a black suit and simple white shirt with his stylish wife Nancy Strang.

Lord Melvyn Bragg bundled up in a grey coat, while adding a light blue scarf and think black gloves.

Dawn O'Porter and Dee Koppang twinned for the evening, in complementary black minidresses and coats

Stefanie Martini looked fashion forward in a beige plaid suit as she posed with her The Gold co-star Tom Cullen

Philippa Perry and Sir Grayson Perry put on typically showstopping displays in brightly coloured coats, while Grayson added pink platform high heels and eye-catching face paint

Miquita Oliver gave a glimpse of her toned midriff in a black crop top teamed with satin trousers and an oversized blazer

Louis Theroux looked excited in a black suit and simple white shirt with his stylish wife Nancy Strang
Kanye West continued with his mission to shock as he shared a very racy snap of wife Bianca Censori on Wednesday.

Taking to Instagram, the rapper, 46, shared a very revealing photo of the Australian architect wearing an extreme micro thong that put her curvaceous body on full display.

The extremely daring underwear was paired with a 16 Yeezy top branded 'WET' across the chest.

She left nothing to the imagination as she went braless beneath the see-through garment.

The brunette beauty finished the outfit with a dramatic leopard print BLUEMARBLE hat that obscured her face.

Kanye West continued with his mission to shock as he shared a very racy snap of wife Bianca Censori on Wednesday

The Yeezy founder, 46, posted a very revealing photograph to his 18.7million Instagram followers of the fashion muse as she donned a pair of bare-there thongs

The bold accessory was recycled from last Wednesday's surprise shoot in Culver City, California.

Adding a few inches to her alluring look, Bianca donned a pair of modest black, pointed stilettoes which featured an intricate diamond detailing.

Her impromptu shoot was centred in a bizarre 70s-inspired bathroom, which was washed with lime green tiles and dated floral patterns.

Yeezy founder Kanye shared the very revealing photograph to his 18.7million Instagram followers.

He used the photo op to promote his fashion line as his wife is frequently spotted in the WET skimpy top.

The All Of The Lights star really meant it when he said 'no pants this year' earlier this month, as this isn't the only time Bianca has been spotted pushing the limits of fashion.

Bianca previously modelled a similar outfit as she wore a micro thong from Kim Kardashian's shapewear brand.

She slipped into the barely-there G-string in a string of racy snaps posted by the rapper on Instagram.

The brunette beauty finished the outfit with a dramatic BLUEMARBLE leopard print hat which was recycled from last Wednesday's surprise shoot in Culver City, California

The All Of The Lights star really meant it when he said 'no pants this year' as this isn't the only time Bianca has been spotted pushing the limits of fashion (pictured in May 2023)

Kim, 43, had previously debuted the design back in February 2022, with the minimal design accentuating her famous derriere.

Kanye captioned his post: 'No pants this year' in reference to the couple making headlines last year over Bianca's nearly naked outfits.

In the photos, Bianca left little to the imagination as she went braless in a fur shawl and teamed the micro thong with knee-high stockings and heels.

Bianca bore a striking resemblance to Kim, who wore the $14 thong with a minuscule black bra which showcased plenty of cleavage.
Jon Hamm and new wife Anna Osceola led arrivals at the Curb Your Enthusiasm season 12 premiere in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The 52-year-old Fargo star and his spouse, 35, cozied up to each other on the red carpet as they each donned casual looks.

For his part, Jon layered up in a light blue button-up shirt and suede, camel-colored jacket.

He added a pair of dark blue jeans, which he cuffed before rounding out the look with faded black shoes.

The longtime Hollywood leading man looked sharp in a pair of square, black-framed eyeglasses.

Jon Hamm and new wife Anna Osceola led arrivals at the Curb Your Enthusiasm season 12 premiere in Los Angeles on Tuesday

The 52-year-old Fargo star and his spouse, 35, cozied up to each other on the red carpet as they each donned casual looks

He rocked a shadow of a beard, looking handsome as he happily posed with Anna, who he married last year.

Hamm's short and straight dark hair was neatly cropped above his ears withe the sides cut slightly shorter than the top.

Anna joined her husband in an orange turtleneck top that she tucked into wide-leg ivory trousers.

The pants were secured with a brown belt and she finished the look with a pair of sporty Adidas sneakers.

Her long ginger locks were parted down the middle and they flowed freely down her back in a silky texture.

She flashed her huge wedding ring and also wore a dark watch on her left wrist.

The actress looked beautiful in a light face of makeup that included soft pink blush and a natural shade of lipstick.

The duo stepped out to support Larry David, 76, as the final season of his series launches.

The man of the hour, Larry David, looked great in a dark suit with a sleek sheen finish

He added a light-colored button-up shirt and a dark gray tie as he fastened one button on his jacket

The former Seinfeld producer wore his signature round eyeglasses

The man of the hour, Larry David, looked great in a dark suit with a sleek sheen finish.

He added a light-colored button-up shirt and a dark gray tie as he fastened one button on his jacket.

The longtime television writer finished his ensemble with shiny black dress shoes that had a thin white sole.

The former Seinfeld producer wore his signature round eyeglasses as he was joined by co-stars on the red carpet.

Also making a fashionable arrival at the event was Cheryl Hines, 58, who plays Larry's wife on the show.

She commanded attention in a clinging, strapless red gown with flattering ruching.

Hines made the occasion a date night as she showed up with husband Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Also making a fashionable arrival at the event was Cheryl Hines, 58, who plays Larry's wife on the show

Hines made the occasion a date night as she showed up with husband Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert wore a navy blue suit with fine pinstripes and he added a white shirt

Hines posed with Rachael Harris, who looked chic in a black dress

Susie Essman turned heads in a light-colored floral patterned wrap dress.

The 68-year-old comedic actress looked younger than her years as she wore her dark curly hair loose.

The bouncy locks framed her face, which was beautifully made up and punctuated with a red lip.

She wore multiple bracelets, drop earrings, and a necklace with a long, yellow-toned jewel pendant.

While walking the step-and-repeat at the premiere, she reunited with her colleagues and took a moment to pose with castmates.

That included actor J.B. Smoove, 58, who looked fantastic in a gray suit jacket with a black collar.

He matched it to dark trousers and he wore a crisp white button-up shirt with black buttons.

The comedian wore dark aviator sunglasses and a black top hat.

Susie Essman turned heads in a light-colored floral patterned wrap dress

J.B. Smoove, 58, looked fantastic in a gray suit jacket with a black collar

The comedian wore dark aviator sunglasses and a black top hat as he posed with wife Shahidah Omar

L-R Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines, Larry David, Susie Essman, and J.B. Smoove

The co-stars got together and smiled for a snapshot

The longtime friends and costars shared an embrace

Dean Norris was among the many famous faces at the premiere

Michael Irby opted for a full black ensemble

Robert F. Kennedy's son Connor Kennedy attended the gathering with girlfriend Giulia Be

Award-winning journalist Marc Malkin made a statement in camouflage pants and a green blazer

Garlin wore a gray pinstripe suit and dark eyeglasses as he posed with Sari Tracht

It was announced in December that Curb Your Enthusiasm will end with season 12.

Seinfeld co-creator Larry stands on a sinking glacier in promotional posters for the show, with the tagline: 'The last of his kind.'

The final season will premiere Feb 4 at 10pm on HBO and Max.

The 10-episode run will conclude with a series finale on April 7.

'As Curb comes to an end, I will now have the opportunity to finally shed this "Larry David" persona and become the person God intended me to be  the thoughtful, kind, caring, considerate human being I was until I got derailed by portraying this malignant character,' David said in a statement via Variety.

He jokingly added, 'And so "Larry David," I bid you farewell. Your misanthropy will not be missed.

'And for those of you who would like to get in touch with me, you can reach me at Doctors Without Borders.'

London Hughes showed off her fit figure in a body-hugging black dress

Delaney Rowe bared her legs in a khaki mini skirt and brown to-the-knee boots

Vince Vaughn looked great with longtime wife Kyla Weber

Skye Townsend wore a plunging gray double-breasted blazer dress

John Early and Gordon Landerberger coordinated in distinct but complementary outfits

Megan Ferguson teased her toned legs in a button-up little black mini dress

Carl Clemons-Hopkins was handsome in a gray suit and green beanie

Andrea Dillon wore black sequin trousers and an asymmetric champagne-toned blouse

Ted Danson arrived in a gray suit and white shirt

Larry's daughter Cazzie David wore black slacks and a baby blue tank top

Executive producer Laura Streicher looked sensational in a low-cut black dress

Streicher posed with her husband and kids

Joe Lewis and Yara Martinez smiled together on the carpet

Saverio Guerra and Sofia were also at the premiere event

Keyla Monterroso looked gorgeous in a black off-the-shoulder dress

Luke McGarry and Jillian Bell matched in black and white

Mario Lopez stepped out to show support for the long-running series

Dana Lee wore a deep green subtly patterned blazer

Stephanie Styles made a splash in a baby blue skirt suit

Alex Bouff and Jon Bouff made a stunning pair

Laci Mosley stepped out in a soft pink shirt dress

) Jennifer Corey and Adam Feil kept close for a snapshot

Guest stars last season included Tracey Ullman as well as Woody Harrelson, Kaley Cuoco, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, Bill Hader, Jon Hamm, Vince Vaughn, and Ted Danson.

Curb Your Enthusiasm premiered with an hour-long special on HBO television in 1999.

It was followed by a ten-episode first season that began airing on October 15, 2000.

The series was created by David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Sanclimenti have sparked huge speculation that they could be joining the lineup for Love Island: All Stars, after announcing their split on Tuesday.

The couple, who won the ITV2 show in 2022, announced they'd decided to go their 'separate ways' after 18 months together, hours after reports emerged claiming Ein-Su was suspicious of Davide's friendship with an OnlyFans model.

Now, figures published by Betway show that odds have been slashed on Ekin-Su and Davide jetting to South Africa to join the All Stars.

They would not be the first exes to appear on the show, after Liberty Poole, Kaz Kamwi and Callum Jones were stunned to be reunited with their flames in the villa.

Betway spokesperson Chad Yeomans said: 'Eki-Su and Davide were huge ratings boosters for ITV - viewers were glued to their antics on the terrace last time, the way they bickered, and, famously, Davide accusing Ekin-Su of being a ''liar'' and an ''actress'' in a viral moment that is still shared two years later.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Sanclimenti have sparked speculation that they could be joining the lineup for Love Island: All Stars (pictured on the show in 2022)

The couple announced on Tuesday they'd decided to go their 'separate ways' after 18 months together and bookies odds have since been slashed on the pair heading to the famous villa

'They secured two-thirds of the public vote when they were named winners in 2022 - and producers will know that either one of them could be a gold mine to add to the chaos of the villa.

'With over five million Instagram followers between them, Love Island All Stars execs might be keen to lure back either one of them before the series ends - could Ekin-Su be a last minute bombshell and find a new man?'

Ekin-Su was first to share that she and Davide had split, with the Italian businessman breaking his silence in a statement on Instagram Stories hours later.

The Love Island winners first split in June 2023 but reconciled just two months later, enjoying a romantic getaway to Turkey, where Ekin-Su's parents hail.

Davide had his say in his own Instagram Story statement which said they had 'grown apart', after previously believing in a 'future together'.

He also made a slight dig that an 'agreed statement' between the pair had 'changed last minute' in his post.

He penned: 'Life sometimes reserves surprises and suddenly wakes you up...

'Ekin and I, just after the ski holidays, decided to go different ways. It was a joint decision, but I was waiting to make it public to respect her time in the show. I don't know why the agreed statement changed last minute.

Ekin-Su's split announcement came just hours after reports emerged claiming she was suspicious about Davide's friendship with an OnlyFans model

Now Davide has had his say in his own Instagram Story statement which said they had 'grown apart', after previously believing in a 'future together'

The Love Island winners first split in June 2023 but reconciled just two months later, enjoying a romantic getaway to Turkey, where Ekin-Su's parents hail (pictured in 2022)

Just hours before on Tuesday Ekin-Su's statement read: 'The last 18-months have been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, just like every relationship'

Her statement came just hours after reports emerged claiming she was suspicious about Davide's friendship with an OnlyFans model Sylvija Vasilevska

'I agree, it was a beautiful story even with its ups and downs like all couples. I loved every moment, from the first time I knew her in the Villa until the life outside. I really believed in us and saw a future for us.

'But sometimes in life people need to grow apart. Is just the direction of life. I will treasure our moments forever.'

He signed off by saying: 'Now it's time to focus on myself. I love you all always, thank you for the unconditional support everyone showed me from the beginning. Davide.'

Just hours before on Tuesday Ekin-Su's statement read: 'The last 18-months have been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, just like every relationship. Davide and I both wanted to make this work as we cared deeply for each other.'

She continued: 'Unfortunately I have recently made the decision to end our relationship and to go our separate ways...

'Breakups are never easy. For any couple. And we hope that our privacy will be respected. I enjoyed our time together and the memories we made.

'Thank you for your continued support. It's been so lovely to have you follow our Love Island journeys together since the villa and we hope you'll continue to follow our careers as we go off in our own directions. Love always, Ekin-Su.'

The news comes following reports that Ekin-Su was upset at Davide's friendship with an OnlyFans model.

She was said to be upset by the fact Davide and model Sylvija Vasilevska were 'liking' each other's social media content and suspects there was more to their platonic relationship.

A source told The Sun: 'They're on the brink of a split and Ekin-Su has been going to events without Davide.

'They're having rows over this friend of Davide's who Ekin suspects more might be going on with. She's an OnlyFans model and longterm friend of his in Manchester.'

MailOnline has contacted Ekin-Su and Davide's representatives for comment.

Ekin-Su and Davide were crowned the winners of Love Island in 2022 after a turbulent romance.

Just five months after winning the show she competed on Dancing On Ice and revealed how her short stint on the skating show impacted their relationship.

The reality star competed on the 15th series of the ITV skating competition with professional Brendyn Hatfieldin 2023 and was the third star to leave the show.

Despite only being on the programme for four weeks, Ekin-Su made headlines for her racy outfits and routines.

She recently opened up to Spin Genie about how hard it was to juggle training and a new relationship, saying: 'I was working seven days a week and had no time for me or my relationship. I was overworked and exhausted.

'If I hadn't had so much on during that time, my experience on the show would have been different. I also wouldn't have let the bad comments get to me.'

She added: 'I'm stronger now. I was in the habit of Googling myself and I'd let the comments really upset me. Negative comments about my personality or my performance.'

Ekin-Su recalled crying when she got voted off, which she put down to exhaustion as she insisted she wouldn't break down now.

After exiting Dancing On Ice, Ekin-Su headed to the Maldives with Davide but she admitted she didn't enjoy it as she felt burnt out.

The couple were last pictured together on November 27 at the 2023 Beauty Awards

Ekin-Su and Davide were crowned the winners of Love Island in 2022 after a turbulent romance

The Love Island couple split back in June after 11 months together. Davide took to Instagram at the time to share the sad news with his followers but rekindled two months later

Previously Davide revealed his relationship with Ekin-Su broke down after they failed to see eye-to-eye on various issues and that a temporary separation was 'needed' (pictured 2023)

The pair then split in June but after reconciling two months later, Davide insisted that the two 'never properly' broke up.

Previously Davide revealed his relationship with Ekin-Su broke down after they failed to see eye-to-eye on various issues and that a temporary separation was 'needed'.

'It's a lovely feeling being with Ekin, we probably broke up more publicly but never privately because we have always been in touch and the love between me and Ekin has always been there', he told The Sun.

'Breaking up may happen to people but it never actually happened to us, we never properly privately broke up, it was more to do with the public pressure and we were having some tough months.'
Dr Chris Brown has revealed the embarrassing moment he 'wet himself' on a train in Tokyo.

The celebrity vet, 45, made the admission during an interview on Triple M's Mick and MG in the Morning on Wednesday.

'I don't know if you know in Japan and in Tokyo, you can buy drinks anywhere, like buy beers absolutely anywhere, there are vending machines on the streets, in the subway,' the television presenter said, before confessing to buying a beer before he hopped on a busy train.

After being crammed into the Tokyo train with all the other passengers, Chris said he made a startling realisation.

'I start to feel this sort of cold trickle down my leg...the beer that I bought had exploded in my bag and I now have a rapidly growing wet patch across my groin, running from my bag to my groin down and then down to my leg.'

Dr Chris Brown (pictured) has revealed the embarrassing moment he 'wet himself' on a train in Tokyo. The celebrity vet, 45, made the admission during an interview on Triple M's Mick and MG in the Morning on Wednesday

'I don't know if you know in Japan and in Tokyo, you can buy drinks anywhere, like buy beers absolutely anywhere, there are vending machines on the streets, in the subway,' the television presenter said, before confessing to buying a beer before he hopped on a busy train

Host Mick Molloy was quick to say what all the other commuters must have been thinking: 'He's wet his pants!'

However, Chris said that it could have been more embarrassing if the Japanese culture was not so formal.

'Japanese people are very polite, they're lovely, lovely people  that did not stop the endless gazes connecting the dots from the trickle along the carriage, back up my leg, to my very wet body,' the celebrity vet said.

After being crammed into the Tokyo train with all the other passengers, Chris said he made a startling realisation: 'I start to feel this sort of cold trickle down my leg... the beer that I bought had exploded in my bag'

'If you want to clear some space, it's a great way to do it, let me tell you,' Chris joked.

It comes as the handsome veterinarian has been struggling with the recent move over to the Seven network.

According to reports, the television star is 'feeling the pressure' with his upcoming roles at Seven  his first few duties include hosting Dancing With The Stars, a new renovation show Dream Home, and new animal adventure series Once In A Lifetime.

Chris said that it could have been more embarrassing if the Japanese culture was not so formal: 'Japanese people are very polite, they're lovely, lovely people  that did not stop the endless gazes connecting the dots from the trickle along the carriage'

'I do think he's finding it tough,' a source told New Idea magazine.

'He's turned his whole life upside down moving to Seven, and he could be feeling the pressure.'

The insider added the network is 'ruthless' for ratings and relying on Brown when the 'cameras start rolling'.

'He can't afford to stuff up,' they added.

According to reports, the television star is 'feeling the pressure' with his upcoming roles at Seven  his first few duties include hosting Dancing With The Stars, a new renovation show Dream Home, and new animal adventure series Once In A Lifetime

Brown signed a two-year contract with Seven worth more than $1million a year, following his contractual obligations for I'm A Celebrity at his former network.

Dream Home is based on the successful New Zealand series of the same name which aired from 1999 to 2013.

The series will be made by production company Endemol Shine and began filming last year before premiering in early 2024.

Brown inked a multi-year deal with Seven in February to produce unspecified 'new projects' for the station.

Aside from hosting Dream Home, he is also co-hosting Dancing With The Stars alongside Sonia Kruger.

Brown started his TV career in 2003 as a presenter on Harry's Practice on Seven, a role that earned him a Logie nomination for Most Popular New Talent.

He joined Ten in 2008 to host Bondi Vet, which became a surprise ratings hit and was syndicated around the world.

The factual series was based on his real-life experience as a vet at the Bondi Junction Veterinary Hospital in Sydney's east.

He went on to become a part-time panelist on The Project and also co-hosted I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and The Living Room, which was axed last year.
Christine Centenera and Joel Edgerton were recently spotted in Bondi.

The Vogue Australia editor-in-chief cut a casual figure in a simple black sun dress and matching sandals.

Christine accessorised her look with an oversized straw tote, and a simple sky blue cap to shield her famous visage from the sun's harmful rays.

The Sydney-based fashionista popped into a local cafe to pick up refreshments before heading to a park where she was joined by Joel.

The accomplished actor looked every inch the Aussie on the outing, opting to show off his ripped physique shirtless in a pair of boardshorts.

Christine Centenera (pictured) and Joel Edgerton were recently spotted in Bondi

The Vogue Australia editor-in-chief cut a casual figure in a simple black sun dress and matching sandals

He completed his look with a green cap and a pair of sunglasses atop his head.

Christine replaced Edwina McCann as Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Australia in 2023.

The tastemaker, who also has her own label Wardrobe.NYC, has worked for the magazine since 2012.

She will continue to report to McCann, who was promoted to Vogue Australia's Editorial Director and Publisher.

Christine accessorised her look with an oversized straw tote, and a simple sky blue cap to shield her famous visage from the sun's harmful rays

The Sydney-based fashionista popped into a local cafe to pick up refreshments before heading to a park where she was joined by Joel

The accomplished actor looked every inch the Aussie on the outing, opting to show off his ripped physique shirtless in a pair of boardshorts

He completed his look with a green cap and a pair of sunglasses atop his head

Joel revealed he and Christine welcomed twin babies together in an interview with Oprah Daily in May 2022.

He also confessed he'd been 'very nervous' he'd miss the babies' births in Sydney, because he was working in Queensland at the time.

They're the first children for the notoriously private couple, who started dating back in 2018.
Michelle Keegan, Jodie Comer and Saoirse Ronan are all battling it out to steal the next female lead in the next bond movie.

Halle Berry, Gemma Arteton and Ursula Andress have previously taken on the role as Bond girls.

But passing over the reigns, casting rumours are flying around that Michelle, Jodie and Saoirse are all in the limelight for the next movie.

Fool Me One actress Michelle, 36, has been given the seal of approval by gambling experts following her success in Netflix's new hit drama.

Jodie, 30, is known for starring in the hit BBC spy thriller Killing Eve, while Irish actress Saoirse, 29, received an Oscar nomination for starring in the movie Atonement.

Michelle Keegan (pictured), Jodie Comer (below, left) and Saoirse Ronan (below, right) are all battling it out to steal the next female lead in the next bond movie

Jodie, 30, is known for starring in the hit BBC spy thriller Killing Eve (pictured on The Graham Norton Show earlier this month)

According to the Daily Express, betting expert James Leyfield from Gambling.com, explained: 'Jodie Comer is the 6/4 favourite on specials betting sites to be the next female lead in a Bond movie.

'Michelle, who is 5/2 to be the next Bond Girl, started out in soaps, starring as barmaid Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street for six years.'

Meanwhile, according to the Irish Mirror, Saoirse got the odds of 5/1 to bag the next Bond role as the female lead.

Gambling.com previously told MailOnline: 'Michelle Keegan has recently announced herself on the world stage in Netflix's Fool Me Once, in a starring role as grieving mother Maya Stern, who spends the series on a solo mission to investigate her husband's death after appearing to see him on her nanny cam when he was presumed dead.

'Michelle, who is 5/2 to be the next Bond Girl, started out in soaps, starring as barmaid Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street for six years.

'That means she already knows how to perfect a martini - shaken, not stirred - but more than that, she could be an ideal MI6 colleague for Bond.'

The expert added: 'Jodie Comer is the 6/4 favourite on specials betting sites to be the next female lead in a Bond movie.

'The actress has had the perfect training ground in hit BBC spy thriller Killing Eve, for which she landed a Primetime Emmy Award for her superb portrayal of sociopathic assassin Villanelle.

Halle Berry (pictured), Gemma Arteton and Ursula Andress have previously taken on the role as Bond girls (Halle pictured in Die Another Day movie)

But passing over the reigns, casting rumours are flying around that Michelle, Jodie and Saoirse are all in the limelight for the next movie

According to betting expert James Leyfield from Gambling.com, he explained: 'Jodie Comer is the 6/4 favourite on specials betting sites to be the next female lead in a Bond movie'

A betting expert told MailOnline: 'Michelle, who is 5/2 to be the next Bond Girl, started out in soaps, starring as barmaid Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street for six years. 'That means she could be an ideal MI6 colleague for Bond.'

Meanwhile, according to the Irish Mirror , Saoirse got the odds of 5/1 to bag the next Bond role as the female lead'

'She could be an ideal Bond Girl, but could be just as effective as the main villain in the next Bond movie.

'The British actress cut her teeth in the likes of medical dramas Casualty and Holby City, as well as school drama Waterloo Road, before getting her big break as Villanelle.'

Bookies predictions have also been rife around who could play 007 himself, after Daniel Crag departed the role in 2021.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who has recently appeared to be bulking up for a role in Kraven The Hunter, reportedly underwent a screen test last year.

An insider told the Sun: 'Aaron went for a screen test to be the next Bond in September and producers and Barbara loved him. He is now one of the front-runners.'

In October, an insider told DailyMail.com that Aaron is extremely close to landing the role, with Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan, 53, looking likely to helm the next film in the franchise.

The insider said: 'Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently the hot favorite to step into the iconic role, he's the first choice for Barbara Broccoli  he is the one to beat.'

They added of Nolan: 'He is extremely interested in doing something very different with the franchise. If he can get his way with producers, then he is all for it.'

Bookies predictions have also been rife around who could play 007 himself, after Daniel Crag departed the role in 2021

In October, an insider told DailyMail.com that Aaron Taylor-Johnson is extremely close to landing the role, with Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan, 53, looking likely to helm the next film in the franchise

It was previously reported that Nolan wanted to direct the next Bond film as a period piece set in the same as the original source material  something that director Quentin Tarantino had previously wanted to do with Casino Royale, but was turned down.

However, the insider adds: Whether Nolan coming on board will affect the casting of Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently a grey area  as hes very particular with who he works with.

Behind Aaron in the odds are James Norton at 5-2, Henry Cavill at 3-1 and Tom Hardy and Richard Madden at 7-1.

Coral's John Hill said: 'There has been a surge of support behind Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the last 24 hours in our next James Bond betting.

'It's clear that punters have made their minds up over who they think should replace Daniel Craig.'
The creator of Top Boy, Ronan Bennett, has confirmed he is in talks with Netflix over making a potential spin-off of the hit show.

The writer, 68, told BBC Radio 5's Nihal Arthanayake that the spin-off would centre around Jaq Lawrence from the original, who is played by Jasmine Jobson.

Ronan added that the production company Cowboy is also involved, while rapper Drake, who served as executive producer on the show, is on board.

He said: 'We are talking to Netflix about a spin-off, which will be around Jaq,' before joking that the streaming company will 'probably be angry with me for mentioning it'.

However, he added: 'Ive learned through bitter experience not to talk too much about shows that are in the future.

The creator of Top Boy, Ronan Bennett, has confirmed he is in talks with Netflix over making a potential spin-off of the hit show (Kane Roninson and Ashley Walters pictured in show)

The writer, 68, told BBC Radio 5's Nihal Arthanayake that the spin-off would centre around Jaq Lawrence from the original, who is played by Jasmine Jobson (pictured)

'You just never know if theyre going to get made. And in fact, most shows that are developed actually dont get made.

'You can write the script and, for whatever reason, they dont get made. So you end up looking like a bit of a fool for mentioning it. But I have hopes that this will work.'

Ronan said that the team have also discussed the option of making a Top Boy prequel, movie or even a stage musical instead, but said these conversation are still in the very early stages.

He said: 'I think that the world of Top Boy, the world that we jointly created, is so rich, its so deep, and it has that fanatical following that its something that still has life in it.

'Some shows reach their end, and you kind of go, "Thank god theyve ended, I love that show, but theyve run out of steam".

'But I do feel that theres more juice to squeeze from Top Boy.'

Jaq started in the show in series three, as a member of the Summerhouse dealers and Dris' second in command, before rising up the ranks.

She starts a romance with Becks, played by Adwoa Aboah, and takes in her pregnant sister Lauryn to protect her from her abusive boyfriend.

Ronan (pictured in 2019) added that the production company Cowboy is also involved, while rapper Drake, who served as executive producer on the show, is on board

Jaq started in the show in series three, as Dris' second in command, before rising up the ranks and starting a romance with Becks, played by Adwoa Aboah (pictured together on show)

But after Lauryn dies from an overdose in the bath, Jaq decides to leave the dealing life and run away with Becks and her nephew.

The character is played by actress Jasmine, 28, who has received critical acclaim for her performance and been twice nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the BAFTAs.

And earlier this month she received rave reviews for her lead performance in ITV series Platform 7.

Jasmine is currently in a relationship with her Top Boy co-star, Kadeem Ramsay, who played Kit on the show.

In an interview with Digital Spy, she spoke about the importance of playing an out black lesbian on the show.

Jasmine said: 'It's still a taboo. And I think it's very important that we see it, because it happens. I've got lots and lots of friends that are gay or lesbian.

'So [I asked] them what have they experienced [and] how they dealt with it, so I would kind of know how I was going to portray that scene.'.

The character is played by actress Jasmine, 28, who has received critical acclaim for her performance and been twice nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the BAFTAs (pictured in July)

And earlier this month she r eceived rave reviews for her lead performance in ITV series Platform 7 (pictured on show)
Married At First Sight bosses have revealed that former groom Mitch Eynaud encouraged his younger brother Jayden too apply for the 2024 series.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Nine EP John Walsh admitted they were surprised to see Mitch, 28, who was paired with Ella Ding on the series back in 2022, change his tune about the show.

'He wasn't a big MAFS fan as you may recall, but he's had quite a lot of change of heart about that and his experience with the Isle,' he said.

Jayden is understood to have originally applied to appear on Stan Original Dating Series Love Triangle, also produced by Endemol Shine Australia, before he told casting agents he would be down for the show.

MAFS executive producer Mollie Harwood added Jayden jumped on the opportunity to join the experiment after a quick chat with his brother.

Married At First Sight bosses have revealed that former groom Mitch Eynaud encouraged his younger brother Jayden too apply for the 2024 series

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Nine's MAFS EP John Walsh admitted that they were surprised to see Mitch, 28, who was paired with Ella Ding on the series back in 2022, change his tune about the show

Jayden is understood to have originally applied to appear on Stan Original Dating Series, Love Triangle, also produced by Endemol Shine Australia, before he told casting agents he would be down for the show

'Mitch gave him a lot of ''this is what what I wish I did differently'' and take some advice from my experience.

'He was really supportive of Jayden's experience and got right behind him from the wedding.'

Mitch certainly left his mark on the series, letting his 'trust and commitment issues' get in the way of finding love, but says he since 'regrets' his behaviour.

'I didn't trust the experiment and obviously looking back on it now, I wish I did trust it a bit more,' he told producers.

'He wasn't a big MAFS fan, as you may recall, but he's had quite a lot of change of heart about that and his experience with the Isle,' he revealed

He added: 'It was very difficult for me to open up and be myself and that's something I regret, but Jayden and I are very different... He's going to go all the way.'

Jayden is a professional kickboxer and security guard from Queensland, but insists he's nothing like his older brother.

'He's my brother, I love him to death, but when it comes to relationships we're very different,' he said, admitting he's a big 'softy' on the inside.

The former 'groom' was paired with Ella Ding (left) in season 9 of the matchmaking show but left her broken hearted during final vows when he broke things off

The hunk says he is a proud 'romantic' and the complete opposite of his 'smart a*s' brother.

Despite having very different views on relationships, it was clear the pair have a a very close and playful bond.

As Mitch helped Jayden try on suits for his wedding, the older brother pointed out Jayden was wearing the exact same suit he did when he 'married' Ella.

Now the heartbreaker has returned to the Network Nine show to help his younger brother find a suit ahead of his own arranged marriage

'I think I can pull it off better,' Jayden joked as he adjusted the collar of his beige suit.

Jayden has been paired up with Eden Harper, a 28-year-old recruitment manager living on the Gold Coast.

Jayden and Eden are set to be one of the stand out couples this year, with production sources dubbing them early fan favourites.

Married At First Sight Australia continues Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine and 9Now.
Aaron Taylor Johnson has been unveiled as Giorgio Armani's new ambassador for Acqua di Gio fragrances.

Posing for sexy snaps, the actor, 33, showed off his shirtless physique in the new campaign which will debut on February 16.

For the campaign, Aaron donned an open white shirt to showcase his impressive abs while posing with the new fragrance.

He said: 'His creative genius, his timeless sophistication and his impeccable taste are only a few of Mr. Giorgio Armanis countless distinctions.

'I feel honoured to have been chosen to represent his iconic fragrance ACQUA DI GIO as its new Brand Ambassador.

Aaron Taylor Johnson has been unveiled as Giorgio Armani's new ambassador for Acqua di Gio fragrances, posing for a sexy shirtless campaign

'In fact, I have long been a fan of ACQUA DI GIO - for its purity and its indescribable freshness.

'Ive always felt that it has that elusive combination of masculinity and sensitivity - an almost magical connection to nature and to the rejuvenating power of the sea.'

A representative for Giorgio Armani added: 'ACQUA DI GIO embodies a way of understanding masculinity that is at once free, sensitive, and adventurous.

'These are all characteristics that Aaron expresses with his presence and physicality.

'It was this balance of mind and body that convinced me that he was the right person to represent the fragrance.

'Aaron has an intensity and beauty that is both self-aware and emblematic of today.'

It comes after MailOnline revealed in October Aaron has been named the hot favourite to become the next James Bond.

Ever since Daniel Craig ditched the 007 role after five films and made his Bond swansong in 2021's No Time To Die, rumours have been rife over which debonair star will replace the icon.

It comes after MailOnline revealed in October Aaron has been named the hot favourite to become the next James Bond

An insider revealed to MailOnline that British Aaron actor, 33, was extremely close to landing the role, with Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan, 53, looking likely to helm the next film in the franchise.

The insider said: 'Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently the hot favourite to step into the iconic role, hes the first choice for Barbara Broccoli  he is the one to beat.'

They added of Christopher: 'He is extremely interested in doing something very different with the franchise. If he can get his way with producers, then he is all for it.'

It was previously reported that Christopher wanted to direct the next Bond film as a period piece set in the same as the original source material  something that director Quentin Tarantino had previously wanted to do with Casino Royale, but was turned down.

However, the insider added: 'Whether Nolan coming on board will affect the casting of Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently a grey area  as hes very particular with who he works with.'

Christopher is known for consistently using similar casts in his films, working with another rumoured Bond, Tom Hardy, on three films, Inception, Dunkirk and The Dark Knight Rises.

He has worked with Aaron on 2020 film Tenet, in which the actor played minor character Ives.
Real Housewives Of Dubai star Caroline Stanbury looked incredible as she stripped down to a bikini during a beach trip on Tuesday.

The reality star, 47, shared a series of snaps as she enjoyed a romantic trip with husband Sergio Carrallo, 29, to luxury Oman resort Six Senses Zighy Bay.

Caroline wowed in a chic blue bikini, which showed off her svelte figure.

The star, who underwent a 'car crash' facelift back in November, was looking healthy and happy as she held hands with her hunky husband.

Caroline showed off her tanned physique in her bright blue bikini teamed with a matching cropped shirt.

Real Housewives Of Dubai star Caroline Stanbury looked incredible as she stripped down to a bikini during a beach trip on Tuesday

The reality star, 47, shared a series of snaps as she enjoyed a romantic trip with husband Sergio Carrallo, 29, to luxury Oman resort Six Senses Zighy Bay

Her husband showed off his own muscular physique as he went shirtless in a pair of red shorts for the snaps.

The couple's romantic trip comes two months after Caroline underwent cosmetic surgery.

Three weeks after the facelift, Caroline shared a make-up free video with Instagram followers, admitting the scars had almost gone.

The TV personality was left covered in bandages following the cosmetic procedure, but she insisted the decision to go under the knife had nothing to do with her marriage to 29-year old Sergio Carrallo, who is 18-years her junior.

Asked why she had the facelift if she was confident in her husband, she said: 'This had zero to do with @sergiocarallo he begged me not to do it! I don't worry about my relationship with him one minute of the day.'

In November Stanbury revealed that she had undergone her face-lift in Los Angeles 'with no information whatsoever'.

Since returning back to the UK she has appeared on her podcast Uncut and Uncensored with her Spanish husband.

The socialite admitted on the podcast: 'I decided to have a face-lift with no information whatsoever. I skipped into that surgery like I was having a mole removed.

Caroline wowed in a chic blue bikini, which showed off her svelte figure

Caroline also wowed in a skimpy brown swimsuit as the couple soaked up the sunshine

The couple's romantic trip comes two months after Caroline underwent cosmetic surgery

'This is LA  so, unlike other places where you're sort of taken to hospital and feel like you're having a medical experience, here you're taken to a back room of an office just as if you're having a filler. They put you to sleep and remove your face.

'I looked like I'd been in a car crash and the car definitely didn't win.'

Stanbury said of the ordeal: 'He managed to cut off three inches on my neck and then the full width of my ear from my face.

'The shape of my face is completely wrong for a human: the top half is wider than the bottom half, and my neck is too thick. I have stitches at the front and back of my ear and on my eyelids.'

She explained why she went under the knife: 'I wanted to look exactly like me but fresh.

Three weeks after the facelift, Caroline shared a make-up free video with Instagram followers, admitting the scars had almost gone

In November, Stanbury revealed she'd undergone a facelift at the age of 47 that left her looking like she'd 'been in a car crash'

'I did my upper lip, my eyelids, where they take off the excess skin because I'm 47. I did lower neck, and my neck is so tight right now.

'I really thought it was a half face-lift and I only had one appointment and paid the money.'

She said of the results: 'There is no sign of my face in that face  which is petrifying. I wanted to sue my doctor because when you slightly look at your face everything is in the wrong place.

'Obviously after surgery, things swell differently, on each side, nothing looks even, and my neck doesn't move so it's like a tree trunk.'

Meanwhile Carrallo admitted he'd been left distraught after her surgery.

'There are two wives  the one last week and the wife this week  I don't recognise her,' he said.

Caroline revealed that she had undergone her face-lift in Los Angeles 'with no information whatsoever' (pictured left in July 2023 and right after the surgery)

'It was the worst experience of my life. I was crying; I was trying to look for her and find my wife.'

He added: 'Mentally and emotionally, I've been on the floor. No words can describe how much I'm suffering looking at my wife. I don't want my wife to look fake, I want her to look natural.'

Stanbury, who was previously married to Turkish businessman Cem Habib, said she was also moved to tears.

'When he was crying, I started crying, but my tears were blood,' she said. 'It's the hardest thing I've ever done and no one prepares you for it.'
The BBC has released a statement hitting back at complaints from viewers, after a recent episode of Silent Witness sparked huge backlash.

The new series of the acclaimed crime drama continued on Monday, with Lace Akpojaro and Jude Cudjoe reprising their roles as Roy and Leo.

In the episode, the first of a two-part story, Roy confronted his nephew Leo after he was spotted speaking to a concerned family member.

Roy asked Leo: 'Who's whitey?' and his nephew replied: 'Kevin. He's my aunt's friend. He likes to think he's looking after me.'

The slur left many viewers outraged and they took to social media to question BBC bosses' decisions to include it in the episode.

The BBC has released a statement hitting back at complaints from viewers, after a recent episode of Silent Witness sparked huge backlash

In the episode, the first of a two-part story, Roy confronted his nephew Leo after he was spotted speaking to a concerned family member

However, fans were left outraged that the character used the word 'whitey' during the scene and flocked to social media to slam the show.

One tweeted: 'Is that not deemed racist? I would personally not say the equivalent to a person of colour as I feel that would be racist towards them.'

A second wrote: 'BBC why do you think it was right for a black person to call a white person 'whitey' in last night's programme.'

'How flipping tiresome is the one-way racism on these woke programmes?' posted a third.

A fourth commented: '@Ofcom I think you should investigate the use of 'whitey' as it's truly racist and I find it totally unacceptable?'

The BBC has now released a statement with their stance on the matter, saying: 'Silent Witness is an established fictional drama series set in the modern world.

'The dialogue used was in keeping with this character who is not depicted in a sympathetic light.

'Roy Lock is an antagonist who uses threats and intimidation. He has convictions for Class A drugs, theft by menace, trafficking, GBH and has spent nine years in prison.'

Roy asked Leo: 'Who's whitey?' and his nephew replied: 'Kevin. He's my aunt's friend. He likes to think he's looking after me'

The slur left many viewers outraged and they took to social media to question BBC bosses' decisions to include it in the episode

Silent Witness is no stranger to controversy, with one awkwardly-timed episode seeing the show's killers attempt to murder their victims using a lethal gas in a scene similar to the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith.

The plot of the episode saw university professor accused of murdering some of his 'woke' critics after claiming he was passed over for a promotion for his 'triggering' comments.

But in a dramatic twist it emerges that two of the professor's acolytes are behind the murders and later kidnap two other students who they believe are trying to get him fired from the university.

The killers then tie them both to chairs before placing a gas mask, which is attached to a supply of nitrous oxide, around one of the women's heads in order to suffocate her to death.

He then turns on the valve, releasing the gas, before putting another mask over the second woman. But seconds later the show's protagonist Dr Nikki Alexander and her colleague Jack Hodgson burst into the room, putting an end to their evil plot.

The scene draws shocking parallels to the real life execution of convicted killer Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was put to death on Thursday using nitrogen hypoxia for the first time in history.

The 58-year-old had a firefighters-style mask placed over his face as he was strapped to a gurney inside an execution chamber at the William C. Holman prison in Atmore, Alabama.

Smith was 22-years-old when he was first arrested for the 1988 murder of Elizabeth Sennett.

He was sentenced to death in 1996 after admitting the murder-for-hire killing of the pastor's wife who was beaten and stabbed.

Silent Witness is no stranger to controversy, with one episode seeing the killers attempt to murder victims using a lethal gas in a scene similar to the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith

The scene draws shocking parallels to the real life execution of convicted killer Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was put to death on Thursday using nitrogen hypoxia

Experts had said he would be unconscious within seconds of inhaling the gas - but it took up to seven minutes for him to pass out and another 15 for him to be declared dead.

After the gas began to flow into his mask at 7.53pm, the inmate smiled, nodded toward his family and signed 'I love you'.

Smith made a heart sign with his left hand to his wife Deanna before declaring: 'Tonight Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards... I'm leaving with love, peace and light.'

But soon Smith was wrenching against the straps, gasping, panting loudly and also trying to hold his breath to try to avoid inhaling the nitrogen through a mask covering his entire face.

No doctor was present in the chamber but one arrived at the end to declare him dead at a 8.16pm - just over 22 minutes after the execution began.
The launch date for the new series of Gogglebox will return on Friday February 16 as the nation's armchair critics return to share their TV verdicts.

The show's stars will return to their sofas alongside their family and friends to share their opinions on the past week's biggest and most popular programmes.

The last series of the show wrapped at the end of last year and they have been on a break for a couple of months before the show resumes.

It was revealed at the end of the 22nd series that fan favourite Stephen Lustig-Webb would be leaving the show to pursue other opportunities.

However after signing up for Dancing On Ice, Stephen was sadly forced to withdraw after suffering an injury during training.

The launch date for the new series of Gogglebox will return on Friday February 16 as the nation's armchair critics return to share their TV verdicts (pictured Jenny and Lee)

The show's stars will return to their sofas alongside their family and friends to share their opinions on the past week's biggest and most popular programmes (pictured Giles and Mary)

The last series featured just one new family, Elaine and Seb, and it is yet to be announced if there will be any more changes ahead of series 23.

Gogglebox films the reactions of several families or groups of friends around the United Kingdom to television from the previous week.

The show has won the BAFTA TV Award for 'Reality & Constructed Factual Programme' in 2014 and 2022.

It also has spawned several international versions, a spin-off featuring children, Gogglesprogs, and one of young adults watching online content, Vogglebox.

The news comes following the sad announcement that beloved Gogglebox star Pat Webb had died aged 75 following a 'long illness'.

Pat, who featured on the show from series 10 to 12 alongside her son Stephen, passed away this weekend, aged 75.

Stephen, who appeared on the show for 10 years before leaving in 2023, took to Instagram on Monday and shared a sweet photo of himself with his mother.

He wrote: 'Mummy Pat, you were one in a million, took everyone at face value, would share your last fiver with a stranger, the salt of the earth and the absolute centre of our world! Rest in peace mum.'

The news was also announced on the Gogglebox's social media page.

The news comes following the sad announcement that beloved Gogglebox star Pat Webb had died aged 75 following a 'long illness'

Stephen shared this sweet post alongside the photo as fans of the show sent their condolences

The official Gogglebox account shared this post on Twitter shortly after

A statement read: 'We are deeply saddened to announce that Gogglebox star Mummy Pat Webb passed away this weekend at the age of 75 after a long illness.

'Pat was a much loved cast member on the show from series 10 -12 alongside her son Stephen.

'Mummy Pat will be remembered and missed by her children Stephen, Denise, Sharon, Beverley and the extended family.

'Our thoughts are with the family who have requested privacy at this sad time.'

Fans of Pat took to the comments of the post to share their condolences after the sad news was announced on social media.

They said: 'Aw I loved your mum on Gogglebox, you two were brilliant together. So v sorry to hear this sad news.'

'Omg I'm so sorry. She was such a character on Gogglebox.'

'Oh Stephen I'm so sorry! Your mum was so funny when you were both on Gogglebox. Sending you, Daniel and your family so much love.'

Fans loved to tune in and watch Stephen's lovely relationship with his mother on the show in 2018 after his ex-partner Chris Steed left the programme

Pat joined Gogglebox after Stephen's ex-partner Chris Steed left the programme in 2018.

From 2019 until 2023, Stephen appeared alongside his husband Daniel.

Stephen was one of the series' longest-running stars having joined when it first started in 2013.

The sad news comes after Stephen announced he and Daniel were leaving the show last year.

Stephen confirmed that he wouldn't be returning to Gogglebox after leaving to join Dancing On Ice.

He said at the time: 'It's 10 years and it's time to move on and see what else is out there.

'We filmed our final scenes last series and it's already been shown already. There have been a few opportunities in the pipeline but I'm not going to say too much just yet.

'If I was approached, I would like to do Celeb Bear Grylls - I think I could cope really well.'

From 2019 until 2023, Stephen appeared alongside his husband Daniel (right)

Stephen was one of the series' longest-running stars having joined when it first started in 2013 but left last year to take part in Dancing On Ice (L-R: Stephen with fellow DOI stars Ricky Norwood and Amber Davies)

'But the worst part of the experience would be eating stuff - something like rats would be my nightmare.'

However in a shock turn of events, Stephen was forced to pull out after breaking his left ankle during a training session.

In October last year he was rushed to the Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth, where medics told him he had broken his left ankle and would be on crutches for at least the next three months.

The TV personality underwent an operation to put metal plates into his ankle for additional support.

Sources close to Stephen said he had been 'thoroughly enjoying the new challenge' and getting to know judges Torvill and Dean as well as the other celebrity contestants and was 'gutted' to be losing his place in the competition before the show had even started.

They said at the time: 'Stephen is devastated... he is absolutely gutted.

However in a shock turn of events, Stephen was forced to pull out after breaking his left ankle during a training session

'He was loving training but while turning on his skates he snapped his ankle and was rushed to hospital.

'After two days and an operation to put metal plates into his left ankle, medics informed him that there wasn't a chance he could return to training, so he had no other option but to pull out of the competition.'

A spokesperson for Dancing On Ice said: 'Stephen Lustig-Webb has had to withdraw from the show due to an injury he sustained to his ankle during training.

'He is still very much a part of the Dancing On Ice family, we will be helping to support Stephen and we wish him well with his recovery.'
He's made headlines recently for sensationally quitting his smash hit Netflix show.

And there have been plenty of rumours about the reasons behind his shock exit, with the star confirming last week that 'there was a situation' with one of his castmates.

Born in Missouri, this star sought his fame and fortune in New York after running away from home as a teenager.

He has gone on to help a string of people transform their lives on his hit show, and inspired millions of viewers with his impeccable taste.

As he moves onto new ventures, he has shared a throwback photo on his Instagram, taken when he was 21-years-old and just getting starting in his career and his relationship with his now-husband.

So, can you guess who it is?

He's made headlines recently for sensationally quitting his smash hit Netflix show, can you guess who this TV star (on the left) is from his throwback snap, taken 21 years ago?

It's of course Queer Eye star Bobby Berk!

The designer jumped onto the 'Everyone tap in, let's see you at 21' trend currently circulating Instagram to share a snap of himself with husband Dewey Do.

Bobby, 42, announced in November that he was quitting his Netflix show, which boasts 11 Emmys, after eight seasons igniting rumours of a feud between the interior design expert and the rest of the Fab Five.

Speaking to Vanity Fair on Thursday. Bobby confirmed that it 'wasn't an easy decision' to walk away from Queer Eye.

Bobby explained how the entire cast, which is also made up of Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Tan France, and Karamo Brown, signed seven-cycle contracts ending September 2022, and they believed season eight would be their final run.

'Mentally and emotionally, I thought we all moved on. I know I did, and I started planning other things,' Bobby explained.

But a year on the Fab Five were surprised with new four season contracts, and everyone decided to sign except for Bobby.

'With only one of us not coming back, Netflix felt [it] could recast one person [for the Las Vegas-set ninth season],' he explained.

It's of course Queer Eye star Bobby Berk!

Bobby, 42, announced in November that he was quitting his Netflix show after eight seasons, igniting rumours of a feud between the interior design expert and the rest of the Fab Five

'There were definitely emotions. But each one of us had our reasons why we did what we did. I can't be mad - for a second I was. All the plans that I had made when I thought we weren't coming back, I just wasn't willing to change those.'

Bobby added: 'I would have had to pump the brakes on multiple other projects that are already in process. We had mentally just prepared ourselves to move on - that's why I left.'

Amid rumours of another reason for the exit, Bobby also shocked fans when he admitted in the VF interview that he 'had a moment' with co-star Tan France, which caused him to unfollow the fashion expert on Instagram.

'There was a situation, and that's between Tan and I, and it has nothing to do with the show. It was something personal that had been brewing - and nothing romantic, just to clarify that,' Bobby admitted.

Bobby is now concentrating on his flourishing design agency alongside his 11-year marriage to his maxillofacial surgeon husband Dewey.

Bobby has regularly spoken about his religious upbringing on Queer Eye, revealing that he ran away from home at 15 and moved to nearby city Springfield, later relocating to New York where his career took off.

Speaking to Vanity Fair on Thursday. Bobby confirmed that it 'wasn't an easy decision' to walk away from Queer Eye, which boasts 11 Emmys

Bobby is now concentrating on his flourishing design agency alongside his 11-year marriage to his maxillofacial surgeon husband Dewey

Bobby founded his interior design practice in 2015, with the star saying of his new career phase: 'It's my era of building and developing'

The talented interior designer told The Chaise Lounge in 2016: 'When I was 15, I ran away from home, to get out of the little farm town I was in, to move to the "big city" of Springfield, MO.'

While during the first episode of season two of Queer Eye, Bobby told makeover contestant, Tammye, a churchgoing resident who lives in Georgia, about his negative experiences growing up.

He said: 'I grew up really religious. Once everyone there found out [I was gay], they completely turned their back on me.'

However, it is believed that Bobby has since reconnected with his mother and father as he has shared several photos of them to his Instagram.
Tarek El Moussa broke his silence over what really happened when he darted into the woods with a gun back in 2016, following a 'blowup' fight with ex-wife Christina Hall.

As he revisited the dark chapter of his life, which led to the end of his seven-year marriage, the Flip or Flop star, 42, detailed the infamous incident that involved him taking a firearm to the Chino Hills State Park Main Ridge Trail.

After Hall called 911 to report that her then-husband 'took a handgun' and ran outside, police responded to a report of a 'possibly suicidal male with a gun.'

In his new book, In Flip Your Life: How to Find Opportunity in Distress  in Real Estate, Business and Life, the father-of-three said after getting in an argument with Hall, he 'went out to our backyard in Yorba Linda and hopped over the fence.'

Tarek El Moussa broke his silence over what really happened when he darted into the woods with a gun back in 2016, following a 'blowup' fight with ex-wife Christina Hall (seen in 2020)

While she feared for his life, El Moussa insists he only fled to get some exercise and check out the trails by their property after recently purchasing some new mountain bikes.

Since the trail is also a home to dangerous wildlife, the TV personality, who is now married to Selling Sunset's Heather Rae Young, explained he armed himself with a .38-caliber pistol as an 'insurance policy.'

El Moussa, who had obtained his California concealed-carry license just a few weeks prior, was shocked to see a 'police officer leaning out of the helicopter' pointing a 'rifle' at him.

'Dust swirled around me from the spin of the blades, and a loudspeaker crackled, 'Get your hands in the air!'' he recalled in his book. 'More police in off-road vehicles swarmed.'

El Moussa, then, remembers the office shouting his first name.

'Yes! I'm the guy from TV! What are you guys doing?' he yelled back, prompting them to lower their weapons.

'For the next several hours, I sat on a cooler on my driveway, handcuffed,' he wrote. 'That was the very last time we were together as a family: with Christina walking down the driveway, crying, and me sitting there in handcuffs, asking myself, What in the world is going on?'

As he described the aftermath of their split, El Moussa bluntly said it was 'physical and emotional hell' that led him to retreat to his boat and drink until he was unconscious.

As he revisited the dark chapter of his life, which led to the end of his seven-year marriage, the Flip or Flop star, 42, detailed the infamous incident that involved him taking a firearm to the Chino Hills State Park Main Ridge Trail; pictured in 2016

After Hall called 911 to report that he 'took a handgun, put it in his backpack and ran outside,' police responded to a call of a 'possibly suicidal male with a gun'

While she feared for his life, El Moussa insists he only fled to get some exercise and check out the trails by their property after recently purchasing some new mountain bikes

He noted that he was was also suffering from 'withdrawal from the testosterone hed been taking' and eventually headed to rehab.

At the time, he said on Today's Joe Fryer that he 'absolutely never' had any plans to take his life that day.

Just like in his memoir, he said he brought the firearm to protect himself from 'mountain lions, bobcats and rattlesnakes and big wildlife back there.'

'Everybody gave up on me: the magazines, the outlets, the network, nobody believed in me,' he told People.

While taking a step back from the spotlight, he lived in a 'halfway house' and was still holding onto the hope of rekindling with Hall and reunifying their family.

After finding out she had moved on with Ant Anstead, who she began dating in late 2017, he says 'devastating would be an understatement' to describe his pain.

Following their split, El Moussa began dating Heather Rae Young after meeting on the Fourth of July in 2019

Last year, they welcomed their first child together, a son, named Tristan, who turned one earlier this month

Hall and and Anstead tied the knot in 2018, then announced they were expecting a baby boy together in March 2019.

By 2020, however, just two years after their wedding, they revealed they had split.

Meanwhile El Moussa and Young began dating after meeting on the Fourth of July in 2019.

Last year, they welcomed their first child together, a son, named Tristan, who turned one earlier this month.

El Moussa said meeting Young was his 'breakthrough moment' that caused him never to 'look back' at his old life

In 2022, Hall married Austin-based realtor Joshua Hall.

Seven years after his divorce from Hall, El Moussa said he holds 'nothing against Christina.'

'I understand why she did what she did. We had a lot of hard years through my sicknesses and my mental health struggles from the testosterone,' he told People. 'I've never said any of this, ever.'

El Moussa says he and Hall have an amicable co-parenting relationship and that they 'all communicate well.'

'We really focus on the kids,' he said.

El Moussa also gushed that after meeting Young he has never 'looked back' and is 'just so happy and excited about the family' he has today.

He gushed meeting his wife was his 'breakthrough moment.'
Ozzy Osbourne laughed as he headed out with friends in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The Black Sabbath rocker, 75, was unsteady on his feet and had to use his cane for support as he headed to an office in the city.

Ozzy says he is 'virtually crippled' from multiple back surgeries which he had after his quad bike accident in 2003 and a fall in 2019.

The musician looked frail as he used his cane in one hand while being guided by his female friend, thought to be his assistant.

Despite the challenges to his mobility, Ozzy appeared in high spirits during the outing.

Ozzy Osbourne laughed as he headed out with friends in Los Angeles on Tuesday

The Black Sabbath rocker, 75, was unsteady on his feet and had to use his cane for support as he headed to an office in the city

Ozzy - who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2003 - gave a frank interview last year about his health.

The rocker said he doesn't fear dying as he doesn't want a 'long miserable existence' but there's still 'plenty of life' in him yet.

Doctors found a tumour in his spine during a fourth operation on his back following a 2019 fall.

He told Rolling Stone UK: 'I don't fear dying, but I don't want to have a long, painful and miserable existence.

'I like the idea that if you have a terminal illness, you can go to a place in Switzerland and get it done quickly. I saw my father die of cancer.

'But look, I said to Sharon that I'd smoked a joint recently and she said, "What are you doing that for?

'It'll f***ing kill you!" I said, "How long do you want me to f***ing live for?!" At best, I've got 10 years left and when you're older, time picks up speed.

'Me and Sharon had our 41st wedding anniversary recently, and that's just unbelievable to me!'

Ozzy says he is 'virtually crippled' from multiple back surgeries which he had after his quad bike accident in 2003 and a fall in 2019

The musician looked frail as he used his cane in one hand while being guided by his female friend, thought to be his assistant

Despite the challenges to his mobility, Ozzy appeared in high spirits during the outing

The trio laughed as they enjoyed the sunshine

Ozzy - who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2003 - gave a frank interview last year about his health

Doctors found a tumour in his spine during a fourth operation on his back following a 2019 fall

He said: 'It's really knocked me about. The second surgery went drastically wrong and virtually left me crippled'

Ozzy rocked a long grey coat and trainers as he headed out in LA

Detailing the series of operations he's had recently following his fall in 2019, he confessed: 'It's really knocked me about. The second surgery went drastically wrong and virtually left me crippled.

'I thought I'd be up and running after the second and third, but with the last one they put a f***ing rod in my spine.

'They found a tumour in one of the vertebrae, so they had to dig all that out too. It's pretty rough, man, and my balance is all f****d up.'

In 2022, the musician underwent 'life-altering' surgery to remove and realign a series of pins in his neck and back from a 2003 quad biking accident.

Last September, Ozzy revealed on his family's podcast The Osbournes Podcast that he had another surgery in the pipeline.

He said: 'My lower back is, I'm going for an epidural soon because what's happening, what they've discovered is the neck has been fixed, below the neck there's two vertebrae where the bike hit me and disintegrated, there's nothing left of 'em,'

His son Jack asked: 'Are they fusing discs?'

Ozzy explained that he 'didn't know' what the medical professionals were going to be doing but said: 'All I know is right now, I'm in a lot of pain, I'm in a lot of discomfort'
Lala Kent of Vanderpump Rules was seen in New York City after dropping the bombshell news she will be having her second child on her own.

The 33-year-old blonde was heading to a taping of Watch What Happens Live with host Andy Cohen.

She covered up her midsection with a heavy leopard print winter coat that she pulled in front of her tummy.

Underneath the reality TV siren had on a chocolate brown hoodie mini dress that was so loose it hid her figure. And for some sex appeal, the star added over-the-new black chunky boots that had a shine to them.

She was fully made up with her flaxen hair peeking out from under that hoodie as she flashed long nails and held on to her cell phone.

On her shoulder was a large Louis Vuitton taxi bag that was stuffed.

Lala Kent of Vanderpump Rules was seen in New York City after dropping the bombshell news she will be having her second child on her own

The 33-year-old blonde was heading to a taping of Watch What Happens Live with host Andy Cohen . She covered up her midsection with a heavy leopard print winter coat that she pulled in front of her tummy. Underneath the reality TV siren had on a chocolate brown hoodie mini dress that was so loose it hid her figure

On Tuesday Kent said she has plans to expand her family.

The reality TV siren - whose birth name is Lauren Elyse Burningham - told Cosmopolitan instead of using a male partner, the knockout shared that she wants to do it all on her own.

The baby will be conceived via IUI with the help of a sperm donor.

The red carpet wonder is still partner-free after dumping her fiance, controversial Hollywood producer Randall Emmett, in 2021 amid allegations he cheated.

He is the father of her first child, daughter Ocean, age two. She is set to turn three next month.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a procedure that treats infertility.

IUI boosts the chances of pregnancy by placing specially prepared sperm directly in the uterus, the organ in which a baby develops, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Another name for the procedure is artificial insemination.

Is conceiving her second child on her own via IUI, and she's ready to destigmatize it.

And for some sex appeal, the star added over-the-new black chunky boots that had a shine to them. She was fully made up with her flaxen hair peeking out from under that hoodie as she flashed long nails and held on to her cell phone. On her shoulder was a large Louis Vuitton taxi bag that was stuffed

Kent had the same outfit on when she posed with Ariana Madix and Scheana Shay backstage as Ariana makes her Broadway debut as Roxy Hart in Chicago in NYC on Monday

The Bravo star is doing motherhood her own way because she does not want to wait for a partner after a nasty split with Randall who was accused of cheating on her.

She said 'finding a partner and falling in love with someone' does not have much to do with bringing a child into the world.

Kent added she is fine using a sperm donor.

'It's like you're shopping for your partner but only to have a child, so there's a lot that goes into it,' said the star who looked stunning in the new Cosmo shoot.

'But the moment I found this donor, it just spoke to me. He felt like my baby daddy.'

The IUI process doesn't scare her.

'I would say the IUI process is very much having scientific sex,' said Lala.

'It's the most wild thing in the world.'

Kent said she started thinking differently after Randall broke her heart. 'When I had my life go in a very different direction, I knew I wanted more kids,' said the star as she points to her 2021 split from Randall. Lala and her former partner Randall began dating in 2015. Seen in 2021

The red carpet wonder is still partner-free after dumping her fiance Emmett, in 2021. He is the father of her first child, daughter Ocean, age two

The TV star added, 'When my doctor was explaining it to me, I was like, Oh, this is just like I am in the bedroom with someone, but I don't have to wait for the big O. It's just one and done.

'Like, let's just get it done, get the most valuable thing that comes out of a man, which is his sperm, and I'll be on my way.'

On why she's doing IUI: 'I will not gamble on me having my child.

'And I just don't think that finding a partner and falling in love with someone has anything to do with bringing a child into the world.'

Kent said she started thinking differently after Randall broke her heart.

'When I had my life go in a very different direction, I knew I wanted more kids,' said the star as she points to her 2021 split from Randall.

Lala and her former partner Randall began dating in 2015.

She then said: 'It was such a strange thing that was happening because everyone would tell me, "You're going to find somebody."

'And I got to thinking, "Why does my wanting more children need to involve another person?"' she explained.

(l-r) James Kennedy and Randall Emmett on Vanderpump Rules

On her advice to other women: 'If you want children and are only waiting for "that person" to come into your life, let's talk about a different route that we can take.

'It's 2024! There are many ways to have a baby, and you don't need a man to do it.'

The busy star also said that sometimes she has felt bad for her child.

'I sometimes suffer with guilt because I did have an easy time with Ocean,' shared Lala.

'My life has completely blown up, and yet I have this healthy, happy baby, which I'm so grateful for. But you do struggle with the, Why me?'
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West reunited for dinner at Nobu Malibu on Tuesday evening.

The reality TV personality, 43, enjoyed a rare family gathering with the rapper, 46, with their children for their 10-year-old daughter North West's dinner party with her school friends.

The cordial exes were spotted arriving minutes apart and West's current wife Bianca Censori was nowhere to be seen.

Their eldest daughter North and her friends all wore matching oversize long-sleeved Vultures shirts to celebrate the upcoming release of Ye's album Vultures.

Hours later, West would go on to post an extremely racy photo of his architectural designer wife, 29, before wiping his Instagram account entirely  presumably in anticipation of his forthcoming album release.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West reunited for dinner at Nobu Malibu on Tuesday evening. The reality TV personality, 43, enjoyed a rare family gathering with the rapper, 46, with their children for their 10-year-old daughter North West's dinner party with her school friends

For their mid-week reunion, Kardashian put on a stylish display in a super cropped tube top teamed with high-waisted trousers made out of velour or fur. She wore a long velvet trench coat in a matching material and patent leather booties to add inches to her height

For their mid-week reunion, Kardashian put on a stylish display in a super cropped tube top teamed with high-waisted trousers made out of velour or fur.

She wore a long velvet trench coat in a matching material and patent leather booties to add inches to her height.

She left her raven black tresses down in messy beach waves and opted for a monochromatic pink makeup look.

The SKIMS founder was seen walking out with her cell phone in one hand and a crystallized stiletto clutch purse from Balenciaga.

North as well as cousin Penelope Disick, 11, and their friends wore matching Vultures tops and black Yeezy slides.

West pulled up in an eye-catching look he has been sporting as of late.

He donned a leather bomber jacket teamed with wax jeans and unlaced combat boots.

The 24-time Grammy winner covered up his face in a hosiery mask, which he also wore as he got into his Range Rover.

She showcased her taut abs in the midriff-revealing ensemble

The SKIMS founder was seen walking out with her cell phone in one hand and a crystallized stiletto clutch purse from Balenciaga.

Their eldest daughter North and her friends all wore matching oversize long-sleeved Vultures shirts to celebrate the upcoming release of Ye's album Vultures

North was at her father's listening party in Miami during last year's Art Basel and will be contributing to his album

West also appeared to be parked in a handicap parking spot.

Early Wednesday morning, he wiped his Instagram account just hours after sharing a risque snap of his wife posing braless in a sheer Yeezy tank top and a very racy micro thong.

Although all of his grid posts have been scrubbed from his account, he still left up two of his Instagram Stories posts of a model and his wife wearing a 'WET' shirt from his clothing line.

An early adopter of the social media blackout, West may be preparing for the release of his upcoming, collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign, 41.

The two artists will be joining forces as a duo named $ and releasing their debut studio album Vultures next month.

In a since deleted post, West shared a trailer for Vultures and revealed they will be releasing the album in three separate volumes.

The first edition, which has been postponed multiple times since a live-streamed listening session in Miami late last year, is slated for February 9.

The second volume is expected for March 8, and the following will drop on April 5.

North as well as cousin Penelope Disick, 11, and their friends wore matching Vultures tops and black Yeezy slides

She left her raven black tresses down in messy beach waves and opted for a monochromatic pink makeup look.

West pulled up in an eye-catching look he has been sporting as of late

Vultures is West's first album since he was entangled in a string of controversies  most notably condemned for his offensive and antisemitic rants.

His new album is being self-released.

The controversial star has since issued a public apology to the Jewish community in a 40-minute apology video, which Censori 'pressured' him to do.

He previously posted a written apology in Hebrew for his string of unhinged and offensive outbursts.

He rapped antisemitic lyrics in Dubai and praised Hitler in Las Vegas last month.

In November, the Anti-Defamation League called Kanye 'disgusting, unrepentant, and clearly a misogynist' for writing the lyric 'How am I antisemitic? I just f***ed a Jewish b****' in the title track Vultures.

Close friends of Censori revealed to DailyMail.com that she was concerned for their safety and urged him to apologize.

He donned a leather bomber jacket teamed with wax jeans and unlaced combat boots

The 24-time Grammy winner covered up his face in a hosiery mask, which he also wore as he got into his Range Rover

He was wearing a gold wedding band but his wife Bianca Censori, 29, was nowhere to be seen

He appeared to be parked in a handicapped parking spot before leaving their family dinner

'Kanye was pressured by Bianca to make this video because she was extremely worried that he was putting their safety at risk,' an insider revealed.

'They have had threats and her friends have expressed their fear in several text messages to her.'

The source also revealed that Ye has been unhappy with the messages of concern Censori has been receiving from her friends, who are urging her to 'get out while she can' and 'come back home'.

Just days earlier, West made headlines for a heated exchange with a reporter in a now-viral clip after they approached him and asked if he restricts his wife of any 'free will'.
Millie Gibson seemingly brushed off her shock Doctor Who axe as she continued to live it up in Costa Rica.

The actress, 19, has been spending time in the country while Ncuti Gatwa films the show with his new companion Varadu Sethu, 32, in Wales.

Millie, who is rumoured to be heading back to Coronation Street, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share highlights from her sun-soaked trip.

The actress showed off her toned figure in a white crochet bikini top but appeared to have caught the sun as she sported a rather red face and chest.

In another, Millie admired the sunset on a wooden terrace with a glass of wine.

Millie Gibson seemingly brushed off her shock Doctor Who axe as she continued to live it up in Costa Rica

The actress, 19, has been spending time in the country while Ncuti Gatwa films for the show with his new companion Varadu Sethu, 32

She captioned the post: 'Pure vida' with Ncuti, who plays The Doctor, showing his support by commenting on the post: 'My beaut'

The former soap star also shared a selection of landscape snaps as she hit the beach and admired the rainforest wildlife.

She captioned the post: 'Pure vida' with Ncuti, who plays The Doctor, showing his support by commenting on the post: 'My beaut'.

Millie starred as the 15th Doctor's companion Ruby Sunday in Doctor Who but, despite the success of the 2023 Christmas special, she was axed from the show's second series.

Showrunner Russell T Davies has reportedly already written out her character and will only retuned to 'tie up loose ends' after her first series ends.

Yet all is not lost for the star, as it is rumoured that she could be returning to her Corrie role as Kelly Neelan, a part she played from 2019 to 2022.

Rumours among soap fans have been rife as they are convinced they have figured out Millie's next TV move following Russell's comments during a commentary of the Christmas Day 2023 episode.

Sitting alongside Millie and the episode's producer Chris May, Russell joked about Millie's name being broadcast across the screen in big letters.

He suggested that was what was missing from her time in Coronation Street.

Millie stared as the 15th Doctor's companion Ruby Sunday but, despite the success of the 2023 Christmas special, she was axed from the show's second series (pictured with Ncuti Gatwa)

Millie, who is rumoured to be heading back to Coronation Street , took to Instagram on Wednesday to share highlights from her sun-soaked trip

Millie put on a busty display in a blue bikini in one polaroid image

The former soap star also shared a selection of landscape snaps as she hit the beach and admired the rainforest wildlife

Millie shared a snap of the picturesque beach

Millie has been taking some time out from her acting career to head on the holiday of a lifetime

All is not lost for the star, as it is rumoured that she could be returning to her old stomping ground on Coronation Street, where she played Kelly Neelan

Varada Sethu has been confirmed as Doctor Who's latest companion, with the actress pictured filming scenes for the new series last week

'Should've had that cat and the cobbles and Millie Gibson,' he said, before assuring her that he'd have a word with the team over at the ITV soap.

But one Twitter/X user pointed out that he seemed to mumble 'when you go back' at the end of the sentence.

This mumble led to spiraling rumours on social media as fans are evidently eager to see the blonde beauty back on their screens.

Last week, Varada, 32, who is best known for playing DS Mishal Ali in the BBC apocalyptic TV Series Hard Sun, filmed scenes in Wales with Ncuti.

The actress was seen on set with Ncuti as Penarth Pier was transported back to the 1950s with American cars, including a 1954 Cadillac sat outside the Palazzo theatre.
Erin Moriarty emerged for the first time in public since abruptly quitting Instagram after Megyn Kelly alleged she underwent plastic surgery to 'completely change her face.'

Amid her decision to take some time off social media following an explosive episode of The Megyn Kelly Show, in which the talk show host, 53, accused her getting numerous cosmetic procedures, the 29-year-old actress enjoyed some quality time with her two dogs in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday.

The Boys star showcased her natural complexion while going makeup-free as she took a leisurely stroll around her neighborhood.

For her laid-back excursion, the performer, who was rocking a blue manicure, wore a charcoal grey and white zip-up hoodie, black leggings and a pair of striped slides.

Erin Moriarty emerged for the first time in public since abruptly quitting Instagram after Megyn Kelly alleged she underwent plastic surgery to 'completely change her face'

She was also wearing a dog carrier sling, but opted to carry one of her pooches as the other roamed off-leash by her side.

Despite attempting to spend less time online due to the 'harassment' caused by Kelly's comments, Moriarty was glued to her phone.

Over the weekend, she hit back at Kelly's claims in a lengthy Instagram post and accused the media personality of 'bullying' her.

'We're all subject to levels of bullying throughout our lives but I am horrified,' Moriarty wrote, noting that Kelly used an image from before her 21st birthday to compare the differences to her current appearance.

She continued: 'And I specifically thought that as I emerge this period of time - so stressed that I have BARELY been able to eat and sleep - I thought ok, I'm going to emerge this 10 pounds thinner and the verbal abuse/ accusations will be flying.'

While Moriarty said she was expecting viewers to suspect she was on drugs or hit her with 'a flippant 'just eat a burger' comment', she was stunned by the hostile reaction that came instead.

'To receive a message about a disgustingly false, counterproductive to the degree of being ironically misogynistic video of Megyn Kelly commenting on the manner (sic) - to learn the widespread nature of this has left me horrified.'

Although Kelly claimed in her appearance that the image of Moriarty, which the actress shared recently on her Instagram before deleting it, was from 'a year ago', Moriarty said it was actually far older.

Following her decision to take some time off social media following an explosive episode of The Megyn Kelly Show, in which the talk show host, 53, accused her of being 'obsessed' with augmenting her face, the 29-year-old actress enjoyed some quality time with her two dogs in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday

The Boys star showcased her natural complexion while going makeup-free as she took a leisurely stroll around her neighborhood

For her laid-back excursion, the performer, who was rocking a blue manicure, wore a charcoal grey and white zip-up hoodie, black leggings and a pair of striped slides

She said the picture 'had in actuality been taken about a decade ago before I was of LEGAL DRINKING AGE', and called on Kelly to 'maybe do some research that would take 30 seconds.'

'How utterly misinformed, inaccurate and clickbait seeking people who we follow and consider to be informed is appalling,' Moriarty said in the furious post, which contained a number of grammatical errors.

Moriarty, who has 1.9 million Instagram followers, deleted all her posts, apart from her statement about Kelly.

Her post has received 135,000 likes, including thumbs-up from Chace Crawford, Jack Quaid and screenwriter Eric Kripke.

She also was wearing a dog carrier sling, but opted to carry one of her pooches as the other roamed off-leash by her side

Despite attempting to spend less time online due to the 'harassment' caused by Kelly's comments, Moriarty was glued to her phone

Over the weekend, she hit back at Kelly's claims in a lengthy Instagram post and accused the media personality of 'bullying' her with 'disgustingly false' remarks on her looks

'We're all subject to levels of bullying throughout our lives but I am horrified,' Moriarty wrote, noting that Kelly used an image from before her 21st birthday to compare the differences to her current appearance

Kripke commented: 'Love you. Seriously they can f**k off... beyond the cruelty, its just patently false. Be kind, people.'

The remarks in question came in Kelly's podcast earlier this month with journalist Michael Knowles, where she accused Moriarty of 'completely changing her face' with plastic surgeries.

While speaking about Moriarty, Kelly said: 'She's got the Kim Kardashian lips. She's made her nose so skinny it looks like a pencil now.'

The podcast host also speculated the actress got 'cheek implants.'

Kelly sparked backlash with a recent podcast appearance, where she said Moriarty 'got the Kim Kardashian lips' and 'made her nose so skinny, it looks like a pencil now'

In response, Moriarty said the 'before' image was taken a decade ago, and her changed look was only due to 'contouring'

Moriarty, best known for her portrayal of Annie January/Starlight on Amazons The Boys, is pictured above in 2013

'More and more young women are doing this,' she said. 'It's not about an objection to plastic surgery, it's about an obsession with turning yourself into this fake version of yourself... I find it like a sign of mental illness.'

The mother-of-three continued: 'It's extremely upsetting. It's just a massive turnoff to me. I really want to get in the heads of these young girls and say, 'Please don't do this.''

Moriarty is best known for her portrayal of Annie January/Starlight on Amazons The Boys (2019present) as well as roles in the series Jessica Jones (2015), True Detective (2014), and Red Widow (2013).

She began acting in 2005, when she was just 11, after landing the part of Annie in a 2005 community theater production of Annie.

As a teenager, she made cameos in shows like One Life to Live and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Notably, Moriarty was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for starring in the critically acclaimed film Captain Fantastic.
Tanzania's Zanzibari doctors achieve 1st laparoscopic surgery with Chinese assistance

Xinhua) 13:23, January 31, 2024

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The 33rd batch of the Chinese medical team has successfully trained local doctors in Tanzania's Zanzibar to independently perform the first laparoscopic surgery, the team leader said on Tuesday.

Jiang Guoqing, the leader of the medical team with extensive experience in laparoscopic surgeries, said that since June 2022, the Chinese medical team in Zanzibar has decided to strengthen the training of local surgeons in laparoscopic surgery techniques.

"After training, the local doctors performed this kind of surgery completely and independently," Jiang said.

Rashid Masoud Said, one of the doctors who have completed the laparoscopic surgery, said he was grateful to the Chinese medical team for their guidance.

Zanzibar's Minister for Health Nassor Ahmed Mazrui thanked the Chinese medical team, saying that it has not only performed countless surgeries but has also helped widen the professional knowledge of the local doctors. "The Chinese medical team has always adhered to the saying 'teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.'"

The 33rd batch of the Chinese medical team, comprising 22 members, arrived in Zanzibar in September last year.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ellie Leach and Bobby Brazier couldn't hide their smiles as they stepped out in Liverpool on Wednesday night amid the Strictly Come Dancing tour.

Coronation Street actress, 22, and the EastEnders star, 20, have reportedly been enjoying secret dates in recent weeks.

Ellie wore her favourite leather biker jacket, teamed with wide-legged grey jeans as she sported minimal makeup before heading to the dancefloor.

Meanwhile Bobby wore a smart black coat and had headphones on as she headed out in the rainy conditions.

Also heading to the M&S Bank Arena were a host of other dancers on the tour including Bobby's partner Dianne Buswell, Angela Scanlon and pro Karen Hauer.

Ellie Leach (left) and Bobby Brazier (right) couldn't hide their smiles as they stepped out in Liverpool on Wednesday night amid the Strictly Come Dancing tour

Coronation Street actress, 22, and the EastEnders star, 20, have reportedly been enjoying secret dates in recent weeks

It comes soon after Bobby was reportedly seen knocking on Ellie's hotel room door in just his pants, while staying at the Malmaison hotel in Birmingham.

To celebrate the tour kicking off, a party was thrown in the hotel bar when the soap star was spotted in his underwear on the sixth floor.

A hotel guest told The Sun: 'Bobby was in our corridor knocking on Ellie's door after their late-night bash at the hotel.

'Bobby was clearly not shy about nearly being in the buff as we were making our way down to breakfast.'

Bobby and the soap star beauty have continued to fuel romance rumours they are an item.

According to insiders the two have grown closer since embarking on the UK tour this month.

The pair have also been pictured enjoying time together away from their Strictly co-stars, cosying up on a low-key date at Nando's earlier this month and arriving at the hotels together.

Bobby wore a smart black coat and had headphones on as she headed out in the rainy conditions

It comes soon after Bobby was reportedly seen knocking on Ellie's hotel room door in just his pants, while staying at the Malmaison hotel in Birmingham

Also heading to the M&S Bank Arena were a host of other dancers on the tour including Bobby's partner Dianne Buswell (pictured), Angela Scanlon and pro Karen Hauer

Angela wore dark shades and baggy light blue jeans as she stepped out in style in Liverpool amid the tour

Pro Karen wore a bright yellow coat and baggy black jogging bottoms

Jowita Przysta was also among the group heading to the arena in Liverpool amid the successful tour

Nancy Xu was all bundled up amid the bad weather

Ellie and her pro partner Vito Coppola were crowned Strictly champions last year, with the pair repeatedly dogged by romance rumours throughout the series.

The former Coronation Street actress became the show's youngest ever winner as she pipped Bobby and Layton Williams to the post.

Following the news about her and Bobby's rumoured romance, her cheating ex-boyfriend Reagan Pettman says he wants to 'rebuild the trust' with the star while admitting he's 'not proud' of kissing another girl behind her back.

Ellie dated dancer Reagan for five years before they went their separate ways in May last year.

She reportedly joined the cast of Strictly last year to heal her heartbreak following her break-up.

He told The Sun on Sunday: 'I hurt her and broke her heart. I'm not proud of it.'

Angela Rippon wore a padded purple coat as she beamed for the cameras

Nadiya Bychkova covered her face with a khaki cap while out and about

Annabel Croft carried a lovely bunch of flowers with her

Katya Jones looked as chic as ever as she arrived with a pal
Gloria Hunniford cosied up to rarely seen husband Stephen Way at The King And I press night at the Dominion Theatre in London on Wednesday.

The TV presenter, 83, turned heads in an eye catching gold velvet coat which she donned over a black blouse and trousers.

She accessorised with a bold yellow necklace and toted her belongings around in a large woven handbag.

The Loose Women panellist was all smiles as she completed her evening look with a stunning palette of makeup including a swipe of red lipstick.

She beamed as she posed with husband Stephen, 80, who she married in 1998, as he dressed smart in a black suit complete with a silver tie and scarf.

Gloria Hunniford cosied up to rarely seen husband Stephen Way at The King And I press night at the Dominion Theatre in London on Wednesday

The TV presenter, 83, turned heads in an eye catching gold velvet coat which she donned over a black blouse and trousers

Meanwhile Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith commanded attention in a multi-coloured patterned long cardigan.

She added a stylish orange jumper and navy trousers underneath and kept comfortable in a pair of trainers.

This Morning's Gyles Brandreth seemed in high spirits as he showed off his heart jumper as he posed for photos on the red carpet.

Alice Beer looked incredible in a black jumpsuit which she teamed with a stunning long green wool coat.

Elsewhere David Seaman and Frankie Poultney cosied up as they posed for photos together ahead of the show.

It comes after Gloria's husband Stephen was left partially blind after suffering a second stroke last year

He lost the sight in his right eye and he has said it is not expected to return.

He told the Mirror: 'I woke up in the morning and there was blood in the eye and that was it. I can see a little but not that good.'

Speaking of the blood vessel damage that is causing the sight loss, he added: 'It is from the heart to the eye, and then from the eye to the brain, so it is damaged. It is the first time I have had something like this with the eye.

She accessorised with a bold yellow necklace and toted her belongings around in a large woven handbag

The Loose Women panellist was all smiles as she completed her evening look with a stunning palette of makeup including a swipe of red lipstick

Meanwhile Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith commanded attention in a multi-coloured patterned long cardigan

She added a stylish orange jumper and navy trousers underneath and kept comfortable in a pair of trainers

This Morning's Gyles Brandreth seemed in high spirits as he showed off his heart jumper as he posed for photos on the red carpet

'I had to go to hospital  then Northfield [Hospital, West London] and then neurology but thankfully it was not a long wait at A&E. I just went straight through. I am coping OK with it all. Its fine but just disorientating.'

It comes after Gloria revealed how she was rushed to A&E by ambulance before being diagnosed with sepsis of the kidney in March.

The star said she was left 'flattened' and 'drained of all energy' following the ordeal earlier this year.

Gloria first underwent surgery for kidney stones, where doctors put in a stent, however after the operation she began to feel unwell.

She was then went under the knife for a second time, telling the Mirror: 'The last thing [Doctors] said before I went to theatre was: "When I take this stent out you are going to feel so much better.

'But the next thing I knew coming out of the anesthetic, was a nurse saying to me, "Don't worry, don't panic but we are having to transfer you by ambulance to a different hospital because we can't get your blood pressure up".'

Gloria was then sent to a nearby A&E in Maidstone, Kent where doctors informed her she had sepsis of the kidney.

Sepsis occurs when the body reacts to an infection by attacking its own organs and tissues. Around 44,000 people die from sepsis every year in the UK. Worldwide, someone dies from the condition every 3.5 seconds.

Alice Beer looked incredible in a black jumpsuit which she teamed with a stunning long green wool coat

Elsewhere David Seaman and Frankie Poultney cosied up as they posed for photos together ahead of the show

She revealed her relief that the disease had not spread beyond the kidney, saying: 'I guess that's why I felt so awful and it did flatten me for a while.'

Despite doctors saying it could take six months to return to normality, Gloria was back at work within weeks.

The host, who fronts Loose Women and BBC's Rip Of Britain went on to tell the publication she is now back to '98%' health.
Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk kept their distance from one another as they arrived separately at their six-year-old Lea's school in New York City on Wednesday.

While the exes have maintained an amicable co-parenting relationship since their 2019 split, an eyewitness told DailyMail.com that the Maestro star, 49, and 38-year-old Russian model 'completely avoided one another' during their latest exchange.

After the 12-time Oscar nominee dropped off his little girl, her mother 'walked in by herself' about five minutes later.

Shortly after, Shayk left 'the school for coffee' before making a quick return.

Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk kept their distance from one another as they arrived separately at their six-year-old Lea's school in New York City on Wednesday

While the exes have maintained an amicable co-parenting relationship since their 2019 split, an eyewitness told DailyMail.com that the Maestro star, 49, and 38-year-old Russian model 'completely avoided one another' during their latest exchange

Cooper looked handsome in a navy peacoat, jeans and white sneakers with grey accents as he left the building with both hands buried into his pockets.

Shayk looked typically chic in an all-black ensemble from Aritzia, including a long coat and stiletto boots

Both Lea's parents have both moved on romantically from one another. Cooper is currently in a relationship with Gigi Hadid while Shayk is dating Tom Brady.

Despite opting to ignore each other, Shayk recently called the actor 'the best father' that she could dream of for their child.

In November, she told Elle that they 'always made it work' when it comes to co-parenting.

'We both take Lea everywhere with us. She's super easy. Two days ago, I had to go to the gym, so I just got her a drawing book and said, ''Mama's working out.'' she explained.

The catwalk queen continued: 'She was drawing for an hour. Then we went to the Michael Kors fitting. She met all the girls. Michael gave her a bag. She drew him a kitty cat.'

Irina added that even when Bradley is in the middle of filming, they plan a schedule that works for both of them, saying: 'We always find a way.

After the 12-time Oscar nominee dropped off his little girl, her mother 'walked in by herself' about five minutes later

He apparently did not cross paths with Shayk after dropping off Lea and heading out

Shayk looked typically chic in an all-black ensemble, including a long coat and stiletto boots

'He's the best father Lea and I could dream of. It always works, but it always works because we make it work.

'I share my work stuff because I decided to keep my personal life personal. That's why it's called personal, because it's something that belongs to me. If one day I feel like I want to share it, I will.'

While reflecting on her own career, Irina admitted she finds the practice of categorizing models as 'commercial' or 'fashion' to be very grating, and simply views her job as something that pays the bills.

Speaking in a mock-contrite tone, she said: 'I'm so sorry I did this lingerie job,' before dismissing the idea that she is no longer in financial straits.

'It doesn't matter even if I'm doing it now,' she said. 'I have to pay my bills. I don't have a rich husband. I don't have a sugar daddy, so I have to pay.'

Irina is also raising her daughter to be aware of why she works so hard, explaining that when Lea complains she is going away, she tells her: 'You want to go on vacation, right? You want to go shopping? So I'm going to London. You're going to be with Daddy, because Mama has to work.'

Despite opting to ignore each other, Shayk recently called the actor 'the best father' that she could dream of for their child (Cooper and Lea pictured in December 2023)

'Looking at my daughter now, she's growing up in a completely different environment,' the cover girl marveled.

'She lives in the West Village. She went to all these countries in two months. But we want her to know the value of stuff. We want to show our daughter, ''You have to work hard to get something.'''

Irina, who grew up in Yemanzhelinsk, a small town in Russia, admitted she came from a 'humble background,' but never thought she 'wanted to have a different life.'

When her coal miner father passed away when she was 14, Irina said she felt a responsibility to ease the strain on her mother, who was now a single parent raising two daughters.

She explained: 'My dad had always wanted to have a boy. He loved us, but when he died, I kind of felt like, ''I have to take care of the family.''

'I always thought I was born in the wrong body. I hated being a girl. I remember fights with my mom; she wanted to dress me in something flowery.

'I wanted dark colours and something solid. It wasn't that I wanted to be a boy, but I felt like, ''I don't belong to my body.''

In November, she told Elle that they 'always made it work' when it comes to co-parenting; pictured in 2018

Shayk, who grew up in Yemanzhelinsk, a small town in Russia, admitted she came from a 'humble background,' but never thought she 'wanted to have a different life' (seen in 2016)

Irina moved to Paris when she kickstarted her modelling career, but faced a mixed reaction to her figure.

'I had agents who said, 'You have to cut your hair, lose 20 pounds, and become blonde. And I was like, ''Absolutely f**king no.'''

No stranger to social media criticism and commentary, Irina insists she's not a people pleaser and the opinions simply come with her job.

She said: 'That's what you get. Not everybody is going to like you. And I don't want everyone to like me. I am who I am.

'I'm not going to change because somebody who has nothing to do in their life is saying some bulls**t about me or how I dress or how I'm parenting. No, get your life together.'

It's been reported that Irina was the one who introduced Bradley to his new girlfriend.

It's been reported that Irina was the one who introduced Bradley to his new girlfriend, Gigi Hadid (pictured above this week)

Meanwhile Shayk is reportedly dating Tom Brady (seen last month)

'Gigi was introduced to Bradley through Irina [Shayk] and their mutual friends in the industry,' a source previously dished to The Messenger.

'Gigi and Irina have been close over the years while working together, and Gigi and Bradley have hung out before, but it has always been friendly in social settings,' the source continued.

Bradley and Gigi have plenty in common, including having children from prior relationships.

'Gigi and Bradley were in touch recently, and were bonding over their daughters, when Bradley asked her out,' a source told Page Six, before adding,' He pursued her and she was definitely interested and excited'.

Gigi co-parents her three-year-old daughter Khai with her ex-boyfriend Zayn Malik, 30, who dated on/off for nearly five years before their finite split in late 2021.
Casey OGorman made a surprise entrance to the Love Island: All Stars villa on Wednesday night as the series' latest bombshell.

The former recruitment consultant, 27, appeared on the show during 2023's winter season and caused a stir when he found himself conflicted between Claudia Fogarty and Rosie Seabrook.

And it appears Casey hasn't been deterred by last year's love triangle drama as he vowed to crack on with his best friend Tom Clare's partner Molly Smith.

The pals, who share a flat together in London, might have to battle it out for the personal trainer's attention.

Speaking about Molly ahead of his entrance, Casey admitted: 'I genuinely think she is a 10 out of 10.

Casey OGorman, 27, made a surprise entrance to the Love Island: All Stars villa on Wednesday night as the series' latest bombshell

And it appears he hasn't been deterred by last year's love triangle drama as he vowed to crack on with his best friend Tom Clare's partner Molly Smith

He added: 'She seems to have the same interests as me in terms of fitness, but it might be a bit of a hurdle.'

Tom and Molly have been getting to know each other in recent days despite Georgia Steel's attempts to continue flirting with him as they share history.

Elsewhere Casey admitted that he's interested in Georgia Harrison and Georgia Steel.

He also told how he has a bit of history with Georgia H and is keen to see if anything with her can 'develop in any way'.

Casey and Georgia were seen getting cosy at an event in September 2023, but he explained 'communication died off between them.'

Discussing how he would feel about seeing an ex in the Villa or someone he's dated before, he said: 'Luckily, Im not an awkward person so it wouldnt bother me. I will take it all in my stride.'

Casey's entrance came after Hannah Elizabeth and Tyler Cruickshank became the latest islanders dumped from the villa.

Elsewhere on Wednesday's episode, the islanders voted for Hannah, 33, and Tyler, 28, to be eliminated ahead of bombshells Casey O'Gorman and Joanna Chimonides' arrival.

But viewers watching vented their frustrations as the boys picked Hannah out of all the girls to send home, with many thinking Georgia Steel, 25, should have gone after Tuesday's explosive episode.

The former recruitment consultant, appeared on the show during 2023's winter season and caused a stir when he found himself conflicted between Claudia Fogarty and Rosie Seabrook (pictured on the show with Claudia)

It was up to Tom Clare to deliver the news to Hannah. He said: 'We don't want to see any girls packing the bags.

'We've had to think about people who maybe haven't tried as much or in weaker couples. The girl we have decided to dump is Hannah.'

Fans took to X, formerly Twitter, as they reacted to Hannah's departure.

They wrote: 'nooooo not hannaaaaaahhh' (sic) and 'Hannah is so lovely but I just don't think she will find someone in there, they did the right thing I think although I wish it was georgia s.'

'How does Hannah get kicked and not Georgia?' and 'No why Hannah OMG I'm done'.

'No way did they just dump my mother Hannah'.

Love Island: All Stars continues tomorrow night at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
Eiza Gonzalez showed off her new haircut while arriving to JFK airport in New York City on Wednesday.

The actress, who is in town for the Mr. and Mrs. Smith premiere, rocked a shoulder-length bob while heading out of the airport.

Eiza sported long hair last week while at TAO in LA, an event held with Casa Azul in honor of her birthday.

The actress turned 34 years old on Tuesday, January 30.

Eiza Gonzalez showed off her new haircut while arriving to JFK airport in New York City on Wednesday

The actress, who is in town for the Mr. and Mrs. Smith premiere, rocked a shoulder-length bob while heading out of the airport

Eiza styled her new short locks slightly wavy, opting for a center part

Eiza styled her new short locks slightly wavy, opting for a center part.

She cut a casual figure, wearing a belted black coat with a cream colored hoodie and matching sweats beneath.

The bombshell wore New Balance sneakers, small framed sunglasses and a carried a small black Prada bag to round out her casual airport look.

Last week, Eiza showed off her long brunette during an event held in her honor - with Casa Azul at TAO in LA.

She looked incredible at the event, which took place on January 23.

Eiza wore a fitted short-sleeved dress that was white with orange accents along the pockets.

Two weeks prior, Eiza chose a plunging teal colored gown at The Walt Disney Company Emmy Awards party.

The stunning brunette chose a draped gown that showcased a hint of cleavage and some of her torso.

Eiza sported long hair last week while at TAO in LA, an event held with Casa Azul in honor of her birthday; seen at the event on January 23

She looked incredible at the event, which took place on January 23. Eiza wore a fitted short-sleeved dress that was white with orange accents along the pockets

Two weeks prior, Eiza chose a plunging teal colored gown at The Walt Disney Company Emmy Awards party; pictured on January 15 at the event

Eiza has a number of projects in the pipeline, including a role in one episode of the new prime series Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Eiza has a number of projects in the pipeline, including a role in one episode of the new prime series Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

She is also in three episodes of 3 Body Problem, as well as The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Ash, La Maquina, Fountain of Youth and an untitled Guy Ritchie project.

Eiza became a household name after starring in the Argentine series Suena conmigo, and also as Santanico Pandemonium in From Dusk till Dawn: The Series developed by Robert Rodriguez, Baby Driver and Alita: Battle Angel.
When 'King of Clubs' Richard Caring did not reopen the London dining room Le Caprice after Covid lockdowns, rival restaurateur Jeremy King thought he had pulled off a clever trick by snapping up the lease on the building, which is around the corner from The Ritz.

Now, however, Caring is planning to cock a snook at King by reopening Le Caprice in a new spot. And his restaurant will be the one called Le Caprice because Caring still owns the name.

I can confirm that Caring is in talks about reopening Le Caprice at The Chancery Rosewood, the 1 billion hotel and leisure redevelopment of the former U.S. Embassy building in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair. The hotel, owned by Qatari Diar, is due to open next year.

'It's going to be fascinating to see who will go to Le Caprice and who will go to the old 'Caprice',' a source tells me.

Princess Diana was among the regular diners at Le Caprice when it was at 20 Arlington Street.

'King of Clubs' Richard Caring (pictured) is in talks about reopening Le Caprice at The Chancery Rosewood

Princess Diana (pictured leaving Le Caprice on January 27, 1994) was among the regular diners at Le Caprice when it was at 20 Arlington Street

King, who ran Le Caprice himself from 1981 to 2005 before selling it to Caring, is to call his restaurant Arlington. He will be joined by Le Caprice's popular maitre d' Jesus Adorno when it opens later this year. Its classic dishes, such as bang bang chicken, salmon fish cakes and steak tartare, will be back on the menu.

King, who was ousted from his Corbin & King restaurant group last year, insists: 'One thing I want to avoid is napkin wars. There's plenty of room for [both of] us. Caring has done a particularly good job with the demographic he appeals to, and I embrace a different demographic.'

Caring, who also owns The Ivy, J Sheekey, Scott's and Annabel's, refuses to be drawn into a slanging match over 'demographics' with King. 'I wish him all the luck in the world with it,' Caring tells me magnanimously.

Heartbroken Helen sells country pile

When Helen Skelton and her husband, rugby star Richie Myler, bought their family home in 2015, the Countryfile presenter said it made her 'heart sing'.

Now, she may be pleased to see the back of it after the York Knights scrum-half walked out when their third child was just four months old.

I can disclose that the former couple have accepted an offer on the four-bedroom house in West Yorkshire, which they put on the market for 895,000 last summer.

When Helen Skelton (pictured) and her husband, rugby star Richie Myler, bought their family home in 2015, the Countryfile presenter said it made her 'heart sing'. Now the former couple have accepted an offer on the four-bedroom house in West Yorkshire

Skelton, 40, announced their separation in 2022 and moved back to her parents' dairy farm in Cumbria, where a group of family and friends help her with childcare.

Myler, 33, has become a father for the fourth time with his new girlfriend Stephanie Thirkill, 33. She is the daughter of Andrew Thirkill, the president of Myler's former rugby club Leeds Rhinos.

Alan Sugar is considering making an all-stars edition of The Apprentice to celebrate two decades of the hit BBC business show, but he claims some of the former contestants may be too old to compete again.

Lord Sugar, 76, tells me: 'What I would like to do, and of course the decision lies firmly with the BBC, is something very special for the 20th year of The Apprentice.'

The new series begins on BBC One this evening. He adds of potential contestants: 'The problem is that you might find that if you go back [to the first series], Saira Khan who lost to Tim  dare I say, and she'll bite my head off for this  she might be a bit too old now.'

Broadcaster Khan, who was the runner-up in 2005, is 53.

Happy Valley star James Norton plays former Island Records boss Chris Blackwell in Bob Marley biopic One Love, and he now longs to return to the West Indies.

'I only want to do films in Jamaica now,' wails the actor, 38, who attended the premiere at BFI Southbank in London. 'Shooting it in Jamaica brought to life Bob's message of unity.

'We experienced such a warm, open-hearted welcome on set. When the Jamaican actors came to London, we were hopeless at hosting them, and when we came to Jamaica, every night they were like, 'Where do you want to eat? Let's go to the beach on our days off.'

There can't be many people able to say they gave pop legend David Bowie a carpeting.

Writer Michael Moorcock, an icon of London's underground scene in the 1960s and 1970s, who also performed with the band Hawkwind, recalls: 'Before he was famous, we rolled David Bowie into a carpet once as he was becoming so obstreperous.

'It was in Chelsea, at some aristocratic girl's house where they were entertaining 'rough trade' like us. We laid him out on the carpet and rolled him up in it. He didn't seem to mind'

Regal Chaplin's girl unmasked at Italian ball

While Charlie Chaplin was known for his trademark hat and cane, his granddaughter prefers the theatrics of Venetian costumes.

Entrepreneur Kiera, 41, was unrecognisable at Florence Carnival's Grand Ball at the Palazzo Vecchio.

Sticking to the theme of 'Queens of the Palace', her elaborate costume, by designer Antonia Sautter, was based on Veronica Franco  a 16th-century Venetian 'It Girl'.

'It really gets you into character because you have the corset and the headdress, so you feel regal as you can't slouch and have to eat very straight,' Kiera tells me. 'The dinner is so much fun because everyone is wearing masks, so you bump into friends and don't recognise them.'
Julia Roberts gushed about her husband Danny Moder as she wished him a happy birthday on Instagram.

The actress, 56, posted a cuddled-up snap with her and Danny as she celebrated his 55th birthday on Wednesday.

'Happy Birthday to this amazing man who lights up our world,' she captioned the post. She added several glittering emojis, lightning bolts, and a hashtag referencing his date of birth, '131.'

The precious photo captured Julia snuggled against her spouse as they gazed lovingly at one another.

Julia - who recently was at Paris Fashion Week - appeared to be serving as photographer as she seemingly outstretched her arms to capture the snap.

Julia Roberts shared a touching message to her husband Danny Moder as she wished him a happy birthday on Instagram

Roberts has been married to Moder since 2002, and last year she praised her other half as 'the captain of our ship' during an appearance on The Today Show.

'Well, it all starts with Danny Moder, you know?' she gushed to Hoda Kotb. 'Hes just really our anchor and our person. And in the most beautiful way, the captain of our ship, you know, truly.'

The gorgeous star -- who shares three children with Danny -- then joked that she doesn't necessarily give her partner all the credit for their amazing home life.

'And its not, like, giving it all away to him,' she added. 'Its just that for me, understanding how deeply felt life could be really started with him.'

Julia and Danny met on the set of The Mexican in 2000, where she was acting alongside Brad Pitt, and he was working as a cameraman.

At the time, Julia was dating Benjamin Bratt, while Danny was married to makeup artist Vera Steimberg.

'I could see how wonderful he was, but we were both in relationships at the time, so we were just friends,' Julia revealed in 2003 during an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The pair eventually split from their respective partners before romance blossomed.

The lovebirds have been married since 2002; pictured 2020

Roberts gushed about her spouse during an interview last year, calling him the 'captain of our ship'; pictured January 2024

'He sorted his whole thing out, separate and apart from me,' she explained to Oprah. 'And I sorted my life out, separate and apart from him. I think thats the only reason we were able to ultimately fall in love with each other and be together.'

They tied the knot in 2002 in a secret ceremony at Roberts ranch near Taos, New Mexico.

The couple went on to welcome twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, now 19, in 2004, followed by son Henry, now 16, three years later.

During her interview with Hoda, Julia revealed how she is parenting two kids in college, and one who will soon be off to college.

When asked in 2022 on how she defied the Hollywood odds with her decades-long marriage, Julia told E! News: 'I always say that same thing and I'm sticking with it. It's making out. Lots of making out'

'I parent them the same way out of the house that I parented them in the house,' she said. '"Are you getting enough sleep? And you sound like youre sick. And are you drinking tea? And text me when you get home."'

Julia also explained how they keep in touch while they are away from home.

'We all were on a FaceTime the other day together, all of us. And it was, like, this gift that we had, these four minutes of us all looking at each other. We were all so happy to be together in that way,' she said.

When asked in 2022 on how she defied the Hollywood odds with her decades-long marriage, Julia told E! News: 'I always say that same thing and I'm sticking with it. It's making out. Lots of making out.'
Elisabeth Moss has confirmed that she is pregnant with her first child at 41.

The Emmy Award-winning actress showcased her growing baby bump on Tuesday's Jimmy Kimmel Live!

She opened up about her pregnancy journey as Jimmy asked her how she has been feeling: 'Not bad, actually. I've been really lucky. It's been going really well.'

As Elisabeth is private about her personal life, it is unknown who the father of the child is and her due date is yet to be revealed.

She's only gone public with two relationships in the past, and was rumoured to be engaged to fellow Scientologist Tom Cruise.

Here, MailOnline takes a look back over the actress' dating history.

Elisabeth Moss has confirmed that she is pregnant with her first child at 41

As Elisabeth is private about her personal life, it is unknown who the father of the child is and her due date is yet to be revealed

Fred Armisen

Moss is very private when it comes to her love life as she's only gone public with two relationships in the past.

She was previously married to comedian Fred Armisen, 57, which she told Vulture was a 'traumatic' and 'horrible' experience.

US Weekly reported in 2011 that Moss split up with her husband of two years, 'SNL' star Fred over her religious beliefs.

A source told the magazine at the time, 'They had issues... Her religion was as important to her as their marriage, if not more. He could not get with it.'

However in a 2014 interview with New York Magazine, Moss said that her marriage to Armisen was 'extremely traumatic and awful and horrible.'

She added that the idea that the ending of her marriage had something to do with Scientology was '100 percent made up.'

During that same interview, Moss refused to talk about Scientology. For his part, Armisen once told Howard Stern in an interview, 'I think I was a terrible husband, I think I'm a terrible boyfriend.'

Moss told The New Yorker in 2022 that she met Armisen in 2008 while guest-starring in a 'Mad Men' sketch on 'SNL.'

After being asked about comments Armisen made during an interview with Marc Maron in which Armisen discussed his intimacy issues, Moss said, 'I would say, good for him for being open about that. He said more to Marc Maron than he said to me at the time.'

The actress was previously married to comedian Fred Armisen, 57, which she told Vulture was a 'traumatic' and 'horrible' experience

Adam Arkapaw

In 2012, Moss moved on with Australian cinematographer Adam Arkapaw after meeting on the New Zealand set of the mini-series Top of the Lake.

The relationship was confirmed by DailyMail.com at the time.

Moss and Arkapaw dated for three years before splitting in 2015.

Over the years, Moss has been spotted on dates with 'mystery men' but she's yet to go public with another serious relationship.

In 2012, Moss moved on with Australian cinematographer Adam Arkapaw (pictured in December 2015) after meeting on the New Zealand set of the mini-series Top of the Lake

Tom Cruise

In 2020, Moss was forced to defend her love life when rumors began circulating more than one year ago that she was in a romance with Tom Cruise.

The star sat down to chat with Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live when a caller dialed in to ask about her status with the famous scientologist.

'What was your reaction when you read those gossip stories that you were getting married to Tom Cruise,' one fan asked the Mad Men star.

Moss hesitated before responding that the entire engagement ordeal was over before it even happened.

'I actually was confused and also mainly got texts from people being like, "I didnt know, why didnt you tell me?,'" she told Andy. 'And just confusion from my friends, but mainly poking fun at it cause obviously they knew it wasnt true.'

The rumor even further escalated when it appeared on the cover of a magazine in February 2019.

'And then I saw it on the cover of one of the gossip magazines, and I was like, "Ive never had that haircut,"' she said. 'Like, it was supposed to be a picture of the two of us and I was like, "Ive never styled my hair like that."'

The unlikely duo may have been formed in part to her Scientologist background, a group which Tom is also notably a part of.
Reese Witherspoon wants to 'settle down' again.

The 47-year-old actress was initially married to Ryan Phillippe and has Ava, 24, and 20-year-old Deacon with him. And she split from talent agent Jim Toth, 53, in 2023 after 12 years together.

Now an insider has claimed that she wants to meet 'someone special' over the coming months.

The source told this week's edition of Us Weekly: 'Reese hasn't been out on too many dates, but she's been set up with a few friends of friends.

'She is taking things very slowly. In an ideal world, she'd love to meet someone special in 2024 and eventually settle down again but for now there's no pressure.'

Also on Wednesday the star - who turns 48 in March - shared several images where she showed off her toned legs as she was modeling spring clothing.

Reese Witherspoon wants to 'settle down' again claimed UsWeekly; seen in a swimwear ad for Draper James and Lands' End last year

She split from talent agent Jim Toth, 53, in 2023 after 12 years together.

The Legally Blonde star - who has 10-year-old son Tennessee with Jim - recently explained she had been going through a 'vulnerable time' following the end of her marriage.

She Harper's Bazaar magazine: 'It's interesting what happened to me. When I was divorced before, the tabloid media got to tell people how I was feeling or how I was processing, and it felt very out of control.

'To be able to talk to people directly about what's going on in my life and just share it in the way that I share great professional experiences or personal experiences, it feels much more authentic to be able to say things in my own voice and not let somebody else control what's happening.

'Then, of course, there's speculation, but I can't control that.

'All I can do is be my most honest, forthright self and be vulnerable.

'It's a vulnerable time for me. 'I think about how many other people are going through this experience. I don't feel isolated at all. I feel very connected.'

The Morning Show actress initially announced the news of her divorce in a joint statement with Jim in March 2023.

Reese has third and final child, son Deacon, with her second husband Jim Roth, a talent agent, whom she split from in 2023 (pictured in 2020 with Ava and Deacon)

They wrote on Instagram: 'We have some personal news to share  It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce.

'We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness and mutual respect for everything we have created together.'

This comes after she was seen with her mini-me daughter Ava Phillippe in Paris.

They were seen dining, drinking and sight seeing all weekend.

The star posted fun photos to her Instagram account where she and her 24-year-old girl were taking in the City of Lights at high-end eateries.

In one image, they were both spotted enjoying white wine in long-stemmed glasses while at a small bistro-style outdoor table with a tiny glass of peanuts at the center.

Also on Wednesday the star shared several images where she showed off her toned legs as she was modeling spring clothing

The Hollywood veteran looked much younger than her years in light dresses

'January in Paris ,' wrote Reese in her caption while Ava added a two champagne glass emoji in the comments section.

Pal Jessica Alba wrote in the comments section, 'Mother Daughter trips are Everything!'

Both ladies were in all black. Reese had a black coat over her shoulders with a black cardigan and slacks.

Her child had on a black blazer with big gold buttons, tights and shiny loaders.

The ladies looked like twin in matching hair color and lip color as they enjoyed some down time at the busy bistro. And both had on shiny yellow gold jewelry.

They were also seen checking out large black-and-white photographs at an art gallery. And they joined some of Reese's friends like a woman named Jenny Belushi.

This comes after they hit shots for Paris Fashion Week.

The actress looked effortlessly stylish in all black, the only colour being her chic and small red bag while at the Fendi show.

Reese's black mini dress was long-sleeved and high-necked, and she matched it with a pair of Fendi high heels.

In 2023, Reese appeared in one film - rom-com Your Place Or Mine? - with Ashton Kutcher who had not had a main film role since 2013.

Later this year, she will appear in Amazon Prime comedy You're Cordially Invited with Will Ferrell.

The film follows the father of the bride (Will) who discovers his daughter's dream wedding venue has been double-booked for another bride and her wedding-planner sister (Reese).

Reese has won an Oscar, an Emmy, and two Golden Globes over the 33 years of her Hollywood career.

Witherspoon and her mini-me daughter Ava Phillippe seem to be having the time of their lives in Paris at a small bistro-style outdoor table with a glass of peanuts at the center. 'January in Paris ,' wrote Reese in her caption while Ava added a two champagne glass emoji

The mother-daughter duo joined Zendaya at the Fendi show

Reese recently came under fire for making snow into a dessert.

Shared a TikTok of herself making a winter-themed drink she called Snow Salt Chococinno using melted snow from outside.

Fans were aghast and told the actress that snow was dirty and warned that consuming it could make her sick.

Puzzled by the backlash, Reese took to the video sharing site again on Sunday as she explained: 'There's so many people on here saying snow is dirty so we went and took snow from the backyard and we microwaved it and it's clear.'
Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick brushed off criticism as they left the Savoy theatre in London on Tuesday, after Plaza Suite was met with scathing reviews.

The multi-award-winning actress, 58, was all smiles as she signed autograph's and chatted to fans alongside husband Matthew, 61.

Sarah cut a casual figure in a black coat and blue jeans, teamed with a khaki crossbody bag and aviator glasses.

Meanwhile, Matthew bundled up in a black jacket and a grey beanie hat as he was greeted by fans.

Sarah's West End debut has been met with a slew of scathing two star reviews following the show's debut on Sunday night.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick brushed off criticism as they left the Savoy theatre in London on Tuesday, after Plaza Suite was met with scathing reviews

Matthew bundled up in a black jacket and a grey beanie hat as he was greeted by fans

Plaza Suite, where the SATC star features alongside her real life husband Matthew Broderick, was unveiled at the Savoy Theatre in front of a slew of star in the wake of uproar over the obscenely priced tickets.

The revival of Neil Simons triptych of sketches, which the couple took to the Broadway stage previously, is directed by John Benjamin Hickey and helmed by the superstar couple, aged 58 and 61 respectively, who have been married since 1997.

The plays, all set in suite 719 in New Yorks Plaza Hotel, are called Visitor From Mamaroneck, Visitor From Hollywood and Visitor From Forest Hills - and while the fusty stories were criticised, the couple were praised for carrying the play.

With top-end tickets reaching nearly 400, nearly every review gives a nod to the price tag, with a gaping divide among critics as to whether it is worth it for the SATC star and her spouse, who returns to the West End after The Starry Messenger in 2019.

The website for the play, originally performed on Broadway's Plymouth Theatre in 1968, lists: 'A delightfully witty exploration of love and marriage, Plaza Suite had New York City audiences enchanted with its charm and its starry cast....

'Now, from January 2024, Londons West End gets the chance to witness two world-class performers and Hollywood icons transform into three unique couples, each finding themselves entangled in hilariously outlandish situations within the walls of the legendary Plaza Suite hotel room.'

The three stories go as followed: 'Karen and Sam are a long-married pair whose relationship may be headed for an early checkout. Muriel and Jesse are former high school sweethearts who seem destined for an extended stay...

'And Norma and Roy are the mother and father of the bride, ready to celebrate their daughters nuptials  if only they can get her out of the bathroom'.

The multi-award-winning actress, 58, was all smiles as she signed autograph's and chatted to fans alongside husband Matthew, 61

Sarah cut a casual figure in a black coat and blue jeans, teamed with a khaki crossbody bag and aviator glasses

Her brunette locks were pulled back into a ponytail and she opted for a soft glam makeup look

The Independent 's Alice Saville was wholly unflattering, with as lacklustre two stars for her review of the play alongside the scathing prose: 'Real-life couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick cannot save Neil Simons dated romcom'.

The Guardian branded the play 'a celebrity circus', with Arifa Akbar blasting the audience's feverish excitement - complete with stealth phone usage and prolonged applause - despite the play's alleged 'flat and forgettable' form.

She penned: 'The production seems effectively to coast on the fame of its two stars. What a low, lazy bar to set at such a high price (some premium package seats have reportedly sold for 395)...

'Times are tough for the arts but commercial theatre can surely be braver than this.'

Sarah Hemming, of The Financial Times , gave a lukewarm three stars but placed more blame on the age of the play and its fusty writing than the stars.

She wrote: 'More than 50 years on, the comedy has aged; each act, though short, feels overextended, while the scenes never really explore the loneliness and pain that can lurk beneath the comedy.'

Time Out 's Andrzej Lukowski joins the masses in commenting on the ticket price, noting that it is Sarah's presence which warrants 'printing money' with the price.

He wrote: 'If you dont know or care who Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick are and arent some sort of crazed Neil Simon completist, then theres definitely no reason you need to see Plaza Suite. If youve come for the leads  well, they put on a show for you. Maybe it would have been nice if it was a different show...

'If youve essentially checked into Plaza Suite to spend two-and-half-hours with Sarah Jessica Parker, youre unlikely to be complaining to the manager.'

Sarah's West End debut has been met with a slew of scathing two star reviews following the show's debut on Sunday night alongside her husband Matthew Broderick

Plaza Suite was unveiled at the Savoy Theatre in front of a slew of star in the wake of uproar over the obscenely priced tickets

While a number of reviews carried an eye-watering two stars, the feedback was not all bad, with The Evening Standard reporting: 'People will pay for sensational event theatre and the chance to see a star in the flesh, especially one this fascinating'.

The Times added to the fanfare surrounding the tickets, with Clive Davis penning: 'And with the power couple come Broadway prices...

'Part of me feels guilty writing in praise of this venture, which comes with a top-price ticket of 300. Utter madness, I hear you say. And you would be right'

Sarah Crompton of What's On Stage echoed her peers in stating that superstar Sarah is the lure of the play, with a mediocre three stars.

She penned: 'Parkers honesty, her vigour, and her pure gift for comedy both physical and verbal, disguise some of their obvious shortcomings. Shes a revelation.'

The Stage 's Sam Marlow gave another two star review and penned: ' But this is largely his wifes show. Thats an achievement on Parkers part, I suppose, given that the three women she plays do little more than fuss, flirt and twitter, feebly beating their wings against the bars of the cage of domesticity and monogamy...

'And perhaps itll be enough for the fans. Theres nothing subtle about any of it  yet one mystery remains: of all the plays in the world, why choose this one?'

The i's Fiona Mountford was scathing in her review, insisting the married couple lacked chemistry in their performance and largely failed to illuminate the stage.

The Daily Mail's Patrick Marmion wrote: 'You want showbiz? You want celebrity? You want reassuringly expensive A-lister stardust?'

Alongside her two star rating, she penned: 'I could not wait to check out of Plaza Suite... There dawns the disconcerting realisation that despite Parker and Broderick's 32-year relationship they manifest almost zero chemistry together on stage.'

She claimed that the third installment saw Sarah masquerade 'soulsapping levels of performative hysteria' as she depicted a desperate mother.

The Daily Mail's Patrick Marmion wrote: 'You want showbiz? You want celebrity? You want reassuringly expensive A-lister stardust?..

'Here it comes in the shape of Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, with their hit Broadway production of Neil Simon's Sixties comedy about marriages teetering on the brink in a New York hotel room...

'With a few tickets retailing at an eye-watering 300 (decent seats are 75-125 and good ones 200), it's pulling a notably well-heeled crowd  TV favourite Hannah Waddingham was among the guests at the gala performance last night...

'And I'm not sure who's stooping lower with the Moet & Chandon vending machines  the producers, the punters or the wine-makers. But John Benjamin Hickey's production doesn't scrimp on the stage set.'
When Daisy Ridley landed the role of Rey in a new generation of Star Wars movies, she did not expect that the job would have such a profound impact on her health.

In a recent interview, the 31 year old star revealed that the meteoric rise to fame and hectic filming scheduled caused her such severe anxiety that it led to holes in her gut wall, leaving her malnourished and fatigued.

Ridley, who appeared in the movies released in 2015, 2017 and 2019, told Inverse magazine that the 'craziness' of the period in her life led her to feel 'not normal'.

'I saw a picture of me at the London premiere and I was so skinny and my skin was terrible,' she told GQ back in 2019, describing her body as 'f**ked up'.

'My body was taking in no nutrients. I was just like a little skeleton and I was just so tired. I was becoming a ghost.'

Ridley, pictured, felt the pressure to perform her role as Rey in the Star Wars saga when director JJ Abrams impressed upon her that this is a 'religion' for many people

It is well known that high stress levels can wreak havoc on the body, including the gut, disturbing our bowel movements.

But can chronic stress or anxiety really cause physical damage to our stomaches?

DailyMail.com put the question to experts - and they answered, yes.

'When you are anxious, some of the hormones and chemicals released by your body enter your digestive tract, where they interfere with digestion,' said Ken Goodman, a licensed clinical social worker affiliated with the Anxiety & Depression Association of America.

'They have a negative effect on your gut flora (microorganisms that live in the digestive tract and aid digestion).

'The resulting chemical imbalance can cause a number of gastrointestinal conditions.'

One of these, according to Goodman, is a peptic ulcer, colloquially known as a stress ulcer, which causes sores in the lining of the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine.

Daisy Ridley, who said appearing in the Star Wars movies caused her both physical and emotional stress, is pictured at the Rise of Skywalker premiere in Hollywood in 2019

Caleb Backe, a personal trainer and wellness expert told Bustle how this happens.

Firstly, stress and anxiety activate the body's fight or flight response which releases the hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

A prolonged deluge of cortisol ramps up production of stomach acids with cause unpleasant acid reflux, and can eat away at the stomach lining.

It can also suppress the activity of immune cells, making you more likely to develop infections.

A peptic ulcer can also be caused by infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria, which becomes more likely when the immune system's walls are breached.

Chronic stress can also raise the risk of gastrointestinal perforations  actual holes in the digestive tract  which can be a severe medical emergency.

When under stress, the body cant prompt the same immune response to infections as a non-stressed body can, raising the odds that a person will experience a GI infection such as diverticulitis or perforated ulcers, which can then lead to perforations.

A perforation in the intestinal wall or the stomach allows toxic substances to pass through. Leakage of stomach acid or digestive enzymes can cause peritonitis, which is inflammation of the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) that requires prompt medical attentions.

In addition to the potentially severe perforations and infections that anxiety can cause, the heightened fight or flight state also plays a major role in other GI conditions, including constipation, indigestion, irritable bowel sydrome, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Around 60 percent of individuals with gastrointestinal disorders are estimated to experience one of various psychiatric conditions. Depression and anxiety are the most common in this group.

The gut and brain are such close collaborators that the former has earned the nickname the second brain.

According to Dr Emeran Mayer, a gastroenterologist and neuroscientist at the University of California Los Angeles: It's the biggest portion of our immune system. It is the main storage site for [feel good hormone] serotonin. It has its own so-called enteric nervous system, which has been called the second brain, even though its really the first brain.

Experts are keen to differentiate between the terms stress ulcer and peptic ulcer.

A stress ulcer typically refers to physical injury the body has recently endured, such as a serious long-term illness, surgery, trauma, or central nervous system injury.
Get more tips for anxiety relief by visiting our brand-new wellness page

Wellness gurus have touted 'cyclical sighing' as a way to lower anxiety levels

Breathe in, breathe out.

We've long been told it's the key to calming down.

And evidence suggests that deep breathing not only reduces anxiety but can also lower blood pressure and ward off heart disease.

However, it's not just long meditations that have an effect.

Wellness gurus at Goop are now suggesting that sighing can reduce anxiety symptoms and calm you down in minutes.

Wellness gurus at Gwenyth Paltrow's Goop have touted cyclical sighing as a way to lower anxiety levels

Cyclical sighing has been shown to lower anxiety levels and improve positive mood in research from Stanford University

The wellness site - which is owned and run by health nut and Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow - recently published an article entitled; 'Sighing Is an Effective Breathwork Technique, according to Researchers'.

The article went on to detail a study, by researchers at Stanford University, about the mental health effects of cyclical sighing, a breathing exercise that involves exhaling for long periods of time.

In the study, 111 healthy volunteers were asked to perform one of three types of breathing exercises for fives minutes every day over the course of a month - and compared their mental health to a group doing mindfulness mediation, as well as a control.

Before and after the experiment, the participants answered two online questionnaires: the State Anxiety Inventory, a standard anxiety measurement, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, a research tool that assesses good and bad feelings on a scale of 1 to 5.

The groups that practiced breathing exercises gained an average of 1.91 points per day on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule scale compared 1.22 points for those who practiced mindfulness meditation.

This was an improvement of one-third.

Dr David Spiegel, lead study author and associate chair of psychiatry and behavioral studies at Stanford University, said: 'Controlled breathing exercises may have a more rapid, more direct effect on physiology than mindfulness.'

Christine Schneider, a manual voice specialist at The Visceral Voice, shared a clip to TikTok demonstrating cyclical sighing

Additionally, the researchers noted that cyclical sighing's focus on slow exhalation could be more effective than other types of breathing exercises.

Participants in the cyclical sighing group had the greatest daily improvement in positive feelings on their questionnaires, and the effect continued as the study went on.

'It ensures that youre intentional with your inhale and exhalethe combination is key,' Dr Denise John wrote for Goop.

Dr Spiegel told Goop that cyclical sighing likely works because it emphasizes the conscious sigh or longer exhale.

This ensures youre intentional with your breathes.

'What its doing is slowing your respiratory rate and potentially lowering your heart rate due to its parasympathetic activation, rather than sympathetic,' Dr Spiegel told Goop.

'Its a rapid way that we have of soothing ourselves.'

Though the study was a year ago, cyclical sighing is gaining traction in the wellness world and on social media.

Christine Schneider, a manual voice specialist at The Visceral Voice, shared a clip to TikTok demonstrating cyclical sighing.

'It's a longer inhalation followed by a quick inhalation and then a long sighed exhalation,' she said.

'It's recommended to do this for about five minutes, though you should feel an impact after just few.'

In her video, Ms Schneider closes her eyes, inhales for several seconds, quickly breathes out, and then lets out a longer breath.

To try cyclical sighing, Goop recommends five steps.

The first step is to get comfortable, either by sitting down or lying down.

From there, slowly inhale through your nose as you fully expand your belly before briefly stopping.

Keep inhaling by expanding your chest to completely fill your chest. Then exhale through your mouth or nose slowly.

Repeat this for five minutes.

However, Dr Spiegel said that if you have another breathing method that works for you, it's okay to stick to it. 'If you just take a few minutes each day to self-regulate and build your capacity to utilize control over your mind and body, you will feel better,' he said.
'I'm still trying to get my head around how we got here?,' baffled Bank of America analyst Ron Epstein asked Boeing boss Dave Calhoun today.

Like many, he wanted to know how the world's biggest jet maker could allow an aircraft off the produciton line with vital bolts missing.

'Wasn't the 737 line the most scrutinized production line in the world?,' he added.

A defensive Calhoun said he took 'exception' - and said: 'It should never and can never happen. I'm incredibly proud of the work that our people do on the 737 line. I think it has steadily progressed. Quality numbers have gotten better.'

He and other embattled Boeing executives were being pressed by investors after announcing earnings for the final quarter of last year.

Wall Street wants an explanation as to how a door plug could have blown out from the fuselage of a 737 Max 9 aircraft carrying Alaska Airlines passengers this month.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun speaks after meeting with lawmakers to answer questions about the latest problems with the 737 Max

A panel blew out from the fuselage of a 737 Max 9 aircraft carrying Alaska Airlines passengers on January 5

Analysts cannot understand how the company allowed an aircraft with missing parts off one of its production lines - and how the plane-maker is going respond to the ongoing crisis.

In an earnings call addressing the company's fourth quarter results, Boeing CEO David Calhoun said only that the company was accountable for the disaster and that in order to steady the ship, it would 'go slow to go fast'.

'Whatever the specific cause of the accident might turn out to be, an event like this simply must not happen on an airplane that leaves one of our factories,' he said.

Shares in Boeing had risen 6 per cent to $212 by 1pm ET - suggesting investors were happy with Calhoun's responses.

On Tuesday it transpired that shareholders were suing the company over allegations it prioritized profit over safety and misled them about its commitment to making safe planes.

A HEATED EXCHANGE BETWEEN CEO AND INVESTOR: Bank of America analyst: 'I'm still trying to get my head around how we got here, meaning, if you go back to the beginning of the Max issue, wasn't the 737 line the most scrutinized production line in the world? What happened to get to where we got to today? I understand revamping the quality system - and that is all great news. Why did that happen now? I just don't understand that.' CEO Dave Calhoun: 'It should never happen. So the question about now is not so relevant. It should never and can never happen. I'm incredibly proud of the work that our people do on the 737 line. I think it has steadily progressed. Quality numbers have gotten better. When you have an escape and when everybody concludes exactly what happened in that escape, that lights another fire. So you take another step forward with respect to all things quality, and you make certain that whatever it was that created that opportunity for failure in the sky or in flight can never happen again. That has already happened. Then we'll learn from everything. I think I understand your underlying context for the question, but I take exception to that premise.' Advertisement

'Our men and women on the manufacturing floor and in our engineering offices know exactly what we must do,' said Calhoun on the call.

'We will go slow to go fast, and we will encourage and reward employees for speaking up to slow things down,' he added. 'We will earn trust back.'

Boeing revealed on Wednesday that it reduced its losses in the final quarter of last year, which ended days before the Alaska Airlines disaster.

Boeing posted a net loss of $30 million - down from a $663 million loss a year earlier. Revenue grew 10 percent year over year to $22.02 billion.

The accident involving an Alaska Airlines-operated Max 9 jet on January 5 has turned into a full-blown safety and reputational crisis for the iconic plane-maker.

In addition, intervention from regulators will potentially lead to slower jet production and a loss of more of the narrowbody market share to Airbus.

Boeing said on Wednesday that 737 aircraft were being produced at a previously outlined rate of 38 per month, a level that it plans to maintain after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) barred the company from lifting production, while increasing its oversight.

Increasing production of 737 Max jets is crucial to Boeing's recovery from a separate safety crisis arising from two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 and the subsequent aerospace slump that followed due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

'We've taken significant steps over the last several years to strengthen our safety and quality processes, but this (Alaska Air) accident makes it absolutely clear that we have more work to do,' Calhoun said, amid mounting pressure on the company's top brass.

Alaska Airlines has resumed service on the Boeing 737 MAX 9 following a three-week grounding in the wake of a January 5 emergency landing

He also pointed to an announcement by Boeing earlier this month that it would add further quality inspections for the 737 Max and deploy a team to supplier Spirit AeroSystems, which makes and installs the plug door involved in the incident.

In its earnings release, Boeing did not provide an update to its 2025-26 cash flow and Max production forecast amid lingering industry doubts on whether the planemaker will be able to achieve those targets after the FAA's unprecedented decision.

During its investor day in November 2022, Boeing projected free cash flow of about $10 billion by 2025-2026 and 737 production of 50 per month.

Boeing, long a symbol of America's manufacturing prowess, has yet to consistently report positive cash flows as it faced difficulties in raising production in the last two years due to a fractured supply chain and nagging quality issues.
Visa sold pre-paid gift cards that it knew crooks could easily drain of funds, says a legal complaint that gives hope to victims of the cruel scam.

And when customers in New York complained to the payments giant about money disappearing from its Vanilla gift cards, it is claimed they were ignored.

Now, victim Ira Schuman is suing Visa over losses of $4,000. He bought eight Vanilla cards, each with a value of $500, for his employees between 2022 and 2023 - only to learn later that the cards had been emptied.

He is leading a proposed class action, in US District Court for the Southern District of New York, to get his money back plus damages to punish Visa.

He is hoping to get compensation for other victims too.

Visa has been sued by consumers who said the card payments network failed to protect its prepaid 'Vanilla' gift cards from being drained by criminals

It is the second major lawsuit against gift card providers - after a similar one in California last year - and gives hope to the estimated hundreds of thousands of victims.

The cases come amid warnings from police about an uptick in this cruel 'card draining' scam, which renders the cards totally useless when given as gifts.

Visa Vanilla cards, sold at CVS, Target, Walgreens, are pre-loaded with cash, and then can be used at retailers much like a debit card.

But, according to the complaint, the cards are sold in thin cardboard sleeves which thieves can open and, after recording the account information, reseal without being detected.

Fraudsters can then track when money is loaded onto the card and make purchases using the stolen account information.

Schuman, of Scarsdale, New York, said Visa and two Vanilla card issuers knew or should have known that their cards were vulnerable to tampering but did not add security features to prevent this.

He also said the companies did not provide refunds to customers who were targeted by criminals.

The lawsuit accused Visa, and the other defendants, Incomm Financial Services and Pathward Financial, of violating a New York state law against deceptive and unfair consumer practices.

It seeks compensatory and punitive damages for people who bought Visa-branded Vanilla cards in New York since January 30, 2021, and saw their funds drained.

InComm Payments said in a statement that while it cannot comment on the individual claims, it categorically denies the allegations.

'While fraud impacts an extremely small portion of total cards sold, our highest priority is supporting our customers who have been affected by this issue, and we encourage those who suspect fraud to contact our customer care team promptly,' it said in a statement.

A separate lawsuit filed in San Francisco last year by City Attorney David Chiu, alleged that Incomm has 'known for years' about their cards' 'lax security features', which led to 'numerous card draining incidents.'

He added the firm had 'not sufficiently improved its 'packaging or implemented other changes to prevent those losses.' Incomm vehemently denies all the allegations.

Chiu filed the suit on behalf of residents of California - where, by law, providers of gift cards are required to reimburse customers whose cards are used for unauthorized transactions.

The lawyer said Incomm - a Georgia-based company - should refund its Californian customers who have been targeted by the card draining scam.

'Incomm's negligence has opened the door for scammers to defraud thousands of consumers,' Chiu said.

He also demanded victims received 'restitution', which would likely be a refund of money taken from cards by crooks.

It comes after police and security experts have repeatedly raised the alarm over 'card draining' scams, which also affect other manufacturers and major retailers.

The cards are increasingly being targeted by crooks, who steal them from store shelves and copy the card number and PIN - before putting them back.

A customer then buys and loads the card with money - which thieves can then spend online using the information they have stolen. The person given the card will only find out when they try to use it.

Last year, victim Suzanne Gdovic told DailyMail.com how she accidentally gave a worthless gift card to her friend's daughter for her baby shower - which should have been worth $200.

Suzanne, 64, from Arvada, Colorado, bought the card in September. Weeks later, she received a text message from the recipient to say she had tried to spend it but was told it had a $0 balance.

A message also popped up on the cashier's screen to say the gift card was connected to somebody else's account.

'It was embarrassing,' Suzanne said. 'I felt bad for her. You're ready to spend $200 and then all of a sudden it's not there. And then of course, she had to pay for it.'

She added: 'I asked for all the cards to be removed from the shelves, as people were buying them as I spoke to the manager. Target has my money, and the crook has the gift!'

Suzanne Gdovic accidentally gave a worthless gift card as a present after it was targeted by criminals - which should have been worth $200

Target later refunded her for the card.

Customers are now being urged to check for signs a gift card has been tampered with before they purchase it. Tell-tale signs include scratch marks or parts of the card missing.

This is because - to get the numbers - the crooks typically will have scratched off the silver security foil. They then replace this with a near identical sticker or more foil, which is sold online on sites like Alibaba.

In some cases, fraudsters are even subtly opening the sealed envelopes cards are stored in and cutting off and keeping the part of the card with the activation code.

They are then putting the cut card back in the envelope - with the bar code still visible for a teller to scan and add funds - which they can then steal.
With house prices and mortgage rates soaring, many Americans may be looking for an alternative way to get on the property ladder.

Buying a cheap 'fixer-upper' may be a viable route for some - and could even result in the homeowner making a profit down the line.

House flippers may have the most luck in Detroit, Michigan, according to fresh analysis from home repair company Frontdoor.

It found the typical renovated home in the Motor City sells for almost 74 percent more than the average property in the area.

New Orleans, Louisiana, has the most fixer-uppers available to buy, it found, while the cheapest homes in need of work are located in St Louis, Missouri.

House flippers may have the most luck in Detroit, Michigan , according to fresh analysis from home repair company Frontdoor

Frontdoor analyzed home listings data from real estate company Redfin in order to identify the cities with the most homes marked as 'renovated' or 'fixer-upper' per 1,000 listings.

It also calculated the average price for these homes, and ranked cities based on the difference in average price between renovated or fixer-upper homes against properties without either of these tags.

Renovated home prices vary significantly from city to city, creating opportunities for buying and selling at both ends of the market.

The typical renovated home in Detroit sells for 73.75 percent more than the median home price, the study found - the greatest premium of any city.

Renovated homes in Boston, meanwhile, typically sell for 69.34 percent more, and 65.50 percent more in Trenton, New Jersey.

This nine-bedroom, eight-bathroom home is currently listed for $124,900 in Detroit

Fixer-uppers also make significant profit in Annapolis, Maryland, and New York City, Frontdoor found - selling for 60.39 percent and 57.93 percent more than the average property, respectively.

Home prices in Detroit have been on the rise in recent months - increasing faster than anywhere else in the US. But it still remains one of the cheapest property markets nationally.

For example, a 5,200-square foot home with a whopping nine bedrooms and eight bathrooms was listed earlier this month for just $124,900 on Zillow.

Less than two decades ago, one in five houses stood empty in the city with foreclosures mounting and properties on deserted streets being sold for $1.

The mortgage crisis and the demise of the big carmakers - which had made Detroit an industrial powerhouse - drove millions from their homes.

The car industry is now booming again - this time for electric vehicles. This is drawing people back to the region, where there is still a surplus of homes in need of love, attention and renovation.

Detroit has dethroned Miami as the metro with the fastest rising home prices for the first time

The mortgage crisis and the fall of the big carmakers into bankruptcy drove millions of people from their homes in Detroit (Pictured: Abandoned properties in 2015)

On the other end of the spectrum, renovated homes in Durham, North Carolina, and Kansas City, Missouri, lose 30.59 percent and 21.05 percent in value, respectively, compared to homes that are not listed as renovations, Frontdoor found.

This could be good news for homebuyers looking for a cheap newly-renovated home to live in.

The reason homes in Kansas City, in particular, are selling for below average prices is because a high number of out-of-state investors have bought up houses to rent out - with relatively little regard for the condition of the home - the study said.

'We see investors coming in buying properties immediately,' said Geoff Jolley, executive director of the Local Initiatives Support Corp in Kansas City.

'It's an investment for them. And so they don't really care about the nuances of negotiating the price or having the survey done ahead of time and all the things that you as a homeowner might actually care about.'

New Orleans, Louisiana, has the most fixer-uppers available to buy, according to Frontdoor

Americans looking to buy a fixer-upper - without a plan to sell for profit - may be best placed looking in St Louis.

While houses in need of rehabilitation tend to be cheaper than the typical home in nearly every major metro, in some cities strong demand for fixer-uppers drives prices up beyond the market median.

But the best deals, according to Frontdoor, can be found in the Missouri city, where fixer-uppers sell for 64.7 percent less than the median home price.
India needs to evolve a realistic strategic blueprint in line with the Neighbourhood First policy to save Myanmar from Chinas Belt and Road Initiative

Worried over the influx of refugees and insurgents from across the porous border owing to the unabated crisis, the Indian government has decided to fence the Myanmar border to discontinue the free movement regime (FMR), as with the Bangladesh frontier which may act as a deterrent and preventive measure to control the existing menace.

India must act cautiously: Given Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's honeymoon with China, India needs to evolve a realistic strategic blueprint in line with the Neighbourhood First policy to save Myanmar from Chinas overtures to the junta through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), besides supporting border areas rebels by brokering peace between warring groups and army generals in this violence-plagued country.

India took a cautious stand when the army, known as Tatmadaw, engineered a coup on February 1, 2021. India had diplomatically and indirectly supported the junta, refraining from openly supporting the democratic forces led by Aung San Suu Kyi, which has now put it in a dilemma. India faces the challenge of checkmating China, which is dangerous because it supports some ethnic groups.

In this complex scenario, OPERATION 1027 was undertaken in December 2023 by The Three Brotherhood Alliance comprising the Taang National Liberation Army, AA and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, which had shaken the junta. An offensive against the junta had dealt it a devastating blow, prompting China to support it.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance had captured key roads and military posts, hitting the cash-strapped junta's revenues and obstructing troop movements. Reports from the conflict zone suggested that the surprise attacks on the Shan state were followed by the AA opening a front against the army in its base in Rakhine state on the west coast. It was a coordinated attempt by insurgents to spill over to Kayah State bordering Thailand to the east and the Sagaing region and Chin State, bordering India. It was in violation of a ceasefire in force between the armed groups and the junta over a year.

The bold move threatens the militarys control over crucial trade routes to China thereby hitting its interests. It was a welcome step for China when the army led by Min Aung Hlaing dethroned the elected government, but now the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction, thereby challenging the junta.

The Brotherhood is Juntas biggest challenge: The alliance has been successful in cutting off the junta from a stretch of land that handles about 40% of bilateral border trade with China; around $1 billion of the trade comes from natural gas piped into China. The fighting erupted recently in Shan, Kachin and Chin states, which are situated in the countrys north as well as in Rakhine state in the west. Three Brotherhood fighters have claimed they have overrun dozens of military posts across the region and seized major roads leading in and out besides forcing the surrender of over 100 soldiers of the Myanmar army, demoralizing the junta. The armed groups have taken the fight to the Tatmadaw in Kayah State in the countrys east which is important to the Myanmar army.

India must rethink its strategy: India will need to rethink its old-fashioned position towards Myanmar before the fallout threatens its interests. India feels the US should seize the moment to enhance engagement with India in Myanmar and work to alleviate the humanitarian situation thereby supporting the anti-junta forces and establishing a federal democracy. India has tried to maintain equidistance between the military generals and pro-democracy political parties to ensure that the junta does not fall into Chinas lap.

Junta to hit back:. The army generals were not ready for the alliance's huge offensive, which set off a chain reaction, cornering the junta. Armed groups are reported to have taken control of fifty towns and villages and 100 posts. Army chief Hlaing has promised to undertake a counterattack on terrorists in the north, which might expose the junta's weakness.

Armed rebellion by ethnic armed organizations has dealt a diplomatic blow to the army generals who have been exposed; China will be directly impacted. The Ukraine war had come as a blessing in disguise for the junta as the US and EU were preoccupied with it. The Hamas attack on Israel has further alienated Western powers from Myanmar but the attack by armed groups may change the entire scenario. The National Unity Government (NUG) formed by opposition lawmakers in Burma is considered close to the West, which is feeling encouraged after the successful offensive by the armed groups.

Chinas double speak: China has urged Myanmar to restore border stability even as the juntas conflict with armed groups intensifies. Myanmar has been asked by China to cooperate with it to maintain stability on the common borders. Chinas official stand is intriguing; As a friendly neighbour, China sincerely hopes that Myanmar will restore stability and development as soon as possible, and supports all parties in Myanmar to properly resolve differences within the constitutional and legal framework and achieve reconciliation through dialogue.

A recent visit by Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong holds significance after armed groups stepped up an offensive, which put Chinese residents and infrastructure at risk. Some former diplomats are surprised over the Dual Policy adopted by China, which has been actively supporting the militant groups. The United Wa State Army (UWSA) in Myanmars northeastern Shan state receives weapons and political sustenance from China.

(The writer is a political analyst and an expert on South Asia, views are personal)
The battle for a permanent solution to Public Stock-Holding programme is a difficult one; India must fight it deftly

In a meeting of the Committee on Agriculture (CoA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO)  held on October 2, 2023, in Geneva, the European Union (EU) agreed to consider Indias demand for a permanent solution to public stock-holding (PSH) program for food security. This is a significant change of stance since March 2023, when the EU along with the USA and Canada had challenged it.

The issue will be taken up for deliberation in the 13th ministerial conference (MC) of the WTO (World Trade Organization), scheduled from February 26-29, 2024 in Abu Dhabi. The MC is the highest decision-making body of the global trade watchdog (read: WTO) that includes 164 member countries.

While, the USA and EU countries want a comprehensive discussion on agriculture encompassing the value-chain, market access, and export restrictions besides the PSH program, India has categorically stated it wont negotiate any other issue in the agriculture sector till a permanent solution on PSH is found.

It has also conveyed that support measures given to its poor farmers like input subsidies such as on electricity, irrigation, fertilizer and even direct transfers are non-negotiable.

Under the PSH program, government agencies like the Food Corporation of India (FCI) buy agri-produce such as wheat, rice/paddy, and coarse cereals from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP) and distribute it at a subsidized price of Rs 2/3/1 per kg respectively to meet the needs of Indias poor and vulnerable population under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) that was enacted in 2013. From January 1, 2023, these staple foods are given to the beneficiaries free; initially in force till December 31, 2023, this arrangement has been continued for five years till December 31, 2028.

The excess of MSP plus handling, storage and distribution cost over the realization from the sale (that is, Rs 2/3/1 per kg prior to January 1, 2023, and zero thereafter) is paid as a subsidy from the Union Budget. This can be bifurcated into two components (a) subsidy to the farmer, which is the excess of MSP of, say, rice over its international price also known as External Reference Price (ERP) in WTO parlance and (b) subsidy to the food consumer, being the excess of ERP over the price paid which currently is nil. The WTO is concerned with (a) branded as product-specific subsidies. It requires some explanation.

The international price/ERP of any commodity is based on global demand-supply forces and is determined in a competitive manner. All farmers irrespective of their country of location are expected to receive this price. In case, because of the intervention by the government of a member country say India, the farmers therein receive a price/MSP higher than this, they are presumed to have been subsidized to the extent of excess of MSP over ERP.

The WTO is also concerned with subsidies on agricultural inputs like fertilisers, seeds, irrigation, power, etc., referred to as non-product specific subsidies.

The developed countries argue that such subsidies distort international trade; hence these need to be curbed. Their argument found acceptance at the WTO. Accordingly, under the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), the total of product and non-product-specific subsidies or aggregate measurement support (AMS) is capped at 10 per cent of the value of agricultural production for a developing country (for developed countries, this threshold is 5 per cent). If a member country gives AMS over 10 per cent, it is a violation.

The AoA came into force in 1995. For India, until 2005, MSP was less than ERP. Thereafter, MSP has been higher than ERP and, in the last decade, this gap widened. During 2018-19, in the case of rice, for instance, AMS was at 11 per cent, exceeding the 10 per cent cap. During 2019-20, it was even higher at 13.7 per cent.

For over a decade or so, India along with other developing countries has been making efforts at WTO to wriggle out of the situation. In the 9th Ministerial Conference (MC) held in Bali (2013), it secured sanction for a peace clause. It said, If a developing country gives AMS in excess of 10 percent, no member will challenge this until 2017 when the WTO would look for a permanent solution.

In the General Council (GC) held in December 2014, this sanction was modified to say The peace clause will stay till a permanent solution was found. However, the peace clause comes with several riders, such as the submission of data on food procurement, stockholding, distribution and subsidies. These also include establishing that subsidies are not trade distorting. Besides, programs implemented after 2013 are not covered under the ambit of the 'peace clause'.

India has invoked the peace clause several times at the WTO for breaching the 10 per cent ceiling in case of subsidy on rice - the latest being for the marketing year 2020-21. However, developed countries have objected to such invocation. They want India to be more transparent about its PSH program and put in place safeguards to prevent illegitimate exports But, this cant go on ad infinitum.

The WTO should go for a permanent solution within a time-bound manner. In fact, the MC held in Bali (2013) had implicitly given a deadline of 2017 no member will challenge this until 2017 when the WTO would look for a permanent solution. Unfortunately, the GC held in December 2014 deferred it indefinitely. India has done right by insisting on a deadline now. However, its stance for the 13th MC isnt the right way to go. India is trying to delink PSH from a comprehensive look at agriculture. It is attempting to delink things that are intertwined with each other.

The PSH program involves buying food from the farmers and distributing it to the beneficiaries. Here, we are talking about the entire supply chain involving procurement, handling, storage, distribution and so on. So, the issues of market access, and sale in the domestic and international markets cant be brushed aside.

Indias PSH program is open-ended under which the governments agencies buy the highest possible quantities of wheat and rice from the farmers at ever-increasing MSP. Since these purchases are unrelated to the requirement under the NFSA (courtesy vote bank politics), surplus stocks with agencies are inevitable which they dispose of by auctioning to private traders etc under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS). Under OMSS all the bidders are compulsorily asked to give an undertaking that they wont export it.

One wonders whether a mere declaration by private traders acquiring such stocks would satisfy the developed countries. We have also seen instances of heavily subsidized food (now free) being smuggled to neighbouring countries. It wont come on record but it disturbs the global demand-supply equation.

India should put everything on the table and talk. It is widely recognized that the formula for the computation of AMS under the AoA suffers from several flaws. The ERP used for comparing with MSP (albeit current) dates back to 1986-88. This is bound to artificially inflate the subsidy. By using the current ERP, Indias subsidy will automatically go below the 10 per cent threshold.

Besides, AoA calculation doesnt exclude subsidies given to resource-poor farmers. These farmers mostly produce food for self-consumption meaning they dont have a surplus to sell. So, the question of subsidies to them distorting trade doesnt arise. Their exclusion will also reduce the AMS.

Meanwhile, the government should end the open-ended procurement and restrict purchase only to what is required for giving to the NFSA beneficiaries. It should also consider switching to giving subsidy in cash using DBT mode.

(The writer is a policy analyst; views are personal)
Taking the G20 Summit hosted in India last year to the masses created not only awareness among the population of the group's significance but also united different government in the state for the common good, Joint Secretary in the Government of India K J Srinivasa said at a meeting here Tuesday.

More than 150 expatriate and local Indian community leaders gathered at the Consulate where Srinivasa was Consul General for India between 2013 and 2016 before being appointed High Commissioner to Guyana and last year to the new position that he holds now.

"G20 is something that all of us as Indians, NRI's and the diaspora should be very proud of. It was one occasion where the whole world was looking at us and we delivered it impeccably," Srinivasa said of the first task he was entrusted with  arranging over 5,000 visas for the delegates to the Summit.

"Taking the whole Summit to the masses was a masterstroke by the leadership of India. Never before in the history of G20 was so many events held outside the capital city with so much success," he said.

Srinivasa said if the G20 was just held in Delhi, people might have shrugged it off as just another event taking place in the capital.

"But taking it to every nook and corner - the North East, Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Hampi and other places - led to people being shown the richness of India, its heritage and culture," he said.

"At the same time, it also brought about a change in approach among state governments, be it opposition-ruled or by the BJP government. Everybody joined hands because they understood that this was something not for their own good, but for the country's good," Srinivasa said.

Srinivasa explained how there was a "reverse migration" taking place in India today.

"There is a reverse migration and reverse investment happening in India. People have gone abroad, earned, and now want to come back to India because India is now the land of opportunities," he said.

Srinivasa also lauded the expats and local Indian community for having kept alive the culture and traditions of India in South Africa.

"You have made this country your home but at the same time you carry that pride in your hearts," he said.

Srinivasa also commented on the role that India has played in evacuating not only its own nationals, but also citizens of other countries from trouble spots across the globe, giving India an unenviable reputation in this regard.

He said India had achieved this reputation with the support and active involvement of the diaspora.

Both Srinivasa and current Consul General Mahesh Kumar said it was a unique occasion for a former Consul General to return to a city to meet the people he had interacted with in the past.

Kumar said the turnout showed the respect that locals had for Srinivasa through his interactions with them during his tenure.
India and Oman on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding(MOU)on procurement of defence material and equipment during talks between Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and his counterpart Secretary General, Ministry of Defence, Oman Mohammed Bin Naseer Bin Ali Al Zaabi in Muscat.

The Defence Secretary co-chaired the 12th Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) meeting with Ali Al Zaabi, defence ministry officials said here.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed and appreciated the robust defence cooperation between India and Oman. The JMCC meeting delved into many new areas of cooperation in the fields of training, Joint exercise, Information sharing, Oceanography, Ship Building and MRO, that would build mutual trust and interoperability between militaries of both nations.

Further, they also exchanged views on regional and global issues of shared interest. Both sides discussed effective and practical initiatives to further boost bilateral Defence engagements with focus on defence industries collaboration, officials said.

Towards implementing India - Oman Joint Vision Document entitled A Partnership for the Future, adopted during the visit of Head of State of the Sultanate of Oman, Sultan Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik in December 2023, the Defence Secretary and Secretary General signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) pertaining to procurement of Defence Material and Equipment which would provide a framework for a new area of defence collaboration.

During the two-day visit to Oman, Defence Secretary also held bilateral talks with the Secretary General. During the talks, Aramane highlighted the potential of domestic defence industry with capacity, capability and looked forward to a fruitful partnership with the Armed Forces of Oman. Oman side expressed confidence in the capability of Indian defence industry.

Defence Secretary also invited Secretary general and his delegation to visit India to witness the defence industrial capability, especially in aerospace and maritime sectors.

Oman is one of Indias closest defence partners in the Gulf region and defence cooperation has emerged as a key pillar of the strategic partnership between India and Oman. The two countries are committed to work under the vision of strategic partnership.
The 72-hour-long drama between Jharkhand and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) came to an end late on Wednesday evening with the arrest of the "absconding" JMM leader Hemant Soren. Sources claimed JMM leader was evasive in his replies during his questioning and hence was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The sources said the agency put across 15 questions to Hemant during the second round of questioning in the case.

He had to resign as Chief Minister, followed by the probable appointment of the seniormost MLA and State Transport Minister, Champai Soren, to step into his shoes and take up the reins of the JMM-Congress, RJD coalition government.

As of the filing of reports, JMM spokesperson Mahua Majhi said that Soren had been taken into custody by the ED. Cabinet Minister Banna Gupta shared with the media that Champai would take over as the new Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Speculation is rife that someone from Hemant's family, including wife Kalpana (who is not an MLA), could be named to lead the State.

Hemant Soren is the first sitting Chief Minister to be arrested in a corruption case. Along with ED officials, Hemant went to Raj Bhawan to meet Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan and submitted his resignation from the post of chief minister. Sources suggest that Hemant wanted to be arrested in his home State to garner sympathy from the people during the Lok Sabha elections.

A delegation of the JMM-led coalition also met the Governor and submitted a list of support from 47 MLAs, claiming their backing to form the government. Later, Champai Soren said he has staked a claim to form a new government and have the support of 47 MLAs.

Champai has been a legislator from the Serikela Assembly constituency for more than three decades since 1991 and is known to be a loyalist of JMM supremo Shibu Soren. Earlier, legislators gathered at Hemant Soren's residence elected Champai as the leader of the JMM legislative party, with the party spokesperson Vinod Pandey saying that a consensus was reached on his name.

Amid hectic political activities, JMM coalition MLAs gathered at the Chief Minister's residence earlier in the day to express their solidarity with their leader. They also signed a letter of support without any name, as speculation is rife that Hemant's wife will be handed over the reins.

Soren's wife, Kalpana Soren, who is not an MLA, was also present at the meeting. By-elections cannot be held in the last year of any Assembly's term, so Kalpana Soren could not have been elected an MLA even if she was named the Chief Minister.

Reports were also circulating that Soren's family, including his sister-in-law and JMM MLA Sita Soren (widow of Durga Soren), and Basant Soren, openly oppose any move to make his wife Kalpana the chief minister. Sita Soren represents the Jama constituency in the Assembly and told the media that she would like to ask why only Kalpana Soren, who is not even an MLA and has no political experience.

Insiders say that when a consensus could not be reached on Kalpana Soren as the next chief minister, the party decided to elect Champai Soren as the new chief minister. Party spokesperson Vinod Pandey said that a general consensus was reached on Champai Soren.

ED sources reported that the officers of the ED reached the CM's residence in Ranchi around 1:20 pm to record his statement. The agency was not satisfied with the answers provided by the chief minister. Soren had skipped the 10th summons before his arrest in connection with an investigation into a "huge racket of illegal change of land ownership by the mafia" in Jharkhand.

Simultaneously, Soren also lodged an FIR against ED personnel over searches conducted by the agency at his Delhi residence on Monday, officials said. Soren alleged that the ED conducted the search to "harass and malign him and his entire community," the officials said, quoting the FIR.

Ahead of the scheduled questioning, the ED wrote to the Jharkhand government, seeking extra security. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, which were earlier effective from 9 am to 10 pm on Wednesday, have now been extended until further notice within a radius of 100 metres at key locations, including the CM House, Raj Bhavan, and the ED office at Doranda. As part of the restrictions, demonstrations, rallies, and meetings cannot be held in and around these areas. The three-member special team was led by finance secretary Prashant Kumar and included mines director Arva Rajkamal and special branch IG Prabhat Kumar.

ED officials had reached the CM's residence in Ranchi around 1:20 pm to record his statement. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses said three tourist buses entered Soren's house on Kanke Road around 5:30 pm amid hectic activities. Soon after that, Chief Secretary L Khiangte and DGP Ajay Kumar Singh met Soren's wife, Kalpana Soren. Earlier in the day, Soren lodged an FIR against senior ED personnel at the SC/ST police station here over searches conducted by the agency at his Delhi residence, officials said.

The ED has, so far, arrested 14 people in the case, including the 2011-batch IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan, who served as the director of the State's social welfare department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi. Earlier, the ED had recorded his statement on January 20 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Hemant was taken into custody in connection with an alleged land scam, minutes after meeting the governor and handing in his resignation. Sources said he had discussed the matter with the officials, declaring that he would sign the arrest memo only after stepping down. The ED officials then took him to meet the Governor. A Chief Minister can be arrested under the anti-money laundering rules if he evades summons thrice.

Soren, after evading the Enforcement Directorate over the weekend, had agreed to be questioned by the Central agency this afternoon. His statement was recorded during the questioning. Soren, who had evaded seven summons for questioning in an alleged money laundering case linked to the Rs 600 crore land scam, was anticipating arrest for a while.
Five more wetlands in India, recognised as natures kidneys for their water-regulating and waste-filtering capabilities, have received the international designation of Ramsar sites, bringing the countrys total to 80. The inclusion of these sanctuaries expands the Ramsar-designated areas to cover a vast expanse of 1.33 million hectares. An announcement in this regard was made on the eve of World Wetland Day by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who highlighted the theme of World Wetland Day 2024: Wetlands and Human Wellbeing. The government plans to observe the day at Sirpur Lake in Indore.

Certificates for these waterlogged ecosystems were presented by Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary-General of the Ramsar Convention, in the presence of Union Environment Secretary Leena Nandan, Jitendra Kumar (DG Forest), and Dr Sujit Kumar Bajpayee (Joint Secretary Wetlands, National Focal Point for the Ramsar Convention).

With the addition of more wetlands, Tamil Nadu now boasts the highest number of Ramsar Sites (16 sites), followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites). The Ramsar Convention, established in 1971, aims to globally protect wetlands. Activities such as encroachment, industrial development, waste dumping, and poaching are strictly prohibited within these designated areas.

An official from the Ministry provided insights into the ecological importance of the newly designated sites. Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, a human-made Village Irrigation Tank, is rich in biodiversity, hosting various plant and animal species. The Aghanashini Estuary, formed at the confluence of the Aghanashini River and the Arabian Sea, provides diverse ecosystem services and supports a significant population of waterbirds. Additionally, the mangroves bordering the estuary help protect the shores against storms and cyclones. Similarly, the Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, initially constructed for rainwater storage, is now home to a variety of bird species, including vulnerable and near-threatened species. The Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, one of Tamil Nadus largest inland wetlands, serves as a crucial source of groundwater recharge and supports diverse agricultural activities.

The Longwood Shola Reserve Forest wetlands provide habitats for globally endangered and vulnerable bird species, making them integral to the Western Ghats and harboring a significant number of endemic bird species.

These wetlands serve as habitats for the globally endangered Black-chinned Nilgiri Laughing thrush, Nilgiri Blue Robin, and vulnerable Nilgiri Wood-pigeon. A total of 14 out of 26 endemic bird species of the Western Ghats are found in these wetlands.

The convention to protect wetlands was signed in Ramsar in 1971. Wetlands play a crucial role in flood control, providing water, food, and supporting biodiversity. The global Ramsar list currently includes over 2,500 sites identified by member countries for their ecological services and biodiversity value.
Bhopal Collector Kaushlendra Vikram Singh inspected SDM and Tehsil office of the district, he reached SDM office at 11 pm on Monday night and collected information about the pending case.

Following the instructions of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, a revenue campaign is going on in the district. In this, pending cases including property partition, transfer of ownership and others are being resolved till late night. In this, duties of officers and employees have also been imposed.

Under a special campaign to resolve the revenue cases within the time limit, the pending revenue cases registered on the RCMS portal are being resolved by keeping the revenue offices open till late night. About 1000 revenue cases were resolved on Monday. In which 500 transfer cases of Huzoor's office were resolved. At the same time, 250 revenue cases were resolved in Kolar Tehsil and about 250 by other Tehsil offices.

Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh came to know about the pending case during inspection.

During the inspection, Collector Singh said that under the Revenue Campaign, Bhopal will be made the model district of the state.
Amid intense drama, the BJP candidate for Chandigarh Mayor election was declared victorious by the presiding officer on Tuesday as eight votes of the AAP-Congress block were declared invalid, prompting the INDIA alliance partners to term it as "murder of democracy".



BJP retained the three top posts as Councillors from the two INDIA bloc parties created a ruckus in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation House as the result for the mayors post was declared, and boycotted the next phase  elections to the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.



BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar defeated the AAP's Kuldeep Kumar for the mayors post, polling 16 votes against the 12 won by his rival. Eight votes were declared invalid. BJP nominees Kuljit Sandhu and Rajinder Sharma were declared elected to the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor, respectively.



Immediately after Presiding Officer Anil Masih declared the result, Sonkar sat on the Mayor's Chair as the Councillors from the two INDIA bloc parties created a ruckus in the Chandigarh MCC House and tried to stop him. Marshals were pressed in to control the situation. Protesting against the poll results, the Opposition- Congress and AAP councilors boycotted the next phase  elections to the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. Later, elections on these two posts were held and BJP also retained the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. BJP nominees Kuljit Sandhu and Rajinder Sharma were declared elected to the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor, respectively.



Having witnessed a lot of twists and turns, the polling process was finally held in the presence of Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh. The administration had deployed additional police forces around the MCC campus. Voting, which was scheduled to start at 10 am, began after almost an hours delay as the deputy commissioner and some BJP councillors arrived late. Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher, who is the ex-officio member of the House, cast her vote first. A total of 36 votes were polled during the hour-long process. BJP had only 15 members in the house, while, AAP-Congress combine comprised 20 members apart from a lone Shiromani Akali Dal councilor.



Opposition councilors alleged there was tampering with the ballot papers at the elections, a charge rubbished by the BJP. AAP approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court later in the day even as Tuesday's elections too were held on the directions of the high court after a postponement on January 18.



The AAP and the Congress accused presiding officer Anil Masih of making some marks on the ballots during the counting, rendering them invalid. They argued that the invalid ballots tilted the balance in the BJP candidates favour. "The worst fears of unabashed tampering by the BJP's councillor-presiding officer in a premeditated and planned intrigue to murder democracy have come true in the Chandigarh mayoral elections, former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal alleged.



Bansal claimed that the Congress-AAP agent was not allowed to examine the ballot papers.The presiding officer announced a rejection of eight votes, declared the BJP candidate the winner and went away. BJP members rushed to the table and tore off the ballot papers," he alleged.



Congress councillor Gurbax Rawat alleged that the presiding officer did not call the party's election agent when the ballot box was opened for counting. "We do not accept the result," she said. "A fraud was played on us. No free and fair election took place," another councillor said. Chandigarh Congress President HS Lucky said the BJP intentionally got a presiding officer who holds allegiance to them and he rigged it. While signing, he marked on eight votes to declare them invalid. This is injustice and the death of democracy.



BJP councillor Saurabh Joshi rubbished the opposition allegations and said if the councilors have any objections, they can challenge the result.



The newly elected mayor was to hold the elections to the two most senior posts after him. With the opposition parties boycotting this phase of mayoral polls, these posts also went to the BJP.

The BJP has 14 councillors in the 35-member corporation. Its Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher also has voting rights as an ex-officio member. AAP has 13 councillors and the Congress seven. Shiromani Akali Dal has one councillor.



As part of the alliance in Chandigarh, the AAP contested for the mayor's post while the Congress fielded candidates for the two other posts.



AAP leader Kejriwal tweeted on X, "If these people can stoop to this level in a mayoral poll, they could go to any extent in the national elections. This is very worrying."



Tight security arrangements were in place around the municipal corporation building for the polls. About 700 police personnel, along with those from the paramilitary forces, were deployed.



The polls were originally scheduled for January 18 but deferred to February 6 by the Chandigarh administration after the presiding officer fell ill. The administration had at that time also said the polls were postponed after assessing the law and order situation. The administration's order deferring the polls had triggered protests by the Congress and the AAP councillors.



On January 24, the high court directed the Chandigarh administration to hold the mayoral polls at 10 am on January 30. While quashing the order postponing the elections, the court called it "unreasonable, unjustified and arbitrary".



Elections to the three posts are held every year during the House's five-year term. The Congress had abstained from voting in 2022 and 2023, leading to a BJP victory. The election for the mayors post is through a secret ballot.



In this year's elections, the post was reserved for a candidate from the Scheduled Caste category.



Media persons were denied entry to the press gallery to cover the election. Reporters could, however, watch the polling process on a screen installed in the conference room which had no audio output.
The budget session of Haryana Assembly will commence on February 20, School Education Minister Kanwar Pal, who also holds the portfolio of Parliamentary Affairs Minister said, during a press conference shortly after the meeting of State Cabinet.



He informed that at the start of the cabinet meeting, a two-minute silence was observed in honour of the martyrs of India's freedom struggle.



The Minister said that as per the state government's decision, the Cabinet initiated by honoring the martyrs and sanctioned employment for 18 of their dependents who, due to various reasons, missed the application deadline for jobs. He also informed that farmers will no longer be required to pay a royalty of Rs 200 for soil extracted from their farms for personal use. Instead, they can conveniently submit the necessary information on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal, eliminating the need to visit government offices.



He said that State Cabinet also gave approval of Rs 1,500 crore loan to Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation. The corporation's outstanding loan, previously around Rs 14,000 crores, has been substantially reduced to Rs 4,000 crores and is expected to be completely cleared in the near future, he added.





Hry Cabinet raises old age pension to Rs 3000 per month from Jan 1

Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday approved a monthly enhancement of Rs 250 for 14 pension schemes being implemented by the Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of SCs & BCs, and Antyodaya (SEWA) Department, Haryana, effective from January 1, 2024 to be paid from February 2024. This decision will benefit approximately 31.40 lakh beneficiaries under various social security schemes.



Gujjar further said that the cabinet has also approved an increase in the rates of nine social security pension schemes operated under the SEWA Department from Rs 2,750 to Rs 3,000 per month, effective January 1, 2024. These schemes include the Old Age Samman Allowance Scheme, Haryana Pension to Widows and Destitute Women Scheme, Haryana Disabled Persons Pension Scheme, Ladli Social Allowance Scheme, Haryana Allowance to Dwarf Scheme Pension, Haryana Allowance to Eunuchs Scheme, Financial Assistance to Widowers and Unmarried Persons, Financial Assistance for Stage 3 and Stage 4 Cancer Patients, and Financial Assistance to Persons Suffering from Rare Diseases.



In addition, financial assistance under the Non-School Going Disabled Children Scheme has been increased from Rs. 2,150 to Rs. 2,400, Financial Assistance to Destitute Children Scheme from Rs. 1,850 to Rs. 2,100, Financial assistance under Kashmiri Migrants scheme has been increased to Rs.1250 to Rs. 1500. Apart from this, financial aid for acid attack victims (Women & Girls) has been revised.



He further said that patients in Haryana suffering from Thalassemia and Haemophilia, with a family income of up to Rs 3 lakh per annum, will now be entitled to a monthly disability pension of Rs 3000. This decision, expected to benefit approximately 2083 patients, will result in an annual disbursement of Rs 7.49 crore at the present rate of Rs. 3000 per month.



Sanctions Haryana Registration and Regulation of Travel Agents Bill, 2024 to Curb Illegal Immigration



The Cabinet has also approved "The Haryana Registration and Regulation of Travel Agents Bill, 2024 in the interests of innocent and unemployed youths from falling prey to illegal immigration rackets. In view of the disturbing trend of individuals, particularly from the States of Punjab and Haryana, being deceived by corrupt travel agents engaged in fraudulent activities related to immigration, this bold initiative has been taken. Key highlights of this bill includes that no person can undertake the profession of a travel agent without obtaining a registration certificate under the Act, an application must be submitted to the competent authority with the required documents, fees, and within the specified time, the competent authority may issue a registration certificate after verifying the application details.



Approves The Haryana Honourable Disposal of Dead Body Bill, 2024



In a significant move to uphold the right and dignity of the dead body, the Cabinet has also granted approval to "The Haryana Honourable Disposal of Dead Body Bill, 2024." This landmark legislation aims to ensure the decent and timely last rites of a dead body. In consideration of the respect and dignity owed to a dead person, nobody should be allowed to raise any demand or bait for pursuing any demands by way of any protest or agitation by not performing the timely last rites of a dead body. It is essential to prevent any individual from using a deceased body as a means of protest or demonstration in any form.



Sanctions Rs 1500 Crore for Infrastructure Development



The Cabinet has also approved Sanction/Enhancement of Working Limits of Rs.1500 crore of Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (HSIIDC) for Infrastructure Development mainly at Global City at Gurugram and IMT, Sohna besides land development at other locations of Industrial Estates of HSIIDC in the State of Haryana. The cabinet has also approved the draft of the Hisar Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Bill 2024. The State Government has decided to establish the Hisar Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), Hisar to ensure sustained and balanced growth of the Hisar Metropolitan area.



18 dependents of martyrs of Haryana to get jobs



The Cabinet also accorded approval to provide jobs to 18 dependents of martyrs while giving relaxation in the policy for appointment to the dependents of martyrs on compassionate grounds. Out of 18 cases, 8 cases were related to paramilitary forces, and 10 cases were related to armed forces.

Chandigarh University founder nominated by Prez to Rajya Sabha

PNS/Chandigarh

President Droupadi Murmu has chosen Satnam Singh Sandhu  as the latest addition to the illustrious corridors of the Rajya Sabha, after his extraordinary journey from the farm fields to the upper echelons of India's education system.

Born into a farmers family, Sandhu navigated the challenges of rural life, where access to education was often a distant dream. Raised in Rasulpur village of Ferozepur, he reportedly attended dilapidated government schools where classes were often held under trees. Despite the odds, Sandhu's thirst for knowledge was unquenchable, nurtured by his farmer father and grandfather who instilled in him a love for reading newspapers from end to end.

Undeterred by adversity, he embarked on a mission to transform the educational landscape. His journey into the realm of education commenced in 2001 when he, along with his friend and co-founder Rashpal Singh Dhaliwal, established the Chandigarh Group of Colleges (CGC) at Landran in Mohali.

Fast forward to 2012, and Sandhus brainchild, Chandigarh University (CU), emerged on the scene, marking a meteoric rise in the education sector. Despite initial challenges and a loan of Rs 95 lakh, Sandhus vision began to materialize, with CU breaking into the prestigious QS World University Rankings in 2023.

Sandhu's vision extended beyond the confines of traditional academia. Through his two NGOs  the Indian Minorities Foundation and the New India Development Foundation, he spearheaded initiatives aimed at promoting health, communal harmony, and societal welfare. His holistic approach to education and community development has earned him accolades and admiration far beyond Punjab's borders.

Among those congratulated Sandhu on his new beginning are the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who lauded his commitment to education and social work. Sandhu, in turn, thanked the PM for the opportunity, emphasizing that his humble origins were now a testament to the new India being built under Modi's leadership.

Vice-President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar also welcomed Sandhu to the Upper House, recognizing his rich contributions to community service and education. Sandhu, in response, expressed humility and pledged to be a voice for the people, echoing his dedication to building a Viksit Bharat  a developed India.

Over 25 lakh property cards distributed in 6250 villages of State, says Chief Secretary



Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal on Tuesday directed all Deputy Commissioners in the state to establish weekly targets for completing drone mapping, ownership card uploading, and distribution in their respective districts. They are also instructed to monitor progress regularly to ensure completion by April 30. The Chief Secretary was presiding over the review meeting of the Large-Scale Mapping Project and its implementation here in Chandigarh. The Chief Secretary said that the mapping work has been completed in most of the districts. In the remaining districts, the required work should be completed by the stipulated date. He interacted directly with all the District Deputy Commissioners, took information about the problems being faced in this work and gave necessary guidelines to complete them.



CTU to ply a bus service to Ayodhya



Chandigarh: UT Chandigarh administration has decided to ply a bus service to Ayodhya. It will take 19 hours to reach Ayodhya from Chandigarh. Presently, CTU has been providing its bus services for various destinations in the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand,a statement said. The bus services have been plying to various religious destinations like Salasar, Khatu Shyam, Vrindavan, Haridwar, Katra, Jwala Ji & Chamunda Devi etc. Now, after the inauguration of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, a bus service is being started considering the religious sentiments of devotees of Lord Rama. The bus service from ISBT-17, Chandigarh to Ayodhya will start before Basant Panchmi.



Purohit pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary



Chandigarh: Punjab Governor and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh Banwari Lal Purohit on Tuesday paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of his death anniversary, observed as Martyrs Day across the Nation. The Governor along with his Additional Chief Secretary K Siva Prasad and other officers and staff members of Punjab Raj Bhavan observed two-minute silence as a mark of respect to Gandhi ji and in the memory of all those who fought for the countrys freedom and sacrificed their lives. The Administrator said that Mahatma Gandhi was the epitome of truth and non-violence; he led several landmark movements during the freedom struggle, to free the nation from the British yoke.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren, declared "missing" by the BJP after Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials failed to locate him for over 24 hours, surfaced in Ranchi today. Soren, who was last seen in Delhi on Sunday night, reached Ranchi today for a meeting with MLAs from the ruling coalition. The ED has issued several summons to the CM in connection with the money laundering case and had gone to Delhi to take legal consultation about ED summons.

As the Enforcement Directorate (ED) continued to keep a close watch on Delhi airport to trace Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, the 48-year-old Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader decided to make the 1,200km return trip to state capital Ranchi by road, people close to the chief minister said.

Sources said that Hemant Soren landed at Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport on Friday and was expected to fly out by another charter plane owned by a private firm. This aircraft landed at IGI on Saturday night and continues to remain parked at the airport. An ED team had been stationed at the Delhi airport in case he sought to fly back to Ranchi.

Soren reached Ranchi in the early hours of Tuesday and later, held a meeting of the ruling alliance lawmakers at the CM House to discuss the present political situation in the state. In photographs and videos shared by Hemant Sorens office on X, a large number of MLAs and ministers were seen greeting Soren before taking part in the meeting. Sorens wife Kalpana Soren was also present at the meeting.

Soren wasnt at his south Delhi house when a team of ED officials reached at 7am on Monday. The federal agency searched the south Delhi house in Shanti Niketan on Monday and camped at the site for nearly 13 hours waiting for him. ED officials said they seized about Rs 36 lakh cash, a BMW SUV that is suspected to be registered under a benami name in Haryana and some documents from his Delhi residence.

Meanwhile, reappearance of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader comes amid frenetic political developments in Ranchi and Delhi. The BJP has claimed that the Chief Minister was "on the run". State BJP chief Babulal Marandi also put out an advertisement, seeking information about Soren and announcing a cash prize of Rs 11,000 for credible information.

The JMM, however, had maintained that they are in touch with the Chief Minister. JMM ally Congress alleged that the BJP's "missing" claim is a conspiracy to create a situation to impose President's rule in the state. Governor CP Radhakrishnan had said that he is keeping a close watch on the situation. "It is the job of the Governor, I am doing it. We will cross the bridge when it comes," he told reporters, adding that "no one is above the law".

Meanwhile, all MLAs of the ruling alliance - comprising JMM, Congress and RJD - have been asked to stay in Ranchi, sparking speculation over what comes next.
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Congress leaders on Tuesday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary on Tuesday. They also attacked the BJP-led UP government for not allowing them to take out a prabhat pheri to mark the day.

At the behest of the government, the administration stopped Congress leaders from taking out a prabhat pheri, UP Congress president Ajay Rai alleged. He said Gandhis ideas were not going to die down due to the BJP governments dictatorship. The party which hails the killer of Mahatma Gandhi will not succeed in stopping the Congress from spreading the message of love, peace and brotherhood given by Bapu, he added.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, Rai, along with general secretary incharge of UP Avinash Pandey and hundreds of party workers and leaders, visited the GPO Park and garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. They paid rich tributes to Gandhi and also sang Ramdhun.

The thoughts of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi are immortal, his principles are still a source of inspiration for the youth and the entire world, including India, Pandey said.

Bapus principles can never be irrelevant because these are the ideas of nature, and they will continue to be relevant all over the world, he added.




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Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed dissatisfaction with the negligence in distribution of compensation for crop damage and sought explanation from officials in 17 districts.

Recently, the chief minister conducted a review of compensation and other relief measures for crops affected by various disasters. He expressed dissatisfaction with the carelessness in re-verifying crop losses due to errors and not providing compensation.

Yogi directed the officials concerned to swiftly rectify technical deficiencies and verify cases and ensure that the affected farmers promptly received compensation.

During the review meeting, Yogi came to know that thousands of farmers who suffered crop damage in the financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23 had not received compensation due to issues with Aadhaar, bank account numbers, and duplication in the data-feeding process.

Despite instructing officials to re-verify and provide assistance to farmers excluded from compensation, several district officials in the state failed to conduct surveys on the farmers affected by crop damage. As a result, the farmers were not able to receive compensation on time.

Expressing dissatisfaction, he sought explanation from 17 ADMs (finance and revenue) and called for strict action against them.

Following the displeasure of the CM, the officials took action and demanded a budget from the government by conducting a second survey of the farmers deprived of compensation in their respective districts.

Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Sudhir Garg said that funds to the tune of more than Rs 35 crore have been disbursed so far for compensation of farmers. Along with this, various district magistrates have been instructed to verify the farmers left out and provide guidance on the demand for funds, ensuring that no farmer remains deprived.

The additional chief secretary said that explanation had been sought from 17 ADMs for negligence. These districts include Aligarh, Hathras, Barabanki, Mau, Bareilly, Budaun, Ambedkar Nagar, Shahjahanpur, Mahoba, Deoria, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Ghaziabad, Bijnor, and Kaushambi.

All the ADMs have been directed to submit their explanations to the government within one week. The report, incorporating the explanations from all ADMs, will be presented to the chief minister for further action.

Relief Commissioner GS Navin said that more than 33 per cent of the farmers affected by crop losses due to floods, hailstorms and unseasonal rainfall were being compensated.

In compliance with CM Yogis directions, compensation funds are being transferred to the farmers accounts through DBT within 24 hours of the survey. It was further mentioned that in the financial year 2021-22, assistance funds exceeding Rs 5,08,31,80,715 were provided to over 13,97,480 farmers in 75 districts of the state.

In the year 2022-23, assistance funds exceeding Rs 4,25,22,41,276 were provided to over 10,44,387 farmers.








Ruling party in the State, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), on Tuesday, replied Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State Chief, Babulal Marandis tweet in which it was mentioned that informer will get Rs 11,000 reward for providing Chief Minister, Hemant Sorens information. The JMM said that Marandi lost his mental balance and the party will spend Rs 11 lakh for his treatment.

Addressing a press meet at the party headquarter in the State Capital, JMM Spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said that a criminal case will be filed against BJP leaders soon. Taking aim at Babulal Marandi, he said that what he did was the height of violation of dignity and privacy. Marandi even announced a reward of Rs 11,000 to the person who finds CM Hemant. Babulal has lost his mental balance. He needs a psychiatrist. JMM will give a reward of Rs 11 lakh to any doctor who treats him, he added. He also said that Babulal has reached old age and JMM has knowledge of how his mind thinks.



On the question of CM Hemant Soren going to Delhi, the party Spokesperson said that he had informed the media about it yesterday itself. Still, the rumour that his location was not known was spread. The opposition leaders did the work of confusing the public, he added. He also said that CM Hemant has gone to Delhi for personal work and will also return. When BJP leaders reached the police station to file a missing report, he said that they should feel ashamed. Raising questions on the ED, he said on whose orders the officers of the investigating agency reached the CM's Delhi residence ahead of time and whereas the time has already been fixed by the CM to meet the ED.



ED has recovered Rs 36 lakh cash from CM Hemant's Delhi residence. Bhattacharya questioned whether it could not be planted by a leader like Babulal Marandi or by the ED. He said that on whose orders the ED team reached the CM's residence to search his residence in the absence of the CM and these things should be investigated. He said that BJP should know that at present Sita Soren is also in Delhi and Ramdas Soren is also undergoing treatment in Delhi, so should they be declared missing?
In the state capital a man slit throat his 8 year old daughter and dumped her in bushes assuming her dead in Koh-e-Fiza area on Monday.

After regaining consciousness, the girl reached the road soaked in blood and asked for help. After this the police took the injured girl to the hospital.

The incident took place near Milan Wedding Hall in the Kohefiza area on Monday night at 10 pm. The police have registered a case of attempt to murder and arrested the accused father.

Assistant Sub Inspector Ram Prakash said that the name of the girl's father is Tej Singh Lodhi. He had taken her away from home asking her to go to his elder brother's house. He committed the crime near Milan marriage hall.

The accused thought that the daughter would die after slitting her throat but, as soon as she regained consciousness, the girl got up from the bushes and came to the road. Blood was flowing from the girl's neck. There she asked for help. After this the police got information.

Police station in-charge Brajendra Marskole said that the interrogation of the accused is still going on. He has told that he was very upset with the girl, she used to harass him throughout the day. When he did not listen to what he said, he committed the crime. At present the reason is not clear.

The girl is the daughter of Lodhi Tej Singh's first wife. Tej Singh works at a tent house. Tila lives in a rented house in Jamalpur, originally from Sagar district.

The injured girl is admitted in Hamidia Hospital. Her mother is present with her. Mother and child said that it was getting dark, father stopped the vehicle after this someone came from behind and gave money and slit throat. However, in the statement given at night, the girl had named her father as the accused. He told the police that it was his father who slit his throat. The accused is being questioned by the police.
BJP State President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi today targeted the state government for large scale corruption in the JSSC examination.

He said that for the past four years, there has been only loot and corruption in the Hemant government. Like coal, iron, sand, stone and land, this government is also looting the jobs of the youth.

He said that JSCC exams had to be canceled not due to unavoidable reasons but due to corruption being exposed. Even before the exam, question papers were circulating in social media groups. Question papers were sold to unemployed candidates for Rs 35 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.

He said that this is not the first time that this has happened but everyone knows the story of the 7th to 10th JPSC examination. How the candidates passed from the centers of different districts sequentially by roll number. How this government had earlier denied the corruption of this examination.

He said that the promise of 5 lakh appointments every year or unemployment allowance proved to be only a fraud. Now this government is luring the unemployed youth preparing for the exams into corruption. By selling the job of an assistant for Rs 50 lakh, this government is creating a new wave of corruption.

He said that lakhs of posts are vacant in the state but due to lack of reinstatement, the unemployment rate in the state has reached 18%. Today the number of registered unemployed in the state is more than 11 lakh, out of which more than 1 lakh are skilled unemployed.

He said that this government is the father, nurturer and protector of corruption. There is no hope from it now.

He said that the government should not just cancel the examination and hide it. An FIR should be registered against the agency conducting the examination including the Chairman of JSSC and the entire matter should be investigated by the CBI.

He said that the people of the state no longer have any hope from the Hemant government. There is a fugitive Chief Minister in the state who fled from Delhi to Ranchi due to fear of ED and CBI.

He said what a scene it must have been like when the Chief Minister of a state was hiding from Delhi fearing the ED and CBI. He said that Hemant Soren's family itself is fugitive. His father Shri Shibu Soren ji had also fled from Parliament during Manmohan Singh's government. He remained missing for several days and then had to go to Tihar Jail. He said how far will Hemant Soren run and for how long will he run. One day they will have to go to Hotwar.

He said that he himself is involved in corruption and is also the patron of the corrupt, brokers and middlemen. That is why he did not take action against the corrupt on the letter sent by ED. No cases were registered against them.
Union Minister for Surface Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said that road projects will help Madhya Pradesh emerge as an industrial and agricultural hub. New projects are being started for improving the road network in Madhya Pradesh.

Many will be completed by the end of this year. Construction of roads will bring investment and exports will also increase. Employment opportunities will be available and will help eradicating poverty.

Gadkari was addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony for road projects at Lal Parade Ground in Bhopal on Tuesday. Gadkari and Chief Minister Dr. Yadav laid the foundation stone for 15 National Highway road projects measuring 499 km length worth Rs 8038 crore.Union Minister Gadkari said that construction of roads will harness possibilities of development. Malwa flour is liked in many countries. New roads will boost export. Gadkari said that the project of operating ropeway from railway station to Baba Mahakal temple in Ujjain is underway.

Tender for this project worth Rs 171 crore will be clear in the coming month. The distance from Ujjain to Kota can be covered in just two and a half hours. Important works also include four laning of 136 km distance from Ujjain to Garoth. The distance from Indore to Omkareshwar will be covered in one hour. Expansion of roads is an important achievement for MP: CM YadavChief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that the road construction works worth Rs. 10,000 crore is an important achievement. Today, 9 road projects have been inaugurated and foundation stone laid in Jabalpur and 15 in Bhopal. The cost of these 24 road projects is more than Rs 10 thousand crores. Along with new works of road construction, Madhya Pradesh is also moving forward in the use of air means of transport and means like cable car, rope-way. Industrial activities will also intensify.

In the last 70 years, 5 thousand kilometers of roads were prepared. But in the last ten years, only 5 thousand kilometers of new roads have been built. Madhya Pradesh has been important for people moving from north to south and east to west. Entire state will benefit from the construction of new highways. The operation of cable car and ropeway from the Big Lake of Bhopal is being considered.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Union Minister Gadkari has emphasized on the use of alternative means of fuel. Now electric vehicles are also running in large numbers. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also appreciated the innovations made by Gadkari. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also highlighted the importance of the National Highway works whose foundation stone was laid today.Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, while addressing virtually, said that today is a historic day for Madhya Pradesh.

The Union Minister has ensured the quality of works. Along with the expansion of roads in Madhya Pradesh is progressing in the irrigation and energy sectors. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, important work has been done in every sector in the last one and a half month. Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar addressed the program virtually. He said that work is being done to connect all four corners of the country through roads. India will emerge as a developed India by 2047. Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh said in his welcome address said that transportation is becoming easier in Madhya Pradesh. MP Vishnudutt Sharma said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Union Minister Gadkari ji is playing an important role.
AAP leader Raghav Chadha on Tuesday questioned the Chandigarh mayoral poll process and alleged that it was not only "unconstitutional and illegal" but also an act of "deshdroh" (treason) as he accused the BJP of "orchestrating" it after sensing its defeat in the election.



Accompanied by senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal, the AAP MP said the AAP-Congress alliance was destined to win the Chandigarh mayoral polls as they had 20 votes in the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation House.



"Victory of our alliance was certain, but sensing imminent defeat, the BJP hatched conspiracies. First, the presiding officer, who was to conduct polls on January 18, was made to fall ill. Thereafter an attempt was made to buy councillors of the AAP. When BJP's 'operation lotus' failed, then they did fraud (in the mayoral polls)," he alleged.



The poll results came as a setback for the AAP and the Congress which were contesting the mayoral polls in an alliance. Chadha said elections were held with Anil Masih, who was an office-bearer of the BJP's minority wing, being announced as the presiding officer. "BJP's presiding officer did not allow any election agent of any party to come forward during counting of votes. Whenever counting takes place, election agents of parties are allowed to come," he said.



The AAP leader further alleged that the presiding officer himself used his pen on certain ballot papers and declared them invalid during counting. "It was for the first time that out of 36 votes (including vote of Chandigarh MP), eight votes were declared invalid," he said while demanding an FIR against the presiding officer.



Congress leader and former Union minister Bansal said that such "jungle raj" was never seen and blamed the BJP for the same. Bansal alleged that the eight ballot papers were rejected in a premeditated manner. The Congress and AAP agents were not given access to the ballot paper. The presiding officer, who I would say is a shallow person, had been given one clear specification that he has to come out only after declaring the BJP candidate as the winner, he added.



Bansal further said, We were watching the live (feed). If you notice, the presiding officer immediately vacated the chair and the BJPs candidate was standing beside immediately sat on the chair. The BJP members rushed in, took and tore the ballot papers before anyone could even go there and see.



Replying to a question, Chadha said, "This is not a setback for one coalition or one party. It is a setback for India's democracy and as a democrat, we are aggrieved, we are flabbergasted."

"We are worried as to what will happen in upcoming 2024 polls if the BJP can stoop to such a low level and commit forgery and illegality. The BJP can go to any level to rig the election process and indulge in every possible electoral fraud and electoral malpractices," he said.
International Prohibition Day was celebrated on Tuesday on the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, under the joint aegis of Indore District Administration and Social Justice Department.

On this occasion, Vikas Tyagi, President of Vikas Vishwa Kalyan Samridhi Sanstha, which is dedicated to social welfare and provides information about the ill effects of drugs to students, youth and citizens, along with other workers of the organization, visited the CM Rise Government Model Higher Secondary School, Mhowgaon, located in Mhow tehsil of Indore district.

The students who were present in the school were given information about the dire consequences of drug addiction, physical harm, mental health harm, economic harm, social harm and the future being in darkness due to habit of Intoxication.

During the program, Vikas Tyagi also highlighted about the SAY No To Intoxication YouTube channel which is started by him and is first you tube channel of the country spreading awarness against intoxication to students youth and parents.

This you tube channel also provide information to the students in which senior police officers, senior administrative officers, academicians have appealed to the students not to consume drugs through a short film and have given guidance on how students can protect themselves from drugs.

The program ended with a collective oath not to consume drugs. On this occasion, school principal Manoj Sohni, teachers Vivek Jain, Harendra Singh Tomar, Anil Ahirwar, Yogendra Pawar, Mukhtar Ahmed, Anmol Upadhyay, Gajesh Kumar, Pooja Patidar, Aradhana Rajnekar Smriti Ganguly, Anjana Singh Thakur, Shweta Sondattikar, Shruti Sharma. Deepa Vaishnav, Bharti Verma, Chanchala Gawde and Chandrashekhar Chaturvedi were present.
The aftermath of the mayoral elections in Chandigarh has ignited a political firestorm, with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday accusing the BJP of orchestrating electoral fraud to secure victory.

Mann, addressing the media hours after BJP candidate emerged victorious in mayoral polls, lambasted the saffron party for what he termed as the plundering of the mayoral elections, stating that the events of January 30 would forever stain the fabric of Indias democracy.

January 30 will be remembered as the darkest day in the annals of Indian polity as BJP led Union Government has murdered democracy during the election for post of Mayor in Chandigarh, he said, alleging that the BJP had compromised the integrity of the constitution during the polls.

Expressing dismay, Mann pointed out the irony of the situation, as the nation had recently celebrated Republic Day, only for democratic principles to be disregarded in the electoral process. He asserted that the mayoral elections in Chandigarh were marred by foul play, indicating a systematic erosion of democratic values.

The Chief Minister specifically targeted the presiding officer, Anil Masih, accusing him of colluding with the BJP to manipulate the election outcome. He demanded that Masih be charged with sedition for betraying the nations constitutional ethos.

Substantiating his allegations with video clips, Mann highlighted instances of irregularities, including the late arrival of the presiding officer and his alleged tampering with ballot papers during the counting process.

Stating that BJP had deliberately appointed the head of its minority wing as the presiding officer in these polls, Mann said that the spineless presiding officer acted as per the whims and fancies of his masters to ensure victory of the BJP nomineeHe must be booked under sedition for deceiving the constitution of the country. He had deliberately counted the votes in the absence of polling agents just to ensure the win of the BJP candidate.

Mann reiterated his concerns about the broader implications of election fraud, warning that such malpractices could undermine the integrity of future parliamentary elections. He emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the electoral process to uphold the sanctity of democracy.

Furthermore, Mann issued a stark warning, stating, It will be the last day of democracy incase BJP wins the forthcoming general elections.

Mann, addressing the purported manipulation of votes in the Chandigarh mayoral election conducted earlier in the day, remarked that if the BJP, by his reference, is willing to resort to such unethical practices for a mere 36 votes, the extent of misconduct they might engage in for over 90 crore votes at the national level is unfathomable.

Asserting that this is BJPs chronic habit, Mann pointed that they had earlier toppled democratically elected governments in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and other north-eastern states.

The mayoral polls in Chandigarh saw the BJP emerge victorious, securing all three posts, including that of mayor. The BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar defeated the AAP-Congress alliance, prompting protests from opposition councillors.

The BJP's victory in the mayoral polls is a grave miscarriage of justice, Mann declared, asserting that democracy had been "murdered" in Chandigarh. He warned of dire implications for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, expressing concern that the BJP's electoral machinations would erode the foundational principles of democracy.

The point of worry here is not that BJP has hijacked the democratic process in Chandigarh but the real problem is that they will divest the people of their democratic rights in ensuing Lok Sabha polls too, he said.


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In the Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path in New Delhi, Uttar Pradeshs tableau based on the Viksit Bharat-Samriddh Virasat theme received the second prize. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt presented a commendation letter and memento to Shishir, the director of Information and Public Relations department of Uttar Pradesh, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Notably, 25 tableaux of 16 states and union territories, along with nine different ministries and departments, were displayed on January 26 last. UPs tableau secured second place on the basis of peoples choice. The tableau, adorned with the theme of the recently-inaugurated Ram temple in Ayodhya, captivated the onlookers. It depicted a five-year-old Ram Lalla holding a bow. The tableau showcased the magnificence of Sanatan Dharma and Mahakumbh featuring sages. Additionally, it offered glimpses of Uttar Pradeshs self-reliance, showcasing the Rapid Rail and BrahMos missile technology.

UP has been honoured for the fifth consecutive year for its tableau in the Republic Day parade this year. UPs tableau got the second prize in 2020, and the first prize in 2021 and 2022. The state had received recognition for its tableau in the peoples choice category in 2023.
After his surprise appearance in Ranchi on Tuesday around 2:30 PM from being declared missing in Delhi since 7 AM on Monday, Chief Minister Hemant Soren and ruling parties legislators seem to be prepared for any possibility in the wake of the Enforcement Directorates questioning of Soren on January 31. Soon after reaching his residence in Ranchi on Tuesday CM Hemant Soren chaired an informal meeting with ministers of his cabinet and party MLAs. Notably, CMs wife Kalpana Soren was also present in the meeting.

The CM after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Morhabadi ground chaired the legislature party meeting with the legislators at his residence in the evening. MLAs from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, RJD and Congress were present in this meeting led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren. JMM supremo Shibu Soren was also reported to be present in this meeting.

Political circles are abuzz that amidst the ongoing political crisis in Jharkhand and the fear of arrest of Soren, discussions were held on the name of his wife Kalpana Soren as the next Chief Minister of the state. ED will interrogate Chief Minister Hemant Soren on January 31. There is a fear that the agency may take him into custody. In such a situation, to avoid any kind of political crisis, Kalpana Soren's name can be put forward as the successor of Hemant Soren.

According to information received from sources, the ruling MLAs have been asked not to leave Ranchi. On Monday itself, all the MLAs were asked to come to Ranchi with bags and baggage. All the MLAs stayed in the Circuit House. When the Chief Minister reached Ranchi on Tuesday, the MLAs were asked to reach the CM residence on Kanke Road. It is being said that in this meeting, the Chief Minister will propose the name of Kalpana Soren and the consent of the MLAs will be taken on it. However, in the meantime, Kalpana Soren's name will be announced as the successor only if there is a political crisis.

Notably, when the Election Commission's envelope regarding the Chief Minister in the mining lease case came to Raj Bhavan, there was speculation that his membership would be cancelled. Even then Kalpana Soren's name had come up as the successor. Even when Gandey MLA Dr. Sarfaraz Ahmed resigned on 31 December 2023, Kalpana Soren's name was in the media. However, in the situation of political crisis, the names of Basant Soren and Champai Soren can also be put forward as successors.
Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari said that the self-reliant India will be composed of smart villages and smart cities. He described Jabalpur as the growth engine of Madhya Pradesh saying that it is an important tourist point of view. Jabalpur is known in education sector. The government is working for the construction of roads and bridges along with socio- cultural and economic development in Jabalpur.

Gadkari was addressing the foundation stone laying and inauguration ceremonies for various National Highway projects at the Veterinary College Ground in Jabalpur.

Union Minister Gadkari said that construction of roads leads to development of industries, promotes tourism, agricultural exports and thus roads become the axis of development.

Union Minister Gadkari said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of building India self-reliant, it is emerging as the world's third largest economy. The aim to create 5 trillion economy is directly proportionate to the development of villages and farmers. Union Minister Gadkari said that during the construction of National Highway and Ring Road, water storage tanks and ponds can be built in place of the soil and mud dug. This will ensure water conservation and also provide water to the farmers for irrigation. If 75% of land in every village is irrigated, then farmers and villages will become prosperous and their income will increase.

Union Minister Gadkari said that the farmers of Madhya Pradesh have potential to be energy provider by taking up manufacturing of green hydrogen, bio aviation fuel, bio CNG and bio LNG. Agriculturally produced biomass into energy crops. Giving the example of Indian Oil's bitumen plant in Panipat, Gadkari said that 1 lakh liters of ethanol, 1.5 tonnes of bitumen and 75 thousand tonnes of aviation fuel are produced in the state. This product can be used as aviation fuel. It has been called sustainable aviation fuel. Two years ago, on January 26 event, bio fuel was used in fighter jets and helicopters.

Gadkari said that methanol is made from coal. The experiment of running 25 buses in Bengaluru by mixing 15% methanol in diesel has been successful. Abundant reserves of coal are available in Madhya Pradesh. The rate of methanol is Rs 22 per liter and that of diesel is Rs 93 per liter. In this way, methanol is a cheaper fuel than diesel. Use machines and trucks running on methanol in coal mines.

All these things will reduce the import of fossil fuels. Pollution caused by use of diesel and petrol will reduce. Madhya Pradesh has the potential to conduct such experiments and be a leader in this sector. The farmers of the country will produce energy for the country, which will become an an energy exporter.

Agricultural products including crops and fruits are produced in abundance in Madhya Pradesh. Pre-cooling plant, cold storage and logistics park etc. can be developed on government land adjacent to the National Highway and Ring Road. With this, the vegetables, fruits and other products of the state will reach other countries of the world.

With this, farmers will get the right price for their crops and the area will develop. Union Minister Gadkari also assured all possible help from his ministry in the development of the state.

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the roads of the state are increasing the prestige. In past roads had potholes, but a new chapter has been added to surface connectivity. Till 2013-14, there were only about one thousand kilometers of roads, which have increased to 1 lakh 61 thousand kilometers in 10 years.
As part of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exiles state advocacy programs, a delegation comprising MPs Geshe Ngawa Gangri and Tenzin Choezin initiated their advocacy efforts in Bhopal.

Upon their arrival in Bhopal, the MPs received a warm welcome from members of the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association. On January 26th, they were visited by Giriraj Kishore, Radhe Maharaj, Anita, and other members of the Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch (BTSM) at the Circuit House. The purpose of this meeting was to extend a welcome to the Tibetan lawmakers, engage in discussions, and plan their advocacy programs within the city.

Following this, a meeting was held with Malti Rai, the mayor of Bhopal, during which the MPs advocated for Tibet and highlighted the current situation in the region. Subsequently, they met with (Mahant) Ram Pravesh Dasji Maharaj of Gufa Mandir.

A lunch meeting was hosted by Dinesh Yadav, a member of the Bhartiya Janta Yuva Murcha, in honour of the MPs. During the meeting, they conveyed their greetings to Pandit Bhanwar Lal Sharma and introduced the functioning of the Central Tibetan Administration.

The state government facilitated the accommodation and transportation.

On 27 January, 2024, they went to the NRI Group of Institutions in Bhopal. Addressing an audience of over 500 students and faculty members, the Tibetan lawmakers shed light on the Sino-Tibetan conflict, delving into the intricate details of the current alarming situation in Tibet. They expressed gratitude to India and its citizens for their unwavering support and solidarity with Tibet and Tibetans while appealing for consistent support. The Chairman of the NRI Group of Institutions announced providing scholarships and seats for ten Tibetan students in the institution.

They then paid a courtesy call to Suni Pandey, Vice-Chair of the Bhopal Development Authority. During their meeting, the MPs highlighted the importance of Tibet and engaged in a discussion about the current situation in the region.
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Speculations are rife that Uttar Pradesh would again get an acting director general of police (DGP) for the fourth consecutive time. The current acting DGP, Vijaya Kumar, is set to retire on January 31.

UP Police sources say the state is likely to get an acting DGP for the fourth consecutive time. However, in the wake of concern for appointment of acting police chiefs in many states, including UP, there is a buzz that Kumar would hand over his charge to DG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar till a full-time DGP is finalised by the government.

In 2022, a Delhi-based lawyer named Brajesh Singh challenged the appointment of acting DGPs, calling it a violation of a Supreme Court order.

In the contempt petition filed before the apex court, Singh challenged the appointment of acting DGPs in UP and Punjab.

In 2006, the Supreme Court had said in one of its judgments that there was no such concept of an acting DGP. Moreover, the apex court had stated that DGPs should have a minimum tenure of two years as it was necessary to protect the DGP office from political influences, the petition stated.

Sources said that if the UP government wanted to appoint a full-time DGP on the basis of seniority and other criteria, they would suggest the names of three senior most IPS officers and a name had to be finalised within 72 hours of the DGPs retirement.

A 1987-batch IPS officer of UP cadre, Mukul Goel tops the list of those who fit the bill. However, after UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath removed Goel from the post on May 11, 2022 for inefficiency and negligence, he was considered out of contention, the sources said.

Going by the present situation, 1988-batch IPS officer Anand Kumar, who is currently serving as the Director General of Crime Branch (CB), CID, is being seen as the topmost contender. Kumar is scheduled to retire on April 30, 2024.

The sources said he had served as the additional director general of police, law and order, for a long time under the present UP government. However, with less than six months left for retirement, he could only be made an acting DGP.

On the basis of seniority, another name on the list is that of 1989-batch IPS officer PV Ramasastry, who is currently posted as the DG of Border Security Force (BSF). Earlier, he served as the ADG, law and order. The date of his superannuation is May 31, 2025.

Ramasastry is originally from Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. He handled the responsibility of inter-agency training for the CBI directors position for years.

However, the sources said he would not like to come to UP after heading the topmost paramilitary organisation.

Next in line is 1990-batch IPS officer SN Sabat, who is currently posted as DG, Jails.

The sources said that being the blue-eyed boy of the current dispensation, Prashant Kumar, an IPS officer from the 1990 batch presently posted as the DG, law and order, might take over as the acting DGP, and would also oversee the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, if the Election Commission did not raise any objection.

It may be mentioned that Prashant Kumar received the Tamil Nadu cadre after he was chosen for the IPS, but he was moved to the UP cadre in 1994 after marrying IAS officer Dimple Verma, who is also from the UP cadre.

Vijaya Kumar, who is retiring on Wednesday, succeeded Dr Raj Kumar Vishwakarma, who had been the acting DGP since March 31, 2023.

Vishwakarma also served as the Chairman of UP Police Recruitment and Promotion Board. Vishwakarma had taken charge from then acting DGP Devendra Singh Chauhan, who served for almost 11 months before his retirement.

The Yogi government had appointed Chauhan after removing Goel following charges of inaction and lack of interest towards work. Goel, the last regular DGP in the state, is presently posted as the DG, Civil Defence, and he is set to superannuate in February.






On the occasion of World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day, Uttar Pradesh has renewed its pledge to combat NTDs, a cluster of preventable illnesses, including lymphatic filariasis (hathipaon-), visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), leprosy (kusht-rog), dengue, chikungunya, snakebite, rabies, which annually account for millions of lives in India.

Aligned with the WHO-NTD Roadmap 2021-2030, Indias resolve against NTDs finds an echo in Uttar Pradeshs commitment to achieving the nations NTD elimination targets, said said Dr Ramesh Singh Thakur, the state programme officer for vector-borne diseases at the department of Health and Family Welfare.

Emphasising on the states resolve, he stated, In line with Indias pledge to eradicate filariasis and recognising the significance of sustained public health endeavours, UP is launching mass drug administration (MDA) rounds in endemic districts, divided into two phases. The inaugural phase of MDA is scheduled to commence on February 10, followed by the second phase on August 10.

As of June last year, the state has identified 51 filariasis endemic districts, with a total of 90,768 lymphatic filariasis and 21,131 hydrocele patients.

Highlighting the severity of filariasis as a public health concern, director of the department of Health and Family Welfare Dr BP Singh Kalyani said it poses a significant health threat and is ranked among the primary causes of enduring disability worldwide.

Typically contracted during childhood but manifesting in adulthood, this affliction wreaks havoc on the lymphatic system. If left untreated, it triggers irreversible abnormal swelling in various body parts, Dr Kalyani said.
The abrupt and harsh weather conditions have provided little relief, due to Western Disturbance, it is cloudy in Madhya Pradesh.

Met has issued a warning of shallow to moderate fog in Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Chattarpur and Niwari districts.

According to meteorologists, two western disturbances will come in the next 5 days. Due to this, the state will remain cloudy till February 5. However, it will not rain. You will definitely get relief from the intense cold during the day and night.

Meteorological Center, Bhopal told that two western disturbances will be active in North India on January 30 and February 3. Their effect will be seen in Madhya Pradesh after two days. This will increase the night temperature, because northern winds will not come. The day temperature will remain stable. There is no possibility of rain at present due to the system.

Night temperatures will drop after the system returns. The mercury may drop by 2-3 degrees from the night of 6-7 February. However, there will be no severe cold.

The night temperature has also increased in the cities of the state. Only in Pachmarhi 7.8 degree celsius, Khajuraho 8.8 degree celsius, Rajgarh 9.0 degree celsius, Datia 9.2 degree celsius, Nowgong 9.5 degree celsius was the mercury less than 10 degree celsius on Monday night. On Monday, except Datia 22.2 degree celsius, Pachmarhi 22.6 degree celsius, Gwalior 22.8 degree celsius, the day temperature in other cities of the state was more than 25 degree celsius.

The night temperature on Monday in big cities was recorded at Bhopal 13 (in degrees Celsius), Indore 13, Gwalior 10.2, Jabalpur 13.1 and Ujjain 11.2.

Moderate to dense fog prevailed over Morena, Gwalior, Bhind and Datia while in Sheopur Kalan, Niwadi, Tikamgarh. Minimum visibility in the morning is less than 50 meters; Gwalior 300 meters to the airport and 500 meters was recorded in Nowgong.

There was no significant change in the minimum temperature in the districts of all the divisions. They are common in the districts of Gwalior, Rewa and Sagar divisions.
Taniya, whose husband Subham had allegedly shot her in the head near Badasi Bridge on Thano Road in Dehradun on January 12 finally gave her statement to the police on Tuesday. Due to health issues, she gave her statement to the Raipur police in the presence of the magistrate in the Government Doon Medical College hospital where she is currently undergoing treatment. The Dehradun senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh said that the police asked doctors about Taniyas health and they informed that she can give a statement. She stated in her statement before the magistrate that her husband Shubham shot her in the head. The police will take further action in the case based on this statement. The SSP also said that Taniyas health is better but still unstable.

It is pertinent to mention here that Taniya sustained a bullet injury in her head due to which her condition has been critical for about three weeks. The police arrested her husband on January 21 after he opened fire on police and shot a sub inspector in the stomach when a police team reached a homestay to nab him. He had also allegedly killed his father in Haryana's Sonipat in September last year, which is being investigated by Haryana police. Singh said that they are in touch with Haryana police and will take action in the case accordingly here.
The Department of Dermatology at AIIMS Bhopal on Tuesday commemorated World Leprosy Day with a series of enlightening activities aimed at raising awareness, dispelling myths, and fostering a sense of community. The event served as a platform to underscore the importance of eradicating stigma associated with leprosy while emphasizing the need for comprehensive outreach efforts, especially in rural areas.

The occasion was graced by Prof (Dr) Ajai Singh, Executive Director and CEO of AIIMS Bhopal, who commended the department's unwavering dedication and compassionate care towards patients. Dr. Singh urged dermatologists to intensify their outreach activities, particularly in rural areas, to combat stigma and ensure equitable access to healthcare services. He expressed optimism that the department would strive towards achieving national standards in patient care and advocacy. Dr. Singh also presented prizes to the winners of various competitions held in conjunction with World Leprosy Day, recognizing their commitment to raising awareness and promoting inclusivity. The ceremony was further enriched by the presence of Dr. Devendra Singh Tomar, WHO State Coordinator for the Society of Neglected Tropical Diseases, and Dr. Nidhi Sharma, Deputy Director (Leprosy) at the National Health Mission state branch.

Both esteemed guests shed light on ongoing initiatives and emphasized the pivotal role of public health interventions in addressing the challenges posed by leprosy. As a token of appreciation for their dedicated contributions, key figures in the fight against neglected tropical diseases were felicitated during the ceremony, underscoring the collective effort required to overcome barriers and achieve meaningful progress.

Dr. Prashansa Jaiswal, Associate Professor, Dermatology, extended a warm welcome to the gathering, setting the tone for an engaging and insightful discourse on leprosy awareness and advocacy.
On a day 146 opposition MPs suspended in the last Parliament's session for disrupting its proceedings returned to attend the Budget session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted lawmakers habituated to creating disturbance and chaos and asked them to introspect.

In his customary remarks to reporters ahead of the session's start, Modi accused the MPs who disrupt Parliament's proceedings regularly of "disrobing" democratic values.

If these MPs enquire in even their own parliamentary constituencies, they will find that no one remembers those behind such ruckus and disruptions, Modi said.

But those who benefited Parliament with their superb ideas, even if they were sharply critical in their views, are remembered by a very big section of people, he said.

Their words will become a part of history, he said.

The prime minister's criticism drew a sharp response from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge who accused the Modi government of "corroding" parliamentary democracy and dubbed it as "autocratic".

It has been "violating" the Constitution and strangulating the voice of the opposition, he said in a statement.

Kharge noted said as many as 14 bills were passed in merely three days after 146 MPs, a suspension record for a single session, in both Houses.

In his comments, Modi said no one will probably remember those whose behaviour was all about negativity and creating a ruckus, and these MPs to not let go of the opportunity by the way of this last session before the polls and present the best of their ideas. They should leave a good footprint behind, he said.

He said he believed that a big section of the country's democracy-loving people will appreciate the conduct of those MPs who used their wisdom and talent and showed their concerns for the masses, even though they might have been critical in their views.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had suspended 146 MPs in the last session for their relentless disruption of proceedings over a host of issues, including security breach in the lower House.

The government has cautioned that bringing placards in the chambers and causing disruptions in violation of rules may invite disciplinary action.

Kharge said, "Pradhan Mantri ji made a statement outside the Parliament. We want to remind him how his government is responsible for corroding parliamentary democracy. In the last session of Parliament, as many as 14 bills were passed in just three days, by suspending an unprecedented 146 MPs from both Houses," he said in a statement.

"The current Lok Sabha will finish its 5-year term without a Deputy Speaker, a position conventionally reserved for an opposition member. This shows how an autocratic Modi government is violating the Constitution, and strangulating the voice of the Opposition," he alleged.
The Daily Telegraph (Torygraph) is soon to be taken over by a company funded by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE (United Arab Emirates). So, what will happen to the Journalists at the Daily Telegraph and Spectator once the Sheikh takes over?

If they do not write what we tell them to write (gestures hand across neck), one of the UAE officials revealed.

In fact, the UAE consortium is planning to bring in prominent Saudi executioner Ali bin Urhed who will have orders to sit in the Telegraph newsroom at all times.

If I get the order its chop chop time. Each journalist has a waste bin at their desk, and they will be asked to kneel over the bin. Thats when I swiftly chop off their heads, and it goes into the bin. Bonk, job done. Cushty!

Fearing for their heads, one journalist has even turned up to the office wearing a metal neck brace.

He wont be able to behead me that easily. Listen, I am a Telegraph journalist and I should be free to write what I want without getting my bloody head chopped off! The journalist was later seen turning up at the office in a wheelchair with no feet.

Its just not beheading though, Fridays will be prayer day where the entire news team will be expected to attend the local mosque, and prayer rugs will be provided for everyday prayers to Mecca.

If you steal someones pen or stapler or borrow it without their permission, you are a thief, and Sharia law dictates that you should have your hands chopped off, the Sheikhs spokesman added.

Thankfully the Daily Squib offices are safe from such foreign interference, we are staunchly British to the bitter end and no amount of money will sway us from such mistakes.
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JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the 5th largest bank in the world and the largest in the U.S. The current company is the result of a series of mergers that began in the earliest days of American banking history and include more than 1,200 original banks. The oldest predecessor is The Bank Of The Manhattan Company which was founded in 1799 by Aaron Burr. At the time, The Bank Of The Manhattan Company was the 3rd oldest bank in the U.S. and the 31st oldest in the world. The Chase Manhattan Bank, a precursor to JPMorgan Chase, was later formed when The Bank Of Manhattan Company purchased Chase Bank which was established in 1877.

JPMorgan & Co came to life in 1895 in order to finance the United States Steel Corporation. Itself a result of merger, the company also financed other early American businesses as well as aided the federal government by backing a bond offering. It wasnt until the year 2000 and after several more mergers that JPMorgan Chase & Co was born. It will be four more years before the merger with Bank One which is notable because it brings CEO Jamie Dimon into the picture.

JPMorgan Chase & Co was instrumental in aiding the US government during the 2008 financial crisis. It backed the accounts of several major banks including Bear Stearns and eventually took over their operations. Today, JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide with operations on every continent and in more than 60 countries.

JPMorgan Chase & Co operates through four segments that are Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). Services are available in branches in 48 of the 50 US states and around the world. Services are available via ATM, online, mobile, and telephone.

The CCB segment offers traditional banking services to consumers that include but are not limited to deposits, loans, mortgages, and lines of credit. The CIB segment provides investment banking products and services to businesses, institutions, and governments that range from prime brokerage, insurance, corporate strategy, and access to capital markets, to lending, cross-border financing, and derivative instruments. The CB segment provides financial services for small, medium, and large businesses including commercial real estate banking of all types.

The AWM segment provides investment management solutions to institutional and retail investors. This segment also provides retirement products, brokerage, trusts and estates, and investment management products.
Webster Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Webster Bank, National Association that provides a range of financial products and services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. It operates through three segments: Commercial Banking, HSA Bank, and Consumer Banking. The Commercial Banking segment offers commercial real estate and equipment financing, business banking, asset-based lending, and commercial services; public sector finance; mortgage warehouse financing; sponsor and specialty financing services; credit, deposit, and cash flow management services; and wealth management solutions to business owners and operators, including trust, asset management, financial planning, insurance, retirement, and investment products, as well as treasury management services comprising derivative, treasury, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and trade products and services. This segment also provides commercial services, such as accounts receivable factoring and trade financing, payroll funding, and business process outsourcing. The HSA Bank segment offers health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, flexible spending accounts, and commuter benefit services that are distributed directly to employers and individual consumers, as well as through national and regional insurance carriers, benefit consultants, and financial advisors. The Consumer Banking segment provides consumer deposit and fee-based services, residential mortgages, home equity lines, secured and unsecured loans, and credit cards to consumers; and small business banking products, such as credit, deposit, and cash flow management products to businesses and professional service firms. The company offers online and mobile banking services. Webster Financial Corporation was founded in 1935 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.
Pressure is mounting on political parties across Ireland to boycott White House St Patricks Day celebrations in protest at United States' President Joe Bidens ongoing support for Israels actions in Gaza.

On Monday, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he "could not in good conscience attend celebratory events at the White House for St Patricks Day while the civilian population in Gaza lives in constant fear of eradication".

However, Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O'Neill announced last week Sinn Fein representatives would travel to Washington DC for the annual St Patricks Day trip in pursuit of peace.

Derry City and Strabane District councillor Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) is bringing a motion in support of the boycott to Councils plenary meeting at 2.00pm on January 31.

A similar motion brought before Mid Ulster District Council last week (January 25) was defeated.

Cllr Harkin is proposing: Council will write to the Irish Taoiseach and all political parties North and South in Ireland calling on them not to attend St Patricks Day celebrations in the White House, nor to meet with President Joe Biden or any representative of his administration as part of the St Patricks Day events.

Cllr Harkins motion continues: Council agrees apartheid Israel is engaged in a genocide in Gaza. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, including over 10,000 children. Many more have been seriously injured and traumatised, almost 2 million people are displaced and face a catastrophic humanitarian crisis with famine conditions.

Council reiterates its disgust at the level of collective suffering inflicted on the people of Gaza and commends the mass movement that has erupted across Ireland against the violence in recent months.

Council reaffirms its support for a ceasefire; for the BDS (Boycott Divestment and Sanctions) campaign; for expulsion of Israeli Ambassadors from Britain and Ireland; for Israel to be held accountable by international bodies for war crimes and genocide; and for Palestinian self-determination.

Council agrees Israel's murderous campaign of collective punishment is highly dependent on the military, financial and political support of Joe Biden and the US government in particular.

Council agrees the Biden Administration has immorally opposed calls for a humanitarian ceasefire, systematically repeated Israeli war propaganda and that Biden has personally bypassed Congress to transfer arms to Israel during the genocidal war that will cause widespread death and suffering in Gaza.

Council will write to Claire Cronin, US Ambassador to Ireland, British Foreign Secretary, David Cameron and Joseph Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, calling for an immediate suspension of all military, financial, and diplomatic support for apartheid Israel and its genocidal war on Palestine."

The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) has also called on all Irish politicians not to travel to Washington, "to meet with President Biden this, or any other St Patrick's Day."

It said: "In light of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, there has been much public discussion on whether or not it is appropriate for Irish politicians to travel to Washington to meet US President Joe Biden for St Patrick's Day.

"The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign wishes to make our position on this clear - we believe that no Irish politician should meet with any US President while the United States remains the main political and financial backer of Israel's apartheid regime.

"This was our view even long before Israel's genocidal assault on the people of Gaza - indeed the IPSC has protested the visits of every US President to Ireland since our foundation: Bush, Obama, Trump, and last year, Biden.

"The Biden Administration's response to Israel's onslaught on Gaza has been nothing short of depraved. It has continued to supply Israel with arms for its genocidal mass murder; continuously repeated Israel's debunked atrocity propaganda; given Israel diplomatic cover in the international arena; and repeatedly used its UN Security Council veto to ensure Israel is able to keep murdering Palestinians," said IPSC.

The organisation added that Palestinians in the US, alongside IPSC's partner organisations Al Haq and Defense for Children International Palestine, have just taken a case against Biden and other members of his Administration for their 'complicity in Israel's unfolding genocide of Palestinians in Gaza'.

It added: "It is not for nothing that he has earned the moniker 'Genocide Joe'. Biden and his Administration are enablers, supporters, facilitators of, and active partners in, Israel's genocide in Gaza.

"As such, we call on all Irish politicians not to travel to Washington to meet with President Biden this, or any other St Patrick's day."

Cllr Harkin said: "Joe Biden's hands are soaked in Palestinian blood, including of more than 10,000 children. 500,000 people in Gaza are already starving and the gross Biden-led decision to stop funding for UN humanitarian aid means a full-blown famine is nearer.

"People across Ireland have made it clear there's no justification for travelling to the White House to spend St. Patrick's Day with a Biden administration that's a full partner with Netanyahu in the genocidal bombing and starvation of Gaza.

"There's no doubt Foyle SDLP MP Colum Eastwood's U-turn on joining the White House St. Patrick's Day celebrations with Biden is the result of people power - but we need clarification on what 'The SDLP will send a delegation to Washington, DC to engage with senior lawmakers' means.

"As recently as last April, the political establishment North and South here whitewashed Biden's sponsorship of the apartheid regime's escalation of ethnic cleansing and violent assaults on Palestinians by rolling-out a red carpet and letting pints of stout flow," said Cllr Harkin.

He said he was urging everyone to back the People Before Profit Council motion calling on representatives North and South to boycott Biden and not to meet with any representative of his administration as part of St. Patricks Day events.

He added: "It's time for all parties to U-turn on St. Patrick's Day celebrations with genocide sponsor Joe Biden.

"The International Court of Justice ruling demands genocide is prevented. All military, financial and diplomatic support for apartheid Israel must be suspended immediately."
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Patricia Logue (Sinn Fein) this evening halted January's Plenary Council meeting due to shouting from the public gallery.

The shouting occurred following the defeat of a motion calling on politicians from Ireland to boycott any St Patrick's Day celebrations in the White House.

The motion had been proposed by Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit). It fell when the 18 Sinn Fein councillors on Council and three Unionists voted against it. 14 councillors - SDLP, People Before Profit and Independents - voted in favour of the motion and there were three abstentions.

The full text of Cllr Harkin's motion read: "Council agrees apartheid Israel is engaged in a genocide in Gaza. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, including over 10,000 children. Many more have been seriously injured and traumatised, almost 2 million people are displaced and face a catastrophic humanitarian crisis with famine conditions.

"Council reiterates its disgust at the level of collective suffering inflicted on the people of Gaza and commends the mass movement that has erupted across Ireland against the violence in recent months.

"Council reaffirms its support for a ceasefire; for the BDS campaign; for expulsion of Israeli Ambassadors from Britain and Ireland; for Israel to be held accountable by international bodies for war crimes and genocide; and for Palestinian self-determination.

"Council agrees Israel's murderous campaign of collective punishment is highly dependent on the military, financial and political support of Joe Biden and the US government in particular.

"Council agrees the Biden Administration has immorally opposed calls for a humanitarian ceasefire, systematically repeated Israeli war propaganda and that Biden has personally bypassed Congress to transfer arms to Israel during the genocidal war that will cause widespread death and suffering in Gaza.

"Council will write to the Irish Taoiseach and all political parties North and South in Ireland calling on them not to attend St Patricks Day celebrations in the White House, nor to meet with President Joe Biden or any representative of his administration as part of the St Patricks Day events.

"Council will write to Claire Cronin, US Ambassador to Ireland, British Foreign Secretary, David Cameron and Joseph Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, calling for an immediate suspension of all military, financial, and diplomatic support for apartheid Israel and its genocidal war on Palestine."

During the at times tense debate, Cllr Christopher Jackson (Sinn Fein) proposed an amendment - which would have meant removing completely he paragraph relating to Politicians from Ireland attending the St Patrick's Day celebrations in the White House and meting with President Joe Biden.

Seconded by Cllr Sandra Duffy (Sinn Fein), the amendment was deemed inadmissible.

Speaking to his motion, Cllr Harkin said he commended parties that were refusing to go to the White House.

He said: "Let's face it, you are going to the White House. Joe Biden is a war criminal. Joe Biden is a sponsor of genocide. That is who he is. That's who people are going to embrace. That's who people will be shaking hands with. You read the history books and you read about political parties going to meet with other people who were slaughtering large numbers of people, that's what Joe Biden is doing right now.

"I am not surprised that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are tripping over themselves to walk up and see Joe Biden. It doesn't matter what Joe Biden is doing, these political parties are not on the side of Palestinians or justice for the oppressed.

"I know for a fact that Sinn Fein supporters right across this island are genuine in their solidarity for Palestine. I think this is the wrong decision. It is not about point scoring. This is about how do you have effective solidarity. You do not go and embrace and shake hands with Joe Biden when he is carrying out a genocide.

"The US, what have they done since the beginning of this conflict? They were the ones who said Israel has the right to do what it is doing. Israel says everything they are doing in Gaza is intentional. Joe Biden himself has bypassed democratic rules in Congress to get the Israeli's more weapons, to get them more ammunition and that is slaughtering people right now. What is the latest thing? In response to the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United States now is saying we are pulling funding from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency - humanitarian aid. That is a disgrace. That is direct complicity with the starvation of the Palestinian people," said Cllr Harkin, who appealed to Sinn Fein councillors not to oppose the motion.

Cllr Brian Tierney, the SDLP leader on Council, said the Irish Government not joining South Africa's case at the ICJ was a "massive mistake".

He added: "I think they have read the mood of the Irish people completely wrong and I think it is completely shameful they didn't join in on that process.

"What we are seeing on our television screens each night is the first ever televised genocide. It is horrific and grotesque and it needs to stop. And again, what ever we need to do, whatever influence we think we have, whatever we can bring to the table to try and force a ceasefire, we must do. The reality is Joe Biden could stop this tomorrow. There are people in Gaza being murdered, innocent people being murdered by weapons that were funded by the American administration and the British administration.

"On Monday, I am very proud to say, he [SDLP Leader, Colum Eastwood] would not be attending a party in the White House this St Patrick's Day.

"I have spoken to people over many, many years who have attended this event. It is a party, nothing more, nothing less. I am reliably informed there is very little facetime with the President, so anyone who is suggesting it is going to be an opportunity for people to raise issues, I don't believe it is," said Cllr Tierney.

Speaking against the motion, Alderman Niree McMorris (DUP) said no-one in her party condoned any of the atrocities happening in Gaza.

She added: "However, we don't hear a balanced view in this chamber. What we have been trying to do is give the other perspective.

"I believe Hamas is also guilty of this genocide. On October 7, it killed more Jews in a single day since the Holocaust. The vast majority of them were non-combatants, killed deliberately, at close range, with no military target in sight. Between 1,200 and 1,400 were murdered that day.

"Hamas uses rape systematically as a form of warfare and abducted several hundred Israelis, including Holocaust survivors and children on that day. Catherine Russell, the executive director of UNICEF has acknowledged accounts of sexual violence committed by Hamas were 'horrific' and added, 'Israeli survivors must be heard, supported and provided with care'.

"Yet, despite three resolutions being proposed to this Council today, we have not heard one word to include any of this. It is to the eternal shame of those proposing these resolutions, they couldn't spare a word or two for the release of hostages, still being held within Hamas, in horrific conditions and to condemn Hamas for its massacres, rapes and abductions," said Ald McMorris.

Cllr Christopher Jackson (Sinn Fein) said internationally, people had been horrified at the "grotesque daily slaughter" in Gaza.

He added: "Sinn Fein representatives will travel to the US on St Patrick's Day. The US has played a long and important positive and deeply valued role in the Peace Process here in Ireland. And this St Patrick's Day, in continuing our work with the Irish Diaspora and US representatives to promote and strengthen support for the Peace Process here and the cause of Irish re-unification, we will also be making it clear, our views on the situation in Gaza.

"There is a huge Israeli lobby within the US administration and we can't allow the voices in support of Palestine to be silenced, particularly at a time when as Irish people have platforms that other people, particularly within Palestine, don't have.

"We will state the case that Israel must be held to account for its actions and we will urge the US to join calls for the ceasefire.

"We will express our view as a party, with a long intimate understanding of the difficult journey from conflict to peace in Ireland. We will use our experience of building peace to make the case that the US support international peace efforts is critical. Through many years of political struggle and experience of negotiations, we believe strongly in the efficiency of political engagement at all levels, particularly in those of conflict and war. We have a long and enduring history of solidarity in support of the cause of freedom and self-determination for Palestinians."
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A 77-year-old farmer has been fined 20,000 at Derry Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to damaging a World War 2 monument that was described in court as 'irreplaceable and priceless'.

James Thompson of Coney Road in Derry admitted the charge which occurred between February 19, 2019 and October 19, 2022.

The monument was described as a WW2 heavy anti aircraft battery.

Defence counsel Stephen Chapman told the court that his client had removed what was described as 'a radar mat' of some 4 acres of overgrown concrete but that he was unaware 'what he had removed had damaged the monument.'

At the outset of his sentencing remarks Judge Neil Rafferty KC said that a custodial sentence was not applicable and he would deal with it by way of a monetary penalty.

He said that the monument was an anti-aircraft battery adjacent to a radar installation and was 'unique' as it was the only radar mat still in existence.

The judge said that the monument was listed in 2005 and Thompson had been farming the land since 1993 and would have been aware of the listing.

Judge Rafferty said that it was unlikely that tourists would have been flying in to view this monument but it was 'priceless' to archaeologists and members of historical societies looking at how things were put together in the 1940's.

He asked 'Was this vandalism? No it wasn't' but added that there was a need for deterrence.

The court heard that Thompson would have gained the use of four acres of land valued at 8,000 an acre.

The judge said that Thompson was 'mortified' to be sitting in the dock of a criminal Crown Court but he was only a 'custodian of the land' for future generations and losing this monument 'makes us all the poorer'.

He said the courts had to make clear that 'those who do this sort of thing will not benefit'.

He fined Thompson 20,000.
The family and friends of Buncrana woman Sinead McLaughlin who passed away last year are raising funds to locate a defibrillator at the beach where she suddenly took ill.

Sinead, a native of Park village in County Derry, passed last September after becoming ill while swimming at Ludden beach outside Buncrana.

The mother of one passed away after being airlifted to Letterkenny University Hospital and despite the efforts of emergency services that attended the scene.

A keen swimmer, she was a member of the Swilly Seals and had been active in trying to improve facilities for swimmers at the beach. Her family, friends and members of the Swilly Seals are now raising funds to locate a solar-powered defibrillator at the beach.

Organisers also aim to donate funds to the Lough Swilly RNLI and the Buncrana First Responders.

Sinead attended school at Thornhill College in Derry city before studying at Portobello College in Dublin. She worked in Dublin for a short while but returned home and met her husband Martin shortly after in 2003. The couple married in 2013 and welcomed their daughter Amy in 2015. Sinead is also survived by her parents Johnny and Annie Monteith and her siblings Sharon, Yvonne and John.

As well as being a keen swimmer, Sinead loved music and was a member of the Inishowen Choir of Ages.

Breid Colhoun, a friend of Sineads from the Swilly Seals, said she was the life of the group.

We just wanted to do something in her memory. She would love this - everybody coming together to raise money for a defibrillator,  she said.

There has been a great response to the fundraising campaign in the community due to how well-loved Sinead was.

The donations are really starting to come in now. There are people baking baking for us, people donating prizes, buying tickets.

Tickets for a raffle for the fundraising will be on sale at a coffee morning which is taking place at OFlahertys Bar in Buncrana on Friday, February 2.

Tickets for the raffle are also for sale at Applegreen, Buncrana, Fringe Hair Salon, Buncrana, and Bradleys shop in Fahan.
Routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Great Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland are to be removed as part of a Government deal to restore powersharing at Stormont.

A command paper titled Safeguarding The Union commits to replacing the current green lane process, which requires percentages of goods to be checked as they arrive from Great Britain, with a UK internal market system that will govern the movement of goods that will remain within the United Kingdom.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has hailed the move as a key concession that will effectively scrap the contentious so-called Irish Sea border for goods destined to remain within the UK.

There should not be a border within the UK internal market. These proposals remove that border, he said.

The measure is part of a wide-ranging deal agreed between the DUP and the Government that is set to bring about the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland after a two-year hiatus.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said restored powersharing in Northern Ireland offered the prospect of a brighter future.

Mr Sunak told the Commons: After two years without an executive, there is now a prospect of powersharing back up and running, strengthening our Union, giving people the local, accountable government that they need and offering a brighter future for Northern Ireland.

The DUP has agreed to drop its two-year blockade of Stormont in exchange for the Government measures aimed at addressing its concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements that created economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

The Stormont Assembly could sit again as soon as Saturday.

While Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has secured the backing of party colleagues to accept the deal, there are those within the DUP who remain deeply sceptical of the proposed agreement to restore powersharing.

Speaking in the Commons, East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson voiced his concerns as he heavily criticised the Government.

When the Northern Ireland Assembly sits, ministers and Assembly members will be expected by law to adhere to and implement laws which are made in Brussels, which they had no say over and no ability to amend, and no ability to stop, he said.

This is a result of this spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying Government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

Under the deal, the post-Brexit red lane for transporting goods from GB to NI and on into the EU Single Market will remain, but the command paper offers measures aimed at reducing the volume of trade required to use that red-tape heavy route, with a prediction that 80% of goods will now move free of routine checks through the internal market system.

Welcome the news of a draft joint UK-EU legal solution to cut tariffs for food imports to NI. This would enable NI traders to benefit from our independent trade policy on key goods like New Zealand lamb and Australian beef.https://t.co/jjkoODDYtA  Chris Heaton-Harris MP (@chhcalling) January 30, 2024

It is understood the EU has been kept up to date with the shape of the Governments package of measures.

Downing Street has said the deal contains significant changes to the Windsor Frameworks operation, but is not about altering the fundamentals of the framework.

But Sir Jeffrey insisted the deal had resulted in clear changes to the Windsor Framework.

If there are any changes to the framework, they would be examined and decided upon within the existing EU/UK Joint Committee system.

A move already approved by the Joint Committee, and announced on Tuesday, will see Northern Ireland given barrier-free access to internationally sourced agri-food goods that are currently freely available in GB through UK free trade deals with other countries.

Irish deputy premier Michael Martin suggested Brussels would have a role in approving the moves announced on Wednesday.

I think the EU Commission will look at this, he told reporters after meeting political leaders in Belfast.

I think thats the whole purpose of the Joint Committee and indeed the various mechanisms that are in the Windsor Framework is to go through issues as they arise.

But I do not anticipate any particular difficulties in respect of the EU side.

The command paper said the replacement of the green lane would ensure there will be no checks when goods move within the UK internal market system save those conducted by UK authorities as part of a risk-based or intelligence-led approach to tackle criminality, abuse of the scheme, smuggling and disease risks.

The paper adds: This will ensure the smooth flow of goods that are moving within the UK internal market.

           .Today, new measures will be published that are designed to restore Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom and its internal market.@J_Donaldson_MP pic.twitter.com/i9SVykRE9G  DUP (@duponline) January 31, 2024

As well as moves to cut Brexit bureaucracy on Irish Sea trade, the command paper includes a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Irelands constitutional position within the United Kingdom.

Legislation will be tabled with the purpose of affirming Northern Irelands constitutional status underpinned by, among other provisions, the Acts of Union.

The paper said: The legislation will affirm Parliaments sovereignty over all matters in Northern Ireland, and address the concern that Northern Irelands constitutional position in the Union has been weakened by the creation of specific arrangements for trade in goods.

The Government has also pledged to amend domestic law, specifically section 7A of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, to affirm the fact that new EU laws will not automatically apply in Northern Ireland, and must first be subject to democratic oversight by the Stormont Assembly.

This a day of hope and optimism, and an opportunity to better the lives of workers and families We must work together in a spirit of respect and equality in a new Assembly We are determined to lead an Executive that stands up for our public services, and against Tory austerity pic.twitter.com/wbXojfcdAh  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) January 30, 2024

The oversight procedures already outlined in the Windsor Framework include the so-called Stormont brake mechanism that enables 30 or more MLAs to flag a concern about a new EU law planned to come into effect in Northern Ireland. The Government is obliged to assess whether those concerns meet a threshold that could then result in the UK vetoing the application of the law in the region.

Legislation promised in the deal is set to be fast-tracked through Parliament on Thursday to enable the swift restoration of the institutions at Stormont.

The command paper also includes commitments to ensure Northern Ireland goods will always be able to be sold in the GB market regardless of any divergence in EU and UK standards.

In respect of further UK divergence from EU standards, there is also a legal requirement that new Westminster legislation is assessed as to whether it impacts on trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

If it does, there will be a statutory duty for the relevant minister to make a statement considering any impacts on the operation of Northern Irelands place in the UKs internal market.

A requirement that saw certain goods sold in Northern Ireland to display a label stating not for sale in the EU will now to extend to cover the whole UK.

The Government is also creating two new bodies.

An UK East-West Council will bring together representatives from government, business and the education sector from Northern Ireland and Great Britain to identify opportunities for deepening connections between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK in areas such as trade, transport, education and culture.

Intertrade UK will promote trade within the UK. Among its roles will be to proactively communicate with businesses that currently choose not to sell products in Northern Ireland and identify solutions that could enable them to expand their services to the region.

Other measures in the deal include a drive to press ahead with the stalled devolution of corporation tax powers to Northern Ireland and a commitment from Government to hold cabinet meetings in periodically in the region.

The Government will also enter into exploratory talks with the US on allowing pre-clearance checks on customs and immigration to take place at Belfast International Airport on passengers flying directly to the US.

There are no direct flights at the moment but the move is being seen as a potential incentive for airlines to consider operating routes from Northern Ireland to the US.

The return of Stormont will see the Treasury release a 3.3 billion package to support under-pressure public services in Northern Ireland.

The financial package, announced by the Government before Christmas, includes money to settle the demands of striking public sector workers in the region this year.
The UK Government was branded spineless and Brexit-betraying after it unveiled what it hailed as the right deal to restore powersharing at Stormont.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said EU law alignment would no longer automatically apply under the Governments plans, adding legislation will be passed to reaffirm Northern Irelands constitutional status.

He praised DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson for his commitment to the union and work during the negotiations, telling MPs: The result, as I hope honourable members will agree, is a deal that, taken as a whole, is the right one for Northern Ireland and for the union.

With this package it is now time for elected representatives in Northern Ireland to come together, to end the two years of impasse and start work again in the interests of the people that elected them.

Mr Heaton-Harris added: It is time to build on the progress of the last 25 years.

Today we have presented a plan which will deliver the long-term change that Northern Ireland needs. It will strengthen Northern Irelands place in our union and guarantee the free flow of goods across the entire United Kingdom.

Its only by sticking to this plan that we will become a more united and prosperous country together.

For Labour, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn described the agreement as a great achievement while DUP deputy leader Gavin Robinson said: We have turned the impossible into the possible.

But Sammy Wilson, DUP MP for East Antrim, was less than impressed as he said: When the Northern Ireland assembly sits, ministers and assembly members will be expected by law to adhere to and implement laws which are made in Brussels, which they had no say over and no ability to amend, and no ability to stop.

This is a result of this spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying Government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

He added: Is Northern Ireland going to find its got the ability to stay tied to the United Kingdom, or will the Government proceed happily to change laws here regardless of the impact it has on Northern Ireland?

Mr Heaton-Harris replied: On the fourth anniversary of leaving the European Union, I can tell him absolutely that this agreed package of measures will not change the freedoms and powers we have secured through Brexit or through the Windsor Framework.

It will not reduce our ability to diverge nor our commitment to do so should it be in the interest of the United Kingdom.

Conservative former minister Theresa Villiers and Conservative MP Sir William Cash (Stone) also questioned the influence of EU laws on Northern Ireland.

Ms Villiers said: Im sure there will be much to welcome in the papers published today and well need to scrutinise them carefully in the 30 or so hours before were going to be asked to vote on them.

But one thing we know that they dont contain is a removal of Northern Ireland from single market legislation, so will the Secretary of State ensure that the Government is committed to continuing the dialogue with the European Union so that we can amend the Windsor Framework, so that we can restore democratic control over law-making in every part of our United Kingdom?

Sir William asked what was being done to ensure the UK Government can remove or veto the imposition of EU laws on Northern Ireland.

Mr Heaton-Harris said the assembly will have a powerful democratic safeguard when it comes to EU laws.

Conservative former minister Priti Patel said: It is vital that we ensure that (there is) the ability to diverge and have the freedom to secure Northern Irelands economic lifeblood but also the prosperity of Northern Ireland absolutely remains.

Mr Heaton-Harris gave her assurances, saying: This will not reduce our ability to diverge nor our commitment to do so should it be in the interests of the United Kingdom.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described it as a very good day for the people of Northern Ireland before suggesting the UK and Irish governments, along with the political parties, should look at how to reform the Good Friday Agreement institutions to make sure no one party can ever pull them down again.

Some MPs expressed concerns over the amount of time expected to be available in the Commons on Thursday to debate statutory instruments (SIs) to enshrine several of the deals commitments in law.

DUP MP Paul Girvan (South Antrim) said: We very much feel were being bounced on a timetable where were not going to get through the detail that is supposedly in the SIs and also this document.

DUP MP Ian Paisley (North Antrim) said the maximum time possible will probably be three hours, describing it as insufficient.
A Government package to restore powersharing at Stormont is the right deal for Northern Ireland and the Union, the Northern Ireland Secretary has insisted.

Chris Heaton-Harris was speaking at a joint press conference at Hillsborough Castle with DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson after the Government published measures that would end routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Great Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland.

A command paper titled Safeguarding The Union commits to replacing the current green lane process, which requires percentages of goods to be checked as they arrive from Great Britain, with a UK internal market system that will govern the movement of goods that will remain within the United Kingdom.

Sir Jeffrey has hailed the move as a key concession that will effectively scrap the contentious so-called Irish Sea border for goods destined to remain within the UK.

Mr Heaton-Harris said the Government would deliver quickly on the commitments made in the deal, with two pieces of legislation set to be fast-tracked through Parliament on Thursday.

The Stormont Assembly could sit again as soon as Saturday.

This is the right deal for Northern Ireland and the right deal for the Union, said Mr Heaton-Harris.

It strengthens and further protects the UK internal market and the Union, both now and in the long term.

Sir Jeffrey said: Todays agreement I believe is a positive and decisive step forward for Northern Ireland.

The measure to reduce checks is part of a wide-ranging deal agreed between the DUP and the Government that is set to bring about the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland after a two-year hiatus.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said restored powersharing in Northern Ireland offered the prospect of a brighter future.

The DUP has agreed to drop its two-year blockade of Stormont in exchange for the Government measures aimed at addressing its concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements that created economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

While Sir Jeffrey has secured the backing of party colleagues to accept the deal, there are those within the DUP who remain deeply sceptical of the proposed agreement to restore powersharing.

Speaking in the Commons, East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson voiced his concerns as he heavily criticised the Government.

When the Northern Ireland Assembly sits, ministers and Assembly members will be expected by law to adhere to and implement laws which are made in Brussels, which they had no say over and no ability to amend, and no ability to stop, he said.

This is a result of this spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying Government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

Under the deal, the post-Brexit red lane for transporting goods from GB to Northern Ireland and on into the EU single market will remain, but the command paper offers measures aimed at reducing the volume of trade required to use that red-tape heavy route, with a prediction that 80% of goods will now move free of routine checks through the internal market system.

It is understood the EU has been kept up to date with the shape of the Governments package of measures.

Downing Street has said the deal contains significant changes to the Windsor Frameworks operation, but is not about altering the fundamentals of the framework.

But Sir Jeffrey insisted the deal had resulted in clear changes to the Windsor Framework.

If there are any changes to the framework, they would be examined and decided upon within the existing EU/UK Joint Committee system.

A move already approved by the Joint Committee, and announced on Tuesday, will see Northern Ireland given barrier-free access to internationally sourced agri-food goods that are currently freely available in GB through UK free trade deals with other countries.

Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin suggested Brussels would have a role in approving the moves announced on Wednesday.

I think the EU Commission will look at this, he told reporters after meeting political leaders in Belfast.

I think thats the whole purpose of the Joint Committee and indeed the various mechanisms that are in the Windsor Framework is to go through issues as they arise.

But I do not anticipate any particular difficulties in respect of the EU side.

The command paper said the replacement of the green lane would ensure there will be no checks when goods move within the UK internal market system save those conducted by UK authorities as part of a risk-based or intelligence-led approach to tackle criminality, abuse of the scheme, smuggling and disease risks.

The paper adds: This will ensure the smooth flow of goods that are moving within the UK internal market.

As well as moves to cut Brexit bureaucracy on Irish Sea trade, the command paper includes a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Irelands constitutional position within the United Kingdom.
HIGHLIGHTS The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G and Galaxy A55 5G have made their appearance on the BIS certification, hinting at imminent India launch. The Galaxy A35 5G is expected to be powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset. The Galaxy A55 5G will likely be powered by the Exynos 1480 processor.

Samsung seems to be preparing to expand its mid-range A series with the introduction of the new Galaxy A35 5G and Galaxy A55 5G smartphones. While there were reports of a delay in the launch of the Galaxy A55 5G, it appears that the release is now on the horizon. The upcoming Galaxy A35 5G and Galaxy A55 5G have made their appearance on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification, hinting at imminent India launch.

MySmartPrice has spotted the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G and Galaxy A55 5G on the Indian BIS certification website with the model numbers SM-A356E/DS and SM-A556E/DS, respectively.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy M14 4G support page goes live in India, design revealed via user manual

Credit: MySmartPrice

Also, the UAE support page for the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is now live, featuring the same model number.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy M15 5G & F15 5G could launch in India soon: Heres what to expect

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

While the BIS listing or the UAE support page doesnt reveal any specifications of the upcoming Galaxy A35 5G and Galaxy A55 5G smartphones, it indicates that the devices are expected to debut soon.

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G handset was recently spotted on the Geekbench database. It revealed that the device is expected to be powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset. It could come with 6GB of RAM and will likely operate on Android 14.

Speaking of performance, the Galaxy A35 5G achieved 697 points in the single-core test and 2,332 points in the multi-core test.

Now, lets talk about the Galaxy A55 5G. So far, rumours suggest that this smartphone is expected to have 25W fast charging. It will likely be powered by the Exynos 1480 processor.

For photography, the Galaxy A55 5Gs rear camera setup is expected to include a 50MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 5MP macro camera. On the front, there could be a 32MP camera.
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Survey snapshot: 81% of AmCham members bullish on Taiwan's economic outlook for 2024

The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (AmCham) recently released its 2024 Business Climate Survey, revealing a notable upswing in confidence among its members regarding Taiwan's economic outlook. Despite prevailing global uncertainties, 92% of respondents expressed intentions to maintain or increase their investments in Taiwan throughout 2024.

Renewed optimism permeates Taiwan's business landscape. Notably, digital transformation and advancements in AI/IoT sectors garnered heightened interest, with a 5-6% increase compared to the previous year.

Areas of investment

Credit: AmCham

While the tech sector faced challenges in 2023 due to subdued global demand and post-pandemic inventory issues, a turnaround is anticipated in 2024. Factors such as a resurgence in demand and the proliferation of AI chips are expected to fuel growth in this sector.

Despite positive economic signals, geopolitical uncertainties persist as a top concern for investors, with 46% of respondents citing it as a potential deterrent. "For Taiwan, a prominent challenge remains its international standing. When we asked about what factors deter their companies from expanding or investing in Taiwan, fewer people mentioned geopolitical uncertainty compared with last year. This dropped by almost 20% of points versus last year. So while they see geopolitics as a risk, it is not so much of a deterrence." said AmCham Chairperson Dan Silver.

Top factors deterring companies from expanding or investing in Taiwan

Credit: AmCham

Cross-strait relations emerged as an area of concern, prompting companies to revise business continuity plans and consider diversifying supply chains. Within the ICT industry, which accounted for 10% of survey respondents, nearly a quarter of companies that relocated business from China were represented. To reduce the impact of possible future disruption, 35% said they are revising business continuity plans. Readjusting supply chains (23%) and expanding to additional locations outside of Taiwan (16%) were other top options considered by respondents.

The significance of trade relations between the United States and Taiwan was underscored, with a bilateral trade agreement deemed to be crucial for enhancing economic prosperity. The U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade garnered substantial support, particularly within the ICT sector, echoed by 68% of respondents. "Taiwan has just completed its election in January; the United States is moving into the peak of its election cycle in the coming months. Therefore, there is a sense that urgency is needed now to close the second part of the 21st-Century Trade Initiative." emphasized by Dan Silver.

Energy availability and sustainability emerged as pressing concerns, with 71% expressing apprehensions regarding Taiwan's green energy availability. Renewable energy and grid resilience were highlighted by 74% of respondents, underscoring the need for robust energy infrastructure.



Conducted between November 20 and December 15, 2023, the survey was completed by 223 members. 81% of respondents expressed confidence in Taiwan's economic outlook over the coming year, an increase of 11% points compared with 2023. AmCham urges authorities in Taiwan and the United States to heed these findings to enhance high-tech investment and Taiwan's economic prospects.
Chinese gov't representative attends Nauru Independece Day celebrations

Xinhua) 14:54, January 31, 2024

YAREN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Representative of the Chinese government Luo Zhaohui said the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Nauru is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples when attending the Nauru Independence Day celebrations here on Wednesday.

Luo, head of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, also met with Nauru President David Adeang, Parliament Speaker Marcus Stephen, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea, and Nauru cabinet members on a trip to the Pacific island nation.

Expressing warm congratulations to the people of Nauru on its 56th anniversary of independence, Luo said the resumption of diplomatic relations opened a new page in relations between the two countries.

China is ready to work with Nauru to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, carry out exchanges at all levels, enhance political mutual trust, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, deepen people-to-people exchanges, strengthen coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues, and push for sound development of China-Nauru relations, said Luo.

China is willing to share the opportunities brought by Chinese modernization with Nauru and achieve common development, welcoming Nauru's active participation in the Belt and Road cooperation, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, said the Chinese official.

The Nauru side thanked the Chinese side for sending representatives to attend the Nauru Independence Day celebrations and said the resumption of diplomatic relations with China was a correct decision made by the Nauru government.

Nauru will firmly adhere to the one-China principle, learn from China's governance experience, continuously deepen practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields, and promote the steady development of Nauru-China relations, it said.

Nauru is willing to actively participate in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and the three global initiatives, it said.

On Monday, Luo attended the reopening ceremony of the Chinese embassy in Nauru, and unveiled the plaque of the Chinese embassy together with Wang Xuguang, head of the team responsible for re-establishing the Chinese embassy in Nauru, Nauru's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea, and Minister for Infrastructure Development Jesse Jeremiah. Speaker of the Nauru Parliament Marcus Stephen also attended the ceremony.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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Photo by Jordan Powers [enlarge] The judges commended MKA for its design of this sweeping structural steel roof.





The American Institute of Steel Construction has selected Magnusson Klemencic Associates' (MKA) design of the Nashville International Airport's Terminal Lobby and International Arrivals Facility Addition to receive its 2024 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel (IDEAS) Award for Excellence in Engineering.





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SEATTLE (AP)  Starbucks reported record revenue in its fiscal first quarter. But its results but fell short of Wall Street's expectations as customer spending slowed in some key markets.

The Seattle coffee giant said its revenue rose 8% to $9.43 billion for the October-December period. That was lower than the $9.6 billion analysts had forecast.





. . .
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI) will host its annual nationwide Denim Day for Dementia fundraising campaign on Friday 1 March to raise funds for families impacted by dementia and it is urging people from Louth to take part.

Now in its sixth year, the popular fundraising campaign aims to unite communities to support families living with dementia. Hosting a Denim Day for Dementia is quite easy, and can be done in two steps:

Order a free Denim Day for Dementia pack online at www.alzheimer. ie or by contacting fundraising@ alzheimer.ie or (01) 207 3800. Don your blue jeans, denim jacket, or whatever denim you have and host a Denim Day for Dementia on March 1st in your office, school, workplace, or wherever you may be.

The ASI must raise 3.6 million this year to maintain crucial supports and services, including the National Helpline, Family Carer Training, Social Clubs, and Alzheimers Cafes. This year's campaign targets a fundraising goal of 30,000 to support families nationwide living with dementia.

The ASI Head of Fundraising, Mairead Dillon, said: "The Alzheimer Society of Ireland are here to support families affected by dementia and their carers in Ireland. Fundraising is crucial to maintaining our vital services each year, and this year, we must raise 3.6 million.

"This is a fun and easy campaign to get involved in, and I encourage schools, businesses, and local communities to Don their Denims and support people living with dementia on March 1st. Sign up today at www.alzheimer.ie.

An estimated 64,000 people in Ireland live with dementia, with one in 10 diagnoses occurring in individuals under the age of 65, often referred to as young-onset or early-onset dementia.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is the leading dementia-specific service provider in Ireland. The ASI works across the country in the heart of local communities providing dementia-specific services and supports and advocating for the rights and needs of all people living with dementia and their carers.

Its vision is an Ireland where people on the journey of dementia are valued and supported. A national non-profit organisation, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland advocates, empowers and champions the rights of people living with dementia and their communities to quality support and services.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland also operates the Alzheimer National Helpline offering information and support to anyone affected by dementia on 1800 341 341.

Join the movement by donning your denims on Friday, March 1st, and make a difference in the lives of families living with dementia in Ireland.
Two academics from DkIT, Dr Maeve McArdle and Dr Brian Boyd have recently been awarded visiting professorships by Prof Ralf Dillerup to Heilbronn University Graduate School in Germany.

This prestigious invitation presents an opportunity for Dr McArdle and Dr Boyd to visit and lecture in the Graduate School.

Dundalk Institute of Technology has a long-standing partnership with Heilbronn University, and the MBS programme in the School of Business and Humanities in DkIT have collaborated on a joint module in Business Strategy for the past 15 years.

This collaboration has resulted in DkIT receiving three impressive Irish Education Awards, the most recent in 2023.

The Heilbronn University Graduate School in Germany has recently been awarded AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) which is a global business accreditation. This significant accreditation is a rigorous multi-year process to reach the necessary standards requiring excellence in areas relating to strategic management and innovation, research in teaching and learning.

Maeve and Brian have both worked with Heilbronn University Graduate School (HUGS) for many years in a collaborative capacity including teaching Strategy, International Marketing and Research Methods.

Dr Maeve McArdle said of receiving the visiting professorships Both Brian and I are very grateful for this honour; it is a huge compliment from our colleagues in Heilbron University and we look forward to building on this partnership in the future.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is to proceed with the annual trip to Washington DC for the traditional shamrock ceremony at the White House with US President Joe Biden, along with other ministers travelling to other US cities, despite calls for a boycott this year in protest against US support for Israel's actions in Gaza.

It has not yet been confirmed if the Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, along with the Caothoirligh of Dundalk Municipal District and Ardee Municipal District, and Drogheda Borough Mayor, will make the annual trip to New York for St Patrick's Day, but it is expected that they will.

While it may be important to maintain the annual trip to promote Ireland, and to give the Taoiseach an opportunity to voice Ireland's concerns over what is happening in Gaza, would it make sense for the Cathaoirligh in Louth, along with the Cathaoirligh of other local authorities to boycott this year's trip?

If Cathaoirligh boycotted this year's trip, while the Government's trip proceeded, would this be a way to let the US and Irish Americans know that the the Ireland-USA relationship is important but a message needs to be sent that Ireland demands a ceasefire in Gaza?

What do you think?
Most of us no longer live in just apartments or houses a lot of us now live in condo including myself and because of that I decided to write something on how to Feng Shui your condo. A condo is different from a house or an apartment or townhouse because it usually is a building and you are bound to the architectural design of the building .

February 9, 2024 is the beginning of the Chinese New Year , Year of the Wood Dragon. With that said, Dragon is generally a good sign for everyone except for the known enemies of the sign. If you know you are an enemy of the Dragon then you need a lot of charms to counter / prevent or soften the blow. Thanks to Ms. Marites Allen, the Feng Shui Queen for all the tips she gave us during her convention recently.

To Feng Shui your condo :

Before anything else, you have to know your directions, you know, the North, South, East, West of your homes/ houses/ apartments / condos or office or the place you sleep and always stay.

However, if you live in a condo, you have to know this:

If you stay in the ground floor up to the 9th floor of the condo building, your entrance if you lobby entrance or your building entrance.

If you stay in the 10-th floor up, your entrance is facing the biggest window or biggest mirror or balcony.

From there, you can map your house according to the compass direction, looking from the center of the house out and find your ward . If you plot this then get the Marites Allen Feng Shui Forecasts Wood Dragon 2024 according to your sign and take note of the Flying Stars they are numbered 1 to 9 . For this 2024 Wood Dragon 3 is the most unlucky star and it is the center of your home! Keep away from it , do not make loud noises in there and do not renovate, do not make noises just dont use the space

If your entrance or main door is facing West and you have a side door or another entrance you can use, use that instead. If there is no other main door/ entrance, paint it with white, gold or silver. Do not put anything red on it. Also put a pagoda or a metal windchime. If painting is also not an option then move out !

Wear 9 auspicious items on yourself. Put 9 auspicious items on your lucky direction. 9 is the luckiest number of the year !

ON FEBRUARY 4, 2024, install your water fountain at the North. Bring in a plant of good fortune until the entire month of February.

On February 9 welcome the God of Wealth by putting a special decoration at the NE and North the god of wealth.

However, these are all just tips and suggestions. You can choose to do or not to do the following tips. If you are enthusiasts and you have the means to do all I mentioned then great. If you dont have the means then it is ok, just always pray for the Universe blessing and protection and love and light and do not wish anyone ill and try to be a good person.

Feng Shui is fixing the flow of energy in your environment to be favorable for you, it is not witch craft or anything like that, thats what feng shui your condo does just fix the flow of energy.

If you want to know more about your lucky directions and how you can Feng Shui your condo. You may reach out to Ms. Marites Allen via her Frigga Charmed Life on all social media or visit her website at maritesallen.com. You can request for your destiny chart where it is your forever destiny according to your date of birth and time of birth.

May the odds be in your favor and may the universe conspire to support you and give it to you!

Stay gorgeous everyone !
THE death of Ann Lovett, hours after giving birth beside a grotto in her home town, on Tuesday, January 31, 1984, became a watershed event in Irish life, and its effects are being felt even now, 40 years later.

For many people, it started, like a lot of things did in those days, in the words of the signature tune, on The Late Late Show. As the Late Late wrapped on Saturday night, February 4, the host, Gay Byrne, previewed the front page of the next mornings Sunday Tribune.

Girl, 15, Dies Giving Birth In A Field. My goodness me, said Byrne, casting the paper aside. And that happened in Co Longford, apparently. Nothing terribly exciting there. Four days earlier, on a freezing, wet Tuesday afternoon at the end of January, Ann Lovett, a warm, clever and artistically gifted 15-year-old schoolgirl from Cnoc Mhuire school, had gone to the grotto of the Blessed Virgin, beside the grey St Marys Church which looms over Granard, to give birth to her son.

Ann had kept her pregnancy a secret, but after her death some of her contemporaries would say it had been well known in Granard.

She brought scissors with her to the grotto, with which to cut the umbilical cord. Anns baby boy  later named Pat  was stillborn.

Around 4pm, three other schoolchildren found her schoolbag and heard her crying by the grotto. They raised the alarm and a local farmer came to their aid. He ran to the nearby house of the priest, Canon Gilfillan, who told him Its a doctor you need.

I need you too, Father, he replied. The baby is dead and the little girl might be dying too.

Haemorrhaging heavily, and in terminal shock, Ann was carried to the priests house, where a doctor came and drove Ann to her home. There, an ambulance arrived, far too late. Ann died in Mullingar Hospital, around 6pm. Three days later, on the Friday, Ann Lovett and her baby were buried, quietly, in Granard.

Emily OReilly, now European Ombudsman and then a Sunday Tribune journalist, was tipped off by an anonymous call and broke the story.

Her editor, Vincent Browne, made a hard call and named Ann, overriding concerns about her familys grief. It personalised the story, making Ann a real person at the centre of what soon became a national outrage.

Soon, Gay Byrne overcame his earlier indifference, as his radio show was inundated with letters from women telling their own stories of misplaced shame and hidden grief. He read out their stories, saying later, Too many letters. They couldnt be ignored. The Ann Lovett letters became a seismic moment in Irish life.

Holly Cairns, leader of the Social Democrats and Corks only female Oireachtas member, says she often thinks of Ann Lovett. It was a watershed moment in Ireland, in part because it was so tragic and so sad, and I think it illustrates how misplaced shame was in Ireland, that a 15-year-old girl went through that.

Its an awful thing when someones life becomes a watershed moment, but I think it shows how damaging our regressive laws and society were. We talk about these things like they were so long ago, and theyre not. The last mother and baby homes closed in the late 1990s, and in Cork, Bessborough only closed [as a mother and baby institution] in 1998, Ms Cairns says.

The grotto where 15-year-old Ann Lovett died after giving birth to her baby all alone and without medical assistance. Picture: Brenda Fitzsimons

The Cork South West TD cites the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023, which excludes those who were in an institution for less than six months, as ongoing evidence of an Ireland she believes is still in many ways regressive.

Around 68,000 people are believed to have gone through the religious-run system for unmarried mothers  but only 34,000 survivors will be eligible for redress.

You could have your child taken from you...and somehow youre not eligible for redress. That treatment of those women is still going on today. We talk about it like its historic but its not.

Ann Lovett would have been 56 this year. She was born on April 6, 1968, in Cobh General Hospital, the third-youngest of nine children born to Diarmuid and Patricia Lovett.

The family lived on Grahams Terrace, overlooking Cork Harbour, until 1972, when Diarmuid moved the family back to his native Kilnaleck in Co Cavan. In 1981, they bought the Copper Pot pub on the main street in Granard, with the family living over the bar. The business did not thrive.

The Lovetts are still remembered in Cobh. They would have been very well-got in the town, says Cobh-born Fine Gael county councillor Noel McCarthy. My mother would remember them well as a very decent, quiet family and very well respected. Former mayor of Co Cork, Youghal-based independent councillor Mary Linehan Foley, was born in Bessborough in 1966, and she recalls being a pregnant and unmarried Leaving Cert student at the time of Ann Lovetts death.

When my daughter was born in November 1984, it was a totally different Ireland and a totally different time. Ms Linehan Foley says her decision to keep her daughter was sometimes hard going, but one she never regretted. My daughter will be 40 this year, and whenever I hear the name Ann Lovett, I remember a very sad and lonely time in Ireland. Mary Crilly, co-founder and CEO of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork, recalls that the then-Cork Rape Crisis Centre had opened nine months before Ann Lovetts death, and she recalls the public outrage as, she says, people finally gained their voices.

It was the era when young girls were put into mother and baby homes, out of sight. A lot has changed since then, but the victim-blaming and the double standards are still the same, she says, and she wonders whether, for some rape survivors, anything has really changed.

What I see in 2024 is girls lives, education, and mental health being destroyed, [while] the perpetrator, usually an older student, continues to live life as before and she is the one who is shamed and who is often unable to continue with school or meeting friends.

In Granard, in the weeks and months after Ann Lovetts death, the local community closed ranks, angered by suggestions that people must have known Ann was pregnant, and the consensus was that Granard had been treated unfairly by the media. Whoever gave the news to Dublin, Canon Gilfillan declared, was only spreading scandal. In a front-page editorial, the Longford Leader asked: Who is to say that Ann Lovett did not die happy? Who is to say that she and her son are not in heaven? Who is to say that she had not fulfilled her role in life as her God had decreed? Tragedy upon tragedy, Anns younger sister Patricia died by suicide not three months after Anns death.

In the immediate aftermath of Anns death, one of her friends spoke anonymously to RTEs Today Tonight.

I think a lot of people knew, she said. Like I knew months ago It was known she was pregnant. It was known, and I dont see why they should hide the fact. Like, we all talk, but still and all, it could happen to any of us. I feel bitter to everyone, including myself We were all friends and yet she didnt have the confidence to come to us. The father of Anns baby was never publicly identified.

Holly Cairns believes it is important that Ann Lovett be seen in the context of today and not be consigned to a long-forgotten past.

We still have a lot of regressive aspects to our abortion laws, and theres a lot that could be done. It shouldnt need to take people like Ann Lovett and Savita Halappanavar to spur on the kind of changes that we need.

The best-known photograph of Ann locks her in time, small, slight, and dark-haired, a pretty 15-year-old who would never grow old, who would never hear the music her favourite musicians the likes of The Jam, Thin Lizzy, Madness, and Toyah Wilcox  had yet to record.

Whenever I think of Ann Lovett, my heart goes out to her, Mary Linehan Foley says. How different things could have been for her, should have been for her.

I do think that, for some girls who found themselves pregnant, Ann did make a difference for the better for them, and because of Anns story, maybe they knew there was help out there for them. In the wake of Ann Lovetts death, Nuala Fennell, then-Minister for Womens Affairs, called for a public inquiry regardless of whose sensibilities were hurt. That inquiry never happened.
THE developers behind a controversial mixed-use development on Skehard Rd, which was refused planning permission by the city council in 2021, have received permission to build a residential scheme at the same site.

Lyonshall Limited returned with fresh proposals for development at the 0.63 hectare site located to the south of Skehard Rd last June after it was refused planning permission more than two years ago for a mixed-use development  which was to include a new Aldi store, residential units and a cafe  at the same site.

The new planning application sought permission for the demolition of an existing dwelling at the site - a detached 1970s dwelling  and the construction of a 90-unit residential development.

Those units, the planning application stated, would be made up of a mix of one and two-bed apartments in three four to five-storey buildings and the development would also contain 12 two-storey townhouses, comprising five two-bedroom units and seven three-bedroom units as well as four two-bedroom duplex units.

A planning statement said the proposed development would be developed in conjunction with Tuath Housing as a cost rental scheme in recognition of the significant demand for social and affordable housing in this area.

Close to three dozen submissions and objections were made in relation to the planning application.

One objector said they believed that the development would look unsightly in a residential area with mostly two-storey houses while another said the proposed development given its prominent location next to the road, makes it a potential eyesore.

Cork City Council requested some further information before making a decision on the application, which resulted in some small changes to the plans.

It has now green-lit the application subject to 35 conditions.

One condition stipulates that 18 apartments on one level must be omitted from the development in the interest of clarity and residential amenity, while another states that the proposed two storey duplex block located on the eastern side of the site must be reduced to one and a half storeys.
THE Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy, has said the future of the Unitarian Church on Princes St must be secured following a significant fire at the 18th-century structure.

Emergency services rushed to the scene of the blaze after the alarm was raised at around 8am on Monday.

Five appliances from Cork City Fire Brigades station on Anglesea St attended the scene and it took approximately 30 minutes for the fire to be extinguished.

The Cork Unitarian Church on Princess Street, Cork.Picture: Jim Coughlan.

I am very upset to hear the news about the severe damage of fire in the historic Unitarian Church, the Lord Mayor commented in the wake of the incident.

It has survived more or less intact for over 300 years.

It is testament to the present day guardians under Rev Mike OSullivan that the building still has much relevance to the life of Cork and to the lives of citizens today.

I await the outcome of the fire assessment.

The space though is an oasis of community life within Corks city centre and it is important that this oasis and its story is helped to be restored and its future secured.

In a statement on Monday, Cork Unitarian Church said while the roof remains intact and the building has been saved, the internal damage is significant.

The roof remains intact. The interior damage is extensive.

The historic building is saved but the usability of the interior for church services and all other activities has been severely compromised.

Minister Reverend Mike O'Sullivan and the Church Committee were devastated and are assessing how to proceed going forward, the statement said.

It added that the Minister wished to express, on behalf of the church community, his deepest thanks and appreciation to the Cork City Fire Brigade and the Garda Siochana.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established, however, The Echo understands that it is not currently being treated as a malicious incident. No one was injured as a result of the fire.
Parents are being urged to make sure children and young people are up to date with their MMR vaccine due to a rise in cases in parts of the UK and Europe.

Measles can be a potentially serious and highly infectious disease that can spread easily through respiratory droplets.

Michael Hanrahan, Specialist Registrar in Public Health Medicine, who is based at St. Finbarrs Hospital, said that while there hasn't been a case reported in Ireland in some time, a rise in cases abroad is prompting concerns.

Were seeing measles cases throughout Europe, and increasingly in the UK.

Thankfully, we havent had a case since 2018 in Ireland, he said, but added that they are worried about having cases here shortly and it spreading, saying Its a highly contagious infectious disease, and it can be severe in young children and other vulnerable people.

Decline in vaccine uptake

The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella, and uptake in Ireland has declined significantly since the beginning of the pandemic, now sitting below 90%, lower than the World Health Organization target of 95%.

Dr Hanrahan explained some of the potential reasons that vaccination levels have dropped, saying Covid definitely had an impact on people accepting vaccines".

He added: They might have thought that they had less access to get them from GPs or less of a need because of lockdown, as they were socialising less they thought that they didnt need to get it.

The Covid pandemic also led to an increase in misinformation spread about vaccines, which he referred to as a complex issue, saying, I think that a lot more vaccine misinformation was circulated when the Covid vaccine came out and some of that may be affecting MMR uptake.

There are also long-standing misinformation about the vaccine being linked to autism and bowel issues but those have been disproven.

Personally, I see more hesitancy than outright refusal. Parents seem to want to wait until they have done more research themselves or until their child is a bit older before accepting the vaccine.

But we need to reiterate that the vaccine is safe, effective and is recommended at 12 months of age because that is when their child is most vulnerable so it is important to get the vaccine on time.

Despite these factors, Dr Hanrahan says most people are getting the vaccine, the uptake rate is still pretty high, its just below target, and encouraged people to check immunisation.ie for more information on the vaccine.

Checking vaccination status

With the mid-term break coming up, it is particularly important that anyone travelling to the UK ensures they have received the right number of MMR vaccines for their age, with two doses recommended to be considered fully vaccinated.

The first dose is given when a child is 12 months old, and the second dose is due when a child is in junior infants.

The HSE says it is important to get this first MMR on time at 12 months and not delay because measles is more severe in young children.

If anyone isnt sure about their or their childs vaccination status, they are encouraged to contact their GP so that they can check the regional immunisation office and department of health records, Dr Hanrahan said, adding that for anyone vaccinated outside this region, it is possible to check immunity with a blood test.

Some people cant get the MMR vaccine, for example, if they are pregnant, have an allergy to any of the ingredients, or are severely immunocompromised, meaning they rely on herd immunity to stop the spread of the disease.

These restrictions only apply to a small part of the population, Dr Hanrahan said, stressing that the vast majority of people are able to take the MMR vaccine.

The HSE is also urging parents to be aware of the symptoms  fever, cough, runny nose, or the characteristic red rash, which typically starts on the head and neck, then spreads down  and to contact their GP by phone for advice if they see them.

Maintaining good hygiene practices is also essential, it says, as measles is spread through respiratory droplets, so habits such as hand washing and avoiding touching face, eyes and nose are very important.
A 33-year-old Dublin man affirmed a signed guilty plea to a charge of having a 70,000 stash of cocaine in Knocknaheeny last year.

William Shine of Nutgrove Avenue, Churchtown, Dublin, affirmed the guilty plea at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Helen Boyle was told that the accused was suffering from health problems and that probation and medical reports would be helpful in advance of sentencing.

Judge Boyle adjourned sentencing in the case until June 5 for that purpose.

The main charge admitted by the accused man is that he had cocaine with a street value exceeding 13,000 on March 12 2023 at Fota Lawn, Knocknaheeny.

The significance of the 13,000 threshold is that it allows for a minimum sentence of ten years unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Children at the scene of a domestic disturbance after midnight at a house in Cork were visibly upset when gardai arrived to investigate.

Judge Mary Dorgan said she recalled the vivid evidence given by Garda Margaret Kelleher when gardai objected to bail when the 38-year-old accused man was arrested and brought before the court earlier this month.

Children were visibly upset and this occurred on a school night, Judge Dorgan said.

The judge added that one could only imagine the traumatic feelings of the children going to school the next morning with that drunken disturbance caused by their father only hours before.

The judge jailed the defendant for six months for breaching the barring order on the night.

Joseph Cuddigan, defence solicitor, asked the judge to suspend a substantial portion of the sentence but the judge refused to do so given the seriousness of the incident which was dealt with at an in camera hearing of Cork District Court.

The parties cannot be identified as it related to an offence under the Domestic Violence Act.

Mr Cuddigan said:

He appreciates the affections of his partner are well and truly gone but he does not want to lose the affections of his children.

Judge Dorgan said: This was a school night at 12.25 where he was shouting and roaring and kicking a coffee table. He decides to land at their home despite a barring order when it suits him and he is intoxicated.

The children were asleep. It was that time of night. The only mitigating factor is that he has some kind of employment.
A CORK woman who contacted Hollywood star Cillian Murphy for help with a school project 10 years ago opened up about the part he played in her success.

Sophie Gray from Ballinlough said she was delighted to see the Cork man earn a nomination in the Best Actor category at this years Academy Awards. The accolade follows his wildly acclaimed performance in Oppenheimer.

It comes a decade after an email she sent to the actor asking if he would spare some time to help with her school project. While Mr Murphy is known for being extremely private, he agreed to speak to Sophie by phone about his love for Cork and success in the film industry.

To this day, Sophie believes it was the pureness of her email that captured Mr Murphys imagination.

Im still so happy and proud that I had the chance to interview him, she told The Echo.

Ms Gray said his advice at the time prompted her to begin pursuing her dreams. She is now studying zoology at Trinity College, Dublin and has enjoyed success in the past both as an actor and local journalist.

Heritage project

Her ambitions all started with the The Discover Cork: Schools Heritage Project run by the current Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy. Now in its 20th year the initiative is funded by Cork City Council and aims to encourage students at primary and secondary level to familiarise themselves with local heritage and history.

Ms Gray was in sixth class at Scoil Mhuire Junior School when she tasked herself with finding a Hollywood star to help with her project.

At just 12-years-old, Sophie admits she was painfully shy which made phone calls particularly difficult.

The thought of speaking to any adult on the phone at that age was scary to me, never mind someone I had watched in movies.

Sophie refused to let this scupper her chances of interviewing the actor.

At that age you dont see any roadblocks so getting a Hollywood actor to interview for my school project didnt seem out of the ordinary. Its mad to think how young I was at the time as my brother Florence is now the same age.

Sophie Gray from Ballinlough who described the influence actor Cillian Murphy had on her. The Oscar nominee helped her with a school project when she was just 12 years old.

The Cork woman-, who has five brothers- Sam (29), Arthur (21), Oscar (19), Hamilton (17) and Florence (13)- was the only pupil in her class to interview such a high profile celebrity.

Initially, I was going to do something relating to 1916 until I had the idea of interviewing someone from recent history. I was trying to find someone who knew Cillian Murphy. I knew he worked with Corcadorca Theatre Company. My mum worked in the same building as them so I was able to get in touch with Cillian through the organisation.

'Love for Murphy's'

She recalled how down to earth Cillian was during their conversations.

I asked him questions about being from Cork and how it affected his life. He told me about his love for Murphy's which - now that Im 22 - is something I can finally relate to. He also told me about how it took him leaving Cork to realise how much he really loved it. This is something I can understand since moving to Dublin to study at Trinity.

The zoology student described her introduction to the star.

I rang him from my mums phone. It was so nerve racking. I was falling over my words at first, but he was really down to earth and easy to talk to. It was one of the best experiences from that time of my life.

"I asked him what advice he would give to kids pursuing their dreams. He said to let your gut lead you and to be passionate about what you are doing in life, no matter what it is.

Cillian immediately put Sophie at ease.

He knew I was just a child so I wasnt looking for a scoop. I think he realised there was no agenda and I was just interested in what he was doing and his connection to Cork. I continued to come out of myself after that phone call. My logic was that if I was able to interview movie stars on the phone then I was capable of anything. The worst thing that can happen when you ask is somebody telling you no.

The project opened up a world of possibilities for the now 22-year-old.

I was toying with the idea of becoming an actor. Singing was also my passion. In the end my desire to help others overtook all of this and influenced my decision to study zoology.

Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy said he was delighted that The Discover Cork: Schools Heritage Project was such a driving force for Sophie.

I recall that it was a very elaborate and fun project, Mr McCarthy said.

Sometimes you know that someone is going to do well in life especially when they have that colour and creativity. Im not surprised that Sophie has been successful. Sometimes people pick out a subject for their project that brings them on a journey. This has clearly brought her on a massive journey.
THE man accused of murdering his wife in Cork city last July was served with a book of evidence today and his case was sent forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court.

Sergeant John Kelleher confirmed at Cork District Court that the book of evidence had been served on defence solicitor Eddie Burke who received the book on behalf of the accused who appeared in court by video link from prison.

41-year-old Regin Parithapara Rajan, appeared in Cork District Court by video link from prison.

He is charged with the murder of 38-year-old Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani at their home at Cardinal Court, Wilton, Cork, on July 14, contrary to common law. When Det Garda Alan Johnson arrested and charged him with the murder last July, Mr Rajan made no reply.

The deceased, Ms Dinamani, a native of Kerala in south-west India, was a chartered accountant and she moved with her husband and young son to Cork to take up a position as a Fund Manager with a financial services company, Alter Domus Fund Services based at Cork Airport Business Park.

Today (January 31) at Cork District Court, Judge Mary Dorgan gave the accused man the alibi warning required in such cases. The accused was informed that if relying on an alibi defence than notice of relevant witnesses must be given to the prosecution.

Mr Burke solicitor was granted an application to have free legal aid extended to cover a senior counsel and junior counsel to represent him at the Central Criminal Court.

Judge Dorgan then sent the case forward from Cork District Court to that court.

Following previous complaints from the defence of delay, Detective Inspector Jason Lynch said, It is a very complex investigation. The deceased is an Indian national. Relevant lines of enquiry were pursued in India, the United Kingdom and United States. A significant amount of telephonic evidence had to be analysed, which amounted to 850,000 pages of data. There are 110 statements on file as well as substantial technical data.
The Body Shop has announced that it is accelerating steps to reshape the business as part of its ongoing transformation and change in ownership.

The Body Shop, which has a store on Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork city, said it has signed an agreement with an international family office to sell its business in most of mainland Europe and parts of Asia.

The agreement includes physical and digital operations.

In a statement issued to The Echo, The Body Shop said the move further prioritises The Body Shops strategically important markets and global head franchise partner relationships, which it will look for opportunities to build.

The Body Shop will also focus on more effectively reaching customers by strengthening digital platforms, developing new sales channels, and via differentiated retail experiences, the statement read.

The announced sale is another decisive step towards delivering a strong turnaround strategy for The Body Shop, supported by the right structure.

The ambition is to create a modern and dynamic beauty brand, relevant to customers and able to compete for the long-term.

"The Body Shop must continue to create exceptional products, re-discover its unique voice, and deliver financial stability.

In terms of external global revenue, the part of the company being sold equates to approximately 14% of the Body Shop business globally.
A NORTH Cork woman who founded an international network to invest in women is bringing her message to the Chinese capital, Beijing, for a St Brigids Day event.

Whitechurch native Hilary Barry is the founder and secretary general of the Brussels-based LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub, which was established to tackle the specific needs of women in agri-business with tailor-made solutions to overcome systemic constraints, improve quality, and market access.

Ms Barry is leading a mission to Beijing, hosted by The Embassy of Ireland to China, which aligns with St Brigids Day.

Today, the Cork woman will lead a seminar on the Key Role of Women Agri-Entrepreneurs in Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action.

The event, which will be hosted by ambassador Dr Ann Derwin and UN resident co-ordinator Siddharth Chatterjee, will feature opening remarks by the former Irish president and chairwoman of the Elders Foundation, Mary Robinson.

The seminar will spotlight LadyAgris work across Africa and small island developing states, emphasising the pivotal role women agri-entrepreneurs play in global food systems.

The seminar will also underscore the urgent need for financial access to combat climate changes effects and ensure food security.

Since her first experience in Ghana in 1993, Ms Barry has dedicated her entire career to social impact programmes across sub-Saharan Africa  as an avid supporter of the Africa-EU partnership.

She said that she is a strong believer that patient investment in women in agri-supply chains, though challenging, will have a rising-tide effect and wide social impact.

Her mindset in setting up LadyAgri was that investing in women is simply smart economics.

By dedicating our support to women, we can be guaranteed that we are also investing in improving family livelihoods, improving opportunities for the next generation, positively impacting communities, and creating decent jobs and prospects, she said.

Ms Barry first became interested in development work in Africa through her fathers work.

Eamon Barry worked for the ESBs international division and frequently travelled to Africa, where the ESB was involved in developing electricity projects.

When he started taking Hilary along, she also caught the bug.
The PBP-Solidarity TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry, has accused the Taoiseach of skirting his question in the Dail this week relating to the ongoing HSE recruitment freeze.

Speaking in the Dail on Tuesday, Mr Barry referred to comments made to The Echo by the clinical director of emergency and acute care at Cork University Hospital (CUH), Professor Conor Deasy, calling for the immediate lifting of the cost-saving embargo on staff recruitment.

Mr Barry also raised concerns about the number of people on trolleys at the hospital this week.

Trolleys

There were 71 patients on trolleys at the hospital yesterday, 55 of whom were in the hospitals emergency department, and 16 of whom were on wards elsewhere in the hospital.

Already this year, the numbers presenting to the adult emergency department is up on last year by a third, said Mr Barry.

[Tuesday] morning, the hospitals clinical director of emergency and acute care, Prof Conor Deasy, appealed to the Government to lift the staff embargo.

Taoiseach, what do you have to say about this situation? Are you going to stick with your recruitment freeze, despite all of the evidence that last year was a disaster in the emergency departments and that demand has increased again this year?

If you wont pay heed to the people on the trolleys, will you at least pay heed to the words of Prof Deasy?

In response to Mr Barry, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the provision has been made for the HSE to increase its staff.

I want to inform the House that provision has been made for the HSE to increase its staff this year, he said.

They can hire an additional 2,000 staff.

And we have seen a recruitment surge since 2020.

There are now 8,000 more nurses and midwives than we had in 2020, 3,000 more doctors and dentists, and the HSE can hire an additional 2,000 staff  but it needs to be done in a proper way.

Serious

Speaking to The Echo following the exchange in the Dail, Mr Barry said: The Taoiseach skirted the issue.

He knows full well that the recruitment freeze extends to nearly all staff and he knows that thats what Prof Deasy was referring to. The issue is too serious for the leader of the country to be playing games with it.

Earlier this week, Prof Deasy  who is also the president of the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine  told The Echo: The present cost-saving embargo on staff recruitment should be lifted immediately. There needs to be a rapid expansion in bed numbers, including single rooms to reduce cross-infection of patients, intensive care, rehabilitation, and community beds.

He also said that staff working in the emergency department at the hospital have never seen it as intensely busy and challenging.

It comes as CUH recorded the highest number of patients on trolleys in January of this year, when compared to previous years.

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, 1,632 patients were waiting on trolleys during January this year.

Nationally, more than 12,132 patients  including 278 children  went without a hospital bed during January.

Overcrowded

End-of-year figures from the INMO showed that CUH was the second-most overcrowded in the country during 2023.

A spokesperson for the INMO said it is clear that capacity in the health system is not sufficient, and said more beds and more patient-facing staff are needed.

The HSE must agree a realistic workforce plan, which provides for sufficient nurses and midwives to be employed, to provide safe care and plan for more beds to open, the spokesperson added.
What is a domestic wastewater treatment system?

Domestic wastewater treatment systems include all septic tanks, waste water tanks and treatment systems receiving, storing, treating or disposing of domestic wastewater.

It also includes all fittings and percolation areas associated with such tanks and systems and drains used to discharge waste water from a premises, whether or not a receiving tank is present.

Do I have to register my septic tank?

All domestic wastewater treatment systems, including septic tanks, must be registered with your local authority. There is a fee of 50 to register your wastewater treatment system.

You can register and pay online at protectourwater.ie

If you do not register your system and are convicted, you could be fined up to 5,000.

If you want to get a grant to repair or replace your treatment system in the future, your treatment system must be registered within a certain time frame. Replacement systems do not need to be re-registered.

What happens if I sell or transfer ownership of my property?

You will require a Certificate of Registration when selling/transferring ownership of a property. This certificate will confirm that the property has been registered.

If you are in the process of selling your property you should contact the Protect Our Water Support Centre by phone or email after you have registered your propertys domestic wastewater treatment system and request a Certificate of Registration.

The new owner is responsible for updating the ownership details on the register.

Will my treatment system be inspected?

Your waste water treatment system can be inspected by the local authority. Your local authority will write to you and let you know that they will be inspecting your system. They will give you at least 10 working days notice before the inspection.

If your waste water system is going to be inspected, you should:

Have your waste water systems registration certificate

Know where your waste water treatment system is

Have any paperwork about your systems installation or maintenance

Inspectors are appointed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and must show you their identification if you ask for it.

If your treatment system is working properly, you will get a certificate that confirms this. If the inspector finds issues with your system, you will get an advisory notice within 21 days of the inspection.

This notice will outline the problems with your system and give you a certain amount of time to fix them.

Can I get a grant to repair or replace my septic tank?

You may be able to get a grant to repair, upgrade or replace your waste water treatment system. You can apply for funding for 85% of the cost of the repairs to your system or a new system, up to a maximum of 5,000.

To qualify for these grants, your treatment system must have been registered with the local authority.

What changes came in from January, 2024?

From January 1, 2024, the septic tank grant will increase from 5,000 to 12,000. This grant will also become available to people who did not register a septic tank by February 1, 2013.

What are the different types of grants?

There are three different waste water treatment grant schemes. One grant is available for people to upgrade or repair their system following an inspection, while the other two grants are only available if you live in a particular area, and are notified by your local authority that you are eligible to apply.

You cannot get a grant for the routine maintenance, servicing or de-sludging of a treatment system.

How do I apply for a septic tank grant?

Application forms for each scheme are available on gov.ie. For more information on these schemes, you can contact the rural water section of your local authority. You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre.

Where can I get more information on septic tanks

The Environmental Protection Agency has published a set of Frequently Asked Questions about wastewater treatment systems. Their website is www.epa.ie

There is also a detailed set of FAQs on www.protectourwater.ie.

You can contact Cork County Council or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for more information. The telephone number for the Cork Regional EPA office is 021 4875540
Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Updated: 10am

The Government has "no issue" with the streamlining of trade processes for goods travelling between Northern Ireland and Britain, Micheal Martin has said.

The Tanaiste is in Belfast on Thursday to meet with political and business leaders in the North, as the UK government is due to publish the details of its deal with the DUP aimed at restoring powersharing.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has already said that the agreement will remove all post-Brexit checks on goods destined for Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

The unionist party has been using a veto power to block Stormonts devolved institutions for almost two years in protest at the post-Brexit arrangements that have created trade barriers between the North and Britain.

DUP leader Sir Jeffery Donaldson has said checks on goods destined for NI from the UK would end (Liam McBurney/PA)

However, Mr Donaldson announced earlier this week that his party was prepared to return to Stormont, dependent on the UK government implementing the various legislative assurances and other measures it has offered.

This is expected to lead to the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland within days and will see Michelle ONeill become the Norths first ever nationalist first minister.

Speaking in Belfast on Wednesday morning, Mr Martin commended Mr Donaldson on his leadership, saying the DUP leader has opened a path to a functioning executive and assembly.

Well await the publication of the documents today by the British government, Mr Martin added.

I think it would be prudent to examine those, and we will do that. The British government and the European Union have worked hard to address many of the practical concerns about the outworking of Brexit and Northern Ireland.

We need to move forward for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland in terms of economy, in terms of jobs, in terms of public services, the Fianna Fail leader said.

Deal

It is understood the UK government will introduce two statutory instruments at Westminster to give legislative effect to the commitments it has made on trade and sovereignty.

The return of Stormont will also see the Treasury release a 3.3 billion package to support under-pressure public services in Northern Ireland. The financial package includes money to settle the demands of striking public sector workers in the region this year.

Speaking on Tuesday, following meetings with other Stormont parties, Mr Donaldson said the deal would represent a significant change in addressing unionist concerns over Brexits so-called Irish Sea border.

He said: On checks, on goods, moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and staying within the UK there will no longer be physical checks, identity checks, save where, as is normal in any part of the UK, there is a suspicion of smuggling, of criminal activity; that is the same for every part of the United Kingdom.

On customs paperwork, customs declarations, supplementary declarations, will be gone.

(left to right) Sinn Fein representatives MLA Conor Murphy, president Mary Lou McDonald and vice-president Michelle ONeill (Liam McBurney/PA)

Sinn Fein has focused on the imminent return of the Stormont Assembly, with party leader Mary Lou McDonald stating that Irish unity is now within touching distance as she hailed the significance of her party assuming the role of Stormont first minister for the first time.

Ms McDonald said the expected appointment of her party colleague Michelle ONeill into the job in the coming days would be a moment of very great significance.

UK Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he believes the conditions exist for the return of the Stormont powersharing institutions (Victoria Jones/PA)

UK Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he would publish the UK governments proposals on Wednesday.

He added: I believe that all the conditions are now in place for the assembly to return.

Mr Donaldson announced his support for a Stormont return after receiving the decisive backing of the 130-strong party executive during a five-hour meeting on Monday night.

He said DUP party officers, a key 12-strong decision-making body, had also mandated him to move forward on the basis he was proposing.

Support for the deal is not unanimous within the DUP and several senior figures remain opposed to the proposed agreement to restore powersharing.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

A first of its kind centre has opened in north Dublin that aims to help people with disabilities become familiar with public transport and teach authorities how to design more accessible services.

It is understood that just 6 per cent of people in Ireland with disabilities use public transport.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) and Vision Ireland, formerly the National Council for the Blind (NCBI), showcased The Wayfinding Centre, which cost 7.83 million, on Wednesday.

The centre is located on a 31,000 sq ft site of a former printworks on Botanic Road in Glasnevin and will open to the public in April after six years of construction.

The Wayfinding Centre in Glasnevin, Dublin (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

It includes half an Airbus A319 plane, part of a Luas tram, part of a Dart carriage, pathways, cycle lanes, traffic lights, buses and an example of an airport security scanner.

Ministers and disability organisations have hailed it as the first of its kind, and it is understood parliamentarians from other countries attended the event on Wednesday.

The centre aims to give people with access needs the confidence to use public transport by familiarising them with it through real-world scenarios in a safe and controlled environment.

It will also give public transport drivers, architects, designers, engineers and students a chance to learn how public services can be made more accessible.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, Minister for Children Roderic OGorman, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe, and Minister of State for Disabilities Anne Rabbitte attended the launch.

Ministers Anne Rabbitte and Paschal Donohoe at the launch of The Wayfinding Centre (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

Its a really positive development that were seeing here today, Ms Rabbitte said, adding that it could be a pedestal from which to grow the number of people with disabilities using public transport up from 6 per cent.

She said that transport is a key piece that links education, employment and independent living, and said the airport scanners model gives a chance to improve the experience of 36,000 people with wheelchairs who use Dublin Airport every year.

Ms Rabbitte added: The location is really, really good, theres a bus stop outside the door, theres a Dart (in the area), were just off the M50 and the airport is down the road.

A lot of people like to leave the country on their holidays so the training of staff that work in various airlines to come along here and give people the opportunity to feel that they have the right to travel, I think thats what this is all about.

Mr Donohoe, who is a local TD, said this was a unique centre, not just in Ireland but across the world.

The Wayfinding Centre will open to the public in April (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

He added: On a lighter note, theres been some speculation for a while regarding why were moving half an airplane and various forms of public transport into the centre  Im delighted to be able to explain what theyre all being used for now, and the role that theyre going to play in supporting our citizens with disabilities to travel in Ireland.

Matt McCann, chief executive and founder of Access Earth, said the centre could see the creation of a public realm that is more accessible and which most people will not age out of.

The United Nations mentions that were going to live about seven to eight years of our lives with some form of disability, he said.

So having facilities like this to look at and identify opportunities for improvement for the years to come will not just benefit the 1.1 million people with a disability in the country today, but will essentially benefit everyone into the future.

Chris White, chief executive of Vision Ireland, said the main focus will be to engage with the 1.1 million people with disabilities in Ireland, and also with the 50,000-60,000 people who work in public transport services.

But whats going to change Ireland is this centre is linked to DCU, to TU Dublin, to University College London and well be educating all the future architects, engineers, surveyors and planners, to ensure that they understand accessibility properly, and can actually put accessibility as an equal valued element of the design, he told the PA news agency.

Vision Ireland and the National Transport Authoritys Wayfinding Centre (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

So what were looking at is the architects doing modules here as part of their degree.

So this centre sets out what good looks like, what the challenges are, and we can have a more consistent, more joined up public realm that is more considered for people with disabilities.

Mr White added: Theres nothing else like this in the world. There is a centre in Melbourne, but all they have is a tram.

So theres nothing else like this in the world. So weve got an MP from England today going Wow, this is amazing.

Weve got a guy from the United States, weve got EU representatives here as well and well be hosting EU conferences in May of this year.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Satellite image of the first of two atmospheric rivers set to hit California this week. U.S. National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area / Monterey California

In California, more than 20 million residents were under flood alerts on Wednesday as the first of two atmospheric river storms hit the northern part of the state, reported CNN.

The Pineapple Express storms were expected to bring warm, moist air with gusty winds, heavy rain and snow in the highest elevations.

An atmospheric river over the West Coast will bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds from southern Oregon to central California today, pushing south into southern California into Thursday. Heavy snowfall is expected over the Sierra and Intermountain West through Thursday, the National Weather Service said.

The predicted heavy rains could help boost long-term freshwater supplies in the state, which have been below average this winter, Reuters reported.

Meteorologist Daniel Swain of the University of California, Los Angeles, said Pineapple Express storms originate in the warm waters around Hawaii.

Swain told reporters the first of the two storms would likely impact the San Francisco Bay Area most on Wednesday evening.

In addition to the flood watch given by the National Weather Service for the Central Coast and Bay Area, high-wind advisories were also posted for the region.

Thursday could see some streams and roads flood in the southern parts of the state, but Swain said major flooding was not as likely.

A second storm, more powerful than the first, is forecast to reach California on Sunday with more strong winds and even heavier rainfall for Southern California, plus more mountain snow.

Suffice it to say there will be some flooding in Southern California, Swain said, as reported by Reuters. The question is whether it is the unremarkable street flooding we see in any big rainstorm or something considerably more significant than that.

According to the National Weather Service, fallen trees, in addition to flooding, would be the most likely hazards from the storm, The New York Times reported.

NOAAs Weather Prediction Center said localized flash flooding was of most concern for urban areas, roads, burn scars and small streams.

The first storm was predicted to move through quickly, reducing the amount of rainfall in any individual location.

The Northern and Central California mountains were expected to get snowfall amounting to a foot or more.

The second storm, expected on Sunday, could turn out to be a significant atmospheric river event, according to the Weather Prediction Center, as reported by The New York Times.

That storm could produce even more rainfall and mountain snow than the first.

The next significant, wetter storm will arrive in California by sometime Sunday and last into early next week. Details are still a bit uncertain, but it will also have the potential to bring flooding rain, landslides and rockslides as well as mountain snow and strong winds. Impacts could be worse with this second storm given the rain will fall on ground saturated by the first storm, The Weather Channel said.




Tick-borne diseases cost Ugandan farmers over US$1.1 billion annually



Farmers in Uganda are grappling with an annual loss exceeding US$1.1 billion due to the escalating spread of tick-borne animal diseases, Monitor reported.

The most economically damaging tick-borne disease in the region is identified as East Coast Fever.

Dr Anna Rose Ademun, Commissioner of Animal Health at Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted the issue of acaricides becoming resistant, emphasising the necessity for collaboration to find effective solutions.

In response to the ongoing crisis, Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation, is actively engaged in efforts to diagnose tick resistance to acaricides at regional laboratory centres.

The Ministry of Agriculture is already working on the "Managing Animal Health and Acaricides for a Better Africa" initiative. The initiative aims to provide sustainable solutions to empower small-scale farmers in effectively managing tick infections in cattle.

The ministry also unveiled the TickAcademy App, designed to assist farmers in managing tick infestations, as well as providing educational content accessible to farmers and extension workers.

Enrique Hernandez Pando, head of Commercial Development and Impact at GALVmed, said the initiative is important in addressing acaricide resistance challenges and enabling farmers and animal health officers to explore innovative methods.

Stakeholders collectively agreed to train and educate field staff and farmers on effective tick management strategies. Additionally, there is a commitment to strengthen diagnostic infrastructure and testing capabilities for tick resistance and other animal health-related concerns.

Efforts will also focus on facilitating farmers' access to credit from farmer-group-run savings institutions to purchase specialised equipment for applying pesticides. Nishal Gunpath, country director of Elanco Animal Health for South and Sub-Saharan Africa, expressed support for the initiative, foreseeing its positive impact on driving livestock in a better direction and maximising the potential for small-scale livestock farmers.

- Monitor
Sega of America plans to lay off 61 employees in March, according to a California WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) report. Eurogamer and X user @WhatLayoff first reported on the government notice, which lists two separate job cuts classified as layoff permanent on March 8. Its the latest chapter in a year-plus of brutal job cuts in the tech and gaming worlds.

Californias WARN Act, passed in 1988, requires employers to provide 60 days notice for upcoming layoffs  allowing the affected workers time to prepare. It applies to companies with at least 75 full-time or part-time workers and covers layoffs of 50 or more people within 30 days. It isnt clear precisely how many workers Sega of America employs.

The WARN report lists separate layoffs (one of 12 and another of 49 workers) at two Irvine, CA-based Sega of America offices. The job cuts both have a notice date of January 8, and the reports were processed by California on January 29 with effective dates of March 8.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Sega in November after the publisher allegedly said it would lay off 80 unionized workers. At the time, the organization said Sega presented the proposal in a captive audience meeting, describing the circumstances as a clear case of bad faith bargaining.

The Allied Employees Guild Improving SEGA (AEGIS-CWA), the union representing Sega workers in the US, wrote on X Tuesday that the company announced the latest plans a few months ago, suggesting the layoffs posted in the WARN notice are part of the same roadmap. The union said Sega plans to outsource quality assurance and some localization work in a move that would significantly impact our workforce.

Sega hasnt publicly confirmed the layoffs. Engadget reached out to a company representative, and well update this article if we hear back.

The layoffs come less than two months after Sega said it would refresh its classics Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Golden Axe and Streets of Rage. Eurogamer notes the companys Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which launched last week, has been a high mark for the publisher.
The CEOs of Meta, Snap, Discord, X and TikTok testified at a high-stakes Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on child exploitation online. During the hearing, Mark Zuckerberg, Evan Spiegel, Jason Citron, Linda Yaccarino and Shou Chew spent nearly four hours being grilled by lawmakers about their records on child safety.

The hearing was the first time Spiegel, Citron and Yaccarino testified to Congress. Notably, all three were subpoenaed by the committee after refusing to appear voluntarily, according to lawmakers. Judiciary Committee Chair Senator Dick Durbin noted that Citron only accepted services of his subpoena after US Marshals were sent to Discords headquarters at taxpayers expense.

The hearing room was filled with parents of children who had been victims of online exploitation on social media. Many members of the audience silently held up photos of their children as the CEOs entered the room, and Durbin kicked off the hearing with a somber video featuring victims of child exploitation and their parents.

Discord has been used to groom, abduct and abuse children, Durbin said. Metas Instagram helped connect and promote a network of pedophiles. Snapchats disappearing messages have been co-opted by criminals who financially extort young victims. TikTok has become a quote platform of choice for predators to access, engage and groom children for abuse. And the prevalence of CSAM on X has grown as the company has gutted its trust and safety workforce.

During the hearing, many of the senators shared personal stories of parents whose children had died by suicide after being exploited online. "Mr. Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us  I know you don't mean it to be so  but you have blood on your hands," Senator Lindsey Graham said in his opening remarks. The audience applauded.

Sen. @LindseyGrahamSC: "Mr. Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us, I know you don't mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands. You have a product that's killing people." pic.twitter.com/QPAlUQwIqZ  CSPAN (@cspan) January 31, 2024

While years of similar hearings have so far failed to produce any new laws, there is growing bipartisan support in Congress for new safety regulations. As Tech Policy Press points out, there are currently more than half a dozen bills dealing with children's online safety that have been proposed by senators. These include the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which would require platforms to create more parental control and safety features and submit to independent audits, and COPPA 2.0, a revised version of the 1998 Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act, which would bar companies from collecting or monetizing childrens data without consent.

Senators have also proposed a number of bills to address child exploitation, including the EARN IT Act, currently in its third iteration since 2020, and the STOP CSAM Act. None of these have advanced to the Senate floor for a vote. Many of these bills have faced intense lobbying from the tech industry, though some companies in attendance said they were open to some bills and some aspects of the legislation.

Spiegel said that Snap supports KOSA. Yaccarino said X supports the STOP CSAM Act. Shou and Citron both declined to specifically endorse the bills they were asked about, but said they were open to more discussions.

Zuckerberg suggested a different approach, saying he supported age verification and parental control requirements at the app store level, which would effectively shift the burden to Apple and Google. "Apple already requires parental consent when a child does a payment with an app, so it should be pretty trivial to pass a law that requires them to make it so parents have control anytime a child downloads an app, Zuckerberg said.

Meta has come increased pressure in recent months following a lawsuit from 41 states for harming teens mental health. Court documents from the suit allege that Meta turned a blind eye to children under 13 using its service, did little to stop adults from sexually harassing teens on Facebook and that Zuckerberg personally intervened to stop an effort to ban plastic surgery filters on Instagram.

Unsurprisingly, Zuckerberg came under particular scrutiny during the hearing. In one awkward exchange, Senator Graham asked Zuckerberg if the parents of a child who died by suicide after falling victim to a sextortion scheme should be able to sue Meta. Zuckerberg, looking uncomfortable, paused and said I think that they can sue us.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) asks Mark Zuckerberg if he'd like to apologize to families in attendance at Senate hearing on social media



He stands, turns & talks about Meta's "industry-leading efforts..to make sure that no one has to go through the things..your families have suffered" pic.twitter.com/lqaUgFqhxu  Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) January 31, 2024

Later, Senator Josh Hawley pressed the Meta founder on whether he would personally apologize to the parents in the hearing room. Zuckerberg stood up and faced the audience. "Im sorry for everything you have all been through," he said. "No one should go through the things that your families have suffered and this is why we invest so much and we are going to continue doing industry-wide efforts to make sure no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer."

Spiegel was also asked to directly address parents. Mr. Spiegel, there are a number of parents who have children who have been able to access illegal drugs on your platform, what do you say to those parents, Scenario Laphonza Butler asked the Snap founder. Im so sorry, he said.

As with many past hearings featuring tech CEOs, some lawmakers strayed off topic. Multiple senators pressed Chew on TikToks relationship with China, as well as its handling of content moderation during the Israel-Hamas war. Senator Tom Cotton repeatedly asked TikTok's CEO about his citizenship (Chew is Singaporean).

There were also some bizarre moments, like when Senator John Kennedy asked Spiegel if he knew the meaning of yada yada yada (Spiegel claimed he was not familiar with the phrase). Can we agree  what you do is what you believe and everything else is just cottage cheese, Kennedy asked.

.@SenJohnKennedy: "What does 'yada, yada, yada' mean?"



Snap CEO Evan Spiegel: "I'm not familiar with the term, Senator." pic.twitter.com/vBfP9BMVq4  Jeremy Art (@cspanJeremy) January 31, 2024

During the hearing, many of the companies touted their existing safety features and parental controls (Meta launched several updates in the lead-up to the hearing). Yaccarino, who repeatedly claimed that X was a brand new company said X was considering adding parental controls. Being a 14-month-old company we have reprioritized child protection and safety measures, she said. And we have just begun to talk about and discuss how we can enhance those with parental controls.

In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 or you can simply dial 988. Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting HOME to 741741 (US), 686868 (Canada), or 85258 (UK). Wikipedia maintains a list of crisis lines for people outside of those countries.
THIS VIDEO CONTAINS SENSITIVE FOOTAGE THAT MAY DISTURB SOME VIEWERS Israeli commandos disguised as medical workers and Muslim women burst into a hospital in the occupied West Bank and killed three Palestinian militants.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the Minister of Strategic Industries on the production of Ukrainian drones with a long range of use. Simultaneously, major drone strikes occur in the Russia St. Petersburg.
The two Republican presidential candidates in the 2024 race are competing in different nominating contests in Nevada. Donald Trump is in the Feb. 8 caucus which counts toward delegates and Nikki Haley is in the more symbolic Feb. 6 primary.
The French Constitutional Court has ruled that substantial elements of the Frances proposed immigration Bill are unconstitutional.

Much of the legislation dealt with areas of social security payments, but the Court also blocked a new automatic visa plan for UK citizens with French property on the grounds that it was not relevant to the immigration Bill.

There is no mechanism to appeal the decision.

Senator Martine Berthet, who had proposed the legislation promised to try again and pledged to continue to fight to secure visa rights for British second-home owners as the Court did not rule that it unconstitutional in itself.

Under the proposal, new long-term visas would have been issued automatically to British owners of second homes.

Following Thursday's court decision, the post-Brexit rules will remain in effect, with British citizens being allowed to spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period on the Continent. Those who want to stay longer must apply for long-term visas or seek permanent residency.

According to a survey by expat community InterNations, around 177,000 British citizens live full-time in France with a residency permit. Close to 25% of foreigners living in the country.

If they stay for longer without a visa, they could face a ban and expulsion from France and the rest of the EU.

Approximately 86,000 British people own second homes in Franc and there have been fears that a substantial number of owners would decide to sell.

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The French government will be very sensitive to the issue as it would constitute a further blow to the rural economy.

There have already been complaints that higher property taxes, introduced by Macron will trigger sales by overseas residents.

There have already been reports that Brexit has resulted in sales of property in France and Spain.

There was also evidence that expectations of relaxed visa rules had sparked a jump in interest amongst potential UK buyers.

According to UK-based international property portal Kyero, in the three weeks after it was tabled there was over a 500% surge in people inquiring about properties in France,

These inquiries are now likely to dip sharply again unless the French government can revive the visa plan.
A Greater Manchester firm has invented 'ground-breaking' edible feed tubs for livestock, with hopes they will cut down on plastic farm waste.

Fibrestar Drums has developed Nestub, a 'world-first' for the industry, as it is a fully biodegradable and edible packaging solution for animal feed.

Nestub uses materials that are food safe and consumable for livestock, with the tubs made from recycled and virgin kraft paper.

They are designed to compete with plastic, while being less carbon-intensive.

Fibrestar Drums, a small firm based in Stockport, worked alongside the GM Business Growth Hub to solve farm plastic waste and how to dispose of it.

Giulia Bonito, product manager at Fibrestar Drums, said: Disposing of their existing packaging was an issue for their farming customers, with many of the plastic tubs ending up either burned or buried or lost in the fields.

"Wed never served the agriculture sector before, but were always looking at ways to improve. We listened to what they had to say and then went away and tried to see how we could move into this new area.

An initial concern was that Fibrestars traditional drums were tubular and are stacked one of top of the other, but farmers needed nested tubs that could be stored one inside the other to maximise warehousing space and keep transport costs low.

The company reached out to GM Business Growth Hub, as well as numerous local universities, to share and help develop a solution.

Once prototypes were developed, on-farm testing found that by using the packaging to store feed meant that it became tasty for animals, and the chemical free construction meant that it was easily digestible.

Yvonne Grady, head of innovation at the GM Business Growth Hub, said Nestub represented a major breakthrough for farmers and animal feed producers.

She said: "They will no longer have to worry about how to get rid of plastic sacks and can rely on their own herds, or the weather, to dispose of packaging for them.

Were thrilled to have been a small part in the development of this innovative new project are excited to see how it is adopted by industry."
British pig meat exporters have taken the first steps towards maximising new opportunities in California following the introduction of new legislation.

Californias Proposition 12 came into force on 1 January, establishing stricter production standards including the provision of greater freedom of movement for pigs.

The legislation prevents the sale of pig meat that does not meet the state's new criteria. Other states are also making similar proposals.

California consumes nearly 15% of all US pork, yet only produces 1%, so it relies heavily on imports from other states and internationally.

Six UK pig meat exporters have travelled to California, along with levy organisation AHDB, on a five-day trade mission do business with several key US buyers.

The mission includes meetings with several quality meat distributors, wholesalers and visiting major supermarkets, including the second largest chain in North America.

AHDB said the aim of it was to provide the perfect platform to showcase quality British pig meat produced to the highest standards.

Susana Morris, AHDB senior trade development manager, said the Prop 12 legislation created the potential to significantly boost export opportunities for British pig meat exporters.

"It emphasises how important animal welfare is to consumers and the great work that our farmers and the industry in general are doing," she explained.

California has a population of circa 40 million, with 15 percent of US pig meat production consumed there.

"However, US domestic production is unlikely to be able to meet demand in California for pig meat produced to the new higher standards in the short term.

"British pig meat producers are well placed to meet some of this demand and our trade mission is aimed at helping our industry showcase our world-class produce and maximise this new opportunity.

"Our pig meat sector will be in a strong position to meet this demand as and when it comes to fruition. In the meantime, we look forward to this mission bearing fruit."
Scottish sheep breeders will be given the opportunity to use computer tomography (CT) scanning to enhance terminal sire selection and flock performance.

The use of CT alongside ultrasound scanning is being increasingly used within Scottish sheep flocks when understanding the genetic potential of performance recorded pedigree terminal sires.

This spring, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) will be CT scanning rams within Scottish flocks, with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) covering 50% of the cost per ram, for a minimum of five and maximum of 15 rams per flock.

The scanning machine mimics a carcase grader used in abattoirs, measuring the diameter of certain muscles at fixed points around the carcase.

It calculates muscle dimensions, muscle volume, bone density, internal fat, spine length and pelvic dimensions.

An x-ray tube moves slowly around the animal, taking cross sectional images of the entire body.

These images allow specific anatomical locations and measurements to be recorded as key performance traits, which can aid breeders decision-making process when selecting sheep, particularly rams.

These measurements can help to predict the final carcase performance of that animal, and therefore forecast that animals expected progeny profile and performance.

The resulting measurements inform the key traits for terminal breeding stock being sold within the industry.

QMS head of industry development, Bruce McConachie said: There is nearly a 30% difference in Eye Muscle Area between the average in breeds, and up to 60% difference in Eye Muscle Area within a breed.

"These differences illustrate the value of selecting genetically superior rams which are at the top of this range, to make faster genetic progress in important commercial traits like Eye Muscle Area.

Various traits can be measured using a CT scanner, and each breeder can discuss specific requirements with the technician undertaking the scanning process.

Mr McConachie said that commercial sheep farmers could really benefit from this data when selecting rams which have undergone CT scanning.

"Prospective purchases can be viewed online through Signet Breeding Services, ranking rams based on specific genetic traits," he added.

"Individual animal results are recorded as Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), with options to select breeding rams with desired performance traits.

"This detailed and accurate information helps to inform future progeny performance and therefore flock performance.

"After narrowing ram choices down based on desired EBVs, some farmers will then select a favourite ram from those, by eye.

Farmers Neil and Debbie McGown, from Perthshire have CT scanned 15 texel rams per year, over 15 years: "We have used and not used a number of rams specifically on the data gleaned," they said.

"The ram with the deep eye muscle ultrasound measurement but a poor muscle area because it tailed off quickly, saved a costly mistake.

"And the ram with phenomenal width, depth of muscle and high meat:bone ratio will have a lasting impact in our flock and many other Scotch lamb producers.

SRUC will be offering CT scanning for sheep breeders based in Scotland. Rams must be at least 40kg and recorded pedigree terminal sire breeds.

A minimum of five animals and maximum of 15 ram lambs are permitted per flock or business.

Mobile sites can be booked for a minimum of two days at each session, with 50 lambs per day booked in for scanning.

Scanning dates for this year will be announced shortly.
Farmers and landowners are being advised of the tax complexities around entering into Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) schemes as launch date of 12 February looms.

Updated guidance regarding BNG was recently launched in England, providing further clarity for developers, as well as opportunities for farmers and landowners.

The system requires developers to make a BNG of at least 10% within the red line of their development site, on other land that they own, or through buying BNG units from third parties.

The principle of it is to ensure that natural habitats are either created or improved as part of development, and that future development has a positive impact on biodiversity.

The damage done by development must be offset by the improvements in biodiversity made by the developer, with an overall 10% gain.

Subject to some exemptions, BNG will become mandatory in England from 12 February 2024 for most major developments, and from April 2024 for small development sites.

It was confirmed recently that developers can now discharge their BNG obligations as a condition, after planning permission has been granted and before development works start, and that 10% of the required BNG must be sourced onsite prior to seeking gains elsewhere.

Farmers and landowners can register land for BNG units with Natural England after entering into a legal agreement with the local planning authority, for example.

The legal agreement must secure habitat enhancement and maintenance for a minimum period of 30 years.

There is now considerable information available regarding calculation of BNG units, a statutory biodiversity metric tool and guidance to developers on attaining the necessary 10% biodiversity uplift.

However, the tax implications arising from BNG projects are complex, accountant Saffery explains.

Martyn Dobinson, partner at the firm, notes the tax position around the trading of BNG units, and the related issues, is a very complex area.

"There are a number of different legal structures which are being developed to deal with the creation and sale of BNG units, either directly from a landowner or via an intermediary entity.

"In order to understand the tax implications of these transactions for all involved the legal structure must be analysed in detail.

"There are often times where a simple amendment to an agreement can significantly improve a landowners tax position, so careful review is required.

There is also much confusion about how BNG should be accounted for, the answer here again will be largely driven by the legalities."

One thing that is common with most deals is they involve upfront cash receipts, with Saffery saying that careful accounting and cashflow management is required to manage this given the 30-year commitments that are being entered into.

It is expected that the sale of BNG units will be a supply for VAT purposes, but this is yet to be confirmed.

Saffery says that it is therefore its important to take advice in this area if entering into a transaction to buy or sell units.

Mr Dobinson says: "This is still a juvenile early marketplace and the impact on land values and what happens when the 30-year agreement period comes to an end are not entirely understood.

It was acknowledged in the Autumn Statement that a further update on the consultation around the taxation of environmental land management and ecosystem service markets was now expected in spring 2024."

One of the main questions to be answered by this consultation was the availability of Agricultural Property Relief (APR) for land that is put into BNG type schemes.

There are things that can be done to help protect the position for these reliefs, but Saffery notes that until further guidance is available, clarity is needed.

Mr Dobinson continues: "With the prospect of entering into a 30-year agreement, thoughts will clearly turn to lifetime gifting of land with the potential to provide BNG credits, prior to entering into such agreements. But the implications for IHT need careful consideration.

For any landowner or farmer wishing to open up this potential new income stream it is important, as ever, to take early tax and legal advice to ensure that the risks are fully understood, and the tax position is optimised as far as possible.

"There are also wider commercial risks which need to be understood and whilst a BNG scheme will prove to be a very good option for some it will not necessarily be the right choice for others.
NFU Cymru has expressed 'profound concerns' for the future viability of farming in Less Favoured Areas in light of Welsh governments scheme proposals.

The concerns follow the release of Welsh Farm Business Incomes for 2022-2023, which showed an income fall of 37% across Less Favoured Areas (LFA) cattle and sheep farms.

Sheep farmers in Wales' Severely Disadvantaged Areas (SDA) saw a 45 percent reduction in income.

Of all the sectors in Wales, LFA cattle and sheep farms make up both the largest proportion of farms in Wales (66%) and cover the largest land area (73%).

At the recent NFU Cymru LFA Board meeting, hill farmers from across Wales considered Welsh governments Sustainable Farming Scheme  Keeping Farmers Farming consultation.

This sets out how the Basic Payment Scheme is to be fully phased out by 2029 and replaced by Wales' post-Brexit agricultural scheme, the Sustainable Farming Scheme, from 2025.

Farmers who wish to participate will receive a Universal Baseline Payment in return for delivering 17 Universal Actions and two scheme rules.

The rules include the requirement to have at least 10% tree cover and 10% of the farm managed as habitat. A time limited stability payment which reduces to zero by 2030 is also proposed.

Commenting after the meeting, NFU Cymru LFA Board Chair, Kath Whitrow said farmers were 'highly concerned' about the latest Welsh government proposals.

"Farmers are worried about the practicalities of delivering the requirements of the scheme," she noted.

"We are also very concerned that Welsh government now proposes to calculate the Universal Baseline Payment on the basis of costs incurred, income foregone calculations.

"This, together with the fact that Welsh government currently proposes a stability payment that is time limited, means that the scheme will bring no meaningful income onto farms to replace the BPS from 2030.

The impacts such a move would have on farm businesses and the supply chain as well as our rural communities cannot be overstated."

Welsh Farm Business Incomes for 2022-2023 show a drop in income across LFA cattle and sheep farms with SDA sheep farming experiencing an even bigger reduction in income.

There is a double whammy for over 3,000 farmers with common land which is currently included as eligible area for the purposes of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) - in many cases, making up over 50% of the claimable area.

Under current Welsh government proposals, common land will not attract the Universal Baseline Payment.

Support for common land is expected to be delivered by collaborative agreements which will be phased in during the transition period between 2025 and 2029, subject to budget availability.

Ms Whitrow said the Welsh governments current proposals ignored the fact that despite significant investment in facilitation through Commons Development Officers, Glastir Common Agreements were only ever secured on 65% of common land.

She said: "It is clear that collaborative agreements will not be possible in all instances and farmers in this position face the prospect of receiving no support on their common land.

"It is essential that Welsh government addresses these issues before the transition to the new scheme begins.
T-Rex suffered from arthritis.

T-Rex suffered from painful back and knees

Experts have found signs that the dinosaurs were likely to have suffered from pain in their back and knees as they were "blighted by bone diseases".

Fossils demonstrated evidence of fused vertebrae and strange growths on the leg bones of three theropods that were dug up in South America.

This means the prehistoric predators could have been left hobbling in pain, just as afflicted humans do.

Back and hind legs were the main issues for the dinosaurs but they also had bone damage in their jaws and arms.

Study author Dr. Mattia Baiano, from the National University of Rio Negro in Argentina, said: "A large number of the theropod specimens have evidence of some type of malady.

"Damage in weight-bearing bones would hamper the feeding activities or would leave them an easy target for predators."
Reese Witherspoon wants to "settle down" again.

Reese Witherspoon is said to be ready to settle down again

The 47-year-old actress - who was initially married to Ryan Phillippe and has Ava, 24, and 20-year-old Deacon with him - split from talent agent Jim Toth, 53, in 2023 after 12 years together, and now an insider has claimed that she wants to meet "someone special" over the coming months.

The source told this week's edition of Us Weekly: "Reese hasnt been out on too many dates, but shes been set up with a few friends of friends, She is taking things very slowly. In an ideal world, shed love to meet someone special in 2024 and eventually settle down again but for now there's no pressure."

The 'Legally Blonde' star - who has 10-year-old son Tennessee with Jim - recently explained she had been going through a "vulnerable time" following the end of her marriage

She Harper's Bazaar magazine: "Its interesting what happened to me. When I was divorced before, the tabloid media got to tell people how I was feeling or how I was processing, and it felt very out of control.

"To be able to talk to people directly about whats going on in my life and just share it in the way that I share great professional experiences or personal experiences, it feels much more authentic to be able to say things in my own voice and not let somebody else control whats happening. Then, of course, theres speculation, but I cant control that.

"All I can do is be my most honest, forthright self and be vulnerable.

"Its a vulnerable time for me. "I think about how many other people are going through this experience. I dont feel isolated at all. I feel very connected."

The 'Morning Show' actress initially announced the news of her divorce in a joint statement with Jim in March 2023.

They wrote on Instagram: "We have some personal news to share  It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness and mutual respect for everything we have created together."
Russell Brand has labelled the sex assault allegations against him hurtful attacks.

Russell Brand has labelled the sex assault allegations against him hurtful attacks

The 48-year-old comic faced a litany of accusations from different women in September 2023 which were revealed in a joint investigation into his behaviour by Channel 4 and The Sunday Times and The Times newspapers.

He has now used a 45-minute interview on Tucker Carlsons X show to also brand them painful.

Russell said on Wednesday (31.01.24): "Of course, I deny any allegations of the kind that have been advanced and what I have seen is the significance of family and the importance of beliefs that are transcendent of this.

I reject the allegations in the strongest possible terms."

Five women last year came forward to accuse Russell of offences including rape, assault and emotional abuse from 2006 to 2013, with more females since coming forward to level similar allegations at the stand-up comic turned online personality.

Russell previously used a video posted online to deny all wrongdoing and insist all his relationships have been consensual.

He added to Tucker: "I put myself in a vulnerable position by being very promiscuous.

"Attacks like this, accused of what I consider to be the most appalling crimes, is very painful and hurtful. But there are consequences to the foolish way I lived in the past."

Forgetting Sarah Marshall actor Russell, who has three children with his wife Laura Gallagher, 36, also claimed at the time the allegations were originally made his baby son was undergoing heart surgery.

In his wide-ranging chat with sacked Fox News host and right wing provocateur Tucker, 54, Russell  who is said to have made millions from his online content challenging the establishment  also praised controversial figures such as conspiracy theorist David Icke, 71, and far-right radio host Alex Jones, 49, calling them "ahead of the curve".

The chat comes after Russell was interviewed under caution in November in relation to three non-recent alleged sexual offences.

He has now been questioned twice by the Metropolitan Police regarding nine alleged offences, with enquiries ongoing.

A spokesman for the forced said: A man in his 40s attended a police station in south London for a second time on Thursday, December 14, 2023.

"He was interviewed under caution by detectives in relation to further non-recent sexual offences.

The same man previously attended a police station on Thursday, November 16, 2023, for questioning. Inquiries continue.
Take flight with Shamrock Spitfire, a multi-award-winning, gripping World War II feature that chronicles the remarkable true story of Brendan Paddy Finucane  the legendary Irish pilot who became one of the most celebrated fighter aces of the Second World War and youngest Wing Commander in RAF history.

Shamrock Spitfire 101 films

Garnering critical acclaim at festivals, Shamrock Spitfire  from writer-director brothers Dominic and Ian Higgins (7 Days: The Story of Blind Dave Heeley, All That Remains)  gets its UK premiere this March just in time for St. Patricks Day, courtesy of 101 Films.

Brendan Paddy Finucane

The future of Europe hangs by a thread as fierce battles rage in the skies over southern England. With his dreams of being a pilot, Brendan Finucane (Shane ORegan) is one of the first Irish men to enlist in the Royal Air Force  despite the fears of his loving mum (Emily Outred  Johnny English Strikes Again), dad (Eoin Lynch  Poldark) and fiance, Jean (Bethany Billy).

The infamous Battle of Britain is his baptism of fire, the ace takes to the sky with a shamrock painted on the side of his iconic Spitfire and in a show of pure grit and determination, Finucane proves hes a natural-born fighter pilot. Overcoming adversity, he lands victorious and gains the respect he deserves from his officers and battalion.

Its not long before Finucane is given command of the 452 Australian Squadron  a group of young men who need whipping into shape to prepare to fly  and fight  for their country, and under his diligent leadership this Squadron become the stuff of legend

A powerful and poignant tale of courage, camaraderie and the indomitable human spirit, this enthralling feature reminds viewers that even in the darkest of times, heroes emerge.

Fly high with Shamrock Spitfire  the heroic true story of a young man from Ireland who, against all odds, became a symbol of hope and pride, inspiring an entire nation.

Out on DVD & digital 11 March 2024

by Matt Shine for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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Diversifying supply chainsa slow-moving maturation away from excessive concentration in Chinais positive for economic growth in a variety of countries, and bodes well for the resilience of the global trading system against future economic shocks, according to New York City-headquartered multinational financial services firm JPMorgan Chase & Co.

As of late last year, the worlds economies were not rapidly deglobalising, with economic integration and its benefits to corporate profit margins remaining intact, it noted in an insights piece.

Diversifying supply chains is positive for economic growth in many nations, and is good for the global trading system's resilience against future economic shocks, JPMorgan Chase has said. Mexico and Vietnam gained the most from the shift away from China. India and Thailand saw notable gains. Trade rerouting has been more pronounced for Vietnam than Mexico.

Despite expectations of Chinas share of global trade declining, that share is up. The ratio of global trade in goods to global industrial production has also risen, the firm noted.

While Chinas share of US imports declined from 2016 to 2023, those declines were offset by gains made by member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and by India and countries in Latin America.

Mexico and Vietnam stand out as the two top beneficiaries of the shift away from China. India and Thailand also made notable gains.

US imports of tariffed items from China fell by about $70 billion. As that occurred, JPMorgan Chase analysis showed, Vietnam saw the largest percentage gain in exports of tariffed items: a rise of 170 per cent. But Mexico has seen the largest gains in US dollar terms, at more than $153 billion.

Some migration of trade away from China likely would have occurred even without the trade war, the company said, noting that it cannot precisely say to what degree the trade war, the move offshore of low-end manufacturing from China, or the war in Ukraine accounted for other countries export gains to the United States.

But its analysis supports the notion that trade rerouting, i.e, the transshipping of goods through a third country, has been more pronounced for Vietnam than Mexico.

Value-added domestic production has likely driven Mexicos export gains more materially. Reshoring activity in Mexico, however, is unlikely to be a boon for jobs as the share of employment in manufacturing in the country has fallen in recent years, likely because of industrial automation.

JPMorgan Chase expected trade diversification would have produced strong US export share gains for countries in South America. But reasons behind the regions lagging performance include low manufacturing complexity, and poor quality and limited trade infrastructure, it added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
The US government has announced a significant investment in the countrys innovation ecosystems, including a focus on the textile industry, through the National Science Foundations (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines programme. Part of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, this initiative is set to transform various sectors, with a notable emphasis on sustainable textiles.

First lady Jill Biden and NSF director Sethuraman Panchanathan recently highlighted two NSF Regional Innovation Engine awardees in North Carolina, focusing on driving innovation in textile manufacturing. The North Carolina Sustainable Textiles Innovation Engine aims to revolutionise the $90 billion textile industry, advancing technology in textiles and wearable tech, and developing innovative uses for textiles in protection and the medical field.

The US government, through the NSF Regional Innovation Engines programme, is investing in innovation, notably in sustainable textiles. It focuses on North Carolina's textile industry, partnering with various sectors to transform communities and foster new industries. The NSF will award 10 teams across 18 states, with an initial investment of $150 million.

The NSF Regional Innovation Engines will address a range of sectors, including sustainable textiles. These engines will collaborate with private industry, venture capital, governments, educational institutions, labour unions, Tribal communities, and nonprofit organisations to transform communities and regions, fostering new industries and workforces, the US government said in a press release.

The programme aligns with president Bidens economic vision of supporting regional economies and bolstering future industries. It also reflects the governments commitment to leveraging public investment to catalyse private sector investment and job creation in key areas, including sustainable textile manufacturing.

The NSF Engines will award 10 teams spanning 18 states. With a potential NSF investment of nearly $1.6 billion over the next decade, NSF Engines represent one of the single largest broad investments in place-based research and development in the nation's history, as per NSF.

Each NSF Engine will initially receive up to $15 million for two years. NSF's initial $150 million investment in these 10 regions is being matched nearly two to one in commitments from state and local governments, other federal agencies, philanthropy and private industry.

Teams that demonstrate progress toward well-defined milestones could potentially receive up to $160 million each from NSF over 10 years. Beyond the 10 NSF Engines awards, a subset of the semi-finalists and finalists will be invited to pursue NSF Engines Development Awards, with each receiving up to $1 million to further develop their partnerships and model for a future NSF Engines proposal. They will join 44 existing awardees announced in early May 2023.

"The inaugural NSF Engines awards demonstrate our enduring commitment to create opportunity everywhere and enable innovation anywhere," said NSF director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "Through these NSF Engines, NSF aims to expand the frontiers of technology and innovation and spur economic growth across the nation through unprecedented investments in people and partnerships. NSF Engines hold significant promise to elevate and transform entire geographic regions into world-leading hubs of innovation.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
The Story Of Parks Marriage Contract

My Demon

Destined With You

See You In My 19th Life

Tale of the Nine-Tailed

The Legend of the Blue Sea

Moon In the Day

Guardian: The Lonely and Great God

Alchemy of Souls

Embark on a mesmerising adventure into the world of Korean dramas, where storytelling takes a delightful detour into the extraordinary. Among the myriad of narrative tapestries, the "past life connection" trope stands out as a compelling and enchanting thread. K-dramas, renowned for their unique ability to blend genres seamlessly, skillfully interlace the present with echoes from the past. Characters, entwined by the hands of fate, traverse the corridors of time, forging connections that endure across lifetimes.As we delve into the captivating world of K-dramas, the exploration of past lives emerges as a thematic gem, adding a layer of magic to these already spellbinding narratives. In recent times we have seen this trope being used by many of the K-drama writers. Here are some of the Korean drama which has this same trope:The Story of Park's Marriage Contract tells the story of Park Yeon-woo in the 19th century. On her wedding night, tragedy strikes when her husband, revealing a concealed heart condition, passes away. Devastated, she is abruptly kidnapped and thrown into a well. Upon regaining consciousness, she finds herself in present-day Seoul, South Korea. To her surprise, the man who rescues her from a swimming pool is Kang Tae-ha, bearing a striking resemblance to her late 19th-century husband.Kang Tae-ha, the successor of SH Seoul Corporation, maintains a closed-off demeanour due to his own heart condition and past traumas. Prioritizing logic over emotions, he has little interest in romantic relationships. However, driven by his grandfather's dying wish to witness his wedding, Kang Tae Ha proposes a contract marriage to Park Yeon Woo, aiming to fulfil the elderly man's heartfelt desire.My Demon starring Song Kang and Kim Yoo-jung is currently one of the most popular Korean dramas. The show has continued to trend on social media with fans swooning over Song Kang aka Jeong Gu-won and Kim Yoo-jung aka Do Do-hee's chemistry. With just two episodes left to be aired the Korean drama has already revealed the past-life connection between Gu-won and Do-hee who were lovers when our Demon Gu-won was a human. Tragedy imbibed as Gu-won known as Yi-sun belonged to a higher class community who fell in love with courtesan Wolsim (Do-hee) in the Joseon era. But as tragedy strikes Wolsim ends up dying while Yi-sun kills himself and leads to him becoming a Demon.Within the tapestry of a haunted house and the looming shadow of a family curse, the destinies of a Joseon couple, Aeng-cho (Jo Bo-ah) and Jang Mu-jin (Rowoon), are intricately woven into the fabric of time. Guided by the pages of a mysterious spell book and the enchantment of a love spell, their souls find themselves reuniting in the present era. Aeng-cho reincarnates as Hong-jo, a dedicated civil servant, while Jang Mu-jin is reborn as Jang Shin-yu, a lawyer. In the contemporary timeline, the echoes of their past lives reverberate differently. Shin-yu navigates a current relationship with a girlfriend, while Hong-jo harbours a secret crush on the mayor's advisor.In an unexpected turn of events, Hong-jo, driven by the desire to win the heart of her affection, confesses her feelings to Mr. Kwon (Ha Jun), only to face rejection.Undeterred, Hong-jo turns to a love spell, intending to influence the mayor's advisor. Little does she know that fate has a whimsical twist in store for them. Unbeknownst to Hong-jo, Shin-yu inadvertently consumes the love potion, setting the stage for a peculiar and fateful relationship. Now bound by forces beyond their control, Hong-jo and Shin-yu grapple with the irresistible pull of destiny, attempting to resist the inexorable connection that ties their hearts across time and space.Ban Ji-eum, portrayed by Shin Hye-sun, possesses the extraordinary ability to recall her past lives. In her 18th life, she formed a heartwarming connection with a young boy named Seo-ha, played by Jung Hyeon-jun. Tragedy struck at Seo-ha's birthday celebration, leading to Ji-eum's demise, but not before making a promise to reunite with Seo-ha in her next life. Fast forward to the present, where the grown-up Ji-eum, played by Park So-yi, works at Seo-ha's hotel, determined to make him remember their past.Tale of the Nine-Tailed piqued the curiosity of its audience by presenting its protagonist as a male gumiho, a mythical nine-tailed fox traditionally depicted as female in South Korean folklore. Lee Dong Wook assumes the role of a character who exhibits unwavering loyalty, drawing parallels to his earlier portrayal as a grim reaper in Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. The narrative unfolds in modern society, delving into the gumiho's deep-seated emotions for a female drama producer from her past life, and the intricate conflicts he faces with his step-brother. The captivating dynamics between Lee Dong Wook and Jo Bo Ah, along with the bromance featuring Lee Dong Wook and Kim Bum, add an extra layer of intrigue to the storyline, capturing the audience's attention.Legend of the Blue Sea, starring Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Min-ho, draws inspiration from Korean folklore. Rooted in a story crafted by Joseon scholar Yu Mong-in, the drama unfolds around a 16th-century governor who liberates a mermaid, once his childhood companion, from captivity. Their paths cross once more in the present, where the man has transformed into a swindler, and the mermaid navigates the complexities of modern Seoul. In this captivating fantasy, the threads of history and folklore weave seamlessly into a tale of rekindled connections spanning across centuries.Moon In the Day shows Do-ha (Kim Young-dae) from the Goryeo period, cursed to follow the reincarnated versions of his lover, seizes an opportunity when he inherits the face of deceased actor Jun-oh. Determined to break free from his 1500-year curse, Do-ha plans to end the reincarnation cycle by targeting Young-hwa, the present-day counterpart of his beloved Ri-ta (Pyo Ye-jin). As the drama unfolds, the narrative delves into whether this drastic plan is the cure for Do-ha's enduring curse, unravelling a tale of fate, sacrifice, and the timeless bonds that connect souls across the ages.Guardian: The Lonely and Great God takes audiences on an enthralling emotional journey, skillfully blending romance, comedy, fantasy, and melodrama. The narrative revolves around Kim Shin, cursed to eternal life as a Goblin, and his quest to break the curse by finding his destined Goblin bride. The series not only captures hearts through the central romance but also through the poignant love story of the Grim Reaper, the reincarnation of a past cruel king, and Sunny, who was once Kim Shin's sister. Their tragic past, marked by the king's arrogance and greed, resonates with emotions that linger into the present, where they cross paths once more. In this masterfully crafted drama, the intertwining destinies of the characters evoke a rollercoaster of emotions, making the series an unforgettable viewing experience.In this captivating historical romantic K-drama, two star-crossed lovers navigate a tumultuous journey to achieve their elusive happy ending. Set in a fictional town, the narrative is infused with the allure of a forbidden magic spell known as the 'alchemy of souls,' enabling the switching of bodies with heart-wrenching consequences for two young magicians. The first part unfolds the story of Nak-su, a formidable sorceress trapped in the body of the delicate Mu-deok, as she falls in love with Jang Uk, the nobleman's son. Their joy is short-lived, leading to tragedy and a heartbreaking separation, propelling the lovers toward a path of destruction. The second part of this visually stunning K-drama showcases past life connections in a very different and unique manner.
Less than a week after the release of his action-packed film Fighter, Hrithik Roshan is gearing up for his next project. ETimes has learned that the actor is all set to start shooting for the highly-awaited sequel to War in the second week of February.

Having recently showcased his fit and formidable side in Fighter, Roshan has swiftly transitioned into preparation mode for War 2. The actor has already commenced rigorous training for the shoot, with the first schedule planned to take place entirely in Mumbai. A reliable source revealed that Ayan Mukerji, the director of Brahmastra, had previously captured overseas location plates for the film, and currently, a set is being constructed in the city for Hrithik's initial shooting schedule.

The original War, released in 2019 and directed by Siddharth Anand, emerged as a box-office sensation. For the sequel, director Siddharth has handed over the reins to Ayan Mukerji.

Reports suggest that South superstar Jr NTR will play the antagonist opposite Hrithik in War 2, with Hrithik reprising his role as the super-spy. Notably, this film is not just the next instalment in the YRF spy universe but is rumoured to have a direct connection with Salman Khan's Tiger 3 and Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan. It is speculated that War 2 will set the stage for the much-anticipated Tiger vs Pathaan, announced before the sequel.

Sources indicate that War 2 is aiming for a late 2024 release, paving the way for Tiger vs Pathaan, which is currently slated for a 2025 release. The upcoming projects promise an exciting sequence of interconnected stories within the Bollywood spy universe.
Bollywood sensation Tara Sutaria, riding high on the blockbuster success of her recent film 'Apurva,' is making headlines not just for her on-screen brilliance but also for her thoughtful insights on the kind of roles she envisions for her future. Speaking candidly about her evolving career choices, the actress expressed a newfound realization post-'Apurva.'

In a conversation with a renowned magazine, Tara expresses "After my last release, 'Apurva,' I have realized that there needs to be some amount of power in the roles that I am taking on-even if it is a comedic role, it has to offer something substantial," Tara shared. Her statement echoes a broader sentiment within the industry, as female actresses increasingly seek roles that go beyond superficial portrayals.

In the wake of a significant industry-wide reckoning, where female actresses are championing for more substantial roles and pay parity, Tara Sutaria acknowledges the positive shift in the cinematic landscape. "The landscape has changed in cinema today, and I am grateful that we finally have a safe space to have conversations about issues such as pay parity," she stated. Reflecting on the evolving dynamics, Tara emphasized the impact of successful female-driven films in the commercial space, dismantling taboos associated with actresses speaking out against certain norms.

While acknowledging the progress, Tara acknowledges that there is still a long way to go. However, she expresses excitement at being part of an era where conversations about empowerment, diverse roles, and equal opportunities are gaining momentum.
In the timeless words of F. Scott Fitzgerald, 'There are all kinds of love in this world, but never the same love twice.' Love's journey is often marked by twists, turns, and sometimes, heart-wrenching separations. Yet, the beauty lies in the tales of couples who weathered storms, embraced growth, and rediscovered each other against all odds.

Today, let us delve into series that exemplify the profound power of love-a force that not only survives breakups but thrives in the delicate dance of reconciliation. These narratives are a testament to the resilience of the heart and the enduring magic that makes love a force to be reckoned with. Make your pick!

Little Things

Little Things on Netflix shines as a captivating series on estranged couples finding their way back to each other. Created by Dhruv Sehgal, who also leads alongside Mithila Palkar, the romantic comedy paints a realistic picture of Kavya and Dhruv's live-in relationship in Mumbai. Against the backdrop of Kerala's beauty, the couple embarks on a joint tour, delving into the intricacies of their long-distance love. With heartfelt conversations, self-discovery, and contemplations about life, Little Things is a must-watch for those craving genuine storytelling. Stream it on Netflix for a riveting and emotionally resonant journey, celebrating the profound nature of love and reunions.



Kambakht Mohabbat

Kambakht Mohabbat on Pocket FM emerges as an exceptional audio series, weaving a tale where estranged couples rediscover love against the odds. Aditya and Aparna, once deeply in love, navigate the twists of fate that separated them. Despite efforts to ignore each other, destiny keeps intertwining their paths. Unbeknownst to Aditya, Aparna is raising their love child. The poignant question arises: Can this child reignite the lost love that eluded them post-breakup? With a gripping narrative of love, fate, and hidden connections, Kambakht Mohabbat is a must-listen, offering a unique audio experience that unfolds the complexities of rekindling love against all odds.



Mismatched

Mismatched on Netflix is a top-tier series portraying couples reuniting with charm and wit. Based on Sandhya Menon's bestselling book, the rom-com centres on Dimple, an aspiring tech wizard, and Rishi, a traditional romantic, at Aravalli Institute. Starring Prajakta Koli and Rohit Saraf, their love story faces a breakup when Dimple's app gets leaked. The series brilliantly captures the complexities of career choices and love, as Rishi and Dimple navigate their differences. Mismatched is a delightful watch, seamlessly blending romance and realism, making it a standout choice for those rooting for heartfelt reunions. Stream on Netflix for a dose of love and laughter."



Flames

Flames on Prime Video, crafts a compelling narrative around estranged couples finding their way back. Under the direction of Apoorv Singh Karki and Divyanshu Malhotra, this coming-of-age romantic drama unfolds within the corridors of a Delhi tuition centre, where 12th-grade students grapple with academic and emotional challenges. Rajat and Ishita's love story encounters hurdles, from commitment concerns to the complexities of long-distance relationships. Season 2 delves even deeper, unveiling Rajat's mother's discovery of their relationship and Ishita's hidden aspirations for Mumbai University. Flames intricately weaves the threads of career, love, and family, presenting a series that's a must-watch for its heartfelt depiction of rediscovered romance amid the pressures of academia.



Permanent Roommates

Permanent Roommates on Prime Video stands out as one of the best series on estranged couples reuniting. Sumeet Vyas and Nidhi Singh deliver a perfect blend of humour and heart in this comedic gem. The story of commitment-phobic Tanya and eager-to-please Mikesh unfolds with delightful twists and turns. From a surprising proposal to moving in together, their journey through fallout and reconciliation keeps viewers hooked. Tanya's premarital pregnancy adds depth, making their reunion even more poignant. With witty dialogue and unforeseen consequences, Permanent Roommates is a must-watch, offering a refreshing take on love, compromise, and the joy of second chances.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against a drone camera operator, who was recording the Bigg Boss 17 victory celebration of Munawar Faruqui, as per a report by Free Press Journal. A large crowd gathered in Dongri to celebrate Munawar's win. Munawar had also bought his coveted trophy as he stood on the sunroof of his car.

Drone Operator Identified and Approached by the Police

Going by the same report, Munawar Faruqui's fan, identified as Arbaaz Yusuf Khan (26), was first noticed by constable Nitin Shinde, on patrol with PSI Tausif Mulla. The cops reportedly informed the police station after approaching the drone operator, who did not have permission for using drone during the celebration in Mumbai's Dongri. It is also reported that the drone camera was confiscated by the police.

Violation of Mumbai Police Commissioner's Orders

Reportedly, a case has been filed for violating the Mumbai Police Commissioner's orders regarding drone usage, which requires prior permission. Previously, the cops had issued a ban on flying objects, including drone cameras keeping public safety in mind. The only exceptions are for aerial surveillance purposes by cops or under specific permission granted in writing by the deputy commissioner of police.

Munawar's Victory Celebration in Dongri

Comedian Munawar Faruqui became the winner of Bigg Boss 17. He got a grand welcome by thousands of his fans at Dongri in Mumbai. In a video, he was seen opening the sunroof of his car to stand there. A sea of the crowd gathered around his car. He gave a glimpse of his Bigg Boss trophy and was seen lifting it. The reality show winner also gestured at them to cheer for him. His fans shouted, tried to shake his hands, click pictures and greet him. Munawar greeted them with folded hands and thanked them for their support.

Munawar on Winning Bigg Boss 17

Earlier, Munawar had shared a picture with the Bigg Boss 17 host Salman Khan. His post read , "Bohot bohot shukriya janta. Aapke pyaar aur support ke liye aakhir kar trophy Dongri aa hi gayi (A lot of thanks, people. With your love and support, the trophy finally reached Dongri)." He also added, "Special thanks to bade Bhai (big brother) @beingsalmankhan sir for all your guidance We have done it."

In conclusion, the drone operator's actions during Munawar Faruqui's Bigg Boss 17 victory celebration in Dongri led to an FIR being registered against them. The incident highlights the importance of adhering to drone usage regulations enforced by the Mumbai Police Commissioner to ensure public safety. Meanwhile, Munawar's victory in the reality show has been met with an overwhelming response from fans, who gathered in large numbers to celebrate with him.
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 30, 2024) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of new convertible debentures for aggregate gross proceeds of $1.5 million (the "Offering"). Proceeds from the Offering are to be used for general working capital purposes.

Pursuant to the Offering, the Company has issued 1,510 convertible debentures (the "Debentures") at a price of $1,000 per Debenture. The Debentures bear interest at a rate of 7.5%, payable semi-annually on the last day of June and December of each year, commencing on June 30, 2024. The Debentures have an approximately two-year term with the principal amount being due to be repaid in full by the Company on January 31, 2026. The Debentures are unsecured. At any time during the term of the Debentures, a holder may elect to convert the outstanding net principal amount, or any portion thereof, into units at a conversion price of $0.75 per unit. Each unit shall consist of one common share of the Company and one-half of a warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the holder to acquire a common share at an exercise price of $1.05 for a period ending on the maturity date of the Debentures. The issuance of the Debentures, the units and any underlying common shares has been completed on a private placement and prospectus exempt basis such that the issuances shall be exempt from any applicable prospectus and securities registration requirements. The Company as paid a total of $67,750 finder fees and a total of 116,667 finder warrants in connection with the Offering. Each finder warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.75 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.

The Company further reports that it has received Conditional Approval from the TSX-Venture Exchange to increase the maximum offering size from 1,500 Debentures to 2,000 Debentures, with total potential proceeds of $2 million. The Company may close a second tranche of the Debentures at any time before February 9, 2024 for additional proceeds of up to $490,000 (the "Additional Proceeds").

Pursuant to NI 45-102, the Debentures and any underlying units or common shares to be issued upon conversion or exchange of these securities will be subject to a four-month hold period commencing on the closing date of the Offering. Additional hold periods and/or trading or resale restrictions may also apply in the United States. None of these securities have been or will be registered under the United States' Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would require registration or otherwise be unlawful.

# # #

About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.

Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metal resources, extraction, beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for production, growth, and scalability. Ucore's vision and plan is to become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral extraction industry.

Through strategic partnerships, this plan includes disrupting the People's Republic of China's control of the North American REE supply chain through the near-term establishment of a heavy and light rare-earth processing facility in the U.S. State of Louisiana, subsequent Strategic Metal Complexes in Canada and Alaska and the longer-term development of Ucore's 100% controlled Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Heavy REE Project on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, USA.

Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "UCU" and in the United States on the OTC Markets' OTCQX Best Market under the ticker symbol "UURAF."

For further information, please visit www.ucore.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts) that address future business development, technological development and/or acquisition activities (including any related required financings), timelines, events, or developments that the Company is pursuing are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance or results, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

Regarding any disclosure in the press release above about the Offering of the Debentures, the Company has assumed that counterparties may agree to acquire approximately 490 additional Debentures based on the terms described in this press release and that the closing of Additional Proceeds will be accepted by the TSX Venture Exchange. No formal subscription agreements or cash deposits for Additional Proceeds have been received by the Company as at January 30, 2024. For risks and uncertainties regarding the Company and its business generally, see the risk disclosure in the Company's MD&A for Q3 2023 (filed on SEDAR+ on November 20, 2023) (www.SEDARPLUS.ca) as well as the risks described below.

Regarding the disclosure above in the "About Ucore Rare Metals Inc." section, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or retain additional partners and/or suppliers, in addition to Innovation Metals Corp. ("IMC"), as suppliers for Ucore's expected future Strategic Metals Complexes ("SMCs"). Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be found to complete the Demo Plant commissioning and demonstration schedule and also later prepare a new National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report that demonstrates that the Bokan Mountain Rare Earth Element project ("Bokan") is feasible and economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product metals and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer offtake agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be secured to continue the development of the specific engineering plans for the SMCs and their construction. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, without limitation: IMC failing to protect its intellectual property rights in RapidSX; RapidSX failing to demonstrate commercial viability in large commercial-scale applications; Ucore not being able to procure additional key partners or suppliers for the SMCs; Ucore not being able to raise sufficient funds to fund the specific design and construction of the SMCs and/or the continued development of RapidSX; adverse capital-market conditions; unexpected due-diligence findings; the emergence of alternative superior metallurgy and metal-separation technologies; the inability of Ucore and/or IMC to retain its key staff members; a change in the legislation in Louisiana or Alaska and/or in the support expressed by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority ("AIDEA") regarding the development of Bokan; the availability and procurement of any required interim and/or long-term financing that may be required; and general economic, market or business conditions.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined by the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACTS

Mr. Peter Manuel, Ucore Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for the content of this news release and may be contacted at 1.902.482.5214.

For additional information, please contact:

Mark MacDonald

Vice President, Investor Relations

Ucore Rare Metals Inc.

1.902.482.5214

mark@ucore.com

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196268

SOURCE: Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 30, 2024) - Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: DTC) (OTCQB: DTCFF) (FSE: DTC) ("Defence" or the "Company"), one of the leading Canadian biotechnology companies working in the field of immune-oncology, announces the closing of the 1st tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $1.50 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $850,500.00 (the "Closing"). Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant").

Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Share at an exercise price of $2.00 per Share on or before January 30th, 2026 (the "Warrant Expiry Date").

In connection with the Closing, the Company paid a cash finder's fee of $68,040.00 and issued 45,360 finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") to a certain qualified arm's length finder. Each Finder's Warrant is exercisable into one Share at an exercise price of $2.00 per Share on or before the Warrant Expiry Date.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to advance its preclinical and clinical programs, including as previously announced the Phase I clinical trial of Defence's AccuTOX administered intratumorally in patients with stage IIIB to IV melanoma, and for general working capital.

All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from their date of issue in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

The securities being referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States (U.S.) Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the U.S. or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Defence:

Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded biotechnology company working on engineering the next generation vaccines and ADC products using its proprietary platform. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUM technology, which enables precision delivery of vaccine antigens or ADCs in their intact form to target cells. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against catastrophic illness such as cancer and infectious diseases.

For further information:

Sebastien Plouffe, President, CEO and Director

P: (514) 947-2272

Splouffe@defencetherapeutics.com

www.defencetherapeutics.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's intended use of proceeds of the Offering. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Neither the CSE nor its market regulator, as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196242

SOURCE: Defence Therapeutics Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 30, 2024) - iMining Technologies Inc. (TSXV: IMIN) ("iMining"), a leading publicly listed technology company, proudly announces the appointment of Mr. Mirza Baig as the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO) for its innovative subsidiary, AiMining Technologies ("AiMining"). In this pivotal role, Mr. Baig will lead the charge in elevating AI ethics and data safety standards and will chart a course for trustworthy AI development and deployment.

Mr. Baig's extensive background, marked by impactful contributions to AI ethics and data safety, including pioneering work with DARPA in early NLP and OCR within memes, positions him as a strategic leader for AiMining. As the CAIO, Mr. Baig's mission is to fortify AiMining's commitment to building secure and reliable AI systems.

With a wealth of experience as the former Chief Digital Officer, and a trailblazer in implementing GDPR guidelines in a Paris-based enterprise, Mr. Baig is well-equipped to steer AiMining towards the forefront of ethical AI practices. His leadership will extend to spearheading initiatives in AI ethics, privacy, and data safety, ensuring that AiMining's AI systems and products adhere to the highest standards.

Mr. Khurram Shroff, the Chairman and the CEO of iMining, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We are delighted to welcome Mirza as our CAIO. His exceptional expertise in AI ethics and data safety will reinforce AiMining Technologies' dedication to responsible AI development and will shape the trajectory of AI innovation within our organization."

In his new role, Mr. Baig shared his excitement, saying, "It's an honor to join AiMining Technologies as the CAIO. I am eager to contribute my skills to advance the company's mission in responsible AI development. I am looking forward to collaborating with a visionary leader in Mr. Shroff, and the entire AiMining team, to deliver innovative, secure, and ethical AI systems."

Beyond his CAIO responsibilities, Mr. Baig will lead AiMining in achieving ISO/IEC 42001 certification, a critical step in ensuring the highest standards for development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems; these standards are important for ensuring that AI is reliable, fair, transparent, and trustworthy. This international standard will further solidify AiMining's commitment to excellence, fostering efficiency and quality in AI development.

Mr. Baig's appointment as CAIO underscores AiMining's commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI innovation while upholding the highest ethical and safety standards. Mr. Baig's leadership is poised to strengthen AiMining's position as an industry leader in responsible AI innovation and development.

About iMining Technologies Inc.

iMining Technologies Inc. is a publicly listed technology company which together with its subsidiaries acquires, builds, and manages future technology companies in Canada. The Company's industry specific technology businesses provide specialized and innovative solutions in future technologies and serves private sector markets. iMining Technologies Inc. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

About AiMining Technologies Inc.

AiMining Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of iMining Technologies Inc., stands at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation. Comprising a dedicated research arm focused on collaboration with esteemed institutions and a monetization arm geared towards market engagement, AiMining seamlessly integrates into iMining's technology portfolio and is committed to advancing responsible AI development.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Signed "Khurram Shroff"

Khurram Shroff, President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please contact:

iMining Corporate Offices:

Saleem Moosa, CFO and Director

Email: investor@imining.com

Telephone: 1-604-602-4935

Toll Free: 1-866-602-4935

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196275

SOURCE: iMining Technologies Inc.
Women of She ethnic group dress up to welcome Lunar New Year in Zhejiang

Ecns.cn) 15:25, January 31, 2024

Women of She ethnic group in traditional costumes participate in a rehearsal for a local Spring Festival gala at Cangnan County of Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 30, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/Mao Jianjun)

Women of She ethnic group in traditional costumes participate in a bamboo dance for a local Spring Festival gala at Cangnan County of Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 30, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/Mao Jianjun)

Women of She ethnic group in traditional costumes participate in a bamboo dance for a local Spring Festival gala at Cangnan County of Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 30, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/Mao Jianjun)

A woman of She ethnic group in traditional costume participates in a rehearsal for a local Spring Festival gala at Cangnan County of Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 30, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/Mao Jianjun)

Women of She ethnic group in traditional costumes participate in a rehearsal for a local Spring Festival gala at Cangnan County of Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 30, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/Mao Jianjun)

Women of She ethnic group in traditional costumes participate in a bamboo dance for a local Spring Festival gala at Cangnan County of Wenzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 30, 2024. (Photo: China News Service/Mao Jianjun)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 17th, SKYPlay announced that it has signed a business agreement with MetaQ, a specialized blockchain company, to collaborate on business initiatives.

MetaQ is a company that provides services such as blockchain-based online content and token management systems, as well as an NFT platform. Currently, it has secured over 150,000 community members and is actively operating a diverse online and offline ecosystem.

Established in August 2021, MetaQ is developing a platform that utilizes blockchain technology to integrate online content, including games, into offline ecosystems. The MetaQ platform is designed to allow users to earn tokens through various activities and trade NFTs, and has an integrated token management system to manage token transparency.

The recently unveiled token management system, 'Chain Tracker Pro,' designed for blockchain services, is made by the two companies. It enables easy token transfers, NFT minting and attribute management, transaction history inquiries, and provides various token management features, including transaction tracking, exchange-specific and type-specific transaction volume management, and blacklist management.

Richard Chang, CEO of SKYPlay, emphasized that the collaboration, including MetaQ's NFT platform and 'Chain Tracker Pro' in the X2E field, will maximize synergy by collaborating the technologies and expertise of both companies in the rapidly evolving Web3.0 market.

Grace Kim, CEO of MetaQ, stated, "The collaboration with SKYPlay, which possesses diverse games and service expertise, is a crucial partnership for MetaQ in securing content for NFT platforms, solution businesses, and expanding the offline ecosystem."

About SKYPlay

Established in July 2021, SKYPlay is a company that develops blockchain platforms, offering various game services. It is also preparing to launch a personalized AI assistant service. SKYPlay is collaborating with Bitbasel which is based in Miami, USA, and the companies are currently working on Lunaprise, with a plan detailed set to be revealed in the first quarter of this year.

About MetaQ

Established in August 2021, MetaQ is developing a platform that integrates blockchain technology into various online and offline contents. The platform is set to offer users the function to earn tokens and trade NFTs, and develop various offline-connected contents. Collaborating with offline brands such as 'Hollywood' for billiards, 'Teddy Bear House Stadium' for global dolls, and 'META-X' for smart cultural complex, MetaQ aims to introduce a new business model in the yet-to-be-seen era of Web 3.0.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/skyplay-blockchain-solutions-development-through-collaboration-with-metaq-302048658.html
Lack of measurement of environmental and energy performance among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) hampering ability to contribute to the energy transition and tackle climate change

96% of SMB leaders said they do not measure scope 1-3 carbon emissions and 95% do not have data on the level of renewable energy consumption

Less than a third of SMBs have dedicated environmental or sustainability skills on their board of directors or in a company leadership position

YPO will upskill its members on how to measure and report on environmental impact

KIGALI, Rwanda, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Most small and medium-sized business (SMB) leaders say their companies do not measure carbon emissions. This could severely hamper their ability to contribute to tackling climate change, according to new research by YPO , sponsored by EY.

The report from YPO, a global leadership community of chief executives, shows that only 4% of its members surveyed were able to provide data on their companies' direct and indirect emissions (scope 1-3). Only 5% of chief executives surveyed measure the level of their businesses' renewable energy use, so they were not able to report progress on their energy transition.

As environmental regulatory requirements intensify, the research in YPO's inaugural Global Impact Report also highlights a potential lack of resources and understanding of how to report on these issues among SMBs. Less than a third (28%) of business leaders indicated that they have a social and environmental committee on their board of directors, while only 27% reported having a full-time sustainability leadership position.

YPO Global Chairman, Raymond Watt, said:

"Our members are at the core of many economies around the world and want to play their part in tackling the environmental emergency, but currently the majority simply don't have the data and support to do so."

"This inaugural report provides an essential baseline for YPO member businesses to begin benchmarking their environmental impact and to make a positive difference. We are committed to supporting them to effectively measure their energy use and carbon emissions, including exploring technological data and reporting solutions."

"As well as taking concerted company action to help to stem climate change, it will only be a matter of time until regulatory and supply chain requirements make environmental reporting a commercial as well as a climate imperative."

"Although it currently focuses on larger organizations, the regulatory pressure to disclose environmental data is intensifying. This year, thousands of multinationals with businesses in Europe must start reporting their climate impact under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). In the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission is expected to adopt climate disclosure rules."

Orlan Boston, YPO member and Senior Advisory and Global Client Service Partner at EY, said:

"As well as more regulatory requirements, customer pressure on companies to provide environmental, social and governance performance transparency and make progress against it is intensifying."

"Small and medium-business leaders should evaluate the opportunities and risks for their own individual businesses and stakeholders, which will enable them to execute a targeted strategy of improvement."

About YPO

YPO is the global leadership community of more than 35,000 chief executives in 150 countries who are connected by the shared belief that the world needs better leaders and that business can be a driving force for good. Each of our members has achieved significant leadership success at a young age. They lead businesses and organizations that collectively employ more than 22 million people around the globe and generate over USD9 trillion in combined revenue. YPO members come together to learn and exchange ideas to make a difference in the lives, businesses and communities they impact. Visit ypo.org for more.

Data Methodology

The YPO 2023 Global Impact Survey was conducted by YPO via an online questionnaire with support from EY, strategic learning advisor and survey sponsor; Proof, data and technology partner; and Labrador, advisory, writing and design partner. The survey aimed to capture diverse perspectives of business leaders regarding their social, governance and environmental impact. The data collection approach leveraged Proof's data intelligence platform, allowing members to enter, save and update their data during the data collection period. The survey covered the reporting period from 1 January to 30 June 2023 with an open data collection period from July to December 2023, with responses from more than 700 YPO members from 82 countries.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1065220/YPO_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ypo-only-one-in-25-small-and-medium-sized-business-leaders-say-they-measure-company-carbon-emissions-302048677.html
Exterro Assist brings the power of large language models to boost user productivity by enabling users to automate actions, generate data insights, and search precisely, all in natural language.

PORTLAND, Ore. and COIMBATORE, India, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Exterro, a leading data risk management software company, today announced Exterro Assist, an advanced AI assistant for E-discovery, privacy and data governance, forensic investigations, and cybersecurity experts. Boasting a wide range of capabilities, Exterro Assist is embedded within Exterro products, enabling customers to quickly search and retrieve contextually relevant information and automate complex workflows using natural language, increasing productivity by as much as 75%. Exterro Assist will first be available as an add-on to Exterro Legal Hold customers and will soon become available within every module of the Exterro Data Risk Management Platform.

"Exterro has a long record of introducing AI innovations in the E-Discovery field. Once again, we are at the forefront of the industry with the introduction of our generative AI-powered assistant," said Ajith Samuel, Cofounder and Chief Product Officer at Exterro. "Our users may now efficiently complete the majority of their E-discovery tasks and workflows through simple conversational interactions. Exterro Assist is seamlessly embedded with our E-discovery solutions and understands user interactions contextually, not just the literal meaning. Exterro Assist is built with all the necessary guardrails and validations in place to meet the stringent privacy and security requirements that today's data risk management professionals demand."

Exterro Assist offers users of Exterro's Data Risk Management Platform the following benefits:

Productivity Gains: Exterro Assist increases platform-wide productivity by up to 75% by allowing users to quickly and precisely find information, easily create dashboards and reports, get in-product help, and automate complex workflows using natural language commands.

Exterro Assist increases platform-wide productivity by up to 75% by allowing users to quickly and precisely find information, easily create dashboards and reports, get in-product help, and automate complex workflows using natural language commands. Accelerated and Automated Investigations: By providing Exterro Assist with a brief summary of the key elements of the case, teams can use it to drastically reduce data volumes, saving both time and expense.

By providing Exterro Assist with a brief summary of the key elements of the case, teams can use it to drastically reduce data volumes, saving both time and expense. Defensibility: Exterro Assist was designed with interpretability in mind, providing multiple layers of validation so users can understand why the model is returning a given output. In addition, all actions taken using Exterro Assist are automatically documented in a clear audit trail, providing users with full transparency into how it was used and the actions taken.

Exterro Assist was designed with interpretability in mind, providing multiple layers of validation so users can understand why the model is returning a given output. In addition, all actions taken using Exterro Assist are automatically documented in a clear audit trail, providing users with full transparency into how it was used and the actions taken. Enterprise-Grade Guardrails: Exterro security certificates attest to the fact that we maintain the highest security requirements. We ensure every customer's data is isolated, and we provide fine-grain controls to customers over their models.

About Exterro, Inc.

Exterro empowers organizations and law enforcement agencies to achieve better legal, regulatory and investigation outcomes, save money, and minimize the impact of threats by addressing data risk. Its data risk management software is the only comprehensive platform that combines data discovery, automation, workflow optimization, and responsible AI to provide insight into and control over the complex interconnections of privacy, legal operations, digital investigations, cybersecurity response, compliance, and information governance. Thousands of teams around the world in corporations, law firms, managed services providers, and government and law enforcement agencies trust Exterro to manage their risks and drive successful outcomes at a lower cost. For more information, visit www.exterro.com .

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2330784/Exterro_Assist_AI.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/exterro-announces-generative-ai-powered-assistant-for-e-discovery-302048798.html
New report finds that the world averaged 8.4 new social media users per second over the past year

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30, 2024, a global leader in media, social and consumer intelligence, and We Are Social , the socially-led creative agency, have released Digital 2024 , their latest annual report on social media and digital trends worldwide.



In a year full of digital milestones, Digital 2024 shows that active social media user identities* have passed the 5 billion mark (5.04 billion), equivalent to 62.3 percent of the world's population. The global total increased by 266 million over the past year - an annual growth of 5.6 percent.

The typical social media user now spends 2 hours and 23 minutes per day on their social platforms of choice, and uses 6.7 platforms each month. TikTok has the highest average time per Android user of any social platform globally, clocking in at an impressive 34 hours per month - equating to more than an hour per day using the platform. In second place is YouTube, with the average user spending just over 28 hours per month on its Android app.

In terms of the world's 'favorite' social platform, Instagram has taken the crown from last year's winner, WhatsApp. Digital 2024 shows that 16.5 percent of internet users between the ages of 16 and 64 consider Instagram their most loved platform, pushing WhatsApp into second place with 16.1 percent.

Digital 2024 is a 550+ page report that covers data points from across the entire online ecosystem, from social media to smart devices, gaming to social commerce.

Other key highlights from the report include:

The typical internet user now spends 6 hours and 40 minutes online each day - up by 3 minutes per day, or 1 percent, year-on-year.

Facebook - which celebrates its 20th birthday on 4th February - grew its global ad reach by more than 200 million over the past 12 months, delivering year-on-year growth of 10.5 percent.

LinkedIn, Snapchat, WeChat, and Pinterest all reported strong user growth year-on-year.

Digital ad spend grew by 10 percent year-on-year, with almost $720 billion spent on digital ads in 2023. Social ad spend increased by 9.3 percent to USD $207 billion, and investment in influencer activities increased by 17 percent.

The typical internet user now spends 17 minutes per day less watching TV content than they did this time last year - a decline of 8.2 percent year-on-year.

In a rich analysis of TikTok hashtags, Digital 2024 reports that TikToks tagged with fyp (for your page) have amassed a total of 55 trillion views - making it the platform's top hashtag.

Alexandra Saab Bjertns, Chief Strategy Officer at Meltwater, said: "As social media enters its next chapter with five billion-plus users, understanding usage patterns, engagement, and emerging trends is crucial to helping brands find their unique voice amidst all the online chatter. The rise of TikTok, coupled with Instagram's 'favorite' status and the growth of professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, paints a picture of evolving preferences. With so many platform choices, brands need to really understand where their target audience is going for information-and shape compelling narratives that engage them with unparalleled precision and authenticity."

Nathan McDonald, co-founder and group chief executive at We Are Social, commented: "Social media continues to be a vital part of the way we connect with one another, from building communities to researching purchases and everything in between. TikTok's continued popularity has changed the way that people behave online - social is not somewhere where a broadcast approach works for brands, and the importance of thinking social first has never been more important. It's encouraging to see strong growth across multiple social platforms, each offering something different, whether that's Pinterest for social commerce or Facebook for connecting with communities. For marketers, understanding platform nuances - and how to use social media to connect in culturally relevant ways - will be more crucial than ever."

*social media user identities may not represent unique individuals

To view and download the report go to: https://www.meltwater.com/en/global-digital-trends

For more information, please contact:

Kelly Costello

pr@meltwater.com

About Meltwater

Meltwater empowers companies with a suite of solutions that spans media, social, consumer and sales intelligence. By analyzing ~1 billion pieces of content each day and transforming them into vital insights, Meltwater unlocks the competitive edge to drive results. With 27,000 global customers, 50 offices across six continents and 2,300 employees, Meltwater is the industry partner of choice for global brands making an impact. Learn more at meltwater.com.

About We Are Social

We are a global socially-led creative agency, with unrivalled social media expertise. With over 1,300 people in 19 offices around the world, we deliver a global perspective to our clients in a time when social media is shaping culture.

We make ideas worth talking about. We understand social behaviours within online communities, cultures and subcultures, spanning the social and gaming landscape. We work with the world's biggest brands, including Adidas, Samsung, Netflix and Google, to reach the right people in a strategic, relevant and effective way.

We Are Social is part of Plus Company.
Kuros Biosciences AG / Key word(s): Regulatory Admission/Market Launch

Kuros Biosciences Receives US FDA 510K Clearance for MagnetOs Granules for Interbody Use and Regulatory Clearance of MagnetOs Granules and MagnetOs Putty in New Zealand



31.01.2024 / 07:00 CET/CEST





MagnetOs Granules becomes the third product in the MagnetOs portfolio to receive FDA clearance to market for interbody use

Kuros continues expansion of the MagnetOs franchise with launch of MagnetOs Granules and MagnetOs Putty in New Zealand via an exclusive distribution agreement with Vortek Spine Limited, a high-tech orthopedic and biologics company

Schlieren (Zurich), Switzerland, January 31, 2024 - Kuros Biosciences ("Kuros" or "the Company"), a leader in next generation bone graft technologies, today announced clearance of a 510(k) submission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) related to its MagnetOs Granules.

The Company also announced clearance to market in New Zealand for MagnetOs Granules and MagnetOs Putty. The products are now commercially available through Vortek Spine Limited ("Vortek"), a high-tech orthopedic and biologics company specializing in healthcare solutions for surgeons and patients. This further expands the MagnetOs portfolio in terms of application and accessibility.

Earlier in January, Kuros announced the FDA clearance of MagnetOs Easypack Putty for interbody use and MagnetOs Putty for standalone use in the posterolateral spine, meaning it can now be used without the need for autograft (patient's own bone).

"We are very pleased that MagnetOs Granules has received marketing clearance for interbody use given the Granules technology is the foundation of the MagnetOs platform," commented Chris Fair, Chief Executive Officer of Kuros Biosciences. "This clearance, coupled with the MagnetOs Flex Matrix and MagnetOs Easypack Putty formulations, provides our surgeons the widest variety of advanced biologic formulations available for use in the interbody space. We are also very excited to expand our international presence through a partnership with Vortek in New Zealand and to begin working with their team to introduce our clinically proven technology to this territory."

The availability of MagnetOs in New Zealand marks a significant milestone for Kuros and the local medical community since patients can now benefit from an advanced bone graft that improves the overall quality of care in orthopedic and spinal procedures. This benefit was further demonstrated with recent level 1 clinical data in which MagnetOs outperformed the gold standard autograft by 73% in posterior spinal fusion in a difficult-to-treat real life patient population, of which 20% were current smokers.1

About MagnetOs

MagnetOs is a bone graft like no other: thanks to its NeedleGripTM surface technology, it grows bone even in soft tissues.* This surface technology provides traction for our body's vitally important 'pro-healing' immune cells (M2 macrophages).2,3 This in turn, unlocks previously untapped potential to stimulate stem cells - and form new bone throughout the graft.4-7 The growing body of science behind NeedleGripTM is called osteoimmunology. But for surgeons and their patients it means one thing: a more predictable fusion.6,7

U.S. Indications Statement

MagnetOs Granules is an implant intended to fill bony voids or gaps of the skeletal system, i.e., the extremities, pelvis, intervertebral disc space, and posterolateral spine. These osseous defects may be surgically created or the result of traumatic injury to the bone and are not intrinsic to the stability of the bony structure. When used in posterolateral spine, extremities and pelvis, MagnetOs Granules may be used standalone or mixed with autograft, blood, and/or bone marrow. When used in intervertebral body fusion procedures, MagnetOs Granules must be used with an intervertebral body fusion device cleared by FDA for use with a bone void filler and hydrated with blood. MagnetOs Granules may also be mixed with autograft. MagnetOs Granules resorbs and is replaced with bone during the healing process.

MagnetOs Putty is an implant intended to fill bony voids or gaps of the skeletal system i.e., the extremities, pelvis and posterolateral spine. MagnetOs Putty may be used standalone or mixed with autograft. These osseous defects may be surgically created or the result of traumatic injury to the bone and are not intrinsic to the stability of the bony structure. MagnetOs Putty resorbs and is replaced with bone during the healing process.

MagnetOs Easypack Putty is intended to filly bony voids or gaps of the skeletal system, i.e., the intervertebral disc space, and posterolateral spine. The osseous defects may be surgically created or the result of traumatic injury to the bone and are not intrinsic to the stability of the bony structure. In the intervertebral disc space and posterolateral spine, MagnetOs Easypack Putty must be used with autograft as a bone extender. When used in intervertebral body fusion procedures, MagnetOs Easypack Putty must also be used with an intervertebral body fusion device cleared by FDA for use with a bone void filler. MagnetOs Easypack Putty resorbs and is replaced with bone during the healing process.

MagnetOs Flex Matrix is intended to fill bony voids or gaps of the skeletal system, i.e., the intervertebral disc space, and posterolateral spine. The osseous defects may be surgically created or the result of traumatic injury to the bone and are not intrinsic to the stability of the bony structure. In the intervertebral disc space and posterolateral spine, MagnetOs Flex Matrix must be hydrated with bone marrow aspirate (BMA) and used as an extender to autograft bone. When used in interverterbral body fusion procedures, MagnetOs Flex Matrix must also be used with an intervertebral body fusion device cleared by FDA for use with a bone void filler. MagnetOs Flex Matrix resorbs and is replaced with bone during the healing process.

For further information, please contact:

Kuros Biosciences AG

Daniel Geiger

Chief Financial Officer

t: +41 44 733 47 47

e: daniel.geiger@kurosbio.com LifeSci Advisors

Sandya von der Weid

Investor Relations

t: +41 78 680 0538

e: svonderweid@lifesciadvisors.com

About Kuros Biosciences

Kuros Biosciences is a fast-growing leader in the development of spinal fusion biologics that ease the burden of back pain. With locations in the United States, Switzerland and the Netherlands, the company is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The company's first commercial product, MagnetOs, is a unique advanced bone graft that has already been used successfully across three continents and in over 25,000 fusion surgeries.

Forward Looking Statements

This media release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You are urged to consider statements that include the words "will" or "expect" or the negative of those words or other similar words to be uncertain and forward-looking. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements include scientific, business, economic and financial factors, Against the background of these uncertainties, readers should not rely on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no responsibility for updating forward-looking statements or adapting them to future events or developments.

1. Data on file. MaxA. Autograft in a Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized, Intra-patient Controlled Trial. P2016;117(7):1511-1521.

2. Duan, et al. eCM. 2019;37:60-73

3. Van Dijk, et al. eCM. 2021;41:756-73

4. Van Dijk, et al. JOR Spine. 2018;e1039

5. Van Dijk, et al. J Biomed Mater Res. Part B: Appl Biomater. 2019;107(6):2080-2090

6. Van Dijk, et al. Clin Spine Surg. 2020;33(6):E276-E287

7. Data on file

*In large animal models

Results from in vivo laboratory testing may not be predictive of clinical experience in humans.

For important safety and intended use information please visit kurosbio.com

MagnetOs is not cleared by the FDA or TGA as an osteoinductive bone graft

For a 510(k)-cleared synthetic bone graft

MagnetOs has been proven to generate more predictable fusions than two commercially available alternatives in an ovine model of posterolateral fusion.

End of Media Release


Union City, California--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - XTEN-AV LLC, a leading Pro AV (Professional Audio-Visual) design and proposal software provider, announces receiving a minority investment from Resideo Technologies, Inc. This investment is a significant milestone for XTEN-AV and sets the stage for expanded growth across the Pro AV industry.

Resideo Technologies, Inc. is a leading global manufacturer and developer of technology-driven products that provide critical comfort, energy management, and safety and security solutions. They are also a leading global distributor of security, life safety, AV, and low-voltage products through its ADI Global Distribution business.

XTEN-AV is a cloud-based AV design & proposal software platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to develop audio-visual system designs and streamline proposal processes. This collaborative software platform automates the design and documentation of AV projects according to user specifications and details.

"We continue to see Pro AV as a growth category, and we're investing in technology to help drive the industry forward," mentions Stu Tisdale, SVP and Chief Experience Officer, ADI Global Distribution. "We recognize the value XTEN-AV's platform delivers, and we're excited to support them in advancing their software platform and helping deliver greater impact to customers."

XTEN-AV's cloud-based solution integrates innovative design and drawing tools with powerful proposal software. The platform's device and personnel-agnostic approach ensures that critical project data is readily accessible, fostering collaboration and enhancing project management. The platform holds a utility patent for its drawings automation technology, reinforcing its position in the Pro AV software landscape.

For XTEN-AV, the recent investment opportunities will fuel the company's plans for product development and support its goal to expand its user base further.

"We are excited about the support from Resideo and ADI, as it enables us to reach a broader audience globally," said Vibhav Singh and Sahil Dhingra, co-founders of XTEN-AV. "This strategic investment not only strengthens our position in the market but also signifies a shared vision of advancing the Pro AV industry through innovation and efficiency."

About XTEN-AV

XTEN-AV is a cloud-based software platform committed to transforming project design and steering integrators and designers away from traditional methods and towards more innovative, streamlined AV presentations. With its technology, it evaluates the specific needs of each project, suggests optimal products, and rapidly generates automated wiring diagrams, comprehensive bills of materials, and tailored proposals for end customers, increasing productivity tenfold.

The platform's integrated CRM and advanced analytical dashboard are designed to streamline workflows from ideation to final pitches, helping users create winning proposals and facilitating seamless collaboration.

Contact Details:

Contact Person's Name: Vibhav Singh

Position: Founder and CEO

Company Name: XTEN-AV LLC

Company website: https://xtenav.com/

Contact Email Address: info@xtenav.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/195827

SOURCE: Baden Bower
Alaa Badawi joins as Associate Partner for Sustainability at Instinctif Partners MENA

DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Instinctif Partners, a leading EMEA communications consultancy, is reinforcing its commitment to sustainability with the strategic appointment of Alaa Badawi as Associate Partner in Sustainability at Instinctif Partners MENA.

Joining from Ernst and Young MENA, he is set to play a pivotal role in growing our existing capabilities in the sustainability space. He will support and advise clients on navigating their sustainability journeys at this interesting time in the region, with ongoing traction from COP28, stock exchanges mandating ESG disclosures, and countries committing to their sustainable development.

In a strategic move, Alaa will integrate sustainability best practices into Instinctif's key sectors, collaborating closely with the Investor Relations, Corporate Communications, Public Policy and Corporate Reporting teams. His strong regional expertise will contribute to aligning sustainability goals with overall business strategies.

Samantha Bartel, MENA CEO and Managing Partner at Instinctif Partners MENA, said, "Alaa's appointment is a strategic move for us to ensure we continue providing the best advisory services for our listed clients as well as growth companies seeking sustainable business solutions in the MENA region. Alaa's experience and passion for sustainable practices make him a valuable addition to our team."

A Mechanical Engineering graduate from Lebanese American University (LAU) and a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) accredited by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), Alaa brings extensive regional experience spanning Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Lebanon, and India. His most recent role was a Senior Consultant with Ernst and Young (EY).

Reflecting on his new role, Alaa Badawi stated, "This is an exciting time to join Instinctif Partners MENA to support our impressive client base in articulating and achieving their sustainability ambitions. With all the progress and commitments in the region, I am looking forward to scaling up our sustainability advisory service in the pursuit of building new and better growth paths for Instinctif Partners MENA. I'm excited to be a part of a team where I can see a clear regional and global commitment from leadership to drive the agenda and help develop a sustainable future."

Helen Dodd, Head of Reinventing Responsibility at Instinctif Partners said; "Alaa's appointment reflects our deep commitment to helping our clients deliver positive social, environmental, and commercial impact in the MENA region and beyond. He brings a wealth of knowledge and best practice to help businesses navigate the rapidly changing ESG landscape and to put people and the planet at the centre of their strategies."

Instinctif Partners MENA is confident that Alaa Badawi's appointment will not only strengthen the firm's position as a leader in sustainability consulting but also contribute to the integration of sustainable business practices across multiple teams.

About Instinctif Partners

Instinctif Partners is an EMEA business communications consultancy. As partners in change, we help navigate societies' constantly changing rules. We provide an integrated service drawing on expertise in communications, capital markets, content & design, digital, insight, public affairs and sustainability. Our aim is to build trust through transparency and honesty, so that together with our clients, we can be a force for good.

For more information:

Sally Jaroudy

Mobile: +971 52 146 7090

Email: sally.jaroudy@instinctif.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2329951/Instinctif_Partners.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/instinctif-partners-strengthens-sustainability-practice-in-mena-with-key-appointment-302047888.html
Ad hoc announcement pursuant to art. 53 SIX Swiss Exchange Listing Rules

MEDIA RELEASE

Tyruko approved for all indications of reference medicine



Tyruko biosimilar to treat adults with highly active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)

Launch strengthens well-established Sandoz biosimilar portfolio in Europe

Basel, January 31, 2024 - Sandoz, the global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, today announces the launch of Tyruko (natalizumab) in Germany from February 1. Developed by Polpharma Biologics, Tyruko is the first and only biosimilar to treat RRMS.

Tyruko is indicated as a single disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in adults with highly active RRMS.1 This is the same indication as approved by the European Commission for reference medicine Tysabri*.2

Rebecca Guntern, President Europe, Sandoz, said: "Early treatment with disease-modifying therapies can have a significant impact on people living with multiple sclerosis and their potential future disabilities. As the first and only biosimilar in this space, the availability of Tyruko is a crucial milestone in improving access to effective and safe therapies for those in Europe that need them most."

Access to novel high efficacy DMTs remains restricted with only roughly 20% of people living with MS in Europe able to make use of these innovative treatments. This number is significantly lower in Eastern European countries, roughly 3% to 4%.3 This highlights that more must be done to ensure early and unrestricted access to these crucial medicines so that irreversible neurological damage and disease progression can be delayed.3

Sandoz entered into a global commercialization agreement for biosimilar natalizumab with Polpharma Biologics in 2019. Under this agreement, Polpharma Biologics will maintain responsibility for development of medicine, manufacturing and supply of drug substance. Through an exclusive global license, Sandoz has the rights to commercialize and distribute it in all markets.

Sandoz is committed to helping millions of patients access critical and potentially life-changing biologic medicines sustainably and affordably across a range of areas including immunology, oncology, supportive care, endocrinology and now also neurology. It has a leading global portfolio with nine marketed biosimilars and a further 24 assets in various stages of development. Since launching the first biosimilar in Europe in 2006, Sandoz has helped to create early and expanded patient access to life-altering medicines while improving healthcare through savings and creating competition that fuels further innovation.

About Tyruko (natalizumab)

Tyruko has been developed by Polpharma Biologics to match the reference medicine (Tysabri*), an established, highly effective anti-a4 integrin monoclonal antibody. Tyruko is indicated in the EU as a single DMT in adults with highly active RRMS.1

Disclaimer

This Media Release contains forward-looking statements, which offer no guarantee with regard to future performance. These statements are made on the basis of management's views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance at the time the statements are made. They are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not confined to, future global economic conditions, exchange rates, legal provisions, market conditions, activities by competitors and other factors outside of the control of Sandoz. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those forecasted or expected. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and Sandoz undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

References

1. EMA. Tyruko EPAR Product Information. Available from: www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/tyruko-epar-product-information_en.pdf [Accessed October 2023]

2. EMA. Tysabri EPAR Product Information. Available from: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/tysabri-epar-product-information_en.pdf [Accessed October 2023]

3. Filippi, M et al. Early and unrestricted access to high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies: a consensus to optimize benefits for people living with multiple sclerosis, J Neurol. 2022; 269(3): 1670-1677. doi:10.1007/s00415-021-10836-8.

* Tysabri is a registered trademark of Biogen MA, Inc.

About Sandoz

Sandoz (SIX: SDZ; OTCQX: SDZNY) is the global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, with a growth strategy driven by its Purpose: pioneering access for patients. 22,000 people of more than 100 nationalities work together to bring Sandoz medicines to some 500 million patients worldwide, generating substantial global healthcare savings and an even larger total social impact. Its leading portfolio of more than 1500 products addresses diseases from the common cold to cancer. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Sandoz traces its heritage back to the year 1886. Its history of breakthroughs includes Calcium Sandoz in 1929, the world's first oral penicillin in 1951, and the world's first biosimilar in 2006. In 2022, Sandoz achieved sales of USD 9.1 billion and core EBITDA of USD 1.9 billion.

Global Media Relations contacts Investor Relations contacts Global.MediaRelations@sandoz.com Investor.Relations@sandoz.com Joerg E. Allgaeuer

+49 171 838 4838 Karen M. King

+1 609 722 0982 Chris Lewis

+49 174 244 9501 Laurent de Weck

+41 79 795 7364

Attachment
Annual revenues reached 1.3m in 2023, x2 compared with 2022

Signing of a 10-year offtake contract for bulk hydrogen in France for HYmpulsion, for c. 600 tonnes per year

Buleon and Bessieres sites inaugurated in December 2023

Construction has begun on three new production sites in Germany in Brake and in France in Sorigny and Croixrault

Commercial pipeline at end 2023 totaling 9.9 GW of installed electrolysis capacity

Reinforced financing strategy, supported by the signing at end 2023 of the first corporate syndicated loan for 28m and by 82m of subsidies secured at end of 2023

Nantes (France) - 31 January 2024 - 7:00 am - Lhyfe (Euronext Paris - FR0014009YQ1 - LHYFE), one of the world's pioneers in the production of green and renewable hydrogen to decarbonize industry and mobility, presents the highlights of the 2nd half of the year 2023 and gives an update on its development and on the advancement of the company's projects at the end of the year.

Revenue in 2023: x2.2 compared to 2022

In 2023 Lhyfe has more than doubled its revenue to 1.3 million[1], compared with 0.6 million in 2022.

This performance reflects the ramp-up of the Bouin production unit and the expansion of the portfolio of customers, following the signing of new green hydrogen sales contracts.

Over the second half of the year, Lhyfe continued to consolidate its customer portfolio in France and also began to build up its German portfolio with the first customers delivered in Germany.

To meet the growing customer demand in the region, the increase in production capacity at the Bouin site was initiated (authorisation and equipment orders). The current installed production capacity of 1 MW will be increased to 2.5 MW (i.e. a maximum of 1 tonne of green hydrogen per day) in 2024. The on-site storage capacity, currently around 700 kg, will be increased to almost 5 tonnes.

Progress of our sites in "Construction" stage

France: inauguration of 2 sites, Lhyfe Occitanie (Bessieres) and Lhyfe Bretagne (Buleon)

In December 2023, Lhyfe successively inaugurated its Lhyfe Occitanie production unit in Bessieres

and Lhyfe Bretagne unit in Buleon (in Brittany). These sites, which will produce each up to 2 tonnes of green hydrogen per day (i.e. an installed electrolysis capacity of 5 MW per site), are the largest green and renewable hydrogen production sites in France.Both sites have been developed using the new "containerised" format, which reduces the required footprint and makes it easier to scale up capacity. Progressive commercial start-up should take place in the coming months.

France: two new bulk sites in "construction phase" in Croixrault and Sorigny

In Croixrault, in the Hauts-de-France region, Lhyfe has obtained all the necessary permits and authorisations to launch the construction of a production unit aimed at producing up to 2 tonnes of green hydrogen per day (i.e. an installed electrolysis capacity of 5 MW) to supply local uses in mobility and industry. This production unit, the first in the Hauts-de-France region to make renewable hydrogen available to a wide market, is located on the Mine d'Or industrial area, alongside the A29 motorway.

At Sorigny in Touraine, as part of the Hy'Touraine project, Lhyfe is also building a unit to produce up to 2 tonnes of green hydrogen a day (representing an installed electrolysis capacity of 5 MW) to supply local mobility and industrial uses.

Germany: construction ongoing at the Schwabisch Gmund bulk site and launch of construction of the new Brake bulk site

In Schwabisch Gmund, construction of Lhyfe's production unit (up to 4 tonnes of green hydrogen a day representing an installed electrolysis capacity of 10 MW) began in the second half of 2023 and is continuing in 2024.

In Brake, in Lower Saxony, Lhyfe is launching the construction of a production unit to produce up to 4 tonnes of green hydrogen per day (representing an installed electrolysis capacity of 10 MW) to supply local mobility and industrial uses. This production unit, located in the harbour area of Niedersachsen Ports (NPorts), Germany's largest public seaport operator, will be the first in the northern German region to make bulk green hydrogen available to the wider market. The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on 1 February 2024.

Unprecedented advances in offshore green hydrogen production

After 14 months of testing, including in particularly tough conditions, the Sealhyfe platform was brought back to the dock in Saint-Nazaire with a wealth of insights that are already benefiting Lhyfe's onshore and offshore projects.

The results of this experiment are already being incorporated into the HOPE project, which represents the second stage in Lhyfe's offshore ambitions by changing scale and aiming to commercialise green hydrogen produced offshore. This 10 MW project will be able to produce up to 4 tonnes per day of green hydrogen at sea, which will be exported ashore by pipeline, and then compressed and delivered to customers.

On a larger scale, Lhyfe, CIP, the world's largest dedicated fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments, and Flexens, jointly launched in November 2023 the Aland Energy Island project to develop hydrogen production on the Aland Islands in Finland, integrated with the installation of gigawatt scale offshore wind.

Securing renewable electricity supplies: three CPPAs signed in recent months

Lhyfe has further reinforced its network of renewable electricity supplier partners while securing a long-term supply of green electricity for the development of its future sites. In the 2nd half of 2023, Lhyfe signed two long-term CPPAs (Corporate Power Purchase Agreement) with renewable electricity producers in France (VSB energie nouvelles for 16 years, Kallista Energy for 15 years) and more recently, in January 2024, Lhyfe also secured its supply of renewable electricity in Germany through the signature of a

15-year CPPA with EDPR.

These CPPAs enable Lhyfe to secure long-term access to renewable electricity and to guarantee competitive sales conditions for renewable hydrogen, fully in line with European directives and the qualification of RFNBO (Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin).

Commercial pipeline at the end of 2023: 9.9 GW of installed electrolysis capacity

At the end of 2023, Lhyfe's commercial pipeline[2] represented a total installed electrolysis capacity of 9.9 GW (versus 9.8 GW in December 2023). Supported since 2022 by the RepowerEU European energy independence plan, this portfolio of projects is dynamically managed by Lhyfe's teams, who work to transform and mature each project.

Within this commercial portfolio, projects at an advanced stage of development[3] represented a total installed generation capacity of 564 MW at the end of the year (vs. 759 MW at end of Dec. 2022).

During the 2nd half of 2023, Lhyfe's teams have continued to work on the development of bulk, on-site and backbone sites projects, with significant milestones achieved during the period for several of them[4]:

Securing land for the backbone project in Lubmin, Germany (up to 330 tonnes per day)

Winning the call for proposal launched by Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port for the development of a green hydrogen on-site production unit (up to 85 tonnes per day) to decarbonise the industrial port complex and maritime transport

Securing land for the Fonderies du Poitou on-site project (up to 40 tonnes per day), alongside its partner TSE

Securing a 14m grant for the Vallmoll bulk project (up to 5 tonnes per day), Lhyfe's first project in Spain

Winning the call for proposal launched by the town of Bussy-Saint-Georges alongside its partner Thevenin & Ducrot (AVIA) for the construction of a green and renewable hydrogen bulk production site (up to 2 tonnes per day) and a multi-energy filling station

Signing of a 10-year green and renewable hydrogen offtake contract with HYmpulsion to supply 7 hydrogen stations in the Alps, from a bulk production site to be built in Le Cheylas (Isere).

Strengthening the financing strategy

82 million in grants secured to date

In the 2nd half of 2023, Lhyfe continued to increase the amount of secured grants[5] intended to finance research activities as well as production sites under construction or in development, as part of competitive national and European calls for projects. At 31 December 2023, secured grants totaled 81.9m.

28 million in new financing

In December 2023 Lhyfe close an inaugural 28m syndicated loan[6] with its banking partners, strengthening its financial resources to support its development, diversify its sources of funding and strengthen its balance sheet. This financing package, with maturities of between 5 and 15 years, is a first for a pure player in the renewable hydrogen sector. It is a strong testimony of the trust and support by Lhyfe's banking partners in the roll-out of its industrial strategy.

Financial calendar

Date Release Thursday 28 March 2024 FY 2023 results (audited) Thursday 23 May 2024 General Meeting

About Lhyfe

Lhyfe is a European group dedicated to the energy transition, and a producer and supplier of green and renewable hydrogen. Its production sites and portfolio of projects aim to provide access to green and renewable hydrogen in industrial quantities, and to enter into a virtuous energy model allowing the decarbonization of entire sectors of industry and mobility.

In 2021, Lhyfe inaugurated the world's first industrial green hydrogen production site in direct connection with a wind farm. In 2022, Lhyfe inaugurated the world's first pilot platform for green hydrogen production at sea.

Lhyfe is present in 12 European countries and has 195 employees at the end of 2023. The company is listed on the Euronext market in Paris (ISIN: FR0014009YQ1 - mnemonic: LHYFE).

Lhyfe.com

Contacts

Lhyfe - Investor relations

LHYFE

Yoann Nguyen

investors@lhyfe.com Lhyfe - Financial press relations

ACTUS

Manon Clairet

+33 (0)1 53 67 36 73

mclairet@actus.fr Lhyfe - Business press relations

Nouvelles Graines

Clemence Rebours

+33 (0)6 60 57 76 43

c.rebours@nouvelles-graines.com

[1] Non audited figure

[2] The commercial pipeline does not include offshore projects

[3] Projects in "Tender ready", "Awarded, or "Construction" phases. The definitions of these phases are detailed in Section 10.1 of the Registration Document approved by the AMF on 25 April 2023 and available on Lhyfe's website

[4] More details on each of the announced projects are available on https://www.lhyfe.com/investors/financial-press-releases/

[5] Including signed grants and grants currently under contractualization process

[6] Bank financing package consisting of a green syndicated bank loan and two financing lines

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LifeArc makes multi-million pound investment to support drug discovery in sub-Saharan Africa

LifeArc and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are jointly investing 6 million ($7.2m) to enhance drug discovery capabilities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Funding aims to support drug discovery projects led by African scientists including a potential treatment for malaria and a new approach to target tuberculosis.

The programme also addresses challenges in global research equity and seeks to foster innovation and strengthen translational research capabilities in Africa.

Under this partnership, LifeArc and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will co-manage five drug discovery projects over 3-5 years.

31 January 2024, London

LifeArc, the self-funded, non-profit medical research organisation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are jointly investing 6 million ($7.2m) in the Grand Challenges African Drug Discovery Accelerator (GC ADDA) programme, a collaboration that will support five African drug discovery projects over 3-5 years.

Launched in 2018, the Grand Challenges Africa Drug Discovery programme was developed to identify and support exciting new drug discovery projects in Africa, strengthen the continent's drug discovery capabilities and create a project-driven virtual African drug discovery network.

In this second phase, LifeArc and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will each invest 3 million to support the next wave of pan-African consortium projects, building on the capabilities strengthened in phase one.

Funded projects include research into new treatment approaches for malaria - a disease which continues to disproportionately impact Africa, responsible for more than 500,000 deaths in the region1 - and a new approach to treating tuberculosis (TB), which is now the most lethal infectious disease globally. All projects are underpinned by a commitment to build and retain drug discovery capacity and world-class scientists within Africa.

Dr Mike Strange, Head of Global Health, LifeArc, commented: "Fostering innovation in infectious diseases in Africa is an important element of our Global Health strategy at LifeArc. Co-funding this programme with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the ideal opportunity to support local scientific communities to focus on the areas they know, from experience, are the most urgent and unmet needs. This programme, dedicated to promoting Africa-led scientific innovations, also provides an opportunity to support and strengthen Africa's translational research capabilities well into the future."

The five drug discovery projects in the Grand Challenges Africa Drug Discovery Accelerator programme:

Supporting the Grand Challenges African Drug Discovery Accelerator (GC ADDA) - led by the H3D Foundation - Established to position Africa as a global player in innovative pharmaceutical R&D by strengthening infrastructure and the skills of scientists in Africa, the H3D Foundation and H3D Centre, University of Cape Town, have been the key strategic and technical partner for the Grand Challenges Africa Drug Discovery projects since inception. H3D Foundation will lead the formation of the GC ADDA network, which will work together to attract increased investment and strengthen the research infrastructure. The network will provide a framework for greater collaboration, shared training initiatives, and increased community engagement and public outreach. The other four projects will also receive technical support and training from the H3D Foundation and H3D Centre.





- - Established to position Africa as a global player in innovative pharmaceutical R&D by strengthening infrastructure and the skills of scientists in Africa, the H3D Foundation and H3D Centre, University of Cape Town, have been the key strategic and technical partner for the Grand Challenges Africa Drug Discovery projects since inception. H3D Foundation will lead the formation of the GC ADDA network, which will work together to attract increased investment and strengthen the research infrastructure. The network will provide a framework for greater collaboration, shared training initiatives, and increased community engagement and public outreach. The other four projects will also receive technical support and training from the H3D Foundation and H3D Centre. Pursuing targeted protein degradation for antituberculosis drug development - Professor Erick Strauss, Stellenbosch University - Researchers hope to overcome some of the challenges posed by current TB treatment approaches, which use small molecule drugs to inhibit the activity of essential proteins. Instead, they want to use proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which degrade proteins, instead of inhibiting them. Recent work that has shown this kind of targeted protein degradation (TPD) could be a viable strategy for developing a new strategy to treat TB.





Researchers hope to overcome some of the challenges posed by current TB treatment approaches, which use small molecule drugs to inhibit the activity of essential proteins. Instead, they want to use proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which degrade proteins, instead of inhibiting them. Recent work that has shown this kind of targeted protein degradation (TPD) could be a viable strategy for developing a new strategy to treat TB. Discovery of novel antimalarial lead candidates in Africa - Dr Richard Amewu, University of Ghana and Prof Lyn-Marie Birkkholtz, University of Pretoria - Current malaria treatments target the parasite, usually during the development phase, but resistance development means they have a finite lifespan. They also do not typically block transmission. Researchers across the continent will focus on developing multistage-targeting drugs that have the added advantage of blocking transmission to support malaria elimination and eradication.





- Current malaria treatments target the parasite, usually during the development phase, but resistance development means they have a finite lifespan. They also do not typically block transmission. Researchers across the continent will focus on developing multistage-targeting drugs that have the added advantage of blocking transmission to support malaria elimination and eradication. Pan Africa DMPK (Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics) Center of Excellence - Professor Collen Masimirembwa, African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology - A core discipline in drug development, DMPK helps to identify drugs likely to be suitable for further development by considering how they are metabolised and processed by the body. A team at the African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology in Zimbabwe aims to establish a Pan Africa DMPK Centre of Excellence by forming a sustainable research network focused on DPMK with increased visibility among African researchers.





- - A core discipline in drug development, DMPK helps to identify drugs likely to be suitable for further development by considering how they are metabolised and processed by the body. A team at the African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology in Zimbabwe aims to establish a Pan Africa DMPK Centre of Excellence by forming a sustainable research network focused on DPMK with increased visibility among African researchers. African-derived Natural Product Box (AdNPB)Dr Fidele Ntie-Kang, University of Buea - Traditional medicinal practices have a profound influence on the daily lives of people living in Africa and natural products are often regarded as sources of drugs or a source of inspiration for the discovery of new therapies. Researchers at the University of Buea in Cameroon are creating a set of 400 natural products found in Africa for screening against a range of diseases including TB, neglected tropical diseases, viral diseases and malaria.





Dr Susan Winks, H3D Foundation, said: "This investment from LifeArc and BMGF represents an inflection point for the nascent drug discovery research community in Africa. Following the example set by the H3D Centre, University of Cape Town, we are ready to accelerate our efforts across the continent and establish a strong innovation ecosystem, with regional hubs of drug discovery excellence."

Professor Erick Strauss, Stellenbosch University in South Africa, who is leading a project exploring a new approach to finding treatments for TB, said: "This is a game changer for antimicrobial drug discovery in Africa. It allows participating researchers to focus their attention on a single problem, and to grow their skills and global research footprint in this field. It also empowers the collaboration of multiple groups from different countries on the continent. This will fast-track the establishment of new African centres of excellence in drug discovery. We are excited about the prospects of this funding unlocking new and innovative solutions for alleviating the burden of tuberculosis and malaria in Africa."

Dr Richard Amewu, University of Ghana, who will lead the discovery of new antimalarial treatments, said: "This funding is building the critical infrastructure and human capacity for drug discovery research in Ghana and builds directly on the current malaria project, supporting the development of a drug discovery hub in Ghana. Africa is disproportionally affected by most diseases, including malaria, and investments like this enable us to contribute to the global efforts in addressing the health needs of Africans. I hope this project will deliver an early lead for progression in drug discovery while building capacity that can be transferred to other diseases and support drug discovery research in sub-Saharan Africa. It also enables scientists across the continent to join forces, integrating expertise and pooling resources towards finding innovative solutions to treat diseases that are predominant in Africa." Prof Lyn-Marie Birkholtz, University of Pretoria in South Africa, who is co-leading the malaria project, states that this project is critical to contribute to malaria elimination on the continent.

References

World Health Organization Regional data and trends: World malaria report 2022 https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/WHO-UCN-GMP-2022.08 (https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/WHO-UCN-GMP-2022.08)





For further press information please contact:

Andrew Stewart

Director of Communications at LifeArc



Andrew.stewart@lifearc.org

07970293826

Notes to editors

About LifeArc

LifeArc is a self-funded, not-for-profit medical research organisation and charity. We take science ideas out of the lab and help turn them into medical breakthroughs that can be life-changing for patients. We have been doing this for more than 25 years and our work has resulted in five licensed medicines, including cancer drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda), lecanemab for Alzheimer's (Leqembi), and a diagnostic for antibiotic resistance.

Our teams are experts in drug and diagnostics discovery, technology transfer, and intellectual property. Our work is in translational science - bridging the gap between academic research and clinical development, providing funding, research and expert knowledge, all with a clear and unwavering commitment to having a positive impact on patient lives. LifeArc is committed to investing 1.3 billion by 2030 in areas of high unmet medical need.

LifeArc is a company limited by guarantee (registered in England and Wales under no. 2698321) and a charity (registered in England and Wales under no. 1015243 and in Scotland under no. SC037861).

Find out more about our work on www.lifearc.orgor follow us on LinkedInor Twitter.

About H3D Foundation

The H3D Foundation (www.h3dfoundation.org) was established in 2019 to create an absorptive capacity for securing, building, and retaining skilled African scientists within innovative pharmaceutical R&D. This will help to ensure the skills that Africa will need to move into the next decade as it seeks to become more self-reliant and to become a global player in innovative pharmaceutical R&D. The H3D Foundation also aims to be a convening platform and credible voice for evidence-based global health views aimed partly at countering misinformation particularly around research and science in Africa and partly at bridging the gap between laboratory and clinical activities as well as innovation and access in Africa. Furthermore, the H3D Foundation was established to complement the work of the Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre (www.H3D.uct.ac.za), specifically in relation to capacity development and strengthening that enables and unlocks the potential for sustainable drug discovery and development activities across Africa.
Commerzbank AG - Pre-Stabilisation notice

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 31

January 31, 2024

Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

Berlin Hyp AG (BHH)

EUR 500mn long 3y Green Mortgage Covered Bond

Pre-Stabilisation Notice

Commerzbank AG (contact: Daniela Olt-Farrelly; telephone: +49 69 136-20) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014).

The security to be stabilised: Issuer: Berlin Hyp (BHH) Guarantor (if any): none Aggregate nominal amount: EUR 500,000,000 (wng) Description: Long 3year Green Pfandbrief, AAA by Moody's Offer price: tbc Other offer terms: payment date 7 Feb 24; denoms 1k/1k, listing Berlin + Luxembourg Stabilisation: Stabilisation Coordinator: Stabilising Managers: Commerzbank AG Barclays Credit Agricole CIB LBBW Nordea Stabilisation period expected to start on: January 31, 2024 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Berlin SE regulated market, Luxembourg SE

In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilising Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities during the stabilisation period at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, stabilisation may not necessarily occur and any stabilisation action, if begun, may cease at any time Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

END
Global bioproduction leader 21st.BIO today announced it is now granting access to its precision fermentation technology platform to food and ingredient manufacturers, enabling sustainable production of dairy proteins at competitive cost.

Access to 21st.BIO's technology represents a step change to food production with precision fermentation, allowing manufacturers to focus on production, product development and commercialization.

21st.BIO offers the most advanced production strains, best end-product quality, exclusive know-how, and considerable savings in time and resources for the manufacturers.

The announcement follows the successful scaling of beta-lactoglobulin production by 21st.BIO.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark and DAVIS, Calif., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global bioproduction leader 21st.BIO today announced it is granting access to its precision fermentation technology platform to ingredient manufacturers enabling the production of dairy proteins at competitive cost. This follows 21st.BIO's successful scaling of the beta-lactoglobulin protein, a major protein in milk that provides highly valuable nutrition and textural components of milk and other dairy ingredients.

By offering its precision fermentation technology platform widely, 21st.BIO mitigates the cost and time associated with development, opening access to proven industrial scale production technology for precision fermentation of alternative proteins. The platform provides a sustainable and less carbon and resource intensive alternative to traditional animal-based production methods and helps to stabilize global food supply chains. According to recent studies, producing proteins via precision fermentation reduces greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, and land and water use by 90 to 96%, compared to animal-derived production.

With 21st.BIO's platform, customers have access to world-leading industrial production strains, fermentation processes, as well as support with scale-up, tech transfers to contract manufacturers, and regulatory approvals to get to market at speed and with lower costs. 21st.BIO continuously optimizes the strains and processes, ensuring customers are always ahead of the market.

21st.BIO has the most advanced precision fermentation technology platform in the industry for large scale production. The technology foundation is licensed from Novozymes, who has 40 years' experience perfecting production strains and processes for industrial production. The technology base is already used to provide dozens of food-grade products on the market today.

21st.BIO's technology can be optimized for each customer's specific purpose, such as the nutritional fortification of a plant-based product, improvement of texture in alternative dairy and medical nutrition.

Customers of 21st.BIO can be innovative start-ups planning to take one or several proteins to the market, as well as established players expanding into sustainable alternatives, and dairy companies aiming to grow with the increasing global demand for proteins while reducing their footprint on the environment.

Thomas Schmidt, CEO of 21st.BIO said: "We founded 21st.BIO with one simple mission: to make precision fermentation technology accessible to as many companies as possible, so they can successfully take their product to market at a competitive price. We believe this is the best way for technology to support and accelerate the transition to more sustainable and better nutrition globally. With this new offering, I am proud that companies will be able to safely scale innovation into industrial production and meet global demand utilizing our technology and expertise."

With a technology platform based on Novonesis (formerly Novozymes), and financing from Novo Holdings, 21st.BIO is uniquely positioned to help accelerate the quest for greener and more nutritious alternatives in the food industry.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About 21st.BIO

21st.BIO was founded with one simple mission: to make industrial scale precision fermentation technology accessible to as many as possible, so companies can successfully take their biotech innovations to market at a competitive price. The founders of the company saw that too often, great bio innovation and molecules fail to translate into commercial success. The innovation is ready, the market is there, but production costs remain too high for the product to go mainstream. Industry insiders call it the 'valley of death', and that's exactly what 21st.BIO intends to bridge.

Founded in 2020, 21st.BIO is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and has a world-class R&D team as well as laboratories in both Copenhagen, Denmark and Davis, California. On a mission to support bio industrial companies globally in upscaling from molecule innovation to large-scale production, 21st.BIO enables its customers to meet market demands, and thereby advance the green transition globally. 21st.BIO focuses on developing industrial production technology for proteins and other molecules of interest for food, materials, and agricultural industries. Established as a fully integrated end-to-end partner, 21st.BIO supports its customers from technical assessment, strain development and optimization, production processes and upscaling, tech transfer to large scale manufacturing and regulatory services.?

21st.BIO's fermentation technology is in part licensed from Novonesis (previously known as Novozymes), who has developed their platform over several decades.

Visit our website: https://21st.bio/| Tag us on LinkedIn: 21st.BIO

Press contact:?

Mathilde Pinon

Marketing & Business Development Manager

E-mail: m.pinon@21st.bio -

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/22992/3918032/2571501.pdf Press release (PDF) https://news.cision.com/21st-bio/i/thomas-schmidt-ceo-21st-bio,c3262074 Thomas Schmidt CEO 21st BIO https://news.cision.com/21st-bio/i/charlotte-beck-scientist-strain-development,c3262073 Charlotte Beck Scientist Strain Development

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VIEREMA, Finland, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PONSSE Manager 2.0. is a next-generation digital service platform and forest machine management system that provides customers valuable data of machines' location, productivity figures and fuel consumption, among others. The PONSSE Manager monitors the progress of stands, plans, and manages machine transportation, keep track of machine outputs according to assortment and print out measuring certificates.

"With the quick tempo of the modern world and the huge amount of data we see every day, finding the correct piece of information is often like trying to find a needle in the haystack. New Ponsse Manager is a completely new approach to more sustainable and more digitalized forestry," says Petteri Tuomisto, Manager of Digital Solutions Sales.

It's time to take you back to the driver's seat

Miika Soininen, Chief Digital Officer of Ponsse comments: "We want to support our customers, so that they can run their business successfully. This has been the guiding principle, how we have designed new Ponsse Manager. All the development has been based on customer feedback and customer needs from all over the world."

In Ponsse Manager 2.0, the user can create a personalized home page focusing on the most important data. Every important information is visible immediately, variations can be discovered quickly, and corrective action can be taken directly. With the single sign-on, all digital solutions required to improve operational efficiency and productivity are at the user's disposal in one web address. PONSSE Manager keeps customers up to date on data that affects their machines' profitability and helps improve operations' efficiency.



One of the new key features is the possibility to download all reports and, e.g. combine them in a spreadsheet with other data to create new valuable views of your operations. Mobile applications will also be available to download for free from your app store. "The mobile app is easy to use on site, with all required functionalities available for professionals working in different roles," says Jenni Pulkkinen, Product Owner Digital Solutions.

Ponsse is developing its digital solutions together with its customers. The digital innovations address the right issues and provide relevant support for both professionals working on-site and those responsible for smooth and efficient fleet management.

For more information, contact:

Petteri Tuomisto

Manager, Digital Solutions Sales

Tel. +358 40 5289835, petteri.tuomisto@ponsse.com

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/ponsse-oyj/i/manager-2-0,c3262583 Manager 2 0

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Twice as many worldwide consumers are now online and spend double the amount on goods and services compared with 10 years ago. Businesses must prepare for digitally savvy shoppers

Sophisticated consumers are increasing expecting online browsing to feel like an in-person shopping experience

Saving money is paramount for consumers and they are looking to outsmart brands online and find the best deals

LONDON, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global market research company Euromonitor International has released the Top Five Digital Consumer Trends in 2024 report today.

The annual report reveals emerging trends that provide insights into digital consumers' evolving values and explores how their behaviour is redefining their shopping motivations and needs. It also examines the technological advances in the year ahead that will continue to reshape consumer behaviour.

Euromonitor's Top Five Digital Consumer Trends in 2024 are:

Intuitive E-Commerce: The rising influence of digital channels among consumers is putting pressure on companies to improve the online experience. This is possible due to evolving data-gathering strategies and emerging technologies, from AR to IoT to Gen AI. These advances have the potential to transform the online shopping experience, leading to one that is more intuitive.

The rising influence of digital channels among consumers is putting pressure on companies to improve the online experience. This is possible due to evolving data-gathering strategies and emerging technologies, from AR to IoT to Gen AI. These advances have the potential to transform the online shopping experience, leading to one that is more intuitive. TikTok Economy: Digital consumers are flocking to TikTok and Douyin, twin social media platforms that have embraced short-form video content. Brands are striving to promote their products and services on these platforms but some of the viral trends that are doing the most to boost brand sales are emerging organically from users on those platforms, without any direct brand involvement.

Digital consumers are flocking to TikTok and Douyin, twin social media platforms that have embraced short-form video content. Brands are striving to promote their products and services on these platforms but some of the viral trends that are doing the most to boost brand sales are emerging organically from users on those platforms, without any direct brand involvement. Outsmart Online : Against a backdrop of mounting macroeconomic uncertainty and increasing digitalisation, consumers are seeking out online platforms dedicated to rooting out the best deals. More and more consumers are using these platforms in ways that brands do not intend - and disapprove of.

Against a backdrop of mounting macroeconomic uncertainty and increasing digitalisation, consumers are seeking out online platforms dedicated to rooting out the best deals. More and more consumers are using these platforms in ways that brands do not intend - and disapprove of. Recommerce 2.0 : Recommerce is surging and evolving globally, driven by environmentally conscious, thrifty and tech-savvy younger consumers. Brands and retailers recognise the potential of the market and are actively adopting various strategies to enter it, mirroring the convenience of e-commerce, and making recommerce more widely accessible across product categories.

Recommerce is surging and evolving globally, driven by environmentally conscious, thrifty and tech-savvy younger consumers. Brands and retailers recognise the potential of the market and are actively adopting various strategies to enter it, mirroring the convenience of e-commerce, and making recommerce more widely accessible across product categories. Revamped Returns: Consumers have long wanted hassle-free returns, but delivering on that expectation has not been without challenges. Converging trends like the rise of e-commerce, store closures and more sustainable strategies is moving returns up the agenda. New technologies and partnerships are paving the way to a happier return experience for shoppers.

Michelle Evans, Global Lead of Retail and Digital Insights at Euromonitor International, said that three key themes had emerged from the 2024 report:

"The online shopping experience continues to mature. Euromonitor saw this theme play a prominent role in three of our 2023 trends, and we see it again this year. The use of emerging technologies like generative AI will make online shopping feel more like the in-person shopping experience as explored in Intuitive E-Commerce. The evolution of recommerce, and the borrowing of wider e-commerce strategies, as explored in Recommerce 2.0 also speaks to this greater sophistication.

"Cautious and conscious consumption is growing. The cost of a purchase whether that cost is monetary or environmental was top of mind for digital consumers in 2023 and will continue to be in 2024. Saving money is playing out in how consumers are seeking to outsmart brands online or joining the resale movement.

"Consumers are also seeking more power in their relationships with brands. This is prevalent in both the TikTok Economy and Outsmart Online trends, which at their roots are about how consumers are using social media to give them a greater voice in the consumer-brand relationship. The benefit of hearing from consumers over the brands is that it leads to more authentic interactions, which is valued by younger consumers like Gen Z.

"With twice as many digital consumers in the world as compared with a decade ago and the spend for goods and services online more than doubling in that timeframe, it is important to prepare strategies with these digitally savvy shoppers in mind," said Evans.

For more information see about Euromonitor's Top Five Global Digital Consumer Trends 2024 join our free webinar on February 8, 2024. Sign up for the webinar here.

For further information, Please contact:

Euromonitor Press Office

Press@euromonitor.com

+44 20 7251 8024

ABOUT Euromonitor international

Euromonitor International is the world's leading provider of global business intelligence, market analysis and consumer insights. From local to global and tactical to strategic, our research solutions support decisions on how, where and when to grow your business. With offices around the world, analysts in over 100 countries, the latest data science techniques and market research on every key trend and driver, we help you make sense of global markets.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/euromonitor-international-unveils-top-five-global-digital-consumer-trends-for-2024-302048358.html
CHICAGO, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Virtual Power Plant Market is expected to reach USD 5.5 billion by 2029 from USD 1.9 billion in 2024 at a CAGR of 23.4% during the 2024-2028 period according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Virtual power plants are essential because they provide enhanced grid stability by optimizing and integrating diverse energy sources, contributing to increased energy efficiency and the seamless incorporation of renewable energy into power systems. This results in a more resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Virtual Power Plant Market"

193 - Tables

52 - Figures

200 - Pages

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=173730863

Virtual Power Plant Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $1.9 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $5.5 billion Growth Rate Poised to Grow at a CAGR of 23.4% Largest Market North America Market Size Available for 2019-2029 Forecast Period 2024-2029 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Vertical, by offering, by technology, by source, and by region Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America Key Market Opportunities Growing deployment of smart grids Key Market Drivers Seamless integration with renewable sources such as solar and wind

The Industrial, by Vertical, is expected to grow be the largest segment during the forecast period.

Based on vertical, the Virtual Power Plant Market has been split into commercial, industrial, and residential. The industrial segment in the Virtual Power Plant Market is anticipated to be the largest, primarily due to high energy consumption in industrial operations, creating a substantial demand for efficient energy management solutions. Industries benefit significantly from virtual power plants' optimization capabilities, enhancing grid reliability and reducing operational costs, driving their prominence in this market segment.

The Mixed asset, by Technology, is expected to grow be the fastest segment during the forecast period.

Based on technology, the Virtual Power Plant Market has been split into demand response, supply side, and mixed asset. The mixed asset segment in the Virtual Power Plant Market is anticipated to be the fastest-growing due to its versatility in combining diverse energy resources and optimizing grid performance. This approach allows for comprehensive energy management, offering flexibility and efficiency, which aligns with the increasing trend towards integrated and diversified energy portfolios.

The services segment, by offering segment, is expected to grow at the second-fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

This report segments the virtual power solutions market based on offering into three segments: hardware, software, and services. The services segment is expected to be the second-fastest growing segment during the forecast period due to the increasing demand for expertise in system integration, maintenance, and optimization services. As virtual power plant deployments expand, there is a growing need for specialized services to ensure seamless operation and performance optimization.

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Middle East & Africa is expected to be the second fastest region in the Virtual Power Plant Industry

Middle East & Africa is expected to be the second fastest region in Virtual Power Plant Market during the forecast period. The region's increasing focus on renewable energy adoption, coupled with rising energy demand and the need for grid stability, drives the deployment of virtual power plants. The region's abundant solar resources further enhance its suitability for virtual power plant applications, fostering efficient integration and contributing to market growth.

Key Players

Some of the major players in the Virtual Power Plant Companies are Siemens (Germany), Schneider Electric (France), General Electric (US), Shell (UK), Tesla (US). The major strategies adopted by these players include sales contract, product launches, investments, collaborations, partnerships, and expansions.

Browse Adjacent Markets: Energy and Power Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Hybrid Power Solutions Market by System Type (Solar-Fossil, Wind-Fossil, Solar-Wind-Fossil, Solar-Wind, Others), Grid Connectivity (On-Grid, Off-Grid), Capacity (Upto 100kW, 100kW-1MW, Above 1MW), End User & Region - Global Forecast to 2028

Smart Grid Market by Component (Software, Hardware, Services), Application (Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Consumption/End Use), Communication Technology (Wireline, Wireless), and Region - Global Forecast to 2026

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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PASAY CITY, Philippines, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The SM Group, led by SM Investments Corporation, with BDO Unibank, Inc., SM Foundation Inc., and SM Supermalls, won 20 awards for excellence in communications at the prestigious 20th Philippine Quill Awards. SM Foundation Inc., was also hailed as the 2nd runner up for Company of the Year.

SM Investments won awards for its 2022 Integrated Report, Enhanced Digital Communications Strategy and SM Brand Refresh.

SM Foundation clinched Excellence Awards for the following projects: Revitalizing the SM Foundation Brand: Embracing the Joy of Social Good, Inclusivity, and Engagement; Spreading Social Good to Inspire and Strengthen a Nation and SpreadingSocialGood Stories Online. It also garnered awards for Social Good Feature Videos: Sharing Stories of Transformation, Resilience, and Hope; SM Foundation Primer: Sharing Stories and Rallying Partners for Social Good and We Care: The SM Foundation Newsletter Made Even Better.

"At SM, we recognize and embrace that in today's business landscape, communication plays a greater role in engaging our key stakeholders and ultimately, helping shape brand love and loyalty. We are honored and elated that our efforts have been recognized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines," said Frederic C. DyBuncio, President and Chief Executive Officer of SM Investments Corporation.

BDO was awarded for the following projects: The BDO Waste BusteRRR; BDO Unibank's Enhanced Careers Portal; BDO and the all-out fight against online scams; Mastering the Market: BDO Securities' Investor Empowerment Initiative; Building Trust, Driving Success: BDO's IR Initiative and BDO Fish'n Learn Financial Education Card Game.

SM Supermalls was recognized for the following campaigns, AweSM SuperKids Zone at Roblox and SM Supermalls: You're Always Welcome Here.

The Philippine Quill Awards, held recently at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City, is considered one of the country's most prestigious awards program in the field of business communication. The 20th Philippine Quill Awards was hosted by IABC Philippines, the first IABC chapter in Asia.

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EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]

Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on the Progress of A-Share Repurchases through Centralized Bidding Transactions



31.01.2024 / 11:46 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Announcement on the Progress of A-Share Repurchases through Centralized Bidding Transactions

Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hong Kong, 31 January 2024 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published an announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and applicable PRC laws in relation to the Progress of A-Share Repurchases through Centralized Bidding Transactions.

The announcement is fully available at:

https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020240131641448261862.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20on%20the%20Progress%20of%20A-Share%20Repurchases%20through%20Centralized%20Bidding%20Transactions



IR Contact:

Haier Smart Home Hong Kong

T: +852 2169 0000

Email: ir@haier.hk



Press Contact:

CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH

Sara Pinto

Sven Pauly

pi@crossalliance.de

T: +49 (0) 89 1250903 35

About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.:

Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience.

31.01.2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com




JERUSALEM (dpa-AFX) - President Joe Biden has said that he has made a decision about the US response to the deadly drone attack on a US military base in Jordan last week.



He did not elaborate on what kind of response that is on his mind, but made it clear that he is against 'a wider war in the Middle East'.



Three U.S. troops were killed and 40 US personnel were injured in the attack targeting the logistics support base at Tower 22 of the Jordanian Defense Network in northeast Jordan, near the Syrian border, Sunday.



Biden had blamed Iran-backed militias for the attacks, and vowed to take revenge on those responsible for the killing of troops.



When reporters asked Biden before Marine One departure Tuesday if he holds Iran responsible for the death of those three Americans, the President replied, 'I do hold them responsible in the sense that they're supplying the weapons to the people who did it.'



Replying to another question, Biden said he is not looking for a wider war in the Middle East.



The White House said President Biden will be going to attend the dignified transfer of remains of the deceased soldiers on Friday.



Later, talking to reporters aboard Air Force One, NSC Coordinator John Kirby said the drone strike has all the hallmarks of groups that are backed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Kataib Hezbollah.



He said the Pentagon is still working through the forensics on the exact drone that was involved in the attack.



'We know for a fact that Iran and the IRGC provide these groups weapons and capabilities. We know for a fact that they have provided them drones in the past as well. But as for the exact drone that was was involved in this attack, again, DOD is still working through the forensics on it.'



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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / iMetal Resources Inc. (TSX.V:IMR)(OTCQB:IMRFF)(FRA:A7V) ("iMetal" or the "Company") announces completion of drilling at the Company's Carheil project, which lies in the Northern Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Quebec. This Phase was completed on January 25th and included 4 holes for 1,100 metres and this was a follow up to Phase 1 drilling from Spring 2023.

Saf Dhillon, President & CEO, stated: "We are very pleased with the observed intersections in the four holes at Carheil recently completed. We targeted the same horizons intersected in Phase 1 as well as a regional structure and we feel the program has been successful in execution. We are eager to share the results once assays are returned. Quebec continues to be an exciting jurisdiction to work in due to its mining friendly government and people."

The Company engaged DIAFOR Inc. of Malartic, Quebec for this phase of Carheil drilling. DIAFOR executed the program efficiently and safely and the Company is very pleased to continue that relationship. The program targeted the three previously encountered graphite horizons, focusing on defining the extent of the graphite along strike and down dip. A regional structure was also tested in order to probe the property for further mineral potential. Observed graphite horizons and structures in the core matched or exceeded expectations geologically. Samples are being submitted to ALS Geochemistry in Rouyn-Noranda for assaying and results will be released when available.

Carheil is an exploration-stage project with multi-metal potential and previous graphite results. The project is about 170 km north of Rouyn-Noranda in the Northern Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The project is under 20 km distance to the west from the past-producing Selbaie Copper-Zinc-Silver-Gold mine (1.1 billion lbs Cu, 2.4 billion lbs Zn, 71 million oz Ag, 1 million oz Au produced from 1981-2004[i]), under 20 km distance to the north from Hecla's Casa Berardi Mine (127.5 Koz Au and 28.2 Koz Ag produced in 2022[ii]), and under 40 km to the southeast from Agnico Eagle's Detour Lake mine (713 Koz Au produced in 2021[iii]). Directly bordering the property to the north is Midland Exploration/Probe Metals' La Peltrie project, which recently intersected a 345.5 m of Cu-Mo-Au-Ag mineralization grading 0.21 CuEq[iv]. iMetal cautions investors the presence of mineralization at Selbaie, Casa Berardi, and Detour Lake is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the Carheil property.

QA/QC control procedures included the systematic insertion of certified blanks, and two different graphite certified reference materials (CRM) at regular intervals (one QAQC sample for every 20 core samples) into the sampling stream. Geochemistry analyses consisted of Graphitic carbon by IR Spectroscopy (C-IR18), which uses an HCl leach to remove carbonates and roasting to remove organic carbon in order to only identify carbon in graphitic form in the samples. Select samples were checked for gold by fire assay and atomic absorption spectrometry (Au-AA26) with overlimit values subsequently analyzed using the gravimetric finish (Au-GRA22) technique. Additionally, select samples were assayed for multi-element potential using four acid digestion with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry finish (ME-MS61).

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Scott Zelligan, P. Geo (Ontario), VP Exploration of iMetal and a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About iMetal Resources Inc.

iMetal is a Canadian based junior exploration company focused on the exploration and development of its portfolio of resource properties in Ontario and Quebec. The Flagship property Gowganda West, is an exploration-stage gold project with a recent discovery hole of 48.5m at 0.85 g/t gold that borders the Juby Deposit and is located within the Shining Tree Camp area in the southern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt about 100 km south-southeast of the Timmins Gold Camp. The 665-hectare Kerrs Gold deposit comprises a series of gold-bearing pyritized quartz vein replacement breccias with a 2011 historic resource, 90 kilometres ENE of Timmins. The 220-hectare Ghost Mountain property, 42 kilometres NE of Kirkland Lake, lies 5 kilometres W of Agnico Eagle's Holt and Holloway Mine. Carheil is an exploration-stage project with multi-metal potential and previous graphite results. The project is about 170 km north of Rouyn-Noranda in the Northern Abitibi Greenstone Belt.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Saf Dhillon

President & CEO

iMetal Resources Inc.

info@imetalresources.ca

Tel. (604-484-3031)

Suite 550, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2V6.

https://imetalresources.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration, variations in results of mineralization, relationships with local communities, market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws.

[i] SIGEOM; Ressources naturelles et Forets,  Gouvernement du Quebec, 2023 [ii] Casa Berardi|Quebec, Canada|Hecla Mining;  Hecla Mining Company, 2022 (https://www.hecla.com/operations/casa-berardi-quebec-canada) [iii] Agnico Eagle Mines Limited - Operations - Operations - Detour Lake;  Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, 2023 (https://www.agnicoeagle.com/English/operations/operations/Detour-Lake-Mine/default.aspx) [iv] Midland Exploration news release dated December 6, 2022 SOURCE: iMetal Resources, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Statement Pursuant to Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / On January 31, 2024, SRH Total Return Fund, Inc. (NYSE:STEW) (the "Fund"), a closed-end investment company, will pay a distribution on its common stock of $0.1375 per share to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 24, 2024. The Fund, acting in accordance with an exemptive order received from the Securities and Exchange Commission and with approval of its Board of Directors, adopted a managed distribution policy under which the Fund may utilize capital gains, where applicable, as part of regular quarterly cash distributions to its stockholders. This policy gives the Fund greater flexibility to realize capital gains and to distribute those gains to stockholders.

The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year-to-date from the sources indicated in the table. In addition, the table shows the percentages of the total distribution amount per share attributable to (i) net investment income, (ii) net realized short-term capital gain, (iii) net realized long-term capital gain and (iv) return of capital or other capital source. These percentages are disclosed for the current distribution as well as the fiscal year-to-date cumulative distribution amount per share for the Fund.

Current Distribution from: Per Share ($) Percentage (%) Net Investment Income 0.00147 1.07% Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains 0.00537 3.91% Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains 0.04260 30.98% Return of Capital or other Capital Source 0.08806 64.04% Total (per common share) 0.13750 100.00% Fiscal Year-to-Date Cumulative Distributions from[1]: Per Share ($) Percentage (%) Net Investment Income 0.00147 1.07% Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains 0.00537 3.91% Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains 0.04260 30.98% Return of Capital or other Capital Source 0.08806 64.04% Total (per common share) 0.13750 100.00%

[1] The Fund's fiscal year is December 1 to November 30. Information shown is for the period beginning December 1, 2023.

Stockholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution policy. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this 19(a) Notice are only estimates, are likely to change over time, and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes.

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with 'yield' or 'income'.

The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for accounting and tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The amounts and sources of distributions year-to-date may be subject to additional adjustments.

THE FUND WILL SEND YOU A FORM 1099-DIV FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT WILL TELL YOU HOW TO REPORT THESE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES.

Presented below are return figures, based on the change in the Fund's Net Asset Value per share ("NAV"), compared to the annualized distribution rate for this current distribution as a percentage of the NAV on the last day of the month prior to the distribution declaration date. While the NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a stockholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a stockholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Fund Performance & Distribution Rate Information

Annualized Distribution Rate as a Percentage of NAV^ 3.16% Cumulative Distribution Rate as a Percentage of NAV* 0.79% Cumulative Total Return as a Percentage of NAV** 3.33% Average Annual Total Return*** 10.86%

^ Based on the Fund's NAV as of December 31, 2023 and the quarterly distribution of $0.1375.

*Based on the Fund's NAV as of December 31, 2023 and includes distributions through January 31, 2024.

**Cumulative Total Return is the percentage change in the Fund's NAV including distributions paid and assuming reinvestment of these distributions for the period December 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.

***Average Annual Total Return represents the compound average of the Annual NAV Total Returns of the Fund for the five-year period ending December 31, 2023. Annual NAV Total Return is the percentage change in the Fund's NAV over a year including distributions paid and assuming reinvestment of these distributions.

The Fund has a managed distribution policy that seeks to deliver the Fund's long term total return potential through regular quarterly distributions declared at a fixed rate per share. Distributions may be paid in part or in full from net investment income, realized capital gains and by returning capital, or a combination thereof. Stockholders should note, however, that if the Fund's aggregate net investment income and net realized capital gains are less than the amount of the distribution level, the difference will be distributed from the Fund's assets and will constitute a return of the stockholder's capital. A return of capital is not taxable; rather it reduces a stockholder's tax basis in his or her shares of the Fund.

The Fund's Board of Directors reviews the amount of any distributions made pursuant to the Fund's distribution policy and considers the income earned and capital gains realized by the Fund, as well as the Fund's available capital. The Board of Directors will continue to monitor the Fund's distribution level, taking into consideration, among other things, the Fund's net asset value and market conditions. The Fund's distribution policy is subject to modification, suspension or termination by the Board of Directors at any time, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund's shares. The distribution rate should not be considered the dividend yield or total return on an investment in the Fund.

For more information on the Fund, please visit us on the web at www.srhtotalreturnfund.com.

NOT FDIC INSURED | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee

Contact info:

Website: https://srhtotalreturnfund.com/

Email: stewclientinquiries@paralel.com

SOURCE: SRH Total Return Fund, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Hybrid Power Solutions Inc. (CSE: HPSS) (OTCQB: HPSIF) (FSE: E092) ("Hybrid" or the "Company"), a Canadian battery manufacturer, is proud to announce the construction of a state-of-the-art, expandable production facility spanning 6,000 square feet on 2.5 acres in Parry Sound, Ontario. This significant development aims to bolster the production capacity for Hybrid's residential lithium-ion batteries and larger-scale portable power solutions, including the recently unveiled Batt Pack Spark.

The land is currently undergoing clearing, with plans to break ground in Spring 2024. The establishment of this facility is made possible in part by funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), whose support and partnership are integral to this expansion.

Francois Byrne, CEO of Hybrid, expressed his gratitude for the NOHFC's contribution, stating, "We are incredibly thankful for the support and collaboration with the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. Their funding enables us to establish a cutting-edge production facility in Parry Sound, reinforcing our commitment to Canadian manufacturing and our mission to bring job opportunities to Northern communities."

This new production facility not only signifies a significant step forward in Hybrid's manufacturing capabilities but also underscores the Company's dedication to fostering economic growth in Northern Ontario. The facility is expected to create new job opportunities, contributing to the local community's prosperity.

MPP Graydon Smith (Parry Sound-Muskoka) commended the Company for its investment in the region, stating, "This expansion is a positive development for Parry Sound and the broader region. Hybrid's commitment to Canadian manufacturing aligns with our goals for economic growth and job creation in Northern Ontario."

The production facility in Parry Sound will play a crucial role in meeting the increasing demand for the Company's sustainable energy solutions and further establishes the Company as a key player in the clean energy sector.

For further information, inquiries, or media opportunities, please contact:

On behalf of the Company:

Francois Byrne

CEO and Director

invest@hybridps.ca

1 (866) 549-2743

www.investhps.com

About Hybrid Power Solutions Inc.

Hybrid Power Solutions Inc. is an industry leader in the development of sustainable energy solutions, offering cutting-edge products that redefine how industries approach access to power and energy storage. With a focus on innovation and environmental responsibility, HPS continues to lead the way in providing scalable, cost effective power solutions.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "will be", "intends", "expected" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking information included in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the timing and completion of the facility in Perry Sound and the use of funds from NOHFC. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management of the Company, they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196249

SOURCE: Hybrid Power Solutions Inc.
Lead, South Dakota--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) ("Dakota Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has discovered Rare Earth Elements ("REE") in the new TD Zone in its exploration and development drilling program on its Richmond Hill Gold Project ("Richmond Hill") in South Dakota. Our preliminary evaluation has identified high-grade REE in and around the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe near surface and at depth, and within the gold resource areas being defined in its upcoming S-K 1300 compliant maiden resource, scheduled for completion in Q1 2024. Although REE will not be evaluated in the upcoming maiden resource, work has begun to characterize the distribution of REE as well as the mineralogy of the system, which may be useful in assessing the potential economic contribution to the Richmond Hill Gold Project.

Highlights:

Cerium and lanthanum anomalies Dakota Gold first identified in early 2023 have been confirmed to contain high levels of REE (up to 12.9% of total Rare Earth Oxides (REO) over 4.9 feet). In the limited drilling completed, REO concentration over 1% occurs intermittently in an area 1,000 feet by 1,000 feet and to depths over 1,000 feet. These anomalies occur within the same area as previously reported gold mineralization at Richmond Hill.

Significant concentrations of neodymium and praseodymium (maximum values over 1% combined) are present and could be primary economic drivers for beneficiation of the material. Neodymium and praseodymium are key components of REE magnets. We are also evaluating the potential presence of xenotime as a source for the heavy REE dysprosium and terbium. Neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium are all critical minerals in the Department of Energy's 2023 Critical Materials Assessment based on their high importance and high supply chain risk.

Next steps will be to conduct additional REE sampling using more sensitive REE analyses, conduct comprehensive mineralogical studies and refine the geometry and quantity of the various REO at Richmond Hill, particularly in relationship to a future anticipated gold mineral resource estimate.

James Berry, Vice President Exploration of Dakota Gold, said, "We are initiating the evaluation of REE at Richmond Hill. The recognition of enriched REE within the gold resource area may indicate the potential coproduction of commodities and, if these initial indicators are supported by future work, could add significant value to the project through either potential additional mineralization or potential reduction of permitting timelines. Further evaluation is undoubtedly warranted especially given the strategic value of magnet rare earth elements."

Patrick Malone, Chief Sustainability Officer of Dakota Gold said, "REE, particularly magnet REE like neodymium and praseodymium, are critical raw materials for many types of high technology - everything from smart phones to renewable energy and defense technologies. The United States is heavily reliant on sourcing and processing these materials from other countries, primarily China. Dakota Gold is very excited about the prospect of creating new, domestic supplies of these critical minerals from the same deposits at Richmond Hill that we know are rich in gold and silver. The potential to provide the critical materials to facilitate the clean energy transition, creating both environmental and shareholder benefits, is precisely in line with Dakota Gold's values and purpose." Mr. Malone continued, "The United States has begun prioritizing the permitting of critical mineral exploration and mining projects to help the country secure its domestic supplies."

Exploration Update:

Dakota Gold's exploration at the Richmond Hill Gold Project identified relatively high-grade concentrations of rare earths mixed with potentially economic gold and silver mineralization (Figures 1 and 2). Core drilling has intersected values as high as 12.9% total REO including neodymium oxide concentrations over 1% and praseodymium oxide over 0.4%. Neodymium and praseodymium both received screening scores of 27 in Department of Energy's 2023 Critical Materials Assessment because of their use in permanent magnets, representing two of the highest risk materials on this list. While drilling is limited and there has been no metallurgy and processing work completed to determine potential economics, REO concentration over 1% occurs roughly in an area 1,000 feet by 1,000 feet and to depths over 1,000 feet.

Preliminary thin sections for SEM analysis were taken from intervals returning high cerium and lanthanum values based on our standard multielement geochemical analyses (Figures 3 and 4). Later re-analyses using fusion digestion specifically designed for REE returned comparable results to the standard multielement procedures routinely used and suggest confidence that anomalous REE are not being missed by our standard sampling procedures (Figure 5).

Table 1 contains results from the preliminary, first pass follow-up sampling program initiated in late 2023. Cerium and Lanthanum are reported routinely in our standard trace element analyses along with gold and silver. However, detection limits of 10,000 ppm require re-assay of overrun values using a more sensitive analytical procedure with a fusion digestion. This fusion procedure also returns results for the heavier REE. Dakota Gold is conducting a detailed review of REE at Richmond Hill involving re-sampling and re-assay of earlier drill holes. Future results will be reported periodically when significant milestones are reached with the REE evaluation. Lanthanum and cerium show a very high degree of correlation using standard and sensitive analytical procedures. Cerium correlates very well with the magnet rare earths neodymium and praseodymium which can only be identified with the sensitive fusion analytical methods (Figures 6 and 7). The high correlation of lanthanum and cerium found with both methods, demonstrates a degree of confidence that exploration results can be used to identify concentrations of high value REE in the system.

Table 1. A selective sampling of results for calculated Total REO % in Drill Holes RH22C-003, RH22C-004, RH22C-005, RH22C-006, RH22C-011, RH22C-012, RH23C-014 and RH23C-032 (imperial / metric)





To view an enhanced version of Table 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/196271_15e0ff53242db8e2_002full.jpg

True thickness is unknown.

The major rare earth elements reported above include lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), yttrium (Y), neodymium (Nd), dysprosium (Dy) and praseodymium (Pr).

Rare Earth oxide values (REO%) were calculated from REE ppm results using conversions from: Rare Earth Elements, Goode, JR, 2019, SME Minerals Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Handbook; Dunne, RC, Kawatra, SK, and Young, CA, Eds: pp 2049 - 2075.

Figure 1. Plan View of Dakota Gold Corp. Richmond Hill Drill Holes with Highlighted REE Intercepts



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/196271_15e0ff53242db8e2_003full.jpg

Figure 2. Cross Section along RH22C-005 and RH23C-014 Looking Northwest



To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/196271_15e0ff53242db8e2_004full.jpg





Figure 3. Core Photo - RH23C-014 REE Zone



To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/196271_15e0ff53242db8e2_005full.jpg

Figure 4. SEM images of REE Minerals - RH23C-014



To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/196271_15e0ff53242db8e2_006full.jpg

Figure 5. Comparison of 4-acid versus fusion digestion of lanthanum



To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/196271_15e0ff53242db8e2_007full.jpg

Figure 6. Neodymium - Cerium Plot



To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/196271_15e0ff53242db8e2_008full.jpg

Figure 7. Praseodymium - Cerium Plot



To view an enhanced version of Figure 7, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/196271_15e0ff53242db8e2_009full.jpg

The Company currently has four drills on site on its properties in the Homestake District of South Dakota at Maitland and Richmond Hill Gold Project (Richmond Hill). Richmond Hill is located 2.3 miles west of Maitland and 1.5 miles north of Coeur Mining, Inc.'s Wharf Mine. Based on Coeur Mining, Inc.'s Form 10-K Full-Year 2022 Reported Results, the Wharf Mine produced 79,768 ounces at 0.021 oz/ton gold in 2022.

About Dakota Gold Corp.

Dakota Gold (NYSE American: DC) is a South Dakota-based responsible gold exploration and development company with a specific focus on revitalizing the Homestake District in Lead, South Dakota. Dakota Gold has high-caliber gold mineral properties covering over 46 thousand acres surrounding the historic Homestake Mine.

The Dakota Gold team is focused on new gold discoveries and opportunities that build on the legacy of the Homestake District and its 145 years of gold mining history.

Subscribe to Dakota Gold's e-mail list at www.dakotagoldcorp.com to receive the latest news and other Company updates.

Shareholder and Investor Inquiries

For more information, please contact:

Jonathan Awde, President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +1 604-761-5251

Email: JAwde@dakotagoldcorp.com

Qualified Person and S-K 1300 Disclosure

James M. Berry, a Registered Member of SME and Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold Corp., is the Company's designated qualified person for this news release as defined in Subpart 1300 - Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations of Regulation S-K and has reviewed and approved its scientific and technical content.

The ranges of potential tonnage and grade (or quality) disclosed above in respect of the Richmond Hill Gold Project are conceptual in nature and could change as the proposed exploration activities are completed. There has been insufficient exploration of the Richmond Hill Gold Project to allow for an estimate of a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource. The disclosure above in respect of the Richmond Gold Project therefore does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control consists of regular insertion of duplicate samples and blanks into the sample stream. Assay results are reviewed, and discrepancies are investigated prior to incorporation into the Company database. Samples are submitted to the ALS Geochemistry sample preparation facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Gold and multi-element analyses are performed at the ALS Geochemistry laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS Minerals is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited lab.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any express or implied statements contained in this announcement that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the timing of release of a resource estimate on the Richmond Hill Gold Project, the potential use for and value-add of REE identified at Richmond Hill Gold Project, and future evaluation plans for REE identified at Richmond Hill Gold Project. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the execution and timing of our planned exploration activities, our use and evaluation of historic data, our ability to achieve our strategic goals, the state of the economy and financial markets generally and the effect on our industry, and the market for our common stock. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. For additional information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the risk factors included in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KT for the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 2022, as amended, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that we file with the SEC. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. These statements speak only as of the date of this communication, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196271

SOURCE: Dakota Gold Corp.
Calderwood, a leading Cayman Islands boutique fund governance firm, has expanded its senior team again with the appointment of Niall O' Dowd as an Independent Director.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131517966/en/

Niall O' Dowd Calderwood (Photo: Business Wire)

Niall has over 17 years of experience in the financial services sector, specialising in hedge funds, private equity and venture capital funds. He is highly regarded in the Cayman Islands financial services industry, having previously been a Managing Director at Waystone, where he worked for the past seven years.

Niall's expert guidance related to new fund launches and compliance with regulatory requirements is regularly sought by many of the world's leading investment managers. In his role as an Independent Director, he will accept positions on the boards of funds encompassing a broad range of structures and investment strategies, including private credit and real estate funds.

Calderwood's latest appointment brings its senior team up to 12 and follows the firm's recent news in December 2023, when Jason Perras and Rena Strecker both joined as independent directors, adding capacity in investment funds and bringing insurance directorships to the suite of services.

"As our business has expanded, we have continued to grow through strategic appointments such as this, bringing the right level of expertise on board to assist our clients navigate a challenging investment landscape," said Calderwood co-founder Ronan Guilfoyle. "We are all really excited to start 2024 with Niall joining the firm."

Earlier in his career, Niall was Deputy Group Head at MUFG Alternative Fund Services Ireland (previously UBS Fund Services), managing a team overseeing assets in excess of $6 billion.

Calderwood was also recently named 'Best Offshore Governance Firm' at the HFM US Services Awards 2023 for the second year in succession. The HFM awards recognise excellence among US hedge fund service providers and are judged by a panel of leading fund industry executives.

Calderwood's fundamental approach to fund governance is to provide highly experienced independent directors, with a limit on the number of each director's relationships, to ensure every fund client receives the utmost attention.

About Calderwood

Calderwood is a fund governance firm founded in March 2016, which opened for business in June 2016. Our services include the provision of CIMA registered, independent directors to investment funds. Our directors have on average over 20 years professional services experience including 10 years in a fiduciary capacity. We have served as independent directors on some of the largest funds in the industry and, as such, are well positioned to offer some of the most experienced independent directors in the governance sector.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131517966/en/

Contacts:

Ronan Guilfoyle, Co-Founder, rguilfoyle@calderwood.ky

Wade Kenny, Co-Founder, wkenny@calderwood.ky
Designation is based on preliminary safety and efficacy data from an ongoing Phase 1/2 trial in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian epithelial cancer, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer 1

Fast Track designation can facilitate the development and expedite the regulatory review of BNT325/DB-1305

Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common gynecological tumor type2 with over 300,000 cases diagnosed globally each year3; over 90% of ovarian tumors arise from epithelial cells, including the epithelial tissue of the ovary, the lining of a fallopian tube or the peritoneum4

MAINZ, Germany and SHANGHAI, China, January 31, 2024 - BioNTech SE ) in patients with TROP2-expressing advanced solid tumors.

Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common gynecological tumor type, with over 300,000 cases diagnosed globally each year.3 Over 90% of ovarian tumors arise from epithelial cells including the epithelial tissue of the ovary, the lining of a fallopian tube or the peritoneum.4 Ovarian epithelial cancer is often diagnosed at advanced disease stages, leading to a poor prognosis for patients. This makes it one of the most frequent causes of cancer death in women.3 The 5-year survival rate ranges from 26% to 42%, depending on the initial disease stage.3

"The FDA's decision is an important recognition of the potential of our TROP2-targeting ADC candidate. Platinum-based chemotherapy is the backbone of treatment for ovarian epithelial cancer and related subtypes that form in the epithelial tissue. Patients with platinum resistance who relapse within under six months have a poor prognosis, and effective and well-tolerated treatment options remain a substantial unmet medical need," said Prof. Ozlem Tureci, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder at BioNTech. "Recent studies have indicated the role of TROP2 in aggressive tumor growth and progression in patients with chemotherapy-resistant ovarian tumors. We are committed to further advancing BNT325/DB-1305 and believe that a TROP2-targeted treatment approach has the potential to overcome current limitations in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancers."

"BNT325/DB-1305 is the second investigational asset in our strategic collaboration which has received FDA Fast Track designation highlighting the potential of the candidate to fill an unmet medical need," said Vivian Gu, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at DualityBio. "Data from the Phase 1/2 clinical trial with BNT325/DB-1305 have demonstrated encouraging anti-tumor signals in heavily pretreated patients with TROP2-expressing solid tumors who had failed standard therapy with an objective response rate of 30.4% and a disease control rate of 87.0%.5 We look forward to progressing the further development of BNT325/DB-1305 within the fast track framework, and hope to be one step closer to potentially improving outcomes for a range of patients."

Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review, of new drugs and vaccines that are intended to treat or prevent serious conditions that have the potential to address an unmet medical need. The designation is based on preliminary data from an ongoing Phase 1/2 study with BNT325/DB-1305 in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian epithelial cancer, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer patients.1 With the Fast Track designation, the development of BNT325/DB-1305 can benefit from more frequent engagement with the FDA, to support the development and expedite the review of BNT325/DB-1305.

About BNT325/DB-1305

BNT325/DB-1305 is a third-generation topoisomerase-1 inhibitor-based ADC targeting TROP2 which was built from DualityBio's proprietary Duality Immune Toxin Antibody Conjugates ("DITAC") platform. TROP2 is a cell surface protein which is expressed in many normal tissues but is overexpressed in a variety of tumors. TROP2 plays an important role in tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion, thereby impacting the prognosis and treatment of cancer patients.6,7 BNT325/DB-1305 has exhibited antitumor activity in tumor models as well as in several advanced solid tumor indications, including non-small cell lung cancer ("NSCLC") and ovarian epithelial cancer.8 Preclinical data and preliminary clinical data for BNT325/DB-1305 indicate its potential to target TROP2 receptors on solid tumors irrespective of expression level with a manageable safety profile and a potentially expanded therapeutic window.5

About BioNTech

Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) is a next generation immunotherapy company pioneering novel therapies for cancer and other serious diseases. The Company exploits a wide array of computational discovery and therapeutic drug platforms for the rapid development of novel biopharmaceuticals. Its broad portfolio of oncology product candidates includes individualized and off-the-shelf mRNA-based therapies, innovative chimeric antigen receptor ("CAR") T cells, several protein-based therapeutics, including bispecific immune checkpoint modulators, targeted cancer antibodies and antibody-drug conjugate ("ADC") therapeutics, as well as small molecules. Based on its deep expertise in mRNA vaccine development and in-house manufacturing capabilities, BioNTech and its collaborators are developing multiple mRNA vaccine candidates for a range of infectious diseases alongside its diverse oncology pipeline. BioNTech has established a broad set of relationships with multiple global pharmaceutical collaborators, including Duality Biologics, Fosun Pharma, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Genevant, Genmab, OncoC4, Regeneron and Pfizer.

For more information, please visit www.BioNTech.com .

About DualityBio

DualityBio is a clinical-stage company focusing on the discovery and development of the next generation ADC therapeutics for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases. DualityBio has successfully established a number of next generation Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) technology platforms with global intellectual property rights. Building upon deep understanding of disease biology and translational capability, DualityBio has advanced 4 assets into global clinical studies, and developed more than 10 innovative product candidates which are currently in preclinical stage. Additionally, DualityBio is continuing evolving its novel protein engineering and ADC technology platforms for the next wave of "super ADC" molecules including diverse payload classes, bispecific ADCs and dual payload ADCs.

For more information, please visit www.dualitybiologics.com .

BioNTech Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, but not be limited to, statements concerning: the collaboration between BioNTech and DualityBio to jointly clinical develop antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), including BNT325/DB-1305; the registrational potential of any trial we may initiate for BNT325/DB-1305; the nature and characterization of and timing for release of clinical data across BioNTech's platforms, which is subject to peer review, regulatory review and market interpretation; the planned next steps in BioNTech's pipeline programs, including, but not limited to, statements regarding timing or plans for initiation or enrollment of clinical trials, or submission for and receipt of product approvals with respect to BioNTech's product candidates; the ability of BioNTech's mRNA technology to demonstrate clinical efficacy outside of BioNTech's infectious disease platform; the potential safety and efficacy of BioNTech's other product candidates; and BioNTech's anticipated market opportunity and size for its product candidates. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on BioNTech's current expectations and beliefs of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to discussions with regulatory agencies regarding timing and requirements for additional clinical trials; and the ability to produce comparable clinical results in future clinical trials. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "may," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "aims," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond BioNTech's control and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as risks associated with preclinical and clinical data, including the data discussed in this release, and including the possibility of unfavorable new preclinical, clinical or safety data and further analyses of existing preclinical, clinical or safety data; the nature of the clinical data, which is subject to ongoing peer review, regulatory review and market interpretation; the timing of and BioNTech's ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for BioNTech's product candidates; BioNTech's and its counterparties' ability to manage and source necessary energy resources; BioNTech's ability to identify research opportunities and discover and develop investigational medicines; the ability and willingness of BioNTech's third-party collaborators to continue research and development activities relating to BioNTech's development candidates and investigational medicines; unforeseen safety issues and potential claims that are alleged to arise from the use of products and product candidates developed or manufactured by BioNTech; BioNTech's and its collaborators' ability to commercialize and market, if approved, its product candidates; BioNTech's ability to manage its development and expansion; regulatory developments in the United States and other countries; BioNTech's ability to effectively scale BioNTech's production capabilities and manufacture BioNTech's products and BioNTech's product candidates; risks relating to the global financial system and markets; and other factors not known to BioNTech at this time.

You should review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in BioNTech's Report on Form 6-K for the period ended September 30, 2023, and in subsequent filings made by BioNTech with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, BioNTech disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on BioNTech's current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof.

CONTACTS

BioNTech

Investor Relations

Victoria Meissner, M.D.

+1 617 528 8293

Investors@biontech.de

Media Relations

Jasmina Alatovic

+49 (0)6131 9084 1513

Media@biontech.de

DualityBio

Business Development

bd@dualitybiologics.com





1 Data on file. Based on October 30, 2023, data cut-off from the Phase 1/2 trial.

2 Cabasag CT, Fagan PJ, et al. Int J Cancer. 2022 Nov 1;151








Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - AsiaBaseMetals Inc. (TSXV: ABZ) (the "Company") announces the appointment of Mr. Bruce Bragagnolo to the Board of Directors of the Company, and the grant of stock options. Mr. Bragagnolo will also join the Company's Audit Committee and Compensation Committee.

Mr. Bragagnolo is the Executive Chairman and a Director of Regency Silver Corp., a Mexico focused gold-copper-silver exploration company advancing its flagship wholly owned high grade Dios Padre gold-copper-silver project in Sonora, Mexico. Regency Silver made a major gold-copper-silver discovery at Dios Padre in 2022. Bruce is the co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Timmins Gold Corp. (name changed to Alio Gold Inc.) which was a former +100,000 oz. per year gold producer. He is also the co-founder and the former CEO of Silvermex Resources Ltd., a silver explorer which was acquired by First Majestic Silver in 2011 for a market capitalization of $175 million. Mr. Bragagnolo's strategic planning, business development, administration and financing abilities were instrumental in structuring and raising over $75 million in equity and debt for Timmins Gold and overseeing the growth of the company as it transitioned from junior developer to a +100,000 oz. per year gold producer with a peak market capitalization of over $450 million. Mr. Bragagnolo obtained a degree in law from the University of British Columbia and is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.

"Having had the pleasure of knowing Bruce for almost thirty years, working with Bruce in the past, including previously on the Board of AsiaBaseMetals, and the opportunity to follow his accomplishments, I'm sure the Company will benefit from his knowledge and relationships as it moves forward to continue to build shareholder value for all shareholders," stated Raj Chowdhry.

Mr. Deepak Varshney has tendered his resignation as a director of the Company, effective immediately, in order to devote the time required for managing his other business commitments. Raj Chowdhry, Chairman of AsiaBaseMetals, said, "We appreciate what Deepak has contributed to the Company and wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

Stock Options

The Company announces that, subject to Exchange approval, it has granted 250,000 stock options (the "Stock Options") to certain directors of the Company under the Company's stock option plan. The Stock Options will be exercisable at a price of $0.20 per share for a period of five (5) years from date of grant and will vest immediately.

ABOUT ASIABASEMETALS INC.

AsiaBaseMetals Inc. is a growth company focused on the exploration and development of base metals, precious metals. The Company has a 100% owned project in northeastern British Columbia, Canada - the 1,996 hectare Gnome zinc/cobalt project in the prolific geological district known as the Kechika Trough, a district hosting several zinc deposits. AsiaBaseMetals is led by a highly experienced executive management team that has a successful track record of building shareholder value through exploration, corporate finance, and mine development. AsiaBaseMetals Inc. trade on the TSX-V under the symbol ABZ. For more information about AsiaBaseMetals, please visit our website at www.asiabasemetals.com.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. For more information on the Company, please contact AsiaBaseMetals Inc.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company

"Raj I. Chowdhry"

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Raj Chowdhry, Chief Executive Officer

Email: contact@asiabasemetals.com

Telephone: (604)-765-2030

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196258

SOURCE: AsiaBaseMetals Inc.
EQS-News: North Peak Resources Ltd. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

North Peak Announces Results of Dump Sampling Program on Prospect Mountain, Eureka, Nevada



31.01.2024 / 13:00 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - North Peak Resources Ltd. (TSXV: NPR) (the "Company" or "North Peak") announces results from the first phase of sampling of surface workings on its Prospect Mountain property in Eureka, Nevada (the "Property"). As part of a surface mapping project, some of the dumps, numerous surface shafts, adits and scrapes were assayed. Highlights: Of the total of 77 rock chip and grab samples, the samples averaged, 2.42 g/t Au, 76.2 g/t Ag, 0.38% Cu, 1.06% Pb, 1.33% Zn.

The highest-grade gold sample assayed 33.9 g/t Au, 183 g/t Ag, 0.9% Cu, 1.81% Pb, 1.66% Zn from an unnamed surface scrape on a patented claim.

Twelve samples returned grades > 5 g/t Au, and averaged 10.34 g/t Au, 200.8 g/t Ag, 0.20% Cu, 2.96% Pb, 1.30% Zn. Samples were taken from outcrops and subcrops in old workings where possible, and from the dumps in front of the workings. (Fig. 1; Table 1 below). While grab samples from dumps are not indicative of in situ grades and are often the "poor quality" ore left behind by the historical miners, they give a useful guide to the composition and grade of the near surface mineralization present on the Property. The samples have so far been taken from the surface mineralization within the Hamburg Dolomite above the underground workings of the historic Diamond Mine, as well as nearby smaller mines, including the Williams Mine, where historic production recorded an average grade of 3.9 oz Au, 28.56 oz Ag and 1.51 % Lead (Source: The Eureka Mining District, Nolan 1962). The Company is using this data to complement and confirm the extensive historical rock grab database gathered in the 1990's by Homestake over the Property that comprises a total of 614 samples. The combined databases will be used in conjunction with the previously reported soil sampling data contained within the press release of 18 October 2023, and geophysics, to help determine near surface drill targets on the Property. Figure 1: Plan showing location of surface rock samples in relation to underground workings and geology. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9875/196320_northpeakimage1.jpg Review by Qualified Person, Quality Control and Reports Mr. Mike Sutton, P.Geo., a director of the Company, is the Qualified Person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, who reviewed and approved scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. The Qualified Person has not reviewed the mineral tenure, nor independently verified the legal status and ownership of the Property or any underlying property agreements. All samples referenced herein were prepped by ALS Elko, 1345 Water St, Elko, Nevada, USA. Gold was assayed at ALS Reno, 4977 Energy Way, Reno, Nevada, USA. All base metals and silver were assayed by ALS Vancouver, 2103 Dollarton Hwy, North Vancouver, BC, Canada. Gold was assayed by 30g fire assay analysis with AAS or gravimetric finish (Au-AA23/5 or Au-GRA21). Base metals and silver were analyzed using four-acid digestion ICP-MS (ME-MS61), with overlimit assays using Aqua Regia and four-acid digestion with ICP-MS analysis (*-OG62). All ALS Geochemistry sites operate under a single Global Geochemistry Quality Manual that complies with ISO/IEC 17025:2017, coupled within a global LIMS platform. There is no relationship, fiduciary or otherwise, between ALS and the Company. All samples were of hand specimen size or larger, and were sealed in North Peak's onsite facility and shipped directly to the lab; the Company can guarantee the chain of custody. The Company's QA/QC program includes the regular insertion of blanks and standards into the sample shipments, as well as instructions for duplication. Standards and blanks are inserted every 20 samples. About Prospect Mountain The Property lies in the Battle Mountain Eureka trend, in an area known as the Southern Eureka Gold Belt, where three styles of mineralization have been identified, gold, silver Carlin style mineralization, Carbonate Replacement gold, silver, lead, zinc mineralization (CRD) and carbonate hosted Porphyry Related Skarn lead, zinc and gold mineralization associated with cretaceous intrusions. At the Property, the CRD mineralization is heavily oxidized to depths of at least 610m (2000ft) below the top of the ridge line. A Plan of Operations is in place which covers part of the Property (totalling 81 acres) and entitles an operator to pursue surface exploration, underground mining of up to 365,000 tons per annum and certain infrastructural works. It includes a permit to extract water from a well and to build water containment facilities. About North Peak The Company is a Canadian based gold exploration and development company that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NPR". The Company is focused on acquiring historic sites, with low cost producing gold and other metals properties, with near term production potential and 8+ year mine life in the northern hemisphere. The Company recently acquired an initial 80% interest in the Prospect Mountain Mine complex in Eureka, Nevada (see the Company's May 4 and 23, 2023 press releases). The Company can give no assurances at this time that its properties and interests will fulfil the Company's business development goals described herein. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. For further information, please contact: Brian Hinchcliffe, CEO

Phone: +1-647-424-2305

Email: info@northpeakresources.com

Website: www.northpeakresources.com



Chelsea Hayes, Director

Phone: +1-647-424-2305

Email: info@northpeakresources.com The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the transactions described herein and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-Looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the ability of the parties to complete the transactions described herein, estimates of mineralization from drilling, sampling and geophysical surveys, geological information projected from sampling results and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones, the potential for minerals and/or mineral resources and reserves, and statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Property and the Company that may be described herein. Forward-Looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, accuracy of assay results, geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services, future operating costs, and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the quarter ended September 30, 2023, available at www.sedarplus.ca , many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-Looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Table 1. Results of assays of surface and workings rock samples to date of greater than 1 g/t Au or greater than 35g Ag or greater than 1% Cu or Pb or Zn. Locations are given in NAD83 UTM coordinates, Nevada East grid. * Sample collected from relatively unaltered rock for background measure. East North Sample

Type Sample

Source Au, g/t Ag, g/t Cu, % Pb, % Zn, % 164872.8 8524203 Grab Dump 33.90 183 0.90 1.81 1.66 164663 8523648 Grab Dump 16.75 243 0.05 3.17 2.26 164626.5 8523696 Grab Dump 10.20 580 0.03 11.70 0.57 164533.2 8523553 Chip Subcrop 6.99 125 0.01 1.60 0.16 164853.1 8524322 Grab Dump 6.92 118 0.04 1.16 1.38 164878.8 8523644 Grab Dump 6.42 105 0.12 1.24 1.42 164873.9 8524182 Grab Dump 6.06 86.1 0.30 0.68 0.69 164551.6 8523997 Grab Dump 6.00 229 0.25 0.49 1.37 164845.7 8524377 Grab Dump 5.67 293 0.24 3.74 1.12 164655.7 8523688 Grab Dump 5.58 160 0.04 5.02 0.65 164786.7 8523693 Grab Dump 5.13 270 0.25 3.74 2.47 164673.9 8523812 Chip Subcrop 4.30 145 0.03 1.21 0.82 164662.2 8523128 Grab Dump 3.78 56.8 0.29 0.60 1.31 164483.9 8523960 Grab Dump 3.16 33.5 0.12 1.73 0.96 164746.9 8523102 Grab Dump 2.75 133 0.16 0.66 0.74 164678.8 8523976 Grab Dump 2.63 70.5 0.15 1.33 2.04 164610.1 8523175 Grab Dump 2.42 76.6 0.32 0.19 1.71 164646.5 8523451 Grab Dump 1.74 98 0.02 1.27 0.42 164833.8 8523223 Grab Dump 1.62 23.4 0.70 0.72 2.80 164846.2 8524420 Chip Outcrop 1.49 53.7 0.06 0.56 1.06 164834.1 8524144 Grab Dump 1.20 61.5 0.42 0.34 1.33 164839.4 8524080 Grab Dump 1.17 358 0.15 1.06 1.45 164748.5 8523190 Grab Dump 1.09 41.2 0.12 0.52 0.98 164671.7 8523413 Grab Dump 1.03 49.7 0.64 6.16 0.89 164816.2 8524256 Grab Dump 0.96 96.9 0.20 2.58 2.01 164636.7 8523572 Chip Vein 0.94 121 0.99 0.66 1.63 164831.5 8524072 Grab Dump 0.92 98.7 0.43 1.79 1.64 164721.6 8523886 Grab Dump 0.90 448 0.33 0.87 2.08 164534.3 8523164 Grab Dump 0.84 27.6 0.31 0.38 1.19 164736.9 8523212 Grab Dump 0.79 89 0.29 0.80 1.11 164798.6 8523985 Grab Dump 0.62 44.6 0.04 0.73 0.76 164556.1 8523211 Grab Dump 0.54 15.6 0.07 0.20 1.63 164652.5 8524031 Grab Dump 0.51 51.4 0.04 1.05 1.50 164862.9 8524234 Grab Dump 0.49 11.8 0.30 0.66 2.01 164652.9 8523313 Chip Subcrop 0.48 14.05 0.27 1.02 3.21 164647.1 8523135 Grab Dump 0.47 5.55 0.52 0.03 1.85 164567.8 8523248 Grab Dump 0.44 6.18 0.11 0.13 1.42 164568.8 8523188 Grab Dump 0.44 36.9 0.25 0.48 0.90 164827.1 8524011 Grab Dump 0.39 83.3 0.04 0.19 1.34 164703.5 8523129 Grab Dump 0.38 9.53 0.29 0.22 1.37 164783.6 8522983 Grab Dump 0.38 156 0.15 1.50 0.79 164857.6 8524088 Grab Dump 0.38 71.2 0.08 0.61 1.08 164762 8523218 Chip Subcrop 0.35 11.95 0.45 0.80 1.75 165070.9 8525140 Chip Subcrop 0.23 6.19 0.07 1.36 1.15 164628.1 8523134 Grab Dump 0.22 5.21 0.26 0.05 1.64 165017.6 8524229 Grab Dump 0.19 53.6 1.00 0.73 1.58 164653.9 8523436 Grab Dump 0.16 6.36 0.16 0.85 8.12 164992.3 8523744 Grab Dump 0.11 10.75 0.15 0.12 1.73 164742.2 8523157 Grab Dump 0.09 7.07 0.21 0.27 1.36 164894.8 8523929 Chip Subcrop 0.06 47.6 0.20 1.29 1.56 164729.9 8523649 Chip Subcrop 0.06 8.4 0.55 0.65 2.79 165014 8523749 Chip Subcrop 0.01 56.1 0.01 0.72 0.07

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196320 Click on, or paste the following link into your web browser,to view the associated documents http://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196320

News Source: Newsfile





31.01.2024 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

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Selected as a standout among Europe's tech leaders, eDreams ODIGEO was invited to share insights on achieving success in AI at an event in Brussels.

The conference gathered high-profile leaders, including the Vice President of the European Commission, members of the European Parliament, the president of Google EMEA, as well as representatives from the Council of Europe and the OECD.

eDreams ODIGEO (hereinafter, 'the Company'), the world's leading travel subscription company and one of Europe's largest e-commerce companies joined key decision-makers in Brussels yesterday for talks on Artificial Intelligence implementation and regulation, amid the ongoing discussions on the European Union's AI Act.

Recognised as a leading player in Artificial Intelligence, eDreams ODIGEO was invited to contribute insights on understanding opportunities and challenges, ensuring safe and compliant technological advancements, and establishing new standards in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

In a panel discussion alongside fellow business leaders, the Company's General Counsel, Guillaume Teissonniere, emphasized the need for ensuring a regulatory framework that bolsters European-based businesses, ensuring their competitiveness in the global marketplace. While acknowledging the EU's delivery in legislation crafting, Teissonniere highlighted the need for enhanced mechanisms and processes to ensure robust enforcement. His remarks shed light on the importance of bridging the gap between policy creation and its effective implementation, emphasizing the need for a stronger enforcement framework within the European Union.

The General Counsel of the world's largest travel subscription platform also highlighted that even though the AI Act is yet to come into force, a majority of AI applications and AI-powered platforms are already governed by existing regulations across various domains, from data protection to competition or consumer regulations, and these require strong enforcement too. Teissonniere's comments resonate with recent concerns voiced by the Company, particularly concerning the lack of compliance exhibited by digital gatekeepers like Google concerning the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

eDreams ODIGEO's General Counsel also highlighted the need for a strategic approach to data management across the European tech ecosystem, emphasizing the significance of responsible governance to harness the full potential of data, ensuring that control remains within European entities rather than being dominated by major digital gatekeepers located primarily outside EU borders.

Finally, Teissonniere also pointed out the vast potential that this technology holds for European tech powerhouses as it drives productivity gains, enhances the personalisation of products and services and enables an overall improved servicing to consumers.

Hosted by the Financial Times and Google, this select invitation-only event gathered leading figures from across European institutions, including the Vice President of the European Commission, several members of the European Parliament, national governments and representatives from institutions such as the Council of Europe and the OECD, as well as the President of Google EMEA.

eDreams ODIGEO's decade-long strategic investments in AI have positioned the Company as a leader among AI-led companies globally, not just in the travel industry, but in the broader e-commerce sector. eDreams ODIGEO has integrated an AI-first approach, embedding the technology across the board in the business.

-ENDS-

About eDreams ODIGEO

eDreams ODIGEO is the world's leading travel subscription platform and one of the largest e-commerce businesses in Europe. Under its four renowned online travel agency brands eDreams, GO Voyages, Opodo, Travellink, and the metasearch engine Liligo it serves more than 20 million customers per year across 44 markets. Listed on the Spanish Stock Market, eDreams ODIGEO works with nearly 700 airlines. The business conceptualised Prime, the first subscription product in the travel sector which has topped 5.2 million members since launching in 2017. The brand offers the best quality products in regular flights, low-cost airlines, hotels, dynamic packages, car rental and travel insurance to make travel easier, more accessible, and better value for consumers across the globe.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131658579/en/

Contacts:

eDreams ODIGEO Press Office

E: edreamspressoffice@instinctif.com

T: +(44)07879086840
Continued rise in Ukrainian injuries, amputations results in persistent critical need for prosthetics in war-impacted Country

Aether Biomedical, a biotech company creating cutting-edge intelligent prosthetic hands, announced a recent partnership with Ukraine-based Superhumans Center to deliver bionic Zeus Hands to wounded Ukrainians.

"As the Russian-Ukrainian war continues, a pressing need has emerged, with tens of thousands of Ukrainians forced to amputate one or more limbs," said Dhruv Agrawal, Aether Biomedical Chief Executive and Co-Founder. "As all Ukrainians continue to be impacted by the war, we are grateful to be able to partner with the incredible Superhumans Center who is on a mission to motivate injured people not to give up and to believe in a 'Superhuman' society."

A recent poll found that almost 80 percent of Ukrainians have had close relatives or friends killed or injured in the fighting, according to Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) survey and many of these injuries require amputations. Additionally, Ukrainian health officials have noted the lack of upper-limb prosthetists in Ukraine. The Lviv-based Superhumans Center was created to restore quality of life to the injured, and provide them with the best prosthetics available.

"Ukraine really lacks professionals on upper limb prosthetics," said Andriy Stavnitser, Superhumans Co-Founder. "That's why the opportunity to collaborate with brilliant American specialists in Lviv is so valuable. We are deeply grateful to Aether Biomedical for not shying away from risks and helping our professionals learn more about hand prosthetics. We are confident that this partnership will be long-lasting and highly successful."

There are two advanced features of Aether Biomedical's Zeus Hand that stand out as highly beneficial to Ukrainian users. First, the Zeus Hand allows for local repairability of the bionic hand parts in need of replacement or upgrade can be swapped in and out. Second, the remote configurability of the hand allows the Zeus user to be able to connect to their clinician remotely to receive adjustments or changes. Sarra Mullen, CP Certified Prosthetist and recently-elevated Chief Innovation Officer at Aether noted, "Prior to our hand technology, these changes would require an in-person clinic visit. We know the importance of remote access to healthcare and the need in a war-impacted country is even more vital for the user. This remote configuration feature can be the difference between a clinician being able to provide care for the patient and not."

In December 2023, Mike Marin and Tony Berland, Certified Prosthetist Orthotists, traveled to Ukraine on Aether's behalf to fit the patients with the Zeus Hand. Mr. Berland shared his reasons for wanting to serve on this mission. "When I was approached to go support the wounded in Ukraine, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. This experience has allowed me to use my skills as an upper-limb specialist to help those in critical need. Working with Aether Biomedical and the Superhumans Center was nothing short of amazing. The experience could only be topped when I saw the final outcome the smile or tears of joy on patients' faces when you return something that they may have thought was lost forever." Berland's partner on the mission, Mr. Marin echoed this sentiment. "As a prosthetist, these are opportunities you relish. After researching the Superhumans center and seeing the wonderful work they did there, it became clear that this was an easy decision to make, that would ultimately lead to successful outcomes."

Aether Biomedical has raised another $1.5 million in funding in the last 30 days, coming on the heels of a recent $5.8 Million Series A funding round led by J2 Ventures and Story Ventures. Aether CEO Dhruv Agrawal further commented, "We are encouraged by the global support of the Zeus Hand and would love to partner with other NGOs around the world to help bring bionic prosthetics to those who truly need them to live better."

For more information about Aether and the Zeus hand, visit www.aetherbiomedical.com/.

About Aether Biomedical

Aether is building the future of human-inspired machines, starting with the most intuitive and intelligent prosthetic hand ever built. The Company's flagship product, the Zeus hand, is the strongest and "smartest" bionic hand for upper limb amputees. Zeus uses neural signals, Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning and deep learning to give users more autonomy and ease in their daily lives. Aether was founded in 2017 by Dhruv Agrawal and Faith Jiwakhan on the premise of creating smart prosthetic technology that is accessible for all. In 2021, Aether Biomedical extended its global reach by establishing its U.S. headquarters in Chicago, IL. This expansion complements their international presence in Poland and India. Learn more at www.aetherbiomedical.com/.

About Superhumans

Superhumans Center is a modern clinic for prosthetics, rehabilitation, reconstructive surgery and psychological support for military and civilians injured in the war in Ukraine. Superhumans is not a business. All services at the clinic are free for patients. The center is financed by donors and partners. The first Superhumans Center was opened in April 2023 near Lviv (Ukraine). In the coming years, Superhumans will open 5 more centers in different cities of Ukraine: Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Vinnytsia, Rivne, Dnipro. The project was initiated by Ukrainian businessman Andriy Stavnitser. Learn more at superhumans.com/en.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131354522/en/

Contacts:

Media Investor

Sarra Mullen

Aether Biomedical

+1 312.535.9697

sarra.mullen@aetherbiomedical.com
CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Renalogic, the market leader in helping group benefits plans and their members fight the human and financial costs of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and dialysis, today announced a strategic relationship with AmeriHealth Administrators, one of the largest national third-party administrators (TPA) providing innovative, value-based health benefits programs and outsourcing services for self-funded health plans and other organizations.

The relationship aligns Renalogic's cost containment and care management solutions with AmeriHealth Administrator's third-party administration solutions - providing the marketplace with a streamlined, cost-effective delivery model to address high-cost dialysis claims. Group benefits plans, including self-funded, level-funded and fully-insured plans, can now utilize Renalogic's claims repricing services in collaboration with AmeriHealth Administrator's claims administration platform.

"We're excited to partner with AmeriHealth Administrators and their innovative, customizable technology platform," said Kevin Weinstein, CEO at Renalogic. "Their experience and flexibility align with the 20+ years Renalogic has been helping businesses fight against high dialysis costs."

Renalogic provides cost containment and transparency solutions to group plans while working to prevent members from progressing to dialysis with care management programs. Renalogic's solutions include:

ImpactIQ to help identify and stratify hidden risks among members.

ImpactCare to stop the progression of CKD and improve member health.

ImpactAdvocate to navigate members to effective, lower-cost options.

ImpactProtect to reduce dialysis costs using proprietary claims repricing.

ImpactClarify to unravel multiple accountable parties (MAP) claims.

"We value the relationship with Renalogic leadership and have enjoyed working together to customize and launch an efficient administrative solution," said Liz Midtlien, Vice President Emerging Markets at AmeriHealth Administrators. "As a TPA, we are dedicated to impacting plan cost, better care management and improved outcomes for the members we serve. This strategic collaboration has allowed us to demonstrate that commitment on behalf of Renalogic's national customers."

For more information about Renalogic, visit renalogic.com. For more information about AmeriHealth Administrators, visit amerihealth.com/tpa.

About Renalogic

Founded in 2002, Renalogic helps group plans of all sizes and their U.S.-based health plan members reduce the human and financial costs of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and dialysis. We help organizations manage dialysis claims with cost-containment and transparency solutions while working to prevent members from progressing to dialysis with our care management programs. Renalogic has helped clients save more than $780,000,000 and helped stop CKD from progressing for thousands of members. Learn more at renalogic.com.

About AmeriHealth Administrators

AmeriHealth Administrators is one of the largest national third-party administrators providing innovative, value-based health benefits programs and outsourcing services for self-funded health plans and other organizations. The company also provides customized outsourcing services for TPAs and other payers, student health plans, and fully insured products. AmeriHealth Administrators serves 1 million plan members in all 50 states and processes over 6 million claims annually.

Contact Information

Nick Severino

SVP, Marketing

marketing@renalogic.com

SOURCE: Renalogic

View the original press release on newswire.com.
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty Crowns the Champions of Its Builder Members for Contributions to Home-Building Industry

DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty announces the 2023 Builder Achievement Awards Program winners. The 2-10 Builder Achievement Awards Program acknowledges outstanding performance in the home-building industry.

"Awarding the winners of the 2-10 Builder Achievement Awards is an especially proud moment because it shows an unyielding effort to advance home-building excellence between builders and 2-10," said Ryan O'Hara, 2-10's CEO. "Our Builder Members continue to offer industry-defining home experiences backed by 2-10's industry-leading New Home Warranty Program."

Every year, 2-10 acknowledges builders who construct inspired homes, demonstrate skilled craftsmanship and improve the quality of housing. The program recognizes distinct areas of excellence throughout three tiers: Platinum, Premier and Select.

2-10 also awarded several builders with its lifetime achievement award, the Foundation Builder Award, reserved for builders who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to improving the housing industry while providing exceptional customer service and protection. These award-winning builders display a tenured devotion to doing things the right way and building a business based on integrity, trust and reliability.

"Awards like these celebrate how builders leverage 2-10's industry mindshare as a key way to promote their quality," said Ray Picard, 2-10's Chief Business Officer. "These builders are most deserving of their awards, and we're proud to call them 2-10 Builder Members."

To learn more about the Builder Achievement Awards Program, visit www.2-10.com/builders-warranty/builder-awards/.

About 2-10

One in five new homes in the U.S. is enrolled in the industry-leading 2-10 New Home Warranty Program. Founded and based in Denver, the 2-10 family of companies has covered over six million homes with our complete line of warranties, system and appliance home service plans and risk management products. Since 1980, 2-10 has been a market leader in helping builders, real estate agents and homeowners protect their businesses and budgets against the unexpected. 2-10 continues to work with thousands of the nation's finest real estate professionals, home builders and service contractors. For more information about 2-10, please visit 2-10.com.

Contact Information

Lauren Miller

Associate Marketing Manager, New Home

lamiller@2-10.com

877-777-1344

SOURCE: 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty

View the original press release on newswire.com.
The NorSat-TD demonstration microsatellite developed by Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) for the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA) has successfully transferred data to a ground station using optical communications technology. The accomplishment is a first for a Dutch-built laser communication device and among the first achieved by a microsatellite.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131013536/en/

Artist rendering of NorSat-TD microsatellite developed by Space Flight Laboratory (SFL). (Photo: Business Wire)

Optical, or laser, communications between a satellite and ground station enable faster and more secure transmission of larger data sets than typically possible with radio communications. Reliable delivery of data either collected or relayed by satellites is vital to most low Earth orbit applications, including Earth observation, telecommunications, atmospheric monitoring, maritime ship tracking, and space astronomy.

"The successful demonstration of satellite-to-ground communication by the 35-kg NorSat-TD microsatellite greatly expands the utility of affordable smaller satellites that are more cost effective than traditional spacecraft to develop, launch, and operate," said SFL Director Dr. Robert E. Zee.

Two technologies are critical for optical satellite communications. The first is precise attitude control a challenge for low-mass spacecraft that allows the microsatellite to accurately and continuously point at the ground station for several minutes as the spacecraft passes overhead at 7.5 km per second. NorSat-TD incorporates barrier-breaking small satellite stability and pointing capabilities developed and refined by SFL in dozens of operational missions.

The second and equally important key to optical satellite-to-ground communication is a high-quality onboard laser terminal with a fine steering mirror that locks the extremely narrow optical beam onto a ground station beacon. The Small Communication Active Terminal (SmallCAT) laser communication system aboard NorSat-TD was developed by a consortium of organizations led by TNO (The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research) of the Netherlands.

Commenting on the success of the NorSat-TD optical communications demonstration, NOSA Senior Advisor, Tyler Jones, said, "The quality of the pointing performance of SFL's DEFIANT bus speaks for itself. NOSA is also pleased with the flexibility and problem solving that SFL demonstrated while accommodating the SmallCAT terminal in the NorSat-TD design, and working through payload evolutions with TNO."

Launched in April 2023, NorSat-TD was the sixth mission developed by SFL for Norway. Designed primarily as a maritime ship tracking mission, the demonstration microsatellite also carried experimental payloads for enhanced GPS positioning, spacecraft tracking by laser, and iodine-fueled propulsion, in addition to the SmallCAT terminal. NorSat-4, now under development at SFL for a 2024 launch, will feature a first-of-its-kind low-light imaging sensor.

Established in 1998, SFL has developed 70 operationally successful smaller satellite missions totaling nearly 300 cumulative years in orbit. Another 26 missions are now under development by SFL, which offers a complete suite of nano-, micro- and small satellites including high-performance, low-cost CubeSats that satisfy the needs of a broad range of mission types from 3 to 500 kilograms. For a comprehensive list of SFL high-performance satellite platforms, please visit https://www.utias-sfl.net/satellite-platforms/overview/.

Visit SFL in Booth 23 at the 2024 Small Satellite Symposium being held February 6-8 in Mountain View, California.

About Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) (www.utias-sfl.net)

SFL generates bigger returns from smaller, lower cost satellites. Small satellites built by SFL consistently push the performance envelope and disrupt the traditional cost paradigm. Satellites are built with advanced power systems, stringent attitude control and high-volume data capacity that are striking relative to the budget. SFL arranges launches globally and maintains a mission control center accessing ground stations worldwide. The pioneering and barrier-breaking work of SFL is a key enabler to tomorrow's cost-aggressive satellites and constellations. (www.utias-sfl.net)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131013536/en/

Contacts:

Dr. Robert E. Zee

SFL Director

1-416-667-7400

info@utias-sfl.net

Follow SFL on Twitter @SFL_SmallerSats
Nordea Bank Abp / Key word(s): AGMEGM

Nomination Board's proposals to Nordea's Annual General Meeting 2024 include a new Board member



31.01.2024 / 14:05 CET/CEST





Nomination Board's proposals to Nordea's Annual General Meeting 2024 include a new Board member Nordea Bank Abp

Stock exchange release - Other information disclosed according to the rules of the Exchange

31 January 2024 at 13:20 EET The Shareholders' Nomination Board of Nordea Bank Abp announces today its proposals to Nordea's Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on 21 March 2024. Lars Rohde is proposed as a new member of the Board of Directors. The proposal of the Shareholders' Nomination Board for the Board of Directors to be elected by the 2024 AGM comprises ten members. The proposal includes the re-election of Sir Stephen Hester, Petra van Hoeken, John Maltby, Risto Murto, Lene Skole, Per Stromberg, Jonas Synnergren, Arja Talma and Kjersti Wiklund as members of the Board of Directors and the election of Lars Rohde as a new member of the Board of Directors. The Nomination Board proposes that Sir Stephen Hester continues as the Chair of the Board. Birger Steen is not available for re-election. Lars Rohde (69), a Danish citizen, is recognised as a leading banking professional with a profound understanding of the Danish financial sector and society. During his 40-year career in the banking industry, Lars Rohde has held positions both as a commercial finance executive and financial services official. For the last 10 years, he was the Governor of the National Bank of Denmark until stepping down from the role in 2023. Prior to this, he was the CEO of ATP, the largest pension company in Denmark. Lars Rohde was recently appointed a board member of the Aarhus University. Chair of the Shareholders' Nomination Board, Niko Pakalen, says: "I am pleased to present the Nomination Board's proposals to the shareholders. In assessing the optimal Board composition, the Nomination Board seeks a broad set of qualities and competencies and recognises that diversity, including age, gender, geographical provenance and educational and professional background, is an important factor to take into consideration. The proposed Board reflects the business, market and development stage of Nordea. The new proposed Board member, Lars Rohde, adds to the Board's strong ties to the Nordic market and further strengthens the Board's knowledge especially in areas of macroeconomy and risk, as well as leadership and people matters. I wish to also take the opportunity to extend the Nomination Board's gratitude to Birger Steen for his dedication and valuable efforts during his notable tenure on the Board." The Nomination Board has sought to ensure that the proposed Board of Directors as a whole has the best possible competencies, expertise and experience for Nordea. Further, the Nomination Board has taken into account the regulatory requirements and recommendations applicable to credit institutions and as set out in the Finnish Corporate Governance Code for listed companies. Taking into account the high demands placed on the collective experience and competence of the Board of Directors by the nature, scale and complexity of Nordea's business, it is the collective opinion of the Nomination Board and Nordea Bank Abp that the proposed Board of Directors and its members are suitable for the assignment both collectively and individually and that Sir Stephen Hester is suitable for the position as Chair of the Board of Directors. After a thorough assessment, the Nomination Board proposes that the remuneration for the various Board member roles is increased by 3.0% - 3.7% and with a slightly higher adjustment for one committee chair remuneration to gradually align it with the other committee chair remunerations. In making the proposal, the Nomination Board has considered Nordic and European market practices as well as other contemplated compensation adjustments for management and staff of Nordea. The Nomination Board emphasises the importance of Nordea remaining an attractive option for highly competent Board members that fulfil the regulatory requirements. Lars Rohde proposed as a new member of the Board of Directors The Shareholders' Nomination Board proposes for a period until the end of the next AGM: - that the number of members of the Board of Directors to be elected by the AGM is set at ten (10); - the re-election of Sir Stephen Hester, Petra van Hoeken, John Maltby, Risto Murto, Lene Skole, Per Stromberg, Jonas Synnergren, Arja Talma and Kjersti Wiklund as members of the Board of Directors; and - the election of Lars Rohde as a new member of the Board of Directors; so that each proposed member of the Board of Directors is considered separately in an election; and - the re-election of Sir Stephen Hester as Chair of the Board of Directors. However, should any number of the candidates proposed by the Shareholders' Nomination Board for any reason not be available for election to the Board of Directors, the proposed number of Board members shall be decreased accordingly, and the remaining available candidates are proposed to be elected in accordance with the proposal by the Shareholders' Nomination Board. All proposed Board members have given their consent to being elected as members of the Board of Directors and Sir Stephen Hester has given his consent to being elected as Chair of the Board of Directors. Relevant authority approval for the proposed new Board member is pending. In addition to the above proposed Board members, the Board of Directors has three ordinary members and one deputy member elected by the employees of the Nordea Group. It is the collective opinion of the Shareholders' Nomination Board and Nordea Bank Abp that the proposed Board of Directors and its members are suitable for the assignment both collectively and individually and that Sir Stephen Hester is suitable for the position as Chair of the Board of Directors. The biographical details of the current Board members are available at www.nordea.com/en/about-us/corporate-governance/board-of-directors. The CV of the proposed new member of the Board of Directors will be made available today at www.nordea.com/agm. All proposed Board members are, in accordance with the Finnish Corporate Governance Code, independent of Nordea's significant shareholders and, excluding Board members elected by the employees, also considered independent of the company. The ordinary members and the deputy member of the Board of Directors elected by the employees are employed by the Nordea Group and, therefore, they are not independent of the company. Remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors The Shareholders' Nomination Board proposes to the AGM that the following annual remuneration is paid to the members of the Board of Directors elected by the AGM: Role 2024 - proposed (EUR) 2023 (EUR) Increase Chair 365,000 352,000 3.7% Vice Chair 171,000 165,500 3.3% Other members of the Board of Directors 109,000 105,500 3.3%

The Shareholders' Nomination Board also proposes the following additional annual remuneration for committee chairs and committee members: Role 2024 - proposed (EUR) 2023 (EUR) Increase Board Audit Committee, Board Risk Committee, and Board Operations and Sustainability Committee chairs 69,500 67,000 3.7% Board Audit Committee, Board Risk Committee, and Board Operations and Sustainability Committee members 34,500 33,500 3.0% Board Remuneration and People Committee Chair 53,000 49,500 7.1% Board Remuneration and People Committee members 30,000 29,000 3.4%

No remuneration is paid to members of the Board of Directors employed by the Nordea Group. In addition, Nordea covers or reimburses the members of the Board of Directors all costs and expenses related to or arising from the Board membership, including travel, logistics and accommodation as well as consultative, legal and administrative costs. The legal costs can e.g. include required costs of legal defence and claims made (during and after their period of office) against Board members in cases where Board members are not found liable or guilty of any intentional wrongdoing or grossly negligent behaviour. Composition of the Shareholders' Nomination Board The members of the Nomination Board constituted in 2023 are Niko Pakalen, Partner, Cevian Capital, Lars Ingemann Nielsen, Executive Vice President and CFO, Nordea-fonden, Daniel Kristiansson, Governance and Stewardship Specialist, Alecta, Timo Sallinen, Director, Head of Listed Securities, Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company, and Sir Stephen Hester, Chair of the Board of Directors of Nordea Bank Abp. The Shareholders' Nomination Board is constituted yearly on the basis of the shareholdings on 31 August of the year preceding the AGM. The mandate is valid until a new Nomination Board has been constituted. The proposals of the Shareholders' Nomination Board to the AGM together with the AGM speech of the Chair of the Nomination Board will be made available today at www.nordea.com/agm. The proposals will also be included in the notice to the AGM to be published later in February 2024. Shareholders' Nomination Board contact: Chair Niko Pakalen, +46 8 545 675 50 For any other information relating to Nordea: Media inquiries, +358 10 416 8023 or press@nordea.com The information provided in this stock exchange release was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contacts set out above, at 13:20 EET on 31 January 2024. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com .



End of Media Release


Combined heat and power plant (CHP) will deliver 50 megawatts equivalent (MWe) of heat and power, supporting Poland's plans to achieve net zero by 2050

Gas-powered plants are expected to deliver environmentally friendly electricity and district heating for the city of Bydgoszcz

INNIO Group's Jenbacher team will provide maintenance support for the CHP plant as part of the 10-year long-term service agreement

BYDGOSZCZ, POLAND / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / INNIO Group (INNIO) today announced that five Jenbacher J920 FleXtra engines will power a 50 MWe combined heat and power project in Bydgoszcz, Poland, for PGE Energia Ciepla S.A. (PGE).

PGE Cogeneration Facility in BYDGOSZCZ, Poland

The five Jenbacher CHP units - generating a total of 52.6 MWe - each will consist of a steam generator, a turbocharger, and an auxiliary module. Additionally, under a 10-year service agreement with PGE, the Jenbacher team will provide maintenance and assembly work, as well as start-up and operator training.

The "Ready for H2" CHP plant will be fueled with gas, replacing coal-fueled power plants that are currently in use. The Jenbacher team will work with engineering and construction firm Polimex Mostostal S.A. and its subsidiary Polimex Energetyka Sp. z o.o. to implement the design, construction, installation and all other aspects of the building process to construct the turnkey cogeneration power plant, electrode water boiler and standby/peak boiler.

"INNIO Group's technology is helping to achieve the transition to net zero by replacing coal power plants, resulting in eliminating over 70% CO2 per power plant," said Dr. Olaf Berlien, president and CEO of INNIO Group. "Our 'Ready for H2' engines help ensure that PGE assets will be able to deliver carbon-free power and heat well into the future when hydrogen is more readily available."

The use of gas for decentralized power and heat generation is an important aspect of PGE's strategy to decarbonize its district heating operations. With the operational efficiency of the Jenbacher combined heat and power solution, PGE's transition from coal-fueled power generation to natural gas helps support the Polish government's plans to phase out coal and reduce carbon emissions.

The Bydgoszcz CHP facility will be the largest gas-fueled power plant using "Ready for H2" engines to replace a coal-fired power plant in Poland. The CHP plant supports the central aspect of Poland's energy policy of reducing reliance on coal, especially for electricity generation and district heating. The facility marks the first Jenbacher J920 FleXtra project in Poland and is an important milestone for INNIO Group in Poland.

###

About INNIO Group

INNIO Group is a leading energy solution and service provider that empowers industries and communities to make sustainable energy work today. With its product brands Jenbacher and Waukesha and its digital platform myPlant, INNIO offers innovative solutions for the power generation and compression segments that help industries and communities generate and manage energy sustainably while navigating the fast-changing landscape of traditional and green energy sources. INNIO is individual in scope, but global in scale. With its flexible, scalable, and resilient energy solutions and services, INNIO enables its customers to manage the energy transition along the energy value chain wherever they are in their transition journey.

INNIO is headquartered in Jenbach (Austria), with other primary operations in Waukesha (Wisconsin, U.S.) and Welland (Ontario, Canada). A team of more than 4,000 experts provides life-cycle support to INNIO's more than 55,000 delivered engines globally through a service network in more than 100 countries.

In March 2023, INNIO's ESG rating ranked first out of more than 500 companies worldwide in the machinery industry assessed by Sustainalytics.

For more information, visit INNIO's website at www.innio.com. Follow INNIO Group and its brands on X (formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn.

INNIO, Jenbacher, myPlant, Waukesha are trademarks in the European Union or elsewhere owned by INNIO Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG or one of its affiliates. All other trademarks and company names are property of their respective owners.

In general, "Ready for H2" Jenbacher units can be converted to operate on up to 100% hydrogen in the future. Details on the cost and timeline for a future conversion may vary and need to be clarified individually.

Contact Information

Susanne Reichelt

INNIO Media Relations

susanne.reichelt@innio.com

+43 664 80833 2382

SOURCE: INNIO Group

View the original press release on newswire.com.
The Humans Group of Companies has released its annual report for 2023. The ecosystem recorded growth across all key indicators, including revenue, turnover and the number of active users. The average annual revenue growth rate over the past two years is almost 30%.

TASHKENT. Uzbekistan, Jan. 31, 2024 The Humans Group of Companies has published its financial and operational results for 2023. The company's total revenue for the year amounted to $41.7 million, with the ecosystem earning a total of $114 million over three years. The average annual growth rate of net revenue amounted to 28.4% over the last two years, and the average annual growth rate of the ecosystem turnover was 285.9% for the same period. The turnover of the Humans Group in 2023 reached $984.2 million, of which $124.5 million was achieved in December alone.

The Humans super-app is a single application that combines communication services, a Humans VISA bank card, a payment and transfer service, including cross-border payments, and a cashback programme. According to the report, almost 1.1 million customers already use at least two services in the Humans super-app at the same time. The number of unique active users of the super-app amounts to 723,000 per week. The Uzbek fintech sector is growing at a particularly fast pace, with the average annual growth rate of revenue per client amounting to 94.4% over the past two years.

At present, Humans is the only company on the Uzbekistan market so far that has built an ecosystem based on a super-app that combines communication and fintech services. The company continues to increase the amount of key operations and overall user activity. The number of active customers of telecom services is approximately 1.4 million, with 1 million of these using mobile operator package services. The number of customers that regularly use the C2C transfers and payments reached 801,000 by the end of 2023. The average annual growth rate of customers in the Uzbek fintech sector amounted to 37.4% over two years. The growth rate of the number of activated Humans VISA bank cards is at a similar level, with an average of 35.6% each year from 2021 to 2023.

Net revenue growth

Net revenues of the Humans Group have shown consistent year-on-year growth; UZS 247.2 billion in 2021, UZS 364.7 billion in 2022, and UZS 407.3 billion in 2023. The cumulative average annual growth rate thus reached almost 30%.

Customers joining the ecosystem

Super-app users are increasingly using several Humans services at once, and the share of fintech customers in the company's business is growing steadily. In 2021, more than 98% of customers who were active in a 30 day-period used telecom services exclusively. This number fell to 87.7% in 2023. However, at the same time, the average annual growth rate of revenue per telecom services customer increased to 10%.

The main driver of growth was the company's fintech services, consisting mainly of transfers and payments through the super-app, as well as the Humans VISA card. In 2021, just 15.4% of super-app customers actively used these services, whereas this figure reached 40.2% in 2023. Moreover, the majority of these customers (27.9% out of 40%) use both telecom and fintech services simultaneously.

In general, Humans customers are increasingly combining several services in the super-app. In 2022, the number of customers using at least two types of services reached 782,000, rising to almost 1.1 million in 2023, which represents an increase of more than 40% year-on-year.

Innovation in customer service

The Humans super-app is used by millions of customers. Providing high-quality support is essential with this level of customer activity, so the management team has focused on implementing new technologies and methods in their customer service practices since the start of the project. A large proportion of the initial calls are processed by an AI-based system, with about 80,000 requests processed this way each month. At the same time, most user issues are resolved quickly: 92% of cases during the first phone call, and 80% of cases during the first chat conversation.

"This past year was in many ways defining for Humans. We are convinced that our strategy of building an ecosystem is working; more and more clients are using several services within the super-app at once. Consistent growth in revenue, turnover, transactions and customer activity confirms that the Uzbek market is finally ready for super-apps, and customers have begun to understand the benefits of using such an ecosystem. Over the past three years, Humans has managed to build a sustainable business in the region and ensure steady growth, despite turbulence and a difficult start during the pandemic."

"I am confident that the company's growth will continue as we expand the range of services in our ecosystem, attract more clients, and achieve even more positive results in terms of financial indicators. But our mission doesn't end there. The goals of the Humans team include increasing financial literacy, developing the digital economy in Uzbekistan, and eliminating the digital divide in all regions across the country. Moreover, we aim to give all residents free and easy access to digital services - from free communications to fast delivery of goods - regardless of their age, social status, or place of residence," Vlad Dobrynin, CEO and founder of Humans Group.

____________________________________________________________________________

Humans.uz is a super-app that combines financial services, mobile services, and a product marketplace. The project was launched in June 2020 in Uzbekistan by the Humans Group, which is also developing the Humans.net employee search platform in the USA . The group's offices are located in the USA, Uzbekistan, Poland, Singapore and Germany .

SOURCE The Humans Group of Companies
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Royal Road Minerals Limited (TSXV: RYR) ("Royal Road" or the "Company") announces that Ana Gabriela Juarez has resigned as a director of the Company and that Mr. Ghassane Benchekroun has been appointed as a director of the Company, effective immediately. The Company also announces the cancellation and issuance of employee incentive stock options.

The Board of directors extends its gratitude to Ana for her strategic insight, for her enthusiasm and for ensuring the Company maintains its ESG credentials regardless of complexity and context. Ana's assistance with the Company's recent transition from a Latin American to a Middle East and North African focus has been sympathetic and selfless.

The Company welcomes Ghassane Benchekroun to the Board. Ghassane is CFO of the Gas and Power Division of a leading Moroccan Energy Group and has been actively involved in developing natural gas, power, and green hydrogen businesses in North Africa and elsewhere. Ghassane previously led M&A and Strategy within the same group of companies. Ghassane has an impressive track record in corporate finance and fund-raising, including roles as a financial analyst in investment banking. Alongside his professional activities, Ghassane maintains strong community links through his involvement with several NGOs, including a think-tank focused on development issues in Morocco which he co-founded in 2018. Ghassane graduated from ISCAE Business School in Casablanca (Morocco) and holds a master's degree in financial engineering from Paris XII University (France).

"We would like to sincerely thank Ana for her important contributions and her gracious assistance in enabling a smooth transition from a South American to MENA focus, we wish her well in her future endeavors. We welcome Ghassane to Royal Road's board where his wealth of local and regional knowledge will surely strengthen our team's ability to deliver shareholder value" said Jon Hill, Chairman of the board of Royal Road.

In addition, the Company announces that it has cancelled an aggregate of 7.2 million employee incentive stock options exercisable into ordinary shares at a price of $0.40 and has granted an aggregate of 3 million options to purchase ordinary shares of Royal Road exercisable at a price of $0.15 per common share for a period of two (2) years to a director and two employees of the Company. The ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the options are subject to a four-month hold period from the original date of grant.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary statement:

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements") describing the Company's future plans and the expectations of its management that a stated result or condition will occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or developments in the Company's business or in the mineral resources industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, achievements, or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that is based on assumptions about, among other things, the Alliance, the intention to form a joint venture, enter into a related agreement and establish Newco and, more generally, future economic conditions and courses of action, and assumptions related to government approvals, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The words "plans", "prospective", "expect", "intend", "intends to" and similar expressions identify forward looking statements, which may also include, without limitation, any statement relating to future events, conditions, or circumstances. Forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to the Company's exploration plans.

The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. There is no guarantee that the anticipated benefits of the Company's business plans or operations will be achieved. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: economic market conditions, anticipated costs and expenditures, government approvals, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with Canadian provincial securities regulators or other applicable regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements included herein are based on the current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions of the Company management and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs, and opinions change.

For Further Information

Please Contact

Camila Gutierrez,

VP Corporate Development and Communications

camilla.gutierrez@royalroadminerals.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196324

SOURCE: Royal Road Minerals Limited
TORONTO, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xanadu Mines Ltd (ASX: XAM, TSX: XAM) (Xanadu, XAM or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on exploration drilling at the Kharmagtai Project in Mongolia, being developed with the Company's joint venture partner Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. (Zijin). Exploration drilling continues to expand upon the new zone of higher-grade copper and gold mineralisation at the White Hill deposit, demonstrating progressive growth in higher-grade material at the base of the previously optimised open pits.



Highlights

Latest extensional and exploration drilling results expand upon the recently identified higher-grade zone (core) at White Hill 1 , located below the previous Scoping Study pit designs 2 and outside the 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate ( MRE ) 3 . Best drilling results include: KHDDH808 - 64.45m @ 0.74% CuEq (0.61% Cu & 0.26/t Au) from 516,



Including 24.45m @ 1.41% CuEq (1.14% Cu & 0.53g/t Au) from 634m



Including 13.8m @ 1.99% CuEq (1.64% Cu & 0.70g/t Au) from 558m



KHDDH806 - 50m @ 0.73% CuEq (0.25% Cu & 0.94g/t Au) from 545m



Including 22m @ 1.34% CuEq (0.26% Cu & 2.10g/t Au) from 549



, located below the previous Scoping Study pit designs and outside the 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate ( ) . Best drilling results include:

Expanding higher-grade core (>1% CuEq ) at White Hill is expected to enhance & enlarge the 2023 MRE and to increase scale & deepen 2022 Scoping Study 2 pit shells, capturing additional higher-grade over longer period.

) at White Hill is expected to enhance & enlarge the 2023 MRE and to increase scale & deepen 2022 Scoping Study pit shells, capturing additional higher-grade over longer period. Step-out drilling at Golden Eagle returns grades more than double the MRE grade and extends mineralisation. Best results include: KHDDH805 - 153.4m @ 0.68g/t AuEq (0.43g/t Au and 0.13% Cu) from 41.6m



Including 67m @ 0.97g/t AuEq (0.67g/t Au and 0.15% Cu) from 44m



Including 8m @ 1.7g/t AuEq (1.34g/t Au and 0.18% Cu) from 54m



And 14m @ 1.22g/t AuEq (0.81g/t Au and 0.21% Cu) from 77m



Deep drilling hole KHDDH779 encounters two broad zones of porphyry and tourmaline breccia style mineralisation between Stockwork Hill and Zaraa, potentially indicating the edges of a very large-scale Cu-Au System.

Growth-focused discovery exploration drilling at Kharmagtai continues to discover new, shallow mineralisation with potential to enhance open pit mining and deep mineralisation with potential for future underground mining.

Further assays from deep exploration drilling are pending; we look forward to sharing over the coming months.

Kharmagtai JV is funding US$35M4 for both PFS completion and discovery exploration, aiming towards decision to mine in Q4 CY2024.

______________

1 ASX/TSX Announcement 7 June 2023 - New Higher-Grade Zones Found in Kharmagtai Infill Drilling

2 ASX/TSX Announcement 6 April 2022 - Scoping Study - Kharmagtai Copper-Gold Project

3 ASX/TSX Announcement 8 December 2023 - Kharmagtai Mineral Resource Grows by 13% CuEq; including >25% increase in higher-grade core



Xanadu's Executive Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Colin Moorhead, said "Latest drilling results provide more evidence for continued growth and improvement at the Kharmagtai deposit. Importantly, we are expanding the +1% CuEq zone at White Hill and expending higher-grade mineralisation closer to surface. Our current geological interpretation suggests that mineralisation is faulted upwards, towards surface as we expand the deposit southwards.

"Bulking up the White Hill higher-grade core will improve the new open pit designs and yield additional copper within range of open pit mining."

______________

4 ASX/TSX Announcement 13 March 2023 - Zijin & Xanadu Transaction Completed & Kharmagtai PFS Underway





Figure 1: Kharmagtai copper-gold district showing defined mineral deposits and completed infill drill holes, deep exploration drill holes, and shallow exploration drill holes since the last announced drilling results5.

______________

5 ASX/TSX Announcement 16 November 2023 - Kharmagtai Drilling Achievements Update



Since the last Drilling Market Release (included in 2023 MRE Update), a total of 5,307m infill diamond drilling has been completed at Golden Eagle and Zephyr, and 9,320m extensional and exploration drilling, with both drill core collars and assay results for each, provided in Tables 1 and 2 (see Appendix 1).

Step-out Drilling Expands Higher-Grade Core at White Hill

Three drill holes were collared at White Hill, and designed to extend the recently discovered higher-grade core, beneath the 2022 Scoping Study open pits.

Drill hole KHDDH808 was designed as a 150 to 200m step back from previous drilling (Figure 2). KHDDH808 intercepted a moderate grade halo (+0.3% CuEq) over 350m shallower than expected, and encountered two zones of higher-grade (+1% CuEq) mineralisation.

Hole ID Interval (m) Cu (%) Au (g/t) CuEq (%) From (m) KHDDH808 64.45 0.61 0.26 0.74 516 including 24.45 1.14 0.53 1.41 634 including 13.8 1.64 0.70 1.99 558







Figure 2: Cross section 591980mE through the White Hill deposit.

Drill hole KHDDH806 was designed to test for higher-grade extensions beneath eastern end of the White Hill open pit (Figure 3). KHDDH806 extended moderate grade mineralisation for 150m beneath deepest portion of the previously planned pit, encountering a narrow zone of higher-grade mineral at the expected depth.

Hole ID Interval (m) Cu (%) Au (g/t) CuEq (%) From (m) KHDDH806 287.4 0.18 0.07 0.21 156 and 50 0.25 0.94 0.73 545 including 22 0.26 2.10 1.34 549







Figure 3: Cross section 592385mE through the White Hill and Stockwork Hill deposits

Drill hole KHDDH807 was designed as a 150m step back from previous drilling (Figure 4) and intercepted low to moderate grade halo (+0.2% CuEq) over 270m shallower than expected. KHDDH807 returned very broad intercept of 559.7m @ 0.27% CuEq from 435m, including 222m @ 0.36% CuEq from 761m.





Figure 4: Cross section 591820mE through the White Hill deposit

Infill Drilling Expands Higher-Grade Gold at Golden Eagle

Five drill holes were collared at Golden Eagle and designed to extend the new higher-grade gold zone (+1g/t Au) at Golden Eagle6.

Drill hole KHDDH805 was designed to join two lobes of higher grade. KHDDH805 intercepted broad zone of moderate grade gold with a higher-grade zone at the expected interval (Figure 5). Importantly, the grades encountered were more than double those defined in the new 2023 Mineral Resource.

Hole ID Interval (m) Au (g/t) Cu (%) AuEq (g/t) From (m) KHDDH805 153.4 0.43 0.13 0.68 41.6 including 67 0.67 0.15 0.97 44 including 8 1.34 0.18 1.7 54 and 14 0.81 0.21 1.22 77







Figure 5: Cross section 595400mE through the Golden Eagle deposit.

______________

6 ASX/TSX Announcement - New Gold Zone Discovered at the Golden Eagle



Drill hole KHDDH801 was designed to extend the higher-grade zone and has returned a broad zone of moderate grade gold with a higher-grade zone at the expected interval (Figure 6).

Hole ID Interval (m) Au (g/t) Cu (%) AuEq (g/t) From (m) KHDDH801 83.4 0.59 0.11 0.8 36.6 including 29 1.14 0.14 1.42 57 including 14 1.9 0.14 2.18 60







Figure 6: Cross section 595275mE through the Golden Eagle deposit.

Deep Exploration Drilling Encounters Broad Mineralised Zone

A single deep diamond drill hole was collared between Zaraa and Stockwork Hill, designed to test for a large-scale porphyry deposit. KHDDH779 encountered two broad zones of porphyry and tourmaline breccia style mineralisation between Stockwork Hill and Zaraa (Figure 7). This hole appears to have encountered the edges of a very large-scale Cu-Au System. Additional work is being planned once full interpretations are completed and the BoxScan dataset (vein densities, SWIR, sulphide distribution etc) are incorporated into the broader exploration model.





Figure 7: Cross section drill hole KHDDH779

About Xanadu Mines

Xanadu is an ASX and TSX listed Exploration company operating in Mongolia. We give investors exposure to globally significant, large-scale copper-gold discoveries and low-cost inventory growth. Xanadu maintains a portfolio of exploration projects and remains one of the few junior explorers on the ASX or TSX who jointly control a globally significant copper-gold deposit in our flagship Kharmagtai project. Xanadu is the Operator of a 50-50 JV with Zijin Mining Group in Khuiten Metals Pte Ltd, which controls 76.5% of the Kharmagtai project.

For further information on Xanadu, please visit: www.xanadumines.com or contact:

Colin Moorhead

Executive Chairman & Managing Director

E: colin.moorhead@xanadumines.com

P: +61 2 8280 7497

This Announcement was authorised for release by Xanadu's Board of Directors.

Appendix 1: Drilling Results

Note that true widths will generally be narrower than those reported. See disclosure in JORC explanatory statement attached.

Table 1: Drill hole collar

Hole ID Prospect East North RL Azimuth () Inc () Depth (m) KHDDH684 Golden Eagle 595224 4876746 1270 359 -60 341.0 KHDDH685 Golden Eagle 595226 4876847 1269 360 -60 325.0 KHDDH700 Golden Eagle 595598 4876901 1269 0 -60 267.0 KHDDH701 Golden Eagle 595597 4877002 1268 0 -60 220.0 KHDDH703 Zephyr 594899 4877696 1265 0 -60 52.7 KHDDH704 Zephyr 594900 4877796 1264 0 -60 72.7 KHDDH705 Zephyr 595023 4877598 1265 0 -60 100.0 KHDDH706 Zephyr 595024 4877698 1265 0 -60 175.0 KHDDH707 Zephyr 595146 4877446 1266 0 -60 75.0 KHDDH709 Zephyr 595147 4877646 1265 0 -60 100.0 KHDDH710 Zephyr 595148 4877746 1264 0 -60 140.0 KHDDH711 Zephyr 595274 4877399 1266 0 -60 100.0 KHDDH712 Zephyr 595023 4877697 1265 240 -60 150.0 KHDDH713 Zephyr 595273 4877598 1265 0 -60 189.4 KHDDH714 Zephyr 595274 4877697 1265 0 -60 150.0 KHDDH715 Zephyr 595023 4877800 1264 0 -60 125.1 KHDDH716 Zephyr 595149 4877544 1266 0 -60 75.0 KHDDH717 Zephyr 595275 4877498 1266 0 -60 235.0 KHDDH718 Zephyr 595397 4877445 1267 0 -60 125.0 KHDDH719 Zephyr 595146 4877544 1266 270 -55 160.0 KHDDH720 Zephyr 595399 4877750 1265 0 -60 100.0 KHDDH721 Zephyr 595523 4877497 1266 0 -60 400.0 KHDDH722 Zephyr 595524 4877698 1265 0 -60 150.0 KHDDH723 Zephyr 595649 4877663 1266 0 -60 205.0 KHDDH724 Zephyr 595275 4877497 1266 190 -75 190.0 KHDDH725 Zephyr 595773 4877664 1269 0 -60 75.0 KHDDH731 Zephyr 595394 4877512 1266 170 -60 160.0 KHDDH732 Zephyr 595397 4877651 1266 0 -60 200.0 KHDDH736 Zephyr 595524 4877596 1265 0 -60 214.0 KHDDH740 Zephyr 595525 4877797 1265 0 -60 125.0 KHDDH745 Zephyr 595774 4877744 1270 0 -60 100.0 KHDDH752 Zephyr 595524 4877595 1265 140 -75 210.0 KHDDH779 Exploration 593999 4876523 1285 0 -70 2400.0 KHDDH801 Golden Eagle 595277 4876894 1269 0 -60 288.5 KHDDH802 Golden Eagle 595332 4876839 1270 0 -60 285.5 KHDDH803 Golden Eagle 595401 4876841 1269 0 -60 291.0 KHDDH804 Golden Eagle 595328 4876942 1269 0 -60 279.5 KHDDH805 Golden Eagle 595399 4876919 1269 0 -60 279.6 KHDDH806 White Hill 592393 4877472 1293 180 -70 848.3 KHDDH807 White Hill 591788 4876469 1317 0 -60 1212.7 KHDDH808 White Hill 591959 4876661 1310 0 -60 1200.0 KHDDH809 Exploration 597845 4877219 1265 0 -70 1200.0 KHDDH810 Altan Shand 591291 4878056 1296 318 -60 444.6 KHDDH811 White Hill 591099 4877967 1296 315 -60 450.8 KHDDH812 White Hill 591328 4878186 1291 318 -60 230.0



Table 2: Significant drill results

Hole ID Prospect From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Cu (%) CuEq (%) AuEq (g/t) KHDDH684 Golden Eagle 49 248 199 0.15 0.09 0.17 0.34 including 186 220 34 0.33 0.17 0.34 0.67 and 282.5 341 58.5 0.09 0.16 0.20 0.39 KHDDH685 Golden Eagle 34 325 291 0.22 0.14 0.25 0.49 including 70 74 4 1.26 0.14 0.78 1.53 including 124 133.6 9.6 0.18 0.16 0.25 0.50 including 144.95 240 95.05 0.35 0.16 0.34 0.66 KHDDH700 Golden Eagle 43.5 196 152.5 0.22 0.09 0.20 0.39 including 96 106 10 0.35 0.14 0.32 0.63 including 168 182 14 0.59 0.15 0.46 0.89 including 172 176 4 1.10 0.24 0.80 1.56 KHDDH701 Golden Eagle 40.25 123 82.75 0.16 0.09 0.18 0.34 including 42 46 4 0.46 0.16 0.39 0.76 KHDDH703 Zephyr 14.75 18.8 4.05 0.33 0.00 0.17 0.34 KHDDH704 Zephyr No significant intercepts KHDDH705 Zephyr 14 42 28 0.28 0.03 0.18 0.35 and 58 64 6 0.40 0.05 0.25 0.50 and 78 86 8 0.11 0.02 0.08 0.15 KHDDH706 Zephyr No significant intercepts KHDDH707 Zephyr 23.9 74 50.1 0.19 0.04 0.14 0.27 including 48 64 16 0.47 0.04 0.28 0.55 KHDDH708 Zephyr 40.3 157 116.7 0.18 0.09 0.18 0.35 including 52 58 6 0.49 0.09 0.34 0.66 and 171 187.1 16.1 0.26 0.04 0.17 0.33 and 223 227.2 4.2 0.50 0.03 0.29 0.56 KHDDH709 Zephyr 16 20 4 0.22 0.00 0.12 0.23 and 51 58 7 0.20 0.03 0.14 0.27 KHDDH710 Zephyr No significant intercepts KHDDH711 Zephyr 32 100 68 0.09 0.10 0.15 0.29 KHDDH712 Zephyr 19 28 9 0.14 0.02 0.09 0.17 and 41.9 57.6 15.7 0.42 0.02 0.24 0.46 and 121 132 11 0.05 0.05 0.07 0.14 KHDDH713 Zephyr 18.5 56 37.5 0.25 0.08 0.20 0.40 including 40 48 8 0.74 0.16 0.54 1.06 and 76 107.2 31.2 0.14 0.06 0.13 0.26 and 129 140.7 11.7 0.14 0.06 0.13 0.26 and 152 189.4 37.4 0.17 0.07 0.15 0.30 KHDDH714 Zephyr 30 38 8 0.19 0.02 0.12 0.23 and 48 52 4 0.31 0.03 0.18 0.35 and 113 121 8 0.27 0.01 0.15 0.29 and 135 142 7 0.22 0.01 0.12 0.24 KHDDH715 Zephyr No significant intercepts KHDDH716 Zephyr 15.9 75 59.1 0.09 0.10 0.14 0.28 KHDDH717 Zephyr 16.2 235 218.8 0.20 0.13 0.23 0.45 including 47 73 26 0.46 0.24 0.47 0.93 including 138 144 6 0.27 0.17 0.31 0.60 including 205 223 18 0.21 0.22 0.33 0.64 KHDDH718 Zephyr 49 67 18 0.25 0.04 0.16 0.32 and 149 153 4 0.19 0.05 0.14 0.28 and 171 356 185 0.21 0.12 0.22 0.44 including 211 215 4 0.42 0.17 0.38 0.75 including 265 276 11 0.86 0.16 0.60 1.17 including 269.5 276 6.5 1.29 0.15 0.81 1.59 including 304 338 34 0.33 0.20 0.37 0.72 KHDDH719 Zephyr 45 49 4 0.19 0.04 0.14 0.27 and 91 160 69 0.13 0.07 0.13 0.26 KHDDH720 Zephyr 38 62 24 0.16 0.09 0.17 0.33 KHDDH721 Zephyr 104 120 16 0.16 0.05 0.13 0.25 and 139.5 336.9 197.4 0.13 0.16 0.23 0.45 including 166 172 6 0.10 0.30 0.35 0.68 including 193 221 28 0.15 0.26 0.34 0.66 including 273 311 38 0.19 0.21 0.31 0.60 including 327 336 9 0.24 0.17 0.29 0.57 and 347 395 48 0.11 0.14 0.19 0.38 including 369 389 20 0.11 0.21 0.27 0.52 KHDDH722 Zephyr 23.2 144 120.8 0.26 0.18 0.32 0.62 including 23.2 87 63.8 0.44 0.25 0.47 0.93 including 25 45 20 0.89 0.25 0.70 1.37 including 65 76.8 11.8 0.36 0.42 0.60 1.18 KHDDH723 Zephyr 43 246 203 0.18 0.16 0.25 0.50 including 83 103 20 0.13 0.33 0.39 0.77 including 121 129 8 0.14 0.22 0.29 0.57 including 141 149 8 0.31 0.30 0.45 0.89 including 163 189 26 0.23 0.18 0.30 0.59 including 199 219 20 0.55 0.16 0.44 0.85 including 201 211 10 0.89 0.16 0.62 1.21 including 232.7 242.3 9.6 0.23 0.09 0.20 0.40 and 268 272 4 0.10 0.07 0.12 0.24 and 312 316 4 0.16 0.05 0.13 0.25 KHDDH724 Zephyr 13.6 118.5 104.9 0.21 0.16 0.27 0.52 including 13.6 66 52.4 0.35 0.19 0.36 0.71 including 26 38 12 0.31 0.34 0.50 0.97 and 165 188 23 0.22 0.05 0.16 0.32 KHDDH725 Zephyr No significant intercepts KHDDH731 Zephyr 59 65 6 0.22 0.03 0.14 0.28 and 89 101 12 0.22 0.03 0.14 0.27 KHDDH732 Zephyr 21.6 62 40.4 0.10 0.12 0.17 0.34 and 74 200 126 0.13 0.22 0.29 0.57 including 74 88 14 0.23 0.20 0.32 0.63 including 98 108.2 10.2 0.23 0.25 0.37 0.72 including 119.4 171 51.6 0.12 0.29 0.35 0.69 KHDDH736 Zephyr 48 54 6 0.07 0.08 0.12 0.23 and 68 264 196 0.25 0.12 0.25 0.48 including 128 163.8 35.8 0.33 0.17 0.34 0.67 including 184.2 211 26.8 1.00 0.16 0.68 1.32 including 184.2 188.9 4.7 1.23 0.37 1.00 1.96 including 200 209 9 1.77 0.17 1.07 2.10 KHDDH740 Zephyr 31.2 59 27.8 0.04 0.10 0.12 0.23 KHDDH745 Zephyr 38.8 104.9 66.1 0.10 0.21 0.26 0.51 including 60 80 20 0.13 0.27 0.33 0.65 and 171 179.2 8.2 0.16 0.06 0.15 0.29 and 242 256 14 0.25 0.03 0.16 0.31 including 242 252 10 0.32 0.03 0.20 0.38 and 270 351 81 0.14 0.09 0.17 0.33 including 270 277.3 7.3 0.53 0.07 0.34 0.66 including 293 299 6 0.22 0.21 0.32 0.62 KHDDH752 Zephyr 27.5 40 12.5 0.08 0.03 0.07 0.15 and 111.1 118 6.9 0.07 0.07 0.10 0.20 and 142 210 68 0.08 0.19 0.23 0.45 including 156 160 4 0.29 0.24 0.39 0.76 including 202 208 6 0.08 0.28 0.32 0.62 KHDDH779 Exploration 66 78 12 0.13 0.08 0.14 0.28 and 320 326 6 0.35 0.13 0.31 0.60 and 499 505 6 0.01 0.11 0.11 0.22 and 557 577 20 0.09 0.12 0.16 0.32 and 587 595 8 0.02 0.11 0.12 0.23 and 611 621 10 0.02 0.08 0.09 0.18 and 661 673 12 0.04 0.08 0.11 0.21 and 782 788 6 0.06 0.07 0.10 0.19 and 810 820 10 0.05 0.07 0.10 0.19 and 874 1118 244 0.03 0.13 0.15 0.29 including 980 984 4 0.09 0.28 0.33 0.64 including 1087 1098 11 0.05 0.19 0.22 0.42 and 1132 1430 298 0.07 0.13 0.17 0.33 including 1253.65 1263 9.35 0.06 0.23 0.26 0.51 including 1362 1367 5 1.11 0.32 0.89 1.73 and 1442 1486 44 0.06 0.08 0.11 0.22 and 1496 1517 21 0.01 0.09 0.10 0.19 and 1577 1585 8 0.16 0.15 0.23 0.44 and 1649 1658 9 0.02 0.04 0.05 0.10 and 1724 1730 6 0.03 0.15 0.17 0.33 and 1756 1831 75 0.07 0.08 0.11 0.22 and 1885 1930.8 45.8 0.05 0.10 0.13 0.25 including 1925 1930.8 5.8 0.08 0.24 0.28 0.55 and 1940 2050 110 0.08 0.18 0.22 0.44 including 1996 2014.4 18.4 0.13 0.37 0.44 0.85 including 2036 2050 14 0.16 0.22 0.30 0.59 and 2068 2078.1 10.1 0.04 0.09 0.11 0.22 KHDDH799 Exploration No significant intercepts KHDDH800 Exploration No significant intercepts KHDDH801 Golden Eagle 36.6 120 83.4 0.59 0.11 0.41 0.80 including 57 86 29 1.14 0.14 0.73 1.42 including 60 74 14 1.90 0.14 1.11 2.18 including 106 114.2 8.2 0.46 0.12 0.35 0.69 and 140 288.5 148.5 0.29 0.12 0.26 0.51 including 201 209 8 0.33 0.15 0.32 0.62 including 244 264 20 0.72 0.18 0.55 1.07 KHDDH802 Golden Eagle 35.5 285.5 250 0.37 0.12 0.31 0.60 including 84 180 96 0.55 0.14 0.41 0.81 including 206 212 6 0.41 0.11 0.32 0.63 including 232 252 20 0.39 0.15 0.35 0.68 KHDDH803 Golden Eagle 36.8 244 207.2 0.20 0.11 0.21 0.42 including 88 98 10 0.29 0.16 0.30 0.59 including 170 200 30 0.34 0.12 0.30 0.58 and 254 270.2 16.2 0.07 0.06 0.10 0.19 KHDDH804 Golden Eagle 38.1 88 49.9 0.40 0.10 0.30 0.59 including 38.9 58.8 19.9 0.61 0.16 0.47 0.92 and 99.25 277 177.75 0.23 0.11 0.23 0.44 including 113.8 178 64.2 0.42 0.14 0.35 0.69 including 236 244.6 8.6 0.25 0.15 0.27 0.54 KHDDH805 Golden Eagle 41.6 195 153.4 0.43 0.13 0.35 0.68 including 44 111 67 0.67 0.15 0.50 0.97 including 54 62 8 1.34 0.18 0.87 1.70 including 54 60 6 1.43 0.18 0.91 1.78 including 77 91 14 0.81 0.21 0.62 1.22 including 127 133 6 0.37 0.15 0.34 0.66 and 267 278 11 0.06 0.05 0.08 0.15 KHDDH806 White Hill 2 146 144 0.06 0.13 0.16 0.32 and 156 443.4 287.4 0.07 0.18 0.21 0.41 including 386 443.4 57.4 0.15 0.29 0.36 0.71 and 545 595 50 0.94 0.25 0.73 1.42 including 549 571 22 2.10 0.26 1.34 2.62 and 779 821 42 0.03 0.22 0.24 0.46 including 781 790 9 0.05 0.53 0.56 1.09 KHDDH807 White Hill 295 353 58 0.04 0.09 0.11 0.22 and 367 425 58 0.04 0.12 0.14 0.27 including 381 385 4 0.09 0.36 0.40 0.79 and 435 994.7 559.7 0.07 0.23 0.27 0.53 including 457 477 20 0.09 0.19 0.23 0.46 including 487 499 12 0.11 0.31 0.36 0.71 including 512 524 12 0.10 0.26 0.31 0.61 including 546 555.4 9.4 0.13 0.26 0.33 0.65 including 685 712 27 0.05 0.26 0.28 0.55 including 734 747 13 0.08 0.33 0.37 0.72 including 761 983 222 0.10 0.31 0.36 0.70 including 834 838 4 0.22 0.55 0.66 1.28 and 1004 1198 194 0.06 0.19 0.22 0.42 including 1034 1090 56 0.10 0.25 0.30 0.59 including 1180 1184 4 0.08 0.43 0.46 0.91 KHDDH808 White Hill 238 242 4 0.05 0.18 0.20 0.39 and 282.5 319 36.5 0.07 0.15 0.18 0.36 including 305 311 6 0.09 0.32 0.36 0.70 and 333 580.45 247.45 0.11 0.29 0.35 0.68 including 341 346 5 0.07 0.24 0.27 0.53 including 465 500 35 0.09 0.31 0.36 0.70 including 516 580.45 64.45 0.26 0.61 0.74 1.44 including 556 580.45 24.45 0.53 1.14 1.41 2.75 including 558 571.8 13.8 0.70 1.64 1.99 3.90 and 608 626 18 0.19 0.05 0.14 0.28 including 620 624 4 0.50 0.05 0.31 0.60 and 644 652 8 0.19 0.03 0.12 0.24 and 664 672 8 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.39 and 750 1085 335 0.08 0.25 0.30 0.58 including 751.7 891 139.3 0.12 0.38 0.44 0.86 including 786 796 10 0.13 0.54 0.61 1.19 including 812 818 6 0.27 0.85 0.99 1.94 including 918 926 8 0.08 0.26 0.30 0.59 including 958 962 4 0.08 0.29 0.33 0.65 including 980 989 9 0.22 0.22 0.33 0.64 including 1028.8 1035 6.2 0.12 0.50 0.56 1.10 and 1115 1127 12 0.03 0.12 0.14 0.27 and 1142 1172 30 0.02 0.11 0.12 0.24 and 1182 1186 4 0.02 0.13 0.14 0.27 KHDDH809 Exploration 52.8 81 28.2 0.16 0.05 0.13 0.25 and 207 246 39 0.13 0.09 0.15 0.30 including 209 220 11 0.22 0.16 0.27 0.53 and 256 265.7 9.7 0.19 0.09 0.19 0.36 And 290 295 5 0.07 0.15 0.19 0.37 and 328 342 14 0.05 0.05 0.07 0.14 Assays pending KHDDH810 Altan Shand 276.1 310 33.9 0.25 0.10 0.23 0.46 KHDDH811 White Hill 164 168 4 0.11 0.10 0.16 0.31 and 301.63 315 13.37 0.14 0.08 0.15 0.29 and 418 422 4 1.81 0.09 1.02 1.99 KHDDH812 White Hill No significant intercepts



Appendix 2: Statements and Disclaimers

Competent Person Statement

The information in this announcement that relates to Mineral Resources is based on information compiled by Mr Robert Spiers, who is responsible for the Mineral Resource estimate. Mr Spiers is a full time Principal Geologist employed by Spiers Geological Consultants (SGC) and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. He has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity he is undertaking to qualify as the Qualified Person as defined in the CIM Guidelines and National Instrument 43-101 and as a Competent Person under JORC Code 2012. Mr Spiers consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on this information in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in this announcement that relates to exploration results is based on information compiled by Dr Andrew Stewart, who is responsible for the exploration data, comments on exploration target sizes, QA/QC and geological interpretation and information. Dr Stewart, who is an employee of Xanadu and is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Geoscientists, has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity he is undertaking to qualify as the Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves and the National Instrument 43-101. Dr Stewart consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on this information in the form and context in which it appears.

Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves Reporting Requirements

The 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the JORC Code 2012) sets out minimum standards, recommendations and guidelines for Public Reporting in Australasia of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. The Information contained in this Announcement has been presented in accordance with the JORC Code 2012.

The information in this Announcement relates to the exploration results previously reported in ASX Announcements which are available on the Xanadu website at:

https://www.xanadumines.com/site/investor-centre/asx-announcements

The Company is not aware of any new, material information or data that is not included in those market announcements.

Copper Equivalent Calculations

The copper equivalent (CuEq) calculation represents the total metal value for each metal, multiplied by the conversion factor, summed and expressed in equivalent copper percentage with a metallurgical recovery factor applied.

Copper equivalent (CuEq) grade values were calculated using the formula: CuEq = Cu + Au * 0.60049 * 0.86667.

Where Cu - copper grade (%); Au - gold grade (g/t); 0.60049 - conversion factor (gold to copper); 0.86667 - relative recovery of gold to copper (86.67%).

The copper equivalent formula was based on the following parameters (prices are in USD): Copper price 3.4 $/lb; Gold price 1400 $/oz; Copper recovery 90%; Gold recovery 78%; Relative recovery of gold to copper = 78% / 90% = 86.67%.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this Announcement, including information as to the future financial or operating performance of Xanadu and its projects may also include statements which are 'forward-looking statements' that may include, amongst other things, statements regarding targets, estimates and assumptions in respect of mineral reserves and mineral resources and anticipated grades and recovery rates, production and prices, recovery costs and results, capital expenditures and are or may be based on assumptions and estimates related to future technical, economic, market, political, social and other conditions. These 'forward-looking statements' are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Xanadu, are inherently subject to significant technical, business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results reflected in such forward-looking statements.

Xanadu disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, circumstances or results or otherwise after the date of this Announcement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, other than required by the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). The words 'believe', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'indicate', 'contemplate', 'target', 'plan', 'intends', 'continue', 'budget', 'estimate', 'may', 'will', 'schedule' and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

All 'forward-looking statements' made in this Announcement are qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements. Investors are cautioned that 'forward-looking statements' are not guarantee of future performance and accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on 'forward-looking statements' due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

For further information please visit the Xanadu Mines' Website at www.xanadumines.com.

Appendix 3: Kharmagtai Table 1 (JORC 2012)

Set out below is Section 1 and Section 2 of Table 1 under the JORC Code, 2012 Edition for the Kharmagtai project. Data provided by Xanadu. This Table 1 updates the JORC Table 1 disclosure dated 8 December 2023.

JORC TABLE 1 - SECTION 1 - SAMPLING TECHNIQUES AND DATA

(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections).

Criteria Commentary Sampling techniques Representative  core samples were split from PQ, HQ & NQ diameter diamond drill core on site using rock saws, on a routine 2m sample interval that also honours lithological/intrusive contacts.

The orientation of the cut line is controlled using the core orientation line ensuring uniformity of core splitting wherever the core has been successfully oriented.

Sample intervals are defined and subsequently checked by geologists, and sample tags are attached (stapled) to the plastic core trays for every sample interval.

Reverse Circulation ( RC ) chip samples are  splits from one meter ( 1m ) intervals using a 75%:25% riffle splitter to obtain a 3kg sample

) chip samples are  splits from one meter ( ) intervals using a 75%:25% riffle splitter to obtain a 3kg sample RC samples are uniform 2m samples formed from the combination of two  split 1m samples. Drilling techniques The Mineral Resource Estimation has been based upon diamond drilling of PQ, HQ and NQ diameters with both standard and triple tube core recovery configurations, RC drilling and surface trenching with channel sampling.

All drill core drilled by Xanadu has been oriented using the "Reflex Ace" tool. Drill sample recovery Diamond drill core recoveries were assessed using the standard industry (best) practice which involves removing the core from core trays; reassembling multiple core runs in a v-rail; measuring core lengths with a tape measure, assessing recovery against core block depth measurements and recording any measured core loss for each core run.

Diamond core recoveries average 97% through mineralisation.

Overall, core quality is good, with minimal core loss. Where there is localised faulting and or fracturing core recoveries decrease, however, this is a very small percentage of the mineralised intersections.

RC recoveries are measured using whole weight of each 1m intercept measured before splitting

Analysis of recovery results vs grade shows no significant trends that might indicate sampling bias introduced by variable recovery in fault/fracture zones. Logging All drill core is geologically logged by well-trained geologists using a modified "Anaconda-style" logging system methodology. The Anaconda method of logging and mapping is specifically designed for porphyry Cu-Au mineral systems and is entirely appropriate to support Mineral Resource Estimation, mining and metallurgical studies.

Logging of lithology, alteration and mineralogy is intrinsically qualitative in nature. However, the logging is subsequently supported by 4 Acid ICP-MS (48 element) geochemistry and SWIR spectral mineralogy (facilitating semi-quantitative/calculated mineralogical, lithological and alteration classification) which is integrated with the logging to improve cross section interpretation and 3D geological model development.

Drill core is also systematically logged for both geotechnical features and geological structures. Where drill core has been successfully oriented, the orientation of structures and geotechnical features are also routinely measured.

Both wet and dry core photos are taken after core has been logged and marked-up but before drill core has been cut. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation All drill core samples are  core splits from either PQ, HQ or NQ diameter cores. A routine 2m sample interval is used, but this is varied locally to honour lithological/intrusive contacts. The minimum allowed sample length is 30cm.

Core is appropriately split (onsite) using diamond core saws with the cut line routinely located relative to the core orientation line (where present) to provide consistency of sample split selection.

The diamond saws are regularly flushed with water to minimize potential contamination.

A field duplicate  core sample is collected every 30 th sample to ensure the "representivity of the in-situ material collected". The performance of these field duplicates is routinely analysed as part of Xanadu's sample QC process.

sample to ensure the "representivity of the in-situ material collected". The performance of these field duplicates is routinely analysed as part of Xanadu's sample QC process. Routine sample preparation and analyses of DDH samples were carried out by ALS Mongolia LLC ( ALS Mongolia ), who operates an independent sample preparation and analytical laboratory in Ulaanbaatar.

), who operates an independent sample preparation and analytical laboratory in Ulaanbaatar. All samples were prepared to meet standard quality control procedures as follows: Crushed to 75% passing 2mm, split to 1kg, pulverised to 85% passing 200 mesh (75 microns) and split to 150g sample pulp.

ALS Mongolia Geochemistry labs quality management system is certified to ISO 9001:2008.

The sample support (sub-sample mass and comminution) is appropriate for the grainsize and Cu-Au distribution of the porphyry Cu-Au mineralization and associated host rocks. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests All samples were routinely assayed by ALS Mongolia for gold

Au is determined using a 25g fire assay fusion, cupelled to obtain a bead, and digested with Aqua Regia, followed by an atomic absorption spectroscopy ( AAS ) finish, with a lower detection (LDL) of 0.01 ppm.

) finish, with a lower detection (LDL) of 0.01 ppm. All samples were also submitted to ALS Mongolia for the 48-element package ME-ICP61 using a four-acid digest (considered to be an effective total digest for the elements relevant to the Mineral Resource Estimate ( MRE )). Where copper is over-range (>1% Cu), it is analysed by a second analytical technique (Cu-OG62), which has a higher upper detection limit ( UDL ) of 5% copper.

)). Where copper is over-range (>1% Cu), it is analysed by a second analytical technique (Cu-OG62), which has a higher upper detection limit ( ) of 5% copper. Quality assurance has been managed by insertion of appropriate Standards (1:30 samples - suitable Ore Research Pty Ltd certified standards), Blanks (1:30 samples), Duplicates (1:30 samples -  core duplicate) by XAM.

Assay results outside the optimal range for methods were re-analysed by appropriate methods.

Ore Research Pty Ltd certified copper and gold standards have been implemented as a part of QC procedures, as well as coarse and pulp blanks, and certified matrix matched copper-gold standards.

QC monitoring is an active and ongoing processes on batch by batch basis by which unacceptable results are re-assayed as soon as practicable.

Prior to 2014: Cu, Ag, Pb, Zn, As and Mo were routinely determined using a three-acid-digestion of a 0.3g sub-sample followed by an AAS finish (AAS21R) at SGS Mongolia. Samples were digested with nitric, hydrochloric and perchloric acids to dryness before leaching with hydrochloric acid to dissolve soluble salts and made to 15ml volume with distilled water. The LDL for copper using this technique was 2ppm. Where copper was over-range (>1% Cu), it was analysed by a second analytical technique (AAS22S), which has a higher upper detection limit (UDL) of 5% copper. Gold analysis method was essentially unchanged. Verification of sampling and assaying All assay data QA/QC is checked prior to loading into XAM's Geobank data base.

The data is managed by XAM geologists.

The data base and geological interpretation is managed by XAM.

Check assays are submitted to an umpire lab (SGS Mongolia) for duplicate analysis.

No twinned drill holes exist.

There have been no adjustments to any of the assay data. Location of data points Diamond drill holes have been surveyed with a differential global positioning system ( DGPS ) to within 10cm accuracy.

) to within 10cm accuracy. The grid system used for the project is UTM WGS-84 Zone 48N

Historically, Eastman Kodak and Flexit electronic multi-shot downhole survey tools have been used at Kharmagtai to collect down hole azimuth and inclination information for the majority of the diamond drill holes. Single shots were typically taken every 30m to 50m during the drilling process, and a multi-shot survey with readings every 3-5m are conducted at the completion of the drill hole. As these tools rely on the earth's magnetic field to measure azimuth, there is some localised interference/inaccuracy introduced by the presence of magnetite in some parts of the Kharmagtai mineral system. The extent of this interference cannot be quantified on a reading-by-reading basis.

More recently (since September 2017), a north-seeking gyro has been employed by the drilling crews on site (rented and operated by the drilling contractor), providing accurate downhole orientation measurements unaffected by magnetic effects. Xanadu have a permanent calibration station setup for the gyro tool, which is routinely calibrated every 2 weeks (calibration records are maintained and were sighted)

The project Digital Terrain Model (DTM) is based on 1m contours from satellite imagery with an accuracy of 0.1 m. Data spacing and distribution Holes spacings range from <50m spacings within the core of mineralization to +500m spacings for exploration drilling. Hole spacings can be determined using the sections and drill plans provided.

Holes range from vertical to an inclination of -60 degrees depending on the attitude of the target and the drilling method.

The data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish anomalism and targeting for porphyry Cu-Au, tourmaline breccia and epithermal target types.

Holes have been drilled to a maximum of 1,304m vertical depth.

The data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish geological and grade continuity, and to support the Mineral Resource classification. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Drilling is conducted in a predominantly regular grid to allow unbiased interpretation and targeting.

Scissor drilling, as well as some vertical and oblique drilling, has been used in key mineralised zones to achieve unbiased sampling of interpreted structures and mineralised zones, and in particular to assist in constraining the geometry of the mineralised hydrothermal tourmaline-sulphide breccia domains. Sample security Samples are delivered from the drill rig to the core shed twice daily and are never left unattended at the rig.

Samples are dispatched from site in locked boxes transported on XAM company vehicles to ALS lab in Ulaanbaatar.

Sample shipment receipt is signed off at the Laboratory with additional email confirmation of receipt.

Samples are then stored at the lab and returned to a locked storage site. Audits or reviews Internal audits of sampling techniques and data management are undertaken on a regular basis, to ensure industry best practice is employed at all times.

External reviews and audits have been conducted by the following groups:

2012: AMC Consultants Pty Ltd. was engaged to conduct an Independent Technical Report which reviewed drilling and sampling procedures. It was concluded that sampling and data record was to an appropriate standard.

2013: Mining Associates Ltd. was engaged to conduct an Independent Technical Report to review drilling, sampling techniques and QAQC. Methods were found to conform to international best practice.

2018: CSA Global reviewed the entire drilling, logging, sampling, sample shipping and laboratory processes during the competent persons site visit for the 2018 MRE and found the systems and adherence to protocols to be to an appropriate standard.



JORC TABLE 1 - SECTION 2 - REPORTING OF EXPLORATION RESULTS

(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections).

Criteria Commentary Mineral

tenement

and land

tenure

status The Project comprises 2 Mining Licences (MV-17129A Oyut Ulaan and (MV-17387A Kharmagtai): Xanadu now owns 90% of Vantage LLC, the 100% owner of the Oyut Ulaan mining licence. The Kharmagtai mining license MV-17387A is 100% owned by Oyut Ulaan LLC. Xanadu has an 85% interest in Mongol Metals LLC, which has 90% interest in Oyut Ulaan LLC. The remaining 10% in Oyut Ulaan LLC is owned by Quincunx (BVI) Ltd ("Quincunx").

The Mongolian Minerals Law (2006) and Mongolian Land Law (2002) govern exploration, mining and land use rights for the project. Exploration

done by

other

parties Previous exploration at Kharmagtai was conducted by Quincunx Ltd, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd and Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd including extensive drilling, surface geochemistry, geophysics, mapping.

Previous exploration at Red Mountain (Oyut Ulaan) was conducted by Ivanhoe Mines. Geology



The mineralisation is characterised as porphyry copper-gold type.

Porphyry copper-gold deposits are formed from magmatic hydrothermal fluids typically associated with felsic intrusive stocks that have deposited metals as sulphides both within the intrusive and the intruded host rocks. Quartz stockwork veining is typically associated with sulphides occurring both within the quartz veinlets and disseminated thought out the wall rock. Porphyry deposits are typically large tonnage deposits ranging from low to high grade and are generally mined by large scale open pit or underground bulk mining methods. The deposits at Kharmagtai are atypical in that they are associated with intermediate intrusions of diorite to quartz diorite composition; however, the deposits are in terms of contained gold significant, and similar gold-rich porphyry deposits. Drill hole

Information Diamond drill holes are the principal source of geological and grade data for the Project.

See figures in this ASX/TSX Announcement. Data

Aggregation methods The CSAMT data was converted into 2D line data using the Zonge CSAMT processing software and then converted into 3D space using a UBC inversion process. Inversion fit was acceptable, and error was generally low.

A nominal cut-off of 0.1% CuEq is used in copper dominant systems for identification of potentially significant intercepts for reporting purposes. Higher grade cut-offs are 0.3%, 0.6% and 1% CuEq.

A nominal cut-off of 0.1g/t AuEq is used in gold dominant systems like Golden Eagle for identification of potentially significant intercepts for reporting purposes. Higher grade cut-offs are 0.3g/t, 0.6g/t and 1g/t AuEq.

Maximum contiguous dilution within each intercept is 9m for 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 1% CuEq.

Most of the reported intercepts are shown in sufficient detail, including maxima and subintervals, to allow the reader to make an assessment of the balance of high and low grades in the intercept.

Informing samples have been composited to two metre lengths honouring the geological domains and adjusted where necessary to ensure that no residual sample lengths have been excluded (best fit). The copper equivalent (CuEq) calculation represents the total metal value for each metal, multiplied by the conversion factor, summed and expressed in equivalent copper percentage with a metallurgical recovery factor applied. The copper equivalent calculation used is based off the CuEq calculation defined by CSA Global in the 2018 Mineral Resource Upgrade.



Copper equivalent (CuEq) grade values were calculated using the following formula:



CuEq = Cu + Au * 0.62097 * 0.8235,



Gold Equivalent (AuEq) grade values were calculated using the following formula:



AuEq = Au + Cu / 0.62097 * 0.8235.



Where:



Cu - copper grade (%)



Au - gold grade (g/t)



0.62097 - conversion factor (gold to copper)



0.8235 - relative recovery of gold to copper (82.35%)



The copper equivalent formula was based on the following parameters (prices are in USD): Copper price - 3.1 $/lb (or 6834 $/t)

Gold price - 1320 $/oz

Copper recovery - 85%

Gold recovery - 70%

Relative recovery of gold to copper = 70% / 85% = 82.35%. Relationship between mineralisation

on widths

and intercept

lengths Mineralised structures are variable in orientation, and therefore drill orientations have been adjusted from place to place in order to allow intersection angles as close as possible to true widths.

Exploration results have been reported as an interval with 'from' and 'to' stated in tables of significant economic intercepts. Tables clearly indicate that true widths will generally be narrower than those reported. Diagrams See figures in the body of this ASX/TSX Announcement. Balanced

reporting Resources have been reported at a range of cut-off grades, above a minimum suitable for open pit mining, and above a minimum suitable for underground mining. Other

substantive

exploration

data Extensive work in this area has been done and is reported separately. Further

Work The mineralisation is open at depth and along strike.

Current estimates are restricted to those expected to be reasonable for open pit mining. Limited drilling below this depth (-300m RL) shows widths and grades potentially suitable for underground extraction.

Exploration on going.



JORC TABLE 1 - SECTION 3 - ESTIMATION AND REPORTING OF MINERAL RESOURCES

Mineral Resources are not reported so this is not applicable to this Announcement. Please refer to the Company's ASX Announcement dated 8 December 2023 for Xanadu's most recent reported Mineral Resource Estimate and applicable Table 1, Section 3.

JORC TABLE 1 - SECTION 4 - ESTIMATION AND REPORTING OF ORE RESERVES

Ore Reserves are not reported so this is not applicable to this Announcement.

AUSTRALIA

c/o Company Matters Pty Limited

Level 12, 680 George Street

Sydney NSW 2000

T: +612 8280 7497 MONGOLIA

Suite 23, Building 9B

Olympic St, Sukhbaatar District

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

T: +967 7012 0211 Xanadu Mines Ltd ACN 114 249 026



www.xanadumines.com



Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d0c0d20a-a92b-4ff6-80dd-08499758aa40



https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e2b8bd8f-647f-4fb7-9245-c52232eb696e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f97eb87c-ab0e-4973-9650-6cb46de6308b

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84c8967f-62f7-45a1-ab8a-3995f474071d

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e85dfd4d-a546-4c1d-8f88-75510896144b

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/753a6653-2653-4e7c-9d2d-552c0c2d5ce4

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/81c8fa69-6222-4e06-b836-f3528c6b94ba
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Phone (U.S.): +1 202 742 2901

Phone (Europe): +358 50 339 6388
Stemtech Corporation Secures Exclusive Agreement to Propel Stemtech's Revolutionary Stem Cell Nutrition Across Six African Nations

NAPLES, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Stemtech Corporation (OTCQB:STEK), a leading innovator in patented stem cell nutrition health products, announces a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy with the signing of a license Agreement with an established direct sales company, based in Kenya. The Agreement, effective January 29th, 2024, grants the license to purchase, use, market, and distribute Stemtech's cutting-edge health related products within the designated Territory(s), including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria.

This strategic move represents Stemtech's commitment to reaching new markets and introducing its patented stem cell nutrition, skin care and oral care products to new markets. The licensing agreement includes the distribution of StemRelease3, StemFlo Advanced, MigraStem, OraStem, and Cellect One Rapid Renew Stem Cell Peptide Night Cream.

John W. Meyer, President & COO of Stemtech Corporation, expressed excitement about the expansion, stating, "We believe that this partnership marks a significant opportunity for Stemtech to establish brand recognition in key African markets and contribute to the overall health and wellness of the region. We are confident that our stem cell nutrition products will make a positive impact and contribute to the growth of the wellness industry in Africa. Distributors will benefit from additional income for the current network marketers already engaged through the Licensee and for new potential distributors that they will gain with the proprietary Stemtech line of products."

Additionally, the new Licensee has already placed a significant initial order, and Stemtech Corporation has received certified funds for these products. This financial commitment underscores the confidence both parties have in the success of this venture.

The licensing agreement is structured for a twenty-four (24) month term, during which the new distributor will serve as the exclusive Stemtech representative for the specified products in the agreed-upon Territory(s). The Agreement includes provisions for annual sales volumes, product pricing, and compliance with applicable laws. Stemtech Corporation looks forward to a successful collaboration within Africa and anticipates mutual growth and success as they work together to bring Stemtech's innovative products to new African markets.

Vice President of Global Sales for Stemtech, Alejandro Carrillo, commented, "My current efforts are focused on expanding our Latin American markets. We just reopened Colombia where we historically sold over $10 million dollars of Stemtech products. Recently, we were approached by a company with similar interests in specific African countries who were aware of the benefits of our products, unsolicited. Because of the quality and legacy of Stemtech products, we were sought out to provide Stemtech products in an area we were not even looking to engage at this time! The stem cell industry is in significant growth mode and Stemtech provides a natural way to benefit from stem cells without injections or surgery, naturally. It seems to be catching on."

ABOUT STEMTECH

Stemtech Corporation, a leading stemceutical company with a direct sales distribution model, was founded on April 18, 2018, after acquiring the operations from its predecessor Stemtech International, Inc., which was established in 2005. From 2010 through 2015, Stemtech International, Inc., was recognized four separate times on the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies list. In 2018, Stemtech underwent an extensive executive reorganization, and continued operations under new leadership as Stemtech Corporation. In August 2021, Stemtech became a publicly traded company (OTCQB: STEK) and has expanded business opportunities for its Independent Business Partners, who may earn incomes by sharing Stemtech products. The Global Stem Cell market is projected to be $30 billion by 2030 and similarly, the nutritional supplement market is projected to be over $700 billion by 2030 as well. With these two leading market indicators, Stemtech is well positioned as the pioneer in stem cell nutrition, oral and skin care products, to increase sales in the wellness industry.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include but are not limited to statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "projects" and similar expressions. The statements in this release are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences, including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials and/or other studies, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, the effect of any competitive products, our ability to license and protect our intellectual property, our ability to raise additional capital in the future that is necessary to maintain our business, changes in government policy and/or regulation, potential litigation by or against us, any governmental review of our products or practices, as well as other risks discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our latest 10-Q Report filed on December 1, 2023. We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement, or any information contained in this press release or in other public disclosures at any time. Finally, the investing public is reminded that the only announcements or information about Stemtech Corporation which are condoned by the Company must emanate from the Company itself and bear our name as its Source.

Investor Relations:

Gabriel Rodriguez

Email: erelationsgroup@gmail.com

Ph: 623-261-9046

Stemtech

Phone: 954-715-6000 ext 1040

Email: invrel@stemtech.com

www.Stemtech.com

SOURCE: Stemtech Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Rockland Resources Ltd. (the "Company" or "Rockland") (CSE:RKL) announces the signing of an option agreement to earn a 100% interest in the "Pipestone North Property" ("PN Property"), located contiguous, and north and northwest, of the Company's 100% owned Cole Gold Mines Property, located in the western portion of the prolific Red Lake gold district of northwestern Ontario.

"Red Lake is known to be one of the most prolific gold camps in the world and we are excited to have expanded our position in the camp." stated Mike England, CEO of Rockland Resources.

Located approximately 32 kilometres (km) west of the town of Red Lake, the 1,015-hectare Pipestone North Property is contiguous on its eastern boundary with West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd.'s ("WRLG") Rowan property (Mount Jamie portion). The acquisition of the PN Property increases the Company's holdings to 1,583 ha covering approximately 3.0 km strike length of the east-west trending Pipestone Bay St Paul Deformation Zone ("PBDZ"). On West Red Lake Gold Mines' properties to the east, three former gold mines - Rowan Mine, Mount Jamie Mine, and Red Summit Mine - are all situated along the PBDZ structural zone.

*The historical estimates do not meet current standards as defined by NI 43-101 and therefore should not be relied upon.

The Pipestone North property is significantly underexplored compared to many properties and prospects in the Red Lake district, due to limited road access, and the distance from the principal Red Lake gold mines. The most significant recent exploration was completed by Redstar Gold Corp. ("Redstar"), from 2002-2004. Highlights on the Pipestone North property include:

991 Zone Occurrence - Located near the center of the PN property, exploration work by Redstar uncovered narrow pyrite, chalcopyrite bearing quartz veins within a brecciated felsic volcanic unit in contact with a folded ultra-mafic horizon. Redstar reported visible gold in several veins with grab samples yielding 22.27 grams per tonne (g/t) Au. In 2004, Redstar drilled a single hole (WRL04-004) that was collared into an ultramafic unit north of the 991 Zone and drilled to the south and intersected a 200-metre-wide zone of strongly quartz and sericite altered felsic stratigraphy with pyrite and chalcopyrite stringer mineralization and anomalous gold values. The zone consists of numerous intersections of copper up to 0.23 percent over 5.5 metres with isolated gold values up to 228 parts per billion. This is the widest zone of anomalous copper mineralization observed on the property, and Redstar reported that previous work indicated a correlation between gold grades and copper mineralization. Redstar also reported that the hole was designed to test stratigraphy and therefore did not test the north to south oriented gold bearing quartz veins previously sampled on surface. Sampling completed on the 991 Zone by GoldON confirmed high-grade gold mineralization with seven grab samples ranging in value from 0.006 g/t Au to 44.9 g/t Au (GoldOn website, grab samples are selected samples and are not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted on the property ). Additional drilling is planned to test these veins, as the 200-metre-wide zone confirms the presence of a large mineralized system.

- Located near the center of the PN property, exploration work by Redstar uncovered narrow pyrite, chalcopyrite bearing quartz veins within a brecciated felsic volcanic unit in contact with a folded ultra-mafic horizon. Redstar reported visible gold in several veins with grab samples yielding 22.27 grams per tonne (g/t) Au. In 2004, Redstar drilled a single hole (WRL04-004) that was collared into an ultramafic unit north of the 991 Zone and drilled to the south and intersected a 200-metre-wide zone of strongly quartz and sericite altered felsic stratigraphy with pyrite and chalcopyrite stringer mineralization and anomalous gold values. The zone consists of numerous intersections of copper up to 0.23 percent over 5.5 metres with isolated gold values up to 228 parts per billion. This is the widest zone of anomalous copper mineralization observed on the property, and Redstar reported that previous work indicated a correlation between gold grades and copper mineralization. Redstar also reported that the hole was designed to test stratigraphy and therefore did not test the north to south oriented gold bearing quartz veins previously sampled on surface. Sampling completed on the 991 Zone by GoldON confirmed high-grade gold mineralization with seven grab samples ranging in value from 0.006 g/t Au to 44.9 g/t Au (GoldOn website, ). Additional drilling is planned to test these veins, as the 200-metre-wide zone confirms the presence of a large mineralized system. Induced Polarization Targets - In March 2003, Redstar completed an IP (Induced Polarization) / resistivity survey over a portion of the Pipestone North Property center over the 991-occurrence area. A total of 6.1-line kilometres were completed and filed as an assessment report; "Two significant zones of high resistivity and anomalous chargeability that extend across the survey grid at an approximate bearing of 080 to 110. These zones are dominantly high resistivity anomalies, which may be due to silicification or quartz veining. The most significant anomaly extends from about 9550N on line 10500E to about 9450N beneath line 10900E The zone is coincident with the 991 showing at line 10700E."

- In March 2003, Redstar completed an IP (Induced Polarization) / resistivity survey over a portion of the Pipestone North Property center over the 991-occurrence area. A total of 6.1-line kilometres were completed and filed as an assessment report; "Two significant zones of high resistivity and anomalous chargeability that extend across the survey grid at an approximate bearing of 080 to 110. These zones are dominantly high resistivity anomalies, which may be due to silicification or quartz veining. The most significant anomaly extends from about 9550N on line 10500E to about 9450N beneath line 10900E The zone is coincident with the 991 showing at line 10700E." Airborne Magnetic Targets - In 2020 GoldON completed a heliborne high-resolution magnetometer survey, and Orix Geoscience completed a data compilation and reinterpretation study incorporating the magnetometer survey data with all known lithological and mineralogical information and structural measurements. The Orix study is summarized as: A wide zone of low magnetic intensity occurs at the contact of mafic/ultramafic units with northern felsic intrusive rocks in the western continuation of the Pipestone Bay/St. Paul Bay Deformation Zone, with possible dextral shearing. Two phases of deformation (D1 and D2) have been identified in the surface reinterpretation causing the F1 and F2 folds. Late faults and shear zones dominantly strike north-northwest and north-northeast, crosscut and locally displace the early structures. The 991 showing is possibly controlled by an early east-west structure that is likely a second-order structure to the Pipestone Bay/St. Paul Bay deformation zone. Other notable mineralization occurs in iron formation units or proximal to fault intersections.

- In 2020 GoldON completed a heliborne high-resolution magnetometer survey, and Orix Geoscience completed a data compilation and reinterpretation study incorporating the magnetometer survey data with all known lithological and mineralogical information and structural measurements. The Orix study is summarized as:

The Company will compile the historical geophysical and geological data over the Pipestone North property in preparation of a summer field program, in association with activities on the Cole Gold Mines property.

To acquire a 100% interest in the Pipestone North property Rockland will pay a cumulative $60,010 cash, issue 1,000,000 shares and spend $1,000,000 over a 4 year period.

Matthew Long, P. Geo., a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, is the qualified person responsible for reviewing and approving the geological contents of this news release as they pertain to the Cole Gold Mines property.

About Rockland Resources Ltd.

Rockland Resources is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets for the benefit of its shareholders.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Michael England, CEO & Director

For further information, please contact:

Mike England

Email: mike@engcom.ca

Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM).

SOURCE: Rockland Resources Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. (CSE: BNN) (OTCQB: BNNHF) (FSE: 5YZ0) ("BNN" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (the "LOI") with Aion Mining Corp. ("Aion") outlining the general terms and conditions of a proposed transaction whereby the Company will acquire a further interest in Aion to bring the Company's total interest in Aion to 40% (the "Proposed Transaction").

Key Points to the La Estrella Coal Project:

The property contains eight known seams of metallurgical and thermal coal from recent and historical diamond drilling programs and surface exposures;

The project is fully permitted under Colombian Law, including environmental licencing;

Pending updated NI 43-101 by former SRK Principal Geologist responsible for 2012 historical report;

Extensive site preparation and infrastructure upgrades currently underway.

The Proposed Transaction

It is anticipated that the aggregate purchase price for the Proposed Transaction will be $1,875,000, payable as follows:

$500,000 in cash on closing; and

$1,375,000 in common shares of the Company at a price per share equal to the closing of the share price of the Company on the closing date of the Proposed Transaction, subject to CSE policies.

Aion is a non-arm's length party to the Company by reason of sharing a common director, Cole McClay. The terms of the LOI were reviewed and approved by a committee of the Company's independent directors.

Completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions and any other conditions agreed to by the parties in a definitive share purchase agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") including: receipt of all necessary approvals and consents on terms satisfactory to the parties, and completion of a due diligence investigation into Aion by the Company and its representatives.

There are no assurance or guarantees that the proposed transaction will be completed, whether on the terms and conditions described above or at all. The Company will provide further updates as they become available.

Figure 1. Surface preparation underway at La Estrella

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8680/196318_6c7cc602043f886c_001full.jpg

Options Granted

The Company also announces that pursuant to a consulting agreement dated January 22, 2024, the Company has hired a consultant (the "Consultant"). The Consultant will provide services to the Company in exchange for 500,000 incentive stock options, each option allowing the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.53 per common share.

About Benjamin Hill Mining Corp.

Benjamin Hill Mining Corp. is a Canadian-listed junior exploration company focused on exploring and advancing the Alotta project, a prospective porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum project located 50 km south of the Casino porphyry deposit in the unglaciated portion of the Dawson Range porphyry/epithermal belt in the Yukon Territory of Canada.

In addition, the Company holds a 20% interest in Aion Mining Corp., a company that is developing the fully permitted La Estrella coal project in Santander, Colombia. The project contains eight known seams of metallurgical and thermal coal.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Cole McClay", CEO Benjamin Hill Mining Corp.

info@benjaminhillmining.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information concerning the Company's intentions with respect to the development of its mineral properties and information concerning the Proposed Transaction. Forward-looking information is based on the views, opinions, intentions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking information (including the actions of other parties who have agreed to do certain things and the approval of certain regulatory bodies). Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. In particular, there can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as described or at all. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws, or to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company, its financial or operating results or its securities. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196318

SOURCE: Benjamin Hill Mining Corp.
Elcim Sirek and Marcelo Souza to drive growth and revenue at a time of increasing importance in the global compliance category

Global compliance technology solutions and services provider Sovos today announced the appointment of two new sales leaders. Elcim Sirek has been promoted to the role of vice president of sales for the EMEA region and Marcelo Souza joins as the company's new vice president of sales for LATAM. Both leaders bring proven track records of aligning sales organizations to meet the evolving needs of customers and prospects in an always-on, global economy.

"As the demand for global compliance services continues to grow, it's critical that we have experienced, high-caliber leadership in place to meet the needs of our customer, both current and future," said Alice Katwan, president of revenue, Sovos. "In her time with Sovos, Elcim has proven to be a strong leader with a history of driving sustainable pipeline and customer bookings. With Marcelo's expertise in generating growth by meeting the unique needs of his customers, he is a tremendous asset for our team in LATAM, where Sovos is the clear leader in market share. I'm excited to welcome them both to the revenue leadership team."

Prior to this promotion, Sirek served as general manager for Turkey where she drove market demand and created new revenue streams for this region. Sirek has a long and sustained record of building strong customer relationships across the EMEA region. Prior to joining Sovos she was the Turkey regional leader for Oracle, overseeing the enterprise applications group in this region.

"Tax authorities are changing the reality for multi-national businesses with greater demands for data in terms of both speed and scale," said Sirek. "Sovos ensures that our customers remain a step ahead so they can focus on business growth while we handle compliance. I am confident that my experience with Sovos and the relationships I've built will benefit our customers greatly and I am excited to lead the EMEA team into our next phase of growth."

Souza joins Sovos from Databricks, where he served as vice president of sales for LATAM leading the first team in the region, focused on scaling operations and driving growth. Prior to Databricks, he spent more than eight years at Splunk, serving as country manager for Brazil and director for Latin America. Here he led SaaS sales, operation and business development teams. He built sales processes, go-to-market strategies and infrastructure that led to 100% year-over-year growth and the securing of more than 300 new customers.

"LATAM has been on the leading edge of compliance for a long time and as regulatory environments and demands continue to evolve, businesses need a partner they can trust to continuously deliver," said Souza. "This is an incredibly exciting time to be joining Sovos as we are in the midst of changing the way the global business community views and solves for compliance. I am confident my prior experience in this region will pay immediate dividends for our customers."

About Sovos

Sovos is a global provider of tax, compliance and trust solutions and services that enable businesses to navigate an increasingly regulated world with true confidence. Purpose-built for always-on compliance capabilities, our scalable IT-driven solutions meet the demands of an evolving and complex global regulatory landscape. Sovos' cloud-based software platform provides an unparalleled level of integration with business applications and government compliance processes.

More than 100,000 customers in 100+ countries including half the Fortune 500 trust Sovos for their compliance needs. Sovos annually processes more than three billion transactions across 19,000 global tax jurisdictions. Bolstered by a robust partner program more than 400 strong, Sovos brings to bear an unrivaled global network for companies across industries and geographies. Founded in 1979, Sovos has operations across the Americas and Europe, and is owned by Hg and TA Associates. For more information visit http://www.sovos.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131551338/en/

Contacts:

Zeno Group for Sovos

Sovos@Zenogroup.com
Kindeva Drug Delivery (Kindeva), a global leader in drug-device combination products, announced the expansion of its analytical services capabilities launching a new global business unit offering integrated and stand-alone analytical support to the wider pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and medical device sector. For more than half a century, Kindeva has developed significant knowledge, experience, and expertise working on inhaled, injectable, and transdermal drug delivery development programs and cGMP commercial supply. Additionally, Kindeva has built deep expertise and capability in cGMP analytical services supporting its product development and supply partners.

In addition to increasing Kindeva's global analytical footprint, Kindeva's recently opened 32,000-square-foot state-of-the-art laboratories in Woodbury, Minnesota, will serve as the central hub for its expanded suite of stand-alone analytical services. Kindeva's Global Chief Commercial Officer Dave Stevens added: "Offering considerable analytical testing capabilities on a stand-alone basis to the wider pharmaceutical and device industry is an important step for Kindeva's growing role as a global contract analytical, development, and manufacturing organization. 2024 is an exciting year for bringing many areas of needed industry solutions to fruition with the opening of a brand new world-class, state-of-the-art sterile injectable facility in Bridgeton, Missouri capable of manufacturing more than 100M vials, cartridges, and syringes as well as the operationalization of our first 152a green propellant-capable GMP capacity in Loughborough, U.K. Expanding the analytical suite of capabilities and capacity reflects our ambition to be a true full-service partner and market leader in the CRO/CDMO industry and further accelerate the safety and efficacy objectives of innovators."

Kindeva will offer extractables and leachables, elemental impurities, medical device, and container closure integrity testing. Kindeva's new container closure integrity testing to USP <1207> will be led by newly appointed Manager of Container Closure Integrity (CCI) and Medical Device Testing, Michael Dominguez, who recently joined Kindeva from DDL Testing. Dominguez brings deep expertise spanning a wide range of performance and functional medical device testing standards in deterministic CCI methods, including high voltage leak detection, vacuum decay, laser headspace analysis, and residual seal force testing. Kindeva's extractables and leachables testing, and elemental impurities testing to ensure products comply with the ICH Q3D Guideline for Elemental Impurities, are led by Dan Dohmeier. Dohmeier's team brings more than 60 years of extractables and leachables method development, validation, testing, and compound identification experience to address customer testing needs. Kindeva, including Dominguez and Dohmeier, will be available to meet in Anaheim, California, at the upcoming MD&M West on Feb. 6-8, 2024, in Booth #972. For a complete listing of Kindeva's analytical services, visit https://www.kindevadd.com/analytical-services/.

About Kindeva Drug Delivery

Kindeva Drug Delivery is a global contract development and manufacturing organization focused on drug-device combination products. We develop and manufacture products across a broad range of drug-delivery formats, including pulmonary nasal, injectable, and transdermal. Our service offerings span early-stage feasibility through commercial scale drug product fill-finish, container closure system manufacturing, and drug-device product assembly. Kindeva serves a global client base from our state-of-the-art manufacturing, research, and development facilities located across the U.S. and U.K.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131646371/en/

Contacts:

Lindsey Langemeier

+1 402-405-4269

lindsey@scorrmarketing.com
Flashpoint delivers high-performance threat data and intelligence solutions that enable businesses and governments to better detect, prioritize, and remediate emerging cyber and physical risks.

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan recently researched the global cyber threat intelligence (CTI) industry and, based on its findings, recognizes Flashpoint with the 2024 Global Product Leadership Award. Flashpoint is a pioneering leader of high-fidelity threat intelligence and data-driven insights, enabling global organizations to address current security challenges with a strong focus on CTI, vulnerability intelligence, geopolitical risk, fraud, and brand protection.

Flashpoint's sophisticated CTI solutions and unique approach combine the power of technology with human expertise. This ensures its cybersecurity services can be tailored to a wide range of clients, across the financial services, government, retail, healthcare and technology sectors. What truly sets Flashpoint apart is its commitment to addressing customer-specific pain points through its innovative flagship Ignite platform. Flashpoint Ignite equips security teams with the power of Flashpoint's data, human expertise, and automated analysis. With Ignite, teams can easily identify and remediate risk and take rapid, decisive action across threat, vulnerability, physical security and national security intelligence.

The fusion of automated data collection and AI with direct human collaboration ensures that the company's solutions are efficient and highly customized, addressing each client's unique needs. Furthermore, Flashpoint's expertise extends beyond cyber threats to encompass physical security and vulnerability management, all integrated into a single and user-friendly platform. As a result, the company is well-placed to take advantage of new growth opportunities in the global CTI industry and meet the ever-evolving market demands with its highly customized and out-of-the-box solutions.

"Flashpoint, a transformative leader and catalyst, shapes its corporate culture by harnessing purpose and mission to protect what matters most to fuel innovation. The company's extensive knowledge is reflected in its offerings; its solutions are definitively superior to those of its competitors," said Eshan Hira, Consultant - Security Advisory Practice at Frost & Sullivan.

Flashpoint's success also lies in its unparalleled expertise in the scale and relevancy of its data collections. For example, by tracking illicit forums, marketplaces, open source intelligence (OSINT), and the communities where threat actors lurk, the company delivers early warnings and in-depth insights into emerging threats. This proactive approach provides actionable threat intelligence for worldwide organizations, shaping long-term cybersecurity strategies and risk mitigation plans.

Moreover, Flashpoint employs a team of specialists with deep knowledge of specific regions and industries, offering intelligence tailored to the unique geopolitical and sector-specific risks faced by clients. This strategic blend empowers organizations to fortify their security posture with tactical and strategic insights.

"At Flashpoint, our commitment to innovation drives us to provide unparalleled threat data and intelligence that helps protect assets and save lives. We have a proven track record of addressing the quickly evolving challenges of a diverse clientele by not only reacting to current threats but also anticipating future risks, staying one step ahead of threat actors. We are thankful for this award from Frost & Sullivan which is an acknowledgement of Flashpoint's market leading technology and unparalleled analyst expertise in transforming uncertainty into actionable intelligence for our clients," said Josh Lefkowitz, CEO of Flashpoint.

Flashpoint, a catalyst, and transformative leader, shapes its corporate culture by harnessing purpose to fuel innovation. Renowned for its deep knowledge in cyber threat intelligence, the company's offerings stand out, according to Frost & Sullivan analysts, surpassing other competitors in the industry. Flashpoint's portfolio is carefully crafted to cater to customers' requirements effectively.

About Frost & Sullivan Global Product Leadership Awards

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed a product with innovative features and functionality that is gaining rapid market acceptance. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion .

Contact:

Ashley Weinkauf

P: 210-844-2505

E: ashley.weinkauf@frost.com

About Flashpoint

Flashpoint is the pioneering leader in threat data and intelligence. We empower commercial enterprises and government agencies to decisively confront complex security challenges, reduce risk, and improve operational resilience amid fast-evolving threats. Through the Flashpoint Ignite platform, we deliver unparalleled depth, breadth and speed of data from highly relevant sources, enriched by human insights. Our solutions span cyber threat intelligence, vulnerability intelligence, geopolitical risk, physical security, fraud and brand protection. The result: our customers safeguard critical assets, avoid financial loss, and protect lives. Discover more at flashpoint.io.

Kari Walker, kari@redironpr.com

Veronica Drake, vdrake@flashpoint-intel.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2329463/Flashpoint_Award.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/flashpoint-earns-frost--sullivans-2024-global-product-leadership-award-for-unrivaled-threat-data-and-intelligence-302047526.html
Lineup Includes Mark Brzezinski, United States Ambassador to Poland; Agnieszka Buczynska, Polish minister for civil society, chairwoman of the public benefit committee; and Neil Bush, chair, Points of Light Board of Directors

ATLANTA, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --The 2024 Points of Light Global Summit on Social Impact will unfold as a beacon of inspiration for 250 global change leaders in Warsaw, Poland, on February 7, 2024, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. CET, hosted by Points of Light and its Global Network affiliate Stowarzyszenie Centrum Wolontariatu. Companies, NGOs and nonprofits unite through a dedication to civic engagement. Among distinguished guests are Mark Brzezinski, United States ambassador to Poland; Agnieszka Buczynska, Polish minister for civil society, chairwoman of the public benefit committee; and Neil Bush, chair, Points of Light Board of Directors, leading an impressive lineup. One World, One Response is the theme of the summit.

Media are encouraged to attend: kwhitaker@pointsoflight.org (English); Agnieszka Lissowska-Lewkowicz, agnieszka.lewkowicz@centrumwolontariatu.pl (Polish).

This summit itself is part of a larger global gathering of Points of Light affiliates, bringing social impact leaders from 25 countries, equipping attendees with tools to drive positive change in communities impacted by natural and human-made disaster.

Featured sessions promise impactful experiences:

Bridging Political Divides: Explores cross-sector partnerships as a powerful tool for civic engagement.

Explores cross-sector partnerships as a powerful tool for civic engagement. Building Community Resilience: Uncovers the blueprint for effective civic engagement.

Uncovers the blueprint for effective civic engagement. Bridge Building: Delves into the intersection between civic engagement and global refugee work.

Neil Bush, son of late 41st U.S. President George H.W. Bush, will dialogue with Amb. Brzezinski to mark the 35th anniversary of the end of communist rule in Poland and explore the important relationship between the two countries in navigating the global challenges of today.

Summit cohost, Stowarzyszenie Centrum Wolontariatu, is a member of the Points of Light Global Network, including 145 affiliates in 39 countries. The organization is a key player in the landscape of volunteerism and embodies community-driven impact.

About Points of Light

Points of Light, a global nonprofit, stands at the forefront of inspiring, equipping and mobilizing millions to change the world. We help build vibrant communities by empowering individuals. Engaging 3.7 million people in 16.7 million hours of service annually, we bring the power of people to where it's needed most.

For more, visit pointsoflight.org.

CONTACT:

English: Kristin Whitaker, kwhitaker@pointsoflight.org, 813-480-4315

Polish: Agnieszka Lissowska-Lewkowicz, agnieszka.lewkowicz@centrumwolontariatu.pl, (+48) 514 777 399

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/diplomats-and-dignitaries-join-the-2024-points-of-light-global-summit-on-social-impact-302049317.html
January 31, 2023

Latest innovation has the potential to reduce anesthesia during minimally invasive procedures [1]

As a pioneer and leading innovator in cardiac ultrasound, Philips has developed the smaller X11- 4t Mini 3D TEE transducer to serve more patients with this valuable imaging tool, from pediatric patients to older adults and everyone in between

Amsterdam, the Netherlands - Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced that its latest TEE transducer, designed to serve more patients with improved overall comfort, has received FDA 510(k) clearance.

Cardiovascular ultrasound has played a key role in the evolution of early diagnosis of structural heart disease, led by a technology pioneered by Philips: the 'transesophageal echocardiography' (TEE) ultrasound transducer. TEE helps cardiologists by providing highly detailed images of the heart and its internal structures. In structural heart disease, the quality of a 3D TEE image can help save lives. The clarity and perspective that come with 3D images exceed 2D alternatives. TEE is also a valuable tool for minimally invasive heart surgeries and procedures, transforming the treatment of damaged heart valves and congenital heart defects [2].

However, there were some patients who still couldn't benefit from this advanced technology, including pediatric patients as small as 5 kg, adults at risk of complications [3], as well as complex cases such as ICU patients [4], where the transducer probe for 3D TEE was too large. Until now. Announced today, Philips' new X11-4t Mini 3D TEE transducer is shifting that balance and opening 3D TEE imaging to previously unaddressed patients [5].

"In many of our smallest patients undergoing complex intracardiac procedures like valve repairs, 3D TEE will give us a new and much needed perioperative tool. For example, the X11-4t can help us visualize atrioventricular valves en-face. In many cases, this is a view that is difficult to achieve with traditional 2D TEE. 3D TEE will also be a more effective tool to communicate with the surgeons and will enable us to give good "surgeon views" of intracardiac structures" said Dr. Brian Soriano, Pediatric Cardiologist (Washington, USA).

"As a pioneer and leading innovator in cardiac ultrasound, our 3D ultrasound technology plays a critical role in many cardiac procedures. But it was frustrating to know that there were still some patients who couldn't benefit from this hugely beneficial approach to image the heart, and as a result, would often require a different, more invasive, treatment approach," said David Handler, VP and General Manager for Global Cardiology Ultrasound at Philips. "That's why we've developed a new, even smaller mini 3D TEE transducer that can be used to help physicians serve a wider range of patients, from small children to fragile adults. With this innovation we can help reduce the need for general anesthesia [6] and lower the risk of complications, meaning patients may recover faster from procedures and can be discharged sooner."

Early clinical users who've had the opportunity to carry out procedures with the new transducer have recognized its value. "With its excellent image quality and small footprint, the X11-4t transducer has the potential to reduce the complications of prolonged transesophageal imaging which can occur during our most difficult structural heart procedures. The transducer's small size may also be better tolerated by patients during shorter procedures performed under conscious sedation and thus, provide additional high-quality imaging to improve procedural outcomes without the need for general anesthesia," said Dr. Rebecca Hahn, Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (New York, USA) and Director of Interventional Echocardiography at the Columbia Structural Heart & Valve Center (New York, USA).

Improved patient comfort, with seamless workflow integration for clinicians

Developed to be easily tolerated by patients due to its 35% smaller size [7] and pill-shaped design, Philips' new X11-4t aims to enhance the patient experience, with 87% of clinical respondents stating they believe the X11-4t may contribute to improved overall patient comfort [1]. Clinical staff can also benefit from a Mini Live 3D TEE solution that allows them to care for a wider range of patients, using the same hand control, procedure navigation techniques and workflow they are familiar with on Philips' EPIQ cardiac ultrasound systems. As a result, echocardiographers require minimal additional training on this newest transducer.

The new transducer is compatible with Philips' premium cardiology ultrasound portfolio including the EPIQ CVx and EchoNavigator image-guided therapy solution , allowing clinicians to deliver personalized, efficient, and clinically smart cardiac care to help improve outcomes and the patient experience. It also joins a portfolio that includes another significant innovation - VeriSight Pro - the first 3D intracardiac echocardiography catheter to miniaturize the same 3D imaging technology that powers TEE.

Transforming echocardiography with AI

More than 100 cardiac measurements are routinely performed as part of every echocardiography exam, taking up 50% of exam time [8]. The new X11-4t Mini 3D transducer reaffirms Philips' commitment to deliver industry first innovations to help improve productivity and increase clinical decision support, which includes AI-enabled technology and automated tools like the Dynamic Heart Model to aid in procedural guidance. Philips AI-enabled cardiac ultrasound is building on the industry leading AI technology capabilities from DiA Imaging Analysis .

The Philips X11-4t ultrasound transducer is scheduled for commercial availability in 2024 and is pending CE mark in Europe.

[1] 77% of respondents believe that X11-4t may contribute to reduction in the use of general anesthesia when comparing to the X8-2t.

[2] Transesophageal Echocardiography | American Heart Association

[3] Schmidt S, Dieks JK, Quintel M, Moerer O. Critical Care Echocardiography as a Routine Procedure for the Detection and Early Treatment of Cardiac Pathologies. Diagnostics (Basel). 2020;10(9):671. Published 2020 Sep 4. [4] Freitas-Ferraz AB, Bernier M, Vaillancourt R, et al. Safety of Transesophageal Echocardiography to Guide Structural Cardiac Interventions. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020;75(25):3164-3173.

[5] When compared to the X8-2t including comparison with tip width of X8-2t.

[5] Signify Ultrasound Transducers & Catheters World Market Report - 2021 Edition.

[7] Assessment based on feedback from a demo study, of 30 clinical respondents, when comparing to the X8-2t

[8] Guidelines for performing a comprehensive transthoracic echocardiographic examination (TEE) in adults. Recommendations from the American Society of Echocardiography, 2019.

For further information, please contact:

Kathy O'Reilly

Philips Global External Relations

Tel.: +1 978-221-8919

E-Mail: kathy.oreilly@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips.

Attachments
Aggregating channels with precision outreach to patients, family members, and oncologists/hematologists improves clinical research access for all

Trialbee, your global patient recruitment and enrollment solution, today announced its Omnichannel Network partnership with Massive Bio, a global leader in AI enabled patient journey mapping platform, to help better connect cancer patients and their oncologists/hematologists to clinical trials.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131200713/en/

Massive Bio and Trialbee join forces to improve clinical trial access (Photo: Business Wire)

Visit Massive Bio at the Trialbee exhibit booth (#1209) at the SCOPE Summit on Feb 11-14, in Orlando, FL to the collaboration and how it improves awareness and recruitment for oncology and hematology clinical trials.

According to the U.S. Commission on Cancer, only 6.3% of patients participate in clinical research for cancer treatments, which makes it imperative to raise awareness of research opportunities as a care option.

Trialbee and Massive Bio understand that patients have so much going on in their lives and with their care, that clinical research isn't typically top of mind for them, their families, or even their oncologists while others may lack the time or knowledge of where to look, or the questions to ask. Because many of these trials potentially represent the latest and most innovative methods to save lives, improving the outlook for generations to come, the companies are committed to working together to act now.

"Our mission at Massive Bio is to raise awareness with our global patient and provider contact centers, physician-to-physician referrals, and mega channel partnerships with a specific focus on oncology and hematology studies," said Selin Kurnaz, PhD, CEO of Massive Bio. "We aggregate all of these direct and indirect pathways while providing services for medical records collection, molecular diagnostics testing results collection (aka NGS testing), master pre-screening, and last-mile support (referral, logistics and financial) to make it easier for cancer patients to participate. This partnership with Trialbee brings another channel of identification and outreach with hyper-targeted digital recruitment so we can reach more patients together including those at community-based practices, which was the founding reason of Massive Bio, so we can improve health equity and access for all."

Trialbee and Massive Bio share similar approaches to recruitment for cancer trials with an emphasis on patient-centered research coupled with total transparency to ensure sites have the information they need to follow-up with interested study candidates.

"Complex patient recruitment challenges require a thoughtful strategy and, frankly, a new approach," said Matt Walz, CEO of Trialbee. "We have built our Omnichannel Network to expand the reach of our own data-driving recruitment methods without sacrificing our core principles of being highly targeted in our outreach. Massive Bio is a perfect example of a valuable partnership that will open new pathways for patients while still remaining hyper-focused on the ideal participant personae for each clinical trial. We are impressed by the team at Massive Bio, and we are proud to collaborate with them to raise awareness of clinical trial opportunities for more, and more diverse, patients and families worldwide."

"It's often said that finding patients with cancer to participate in a particular trial is like finding a needle in the haystack so we're bringing our best and biggest pitchforks," said Maggie Adamski, Senior Director of Omnichannel Solutions at Trialbee. "With our shared mission, Massive Bio helps us reach more patients than ever. We realize one recruitment channel isn't enough on its own. That's why we have built our Omnichannel Network with partnerships like this so more patients can discover the possibilities of clinical research as a care option."

Interested participants will be tracked and managed all within the Trialbee Honey Platform, which centralizes and standardizes recruitment and enrollment data from all sources to provide unprecedented transparency into the process while reducing burden on sites.

To learn more about how Trialbee and Massive Bio are working together to improve clinical research access for patients with cancer, visit www.trialbee.com and www.massivebio.com.

About Massive Bio:

Massive Bio's vision is to cover entire Pharma value chain with disruptive solutions to improve entire ecosystem from drug development to commercialization. Massive Bio is a unique tech-enabled big data platform with multiple use cases addressing all friction points in end-to-end patient journey, enabling access to advanced treatment options for patients and optimizing drug commercialization for pharma. Utilizing AI to enhance equitable access and precision targeting for clinical trial matching, drug matching, and drug development, Massive Bio is committed to breaking down barriers in clinical trial enrollment, fostering value-based oncology decisions, and facilitating data-driven cancer treatment. Serving over four dozen pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and hospital networks, Massive Bio has earned recognition from the National Cancer Institute with an SBIR contract, and it is founding member of CancerX Moonshot. Founded in 2015 by a team of clinical, technology, and M&A executives, Massive Bio boasts a global presence with nearly 100 people across 12 countries. For further details, please visit www.massivebio.com, https://askfiona.ai, https://drarturo.ai or interact with us on our social media channels.

About Trialbee

Trialbee is revolutionizing the patient recruitment ecosystem with technology, people, and passion. The company's vendor-agnostic Honey Platform is a SaaS Patient Recruitment Platform that centralizes and standardizes all recruitment activities from every source, channel, and partner from interest through enrollment providing unprecedented transparency and actionable insights for real-time patient tracking, higher-quality referrals that reduce site burden, and robust ROI reporting. Honey is surrounded by a team of Precision Recruitment experts who meet patients where they are in their journey using data-driven modeling, proven Omnichannel Network partners, and two-step medical pre-qualification. To take control of patient recruitment for your next study, visit http://www.trialbee.com/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131200713/en/

Contacts:

Massive Bio

Erkan Terzi

Chief Marketing Officer

+1 844 627 7246

pr@massivebio.com
Regulatory News:

TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE) has signed an agreement with OMV to acquire its 50% interest in Malaysian independent gas producer and operator SapuraOMV Upstream Sdn (SapuraOMV) for a consideration of $903 million (including the transfer of a $350 million loan granted by OMV to SapuraOMV), subject to customary closing adjustments.

SapuraOMV's main assets are its 40% operated interest in block SK408 and 30% operated interest in block SK310, both located offshore Sarawak in Malaysia. In 2023, SapuraOMV's operated production (100%) was about 500 Mcf/d of natural gas, feeding the Bintulu LNG plant operated by Petronas, as well as 7 kb/d of condensates. On block SK408, the development of the Jerun gas field is on track for startup in the second half of the year 2024

The transaction is subject to customary conditions precedent, in particular the receipt of regulatory approvals. Closing is expected by the end of first half of 2024.

SapuraOMV also holds interests in exploration licenses in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico where a discovery has been made in 2023 on block 30.

"We are pleased to strengthen TotalEnergies' position in Malaysia by becoming shareholder of the independent gas producer SapuraOMV. Over the past few years, we have developed a strategic international partnership with Petronas, the national company of Malaysia. This transaction will anchor our future growth in the country and reinforce our partnership with Petronas. With their low production costs and low GHG intensity, SapuraOMV's assets will perfectly fit in TotalEnergies' portfolio and participate in meeting the growing demand of gas in Asia", said Patrick Pouyanne, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies

About TotalEnergies in Malaysia

TotalEnergies owns interests in two PSCs in exploration phase and signed in June 2023 an agreement with Petronas and Mitsui to develop a carbon storage project in Southeast Asia and evaluate several CO2 storage sites in the Malay Basin.

About TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, more sustainable, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in nearly 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.

@TotalEnergies lTotalEnergies lTotalEnergies lTotalEnergies

Cautionary Note

The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131403455/en/

Contacts:

TotalEnergies Contacts

Media Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 99 l presse@totalenergies.com l @TotalEnergiesPR

Investor Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 46 l ir@totalenergies.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / KeyBank's Hamden, Connecticut branch recently had a very special guest visit its lobby. On December 16th, branch manager Alana Dina and her staff hosted a community Meet & Greet to introduce the public to Hamden Police Department's newest K-9 patrol dog, Jet. A recent graduate of the Capital Region Training Group and trained in GSR (gunshot residue) and Patrol (tracking and apprehension), Jet is a 20-month-old male German Shepherd who has joined the department as its newest K-9 officer.

The Hometown Foundation, Inc. in conjunction with KeyBank, underwrote the cost to acquire Jet for the Hamden Police Department as an addition to the K-9 team. The sponsorship is part of Hometown's Emergency Response Personnel pillar. KeyBank provided $5,000 toward the $15,000 sponsorship as part of the bank's commitment to the Hamden community.

"As a community-minded bank, KeyBank is committed to being a good neighbor and caring corporate citizen," said Dina. "We are thankful for the support we receive from the Town of Hamden and the Hamden Police department - and we are happy to show our appreciation by helping to provide K-9 Officer Jet to the town."

Attending the event at KeyBank's branch were Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett, Hamden Deputy Police Chief, William Onofrio, and a variety of other members of the Hamden Police Department, Hometown Foundation and KeyBank.

Mayor Lauren Garrett was quoted as saying "K9 Jet is the newest addition to our Police Department, made possible by the generous contributions of the Hometown Foundation and KeyBank. I am so grateful for this partnership! Thank you, Officer Cugini, for taking on the responsibility to serve as Jet's handler. I have been told that at the Academy, Jet was the best good boy in Connecticut!"

The Chief of Police, E. P. Reynolds had a previous commitment but was quoted as saying "This invaluable contribution will significantly enhance our ability to maintain public safety and provide enhanced crime prevention tools to our town. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to The Hometown Foundation and KeyBank for their unwavering support and commitment to our community. With K9 Jet --one of the newest additions to our team -- we are confident in our continued efforts to serve and protect the residents of our town."

The Hometown Foundation is committed to equipping law enforcement agencies with Police K-9 Units to ensure they are serving their communities positively and impartially. They understand the value of Police K-9s and it is their mission to educate others on the invaluable assets that they offer to law enforcement agencies. The Hometown Foundation thanks KeyBank for their partnership and support to the Hamden community.

KeyBank is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, providing deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states and through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and 1,300 ATMs. Through local sponsorships and charitable giving through KeyBank Foundation, KeyBank fulfills its purpose to help clients and communities thrive, and its mission is to support organizations and programs that prepare people for thriving futures.

Click here to watch the live coverage on News 8 WTNH

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: KeyBank

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: KeyBank

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Fraud Protect enables automotive dealers to identify potential fraud risks without slowing down the sales process

With more of the vehicle buying journey shifting online and vehicle prices remaining at elevated levels, fraudsters are targeting the automotive industry at an increasing rate. To address the rising threat, Experiantoday announced the launch of Fraud Protect, a web-based application that helps automotive dealers detect and prevent fraud while maintaining a positive shopping experience for the consumer.

According to a recent Experian report, nearly 70% of businesses reported that fraud losses have increased in recent years. Among the most common fraud schemes that dealerships experience include:

Third-party fraud: Fraudsters steal an individual's identity to purchase a vehicle

Fraudsters steal an individual's identity to purchase a vehicle First-party fraud: A person knowingly misrepresents their identity or provides false information, often with the intention of not paying for the vehicle

A person knowingly misrepresents their identity or provides false information, often with the intention of not paying for the vehicle Synthetic identity fraud: Fraudsters create fake identities and build credit profiles over time before using them to finance a vehicle they do not intend to pay for

"As fraudsters become more sophisticated and opportunistic, automotive dealers need to leverage the latest technology and advanced analytics to mitigate potential fraud risk," said John Gray, Experian's president of automotive, North America. "Not all fraud is perpetrated equally. Fraud Protect aims to help dealerships identify the most common fraud schemes and empowers them to take the most appropriate action to protect their portfolios and their bottom line."

How it works

Fraud Protect allows automotive dealers to send customers-both online and in-person-a secure, dealer-specific URL via text, email or QR code. Once customers provide identity documentation, the information is cross-referenced against a wide array of data assets, including historical identity data and credit usage patterns, to identify potentially suspicious activity.

The tool uses artificial intelligence to provide fraudulent activity alerts with easy-to-understand icons and scores, empowering automotive dealers to make more informed decisions and mitigate portfolio risk.

To learn more about Fraud Protect, visit the Experian Booth (3113W) at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show, February 1-4, 2024.

For those not attending the show, visit Experian's auto fraud prevention solutions webpage to learn more.

About Experian

Experian is the world's leading global information services company. During life's big moments from buying a home or a car, to sending a child to college, to growing a business by connecting with new customers we empower consumers and our clients to manage their data with confidence. We help individuals to take financial control and access financial services, businesses to make smarter decisions and thrive, lenders to lend more responsibly, and organizations to prevent identity fraud and crime.

We have 22,000 people operating across 32 countries and every day we're investing in new technologies, talented people, and innovation to help all our clients maximize every opportunity. With corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, we are listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and are a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

Learn more at www.experianplc.com or visit our global content hub at our global news blog for the latest news and insights from the Group.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Experian and its affiliates. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131744548/en/

Contacts:

Jordan Takeyama

Experian Public Relations

1 951 733 8768

jordan.takeyama@experian.com
MILWAUKEE / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Northwestern Mutual:

The company and its local partners are helping Milwaukee residents secure financial stability through affordable housing efforts

Originally published by Northwestern Mutual on June 20, 2023

Despite gains in education and earnings, the racial wealth gap remains a deep issue in America. According to the Federal Reserve Board, Black Americans' net worth is 70% below that of non-Black households. In Milwaukee, homeownership is less attainable for Black residents, which is due in part to this gap. As part of Northwestern Mutual's efforts to build healthier and stronger neighborhoods, the company is working to lessen this gap. To help progress towards this goal, the company is dedicating $3 million through its Sustained Action for Racial Equity initiative and its Foundation to provide Milwaukee residents with the resources and tools to achieve financial stability through homeownership.

"As a financial services company, we recognize our responsibility to support and add economic value to our communities," said Grady Crosby, vice president, chief sustainability and impact officer at Northwestern Mutual. "By leveraging our expertise and working directly with local residents and partners, we're helping to create a pipeline to homeownership that makes housing more affordable and gives residents a stake in their properties for generations to come."

Northwestern Mutual is investing $2.5 million in the Milwaukee Community Land Trust (MCLT) to help drive affordable housing and ensure homeownership affordability over time. The investment comes from the company's $100 million impact investment fund, which is working to deliver on the company's commitment to addressing inequality and the racial wealth gap in the U.S. Funds from this initiative are dedicated to Black, African American and other underserved communities on local and national scales, specifically focusing on building physical and social infrastructure, increasing access to capital and creating healthy, sustainable neighborhoods and communities.

In addition, through its Foundation, the company is donating $500,000 to Acts Housing's Homeownership Acquisition Fund. This fund was formed with the support of the Community Development Alliance and is a key strategy of Milwaukee's collective affordable housing plan. The funds will address the shortage of quality affordable homes available for purchase by low-income Black and Latino residents by purchasing houses to rehab and sell to new homeowners. The combined funds will support up to 20 homes.

"Homeownership is strongly tied to economic empowerment, financial security and community development," said Steve Radke, president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. "Research has found that stable housing can improve education dropout rates, economic vitality and health, as well as reduce crime. As a company, we firmly believe that helping residents access fair and sustained homeownership opportunities is an important means to helping close the racial wealth gap, and we are grateful to our partners for helping us tackle this generational issue."

For more than a decade, the company has partnered with Milwaukee's Amani, Metcalfe Park and Muskego Way neighborhoods to create long-term sustainable impact, with more than $15 million already invested toward revitalization efforts and economic empowerment. Those investments have paved the way for the establishment of thriving neighborhood associations, resident driven revitalization plans, deeper collaboration between non-profit partners and the development of a citywide shared housing strategy.

"Milwaukee is unique compared to other cities with a stark racial inequity in homeownership," said Lamont Davis, executive director for the Milwaukee Community Land Trust. "At MCLT, we are focused on a long-term strategy investment. Together with our partners, like Northwestern Mutual, we've already been able to invest in 10 affordable homes throughout the city and are working to add more than 30 more by 2025."

"In Milwaukee, families of low-to-moderate income are increasingly rent burdened and forced to make decisions that limit their ability for upward mobility," said Dorothy York, vice president, real estate at Acts Housing. "We are working to acquire at least 100 properties per year beginning this year and convert these properties into owner-occupied homes. This strategy works through a combination of program investments from philanthropies and long-term patient capital from financial institutions like Northwestern Mutual."

On average, the median income for a Black household in Wisconsin is $31,351, which is less than half the state's and nation's median household income. Through these investments and partnerships, Northwestern Mutual is providing a sustainable pipeline to homeownership which will enable Milwaukee residents to invest in their future in a tangible and meaningful way.

About Milwaukee Community Land Trust (MCLT)

The Milwaukee Community Land Trust (MCLT) transforms houses into pillars of strong families and safe neighborhoods by making homes permanently affordable to low-income buyers through a proven community land trust model. There are 270 community land trust across the country all dedicated to providing affordable homes and wealth creation opportunities to those who otherwise would not have those chances.

Using public and private subsidies, MCLT purchases land and home and either rehabs the existing homes or builds new ones, keeping prices well below market for homebuyers. In return, they agree to sell their home for below market value, ensuring subsidies are passed onto future generations. And homeowners can build wealth from market appreciation and equity growth.

About Acts Housing

Acts Housing provides one on one and online, HUD approved homebuyer and financial counseling for individuals and families to help them become ready to buy. As a real estate brokerage, Acts represents families in the purchase of homes for owner occupancy, in Milwaukee and Beloit, Wisconsin. Acts then helps families plan and execute home rehabilitation, with a focus on reclaiming vacant foreclosures. Affiliated nonprofit partner, Acts Lending, Inc., provides mortgage loans for rehabilitation projects.

About Community Development Alliance (CDA)

The Community Development Alliance believes that homeownership is a catalyst for dismantling systemic racism and building strong communities. That's why their work as accomplices with the community is centered on change for and with people and policy. By working collaboratively, they invest in neighborhoods, providing access to quality homes for Milwaukee families and nurturing capacity for Black and brown families to build generational wealth.

About SARE

Sustained Action for Racial Equity (SARE) is Northwestern Mutual's dedicated task force, led by Chairman, President and CEO John Schlifske, which takes a holistic look at actions that will have the greatest impact to drive sustainable change.

About Northwestern Mutual Foundation

The mission of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation is to improve the lives of children and families in need. The Foundation has given more than $400 million since its inception in 1992 and is designed to create lasting impact in the communities where the company's employees and financial representatives live and work. We accomplish this by combining financial support, volunteerism, thought leadership and convening community partners to deliver the best outcomes. Our efforts are focused nationally on curing childhood cancer, and locally on education, neighborhoods and making our hometown of Milwaukee a great destination. Visit Northwestern Mutual Foundation to learn more.

About Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 165 years. Through a comprehensive planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what's most important. With more than $558 billion of total assets being managed across the company's institutional portfolio as well as retail investment client portfolios, nearly $35 billion in revenues, and $2.2 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than five million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. Northwestern Mutual ranked 111 on the 2023 FORTUNE 500.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC) (investment advisory and services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance). Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with "Advisor" in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Northwestern Mutual on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Northwestern Mutual

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/northwestern-mutual

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Northwestern Mutual

View the original press release on accesswire.com
With a wealth of experience from Gartner to Mandiant, government intelligence to cybersecurity leadership, meet the people digging into the trillion-dollar cybercrime economy

Sysdig, the leader in cloud security powered by runtime insights, today released its "2024 Cloud-Native Security and Usage Report." Following the company's seventh annual report, the recent significant infrastructure breaches across well-known organizations, and the updated Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) cybersecurity and disclosure rules, Sysdig is highlighting its team of researchers and thought leaders, whose work paves the way in cloud-native threat investigation and security strategy. With experience ranging from enterprise architecture to national intelligence analysis and exploit detection to offensive security research, these leaders bring a wealth of expertise to the broader cloud security ecosystem.

Meet the Team

Anna Belak, Director of the Office of Cybersecurity Strategy, has 10 years of experience researching and advising organizations on cloud adoption, with a focus on security best practices. As a Gartner analyst, Anna spent six years helping more than 500 enterprises with vulnerability management, security, monitoring, and DevSecOps initiatives. Anna's research and talks have been used to transform organizations' IT strategies, and her research agenda has helped shape markets. In her work at Sysdig, Anna leverages her deep understanding of the security industry to help IT professionals succeed in their cloud-native journey. Her leadership has been pivotal for projects such as The 5/5/5 Cloud Detection and Response Benchmark and annual cloud-native security and usage reports, among others.

Connect with Anna on LinkedIn.

Crystal Morin, Cybersecurity Strategist, has more than 10 years of experience in threat analysis and research. Crystal started her career as both a Cryptologic Language Analyst and Intelligence Analyst in the United States Air Force and as a contractor for Booz Allen Hamilton, where she helped develop and evolve their cyber threat intelligence community and threat-hunting capabilities. In 2022, Crystal joined Sysdig as a Threat Research Engineer on the Sysdig Threat Research Team, where she worked to discover and analyze cyber threat actors taking advantage of the cloud. Today, Crystal bridges the gap between business and security through cloud-focused content for leaders and practitioners alike. Crystal's thought leadership has been foundational for pieces such as the "2024 Cloud-Native Security and Usage Report" and "Cloud vs. On-Premises: Unraveling the Mystery of the Dwell Time Disparity," among others.

Connect with Crystal on LinkedIn.

Jamie Butler, Head of Runtime Protection and Response Strategy, has over 25 years of experience and is a recognized leader in operating system security, cloud and container security, memory forensics, reverse engineering, malware, threat intelligence, and enterprise security. Jamie began his career as a computer scientist at the National Security Agency. He went on to direct research teams at some of the most prominent security companies of the past two decades, including as Chief Architect and Fellow at FireEye and Chief Researcher at Mandiant. Jamie then became Chief Technology Officer of Endgame, where he led engineering, product, and research teams focused on the convergence of the Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions. Before joining Sysdig, Jamie was a Distinguished Engineer and Tech Lead focused on detection and its efficacy at Elastic; he is also an active member of the Black Hat Review Board and co-authored the bestseller, "Rootkits: Subverting the Windows Kernel." At Sysdig, Jamie leads engineering innovation for threat detection and response. Jamie's leadership has been essential for Sysdig's advanced EDR capabilities and driving the evolution of Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) in the market, among other projects.

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn.

Michael Clark, Director of Threat Research, has 25 years of industry experience ranging from incident response, threat intelligence, offensive security research, and software development at companies such as Rapid7, ThreatQuotient, and ManTech. Michael also worked as a Gartner analyst, advising enterprise clients on SecOps topics. At Sysdig, Michael manages a team of experts tasked with discovering and defending against novel security threats; his team's work led to the Sysdig Platform's 100% rule coverage of the MITRE ATT&CK Framework for containers. Michael's leadership has been vital in uncovering cloud-native operations such as SCARLETEEL and major findings published in the "2023 Global Cloud Threat Report," among others.

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.

Mike Isbitski, Director of Cybersecurity Strategy, has more than 25 years of experience in application, cloud, and container security. Mike is a former Gartner analyst, cybersecurity leader, and practitioner with experience on the front lines of IT working on application security, vulnerability management, enterprise architecture, and systems engineering, with direct experience in the telecommunications, health care, and utilities sectors. While at Sysdig, Mike has guided countless organizations across the globe to better support their businesses and security initiatives. Mike's unique mix of technical expertise and business savvy has been indispensable for navigating the intersection of technology and cybersecurity regulation, contributing to pieces such as "Vulnerabilities Aren't New, but the Speed of Incidents Is" and "Assess Your Readiness Now for the SEC Cybersecurity Disclosure Rules," among others.

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn.

Learn More About the Team's Work

Explore the key findings of the "2024 Cloud-Native Security and Usage Report."

Read about the AMBERSQUID cloud-native cryptojacking operation.

Watch the "Redefining Cloud Threat Detection with Anna Belak" webinar.

Listen to "Cloud Native Security With Michael Isbitski" on the Arrested DevOps podcast.

Learn how enriched process trees bolster cloud threat investigation.

About Sysdig

In the cloud, every second counts. Attacks move at warp speed, and security teams must protect the business without slowing it down. Sysdig stops cloud attacks in real time, instantly detecting changes in risk with runtime insights and open source Falco. Sysdig correlates signals across cloud workloads, identities, and services to uncover hidden attack paths and prioritize real risk. From prevention to defense, Sysdig helps enterprises focus on what matters: innovation. Sysdig. Secure Every Second.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131828559/en/

Contacts:

Damon Weinhold

damon.weinhold@sysdig.com

+1 (415) 873-4772
DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest report by Kings Research, the Global Surgical Robots Market was valued at USD 3.98 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 14.31 billion by 2030, growing at a17.46% CAGR from 2023 to 2030. The demand for surgical robots is escalating due to the growing preference for minimally invasive surgeries, which promise quicker recoveries and better results. These robots, known for their precision and agility, are essential in various medical fields. The aging population and rising chronic diseases further contribute to market expansion. Integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into robotic surgeries presents significant growth opportunities, especially as procedures become more complex. Furthermore, incorporating robotic-assisted surgery into emerging medical specialties like urology and gynecology presents lucrative market growth opportunities.

Surgical robots are sophisticated instruments employed by surgeons to boost precision and reduce invasiveness in operations. They operate either remotely or autonomously, depending on the system in use. These robots, equipped with sensors, robotic arms, and specialized instruments, excel in executing precise and intricate tasks. Their applications span across diverse medical fields such as general surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, gynecology, urology, and cardiovascular surgery.

Get a Sample PDF of the Report:https://www.kingsresearch.com/request-sample/surgical-robots-market-325

Trending Now: Apollo Unveils da Vinci Xi: Elevating Precision and Patient Outcomes in Complex Surgeries

In April 2023, Apollo introduced the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system, a cutting-edge technology designed for complex surgeries. Boasting precision and control, this advanced system aims to elevate patient outcomes. Apollo's strategic product launch was geared toward fortifying its position as a leader in healthcare innovation and enhancing its capabilities in the realm of minimally invasive surgeries.

Competitive Landscape

Key players in the surgical robots industry are employing various business tactics, including partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, product innovations, and joint ventures, to broaden their product portfolios and enhance market shares in diverse regions. Their expansion and investment initiatives encompass a spectrum of strategic activities, such as investments in research and development (R&D), establishing new manufacturing facilities, and optimizing supply chain processes.

For instance, in July 2023, The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) England joined forces with Intuitive, a prominent company in robotic-assisted surgery. This partnership was intended to shape the future of surgical robotics by improving surgical training and education, establishing guidelines and standards, and fostering advancements in robotic-assisted surgery. The ultimate goal of this deal was to bring benefits to both patients and healthcare providers.

Major players profiled in the global surgical robots market include:

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

Medtronic plc

Stryker Corporation

Zimmer Biomet

CMR Surgical

TransEnterix

Johnson & Johnson

Titan Medical Inc.

Accuray Incorporated

Medrobotics Corporation

Inquire Before Buying This Report: https://www.kingsresearch.com/enquiry/surgical-robots-market-325

Precision and Minimal Invasiveness in Gynecological Surgeries to Boost Surgical Robots Market Growth

Based on application, the market has been segmented into general surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, gynecological surgery, urological surgery, cardiovascular surgery, and other specialties.

The gynecological surgery segment holds a prominent position in the surgical robots market. Surgical robots have demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in gynecological procedures such as hysterectomy and myomectomy, where precision and delicate tissue handling play a critical role. Given the surging rate of these procedures and the increasing demand for minimally invasive options that offer faster recovery times, the market for such robotic solutions is expanding substantially.

Growing Use of Surgical Robots in Hospitals and Clinics to Drive Market Expansion

Based on end-user, the surgical robots market has been categorized into hospitals and clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and others.

The hospitals and clinics segment is projected to experience the fastest growth over the forecast period. Serving as the primary settings for surgical procedures, these establishments are well-suited for the adoption of sophisticated and costly medical technologies like surgical robots. Typically, such advanced equipment is housed in well-equipped hospitals and specialized clinics that possess the necessary resources, infrastructure, and skilled surgical teams to effectively leverage the capabilities of surgical robots.

Ask for Customization: https://www.kingsresearch.com/customization/surgical-robots-market-325

Escalating Demand for Minimally Invasive Surgeries to Spur Surgical Robots Market Development

A primary driving factor for the growth of the market is the escalating demand for minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The preference for MIS procedures, characterized by smaller incisions, reduced pain, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery times, is favored by both patients and surgeons. Surgical robots enhance the precision and dexterity required for MIS, leading to improved patient outcomes across various medical specialties. The rising demand for less invasive surgical options is propelling the widespread adoption of surgical robots.

Another pivotal factor influencing surgical robots market growth is the opportunity presented by the development and commercialization of cost-effective surgical robotic systems. Furthermore, the aging population and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases are aiding market expansion. Growth opportunities also lie in the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in robotic surgical procedures, addressing the increasing intricacy of such interventions. Additionally, the incorporation of robotic-assisted surgery into emerging medical specialties, including urology and gynecology, presents exciting prospects for development.

Purchase This Comprehensive Research Report for Valuable Market Insights: https://www.kingsresearch.com/buy-now/325

Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases in North America to Support Market Dominance

North America led the global surgical robots market in 2022, securing the highest valuation and market share. This dominance is due to the region's favorable reimbursement policies for robotic-assisted surgeries, acting as compelling incentives for hospitals and clinics to embrace these advanced systems. The elevated prevalence of chronic diseases and an aging population in the region are also fueling the demand for minimally invasive surgical options.

Burgeoning Healthcare Infrastructure in APAC to Bolster Surgical Robots Industry Revenue



Asia Pacific is poised to witness remarkable growth in the surgical robots market, depicting the highest CAGR from 2023 to 2030. This surge can be attributed to the presence of a robust healthcare infrastructure in emerging economies such as China and India, augmented healthcare expenditure, and a rising demand for cutting-edge medical technologies. The appeal of surgical robots lies in their ability to provide precision and minimize invasiveness, aligning seamlessly with the complex healthcare requirements of the region. Additionally, collaborative efforts between local healthcare institutions and global leaders in robotic surgery contribute significantly to the widespread adoption of surgical robots in the APAC region.

For more information on the report, visit: https://www.kingsresearch.com/surgical-robots-market-325

Key Points from TOC:

1 Introduction of The Global Surgical Robots Market

1.1 Market Definition

1.2 Market Segmentation

1.3 Research Timelines

1.4 Limitations

1.5 Assumptions

2 Executive Summary

3 Research Methodology

3.1 Data Collection

3.1.1 Secondary Sources

3.1.2 Primary Sources

3.1.3 Research Flow

3.2 Subject Matter Expert Advice

3.3 Quality Check

3.4 Final Review

3.5 Bottom-Up Approach

3.6 Top-down Approach

4 Global Surgical Robots Market Outlook

4.1 Market Evolution

4.2 Overview

4.3 Market Dynamics

4.4 Pricing Analysis

4.5 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.6 Value Chain Analysis

4.7 Macroeconomic Analysis

5 Impact of Russia-Ukraine War

6 Global Surgical Robots Market, By Application

7 Global Surgical Robots Market, By Product Type

8 Global Surgical Robots Market, By End-User

9 Global Surgical Robots Market, By Geography

10 North America

11 Europe

12 Asia-Pacific

13 Middle East & Africa

14 Latin America

15 Global Surgical Robots Market Competitive Landscape

15.1 Overview

15.2 Key Developments

15.3 Key Strategic Developments

15.4 Company Market Ranking

15.5 Regional Footprint

15.6 Industry Footprint

16 COMPANY PROFILES

16.1 Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

16.1.1 Key Facts

16.1.2 Financial Overview

16.1.3 Product Benchmarking

16.1.4 Recent Developments

16.1.5 Winning Imperatives

16.1.6 Current Focus & Strategies

16.1.7 Threat from competition

16.1.8 SWOT Analysis

16.2 Medtronic plc

16.2.1 Key Facts

16.2.2 Financial Overview

16.2.3 Product Benchmarking

16.2.4 Recent Developments

16.2.5 Winning Imperatives

16.2.6 Current Focus & Strategies

16.2.7 Threat from competition

16.2.8 SWOT Analysis

16.3 Stryker Corporation

16.3.1 Key Facts

16.3.2 Financial Overview

16.3.3 Product Benchmarking

16.3.4 Recent Developments

16.3.5 Winning Imperatives

16.3.6 Current Focus & Strategies

16.3.7 Threat from competition

16.3.8 SWOT Analysis

16.4 Zimmer Biomet

16.4.1 Key Facts

16.4.2 Financial Overview

16.4.3 Product Benchmarking

16.4.4 Recent Developments

16.4.5 Winning Imperatives

16.4.6 Current Focus & Strategies

16.4.7 Threat from competition

16.4.8 SWOT Analysis

16.5 CMR Surgical

16.5.1 Key Facts

16.5.2 Financial Overview

16.5.3 Product Benchmarking

16.5.4 Recent Developments

16.5.5 Winning Imperatives

16.5.6 Current Focus & Strategies

16.5.7 Threat from competition

16.5.8 SWOT Analysis

Continued..

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About Us:

Kings Research stands as a renowned global market research firm. With a collaborative approach, we work closely with industry leaders, conducting thorough assessments of trends and developments. Our primary objective is to provide decision-makers with tailored research reports that align with their unique business objectives. Through our comprehensive research studies, we strive to empower leaders to make informed decisions.

Our team comprises individuals with diverse backgrounds and a wealth of knowledge in various industries. At Kings Research, we offer a comprehensive range of services aimed at assisting you in formulating efficient strategies to achieve your desired outcomes. Our objective is to significantly enhance your long-term progress through these tailored solutions.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-surgical-robots-market-to-record-strong-growth-at-17-46-cagr-accounting-for-14-31-bn-by-2030--north-america-leading-the-industry-due-to-rising-adoption-of-minimally-invasive-surgeries-projects-kings-research-302049452.html
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust Plc - Dividend Declaration

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 31

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc (the "Company")

Dividend Declaration

The Board of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc today announced a proposed final ordinary dividend of 28.55p per share, together with a special dividend of 9.00p per share, in respect of the year ended 31 December 2023.

Subject to shareholder approval at the AGM to be held on 5 March 2024, the dividends will be paid on 8 March 2024 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 9 February 2024. The ex-dividend date is 8 February 2024. The Company also operates a Dividend Reinvestment Plan and elections must be received by the Company's registrars by 5.30pm on 22 February 2024.

Aberforth Partners LLP, Secretaries

(Tel 0131 220 0733)

31 January 2024
Local Suppliers to Play Significant Role in Czech Republic's Nuclear Energy Future

Westinghouse Electric Company, along with construction partner Bechtel, today signed a cooperation agreement with the Czech Power Industry Alliance. The agreement plays a critical role in leveraging the Czech Republic's highly skilled nuclear industry in support of Westinghouse and Bechtel's proposal to deploy AP1000 reactors in country.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131516581/en/

Ahmet Tokpinar (Bechtel), Elias Gedeon (Westinghouse), Josef Perlik (CPIA), Lukas Zednik (CPIA). (Photo: Business Wire)

The agreement establishes a working group to facilitate participation of Czech companies in the deployment of up to four AP1000 reactors at Dukovany and Temelin nuclear power plants. The selection of AP1000 technology in Poland, Bulgaria and Ukraine, as well as potential deployment of the AP300 small modular reactor, creates additional opportunity for Czech suppliers across the region.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Dr. Kathryn Huff, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Michael Goff witnessed the MOU signing, showing the support of the U.S. Government for the Westinghouse Bechtel team, as well as the Czech industry alliance, for the nuclear projects.

"We see the signing of this agreement as a very important step in the mutual cooperation of all parties involved. The working group's efforts will ensure maximum involvement of the Czech industry in the construction of new nuclear power sources in the Czech Republic as a truly strategic partner of the AP1000 technology," said Josef Perlik, Alliance Executive Director.

"Our AP1000 projects benefit greatly from robust localization of critical manufacturing and services work. I expect that at least 70% of the work for this major project will go to Czech companies," said David Durham, Energy Systems President, Westinghouse. "We are grateful for the partnership with CPIA, one that will pay dividends to the Czech Republic for generations."

"For over 70 years, Bechtel has been at the forefront of delivering state-of-the-art nuclear power technologies," said John Howanitz, President of Bechtel's Nuclear, Security, and Environmental business unit. "We know that the most successful projects include partnering at the local level and maximizing the capacity and capabilities of local suppliers to help our partners achieve their clean energy goals. We look forward to working with CPIA to help us continue to identify potential local suppliers and subcontractors to partner with to deliver energy security to the Czech Republic."

The CPIA brings together the largest nuclear energy technology companies in the Czech Republic. Its mission is to coordinate strategic interests, key partnerships and cooperation of member companies with partners including ministries and state regulatory authorities.

The AP1000 is the only operating Generation III+ reactor with fully passive safety systems, modular construction design and the smallest footprint per MWe on the market. In the U.S., at the Vogtle site in Georgia, one AP1000 unit achieved commercial operation in July and is producing power for the grid while a second unit is expected to achieve commercial operation in the months ahead. Four AP1000 reactors are currently setting operational performance and availability records in China with eight additional reactors under construction there. The technology is also under consideration at multiple sites in Central and Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom, and in North America.

Westinghouse Electric Company is shaping the future of carbon-free energy by providing safe, innovative nuclear and other clean power technologies and services globally. Westinghouse supplied the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 and the company's technology is the basis for nearly one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants. Over 135 years of innovation makes Westinghouse the preferred partner for advanced technologies covering the complete nuclear energy life cycle. For more information, visit www.westinghousenuclear.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers' objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world's infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place. For more information on Bechtel's experience in nuclear power, visit https://impact.bechtel.com/our-projects/nuclear-power and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131516581/en/

Contacts:

media@westinghouse.com

ammeixel@bechtel.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Cybersecurity breaches no longer discriminate by business size or organization type. As more organizations grapple with finding balance in the new digital operational landscape and reasonable employee productivity, all while keeping costs low. A new solution has emerged - Control D, powered by Windscribe VPN's robust security expertise. Control D for Organization is a modern DNS service that democratizes cybersecurity, making it accessible to businesses and organizations of every size, from budding startups to schools, hospitals, and Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

Control D is a pioneer in software security, devoted to offering next-level, user-centric solutions while also ensuring organizations are globally compliant with data storage at custom locations of their choice. Backed by the years of security expertise of sister company Windscribe VPN, (who currently protect the data of over 60 million people) ensuring that Control D leverages the largest physical VPN network and one of the fastest anycast DNS networks to deliver unparalleled security and freedom from surveillance on a global scale.





Control D - Secure End User Devices

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8846/196029_7306a480145c493f_001full.jpg

Core Features of Control D

Control D for Organizations is perfect for companies, schools, and NGOs of all sizes, by offering simplicity for smaller teams, and highly specific and advanced controls for larger organizations. Control D is packed with an arsenal of tools designed to secure and empower diverse teams. Some of its core features include:

1. Malware Blocking: Protecting business continuity against malicious threats with state-of-the-art malware detection techniques powered by Artificial Intelligence, all built in-house. Protect individual devices and entire networks with just a couple of clicks.

2. Multi-Tenancy: Simplify the complexity of managing access and filtering policies across different departments, subsidiaries, or customer accounts within a large enterprise or service provider setting. This is a highly practical feature for businesses with multiple locations, Managed Service Providers, and other organizations with complex DNS security needs.

3. Modern Protocols: Security is not guaranteed when using standard DNS protocols. That's why Control D supports all modern (and encrypted) protocols like DNS-over-HTTPS/3 and DNS-over-TLS.

4. Custom Filtering: Highly granular web filters and curated blocklists allow DNS security newcomers to gain maximum security benefits with minimal effort. Ensure that whatever content is consumed on a network is safe for work, children, and/or is geared towards improving employee productivity.

5. Actionable Insights: Detailed network activity analytics empowers businesses to improve their security protocols and make data-driven decisions.





Control D - Protect Whole Networks

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8846/196029_7306a480145c493f_002full.jpg

Join the DNS security revolution and equip businesses and clients with Control D. Visit controld.com for more information and take the first step towards comprehensive digital protection. Additional assistance for onboarding channel partners is available and no payment details are required for the trial.

Media Contact Information:

For further details, please contact Yegor Sak at business@controld.com or Control D's channel partner lead Joe Jaghab at Joe@controld.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196029

SOURCE: Media Feature
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / AcuityTec, a KYC and fraud prevention provider, announces a significant enhancement to its data hub through the integration with ComplyAdvantage, an AI-driven sanctions screening and monitoring software leader. This strategic integration marks a pivotal advancement in AcuityTec's commitment to providing best-in-class Anti-Money Laundering (AML) screening to businesses navigating the complexities of regulatory compliance.





AcuityTec Expands Data Hub





In our online economy, businesses face the formidable challenge of strengthening their global fraud defenses while remaining agile against ever-evolving local and international regulatory landscapes. In 2022, credit and financial institutions were fined almost USD 5bn for anti-money laundering (AML) issues, sanction breaches and deficiencies in their know-your-customer (KYC) systems. As a result, 70% of corporate risk and compliance professionals say they have noticed a shift from check-the-box compliance to a more strategic approach.

Online entities require dynamic and automated access to real-time global KYC and AML data to attain the highest level of precision in risk assessment. The partnership between AcuityTec and ComplyAdvantage is pivotal for businesses striving to navigate compliance intricacies effectively and defend themselves against financial crime.

ComplyAdvantage's watchlist data is renowned for its quality, undergoing meticulous manual quality checks by domain expert researchers and trusted by over 100 partners in our global compliance ecosystem. Alfredo Solis, Managing Director at AcuityTec, comments, "The unmatched speed of live updates to our sanctions data, powered by ComplyAdvantage, keeps our clients at the forefront of their regulatory requirements. Dynamic and interlinked datasets enable instant customer screening against the world's most trusted sanctions, watchlists, PEPs and warning lists with real-time alert notifications and multi-faceted risk scoring for rapid and informed decision-making."

AcuityTec and ComplyAdvantage share a unified vision, aiming to harness the power of data-driven technologies and automation to streamline risk mitigation and bolster compliance adherence. Through AcuityTec's single API, businesses gain seamless access to a comprehensive suite of KYC, KYB and compliance data, coupled with proprietary adaptive risk analysis and fraud defense technology. Additionally, it offers tailored data workflows and simplified management of customer profiles, whitelists, negative databases, real-time transaction monitoring, suspicious activity detection, and swift generation of suspicious case reports for immediate submission to regulatory authorities. Businesses gain access to a streamlined, user-friendly, and cost-effective solution, ready to support them in adapting to evolving regulatory environments seamlessly.

"Our partnership with ComplyAdvantage is more than just an integration; it's a strategic alignment of our vision to provide the most advanced data-driven compliance solution in the market with best-in-class data performance, results and coverage," emphasizes Solis. "At AcuityTec, we're committed to staying ahead of the curve and remaining a trusted partner for businesses worldwide with the most effective tools to automate risk screening, global fraud prevention and regulatory adherence."

For more information, visit www.acuitytec.com or contact sales@acuitytec.com. For media inquiries, contact marketing@acuitytec.com.

Contact Information

Alfredo Solis

Senior Director and Business Strategist

alfredo@acuitytec.com

+1-866-504-2170

SOURCE: AcuityTec

View the original press release on newswire.com.
In an ambitious drive to advance precision agriculture throughout the United States, AcuSpray announces a significant expansion of its franchise network.

DETROIT, MI / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / In an ambitious drive to advance precision agriculture throughout the United States, AcuSpray announces a significant expansion of its franchise network. Already a leader in precision drone application services, AcuSpray has opened franchise opportunities in over 30 states as part of its strategic growth plan. To extend these opportunities to encompass all lower 48 states in 2024, AcuSpray is inviting entrepreneurs to join in its mission to revolutionize precision agriculture and expand its nationwide footprint.

AcuSpray Founders

AcuSpray founders ramp up the expansion of the franchise network.

This expansion underscores a pivotal moment in agriculture, aligning with the industry's move towards innovative farming techniques that promise greater yields and improved cost efficiency. An independent 2023 study conducted in Indiana on corn fungicide application - ground versus drone - has shed light on the potential benefits of utilizing drone technology in farming. The study reports a remarkable 7.8 bushel per acre yield increase when using drones for fungicide application compared to untreated fields, translating to significant profitability gains for farmers.

"While AcuSpray was not a participant in the Indiana study, the findings corroborate the feedback we've received from our clients and reinforce our commitment to leading the charge in drone-based agricultural services," stated Jeff Bickley, CEO of AcuSpray. "Our franchising model is rapidly growing because it encapsulates the essence of what today's farmers need: efficiency, precision, and sustainability."

The compelling findings from the study underscore another significant benefit of drone applications: the considerable reduction in pesticide usage. By employing drones, farmers can target specific areas with unparalleled accuracy, leading to less pesticide required per acre. This precision directly contributes to an $18.56 per acre increase in return on investment, showcasing an approach that not only elevates yields but does so responsibly and sustainably. The reduced chemical footprint is a win-win for farmers and the environment alike, resonating with AcuSpray's core mission to provide advanced agricultural solutions that surpass the industry's developing needs for efficiency, efficacy, and environmental stewardship.

As AcuSpray continues to expand, it extends an invitation to entrepreneurs to become part of a revolution in agriculture, empowering them with cutting-edge technology and a robust support system. AcuSpray franchises are at the heart of a movement that promotes economic growth, innovation, and sustainability within the agricultural community.

For additional information about AcuSpray's franchising opportunities and innovative agricultural solutions, please visit https://acuspray.com.

About AcuSpray:

Recently crowned as the Top Precision Farming Solutions Provider for 2023 by the AgriBusiness Review, AcuSpray stands at the vanguard of precision drone application technology. The company's innovative agricultural solutions are designed to maximize crop yields while upholding the principles of environmental stewardship. AcuSpray's expanding franchise network is a testament to its dedication to arming farmers with cutting-edge tools necessary for enhancing profitability and promoting a sustainable agricultural future.

Media Contact:

Chris Wielinski

Chief Marketing Officer

AcuSpray

(855) 977-7299

chris@acuspray.com

Editor's Note:

The referenced independent 2023 Indiana Corn Fungicide Application Study is a separate research initiative that AcuSpray was not involved in but whose findings are consistent with the benefits observed by AcuSpray's clients. For more details or to arrange an interview with AcuSpray executives, please contact Chris Wielinski. High-resolution images, case studies, and further materials are available upon request.

Contact Information:

Chris Wielinski

Chief Marketing Officer

chris@acuspray.com

(855) 977-7299

SOURCE: AcuSpray

View the original press release on newswire.com.
FIGEAC AERO (FR0011665280 - FGA:FP), a leading partner for major aerospace manufacturers, has today released its revenue figures for the third quarter of its financial year 2023/24 ended 31 December 2023.

m - IFRS

Unaudited figures Q3 2023/24 Q3 2022/23 Chg. Org. chg. 9M 2023/24 9M 2022/23 Chg. Org. chg. Aerostructures & Aeroengines 88.1 79.1 +11.4% +15.3% 251.8 217.1 +16.0% +20.6% Diversification Activities[1] 8.5 8.1 +4.9% +4.9% 26.0 20.4 +27.5% +27.5% Total revenue 96.6 87.2 +10.8% +14.3% 277.8 237.5 +17.0% +21.2%



GROUP ON TRACK TO MEET ITS FULL-YEAR REVENUE TARGETS

FIGEAC AERO's consolidated revenue reached 96.6 million in the third quarter of its financial year 2023/24 (running from 1 October to 31 December 2023), corresponding to 14.3% organic growth (+10.8% reported growth, including an unfavourable currency impact of 3.1 million).

The Group is still being driven both by robust momentum in its Aerostructures & Aeroengines division, which delivered 15.3% organic growth in revenue (+11.4% reported growth) to 88.1 million largely thanks to the A350 which continues to ramp up, and also by more moderate growth in its Diversification Activities.

So, the Group's cumulative consolidated revenue for the first nine months of its financial year 2023/24 (running from 1 April to 31 December 2023) totalled 277.8 million, corresponding to 21.2% organic growth year-on-year (+17.0% reported growth, including an unfavourable currency impact of 10.1 million). FIGEAC AeRO is thus poised to meet its full-year revenue target of between 375 million and 390 million.



SOLID MOMENTUM IN THE INDUSTRY REFLECTED IN RECORD ORDER INTAKE LEVELS

The aerospace industry's sound economic health is among the main factors contributing to FIGEAC AERO's growth and financial performance thanks to the Group's critical role within the aerospace value chain.

The air transportation industry has been recovering since the end of the health crisis and continued to grow during the quarter, while the situation regarding procurement issues is gradually improving. Air traffic is still growing rapidly, by 31.2% in October 2023 and by 29.7% in November 2023 relative to its respective 2022 levels. Air traffic at end-November stood at 99.1% of its pre-crisis level, so it is extremely likely it will have fully recovered from the crisis by the end of the year. Capacity and load factor indicators are also trending positively.

Given these particularly favourable circumstances, the world's two main aircraft manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, are enjoying excellent momentum; they ended the year with net orders for 2,094 aircraft for Airbus (a historical high) and 1,576 aircraft for Boeing[2]. Although deliveries increased by more than 10% over the year (corresponding to 735 for Airbus and 528 for Boeing), airlines will have placed orders for 2.8 new Airbus aircraft and 3,0 new Boeing aircraft for each aircraft delivered - a clear indication of the long-term industry momentum. The two major aircraft manufacturers reported record backlogs at 31 December 2023 of 8,598 and 6,216 aircraft, respectively, in both cases corresponding to around 12 years of production.

The Group thus believes that the industry offers, more than ever, excellent growth prospects, which are factored into the PILOT 28 business plan projections.



FULL-YEAR GUIDANCE CONFIRMED

FIGEAC AERO boasted a sizeable backlog at 31 December 2023 valued at 3.7 billion, flat compared with 30 September 2023 and up 0.4 billion compared with 30 June 2023. This trend reflects stable build rates, bearing in mind that higher build rates (especially on the A350) were already factored into the 30 September 2023 figure. The Group is also keeping a close eye on ongoing developments regarding the Boeing 737 MAX. With no sufficiently precise information available at this stage, Boeing and Safran have left their build rate projections unchanged for the time being. The Group will get back with more precise information about any impact should it materialise.

For the short term, FIGEAC AERO maintains all its 2023/24 targets as its commercial performance came out in line with expectations in the third quarter and the sector's momentum remains intact:

Revenue between 375 million and 390 million[3],

Current EBITDA between 48 million and 53 million,

Free cash-flow between 16 million and 20 million.

The Group confirmed that there is a large volume of RFQ activity underway in commercial aerospace as well as in the defence and services segments- both in which FIGEAC AeRO intends to strengthen its positions as part of its new PILOT 28 business plan. The plan's objectives out to March 2028 include (i) revenue between 550 million and 600 million[4], implying a 30% increase on the historical high reported in March 2020 just before the crisis, (ii) significantly lower indebtedness, with financial leverage targeted at between 2x and 2.5x, and (iii) a reinforced non-financial performance.

A replay of the PILOT 28 presentation can be accessed by clicking on the following link: PILOT 28 presentation

Upcoming events

14 May 2024: revenue for the 4th quarter of FY 2023/24 (after trading)

About FIGEAC AERO

The FIGEAC AERO Group, a leading partner for major aerospace manufacturers, specialises in producing light alloy and hard metal structural parts, engine parts, landing gear and sub-assemblies. FIGEAC AERO is a global group operating in France, the USA, Morocco, Mexico, Romania and Tunisia. The Group generated annual revenue of 341.6 million in the year to 31 March 2023.

FIGEAC AERO

Jean-Claude Maillard

Chief Executive Officer

Tel.: +33 (0)5 65 34 52 52



Simon Derbanne

Head of Investor and Institutional Relations

Tel.: +33 (0)5 81 24 63 91 / simon.derbanne@figeac-aero.com ACTUS Finance & Communication

Corinne Puissant

Analyst/Investor Relations

Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 77 / cpuissant@actus.fr



Manon Clairet

Press Relations

Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 73 / mclairet@actus.fr





GLOSSARY

Term / indicator Definition Current EBITDA Current operating income (loss) adjusted for net depreciation, amortisation and provisions before the breakdown of R&D expenses capitalised by the Group by type Backlog Sum of orders received and to be received extrapolated over a 10-year period for each contract and request for proposals won, based on build rates announced and then projected and a EUR/USD exchange rate of 1.12 Organic At constant scope and exchange rates DIO (Days of Inventory Outstanding) Average number of days of revenue for which an item of inventory is held Debt leverage Ratio of net debt excluding non-interest-bearing debt to current EBITDA Capex Investments in fixed assets ORNANE Bonds redeemable into cash and/or new and/or existing shares Free cash-flow Net cash-flow from operating activities before cost of financial debt and taxes, minus net cash-flow from investing activities

[1] Defence, energy and oil & gas activities. Note that the Group reclassified its Wichita activities in the USA to the Aerostructures & Aeroengines division in September 2022

[2] Source: Airbus and Boeing, as at 31 December 2023

[3] Based on a EUR/USD exchange rate of 1.13

[4] Based on a EUR/USD exchange rate of 1.12

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Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 31

For immediate release

31 January 2024

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announces that it has today purchased 348,492 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 840.44 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23 January 2024.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 30,031,978; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 194,959,325.

The figure of 194,959,325 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
OAKLAND, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / "When we founded Red Bay Coffee it was a special moment, that moment has evolved into a Black Coffee movement." -Keba Konte, Founder

Red Bay Coffee, the longest-running black-owned coffee brand in the U.S., is proud to announce its upcoming 10th-anniversary celebration, marking a decade of resilience, innovation, and breaking down barriers in the coffee industry. The celebration, aptly named RED BAY 10, will showcase the company's remarkable journey and commitment to diversity, equity, and excellence under the visionary leadership of founder Keba Konte.

Keba Konte, an artist and entrepreneur, started Red Bay Coffee with a vision to bring diversity and excellence to an industry that lacked representation. His unwavering commitment to social responsibility, ethical business practices, and fostering community engagement has been instrumental in Red Bay Coffee's success over the past decade.

Red Bay Coffee's inception traces back to the home roasting lab, nestled in Keba Konte's garage. In his quest to master the art of specialty coffee, Keba built this intimate coffee sanctuary, affectionately known as the Coffee Dojo. Here, he dedicated himself to learning and refining the intricacies of coffee craftsmanship. The term "Dojo" takes on a profound meaning, representing more than just a physical space-it embodies a school for training and practice, shaping Red Bay Coffee's commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in the world of coffee.

The RED BAY 10 celebration will honor the legacy of Red Bay Coffee's journey. Special events, collaborations, and limited-edition releases throughout February will pay tribute to the legacy of Red Bay Coffee. To commemorate this historic celebration, Red Bay Coffee has organized a vibrant brass band performance, scheduled to take place on February 10 at noon, right in front of our Grand Lake Cafe.

One of the highlights of RED BAY 10 is the release of a commemorative limited edition coffee blend and collector's tin can. Crafted from meticulously sourced beans from Kenya and Guatemala, this unique blend embodies the company's commitment to supporting small farmers.

To our valued supporters, including Oakland's own Zendaya, thank you for standing by us, believing in our mission, and helping us break down barriers in the coffee industry. And to our esteemed investors, including Ryan Coogler and Hannibal Buress, your belief in our vision and support have played a pivotal role in our growth and impact.

The company invites its loyal customers, partners, and the general public to join in the celebration of RED BAY 10. Follow Red Bay Coffee on social media and visit the official website for updates on events, releases, and other anniversary festivities.

Contact Information

Rachel Konte

Chief of Brand

rachel@redbaycoffee.com

SOURCE: Red Bay Coffee

View the original press release on newswire.com.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / AEG:

Blood Drive Collected More than 55 Units of Blood Which Could Help Up to 110 Patients

To celebrate National Blood Donor Month, AEG's LA Kings partnered with Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) to host four blood drives that collected over 55 units of blood. The drives were held outside CHLA and Crypto.com Arena, and donors who participated in the drives received two tickets to a future LA Kings game of their choice.

"With national blood supplies critically low, the LA Kings are honored to partner with CHLA on these blood drives and raise awareness about the situation," said Amanda Apel, Senior Director of Community Relations, LA Kings. "One donation of blood can save up to three lives and every donation helps. We are proud to do our part to help to support those in need."

Children's Hospital Los Angeles is at the forefront of pediatric medicine, offering acclaimed care to children from across the world, the country, and the greater Southern California region. Founded in 1901, Children's Hospital Los Angeles is the largest provider of care for children in Los Angeles County, the No. 1 pediatric hospital in California and the Pacific region and is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the nation on U.S. News & World Report's Honor Roll of Best Children's Hospitals. To learn more about CHLA, please click here.

Through the Kings Care Foundation, the LA Kings are dedicated to providing health, educational and recreational opportunities for youth throughout Greater Los Angeles. To learn more about the LA Kings social impact work and Kings Care Foundation, click here.

An LA Kings fan registers to donate blood outside of Crypto.com Arena prior to the LA Kings home game.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from AEG on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: AEG

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/aeg

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: AEG

View the original press release on accesswire.com
ISTANBUL, Turkey, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CF makes the following announcement on behalf of the family of Korhan Berzeg, an 83-year-old, US-Turkish dual citizen who mysteriously disappeared 200 days ago after leaving his ancestral home in Armutlu, Balikesir, with his Doberman dog, Tina. Since that day, the family's lives have been suspended in a state of uncertainty and despair, clinging to every shred of hope for Korhan's safe return.







The family appreciates the efforts of the Turkish authorities thus far. Despite their extensive search efforts, the details surrounding Korhan's disappearance remain unclear, and they find themselves seeking more information than received. In their quest for truth and justice, the family is reaching out to the public, the media, and influencers to support our cause.

Today, the family is launching the FindKorhanBerzeg campaign to keep Korhan's disappearance in the public eye and urging the authorities to provide transparency and diligence in their ongoing investigation. They believe that someone, somewhere, knows something, and they hope this campaign will reach them and encourage them to come forward.

Korhan is more than just a missing person case; he is a father, a husband, a friend, and a respected community member. His absence has left an irreplaceable void in their lives.

The family urges everyone to join them in sharing Korhan's story and keeping the conversation alive. Use the hashtag FindKorhanBerzeg across social media platforms, share his story, and if you have any information, no matter how small, please come forward.

The family also calls on the U.S. Embassy to engage and provide support in this critical matter. The involvement of U.S. authorities can significantly bolster the search and investigative efforts, and they believe that Korhan, as a citizen, deserves the full extent of such support.

Your support not only raises awareness but also ignites hope in their hearts that they will find Korhan and uncover the truth.

With hope and determination,

The Berzeg Family

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb17e158-ce3b-45eb-8adf-5a9ea528fc2d
Guidance for 2024 UZEDY Teva's revenue: $80 million

Olanzapine LAI ongoing Phase 3: 675 patients (recruitment completed), 62% of the targeted 3,600 injections performed, no PDSS (Post injection Delirium/Sedation Syndrome) observed

Regulatory News:

MedinCell (Paris:MEDCL):

About UZEDY

During the Q4 2023 earnings call held today by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., President and CEO Richard Francis stated that he expects a strong uptake and significant growth for UZEDY in 2024. He notably provided the annual revenue guidance for UZEDY, projecting approximately $80 million for 2024.

This revenue projection is aligned with MedinCell's forecasted earnings from UZEDY, as the company receives royalties on sales and may earn up to $105 million in commercial milestones.

UZEDY is the first product based on MedinCell's long-acting injection technology, BEPO, to reach commercial stage

US marketing authorization obtained from the U.S. FDA on April 28, 2023

Commercial launch by Teva in May 2023

MedinCell has already received first royalties of 0.6 million, calculated on Teva's net sales from mid-May to end of September 2023

About Olanzapine LAI (mdc-TJK)

Eric Hughes, Executive Vice President, Global R&D Chief Medical Officer, announced during the call that 62% of the targeted 3,600 injections have already been performed as part of the ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial and that no PDSS has been observed. Full clinical package on efficiency and safety is expected in the second half of 2024.

mdc-TJK is an investigational once-monthly subcutaneous long-acting injection of the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine for the treatment of schizophrenia. It has the potential to be the first long-acting Olanzapine with a favorable safety profile as other LAIs of Olanzapine have a FDA black box warning for PDSS that limits their use.

Teva is fully responsible to lead the development and commercialization of olanzapine LAI globally.

MedinCell may receive up to $117 million in development and commercial milestones over the coming years for mdc-TJK, and is eligible for royalties on all net sales.

Christophe Douat, CEO of MedinCell, says: "The guidance on UZEDY is very positive. Teva's ambition reaffirms its confidence in its potential. Olanzapine LAI Phase 3, potential First-in-Class product, is progressing impressively and is ahead of schedule with a major milestone this year. Both illustrate the ability of MedinCell technology to do breakthrough products. Based on these news, we confirm our objective to achieve operational profitability as soon as possible and to generate additional revenue with new partnerships to extend our cash visibility until this horizon."

About MedinCell

MedinCell is a clinical- and commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing long-acting injectable drugs in many therapeutic areas. Our innovative treatments aim to guarantee compliance with medical prescriptions, to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of medicines, and to reduce their environmental footprint. They combine active pharmaceutical ingredients with our proprietary BEPO technology which controls the delivery of a drug at a therapeutic level for several days, weeks or months from the subcutaneous or local injection of a simple deposit of a few millimeters, entirely bioresorbable. The first treatment based on BEPO technology, intended for the treatment of schizophrenia, was approved by the FDA in April 2023, and is now distributed in the United States by Teva under the name UZEDY (BEPO technology is licensed to Teva under the name SteadyTeq).

We collaborate with leading pharmaceutical companies and foundations to improve global health through new treatment options. Based in Montpellier, MedinCell currently employs more than 140 people representing more than 25 different nationalities.

UZEDY and SteadyTeq are trademarks of Teva Pharmaceuticals

www.medincell.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Company's expectations for (i) the timing, progress and outcome of its clinical trials; (ii) the clinical benefits and competitive positioning of its product candidates; (iii) its ability to obtain regulatory approvals, commence commercial production and achieve market penetration and sales; (iv) its future product portfolio; (v) its future partnering arrangements; (vi) its future capital needs, capital expenditure plans and ability to obtain funding; and (vii) prospective financial matters regarding our business. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any statements other than statements of historical facts that may be contained in this press release relating to future events are forward-looking statements and subject to change without notice, factors beyond the Company's control and the Company's financial capabilities.

These statements may include, but are not limited to, any statement beginning with, followed by or including words or phrases such as "objective", "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "foresee", "aim", "intend", "may", "anticipate", "estimate", "plan", "project", "will", "may", "probably", "potential", "should", "could" and other words and phrases of the same meaning or used in negative form. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that may, if any, cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated or expressed explicitly or implicitly by such forward-looking statements. A list and description of these risks, contingencies and uncertainties can be found in the documents filed by the Company with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (the "AMF") pursuant to its regulatory obligations, including the Company's registration document, registered with the AMF on September 4, 2018, under number I. 18-062 (the "Registration Document"), as well as in the documents and reports to be published subsequently by the Company. In particular, readers' attention is drawn to the section entitled "Facteurs de Risques" on page 26 of the Registration Document.

Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements, including in the event that new information becomes available. The Company's update of one or more forward-looking statements does not imply that the Company will make any further updates to such forward-looking statements or other forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

This press release is for information purposes only. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for the Company's shares in any jurisdiction, in particular in France. Similarly, this press release does not constitute investment advice and should not be treated as such. It is not related to the investment objectives, financial situation, or specific needs of any recipient. It should not deprive the recipients of the opportunity to exercise their own judgment. All opinions expressed in this document are subject to change without notice. The distribution of this press release may be subject to legal restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Persons who come to know about this press release are encouraged to inquire about, and required to comply with, these restrictions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131631721/en/

Contacts:

David Heuze Head of Communications

david.heuze@medincell.com +33 (0)6 83 25 21 86

Media Relations

Nicolas Merigeau

medincell@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Investor Relations France

Louis-Victor Delouvrier/Alban Dufumier

medincell@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Head of US Financial Strategy IR

Grace Kim

grace.kim@medincell.com +1 (646) 991-4023
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Radio Fuels Energy Corp. (CSE: CAKE) (OTCQB: CKEFF) (the "Company" or "Radio Fuels") is pleased to announce the appointment of Philip O'Neill as Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company.

Mr. O'Neill is an experienced mining executive and corporate director. He is currently the President and founder of MP1 Capital, a Calgary based investment company created to focus on the natural resources sector. Mr. O'Neill was Director and Chief Operations Officer of Palisades Goldcorp Ltd. from 2019 to 2021, during which Palisades Goldcorp Ltd. became one of the most active financiers in the junior mining space. He was also President and Director of Nevada King Gold Corp. ahead of its go-public transaction in 2021. In 2010, Mr. O'Neill founded TSX listed Sunward Resources Ltd. ("Sunward") where he held the positions of CEO and Director, raising $81 million in a 10-month span to advance the Titiribi gold/copper project in Colombia. In 2015, Mr. O'Neill negotiated Sunward's acquisition by NovaCopper Inc., now Trilogy Metals Inc., at a +140% premium to market. Mr. O'Neill has also held directorship roles for several TSX, TSX Venture, and ASX listed companies.

"We are very pleased that Phil will be joining our team as CEO and Director," stated Jack Campbell, Chair of the Board of Radio Fuels. "With his previous experience and track record in the industry, Radio Fuels welcomes his leadership in taking the Company through its next phase of growth and development."

The appointment of Mr. O'Neill follows the resignation of Cejay Kim as Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director. Mr. Kim has played an integral role in helping shape Radio Fuels from its inception. The Company would like to thank him for his contributions and wishes him well in his future endeavors.

About Radio Fuels Energy Corp.

The Company is a junior natural resource company focused on providing exposure to uranium and other commodities through the investment, acquisition, exploration, and development of projects and companies.

For further information, please contact:

Philip O'Neill

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (403) 614-2552

Email: philiponeill@gmail.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-Looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-Looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196314

SOURCE: Radio Fuels Energy Corp.
PARIS, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ProductLife Group (PLG), the specialised global provider of regulatory, scientific, vigilance, quality and digital transformation consulting services for the life sciences industries, announces the acquisition of Commercial Eyes, Australia's leading pharmaceutical and medical device commercialisation company, specialising in regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, medical information, quality assurance, market access, market research and patient programs.

This partnership unlocks numerous synergistic opportunities for both organisations and their clients. ProductLife Group's global presence and expertise, combined with the regional knowledge and capabilities of Commercial Eyes, will enable ProductLife Group to deliver enhanced services and solutions to its clients. The expanded portfolio of offerings will empower clients to navigate complex frameworks with confidence, ensuring successful market and patient access of new healthcare solutions in full compliance with regulatory requirements and in line with payers expectations.

Andrew Carter, Founder & Managing Director of Commercial Eyes : "Joining PLG is a major strategic move for Commercial Eyes, our people and our clients. We will leverage the platform we have created over the last 22 years to expand our footprint globally. This will create significant professional development opportunities for our team members and enable us to better support our clients with global coverage of end-to-end life sciences consulting services."

Xavier Duburcq, CEO of PLG, highlighted: " This merger not only enables us to broaden our geographical footprint and expand our offerings to global markets but also empowers us to better serve our clients throughout their market and patient access strategy. The acquisition of Commercial Eyes marks an exciting new chapter in our journey. Together, we possess the collective strength, expertise, and passion to drive positive change and shape the future of the life sciences industry.

Our two companies share similar values: pioneering the way for innovation, client satisfaction, team spirit and a unique sense of purpose for life sciences. This common set of values forms a solid foundation for the seamless integration of the two organisations."

About ProductLife Group:

ProductLife Group's mission is to support patient access to safe and effective healthcare solutions by delivering worldwide consulting and outsourcing services through the entire product life.

Combining local expertise with global reach spanning more than 150 countries, PLG is the Life Sciences Industries reference strategic partner for the development, market introduction and life cycle management of product portfolios, and the related business and digital transformation.

With a goal of continuously improving the value delivered to teams and clients, PLG is committed to long-term partnership, innovation, flexibility, and cost efficiency.

For more information, visit https://productlifegroup.com/

Contact:

Fabrice Galzin

ProductLife Group Head of Marketing

Phone: + 33 (0) 672 349 606

fgalzin@productlife-group.com

About Commercial Eyes:

Commercial Eyes is a healthcare and life sciences consulting firm, specialising in pre and post registration services, comprising amongst others Access, Research & Intelligence (ARI), Regulatory, Quality and Compliance (RQC), Patient Safety & Risk Management (PS), Medical Information (MI) and Patient Programs (PP). Commercial Eyes is headquartered in Melbourne (Australia) with a presence in New Zealand, where the company is known as one of the largest providers of commercialisation services to the Pharma and MedTech sector. For over 22 years Commercial Eyes has delivered high quality, customer-focused results in the Australian and New Zealand regulated therapeutics and healthcare industry.

Commercial Eyes has grown to become a leading pharmaceutical and medical device commercialisation business. With a team of over 100 people, the company has assisted more than 800 clients representing the full spectrum of health technology companies.

For more information, visit https://commercialeyes.com.au/

Contact:

Andrew Carter

Chief Executive Officer

andrew.carter@commercialeyes.com.au

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/productlife-group-acquires-commercial-eyes-expanding-its-footprint-in-the-apac-region-302049928.html
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) supports an appeal by The Elders, an influential group of former heads of state and civic leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, urging countries to avoid deadlock in the contentious pandemic accord negotiations under the auspices of the World Health Assembly. The open letter from The Elders and supporting organizations calls for equity, sufficient financing, and accountability among countries to prepare for the next global health crisis.

"Death by fine print is not an option for the pandemic accord. Far too many millions of people have died or have become impoverished during COVID-19 for us to lose sight of the big picture and accept the stalemate," said AHF President Michael Weinstein. "World leaders must choose principles of global equity, accountability, and transparency over narrow national interests like intellectual property protections. Another existential public health disaster will surely happen-and if we fail to implement the tragic lessons of COVID-19-the responsibility will lie with those who failed to deliver a strong global public health treaty."

The deadline for the adoption of the pandemic accord is May 2024. There has been little progress in reaching agreement on several key provisions of the accord related to intellectual property waivers during health emergencies and benefits-sharing from pathogen research between developed and developing countries. There are growing concerns that the World Health Assembly will not meet the adoption deadline this spring. The Panel for a Global Public Health Convention, which was co-created by AHF, is one of the signatories of The Elders' letter.

About AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a global non-profit organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to over 1.9 million people in 46 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. We are currently the largest non-profit provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the world. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131195114/en/

Contacts:

US MEDIA CONTACT:

Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications, AHF

+1 323 308 1833 work +1.323.791.5526 mobile

gedk@aidshealth.org

Denys Nazarov, Director of Global Policy Communications, AHF

+1 323.308.1829

denys.nazarov@aidshealth.org
Oasis Security, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based provider of non-human Identity Management (NIM) solutions, raised a total of $40m in funding.

The round led by Sequoia Capital (Doug Leone, Bogomil Balkansky), alongside Accel (Andrei Brasoveanu), Cyberstarts (Lior Simon) and Maple Capital. Guy Podjarny, founder of Snyk and Michael Fey, Co-Founder and CEO of Island, also participated in the financing.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach.

With modern systems and development teams now increasingly distributed, non-human identities, such as secrets, API keys, and RPA accounts, have surged creating a massive attack surface that legacy tools cant manage. Oasis solves this critical security challenge by automatically discovering all non-human identities across all environments, providing holistic visibility, risk assessment with vulnerability auto-remediation and simplifying secret management compliance.

The company instantly provides holistic visibility with deep contextual insights on every non-human identity  who owns it, consumes it, what resources it grants access to and how privileged. The built-in Oasis Posture & Remediation Intelligence (PRI) module automatically identifies vulnerabilities, prioritizes the most severe issues, and generates remediation plans shortening the time to detection and incident resolution.

FinSMEs

31/01/2024
The image was shared by the IPS officer himself on X and he stated how one Manoj loves the other Manoj even more when he shows him his Best Actor trophy

Vikrant Masseys life has changed completely for the good post the success of Vidhu Vinod Chopras 12th Fail. And the actor won the Best Actor trophy (Critics) at the 69th Filmfare Awards. After winning the black lady, Massey shared the moment with IPS Manoj Kumar Sharma, the role he recently essayed, and was all smiles.

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The image was shared by the IPS officer himself on X and he stated how one Manoj loves the other Manoj even more when he shows him his Best Actor trophy.

        

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       .. pic.twitter.com/RAkN5s7JDn  Manoj Sharma (@ManojSharmaIPS) January 29, 2024

It has been a decade since Vikrant Masseys first film was released. After 10 years of hard work, he bagged the biggest film of his career 12th Fail . Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the film emerged as a bonafide success and Vikrant Massey got the stardom that he truly deserved.

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Sharma, whose life inspired the Hindi movie 12th Fail, is among 37 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel who have been awarded various police and fire service medals on the eve of the 75th Republic Day.

A Union Home Ministry statement named Sharma, a 2005-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Maharashtra cadre, his batchmate from the Bihar cadre Jitender Rana and a few others as the recipients of the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).

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Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra ,  12th Fail  was based on Anurag Pathaks bestselling novel about the journey of Sharma and his wife Shraddha Joshi, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer.

After emerging as a sleeper hit at the box office, 12th Fail featuring Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankr turned out to be a blockbuster on OTT. Despite its digital release, the film witnessed a steady run at the box office. The film and impeccable performance by Vikrant Massey has garnered praises from celebs like Kamal Haasan, Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif, Rani Mukerji and others.
Netflix has unveiled the trailer for the upcoming crime drama, Bhakshak, featuring Bhumi Pednekar, who offers a glimpse of her powerful performance as Vaishali Singh, a determined journalist on a mission to expose a heinous crime. Inspired by true events, the film promises to captivate audiences with a tale of bravery and the quest for justice.

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Directed by Pulkit and produced by Gauri Khan and Gaurav Verma, Bhakshak features an ensemble of Sanjay Mishra, Aditya Srivastava and Sai Tamhankar, along with Bhumi Pednekar. The film follows the life of a fearless investigative journalist who uncovers shocking secrets hidden within a girls shelter home.

Reflecting on his film, director Pulkit shares, This story is deeply personal to me, and shaping the journey of an investigative journalist in her pursuit of justice and truth has been an incredibly enriching experience as a director. My aspiration is for this film to reach audiences across the globe as it makes its mark on Netflix across 190 countries.

Reflecting on her role in the film, Pednekar says, In my journey as an actor, Ive always been drawn to clutter-breaking films that go beyond the conventional narrative. Bhakshak is also one such film, in fact, it is one of the most significant films of my career. This has been a profound experience and I am very grateful for scripts like Bhakshak and characters like Vaishali Singh that have the courage to tell these powerful narratives. I truly believe in the transformative potential of storytelling, and I am committed to choosing roles that not only push boundaries, and break stereotypes, but also ignite discussions that pave the way for meaningful change. Bhakshak is an important film and I cant wait to share our labour of love with audiences around the world 
Its also been speculated that Vickys mother Ranjana Jain could be one of the contestants next year on Bigg Boss 18

Salman Khans show Bigg Boss 17 has finally come to an end and it was a roller-coaster ride for fans and contestants. Munawar Faruqui may have walked away with the trophy but its Vicky Jains mother Ranjana Jain whos the real winner of the show. Heres how:

The Surprise Entry

Ankita Lokhande , who had emerged as one of the popular contestants had been recently going through a lot of emotional turmoil due to the ongoing conflict with her husband Vicky Jain, and the other challenges that had taken a toll on her well-being.

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While Ankitas mother came as a much-needed support for her, Vicky Jain s mother also made an entry into the house. The interaction between Ankita and her mother-in-law became a topic of discussion on the Internet as the two spoke about the couples fight being telecasted on television. Later, Ankita was seen getting upset after Vickys mother dragged her late father into their argument. It seems Jain s mother played a crucial part in giving viewers a glimpse into the other side of the story.

The Praise For Ankita

She said, Shes a very good bahu and has all the qualities. Aisa nahi hai ke Woh nahi hai. Thats the reason I keeping saying that shes a very nice person and good at doing everything. We sent Vicky inside the Bigg Boss house only for Ankita. Vicky couldnt have come to Bigg Boss alone, he is in this show because of her. A common girl couldnt have got him where he is today. Ankita made it possible. They won another reality show, Smart Jodi together. We had so many proposals for Vicky but we said no, Joh Vicky kahega Woh hoga, ab tune pasand kiya hai ab Tu nibha Apna rishta.

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Ankitas apology

Just before the show came to an end, Ankita apologized to her mother in law for her constant fights with Vicky.

Will Ranjana Jain participate in Bigg Boss 18?

Rumors are rife the lady is all set to enter the house this year for season 18. If that happens, she could be the trump card and a winner too.
In the picture, Samantha is seen alongside Varun Dhawan, renowned directors Raj and DK, and producer Sita R Menoneach contributing their unique talents to bring Citadel to life

Samantha Ruth Prabhu, set to make her appearance in the upcoming series Citadel alongside Varun Dhawan, has treated fans to an enticing picture of team India. Taking to her social media account, the actress shared a picture featuring herself, co-star Varun Dhawan, and the dynamic team behind the much-anticipated show.

In the picture, Samantha is seen alongside Varun Dhawan, renowned directors Raj and DK, and producer Sita R Menoneach contributing their unique talents to bring Citadel to life. The image exudes excitement and camaraderie, providing a glimpse into the collaborative effort that goes into crafting a promising project. In the caption, she writes Finally, we got to watch something

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Prime Video confirmed Samantha Ruth Prabhu would be starring alongside Varun Dhawan in the Indian installment of the Citadel universe, the global-event series from Prime Video and the Russo Brothers AGBO. The untitled Citadel series based out of India is being helmed by renowned creator duo Raj & DK ( Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK ), who are the showrunners and directors. The local installment is written by Sita R. Menon, along with Raj & DK.

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As previously announced, Richard Madden (Bodyguard) and Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Quantico) would star in the first-to-launch series within the Citadel universe, which came from the Russo Brothers AGBO along with David Weil (Hunters) and premiered in 2023. Alongside Madden and Chopra Jonas, the first-to-launch Citadel series also featured Stanley Tucci (The Hunger Games saga). Additional local-language Citadel productions were also in the works, including an Italian Original series starring Matilda De Angelis (The Undoing).

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We are elated to work with Samantha once again after The Family Man. Once we had the script down on paper, she was an obvious choice for this character. We couldnt be happier to have her on board, said creator duo Raj & DK. We are thrilled to have started production on Citadel India. The first leg is being shot in India, before we move onwards to Serbia and South Africa. We have an amazing crew and a tremendously talented cast, which makes the creative process all the more exciting.
The trailer of Laapataa Ladies has opened to a roaring response and everyone is waiting to see the comedy-drama film from the Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan productions on the big screens on 1st March 2024

Kiran Rao is returning to the direction with the much-awaited Laapataa Ladies. The recently released trailer gave a glimpse into the uproarious comedy adventure of the films world, featuring the promising lead cast of Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastav, and Nitanshi Goel, promising a beautiful world from the director with the story rooted in the Indian form.

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As the set up and the locations shown in the trailer has also caught the attention of the masses and to keep the authenticity of the film alive, Kiran Rao has shot the film  Laapataa Ladies  at the real locations of Sehore, Madhya Pradesh. Kiran Rao casted the real villagers of Sehore and has also shot in the real houses as the location.

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The idea behind skipping the set and constructed world was the director Kiran Raos choice to shot the film in real life locations with real audiences of village in order to keep the film relevant to its theme and subject. This will also give the general audiences a real experience.

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The trailer of Laapataa Ladies has opened to a roaring response and everyone is waiting to see the comedy-drama film from the Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan productions on the big screens on 1st March 2024. Moreover, The film has also received a standing ovation at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

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Presented by Jio Studios, Laapataa Ladies is directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Aamir Khan and Jyoti Deshpande. The film is releasing on March 1st, 2024, and has been made under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions and Kindling Productions, with the script based on an award-winning story by Biplab Goswami. The screenplay and dialogue are written by Sneha Desai, while the additional dialogues have been jotted down by Divyanidhi Sharma.
Directed by National Award winner Blessy and produced by Visual Romance, The Goat Life also features Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, Indian actors like Amala Paul and K.R. Gokul, along with Arab actors such as Talib al Balushi and Rik Aby in pivotal roles

Indian actor Dulquer Salmaan unveiled what was described as the Beginning Look of Prithviraj Sukumaran from The Goat Life, his next ambitious project.

Sukumaran himself shared the look on Instagram:

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Directed by National Award winner Blessy and produced by Visual Romance, The Goat Life also features Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, Indian actors like Amala Paul and K.R. Gokul, along with Arab actors such as Talib al Balushi and Rik Aby in pivotal roles.

The upcoming films music direction and sound design are helmed by Academy Award winners A.R. Rahman and Resul Pookutty, respectively. The visuals of the film have been shot by Sunil KS, and they have been edited by A. Sreekar Prasad. Being shot in multiple countries around the world, the film is one of the biggest-ever ventures in the Malayalam film industry.

The Goat Life will be released in theatres near you on 10th April 2024, in five languages: Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan is basking in the success of his recent release, the aerial action thriller Fighter alongside Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor. While the film has received heartwarming reactions from fans, it has already crossed the Rs 100 crore mark worldwide, solidifying its status as one of the biggest hits in 2024.

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At a time when the actor remains on cloud nine considering the kind of feedback that he has received, he is also no stranger to the bit of criticism that the film has faced. Notably, Fighter has been called out by a section of unhappy fans who have shown an issue with its anti-Pakistan dialogues and sentiments.

Amid the strong criticism that the film has received around its dialogues, Hrithik Roshan has finally shared this reaction. While he completely dissociated himself from the dialogues, he further credited director Siddharth Anand for the same.

Hrithik Roshan reacts to criticism over Fighters dialogues

In a conversation with Film Companion, Hrithik while asserting that his audience does not need such dialogues to understand the motion of the film said, I would like to believe that my fans and my audience are a bit more evolved and they dont like lines like this.

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Noting that he does not believe in crossing the line and interfering with the directors vision, the actor explained why he did not object to Siddharth Anand putting dialogues like India occupied Pakistan in the film. He is a very head-strong filmmaker. Its his conviction and when you see someone is convinced it kind of breaks your heart to say no which I dont do. But I also bear the weight of that because its finally my face, he concluded.

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Notably, the film, which has several references to deadly events like the Pulwama terror attack and the Balakot surgical strike had dialogues revolving around the neighbouring country. It also received reactions from stars such as Hania Aamir, Adnan Siddiqui, and Zara Noor Abbas who called the trailer aggressive and accused it of featuring anti-Pakistan sentiments.
In line with the plea filed by Fernandes, ED has claimed that the actress never revealed the truth and instead concealed facts, until confronted with evidence

Even though Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez continues to deny dating alleged conman Suresh Chandrasekhar, her name continues to be dragged in connection to the Rs 200 crore extortion case involving Chandrasekhar and his wife-actor Leena Maria Paul.

Over the past few months, a lot of developments have been reported including Jacqueline being summoned by the Enforcement Directorate multiple times in connection to the case. In a recent development, the ED has now stated that the Kick actress was knowingly in the possession and use of proceeds of crime of the alleged conman.

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In its contention made before the Delhi High Court, the EDs statement came in response to Jacqueline Fernandezs recent plea seeking dismissal of the FIR against her in the money laundering case.

The matter was listed before Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri, following which the counsel representing the actress sought time to file a rejoinder in response to the ED affidavit. Further, the case has been listed for a future hearing on 15 April 2024.

Jacqueline Fernandez knowingly concealed facts and enjoyed financial gains: ED

In line with the plea filed by Fernandes, ED has claimed that the actress never revealed the truth and instead concealed facts, until confronted with evidence.

She continues to hold back the truth even till date. It is also a fact that Fernandez wiped out the entire data from her mobile phone after the arrest of Chandrasekhar , thereby tampering with the evidence. She also asked her colleagues to destroy the evidence. Evidence proves beyond doubt that she had been enjoying, using and is in possession of proceeds of crime. Thus, it is proved that Fernandez was knowingly involved in the possession and use of proceeds of crime of accused Chandrasekhar, the affidavit reads as quoted by a News18 report.

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The agency also stated that Jacqueline in her initial statements tried to cover up her conduct by making herself a victim, however failed to provide me substantial material to establish the same. It said that she was aware of Chandrashekhars criminal antecedents and still continues to enjoy and possess proceeds of crime for herself and even her family.
At a time when the film has been winning accolades, actress Shabana Azmi in a recent interview with Zoom opened up about the scene and also shared how her niece actress Tabu reacted to it

Filmmaker Karan Johar made his return to the directors chair after seven long years with Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in 2023. While the film was a big hit, it also gained a lot of appreciation from the audience for the actors performances, the songs, the dialogues, and other things.

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While Rocky Aur Rani brought back the iconic pair of Dharmendra and Jaya Bachchan on the big screen after ages, the major highlight was the on-screen kiss between the veteran actors Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi. Inarguably, the kissing scene between the veteran actors remained among the most discussed aspects of the film and garnered a lot of attention from the audience.

At a time when the film has been winning accolades, actress Shabana Azmi in a recent interview with Zoom opened up about the scene and also shared how her niece actress Tabu reacted to it.

Tabu teases Shabana Azmi about the kissing scene with Dharmendra

Mentioning that actress Tabu, also her niece, jokes about the scene, Shabana said that she believes the scene created a stir within the film industry.

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Tabu, who is also my niece is very naughty. She often says that I have caused a stir in the industry with the scene. Now actresses of my age are saying that they would do a film if theres a kissing scene in it, Azmi recalled.

This is not the first time that the veteran actress has spoken about it. Earlier, during another interview with the outlet, Shabana said, I never thought it would create such a fuss. People were laughing and cheering during the scene. Shooting the scene was never an issue. It is true that I havent kissed a man on-screen really, but who wouldnt want to kiss a man as handsome as Dharmendra.

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About Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

Karan Johars Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani shows Shabana Azmi and Dharmendra in the role of lost lovers who will unite years after their grandchildren, Ranveer Singh (Rocky Randhawa) and Alia Bhatt (Rani Chatterjee) fall in love.

While Dharmendra is shown married to Jaya Bachchan, playing Rockys grandfather, Shabana is shown as Alia Bhatt aka Ranis grandmother.
The actress in question is Preity Zinta, who turns 49 today. She has been one of the most successful actors of the industry who turned entrepreneur post 2008

Preity Zinta turns 49 today, whos fondly known as the dimpled girl of the industry. She began her career in 1998 with Dil Se and Solider and went on to do films like Sangharsh, Kya Kehna, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Koi Mil Gaya, Veer-Zaara, and Salaam Namaste.

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But she too has had her shares of struggles and controversies. In 2012, she turned producer with her comeback vehicle Ishkq In Paris that took forever to see the lights of the day and finally released in May 2013. The film was a commercial and critical failure and the dialogue writer Abbas Tyrewala filed a case of Cheque bouncing against the actress after her Cheque of Rs 18.9 lacs bounced. It was reported she went through severe financial issues back then.

Alleged relationship with Shekhar Kapur

In a recent interview with Siddharth Kanan, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa actress Suchitra Krishnamoorthi spoke about her tumultuous marriage with filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and also how Preity Zinta doesnt exist for her anymore, someone who was accused of having a relationship with Kapur.

Zinta was accused by Krishnamoorthi of having an affair with Kapur. The Armaan actress once responded to these allegations by saying, I am the number one actress and you dont even work, you are a homemaker. Suchitra, dont talk to me like that. You need to see a psychiatrist, your mind is not in the right place.

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Molestation charges against Ness Wadia

Zinta filed a complaint against Ness Wadia accusing him of molestation, threats and abuse on June 13, 2014. The actress said in her complaint- He tried to abuse me and used extremely derogatory language and tried to behave in a manner where I was put to shame in front of my colleagues, friends and family.
While Madhavans tweet made his fans very happy, many took to the comment section and appreciated his gesture

Siddharth Anands highly-anticipated aerial-action thriller Fighter has made a grand entry in theatres and has received a lot of appreciation and praise from audiences and celebrities alike. Featuring the dynamic duo of Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles, the film takes viewers into the cockpit of Squadron Leader Shamsher Pathania aka Patty who navigates the turbulent skies of the Srinagar valley along with his team to safeguard the nation amid internal and international conflicts.

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As Fighter soars onto screens, cheers have erupted across social media platforms with never-ending praises from many. Amid this, Bollywood actor R Madhavan was also seen showering love on the entire team, further hailing director Siddharth Anand for an extraordinary film.

Taking to his social media handle, the Tanu Weds Manu actor penned a heartfelt note and also emphasised that the film is going to be a hallmark of how truly international Indian cinema has become today.

What an extraordinary film #Fighter is with brilliant work by all concerned  Take a bow the entire cast and crew.. you guys have given Indian cinema a fantastic, super motivating, moving, and an archival film. This is simply going to be a hallmark of how truly international Indian cinema has become today, the actor wrote while mentioning the director and the lead actors in his tweet.

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@justSidAnand -What an extraordinary film #Fighter is with brilliant work by all concerned  Take a bow the entire cast and crew.. you guys have given Indian cinema a fantastic, super motivating, moving, and an archival film. This is simply going to be a hallmark of how truly  Ranganathan Madhavan (@ActorMadhavan) January 30, 2024

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Siddharth Anand thanks R Madhavan

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While Madhavans tweet made his fans very happy, many took to the comment section and appreciated his gesture. Director Siddharth Anand also reacted to the same and thanked him. Maddy! Thank you man for your kindest words. The team will be so happy for this recognition, especially from an artiste of your calibre! Means a lot, Anand wrote.

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About Fighter

Featuring actors like Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover, and Akshay Oberoi in prominent roles, Fighter is dubbed one of the biggest aerial action films in India.

The films plot majorly revolves around the 2019 Pulwama attack and the incidents leading before and after the same, thus having references to other major events like the Balakot airstrike and the India-Pakistan border clashes. It shows how the top IAF aviators come together to form a new unit called the Air Dragons and fight the enemies.
This year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman sets a record by presenting the sixth Budget in a row  five annual Budgets and one interim. The feat has only been achieved so far only by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who also holds the record for presenting 10 Union Budgets

It is Indias 92nd annual Budget. For Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman it is the sixth.

On Thursday, with a digital tablet in hand, Sitharaman headed to Parliament to present the interim budget. She posed outside the Ministry of Finance in New Delhi with her team before presenting her sixth straight budget. With this. she equals the record of former Prime Minister Morarji Desai.

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The only two ministers who presented the Budget six times

Nirmala Sitharaman

With the presentation of the interim Budget on 1 February, Sitharaman surpasses the records of her predecessors like Dr Manmohan Singh, Arun Jaitley, P Chidambaram, and Yashwant Sinha, who had presented five budgets in a row.

After the 2019 general elections, Sitharaman was given charge of the finance portfolio in the newly re-elected Modi government. She became the second woman to have presented the Union Budget after Indira Gandhi, who had presented the Budget for the financial year 197071.

In her first year as a Finance Minister, 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 her term, India has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic with an array of policy measures announced for the poor and continued its tag as the fastest-growing major economy and a bright spot in the world economy.

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Sitharaman is expected to come up with some measures, especially to boost the rural sector as the agriculture sector growth in 2023-24 is estimated to decelerate to 1.8 per cent, from four per cent, in the preceding year.

Morarji Desai

On 22 March 1958, Morarji Desai assumed control of the finance ministry.

Having held the position under the governments of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, he went on to become the first non-Congress Prime Minister of an independent India.

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Morarji Desai, as Finance Minister, had presented five annual Budgets and one interim Budget between 1959 and 1964.

The former PM also holds the record for presenting 10 Union Budgets, of which eight were annual and two were interim Budgets.

Desai, according to News9, raised significant amounts of money, cut inefficient expenditures, and brought accountability to government spending because he felt that for India to progress, the less fortunate and underprivileged segments of Indian society needed to have a decent standard of living.

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More on the Indian Budget:

In Graphics | Key terms you should know before the Budget 2024 session

Whys the Budget a secret? How does finance ministry keep it strictly confidential?

Budget Trivia: Guess who has delivered the longest Budget speech

Budget 2024: What does the common man want?

The only Prime Ministers who presented the Budget

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Since 1947, several prime ministers have assumed responsibility for the finance portfolio and presented the Budget when finance ministers such as TT Krishnamachari and Morarji Desai submitted their resignations.

Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Indian prime minister to present the Union Budget.

In 195859, he assumed charge of the finance portfolio after Krishnamacharis resignation following the Justice Chagla Commissions conviction for corruption.

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A few more years later, in 1970, after then-finance minister Morarji Desai resigned, Nehrus daughter, Indira Gandhi, delivered the Union Budget as Prime Minister. She also became the first woman to unveil the Budget as Indias finance minister.

A small number of Indian prime ministers who presented the Annual Financial Statement under Article 112 of the Indian Constitution includes Morarji Desai, who was elected prime minister in 1977.

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The succeeding prime minister and another Gandhi family member to present the Union Budget in 19871988 was Rajiv Gandhi. This came about following VP Singhs resignation from his position as finance minister at the time.

Budget trivia

In the annals of Indian economic history, 1991 is most recognised for the reforms introduced by Dr Manmohan Singh, the countrys finance minister at the time, during Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Raos regime.

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His budget speech, at about 18,600 words, is the longest to date. It was also the first that stressed the importance of foreign investments in India.

When Singh informed the House in 1991 that import duties had been reduced from almost 300 per cent to 50 per cent, the UPA government introduced the service tax for the first time.

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Indias budget history is rich and deep. The first Budget was presented in 1860 by Scottish economist James Wilson, who also introduced income tax collection.

As of date, India has witnessed 77 regular Budgets and 14 interim Budgets . In total, 91 Union Budgets were placed in Parliament to date. This year will be the 92nd annual Budget.

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Years later, Independent Indias first Budget was presented by the first Finance Minister RK Shanmukham Chetty on 26 November 1947  just three months after India attained freedom from the British  for the seven-and-a-half month-period from 15 August 1947 to 31 March 1948. Interestingly, Indias first Budget was an interim Budget as it is this year.

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With inputs from PTI
The region of West Asia is in the midst of an ever-escalating conflict. Missiles, rockets and drones are striking enemy targets, as the United States, Israel and its allies clash with Iran-backed militant groups. But who are these proxies and whats their end game?

West Asia is on the precipice of war. The recent drone strike that killed three United States troops in Jordan is just the latest in a series of attacks across the West Asia region, which finds a connection to the war in Gaza.

Washington has stated that it does not want to seek another war or escalate the tension, but would absolutely do what is required to protect itself in the region. Meanwhile, Iran has denied any involvement in the attack, with Iranian ministry of foreign affairs spokesman Nasser Kanaani being quoted as saying, As we have clearly stated before, the resistance groups in the region are responding [to> the war crimes and genocide of the child-killing Zionist regime and they do not take orders from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

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The drone strike comes after Iran-backed Houthis carried out attacks on the international shipping in the Red Sea.

As the situation becomes more volatile, we take a closer look at the various armed groups facing the United States and Israel in West Asia, and a look at what unites some of them, and whats different about each of them.

THE PLAYERS:

HAMAS

What: Based in Gaza. Founded in 1987 at a time of widespread protests by Palestinians against Israels occupation. Has early ties to one of the Sunni worlds most prominent groups, the Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in the 1920s. Has vowed to annihilate Israel and has carried out suicide bombings and other deadly attacks on civilians and Israeli soldiers.

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Background: Hamas seized control of Gaza by force in 2007, the year after it won parliamentary elections there with 44 per cent of the vote. Israel has kept Gaza under a devastating blockade ever since, restricting movement of people and goods in and out of the territory. Hamas receives backing from Arab and Muslim countries, including Qatar and Turkey.

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Although a Sunni Muslim group, Hamas leaders have moved closer to Shiite Muslim Iran and its allies over the years. Hamas 7 October attacks in Israel were seen by many as a bid to reclaim relevance on the world stage. Israels far-right government had sidelined any attempt at a negotiated Israeli-Palestinian political agreement, and world attention faded away.

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HEZBOLLAH

What: Formed in 1982 in response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, where it is based. One of the strongest members of the alliance, militarily and organisationally. A Shiite Muslim group. Took part in repeated attacks against the United States through the mid-1990s, including the deadly 1983 bombing of a US Marines barrack in Beirut, Lebanons capital. Has participated in Lebanons government since 1992. Its military wing is stronger than the countrys armed forces.

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Background: A 2006 war with Israel provoked by Hezbollahs kidnapping of Israeli soldiers devastated southern Lebanon and Beirut. Many ordinary Lebanese are deeply fearful of a new war with Israel in the wake of the Gaza fighting, a concern Hezbollah may share.

Hezbollah has lobbed rockets and missiles across its southern border into Israel since the start of the war in Gaza, losing fighters daily in return fire. But it has held back from further dramatic escalation, even after presumed Israeli strikes killed a Hamas leader sheltering in Lebanon and some of Hezbollahs senior commanders in recent weeks. However, the rhetoric and intensity of the strikes between the two sides has continued to gradually increase.

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HOUTHIS

What: Based in Yemen, overseeing one of the worlds most vital shipping routes for oil and other trade. Have launched rockets, missiles and drones at commercial vessels during the Gaza war. Forced some major shippers to change route and threatens a potentially major toll on the worlds economy. Formally known as Ansar Allah. Had its start as one of several armed groups vying internally for power in fractured, impoverished Yemen. While Shiite Muslim, its of a different branch than Iran. Groups motto calls for destruction of Israel and the United States, though it has been largely focused on affairs in Yemen.

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Background: At odds with Yemens government, Houthis seized control of Yemens capital in 2014 and soon controlled much of the north. After Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates went to war in 2015 in an unsuccessful attempt to rout the Houthis, the Houthis moved increasingly close to Iran.

Saudi and the US attempts to end the war in Yemen have resulted in a shaky cease-fire and stopped what were sporadic missile and drone strikes by the Houthis against their richer Gulf neighbours. The Houthis, who have limited popular support in Yemen outside of their northern base, are seen as more independent of Iran than some of the other groups in the alliance. The Houthis portray their attacks on shipping as a blockade of Israel, even as they have targeted vessels with no evident links to the country.

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The US and its allies have launched a wave of airstrikes on the Houthis to try to end the attacks in the Red Sea, which have continued.

IRAN-ALLIED MILITIAS IN SYRIA AND IRAQ

What: An array of smaller Iranian-backed militant groups that have battled with US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria for years. Mount sporadic attacks against bases in the region where US troops are deployed to fight Islamic State group insurgents.

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Background: There has been a dramatic spike in attacks by Irans proxies in those two countries since the open of the war between Israel and Hamas. Iraq says it is working with the US to contain the militias there, which have launched dozens of strikes under an umbrella group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

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Earlier this month, the US unleashed an airstrike against the headquarters of an Iran-backed militia in central Baghdad, killing a high-ranking militia commander. It was an attempt to discourage more attacks, but the strikes have continued. A week before Sundays attack that killed US troops at a base in Jordan near the Syrian border, an attack at another base in western Iraq had injured several US and Iraqi personnel.

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THE ISLAMIC STATE, AL-QAEDA AND OTHER ARMED SUNNI MUSLIM GROUPS

What: Israels deadly military campaign in Gaza, and the United States support for it, are sparking calls to action by violent extremist groups that have long battled the West and other enemies.

Background: Earlier this month, a spokesman for the Islamic State called on Muslims around the world to carry out killings in what he said would be vengeance for the people of Gaza. Oh lions of Islam, hunt your prey  the Jews, Christians, and their allies  in the streets and alleyways of America, Europe, and the world, Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansar said in a speech transcribed by the SITE intelligence group. Break into their homes, kill them, and torment them in every way you can.

With inputs from AP
The DUP, Northern Irelands largest pro-British party, has said it has agreed on a deal with the United Kingdom government on the operation of post-Brexit trade rules. This would pave the way for it to return to the regions power-sharing government

The politics of Northern Ireland is complex. Even more after Brexit.

On Tuesday, Northern Irelands largest pro-British party said it had agreed a deal with the United Kingdom government on the operation of post-Brexit trade rules that would pave the way for it to return to the regions power-sharing government.

Northern Ireland has had no government for almost two years, since the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) walked out in protest over a trade deal with the European Union, which it said undermined Northern Irelands place in the UK by requiring checks on some goods coming from Britain.

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The partys leader said the power-sharing government  a key part of the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement  could be restored within days if the British government acted quickly.

Heres what lies ahead.

How does northern Irelands devolved government work?

Irish nationalist and pro-British unionist politicians are obliged to share power in the British-run region under the terms of the accord that ended three decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

However, power-sharing has broken down on several occasions, and the provincial assembly and executive were also suspended between 2017 and 2020.

Why was the government suspended this time?

When Britain left the EU, it agreed in effect to leave Northern Ireland within the blocs single market for goods, given its open border with EU member Ireland, enshrined in the Good Friday agreement.

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But this put it at odds with Northern Irish unionists, and the DUP quit the government in February 2022 when the checks underpinning the deal began to be implemented. It also opposed a reworked agreement, the Windsor Framework, struck a year later, to reduce the number of checks required on some goods coming from Britain by introducing green and red lanes.

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DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said on Tuesday the offer from London to legally cement Northern Irelands place and trading position in the UK was sufficient for the party to end its boycott.

What happens next?

Northern Irelands main parties were due to meet to discuss, and most likely agree to, the restoration later on Tuesday, with Donaldson tying his partys return to the British government fully and faithfully delivering on what had been agreed, including passing the new legislation.

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He said the government could publish a bill as soon as Wednesday. A member of Prime Ministers Rishi Sunaks government said it could be presented to parliament on Thursday.

Once it passes, the Northern Irish parliament at Stormont will meet to elect a first and deputy first minister. For the first time, Irish nationalists Sinn Fein will take the role of first minister after an historic election win shortly after the DUP walkout.

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What obstacles are ahead?

All sides want to move quickly before critics, particularly hardline unionists opposed to any compromise, unpick the proposals and imperil the restoration of the regional government.

Donaldson refused to disclose the margin by which his partys executive voted to accept the new deal on Monday.

Jon Tonge, Professor of Politics at the University of Liverpool, told the BBC that DUP lawmakers could yet make trouble, but that he was confident the devolved government would be quickly restored.

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Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar said the EU would also need to check that the deal did not infringe the Windsor Framework or Good Friday Agreement, but told reporters he did not anticipate any problems.

With inputs from Reuters
Theres speculation that Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, who will appear before the Enforcement Directorate today, will be arrested. In such a situation, his wife, Kalpana Soren, will reportedly take over. The 47-year-old has no political experience and currently runs a school

It almost sounds like a television show, but, in fact, its reality.

As Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren prepares to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to record his statement in an alleged land fraud case, and rumours of his arrest are swirling, theres speculation that his wife, Kalpana Soren, will take over the chief ministerial post.

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While Sorens party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has refuted this speculation, it has got credence after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey made a similar claim.

But who is Kalpana Soren? And how did we get here?

Who is Kalpana Soren?

Born in 1976 in Ranchi, Kalpana grew up in Odishas Mayurbhanj district and has no political background. Her father is a businessman and her mother a homemaker. She did her graduation in engineering, followed by an MBA.

On 7 February 2006, Kalpana tied the knot with Hemant Soren and today, the couple has two children  Nikhil and Ansh.

Kalpana has refrained from entering the political sphere and is an entrepreneur and a social worker. It is reported that she runs a school and has a huge interest in organic farming. An NDTV report has stated that she owns three commercial buildings, whose value is worth nearly Rs 5 crores.

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She is also regularly seen at state programmes linked to women and children empowerment.

When it comes to wealth and assets, Kalpana Soren, as per the election affidavit submitted by her husband in 2019, is a millionaire. It was then revealed that she had Rs 2,55,240 deposited in her various bank accounts. The couple also are in possession of various LIC policies amounting to Rs 70 lakhs. Moreover, they are owners of gold and silver jewellery worth over Rs 34 lakhs.

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While she has stayed far from politics, Kalpana has been advising Hemant on numerous matters. Reports state that she was also present at the meeting with MLAs on Tuesday morning in Ranchi.

However, theres a legal hurdle in Kalpana taking over. As per the Constitution, if the term of the Assembly will expire in less than a year, by-polls cannot be held. In that case, it would be difficult for Kalpana Soren to become an MLA. Elections in Jharkhand is due in November this year.

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Why the rumours of her ascension?

Talks of Kalpana Soren having to step into her husbands chief ministerial shoes come as many believe that Hemant Sorens arrest in a money laundering case is imminent.

The case pertains to an alleged land scam linked to the ownership of a 7.16-acre land parcel in Ranchi, which the central agency claims was acquired through the proceeds of crime involving illegal sale of Army land.

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The investigating agency had earlier insisted that Soren appear for questioning before 31 January, a move that the chief minister claims is politically motivated. In fact, in an email to officials of the Enforcement Directorate, the Jharkhand chief minister wrote, You are well aware that the Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly will be held between 2 and 29 February 2024 and the undersigned will be pro-occupied with preparations for the same apart from other prior scheduled official engagements.

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In these circumstances, your insistence to record a further statement of the undersigned on or before 31 January 2024 rocks of malice and reveals your political agenda to disrupt the functioning of the state government and prevent an elected representative of the people from discharging his official duties.

On Monday (29 January), officials from the ED showed up at Sorens official residence in New Delhi and during their searches seized two BMWs, some incriminating documents and Rs 36 lakh in cash. The ED team was unable to question Soren as he was not at home and was  missing .

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Where did Soren go missing?

When ED officials came knocking at Sorens door in New Delhi, he was unavailable, with many claiming that he had gone missing for 24 hours. His party, the JMM, however, maintained that Soren was safe and in touch with them.

It is reported that Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on 27 January left for Delhi from Ranchi. While the official reason for the visit is unknown, some say that he was in the Capital for legal consultations on the matter.

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An IndiaToday report states that Soren was aware that ED officials would appear at his residence for questioning and hence, undertook a 1,292 km road journey from Delhi to Ranchi on Monday.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, in a post on X, alleged that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal helped Soren in reaching Varanasi from Delhi. From Varanasi, Soren was taken to Ranchi by JMM minister Mithlesh Thakur, Dubey tweeted.

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And after 30 hours of being missing, Soren arrived at his official residence in Ranchi on Tuesday. He was seen smiling and waving at the media persons. The chief minister also held two meetings with all the ruling alliance MLAs and his wife, Kalpana, was also present at one of them.

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When he was later asked about his whereabouts, Soren cheekily replied, Hum aapke ke dil mein the. (I was in your heart).

Notably, while Soren went AWOL, the BJP announced that it would give cash awards to anyone who could provide information on the CMs whereabouts. BJPs state president Babulal Marandi, wrote on X: The people have breathed a sigh of relief as the CM returned. How much pain Hemant Ji endured as he travelled 1,295 km between Delhi and Jharkhand by evading central agencies? Poor Hemant Ji must be cursing those who suggested that he should visit New Delhi.

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With inputs from agencies
The Madras High Court has issued a directive to install boards in all Hindu temples stating that non-Hindus are not permitted beyond the Kodimaram (flagpole) area. The court emphasised that Hindus also possess the fundamental right to profess and practice their religion

Non-Hindus are no longer allowed inside temples in Tamil Nadu.

The Madras High Court on Tuesday issued a directive to the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, instructing them to install boards in all Hindu temples explicitly stating that non-Hindus are restricted from entering beyond the Kodimaram (flagpole) area within the respective shrines.

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The court emphasised that Hindus also possess the fundamental right to profess and practice their religion.

Heres what the court said and the row over the directive.

Non-Hindus not allowed inside temple

While hearing a plea from D Senthilkumar, the organiser of Palani hill temple devotees organisation, a bench led by Justice S Srimathy directed the respondents to install boards indicating non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple after Kodimaram in the entrance of the temples, near the flagpole, and at prominent places in the shrine, according to PTI.

Non-Hindus cannot be allowed inside the temple. But if their faith is established, an exemption could be granted, the judge said.

The court ruled, The respondents are directed not to allow the non-Hindus who do not believe in Hindu religion. If any non-Hindu claims to visit a particular deity in the temple, then the respondents shall obtain an undertaking from the said non-Hindu that he is having faith in the deity and he would follow the custom and practices of Hindu religion and also abide by the temple customs, and on such undertaking, the said non-Hindu may be allowed to visit the temple.

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Further, whenever such a person is allowed based on the undertaking, the same shall be entered in the register, which shall be maintained by the temple.

The respondents shall maintain the temple premises by strictly following the agamas (temple rules), customs, and practices of the temple, the judge said.

The respondents submitted that the said writ petition was filed only for the Palani temple, and the order may be restricted to it alone.

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The court said, But the issue raised is a larger issue, and the same ought to be applicable to all Hindu temples; hence, the plea of the respondents is rejected. As stated supra these restrictions would ensure communal harmony among different religions and ensure peace in society. Therefore, the state government, the HR&CE department, the respondents, and all persons who are involved in temple administration are directed to follow the directions to all Hindu temples.

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Not a picnic or tourist spot

People belonging to the Hindu religion have the right to profess and practice the faith.

Likewise, people belonging to other religions have the right to profess and practice their religion. But the customs and practice of their respective religion cannot be interfering with, and any interference ought to be curtailed.

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The temple is not (a) picnic spot or tourist spot. Even in Arulmighu Brahadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur the other religion people are allowed to admire and appreciate the architectural monuments of the temple, but not after Kodimaram.

While admiring the architectural monuments, the people cannot use the premises as picnic spot or tourist spot and the temples premises ought to be maintained with reverence and as per agamas. Therefore, the rights guaranteed under the Articles is not granting any right to the respondents to allow the other religion people if they do not have any faith and belief in the Hindu religion. Moreover, the rights are guaranteed to all religions and there cannot be any bias in applying such right, the court added.

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Incidents of non-Hindus entering temples

The HC also referred to certain incidents of non-Hindus allegedly entering temples.

It mentioned that recently a group of people belonging to other religions treated the Arulmighu Brahadeeswarar Temple premises as a picnic spot and had nonvegetarian food inside the temple premises. Citing a media report, the court shared another similar incident at the Arulmighu Meenakshi Sundareswarar wherein a group of non-Hindu people entered the temple with their sacred book near the sanctum sanctorum and were attempting to do their prayers.

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These incidents are absolutely interfering with the fundamental rights guaranteed to the Hindus under the Constitution, the judge said, adding, In fact, in the above-narrated incidents, the Department had failed to protect the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, the court added.

The Hindus also have the fundamental right to profess and practice their religion freely and propagate their religion without interfering in their way of practice. Therefore, the Hindus have the right to maintain their temples as per their customs and practices, and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department is having a duty to protect the temples from such unwanted incidents.

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Last year, in May, a video from a temple in Tamil Nadu went viral for similar reasons. The video showed a group of people sitting in the courtyard in front of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and allegedly eating chicken biryani.

The petition

Justice S Srimathy from the Madurai Bench of the High Court delivered this judgment during the hearing of a petition filed by D Senthilkumar, of Palani in Dindigul district.

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The petitioner sought specific instructions from the court for the installation of such boards and signage indicating the non-entry of non-Hindus in Palani temples.

He said that such a board, which had earlier been installed on the premises of the Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple, was removed due to renovation work.

In his plea, Senthilkumar also mentioned an example wherein a Muslim family with several women in burquas had purchased tickets at the winch station to go to the Palani hilltop, the temples premises to click pictures. When the authorities tried stopping them, they argued that there was no board barring the entry of non-Hindus, he said.

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While the state government said that installing such boards would hurt the religious sentiments of visitors, the HC refused to accept it.

The respondents were the Tamil Nadu government, represented by the Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, Culture, and Religious Endowments, the Commissioner, HR&CE, and the Executive Officer of the Palani temple. The HR&CE department administers Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu.

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Earlier, the court had issued an interim order of status quo ante with a direction to restore the board.

With inputs from PTI
Indian-origin British couple Arti Dhir (59), and Kavaljitsinh Raijada (35), have been sentenced to 33 years in prison for smuggling 514 kg of cocaine, valued at 57 million (Rs 600 crore), from the UK to Australia. The couple is wanted in India over an alleged double murder case in Gujarat

In a shocking case similar to Mark Williams and Bill Dubuques 2017 series Ozark, an Indian-origin couple in the UK has been sentenced to 33 years in prison for a massive drug smuggling operation spanning continents.

The intricate plan was exposed by the UKs National Crime Agency (NCA) in May 2021 when the Australian Border Force recovered more than half a tonne of cocaine worth a whopping 57 million pounds (Rs 600 crore) when it arrived in Sydney.

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However, this is not it. Arti Dhir, 59, and Kavaljitsinh Raijada, 35, are wanted in India over an alleged double murder case.

Heres all we know about the couple and the cases against them.

About the couple

Nairobi-born British Indian Arti Dhirs family hails from Punjabs Gurdaspur, while her 35-year-old husband Kavaljitsinh Raijada is an Indian national from Gujarats Keshod, according to The Times of India.

The couple lives in West Londons Ealing and has set up a company named Viefly Freight Services to facilitate their cocaine smuggling network. Both had been directors of the company at different points since its incorporation in June 2015, as per India Today.

Before starting their firm, they worked for Worldwide Flight Services at Heathrow Airports cargo office, where they gained insight about the industry, per Sky News.

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In 2019, India had tried to extradite the couple to face double murder charges in Gujarat.

The drug-smuggling case

According to Sky News, the Southwark Crown Court heard that Dhir and Raijadas front company had dispatched the narcotics via a commercial flight from Britain. When authorities checked the six metal toolboxes, they discovered a staggering 514 kilogrammes of cocaine.

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The report suggests the pair was linked to a total of 37 flights, 15 of which did not have their cargo scanned. Prosecutors believe the 15 planes all had drugs on board, although cocaine was only seized from one of them.

In the UK, a kilo of cocaine at wholesale is priced at around 26,000 (~Rs 27.38 lakh), while in Australia, the same is sold for over 110,000 (~Rs 1.15 crore). Since cocaine prices in Australia are substantially higher than in the UK, Dhir and Raijada made illicit shipment to earn more profit.

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The duo used fake documents with the names of other people, including Tatiana Pavalachi, a Romanian cleaner who Raijada was having an affair with, the report said.

His fingerprints on the plastic wrapping of the metal toolboxes, along with receipts for the purchase of the toolboxes, linked the couple to the crime, reported India Today.

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The agency revealed that the couple had orchestrated 37 consignments to Australia since June 2019, with 22 acting as decoys and 15 containing cocaine.

Arti Dhar and Kavaljitsinh Raijada used their insider knowledge of the air freight industry to traffic cocaine worth tens of millions of pounds from the UK to Australia, where they knew they could maximise their revenue, PTI quoted Piers Phillips, a senior investigating officer at the NCA, as saying.

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The couple were arrested on 21 June 2021 at their Hanwell residence. They strongly denied the charges of exporting cocaine to Australia and of money laundering. However, the jury convicted them on 12 counts of exportation and 18 counts of money laundering, as per NDTV.

The NCA worked closely with our partners in Australia and the UK Border Force to dismantle the supply chain created by Dhir and Raijada and bring them to justice, he added to outline the collaborative effort between British and Australian agencies.

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Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, Commander of the New South Wales Police Force Organised Crime Squad (Australia), commended the international collaboration, noting, Serious and organised criminal networks often have no borders, which is why working collaboratively with our international counterparts is so important to tackle what is a global issue.

Hidden wealth exposed

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Investigations carried out in February last year exposed the extent of the couples hidden wealth in London.

According to the reports, NCA officers uncovered almost three million pounds in cash stuffed inside boxes and suitcases at a storage unit in West London.

Financial inquiries revealed that despite declaring meager profits, the couple had purchased a two-bedroom apartment in a luxury development in Ealing for 800,000 pounds (~Rs 8.5 crore) and a Land Rover for 62,000 pounds. Their cash deposits of nearly 740,000 pounds into 22 different bank accounts since 2019 raised suspicions of extensive money laundering.

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The couple were found in possession of gold-plated silver bars worth about 5,000 (~Rs 5 lakh), 13,870 (~Rs 14.60 lakh) at their home, and 59,000 (~Rs 62 lakh) in a safe deposit box.

The NCA is set to initiate Proceeds of Crime proceedings to seize all of these assets.

They kept their illicit profits in cash at their home and in storage units, as well as purchasing property, gold and silver in an attempt to hide their wealth. These defendants may have thought they were removed from the misery caused by the drugs trade, but their greed was fuelling it, Phillips said.

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Double murder allegations in India

According to The Times of India, Dhir and Raijada are accused of plotting the murder of their 12-year-old adopted son, Gopal Sejani, and Raijadas brother-in-law Harsukhbhai Chaganbhai Kardani, in Gujarat. The couple allegedly planned to obtain the proceeds from a claim on a Rs 1.3 crore insurance policy that Dhir took out for Sejani.

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The couple reportedly placed an advertisement in a local newspaper, enticing prospective parents with the promise of bringing an adopted child to live in London. Gopal, a farm boy living with his older sister and her husband, became the target of their plan, as per another NDTV report.

On 8 February 2017, Sejani and Kardani were attacked by two masked assassins in Junagadhs Keshod. They later died in the hospital from knife injuries. Dhir and Raijada are alleged to have paid Nitish Mund Rs 5 lakh to hire the assassins, as per TOI.

The couple was arrested in the UK later that year; however, they successfully avoided extradition to face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, attempting to commit murder, kidnapping, and abduction for the purpose of committing murder and abetting a crime.

The duo denied the allegations, which have never been tested in court, but a judge in the extradition case found there was a prima facie case against them. However, she said they should not be sent to India because if they were found guilty, they would be imprisoned for life with no prospect of release, which would breach their human rights, according to a 2020 High Court judgment upholding the decision.

As per TOI, the discussion came despite the Indian governments assurance that the couple would be eligible to apply for remission.

With inputs from agencies
Iran-backed Iraqi armed militia Kataib Hezbollah has suspended its attacks against US troops in the country. The decision comes days after 3 American soldiers were killed in Jordan in a drone strike. Washington has vowed to take action for the attack, raising concerns of a wider conflict in the area

In a sudden twist of events, the Kataib Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group, has announced that it has suspended all its military operations against US troops in the region. The announcement came just two days after three US troops were killed in a drone strike along the Jordan-Syrian border, in an attack which the Pentagon said bore the footprints of the Iraqi armed group.

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When asked about the same, a Pentagon spokesperson refused to comment, adding: Actions speak louder than words.

As the situation unfolds, and people await Washingtons response to the attack, we take a closer look at who is the Kataib Hezbollah and the reason why they have announced the suspension of operations against US troops.

The Kataib Hezbollah

The Kataib Hezbollah is considered the most powerful armed faction in the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias in the country. It was established in 2003 in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of Iraq.

The group was founded by Jamal Jaafar Ibrahimi  also known by his alias Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes  who was the alleged mastermind behind the US and French embassy bombings in Kuwait in 1983 and the assassination attempt on Kuwaits emir in 1985. He later died in 2020 in a US drone strike in Iraq, but his group continues to thrive and operate, wreaking havoc.

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Since being formed, the group has earned notoriety for deadly attacks against military and diplomatic targets, using a combination of sniper, rocket and mortar attacks and roadside bombs. According to US diplomat Ali Khedery, the Kataib Hezbollah is responsible for some of the most lethal attacks against US and coalition forces throughout the [US-led war in Iraq>.

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It is also believed that the militant group is behind the 2016 abduction of more than 70 Sunni boys and men from al-Sijir, and the murder of 49 men from Saqlawiyah. News agency Reuters has reported that the armed Shiite group is responsible for than 150 attacks on US forces since the Gaza war began.

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Their reign of terror is such that they have been declared by the United States as a terrorist organisation in 2009. Moreover, Jamal Jaafar Ibrahimi, their leader, was designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Japan and the United Arab Emirates have also designated the group as terrorist organisations.

Since their formation, the group shares the ideology that the borders between Iraq, Syria and Lebanon are Western constructs and US troops in Iraq are foreign occupiers and need to be forcefully removed.

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As of today, the group boasts of thousands of fighters and an arsenal containing drones, rockets and short-range ballistic missiles.

Interestingly, the Kataib Hezbollah joined hands with other groups in 2014 and formed the Iraqs Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a grouping set up to fight Islamic State in 2014 that was subsequently recognised as an official security force.

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A Reuters report states that while technically the group as part of the PMF comes under the command of the Iraqi prime minister, it operates outside the chain of command, and on several occasions has defied calls on ending attacks on US forces.

Suspending attacks on US forces

On Monday (29 January), three US troops were killed in a drone strike in Jordan, believed to be the doing of the Kataib Hezbollah, in line with their stance against the US. However, at the time, Iran had denied accusations that it was involved in the attack.

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On the following day, Tuesday (30 January), Kataib Hezbollah Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi issued a statement, suggesting it would not launch any further attacks against the US. As we announce the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces  in order to prevent embarrassment of the Iraqi government  we will continue to defend our people in Gaza in other ways.

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The statement further added that the move was being taken to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government.

The motive for their move still remains unclear but an adviser to Iraqs prime minister said the leaders efforts have paid off. This is the result of the efforts made by Iraqi prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani internally and externally with different forces and parties in Iraq, and calls made by the Iraqi government to avoid escalation and avoid causing more tension to ensure the smoothness of the negotiation process and in order to complete the withdrawal (of US troops) from Iraq, the adviser, Hisham Al-Rikabi, told CNN on Tuesday in reaction to Kataib Hezbollahs announcement.

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Earlier on Saturday, the US and Iraq began formal talks aimed at winding down the troop presence. At present, the US has an approximate 2,500 soldiers in the country as part of a larger coalition against the Islamic State.

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US response

Immediately in the aftermath of the three soldiers being killed, the US had vowed for action, but cautioned that they were not looking for a war. We dont seek a war with Iran. Were not looking for a wider conflict in the Middle East, John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council had said on Monday. In fact, every action the president has taken has been designed to de-escalate, to try to bring the tensions down.

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And on Tuesday, US president Joe Biden said that he has decided how the nation would respond. Biden did not elaborate in his remarks at the White House, but added: I dont think we need a wider war in the Middle East.

And when asked if Iran should be blamed, he added, I do hold them [Iran> responsible in the sense that theyre supplying the weapons to the people who did it.

The White House said on Tuesday that Biden had spoken with the family members of the three troops, identified as Sergeant William Jerome Rivers (46), Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders (24), and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett (23).

The US president will attend the dignified transfer of their bodies at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Friday, the national security spokesman told reporters.

With inputs from agencies
The exercise to prepare the Union Budget is a long and secretive one. From placing officials in quarantine to jamming their mobile phones, the finance ministry goes to great lengths to guard the statement from leaks

The last session of Parliament before the 2024 general election is a crucial one. The Budget will be declared today. The highlight, of course, is the Union Budget tomorrow, which will be announced by Nirmala Sitharaman. This is an interim budget before a new government is elected and the finance minister has said that no spectacular announcements are coming up on 1 February. Yet one thing remains the same as all Budgets announced in recent years  it is strictly confidential.

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But why is the Budget kept secret? The answer lies in the past. Years ago, the Budget was leaked.

When and how was the Budget leaked?

The first Budget (1947-1948) for independent India was announced by the Union Finance Minister Sir RK Shanmukham Chetty , who was a pro-British Justice Party leader.

Ahead of the Budget, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Hugh Dalton casually mentioned to a journalist some tax changes proposed by India. The scribe published the details before the budget speech in Parliament.

After the controversy, Dalton had to step down.

However, this was not an isolated incident. Years later, in 1950, a portion of the Union Budget was leaked when the printing would take place at Rashtrapati Bhawan. This was when John Mathai was the finance minister.

After the leak, the printing of the Budget was shifted from Rashtrapati Bhawan to Minto Road in New Delhi.

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Over the years, secrecy has become a hallmark of the Union Budget.

How is the Budget kept a secret?

There is a lot that goes into ensuring that the Budget remains confidential, especially in the age of the internet. But in more than seven decades now, there has been no leak.

From 1951 until 1980, the Budget was printed at a press on Minto Road. Then a government press was set up in the basement of the North Block, the seat of the finance ministry in the old Parliament building.

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Weeks before the announcement of the Budget, the finance ministry office goes into a quarantine. It is out of bounds for visitors and media until the presentation.

The entry and exit points of the ministry are heavily guarded during this period. Even those who are involved in the making of the Budget are under scrutiny  they are closely watched by the Intelligence Bureau with the help of the Delhi Police.

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An intelligence team, which is headed by the joint secretary, monitors the movement of officials involved in the Budget-making process. Their phone calls are also tracked.

At least 100 officials are at work in the finance ministry for at least 10 days. During this time they have no contact with the outside world not even their families. In case of an emergency, the families of quarantined officials can leave a message on a number given to them. However, they cannot speak with them directly.

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Only the finance minister can visit the officials. The Intelligence Bureau chief reportedly makes surprise visits to the printing press area.

The final preparations start with a halwa ceremony in the presence of the finance minister. After the dessert is distributed, the officials in charge of the printing get to work.

Other than finance ministry employees, the others quarantined include legal experts from the law ministry, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) officials, and the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) officials. Press Information Bureau officials reportedly join them a few days later to publish press releases. Printing technicians and stenographers are also involved.

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Heres our Budget coverage:

Budget 2024: What does the common man want?

The computers of stenos are delinked from the National Informatics Centre (NIC) server to avoid cyber theft. A powerful mobile phone jammer is installed inside the finance ministry to block calls and prevent leakage of information, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

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A team of doctors is deployed inside the finance ministry to handle any medical emergencies during this crucial 10-day period.

There are hundreds of documents in the finance ministry of which two are the most important.

First comes the Blue Sheet, a blue piece of paper, which contains important numbers around which the Budget document is prepared. This paper is updated as and when new data comes in and forms the backbone of the Budget process, according to a report in Business Today.

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Even the finance minister does not have access to this Blue Sheet. It is entrusted to the joint secretary (budget).

The first Blue Sheet draft is prepared a few weeks before the Budget date and it includes budget proposals on the governments annual spending plan.

Among all the documents present in the finance ministry basement, it is the ministers Budget speech that is most closely guarded. It is handed over to printers at midnight, two days before the Budget is announced. Since the Budget is scheduled for 1 February, the documents are most likely handed over on the night of 30 January.

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Whats inside the Budget briefcase?

As part of keeping the Budget a secret, once the documents are printed, they are put in a briefcase , which is then carried by the finance ministry on the big day.

In fact, the trend of carrying the Budget briefcase, is a colonial tradition  coming from the British and was adopted by the first finance minister of India, RK Shanmukham Chetty.

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Over the years, different finance ministers have carried various briefcases to Parliament on Budget day, with Nirmala Sitharaman resorting to the traditional bahi khata in 2019.

With inputs from agencies
It has been 30 days in freezing temperatures, about minus 2 to be precise. Yet the crowds in Gilgit are only getting larger, as people come out in what has been the strongest protests seen in recent times against Pakistani occupation. Because that is what it is. Gilgit Baltistan is not part of Pakistan, neither is it independent or even autonomous. Together with the rest of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, its the last colony on earth, and the people are finally tired of it all.

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Wheat is at stake

Protests have been sporadically for months, mainly on the issue of a hike in wheat prices, as Pakistan began to slowly remove a subsidy granted to a region that it milks for its plentiful natural resources. And it was a telling testimony to the indifference of the State that it chose to further hike prices right in amidst protests in December, with the Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan explaining that he had negotiated a deal to prevent an even higher hike. Khan is an estranged member of the PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf) and took over the house last July, displacing the PTI loyalist Khurshid Khan who was removed over an alleged fake degree. None of this is helping matters. Pakistan had a bumper wheat crop last year, and though it has indeed become the fifth largest importer of Russian wheat since the war, rising eightfold to 1.5 million MT in March last year and shipped in via Gwadar, the fact remains that Gilgit Baltistan produces little wheat of its own, which means it is entirely dependant on Islamabad for its sustenance.

No taxation without representation

This sudden hike has added salt to existing wounds. The Awami Action Committee (AAC), leading the protests that have spread across the region, into Skardu and smaller towns, has a list of demands that underscores the exploitation that the people face. That includes complete opposition to the new Gilgit Baltistan Finance Act 2023 which proposes a raft of new taxes on everything to do with tourism, (which is the only source of revenue for the area) but also pushed in austerity measures on all government employees. Dont assume that the locals are in the lucky position of paying no taxes at all. They pay millions in indirect taxes to Islamabad, even while it is not part of Pakistan at all in terms of the constitution. Remember that the United States was born when it fought against Britains levying taxes in the now well-known demand of no taxation without representation. Thats what the AAC is asking for together with a demand for a slice of the national kitty through the National Finance Commission. In simple words, they want to be treated like any other state at least on financial terms. But thats against Pakistan government policy since it vitiates their principled stance on the whole of Kashmir as disputed. So Gilgit Baltistan continues to be neither here nor there, while Islamabad takes its pound of flesh anyway.

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Give us our daily electricity

There are other demands. That includes replacing the Gilgit Baltistan assembly with a Constituent Assembly (in short replacing a rubber stamp body with a statutory body with powers); provide with free electricity from its own Diamer Bhasha dam, and giving it direct royalty as a source of revenue instead of water use rights and net hydel profits. Pakistani officials point out that of Pakistans total of 64,000 megawatts of hydropower reserves, 95 per cent lie in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. That means dependency on areas that dont belong to Pakistan at all. The centre however has plans for another 300 projects in an area that ironically sees 18 hours of load shedding in the height of winter. Other demands include cancelling all mining leases given to non-locals. In 2019, protests were seen in Ghanche after some 300 leases were given to Chinese companies for mining in pasture lands. In 2022, there were reports of mining again being leased out in Hunza to Chinese companies. Gilgit Baltistan has rich veins of gemstones which are famous, as well as gold and strategic minerals.

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Land that is being grabbed

Theres another interesting demand with implications for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). That is the State accepts ownership of locals over all uncultivated and barren land. The encroachment by Pakistan into these lands has been steady and most recently has come to public gaze after Pakistans Board of Investments (BoI) in 2019 approved the fast-track development of nine Special Economic Zones, including Moqpondass, about 40 km from the city of Gilgit. Satellite imagery shows an area of some 750 acres under construction, though the allotted area according to official sources is only 250 acres. Protests have been building over uneven compensation for this arbitrary takeover, even from the time it took over land for the Karakorum road under a law of 1894 .

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The project was initially welcomed, but customs revenues have gone straight into federal pockets. This is also why this time, the members of the Gilgit Baltistan Council, which ostensibly is the highest body for governance, have also joined the protests. The council is chaired by the Pakistan Prime Minister and packed with his representatives. The last demand involves India. the protestors want all ancient trade routes restored. Historians note that at least eight routes connected Ladakh and Gilgit Baltistan into Central Asia. These ancient trade routes are today easily operable through the Kargil Skardu. What is different from the past, is that the main market is now India, not the long-ago metropoles of Samarkhand or even Turkey. This is not about historical memory or a sentimental renaissance. This is about practical profit-making and livelihood.

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All in all, the ongoing protests are a culmination of distress building up over the years. Somethings got to give, and soon. Solutions are obvious. Gilgit Baltistan should ideally be a part of India, but that is something Islamabad (and China) will resist by the skin of their teeth. Second, Pakistan could give Gilgit Baltistan full statehood  which China wants since it makes CPPEC paperwork easier  thus making the Kargil area into a regular border. India will resist that, as it should, given that it is legitimately a part of India. A mid-way solution is possible, where two-way trade is opened up between Gilgit Baltistan (only) and the Indian market, and Gilgit Baltistan is granted some rights to govern itself. Its not the best solution, but as tempers rise, it seems to be the only one available.

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The writer is a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi. She tweets @kartha_tara. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s_ views.

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This crisis hurts everyone; the difference is in the response. Some fan the fires; others try to douse them

The Indian Navy has shown its valour once again; it has rescued 19 Pakistani fishermen from the clutches of Somali pirates. In fact, India pulled off not one but two rescues, hours before saving the Pakistanis. Again, the Indian Navy had rescued some Iranians aboard an Iran-flagged fishing vessel called the Iman from Somali pirates.

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Pirates had boarded the ship; the crew was being taken hostage, but they managed to send out the distress call.

It was intercepted by the INS Sumitra, a Saryu-class advanced patrol ship capable of ocean surveillance and monitoring. One of the ten ships that India has deployed in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.

So when the Iranians gave the distress call, the INS Sumitra set off in pursuit and caught up to the captured fishing vessel early the next day.

The Indian Navy put out this statement. The Navy says it followed standard operating procedure and coerced the pirates to safely release the crew. As many as 17 Iranian nationals were on the fishing vessel Iman. The Indian Navy ensured that they were all safe. We dont know what happened to the pirates.

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All that India has said is that the boat was sanitized. After this, the Iranian crew was allowed to proceed. But the story doesnt end here. The INS Sumitra wasnt done yet.

Soon, another Iranian fishing vessel was in danger; this one was called the Al Naeemi. Now, India wasnt just going to stand by, so the INS Sumitra began another pursuit. It managed to track down the second vessel, the Al Naeemi, which had also been hijacked. Its crew was also being held hostage by Somali pirates.

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So the Indian ship took up a coercive posture again. It deployed its integral helicopter. Smaller boats were also sent towards the fishing ship. This forced the 11 pirates to surrender. The Indian naval forces then boarded the ship and rescued the crew.

There were 19 Pakistani nationals aboard the Al Naeemi. The Indian troops checked on their safety and well-being. Then they sanitised the ship once again.

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Its safe to say that the Indian forces dealt with the threat, and the Pakistani fishermen were saved. What does this episode tell you? No matter the old enmity, the track record of Indian troops remains professional.

They will ensure that innocent civilians are kept safe. Even if they are Pakistani, there are both humanitarian and strategic reasons for that.

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Helping the neighbourhood is in Indias best interests; thats why India is patrolling the seas. Making sure that pirates do not take advantage of the regional instability.

Piracy off the Somali coast has been making a comeback. It is a direct fallout of the Red Sea crisis. Yemen-based Houthis have been attacking ships; Somali pirates see this as an opportunity. They think everyone is distracted by the Houthis. So no one will bother with them, but that is not the case. India is on the job. It is not officially a part of the US-led Red Sea mission.

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India is providing support to everyone in need, even the citizens of hostile nations, and New Delhi has been doing this for weeks. Last Friday, India helped a British oil tanker that had been struck by Houthi missiles.

The INS Visakhapatnam helped douse the flames. Earlier this month, India rescued another ship, a cargo ship called the MV Lila Norfolk. The Indian Navy saved 21 crew members from being taken hostage. So Monday wasnt an anomaly. India has taken on the mantle of guardian and has been fulfilling its duty with distinction.

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Hopefully, the neighbourhood and the world are watching. This crisis hurts everyone; the difference is in the response. Some fan the fires; others try to douse them.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._

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Execution of a simple ban on vaping may only end up in smoke

Vapes were invented about two decades ago. Initially, they were used as smoking cessation devices; they were marketed as the lesser of two evils.

Vapes have come a long way since; now, they come in candy, soda, or fruity flavours and in a kaleidoscope of colours.

They have new names like puff bars and a new targetthe teenagers. Millions of teens are vaping the world over.

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In the UK, youth vaping has tripled in the past three years. Now, Britain wants to ban disposable vapes.

Meanwhile, Australia has already banned the import of vapes. Yet, more than 13 tonnes of disposable vapes worth 4.5 million dollars have been seized at the border this week.

When vapes first came to the market, they were seen as the lesser of two evils. Their main role was to help people move away from traditional cigarettes, but over the past few years, vapes have undergone a revamp.

Vapes are no longer smoking cessation devices, either. They are a trendy accessory worn by children and teens.

Also, they are no longer boring-looking; vapes now come in a cornucopia of different flavours like kiwi, strawberry, and bubble gum. You name it, and the stores near you will probably have it.

After all, stores are displaying vapes right next to candies, and influencers are casually vaping on Tiktok. All of this has curated the perfect storm of vape smoke. Hence, increasingly, vapes are making their way into the hands of children.

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There has been a sharp uptick in the UK; last year, 20.5 percent of children from the ages of 11 to 17 tried vaping. Thats one in five. Up from 15.8 percent in 2022 and 13.9 percent in 2020.

Meanwhile, regular youth vaping has tripled in the past three years. This is a big problem. Vapes may be less harmful than cigarettes, but they contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Vapes also come with a suite of other chemicals. All of this can cause lung damage, breathlessness, and nicotine poisoning. There have been cases of burns or shattered jaws from exploding vapes as well.

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Apart from health concerns, there are also major environmental hazards. Disposable vapes contain lithium batteries; an estimated five million are thrown away each week in Britain.

So now, Britain wants to ban single-use vapes, regulate packaging and displays, and restrict their flavours.

All of this is aimed at curbing the appeal of vaping among youth, but the UK is not the only one working on it. France has moved to ban single-use vapes. Germany has proposed pushing for a similar ban across the EU. New Zealand has introduced regulations on marketing vapes to children.

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Meanwhile, it has been illegal for any Australian to purchase vapes without a doctors prescription since 2021, but despite this, the rates of addiction have continued to skyrocket.

Especially among children, one in six high school students is vaping in Australia, and one in four aged between 18 and 24 is vaping.

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So on January 1, this year, the land down under brought a sweeping new law. It banned the import of disposable vapes. Yet, over 13 tonnes of disposable vapes were seized by the border officers this week; thats worth 4.5 million dollars. It is the first such large-scale seizure since the ban.

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But overall, 250,000 disposable vapes have been seized since January 1, worth about 7.4 million dollars.

Despite regulations, vapes may not be going anywhere; they have a booming black market and a huge demand. So simply banning their purchase or import wont solve the problem. Experts say higher taxes on vapes can reduce their appeal to youth, as can strict regulation of social media messaging.

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Execution of a simple ban on vaping may only end up in smoke.

The author is a Delhi-based writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._

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In our fast-paced lives, we often overlook the importance of a simple yet potent tool that can enhance our overall well-beingthe power nap. Previously dismissed as a sign of laziness, the concept of napping is undergoing a transformation. Scientific evidence is emerging, shedding light on the numerous benefits of power naps, prompting a reevaluation of our attitudes toward this age-old practice.

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For years, the stigma attached to napping has persisted, with phrases like caught napping or found asleep at the switch reinforcing the notion that napping equates to laziness. However, across various cultures and species, napping has long been a revered and integral part of daily life. Nesting penguins nap over 10,000 times a day, babies can nap up to three times a day, and in cultures like those in West Bengal and Goa, afternoon naps are considered sacrosanct.

Global napping traditions

Siesta, the Spanish midday nap, and hirune in Japan, where workers enjoy afternoon naps, showcase the global acknowledgment of the importance of short breaks during the day. These traditions, along with the nap-friendly practices at tech giants like Google, Samsung and Meta, signify a cultural shift towards recognizing the value of regular naps.

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Scientific research now supports the idea that power naps are more than just a momentary escape. Naps lasting as little as 15 minutes can contribute significantly to our long-term health. They aid in tissue repair, muscle building and immune system strengthening. Notably, naps play a crucial role in maintaining brain health by preventing age-related shrinkage. Regular short naps of 5 to 15 minutes immediately enhance mental performance, with effects lasting up to three hours. Over time, these naps can even delay the aging process of the brain by three to six years.

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While the benefits of power naps are extensive, timing is crucial. Naps should not exceed 20 minutes and the optimal time for an afternoon nap is between 1 pm and 4 pm. Frequent daytime napping may signal inadequate nighttime sleep, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing a full nights rest. Power naps are not a substitute for proper sleep but serve as an additional boost when incorporated correctly.

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In conclusion, the power of power naps lies in understanding and harnessing their potential. As we navigate our hectic lives, incorporating short, well-timed naps can provide a natural and effective energy boost. Recognizing the scientifically proven benefits of power naps encourages us to embrace this age-old practice as a legitimate tool for maintaining physical and mental well-being. So, the next time you find yourself needing a pick-me-up, consider the real fiesta that lies in some siesta. After all, a well-timed power nap might be the key to unlocking your full potential.

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Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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As the Indian government gears up to present the annual budget in what is considered the last one ahead of the general election, the focus is on maintaining stability with an interim budget. While no significant announcements are expected during this period, New Delhi has sent out signals and set ambitious targets for the economys future.

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In the next three years, India aims to secure its position as the worlds third-largest economy, targeting a GDP of $5 trillion dollars. Looking ahead to 2030, the goal is to add an additional $2 trillion to reach an impressive seven trillion in seven years. This ambitious target not only demonstrates confidence in the current leaderships economic management but also serves as a sign of optimism.

Despite being an interim budget, the government has set lofty targets, indicating a belief in its ability to steer the economy in the foreseeable future. Projections for Indias growth trajectory are optimistic, with the Central Bank of India estimating a 7 per cent growth rate in 2024. The finance ministry goes even further, aiming for growth beyond 7 per cent.

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In 2025, the finance ministry predicts a sustained 7 per cent growth rate, supported by various reports and projections. If India can maintain this momentum, it stands a chance to achieve the ambitious economic targets set for itself.

However, amidst these aspirations, challenges loom on the horizon. The finance ministrys report identifies three key trends that could shape Indias economic landscape: de-globalization, artificial intelligence, and energy transition.

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De-globalization, the opposite of globalization, implies a less interconnected world. The idea is to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on specific countries. While India sees no immediate risk, the slow process of supply chain alternatives emerging requires a proactive approach. With several countries vying for the same market, India must stay competitive by investing in lowering logistics costs and improving production quality.

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The second challenge is artificial intelligence, which poses a risk to the Indian service sector, a significant contributor to the countrys GDP. As AI adoption grows globally, there are concerns about its impact on job creation and the services trade, especially in the IT sector where India holds a substantial market share.

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The third challenge is the transition to green energy as global pressure mounts to move away from fossil fuels. While this transition is beneficial in the long run, it poses short-term challenges that could slow down economic growth. Striking a balance between growth needs and environmental obligations becomes crucial for India in this context.

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In conclusion, Indias policymakers are actively working on addressing these challenges. As the budget day approaches, observers await to see if Thursdays budget will lay the foundation to tackle these issues and set the stage for Indias economic future. Stay tuned for updates on how India plans to navigate these challenges and fulfill its ambitious economic goals.

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Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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The deaths of civilians have been swept under the rug, and Iran and Pakistan are back in business

Pakistan is hosting the Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdolla-Hian, who landed in Islamabad on Monday. He was invited by his Pakistani counterpart. The two leaders held a bilateral meeting. They emphasised regional security, border relations, and trade.

It sounds like regular stuff that wouldnt have made it to the headlines had it not been for what happened two weeks ago.

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Iran had attacked Pakistan, and Pakistan attacked right back. Since then, relations have been strained. Earlier this month, Tehran launched missiles into Pakistan. It targeted a militant group in the Balochistan province, and Pakistan fired back diplomatically.

Then Pakistan used its military, and Islamabad struck Baloch separatists in Iran. So within 48 hours, the score was 1-1. The strikes left at least 11 civilians dead on both sides, including children. The strikes reignited tensions, but for two weeks, no formal meetings were held.

Then on Monday, Irans foreign minister met his counterpart. Terrorists are located on the common borders of Iran and Pakistan, and they are led and supported by third countries, he said.

Now, that is a bold statement to make. It is because Iran is accepting that there are terrorists on its soil, and it is blaming an unnamed third country for it. What is more, Pakistan has not objected to this. Instead, it is calling the visit a diplomatic win for both sides.

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His visit at such short notice testifies to the deep commitment of both sides to further strengthen and solidify the fraternal ties between Pakistan and Iran. It is a relationship steeped in shared religion, history, culture, and geography. And this is a relationship that is also underpinned by strong bonds of amity and brotherhood, said Pakistan Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani.

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The visit comes two days after a particular attack where nine Pakistani nationals were killed in Iran, and three people are being treated for wounds. The attack took place in Irans Sistan and Balochistan province, in a town called Saravan. It is only a few hundred kilometres from Pakistan. The attack was carried out by unidentified gunmen, and no group has claimed responsibility. But the families are mourning and demanding answers.

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The Iranian ministers visit comes right after the death of nine Pakistani civilians. Islamabad has demanded an investigation. Iran says it will cooperate, and both sides ended the matter by agreeing to combat terror.

We recognised that the close relationship between Pakistan and Iran is not only imperative for the shared prosperity and development of our two peoples but also an important source of stability for the region, said Jilani.

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Guided by this spirit, Pakistan and Iran have resolved to expand our cooperation, especially in the political and security domains, he added.

So, they say they want to normalise ties. The talks were followed by laughs and hugs. Islamabad has even officially invited Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi; the visit is scheduled for next month.

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But seemingly, the deaths of civilians have been swept under the rug, and Iran and Pakistan are back in business.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Jacob Zuma, an integral figure in the ANC for nearly six decades, recently withdrew his support from the party in December of the previous year

In a surprising turn of events, the political landscape of South Africa is once again stirred as the African National Congress (ANC) suspends its former president, Jacob Zuma. This move comes on the heels of Zumas recent denouncement of the ANC, declaring his intention to support a new party in the upcoming elections. The rift between Zuma and the ANC, a partnership that has endured for almost 60 years, is now at a critical juncture, with potential implications for the upcoming presidential polls.

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ANC and Zumas fallout

Jacob Zuma, an integral figure in the ANC for nearly six decades, recently withdrew his support from the party in December of the previous year. Zumas announcement was accompanied by the revelation of his allegiance to the newly-formed Umkhonto we Sizwe (Wesizwe) Party, as disclosed by his daughter, Duduzile Zuma. The 81-year-old former president vehemently urged his supporters to follow suit, condemning anyone voting for the ANC as betraying South Africa.

In 2024, I will vote for the Umkhonto we Sizwe MK party, said Duduzile.

In response to Zumas divergence, the ANC has taken decisive action, suspending him from the party. This move comes mere weeks before South Africa is set to vote for a new president, adding an unexpected layer of complexity to the political landscape. Zuma has been given a two-day window to respond to his suspension, raising questions about the potential impact on the ANCs unity and the broader political scenario in the country.

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Zumas historical association with ANC

Jacob Zumas association with the ANC dates back to the struggles against apartheid. Rising through the party ranks, he was elected as its president in 2007 and subsequently became South Africas president in 2009, holding power until 2018. Despite allegations of corruption and scandals during his presidency, the ANC steadfastly supported Zuma. Now, with Zuma no longer in power, the ANC faces both legal battles involving him and a political rivalry that threatens its cohesion.

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After Cyril Ramaphosa inherited the presidency from Zuma in 2018, he initiated significant changes, reshuffling the cabinet and distancing the party from the Gupta family, a wealthy and influential Indian family associated with Zumas era. The ANCs efforts to create a new image and distance itself from past controversies have led to a political rivalry between Ramaphosa and Zuma, further exacerbating the existing tensions within the party.

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The rivalry between Zuma and Ramaphosa has created a deep political rift within the ANC, impacting the partys image and potentially influencing the upcoming presidential election. Ramaphosa acknowledges the friction within the party, emphasizing the necessity of actions against corruption and state capture. As the ANC faces internal strife, the forthcoming election is anticipated to be highly contested, with the possibility of a power vacuum arising from Zumas spat with the ANC.

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The actions we were mandated to take against corruption and state capture have at times caused friction amongst us, said Ramaphosa.

South Africa finds itself at a crossroads as the ANC, once a stronghold in the nations politics, grapples with internal discord and the fallout from Jacob Zumas suspension. The unfolding political drama will undoubtedly shape the course of the upcoming presidential election, with the ANC facing the challenge of maintaining unity in the face of internal strife. As the nation awaits the outcome of this political saga, the implications for South Africas political future remain uncertain.

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Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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The initiation of conflict between the Palestinian non-state outfit Hamas and Israel on 7 October this year was assessed by most analysts as a deliberate trigger towards sparking an international crisis of high proportion. It was intended to make the world sit up and take notice of the fading significance of the Middle East involving mainly the Palestine-Israel conflict. Hamas feared that with Saudi Arabia and Iran potentially making up at the behest of China, and the US wishing to move on to the Indo=Pacific, Israel would rule the roost in the Middle East; as a result, the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution would be history for future generations to pick up some day.

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Four months of relentless war, after the killing of 1,200 innocent Israelis and foreigners, plus the taking of almost 250 hostages on 7 October, has resulted in further killing of 25,000 Palestinians in Gaza and a level of destruction which may never allow the Palestinian people to restore their lives for a couple of generations. Both sides have achieved nothing in terms of realist objectives which are the destruction of Hamas on one hand and the commencement of such intense interest in Israel-Palestine affairs by the international community as to head towards an eventual conflict resolution. With the kind of destruction and casualties any resolution of conflict with wounds yet raw, would be unrealistic. Conflict termination is about the best that the world should hope for. What factors will dictate that?

For Israel, sustaining a 3,50,000-strong army is draining. Makes ample sense to reduce it by first diluting the need and the threats. Israel suffers from a leadership problem; it cannot fight with a war cabinet forever. It is this cabinet which got duped by Hamas and so it is chastised and hugely embarrassed. Its response will be both irrational and unreasonable, primarily with the intent to gain face. Four months of extreme employment of munitions of every kind has resulted in the killing of so many without qualified military success. Who is to explain to the Israeli cabinet that the war Hamas is fighting cannot be won by tanks and missiles; its asymmetric and such methods only frustrate with little scope for lasting success. No one in his senses and possessing basic military acumen will ever forgive Hamas for its dastardly action on 7 October 2023 but the answers to it lie in long-term emaciation of that entity through denial of every means for its further growth and capability. That is where Israel failed miserably, allowing Hamas to gain political prominence.

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Its not as if Israel should never have withdrawn from Gaza in 2005 or that it should now imprint a permanent footprint there. It could not have adopted a no response policy to the recent Hamas action either. The options before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were complex. His Generals probably had little choice but to recommend the kinetic route but seeking the death of the last Hamas terrorist before declaring victory is akin to being at war forever. No one knows asymmetric warfare better than Israeli Generals themselves and they know that one of the biggest military challenges lies in drawing up clear political and military aims in such a standoff.

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The truth is that Israels failure commenced well before even a single shot was fired; 7 October was just a date. To allow a declared enemy to be armed the way Hamas could afford to be armed was Israels first failure. There is much criticism of Israels inability to identify or predict as big a strike as the one by Hamas on 7 October. However, that intelligence failure apart, a failing no one talks of is how with an ongoing low-intensity conflict with Hamas, Israel could somehow never prevent the induction of military wherewithal into as small a territory as the Gaza Strip. There were sea routes which Israel did not adequately deny or even the movement of transborder humanitarian aid and supplies which may have been used for this.

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Not many have questioned how Hamas over time managed to get adequate digging equipment and cement/concrete into Gaza to unimpededly construct the maze of tunnels, or deploy the thousands of missiles that it possesses. Israeli television serials such as Fauda which have gone viral all over the world depict some of the most advanced surveillance systems employing drones as constant eyes in the sky. None of that seemed to work towards ensuring that Hamas did not build up capability which could allow it to resist the virtual conventional Israeli onslaught into Gaza after 7 October.

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To get back to the factors. President Joe Biden hasnt been pragmatic enough about the threats that his decisions are enhancing. His defence secretary has been the only one to have correctly advised the Israelis restraint. Decisions in anger are usually irrational. Israel is adding to the irrationality of Hamas and its leadership. US President Joe Bidens aid package to Israel may be for electoral gains but bringing restraint to the nature of operations by Israel was his only option; he turned away from it. How then can the conflict be terminated? The world will not sit together on this, especially the big powers; the overflow of Ukraine is reverberating here. International shipping is deeply affected by the activism of the Houthis who for no gain have entered into this as proxies. Energy prices due to the Red Sea and grain prices and availability due to Ukraines long war, will subsequently have an effect on the international economy of proportions akin to that of the Covid period. The US presidential election has had its own impact with expectations of a Republican return. For he who is in power the choices are far too limited. in the peace=building role be placed in Gaza, to prevent Hamas from acquiring any further military capability. Such an arrangement can only be under the aegis of the United Nations (UN) and will require UN Security Council endorsement, which under the current circumstances appears unrealistic. Besides, as a precursor to any third force (international), there has to be a declared ceasefire and acceptance of the proposed arrangement. Such an arrangement cannot be enforced; peace enforcement therefore cannot even be contemplated.

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It is the humanitarian situation which is the key to a ceasefire and termination of the conflict. The hostages are still at risk and women and children are more adversely affected than in any known recent conflict situation. The Arab world led by Saudi Arabia can make a major difference if it can put up a united front to oppose Hamas vociferously as much as get the US to pressurize Israel. The abject ambiguity that the Arabs are currently adopting is not going to be helpful to them either. The bombings and other operations in Gaza need to stop and the humanitarian agencies be given a free hand under international monitors to build up aid. The hostages have to be released, there can be no two ways about that and the separation of forces has to be complete; although Hamas is not fighting as a conventional unit. Russia and China are on the same side; they do not wish to see the continuation of hostilities either because these bring more unpredictability and hasten the already gathering storm of the next cycle of global terrorism. However, Russia is too isolated to play any role and China does not have the gravitas of handling the Middle East comprehensively yet. One of the prime players remains Iran since its proxies are all stakeholders. However, it isnt in the habit of taking peace initiatives which could compromise its power.

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If the Houthis are not quietened early, energy and economic crises may be upon us faster than currently appreciated. India will be too busy with its elections in the next 3-4 months, otherwise a great opportunity lies here for Indian diplomacy. Its for all the reasons above that the Hamas-Israel war is likely to only tone down in intensity. It will continue as a standoff with big strikes taking place infrequently. The situation elsewhere will dictate the flow of the war  US elections, the Ukraine war, Iran-Saudi relations, the Houthi menace in the Red Sea and more, at least for the next six months.

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The writer is a Member of the National Disaster Management Authority. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Shortly after Oppo and Finnish telecom giant Nokia reached a global 5G patent cross-licensing deal, effectively settling a prolonged legal dispute spanning 12 countries, OnePlus marked its return to the German market after an 18-month hiatus

OnePlus has made a comeback in the German market after an absence of nearly 18 months. The return follows a recent global 5G patent cross-licensing agreement between sister company Oppo and Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia, which resolved a lengthy legal dispute spanning 12 countries.

OnePlus, based in Shenzhen, China reintroduced six smartphone models to Germany on Monday, including the foldable OnePlus Open, as stated on the companys German website. Additionally, the firm initiated pre-orders for its latest OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R handsets. Prior to this week, OnePlus had limited offerings on its German website, primarily consisting of accessories like wireless earbuds.

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This resurgence in the German market comes at a time when the global smartphone industry shows signs of recovery after a prolonged slump. According to tech research firm IDC, the industry is projected to experience 3.8 per cent growth this year.

Despite another lackluster year for smartphones, 5G adoption continues to be a bright spot in the overall market, noted Anthony Scarsella, research director at IDCs Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker group. IDC forecasts a 20 per cent growth in global 5G smartphone shipments for the year, up from 11 per cent in 2023.

Chinese smartphone manufacturers are actively seeking to expand their sales beyond the domestic market, where intense price wars prevail.

OnePlus return to Germany follows the global patent cross-licensing agreement between Oppo and Nokia, covering standard-essential patents in 5G and other cellular communication technologies.

This agreement enables the resolution of pending patent litigation in all jurisdictions, with specific terms remaining confidential.

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OnePlus had halted smartphone sales in Germany in August 2022 after Oppo lost a patent infringement lawsuit to Nokia in the country. The ruling effectively prohibited Oppo from selling its smartphones and certain OnePlus devices in Germany.

Founded in 2013 by a group of Oppo employees, including OnePlus CEO Pete Lau, OnePlus has gained popularity in the West for its premium smartphones that offer competitive pricing compared to Apples iPhone and similar Android handsets from Samsung Electronics.

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While OnePlus resumes smartphone sales in Germany, Oppo has yet to reopen for business in the market. Oppos official local website still displays no product information available. The company faces ongoing legal challenges in Germany, where a Munich court ruled in late December that it infringed on the patents of US wireless and mobile technology company InterDigital. This ruling led to an injunction against Oppo.

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Amidst fierce competition from other major Android handset vendors, Oppo is under pressure to resolve its patent disputes. According to IDC data, Oppo was the fourth-largest smartphone vendor globally in 2023, with shipments decreasing by 9.9 per cent year-on-year to 103 million units.

(With inputs from agencies)
Tesla paid $56 billion to Elon Musk in 2018 which catapulted him to being the richest person ever, based on which he was able to acquire X. Tesla directors contended that the deal aimed to ensure Musk, a dynamic entrepreneur, remained committed to the company

A judge in Delaware, US has invalidated the $55.8 billion pay package granted to Elon Musk by Tesla in 2018. The lawsuit challenging the payout was filed by a shareholder who argued that it constituted an excessive payment. Judge Kathaleen McCormick ruled that the approval of the pay package by the Tesla board was deeply flawed.

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Elon Musk, Teslas CEO and a major shareholder took to his platform X to express his disappointment in the judgement, advising against incorporating companies in the US state of Delaware.

Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 30, 2024

The annulled pay deal, the largest in corporate history, played a pivotal role in making Musk one of the wealthiest individuals globally.

During the trial, Tesla directors contended that the deal aimed to ensure Musk, a dynamic entrepreneur, remained committed to the company.

However, the judge concluded that Tesla and Musks attorneys failed to demonstrate that the stockholder vote was fully informed, highlighting Musks extensive ties with those negotiating on Teslas behalf.

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In her ruling, Judge McCormick criticized the compensation as an unfathomable sum that was unfair to shareholders. She noted that the compensation package had been negotiated by directors who were swayed by Musks superstar appeal.

Greg Varallo, an attorney for the Tesla shareholder who initiated the lawsuit, celebrated the ruling as a good day for the good guys. However, the judges decision can be appealed to the Delaware Supreme Court.

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The ruling brings into focus the issue of remuneration awarded to CEOs and other staff in leadership roles. Compensation and salaries of top executives across industries have been at an all time high, especially in tech.

What has been disheartening is that as CEO, MD and VP salaries at tech companies hit record highs year after year, several people in mid-junior segments, especially managers are being laid off, sometimes without rhyme and reason. There have been several reports that the people who have been affected in tech layoffs since 2022, were some of the highest-performing members of their teams.

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Following the news, Teslas shares experienced a 3 per cent decline in extended New York trade, contributing to a more than 20 per cent loss in their value for the year.

Musk, known for his active presence on social media, also suggested changing Teslas state of incorporation to Texas, where the companys physical headquarters is located. He conducted a poll on his platform to gauge followers opinions on the matter.

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Musks various business ventures include SpaceX, Neuralink, and the social media platform X, where he recently increased his stake.

He expressed concerns about Teslas vulnerability to a takeover by dubious interests and stated his desire for greater control over the companys direction, particularly in the context of its investments in AI technology. Musk currently owns about 13 per cent of X and has indicated a desire for a larger stake in Tesla.

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(With inputs from agencies)
Approximately 18,000 Indians labor in Israel, primarily in caregiving roles. Because they felt quite secure and also because the salaries are quite attractive, the majority of them made the decision to remain in Israel and did not flee the nation during the conflict

Approximately 10,000 laborers from India are scheduled to arrive in Israel starting next week, according to industry sources on Wednesday. Israels construction industry is currently experiencing a severe workforce shortage following the fighting with Hamas on October 7.

According to a source with the Israel Builders Association (IBA), these 10,000 workers will arrive in stages of 7001,000 every week, PTI reported here.

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The Israeli construction industry has been in severe crisis due to Israels most recent conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which lasted for just under four months. In addition, there has been a ban on the entry of Palestinian workers and the departure of several thousand other foreign workers. As a result, several ongoing projects are either stalled or delayed.

Israel forbade the entry of Palestinian laborers after the battle. The Israeli construction industry has been in severe distress since thousands of other foreign workers left.

Israeli business daily The Calcalist in a report in Hebrew last week said that the quota of foreign manpower for the construction industry has been increased from 30,000 to 50,000 and that the Israeli government last month approved the arrival of 10,000 workers from

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Izchak Gurvitz, the head of the associations workers issues division, and Igal Slovik, the CEO of IBA, oversee the selection process.

There are presently rumors that Israels Ministry of Housing and Construction is developing a plan to add 10,000 more jobs through the private track.

As a result, the industry will employ 60,000 foreign workers overall, up from the current quota of 50,000.

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In a December phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed advancing the arrival of foreign workers from India to the State of Israel.

During his April visit to India, Israels Minister of Economy, Nir Barkat, discussed employing Indians in a number of fields, including construction, with representatives and his counterpart in New Delhi.

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Subsequently, the talks focused on bringing in about 160,000 people from different industries.

Approximately 18,000 Indians labor in Israel, primarily in caregiving roles. Because they felt quite secure and also because the salaries are quite attractive, the majority of them made the decision to remain in Israel and did not flee the nation during the conflict.

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In May of last year, during the visit of then Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to New Delhi, Israel and India also signed an agreement allowing 42,000 Indian workers to work in the Jewish state in the construction and nursing fields. At the time, this move was seen as a way to help deal with the rising cost of living and assist thousands of families waiting for nursing care.

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The Israeli Foreign Ministry subsequently issued a statement stating that an additional 8,000 workers will be needed for nursing needs and 34,000 workers would be working in the construction industry.

(With agency inputs)
China creates tensions on the borders of India and other countries by misusing the money earned through these exports, Tenzin Choezin alleged

On Tuesday, an exiled member of Tibets Parliament asserted that China was using colonially-run boarding schools to drive Tibetans away from their own culture.

As part of an effort to foster closer ties with the Indian populace, a two-member delegation from the Parliament of Tibet in exile paid this place a visit and participated in events arranged with the assistance of the India-Tibet Cooperation Forum.

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In Tibet, children above three years of age are being forcibly sent to colonially-run boarding schools by China, so that they could be taken away from their original culture, language and traditions, and Chinese culture could be imposed on them, said Tenzin Choezin, a member of the delegation, during a media interaction at the Press Club here.

China gets nervous even if someone congratulates the Dalai Lama on his birthday. China always behaves like a child who feels insecure, she added.

She also supported the appeal, made in some quarters in India, for boycott of cheap Chinese products.

China creates tensions on the borders of India and other countries by misusing the money earned through these exports, Choezin alleged.

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Geshe Ngaba Gangri, another member of the `Parliament in exile, was also part of the delegation.
The former president is targeting the blue-collar workers who drove his 2016 victory and who are anticipated to play a significant role in November, especially in crucial Midwestern swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan

In an attempt to weaken President Joe Bidens support, Donald Trump will meet with Teamsters Union members in Washington on Wednesday afternoon. He is looking past the GOP primary and towards a potential rematch with Biden in the general election.

The former president is targeting the blue-collar workers who drove his 2016 victory and who are anticipated to play a significant role in November, especially in crucial Midwestern swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan. He will engage in a roundtable discussion with the groups executive board, president, and rank-and-file members.

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According to AP VoteCast, union members and households support Biden in 2020 at a rate of 56%. Union voters lean Democratic. Furthermore, Biden has already gotten strong support from organised labour, having won early endorsements from groups like the AFL-CIO. As he positions himself as pro-worker and seeks to deepen the rift between rank-and-file union members and leaders, Trump hopes to chip away at that support.

Following the groups endorsement of Biden on Sunday, he urged United Auto Workers members to remove its president, Shawn Fain.

Shawn Fain doesnt understand this or have a clue, Trump wrote on his Truth Social network. Get rid of this dope & vote for DJT. I will bring the Automobile Industry back to our Country.

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Among the topics planned for discussion Wednesday are the shrinking middle class, workers wages, antitrust and bankruptcy issues, as well as union rights.

Our members want to hear from all candidates of all parties about what they plan to do for working people as President, Teamsters president Sean OBrien said in a statement. Our union wants every candidate to know that there are 1.3 million Teamsters nationwide whose votes will not be taken for granted. Workers voices must be heard.

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Biden has long billed himself as the most labor-friendly president in history, and went so far as to turn up on a picket line in the Detroit area during a strike last fall. He was also invited for his own session Wednesday. Biden campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt said Biden looks forward to meeting with the Teamsters and earning their endorsement, but the timing remained TBA.

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Earlier this month, OBrien met privately with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club, where the two discussed issues including right-to-work laws that allow those in unionized workplaces to opt out of paying dues and fees. They also posed for a side-by-side photo, both flashing thumbs-up signs, that Trump posted online.

In an interview with Fox Business after the meeting, OBrien said it had gone fine as he emphasized the importance of open dialogue.

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We put our cards on the table. It was a very matter-of-fact meeting, he said. He claimed he was, you know, 100% supportive of unions, but history obviously, you take a look back and theres certain issues that we have with him, he said.

During Trumps presidency, the National Labor Relations Board reversed several key rulings that made it easier for small unions to organize, strengthened the bargaining rights of franchise workers and provided protection against anti-union measures for employees.

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The Supreme Courts conservative majority  including three justices that Trump nominated  overturned a decades-old pro-union decision in 2018 involving fees paid by government workers. The justices in 2021 rejected a California regulation giving unions access to farm property so they could organize workers.

While the Teamsters endorsed Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016, OBrien stressed the union has a very diverse membership. And our members vote.

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Art Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell University, said that in the past unions almost automatically endorsed Democratic candidates. But this year, he said, unions like the Teamsters have required candidates to outline their positions and show how they will support rank-and-file workers to earn their backing.

The message to candidates: If you dont help labor and you dont help my position, youre not going to get my endorsement, Wheaton said.

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The Teamsters meeting with Trump also reflects the reality that a significant portion of the unions membership supports the former president. Wheaton estimates about 30% to 40% of its members voted for Trump in 2020, even though the union endorsed Biden.

You need to do your due diligence and listen, and let them have the option and ability to say what they want, said Wheaton.

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In September, Trump traveled to Michigan while his Republican rivals held a debate and tried to win over autoworkers by lambasting Bidens electric vehicles push in the midst of a strike. During his speech, Trump urged the UAW to endorse him, directly appealing to Fain from the floor of a non-unionized auto parts plant.

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Fain instead called Trump a scab, a derogatory term for workers who cross union picket lines and work during a strike, as he endorsed Biden.

This November we can stand up and elect someone who stands with us and supports our cause, or we can elect someone who will divide us and fight us every step of the way, he said.

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Teamsters members include UPS drivers, film and television workers, freight operators, members of law enforcement and other government workers.

Biden already has the backing of the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which rolled out their endorsements together last June. While overall union membership rates nationwide fell to another all-time low in 2023, the countrys largest unions have nonetheless built sprawling get-out-the-vote efforts, which Biden is counting on to help turn out his supporters in pivotal swing states.

The campaign of former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Trumps last remaining GOP rival, did not respond to a request for comment about whether she intends to meet with the group.
In a case brought by South Africa, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week issued an order compelling Israel to do all within its power to stop its troops from committing genocide and to take action to improve the humanitarian plight of Palestinians in Gaza

South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor stated on Wednesday that all nations have a duty to cease endorsing and enabling Israels military operations in Gaza since the World Court has made it apparent that such acts may amount to genocide.

In a case brought by South Africa, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week issued an order compelling Israel to do all within its power to stop its troops from committing genocide and to take action to improve the humanitarian plight of Palestinians in Gaza.

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Refusing to call for a ceasefire, it declined to rule on the central question in South Africas casethat is, whether or not there has been genocide in Gaza. It can take years to make that decision.

South Africas president, Cyril Ramaphosa, welcomed the International Court of Justices decision last week, calling it a step in the right direction and expressing confidence that Israel will follow it.

(With agency inputs)
Hawaii governor visits injured Chinese citizen in Honolulu

Xinhua) 16:17, January 31, 2024

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Governor of the U.S. state of Hawaii Josh Green visited the Chinese citizen who was attacked and seriously hurt last week in Honolulu, vowing to offer the victim the best treatment, according to a release of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Accompanied by a working group sent to Honolulu by the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, Green visited the injured at a local hospital on Monday.

The Hawaii state government and local hospital will try their best to provide the best treatment for the injured Chinese, he said, expressing hope that the injured will recover as soon as possible.

The Chinese citizen was splashed with chemical liquid on a street in downtown Honolulu on the evening of Jan. 23. The 25-year-old was seriously injured and then received medical treatment in hospital.

On Jan. 25, Honolulu Police Department (HPD) arrested a 29-year-old male for attacking the Chinese citizen for second-degree attempted murder.

Charges will be sought with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, according to the HPD.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Griffins Citadel invests $56 billion. In 2022, the firm posted an annual gain of $16 billion, making it the most successful hedge fund of all time, according to LCH Investments

Billionaire billionaire Kenneth Griffin, who donated more than half a billion dollars to Harvard University, has ceased his donating to the institution over how it handled antisemitism on campus and a bigger leadership problem involving its president.

Gryphon, who began trading in his Harvard dormitory before becoming the most lucrative hedge fund manager in history, said on Tuesday at the Managed Funds Association conference in Miami that he had ceased making gifts for the time being.

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No  And Ive made that clear to members of the corporate board, Griffin said when asked whether he was still supporting his alma mater financially.

Griffin made headlines in April 2023 by donating $300 million to Harvards Faculty of Arts and Sciences, raising the total amount of his gifts to more than half a billion.

Months later students and alumni criticized Claudine Gay, who had been named Harvards first black president in 2023, for her handling of demonstrations about the Israel-Hamas conflict and her testimony to Congress about the crisis. Allegations of plagiarism also mounted and Gay resigned earlier this month.

While other alumni, including hedge fund manager Bill Ackman who has given roughly $50 million to Harvard, publicly called for Gay to be removed, Griffin had made no public comments about Harvard before Tuesday.

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Until Harvard makes it very clear that theyre going to resume their role as educating young American men and women to be leaders, to be problem solvers, to take on difficult issues, Im not interested in supporting the institution, Griffin said.

He left open the door to resuming his gifts but made clear changes need to be made in how the school pursues its mission.

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Speaking more generally about Americas elite universities, Griffin said: The real question is will (they) get back to their roots of educating American children, young adults, to be the future leaders of our country, or are they going to maintain being lost in the wilderness of microaggressions, a DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) agenda that seems to have no real end game, and just being lost in the wilderness?

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Griffins Citadel invests $56 billion. In 2022, the firm posted an annual gain of $16 billion, making it the most successful hedge fund of all time, according to LCH Investments.

Harvard is the wealthiest university in the United States with a $50.7 billion endowment but alumni like Ackman have accused it of mismanaging the assets. Griffins stance now suggests other mega donors may also slow or stop their giving at a time tuition for undergraduates hovers around $80,000 a year and critics say its fees are becoming unaffordable.
The Homeland Security Committee debated Tuesday for the entire day and well into the night before recommending two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas to the full House. This is a rare charge against a Cabinet official that hasnt been seen in nearly 150 years

As border security becomes a key topic in the 2024 election, House Republicans moved towards impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for a willful and systematic reluctance to implement immigration rules. They voted along party lines after midnight on Wednesday.

Republicans are taking Donald Trumps hard-line deportationist immigration policies and making them their own. The Homeland Security Committee debated Tuesday for the entire day and well into the night before recommending two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas to the full House. This is a rare charge against a Cabinet official that hasnt been seen in nearly 150 years.

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Republicans on the committee cast a united vote of 18-15 against, while the Democrats voted in favour.

We cannot allow this man to remain in office any longer, said Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn.

The impeachment articles charge that Mayorkas refused to comply with Federal immigration laws amid a record surge of migrants and that he has breached the public trust in his claims to Congress that the US-Mexico border is secure.

The full House could vote on Mayorkas impeachment as soon as next week. If approved, the charges would go to the Senate for a trial, though senators may first convene a special committee for consideration.

With an unusual personal appeal, Mayorkas  who is deep in Senate talks on a border security package  wrote in a letter to the committee that it should be working with the Biden administration to update the nations broken and outdated immigration laws for the 21st century, an era of record global migration.

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We need a legislative solution and only Congress can provide it, Mayorkas wrote in the pointed letter to the panels chairman.

Rarely has a Cabinet member faced impeachments bar of high crimes and misdemeanors, and Democrats on the panel dismissed the proceedings as a stunt and a sham that could set a chilling precedent for other civil servants snared in policy disputes by lawmakers who disagree with the presidents approach.

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This is a terrible day for the committee, the United States, the Constitution and our great country, said Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the committees ranking Democrat.

Referring to Trumps Make America Great Again campaign slogan, Thompson said the MAGA-led impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas is a baseless sham.

The Houses proceedings against Mayorkas have created an oddly split-screen Capitol Hill, as the Senate works deliberately with the secretary on a bipartisan border security package that is now on life support.

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The package being negotiated by the senators with Mayorkas could emerge as the most consequential bipartisan immigration proposal in a decade. Or it could collapse in political failure as Republicans, and some Democrats, run from the effort.

Trump, on the campaign trail and in private talks, has tried to squelch the deal. Id rather have no bill than a bad bill, Trump said over the weekend in Las Vegas.

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President Joe Biden, in his own campaign remarks in South Carolina, said if Congress sends him a bill with emergency authority hell shut down the border right now to get migration under control.

Ive done all I can do, Biden told reporters Tuesday before departing for a campaign-related trip to Florida. Give me the power through legislation, which he said is something hes asked from the very day I got in office.

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The Republicans are focused on the secretarys handling of the southern border, which has experienced a increasing number of migrants over the past year, many seeking asylum in the US, at a time when drug cartels are using the border with Mexico to traffic people and ship deadly fentanyl into the states.

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Rep, Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., a Trump ally often mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick, called it an invasion.

Republicans contend that the Biden administration and Mayorkas either got rid of policies in place under Trump that had controlled migration or enacted policies of their own that encouraged migrants from around the world to come to the US illegally via the southern border.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson said Biden and Mayorkas have created a catastrophe on the border, and he criticized the emerging Senate package. The GOP leader said the president is now trying to turn the blame back on Congress for failing to update immigration laws.

The Republicans also accused Mayorkas of lying to Congress, pointing to comments about the border being secure or about vetting of Afghans airlifted to the US after military withdrawal from their country.

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Its high time for impeachment, said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who called Mayorkas the architect of the border problems. He has whats coming to him.

The House impeachment hearings against Mayorkas sprinted ahead in January while the Republicans separate impeachment inquiry into Biden over the business dealings over his son Hunter Biden dragged.

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Democrats argue that Mayorkas is acting under his legal authorities at the department and that the criticisms against him do not rise to the level of impeachment.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York called the proceedings a political stunt ordered up by Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a Trump ally, who pushed the resolution forward.

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During the hearing, Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., pointed to Trumps comments echoing Adolf Hitler that immigrants are poisoning the blood of the US and to his proposals for militarizing the border as extreme, arguing the impeachment proceedings were all about trying to get Donald Trump re-elected.

Debate dragged into the night as Democrats tried and failed to amend the resolution.

Mayorkas never testified on his own behalf during the rushed impeachment proceedings  he and the committee couldnt agree on a date  but in his letter he drew on his own background as a child brought to the US by his parents fleeing Cuba and on his career spent prosecuting criminals.

Your false accusations do not rattle me and do not divert me from public service, he wrote.

Green, the Republican committee chair, disparaged Mayorkass letter as an 11th-hour response to the committee that was inadequate and unbecoming of a Cabinet secretary.

Its unclear if Republicans will have the support from their ranks to go through with the impeachment vote in the full House, especially with their slim majority and with Democrats expected to vote against it.

Last year, eight House Republicans voted to shelve the impeachment resolution proposed by Greene, though many of them have since signaled being open to it. The committee approved a revised version.

Legal experts, including Jonathan Turley and Alan Dershowitz, have said the criticisms of Mayorkas do not rise to impeachable offenses.

If the House does agree to impeach Mayorkas, the charges would next to go the Senate. In 1876, the House impeached Defense Secretary William Belknap over kickbacks in government contracts, but the Senate acquitted him in a trial.
Since November, the Houthis of Yemen have assaulted ships in the Red Sea, a waterway that carries 12% of all commercial traffic worldwide. They claim this is in an effort to aid the Palestinians in their conflict with Israel

As Western powers focus on strikes by Yemens Iran-backed Houthis, India has sent out at least a dozen warships east of the Red Sea to guard against pirates and has looked into over 250 vessels, according to Indian officials.

India does not have any warships in the Red Sea and has not joined the task force headed by the United States. However, the officials stated that it now possesses surveillance planes, at least ten warships in the northern and western Arabian Sea, and two frontline vessels in the Gulf of Aden.

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They said that this is Indias biggest deployment in the area.

According to Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Indias expanding interests, capacity, and reputation made it worthy of assistance in trying times.

India claims to have the largest naval force in the region, however other nations such as the US, France, and China also have a presence.

As piracy reappears after a six-year hiatus, Indian military and defense officials reported that naval personnel, including special commandos, had inspected over 250 vessels and small boats in the last two months, boarding over 40 of them.

The Indian Navy said that since December 1, at least 17 instances of hijacking, attempted hijacking, and suspicious approaches have been reported.

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The Indian Navy has rescued two Iranian and helped rescue a Sri Lankan fishing vessels in the first two days of this week. In December, it helped two merchant vessels targeted by aerial strikes close to Indias Exclusive Economic Zone.

Since November, the Houthis of Yemen have assaulted ships in the Red Sea, a waterway that carries 12% of all commercial traffic worldwide. They claim this is in an effort to aid the Palestinians in their conflict with Israel.

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This month, a task force led by the United States began attacking Houthi forces throughout Yemen while defending ships in the Red Sea.

(With agency inputs)
This is all on Reuters conscience. Our Indian partners, as before, are interested, in cooperation, including in this (defence) area, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said

Russia said India, as before, is still interested in defence cooperation with the country, denying Reuters report that alleged New Delhi wants to distance itself from Moscow in this area.

On Sunday, Reuters in a report cited sources alleging that India is seeking to distance itself from Russia after the ability of the largest arms suppliers to supply munitions and spares was hobbled by the war in Ukraine.

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Have no such information

Commenting on Reuters report, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told TASS, We (Russia) have no such information. This is all on Reuters conscience. Our Indian partners, as before, are interested, in cooperation, including in this (defence) area.

What Reuters report said on India-Russia defence cooperation?

The report quoted Nandan Unnikrishnan, a Russia expert at New Delhi think tank the Observer Research Foundation, saying: We are not likely to sign any major military deal with Russia. That would be a red line for Washington.

It also quoted four sources, who spoke on condition on anonymity, saying the alleged move by New Delhi comes despite Moscows offers.

The report even said it did not receive any response for comment from the foreign and defence ministries of India as well as Russia.

Reuters report claimed that India is now gradually turning West as the United States looks to strengthen ties in the Indo-Pacific region, hoping to contain an ascendant China by weaning the South Asian nation off a traditional dependence on Russia.

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In 2023, India and the US signed a deal for General Electric (GE.N), to produce engines in India to power its fighter jets, the first such US concession to a non-ally. Both the countries also plan to fast-track technology co-operation and co-production in areas ranging from air combat to intelligence.

Indias weapons import from Russia

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According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia supplied 65 per cent of Indias weapons purchases of more than $60 billion during the last two decades, but the Ukraine war hastened the impetus to diversify its weapons base.

The Reuters report quoted officials and experts saying Russia publicly urged India to step up defence ties, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi allegedly turned his focus to domestic production with Western technology. Such efforts would better fit PM Modis Make in India programme to encourage domestic manufacturing.

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Weapons, from Soviet or Russian-origin tanks to an aircraft carrier and surface-to-air missile systems, make up more than 60 per cent of Indias military hardware.

The report quoted officials saying New Delhi will require Russian spares for their maintenance and repair for nearly two decades. They jointly make the BrahMos cruise missile and plan to produce AK-203 rifles in India.

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Halting trade will push Russia closer to China

The report cited officials saying India must remain the largest buyer of its arms from Russia and halting such trade would push Moscow closer to Beijing, the only other major economy it deals with.

Arms purchase buys you influence. By shutting them out you make them subservient to China, the report quoted a retired security official as saying.

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Trade with Russia in energy and other areas would help keep it as far away as possible from China, Unnikrishnan said.

India is eyeing French jets for its latest aircraft carrier and wants to make submarines with French, German or Spanish technology, and fighter jets with American and French engines, Reuters quoted sources as saying.

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Indias multi-alignment will continue, to straddle ties with Russia and balance it with the West, but it will not be an equal distribution, the report quoted Swasti Rao, Eurasia expert at the state-run Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, as saying.
The IDF, will hold the recruitment drive in March of around 1,300 Israelis who are currently enrolled in pre-army, yeshiva, and community programs

Israel, which is in conflict with Palestinian terrorist organisation - Hamas, has decided to begin early recruitment of soldiers to strengthen combat units in light of the needs of battle against the backdrop of the war.

As per the announcement made in a joint statement by the Israeli military and Defence Ministry, the Israel Defence Forces, or IDF, will hold the recruitment drive in March of around 1,300 Israelis who are currently enrolled in pre-army, yeshiva, and community programs.

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Why IDF is going for early recruitment?

The statement said the purpose of the early recruitment is to strengthen combat units in light of the needs of battle against the backdrop of the war, the turnover of casualties and the necessity to fill the ranks and expand combat forces."

Most of the probable enlistees to be drafted in early recruitment round are expected to finish their training by the end of the academic year in June and then enlist sometime after that, depending on their IDF track.

As per the statement, those who are in the second year of a two-year program will be chosen to be called up early over those in their first.

The statement also said the recruitment by the IDF will be done in conjunction with the various program organisers to minimise harm to the programs and candidates, who potentially could miss out on certain military tracks because they enlisted early.

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IDF recruitment break-up

The statement said 850 trainees will be recruited from the pre-army and community service year programs, and 450 from yeshivas, with an emphasis on those already slated to enlist this year.

In Israel, there are dozens of pre-army academies, with over 4,000 students. The selection process is highly competitive and can include a lengthy application process. Many pre-army academy students go on to join elite commando units, undergo officer training, or fill other high-level roles in the army.

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The statement also said probable candidates who were evacuated from their homes near the Gaza and Lebanon borders due to the Israel-Hamas war will not be recruited early.

The war broke out on 7 October, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, where terrorists overran military bases, communities, and a music festival, killing some 1,200 people, most of them civilians. The terrorists also took 253 hostages, about half of whom remain in Gaza.
Netanyahu, speaking at an event elsewhere in the West Bank, denied reports of a possible cease-fire deal to end the war in Gaza and repeated his vow to keep fighting until absolute victory over Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected two key demands Hamas has made during indirect cease-fire talks and said that Israel will not withdraw from the Gaza Strip or release thousands of jailed militants.

Netanyahu ruled out the possibility of any deal that demanded Israeli soldiers to leave Gaza permanently without a clear military victory.

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Netanyahu, speaking at an event elsewhere in the West Bank, denied reports of a possible cease-fire deal to end the war in Gaza and repeated his vow to keep fighting until absolute victory over Hamas.

We will not end this war without achieving all of our goals, said Netanyahu, who is under mounting pressure from families of the hostages and the wider public to reach a deal. We will not withdraw the Israeli military from the Gaza Strip and we will not release thousands of terrorists, he said.

On Tuesday, Hamas top political leader Ismail Haniyeh said the group was studying the latest terms for a deal, but that the priority was the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and that any agreement should lead to a long-term cease-fire.

He said Hamas leadership had been invited to Cairo to continue talks. The militant group, which has reached lopsided exchange deals with Israel in the past, is expected to demand the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners  including high-profile militants  in exchange for the remaining hostages.

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Qatar and Egypt, which mediate with Hamas, have held talks with Israel and the United States in recent days. U.S. officials said negotiators had made progress toward a deal, including the phased release of the remaining hostages over two months and the entry of more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The war in Gaza began when hundreds of Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250 others. Over 100 were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November in exchange for 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

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Israels offensive has killed more than 26,700 people in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory. The ministry count does not distinguish between fighters and civilians, but it says about two-thirds of the dead are women and minors.

A strike Tuesday on a residential building in the central town of Deir al-Balah killed 11 people, including four children, according to Associated Press reporters who saw the bodies at a hospital.

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The war has levelled vast swaths of the tiny coastal enclave, displaced 85% of its population, and pushed a quarter of residents to starvation.

With inputs from AP.
If convicted, she could be sentenced to up to 11 years in jail. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that the treatment of Salis seemed excessive, stressing on the need to respect citizens rights within the European Union

Italys government has expressed its discontentment over the treatment of Ilaria Salis, a 39-year-old Italian woman awaiting trial in Hungary for her alleged involvement in a counter-demonstration against a neo-Nazi rally.

The images of Salis, handcuffed and chained, sparked outrage and prompted Italian ministers to summon Budapests ambassador in protest. Arrested in Budapest last February, Salis faces three counts of attempted assault and accusations of being part of an extreme left-wing organization.

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If convicted, she could be sentenced to up to 11 years in jail. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that the treatment of Salis seemed excessive, emphasizing the need to respect citizens rights within the European Union.

The case poses a potential challenge for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, given her close ties with Hungarys nationalist PM Viktor Orban. While Tajani acknowledged not wanting to interfere in Hungarys justice system, he emphasized that the treatment of a prisoner should align with legal standards.

During the protest at Hungarys justice ministry, Tajani proposed placing Salis under house arrest instead of detention. Saliss lawyers condemned her treatment, calling it shocking and urging the Italian state to address the situation promptly.

The incident could strain relations between Meloni and Orban, who have previously shared close ties but diverged over Ukraine. Italys support for Kyiv contrasts with Orbans veto of an EU aid package for Ukraine in December.

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Salis is scheduled to stand trial on May 24, and the Italian governments protest seeks to ensure fair treatment and uphold citizens rights within the European Union.
The MDP also called on the government to sever its alleged ties with criminal groups, and to run a proper investigation into the attack on Shameem and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Hours after an attack on the Prosecutor General, the largest opposition party in the Maldives on Wednesday accused President Mohamed Muizzus administration of protecting criminals, according to local media reports.

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) condemned the attack on Shameem earlier in the morning. The alleged close ties between top government officials and criminal gangs were resulting in open violent assaults on top state officials, it said in a statement.

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Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem was attacked on a street in Male City. He is receiving treatment for his injuries at the ADK Hospital, Sun.mv, a news portal, said.

The MDP accused President Muizzus administration of failing to provide proper protection to officials charged with fulfilling constitutional duties and responsibilities.This party also notes that after having successfully driven down violent assaults in the Maldives during the former administration, such crimes have increased after President Muizzu took office, the portal reported, quoting the MDP statement.

Muizzu, considered to be close to China, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September last year.This party believes that such fearless attacks on top state officials are a result of the close ties that top government officials have with criminal groups operating in the Maldives, and because of the protection the government provides these criminal groups, the opposition party said.

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Solih, the former Maldivian president and also the interim leader of MDP, in a post on X, described the attack as politically motivated.Politically motivated acts of violence have no place in a democratic society and I call on the government to be swift in bringing the perpetrators to justice, he said.

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The MDP also called on the government to sever its alleged ties with criminal groups, and to run a proper investigation into the attack on Shameem and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Meanwhile, the Prosecutor Generals Office (PGO) said in a statement that Shameem was attacked with a weapon by two people on a motorbike." While neither the PGO nor the police have specified the type of weapon used, a police spokesperson had said earlier that they had ruled out the use of a sharp-edged weapon, the news portal said.

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The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has strengthened Shameems security following the attack, it added.

With inputs from agencies.
Shameem was appointed by the previous Ibrahim Mohamed Solih-led Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government. Incidentally, MDP recently initiated impeachment proceedings against the current President Mohamed Muizzu.

Maldivian Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem was brutally attacked on the street with a sharp object in broad daylight, reported Maldivian media Mihaaru.

Shameem was appointed by the previous Ibrahim Mohamed Solih-led Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government. Incidentally, MDP recently initiated impeachment proceedings against the current President Mohamed Muizzu.

According to a statement from a prosecutors office official Shameem was hospitalised and currently under treatment at the ADK Hospital.

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I condemn the violent assault on Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem this morning. I wish PG Shameem a speedy recovery.



Politically motivated acts of violence have no place in a democratic society and I call on the government to be swift in bringing the perpetrators to justice.  Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) January 31, 2024

The police said Shameem was reportedly attacked this morning. It is believed that the attack was not carried out with a sharp object. Prosecutor Hussain Shamim has been attacked on the streets of the city. He is being treated at ADK. The attack was not carried out with a sharp object, police said in a statement. This comes amid growing incidents of violence in the country.

The incident happened days after clashes broke out in Maldives Parliament on Sunday between pro-government MPs and opposition lawmakers over differences over the approval of four members of pro-China President Mohamed Muizzus cabinet.

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The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) decided to withhold parliamentary approval for four members of President Muizzus cabinet ahead of the voting on the cabinet. Subsequently, pro-government MPs initiated a protest, obstructing the parliamentary sitting from proceeding, according to local media reports.

Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17 last year, Muizzu, who is regarded as a pro-China leader, formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from his country, saying the Maldivian people have given him a strong mandate to make this request to New Delhi.

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With inputs from agencies.
After a deadly crackdown on a wave of rallies and post-coup dissent, a youth-led pro-democracy rebellion turned into an armed resistance movement, posing the generals with their greatest challenge since they originally took control of the former British colony in 1962

The military junta that has ruled Myanmar since a coup in 2021 is fighting to quell a brutal uprising that supports democracy and has put the juntas ability to rule to the test. On Wednesday, they extended the state of emergency that has been in effect.

According to military-run media outlet Myawaddy, on its Telegram channel, Junta commander Min Aung Hlaing decided that in order to carry out the tasks required to bring the nation to a normal state of stability and peace, the emergency rule needed to be extended for an additional six months.

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After a deadly crackdown on a wave of rallies and post-coup dissent, a youth-led pro-democracy rebellion turned into an armed resistance movement, posing the generals with their greatest challenge since they originally took control of the former British colony in 1962.

In an attempt to quell militias linked to ethnic minority armies and a shadow government, the junta has sent in fighter aircraft and heavy artillery. Several of these militias began a concerted onslaught in October that shocked the military and damaged its reputation on the battlefield.

The United Nations estimates that 2.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes. Meanwhile, attempts by Myanmars neighbors in Southeast Asia to start talks have failed, since the junta will not hold talks with groups it regards as terrorists.

An abrupt and unpopular end to ten years of shaky democracy and economic change, the extension of emergency rule came on the eve of the third anniversary of the military regaining control in the coup, alleging unsolved electoral irregularities.

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After a deadly crackdown on a wave of rallies and post-coup dissent, a youth-led pro-democracy rebellion turned into an armed resistance movement, posing the generals with their greatest challenge since they originally took control of the former British colony in 1962.

In an attempt to quell militias linked to ethnic minority armies and a shadow government, the junta has sent in fighter aircraft and heavy artillery. Several of these militias began a concerted onslaught in October that shocked the military and damaged its reputation on the battlefield.

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The United Nations estimates that 2.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes. Meanwhile, attempts by Myanmars neighbors in Southeast Asia to start talks have failed, since the junta will not hold talks with groups it regards as terrorists.

An abrupt and unpopular end to ten years of shaky democracy and economic change, the extension of emergency rule came on the eve of the third anniversary of the military regaining control in the coup, alleging unsolved electoral irregularities.

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That occurred a few months after the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi at the time, won a landslide election. The NLD had intended to amend the constitution to remove the influential military from politics and place civilian rule over it.

Although Suu Kyis sentence of 33 years in prison was reduced to 27 and at least 40 parties were disbanded, the military has pledged to hold elections and restore Myanmar to the quasi-civilian government it established. Her supporters claim that these actions are trumped-up charges.

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It did not specify why it was relaxing political party registration rules when it made the announcement earlier on Wednesday. It provided no election timeline. Western nations have made it clear they will not accept the polls.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the rebel groups representing three ethnic minorities and the parallel National Unity Government, which is in charge of militias, said that they were willing to engage in talks with the military as long as it gave up its authority and placed the armed forces under civilian supervision.

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(With agency inputs)
Netanyahu once more pledged during a Tuesday speech in the occupied West Bank that Israel would not win the conflict until it had achieved absolute victory over Hamas

In indirect cease-fire negotiations, Hamas made two main requests that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused. He stated that Israel would neither be leaving the Gaza Strip or freeing hundreds of terrorists who were imprisoned.

Netanyahu once more pledged during a Tuesday speech in the occupied West Bank that Israel would not win the conflict until it had achieved absolute victory over Hamas.

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In the meanwhile, three Palestinian terrorists were slain by Israeli troops operating secretly in the West Bank, where there has been an increase in violence since the start of the Gaza conflict. The raid occurred in a hospital.

According to the Israeli military, three individuals who Hamas claimed to be members were shot early on Tuesday when Israeli commandos broke into the Ibn Sina hospital in the northern city of Jenin. The military said the men were using the hospital as a hideout and that at least one was planning an attack.

The Israeli military allegedly fired fire inside the hospitals wards, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, which further demanded that the international community put an end to Israeli hospital activities.

Over 26,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israels battle against Hamas in Gaza, the majority of them were women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the region controlled by Hamas. The ministry does not distinguish between fatalities of combatants and civilians.

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According to Israeli police, 1,200 peoplemostly civilianswere murdered in the Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that started the conflict, and another 250 were held prisoner.
The charges against Harow revolved around alleged misappropriation of funds from a consulting company, originally intended for sale upon his appointment as Netanyahus chief of staff in 2014

In a recent development, Ari Harow, a one-time aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been found guilty of fraud and breach of trust as outlined in the plea deal he entered.

Harow has admitted to the charges and will face six months of community service, coupled with a fine of NIS 700,000 ($190,000).

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The charges against Harow revolved around alleged misappropriation of funds from a consulting company, originally intended for sale upon his appointment as Netanyahus chief of staff in 2014.

As part of the agreement, Harow has committed to providing information related to the cases known as 1000 and 2000.

These cases involve accusations against Netanyahu for receiving unauthorized gifts from wealthy benefactors and engaging in a potential quid pro quo arrangement with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes to undermine a competing newspaper in exchange for more favorable coverage.
CIA chief William Burns said the Russian invasion of Ukraine exposed its weaknesses, from its one-dimensional economy to its inflated military prowess to its corrupt political system'

The United States of America (USA) does not anymore enjoy uncontested primacy in the world of intense strategic competition the waters of which have been muddied by Chinas rise and Russias revanchism, wrote CIA chief William Burns in Foreign Affairs.

Chinas rise and Russias revanchism pose daunting geopolitical challenges in a world of intense strategic competition in which the United States no longer enjoys uncontested primacy and in which existential climate threats are mounting, Burns wrote .

The American spy master, however, also delved into Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping from a critical-strategic vantage, calling the former the ultimate apostle of payback and a combustible combination of grievance, ambition, and insecurity.

Vladimir Putin: Combustible combination of grievance, ambition, insecurity

Burns deftly deconstructs Putins fixation with Ukraine and the latters perception that controlling Ukraine was the only way for him to portray greatness, for himself as well as for Russia.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, wrote Burns, exposed its weaknesses, from its one-dimensional economy to its inflated military prowess to its corrupt political system.

Putins war has already been a failure for Russia on many levels. His original goal of seizing Kyiv and subjugating Ukraine proved foolish and illusory. His military has suffered immense damage, said Burns.

At least 315,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded, two-thirds of Russias prewar tank inventory has been destroyed, and Putins vaunted decades-long military modernisation program has been hollowed out.

The result of all this, Burns wrote, has converted Russia into Chinas economic vassal.

Burns also pointed to the short-lived mutiny by Russias mercenary king Yevegeny Prigozhin. As the rag tag mutineers headed for Moscow, the uprising, though failed, eroded Putins carefully polished image of control.

For a leader who painstakingly crafted a reputation as the arbiter of order, Putin looked detached and indecisive Prigozhins biting critique of the lies and military misjudgments at the core of Putins war, and of the corruption at the heart of the Russian political system, will not soon disappear.

Xi sees US as fading power, but gets disappointed

Burns accepted that China was the only rival to the US that has both the intent to reshape the international order and the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do so.

Russia may pose the most immediate challenge; China is the bigger long-term threat, Burns conceded in the article.

While Chinas growth was not a problem, Burns argued, it was the rise of Xi Jinping with practically unlimited powers since Mao Zedong that was problematic since rather than use his powers to revitalise the international system that enabled Chinas transformation, Xi is seeking to rewrite it.

Burns wrote that Xis repression at home and his aggressiveness abroada reference to China destabilising the Taiwan Straitwas impossible to ignore, even more when it was read with his no limits partnership with Putin.

Burns sees American support for Ukraine against Russia as having had a sobering effect on China. He argued that Americas success in rallying allies to join in Ukraines fight against Russia and United States willingness to inflict and absorb economic pain to counter Putins aggression had jolted Xis perception of America being on terminal decline.

Iran: Key to West Asia tangle

Penning his mind, Burns considered Iran as the pivot to the larger West Asia issue, including the Israel-Hamas war. Key to Israelsand the regionssecurity is dealing with Iran. The Iranian regime has been emboldened by the crisis and seems ready to fight to its last regional proxy, all while expanding its nuclear program and enabling Russian aggression.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have been attacking ships in and around the Red Sea, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war.

The Houthi group said on Wednesday it would continue its attacks on US and British warships in the Red Sea in what it called acts of self-defence. The group, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have been attacking ships in and around the Red Sea, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war. The prolonged conflict has stoked fears of long-term disruptions to world trade.

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All American and British warships participating in aggression against its country were targets, said the groups military spokesperson in a statement.

The U.S. and Britain have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen and returned the militia to a list of terrorist groups as turmoil from the Israel-Hamas war spreads through the region.

That conflict has spilled over into other parts of the Middle East. Lebanons Iran-aligned Hezbollah has traded fire with Israeli troops along the border and Iraqi-armed groups have attacked U.S. forces in Iraq.

The Houthis attacks on the Red Sea have added an economic element to the turmoil by targeting shipping in and around the Red Sea. The Houthis fired missiles at U.S. warship USS Gravely, the statement added. On Tuesday night, the U.S. militarys central command said they had shot down one anti-ship cruise missile fired from Yemen towards the Red Sea with no damage reported.

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The Houthi attacks have primarily targeted container vessels. Many fuel tankers have kept using the route. 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.

Houthis say they will persist with their military operations until a ceasefire is agreed in Gaza, and food and medicine are allowed into the enclave to ease a grave humanitarian crisis.

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With inputs from Reuters.
The data, spanning from October to December, indicates a staggering sixfold increase in antisemitic occurrences compared to the preceding months of January through September in 2023

The recently released annual report by the Diaspora Ministry, the World Zionist Organization, and the Jewish Agency for the years 2023 and January 2024 has brought to light a concerning rise in antisemitic incidents globally.

The data, spanning from October to December, indicates a staggering sixfold increase in antisemitic occurrences compared to the preceding months of January through September in 2023.

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Following the attacks on October 7, antisemitic incidents reached an unprecedented record high. The geographical distribution of these incidents reveals a widespread issue, with the United States accounting for 43% and Europe close behind at 35%.

A deeper dive into the report highlights a 33% surge in violent antisemitic attacks in 2023 compared to the previous year. Shockingly, 48% of these attacks are linked to the Swords of Iron Operation, with 46% of them taking place in the United States.

The United Kingdom follows with 16%, Germany with 9%, and both France and Canada with 6%, while Australia reports 2.5%. Country-specific analysis unveils France experiencing a staggering 1000% surge in antisemitic events, trailed by Canada at 800%, Australia at 738%, the US at 337%, and Germany at 320%.

Expressing deep concern, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli emphasised the gravity of the situation. He stated, This year has been unlike any other. The hatred of Israel around the world is the most severe since the 1930s of the previous century. Jews across the West feel unsafe, facing assaults for speaking Hebrew on European subways and even being murdered for carrying Israeli flags.

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Minister Chikli proposed a shift from a defensive stance to an offensive one, urging legal action against Hamas and Palestinian organizations for antisemitism and incitement to terror.

He pointed out the Palestinian Authoritys role in promoting terror and supporting terrorists financially, emphasizing the need to combat this with appropriate measures.
The Africa Corps, aiming to deploy to Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Niger, seeks to expand Moscows military footprint and revive Cold War-era influence in the face of declining Western sway

In a strategic move to strengthen its influence in Africa, Russia is organising the Africa Corps to replace Wagner Groups mercenaries on the continent.

The Africa Corps, aiming to deploy to Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Niger, seeks to expand Moscows military footprint and revive Cold War-era influence in the face of declining Western sway.

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Following the death of Wagners founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Africa Corps also aims to consolidate control over Wagners business network in Africa, including potentially lucrative mining interests. Notably, the departure of French troops from Mali and Burkina Faso, aligning with Russia, marks a significant geopolitical shift.

Despite Wagners technical disbandment after Prigozhins death, it remains active, and the Africa Corps plans to enlist new recruits and former Wagner fighters by midyear. However, the challenge lies in finding the 20,000 soldiers sought by the Russian Defence Ministry.

As per report, J. Peter Pham, former US special envoy to the Sahel, emphasises that this move signifies a recognition by the Kremlin of an exploitable opportunity, particularly with the French withdrawal. The formalisation of the Africa Corps, coupled with the French exit, could lead to a lasting shift in geopolitical alignments.

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However, transitioning to an official military role poses a risk for Russia, eliminating the plausible deniability against UN allegations of war crimes previously directed at the mercenary group. Moscows initial steps involve deploying around 100 troops to Burkina Faso to secure the government installed after a 2022 military coup.

Despite starting modestly, Russia has ambitious plans, aiming to build a regional headquarters in the Central African Republic, where Wagner has operated for years.

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The increased Russian military presence in the Central African Republic indicates heightened security cooperation, emphasising the countrys significance in Moscows strategy.

Moscows approach capitalises on the destabilisation in West Africa due to military coups and insurgencies, further fueled by resentment towards former colonial power France and perceived Western interference. Mutual defense pacts have been signed between Russia and Sahelian countries, intensifying security cooperation.

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Concerns arise as Russia engages with Niger, potentially establishing a military presence, raising alarms in the US State Department. Molly Phee, the top Africa official, expresses apprehension about Russia gaining a foothold in Niger, where the US maintains a significant drone base.

The Africa Corps involvement in propping up regimes is expected to align with Wagners focus on extracting raw resources to finance the war in Ukraine.
According to Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the Duma, those found guilty of openly inciting extremist activities or advocating for measures that would jeopardize state security or undermine the military would be subject to the new law

The Russian parliaments lower house on Wednesday passed a bill that permits the seizure of cash, valuables, and other assets from individuals found guilty of disseminating willfully inaccurate information about the military of the nation.

The bill was swiftly approved by the State Duma and is now anticipated to pass the upper house and be signed by President Vladimir Putin.

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According to Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the Duma, those found guilty of openly inciting extremist activities or advocating for measures that would jeopardize state security or undermine the military would be subject to the new law.

Discrediting the armed forces is a criminal offense under a law adopted as part of a sweeping government crackdown on dissent after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Everyone who tries to destroy Russia, who betrays it, must suffer the deserved punishment and pay compensation for the damage inflicted on the country, at the cost of their property, Volodin said.

The proposed law does not appear to include real estate among the assets that can be seized.

The existing law against discrediting the Russian military, which covers offenses such as justifying terrorism and spreading fake news about the armed forces, has been used extensively to silence Putins critics. Multiple activists, bloggers and ordinary Russians have received long jail terms.

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(with inputs from The Associated Press)
The announcement came a week after Russia alleged that Ukrainian forces shot down a military transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war who were to be swapped for Russian POWs.

Russia and Ukraine exchanged 195 prisoners of war (POWs) each on Wednesday, according to Russias Defense Ministry.

The announcement came a week after Russia alleged that Ukrainian forces shot down a military transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war who were to be swapped for Russian POWs.

The Defense Ministry said that missiles fired from across the border brought down the transport plane in Russias Belgorod region on Jan. 24. Local authorities in Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, said the crash killed all 74 people on board, including six crew members and three Russian servicemen.

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Ukrainian officials confirmed last week that a prisoner swap was due to happen that day but said it had been called off.

With inputs from AP.
The Russian presidential election is scheduled to take place across three days, from March 15 to 17. Opponents of the Kremlin claim that this arrangement makes it more challenging to ensure openness

In his six years as President of Russia, Vladimir Putin asserts that he has earned less than $1 million. According to media reports, the disclosure was made in financial records that Russias election administration released on Tuesday.

Putin has reportedly earned 67.6 million rubles, or around $753,000, from 2018 to 2024. This sum also includes the money he received from the sale of properties, a military pension, and income from bank savings. He is competing in the March presidential election, which he will undoubtedly win.

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Mr. Putin has ruled Russia for several decades: he served as prime minister from 2012 to 2008 and as president from 2000 to 2008. After he officially filed as a candidate for the March election, the official income data were made public.

In comparison, it is reported that the US president receives an annual salary of $400,000.

According to the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Russia, Mr. Putin possesses several automobiles and has funds totaling 54.5 million rubles ($606,000) spread across ten separate bank accounts. These are a 1987 camping trailer, a 2009 Russian-made 4X4, and two classic Soviet Union cars from the 1960s, known as GAZ M-21s.

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In addition, the Russian president owns a garage in St. Petersburg as well as an apartment in Moscow.

The documents were made public one day after an article in the Moscow Times stated he had a covert home close to the Russian-Finnish border. According to the site, Mr. Putins purported hideout is located in Karelias Lake Ladoga National Park and includes three contemporary homes on the beach of Marjalahti Bay, two helipads, multiple yacht piers, a trout farm, and a farm that raises cows for the production of marbled beef.

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The Russian presidential election is scheduled to take place across three days, from March 15 to 17. Opponents of the Kremlin claim that this arrangement makes it more challenging to ensure openness.

Putin, 71, might hold onto power until at least 2036 as a result of a contentious constitutional amendment that was passed in 2020.
Nadezhdin said on Wednesday he had submitted 105,000 signatures in his support to the Central Election Commission to underpin his bid to challenge Vladimir Putin in an upcoming presidential election.

Russian politician Boris Nadezhdin, known for his stance against Moscows invasion of Ukraine has submitted an application to the election Commission to register as a candidate for the March 17 presidential election. Nadezhdin, a local councillor in Russia, has gained attention for his pledge to resolve the conflict in Ukraine if elected over President Vladimir Putin.

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Nadezhdin said on Wednesday he had submitted 105,000 signatures in his support to the Central Election Commission to underpin his bid to challenge Vladimir Putin in an upcoming presidential election. The CEC will check the authenticity and quality of the signatures submitted by Nadezhdin and other would-be candidates and announce next month who will join Putin on the ballot paper.

Putins victory is widely seen as a foregone conclusion, but Nadezhdin has surprised some observers with trenchant criticism of what the Kremlin calls its special military operation in Ukraine.

In an interview with AFP, Nadezhdin  whose name shares a root with nadezhda, the Russian word for hope  described the conflict as catastrophic and said he wanted to free political prisoners in Russia.

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On Wednesday, he must submit more than 100,000 signatures from supporters to electoral officials to be registered as a candidate.

When he met AFP in his modest apartment outside Moscow, he acknowledged it was unlikely he would be allowed to challenge Putin or appear on state television.

I assure you my support would grow were he allowed a platform on state media, he said.

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Putin has not allowed real electoral opposition in his 24-year rule and some candidates for the March vote have said they do not want to hinder the longtime leader.

Whether he will be allowed to run or not, Nadezhdin told AFP he hoped the ballot would be a turning point.

I hope that March 17, while it may not be the end of the Putin era, will at least mark the beginning of the end.

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Once an ally of assassinated opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, Nadezhdin has said he did not expect such a crazy wave of support.

He said it was a sign that Russians want an end to the conflict.

People understand that their lives and the safety of their families is threatened by what Putin is doing, he said.

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Similar pronouncements about the fighting in Ukraine have landed others in prison, leaving activists and analysts wondering how Nadezhdins campaign has lasted this long.

Another candidate critical of the offensive, Yekaterina Duntsova, was barred from running over alleged errors in her paperwork.

Nadezhdin believes he was let through because his candidacy came from an officially registered party  a conservative party called Civic Platform that has no seats in parliament.

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He said he decided to run at the last minute after waiting for better-known names, like Nobel Prize winner Dmitry Muratov or media guru Alexei Venediktov, to announce.

No one else went forward, he said.

Aside from winning over regular Russians, the opposition  mainly now in exile  have also thrown their support behind him.

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The wife of imprisoned opposition politician Alexei Navalny  Yuliya Navalnaya  signed her name in support of Nadezhdin, in a symbolic photo posted by the jailed critics ally.

But, unlike Navalny, who is serving 19 years in prison, Nadezhdin has so far faced no criminal proceedings for his daring statements.

He explained this to AFP by saying he is a known person to Kremlin bureaucrats, having spent the last 30 years in Russian politics.

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He rubbed shoulders with Putin in government meetings during the Russian leaders first term in office.

He says the arrest in 2023 of oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky was the moment things were not going right under Putin.

Nadezhdin was born in Soviet-ruled Uzbekistan, to a Jewish mother who was a music teacher and a physicist father.

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He followed his fathers footsteps by studying physics, before turning to law and then politics.

He has been a councillor in the town of Dolgoprudny outside Moscow, since the end of the Soviet Union.

Nadezhdin has worked in campaigns in all of Russias presidential elections since the days of Boris Yeltsin, who gave way to Putin.

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He told AFP he believes that change should come through free and fair elections.

All the other options  revolutions, whatever colour they are, or coups  are much worse.

The 60-year-olds calls to stop the intervention have brought out crowds of Russians across the country eager to add their signatures to his bid to get on the ballot.

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After a series of heating outages across Russia during an unusually cold winter, Nadezhdin said earlier this month that the country would be able to afford to spend more on its citizens if it was not pouring so much money into the military.

As a candidate nominated by a political party, he needed to gather 100,000 signatures across at least 40 regions in order to stand in the March 15-17 election.

Putin, who has chosen to run as an independent rather than as the candidate of the ruling United Russia party, needs 300,000 signatures but has already collected over 3.5 million, according to his supporters.

With inputs from agencies.
India has expressed its gratitude to the Washington State Senate and all the Senators who on 26 January, 2024, passed a resolution welcoming Indias 75th Republic Day.

On 26 January this year, Washington State Senate passed a Resolution welcoming Indias 75th Republic Day.

The Washington State Senate honor the 2024 Republic Day of India as a symbol of the shared values of democracy, diversity and inclusion between the nation of India and both the State of Washington and the United States of America, read the resolution passed by the Washington State Senate.

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Thank you Washington State Senate and all Senators who supported this Resolution! the Consulate General of India, Seattle said in a post on social media platform, X.

On 26 January 2024, Washington State Senate passed a Resolution welcoming Indias 75th Republic Day!



Acknowledges Indias strong tradition of maintaining democratic ideals and recognizes our Republic Day as a symbol of shared values of democracy, diversity and inclusion between pic.twitter.com/u8OFbD0M3u  India In Seattle (@IndiainSeattle) January 31, 2024

Washington State Senate honors 2024 Republic Day of India

January 26, 2024, marks the 75th Republic Day in India, commemorating the effective adoption of the Constitution of the worlds largest democracy India solidifies their achievement of independence from British rule, through peaceful and non-violent resistance, the resolution read.

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Indias Constitution requires equality under the law, and declared that the State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory if India, it further read.

India has a strong tradition of maintaining democratic ideal through robust checks on those in power. Washington state has many cultural and economic ties to India, including more than 100,000 Indian Americans living in the state, the resolution read.

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Indian American are small business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs of Washington companies, including founding officers of many Washington-based tech companies These businesses provide useful services, resources, and jobs to the people of this state, it read.

Indian Americans have been emigrating to the West Coast since the 19th century, working in our most vital industries including agriculture, lodging and trade Indian Americans reflect the values of inclusion and pluralism through their many cultural and religious identities, including Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu, it further read.

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Indian Americans serve selflessly in our armed forces and law enforcement, and contribute profoundly to the health care industry and Washingtons institutions of higher education, the resolution added.

US relationship with India most consequential in the world

On the 75th Republic Day of India, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken extended his wishes and said the Constitution of India continues to provide an enduring framework for the worlds largest democracy and a foundation of its global leadership.

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On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of India on Indias Republic Day. The Constitution of India continues to provide an enduring framework for the worlds largest democracy and a foundation for its global leadership, Blinken said in an official statement.

Also Read: Republic Day 2024: US congratulates India, praises vibrant people-to-people ties

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As President Biden has said, our relationship with India is one of the most consequential in the world, Blinken said.

He also hoped for deepening ties with between India and the US, and said: The past year has been marked by important milestones in our Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership, including our cooperation throughout Indias successful G20 Presidency and at the G20 Leaders Summit. In the year ahead, we look forward to further deepening the vibrant people-to-people ties between our countries and advancing our ambitious agenda for cooperation on our most vital priorities. I warmly extend my best wishes to the Indian people as they celebrate this special occasion."
Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, has labelled Seoul as his nations principal enemy in recent weeks, disbanded organisations tasked with outreach and reunification, and threatened to go to war for even 0.001 mm of territorial incursion

Prior to the Souths April election, Yoon Suk Yeol, the president of South Korea, warned on Wednesday that the irrational leadership in the North was likely to carry out a number of provocations, such as cyberattacks and drone incursions.

Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, has labelled Seoul as his nations principal enemy in recent weeks, disbanded organisations tasked with outreach and reunification, and threatened to go to war for even 0.001 mm of territorial incursion.

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Kim has also increased the number of weapons tests he conducts. This week, he launched a barrage of cruise missiles, which experts speculated the North may be giving to Russia to deploy in Ukraine.

South Korea is gearing up for a crucial election on April 10, with hawkish Yoon  who came to office in 2022 vowing to get tough on Pyongyang  and his party aiming to regain a parliamentary majority for the first time since 2016.

The North Korean regime is the only irrational group in the world that has legislated the preemptive use of nuclear weapons, Yoon said during an annual defence council meeting, which was attended by members of the public, representatives of the countrys police and spy agencies, and other officials.

Yoon said that multiple provocations by the North were expected ahead of the April general elections.

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This year, we are expecting multiple provocations for election intervention such as border provocations, drone intrusions, fake news, cyberattacks and rear disturbances, he said.

Cyberattacks can paralyse national functions and peoples daily lives in an instant. Also, society can fall into great confusion due to fake news and false propaganda, he added.

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According to Seoul, Tokyo and Washington, Pyongyang has supported its banned weapons programmes in part by gathering information through malicious cyber activities.

North Korea has a long track record of provocations ahead of South Korean elections, experts say  part of its broader strategy to cause disruption south of the border.

In December, Seouls spy agency issued a statement forecasting that Pyongyang would carry out military and cyber provocations in 2024, targeting election campaigns in the United States and South Korea.

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North Korean leader Kim late last year instructed his aides to come up with measures to cause a big stir in South Korea early next year, the agency said.
Taiwans military was concluding a two-day exercise at sea and in the air on Wednesday to practice defending against such a surprise attack. Journalists observed the training from fast boats that escorted a mine-laying ship.

Taiwans military on Wednesday conducted a two-day exercise aimed at preparing for potential surprise attacks by Chinese warships and warplanes. The drills, conducted at sea and in the air, simulated scenarios where Taiwans defence forces had to defend against sudden attacks.

China sees Taiwan as part of one China and has never renounced the use of force to bring the democratic island under its control. Taiwan is one of a growing number of flashpoints in the U.S.-China relationship, which include an escalating trade war and Chinas muscular military posture in the South China Sea, where the United States also conducts freedom-of-navigation patrols.

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As relations between the rivals have deteriorated in recent years, fears have grown that America could get pulled into a war if hostilities break out.

Any unilateral irrational action could very easily escalate tensions and sabotage stability in the Taiwan Strait region, Maj. Gen. Sun Li-fang, a defence ministry spokesperson, told reporters at Tsuoying Naval Base in southern Taiwan.

Taiwans defence ministry, in a daily report, said that seven Chinese warplanes and four naval vessels were detected around the island in the 24-hour period ending at 6 a.m. on Wednesday. It also reported a Chinese balloon off its northern coast.

The annual exercise comes less than three weeks after voters elected Lai Ching-te as their next president, giving a third straight four-year term to the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, which is opposed by China.

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The drills are aimed in part at boosting public confidence in the islands ability to defend itself.

While its military is dwarfed by Chinas, Taiwan has been buying high-tech weaponry from the United States, revitalized its domestic arms industry and extended the length of mandatory military service from four months to one year.

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In another sign of the tensions across the Taiwan Strait, the islands government protested Tuesday after Chinas aviation authority announced changes to a southbound route for passenger flights that is expected to bring planes closer to Taiwans shores.

Taiwan first objected to the flight path when it was opened in 2015, citing air safety and sovereignty concerns, and China agreed to move the route seven miles (11 kilometers) closer to its side. But Chinas Civil Aviation Administration said it would cancel the offset measure starting Thursday.

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China also said that planes would be allowed to join the flight path from two coastal cities across from Taiwan. Previously, planes were allowed to use the flight path to reach those cities, but could not join it from them, which entails flying toward Taiwan.

Taiwans Civil Aviation Administration strongly protested the move, which it said blatantly contradicts a consensus reached between both sides  in 2015, according to Taiwanese media.

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A Chinese government spokesperson called the changes routine and said they were meant to ease air traffic and ensure flight safety in a crowded flight corridor.

With inputs from AP.
The Taiwanese defence ministrys warning came a day after Chinas civil aviation authority announced adjustments to planes heading southward along the M503 route beginning February 1

Taiwan condemned Chinas intention to modify an aviation route over the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, saying that the shift might have an impact on the sensitive waterways stability.

The Taiwanese defence ministrys warning came a day after Chinas civil aviation authority announced adjustments to planes heading southward along the M503 route beginning February 1.

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The Chinese authorities stated that the measure was intended to improve efficiency in a busy location.

Taiwans military minister, on the other hand, described the change as unilateral and arbitrary.

It cautioned that the action may lead to an escalation in tensions and urged Beijing to immediately reconsider the decision.

Transport Minister Wang Kwo-tsai also cautioned that the route is close to Taipeis flight information zone, measuring only 4.2 nautical miles at its closest point.

When the weather is bad, (a plane) might fly east and this could clash with our civil and military aircraft, he told reporters.

Route M503 had sparked an outcry in Taiwan when China launched it in 2015, given its proximity to the median line that runs through the Taiwan Strait.

China, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and does not recognise the median line, on Wednesday reiterated its position.

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Route M503 is a civil route, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said, adding that there is no so-called median line.

This route was launched to alleviate congestion in the relevant airspace and ensure aviation safety, he added.

The announcement follows the election in Taiwan of the independence-leaning Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing had branded a severe danger.

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Beijing has vowed to seize Taiwan, by force if necessary, and ramped up pressure on the island, staging several rounds of major military drills in the Taiwan Strait in recent years.
Yaccarino, Discords Jason Citron, and Snaps Evan Spiegel received subpoenas, legal orders, compelling their presence at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. In contrast, Zuckerberg and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew volunteered to testify

Leading figures in the tech industry, including Metas Mark Zuckerberg and Xs Linda Yaccarino, are set to testify in Washington today amid growing concerns about the impact of online activities on childrens mental health and safety.

Politicians argue that major tech companies are falling short in safeguarding children from sexual exploitation, prompting discussions on the need for more stringent laws. Lawmakers have insisted that executives provide insights into the steps taken thus far.

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The heads of TikTok, Discord, and Snap are also scheduled to appear, marking a significant occasion as many, including Yaccarino, testify before Congress for the first time.

Yaccarino, Discords Jason Citron, and Snaps Evan Spiegel received subpoenas, legal orders, compelling their presence at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. In contrast, Zuckerberg and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew volunteered to testify.

Senators Dick Durbin and Lindsey Graham emphasized the demand for action from parents and children when announcing the hearing plans.

The hearing comes on the heels of a former senior staff member at Meta expressing concerns to Congress about Instagrams inadequate measures to protect teens from sexual harassment. Meta responded by highlighting the implementation of over 30 tools aimed at fostering a secure online environment for teens.

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Online harms, particularly explicit images of children being shared online, have raised alarms within the Senate Judiciary Committee. Reports of fake images created using artificial intelligence have intensified the concerns. Lawmakers pointed to the increase in such images and cited whistleblower accounts and testimonies from child abuse survivors as additional factors prompting the hearing.

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In February 2023, the Senate Judiciary Committee delved into the same topic, leading to a consensus among witnesses and lawmakers that firms should be held accountable. Subsequently, bills like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), recently endorsed by Snapchat, have been introduced.

Big tech companies, facing lawsuits over their handling of child and teen accounts, assert their commitment to addressing the issue. Microsoft and Google have developed tools to help platforms identify and report concerning content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the US.

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Social media platforms themselves have implemented changes to enhance child safety, including parental controls, which manage access and provide insights into childrens online activity. Tools reminding children to limit their platform usage have also been introduced.
The eight-member board, which is made up of four Republicans and four Democrats, said it lacked the jurisdiction to decide whether Trump, the front-runner in the Republican primary, had violated the US Constitution, therefore it accepted a lawyers suggestion to allow him to stay on the ballot

A week before the US Supreme Court hears arguments on whether former President Donald Trumps involvement in the 6 January 2021, attack on the US Capitol disqualifies him from the office, the election board in Illinois decided on Tuesday to keep him on the states primary ballot.

The unanimous decision by the board follows its hearing officer, a Republican retired judge, who concluded that a preponderance of the evidence disqualifies Trump from running for president due to his violation of the constitutions restriction on people who engaged in insurrection from holding public office. However, the hearing officer suggested that the board leave the final judgement up to the courts.

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The eight-member board, which is made up of four Republicans and four Democrats, said it lacked the jurisdiction to decide whether Trump, the front-runner in the Republican primary, had violated the US Constitution, therefore it accepted a lawyers suggestion to allow him to stay on the ballot.

Board member Catherine McCrory prefaced her vote with a statement: I want it to be clear that this Republican believes that there was an insurrection on Jan. 6. Theres no doubt in my mind that he manipulated, instigated, aided and abetted an insurrection on Jan. 6.

But McCrory said she agreed the board doesnt have jurisdiction to enforce that conclusion.

Trumps attorney urged the board not to get involved, contending the former president never engaged in insurrection but that wasnt something it could determine.

We would recommend and urge the board to not wade into this, attorney Adam Merrill said.

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Trump cheered the decision in a post on his social media network, Truth Social: The VOTE was 8-0 in favor of keeping your favorite President (ME!), on the Ballot, he wrote.

An attorney for the voters who objected to Trumps presence on the ballot said they would appeal to Cook County circuit court.

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Whats happened here is an avoidance of a hot potato issue, attorney Matthew Piers told reporters after the hearing. I get the desire to do it, but the law doesnt allow you to duck.

The issue will likely be decided at a higher court, with the US Supreme Court scheduled next week to hear arguments in Trumps appeal of a Colorado ruling declaring him ineligible for the presidency in that state.

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The nations highest court has never ruled on a case involving Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was adopted in 1868 to prevent former Confederates from returning to office after the Civil War but has rarely been used since then. Some legal scholars say the clause applies to Trump for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election and encouraging his backers to storm the US Capitol after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

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Dozens of cases have been filed around the country seeking to bar Trump from the presidency under Section 3. The Colorado case is the only one that succeeded in court. Most other courts and election officials have ducked the issue on similar grounds to Illinois, contending they dont have jurisdiction to rule on the obscure constitutional issue.

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Maines Democratic secretary of state also ruled that Trump violated the 14th Amendment and is no longer eligible for the White House, but her ruling is on hold until the Supreme Court issues a decision.

Trumps critics argue hes disqualified by the plain language of Section 3, which forbids those who swore an oath to support the Constitution, then engaged in insurrection against it from holding office. They contend the former president is ineligible just as if he didnt meet the constitutional threshold of being at least 35 years old.

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But Trumps attorneys have argued that the provision is vague and unclear and that Jan. 6 doesnt meet the legal definition of an insurrection. Even if it did, they argue that Trump was simply exercising his First Amendment rights and isnt liable for what occurred, and that the ban on holding office shouldnt apply to presidents.

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Though Trump has blamed Biden for the lawsuits because several have been filed by liberal nonprofit groups, there is no evidence the president was involved. On Tuesday, before the Illinois ruling, Biden said he didnt have a problem with Trump being on presidential ballots. Biden made the comment in response to a reporters question before flying to Florida for campaign fundraising.

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Section 3 was heavily used immediately after the Civil War, but after Congress granted an amnesty to most former Confederates in 1872 it fell into disuse. Legal scholars can only find one example of it being deployed in the 20th century  against a socialist who was not seated in Congress because he objected to US involvement in World War I. It has been used a handful of times since the Jan. 6 attack.

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The Illinois board members ducked the issue by concluding that, under state law, all they can do is assess whether the basic paperwork candidates fill out is true. The only way to remove Trump would be by concluding he made a false statement when he swore under oath in that paperwork that he was eligible for the office he sought.

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Board member Jack Vrett, a Republican, warned that would create a dangerous precedent, given the dozens of election boards in the state that follow the main ones lead.

If we allowed them to say, Dont just look at the papers, look at the underlying allegations, that would open a floodgate, Vrett said. Every possible school board candidate would seek to challenge the qualification of their rival based on some alleged criminal conduct.
This came after a second jet crashed in May in a rural area south of Seoul during a regular training exercise. This crash did not result in any additional casualties, and the pilot had also safely ejected

This is the second American F-16 fighter jet crash in less than a month, occurring in waters off the west coast of South Korea on Wednesday, January 31, following a reported in-flight emergency.

The pilot was saved, according to media reports, according to the US Air Force unit stationed there.

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According to a statement from US forces in South Korea, the F-16 Fighting Falcon belonging to the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base had an in-flight emergency roughly 180 kilometers south of Seoul and crashed at around 8:41 am (local time).

The pilot, who had successfully ejected, was found after a combined rescue operation by US and South Korean officials at around 9:30 am (local time).

He is conscious and was transported to a medical facility for assessment, the US military said in a statement.

The joint efforts and close coordination between the US and South Korea during the operation were also praised in the statement.

In December, an ordinary training exercise resulted in the crash of an American F-16 fighter jet. Theyd saved the pilot.

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This came after a second jet crashed in May in a rural area south of Seoul during a regular training exercise. This crash did not result in any additional casualties, and the pilot had also safely ejected.

Washington, Seouls principal security ally, has about 28,500 American soldiers stationed in South Korea.
The US military Central Command, in a post on X, said there were no injuries or damage reported

The United States shot down one anti-ship cruise missile fired by Iranian-backed Houthi militants from Yemen towards the Red Sea on Tuesday.

Giving update of the incident, the US military Central Command, in a post on X, said: On 30 January, at approximately 11:30 pm (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Red Sea.

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It further said a US destroyer (USS Gravely DDG 107) in the area shot the missile fired by Houthi militants.

There were no injuries or damage reported, the US Central Command added.

On Jan. 30, at approximately 11:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea. The missile was shot down by USS Gravely (DDG 107). There were no injuries or damage reported. pic.twitter.com/Wf1OhwPhhW  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 31, 2024

This came within days after three US service members were killed and as many as 34 others were wounded in a drone drone attack by Houthis on US troops in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border.

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On Tuesday, Al-Asad Air Base in Western Iraq was targeted again by a single rocket. The three soldiers killed in the Jordan strike were the first US military fatalities in the Middle East since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out.

US President Joe Biden is under pressure for a strong response with Republicans accusing the Democratic president of letting American forces become sitting ducks.

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Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Biden said he has made up his mind on how to respond to a drone attack that killed US service members in Jordan. Speaking to reported, the US President said his country does not need a wider war in the Middle East, echoing comments from other officials that the nation does not want a war with Iran.

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I dont think we need a wider war in the Middle East. Thats not what Im looking for, Biden said.

The US President replied yes when questioned if he had decided how to respond to the attacks. When asked if Iran was responsible, Biden added: I do hold  them responsible in the sense that theyre supplying the weapons to those who carried out the attacks.

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A US military official has informed that there have been a total of 166 attacks on US military installations since 18 October, including 67 in Iraq, 98 in Syria and now one in Jordan.

With inputs from agencies
The incident raised concerns about the criminal justice system, with critics arguing that lenient bail policies contribute to the release of potentially violent offenders back into society

In a disturbing incident on West 42nd Street at around 8:30 p.m. last Saturday, four migrants were caught on camera assaulting two NYPD officers in Times Square. The altercation unfolded as the officers instructed the individuals to move, leading to a physical confrontation between one suspect in a yellow sweatshirt and the police.

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The NYPD reported that the migrants proceeded to attack the officers, kicking them in the head and body. Despite efforts by the officers to subdue one of the men, the four managed to escape, leaving the officers on the ground.

BREAKING: A large mob of illegal aliens brutally attacked two NYPD officers on Saturday near Times Square.



All have been released without bail. pic.twitter.com/i4k2kmnCgU  End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 31, 2024

At approximately 10:44 p.m., four individualsDarwin Andres Gomez Izquiel, Kelvin Servat Arocha, Juarez Wilson, and Yorman Reveronwere arrested, facing charges including Assault on a Police Officer, Gang Assault, Obstructing Governmental Administration, and Disorderly Conduct, according to reports. They were later released without bail.

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The incident raised concerns about the criminal justice system, with critics arguing that lenient bail policies contribute to the release of potentially violent offenders back into society.

Reveron, the oldest among the detainees, already faces two open cases for assault and robbery in Manhattan, underscoring potential issues with repeat offenses. Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry expressed condemnation for the attacks and criticized the justice systems inability to protect officers effectively.

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The investigation into this incident is ongoing under Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office. The rise in attacks on police officers occurs amid broader challenges faced by New York City, including an influx of migrants requiring accommodation. Mayor Eric Adams has sought state and federal aid, anticipating a $12 billion cost over the next three years due to the migrant crisis.

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With more than 100,000 migrants arriving in 2023 alone, the city grapples with limited shelter capacity. Landmark hotels in Manhattan have been repurposed to address the housing shortage. The situation emphasizes the strain on resources, prompting Mayor Adams to caution potential migrants about the citys limited capacity.
realme launched the realme 12 Pro, the companys latest mid-range smartphone in the number series, in India earlier this week. Even though the display, and the battery are same as the realme 11 Pro, the camera has been upgraded, so is the rear design. Is this the best smartphone in the price range? Let us dive into the review to find out.

Box Contents

realme 12 Pro 8GB + 256GB version in Navigator Beige color

2-pin 67W SuperVOOC fast charger

USB Type C Cable

SIM Ejector tool

Protective case

User Guide and Warranty information

Display, Hardware and Design

Since it shares the same 6.7-inch (1080 x 2412 pixels) Full HD+ curved AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, up to 950 nits peak brightness, vegan leather finish and a body with IP65 ratings, I wont go much into the display and design part.

You can check out the realme 12 Pro+ review to know more about those details. The Red version is available only in the 12 Pro+, and the 12 Pro gets only the Submarine Blue and Navigator Beige options.

Camera

50MP main camera with 1/2 Sony IMX882, OIS, f/1.8 aperture

8MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture

32MP Sony IMX709 2X telephoto lens, 4x optical zoom, f/2.0 aperture

16MP front-facing camera with f/2.45 aperture

The camera UI in the realme UI 5 is familiar. There is Pro mode, Panorama, Macro, Flim, Slo-mo, Time-Lapse, Dual-View video, text scanner, starry mode and tilt-shift. The rear camera offers 12.5MP output after pixel binning, and the front camera images are 16MP in size.

Oscar Winner for Best Cinematography, Claudio Miranda, has curated three movie filters inspired by his award-winning movies exclusively for

this model: Journey Filter  Life of Pi Inspiration, Memory Filter  The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Style and Maverick Filter  Top Gun: Maverick Influence.

Daylight shots came out well, thanks to the new 50MP sensor, and the dynamic range is better with auto HDR. There is a dedicated 2x telephoto camera, and the phone has up to 4x in-sensor zoom, so zoom up to 4x is good. Compared to 120X zoom in the realme 12 Pro+, this only has 20X zoom in the realme 12 Pro, so you can notice the images losing details once you zoom.

The portrait mode is good with good edge detection, and the 8MP ultra-wide camera is decent. Low-light shots are good, but it is better in realme 12 Pro+ since the IMX890 is better than the IMX882.

The night mode is useful, but it takes a few seconds to process, and you can also shoot the moon even though there is no dedicated moon mode. The 16MP front camera does a decent job if there is enough light. The portrait shots are good as well.

Check out the camera samples

It can record videos in up to 4K 30 fps, slow motion 1080p at 120fps. It doesnt have portrait video mode, which is present in the 12 Pro+. There is also ultra-steady video shooting, but it is limited to 1080p 60fps. OIS does a good job for the rear camera.

Software, UI, Apps and Connectivity

It runs Android 14 based realme UI 5.0 out of the box. It has Android security patch for December 2023. The phone should get 2 Android updates and 3 years of security updates, similar to other phones. realme UI 5.0 offers improved self-developed technology for smooth performance, and enhanced safety and privacy tools. There is a new GO Green feature, promoting climate change awareness.

The File Dock feature enables collection, analysis, and sharing of global information through the Dock or other applications simply by making gestures. Flash Capsule provides convenient access to popular third-party services. Apart from the usual set of realme apps and Google apps, it comes with several pre-loaded apps. These apps can be uninstalled, but come back once the phone is reset. There are also Hot Apps and Hot Games.

Out of 8GB LPDD4X RAM, you get 7.4GB of usable RAM, and about 3GB of RAM is free when default apps are running in the background. It also has DRE or dynamic RAM expansion feature, which uses the built-in storage as RAM. This has up to 8GB of additional RAM expansion. Out of 256GB UFS 3.1, you get about 221GB of free storage.

It has Dolby Atmos which works with headset and has customizable Smart, Movie, Game and Music modes. It doesnt have FM Radio support. Audio through the stereo speakers is good without any distortion even in full volume. Audio through earphones is good as well. The phone has Widevine L1, so that you can play HD content on Netflix and other streaming apps. It supports HDR content on YouTube, but this doesnt work on Netflix.

The realme 12 Pro has support for n1/3/5/8/28B/40/41/77/78 Network Bands in India, same as the 12 Pro+, and comes with support for Carrier Aggregation on 4G. Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6 802.11 ax (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS / GLONASS / Beidou. It has OTG support, doesnt have NFC support. Moving on, the call quality is good, and we did not face any call drops and the earpiece volume was loud.

The realme 12 Pros body SAR is 0.718W/Kg and head SAR is at 1.125/Kg, same as the 12 Pro+, which is well under the limit of 1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) in India.

Performance and Benchmarks

This is the first phones to be powered by Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 4nmMobile Platform. This has Octa-Core Qualcomm Kryo CPUs that has 4 x Cortex A78 core clocked at 2.2GHz and 4 x Cortex A55 cores clocked at 1.8GHz. There is Adreno 619 GPU that offers decent gaming performance. The phone gets a bit warm on intensive gaming.

The phone has a large vapor chamber cooling area to help keep the phone cool, said the company. We did not face any issues in the graphic-intensive games like COD, BGMI and Genshin Impact. Even though the CPU clock speed is less, the GPU is good, and sometime even better than the Adreno 710 GPU in the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. That said, check out some synthetic benchmark scores below.

As you can see, this gives a tough competition to some phones, but the realme 11 Pro with MediaTek Dimensity 7050 has a slightly better score in AnTuTu, and Geekbench 6 single-core benchmarks.

Battery life

Coming to the battery life, the phone packs a 5000mAh (typical) built-in battery, same as the 11 Pro. It lasts for a whole day, even with heavy use.

The 12 Pro retains the same 67W SuperVOOC fast charging. It can charge up to 50% in about 20 minutes and up to 100% in less than 50 minutes with the bundled 67W charger, which is still good.

There is smart charging and an option to stop charging at 80% to improve the battery health. However, this doesnt show the battery health.

Conclusion

At a starting price of Rs. 25,999 for the 8GB + 128GB, the realme 12 Pro is just a minor upgrade to the realme 11 Pro since this has the same display, battery, charging, and it also doesnt see a huge performance improvement compared to the last years model.

You can clearly see the camera improvement in the new model, thanks to the new IMX882 sensor. The ultra-wide camera which was missing is now back, and there is a new 2x telephoto camera replacing the macro camera. However, this misses the portrait video option that is present in the realme 12 Pro+.

Alternatives

The POCO X6 is a good alternative with a faster SoC, better display and a slightly bigger battery at a cheaper rate. There is also OnePlus Nord CE 3 at a cheaper rate.

If you spend more, you can get the realme 12 Pro+ that has a better camera including a periscope lens, and a slightly faster SoC. This also has a 12GB RAM version.

Pricing and availability

The realme 12 Pro is priced at Rs. 25,999 for the 8GB + 128GB model and the 8GB + 256GB costs Rs. 26,999. It will be available from realme.com, Flipkart and offline stores from February 6th.

Pros

Smooth performance

Good cameras

Attractive design

Good battery life

Cons

Same old display

Bloatware

Not a huge performance improvement compared to realme 11 Pro
Samsung India has launched the SSD 990 EVO, a high-performance solid-state drive with impressive read/write speeds of up to 5,000 MB/s and 4,200 MB/s.

Compared to its predecessor, the 970 EVO Plus, the 990 EVO offers a 43% performance boost. Suitable for gaming, work, and video/photo editing, it features enhanced random read and write speeds of up to 700K IOPS and 800K IOPS.

Featuring Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, the SSD achieves optimized performance even without a DRAM design, ensuring faster loading times for games and efficient file access.

The 990 EVO improves power efficiency by up to 70%, supporting extended PC usage without constant battery life concerns. It also enables Modern Standby for instant on/off functionality and seamless connectivity in low-power states.

The SSDs heat spreader label maintains thermal conditions, allowing consistent high-level performance. Available in 1TB and 2TB options, the 990 EVO supports PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2 interfaces, accommodating current and future PC requirements.

Samsung Magician software offers optimization tools, including health monitoring, data protection, and timely firmware updates.

Quick specifications: Samsung SSD 990 EVO

Pricing and availability

The Samsung SSD 990 EVO is priced at Rs. 9,999 for the 1TB variant and Rs. 16,699 for the 2TB variant, backed by a 5-year limited warranty and available in black color.

Starting today, it is available for purchase at leading electronics retail stores, Samsung online store and across online platforms.

Commenting on the launch, Puneet Sethi, Vice President, Consumer Electronics Enterprise Business, Samsung India, said:
A Bureau of Land Management solar development planning proposal for the West would allocate more than a half-million acres in Colorado as being available for application for utility-scale solar energy projects, and more than 22 million acres as being available altogether in 11 states.

Much of the available acreage in Colorado would be on the Western Slope. The BLM will be holding one of several meetings around the West on the proposal from 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 20 at the Grand Junction Convention Center.

The BLM is updating its 2012 solar plan for the West, in part by expanding it from six states including Colorado, to 11. It is adding more northern states based on increasing applications for photovoltaic solar energy projects in more northern latitudes.

The update also is being undertaken partly due to a significant increase in utility-scale solar energy development in general both on and off BLM-administered land, which is expected to continue because of growing public interest in carbon-pollution-free energy generation, the BLM says.

In working to update its plan, the BLM worked with the Department of Energys National Renewable Energy Laboratory and determined that about 700,000 acres of public lands would be needed over 20 years to help meet the nations clean-energy goals. It says making 22 million acres available under its preferred alternative in its updated western solar plan would provide it maximum flexibility in helping meet the national goals.

The potential amendments to the 2012 plan are intended to help guide solar development rights-of-way applications away from public lands with a known high potential for resource conflicts, the BLM says. Any project proposals also still would be subject to their own environmental reviews. Any projects proposed in solar energy exclusion areas could only go forward with a land use plan revision or amendment.

The BLM is considering a range of alternatives in its draft environmental impact statement. Under its preferred one, more than 548,000 acres of BLM land in Colorado would be available for application for solar projects. The 2012 plan identified about 22,000 acres of BLM lands in the state as priority areas for solar projects, and another 135,548 acres were designated as variance areas that may be available with special stipulations or considerations. The proposed plan revision does away with identifying priority and variance areas, instead just indicating whether acreage is available for application or not.

Under the BLMs preferred alternative, 7.56 million acres in Colorado would be designated as exclusion areas for applications due to resource considerations, which takes into account things such as protective land designations, wildlife protections and other factors. About 245,000 acres in Colorado would be excluded because they dont meet the preferred alternatives requirement that they be within 10 miles of existing and planned transmission lines with capacities of 100 kilovolts or greater.

At the field office level in Colorado, under the preferred alternative, the White River Field Office in Meeker would make the most acreage available for applications under its resource management plan  about 114,400 acres. Next would be the Little Snake Field Office in Craig, with 80,562 acres available, and the Uncompahgre Field Office in Montrose (68,524 acres available). Locally, and much further down the list, the Grand Junction Field Office would make about 13,000 acres available.

Besides the Colorado in-person meeting in Grand Junction and others scheduled in other states, the BLM plans to hold virtual meetings on the solar plan revision at 11 a.m. on Feb. 5 and March 6. People can register for those meetings at https://argonne.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsf-GhqDkqEzs8egIvna6gxll8bYkwbfc#/registration.

Public comments on the draft environmental impact statement are being accepted through April 18. For more information on the project and how to comment, visit the project website, https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022371/530.
No sooner after he was appointed to the coveted House committee that deals with agricultural issues just before the 2024 session started earlier this month, Rep. Matt Soper was taken off by newly minted House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese on Tuesday.

While the official reason was to make way for Rep. Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, after he resigned as minority leader last week, and Pugliese was elected by the House Republican Caucus to take his place, Soper said there was more to it.

The Delta Republican said he doesnt believe Pugliese took that action as revenge for challenging her for that leadership position, losing to her on an 11-8 vote. He said it was because of Rep. Marc Catlin, R-Montrose.

Minutes after I just lost the bid for minority leader, Catlin goes running to Rose to say youve got to remove Matt from agriculture, Soper said. Rose honored that. Caving to one member because he doesnt know if were going to end up as opponents for a Senate primary or not. I think its pretty crummy politics to think that you could score an advantage by knocking off a possible competitor.

Soper said hes worked for years to get on that panel, particularly because his House district has more commercial agricultural interests than any district in the state.

Catlin, however, said he did no such thing.

He said he told Pugliese and Rep. Ty Winter, R-Trinidad, who was chosen to replace Pugliese as assistant minority leader, that it was up to them, and he was not going to take a stand on the matter. Winter also serves on the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee.

Catlin is in a particularly powerful role on that committee. For three years running, hes been its vice chairman, an unusual position to get given Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans in the Colorado Legislature.

After Mike Lynch got taken out, I said either one of these guys are fine with me, Catlin said. I said its a leadership decision. I felt sorry for Lynch. Ill go find Soper and tell him I didnt have anything to do with it.

He added that it would make no sense for him to stab Soper in the back because he nominated him over Pugliese for the minority leader job, and then voted for him.

Pugliese, too, said it all happened out of necessity, given that Republicans only have 19 members in the House, and Lynch, because of his seniority, was given his pick of committees. The Colorado Springs Republican, who served as a Mesa County commissioner for eight years, said she had that conversation with Soper.

And he understood, or at least I thought he did, Pugliese said. The reality is, our caucus is currently down a couple of members right now, and everyone has to step up. Representative Sopers background on the (Delta County) hospital board will be helpful on the Finance Committee while we are still trying to temporarily put committees in place.

Soper also serves on the House Judiciary Committee, another highly coveted panel that hes been on since getting elected to the Legislature.

Because of their low numbers, Republicans only have three or four seats on each of the Houses 10 standing committees. At the same time, Rep. Rod Bockenfeld, R-Watkins, still is undergoing cancer treatment, and Rep. Stephanie Luck, R-Penrose, is out on maternity leave. Both serve only on one committee, House Appropriations.

Pugliese said shes trying to do her part, too. Even though majority and minority leaders traditionally dont serve on committees, Pugliese kept herself on the House Education Committee.

Neither Soper nor Catlin have yet decided if they will run for Senate District 5 after the surprise announcement late last week from Sen. Perry Will, R-New Castle, that he wont seek election to that district this year, opting instead to run for Garfield County commissioner.

Will has never actually been elected to the Legislature. He was appointed to that seat after former Sen. Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, decided to retire, and resigned the seat. That happened after Will lost a bid for House District 57, which had been redrawn and is much more favorable to Democrats.

Ironically, Will similarly was appointed to the House after Rankin was appointed to the Senate when former Sen. Randy Baumgarder, R-Hot Sulpher Springs, resigned amidst numerous sexual harassment complaints filed against him.

As it happens, Catlin is term limited and cannot run again, while Soper is in his third two-year term and can run one more time, something he was planning to do.

Im basically in a position where I have a 95% reelection rate, and I can jump into a race where I have a 50% rate, and its all dependent on how people feel about Trump or Biden at the moment they are voting, Soper said.

I was comfortable thinking were going to leave the stage, Catlin said. The tough part is that theres not much time from the time Perry said, No, Im not gonna, to get fulling into the caucus movements and all that stuff. I had a taste of that because in my new (House) District 58 it was really awkward to go to a new community and say, Hey, Im your new rep. I came in as an incumbent and went home a rookie.

To date, no Republican has announced plans to run for the seat. Two Democrats, Glenwood Springs attorney Cole Buerger and Montrose Mayor Barbara Bynum, are running. The district, which was redrawn in 2021 along with all other legislative districts, favors Republican candidates, but only narrowly by about 3 percentage points.

Currently, Republicans outnumber Democrats in active registered voters, 30,776 to 23,035, according to voter registrations. Combined, however, they make up only half of the electorate. The other half are unaffiliated voters, who number 53,755.
One Iranian and Two Canadian Nationals Indicted in Murder-for-Hire Scheme

Monday, January 29, 2024

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

One Iranian and two Canadian nationals have been charged with conspiracy to use interstate commerce in the commission of a murder-for-hire plot.

According to court documents, from December 2020 through March 2021, Naji Sharifi Zindashti, 49, Damion Patrick John Ryan, 43, and Adam Richard Pearson, 29, conspired with each other in a plot to murder two residents of the state of Maryland. The defendants, one of whom is based in Iran, used an encrypted messaging service called "SkyECC" to recruit individuals who would travel into the United States to carry out the killings, to discuss the identities and locations of the would-be victims, to plan logistics and mechanics of how to carry out the murders, and to negotiate payment for completion of this "job" in Maryland. The intended victims of this plot, who at the time resided in Maryland, had previously fled to the United States after one of them defected from Iran.

Concurrent with today's indictment, the Treasury Department took action against Zindashti's criminal network that targets Iranian dissidents and opposition activists for kidnapping and assassination at the direction of the Iranian regime. Pursuant to today's designations, Zindashti and several of his key associates are prohibited from engaging in any transaction or dealing that involves a U.S. person or occurs in the United States.

"To those in Iran who plot murders on U.S. soil and the criminal actors who work with them, let today's charges send a clear message: the Department of Justice will pursue you as long as it takes - and wherever you are - and deliver justice," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division.

"As alleged, Mr. Zindashti and his team of gunmen, including a Minnesota resident, used an encrypted messaging service to orchestrate an assassination plot against two individuals," said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota. "Thanks to the skilled work of federal prosecutors and law enforcement agents, this murder-for-hire conspiracy was disrupted and the defendants will face justice."

"Today's charges show a pattern of Iranian groups trying to murder U.S. residents on U.S. soil," said Assistant Director Suzanne Turner of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division. "Mr. Zindashti and his accomplices' alleged plot is reprehensible, and the FBI will not tolerate such acts against U.S. residents, and we will continue to pursue these individuals until they are brought to the U.S. to face justice."

As alleged in the indictment, between December 2020 and January 2021, Zindashti and Ryan communicated about "jobs," "equipment," "tools" and plans to "make some money." In January 2021, they discussed a job in the United States, with Ryan noting that doing a job in the United States was challenging, but that he "might have someone to do it." That same day he messaged Pearson about a "job" in Maryland. Pearson stated, "shooting is probably easiest thing for them," and that he was "on it." Ryan recommended "2 guys go with proper equipment." Pearson said he would encourage the recruits for the job to "shoot [the victim] in the head a lot [to] make example" and that he would tell them "we gotta erase his head from his torso."

On or about Jan. 30, 2021, Zindashti messaged Ryan on SkyECC seeking an update on the job. Ryan responded that he was getting "things in order" and that he would need money. A few days later, Zindashti told Ryan that Zindashti's organization was ready to move forward. Zindashti and Ryan then agreed on a $350,000 payment for the "job," in addition to $20,000 to cover expenses. After Zindashti introduced Ryan to Co-Conspirator 1, Ryan responded: "We have a 4 man team ready."

Over the days that followed, Ryan and Co-Conspirator 1 continued to correspond on SkyECC about the plot. Specifically, Co-Conspirator 1 sent Ryan information about the would-be victims, including their photographs and images of a map that highlighted the victims' known address. In or around March 8, 2021, Co-Conspirator 1 facilitated a $20,000 payment to Ryan for purposes of covering travel expenses associated with the plot.

All three of the defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. Pearson is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a fugitive from justice and one count of possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States.

Zindashti currently resides in Iran. Ryan and Pearson are currently incarcerated in Canada on unrelated offenses.

The FBI is investigating the case with valuable assistance from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter for the District of Minnesota, Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Trial Attorney Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law

Zindashti et al. indictment

Topics: Countering Nation-State Threats

National Security

Components: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - Minnesota

Press Release Number: 24-100

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One Iranian, Two Canadians Charged With Conspiracy in Murder-for-Hire Plot in US

By VOA News January 29, 2024

One Iranian and two Canadian nationals were charged Monday with conspiracy to use interstate commerce in the commission of a murder-for-hire plot in the U.S.

According to court documents, from December 2020 through March 2021, Naji Sharifi Zindashti, 49, Damion Patrick John Ryan, 43, and Adam Richard Pearson, 29, conspired with each other in a plot to murder two residents of the state of Maryland.

The defendants, one of whom is based in Iran, used an encrypted messaging service called Sky ECC to recruit individuals to travel to the United States to carry out the killings, to discuss the identities and locations of the would-be victims, to plan logistics and mechanics of how to carry out the murders, and to negotiate payment for completion of the "job."

The intended victims had previously fled to the United States after one of them defected from Iran.

The Treasury Department also initiated proceedings against what it said was Zindashti's criminal network that targets Iranian dissidents and opposition activists for kidnapping and assassination organized by the Iranian regime.

In a stern warning, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division said, "To those in Iran who plot murders on U.S. soil and the criminal actors who work with them, let today's charges send a clear message: the Department of Justice will pursue you as long as it takes a and wherever you are a and deliver justice."

The U.S. and Britain on Monday enacted sanctions to target what they called an Iranian transnational assassinations network, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

Zindashti's network, they said, has carried out numerous acts of transnational repression against dissidents, journalists, activists and former Iranian officials to silence the Iranian regime's perceived critics. These acts have included assassinations, kidnappings and hacking operations across the Middle East, Europe and North America, they said. The Iranian government utilizes organized criminal groups to conceal its connection to the killings and kidnappings, they said.

"The Iranian regime's continued efforts to target dissidents and activists demonstrate the regime's deep insecurity and attempt to expand Iran's domestic repression internationally," said Brian E. Nelson, undersecretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence. "The United States, alongside our international allies and partners, including the United Kingdom, will continue to combat the Iranian regime's transnational repression and will utilize all available tools to stop this threat, especially on U.S. soil."

The U.S. Treasury's action is authorized under Executive Order 13553, which allows sanctions because of serious human rights abuses by the government of Iran, the Treasury Department's news release said. Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), which is responsible for intelligence and counterintelligence and has conducted covert actions outside Iran, has been recognized as complicit in serious human rights abuses for its actions against the Iranian people since 2009, the statement said. The network has also been designated as a supporter for terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and al-Qaida, it said.

Following Monday's announcement, the sanctions will block and report all property and interests in property owned by individuals connected to MOIS currently in the United States or under the possession or control of U.S. persons to the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

The U.S. Treasury said its action was being taken in conjunction with the unsealing of an indictment by the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Some information for this report came from Reuters.

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Human Rights Watch dismisses Vietnam govt criticism

Hanoi accused the NGO of fabricating a report critical of the country's rights record.

By RFA Vietnamese 2024.01.28 -- New York-based Human Rights Watch has hit back at the Vietnamese government for accusing the non-governmental organization of fabricating its World Report 2024.

The report, published on Jan. 11, accused Vietnam of suppressing people's rights "to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, movement, and religion," and said the communist party "severely punishes anyone who challenges its monopoly on power."

On Thursday, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang called the report "factually inaccurate and fabricated," claiming that, "the efforts, determination and achievements of the government of Vietnam in ensuring the basic rights of humans has been demonstrated through the results of the socio-economic development of Vietnam, and has been already recognized and highly appreciated by people domestically and the international community."

Responding to the criticism Human Rights Watch (HRW) Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson told Radio Free Asia Vietnam's response was predictable.

"This is the last defense of a government that has slid so far backwards on human rights that it literally has no plausible rationale left to claim that it follows any of the international human rights treaties that it has ratified," he said.

"Every single civil and political right, whether it be freedom of expression, right to public assembly, or freedom of association, is being systematically violated by the Vietnamese government."

Robertson said he thought it was laughable that the Vietnamese government equated delivering economic growth with fulfilling its human rights obligations.

"The bottom line fact is the Vietnamese government has the second worst human rights record in ASEAN after the brutal military junta in Myanmar, and Hanoi is systematically moving to dismantle any sort of organized civil society groups outside the government's control," he said, claiming the only reason why Vietnamese citizens don't complain is that they would face constant surveillance and harassment if they criticized the government. He said silence does not mean agreement.

In its report, HRW said Vietnam is currently detaining more than 160 people for peacefully exercising their civil and political rights. In the first ten months of 2023 alone, at least 28 human rights advocates were given long prison sentences, including RFA blogger Nguyen Lan Thang; Tran Van Bang, accused of "anti-state propaganda" for Facebook posts criticizing the government; and Dang Dang Phuoc, also charged with "propaganda" for anti corruption posts on social media.

Economic growth doesn't equal human rights

Sweden-based academic Hoang Minh Trang told RFA she thought HRW's report was accurate, particularly in pointing out "the Vietnamese government's increased repression of civil society activists."

Trang, who has a master's degree in human rights policy and practice, said Hanoi needs to stop using economic achievements to cover up the poor human rights situation in the country.

A Ho Chi Minh City-based human rights activist, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, told RFA the government will always say critical reports are "fabricated" or "slanderous."

"When it comes to defamation and fabrication, Hanoi is better than anyone else, falsely accusing more than 160 people who were sent to prison for unthinkable crimes such as 'abusing democratic freedoms' or 'propaganda against the state' ... and even brazen enough to falsely accuse many environmental activists of 'tax evasion'," the activist said.

HRW is not the only international human rights organization to criticize Vietnam in recent months.

In December 2023, CIVICUS named Vietnam as one of 28 countries in the world 'closed' to democratic freedoms.

It criticized the government for failing to honor its obligations as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term.

Also last month, Reporters Without Borders ranked Vietnam fourth in the most dangerous countries for journalists this year, behind China, Myanmar and Belarus.

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Vietnam was among the top five countries for jailing journalists in 2023 with a total of 19 reporters in prison, behind only China, Myanmar, Belarus and Russia.

Separately, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom continues to push the U.S. government to put Vietnam on the List of Countries of Particular Concern because of religious persecution.

Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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We all abhor unpleasant deals, but that's what must happen if we are to solve the Gaza crisis: article by the Foreign Secretary

In the Mail on Sunday, Foreign Secretary David Cameron writes on how to solve the Gaza crisis.

28 January 2024

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Minister Cernochova sealed the procurement of F-35 aircraft today

Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic

29.1.2024

Author: by MoD Press Section

Defence Minister Jana Cernochova with the U.S. Ambassador Bijan Sabet signed today a Memorandum of Understanding between the Czech Republic and the United States of America on procurement of twenty four fifth-generation F-35 fighters, which is the most important project in the history of the Czech Armed Forces. The ceremony brought to a head the negotiations on the future of the Czech supersonic capability and marked the conclusion of this contract.

The procurement of 24 American F-35A Lightning II aircraft was authorised by the Government of the Czech Republic in September 2023. By the end of March 2024, it was necessary to complete a variety of administrative steps and formally conclude this phase of realisation of this strategic project through entering into the Memorandum of Understanding between the Czech and U.S. Government and the so-called Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), whose acceptance executes an agreement with the U.S. Government. The Memorandum was signed today by Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic Jana Cernochova with the United States Ambassador in the Czech Republic Bijan Sabet in attendance of the Chief of General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces Lieutenant General Karel Rehka. The LOA, which was delivered to Prague at the end of 2023, was countersigned by the Director General of the Czech MoD Armaments and Acquisition Division Lubor Koudelka upon the finalisation of all administrative steps mandatory under the Czech law.

The agreement includes industrial cooperation, which was contracted for by the Director General of the MoD Industrial Cooperation Division Radka Konderlova last week. There are eleven projects prepared with Lockheed Martin and three projects with Pratt&Whitney in the aggregate value of CZK 15.3 billion. Those will see the participation of 13 Czech enterprises and universities involved in four areas: manufacture of components, research and development, pilot training and maintenance, F-35 maintenance and servicing.

The Czech Republic discussed the signature itself with the United States in the past weeks as timing and location of convenience was to be identified. Given the health issues and subsequent convalescence of the United States Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin, this option of signing the MoU in Prague was eventually selected. "I promised that the contract for the American F-35 aircraft would be concluded by the end of March and I delivered on the promise. This government-to-government agreement brings our country and its Armed forces into a whole new era, in which not only our servicemembers but also modern equipment rank us into the first league of European NATO Allies. As a matter of fact, fifth-generation aircraft are a backbone fighters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Moreover, their procurement will significantly increase combat readiness of the Czech Armed Forces," Minister Cernochova stated after the signature.

"The F-35 system is the only one to meet the mission in future battlefields and guarantee effective defence along with our Allies against external aggression if needed," said Chief of General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces Lieutenant General Karel Rehka.

The procurement process is scheduled for eleven years with the first aircraft arrival in 2031. Along with individual payments, the Comprehensive Implementation Plan is being developed to define the introduction of the F-35 system into the environment of the Czech Armed Forces. Specifically, the plan covers personnel, training, infrastructure, service and logistic support and the development of all other auxiliary services so as to receive the progressive deliveries of all 24 units of F-35 seamlessly from the very start.

The Swedish Gipen fighters in the Czech Air Force inventory will have performed their mission by 2035, when the F-35 system will reach its full operational capability. There are intensive negotiations underway with the Kingdom of Sweden on the operation of the Gripens in the given timeframe.

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January 29, 2024

Transcript

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh Holds a Press Briefing

DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY SABRINA SINGH: Good afternoon, everyone. Just a few things at the top, and then I'd be glad to take your questions.

As you know, yesterday, three U.S. servicemembers were killed and dozens of personnel were injured from a one-way attack unmanned aerial system that impacted a U.S. military facility located in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border. The names of those soldiers who lost their lives were Sergeant William Rivers, Specialist Kennedy Sanders and Specialist Breonna Moffett, all of whom were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, a U.S. Army Reserve unit based out of Fort Moore, Georgia. These three fallen heroes were deployed to Jordan in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and the international coalition working to ensure the lasting defeat of ISIS. These brave Americans and their families are in our prayers, and the entire Department of Defense mourns their loss.

We also pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured. Eight personnel who received injuries required medical evacuation from Jordan to the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center. Three of those patients are scheduled for imminent transport to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for follow-on care. The other five have been assessed for mild TBIs and are expected to return to duty.

We are still assessing what happened and how a one-way attack drone was able to impact the facility. US Central Command continues to investigate this attack and for operation security and force protection reasons, we're not going to discuss further specifics or measures we're taking to prevent such actions towards future attacks. But we do know that Iran-backed militias are responsible for continued attacks on U.S. forces in the region, and as the president and the secretary have stated, we will not tolerate continued attacks on American forces and we will take all necessary actions to defend U.S. military men and women forward-deployed, and we will do so at a time and place of our choosing.

Now, over the weekend, the secretary received regular updates on the attack against U.S. forces and participated in a briefing with the president and his national security team. Today, Secretary Austin returned to work at the Pentagon. This morning, he hosted the NATO secretary-general for a bilateral meeting where they discussed the war in Ukraine, the next NATO summit and ways to further strengthen trans-lantic (sic) security. He also met with President Biden at the White House, and later today will host again the -- the NATO secretary-general alongside Secretary Blinken and the national security advisor.

Additionally, the secretary's tentatively scheduled to visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center this evening for a follow-up appointment. As his doctor said in their statement on Friday, Secretary Austin continues to recover well and is expected to make a full recovery following his treatment for prostate cancer.

And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions. Lita, thank you, yes.

Q: Thanks, Sabrina. A couple things. Number one, as Secretary Austin has now returned...

MS. SINGH: Yeah.

Q: ... to the building, can you tell us whether or not we will be able to see him in the briefing room this week?

MS. SINGH: I don't have -- I'm sorry. Go ahead.

Q: (inaudible) that's fine.

MS. SINGH: So I don't have an update just yet, but it's something that we're certainly working towards, and we'll keep you updated.

Q: OK. And then secondly, can you give us an update on the number of wounded, and any breakdown between Air Force and Army on that? And also, any update on the perpetrators of the attack? There's been a lot of chatter about K-H. Can you tell us whether that is the leading suspicion right now?

MS. SINGH: Sure. So on the number of injuries, right now, we assess that there are more than 40 that have been injured. We do expect that number to continue to fluctuate as our service members, as you know, with TBI, report symptoms later on. So that number could continue to grow.

In terms of attribution for the attack, we know this is an IRGC-backed militia. It has the footprints of Kata'ib Hezbollah but not making a final assessment on that. Our -- our teams here are continuing to do the analysis but we know that Iran is behind it.

And certainly, as -- as we've said before here in this -- in this briefing room, Iran continues to arm and equip these groups to launch these attacks, and we will certainly hold them responsible.

(CROSSTALK)

Q: ... you said you know Iran is behind it. You know that Iran and/or Iranian leaders were actually behind this attack, as in planned, coordinated, or directed it?

MS. SINGH: We know that Iran certainly plays a role with these groups, they arm and equip and fund these groups. I don't have more to share on -- terms of an intelligence assessment on if leaders in Iran were directing this attack, but what I can tell you is that we know these groups are supported by Iran and therefore they do have their fingerprints on this, but I can't tell you more in terms of who directed the attack.

Jen?

Q: Sabrina, did this drone take off from an IRGC base in Syria?

MS. SINGH: I don't have more on the point of origin just yet of where this attack originated from.

Q: And was it human error that failed to recognize that this was an Iranian drone coming to the base?

MS. SINGH: It's something that Central Command is looking into, to find out exactly what happened. As I mentioned at the top, they're doing the assessment on this, they're working through what they need to do to make sure our service members, whether being in Jordan, Iraq and Syria, are further protected, but I just don't have more to share at this time.

Q: Lastly, what kind of drone struck the base? Is this the same kind of Iranian drone being used by the Russians in Ukraine?

MS. SINGH: That's something that we're looking at. Right now, we're assessing the drone, but I don't have more to share just yet.

Idrees?

Q: Just to follow up, you said Iran was behind the attack. What does that mean? Have -- have you seen evidence of financing or directing, anything specific (inaudible) not just in -- generally but specifically?

MS. SINGH: So maybe I need to clarify it further from what Lita had mentioned. We know that Iran funds these groups, like Kata'ib Hezbollah. We know that these IRGC-backed militias are the ones responsible for attacks on our troops in Iraq and Syria.

Beyond that, we're -- we're doing an -- intelligence assessments. We don't have -- I don't -- I can't give you today that ...

(CROSSTALK)

We just know that Iran funds these groups, like Kata'ib Hezbollah and other groups that have attacked our forces, but I don't have more to share on that -- as a general matter, yes.

Q: And the second thing is you've talked about how the conflict is contained to Gaza and -- in Israel, the conflict is contained. Now that U.S. troops have been attacked in another country, are you willing to say that the conflict is no longer contained and it's spreading?

MS. SINGH: I wouldn't say that the conflict is spreading, in that we've seen over 100 attacks on U.S. forces -- unfortunately, over 100 attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria and of course now in Jordan. We don't want to see a widening of this conflict.

We don't see this conflict widening as it still remains contained to Gaza, but this attack was certainly escalatory in that it killed three service members -- three of our U.S. service members. And as the President has said, we don't seek conflict, we don't want to see a widen -- widen -- a widening of a regional war but we will respond at a time and place of our choosing.

Q: ... not spreading when troops literally have died in another country?

MS. SINGH: Yeah. Well, again -- but they've also been launching these attacks since October 17th, and again, we can't discount the fact that these attacks are incredibly dangerous, put our service members at risk, but they have not, up until yesterday, inflicted lethal harm. They have been predominantly minor injuries and minor -- minor damage to infrastructure.

Yeah, Missy?

Q: I would like to ask if you could address the broader trajectory for American forces in Iraq and Syria? And will these attacks affect the ongoing discussions between the United States and the government of Iraq about the future of the American presence there? or, you know, there have been some reports that the United States is reviewing plans for the future troop presence in Syria. Can you -- can you talk about how this will or will not impact that -- those deliberations?

MS. SINGH: I think what you're referring to is the Higher Military Commission that we discussed last week. So we're focused on working with our Iraqi partner -- partners regarding how to respond to the attack that claimed three U.S. service members.

We remain committed to the HMC process and will continue to focus on it at the appropriate time. I don't have anything to preview on troops levels or changes in Iraq and Syria but we are committed to the HMC process and that is ongoing.

Q: I mean -- but could you just say you -- would I be right to say that this lethal attack on American forces and the potential for a response, which ...

(CROSSTALK)

... President Biden has kind of foreshadowed explicitly, would you say that it will not have an impact on U.S. plans for the troop presence in Iraq and Syria, or is it too soon to say that?

MS. SINGH: No, I think it's too soon to say that, and also I would say that you have to remember that the HMC was already happening and was something that was announced back in August of 2023.

The attack on October 7th did delay some of those conversations from happening and the discussions from starting with HMC but we're still committed to that process, we're still committed to working with the Iraqi government, and we are going to continue to do so. But I don't have anything more to preview on what that means for our -- our force levels.

Yeah, Meaghan?

Q: Can the Pentagon confirmed any of the reports that the reason the drone wasn't shot down is because the troops on the ground thought that it was a returning American drone?

MS. SINGH: Yeah, I've seen those reports. Again, that's something that Central Command is assessing right now but I don't have more to share at this time.

Q: And to follow up on that, you say that this is escalatory because troops have now died in these attacks but it's not a spread, even though it happened in a different country. Is there any indication that this attack, either the equipment or the way it happened, any of that, was a different kind of attack than what we've been seeing in Iraq and Syria or was it simply an escalation and people died because they weren't able to shoot it down, they didn't detect it the way that they are in Iraq and Syria?

MS. SINGH: To my knowledge, there was nothing different or new about this attack that we've seen in other facilities that housed our service members. Unfortunately, this attack was successful, but we can't discount the fact that other attacks, whether it be Iraq or Syria, were not intended to kill our service members.

It is a true tragedy that three of our service members died, and of course Central Command is looking into what can be done when it comes to our air defenses and looking into this incident to determine how best we can move -- or how best we can further strengthen our air defense systems.

Q: Was this base less well protected than other bases in Iraq and Syria?

MS. SINGH: Not to my knowledge.

Jeff?

Q: Thank you. Can you talk a little bit more about what this unit was doing in Jordan?

And also, you have said that Iran has backed these groups which have launched these attacks. Is this attack that has killed three service members an act of war by Iran?

MS. SINGH: Well, look, I -- I think I said this in -- earlier -- we don't seek a war with Iran, we don't seek to widen this conflict. We have said and we will continue to call out the fact that Iran does fund and equip these -- these groups and provide them the capabilities that they use to attack our service members, whether it be Iraq, Syria, or Jordan.

So, we're not going to hesitate in calling that out, but we certainly don't seek a war, and frankly, we don't see Iran wanting to seek a war with the United States.

We are there in Iraq and in Syria and the -- I think your original question was what were these service members doing there? They were there in the support of the defeat ISIS mission. That is their purpose there. They are part of a named operation that this -- that this Department has and is committed to in both -- in Iraq and Syria. And so, yes, I'll just leave it at that.

Q: If I could follow up, how is this not a regional war now, between the United States and Iranian proxies in Yemen, Iraq, Syria and now Jordan?

MS. SINGH: We're not discounting that tensions are high in the region by any means. Since October 17th, we've seen repeated attacks on US forces, so we're not discounting the fact that tensions are high, that these Iranian backed groups are targeting our military members with the intention of trying to kill them. But we don't seek a war.

We don't want to see this widen out into a -- a broader war, and that's -- you know, again, attacks on our service members happening in Iraq and Syria -- to bring it back and to look at what's also happening in the Red Sea, we don't seek a wider war there either, but we are going to respond when it comes to commercial ships or our ships or our partners' vessels being targeted and therefore jeopardizing international trade and putting at risk innocent mariners.

So again, we don't seek war, but we will take action and respond to attacks on our forces.

Yes, Janne?

Q: Thank you. Sabrina two questions, one on North Korea, one on Russia, and North Korea launched another is submarine and launched the cruise missile into the East Coast yesterday, do you assess that North Korea's continued negative actions will lead to military action?

MS. SINGH: Yes, thanks, Janne . So, we're monitoring these activities and we won't comment on intelligence, but we've been very clear on the threat posed by the DPRK, and their military programs and our commitment to the Republic of Korea and Japan continues to be ironclad.

Q: (Inaudible) Russia...

MS. SINGH: Sure.

Q: ... the Russia and Defense Ministry spokesman criticized the United States saying that the US is dragging South Korea into the Ukraine conflict, then he warned that if South Korea supported the -- Ukraine, he would stop relations with South Korea?

MS. SINGH: Yes, I think quite to the contrary, you see countries all around the world supporting Ukraine's cause in the fight for their democracy and the fight for their sovereign territory.

We're coming off on the two year anniversary of Russia invading Ukraine. Russia is seeking help from partners like Iran, like North Korea to continue to fund itself or support itself in its war against Ukraine.

And you're seeing likeminded nations like the United States and other countries stand in alliance in support of a democracy and in support of a sovereign country who was invaded by its neighbor -- unjustly invaded by its neighbor. And we're very proud of the coalition that we've built in support of Ukraine.

Ellie?

Q: What -- what's the total number of attacks now since October? And the total number of injuries?

MS. SINGH: Yes, just a sec here. So, from October 17th to January 29th, we are tracking approximately 165 attacks, that's 66 in Iraq, 98 in Syria and of course the one yesterday in Jordan.

Oh, and I'm sorry, and on injuries, I am tracking approximately 80 US personnel have received non-serious injuries since the attacks began.

Q: How -- have there been any attacks today? And where?

MS. SINGH: There -- I believe there was an attack earlier today. I don't have the exact location. We can get you that. I -- I don't want to speculate, but we -- we can get you that information after.

Yes, right over here?

Q: Thanks. You said just above 160 attacks just this month, there's been a little over 50, so there had been around 114 or 15 from October 17th and the end of last year, so -- and you guys have -- the -- the Department -- the US has responded to a few of these but the -- you know, in order to deter, and that came out in statements from the Secretary and from other US officials.

These attacks have continued, now they -- you know, they've escalated, not just into the Red Sea, now into Jordan, a third country. The deterrence does not seem to have worked yet, is the Department considering altering or reviewing its policy in order to -- to deter these Iran back militias from -- from injuring and/or killing more US troops?

MS. SINGH: Yes, that's ultimately a -- a decision that the President's going to make, and as you -- as I read out earlier, he has convened his national security team -- you know, frequently within these -- the -- these past few days. I'm not going to get ahead of any decisions that the President and the Secretary make on this together, but certainly, as our statement said yesterday, we are committed to responding, and we will do so at a time and place of our choosing.

Q: Just a second...

MS. SINGH: Sure.

Q: ... comment on -- to go to Israel and Gaza, reports in recent days suggested that the Biden administration, including officials in the Pentagon have become more and more frustrated with the civilian death toll and there are considerations of reviewing what types of weapons -- weapon sales to -- to review those to Israel. I know FMF, a separate part of the State Department, but is the Pentagon -- does the Pentagon share that assessment? Does the Pentagon share that frustration of too many civilian casualties in Gaza?

MS. SINGH: I think we've been pretty clear that we don't want to see any innocent lives lost in this war, and we've been very clear, both publicly and privately with our Israeli counterparts that innocent lives need to be protected, humanitarian corridors need to be opened, humanitarian aid needs to continue to flow through.

Of course, we're concerned by the right -- the -- by the death toll in Gaza. We don't want to see continued Palestinians get caught in the crossfire and we've continued to urge Israel to protect those innocent civilians, and we'll continue to do so.

Will?

Q: Yes, as clarification on the -- on the number of injured, the 80 includes those from the most recent attack or not?

MS. SINGH: It does not, I'm sorry.

Q: And then, has -- has Tower 22, that -- that facility been targeted previously, either during the Israel Hamas war or prior to that in recent years?

MS. SINGH: I'm -- I can't speak to before October 7th, but since October 17th when these attacks have happened, no, Tower 22 as to my -- to my knowledge, has not been the target, but as you know, there is the Ultom Garrison is right on that border, so attacks have come pretty close to Tower 22, but nothing that has landed on the Jordanian side. Impacts have always been on the Syrian side, except for the attack that happened yesterday.

Great. Natasha?

Q: Thanks, Sabrina. So, previous drone and rocket attacks that have struck or landed near military facilities in Iraq and Syria, they have not caused anywhere near as much damage, nowhere near as many casualties, is there an assessment of why this particular drone caused so much -- I mean over 40 people injured, three killed, what was different about this drone -- or what was different about the facility that it didn't have the kind of protection that other bases do?

MS. SINGH: I think what was different about this attack is where it landed. It did impact in -- where living quarters are and I believe so -- I believe it was pretty early in the morning, so people were actually in their beds when the drone impacted.

But in terms of -- I mean we've seen these types of attacks before. We're certainly -- that's something that central command is looking into on how they can better refine not only your defenses but prevent future attacks like this from happening again.

Q: (Inaudible).

MS. SINGH: Yeah. Can I just -- I'm going to go over here and then come back. Yeah.

Q: Couple of questions. As (inaudible) review in the interim are their tactics, techniques or procedures being changed to prevent this from happening again in the region?

MS. SINGH: Yeah, I wouldn't forecast that from the podium here, I wouldn't want to get ahead of anything.

Q: How about backdoor channel discussions with Iran and I think that this was government at this point or --

MS. SINGH: I don't have anything to preview here. Yeah. Felicia ?.

Q: Do you also have a number for the attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the most recent?

MS. SINGH: Let me see here if I do. I don't know that I have -- let me get -- let me -- we can take that question and get back to you. I just don't have the running total here. As you know there were -- as recently as Friday there was another attack at a commercial vessel that was transiting. So happy to get you those numbers.

Q: And one more. Just on the secretary's meeting with Stoltenberg, did they talk about contingencies in the event that the Ukraine aid doesn't go through or can you talk about the strategy?

MS. SINGH: I believe we'll have a larger read-out. But of course something that is top of mind for the secretary and for many folks across the administration is securing that supplemental funding from Congress. We have not be able to supply Ukraine with a PDA since December. Since late December.

Ukraine is quite literally in the fight for it's life as it continues to hold territory and continues to fight for it's sovereign territory and push the Russians back in the East and the South. So we're going to continue to urge Congress to pass the supplemental budget and to give us the funding that we need to start those PDA packages.

But of course it's top of mind for everyone.

Q: Is there anything you can do without it?

MS. SINGH: No, not right now. Yes?

Q: Yes, thank you. You mentioned that the Kata'ib Hezbollah has some (inaudible) of that attack. And you know Kata'ib Hezbollah is a part of the popular mobilization group and it's part of the Iraqi defense system. So how do you get engaged with the Iraqi government specifically on that attack?

MS. SINGH: On the attack that happened on our service members? I don't have anything to read out.

Q: Yeah, when you talk about you're not looking in a war with Iran, does that mean that Iran is not in a table when you are thinking and assessing -- to responding to that attack?

MS. SINGH: I'm sorry, I don't necessarily understand the question.

Q: Are you taking Iranian ROTC as an option to responding when it comes to responding this attack that happened yesterday?

MS. SINGH: We're going to respond, as the president said and the secretary has said, at a time when we feel that we -- that we need to respond. I am not going to get ahead of the president or any decisions. We don't seek a wider conflict with Iran. We don't want to go -- we don't want a war with Iran. Again, these are Iran proxy groups launching these attacks on our service members but we certainly don't seek a wider conflict but we also own the clock here and we will respond at a time and place of our choosing.

Yeah. Oh, I'm going to -- sorry, will we'll go to you.

Q: Thank you. If Iranian proxies carried out the attack and do you -- do you hold Iran accountable for the attack and what -- what like response would be -- as a retaliation against this attack?

MS. SINGH: So as you can appreciate, I'm not going to forecast what our response looks like but of course we hold Iran responsible as they are supporting these groups. These groups that continue to inflict casualties on our forces, whether it be in Jordan, Iraq or Syria.

We absolutely hold Iran responsible because we know that they fund and train and support and equip these militias that operate in Iraq and Syria. Fadi?

Q: Thank you.

Q: So there is the position of the Department that Iran is responsible for the attack that killed three U.S. soldiers in Northeast Jordan?

MS. SINGH: Iran bears responsibility because it funds these groups that operate in Iraq in Syria that launch attacks on our service members.

Q: I understand that but this attack led to the deaths of three service members. Is Iran responsible for the death of these three service members that you just read their names and their families have been notified of their deaths.

MS. SINGH: Yeah. Again, Iran certainly bears a responsibility as they fund these groups that continue to use capabilities that they get from Iran and of course killed three of our service members.

Q: Can I take just a step back.

MS. SINGH: Sure.

Q: And just looking at last week maybe from Saturday of last week up until Saturday --

MS. SINGH: Saturday of last week, OK.

Q: Or Sunday maybe.

MS. SINGH: OK.

Q: That's nine days. The U.S. launched strikes in Syria in Iraq against Houthi positions inside Yemen with the aim of reestablishing deterrence and degrade their capabilities of whether attacking U.S. forces or shipping in the Red Sea.

Now the last of those days where we saw an unprecedented escalation, an asset was targeted with ballistic missiles, a cite was targeted with a drone, more U.S. soldiers were injured. The Houthis went after British ship, after a U.S. ship. It seems to me -- does the Pentagon think it's approach to deterrence is firing back, is it successful? Would you say it's successful especially when three soldiers were killed?

MS. SINGH: Well, I mean we are assessing what happened yesterday and we are trying to figure out how a one way attack drone was able to evade air defenses and was able to kill three of our service members and injury dozens more.

To your question on deterrence, I can continue to say we don't seek war. We don't seek further conflict, we don't want to see this widen out into a regional conflict. But we will continue to do whatever we need to when it comes to protecting U.S. forces and our coalition partners and innocent mariners transiting the Red Sea.

We believe that we have been effective in degrading their capabilities and disrupting their ability to launch certain attacks. But the reality is, yesterday, unfortunately they were successful and they killed three of our service members and that is an absolute tragedy.

I'm going to go to the phones and then I'll come back in the phone. Lara Seligman, Politico.

Q: Thanks, Sabrina. I have a couple of questions. Can you say whether there's been any decisions made to send any additional air defenses or other forces to the region to beef up some of the counter UAS capability here?

MS. SINGH: Yeah, thanks, Lara. I just wouldn't -- I'm just not going to get ahead of any decisions that are going to be made and certainly wouldn't preview the repositioning of any air defenses.

Q: And do we have sufficient counter drone capability in the region to account for all the different basis that have come under attack recently?

MS. SINGH: Yes, thanks, Lara. I mean again, we have seen repeated attacks on our U.S. service members in both Iraq and Syria and a majority of the time our air defenses have been incredibly successful and you've only seen minor damage to infrastructure and of course some -- some injuries, which we all take very seriously but for the most part our air defenses have been robust and have been successful.

I'm going to take one more from the phone here. Heather, USNI.

Q: Thanks so much. The Houthi -- Houthi leadership announced that they fired a -- fired a naval missile at Luis B Puller in the Gulf of Aden. I was wondering if there's any confirmation from the Department of Defense on whether that happened and if there's any damage or if the polar shot it down?

MS. SINGH: Thanks, Heather. I don't have anything for you at this time. I'm happy to -- we're happy to get back to you on that one.

I'll take a few from in the room and then, I'm sorry, we do have something coming up soon. Yes?

Q: There's been some back and forth about whether the U.S. has troops in Yemen. Can you confirm that?

MS. SINGH: We do not have U.S. troops in Yemen.

Yes?

Q: In the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the U.S. carried out preemptive strikes targeting Houthi missiles before they can be launched at international shipping. Is the U.S. going to consider launching preemptive strikes when it sees potential attacks on its bases in Iraq, Syria and now Jordan? And if not, why not?

MS. SINGH: Well, you've seen Central Command take action, dynamic strikes within the region when we've identified -- when we've been able to identify a potential setup of an attack or identified a point of origin. So, we have seen some of those dynamic strikes in the region. And I'm sorry, I don't have the exact dates when those happened, but they were late last year. I'm not going to get ahead of any decisions that the secretary and the president are making on what future action looks like, only to say that, of course, will respond when we do.

Yes, I'll take a few more and then got to wrap. Yes?

Q: You mentioned the drone impacted the living quarters. Do you have any details on what kind of structure that was? Is this kind of hardened structure? If it was a CHU, a hanger? I was trying to get a better sense of why it caused so much damage.

MS. SINGH: Yes, it was a contained housing unit. I'm sorry.

Jeff?

Q: Just one or?

MS. SINGH: It -- I believe it was just one that was struck. But, you know, again, we're still doing our initial assessments. So, if there's more to readout we certainly will.

Yes, Jeff, got the last question.

Q: I apologize for blurting out a question. How -- and when you had said some of them were in their beds at the time, usually when there's an indirect fire attack there's something called the voice of God that yells, incoming, incoming, incoming. Take cover. I'm wondering why these soldiers weren't in the IBF shelter, why they were still in bed.

MS. SINGH: Yes. It was, I believe, early in the morning. This is something that Central Command is looking into, in terms of how the one-way attack drone was able to get through. I don't have more details to provide at this time. And when we do, we certainly will let you know.

Okay, thanks everyone. Sorry, we've got to wrap.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3659838/

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January 29, 2024

By C. Todd Lopez , DOD News

3 U.S. Service Members Killed, Others Injured in Jordan Following Drone Attack

Three U.S. soldiers were killed yesterday in Jordan, while more than 40 other service members were injured following an uncrewed aerial system attack at a military base near the Syrian border. Those service members were in Jordan to support Operation Inherent Resolve, which is the U.S. and coalition mission to ensure the defeat of ISIS.

The three soldiers killed are Sgt. William Jerome Rivers of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett of Savannah, Georgia. All three were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade, Fort Moore, Georgia.

The attack occurred in the early morning at the logistics support base located at Tower 22 of the Jordanian Defense Network. Approximately 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel are deployed to the base. The three soldiers were killed when a one-way uncrewed aerial system impacted their container housing units.

"I am outraged and deeply saddened by the deaths of three of our U.S. service members and the wounding of other American troops in an attack last night against U.S. and coalition forces, who were deployed to a site in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border to work for the lasting defeat of ISIS," Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a statement released yesterday following the attack. "These brave Americans and their families are in my prayers, and the entire Department of Defense mourns their loss."

During a briefing at the Pentagon today, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said that in addition to the three deaths, more than 40 service members were also injured in the attack. Of those, eight had to be evacuated.

"Eight personnel who received injuries required medical evacuation from Jordan to the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center," she said. "Three of those patients are scheduled for imminent transport to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for follow-on care. The other five have been assessed for mild TBIs and are expected to return to duty."

Singh said DOD and Centcom are working now to investigate how the attack happened.

"We are still assessing what happened and how a one-way attack drone was able to impact the facility," Singh said. "U.S. Central Command continues to investigate this attack."

Right now, Singh said, it's still unclear who is responsible for the attack.

"In terms of attribution for the attack, we know this is an [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ]-backed militia," she said. "It has the footprints of Kataib Hezbollah. But not making a final assessment on that, our teams here are continuing to do the analysis. We know that Iran is behind it. And certainly as we've said before ... Iran continues to arm and equip these groups to launch these attacks, and we will certainly hold them responsible."

Over the weekend, Singh said, Austin received updates on the attack and also participated in a briefing with President Joe Biden and his national security team. Since October, U.S. service members and U.S. and coalition facilities have been attacked more than 150 times in both Iraq and Syria. This most recent attack is the first to kill U.S. service members and is also the first attack in Jordan.

Singh reiterated that the U.S. does not seek wider conflict in the Middle East, or wider conflict or a war with Iran. She also said how the U.S. responds to this most recent attack will be decided by the president following consultation with his national security team and the secretary of defense.

"That's ultimately a decision that the president is going to make," Singh said. "He's convened his national security team ... frequently within these past few days. I'm not going to get ahead of any decisions that the president and secretary make on this together. But certainly, as our statement said yesterday, we are committed to responding and we will do so at a time and place of our choosing."

Sgt. William J. Rivers, 46, served in the Army Reserve as an interior electrician. Among his awards and decorations are the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

Spc. Kennedy L. Sanders, 24, served in the Army Reserve as a horizontal construction engineer. Her awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

Spc. Breonna A. Moffett, 23, served in the Army Reserve as a horizontal construction engineer. Her awards include the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

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January 29, 2024

By Joseph Clark , DOD News

Austin Underscores Enduring Strength of NATO Alliance

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underscored the United States' commitment to ensuring NATO's enduring strength during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Pentagon today.

The secretary said the alliance remains unwavering two years into Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and commended Stoltenberg for his leadership in keeping NATO united and resolute in facing the challenge.

"NATO is the most powerful and successful alliance in history," Austin said. "And we're going to keep it that way."

The two leaders spoke as the bloc nears its final approval of Sweden as the newest member state after expanding the alliance to include Finland last year.

"NATO became even more capable last year when Finland joined, and I'm very pleased that the Turkish parliament voted last week for Sweden to join NATO, as well," Austin said. "We're looking forward to welcoming Sweden."

Stoltenberg echoed Austin's commitment to ensuring the alliance remains postured to defend and deter against threats to global security.

"NATO allies are providing unprecedented support to Ukraine, and its important that we continue to do so," Stoltenberg said. "Our support is not charity; it's an investment in our own security because the world will become more dangerous if [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin wins in Ukraine.

"This is also closely watched in China ... so that makes it even more important that we continue to support Ukraine," he said, adding that he welcomed the United States' continued commitment to supporting Ukraine.

In remarks ahead of their meeting, the two leaders previewed discussions about ways to further strengthen the alliance, as member countries prepare to meet at next month's meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. They'll meet again at a summit marking the 75th anniversary of the alliance in Washington later this year.

Those discussions are aimed at ensuring deterrence across theaters and in multiple domains.

"I look forward to some frank discussions with you and our valued allies about what we need to strengthen our collective deterrence and defense," Austin said.

Austin and Stoltenberg met as NATO carries out its largest exercise since the end of the Cold War.

Last week, member states kicked off Steadfast Defender 24, a six-month exercise that consists of a series of large-scale multinational maneuvers across a variety of geographical locations.

The exercise will feature more than 90,000 service members form 31 NATO member states and Sweden. It is designed to test the alliance's ability to quickly deploy forces and carry out defense plans approved at last year's Vilnius Summit in Lithuania.

About 26,000 U.S. personnel are scheduled to participate throughout the exercise. That includes approximately 17,000 soldiers, 7,000 sailors and Marines, 2,000 special operations forces, and 200 airmen.

Ahead of today's talks, both leaders condemned attacks in Jordan over the weekend that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. service members and wounded dozens more.

"The president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces," Austin said. "We will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops."

Stoltenberg extended his condolences for those killed and wounded in the attack.

"This demonstrates, once again, the risks service members are exposed to as they stand up for our values and take part in missions and operations to protect freedom," he said.

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Fifteenth meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro at Ministerial level

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

29 January 2024

The fifteenth meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro at Ministerial level was held today in Brussels.

The European Union delegation was led by Ms Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, on behalf of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with participation of High Representative Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi. The Montenegrin delegation was led by Mr Milojko Spajic, Prime Minister of Montenegro.

The meeting served to deepen the political dialogue between the EU member states and Montenegro, with a focus on the reforms that Montenegro needs to deliver to advance in its EU accession process.

Montenegro needs to progress on its accession path. We welcome the commitment of the new government to undertake the necessary reforms. The EU stands ready to assist the country in this endeavour.

- Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, on behalf of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

All 33 screened chapters in Montenegro's EU accession negotiations have been opened and 3 have been provisionally closed.

The EU welcomed Montenegro's efforts, including latest positive steps taken by the newly formed Montenegrin government, and its ambition to meet the rule of law interim benchmarks.

The EU also highly welcomed the fact that Montenegro has fully aligned with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy decisions and declarations, including restrictive measures, and encouraged Montenegro to continue to do so.

The EU reiterated that the ultimate priority for continued progress towards EU accession remains the fulfilment of the rule of law interim benchmarks set under chapters 23 and 24. This is a condition for the provisional closure of further chapters. Montenegro needs in particular to address remaining gaps in the areas of the fight against corruption and organised crime, freedom of expression and media freedom, and to resume, continue, accelerate and deepen reforms on the independence, professionalism and accountability of the judiciary.

The EU noted that the advancement of the negotiations will continue to be guided by Montenegro's progress in preparing for accession, as established in the Negotiation Framework.

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Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime: Council adds four persons and one entity to EU sanctions list

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

29 January 2024

The Council today approved additional restrictive measures against four persons and one entity under the European Union's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, in view of the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Russia.

The new listings include three persons employed in the Russian judicial system responsible for serious human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests and detentions, notably in connection with the case of the opposition politician, democracy activist and outspoken Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza. The listings also include the Russian para-governmental Safe Internet League which aids the Russian government in enforcing censorship practices, along with Ekaterina Mizulina, the Chairwoman of the Safe Internet League, responsible for serious and systematic abuses of freedom of opinion and expression.

Those listed under the sanctions regime are subject to an asset freeze, and the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to them or for their benefit, is prohibited. Additionally, a travel ban to the EU applies to the natural persons listed.

The EU strongly condemns the severe expansion of restrictive legislation and systematic repression against civil society and human rights defenders in Russia, as well as the unabated crackdown on independent media, individual journalists, political opposition members and other critical voices.

The EU calls on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all those imprisoned on politically motivated charges. The EU strongly condemns the politically motivated ruling by a Moscow court to sentence Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison.

The relevant legal acts, including the names of the listed individual and entity, have been published in the Official Journal of the EU.

Background

On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses.

On 4 December 2023, the Council prolonged restrictive measures under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime.

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Montenegro: High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell met with Prime Minister Milojko Spajic

European External Action Service (EEAS)

29.01.2024

EEAS Press Team

High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Montenegro Milojko Spajic in Brussels on Monday. The meeting took place in the margins of the 15th Ministerial Intergovernmental Conference with Montenegro, where the High Representative participated alongside the Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission.

During their meeting, HR/VP Borrell welcomed the Prime Minister's commitment to deliver on EU accession related reforms and reiterated the EU's support to the country in this regard. He also underlined the importance of meeting the interim benchmarks of Chapters 23 and 24, as no further chapters will be provisionally closed before this milestone is reached and encouraged the Prime Minister to continue the governments work in this regard.

HR/VP Borrell and Prime Minister Spajic also discussed issues related to the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). HR/VP Borrell commended Montenegro's full CFSP alignment, including on EU restrictive measures, demonstrating Montenegro's clear strategic orientation, which is particularly relevant in light of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and underlined the importance of Montenegro remaining firmly on this path. Improving the enforcement of restrictive measures and the prevention of their circumvention is of particular importance and the EU stands ready to provide Montenegro with assistance in that regard.

Recalling the heightened risk of cyber threats in the current geopolitical context, the HR/VP underlined the EU's renewed commitment to provide Rapid Response assistance to increase Montenegro's immediate operational capacity to detect, prevent and repel attacks against its digital infrastructures and systems. The HR/VP welcomed Montenegro's continued, high-quality contribution to EU CSDP Missions and Operations.



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UNRWA: HR/VP Borrell speaks to UN Secretary General Guterres

European External Action Service (EEAS)

29.01.2024

EEAS Press Team

The High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell held a phone call yesterday, 28 January, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to discuss the situation in the Middle East, including very serious allegations against a number of UNRWA staff members.

He expressed strong concern over the dramatic humanitarian situation on the ground and reconfirmed to the UN Secretary General that the EU will continue its essential aid to Palestinians in Gaza unabated, as one of the largest donors of aid, and through partner organisations capable of delivering assistance effectively. The role of UNRWA is vital in the current circumstances in Gaza. 2 million people desperately need the aid provided by UNRWA and other UN agencies.

He welcomed the swift and decisive measures taken by UNRWA relating to the allegations of involvement of UNRWA staff in the heinous 7 October attacks by launching a thorough investigation with full transparency, showing that the United Nations are giving the issue the importance it deserves. He stressed that if confirmed, those responsible must be held to account and internal controls strengthened accordingly. Ongoing funding commitments by the EU have been implemented and funding has not been suspended. The EU will determine upcoming funding decisions in light of the outcome of the investigation.

The High Representative underlined to the UN Secretary General of the EU's continued commitment to advance its strong partnership with the United Nations and its agencies. They agreed to remain in close touch.



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Venezuela: Statement by the Spokesperson on banning opposition politicians

European External Action Service (EEAS)

29.01.2024

EEAS Press Team

The European Union is very concerned by recent developments in Venezuela and the Supreme Court's ratification of the disqualification of opposition politicians Maria Corina Machado and Henrique Capriles from the upcoming presidential elections. Decisions intended to prevent members of the opposition from exercising their core political rights can only undermine democracy and the rule of law.

The EU calls for the full implementation of the Barbados Agreement and the continuation of an inclusive dialogue process that can lead to fair and competitive elections in 2024. We therefore welcome the decision by the parties to the Venezuelan-led negotiation process to remain at the negotiation table.

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European Commission Statement on UNRWA

European Commission

Press release

29 January 2024

Brussels

The European Union is one of the largest donors of humanitarian and development aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

Humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank will continue unabated through partner organisations.

Currently, no additional funding to UNRWA is foreseen until the end of February.

The European Commission will determine upcoming funding decisions for UNRWA in light of the very serious allegations made on 24 January relating to the involvement of UNRWA staff in the heinous 7 October attacks.

The Commission will review the matter in light of the outcome of the investigation announced by the UN and the actions it will take. The Commission welcomes the information provided by UNRWA as well as the launch of the investigation.

It expects UNRWA to agree to carrying out an audit of the Agency to be conducted by EU appointed independent external experts, reviewing, thereby the pillar assessment, focusing specifically on the control systems needed to prevent the possible involvement of its staff in terrorist activities. It also expects a strengthening of UNRWA's Department of Internal Investigations (DIOS) which is key in this regard.

Finally, a review of all UNRWA staff should be launched soonest to confirm that they did not participate in the attacks.

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French perceptions of China after 60 years of diplomacy

(People's Daily App) 16:51, January 31, 2024

January 27 marked the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between China and France, sparking various sentiments and reflections on the relationship between the two nations. We took to the streets of Paris to discover more about French people's perceptions of China!

(Video: City News Service)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Possible responses to deaths of US soldiers pose challenge for Washington

Global Times

Excessive reaction will entangle US in Mideast crisis it tried to avoid: experts

By Zhao Yusha Published: Jan 29, 2024 09:34 PM

The US has pledged to retaliate against the recent drone attack in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers and left more than 30 injured. However, determining the form of response presents a challenge to Washington. An excessive reaction risks entangling the US further in the complex Middle East crisis, while a weak response may undermine its global standing and appear embarrassing, said Chinese experts, noting that a continued US presence in the region will only bring the country closer to a real war.

Three US soldiers were killed and more than 30 injured in the drone attack on a US base near Jordan's border with Syria. Scores of US personnel have been wounded, including some with traumatic brain injuries, during the attack.

After the incident, US President Joe Biden claimed the attack was carried out by "radical Iran-backed militant groups." He vowed "We shall respond," AP reported.

However, in a statement on Monday, Iran's mission to the United Nations said that Tehran was not involved in the attack that killed the US service members, media reported.

The mission said, "Iran had no connection and had nothing to do with the attack on the US base... There is a conflict between US forces and resistance groups in the region, which reciprocate retaliatory attacks." It is the first time that a strike has killed US soldiers in the region since the Palestine-Israel conflict broke out in October 2023.

A US official was quoted by the Telegraph as saying that the drone strike on US troops was "the most deadly attack since October 17," when attacks on US personnel in the region began, and "clearly an escalation of significance," adding that the Pentagon had launched an immediate investigation into how US air defenses did not repel the strike.

Headache for the US

Chinese experts questioned whether the retaliatory action will be confined to the militant groups that the White House has blamed for the attack, or widened to Iran, the country the US has accused of supporting those militant groups.

The US must target different militia groups in the region if it decides to carry out retaliatory attacks against militant groups, as the identity of the culprits behind the assault on US troops remains uncertain, professor of the School of International Studies and a senior researcher of the School of Global and Area Studies at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Monday. Tian further noted that the US may find itself trapped in a similar quagmire in the Middle East as it did following the 9/11 attacks.

In fact, the US is now in a bind as to what form its response will take. Engaging in excessive attacks on the militants or resorting to retaliatory measures against Iran would only serve to entangle the US further in the web of the Middle East crisis, a nightmare that the country is keen to avoid repeating. Conversely, a feeble response would risk tarnishing Washington's image, leaving it vulnerable to accusations of embarrassment and weakness on the global stage, Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Monday.

Liu said that the US is facing growing pressure as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict drags on, thus the US dilemma of choosing how to respond to the recent attack reflects the contradiction in its Middle East strategy of engagement and withdrawal.

According to experts, the US' involvement in the Middle East appears increasingly perilous, even if it were to overlook this particular attack. The potential sinking of a US warship by militant factions in the region would not only pose a severe challenge to Washington's image, credibility, and hegemony but also bring the country closer to the brink of war, cautioned Liu.

Yemen's Houthis launched a rocket at US warship Lewis B. Puller as it sailed through the Gulf of Aden on Sunday, the group's military spokesman said in a statement on Monday.

Back home, Biden is also under mounting pressure to ratchet up the scale of his response. Republicans in Congress said the administration's approach had failed to deter America's adversaries in the region.

"We need a major reset of our Middle East policy to protect our national security interests," said Republican Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, AP reported.

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina went further, urging the administration "to strike targets of significance inside Iran, not only as reprisal for the killing of our forces, but as deterrence against future aggression. The only thing the Iranian regime understands is force."

Liu said this loss and the fermenting chaos across the Middle East is becoming increasingly unfavorable for Biden as the presidential election looms closer.

Reaching out

As the US finds that handling the Middle East crisis is getting thornier by the day, it is now seeking China's help to assuage the conflict in the Red Sea, as Yemen's Houthi armed group continues attacking ships in the region.

Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held a new round of talks with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan from Friday and Saturday in Thailand.

According to a readout issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the two talked about not only bilateral relations, but also regional and international issues, including the Middle East, Ukraine, the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea.

After the meeting, a number of US media outlets reported that the US failed to prod China into pressuring Iran to stop Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

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," a senior administration official told reporters during a call on Sullivan's meeting on Saturday, US media outlet Politico reported.

Counting on China to pressure Iran to stop Houthi attacks is an overly simplistic notion, because China is not in a position to pressure Iran, and neither do the Houthi completely follow Iran's orders, said Liu.

China has been making active efforts to ease tensions in the Red Sea from the very beginning, having called for an end to the attacks on civilian ships and urging relevant parties to avoid adding fuel to the tensions in the Red Sea, Wang Yi said in an interview with media after concluding his trip to Africa earlier this month.

The US has displayed a perplexing contradiction in its approach toward China's involvement with Middle Eastern countries. While it has often viewed China's collaboration with these countries with a sense of envy, it now finds itself seeking China's assistance in resolving the ongoing crisis, said Liu, who added that the US should take a lesson from the Red Sea crisis and recognize the imperative nature of cooperating with China on Middle East issues.

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Philippines' Marcos kicks off Vietnam visit with S.China Sea maritime cooperation in focus

Global Times

More conflicts to rise if coast guard deal harms China's interests: experts

By Wang Qi Published: Jan 29, 2024 08:49 PM

Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos left for Vietnam on Monday for a two-day state visit, which is anticipated to mainly focus on the agriculture sector and coast guard cooperation, against the backdrop of the tensions in the South China Sea provoked by Manila.

Chinese experts said on Monday China is always open to cooperation among ASEAN member countries that is conducive to regional development and stability, while strongly opposes "cooperation" that targets a third party and harms others' interests. If Vietnam and the Philippines cooperate in certain areas to the detriment of China's interests in the South China Sea, it will only irritate the situation in the South China Sea and make the risk of conflict higher.

According to the Voice of Vietnam, Marcos' first-ever Vietnam trip since his inauguration in 2022 aims to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the two countries, strengthen political trust at the highest level, and create momentum to bolster bilateral cooperation.

Before Marcos' departure, he said in a speech on Monday that he will discuss with his counterpart, Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, cooperation in trade and investments, education, and tourism, as well as "regional and multilateral issues of mutual concern."

Calling the state visit to bring the relations between the Philippines and Vietnam to "greater heights," Marcos is also scheduled to meet Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue.

According to the GMA Network, Marcos will also meet with the business sector to explore how his country can further strengthen trade and investment between the Philippines and Vietnam.

Before Marcos' departure to Vietnam, the Philippine Coast Guard said the two countries will sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between their coast guard forces, "toward promoting, preserving, and protecting mutual interest," according to the CNN Philippines.

In particular, the discussions will center on marine environmental protection, search and rescue, as well as setting "hotline" of communication for easier coordination.

Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute of Hainan Tropical Ocean University, told the Global Times on Monday that Vietnam and the Philippines are both ASEAN member countries and it is normal for them to interact with each other and strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

"As for the possible signing of a coast guard agreement between the two countries, if it is for the sake of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, China is also open to it," Gu said, "However, if the coast guard agreement is used against China, China will firmly oppose it."

Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Monday that China, Vietnam, and the Philippines have overlapping claims in some of the South China Sea regions. The Philippine and Vietnamese coast guard cooperation is based on the mutual recognition of the enforcement of the waters, which means that China's sovereignty claims are excluded and ignored, said Chen.

"If Chinese fishing vessels run into waters claimed by China, which the Philippines and Vietnam also claimed, then it will put more pressure and cost on our maritime rights protection, because the Vietnam and Philippines coast guards could share information and cooperate in law enforcement based on their agreement."

China is open to closer economic, trade and food security cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines, as it is conducive to the economic and industrial cooperation of the whole region, said Chen.

However, if their cooperation harms the interests of third parties, including China, it will only deteriorate the situation in the South China Sea, making the risk of possible conflict greater, said Chen.

Position of Vietnam

Before Marcos' visit, in December 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded a successful visit to Vietnam. Leaders of the two countries held in-depth and candid exchange of views on maritime issues during the visit, with both sides stressing the need to better manage and actively resolve maritime disputes, so as to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

China has been Vietnam's largest trading partner for many years, and Vietnam is China's largest trading partner in ASEAN, with bilateral trade volume exceeded $200 billion for two consecutive years, according to data from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce in 2023.

The Philippines is Vietnam's 16th largest trading partner, and the largest export market for Vietnamese rice. The Philippines and Vietnam aim to boost bilateral trade by up to 10 billion in 2024, according to media reports.

China and Vietnam have enjoyed closer ties in recent years. "China and Vietnam share a land border, and the two countries have close political, economic and cultural exchanges," Gu said.

Both countries are led by a Communist Party and enjoy good-neighborly friendship, which makes it unlikely for Vietnam to join other countries against Beijing on the South China Sea dispute at present. And in the long run, much remains to be seen as Vietnam-Philippines relations deepen, Gu said.

Despite the South China Sea disputes between Vietnam and China, Vietnam's South China Sea policy is also multi-faceted, and it also emphasizes cooperation with China on the South China Sea issue, Chen remarked.

There is no doubt that a strained relationship with China is not conducive to Vietnam's economic development and social stability, Gu noted.

Although the Philippines and Vietnam have a common interest in advancing the development of oil, gas and fishery resources in the disputed waters, divergences remain as well, said Chen. "The Philippines has a military alliance with the US, and it will be more dependent on the US, which has never given up its efforts to 'peacefully evolve' Vietnam."

Vietnam highly regards its diplomatic autonomy, so it is unlikely that Vietnam will be led by the Philippines on the South China Sea issue. But there may be mutual influence and coordination between the two sides, Chen noted.

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Hezbollah hits two Israeli military posts with missile strikes

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 29, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement says it has carried out fresh missile strikes against two Israeli military posts near the southern border with the occupied territories.

In a statement on Monday, Hezbollah said it targeted the military post of Jal al-Alam with a Falaq missile, inflicting damage on the site.

Hezbollah also said that it had hit the Israeli military's Biranit barracks with a Burkan missile in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.

The resistance front -- including groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen -- have been targeting Israeli interests since early October when the occupying regime launched the ongoing genocidal war against the Gaza Strip.

Also on Monday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it had launched a drone strike hitting an Israeli military position deep inside the occupied Palestinian territories.

The attack came a day after the group claimed responsibility for a drone strike on a US military outpost along the Jordan-Syria border, which Washington said had killed three American troops and injured 34 others.

Resistance groups in Iraq have ramped up their attacks against US and Israeli interests in the region over the aggression in Gaza, which has killed at least 26,420 Palestinians so far.

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Yemen army attacks another US ship in Gulf of Aden

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 29, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Spokesman of Yemen's Armed Forces Brigadier General Yahya Saree' has announced that the the Yemeni armed forces have targeted the "Lewis B Puller" vessel of the US Navy in the Gulf of Aden as part of attacks aimed at forcing the US to end its aggression against the Arab country.

Saree' was quoted by Al Mayadeen as saying on Monday that logistic support for American forces participating in the ongoing aggression against Yemen was among the missions defined for the vessel hit earlier in the day.

He said that the operation is in the framework of the Yemeni army's military actions to defend its territory and to help the oppressed people in the Arab country.

The military commander said that the Yemeni armed forces will continue to prevent the Zionist regime from benefitting from shipping activity in the Red Sea and the Sea of Oman until the Israeli aggression against Palestine stops and the blockade of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted.

Earlier on Sunday, senior official of Yemen's Ansarullah Movement Mohammed al-Bukhaiti warned that any ground invasion against Yemen by US and British forces would expand the domain of Yemeni attacks in the strategic waters off the country's west coast.

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Iran has no link to drone strike against US soldiers in Jordan: Kanani

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 29 January 2024 / 12:22

Iran views claims it is involved in an attack that killed three U.S. service members in northeastern Jordan near Syria's border as "baseless", foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said on Monday.

Tehran-ISNA- Kanaani said the continuation of U.S. strikes on Syria and Iraq as well as the war in Gaza will only intensify a cycle of instability in the region.

U.S. President Biden blamed Iran-backed groups for the unmanned aerial drone attack on U.S. forces, the first deadly strike against U.S. forces since the Gaza war erupted in October.

Kanaani said "resistance groups" do not take orders from the Islamic Republic.

Earlier, Iran's Mission to the United States issued a statement affirming that "Iran had no connection and had nothing to do with the attack on the U.S. base."

It added: "There is a conflict between U.S. forces and resistance groups in the region, which reciprocate retaliatory attacks."

End Item

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US Navy warship targeted in Gulf of Aden: Yemeni Army

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 29 January 2024 / 12:16

The Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson specifies that the warship was involved in providing logistical support for the US forces waging aggression against Yemen.

Tehran-ISNA- The spokesperson of the Yemeni Armed Forces Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced in a statement earlier this morning that Yemen targeted US Navy warship Lewis B Puller sailing through the Gulf of Aden yesterday evening.

Saree specified that the warship was involved in providing logistical support for the US forces waging aggression against Yemen, among other missions.

"The operation is part of the military measures taken by the Yemeni Armed Forces in defense of the Yemeni people and as part of the commitment to support the oppressed Palestinian people," Saree added.

Concluding his statement, Saree reaffirmed the YAF's commitment to enforce a blockade on Israeli navigation in the Red Sea until a ceasefire is achieved in Gaza and the siege enforced on the people of Gaza is lifted.

End Item

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PM Netanyahu Holds Meeting on the Issue of Returning the Residents of the South to their Homes

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

29.01.2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, held a meeting on the issue of returning the residents of the south to their homes.

The Prime Minister's Office Director General, the Government Secretary, the Finance Ministry Director General, the Director of the Tekuma Authority and additional representatives attended the meeting.

There has been significant progress in the preparations and final adjustments are being made to advance the issue.

The decisions will soon be submitted for Government discussion.

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Krisjanis Karins: Latvia is interested in the existence of a world order based on the rule of law

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

29.01.2024

On 29 January 2024, Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins attended the official event for the launch of the annual publication of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs, "Latvian Foreign and Security Policy. Yearbook 2024". Addressing those present, the Foreign Minister reaffirmed:

"Latvia is interested in the existence of a world order based on the rule of law, the way it is today. In such a world order, small countries thrive and prosper. A rules-based world order is rooted in active multilateral cooperation and the effective functioning of international organisations. Right now, we are facing various challenges, including Russia's brutal war against Ukraine, which is about to enter its second calendar year. Our answer to this is active participation in the European Union, NATO and more active cooperation with countries across the globe."

The yearbooks of Latvia's foreign and security policy provide an annual analysis of developments in those fields in Latvia, as well as modelling possible development scenarios and suggesting solutions.

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The Parliamentary Secretary: Undesirable foreign influence on democratic processes in the European Union should be prevented

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

29.01.2024

On 29 January 2024, in Brussels, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Reinis Brusbardis, attended a meeting of the General Affairs Council of the European Union (EU), which discussed a proposal to prevent undesirable foreign influence on legislative processes in the EU.

Parliamentary Secretary Brusbardis emphasised that Latvia supported the protection of democracy, while pointing out Latvia's concerns about the proportionality of the proposal and its conformity to the aim declared. Reinis Brusbardis underlined the need to seek a better balance between prevention of foreign interference and safeguarding the fundamental rights of citizens. The Parliamentary Secretary called on the European Commission to continue its dialogue with civil society in order to address the negative impact of the proposal on civil society organisations.

The proposal will make the representation of third countries' interests in the EU more transparent. EU organisations, including associations, will be obliged to keep records of cases where they have carried out lobbying activities in EU Member State bodies on behalf of, and financed by third countries.

The participants were presented with the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU. The meeting held a rule of law dialogue, which discussed the current rule of law situation in Spain, France, Croatia, and Italy. There was also an exchange of views on the proposal to improve the methodology of the EU enlargement process.

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Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on January 22-28, 2024

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2024-01-29

International cooperation | Security and defense policy

On January 22-28 NATO Air Policing Mission Detachment fighter aircraft were scrambled twice to intercept aircraft of the Russian Federation violating flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

On January 25 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled to intercept two IL-96 and two SU-30SM aircraft. The IL-96s were flying to Kaliningrad from the mainland of the Russian Federation, according to pre-filed flight plans, with onboard transponders switched on, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. The two SU-30SM aircraft flew out into the international airspace from mainland Russia and then returned. They had no pre-filed flight plans, the onboard transponders were switched off and the crews were not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

Also on January 25 the NATO fighter jets were scrambled to intercept one IL-96 and two SU-27. The IL-96 was flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia according to a pre-filed flight plan, with its onboard transponder switched on and maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre, while the two SU-27 flew into the international airspace from Kaliningrad and then returned without having pre-filed the flight plans, with their onboard transponders off, not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

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The Czech Republic Joins the F-35 Lightning II Global Team

The F-35's growing European presence strengthens interoperability

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Czech Republic government signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) today making official its intent to procure 24 Lockheed Martin 5th Generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft. Through the U.S. government Foreign Military Sale, the Czech Air Force will receive its first aircraft in 2031, which will be in the latest advanced Block 4 configuration.

"We are pleased the government of Czech Republic is now officially a part of the F-35 Lightning II program of record," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, program executive officer, F-35 Joint Program Office. "This partnership with the Czech Ministry of Defense will deliver and sustain the F-35 aircraft for decades, while providing the Czech Air Force with unmatched interoperability and ensuring it has the capability to counter current and future threats."

In addition to the aircraft, the procurement also includes personnel training, service and logistical support, and developing other support services ensuring successful deliveries of all 24 F-35s.

"With the signing of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance between the Czech Republic and U.S. governments, the Czech Republic becomes the 18th nation to join the global F-35 program. We are honored to partner with the Czech Republic Air Force as its F-35s join other European nations in strengthening and growing interoperability, significantly increasing NATO's deterrent capability." said Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed Martin's vice president and general manager of the F-35 program. "The F-35 is the best solution for the Czech Republic's future fighter fleet with 5th Generation capabilities enhancing the nation's effectiveness in the 21st Century Security battlespace."

The F-35 is the European aircraft of choice for replacing legacy fighter fleets, offering unmatched interoperability with NATO and other nations to provide a key discriminator for the U.S. and its allies for decades to come. By the 2030s, more than 600 F-35s will work together from more than 10 European countries, including two full U.S. F-35 squadrons stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath. It is also the only fighter aircraft in production today that will create jobs for the next 40-50 years and enable strategic industrial partnerships with Czech industry.

F-35s are now operating from 32 bases worldwide. To date, Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 990 F-35s, trained more than 2,280 pilots and 15,400 maintainers, and the F-35 fleet has surpassed nearly 773,000 cumulative flight hours. Lockheed Martin continues to work side by side with F-35 operators to ensure allies remain ahead of the evolving threat.

For additional information, visit www.f35.com.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 122,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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Pakistan's Deep Concerns over the Suspension of Funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pakistan expresses its deep concerns over the decision by some countries to suspend the funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The timing of this suspension is deeply troubling as it takes place amidst the ongoing war, displacement, and suffering of the people of Gaza who depend on critical aid from UNRWA for their daily survival.

As the primary humanitarian agency in Gaza, UNRWA serves as a lifeline for over two million people, providing shelter and delivering vital food and primary healthcare services, even amidst the most intense hostilities. The decision to suspend funding in response to allegations against a small group of staff is unjustifiable.

We agree with the UN Secretary-General that UNRWA's current funding would not be sufficient to meet all the requirements to support the Palestinian people over the next month. It is, therefore, imperative to prioritize the continuity of UNRWA's operations to sustain the survival of the people of Gaza.

Pakistan urges all countries that have suspended their funding for UNRWA to reconsider their decision in order to avoid suspension of the Agency's humanitarian work. The lives of the people in Gaza hang in the balance and depend on this crucial support

31/2024

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Yemen's Houthi group attacks U.S. warship in Gulf of Aden

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 16:19, January 29, 2024

SANAA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group on Monday said they have launched a missile attack on a U.S. military ship in the Gulf of Aden.

On Sunday evening, "We launched a naval missile targeting 'USS Lewis B Puller,' a ship belonging to the American Navy when it was sailing in the Gulf of Aden," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement.

"One of the ship's missions is to provide logistical support to the American forces involved in aggression against our country," he added.

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Hamas: Continuation of Israel's crimes in Gaza, disgrace for its supporters

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 11:32 PM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has taken to task Israel's backers for supporting its war of aggression against the Gaza Strip, saying they are complicit in the regime's genocide across the territory.

Osama Hamdan, the movement's representative in Lebanon, made the remarks at a press conference in Beirut on Monday.

He said "Israel's Nazi regime continues to intensify its genocidal war and ethnic cleansing against the people of Gaza" more than four months into its military aggression.

The Hamas official stressed that continuation of the Israeli regime's "massacres and crimes" against Palestinians in Gaza "will remain as a disgrace for all those who support them, those who are bystanders, those who are silent about criminalizing and condemning them, and those who are reluctant to stop them."

Hamdan reiterated that the US administration and its President Joe Biden are partners and supporters of "Nazi occupation" in its crimes, which makes them fully responsible for the regime's atrocities, massacres, and genocidal war.

The Israeli regime has brought Gaza under an unrelenting and indiscriminate onslaught since October 7, 2023 when the territory's resistance movements staged Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupied territories.

Tel Aviv has compounded the military onslaught with a total siege that has effectively blocked the flow of food, medicine, fuel, water, and electricity into Gaza, thus increasing the prospect of all-out famine across the Palestinian territory.

Thus far, the Israeli onslaught has claimed the lives of more than 26,600 Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children, leaving more than 65,300 others injured, and displacing over 90 percent of Gaza's 2.3-million population.

Israel's genocidal war enjoys unreserved military and political support of the regime's Western backers, most importantly the United States. The US has armed the regime with thousands of tons of military hardware since the onset of the Gaza onslaught, and has also vetoed all United Nations Security Council resolutions that called for cessation of the Israeli aggression.

Hospitals in crosshairs

Elsewhere in his remarks, Hamdan said, "The Nazi occupation continues to escalate its barbaric aggression against the Gaza Strip's hospitals, putting them out of service through siege and bombing."

The Hamas' official said Israel's crimes in Gaza are in violation of all international values, laws, and norms.

The regime's crimes, he noted, "will remain engraved in the memory of our steadfast people, who will not forgive them and will not stop defending their legitimate rights."

Hamdan said the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening by the day as a result of Israel's relentless bombing and destruction of all aspects of life, displacement of more than 90 percent of the population, and the high number of victims, most of whom are women and children.

'38 massacres in Khan Yunis over 48 hours'

Hamdan stressed that during the past 48 hours, the Israeli regime has committed as many as 38 massacres that claimed the lives of 350 people in the southern city of Khan Yunis alone to force the people of Gaza to leave their homes.

The Hamas representative in Lebanon said Israel's continued massacres took place only 48 hours after the International Court of Justice, the United Nations top court, issued an interim ruling, ordering the regime to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. This, he said, proves the regime's insistence on continuing its crime.

On defunding UN agency for Palestinian refugees

Hamdan also addressed a recent decision by the United States and its pro-Israel allies to suspend funding for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

The United States and a number of its Western allies, in addition to Japan, have declared their decision to pause funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, citing allegations by the Israeli regime that some of its employees were involved in the Palestinians' anti-regime operation on October 7.

Hamdan noted that "systematic targeting of UNRWA comes from the Zionist occupation and those countries that support its aggressive plans and agendas."

He also slammed as reprehensible UNRWA's decision to dismiss a number of its employees "based on the allegations made by the Zionist enemy and without investigation or verification of those allegations," adding that the UN agency's measure lacked the minimum elements of professionalism.

Hamdan said the decision was a sign of the agency's "deviation from its basic mission, which is to protect and provide relief to Palestinian refugees, and not to adopt the narrative of the fascist occupation."

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Israeli troops kill 5 Palestinians in new raids into West Bank towns

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 6:47 PM

Israeli forces have carried out new raids into several areas of the occupied West Bank, killing at least five Palestinians.

Two Palestinians were killed in a town south of al-Khalil on Monday. The Palestinian Health Ministry said Moataz Mahmoud Atbeish, 30, was killed during confrontations with Israeli forces in Dura. Muhannad Ismail al-Fasfous, 18, succumbed to wounds sustained from Israeli gunfire in the same town.

The regime also carried out a separate raid into Jenin, killing another Palestinian. Palestinian media said Thaer Naeem Hamo, 21, was shot in the abdomen by Israeli soldiers. He was taken to Hadaf Medical Center, where doctors treated him but failed to save him.

The fourth victim of the Israeli violence, Rani Yasser Khalaf al-Shaer, 16, was a student who was killed by the regime forces in the Khirbet al-Deir area near Bethlehem.

Another Palestinian identified as Obaida Hassan Abdel Rahman Hamed, 18, was shot dead during a military raid in the town of Silwad, east of Ramallah.

Israel has carried out such raids in the West Bank on an almost daily basis since early October. And the regime has killed over 370 Palestinians there since.

More Palestinians are killed in the Gaza Strip as Israel defies international calls to stop its hostilities. At least 350 Palestinians have been killed over the past 48 hours.

Israel has killed more than 26,600 people in Gaza since early October.

According to the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, more than 25,000 kids have lost one or both parents in Gaza since October 7.

A Palestinian armed faction has reported that it shot down an Israeli drone over southern Gaza. The Mujahideen Brigades also said it bombed an Israeli aviation base in the southern occupied Palestinian territories.

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China hopes to see implementation of ICJ ruling on genocide in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 6:38 PM

China says it looks forward to the effective implementation of the ruling issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to make Israel end genocidal acts in the besieged Gaza Strip.

On Friday, the UN court in The Hague issued six orders in relation to the Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory. It stopped short of calling for a full ceasefire, however.

"The ruling, made by the majority of the judges, responds to the widespread concern of the international community to protect civilians, de-escalate the tense situation in Gaza, and ease the humanitarian crisis," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.

Wang reiterated that China condemns all acts against civilians and opposes all moves that violate international law.

The world court ruled that Israel must take action to prevent genocidal violence by its armed forces; "prevent and punish" the incitement to genocide; and insure that humanitarian aid to Gaza is increased.

The rulings are legally binding, but in practice it has no mechanism to enforce the judgments.

The UN court issued the measures in a case brought by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention.

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US says not seeking war with Iran after death of servicemen

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 3:53 PM

A senior US official says his country is not after a war with Iran following a drone attack on a US military outpost in Jordan that killed three American servicemen.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that the US would deliver a "very consequential response" to the attack a day earlier on the Tower 22 barracks near Jordan's border with Syria, which Washington blamed on militants linked to Iran. Iran has rejected the accusation.

However, Kirby insisted that such a response would not mean a war with Iran, whom Washington accuses of supporting groups opposed to the US presence in the region.

"... we don't seek a war with Iran. We're not looking for a wider conflict in the Middle East," he told the CNN.

Kirby said that the US wants the recurrent attacks on its military personnel in the region to stop while claiming that Washington is after a stable, secure and prosperous Middle East.

The comments come as resistance groups in several Arab countries continue to launch attacks on US and Israeli interests in the region as part of a campaign to secure an end to the brutal Israeli aggression against Palestinians in Gaza.

Iraqi resistance groups have carried out more than 150 attacks on US positions in Iraq and Syria since early October when the Israeli war on Gaza began, according to tallies provided by the US military.

That comes on top of attacks mounted by Yemen's ruling Ansarullah movement on US ships sailing in the Red Sea and in surrounding waters. The attacks began this month after Washington led a military campaign against Yemen to force the country to end attacks on Israeli-linked ships in the region.

Regional resistance groups have said that attacks on the US and allies could stop if Israel agrees to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

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Al-Qassam Brigades strikes Tel Aviv with barrage of rockets

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 3:30 PM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has launched fresh attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories by firing a barrage of rockets at Tel Aviv in retaliation for the months-long genocidal war on the besieged Gaza Strip.

Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, fired about 10 heavy rockets at Tel Aviv and its surroundings on Monday, on the 115th day of Israel's brutal aggression against Palestinians in Gaza.

Israeli media said several explosions were heard in Tel Aviv and that the rockets had been fired from southwest of Khan Yunis, the largest city in the south of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli media confirmed the reports of Palestinian strikes on Tel Aviv, but declined to provide further details on the extent of damage and number of possible casualties.

"At least 10 rockets were fired from Gaza toward central Israel not long ago, setting off sirens in Tel Aviv and surrounding cities including Rishon Lezion, Holon and Bat Yam," said the website of the Times of Israel newspaper.

The paper also said a car in Rishon Lezion was hit by shrapnel, but nobody was wounded.

Monday's attack by the al-Qassam Brigades was the largest of its kind over the past weeks after the military wing of Hamas targeted with a missile barrage Tel Aviv and about 30 cities and towns south of it earlier in the month.

In a similar attack on the first day of the new year, al-Qassam Brigades struck Tel Aviv and its suburbs with missiles, destroyed scores of Israeli military vehicles and killed over a dozen of the regime's forces.

Israel waged the genocidal war on besieged Gaza on October 7 after Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

So far, the Tel Aviv regime's aggression has claimed the lives of at least 26,422 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 65,087 others.

The Israeli military has committed war crimes in Gaza by targeting medical facilities, personnel, and transport and destroying the healthcare system in the Palestinian territory.

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Regional crisis caused by continuation of Israeli war crimes: Iran

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 11:33 AM

Iran has described continued war crimes committed by Israel against the oppressed Palestinian people as the cause of the current crisis gripping West Asia.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani made the remarks at a weekly press briefing on Monday, as Israel's US-backed genocide in the besieged Gaza Strip entered its 115th day.

"The Gaza Strip has witnessed the most brutal attacks by the occupying regime... The crisis in the region is the outcome of the continuation of war crimes by the Zionist regime," he added.

"Unfortunately, the international community and the [United Nations] Security Council failed to fulfill their duty in ending the crisis due to the United States' unconstructive actions. Iran is interested in strengthening stability in the region."

The top diplomat also echoed remarks made last week by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who had called on Muslim countries to cut off Israel's vital arteries by severing their political and economic relations with the occupying regime.

Kan'ani said that the Islamic states have tools to cut off the vital arteries of the Zionist regime and that they should not wait for international organizations to take action because they are controlled by pro-Israel governments.

Israel waged its brutal war on Gaza on October 7 following a historic operation by the Palestinian Hamas resistance group against the occupying entity.

So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 26,422 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured at least 65,087 others.

'Red Sea developments spillover of Israeli oppression against Gazans'

A recent report claimed that China had asked Iran to help rein in Yemeni attacks on ships or risk harming business ties with Beijing.

The top diplomat rejected the report, noting that Iran and China support convergence and that they have expressed their commitment to establish justice, resolve conflicts, and counter tensions in the region.

"We have always held joint consultations... The developments in the Red Sea are the spillover of the overt oppression that we are witnessing in Gaza, this is China's position," he said.

In solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, Yemeni forces have targeted ships in the southern Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and even in the Arabian Sea with owners linked to Israel or those going to and from ports in the occupied territories.

'Iran does not want tensions with US'

The spokesman further warned that the continuation of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza will lead to instability.

"Iran's clear viewpoint is that stability in the region benefits all sides. There must be an end to the war crimes, the siege, and the evil policy of displacing the people of Gaza," he said.

"We do not want tensions with any side, not even with the US. We should look at the issues in the region realistically."

Additionally in his remarks, Kan'ani said that Iran's relations with Iraq are strong and have solid foundations.

He also noted that the two neighboring countries have serious political will to keep up their strong ties.

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Yemen targets US warship in Aden Gulf in fresh pro-Palestine strike

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 9:22 AM

Yemen's Armed Forces have conducted a fresh strike against an American warship in the Gulf of Aden in another show of support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who have come under a genocidal US-backed war by Israel.

In a statement on Monday, the forces' spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said that USS Lewis B. Puller had been targeted by a naval missile on Sunday evening.

He added that one of the tasks of the US Navy ship is to provide logistical support to the American forces participating in the Saudi-led military aggression against Yemen.

"The operation lies within measures taken by the Yemeni Armed Forces in defense of Yemen and support of the oppressed Palestinian people," Saree said.

He also stressed that the Yemeni forces will continue to block Israeli navigation in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea and prevent ships from heading to ports in the occupied lands until Israel's Gaza onslaught ceases and its siege on the Palestinian territory is lifted.

Israel waged its brutal war on Gaza on October 7 following a historic operation by the Palestinian Hamas resistance group against the occupying entity.

The US has offered untrammeled support for Israel during the aggression that has so far killed at least 26,422 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured at least 65,087 others.

In solidarity with the Palestinians in besieged Gaza, Yemeni forces have targeted ships in the southern Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and even in the Arabian Sea with owners linked to Israel or those going to and from ports in the occupied territories.

In response to the maritime campaign in support of Palestine, the US and its allies have launched strikes on Yemen in violation of the country's sovereignty and international law.

The illegal strikes prompted Yemen to declare American and British vessels as legitimate targets for its armed forces.

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Jan. 28: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 8:20 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against Israel and its Western backers amid the regime's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 26,500 Palestinians, mostly children and women.

The operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Sunday, January 28, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on Jan. 28:

Targeted two Merkava tanks with Yassin-105 shells in Al-Amal neighborhood, west of Khan Younis city in southern Gaza.

Targeted two Merkava tanks with Yassin-105 shells, in the Joura Al-Aqad area west of Khan Younis city in southern Gaza.

Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Jan. 28:

Engaged in clashes with Israeli soldiers using machine guns and heavy weapons in the advancing fronts of Khan Younis city, southern Gaza.

Engaged in clashes with Israeli soldiers using machine guns and appropriate weapons in the advancing fronts of Al-Amal, Al-Mask and Absan Al-Kabeera areas of Khan Younis city.

Shelled IOF soldiers and their vehicles with mortar shells in the Tell Al-Hawa area southwest of Gaza City. Targeted military vehicles with RPGs in the Al-Amal neighborhood and Joura Al-Aqad west of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.

Blew up a Merkava tank with a barrel bomb in the axis of Al-Amal neighborhood west of Khan Younis city, southern Gaza.

Mujahideen Brigades' operations on Jan. 28:

Shelled the Israeli airbase in Rayyim with a barrage of rockets.

Shot down an Israeli Evo Max 4T quadcopter drone, in southern Gaza with appropriate weapons.

Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces operations on Jan. 28:

Engaged in clashes with Israeli soldiers on the axes of the central region of the Gaza Strip, using appropriate weapons.

Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades' operations on Jan. 28:

Shelled Israeli military vehicles and soldiers' positions in the eastern areas of Jabalia and Gaza City with mortar shells.

Hezbollah's operations on Jan. 28:

Eastern sector:

At around 14:00 local time, targeted a deployment of Israeli soldiers in the Honin barracks and its surrounding areas with a volley of missiles.

At around 15:30 local time, a deployment of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Honin barracks was pounded with a Burkan missile.

Western sector:

At around 12:33 local time, a gathering of Israeli soldiers east of the Birkat Risha site was targeted with missiles.

At around 14:50 local time, a gathering of Israeli soldiers was targeted at the Tal Shaar site with a barrage of missiles.

At around 22:30 local time, the Khirbet Ma'ar base was targeted by two Falaq 1 missiles.

At around 23:00 local time, the Rahib site was targeted with Burkan missiles.

Iraqi resistance's operations on Jan. 28:

Attacked the US occupation base near Erbil Airport in northern Iraq with drones, causing destruction and casualties.

Attacked four enemy bases, three of them in Syria (Al-Shaddadi Base, Al-Rukban Base, and Al-Tanf Base), and the fourth one in the occupied Palestinian territories (Zevulun naval facility).

Attacked the US occupation base in Khirbet Adnan in Syria with drones, inflicting heavy damage.

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US shedding tears for slain soldiers in Jordan while ignoring Gaza carnage: Iraqi resistance

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 7:46 AM

The secretary general of the Iraqi Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada resistance group has censured US expression of deep grief over the loss of three American forces in an attack near the Jordan-Syria border while turning a blind eye to the Gaza carnage.

"While Americans have shown great sadness over the death of the three troops, they are unmoved by the murder and injury of 100,000 Palestinians in Gaza at the hands of Zionists with US-built munitions," Abu Ala al-Walai wrote in a social media post.

He added that Washington's contradictory behavior dispelled the myth about its self-proclaimed advocacy for human rights and exposed its criminal nature and ugly face to the entire world.

The hypocrisy has got to the point that the US has even lost international sympathy and solidarity, and it is now in isolation, the Iraqi anti-terror resistance figure said.

Three American forces were killed and at least 25 others wounded in a drone attack in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border, the United States military said.

US President Joe Biden pledged to "hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner [of] our choosing."

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin also said he was "outraged and deeply saddened" by the killing of the three US troops.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, claimed attacks targeting three bases, including one on the Jordan-Syria border.

'Attack on American forces testimony of discontent with US policies'

Meanwhile, a senior member of the Yemeni Supreme Political Council has described the attack as a testament to growing resentment over Washington's policies in the Arab world.

"The [drone] strike sent a clear message about simmering anti-American sentiments among Arabs. The United States would be well-advised to come to terms and get the point," Mohammed Ali al-Houthi stated.

Iraqi resistance forces have conducted dozens of strikes on the US-run military installations in both Iraq and Syria in retaliation for Washington's singled-out support for the Israeli genocidal campaign in Gaza.

Israel launched the war on 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 110 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. Another 64,487 individuals have been wounded as well.

The United States has supplied Israel with weapons and intelligence support and blocked UN resolutions calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.

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At least 350 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza in 48 hours

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 7:05 AM

At least 350 Palestinians have been killed over the past 48 hours in Israeli Gaza attacks as there is no let-up in relentless Israeli atrocities inflicted on the besieged territory.

Citing medical sources, the Palestinian WAFA news agency reported on Sunday that at least 24 of the killings were caused by the Israeli shelling of the city of Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PCRS) also said that three of the Khan Yunis martyrs were buried inside the courtyard of the al-Amal hospital due to the ongoing Israeli blockade on the facility.

Israel waged the genocidal war on besieged Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 26,422 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 65,087 others.

The Israeli military has committed war crimes in Gaza by targeting medical facilities, personnel, and transport and destroying the healthcare system in the Palestinian territory.

Only 4 health centers operational in Gaza, warns UNRWA

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) announced that only four out of 22 of its health centers in the Gaza Strip are operational due to Israeli bombardment and access restrictions.

Last week, UNRWA had six operational health centers in Gaza.

Before the start of the Israeli war, UNRWA provided basic services, from medical care to education to Gaza's nearly 2.2 million residents.

The agency is now supplying aid to desperate people in Gaza and using its facilities to shelter those fleeing Israeli raids.

Israel has recently claimed that 12 of UNRWA staff members participated in Hamas' October 7 operation.

In a statement, Hamas said the occupying regime is trying to undermine UNRWA and other organizations providing humanitarian relief in Gaza.

Following Israeli accusations against UNRWA, several countries, including the US and the UK, suspended funding for the agency, in a move condemned by Palestinian officials.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the loss of funding meant the UN could not guarantee aid to Gaza for February.

He also pleaded for donor states to continue supporting the UN agency, adding, "The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met."

Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA's commissioner general, said, he is "shocked" by the decision made by certain Western countries to pause funding to the aid agency based on allegations leveled by Israel.

"Our humanitarian operation, on which 2 million people depend as a lifeline in Gaza, is collapsing. I am shocked such decisions are taken based on the alleged behavior of a few individuals and as the war continues, needs are deepening and famine looms. "

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Hezbollah's new attacks hit Israeli positions using precision-strike missiles

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 2:13 AM

Hezbollah resistance movement says it has used precision-strike missiles in a series of new attacks against Israeli targets across Lebanon's border with the occupied territories in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The Lebanese resistance movement made the announcement in a statement on Sunday.

The movement identified some of the targets as gathering sites of Israeli soldiers at the regime's barracks and bases, saying the operations "resulted in direct hits."

Hezbollah said it targeted Al-Raheb site with Burkan missiles, while striking the Khirbet Ma'er base using two Falaq 1 missiles.

The movement added that it also successfully targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers east of the Birkat Risha site with precision missiles, scoring direct hits.

Hezbollah also released a video on Sunday capturing its precision operation that targeted Israel's espionage equipment at the regime's Ras Naqoura naval site.

The strikes set off sirens as far as illegal Israeli settlements of Sderot, Efim, and Niram near the occupied territories' border with Gaza.

"The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the people and resistance of Gaza amidst the brutal Zionist aggression, backed by an American green light and [with] complicity of Western and numerous Arab regimes," the movement said in its statement.

The regime began its onslaught against Gaza on October 7, 2023 following an anti-Israeli operation by the territory's resistance movements, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.

At least 26,422 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed and over 65,000 others injured as a result of the regime's brutal military onslaught that enjoys ample military and political support of the United States.

After the onset of the war, the Israeli regime began its attacks against Lebanon, which sparked a firefight with Hezbollah.

Hezbollah's confrontation with Israel grew remarkably in intensity following a spate of assassinations carried out by the regime, including against Saleh Al-Arouri, a senior official of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, who was martyred in a targeted assassination on January 2.

Also on Sunday, Hezbollah announced the martyrdom of three of its members, whom it identified as Sadiq Mohammad Hashem, Ali Jamal Shokr, and Hussein Hassan Halawi.

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Tuvalu's Taiwan ties, Australia security treaty in focus following election

Incumbent prime minister, who has supported ties with Taiwan, lost his seat in Parliament.

By Stephen Wright for BenarNews 2024.01.29 -- Tuvalu's recognition of Taiwan and its contentious security treaty with Australia could be reviewed by a new government after elections in the Pacific island country produced significant changes for its 16-member parliament.

According to preliminary election results reported on Saturday by Tuvalu's state television, Prime Minister Kausea Natano, who has previously praised ties with Taiwan, didn't win enough votes to stay in Parliament.

He had been criticized by some of Tuvalu's politicians for lack of consultation in last year signing a security agreement that gave broad powers to Australia as it tries to counter China's inroads in the region.

Finance Minister Seve Paeniu, who has reportedly said Tuvalu's diplomatic relations should be reviewed following the election, was reelected without a vote as there were only two candidates in his constituency, Tuvalu TV said, citing the election commission.

The atoll nation has eight constituencies, each of which elects two representatives to Parliament, and has no formal political parties. About half of those elected are first-time legislators, Radio New Zealand reported.

Tuvalu, home to about 11,000 people, is one of the dwindling number of nations that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan instead of Beijing. Earlier this month, another Pacific island nation, Nauru, severed ties with Taiwan, reducing its diplomatic allies to 12 countries. Among Pacific island nations, Palau and Marshall Islands also recognize Taiwan.

China's government has courted Pacific island nations for the past two decades as it seeks to isolate Taiwan diplomatically and gain allies in international institutions. Beijing regards Taiwan, a democracy and globally important tech manufacturing center, as a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland.

Paeniu told BenarNews last month that Tuvalu is seeking $1.3 billion for a land reclamation plan that would double the size of Fongafale, the most populated island, by reclaiming 3.6 square kilometers (1.4 square miles) from its lagoon.

Tuvalu says half of Fongafale would be inundated during the high tide by 2050. Its projections for sea-level rise are based on the most pessimistic scenario for greenhouse gas emissions developed by the United Nations' climate panel.

Tuvalu's Parliament may meet this week to consider forming a government and electing a prime minister, depending on how long it takes for outer island representatives to reach the capital atoll Funafuti.

Simon Kofe, a former foreign minister of Tuvalu, said the security treaty and diplomatic recognition of Taiwan or China are among the key issues that could influence the formation of a government.

"There is one politician in particular who has expressed interest in revisiting the relationship with Taiwan and whether or not we should be switching to China," he said in an interview with Radio New Zealand.

"Some politicians have also expressed their view on the treaty with Australia, and there was some strong opposition on that as well, so I think those are probably two key issues that may influence the groupings after the election results."

The treaty between Tuvalu and Australia, called the Falepili Union, was signed by the prime ministers of the two countries at the annual summit of the Pacific Islands Forum in November.

It requires Tuvalu to have Australia's agreement for "any partnership, arrangement or engagement with any other state or entity on security and defence-related matters."

It also created a special visa category for Tuvaluans to live and work in Australia, which was described as a response to projected sea-level rise, and allocated several million dollars for land reclamation.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Cambodian opposition leader appeals 27 year sentence

Amnesty is calling for Kem Sokha's immediate release.

By RFA Khmer 2024.01.29 -- Cambodia's Court of Appeal began hearing former opposition party leader Kem Sokha's bid to overturn his 27-year sentence for treason on Tuesday.

One international human rights group is calling on Cambodian authorities to release the 70-year-old immediately, calling his sentence "baseless."

Sam Rainsy, the exiled acting leader of Sokha's Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), also called for the verdict to be quashed.

"There's no way forward for #Cambodia until Kem Sokha is freed and allowed his political rights," he wrote on X.

Security was tight at the courthouse, with checkpoints outside and reporters barred from the building.

Kem Sokha was arrested in September, 2017, and charged with colluding with a foreign power.

After his arrest, he spent a year in a prison near the border with Vietnam.

He was transferred to house arrest in Phnom Penh in October 2018. More than a year later, the court eased some of the restrictions, allowing him to travel inside the country but banning him from participating in politics.

Sokha's trial was delayed for more than a year due to restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. When he was finally sentenced in March 2023, he was placed under house arrest, barred from politics and banned from meeting with non-family members without the court's permission.

Ahead of the appeal, Amnesty International demanded his release, saying the treason conviction showed the Cambodian authorities' disregard for human rights and the rule of law.

"Anyone who dares to speak out against the government is at risk," said Amnesty's Deputy Regional Director for Research Montse Ferrer.

"Cambodian authorities must respect, protect, promote and fulfill the human rights of everyone in the country, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and end the increasing restriction of civic space."

Kem Sokha has always denied the charges, which led to his arrest a few months after his Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) made large gains in local commune elections.

The charges against him relate partly to a video recorded in 2013 in which he discussed a strategy to win power with the help of U.S. experts. The United States Embassy has rejected any suggestion that Washington was trying to interfere in Cambodian politics.

Shortly after his 2017 arrest, Cambodia's Supreme Court dissolved and outlawed the CNRP, paving the way for Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party to take all 125 National Assembly seats in the 2018 general election.

Then-Prime Minister Hun Sen used similar tactics in last July's election, barring the main opposition Candlelight Party from fielding candidates, allowing his party to win 120 National Assembly seats.

A month before the 2023 election, Hun Sen refused to pardon Kem Sokha, saying he made the decision because foreigners were trying to interfere in Cambodia.

Hun Sen stepped down following his party's election victory, his son Hun Manet becoming prime minister last August.

Earlier this month, Kem Sokha's daughter Monovithya lashed out at Western nations such as France for meeting Cambodia's new leader in the hope of improving relations, calling it "lazy and ineffective."

Translated by Samean Yun. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Judges keep house arrest limits in place for Cambodian opposition leader

In appeal to overturn his 27-year sentence, Kem Sokha will face 8 more hearings in the coming months.

By RFA Khmer 2024.01.29 -- Former Cambodian opposition party leader Kem Sokha's bid to overturn his 27-year sentence for treason will undergo eight more hearings in the coming months after Appeals Court judges at Tuesday's hearing denied a request to lift visitation restrictions.

Security was tight at the Phnom Penh Appeals Court, with checkpoints outside and reporters barred from the building.

Kem Sokha, 70, was sentenced in March 2023 and placed under house arrest, barred from politics and banned from meeting with non-family members without the court's permission.

The conviction and verdict were widely condemned as politically motivated.

On Tuesday, Kem Sokha said in court that the restrictions have greatly reduced the number of visits from relatives to his Phnom Penh home, according to his lawyer, Ang Odom.

"Family members who stay with him are regularly checked," Ang Odom told Radio Free Asia. "This is yet another violation against those people who are not involved with the court case."

Another court requirement mandates that Kem Sokha's lawyers seek a judge's permission before meeting with him. The Appeals Court on Tuesday refused a request to lift that order.

"I already stressed that we will not seek permission. We can't do that because it is against our professionalism," Ang Odom said to RFA. "We have the right to see clients at any place during working hours."

Slow pace

The court's three-judge panel plans to hold a total of nine hearings in the appeals case at a rate of two per month, according to Ang Odom. The next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 8.

The drawn-out pace matches the original Phnom Penh Municipal Court trial, which also featured hearings, testimony and other proceedings that were sometimes scheduled weeks or months apart.

Kem Sokha was arrested in September 2017, and charged with colluding with a foreign power. After his arrest, he spent a year in a prison near the border with Vietnam.

He was transferred to house arrest in Phnom Penh in October 2018. More than a year later, the court eased some of the restrictions, allowing him to travel inside the country but banning him from participating in politics.

The municipal court trial was delayed for more than a year due to restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kem Sokha has always denied the treason charges, which led to his arrest a few months after the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, or CNRP, made large gains in local commune elections.

The charges relate partly to a video recorded in 2013 in which he discussed a strategy to win power with the help of U.S. experts. The United States Embassy has rejected any suggestion that Washington was trying to interfere in Cambodian politics.

Shortly after the 2017 arrest, Cambodia's Supreme Court dissolved and outlawed the CNRP, paving the way for then-Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party to take all 125 National Assembly seats in the 2018 general election.

Hun Sen used similar tactics in last July's election, barring the main opposition Candlelight Party from fielding candidates, allowing his party to win 120 seats in the Assembly.

A month before the 2023 election, Hun Sen refused to pardon Kem Sokha. He stepped down just after the CPP's election victory. His eldest son, Hun Manet, was appointed prime minister weeks later.

'International human rights standards'

Amnesty International demanded Kem Sokha's release this week in a statement issued ahead of Tuesday's appeal hearing.

"Anyone who dares to speak out against the government is at risk," said Amnesty's deputy regional director for research, Montse Ferrer.

"Cambodian authorities must respect, protect, promote and fulfill the human rights of everyone in the country, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and end the increasing restriction of civic space."

Sam Rainsy, the exiled acting leader of the CNRP, also called for the 2023 verdict to be quashed.

"There's no way forward for #Cambodia until Kem Sokha is freed and allowed his political rights," he wrote on X.

Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said the decision to keep restrictions in place "shows again that in all aspects, the court's handling of this case on baseless treason charges has never been free or fair."

"No country that truly respects international human rights standards would ever require a prosecutor's office to approve a defendant's access to his legal counsel," he said.

Earlier this month, Kem Sokha's daughter Monovithya lashed out at Western nations such as France for meeting Cambodia's new leader in the hope of improving relations, calling it "lazy and ineffective."

Translated by Samean Yun. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.

Updated to add further comments from Kem Sokha's lawyer.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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U.S. President Biden Weighing Options Amid Mounting Pressure To Hit Iran

By Kian Sharifi January 29, 2024

Pressure is mounting on U.S. President Joe Biden to attack Iran directly after three U.S. troops were killed and more than 30 others injured in a drone attack on an American outpost in northeastern Jordan.

While hitting Iranian targets is an option, analysts say the U.S. is more likely to strike one or more of Iranian-supported proxy groups based in Iraq and Syria -- but acknowledge it is increasingly difficult for Washington to sidestep direct confrontation with Tehran.

Biden has been reluctant to directly strike Iran, fearing it may plunge the crisis-riddled Middle East into a wider conflict amid the wars in Gaza and Yemen and Huthi rebel attacks on maritime ships in the Red Sea and counterstrikes by U.S. and British forces.

But the deaths and dozens of casualties of U.S. troops in a drone attack on the Tower 22 military outpost in Jordan, near the border with Syria, may compel the United States to deliver a stronger-than-usual response. The attack was claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization comprised of Iranian-backed militias.

In a January 28 statement, Biden explicitly blamed "radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq" but did not indicate that Tehran had ordered the strike.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said similarly that the militias were responsible for the attacks and echoed Biden's vow that the United States "will respond at a time and place of our choosing."

What A Response Might Look Like

A chorus of voices in the U.S. Congress -- mainly Republicans -- has been urging the U.S. administration to strike a direct blow against Iran.

"Hit Iran now. Hit them hard," demanded Senator Lindsay Graham (Republican-South Carolina).

Senator Tom Cotton (Republican-Arkansas), a staunch critic of the Biden administration's Iran policy, insisted that the deaths of the three U.S. troops warranted a "devastating military retaliation against Iran's terrorist forces, both in Iran and across the Middle East."

However, analysts say targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), especially in Iranian territory, would be seen as a major escalation by Tehran.

"The idea of targeting IRGC positions within Iran would seem rational only if the United States was pursuing a full-scale war with Iran, a scenario not currently apparent," Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, told RFE/RL.

Instead, Washington is more likely to target Tehran-backed militias in Iraq or Syria in a manner that satisfies the concerned voices at home.

"Consequently, the United States may opt to target high-ranking leaders of the Iraqi militias," said Azizi. "I remain skeptical that such a measure will serve as an effective deterrent, but American officials might deem the risk of this approach more acceptable than a direct strike on Iran."

Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House in London, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda: "We have finally arrived at the point where the U.S. can no longer sidestep escalation against Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria."

She predicted that Washington would likely respond with strikes in those two countries rather than hitting Iran directly but warned that it was becoming more difficult for the U.S. government to avoid direct conflict with Tehran.

"If further attacks on U.S. forces and international shipping don't come to an end, it's going to get harder and harder for the Biden administration to resist the pressure to take the fight to Iran," Vakil said.

Ali Fathollah-Nejad, director of the Center for Middle East and Global Order in Berlin, told RFE/RL that Washington and Tehran have a "comparable level of antipathy" toward starting a direct war.

He added that the United States would rather strike IRGC positions in the region rather than inside Iran.

Iranian officials have sought to distance Tehran from the drone attack in Jordan without condemning it.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani insisted on January 29 that "resistance groups...do not take orders from Iran."

Separately, Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib maintained that the Iran-backed militias operate "at their own discretion" against "American aggressors."

Fathollah-Nejad said that, while Iranian proxies "may indeed enjoy some level of independence," the Islamic republic would not risk allowing them complete autonomy in the "dangerous" context of the war in Gaza "to avoid being dragged into any direct confrontation" with the United States and Israel.

Region In Turmoil

Many have for months feared a region-wide conflict after the October eruption of the war between Israel and Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.

Israel launched an offensive in Gaza that has killed many thousands of people in the Palestinian enclave in retaliation to a Hamas-led attack on October 7 that killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

Members of the so-called "Axis of Resistance" -- Iran's network of regional allies and proxies -- have joined the fray in support of the Palestinians.

Hizballah in Lebanon has been sporadically launching rockets at northern Israel while Iran-backed militias have targeted American forces in Syria and Iraq more than 150 times. No U.S. soldier was killed in the attacks until the drone strike in Jordan on January 28.

The U.S. has responded to the attacks, even killing the leader of an Iran-aligned militia in Iraq earlier this month in a precision air strike.

Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels have for months sought to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea by targeting commercial vessels with alleged ties to Israel or bound for Israeli ports. They have since expanded their targets to include American and British-linked vessels in response to U.S. and U.K. air strikes on Huthi positions in Yemen.

The drone attack on U.S. forces in Jordan and the Huthis' continued targeting of commercial ships, including tankers, caused an oil price hike on January 29, according to Reuters.

Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee said on January 28 that the "violence [in the Middle East] is spiraling out of control," and insisted that a cease-fire in Gaza was necessary to reduce tensions.

Vakil agreed that a cease-fire is "more urgent than ever to prevent a broader regional escalation" but cautioned that a cessation of hostilities in Gaza would not necessarily stop attacks by Iran-backed groups.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-jordan-attack-us- servicement-dead-biden-response/32796832.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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U.S. Reiterates Vow Of 'Action' Over Jordan Attack, Joins U.K. With New Iran Sanctions

By By RFE/RL January 29, 2024

The United States continued to expressed outrage and vow a response to the deaths of American service members in Jordan following a drone attack it blamed on Iranian-backed militias, while Washington and London in a separate move stepped up pressure on Tehran with a new set of coordinated sanctions.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on January 29 doubled down on earlier vows by President Joe Biden to hold responsible those behind the drone attack, which also injured dozens of personnel, many of whom are being treated for traumatic brain injuries, according to the Pentagon.

"Let me start with my outrage and sorrow [for] the deaths of three brave U.S. troops in Jordan and for the other troops who were wounded," Austin told a Pentagon briefing.

"The president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops."

Later, White House national-security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that "we are not looking for a war with Iran."

He added, though, that drone attack "was escalatory, make no mistake about it, and it requires a response."

A day earlier, Biden said U.S. officials had assessed that one of several Iranian-backed groups was responsible for the attack and vowed to respond at a time of Washington's choosing.

"While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," Biden said.

"We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt -- we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing," Biden said in a separate statement.

Details of the attack remained unclear on January 29, but a U.S. official said the enemy drone may have been confused with a U.S.-launched drone returning to the military site near the Syrian border and was therefore not shot down.

The official, who requested anonymity, said preliminary reports indicate the enemy drone was flying at a low level at the same time a U.S. drone was returning to the base, known as Tower 22.

Iran on January 29 denied it had any link with the attack, with the Foreign Ministry in Tehran calling the accusations "baseless."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that "resistance groups" in the region do not take orders from Tehran, though Western nations accuse the country of helping arm, train, and fund such groups.

Earlier, Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations said, "Iran had no connection and had nothing to do with the attack on the U.S. base."

Jordan condemned what it called a "terrorist attack" on a military site, saying it was cooperating with the United States to fortify its border defenses.

The attacks are certain to intensify political pressure in the United States on Biden -- who is in an election year -- to retaliate against Iranian interests in the region, possibly in Iraq or Syria, analysts say.

Gregory Brew, a historian and an analyst with the geopolitical risk firm Eurasia Group, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that the attack in Jordan represented a "major escalation -- and the U.S. is bound to respond forcefully and promptly."

"The response is likely to come through more intense U.S. action against Iran-backed militias in either Syria or Iraq. It's unclear if this was an intentional escalation by Iran and its allies, but the genie is out of the bottle," he added.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton, a vocal critic of Biden, a Democrat, on January 28 said the "only answer to these attacks must be devastating military retaliation against Iran's terrorist forces.... Anything less will confirm Joe Biden as a coward."

Many observers have expressed fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East after war broke out in Gaza following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, which has been deemed a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. At least 1,200 were killed in those assaults, leading to Israel's retaliatory actions that, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, have killed more than 26,000 Palestinians.

Because of its support for Israel, U.S. forces have been the target of Islamist groups in the Middle East, including Iranian-backed Huthi rebels based in Yemen and militia groups in Iraq who are also supported by Tehran.

In another incident that will likely intensify such fears of a wider conflict, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights -- which has extensive contacts inside Syria -- said an Israeli air strike against an Iranian-linked site in Damascus killed seven people, including fighters of Tehran-backed militias.

The Tasnim news agency, which is close to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), attributed the attack to Israel, writing that "two civilians" had been killed, while Syrian state television said "a number of Iranian advisers" had been killed at the "Iranian Advisory Center" in Damascus.

However, Iran's ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, denied the Iranian center had been targeted or that "any Iranian citizens or advisers" had been killed.

Meanwhile, the United States and Britain announced a set of coordinated sanctions against 11 officials with the IRGC for alleged connections to a criminal network that has targeted foreign dissidents and Iranian regime opponents for "numerous assassinations and kidnapping" at the behest of the Iranian Intelligence and Security Ministry.

A statement by the British Foreign Office said the sanctions are designed "to tackle the domestic threat posed by the Iranian regime, which seeks to export repression, harassment, and coercion against journalists and human rights defenders" in Britain, the United States, and elsewhere.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the latest sanctions packages "exposes the roles of the Iranian officials and gangs involved in activity aimed to undermine, silence, and disrupt the democratic freedoms we value in the U.K."

"The U.K. and U.S. have sent a clear message: We will not tolerate this threat," he added.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Reuters, and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/jordan-united-states-iran- soldiers-killed-biden/32796110.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Georgian PM Garibashvili Resigns Ahead Of Elections Later This Lear

By RFE/RL's Georgian Service January 29, 2024

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has announced his resignation to give his party time to prepare for general elections that are to be held in the Caucasus nation by October.

"I would like to inform the public of the decision that I have discussed with my team. Today, I am stepping down from my position as prime minister," Garibashvili said during a televised briefing at the government office on January 29.

Garibashvili's announcement came amid reports in the Georgian media that the current chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, would take the place of Garibashvili, who indicated he would become party chief in Kobakhidze's stead.

"I served our country, and uncompromisingly defended the interests of our country and people. I am proud of the results we achieved with the team during this period," Gharibashvili said.

Garibashvili had two stints as Georgia's prime minister, the first one from 2013, where he replaced his longtime associate and Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili until December 2015, and the second from February 2021, after the resignation of Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia's cabinet until January 29. Garibashvili was a defense minister in Gakharia's government.

According to Georgia's constitution, the parliament must vote on a new government presented by a prime minister appointed by the ruling party within two weeks of the incumbent's resignation.

Georgia was granted EU candidacy status in December, when fellow former Soviet republics Ukraine and Moldova were given the green light to begin negotiations to join the bloc.

However, a report published earlier this month by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum -- an umbrella network of nongovernmental organizations from the region and the European Union -- was critical of Georgia's backsliding on democracy and the rule of law under the Georgian Dream's rule while appeasing Russia despite Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Georgia "has flatlined in its overall EU approximation because of serious backsliding in fundamental freedoms, democracy and governance-related indicators, the government's evident disregard for civil society and its penchant for appeasing Russia, which is at odds with the EU consensus," the report said.

The report said Georgia was granted EU candidate status "even though" it had engaged in "anti-Western rhetoric" and attempted, but failed, to pass a controversial "foreign agents" bill last year.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-pm-garibashvili- resigns-elections/32796574.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Air Defenses at US Military Base Confused Enemy Drone for American Drone - Reports

Sputnik News

20240129

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US forces failed to stop an enemy drone attack on its base on Syrian-Jordanian border because the aircraft's approach coincided with the return of a US drone to the military outpost, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing unnamed officials.

According to the report, a militia backed by Tehran launched the enemy drone towards the Al-Tanf base, an outpost near the Syria-Jordan border.

The report added that US officials have not found evidence indicating that Iran directed the attack.

Later on Monday, US national security advisor John Kirby commented on the reports the drone that killed three servicemen was "mistakenly identified" as an American unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by saying he will let the Pentagon "talk about the forensics."

"I'm sure that they are already picking it apart and trying to figure out how this happened," Kirby highlighted.

On Sunday, three US soldiers had been killed and 34 others injured in a drone attack on a US military base on the Jordanian-Syrian border.

President Biden pinned the blame on unspecified Iran-backed militant groups, while also saying the US was still gathering the facts. Jordanian cabinet spokesman Muhannad Mubaidin said that the strike targeted the US's Al-Tanf base in Syria, not a base on Jordanian territory.

Iran has nothing to do with the drone attack on a US military base, Iranian state-run news agency IRNA reported, citing an Iranian official.

 Sputnik

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US Vows Response to Deadly Attack on Mideast Base, Seeks to Avoid Wider Conflict

Sputnik News

20240129

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States will retaliate to a deadly drone attack on its al-Tanf military base on Syrian-Jordanian border at a time and in a manner of its choosing, but it is not seeking a wider conflict in the region, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Axios reported that President Joe Biden discussed a "significant military response" to the attack during a meeting with top US officials on Sunday.

"As for our response options, the President is working his way through that right now. He had a good meeting yesterday with the National Security Team," Kirby told CNN.

According to Axios, the White House and Pentagon are seeking to calibrate their retaliation to contain the risk of a wider conflict. Meanwhile, some hawks on Capitol Hill are pushing for strikes inside Iran, the report said.

"We will respond. We will do it in a time and a manner of our choosing. We'll respond, you know, in a very consequential way but we don't seek a war with Iran. We are not looking for a wider conflict in the Middle East," Kirby said, when asked if the US is considering strikes inside Iran.

On Sunday, three US soldiers had been killed and 34 others injured in a drone attack on a US military base in Jordan's northeast near the border with Syria.

President Biden pinned the blame on unspecified Iran-backed militant groups, while also saying the US was still gathering the facts. Jordanian cabinet spokesman Muhannad Mubaidin said that the strike targeted the US's Al-Tanf base in Syria, not a base on Jordanian territory.

Iran has nothing to do with the drone attack on a US military base, Iranian state-run news agency IRNA reported, citing an Iranian official.

 Sputnik

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Number of Injured Soldiers in Attack on US Base Near Jordan Rises to 34 - Central Command

Sputnik News

20240129

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The number of US soldiers injured in a drone attack on a US base near Jordan near the border with Syria has risen to 34, with eight people being evacuated, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday.

"As an update to the earlier announcement, the number of US personnel with injuries has increased to at least 34 service members, but we expect this number to fluctuate as service members continue to seek follow-on care. Eight personnel that received injuries required evacuation from Jordan to higher level care, but they are in stable condition," the command said in a statement.

Later it was stated that Iran had nothing to do with Sunday's drone attack on a US military base near Jordan in Jordan that left three US soldiers dead and dozens injured, Iranian state-run news agency IRNA reported, citing an unnamed Iranian representative to the UN.

On Sunday, the CENTCOM said three US soldiers were killed and 25 others were injured in a drone attack at a US military base in Jordan's northeast near the border with Syria. US President Joe Biden pinned the blame on unspecified Iran-backed militant groups while also saying that the United States was still gathering the facts.

Jordanian cabinet spokesman Muhannad Mubaidin said that the strike targeted the US Al Tanf base in Syria, rather than a base in the Jordanian territory.

 Sputnik

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Japan Suspends Funding to UNRWA Pending Investigation Into Its Ties to Hamas - Ministry

Sputnik News

20240129

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Tokyo has decided to suspend funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after agency staff were accused of involvement in the attack on Israel by Hamas in October, said the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

"Japan is extremely concerned about the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff members in the terror attack on Israel on October 7 last year. In response, Japan has decided to suspend additional funding to UNRWA for the time being while UNRWA conducts an investigation into the matter and considers measures to address the allegations," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also called on UNRWA to promptly investigate and take action against the suspected employees "so that UNRWA can firmly fulfill the role it should play." The statement noted that Japan would continue to make diplomatic efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

According to the UNRWA website, the Japanese government allocated $7 million on October 24 to support displaced people affected by the fighting in the Gaza Strip.

On Friday, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said that Israel shared with UNRWA data on the alleged involvement of some of the agency's staff members in the Hamas attack, and promised to hold accountable anyone who was implicated in acts of terrorism. The United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada and some other countries swiftly responded by suspending funding for UNRWA.

 Sputnik

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Rowley

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

January 29, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr. Keith Rowley today in Washington, D.C. Secretary Blinken and Prime Minister Rowley reaffirmed the U.S.-Trinidad and Tobago joint commitment to citizen security, including through addressing illicit firearms trafficking. The Secretary and the Prime Minister also discussed further collaboration on regional challenges, cyber security, energy security, and climate adaptation and resilience.

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Designation of Ahmad Mohammad Harun Under the War Crimes Rewards Program

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

January 29, 2024

The Department of State is today designating Sudan's Former Minister of State for the Interior under the Omar al Bashir regime, Ahmad Mohammad Harun, under the War Crimes Rewards Program. Harun is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur between 2003 and 2004. During this time, Harun stands accused of recruiting, mobilizing, funding, and arming the notorious Janjaweed militia, a precursor to the Rapid Support Forces, and participating in atrocities, including murder, rape, torture, forcible transfer of population, persecution, and other inhumane acts. It is critical that Harun be found and that he appear before the ICC to face the charges against him.

Lasting peace in Sudan requires justice for victims and accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses and violations, both past and present. There is a clear and direct connection between impunity for abuses under the Bashir regime, including those of which Harun is accused, and the violence in Darfur today. Indeed, we are seeing some of the same perpetrators victimizing some of the same communities in ways that are an ominous reminder of the horror unleashed twenty years ago. We welcome the ICC Prosecutor's announcement that he is investigating the ongoing violence and urge all States to cooperate with the ICC in its Darfur investigation.

Through the War Crimes Rewards Program, the Department offers rewards of up to $5 million for information that leads to the arrest, transfer, or conviction of certain foreign individuals who are wanted for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. The Program is one of the Department's foremost tools in fighting impunity for atrocity crimes worldwide and supporting justice institutions, having contributed to more than 20 cases and paid out more than $8 million over its lifetime. Those with information about Harun's whereabouts should contact the War Crimes Rewards Program by WhatsApp or text message at 202-975-5468 or by email at wcrp@state.gov. The identity of anyone providing information will be kept strictly confidential absent that person's express permission. The Program can also consider recommendations from the ICC based on information provided directly to the Court. For more information on the War Crimes Rewards Program, visit the Department's War Crimes Rewards website.





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We urge the Sudanese authorities and all relevant parties to cooperate fully with the ICC: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Colin McIntyre, UK Legal Adviser to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.

29 January 2024

Madam President, I thank Prosecutor Khan for his thirty-eighth report on the Situation in Darfur and for his detailed briefing today.

I also welcome the participation of the representative of Sudan at today's Council meeting.

Let me begin with the proceedings currently ongoing before the International Criminal Court. The UK welcomes the continued progress in the trial of Mr Abd-Al Rahman. This is the first trial to come before the ICC in the Darfur Situation. The case is an important milestone for victims and for affected communities who have suffered for far too long.

We note, however, that the other suspects with outstanding arrest warrants have not yet been surrendered to the Court. To date, those in power in Sudan have failed to provide the ICC with the necessary cooperation.

We therefore call upon the Sudanese authorities to respond substantively to the Office of the Prosecutor's request for information, as to the whereabouts of Ahmed Harun, Abdel Raheem Hussein and Omar Al-Bashir.

We also urge the Sudanese authorities and all other relevant parties to cooperate fully with the ICC, including in relation to the 35 outstanding requests for assistance referred to by the Prosecutor's thirty-eighth report and in his briefing today.

Turning to the current situation in Sudan the UK is alarmed by the continuation of the conflict, including in Darfur. We are deeply concerned at allegations that further atrocities have been committed in recent months, including credible reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions, violence targeted at specific ethnic groups and conflict-related sexual violence.

The UK condemns alleged atrocities committed by all parties to the conflict and reminds both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces that the Prosecutor's mandate in Darfur is ongoing.

In this very challenging context, we welcome the Office of the Prosecutor's deployment of investigative teams to the region. We also welcome the Office's other ongoing work on the ground, including with victims, affected communities and civil society organisations in the region.

Madam President, let me conclude by expressing our continued support to the Court in delivering justice for the people of Darfur and ending this cycle of impunity.

Thank you, Madam President.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

29 January 2024

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

** United Nations Relief and Works Agency

Good afternoon.

As the Secretary-General made clear over the weekend, the United Nations is taking swift action following the extremely serious allegations made against several staff members from UNRWA [UN Relief and Works Agency]. The contracts of the staff members directly involved have been terminated, as we told you on Friday. An investigation by the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) was immediately activated.

The Secretary-General has remained very active on this issue throughout the weekend and this morning.

A few moments ago, he met with the Under-Secretary-General and head of OIOS to ensure that the investigation will be done as swiftly and efficiently as possible.

Any employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution. And as we said, the Secretariat is ready to cooperate with a competent authority able to prosecute the individuals, in line with the Secretariat's normal procedures for such cooperation.

The Secretary-General has also been engaging with the UNRWA leadership and donors to UNRWA, as well as regional leaders, such as King Abdullah of Jordan, whom he spoke to a short while ago, and President [Abdelfattah al] Sisi of Egypt, with whom he will speak a bit later this afternoon.

The Secretary-General is personally horrified by the accusations against employees of UNRWA, but his message to donors, especially those who have suspended their contributions is to at least guarantee the continuity of UNRWA's operations, as we have tens of thousands of dedicated staff working throughout the region.

The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met.

At this point, the outlook for UNRWA and the millions of people it serves, not only in Gaza, but also in East Jerusalem, in the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, is very bleak.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, said that the people of Gaza have been enduring unthinkable horrors and deprivation for months. In a post on social media, he said their needs have never been higher  and our humanitarian capacity to assist them has never been under such threat.

"We need to be at full stretch to give the people of Gaza a moment of hope. Now is not the time to let them down," he said.

In Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, heavy fighting was reported near the Nasser and Al Amal hospitals, with Palestinians reportedly fleeing to the overcrowded town of Rafah, despite the lack of safe passage. Hospitals in Khan Younis are at risk of closure due to intense hostilities and the issuance of evacuation orders in surrounding [areas].

The seven partially functional hospitals in the south of Gaza are operating at three times their normal capacity, while facing critical shortages of basic supplies and fuel.

Also, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that only 14 of 36 hospitals in Gaza are partially functioning  including seven in the north.

Humanitarian partners continue to report obstacles to their attempts to access the northern and central parts of the Gaza strip. These include excessive delays for humanitarian aid convoys before or at Israeli checkpoints and heightened military activity in central Gaza.

Frequent threats to the safety of humanitarian sites and personnel are also impeding the delivery of time-sensitive and life-saving aid.

** Abyei

Turning to the situation in Abyei, I have a statement and that tells you that the Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the violence that occurred over the weekend in the Abyei Administrative Area, which resulted in the tragic death of numerous civilians and attacks on the UN peacekeeping force [United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA)] during which two peacekeepers lost their life in the line of duty. The Secretary-General conveys his deepest condolences to the Government and people of Ghana and Pakistan, and to the families of the deceased civilians.

He condemns the violence and attacks against the peacekeeping force and calls on the Governments of South Sudan and Sudan to swiftly investigate the attacks, with the assistance of the peacekeeping force, known as UNISFA, and to bring the perpetrators to justice. He reminds all parties that attacks on UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes.

** Ukraine

Turning to Ukraine: Our colleagues from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tell us that attacks today and over the weekend are causing further suffering for civilians already enduring harsh winter conditions.

In the eastern part of Kharkiv, authorities said that shelling caused damage to homes and electrical grids. And in the southern area of Kherson, attacks over the weekend also damaged homes, as well as education and telecommunications facilities, according to the governor of the oblast.

We, along with our partners, continue to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to people in these areas.

On Friday, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, led a convoy to the Kherson Region. It delivered food, medical supplies, winter clothes, solar lamps, hygiene items and children's supplies to about 800 people in need.

Another convoy that arrived in the Kharkiv Region on Friday brought blankets, bottled water, solar lamps, medical supplies and hygiene kits, supplies for people with disabilities, and construction materials to repair damaged homes.

Overall last year, we, along with our partners, sent over 107 humanitarian convoys to support some 400,000 residents in the front-line areas in eastern and southern Ukraine.

** Deputy Secretary-General's Travel

Our Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, was in Rome this morning, where she at the Italy-Africa Summit.

She called for transformative investments, equal and inclusive partnerships and international cooperation for the African continent.

"To support sustainable development across Africa and beyond, she said, our international systems need a refresh, so that they are fit for the twenty-first century," Amina Mohammed said.

On the sidelines of the Summit, she met with Antonio Tajani, the Vice-President of the Council of Ministers of Italy and also Italy's Foreign Minister.

Yesterday in Rome, the Deputy Secretary-General met with other Government leaders and ministers  including the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella; the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the President of Senegal, Macky Sall, who was in attendance.

She also met with the leadership of FAO [Director-General, Dongyu Qu] and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and representatives from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

And she is on her way home.

** Security Council

I just want to flag that, this morning, as you know, the Security Council held a briefing on Sudan and they heard from the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

And this afternoon, at 3 p.m., they will reconvene for closed consultations on Peace and Security in Africa. And they will hear from Hanna Tetteh, our Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa.

** Democratic Republic of the Congo

Moving to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Humanitarian Coordinator there for the United Nations, Bruno Lemarquis, expressed his deep concern over escalating violence in the town of Mweso, which is located about 100 km from Goma, in the province of North Kivu.

In a statement published today, Mr. Lemarquis said that with dozens of civilians killed, the humanitarian community in the country is disturbed by the serious violations there  including violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

He reminded parties to the conflict of their duty to protect civilians, guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers and to ensure that assistance can reach those most in need.

The humanitarian impact of the latest intensification of violence has been alarming. Some 8,000 men, women and children have been displaced and sought shelter near Mweso Hospital.

Overall, more than a quarter of a million people  250,000 people  in the Mweso health zone urgently need humanitarian assistance.

** Migrants

And our colleagues in Rome at the International Organization for Migration (IOM)  excuse me, they are in Geneva  today said that nearly 100 people have died or disappeared in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean since the beginning of 2024. The toll is over twice as high as the figure for the same period of 2023, which was the deadliest year for migrants at sea in Europe since 2016.

According to the IOM, the annual number of migrant deaths and disappearances in all of the Mediterranean jumped from 2,048 in 2021, to 2,411 in 2022, and to 3,041 by the end of last year.

IOM, together with other UN agencies and humanitarian partners, is working on recommendations to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in distress and tackle the tragedy of all those who risk their lives.

** Honour Roll

And I have a little quiz for you before we start the serious part.

Two more countries are on the Honour Roll, they have paid their dues in full.

The first is the only Member State from Africa to primarily speak Spanish? [response from the crowd: "Equatorial Guinea"]

What is the capital of Equatorial Guinea? Malabo, excellent.

And we also want to thank a very European nation that has no fewer than three official languages. French... [responses from the crowd] let me finish, if this was a quiz show you would be disqualified. The languages are Dutch, French and German, or Flemish, French and German. So we thank our friends in Malabo and Brussels for their money.

** Questions and Answers

Spokesman : Edie?

Question : Thank you, Steph. First, follow-ups on UNRWA. You mentioned some people, that high level people that the Secretary-General has or plans to talk to, but you didn't mention the names of any of the major donor countries, the United States, the European Union and Germany. Has he spoken to any senior officials from any of those...?

Spokesman : He met with the Permanent Representative of the US this morning, and he will be hosting a meeting here in New York with the major donors for UNRWA tomorrow afternoon here.

Question : And 20 NGOs (non-governmental organizations) put out a letter today, urging continued support from major donors for UNRWA. Does the Secretary-General have any reaction to that letter?

Spokesman : Well, we welcome the messages of support. I think people in the NGO community understand the critical work that UNRWA does right now in keeping people alive in the deliveries they have made since the beginning of this conflict, but more broadly, in all the work that they do  as I said, not only in Gaza, but in the West Bank, in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.

Question : And one last question. I see on the schedule that Sigrid Kaag is going to be briefing a closed meeting of the Security Council tomorrow morning. Are we going to get to talk to her at all?

Spokesman : The plan right now is for her to speak to you and for you to speak to her after she's done with the Security Council. Fatih, please.

Question : Thank you, Steph. Back to UNRWA and the Secretary-General's statement, he said that any employee will be held accountable, including criminal prosecution. May I ask which jurisdiction? Because I don't think in this milieu, it is an issue to extradite those who might have been involved criminally to Israel to be tried there, and in Gaza, I don't think that they have the infrastructure.

Spokesman : Yeah, I think those things will become clear as time goes on. The UN is not in the business. We don't extradite people. But I think let's let the investigation run its course.

Question : Okay. Another thing on the funding of UNRWA, did the Secretary-General consider contacting the countries which is known to be funding Hamas covertly? I'm not going to mention names, to fill in the gap for the countries that have withheld their dues. [cross-talk]

Spokesman : Any Member State that has the financial resources to support UNRWA, we would call on them to support UNRWA. Pam, and then Dezhi.

Question : Thank you. As you can imagine, a little more follow-up on this. In terms of the investigation that you talked about, which has not formally begun, but was called for by Lazzarini on the 17th, correct?

Spokesman : There are two separate things and I think, I'm glad you asked questions. We need to clear this up.

Question : Okay. That's good.

Spokesman : There's the OIOS investigation, which follows the news from Friday. They have started. They will work as swiftly as possible and efficiently as possible. Previous to that, I think on 17 January, Philippe Lazzarini had called for a review of UNRWA and an independent review of UNRWA and more broadly how it works and because it's an open secret that there's a lot of support from UNRWA, but there is some criticism, as well. So he was saying let's have a review of our work, how we work, and to do it transparently. So that's still in the process of being, let's say, organized. And as soon as there is a process for that, we will let you know. But that's separate from the OIOS one.

Question : All right. And are either or both of those investigating the dozen allegations?

Spokesman : Yes. The OIOS investigates misconduct or potential or alleged misconduct by UN staff.

Question : Alright. But one of the statements mentioned the dozen. Is there also the 190 that are mentioned in the Israeli document?

Spokesman : Well, we've seen this reference to a dossier. We saw it in the Times, in the Wall Street Journal, in CBS. I'm not going to name all the media organizations, but we respect them all. That information has not been given to us officially by the Israeli authorities.

Question : All right, wait just...

Spokesman : One more thing.

Question : I have counted 17 countries that have suspended their aid to UNRWA. Is that correct?

Spokesman : I can give you that soon enough.

Question : Alright. And just what would your message be? There are congressional hearings on this tomorrow in the United States. There's questions all around the world. What's your message about continuing support for the United Nations despite these things happening under its nose?

Spokesman : I think we have to be capable of doing multiple things at once, right? The critical humanitarian work that the UN does, not only in Gaza, all over the region, needs to be supported. People's lives depend on it. We are doing in parallel, taking very seriously all the allegations that have been made. We are being forward leaning. It was UNRWA that announced this, right? They took the first step. They had briefed critical donors. They had briefed certain parties before that happened. They were given information. They took the steps. So we have a process of accountability that's going on. While that's going on, people need to survive and we need continued support for UNRWA and all our humanitarian work. Dezhi?

Question : So I also have some questions. First follow-up on UNRWA. Let me ask you by another angle. First of all, I believe you said there are 30,000 staff of UNRWA?

Spokesman : Just about, yeah.

Question : Yeah. So 12 out of 30,000. With this, over about 17 countries suspend their fundings to this very important organization which is supporting the humanitarian work in Gaza. Do you think that's fair?

Spokesman : Listen, I'm not going to label, use words for what they've done, but I would refer you back to what the Secretary-General said and what I said on his behalf, that he is appalled and horrified by these allegations. Action has been taken swiftly. At the same time, the people that UNRWA serves need our continued support.

Question : Exactly. That's what I'm going to ask.

Spokesman : And that's his message to donors.

Question : Yeah. So according to your calculation, I mean, to the UN calculation, if there's this big suspension of funding, how much time do you have to offer your help to the people of Gaza?

Spokesman : Right now, I think past February, it looks that they will run out of money.

Question : And another part of this is now Israeli Government officials has already started to cancel their meetings with UNRWA Chief. From this point of view, what can you expect that UNRWA would do to effectively help in Gaza people to... [cross-talk]

Spokesman : Today, we have our 13,000 staff. The bulk of them are continuing to work and to do whatever they can. We've got more than a million people in UNRWA shelters that are continuing to be hit. So they're continuing to do their work.

Question : So, okay, another topic. There was a Gaza resettlement conference in Israel which organized by far-right wings organizations. But some of the Israeli Government officials also participated in that conference which called, I quote, "settlement brings security and victory". What is the UN's position on this possibility of settlements to Gaza? [cross-talk]

Spokesman : Well, the UN's position is that settlements are illegal under international law. We've also seen statements from the Defence Minister, if I'm not mistaken, contradicting or saying the opposite of what was said in that meeting. Let me move on. Ibtisam, and then we'll go to you.

Question : Thank you. So first, just to clarify something you read, and the Secretary-General said regarding him... sorry, strongly appeals to Governments that have suspended their contribution to at least guarantee the continuous UNRWA operation. What do you mean by that? Is this the difference between the basic....?

Spokesman : Yeah, I mean, just to ensure that maybe things are suspended in the future, but to ensure that there's continuous cash flow to UNRWA.

Question : So my other question is, given the fact that many of these countries who suspended their donation to UNRWA, on the top of that, the US, there are also countries who are strongly support and involved in weapon delivery, in diplomatic support, and political support to the Israeli Government. Does the Secretary-General believe that these countries are, what they are doing is also a collective punishment to the Palestinian people, the civilians who had nothing to do with this issue?

Spokesman : I may not use that exact terminology, but I can tell you that I think the civilians in Gaza who are suffering need the continued support of everyone.

Question : Sorry, one last one on the budget issue. Given the fact that the budget issue of UNRWA is under constant discussion and UNRWA has been under attack by Israeli Government and other Governments for a long time, and we saw back then, during the [Donald] Trump presidency, that they almost totally stopped their financing for UNRWA. Why isn't the Secretary-General trying to have, at least for the basic budget of UNRWA, to have the budget not based only on donation, but part of the...?

Spokesman : Assessed?

Question : Yeah.

Spokesman : I mean, part of UNRWA's budget is based on assessed contributions, but how... the decision of the budget is with Member States.

Question : And is he waiting for that, sorry?

Spokesman : Listen, we would like to have more predictable funding for all our humanitarian operations, right? As you see, I know you pay attention to what I say here every day. How many times do I mention a humanitarian operation, say, we're only 25 or 30 per cent funded. It is very difficult to do long term planning with that kind of funding. Yes, ma'am?

Question : The European Commission said today it will review whether they could...

Spokesman : Sorry, I don't know. If you could just tell me your name. Sorry.

Question : Yeah, Sara Rancano from the Spanish Public TV.

Spokesman : Yes, hi.

Question : Hi. The European Commission said today that it will review if they could continue to fund the UNRWA in light of very serious allegations against some staff. And it also requested UNRWA to allow EU experts to audit the agency and called for a review of all UNRWA staff. Two questions. First of all, will United Nations comply with these two requests from Europe? And second question, since the European Union is one of the largest donors, what would imply if it freezes contributions? Is the existence of the agency at stake?

Spokesman : Yeah, of course, I mean, it's not so much the existence of the agencies at stake. It's the lives of the people that the agency serves that's at stake. The European Commission is a critical partner and donor to UNRWA. I know our colleagues in UNRWA and Mr. [Philippe] Lazzarini and others are meeting with the donor representatives all the time in Jerusalem. We are open to answering any and every question that they may have. Mike, and then... sorry.

Question : Would the United Nations comply with the... [cross-talk]

Spokesman : I'm saying that UNRWA is willing to answer and work with every donor. Mike, then Evelyn.

Question : Thanks. I wanted to clarify something. You said earlier that the UN has not received that Israeli dossier yet. Has the UN requested?

Spokesman : That's correct. They've been in touch. As far as I checked with our colleagues at UNRWA, they have not received it.

Question : But it's been requested?

Spokesman : We're happy to get any information that they have. I mean, we obviously read the media and our UNRWA colleagues are in touch with their counterparts, which is the foreign ministry, but so far nothing.

Question : Okay. In a broader scheme, in the mounting scandals at UNRWA, it's a financial albatross, and it's not going to get any better anytime soon because the expenses keep rising by definition. At what point does somebody at the UN say that the High Commissioner of Refugees needs to take over this operation and fold it in? I mean, what is the point of going on with this continual budget crunch year after year after year, the scandals, year after year after year, when the High Commissioner for Refugees, a reputable organization that does this work all around the world, seems able to do this work in Gaza? [cross-talk]

Spokesman : Listen, Mike, we need to go back into history a little bit. UNRWA was created in 1949 by a mandate of the General Assembly for this particular purpose. UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) was created after the adoption in 1951, if I'm not mistaken, of the International Refugee Convention. So the mandate that UNRWA has is a mandate given to it by the General Assembly. Any decision to change that mandate, to change UNRWA's raison d'etre, would have to come from the General Assembly.

Question : But the Secretary-General has those conversations with Member States?

Spokesman : But let's also be clear. The needs are not going to change. The situation would be the same. But these two organizations have mandates given to them by Member States. If Member States want to have those conversations, then they should. But it is not for the Secretary-General to just move these organization and change their mandates.

Question : I'm not saying that. I'm saying the Secretary-General has conversations with Member States about all numbers of issues and budgetary needs and mandates. Why not this one? Why is this one apparently taboo?

Spokesman : It's not that it's taboo. The focus right now is on serving the millions and millions of people, I mean, the 2 million in Gaza and, of course, and the others outside of Gaza who need help. Evelyn, then Dulcie.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. Can we go over the numbers again? It's 13,000 staff in Gaza.

Spokesman : Yes, ma'am.

Question : And how many people do they service?

Spokesman : Well, right now they serve more than a million. They're more than 2 million people in Gaza. But I would also point you to the very detailed UNRWA situation reports, which has the latest numbers, and those are updated daily.

Question : On the UNRWA page?

Spokesman : Yes, ma'am.

Question : Yeah. Okay. Also, you talk about the shelters. What was your point about the shelters?

Spokesman : My point about the shelters, that they're overcrowded and they're not safe.

Question : Right. And I've got another one for you. Has the SG spoken to [Benjamin] Netanyahu or will Netanyahu not take his calls?

Spokesman : I think you will all be the second ones to know when that phone call happens.

Question : Will Netanyahu take the call?

Spokesman : As soon as the call happens, I will let you know. Joe?

Question : Any news on approval of getting a UN delegation into northern Gaza to see what's needed for a return?

Spokesman : No. We've seen the reports coming out of the security cabinet. Those conversations are continuing to be had between ourselves, our colleagues in Jerusalem and the Israeli authorities. As soon as it can happen in a safe manner, it will. And we hope it happens quickly. Rami, and then, sorry, and then Dulcie. Sorry.

Question : Thanks, Steph. What's the impact of the Israeli protests that have been happening at Karem Abu Salem, Kerem Shalom crossing?

Spokesman : Well, I think for two days it blocked the entrance of trucks for parts of the day.

Question : And how is that impacting the wider humanitarian effort getting trucks into Gaza?

Spokesman : Negatively.

Question : Okay, another question. What's the UN position on the reduction in Gaza's territory? Because the Israelis are focusing or insisting on a buffer zone. What's the UN position on that?

Spokesman : We believe there should be no change in the borders of the Gaza Strip. Dulcie?

Question : Yeah. I wanted to ask you, Sigrid Kaag's report, will that be made public before she talks to us?

Spokesman : I believe so, but I will check.

Question : Okay. So OIOS is doing an investigation of these accusations?

Spokesman : Yes, ma'am.

Question : But what are they working with? Because the dossier is not being made available to them. How can they do an investigation? [cross-talk]

Spokesman : This is the first working day. This is day one. OIOS will do its investigation, as they will always do. They will be in touch with Member States and we hope that every Member State and other entities cooperate fully with them. But I can't speak to what it will show. Yes, ma'am?

Question : And why are these UNRWA staff not given due process that they've been fired? I mean, one is already dead.

Spokesman : I think, historically, heads of agencies and the Secretary-General have the authority to immediately terminate staff when they have information that leads them to believe that these staff should be terminated immediately. Obviously, they can go through a process that is open to all staff members.

Question : But just to be clear, the UN has not actually seen this evidence.

Spokesman : UNRWA was given information that led the Commissioner General to take this swift action.

Question : Just one more question. Are the Saudis going to be at this meeting tomorrow as top donors?

Spokesman : I don't know exactly who will be at the table. Depends which donors. And I don't have the list of the top 10 or the top 15. Ephrem, please.

Question : Hi, Steph. Thank you. One quick follow-up on the EU Commission statement. They're also calling for a review of all UNRWA staff to be launched to confirm that they did not participate in the 7 October attack. What's your response to that? Is that an actionable thing to do?

Spokesman : As I said, we are in dialogue and we would do whatever we can to appease the concerns of donors. And we, of course, have those concerns as well, as the Secretary-General said.

Question : Okay. On the timing of these new allegations against the 12 UNRWA workers, does the Secretary-General see any connection between the ICJ (International Court of Justice) ruling that a genocide may be under way in Gaza and this sudden allegation that UNRWA is part of the 7 October attack?

Spokesman : We have no control or comment on the time-space continuum in which we live.

Question : One last one. Is the Secretary-General worried or concerned at all of a deliberate attempt to destroy UNRWA? We've been seeing the Israeli Government being relentless in its attacks on this agency since the beginning of the war.

Spokesman : Of course. Of course we're concerned about attacks and about lack of funding against UNRWA. Let me see if there's anybody on the screen. Nabil, you have your hand up.

Question : Okay, thank you, Stephane. So just to understand you correctly, the SG has not seen the evidence that based on these evidence, a number of UNRWA employees have been fired, right?

Spokesman : No.

Question : So he has seen these others?

Spokesman : Let me just put it this way. The information regarding the 12, what happened late last week was passed by the Israeli authorities to UNRWA. The Commissioner General took the decision, as he is authorized to do. He has obviously been on the phone with the Secretary-General a lot in the last few days. Your other question?

Question : And also another question: Are these allegations or information related to misconduct only or are they also related to other...?

Spokesman : I have no more information to share with you on that beyond what we've already said. Abdelhamid, Mushfiq, then Jordan and Iftikhar. Alright, Abdelhamid you're... Okay, we can't hear you. Mushfiq? We can't hear anybody. Let's try Jordan and then otherwise we'll stay in the room. No. Okay. Can't hear you either. Iftikhar?

Question : Thank you, Steph. The American declaration of American Black Church leaders have called for a ceasefire in Gaza and also calling for steps to end Israeli occupation of occupied territories. Any comments from the Secretary-General?

Spokesman : Well, I've seen the press reports. I mean, I can only restate our position, which is a call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Let's try Abdelhamid again.

Question : Yes, can you hear me, Stephane?

Spokesman : Yes, sir, I can hear you.

Question : Okay. Thank you very much. I have two questions on UNRWA. First, normally the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. So these allegations against nine staff, because the 12, one of them is dead and two are missing. The conclusion of the investigation has not been finished. So why punish the whole organization for just mere accusations? They're not yet proven guilty.

Spokesman : We are not punishing the whole organization. On the contrary, we are calling for donors to continue to support the organization while we deal with these very serious allegations. This is not a criminal procedure. This is an administrative procedure. And there are cases within the UN administrative procedures where a manager or the head of a unit can dismiss people based on the information they have. It doesn't preclude them from them going through an internal process. Your second question, sir?

Question : My second question is about the 152 staff from UNRWA who paid the ultimate sacrifice of their lives. And there are 13,000 working in very harsh conditions and everyone...

Spokesman : You're muted. Okay, Abdelhamid, we'll come back to you later. Let's try Jordan, and then we'll go back to the room. Okay, Mushfiq. Go ahead, Jordan, go ahead.

Question : Yeah, can you hear me?

Spokesman : Go ahead, Jordan, go ahead.

Question : My question also was on the same subject, one of the sentences on the SG, you know, statement says that we are willing to cooperate with a competent authority in order to prosecute the individuals who are...

Spokesman : Yeah. That question was asked earlier and I answered it.

Question : No, the question they were asking you, I hear it. I'm talking about what do you mean by competent authority?

Spokesman : A competent authority. [laughter] Sorry.

Question : Let me finish my other two small questions, if you don't mind, please. The Human Rights Rapporteur, Ms. [Francesca] Albanese, issued a statement on weekend, stating that defunding UNRWA based on those allegations is actually in contradiction to the ICJ ruling of...

Spokesman : Jordan, I have no comment on what the Special Rapporteur says. You know that. Do you have another question?

Question : Okay. My last one. There are 1,476,706 registered refugees by UNRWA in Gaza Strip. There are 26,000 or more were killed in Gaza. Do you know how many were refugees among those, 1 million?

Spokesman : We do not have disaggregation on the number of deaths. Let's go to Mushfiq and then we'll go back to the room, because the sound is so bad my head's about to explode.

Question : Thank you, Steph.

Spokesman : Mushfiq, go ahead.

Question : Thank you, Steph. Can you hear me?

Spokesman : Yes, I can.

Question : Can you hear me, Steph?

Spokesman : I can, I can.

Question : On Bangladesh. Thank you. On Bangladesh, does the Secretary-General align with the UN Human Rights Commission's call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political activists detained without charge or on charge, just inconsistent with the international human rights law? As you know, 25,000 was political... [cross-talk]

Spokesman : As a matter of principle, we believe that people should never be jailed for expressing their political opinion and they should be released, especially if not charged. Ibtisam, then Mike, then Dezhi, and then I think I will release all of you.

Question : Yeah, on your own investigation, are you going to publish the results regarding UNRWA?

Spokesman : The OIOS investigations are not public in full, but obviously we will transmit part of that. We will make public whatever information we can.

Question : Okay. Also, there are some media reports that part of this information that was provided to you through Israeli officials were taking through interrogation of detainees, which could mean that maybe also torture was involved in getting this information about what's happened. Are you aware of that? Did you see these media reports? Are you taking that into consideration?

Spokesman : We have no information on that particular thing.

Question : Would you also...?

Spokesman : I mean, we have the information we have. It was found to be credible to act upon it right away. Mike?

Question : If the major UNRWA donors don't budge and they keep their funds suspended, will there be any movement by the UN to maybe try to get those donors to redirect those funds to the World Food Programme (WFP) or OCHA or another humanitarian organization? Is that a possibility?

Spokesman : Listen, donors do what they want with their cash.

Question : But you can suggest.

Spokesman : But let me say something. No other organization than UNRWA has the infrastructure to do the work that they do. It's not as if anyone else can come in tomorrow and do the work that they do. I mean, I've seen a lot of discussions that's just not feasible in any way, shape or form. Dezhi?

Question : Yeah. I'm going to leave UNRWA there. Not an UNRWA question now. A housekeeping question I'll ask you.

Spokesman : Okay.

Question : Okay. Yeah, UN housekeeping question. What is the situation of the financial status of the United Nations now?

Spokesman : Not great.

Question : Not great. How bad? We're very concerning about the escalation.

Spokesman : I will share some information with you guys by email. I don't have off the top of my head. I do know that it's not great. On that note, I bid you all goodbye.

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UN chief to meet UNRWA donors as major charities call for continued support

29 January 2024 - Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is due to meet with major donors to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on Tuesday, as major non-governmental organizations (NGOs) issued an urgent plea to keep lifesaving funds flowing.

The UN chief also met with the head of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the highest investigative body in the UN system, his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Monday at the regular Noon Briefing.

This is to ensure that the investigation into allegations that several UNRWA personnel were involved in the 7 October terror attacks in Israel "will be done as swiftly and efficiently as possible", Mr. Dujarric said.

"We have a process of accountability that is going on. While that is going on, people need to survive and we need continued support for UNRWA and all our humanitarian work," he added.

Dire needs must be met

Mr. Dujarric noted that the Secretary-General is "personally horrified" by the accusations, but that his message to donors, especially those who have suspended their contributions is to "at least guarantee the continuity of UNRWA's operations, as we have tens of thousands of dedicated staff working throughout the region."

"The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met," Mr. Dujarric added.

In addition to its programmes in the Gaza Strip, UNRWA provides vital humanitarian aid to Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and in the West Bank including East Jerusalem.

In the Gaza Strip, the agency is providing lifesaving aid to over two million civilians, operating shelters for over one million and providing food, water and healthcare services.

NGOs urge continued support

Also on Monday, a group of leading international aid agencies and NGOs called on countries which have pulled funding for UNRWA over the allegations concerning staff collusion "to reaffirm support for the vital work" the UN agency does.

These include the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Save the Children and the War Child Alliance.

They called on the donor States which have suspended funding - which include the United States, the United Kingdom, Austria, Finland, and Japan - to restore urgently needed support or "risk further depriving Palestinians in the region of essential food, water, medical assistance and supplies, education and protection."

Some countries have stated they will continue their funding, while expressing deep concern over the allegations, while other donors have reportedly decided to continue funding while the investigations run their course.

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World confronts an 'ugly and inescapable truth' in Darfur, says ICC Prosecutor

29 January 2024 - The international community's failure to execute warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and subsequent lack of accountability are fuelling the violence stemming from the war between rival militaries in Sudan, ICC Prosecutor told the UN Security Council on Monday.

Prosecutor Karim Khan emphasized the "ugly and inescapable truth" that failure to act now is not only a damning verdict on the present but will subject future generations to a similar fate.

"It cannot be a case of 'play, rewind, and repeat'," he warned.

A clear assessment by his office indicated the presence of "grounds to believe" that Rome Statute crimes - genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity - are being committed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) along with affiliated groups.

"We need to do more", he stressed, urging Sudan to comply in good faith with Security Council resolutions, cooperate with and provide requested information to his office, and allow investigators in the country.

Referral to the ICC

In March 2005, the Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC Prosecutor for investigations into allegations of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

During that time, the region was engulfed in a brutal war involving the military-led government, the Janjaweed militia, and rebel groups, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of civilian lives and the displacement of millions more from their homes in a campaign marked by ethnic cleansing against non-Arabs.

In July last year, Mr. Khan announced an investigation into fresh allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur against the backdrop of the ongoing war between SAF and RSF forces and their affiliated groups.

Situation 'dire by any metric'

Speaking to ambassadors via video link from N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, Mr. Khan described the situation as "dire by any metric".

Since the conflict's onset in April 2023, over 7.1 million Sudanese civilians have been displaced, with 1.5 million forced to seek refuge in neighbouring countries.

Chad, in particular, hosts more than 540,000 Sudanese refugees, a number expected to rise to 910,000 by the end of 2024.

"One in three of the population in the affected parts of Chad are refugees [...] they are arriving at a rate faster than Chad, faster than the United Nations can respond," Mr. Khan said, with many showing signs of serious injury and trauma.

Refugees themselves have provided chilling testimony describing sexual violence against Darfuri women and girls, brutal killings, and racially motivated crimes.

Rule of law collapsing

Mr. Khan warned ambassadors that the crisis in Darfur was deepening, with the war impacting whole swathes of the continent: from Libya on the Mediterranean to Sub-Saharan Africa, and from Sudan's Red Sea coast to the Atlantic.

"We see a number of areas where conflicts seem to be triumphing against rule of law and deafening out the voices of the most vulnerable people," he said.

Stressing that judicial orders and court judgements alone cannot solve the problem, the ICC prosecutor urged the international community to devise innovative solutions to address the "catastrophe" in Darfur and prevent the violence from spreading further.

Meeting expectations

Mr. Khan urged Council members not to lose sight of the individual human stories behind the statistics of those affected by brutal crimes and war.

"These are individuals whose lives have been torn apart, each of whom has a story of woe and of suffering," he said, emphasizing the collective responsibility of the Security Council, the United Nations, Member States, regional organizations and the ICC "to live up to our promises that we have repeatedly made."

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Peacekeepers and civilians killed during clashes in disputed Abyei region

29 January 2024 - Continuing intercommunal clashes in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan have left more than 50 people dead including two peacekeepers, the UN said on Monday.

Armed youth from rival factions of the Dinka ethnic group have been battling over the location of an administrative boundary in the oil-rich region, claimed by both countries, according to media reports.

The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) reported that clashes erupted on Saturday in the Nyinkuac, Majbong and Khadian areas, leading to casualties and the evacuation of civilians to its bases.

Refuge from violence

UNISFA is engaging with local authorities to verify the numbers of those killed, injured, and displaced, noting that 52 civilians have lost their lives while 64 others are said to be gravely wounded.

The Mission has allowed all persons in imminent threat of danger to seek refuge in some of its camps, in line with its mandate to protect civilians.

Peacekeepers under attack

On Sunday, peacekeepers were transporting affected civilians from a UNISFA base to a hospital when they came under heavy fire. A peacekeeper from Pakistan was killed, and four uniformed personnel and a local civilian were injured.

The incident happened one day after the UNISFA base in Agok came under attack, which the mission repelled. A Ghanaian peacekeeper was killed, prompting the Mission to call for "a swift and thorough investigation".

UNIFSA issued a statement on Monday strongly condemning the attacks against civilians and peacekeepers, stating that violence against "blue helmets" may constitute a war crime under international law.

Call for investigation

"The Mission is making every effort to restore calm, including proactively and robustly protecting civilians, and reiterates its call for a swift investigation so that perpetrators can be held accountable," according to a statement.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned about the violence that occurred in Abyei over the weekend, his Spokesperson said in a statement later on Monday.

"The Secretary-General condemns the violence and attacks against UNISFA and calls on the Governments of South Sudan and Sudan to swiftly investigate the attacks, with the assistance of UNISFA, and bring the perpetrators to justice," it said.

Mr. Guterres conveyed his deepest condolences to the Government and people of Ghana and Pakistan, and to the families of the deceased civilians.

UN in Abyei

UNISFA was established by the UN Security Council in June 2011 in response to renewed violence, escalating tensions and population displacement in the Abyei region as Southern Sudan was preparing to formally declare independence from Sudan the following month.

The weeks prior to the Council decision were marked by deadly clashes that forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes.

The war between rival military forces in Sudan has compounded the challenges in Abyei, according to senior UN officials who briefed the Council last November.

They said the conflict has interrupted encouraging signs of dialogue between Sudan and South Sudan and talks over the disputed region have effectively been put on hold.



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World News in Brief: Progress on transfats, Ukraine war update, General Assembly President in China

29 January 2024 - Five countries have been awarded for their efforts towards eliminating mass-produced trans fats in food, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday.

Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand have received the first-ever WHO certificates for demonstrating that they have a best practice policy for industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA) elimination in effect, supported by adequate monitoring and enforcement systems.

Trans fats are industrially produced or naturally occurring, and both are linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and heart disease.

They have "no known health benefit, but huge health risks," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Furthermore, the fried foods, cakes and ready meals where they can be found lurking are often high in sugar, fat and salt.

WHO had set an ambitious target in 2018 to fully eliminate iTFA from the global food supply by the end of 2023. Although it was not met, the UN agency said remarkable progress towards this goal has been made in every region of the world.

A grand total of 53 countries now have "best practice" policies in place to tackle mass-produced trans fats in food. This covers 3.7 billion people, 46 per cent of the global population, up from just six per cent only five years ago.

Ukraine: Fresh attacks deepen suffering for winter-weary civilians

Recent attacks in Ukraine are causing further suffering for civilians already enduring harsh winter conditions, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said on Monday.

OCHA cited Ukrainian officials who reported that more than a dozen civilians were killed or injured in attacks in eastern, central and southern Ukraine over the past three days. Homes, schools, a hospital and energy infrastructure were also impacted.

"In the eastern region of Kharkiv, authorities said shelling caused damage to homes and electrical grids," the UN agency said.

"In the southern region of Kherson, attacks over the weekend also damaged homes, as well as education and telecommunications facilities, according to the governor of the oblast."

OCHA and partners continue to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to people in these areas.

Convoys deliver aid

On Friday, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, led a convoy to the Kherson Region. The trucks delivered food, medical supplies, winter clothes, solar lamps, hygiene items and children's supplies to about 800 people in need.

Another convoy that arrived in the Kharkiv Region on Friday brought blankets, bottled water, solar lamps, medical supplies and hygiene kits, supplies for people with disabilities, and construction materials to repair damaged homes.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine will reach the second-year mark on 24 February.

During 2023, the UN and partners sent over 107 humanitarian convoys to support some 400,000 residents in the front-line areas in the eastern and southern parts of the country.

General Assembly President calls for new commitment to UN Charter

With the world at "an inflection point", countries must recommit to the core principles of the UN Charter, the President of the General Assembly said in China on Sunday.

Delivering keynote remarks at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, Dennis Francis highlighted how the worsening impacts of climate change, hunger and multidimensional poverty are hampering efforts to achieve a safer, more just and more sustainable world.

Meanwhile, geopolitical divides have sparked new conflicts, and deepened pre-existing ones, across areas of Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Mr. Francis said these worrying developments are laying bare the limits of the multilateral system and raising legitimate questions about both the relevance and ability of the UN to solve complex problems.

"They demand that we fortify our foundation - and recommit to the core principles of the UN Charter, that have offered us a guiding light out of the tumultuous past since the founding of the United Nations," he said.

He commended China for continuing to play a leading role in global affairs, noting that it was the first country to sign the UN Charter, the Organization's founding document, and since then has been a "notably steadfast support of multilateralism".

"Since the horrific 7 October attack on Israel - the escalation of violence in the Middle East, and the wrenching humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, continue to project the worst aspects of the human condition; precisely that which the Charter was intended to avoid," Mr. Francis said.

The General Assembly "has been both active and ambitious" on the crisis, he said, by resuming its Tenth Emergency Session on the Middle East and adopting two resolutions that received overwhelming support from its 193 members.





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The humanitarian community deeply concerned by new spike in violence in North-Kivu

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Kinshasa, 29 January 2024 -- The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Bruno Lemarquis, expressed deep concern over the recent surge in violence in North Kivu province.

"The humanitarian community is profoundly concerned by serious violations of international humanitarian law committed recently, with clashes claiming the lives of many civilians, including women and children, particularly in Mweso where a bombardment in a residential neighborhood on 25 January killed 19 people and injured over 20," said Mr. Lemarquis.

Parties to the conflict are reminded of their duty to protect civilians, who should never be targeted by the hostilities, and their right to safely access humanitarian assistance.

The humanitarian consequences of this recent escalation are alarming. Around 8,000 internally displaced persons have now sought refuge near Mweso Hospital, and their lives might be at risk if fighting intensifies near this critical lifeline facility. The Mweso health zone currently hosts over 251,000 people in urgent need of assistance.

Mr. Lemarquis stressed, "It is crucial to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers and civilians to allow assistance to reach those in need and prevent deterioration of the humanitarian situation."

This resurgence of violence underscores the suffering endured for years by civilian populations affected by the conflict in North Kivu, where over 2.5 million people have been displaced, and currently have limited access to essential services.

Despite growing access constraints, humanitarian partners remain committed to providing the necessary aid and support to affected communities. "Support for ongoing political processes is essential to achieve lasting peace and stability in eastern DRC, where populations have endured decades of hardship and rightly aspire to live safely," reminded Bruno Lemarquis.

**

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UNRWA Situation Report #70 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (all information from 25 - 27 January 2024, is valid as of 27 January 2024 at 22:30)

UNRWA

29 Jan 2024

Key Points

The Gaza Strip

Intense fighting in/around Khan Younis (southwest of Gaza) over the last six days is causing loss of lives and damage to civilian infrastructure, including UNRWA's largest shelter in the southern area, the Khan Younis Training Centre (KYTC).

As of 27 January 2024, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities has increased by one and is now 152.

As of 22 January, up to 1.7 million people (over 75 per cent of the population) have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times. Families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety. Following intense Israeli bombardments and fighting in Khan Younis and the Middle Areas in recent days, a significant number of displaced people have moved again further south.

In the period between 21 October and 24 January, people received 21,881 metric tons (MT) of flour, including 12,987 from UNRWA .

including . In the same period, UNRWA delivered to Gaza: Medicines and medical supplies for a total value of more than US$ 6.2 million. Nearly 19 million litres of water . 2.7 million units of biscuits and high energy biscuits . Nearly 4.7 million cans of protein-based food , including beans, chicken, beef and canned meat. Over 6.5 million units of dairy items (cheese). Other food items including dates, cake and juice. Non-food items (NFI) including nearly 100,000 mattresses ; 80,000 family hygiene kits ; over 3.1 million diapers ; approximately 144,000 blankets ; and over 1.9 million cleaning supply items .

On 25 and 26 January, Israeli protestors blocked aid trucks from accessing Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

The next West Bank update will be on 30 January 2024.

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Confusion Over Incoming Drones May Have Led to Deadly Attack in Jordan, US Military Says

By Jeff Seldin January 29, 2024

The United States is considering options for how to make Iran and its proxy forces in Iraq and Syria pay for a deadly drone attack on a base in northeast Jordan, while also trying to determine just how the drone got by the base's air defenses.

U.S. officials late Monday said that three Army reservists with the 718th Engineering Company out of Fort Moore, Georgia, died when the one-way attack drone slammed into their housing unit at Tower 22, a logistical base near the Syrian border involved in coordinating efforts to contain and degrade the Islamic State terror group.

A U.S. official, who spoke to VOA on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss the preliminary findings, said the attack drone appeared to penetrate U.S. defense partially by luck, approaching the base at about the same time a U.S. drone was returning from a mission.

The initial confusion, the official said, appears to have caused enough of a delay to allow the drone to get through and hit the barracks in the early morning hours, at a time when many U.S. troops had yet to vacate the premises to start their assignments.

The presence of the U.S. drone returning to the base around the same time as the attack drone was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

In addition to the three deaths, the Pentagon said Monday that another 40 service members were injured, many suffering from cuts, bruises and traumatic brain injuries as a result of the impact and explosion.

Officials said the number of injuries could rise if additional U.S. troops start suffering ill effects as a result of the blast. Three of the most seriously injured troops were being transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, a premier U.S. military medical facility in Germany, for follow-on care, officials said.

The Pentagon said it was taking steps to further secure U.S. bases in the region but put responsibility for the deadly strike on Iran and its proxies.

"We know this is an IRGC-backed militia," Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters Monday, referring to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. "It has the footprints of Kataib Hezbollah," one of the larger and more powerful of Iran's Iraq-based proxies, she added.

Singh declined to say whether Tehran directly ordered the actual attack on Tower 22, but said that because of the Iranians' funding of the militias, "they do have their fingerprints on this."

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group for Iranian-backed militias, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement Sunday, saying it was one of four attacks launched at U.S. forces.

Iran's foreign ministry, in contrast, denied responsibility for the attack in Jordan. The official IRNA news agency quoted ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani as saying that the "Islamic Republic of Iran has no role in decisions by resistance groups on how they support the Palestinian nation or defend their people."

Officials at both the Pentagon and the White House emphasized Monday that the U.S. was not seeking war with Iran. But they also signaled that the death of U.S. troops, in what is now one of at least 165 attacks by Iranian-backed groups on U.S. forces in the Middle East since mid-October, would not be tolerated.

"This attack was certainly escalatory," Singh said. "We can't discount the fact that other attacks, whether it be Iraq or Syria, were not intended to kill our service members."

Earlier, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, in an interview with CNN, warned that the U.S. was planning a "very consequential" response.

The comments came as U.S. President Joe Biden met in the White House Situation Room with his top national security officials to formulate a response.

Some Republican critics in Congress have called on the Democratic president for a direct hit on Iran, but other officials and experts caution that such a strike could quickly lead to a spread of warfare in the Mideast, even though the current situation is no longer tenable.

"Clearly the U.S. strategy, if it was starting three months ago, not to let regional tensions escalate, that strategy has failed," said Bernard Hudson, former chief of counterterrorism at the CIA.

"There has been a strategic decision, certainly in Iran, to accelerate their actions against the United States," Hudson told VOA.

The deaths in Sunday's attack on the U.S. base in Jordan were the first from hostile fire since Iranian-backed militias began carrying out strikes on U.S. positions in what the militias have described as a show of solidarity with Palestinians following the start of the nearly four-month-long war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.

While the United States has not engaged in the fighting in the narrow territory along the Mediterranean Sea, it has staunchly supported the Israeli effort and rebuffed demands from some world leaders for an immediate cease-fire.

U.S. officials, however, said they were close to reaching an agreement for a two-month halt in the fighting and the release of the remaining 100 or so hostages Hamas holds in Gaza. The initial Hamas attack on Israel in October killed about 1,200 people, while Gaza officials say Israel's counteroffensive has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

VOA's Persian Service contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press and Reuters.

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NGOs Back UN's Agency for Palestinians Amid Donor Suspension

By VOA News January 29, 2024

Twenty international aid groups expressed support Monday for the United Nations' Palestinian relief agency, as several major donors suspended support following the revelation that a dozen staffers may have been involved in the October 7 terror attack inside Israel.

"The suspension of funding by donor states will impact life-saving assistance for over 2 million civilians, over half of whom are children, who rely on UNRWA aid in Gaza," the aid groups said, using the acronym for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency.

"The population faces starvation, looming famine and an outbreak of disease under Israel's continued indiscriminate bombardment and deliberate deprivation of aid in Gaza," they added.

Save the Children, ActionAid, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam and American Friends Service Committee are among the groups that signed the statement.

Several countries, including UNRWA's top donor, the United States, said they are suspending financial support while an investigation is carried out.

"These decisions threaten our ongoing humanitarian work across the region including and especially in the Gaza Strip," UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement. "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."

UNRWA employs 13,000 mainly Palestinian staff in just the Gaza Strip. They have continued to work since October 7 to provide some relief to nearly 2 million displaced Palestinians. More than 150 UNRWA staff have been killed in the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

Of the dozen staffers implicated by Israel in the deadly attacks, the U.N. immediately fired nine of them, one was confirmed dead and officials are clarifying the identity of two others. The U.N. immediately opened an internal investigation.

Funding freeze

On Monday, Austria was the latest donor to suspend additional funding.

The European Union, which is the agency's third largest donor providing more than $114 million in 2022, said it does not foresee any new funding to UNRWA before the end of February, and it wants to conduct an audit of the aid agency.

"It expects UNRWA to agree to carrying out an audit of the Agency to be conducted by EU appointed independent external experts, reviewing, thereby the pillar assessment, focusing specifically on the control systems needed to prevent the possible involvement of its staff in terrorist activities," the EU said in a statement.

The EU said it will continue to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank through partner organizations.

At least 10 other countries, which together account for about 60% of UNRWA's funding, have suspended support. They include the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Francesca Albanese, U.N. special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, warned that countries that cut aid, following provisional measures imposed Friday by the International Court of Justice, could be violating their obligations under the Genocide Convention.

Meanwhile, Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said his government has no plans to suspend assistance, which totaled more than $8.5 million in 2022. Spain also said it would continue its financial assistance, which topped $13.5 million in 2022.

Major contributor Norway, which provided more than $34 million in 2022, also said it would continue.

"UNRWA is a lifeline for millions of people in deep distress in Gaza as well as in the wider region," Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on X.



Aid in immediate jeopardy

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that without adequate funding for UNRWA, aid for more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza would be scaled back as soon as February.

"The abhorrent alleged acts of these staff members must have consequences," Guterres said in a statement, adding that they could face criminal prosecution. But he urged donors not to punish the thousands of aid workers and people they serve.

Guterres' spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said Monday that the U.N. chief has been working the phones, speaking to donors and regional leaders. He spoke with Jordan's King Abdullah on Monday and has a call scheduled with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. He met Monday morning with Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He also conferred with the head of the U.N.'s Office of Internal Oversight Services, which is heading up an internal probe into the allegations.

Dujarric said Guterres also plans to meet with major donors on Tuesday.

Israel rebuked Guterres for calling for the resumption in aid to UNRWA. Gilad Erdan, the Jewish state's ambassador to the U.N., said that Guterres "has proven once again that the security of the citizens of Israel is not really important for him."

"After years in which he ignored the evidence presented to him personally about UNRWA's support and involvement in incitement and terrorism, and before he conducted a comprehensive investigation to locate all Hamas terrorists in UNRWA, he called to fund an organization that is deeply contaminated with terrorism," Erdan said.

Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others. Israel says the group's October 7 attack killed 1,200 people.

"Every country that continues to fund UNRWA before a comprehensive investigation of the organization should know that its money might be used for terrorism, and the aid that will be transferred to UNRWA may reach the Hamas terrorists instead of the people of Gaza," Erdan concluded.

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.

UNRWA has provided basic services, including medical care and education, for Palestinian families who fled or were driven out of what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding the country's creation. They now live in built-up refugee camps in Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Hostage talks

The dispute over UNRWA funding came as two senior U.S. officials said negotiators were reported to be closing in on a cease-fire agreement that would halt the Israel-Hamas fighting for two months and lead to the release of the remaining 100 or so hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The emerging terms of the deal would call for the release of the remaining women, elderly and wounded hostages in a first 30-day phase, but details on the release of men were not clear. The pending deal also calls for Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns met Sunday in Paris with David Barnea, head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency; Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani; and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel to discuss the possible cease-fire.

More than 100 hostages were released in late November during a weeklong cease-fire in exchange for 240 Palestinians jailed by Israel. Since then, fighting has been nonstop, and no more hostages have been freed.

Israel's military said Monday it carried out airstrikes in the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza, while ground operations killed militants in central and northern Gaza.

The U.N. office for humanitarian affairs said Monday that the heavy fighting in Khan Younis was reported near Nasser and Al Amal hospitals, with people reportedly fleeing to the overcrowded town of Rafah in unsafe conditions. The U.N. says hospitals in Khan Younis are at risk of closure due to the hostilities and Israeli evacuation orders in surrounding areas.

The Israeli military also said "a terrorist carried out a ramming attack" next to one of their military bases in northern Israel. The suspect was shot by Israeli troops after getting out of a vehicle and trying to attack Israel forces with an ax.

The Israeli counteroffensive after the October 7 Hamas attack has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, while also destroying vast swaths of Gaza and displacing nearly 85% of the territory's people.

VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Austria Latest to Suspend Funding for Palestinian Aid, Despite UN Chief Urging Resumption of Support

By VOA News January 29, 2024

Austria on Monday became the latest country to suspend additional funding for the U.N.'s Palestinian relief agency, a day after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged countries to resume funding to help displaced people in Gaza who are desperately in need of assistance.

Austria's foreign ministry issued a statement calling on the agency, known as UNRWA, and the United Nations to "conduct a comprehensive, swift and complete investigation into the allegations" that a dozen aid workers played a role in the October Hamas attack on Israel.

At least 10 other countries, which together account for about 60% of UNRWA's funding, have suspended funding. Those countries include the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Norway said Sunday that while it shares concerns about the allegations, it will continue its funding for the agency.

"UNRWA is a lifeline for millions of people in deep distress in Gaza as well as in the wider region," Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on X.

Guterres warned that without adequate funding for UNRWA, aid for more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza would be scaled back as soon as Thursday, Feb. 1.

"The abhorrent alleged acts of these staff members must have consequences," Guterres said in a statement, adding that they could face criminal prosecution. Nine of the aid workers were immediately fired, one was confirmed dead and officials are clarifying the identity of two others.

Still, Guterres said, "The tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers, should not be penalized. The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met."

Israel immediately rebuked Guterres for calling for the resumption of Palestinian assistance. Gilad Erdan, the Jewish state's ambassador to the U.N., said that Guterres "has proven once again that the security of the citizens of Israel is not really important for him."

"After years in which he ignored the evidence presented to him personally about UNRWA's support and involvement in incitement and terrorism, and before he conducted a comprehensive investigation to locate all Hamas terrorists in UNRWA, he called to fund an organization that is deeply contaminated with terrorism," Erdan said.

Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others. Israel says the group's Oct. 7 attack killed 1,200 people.

"Every country that continues to fund UNRWA before a comprehensive investigation of the organization should know that its money might be used for terrorism, and the aid that will be transferred to UNRWA may reach the Hamas terrorists instead of the people of Gaza," Erdan concluded.

The U.N. agency provides basic services, including medical care and education, for Palestinian families who fled or were driven out of what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding the country's creation. They now live in built-up refugee camps in Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

The dispute over Palestinian relief funding came as two senior U.S. officials said negotiators were reported to be closing in on a cease-fire agreement that would halt the Israel-Hamas fighting for two months and lead to the release of the remaining 100 or so hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The emerging terms of the deal would call for the release of the remaining women, elderly and wounded hostages in a first 30-day phase, but details on the release of men were not clear. The pending deal also calls for Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns met Sunday in Paris 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 to discuss the possible cease-fire.

More than 100 hostages were released in late November during a week-long cease-fire in exchange for 240 Palestinians jailed by Israel. But since then, fighting has been non-stop and no more hostages have been freed.

Israel's military said Monday it carried out airstrikes in the Khan Younis area, in southern Gaza, while ground operations killed militants in both central and northern Gaza.

The Israeli military also said "a terrorist carried out a ramming attack" next to an Israeli base in northern Israel, then was shot by Israeli troops after getting out of a vehicle and trying to attack Israel forces with an axe.

The Israeli counteroffensive after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, while also destroying vast swaths of Gaza and displacing nearly 85% of the territory's people.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Afghanistan's Taliban Host Multilateral Huddle To Promote Regional Cooperation

By Ayaz Gul January 29, 2024

Afghanistan's fundamentalist Taliban hosted their first international meeting Monday since returning to power in Kabul, saying it is aimed at promoting economic connectivity and cooperation with regional countries on "common challenges."

Special representatives and ambassadors from neighboring and regional countries, including China, Russia and Iran, attended the gathering in the Afghan capital titled Afghanistan Regional Cooperation Initiative.

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told the inaugural session that "regional security remains of grave importance" for his government, known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan or IEA. His office released the English translation of his local language speech.

Muttaqi explained that the meeting had been convened to develop a "region-centric narrative" to enhance cooperation "for a positive and constructive engagement between Afghanistan and regional countries to tackle existing and potential threats."

The Taliban reclaimed power in August 2021 when the United States-led Western troops withdrew from the country after their involvement in the Afghan war for nearly 20 years.

However, the international community has not recognized the de facto Afghan government mainly over its restrictions on women's access to education and work.

The United Nations has also refused to give Afghanistan's seat at the world body to the Taliban until they ease their restrictions on Afghan women's freedom of movement and work and govern the country through an inclusive political setup representing all Afghan ethnicities.

The Taliban have defended their administration and policies as aligned with Afghan culture and Islamic law, rejecting calls for reforms as an interference in the country's internal affairs.

"I would like to take this opportunity to put across to you a clear message: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan respects others' interests, choices, government structures, and development models and, in return, expects others to respect Afghanistan's interests and government and development choices and models," Muttaqi said Monday.

"Therefore, our choices shall be respected. Instead of proposing governance models and pointing fingers at the (Afghan ruling) system, it is better to engage in mutual interests," the Taliban foreign minister said.

He urged delegates to convey the "ground realities of today's Afghanistan" to the United Nations meeting scheduled for next month in Qatar in hopes of fostering a "constructive engagement" and "acceptable approach" for his country.

The two-day conference in Qatar's capital, Doha, will open on February 18. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will convene the meeting with member states, regional organizations, and special Afghanistan representatives.

"The objective of the meeting is to discuss how to approach increasing international engagement in a coherent, coordinated, and structured manner, including through consideration of the recommendations of the independent assessment on Afghanistan," said Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric while speaking to reporters in New York last week.

The U.N.-mandated assessment determined that "international engagement is not working," nor does it "serve the humanitarian, economic, political or social needs of the Afghan people."

The Doha meeting is also expected to discuss the appointment of a U.N. special envoy for Afghanistan in accordance with the assessment's recommendations.

On Monday, Muttaqi reiterated Kabul's opposition to appointing a U.N. special envoy, saying the world body already maintains its presence in Afghanistan and his administration is ready to engage with international stakeholders on all issues. He cautioned that previous "externally imposed" solutions and interventions led to instability in his conflict-torn South Asian nation.

The U.N.-authorized assessment has linked the recognition of the Taliban government to compliance with Afghanistan's international treaty obligations and commitments and the immediate removal of sweeping curbs on women's rights to education and employment opportunities.

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ICC Prosecutor: Warring Parties Likely Committed War Crimes in Darfur

By Margaret Besheer January 29, 2024

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday he believes war crimes have been committed by both sides in the Darfur region of Sudan since fighting erupted between rival generals in mid-April.

"Based on the work of my office, it's my clear assessment that there are grounds to believe that presently Rome Statute crimes are being committed in Darfur by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and affiliated groups," Karim Khan told the U.N. Security Council in a remote briefing from Chad's capital, where he is meeting with Sudanese refugees.

The Rome Statute established the ICC and the four main international crimes it investigates  genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

"The alleged atrocities that have taken place in El Geneina form a central line of investigations that my office is pursuing at this current moment," he said of the capital of West Darfur. "I can confirm to the council that we are collecting a very significant body of material, information and evidence that is relevant to those particular crimes."

The United Nations and human rights groups have raised alarms about ethnically targeted attacks on Masalit people in West Darfur that have killed hundreds of civilians since fighting erupted nine months ago between the Sudanese army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. There has also been widespread looting, burned villages and rampant sexual violence.

Darfur saw large-scale ethnic violence and crimes against humanity in the early 2000s, and the U.N. fears a repeat now.

The U.N. Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC in 2005, and it is based on that mandate that Khan's office is investigating recent human rights violations.

Efforts to halt the fighting have so far failed, despite regional efforts by the African Union and the East African regional bloc IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development), as well as the United States, European Union, Saudi Arabia and some of Sudan's neighbors.

Uncooperative

Khan told Security Council members he has received minimal cooperation from the Sudanese government despite a pledge from Burhan, whom he met in New York in September on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly meetings.

"Thirty-five requests for assistance remain unanswered by the government of Sudan," Khan said. The only progress he reported was the issuance in December and January of some single-entry visas for his team members after months of requests for multiple entry visas. He said Khartoum has also named a person to be the focal point to deal with his office.

The prosecutor said the RSF has been extremely uncooperative.

"In November, we finally received the names of individuals that they contended were part of an investigative committee," Khan said. "But not a scrap of paper, not a scintilla of information, has been transferred from the RSF to the office, either."

Sudan's envoy denied that his government had been uncooperative. Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed said Sudanese officials have given the court all the documents they have found and invited Khan to come to Sudan four times, but he turned them down.

A group of Security Council diplomats issued a statement expressing alarm about the rampant use of sexual violence in the conflict and called for accountability for perpetrators.

"We commend the decision of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, to accelerate the investigation of recent allegations of crimes in Darfur, prioritizing crimes against children and crimes of sexual and gender-based violence," the statement said.

"Since the beginning of the conflict in April 2023, different forms of conflict-related sexual violence, including rapes, gang rapes, abductions, sexual slavery and exploitation, trafficking  sometimes used as a tactic of war  have been reported in all conflict-affected areas, in particular in Khartoum, Al Jazira, Darfur states and the Kordofan regions. We fear that the reported numbers are below reality," they warned.

The United Nations estimates that the conflict in Sudan has displaced 7.1 million people inside the country, and more than 1.5 million have fled to neighboring countries, particularly Chad, Egypt and South Sudan. Nearly 25 million people currently need humanitarian assistance and protection.

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Analysts Examine Implications of African States' Exit From ECOWAS

By Timothy Obiezu January 29, 2024

Analysts in West Africa are reacting to the sudden exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the regional economic bloc ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, and are raising security concerns. The three nations led by military juntas announced the withdrawal in a televised broadcast Sunday, accusing the regional body of becoming a threat to member states.

According to a joint communique issued by the military juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, the withdrawal from ECOWAS after nearly half a century takes effect immediately.

They said the regional bloc  under the influence of foreign powers  betrayed its founding principles and failed to aid its member states in their fight against terrorism and insecurity.

They also criticized sanctions imposed on military regimes in the region by ECOWAS.

But soon after the announcement, ECOWAS said it had yet to receive an official notice from the member states. The bloc said it remained committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse.

Nigerian security analyst Jaye Gaskia said there will be implications.

"The withdrawal of members of ECOWAS would have implications on ECOWAS itself in terms of its mandate and purpose for integration to ensure joint security and economic integration," said Gaskia. "I think this is a lesson  that ECOWAS needs to have protocols and mechanisms in place to begin to respond to that situation of insecurity and instability before it leads to a point where governments are actually overthrown. I ask this question  at what point is the constitution of a country actually subverted? Is it at the point where leaders become irresponsible or is it when [the] military responds to that?"

The 15-nation bloc was created in 1975 to promote economic integration among member states.

ECOWAS, however, has struggled in recent years to reverse a wave of military takeovers in the region, including Mali in 2020 and 2021, Burkina Faso in 2022 and in Niger last year.

ECOWAS rules state that withdrawal from the bloc takes up to one year to be finalized.

Criticism had been growing over the bloc's strict sanctions against Niger, including the threat of force following the July ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum.

Idayat Hassan, a senior associate in the Africa program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said there's a lesson for the regional bloc.

"What ECOWAS should really learn is that the juntas are very strategic and at no point should we take these kinds of leaders for granted especially since they started this whole idea of the Alliance of Sahel States," said Hassan. "What happens to the currency? There are a lot of buts and ifs. But it's not also something that is as easy as the junta is making it to be."

Last September, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso formed a bloc known as the Alliance of Sahel States and vowed to tackle armed groups in their countries.

Gaskia said the decision to operate outside the regional bloc will not be easy and could lead to more challenges.

"This withdrawal is not in the best interest of the three countries or ECOWAS because if ECOWAS is not providing the enabling environment for your security, what's the alternative they're looking at? And that's where I think ECOWAS needs to become very worried," said Gaskia. "So, who do their countries turn to for security? Russia? China?"

Since the political impasse, the three countries have drawn closer to Russia, distancing themselves from formal colonial power France.

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Kenya's Government Says it Will Appeal High Court Ruling that Blocks Sending Police to Haiti

By Mariama Diallo January 29, 2024

Kenyan President William Ruto says he will appeal a court ruling last week rejecting a planned deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti. Ruto promised last year that Kenya would lead a multinational force to help fight gangs in the troubled Caribbean nation, but critics challenged his legal authority.

Friday's court ruling didn't come as a surprise because procedure was not followed said, Dr. Francis Khayundi, assistant professor of international law at the United States International University Africa in Nairobi.

"Under article 240 of the constitution that talks about the National Security Council, amongst the role and functions of the security council, there was no mention that it had a role to do with deploying of the police officers. Their thinking was that only the armed forces can be sent or deployed outside of the territory of the country and not the police service," he said.

The ruling also said that Kenya could've deployed its police officers only if a so-called "reciprocal arrangement" exists between the two nations.

Khayundi told VOA that the court action puts President Ruto in a difficult position, coming after the U.N. Security Council approved a Kenya-led multinational security force aimed at helping combat violent gangs in the troubled Caribbean nation.

"It's a bit of [a] catch 22 situation; being between a rock and a hard place particularly for Kenya, here we are talking about the executive. For those who believe in the rule of law, of course it's victory," he said.

In a statement, Ruto's government reiterated its commitment to honoring the country's international obligations and says it will appeal the court ruling. That statement was welcomed by some in Haiti.

A local Haitian says, "it's their country [Kenya], they make their decisions but as an ally country of Haiti, we are waiting for them. As the president says, it's not over yet."

Khayundi says while the Kenya government has the right to appeal, he wonders on which grounds it plans to do so.

"It'll be interesting to see their grounds of appeal but that is a right they have," he said. For me, I would suggest that the executive try and regularize or normalize that gap because if we don't have the legal framework, then no appeal can put in place a legal framework."

Tirana Hassan, Human Rights Watch Executive Director told a U.N. Security Council meeting last week that while plans for the deployment of the Kenyan-led force have stalled, the situation for many Haitians has worsened.

"Killings, kidnappings, sexual violence and other abuses continue at a staggering rate, with criminal group activities and fighting intensifying and spreading," said Hassan.

The challenge to the deployment was brought to court by three petitioners, including opposition politician and constitutional lawyer Ekuru Aukot, who told VOA at the time the proposed deployment was unconstitutional.

Reacting to the ruling on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Aukot pleaded for Ruto to accept the court's decision and called for the government to focus on providing security to troubled regions inside Kenya including his own village.

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Readout of National Security Advisor Sullivan's Meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

January 29, 2024

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met today with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. They welcomed Turkiye's recent approval of Sweden's NATO membership and expressed a shared desire to see Sweden join the Alliance as soon as possible. Secretary General Stoltenberg noted NATO's Allies' unflinching support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression. Mr. Sullivan and the Secretary General discussed planning for the July 2024 NATO Summit in Washington and NATO's improved military readiness as a record number of Allies are on track to meet the two percent defense spending pledge in 2024. They exchanged views on Allied progress in ramping up defense production and expressed concern over the DPRK's export and Russia's procurement of DPRK military equipment, as well as Russia's use of this equipment against Ukraine. They also underscored Allies' shared commitment to military readiness and to defending every inch of NATO territory.

###

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USAFRICOM's Ambassador Scott visits Tanzania to meet leaders, talk maritime security

Ambassador Robert Scott, representing the U.S. Africa Command as the Deputy for Civil-Military Engagement, conducted a diplomatic visit to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from January 21 to 25. His agenda included bilateral meetings with Tanzanian officials and participation in a maritime security seminar.

By U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs , United States Africa Command Stuttgart, Germany Jan 30, 2024

Ambassador Robert Scott, U.S. Africa Command Deputy for Civil-Military Engagement, traveled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Jan. 21-25 for bilateral meetings with Tanzanian leadership and to participate in a conference on maritime security.

Scott presented the opening remarks for the "Maritime Safety and Security: Shared Challenges and responses in the Indian Ocean" seminar hosted by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. The four-day seminar hosted about 45 participants from 15 Indian Ocean countries, along with international and regional organizations to dicsuss the security challenges affecting the region, including illegal, unregulated, unreported fishing.

"Maritime threats such as IUU fishing, piracy, and trafficking cross international borders and addressing those threats requires a collaborative approach," Scott said. "Many of the countries participating in this seminar share borders and coastlines, and this provides the opportunity to foster the partnerships and approaches to work together to counter these threats."

During his visit, Scott also met with Dr. Stergomena Tax, Tanzanian Minister of Defence and National Service; and Alexander Mnyeti, Tanzanian Deputy Minister of Livestock and Fisheries.

"Tanzania has been a longstanding partner to the U.S., and I had a very good meeting with Minister Tax to discuss security challenges and areas of collaboration," Scott said. "I was also grateful for the meeting with Deputy Minister Mnyeti, and we talked about the maritime security challenges faced in the region, and how we could support Tanzania in addressing those."

The ambassador traveled back to Stuttgart Jan. 25.

U.S. Africa Command is one of seven U.S. Department of Defense geographic combatant commands, and is responsible for all U.S. military operations, exercises, security cooperation, and crisis response on the African continent in support of U.S. interests and to promote regional security, stability, and prosperity.

The visit highlights U.S. Africa Command's 3D approach, which leverages diplomacy, development, and defense collaboration.

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Canada provides additional humanitarian assistance in Gaza

Global Affairs Canada

News release

January 30, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Canada wholeheartedly recognizes that Palestinian civilians' need for humanitarian assistance is growing by the hour. The scale of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues to require our urgent attention and immediate response. We must ensure that Palestinian civilians who need life-saving assistance receive it quickly.

Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced that Canada is providing an additional $40 million in funding for humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs stemming from the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip. This funding will help Canada's partners to provide food, water, emergency medical assistance, protection services and other life-saving assistance. The funds are being allocated as follows:

World Food Programme: $16 million

UNICEF: $6 million

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): $5 million

World Health Organization: $3 million

International Committee of the Red Cross: $3 million

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): $2 million

An additional $5 million will be allocated toward experienced Canadian non-governmental organization partners.

Following Canada's recent announcement to temporarily pause additional funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Canada will continue to work with the agency and other donors to support the investigation into the serious and deeply concerning allegations, while maintaining our commitment to helping the most vulnerable Palestinian civilians in the region. Justice for the heinous acts committed by Hamas terrorists should never come at the expense of innocent lives.

The safety and well-being of civilians remain a top priority. Canada remains steadfast in its call for compliance with international humanitarian law. We urge all parties to actively facilitate the swift and unobstructed passage of essential humanitarian relief to civilians in need as part of our collective responsibility to uphold the principles of humanity, dignity and protection for all. Canada was one of the first countries in the world to provide humanitarian assistance and will continue to do so going forward.

A humanitarian ceasefire is a necessary step to protect civilians and allow for far more humanitarian assistance to enter the Gaza Strip.

Canada remains committed to the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, including the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel.

Quotes

"Since the very beginning of the crisis, our position has always been, and continues to be, centered on the firm belief that more assistance is needed, not less. In line with this commitment, we are stepping up with additional emergency funding so that our trusted and experienced humanitarian partners can continue to ensure this funding reaches the most vulnerable in their time of need." - Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development

Quick facts

Today's announcement adds a further $40 million to the initial $60 million in humanitarian assistance funding announced since October 2023.

Canada provides its funding for humanitarian assistance based on need, through experienced and trusted humanitarian organizations that have the necessary operational capacity on the ground to respond.

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January 30, 2024

Transcript

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds a Press Briefing

MAJOR GENERAL PAT RYDER: Good afternoon, everybody. Just a few things here at the top, and then I'll get right to your questions.

Up front, I want to just express again our condolences to the family members and loved ones of the three U.S. soldiers who were killed in Jordan this weekend in the Iran proxy drone attack at Tower 22. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with them. Secretary Austin will be calling each of the families to personally relay his respects and is planning to attend the dignified transfer of remains at Dover Air Force Base on Friday, as well.

Of note, the U.S. Army Reserve announced earlier today that Specialist Kennedy Sanders and Specialist Breonna Moffett have been posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant. We're also keeping our servicemembers who were wounded in our thoughts and wish them all a speedy recovery.

In terms of updates, at this time, we're currently tracking more than 40 U.S. service members with reported injuries ranging from lacerations to possible concussions pending TBI assessments. As previously briefed, eight personnel were medically evacuated out of Jordan for follow-on care. Three of those eight were transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, one of whom is reported to be in critical but stable condition. The other two service members are in fair and stable condition. After further examination by the Landstuhl Trauma Team, a determination will be made by medical staff whether any of these injured service members will require transfer back to the U.S. for further treatment.

In terms of additional details about the drone attack itself, we know there are still many questions, to include how the one-way attack drone could've penetrated the facility's air defenses, its point of origin, and which specific Iranian proxy group is responsible. I can tell you that U.S. Central Command is continuing to look into all those important questions, and that we'll keep you updated as new information becomes available as we are able to.

What we do know is that Iran-backed militias are responsible for these continued attacks on U.S. forces and that we will respond at a time and manner of our choosing. While we do not seek to escalate tensions in the region, we will also take all necessary actions to protect our troops, our facilities, and our interests.

Shifting gears, yesterday, the U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic, Bijan Sabet, and Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova signed a contract for the purchase of 24 F-35 fighter aircraft. The acquisition of these F-35s will increase the combat capability of the Czech military and strengthen NATO and the bilateral security of Czechia and the United States. With this signing, the Czech Republic joins 18 countries, including 10 in Europe, that employ the F-35. As you know, all foreign military sales are coordinated through the U.S. State Department, so I would refer you to my colleagues at State for more information.

And finally, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs Dr. Daniel Erikson hosted the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley, at the Pentagon yesterday. Performing the duties of deputy under secretary of defense for policy, Melissa Dalton also joined the meeting to emphasize the department's strong support of the U.S. defense partnership with Trinidad and Tobago.

DOD leaders expressed appreciation for Trinidad and Tobago's leadership in the Caribbean community and in cohosting the upcoming Caribbean Nations Security Conference alongside U.S. Southern Command in November of 2024.

They further commended the robust partnership between the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force and Delaware National Guard, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, through the State Partnership Program. The senior officials exchanged views on illicit trafficking, maritime security, defense force modernization and training, cybersecurity and frameworks to facilitate expanded bilateral security cooperation.

The meeting also reaffirmed the U.S. and DOD's commitment to partnership with Trinidad and Tobago and to working together to improve Caribbean regional security and resilience.

With that, I'd be happy to take your questions. We'll go to AP, Tara Copp.

Q: Thanks, General Ryder. Has Secretary Austin provided the President response options at this point or is the building still looking at the best way to deter future strikes? And I have a few -- couple others.

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Tara. So I'm not going to get into the specific conversations that the Secretary's had with the President. As I've highlighted, we will respond in a time and manner of our choosing.

Q: Is the building still evaluating options on how best to respond at this point?

GEN. RYDER: I'm not going to get into the specifics as it relates to potential future operations, other than, again to reiterate that we will respond in a time and manner of our choosing.

Q: Well, then ... you've said from the podium the U.S. does not seek to widen this war, but how do you deter Iran, which has clearly supplied and endorsed some of these attacks, from - keeping from doing this again and leading to another proxy attack on U.S. forces?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so again, as a reminder, our forces are in Iraq and Syria and in the region supporting the lasting defeat of ISIS. That's the mission that we've been focused on. When we need to, we will protect our forces. Again, I'm not going to get into telegraphing or discussing potential future operations, other than to say again we will respond in a time and manner of our choosing.

Jennifer?

Q: General Ryder, have you attributed to Kata'ib Hezbollah or any other group who was responsible for this drone strike?

GEN. RYDER: So Jennifer, Central Command is still assessing, but again, we are confident that these -- this attack was sponsored by Iranian-backed proxies.

Q: So Kata'ib Hezbollah has just put out a message on Telegram suggesting that -- telling its fighters not to attack U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria, suggesting that they will support the fight in Gaza in other ways and suggesting that, even if the U.S. strikes them, not to respond. What is your response to that?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, we've seen those reports. I don't have a specific comment to provide, other than actions speak louder than words. Thanks.

Lara?

Q: Thank you. A couple questions. First of all, can you speak a little bit about the drones that are based at Tower 22 in Al-Tanf? We saw some -- we had some reporting yesterday that the -- there was some confusion over whether the drone coming into the base was friendly or -- was friend or foe. And I know that these -- most of these drones should have IFF software allowing them to distinguish between the two. So I'm just wondering if you could tell me whether those drones do have that software?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Lara. So -- so no, I'm not going to get into the specifics on the kind of capabilities as it relates to intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance capabilities that we have.

In terms of the reasons behind how this one-way attack drone was able to penetrate the facility's air defenses, that's something that Central Command is looking at now. And I'm just not going to be able to get into the specifics of that.

Q: The second question then, actually on a different topic, but there was a -- another report today saying that the U.S. is open to reopening discussions with Turkey to let them buy F-35s. I was wondering if you can speak on that from the DOD's perspective? Are you aware of those discussions?

GEN. RYDER: I've seen the comments by our State Department colleagues on that. I'd refer you to State to discuss. As you know, right now, with Turkey maintaining the S-400, that is currently not something that is on the table, but I'd refer you to State.

Let me go to Missy.

Q: Just a couple questions, Pat. Thank you. I -- I -- is there any update on whether Secretary Austin will come and talk to us sometime soon? First question.

GEN. RYDER: Again, I don't have a date to announce. Certainly aware of the request and we'll keep you updated.

Q: OK. And on Jordan, can you just clarify is -- are -- the troops in Jordan at Tower 22 and other bases, are they under OIR authority or are they -- they're under some other authority? Can you specify that? And is it right that there are about 3,000 troops in Jordan?

GEN. RYDER: Missy, I'll have to come back to you on the total number of U.S. forces deployed to Jordan. So we'll take that question.

The forces that were -- you know, that -- the three soldiers that were killed, again, as we've highlighted, they were there in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, supporting the Defeat ISIS mission.

Q: ... you said they're under OIR authority at Tower 22?

GEN. RYDER: Operating in support of OIR.

Q: OK. Does that mean they report to the Commander of OIR?

GEN. RYDER: It -- I mean -- and I'm not -- don't want to get into the chain of command process here but if they're there supporting OIR, then certainly OIR Commander can request assistance from those forces. So ...

Q: And then the last question -- and I think we asked Sabrina this yesterday but I -- I think it was maybe something that you guys were still looking at -- just wanted to ask if there had been any new information about any steps that may be taken to protect American forces in the region, like in terms of air defense or new steps to make sure that something like this doesn't happen again?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so, you know, for operation security reasons, I'm not going to be able to go into specifics, other than to say that U.S. Central Command of course is taking this very seriously and that we will take necessary measures and steps to ensure that our forces are protected, recognizing as well that this is a dangerous neighborhood, but again -- yes, to answer your question, we will take steps to ensure that our forces are protected.

Let me go to Will.

Q: Two questions. First, Qatar's Prime Minister expressed some concerns yesterday that the U.S. response to the Jordan attack could potentially affect the negotiations over a new hostage deal. Is that part of the Pentagon's calculus in determining a U.S. response to this?

GEN. RYDER: So Will, I don't have anything specifically on that, other than to say again, you know, as part of any decision-making process, we take a wide range of considerations into account -- again -- to include what our broader regional goals are, which from the very beginning has been to prevent the situation in Israel and Gaza from, you know, expanding into a broader conflict. I'll just leave it there.

Q: Second, it's been -- it's been two days since the -- the -- the attack in Jordan. Is there a concern that -- that this -- the -- that delay in -- in a -- in responding could give these groups time to prepare, to -- to, you know, disperse from likely targets, et cetera?

GEN. RYDER: So Will, what I -- you know, again, I'm not going to get into any details of what -- about what a potential future operation could look like. You've heard both the President and Secretary Austin say that we will respond in a time and a manner of our choosing.

Three U.S. service members were killed, over 40 wounded. Oh, by the way, these service members were deployed into the region to contribute to regional security and stability, in support of the international coalition to ensure the lasting defeat of ISIS.

So there will be consequences, and I'll just leave it at that.

Sir?

Q: Yeah, thank you. Just a quick question on the Red Sea. Since the Houthis are mainly attacking, like, foreign ships, what -- what authorization does the Pentagon have to strike targets in Yemen?

GEN. RYDER: Again, in terms of the strikes, these are all being taken under United Nations Section 51 in terms of Right to Self Defense. And you know, again, our focus there is twofold, one it's to protect international shipping and mariners that are transiting the Red Sea, as well as to degrade and disrupt Houthi capability to conduct these kinds of attacks.

Fadi ?

Q: Yes, just have a follow up on -- on this and then I have several topics.

The Section 51 that you mentioned, I mean before strikes on Yemen, Yemenis did not attack any U.S. ship, so what self-defense are you talking about? Defending international commerce is not part of the international law?

GEN. RYDER: Well, what -- what's -- so what are you suggesting here -- what are you suggesting?

Q: I'm suggesting that when you refer to this section from the U.S., you're saying U.S. was attacked by Houthis before the first strike...

GEN. RYDER: I'm saying that the international community has been attacked by Houthis and the U.S. working alongside international allies and partners are working together to help deter, degrade and disrupt their ability to conduct these attacks.

Q: But you referenced something in the UN that does not apply to this situation prior to the January 1st wave of attacks in Yemen.

GEN. RYDER: Fadi, I think that international mariners have the ability or have the right to be defended transiting international waterways. So, happy to engage with you offline, but...

Q: No, but other countries -- not, I mean okay...

GEN. RYDER: Okay...

Q: But...

GEN. RYDER: Tom?

Q: ... question -- can I ask a different topic...

GEN. RYDER: I'll come back to you. Tom?

Q: Thanks, General. Just coming back to Kataib Hezbollah, you have a pro-Iranian militia saying they're going to pause attacks on the U.S. forces and then you say actions speak louder than words, just was wondering if you could talk a little bit about how that might change the calculus in the building?

Would you be concerned that if you do strike KH or any other groups, then you are escalating in the face of them saying they're standing down, given that you've said repeat, the administration said that you do not seek to escalate?

GEN. RYDER: Yes, thanks, Tom. I'm just not going to get into hypotheticals and I'm going to refrain from editorializing on those kinds of comments after 160 plus attacks against U.S. forces.

Sir?

Q: But -- that same question calling on Tom's question, do you welcome the Kataib Hezbollah statement for suspension of their attacks on your forces in Iraq, Syria?

GEN. RYDER: Yes, again, I've already provided a comment on that. Okay...

Q: So, yesterday, the Pentagon officials met with the Peshmerga forces in Iraqi Kurdistan and the commentary of (inaudible), could you speak of the nature of your cooperation with the Peshmerga forces, and how would you assess the reforms in the Peshmerga Ministry?

GEN. RYDER: Yes, well as you know, I man we have a longstanding relationship going back many years with the Peshmerga, as it pertains to its association with the Iraqi security forces.

And so, the statement that we posted yesterday, I think lays out what efforts are being made to further bolster and strengthen that relationship within the auspices of the government of Iraq and the Iraqi security forces, and so we'll continue to use that opportunity to help ensure that our Peshmerga partners have the capabilities they need to support broader Iraqi security and stability.

And you know, when we have updates, we'll certainly pass that along.

Let me go to the phone here real quick, Eric Schmitt, New York Times?

Q: Pat, can you give us a little bit of chronology on Sunday morning, what time did this attack -- the drone attack take place? How quickly were the most seriously injured -- were they be -- were they medivaced to Iraq? And -- and -- and then just kind of looking ahead, in terms of any additional air defenses that you may be moving to region or realigning the region to do this, to -- to help protect forces in -- in place there?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Eric. On the -- on the last question, again, you know, if we have details to provide on the specific types of air defense systems that we would be moving into the area, I don't have anything to announce right now, other than to say again Central Command is going to take and is taking necessary steps to ensure that our forces are protected.

As far as timelines, I will take that question and will come back to you. Again, this attack happened Saturday night our time, Sunday morning Iraq time. And again, we'll come back to you with what we're able to provide on that.

Fadi?

Q: Thank you, General. I want to go back to the KH statement. It's -- it's really unusual that some of the messages in this statement refer to suspension of these attacks. They don't want to basically embarrass Sudani's government. At the same time, they're saying Iran was not always happy by escalation against U.S. forces.

Would you credit the department and the administration at-large pressure or messaging to Iran and Iraqi authorities as maybe a -- a -- a direct result for issuing such a statement?

GEN. RYDER: Again, look, we've seen that and I'm just going to stay what -- where I was earlier -- actions speak louder than words. So -- OK.

Oren?

Q: I just want to be clear on a point, part of your answer to Missy and part of your answer to Eric. You said to Missy "we will take steps to make sure our forces are protected" and you said "if we have something to announce, we will announce it," but I want to ask specifically you will -- you are adding air defense for force protection measures? You make it sound like there -- there will be changes coming, and I just ...

GEN. RYDER: I'm saying that we will take necessary steps to ensure that our forces are protected. I don't have any specifics to announce right now.

Q: But above and beyond the measures that are currently in place? That's what I'm -- that's what I'm ...

GEN. RYDER: We're always assessing force protection. And so, you know, I'll just leave it broad like that, especially, again, in light of, you know, recent events.

Konstantin?

Q: Thanks, Pat. The forces at Tower 22, are they receiving Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay?

GEN. RYDER: I'll have to take that question. My assumption is yes but I'll have to take that question.

Q: And then are -- my other question would be are they eligible for combat action ribbons?

GEN. RYDER: Again, I'll have to take that one.

Q: Thank you.

GEN. RYDER: Nancy?

Q: Yesterday, Sabrina said that the Secretary is going for a follow-up appointment. Can you tell us what the status of that is and if that means any changes to his health?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so he went to the appointment last night, left the doctor's office. As I understand it, this is part of his planned physical therapy. So still recovering well, still healthy, still in the building.

Q: And then you mentioned that he was going to the dignified transfer on Friday. Will that be open -- any part of that be open?

GEN. RYDER: So you can contact the Air Force Mortuary Operations. They manage press access to the dignified transfer. To my knowledge, those are, again, up to the families, whether it's open or not, but certainly you can put that request in with them.

Q: And one other thing. I didn't understand -- yesterday, there was some issue around filming part of the arrival of the -- Secretary Stoltenberg. Can you help me understand what the challenges were in who -- filming his actual arrival ...

GEN. RYDER: I'm not tracking any specific challenges, so ...

Q: Well, they're -- we weren't allowed, as I understand it, to film the walk up but only at the upstairs, and I'm just trying to understand -- that's a ...

GEN. RYDER: We followed normal protocol for a visit, as I understand it, by the NATO Secretary General. So typically, this not -- because it's not a country, it's not afforded honors, per se. So it was the standard arrival. The Secretary arrived in the building, per standard procedure and process, and the pool, because of the size of the room, was invited to come in and cover the top of that meeting.

Q: Right, I'm just trying to understand were they allowed to film the -- the outside part, the -- the arrival part? My understanding is they weren't.

GEN. RYDER: I don't know that they were not. I'm not tracking anybody saying that they couldn't. We've just followed normal procedure for any type of DV visit to the Pentagon. Thanks.

Sir?

Q: Thank you. I have a couple on Ukraine, the Middle East. So do you have any updates on weapons deliveries to Ukraine under USAI or some of the capabilities currently being delivered to Ukrainian, no PDA announcements?

GEN. RYDER: No new PDA announcements. Of course, we're still standing by on a supplemental from Congress.

Q: But the USAI deliveries that was -- that were procured before that?

GEN. RYDER: I don't have anything specific to announce right now. Of course, we're going to continue to work with Ukraine to deliver those capabilities as they come online.

Q: Also, could you tell us more about the ongoing Inspector General's visit to Ukraine, what they will be looking into? Will they go to the front lines and ...

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I'd have to refer you to the Inspector General's office.

Let me go back to the phone here. Jeff Schogol, Task & Purpose?

Q: Thank you. The National Defense Authorization Act includes a lot of funding to replenish the Defense Department's stockpiles of munitions, like artillery shells and SM-6 missiles, but there can't be any new starts until Congress passes a spending bill. So does the fact that the Defense Department is still on a Continuing Resolution mean that it hasn't been able to replenish or -- any of its stocks of shells and missiles or -- or at least get started on new contracts?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Jeff. And you're talking about in terms of Ukraine or just in general?

Q: For the -- for the -- each of the services has funding for shells, missiles, to -- especially considering that so many has been given to Ukraine. This is the ammunition build-up for the U.S. military.

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so I'd refer you to each of the services to talk about their current status, but as you highlight, during a Continuing Resolution, we are limited in terms of, you know -- in many ways, in terms of being able to extend contracts, it disrupts training, it delays maintenance, it imposes uncertainty on the workforce. So again, each of the services can talk about their individual impacts.

Let me go to Phil Stewart, Reuters.

Q: Oh, hey there, thanks. At the White House today, there was some talk that there would be a -- a tiered response to the drone strike in -- in Jordan, and that could mean multiple actions instead of a single action. Could you just confirm that, that you're expecting a tiered response with multiple actions?

And then secondly, on the -- on the KH statement, I mean, could -- could you offer a little more -- I mean, what do you mean by actions speak louder than words? Are you -- are you -- you -- would you like to see them make good on this -- this promise to suspend operations on U.S. forces? Could you just elaborate on what you meant by that? Thanks.

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Phil. On your first question, again, we're not going to telegraph or discuss details associated with any future operations.

And again, on the statement that's out there, you know, I don't think we could be any more clear that we have called on the Iranian proxy groups to stop their attacks. They have not. And so we will respond in a time and manner of our choosing.

When I say actions speak louder than words, you know, there has been three attacks, to my knowledge, since the 28th of January, and I'll just leave it there.

OK, got time for just a few more here. Let's go to Howard Altman, War Zone.

Q: Thanks, Pat. A couple of questions. One, do you -- have you -- can you confirm the Politico reporting that the ground-launched small diameter bomb could be delivered to Ukraine as -- as soon as tomorrow?

And then has the Pentagon been informed by Ukraine of any change at the top of its command? There's been a lot of discussion about General Zaluzhnyi being replaced. Has -- has Ukraine said anything definitive to the Pentagon?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Howard. On your latter question there, I'm not tracking any changes. Obviously, it's for Ukraine to discuss their internal domestic affairs.

As far as the small diameter bomb, as we acknowledged last year, we will provide Ukraine with the ground-launched small diameter bomb as part of our USIA -- our USAI-funded security assistance efforts. However, due to operation security reasons, we're not going to confirm specific timelines.

We'll defer to Ukraine to talk about any delivery, but we do, as I mentioned, continue to work closely with Ukraine, with our industry partners to ensure that Ukraine receives and is ready to use the capabilities that we're delivering to them and as quickly as possible. Thanks.

Sir?

Q: So recognizing there's an ongoing -- the investigation into it, is there any indication at this point with the drone attack that this was a result of a technology failure or gap or -- versus human error, in terms of recognizing what the technology and information was saying?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah. Again, I appreciate the question. CENTCOM is looking into all of that. The other aspect of this, which I know you all appreciate, is the operation's force protection aspect, in terms of, you know, vulnerabilities. It's not something we would talk about certainly from the podium here.

All that to say we do recognize and appreciate the interest, and I can tell you that CENTCOM is looking into all of that.

Yes, ma'am?

Q: Do you have any concern that while you are responding to this attack, any party, whether it's ally or adversary, would exploit this situation to their benefit? And did you convey any message to that effect?

GEN. RYDER: I'm not sure I understand what you -- what you're asking.

Q: I mean, do you have any concern, while you are responding to that attack -- to this attack on the Americans' troop -- on American troops in Jordan, that any party, whether it's ally or adversary, would exploit this situation to their own benefit? You've been saying you don't want to widen this war. And did you convey any message to any party? Speaking here specifically about Lebanon.

GEN. RYDER: Again, you know, first of all, taking a step back, looking at the broader region, we fully recognize the tensions right now that are in the Middle East. From the very beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict, we've been very clear that we're going to work very hard with our allies and our partners in the region to prevent a broader conflict.

When it comes to the situation in Iraq and Syria, in Jordan, our troops were attacked and three U.S. service members were killed and over 40 wounded. The President and the Secretary have both said that we will respond at a time and place of our choosing. I'm, again, not going to go into details of what that could look like, other than the fact that there will be consequences, and I'm just going to, again, leave it right there.

Nancy, last question?

Q: ... that CENTCOM is investigating. Can you tell us who is investigating? Is there one person? Can you give a sense? We've heard several references to the ...

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so you know, term of art here, I would not use the word "investigation." They're reviewing it. Of course, investigation has a specific, you know, connotation. Obviously it's up to CENTCOM whether or not they open a formal investigation. Typically, after any type of incident, there is always some type of review or investigation.

But my point is, you know, U.S. Central Command and leaders within the command are looking at this. I don't have a specific name to pass along to you but I can tell you it -- we're taking it very seriously.

Q: Right, but we heard the term yesterday. So what you're telling us is there's not one person who's looking at this? Is there some sort of, like, I don't know -- there's no, like, 15 -- there's no kind of ...

GEN. RYDER: I'll have to get back to you on that, Nancy.

OK, thank you very much, everybody. Appreciate it.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3661277/

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January 30, 2024

Release

Readout of Senior DoD Officials' Meeting with Dr. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago

Department of Defense Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devin T. Robinson provided the following readout:

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Mr. Daniel Erikson, hosted the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley at the Pentagon on January 29. The delegation from Trinidad and Tobago also included Mr. Stuart Young, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries; Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs; Ambassador Anthony Phillips-Spencer, Ambassador to the United States; and Air Vice Marshall Darryl Daniel, Chief of Defence Staff.

Ms. Mieke Eoyang, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy; Ambassador Candace Bond, Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago; COL Robert Creason, Americas Division Chief, Western Hemisphere, Joint Staff J5 Strategy, Plans, and Policy Directorate; and Major General Michael Berry, Adjutant General of Delaware, also attended for the United States.

Performing the Duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Melissa Dalton, joined the meeting to emphasize the Department's strong support of the U.S. defense partnership with Trinidad and Tobago. The DoD leaders expressed appreciation for Trinidad and Tobago's leadership in the Caribbean Community and in co-hosting the Caribbean Nations Security Conference alongside U.S. Southern Command in November 2024. They further commended the robust partnership between the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force and Delaware National Guard, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year through the State Partnership Program. The senior officials exchanged views on illicit trafficking and maritime security, defense force modernization and training, cybersecurity, and frameworks to facilitate expanded bilateral security cooperation.

The meeting reaffirmed the United States' and Department of Defense's commitment to partnership with Trinidad and Tobago and to working together to improve Caribbean regional security and resilience.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3660276/

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January 30, 2024

By David Vergun , DOD News

DOD Official Discusses Challenges, Solutions to Recruiting All-Volunteer Force

Over the last 15 years, the recruiting rate of the all-volunteer force has been declining, said Stephanie Miller, deputy assistant secretary of defense for military personnel policy.

Those with an interest in serving and qualification rates are hovering near all-time lows, she said yesterday at the Institute for Defense Analysis in Alexandria, Virginia.

Previous tried-and-true methods to respond to market dynamicssuch as an increased number of recruiters, bonus authority and increased marketing and advertisinghave not necessarily resulted in the gains seen previously during challenging times, she said.

Miller said defense leaders are asking how the military can connect with and motivate this new generation to serve. Is it through:

Intangible benefits of service, such as the opportunities for leadership and travel?

A sense of belonging and community pride?

Selfless service to a greater cause?

Pay and benefits that greatly exceed the market value of commensurate civilian work?

Miller said many believe the most expeditious way to address the recruiting crisis is by making the tangible benefits of service worth more than any perceived hardship or risk.

She said if funding for personnel is increased, decisions must be made about whether they will be across the pay scale, targeted to bonus money, or an increase in quality-of-life programs like housing and child care.

An increase in personnel funding would eat into costs for training, education and future readiness, Miller noted.

Current military marketing and advertising strongly aligns to what young people report they're looking for: purpose, passion, connection. But marketing and advertising can only do so much, she said.

Miller said she thinks that influencers, such as educators and parents, need to become more attuned to the benefits of serving.

Too many educators falsely see the military as an alternative to college or an option of last resort, she said.

"We need to reframe that narrative such that Americans understand that military service is a pathway to greater education and opportunity for those who may be less inclined to pursue college, initially, after graduation from high school," Miller said.

Miller said she's optimistic about the future of the all-volunteer force. Measures and metrics of recruiting are improving, such as new contracts being written by recruiters and improvements in marketing and advertising incentives. But "climbing out of that deep hole is going to take a long time."

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Project Manager Pleads Guilty to Kickback Scheme to Defraud a U.S. Army Facility

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

A former project manager for a government contractor pleaded guilty today for his role in a conspiracy to inflate project costs by over $200,000 and receive kickbacks related to contracts for commercial flooring services at a U.S. Army facility in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Kevin Mahler pleaded guilty to a six-count felony information filed on Jan. 29, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. According to the plea, from March 2016 to March 2021, Mahler conspired to receive kickbacks from Benjamin McCulloch, the owner of a commercial flooring services company, related to construction contracts administered by the U.S. Army at Fort Wainwright. Mahler pleaded guilty to conspiring with McCulloch to inflate the costs of flooring construction subcontracts and receiving half of the proceeds as kickback payments from McCulloch. During the five-year scheme, Mahler received over $100,000 in kickbacks. As a part of his plea, he has agreed to pay restitution. According to the information, Mahler also failed to report his income from the scheme to the IRS, in violation of federal tax laws. McCulloch previously pleaded guilty for his role in the conspiracy.

"Taking advantage of U.S. taxpayers by defrauding U.S. Army facilities is a crime and will not be tolerated," said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Manish Kumar of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. "The Justice Department's Procurement Collusion Strike Force will hold accountable individuals who conspire to illegally profit  through kickbacks or otherwise  at the expense of the public."

"We are very pleased with today's announcement," said Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division's Fraud Field Office. "This is a true testament to our continued commitment to work closely and seamlessly with our outstanding fellow law enforcement agencies to help bring those to justice who attempt to defraud the U.S. Government and U.S. Army."

"This plea marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to combat corruption and uphold integrity within government contracting processes," said Special Agent in Charge Bryan D. Denny of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. "Mahler's actions, which involved a calculated scheme to defraud the U.S. Army and exploit American taxpayers, were brought to light thanks to the diligent work and collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies."

"'Be all you can be' is a resounding call by the U.S. Army for excellence, dedication and bravery. It is not a call for fraudsters to fill their coffers illegally at the Army's expense," said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI) Seattle Field Office. "Mahler's disregard and theft from those who serve our country is being brought to light today, and this guilty plea emphasizes IRS:CI's commitment to fighting fraud no matter where it is found."

Mahler faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The fine for the anti-kickback conspiracy charge may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.

The Antitrust Division's San Francisco Office, U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska, FBI Anchorage Field Office, DCIS's Western Field Office in Seattle and IRS:CI Seattle Office are investigating the case.

Anyone with information in connection with this investigation is urged to contact the Antitrust Division's San Francisco Office at 415-934-5300, Antitrust Division's Citizen Complaint Center at 888-647-3258 or www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html or the FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441.

In November 2019, the Justice Department created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government - federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on market allocation, price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct related to federal government contracts, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.

Topic: Antitrust

Component: Antitrust Division

Press Release Number: 24-114

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Financial support for UNRWA delayed

Government of Iceland

January 30, 2024

Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Bjarni Benediktsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, decided on Friday to delay the disbursement of Iceland's annual core contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) following reports of allegations of the involvement of twelve UNRWA employees in the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7. The decision to delay the disbursement was made to enable necessary consultations with key partners and to seek further clarifications from UNRWA.

According to a framework agreement signed with UNRWA in September 2023 for the period 2024-2028, Iceland's annual core contribution to UNRWA is ISK 110 million per year. The agreement stipulates that the contribution should be paid in the first quarter of each calendar year. It is not excluded that the disbursement will be made within this timeframe, despite the delay.

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US, UK pound Yemen again despite warnings: Sources

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 30, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The United States and Britain have reportedly carried out fresh airstrikes on Yemen, defying criticism and opposition that such attacks are in violation of international and the UN charter.

The Sabrin News Telegram channel affiliated with the resistance forces reported that American warplanes targeted areas in the northern Yemeni province of Sa'ada.

Some unofficial sources also reported an explosion in the capital Sana'a that has not been confirmed by the Yemeni army.

America's CBS news network quoted US officials as sayinf that the new round of attacks on Yemen included sites that were prepared to attack [the United States].

Yemen's Al-Masirah news channel also confirmed the US and British airstrikes, saying the attacks included the provinces of Hodeidah, Sa'ada, Taez, Zhumar and Bayda.

The United States and Britain backed some of their western allies plus Bahrain have bombed the improvised Arab nation multiple times over the past three weeks in order to secure Israeli interest in the region.

A UN Security Council Resolution allowed for maintaining security of the Red Sea after the Yemeni army launched its operations against Israeli or Israeli-bound ships in the strategic waterway.

Yemenis have targeted over two dozen Israel-bound ships and vowed to keep their operations unless the regime stops its bloodshed in Gaza and ends its blockade on the Palestinian territory.

Meanwhile, a member of the political bureau of Yemen's Ansarullah Movement warns on Monday night that the US escalation and attacks on Yemen will never lead to a solution to the Red Sea crisis.

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi was quoted by Al-Masirah website as saying that yhe escalation of the war will also not prevent Yemen from supporting the Palestinian cause.

He said the US and UK aggression against his country is in line with their continued support for the Zionist regime and warned that the US has endangered the security of the Red Sea.

"The American and British attacks on Yemen have nothing to do with supporting international waterways", Al-Houthi stressed.

He also underlined that Yemen's position is completely clear and there is no danger to international shipping, and all ships except those of Israeli or bound for Israeli ports are safe in the Red Sea.

The senior Ansarullah member warned that the US attacks on Yemen cause instability and a threat to international shipping.

"We had warned that America is moving in the direction of militarizing the Red Sea. The operation in Yemen is focused on Israeli ships and the Yemeni forces are moving to ensure the security of the international waterway", he added.

4399

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Iran not responsible for actions of resistance groups: Iravani

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 30, 2024

New York, IRNA -- Iran's permanent representative and ambassador to the United Nations says in a letter to the Security Council that the Islamic Republic is not responsible for the actions of any individual or group in the region.

Amir Saeid Iravani, in a letter addressed to the Ambassador of France, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council rejected the US accusation of Iran's involvement in operations by regional resistance groups as baseless.

Iravani's letter is in response to the one recently prepared by the US envoy to the UN that directly blamed Iran for supporting resistance groups and their actions.

The Iranian diplomat also referred to the letters he addressed to the UN on December 4, 2023 and January 2, 2024, in which, he clarified that resistance forces whether in Iraq, Syria or elsewhere are not under Iran's control directly or indirectly and Tehran is not responsible for their actions.

The full text of the letter the Iranian UN envoy has addressed to the Security Council president is as follows:

Excellency

I am writing to respond to the letter dated 26 January 2024 (S/2024/101) from the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations. The letter contains unwarranted references alleging militia groups affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran's armed forces involving in actions against U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria.

The Islamic Republic of Iran categorically rejects these unfounded allegations. As previously emphasized in our correspondences, including the letters dated 4 December 2023 and 2 January 2024 (S/2023/953- S/2024/9), there is no group affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran's armed forces, whether in Iraq, Syria, or elsewhere, that operates directly or indirectly under the control of the Islamic Republic of Iran or acts on its behalf. Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not responsible for the actions of any individual or group within the region.

Furthermore, the actions undertaken by the United States in Syria and Iraq are illegal and violate both international law and the UN Charter, particularly Article 2(4) of the Charter. Consequently, the US notification submitted to the Security Council in the aforementioned letter under Article 51 of the UN Charter lacks a legal foundation and fails to legitimize such actions.

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the Security Council.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

4399

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Israeli outpost comes under fresh attack by Hezbollah

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 30, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement says it has carried out fresh missile strikes against an Israeli military base in northern occupied Palestine.

In a statement on Tuesday, Hezbollah said that its fighters targeted a gathering of enemy soldiers in the vicinity of Hadab Yaron outpost with missiles in support of the Palestinian people and resistance in the Gaza Strip.

It added that the Lebanese resistance group targeted the Israeli outpost in the occupied northern Palestinian territory with appropriate weapons.

The Zionist regime waged the Gaza war on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, carried out a surprise operation into the occupied territories in retaliation for the regime's ceaseless atrocities against the Palestinian people over the past seven decades.

With the Israeli war continuing unabated and killing Palestinian civilians in the besieged territory, resistance movements and groups in the region, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Ansarullah, and Iraq's fighters launched military operations against US and Israeli interests in an effort to exert pressure on the regime to end its genocidal war.

3266**9417

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Iran condemns Israeli attack inside Jenin hospital as 'organized terrorism'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 30, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson has strongly condemned a deadly attack by Israeli forces inside a hospital in the occupied West Bank, saying such heinous action pays the way for normalizing "organized terrorism" in the world.

"It is expected that the countries of the world will not be indifferent to Israel's act of terrorism against a hospital in the Jenin camp and condemn this brutal behavior that can provide grounds for normalizing organized terrorism in the world," Nasser Kanaani said on Tuesday.

An Israeli hit squad, disguised as medical staff, entered the Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin early on Tuesday and shot three Palestinian men to death.

Kanaani said that it was regrettable that supporters of the Israeli regime, who have put any kind of pressure on the oppressed Palestinian people, remain silent in the face of such blatant crimes.

Hospitals and medical centers have been a frequent target of Israeli attacks in Gaza since the occupying regime launched its genocidal war against the besieged Palestinian territory early in October.

The United Nations and human rights organizations have warned that the health system in Gaza has collapsed as a result, putting the lives of thousands of Palestinians at risk.

4353**9417

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Over 700k displaced Gazans suffering from various diseases: Health ministry

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 30, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Gaza's health ministry says more than 700,000 displaced people in the besieged territory have contracted infectious, skin, cold, diarrhea and hepatitis diseases.

According to a Monday report by the Sama News, the ministry emphasized that overcrowding, lack of proper shelters, lack of sufficient water and food, as well as the lack of medical and health facilities, have exacerbated the health disaster in Gaza.

At least 26,637 Palestinians have been killed and 65,387 others have been injured in the Israeli regime's unrelenting attacks on residential areas in Gaza since October 7.

The Zionist regime's bloody war on Gaza has also displaced hundreds of thousands of people in the besieged territory.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has described conditions in Gaza as "hellish".

In remarks last week, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for a ceasefire and a "true solution" to the war, saying, "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."

4354**4261

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Hezbollah launches 13 attacks against Israel

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Tue / 30 January 2024 / 12:21

Hezbollah's operations against Israeli occupation forces and military sites carried on through Monday night, using a wide array of weapons, including anti-tank guided missiles, Burkan heavy rockets, and Falaq-1 rockets.

Tehran (ISNA) - In following six operations that were launched between Monday midnight and morning, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon launched a series of attacks on various targets near the entirety of the Lebanese-Palestinian border.

To kick off their operations on Monday afternoon, Hezbollah fighters launched an attack, at 1:30 pm, on a grouping of Israeli occupation soldiers positioned in the Honin Castle, which has been repurposed by the Israeli occupation for military use. The site is located in the occupied Lebanese town of Honin, on the western side of the occupied Al-Jalil Panhandle.

Forty minutes later Resistance fighters attacked the "Zar'it" Barracks located in the western district of operations, to the southwest of the aforementioned site.

At 3:55 pm the Resistance targeted a grouping of Israeli occupation soldiers positioned in Al-Sumaqa military site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms and Kfar Chouba hilltops.

After an hour of calm from South Lebanon, Hezbollah fighters launched two Falaq-1 rockets at the "Biranit" Barracks, opposite the Lebanese town of Rmeish, confirming direct hits on the intended target.

At 6:00 pm the group battered Talat Al-Taihat, located to the south of the Honin Castle, in Al-Jalil Panhandle, with a number of ATGMs. The target was a grouping of Israeli occupation soldiers who were directly hit by Hezbollah's missiles.

Half an hour later, Hezbollah fighters launched several large caliber Burkan rockets, which carry at least 300 kg of explosives, toward Al-Jurdah military site. The site is located in the western district of operations, opposite the town of Al-Dhayrah.

Later at 8:20 pm, Islamic Resistance fighters launched several Falaq-1 rockets toward the vicity of the "Ramim" Barracks which is also located in the occupied Lebanese town of Honin. The Resistance confirmed direct hits to several groupings of Israeli soldiers positioned in the vicinity of the site.

Up until 11:00 pm on Monday, Hezbollah announced a total of 13 operations, targeting a flurry of targets, including Israeli troops all over the Lebanese-Palestinian border.

End Item

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Ceasefire in Gaza prerequisite for any subsequent step: Hamas official

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Tue / 30 January 2024 / 12:21

The media advisor to the head of the political bureau of Hamas, Taher El-Nounou, reiterated that a ceasefire in Gaza is the fundamental prerequisite for any subsequent step.

Tehran (ISNA) - El-Nounou indicated that a set of proposal was presented to Hamas, affirming that no agreement has been reached so far.

The Hamas official said that a ceasefire would be followed by a prisoner exchange and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, pointing out that the main goal is to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza, while other details can be discussed afterward.

He mentioned that what is needed is a complete ceasefire and not a temporary truce, adding that the Israeli occupation is the side hindering an agreement, for reasons related to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

El-Nounou considered it early to talk about the number of prisoners to be released, stressing that Hamas is working on releasing Palestinian prisoners and ensuring they do not return to detainment.

He said that there are "political guarantees" from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, noting that Hamas is in constant communication with Cairo, coordinating with it on the issue of the Philadelphia Axis, and is relieved with Egypt's stance on this matter.

The Palestinian official warned that any Israeli attempt to control the Philadelphia Axis along the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip means that tens of thousands of displaced Gazans would be martyred.

El-Nounou's statement comes amid reports about an agreement reached between the Israeli occupation, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar.

NBC News reported that the agreement includes the release of the remaining American and Israeli captives in Gaza on several stages, starting with women and children, accompanied by a gradual cessation of fighting and the delivery of aid to the Strip, along with the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons.

End Item

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UNRWA funding suspension shows complicity in war: Hamdan

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Tue / 30 January 2024 / 12:21

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said the suspension of funding by the United States and eight other countries "confirms the complicity of these countries in the genocide war" and called on UNRWA to reverse its decision.

Tehran (ISNA) - Osama Hamdan pointed to several massacres carried out by the Israeli occupation in Gaza, 48 hours after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to halt genocidal acts.

This, Hamdan said, "confirms the enemy's determination to continue its crime."

During a press conference on Monday evening, Hamdan emphasized that Israeli massacres would remain "a stain of shame" on the supporters of this entity and those who fail to stop it.

He indicated that the continued escalation of the Israeli occupation's aggression, the prevention of the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the repeated shelling of UNRWA centers protected under international law "raise big question marks" on the duty of the international community.

Regarding the recent UNRWA crisis, the Hamas official condemned the decision taken by the agency to dismiss employees and considered that it distorts the agency's aim.

A couple of days ago, several donor countries suspended funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees after the Israeli occupation claimed that some UNRWA staff took part in the Palestinian Resistance's Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7. The agency has fired several staff following the Israeli accusations and promised a thorough investigation into these claims.

Hamdan recalled that the UNRWA director did not condemn the Israeli shelling that directly targeted the agency's warehouses, pointing out that the suspension of funding by the United States and eight other countries "confirms the complicity of these countries in the genocide war" and called on UNRWA to reverse its decision.

In a related context, Hamdan praised the efforts of the Yemeni Armed Forces and the resistance in Lebanon and Iraq, in support of Gaza, by targeting Zionist and American interests, holding the US administration responsible for the escalation in the region.

End Item

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PM Netanyahu to the Students of the Bnei David Institutions in Eli: "The testament of the fallen is our mission - total victory."

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

30.01.2024

Prime Minister Netanyahu: I hear talk about all kinds of deals. I would like to make it clear: We will not conclude this war without achieving all of its goals."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, visited the Bnei David Institutions in Eli, 15 graduates of which have fallen during the war.

The Prime Minister visited the memorial room where he met with fellow bereaved Israelis Eitan Moreno - the brother of Itay, Livnat Silverman - the sister of Uriel, Asaf Ben Hamo - the brother of Michael, and Yonatan Silverman - the brother of Ariel, as well as with the yeshiva rabbis, led by Rabbi Eli Sadan.

Prime Minister Netanyahu met with the students of the yeshiva and the IDF preparatory program in the study hall, where he recited the prayer for the IDF soldiers' well-being, after which Rabbi Yoel Rechel recited the prayer for the welfare of the state.

Prime Minister Netanyahu to the Bnei David students:

"Thank you Rabbi Sadan, you are a great leader of the people of Israel, and this exemplary yeshiva is to the glory of the people, heritage and fighters of Israel.

We are in the midst of a war between the sons of light and the sons of darkness. The sons of darkness, the monsters of Hamas and their partners in Hezbollah, and others, thought and said that we were weak, vulnerable, and as a spider's web - that is how they defined us. They have discovered sacrifice, heroism and great intensity, which reflects the heroism of Israel throughout our generations.

This generation is not diminishing; this generation is growing. Not only is it growing, it is storming forward with courage and an unparalleled strength of spirit. This is what is happening, with your friends, with anyone who leaves this place and with many others among the people of Israel. But this entails a heavy price, the price of the tribulations with which the Land of Israel is acquired, the loss of our best sons and fighters, many from this very study hall, which is already bereft of amazing fighters like Roi Klein, Eliraz Perez, Emmanuel Moreno and others.

We were just in the memorial room, their pictures were on the wall but the pictures are in the heart. The heavy price is not just the loss of these splendid sons, it is also the suffering of the families. I know the price of bereavement, it is too heavy to bear, but the families bear it with pride.

What I would like to say to the families, to you and to all citizens of Israel: The testament of the fallen is our mission. It is possible to summarize this mission in two words: Total victory.

This is not 'another round', neither is it an exchange of blows, nor is it an operation - it is total victory. Nothing less. I am committed to it. Our fighters are committed to it and the overwhelming majority of the people is committed to it. We will not compromise on anything less than total victory.

I hear talk about all kinds of deals. I would like to make it clear: We will not conclude this war without achieving all of its goals. This means eliminating Hamas, returning all of our hostages and ensuring that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel.

We will not withdraw the IDF from the Gaza Strip and we will not release thousands of terrorists. None of this will happen. What will happen? Total victory. This victory, as it is written, will be achieved 'Not by might and not by power but by My spirit says the Lord of Hosts.' [Zechariah 4:6]. By spirit; it will be achieved by spirit.

Bialik bid us to go to the study hall. He knew this well. He was in the study hall of the Volozhin Yeshiva (https://yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Volozhin_Yeshiva_of), the mother of Lithuanian yeshivas, that my grandfather, Rabbi Natan Milikovsky-Netanyahu studied in, and where Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook studied. A deep friendship sprung up between them. But Volozhin, with all that it contributed to the world of Torah, was in the Diaspora. And here in Eli, this study hall is planted in the soil of the motherland, where our ancestors walked, fought, planted, dreamed and built. Here - in this place. From here stems the well of generations. Here burns the flame, the flame of the promise of the eternity of Israel in the Land of Israel. This the great and noble mission. It is your mission, the mission of the fallen and it is our mission.

I salute the fallen. I salute you and tell you - together we will fight and with

G-d's help, together we will win."

The visit concluded with the singing of Ani maamin (https://www.hebrewsongs.com/song-anima'amin.htm) and Hatikvah.

Prime Minister Netanyahu was accompanied by his Chief-of-Staff Tzachi Braverman, Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs and Mateh Binyamin Regional Council Head Yisrael Gantz.

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PM Netanyahu's Remarks in Eli

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

30.01.2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Remarks in Eli

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today , at the Bnei David institutions in Eli :

"This is not 'another round', neither is it an exchange of blows, nor is it an operation - it is total victory. Nothing less. I am committed to it. Our fighters are committed to it and the overwhelming majority of the people is committed to it. We will not compromise on anything less than total victory.

I hear talk about all kinds of deals. I would like to make it clear: We will not conclude this war without achieving all of its goals. This means eliminating Hamas, returning all of our hostages and ensuring that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel.

We will not withdraw the IDF from the Gaza Strip and we will not release thousands of terrorists. None of this will happen. What will happen? Total victory!"

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NATO Secretary General meets US Congressional leadership for talks on Ukraine, other key security issues

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

30 Jan. 2024

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, and other members of Congressional leadership in Washington D.C. on Tuesday (30 January 2024).

The Secretary General stressed that a strong NATO is in the strategic interest of the United States, and that through NATO, the US has more friends and allies than any other power. He further pointed to the importance of keeping NATO strong through increased defence investment, welcoming increases across all Allies in recent years. Mr Stoltenberg commended the US for its support to Ukraine and highlighted that this support remains decisive for Ukraine's survival and Europe's stability.

Mr Stoltenberg met with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and participated in a discussion focused on Ukraine with a number Republican representatives. He concluded by meeting with the Co-Chairs of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the leadership of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee.

On Wednesday, the Secretary General will deliver a speech at the Heritage Foundation and travel to Troy, Alabama, to visit the Missiles and Fire Control Facility of Lockheed Martin.

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U.S. not seeking war with Iran after soldiers killed in drone attack, White House says

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:26, January 30, 2024

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The White House said Monday that the United States will not go to war with Iran after three U.S. soldiers were killed in the Middle East in a drone attack the Joe Biden administration attributed to Iran-backed militias.

"We are not looking for a war with Iran," John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, told reporters during a regular press briefing at the White House, saying that the United States is "not looking to escalate" the situation following the "escalatory" attack resulting in first U.S. fatalities since the start of the Israeli-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7.

"It requires a response, make no mistake about that. I will not get ahead of the president's decision-making," Kirby said.

In a written statement on Sunday, Biden vowed that the United States will take action to hold those responsible for the attack to account "at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing."

Kirby's remarks were later echoed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"We want to prevent this conflict from spreading, so we are intent on doing both, that is standing up for our people when they're attacked, while at the same time working every single day to prevent the conflict from growing and spreading," Blinken said during a press availability at the U.S. Department of State attended by visiting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Three U.S. soldiers were killed and more than 40 others were wounded in the drone attack on Saturday night U.S. Eastern Time targeting U.S. forces stationed in northeast Jordan near the border with Syria, according to an update from Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh at a separate press conference Monday.

The Pentagon on Monday identified the three fallen soldiers, all of whom were members of a U.S. Army Reserve unit.

Citing anonymous officials, U.S. media reported Monday that the reason the one-way attack drone slipped U.S. defenses to successfully carry out the attack was that U.S. personnel confused the "enemy drone" with one of their own returning to the U.S. base from a surveillance mission.

"I can't corroborate those accounts by U.S. officials," Kirby said at the White House briefing when pressed to explain the possible cause. "The Department of Defense is, as you would expect them to do, going through all the forensics here to figure out exactly what happened and how to make sure it doesn't happen again."

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UN chief to convene with key donors to ensure continued support for Palestine refugees relief work

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:38, January 30, 2024

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to hold a meeting with key donors to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on Tuesday, to ensure continued support for relief work for Palestinian refugees, his spokesperson said Monday.

The UN chief has also engaged in discussions with the head of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, the highest investigative body within the UN system, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during the routine noon briefing Monday.

The discussions aimed to ensure the expeditious and effective execution of the investigation into allegations that several UNRWA personnel were implicated in the attacks that occurred on Oct. 7 in Israel, he said.

"We have a process of accountability that is going on. While that is going on, people need to survive and we need continued support for UNRWA and all our humanitarian work," he said.

The secretary-general, while deeply troubled by the accusations, has a vital message for donors, particularly those who have suspended their contributions: "To at least guarantee the continuity of UNRWA's operations, as we have tens of thousands of dedicated staff working throughout the region," the spokesperson said.

"The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met," he stressed.

In addition to its operations in the Gaza Strip, UNRWA plays a crucial role in delivering humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Within the Gaza Strip, the agency is engaged in delivering life-saving aid to more than 2 million civilians, managing shelters for over 1 million individuals, and providing essential services such as food, water, and healthcare.

Also on Monday, a coalition of leading international aid agencies and NGOs jointly called upon countries that have suspended funding for UNRWA due to allegations of staff collusion "to reaffirm support for the vital work" carried out by the UN agency.

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Jan. 29: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 6:39 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against Israel and its Western backers amid the regime's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 26,700 Palestinians, mostly children and women.

The operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Monday, January 29, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on Jan. 29:

Shelled Tel Aviv with a barrage of rockets in the first such attack in weeks.

Targeted an Israeli military D9-bulldozer surrounded by regime soldiers with Yassin-105 shells in the Jura Al-Aqad area, west of Khan Younis city, southern Gaza Strip.

Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Jan. 29:

Launched rockets, heavy mortar shells and Badr-1 IRAM rockets at the main logistical support point used by Israeli troops for vehicle maintenance in the Sudanese area northwest of Gaza.

Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli regime soldiers in Khan Yunis city using machine guns and anti-armor shells.

Targeted a group of Israeli snipers entrenched in a building in the neighborhood west of Khan Younis city with a guided missile.

Blew up a Merkava tank with a "Thaq'eb - Barrel" high-explosive device around the Hassan Salama Mosque west of Khan Younis city.

Shelled Israeli regime soldiers and their vehicles in the central and western axes of Khan Younis city with mortar shells.

Mujahideen Brigades' operations on Jan. 29:

Shelled gatherings of Israeli regime forces northwest of Gaza City with rockets.

Martyrs of Al-Aqsa Brigades' operations on Jan. 29

Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli regime forces using appropriate weapons in various axes in the Gaza Strip.

Targeted an Israeli military vehicle with RPGs in the western axis of Khan Younis city, southern Gaza Strip.

Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces operations on Jan. 29:

Engaged in clashes with the Israeli army attempting to advance in the vicinity of Al-Shifa Hospital, west of Gaza City.

Engaged in clashes with the Israeli forces in Batn Al-Sameen and Al-Amal neighborhood, and launched an RPG rocket at one of the regime military vehicles.

Shelled Israeli military positions and gatherings of their vehicles in Khan Younis city with heavy mortars, achieving direct hits and causing heavy losses.

Engaged in clashes with Israeli forces, using machine guns, hand grenades, anti-personnel and anti-armor rockets, inflicting casualties.

Engaged in clashes with Israeli forces near the Al-Amal Hospital and the Batn Al-Sameen axis in Khan Younis, using machine guns and anti-armor rockets, causing casualties.

Hezbollah's operations on Jan. 29:



Eastern sector:

At around 11:45 local time, the Metulla site was targeted with appropriate weapons.

At around 13:30 local time, Israeli soldiers in Honin Castle were targeted.

At around 15:55 local time, Israeli soldiers at the Summaqa site were targeted.

At around 18:00 local time, Israeli soldiers on Al-Taihat Hill were targeted with missiles.

At around 20:20 local time, Israeli soldiers in Ramim Barracks were targeted with Falaq rockets.

Western sector:

At around 00:20 local time, the Barkat Risha site was targeted with Burkan rockets.

At around 00:20 local time, the Hadab Yarin site was targeted with Burkan rockets.

At around 8:00 local time, the Beranit Barracks was targeted with Burkan rockets.

At around 10:00 local time, Israeli soldiers at the Jal al-Alam site were targeted with a Falaq rocket.

At around 11:15 local time, Israeli soldiers in Mitat Barracks were targeted with missiles.

At around 14:10 local time, Israeli soldiers in Zarit barracks were targeted.

At around 17:10 local time, Beranit Barracks was targeted by two Falaq rockets.

At around 18:30 local time, Israeli soldiers in the Al-Jardah site were targeted with Burkan rockets.

Iraqi resistance's operations on Jan. 29:

In the wee hours of Monday morning, targeted an Israeli military post in occupied Palestine, confirming the destruction of the target.

Yemeni military's operations on Jan. 29:

Launched a naval missile at a US Navy ship, the USS Lewis B Puller, while it was sailing in the Gulf of Aden. Among the tasks of this ship was to provide logistical support to the American forces participating in the aggression against Yemen, the statement noted.

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Yemen vows to put 'painful end' to US hegemony in Red Sea

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 7:21 PM

Yemen's defense minister has censured American and British attempts to militarize the Red Sea in support of Israel's genocidal war on the besieged Gaza Strip, stressing that the Yemeni armed forces will put a "painful end" to the US hegemony in the strategic waterway.

Major General Mohammad Nasser al-Atifi made the remarks in a meeting attended by the country's top military commanders and defense officials in the capital Sana'a on Tuesday, Yemen's Arabic-language al-Masirah television network reported.

This comes as the United States and Britain have been conducting strikes on Yemen in response to attacks by the Yemeni military against Israeli-owned ships or merchant vessels heading to the occupied territories.

"Yemen's leadership, government, people, army and geography are [more] superior, stronger ... to be shaken by the criminal raids of the tripartite American-British-Zionist aggression," Atifi said.

"The continuation of the treacherous American-British aggression is a blatant violation of the sovereignty of Yemen and destabilizes the security and stability of the region ... Yemeni people and their armed forces will not be terrified by America's internationally banned missiles and bombs," he added.

Stressing that the US and Israel are always a symbol of chaos and destruction, Yemen's defense minister said the United States is "a terrorist state," and a sponsor of terrorism and terrorists, which supports Israel's brutality against Palestinians.

"We tell them from the Red Sea that we are the ones who [will] put a painful end to American hegemony, which will mark its end with its own hand," Atifi said, adding that Yemen's leadership is "aware of the nature of the challenges, consequences, and repercussions of closing the Red and Arab Seas to the Zionists."

Atifi also said the US and UK must realize the strength of Yemen's sovereignty and that the Yemeni armed forces will not allow the Red Sea to be a channel "that feeds the Zionists' brutality and crimes against our people in Palestine."

Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine's struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.

Yemeni Armed Forces have said they won't stop their attacks until ground and aerial offensives by Israel in Gaza end. The regime has killed nearly 27,000 people in Gaza since October 7.

The leader of the Ansarullah resistance movement, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, has said it is "a great honor and blessing to be confronting America directly."

The attacks have forced some of the world's biggest shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through one of the world's most important maritime trade routes.

Tankers are instead adding thousands of miles to international shipping routes by sailing around the continent of Africa rather than going through the Suez Canal.

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Israeli forces storm al-Amal hospital in South Gaza

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 6:56 PM

Israeli forces have stormed al-Amal hospital south of the Gaza Strip, demanding that displaced people taking refuge there evacuate at gunpoint.

Israeli tanks on Tuesday fired near al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis, which is also the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS).

"Israeli tanks are currently stationed in al-Amal hospital front yard, firing live ammunition and smoke grenades at the displaced individuals and PRCS staff," the group said in a social media post.

"We deeply worry for the safety of our teams, the wounded, the sick, and thousands of displaced people in the building. Fires have broken out in tents within the confines of the PRCS Headquarters."

The medical charity said on X that at least one displaced woman was killed and nine others were injured as a result of the violence.

The attack took place as thousands of displaced Palestinians were taking refuge at the hospital.

Media reports said Israeli forces had destroyed the back wall of the hospital and set fire to makeshift tents in the facility of this medical complex.

The evacuees there were completely terrified as the Israeli forces told them to flee and get out of the medical complex.

This is one of the last two remaining hospitals that are still operating in the city of Khan Younis, and this will add extra pressure on the ability of medical teams and the medical sector to keep operating amid the ongoing Israeli military aggression on Khan Younis.

The head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has said that the healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse.

Officials in al-Amal Hospital say they have suspended surgeries due to lack of oxygen supplies. Hospitals have been a central target of Israel's attacks.

The regime's forces have also struck ambulances marked with the Red Cross or Red Crescent emblem, often in proximity to hospitals.

Palestinians on Tuesday also condemned the assassination of three young men by Israeli undercover forces in a West Bank hospital as a heinous crime against humanity

The troops, disguised as medical staff and women, stormed the Ibn Sina Hospital in the city of Jenin. The hospital officials say the young men were assassinated while they were asleep.

The Palestinian health ministry has called on the United Nations to stop Israel's daily string of crimes against Palestinian people and health centers. The Palestinian foreign ministry described it as a heinous crime against humanity.

The Israeli regime has struck residential buildings across the Gaza Strip, killing more than 200 people in 24 hours.

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Gaza faces threat of epidemics amid ongoing health catastrophe

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 6:37 PM

Health authorities in Gaza are sounding alarm bells on the rapid spread of epidemics, as dead bodies remain scattered in the streets and under the rubble of buildings destroyed by the Israeli airstrikes.

Gaza Minister of Health Mai Alkaila warned of the large outbreak of epidemics in the coastal enclave on Tuesday.

She said the effect of the dead bodies under the rubble helps spread epidemics.

Alkaila said that necessary actions need to immediately be taken to provide vaccinations for children.

Heath experts have already pointed to the risk of diseases, such as cholera and disorders of the immune system, which are spreading throughout Gaza, whose health conditions are currently described as catastrophic.

Alkaila also reiterated on Monday that the health conditions are catastrophic as a result of the severe shortage of health personnel, equipment, and medicines.

"There are 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip, 14 of which are partially operating, 9 in the south and 5 in the north," said Alkaila.

She indicated that more than 1,100 medical personnel were killed or wounded in Gaza.

She deplored the decision made by several governments to suspend their funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

The move, she said, will have serious repercussions, especially in light of what the Palestinian people are exposed to in the Gaza Strip.

Doctors Without Borders, known by the French acronym MSF, also said it "is deeply alarmed by the decision."

"In the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels, and any additional limitations on aid will result in more deaths and suffering."

The United Nations warned last month that residents of the besieged Strip, who have so far survived Israel's relentless bombardment of their homes, are now facing the growing threat of infectious diseases.

The war has killed more than 26,750 people since early October.

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Hamas 'studying' ceasefire proposal, prioritizes end of Israeli aggression in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 5:51 PM

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says it is "studying" a new ceasefire proposal, stressing that its priority is to end the Israeli aggression and a full withdrawal of occupying forces from the besieged Gaza Strip.

Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, said in a press statement on Tuesday that the movement was reviewing a truce plan put forward by senior Qatari and Egyptian officials during recent meetings in France, and would respond soon.

Providing no details on the ceasefire proposal in Paris, Hanieyh said Hamas remains open to negotiations based on any "serious and practical initiatives" on a ceasefire, an exchange of Israeli prisoners in Gaza with Palestinian inmates held by Israel as well as a reconstruction process.

"The movement received the proposal discussed at the Paris meeting and is in the process of studying it and will respond based on the priority of stopping the brutal aggression on Gaza and the complete withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Strip," the top Hamas official said.

"The movement is open to discussing any serious and practical initiatives or ideas that lead to a comprehensive cessation of aggression and ensure the sheltering of our people, who were forcibly displaced due to the occupation's actions and whose homes were destroyed, as well as ideas that facilitate reconstruction [of Gaza], lift of the siege, and a serious prisoner exchange process that ensures the freedom of our heroic prisoners and ends their suffering," he added.

Hanieyh confirmed that the movement had received an invitation to visit the Egyptian capital of Cairo in order to reach an "integrated vision" on the Paris proposal, and discuss requirements for implementation of a potential agreement.

The Hamas chief also appreciated the role played by both Egypt and Qatar in efforts aimed at reaching a sustainable ceasefire agreement in Gaza to end the Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli regime secured the release of some of the captives in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners during a weeklong truce that came to an end on December 1.

However, tens of captives are still held by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad while an unknown number have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza in recent weeks.

Israel waged the genocidal war on besieged Gaza on October 7 after Hamas-led resistance groups carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

More than 116 days into the aggression, the Tel Aviv regime has failed to achieve its objectives in the Gaza Strip despite killing at least 26,637 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 65,387 others.

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Hamas leader condemns UNRWA cuts as defiance of ICJ ruling

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 5:04 PM

The leader of the Hamas resistance movement has strongly denounced a Western pause in funding the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, which assists the displaced people across the Israeli-bombarded Gaza.

Speaking on Tuesday, Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh said the decision to cut aid to besieged and displaced Palestinians at a time when they needed it most due to Israel's war on Gaza goes against the interim ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week to increase humanitarian assistance significantly.

"This indicates the existence of a systematic policy by these countries to support the occupation through starvation and siege of our people instead of responding to the court's historic decision," Haniyeh said.

The Hamas politburo chief added that Israel is going after the UN agency because the ICJ ruling was largely based on damning figures and testimonies provided by UNRWA.

Several Western countries, not least the United States and Britain, have suspended funding the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) following unproven allegations by the Israeli regime that some of the agency's staff were involved in Operation al-Aqsa Storm of October 7, 2023.

Britain's former Ambassador to Uzbekistan Graig Murray told Press TV on Monday that the defunding is a reaction to the ICJ's ruling against Israel.

Michael Fakhri, UN special rapporteur on the right to food, over the weekend that the besieged Gaza Strip was to face "inevitable famine" due to a Western pause in funding

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has accused Israel of a "premeditated political attack" on UNRWA and called for the restoration of aid funds.

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, recently denounced the countries that have paused the funding. She says the decision defies the order by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to allow humanitarian assistance to reach Gaza.

The official also said the governments cutting funds to UNRWA are most likely violating their obligations under the Genocide Convention.

Albanese highlighted the timing of the defunding, which came a day after the ICJ's conclusion that Israel is plausibly committing genocide in Gaza.

UNRWA has said it would be unable to continue operations in Gaza and across the region beyond the end of February if funding were not resumed.

Aid agencies 'outraged' by 'reckless' decision to cut UNRWA funding

Separately, international aid agencies, including Oxfam and Save the Children, noted in a statement that the Gaza population had already been facing famine due to Israeli siege and bombardment.

"We are shocked by the reckless decision to cut a lifeline for an entire population by some of the very countries that had called for aid in Gaza to be stepped up and for humanitarians to be protected while doing their job," the coalition of 21 agencies said.

The aid agencies noted that 2 million civilians, over half of them children, rely on UNRWA aid in Gaza. "The population faces starvation, looming famine and an outbreak of disease under Israel's continued indiscriminate bombardment and deliberate deprivation of aid in Gaza," they said.

"If the funding suspensions are not reversed we may see a complete collapse of the already restricted humanitarian response in Gaza," they added, pointing out that the aid cuts came directly after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

The US-Israeli genocidal war on Gaza is now in its 116th day. The Israeli regime has struck residential buildings across the Gaza Strip, killing more than 200 people in 24 hours.

The overall death toll now stands at more than 26,700.

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Islamic Jihad chief sets 4 conditions for release of Israeli captives

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 3:26 PM

A senior Palestinian resistance leader has announced four conditions for the release of Israeli captives being held in the territory amid efforts by the US and allies to secure their release.

Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement Ziyad al-Nakhaleh said on Tuesday that the group, a major resistance movement in Gaza, would not engage in any deal that ignores the four main conditions set by the group for a truce with the Israeli regime.

Nakhaleh said the four conditions are a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, the withdrawal of the occupation forces from the territory, a guarantee for reconstruction and a clear political solution that ensures the rights of the Palestinian people.

His statement came in response to media reports about initiatives undertaken by the US government to secure the release of Israeli captives as part of indirect ceasefire negotiations between the Gazans and the Israeli regime.

Israel faces growing international pressure to end the aggression on Gaza that has killed nearly 27,000 people over the past four months.

Israel started the war on Gaza in early October after a brief but decisive operation against Israeli settlers and military forces by Hamas, the largest resistance group in the territory.

The regime secured the release of some of the captives in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners during a weeklong truce that came to an end on December 1.

However, tens of captives are still held by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad while an unknown number have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza in recent weeks.

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Iran urges intl. condemnation of Israel's 'barbaric' assassination of Palestinian patients in West Bank

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 1:42 PM

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has strongly condemned the assassination of Palestinian patients by Israeli forces in a hospital in the occupied West Bank, calling on the international community not to remain silent in the face of the "terrorist act."

Nasser Kan'ani made the remarks in a statement on Tuesday, after a unit of undercover Israeli special forces fatally shot three young Palestinians inside Ibn Sina Hospital in the west of Jenin earlier in the day.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman went on to say that such brutal action can pave the way for normalization of "organized terrorism" in the world, urging the international community not to remain silent and condemn the Israeli regime's "barbaric behavior."

Kan'ani further noted it is regrettable that the Israeli regime's supporters are silent in the face of such obvious crimes in medical centers and the continued activity of the Zionist genocide machine.

Palestinian media outlets reported on Tuesday that members of the Israeli hit squad dressed as doctors, nurses, and even civilians went up to the third floor of the Ibn Sina Hospital and shot three young Palestinians dead with guns equipped with silencers before escaping the building.

"This morning three young men were martyred by the bullets of the occupation [Israeli] forces who stormed the Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin and shot them," the Ministry of Health in Ramallah said.

One of the slain Palestinians was undergoing treatment in the hospital for some three months since he was injured by the Israeli army.

There was no apparent attempt to arrest the Israeli assailants.

The Israeli military later claimed that the three Palestinians were members of a team affiliated to the Hamas resistance movement planning to carry out attacks against the regime.

Hamas said in a statement that Israel's "crimes will not go unanswered," adding that the killings are a "continuation of the occupation's ongoing crimes against our people from Gaza to Jenin."

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned "in the strongest terms the occupation forces' assassination of the three young men."

Israel has ramped up its aggression in the West Bank since its genocidal war on Gaza began in early October.

Nearly 350 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank since October 7, when Israel waged the war on Gaza after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

The Israeli aggression has so far killed at least 26,637 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 65,387 others in Gaza. The Tel Aviv regime has imposed a "complete siege" on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

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US reimposes sanctions on Venezuela after court upholds candidate ban

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 11:36 AM

The United States has started to reimpose sanctions on Venezuela by restricting its mining sector after the South American nation's top court upheld the disqualification of an opposition presidential hopeful.

A statement by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control on Monday said any US companies doing business with Venezuela's state-owned mining concern Minerven have until February 13 to complete a "wind down of transactions" with the company.

US President Joe Biden's administration broadly eased sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector in response to a deal reached between the government and opposition parties for the 2024 election in October in Barbados.

The deal included setting up a process to lift bans on opposition presidential candidates.

On Friday Venezuela's Supreme Court, upheld a 15-year ban on opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and also confirmed the ineligibility of her possible replacement, two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles.

Earlier Monday White House spokesman John Kirby said members of President Nicolas Maduro's government "haven't taken those actions" promised in Barbados.

"So we have options available to us," he said. "We certainly have options with respect to sanctions and that kind of thing."

The US imposed harsh sanctions on Venezuela to punish Maduro's government following his 2018 re-election, which the US and other Western governments rejected as a "sham."

Since 2019, US sanctions have banned state-run oil company PDVSA from exporting to its chosen markets.

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US knows only 'political solution' can end Israel's genocide in Gaza: Iran's FM

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 11:26 AM

The United States knows very well that only a political solution can end Israel's ongoing genocide against the Gaza Strip and the crisis gripping West Asia, says Iran's foreign minister.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in an X post on Tuesday after the White House vowed a "very consequential response" to a deadly drone attack on a US occupation base on Jordan's border with Syria.

"The White House knows very well that the solution to ending the war and genocide in Gaza and the current crisis in the region is political. Diplomacy is active in this path," he wrote.

The top Iranian diplomat also noted that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is at the end of his criminal political life."

Israel waged the genocidal war on besieged Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Netanyahu has come under pressure to resign over his handling of the Gaza war and failure to secure the release of the remaining Israeli captives held in the Palestinian territory.

However, the US has continued to support Israel in the Gaza war which has so far killed at least 26,637 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 65,387 others.

Washington's backing for the Gaza carnage has prompted resistance groups in different countries across West Asia to target military bases housing US occupation forces.

On Sunday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, carried out a drone strike on a military outpost in Jordan, known as Tower 22, killing three US soldiers and injuring dozens.

US President Joe Biden pinned the blame on what he called "radical Iran-backed militant groups" and vowed Washington would respond.

Iran said it has no links to attacks on American occupation troops in the region as they are related to conflict between resistance groups and the US military and that those groups act independently in their pro-Palestine operations.

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Hospital massacre: Undercover Israeli forces kill three Palestinians at West Bank center

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 8:52 AM

A unit of undercover Israeli special forces has fatally shot three young Palestinians inside a hospital in the northern West Bank, in an unusual event since the beginning of the latest round of violence in the occupied territory.

Palestinian media outlets reported that members of the hit squad were dressed as doctors, nurses, and even civilians. They went into the Ibn Sina Hospital in the west of Jenin at 5:30 a.m. local time (0330 GMT) on Tuesday.

They went up to the third floor of the hospital and shot three young Palestinians dead with guns equipped with silencers before escaping the building.

One of the slain Palestinians was undergoing treatment in the hospital for some three months since he was injured by the Israeli army.

There was no apparent attempt to arrest the Israeli assailants.

The Israeli military later claimed that the three assailants were members of a team affiliated to the Hamas resistance movement planning to carry out attacks against the regime.

It alleged that one of the men, identified as 27-year-old Muhammad Jalamneh, was in contact with Hamas headquarters abroad, armed other Palestinian fighters for a shooting attack, and was previously injured while advancing a car bomb attack.

Some Hebrew-language media reports even claimed that Jalamneh was also a spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, in the Jenin refugee camp.

The Israeli military named the other two as brothers Muhammad and Basel Ghazawi.

Muhammad is said to be a member of the Jenin Battalion and was involved in attacks including shooting at Israeli troops, while Basel is said to be a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement.

'Israeli military carrying out massacre inside hospitals'

The Palestinian health ministry reacted to the incident, stating that Israel is guilty of "dozens of crimes... against treatment centers and staff" in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The ministry said that the Israeli military was "committing a new massacre inside hospitals."

"The Minister of Health [Mai al-Kaila] urgently called on the United Nations, international institutions and human rights organizations to put an end to the series of daily crimes committed by the occupation against our people and health centers in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank," it noted.

Israel has ramped up its aggression in the West Bank since its genocidal war on Gaza began in early October.

Nearly 350 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank since October 7, when Israel waged the war on Gaza after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

The Israeli aggression has so far killed at least 26,637 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 65,387 others in Gaza. The Tel Aviv regime has imposed a "complete siege" on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

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Rocket barrages target US-occupied bases in eastern Syria

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 7:14 AM

Salvos of rockets have rained down on two military bases in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr and the neighboring province of Hasakah, where US occupation troops and their allied militants are stationed.

The Arabic service of Russia's Sputnik news agency, citing local sources speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that loud explosions were heard in Green Village, situated in the energy-rich Dayr al-Zawr province near the Iraq border, on Monday.

Several projectiles slammed into an installation run by American occupation forces at al-Omar oil field, the sources said, adding that plumes of black smoke rose high up in the air after the rocket attack.

They noted that missile defense systems stationed at the US-occupied military base sought to confront the assault but to no avail.

There were no immediate reports about possible casualties or the extent of damage at the facility.

Earlier, rockets fell near a US military base controlling al-Jabsa oil fields in al-Shaddadi town, situated about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Syria's northeastern city of Hasakah.

"One of the two rockets fell in the vicinity of the field and the other near a mosque in the area adjacent to the US base, in the town of al-Shaddadi," a local source said.

The US military scrambled helicopters in response to the attack, which came a day after a drone attack that killed three US troops and injured at least 25 others at another US base in Jordan, near the border with Syria.

US occupation forces attacked 165 times in Iraq, Syria since Oct. 17

Meanwhile, a US military official told Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network on Monday that American forces stationed at military facilities in Iraq and Syria had come under attacks at least 165 times since October 17.

This comes amid rising anti-American sentiments across the region over Washington's unconditional support for Israel's onslaught on the Gaza Strip.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, has claimed responsibility for most of the retaliatory strikes on US military bases in Iraq and Syria.

The United States, Israel's biggest ally, has provided the occupying regime with a raft of arms and ammunition since the initiation of the Gaza war.

Washington has also vetoed UN Security Council resolutions that called on the regime to cease its aggression.

Israel waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Strip-based Palestinian resistance groups of Hamas and Islamic Jihad carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm into the occupied territories in response to the occupying regime's intensified crimes against the Palestinian people.

According to the Gaza-based health ministry, at least 26,637 Palestinians have been killed in the strikes, most of them women and children, and another 65,387 individuals injured.

Tel Aviv has also imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

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Philippines, Vietnam set to boost cooperation in South China Sea

Hanoi and Manila signed agreements to better manage incidents and foster maritime cooperation amid rising tensions at sea.

By RFA Staff 2024.01.30 -- Vietnam and the Philippines on Tuesday signed two memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the South China Sea during the visit by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Hanoi, the Philippine Presidential Communications Office said.

One covered incident prevention and management in the South China Sea. The other was on maritime cooperation, the office said in a news release.

A memorandum of understanding, or MOU, is a non-binding agreement that clarifies the parties' intentions and working relationships.

On incident prevention and management "the two nations agreed to enhance coordination regarding maritime issues bilaterally, within the ASEAN and with other dialogue partners, with both sides intensifying efforts to promote trust, confidence, and understanding, through dialogue and cooperative activities," the office said.

The MOU on maritime cooperation is "aimed at strengthening the understanding, mutual trust, and confidence between the two parties through development of a Joint Coast Guard Committee" to discuss common issues and interests between the two coast guard forces.

A "hotline communications mechanism" will be established between them, it added. No further details were provided.

Both Vietnam and the Philippines are claimants in the South China Sea, alongside China, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.

As the risk of escalation caused by competing claims arises, "the ability to resolve mutual disputes amicably demonstrates strength and non-interference of a third party," according to Pooja Bhatt, an independent maritime security analyst.

"This is a good solid step even before you face a common challenge or threat," she said.

"It will also set precedence for other similar maritime disputes that South China Sea littorals face," added the Delhi-based analyst.

Carl Thayer, a veteran Vietnam expert from the University of New South Wales in Canberra, Australia, called the MOUs a positive development because the Philippines and Vietnam are strategic partners, though their relationship has not lived up to its fullest potential.

"The fact that they're talking about how their coast guards can interact is important because coast guards are there to help and protect fishing and fishermen, good order at sea and enforce international law," he told Radio Free Asia on Tuesday.

"So, in a sense, they're both asserting that even though they have a dispute, under international law and UNCLOS [the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea] if they can't reach an agreement, they can enter into an arrangement of a practical nature," he said.

Risk of provoking China

President Marcos is in Hanoi on a two-day state visit, during which he's set to meet with Vietnam's top leaders - the president, the prime minister and the chair of the National Assembly - but not the general secretary of the Vietnam Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, who is believed to be in poor health.

Marcos is the first Philippine head of state to visit Vietnam in nearly a decade, after a visit by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2016.

Before leaving for Hanoi on Monday, the president said that maritime cooperation would be "one of the cornerstones of the strategic partnership which we are going to forge" with Vietnam.

The two countries in 2015 established a so-called strategic partnership, the only such association the Philippines has with an ASEAN member state.

Vietnamese media, while covering Marcos' movements in Hanoi extensively, have not reported on details of the maritime cooperation agreements, which analysts say may risk provoking China.

The official Vietnam News Agency only said that the two sides "pledged to maintain and foster peace, security, stability and freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea.

Beijing claims most of the South China Sea and Chinese vessels have recently had tense confrontations with Philippine coast guard ships near some atolls also claimed by Manila.

"You can see most of the statements about the South China Sea have been issued by the Philippines and not Vietnam," said a Vietnamese analyst who wished to stay anonymous due to the sensitivity of the issue.

"Manila is keen to get Hanoi involved to form a united front [against China] but Hanoi does not want to publicly show that," the analyst said.

Nguyen The Phuong, a Vietnamese security analyst, said Vietnam adapted a cautious approach to its agreement with the Philippines.

"The Philippines wanted to have some mechanism similar to those they had had with the United States, Japan and Australia, and Vietnam did not want China to paraphrase Hanoi-Manila relations, especially the ones related to South China Sea issues, in an anti-China direction," he said on Tuesday.

Bilateral cooperation

Another Vietnamese analyst, however, hailed the agreements on maritime cooperation as "a clever move in breaking China's dominance by peaceful means."

"China has been stalling the negotiations for a Code of Conduct [COC] in the South China Sea but step by step Vietnam and other neighbors could cooperate to work out a COC for ASEAN," Dinh Kim Phuc, a well-known scholar, said.

"Beijing may retaliate by increasing maritime patrols near Vietnam's oil fields such as the Vanguard Bank, but I don't think they will react more than that," Phuc told RFA.

Back in November 2023, President Marcos said during a livestreamed event that his country is seeking separate risk-reducing agreements with Southeast Asian neighbors.

"We have taken the initiative to approach those other countries around ASEAN whom we have existing territorial conflicts with, Vietnam being one of them, Malaysia being another and to make our own code of conduct," the president said.

Chinese media, meanwhile, have warned of further risks of conflict should the cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines "target a third party and harm others' interests."

The state-run Global Times said that "if Vietnam and the Philippines cooperate in certain areas to the detriment of China's interests in the South China Sea, it will only irritate the situation in the South China Sea and make the risk of conflict higher."

In a related development, ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Luang Prabang, Laos, on Monday also discussed the current situation in the South China Sea.

"We reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea," the bloc's ministers said in a joint statement.

Some of them expressed concern "on the land reclamations and activities, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region" without naming any country.

"We emphasized the importance of self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states," the statement said, calling on all countries "to pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS."

Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan.

Adds comments from Carl Thayer and Nguyen The Phuong.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Papua New Guinea highlights Australia ties after China security deal report

PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko this week revealed security cooperation talks with China.

By Harlyne Joku for BenarNews 2024.01.30 -- Papua New Guinea's foreign minister has reaffirmed close security ties with Australia following a report that the Pacific island country - recently rocked by riots and looting - was considering a policing and security cooperation agreement with China.

Justin Tkatchenko, who temporarily stepped aside as foreign minister last year after calling some Papua New Guineans "primitive animals," said Tuesday in a statement that the Pacific island country will maintain its relationship with Australia - "our closest neighbor and a traditional security partner."

The day before, Tkatchenko told Reuters in an interview that Beijing had offered policing and security assistance in September last year. Discussions had continued and the offer was being considered, including whether it would duplicate existing Australian and U.S. assistance, he said.

Tkatchenko's statement lauds Papua New Guinea's long relationship with Australia, which was the Pacific country's former colonial power, but doesn't deny his reported comments of ongoing security talks with China. The comments were a departure from Papua New Guinea's usual stance that it wants only expanded economic ties with China.

"PNG is proud of its long-term agreement with traditional partners like Australia and will continue to maintain that bilateral relationship, " the statement said. "Minister Tkatchenko made these remarks to put on record PNG's ongoing partnership with Australia in the area of security following reports of a potential security deal with China."

Australia and the United States have both recently signed security cooperation agreements with Papua New Guinea, a response to China's inroads with Pacific island nations.

Beijing has courted Pacific island nations for several decades with loans for infrastructure and aid as it seeks to isolate Taiwan diplomatically and gain allies in international institutions.

It has notched up diplomatic wins in the past several years, mostly recently this month when Nauru, a Pacific island nation of 10,000 people, severed ties with Taiwan and established diplomatic relations with China. The Solomon Islands and Kiribati switched their diplomatic recognition to China from Taiwan in 2019.

A secretive security cooperation agreement between China and the Solomon Islands, signed in 2022, particularly galvanized renewed U.S. interest in Pacific island nations.

Former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said he was "deeply concerned" by reports of a security deal with China and accused leader James Marape of using the recent riots as pretext to further an authoritarian agenda.

"Marape and the Foreign Minister must pull back from these dangerous developments," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Australia shares the Pacific's geographic place in the world, and we value each other's democratic and human rights principles."

Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby was engulfed by chaos on Jan. 10 after its police stopped work to protest a cut in the pay of government employees that was purportedly caused by a payroll system glitch.

Some 16 people died in the city, police said, during looting and arson that damaged an economy already struggling to provide sufficient jobs and basic services.

Papua New Guinea is the most populous Pacific island country with an estimated 12 million people and endowed with significant mineral and other resources. But it has struggled to develop economically because of corruption, poor infrastructure, frequent tribal violence and deep inequality for women.

It has one police officer for about every 1,800 people, nearly four times less than the level recommended by the United Nations to ensure law and order, according to a Griffith Asia Institute report released last year.

Australia's security agreement with Papua New Guinea, signed in December, is accompanied by a pledge of 200 million Australian dollars (U.S. $131 million) in support of Papua New Guinea's national security priorities that include a larger police force.

With Australia's assistance, Papua New Guinea will set up a Port Moresby-based police training center with the aim of enabling the Pacific island country to recruit and train more officers.

Tkatchenko, who was reinstated as foreign minister in a January Cabinet reshuffle that followed the riots, said he wanted to emphasize the importance of implementing the security agreement with Australia and promised his department's cooperation.

"This is to ensure that successful outcomes are achieved and maintained for a long-term relationship between both countries," he said.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Atoll nations, predicted to sink, have kept pace with sea-level rise

Some scientists are urging more attention to keeping coral reefs healthy, saying land reclamation isn't the only option.

By Stephen Wright for BenarNews 2024.01.30 -- For an attention-grabbing speech to the 2022 U.N. climate conference, a Tuvalu cabinet minister stood on one of the atoll nation's smallest islands and predicted it could be the first to be submerged by rising seas.

The filament of land, known as Te Afualiku, however has more than tripled in area over the past century, geomorphological research shows. The entire land area of Tuvalu - a two-hour flight northeast of Fiji - increased by 2.9% over four decades despite sea levels around it rising twice as fast as the global average.

The increase resulted from land growth outpacing erosion on nearly all of its islands. The findings are part of a dataset of more than 1,100 coral reef islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans that shows most of them have kept pace with sea-level rise - likely due to the intrinsic ability of reefs to build the islands that sit on them.

The body of research runs counter to a fatalistic narrative about small island nations. Popularized by media coverage, some scientific modeling based on the most pessimistic assumptions, and at times by island leaders in their efforts to galvanize donors, it voyeuristically portrays the low-lying atolls as doomed to disappear within decades and their people as inevitable and helpless climate refugees.

"In a hundred years there will still be islands in all these countries and people living on them. But the configuration of those islands is going to be looking different to what it currently is," Paul Kench, an expert on changes in tropical coastal environments, told Radio Free Asia-affiliated news organization BenarNews.

Kench said his research shows there is no correlation between sea level rise - about 24 centimeters (9.4 inches) since 1880 - and changes in reef islands. To track the changes it uses satellite imagery as well as geological markers left by reef islands as they gradually move or alter in size.

About a third of the islands studied by Kench and other scientists decreased in area over different timeframes that range from a decade to more than a century. They were predominantly uninhabited and small, from 0.1 to 1.0 square kilometers (up to 0.4 square miles) in area and their erosion or movement was in keeping with natural change in reefs.

Despite the ability to adapt, atolls and the hundreds of thousands of people who live on them still face significant threats from a hotter planet.

It's uncertain whether they can continue to keep up with sea-level rise, which has accelerated in recent decades.

Depending on what scenario unfolds for the carbon emissions that drive higher global temperatures, the ability of coral reefs to produce the sediments that underpin island building will be impaired or collapse - the latter still, some scientists say, an unlikely eventuality.

Deeper water over reefs means stronger waves and also a higher likelihood of events where storm surges wash over the low-lying atolls and inundate the urban centers that have filled slivers of land such as already flood-prone Majuro in the Marshall Islands and Fogafale in Tuvalu.

Governments of atoll nations increasingly see land reclamation and other engineering as the answers to projected sea-level rise.

At the last U.N. climate conference, in December, the Marshall Islands announced it would cost U.S. $35 billion to raise the height of all its atolls.

"We call it our survival plan," said John Silk, a Marshall Islands politician.

"The financial implications of adapting to climate change are immense. We are looking at expenses in the billions to safeguard our homes, our culture and our future," he said, according to a video of the climate conference presentation.

"The plan requires a robust climate finance strategy and the solidarity of the international community. We urge developed nations to join us in this endeavor."

The Marshall Islands, home to about 40,000 people, says it should make decisions between 2040 and 2050 on which islands to protect, based on what data shows is happening to sea level, and consolidate infrastructure and social services on.

It would carry out island engineering between 2050 and 2070 to protect against a future sea-level rise of two meters (6.56 feet). One scenario is to move the people on Majuro and Ebeye atolls - 70% of the population - to different raised-up islands.

Last month, Tuvalu Finance Minister Seve Paeniu told BenarNews the country was seeking $1.3 billion for land reclamation that would create a long-lasting refuge for the country's 10,000 people. The money would go into doubling the size of the most populated island, Fogafale, by reclaiming 3.6 square kilometers (1.4 square miles) from the lagoon and linking Fogafale to two smaller islets.

Contingent on financing, the first phase could start in 2025 and would involve moving the airport runway that dominates the center of the island, he said.

Tuvalu's plans for Fogafale also double as a solution to some of the problems that stem from its small land area and urbanization. The relocated runway, for example, is envisaged as a rainwater catchment that could ease the island's persistent shortages of fresh water.

The plan forecasts that half of Fogafale will be flooded at high tide by 2050 and nearly all of the island by 2100. Its assumptions are based on the most pessimistic but not inevitable scenario for emissions and related sea-level rise developed by the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

"If you think about it from the perspective of how do I best safeguard my home and you've got one shot to do it, I can get behind engineering for the more extreme variable," said Alex Wegmann, a marine scientist at The Nature Conservancy.

"Because it could happen or something close to it could happen and you don't want to have a once in a generation investment not be enough," he said.

Wegmann works on the rehabilitation of Palmyra Atoll, a remote reef in the Pacific without permanent inhabitants that was significantly altered by the U.S. military during World War II. Land reclamation, such as that proposed by Tuvalu, also runs the risk that the atoll loses its ability to adapt naturally, he said.

Largely left alone since the end of the war, Palmyra has rebounded into an abundantly rich marine world and become an example of how an atoll environment can thrive. It is also a site for long-term conservation experimentation.

Since 2019, conservationists have been injecting herbicide into coconut palms to kill them and make more space for native vegetation that seabirds prefer to roost in.

It doesn't mean island nations should abandon their copra-dried coconut meat-industries. The idea is that supporting the seabird population will result in more pooped out nutrients for the reef, underpinning its resilience.

"What we're doing on Palmyra is hopefully going to be informative to atolls but we don't envisage it as a carbon copy scenario because of the uniqueness of it," Wegmann said.

In December, 10 scientists, including Kench and Wegmann, put their names to a scientific journal opinion piece that criticized the prevailing pessimism about atolls. They called for more research into measures - in parallel to the international efforts to reduce planet-warming emissions - to keep reefs healthy.

In interviews, some of the co-authors said land reclamation was part of the arsenal but shouldn't be seen as the only option.

"Climate change, ocean warming, marine heatwaves, they're all jeopardizing coral reefs but what's tipping the scales between recovery and collapse is in most cases local factors," said Sebastian Steibl, a conservation biologist at the University of Auckland.

"Reefs that are healthy, they can rebound and recover from these marine heatwaves. But if on top of that we also get sewage release, we get dredging, we get destructive reef practices, these are the corals that really collapse under these marine heatwaves," he said.

Arthur Webb, the UNDP's technical adviser on Tuvalu's land reclamation plan, rejects the idea that natural island building and its uncertainties is a realistic strategy for populated atolls.

Storms and cyclones that can dump huge quantities of coral rubble on reefs and islands are known to be part of the island-building process but are untenable for communities, he said.

The land reclamation plan for Fogafale, he said, "is an engineering solution and will mostly replace natural processes - no apologies."

"It's a viable solution to a problem of immense magnitude to the people of Tuvalu. But crucially it is 100% commensurate with the scale of the problem science tells us they face," Webb said.

It will provide a "reliable, stable, safe platform that will allow reasonably safe living for a known time horizon," he said. "Nothing else comes close."

Among the significant uncertainties for atoll nations, according to the Marshall Islands' plan, are lack of understanding how reefs will respond to continuing human-driven changes in the climate and what interventions work.

"Not much is known about adaptation on atolls because there has been little investment in research," it said. "Pilot studies are needed, for example, to identify whether nature-based measures will be able to keep pace with an accelerating rate of sea level rise."

Kench said he was surprised by his joint initial research in about 2010 of some 30 reef islands that showed them growing in size. The findings were criticized, he said, so the research was expanded.

"I show people what the islands are doing. People don't like that message quite often. And then they say what I say is controversial," he said. "Because it cuts across what an island government might be wanting internationally to portray themselves as."

The data, he said, should become the basis for predictive tools that help atoll nations plan amid sea-level rise.

"We would never suggest this isn't challenging for island communities, but if you stop and look at how islands are changing, that puts you in a much more powerful position to make decisions," he said.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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U.S. Names Three Soldiers Killed In Jordan Attack, Points Finger At Iranian-Backed Militia

By RFE/RL January 30, 2024

The United States has released the names of the three American soldiers killed by a drone strike in Jordan that Washington has blamed on Iranian-backed forces and vowed to respond to the attack, which the Pentagon said carried the "footprints" of the Tehran-sponsored Kataib Hizballah militia.

The youngest of the three U.S. troops killed in the attack was 23-year-old Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, the Pentagon said, naming the other two as Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, and Sergeant William Jerome Rivers, 46.*

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on January 29 doubled down on earlier vows by President Joe Biden to hold responsible those behind the drone attack, which also injured dozens of personnel, many of whom are being treated for traumatic brain injuries, according to the Pentagon.

"Let me start with my outrage and sorrow [for] the deaths of three brave U.S. troops in Jordan and for the other troops who were wounded," Austin told a Pentagon briefing. "The president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops."

Later, White House national-security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that "we are not looking for a war with Iran." He added, though, that the drone attack "was escalatory, make no mistake about it, and it requires a response."

During a briefing on January 29, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the latest attack carried the "footprints" of the Iran-backed Kataib Hizballah, which is one of the elite Iraqi armed factions with close ties to Iran.

Experts say Kataib Hizballah is the most powerful group of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella alliance of hard-line Shi'ite militias that have claimed more than 150 attacks on U.S. forces since the Gaza war began.

A day earlier, Biden said U.S. officials had assessed that one of several Iran-backed groups was responsible for the attack and vowed to respond at a time of Washington's choosing.

"While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," Biden said.

Details of the attack remained unclear, but a U.S. official said the enemy drone may have been confused with a U.S.-launched drone returning to the military site near the Syrian border and was therefore not shot down.

The official, who requested anonymity, said preliminary reports indicate the enemy drone was flying at a low level at the same time a U.S. drone was returning to the base, known as Tower 22.

Iran on January 29 denied it had any link with the attack, with the Foreign Ministry in Tehran calling the accusations "baseless."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that "resistance groups" in the region do not take orders from Tehran, though Western nations accuse the country of helping arm, train, and fund such groups.

Earlier, Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations said, "Iran had no connection and had nothing to do with the attack on the U.S. base."

Jordan condemned what it called a "terrorist attack" on a military site, saying it was cooperating with the United States to fortify its border defenses.

The attack is certain to intensify political pressure in the United States on Biden -- who is in an election year -- to retaliate against Iranian interests in the region, possibly in Iraq or Syria, analysts say.

Many observers have expressed fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East after war broke out in Gaza following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, which has been deemed a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. At least 1,200 were killed in those assaults, leading to Israel's retaliatory actions that, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, have killed more than 26,000 Palestinians.

Because of its support for Israel, U.S. forces have been the target of Islamist groups in the Middle East, including Iran-backed Huthi rebels based in Yemen and militia groups in Iraq who are also supported by Tehran.

On January 24, the United States and Britain announced a set of coordinated sanctions against 11 officials with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) for alleged connections to a criminal network that has targeted foreign dissidents and Iranian regime opponents for "numerous assassinations and kidnapping" at the behest of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).

A statement by the British Foreign Office said the sanctions are designed "to tackle the domestic threat posed by the Iranian regime, which seeks to export repression, harassment, and coercion against journalists and human rights defenders" in Britain, the United States, and elsewhere.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the latest sanctions packages "exposes the roles of the Iranian officials and gangs involved in activity aimed to undermine, silence, and disrupt the democratic freedoms we value in the U.K."

"The U.K. and U.S. have sent a clear message - we will not tolerate this threat," he added.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that the youngest of the three fallen U.S. soldiers was Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, not Kennedy Ladon Sanders.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Reuters, and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/jordan-united-states-attack- soldiers-identified-iran-backed-militia/32797579.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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'Historic Day': Moldova Applies To Join Single European Payments System

By RFE/RL's Moldovan Service January 30, 2024

Moldova's central bank (BNM) on January 30 officially applied to join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), the simplified payment integration initiative that enables countries in Western Europe to effect cashless bank transfers and direct debits in euros.

"Today's a historic day for Moldova -- it's the day that Moldova's National Bank (BNM) has made a clear and unequivocal statement that it wants to be part of European financial systems," BNM Governor Anca Dragu said after she signed the application at a ceremony in Chisinau.

SEPA, which currently groups 36 countries, was introduced in 2008 for credit transfers and for direct debit transactions in 2009 and was expanded in 2014 in all the countries that use the common currency, the euro, followed by its implementation in several non-euro European members in 2016.

By harmonizing standards in all SEPA countries and scrapping differences between national and cross-border payments, SEPA enhances the efficiency and competitiveness of European economies. Such a tie-in should benefit Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries with a fledgling economy.

"A payment could be done in about 24 hours using this system," Dragu said, adding that SEPA would also slash the costs from the current 20-50 euros per transaction to only 2-3 euros.

"This will be a huge step for the economic system -- whether individuals or companies," she said, adding that once adopted, it would help the hundreds of thousands of Moldovans working abroad to send money home much more cheaply.

Under pro-Western President Maia Sandu, who came to power in November 2020, ex-Soviet Moldova has made ample efforts to distance itself from Moscow and integrate into Europe.

Moldova obtained the status of an EU candidate country in June 2022 and was given the green light to start membership negotiations in December.

Dragu estimated that it would take up to a year for SEPA to assess Moldova's application and another six months for Chisinau's actual connection to the system.

Dragu, a former Romanian finance minister and center-right lawmaker, was appointed by Moldova's parliament as the new central bank governor last month, the same day she was sworn in as a Moldovan citizen.

EU and NATO member Romania shares a common language and history with Moldova, most of which was part of Romania until the end of World War II.

Besides the 27 EU member states, SEPA groups the four member states of the European Free Trade Association -- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland -- as well as the United Kingdom. Four European microstates -- Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican -- are part of the system on a technical level.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-applies- sepa-bank/32798023.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Hamas Says Received Proposal on Truce in Gaza Strip, Will Give Response After Studying It

Sputnik News

20240130

CAIRO (Sputnik) - Palestinian movement Hamas has received a proposal regarding a truce in the Gaza Strip and will give a response after studying it, the chairman of the movement's political office, Ismail Haniyeh, said on Tuesday.

On Monday, the NBC News broadcaster reported, citing sources, that Israel, the United States, Egypt and Qatar agreed in Paris on the basis of a new deal for the gradual release of hostages in the Gaza Strip. The new deal includes a phased release of the remaining US and Israeli hostages, starting with women and children, along with gradual pauses in fighting and aid supplies to the Gaza Strip, as well as the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.

"The movement received a proposal from the meeting [in Paris], is considering it and will give a response on the basis that the priority is to stop the brutal aggression against the Gaza Strip and the complete withdrawal of the occupation forces [the Israeli forces] from the enclave," Haniyeh said in a statement.

The Hamas leadership has also received an invitation to visit Cairo to discuss a framework agreement reached in Paris, the statement read.

On October 7, 2023, the Gaza Strip-controlling Hamas movement launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border. 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. Over 26,600 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, 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.

 Sputnik

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US Not Withdrawing Its Armed Forces From Syria - Nuland

Sputnik News

20240130

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States is not planning to withdraw its military from Syria, Acting US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland has said.

Several Arab and international media have reported that the US is considering full withdrawal of its forces from Syria but the final decision is not yet taken.

"Well, first let me set the records straight, the United States is not withdrawing from Syria," Nuland told CNN Turk.

The statements regarding the very legitimacy of US military presence in Syria have been resurfacing against the backdrop of multiple drone and missile attacks targeting US bases in the Middle East.

On Monday, a local source told Sputnik that two rockets fell near a US military base controlling Al-Jabsa oil fields in the northeastern Syrian town of Ash Shaddadi. The US military scrambled helicopters in response to the attack, which came just a day after a drone attack that killed three US troops and injured 25 others at another US base in Jordan, near the border with Syria.

The US and its allies control large swathes of land in northeastern Syria's gas and oil production region. Its bases in Syria, Iraq and Jordan have been a frequent target of attacks by what the Pentagon describes as Iran-backed militias.

 Sputnik

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Venezuela: Sanctions Actions and Supporting Democracy

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

January 30, 2024

Actions by Nicolas Maduro and his representatives in Venezuela, including the arrest of members of the democratic opposition and the barring of candidates from competing in this year's presidential election, are inconsistent with the agreements signed in Barbados last October by representatives of Nicolas Maduro and the Unitary Platform.

In support of the Barbados Agreement, the United States issued General License 44, which provides relief to Venezuela's oil and gas sector. Absent progress between Maduro and his representatives and the opposition Unitary Platform, particularly on allowing all presidential candidates to compete in this year's election, the United States will not renew the license when it expires on April 18, 2024. Additionally, the United States is revoking General License 43, which authorized transactions involving Minerven - the Venezuelan state-owned gold mining company. U.S. persons will have fourteen days to wind down any transactions that were previously authorized by that license.

The United States remains strongly committed to supporting dialogue between the parties and to the aspirations of the Venezuelan people for a democratic future. We will continue to work with the international community and all peaceful democratic actors across the political spectrum in Venezuela and leverage mechanisms at our disposal to encourage a return to the principles in the Barbados agreement.

The Barbados electoral roadmap agreement remains the most viable mechanism to resolving Venezuela's longstanding political, economic, and humanitarian crisis and realizing competitive and inclusive elections in Venezuela, but that will require Maduro and his representatives upholding the roadmap's principles and ensuring that opposition political actors have the right to select their candidates for the 2024 presidential election freely.

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No: 20, 30 January 2024, Regarding the United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 2723 (2024) on the Extension of the Mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in the Island of Cyprus

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs

We fully support the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) concerning Resolution 2723 (2024) on extending the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in the Island of Cyprus (UNFICYP) for one year, adopted by the United Nations Security Council on 30 January 2024.

Contrary to the established practice of the United Nations, the consent of the Turkish Cypriots was, yet again, not sought during the mandate extension of the Peacekeeping Force. We make use of this occasion to draw attention to the fact that UNFICYP is able to continue its activities in the territory of the TRNC due to the goodwill of the TRNC authorities. We underline the need for a legal basis for the continuation of these activities and emphasize that we fully support the steps which will be taken by the TRNC side in this regard.

Over the years, UNFICYP has turned a blind eye to numerous violations of the buffer zone by the Greek Cypriot side. On August 18, 2023, its unfair attempt to prevent the construction of the Yigitler-Pile road, a humanitarian project, once again demonstrated that it is not displaying the impartiality expected of peacekeeping missions. It is regrettable that the UN Security Council's latest resolution refers to the Council's press statement of 21 August concerning the incident in question, which was completely divorced from the realities on the ground. The completion of the Yigitler-Pile road would be an effective step towards restoring the Turkish Cypriots' eroded confidence in UNFICYP and would contribute to the reduction of tensions on the ground.

On the other hand, we are deeply disappointed that the resolution extending UNFICYP's mandate once again refers to outdated and exhausted models for a possible settlement, while not mentioning the two-state vision put forward by the President of the TRNC, H.E. Mr. Tatar. We emphasize that this approach is far from being fair and constructive at a time when a Personal Representative has recently been appointed to explore whether common ground exists or not between the two sides in the Island. We call on the UN Security Council to recognize that a just, lasting and sustainable settlement in Cyprus can only be reached on the basis of the realities on the ground and to reaffirm the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot people, namely their sovereign equality and equal international status. We reiterate our call to the UN Security Council and the international community for the recognition of the TRNC.

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'No substitute' for UNRWA's lifesaving work in Gaza: Senior Humanitarian Coordinator

30 January 2024 - No organization can be a substitute for the UN agency assisting Palestinians, UNRWA, in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, the Organization's senior coordinator for the enclave said on Tuesday.

Apart from a political decision, which would have to be made by the General Assembly, "there is no way any organization can replace or substitute the tremendous capacity and the fabric of UNRWA and its ability and knowledge," Sigrid Kaag, Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, told correspondents at a stakeout outside the Security Council Chamber in New York.

She also noted the key role the agency has played over decades, before the current conflict, in education, healthcare and other services. UNRWA was established by the General Assembly in December 1949.

UNRWA's operations are in jeopardy after several donor countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, suspended funding in the wake of extremely serious allegations that several of its staff were involved in the 7 October terror attacks in Israel.

The Organization has initiated an investigation, and the Secretary-General has reiterated that any employee found to be involved will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.

First appearance

Ms. Kaag's remarks to the press followed her first closed-door briefing to the Security Council since taking up her key coordination role pursuant to Council resolution 2720 (2023).

Her mandate is to facilitate, coordinate, monitor and verify humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza as well as establish a UN mechanism to accelerate humanitarian relief shipments to the enclave through States which are not party to the conflict.

Ms. Kaag underscored that the success of her mandate "is about the ability to achieve and meet the needs" of the civilians in Gaza.

"That is the only indicator, as far as I am concerned."

Challenges on the ground

Ms. Kaag emphasized that the absence of a humanitarian ceasefire is hampering aid efforts and causing delays.

"Currently, there is no space, given the fact that there is no ceasefire there and the conflict is raging. There is no space to have monitors all over Gaza to work with the agencies to see, to verify and monitor."

She also reiterated the importance of increasing the flow of commercial goods into Gaza in addition to humanitarian assistance.

"Commercial goods need to be allowed back in," she said. "There will be no recovery, let alone reconstruction in future, without that broad bandwidth."

Seasoned humanitarian

Ms. Kaag of the Netherlands has held a wide range of senior positions in the UN system. She was appointed by the Secretary-General on 26 December 2023 and began her assignment on 8 January.

She was Special Coordinator for Lebanon from 2015 to 2017 and from 2013 to 2015, the head of the Joint UN-Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Mission in Syria.

She also served as Assistant Secretary-General with the UN Development Programme (2010-13) and was UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (2007-10).

Prior to that, Ms. Kaag held several senior positions with the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNRWA.

She speaks fluent Arabic and five other languages.

She also held many senior roles in the Dutch Government, including as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

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World News in Brief: Response plan for Somalia launched, mass executions in Iraq, Ukraine update, new European heat record

30 January 2024 - The UN and partners launched the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan for Somalia on Tuesday, calling for $1.6 billion to assist 5.2 million people across the Horn of Africa nation.

Somalia was hit by multiple shocks last year, including devastating drought, unprecedented heavy rains and flooding and further mass displacement. Millions of people also continue to suffer from hunger and malnutrition, the UN said.

The plan, launched with federal and state governments, was launched as four million people - nearly a quarter of the population - remain acutely food insecure in Somalia.

Two in five children under five suffer from acute malnutrition. Some 3.8 million people are internally displaced, and a cholera outbreak is spreading in several areas.

Multiple drivers

"In addition to climatic shocks, conflict and insecurity, widespread poverty and disease outbreaks will continue to drive humanitarian needs this year," said George Conway, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia.

He said it would enhance "collective outcomes that will help reduce needs, risks and vulnerabilities, increase resilience and ensure that future shocks do not lead to catastrophe."

"More than 80 per cent of the displaced are women and children and face serious protection risks," said Mohamud Moalim, Commissioner for the Somalia Disaster Management Agency.

"The Somali Government is concerned about the humanitarian situation that is worsened by climate-induced crises. We are determined to address the underlying causes of Somalia's crises, improve livelihoods and build long-term durable solutions."

Humanitarian partners will be implementing a more targeted response with a focus on assisting those in most severe need, the UN in Somalia said.

The funding requirements represent a 37 per cent reduction on last year's request.

Iraq: Rights experts denounce 'secretive' executions

UN independent human rights experts on Tuesday expressed deep concern over reports that Iraqi authorities have begun carrying out mass executions within the prison system.

In a news release, the Human Rights Council-appointed experts highlighted that over 250 prisoners were facing imminent execution amid an accelerated enforcement of detainees' sentences by the government.

"We are shocked to hear that unannounced mass executions are taking place in Iraqi prisons, particularly in Nasiriyah Central Prison, where at least 13 people were recently executed on the same day and hundreds of others are at risk of imminent execution," the experts said, noting reliable reports that an "execution list" has been approved.

The experts - who serve in their individual capacity and are not UN staff - also voiced deep concern about the "secretive nature" of the death penalty implementation, emphasizing the need for transparency in such cases.

They also urged Iraq to publish full information each year on executions, including on those sentenced to death and the number of executions.

The experts reiterated prior concerns about Iraq's Anti-Terrorism Law No. 13 (2005), noting its vague definition of terrorism and the potential for arbitrary accusations.

They called on the government to immediately halt all planned executions and to consider clemency and the commutation of sentences as a vital step towards complete abolition of the death penalty.

Ukraine: 11 million received vital aid last year

UN and partners assisted almost 11 million people in Ukraine last year, delivering critical aid to families whose lives have been devastated by war, the Organization's humanitarian official in the country said on Tuesday.

Denise Brown, Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, added that UN and aid agencies will continue efforts to ensure civilians receive the same level of support in 2024.

"To this end, funding will be crucial. The suffering of the Ukrainian people is not over, and our support is as necessary as ever," she said.

Throughout 2023 via 100 inter-agency convoys, humanitarians provided people in Ukraine with food supplies, water and hygiene supplies, repair kits, healthcare, education and demining services as well as psychosocial counselling and legal aid.

In the winter months, they delivered clothes, blankets, fuel and insulation to help families keep warm in temperatures as low as minus 20C.

"However, for another entire year, we were prevented from helping people in areas occupied by Russia, where humanitarian needs are direst and the response extremely limited," Ms. Brown said.

She added humanitarian efforts will continue despite the repeated denial by Russian authorities.

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Humanitarian partners seek US$1.6 billion to assist 5.2 million people in Somalia in 2024

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Mogadishu, 30 January 2024 -- Today, the United Nations in Somalia, humanitarian partners together with the Federal and State Governments released the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), which seeks US$1.6 billion to assist 5.2 million people out of 6.9 million who need lifesaving humanitarian and protection assistance in Somalia.

"In addition to climatic shocks, conflict and insecurity, widespread poverty and disease outbreaks will continue to drive humanitarian needs this year," said Mr. George Conway, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia. "Humanitarian and development partners will strengthen complementarity and work towards collective outcomes that will help reduce needs, risks and vulnerabilities, increase resilience and ensure that future shocks do not lead to catastrophe."

In 2023, Somalia was hit by shocks including devastating drought, unprecedented heavy rains and flooding, and new displacement. As a result, millions are continuing to suffer from hunger and malnutrition. While the situation has improved since 2023, 4.3 million people - almost one-fourth of the population - remain acutely food insecure and two in five children under the age of 5 suffer from acute malnutrition. An estimated 3.8 million people are internally displaced, and a cholera outbreak is spreading in several districts.

"More than 80 per cent of the displaced are women and children and face serious protection risks," said Mr. Mohamud Moalim, Commissioner, Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SODMA). "The Somali Government is concerned about the humanitarian situation that is worsened by climate-induced crises. We are determined to address the underlying causes of Somalia's crises, improve livelihoods and build long-term durable solutions."

In 2024, humanitarian partners will implement a more stringently targeted response, with a focus on assisting populations in most severe need. The response is tailored to ensure realistic planning and strict response boundaries. The funding requirements reflect a 37 per cent reduction from $2.6 billion that was required to meet the needs of 7.6 million people in 2023.

"I am very appreciative of the Government and humanitarian partners work to support people in need in Somalia," said Mr. Conway. "Humanitarian partners reached up to 3.8 million people cumulatively in 2023 and are committed to building on these achievements."

For further information, please contact:

SODMA, Mohamud Moalim, Commissioner, commissioner@sodma.gov.so, Tel: + 252 616 450 000

UNOCHA, Crispen Rukasha, Head of Office, rukasha@un.org, Tel: +252 618 960 054

30 January 2024

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UNRWA Situation Report #71 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (all information from 28-29 January 2024, is valid as of 29 January 2024 at 22:30)

UNRWA

30 Jan 2024

Key points

The Gaza Strip

Intense fghting in/around Khan Younis(southwest of Gaza) over the last eight daysis causing loss of life and damage to civilian infrastructure, including UNRWA's largest shelter in the southern area, the Khan Younis Training Centre (KYTC).

As of 29 January 2024, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities has increased by one and is now 152.

As of 29 January, up to 1.7 million* people (over 75 per cent of the population) ** have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times.*** Families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety. Following intense Israeli bombardments and fghting in Khan Younis and the Middle Areas in recent days, a signifcant number of displaced people have moved further south.

According to OCHA, on 29 January, the Israeli military ordered several neighborhoods in Gaza City to evacuate towards the south. This area consisted of approximately 59 shelters with an estimated 88,000 IDPs who are being forcibly displaced again.

On 29 January, there was a resumption of aid trucks accessing Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing following days of disruption due to Israeli protesters.

*This includes one million individuals residing in or near emergency shelters or informal shelters. As of October 12, approximately 160,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were recorded in north Gaza and Gaza governorates. The ability of UNRWA to provide humanitarian support and updated data in these areas has been severely restricted. The ongoing hostilities, evacuation orders issued by Israeli Forces, and the constant need for safer locations have resulted in people being displaced multiple times.

**UNRWA has reported in Situation Report 64 that up to 1.9 million IDPs are either residing in 154 UNRWA shelters or near these shelters. Due to the continued escalation of fghting and evacuation orders, some households have moved away from the shelters where they were initially registered.

*** There are instances where the same IDPs are registered in multiple shelters due to the fuid movement of populations; hereafter, estimates are used for these shelters. UNRWA plans to conduct a more accurate count of IDPs in shelters, including informal shelters, as soon as the security situation allows.

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USS Arleigh Burke Ports in Limassol, Cyprus

US Navy

30 January 2024

From Ensign Susanna Gaither

LIMASSOL, Cyprus -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in Limassol, Cyprus for a regularly scheduled port visit 25 Jan., 2024.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in Limassol, Cyprus for a regularly scheduled port visit 25 Jan., 2024.

"It's been great to return to Cyprus; our crew established a fantastic relationship with the Cypriot Navy during our visit in May 2023.",said Cmdr Tyrchra Bowman, commanding officer of USS Arleigh Burke. "We look forward to building on the relationship this time while our Sailors enjoy some well-earned liberty in this beautiful country."

The visit to Limassol enables the opportunity to strengthen the U.S. partnership with its NATO ally Cyprus and a shared commitment to a stable and secure Europe.

Arleigh Burke began its fourth forward deployed Naval Forces-Europe patrol Nov. 6th, 2023. Throughout the second half of the patrol the ship has operated in the Mediterranean with the Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG).

The Bataan ARG consists of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), and the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50). Embarked commands include the Marines of 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 8.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

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Israel Says Its Forces 'Neutralized' Militants Hiding in West Bank Hospital

By VOA News January 30, 2024

Israel's military said Tuesday it "neutralized" three militants in the occupied West Bank, including one it said had links to Hamas and was planning an imminent attack inspired by the Oct. 7 Hamas assault that Israel says killed 1,200 people.

An Israeli military statement said the militants were hiding in a hospital in Jenin.

Palestinian health officials said Israeli forces shot the three men dead after storming Ibn Sina hospital in Jenin.

About 370 people in the West Bank have been killed by Israelis, mostly by Israeli forces, since Oct. 7.

In the Gaza Strip, Israel's counteroffensive has killed more than 26,600 people, while also destroying vast swaths of Gaza and displacing nearly 85% of the territory's people.

Palestinian aid

Twenty international aid groups expressed support Monday for the United Nations' Palestinian relief agency, as several major donor countries suspended support following the Israeli accusation that a dozen agency staffers may have been involved in the Oct. 7 terror attack inside Israel.

"The suspension of funding by donor states will impact life-saving assistance for over 2 million civilians, over half of whom are children, who rely on UNRWA aid in Gaza," the aid groups said, using the acronym for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency.

"The population faces starvation, looming famine and an outbreak of disease under Israel's continued indiscriminate bombardment and deliberate deprivation of aid in Gaza," they added.

Save the Children, ActionAid, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam and American Friends Service Committee are among the groups that signed the statement.

Several countries, including UNRWA's top donor, the United States, said they are suspending financial support while an investigation is carried out.

"These decisions threaten our ongoing humanitarian work across the region including and especially in the Gaza Strip," UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement. "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."

UNRWA employs 13,000 mainly Palestinian staff in just the Gaza Strip. They have continued to work since Oct. 7 to provide some relief to nearly 2 million displaced Palestinians. More than 150 UNRWA staff have been killed in the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

Of the dozen staffers implicated by Israel in the deadly attacks, the U.N. immediately fired nine of them, one was confirmed dead and officials are clarifying the identity of two others. The U.N. immediately opened an internal investigation.

Funding freeze

The European Union, which is the agency's third largest donor providing more than $114 million in 2022, said it does not foresee any new funding to UNRWA before the end of February, and it wants to conduct an audit of the aid agency.

"It expects UNRWA to agree to carrying out an audit of the Agency to be conducted by EU appointed independent external experts, reviewing, thereby the pillar assessment, focusing specifically on the control systems needed to prevent the possible involvement of its staff in terrorist activities," the EU said in a statement.

The EU said it will continue to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank through partner organizations.

At least 10 countries, which together account for about 60% of UNRWA's funding, have suspended support. They include the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Francesca Albanese, U.N. special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, warned that countries that cut aid, following provisional measures imposed Friday by the International Court of Justice, could be violating their obligations under the Genocide Convention.

Meanwhile, Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said his government has no plans to suspend assistance, which totaled more than $8.5 million in 2022. Spain also said it would continue its financial assistance, which topped $13.5 million in 2022.

Major contributor Norway, which provided more than $34 million in 2022, also said it would continue.

"UNRWA is a lifeline for millions of people in deep distress in Gaza as well as in the wider region," Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on X.

Aid in immediate jeopardy

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that without adequate funding for UNRWA, aid for more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza would be scaled back as soon as February.

"The abhorrent alleged acts of these staff members must have consequences," Guterres said in a statement, adding that they could face criminal prosecution. But he urged donors not to punish the thousands of aid workers and people they serve.

Guterres' spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said Monday that the U.N. chief planned to meet with major donors on Tuesday. Guterres spoke with donors and regional leaders Monday, including Jordan's King Adbullah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. He also met with Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and conferred with the head of the U.N.'s Office of Internal Oversight Services, which is heading up an internal probe into the allegations.

Israel rebuked Guterres for calling for the resumption in aid to UNRWA. Gilad Erdan, the Jewish state's ambassador to the U.N., said that Guterres "has proven once again that the security of the citizens of Israel is not really important for him."

"After years in which he ignored the evidence presented to him personally about UNRWA's support and involvement in incitement and terrorism, and before he conducted a comprehensive investigation to locate all Hamas terrorists in UNRWA, he called to fund an organization that is deeply contaminated with terrorism," Erdan said.

Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others.

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 agency staffers of celebrating the attacks on social media.

UNRWA has provided basic services, including medical care and education, for Palestinian families who fled or were driven out of what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding the country's creation. They now live in built-up refugee camps in Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Hostage talks

The dispute over UNRWA funding came as two senior U.S. officials said negotiators were reported to be closing in on a cease-fire agreement that would halt the Israel-Hamas fighting for two months and lead to the release of the remaining 100 or so hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The emerging terms of the deal would call for the release of the remaining women, elderly and wounded hostages in a first 30-day phase, but details on the release of men were not clear. The pending deal also calls for Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

More than 100 hostages were released in late November during a weeklong cease-fire in exchange for 240 Palestinians jailed by Israel. Since then, fighting has been nonstop, and no more hostages have been freed.

VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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US Preparing 'Multiple Actions' to Deter Iran Proxies

By Patsy Widakuswara January 30, 2024

As the United States prepares "multiple actions" in response to a drone attack by Iran-backed militants that killed American soldiers, Kataib Hezbollah, one of the more powerful of Iran's Iraq-based proxies, announced it is suspending all its military operations against U.S. troops in the region.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden said he has decided on a military course of action in response to the attack on a U.S. base in Jordan near the border of Iraq and Syria that killed three American soldiers and wounded more than 40 others.

Neither Biden nor his officials provided details. But speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the goal is to ensure the U.S. degrades the groups' capabilities to attack American troops and facilities, while sending a "strong signal to their backers" in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

"The president will do what he has to do to protect our troops and our facilities and to look after our national security ... interests in the region," he said, adding that Biden's order will be a "tiered approach" encompassing "potentially multiple actions."

Sunday's attack on the U.S. base in Jordan killed the first U.S. service members in the Middle East since Israel's war with Hamas erupted in Gaza on October 7.

An umbrella group for Iranian-backed militias, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Pentagon says the drone strike has the "footprints" of Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah, although the U.S. has not given final attribution of who is responsible.

On Tuesday, Kataib Hezbollah said its suspension of military operations against U.S. troops in the region is done "in order to prevent embarrassment of the Iraqi government."

"We will continue to defend our people in Gaza in other ways," the group's Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi said in a statement released by the group on Telegram.

Kataib Hezbollah's announcement did not mention any threat of an American response. But the timing is no coincidence, said Matthew Kroenig, senior director of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy.

"It is pretty simple: When America puts credible military options on the table, adversaries back down," he told VOA.

Kataib Hezbollah's statement to cease hostilities is unlikely to sway Washington from planning its response. Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder told reporters Tuesday that "actions speak louder than words," and vowed "consequences."

Tough balancing act

Biden has been aiming to calibrate his retaliation to contain the growing risk of a regional war.

"I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East," he said. "That's not what I'm looking for."

Deterring Iran and its proxies while preventing an all-out war is a tough balancing act for Biden. Ahead of the November presidential election, the action he takes must be seen as strong enough to avoid criticism from hawkish Republicans, yet measured enough that it will not draw Washington into another conflict.

Among the options that Biden has are targeting Iranian-backed militias in the region and launching strikes on Iran's military targets or taking out their leadership  decisions that previous American presidents have taken in response to Tehran's provocations.

In 1988, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan ordered Operation Praying Mantis, which crippled Iran's naval fleet in retaliation for the mining of the USS Samuel B. Roberts that blew a massive hole in the ship's hull and injured 10 sailors.

In 2020, former U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who was blamed for numerous terrorist attacks internationally.

Following Soleimani's killing, Tehran launched a barrage of missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq, causing injuries but no fatalities, and imposed sanctions on U.S. officials. A similar "token response" would be the best-case scenario for Biden, Kroenig said.

Some Republicans, including Senator Lindsey Graham, have pushed for a much harsher approach, suggesting on a recent Fox News interview that Washington should bomb IRGC headquarters inside Iran and "blow it off the map."

Top officials in Biden's own administration have argued that dealing with Tehran is key to the region's security.

"The Iranian regime has been emboldened by the crisis and seems ready to fight to its last regional proxy," said CIA Director William Burns, writing in a recent article in Foreign Policy magazine.

Asked if this coming response will credibly deter Iran, Biden said, "We'll see."

Credible deterrence

Despite retaliatory attacks from Washington, Iran-backed groups have launched more than 160 strikes on American military facilities in the region. Houthi militias, another Tehran proxy, also have continued their missile and drone attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, despite multiple U.S. airstrikes against their infrastructure in Yemen.

The U.S. must consider other options said retired commander of the United States Central Command General McKenzie.

"Conduct retaliatory strikes that hurt them," he told VOA. "I don't think we need to limit ourselves to responses just in Syria and Iraq as we consider this."

Others are skeptical the administration can achieve both deterring Iran and preventing a regional conflagration.

The goals are in conflict with one another, said Adam Weinstein, deputy director of the Middle East program at the Quincy Institute, a think tank that advocates for restraint in American foreign policy. Iran is unlikely to be deterred and U.S. troops placed in the region "serve as a tripwire" for wider conflict.

"We're putting them in harm's way for an unclear benefit," he told VOA. "Or a benefit that's minimal at best against an enemy that is really accountable to nobody, which are these Iran-aligned militias."

There are about 900 U.S. troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq. U.S. officials say they are part of an ongoing operation to keep the Islamic State group from re-emerging and to provide a counterweight to Iran's influence in the region.

Just days before the drone attack that killed American soldiers, the U.S. and Iraq announced the beginning of talks to end the U.S.-led international military coalition in Iraq, continuing a process that has been stalled by the Israel-Hamas war. The attack is likely to delay such plans.

VOA national security correspondent Jeff Seldin and reporter Begum Ersoz of VOA's Turkish Service contributed to this report.

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Nanchang readies high-speed trains for Spring Festival travel rush

By Fan Liuyi, Di Jingyuan and He Jiahao (People's Daily App) 16:54, January 31, 2024

The Nanchang High-speed Train Maintenance Center in Jiangxi Province is gearing up to meet the surge in passenger volume and ensure the safe and efficient operation of its trains for the upcoming Spring Festival holiday. The Spring Festival travel rush, also known as "Chunyun," will see hundreds of millions of people braving bustling trains and other crowded vehicles to reach home and reunite with their friends and families.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Pressure Grows on Hungary to Approve Sweden's NATO Bid

By Henry Ridgwell January 30, 2024

Pressure to approve Sweden's accession to NATO is mounting on Hungary, the last member state yet to ratify Stockholm's application. The Hungarian and Swedish prime ministers are due to meet on the sidelines of a European Union summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the issue.

Sweden and Finland applied simultaneously to join NATO in May 2022, three months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Finland officially joined in April of last year, becoming the 31st member of the Western military alliance.

Sweden, however, is still waiting. Turkish lawmakers finally gave their approval for Sweden's bid on January 23, after Ankara resolved a long-running dispute with Stockholm over purported Swedish support for Kurdish separatists.

That left Hungary as the only NATO member state yet to ratify Sweden's accession, despite a pledge by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban that his country would not be the last member to approve the bid.

Speaking to reporters in Washington on Monday following talks with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Budapest to act quickly.

"Sweden brings tremendous capabilities to the alliance in every domain. Hungary now will have to act in order to complete the process, Sweden's accession. But I fully anticipate that will happen in the weeks ahead when Hungary's parliament returns," Blinken said.

Hungarian lawmakers from Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party have repeatedly stalled voting on Sweden's NATO bid since the application was submitted in 2022.

Last week, however, in an apparent policy reversal, Prime Minister Orban said he supported Sweden's NATO accession and that he would advise MPs to vote for its accession when they reconvene in mid-February following a winter recess.

Opposition lawmakers on Monday demanded an extraordinary session of parliament in order to hold the vote, although the motion was not expected to succeed.

Laszlo Kover, the Hungarian parliament speaker and a founding member of the Fidesz party, said on January 25 that he saw no urgency in holding a vote. "Moreover, I do not think there is an extraordinary situation," Kover told the Hungarian news website Index.

Senior Fidesz MPs have voiced anger at Sweden for criticizing a backsliding of democracy in Hungary. Balazs Orban, who is Prime Minister Viktor Orban's political director but of no relation, told Hungarian television last week that "the way that the Swedish political elite has been attacking Hungary for the last 10 years ... creates a basis for Hungary to ask for further political consultations from the Swedes, since this is about us getting committed to a joint military alliance."

Hungary is trying to flex its diplomatic muscle on the global stage, said analyst Zoltan Pogatsa, a political economist at the University of West Hungary.

"I think Viktor Orban wants to remind Western countries every now and then: 'Don't criticize us because we do have cards, we are not sitting at the table without cards, we do have our cards. So be careful when you try to criticize us for corruption, for rule of law issues, or the quality of our democracy,'" Pogatsa told Reuters.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson last week rebuffed an invitation from his Hungarian counterpart to begin negotiations in Budapest on Sweden's NATO application. "No demands that are related to NATO membership  that's not on the table," Kristersson told Sweden's TV4. But, he added, the two countries have much to discuss, including cooperation inside NATO, Hungary's upcoming EU presidency, and support for Ukraine.

The two leaders are due to meet at a European Union summit in Brussels Thursday. In a letter to Orban, Kristersson said, "I agree with you that a more intensive dialogue between our countries would be beneficial."

Meanwhile, Russia said earlier in January that it would take "retaliatory measures" if Sweden joins the alliance.

"Sweden's membership in NATO will have an extremely negative impact on the level of stability in northern Europe and the Baltic region," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters in Moscow on January 26. "We will take retaliatory measures of a political and military-technical nature in order to stop threats to the defense capability of our country."

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Israeli Forces Kill 3 Militants in West Bank Hospital

By VOA News January 30, 2024

Israeli forces killed three Palestinian militants Tuesday inside a hospital in the occupied West Bank, including one that Israel's military said was a Hamas member planning an imminent attack.

Palestinian health officials said Israeli forces shot and killed the three men after storming Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin.

Video said to be from a surveillance camera at the hospital appeared to show about a dozen undercover troops wearing civilian clothes or dressed in hospital scrubs and white lab coats carrying guns and moving through a corridor of the hospital.

Reuters, which obtained the video, said hospital signs, as well as the color and design of the door and walls in the video, match its own previous footage from the hospital.

The Gaza Health Ministry called on international institutions to pressure Israel to halt operations in health facilities.

Israel has accused Hamas of operating in hospitals and in tunnels underneath health facility sites to hide weapons and use civilians as shields.

The Israeli military identified one of the people killed Tuesday as Mohammed Jalamneh, saying he had links to Hamas and planned to carry out an attack inspired by the October 7 Hamas assault that Israel says killed 1,200 people.

About 370 people in the West Bank have been killed by Israelis, mostly by Israeli forces, since October 7.

In the Gaza Strip, Israel's counteroffensive has killed more than 26,700 people, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, while also destroying vast swaths of Gaza and displacing nearly 85% of the territory's people.

Israeli strikes continued Tuesday across Gaza, including airstrikes in the Khan Younis area. Israel's military said airstrikes also hit launchers in central Gaza that had been used to fire rockets at central Israel on Monday.

Hostage talks

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said Tuesday the group had received a cease-fire proposal that would include a six-week halt in fighting and the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians jailed by Israel.

Haniyeh said that Hamas would study the proposal, and that he would visit Cairo to discuss it. But he emphasized the militants' long-time demand for a permanent cease-fire and an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.

"The priority is ending the unjust aggression on Gaza and the complete withdrawal of the occupation's forces," Haniyeh said.

He also said Hamas was seeking the reconstruction of Gaza, the lifting of a yearslong Israeli blockade on Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

The outline for a possible new agreement came out of talks in Paris among U.S., Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials.

"As Secretary [Antony] Blinken noted yesterday, the proposal on the table is strong and compelling," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters Tuesday. "It envisions a longer humanitarian pause than we saw in November, which would provide an opportunity to get more hostages out and lifesaving humanitarian assistance in: food for the hungry child, medicine for the elderly woman in need, shelter for the family that has been displaced multiple times."

More than 100 hostages were released during the weeklong November cease-fire in exchange for 240 Palestinians jailed by Israel. Hamas is believed to still be holding another 100 or so hostages.

Palestinian aid

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is to meet with representatives from 35 donor states and the European Union later Tuesday after several major donor countries suspended financial assistance for the United Nations' relief agency for Palestine refugees following Israeli allegations that a dozen UNRWA staffers may have been involved in the October 7 terror attack.

"We expect the secretary-general to brief member states on the actions taken on the allegations regarding some UNRWA staff, and we will, of course, listen to their concerns," his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters. "The secretary-general will again underscore the importance of the humanitarian work that UNRWA does every day in Gaza and in the region."

More than a dozen countries, including the top donor, the United States, said they are suspending financial support to UNRWA while an investigation is carried out. UNRWA says the suspensions amount to $444 million in revenue.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on Tuesday that about $300,000 is currently frozen in funds designated for UNRWA. Future funding this year would depend on the outcome of the investigation and steps taken at UNRWA.

"We need to see fundamental changes before we can resume providing funding directly to UNRWA," Thomas-Greenfield told reporters. "And as you know, we shouldn't let that cloud the great work that UNRWA does."

Sigrid Kaag, the U.N.'s new senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, told reporters following her first meeting with the Security Council on Tuesday that currently, "There is no way any organization can replace or substitute the tremendous capacity, the fabric, of UNRWA, their ability and their knowledge of the population in Gaza."

UNRWA employs 13,000 mainly Palestinian staff in Gaza. It has continued to work since October 7 to provide some relief to nearly 2 million displaced Palestinians. More than 150 UNRWA staff have been killed in the fighting between Israel and Hamas. But the U.N. says aid could soon be in jeopardy if funding is not resumed.

Of the dozen staffers implicated by Israel in the deadly attacks, the U.N. immediately fired nine of them, one was confirmed dead, and officials are clarifying the identity of two others. The U.N. immediately opened an internal investigation.

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 agency staffers of celebrating the attacks on social media.

Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others.

UNRWA has provided basic services, including medical care and education, for Palestinian families who fled or were driven out of what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding the country's creation. They now live in built-up refugee camps in Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

In Washington, a congressional subcommittee held a hearing on the agency's work Tuesday.

Republican Representative Brian Mast accused UNRWA of directly and indirectly supporting "Hamas and other terrorist organizations in multiple different ways," including allowing Hamas tunnels and rocket launchers under their schools and other facilities  a charge UNRWA has denied.

Democratic Representative Susan Wild agreed that the agency is facing an "unprecedented crisis of credibility" but said it is important that the population of Gaza, which is in a dire humanitarian crisis, does not pay a steeper price because of the action of a dozen bad individuals.

Several protesters were in the hearing room, including from the group Code Pink, and shouted as the legislators spoke. Some protesters wore blue shirts that said, "Ceasefire Now" and held up their hands that were coated in a red substance meant to resemble blood.

VOA correspondent Margaret Besheer reported from the United Nations, and VOA's Nike Ching contributed reporting from the State Department. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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WHO Says Defunding UNRWA a 'Distraction' from Dire Situation in Gaza

By Lisa Schlein January 30, 2024

The World Health Organization warns that defunding UNRWA, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, threatens to worsen the already dire situation of more than 2 million civilians in Gaza, many of whom are facing starvation, ill health and the threat of death from the spread of infectious diseases.

More than a dozen countries, including the United States, suspended funds to UNRWA following allegations that some of the agency's staff members participated in the invasion of Israel by Hamas militants October 7.

"Criminal activity can never go unpunished," said WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier on Tuesday, "but that discussion right now is a distraction from what is really going on every day, every hour, every minute in Gaza.

"It is a distraction from the more than 27,000 deaths right now, of which 70% are women and children," he said. "It is a distraction from preventing an entire population from access to clean water, food, shelter. It is a distraction from preventing electricity from coming into Gaza for more than 100 days."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed to countries to resume their assistance to UNRWA to at least ensure continuity of its vital humanitarian operations. This appeal was echoed by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus who said, "Cutting off funding will only hurt the people in Gaza who desperately need support."

A statement issued Monday by 20 NGOs expressed dismay that some of the countries that had called for an increase in aid in Gaza have now suspended funds to UNRWA.

"We are shocked by the reckless decision to cut a lifeline for an entire population," they said. "UNRWA is the largest humanitarian agency in Gaza and their delivery of humanitarian assistance cannot be replaced by other agencies working in Gaza."

WHO spokesperson Lindmeier said, "UNRWA provides vital support to the population of Gaza, including in the health sector." He noted that before the conflict, UNRWA provided care for some 100,000 individuals with diabetes and hypertension, and for 40,000 pregnant women annually.

"The escalation of hostilities in Gaza made the continuation of such care extremely difficult, as daily life itself became untenable," he said, observing that the regular food supply and fresh water supply has been cut off Gaza for more than 100 days.

He said people are forced to drink water that "is mixed with wastewater as the pumping stations partially are not working for lack of fuel."

"The population is at the border of famine," he said, "and it is not getting better. It is getting worse by the day."

Lindmeier warned that a malnourished population cramped together in overcrowded makeshift shelters is highly susceptible to disease and infection. In such situations, he said "infections, rashes, and diseases can spread like wildfire."

Despite all the difficulties, Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that "UNRWA has not stopped working. UNRWA continues to work. It is the pipeline of funding that is in danger while it is irreplaceable in the humanitarian operation."

In its latest report, OCHA describes the intense Israeli bombardment across much of the Gaza Strip, calling hostilities "particularly intense in Khan Younis, with heavy fighting reported near Nasser and Al Amal hospitals."

The agency noted that Hamas rocket fire from Gaza into Israel has continued as well.

Spokesman Lindmeier said getting humanitarian aid into Gaza was becoming increasingly difficult due to security issues and logistics, explaining that two of three missions to Nasser Hospital on Monday were delayed and eventually failed to arrive. The aborted missions were carrying food for internally displaced people, patients and health workers, as well as critically important fuel for the hospital, he said. A third mission bringing medicines was allowed to go ahead.

Another convoy on Tuesday morning tried to reach Nasser Hospital with food for patients and health care staff but was intercepted by people on the street.

"[They] basically took the supplies ... which only shows how dire the needs are," Lindmeier said.

"It describes the terrible situation of the people, of the population, to stop U.N. convoys, to stop any truck, to try to get anything to eat, to get fresh water."

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Vietnam, Philippines Sign Deals on South China Sea Security

By An Hai January 30, 2024

Vietnam and the Philippines agreed on Tuesday to boost cooperation between their two coast guards to prevent incidents in the South China Sea, waters claimed in their entirety by Beijing.

Both Southeast Asian nations dispute China's claim to the resource-rich maritime territory that is a major shipping route, and each nation has had tense run-ins with China in the strategic waterway.

The two memoranda of understanding on maritime cooperation were announced during a state visit to Hanoi by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and are "aimed at strengthening the understanding, mutual trust, and confidence between the two parties," his office said in a statement.

The deals cover "incident prevention in the South China Sea" and "maritime cooperation" among coast guards, according to a Vietnamese official at a formal ceremony in the country's presidential palace.

Marcos and Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong also agreed to strengthen existing maritime cooperation mechanisms, notably the Joint Commission on Maritime and Ocean Affairs at the deputy-minister level.

They will also enhance communication between coast guard commands and adopt other measures to ensure the safety and security of fishermen from both countries, as well as to solve amicably any unexpected incidents at sea, Viet Nam News reported.

The two countries also agreed to boost trade and investment and signed a key deal on rice.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to requests for comment made by VOA Vietnamese. China's state-run People's Daily Online said on Tuesday, "If Vietnam and the Philippines cooperate in certain areas to the detriment of China's interests in the South China Sea, it will only irritate the situation in the South China Sea and make the risk of conflict higher."

Ha Hoang Hop, an associate senior fellow at the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, called the agreements "an important step forward, affirming the interest of both the Philippines and Vietnam to use all peaceful means to respond to China's gray zone strategy."

Ha was referring to Beijing's activities that are designed to avoid the threshold of triggering major conflict. He spoke to VOA Vietnamese in a telephone interview Tuesday from.

"China will continue to cause tension and harassment against the Philippines and Vietnam," said Ha. "But these two agreements between the Philippines and Vietnam are completely consistent with international law, the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. So, China's reactions will have no effect."

Marcos raised his concerns over the long simmering disputes and cited increasingly aggressive actions by the Chinese coast guard in a call Tuesday to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

"There continue to be ... unilateral and illegal actions that violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction and exacerbate tensions in the South China Sea," Marcos said.

Transcripts of his remarks were issued by the presidential office in Manila.

Hoang Viet, an expert on South China Sea disputes at the Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, was skeptical when asked whether the agreements amount to the two countries forming a "united front" against China.

"If Vietnam and the Philippines really created a united front to fight China, China would find every way to respond strongly," he told VOA Vietnamese in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

"But with the two sides only signing memoranda of understanding, it is not enough to form a united front to fight China. Vietnam has also tried to avoid this, because Vietnam does not want to create confrontation with China at this time," Hoang said.

Some material for this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press.

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China's President Receives Afghan Ambassador; Taliban Seek Recognition From Russia, Iran

By Akmal Dawi January 30, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday received the credentials of ambassadors from several countries, including neighboring Afghanistan, in what amounts to the first official recognition of the interim Taliban government by a major nation.

Xi welcomed Bilal Karimi, the Taliban-appointed Afghan ambassador, in a formal ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, along with ambassadors from Cuba, Pakistan, Iran and 38 other countries.

"China has understood what the rest of the world has not," Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesperson, said Tuesday at an event on the social media platform X.

"We are not in a unipolar world," Mujahid said while calling on Russia, Iran and other countries to take similar steps and upgrade bilateral diplomatic relations with Kabul.

Xi told the new ambassadors that China is seeking deep friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with their countries, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said whether Beijing has officially recognized the Taliban regime is for Chinese officials to clarify.

"I have seen some comments from them to the contrary," Miller told VOA on Tuesday. For the United States, Miller said, the Taliban's relationship with the international community depends on their actions.

"China may be getting ready to break ranks and take the final technical step either within the U.N. system or outside of it through a bilateral initiative," Omar Samad, a former Afghan ambassador, wrote to VOA.

Javid Ahmad, Afghan ambassador to the United Arab Emirates under the former Afghan government, called the Chinese move an act of recognition.

"The signal is unmistakable, as no head of state would accept ambassadorial credentials unless they recognize the government. In this instance, the Chinese leadership is treating the Taliban envoy in the same manner as other ambassadors, a clear indication of recognition," Ahmad told VOA.

While China's recognition marks a significant step, it remains an isolated one. No other major nation has recognized the Taliban's "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," and the United Nations has repeatedly denied their requests for representation at the world body.

The United States and European countries have imposed economic and political sanctions on Taliban leaders and entities, accusing them of grave human rights violations, particularly concerning women's rights to education and work.

Since reclaiming power in August 2021, the Taliban have steadily established control over many Afghan diplomatic missions, primarily in neighboring countries. The group now oversees embassies in at least 14 countries, including Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Some countries, including Russia, China and Iran, have maintained their embassies in Kabul.

Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in New York that Moscow had not recognized the Taliban regime because of political and human rights considerations.

"We, as the rest of the U.N. members, do not officially recognize the Taliban," Lavrov said through a translator.

Last month, the U.N. Security Council authorized the secretary-general to appoint a special envoy for Afghanistan to facilitate coordinated international engagement with de facto Taliban authorities.

Taliban officials have objected to the appointment of the new envoy, saying the U.N. should stop treating Afghanistan as an anomaly within the international community.

VOA correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this article.

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Ukraine, Middle East Conflicts Hamper Fight Against Graft

By Akmal Dawi January 30, 2024

Global efforts to curb public sector corruption are stalling, even reversing in some regions due to armed conflicts and dysfunctional justice systems, a leading corruption watchdog said on Tuesday.

Berlin-based Transparency International's annual report paints a grim picture, revealing that most countries have made negligible or no progress in tackling corruption.

"Both authoritarian regimes and democratic leaders undermining justice contribute to increasing impunity for corruption and, in some cases, even encourage it by removing consequences for wrongdoers," the company said in a statement.

Even while it repels the Russian invasion, Ukraine has made steady progress in reducing corruption by reforming the justice system and enhancing its anti-corruption body, Transparency International says.

In 2021, Ukraine was ranked 122 among 180 countries in the organization's Corruption Perceptions Index. In 2022, it moved up to 116, and to 104 in 2023.

Nevertheless, the report says, the war created fertile ground for corruption, creating the risk of unraveling hard-fought gains in transparency and accountability across the globe.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States and its Western allies have poured over $100 billion in military, humanitarian and financial assistance into Ukraine, according to data from the Kiel Institute.

Armed conflicts in several Middle Eastern countries also pose formidable challenges to anti-corruption efforts.

"Recent reports show emerging corruption practices, such as the payment of 'fees' on the border for those fleeing the war. Not only does this have serious impacts on the most vulnerable, but it adds another layer of injustice and reinforces power imbalances," Transparency International spokesperson Marko Kovacevic told VOA in an email.

Least, most corrupt

For the sixth year, Denmark is considered the least-corrupt state in the world, according to Transparency International. Joining it at the top of the index are Finland and New Zealand, with Norway and Singapore close behind.

High levels of prosperity, education and open governance are considered key drivers of European success in combating corruption.

Somalia remains in the lowest position for the second year in a row. Joining it at the bottom of the index are Venezuela, Syria and South Sudan, highlighting persistent public sector corruption challenges in these countries.

While Europe is traditionally reported as the least-corrupt continent, some cracks may be appearing in its anti-corruption ranking. Several European countries, including Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, have seen their rankings slip for the second consecutive year.

The United States ranked 24th on the index for the second consecutive year.

China, the world's second-largest economy and the second-most populous country, experienced a significant drop in its ranking, plummeting from 65 to 76 in one year.

Under the Taliban, Afghanistan has reportedly seen a marked return to corruption, with its ranking slipping from 150 in 2022 to 162 in 2023.

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Remarks by President Biden Before Marine One Departure

January 30, 2024

South Lawn

10:34 A.M. EST

Q Mr. President, what  do you hold Iran responsible for the death of the three Americans?

Q Have you made a decision how you'll respond to the attacks?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q And 

Q Mr. President, do you hold Iran responsible for the death of those three Americans?

THE PRESIDENT: I do hold respon-  them responsible in the sense that they're supplying the weapons to the people who did it.

Q But directly responsible?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we'll have that discussion.

Q (Inaudible) have not deterred these attacks in the past. What will be different this time?

THE PRESIDENT: We'll see.

Q Mr. President, (inaudible) are you worried about a regional war in the Mi-  a wider war in the Middle East? How worried are you?

THE PRESIDENT: I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East. That's not what I'm looking for.

Q Should Donald Trump be allowed on the ballot? Should Donald Trump be allowed on the ballot?

THE PRESIDENT: As far as I'm concerned, that's fine.

Q Why is he leading in the polls if he is a threat to democracy, as you say?

THE PRESIDENT: Because guys like you. (Laughs.)

Q What am I doing? Come on.

Q Mr. President 

THE PRESIDENT: I'm teasing, man. I'm teasing. It's early.

(Cross-talk.)

Q Mr. President, on the border. Have you done everything you can do with executive authority? Or is there more you could do absent (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: I've done all I can do. Just give me the power. I've asked from the very day I got into office. Give me the Border Patrol. Give me the people  give me the people, the judges. Give me the people who can stop this and make it work right.

(Cross-talk.)

Q Are you worried about the possible escalation in the military involvement in the Middle East? What do you say to those in your party?

THE PRESIDENT: (Inaudible.) We'll see.

10:36 A.M. EST

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'No substitute for UN agency assisting Palestinians'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 31, 2024

New York, IRNA -- A senior UN relief coordinator for Gaza has rejected an Israeli call for stripping the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees of its authority in the Gaza Strip, saying there is no alternative to the agency known as UNRWA.

Sigrid Kaag, Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza said on Tuesday that UNRWA cannot be replaced and that this agency is still vital for people in the besieged Palestinian territory.

Apart from a political decision, which would have to be made by the General Assembly, "there is no way any organization can replace or substitute the tremendous capacity and the fabric of UNRWA and its ability and knowledge," Kaag told correspondents outside the Security Council in New York.

"No organization can replace the enormous capacity of UNRWA", she noted.

The UN agency is on the brink of closer after several western countries halted funding over an Israeli accusation that UNRWA staffs were involved in the October 7 Al-Aqsa Storm Operation launched by the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, against the regime.

Israel has been against UNRWA for years due to the agency's helping hands to Palestinians suffering from the regime's atrocities.

A senior UN official announced earlier that an investigation was launched soon after that Israeli authorities provided information regarding the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the Al-Aqsa Storm Operation, with the agency's chief pledging "immediately" termination of those staffs.

Linda Thomas Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations also welcome the probe and called to hold those involved accountable but reminded that this should not overshadow the great work UNRWA is doing.

"UNRWA plays a key role in providing vital aid to the Palestinians", she said.

A number of Western countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Italy and Canada that have been backing Israeli regime's genocidal war on Gaza suspended their funding following the Israeli regime's accusations against UNRWA.

Meanwhile, Russia condemned the decision of some Western countries to stop financial aid to UNRWA, with the foreign minister calling the move a breach of international humanitarian laws.

According to Sputnik, Sergey Lavrov said that the aid to UNRWA should not be stopped until the results of the investigation about the validity of Israel's claims.

"This action will amount to collective punishment against the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip", he said

A spokesperson of UNRWA warned on Monday that the agency will not be able to continue its activities and services throughout the region beyond February due to funding cut.

UNRWA was established in 1949 to assist and protect Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes during the creation of the Zionist entity on occupied Palestinian land by western countries. The agency is currently assisting more than 5 million Palestinian refugees across the region.

4399

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Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 26,751: ministry

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:11, January 31, 2024

GAZA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 26,751, and 65,636 others wounded since Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

The ministry's Spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qedra said that the Israeli army killed 114 and wounded 249 others during the past 24 hours.

Al-Qedra stressed that Israel is increasing its siege on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip for the second week in a row, adding Israel "places 150 medical personnel, 450 wounded, and 3,000 displaced people under targeting."

Al-Qedra explained that the electricity generators in the complex would stop within two days due to a lack of fuel, which would increase the suffering of the medical staff and patients.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian security source told Xinhua that the Israeli army has increased the frequency of its raids during the past hours on Gaza City, the Nuseirat camp, the city of Khan Younis, Beit Lahia, and Rafah City.

A source in the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza City reported that rescue teams had recovered dozens of bodies as a result of the Israeli bombing that targeted civilian homes in the city.

In addition, the city of Khan Younis witnessed heavy raids targeting its western areas, reaching the vicinity of Nasser Hospital and Al Amal Hospital, according to eyewitnesses.

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US threats won't deter Yemen from keeping up anti-Israel operations: Top official

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 31 January 2024 3:12 AM

A ranking Yemeni official says the US's threats against the country will not deter it from continuing its operations in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who have come under a genocidal Washington-backed war by the Israeli regime.

Mohammad Ali al-Houthi, who is a member of Yemen's Supreme Political Council, made the remarks in a post on X on Tuesday.

He said the United States had threatened via Omani backchannels to mobilize "fronts" against Yemen.

The official said that any American "endeavors or folly" against Yemen would end in failure, adding that the Yemeni people "will not be deterred" from "their mission [of supporting] Gaza."

Yemen's Armed Forces have been staging many strikes against Israeli vessels or those bound for the occupied Palestinian territories' ports.

The operations have been described as a response to an 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 26,700 Palestinians, some 70 percent of whom are women, children, and adolescents, have been killed in the brutal onslaught so far.

The United States has been providing Israel with unbridled military and political support in its onslaught against Gaza, arming Tel Aviv with more than 10,000 tons of military hardware. The US has also torpedoed the prospect of cessation of the Israeli aggression by stonewalling ratification of all United Nations Security Council resolutions that have been calling for a permanent ceasefire in the Israeli aggression.

The Yemeni forces have vowed to keep up their operations as long as the Israeli regime presses on with the military campaign.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 30 January 2024 - Day 705

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 Russian independent Telegram news channel Astra reported on 27 January 2024 that Russian aircraft had accidentally discharged two FAB-250 unguided munitions on two Russian villages in the Belgorod area. The first munition landed on a farm in Postnikov, whilst the second munition landed on an urban street in Strelestkoye village, prompting an evacuation of up to 150 civilians within a 500m radius.

This is the fourth Russian accidental aerial munition discharge on its own territory this month. In total, this is the fifth overall within a year, with the earliest occasion in Belgorod City on 20 April 2023.

It cannot be confirmed whether such incidents occur due to poor procedures when arming the aircraft prior to sorties or poor execution by aircrew during missions. It is likely a combination of both. The increasing frequency of these occurrences likely demonstrates a degree of air and ground crew fatigue within the Russian front line, as well as exposing inadequate training.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 30, there were 78x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 5x missile strikes and 63x air strikes and carried out 39x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Residential private and apartment buildings, a school and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Popivka (Sumy oblast), Ustynivka (Kharkiv oblast). Around 40x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Bleshnya, Mykhal'chyna Sloboda (Chernihiv oblast), Znob-Novhorods'ke, Druzhba, Atyns'ke, Volodymyrivka, Tur'ya, Ryasne, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Vovchans'k, Mala Vovcha (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x assaults near Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). In that area Russian forces made failed attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Tabaivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x assaults in the vicinities of Terny and Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novojehorivka, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast) and Terny (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers, with air support, made attempts to improve their tactical situation. More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 20x attacks near Avdiivka and 9x more attacks near Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian occupiers made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense, to no success. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Ocheretyne, Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Orlivka, Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars more than 15x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the invaders in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, made 14x unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical situation. Thus, on the Solodke-Kostiantynivka axis, Ukrainian defenders repelled a Russian assault, during which Russian forces deployed 12x armored vehicles. Following the battle, 2x tanks, 6x MT-LB multi-purpose armored vehicles and 1x BMP infantry fighting vehicle were destroyed. Having received a worthy rebuff, the Russian occupiers suffered significant losses and retreated. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Kurakhove, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke and Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast).

Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The occupiers launched an air strike near Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Poltavka, Chervone, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast).

Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the adversary fired artillery at the city of Kherson, the settlements of Vesele, Kozats'ke, Ivanivka, Dniprovs'ke, Stanislav (Kherson oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kachkarivka and Chervonyi Mayak (Kherson oblast).

The Russian occupiers do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. Thus, during the day, Russian forces made 13x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian troops.

During the day of January 30, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 11x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment, 2x air defense systems.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x ammunition depot, 5x artillery systems, 1x radar station of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled three attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 30th, 32nd, and 44th mechanised brigades close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy lost up to 140 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and repelled three attacks of assault groups of the AFU 60th and 63rd mechanised brigades close to Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 290 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, and five motor vehicles.

In the Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems took more advantageous lines and positions.

In addition, strikes were delivered at enemy manpower and military hardware near Krasnoye, Andreyevka, Novomikhailovka, Kurdyumovka, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 310 troops killed and wounded, two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, and 11 motor vehicles.

In addition, during the counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops engaged one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system and two Msta-B howitzers.

In South-Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces jointly with aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and military hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade near Ugledar and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 60 Ukrainian troops, one tank, and two motor vehicles. During counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops neutralised two UK-made FH-70 howitzers and one D-30 gun.

In Zaporozhye direction, the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery neutralised manpower and hardware of the AFU 3rd National Guard Brigade of Ukraine near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

During the day, up to 40 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer have been neutralised.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the active actions of the Russian Group of Forces and complex fire damage caused to the enemy, the AFU losses amounted to 45 troops, two motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers.

Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation hit during the day: a fuel depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a radar station of the German-made IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile system, as well as manpower and military hardware in 112 areas.

Air defence systems shot down 12 projectiles of the HIMARS and Uragan multiple launch rocket systems, as well as a U.S.-made JDAM guided aerial bomb.

In addition, 86 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down, including close to Zolotarevka, Popasnaya, Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Verkhnekamenskoye, Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Ocheretovatoye, Shevchenkovo, Mirnoye, Konstantinovka, Lyubimovka (Zaporozhye region) and Korsunka (Kherson region).

In total, 568 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 11,431 unmanned aerial vehicles, 456 air defence missile systems, 14,847 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,211 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,902 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 18,042 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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Cyber: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union, expressing solidarity with Australia on the impact of cyber-attacks against its health sector

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

29 January 2024

The European Union and its Member States express solidarity with Australia on the impact of malicious cyber activities against their healthcare sector, notably against a major health service provider, Medibank. Millions of records, containing personal information, including names, dates of birth, social security numbers and sensitive medical information, were stolen and some published on the dark web. Australia assesses that the network compromise in 2022 has been conducted by a Russian cybercriminal and has, for the first time, used its autonomous cyber sanctions framework to respond to this significant incident.

The European Union and its Member States strongly condemn continued malicious cyber activities targeting essential operators, including those in the European Union, notably through ransomware attacks. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare sector has been increasingly targeted by malicious cyber activities, leading to thefts and leaks of personal and sensitive data, as well as the disruption of healthcare services. We collectively continue to monitor the threat landscape.

We remain committed to tackle cybercriminals by strengthening cross-border law enforcement cooperation against ransomware, and continue to support operators of essential services to increase their resilience and strengthen our efforts to deter and respond to malicious cyber activities through joint diplomatic action. We recall the UN norms of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace, including the obligations not to damage or impair the use and operation of critical infrastructure providing services to the public. We also call upon States not to allow their territory to be used for malicious cyber activities and to take appropriate action against actors conducting such activities.

The European Union and its Member States will continue to promote a global, free, open, secure and stable cyberspace, notably the work on the establishment of the UN Programme of Action to this end.

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Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding cyber attacks against the Australian healthcare sector

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

29.01.2024

Poland expresses solidarity with Australia and everyone whose personal data was compromised as a result of the ransomware attack on the healthcare sector in this country. Millions of data were stolen from the health service provider Medibank and then disclosed on the dark web in 2022. Australia has accused a Russian citizen of the attack and imposed financial sanctions and travel ban on him. British and US governments informed about the introduction of similar sanctions against the alleged Russian cybercriminal.

Poland strongly condemns ransomware attacks as well as all other forms of cybercrime. We support the application of UN norms of responsible State behavior in cyberspace. It is also necessary to consistently build resilience and capabilities necessary to effectively counteract attacks, in particular in key sectors such as health care, which is becoming increasingly sensitive to cybercriminals' activities since the COVID pandemic.

We support the European Union declaration regarding Australia ransomware attack [text of declaration] and actively work for constructive international cooperation to end impunity of malicious actors in cyberspace.

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Malawi Launches New COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Amid Rising Cases

By Lameck Masina January 29, 2024

The Malawi government and the World Health Organization launched a new COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Monday in 10 of the country's 29 districts. This is partly in response to new cases confirmed in the past three weeks in several districts across the country.

Nsanje District in southern Malawi currently leads in the number of COVID-19 cases recorded this year.

George Mbotwa, spokesperson for the district health office, said the district has registered 17 new cases in the past three weeks and some are health workers.

"Initially there were two, but we had up to eight cases that were health workers," he said. "Some of them have now been confirmed as negative, and others are being followed up to ensure that they are fully recovered before they can resume work."

By Monday, Malawi cumulatively recorded 89,202 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 2,686 deaths, since the first cases were confirmed in the country in April 2020.

Malawi's Ministry of Health says the new vaccination campaign will help boost the number of people getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination rates in some areas of Malawi are as low as 40%.

It also says the WHO-funded campaign would help avoid waste of the vaccine as was the case in 2020 when the government destroyed nearly 20,000 expired AstraZeneca doses.

Many of those doses expired due to vaccine hesitancy amid concerns of its safety and efficacy.

However, recent government public health campaigns on the importance of COVID-19 shots have helped defeat that hesitancy.

Mary Chawinga, a mother of two of Machinjiri Township in Blantyre, said she has had the vaccine and is awaiting a booster.

"And I am ready to take my children, because prevention is better than [a] cure they say," Chawinga said. "You never know how the wave will be like this time around considering the way it was way back in 2020. We have had it in 2021, and now this is 2024."

Another mother of two, Habeeba Nyasulu, said she received the COVID-19 doses during the first campaign and encourages others to get the shot.

"I know that we are not safe until everyone is safe," she said. "So, let others also receive the vaccine. I know that the vaccine does not prevent us from getting infected, but it helps us when we contract it not to be critically ill."

Maziko Matemba is a community health care ambassador in Malawi, said the COVID-19 threat is still present in the country.

"Malawi didn't vaccinate a required number of people against COVID-19, because the targeted population was about 11 million Malawians," Matemba said. "But we were less than half about 2 or 3 million Malawians who were able to get vaccinated."

Matemba said the country now needs to have the vaccine in the right places and encourage more people to get vaccinated.

The Ministry of Health says the new campaign targets 10 of the country's 29 health districts that have recently recorded new cases. These include Machinga, Blantyre, Dowa, Mzimba and Nsanje districts.

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Treasury Designates ISIS Cyber Facilitators and Trainers

U.S. Department of the Treasury

January 30, 2024

OFAC Designations Coincide with the Virtual Meetings of the Counter ISIS Finance Group

WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two cybersecurity experts affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) for providing ISIS leadership and supporters with cybersecurity training, enabling their use of virtual currency, and supporting the terrorist group's recruitment. Additionally, OFAC designated an ISIS financial facilitator involved in transferring funds to ISIS-affiliated individuals in Syria.

These actions reinforce the United States' commitment to the mission of the Counter ISIS Finance Group (CIFG), a working group of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS comprising over 80 countries and international organizations. These designations also coincide with the 19th meeting of the CIFG to discuss the disruption of ISIS financing networks worldwide.

"Today's actions disrupt ISIS's ability to move funds, including through the use of cryptocurrency, and leverage its online presence to recruit and promote its terrorist ideology," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. "Together with our international partners in the Counter ISIS Finance Group, the United States is committed to combatting ISIS's evolving financial methods to deny ISIS access to the global financial system."

These individuals are being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, which targets terrorist groups and their supporters.

Mu'min Al-Mawji Mahmud Salim

Mu'min Al-Mawji Mahmud Salim (Mu'min Al-Mawji) is an Egyptian national and the creator and leader of ISIS-affiliated platform Electronic Horizons Foundation (EHF), which provides cybersecurity guidance and training to ISIS supporters seeking to evade law enforcement scrutiny of their online activities. Mu'min Al-Mawji has provided technical support on computer applications to ISIS leadership and shared cryptocurrency expertise and instruction with ISIS supporters, including posting a tutorial on the EHF website that provided specific instructions on donating funds to ISIS-affiliated entities. Mu'min Al-Mawji also established an ISIS-affiliated media outlet to create and distribute ISIS propaganda calling for violence against the West.

Sarah Jamal Muhammad Al-Sayyid

Sarah Jamal Muhammad Al-Sayyid (Sarah Jamal) is an Egyptian national who helped her partner, Mu'min Al-Mawji, establish EHF. Sarah Jamal recruited other ISIS members to join EHF and procured web servers to host ISIS platforms on behalf of EHF. Sarah Jamal collaborated with Mu'min Al-Mawji on EHF projects including logistical management and cryptocurrency support.

Faruk Guzel

In mid-2020, TArkiye-based Faruk Guzel received multiple transfers from a group of ISIS supporters for individuals associated with ISIS in Syria via a money remittance service. In turn, Guzel distributed the money to ISIS-affiliated persons.

Mu'min Al-Mawji Mahmud Salim, Sarah Jamal Muhammad Al-Sayyid, and Faruk Guzel are being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, ISIS, an entity designated under E.O. 13224, as amended.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the persons named above, and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or otherwise exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States, including transactions transiting the United States, that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions with the individuals designated today entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Pursuant to this authority, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant transaction on behalf of a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from its ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.

Click here for identifying information on the individual designated today.

###

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US Takes Shot at Islamic State's Cyber Operations

By Jeff Seldin January 30, 2024

The United States is taking new steps to cut off efforts by the Islamic State terror group to grow its virtual, self-declared caliphate.

Washington on Tuesday unveiled sanctions against two Egyptian nationals accused of providing IS leaders with cybersecurity training so they could move funds via cryptocurrencies and expand the terror group's recruitment efforts.

Al-Mawji Mahmud Salim and his business partner, Sarah Jamal Muhammad Al-Sayyid, are accused of creating an IS-affiliated online platform known as the Electronic Horizons Foundation (EHF).

In a statement, the U.S. Treasury Department said Al-Mawji "has provided technical support on computer applications" to IS leaders while also using the platform to help guide the terror group's supporters on how to evade law enforcement scrutiny and raise money.

The statement accused Jamal of helping her partners by recruiting IS members to join the EHF platform and by procuring web servers needed to keep the platform online.

"Today's actions disrupt ISIS's ability to move funds, including through the use of cryptocurrency, and leverage its online presence to recruit and promote its terrorist ideology," said Treasury Department Undersecretary Brian Nelson, using another acronym for the terror group.

The department also levied sanctions against Faruk Guzel, a Turkey-based financial facilitator who helped funnel money to IS operatives in Syria.

In a separate statement on Tuesday, the U.S. State Department said the new designations and the resulting sanctions reinforce Washington's commitment to work with the more than 80 countries that are part of the Counter ISIS Finance Group, which aims to disrupt the organization's global financial networks.

Earlier this month, IS launched a new campaign of violence called "And Kill Them Wherever You Find Them," which coincided with a double suicide bombing that killed nearly 90 people near the tomb of a slain Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander in Kerman, Iran.

The most recent U.S. intelligence assessments estimate IS leadership in Iraq and Syria has access to about $25 million in cash reserves, down from as much as about $300 million following the collapse of its physical caliphate in 2019.

A separate report from the Pentagon's inspector general this past November said the IS leadership in Iraq and Syria is "unable to meet its financial obligations, particularly payments to family members of deceased and imprisoned ISIS personnel."

"ISIS also paid its leaders sporadically, probably several hundred dollars a month, while missing payments for fighters, likely to extend its limited financing," the report said.

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Readout of the U.S.-PRC Bilateral Counternarcotics Working Group Inaugural Meeting

January 30, 2024

On January 30, the United States and the People's Republic of China launched their bilateral Counternarcotics Working Group - a critical mechanism going forward for coordinating bilateral efforts to counter the global manufacturing and trafficking of illicit synthetic drugs, including fentanyl. The U.S.-PRC Counternarcotics Working Group is a key outcome of President Biden's and President Xi Jinping's decision, announced at the Leaders' Summit in Woodside, California in November 2023, to resume bilateral cooperation on counternarcotics. By working to disrupt the flow of fentanyl this effort aims to save lives in the United States and around the world and halt the corruption and violence of drug traffickers.

The two sides emphasized the need to coordinate on law enforcement actions; address the misuse of precursor chemicals, pill presses, and related equipment to manufacture illicit drugs; target the illicit financing of transnational criminal organization networks; and engage in multilateral fora. The delegations further discussed the importance of regular sharing of information to ensure a common understanding of the dynamic illicit threat posed by synthetic drugs.

The delegation was led by Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jennifer Daskal and included representatives from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

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LandSpace rules out 'explosion' at Shanghai base, three workers 'slightly scratched' in an experiment

Global Times

By Fan Wei and Tao Mingyang Published: Jan 30, 2024 01:28 PM

China's private aerospace company LandSpace said on Tuesday that an online rumored "explosion" in its research center in Shanghai was caused by a normal experiment at its rocket fuel storage tank, and three workers onsite were slightly scratched, with no serious injuries reported.

LandSpace denied the rumored "explosion," as the company told the Global Times on Tuesday, noting that the blast was caused by a low-temperature static blasting experiment targeting fuel storage tank of its private rocket, being conducted by the company's research team.

During the experiment, the storage tank undertook normal blast experiment, under a pressure of 0.65 megapascals and the control process of the experiment performed normally, while some glass was damaged, leaving three workers on site slightly scratched with no serious injuries, LandSpace said.

LandSpace has research and development (R&D) bases and manufacturing centers in Beijing, Xi'an city in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Shanghai, Huzhou and Jiaxing in East China's Zhejiang Province. The Shanghai R&D center primarily focuses on the development and operation of liquid-fueled rocket propulsion systems, providing power solutions for aerospace vehicles, according to the company.

In July 2023, the world's first liquid oxygen, liquid methane carrier rocket ZQ-2 Y2 developed by LandSpace completed its flight procedure and accomplished its maiden mission, marking a breakthrough in China's commercial aerospace sector.

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Iran's future satellite carriers will put 15-ton cargoes into orbit: Defense Ministry

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 9:35 AM

Iran's Defense Ministry says the country has long-term plans to develop satellite launch vehicles capable of putting cargoes weighing up to 15 tons into orbit.

The ministry's space division spokesman Ahmad Hosseini Mounes made the announcement on Tuesday, days after Iran successfully launched three homegrown satellites into orbit using the domestically-made Simorgh (Phoenix) satellite carrier.

Hosseini Mounes said that Iran's space activities are "completely scientific and technological" and that the country will not wait for anyone's permission to continue its activities.

"Based on our roadmap,... we will have the Sarir satellite launch vehicle, which will put a cargo weighing one and a half tons into orbits close to the Earth's surface," he added.

"Sarir can launch six or seven satellites into low-altitude orbits or a satellite into an orbit 36,000 kilometers above the Earth's surface. In the more distant future, we will have Soroush family satellite carriers that will place cargoes from 6 to 15 tons into space."

For the first time on Monday, Simorgh simultaneously put the Mahda research satellite, as well as the Keyhan-2 and Hatef-1 nanosatellites into orbit.

Despite sanctions imposed by Western countries in recent years, Iran has managed to take giant strides in the civilian space program.

It is among the world's top 10 countries capable of developing and launching satellites.

Last week, the Aerospace Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched the Soraya satellite into orbit using the Qaem 100 satellite carrier.

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Royal Australian Air Force Joins United States and Japan for Exercise Cope North 2024

Issued by Defence Media

29 January 2024

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has deployed a C-27J Spartan aircraft and 215 aviators to participate in Exercise Cope North 24 in Guam, from 5-23 February 2024.

The long-standing military exercise focuses on integration through combat readiness and agile operations with the United States and Japan.

RAAF will train alongside the United States Air Force (USAF) and Koku-Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force, or JASDF) at Andersen Air Force Base; Won Pat International Airport; and North West Field in Guam, as well as the Commonwealth Northern Mariana Islands including Tinian and Saipan.

RAAF Task Group Commander, Group Captain Kylie Green, said Exercise Cope North 24 was an excellent opportunity to consolidate and further enhance integration with the United States and Japan.

"Exercise Cope North will provide training opportunities and invaluable experience for our people in a challenging scenario, and we are looking forward to working with our friends from the United States and Japan again," Group Captain Green said.

"We are focused on deepening relationships with the United Pacific Air Forces and the Koku-Jieitai, and the participation of Canada, France and the Republic of Korea."

Many of the aviators participating in the exercise will support agile operations from remote airfields.

"The scenarios have been designed to allow our aviators to exercise agile operational concepts that enhance force projection, resilience and survivability of our allied air combat forces," Group Captain Green said.

"We will also have aviators embedded within a Multinational Task Force Headquarters to plan and execute an air campaign, with the agile projection of air power from non-traditional airfields across the Mariana Islands.

"This is a key evolution in Cope North activity from previous iterations and reflects operations in our increasingly complex region.

"The Royal Australian Air Force is committed to developing capable and skilled aviators - exercises such as Cope North provides an excellent opportunity to train as a combined force with our allies and partners, improving our ability to deliver air power when and where required."

Established in 1978 as a quarterly bilateral exercise in Japan, Exercise Cope North moved to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam in 1999. It is the United States Pacific Air Force's largest multilateral exercise.

RAAF has participated in this exercise annually since 2011.

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Meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State

Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko chaired a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus at the Konstantin Palace.

January 29, 2024

17:40

St Petersburg

The agenda included a review of the progress on the Guidelines for Implementing the Provisions of the Treaty Establishing the Union State in 2021-2023.

Following the meeting, a number of decisions were adopted and relevant documents were signed. The following decrees of the Supreme State Council of the Union State were signed: On the Progress on the Guidelines for Implementing the Provisions of the Treaty Establishing the Union State for 2021-2023 and Union programmes; On the Guidelines for Implementing the Provisions of the Treaty Establishing the Union State for 2024-2026; On Certain Issues of Implementing a Common Industrial Policy and the Rules to Confirm the Manufacture of Industrial Products on the Territory of the Union State. A resolution On Implementing A Programme for Coordinated Foreign Policy Action by the States - Parties to the Treaty Establishing the Union State for 2022-2023 and A Programme for Coordinated Foreign Policy Action by the States - Parties to the Treaty Establishing the Union State for 2024-2026 was also signed.

In addition, resolutions were adopted on the Strategy of Scientific and Technological Development of the Union State until 2035, on creating a Union State Media Company, organising and holding events to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders, as well as resolutions on upgrading and developing the Union State's railway infrastructure, on settling the Union State's property issues, and on establishing a Union State Prize for young scientists.

Following the meeting, the discussion continued over a working lunch.

* * *

President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: President Putin, friends, members of the Supreme State Council, meeting participants,

I extend my heartfelt thanks to all our Russian colleagues and the President of Russia personally for the traditional hospitality and the warm welcome in St Petersburg.

Perhaps you know that we have been working intensely for two days, you can say for 48 hours, and we have eased into the third day, while doing a lot of good. You have also seen this.

The meeting of the Supreme State Council is the final event of these days. We already have a tradition: Mr Putin, please begin as the host of this good event.

Please.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Friends, colleagues,

To President Lukashenko and all our Belarusian colleagues, once again, welcome.

As always, heads of governments, parliaments and key agencies have gathered for the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus. Together, we have to approve several important decisions aimed at further deepening the two countries' integration in the socioeconomic and humanitarian spheres.

As you know, the President of Belarus and I have managed to work closely these days, as he just said. We took part in the ceremony to unveil a memorial for USSR civilians who were victims of the Nazi genocide during the Great Patriotic War and attended a gala event dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the complete lifting of the siege of Leningrad.

I would like to thank President Lukashenko and all our colleagues who took part in this. I would like to thank you for agreeing to change the order of our todays' interactions and work, precisely due to these events, which I think are significant for us and for you, above all, of course, the 80th anniversary of the breaking the siege of Leningrad, and moving our joint work today to St Petersburg.

In July, we will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi occupiers, and in May 2025, the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. These are among the most important memorial dates, significant for our two brotherly nations, which are closely connected by shared history and spiritual values and family ties. And it is on this solid foundation that the true alliance and strategic partnership between Russia and Belarus is based, within the framework of which we have been working together to build the Union State for almost 25 years. Along this path, we have managed to achieve a great deal.

Thanks to the successful implementation of 28 sectoral Union programmes, Russian and Belarusian legislation was harmonised, the legal and organisational foundations for a common economic space formed, and conditions created for the implementation of a unified macroeconomic and monetary policy, and for joint work to minimise damage from illegal Western restrictions.

Mutual trade is growing steadily every year. Results for 11 months of last year show that Russian-Belarusian trade increased by almost 9.5 percent and came close to a record US$43 billion. Russia has invested over US$4 billion in the Belarusian economy. About 2,400 Russian companies operate in the republic. The construction of a Belarusian nuclear power plant was completed in 2023 with Russia's direct participation. This, of course, is very serious progress. Not only that a station has been built, but, as we always say, an industry is being created. And in this sense, Belarus, of course, has become a nuclear power; this is a serious step forward in the development of the economy and scientific sphere, as well as in technology.

I will also mention that a Belarusian cosmonaut is being trained for a flight to the Russian segment of the International Space Station. This event is scheduled for this spring.

It is noteworthy that the draft Guidelines for Implementing the Provisions of the Treaty Establishing the Union State in 2024-2026 submitted to the Supreme State Council is aimed at further advancing the comprehensive interaction between the two countries, including in industry, agriculture, energy, transport, logistics, and information.

In addition, a new strategy for scientific and technological development of the Union State for the period until 2035 has been submitted for approval. It contains specific steps to strengthen overall technological sovereignty, including the launch of large joint projects for import substitution and the creation of competitive products with high added value.

Importantly, Russia and Belarus are closely cooperating in the world arena, invariably rendering truly allied assistance to each other in conditions of unprecedented external pressure. Our countries have identical or largely close positions on current global and regional issues. No doubt, the programme for the Union State's coordinated foreign policy actions until 2026, prepared for this meeting, will continue and encourage even closer Russia-Belarus coordination in international affairs. We will work together to create a truly multipolar, democratic and fair global architecture and ensure equal and indivisible security.

I would like to emphasise that many other key issues pertaining to the activities of the Union State of Russia and Belarus have also been submitted for our consideration and approval. In other words, the current meeting is essential and its agenda is substantive and extensive. This is graphic evidence of the firm intention of our two countries to continue doing everything necessary for the deepening of mutually beneficial and equitable integration.

In conclusion, I would like to welcome again our Russian and Belarusian colleagues that have gathered in this hall and wish successful work to all of us. I am pleased to pass the reins now to President Alexander Lukashenko, the Chairman of the Supreme State Council of the Union State.

Alexander Lukashenko: Thank you, Mr President.

We have really worked hard during these two days. This is not a joke. I can say without exaggeration that we covered issues from the South Pole to the North Pole. We discussed issues in the Antarctic where more comfortable working conditions have been created for the Russians there with the construction of a new wintering complex. Most important, nobody is dividing anything there. Belarusians are working along with Russians - our station is nearby, 20 kilometres. Its Belarusian specialists receive all kinds of assistance - in both science and everyday life.

Furthermore, the President of Russia and I went from south to north. Of course, we analysed the events that are taking place in the world. Look at how we are striving - Russia and Belarus and the People's Republic of China. Russia is in the vanguard of all this because it is carrying the brunt of the burden and is suffering more than anyone else. The reasons for all this are the Houthis, the Middle East, and the South China Sea with Taiwan. All these problems are occurring because a multipolar world is emerging. As the Foreign Minister of Russia said - the monopolist does not want this to happen. This is why they are trying to preserve the unipolar world by different methods and have started resorting to armed conflicts.

We discussed economic issues and work on the Asian continent, especially in Africa, where we have been invited. President Putin is aware of it, as we coordinated my visits to Africa, I talked to the presidents. They are really waiting for us there, primarily, for the Russian Federation with its enormous opportunities, understanding that the times are difficult, but nevertheless Africa, knowing how it was during the Soviet era, is waiting for Russia.

The Northern Sea Route. We would really like the programme to be implemented as soon as possible, because it would be easier for us to work.

As you can see, there is an entire range of issues, from south to north.

As the President said, our meeting is taking place ahead of important domestic political events. For the first time in history, a single voting day will take place in Belarus on February 25. Following the example of Russia, we have also constitutionally mandated a single voting day, and on this day deputies of the parliament and local councils will be elected - we still have regional, district and rural councils, as was the case in the Soviet era. And on March 17, the presidential election will be held in Russia. Quite a challenging period, but, as you can see, it is proceeding calmly and I am sure that we will calmly approach these dates and hold these events just as calmly.

In 2023, we set a new historical record for trade in goods and services. President Putin named a figure for the ten months - over US$40 billion, but if we take the whole year, it will be approximately US$54 billion. This is really a historical high.

We managed to achieve good results largely due to the implementation of 28 Union programmes, as part of which fundamental decisions were made. Of course, we have to develop general criteria for assessing the effectiveness of their implementation. The highlights of today's meeting are reports by our governments on the progress on the Guidelines for Implementing the Provisions of the Treaty on the Establishment of the Union State for 2021-2023.

Today we will also approve a new programme document, if the Supreme State Council members agree, for the next three-year period: 2024, 2025, 2026. This period involves continuing work to strengthen the common economic space and remove remaining trade barriers. It is important to strengthen the international positioning of our Union, as we are trying to do with the Eurasian Economic Union.

The main task in the industrial sphere is to step up cooperation in import substitution. We have done a lot in this sphere and understood a lot, which we did not understand just two years ago: we were not brought to our knees. On the contrary, we mobilised our resources and, I say, did a lot.

Basic intergovernmental agreements were signed on the recognition of technological operations, on the development of microelectronic technologies, design of electronic components production, electronic engineering, and on a unified industrial policy. Yesterday, President Putin and I, just in the middle of the day, very carefully analysed these issues using the example of microelectronics.

I am certain that the draft prepared for signing will ensure mutual recognition of technological operations. I believe that the governments should adopt measures for its unconditional implementation without exceptions or deviations as soon as possible.

It is also necessary to do whatever it takes to eliminate everything that hinders mutual supply of goods, ensure equal operating conditions for enterprises, eliminate barriers in the field of government procurement, and remove restrictions on the transit of goods. These topics are not new, but we still have a lot of rough edges in this regard.

I would like to note specifically that we have not yet fully decided on the most important issues, such as the creation of common markets for gas, oil, and petroleum products. When we can make these decisions calmly, they will be beneficial for both Russia and Belarus. We regularly discuss these fundamentally important topics with President Putin, and agreements have been reached.

I think that the governments need to implement these agreements more actively, including on the logistics of transporting Belarusian export goods via Russian ports. There is a proposal to increase the capacity of the Oktyabrskaya Railway in the direction of the ports in St Petersburg. It is clear that millions, even tens of millions of tonnes of Belarusian cargo have been redirected from the ports in the Baltic states to St Petersburg, Murmansk, and the Black Sea ports, but the system is strained.

This why three months ago, when the President and I discussed this problem, we decided that operations on the Oktyabrskaya Railway in the direction of St Petersburg must be increased. At the first stage it will require a little money and a little work to restore the junctions. There were these junctions, but you know what happened in the St Petersburg direction when Ukraine withdrew from cargo transit. Therefore, we still need to restore the flow of cargo in this direction, both for Russia and for Belarus.

We have important issues on today's agenda - the creation of a Union media holding; resolving the issue of common property, and approval of a strategy for the Union State's scientific and technological development until 2035, to name a few. The President has spoken about this.

I am sure that everyone understands the importance of a coordinated information policy. There is a powerful information confrontation going on. Many people call it a war but luckily, we are not close to war even in the media but the confrontation is serious. I think we can create a good media holding if we take into account our trials and errors of the past - Russian specialists have particularly good experience in this respect. People should know what is taking place in Belarus and Russia. We are not quite happy with what is taking place now in this area. As it should be.

This year, we will observe a number of commemorative dates, primarily, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus, and 25 years since the signing of the Treaty on our main project - we have been building our Union State this whole time. These are powerful ideological motivators and we cannot fail to use them to promote our values and protect the truth about our common history. The President spoke about this in detail at a number of recent events.

We expect new fresh ideas, and, most important, breakthrough economic projects and specific proposals on developing cooperation from the 11th Forum of the Regions of Belarus and Russia that will take place in Vitebsk in June. Ms Matviyenko and Ms Kochanova, you are in charge of this and I believe these practical events will be successful as always.

Friends,

I will repeat - it is possible to talk at length about the results of our meetings and our work but I think the media have already said much on this issue. We must move on to our agenda. It contains 15 items today. You, members of the Supreme State Council have this agenda in your hands. It is not classified for our specialists here, either. It has been drafted with due account of the urgency of issues for our bilateral and integration interaction.

<...>

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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Belarus Sergey Aleinik

29 January 2024 19:51

128-29-01-2024

On January 29, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Belarus Sergey Aleinik on the sidelines of the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in St Petersburg.

The ministers exchanged opinions on current issues related to bilateral foreign policy cooperation and integration development. They also coordinated their positions on topical international and regional issues. They agreed to continue close coordination and mutual support in advancing shared interests at multilateral platforms.

During the meeting, Sergey Lavrov and Sergey Aleinik reported on the progress made in implementing the 2022-2023 programme of coordinated foreign policy actions by the countries parties to the Treaty on Establishing the Union State. They presented a similar new programme, signed on December 15, 2023, following a joint meeting of the boards of the Foreign Ministries of Russia and Belarus in Moscow and due to be implemented in 2024-2026. The document, which reflects both countries' new joint priorities on the international stage, was approved by a resolution of the Supreme State Council of the Union State.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Sultan and Prime Minister of Oman His Majesty Haitham bin Tariq Al Said

Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau

January 29, 2024

Ottawa, Ontario

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Sultan and Prime Minister of Oman, His Majesty Haitham bin Tariq Al Said.

The Prime Minister and the Sultan discussed the situation in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. The Prime Minister underscored Canada's enduring support for a two-state solution, reiterated his call for the immediate release of all hostages, and emphasized the right of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, security, and dignity, without fear.

The two leaders shared their deep concerns with the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, and Prime Minister Trudeau committed to providing further support. They stressed the importance of upholding international humanitarian law, ensuring humanitarian access to the affected areas, and protecting civilians. The leaders also discussed the regional security implications of the conflict and efforts toward de-escalation.

The Prime Minister thanked the Sultan for his efforts to de-escalate the conflict in the region.

Prime Minister Trudeau condemned the disturbing rise in Islamophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Arab discrimination, highlighting the impact it is having on Muslim, Jewish, and Arab communities in Canada and around the world.

The leaders agreed to remain in contact as the situation evolves.

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Mainland, HK implement arrangement to recognize each other's judgments of civil, commercial court cases

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing Published: Jan 29, 2024 09:48 PM

The Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) jointly implemented an arrangement on Monday allowing the mainland and the HKSAR to recognize and enforce each other's judgments in civil and commercial court cases, which is hailed as an important milestone and considered as conducive to enhance Hong Kong's status as international legal service and dispute resolution center.

Under the new arrangements, courts of the two jurisdictions may recognize and enforce reciprocally effective judgments in civil and commercial matters that are made by the courts of the other side and are covered by the arrangement.

This reduces the need for parties to re-litigate the same dispute in the mainland and Hong Kong courts respectively, thereby reducing the risks, legal costs, and time usually associated with the cross-boundary enforcement of such judgments.

"The arrangement showcases the unique advantages enjoyed by Hong Kong under One Country, Two Systems. Hong Kong is the only jurisdiction to have an arrangement with the mainland on reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments with such wide coverage," Justice Secretary Paul Lam told a seminar on the agreement on Monday.

The arrangement helps consolidate Hong Kong's status as a regional intellectual property trading center as well as a regional center for international legal and dispute resolution services as outlined in the national 14th Five-Year Plan, Lam said.

The arrangement is the ninth judicial assistance document in effect between the two jurisdictions and is also the most extensive and significant arrangement. After it comes into effect, it is expected that around 90 percent of civil and commercial judgments from the two places' courts will be mutually recognized and enforced, Si Yanli, deputy director general of the research office of the Supreme People's Court, was quoted as saying in media reports on Monday.

The arrangement seeks to expand the scope of mutual recognition as much as possible, but there are still some cases that are not included within the scope of mutual recognition and enforcement, Si said, noting that it does not currently apply to judgments in eight categories of civil and commercial cases, including certain family and marriage matters, inheritance cases, some patent infringement cases, certain maritime and maritime commerce cases, bankruptcy (liquidation) cases, voter eligibility determinations, cases related to arbitration, and cases recognizing and enforcing judgments from other jurisdictions, among others.

In judicial practice, the number of these cases is limited and represents only a small portion of civil and commercial cases, Si said.

Over the past three years, the mainland's various levels of courts have collectively issued rulings for over 55,000 first-instance civil and commercial cases involving Hong Kong. The arrangement effectively facilitates the cross-border recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial cases between the two regions, eliminating the need for parties to engage in repetitive litigation to protect their rights in the same case, according to media reports.

The Western media said the arrangement sparked concerns that it will "tarnish Hong Kong's reputation as a global business hub." The Guardian said on Monday that international companies have traditionally chosen to base themselves in Hong Kong as the city has an independent legal system based on common law.

In fact, such concerns are unfounded and entirely unnecessary, constituting groundless apprehensions, Louis Chen, a member of the Election Committee and general secretary of the Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation, told the Global Times on Monday.

Concerning the mutual recognition and enforcement of judgments, as early as 2006, mainland and Hong Kong had signed the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of civil and commercial judgments, and Hong Kong has also enacted the mainland judgments (reciprocal enforcement) ordinance, which allows judgments made in mainland in civil or commercial matters to be enforced in Hong Kong and facilitates the enforcement of judgments made in Hong Kong in civil or commercial matters in mainland, Chen said.

Mainland courts will not recognize and enforce judgments of the Hong Kong courts if they clearly violate fundamental principles of mainland law or public interests. Similarly, the Hong Kong courts would not recognize and enforce judgments of mainland courts if they clearly violate fundamental principles of Hong Kong law or public policy, the legal expert said.

Hong Kong continues to run its current legal system as stipulated under the Basic Law, which is a golden rule, Chu Kar-kin, a veteran current affairs commentator based in HKSAR and member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told the Global Times on Monday.

No judicial messages, orders, approval, instructions are exchanged or communicated between the judges of both jurisdictions before the judgments. In fact, the judges deliver and hand down the orders and judgments as usual practices as they may not even know whether the parties of the case intend to enforce the judgment in the other jurisdiction, he added.

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Chinese embassy in Nauru reopens, unveiling new chapter for China-Nauru relations

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing Published: Jan 29, 2024 08:26 PM

The reopening ceremony of the Chinese Embassy in Nauru took place on Monday local time during which representatives from both the Chinese and Nauru governments jointly unveiled the plaque for the new facility, opening a new chapter for the bilateral relations between China and the South Pacific Island country.

The reopening of the embassy is an important step in implementing the requirements of the Joint CommuniquA on the Resumption of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Nauru, Wang Xuguang, head of a diplomatic team responsible for reestablishing the Chinese embassy in Nauru, was quoted as saying in media reports on Monday. The communiquA was signed in Beijing on Wednesday.

Also on Monday, a Chinese national flag-raising ceremony was held in Nauru by the Chinese diplomatic team, marking the first time in nearly 19 years that the five-star red flag has been raised in the Pacific island country.

China and Nauru are naturally complementary and have great potential in bilateral cooperation, Wang told reporters.

"I am confident of the future cooperation between the two countries in various fields," Wang said.

Nauru and China have not only resumed diplomatic relations, but will also carry out more development and cooperation, covering infrastructure, health care, education and other fields, Nauru's minister for foreign affairs and trade Lionel Aingimea was quoted as saying in a report by CGTN on Monday.

In about one week after Nauru's announcement to sever "diplomatic relations" with China's Taiwan region, China and Nauru officially resumed diplomatic relations on Wednesday in Beijing, which also once again proves that the one-China principle is the widely accepted consensus and fundamental norm in international relations, representing the direction of people's will and the irresistible trend of the times.

China and Nauru are economically complementary, for example, the total trade volume between China and Nauru reached over $5.9 million in 2023, according to media reports, citing the data from the General Administration of Customs of China.

"Not only does Nauru have abundant phosphate mining resources, it has also advantages in fishery, agriculture and tourism, which will also be key sectors for bilateral cooperation with China," Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday.

In response to climate change, Nauru needs China's experiences in enhancing its capabilities in tackling natural disasters and further improving its infrastructure, and under the Belt and Road cooperation, the two sides could explore more opportunities in infrastructure sector, Chen said.

Also, the healthcare cooperation is part of major cooperation between China and Pacific island countries (PICs). ForaPICs, China has provided economic and technical assistanceawithout any politicalastrings attached, implemented more than 100 aid projects, deliveredamore than 200 batches of in-kind assistance, and trained abouta10,000atalentsain variousafields. China has dispatcheda600 medical staff to PICs, benefiting more than 260,000alocal residents, according to the statistics released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in 2022.

"We believe that more Nauru students will profit from the healthcare education and scholarship with China to learn more knowledge, which will be conducive for the local governance," Chen said.

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HK court orders liquidation of Evergrande; 'impact on general market will be limited'

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Jan 29, 2024 09:42 PM

A Hong Kong court ordered the liquidation of China Evergrande Group on Monday. The decision indicated a lack of progress in the company's debt restructuring plan, observers said, while noting that the impact on the general market will be limited as the result was largely expected.

Experts also refuted foreign media hype over the "ripple impact" of the decision, pointing out that the single case of Evergrande should not be exaggerated, and the sector is on track for a stable recovery as support policies take effect.

An application for liquidation is a common debt recovery measure in the Hong Kong legal system. When a court issues a winding-up order, it declares that the company is entering bankruptcy liquidation proceedings, a close follower of the company who asked to remain anonymous told the Global Times on Monday.

This ruling signified the largest real estate company bankruptcy liquidation in the Hong Kong capital market, the person said, while warning of a "limited impact" on the market as the liquidation had been expected, and now it's been confirmed.

The liquidation petition was first filed in June 2022. After eight adjournments, Evergrande's final extension application announcement was made on December 4, 2023. The announcement revealed that the High Court of Hong Kong approved the company's extension request, further postponing the hearing of the petition to January 29, 2024.

The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that negotiations to prevent the break-up of the company didn't lead to a deal over the weekend, citing people familiar with the matter.

In response to the latest court decision, Xiao En, chief executive of Evergrande Group, told Chinese media outlets on Monday that the company will ensure that apartments that are still being built will be delivered despite the liquidation order. The order would not affect the operations of Evergrande's onshore or offshore units, he added.

The group will continue to endeavor to safeguard the stability of its business operations, push forward the key work of guaranteeing the delivery of residential housing and maintaining the quality of property services, as well as making every effort to seek a final resolution of risks and the disposal of company assets, Xiao said.

Evergrande was closely followed by many global investors over the past year, viewing it as a symbol of the China's real-estate market. Some fear that the Evergrande liquidation will send ripples through other property developers and even cause global shockwaves.

"To relate Evergrande's case to other companies is over-association," Dong Shaopeng, a senior research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Monday.

Depending on the quality of assets and creditors' rights, different companies have different conditions, Dong said, predicting a sound and stable recovery in 2024 as support policies kick in.

Amid a broad correction across the property industry, total investment in real estate development in China reached 11.0913 trillion yuan ($1.5 trillion) last year, down by 9.6 percent from 2022, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

Chinese policymakers have rolled out support measures to inject momentum into the property sector, such as easier access to loans for developers, cuts in property mortgage rates and relaxed rules on buying homes.

On Monday, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng urged all localities to promptly establish and efficiently operate an urban real estate financing coordination mechanism, carry out specific real estate financing projects as soon as possible and firmly prevent new cases of the legal misappropriations of pre-sale funds, per Xinhua.

On Friday, China's housing regulator said that in response to significant changes in the supply and demand dynamics of the real estate market, the agency will accelerate the establishment of a new development model for the real estate sector.

The model aims to combine short- and long-term measures, address root causes, and foster the stable and healthy development of the real estate sector.

The regulator emphasized the need to delegate housing policies to individual cities, implement targeted measures, and encourage specific strategies to be taken by each city. They called for the effective use of policy tools and the delegation of regulatory autonomy to cities, allowing them to adjust real estate policies according to each city's local conditions.

Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, announced that the purchase of residential properties with a floor area of 120 square meters or more will no longer be subject to the government's purchase restrictions. It was the first among the nation's first-tier megacities to partially lift the restriction on property purchases.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on January 29, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-01-29 21:19

CCTV: January 27, 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron delivered video speeches and exchanged congratulatory messages a few days ago on the occasion. What's China's comment and expectations on China-France relations?a

Wang Wenbin: France is the first major western country to establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level with New China. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic ties. As President Xi stressed, 60 years ago, China and France broke the ice of the Cold War, bridged the divide between different blocs, and pushed the global landscape to evolve in the right direction of dialogue and cooperation, which still offers inspiration for today. Over the past 60 years, the two countries have adhered to independence, achieved common development through mutually beneficial cooperation, promoted mutual learning among civilizations through exchanges on an equal footing, and jointly addressed global challenges through multilateral coordination. We have not only benefited the people of both countries but also played a vital role in maintaining global peace and stability, promoting a multipolar world, and advancing greater democracy in international relations. The current China-France relations maintain sound growth. In particular, since last year, the bilateral interactions at various levels have rebounded quickly and cooperation across the board has borne fruitful results, demonstrating the vigor of China-France relations in the post-COVID era.

The two countries both value the 60th anniversary and will jointly hold events throughout the year toacelebrateatheaanniversaryaandamarkathe China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. The reception celebrating the anniversary was held in Beijing and attended by Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and over 200 Chinese and French from various sectors who are committed to China-France friendship. Standing at the new starting point of historic importance, China stands ready to work with France to stay true to the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations, undertake the historical mission, make China-France comprehensive strategic partnership more solid and dynamic and contribute wisdom and efforts to global peace, security, prosperity and progress.

Bloomberg: Donald Trump has discussed with his advisers the possibility of imposing a flat 60 percent tariff on all Chinese imports. This is according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity and reported by the Washington Post. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on Mr. Trump's plans to impose 60 percent tariff on all Chinese imports?

Wang Wenbin: We don't comment on unverified information. I want to stress that the economic and trade relations between China and the US are mutually beneficial and win-win in nature. Upholding sound and steady growth of China-US economic and trade ties serves the fundamental interests of both countries and our peoples and is conducive to global economic growth.

Sky News: China was questioned on the deportation of "defectors" from North Korea at the UN Human Rights Council's Periodic Review last week. How does China justify the deportation?

Wang Wenbin: First of all, there is no so-called "DPRK defectors" in China. People who illegally enter China for economic reasons are not refugees. They violate Chinese laws and the entry and exit order of China. China handles these illegal entries under the principles of both domestic and international laws and the spirit of humanitarianism.a

Taking this opportunity, I'd like to brief you on the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR). On January 26, the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council's UPR Working Group adopted unanimously its report on the fourth cycle of the UPR of China. After the session, representatives from many countries sent congratulations to China. The delegation of the Chinese government attended the UPR session on January 23 and had constructive dialogue with representatives of other countries in an open and candid manner. More than 120 countries spoke highly of China's human rights progress, and fully acknowledged China's effort in advancing and protecting human rights.a

China is advancing the cause towards a strong and prosperous country and national rejuvenation in all respects through Chinese modernization. In achieving this grand goal, we will deliver more gains of modernization to all people more fairly, continue to better safeguard human rights and strengthen the free and well-rounded development of our people. While China promotes high-quality development of its own human rights cause, it will always hold high the banner of peaceful development and win-win cooperation, seek others' success as well as ours with a global vision, and advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. China will work with the international community to unswervingly advance and protect human rights, proactively take part in global human rights governance, champion humanity's common values, and build a community with a shared future for mankind to jointly make the world a better one.

Nikkei: The Chinese government and the Thai government yesterday signed the agreement on visa mutual exemption for holders of ordinary passport. Why the Chinese government has not yet resumed the pre-pandemic visa-free policy to Japan? Many Japanese companies hope to see the visa-free policy resumed soon. What's the condition for the policy to resume?

Wang Wenbin: China always attaches high importance to facilitating foreigners' visits to China, including Japanese citizens. We will intensively look into the request from all sectors in Japan for resuming the visa-free policy to travel to China. We hope that Japan can work with us in the same direction to make cross-border travel between our two countries easier.

News 1 Korea: First, Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong concluded his recent visit to the DPRK. Will there be any high-level dialogues between China and the DPRK in the future? Second, after ROK Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul took office this month, the Chinese Foreign Minister sent him a congratulatory message but has not had the first telephone call with him. When will they have their first call?

Wang Wenbin: China released readouts on Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong's visit to the DPRK. You may look it up. I have nothing more to share with you on the plan of China-DPRK exchanges for the next stage.

After Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul took office, Foreign Minister Wang Yi sent him a congratulatory message. China is willing to keep in touch with the ROK on the plans of future exchanges between the two foreign ministers.

Bloomberg: Bloomberg is reporting that the US wants cloud computing firms to reveal the names of their foreign clients who were developing artificial intelligence apps on their platforms. That means that Washington could use those requirements to choke off a major avenue, through which Chinese firms access crucial servers for AI training and hosting. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on these plans for the US to ask cloud computing companies to reveal the names of their foreign clients?

Wang Wenbin: AI development and governance bears on the future of humanity. It requires concerted and coordinated response, not decoupling, severing of chains or fence-building. We urge the US side not to act contrarily to the laws of sci-tech advancement, earnestly respect the principles of market economy and fair competition, and create favorable conditions for strengthening international AI coordination and cooperation.

Nikkei: China implemented a visa-free policy for Germany, France, Italy and some other European countries last December but they have yet to waive visas for Chinese travelers. It seems that reciprocity is not a must in China's visa-free policy. What's your comment?

Wang Wenbin: Countries make independent decisions on their visa policy. We welcome other countries to work with China to facilitate cross-border travel. Recently, Singapore and Thailand signed with China visa mutual exemption agreements. France and Switzerland also announced to provide more visa facilitation for Chinese citizens. We believe that these measures will effectively promote cross-border travel and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and relevant countries.

CCTV: It's reported that the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered provisional measures on South Africa'sa"genocide"acaseaagainst Israel. The order asks Israel to take all measures within its powers to prevent any incitement to "genocide" in the Gaza Strip and improve the humanitarian situation there. What's China's comment? Does China support the ICJ order?

Wang Wenbin: China noted the provisional measures issued by the ICJ. The order, supported by the majority of judgesaofatheacourt, responds to the international community's concern on protecting civilians, deescalating the situation and easing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We hope that the ICJ's provisional measures can be effectively implemented.

China's position on the Palestinian question is consistent and clear. We condemn all acts against civilians and oppose all moves that violate international law. China urges parties to the conflict to realize a comprehensive ceasefire at once, abide by the international humanitarian law and prevent an even worse humanitarian disaster from happening. The fundamental way out of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is to implement the two-State solution and promote the comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date.

Shenzhen TV: The Comoros Supreme Court recently confirmed the re-election of the incumbent President Azali Assoumani who secured 57.02 percent of the vote. What is your comment?

Wang Wenbin: We noted that the Comoros Supreme Court has released the result of the presidential election and extend our sincere congratulations on Mr. Azali Assoumani's re-election as the President of Comoros. We believe that with the continued leadership of President Azali Assoumani, greater progress will be made in national building and economic and social development of Comoros.

China attaches importance to growing its friendly relations with Comoros, and will work with the new government to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas and inject new impetus into the sound and stable development of the bilateral relations.

Reuters: Papua New Guinea is in an early negotiation with China on a potential security and policing deal, its Foreign Minister said in an interview with Reuters. The Minister said that China has approached Papua New Guinea with an offer to assist its police force with training, equipment and surveillance technology. Could we confirm with the Ministry if these talks are true and at what stage are these talks?

Wang Wenbin: I'manotaawareaofatheaspecificsaandawouldareferayouatoacompetentaauthorities.aPapua New Guinea is China's good friend and partner in the Pacific islands region. Our comprehensive strategic partnership has developed well. Over the years, China has carried out friendly cooperation with Papua New Guinea in policing and other fields on the basis of equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit, openness and inclusiveness. China stands ready to continue to work with Papua New Guinea to promote cooperation in related fields and advance common development.

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US officials headed to Beijing for fentanyl talks

China suspended cooperation against narcotics outflows after Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan in 2022.

By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2024.01.29 -- A delegation of U.S. officials is in Beijing this week for talks with their Chinese counterparts about resumed cooperation on ending illicit outflows from China of precursors for the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which was suspended amid frosty relations in 2022.

Following then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's August 2022 trip to the self-governing island of Taiwan, which China claims as its sovereign territory, Beijing announced that it would stop working with U.S. law enforcement to crack down on exports of fentanyl ingredients.

But restoration of cooperation was one of the three main outcomes of U.S. President Joe Biden's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco in November, along with a return to military-to-military talks and cooperation on regulating artificial intelligence.

In Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday, U.S. and Chinese officials will begin fleshing out how that cooperation will take shape, according to a senior Biden administration official who spoke to reporters on Sunday on condition of anonymity following rules set by the White House.

The talks would "support concrete enforcement actions with the goal of countering the evolving threat of synthetic drugs, and to address the supply and distribution of precursor chemicals," they said.

"A big goal of this is continued pressure, continued dialogue, ensuring we continue to push and encourage joint law enforcement actions."

Leading cause of death

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it has been labeled one of the largest killers of American adults.

"100,000 people a year die in the United States from fentanyl overdoses. More people in the United States between the ages of 18 and 49 die from fentanyl than any other cause," the official said.

U.S. officials have blamed China for allowing exports of fentanyl precursors - which are turned into the drug in Central and South America for export into the United States - but Beijing has said the "root" of the problem is American drug users themselves.

Still, Chinese officials have pledged to collaborate with U.S. law enforcement as part of the broader thaw in ties between the two countries agreed to by Biden and Xi in San Francisco last year.

The American delegation in this week's talks will be led by Jennifer Daskal, the deputy assistant to the president and deputy homeland security advisor, according to a statement from the White House.

Daskal will be joined by eight others, including Rob Silvers, under secretary for strategy, policy and plans at the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection acting administrator Troy Miller and Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram.

A separate White House official said following Friday's meeting in Bangkok between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan that the United States had already seen a marked reduction in fentanyl in-flows since the Biden-Xi summit.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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China 'gamed' UN human rights review, experts say

A Chinese diplomat said the majority of the 428 recommendations it received were 'constructive.'

By Tenzin Pema and Tenzin Dickyi for RFA Tibetan 2024.01.29 - -A top Chinese diplomat said Beijing would "earnestly study" 428 recommendations for addressing human rights submitted by U.N. members, calling them "objective and balanced."

But leading experts said China "gamed" the once-every-five-year "universal periodic review" to avoid scrutiny of its rights abuses.

Chen Xu, China's ambassador to the U.N. offices in Geneva, said following the adoption of the report that he was happy with the many recommendations by 141 countries, and that Beijing would release its positions on each of the suggestions next month.

"The report just adopted is, in general, objective and balanced, and has reflected the statements and the recommendations during the meeting," Chen said in remarks to the council. "We believe the majority of the comments and recommendations are constructive."

Tuesday's three-hour review session descended into farce, with the unusually high number of participating countries meaning each only had 45 seconds to provide an assessment of a country that has been accused of possible crimes against humanity by a U.N. body.

Under this process, each of the 193 U.N. member states has their rights record reviewed on a rolling five-year basis.

A report by Reuters said Chinese diplomats had in the lead-up to the session lobbied countries to turn up with soft-ball assessments.

Gaming the system

The many contributions during Tuesday's session worked to draw attention away from some of the worst claims of rights abuse in China, including the treatment of Uyghurs, Tibetans and Hong Kongers.

While Western nations including the United States, Finland, Canada, Switzerland and the United Kingdom focussed on China's treatment of Tibetans and Uyghurs in the country's west during their 45 seconds, many countries offered praise for things like legal system reforms.

William Nee, the research and advocacy coordinator for the Washington-based Chinese Human Rights Defenders, said Beijing had used its diplomatic heft to water-down legitimate criticism of its human rights record by inundating the process with friendly voices.

"This time, they tried to game the process," Nee told Radio Free Asia. "There was an intense lobbying campaign for countries to ask questions that essentially the Chinese government wrote in advance. There were a lot of softball questions and very easy questions."

Nee added that some countries' recommendations even appeared to poke fun at the global condemnation of the China's treatment of Tibetans and Uyghur citizens, the latter of whom the U.S. government says are the victim of an ongoing campaign of genocide.

Russia, he noted, said China should "improve gradually people's sense and ability of using standard spoken and written Chinese language in Xinjiang," referring to the far-western region where Uyghurs live.

Venezuela, meanwhile, said China must "firmly oppose the politicization" of human rights "under the pretext of issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Xizang," the latter of which is the new official romanized name for Tibet adopted by the Chinese government.

"If we look at the advanced questions submitted, it seems as though some of those questions could have been drafted by the Chinese government, to be quite blunt," said Kai MAller, executive director and head of U.N. advocacy at the International Campaign for Tibet.

Nothing new

Sophie Richardson, the former China director at Human Rights Watch, told RFA that China openly flouted U.N. requirements to allow input from independent civil society groups into the self-report it submits.

"There's a long list of ways the Chinese government tried to game the process this time around, which has to start with the way it tried to game the process the last time around," Richardson said, pointing to China's boasting of its fidelity to recommendations made in 2018.

China that year accepted 284 of the 346 recommendations made by some 150 countries. But many of those, Richardson said, were the ones that were "vague or meaningless, or in fact encouraged the Chinese government to keep committing human rights violations."

"Beijing has held that up as real progress," she said, even though "five years later, we know it is committing atrocity crimes."

But China's "gaming" of the review process did not entirely wipe out opportunities for countries to speak out about their legitimate concerns.

There was a heightened focus, for example, on the plight of Tibetans and Uyghurs, with the number of recommendations related to Tibet increasing to 24 from 10 in 2018. Likewise, the number of countries mentioning Tibet in their floor speeches doubled from nine to 20.

"The dramatic increase in the number of U.N. member states who spoke out for Tibet ... speaks to the existential threat China's assimilationist policies pose to the Tibetan people," said Lhadon Tethong, the director of the Tibet Action Institute.

Campaign for Uyghurs executive director Rushan Abbas said the 30 countries who called out human rights abuses against Uyghurs showed that the world was no longer being fooled by China's denials.

"This significant outcry, despite China's persistent lies and outright denial, stands as a testament to the commitment to human rights and justice," Abbas said. "It also sends a powerful message that the international community will not be swayed by false narratives in light of the mounting evidence exposing the crimes of the PRC."

China has until Feb. 9, 2024 to provide its initial written response to each of the recommendations, including whether it accepts them, and has until Feb. 16 to finalize its statements and response.

Edited by Alex Willemyns and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Hong Kong High Court Orders Liquidation of China's Evergrande Developer - Reports

Sputnik News

20240129

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hong Kong's High Court has granted a petition by creditors to liquidate Evergrande, one of China's largest property developers with a record debt among global developers, Chinese media reported on Monday.

"The hearing has lasted for one and a half years, and the company still has not been able to bring forward a concrete restructuring proposal [to restructure its $328 billion in liabilities]. I think it is the time for the court to say enough is enough," Justice Linda Chan was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post newspaper.

The company has the right to appeal the verdict.

Provisional liquidators will now take over the management and affairs of Evergrande. Their tasks will include negotiating debt restructuring with creditors and controlling assets and accounting records in accordance with liquidation procedures in Hong Kong, the newspaper reported. The provisional liquidator is expected to be named later in the day.

The court's ruling, however, faces cross-jurisdictional issues since most of the company's assets are located in mainland China, according to the report.

Evergrande said in its 2022 annual report that it had over 1,200 projects at different stages of completion. Following the court's decision, the Hong Kong stock exchange announced the suspension of trading in Evergrande's underlying stocks, futures and options.

In 2021, Evergrande, after years of rapid growth and heavy borrowing, found itself on the brink of default with more than $300 billion in debt obligations. Declining sales, as well as high-risk business model, led to the company's crisis.

Chinese creditors reportedly filed lawsuits against the developer over the course of several months for non-fulfillment of debt obligations, seeking to recover a total of more than $13 billion.

A Sputnik

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Analysts: UN Rights Review Shows Limits of China's Global Influence Campaign

By William Yang January 29, 2024

China's human rights record faced rare public scrutiny at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva last week, and while Beijing was able to lobby some countries from the Global South to praise human rights conditions in the country, analysts and advocates say its charm offensive has had a limited effect.

"A lot of governments issued friendly recommendations to China during last week's Universal Periodic Review [UPR] in Geneva, which demonstrated China's influence, but despite the enormous pressure that many developing countries feel [from Beijing,] there were some bold statements from Latin American countries," Raphael Viana David, China and Latin America Program Manager at the International Service for Human Rights [ISHR] told VOA by phone.

During the UPR, China's fourth since the inception of the mechanism in 2008, a total of 161 UN member states commented on Beijing's human rights record.

Several Western democracies urged China to ratify international treaties and cease human rights persecutions against ethnic minorities while countries from the Global South were split between those that praised the human rights conditions in China and others that expressed concerns about Beijing's crackdown on civil society.

During the review, Costa Rica recommended China "remove excessive restrictions on the functioning of independent NGOs" while Belarus recommended China to "combat separatism and promote modernization of social governance system and capacity in Xizhang," using the term that Beijing has adopted in its official English statement about Tibet.

During a regular news conference on January 24, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Beijing follows a "people-centered approach" to human rights and works hard to "deliver a better life for the people."

"During the review, China announced that it will adopt 30 new measures to safeguard human rights, covering areas of people's wellbeing, legal protection for human rights, international cooperation on human rights, and the work related to UN human rights mechanisms," Wang said.

Despite Beijing's efforts to lobby support from developing countries, some expressed mixed views about China's charm offensive.

"Before the UPR, China had sent something like instructions to [some of these] countries about what they should say to the other U.N. member states so that's why some of them repeated the narrative that Beijing presented," Rayhan Asat, a Uyghur human rights lawyer who engaged with diplomats from several countries prior to the review, told VOA by phone.

According to Asat, some countries in the Global South, including some in Africa, found China's lobbying efforts quite "demeaning." "They find China's approach disrespectful to the U.N. process," she said, adding that such sentiment didn't stop these countries from echoing Beijing's point of view.

Asat says it is difficult for countries to do that given the economic sway they maintain in their home capitals.

Prior to the review last Tuesday on January 23, several media outlets reported that China asked the U.N. to prevent some activists, whom Beijing characterized as "anti-China separatists," from attending the review.

Apart from these efforts, Viana David from ISHR told VOA that the Chinese government also tried to influence media reporting on the UPR in Global South countries and limit access to the review for NGO representatives.

"China brought a huge delegation and [while] NGO representatives arrived an hour and a half before the review to try to queue to enter the room, their strategy still closed some space for civil society participation in this UPR," he said.

Responding to reports about China's attempt to lobby support from non-western countries ahead of the UPR, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang said Beijing attaches "high importance" to the UPR and promised to participate in the review "with an open, candid attitude." "[The Chinese government] will communicate with all parties for mutual learning and joint progress," he said during a daily press conference on January 23.

Some analysts say Beijing's efforts to influence the human rights review reveal the fundamental problem of the mechanism. "The UPR is still very much an exercise of diplomatic struggle," Patrick Poon, a visiting researcher at the University of Tokyo, told VOA by phone.

Poon, who participated in the U.N. Human Rights Council's first review of China in 2009, said last week's UPR shows that the review isn't based on independent experts' assessment of the human rights situation in China. "The UPR shows how eager China was at influencing other member states in the process but we can't let China feel they can just get around this mechanism so easily," he added.

Following last Tuesday's session, the U.N. Human Rights Council's UPR Working Group adopted the recommendations for China made by U.N. member states on January 26. China's top diplomat in Geneva Chen Xu said Beijing would be ready to work with the global community to "steadfastly advance and safeguard human rights."

Viana David from ISHR said the next step is to see how many recommendations will be accepted by Beijing between now and the next session of the UN Human Rights Council in June. "The document that shows which recommendations China accepts will be the test of Beijing's willingness to commit to addressing [human rights] challenges," he told VOA.

In his view, the way that the Chinese government responds to the recommendations made by U.N. member states will show whether China is serious about being a constructive international player. "This UPR will show us how much China is willing to be a constructive player in a geopolitical context where China seeks to assert itself as a responsible leader," Viana David said.

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HK begins public consultation regarding Article 23, adds new items including prohibitions on foreign interference

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing Published: Jan 30, 2024 11:59 AM

Hong Kong officially launched the public consultation process regarding the Article 23 legislation on Tuesday, which is considered a necessary step to enhance national security law's enforcement and effectively prevent activities that compromise national security.

Most of the changes involve refining existing legislation, and there will also be additions of new offenses as needed to align with the specific circumstances in Hong Kong, local officials told a press conference on Tuesday.

The newly added items include prohibitions on certain activities endangering national security through computer or electronic systems and prohibitions on foreign interference including collaborating with foreign forces to interfere with national or regional affairs by improper means covering elections, legislation, and judicial decisions.

The Article 23 legislation is a constitutional responsibility for Hong Kong. "Following social upheaval of the Hong Kong version of the color revolution in 2019, everyone understands that national security risks can arise suddenly and be severe in nature," the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday.

Therefore, we must quickly address the deficiencies, and the HKSAR government has a responsibility to improve the shortcomings and deficiencies in the line with the decision made by the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, on May 28, 2020, Lee said.

Top lawmakers adopted the decision on May 28, 2020 on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security.

The public consultation process regarding the Article 23 will last until February 28. The HKSAR government will organize multiple explanatory sessions, including those for foreign consulates and chambers of commerce, Lee told reporters.

The legislative principles of Article 23 include adhering to the One Country, Two Systems principle, respecting and safeguarding human rights, protecting rights and freedom under the law, and legislating in accordance with the principles of the rule of law.

Regarding the legislative approach, Lee stated that a new Safeguarding National Security Ordinance would be formulated. This legislation takes into consideration the actual situation in Hong Kong and the broader international context.

It's common practice for countries to have various legislations to ensure the national security, Lee told reporters. For example, the US has at least 21 laws related to safeguarding national security, the UK has at least 14, while Canada has at least nine.

There is already a wide range of foreign legal provisions and experiences available for reference, which are included in the current consultation document, Lee said, noting that he hopes to complete the legislation as soon as possible, putting an end to the issue that has been lingering in Hong Kong for 26 years.

This will allow Hong Kong to focus on economic development and growth at the earliest opportunity, he said.

Elizabeth Quat, a member of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR, told the Global Times on Tuesday that she hopes that the Article 23 legislation will be finalized before this year's summer recess.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam told reporters that the enactment of laws to safeguard national security is an inherent right of sovereign nations and an international practice. "Every country periodically assesses the situation and revises its laws to address potential national security risks," he said.

The fundamental purpose of Article 23 legislation of the Basic Law is to fully implement the NPC's decision and the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong, ensuring the applicability of Hong Kong's legal system.

To achieve this goal, legislation must prohibit acts and activities that endanger national security, closely align with and be compatible with the NSL for Hong Kong and provide mechanisms for effective implementation and enforcement of the NSL for Hong Kong.

Following the enactment of Article 23 legislation, the basic rights and freedom of citizens will be better protected, and therefore, it is essential to ensure that the legislation aligns with international standards for safeguarding human rights, Lam said.

However, exercising freedom should not violate the principle that "Hong Kong is an inseparable part of China," therefore, safeguarding national security and respecting human rights are in alignment, he noted.

The official also stressed that Article 23 legislation aims to protect the safety and property of citizens, and legislation will clearly define the elements of offenses, exceptional circumstances, and defenses.

In terms of the newly added items, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said local authorities are proposing the addition of a category of offenses that involve severe actions aimed at damaging or weakening public infrastructure or engaging in acts that endanger national security through computer or electronic systems without appropriate authorization.

These actions must be prohibited, and it is suggested to introduce new offenses based on existing crimes, such as damaging or destroying others' property and dishonestly using computers, Tang said.

To address foreign interference, the proposed updates prohibit anyone from collaborating with foreign forces to interfere with national or HKSAR affairs, including Hong Kong local elections, legislation, and judicial decisions, as well as actions that harm the relationship between the central government or HKSAR and foreign countries.

Enhancing existing regulations for social organizations, prohibiting political groups and political organizations from having any affiliations with those in foreign countries or in the island of Taiwan are also part of the proposed changes.

When it comes to offenses related to rebellion, incitement of rebellion, and secession, as well as acts with incitement intent, the legislation includes the adjustment to the scope of public officials covered by the incitement to secession offense and introducing a sedition offense to address riotous behavior that endangers national sovereignty, unity, or territorial integrity.

Concerning the theft of state secrets and espionage activities, the proposed changes seek to enact new regulations that provide a detailed definition of state secrets and to enhance existing official secrets regulations to cover modern espionage activities. These activities may involve foreign forces instigating domestic agents to disseminate false or misleading information and interfering in the affairs of the HKSAR.

Hong Kong is now facing national security risks posed by Western countries, including the CIA and British intelligence, which have openly stated that they will undertake extensive efforts directed at the Chinese mainland and the HKSAR, Lee said, noting that foreign agents and advocates of "Hong Kong independence" are still lurking.

Therefore, in the context of complex geopolitics and increased risks, it is imperative to expedite the work in safeguarding national security in this regard, he added.

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China, US resume talks on fentanyl, showing negotiation is the way out: experts

Global Times

Biden admin may harbor selfish agenda of using meeting outcome to woo votes

By GT staff reporters Published: Jan 30, 2024 08:52 PM

China and the US reportedly resumed talks in Beijing Tuesday on jointly stemming the production of ingredients for the drug fentanyl. The shift from blaming China to seeking cooperation signifies a significant change in the US approach toward the issue, highlighting that negotiation and cooperation are the way forward for the two countries to solve their problems, experts said.

While some experts suggest that the Biden administration may use the meeting's potential outcome to woo voters, there is a consensus that it has the potential to demonstrate to Washington politicians that the zero-sum game between the two countries can be overcome. This cooperation could also alleviate some potential impact from the US presidential election, according to these experts.

Tuesday's meeting included high-level US officials from the State Department, Treasury, Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department, Washington has said, per AFP report.

The US says it will "provide a platform to facilitate ongoing coordination designed to tackle the illicit production, financing, and distribution of illicit drugs," according to media report.

Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with US Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jen Daskal and a delegation of US counternarcotics team, and the two sides announced the inauguration of the China-US Counternarcotics Working Group in Beijing on Tuesday.

When asked for details, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said at a Tuesday briefing that During the meeting between Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan last week, the two sides agreed to start the work of the China-US counternarcotics cooperation working group.

"China has released relevant information. We hope that the US side will show sincerity, work with China in the same direction and continue to carry out practical counternarcotics cooperation based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit," Wang noted.

It is the first high-level meeting between Chinese and US officials after Chinese and US heads of state reached an important consensus during their San Francisco meeting on setting up a working group and carrying out cooperation on drug control in November 2023.

"This is a key part of the implementation of our bilateral cooperation on this effort," a US official was quoted by Reuters as saying on Sunday.

Chinese experts expect the meeting to yield substantial results as the heads of states have reached consensus on this issue, and to lay out detailed steps for further cooperation.

An election issue

Fentanyl is a leading killer in the US, contributing to 75,000 deaths in 2022, according to media reports. There has been increasing pressure on US President Joe Biden to take measures to curb the crisis, and the issue has become a hot topic for 2024 US presidential election.

Cooperation on tackling fentanyl crisis has become a top priority for the US in its discussions with China lately, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University told the Global Times. The US has placed significant emphasis on addressing the fentanyl issue in order to demonstrate to voters that "it's not us that doesn't want to solve your problems. It is the other country that is creating those problems. But we are on it."

This strategy is a common tactic employed by US politicians to woo supporters, Li said, noting that the Biden administration is counting on concrete results from the meeting to serve as bonus for his election.

After the meeting between two heads of state in San Francisco, Biden said the China-US agreement on limiting the export of certain chemicals from China was "critical" in stopping the flow of fentanyl into the US. He noted that the US would "verify" that China was sticking to the agreement.

Regarding the meeting in Beijing, AFP reported that Washington hopes to get China to cooperate on tackling companies that manufacture precursor chemicals to make fentanyl and on cutting financing for the trade.

The US' condescending attitude will do no good for two countries' cooperation on drug control, Sun Chenghao, head of US-EU program at the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times. He said that US inability to control the drugs trade is the direct cause of its fentanyl crisis.

China's recent agreement to engage in talks is not only a gesture of goodwill but also a favor to the US in its efforts to combat the drug crisis. However, instead of mudslinging at China, the US should focus on enhancing its own governance, according to Sun.

The US should show sincerity and revoke its sanctions on Chinese companies and entities, which the US accused of "importing the chemicals" to make fentanyl, LA Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. "This should be the first step of building trust."

In October 2023, the Biden administration announced a series of indictments and sanctions against Chinese companies and executives blamed for importing the chemicals used to make the drug.

However, the US lifted sanctions on a lab under China's Ministry of Public Security by removing it from the "Commerce Entity List" in November. It was put on a sanctions list in 2020.

Beyond zero-sum game

Chinese experts said that the US' futile efforts to scapegoat China and recklessly crack down on China over fentanyl issue should teach Washington a lesson: that peaceful negotiation with China is the only way out.

The discussion in Wang Yi's meeting with Sullivan covered areas ranging from bilateral relations to counternarcotics and artificial intelligence. From this we can see that China and US have so many areas in which to cooperate, thus it is over-simplistic for the US to view China as only a competitor, Sun said.

Apart from Wang-Sullivan meeting, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao held a telephone conversation with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo earlier this month. The two sides conducted in-depth and pragmatic communication on economic and trade issues of respective concern, with a focus on the implementation of the important consensus reached between the two heads of state at the San Francisco meeting.

Recently, China and the US have engaged in intensive communication in various fields, which is happening at a critical turning point in the bilateral relationship. This should send a signal to some Washington politicians that the China-US relationship can move beyond a zero-sum game, Li said.

He believes that this year's US election may bring more uncertainty to the bilateral relationship, and maintaining communication in various fields and cooperation on specific issues will help mitigate the impact of domestic politics in the US on the China-US relationship.

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Shanghai further eases curbs on home purchases, in boost for market

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Jan 30, 2024 09:17 PM

Shanghai on Tuesday further eased its restrictions on home purchases, as it moved to allow unmarried individuals without local residency status who have paid taxes in the city for at least five years to buy homes in certain areas.

The move is very targeted and timely in addressing a pressing issue that affects both many unmarried individuals and overall housing demand, and will, along with other support measures, help boost the local real estate market, industry analysts noted.

In a notice released on Tuesday, housing authorities in Shanghai announced that non-local residents who have paid income taxes in the city for at least five years will be allowed to buy one home in suburban areas of the city.

While the notice was relatively short, the move was significant, according to industry analysts.

Yan Yuejin, research director at the Shanghai-based E-house China R&D Institute, said that the move effectively lifted a previous restriction on purchases by unmarried individuals who did not have hukou, or residency registration, in Shanghai, continuing a trend of policy optimization in the real estate industry.

"Shanghai has basically adjusted the strict policies enacted when the market was overheated, creating a good policy environment for the market," Yan said in a note sent to the Global Times on Tuesday. "With the effect of a series of policies emerging, the confidence and enthusiasm of homebuyers to enter the market will be significantly enhanced, and the pace of home purchases will also accelerate."

Many Chinese cities have taken active measures to boost home sales and stabilize the real estate market since this week.

Also on Tuesday, an official in Suzhou in East China's Jiangsu Province said that the city has lifted restrictions on home purchases, according to media reports.

Meanwhile, central government officials have vowed various efforts to support real estate developers and address other challenges in the industry.

On Friday, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development called on localities to implement and adjust policy tools in the real estate sector based on local conditions, in order to achieve positive results and the steady development of the sector. The ministry also vowed to support real estate development programs by the coordination mechanism, and treat developers of various ownerships equally by approving their reasonable financing demand.

One day earlier, officials of the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) vowed to step up efforts to support the property sector and meet the reasonable financing demands of real estate companies.

The NFRA is accelerating the implementation of a coordinated financing mechanism with different localities and has presented a list of real estate projects that are eligible for financing support to the administrative regions, according to an official.

At a meeting on Tuesday, the NFRA vowed again that it will speed up the implementation of the coordinated financing mechanism and urge financial institutions to firmly support affordable housing.

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US probes of Chinese firms affect operations, hurt confidence: MOFCOM

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Jan 30, 2024 07:31 PM

The US side has repeatedly conducted surprise probes of Chinese-funded companies, disturbing Chinese businesses and businesspeople, seriously affecting normal business operations, and undermining the confidence of Chinese companies in investing in the US, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Tuesday.

This remark was made in response to media reports that a Chinese-funded company's North American office had been subjected to on-site searches by relevant US authorities.

The US frequently conducts investigations under various security pretexts, broadening so-called security and political issues, and such moves will affect bilateral economic and trade ties and will eventually backfire on the US economy and its own consumers,Chinese experts said.

The US Department of Homeland Security recently executed a search warrant at the Ohio-based US subsidiary of Qingdao Sunsong, a Chinese automobile parts manufacturer that a congressional committee has accused of "trade fraud."

In another move, several US lawmakers once again invoked so-called security concerns to launch a probe into the Swedish-Swiss multinational engineering giant ABB Group's operations in China, which experts said is a typical case of politicizing normal business activities by US lawmakers.

The main investigation focuses on Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co, with ABB becoming involved because it's a sub-supplier to the Chinese state-owned manufacturer of container cranes, Bloomberg reported on January 19, citing a letter from the US Congress.

In responding to recent intensified ill-intended moves by the US, the MOFCOM spokesperson urged the US to immediately cease its harassment of Chinese companies and businesspeople, and provide them with a safe, transparent and fair business environment.

China will closely monitor the situation and firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens, the spokesperson noted.

Undoubtedly, this will affect foreign companies' confidence in the US business environment, experts said. When Chinese companies do business with their American counterparts, they will surely have concerns, leading to the possible loss of cooperation opportunities for US companies, Gao Lingyun, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Moreover, experts said that the US move will intensify its "decoupling" from China, as a vital trading partner, which will also result in higher commodity costs for US consumers.

The core of the US investigations is a type of trade protectionism. It is entirely unrelated to global resource allocation and the so-called security risks, but represents the politicization of normal economic activities, Hu Qimu, a deputy secretary-general of the digital-real economies integration Forum 50, told the Global Times in a previous interview.

This not only hinders the global economic recovery but also backfires on the development of American industries, Hu said.

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Mainland-HK civil, commercial arrangement comes into operation

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:07, January 30, 2024

HONG KONG, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The courts of mainland and Hong Kong may recognize and enforce reciprocally effective judgments in civil and commercial matters after a new arrangement came into effect on Monday.

The Mainland Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (Reciprocal Enforcement) Ordinance and the Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) came into operation Monday.

The new mechanism will significantly enhance the demand of parties outside the jurisdiction to choose Hong Kong courts for resolving cases related to the Chinese mainland, said Vice President of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) Yang Wanming at a seminar held Monday in Hong Kong about the arrangement.

It will stimulate the expectations of mainland enterprises to choose Hong Kong as a platform for "going global" cooperation, and add momentum to the development of Hong Kong as an international legal and dispute resolution service center in the Asia-Pacific region, Yang said.

Paul Lam, secretary for justice of the HKSAR government, said the arrangement showcases the unique advantages enjoyed by Hong Kong under "one country, two systems."

It helps consolidate Hong Kong's status as a regional intellectual property trading center as well as a regional center for international legal and dispute resolution services as outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan, Lam said.

The seminar was co-organized by the SPC and the HKSAR government's Department of Justice, attracting about 300 participants on-site.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on January 30, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-01-30 20:48

CCTV: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Thailand from January 26 to 29. Can you brief us on the highlights of the visit? What results have been achieved and what common understandings have been reached through the visit?

Wang Wenbin: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi visited Thailand upon invitation from January 26 to 29.

During the visit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin respectively. Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara held annual consultation and jointly met the press.

The Thai side stated that Thailand highly values the Thailand-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and attaches great importance to enhancing its friendly cooperation with China. Thailand firmly upholds the one-China principle and does not conduct any official interaction with Taiwan. Thailand congratulates China on holding a successful Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs and agrees with President Xi Jinping's proposal of building an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. Thailand stands ready to work with China to jointly build a China-Thailand community with a shared future, strengthen coordination on regional and international issues, carry out substantive cooperation on implementing the three global initiatives, enhance Belt and Road cooperation, uphold multilateralism, oppose decoupling and severing of supply chains, and keep the industrial and supply chains stable and smooth.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China and Thailand are as close as one family. Our two countries are good neighbors, good friends and good partners. We will celebrate the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations next year. China will focus on building a China-Thailand community with a shared future for enhanced stability, prosperity and sustainability, strengthen practical cooperation across the board and add new dimensions to China-Thailand relations. Our two countries are comprehensive strategic cooperative partners. Enhanced friendship and mutual trust between China and Thailand helps safeguard peace in Asia, maintaining close and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Thailand help energize regional development, and accelerated progress in building a China-Thailand community with a shared future will make humanity's future more promising.

During the visit, the two sides reached a series of common understandings:

First, enhancing high-level exchanges. The two sides will work together to put into action important common understandings between leaders of our two countries, deepen strategic guidance, continue to render each other support on issues that bear on each other's core interests and major concerns and jointly plan for events celebrating the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations next year.

Second, focusing on mutually beneficial cooperation. The two sides will actively advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, speed up the construction of the China-Thailand Railway, fully implement the vision of interconnected development of China, Laos and Thailand, and complete the building of the Trans-Asian Railway's mid-line section at an early date. The two sides will strengthen cooperation in such fields as agricultural trade, NEVs, digital economy and green development to benefit the two peoples with the dividend of building a China-Thailand community with a shared future.

Third, boosting people-to-people and cultural exchanges. One of the highlights of the visit is the signing of the agreement between the two sides on the mutual exemption of visa requirements for holders of ordinary passports. The two countries will usher in a visa-free era. We will jointly enhance the public foundation for the China-Thailand community with a shared future. The bilateral people-to-people exchanges will be brought to a new height. The two sides will strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation and jointly fight transnational crimes including online gambling and telecom fraud for a secure and worry-free environment for the bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

Fourth, strengthening multilateral coordination. The two sides will stay committed to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, firmly oppose zero-sum game and winner-takes-all, practice true multilateralism and open regionalism, build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home for China and ASEAN, accelerate the consultation on a code of conduct in the South China Sea, and jointly safeguard ASEAN centrality. China supports Thailand in serving as the co-chair of Lancang-Mekong cooperation and in building a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future of peace and prosperity.

The two countries signed cooperation documents including a protocol regarding the export of Thai agricultural products to China.

AFP: The working group on China-US counternarcotics cooperation is holding its first meeting today in Beijing. What does China expect to achieve through the meeting?

Wang Wenbin: During the meeting between Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan last week, the two sides agreed to start the work of the China-US counternarcotics cooperation working group. China has released relevant information. We hope that the US side willa show sincerity, work with China in the same direction and continue to carry out practical counternarcotics cooperation based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

On your specific question, you may refer to competent authorities.

Bloomberg: Has China asked the US to reverse its decision to pause approvals for new LNG export projects? Has this decision by the US created any long-term energy security concerns for China, given that some Chinese importers have contracts with the potentially affected American projects?

Wang Wenbin: On the specifics of energy cooperation between China and the US, I'd refer you to competent authorities.

Rudaw Media Network: Due to the Houthis' attacks in the Red Sea, is there any negative impact on the Chinese trade with Middle Eastern countries? My second question, the killing of three US soldiers in Jordan by Iranian-affiliated groups has complicated the situation in the regions. How does China see these attacks?

Wang Wenbin: On your first question, the Red Sea is an important international trade route for goods and energy. We do not hope to see tensions in the region, call for a halt to the harassment and attacks on civilian ships, advocate respecting the sovereignty of Yemen and other coastal countries of the Red Sea, and are committed to working actively with all parties to alleviate tensions there. The root cause for the escalation of the situation in the Red Sea lies in the spillover effect of the Gaza conflict. A speedy end of the conflict in Gaza will help ease the situation in the Red Sea. We urge parties to the conflict in Gaza to earnestly implement the UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, and realize an immediate ceasefire. The international community needs to take coordinated actions for this end.

On your second question, we noted the report that an attack on a US base caused casualties, and also noted that Iran said it has nothing to do with the attack. The current situation in the Middle East is highly complex and sensitive. We hope relevant parties will remain calm and exercise restraint, step up dialogue and communication, avoid getting into a vicious cycle of revenge, and prevent further escalation of tensions in the region.

China News Service: The Chinese Embassy in Nauru held the reopening ceremony on January 29. Can you share more details with us?

Wang Wenbin: The Chinese Embassy in Nauru held the reopening ceremony on January 29. Representative of the Chinese government and Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency Luo Zhaohui, head of the team responsible for re-establishing the Chinese Embassy in Nauru Wang Xuguang, Nauru's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea, and Minister for Infrastructure Development Jesse Jeremiah jointly unveiled the plaque of the Embassy. Speaker of the Nauru Parliament Marcus Stephen, government officials, members of the Nauru Parliament, and representatives from Chinese companies and the Chinese community in Nauru attended the ceremony.

At the ceremony, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea, on behalf of Nauru, congratulated China on the reopening of the Embassy, reiterated that Nauru is firmly committed to the one-China principle and regards the one-China principle as a fundamental foreign policy, and noted that after the resumption of diplomatic ties, the China-Nauru relations have developed fast and are warmly received in Nauru, and that Nauru looks forward to what the two countries can do together.

After officially resuming diplomatic relations on January 24, China and Nauru agreed to open embassies in each other's country at an early date. With the concerted efforts of both sides, only five days on, the Five-Starred Red Flag is once again flying high over Nauru, a sign that the China-Nauru relations are embarking on a fast track of growth. It also shows that the historical trend of commitment to the one-China principle will not be stopped, and the world's big family committed to the one-China principle will become even bigger. China stands ready to work with Nauru for equal-footed engagement, close communication, sincere cooperation and common development, to steadily advance the bilateral relations and bring more benefits to the peoples of the two countries.

RIA Novosti: Russian Central Bank head Elvira Nabiullina said that Russia is discussing with other BRICS countries the interaction of national financial message transmission systems, an alternative to SWIFT. What's China's comments?

Wang Wenbin: Ensuring global financial stability and improving global economic governance is a crucial part of international economic and financial cooperation, which bears on the common interests of all countries. Emerging markets and developing countries improving international settlement options gives a boost to each other's trade and investment, and global financial stability. China supports efforts in the relevant mechanism and stands ready to contribute to improving global economic governance.

The Paper: It's reported that Pakistani foreign ministry in a press conference on January 25 accused India's intelligence personnel of involvement in the killings of Pakistani citizens in Pakistan. It's said that the assassination was conducted in the same way as the killing of Sikh activists by India in Canada and the US. Pakistan also accused India of recruiting, financing and supporting criminals and terrorists overseas to play defined roles in these assassinations. What's China's comment?

Wang Wenbin: China noted the reports and recent diplomatic disputes between relevant countries. The information released by Pakistan is worth our attention.

I want to stress that terrorism is humanity's common enemy. China firmly opposes double standards on counterterrorism, which benefits no one and will only backfire. China stands for strengthening counterterrorism cooperation among all countries to jointly fight all forms of terrorism.

Kyodo News: The Munich Security Conference will be held in Germany in mid-February. Will Foreign Minister Wang Yi attend the conference?

Wang Wenbin: We will release relevant information in due course on the Chinese side's participation in the Munich Security Conference. Please stay tuned.

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Hong Kong introduces security law targeting 'foreign forces' in city

Rebooted after mass protests 20 years ago, the draft is aimed at 'undercurrents' of dissent, foreign 'interference.'

By Gigi Lee and Alice Yam for RFA Cantonese, Chen Zifei and Amelia Loi for RFA Mandarin 2024.01.30 -- Hong Kong on Tuesday revealed details of fresh national security legislation aimed at wiping out "undercurrents" of dissent and support for democracy among the city's own population, as well as espionage by the CIA and British intelligence services, officials said.

More than 20 years after similar legislation was stalled following mass protests, the government introduced its Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which will criminalize "treason," "insurrection," the theft of "state secrets," "sabotage" and "external interference," among other national security offenses.

"While the society as a whole may appear calm and very safe, we still have to watch out for potential sabotage and undercurrents that try to create trouble," Chief Executive John Lee told a news conference launching a public consultation process on Tuesday.

"Some of the independent Hong Kong ideas are still ... embedded in some people's minds, and some foreign agents may still be active in Hong Kong, and they may be conducting their activities in a deceptive way," he said.

"Everyone knows that there are Western countries that target our country's security development and also target China for personal political reasons," Lee said, adding that "foreign agents and Hong Kong independence are still lurking in Hong Kong."

While the city is still in the throes of a crackdown on dissent sparked by the imposition of Beijing's National Security Law in 2020, it has a duty under its own Basic Law to enact its own national security legislation, which has been shelved since 2003.

Legal experts said many of the concepts, such as what constitutes "treason" or a "state secret" are vague, but that they basically mirror similar concepts in China's own National Security Law.

Eric Lai, a researcher at the Asian Law Center at Georgetown University said the draft law essentially transfers a number of concepts previously only used in a Chinese legal context to Hong Kong.

"The Hong Kong government has officially incorporated mainland China's National Security Law and its overall national security concepts into local law," Li told RFA.

"The content about counterintelligence crimes is in line with the mainland's counter-intelligence law, and the definition of a state secret is in line with that of the mainland," he said.

More danger than protection

Benedict Rogers, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the London-based rights group Hong Kong Watch, said Beijing is continuing to "blur the lines" between the legal systems of mainland China and Hong Kong.

"This legislation would be a further death knell to Hong Kong's fundamental freedoms and human rights which are guaranteed under international law," he said in a statement on the group's website.

"Article 23 [legislation] would not protect, but gravely endanger, Hong Kongers, including those who now live outside Hong Kong, in the UK, US, Canada and across the EU," Rogers warned, calling on the British government to impose sanctions on John Lee.

"The law ... has the potential to harm millions of Hong Kongers in the city and abroad," he said.

Georgetown's Eric Lai also noted that information relating to "economic and social development" will be regarded as a state secret under the new law, not just confidential government information. Authorities in China have recently targeted foreign consultancies and alleged spies under a newly amended Counterespionage Law that has been criticized by foreign investors.

He said that the law, which looks almost certain to be passed amid a lack of political opposition in the Legislative Council, will likely affect business confidence in Hong Kong.

Edward Chin, a senior hedge fund manager in Hong Kong, warned that the business community may "vote with their feet."

"[They might be] looking for locations with a reasonable business environment and sound rule of law, as opposed to common law with Chinese characteristics, which is what they've turned Hong Kong's original system into," Chin told the RFA Cantonese talk show "Financial Freedom."

"I think everyone has a bottom line, and I think there is a good chance of foreign capital divesting again," he said.

Po Kong Ngan, former assistant controller at i-CABLE News, told the show that the consultation document mentions a number of "computer" crimes, which could encompass even such actions as leaving a comment on YouTube or Facebook.

"Will they be prosecuted or targeted for this?" Ngan said, citing a potential scenario in which the government gets nervous over large numbers of critical comments on YouTube or Facebook, which it is unable to have taken down.

"I think these organizations will be very worried about the safety of their employees in Hong Kong."

'External forces'

Meanwhile, Eric Lai said the law in particular lists activities by foreign political entities, including human rights groups and non-government organizations, as "interference," without defining what "external forces" actually means.

The effect will be to cut the city off from ties with international organizations and groups, he said.

Chief Executive Lee said the law was a necessary "defensive" measure, however.

"The new law aims to create a stable and safe environment so that when people attack us, we will be protected," he told reporters. "This is a law to tell people not to attack us. It is, in a way, a defensive law. I hope people will see the law and know that they may try somewhere else rather than Hong Kong."

Rwei-ren Wu, an associate research fellow and history professor at Taiwan's Academia Sinica, said the law doesn't appear to be very necessary at all, however.

"It's a bit like taking off your pants to fart, if I may use a crude expression," Wu told RFA. "Isn't the current legislation tight enough?"

Wu said the Chinese Communist Party feels it has to clamp down even harder on any potential threats to its rule, as it feels threatened by the current economic downturn.

"They are getting more and more suspicious, and have to control everything," he said. "I don't think Beijing cares very much about what happens to Hong Kong, but it needs Hong Kong to maintain some kind of role outside of China."

A public consultation period on the new law will run until Feb. 28, while the government has said it aims to pass the legislation before the legislature's summer recess.

Exiled former pro-democracy lawmaker and lawyer Ted Hui said there are many "dangerous areas" for people who support democracy in Hong Kong, citing the retroactive use of the existing National Security Law to prosecute people.

"There are dangerous areas, for example, treason, and there are gray areas," Hui told RFA. "For example, Taiwan is a fairly sensitive issue, because many Hong Kongers support Taiwan, but the current document doesn't talk about retroactive effect."

"If war or conflict breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, will people who once visited Taiwan to observe the elections or expressed support for Taiwan in the past be regarded as having committed treason?" he said. "It could be very easy to fall into such a trap."

He said that while the 2003 draft legislation referred to "enemy" forces, the current draft refers instead to "foreign forces," a much vaguer term.

"The scope has expanded a great deal," Hui said. "People like me who engage in overseas lobbying, groups set up by emigre Hong Kongers around the world, could all be termed foreign forces."

"Hong Kong groups have organized many activities and many Hong Kong people participated," he said. "It's possible that all of that will become illegal."

Translated by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Evergrande collapse casts long shadow on China's troubled property market

Failing to find an alternative growth driver, Beijing relaxes financing for real estate projects.

By Huang Chunmei and Gu Ting for RFA Mandarin 2024.01.30 -- After seven postponements, the Hong Kong High Court has finally issued a liquidation order against Chinese property giant Evergrande Group this week as China, the world's second-largest economy, struggles to fix its worst real estate crisis amid shrinking growth.

Some analysts believe the liquidation marks the bursting of China's real estate bubble and the end to any government rescue for indebted property developers.

Judge Linda Chan in her ruling on Monday stated that Evergrande's debt restructuring plan lacked progress and the company was insolvent, so she officially ordered the company to be liquidated, according to Hong Kong media reports.

The collapse of the company, which has been laden with more than US$300 billion in liabilities, has also triggered more Chinese real estate defaults, causing job losses and protests from homebuyers who are left without assets.

In response to the court order, Evergrande Chief Executive Officer Xiao En said Evergrande Real Estate has been investigated by the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and the actual controllers of the group have been subject to compulsory measures in accordance with the law for suspected violations of laws and crimes.

"I've tried my best and I'm very sorry," he said, as cited by China's 21st Century Business Herald."The group and Evergrade have tried our utmost to defend this offshore liquidation. We tried our best, and it's very regrettable."

Once the poster child of Chinese real estate, Evergrande borrowed heavily to finance the building of blocks and blocks of high-rise residential homes across the country. But its aggressive business approach ran into trouble, and it defaulted on its debts in December 2021.

Evergrande's chairman, Hui Ka Yan, was also arrested last year and was under investigation for suspected crimes.

While thousands of Chinese property buyers have little means to seek compensation apart from turning to social media to vent and staging guarded protests, institutional investors have turned to the courts. The case that resulted in Monday's ruling was filed in June 2022 by Top Shine Global.

Mainland Chinese financial experts interviewed by Chinese state media have played down the impact of the liquidation on the domestic market.

Speaking to the Securities Times, Li Shuguang, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law, said the impact on the interests of domestic bondholders is "limited."

Separately, Wang Chunfei, an associate professor in accountancy at the Central University of Finance and Economics, said Evergrande's problems are "an isolated scenario" in the industry.

But a financial scholar, Ling Si, told Radio Free Asia Evergrande's liquidation is a wake-up call, which has also cast a huge shadow on real estate transactions.

"In the future, we can only rely on ourselves and bear business risks. If there is a break in the capital chain and liquidity risks, the Chinese government will most likely not make substantial intervention."

As the Chinese economy splutters, Beijing is rolling back its austerity policy on speculation on the real estate sector which had been a major growth driver.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Monday that Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong called for an "urban real estate financing coordination mechanism" to be established and local authorities to propose a list of financeable real estate projects.

A real estate industry expert from southern Guangdong province who only gave her surname Huang told RFA that while the government has tasted the consequences of its over-reliance on the sector, it also failed to find another way to replace its contribution to economic growth.

"If you want to stop an industry that accounts for such a high proportion of economic growth, many problems will arise," Ms. Huang added.

Translated by RFA Staff. 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.

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China Introduces Strict Rules In Xinjiang On Islam, Other Religions

By Ruslan Medelbek and Reid Standish January 30, 2024

In a move set to tighten government control over practicing religion in China's western Xinjiang Province, the Muslim-majority region will introduce a set of regulations that -- among other things -- will require all new places of worship to reflect "Chinese characteristics and style."

The sweeping legislation will come into force on February 1 as part of a broader multiyear campaign aimed at controlling religion in Xinjiang, which is home to mainly Muslim ethnic groups such as Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and Hui (aka Dungans).

As part of the new set of "regulations on religious affairs," all new mosques, churches, and other religious buildings must reflect Chinese design elements and any renovations to extant layouts will require approval from Xinjiang's regional authorities. Additional measures include controls on "large-scale" religious gatherings -- which will require approval from the local government at least one month in advance -- and that religious content posted online must be screened by the regional government.

The rules also say for the first time that interpretations of religious doctrine must "meet the requirements of contemporary China's development and China's outstanding traditional culture," a move that experts warn could further cement an ongoing crackdown against Uyghur and minority rights in the region.

"The move is significant, as it's about cutting off China's religions from international networks and communities and keeping them socially and politically isolated under the watch of the Chinese Communist Party," Bradley Jardine, managing director of the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, told RFE/RL.

China has been accused of systemic human rights violations in Xinjiang, including launching a dragnet that sent more than 1 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Muslim minorities to detention camps and prisons.

A growing body of evidence -- including firsthand testimony and leaked official Chinese government documents -- support the accusations, which range from forced labor to sexual abuse, forced sterilization, and erasing Uyghur cultural and religious identity, including the tearing down of mosques and other religious sites.

These actions have drawn accusations of genocide from international rights groups and several Western governments. In 2022, a UN report found China was committing "serious human rights violations" in Xinjiang that may amount to crimes against humanity.

China has denied any human rights abuses in the region and says that its policies in Xinjiang are designed to counter extremism and terrorism.

Against this backdrop, local activists are worried about the lasting effects of these policies as the new rules come into force.

"Religious rights have long been restricted in Xinjiang," Bekzat Maksutkhan, the director of Naghyz Atazhurt, an unregistered organization in Kazakhstan focused on ethnic Kazakhs affected by the crackdown in Xinjiang, told RFE/RL. "But this law is the legalization of all those previous actions."

What Does The New Law Mean?

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the communist government's atheistic ideology has led to consistent efforts to suppress and control religion inside the country.

But while previous legislation has governed religious practices inside Xinjiang, experts say that the new legislation marks a significant escalation, demanding not just control but a specific reflection of "Chinese characteristics and style" in religious buildings and customs.

According to the regulations set out for Muslims, religion should not interfere in "clothing, weddings, funerals, and other ethnic customs" and "religious activity sites that are newly built or renovated, expanded, or rebuilt should reflect Chinese characteristics and style in terms of architecture, sculptures, paintings, and decorations."

Claims of Chinese authorities altering or pulling down mosques in Xinjiang are not new, with a 2020 report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute documenting the destruction and renovation of mosques in Xinjiang, finding two-thirds were changed, mostly since 2017, when Beijing accelerated its crackdown and expanded its camp system.

A 2023 report by the watchdog group Human Rights Watch used public documents, satellite images, and witness testimony to show that the Chinese government had expanded its campaign of closing and altering mosques to regions other than Xinjiang, as part of an official policy known as "consolidation."

As part of this, local authorities have removed architectural features of mosques -- such as Arabic-style domes and minarets -- replacing them with traditional Chinese designs to make them look more "Chinese."

Authorities in Beijing have rarely commented on this policy, but a June 2022 report by the Chinese state news outlet CCTV praised the removal of such architectural features as "protecting traditional heritage."

The new regulations look to formalize and build on these policies.

Beyond the rules on mosques, the law looks to expand the authority of the Islamic Association of China, the official government supervisory organ for Islam. The state body will now be the only organization that can organize activities related to the hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, and only mosques and individuals that are members of the association will be allowed to participate.

The law also calls on religious leaders to transmit a "patriotic" spirit to followers and stipulates that religious schools should instill Chinese characteristics, such as praising socialism and using Mandarin Chinese, in their teachings.

"China is trying to justify its crimes in Xinjiang to the world and the international community to make their crimes appear legitimate," Yerbol Dauletbek, the head of Atazhurt Eriktileri, another organization in Kazakhstan that helps ethnic Kazakhs, told RFE/RL. "This law is one of them."

Why China Targets Religion

The ruling Chinese Communist Party has viewed religion as a form of foreign influence that could undermine its authority and has looked to control and suppress all major religions in the country.

China's overall policy has been called "Sinicization," which requires religious groups to align their doctrines, customs, and morality with Chinese culture. The government also has strict rules for all religions, with provisions in its national law saying that it is illegal for minors 18 years or younger to attend religious services or celebrations or be taught about religion in any way.

Government pressure has been particularly targeted toward religions that Beijing views as foreign, such as Islam and Christianity -- both Protestantism and Catholicism.

Authorities have in the past removed crosses from churches and had others demolished.

Christianity in China is also governed by several sets of rules. Christians are allowed to worship in "official churches" registered with supervisory government agencies, although millions of Christians in China still worship in underground churches.

Since Xi Jinping became leader of the Communist Party in 2012, Beijing has tightened control over Christian activities outside of registered venues, shutting down churches that refuse to register and arresting prominent church leaders.

Buddhism -- particularly Han Buddhism, the most widespread branch practiced in China -- has been treated more leniently by Chinese authorities, but the government has cracked down on Buddhists in Tibet.

Beijing has tried to cement allegiances there and discourage support for the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist leader living in exile in India. Chinese officials have also been accused of carrying out "political reeducation" campaigns, separating children from their families, and have torn down thousands of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, monuments, and statues.

A similar approach to that practiced on Buddhism in Tibet has also been applied to Islam in Xinjiang.

When Xi last visited the region in August, he called on officials there to conserve "hard-won social stability" and to "more deeply promote the Sinicization of Islam and effectively control illegal religious activities."

"When we say Sinicization, the broad core is aimed at cutting [these] world religions off from the world," Jardine said. "And [instead] keeping them locally grounded, tied to the Communist Party, and politically neutralized."

Written and reported by Reid Standish in Prague with reporting by Ruslan Medelbek of RFE/RL's Kazakh Service

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-strict- rules-islam-xinjiang/32798502.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Will Evergrande's Liquidation Order be Enforced in China?

By Joyce Huang, Chuang Chih-wei January 30, 2024

The liquidation of debt-ridden China Evergrande Group, ordered by a Hong Kong court on Monday, is unlikely to be enforced elsewhere in China, analysts say.

"I think it's extremely unlikely," David Goodman, director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney in Australia, told VOA in a phone interview on Tuesday.

"It's not only a question of enforcement, it's a question of what the central government [in Beijing] wants to do. If it starts to get involved in this, it has to get involved in other activities, too, by extension. So, this is a big issue," Goodman said.

Goodman added that it's possible Beijing might use the opportunity to restructure the faltering property sector more deeply, although, he said, it could have already done so if it wanted to.

Evergrande, once China's largest property developer, is headquartered in Hong Kong, but 90% of its assets a including more than 1,300 housing projects across 280 cities a are in mainland China, where the Hong Kong court has no jurisdiction.

If the Chinese courts were to recognize Hong Kong's ruling, it could also set an example to other financially troubled developers in China, said Goodman, who believes that Evergrande's debt to various creditors is larger than its claimed liabilities of $300 billion.

Domino effect

Chiou Jiunn-rong, a professor of economics at National Central University in Taiwan, agreed the liquidation of Evergrande in China could trigger a domino effect that would pull down the property market, impacting the entire industry from creditors to contractors and interior decorators.

"China's economy will experience a huge drag down as builders, banks and home buyers are all hit badly by the crisis. The economy will surely further weaken if more developers face a similar fate of forced liquidation," Chiou told VOA Mandarin in a phone interview on Monday.

He said if more property developers face forced liquidations, Chinese home buyers would also hold off on potential purchases in anticipation of lower property prices.

And that is just the impact on China. Evergrande says it has more than $300 billion in debt and filed for bankruptcy in New York last year. If the property market in China falters, it would add to the growing number of economic challenges the country is already facing.

Uncertain delivery of unfinished homes

An even greater uncertainty for Beijing is its goal to ensure the delivery of an estimated 20 million unfinished homes nationwide, including those pre-sold by Evergrande to more than 5 million Chinese buyers.

Following Monday's liquidation order, Evergrande CEO Shawn Siu pledged that the company's "unfinished construction projects would be completed," according to Chinese finance media 21st Century Business Herald.

Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, on Monday, also addressed the nation's faltering local property sector saying, "efforts should be made to establish a financing coordination mechanism for urban housing projects, and promote the implementation of specific financing projects," state media China Daily reported.

Citing an anonymous source, financial news website China Business Network reported on Tuesday that China's banking regulators may finalize a whitelist of 50 developers for finance this week. The idea was first drafted late last year but has yet to be announced.

While the move aims to give China's financial institutions more confidence in lending to the struggling sector, analysts said banks may resist, adopting a wait-and-see approach for fear of getting stuck with bad loans.

Lu Ting, chief China economist of Nomura Securities, had previously argued, Beijing may ultimately "have to play the role of lender of last resort," filling a funding gap of 3.2 trillion yuan ($448 billion) to complete the construction of those 20 million unfinished homes.

China's stimulus measures

China has been mulling over measures to bolster the real estate market. Last Saturday, the southern city of Guangzhou announced it was relaxing restrictions to allow home buyers to purchase as many as they want, as long as the properties they are buying are bigger than 120 square meters.

According to Chinese media reports, other megacities including Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai are likely to follow suit to help accelerate the sale of homes and reduce housing inventory.

Dozens of provinces in China have already offered preferential mortgage rates for first time home buyers as another measure to boost sales.

Most of these policies, however, have done little to prop up the property market as the Chinese economy is deteriorating, said Shi Ling, a Brisbane, Australia-based commentator.

"There's just not a strong market signal, neither do China's economic fundamentals provide enough support to fuel its recovery or help Evergrande turn around its business," Shi Ling told VOA Mandarin on Monday in a phone interview.

This article originated in VOA's Mandarin Service.

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Kim Jong Un boosts underwater nuclear threat, urges fast submarine build

Current and future threats spur need for N Korea to defend maritime sovereignty, says leader Kim.

By Lee Jeong-Ho for RFA 2024.01.28 -- North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the test-firing of submarine-launched cruise missiles and ordered officials to expedite the North's nuclear submarine development, state media reported on Monday.

"In the morning of January 28, Kim Jong Un guided the test-fire of the newly-developed submarine-launched strategic cruise missile 'Pulhwasal-3-31'," said the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff announced Sunday that it detected North Korea launching several cruise missiles around 8 a.m., near Sinpo, where the North's submarine facilities are located.

Submarine-launched weapons can be deployed covertly, often evading detection systems, potentially offering Pyongyang a more elusive means of deploying its nuclear weapons.

"Nuclear weaponization of the navy is an urgent task of the times and a core requirement for building the state nuclear strategic force," said Kim Jong Un, cited by KCNA.

Kim "set forth the important tasks arising in realizing the nuclear weaponization of the navy and expanding the sphere of operation of the state nuclear deterrence in a diversified way," KCNA added.

The North Korean leader also defended the country's ongoing nuclear development, claiming: "The prevailing situation and future threats urge the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] to put more spurs to the efforts for defending maritime sovereignty."

Kim then called for "immediate tasks" and "state measures" to be executed by relevant sectors and officials to accelerate his country's nuclear submarine manufacturing.

Although North Korea has yet to possess submarines capable of operating in the blue sea, or deep ocean, recent efforts may dramatically increase the level of nuclear threat to South Korea and Japan due to their geographical proximity.

North Korea has recently put a particular emphasis on boosting its naval capabilities. Earlier this month, North Korea claimed that it had carried out a test of the "Haeil-5-23," its underwater nuclear system involving drones to face "threats" posed by allies.

South Korea, however, had dismissed Pyongyang's claim.

"There is a possibility that North Korea's claims may have been exaggerated and fabricated, based on our comprehensive analysis up until today," South Korea's Presidential Office said in a statement last week.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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N Korea launches rural growth committee as economy struggles

The move came a week after leader Kim Jong Un admitted his country's dire economic status.

By Lee Jeong-Ho for RFA 2024.01.29 -- North Korea has formally launched a party committee dedicated to the development of its economically challenged rural regions. This initiative comes as local areas are dealing with economic difficulties stemming from sanctions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The inauguration of the committee followed just about a week after the country's leader Kim Jong Un made a rare public acknowledgement of the dire state of his country's economy, urging ruling party officials to take immediate action.

"In the midst of actively promoting organizational work to thoroughly and perfectly implement transformative strategies for local industrial development, the non-permanent 20A10 Local Development Central Implementation Committee has embarked on its official projects," North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday.

The 20A10 Local Development Policy refers to a measure announced by Kim earlier this month, aimed at improving the North's struggling local economies. The measure involves constructing industrial factories throughout 20 counties across the nation each year, and ultimately improve the living standards of the North Korean people within the next 10 years.

Led by a Presidium of the Politburo member of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, Jo Yong Won, the committee will "oversee and guide the construction progress, including the design and construction of new local industrial factories, as well as the development projects for raw material bases," KCNA said.

The importance of the newly established committee is reflected in the fact that Jo also holds a position as a secretary of the Secretariat of the WPK, a close associate and advisory body of the North Korean leader. Vice Premier Pak Jong Gun, whose main responsibility is overseeing the nation's economy, was also included in the committee.

Kim last week labeled the country's ongoing economic problem as a "serious political issue," saying that his government was unable "to provide even basic necessities such as basic foodstuffs, groceries, and consumer goods to the local people."

"The overall local economy is currently in a very pitiful state, lacking even basic conditions," Kim said at a politburo plenary meeting last week, according to KCNA.

North Korea's economy contracted for the third consecutive year in 2022, according to South Korea's Statistics Korea report in December. The latest available data showed a 0.2% year-on-year drop in North Korea's GDP in 2022, following a 0.1% decrease in 2021, and a 4.5% contraction in 2020.

On a closer look, the country's manufacturing industry shrank for six consecutive years since 2017, with it contracting 4.6% in 2022, according to the latest available data from the South's central bank, Bank of Korea. The economic impact of this to the nation may have been severe as the sector accounts more than 20% of the North's entire economy.

A major mission of the committee is to revive the manufacturing sector.

"Establishing practical measures to solidify local raw material bases and ensure the normalization of production in local industrial factories is also one of the important tasks of the Central Implementation Committee," according to KCNA.

Kim has been facing issues related to the economy and food shortages since he assumed power in 2012. These problems have been intensified recently amid the aftermath of COVID-19 and international sanctions.

North Korea shut down its borders for the COVID quarantine at the expense of its trade with China, while it has continued its nuclear and missile development, putting its economy under the United Nations' sanctions regime.

Amid economic challenges, North Korea has recently been ramping up its military threats in the Korean peninsula. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Tuesday, the North fired multiple "unidentified cruise missiles" off its western coast at around 7 a.m.

North Korea also test-fired submarine-launched cruise missiles Sunday, with Kim ordering officials to expedite his country's nuclear submarine development.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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North Korea Successfully Tests Cruise Missiles in Submarine Launch - Reports

Sputnik News

20240129

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - North Korea has conducted a successful submarine launch test of its Pulhwasal-3-31 cruise missiles, the Korean Central Telegraphic Agency (KCNA) reported.

"The cruise missiles travelled for 7,421 and 7,445 seconds [about two hours]... and accurately hit the target on the island," the agency wrote.

According to the KCNA, the test launch had no impact on the security of surrounding countries. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction with the result of the test.

South Korean news agency Yonhap reported Saturday that the DPRK launched several cruise missiles towards the Sea of Japan.

On January 24, the South Korean military previously reported the detection of a DPRK launch of several cruise missiles towards the Yellow Sea. North Korea subsequently announced that its General Directorate of Missile Engineering had conducted the first test launch of a new type of strategic cruise missile, the Pulhwasal-3-31, which is under development.

A Sputnik

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North Korea fires several cruise missiles off its west coast

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 2:44 PM

North Korea has test-launched a third round of cruise missiles in less than a week, firing the weapons into the waters off its west coast.

South Korea's military said it "detected several unknown cruise missiles launched into the West Sea of North Korea" early Tuesday.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said that South Korea and US intelligence agencies were "conducting a detailed analysis" of the data.

The test follows a previous round of cruise missile tests on January 28 and January 24.

North Korea is not banned from testing cruise missiles under longstanding United Nations sanctions imposed over its nuclear program.

The country's leader Kim Jong-un said in his New Year address that his military needs to go extremely tough to "thoroughly annihilate" the enemy in the event of a potential nuclear war.

The country test-fired its first solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile on January 14.

North Korea says the US nuclear assets stationed on the Korean Peninsula will become Pyongyang's "first targets for destruction" in the event of an actual conflict.

The US has deployed a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Korean port city of Busan and flew its long-range bombers in drills with Seoul and Tokyo.

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INDIAN NAVY RESPONDS TO THE HIJACKING OF SRI LANKAN FISHING VESSEL IN COLLABORATION WITH SEYCHELLES DEFENCE FORCES AND SRI LANKA NAVY

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 30 JAN 2024 6:19PM by PIB Delhi

In a coordinated multilateral response to the hijacking of a Sri Lankan fishing vessel, the Indian Navy in collaboration with Seychelles Defence Forces and Sri Lanka Navy successfully intercepted and rescued the hijacked vessel.

A hijacking incident was reported onboard the Sri Lankan flagged multiday fishing trawler LORENZO PUTHA 04 about 955 nm east of Mogadishu, Somalia. Three pirates had boarded and hijacked the fishing trawler on 27 Jan 24.

Indian Navy deployed INS Sharda ex Kochi PM 28 Jan and also tasked HALE Sea Guardian to locate and intercept the hijacked fishing vessel. Additionally, efficient operational coordination and Information Sharing through the Sri Lanka and Seychelles International Liaison Officers at IFC IOR, New Delhi resulted in the interception of the hijacked fishing vessel by SCGS Topaz in Seychelles EEZ on 29 Jan 24.

The three pirates surrendered to the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) and all six crew members are safe and the vessel is being escorted to Mahe, Seychelles.

________________________________

VM/PS 20/24



(Release ID: 2000673)

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INS Sumitra Carries out 2nd Successful Anti Piracy Ops - Rescuing 19 Crew members and Vessel from Somali Pirates

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 30 JAN 2024 9:34AM by PIB Delhi

Indian Naval Ship Sumitra, having thwarted the Piracy attempt on FV Iman, has carried out yet another successful anti-piracy operation off the East Coast of Somalia, rescuing Fishing Vessel Al Naeemi and her Crew (19 Pakistani Nationals) from 11 Somali Pirates.

INS Sumitra, Indian Navy's indigenous Offshore Patrol Vessel had been deployed for Anti-Piracy and Maritime Security Operations East of Somalia and Gulf of Aden. The warship on PM 28 Jan 24 had responded to a distress message regarding hijacking of an Iranian flagged Fishing Vessel (FV) Iman, which had been boarded by pirates & the crew taken as hostages. The FV was intercepted by INS Sumitra and following the SOPs and coercive posturing the vessel and her Crew (17 Iranian Nationals) were safely rescued in the early hours of 29 Jan 24. FV Iman was sanitised and released for onward transit.

Subsequently, INS Sumitra was again pressed into action, to locate and intercept another Iranian flagged fishing vessel Al Naeemi, which had been boarded by pirates and her Crew (19 Pakistani Nationals) taken hostage. Responding swiftly to the developing situation Sumitra intercepted the FV on PM 29 Jan 24 and through coercive posturing and effective deployment of her integral helo and boats compelled the safe release of the crew and the vessel. The ship also undertook confirmatory boarding to sanitise and also to check on the well-being of the crew who were held captive by the Somali pirates.

INS Sumitra, over the course of less than 36 hours, through swift, persistent and relentless efforts has rescued two hijacked Fishing Vessels along with 36 Crew (17 Iranian and 19 Pakistani) in Southern Arabian Sea approximately 850 nm West of Kochi, and prevented misuse of these Fishing Vessels as Mother Ships for further acts of Piracy on Merchant Vessels.

The Indian Navy has once again proved its commitment in the region to act against all maritime threats in order to ensure safety of all mariners and vessels at sea.

***

VM/SPS



(Release ID: 2000473)

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India-US cooperation will act as force multiplier for rules-based world order: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at Indo-American Chamber of Commerce conference in New Delhi

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

"US capital & technological know-how can help India become a developed nation by 2047; India can be an avenue of de-risking for US companies & provide high returns"

"'Aatmanirbharta' doesn't mean cutting off from global system; It is based on collaboration with friendly countries for shared security & prosperity"

Posted On: 30 JAN 2024 5:35PM by PIB Delhi

The capital and technological know-how from the US can help India to achieve its goal of becoming a developed country by 2047, while investments here can give the American companies high returns and an avenue of de-risking. This was stated by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh while addressing a conference on 'Strengthening Indo-US Relationship in Amrit Kaal - Aatmanirbhar Bharat' organised by Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) in New Delhi on January 30, 2024.

The Raksha Mantri asserted that the Government has laid the groundwork for a strong and self-reliant 'New India', and the American investments can play a vital role in realising Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat'. Terming it as a win-win situation for both the countries, he stated that India's fast-growing economy, its demographic dividend, skilled workforce, and huge domestic market guarantee high returns to US companies. He added that to deal with the challenges faced by the rules-based international order & maintain strategic autonomy, it will be necessary for American businesses to de-risk by investing in India.

Shri Rajnath Singh described India and the US as natural partners who must move forward together in both business and strategic sectors amidst the current global geopolitical scenario. "India and the US support a free, open and rules-based international order. Due to this, there is a lot of alignment in our strategic interests. Besides, our economic relationship is a win-win proposition for both the countries. The current relationship is driven by twin congruence of shared values and aligned interests, which is a guarantee for long sustainability and robustness of ties," he said.

The Raksha Mantri appreciated that, sensing the need of the present times, India and the US are working together in different fields, including defence technology and space. He made special mention of the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative through which both nations are working towards further strengthening the defence technology partnership. He added that the joint initiative of ISRO and NASA 'NISAR' will ensure cooperation in many areas such as earth science, disaster management and climate change.

"India is the largest democracy in the world, and US is another big democracy. When two big democracies cooperate with each other, it will definitely make the democratic world order stronger. This will act as a force multiplier for rules-based order across the globe. Our work together will be beneficial not only to us, but for the entire world," said Shri Rajnath Singh.

Elaborating on the Government's vision behind 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', the Raksha Mantri said that the nation is moving forward at the right pace with which it won't stumble in the times to come. He enumerated the decisions taken by the Ministry of Defence to promote self-reliance, such as earmarking 75% of the defence capital procurement budget for domestic industry in Financial Year, which has helped the country find a place among the top 25 countries which export defence equipment. "The Russia-Ukraine & Israel-Hamas conflicts have not much impacted the defence sector. India has become a strong country, which is capable of securing national interests and giving a befitting reply to anyone who casts an evil eye," he added.

Shri Rajnath Singh, however, clarified that the aim of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' is not autarky; not to cut off from the global system; not to work in isolation. It is rather the commitment to collaborate with friendly countries. The 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' campaign promotes companionship based on 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (The World is One Family), he stressed.

Shri Rajnath Singh listed out the sweeping changes made in every sector in India to keep pace with friendly countries. "We have made reforms in FDI and labor laws to attract foreign investment and take advantage of our skilled workforce. We are also working on next-generation infrastructure projects. Infra sectors like roads, railways, waterways, electricity have made unprecedented progress. India is developing a world class infrastructure," he said.

The Raksha Mantri emphasised that business & commerce is correlated to the security & defence of the country, terming the connection as deep. He asserted that the Government gives equal emphasis to defence & security and business & commerce, as one cannot move ahead, in today's era, by keeping business & strategic interests separate.

The conference, attended by Ambassador to India Mr Eric Garcetti and representatives of IACC, was organised to bolster the economic and diplomatic ties between India and the US. It was aimed at exploring ways to enhance bilateral trade, investment and collaboration in the context of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, which emphasises on promoting domestic manufacturing and reducing import dependency. It provided a platform for experts and business leaders from both countries to discuss opportunities for partnership and growth in various sectors, contributing to mutual economic development and prosperity.

***

ABB/Savvy



(Release ID: 2000644)

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Iran-Pakistan borders no safe haven for terrorists: FM

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 29, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says borders between the country and Pakistan are no place for activities of terrorists who are supported by the extra-regional enemies of the two countries.

Amirabdollahian made the remarks on Monday at the end of a one-day visit to Pakistan where he met senior Pakistani government and army officials.

"The safe borders between Iran and Pakistan have no place for provocations of terrorists and their extra-regional supporters," said the minister upon leaving Islamabad for Tehran.

He said that Iran and Pakistan have agreed to boost tourism and trade capacities at border regions of the two countries by opening five new border crossings.

Amirabdollahian said that Iran and Pakistan will exchange delegations in the near future to build on agreements reached during his visit to Islamabad.

Writing on his page on the X platform on Monday, the Iranian diplomat said that he had discussed initiatives to boost cooperation with Pakistan in the fields of trade, economy, science, energy and security during his visit to the country

"We will not allow the terrorists to target the security of Iran and Pakistan," he said in a post written in Persian.

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Regional resistance groups take no order from Iran in their actions: FM spox

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 29, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has said that resistance groups in the West Asia region do not take orders from the Islamic Republic for their decisions and actions including those in support of the Palestinian people or defense of their countries against acts of aggression.

"The resistance groups in the region do not take orders from the Islamic Republic of Iran in their decisions and actions. The Islamic Republic has no involvement in the resistance groups' decisions on the way they support the Palestinian nation or defend themselves and the people of their countries in the face of any aggression and occupation," Kanaani said in a statement on Monday.

He made the comments in reaction to a drone attack, which killed three American forces in Jordan on Saturday night. US President Joe Biden said the attack hit American forces stationed near the Syrian border, and blamed it on Iran-backed groups operating in Iraq and Syria.

The spokesman rejected "the baseless accusations" against Iran, describing them as "a blame game and a plot by those who try to protect their own interests and cover up their problems by dragging the US into a new conflict in the region and provoking it to intensify the crisis."

Kanaani also said, since the onset of the Gaza war in early October, Iran has repeatedly warned against the spillover of the conflict due to continued Israeli attacks against Palestinians and the US all-out support for the genocide in Gaza and the West Bank.

The Islamic Republic has also reiterated that the constant violation of the national sovereignty of Iraq and Syria by American forces as well as attacks against groups and people in those countries and Yemen is the main cause of escalating instability.

The spokesman stressed the need for protecting peace, stability and security in the region, saying that an end to the Israeli attacks in Gaza and an immediate ceasefire there can pave the way for restoring tranquility in West Asia.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is monitoring the ongoing developments in the region with vigilance and preparedness, Kanaani said, adding that the responsibility for leveling such provocative accusations against Iran lies with those behind making such unfounded allegations.

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Four Mossad-linked terrorists executed in Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 29, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Four members of a team convicted of working for the Zionist regime's spy agency Mossad have been executed in Iran.

Iran's Judiciary announced that the four terrorists were executed at dawn on Monday.

The four convicts had been arrested by Iranian security forces in mid-July 2022, a few days before they could carry out an operation against a factory affiliated with the Defense Ministry in Najafabad, in central province of Isfahan.

They were sentenced to death for espionage cooperation in favor of the Israeli regime on September 18, 2023.

They were also convicted of forming and managing a terrorist group with the aim of disrupting the country's security.

An appeal court later upheld the verdict after re-examining the case.

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Four Mossad-linked terrorists executed in Iran

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 9:19 AM

Iranian Judiciary authorities have executed four people convicted of working for the Israeli Mossad spy agency and plotting a bomb attack against a Defense Ministry factory in the country's central province of Isfahan.

Mizan news agency, affiliated with the Iranian Judiciary, reported on Monday that the four convicts, identified as Mohammad Faramarzi, Mohsen Mazloum, Vafa Azarbar, and Pejman Fatehi, had illegally entered Iran from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq.

They were planning to carry out a bombing operation against an installation in Najafabad city, which is manufacturing military equipment and missile components for the Defense Ministry, on July 23, 2022. However, they were identified and captured by the Iranian intelligence forces a few days before the plotted act of terror.

The report added that the four were convicted of intelligence cooperation with Israel and were sentenced to death by an Islamic Revolution Court on September 18, 2023.

Mizan noted that the terrorists had been recruited by a high-profile member of the anti-Iran Komala separatist and terrorist group, which is based in Iraq's Kurdistan region and joined Mossad nearly a year and a half before their terrorist operation in Iran.

They had undergone training at military bases in several African countries and even held meetings with Director of the Mossad David Barnea.

Back on December 29 last year, four main members of a sabotage team affiliated with Mossad were executed in the northwestern Iranian province of West Azarbaijan after being convicted of acting against the country's security.

Mizan reported at the time that they were members of a ten-strong Mossad-linked sabotage team, whose primary task was to identify Iranian intelligence agents engaged in thwarting anti-Iran Israeli plots.

They were all tracked down and subsequently arrested following complicated intelligence operations and close surveillance.

The convicts, including three men and a woman, were hanged on charges of "corruption on Earth" and "waging war against God" (moharebeh) through intelligence cooperation with Israel with the intent to undermine Iran's security.

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Iran: Resistance groups act on their own, independent in pro-Palestine decisions

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 8:22 AM

Regional resistance groups do not take orders from Iran, nor does the Islamic Republic have a role in their decisions to carry out retaliatory operations in defense of the Palestinian people, says Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani.

"Iran is not involved in the resistance groups' decisions about how to support the Palestinian people or defend themselves and the people of their countries in the face of any aggression and occupation," Kan'ani said in a statement on Monday.

He made the remarks after US President Joe Biden and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron claimed that "Iranian-backed groups" mainly based in Iraq were accountable for a drone attack on the border of Jordan and Syria on Sunday, which killed at least three American forces and wounded 34 others.

Kan'ani cautioned that leveling baseless accusations against Iran is a projection and a conspiracy by those who see their interests in dragging the US feet in a new conflict in the region to cover up their own problems.

The spokesman further said that since the beginning of Israel's onslaught on Gaza in early October, Iran has repeatedly warned against the danger of the expansion of the scope of conflict in the region due to Israel's continued attacks against the Palestinian people and the US's full support for the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in the besieged strip and the occupied West Bank.

He emphasized that the US's insistence and continuous violation of the national sovereignty of Iraq and Syria and bombing attacks against the groups and people of Iraq, Syria and Yemen have intensified the instability in the region.

The diplomat further stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability and security in the region.

Iran believes that war in Gaza is not a solution and putting an end to Israel's attacks on Gaza and establishing an immediate ceasefire can prepare the ground for the restoration of peace to the region, Kan'ani said.

"Iran monitors the developments in the region with readiness and vigilance and the responsibility for the consequences of provocative accusations against Iran rests with the perpetrators of such baseless claims," he added.

In a statement published late on Sunday, Iran's mission to the United Nations also said Tehran has no links to attacks on US forces in the region as they are related to conflict between resistance groups and the US military.

The attack marks the first time that US forces were killed since the start of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza on October 7.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, claimed attacks on three bases, including one on the Jordan-Syria border.

Since the beginning of Israel's war against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on October 7, there have been around 160 attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria. Most of those have been claimed by regional resistance forces.

Iran has frequently said resistance groups act on their own in response to Israeli crimes in Gaza.

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Iran says has no links to attacks on US forces in region

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 6:00 AM

Iran's mission to the United Nations says Tehran has no links to attacks on US forces in the region as they are related to conflict between resistance groups and the US military.

The mission issued statement published late on Sunday after a drone attack on a US base on the border of Jordan and Syria that killed three American forces.

The statement said Iran had no link to the attack, adding that the incident was part of the "conflict between the army of the United States of America and resistance groups in the region, which reciprocate retaliatory attacks."

US President Joe Biden blamed what he called "Iranian-backed groups" mainly based in Iraq for the attack, which killed three American forces and wounded at least 34.

The attack marks the first time that US military personnel were killed since the start of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza on October 7.

In his statement, Biden said the attack took place in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border. Jordan, however, says it did not occur on its soil but in Syria.

The US president said efforts are underway to gather the facts of the attack and vowed revenge.

"Have no doubt - we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing," he said.

According to a statement from US Central Command, the number of those injured in the drone attack is expected to change as more people seek care. Eight personnel were evacuated from Jordan for higher-level care, but are in stable condition.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, claimed attacks on three bases, including one on the Jordan-Syria border.

Since the beginning of Israel's war against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on October 7, there have been around 160 attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria. Most of those have been claimed by regional resistance forces.

Iran has frequently said resistance groups act on their own in response to Israeli crimes in Gaza.

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Iran Executes Four Ethnic Kurds Despite Claims Of Unfair Trials

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda January 29, 2024

Iran has hanged four ethnic Kurds -- all under the age of 30 -- convicted of spying for Tehran's archenemy, Israel, despite protests by rights group who said they were found guilty without a fair trial.

The individuals executed on January 29, identified as Mohammad (Hajir) Faramarzi, Mohsen Mazloum, Vafa Azarbar, and Pejman Fatehi, had been accused of plotting a bomb attack in Isfahan in collaboration with Israel, claims that have been widely disputed.

The Mizan news agency, which is affiliated with the Iranian judiciary, reported that the four, apprehended just days before the alleged operation last summer, were linked to Israel, but the facts were unclear due to the secretive nature of the judicial process which has been strongly criticized by the families of the accused and human rights bodies, who deemed the executions unjust.

Masoud Shamsnejad, the lawyer representing the four men, revealed on January 16 that the Supreme Court had dismissed a retrial request, citing the lack of a formal verdict, "a common issue in security cases," the lawyer said.

The men were "sentenced to death in a grossly unfair trial marred by allegations of torture and other ill-treatment," Amnesty International said earlier this month in a warning the executions were imminent.

Mizan's report alleged that the four were recruited by Mossad through the leftist Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, trained in military bases in African countries, and prepared for several operational stages.

Simultaneously, media outlets close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released various propaganda videos against the executed prisoners.

The news of the executions triggered widespread reactions. Ten political prisoners at Qezelhesar Prison reported a security forces raid on January 28 to prevent the disclosure of the executions.

The 10 declared a commitment to a weekly hunger strike in response to the wave of executions and in solidarity with other inmates on death row.

In a letter received by RFE/RL's Radio Farda on January 29, the prisoners detailed abuses during the raid, including physical assaults and the confiscation of their belongings aimed at suppressing revelations about the government-sanctioned killings.

The Iran Human Rights Organization condemned the executions, urging the international community to break its silence on Iran's execution spree, which rights group say has put the country in second place globally for executions last year, behind only China.

Mahmud Amiri Moghadam, the organization's director, labeled the executions as extrajudicial killings based on confessions obtained under torture and without fair trials.

The Norway-based organization also called on Nada Al-Nashif, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, to cancel her upcoming Tehran visit in protest.

Other political and civil figures, including exiled opposition leader and former crown prince Reza Pahlavi, warned the Islamic republic is "waging a war against both its people and the world."

Opposition figures such as Hamed Esmaeilion, Nazanin Boniadi, and Masih Alinejad also strongly condemned the executions.

Gohar Eshghi, a civil activist and mother of Sattar Beheshti, a blogger who died in prison due to torture, expressed her criticism toward Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Iran and Israel have been engaged in a yearslong shadow war. Tensions have been exacerbated by the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas, which has been declared a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.

Meanwhile, the rate of executions in Iran has been rising sharply, particularly in the wake of the widespread protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022 after she was arrested for wearing a hijab improperly.

Iran Human Rights said that as of December 2023 more than 700 people had been executed in Iran, with a marked increase in recent months.

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-executes-four- ethnic-kurds-spying-israel/32795998.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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UK and US step up action to tackle domestic threat from Iran

New sanctions, coordinated with the US, target Iranian officials responsible for threats to kill on UK soil and criminal gangs who do the regime's bidding overseas.

29 January 2024

new sanctions package, coordinated with the US, targets Iranian officials responsible for threat to kill on UK soil and criminal gangs who do the regime's bidding overseas

the Iranian officials designated today were exposed by ITV in December for threatening to kill Iran International journalists on UK soil

Foreign Secretary warns Tehran that we will not tolerate threats from Iran on UK soil

The UK and US have announced new sanctions to tackle the domestic threat posed by the Iranian regime, which seeks to export repression, harassment and coercion against journalists and human rights defenders.

The UK will today sanction 7 individuals and 1 organisation, including senior Iranian officials and members of organised criminal gangs who collaborate with the regime, in order to expose and disrupt Iran's activities in the UK and overseas.

The Iranian officials designated today are members of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Unit 840, which was exposed in an ITV investigation into plots to assassinate 2 television presenters from news channel Iran International on UK soil. This plot was just the latest credible reporting of the regime's attempt to intimidate or kill British nationals or UK-linked individuals, with at least 15 such threats taking place since January 2022.

The Iranian regime delivers its threats via criminal gangs across the world. As a result, the UK and US have targeted the criminal gang leaders working with Iran, for example Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti, the head of an international criminal and trafficking cartel, who was linked to the 2019 murder of an Iranian dissident in Istanbul.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

The Iranian regime and the criminal gangs who operate on its behalf pose an unacceptable threat to the UK's security. Today's package exposes the roles of the Iranian officials and gangs involved in activity aimed to undermine, silence and disrupt the democratic freedoms we value in the UK. The UK and US have sent a clear message - we will not tolerate this threat.

The Foreign Secretary summoned the Iranian Charge d'Affaires on 22 December, to make clear that threats from the Iranian regime will not be tolerated.

To date, the UK has more than 400 sanctions designations in place on Iranian individuals and entities in response to the regime's human rights violations, nuclear weapons programme and malign influence internationally.

Today's designations sit under the UK's new Iran sanctions regime, which came into effect in December 2023 and gives the UK extensive new powers to hold Iran and those who undertake its hostile activity to account.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

The Iranian regime has tried to undermine our democracy through repression - we will continue to take action when necessary to protect our country, values and freedom of speech. We cannot allow foreign regimes to collaborate with criminals to threaten us. Sanctioning these criminal networks working for the Iranian regime will remind them that we will fight back. My priority is to protect our people and to defend our way of life, and the UK will not tolerate threats from the Iranian regime.

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Iran FM spox slams NATO chief's baseless accusations against Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 30, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has condemned the unfounded allegations made by Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg, against Iran.

In reaction to the baseless accusations made against Iran on Tuesday, Kanaani described the remarks by the NATO chief as "a bitter joke". He noted that NATO and some of its members have a dark history of colonialism, plotting and implementing destructive and interventionist policies, as well as military actions in West Asia and other parts of the world. Kanaani also said that NATO is the main cause of instability and insecurity, not only in the region but also throughout the world.

Kanaani reiterated that the fundamental policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran have always been based on strengthening ties with neighbors within the framework of good neighborliness and mutual respect. He emphasized that trying to materialize a stable, safe, and prosperous region, and prevention of foreign interference are among the lasting principles of Iranian policy.

On Tuesday morning, Stoltenberg accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of having a destabilizing role in the West Asian region. He leveled baseless accusations, claiming that "Iran bears responsibility for backing terrorists who attack our ships in the Red Sea".

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Border guards gun down notable terrorist figure in Iran's southeast

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 30, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian border guards have shot down a notable terrorist figure in an armed clash in the country's southeastern borders.

Iranian border police commander Brigadier General Ahmad-Ali Goudarzi confirmed on Tuesday that a member of of the Ansar Al-Furqan terrorist group had been killed in clashes in the border area between Kastak and Jakigor villages in the Rask County of Sistan and Baluchestan province.

The figure was a member of an alliance of terrorist groups spread in eastern Iran that contributed to a terrorist attack in the city of Bampur last year, Goudarzi said, adding that Ansar Al-Furqan terrorist had issued a statement on Monday acknowledging the death of the its member.

On Monday, the border guard commander had also declared the killing of another terrorist figure in an armed confrontation in Jakigor rural area which also left two other terrorists injured.

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Iran categorically rejects US claims about Jordan attack

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Tue / 30 January 2024 / 12:27

Iran's permanent ambassador to the United Nations has categorically rejected accusations leveled by the United States about the country's involvement in anti-American operations in the West Asia region.

Tehran-ISNA-Amir Saeid Iravani made the comments in a letter addressed to the UN Security Council's president on Monday.

The letter came three days after his American counterpart, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, wrote a letter to the Council, alleging that "militia groups affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran's Armed Forces" were involved in "actions against US personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria."

Iravani asserted unequivocally that "there is no group affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran's Armed Forces, whether in Iraq, Syria, or elsewhere that operates directly or indirectly under the control of the Islamic Republic of Iran or acts on its behalf."

"Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not responsible for the actions of any individual or group within the region," Iran's UN ambassador added.

Over the past years, Iraq's resistance groups have been staging numerous strikes against military bases housing American occupation forces in Iraq and neighboring Syria.

The strikes have increased in intensity since October 7, 2023, when the Israeli regime, Washington's main regional ally, launched a US-backed genocidal war against the Gaza Strip. So far, the regime's onslaught has claimed the lives of more than 26,600 civilians, mostly women and children, leaving more than 65,300 others injured.

Meanwhile, the US has been deploying its forces and military equipment to Syria and Iraqi without a UN mandate and under the pretext of fighting terrorist groups, including Daesh. The Takfiri terrorist group had emerged as Washington was running out of excuses to extend its regional meddling or enlarge it in scale.

American forces have maintained their illegal presence in both countries, despite vociferous protests from their people and top officials, who have been persistently calling on Washington to withdraw its troops

Referring to US presence in those countries, Iran's ambassador said, "...the actions undertaken by the United States in Syria and Iraq are illegal and violate both international law and the UN Charter.... Consequently, the US notification submitted to the Security Council in the aforementioned letter ... lacks a legal foundation and fails to legitimize such actions."

Iravani's letter came after Iran's permanent mission to the UN reaffirmed in a late Sunday statement that the country has no links to attacks on US forces in the region.

The mission's statement was published after a drone attack on a US base located on Jordan's border with Syria killed three American servicemen.

The statement said Iran had no link to the attack, adding that the incident was part of the "conflict between the army of the United States of America and resistance groups in the region, which reciprocate retaliatory attacks."

End Item

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Iran summons British ambassador over 'baseless' accusations

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 4:15 PM

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to convey the Islamic Republic's strong protest to "baseless accusations" leveled by the UK against Tehran.

Simon Shercliff was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the director general of the Western Europe Department on Tuesday, a day after London imposed sanctioned on seven individuals and one organization, claiming that they were targeting "Iranian dissidents" in other countries, following a similar step by the United States.

The Iranian official described the sanctions as "illegal" and condemned London's accusations as "baseless."

He also noted that London's attempts to tarnish the image of Iran were non-constructive, adding that such "destructive actions" towards the Islamic Republic are doomed to failure.

"It is a bitter historical irony that a country which is the founder and supporter of organized terrorist groups, drug trafficking and criminal gangs, seeks to accuse the Islamic Republic of Iran and its loyal and honest forces that are at the forefront of the fight against organized crimes," the Iranian official said.

The British ambassador, for his part, said he will convey Iran's protest to his respective country.

On Monday, the US and the UK imposed sanctions on a network of people who they claimed targeted what they called Iranian opposition activists under Iran's orders.

The UK Foreign Office said it would "sanction seven individuals and one organization, including senior Iranian officials" who were involved in threats to kill journalists on British soil and others it said were part of" international criminal gangs" linked to Tehran.

The sanctions come amid soaring tensions in the region. Earlier in the day, US President Joe Biden and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron claimed that "Iranian-backed groups", mainly based in Iraq, were responsible for a drone attack on the border of Jordan and Syria on Sunday, which killed at least three US soldiers and wounded 34 others.

Iran's permanent mission to the UN rejected the accusation, saying the Islamic Republic had no role in the attack.

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Iran categorically rejects US claims, says is not responsible for any group's actions in region

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 1:43 AM

Iran's permanent ambassador to the United Nations has categorically rejected accusations leveled by the United States about the country's involvement in anti-American operations in the West Asia region.

Amir Saeid Iravani made the comments in a letter addressed to the UN Security Council's president on Monday.

The letter came three days after his American counterpart, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, wrote a letter to the Council, alleging that "militia groups affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran's Armed Forces" were involved in "actions against US personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria."

Iravani asserted unequivocally that "there is no group affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran's Armed Forces, whether in Iraq, Syria, or elsewhere that operates directly or indirectly under the control of the Islamic Republic of Iran or acts on its behalf."

"Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not responsible for the actions of any individual or group within the region," Iran's UN ambassador added.

Over the past years, Iraq's resistance groups have been staging numerous strikes against military bases housing American occupation forces in Iraq and neighboring Syria.

The strikes have increased in intensity since October 7, 2023, when the Israeli regime, Washington's main regional ally, launched a US-backed genocidal war against the Gaza Strip. So far, the regime's onslaught has claimed the lives of more than 26,600 civilians, mostly women and children, leaving more than 65,300 others injured.

Meanwhile, the US has been deploying its forces and military equipment to Syria and Iraqi without a UN mandate and under the pretext of fighting terrorist groups, including Daesh. The Takfiri terrorist group had emerged as Washington was running out of excuses to extend its regional meddling or enlarge it in scale.

American forces have maintained their illegal presence in both countries, despite vociferous protests from their people and top officials, who have been persistently calling on Washington to withdraw its troops

Referring to US presence in those countries, Iran's ambassador said, "...the actions undertaken by the United States in Syria and Iraq are illegal and violate both international law and the UN Charter.... Consequently, the US notification submitted to the Security Council in the aforementioned letter ... lacks a legal foundation and fails to legitimize such actions."

Iravani's letter came after Iran's permanent mission to the UN reaffirmed in a late Sunday statement that the country has no links to attacks on US forces in the region.

The mission's statement was published after a drone attack on a US base located on Jordan's border with Syria killed three American servicemen.

The statement said Iran had no link to the attack, adding that the incident was part of the "conflict between the army of the United States of America and resistance groups in the region, which reciprocate retaliatory attacks."

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Any attack on country will be met with decisive response: Iran UN envoy

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 31, 2024

New York, IRNA -- Iran's permanent representative and ambassador to the United Nations has issued a stark warning, saying the Islamic Republic would decisively respond to any attack on the county, its interests and nationals under any pretexts.

Amir Saeid Iravani said that it is the fundamental policy of Iran to give a strong response to enemies in case they target the country, its interests and nationals.

Iravani, while responding to the questions of reporters on Tuesday night, also rejected the news of the exchange of several messages between the United States and Iran via intermediaries over the past two days, following a deadly attack on a US military base in Jordan.

"Such messages have not been exchanged", the Iran representative to UN emphasized.

Some news media have claimed that Washington has sent messages to Tehran that it does not want a large-scale war but in such a scenario, the war will be accompanied by US movements, and in response, Iran has warned that any attack on its soil is a red line and will be accompanied by an appropriate response.

Neither Washington nor Tehran has confirmed the media speculations that followed Sunday's drone attack on a small American base in Jordan that left three soldiers dead and more than 40 others injured.

Resistance groups have targeted several US military bases and facilities in Iraq and Syria with drones, rockets and missiles in recent months amid growing anger at the American military presence in the region as well as Washington's open support for the Israeli regime's crimes and genocide in the Gaza Strip.

On Monday, Iran's UN envoy Iravani in a letter to the President of the Security Council clarified his country's stance, saying the Islamic Republic is not responsible for the actions of any individual or group in the region.

He also referred to previous letters dated December 4, 2023 and January 2, 2024, in which, Iran made it clear that there is no group affiliated with the country, whether in Iraq, Syria, or elsewhere, that operates directly or indirectly by Iran or acts on its behalf.

"Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not responsible for the actions of any individual or group in the region," Iravani said in the letter.

Iran's ambassador also criticized the United States for its military actions in Iran and Syria calling them "illegal and in violation of international laws and the United Nations Charter, especially Article 2 (4) of the Charter."

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US forces to pay heavy price in Iraq with each passing day: Nujaba

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 29, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- A major Iraqi resistance group has advised the occupying American forces to promptly leave the Arab country, warning that they will pay a heavy price with each passing day.

The Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba resistance movement said in a statement on Monday that American forces need to understand that the balance of deterrence lies in the hands of the resistance.

"The world should witness how the United States has turned our region into a playground, to the extent that their senile president is unaware of whether his unfortunate soldiers are in Syria or Jordan," the group said.

Al-Nujaba asserted that the United States should know that it will not be able to divert the resistance from its goals and that American soldiers and mercenaries will ultimately have to leave Iraq.

"We do what we say, and the enemy has acknowledged this fact and their bases and positions bear testament to this matter and have sensed the (bitter) taste of our missiles," it added.

"They should learn a lesson and leave the country today because, with each passing day, they will pay a heavy price," the resistance group concluded.

The Iraqi resistance groups have ramped up their attacks against American interests both in Iraq and the broader region since the Israeli regime launched its genocidal war against Gaza in early October.

The attacks are part of a wider regional campaign by the resistance front to force the United States to end its support for the war on Gaza and withdraw its troops from the region.

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Taking Financial Measures Against Iraqi Bank and Designating its Owner

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

January 29, 2024

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is today taking action to protect the international financial system from being exploited by money launderers and terrorist financiers connected to Iran's malign activities. Specifically, Treasury is identifying Iraq's Al-Huda Bank as a foreign financial institution of primary money laundering concern and proposing to sever Al-Huda Bank from accessing the U.S. financial system. Treasury is also designating the owner and head of Al-Huda Bank, Hamad al-Moussawi, for his support to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Qods Force and Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq.

The United States will continue to work with our partners in Iraq and around the world to support the economic aspirations of the Iraqi people. It is vital that we work together to safeguard the Iraqi financial system from malign actors like Al-Huda Bank and its foreign sponsors that fuel violence which threatens the lives and livelihood of U.S. and Iraqi citizens alike.

The Department of the Treasury action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 13224 , as amended. For more information on this designation, see Treasury's press release .

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U.S. Treasury Takes Action to Protect Iraqi Financial System From Abuse

U.S. Department of the Treasury

January 29, 2024

FinCEN Identifies Al-Huda Bank as a Primary Money Laundering Concern for Serving as Conduit for Terrorist Financing by Iran

OFAC Imposes Sanctions on Bank's Owner

WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury is using powerful tools to protect the Iraqi and international financial system from abuse by terrorist financiers, fraudsters, and money launderers. Treasury is issuing a finding and notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that identifies Al-Huda Bank, an Iraqi bank that serves as a conduit for terrorist financing, as a foreign financial institution of primary money laundering concern.Along with its finding, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) proposed a rule that would sever the bank from the U.S. financial system by prohibiting domestic financial institutions and agencies from opening or maintaining a correspondent account for or on behalf of Al-Huda Bank.In addition, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is imposing sanctions on the bank's owner.

Al-Huda Bank and its foreign sponsors, including Iran and its proxy groups, divert funds that could otherwise support legitimate business and the economic aspirations of the Iraqi people. These bad actors fuel violence that threatens the stability of Iraq and the lives of U.S. and Iraqi citizens alike. Treasury remains committed to its longstanding shared work with the Government of Iraq to strengthen the Iraqi economy and protect both the U.S. and Iraqi financial systems from abuse.

"Iraq has made significant progress in rooting out illicit activity from its financial system, but unscrupulous actors continue to seek to take advantage of the Iraqi economy to raise and move money for illicit activity," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "By identifying Al-Huda Bank as a key money laundering channel for destabilizing terrorist activity by Iran, proposing a special measure that will sever its correspondent banking access, and imposing sanctions on its owner, we can help protect the Iraqi financial system and its legitimate businesses, as well as the international financial system, from abuse by Iran and other illicit actors."

"Evidence available to FinCEN has demonstrated that Al-Huda Bank served as a significant conduit for the financing of Foreign Terrorist Organizations," said FinCEN Director Andrea Gacki. "We will continue to leverage the full range of Treasury authorities to target terrorist financing while simultaneously supporting the legitimate use of the international financial system."

Last week, OFAC designated the Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad and its CEO for providing assistance to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and its regional proxy groups by transporting fighters and weapons. OFAC also designated three leaders and supporters of Kata'ib Hizballah and a business that served as a cover for Kata'ib Hizballah to move and launder funds. On November 17, OFAC designated six individuals affiliated with KH following the group's attacks against United States personnel and partners in Iraq and Syria.

AL-HUDA BANK FINDING

As described in the finding, for years, Al-Huda Bank has exploited its access to U.S. dollars to support designated FTOs including the IRGC, as well as Iran-aligned Iraqi militia groups including Kata'ib Hizballah and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq. Moreover, the chairman of Al-Huda Bank is complicit in Al-Huda Bank's illicit financial activities including money laundering through front companies that conceal the true nature of and parties involved in illicit transactions, ultimately enabling the financing of terrorism.

Since its establishment, Al-Huda Bank has been controlled and operated by the IRGC and the IRGC-QF. After establishing the bank, the Al-Huda Bank chairman began money laundering operations on behalf of the IRGC-QF and Kata'ib Hizballah. Additionally, Al-Huda Bank affords access to the U.S. financial system to actors known to use fraudulent documentation, fake deposits, identity documents of the deceased, fake companies, and counterfeit Iraqi dinar, providing opportunities to obscure the identities of the transaction counterparties to correspondent banking relationship providers. Of note, the chairman of Al-Huda Bank also is the bank's owner and president of the board of directors.

To protect U.S. banks from Al-Huda Bank's illicit activity, FinCEN is taking this action pursuant to section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act. Section 311 actions alert the U.S. financial sector to foreign institutions, such as Al-Huda Bank, that are of a primary money laundering concern and through the public rulemaking process, prevent direct and indirect access to the U.S. financial system.

The proposed imposition of special measure five would prohibit domestic financial institutions and agencies from opening or maintaining a correspondent account for or on behalf of this foreign financial institution.

The full NPRM as submitted to the Federal Register is available here. Written comments on the NPRM may be submitted within 30 days of publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register.

OFAC SANCTIONS

Today, OFAC designated Hamad al-Moussawi, the owner and president of the board of directors of Iraq's Al-Huda Bank, for his support to the IRGC-QF, including through support for its proxy militia groups in Iraq. Al-Huda Bank has exploited its access to U.S. dollars to support foreign terrorist groups, including the IRGC-QF and Kata'ib Hizballah. Today's actions underscore the IRGC-QF's abuse of the Iraqi banking sector to gain access to the U.S. dollars and the international financial system.

Al-Moussawi maintains relationships with, and launders money for, the IRGC-QF and Kata'ib Hizballah. He received guidance from the IRGC-QF to establish Al-Huda Bank to conduct money laundering operations for Kata'ib Hizballah, which has a prominent role in laundering money for the IRGC-QF. Al-Moussawi has used partially witting, unaffiliated individuals to execute the purchase of U.S. dollars during currency auctions held by Iraq's central bank by using their identity documents to circumvent limits on currency purchases. Since its inception, Al-Huda Bank has used forged documents to execute at least $6 billion in wire transfers out of Iraq.

Hamad al-Moussawi is being designated pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF.

Sanctions Implications

As a result of today's OFAC action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, in general any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

In addition, non-U.S. financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.

Click here for identifying information on the individual designated today.

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January 30, 2024

Release

Joint Statement on the Inaugural Peshmerga Executive Steering Committee Meeting Between the Department of Defense and Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs

The text of the following statement was released by the U.S. Department of Defense and Kurdistan Region Presidency.

Senior officials from the U.S. Government and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq conducted the inaugural Peshmerga Executive Steering Committee at the Kurdistan Region Presidency in Erbil on January 29, 2024. The committee met to assess progress on Peshmerga reform objectives outlined in the U.S. DoD - Kurdish Region Government (KRG) Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was renewed in September 2022.

The committee reviewed the progress made towards Peshmerga reform and agreed upon the milestones for the next year as part of the shared long-term commitment to unify Peshmerga forces under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs (MoPA) and build a professional, capable force to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. The MoPA has made significant progress towards financial and force structure reform, and both the DoD and MoPA look forward to the continued advancement of reform efforts outlined in the 2022 DoD - KRG MOU. The United States stands with the people of Iraq, including the people of the Kurdistan Region, as they build a strong, stable, and sovereign Iraq.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3660380/

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READOUT: Under Secretary Brian Nelson's Travel to Iraq

U.S. Department of the Treasury

January 30, 2024

BAGHDAD -- On January 28 and 29, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson traveled to Baghdad, Iraq to continue work between the two countries on countering illicit finance and strengthening the Iraqi financial system.

While in Baghdad, Under Secretary Nelson met with senior government officials including Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani, Central Bank of Iraq Governor Ali al-Allaq, Chief Justice of the Supreme Council Faiq Zaidan, and Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhaibis to discuss recent actions taken by the United States and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. The United States has worked closely with the Government of Iraq to prevent terrorists, criminals, and corrupt and other illicit actors from accessing both the Iraqi and international financial systems and to improve the compliance procedures of Iraqi banks in line with international standards. The Under Secretary also met with financial sector representatives, including Trade Bank of Iraq Chairman Bilal al-Hamdani and representatives of privately-owned banks to discuss how bilateral efforts have provided new opportunities for connectivity between Iraqi banks and the international financial system, which will benefit the Iraqi economy and Iraqi people, while also protecting the international financial system from abuse.

Yesterday, Treasury identified Al-Huda Bank as a "primary money laundering concern" due to its use by Iran and its proxies to launder money and fund terrorist operations. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to isolate the bank from the international financial system and provide valuable information including typologies and network analysis to the financial sector. Concurrently, Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on the bank's CEO. Al-Huda Bank and its foreign sponsors, including Iran and its proxy groups, divert funds that could otherwise support legitimate business and the economic aspirations of the Iraqi people.

Treasury remains committed to its longstanding shared work with the Government of Iraq to strengthen the Iraqi economy and protect both the U.S. and Iraqi financial systems from abuse.

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Iraqi Resistance announces 'suspension' of anti-American operations

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 31 January 2024 12:32 AM

The Islamic Resistance, an umbrella group of Iraqi anti-terror groups, has announced a pause in its operations against American targets across the region.

The group announced the decision through a statement by Kata'ib Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades), one of its major members, on Tuesday.

"We announce the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces," Hezbollah Brigades' Secretary-General, Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi said in the statement.

Hamidawi cited "consideration for the Iraqi government" as the reason for the decision, without elaborating.

Over the past years, the resistance has been launching countless attacks against bases housing the US occupation forces across the Arab country and neighboring Syria.

Before announcing the pause, it had escalated its attacks against the targets, citing the United States' complicity in an October 7, 2023-present war of genocide that has been launched by the Israeli regime against the Gaza Strip.

The statement, however, asserted "we will continue to defend our people in Gaza through other means."

"We advise the brave fighters of the Hezbollah Brigades to adopt temporary passive defense measures in case of any aggressive American actions..."

The statement, meanwhile, rejected claims made by US officials alleging existence of affiliation between the umbrella group and any foreign party.

"The Islamic Resistance, represented by the Hezbollah Brigades, has resolved to support our oppressed people in Gaza with its own will, without interference from others," it stated.

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Junta forces resume raids on villages in Sagaing region, residents say

Homes were burned and 5 villagers were brutally killed in one recent attack.

By RFA Burmese 2024.01.29 -- Junta forces recently killed five residents during a raid on a village in northwestern Myanmar's Sagaing region, one of several recent attacks that signals a resumption of the military's brutality in the area, local residents said.

Soldiers also arrested 10 people in the Jan. 18 attack on Me Oe village in Tabayin township, a local resident close to the victims told Radio Free Asia.

"One dead body was cut at the neck, and two others were killed after brutal torture. Their body parts were cut off," the resident said.

Sagaing has been a hotbed of armed resistance and conflict between rebels groups and junta troops ever since the military's takeover in a February 2021 coup d'Atat.

There was a brief pause earlier this month when the junta agreed to a ceasefire in neighboring Shan state with the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which is made up of three ethnic armies. The alliance's Operation 1027 began in October with a series of simultaneous attacks in multiple towns in northern Shan state.

But in the last two weeks, local residents in Sagaing have told RFA that junta forces are again setting fire to homes and killing civilians in Tabayin, Ye-U, Khin U, Budalin, Ayadaw and Kanbalu townships.

Junta troops also shelled the villages of Salingyi township on Jan. 20, leaving a child and two adult civilians dead, residents said.

Thousands displaced

Nearly 20,000 people fled from their villages in Salingyi, Tabayin, Ye-U and Khin U townships between Jan. 16 and Jan. 24, according to volunteers who are providing assistance to the displaced persons.

Junta troops have surprised some of the villages in the recent raids, a People's Defense Force official in Tabayin told RFA anonymously. Previously, villagers could hear gunfire or see smoke from neighboring villages just before their own village was attacked.

The junta is targeting civilians because they are increasingly unable to defeat opposition forces on the battlefield, according to Aung Kyaw Moe, the deputy minister for human rights for the shadow National Unity Government.

"They have no capacity to conduct battles," he said. "They have lost their ethics and morality by targeting civilians."

A lawyer told Radio Free Asia on condition of anonymity for security reasons that the killing of five civilians in Tabayin was a violation of the Geneva Conventions, which regulates the conduct of armed conflict.

"After the junta suffered great losses to Operation 1027, they became more brutal to cover their losses," the lawyer said. "However, these are war crimes with the maximum punishment of life sentence or the death penalty."

Calls by RFA to Sai Naing Naing Kyaw, the junta's ethnic affairs minister for Sagaing region, seeking comment on the recent attacks went unanswered Monday.

Translated by Aung Naing. 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.

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Karenni resistance group claims victory in Myanmar's northeast

Junta troops abandoned Mawchee city two days earlier, the group said.

By RFA Burmese 2024.01.29 -- The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force captured a mineral-rich city in northeast Myanmar, the group announced, saying most junta troops fled from checkpoints and camps on Friday, two days before the ethnic army moved in.

Karenni troops captured Mawchee city in Kayah state on Sunday with no subsequent battle, a spokesperson told Radio Free Asia. The city in Hpasawng township is home to one of the world's largest tin ore and tungsten mines.

"The entire city of Mawchee has been captured and controlled by the Karenni revolutionary forces," he said. "The military junta camps in Mawchee are in a state of retreat. We learned that junta troops retreated around the night of Jan. 26."

Because there was no battle, residents did not have to flee, he added.

Banyar, the director of the Karenni Human Rights Group, said residents had been warned that if the junta abandoned camps in towns and villages, it often bombarded them with aerial and artillery attacks.

"The junta army always does two things when they abandon these towns and villages. One is to burn the villages and the other is to shoot and destroy them with heavy weapons and airstrikes," he told RFA on Sunday. "We are worried about that. People are well aware of this situation and they are making the necessary arrangements."

RFA has not been able to contact residents of Mawchee because phone and internet access have been cut off.

RFA called Kayah state's junta spokesperson Myint Kyi to learn more about the situation, but calls went unanswered on Sunday.

Karenni joint forces have been carrying out Operation 1111 since Nov. 11, 2023. As part of the operation, the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force formed alliances with the Karenni Army, Urban Guerrilla Forces, and People's Defense Forces from Loikaw, Moebye, and Demoso in Kayah and southern Shan state. Together, the joint forces have been carrying out attacks on junta camps.

Since Nov. 11, the forces have captured 20 camps in Loikaw, Demoso, and Moebye, according to a Karenni Nationalities Defense Forces statement on Jan. 28.

Battles to occupy cities are likely to continue this year, according to political analyst Than Soe Naing.

"People are worried about the ceasefire in northern Shan state [breaking down]. Although it seems like the [military] movement in other areas across Myanmar will be calm, the Kachin Independence Army has captured Mabein city [in Shan state]," he said. "As for Rakhine state, Pauktaw has been completely seized. So the developments of the spring revolution and its momentum continue."

The Three Brotherhood Alliance and junta signed a ceasefire on Jan. 11 under Chinese pressure during a meeting in Kunming to end clashes over territory in northern Shan state. However, other ethnic armed groups have continued fighting elsewhere in the country, forcing junta troops to abandon five cities nationwide.

Shan state's Mabein, Chin state's Paletwa, Rakhine state's Pauktaw, and Kayah state's Ywar Thit and Mawchee have all been captured since the ceasefire was announced.

According to data compiled by RFA, ethnic armed groups and People's Defense Forces have attacked and seized 36 cities across the country from the military junta since October 2023.

Junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said Friday that groups should not take up arms and ignore the law in demanding self-determination, self-governance, and the establishment of self-administered regions.

He told a meeting of the junta's stability, law, and order committee these rights can only be given with the approval of parliament.

It has been nearly three years since the junta seized power from a democratically elected government in a Feb. 1, 2021 coup. The junta has repeatedly delayed plans to call national elections.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by 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.

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Myanmar junta sentences nearly 400 women in 3 years since coup

Of 20,000 people arrested, more than 5,000 are women suspected of political offenses.

By RFA Burmese 2024.01.29 -- Nearly 400 women in Myanmar have been sentenced to prison, some for more than 20 years - or even death - for political offenses in the three years since the coup, a report by the Burmese Women's Union said.

The report included high-profile women including ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and documentary filmmaker Shin Daewe among the 398 women sentenced by the junta, which took control of the country on Feb. 1, 2021.

The most recent high profile sentencing occurred on Jan. 10, when journalist and film director Shin Daewe, 50, got life in prison for ordering a drone online. When she went to pick up the drone on Oct. 15, junta soldiers arrested her on terrorism charges.

"She is a filmmaker, and she makes films. She bought the things she needed. I can't understand how it was connected to terrorism," Myint Thu, told RFA Burmese.

Being shut up in prison will keep her from family and from making more films. "It will be a loss for her, the family and the community," he said. "I just want my sister to come back home."

Most of the women were convicted under two laws: Section 50 (j), a counter-terrorism law, and Section 505 (a), a Burmese Woman's Union, or BWU, official told RFA. The latter law was added to the penal code to the junta after the coup, and it can be used to punish comments or implications that the coup or the military is illegitimate, according to New York-based Human Rights Watch.

"Some were sentenced to 40 years in prison for contacting and donating to the resistance forces," the official said, asking not to to be identified for fear of reprisal.

The junta also used Section 121 on high treason, the most popular legal provision being used to charge politicians; and section 124 on incitement to riot to charge the 398 women.

The junta also outlawed bail after taking charge and has arrested more than 20,000 people, including more than 5,000 women since, mostly for political offenses.

According to the records compiled by the BWU, of those arrested women, 39 were sentenced to life in prison and 16 face the death penalty.

Additionally, two received sentences between 45 to 65 years, seven between 30 and 45 years, 27 between 20 and 30 years, 105 between 10 and 20 years, 205 between five to 10 years, 315 between one and five years, and two under one year.

Martial law

The junta has imposed a number of martial law areas throughout the country, and most of those arrested were tried and sentenced in military courts.

According to martial law, political offenses can be given the death penalty, indefinite imprisonment with hard labor, or maximum punishment under the respective charges.

An official from the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, or AAPP, commented that the military council has purposely cracked down on women who had been participating in anti-regime peaceful protests that have been ongoing since just after the coup.

"Why are political prisoners sentenced to long-term prison terms? The main reason is hatred," the official said. "It's quite clear about the junta. To be frank, they want to kill the people who are against them."

Though many of the people arrested and unfairly sentenced are men, women are participating in anti-junta movements at a very high rate, he said.

"We see women side-by-side with men and against the regime in all ways. The regime hates it very much," the official said. "They crack down on women unjustly because they hate them so much. It seems like they are taking revenge."

He added that the junta filed charges as they pleased, and when imposing sentences, the judges themselves were only making orders according to the instructions from the junta.

But the junta's spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun told RFA in 2022 that only those who are guilty are punished in accordance with law.

However, he also said that a person who just donated a single kyat to any anti-junta cause could face imprisonment of at least 10 years or even the death penalty under the counter-terrorism laws.

According to Aung Myo Min, the human rights minister for the shadow National Unity Government, made up of former lawmakers ousted by the coup, the military courts deprive people of their right to defend themselves.

"Does a person get his or her legal rights during this kind of legal process, court hearings and passing judgements? I'm sure they won't get it," he said. "The military courts have no independence. You don't have the right to call witnesses or the right to defend. If you look at it, if a person is unjustly arrested, his or her legal rights are denied."

Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Australian Mining Companies Funding Myanmar Junta, Report Says

By Tommy Walker January 29, 2024

Australian mining companies operating in Myanmar are contributing to military government funding, according to a new report.

Justice for Myanmar, an activist group that focuses on campaigning against military-rule, says the mining companies listed in a new report titled "Mines Against Humanity" remain active and create revenue for the military. That activity, the report says, aids the junta in its attacks on opposition forces in the country.

Myanmar has been in chaos since military leader General Min Aung Hlaing and his military forces overthrew the democratically elected government in February 2021.

The coup sparked mass protests and armed revolution against military rule, which includes the civilian-led National Unity Government, the People's Defense Force and ethnic armed groups. Fighting has intensified in recent months and most say the country is now in a civil war.

According to the report, there are at least 10 Australian-linked mining firms that remain active in Myanmar.

"It is unacceptable that three years after the military's illegal coup attempt, Australia is still failing to take necessary action to block the junta's sources of funds from mining and other lucrative sectors," says Justice for Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung.

The company ventures listed include Valentis Group, Cornerstone Resources, PanAust, Asia Pacific Mining Limited, Access Resources Asia, Mission Legal, Knight Piesold, Georesources Group and PSI Drilling Ltd, ALS Limited, and Golden Land & Mining Services and MiningWatch Myanmar.

All companies were contacted by Justice for Myanmar, who questioned their business status in Myanmar, payments to the military government and entities, and what human rights due diligence they had implemented since the coup. Several of the mining firms didn't respond to the emails, while others indirectly answered, Justice for Myanmar told VOA.

But in documents seen by VOA, Knight Piesold, a global consulting firm that operates in over a dozen countries, acknowledged it still carries out minimal work in Myanmar in response to Justice for Myanmar's questions.

David Morgan, Managing Director at the company's Australia office in Perth, stated in emails to the activist group that Knight Piesold was appointed as a consultant by Chinese-owned Myanmar Wanbao Mining Company Ltd in 2013.

Their job was to conduct an environment and social impact assessment for two mines in Myanmar. Morgan insisted that his company had not physically extracted any materials and said that since 2020, the company's services have been limited to environmental issues. He said the company provided a closure plan for one of the mines in 2023.

PanAust, an Australian incorporated gold and copper producer that is owned by Chinese state-firm Guangdong Rising H.K. Holding Ltd, states in its annual business and sustainability report for 2022 that it had ceased "all mineral exploration activities" in Myanmar from February 2021 but continues to honor its contractual financial obligations.

Yadanar Maung says Australia needs to take action.

"Australia shamefully stands out among Western countries for the heavy engagement of its citizens and businesses in Myanmar's mining sector, despite the junta's illegal control of natural resources and the sector's links to grave human rights abuses and environmental destruction," she told VOA.

The U.S., Canada, Britain and the EU have all imposed a variety of sanctions on Myanmar's military regime and its entities in recent years in efforts to stop its violent crackdown.

But the conflict continues. Over 4,400 people have been killed by the military and over 25,000 people arrested since the military seized power, according to rights groups. The U.N. says the number of displaced people in Myanmar since the coup has exceeded 2 million.

The conflict has also seen Myanmar's economy heavily decline and is now 10% lower than it was in 2019. Myanmar is the only country in East Asia that hasn't recovered its economy to pre-pandemic levels, with little growth expected in 2024 according to a report by the World Bank.

But the junta is still able to continue its crackdown on the opposition partly because of the foreign revenue it receives from various enterprises. Myanmar's mining industry is crucial to the country's economy, contributing to 5.4% of Myanmar's gross domestic product in 2019, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Yadanar Maung called for Australia to sanction these mining networks to prevent them from operating with the Myanmar military.

"Australia has failed to respond to the urgent need to cut funds to the Myanmar military junta. Australia's inaction is undermining the efforts of its allies such as the U.S. and Canada, which have sanctioned the junta and its mining enterprises. Australia should stop dragging its feet, catch up with the sanctions long imposed by its allies and actively move to block the junta's sources of funds, including from mining," she added.

Myanmar is rich in resources, and mining projects include the extraction of jade, ruby, gold, silver, tin, zinc and limestone. The country is also ranked as the fifth largest producer of rare earth elements the world.

According to the U.S. Treasury, the state-run Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, or MOGE, is the junta's largest single source of foreign revenue. The U.S. imposed sanctions on MOGE that came into effect in December that prohibit U.S. financial organizations from offering services to the enterprise.

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Myanmar OKs Resumption of Construction at Beijing-Backed Indian Ocean Port

By Nyein Chan Aye January 29, 2024

Myanmar's military government has approved resumption of construction of the Chinese-backed Kyaukphyu deep-sea port after years of delay.

The project is a significant step in China's push to develop an outlet to the Indian Ocean and bypass the Strait of Malacca, a pirate-infested chokepoint on busy trade routes to the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

The State Administration Council and the Chinese state-owned firm CITIC signed the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port deal, a "supplementary agreement," to a 2014 deal in the final weeks of 2023. Discussions on the $7.3 billion port project and its adjoining $1.3 billion special economic zone began in 2010. Fighting that erupted after the February 1, 2021, military coup and COVID-era restrictions are the most recent causes of delay.

The port's 242-hectare site is in the western state of Rakhine. The northern part of the state is home to the Rohingya, a Muslim minority group long subjected to discrimination in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar. Rakhine is also known for ongoing conflicts between the regime's army and the Arakan Army from the Buddhist-majority Rakhine ethnic group.

As one of the 14 nations bordering China, Myanmar holds a unique position in the Belt and Road Initiative, a 10-year-old project to connect the world to China and counter what Beijing sees as the current U.S.-dominated international order.

According to a report by the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Myanmar route to the Indian Ocean will help China counter the regional influence of longtime rival, India and secure its oil and gas transportation routes.

But development of the Kyaukphyu port faces the same challenges bedeviling the rest of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, which is part of the BRI a escalating political unrest and armed conflict in Myanmar, according to analysts.

Yun Sun, co-director of the East Asia program and director of the China program at the Stimson Center, told VOA Burmese in a telephone interview that China's primary goal in Myanmar is for the unsettled nation to achieve stability through economic development. This aligns with China's broader strategy of leveraging economic cooperation to foster regional peace and stability, she added.

"I also think that if Myanmar is unstable, it will not be able to be a safe transportation corridor for China anyway," Sun said. "So, I think this goes back to the Chinese argument that peace and development are the two sides of the same coin, that if you want peace, you need to have economics development, and economic development will in turn reinforce peace."

A Burmese expert who spoke to VOA Burmese via Zoom and asked to remain anonymous due to safety concerns said that China's policy regarding large-scale projects such as the China-Laos-Thailand railway has changed.

"China really doesn't get much out of this project compared to their huge billions of dollars of investment," he said.

"In the past, the countries involved in the BRI projects had concerns about debt traps," he said, but now China faces an investment trap due to the billions dedicated to large-scale BRI projects. This may prompt Beijing to focus on smaller, more manageable projects, he added.

At the October BRI Summit in Beijing, China said "leaner" and "greener" projects would be the future of the global undertaking.

In Myanmar, longtime observers of the BRI projects agree that many of them are at risk from frequent fighting near project sites. The local analyst noted that since the 2021 military coup, many of the projects have stalled.

Sun said that while China's projects in Myanmar may not be directly threatened, stabilizing stable trade routes through conflict-affected areas remains a concern.

"You still need transportation between China and the port, and that will have to go through the conflict-affected areas in Myanmar," she said.

Moe Thuzar, a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute who coordinates the Myanmar Studies program, said public perception of BRI in Myanmar has shifted over time in a report for the Carnegie Endowment.

She said the optimism about the initiative's potential for infrastructure development and regional benefits during the previous Aung San Suu Kyi civilian government is now growing apprehensive about China's economic dominance and political influence, especially after the 2021 coup.

But China's approach is to navigate the current instability with an eye toward future stability and cooperation.

"The Chinese are not looking at tomorrow morning. They're looking at five years later, 10 years later. And the situation will, in the Chinese view, become more stable, and that's when those projects will become useful," said Sun. "They want to see a relatively legitimate government in control so that they don't have to deal with the sporadic conflicts."

China's long-term vision for its projects in Myanmar reflects a strategic calculation that anticipates eventual stabilization and peace.

The expert in Myanmar told VOA, "I think if the political situation becomes more stable, China will continue to make small-scale projects and investments in Myanmar. At least the railway project to Kyaukphyu sea port can start."

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Karen army claims 5 dead after junta helicopter crash

The crash killed 3 majors, a captain, and a brigadier on board, according to the Karen National Union.

By RFA Burmese 2024.01.30 -- The Karen National Liberation Army shot down a Myanmar junta aircraft, killing soldiers onboard, a member of the ethnic force told Radio Free Asia.

The group shot a helicopter down in Kayin state while it was enroute to a battalion based in Myawaddy, near the Thai border, he said, asking to remain nameless for fear of reprisals.

"Two helicopters flew in at around 2:30 p.m. today," the Karen National Liberation Army member told RFA on Monday. "They were targeted and shot with heavy weapons, missiles, drones, and cannons at the same time while they were landing."

The Karen National Liberation Army and other allied forces killed five junta officers on board.

The aircraft were a Eurocopter-356 flying alongside an Mi-35 attack helicopter, he said, adding that the Eurocopter was destroyed during the attack.The Mi-35 went back to the Mawlamyine-based Southeast Military Regional Command headquarters.

"It was fired at with a 0.5 [heavy machine gun] from Asia Road. We still don't know if it was hit or not," he said.

The five killed included three majors, a captain, and Brig. Gen. Aye Min Naung, the Karen National Union announced on Monday night, adding that another onboard the helicopter was also injured.

RFA contacted Karen National Union spokesperson Padoh Saw Taw Nee by phone for information on injured persons, but calls went unanswered.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the military junta had yet to issue a statement confirming the attack.

Apart from Aye Min Naung the commander of the 44th Light Infantry, Col. Soe Tun Lwin, acting commander of Light Infantry Battalion 9, and pilot Col. Toe Oo were among the dead, according to military sources quoted by The Irrawaddy website.

Kayin state junta spokesperson Saw Khin Maung Myint told RFA he was not aware of the incident.

On Jan. 3, the Kachin Independence Army reported they shot down a military helicopter that was delivering rations to Nar Hpawt military camp in Waingmaw township, Kachin state. The group said the attack destroyed the helicopter and killed the regime soldiers on board.

The Kachin Independence Army also claimed to have shot down a junta fighter jet on Jan. 16 near Nam Hpat Kar village in Kutkai township in northern Shan state.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by 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.

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Rights group urges sanctions against Australian mining companies in Myanmar

The businesses provide the ruling junta with support and legitimacy, report says.

By RFA Burmese 2024.01.30 -- Australian companies engaged in Myanmar's junta-controlled mining sector are tacitly supporting the ruling military regime, which is approaching its third year in power, the rights group Justice For Myanmar said in a report issued Tuesday.

The companies, their executives and investors have provided the junta, which seized power in a February 2021 coup d'Atat and has attacked protesters, civilians and resistance groups ever since, with support and legitimacy so that the mining sector stays open for business, said Justice For Myanmar, or JFM.

The 155-page report documents 10 company networks that have remained active in Myanmar following the power grab and highlights six others not currently active in the mining sector but still registered in Myanmar.

Among the companies are Valentis, Cornerstone Resources, Knight PiAsold, PanAust, Asia Pacific Mining Limited, Access Resources Asia and Australian Laboratory Services, all of which are engaged in extraction, exploration and services that finance the Myanmar junta, according to the report titled "Mines Against Humanity."

"The exploitation of natural resources is the biggest source of foreign revenue for the military junta, and mining is a highly lucrative part of that trade," the report says. "Funds from the mining sector flows to the junta through revenue sharing, rent and tax, helping to fund its ongoing atrocities."

In a media release, Justice For Myanmar a a covert group of activists campaigning for justice and accountability for the people of Myanmar a called on Australia to impose sanctions on mining enterprises controlled by the junta, and to widen sanctions against its sources of funds, arms and jet fuel, in coordination with its allies.

Funding terror

The group also demanded an investigation of sanctions-busting activity and penalizing or prosecuting companies and individuals.

"It is unacceptable that three years after the military's illegal coup attempt, Australia is still failing to take necessary action to block the junta's sources of funds from mining and other lucrative sectors," spokesperson Yadanar Maung said in the news release.

"The Myanmar military operates as a cartel that is stealing the wealth of the people of Myanmar on a massive scale to fund its war of terror and enrich war criminals," she said.

"Yet, there are Australian companies, executives and investors in the mining sector that are continuing business as usual, financing the illegitimate junta and helping to keep a corrupt and destructive mining sector open for business," she said.

Providing financial support to the military council is like encouraging and abetting crimes committed against the Burmese people, said Nan Lin, a Myanmar activist who leads the University Students' Unions Alumni Force, which has organized peaceful protests against the junta.

"We see it as if they are helping the military council to kill the people," he said. "That's why we condemn it.

Nan Lin also urged international companies and governments to impose immediate sanctions against the junta and to not engage with it.

An official from the Blood Money Campaign, a collective of Myanmar activists campaigning to stop revenues from reaching the junta, told RFA that the companies named in the report were violating various international norms and principles, including the U.N.'s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

The Australian government must heed the demands of civil society organizations and Myanmar citizens by taking action against the companies doing business with the junta, he said.

Nay Phone Latt, spokesman of the shadow National Unity Government's Prime Minister Office, has urged international companies, including Australian ones, not to cooperate with the military council but rather to support the Burmese people.

"You have to see that the junta is using the funds they get to kill their own people," he said. "That's why we keep asking for this."

The National Unity Government, or NUG a made up of former civilian leaders a has been making efforts to cut off the flow of funds to the junta.

RFA could not reach junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment, but in June 2023 he said that the regime was not worried about economic sanctions against it.

Australian response

Responding to the JFM's report, a spokesperson for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said all Australian multinational businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights in their operations and related activities.

The Australian government is not promoting Myanmar as a market for new entrants, and it continues to remind existing investors of their obligations under Australian law, the spokesperson said. The government also strongly condemns the repression and violence by the junta, but will not speculate on potential sanctions listings, the official said.

Sai Kyi Zin Soe, a Burmese political analyst, said JFM's report may cause the Australian government to take action on the issue.

"The more we know about [these] collaborations, the more tangible they are," he said. "If so, Australia will be more aware that it needs to take more accountability and responsibility for the Myanmar issue."

On Feb. 1, 2023, Australia imposed targeted sanctions and travel bans on 16 military regime members of the State Administration Council and targeted financial sanctions on two Myanmar military-controlled entities a Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Ltd. and Myanmar Economic Corporation Ltd.

These sanctions were in addition to those imposed in 2018 against five members of the Myanmar military linked to atrocities in Rakhine state. Australia also maintains a longstanding arms embargo on Myanmar.

Switzerland and the European Union imposed sanctions against the military-controlled No. 2 Mining Enterprise in 2023, which produces and sells gold, tin and copper. The company also has joint ventures with six other firms involved in large-scale gold mining.

Myanmar's mining industry generate revenue of US$116 million in fiscal year 2023-2024, and US$123 million in fiscal year 2022-2023, according to the junta's Ministry of Commerce.

Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw for RFA Burmese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Thai court drops drug-trafficking charges against Myanmar businessman with alleged junta ties

News reports in Thailand have connected Tun Min Latt to a Thai senator charged in a separate criminal case.

By Nontarat Phaicharoen for BenarNews 2024.01.30 -- A Bangkok court dropped drug-trafficking charges on Tuesday against a Myanmar businessman with alleged links to the military junta who is under U.S. sanctions, and four Thai nationals, including the son-in-law of a Thai senator, citing insufficient evidence.

After the Criminal Court issued its ruling, it ordered Burmese national Tun Min Latt and the other four released from jail, where they had been in custody since their arrest in September 2022.

Among the Thais who were freed was Dean Young Gultula, whose father-in-law, Sen. Upakit Pachariyangkun, has been charged in a separate case for suspected involvement in a transnational crime organization, illegal drugs and money laundering.

"After careful consideration, [the court] found that the prosecution's evidence lacked sufficient weight to prove the defendants guilty of all charges brought against them," an excerpt from the ruling read.

"Furthermore, the evidence presented by the defense successfully refuted all allegations, leading to the court's decision to dismiss [the case]."

In September 2022, Tun Min Latt and Dean Young Gultula were arrested by Thai police for alleged involvement in the illegal methamphetamine trade.

According to a report by the Reuters news agency, Thai authorities picked up Tun Min Latt in Bangkok on suspicion of laundering drug money through the electricity trade between Mae Sai, a Thai town on the border with Myanmar, and Tachileik, a town in Myanmar's Shan state.

The Burmese businessman has investments in the hotel, energy and mining sectors, and is a close associate to Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the Burmese junta chief and 2021 military coup leader, according to Reuters, which cited three sources.

During Tuesday's hearing, Tun Min Latt was brought to the court from jail to hear the verdict but did not speak to reporters after the ruling.

Last March, the United States government put Tun Min Latt on a list of individuals and companies with ties to the Burmese junta to be targeted with sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department alleged he was closely connected to Min Aung Hlaing, and that his companies had imported military weapons and equipment into Myanmar.

In December 2023, prosecutors in Bangkok filed drug and money-laundering charges, among others, against Sen. Upakit Pachariyangkun. The senator, who posted 10 million baht (U.S. $287,000) bail after he was charged on Dec. 14, is scheduled to return to court on May 13 for the initial hearing in his case.

Thai news reports have linked Upakit to Tun Min Latt. After Tun Min Latt was arrested in Bangkok in 2022, Upakit denied having any close relationship to the Burmese national, the Bangkok Post reported at the time.

Upakit was appointed to the Thai Senate in 2019 by the military-led government of then-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha.

According to analyst Zachary Abuza, a regular contributor to BenarNews, documentation has linked Upakit and Tun Min Latt for 24 years.

In a column published by BenarNews last year, Abuza said the two had owned companies together including The Myanmar Allure Group, which developed a hotel and casino, along with power companies including United Power of Asia and its Myanmar subsidiaries.

Benar is an online news agency affiliated with Radio Free Asia.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Myanmar demands greater focus urges UN rights chief, three years after coup

30 January 2024 - Three years after the military deposed the elected Government in Myanmar, the ever-deteriorating human rights crisis in the country is now in freefall, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday, appealing for greater attention from the international community.

"Amid all of the crises around the world, it is important no one is forgotten. The people of Myanmar have been suffering for too long," Volker TArk said ahead of the anniversary of the coup on 1 February.

He explained that fighting between the military and armed opposition groups has resulted in mass displacement and civilian casualties, with the regime "launching waves of indiscriminate aerial bombardments and artillery strikes" after recent setbacks on the battlefield.

Rise in deaths

Sources have verified that over 554 people have died since October, while the number of civilians reportedly killed by the military rose to over 1,600 in 2023, an increase of some 300 from the previous year.

Overall, nearly 26,000 people have been arrested on political grounds. The majority, 19,973, remain in detention. Some reportedly have been subjected to torture and abuses, and with no hope of a fair trial, some 1,576 individuals have died over the past three years while in military custody.

"Military tactics have consistently focused on the punishment of civilians who they view as supporting their enemies," Mr. TArk said. "As a result, the military has routinely targeted civilians and protected objects under international humanitarian law, especially medical facilities and schools."

Concern for Rohingya community

He said Rakhine state has been especially hard hit since fighting restarted there in November, with the mostly Muslim Rohingya community particularly affected.

Meanwhile Rohingya refugees living in dire humanitarian conditions in camps in Bangladesh "are again risking desperate and dangerous journeys by sea, finding few ports or communities in the region willing to accept or welcome them".

Accountability and sanctions

Mr. TArk said the crisis in Myanmar will only be resolved by insisting on accountability for the military's leadership, the release of political prisoners and the restoration of civilian rule.

"I urge all Member States to take appropriate measures to address this crisis, including to consider imposing further targeted sanctions on the military to constrain their ability to commit serious violations and disregard international law, limiting access to weapons, jet fuel and foreign currency," he said.

Invest more in human rights

Separately, Mr. TArk also called for a significant increase in funding for his office this year, warning that it remains woefully short of the funds needed to better promote human rights around the world.

Speaking to UN Member States in Geneva, he appealed for $500 million to support the work of rights office, OHCHR, amid immense challenges globally.

"Right now, we are living through profoundly divided times," he said, pointing to concerns such as spiralling conflict in many parts of the world, climate impacts, rising disinformation and an increase in hunger, poverty and inequality.

Last year, OHCHR's advocacy contributed to the release of more than 13,000 detainees. Staff also undertook some 3,664 human rights monitoring missions and monitored at least 1,088 trials, among other accomplishments.

Member States and other funding partners donated $283.2 million in voluntary contributions to the office last year.

"Yet, we are still falling drastically short of the funding we need to provide human rights solutions that are more effective and wider reaching, solutions that we desperately need in today's world marked by breakneck pace shifts and persistent, urgent challenges," he said.

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Three Years After Coup, Myanmar's Junta Losing Ground but Holding On

By Zsombor Peter January 30, 2024

February 1 will mark three years since Myanmar's military toppled the country's democratically elected government, setting off a bloody civil war that continues to tear apart the country of 54 million people.

It will also be just over three months since the launch of Operation 1027, a major offensive by some of the armed groups arrayed against the junta. The campaign has handed the military an unprecedented string of losses and redefined the war.

"When we talk about where we are today after three years, we're really talking about where we are today three months after 1027," Richard Horsey, a senior adviser on Myanmar to the International Crisis Group, told VOA.

Since the start of the offensive on October 27, opposition forces have seized several towns in northeast Myanmar's Shan state next to China, taken control of key roads to the border, and forced hundreds of junta soldiers to surrender.

The military has responded with punishing air and artillery strikes but so far failed to retake lost ground. That has emboldened other rebel groups across Myanmar to pounce, compounding the junta's losses.

"Across many different parts of the country, ethnic armed groups and resistance forces have gone on the offensive since the 27th of October," Horsey said. "It's people looking at the situation and saying, 'Wow, the Myanmar military has an awful lot on its hands right now and it's looking incredibly weak,' so it's giving confidence to these groups to go on the attack."

The International Institute for Strategic Studies, a British research group keeping track of the fighting, has recorded a rise in violence since June, with well over 1,000 events in both November and December.

Min Zaw Oo, an adjunct fellow at the nongovernmental Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, spent a month traveling across Myanmar late last year, speaking with junta battalion commanders and others.

He told VOA he found a military ill-prepared to reverse its losses after decades of mismanagement.

Down but not out

Min Zaw Oo said the military has failed for more than a generation to invest in the strategies and equipment needed to protect its fighters on the ground from attack. Fighting one or two rebel groups at a time, the military could muddle through in the past. Facing steady pressure on multiple fronts since the coup, though, has brought a fundamental flaw to the fore.

Under Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who led the putsch, he added, the military has also been promoting more senior commanders with little to no practical battlefield experience.

Min Zaw Oo sees none of that changing any time soon, to the boon of the resistance.

"Under the current leadership, I think the military is not likely to make the fix to remedy their predicament," he said. "They're going to still ... fall short of strategic solutions."

All that is prompting predictions that resistance groups could actually prevail over one of the region's largest and most battle-hardened militaries, especially since the onset of Operation 1027. What once seemed like a long shot is now looking, to some, inevitable, even imminent.

Analysts, though, say prophesies of the junta's impending defeat or collapse are overblown.

"Given gains on the battlefield and the losses inflicted on the Sit-tat [military], there's a momentum that's building up that people can see a if we just keep going we can actually topple the military," David Mathieson, an independent Myanmar analyst, told VOA.

"But I do think that any kind of forecast of how imminent that's going to be has to be very conservative. People after 1027 were saying the military will fall in three to six months. You don't know that," he added.

Much of the ground the junta has lost since Operation 1027 started includes stretches of border with India, Bangladesh and, most critically, China, Myanmar's main trade partner. A key trade route with Thailand has also been coming under increased attack from resistance groups.

Mathieson, though, said the junta may plan to hang on even without controlling the borders by consolidating in the central plains around the largest cities, including Yangon and its seaport, and by holding the main military bases and weapons factories nearby along with the roads connecting them all.

Even with just that, he said, "They've still got the capacity to supply their military with the tools that they need to fight the war."

Divided we stand

While a steady stream of desertions and the recent surrender of whole battalions have sapped the military's strength, analysts also point out that junta soldiers have not been defecting and joining resistance groups en masse, suggesting that morale, even if down, has not crumbled.

The military is also fighting a deeply divided opponent. Despite the sophisticated coordination on show by the rebel armies behind Operation 1027, the country remains a patchwork of resistance groups without a single central command, many pursuing their own narrow goals.

"So, it's very difficult at this point to say what the resistance means," said Min Zaw Oo.

As the disparate factions scramble for territory, even some loosely allied groups have been tussling among themselves. Min Zaw Oo noted two rebel groups in the east that have started arguing over which of them gets to tax locals, and another two in the west among the ethnic minority Chin that recently clashed.

"That is the tip of the iceberg," he said, adding that, with time, "We will see a lot more problems coming up."

Analysts say resistance groups may find future gains against the junta increasingly tough as the military pulls back from weaker positions and concentrates on defending a few key areas. Min Zaw Oo said one bellwether for the future of the resistance will be whether groups in the east can manage to sever the highway connecting Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar's two largest cities, both still firmly in the junta's grasp.

And as the junta continues to lose ground, they warn that it could turn even more violent, especially against civilians, as it has in the northeast in response to Operation 1027.

Of the 2.3 million people displaced by the fighting across Myanmar since the coup, the United Nations says, one-third have fled their homes in the past three months alone.

"The military might not have the ability to vanquish its opponents, but it retains an enormous capacity for violence, especially against civilian targets," said Horsey.

"It could get a lot, lot messier, and it could actually drag on for a long time," Mathieson agreed. Among his sources in Myanmar and its rebel armies, he added, "even the most optimistic ones don't think this is going to be over easily."

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Iran FM, Pakistan army chief confer on security cooperation

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 29, 2024

Islamabad, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and Pakistani Army Chief Syed Asim Munir have discussed the latest developments in mutual ties including security and border cooperation.

Amirabdollahian, who arrived in Islamabad late on Sunday at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani, met and held talks with General Syed Asim Munir on Monday.

The top Iranian diplomat and the Pakistani general reviewed the latest developments in the region, including the continued crimes committed by the Zionist regime in the Gaza Strip.

According to the Public Relations Office of the Pakistani Army, the two officials considered terrorism as a common threat which needs joint efforts, enhanced coordination, and intelligence sharing in order to be eradicated.

General Munir highlighted the importance of sustained engagement and using available communication channels to address security concerns.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to closely engage with each other and prevent any attempts aimed at creating separation between the two nations.

Earlier in the day, the top Iranian diplomat met and held talks with his Pakistani counterpart in Islamabad.

Amirabdollahian, who is leading a high-level political, military, and security delegation, left Tehran's Meharabad airport late on Sunday where he was seen off by Pakistan's new ambassador to Iran Muhammad Mudassir Tipu.

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Iran considers Pakistan's security as its own: FM Amirabdollahian

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jan 29, 2024

Islamabad, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has emphasized that the country considers the security of neighboring Pakistan as that of its own and of the region's.

Amirabdollahian made the remarks on Monday in joint a press conference with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani in Islamabad.

He added that the two countries have offered many martyrs in the war against terrorism in recent years, adding that the terrorists operating near the Iran-Pakistan borders enjoy support from third parties.

The top Iranian diplomat said that Iran and Pakistan will never allow terrorists to harm their relations and the security of their borders.

Amirabdollahian added that Pakistan has officially invited Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to pay a visit to the country, adding that the two sides have agreed to work together on a plan that ensures Raisi's visit to "the friendly and brotherly country of Pakistan" can take place in the near future.

No crisis in Tehran and Islamabad ties

In response to a question, Amirabdollahian said that the two countries have deep ties, so there will is no crisis in the relations between Tehran and Islamabad, we exchange delegations at different levels.

Referring to the cultural, historical, geographical and religious ties between Tehran and Islamabad, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, for his part in the press conference, said that our relations with Iran are based on cultural characteristics.

Jilani said that we discussed important bilateral issues in detail and emphasized that the relations between the two sides are valuable for the two nations and are an important source for peace and stability in the region.

Emphasizing that Iran and Pakistan are determined to develop political and security relations, he noted that terrorism threat is a common challenge of the two countries and Iran and Pakistan are determined to take a collective approach based on cooperation to deal with terrorism, which can be achieved.

He continued paying attention to the territorial integrity of the two countries as one of the unavoidable principles.

Iran, Pakistan to open 5 new border marketplaces

Pakistan's Foreign Minister in his remarks added that both sides agreed to have necessary cooperation regarding economic and border issues, the opening of the border markets of the two countries and the opening of an energy transmission line in April 2023 showed that the two countries intend to expand relations, and today we agreed to open five more border marketplaces.

He added that we agreed to establish a consultative mechanism at the level of foreign ministers, which will be formed regularly to monitor the progress of cooperation between the two countries.

The Iranian foreign minister arrived in Islamabad late on Sunday at the invitation of Jilani.

He had left Tehran's Meharabad Airport late on Sunday where he was seen off by Pakistan's new ambassador to Iran Muhammad Mudassir Tipu.

6125**4261

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Iran, Pakistan agree to expand security cooperation

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 29 January 2024 / 12:33

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein AmirAbdollahian on Monday said there was "no doubt" that militants located in the border areas of Pakistan and Iran were "led and supported by third countries".

Tehran-ISNA- Addressing a joint press conference alongside interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani in Islamabad, AmirAbdollahian said: "There is no doubt that the terrorists located in the common border regions and areas of Iran and Pakistan are led and supported by third countries and they never favour any good action in line with the benefits of the Iranian and Pakistani governments and nations."

Abdollahian arrived in Pakistan earlier today, following which he and FM Jilani discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

According to FM Jilani, during their meeting, both sides agreed to "establish a high-level constructive mechanism at the level of foreign ministers of the two countries".

He added that the mechanism would "meet alternatively in both Iran and Pakistan on a regular basis to oversee the progress that is being made in various areas of cooperation".

The foreign minister further said both neighbours agreed to "cooperate to fight terrorism in our respective areas", emphasising the need to allay and address each other's concerns".

"We have agreed to station liaison officers of which an agreement was already in place at the earliest date," Jilani said, specifying that they would be deployed in Turbat and Zahedan.

He went on to say that the border markets that had been established, would be operationalised at an early rate.

FM Jilani highlighted that his Iranian counterpart's visit at "such short notice testified to the deep commitment on both sides to solidify ties" with each other.

He expressed recognition that close relationships between Pakistan and Iran were "not only beneficial for development but an important source of stability for the people". Subsequently, both countries resolved to expand cooperation, especially in the political domain, the foreign minister said.

Emphasising that the threat of terrorism posed a common challenge to both countries, Jilani said Islamabad and Tehran therefore agreed to "adopt collaborative approaches to confront this menace to leverage the robust institutional mechanism".

"Respect for sovereignty and integrity remains the foundational step for cooperation," he stressed.

On the occasion, the ministers also agreed to prioritise uplift and development projects, terming the joint inauguration of the border and Hub-Bolan electricity line a testament to the same.

End Item

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Meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Iran

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani today met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in Islamabad. Senior Officials from both sides were present in the meeting. Foreign Minister Abdollahian is on an official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of Foreign Minister Jilani.

Underscoring the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran, Foreign Minister Jilani reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to deepen and broaden the existing wide-ranging cooperation with Iran.

The Foreign Minister underlined the imperative for collective and collaborative approaches to confront terrorism that posed a common challenge to both Pakistan and Iran. He stressed that robust institutional mechanisms between the two countries on security cooperation should be fully leveraged. The two Foreign Ministers agreed to immediately appoint liaison officers in Turbat and Zahidan to further strengthen ongoing security and intelligence cooperation.

Noting that security and development are intrinsically interlinked, the two Foreign Ministers agreed to expand initiatives for economic and development cooperation including through early operationalization of the joint border markets to uplift the socio-economic status of the people of both countries, especially those residing in the border regions.

The two sides also decided to establish a Joint Coordination Mechanism at the level of Foreign Ministers to oversee and steer progress on common agenda for prosperity and development of the two peoples.

Regular high-level engagements provide a leadership driven impetus to the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran. In this backdrop, the Foreign Minister renewed invitation to honourable President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi to undertake a visit to Pakistan.

30/2024

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Iran, Pakistan vow to jointly fight common threat of terrorism

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 3:43 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Gen. Syed Asim Munir urge joint efforts, more coordination and intelligence sharing to fight terrorism as a common threat to both countries.

In a meeting in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi on Monday, the Iranian foreign minister and the Pakistani Army chief discussed the latest developments pertaining to mutual relations, particularly promotion of security and border cooperation.

They said Islamabad and Tehran are interrelated through close relations in historical, religious and cultural fields, and stressed the need to improve mutual ties and foster greater understanding of each other's concerns.

Amir-Abdollahian and Munir once again expressed the two countries' firm determination to maintain close contact and block every sabotage act against the two nations.

They said the fate of the neighboring countries of Iran and Pakistan are intertwined and reiterated both sides' commitment to promote peace, stability and welfare in common border areas.

The Pakistani Army chief stressed the importance of maintaining lasting interaction to address security concerns.

Munir said Iran and Pakistan need to respect each other's national sovereignty and territorial integrity as the most important factor connecting the two countries.

During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views about regional issues and the continuation of Israel's war crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

A number of Pakistani military officials, members of the Iranian delegation accompanying the foreign minister and Iran's Ambassador to Islamabad Reza Amiri Moqaddam as well as the military attachA in Pakistan Mostafa Qanbarpour were also present in the meeting.

Heading a high-ranking political, military and security delegation, Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Islamabad early on Monday for a day-long visit to hold key talks on ways to improve relations.

He held a meeting and attended a jointed press conference with his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani in Islamabad earlier in the day.

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Iran, Pakistan won't allow terrorists to endanger mutual security, relations: FM Amir-Abdollahian

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 9:46 AM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says Iran and Pakistan are committed to improving their relations and will never allow terrorists to endanger the security of the two nations.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani in Islamabad on Monday, Amir-Abdollahian said the terrorists based along the Iran-Pakistan border areas are supported by hostile third countries.

Many Iranian and Pakistani forces have lost their lives in recent years in the fight against terrorism, he said.

The top Iranian diplomat emphasized that it is inevitable for the two countries to garner their strength to fight terrorism.

Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran and Islamabad have reached an understanding that efforts should be made to improve economy, development and welfare of the people living along the common border.

He hailed numerous cultural, historical and religious commonalities between Iran and Pakistan and said the two neighboring states have never had a dispute over their territorial integrity.

Amir-Abdollahian added that historic cordial relations between the two sides verify that "we are one nation in two different geographical areas."

Iran regards Pakistan's security as the security of its own and the entire region, the top Iranian diplomat said, emphasizing, "Both sides strongly respect each other's territorial integrity."

Pointing to constructive cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad in the international circles, Amir-Abdollahian commended firm support of the Pakistani government and nation for the oppressed Palestinian people.

Iran believes that Shia and Sunni Muslims are a single community, he said, reaffirming once again the Islamic Republic's strong support for the Palestinian people and resistance.

He noted that the Pakistani government has officially invited Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi to travel to Islamabad and the two countries' foreign ministers agreed to make the necessary preparations so that the visit would take place in the near future.

Heading a high-ranking political, military and security delegation, Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Islamabad early on Monday for a day-long visit to hold key talks on ways to improve relations.

'Bilateral relations source of peace, stability in region'

Referring to cultural, historical, geographical and religious relations, the Pakistani foreign minister asserted that, "Both sides emphasized that the bilateral ties are valuable for the two neighboring nations and are important source of peace and stability in the region."

"Iran and Pakistan are determined to develop political and security relations. Terrorist threat is a common challenge, and Iran and Pakistan are determined to adopt a collective approach to deal with terrorists, and this can be achieved."

Jilani also asserted that, "The two countries' territorial integrity is one of the unavoidable principles."

The top Pakistani diplomat noted that, "There was good communication at the level of foreign ministers and the army and military forces, which was able to solve the recent problem quickly."

He said, "We firmly believe that the security of Iran and Pakistan is the security of the region."

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 also carried out strikes on January 17 against what it called bases of the separatist Baloch Liberation Front and Baloch Liberation Army in regions close to Iran's border.

On Friday, Pakistan's new Ambassador to Tehran Muhammad Mudassir Tipu and Iran's Ambassador to Islamabad Reza Amiri Moqaddam returned to their respective posts after the brief tension between the two neighbors.

Iran FM, Pakistan Army chief discuss security, border cooperation

The Iranian foreign minister and Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Gen. Syed Asim Munir discussed the latest developments pertaining to mutual relations, particularly the promotion of security and border cooperation.

In a meeting in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, the two sides also exchanged views about regional issues and the continuation of Israel's war crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

A number of Pakistani military officials, members of the Iranian delegation accompanying the foreign minister and Iran's Ambassador to Islamabad Reza Amiri Moqaddam as well as the military attachA in Pakistan Mostafa Qanbarpour were also present in the meeting.

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Pakistan, Iran Agree to Broaden Anti-Terror Cooperation After Missile Strikes

By Ayaz Gul January 29, 2024

Pakistan and Iran agreed Monday to broaden political and security cooperation to confront terrorism after exchanging unprecedented missile strikes earlier this month against alleged militant bases in each other's territories.

The understanding stemmed from a meeting Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani hosted with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, in Islamabad.

"There was an agreement to cooperate to fight terrorism in our respective areas. We need to address and allay each other's concerns with regard to terrorism," Jilani told a news conference alongside the Iranian foreign minister.

He said that Pakistan and Iran had decided to immediately deploy "liaison officers" in their respective Turbat and Zahedan border towns to "further strengthen ongoing security and intelligence cooperation."

Amirabdollahian said Iran and Pakistan "strongly respect" each other's "sovereignty and territorial integrity."

He added, "We will tell all terrorists that we will not ... provide them with any opportunity to endanger our common security."

The chief Iranian diplomat, without elaborating, pointed figures at "third countries" for supporting militants in border regions of Iran and Pakistan.

"There is no doubt that the terrorists located in the common border regions and areas of Iran and Pakistan are led and supported by third countries, and they never favor any good actions in line with the benefits and interests of the Iranian and Pakistani governments and nations," Amirabdollahian said.

The two foreign ministers said they had agreed to hold regular meetings at the highest ministerial and military levels to prevent any future "misunderstandings."

Military tensions between Tehran and Islamabad escalated on January 17 when Iranian security forces launched airstrikes into the turbulent southwestern Pakistani border province of Baluchistan against what Tehran said were the "strongholds" of anti-Iran Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl, or the Army of Justice.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan condemned the cross-border incursion, saying it killed two children and injured several other civilians. It swiftly recalled the Pakistani ambassador to Tehran and asked the Iranian ambassador to leave Pakistan, suspending all planned meetings between the two countries.

Two days later, Islamabad carried out similar airstrikes against what it said were terrorist hideouts in Iran's southeastern border province of Sistan-Baluchistan. Iranian officials said the strikes killed nine Pakistani nationals, mostly women and children.

The two countries, however, have since agreed to de-escalate tensions and allowed their respective ambassadors to resume duties, leading to the Iranian foreign minister's visit to Islamabad on Monday.

Iran and Pakistan share a 900-kilometer-long border and routinely accuse each other of not doing enough to prevent fugitive anti-state militants from using their respective territories to plot cross-border attacks.

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Pakistan says thwarted three 'coordinated' terror attacks in border province

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 8:10 AM

Pakistan says security forces prevented three "coordinated" attacks launched by terrorists in Mach town in southwestern Balochistan.

Terrorists used rockets and sophisticated weapons to carry out the attacks on Monday which according to some reports killed at least one policeman and injured a truck driver. However, official reports did not confirm the casualties.

Security forces immediately responded to the attack, with ensuing gun battle between terrorists and security forces continuing for several hours.

Majeed Brigade of the Balochistan's Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Balochistan's caretaker Minister for Information Jan Achakzai had earlier attributed the attacks to the terrorists affiliated with the Aslam Acho group.

Achakzai said in a social media post that, "The terrorists have now retreated, and our security forces are currently in pursuit. We remain hopeful that all threats will be eliminated before dawn, by the grace of God."

According to the police, at least fifteen rockets were fired from nearby mountains which exploded in different areas of Mach town.

Terrorists were also reported to have attacked a camp of security forces near the central jail and also entered the Mach railway station.

The Inspector General Prisons, Balochistan, Shuja Kasi confirmed that rockets hit the walls of the residential colony of the Mach jail.

"Mortar shells and rockets exploded close to the walls of the colony," he said, adding that no report of any casualty was received so far.

He rejected social media reports that the gate and walls of the prison had been damaged. "Mach Jail and prisoners are completely safe and no rocket hit jail walls or premises," he said.

Sources were also quoted as saying that terrorists attacked a police station in the Gokrt area which was immediately thwarted.

Pakistan is grappling with terrorist attacks in the border province.

On Monday, in a meeting Between Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Gen. Syed Asim Munir, the two sides joined hands on more coordination and intelligence sharing to fight terrorism as a common threat to both countries.

Amir-Abdollahian also told his counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani that it is inevitable for the two countries to garner their strength to fight terrorism.

Jilani also said, "Terrorist threat is a common challenge, and Iran and Pakistan are determined to adopt a collective approach to deal with terrorists, and this can be achieved."

For decades Pakistan has been caught in the grip of rising militancy and terrorist organizations thriving within its borders.

In Balochistan, the government has faced resistance from ethnic Baloch militants who strive for an independent Balochistan.

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Election Rally Bombing, Insurgent Raid Kill Several in Southwestern Pakistan

By Ayaz Gul January 30, 2024

A bomb explosion at an election rally in Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province Tuesday killed at least four people and injured several others.

Police and health officials confirmed the casualties, saying the attack in the town of Sibi targeted a motorcycle campaign rally led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, party, headed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Hospital sources said many of the injured were in "critical condition," and that the death toll was likely to rise. No group or individual immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing.

PTI confirmed that its supporters were the targets of the attack. It said that a party candidate for the National Assembly, or lower house of parliament, had organized the gathering ahead of Pakistan's February 8 national elections.

The deadly blast followed overnight heavy clashes between security forces and separatist insurgents elsewhere in Baluchistan.

Provincial officials reported that a shootout erupted Monday night after heavily armed men stormed the city of Mach, launching dozens of rockets at several locations, including the central jail and the headquarters of the paramilitary Frontier Corps force.

In a statement late Tuesday, the Pakistan military reported that security forces had effectively responded to the "terrorist" raid and foiled it in the process. It added that the ensuing clashes left nine assailants, including suicide bombers, dead, while four security personnel and two civilians were also killed.

The separatist Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA, claimed responsibility for staging the attack, stating it had inflicted heavy casualties on Pakistani security forces. The group, however, is known for inflating the number of casualties from their attacks.

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Russian Federation flouts international commitments once again with decision not to invite OSCE observers to presidential election

OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

WARSAW/COPENHAGEN, 29 January 2024 -- The decision of the Russian Federation not to invite OSCE observers to the upcoming presidential election is deeply regrettable, leaders of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) said today.

"We are greatly disappointed at the decision not to invite the OSCE to observe the Russian presidential election," said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. "This runs contrary to the OSCE commitments made by the Russian Federation, and at the same time will deny the country's voters and institutions an impartial and independent assessment of the election."

All OSCE states have recognized the importance for our societies of holding democratic elections. ODIHR is respected worldwide for its credible and reliable assessment of elections across the region, using a comprehensive and uniform methodology. This most recent decision reflects a clear lack of will to cooperate with OSCE international observers, despite the commitments made by all OSCE countries to do so. It also adds to the growing concerns surrounding the shrinking democratic space and erosion of fundamental rights in the Russian Federation. Any system defining itself as democratic welcomes international scrutiny and encourages transparency.

"We regret that conditions have deteriorated so much in the Russian Federation that we cannot deploy observers for the presidential election in March," said OSCE PA President Pia Kauma. "The very first election observation mission organized by the OSCE PA was to Russia in 1993, and since then we have observed ten national elections in the country. It is very unfortunate that democratic backsliding has reached such a critical point that we cannot be on the ground to observe this year, but we will of course continue to follow the situation closely."

ODIHR engaged in consultations with the Russian Federation as early as September 2023 to agree on the dates for the deployment of a pre-election needs assessment mission, an initial and crucial step in determining whether to deploy an election observation and in what format. Following the 2021 parliamentary elections, when no OSCE observers were deployed following major limitations imposed by the Russian Federation authorities, the presidential vote on 17 March 2024 will be the second time in a row that the OSCE is unable to observe elections in the country.

All OSCE participating States have committed to inviting observers from other OSCE participating States and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to observe, as well as following up swiftly on ODIHR's election assessment and recommendations. Parliamentary observers from the OSCE PA put their political expertise and personal experience in electoral processes at the disposal of the OSCE through election observation work conducted across the OSCE region.

While ODIHR will not be able to observe the forthcoming presidential election, the Office continues to monitor the unfolding events in the Russian Federation across all the areas covered by its mandate.

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Putin Officially Registered For Russian Presidential Election Amid Suppression Of Opposition

By RFE/RL's Russian Service January 29, 2024

Incumbent Vladimir Putin has been officially registered as a candidate in Russia's upcoming presidential election, a vote he is expected to easily win with most of his main opponents in jail or outside the country, having fled for security concerns.

Russia's Central Election Commission (TsIK) on January 29 registered Putin as an independent candidate for the March 17 election, saying he had gathered at least 300,000 signatures backing him from across the country, the threshold needed for a candidate to be nominated without the backing of any political party.

Putin, who has run the country as president or prime minister since 1999, has taken advantage of a raft of 2020 constitutional reforms that gave him the right to seek two more six-year terms, meaning he could stay in office until 2036.

The 71-year-old Putin is already the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, who died in 1953 at the age of 74.

Russian elections are tightly controlled by the Kremlin and are neither free nor fair but are viewed by the government as necessary to convey a sense of legitimacy. They are marred by the exclusion of opposition candidates, voter intimidation, ballot stuffing, and other means of manipulation.

In mid-November, Putin signed into law a bill on amendments to the law on presidential elections, which restricts coverage of the poll, while also giving the TsI the right to change the election procedure in territories where martial law has been introduced.

Putin becomes the fourth candidate approved to run in the vote. The others are Liberal Democratic Party leader Leonid Slutsky; State Duma Deputy speaker Vladislav Davankov, who represents the New People party' and State Duma lawmaker Nikolai Kharitonov, a Communist Party member -- though no serious challenger has emerged amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent and opposition.

Much of Russia's organized political opposition has been driven abroad by the government's repression, which intensified following the 2018 presidential election and has accelerated steadily since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has been trending toward authoritarianism since the beginning of Putin's tenure. But since 2018, that trend has been more firmly entrenched than ever.

The already marginalized opposition has been crushed. Leading opposition figures Aleksei Navalny, Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Ilya Yashin have been handed long prison terms.

Draconian laws restricting free speech have been adopted since Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and, together with laws on "foreign agents" and "extremism," have been used to quash dissent.

Still, one prospective challenger, 60-year-old liberal academic Boris Nadezhdin, has emerged recently and appears to have built enough support to submit his application to become an official candidate backed by the Civic Initiative Party before the January 31 deadline.

Thousands of Russians have been lining up across the country to sign him up for the balloting, attracted by his open calls for a halt to the war against Ukraine, an end to military mobilization, dialogue with the West, and an end to the country's repression of LGBTQ+ activism.

Last week, he said he had the required amount of backing to become an official candidate, though he had yet to officially apply.

A petition not to register Putin as a candidate signed by 26 former and current lawmakers across Russia was sent to the TsIK earlier, but was rejected.

That petition emphasized that there were numerous violations of laws during the process of collecting signatures of Putin's supporters. For example, in the country's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, election officials were collecting the signatures to support Putin, which is not allowed by the law.

Regional officials were pushing for Putin while collecting the signatures, which is also a violation, the petition said.

The presidential election is the first to be held since Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Tens of thousands of Russian soldiers have died in the war, the Russian economy has been hit by Western sanctions over the invasion, and Moscow's relations with the United States and the European Union have deteriorated dramatically.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-registered-presidential -election-suppression-opposition/32796266.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Defence Minister inspects development of central research institutions of Russian Defence Ministry in Moscow region

29.01.2024

During a working visit to the Western MD's units, Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu inspected the progress of modernisation of the experimental bases of the Russian Defence Ministry's research institutes deployed in the Moscow region.

The Russian Defence Minister was informed that thanks to the improvement of the experimental base of the 12th Central Research Institute of the Russian Defence Ministry, the number of weapons and military-special equipment samples tested has multiplied.

In the research and testing complex of the 12th Central Research Institute of the Russian Ministry of Defence, the head of the Russian military department was briefed on the research conducted by the institution.

The head of the 12th Central Research Institute of the Russian Defence Ministry Igor Kolesnikov pointed out that the modernisation of the institute's experimental and testing facilities, carried out as part of the State Armament Programme, will make it possible to shorten the duration of state tests, increase the institute's throughput capacity and bring test conditions as close as possible to full-scale explosive experiments.

In the course of the working visit Russian Defence Minister inspected development of infrastructure of the 48th Central Research Institute of the Russian Defence Ministry. Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov briefed Sergei Shoigu on that two new buildings of the research cluster are currently being prepared for commissioning at the institute. The main stage of construction of the facilities has already been completed.

The construction of new laboratory buildings will ensure the creation of a research cluster in the interests of biological defence. It will make it possible to identify biological threats in the shortest possible time, to develop and produce means of indication, prophylaxis, including vaccine preparations with testing of their effectiveness, and to participate in international investigations into the probable use of biological agents.

One of the practical results of research in this field was the development and creation of the world's first vaccine against a new coronavirus infection, as well as vaccines against Ebola, Middle East respiratory syndrome MERS and a universal influenza vaccine.

In addition, the Russian Defence Minister was briefed on the development and improvement of the social infrastructure facilities created in the garrison.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Russia, Belarus to Work Together to Ensure Equal, Indivisible Security - Putin

Sputnik News

20240129

ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) - Russia and Belarus will work jointly to ensure that there is equal and invisible security, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday during a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko.

"We will work together in the interests of forming a truly multipolar, democratic and fair world order, ensuring equal and indivisible security," Putin said at the Supreme State Council of the Union State.

Lukashenko added that the international value of the Union State should be strengthened.

Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held a Supreme State Council meeting on the development of the Union State affairs.

The two presidents reviewed the implementation of the Union State core document and approved a similar one for the next three years. In addition, several important decisions were maid to further increase bilateral integration cooperation in several areas.

A Sputnik

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Sergei Shoigu inspects fulfilment of state defence order at defence industry enterprises in Yekaterinburg

30.01.2024

Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation General of the Army General Sergei Shoigu has visited the Central Military District and inspected the fulfilment of the state defence order at the defence industry enterprises in Yekaterinburg.

Sergey Shoigu inspected the production of Kalibr sea-launched cruise missiles and Iskander operational-tactical cruise missiles at Almaz Antey Corporation.

Farid Abdrakhmanov, General Director of Novator Design Bureau, informed the Russian Defence Minister that despite a significant increase in the 2023 State Defence Order, the production plan for the manufactured products has been fully met. This was achieved by expanding the company's production capacity and switching to a 24-hour, three-shift system for assembling components at all the plants.

During his visit to Novator Design Bureau, the Russia's Defence Minister inquired about the progress of this year's cruise missile production plan. The Russian Defence Minister was informed that despite the doubling of the plan, the enterprise has already fulfilled the state order for defence equipment by 17%.

At the Kalinin Plant, Sergei Shoigu inspected the organisation of production at the final assembly workshop for launchers and loaders for the S-300V and Buk air defence systems. The first batch of these systems is already being assembled under the 2024 State Defence Order.

Nikolai Klein, General Director of PJSC MZIK, informed the Minister that the enterprise had completed production under the 2023 State Defence Order ahead of schedule and had immediately begun implementation of the 2024 Order. The head of the enterprise noted that 'we are working day and night'.

After finishing his work, the Russian Defence Minister summarised the results at a meeting attended by the heads of the enterprises as well as representatives of the military administration.

'We have had a look at practically all the production facilities. We talked to chief engineers and designers. A lot of new equipment has appeared. In this respect, there has been a significant increase in the volume of production. We have more than doubled production of the missiles we need for air defence. I hope that this year's programme will be fully implemented,' the Russian Defence Minister said at the meeting.

'In addition, we are working with you on modernisation, which should significantly increase what we have today,' Sergei Shoigu added. 'But there are some key issues we need to address. And we need to address them quite vigorously. There is the question of engines, and there is the question of the establishment of launcher production'.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Russia's Defense Minister Shoigu Announces Drastic Increase in Missile Production

Sputnik News

20240130

A "significant increase" in production was announced by authorities, including almost doubling the missiles used in air defenses.

The Russian Armed Forces are expected to receive many more guided surface-to-air missiles this year than originally intended, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has declared.

The defense minister made this announcement after a tour of military-industrial production facilities in Yekaterinburg, including the facilities where Kalibr cruise missiles and Iskander ballistic missiles are being manufactured.

"Colleagues, we have toured practically all production facilities. We conversed with chief engineers, a lot of new equipment has become available," Shoigu said. "Therefore, the production volumes have been significantly increased."

He noted that "regarding the missiles we require for our air defenses," the production is expected to increase by more than double the originally planned amount, and he expressed hope that this year's production goals will be met.

The minister also suggested that the ongoing modernization of Russia's military-industrial capabilities is going to result in a noticeable increase in the production of equipment for the needs of Russia's Armed Forces.

Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry revealed that this year's production plan for Kalibr cruise missiles is already 17 percent complete.

Farid Abdrakhmanov, CEO of the Novator Design Bureau that produces these missiles, explained to Shoigu that this result was achieved thanks to the expansion of all of the company's production capabilities, as well as due to all of the assembly units working 24/7 on a three-shift schedule.

A Sputnik

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Russia Warns US Against Returning Tactical Nuclear Weapons to UK

Sputnik News

20240130

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia strongly warns the US against returning its tactical nuclear weapons to the territory of the UK, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Tuesday.

"Regarding the hypothetical return of US tactical nuclear weapons to the UK territory, I would like to strongly warn against this destabilizing step," Ryabkov told reporters.

The move would not strengthen the security of either the UK or the US, but would increase the level of escalation and threat in Europe, the diplomat said.

"We assume that despite the rather sad experience, from the point of view of ensuring European security, the experience of recent years in London and Washington, hotheads are not drawing any lessons from this, so this scenario is quite possible," he added.

The Telegraph reported on January 26 that the United States is expected to station B61-12 gravity bombs, which are three times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, at the Lakenheath base for the first time in 15 years after Washington decided to remove its nuclear arsenal from the United Kingdom in 2008.

A Pentagon spokesperson, commenting on the development, said in a statement to Sputnik that it is a US policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence or absence of nuclear weapons at a specific location amid reports that Washington plans to station its nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom.

"It is U.S. policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence or absence of nuclear weapons at any general or specific location," the statement said.

The statement noted that the United States "routinely upgrades its military facilities in allied nations."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said that the Kremlin would view the deployment of US nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom as an escalatory action.

A Sputnik

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Ruling ANC Suspends Former South African President's Membership

By VOA News January 29, 2024

South Africa's ruling African National Congress on Monday suspended former President Jacob Zuma's membership after he campaigned for a different political party.

The suspension, the latest incident in a feud between Zuma and President Cyril Ramaphosa, came after a press conference in December in which Zuma announced he would vote for the new uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party because of Ramaphosa's leadership.

In a statement, the ANC said Zuma was "irreconcilable" with the party's constitution.

Ramaphosa's ANC has been in power for the 30 years since apartheid rule ended in South Africa. From 2007 to 2018, Zuma headed the ANC, leading Africa's most advanced economy.

In 2018, Zuma was forced to step down amid corruption allegations that he is still reckoning with today. Ramaphosa succeeded him with plans to clean up the party, and the two have clashed ever since.

Zuma is being tried on multiple corruption charges for an incident that occurred when he was deputy president more than 20 years ago. The charges pertain to a multibillion-dollar arms deal between the South African government and French weapons manufacturer Thales.

Zuma has pleaded not guilty to all counts and has insisted the trial is politically motivated.

Despite the fraud allegations, Zuma still retains some support in South Africa. After he was sent to prison in 2021 for refusing a court order to provide evidence, mass protests ensued, leaving more than 300 people dead.

The ANC is now facing a difficult election year amid rising poverty, increasing unemployment and claims that the party has failed to deliver on its promise of a better life for South Africans.

The party may be forced to join a coalition as polls suggest it might fall below 50% of the national vote for the first time in its history.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.

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Sanctions against people-smuggling network operated by the Syrian regime

Government of the Netherlands - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

News item | 24-01-2024

On 22 January 2024 the European Union added a number of persons and entities to the EU sanctions list. This is because they are providing support to and benefiting the Syrian regime and assisting in people-smuggling operations. This step was prompted by a joint initiative by the Netherlands, Germany, France and Sweden.

People smuggling via the Mediterranean Sea

The EU sanctions target persons and entities associated with the Syrian regime who are involved in smuggling migrants. These persons and entities have created a business model that consists of offering dangerous journeys to Syrians wanting to flee the country, for payment. This enables the regime - which has largely created the Syrian refugee flows itself, by repressing its own people - to profit economically from these refugees. Businesspeople and companies, including those associated with an adviser to President Assad, organise flights from Damascus to eastern Libya. From there, the route used by the smugglers takes them to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea.

This route is part of a revenue model exploited by the Syrian regime which helps finance the ongoing violent repression of the Syrian civilian population. This is why the EU has put persons and entities involved with these practices on the sanctions list.

Iranian and Russian influence

Individuals who are part of the Syrian business elite have also been added to the sanctions list, including family members of Asma al-Assad, the president's wife. They profit from the regime's illegal business model and facilitate the subversive Iranian and Russian influence in Syria and the Middle East.

Targeted sanctions; the Netherlands supports the Syrian people

This sanctions package consists of targeted sanctions. It only affects the persons and entities on the sanctions list. Any European assets belonging to persons and entities on the sanctions list are frozen. Individuals and entities based in the EU are prohibited from doing business with them, and individuals on the sanctions list are subject to an EU travel ban. Therefore, the sanctions do not negatively impact support for the Syrian people, such as humanitarian aid provided by the Netherlands and the EU. By imposing targeted sanctions, the EU and its member states have issued a clear message: the Netherlands and the EU stand behind the people of Syria.

Last year, on 24 April 2023, the Netherlands imposed extra sanctions on persons and entities associated with the Syrian regime. The sanctions package focused primarily on large-scale drug trafficking carried out by the regime, repression of the people of Syria and Syria's involvement with Russia.

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Israel launches missile attack on outskirts of Damascus, killing Syrian civilians

Iran Press TV

Monday, 29 January 2024 1:09 PM

The Israeli regime has launched a deadly missile attack on the outskirts of the Syrian capital of Damascus as the occupying entity continues its brutal ground and air aggression against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Syrian media said the strikes targeted an area near the Sayeda Zeinab shrine in a southern suburb of Damascus on Monday, with initial reports putting the number of civilians killed at two in addition to material damage.

The Syrian Defense Ministry confirmed in a short statement the reports of the Israeli regime's strikes and said, "In the Zionist regime's aggression, some places in the south of Damascus were targeted, which led to the martyrdom and wounding of several civilians."

Syria's official news agency SANA reported that the airstrike was launched from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights and targeted several locations in southern Damascus.

Iranian military advisors have been assassinated in the Sayeda Zeinab neighborhood by Israeli airstrikes in recent weeks.

Syrian sources said the Monday attack was a failed attempt by the Israeli regime to assassinate more members of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in that area.

Initial reports claimed that the Israeli strikes had targeted a center belonging to Iranian military advisors in Syria but Iran's Ambassador to Syria Hossein Akbari said in a post on X that no Iranian military advisor was killed in the new Israeli aggression.

"Today's attack by the Zionist regime's fighter jets on the southern outskirts of Damascus did not target any advisory center of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and no Iranian citizens or advisors were martyred," Hossein Akbari, Iran's ambassador to Syria, said in a post on his X social media account.

"The indiscriminate attacks of the Zionists will not disrupt the resolve of the Axis of Resistance," Akbari added.

Seyyed Razi Mousavi, who was serving as an IRGC military advisor in Syria, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the same neighborhood of Damascus last month.

Mousavi was one of the companions of Iran's top anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC, who was martyred along with his companions in a US drone strike on January 3, 2020.

The Israeli regime has assassinated several high-ranking officials from the resistance front in Syria and Lebanon over the past month.

The Israeli regime launched its devastating war in the Gaza Strip on October 7 after the territory's Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.

The Israeli military has also been conducting attacks against the Lebanese territory since then, prompting retaliatory strikes from Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

The movement has vowed to keep up its retaliatory operations as long as the Tel Aviv regime continues its onslaught on Gaza.

Israel has killed more than 26,400 people, most of them children and women, in Gaza since early October.

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Several Civilians Killed, Injured in Israeli Strikes on Damascus - Syrian Defense Ministry

Sputnik News

20240129

CAIRO (Sputnik) - Several civilians were killed and injured in Israeli airstrikes that hit a number of positions south of the Syrian capital of Damascus, the Syrian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

Earlier in the day, the Tasnim news agency reported that Israeli forces had launched a strike on the center of Iranian military advisers near Set Zaynab, one of the suburbs of Damascus.

"Today ... [Israel] carried out air aggression from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, striking a number of positions south of Damascus, which resulted in several civilian deaths and injuries, and some property damage," the ministry said in a statement.

A Sputnik

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Taiwan lawmakers urge outgoing president to visit contested island

They want Tsai Ing-wen to attend the inauguration ceremony for a renovated pier, in a move likely to anger Taiwan's neighbors.

By RFA Staff 2024.01.29 -- Taipei has completed a dredging and pier renovation project on Taiping island - the biggest feature in the South China Sea to be occupied by Taiwan.

Taiping, also known as Itu Aba, is also claimed by China, the Philippines and Vietnam.

An inauguration ceremony for the project is to be held next month, Taiwan's official Central News Agency (CNA) reported without providing further details.

Legislators from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Monday called on President Tsai Ing-wen to pay a visit to the island to attend the ceremony, CNA reported.

Tsai has never visited Taiping during her time in office, and a visit now is likely to provoke condemnation from other claimant countries.

DPP legislator, Hsu Chih-chieh, was quoted by CNA as saying at a caucus meeting that every past president has visited Taiping island and it is only appropriate for her to go, too. Tsai's presence would help assert Taiwan's sovereignty over the island, as well as encourage the troops stationed there, Hsu said.

Another legislator, Lai Jui-lung, was quoted as saying that Taiping island is Taiwan's territory and, as head of state, Tsai should attend the inauguration ceremony even if tension arises internationally.

Besides the pier, the Taiwanese military reportedly planned to renovate and extend an airstrip on the island to accommodate fighter jets. It is unclear whether this runway extension project went ahead.

Taiwan's infrastructure development, as well as military activities, on Taiping island have been criticized by the Philippines and Vietnam as stoking tensions in the South China Sea.

In August 2023, Hanoi protested against a drill held on Taiping (Ba Binh island in Vietnamese), calling it "a serious violation of Vietnam's sovereignty." Taipei rejected the accusation.

Taiping is located in the north-western part of the Spratly islands, 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from Taiwan and 853 kilometers (530 miles) from the Philippines. It is under the administration of Kaohsiung Municipality.

It has been under Taiwan's control since 1956, and Taipei has deployed troops, rockets and warships there.

Despite it being called an island, an international tribunal in 2016 ruled that Taiping is a "rock" under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and therefore not entitled to a 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Both Taiwan and the People's Republic of China rejected the ruling.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Jan. 29, 2024

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/01/29

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

0900hr (UTC+8), Jan. 29, 2024

1.Dateis

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Sunday to Monday, Jan. 28-29

2.PLA activitiesis

7 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels were detected operating around Taiwan up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. One of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.

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Destinations featuring mega projects, advanced equipment gain popularity among Chinese tourists

People's Daily Online) 13:37, January 31, 2024

Photo taken by a drone shows the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

The Spring Festival travel rush in 2024 from Jan. 26 to March 5 stretches to a total of 40 days. Approximately 9 billion passenger trips are expected to take place during this period, setting a new record for inter-region personnel flow.

With the approaching winter vacation and Spring Festival holiday, many regions across the country are experiencing a significant increase in tourism. Notably, destinations that feature China's mega projects and advanced equipment are gaining popularity among tourists.

On the evening of Jan. 17, the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province witnessed the successful launch of the Long March-7 Y8 carrier rocket carrying the Tianzhou-7 cargo spacecraft.

This momentous event attracted tourists from all over the country, who flocked to Longlou township, where the launch site is located, to witness the spectacle. In Longlou township, spectators have the opportunity to view rocket launches from various locations, such as the beach, rooftops, and even the streets.

In 2016, China's first open coastal spacecraft launch site, the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, was put into operation. Since then, the number of tourists coming here to watch rocket launches has been increasing.

Children pose for a picture at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Fan Yuqing)

Over the past years, Longlou township has transformed from a small fishing town to a well-known space-themed tourism town. The number of hotels, inns, and B&B hotels in the township has grown from five to over 50, and the number of shops has increased from 230 to over 900. In the past two years, the township has received over 1.5 million tourist visits.

Wenchang has been expanding its efforts in promoting space-related tourism in recent years.

On Dec. 30, 2023, a subsidiary of Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd. launched Hainan's first commercial space-themed tourism route, allowing visitors to explore the province's commercial space launch site.

The official WeChat account of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge recently announced that since its opening to the public on Dec. 15, 2023, the bridge has seen a significant increase in tourism, recording around 33,000 visits in the first month since its tourism services were put into trial operation.

Tourists pose for a picture on an artificial island east of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

Tourism activities in the designated area for visits to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge are managed through a reservation-based group tour system. The tour includes a car ride to appreciate the bridge and a visit to Blue Dolphin Island, an artificial island. The entire tour of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge lasts around 140 minutes.

"This journey is truly unforgettable. Visiting the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge as my first stop after retirement holds great significance," said You, a tourist from Beijing with a background in road and bridge construction.

"I have explored nearly every corner of the country, yet the stories of the builders of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge have profoundly moved me. I will encourage my children to visit and witness it as well," You said.

Reports said the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge welcomes around 1,100 tourist visits daily. The bridge is open for tourism to mainland residents with valid ID cards and Hong Kong and Macao residents who enter the Chinese mainland with valid travel permits.

Photo taken by a drone shows China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) during maintenance. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

Situated in Kedu township, Pingtang county, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), or the "China Sky Eye," has transformed Kedu township into an astronomy-themed town, attracting astronomy enthusiasts and tourists nationwide.

A science popularization base here is a national 4A-level scenic area, which features an astronomy experience hall, an observatory, a cinema, and a memorial hall dedicated to the late chief scientist of the FAST project, Nan Rendong.

On Dec. 13, 2023, the FAST project was put on the list of the first batch of provincial-level tourism science and technology demonstration parks in Guizhou Province.

The FAST project is involved in various travel routes recently introduced by Guizhou to enhance the travel experience during the winter season.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Jan. 30, 2024

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/01/30

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

0900hr (UTC+8), Jan. 30, 2024

1.Dateis

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Monday to Tuesday, Jan. 29-30

2.PLA activitiesis

9 PLA aircraft and 4 PLAN vessels were detected operating around Taiwan up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.

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Statement on negotiations for Canada-Ukraine bilateral security commitments

Global Affairs Canada

Statement

January 29, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada today issued the following statement:

"On January 26, 2024, Government of Canada officials met with their Ukrainian counterparts for negotiations regarding Canada-Ukraine bilateral long-term security commitments.

"These discussions are a crucial step forward in developing Canada's long-term security commitment to Ukraine in line with the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, which was adopted during the NATO Summit in July 2023. Canada, along with its partners and allies, is committed to standing united with Ukraine and is unwavering in its support for the Ukrainian people as they fight Russian aggression, for as long as it takes.

"During last week's negotiations, Mykola Tochytskyi, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, expressed appreciation for Canada's support and assistance in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Heidi Hulan, Assistant Deputy Minister for International Security and Political Director at Global Affairs Canada, emphasized Canada's steadfast readiness to stand with Ukraine to deter Russian aggression. The two discussed key priorities and thematic areas of cooperation, as well as future steps in the negotiating process."

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Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis in Kyv meets with Ukraine's Defence Minister Umerov: "Now is a crucial time"

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2024.01.29

On Saturday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis met with the Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umerov. They discussed the course of the war and the frontline situation. Landsbergis noted that Lithuania would always support Ukraine and would never accept attempts to pressure Ukraine to negotiate with Russia under the conditions it imposed.

"Now is a crucial time of choices. With the help of all of us, Ukraine can win, and then we will have a new period of peace. But if we do not mobilise and support Ukraine in time, challenges will emerge facing not only the country that is fighting for all of us now, not only our region but also Europe as a whole," Landsbergis said.

Foreign Ministers also discussed the importance of new countermeasures and innovation in war. They agreed that Lithuania and Ukraine should cooperate in the defence industry, drones and other modern weapons production and development, where Ukraine's experience is invaluable, and Lithuania is ready to contribute.



Landsbergis underlined that Lithuania would continue to seek to respond to Ukraine's most urgent military, humanitarian, economic, civil infrastructure reconstruction and other needs and would also encourage allies to do so.

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Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis meets with Dmytro Kuleba: "Ukraine and its allies need to ramp up production quicker than the enemy ramps up theirs"

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2024.01.29

On 27 January, while visiting Kyiv, the head of Lithuania's diplomacy Gabrielius Landsbergis met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Foreign Ministers discussed the frontline situation, Western support and scenarios that could determine the future of Ukraine and Europe as a whole.

At a press conference after the meeting, the head of Lithuania's diplomacy said that the immediate frontline situation depended on the assistance of the allies.

"The success of the Ukrainians directly depends on the support of the West. We are fighting against an industrially powerful enemy. It requires all the support of the West. Industrial, political, financial, economic, whatever it may be," Landsbergis said.

Lithuania's Foreign Minister hoped the EU would adopt a new support package for Kyiv.

"I am now more optimistic that we can find a way forward and that there is an understanding among some EU members that the measure needs to be agreed upon. We are discussing what else can be done so that European support reaches Ukraine faster and helps the troops on the frontline," Landsbergis said.

It is the 8th visit of Lithuania's Foreign Minister to Ukraine since the beginning of the brutal Russian war.

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NATO Secretary General in Washington: aid to Ukraine is "an investment in our own security"

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

29 Jan. 2024 - 01 Feb. 2024

Last updated: 29 Jan. 2024

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is in the United States this week to discuss maintaining strong support for Ukraine and preparations for NATO's 75th anniversary Summit in Washington DC.

On Monday (29 January 2024) the Secretary General met with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. In public remarks ahead of a bilateral meeting, Mr Stoltenberg underlined that Allied support is helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia's brutal aggression, and that aid to Ukraine is not charity but an investment in our own security. He therefore welcomed both Secretary Austin and President Biden's leadership in ensuring that US support continues.

Looking forward to the Washington Summit later this year, the Secretary General noted that Allies are set to take further steps to strengthen NATO, including with more defence spending, where he underlined that European Allies and Canada are stepping up and have invested 450 billion extra US dollars for defence.

While in Washington DC Mr Stoltenberg is also meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, Democratic Leader of the House Hakeem Jeffries, Republican Leader of the Senate Mitch McConnell, as well as other Democratic and Republican Representatives and Senators. On 31 January, the Secretary General will deliver a speech at the Heritage Foundation.

As part of his visit to the US, the Secretary General will travel to Troy, Alabama to visit the Missiles and Fire Control Facility of Lockheed Martin. He will conclude his trip by visiting the headquarters of the US Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida.

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Ukraine Holds Talks With Hungary As Aid Package Hangs In Balance Before EU Summit

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service January 29, 2024

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he held "constructive talks" with his Hungarian counterpart as Kyiv looks to ease tensions ahead of a crucial European Union summit next week where it hopes Budapest will withdraw its veto on a massive aid package.

Kuleba and Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's presidential office, met with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on January 29 in the Ukrainian border city of Uzhhorod -- which has a large ethnic-Hungarian population -- saying the talks were marked with "frankness, sincerity, and constructiveness."

Kuleba said the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry would work on ensuring the rights of ethnic Hungarians inside Ukraine -- a key concern of Budapest's -- and bring "final clarity" to the issue within the next 10 days.

"We agreed on one simple thing. We asked the Hungarian side to provide us with an exhaustive list of questions that it has on the issue of protecting the rights of minority representatives. We have received this list," Kuleba said.

He added that "a significant part of the meeting in Uzhhorod was devoted to the issue of national minorities."

Szijjarto said following the meetings that Hungary is asking Ukraine "to return the rights to its national minority that it enjoyed until 2015."

"We came here to restore good neighborly relations. We have a long way to go, but we are ready to do this work on the Hungarian side. In Zakarpattia [where Uzhhorod is located], Hungarians and Ukrainians live in peace," Szijjarti said.

Yermak, meanwhile, said both sides are interested in holding a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as soon as possible, although he did not discuss specifics.

Orban has remained on friendly terms with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago and has opposed a massive EU aid package desired by the Ukrainian leader.

Already tense relations between the two neighbors were further strained when Orban vetoed the aid package for Kyiv in December.

The visit was Szijjarto's first to Ukraine since Russia launched its war against Kyiv. He has been to Moscow several times since February 2022.

Kyiv hopes to unlock an EU aid package worth 50 billion euros ($54.2 billion) at a summit of the bloc scheduled in Brussels for February 1.

However, ahead of the start of the talks in Uzhhorod, Orban's political director Balazs Orban (no relation) signaled a potential change in Hungary's position, saying Budapest now agreed the aid could come from the EU budget after Orban had suggested the EU money should come from a different source.

"Budapest sent a new proposal to Brussels on Saturday, specifying it was now open to using the EU budget for the Ukraine package and even issuing common debt to finance it, if other caveats were added that gave Budapest the opportunity to change its mind at a later date," Balazs Orban said on X.

His statement came after the Financial Times reported on January 29 that Brussels would "sabotage" Hungary's economy if Budapest blocks the aid at a summit this week.

"Now it's crystal clear: This is blackmail and has nothing to do with the rule of law. And now they're not even trying to hide it!" Balazs Orban wrote in reaction to the Financial Times report.

The European Union has rejected the newspaper report, saying member states are not discussing financial coercion to force Hungary to agree to financing for Ukraine.

"The document referred to in the Financial Times article is a background note written by the Secretariat of the council under its own responsibility which describes the current status of the Hungarian economy," said a statement by an unnamed senior EU official seen by RFE/RL.

"This is a factual paper which does not reflect the status of the ongoing negotiations. The note does not outline any specific plan relating to the (long-term EU budget) and Ukraine Facility, nor does it outline any plan relating to Hungary," the statement said.

Last week, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna told RFE/RL that Szijjarto's meeting with Kuleba and Yermak would also be "related to the preparation of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to Ukraine."

The Hungarian side has not confirmed that Orban would visit Ukraine.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/hungarian-ukrainian-fms-to-prepare- talks-between-orban-zelenskiy-meet/32791766.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Wider Europe Briefing: Can Europe Step Up Weapons Deliveries To Kyiv?

By Rikard Jozwiak January 29, 2024

Brief #1: The Struggle To Get Weapons To Ukraine

What You Need To Know: One of the main challenges for Western allies entering 2024 is the supply of arms to Ukraine, with plenty of worried assessments in recent months from both Ukrainian and NATO officials that stocks are being depleted quickly.

According to estimates, Ukraine fired 7,000 artillery shells a day during the summer; now it uses 2,000. It should arguably be able to match the 10,000 that Russia is firing daily. The worry has been exacerbated by the fact that the United States, by far the biggest single supplier of arms to Ukraine so far, has entered an election year with a promised $60 billion supplemental Ukrainian aid package stalled in Congress as some Republican lawmakers, in particular, remain hesitant.

In fact, Washington has been unable to provide additional munitions to Ukraine so far this year as cash to replenish stockpiles has run out. This meant that, for the first time, the United States on January 23 pledged nothing at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a forum of the war-torn country's biggest military backers that has met 18 times over the last two years to provide Kyiv with arms.

For Ukraine's allies, this means that other countries need to step up and deliver arms to Ukraine -- mainly on a bilateral basis. This is happening. But both the European Union and NATO are now trying to ramp up production and military aid to Ukraine by pushing for more joint procurement in a bid to create economies of scale.

When speaking to officials in both organizations, there is optimism. The capacity in the West is there, they suggest, and in general, so is the money. Two big question marks remain: Is there enough political will? And can production be increased fast enough?

Deep Background: Last week, the EU's diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service (EEAS), sent out a discussion paper to EU member states on what the bloc needs to do to support Ukraine militarily "for as long as it takes" - which remains the club's stated goal.

The paper, seen by RFE/RL, spells out the dangers of European inaction as Russia transforms itself into a war economy, spending 6.5 percent of gross domestic product on defense this year alone: "Russia is investing significant efforts to increase defense industrial production and reconstitute fighting units. Given the dependence of Ukraine on external support, the choices made by the EU Member States and partners in the coming period will either allow Ukraine to decisively progress or will seriously undermine its ability to resist. Uncertainty around the predictable and structured provision of military assistance to Ukraine will have consequential impact on Ukraine."

Now, the EU has done a fair bit when it comes to arming Ukraine. With the European Peace Facility (EPF), a financing vehicle separate from the regular EU budget in which member states pay contributions in accordance with their gross national income, the bloc has so far provided 3.5 billion euros to send weapons to Ukraine.

On top of that, money from the EPF has also been used to set up an EU mission, EUMAM, which has so far trained 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers on EU territory.

The document notes that: "the Ukraine Armed Forces' training needs will only increase, given the high rates of attrition and the demanding situation on the front line. In December 2023, President [Volodymyr] Zelenskiy announced an urgent requirement to mobilize a further 500,000 recruits. This will significantly impact the demands on EUMAM to provide basic recruit training along with the commensurate provision of basic equipment."

Drilling Down

Then there is the issue of urgently providing Ukraine with 155-millimeter artillery shells. U.S. production of those shells should reach a bit over 1 million a year by 2025. A year ago, the EU said it would provide Ukraine with 1 million shells by March 2024 and committed another 2 billion euros of EPF money toward it.

With two months to go, it has delivered about half of that, even though EU officials I've spoken with still think reaching the stated target is somehow possible. One of the main issues is that most European ammunition makers, unlike many of their U.S. counterparts, are privately owned. They are used to producing fewer, more sophisticated shells. In order to rejig, they want guarantees from the EU in the form of multiyear contracts and stable cash flow.

With EPF money running out, the EEAS is proposing a top-up of 5 billion euros this year and "further comparable annual increases could be envisaged until 2027." EU leaders will discuss this issue when they assemble in Brussels for a summit on February 1.

Don't expect any decision at that point. But can we expect one at all? You need unanimity for the proposed cash injection. Will Hungary and Slovakia -- two countries that have publicly rejected more weapons for Kyiv - give a green light? Hungary, for example, has been vetoing the current, eighth tranche of EPF money for Ukraine -- worth 500 million euros -- since the summer and shows no indication of lifting it.

Then there's Germany. As the biggest EPF contributor, Berlin has questioned the efficacy of the facility, with all its veto opportunities but also because it has been used to reimburse EU countries for sending weapons from existing stocks instead of placing new orders, the latter of which would force the industry to produce more.

With NATO, things are proceeding a bit more smoothly. Even though individual allies are sending weapons to Ukraine on a bilateral basis, the military alliance is stepping up in terms of joint procurement.

Its NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has agreed contracts worth over $10 billion since July, its biggest spending spree ever, including 200,000 rounds of 155-millimeter ammunition and 1,000 Patriot interceptor missiles for alliance members that could eventually be transported to Ukraine. The problem, however, is time. The shells will be ready in 24-36 months and the Patriots will take even longer.

Brief #2: Will Proceeds From Frozen Russian Assets Finally End Up In Ukraine?

What You Need To Know: Later this week, the European Union is set to take the first legislative step toward using proceeds from frozen Russian assets in the bloc to the benefit of Ukraine. But don't expect that the cash will flow immediately into Kyiv's coffers -- and don't hope for huge sums. This is still a sensitive issue for the EU, as it touches on fundamental legal issues such as private property rights and the status of the common currency, the euro. So expect Brussels to move forward carefully.

The first thing that needs to be pointed out is that the EU right now is only targeting frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank and the Russian National Wealth Fund in the club. These two entities' assets in the EU were frozen - or "immobilized," as Brussels refers to it - in the immediate aftermath of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

It is estimated that around 200 billion euros has been frozen, most of it in Belgium.

And here comes the second aspect of what the EU is trying to do: It is only the proceeds of these assets that could eventually end up supporting Kyiv; in other words, interest made off of money deposited in those bank accounts. That is thought to mean some 3 billion-5 billion euros a year that could go toward the economic reconstruction of Ukraine.

Deep Background: The reason for such a modest approach is that many of the larger eurozone members (France, Germany, Italy) but also the European Central Bank (ECB) worry what consequences the move might have on the euro -- notably, on its status as the second reserve currency in the world. If the savings of a sovereign country in the euro area can be taken, will that discourage other countries from placing money in the EU? And would that then undermine international trust in the euro?

In order to assuage such fears, a number of steps are being proposed in draft legal acts seen by RFE/RL.

First and foremost, the move would be taken in coordination with partners from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrial nations. And then the legal basis is spelled out -- so that if Russia took the EU to court, the bloc could respond with solid judicial arguments. Firstly, the legal act spells out that proceeds cannot be considered sovereign assets and don't need to be returned to Russia if the sanctions are lifted: "the unexpected and extraordinary revenues covered by this Decision do not have to be made available to the Central Bank of Russia under applicable rules after the discontinuation of the transaction prohibition, thus they do not constitute sovereign assets."

It also enumerates a long list of reasons why the money should go to Ukraine based on considerations including "the legitimate aim of pursuing the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, in particular consolidation of and support for democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the principles of international law, including international humanitarian law, the preservation of peace, prevention of conflicts and strengthening of international security and the protection of civilian population as well as assisting populations confronting man-made disasters."

Drilling Down

What EU ambassadors are likely to endorse at their meeting on January 31 is the first step in a two-step decision-making process. That first step is that the proceeds will be identified and separated from the rest of the frozen assets, something that -- as I understand it from various EU officials familiar with the process -- can happen relatively quickly.

The second step, however, will not be decided this week. It is whether to actually send the cash to Ukraine. The proposed legal text once again shows Brussels' cautious approach, stating: "in a second step, the Council should be able to decide how these net profits should be directed to support Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction, consistent with applicable contractual obligations, and in accordance with EU and international law, in coordination with partners."

The text also notes that it is up to the European Commission and the EU foreign policy chief to indicate when this can happen. In a nod to the importance of the ECB in this decision, it is also added that "in the preparation of such proposal, the High Representative (EU foreign policy chief) and the Commission are expected to consult relevant stakeholders and in particular the European Central Bank."

The key discussion among EU member states now is centered on how much time should transpire between the first step and the second one. Some hawkish members, notably the three Baltic states and Poland, want a near-immediate move to ensure that money goes to Kyiv. Others want to wait and see, especially if the U.S. and U.K. take similar steps for frozen dollar and pound sterling accounts, as "everyone in the West needs to jump at the same time."

Another argument is that such a small amount of money needn't be sent to Ukraine immediately, as the expectation is that the EU will agree soon on its 50 billion-euro funding for Ukraine for the next four years. If this can be signed into being by EU leaders at a Brussels summit on February 1, there is no real urgency to send the proceeds to Ukraine right now.

Looking Ahead

On January 31, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will pronounce its verdict in Ukraine's lawsuit against Russia regarding the alleged violation of the conventions on the prohibition of terrorist financing and the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. The lawsuit was filed back in 2017 -- so before the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine -- and concerns Russian actions in annexed Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk that have been under Russian occupation since 2014.

A day later, EU leaders will try to agree on a 50 billion-euro ($54 billion) support package for Ukraine for the next four years at an extra summit in Brussels. They had hoped to green-light this back in December but couldn't overcome Hungary's objections at the time. This time, the leaders hope to pacify Budapest by allowing some of the cash to go to Kyiv now but giving Hungary veto opportunities on future tranches.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe-briefing- jzwiak-ukraine-weapons-russian-assets/32796485.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Statement by Russian Defence Ministry

29.01.2024

At around 9.50 p.m., the Russian Armed Forces have foiled another attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack by a fixed-wing UAV against facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation.

One Ukrainian unmanned aerial was shot down over Bryansk region by alerted air defence systems.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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NATO Secretary-General Believes Weapons for Ukraine Are 'the Way to Peace'

Sputnik News

20240129

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during a press briefing that supporting Ukraine goes beyond charity, serving as an investment into global security.

"Supporting Ukraine is not a charity, it is an investment in our own security," Stoltenberg said during a press briefing on Monday.

Stoltenberg also suggested that arms for Ukraine are "the way to peace."

In October, the White House requested from Congress supplemental funding of for more than $100 billion, including more than $60 billion for Ukraine, but Republican lawmakers have refused to approve the request without including substantive measures to strengthen US border security and address record levels of illegal immigration into the United States.

Western countries have been providing military aid to Ukraine since the start of Russia's special military operation in February 2022 in the amount of hundreds of billions of dollars. The aid evolved from artillery munitions and training in 2022 to heavier weapons, including tanks, advanced air-defense systems, cluster munitions and missiles later that year and in 2023. The Kremlin has consistently warned against the West's continued arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that Western military supplies do not bode well for Ukraine and only prolong the conflict. In addition, vehicles carrying supplied weapons are a legitimate target for the Russian Army.

A Sputnik

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NATO's Door Remains Open, Ukraine Will Become Member - Blinken

Sputnik News

20240129

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - NATO's door remains open to Ukraine and the country will become a member the military alliance, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington.

Blinken described Finland's accession to the alliance and Sweden's almost completed accession process as a demonstration of NATO's open doors.

"I think the process that we've seen in actually record time first with Finland, and now with Sweden, demonstrates that NATO's door is open, remains open, including to Ukraine which will become a member of NATO," Blinken said on Monday.

As a result of the NATO Summit in Vilnius from July 11-12, NATO leaders agreed on a package of three elements to bring Ukraine closer to the alliance. The first element is the creation of an assistance program for Ukraine that will facilitate its transition to NATO standards, training and doctrine.

The second element is the establishment of a NATO-Ukraine council and the third is the cancellation of the Membership Action Plan for Ukraine, which will allow the shortening of the accession process for the country from two steps to one. However, NATO has not extended an official invitation to Ukraine yet.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that NATO expansion to include Ukraine creates a direct national security threat for Russia and Moscow considers the non-aligned status of Ukraine to be extremely important. Putin also said that Russia has always stood against Ukraine's membership in NATO due to its national security concerns, but never opposed its aspirations to join the European Union.

However, without additional funding authorization from Congress, "everything that Ukrainians achieved" on the battlefield will be in jeopardy, Blinken complained.

"It is vital that Congress pass the supplemental budget request the [US] President [Joe Biden] has put before it. Without it, simply put, everything that Ukrainians achieved, and that we've helped them achieve will be in jeopardy," Blinken stressed.

The upcoming 75th NATO summit that will take place in Washington D.C. in July will be the most ambitious one since the end of the Cold War, Blinken announced.

"All of this will come to an important inflection point when we get to the NATO summit...This is going to be, I think, the most ambitious summit since the end of the Cold War, showing NATO's adaptation to new challenges and new threats," the secretary of state claimed.

Washington's response to the deadly drone attack against US forces in the Al-Tanf base, an outpost near the Syria-Jordan border, could be multi-leveled and sustained over time, the official said.

"That response could be multi-leveled, come in stages, and be sustained over," Blinken clarified.

A Sputnik

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Ukrainian Defense Minister Admits Violations Worth $1.3Mln Discovered in One of Military Units

Sputnik News

20240129

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian Defense Ministry in the course of surprise inspections discovered violations regarding product supplies in one of the armed forces' military units worth 50 million hryvnias ($1.3 million), Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Monday.

On January 8, Umerov said that over the past four months, internal inspections in the defense procurement sector resulted in uncovering "a lot of breaches" worth over $263 million.

"The Ministry's team continues unplanned inspections of warehouses with products in military units. We discovered the non-delivery of food for more than UAH 50 million [$1.3 million]. We monitor the violations and deal with each case separately. As a result of the previous trip last week, the Ministry of Defence changed the supplier of some military units," Umerov said on social media.

Earlier in January, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said that in 2023, 220 criminal cases were opened in connection with corruption in military registration, which is four times higher than in 2022, adding that criminal cases were also opened against seven defense ministry officials.

Ukrainian authorities have been conducting inspections of military recruiting offices at all levels on the issue of corruption, with the state investigation bureau saying there are over 110 cases against personnel suspected of violations.

In September 2023, Umerov was appointed as Ukraine's defense minister, designating the fight against corruption as his top priority.

Martial law was introduced in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The next day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on general mobilization. Under martial law, men aged from 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving Ukraine.

A Sputnik

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Russian Troops Liberate Tabayevka Settlement Near Kharkov - MoD

Sputnik News

20240129

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) shared incoming reports on the liberation of the village of Tabayevka near Kupyansk in the Kharkov region and the advance of Russian troops in other areas of the special operation zone.

In the course of the special military operation, Russian units of the Zapad battlegroup liberated the village of Tabayevka in the Kharkov region, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

In addition, Russian forces repelled three attacks by the Ukrainian 30th and 32nd mechanized brigades near Sinkovka. Near Kupyansk, Ukrainian forces lost up to 30 soldiers, two armored vehicles, three pickup trucks and one Msta-B howitzer.

In addition, the Ministry of Defense published military reports on the advance of Russian troops in Donetsk and Krasny Liman. Over the past day, Russian forces repelled six attacks by Ukrainian troops near Donetsk and another one south of Donetsk.

"Enemy losses amounted to up to 280 soldiers, one tank and three vehicles [near Krasny Liman]," the Defense Ministry said in a statement, adding that Kiev also lost up to 210 soldiers in the Donetsk area.

A Sputnik

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Another round of talks between Ukraine and Germany on concluding bilateral security commitments took place

President of Ukraine

29 January 2024 - 21:18

In pursuance of the agreements reached between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz during a phone call on 24 January 2024, a two-day round of negotiations with government representatives of the Federal Republic of Germany on the conclusion of a bilateral agreement on security commitments and long-term support to Ukraine was held.

The Ukrainian negotiating team was headed by Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva.

Both sides discussed possible wording of key provisions, terminology and legal formalities.

The representatives of Ukraine and Germany agreed on a schedule of further communication between the negotiating teams in the near future.

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Keeping ahead of the enemy in the quality of drone operations is one of the main tasks of the year - address by the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

29 January 2024 - 20:23

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Results of this day.

First. Morning conference call. As usual, there were reports on all areas of government work. The military reported on the situation at the front, on each area of intense battles. Intelligence focused on current issues, with special attention, of course, to what the enemy is doing and how it is exerting pressure on its satellites. I am grateful to all our specialists who obtain relevant special information for Ukraine. A separate conversation was held on drones: the issues of production, supply, and provision for the units. It is clear that this is one of the main tasks of the year - to keep ahead of the enemy in the quality of drone operations. The more successful Ukrainian drones are, from FPV to strategic drones, the more lives of our warriors we will save.

Second. I held a substantial meeting with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, a strategic meeting on the entire first half of the year in working with our neighbors in the European Union. We discussed the details of planned intergovernmental cooperation with Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Bulgaria. The agreements that are already in place. The agreements we need to reach. It was a very informative meeting. Leadership in the neighborhood policy is what gives leadership to the entire state policy. And I am grateful to each of our neighbors - every country, every leader - who is inclined to have completely pragmatic and mutually beneficial relations, and endorses the implementation of our agreements. Productivity with every neighbor in the European Union is necessary. Today, by the way, negotiations with the Hungarian Foreign Minister took place at the level of Head of the Office Andriy Yermak and Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba. I think these were worthwhile negotiations. Mutual understanding and productivity in relations is our priority. Together with the head of the Ukrainian government, we discussed the upcoming work with donors - a meeting of the relevant donor coordination platform here in Kyiv. We also talked about the planned conferences on Ukraine's recovery, scheduled for February in Japan and June in Germany. Ukraine's position will be well represented throughout the first half of the year.

And the third for today. I spoke with the Prime Minister of Greece to thank for standing with us, for upholding justice and international law. The voice of every nation that values peace and security as much as we do is fundamental in defending against Russian aggression. Together with Mr. Prime Minister, we discussed further cooperation between Ukraine and Greece at the bilateral level and the level of the entire Europe: in the EU institutions, as well as in the Balkan region - we are preparing a new Ukraine-Balkans summit. I also invited Greece to join the organization of the Global Peace Summit.

I thank everyone in the world who helps! I thank everyone who works for the sake of Ukraine, for the sake of our warriors, so that our Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine have greater capabilities.

Glory to Ukraine!

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Andriy Yermak following the meeting with PAter SzijjArtA in Uzhhorod: Today we made a powerful step towards holding a meeting at the level of the Prime Minister of Hungary and the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

29 January 2024 - 18:57

Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary PAter SzijjArtA in Uzhhorod.

The talks were held both in a narrow circle and in an expanded format.

On behalf of Ukraine, the talks were also attended by Deputy Heads of the Office of the President of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba and Rostyslav Shurma, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Yevhen Kudriavets, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine Serhiy Derkach, Head of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration Viktor Mykyta, Head of the Subcommittee of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science and Innovation Yulia Hryshyna, Deputy Head of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience Ihor Lossovskyi, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Daria Zarivna.

Speaking to the media after the negotiations with the Hungarian delegation, Andriy Yermak said that the meeting was productive and the conversation was extremely frank and straightforward.

"Today, both sides made it absolutely clear that they are interested in holding a meeting at the level of the Prime Minister of Hungary and the President of Ukraine. I believe that today we have made a powerful step towards this meeting. Of course, we are all interested in this meeting being successful and really opening a new page in our relations," he said.

The Head of the Presidential Office expressed hope for strengthening Ukrainian-Hungarian relations. According to Andriy Yermak, Ukraine wants the meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Viktor OrbAn to be productive, and preparations have begun today.

"We did not talk about a specific date today. However, both parties expressed interest in holding such a meeting as soon as possible," the Head of the Presidential Office said.

Andriy Yermak noted that the parties discussed the implementation of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula. The Head of the President's Office thanked Hungary for the participation of its representatives in the meetings of national security and political advisors, in particular in Davos.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that during the meeting in Uzhhorod, all important issues on the agenda were discussed. He emphasized the mutual interest of Ukraine and Hungary in developing good neighborly relations.

The Ukrainian side thanked Hungary for the humanitarian assistance provided since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. This particularly concerns the shelter for Ukrainian citizens, including children, as well as the treatment of military personnel.

The Ukrainian delegation also expressed gratitude to Hungary for the compromise in the decision to open negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the European Union. The parties discussed further cooperation in the issue of Ukraine's integration into the EU.

The meeting also focused on Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration. The participants touched upon the issues of sectoral cooperation between the two countries, in particular in the areas of logistics, transport, energy and finance.

"We have agreed that our respective ministries and agencies will hold substantive sectoral negotiations on each of the projects that were announced and submit roadmaps for consideration by the governments and leaders of our countries, according to which we will move towards their implementation," said Dmytro Kuleba.

Also, according to him, the Ukrainian and Hungarian parties agreed on the need to resolve the issue of protecting the rights of national minorities. At Ukraine's request, Hungary handed over a list of issues related to the protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities.

"We received this list and agreed that under the auspices of the two foreign ministries we would set up a special commission, which in ten days' time would submit to the governments of the two countries the issues that need to be resolved and those that have already been resolved, so that we can bring clarity to that," the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said.

"We want to have this discussion at the bilateral level in order to finally settle the issue, which has already been resolved in principle, in the interests of all national minorities living in Ukraine, including the Hungarian minority," he added.

For his part, PAter SzijjArtA thanked the Head of the Office of the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for their hospitality and the opportunity to discuss various topics in detail. He also praised Head of the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration Viktor Mykyta, who contributes to the peaceful coexistence of Hungarians and citizens of Ukraine of other nationalities in Zakarpattia.

PAter SzijjArtA noted that since the beginning of this war, Hungary has always spoken about supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

"We condemn the war and want peace to come to our neighbors as soon as possible," he said.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister emphasized that during the meeting, issues related to the life of the Hungarian community had been discussed. He said that the Hungarian side had presented relevant proposals.

In addition, PAter SzijjArtA emphasized the importance of negotiations on expanding the capacity of checkpoints at the border, as well as the common goal of building a new bridge across the Tisza.

"We have come to Ukraine today to restore trust in our bilateral relations. I think we can agree that we have managed to take steps in this direction. We still have a long way to go, a lot of work to do, and we on the Hungarian side are ready to do this work and are willing to continue working together," he emphasized.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister assured that Hungary is interested in having good neighborly relations with Ukraine.

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Ukrainian Forces Report Downing 8 Russian Drones

By VOA News January 29, 2024

Ukraine said Monday its air defenses downed eight drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks.

The Ukrainian air forces said the drones were destroyed over multiple regions of the country, including Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Khmelnytskyi and Rivne.

In addition to the drones, the Russian attacks also included three S-300 missiles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday it is critical to see "increased resilience in our defense coalitions' supplies of weapons, ammunition, and vehicles."

His comments followed those by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who warned that if Ukraine does not continue to receive the support it needs to fight Russia off its land, then the United States, Europe and other parts of the world will be more vulnerable.

Such a scenario would also embolden a land grab by other authoritarian regimes in other parts of the world, Stoltenberg said.

During a TV interview with Fox News Sunday, Stoltenberg also said that Beijing is watching closely NATO's response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine. "Today, it's Ukraine, tomorrow, it might be Taiwan," the NATO chief said.

Stoltenberg, in responding to a question whether NATO's 2024 military exercises, the largest since WWII, may provoke a response from Beijing's and Moscow's strongmen, said the North Atlantic Alliance is meant to prevent war not to provoke war.

NATO operation

Operation Steadfast Defender 24 will see about 90,000 NATO military personnel take part in a range of drills across Europe in the coming months. Fifty naval vessels, 80 aircraft and over 1,100 combat vehicles will be involved.

The exercises "will show that NATO can conduct and sustain complex, multidomain 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.

Stoltenberg is meeting with top U.S. defense officials and lawmakers this week to urge the continuation of funding to Ukraine, which currently is bogged down in Congress over a dispute on U.S. border policies and other political issues.

Ukraine aid remains a divisive issue, with critics skeptical about Kyiv's ongoing fight against corruption.

Ukraine's security service, the SBU, said Saturday that employees of a Ukrainian arms company conspired with officials to embezzle almost $40 million that had been earmarked for mortar shells to fight the war with Russia.

The agency said five people had been charged and one had been detained while trying to leave the country. The five could face up to 12 years' imprisonment.

The country's prosecutor general said the funds have been seized and are to be returned to the Ukrainian defense budget.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Blinken: Without US Aid, Ukraine's Defensive War May Be in Jeopardy

By VOA News January 29, 2024

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Monday that Ukraine's defensive war against Russia was at risk without a new round of aid approved by Congress.

"Without it, simply put, everything that Ukrainians achieved and that we've helped them achieve will be in jeopardy," Blinken said at a joint news conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington.

The NATO chief expressed confidence that the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine, reminding everyone that it is in the interest of the U.S. to ensure that Russia does not win in Ukraine.

Stoltenberg also said that aiding Ukraine is a joint effort with NATO allies and that it is not viewed as charity but as "an investment in our own security."

During a TV interview with Fox News Sunday, Stoltenberg also said that a win by Russia would also embolden a land grab by other authoritarian regimes in other parts of the world, adding that Beijing is watching closely NATO's response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

"Today, it's Ukraine. Tomorrow, it might be Taiwan," the NATO chief said.

Stoltenberg said Sunday that NATO's 2024 military exercises, the largest since World War II, are meant to prevent war and not to provoke war.

Operation Steadfast Defender 24 will see about 90,000 NATO military personnel take part in a range of drills across Europe in the coming months. Fifty naval vessels, 80 aircraft and over 1,100 combat vehicles will be involved.

OCHA-Ukrainian relief

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that attacks Monday and over the weekend in Ukraine are causing further suffering for civilians already enduring harsh winter conditions.

Ukrainian officials said more than a dozen civilians were reportedly killed or injured in attacks in eastern, central and southern Ukraine over the past three days. These attacks also impacted homes, schools, a hospital and energy infrastructure.

In the eastern region of Kharkiv, authorities said shelling caused damage to homes and electrical grids. In the southern region of Kherson, attacks over the weekend also damaged homes, as well as education and telecommunications facilities, according to the governor of the oblast.

The U.N. and partners continue to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to people in these areas.

Overall last year, the U.N. and partners sent 107 humanitarian convoys to support about 400,000 residents in front-line communities in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Earlier Monday, Ukraine said its air defenses downed eight drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks.

The Ukrainian air forces said the drones were destroyed over multiple regions of the country, including Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Khmelnytskyi and Rivne.

In addition to the drones, the Russian attacks also included three S-300 missiles.

Russian-Belarus alliance

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Monday with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, to discuss expanding their alliance, which has already seen the deployment of some of Russia's nuclear weapons on the territory of its neighbor.

Putin emphasized the two countries' "strategic partnership" as part of their 25-year union agreement involving political, economic and military ties between the two nations.

"It's important that amid an unprecedented foreign pressure, Russia and Belarus have closely cooperated on the international arena and have offered unfailing support to each other as true allies," Putin said at the start of the talks in St. Petersburg that involved senior officials from both countries.

Lukashenko has relied on Russian subsidies and political support to rule the ex-Soviet nation with an iron hand for nearly three decades. Moscow's backing helped Lukashenko survive months of major protests of his reelection in a 2020 vote that the opposition and the West saw as rigged.

Lukashenko allowed the Kremlin to use Belarusian territory to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Hungary-Ukraine talks

Hungary indicated Monday that it is ready for a compromise allowing a proposed European Union aid package of $54 billion for Ukraine to be financed from the bloc's budget ahead of an emergency summit on Thursday.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been a vocal critic of the EU's financial and military support for Kyiv and maintained close ties with the Kremlin since Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.

If Hungary does not agree on the package, EU leaders have proposed an alternative plan involving a deal between 26 members and Ukraine, which would also deny Budapest access to linked EU funds.

Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Szijjarto met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, in Kyiv to discuss the aid and to address restrictions on the rights of the ethnic Hungarian community in the western Ukrainian region of Zakarpattia to study in their native language.

Hungary has an "expectation that the members of the Hungarian national community will regain their rights that already existed in 2015," the Hungarian official said, adding, "We still have a long way to go, but we on the Hungarian side are ready to do this work."

Kuleba said he considered the question of the Hungarian minority "fundamentally resolved," but that a joint committee will be established to examine how Kyiv can address Budapest's further demands concerning Ukraine's Hungarian community and present those findings to the respective governments in 10 days.

This was Szijjarto's first visit to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022 and the only official bilateral meeting between the two officials in the last two years.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis: "Lithuania and Italy see the security situation in the same way - we must work together to ensure all the necessary and long-term military support to Ukraine"

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2024.01.30

On 30 January, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis met with the new Ambassador of Italy to Lithuania Emanuele de Maigret. The meeting focused on Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, further support to Ukraine, security challenges facing the Baltic Sea region, bilateral economic cooperation, other topical items on the EU's agenda and bilateral relations.

"I recently returned from Kyiv and Kharkiv, where I very closely familiarised myself with the most important needs of Ukraine's military equipment and the importance of military innovation on the battlefield. Insufficient and delayed support is directly related to the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield. Therefore, we will continue cooperating with Italy to actively increase the support," Landsbergis said.

Landsbergis welcomed the intensifying cooperation between Lithuania and Italy in the field of economy and called for tapping into the potential of cooperation in the defence industry more actively, especially in the fields of drone production and military innovation.

The Italian Ambassador to Lithuania Emanuele de Maigret presented his letters of credence to the President of Lithuania Gitanas NausAda on 26 January.

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Macron Says EU Should 'Accelerate' Aid To Ukraine As Russia Continues Missile Attacks

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service January 30, 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Europe's leaders to find ways to "accelerate" aid to Ukraine as Russia continued to pound the EU hopeful with missiles.

"We will, in the months to come, have to accelerate the scale of our support," Macron said in a speech on January 30 during a visit to Sweden. The "costs...of a Russian victory are too high for all of us."

EU leaders will meet in Brussels on February 1 for a meeting of the European Council, where they will discuss aid to Ukraine as the war approaches its second anniversary.

Ukraine continues to hold off large-scale Russian grounds attacks in the east but has struggled to intercept many of the deadly missiles Moscow fires at its cities on a regular basis.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia had launched nearly 1,000 missiles and drones at Ukraine since the start of the year as Kyiv maintained a missile-threat alert for several regions on January 30, hours after Russian strikes killed at least three civilians.

"Russia has launched over 330 missiles of various types and approximately 600 combat drones at Ukrainian cities since the beginning of the year," Zelenskiy said on X, formerly Twitter.

"To withstand such terrorist pressure, a sufficiently strong air shield is required. And this is the type of air shield we are building with our partners," he wrote.

"Air defense and electronic warfare are our top priorities. Russian terror must be defeated -- this is achievable."

A man was killed and his wife was wounded in the Russian shelling early on January 30 in the village of Veletenske in Ukraine's southern Kherson region, the regional prosecutor's office reported.

U.S. lawmakers have been debating for months a supplementary spending bill that includes $61 billion in aid to Ukraine. The aid would allow Ukraine to obtain a variety of U.S. weapons and armaments, including air-defense systems. The $61 billion -- if approved -- would likely cover Ukraine's needs through early 2025, experts have said.

Separately, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said that Russian forces had fired 272 shells at Kherson from across the Dnieper River.

In the eastern region of Donetsk, one civilian was killed and another one was wounded by the Russian bombardment of the settlement of Myrnohrad, Vadym Filashin, the governor of the Ukrainian-controlled part of the region, said on January 30.

Also in Donetsk, in the industrial city of Avdiyivka, Russian shells struck a private house, killing a 47-year-old woman, Filashkin said on Telegram.

Russian forces have been trying to capture Adviyivka for the past several weeks in one of the bloodiest battles of the war triggered by Moscow's unprovoked invasion in February 2022.

Indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas has turned most of Avdiyivka into rubble.

Earlier on January 30, Ukrainian air defenses shot down 15 out of 35 drones launched by Russia, the military said.

The Russian drones targeted the Mykolayiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, and Kharkiv regions, the Ukrainian Air Force said.

Russian forces also launched 10 S-300 anti-aircraft missiles at civilian infrastructure in the Donetsk and Kherson regions, the military said, adding that there dead and wounded among the civilian population.

The Ukrainian Air Force later said that the Kirovohrad, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhya regions remained under a heightened level of alert due to the danger of more missile strikes.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses had destroyed or intercepted 21 Ukrainian drones over the Moscow-occupied Crimean Peninsula and several Russian regions.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces fought 70 close-quarters battles along the entire front line, the General Staff of the Ukrainian military said in its daily report early on January 30. Ukrainian defenders repelled repeated Russian attacks in eight hot spots in the east, the military said.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on January 29 warned that Ukraine's gains over two years of fighting invading Russian troops were all in doubt without new U.S. funding, as NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg visited to lobby Congress.

Tens of billions of dollars in aid has been sent to Ukraine since the invasion in February 2022, but Republican lawmakers have grown reluctant to keep supporting Kyiv, saying it lacks a clear end game as the fighting against President Vladimir Putin's forces grinds on.

Blinken offered an increasingly dire picture of Ukraine's prospects without U.S. approval of the so-called supplemental funding amid reports that some progress was being made on the matter late on January 29.

In Brussels, European Union leaders will restate their determination to continue to provide "timely, predictable, and sustainable military support" to Ukraine at a summit on February 1, according to draft conclusions of the meeting.

"The European Council also reiterates the urgent need to accelerate the delivery of ammunition and missiles," the draft text, seen by Reuters, also says.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-drone- strikes-blinken-aid/32797770.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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'We'll Fight Until We're Dead': With Dwindling Ammunition, Ukrainian Soldiers Defend Their Gains

By Aleksander Palikot January 30, 2024

NEAR ROBOTYNE, Ukraine -- "To put it bluntly, we barely have enough strength to defend what we gained over the summer," Ihor, a battalion commander who took part in the liberation of Robotyne, the southernmost point Ukrainian forces recaptured in the Zaporizhzhya region in their counteroffensive last year, told RFE/RL. "And we gained it with great losses."

A stocky man of 52 with an olive-drab kaffiyeh-style scarf around his neck, he supports himself with a walking stick: The piece of shrapnel from a Russian shell that hit him during fighting for the village is still lodged inside his leg. Over the 17 months the unit spent in southern Ukraine, hardly any of his soldiers escaped harm. Half of them died or suffered wounds that made further combat service impossible, he said.

Now, five months after taking Robotyne, the only road leading to it is too dangerous to drive because of the proximity of Russian forces. The roar of artillery fire and the whiz of falling shells thunders over the snow-covered steppe. Dozens of drones hanging in the sky spot almost any movement and attacks come in minutes.

Nearly two years into their full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian troops are on the offensive on almost all sections of the front line, including in the Zaporizhzhya region, where Robotyne is located, backed by an economy on a war footing. Ukraine is holding ground despite uncertainty concerning Western aid, emptying ammunition stockpiles, and manpower shortage.

Halted Advance

When Ukraine's widely anticipated counteroffensive aimed at breaking through toward Melitopol, Berdyansk, and the Azov Sea coast kicked off last June, the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade -- which includes the First Battalion, led by Ihor -- was supposed to support the newly created NATO-trained and Western-equipped assault formations.

But as the Ukrainian attempt at a quick and decisive attack with tanks and armored vehicles failed almost instantly the brigade found itself at the forefront of what would turn out to be monthslong endeavors to break through a series of Russian trenches, anti-tank obstacles, and minefields known as the Surovikin Line.

Its gradual southward advance started with the seizure of a strategic hilltop south of the town of Orikhiv referred to as "Position X" due to the shape of Russian fortification there.

Russian troops held on through five assaults and were forced to retreat only after a surprise attack carried out during their shift change. Once they took it, the Ukrainians would not have held the position without ammunition left by the Russians, soldiers from the brigade told RFE/RL.

After that, several Ukrainian brigades fought their way through Russian defenses for two months before they raised the national flag in Robotyne in late August. A month later they reported a breakthrough close to the neighboring village of Verbove, but since then their movement toward Tokmak, a strategic road-and-rail hub for the way to Melitopol, has stopped.

According to Ihor, Ukraine's push forward was halted because unlike during the successful campaigns in Kharkiv and Kherson regions in autumn 2022, Russian forces expected it and prepared for it. He said that for his brigade, fighting against echelon formations on the mostly flat terrain with insufficient air support resulted in a loss ratio of 1:5 -- five Ukrainian casualties for every Russian killed or wounded in action.

"If you think that after all this we are looking forward to a cease-fire, you are dead wrong: We will fight for every inch of the ground we took back," he said.

'Hardly Possible'

Today "Position X" provides a viewpoint overlooking the territory reclaimed by Ukraine.

To get to their positions, most of which were recaptured from Russians, Ukrainian soldiers must walk several kilometers on foot, usually early in the morning when the visibility is low.

They spend days and nights in trenches and dugouts running along the shattered tree lines cutting through the flat landscape, havens that offer limited protection from artillery fire and drone-dropped munitions.

The winter in southern Ukraine is relatively warm with temperatures fluctuating around zero degrees Celsius even as late as in January. The steppe wind, however, can be piercingly cold. Lighting a campfire or turning on an electricity generator risks detection by Russian forces.

Since autumn, trenches have been plagued by swarms of mice and rats. They are crawling into soldiers' clothing, biting fingers, and causing sleepless nights. If not suppressed, the rodent infestation can spread rat-bite fever, which can cause soldiers to vomit and even bleed from their eyes.

But these problems pale in comparison to the constant threat to life from Russian fire.

According to reconnaissance soldiers from the 65th Brigade, Russian troops assault the first line of Ukrainian defenses two or three times on "quiet" days and around 10 times on "hot" days.

The attacks are carried out not by professional soldiers but by forcefully mobilized novices and ex-convicts, often under the influence of drugs, according to Kit, a scout whose unit recently took six Russian soldiers captive.

"It's hardly possible to fight in such conditions," an infantryman who goes by the call sign Dym (Smoke) and recently fought against attacking Russian forces, told RFE/RL. Th Russians, he said, have an advantage in all types of weapons and "feel like they're at home here."

Ukrainian artillery crews and drone teams try to prevent or stop these assaults.

"Our job is to cover our boys in the first line," a mortar-team commander known as Rikki told RFE/RL as he walked out of a tiny dugout he has been sharing for over six months with two fellow soldiers, Winston, 26, and Batya (Dad), 48.

At their position, one can tell that Ukraine's supply of shells has dwindled just by listening: For every 10 incoming Russian shells, the Ukrainians fire one or two. The team has been firing just up to five shells per day at Russian infantry, Rikki 28, told RFE/RL, adding: "We are fighting with what we have."

After almost two years of fighting in the area, the two sides know each other very well.

Dobrat, 25, the head of a Ukrainian tank unit, told RFE/RL that by now his team "knows the coordinates of all possible points on the enemy terrain."

Two of his soldiers, Shakhist and Grek, both 54, counted that they have fired more than 1,000 rounds from their Soviet-era T-72 tanks. Both had been trained at a Soviet base in East Germany in the 1980s, and decades later both were mobilized shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was also stationed in East Germany in the 1980s with the KGB, launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

"It's not the most modern weapon, but it still does the job," Grek said, adding that drones, especially kamikaze drones, pose a great risk.

Different kinds of drones have been increasingly used by both sides of the war in Ukraine due to their low cost and high accuracy, which allows pilots to target moving vehicles and infantry. They also play a vital role in the real-time observation of the battlefield and correcting artillery fire.

But flying drones in wintertime gets difficult. The batteries of popular FPV drones have shorter lifespans in lower temperatures and thus they usually fly for no more than 30 minutes. Low visibility also limits their reconnaissance capabilities, a 30-year-old drone operator with the call sign Dzhyn (Genie) told RFE/RL.

Minutes earlier, the team had lost a drone shortly after taking it up. Unlike most of the grounded drones that get jammed by Russian radio-electronic warfare systems, their drone was simply crushed by strong wind and cold temperatures.

"It went to drone heaven," said Dzhyn's comrade Leshiy, 33. "They were made for wedding ceremonies, not for war."

But drones, especially those equipped with night-vision cameras, have made warfare more dangerous than ever before.

Even ground assaults are meant in part to force enemy troops to reveal their camouflaged positions to reconnaissance drones and make them vulnerable to attack from the air, soldiers from the brigade told RFE/RL.

And according to Ihor, the warfare on Ukraine's southern steppes has reached an equilibrium impossible to break without a large number of resources or a technological leap.

With a $61 billion package of mostly military aid stymied in the U.S. Congress and questions looming over future EU aid, it's unclear when those resources might come -- if they ever do.

'Low' Morale

Moreover, as the war drags on and Ukraine struggles to reform its military enlistment system, the shortage of manpower is an increasingly acute problem.

In December, the 65th Brigade was reinforced with the 57th Separate Rifle Battalion. The unit had spent the previous 13 months fighting in Bakhmut and other areas in the eastern Donbas region that have seen some of the most intense fighting of the war.

Members of the unit spoke to RFE/RL at an abandoned school after their first fights in the Robotyne area.

The 10 men, visibly exhausted and some of them in great physical pain, spoke candidly of discontent with their treatment by the military brass and army bureaucracy. Soldiers voiced anger at medical commissions, at the high-level leaders who decided to move them to the south, and at having to fight despite the losses and what they called a lack of weapons.

"Had I known how the army would treat me, I would not have joined," said Mykola, 58, a soldier who volunteered to fight almost two years ago.

The battalion suffered heavy losses and was not given time to recover, soldiers said. Most of its members, farmers and workers from the Chernivitsi region in the west, volunteered to fight.

"Most of us joined driven by patriotism, and most are already dead," said a soldier with the call sign Lutiy, 41.

According to Polyn, the unit's medic, the average age of the battalion members is 47, which means most of them joined the army already with injuries and illnesses. Several men said they tried to leave the frontline positions, but the military medical commission rejected their requests. Three said they were asked, openly or through hints, to pay bribes in exchange for permission to leave the front on health grounds.

Truman, the battalion's psychologist, told RFE/RL that the soldiers' morale is "low" and that some have left the unit to receive psychiatric treatment.

"The uncertainty about the future adds to the pessimism," he said.

Back at the headquarters of the 65th Brigade, Ihor remained undaunted, staring at the monitors displaying the real-time footage of the battlefield.

He said the units with good leadership and commanders who join the fight on the ground maintain better morale. He also argued that the military enlistment system has long needed reform.

"One campaign is successful, another is not," he said. "It's difficult to fight with no airplanes, few tanks, little artillery, and scarce ammunition, but if Plan A doesn't work, we have Plan B and C. We will batter them with drones, we will conduct partisan raids in their rear. We'll fight until we're dead."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-soldiers-defend- gains-ammunition-front-line-/32798150.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Zelensky Reportedly Dead Set on Ousting Top General Zaluzhny

Sputnik News

20240130

While General Valery Zaluzhny still remains Ukraine's commander-in-chief despite rumors of his impending sacking emerging on Monday, his resignation is apparently still being sought by the Ukrainian president.

Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny has reportedly been told by President Volodymyr Zelensky that he was to be dismissed, the Financial Times has reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The newspaper's sources claimed that Zaluzhny was offered a position as a defense adviser instead, though Zelensky supposedly made clear that the general would be let go from his current position regardless of whether he took that offer or not.

The sources also alleged that Zaluzhny's ousting may not take place immediately, after speculations about his impending dismissal surfaced in the media, even though Zelensky has supposedly already made up his mind on this matter.

Rumors and speculations about Zelensky moving to sack Zaluzhny started appearing in media outlets and on social media on Monday, though as of today Zaluzhny seems to be still leading the Ukrainian military.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Zelensky and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry both denied reports about Zaluzhny's alleged dismissal.

Relations between Zaluzhny and Zelensky soured around the time when it became clear that the overhyped Ukrainian counteroffensive ended in a complete failure, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops for no tangible gains.

Claims about Zaluzhny being more popular than Zelensky among the Ukrainian troops also seem to lend credence to speculations about the Ukrainian president regarding his commander-in-chief as a potential political rival.

A Sputnik

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US-Made Small Diameter Bomb Expected to Arrive in Ukraine as Soon as Wednesday - Reports

Sputnik News

20240130

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States will deliver the first batch of new long-range precision bombs to Ukraine on Wednesday following successful tests almost a year after the US announced it would deliver the weapons to Kiev, Politico reported on Tuesday, citing a US official and other people in the know.

The Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs have a 90-mile range and are made by Boeing, the report said.

The bombs, which even the United States does not yet have in its arsenal, will be used for the first time on the battlefield in Ukraine and are expected to be "a significant capability for Ukraine," the official said.

Western countries have been providing military aid to Ukraine since the start of Russia's special military operation in February 2022 in the amount of hundreds of billions of dollars. The aid evolved from artillery munitions and training in 2022 to heavier weapons, including tanks, advanced air-defense systems, cluster munitions and missiles later that year and in 2023. The Kremlin has consistently warned against the West's continued arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that NATO's expansion to include Ukraine creates a direct national security threat to Russia and Moscow considers the non-aligned status of Ukraine to be extremely important. Putin also said that Russia has always stood against Ukraine's membership in NATO due to its national security concerns, but never opposed its aspirations to join the European Union.

A Sputnik

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Russian Troops Destroy Ukraine's German-Made IRIS-T Radar - MoD

Sputnik News

20240130

On Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) shared the latest news on the successes of the Russian forces throughout the special operation zone.

In its latest report, the Defense Ministry declared that Russian troops had successfully hit Ukraine's German-made IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile radar with a high-precision strike.

"Over the past 24 hours, [Russian units] destroyed a Ukrainian fuel depot, German-made IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile complex radar station, as well as Ukrainian troops and military equipment in 112 districts," the MoD reported.

Advancement in Donetsk Region

In the Donetsk area, Russian units of the Yug Battle Group took better tactical positions using air, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems, the Defense Ministry added.

Russian forces hammered Ukrainian troops and equipment in the settlements of Krasnoye, Andreyevka, Novomikhaylovka, Kurdumovka and Georgiyevka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

"The enemy lost up to 310 soldiers, both killed and wounded, two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and 11 combat vehicles. In addition, during the counter-battery fight, Russian troops hit a Polish Krab self-propelled howitzer and two Msta-B howitzers," the Defense Ministry announced.

Developments in Kupyansk and Krasny Liman

Ukrainian forces have suffered about 430 casualties in the Kupyansk and Krasny Liman areas over the past 24 hours, the MoD reported.

"Enemy losses [in Krasny Liman] amounted to about 290 military personnel, three tanks, four armored combat vehicles and five combat vehicles," the MoD noted, adding that Ukraine also lost 140 personnel in Kupyansk.

A Sputnik

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Joint UK-Japan Plan to Supply Artillery Shells to Ukraine Falls Through - Reports

Sputnik News

20240130

More bad news for Ukraine - Japan and the UK fail to carry out preliminary agreements on supplying the struggling army with more artillery, as the silver lining at the end of the tunnel goes dim for the Kiev regime.

Efforts by the UK and Japan to replenish Ukraine's artillery stocks have fallen through, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported, citing sources privy to the draft.

There are two core aspects to the issue - the technical mismatch of the British and the Japanese military blueprints, and the limited production capacity of the supposed Japanese contractor.

By the initiative, Japan was to produce 155 mm shells under an official license granted by the BAE Systems company, one of the leading global defense contractors.

The shells in question were to be manufactured at local Japanese facilities and then were supposed to be shipped over to the UK. Thus, Japan was essentially getting tacitly involved in supplying the Kiev regime with foreign arms without ever having to openly side with Ukraine in the ongoing conflict.

Last December, The Financial Times reported on a similar plan being considered between Japan and the US. The draft was aimed at replenishing the now depleted Western armory stockpiles, so that Kiev's sponsors were in a better place to provide even more supplies without having to compromise their own military potential.

However, both plans stalled. According to the WSJ sources, British officials have assessed whether the military could use 155 mm projectiles produced by the Japanese Komatsu manufacturer, and have ultimately decided to scrap the plan altogether.

The main issue reportedly stems from troubles in using weapons and arms systems that come from different manufacturers. Besides, the WSJ also noted Komatsu's limited manufacturing capacity of the shells.

The US and its allies ramped up their military assistance to Kiev shortly after Russia launched its special military operation in 2022. Moscow has repeatedly warned that NATO countries are "playing with fire" by supplying arms that the Kremlin said adds to prolonging the conflict in Ukraine. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, for his part, underscored that any cargo with weapons for the Zelensky regime would become a legitimate target for Russian forces.

A Sputnik

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Andriy Yermak: International Task Force will develop a recommendation document to help Ukraine move towards Euro-Atlantic integration

President of Ukraine

30 January 2024 - 21:21

The key objective of the International Task Force on Security and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine co-chaired by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and NATO Secretary General in 2009-2014 Anders Fogh Rasmussen will be to prepare a comprehensive vision of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic security integration, including future NATO membership. This was stated by Andriy Yermak at a briefing in the Office of the President.

"The purpose of this new group is primarily to work with NATO member states, with the expert community, the political environment to create an atmosphere that would help us move forward on this path. Ukraine has ambitious expectations for this year's NATO Washington Summit and the steps that would lead us to full membership," the Head of the Presidential Office said.

He noted that the process of concluding bilateral agreements on security commitments with the signatories to the G7 Vilnius Declaration is part of Ukraine's path to full membership in NATO. According to Andriy Yermak, the system of security agreements creates specific obligations in case of possible future aggressions and will strengthen our defense capabilities, however, only full membership in the Alliance will provide Ukraine with reliable security.

According to the Head of the Office of the President, the new International Task Force should formulate and advocate for a systemic vision that will help Ukraine move towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

"We want the issue of Ukraine's future membership in NATO to become a key topic of discussion in the expert community. It is no secret that there are politicians who are not ready to endorse the invitation to Ukraine today, but we have time to change this," said Andriy Yermak.

For his part, Anders Fogh Rasmussen noted that this task force will work on defining the conditions necessary for Ukraine to receive an invitation to join NATO and the timing of their implementation.

In his view, the statement that Ukraine's invitation to join the Alliance cannot take place until the war is over is dangerous because it gives Russia an incentive to continue its aggression to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Conversely, inviting Ukraine to join the Alliance opens the door to peace.

"That is why we have to extend an invitation to Ukraine in the near future. To show that we are sincere when we say that Ukraine will join NATO, that Ukraine is part of NATO and will be an integral part of the European Union as well," Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.

The former NATO Secretary General emphasized that "gray" zones are zones of danger.

"Ukraine is a bastion of defense against Russia. Ukraine now has a very strong army, and it can contribute to NATO and strengthen it greatly," he said.

Andriy Yermak also expressed his belief that through its struggle, the Ukrainian nation is already doing everything necessary to convince NATO to extend an invitation to membership. And now it is time for politicians, MPs, ministers, experts, and journalists to act and contribute to the process of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration.

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Andriy Yermak and Anders Fogh Rasmussen launched the International Task Force on Security and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

30 January 2024 - 20:30

On the instructions of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Office of the President hosted the first constituent meeting of the International Task Force on Security and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, co-chaired by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and NATO Secretary General in 2009-2014, former Prime Minister of Denmark Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

The main goal of the task force is to develop a systemic vision of Ukraine's further integration into the Euro-Atlantic security space as a key factor in regional and global security.

"Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine has dealt a devastating blow to the rules-based global order. At the same time, it has undermined the foundations of the post-Cold War security architecture," said Andriy Yermak, opening the meeting.

He emphasized that Russia has become the main source of threats to the whole of Europe, so it must lose.

"Ukraine is the key to Europe. This means one thing: Russia must lose the war it started. We are very grateful to everyone who helps us on the path to victory," the Head of the Presidential Office noted.

Andriy Yermak emphasized the importance of updating the system of guaranteeing European and Euro-Atlantic security, which will make the recurrence of aggression against Ukraine or the outbreak of a new, even larger conflict in Europe impossible.

The Head of the Presidential Office reminded that the International Task Force on Security Commitments for Ukraine, headed by him and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, had prepared the Kyiv Security Compact - a systemic vision of security commitments for Ukraine before it joins NATO. This document was the basis for the Vilnius G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, and later for a number of bilateral security agreements, the first of which has already been signed with the United Kingdom.

At the same time, Andriy Yermak noted that in order to prevent the recurrence of aggression in Europe, Ukraine must become a full member of the Alliance.

"Going further on this successful path, Anders and I have decided to launch a new task force to focus on the most important issues: Ukraine's security and integration into NATO," he said.

According to the Head of the President's Office, the new International Task Force includes true friends of Ukraine who have been helping our country since the first days of full-scale Russian aggression.

"Your expertise and your advocacy can determine the future of the world. I sincerely believe that the community of politicians and experts of the highest global level who have gathered here will help Ukraine to complete this path of security integration into the Euro-Atlantic space," said Andriy Yermak, addressing the members of the International Task Force.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, co-chair of the newly created task force, emphasized that its composition demonstrates a high level of support for Ukraine's integration into the Euro-Atlantic security system.

"We need to set out a clear vision for Ukraine's future security arrangements now to make it clear to Putin that we will not let him achieve his war aims," he emphasized.

According to Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Russia will continue to threaten European security unless a structure is created to deter it and prevent military conflicts in the future.

"This is not just in Ukraine's interest, but in the interest of the entire Euro-Atlantic area," he added.

According to the former NATO Secretary General, the new security architecture should be based on three pillars: first, a system of long-term security commitments for Ukraine, second, membership in the European Union, and third, NATO membership.

According to him, one of the important missions of this task force is to determine whether the conditions necessary to invite Ukraine to join NATO are met.

The task force, in addition to the co-chairs Andriy Yermak and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, also includes former President of Lithuania Dalia GrybauskaitA, former President of Poland Aleksander KwaAniewski, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Former Prime Minister of Poland Marek Belka, Former Prime Minister of Slovakia MikulAA Dzurinda, Former Prime Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt, Former Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom Lord William Hague, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Defense of France MichAle Alliot-Marie, Co-Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense of the German Parliament Omid Nouripour, Former Minister of Defense, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Peter MacKay, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe Wesley Clark, former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker, former NATO Assistant Secretary General Heinrich Brauss (Germany), former NATO Assistant Secretary General Giedrimas Jeglinskas (Lithuania).

From the Ukrainian side, the meeting of the International Task Force was also attended by Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi, Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Dariia Zarivna, Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Oleksandr Bevz. From the team of Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the meeting was attended by Chief Executive Officer at Rasmussen Global Fabrice Pothier, Senior Director for Geopolitics at Rasmussen Global Harry Nedelcu, and Senior Director for Communications at Rasmussen Global Tim Allan.

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We are working on a new security architecture that Ukraine, the whole of Europe and the entire Euro-Atlantic region need - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

30 January 2024 - 19:30

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Briefly about this day.

I have just spoken with the President of Finland. We had a very cordial conversation. I thanked him for supporting Ukraine, our people, and our defense. I mentioned how much Finland has done for its own security and for the security of the whole of Europe - historic things indeed. We have meaningful bilateral cooperation, the most extensive one since Ukraine gained its independence. We also emphasized how important it is for our states and all our partners to remain principled in their relations in European and Euro-Atlantic structures with regard to our region, the eastern flank of Europe.

I had a meeting with Anders Fogh Rasmussen - we are working together on a new security architecture that Ukraine, the whole of Europe, and the entire Euro-Atlantic region need. Mr. Rasmussen, with his experience as NATO Secretary General, helped Ukraine with the security commitment system: its philosophy and possible framework were developed in an expert group headed by Rasmussen and Andriy Yermak.

We now have a community of 32 states that have joined the G7 Declaration on security commitments, as well as the first bilateral agreement - with the UK. There will also be new agreements. We are now finalizing the text of several documents. This work is very important.

And now Mr. Rasmussen has outlined plans to establish a new international task force to address the issue of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration. Bringing our country closer to full membership in NATO is an unchanging priority. We are gradually fulfilling it.

Today, I also held a meeting with the Ministry of Strategic Industries. Oleksandr Kamyshin reported on the results in the production of drones and ammunition. We are ramping up production. It is very important that we are adding new positions and the adoption of new weapon models is underway. Domestic production of drones, shells, and military vehicles is literally the production of our freedom, the freedom of Ukrainians and Ukraine. Because in such conditions of a full-scale war, it is force that is the basis of freedom. And I am grateful to all the employees of our defense industry who ensure this - ensure Ukrainian strength - with their work for the sake of defense. I thank you all! And by the way, today the Minister reported separately on the production of long-range drones, which is one of the key tasks for the defense industry.

One more thing.

Our cities, our communities, which are being attacked by Russia. Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia regions. Nikopol, Marhanets. The situation in many border communities is extremely difficult. But we always keep in mind that in every community, in every city, there are rescuers from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, police officers, our doctors, and volunteers. Everywhere there are people who save lives. And I thank each and every one of them who works in this way - for the sake of life.

Today I would like to especially recognize the employees of the State Emergency Service in Kherson region: Sergeants Ivan Bocharov and Mykola Liubchenko, Chief Master Sergeant Roman Popuriy. As well as police officers: Lieutenant Yehor Ivanov and Senior Lieutenant Oleksandr Butenko. The State Emergency Service in Kharkiv region: Sergeant Dmytro Holosniak, Chief Master Sergeant Oleksandr Antoniv and Colonel Oleksiy Serhiyenko. As well as police officers: Captain Anastasiia Zhyzhyna and Major Artem Romanko. In Donetsk region, I would like to recognize the crew of the Phoenix rescue team of the State Emergency Service: Civil Protection Service Majors Eduard Annenkov, Vitaliy Salamakha and Dmytro Durakov. And also the White Angels police crew: Senior Lieutenant Dmytro Soloviy and Hennadiy Yudin.

I thank all of you and your colleagues for your dedication and for saving lives.

Glory to everyone who fights for Ukraine and Ukrainians! Who works to help fight. Who works to save people and Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Anders Fogh Rasmussen

President of Ukraine

30 January 2024 - 17:09

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General of NATO in 2009-2014 and Founding Chairman of Rasmussen Global, who is on a visit to Ukraine.

The Head of State thanked Mr. Rasmussen for his attention to the security and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, which the G7 countries approved at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, and stressed the need to conclude bilateral agreements on security commitments in accordance with this declaration. The first such agreement has already been signed with the United Kingdom, and negotiations are underway to conclude relevant documents with a number of other countries.

"I am grateful to the group you and Andriy Yermak established for their help in drafting the Kyiv Security Compact, which formed the basis of the Vilnius Declaration and provides for such significant security commitments. We already have the first results: a very important security document has been signed with the UK. The work with other states is ongoing. I hope to see the result in the nearest future," the President noted.

For his part, the former NATO Secretary General noted the efforts of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has kept the situation in Ukraine high on the global agenda.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Andriy Yermak told the President about the plans to establish an international working group on security issues and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that this working group would facilitate the integration of our country into the Euro-Atlantic security space. According to him, Ukraine, as a future NATO member, will be able to significantly enhance the Alliance's potential, as the Ukrainian army has invaluable experience in waging a full-scale war against Russia.

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CIA's Burns: US Would Make Mistake of 'Historic Proportions' to Abandon Ukraine

By VOA News January 30, 2024

With more aid for Ukraine stalled in Congress, U.S. spy chief William Burns says in a new assessment that it would be a self-inflicted mistake of "historic proportions" for the United States to walk away from its support for Kyiv in its nearly two-year war with Russia.

A congressional vote on $60 billion in new aid for Ukraine has been linked with legislation to tighten immigration controls at the U.S. border with Mexico. But details of the new immigration law have yet to be resolved and the overall legislation has been caught up in the politics of the 2024 presidential campaign, leaving more Ukraine aid in doubt.

But Burns, in an essay published Tuesday in Foreign Affairs magazine, said, "Keeping the arms flowing will put Ukraine in a stronger position if an opportunity for serious negotiations emerges" to end the war.

"It offers a chance to ensure a long-term win for Ukraine and a strategic loss for Russia," the Central Intelligence Agency director said.

"At less than 5% of the U.S. defense budget, it is a relatively modest investment with significant geopolitical returns," he said.

He characterized Russian President Vladimir Putin's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine as "Putin's folly."

"At least 315,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded, two-thirds of Russia's prewar tank inventory has been destroyed, and Putin's vaunted decades-long military modernization program has been hollowed out," Burns said.

Yet, Burns said Putin is unlikely to pull back from the attack on neighboring Ukraine.

"It is always a mistake to underestimate his fixation on controlling Ukraine," Burns said. "Without that control, he believes it is impossible for Russia to be a great power or for him to be a great Russian leader."

Burns said the war "is quietly corroding his power at home," but said that "he continues to bet that time is on his side, that he can grind down Ukraine and wear down its Western supporters."

He called on Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian-controlled territory.

"Ukraine's challenge is to puncture Putin's arrogance and demonstrate the high cost for Russia ... not just by making progress on the front lines but also by launching deeper strikes behind them," Burns said.

Latest Russian attacks

Meanwhile, on the battlefront, Ukraine said Tuesday that Russia's military attacked overnight with 35 drones and two guided missiles targeting multiple regions of the country.

Ukraine's air force said air defenses destroyed 15 of the drones, including intercepts over the Mykolaiv, Sumy, Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Kherson and Kyiv regions.

The air force said part of Russia's attack was focused on hitting fuel and energy sector infrastructure.

Russia said Monday its air defenses thwarted attacks by 21 Ukrainian drones.

Russian news agencies reported the military intercepted or destroyed Ukrainian drones over the Russia-annexed Crimean Peninsula, as well as the Russian regions of Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga and Tula.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Monday that Ukraine's defensive war against Russia was at risk without a new round of aid approved by Congress.

"Without it, simply put, everything that Ukrainians achieved and that we've helped them achieve will be in jeopardy," Blinken said at a joint news conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington.

The NATO chief expressed confidence that the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine, saying it is in the interest of the U.S. to ensure that Russia does not win in Ukraine.

Stoltenberg also said that aiding Ukraine is a joint effort with NATO allies and that it is not viewed as charity but as "an investment in our own security."

Russia-Belarus alliance

Putin met Monday with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, to discuss expanding their alliance, which has already seen the deployment of some of Russia's nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus.

Putin emphasized the two countries' "strategic partnership" as part of their 25-year union agreement involving political, economic and military ties between the two nations.

"It's important that amid an unprecedented foreign pressure, Russia and Belarus have closely cooperated on the international arena and have offered unfailing support to each other as true allies," Putin said at the start of the talks in St. Petersburg that involved senior officials from both countries.

Lukashenko has relied on Russian subsidies and political support to rule the one-time Soviet-bloc nation with an iron hand for nearly three decades. Moscow's backing helped Lukashenko survive months of major protests of his reelection in a 2020 vote that the opposition and the West saw as rigged.

Lukashenko allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Hungary-Ukraine talks

Hungary indicated Monday that it is ready for a compromise allowing a proposed European Union aid package of $54 billion for Ukraine to be financed from the bloc's budget ahead of an emergency summit on Thursday.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been a vocal critic of the EU's financial and military support for Kyiv and maintained close ties with the Kremlin since the Russia invasion of Ukraine.

If Hungary does not agree on the package, EU leaders have proposed an alternative plan involving a deal between 26 members and Ukraine, which would also deny Budapest access to linked EU funds.

Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Szijjarto met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, in Kyiv to discuss the aid and to address restrictions on the rights of the ethnic Hungarian community in the western Ukrainian region of Zakarpattia to study in their native language.

Hungary has an "expectation that the members of the Hungarian national community will regain their rights that already existed in 2015," the Hungarian official said, adding, "We still have a long way to go, but we on the Hungarian side are ready to do this work."

Kuleba said he considered the question of the Hungarian minority "fundamentally resolved," but that a joint committee will be established to examine how Kyiv can address Budapest's further demands concerning Ukraine's Hungarian community and present those findings to the respective governments in 10 days.

This was Szijjarto's first visit to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022 and the only official bilateral meeting between the two officials in the last two years.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Dublin, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "India Brake Pads Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Vehicle Type (Two-wheeler, Three-wheeler), By Position Type, By Sales Channel, By Material, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The India brake pads market is poised for substantial growth, driven by an ascending trajectory of technological advances and policy measures designed to boost the automotive industry. A newly published analysis report delineates market expansion with a forecasted compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% from 2023 to 2030, indicating a burgeon to USD 2.25 billion.

Noteworthy factors fueling this growth encompass the increasing utilization of innovative materials such as semi-metallic and ceramic components in brake pad manufacturing. Coupled with this is a growing cognizance regarding driver safety and an uptick in the electric vehicle movement, which collectively spur the market forward.

Advancements in vehicle safety features are another dynamic propelling market growth. Initiatives and mandates by the government to integrate features such as antilock brakes and electronic stability control are encouraging manufacturers to develop cutting-edge brake pads with embedded sensors. These sensors are designed to prompt rapid emergency braking responses, an element pivotal to reducing on-road mishaps and associated casualties.

Market Segment Developments

The three-wheeler sector is anticipated to experience substantial growth, owing to its cost-effectiveness and burgeoning use in electric three-wheelers for last-mile delivery purposes. This trend necessitates the development of specialized brake pads for this vehicle category.

In the positional context, the rear brake pad segment is expected to thrive, attributed to factors such as the maintenance of vehicular stability and the prevention of rollovers.

Non-asbestos Organic (NAO) brake pads are becoming increasingly desirable. As environmental concerns mount alongside the need for more sustainable products, manufacturers are pivoting towards alternative materials that promise enhanced longevity and higher performance.

Furthermore, the aftermarket sales channel is predicted to flourish. As manufacturers expand their reach by launching products tailored to aftermarket requirements and OEMs join forces with suppliers and part sellers, the Indian brake pads market is adapting to meet the demands of a diverse and growing automotive landscape.

Key Market Highlights:

Sectoral and Material Innovations Spearheading Growth

An uptick in electric and three-wheeler vehicles is inducing demand for specialized brake pads. Manufacturers are focusing on eco-friendly solutions, including the elimination of asbestos usage in favor of non-toxic alternatives.

Interestingly, efforts to innovate with natural materials like bamboo fiber, coconut fiber, and various sustainable composites portend a new wave of growth for environmentally benign vehicle components. This trend is bolstered by a suite of policy initiatives that favor domestic manufacturer partnerships and the fortification of India's automotive component supply chain.

The report underscores the market's steady progression and puts a spotlight on the technical developmental endeavors of manufacturers. With a comprehensive outlook on industry trends, the India brake pads market is set on a confident march towards a greener and more technologically advanced future.

Companies Mentioned

Allied Nippon Private Limited

ASK Automotive Pvt. Ltd.

Brakes India Private Limited

Brembo Brake India Pvt. Ltd.

Ceratech Friction Composites

Endurance Technologies Limited

Makino Auto Industries Pvt. Ltd.

Masu Brake Pads Pvt.Ltd

Rane Holdings Limited

Sagestics BRAKES

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CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wilmington Capital Management Inc. (Wilmington or the Corporation) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has determined that the embedded value of Wilmingtons marinas investment, including Maple Leaf Marinas Limited Partnership (MLM), has been substantially realized. As a result, the Corporation will seek to effect a sale of its approximate 17.32% interest therein (along with its corresponding general partner interest) in accordance with the MLM limited partnership agreement. Subject to applicable laws and after giving consideration to its ongoing liquidity needs, the Corporation anticipates that it will effect a distribution to its shareholders out of proceeds received in connection with any such sale.



Executive Officers of the Corporation are available at 403-705-8038 to answer any questions with respect to this news release.

STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, include statements regarding the operations, business, financial conditions, expected financial results, performance, opportunities, priorities, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook of the Corporation and its investee entities and contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "seek", or similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements regarding the potential disposition of the Corporations interest in its marinas investment and the potential distribution of proceeds thereof to the Corporations shareholders.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: risks related to investor interest (or lack thereof) in the Corporations marina investment, risks related to the financial markets and the marinas business generally and risks related to the Corporations ability to distribute proceeds to its shareholders. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statement will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or managements estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable Canadian securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Dublin, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "North America Laminated Veneer Lumber Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The latest comprehensive research on the North American laminated veneer lumber market reveals a projected increase in market size from 2.2 million cubic meters in 2022 to an estimated 2.4 million cubic meters by 2028. This reflects a sizeable growth rate (CAGR) of 1.95% between 2023-2028. This industry report offers a granular analysis, unfolding numerous opportunities and trends influencing the market's trajectory.





The market's evolution is underpinned by various sectors including residential and commercial applications, with new construction and replacement being core areas of activity. The United States and Canada, key regions highlighted in the analysis, are experiencing significant demand, driving the regional market dynamics.



Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is renowned for its strengths such as cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and structural reliability, making it a preferred choice in structural applications. These range from wooden houses to industrial warehouses, underscoring its versatility and growing importance in the North American construction industry.

The study delves into a spectrum of drivers and challenges that stakeholders face, alongside an extensive value chain analysis. Comprehensive examinations including Porter's Five Forces, PESTEL analysis, and government regulations, provide stakeholders with a robust basis for strategic decision-making. Additionally, the competitive landscape is dissected, offering insights into competitive structure and profiling key players within the industry.

Highlights of the report include:

Detailed country and regional analyses for the United States and Canada.

Segmentation of market trends based on application in residential and commercial sectors and differentiation between new construction and replacement services.

An exploration of the transformation and resilience of the market amidst COVID-19 impacts.

A snapshot of the industry's value chain and identification of principal market drivers and challenges.

Comprehensive competitive landscape, market competition degree, and profit margin analysis.

The findings in this report are instrumental for players operating in or planning to enter the North American laminated veneer lumber marketplace. With its in-depth market insights, the research serves as a pivotal tool for understanding the current state and future outlook of the laminated veneer lumber sector.



For a more detailed scoop on the market forecasts, regional deep-dives, industrial dynamics, competitive analysis, and market profitability, industry stakeholders are encouraged to review the complete research documentation. Catering to the needs of industry analysts, decision-makers, and potential investors, this report is a critical resource for navigating the North American laminated veneer lumber landscape.



Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 125 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value in 2022 2.2 Million Cubic Meters Forecasted Market Value by 2028 2.4 Million Cubic Meters Compound Annual Growth Rate 1.5% Regions Covered North America



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/egphsa

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "North America Lip Care Products Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The North America lip care products industry has witnessed significant growth, and this upward trajectory is expected to continue through 2028. The market, which stood at US$ 452.2 Million in 2022, is forecasted to expand to a value of US$ 500.4 Million by 2028, with a calculated CAGR of 1.3% from 2023 to 2028, as evaluated in a comprehensive research report now available.

The market's evolution can be attributed to the interplay of an increasing focus on personal grooming and the broad spectrum of product offerings accessible to consumers. Moreover, the trend toward organic lip care solutions is gaining momentum, leading to substantial investment in R&D to create natural and enduring products. This trend, along with the heightened need for sun protection lip care products, expanding population, urban development, shifts in lifestyle, and the growing interest amongst men for lip care regimens, is propelling market growth.

Insightful Market Segmentation: A meticulous examination of market dynamics across different segments is provided in the report, offering granular insights at both regional and country levels for the period of 2023-2028. The lip care products market is segmented into various categories, product types, and distribution channels.

By Category: The non-medicated lip care category retains the dominant share in the market.





The non-medicated lip care category retains the dominant share in the market. By Product Type: Within the product type segment, lip balms lead the market with the majority of the share.





Within the product type segment, lip balms lead the market with the majority of the share. By Distribution Channel: Supermarkets and hypermarkets are the leading distribution channels, holding the predominant market share.

Competitive Landscape: The North America lip care products market hosts a number of key industry players, with major brands like Chapstick, Burts Bees, Carmex, Blistex Inc, and eos Products, LLC leading the space.

Key Drivers and Industry Analysis

Through extensive research, key driving factors, market challenges, and competitive analysis have been explored to offer a robust overview of the industry. The insights in the report enlighten stakeholders about the current scenario and future market prospects, addressed under frequently asked questions within the market's context. Moreover, the analysis delves into the structural market dynamics and the competitive intensity within the North America lip care products industry. These foundational analyses provide a roadmap for understanding the degree of competition and the strategies being employed by key players.

The comprehensive report is a pivotal resource for interested stakeholders seeking to understand the North America lip care products market dynamics in-depth. With strategic analysis, trend data, and market forecasts, the document serves as a guide to navigating the evolving lip care product landscape.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 121 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $452.2 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $500.4 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 1.7% Regions Covered North America

Companies Mentioned

Chapstick (Pfizer)

Burts Bees Products Company (The Clorox Company)

Carmex (Carma Laboratories Inc.)

Blistex Inc

eos Products LLC

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Dublin, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "More Electric Aircraft Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The latest industry analysis has unveiled that the global more electric aircraft (MEA) market, which was valued at US$ 1.8 Billion in 2022, is expected to witness a robust growth rate (CAGR) of 16.53% from 2023 to 2028, reaching a market size of US$ 4.6 Billion. This remarkable expansion is attributed to several key drivers shaping the industry's future.

MEA technology is rapidly advancing, offering an eco-friendly future for aviation with aircraft systems that highly depend on electrical power as opposed to conventional pneumatic and hydraulic systems. The comprehensive report provides deep insights into this burgeoning market, detailing the advancements, applications, and different types of more electric aircraft that are embracing this technological shift.

Rising Airport Constructions and Environmental Awareness Amplify Market Growth

The increasing construction of airports globally, coupled with a surge in the number of flights to accommodate the rising volume of air travelers, underlies the significant growth momentum in the more electric aircraft market. Eco-consciousness among the populace, particularly concerning air pollution and natural resource depletion, has also spurred market growth.

Progress in environmental regulations by government bodies, aimed at reducing noise pollution and improving energy efficiency, continues to foster innovation and adoption within the industry. Moreover, advancements in MEA technologies, such as the proliferation of safety systems, advanced materials, power electronics, and energy storage devices, are elevating the functional capabilities of these aircraft.

MEA Market Segmentation Insights

Application sectors such as air pressurization, configuration management, and power generation are experiencing significant attention, with power distribution management being identified as the largest application segment.





Innovative technologies like power electronics and advanced materials contribute to the market's evolution, while the fixed-wing aircraft category, comprising narrow and wide-body types, dominates the MEA market.

Regionally, the North American market leads, propelled by initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions, the need for low-maintenance aircraft, and the increasing number of airports. The report further analyzes other key regions contributing to market expansion, including the Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Competitive Landscape and Key Market Players

The report offers a detailed competitive analysis, highlighting the market's structure, share, and the positioning of key players. It underscores the strategic initiatives and innovations that players are adopting to maintain and grow their market presence. Major aerospace corporations are at the forefront, incorporating advanced more electric technology into their aircraft portfolios, underscoring a significant competitive dynamic in the sector.

Summarily, the global more electric aircraft market report presents a comprehensive evaluation of the market dynamics, segmentation, regional analysis, and competitive landscape, offering stakeholders valuable insights into the potential growth avenues and strategies to navigate the market landscape effectively.

With the continuous advancements in more electric aircraft technology and the increasing awareness of sustainability in aviation, the market is poised for substantial growth in the years ahead, presenting numerous opportunities for industry participants and investors alike.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 140 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $1.8 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $4.6 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 16.9% Regions Covered Global

Companies Mentioned

Airbus SE

Bombardier Inc.

Honeywell International Inc.

Lockheed Martin

Raytheon Company

Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc.

Safran S.A.

Thales Group

The Boeing Company

TTTech Computertechnik AG

United Technologies Corporation

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Dublin, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "North America Aviation Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023 - 2028)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The latest market analysis report reveals remarkable trends and growth opportunities within the North America Aviation Industry, indicating a robust recovery and significant expansion expected through to 2028. Industry insights suggest a positive trajectory for the sectorwith the United States poised for high impact growth.

Substantial Recovery Post-Pandemic Drives North American Aviation Market Expansion

The aviation industry in North America is seeing strong resurgence following the COVID-19 pandemic. Several key factors are boosting the market, including the increase in air passenger trafficsignaling a period of robust growth for the industry. Our analyst's insights unpack the recovery process and the strategies that are setting the course for continued expansion.

Commercial Aircraft Segment Takes Flight with Increasing Air Passenger Demand

As one of the most significant segments within the industry, the commercial aircraft sector is witnessing a marked increase in growth. New data underscore the rising demand for narrow-body aircraft, with major carriers expanding their fleets to accommodate the upsurge. This trend reflects the dynamic changes shaping the aviation market in North America over the forecast period.

Defense Sector Investments Skyrocket, Citing Advanced R&D and Procurements

Furthermore, increased government spending in the defense sector has supercharged the industry's development. A focus on modernizing fleets with advanced fighter jets and helicopters has seen investments accelerate, reinforcing the sectors stature within the global market.

The United States in the Lead: A Hub for Innovation and Market Growth

The United States, a key player in the North America Aviation Market, is poised for substantial growth, thanks to its large passenger volumes and considerable defense spending. With innovative upgrades and procurement strategies, alongside a flourishing business aviation sector, the country is setting a vigorous pace for the industry's evolution.

Dominance of North America's Major Players and Competitive Strategies

The competitive landscape of the North America Aviation Market is dominated by prominent players such as The Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin Corporation. Through strategic collaborations, product innovations, and tapping into emerging markets, these industry giants are fortifying their market presence, contributing substantially to the region's economic vitality.

Advanced Manufacturing Processes and Service Offerings Elevate Market Presence

Strategic Acquisitions and Mergers Enhance Market Dynamics

Collaborations Foster Technological Innovations and Expand Capabilities

With these developments, the North America Aviation Market is well-positioned for a soaring trajectory, promising an optimistic future for stakeholders and industries alike. The dynamic shifts and strategic implementations discussed in the report offer comprehensive insights into the industry's projected growth and significant trends defining its path forward.



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jsx2rc

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Dublin, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Africa Agrochemicals Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023 - 2028)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The African Agrochemicals Market is poised for notable growth, forecasted to expand from USD 7.36 billion in 2023 to USD 9.21 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 4.60% during the period from 2023 to 2028.

Recent analysis outlines the significant trend of increased pesticide use in African regions experiencing drought, as farmers strive to combat pests and secure stable crop production amid climate variability. Government initiatives are playing a crucial role in advancing agricultural development as countries aim to bolster domestic food production and reduce import dependency. For instance, Angola's National Development Plan emphasizes agriculture to drive economic diversification and enhance self-sufficiency.

Demand for Agrochemicals Intensifies with Rising Population and Urbanization

With smallholder farmers responsible for 80% of Africa's food supply, there is mounting pressure to increase agricultural yield. As the continent undergoes rapid urbanization and experiences a surge in population growth, the disparity between food consumption and local production widens. Various international and regional initiatives, such as the G8's New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition in Africa, are being introduced to address these challenges, creating opportunities for growth in the agrochemicals sector.

Fertilizers Continue to Command the Market

In light of a continuously rising population, the demand for enhanced agricultural productivity is leading to robust fertilizer usage. Despite fluctuations in land dedicated to agriculture, the imperative for high-yield crops further accentuates the importance of fertilizers. Noteworthy is the predominance of nitrogen fertilizers across the African landscape. As such, substantial investment and expansion in fertilizer production facilities are evident, even though consumption levels have not yet reached global averages.

Ongoing Commitment and Investment in Africas Agricultural Sector

With agriculture taking precedence in numerous African government agendas, notable increments in national budget allocations to this sector are observed, alongside increasing private sector investment. Concurrently, key market players are emphasizing innovation and partnership, which signals a dynamic shift towards more advanced agrochemical solutions to meet the burgeoning demands of the agricultural sector.

The African Agrochemicals Market is witnessing a transformation influenced by government efforts, population growth, and the push for food security.





Increased food production necessitates the use of agrochemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides to ensure sustainable agriculture in the face of changing climate conditions.





The fertilizer segment, essential for high crop yields, is expected to see substantial growth with the industry's move towards organic options aligning with sustainable development goals.

This comprehensive market analysis captures the essence of the African agrochemicals industry's current state and its trajectory in the coming years. Through detailed insight into market trends, product preferences, and consumer demands, stakeholders can better navigate the evolving agricultural landscape and the critical role of agrochemicals in ensuring food security for the continent's rapidly growing and urbanizing population.

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

Bayer Crop Science AG

Syngenta International AG

Adama Agricultural Solutions

FMC Corporation

Corteva Agrisciences

Yara International

UPL

BASF SE

Sumitomo Corporati

Nufarm

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2ub97o

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osino Resources Corp. (TSXV:OSI) (NSX:OSN) (FSE:RSR1) (OTCQX:OSIIF) ("Osino" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the Court) has issued an interim order (the Interim Order) in connection with the previously announced plan of arrangement (the Plan of Arrangement) under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), pursuant to which Dundee Precious Metals Inc. (DPM) will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Osino (the Arrangement). For further information on the Arrangement and the definitive arrangement agreement between Osino and DPM (the Arrangement Agreement), please refer to the joint news release of the parties dated December 18, 2023.



Interim Order

The Interim Order authorizes, among other things, the holding of a special meeting (the Special Meeting) of holders of securities of the Company as of the record date of January 10, 2024 (the Securityholders). At the Special Meeting, Securityholders will be asked to consider and, if deemed advisable, to pass a special resolution (the Arrangement Resolution) approving the Plan of Arrangement. Pursuant to the Interim Order, the Special Meeting is scheduled to be held virtually by live webcast on March 1, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. (Vancouver time) .

After, among other things, receiving external legal and financial advice in evaluating the Arrangement, and with the advice and recommendation of the special committee (the Special Committee) of the board of directors (the Board) of the Company, the Board unanimously determined that the Arrangement is fair to Securityholders (other than DPM) and is in the best interests of Osino, and unanimously recommends that Securityholders vote IN FAVOUR of the Arrangement Resolution at the Special Meeting.

Further details regarding the Arrangement, the Plan of Arrangement, the Special Meeting and applicable voting requirements will be included in the notice of meeting and management information circular (the Circular) to be mailed to Securityholders in accordance with applicable laws and the Interim Order. Copies of the Circular and the related Special Meeting materials will also be made available under the Companys profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Completion of the Arrangement remains subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions customary for a transaction of this nature, including Securityholder approval of the Arrangement Resolution at the Special Meeting, receipt of regulatory approval of [the TSX Venture Exchange,] the Namibian Stock Exchange and the Namibian Competition Commission, and the issuance by the Court of a final order approving the Plan of Arrangement.

Securityholders with questions regarding the Arrangement or the Special Meeting may contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group, the Companys strategic advisor and shareholder communications firm, by telephone at 1-877-452-7184, or by email at assistance@laurelhill.com.

Private Placement

Osino is also pleased to announce that it has completed the second and final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of common shares of the Company (the "Osino Shares") to DPM. The Company issued 4,424,778 Osino Shares to DPM at a price of C$1.13 per Osino Share for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of C$4,999,999.14. The Offering was completed in connection with the Arrangement Agreement. The total number of Osino Shares issued pursuant to the Offering, including the initial tranche, was 8,849,557 Osino Shares for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of C$9,999,999.41. After giving effect to the Offering, DPM holds an aggregate of 12,669,157 Osino Shares, representing approximately 7.3% of the Osino Shares issued and outstanding on the date hereof, on a non-diluted basis. The Offering does not affect the consideration payable to Osino shareholders under the Arrangement, consisting of C$0.775 in cash per Osino Share and 0.0801 of a DPM common share per Osino Share, the whole as set out in the Arrangement Agreement and summarized in the Companys joint news release dated December 18, 2023.

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used for project activities, including engineering, drilling and other corporate purposes in accordance with Osino's budget, as agreed with DPM pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement.

The Osino Shares were offered by way of private placement pursuant to applicable exemptions from prospectus requirements in British Columbia and Ontario. The securities issued under the Offering are subject to a four month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws.

About Osino Resources

Osino is a Canadian gold exploration and development company focused on the fast-tracked development of our wholly owned, Twin Hills Gold Project in central Namibia. Since its grassroots discovery by Osino in August 2019 the Company has completed more than 225,000m of drilling and has completed a suite of specialist technical studies culminating in the recently published Twin Hills Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") dated effective June 12, 2023. The DFS describes a technically simple and economically robust open-pit gold operation with a 13-year mine life and average annual gold production of over 169,000oz per annum.

Osino has a commanding ground position of over 8,000km2 located within Namibia's prospective Damara sedimentary mineral belt, mostly in proximity to and along strike of the producing Navachab and Otjikoto Gold Mines. The Company is actively exploring a range of gold prospects and targets along the belt by utilizing a portfolio approach geared towards discovery, targeting gold mineralization that fits the broad orogenic gold model.

Our core projects are favourably located north and north-west of Namibia's capital city Windhoek. By virtue of their location, the projects benefit significantly from Namibia's well-established infrastructure with paved highways, railway, power and water in close proximity. Namibia is mining-friendly and lauded as one of the continent's most politically and socially stable jurisdictions. Osino continues to evaluate new ground with a view to expanding our Namibian portfolio.

David Underwood, BSc. (Hons) is Vice President Exploration of the Company and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release and is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (Pr. Sci. Nat. No.400323/11) and a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://osinoresources.com and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Heye Daun, President and CEO

CONTACT INFORMATION

Osino Resources Corp.

Yaron Conforti

+1-604-687-2038

yconforti@osinoresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. The Company does not undertake to update any forward- looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Dublin, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "China Diabetes Care Drugs Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023 - 2028)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The China Diabetes Care Drugs Market is currently experiencing significant growth and is predicted to attain a valuation of USD 13.73 billion by 2028, ascending at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.70% from 2023. The intensified focus on early intervention and management of diabetes, particularly in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, has further highlighted the critical nature of diabetes care in China.

Oral Anti-Diabetic Drugs Dominate the Market

The oral anti-diabetic drugs segment has captured the highest market share this year and is anticipated to continue its upward trajectory at an estimated CAGR of 3.1% over the forecast period. One of the key drivers for this segment's growth is the ease of administration and cost-effectiveness of oral anti-diabetic medication, which has led to improved patient adherence and demand. With China facing a substantial rise in the number of individuals diagnosed with diabetes, the demand for diabetic drugs has concurrently increased, signalling a robust market for these products.

The Emergence of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists as a Growth Catalyst

The Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist segment is forecasted to exhibit the highest growth rate in the market, with an expected CAGR of about 5.2% during the forecast period. The wide-ranging benefits of these medications, which include lower risk of hypoglycemia, weight loss, and cardiovascular advantages, make them a preferred option for diabetes management. Such factors, along with the proactiveness of the Chinese government through initiatives like the Healthy China 2030 Plan, are significantly contributing to the market's expansion.

Regulatory Initiatives Propel Market Growth

The Chinese government's efforts to tackle non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, through various initiatives have provided a favorable environment for the growth of the Diabetes Care Drugs Market. By promoting regular monitoring and effective disease management, the government aims to enhance the overall health outcomes for diabetes patients and reduce early mortality rates associated with the condition.

Competitive Landscape : The competitive landscape in the China Diabetes Care Drugs Market denotes a moderate level of fragmentation with key players like Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Novo Nordisk, alongside a diverse array of generic manufacturers, collectively shaping the dynamics of the market.





: The competitive landscape in the China Diabetes Care Drugs Market denotes a moderate level of fragmentation with key players like Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Novo Nordisk, alongside a diverse array of generic manufacturers, collectively shaping the dynamics of the market. Focus on Primary Care: To address the rising demand and enhance the efficiency of the healthcare system, there is a growing emphasis on strengthening primary care facilities and health promotion, which is likely to be beneficial for diabetes control.

Implications for the Healthcare Industry

The uptrend in the China Diabetes Care Drugs Market carries implications for stakeholders across the healthcare industry. Pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and policymakers must adapt to the evolving market landscape, which is characterized by increasing demand for innovative and effective diabetes management solutions. As the market continues to grow, its influence is expected to reverberate across global healthcare markets, echoing the importance of diabetes care as a pivotal component of public health strategies. For more insights into the China Diabetes Care Drugs Market and its growth prospects, readers can access the comprehensive analysis included in the latest research publication on this rapidly expanding sector.



A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

Takeda

Novo Nordisk A/S

Pfizer

Eli Lilly and Company

Janssen Pharmaceuticals

Astellas

Boehringer Ingelheim

Merck and Co.

AstraZeneca

Bristol Myers Squibb

Novartis

Sanofi Aventis

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/97ossg

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Europe Insulin Pens Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023 - 2028)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Europe Insulin Pens Market is undergoing significant growth as it is estimated to progress from a valuation of USD 2.13 billion in 2023 to USD 2.29 billion by 2028, advancing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 1.45% over the forecast period. Amidst the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic, the market for insulin pens has observed notable fluctuations, especially with the vulnerability of Type-1 diabetes patients to the virus.

Trends Influencing the Europe Insulin Pens Market Growth

The growth in the European Insulin Pens Market is primarily driven by the rising prevalence of diabetes across the continent. With an estimated 5% increase in the diabetic population expected over the forecast period, healthcare systems and manufacturers are aligning efforts to improve diabetes management and insulin delivery mechanisms.







Increased Diabetes Prevalence: The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2021 report reveals a concerning statistic of approximately one in eleven adults living with diabetes in Europe, totaling around 61 million people. This demographic represents a significant 19.6% of global diabetes expenditure emanating from Europe, thus underscoring the importance of efficient diabetes management solutions such as insulin pens.





The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2021 report reveals a concerning statistic of approximately one in eleven adults living with diabetes in Europe, totaling around 61 million people. This demographic represents a significant 19.6% of global diabetes expenditure emanating from Europe, thus underscoring the importance of efficient diabetes management solutions such as insulin pens. Technological Advances: Technological advancements have enriched the functionality and user-friendliness of insulin pens, increasing their adoption across various patient demographics. Enhanced features and improved device sophistication align with the need for regular blood glucose level monitoring and insulin administration.

Geographic Spotlight: Russian Market Dominance



Russia stands as a dominant player within the Europe Insulin Pens Market, projecting a CAGR of over 0.8% during the forecast period. Initiatives by the Russian government to fully implement a comprehensive National Diabetes Plan are in motion, aiming to optimize diabetes care and significantly trim out-of-pocket expenses for citizens. Recent initiatives such as the Cities Changing Diabetes program launched in Moscow are testament to the concerted efforts aimed at mitigating diabetes challenges within urban centers, emphasizing early detection and specialized healthcare services.

Competitive Landscape

The market landscape in Europe is characterized by a moderate level of consolidation with key players such as Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Eli Lilly and Company taking forefront positions. These corporations not only compete on a global scale but also possess a strong regional footprint, underscoring their significant role in market dynamics.

Market Outlook

With the continued expansion of the European Insulin Pens Market, stakeholders anticipate witnessing further growth, backed by technological innovations, an uptick in diabetes occurrence, and governmental support. This considerable market advancement posits a promising future for insulin pen technology and diabetes management in Europe. For more information on this market and its evolving dynamics, additional benefits include a comprehensive market estimate sheet and continued analyst support beyond initial findings.

Driving Forces Behind Market Growth

Rising cases of diabetes across Europe

Significant government-led initiatives to combat the diabetes epidemic

Persistent technological advancements within the insulin delivery sector

This comprehensive analysis of the Europe Insulin Pens Market provides valuable insights for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and market participants keen on understanding the shifting landscapes of diabetes management and the penetration of insulin pens across the region.



A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

Novo Nordisk

Sanofi

Eli Lilly

Biocon

Medtronic

Wockhardt

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7mcew9

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Dublin, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Middle East & Africa Tipper Truck Market Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

A comprehensive research publication detailing the Middle East & Africa Tipper Truck Market has been released, providing an in-depth analysis of the market's dynamics, competition, and future opportunities. This strategic assessment projects the market to grow with a notable CAGR of 7.56% through 2028 from its 2022 valuation of USD 6.37 Billion, buoyed by rapid infrastructural developments and mining activities across the region.

The report explores various drivers contributing to the growth of the tipper truck market in the Middle East & Africa, including increased construction projects due to urbanization, flourishing mining industries owing to the valuation of natural resources, and significant infrastructure investments by governments. These factors underscore the essential role of tipper trucks in supporting economic development and modernization across the region.

Market Drivers and Industry Trends:

The construction sector's expansion drives tipper truck demand for material transportation.

Mining industry growth in the region necessitates robust transportation for excavation operations.

Urbanization trends propel infrastructure development, positively impacting the tipper truck market.

Sustainable vehicle innovations, such as electric and hybrid tipper trucks, accommodate environmental objectives.

Strategic trade route locations underscore efficient transportation infrastructure needs, fueling the tipper truck ecosystem.

While the report identifies many growth avenues, it also delves into challenges such as geopolitical risks, economic volatility due to oil reliance, regulatory disparities, extreme environmental conditions, and labor shortages that could impact market stability.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 134 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $6.37 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $9.79 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.5% Regions Covered Africa, Middle East

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

AB Volvo

Tata Motors Limited

Caterpillar Inc.

OJSC Belaz

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd.

MAN Truck & Bus AG

BEML Limited

Komatsu Limited

Scania AB

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7swpr

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "India Cloud Based Quantum Computing Market, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The India cloud based quantum computing market is anticipated to grow at a high CAGR during the forecast period. Quantum computing, a revolutionary paradigm based on quantum physics principles, can alter businesses, solve complicated issues, and spur creativity. As quantum technologies evolve around the world, India has emerged as a prominent player in the global quantum computing scene. With its thriving digital sector, strong research institutions, and growing interest in quantum technology, India is primed to push computing to new heights. Cloud-based quantum computing holds enormous promise for democratizing access to quantum resources, encouraging collaboration, and propelling quantum research and development in the country. Recognizing quantum computing's transformative potential, the Indian government has taken strong steps to encourage and expedite quantum research and development. The National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications (NM-QTA) aims to position India as a global leader in quantum technologies. These projects provide money, foster academic-industry cooperation, and aid in the development of quantum technology ecosystems. Furthermore, rising investments in cloud data center development will enhance the growth of the India cloud-based quantum computing market during the forecast period.







Increasing Investments by Governments in Quantum Computing Technology



Governments are recognizing the immense potential of quantum computing and its impact on various sectors. As a result, they are increasing their investments in quantum computing technology to boost economic growth and maintain a competitive edge. This driver is expected to significantly boost the India cloud-based quantum computing market. Governments hope to stimulate creativity, drive research and development, and attract investment by investing in quantum computing. These investments are critical for the advancement of quantum technologies, such as cloud-based quantum computing systems. The administration has shown a significant commitment to the advancement of quantum technology. Initiatives such as India's National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications (NM-QTA) demonstrate the country's proactive commitment to building a quantum technology ecosystem. The government's funding in quantum research and development fosters the rise of cloud-based quantum computing in India. Government financing enables quantum computing research and development activities such as the design and development of quantum computers, algorithms, and software tools. This spurs innovation, improves quantum system performance, and broadens the potential of cloud-based quantum computing platforms. Governments make investments in the creation of quantum research centers, quantum communication networks, and specialized quantum hardware infrastructure. This infrastructure facilitates the expansion of cloud-based quantum computing by providing the required resources and a solid foundation for quantum research and commercialization. Such factors are expected to drive the growth of the India cloud-based quantum computing market during the forecast period.



Increasing Number of Strategic Alliances



In the India cloud-based quantum computing market, strategic collaborations play a crucial role in driving market growth. Companies and organizations are realizing the advantages of partnering up to accelerate innovation, share resources, and manage the complex challenges associated with quantum technology. By promoting the flow of knowledge, insights, and best practices, strategic partnerships encourage collaboration between partners. This fosters innovation and allows for the collective improvement of the field of quantum computing. Local and foreign entities in India cloud-based quantum computing business can benefit from strategic partnerships, facilitating knowledge transfer and ecosystem growth. Partners can expedite the development of quantum computing applications targeted to specific sectors and use cases by collaborating on research and development. By combining knowledge and resources, partners can develop unique solutions that address real-world challenges, proving the utility of cloud-based quantum computing and encouraging its adoption in India. Strategic collaborations are critical to the growth of the India cloud-based quantum computing market, as they encourage innovation, establish synergies, extend market reach, and influence legislation. As the industry evolves, strategic collaborations will continue to be important in unlocking the full potential of cloud-based quantum computing in the country.



India Cloud Based Quantum Computing Market, By Component:

Hardware

Software

Services

India Cloud Based Quantum Computing Market, By Deployment:

On-premises

Cloud

India Cloud Based Quantum Computing Market, By Applications:

Machine Learning

Optimization

Biomedical Simulations

Financial Services

Electronic material discovery

Others

India Cloud Based Quantum Computing Market, By End User:

IT & Telecom

BFSI

Manufacturing

Healthcare

Energy & utilities

Others

India Cloud Based Quantum Computing Market, By Region:

East India

West India

North India

South India

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

Tata Consultancy Services

Infosys Limited.

Wipro Limited

Zenith InfoTech Limited

CipherCloud

Amazon Web Services

Ctrls Datacenters Limited

SAP India Pvt. Ltd.

Alphabet Inc

Microsoft Azure

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/irr45m

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Pipeline Report Including Stages of Development, Segments, Region and Countries, Regulatory Path and Key Companies, 2023 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

New in-depth research sheds light on the evolving landscape of the therapeutic drug monitoring market, focusing on the development stages of pipeline products, ongoing clinical trials, and the strategic movements of key players. This detailed analysis aims to equip stakeholders with the critical information needed to navigate this dynamic sector.

Extensive Analysis of Pipeline Products in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

The latest research report delivers a comprehensive overview of therapeutic drug monitoring pipeline products, ranging from early development through to products that have been approved. Product descriptions, alongside detailed licensing and collaboration information, form part of this extensive coverage. The burgeoning field of therapeutic drug monitoring, crucial for the precise measurement of medication levels in various biological samples, is experiencing significant innovation and growth.

Key Players and Pipeline Projects: A Strategic Outlook

The report examines the leading companies innovating in the therapeutic drug monitoring sector, outlining their current pipeline projects. Stakeholders can anticipate emerging candidates with strong potential and adjust R&D strategies accordingly. This insight is instrumental for fostering competitive advantage and identifying fruitful partnership opportunities.

Critical Data on Active Clinical Trials and Recent Industry Developments

The publication provides essential clinical trial information that is pivotal for understanding the progress of pipeline products. It also encapsulates recent developments within the industry, thus keeping readers abreast of the most recent innovations and regulatory changes.

Detailed developmental stages of therapeutic drug monitoring products

Strategic profiles of key market players and their pipeline projects

Insights into emerging segments and potential market expansions

Analysis of products' current stage of development and estimated launch dates

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

20/20 GeneSystems Inc

Abbott Diagnostics

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp

Affinergy LLC

Animated Dynamics Inc

Applied Research using OMIC Sciences SL

ARK Diagnostics Inc

AutoGenomics Inc

Avacta Group Plc

BG Medicine Inc

BIOHOPE Scientific SL

Boston University

CCC Diagnostics LLC

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice

Chronix Biomedical Inc

Cognizance Biomarkers LLC

Columbia University

ContraVac Inc (Inactive)

Denovo Biolabs Pvt Ltd

DNAPrint Genomics Inc (Inactive)

Dublin City University

Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne

ELITechGroup Inc

Eurobio Scientific SA

Gene Express, Inc. (Inactive)

GenMark Diagnostics Inc

Horiba Ltd

Inflammatix Inc

Instrumentation Laboratory Co

Johns Hopkins University

KIYATEC Inc

Medibio Ltd

Medical Research Council

Metabolon Inc

Newcastle University

Nipro Europe N.V.

Nuclea Biotechnologies Inc. (Inactive)

PanGenomic Health Inc

Pax Neuroscience Inc

Pelago Bioscience AB

Pennsylvania State University

Plateletdiagnostics LLC

Prediction Sciences LLC (Inactive)

ProciseDx LLC

Progenika Biopharma SA

PrognosDx Health Inc

Prometheus Laboratories Inc

Proteomika (Inactive)

Purdue University

Queen Mary University of London

Roche Diagnostics Corp

Roche Diagnostics International Ltd

Rockland Immunochemicals Inc

SAGA Diagnostics AB

Saladax Biomedical Inc

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc

Sirius Genomics Inc

Spanish National Research Council

SQI Diagnostics Inc

T2 Biosystems Inc

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc

Universidade Feevale

University of Colorado

University of Colorado Denver

University of North Dakota

University of Queensland

University of Washington

Vyant Bio Inc

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xr7wh2

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Dublin, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Redox Flow Batteries: 26 Market Forecasts, Roadmaps, Technologies, 48 Manufacturers, Latest Research Pipeline 2024-2044" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The market for redox flow batteries RFB will rise to over $22 billion as they are radically improved and repositioned. You can create the market leader at $5 billion if you lead the pivoting to new technology and market priorities.

Many market reports look at a few players and mainly the obvious grid opportunity, but this report takes a much closer look. Hundreds of latest research papers to the end of 2023 have been examined and interviews carried out. The activities of 58 companies dominating the value chain are assessed, including 48 companies making, or about to make RFB. The basics of the physics and chemistry are considered including hybrid RFB taking market share. Trends are carefully established.

Drivers of change

The vital importance to RFB of three emerging trends are established and detailed in specific chapters. They are radically different designs and how the largest emerging opportunities will now involve long duration energy storage and beyond-grid, which embraces far more than microgrids. The major opportunity in grids is also closely appraised.

The publisher advises, "RFB costs will tumble with new technologies and volume sales. Specifications will radically improve, such as halving size, cost down 60%, wider temperature range, removing toxigens and expensive metals. However, there are reasons why RFB retaining some of this will still sell. A $1 billion vanadium RFB company will appear."

Many technologies will succeed as the market fragments. Emerging competition, best partners and acquisitions? Detailed roadmaps of technology and market milestones, forecasts, technology issues, gaps in the market? They are here based on latest inputs. Older reports are useless for this fast-moving subject. See data to the end of 2023 that is continuously updated.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive summary and conclusions

1.1 Purpose of this report

1.2 The different characteristics of grid utility and beyond-grid LDES 2024-2044

1.3 Eight primary conclusions: RFB markets and industry with five infograms

1.4 16 primary conclusions concerning RFB technologies

1.4.1 The conclusions

1.4.2 Seven RFB parameters reaching volume sale, vanadium vs other 2024-2044

1.5 48 RFB manufacturers compared in 8 columns: name, brand, technology, tech. readiness, beyond grid focus, LDES focus, comment

1.6 Pie charts of active material and country of 43 RFB manufacturers

1.7 SWOT appraisal of regular RFB

1.8 SWOT appraisal of hybrid RFB

1.9 SWOT appraisal of vanadium RFB against alternatives

1.10 RFB roadmap by market and by technology 2024-2044

1.11 Long Duration Energy Storage LDES roadmap 2023-2044

1.12 Market forecasts in 28 lines

1.12.1 RFB global value market grid vs beyond-grid 2023-2044 table, graph, explanation

1.12.2 RFB global value market short term and LDES 2023-2044 table, graph, explanation

1.12.3 Vanadium vs non-vanadium RFB beyond-grid LDES market % 2024-2044 table, graph, explanation

1.12.4 Regular vs hybrid RFB value sales 2024-2044 table, graph, explanation

1.12.5 Regional share of RFB value market in four regions 2024-2044

1.12.6 LDES total energy storage value market showing beyond-grid gaining share 2023-2044

1.12.7 Beyond-grid LDES market for microgrids, minigrids and other sites in 8 categories $ billion 2023-2044: table, graphs, explanation

1.12.8 Total LDES market in 11 technology categories $ billion 2023-2044 table and graphs

2. Introduction

2.1 Overview: going electric and stationary overtaking mobile storage

2.2 Growth of wind and solar energy sources across the world

2.3 Rechargeable energy storage replaces single use and proliferates

2.4 How the beyond-grid LDES opportunity involves microgrids and much more

2.5 The off-grid megatrend

2.6 The solar megatrend

2.7 Grid vs beyond-grid LDES

2.8 Overview, definition and usefulness of Levelised Cost of Storage LCOS

2.9 Basic Redox Flow Battery RFB

2.10 Infogram: Physically, RFB are fuel cells reinvented as rechargeable batteries

2.11 Examples of RFB competing on-grid and off-grid

3. RFB design principles, research pipeline, toxigen alternatives and SWOT appraisals

3.1 Overview, cost analysis, footprint reduction and next design challenges

3.1.1 General

3.1.2 Cost issues, cost breakdown and potential improvement

3.1.3 Footprint reduction

3.2 Types of RFB by chemistry and reaction with parameter appraisal

3.3 Basic RFB hardware and system design

3.4 Vanadium RFB design

3.5 All-iron RFB design

3.6 Iron Chromium metal ligand design

3.7 Other metal ligand RFB design

3.8 Hydrogen-bromine RFB design

3.9 Organic RFB design

3.10 RFB membrane design

3.10.1 Issues

3.10.2 Membrane difficulty levels and materials used and proposed

3.10.3 Recent RFB membrane research

3.11 RFB research pipeline

3.11.1 Overview

3.11.2 Extreme promises

3.11.3 Research pipeline analysis: 108 papers from 2022 to end of 2023

3.11.4 Iron-based electrolyte RFB research

3.11.5 Vanadium electrolyte RFB research

3.11.6 Organic electrolyte RFB research

3.11.7 Zinc electrolyte RFB research

3.11.8 General and other metals RFB research

3.11.9 Manganese-based RFB research

3.12 Toxigen issues to tackle and current achievements by company

3.13 SWOT appraisal of regular RFB

3.14 SWOT appraisal of RFB for stationary storage

3.15 SWOT appraisal of RFB for LDES

3.16 SWOT appraisal of hybrid RFB

3.17 SWOT appraisal of vanadium RFB against alternatives

4. 58 RFB companies manufacturers, key materials providers compared and profiled in 132 pages

4.1 58 RFB companies compared in 8 columns: name, brand, technology, tech. readiness, beyond grid focus, LDES focus, comment

4.2 Profiles of 58 RFB companies (48 manufacturers, 10 in key materials/ services) in 130 pages with appraisal for beyond-grid LDES potential

Agora Energy Technologies

Allegro Energy

Beijing Herui Energy Storage

Bryte Batteries Norway

CellCube (Enerox)

CERQ

China CEC

CMBlu

Cougar Creek Technologies

EDF bought Pivot Power

Elestor

ESS

Green Energy Storage

H2

HBIS

Hubei Lvdong

Hunan Huifeng High Tech Energy

HydraRedox

Invinity Energy Systems

Jolt Energy Storage Solutions

State Power Investment Corp.

StorEn Technologies

StorTera

Stryten Energy

Sumitomo Electric

Suntien Green Energy

Swanbarton

Yinfeng New Energy

Zhiguang

Kemiwatt

Korid Energy / AVESS

Largo Inc

LE System

Lockheed Martin

nanoFlowcell

Noon Energy

VFlowTech

Vionx Energy

VizBlue

VLiquid

Voith

Pinflow

Primus Power

Prolux

Quino Energy

Redflow

Redox One

RFC Power

Rongke Power

Salgenx

Shanghai Electric Energy Storage

Shmid

Volterion

VoltStorage

VRB Energy

Wattjoule Corporation

WeView

Wuhan NARI

5. LDES, the primary RFB market: principles, parameters, technologies, new needs 2024-2044

5.1 Overview: definition, different needs for grid vs beyond-grid

5.2 The 12 LDES technology choices compared in 7 columns

5.3 Nine primary LDES technology families, including RFB, vs 17 other criteria

5.4 RFB LDES

5.4.1 How RFB is competing for increasing LDES duration

5.4.2 Leaders in the trends to beyond-grid and LDES RFB

5.5 Equivalent efficiency vs storage hours for RFB and other options

5.6 Available sites vs space efficiency for LDES technologies

5.7 LCOS $/kWh trend vs storage and discharge time

5.8 LDES power GW trend vs storage and discharge time

5.9 Days storage vs rated power return MW for LDES technologies

5.10 Potential by technology to supply LDES at peak power after various delays

6. Redox flow batteries for LDES beyond grids

6.1 Overview

6.2 Beyond-grid: buildings, industrial processes, minigrids, microgrids, other

6.3 Beyond-grid electricity production and management

6.4 The trend to needing longer duration storage

6.5 Strategies for reducing LDES need can limit escalation of LDES

6.6 LDES toolkit for grid and beyond-grid

6.7 Market drivers of beyond-grid electricity generation notably providing LDES

6.8 Multifunctional nature of beyond-grid storage

6.9 LDES cost challenge

6.10 Big picture of LDES technology potential for grid and beyond-grid

6.11 Why beyond-grid LDES will become the largest number and value market for RFB 2024-2044

6.12 Technologies for largest number of LDES sold 2024-2044

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qcoeak

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Dublin, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Investment Funds and Asset Management Market in Poland, 2023-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The landscape of the investment funds and asset management market in Poland is undergoing a transformative phase, with forecasts pointing towards a resurgence of growth through 2025. This in-depth research publication offers a detailed analysis of the Polish investment funds and asset management sector. It provides insights into the principal components of the market, such as mutual funds, insurance and pension assets, complemented by a mid-term forecast of key volumes for the years 2023-2025.

Market Recovery and Growth Trajectory

The report on the Polish asset management sector highlights a notable recovery, marking an end to a period of stagnation, with assets managed within the major segments flourishing. As of the third quarter in 2023, total assets under management have risen significantly. The publication delves deep into the implications of these trends and provides a strategic forecast that could prove vital for stakeholders and investors eyeing the Polish market.

Key Segment Performance

The analysis documents that mutual funds continue to dominate the sector, with pension funds and insurance company reserves trailing closely behind. Noteworthy is the remarkable growth witnessed in the third pillar of pension funds, which have shown exceptional percentage increases in assets under management. These shifts are critical for understanding the direction in which financial services are moving in Poland.

Significant increase in mutual funds

Steady expansion in second-pillar pension funds volume

Striking growth in third-pillar pension fund assets

Market Forecast Optimism



As part of the vital forecasting feature, the report anticipates a substantial >40% increase in total value of assets under management by 2025. It is expected that the pension assets segment will demonstrate high growth, particularly within the third pillar - Employee Capital Plans (PPK). Such projections are indicative of potential opportunities in the Polish asset management market for new entrants and established players alike.

Informative and Structured Presentation of Data

Constructed in a user-friendly horizontal presentation format, the report includes a total of 41 slides across 56 pages, providing an accessible yet detailed view of the market data and trends.

Companies Mentioned

Allianz TFI

Goldman Sachs TFI

Ipopema

Pekao TFI

PKO TFI

Santander TFI

TFI PZU

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/u3jldf

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Samsung Electronics Canada today announced that the new Samsung Galaxy S24 Series, including the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S24+ and Samsung Galaxy S24 are now available for purchase at Samsung Experience Stores, online at samsung.com/ca, on the Samsung Shop App, and at select national retail and carrier partners across Canada.



Together with Galaxy AI, the latest Galaxy S devices mark a new era in everyday mobile innovation, said Raj Doshi, Head of Mobile Business at Samsung Electronics Canada. With all-new ways to connect, search, create and play, the Galaxy S24 Series harnesses the power of AI to create human-centered experiences, igniting new possibilities

New Ways To Connect: Breaking Down Barriers

Live Translate1 on the Galaxy S24 Series enable seamless communication with two-way, real-time voice and text translations of phone calls within the native phone app. This means users can chat with a student or colleague in various languages or book a reservation while on vacation in another country  no third-party apps required. In addition, the new Note Assist2 feature in Samsung Notes creates a brief preview of your note with AI-generated summaries making it easier to find what youre looking for. And, for voice recordings, Transcript Assist3 uses AI and Speech-to-Text technology to transcribe, summarize and even translate recordings even when there are multiple speakers.

New Ways To Search: Partnering To Revolutionize the Mobile Search Framework

Circle to Search4 with Google on the Galaxy S24 Series marks a milestone in the history of search as Samsungs first phone to debut intuitive, gesture-driven search functionality. With a long press on the home button, you can circle, highlight, scribble on, or tap anything on the screen of your Galaxy S24 Series device to see helpful search results.

New Ways To Create: Boosting Content Creation With Enhanced Camera Features

Powered by an all-new ProVisual Engine5, the Galaxy S24 Series maximizes creative freedom with a wide-ranging suite of AI tools. Users can now take advantage of Galaxys native camera experiences on their favorite social media apps. The power of AI also extends to video, where users can create and watch videos in Instant Slow-mo, even if they didnt film it that way. Or, they can use Dual Recording to create 4K vlogs utilizing the front and rear cameras at the same time. And thanks to upgraded Nightography capabilities, photos and videos are brilliant in low light conditions, even when zoomed in. After great shots are captured, innovative Galaxy AI editing tools enable users to make simple edits like erase, re-compose, and remaster photos. Now, Galaxy S24 Series users can produce pro-quality content without additional equipment.

New Ways To Play: Optimal Mobile Gaming Experiences Through Powerful Performance

The latest AI features call for innovative chip technology. Thats why the Galaxy S24 series is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy. With this, the Galaxy S24 Series offers superior usability and faster and smoother gameplay6 alongside Ray Tracing for a more immersive gaming experience. And, thanks to Galaxy AI, the Galaxy S24 series battery performance is optimized for extra-long gaming sessions.

Sustainability and More: Samsungs Vision for a Sustainable Future

For the first time in a Galaxy device, the Galaxy S24 Ultras battery features a minimum of 50% recycled cobalt7, while all the magnets in the speaker are made from 100% recycled neodymium8. Additionally, every Galaxy S24 Series device is packaged in 100% recycled paper. Looking forward, Samsung aims to incorporate at least one recycled material in every module of all mobile products by 2030, as part of ongoing sustainability efforts.

Empowering User Choice and Trust With Advanced Security and Privacy

Secured by Samsung Knox, Galaxys defense-grade, multi-layer security platform, the Galaxy S24 Series safeguards critical information and protects against vulnerabilities with end-to-end secure hardware, real-time threat detection and collaborative protection. Galaxy S24 Series users have full control over how much they allow their data to enhance AI experiences, through Advanced Intelligence settings which can disable online processing of data for AI features9.

Canadian Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Series is now available in earth mineral-inspired colour tones at samsung.com/ca, on the Samsung Shop App, at Samsung Experience Stores, and at major carrier and retail partner locations across Canada.

Galaxy S24 Ultra is the first-ever Galaxy phone to feature a titanium frame10, for device durability. Available in Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet and Titanium Yellow in addition to samsung.com/ca exclusive colours, Titanium Green, Titanium Blue and Titanium Orange11.

256GB model: Available for $1,799.99 (Our regular price).

512GB model: Available for $1,959.99 (Our regular price).

1TB model: Available for $2,279.99 (our regular price).



For more information about the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/ca/smartphones/galaxy-s24-ultra

On Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24, a new design satisfies a more aesthetic look with seamless connection between the devices rear cover and side frame. Available in Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet and Amber Yellow in addition to samsung.com/ca exclusive colours, Jade Green, Sapphire Blue and Sandstone Orange12.

Galaxy S24+ :

256GB model: Available for $1,399.99 (Our regular price).

512GB model: Available for $1,559.99 (Our regular price).

Galaxy S24:

128GB model: Available for $1,099.99 (Our regular price).

256GB model: Available for $1,179.99 (Our regular price).

For more information about the Samsung Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/ca/smartphones/galaxy-s24/

Promotional Offers

Financing

Canadians who purchase an eligible Galaxy S24 Series device at samsung.com/ca or at a Samsung Experience Store can pay as low as $9.79 per month13 with financing on approved credit through Affirm previously PayBright. 12 or 24 month plans at 0 percent APR are available with purchase14.

Trade-In offers

Canadians who purchase an eligible Galaxy S24 Series before February 12, 2024, can receive a trade-in promotional credit of up to $450, in addition to the trade-in value of their eligible old smartphone15. The trade-in program is available for purchases made at samsung.com/ca, Samsung Experience Stores, and participating authorized Canadian retailers and carriers in Canada.

Peace of Mind with Samsung Care+

With a Samsung Care+ Plan, Canadians can experience total care service for their new Galaxy Smartphone, Laptop, Tablet or Wearable device. Users will be protected for up to two years against physical or liquid damage and mechanical malfunction or defects, with a team of dedicated Galaxy experts available to help them get back on track16.

Canadians who purchase a Galaxy S24 Series device before February 12, 2024, can get17:

One (1) Samsung Care+ 1 Year Plan at 30% off regular price (before taxes) for your selected Galaxy E1 or E2 device for $97.30 (1-Yr SC+ Smartphone Tier3 P-GT-NXXCS0GV - CANADA regular price - $139); or

One (1) Samsung Care+ 2 Year Plan at 30% off regular price (before taxes) for your selected Galaxy E1 or E2 device for $160.30 (2-Yr SC+ Smartphone Tier3 P-GT-AXXCS0GV  CANADA regular price - $229); or

One (1) Samsung Care+ 1 Year Plan at 50% off regular price (before taxes) for your selected Galaxy E3 device for $69.50 (1-Yr SC+ Smartphone Tier3 P-GT-NXXCS0GV - CANADA regular price - $139); or

One (1) Samsung Care+ 2 Year Plan at 50% off regular price (before taxes) for your selected Galaxy E3 device for $114.50 (2-Yr SC+ Smartphone Tier3 P-GT-AXXCS0GV  CANADA regular price - $229)

This offer can be redeemed online at samsung.com/ca for purchases made at samsung.com/ca and in-store at point of sale for purchases made at Samsung Experience Stores. For purchases made at participating retailers and carriers, please visit https://shop.samsung.com/ca/samsung-care-plus.

Premium Care Service

Your Galaxy S24 Series device comes with dedicated customer care services designed specifically to deliver a great customer service experience to our valued customers. Our experts are available by phone 9am-9pm EST at 1-888-970-3653 and available 24/7 via Live Chat. To know more, visit samsung.com/ca/support/.

About Samsung Electronics Canada Inc.

Samsung Electronics Canada inspires Canadians to reach their full potential through a transformative ecosystem of products and services that deliver innovation and distinct design to their connected lives. The company is helping to redefine the worlds of TVs, smartphones, and wearable devices, tablets and digital appliances. In 2022, Samsung was ranked as one of Canada's "Most Reputable Companies" by Leger, named one of Canadas Top 100 Employers and placed first on Forbes 'The World's Best Employers' list. Dedicated to helping make a difference in the lives of Canadians, Samsung's award-winning corporate giving initiatives support public education and health-related issues in communities across the country. To discover more, please visit: www.samsung.com/ca.

Follow Samsung Canada at facebook.com/SamsungCanada, on Instagram @samsungcanada or on Twitter @SamsungCanada.

Contact:

Shalynn Mortillaro

Account Manager, North Strategic

647-614-1737

shalynn.mortillaro@northstrategic.com

SPEC TABLE

Galaxy S24 Ultra Display

6.8-inch* QHD+

Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display



Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate (1~120Hz) Vision booster *Measured diagonally, Galaxy S24 Ultras screen size is 6.8-inch in the full rectangle and 6.8-inch with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole. Dimensions &

Weight 79 X 162.3 X 8.6mm, 233g (mmWave) / 232g (Sub6) Camera 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera

F2.2, FOV 120 200 MP Wide Camera

OIS F1.7, FOV 85 50MP Telephoto Camera 5x Optical Zoom, OIS F3.4, FOV 22 10MP Telephoto Camera

3x Optical Zoom, OIS F2.4, FOV 36 12MP Front Camera

F2.2, FOV 80 Memory & Storage

12GB + 1TB

12 + 512GB

12 + 256GB *Available storage capacity is subject to preloaded software.

*Memory option may vary by market. Battery

5,000 mAh * Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,855mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on

network environment, usage patterns and other factors. Charging*

Wired charging*: Up to 65% charge in around 30 mins with 45W Adapter** and 5A USB-C cable*** Fast Wireless Charging 2.0****

Wireless PowerShare***** *Wired charging compatible with PD. **45W Power Adapter sold separately. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables. *** Results from internal Samsung lab tests, conducted with 45W Travel Adapter connected to newly pre-released version of Galaxy S24 Ultra while device had 0% of power remaining, with all services, features and screen turned off. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual

usage, charging conditions and other factors. ****Wireless charging compatible with WPC. *****Limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy S24 Ultra, S24+, S24, S23 Ultra, S23+, S23, Z Fold 4, Z Flip4, S22 series, Z Fold3 5G, Z Flip3 5G, S21 FE 5G, S21 series, Z Fold2, Note20 series, S20 series, Z Flip, Note10, Note10+, S10e, S10, S10+, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE and Note5. Only available with certain Samsung Galaxy wearables such as Galaxy Buds FE, Buds2 Pro, Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Watch6, Watch6 Classic, Watch5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds. If battery power is lower than 30% Wireless PowerShare may not function. May not work with certain accessories, covers, other brand devices or some Samsung wearables. During PowerShare, it

may affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment. OS Android 14

One UI 6.1 Network and Connectivity

5G*, LTE**, Wi-Fi 7***, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth v 5.3 *Requires optimal 5G network connection, available in select markets. Check with your carrier for availability and details. Download and streaming speeds may vary based on content provider, server connection and other factors.

**Availability of LTE model varies by market and carrier. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment.

***Wi-Fi 7 network availability may vary by market, network provider and user environment.

Requires optimal connection. Will require a Wi-Fi 6E router. Water Resistance

IP68 * IP68 rating: Based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Rinse residue/dry after wet. Not advised for beach or pool use. Water and dust resistance of the S Pen is not permanent and may diminish over time because of normal wear and

tear.





Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ Display

Galaxy S24 Galaxy S24+ 6.2-inch FHD+* 6.7-inch QHD+ * Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display

Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate (1~120Hz) Vision booster *Measured diagonally, Galaxy S24s screen size is 6.2-inch in the full rectangle and 6.0-inch with accounting for the rounded corners, Galaxy S24+'s screen size is 6.7-inch in the full rectangle and 6.5-inch with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded

corners and camera hole. Dimensions & Weight 70.6 x 147 x 7.6mm, 168g (mmWave) / 167g

(Sub6)

75.9 x 158.5 x 7.7mm, 197g (mmWave) / 196g

(Sub6) Camera 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera

F2.2, FOV 120 50 MP Wide Camera

OIS F1.8, FOV 85 10MP Telephoto Camera 3x Optical Zoom, F2.4, FOV 36 12MP Front Camera

F2.2, FOV 80 Memory & Storage

8 + 512GB

8 + 256GB

8 + 128GB

12 + 512GB

12 + 256GB *Available storage capacity is subject to preloaded software.

*Memory option may vary by market. Battery

4,000 mAh

4,900 mAh *Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 3,880mAh for Galaxy S24 and 4,755mAh for Galaxy S24+. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other

factors. Charging

Wired Charging*: Up to 50% charge in around 30 mins with 25W Adapter** and 3A USB-C cable***

Fast Wireless Charging 2.0****

Wireless PowerShare*****

Wired charging*: Up to 65% charge in around 30 mins with 45W Adapter** and 5A USB-C cable*** Fast Wireless Charging 2.0****

Wireless PowerShare***** *Wired charging compatible with PD. **Power Adapter and data cable sold separately. Using the original Samsung 45W Power Adapter and data cable is recommended for Galaxy S24+ and the original Samsung 25W Power Adapter and

data cable recommended for Galaxy S24. ***Results from internal Samsung lab tests, conducted with 25W Travel Adapter connected to newly

pre-released version of Galaxy S24 and 45W Travel Adapter connected to newly pre-released version of Galaxy S24+ while a device had 0% of power remaining, with all services, features and screen

turned off. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions and

other factors. ****Wireless charging compatible with WPC. *****Limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy S24 Ultra, S24+, S24, S23 Ultra, S23+, S23, Z Fold 4, Z Flip4, S22 series, Z Fold3 5G, Z Flip3 5G, S21 FE 5G, S21 series, Z Fold2, Note20 series, S20 series, Z Flip, Note10, Note10+, S10e, S10, S10+, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE and Note5. Only available with certain Samsung Galaxy wearables such as Galaxy Buds FE, Buds2 Pro, Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Watch6, Watch6 Classic, Watch5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds. If battery power is lower than 30% Wireless PowerShare may not function. May not work with certain accessories, covers, other brand devices or some Samsung wearables. During PowerShare, it may

affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment. OS

Android 14

One UI 6.1 Network and Connectivity

5G*, LTE**, Wi-Fi 6E***, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth v 5.3 *5G services are only supported in 5G network enabled locations. Requires optimal 5G connection. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment.

**Availability of LTE model varies by market and carrier.

*** Wi-Fi 6E network availability may vary by market, network provider and user environment. Requires optimal connection. Will require a Wi-Fi 6E router. Water Resistance

IP68 * IP68 rating: Based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Rinse residue/dry after wet. Not advised for beach or pool use. Water and dust resistance of the S Pen is not permanent and may diminish over time because of normal wear and

tear.





1 Live Translate requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Live Translate is only available on the pre-installed Samsung Phone app. Certain languages may require language pack download. Service availability may vary by language. Currently 13 languages are available for download. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

2 Note Assist requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Character limit applies. Service availability may vary by language.

Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

3 Transcript Assist requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Transcript Assist is only available on the pre-installed Samsung Voice Recorder app or files recorded using the pre-installed Samsung Phone app. Voice recording feature in the pre-installed Samsung Phone app may not be supported in some countries. Audio files must be under 3 hours in duration to be processed. Summarizing feature in Transcript Assist can only be activated when a certain number of characters is met. Service availability may vary by language. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

4 Sequences shortened and simulated. Results for illustrative purposes only. Results may vary depending on visual matches. Requires internet connection. Users may need to update Android to the latest version. Product functionality may be dependent on your app and device settings. Some functions may not be compatible with certain apps. Availability of the service varies by country and language. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

5 AI Zoom is applied to distances between digital zoom lengths. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

6 Compared to the Galaxy S23 Series. S24 Ultra has an 18% faster CPU, 32% faster GPU, and 42% NPU compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

7 The batteries of the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S24+ include a minimum of 50% pre- and post-consumer recycled cobalt. The battery of the Galaxy S24 includes a minimum of 10% pre- and post-consumer recycled cobalt.

8 The speakers of the Galaxy S24 series include 100% pre- and post-consumer recycled neodymium.

9 Samsung Account login required. Advanced Intelligence settings preventing server access will limit the functionality of some AI features. Regardless of server access, Samsung does not save user input or output data.

10 The titanium frame does not include volume and side keys.

11 Colors may vary by market and carrier.

12 Colors may vary by market and carrier.

13 Based on the trade in of Galaxy S23 Ultra 1TB device towards the purchase of a Galaxy S24 (128GB) device & 24-month financing.

14 Payment options through Affirm Canada Holdings Ltd. (Affirm). To qualify for financing, minimum purchase value of cart must be $200 before taxes and fees. APR offered is based on creditworthiness and subject to an eligibility check. Not all customers will be eligible for 0% APR. Payment options depend on your purchase amount and may not be available in all provinces/territories. Actual payment option terms will be shown at checkout. Financing offers may vary from time to time and may be amended or cancelled at any time. Financing offers may vary for customers in the Province of Quebec. See https://helpcenter.affirm.ca for more information.

15 Certain conditions apply. Receive a trade-in promotional credit of up to $450, in addition to the trade-in value of your eligible old smartphone (the Eligible Trade-In Product), when you:

(i) pre-order and complete your purchase of an eligible Galaxy S24 Series device between January 17th, 2024 and January 30th, 2024; or purchase an eligible Galaxy S24 Series device between January 31st, 2024 and February 12th, 2024 (the Offer Period), from a participating authorized Canadian retailer or carrier, a Samsung Experience Store in Canada, or online at https://www.samsung.com/ca/; and

(ii) complete the trade-in of your Eligible Trade-In Product by February 12th, 2024; and

(iii) ship the Eligible Trade-in Product within 21 calendar days of receiving the waybill.

Selection and availability may vary. While quantities last. No rain checks. No cash value. The minimum qualifying trade-in value of the Eligible Trade-In Product must be $0 as determined by the Service Providers device valuation software. $450 credit is based on completing the trade-in of an eligible Galaxy Note Series, Galaxy S Series, or Galaxy Z Series device and purchasing a Galaxy S24 Series device. Offer is subject to change or cancellation at any time without notice, cannot be combined with any other offer and is available to Canadian residents only. Offer provided by Samsung Electronics Canada Inc. See https://www.samsung.com/ca/offer/ for Full Terms and Conditions. Please note: for trade-in transactions online at Samsung.com/ca if you do not send in your Eligible Trade-In Product within the prescribed time, or if the device condition differs materially from that which you have represented to be accurate using the Trade-In Tool, your trade-in transaction may be subject to a charge-back, in whole or in part, in accordance with the Trade-In Program Terms and Conditions of Use.

16 Terms and Conditions apply. For full Terms and Conditions, please see https://support-ca.samsung.com/secaew/consumer/ca/terms.

17 Terms and Conditions apply. For full Terms and Conditions, please see https://support-ca.samsung.com/secaew/consumer/ca/terms.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3a4cc7ea-f800-4efe-8c8b-97c9cb46de3a




Dublin, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Market by Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), Technology (Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing), Application (Predictive Maintenance & Machinery Inspection, Cybersecurity) - Global Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The artificial intelligence in the manufacturing market is expected to reach USD 20.8 billion by 2028 from USD 3.2 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 45.6% from 2023-2028

The report segments artificial intelligence in the manufacturing market by Offering, Technology, Application, Industry, and Region. The report also comprehensively reviews drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges influencing market growth. The report also covers qualitative aspects in addition to the quantitative aspects of the market.

The growth of this market is attributed to the Rising need to handle increasingly large and complex datasets and emerging industrial IoT and automation technologies.

Major players in the artificial intelligence manufacturing market include Siemens, IBM, Intel Corporation, NVIDIA Corporation, General Electric, and others.

Machine learning technology segment to dominate the artificial intelligence in manufacturing market in 2023

Machine Learning includes various technologies, such as deep learning, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning. Machine learning enables systems to improve their performance automatically with experience. Machine Learning helps develop a computer program/algorithm that can access data and use it to train itself without human intervention.

The ability of Machine Learning to collect and handle big data and its increasing applications in predictive analytics and machinery inspection, quality control, and cybersecurity are expected to drive the growth of artificial intelligence in the manufacturing market for Machine Learning technology.

The quality control segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

AI-driven quality control systems empower plant operators to identify deviations in product properties during the manufacturing process. These quality control applications depend on gathering both three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) data through laser-based aggregate scanning systems, which subsequently transform this data into digital images.

The core technologies applied in these quality control applications within manufacturing plants encompass machine learning, computer vision, and context-aware computing. This robust quality control framework aids plant operators in validating product quality, and it finds extensive application in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, and beverages, as well as semiconductors.

Software segment hold the largest market share during the forecast period

A computer system needs highly effective and efficient hardware and software to exhibit intelligent capabilities like the human brain. The growing adoption of AI solutions and platforms in various industries and the widening application scope of AI in the manufacturing sector are the prime factors driving the growth of artificial intelligence in the manufacturing market for the software segment.

China is to dominate artificial intelligence in the manufacturing market of Asia Pacific in 2023

Asia Pacific consists of some of the fastest-growing economies - such as China, Japan, and South Korea. China is a key manufacturing hub in the Asia Pacific region. The country is a major force of artificial intelligence development in the Asia Pacific, with strengths in data accessibility and policy support.

The manufacturing sector in China is growing rapidly, resulting in the introduction of new robotics and big data technologies. All these factors, coupled with the presence of a large number of manufacturing plants in China, are expected to increase the manufacturing data volume. Moreover, the government of China is undertaking initiatives to encourage the adoption of AI technologies in manufacturing

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

Analysis of critical drivers (Rising need to handle increasingly large and complex datasets, emerging industrial IoT and automation technology, surging adoption of AI fuiling growth of semiconductor chipset manufacturing, growing investment propelling growth of start-ups in manufacturing AI space), restraints (Reluctance among manufacturers to adopt AI-based technologies), opportunities (enhance manufacturing efficiency through AI-powered predictive analytics and production planning, application of AI-driven machine learning and NLP for intelligent enterprise processes), and challenges (lack of skilled workforce, especially in developing countries and concerns regarding data privacy and cybersecurity regulations) influencing the growth of the artificial intelligence in manufacturing market.

Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research and development activities, and new product launches in the artificial intelligence in manufacturing market.

Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets - the report analyses artificial intelligence in the manufacturing market across various regions.

Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in artificial intelligence in the manufacturing market.

Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, and product offerings of leading players like Siemens (Germany), IBM (US), Intel Corporation (US), NVIDIA Corporation (US), and General Electric Company (US).

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 262 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $3.2 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $20.8 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 45.6% Regions Covered Global

Companies Mentioned

Amazon Web Services, Inc. (Aws)

Aibrain Inc.

Aquant

Bright Machines, Inc.

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Flutura

General Electric

Google LLC

General Vision Inc.

IBM (International Business Machines Corporation)

Intel Corporation

Microsoft

Micron Technology, Inc.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Nvidia Corporation

Oracle

Progress Software Corporation (Datarpm)

Rockwell Automation

Rethink Robotics Gmbh

Siemens

Sight Machine

Sap

Sparkcognition

Ubtech Robotics Corp Ltd

VicarioUS

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1ijj95

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Lithium Mining to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The report provides a comprehensive coverage on the global lithium industry. It provides historical and forecast data on lithium production by country, production by company, reserves by country and world lithium prices. The report also includes a demand drivers section providing information on factors that are affecting the global lithium industry. It further profiles major lithium producers, information on the major active, planned and exploration projects by region.



Global lithium production is expected to increase to 170.8kt in 2023, an increase of 31.3% over 2022, with Australia, Argentina, Zimbabwe and Brazil, contributing to the growth. Combined output from these countries is expected to increase from 69.4kt in 2022 to 105.6kt in 2023 - a 52.2% increase. Global lithium production is expected to increase at a CAGR of 13.9% over the forecast period to reach 512.8kt in 2030.



The rapid adoption of EVs and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in recent years has increased demand for lithium. The global consumption of lithium increased by 44.1% in 2022 over 2021, owing primarily to increased demand for batteries. This is expected to rise to 157.4kt in 2023, a 17.4% increase over the previous year.2

The report contains an overview of the global lithium mining industry including key demand driving factors affecting the global lithium mining industry. It provides detailed information on reserves, reserves by country, production, production by country, production by company, major operating mines, competitive landscape, major exploration and development projects.

Report Scope & Benefits:

Gain an understanding of the global lithium mining industry, relevant driving factors

Understand historical and forecast trend on global lithium production

Identify key players in the global lithium mining industry

Identify major active, exploration and development projects by region

Key Topics Covered:

Overview

Lithium Reserves and Resources

Lithium Production

Lithium Price Analysis

Major Active Mines

Major Development Projects

Major Exploration Projects

Competitive Landscape

Demand and Trade

Company Coverage:

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA (SQM)

Albemarle

Pilbara Minerals

Mineral Resources Ltd

Allkem

Livent

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Dublin, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Vapor Deposition Market by Technology (Chemical Vapor Deposition, Physical Vapor Deposition), by End-user Industry (Microelectronics, Cutting tools, Industrial & Energy, Medical, Decorative Coating) - Global Trends & Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The vapor deposition market is projected to grow from USD 42.6 billion in 2023 to USD 66.1 billion by 2028, recording a CAGR of 9.2%

The market study covers the vapor deposition market across various segments. It aims at estimating the market size and the growth potential of this market across different segments based on technology, end-use industry and region. The study also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of key players in the market, their company profiles, key observations related to their products and business offerings, recent developments undertaken by them, and key growth strategies adopted by them to improve their position in the vapor deposition market.

Technological advancements have made deposition processes more efficient and versatile, driving increased adoption. Industries like semiconductors, optics, and medical devices heavily rely on vapor deposition, with growing demand in these sectors. Additionally, the energy industry sees applications in thin-film solar cells and energy-efficient coatings.

Vapor deposition is also crucial in aerospace, automotive, and nanotechnology. As environmental concerns rise, its eco-friendly nature may further boost its usage. Customization capabilities and the ability to cater to niche markets contribute to its growth. However, market projections can vary based on economic conditions and emerging trends, so up-to-date industry reports are essential for accurate insights.

The companies profiled in this market research report include Applied Materials, Inc. (US), Tokyo Electron Limited. (Japan), Lam Research Corporation (US), OC Oerlikon Management AG (Switzerland), and IHI Corporation (Japan) ULVAC, Inc. (Japan), Veeco Instruments Inc. (US), and Voestalpine AG (Austria) and ASM International N.V. (Netherlands), among others.

Chemical Vapor Depsotion segment is likely to drive the global market during the forecast period

The global Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) market is set to drive overall industry growth in the forecast period. This is due to its widespread application in key sectors such as semiconductors, solar energy, aerospace, and biotechnology. The demand for advanced materials, particularly in the semiconductor industry, is pushing the need for CVD processes.

It's also crucial for producing thin-film solar cells, enhancing medical devices, and creating nanoscale materials. Continuous technological advancements and the trend towards miniaturization further contribute to its expanding adoption globally. As industries seek more efficient and specialized coatings, CVD's role is expected to be pivotal in shaping the market's trajectory.

Energy & Power segment is expected to account for the 2nd largest market share during the forecast period

The maritime industry is under increasing pressure to reduce emissions and comply with stricter environmental regulations. LNG is considered a cleaner fuel compared to traditional marine fuels like heavy fuel oil and diesel. It offers significant emissions reductions in terms of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and greenhouse gases. This has led to a growing interest in LNG as a fuel for ships, particularly in emission-controlled areas such as coastal regions and ports.

Additionally, LNG offers better energy efficiency compared to conventional marine fuels. LNG has a higher energy content per unit of weight, allowing ships to achieve longer voyage distances with the same fuel capacity. This becomes particularly advantageous for vessels involved in long-haul transportation, such as ferries, offshore support vessels, and even some bulk carriers.

Europe accounts for the third largest market during the forecast period

The semiconductor industry in Europe is expected to witness high growth in the next five years due to the increasing number of fabrication plants in the region. Moreover, Europe hosts many major semiconductor manufacturers such as STMicroelectronics (Switzerland), Infineon Technologies AG (Germany), and X-FAB Silicon Foundries (Germany), among others.

The presence of such established semiconductor manufacturers and the increasing number of fabrication facilities are expected to create growth opportunities for market players offering vapor deposition equipment. Furthermore, government initiatives are a major factor driving the market growth in Europe.

For instance, in February 2022, the European Commission outlined a Euro 43 billion plan in accordance with European Union's (EU's) aim to double its market share in semiconductor production by 2030. Such favorable initiatives to strengthen the semiconductor industry in this region are expected to increase the adoption of vapor deposition for various semiconductor applications.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

Analysis of key drivers (Growth in the semiconductor industry, Growing solar industry to propel the demand for high-performance films, Increasing demand for medical devices and equipment), restraints (High capital investment, Film contamination) opportunities (Innovation in technology provide lucrative opportunity across various industrial applications, Increasing demand from end-user industries in the developing nations), and challenges (Lack of qualified workforce for operation, Technical difficulties and process complexity) influencing the growth of the vapor deposition market

Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product & service launches in the vapor deposition market

Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets - the report analyses the vapor deposition market across varied regions

Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products & services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the vapor deposition market

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 233 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $42.6 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $66.1 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.2% Regions Covered Global

Companies Mentioned

Adeka Corporation

Aixtron

Applied Materials, Inc.

Asm International N.V.

Aurora Scientific Corp.

Crystallumepvd

Cvd Equipment Corporation

Denton Vacuum

Hef Durferrit

Ihi Corporation

Impact Coatings Ab

Intevac, Inc.

Jusung Engineering Co. Ltd.

Kurt J. Lesker Company

Lam Research Corporation

Mustang Vacuum Systems

Oc Oerlikon Management AG

Oxford Instruments

Plasma-Therm

Pvd Products, Inc.

Techmetal, Inc.

Tokyo Electron Limited

Ulvac, Inc.

Veeco Instruments Inc.

Voestalpine AG

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Dublin, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Nanofiltration Membrane Market by Type (Polymeric, Ceramic, Hybrid), Module (Spiral Wound, Tubular, Hollow Fiber, Flat Sheet), Application (Municipal, Industrial), And Region (North America, Europe, Apac, South America, MEA) - Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global nanofiltration membrane market size is projected to reach USD 1.7 billion by 2028 from USD 1.0 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 10.8%

This research report is focused on various levels of analysis - industry analysis (industry trends), market ranking analysis of top players, and company profiles, which together provide an overall view of the competitive landscape; emerging and high-growth segments of the nanofiltration membranes market; high-growth regions; and market drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges.

The demand for nanofiltration membranes is increasing due to the need for clean and safe drinking water. Nanofiltration is an effective water treatment solution that can remove contaminants and impurities from water. Nanofiltration membranes are used in various industrial applications, including wastewater treatment, food and beverage processing, and the dairy industry. The demand for nanofiltration membranes is increasing due to their effectiveness in these applications.

The key players in the nanofiltration membranes market DuPont Water Solutions (US), Toray Industries, Inc. (Japan), Veolia Environnement S.A. (France), Alfa Laval AB (Sweden), GEA Group AG (Germany), Hydranautics (US), NX Filtration (Netherlands), Pall Corporation (US), Vontron Technology Co., Ltd. (China), and Pentair (US) among others.

The nanofiltration membranes market report analyzes the key growth strategies, such as new product launches, investments & expansions, agreements, partnerships, and mergers & acquisitions to strengthen their market positions.

Tubular is the second largest in terms of value amongst other modules in the nanofiltration membranes market in 2022

Tubular nanofiltration membrane modules are tube-like structures with porous walls that operate via tangential crossflow. The module is made of stainless steel and has a robust design that allows it to be used in systems designed for operation at up to 80 bars at 80C, depending on the type of membrane fitted. Tubular nanofiltration membrane modules are used in various applications, including wastewater treatment, food & beverage processing, and the pharmaceutical industry. They are ideal for high solids/oily applications and can manage high concentrations of suspended solids.

Municipal is the second largest in terms of value amongst other applications in the nanofiltration membranes market in 2022

Nanofiltration membranes are increasingly being used in municipal wastewater treatment due to their effectiveness in removing contaminants and improving water quality. Nanofiltration membranes are employed in the treatment of municipal wastewater.

They can effectively remove ions, organic substances, and other contaminants from the wastewater, improving its quality before discharge or reuse. Nanofiltration membranes offer advantages over conventional clarification and disinfection processes in municipal treatment. They have a smaller physical footprint, require less chemical addition, and provide consistent removal of particles and microbes.

Europe is the third largest in the nanofiltration membranes market in 2022

Europe is the third largest region amongst others in the nanofiltration membranes market in 2022 in terms of value. Europe has been secure from the social, economic, and environmental impacts of severe water shortages. However, as demand increases, some parts of Europe have become susceptible to water stress.

The reason for this situation is the over-extraction and prolonged periods of low rainfall or drought. European water resources management focuses on a regular supply of water using a combination of reservoirs, inter-basin transfers, and increasing abstraction of both surface water and groundwater. All these factors are projected to drive the nanofiltration membranes market in the region.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

Analysis of key drivers (Rising industrialization and urbanization, Declining freshwater resources, Low energy consumption in nanofiltration), restraints (Fouling in nanofiltration membrane), opportunities (Rising advancements in nanofiltration membrane, Growing food & beverage industry), and challenges (Lack of awareness about advantages of membrane filtration) influencing the growth of the nanofiltration membranes market.

Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on the nanofiltration membranes offered by top players in the global nanofiltration membranes market.

Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product launches in the nanofiltration membranes market.

Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative emerging markets - the report analyzes the markets for nanofiltration membranes market across regions.

Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, growing geographies, and recent developments in the nanofiltration membranes market.

Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market segments, growth strategies, revenue analysis, and products of the leading market players.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 235 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $1 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $1.7 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.8% Regions Covered Global

Company Profiles

Inopor

Dupont

Hyflux

Gea Group

Hydranautics (A Nitto Denko Group Company)

Koch Membrane Systems

Applied Membrane

Argonide Corporation

Toray Industries, Inc

Vontron

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Dublin, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) Battery Market by Capacity (Below 3,000 mAh, 3,001-10,000 mAh, Above 10,000 mAh), Voltage, Application (Consumer Electronics, Automotive), Component (Electrodes, Electrolytes), Material and Region - Global Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global lithium titanate oxide (LTO) battery market size is expected to grow from USD 4.5 billion in 2023 to USD 7.3 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 10.1% from 2023 to 2028

The LTO battery market has been classified by component, material, capacity, voltage, application, and region. By component, the market has been segmented into electrodes and electrolytes.

The market by material has been classified into lithium tiatanate, graphite, and metal oxides. The capacity segment is divided into below 3,000 mAh, 3,001-10,000 mAh, and above 10,000 mAh. The market has been divided into low (below 12 V), medium (12V-36 V), and high (above 36 V), by voltage segment. Furthermore, the application segment includes consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace, marine, medical, industrial, power, and telecommunication.

A LTO battery uses a titanate-based anode which allows for a faster flow of lithium ions. This battery has gained popularity in various industries due to its exceptional safety features, fast charging capabilities, and long life. LTO batteries have found applications in automotive, grid-scale energy storage, and consumer electronics sectors. As battery technology continues to evolve, LTO batteries is expected to become a promising option for addressing the demands of modern energy storage and power management needs.

Major players profiled in this report are as follows: Toshiba Corporation (Japan), Microvast Holdings, Inc. (US), Nichicon Corporation (Japan), Leclanche SA (Switzerland), Gree Altairnano New Energy Inc. (China), Clarios (US), AA Portable Power Corp. (US), GRINERGY (South Korea), Zenaji Pty Ltd. (Australia), Log9 Materials (India), LiTech Power Co., Ltd. (Germany) and others.

Medium voltage segment is projected to grow at significant CAGR during the forecast period

LTO batteries with voltage ranging from 12 to 36 V find extensive use in diverse sectors and industries, such as automotive, medical, marine, power, industrial, and telecommunications.

The suitability of these batteries for a particular application depends on the power demands and other specific requirements of the equipment or systems they are integrated into. Hence, the rising adoption of medium-voltage LTO batteries in various applications is expected to drive the market's growth.

Below 3,000 mAh capacity segment is projected to grow at an impressive CAGR during the forecast period

The demand for various consumer electronics is rising due to increasing urbanization and disposable income across developing regions such as Asia Pacific, South America, and Africa. The growth of the consumer electronics industry is driving the demand for LTO batteries with the capacity range of below 3,000 mAh.

Companies such as Nichicon Corporation (Japan), LTO Battery Co., Ltd. (China), and Shenzhen Siqi New Energy Company Limited (China) predominantly design and manufacture LTO batteries with a capacity range of below 3,000 mAh. For instance, LTO Battery Co., Ltd. (China) offers LTO batteries for electric toothbrushes, electric trimmers, and smart electric shavers under this battery capacity range.

Power application is expected to hold a significant market share during the forecast period

In power applications, LTO batteries are used in energy storage systems (ESSs), smart grids, power grid stations, microgrids, UPS, wind power generation storage, solar wind power streetlights, and home energy storage. The growing demand for LTO batteries in smart grids is driven by several factors, such as the longer life and high energy density of these batteries that make them well-suited for specific applications such as grid stabilization, grid resiliency, and reliability.

The market in Europe is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period

Germany contributed a significant share to the European LTO battery market in 2022. The presence of many clean energy vehicle manufacturers in the country and stringent government guidelines pertaining to carbon emissions are playing a vital role in boosting the growth of the LTO battery market.

Germany is a hub for automobile manufacturers such as Volkswagen AG (Germany), Groupe Renault SA (France), and BMW AG (Germany). The rising demand for hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles is driving the growth of the German LTO battery market. The booming automotive industry and increasing developments in the consumer electronics industry are the major factors driving the growth of the LTO battery market in Germany.

Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

Analysis of key drivers (Growing adoption of HEVs and PHEVs and high demand for renewable battery energy storage systems), restraints (High cost of LTO batteries), opportunities (Growing adoption in medical sector, Rising demand for battery-operated material-handling equipment) and challenges (Presence of alternative lithium-ion chemistries) influencing the growth of the LTO battery market

Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on new products, technologies, research & development activities, funding activities, industry partnerships, and new product launches in the LTO battery market

Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets - the report analyses the LTO battery market across regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America.

Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products & technologies, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the LTO battery market

Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market position, growth strategies, and product offerings of leading players like Toshiba Corporation (Japan), Microvast Holdings, Inc. (US), Leclanche SA (Switzerland), and Nichicon Corporation (Japan) among others in the LTO battery market

Strategies: The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the LTO battery market and provides information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 184 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $4.5 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $7.3 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.1% Regions Covered Global

Company Profiles

AA Portable Power Corp.

Aot Battery Technology Co. Ltd.

Clarios

Elb Energy Group

Gree Altairnano New Energy Inc.

Grinergy

Hunan Huahui New Energy Co. Ltd.

Leclanche Sa

Litech Power Co. Ltd.

Log9 Materials

LTO Battery Co. Ltd.

Microvast Holdings, Inc.

Nei Corporation

Nichicon Corporation

Osn Power Energy Limited

Padre Electronics Co. Limited

Shenzhen Siqi New Energy Company Limited

Targray Technology International Inc.

Toshiba Corporation

Zenaji Pty Ltd.

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emerita Resources Corp. (TSX  V: EMO; OTCQB: EMOTF; FSE: LLJA) (the Company or Emerita) is pleased to provide an update from exploration drilling at the El Cura deposit which is part of Emeritas wholly owned Iberian Belt West project (IBW or the Project). IBW hosts three previously identified massive sulfide deposits: La Infanta, La Romanera and El Cura. Results contained in this release are from El Cura. All three IBW deposits are open for expansion along strike and at depth. Ian Parkinson, EVP Corporate Development notes, The El Cura Deposit is the one that we have the least historical data for and as such requires more of an exploration approach to locate the mineralized zone referred to by historical archived documents, primarily from RTZ exploration in the 1980s.



Background

First worked during Roman times, the El Cura mine has seen several periods of activity in the modern era during the late 19th Century and mid to later 20th Century. The most extensive workings on the polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) mineralization consisted of a 100m shaft and three investigatory sublevels made at some time during the World War 2 era. No production records have been mentioned in the historic literature. More recently, assessments were made by Phelps Dodge and Rio Tinto from the 1970s through the early 1990s, with work including geophysical surveys and drill testing. Internal company reports by Rio Tinto calculated resource estimates ranging from 1Mt to 3Mt and a 1982 geological synthesis of the southwest Iberian Pyrite Belt by the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Energy (IGME) stated a mineral resource estimate of 1.0 Mt @ 1.85% Cu, 2.0% Pb, 4.0% Zn (Au and Ag were not estimated).

A qualified person, as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has not done sufficient work on behalf of Emerita to classify the historical estimate reported above as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and Emerita is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The historical estimate should not be relied upon.

Emerita Exploration Work

El Cura is centrally located within the Companys wholly owned IBW concession, approximately 3km southeast from La Romanera and along the same mineralized trend as La Infanta (Figure 1). First work by Emerita included detailed surface and underground (where accessible) geological mapping, followed by soil sampling and ground EM and gravimetry. Emeritas first Diamond drilling campaign at El Cura consisted of six holes. Phase 1 drilling finished in October, stepping from East to West to scout the continuity of the mineralized zone. The intention of phase one was reconnaissance drilling designed to better understand the El Cura geology and orientation within the local stratigraphy. In total, 2,230m in widely spaced drill holes was completed, testing a strike length of 600m to 385m below surface in the deepest hole. Drilling at El Cura was impacted by an extended period of extremely high temperature and low precipitation, as a result productivity was low during the summer months while fire prevention restrictions were in effect.

Figure 1. IBW geology and locations of La Romanera, El Cura and La Infanta deposits.

View Figure 1 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/deb2052e-5a5c-4d3f-a5d2-7a700c9b1b46





Results

The Phase 1 program identified massive sulfides locally sheared at or near to the contact between volcaniclastic rocks and shales. This host environment is very similar to La Romanera deposit located to the west of El Cura. Intercepts spacing ranged between 175m and 250m. Although coarsely spaced, five holes of six cut significant mineralization over approximately 400m of strike. The westernmost hole of the campaign, EC007, was the highest grade in copper. Assays of significant intercepts are detailed in Table 1; Figure 2.

Joaquin Merino, P.Geo., President of Emerita, remarks, We are encouraged by our first drilling campaign at El Cura. Despite broadly spaced and limited drilling, our exploration team confirmed the presence of an extensive mineralizing system at El Cura capable of producing high grade results evidenced by hole EC007 which returned high grade copper and zinc mineralization. With anomalous base metals mineralization identified over a strike length of almost 600m our team is excited to commence Phase 2. As work continues at El Cura we expect to eventually narrow our focus as the mineralizing system becomes better understood. With this drilling we can now target more effectively areas where higher grade mineralization may occur such as in the vicinity of EC007.

Table 1: Significant intercepts in Phase 1 drilling program, El Cura deposit

DDH Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth

(m) FROM TO Width

(m) Cu % Pb % Zn % Au g/t Ag g/t Lens EC002 650268 4171630 135 121 -55 411.8 291.7 294.4 2.7 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.59 87.0 TL EC003B 650110 4171554 140 165 -48 296.5 199.6 207.8 8.2 0.9 0.9 0.3 0.75 26.3 TL EC004 650031 4171058 224 340 -35 417.1 400.5 403.5 3.0 0.6 1.2 2.0 1.12 38.1 TL EC005 650110 4171554 140 205 -65 428.0 321.4 322.2 0.8 0.4 0.4 1.1 1.70 36.0 TL EC006 650110 4171554 140 197 -53 327.0 246.0 248.8 2.8 0.9 0.5 0.7 0.52 65.7 TL EC006 314.5 317.3 2.8 0.1 0.9 1.9 0.46 37.9 BL EC007 649685 4171500 127 159 -22 238.4 225.6 227.8 2.2 2.9 2.3 4.6 2.81 82.5 TL

*TL: Top Lens; BL: Bottom Lens

Figure 2: Locations and traces of EMO El Cura drilling

View Figure 2 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/df3733b4-6b49-4777-ad2b-9d2a803ebaaf





Hole EC007 intersected 2.2 m of a high-grade base and precious metal massive/semi-massive sulfide lens, hosted in a greyish tuff, comprising zoned mineral folded bands with two main compositions. One is seen as mainly polymetallic Sph/Ga massive bands with some Py and the other is formed of pyritic/copper rich massive sulfide with polymetallic veinlets. This hole intercepted the mineralization at 225.6m with a 75 sharp contact with the tuffaceous unit (Figure 3; Figure 4).

Figure 3: Mineralization intercept in EC007, 75 contact with the tuffaceous unit

View Figure 3 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2833f304-b1e7-4e43-8900-816889fa70c9





Figure 4: Mineralized bands of different composition in drillhole EC007

View Figure 4 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6df0c747-8195-404b-bcfb-93467e68ac41





Historical Information

Recently uncovered archival data from previous holders of El Cura indicates the presence of additional massive sulfide mineralization well below and to the north of what has been defined thus far. In the early 1980s two holes oriented due-south and spaced 100m apart were drilled by Rio Tinto, presumably to test the deep potential of the El Cura mineralization. Geological cross-sections of each hole were found that document this program and reveal 7.3m to 8.5m thick intercepts of massive sulfide about 450m below surface and about 350m down-dip from the nearest drill holes (Figure 5; Figure 6). Although azimuth, dip and cross-section scale were recorded, thus permitting accurate georeferencing, no associated assay records have yet been located. This data is very significant as it suggests potential for extensive and relatively thicker sulphide mineralization in the area below hole EC007, extending to depth in the westernmost part of the area that was recently drilled.

Figure 5: Map-view location relative to EMO Phase 1 drilling and the Rio Tinto Minera DDH

View Figure 5 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d9fe7309-2004-407a-be62-d54dc489c843





Figure 6: Vertical longitudinal section

View Figure 6 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d3abe86-6abb-4a5a-8b9f-0f7e16cb47d2





Next Steps

Surface mapping has shown that the target horizon continues westward from EC007, and reconnaissance has located additional ancient workings on-trend for 1.4km. Interpretation of Phase 1 results will continue in coming weeks to plan further step-out.

David Gower, P.Geo., CEO of Emerita remarks, December of 2023 marked a major milestone for Emerita when we submitted documentation required for Emeritas exploitation license application to the Delegacion Territorial de Energia y Minas in Huelva province, Junta de Andalucia (See December 4, 2023 press release). The operation envisioned in that application contemplates one central facility processing material from both La Romenara and La Infanta resources. El Cura is centrally located between both resources meaning any resources defined at El Cura in the future will have the potential to positively impact the mining plan of any future operation at IBW.

Phase 2 is expected to commence in the first half of 2024. Emeritas Spain based technical team is working to establish new drill pads to open more targets for testing. Emerita plans to continue this modest sized drill campaign approach going forward at El Cura. This approach allows for efficient allocation of exploration spending and provides time for complete compilation of data before progressing with the next phase of drilling. In addition, the Company is assessing a number of untested exploration targets on the remainder of the IBW Property in the context of siting infrastructure. These targets will need to be tested as a priority to ensure any potential new discoveries are not sterilized by permitting infrastructure at those locations.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Drilling at El Cura is HQ size and core is placed into core trays at the drill site and transported directly from the site to Emeritas coreshack (15Km) from El Cura. Once the cores are received at Emerita's coreshack they are photographed and geotechnical logging is performed. Geological, mineralogical and structural logging follows and mineralized zones are identified. The samples are marked every 1m or less, and respecting lithological contacts, with most of the samples 1.0m long. The zone immediately above and below the mineralized zones are also sampled. Core samples are sawed in half and half of the core is returned to the core tray for future reference. Once the core samples are cut, bagged and tagged, they are shipped to the ALS laboratory in Seville by Emerita personnel where sample preparation is done. In Seville, ALS performs the mechanical preparation of the samples and then the pulps are sent to ALS Ireland (ICP) and ALS Romania (fire assay). The analysis at ALS Lab corresponds to the ME-ICPore (19 elements) package, together with the Au-AA23 fire assay (Gold).

10% of the analyzed samples correspond to control samples (fine blanks, coarse blanks, high, medium and low grade standards). In addition, 10% of pulps are reanalyzed at a second independent certified laboratory (AGQ Lab Sevilla). When the analysis is completed, the certificates are received from the laboratory and the QA/QC protocol identifies any deviation or anomaly in the results and the entire batch is reassayed in such case. Once the data is approved by the QA/QC protocol assays are entered digitally directly into the database.

Qualified Person

Scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Joaquin Merino, P.Geo., President of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

About Emerita Resources Corp.

Emerita is a natural resource company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Europe, with a primary focus on exploring in Spain. The Companys corporate office and technical team are based in Sevilla, Spain with an administrative office in Toronto, Canada.

For further information, contact:

Ian Parkinson

+1 647 910-2500 (Toronto)

info@emeritaresources.com

www.emeritaresources.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the prospectivity of the IBW project, the mineralization and the IBW project, the economic viability of the IBW project, the Companys future exploration plans and the Companys future plans. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward- looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Emerita, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; risks associated with operation in foreign jurisdictions; ability to successfully integrate the purchased properties; foreign operations risks; and other risks inherent in the mining industry. Although Emerita has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Emerita does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Rockwell, North Carolina, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The North Carolina AMVETS Service Foundation, a 501(c)(3) extension of the states most inclusive congressionally chartered veterans service organization, proudly announces the initiation of a clinical study on the efficacy of CBD for U.S. veterans. This comprehensive research effort, conducted in collaboration with the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and Vantage Hemp Co. (Vantage), a globally accredited plant-based extractor and finished product manufacturer, aims to better understand the effects of CBD among the veteran population in addressing various issues they may face.

The study will be a placebo-controlled examination of a daily fixed dose of CBD over 28 days. The study's goal will be to assess the effect of CBD on several parameters that negatively impact the day-to-day activities of veterans. An additional goal of the study will involve surveying veterans regarding their lived experiences with CBD. The study's results are anticipated to generate valuable data that can inform decisions by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and advocate for further research into CBD.

Through the joint effort, Vantage has pledged a total of $100,000, consisting of $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in in-kind services, to support the study. UNC will play a vital role in the research process, contributing expertise to ensure the study's scientific rigor and validity.

"This research initiative was developed in the pursuit of supporting and improving the lives of Americas veterans, expresses AMVETS National Commander William Clark. We are extremely grateful for the support of UNC and Vantage as their contributions will help provide meaningful results and catalyze well-informed decisions.

The collective effort between these organizations represents a significant stride in CBD research among the veteran population and will yield valuable insights into the real-world experiences of Americas veterans. Veterans interested in participating in the study are encouraged to click here for more information or contact cbdstudy@ncamvets.us.





About the North Carolina AMVETS Service Foundation

The NC AMVETS Service Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that is dedicated to enhancing and safeguarding the entitlements of all American Veterans who have served honorably and to improving the quality of life for them, their families, and the communities where they live through leadership, advocacy, and services.

About the University of Northern Colorado

The University of Northern Colorado is a public research university located in Greeley, Colorado. Committed to academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement, the university plays a vital role in advancing knowledge and contributing to societal well-being.

About Vantage Hemp Co.

Colorado-based Vantage Hemp Co. extracts and processes from plant and mushroom compounds including cannabinoids from industrial hemp, as well as formulates and manufactures finished products with the extracted ingredients.

Attachment
MONTREAL, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HPQ Silicon Inc. (HPQ or the Company) ( TSX-V: HPQ ) (OTCQB: HPQFF) (FRA: O08), a technology company specializing in green engineering of silica and silicon-based materials, is pleased to update its shareholders that it signed an NDA with an undisclosed party related to its Fumed Silica initiative.

Following our press release of January 10, 2024, we were approached by an Industrial Group interested in assessing the commercial potential of our Fumed Silica Reactor (FSR) process. To facilitate more formal discussions, HPQ's wholly owned subsidiary, HPQ Silica Polvere Inc. (HPQ Polvere), along with the technology provider and equipment supplier, PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (TSX: PYR) (OTCQX: PYRGF) (FRA: 8PY) (PyroGenesis) signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) [1] with the Industrial Group.

The purpose of the NDA is twofold:

First, it will enable both parties, HPQ Polvere and the Industrial Group, to conduct mutual due diligence, and

Second, it will enable both parties to assess the commercial and economic potential for a more formal collaboration regarding the construction and operation of a 1,000 tonnes per year (TPY) Fumed Silica Reactor to be built by PyroGenesis.

The NDA, stands as tangible proof of the commercial interest in the potential of our proprietary Fumed Silica Reactor technology," said Mr. Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silica Polvere Inc. and HPQ Silicon Inc. "While, at this stage, we have no guarantee that a formal commercial venture will emerge from these discussions, we are immensely encouraged by the ongoing talks.

HPQ POLVERE'S DISRUPTIVE ADVANTAGES ATTRACT INDUSTRIAL INTEREST

The table below clearly illustrates the numerous disruptive advantages of HPQ Polvere's Fumed Silica Reactor (FSR) compared to traditional Fumed Silica Manufacturing. The significant opportunities presented contributed to the interest from the Industrial Group.





A STEP FORWARD IN IMPLEMENTING OUR INCREMENTAL COMMERCIALISATION STRATEGY

The commercial imperative to construct a 1,000 tonnes per year (TPY) Fumed Silica Reactor, driven by the anticipated demand for low carbon fumed silica materials, is evident. HPQ Polvere's commercialization strategy centers on scaling up capacity to meet this demand, including the addition of other 1,000 TPY Fumed Silica Reactor.

We are keenly interested in the possibility of implementing a pathway to commercialization and monetization of our Fumed Silica Reactor process that could be less dilutive for HPQ shareholders, Mr. Tourillon further emphasized, This potential partnership could help us reach that goal faster.

REFERENCE SOURCES

About PyroGenesis Canada Inc.

PyroGenesis Canada Inc., a high-tech company, is a leader in the design, development, manufacture and commercialization of advanced plasma processes and sustainable solutions which reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and are economically attractive alternatives to conventional dirty processes. PyroGenesis has created proprietary, patented, and advanced plasma technologies that are being vetted and adopted by multiple multibillion dollar industry leaders in three massive markets: iron ore pelletization, aluminum, waste management, and additive manufacturing. With a team of experienced engineers, scientists and technicians working out of its Montreal office, and its 3,800 m2 and 2,940 m2 R&D and manufacturing facilities, PyroGenesis maintains its competitive advantage by remaining at the forefront of technology development and commercialization. The operations are ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified, having been ISO certified since 1997. For more information, please visit: www.pyrogenesis.com

About HPQ Silicon

HPQ Silicon Inc. ( TSX-V: HPQ ) is a Quebec-based TSX Venture Exchange Tier 1 Industrial Issuer.

HPQ is developing, with the support of world-class technology partners PyroGenesis Canada Inc. and NOVACIUM SAS, new green processes crucial to make the critical materials needed to reach net zero emissions.

HPQ activities are centred around the following four (4) pillars:

1) Becoming a green low-cost (Capex and Opex) manufacturer of Fumed Silica using the FUMED SILICA REACTOR, a proprietary technology owned by HPQ being developed for HPQ by PyroGenesis.



2) Becoming a zero CO 2 low-cost (Capex and Opex) producer of High Purity Silicon (2N+ to 4N) using our PUREVAPTM Quartz Reduction Reactors (QRR), a proprietary technology owned by HPQ being developed for HPQ by PyroGenesis.



3) Becoming a producer of silicon-based anode materials for battery applications with the assistance of NOVACIUM SAS.



4) HPQ SILICON affiliate NOVACIUM SAS is developing a low carbon, chemical base on demand and high-pressure autonomous hydrogen production system.





For more information, please visit HPQ Silicon web site .

Disclaimers:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's ongoing filings with the securitys regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This News Release is available on the company's CEO Verified Discussion Forum , a moderated social media platform that enables civilized discussion and Q&A between Management and Shareholders.

Source: HPQ Silicon Inc.

For further information contact:

Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman, President, and CEO Tel +1 (514) 846-3271

Patrick Levasseur, Director Tel: +1 (514) 262-9239

Email: Info@hpqsilicon.com

A table accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f7451599-3d88-48be-824b-369d0c026e12
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO, NYSE AMERICAN: BTG, NSX: B2G) (B2Gold or the Company) is pleased to announce positive exploration drilling results from the Antelope deposit at the Otjikoto Mine (Otjikoto) in Namibia. The Antelope deposit, comprised of the Springbok Zone, the Oryx Zone, and a possible third structure, Impala, subject to further confirmatory drilling, is located approximately three kilometers (km) south of the Otjikoto Phase 5 open pit. The Antelope deposit has the potential to be developed as an underground mining operation, which could complement the expected processing of stockpiles at the Otjikoto mill from 2026 through 2031.

Highlights

20,715 meters (m) in 37 drill holes completed at the Antelope deposit in 2023, with a plan to nearly double the meters drilled in 2024 The Antelope deposit was discovered in 2022 following deep drill testing on three-dimensional models of magnetic inversion data; The 2024 exploration budget for Otjikoto is US$9 million, focused predominantly on the Antelope deposit, the largest drill program since the definition of the Wolfshag discovery in 2012; and 39,000 m of drilling planned to define and expand the Antelope deposit.



High-grade, Otjikoto-style mineralization discovered approximately 3 km south of the Phase 5 open pit at Otjikoto; in several structures referred to as the Antelope deposit Drill hole GH22-048 intersected 12.88 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 7.60 m from 485.00 m at the Springbok Zone; Drill hole GH23-056 intersected 9.86 g/t gold over 7.48 m from 517.55 m at the Oryx Zone; and The Company believes this style of mineralization could be amenable to underground mining methods similar to those used at the Wolfshag underground mine.



Drill results at the Springbok Zone and Oryx Zone indicate the potential for possible underground development of the Antelope deposit, which could begin to contribute to gold production at Otjikoto in 2026 Open pit operations at Otjikoto are anticipated to conclude in 2025, while underground mining operations at Wolfshag will continue through 2026; Current gold production estimates at Otjikoto are expected to be between 180,000 to 200,000 ounces in 2024 and 2025, just under 100,000 ounces in 2026, and stepping down to sub 50,000 ounces from 2026 through 2031 during the processing of low-grade stockpiles; Underground mining of the Antelope deposit has the potential to supplement the processing of stockpiles through 2031, with the goal of increasing gold production levels to over 100,000 ounces per year from 2026 through 2031; and An initial Mineral Resource estimate at the Antelope deposit is anticipated by the third quarter of 2024, with an internal scoping study on an underground mining operation to be completed by the first quarter of 2025.







Figure 1. Antelope Deposit Location Overview.





2023 Otjikoto Exploration Program

In 2023, B2Gold completed a US$3.3 million exploration program in Namibia, with exploration drilling focused on the ML169 mining license, which surrounds Otjikoto. A total of 22,058 m of drilling was completed in 2023, the majority of which targeted the high-grade gold mineralization of the Antelope deposit.

The Antelope deposit was discovered in 2022, following deep drill testing on three-dimensional models of magnetic inversion data. The Antelope deposit is comprised of up to three separate mineralized structures, of which the southernmost Springbok Zone has been defined by 100 m by 50 m spaced drilling, over a strike length of approximately 800 m. Mineralization has a dip extent of approximately 150 m and is between 7 m to 10 m thick.

Northeast, along strike of the Springbok Zone, a similar type of high-grade mineralization has been intersected in the Oryx Zone, which appears to represent a second shoot, stacked stratigraphically above the Springbok Zone. Overall, the Antelope deposit mineralization has been intersected by drilling over a combined strike length of approximately 1,500 m. As the significant mineralization is intersected from approximately 450 m down hole, the Antelope deposit is being evaluated for potential underground development.

Significant 2023 drill results from the Antelope deposit include:

HoleID Zone From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) GH22-041 Springbok 465.30 475.80 10.50 4.11 GH22-042 Springbok 456.90 461.00 4.10 5.49 GH22-043 Springbok 436.60 441.00 4.40 4.02 and Springbok 444.00 445.90 1.90 32.87 GH22-047 Springbok 430.00 434.90 4.90 6.80 and Springbok 439.20 442.45 3.25 8.89 GH22-048 Springbok 485.00 492.60 7.60 12.88 GH23-050 Springbok 465.05 470.70 5.65 5.79 GH23-051 Springbok 494.65 499.00 4.35 5.90 GH23-053 Springbok 429.17 437.30 8.13 4.34 GH23-055 Springbok 503.19 511.74 8.55 5.73 GH23-057B Springbok 445.10 450.10 5.00 5.46 GH23-059 Springbok 487.15 494.00 6.85 5.25 GH23-061 Springbok 489.00 493.00 4.00 5.19 GH23-069 Springbok 431.70 435.15 3.45 7.94 GH23-070 Springbok 460.48 467.55 7.07 4.46 GH23-073 Springbok 467.90 471.50 3.60 16.70 GH23-074 Springbok 493.00 499.45 6.45 6.17 and Springbok 506.62 511.54 4.92 8.99 GH23-076 Springbok 489.85 491.63 1.78 3.77 GH23-077 Springbok 423.70 428.80 5.10 5.05 GH23-079 Springbok 495.25 501.80 6.55 7.20 GH23-080 Springbok 424.65 426.65 2.00 23.34 GH23-056 Oryx 517.55 525.03 7.48 9.86 GH23-060 Oryx 534.95 541.55 6.60 3.22 GH23-081 Oryx 524.66 527.66 3.00 6.54 GH23-082 Oryx 536.87 541.45 4.58 9.25

Notes: All composites above 3.5 g/t gold cutoff, applying a maximum internal dilution of 2.00 m. Results are uncapped. Core lengths approximate true width of mineralized intervals.

Mineralization of the Antelope deposit is characterized by quartz-pyrrhotite veins, which have been overprinted by deformation focused along two main marble beds that serve as major stratigraphic markers in the Otjikoto stratigraphy. The shoot-like geometry of the Antelope deposit mineralization derives, in part, from the thickening of quartz-pyrrhotite-gold mineralization in the hinge zones of centimeter-to meter-scale folds, a structural control that is well documented at Otjikoto. Mineralized shoots plunge shallowly north-northeast, suggesting a subtle inflection in the stratigraphy that hosts Otjikoto, where mineralized zones plunge shallowly south-southwest. Mineralization in each of the respective shoots remains open along the plunge direction.

The mineralized zones are associated with a positive magnetic response that extends southward from the Otjikoto open pit as a continuous linear feature for over 4 km. Testing the continuity of this magnetic feature and its possible connection with the southernmost extent of ore in the Phase 5 open pit at Otjikoto will be a significant part of the 2024 exploration program.

2024 Exploration Program and Development Assessment

The exploration budget for Namibia in 2024 is US$9 million, funding the largest drill program since the definition of the Wolfshag discovery in 2012. A 39,000 m drill program has been planned to define and expand the Antelope deposit. An initial Mineral Resource estimate at the Antelope deposit is anticipated by the third quarter of 2024.

Open pit mining operations at Otjikoto are scheduled to ramp down throughout 2024 and conclude in 2025, while underground mining operations at Wolfshag are expected to continue through 2026. Processing operations will continue through 2031, when economically viable stockpiles are forecast to be exhausted. These positive drill results from the Antelope deposit indicate there is potential for a possible underground development to supplement the processing of stockpiles through 2031, with the goal of increasing Otjikoto gold production levels to over 100,000 ounces per year from 2026 through 2031.

Figure 2. Plan view of Antelope deposit drilling. HG mineralization contour >3.5 g/t and LG mineralization contour >0.6 g/t gold.





Quality Assurance/Quality Control on Sample Collection and Assaying

LeachWell analysis at the Otjikoto Mine Lab has been the primary method of analysis of samples from the Antelope deposit. Assay composites presented herein are derived from 1-kilogram samples. In-house studies by B2Gold indicate that LeachWell results compare favourably to fire assay completed by ALS Johannesburg, on the first four drill holes of the Antelope deposit drilling program.

Quality assurance and quality control procedures include the systematic insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates in the drill core sample sequence. The results of the control samples are evaluated on a regular basis with partial batches re-analyzed and/or resubmitted on exploration samples, as needed. All results stated in this announcement have been accepted according to B2Golds quality assurance and quality control protocols.

About B2Gold

B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the Philippines, a mine under construction in northern Canada and numerous development and exploration projects in various countries including Mali, Colombia and Finland.

Qualified Persons

Andrew Brown, P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration, a qualified person under NI 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information related to exploration and mineral resource matters contained in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF B2GOLD CORP.

Clive T. Johnson

President and Chief Executive Officer

The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC neither approve nor disapprove the information contained in this news release.

Production results and production guidance presented in this news release reflect total production at the mines B2Gold operates on a 100% project basis. Please see our Annual Information Form dated March 16, 2023 for a discussion of our ownership interest in the mines B2Gold operates.

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, including: projections; outlook; guidance; forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or estimated financial and operational performance, gold production and sales, revenues and cash flows, and capital costs (sustaining and non-sustaining) and operating costs, including projected cash operating costs and AISC, and budgets on a consolidated and mine by mine basis, which if they occur, would have on our business, our planned capital and exploration expenditures; future or estimated mine life, metal price assumptions, ore grades or sources, gold recovery rates, stripping ratios, throughput, ore processing; statements regarding anticipated exploration, drilling, development, construction, permitting and other activities or achievements of B2Gold; and including, without limitation: the potential for the Antelope deposit to be developed as an underground operation and contribute gold during the low-grade stockpile processing in 2026. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made.

Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond B2Gold's control, including risks associated with or related to: the volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares; changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates; not achieving production, cost or other estimates; actual production, development plans and costs differing materially from the estimates in B2Gold's feasibility and other studies; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for mining activities; environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and climate change regulations; the ability to replace mineral reserves and identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; operations in foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign laws, including those associated with operations in Mali, Namibia, the Philippines and Colombia and including risks related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally; remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and joint venture partners; the lack of sole decision-making authority related to Filminera Resources Corporation, which owns the Masbate Project; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; competition with other mining companies; community support for B2Gold's operations, including risks related to strikes and the halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small scale miners; failures of information systems or information security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting as required by law, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures; social media and B2Gold's reputation; risks affecting Calibre having an impact on the value of the Company's investment in Calibre, and potential dilution of our equity interest in Calibre; as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most recent Annual Information Form, B2Gold's current Form 40-F Annual Report and B2Gold's other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which may be viewed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively (the "Websites"). The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect B2Gold's forward-looking statements.

B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to B2Gold's ability to carry on current and future operations, including: development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.

B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.





Figures accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a61ddf83-a8a2-4979-9791-c6948cbc936d

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c86585e1-7537-4413-83ae-3eb51f988cfd
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PAC Machinery (PAC), a leader in packaging equipment and materials with one of the most comprehensive ranges of equipment, will capitalize on machine diversity with the exhibit of three packaging machines  all from different categories at the biennial Pack Expo East Show that brings cutting-edge packaging solutions to the East Coast. PACK EXPO East 2024, will be held March 18-20 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA. It is produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.



PAC Machinery, a leader in the flexible packaging industry, will exhibit at #1427 with top-selling packaging solutions including Rollbag R785 Automatic Bagger, the D545 AV Band Sealer and PVT Plus Vacuum Sealer  all machines that have been top-selling solutions for PAC Machinery in part due to the flexibility these solutions provide for a wide variety of industries.

PAC Machinery Vice President, Greg Berguig says thats a key to PACs success, Our exhibit will feature machines that serve a wide variety of industries including ecommerce, fulfillment, industrial, medical, food, consumer goods and more," Berguig said. Weve been doing this show and other PMMI shows for decades and the potential customers we have met over the years say that with over 80 different packaging machines, our packaging solutions provides them with a wider range of options, Berguig said.

Berguig, known for saying there is more than one way to package a product, encourages any company or distributor looking for a better way to package a product, to attend Pack Expo East. This show is where companies can connect with suppliers and find solutions needed to compete in todays changing marketplace. It is designed for the needs of over 40 vertical markets according to PMMI.

The 2024 event has expanded to an additional hall to accommodate the increasing number of solutions on display. PAC Machinery equipment experts will be at the booth to have discussions that help solve pain points and challenges in packaging operations and packaging projects. PAC Machinery can also help take a company from hand packaging to semi-automation with just one machine.

Heres a look at the PAC Machinery Exhibit :



Rollbag R785 Automatic Bagger

This system is a unique, all-electric, tabletop automatic poly bagger. It is a dependable, industrial quality, multi-shift packaging solution with an advanced control system that can operate up to 40 bags/min depending on the application and materials. Read More

D545 AV Band Sealer

The D545 AV Band Sealer is a flexible rotary pouch sealer that fits on a table! The Audion D545 AV is a continuous band sealer for pouches sealed in a vertical position. Read More

PVT Plus Vacuum Sealer

This tabletop vacuum sealer is for applications where removal of air from the bag is required. This industrial sealer provides speed and flexibility and is packed with the largest range of standard features of any vacuum sealer on the market. Read More

PAC Machinery 2024 Show Schedule

WestPack | February 6-8, 2024 | Anaheim, CA | Anaheim Convention Center | Exhibit 5321

| February 6-8, 2024 | Anaheim, CA | Anaheim Convention Center | Exhibit 5321 Modex | March 11-14, 2024 | Atlanta, GA | Georgia World Congress Center | Exhibit C4488

| March 11-14, 2024 | Atlanta, GA | Georgia World Congress Center | Exhibit C4488 Pack Expo East | March 18-20, 2024 | Pennsylvania Convention Center | Exhibit 1427

| March 18-20, 2024 | Pennsylvania Convention Center | Exhibit 1427 Pack Expo International | November 3- 6, 2024 | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Exhibit S2130





For sales: sales@pacmachinery.com | 1.800.985.9570 | pacmachinery.com

ABOUT PAC MACHINERY

As a leader in the flexible packaging industry for over 60 years, PAC Machinery is a trusted partner for businesses desiring more from their packaging capabilities. From global companies, pharmaceutical and medical industry manufacturers to online retailers, PAC Machinery can transform packaging operations with customized solutions that immediately improve ROI. Products include: versatile poly bagging, shrink wrapping, bag sealing and flow wrapping systems. PACs solutions increase productivity through automation, reduce return rates with superior package integrity, minimize package volume to save shipping costs, and extend product shelf life for maximum freshness. With better choices and more experience, PAC Machinery creates the ideal solution for any packaging requirement.

PAC Machinerys globally recognized machine brands include: Packaging Aids, Vertrod, Clamco, and Rollbag, Headquartered in San Rafael, California with an additional manufacturing facilities in Berea, OH and Milwaukee, WI. PAC Machinery at 25 Tiburon Street, San Rafael, CA 94901.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shannon Winans | PAC Machinery Marketing Director

1 (800) 985-9570 x261 | Shannonw@pacmachinery.com

A video accompanying this announcement is available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6f074b30-4733-4f0d-b33c-fbb2d7e2ae09

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/960b74d0-090c-486a-9b40-917918155342
Dublin, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Caspofungin Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

New insights into the global caspofungin market have been unveiled, highlighting an anticipated CAGR of 1.97% from 2024 to 2034. Increased prevalence of fungal infections, technological advancements in diagnosis and treatment, and rising healthcare expenditure are driving substantial growth in this sector. The comprehensive study covers market forecast by indication, distribution channel, and detailed geographic analysis.

Despite a pervasive concern for various fungal infections worldwide, caspofungin has emerged as a critical antifungal therapy. The candidiasis segment is currently leading the way, spurred by rising awareness and an aging population vulnerable to such infections. With the market poised for notable development, the segment's robust performance is buttressed by the advent of innovative antifungals such as rezafungin.

Distribution channels play a significant role in accessibility to therapeutics, with hospital pharmacies dominating the market space. The benefits of intravenous administration of antifungals in hospital settings have contributed significantly to this trend. Furthermore, an upswing in the adoption of online pharmacies is evident, attributing to the ease of access and penetration of e-commerce, predicting a spike in growth rates for this distribution channel.

In terms of regional dominance, North America continues to lead with formidable healthcare infrastructure and rapid adoption rates for advanced therapies. Exemplifying this is the adoption of cutting-edge antifungal treatments such as rezafungin. Nevertheless, the Asia Pacific region is forecasted to experience the fastest growth due to surging infection rates, enhanced healthcare spending, and improved drug accessibility.

Extensive Market Analysis and Regional Forecasts

North America remains at the forefront with significant investments in healthcare and early therapeutic interventions.

remains at the forefront with significant investments in healthcare and early therapeutic interventions. Europe follows suit with advancements in healthcare protocols and supportive government policies.

follows suit with advancements in healthcare protocols and supportive government policies. Asia Pacific seen as the fastest-growing region, bolstered by emerging markets and healthcare reforms.

The detailed market analysis provides insights into the caspofungin market's future, emphasizing its growth potential across various indications and distribution channels. Stakeholders can expect an exhaustive review of the competitive landscape and key market drivers that will shape the caspofungin market through 2034.

As healthcare continues to evolve, the importance of timely and effective treatment for fungal infections remains paramount. This research offers an invaluable resource for understanding market dynamics and preparing for future developments in the global caspofungin market.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 200 Forecast Period 2023 - 2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $476.5 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $590.5 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 1.9% Regions Covered Global

Report Segmentation:

By Indication

Candidiasis

Thrush

Other Indications

By Distribution Channel

Hospital Pharmacies

Retail Pharmacies

Online Pharmacies

Companies Profiled:

Merck & Co. Inc.

Pfizer Inc.

Bristol Myers Squibb

Novartis International AG

Astellas Pharma Inc.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Mylan N.V. (Now part of Viatris)

Sanofi

Eli Lilly and Company

Gilead Sciences Inc.

Johnson & Johnson

GlaxoSmithKline plc

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Enzon Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals)

Accord Healthcare Ltd.





For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xgm549

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Aerospace Robotics Market Report by Type, Component, Technology, Payload, Application, and Region 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global aerospace robotics market size reached US$ 3.1 Billion in 2022 and is forecast to reach US$ 5.7 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 10.68% during 2022-2028.



Significant growth in the aerospace and aviation industries across the globe is one of the key factors creating a positive outlook for the market. Moreover, the increasing requirement for automating various labor-intensive inspection, fiber placement, sealing and dispensing processes is providing a thrust to the market growth. In line with this, the widespread production of narrow-body aircraft with lightweight and small-sized components is providing a thrust to the growth of the market.

Various technological advancements, such as the integration of robotics with 3D visualization, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing solutions, are acting as other growth-inducing factors. These technologies aid in improving human-robot collaboration and minimizing the turnaround time for the manufacturing processes. Other factors, including extensive research and development (R&D) activities, along with significant improvements in the cyber-physical system (CPS) with automated decision-making functionalities, are anticipated to drive the market toward growth.





Key Market Segmentation



This research provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global aerospace robotics market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2023-2028. The report has categorized the market based on type, component, technology, payload and application.



Breakup by Type:

Articulated

Cartesian

SCARA

Parallel

Breakup by Component:

Controller

Arm Processor

End Effector

Camera and Sensors

Breakup by Technology:

Traditional

Collaborative

Breakup by Payload:

Up to 16.00 KG

16.01-60.00 KG

60.01-225.00 KG

More than 225.00 KG

Breakup by Application:

Drilling

Welding

Painting

Inspection

Competitive Landscape



The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being:

ABB Ltd.

Electroimpact Inc.

FANUC Corporation

General Electric Company

Gudel Group AG

JH Robotics Inc.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.

KUKA AG (Midea Group)

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Teradyne Inc.

Yaskawa Electric Corporation

Key Questions Answered in This Report

What was the size of the global aerospace robotics market in 2022?

What is the expected growth rate of the global aerospace robotics market during 2023-2028?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global aerospace robotics market?

What are the key factors driving the global aerospace robotics market?

What is the breakup of the global aerospace robotics market based on the type?

What is the breakup of the global aerospace robotics market based on the component?

What is the breakup of the global aerospace robotics market based on the technology?

What is the breakup of the global aerospace robotics market based on the application?

What are the key regions in the global aerospace robotics market?

Who are the key players/companies in the global aerospace robotics market?

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 145 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $3.1 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $5.7 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.7% Regions Covered Global



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mvdv5d

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Procurement Analytics Market by Component (Services, Solution), Deployment (Cloud, On-Premise), Application, Organization Size, Vertical - Forecast 2024-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global Procurement Analytics Market is poised for substantial growth, projected to expand from its current market value of $3.79 billion in 2023 to an impressive $15.92 billion by 2030, growing at a robust CAGR of 22.74%. This significant increase signals an increasing reliance on advanced analytics in procurement processes across various verticals.

Market Dynamics and Competitive Landscape

The comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market dynamics, revealing a shift towards cloud-based solutions, an emphasis on contract management, risk analytics, and the growing importance of spend analytics in data-driven decision-making. It highlights how companies of all sizes, from large enterprises to small and medium-sized businesses, are implementing procurement analytics tools to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

FPNV Positioning Matrix and Market Share Analysis



Within the detailed FPNV Positioning Matrix, vendors are meticulously assessed, offering businesses a strategic advantage in selecting solutions that closely match their needs. The Market Share Analysis further dissects the competitive landscape, allowing stakeholders to gauge their position and performance in the sector compared to peers.

Effective procurement analytics implementation has become a differentiator in sectors such as BFSI, Energy & Utilities, and Healthcare & Life Sciences, driving market expansion in these areas. The research underscores the significant adoption of these solutions in high-growth regions including North America, particularly within the United States, and the Asia-Pacific region, where countries like Australia, China, and India are emerging as pivotal markets.

Segmentation and Regional Projections



A detailed segmentation of the market sheds light on the diverse applications of procurement analytics, from supply chain management to vendor management.

The evolved regional analysis covers key global economic hotspots, providing localized market insights from the Americas to the Asia-Pacific region, through to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Application: Spend Analytics, Risk Analytics, Supply Chain Management, Vendor Management

Deployment: Shift towards cloud-based analytics for scalable and on-demand procurement insights

Enterprise Size: Adoption rates in both large enterprises and agile small to medium businesses

Industry Verticals: Intensive usage within BFSI, manufacturing, and retail spaces

Strategic Insights for Market Participants

This report is an invaluable asset for industry participants seeking to understand the strategic moves that define the market, assess the patent landscape, and analyze product development trajectories. Companies can leverage this comprehensive market data to inform their growth strategies and align with emerging industry trends.

Key Takeaways and Future Outlook



The Procurement Analytics Market report offers a wealth of information, including penetrating market insights, the identification of growth opportunities, and the strategic outlook on the competitive landscape. It raises critical questions pertaining to the market's evolution, guiding stakeholders towards informed decision-making and strategic planning for the years ahead.

This research publication is poised to serve as a guiding framework for companies eager to capitalize on the Procurement Analytics Market's growth trajectory and to ensure a sustainable competitive edge in an increasingly data-driven procurement landscape.



Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 183 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $4.74 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $15.92 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 22.7% Regions Covered Global

Market Segmentation & Coverage



This research report categorizes the Procurement Analytics Market to forecast the revenues and analyze trends in each of the following sub-markets:

Component

Services

Solution

Deployment

Cloud

On-Premise

Application

Contract Management

Risk Analytics

Spend Analytics

Supply Chain Management

Vendor Analytics

Organization Size

Large Enterprise

Small & Medium Enterprise

Vertical

BFSI

Energy & Utilities

Government & Defense

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Manufacturing

Retail & E-Commerce

Telecom & IT

Companies Profiled

BirchStreet Systems, Inc.

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Corcentric, Inc.

Genpact

GEP Worldwide

Ivalua Inc.

Jaggaer, LLC

Kearney, Inc.

Proactis Holdings Limited

Rosslyn Data Technologies PLC

SAP SE

Sievo

Simfoni Limited

Synertrade Inc.

Zycus Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/q22mxr

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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New York, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In its fifth consecutive showing at the NRF Big Show in New York last week, the leading business IoT (Internet of Things) company SUNMI unveiled a series of exciting new products and solutions. Leading the way, Qualcomm and SUNMI have unveiled the 'Qualcomm x SUNMI SUPER POS' product solution for the first time on-site, accelerating the cross-platform transformation of global POS systems, garnering widespread attention and acclaim from exhibitors around the world.

SUNMI has deep market penetration for POS terminals based on Windows systems, and is set to maintain this major market share for the foreseeable future. However, businesses have an increasing demand for transforming Windows applications into Android applications, a need this SUPER POS is able to fill. Jack Lin, CEO of SUNMI said, this innovative POS features super performance, super energy efficiency, and a super design. Businesses will be able to enjoy a superior POS experience, benefiting from the low power consumption, high performance, and a thin, light, and fashionable product design."

The SUPER POS solution launched by SUNMI and Qualcomm is based on an ARM architecture instead of a traditional x86 architecture. This ARM-based operating system has a built-in x86 converter and can support traditional Windows software.

Art Miller, Vice President of Business Development and Global Head of Retail IoT at Qualcomm, attended the release ceremony and said, Qualcomm has been a leader in enabling Android point of sale (POS) terminals for the past few years. Now, there is support for multiple operating systems on the same platform, which allows companies like SUNMI to offer a POS terminal with Android and Windows IoT within the same product. Their new SUPER POS terminal is capable of supporting many AI use cases such as product recognition, biometrics, voice UI, and more. This allows for an improved customer experience and more flexible operational efficiency for retailers with multiple configurations on one hardware design. SUPER POS is another great breakthrough for the industry.

SUNMI products have come a long way to reach this point. From its humble first show as a small start up with a booth on the first floor of NRF 2017, SUNMI now occupies an expansive third floor display for its range of digital solutions that are quickly becoming the industry standard. SUNMIs offerings range from mobile payment terminals, desktop terminals, kiosks, and more digitalization solutions that are indispensable to businesses improving their efficiency and profitability. This years NRF show saw SUNMI unveiling new solutions developed with six different partners, including solutions for fast food, food trucks, restaurants, convenience stores and beauty salons.

SUNMI also displayed its new Hyper WiFi that has been designed to handle communications between the growing number of digital devices at businesses. This is one of the most powerful WiFi systems on the market, with a signal range of up to 1km and an automatic Smart Switch to maintain communications on the strongest signal. Hyper WiFi also features new strengthened security and encryption measures.

These new products feature SUNMIs industry leading technology and are at the cutting edge of retail payments and digitalization solutions, noted Jack Lin at NRF. Businesses will quickly see how sleek, easy to use, and reliable these products are for ensuring their smooth and profitable operations.

About SUNMI

SUNMI is a global hardware technology company that specializes in developing cutting-edge hardware devices for a variety of industries, including retail, hospitality, and finance. SUNMIs devices are designed to help businesses improve their efficiency, security, and customer experience, by offering innovative features such as mobile payments, cloud-based data management, and advanced security measures. With its commitment to quality and innovation, SUNMI is quickly becoming a leader in the hardware technology industry.

Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patented technologies are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated.

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Dublin, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market is experiencing a bright phase of growth, reaching a value of USD 2.04 billion in 2022 and projected to expand at a robust CAGR of 8.28% from now through 2028. A comprehensive research publication now available examines the market dynamics, industry trends, and opportunities that shape this essential sector's future.

Technological Innovations Drive Market Expansion





Rapid advancements in technologies related to artificial insemination promise to transform the veterinary landscape. The market benefits from improvements in cryopreservation, genetic profiling, and embryo transfer techniques. Innovations, including sexed semen technology, which facilitates the selection of the expected gender of progeny, boosts efficiency for breeders focusing on genetic traits improvement and productivity enhancement.

Disease Prevention and Growing Demand for Animal Products Fuel Market Demand

The urgent need to control animal diseases acts as a catalyst for the market, as artificial insemination minimizes direct contact during mating, thereby reducing the disease transmission risk. Additionally, the rising global demand for animal-derived products propels this growth trajectory, as producers aim to meet consumer needs through improved livestock genetics.

Companion Animal Segment to Experience Substantial Growth

Alongside agriculture and livestock industries, the Companion Animal segment sees a rise in advanced reproductive technologies. This increase aligns with the growing pet ownership trend and the desire for specific breeds, driving demand for high-quality breeding services.

Regional Insights into North American Dominance



North America maintains dominance in the veterinary artificial insemination market, largely due to its robust infrastructure and high standards of animal husbandry. The region's focus on quality breeding practices and rigorous regulatory standards underpins its significant market share.

Cattle, swine, ovine & caprine, and equine considered in the Animal Type segment.

Normal semen and sexed semen featured in the Product segment.

Animal Husbandry identified as the most substantial End-User segment.

Detailed regional analysis includes North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 176 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $2.04 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $3.25 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.2% Regions Covered Global

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

Bovine Elite LLC

Agtech Inc.

IMV Technologies

Tek-Event

Zoetis Inc.

Neogen Corporation

Swine Genetics International

Select Sires Inc.

GENEX Cooperative

Genus PLC (ABS Global)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nir6f2

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Dublin, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Steel Building Market in MEA 2024-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The latest research publication on the Steel Building Market in the Middle East and Africa reports significant growth, expecting an increase of USD 268.87 million over the period from 2023 to 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.01%. This expansion in the steel building sector reflects the evolving industrial landscape across these regions. A comprehensive analysis reveals the driving factors, market size, and forecasted trends, offering stakeholders valuable insights into this dynamic market.

Key Market Segmentation Highlights

By Product: Pre-engineered Buildings (PEBs) High Rise Steel Structures (HRSS)

By End-user: Industrial Commercial Residential



Market Dynamics and Growth Factors

The growth trajectory of the steel building market in the Middle East and Africa is being propelled by the superiority of pre-engineered buildings (PEBs) over conventional construction methods. The robust advancement of the industrial manufacturing sector in these regions, together with surging investments within the services and tourism sectors, acts as a catalyst for market growth.

An increasing demand for green building certifications for PEBs alongside the rising consumption of secondary steel underpins the expansion and adoption of steel-based structures. The burgeoning construction and infrastructure sectors are also identified as a pivotal growth driver for the steel building market, setting the stage for substantial opportunities in the near future.

Regional Analysis and Vendor Landscape

The intensive vendor analysis included in the report provides a landscape view of market competition, highlighting key players who are contributing to market expansion and innovation in the steel building market across the Middle East and Africa. The research encompasses a strategic market forecast and industry analysis, which will assist companies in enhancing their market positions and capitalizing on emerging opportunities.

Influential Market Trends

The construction and infrastructure boom across the Middle East and Africa, combined with an increase in green building initiatives and the consumption of secondary steel, is poised to instigate a notable surge in the steel building domain.

Comprehensive Market Insights

This repository of market intelligence is founded on a blend of primary and secondary research, engaging with industry insiders to gather and synthesize key data. The market report offers exhaustive coverage of influential market elements including profit margin analysis, pricing trends, competitive scenarios, and promotional strategies.

Representing the markets complexity with a holistic approach, the study addresses the multiplicity of factors influencing market growth and provides an in-depth examination of the competitive landscape. Companies in the sector are advised to leverage this analysis to align their strategic planning with industry trends, preparing to meet the challenges and maximize the imminent growth opportunities.

Strategic Forecast and Growth Anticipation

As businesses seek to strategize for emerging trends and market demands, this report is set to be an indispensable tool in forecasting precise market growth and understanding the competitive dynamics. It equips stakeholders with the necessary insight to navigate the market successfully and make informed decisions.

The Steel Building Market report in Middle East and Africa paves the way for enterprises to harness the projected growth, positioning them for success in the upcoming years.

For enterprises and investors, this research clarifies the market's trajectory, enabling strategic planning and informed decision-making in the thriving Middle East and Africa steel building market landscape.



A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

Afrifab Steel Ltd.

Al Shahin Metal Industries

Al Yarmouk Steel and Engg. Co. LLC

Astra Industrial Group

BSI International Building Systems W.L.L.

DANA Group of Companies

Emirates Building System Co. LLC

Etihad Steel Factory

Mabani Steel LLC

Memaar Building Systems FZC

Modern Industrial Investment Holding Group

Nesma Group Co.

SpanAfrica Steel Structures

Steel Building and Structure Co.

Steel Structures Ltd.

Tamimi Group

Tiger Steel Engineering LLC

Tugela Steel

Yusuf A. Alghanim and Sons WLL

Zamil Industrial Investment Co.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lgf97m

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
ISTANBUL, Turkey, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CF makes the following announcement on behalf of the family of Korhan Berzeg, an 83-year-old, US-Turkish dual citizen who mysteriously disappeared 200 days ago after leaving his ancestral home in Armutlu, Balkesir, with his Doberman dog, Tina. Since that day, the family's lives have been suspended in a state of uncertainty and despair, clinging to every shred of hope for Korhan's safe return.







The family appreciates the efforts of the Turkish authorities thus far. Despite their extensive search efforts, the details surrounding Korhan's disappearance remain unclear, and they find themselves seeking more information than received. In their quest for truth and justice, the family is reaching out to the public, the media, and influencers to support our cause.

Today, the family is launching the #FindKorhanBerzeg campaign to keep Korhan's disappearance in the public eye and urging the authorities to provide transparency and diligence in their ongoing investigation. They believe that someone, somewhere, knows something, and they hope this campaign will reach them and encourage them to come forward.

Korhan is more than just a missing person case; he is a father, a husband, a friend, and a respected community member. His absence has left an irreplaceable void in their lives.

The family urges everyone to join them in sharing Korhan's story and keeping the conversation alive. Use the hashtag #FindKorhanBerzeg across social media platforms, share his story, and if you have any information, no matter how small, please come forward.

The family also calls on the U.S. Embassy to engage and provide support in this critical matter. The involvement of U.S. authorities can significantly bolster the search and investigative efforts, and they believe that Korhan, as a citizen, deserves the full extent of such support.

Your support not only raises awareness but also ignites hope in their hearts that they will find Korhan and uncover the truth.

With hope and determination,

The Berzeg Family

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb17e158-ce3b-45eb-8adf-5a9ea528fc2d
VANCOUVER, Jan. 30, 2024 - Osino Resources Corp. (TSXV:OSI) (NSX:OSN) (FSE:RSR1) (OTCQX:OSIIF) ("Osino" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the "Court") has issued an interim order (the "Interim Order") in connection with the previously announced plan of arrangement (the "Plan of Arrangement") under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), pursuant to which Dundee Precious Metals Inc. ("DPM") will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Osino (the "Arrangement"). For further information on the Arrangement and the definitive arrangement agreement between Osino and DPM (the "Arrangement Agreement"), please refer to the joint news release of the parties dated December 18, 2023.



Interim Order

The Interim Order authorizes, among other things, the holding of a special meeting (the "Special Meeting") of holders of securities of the Company as of the record date of January 10, 2024 (the "Securityholders"). At the Special Meeting, Securityholders will be asked to consider and, if deemed advisable, to pass a special resolution (the "Arrangement Resolution") approving the Plan of Arrangement. Pursuant to the Interim Order, the Special Meeting is scheduled to be held virtually by live webcast on March 1, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. (Vancouver time).

After, among other things, receiving external legal and financial advice in evaluating the Arrangement, and with the advice and recommendation of the special committee (the "Special Committee") of the board of directors (the "Board") of the Company, the Board unanimously determined that the Arrangement is fair to Securityholders (other than DPM) and is in the best interests of Osino, and unanimously recommends that Securityholders vote IN FAVOUR of the Arrangement Resolution at the Special Meeting.

Further details regarding the Arrangement, the Plan of Arrangement, the Special Meeting and applicable voting requirements will be included in the notice of meeting and management information circular (the "Circular") to be mailed to Securityholders in accordance with applicable laws and the Interim Order. Copies of the Circular and the related Special Meeting materials will also be made available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Completion of the Arrangement remains subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions customary for a transaction of this nature, including Securityholder approval of the Arrangement Resolution at the Special Meeting, receipt of regulatory approval of [the TSX Venture Exchange,] the Namibian Stock Exchange and the Namibian Competition Commission, and the issuance by the Court of a final order approving the Plan of Arrangement.

Securityholders with questions regarding the Arrangement or the Special Meeting may contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group, the Company's strategic advisor and shareholder communications firm, by telephone at 1-877-452-7184, or by email at assistance@laurelhill.com.

Private Placement

Osino is also pleased to announce that it has completed the second and final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of common shares of the Company (the "Osino Shares") to DPM. The Company issued 4,424,778 Osino Shares to DPM at a price of C$1.13 per Osino Share for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of C$4,999,999.14. The Offering was completed in connection with the Arrangement Agreement. The total number of Osino Shares issued pursuant to the Offering, including the initial tranche, was 8,849,557 Osino Shares for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of C$9,999,999.41. After giving effect to the Offering, DPM holds an aggregate of 12,669,157 Osino Shares, representing approximately 7.3% of the Osino Shares issued and outstanding on the date hereof, on a non-diluted basis. The Offering does not affect the consideration payable to Osino shareholders under the Arrangement, consisting of C$0.775 in cash per Osino Share and 0.0801 of a DPM common share per Osino Share, the whole as set out in the Arrangement Agreement and summarized in the Company's joint news release dated December 18, 2023.

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used for project activities, including engineering, drilling and other corporate purposes in accordance with Osino's budget, as agreed with DPM pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement.

The Osino Shares were offered by way of private placement pursuant to applicable exemptions from prospectus requirements in British Columbia and Ontario. The securities issued under the Offering are subject to a four month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws.

About Osino Resources

Osino is a Canadian gold exploration and development company focused on the fast-tracked development of our wholly owned, Twin Hills Gold Project in central Namibia. Since its grassroots discovery by Osino in August 2019 the Company has completed more than 225,000m of drilling and has completed a suite of specialist technical studies culminating in the recently published Twin Hills Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") dated effective June 12, 2023. The DFS describes a technically simple and economically robust open-pit gold operation with a 13-year mine life and average annual gold production of over 169,000oz per annum.

Osino has a commanding ground position of over 8,000km2 located within Namibia's prospective Damara sedimentary mineral belt, mostly in proximity to and along strike of the producing Navachab and Otjikoto Gold Mines. The Company is actively exploring a range of gold prospects and targets along the belt by utilizing a portfolio approach geared towards discovery, targeting gold mineralization that fits the broad orogenic gold model.

Our core projects are favourably located north and north-west of Namibia's capital city Windhoek. By virtue of their location, the projects benefit significantly from Namibia's well-established infrastructure with paved highways, railway, power and water in close proximity. Namibia is mining-friendly and lauded as one of the continent's most politically and socially stable jurisdictions. Osino continues to evaluate new ground with a view to expanding our Namibian portfolio.

David Underwood, BSc. (Hons) is Vice President Exploration of the Company and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release and is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (Pr. Sci. Nat. No.400323/11) and a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://osinoresources.com and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Heye Daun, President and CEO

CONTACT INFORMATION

Osino Resources Corp.

Yaron Conforti

+1-604-687-2038

yconforti@osinoresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. The Company does not undertake to update any forward- looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
MONTREAL, Jan. 31, 2024 - Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. ("Osisko" or the "Corporation") (TSX and NYSE: OR) announces today that The Honourable Mr. John R. Baird has resigned as a director of the Corporation, effective immediately.

Mr. Baird was appointed to the Board as an independent board member in April 2020. During this time, The Hon. Mr. Baird served as Chair of the Governance and Nomination Committee. The Corporation thanks Mr. Baird for his many valuable contributions during his Board tenure and wishes him success in his future endeavors.

Mr. Norman MacDonald, Chair of Osisko's Board of Directors commented: "John has been a key independent member of Osisko's Board for almost 4 years, and over this period, the Corporation has benefitted greatly from his unique combination of knowledge and experience. On behalf of the Board, management and the Corporation's shareholders, I would like to extend John all the best going forward."

About Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd

Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. is an intermediate precious metal royalty company which holds a North American focused portfolio of over 180 royalties, streams and precious metal offtakes. Osisko's portfolio is anchored by its cornerstone asset, a 3-5% net smelter return royalty on the Canadian Malartic mine, one of Canada's largest gold mines.

Osisko's head office is located at 1100 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal, Suite 300, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2S2.

For further information, please contact Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd.:
Vancouver, January 31, 2024 - Troubadour Resources Inc. (TSXV: TR) (OTC Pink: TROUF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce a proposed private placement offering to raise total gross proceeds of up to $1,250,000 (the "Offering").

Troubadour intends to undertake a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of up to 10,000,000 million units of the Company (each a "Unit") at a purchase price of $0.125 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,250,000. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at an exercise price of $0.175 at any time up to 36 months following issuance.

Proceeds will be used for general working capital and, more importantly, to define new drill targets on our High-Grade Uranium property (Monarch Property) which the company expects to complete over the next week or so... Furthermore, to define new drill targets on our 100% owned copper assets.

Blake Morgan, Interim CEO, states "This funding and transaction mean a move in the right direction for Troubadour Resources. This Uranium asset is key to diversity and opens the door to large funding in these types of markets. With Uranium at near all-time highs, and a new multi-million dollar staking rush happening all around the region, the time is now to capitalize on some of the highest-grade Uranium ever found in the region. We will push the boundaries of new technologies and move towards a major discovery, leveraging over $1,000,000 in previous exploration to rapidly generate advanced targets."

Insiders may participate in the placement and, as such, their participation in the Private Placement is a related-party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. Finders' fees in connection with the Offering may be payable in accordance with the policies and subject to the approval of the Exchange ("TSXV"). All Shares issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory holding period of four months and one day after the closing of the Offering. Completion of the Offering is subject to the approval of the TSXV. Any participation by insiders in the Offering will constitute a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") but is expected to be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101.

None of the securities sold in connection with the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer.

Geoff and Gary Schellenberg have tended their resignation, Blake Morgan has now taken over as Interim CEO. The Company thanks them for all their hard work over the years and wishes them all the best in their future endeavors.

Blake Morgan has over 15 years' experience in Capital Markets, specifically in the Natural Resource and Precious Metals sectors, including 10 years with Rio Tinto, BMA Metals (a subsidiary of BHP) and Santos Ltd. Mr. Morgan has extensive experience as a prominent Board Member and Senior Executive Officer in numerous publicly traded companies. In recent years, Blake has raised tens of millions of dollars for both public and private companies alike and has successfully taken numerous companies public in the United States, Canada, and Germany.

About Troubadour

Troubadour Resources Inc. (TSXV: TR) (OTC Pink: TROUF) is a public Canadian mining exploration company focused on copper and gold in British Columbia, Canada. The Company is managed by an experienced team consisting of youthful and seasoned professionals with proven track records as mine finders. The Texas gold property diversifies the Company's commodity focus and compliments Troubadour's Amarillo copper project located 10 km south of the past-producing Brenda Mine in southern BC and 35 km east of Kodiak Copper's MPD discovery.

For further information please contact:

Troubadour Resources Inc.

625 Howe Street, Suite 488

Vancouver, BC V6C 2T6

Blake Morgan, Interim CEO

blake@acvc.vc

Forward-Looking Information

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Except as required pursuant to applicable securities laws, the Company will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect financial results is included in the documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities by the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196319
The Belgian Grand Prix will be on the Formula 1 calendar in 2024 and 2025, but races further into the future are in doubt. While promoters in the United States and the Middle East pay big money to host F1, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit has to scrape together every euro to cough up the (relatively low) participation fee. The Belgians have now been told that this fee will increase substantially in the coming years.

In Belgium, people are now seriously considering the Grand Prix at the historic Spa circuit disappearing from the F1 calendar. There are budget losses every year, while the local government cannot and does not want to pay more money to keep the race afloat. To the newspaper La Libre, the Walloon Minister of Economy revealed that the deficit was 3.2 million in 2023, 5.6 million in 2022, and 7.3 million in 2021. Part of the deficit reduction came from increased ticket prices, which are already among the highest in F1 in Europe.

Liberty Media want more money

The cost of being allowed to host the Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps is rising yearly. The fee will increase by 5 million euros in two years - from 23.5 million euros last year to 25 million in 2024 and 28 million in 2025. That amount hardly helps the loss-making organisation.

Article continues under ad

Liberty Media - the owner of Formula 1 - has already informed the Belgian Grand Prix that the fee price will go up again from 2026. So if Spa-Francorchamps want to continue hosting the race in the Ardennes, it will somehow have to find a pot of money to continue paying for a contract with Liberty.
Smartphone shipments in 2023 totaled 1.142 billion  the worst in 11 years, claims Canalys in its latest analysis of the market. Apple took the top spot for the first time on the back of a stagnant year in which its main competitor, Samsung, declined 13%.

The holiday period was a positive one for the industry, with an 8% increase, which is a sign of stabilization, according to the analysts.

The smartphone market experienced serious headwinds, but rebounding demand in emerging markets drove global recovery in the second half of the year, commented Sanyam Chaurasia, Senior Analyst at Canalys. Latin America, Africa and the Middle East actually saw a YoY growth in shipments, largely offsetting the decline in the rest of the world (Asia Pacific, Mainland China, Europe, and North America).

Transsion (owner of iTel, Infinix, and Tecno) and Xiaomi have benefited from the rebound, achieving a remarkable increase during the October-December 2023 period. The increase in demand pushed Transsion to fourth place for Q4 2023.

The emerging markets will remain a vital battleground for all makers, seeking growth as developed regions such as North America and Europe are facing subdued consumer spending and reduced channel investments.

The market did decline, but the inventory backlog is no longer a major issue, and the low prices of components should allow vendors to support more flexible incentive measures to consumers.

Company Q4 '23 shipments (million) Q4 '23 Market share Q4 '22 shipments (million) Q4 '22 Market share Change Apple 78.1 24% 73.2 25% 7% Samsung 53.5 17% 58.3 20% -8% Xiaomi 41.0 13% 33.2 11% 23% Transsion 28.5 9% 17.3 6% 65% vivo 23.9 7% 23.9 8% 0% Others 94.4 30% 90.9 31% 4% Total 319.5 100% 296.9 100% 8%

Looking at the raw numbers, Apple and Samsung remain the market leaders globally, followed by Xiaomi in third and Oppo in fourth. Companies like vivo and Honor released their flagships and are expected to challenge Transsion for a place in the Top 5.

Company 2023 shipments (million) 2023 Market share 2022 shipments (million) 2022 Market share Change Apple 229.2 20% 232.2 19% -1% Samsung 225.4 20% 257.9 22% -13% Xiaomi 146.4 13% 152.7 13% -4% Oppo 100.7 9% 113.4 10% -11% Transsion 92.6 8% 73.1 6% 27% Others 347.9 30% 364.1 31% -4% Total 1142.1 100% 296.9 100% -4%

The year 2024 should see makers go in two strategic directions  either investing in on-device AI or expanding shipments in the mid-to-low-end segment. Samsung just released its Galaxy S24 smartphones with Galaxy AI globally, while Chinese companies launched the phones on the domestic market; surely, the next step will be expanding internationally.

The mass-market segment will be the center for vendors, while value-for-money proposition and affordability are core product strategies in the short term, added Zhu.

Source
Human Mobile Devices (HMD Global) will start selling its own devices without the Nokia branding marking an expected end to Nokia Mobile smartphones. The news was shared by HMD which is also teasing its upcoming product portfolio of devices. These include smartphones, tablets and wireless earbuds with rumors suggesting we may see the first HMD-branded smartphones at MWC Barcelona which is taking place February 26-29.

HMDs official website states that the Finish company are the Makers of Nokia phones, so the brand will still include some Nokia-branded phones - at the very least it will keep selling its current lineup. However, in the mid to long term we will likely stop seeing the Nokia logo on smartphones.



Teaser for an updated Nokia 3310 with 5G support

HMD plans on bringing tough, fun, secure, fast, and affordable new phones. Most of the current Nokia branded smartphones and tablets are on discount while supplies last. Nokia Corporation is still a global leader in network equipment and is a leading patent licensor in the mobile tech space with over 6,000 patent families essential to 5G.
The British company Bullitt, responsible for manufacturing rugged phones under Caterpillar (CAT) and Motorola Defy brands, failed to restructure financially and had to fold. Former employees posted on LinkedIn the company is unable to service its debt, and everyone is currently looking for new jobs.

According to WinFuture, the plans for Bullitt were to hand over the hardware division to a creditor-backed organization and to concentrate on the development of satellite communication devices.



Cat S75 hands-on at MWC 2023

The British phone manufacturer Bullitt owned the commercial rights to build and distribute rugged phones with the Cat and Motorola logos, as well as several Land Rover-branded handsets. The company revealed at MWC 2023 that it is working on its own solution for satellite connectivity, developed jointly with Mediatek.

The versatile, rugged smartphones have been an attractive offer to people who need a tough but affordable device. Typical CAT owners weren't willing to overspend on a Samsung XCover series but wanted to stay away from Chinese brands such as Ulefone, Blackview and Oukitel.

Via (in German)
A customer enters Ban Thai Restaurant and Lounge in Tumon on May 10, 2023. Renowned for its exquisite Thai cuisine, Ban Thai Restaurant has announced the return of its signature lunch buffet on Feb. 1, 2024.
It is a citizens right to appear before a judge within 48 hours of his or her arrest, Attorney General Douglas Moylan said.

Most of the time, the AGs office is able to effectively carry out its role in that process. Usually, when assistant AGs in the prosecution division start work for the day, one of their first tasks is to download and view a report from arrests made the prior night.

Prosecutors, investigators and paralegals from the AGs office then have five hours  Moylan calls it a mad scramble  to take each suspects case and review the police officers report, correspond if theres any questions, look up a suspects arrest record or criminal history, identify any specific laws violated, and prepare a report for the magistrates judge by 1 p.m. each day, in time for hearings that start at 3 p.m.

But if a felony arrest happens at 10 a.m. on a weekday, the AGs office has to prioritize that case the following morning to ensure the suspect can be magistrated when court starts at 3 p.m.

If the magistrates report isnt finalized or incomplete, the suspect will be released, because the 48-hour countdown will expire before the magistrates hearing, which is only held at 3 p.m.

Moylan is worried that a violent suspect will be freed, and create another crime victim, or return to his crime victim for payback.

Just earlier this week, four detainees had to be released because (the Guam Police Department) arrested in the early morning on a Saturday, and/or did not get the police reports to us and we were not notified that DOC had them, forcing their release, Moylan wrote in a letter to Court Administrator Danielle Rosete.

The AG said the chief prosecutor is in the process of drafting a letter to GPD and DOC, memorializing this recent incident that occurred because there was no morning magistrate available on Monday to charge the detainees by the 48-hour deadline.

Moylan wrote that the current schedule of having only afternoon hearings is untenable for the effective prosecution of crime victims.

He also brought up the recent MLK weekend holiday when 14 people were arrested on a Saturday, causing him to bring in staff to prepare reports in time for a Sunday afternoon hearing, since the court had no Monday magistrate hearings.

Moylan asked the court to consider holding daily morning magistrate hearings.

Sarah G. Elmore-Hernandez, director of Policy, Planning and Community Relations for the Judiciary of Guam, acknowledged Moylans letter and provided a statement:

Last September, court officials met with the Office of the Attorney General and offered to accommodate filing deadlines upon their request. We will continue to work with the Attorney General and all other government entities involved in magistrate hearings to find an effective way forward.

Moylan also sent a letter to Speaker Therese Terlaje, asking her to consider and support proposed legislation to extend the 48-hour holding to 72 hours, which he said would give ample time for all entities to properly prosecute.

But legislative records from 2008 suggest that the extension had been previously addressed by a former director of the Supreme Court, as well as an assistant attorney general, who stated that extending a suspects holding past 48 hours would raise constitutional concerns.
Attorney General Douglas Moylan has put certain government of Guam officials on notice about a criminal and civil investigation related to GovGuams continued use of Bank of Guams banking services allegedly with no competitive procurement conducted.

He urged GovGuam officials involved in the apparent failure to award GovGuam banking services contracts by competitive procurement to seek their own counsel, since the Office of the Attorney General cannot represent them on the matter.

We understand that under this Governors administration, that no competitive procurement was conducted thereafter (after Sept. 30, 2021), and that Bank of Guam appears to have been allowed to conduct exclusive Banking Services on behalf of our client, and your employer, the People of Guam/Government of Guam, Moylan said in a Jan. 26 letter addressed to Department of Administration Director Edward Birn and Treasurer of Guam Rosita Fejeran.

Bank of Guam, founded and owned by Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros family, has been GovGuams banking service contractor prior to Leon Guerreros term. Leon Guerrero was the banks president prior to running for governor.

We understand that Department of Administration officials may have violated Guam law by not procuring financial services, as required by law, to the detriment of the People of Guam, Moylan said in his letter to Birn and Fejeran.

Malicious

A copy of that letter was also sent to members of the Legislature, and Sen. Thomas Fisher on Wednesday said he will be filing an ethics complaint against the AG for his malicious public release of a target letter.

If the AG can do that, then were all in trouble. Its unethical. All he had to do is release a letter saying a person is under investigation, and that persons name is already smeared, Fisher told the Pacific Daily News.

It is a disgraceful act, he said.

The senator added that theres no way the two individuals who received the letter would be able to protect themselves from the smear campaign because the damage has been done.

Moylan and Fisher, both lawyers, have been at odds over issues. When Moylan testifies before senators, the two would have a go at each other.

The AGs letter said among GovGuam officials who may have violated procurement laws include potentially yourselves, referring to Birn and Fejeran as named recipients of the AGs letter.

The AG said GovGuam may have lost money from allegedly not having competitively procured a large banking service.

The question about how to immediately stop the allegedly unlawful banking services is now at issue, the potential loss to the Government of Guam/People of Guam, and/or immediately starting the competitive procurement for Government Banking Services, Moylan wrote.

The attorney general wrote that the OAG has received information that violations of Guam civil and criminal laws may have occurred by certain government of Guam officials, and then cited Department of Administration officials.

The matter is under active investigation, he said.

Previous RFPs

Moylan said the last contract for banking services was solicited under former Gov. Eddie Calvos administration, to run from Oct. 1, 2017, through Sept. 30, 2020, and was extended for one year to Sept. 30, 2021.

The AG attached a copy of that RFP to his letter to DOA.

GovGuam, however, issued an RFP in 2022, soliciting proposals for professional banking services.

A request to Adelup and DOA for a copy of the latest contract between GovGuam and Bank of Guam, as well as questions, remained unanswered.

Adelup and DOA will not be providing comment on the matter, according to the governors director of communications, Krystal Paco-San Agustin.

Bank of Guam statement

Bank of Guam, when sought for comment, released a statement Wednesday night.

We appreciate the medias interest in the Attorney Generals investigation into the procurement process. As a matter of policy, Bank of Guam does not comment on its customers accounts. We remain committed to upholding the highest standards in all aspects of our operations. Our focus remains on delivering quality financial services to our valued customers, according to a statement from Lesley-Anne Leon Guerrero, Bank of Guam senior vice president and chief experience officer.

Moylan said as OAG understands it, some $600 million a year of the peoples money has been going through Bank of Guam.

This amount, he said, does not include the substantially larger amounts of funds that the federal government appropriated to Guam during the two-year COVID-19 crisis that may have been transferred into, been held by, and transferred through Bank of Guam.

Guam received billions in federal pandemic relief and recovery funds, including American Rescue Plan funds.

Moylan, in his letter, also asked GovGuam officials involved to remove themselves from the matters under investigation and allow a government official who can fully participate in the OAG investigation.
The Guam Memorial Hospital Authority is proposing 48 new hospital fees, which mainly consisted of pharmaceutical items that GMHA Administrator Lillian Perez-Posadas said has seen a 20% increase across the United States.

The proposed new fees in Speaker Therese Terlajes Bill 232-37 also cover interventional radiology and gastroenterology diagnostic and treatment procedures, and consumable medical supplies.

The bill went through a public hearing on Tuesday.

These medications, yes weve had them, but because (of) a different form, like if it used to be a tablet but now, they have a suspension, then these medications are new, so therefore, theyre new fees, Perez-Posadas told senators.

Perez-Posadas said there has been a 20% price increase on pharmaceutical items across the nation, prompting the need to increase costs on these items.

The fees, effective since September last year, were implemented in accordance with local law that grants the public hospital the authority to establish interim fees without prior legislative approval, provided it seeks permanent approval within three months of instituting the fees.

Sen. Sabina Perez noted that some of the new items costs are pretty reasonable and even cheaper than the national standards.

I was doing a little research on the fees and some of them are actually lower than the national standards. It seems pretty reasonable if you do that comparison, said Perez.

The Bureau of Budget and Management Research, in a fiscal review of the bill, said GMHAs proposed fee schedule will pose a positive fiscal impact on the revenue generation of the GMHA.

BBMR said the estimated net fiscal impact is $3.8 million in revenues, comprising of $10.5 million in gross revenues and $6.7 million in costs to purchase new supplies and medicine.

Markup, impacts on premiums

Yukari Hechanova, GMHA chief financial officer, mentioned their pricing methodology, which involves a markup limited to $500 to cover the hospital costs.

So, if an item is, say, $1, our markup is, I believe, five times so it will go up to $5 but if an item is $1,000, and we mark it up (five times), it will be $5,000, but were not allowed to go up that high. We can only go up as far as $500 so any item here will not be more than $500 of the actual cost, Hechanova said.

Meanwhile, senators expressed concern about the effect of the added fees on medical insurance premiums.

To the extent of what theyre going to impact, insurance claims and premiums, thats going to be based on how frequently individuals are undergoing these procedures and making claims against the particular insurance carrier, which we dont necessarily have unique insight into, GMHA legal counsel Jordan Pauluhn said.

Frank Campillo of Calvos SelectCare said these additional fees could lead to increased costs in premiums.

Will these increase prices? Of course. If they were not charging for that before, yeah of course its going to (increase costs) he said.

He also noted that as long as the new items and procedures are aligned with Medicare, they are most likely covered in private insurance, too.

Normally, we follow what is called medical necessity and we follow criteria. In this case, (if) Medicare acknowledged coverage for these specific services, then most likely, theyre going to be covered by private insurance.

Arvin Lojo, a representative from private insurance TakeCare, echoed Campillos statement, stressing that these fees would have an impact on premiums.

Most of our clients renew in January, so at this point that were talking, most of their premiums are already set for the year so any rate changes will probably impact their renewals...the next renewal cycle, Lojo said.

Sen. Telo Taitague suggested that any fee changes, including increases, should be finalized before negotiations with insurance carriers for a more accurate cost estimate to the clients.

Increasing any kind of rate before the negotiations of an insurance carrier to cover, thats actually the time that we should increase fees, these costs, where they review the schedule and make the recommendations for any kind of increase closer to when youre negotiating so it gives the insurance companies to provide a more accurate cost to the client, Taitague said.

Sen. Frank Blas sought a connection between the costs of new supplies with any of the existing services that have had their rates or fees increased over the last 12 months.

Perez-Posadas said she is unsure about the increased rates in existing services and reiterated that certain added fees came from items that have undergone changes in form or updated versions.

Not sure if theres an increase but perhaps like the pacemaker. Weve been doing pacemaker insertions by our cardiology but depending on the consumable that lead and the device itself may have changed because the company no longer provides that, noted Posadas.

Revisit gaps

Campillo said he has no issues about the hospitals proposed fees, adding that insurance companies only become concerned when there are high increases at a one point of existing fees.

Taitague recalled a prior enacted bill on the substantial increase of hospital fees, urging GMH officials to revisit and make some adjustments to it.

I just dont (want to) see anything that (will) skyrocket like we did (when) the last increase in costs at the hospital went over 60% and that really hurt the community as well as those who pay premiums, Taitague said.

I hope we can revisit that, maybe make some adjustments on the prior one that was passed without legislative approval. It just lapsed into law.




Haiti - Politic : Moise Jean Charles calls to destroy everything





Monday January 29, 2024, hundreds of demonstrators, activists, supporters and sympathizers took to the concrete in Cap-Haitien at the call of former Senator Moise Jean Charles.



The highly motivated demonstrators paralyzed the city's economic activities, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister a.i.Henry.



The RN#1 was blocked, schools, businesses and banks were all closed, leading to a general paralysis of the economy.



Moise Jean Charles, leader of the radical opposition political party "Pitit Dessalin", called on the demonstrators to destroy everything, promising to rebuild the country once he becomes President



The police had to use tear gas grenades to disperse the demonstrators at 15A Street, causing great tension between the demonstrators and the authorities.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41556-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41555-haiti-flash-jean-charles-moise-evokes-violence-to-force-the-departure-of-the-pm.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41536-haiti-flash-moise-jean-charles-promises-at-least-5-days-of-chaos.html



S/ iciHaiti






















Haiti - Ouanaminthe : The ONA Office attacked, ransacked, looted then burned





Monday January 29, 2024, the communal office of the National Old Age Insurance Office (ONA) of Ouanaminthe was violently attacked by armed individuals.



In a note, Marguerite Berte Marescot, Director General of ONA, strongly denounces the act of vandalism perpetrated against this municipal office.



The judicial authorities of this jurisdiction were requested to assess the extent of the damage. "It was noted that this office had been brutally attacked, ransacked, looted and then set on fire by heavily armed individuals who have not yet been identified."



"The violence constitutes serious violations of the rights of policyholders and pensioners who benefit from the services of this office who prepare and ensure their future and their old age. The General Directorate takes the opportunity to assure them that it will take all the urgent measures required by this situation for the immediate resumption of the institution's services.



Marguerite Berte Marescot, renews ONAs commitment to working tirelessly to make it a solid and lasting institution."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Guerilla between "400 mawozo" and "Kraze barye"

Tuesday January 30, 2024, bursts of automatic weapons were heard in Pernier, which was the scene of an armed clash between members of the "400 mawozo" and "Kraze barye" gang. Panicked, members of the population had to flee their homes to escape the fury of the fighters...



Me Al Duniel Dimanche refuses to leave

The investigating judge Al Duniel Dimanche rejects out of hand the information suggesting that his mandate has come to an end [according to the minutes of his swearing in his mandate ended on January 29, 2024] he nevertheless affirms "[...] if that were the case, I would never accept that it be renewed by a de facto Government..."



The BSAP of the Center rejects the Government's directives

Joseph Jean Baptiste, Head of the Protected Areas Security Brigade (BSAP) in the Center department, rejects the government press release prohibiting BSAP agents armed with firearms from circulating in uniform in cities https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41551-haiti-notice-bsap-agents-banned-from-weapons-uniforms-and-circulating-in-town.html , he accuses the Government of add fuel to the fire. Joseph Jean Baptiste and a group of uniformed and armed BSAP agents roamed the streets of the city of Hinche on Tuesday as a sign of protest and provocation...



3 young women killed in Nazon

Monday January 29, 3 young women were killed and their bodies burned on rue Brun Ricot, in Nazon, (Port-au-Prince). The reasons and circumstances of these murders are unknown.



Cabaret womens prison stormed

Armed individuals attacked the Cabaret women's prison and took control of it. However, let us remember that this prison no longer contained any inmates, they having been transferred several months ago to the civil prison of Delmas 33.



BSAC cancels its poorly attended general strike

Sunday January 29, the 3-day general strike called by the Anti-Corruption Union Brigade (BSAC) and the drivers' unions to protest against insecurity and demand the departure of Prime Minister a.i., Ariel Henry, was poorly attended even if several schools kept their doors closed... Tuesday, BSAC announced the lifting of the strike from 3:00 p.m. and also announced the cancellation of the 3rd day of strike scheduled for this Wednesday...



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Kevin Hamm, a democratic House of Representatives candidate for the Eastern district of Montana, spoke to local voters in Havre Tuesday night at the Hill County Democratic Party headquarters.

Hamm, a Helena small business owner, activist and community organizer, was introduced by Hill County Democrats Chair Lindsey Ratliff as a tireless advocate for human rights, including the rights of women and queer people.

Indeed, women's bodily autonomy and the rights of queer people were the first subjects Hamm talked about, contrasting himself with some of his fellow Democrats and saying there are...
In new letter, senators reiterate longstanding concern that climate rule could lead to burdensome paperwork and bureaucracy for family farmers and ranchers

This is a press release from the office of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana

WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., sent a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler reiterating his concerns that the agencys proposed climate disclosure rule could lead to burdensome paperwork and bureaucracy for Montana family farmers and ranchers.

Tester, who is running for re-election, and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., emphasized in their letter that American farmers feed the world and should not have to waste their time filling out burdensome paperwork.

American f...




We're a family of seven living in Georgia where Andrew's working as a professor at GSU. You can read more about us here
Candidates for Congress debate Ukraine, impeaching Biden, TikTok

Christian Reagan, a mortgage broker from Hayesville, is challenging U.S. Rep.Chuck Edwards in the March 5 Republican primary for the 11th Congressional District seat.

The candidates met at the Brasstown Community Center in what was the only debate Edwards agreed to attend. The candidates responded to questions on why theyre running, aid to Ukraine, impeaching President Biden and outlawing TikTok. Here are the candidates' responses:

Why are you running for Congress?

Reagan: I believe as individuals who love this country, who love God, who love family, that its important that we get involved in politics today  Im a strong supporter of Donald Trump. Hes the only guy in this country that can drain the swamp and I want to be in Congress so I can help him do that.

Edwards: I wish that I could be a messenger of good news right now, but fortunately I cannot, and thats because Joe Biden is in the White House. And since Joe Biden has been in the White House weve had 8 million illegal aliens come across our border. The No. 1 policy that is on everyones mind here in America right now is a major threat to the safety of our communities and especially right here in North Carolina. Were seeing violence, drug trafficking, fentanyl-laced drugs killing folks with addictions, and the open border is the key core problem in to our society today. My Republican colleagues and I have stood firm in pushing for more aggressive measures that would close the border. As a state senator, our Republican leadership in the House and Senate outlawed sanctuary cities, reinstituted voter ID and cut your taxes. We can do that in Washington once we change the occupant in the White House. Thats the foundation of my campaign.

Do you support continued funding of Ukraine in the war against Russia?

Reagan: Weve spent north of $125 billion in Ukraine. Its a slush fund. Its well established that the people that are receiving the money  its not going where it needs to go. And so Im against any money being sent to Ukraine. We shouldnt be a part of that.

Edwards: Theres a common theme here but I think that I cant say it too often. The world is such a dangerous place because Biden is in the White House. He sat there for months and watched Putin send troops and equipment to the border and did nothing. I was brought up in a world where communism was a bad thing and where dictators were not allowed to invade adjoining countries and roll across continents, which is what Putins goal is right now at this time. I believe that the world should come together to stop Putin in his tracks once and for all. But there are some things that come with that. No. 1, we need to close our own border, and the action that Im supporting in Congress right now is that while the White House is coming to us and asking for additional funding and equipment to send to Ukraine, were putting our foot down and saying, Not until we take care of our own border.

The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering an impeachment inquiry into President Biden and the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Since any formal impeachment of the president or a federal government officer must be tried in the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate, with a two-thirds majority required for conviction, the chances of conviction appear to be slim to none. Should the House spend time, energy and public resources on this effort that is likely to be DOA in the Senate?

Reagan: Im from Texas, born and raised. Ive seen illegal immigration my whole life Ive seen the devastation that it does to the local economy. What were seeing today is an absolute invasion in our country. Over 10 million people within the last three years crossed that border illegally. Theyre coming into our country. We have no idea why theyre coming here or where theyre going. Yes, we need to send a message of impeachment, we need to send it regardless of what the end result is gonna be in the Senate. Thats what the American people want.

Edwards: Absolutely, we need to continue with impeachment hearings over both Secretary Mayorkas and Joe Biden. Im excited to have been a part of the House Oversight Committee that got to peel back the onion and understand many of the problems going on with the Biden family and the 20 or so shell companies that were set up for no other reason than to bring money in from foreign nationals and other countries. I voted to proceed with the impeachment inquiry over Joe Biden and the problems that Ive been able to help uncover so far.

There is legislation pending in Congress to ban the use of Tik Tok or other social media apps. Would you support such legislation?

Reagan: I would not be standing here if it wasnt for social media. I can guarantee you that. When we started this campaign, thats all we had. Weve advertised on Tik Tok, on Facebook, every social media platform you could think of. Its a freedom that I feel that we have to be able to decide where we want to go to be able to participate in social media. So I would be reluctant to go against any social media platform in the country. If you feel like its a problem that needs to be resolved, then use your money to do that. Its called the free market.

Edwards: The thing that folks need to recognize and why social media has been weaponized is because Joe Biden is in office. Im really proud to have been serving on the House Oversight Committee as a new member. We brought folks from the FBI and from the social media companies under oath and uncovered the fact that social media is being weaponized against the American people and to slant towards political opinions, and thats just totally wrong. And so I think the first thing that we have to do, which is what Ive been fighting for, in the year that Ive been honored to be in Congress so far, is to stop the weaponization of our federal government against our people. I believe that folks should be able to make a decision what platforms that they want to use and under what circumstances but we got to get Joe Biden and the weaponized federal government out of the White House if were really going to enjoy our freedoms in this country.
Elite charge earns challenger a smackdown from Edwards

U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards and challenger Christian Reagan squared off in a debate in Brasstown on Jan. 13.

BRASSTOWN  Christian Reagan, the cowboy-hat wearing Texas transplant running for Congress, earned a smackdown from U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards when he tried to score debate points by casting the first-term incumbent as part of the Washington elite.

A mortgage broker from Hayesville who is challenging Edwards in the March 5 Republican primary for the 11th Congressional District seat, Reagan said Edwards had done nothing to fix illegal migration over the southern border.

You just said it was 8 million people that illegally crossed the border. Its 10 million, congressman, in the last three years, Reagan said during a debate in Brasstown on Jan. 13. This country is in trouble because of people like this  the elite that represent Washington, D.C. Weve got to change how we do things as a country, and we will never do it with people like this.

Edwards was not having it.

I need the gentleman from Smith County, Texas, to recognize there is nothing elite about Chuck Edwards, the congressman from Flat Rock replied, his voice rising. I was born over here in Haywood County. I got to watch my familys lights turned out many times, I got to watch our car repossessed, I lived in mill housing, I lived in trailers and Ive worked my tail off all my life like my mother and my father did. There is nothing elite about this person who has asked to go to Congress and represent you because I understand how hard people in these mountains work and what it takes to live the American dream. I totally reject anyone that thinks that I am elite. My wife and I once went and found 83 cents so that we could buy kerosene to keep our house warm through the night until I could get paid the next day. That is not elite.

Reagan tried to recover by saying, I never used the word elite. He must have a short memory; he had uttered the phrase the elite that represent Washington, D.C. 1 minute and 41 seconds earlier.

The audience chuckled and someone shouted, Yes you did.

Chastened, the gentleman from Smith County, Texas, turned to Edwards the next time he had the floor and said, Sir, I apologize if I called you elite.
A BOY completed a 5km run to raise money for the hospice which cared for his baby brother in the few days of his life.

Oskar Nystrom, seven, from Park Corner, near Nettlebed, took part in an organised event at Dorney Lake, near Eton, and recorded a better time than he had anticipated.

He was raising money for the Demelza Hospice in London where his brother, Jacob, passed away in 2018, when he was just five days old.

Jacob had been born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital condition.

Oskar decided to do the run to enable other children to receive the same treatment as his brother and raised about 3,400.

He ran with his father, John, while his mother, Josephine, was there to support them both. Oskar, who attends Moulsford School, said: It was really good. The course was quite flat and my training runs were hillier, so I felt well-prepared.

I was excited before I started and everyone was really friendly. All the runners were high-fiving me and encouraging me.

He had hoped to finish in about 35 minutes so was delighted when he found out his time was 26 minutes and 27 seconds.

I didnt expect it, said Oskar. I was tired near the end but proud. Strangers cheered me on. Afterwards, we went to a cake shop and I had French toast.

Mr Nystrom said: I just managed to keep up with him.

Oskar also went to the hospice with his parents for a tour where staff wrote his fundraising total on a large cheque for him to present to them. He said: It felt very good to raise more than 3,000 because Jacob would probably be proud.

The day after the run, he gave a presentation about the experience to his friends at school.

Oskar said: I told them about how fast I did it and about the money I raised and how proud I was of myself. They were quite impressed.

Mr Nystrom said: He tried really hard on the day. We were so impressed. Neither of us expected him to finish quite so quickly.

Now Oskar is to take part in the Henley Triathlon in June, which features a swim, bike ride and run. He will prepare for this by running regularly with his father.

To make a donation, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/

oskar-runs-for-jacob
The Biden-Harris Administration announced today that sickle cell disease (SCD) will be the first focus of the Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Access Model, which was initially announced in February 2023. The model is designed to improve health outcomes, increase access to cell and gene therapies, and lower health care costs for some of the nations most vulnerable populations.

Sickle cell disease is an extremely painful condition, which disproportionately impacts Black Americans and has had limited treatment options. In the United States, more than 100,000 people live with SCD. Individuals with the disease have a shorter life expectancy, by more than 20 years, compared to someone living without SCD. Additionally, many long-term health complications from SCD  including stroke, acute chest syndrome, and chronic end-organ damage  can lead to higher rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Patients with SCD experience challenges with access to quality and affordability of care. This model has the potential to help improve health outcomes for patients and families with SCD while also ensuring taxpayer dollars are being used more effectively.

HHS is using every tool available to us to increase access to high-quality, affordable health care and lower health care costs, said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. Many of the more than 100,000 Americans with sickle cell disease face difficulty accessing effective health care and groundbreaking treatments. While medical advancements bring us closer to cures, too many individuals with sickle cell disease and their loved ones still face challenges obtaining the care they need. With increased investment, we can improve the quality of life for people affected by this disease and find new, potentially transformative treatments.

The CGT Access Model is part of the Administrations broader effort to further drive down prescription drug costs and was developed in response to an executive order that President Biden issued in October 2022 directing the Department of Health and Human Services to consider developing models that increase access to novel therapies and lower the high cost of drugs. The model, led by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center, will test outcomes-based agreements (OBAs) for groundbreaking CGTs. Successful OBAs will increase affordable access to potentially lifesaving and life-changing treatment. This model will begin in 2025 and may be expanded to other types of CGTs in the future.

Gene therapies for sickle cell disease have the potential to treat this devastating condition and transform peoples lives, offering them a chance to live healthier and potentially avoid associated health issues, said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. Increasing access to these promising therapies will not only help keep people healthy, but it can also lead to savings for states and taxpayers as the long-term costs of treating sickle cell disease may be avoided.

Approximately 50% to 60% of people living with SCD are enrolled in Medicaid. Hospitalizations and other health episodes related to SCD cost the health system almost $3 billion per year. Gene therapies for the treatment of SCD, as well as other complex conditions, hold significant potential to improve patient outcomes and therefore reduce long-term health spending, but they can also pose challenges to state budgets due to the high cost of the therapy.

Over the next year, CMS will partner with participating states and manufacturers to build a framework that expands access to gene therapies for the treatment of SCD. Under the model, CMS will negotiate an OBA with participating manufacturers, which will tie pricing for SCD treatments to whether the therapy improves health outcomes for people with Medicaid. Negotiations will also include additional pricing rebates and a standardized access policy. Participating states will then decide whether to enter into an agreement with manufacturers based on the negotiated terms and offer the agreed-upon standard access policy in exchange for rebates as negotiated by CMS. As part of the CGT Access Model, CMS will negotiate financial and clinical outcome measures with drug manufacturers and then reconcile data, monitor results, and evaluate outcomes. The CGT Access Model will begin in January 2025, and states may choose to begin participation at a time of their choosing between January 2025 and January 2026.

The goal of the Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model is to increase access to innovative cell and gene therapies for people with Medicaid by making it easier for states to pay for these therapies, said Liz Fowler, CMS Deputy Administrator and Director of the CMS Innovation Center. By negotiating with manufacturers on behalf of states, CMS can ease the administrative burden on state Medicaid programs so they can focus on improving access and health outcomes for people with sickle cell disease.

CMS anticipates addressing additional care delivery gaps and other hurdles for people receiving cell and gene therapy during the OBA negotiation process, including requiring manufacturers to include a defined scope of fertility preservation services when individuals receive gene therapy for treatment of SCD. CMS will also offer optional funding to states that engage in activities that increase equitable access to cell and gene therapies and promote multi-disciplinary, comprehensive care for people with Medicaid with SCD receiving gene therapy. These activities may include expanding or increasing reimbursement rates for optional Medicaid benefits and services, such as behavioral health or care management services.

For additional information see the fact sheet and CGT model page.
The Diplomat

By Bharatha Mallawarachi

Wednesday January 31, 2024

Indian and Seychelles forces separately rescued Monday two fishing vessels hijacked by Somali pirates and freed 23 crew members from Iran and Sri Lanka, both countries said in statements.



The Seychelles defense forces and coast guard rescued six Sri Lankan fishermen whose vessel was hijacked by Somali pirates two days earlier while the Indian navy said it freed 17 crew members in an Iranian fishing vessel that was hijacked by pirates off the east coast of Somalia.



The Seychelles Defense Forces Special Forces and coast guard led a successful operation to regain control of a Sri Lankan vessel hijacked by armed Somali pirates, the presidents office said in a statement.



The three hijackers were arrested, and the fishermen and their boat were safe and being taken to the Seychelles, according to Susantha Kahawatta, a top official in the Fisheries Department of Sri Lanka. He said the Sri Lankan envoy to the Seychelles told him of the successful rescue operation.



The hijacking came after Sri Lanka said it would join a U.S.-led operation to protect merchant vessels sailing in the Red Sea against attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels. Sri Lankas navy said two weeks ago it would provide a ship to protect merchant ship traffic, but the date hasnt been set and the area Sri Lanka will patrol hasnt been finalized.



Other suspected hijackings in waters off Somalia have raised concern that Somali pirates have resumed activity a decade after they caused chaos in international shipping.



The piracy occurred in international waters about 840 nautical miles (1,555 kilometers) east of Somalia, 1,100 nautical miles (2,040 kilometers) from Sri Lanka and north of the Seychelles, according to Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Capt. Gayan Wickramasuriya.



Sri Lankan officials had informed all countries in the region about the hijacking.



The Seychelles coast guard was also on alert and when the hijackers entered their waters, the Seychelles coast guard arrested the hijackers, took control of the boat and released the fishermen and the vessel, which are now being taken to a port in the Seychelles, Kahawatta said.



On Saturday, an armed group arrived in an area where about 30 Sri Lankan vessels were fishing. Two to three armed men who had arrived in a 23-meter (75-foot) vessel boarded the fishing trawler, fired shots apparently to warn away the other fishing boats and took away the trawler and the fishermen, Kahawatta said.



Fishermen in the other trawlers who identified the attackers as Somali recalled the details of the abduction, Kahawatta said.



Separately on Monday, the Indian navy said it freed an Iranian fishing vessel that was hijacked by pirates off the east coast of Somalia.



Indias navy wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that the fishing vessel named Iman had been boarded by pirates and its crew were taken hostage. It said the naval force freed all 17 crew members along with the boat.



The fishing vessel was later released for onward transit, it said.



The Indian navy did not immediately say what had happened to the pirates responsible for the hijacking.


The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday imposed stringent restrictions on the operations of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) due to supervisory concerns. The central bank restricted Paytm Payments Bank Ltd from fresh deposits and credit transactions across its services. Paytm Payments Bank: The actions taken by the RBI are under a provision of banking regulations that allow the regulator to give directions to a bank in the interest of depositors.(Reuters Photo)

The directives, issued under the authority of section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, come after an extensive examination of the payment bank's practices and compliance status.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The regulatory action follows an initial directive dated March 11, 2022, wherein the RBI directed Paytm Payments Bank to halt the onboarding of new customers.

Subsequent reports from comprehensive system audits and compliance validations conducted by external auditors revealed persistent non-compliances and continued material supervisory concerns in the bank, the RBI said in its release, prompting the central bank to take further supervisory measures.

What are the restrictions imposed on Paytm Payments Bank?

Paytm Payments Bank is prohibited from accepting new deposits, credit transactions, or top-ups in any customer accounts or associated instruments after February 29.

Paytm Payments Bank has been directed to cease the provision of all banking services beyond basic account access after February 29.

The bank will also not be allowed to offer fund transfers, including via India's popular Unified Payment Interface (UPI) facility, the RBI said.

What is allowed?

Paytm Payments Bank is allowed to deposit interest, cashback or refunds in the customer accounts.

The existing customers are allowed unrestricted withdrawal or utilisation of their balances across various accounts and instruments, including savings bank accounts, prepaid instruments, FASTags, and National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC).

A payments bank is allowed to take small deposits up to 200,000 Indian rupees. These entities are not allowed to lend directly but can facilitate and sell loan products.

Paytm Payments Bank is an associate of listed entity One 97 Communications Ltd, which holds a 49% stake in the unit. The regulatory directives also mandate the termination of nodal accounts associated with One97 Communications Ltd and Paytm Payments Services Ltd. by February 29.

Paytm Payments Bank is required to settle all pending transactions and nodal account obligations initiated on or before February 29 by March 15.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is all set to present the Interim Budget today. The interim budget typically takes care of the fiscal needs of the intervening period until a government is formed after the Lok Sabha polls. One of the key aspects of the annual Budget is the allocation of funds towards the defence sector.(File Photo/HT)

One of the key aspects of the Budget is the allocation of funds towards the defence sector. Follow full coverage of the 2024 Interim Budget here.



Over the years, the Narendra Modi government has laid emphasis on making India Aatmanirbhar or self-reliant in defence. Since 2014, the year Modi took oath as prime minister, the government has introduced several reforms in the defence sector.

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Here are the key budget announcements for the defence sector during the budgets in the past 10 years.

Defence Budget in 2023

Last year, the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre hiked the defence budget for 2023/24 by 12.95 per cent - from 5.25 lakh crore to 5.94 lakh crore.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that this was done to allow the military to develop and/or buy advanced weapons systems, including new fighter jets, submarines and tanks.

The armed forces' modernisation budget also saw a hike - 1.52 lakh crore to 1.62 lakh crore. A significant portion of this is for acquisition of weapon systems and equipment from domestic manufacturers in line with the government's 'Make in India' programme.

Defence Budget in 2022

In the budget present in 2022, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated 5,25,166 crore for the Defence secters. It was subsequently reached to 5,55,484 crore, constituting 14.08 per cent of the central government's expenditure.

Also Read | Why is there so much secrecy around the preparation of Union Budget?

Sitharaman had said that 68 per cent of the capital procurement budget for the defence sector would be earmarked in 2022-23 for local industry. This was to reduce the country's dependence on imports of defence equipment and have a more 'self-reliant' defence sector under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Defence Budget in 2021

In 2021, the Defence Budget was earmarked at 4,78,196 crore with revised expectations reaching 5,35,508 crore. This constituted 14.20 per cent of the central government's expenditure for the year. The government at the time called for a push towards defence modernisation with an 18.75 per cent increase in defence capital outlay.

Indian armed forces T-90 tanks pass Rajpath, during the 72nd Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on January 26, 2021. (PTI)

Defence Budget in 2020

In the fiscal year 2020-21, India's Defense Budget was initially projected to be 4,71,378 crore. However, the actual expenditure surpassed this estimate, reaching 5,23,330 crore amid a border row with China that saw India make a raft of emergency purchases and sharpen its focus on building infrastructure in forward areas.

This amount accounted for 14.91% of the central government's total expenditure. Additionally, the allocation for Defense Pension witnessed a notable increase, reaching 1,33,825 crore, representing a rise of 40,367.21 crore compared to the preceding year.

Defence Budget in 2019

Indias defence budget during the interim budget of 2019-20 stood at 3.18 lakh crore. This included a capital outlay of 1,03,394 crore. The interim budget was presented by former finance minister Piyush Goyal.

The actual expenditure surpassed this estimate, reaching 5,23,330 crore or 18.20 per cent of the central government's expenditure that year.

Defence Budget in 2018

In 2018, India allocated 2.95 lakh crore for military spending during 2018-19, a modest hike of 7.8% over last years budget. The budget included a capital outlay of 99,563 crore for buying new weapons and systems. Arun Jaitley, who was the finance minister at the time, had said the NDA government had laid emphasis on modernising and enhancing the militarys operational capabilities.

Defence Budget in 2017

In 2017, India hiked its allocation on defence spending by a marginal 6%. Finance minister Arun Jaitley allotted 2.74 lakh crore for defence spending in 2017-18  including 86,488 crore for modernization.

The actual expenses, however, reached 4,17,242 crore, constituting 19.48 per cent of the central government's expenditure.

Defence Budget in 2016

The Narendra Modi-led government in 2016 announced it would spend 2.58 lakh crore on defence in 2016-17, a marginal hike of 9.7% over last years revised estimates.

The pension component of the budget stood at 82,332.66 crore, with the outgo towards implementing the one-rank-one pension scheme contributing to the financial burden. The allocation for military modernisation in the budget stood at 87,209.63 crore.

Defence Budget in 2015

India marginally raised its defence spending in 2015 as former finance minister Arun Jaitley had announced an outlay of 2,46,727 crore for 2015-16, an increase of 7.7% over the previous years budgetary estimates and 10.95% if calculated against revised estimates.

The defence spending included 94,588 crore for buying new weapons and equipment, a jump of merely 5 lakh over last years capital expenditure.

Defence Budget in 2014

In the first budget of the Modi government, the government had put emphasis on attracting foreign investment, as Arun Jaitley proposed raising the FDI cap in defence and insurance sectors to 49% from 26%.

Jaitley also increased the capital outlay of defence by 5,000 crore, including 1,000 crore for the development of railways in border areas.

The step is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's thrust on the expansion of the defence industrial base in the country and enhancing self-reliance in the defence sector, apart from venturing into exporting military items.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday will present the Interim Budget before India heads to the Lok Sabha 2024 elections. It will be the last budget in the second term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he seeks re-election in the months from now.



It will be the interim budget and not a regular one. The full budget for the financial year 2024-25 will only be tabled after the new government is formed after the general elections.



Since it is a vote on account, the finance minister will not make any major policy-related announcements during the budget presentation. The interim budget outlines expenditures and revenues until the formation of a new government. This interim budget helps the government to manage its financial obligations.



During her address to Parliament, President Droupadi Murmu said that India kept up its momentum of being the fastest-growing major economy. Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman along with the Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, the Union Minister of State for Finance, Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, the Secretaries of the Ministry of Finance, and various Budget teams after giving the final touches to the Interim Union Budget 2024, in New Delhi on January 31, 2024. (PIB)

"The year 2023 was a historic year for India when it grew the fastest among major economies despite the global crisis. India grew about 7.5 per cent for two consecutive quarters," the President stated.



ALSO READ: From Nirmala Sitharaman to TV Somanathan, key faces in team budget



In its review report, the finance ministry said that the economy of India is projected to grow close to 7 per cent in the financial year 2024-25.



ALSO READ: What to watch out for in Interim Budget ahead of Lok Sabha polls

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The strength of domestic demand has driven the economy to a 7 per cent plus growth rate in the couple of years. India's economy grew 7.2 per cent in 2022-23 and 8.7 per cent in 2021-22. The Indian economy is expected to grow 7.3 per cent in the current financial year 2023-24, remaining the fastest-growing major economy, the report added.



ALSO READ: Interim Budget to focus on Viksit Bharat

What happened in 2023 budget?

In the 2023 budget, Sitharaman had proposed to increase capital expenditure outlay by 33 per cent to 10 lakh crore in 2023-24, which would be 3.3 percent of the GDP. It was almost three times the outlay in 2019-20.

Further, the Modi government had proposed to increase the agricultural credit target to 20 lakh crore with a focus on animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries. The agriculture sector of the country has been growing at an average annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent in the last six years.



The finance minister had said that the government intends to bring the fiscal deficit below 4.5 per cent of GDP by the financial year 2025-26.



(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday barred Paytm Payments Bank Ltd from accepting fresh deposits and making credit transactions. India's apex bank said in a statement that the action was precipitated by the bank's "persistent non-compliances". Paytms parent company is Noida-based One97 Communications .(Virendra Singh Gosain/ HT)

The RBI said the Paytm Payments Bank's continued material supervisory concerns warranted supervisory action.

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The apex bank didn't reveal any timeline for reviewing the restrictions.

Noida-based One 97 Communications Ltd is the parent company of the Paytm Payments Bank. It holds 49 percent stake in the company.



In a statement, Paytm said it will expand its existing relationships with leading third-party banks to distribute payments and financial services products.

What is a payments bank?

A payments bank is a financial services company that cannot accept more than 2 lakh in deposits per account. It is not allowed to lend directly but can sell loan products. It can also promote other third-party loan products.

How will the action affect customers?

Paytm Payments Bank now cannot take deposits after February 29. It will not be able to perform credit transactions, including via wallets. This means the bank won't be able to credit loan money to customers through its accounts or wallets.

However, customers can withdraw or utilise their existing balances without restrictions.

The bank will not be allowed to offer fund transfers, including via India's popular Unified Payment Interface. This means if a person wants to transfer the balance in the Paytm Payments Bank through UPI, she won't be able to do so.

Also read: Are you a Paytm Payments Bank customer? Check how RBI action impacts you

The RBI said the nodal accounts of One97 Communications Ltd and Paytm Payments Services are to be terminated at the earliest and not later than February 29.

The bank will also be barred from activities like topping up any customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, cards for paying road tolls.

The bank, however, can credit interest, cashbacks or refunds in the accounts of customers.

Withdrawal or utilisation of balances by its customers from their accounts including savings bank accounts, current accounts, prepaid instruments, FASTags, National Common Mobility Cards, will be permitted without any restrictions, upto their available balance.

This means customers will not be able to top up these services with fresh funds but can use existing balances

"No further deposits or credit transactions or top ups shall be allowed in any customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, FASTags, NCMC cards, etc. after February 29, 2024, other than any interest, cashbacks, or refunds which may be credited anytime," it said.

It is unlikely that Paytm's wallet application and UPI services linked to the accounts of other banks will be impacted after RBI's deadline. Only the services linked to the payments bank accounts are likely to be impacted.

The latest decision comes nearly two years after the regulator barred the bank, from taking on new customers because it violated certain rules, Bloomberg News had reported. Founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma had then said the bank is fully compliant with Indian rules.

With Bloomberg, Reuters inputs
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar appealed to Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on Wednesday to reconsider the ordinance making Kannada mandatory on name boards after the governor sent it back without signing. Karnatak deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar (File Photo)

Also Read - BDA floats tender for Bengaluru's much awaited Peripheral Ring Road

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Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on the rejection of the ordinance on Kannada name boards, he said, "Language is an emotional issue for Kannadigas. Neither the citizens nor any political party has raised any concern regarding the ordinance and hence I appeal to him to reconsider the ordinance once again."

"I don't know why the Governor has sent back the ordinance which mandates 60 per cent Kannada in name boards without signing. The Governor should have signed it without waiting for the Assembly session," he said.

"Like we are committed to protecting the interest of the nation, we are committed to protecting the interest of the state too. The Ordinance was to protect Kannada language, culture and pride. We decided to pass an Ordinance in view of protests by pro-Kannada activists," he said.

"Following the rejection of the Ordinance, we have decided to introduce a bill on this in the upcoming Assembly session. The session will start in about 10-15 days and this bill will be tabled," Shivakumar said.

Responding to a question on Congress MLA Balakrishna's statement that guarantees will be stopped if the Congress party doesn't win enough seats in the upcoming Parliamentary elections, he said, "Balakrishna has not given any such statement. BJP is the one which is spreading the rumour that guarantee schemes will stop after the election."

On Wednesday DK Shivakumar along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a meeting held with the district in-charge secretaries at Vidhansouda. The progress of the implementation of the government programs including implementation of guarantee schemes, problems faced in the districts due to drought was reviewed.

Shivakumar said that a mega convention of Congress party workers will be held in Mangaluru on February 17 and urged party workers to participate in large numbers.
Indias first river linking project Ken-Betwa in Bundelkhand region has faced a hurdle as there have been no takers for the tender to construct the Daudhan Dam and two tunnels in the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradeshs Chhatarpur, which are considered the heart of the project, said people familiar with the matter. A tripartite agreement for the implementation of the Ken-Betwa Link project was signed among the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and the central government on March 22, 2021. (Representative Image)

The National Water Development Authority (NWDA) floated a tender for the construction of Daudhan Dam and two tunnels in August 2023 with a deadline in October, but no company participated in the tender process.

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According to an officer, NWDA extended the last date for filing tenders till January 18, 2024, but companies sent queries related to permission, cost and technology but showed no interest in submitting the tender. The NWDA has now extended the last date for the third time till March 5.

Officials familiar with the matter said if the companies dont go for tender, this would increase the cost of the project.

Seeing no response and hesitation among companies for the project of about 5,000 crores to 6000 crores, the NWDA officers have decided to invite companies to discuss their problems and issues on February 2 by releasing a public notice. We want to give equal opportunities to address the queries and issues related to it so that at least three companies could participate in the tender process of the project, said a senior NWDA official, who is working on the Ken Betwa Link Project.

Confirming this, Ken Betwa Link Project chief executive officer (CEO) Prashast Kumar Dixit said, The companies have their own concern for the project and thats why they didnt go for the filing of the tender. We are trying to address it.

An officer, requesting anonymity, said, The companies are also concerned about environmental clearance as the dam is going to be constructed in the core area of the Panna Tiger Reserve.

The question of environmental clearance was raised even on the construction of the Lower Orr Dam of the project. The environment ministry asked to undertake a fresh environment appraisal to assess ecological losses in Lower Orr Dam project and also fined on state government and company, said the officer.

The Daudhan Dam proposed across the Ken River is 2,031-m long, out of which 1,233-m length of the dam will be earthen and the remaining 798-m length of the dam will be of concrete.

Under the project, a penstock is proposed on the left concrete portion of the dam for taking water to the power house located at the toe of the dam. For providing irrigation water, an upper-level tunnel at the mouth of the Daudhan reservoir has been proposed.

This tunnel takes off from the left bank of the Ken River upstream of the Daudhan Dam. Downstream of the upper level tunnel, another tunnel i.e. a lower-level tunnel takes off. Powerhouse-II having an installed capacity of 18 MW is proposed at its outlet. After generation of power, water will be taken through a canal to provide irrigation water to 1.73 lakh hectares, out of total 2.41 lakh hectares of Ken command in Madhya Pradesh, the project report said.

The project is to be completed in two phases. In the first phase, the Daudhan Dam complex will be completed and in the second, construction of the Lower Orr Dam, Bina Complex Project, and Kotha Barrage.

Nine districts of Madhya Pradesh (Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri, Raisen) and four district of Uttar Prades (Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi and Lalitpur) will be covered by the project. It will also help generate 34 MW of hydropower and irrigate 6.3 lakh hectares of land every year.

A project under the National Perspective Plan (NPP), the Ken-Betwa project is estimated to cost 44,605 crore. A tripartite agreement for the implementation of the project was signed among the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and the central government on March 22, 2021.
A Punjab-origin woman and her husband in the UK, whose extradition was sought by India on charges of the murder of their adopted son in Gujarat, has been sentenced to 33 years in prison each after being convicted of exporting more than half-a-tonne of cocaine to Australia using commercial planes. The Australian Border Force intercepted the cocaine upon its arrival in Sydney in May 2021, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said in a statement on Monday.

Arti Dhir (59), whose family hails from Gurdaspur in Punjab, and her 35-year-old husband Kavaljitsinh Raijada, an Indian national from Keshod, Gujarat, who live in Hanwell, were convicted of exporting 514-kg cocaine to Australia.

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The Australian Border Force intercepted the cocaine upon its arrival in Sydney in May 2021, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said in a statement on Monday.

The couple was behind a front company that had sent the drugs by plane under a cover load of metal toolboxes, according to the investigation.

Dhir and Raijada denied exporting cocaine to Australia and money laundering. They were convicted of 12 counts of exportation and 18 counts of money laundering by a jury following a trial at Southwark Crown court on Monday.

They were sentenced at the same court on Tuesday.

The drugs exported by the two had been shipped via a commercial flight from the UK and consisted of six metal toolboxes.

Officers traced the consignment back to Dhir and Raijada, who had set up a front company called Viefly Freight Services with the sole purpose of smuggling drugs.

Both defendants had been directors of the company at different points since its incorporation in June 2015.

Raijadas fingerprints were found on the plastic wrappings of the metal toolboxes containing the seized drugs, while receipts for the order of the toolboxes, worth 2,855 pounds were discovered at the couples home.

The NCAs case was that there had been 37 consignments sent to Australia since June 2019, of which 22 were dummy runs and 15 contained cocaine.

Dhir had been employed by a flight services company at Heathrow from March 2003 until October 2016.

Raijada worked at the same company from March 2014 to December 2016.

NCA investigators believe that their knowledge of the airport freight procedures was used to cover their criminal activities.

Dhir and Raijada were arrested at their home in Hanwell on June 21, 2021 and officers seized 5,000 pounds worth of gold-plated silver bars, 13,000 pounds inside the home and found 60,000 pounds in cash in a safety deposit box.

Following further investigations, the pair were arrested again in February 2023.

Were booked for murder of adopted son in Gujarat

The murder allegations against the couple relate to their 11-year-old adopted son Gopal Sejani and his brother-in-law Harsukhbhai Kardani in February 2017 in India.

An investigation by the Gujarat police claimed that the accused had hatched a plot to adopt Gopal and then insure him for around 1.3 crore before staging his kidnapping and murder in India to split the life insurance payout.

Indias extradition request for the duo had been turned down by Westminster Magistrates Court in London in July 2019 on human rights grounds under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In February 2020, Indias appeal in the high court in London was also dismissed.
Responding to the demand raised by Jalandhar leadership of the BJP regarding Adampur civil airport, the ministry of civil aviation said the routes connecting Adampur to several cities have been awarded to selected airlines operators. Responding to the demand raised by Jalandhar leadership of the BJP regarding Adampur civil airport, the ministry of civil aviation said the routes connecting Adampur to several cities have been awarded to selected airlines operators. (HT File Photo)

BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said they held a meeting with Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on January 16 along with Jalandhar BJP president Sushil Sharma regarding the start of flight operations from Adampur airport.

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In his reply received on January 26, the Union minister stated that flights to various sectors will commence soon. In ministry communique, it is stated that under the UDAN 5.0, the routes connecting Adampur to Delhi NCR, Nanded, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Goa have been awarded to the selected airline operators and the airlines concerned may commence operations in the near future, he said.

Shergill said they also demanded the minister for starting a direct flight from Adampur to Banaras, the birthplace of Guru Ravidas and holy place of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, to which Scindia has confirmed that the request has been shared with all scheduled domestic airlines for favourable consideration.

This is a positive development, as air connectivity from Adampur (Jalandhar) and Halwara (Ludhiana), will not only improve Punjabs connectivity but also boost economy, tourism and trade, he said.
Chandigarh : The Comptroller and Auditor General on India (CAG) has pointed out the failure of the Punjab government to use technology and electronic surveillance such as geo-tagging and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to detect and check illegal mining in the state. The Comptroller and Auditor General on India (CAG) has pointed out the failure of the Punjab government to use technology and electronic surveillance such as geo-tagging and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to detect and check illegal mining in the state.

In its annual review of the working of public works divisions for the financial year 2022-23, the office of the principal accountant general (accounts and entitlements) said the Punjab State Sand and Gravel Mining Policy, 2018, required and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered use of geo-tagging, geo-fencing and electronic surveillance to check illegal mining, but a test check of records of in three drainage divisions showed that the technology was not used by the water resources department to detect and check illegal mining.

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Rampant illegal sand mining has been a challenge for successive governments in the state. The present AAP government is also under fire from the opposition parties for failing to effectively deal with this hot button issue so far.

The report said that as per Clause 21 of the Punjab State Sand and Gravel Mining Policy, geo-tagging of the mining area will be carried out while conducting physical inspection as the boundary of the mines will be checked using the coordinates recorded in GPS device, and the monitoring team can check whether any mining activity is going on outside the permitted area or not. The state government also provided for geo-tagging of mines in the new Punjab State Minor Mineral Policy, 2023, notified in March last year.

On February 26, 2021, the NGT had directed the Punjab government to use electronic surveillance through UAVs or remote sensing surveillance, especially in areas where sand mafias are active. It said night vision drones could also be used for checking mining activity. The test check of records in Amritsar, Phagwara and Golewala divisions, which had jurisdiction over sand mining sites, revealed that they were not using geo-fencing, geo-tagging and UAVs to detect and check illegal mining.

The federal auditor also looked at the mechanism for monitoring illegal mining, including the formation of district/sub-division-level teams.

According to the Punjab District Mineral Foundation Rules, 2018, each district was required to set up District Mineral Foundation to work for the interest and benefits of persons, and areas affected by mining-related operations with one of its functions being to check illegal mining and take preventive measures from time to time. It said the directorate of mining issued a notification in March 2016 on monitoring and prevention of illegal mining under which the deputy commissioner was to prepare a roster for district/sub-division-level teams of authorised officers and dedicated police force for monitoring and prevention of illegal mining. The authorised officer was required to submit weekly reports to the deputy commissioner.

Test check in Amritsar and Phagwara divisions that had jurisdiction over sand mining sites revealed that records with regard to preparation of roster, weekly/fortnightly reports of checking were not available with the division in the absence of which it could not be ascertained whether any district/sub-division-level team was formed, roster prepared and followed for checking illegal mining, according to the annual review report. Also, no details of activities undertaken by the District Mineral Foundation to prevent illegal mining were available on records.

A senior mining department officer said they received the review report only a couple of days ago and would surely look into the observations made therein.
Social activist Kumar Gaurav, aka Sacha Yadav, on Wednesday, questioned the authorities over the new roundabout built at the Bharat Nagar Chowk, the busiest intersection in the city. Traffic jam at Bharat Nagar Chowk in Ludhiana on Wednesday. (Manish/HT)

Gaurav said the intersection was the centre point of the city and all commuters, no matter where they were headed, had to pass through it daily, but with the expanded roundabout, the roads around it have become very narrow leading to the creation of a bottleneck.

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Right now, the work is still underway, and it would be easy to make the changes, he said. I have highlighted this issue with the authorities, he added.

Another issue that Gaurav highlighted while talking to the reporters is a pier supporting the flyover above, which falls right in the middle of the road.

While during the day this was a cause of jam, during the night it posed a danger of accidents, he said.

I have taken up this issue with project director (PD), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Ashok Rolania, he said, although earlier he said that they were planning to have it removed but now he says that its not possible.

PD Rolania, when asked about the questions raised by Gaurav said, The pier cant be removed, but we are arranging the possible safety measures like bifurcating the road where the pier stands and putting safety hazards on it to ensure that it is properly visible to the commuters in the dark as well.

As for the roundabout, Rolania said, The flyover coming in front of the bus stand isnt functional yet, due to which all the traffic is passing through the intersection, however within a week the flyover will open and if the problem persists we can look into changing the spread size of the roundabout.

Gaurav also claimed that the municipal corporation (MC) was planning a project worth 2 crore to beautify the walls and columns of the bridges and flyovers. He suggested that the MC should allow the public to connect with the project under the expression of Interest provisions.

I have talked with MC commissioner Sandeep Rishi about the proposal, he appreciated the idea and said that hed look into it, he said.

Commissioner Rishi could not be reached for a comment.
Ten police officers were attacked by residents of a village in Nuh who were illegally mining stones from the nearby hills, police officers aware of the matter said on Wednesday. Sub-inspector Karan Singh of the Haryana Enforcement Bureau said that when their team arrived on the scene, they found a tractor and a JCB machine being used to mine the stones. (Representational image)

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when a police team, acting on a tip, arrived at Lingua Kalan in Nuhs Punhana to stop illegal mining activity, they added.

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Sub-inspector Karan Singh of the Haryana Enforcement Bureau said that when their team arrived on the scene, they found a tractor and a JCB machine being used to mine the stones. We seized the tractor and JCB, but while we were returning to the police station, 15 local residents arrived on the scene and created a commotion. The village sarpanch instigated them and forcefully snatched the JCB machine from us. Some of us were injured in the attack, he said.

Based on Singhs complaint, a case was registered against at least 15-20 people at Punhana police station on Tuesday under Indian Penal Code sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 341(wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public function), 379 (theft), and other provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Mine and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act.

Arvind Kumar, station house officer of Punhana police station said they were conducting raids to arrest the suspects.

A related incident occurred two weeks ago when four policemen were attacked by a group of miners and residents of another village in Nuh while attempting to stop two overloaded tractor-trailers ferrying illegally mined stones.
Three Rohingya men were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment on Tuesday for trafficking two Rohingya women from Bangladesh to Nuh in Haryana, and raping them in 2021. According to investigators, the convicts were involved in trafficking vulnerable Rohingya women into Jammu and Kashmir through Bangladesh and later arranged their marriages in exchange for money. (Representational image)

According to Nuh police officers, the two women, who are in their early 20s, illegally crossed into India from Bangladesh by paying a man 25,000. The money was paid by the women to a suspect whom the police have not yet identified. The women were brought to Delhi via Mizoram and Kolkata by the three convicts, who were identified as Mohammad Ayas, Hafeez Ahmed, and Mohammad Yunus. At the time, the convicts were residing at the Rohingya refugee camp in Nuh, said investigators.

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According to investigators, the convicts were involved in trafficking vulnerable Rohingya women into Jammu and Kashmir through Bangladesh and later arranged their marriages in exchange for money. However, police said that the two women in this case were raped by the convicts at the Rohingya refugee camp in Nuh.

The court of additional district and session judge in Nuh, Ajay K Verma, on Tuesday, convicted the three men of trafficking the two women and raping them, and also imposed on them a fine of 10,000 each. In case of non-payment, they face an additional punishment of one year.

How the women were rescued

According to the Nuh police, the convicts contacted the womens brother at a Rohingya refugee camp in Telanganas Hyderabad in September 2021 and said they would release his sisters if he paid them 15,000 per woman. The man paid them 30,000, but the convicts did not release the women, said investigators.

Instead, they took the women to Malab village in Nuh in September 2021 where they finalised a deal to sell the women to a woman in Kashmirs Anantnag for 70,000 each, said investigators.

The woman from Anantnag has not been arrested despite several raids conducted in different places. The man who took 25,000 from the women to cross the border has not been identified, said Narender Bijarniya, superintendent of police of Nuh.

Meanwhile, in September 2021, the womens brother contacted the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Nuh. Acting on the tip, a team of CWC and police authorities conducted a raid in Malab village and rescued both women from a temporary hutment in a Rohingya camp in Nuhs Shahpur Nangli.

Based on a complaint from the women, the Nuh police registered a first information report (FIR) against the three Rohingya men in November 2021 under sections 370 (human trafficking), 370A ( sexual exploitation of a trafficked minor), 342 (wrongful confinement), 120 B (conspiracy), 34 (common intention), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

After the statements of the two victims were recorded and a medical examination was conducted, the police added sections 6 and 8 of the Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act in the FIR. At the time, the victims were thought to be minors, said investigators.

The convicts were arrested from the refugee camp in December 2021. All three had confessed to the crime and were sent to judicial custody, said Pratap Singh, public prosecutor.

Bijarnia said, They were lodged in Bhondsi jail. Their bail was rejected in 2022, and they were shifted to Nuh jail in 2023 and have not been bailed out.

Both the women were shifted to an orphanage in the district in 2022, said police.

According to the police, an age determination test was conducted on January 8, 2022, at Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS Rohtak, where the women were determined to be between the ages of 19-20 and 20-22, respectively. After this, sections of the Pocso Act were removed and sections 376 (rape) and 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code were added, said investigators.

The public prosecutor said that the convicts were questioned and they revealed the names of other people who were also involved in the trafficking of these two women.
The U.P. ATS arrested another illegal Bangladeshi immigrant staying in Deoband, Saharanpur, for the past eight years for allegedly helping illegal entry into India and carrying out anti-national activities in the country, on Wednesday. For representation only (HT File Photo)

So far, eight people have been arrested in this connection since October 2023.

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According to the ATS officials, the arrested man, identified as Mohd Rashid Ahmad Sardar, 28, a resident of Chatgaon, Bangladesh, was found living in Deoband after illegally entering India in 2016. He initially got admission in a Deoband madrasa by forging documents.

Thereafter, he lived there continuously and was involved in helping other Bangladeshi infiltrators enter the country by forging documents. He was arrested from Kanpur Central railway station when he was trying to escape to Bangladesh.

Earlier on January 8, the ATS arrested its mastermind Abu Saleh, a resident of West Bengal, for getting foreign funding of 58 crore in the name of NGO and misusing it to bring people into the country illegally and carrying out anti-national activities. He was arrested in Manak Nagar area of Lucknow with the help of information received through technical surveillance and ground inputs, read a press note by UP ATS.

According to the ATS, they were receiving intelligence about a syndicate formed by some persons, who hide their identity and settle illegal entrants into India on fake Indian documents. By giving them financial support, they promote anti-national activities. On the basis of it, cases under several IPC sections, Section 14 of Foreigners Act 1946 and Section 12(1), 12(2) Passport Act 1967 were registered, the press note read.

During interrogation, Abu Saleh claimed to be the director of the trusts Kabir Bagh Millat Academy and Haroa-al Jamiatul Islamia Darul Uloom Madrasa. In the FCRA accounts of these trusts, an enormous sum of funding totaling around 58 crore was received from outside (Umma Welfare Trust, UK) in 2018 and 2022, said the police press note.

The press note explained that a large part of foreign funds received is obtained in the form of cash through fake billing for his team members. Apart from this, billing has also been done by creating a fake firm named Ghazi Foods Supply and Ghazi Masonries in collaboration with a person named Abdulla Ghazi. This firm exists only on paper. Besides, some money has also been received in the form of cash through Hawala.

The cash received was used for bringing in Rohingya and Bangladeshis into India illegally through their syndicate, providing financial assistance to Rohingyas and Bangladeshis living illegally in India, making fake Indian documents and sending that money back to India through Hawala.
LUCKNOW Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said farmers income has almost doubled since 2018 and this positive trend extends beyond Uttar Pradesh. He said farmers across the country are embracing agricultural diversification, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modis visionary approach, consequently doubling their income. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath releases a booklet during the inauguration of Kisan Fair-2024 organized by CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), in Lucknow on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)

Inaugurating the Kisan Mela organised by the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) at its Kukrail premises, Adityanath highlighted the PMs transformative vision.

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The CM, according to a press statement issued by the state government, elaborated on how the PM set the target of doubling the farmers income by 2022 and subsequently launched various schemes such as the Soil Health Card, Prime Minister Crop Insurance, Agricultural Irrigation, and Kisan Samman Nidhi for steering farmers towards economic upliftment, coupled with a robust integration of scientific research and innovation.

The state capital is lucky to have four Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) labs including CIMAP, NBRI, CDRI, and IITR, and we all should strive together to tap their full potential, said Adityanath.

The existence of four central laboratories is an opportunity for us as their scientists and directors are so proactive and ready to extend help to farmers, which is not often seen by a government-run organisation. Their complaint is they are ready to help but no one comes for help the CM said while addressing a crowd of over 4,000 farmers from 15 states.

Highlighting the fertile land and abundant water resources in UP, the chief minister outlined the states pivotal role in agricultural production, contributing over 22% of the countrys foodgrains despite having 11% cultivable land.

Adityanath stressed the governments proactive role in connecting farmers of UP to medicinal farming and horticulture and promoting herbal products. This diversification, he explained, has significantly increased the farmers earnings, becoming a transformative catalyst in improving their lives

He asked the state agriculture department to work in collaboration with CSIR laboratories in Lucknow to make farmers and entrepreneurs aware of latest technologies developed in the labs to enhance rural incomes.

I have been part of parliament for long where farmers suicide was a big issue. They would commit suicide for reasons like less payment on yield, no scientific involvement and lack of market reach, among others, said CM

CM Yogi outlined the states pivotal role in agricultural production, contributing over 22 percent of the countrys food grains despite having 11 percent cultivable land.

Yogi invites farmers to visit Ayodhya

While addressing farmers, the CM said: You are lucky to have arrived in the state right after Ram Mandir inauguration. I invite you all to visit Ayodhya. He said bus services to Ayodhya will be expanded and those willing to visit the temple town can go there. He asked officials to make necessary arrangements for the visit.

Earlier, Adityanath also launched an Aroma Mission App for farmers, a Kisan Mela souvenir book - Aus Gyanya, mentioning164 varieties of medicinal and aromatic plants and a herbal Aloe Roma gel.

Agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi, CSIR director general Dr N Kalaiselvi and CIMAP director Prabodh Trivedi were also present at the event.
The United States (US) ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, likened Uttar Pradesh to the California of India due to its largest population in the country at the IACC (Indo-American Chamber of Commerce) conference held in Delhi on Tuesday. The city of Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. (Bloomberg)

California is to the USA what Uttar Pradesh is to India - both vibrant hubs of innovation, culture and economic prowess, shaping their respective nations destinies, said the ambassador, discussing the strengthening of the Indo-US relationship in Amritkaal-Atmanirbhar Bharat. In his address, on a lighter note, he shared some slogans he thought were appropriate and reflective of UPs progress.

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Things are looking UP and Its only UP from here and Check Out the UP side were some slogans he shared on stage, earning applause from the audience. At the event, Garcetti also expressed optimism about the growing collaboration between the two countries and recognised UP as a key investment destination.
letters@htlive.com LMC will pay the company after assessing the weight of solid waste collected from every house and street. (Sourced)

LUCKNOW: Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has embarked on a transformative journey to revolutionise the sanitation system of the city. Under the new approach, LMC adopted a much more effective system for garbage collection and cleaning of wards by hiring a private firm, with payments to be released based on various new parameters.

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Learning from past mistakes, we have shifted from the traditional way to a service-based approach and hired Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited to operate in five zones. LMC will pay the company after assessing the weight of solid waste collected from every house and street. The payment will be determined based on the weight, with more weight resulting in a higher payment, said Municipal Commissioner Inderjeet Singh.

Payments to the company will be released after technology-driven verification, combined with physical inspections by the project implementation unit. We will use the latest technology like drones and satellite imaging and ensure that payments are directly linked to the efficiency and effectiveness of the sanitation services provided by the outsourcing company, he added.

Out of the 11,350 sanitation workers associated with LMC, only 3,500 are on the official payroll, while the rest are outsourced from various agencies.

The global tenders for the remaining three zones, encompassing 35 wards, are set to be released on Thursday. Companies qualifying for the tender in these zones are required to absorb LMCs on-roll sanitation workers, providing an opportunity for the outsourcing companies to leverage the skills of the existing municipal staff, Singh explained.

Singh further said that LMC is committed to ensuring cleanliness in every colony within its municipal limits. The new model also addresses LMCs concerns regarding monitoring the number of sanitation workers and handling salary payments, as these responsibilities now fall under the purview of the contracted company.
LUCKNOW: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested three persons, including assistant commissioner of Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Lucknow and enforcement officer in a bribery case of 8 lakh, confirmed CBI officials here on Wednesday. EPFO assistant commissioner caught red-handed while accepting bribe (Sourced)

They said the CBI Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Lucknow has registered an FIR against the trio under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption act and section 120-B of Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy on the complaint of Rajeev Shukla, the director of M/S Vani Systems Pvt Ltd, Lucknow of New Ganesh Ganj, Lucknow.

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The CBI officials confirmed that the accused were identified as EPFO assistant commissioner, Gyanendra Kumar, inspector Puneet Singh and middleman Manish Singh. They said the two EPFO officers were accused in the complaint that they had demanded a bribe of 12 lakh through a middleman for not imposing or levying tax in improper way on a private company, engaged in supply of manpower.

The officials mentioned that the CBI also arrested the assistant commissioner, and searches are being conducted at four locations in Lucknow, including the official and residential premises of the accused. They further stated that the arrested individuals will be produced before the Special Judge (CBI), Lucknow.
In a major reshuffle within the Maharashtra police department, Pune police commissioner Retesh Kumaarr has been transferred as the new director general home guards and has been replaced by Nagpur police commissioner Amitesh Kumar. Amitesh Kumar is an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1995 batch and is a recipient of the Presidents Police Medal for commendable service and exceptional accomplishments in professional policing. (SOURCED)

The transfers affected by the state home department have come according to the guidelines of Election Commission of India ahead of forthcoming parliamentary polls to be held in April-May.

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Amitesh is an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1995 batch and is a recipient of the Presidents Police Medal for commendable service and exceptional accomplishments in professional policing.

During his previous tenure, he has worked as DCP in Nagpur and Mumbai, Solapur SP, Aurangabad (Rural) SP, Commissioner of Police in Amravati, additional commissioner of police (ATS), and special inspector general of police (Aurangabad range).

He is an economics graduate from Delhis St Stephens College and a post-graduate in law and cyber law.

Meanwhile, Senior IPS officer Manoj Patil will be the new additional commissioner of police (east region) in place of Ranjan Kumar Sharma who has been transferred to CID, Pune.

Superintendent of Police (Pune rural) Ankit Goyal has been promoted and appointed as DIG (Gadchiroli range) while IPS Pankaj Deshmukh has been appointed as new Pune rural SP.

Senior IPS officer Praveen Pawar has been appointed as the joint commissioner as the post has been vacant for over two months since the transfer of IPS Sandeep Karnik who was appointed as Nasik police commissioner.

Additional commissioner of police (crime) Ramnath Pokale has also been transferred as special IG, Amravati range and has been replaced by IPS Shailesh Balkawade .

Outgoing CP Kumaarr when contacted, I am satisfied with the completion of my tenure in Pune. We received complete cooperation from different walks of citizenry and have been able to bring about change in the life of Puneities through citizen centric policing.

Kumaarr has been instrumental in breaking the back of several crime syndicates and booked about 115 dreaded criminal gangs under MCOCA Act.

The outgoing CP had ordered a hard crackdown on the koyta gang and significantly curbed its menace. Also, the case of drug kingpin Lalit Patil escaping from the Prisoners ward took place during the last phase of his tenure.
Girls at schools run by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have been deprived of free sanitary napkins since last one year as the civic body has failed to okay supplier due to politics over allotting the contract, alleged the Congress. The civic body has approved  1 crore for distributing napkins in 2023-24. (REUTERS)

On Wednesday, the Congress jumped into the controversy alleging that due to political pressure, PMC has not been able to float tenders for sanitary napkins, which eventually could not be procured and distributed among girls from civic-run schools. The civic body has approved 1 crore for distributing napkins in 2023-24.

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The PMC is distributing sanitary napkins free for the girls every year. However, even as two months are left for the financial year to end, the civic body has been unable to complete the tendering process.

Addressing a media meet, Congress city unit president Arvind Shinde said, Due to interference from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena, the civic administration was not able to complete the tendering process. Even the administration has underlined this in a letter written to the municipal commissioner.

Shinde blamed the MP from city, an MLA and other leaders for pressuring the municipal administration to issue the tender to specific agency.

All are putting pressure to give tender for different agencies and, as a result of conflict, no contract could have been given, he said.

The Opposition party demanded municipal commissioner Vikram Kumar and the state government to examine letters written for the tendering process by the civic administration.

The Opposition leaders also demanded CCTV footages of PMC meetings checked.

It will reveal how these leaders are putting pressure on the administration, said another Congress leader Sangeeta Tiwari.

Tiwari said, The cost of the tender is around 1 crore. It is a very nominal amount for PMC. Instead of waiting for the directions, PMC should purchase sanitary napkins on market rate basis from any well-known agency and distribute them among the schoolgirls.

BJP city unit president Dheeraj Ghate said that the allegation by the Congress are baseless. He said tendering is an administrative process and it is the responsibility of the civic body.
With a significant reduction in cold days in January this year, the city has experienced a relatively warmer month as compared to last two years. As per the data from the India Meteorological, Department (IMD), the city also reported a marginal increase in average minimum temperature. It also projected that El Nino conditions are likely to continue during January, February, and March of 2024, resulting in relatively warmer temperatures. (HT PHOTO)

IMD yearly review of different weather events released in January this year stated that 2023 was the second warmest on record in the country since 1901. The department indicated that the warming trend could be attributed to El Nino conditions persisting over India. It also projected that El Nino conditions are likely to continue during January, February, and March of 2024, resulting in relatively warmer temperatures.

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The average minimum temperature in January 2024 recorded at Shivajinagar was 13.44 degrees Celsius as compared to 12 degrees Celsius (2023) and 12.44 degrees Celsius (2022) reported in last two years respectively.

Similarly, the data shows that IMD reported only two days with a single-digit temperature at Shivajinagar in January this year, whereas six days were recorded in January 2023 and 2022 respectively.

Vineet Kumar, a former researcher at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) said, Lack of northerly winds over Maharashtra due to the absence of strong western disturbance in north India is a major reason for reduction in cold days in the state. Northerly winds are responsible for decline in temperature and in its absence the minimum temperatures were mostly above normal throughout January.

More research is required to ascertain whether this condition has any relevance to the El Nino or not, said Kumar.

Kumar said a drop in temperature by 2-3 degrees Celsius is expected on February 1 in Pune.

Anupam Kashyapi, head, weather and forecasting department, IMD, Pune said, Two western disturbances are likely to affect northwest India in the next 4-5 days. Strong, chilly, northerly surface winds will prevail over northwest India. As a result, minimum temperature over north-central Maharashtra, including Pune, is likely to fall from January 31 onward till February 3. During this period even maximum temperature is likely to fall in the city.

On Wednesday, January 31, Shivajinagar reported the minimum temperature as 13.4 degrees Celsius. The temperature was above normal levels by 1.8 degrees. The maximum temperature in the city is also recorded at above normal level of 1.5 degrees at 32.5 degrees Celsius. In the state, the lowest temperature was recorded in Jalgaon as 10.4 degrees Celsius.
The high-stakes adventure in One Piece takes an intense turn as chaos ensues on Egghead Island. In Chapter 1106, the Straw Hats find themselves in a race against time and face unexpected threats. Let's dive into the details, including the release date, where to read, and what we can expect from this action-packed chapter. One Piece Chapter 1106 takes an intense turn as chaos ensues on Egghead Island. The Straw Hats face unexpected threats and a high-stakes rescue operation.(Eiichiro Oda)

One Piece Chapter 1106 release date and time:

Japan Standard Time (JST): Chapter 1106 drops at 12 AM on Monday, February 5, 2024.

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Pacific Standard Time (PT): Available at 7 AM on Sunday, February 4, 2024.

Eastern Standard Time (ET): Released at 10 AM on Sunday, February 4, 2024.

Central Time (CT): Ready for readers at 9 AM on Sunday, February 4, 2024.

Indian Standard Time (IST): Catch it at 8:30 PM on Sunday, February 4, 2024.

Where to read One Piece Chapter 1106:

Fans can read One Piece Chapter 1106 on official platforms like Viz Media's website, Shueisha's MANGAPlus website, or through the Shonen Jump+ app. While the former two are free, Shonen Jump+ requires a subscription for full access.

Recap of One Piece Chapter 1105:

The previous chapter witnessed a chaotic scene as Marines evacuated the island and faced the wrath of Saturn and Kizaru. Dr. Vegapunk, Bonney, and Kuma found themselves in dire straits. The Buster Call began, leading to destruction and conflict. The chapter ended with an unknown group destroying a Marine ship, setting the stage for more intrigue.

What to expect from One Piece Chapter 1106:

Rescue operation: Anticipate a high-stakes rescue operation, potentially led by Sanji and Luffy, to save Bonney, Kuma, and others free-falling from danger.

Final fights unveiled: As Egghead Island reaches its climax, the chapter is likely to set the stage for the showdowns. Expect Luffy vs. Saturn and Sanji vs. Kizaru to take center stage.

Zoro's struggle: Zoro's battle against Lucci is poised for development. The chapter might reveal more about this intense clash, adding to the ongoing saga.

Intriguing revelations: The mysterious group heading to Egghead Island will likely be explored, providing answers to their identity and intentions.

Also Read | How will One Piece end? Eiichiro Oda has revealed the highly anticipated ending to the editor

What is One Piece manga about:

One Piece, created by Eiichiro Oda, is an epic tale of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates as they navigate the vast seas in search of the ultimate treasure, the One Piece. Filled with action, friendship, and uncharted mysteries, the manga explores Luffy's quest to become the Pirate King and the challenges faced by his diverse crew.

As Chapter 1106 unfolds, brace yourselves for a rollercoaster ride through the unpredictable world of One Piece, where alliances and adversaries emerge in the blink of an eye. The Straw Hats' journey is far from over, and every chapter unveils new facets of their incredible adventure.
The fictionalized portrayal of Griselda Blanco's life story on Netflix, titled Griselda, introduces an intriguing characteran unyielding Colombian female drug lord who skillfully utilized her guise as an ordinary housewife to dominate the streets of Miami. The series commences with a quote underscoring Blanco's formidable reputation, revealing that even notorious figures like Pablo Escobar feared her. This image released by Netflix shows Sofia Vergara in the title role of the series Griselda. (Netflix via AP)

(Also Read: Oprah Winfrey marks 70th birthday celebrations by reflecting on old Journals, photos, and memory boxes)

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Onscreen, Blanco's narrative unfolds primarily through the perspectives of other womenfriends, employees, and adversaries. While some of these characters are as authentic as Griselda, others are purely fictional.

Sofia Vergara in the Netflix series Griselda. (Netflix via AP)

Here's a look at several pivotal characters in the series, exploring whether there's an actual person inspiring each personality.

Griselda Blanco played by Sofia Vergara (Real)

In the series, Blanco arrives in the US with the aspiration of providing a better life for her sons. However, their lives become entangled in a web of violence and drugs.

The compelling nature of her life story in the drama series is so convincing that her sole surviving son, Michael Corleone Sepulveda Blanco, is currently pursuing legal action against Netflix and Sofia Vergara, alleging the unauthorized use of this material without compensation or attribution.

June Hawkins played by Juliana Aiden Martinez (Real)

In the series, June Hawkins, portrayed by Juliana Aiden Martinez, is the Miami police officer instrumental in dismantling Griselda's operations. Much like Blanco, Hawkins is depicted as being consistently underestimated. Her instincts are disregarded, her reports go unnoticed, and her relationship with her young son strains.

Carla played by Karol G (Fiction)

While there isn't a specific real-life woman linked to Carla, a sex worker-turned-drug mule pivotal to Griselda's beginnings in the US, other portrayals of Blanco's ascent suggest the involvement of numerous Colombian women in her drug-smuggling operations.

District Attorney played by Eva La Dare (Real)

In the series, a woman credited as the District Attorney (DA) catches another engaging in phone s*x with the prosecution's key witness against Blanco.

While the on-screen portrayal may not precisely mirror real events, it's a fact that at least one secretary in the DA's office was recorded having phone conversations of a sexual nature with Blanco's primary hitman.

(Also Read: Kim Kardashian to produce and feature in documentary on Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor)

The specific identity of the secretary involved in the 1998 phone s*x scandal is challenging to determine. News clips from that time indicate that multiple women faced consequences, including temporary suspensions, firings, and one individual being cleared in connection to the scandal.

The miniseries, directed by Andres Baiz, comprises six episodes and is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
By clearing the path for the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERC), stalled due to politics between the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the recently-elected BJP government has found a potential game-changer in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections  and also quenched the thirst of 26 water-scarce districts, 13 each in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The ambitious PKC-ERC project will bring water to 26 districts, 13 each in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and provide water for drinking and irrigation to hundreds of thousands of people for the next 40 years.

Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the Centre will bear 90% of the cost ( 75,000 crore) and the two states will have to give 3750 crore for the project. The project will prove a boon for both the states. It will take care of drinking water needs in the two states for the next 3-4 decades. It will provide water for irrigation for 2.8 lakh hectare land in both states and also help in recharging the water table which will create a positive change in the area," he said.

In Rajasthan, Jaipur, Alwar, Dausa, Ajmer, Tonk, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar and Baran will benefit.

In Madhya Pradesh, the districts of Morena, Gwalior, Shivpuri, Bhind, Sheopur, Indore, Ujjain, Dhar, Agar-Malwa, Shajapur, Dewas and Rajgarh will benefit from this.

The project envisages intra-basin transfer of water within the Chambal basin by utilising surplus monsoon water available in Kalisindh, Parvati, Mej and Chakan sub-basins  all tributaries of the Chambal in Rajasthan  and diverting it into water deficit sub-basins of Banas, Gambhiri, Banganga and Parvati rivers in eastern Rajasthan.

During the assembly election last year, the Congress party brought up the ERC as an election issue, hitting out at the BJP and PM Narendra Modi for reneging on its promise to declare the ERC a national project. Some farmer groups and NGOs also sought to draw attention to the issue in the run-up to the assembly election.

In its manifesto launched ahead of the 2023 assembly election, the BJP promised time-bound completion of the ERC project.

Rajasthan chief minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Delhi on the ERC project, in the presence of Union minister Shekhawat on January 28.

Sharma returned to a grand welcome earlier this week with state BJP chief CP Joshi and a large number of party workers garlanding him  the state unit lost no time to cash in on the political dividends of resolving a longstanding issue.

The BJP had promised that the double engine government will speed up development and the BJP government is delivering on its promises. This project will benefit 2 lakh farmers in 13 districts and provide water for irrigation and drinking. The BJP has done what it promised, so people trust Prime Minister Narendra Modis guarantee, Joshi said.

Political analysts said that by expediting the project, the party is trying to make an impact on at least nine of the 25 Lok Sabha seats of the state, including Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Kota and Jhalawar.

By clearing the way for implementation of the project, the BJP will play up the issue by telling people it has delivered on its promise and one more guarantee given by prime minister Narendra Modi has been fulfilled, said political commentator Mithelesh Jaimini.

Shekhawat said that the Jal Shakti department had met hydrology experts from around the country as well as engineers from Rajasthan and MP to decide on the feasibility of linking the ERC to the Parvati, Kalisindh Chambal project. In December 2022, the special committee for the interlinking of rivers approved a proposal to consider the modified PKC link project integrated with ERC, as a part of the National Perspective Plan. The plan was prepared by the Union ministry in 1980 for inter-basin transfer of water from water surplus basins to water deficit basins.

As per the modified DPR signed by the two states, the project is now known as the PKC-ERC project and, as part of the National Perspective Plan, 90% of the funding will be provided by the Centre.

Impact

For the residents, its better late than never. Over 200,000 farmers will get water to irrigate their land and 40% of the states population will get drinking water. The project will also provide irrigation facilities for 280,000 hectares of land, filling 32 dams across the 13 districts.

In many places of eastern Rajasthan, the water table has fallen to 700 feet. The dams are empty and farms are lying dry. Farmers are dependent on the monsoon, said Indal Singh, an activist based in Bharatpur, who said the ERC project should be rolled out without further delay.

If excess water is diverted to dams and rivers in the area, this will increase the water table. This will recharge wells which are lying dry and provide drinking water, Singh, convenor of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, said.

The organisation has been agitating since 2007 for a water project. By making irrigation water available to farmers, this will revive farming in the area.

The project will improve water availability in Chambal especially Sheopur where the groundwater level has decreased severely. The distribution of proper water will improve the life of the residents of Chambal. Here, heavy rainfall creates havoc and less rainfall creates acute water shortage. There are about 80 villages in the area which are facing water issues. This project shouldnt have taken such a long time, said RS Parmar, a social activist from Chambal.

Political ping pong

The matter was first touted in 2017 and launched by former BJP chief minister Vasundhara Raje to provide drinking water and augment irrigation facilities in eastern Rajasthan. However, the project got stalled because the DPR submitted by Rajasthan in November 2017 for appraisal to the Central Water Commission (CWC) was planned on a 50% dependable yield against the established norm of 75% dependability.

In 2018, after the Congress came to power, the then chief minister Ashok Gehlot sought a national project status for the ERCP which would entail 90% funding from the Centre.

For years, the project remained in cold storage. Caught in the blame game between the BJP at the Centre and the previous Congress government in Rajasthan, the ERCP failed to make any progress.

Following the approval of the special committee for Interlinking of Rivers in 2022, a draft pre-feasibility report of the modified PKC link project and a draft MoU for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) was sent to the state water commission and CWC in January 2023. In February of that year, the framework for initiating the work on the preparation of the DPR of modified PKC link was finalised.

On December 27, 2023, Shekhawat held a meeting in Delhi with officials of the water resources departments of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to try and resolve hurdles between the two states. The two states agreed to work on an amended DPR for the project, as envisioned by the Centre.

Shekhawat claimed that Gehlot used the project as a political tool and the previous Congress government was not serious about implementing the project.

However, the Congress has cause to accuse the BJP of using the ERCP as a tool to gain political mileage in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully raised the issue in the House and said the state government has signed an MoU on the ERCP at a time when the House is in session. He said the state government should give information on this issue in the House.

MP chief minister Mohan Yadav said, This project will not only end water woes but also eradicate poverty through improved irrigation.

State Congress president Jitu Patwari welcomed the move but said that the BJP had made a habit of blaming the Congress party for every problem. The BJP has been in power before 2023, so why did the BJP-led state government not take any action? BJP shouldnt make every issue a political one.
Jharkhand transport minister Champai Soren on Wednesday was chosen as the next chief minister, this after Hemant Soren stepped down before being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a land scam money laundering probe. Champai Soren participated in the movement for the separate state of Jharkhand(X/Champai Soren)

We have chosen Champai Soren as the leader of the Legislative Party. We came to the Raj Bhawan to request the Governor for the oath ceremony, Jharkhand minister Banna Gupta told reporters outside the Raj Bhavan.



Congress MLA Rajesh Thakur said,"CM Hemant Soren has decided to resign. Champai Soren has been chosen as the new leader of the Legislative party... All the MLAs are with us".



"The CM is in ED custody. The CM has gone to the Governor with the ED team to submit his resignation... Champai Soren will be the new Chief Minister... We have enough numbers..." JMM MP Mahua Maji told ANI.



Hemant Soren ED arrest LIVE coverage



Champai Soren, who participated in the movement for the separate state of Jharkhand, was chosen after incumbent Hemant Soren stepped down before his arrest by ED.

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Soren files FIR against ED officials



High drama ensued in state capital Ranchi after Soren's questioning began by ED official in the afternoon. Security was tightened and Section 144 imposed around the now former CM's residence. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha workers staged protest against the central agency.



"The chief minister has repeatedly been harassed even though he is cooperating. He replied to ED questions on January 20. But, he was again summoned within a week. Isnt it a deliberate attempt to defame his image and the government?" a JMM supporter said.



Soren also lodged an FIR against ED personnel over searches conducted by the agency at his Delhi residence on Monday, officials said.

Soren alleged that the ED conducted the search to "harass and malign him and his entire community", the officials said, quoting the FIR.



"An FIR has been lodged against some senior ED officials... we got the application from the chief minister," Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Chandan Kumar Sinha told PTI.

"My family members and I have suffered and experienced immense mental, psychological and emotional harm because of the acts committed...," Soren said in the FIR.



(With PTI, ANI inputs)
Raipur: Chhattisgarh police on Wednesday seized Rs.2.64 crore in cash from a car in Durg district and arrested three persons in connection, an official said. (Representative Photo)

Police said they received information about two suspicious cars parked near a bank in the Sector-1 area in Bhilai Bhatti.

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Following this, a team of police reached the spot on Wednesday morning and found three persons on-board the two vehicles, a police officer said. Upon checking, Rs.2.64 crore in cash was found in one of the cars.

Police said they had informed the Income Tax department about the seizure and detained three people in connection with it.

As the three persons failed to give satisfactory answer about the money, it was seized. The Income Tax department has been informed, the officer said.

The three arrested persons are being interrogated, and further action will be taken accordingly, the officer added.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of misusing Enforcement Directorate against Hemant

Soren and forcing him to resign.



If anyone is not with Modi ji, he will go to jail. Getting ED to go after Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren and forcing him to resign amounts to destruction of federalism, Kharge posted on social platform X.



Intimidating opposition leaders through draconian use of PMLA provisions is a part of BJP's toolkit. The BJP continues to destabilise governments ruled by opposition through conspiracy. Those washed by BJP's washing machine are clean, are others tainted? the Congress chief posted.



If you want to save democracy from dictatorship, then BJP must be defeated. We will not be scared and continue to fight from parliament to streets, Kharge added.



High drama ensued in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi as Hemant Soren resigned as chief minister after being grilled by the ED in a land scam case. His ministerial colleague Champai Soren has been chosen as legislative party leader and will be the next chief minister. A file photo of Mallikarjun Kharge with Hemant Soren.

"We have staked a claim to form the new government with the support of 47 MLAs," JMM legislative party leader Champai Soren told reporters.



Soren has been a legislator from Saraikela assembly constituency for more than three decades since 1991 and is known to be a loyalist of JMM supremo Shibu Soren.



Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's Rajya Sabha MP has claimed that Soren has been taken into custody by the central agency, who had been questioning the former CM since afternoon.

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Soren had lodged an FIR against senior Enforcement Directorate personnel at the SC/ST police station here over searches conducted by the agency at his Delhi residence, officials said on Wednesday.

Soren alleged that the ED conducted the search operation at his residence in the national capital to "harass and malign him and his entire community", the officials said.
In a first, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested Hemant Soren, moments after he demitted the office of Jharkhand chief minister, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with its probe into an alleged land scam in the state, people familiar with the development said. Hemant Soren shows a thumbs up as he reaches Raj Bhavan to submit his resignation to State Governor CP Radhakrishnan, in Ranchi on Wednesday.(ANI)

The development comes two days after an elaborate set-up by the federal agency in its attempt to nab the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader in Delhi by placing teams at his residence and airport here, but he managed to slip from the national capital to reach Ranchi by road on Tuesday.



Ex-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren arrested. LIVE Updates

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Confirming the development, an official said they have evidence that he is the key beneficiary in the alleged land related irregularities in Ranchi, where a network of brokers and businessmen were working over the years to create fake deeds of landed parcels by forging records in the registrar offices and further selling them off.

We have evidence that Hemant Soren had grabbed some parcel of land under probe in Jharkhand, which was illegally obtained by others through falsified documents, said an officer, who didnt want to be named.



ALSO READ: Hemant Soren arrested; Champai's name proposed for next Jharkhand CM. 10 points

A Kolkata based businessman, Amit Kumar Agarwal, arrested by ED on June 7 last year, is also key to Sorens arrest as he is suspected to be the handler of tainted funds of several politicians including then Jharkhand CM, as alleged in a PIL filed in the Jharkhand high court in 2021 through a lawyer, Rajeev Kumar.

He had avoided questioning by the ED on at least seven occasions since August last year but finally agreed to be quizzed on January 20 at his residence in Ranchi. However, the agency again asked him to appear before it on January 29 or 31.

The ED team reached his official residence in the states capital on Wednesday and questioned him for almost seven hours before he was placed under arrest around 10 pm at the agency's Ranchi office after the JMM leader submitted his resignation to the governor.

Officials said he will be produced before a court on Thursday, where the agency will explain the exact charges against him.



Allegations against ex-CM Soren

ED has already filed a charge sheet in the alleged land scam on June 12, 2023, naming Amit Agarwal, arrested Indian Administrative Officer (IAS) Chhavi Ranjan and eight other individuals - Dilip Kumar Ghosh (a close aide of Agarwal), Pradip Bagchi, Afshar Ali (alleged kingpin who created fake deeds on landed properties), Mohammad Saddam Hussain, Imtiaz Ahmad, Talha Khan, Faiyaz Ahmed, Bhanu Pratap Prasad, and three companies linked to Agarwal  Jagatbandhu Tea Estates Pvt Ltd, Rajesh Auto Merchandise Pvt Ltd and Aurora Studio Pvt Ltd.

The alleged scam pertains to usurping prime landed parcels including a 4.55 acre defence land at Morabadi Mouza at Ranchi, and a land parcel of 7.6 acres at Hehal, Ranchi - both valued at over 74 crore at the current market price, besides several other land parcels - by the accused persons by making fake deeds using manufactured identities and falsifying original land records at Circle Offices and Registrar of Assurances (RoA), Kolkata and Circle Offices in Jharkhand, according to the ED charge sheet, seen by HT.

Overall, ED has recovered documents related to at least 27 properties of which fake deeds were created by the accused persons.

Earlier, registration of the landed properties of Bihar (when Jharkhand was part of it) was done at Kolkata at the office of Registrar

of Assurances (RoA). This continued till 1991 after which Bihar properties' registration, including present-day Jharkhand, became mandatory at the concerned jurisdictional land registration offices.

Detailing the modus operandi, an ED official, who didnt want to be named, said - The accused persons manufactured back-dated deeds of the targeted landed properties from Kolkata and planted it in original registers at RoA, Kolkata. Then, they used to obtain certified copies of those deeds and then disposed of the properties in connivance with each other. They had fake stamps/seals through which they created these fake deeds.

The 4.55 acres (or decimals) land in Ranchi which was sold off by creating falsified documents belonged to defence, according to ED.The ED charge sheet states that Afshar Ali, a resident of Bariatu, Ranchi, and his accomplices prepared a fake deed from the office

of RoA, Kolkata in the name of one Prafulla Bagchi, projecting that this 4.55-acre land belonged to the latter.

Prem Prakash, an accused in EDs separate probe in Jharkhand related to illegal mining who is said to be connected politically there, allegedly assisted them in the illegal act while Chhavi Ranjan (former deputy commissioner of Ranchi) influenced the officials of Circle Office and district sub registrar, Ranchi and managed to procure a favourable report for Pradeep Bagchi. The land was subsequently acquired by Amit Agarwals company - Jagatbandhu Tea Estates Pvt Ltd by paying only 25 lakh in 2022. The actual commercial value of this property is around 41 crore, according to ED.

Afshar Ali admitted before ED that he had prepared the fake deed of the property which was in possession of the Army. He further stated this land was sold to Jagatbandhu Tea Estates with the help of Prem Prakash at an amount of 7 crore but only 25 lakh was paid. He also disclosed that no government official demanded money for registration of the property as they knew that Amit Agarwal, Prem Prakash and Chhavi Ranjan were involved in this registration, the charge sheet claims.

Interestingly, the same property was claimed by another person  Jayant Karnad  as well, who created false documents on it claiming rights and then sold it off to 14 individuals through 16 sale deeds at a price of 2.55 crore.

In the case of Hehal property too, a fake deed was prepared by brokers and original deeds were torn and removed from the original registers of the district sub registrar, Ranchi office. Chhavi Ranjan cancelled the Jamabandi (record of rights) of this land and allowed the mutation of this property in the name of one person, Binod Singh. Immediately, it was sold to two persons - Shyam Singh and Ravi Singh Bhatia - at a consideration price of 15 crore, ED charge sheet reveals.

The agency didnt disclose if Soren grabbed the 4.55 acre land linked to Amit Agarwal or the 7.6 acre land sold to Shyam Singh and Ravi Bhatia.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemata Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with its probe into an alleged land scam. The arrest was made soon after Soren stepped down as Jharkhand's chief minister. The JMM leader was "evasive" in his replies during his questioning and hence was taken into custody under the PMLA, reported PTI quoting sources. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren shows a thumbs up as he reaches Raj Bhavan to submit his resignation to State Governor CP Radhakrishnan, in Ranchi on Wednesday.(ANI)

The ED is expected to produce Soren before a special PMLA court in Ranchi and the agency will seek his remand for custodial interrogation, according to the report. The central probe agency 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.

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What we know about alleged land scam?

Soren finds himself embroiled in a complex web of alleged land scams. The case against Soren revolves around his purported involvement in an extensive land scam in Jharkhand, where he is alleged to be the key beneficiary of illicitly obtained land through fraudulent means, according to the ED.

The agency's investigation points to a sophisticated operation involving a network of brokers and businessmen who manipulated land records to create fake deeds  legal documents that transfer ownership of land or real estate from one party to another  for valuable parcels of land.

These falsified documents were then used to sell off the land to various individuals and companies, leading to substantial financial gains for the perpetrators.

A key figure in this scheme is Kolkata-based businessman Amit Kumar Agarwal, who was arrested by the ED last year. Agarwal is suspected of having handled tainted funds for several politicians, including Soren, as alleged in a PIL filed in the Jharkhand high court.

The ED's investigation has revealed a pattern of illegal transactions and land acquisitions, implicating Soren as a key player in the alleged scam.

The ED has filed a charge sheet detailing the fraudulent acquisition of prime land parcels, including defence land, valued at over 74 crore in current market prices. The modus operandi involved manufacturing back-dated deeds, falsifying records, and using fake stamps and seals to create the appearance of legitimate transactions.

One example highlighted in the charge sheet is the sale of a 4.55-acre defence land in Ranchi, which was allegedly acquired through a fake deed prepared by one Afshar Ali and his accomplices. The land was then sold to Jagatbandhu Tea Estates Pvt Ltd, a company owned by Amit Agarwal, at a fraction of its actual value.

Similarly, another parcel of land in Hehal was fraudulently acquired, with original deeds being tampered with and sold off to unsuspecting buyers. Chhavi Ranjan, a former deputy commissioner of Ranchi, is implicated in facilitating these illegal transactions by influencing officials and facilitating the mutation of land records.

The charge sheet also mentions instances where multiple individuals laid claim to the same property using falsified documents, further highlighting the extent of the alleged fraud.

While the specific role of Hemant Soren in these transactions is yet to be fully disclosed by the ED, his arrest underscores the gravity of the allegations against him.
RANCHI: The Jharkhand police on Wednesday registered a case against four Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials including its additional director Kapil Raj on a complaint by chief minister Hemant Soren who accused them of multiple violations of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Security personnel stand guard as Enforcement Directorate officials enter the residence of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren for questioning (ANI)

Hemant Soren filed his complaint with the ST/SC police station in Ranchi on Wednesday, accusing Kapil Raj, Deovrat Jha, Anupam Kumar and Aman Patel, apart from other unnamed ED officials of violating the atrocity law.

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The chief ministers complaint comes against the backdrop of speculation that ED might arrest him in connection with the central agencys Prevention of Money Laundering Act probe against Soren relating to the ownership of a parcel of land measuring 7.16 acres in Bajra area of Ranchi. It has been alleged that the land parcel was acquired through proceeds of crime involving the illegal sale of army land. Soren has dismissed the case as politically motivated and said the details of his assets were in the public domain.

The agency has arrested 14 people in the case, including 2011 batch Indian Administrative Service officer Chhavi Ranjan, who served as director of the states social welfare department, deputy commissioner of Ranchi, Bhanu Pratap Prasad, and businessmen Amit Agrawal and Bishnu Agrawal, who own shopping malls in the state capital.

Wednesdays FIR by Soren has been registered under Section 3 (1) (p),(r), (s) and (u) of the SC/ST atrocity law which are punishable on conviction with a minimum jail term of six months and a maximum of five years. HT has reviewed a copy of the FIR.

These provisions relate to instituting false, malicious or vexatious suit or criminal proceedings against Scheduled Tribe (ST) members (p), intentionally insulting or intimidating with intent to humiliate ST members in any place within public view (r), abusing any member of ST by caste name in any place within public view (s) and attempting to promote feelings of enmity against ST members by words spoken or written or by any visible representation (u).

A police officer said the case was registered on Sorens complaint that when he reached Ranchi, he learnt about the ED action at the south Delhi house rented by the state government.

Soren alleged that an operation was conducted at Jharkhand Bhawan, and Shanti Niketan to harass and defame him and his community since he belongs to a Scheduled Tribe tribal community and the officials are non-tribal.

This search was done without any information to me and this has disgraced him in the eyes of the general public, the official said, quoting the FIR.

In the complaint, Soren said the ED officers conducted the search operation at Jharkhand Bhawan in Delhi and at the south Delhi house rented by the state government to harass and malign me and my entire community on January 29.

Citing media coverage of the searches, Soren said it is obvious that the abovenamed persons had informed the media of the purposed search so as to create a media spectacle and cause disrepute to me in the eyes of the general public.

He also contested the ED attempt to link him to the blue BMW car seized from the Delhi house, saying ED officers leaked selective misinformation that the car and huge sums of illicit cash belonging to me were seized. I do not own any illicit cash. The abovenamed persons and unknown others.... have done the aforesaid acts intentionally to humiliate me in public, he said, adding that the ED officers instituted false proceedings and have given fabricated evidence
Hemant Soren News LIVE: In a major development, former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate after more than seven hours of questioning in a money laundering case linked to a land scam. Shortly before this, Hemant Soren tendered his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan, where he went along with alliance legislators....Read More

Amidst the drama, the ruling JMM-led coalition proposed the name of senior leader Champai Soren as the next chief minister of Jharkhand.

Also Read | Who is Champai Soren, Jharkhand's next CM?

On Tuesday, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief chaired a meeting with MLAs of his ruling coalition amid allegations by the BJP that the JMM chief was "absconding" to avoid the Enforcement Directorate's probe into an alleged land scam case.

A day prior to this, ED officials visited Soren's residence in Delhi to question him. The central agency seized two cars and 36 lakh but did not find the JMM leader. Following this, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleged that the Jharkhand CM was a "bhagoda" (absconding) and that there was a proposal to make Soren's wife the chief minister of the state.
The Varanasi district court on Wednesday allowed Hindus to offer prayers at the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi Masjid in the city, marking a decisive turn in the decades-old dispute that will have reverberations not only on a raft of linked suits over the shrine but also in similar petitions over a mosque in Mathura. Police personnel stand guard near the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi on Wednesday. (AFP)

District judge AK Vishvesha granted the family of a late priest the right to resume prayers in the southern cellar of the mosque after three decades, saying that the petitioner Shailendra Kumar Pathak Vyas and a priest appointed by the Kashi Vishwanath trust, which manages the temple next door, will be allowed to enter the premises.

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Prayers  which were last offered in December 1993  will have to resume within the next seven days, added the judge, whose last working day was Wednesday.

District Magistrate, Varanasi/Receiver is directed to get pooja, Raag-bhog of the idols in the cellar, the property in question, on the south side of the building situated at Settlement Plot No. 9130, Thana Chowk, District Varanasi, done from the plaintiff and the priest named by the Kashi Vishwanath Trust Board, the court said in its order.

READ | VHP reacts to Varanasi court's Gyanvapi order; Uma Bharti suggests 'final solution'

The order is a victory for Hindu petitioners who asked for the rights to pray in the cellar  one of four in the complex, all sealed right now  and expressed apprehension that the mosque committee might illegally annex it. If the prayers go ahead, this will be the first time in three decades that any Hindu rituals are conducted inside the mosque complex, fulfilling a longstanding ideological goal of Hindu groups.

It is also a shot in the arm for other Hindu petitioners who argue that the mosque was built by Mughal emperors after demolishing a temple and seek rights to the complex.

Vishnu Shankar Jain, a counsel for Vyas, said, This order allows daily prayers, and is a major win for us.

The court fixed February 8 as the date to hear the objections of the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, which manages the 17th century mosque. But the committee said it will challenge the order in the high court.

We will challenge the order in the Allahabad high court, said advocate Akhlaque Ahmad, representing Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee.

READ | Timeline of Gyanvapi case: What happened and when

The four-page verdict represented yet another setback for the mosque committee, which has, so far, unsuccessfully argued that the Hindu suits were barred by the 1991 Places of Worship Act, which locks the religious character of shrines as they existed on August 15, 1947, with the exception of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

The verdict comes roughly a week after the same judge furnished a copy of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report on the same complex. The ASI survey conducted a study of architectural remains, exposed features and artefacts, inscriptions, art and sculptures, to conclude that there existed a Hindu temple prior to the construction of the Gyanvapi Masjid. The mosque panel has already disputed the timelines indicated in the report and said it will study the survey before taking legal steps.

The Vyas family of Varanasi, a family of priests, was considered the hereditary owners of the southern cellar of the mosque, where prayers to Ganesha, Hanuman, Nandi and other deitieswere conducted by Somnath Vyas, the maternal grandfather of the petitioner. At the time, the entrance to the mosque was towards the front of the building, and the Hindu deities could be accessed by devotees from another gate in the rear.

But in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition in December 1992, authorities feared a law-and-order problem and sealed all four cellars of the mosque. Permanent barriers raised were also erected at the time. The last time the prayers were offered were in December 1993.

In September this year, the Vyas family first approached a Varanasi local court, saying the district magistrate should be appointed and that they be allowed to pray in the cellars.

On September 25, 2023, Shailendra Kumar Pathak Vyas filed a plea in the court of civil judge (senior division), urging the court to appoint the district magistrate or any suitable person nominated by him as the receiver of the cellar and a direction to the receiver to allow the plaintiff, co-pujaris and devotees to perform puja there.

Simultaneously, Vyas filed an application in the Varanasi district court, urging it to transfer the matter to itself. The Varanasi district court on October 19, 2023 transferred the civil suit to itself.

In his submissions, Vyas alleged that the mosque committee kept visiting the cellars and might take it over. Ahmad called the allegation baseless.

He prayed to the court to allow him to offer puja in the cellar as this was the practice till it was barricaded in 1993.

The plaintiff said that as hereditary pujari, he should be allowed to enter the cellar  also known as Vyas ka taykhana  and resume puja.

Vishnu Shankar Jain, one of Vyass lawyers, said that he asked the court to allow the plaintiff to perform puja in the cellar and create an entry gate for the space.

Till December 1993, Vyas jis family members performed puja of the deities in the southern cellar of Gyanvapi. Then, all of sudden, the local administration directed to stop the pooja at the cellar in 1993, an order that was in place till now, said advocate Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, one of counsels representing Vyas.

Ahmad argued that the plea was barred by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The cellar is part of the Gyanvapi mosque. So, worship could not be performed. Therefore, puja should not be allowed, Ahmad argued.

On January 17, the Varanasi district court appointed the district magistrate as the receiver of the cellar, directing him to keep it safe and not allow any change.

On January 24, a district administration team led by additional district magistrate Prakash Chandra completed the proceedings in connection with the district magistrate becoming the receiver of the cellar.

The development will have wide ramifications across similar suits filed by Hindu groups and petitioners in Mathura and Agra  all part of what experts have called the new temple movements, where Hindu groups and individuals have approached lower courts to file petitions seeking legal solutions to decades-old religious disputes, instead of using street mobilisation to push for change.

In all cases, Hindu petitioners argue that medieval-era Islamic structures were built by demolishing temples and demand praying rights. The Muslim sides reject the contention and say that any such legal action violates property and religious laws, including the 1991 Act.

Varanasi, Mathura and Ayodhya are part of a decades-old ideological project by Hindu groups who argue that medieval-era Islamic structures were built by demolishing temples and demand rights over those structures. The Supreme Court paved the way for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in 2019, and the Mandir opened on January 22 in an ideological win. Cases by Hindu groups and individuals in Varanasi and Mathura are currently being adjudicated in courts across Uttar Pradesh, even as a larger challenge to the Place of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 is being heard by the Supreme Court.
Dozens of students in the batch graduating this year from one of Indias top B-schools, Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM-L), are yet to be find a job, according to an appeal sent to the institutes alumni seeking help, suggesting an industry downturn could hit prospects of jobseekers. Students inside the campus of Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. (HT PHOTO)

The institution said there is nothing to worry about and placements are underway, at least two professors from other IIMs said that they too have seen a marked drop in how companies are hiring from these premier institutes, where students are known to be swooped up with many holding multiple offers.

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Dear Batch of 2011. We are writing to address the current situation regarding unplaced students from our batch. Currently, 72 talented individuals are seeking employment opportunities, said the appeal, which added that: Your support is crucial in maintaining the legacy of IIM Lucknows 100% placement record.

If you are aware of any job opportunities or have connections within your professional network that align with the skill sets of our 2024 batchmates, please consider referring them or informing us about potential openings, it said.

Responding to the situation, IIM Lucknow placement chairperson professor Priyanka Sharma said: The process of placement is underway. There is nothing to worry about. Even today a few companies had come to the campus. Once placements are over, IIM L will issue an official press release.

Another official, who asked not to be named, said reaching out to former pupils was a regular practice.

IIM-L, across its three 2-year MBA programmes, has nearly 600 students graduating this year.

The situation is said to be similar at IIM Kozhikode and IIM Indore where it is taking longer to complete the placement process.

IIM Kozhikode director, professor Debashis Chatterjee, said: There is an economic downturn. Placement work is taking longer than usual. Ive heard that IIM Lucknow is looking to getting its 70-odd pupils placed. Im sure that it will.

IIM Indore director professor Himansu Rai remarked: It is taking more time than usual (to complete placements) in all IIMs. 100% placement will happen, of course. Compared to last year, the number of offers that companies are making is low. For example, if a company took 10 students last time, it is taking only two or three this time. Also, some companies have a hiring freeze this year.

The institute did not share the details of the timeframe for this years placements, but in the past the placement process has been completed by the end of January. For instance, in 2023, the final placement press release was issued on January 27.

Last year, IIM-L secured 100% placements for its 37th batch of its Postgraduate Programme (PGP) and 18th batch of PGP- Agribusiness Management (AGM) students. It was the largest batch in its 37-year history.

The institute secured 632 offers for 556 students and placed them across multitude of roles in consulting, finance, general management, IT and analytics, sales and marketing, and operations & retail e-commerce with top recruiters from across the globe.

In 2023, the institute had achieved the highest ever average and median salary package of 32.23 lakh per annum and 30 lacs per annum, respectively, with the highest domestic and international CTC (cost-to-company) reaching 55 lakh per annum and 65 lakh per annum, respectively.
On January 19, at 3 pm, Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav, the main driver of the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh, wrote a post on X in Hindi: Congratulations to everyone on the Rashtriya Lok Dal-SP alliance. Let us all unite for victory! Within minutes of the post, the SP announced seven seats for the RLD  all in the Jayant Chaudhary-led party's stronghold of West UP, without naming the seats.

The post also had the picture of Akhilesh and Jayant shaking hands (at Akhilesh's Lucknow residence) and within five minutes, most of the SP and RLD top leaders and spokesperson reposted Akhileshs post and expressed joy.

At 3.19 pm, Jayant also reposted Akhilesh's post with the comment: "Always ready for the protection of national and Constitutional values, it is expected of all the cadres of the alliance partners to take steps forward in sync for the development and prosperity of constituencies. The RLD and the SP leaders reposted this post too in affirmation.

On January 27, a little after 1 pm, Akhilesh again took to X. This time around, he announced 11 seats for the Congress. He wrote: Our cordial alliance with the Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong seats (to Congress). This trend will move forward with the winning equation. 'INDIA' team and 'PDA (backwards, Dalits, and minorities)' strategy will change history.

However, no picture accompanied the post.

While the SP leaders reposted the post, no one in Congress did  neither from the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) nor from the All India Congress Committee (the AICC). Most Congress leaders talking to reporters in Lucknow or New Delhi did not acknowledge Akhilesh's announcement, the way RLD did. Jairam Ramesh, the AICC general secretary in charge of communications and the UPCC president Ajay Rai made similar statements: It is Akhilesh ji's announcement. The National Committee of Congress is taking decisions. Discussions are going on positively and in a healthy environment.

Like Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav), Akhileshji has shown a big heart," SP spokesperson Ameeque Jamei said.

UPCC spokesperson CP Rai said: As far as the Congress is concerned, discussions are still on between the SP and the committee of Congress that includes Ashok Gehlot, Mukul Wasnik, Salman Khurshid and others. So, it would not be appropriate to comment. However, it would have been better if both the parties declared their seats/candidates together.

On January 30, the SP declared its candidates for 16 LS seats, which includes five of the 21 seats that the Congress had won in the 2009 LS polls in UP. The Congress was keen on 30 seats, including the 21 it had won in 2009. The SP list is an emphatic and public repudiation of Congresss demand. The SP has declared candidates in Kheri, Dhaurahra, Farrukhabad, Akbarpur, and Faizabad  all constituencies that the Congress won three election cycles ago.

The talks between the SP and Congress thus do not seem to be going on cordially as projected.

While the Congress leadership is subdued in its reaction to the 11 seats, the SP camp leaders are saying that the SP might give a handful of more seats to the Congress.

In any case, Akhileshji is not willing as of now  to give more than 13 seats. The idea is to have winnable candidates, and the Congress does not have enough winnable candidates for UP. The Congress must understand the situation, a senior SP leader said on the condition of anonymity.

By making an announcement at a time when the INDIA bloc is on shaky ground in West Bengal and Bihar, Akhilesh has also signalled to partners that he is going with the INDIA bloc, said senior SP leader Sudhir Panwar, a probable candidate from a West UP constituency.

Another SP leader said on condition of anonymity: Akhileshji, the SP, and several other bloc constituents have been asking for seat-sharing finalisation since the third meeting of the bloc members in Mumbai on August 31-September 1, 2023. Four months have lapsed since then, and the Congress instead turned its focus on its Nyay Yatra".

Political analyst and former head of the political science department of Lucknow University, Professor SK Dwivedi said: "I have repeatedly said that the INDIA bloc might face trouble on the leadership issue and seat sharing. The bloc should have first, by consensus, sorted out the leadership issue before seat-sharing. It's obvious that the Bihar development  of Nitish Kumar exiting the bloc  and WB CM Mamata Banerjee's reluctance has emerged as a result. And seat sharing is a troubling issue in all the states. The Congress must stay pragmatic in UP, or else the INDIA bloc would be as good as defunct. The Congress should focus on taking on the invincible-looking Bharatiya Janata Party rather than trying for upmanship within the bloc.

The alliance in UP should have been given the shape the way Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh shaped the SP-Congress alliance in 2017 UP assembly polls when the Congress and SP jointly announced the alliance with clear seat sharing and the way Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and the SP chief Akhilesh Yadav announced the alliance for the 2019 UP Lok Sabha polls, he said.

In the last Lok Sabha polls, when SP tied up with BSP, Akhilesh and Mayawati held a joint press conference on January 12, 2019, not only announcing the alliance but also making the seat-sharing formula clear. They announced that of the 80 LS seats in UP, both parties will contest 38 seats each. Two seats were given to the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), an SP ally, while the two seats Amethi and Raebareli were left for non-ally Congress.

Similarly in 2017, when the SP tied up with the Congress for the assembly polls, SP state president Naresh Uttam and the then Congress state president Raj Babbar held a press conference on January 22 of that year announcing the alliance and seat sharing formula 105 for Congress and 298 for the SP.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA won 353 seats, the UPA stood at 91, and Others won 98. In UP, of the 80 seats, the BJP with allies won 74 seats while the SP-BSP alliance won 15 seats (SP won 5 and the BSP 10), and the Congress 1.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday turned down a request by a 26-year-old woman seeking permission to abort her 32-week pregnancy, citing mental trauma and depression after the death of her husband. The court noted that a medical board comprising doctors from AIIMS had examined the woman following an order of the Delhi high court. (Amit Sharma)

The top court held that courts have a duty to take care of the interests of both, a mother and an unborn child, an observation that came after a medical board from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), which examined the petitioner, said that an abortion at this stage would endanger the womans health and cause the child to be born anyway but with the likelihood of severe disabilities.

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The order strikes at the heart of the complicated question around abortion and its timing. The law allows pregnancies to be terminated on the advice of a doctor up till 24 weeks of a pregnancy, but cases that have surpassed this gestation period have also been accepted by courts, especially when there is likelihood of severe harm to the mother.

Advocate Rahul Sharma, the petitioners lawyer, had said: We should think about the mother and not the unborn foetus. She is a widow and she does not want to live with this trauma. This pregnancy is against her choice and wish that will cause further trauma.

Dismissing the petition filed by the woman, referred as P, the Court noted that a medical board comprising doctors from AIIMS had examined her following an order of the Delhi high court. Finding the foetus to be normal, the high court went by the medical experts opinion and dismissed her plea. The woman challenged the HCs order of January 23 before the top court.

The top court bench headed by justice Bela M Trivedi said, There is no abnormality in the foetus. It has been found to be a full-fledged, normal-bodied child. This is not the case we should entertain.

The bench, also comprising justice Prasanna B Varale said: We have to take care of both  the foetus and the mother, as it dismissed the petition.

The Court further noted that the Delhi high court had directed the Central or state government to take care of all her medical expenses if she chose to deliver the baby in a government-run hospital. The Centre assured that if the woman was willing to give the child up for adoption, she will be fully assisted in this regard.

It is just a question of another two weeks or so. Even the government is willing to take the child in adoption. The medical board says her life will be at risk in a pre-term pregnancy. We cannot permit it. All these points have been considered by the high court, the court said in its order.

This case caught the attention of the Delhi high court on two occasions. On January 4, the HC first permitted the petitioner to undergo abortion upon her mental examination at AIIMSs department of Psychiatry that found her suffering from severe depression with suicidal ideation. However, on January 6 the HC received a letter from AIIMS claiming that the child will be born alive after delivery and there is a reasonable risk of physical and mental handicap to the newborn.

Following this, the Centre and AIIMS filed applications to recall the January 4 order which led to another round of litigation. The high court sought yet another report from AIIMS to know whether the petitioner will be in a position to deliver the child considering her mental state of mind. The doctors even came to the high court and proceedings were held in-camera.

Recalling its earlier order, the HC on January 23 said, The Medical Board is of the opinion that since the foetus does not show any abnormality, feticide in this case is neither justified nor ethical.

Further, the board had opined that a preterm induction of labour has a high chance of failure and may have serious implications on the petitioners future pregnancies. Also, the child born after a preterm induction of labour can have physical and mental deficiencies that will have drastic effect on the future of the child.

The HC order further said, If the petitioner is inclined to give the newborn child in adoption, then as suggested by additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, the Union of India shall ensure that the process of adoption takes place at the earliest and in a smooth fashion.
Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will not come to a Lok Sabha seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress till the time they are aligned with the CPIM in the state. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee with TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in Kolkata. (ANI file photo)

I told the Congress that they dont have a single legislator in the state assembly. I offered them two Lok Sabha seats and said that I would ensure they win from the two seats. They refused and wanted more seats. I told them I wont spare even a single seat. I asked them to first cut ties with the CPIM. I havent forgotten how the CPIM tortured our men, Banerjee said while addressing a gathering in Malda district.

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The CM is touring districts in north and south Bengal since January 29. On Wednesday she held two road rallies and addressed two public meetings in Malda and Murshidabad, erstwhile Congress bastions.

The CPIM is the number one agent of BJP. Our understanding with the Congress was good. It has deteriorated because of the CPIM, she said in Murshidabad.

I wanted to leave two seats for the Congress. They refused. I asked them how many do they want? 42 out of 42 seats? They would lose all 42 and the BJP would enter Bengal. I wont allow this. I backed out because I wont hold the CPIMs hand. I have the courage to fight BJP, she added.

On January 24, the TMC chief had announced that her party would contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal on its own. Her statements came after she is said to have waited for over a month to hear from the Congress over her December 19 offer of two seats - Malda Dakshin and Berhampore; Congress had won the two seats in 2019.

Also Read: Mallikarjun Kharge speaks to TMCs Mamata Banerjee in frantic bid to salvage INDIA bloc

The Congress hit back saying that the TMC is opposing Rahul Gandhis Nyay Yatra in West Bengal as it has a tacit understanding with the BJP.

She is coming up with new statements every day. A few days ago, she said that no one discussed with her about seat sharing. Then with who she discussed the formula of two seats? She is trying to confuse the people. The cat has come out the bag and her intentions are clear now. We are not surprised. People have understood her double standards, said Congress leader, Soumya Aich Roy.

The CPIM stepped up its ante against Banerjee alleging that the TMC and BJP were natural allies and that Banerjee has frequently changed her political stance.

She had joined the BJP government in the past and had held important portfolios. Banerjee hasnt opposed any bills introduced by the Narendra Modi government since 2014. Her party spent crores of rupees to contest in some states to split non-BJP votes and help the BJP. We consider the TMC and BJP synonymous, said Tanmoy Bhattacharya, CPIM leader.

If she has so much of hatred against the CPIM, why did she held alliance meetings and dine with them? Why did she join the INDIA alliance in the first place? Actually, she thought that she would get to control the INDIA alliance. But when she saw that the Congress and the CPIM were in full control of the alliance, she is making such statements, said Rahul Sinha, BJP leader.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed the arrest of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case.



ED, CBI, IT etc are no longer government agencies. They are now the Vipaksh Mitao Cell (Remove opposition cell) of the BJP. The BJP, itself sunk deep in corruption, is running a campaign to destroy democracy, Gandhi said in a post on social platform X.



Hemant Soren arrest LIVE coverage A file photo of former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren with Rahul Gandhi.(ANI file)

Gandhi is currently leading the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and will enter Jharkhand on February 2. The yatra will be held in two phases, covering 804 km in 13 districts over a period of eight days, the state Congress chief Rajesh Thakur had told PTI.



Earlier, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had also hit out at the ED action against Soren, whose party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is a member of INDIA bloc.

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Intimidating opposition leaders through draconian use of PMLA provisions is a part of BJP's toolkit. The BJP continues to destabilise governments ruled by opposition through conspiracy," Kharge had said in an X post.



Soren was arrested by the central probe agency after being questioned by the ED for more than eight hours. He submitted his resignation before the governor before his arrest, as the JMM and Congress MLAs picked senior minister Champai Soren to succeed him.

According to an ED official, the agency has evidence to prove that Soren was the key beneficiary in an alleged land scam, wherein a network of brokers and businessmen were working to create fake deeds of landed parcels by forging records in the registrar offices and further selling them off.



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.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday soon after he resigned as chief minister. The arrest comes after hours of questioning in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam followed by Soren's resignation. Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren. (PTI)

Soren tendered his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan after about seven hours of questioning in the money laundering case and headed back to this Ranchi residence where ED officials were present. State transport minister Champai Soren said he has staked claim to form the new government in Jharkhand with the support of 47 legislators.

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Here are the top updates from political developments in Jharkhand:
Varanasi district court on Wednesday allowed people to perform pooja in the cellar on the southern side, also known as the Vyasji Ka Tehkhana, in the Gyanvapi mosque complex. The court has directed the district administration to make arrangements for pooja to be performed by the Hindu side and a priest nominated by Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust. Varanasi district court on Wednesday allowed to perform pooja in the cellar on the southern side, also known as the Vyasji Ka Tehkhana, in the Gyanvapi mosque complex. (PTI)

Meanwhile, the Muslim side, represented by the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee, has said they would challenge the order in the higher court.

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ALSO READ| VHP reacts to Varanasi court's Gyanvapi order; Uma Bharti suggests 'final solution'

Here is a timeline of the Gyanvapi case with details about what happened and when

January 29, 2024: Four Hindu women moved the Supreme Court seeking the excavation and scientific survey of a sealed section of the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi. The development came four days after an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report concluded that a large Hindu temple existed before the construction of the mosque.

January 25, 2024: Hindu and Muslim sides got a copy of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report containing its findings of the court-ordered scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises.

December 18, 2023: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted its report on the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises in the Varanasi district court.

December 11, 2023: Varanasi district court granted one more week time to the ASI to submit its findings of the court-ordered scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises. Earlier, extensions were granted on September 6, October 5, November 2, November 17 and November 30.

August 4, 2023: Survey by the ASI resumed amid massive security arrangements after the Allahabad High Court and the Supreme Court allowed it, dismissing pleas filed jointly by the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee for Gyanvapi mosque and the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board.

July 21, 2023: Varanasi district court ordered scientific survey of Gyanvapi mosque complex to find out whether the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

May 16, 2022: A commission appointed by a local court completed a videographic survey of the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque. During the survey, a structure, which the Hindu side claimed to be a shivling, and the Muslim side claimed to be a fountain, was found inside the mosque premises.

2021: A case was filed by five Hindu women seeking court's permission to conduct daily prayers at a shrine behind the western wall of the Gyanvapi mosque complex and protection of the idols.
"Rana Pratap iss Bharat Bhumi ke mukti mantra ka gayak hai / Rana Pratap azaadi ka aparajit Kaal Vidhyaka hai." When modern India's finest poet of veer raas (heroic emotion or bravery) Narendra Mishra, recites these verses dedicated to Maharana Pratap of Mewar, his magisterial diction brings to life the drama and traumas of history. Loosely translated the verse likens Rana Pratap to one who is singing the mantra of freedom in the soil of Bharat; his Freedom never relinquished, making him transcend Time. A statue of Maharana Pratap is seen in this image.(HT File Photo)

19 January 2024 marked the 427th anniversary of Rana Pratap who left for his heavenly abode, or 'Vaikunthdhaam' as the poet would say. Passage of centuries has deepened respect and understanding of the pre-modern age 16th century CE; when iconic warrior-kings of Mewar, like Maharana Sanga and Maharana Pratap could bring together diverse social groups, communities to work, rally and fight for causes far larger than their kingdoms.

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"Rana Pratap emerges in an age when the entire Kshatriya identity or asmita was lost, drowned as it were in a sea of convenience-seeking," wrote Pt Mishra in a book released during Rana Prataps statue unveiling by President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil at Udaipur airport on 30 June 2009.

"Rana Pratap is not just a protector of Mewar but a custodian of its natural wealth, said Dr Shri Krishna 'Jugnu', a Sanskrit scholar-teacher and writer, whose roots lie in Mewar. The Kingdom had silver, zinc mines yielding enormous revenues since the 12th century CE. The goal of Mughal armies was to first capture silver mines at Dariba. They were successful for a while and carted away silver used to mint imperial coins. At Zawar, Rana ensured that zinc mines were safe from Mughal clutches. He strategically used the areas geography, support of Bhil tribals and Meenas to keep Mughal armies at bay, year after year, explained Dr Shri Krishna in AIR Central English Features broadcast aptly titled 'Beyond Haldighati'.

Dr Paul T Craddock, a British archaeo-metallurgist of global repute, studied mines of Zawar, Dariba and Agucha in Mewar to report: "The remains of early mining and metallurgy we have studied are as sophisticated as anything further West, and there are no parallels or analogies anywhere for the zinc smelting processes that we have uncovered in the Zawar mines near Udaipur, Mewar. This was the sharp edge of technical innovation, taking place on a major scale well away from Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. We can safely say it was the start of the industrial revolution in the Kingdom of Mewar, 500 years before it began in the West."

The production of lead, silver and zinc in ancient India (with IC Freestone, LK Gurjar, A Middleton, L Willies and Prof. K.T.M. Hegde of the MS Baroda University) is one of Dr Craddocks pioneering reports.

It transforms understanding of pre-modern societies through the perspective of large-scale economic activities underway. Dr Craddock added another facet when he said, it would suffice to say in India by the 12th century CE, production of zinc at Zawar was beginning on an industrial scalewe can thus confirm Zawar as the earliest known zinc mine in the world.

Having conducted original research on agriculture, agri-sciences and astrology in 16th and 17th centuries CE, Dr Shri Krishna underscored the importance of original works in Sanskrit available in archives in Ajmer, Bikaner, Udaipur besides the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.

Pratap's biggest contribution, and the most visionary and long-lasting, are three major works of Chakrapani Misra, he said adding, The first and most famous is Vishwa Vallabh, dedicated to agriculture and agri-sciences. Think of it, in 16th century CE, the work commissioned by Rana Pratap was titled 'Vishwa'. His vision was global; he was thinking for a world far beyond the limited confines of Mewar!

Chakrapani presents, in chaste poetic Sanskrit, the importance of preserving an entire ecosystem. Said Dr Shri Krishna, Vrishti, vann and vayu - rain, forest, and the air, this was the focus of Mewar even when the threat of battles was imminent and real. Water and water bodies were given due importance long before the United Nations could think of Sustainable Developmental Goals! Mewar under Rana Pratap was showing the way with authentic research and technical documents; this was our ancient knowledge, and we had the competence to accomplish it for public good." Chakrapani Mishra's works include 'Muhurthamala' and 'Rajyabhishekh paddhati'; these Sanskrit works are documentation of living heritage of those times.

Tracing a long journey from 16th century CE to modern times, Dr SK Sharma, zonal research director of Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology said, Mewars contribution to agriculture can best be understood through its water bodies, lakes, and well-planned water management systems. That is why Udaipur till date is known as the city of lakes.

Atop the picturesque Moti Magri in Udaipur, the Maharana Pratap Smarak Samiti is working towards realizing several objectives of the Rana. Ecology, environmental protection and afforestation are major objectives for us, said Dr Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar who as Samiti head is working on development initiatives in heritage-cities of Gogunda, Chavand where the legacy of Rana Pratap continues to remain alive.

Dr Lakshyaraj, whose family is directly descended from Maharana Pratap, said, We have not given equal attention to other facets of this great leader's life and times. His deep concern about agriculture and agri-practices is a major domain which has been ignored and not given its due."

In the age of climate change, carbon footprints and deforestation, lessons from Maharana Pratap and Mewar seem more relevant, essential, and imperative.
New Delhi: Reacting to a Varanasi court's order on the Gyanvapi mosque, BJP leader Uma Bharti on Wednesday demanded that temples should be built in Kashi and Mathura at the "original places". She said Hindus must get the right to worship. The Vishva Hindu Parishad also hailed the court's order. Uma Bharti during the Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony, in Ayodhya on January 22.(PTI)

Varanasi's district court today granted the permission to the family of a priest to worship Hindu Gods in the Gyanvapi mosque's cellar.

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Uma Bharti said she had worshipped the idols on Gyanvapi's walls in 1993.

"After the decision of the Varanasi District Court, I would again request that like Ayodhya, the temples should be built at the original places in Mathura and Kashi and the right to worship should be given to Hindus. Hand over these places to Hindus, this is the complete solution," the former Union minister posted on her X account.

Bharti also said she had proposed in Parliament in 1991 that Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi should be handed over to Hindus.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad also welcomed the court's decision. The BJP, however, refrained from commenting on the matter.

Also read: Ram Temple priest reacts to Varanasi court's order allowing prayers in Gyanvapi mosque's cellar

VHP working president Alok Kumar said: "Today, a court in Kashi has given a very important decision filling the hearts of every Hindu with joy. We are glad that the court said that the petitioner and Kashi Vishwanath can together appoint a pujari to ensure conduct of regular 'puja-archana' there. This has happened after 31 years."

Hindu side counsel Madan Mohan Yadav today said the district court has directed the DM of Varanasi to make arrangements within seven days to allow puja in the cellar by Shailendra Kumar Pathak.

Pathak's maternal grandfather Somnath Vyay used to perform puja till 1993, when the cellar was closed by the authorities.

Also read: 'Pillars from old temple...': What ASI survey said about Gyanvapi mosque cellars in Varanasi

Yadav said the Kashi Vishwanath Trust will help conduct the puja.

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav on Wednesday hailed the reported decision.

The mosque is situated next to Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Hindu litigants claim the mosque was built after demolishing a part of the temple.

In 2022, the court had ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to hold a scientific survey to prove if there was a pre-existing temple before the mosque was constructed.

Last week, the lawyers of the Hindu side claimed the ASI found remnants of a grand Hindu temple that existed before the temple was built.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
The ruling alliance in Jharkhand elected transports minister Champai Soren as JMM legislative party leader, Congress's state unit chief Rajesh Thakur said on Wednesday, paving the way for him to take up the chief minister's role in the state. Jharkhand Transport Minister Champai Soren speaking to the media.(ANI)

The development came amid speculations that the incumbent chief minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, could be arrested by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

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Soren was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case in his official residence for more than six hours amid heavy security cover and hectic political activities.

Who is Champai Soren?

Champai Soren is a prominent tribal leader and politician from the state of Jharkhand. The 67-year-old leader currently serves in the Jharkhand government as minister of transport.

Born into a family rooted in agricultural farming, Champai Soren, son of Simal Soren, received his early education in the government school and studied till 10th grade. His entry into politics coincided with the burgeoning demands for a separate Jharkhand state, where he swiftly aligned himself with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

His political ascent saw notable milestones, including his participation in the Jharkhand movement, where he earned the moniker 'Jharkhand Tiger' for his fervent advocacy. Champai first won as an independent candidate in a crucial by-election from the Saraikela constituency.

Also read: Congress hides soft-target Jharkhand MLAs as Champai Soren awaits governor's invite

Objection over Kalpana Soren's name

Amid the political turmoil in Jharkhand, a PTI report suggested that the name of Hemant Soren's wife, Kalpana, as the next CM was objected to by JMM MLA Sita Soren, his sister-in-law. Kalpana Soren was present at the meeting of alliance legislators at the CM's residence on Tuesday.

Sita Soren, the widow of former chief minister Shibu Soren's elder son Durga, told PTI: I would like to ask why only Kalpana Soren, who is not even an MLA and has no political experience. Under what circumstances her (Kalpana's) name is being touted as the next chief minister when there are so many senior leaders in the party.
However, this collides with the disqualification of Corina Machado's presidential candidacy , he noted in remarks to Red de Comunicacion Regional (RCR).
Former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren who was arrested by the ED on Wednesday night took to X and said that he would not accept defeat. In his first reaction after the arrest, Soren said, It's a break. life is a great battle. I have fought every moment, I will fight every moment. But I will not beg for compromise. Hemant Soren(PTI)

I will not give up in vain I will not accept defeat Jai Jharkhand! he added.

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Hemant Soren was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate at Ranchi on Wednesday moments after he demitted the office of Jharkhand chief minister. The 48-year-old politician was subsequently transported to the probe agency's office in connection with its investigation into an alleged land scam in the state.

The incident unfolded just 48 hours after the federal agency had meticulously organized an operation to apprehend the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader in Delhi. Despite deploying teams at his Delhi residence and the airport in the national capital, he successfully evaded capture and travelled by road to reach Ranchi on Tuesday.

We have evidence that Hemant Soren had grabbed some parcel of land under probe in Jharkhand, which was illegally obtained by others through falsified documents, an officer of the Enforcement Directorate told HT.

A Kolkata-based businessman named Amit Kumar Agarwal, arrested by the probe agency on June 7 last year, played a crucial role in Hemant Soren's arrest. Agarwal is suspected to be the handler of illicit funds involving various politicians, including the then chief minister of Jharkhand, as alleged in a PIL filed in the Jharkhand High Court in 2021 by lawyer Rajeev Kumar.

Despite evading ED questioning on at least seven occasions since August last year, Hemant Soren eventually agreed to be interrogated on January 20 at his Ranchi residence. Subsequently, the agency summoned him to appear on January 29 or 31. On Wednesday, the ED team reached his official residence in the state's capital, questioning him for nearly seven hours before formally arresting him at the ED's Ranchi office, coinciding with the JMM leader's resignation submitted to the governor.

Officials have stated that he will be presented before a court on Thursday, during which the agency will elucidate the specific charges against him.

(With inputs from agencies)
New Zealand has announced it is banning PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) or forever chemicals in cosmetic products from December 31, 2026; it is one of the first countries to do so in a move aimed at protecting consumers and environment. Used in cosmetic products like nail polish, shaving cream, foundation, lipstick, and mascara, PFAS are added to smooth the skin, or to make cosmetic products more durable, spreadable and water resistant. These chemicals dont break down easily and can build up in the bodies and can be highly toxic. According to Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), banning the chemicals in cosmetics is part of the ongoing response, which includes phasing out all PFAS-firefighting foams and testing for background levels of PFAS in the New Zealand environment. (Also read | Toxins in everyday life: Types, their effects and where they are found) PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are 'forever chemicals' known for their persistence in the environment. Know how they are damaging your health(Freepik)

What are PFAS?

"PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are 'forever chemicals' known for their persistence in the environment. Linked to cancers, birth defects, and immune system issues, these substances pose very serious health risks. They accumulate in the body over time, raising concerns about long-term exposure. To protect against PFAS, it's vital to understand their presence in everyday products, like cosmetics, and support initiatives like New Zealand's ban. Adopting stringent regulations and testing for PFAS levels in the environment are crucial steps. By doing so, we safeguard public health and create a precedent for collective action, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive measures in combating the adverse effects of these persistent substances," says Dr Nidhin Mohan, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Narayana Health City, Bengaluru.

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large, complex group of 15000 synthetic chemicals that have been used in consumer products around the world since about the 1950s.

"They are used to make heat, oil, stains, grease, and water Fluoropolymer coatings in a variety of products such clothing, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, heat-resistant non-stick cooking surfaces, and the insulation of electrical wire. Many PFAs do not break down in the environment and can move through soils and contaminate drinking water sources and accumulate in fish and wildlife," says Dr Tushar Tayal, Consultant, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram.

Is there any difference between PFAS and forever chemicals?

"Forever chemicals is another name for PFAs and these chemicals are everywhere from our nonstick cookware to our waterproof clothes, and smartphones. The chemicals are even in our drinking water and bloodstreams," says Dr Tayal.

Ill effects of PFAS on human health

People are most likely exposed to these chemicals by consuming PFAS-contaminated water or food, using products made with PFAS, or breathing air containing PFAS. Dr Tayal shares adverse effects of these chemicals on human health.

Research on PFAS toxicity suggests associations between increases in exposure to (specific) PFAS and certain health effects:

Increase in cholesterol levels

Lower antibody response to some vaccines

Changes in liver enzymes

Pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia

Small decreases in birth weight

Kidney and testicular cancer

How to prevent PFAS exposure?

"Until the government and the health agencies worldwide do a thorough research and accordingly ban the offending agents, the responsibility of our health lies with us. We can proactively avoid using plastic containers to store food and use steel cookware instead non-stick cookware. Water should also be stored in glass or steel bottles instead of plastic bottles. Also use cloth bags instead of plastic bags," says Dr Tayal.
Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar was on Wednesday sworn in as Malaysia's new king . He took the oath of office in a ceremony held at the national palace in the country's capital Kuala Lumpur. The ceremony was witnessed by other royal families, prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and cabinet members. New Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, front center, walks out after the oath taking ceremony at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday(AP)

Malaysia has a unique system of monarchy under which the heads of Malaysia's nine royal families take turns to be the king, every five years. Ibrahim has succeeded Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who is returning to lead his home state of Pahang having completed his five-year tenure as the king.

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ALSO READ| Huge shipwreck washes up on beach in Canada, officials investigating

About Malaysia's new king

65-year-old Ibrahim is a billionaire who has an extensive business empire ranging from real estate to telecoms and power plants.

His wife Raja Zarith Sofiah is an Oxford graduate and a prolific writer who has authored several childrens books. The royal couple have five sons and a daughter.

Details about Ibrahim Iskandar's enormous wealth

Ibrahim has a fleet of jets, including a gold -and-blue Boeing 737. The new king also has a huge collection of cars and motorcycles.

He has a private army as well.

He owns $4 billion worth of land in Singapore, reported NDTV.

Ibrahim has an investment portfolio of $1.1 billion with substantial cash flow from share and real estate transactions. He has a stake in the multibillion-dollar Forest City development project in Johor.

Powers of the king in Malaysia

Malaysia's king plays a largely ceremonial role, as administrative power is vested in the prime minister and the parliament. The king is highly regarded as the protector of Islam and Malay tradition.

He is the nominal head of the government and the armed forces. All laws, cabinet appointments and the dissolution of parliament for general elections require his assent. He has the power to proclaim an emergency and pardon criminals.
Norway is preparing for its most powerful storm in three decades. Authorities on Wednesday issued a warning and urged people to stay indoors. The storm has been named Ingunn by Norwegian meteorologists. It is expected to land in central Norway around midday Wednesday before moving north Thursday. Norway is preparing for its most powerful storm in three decades. (AFP)

As per warnings by Norway police, gusts of 126 to 180 kilometres per hour are expected. Authorities have issued a red warning, the highest level, for the area around the city of Trondheim, where strong winds were expected Wednesday. Another red warning also was issued for the Lofoten islands, up north along the coast in the Arctic.

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Red hazard warnings are rare and must be taken with the utmost seriousness, said Nils Karb of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration as quoted by news agency AP.

ALSO READ| Watch: Massive pipeline explosion in Oklahoma sparks huge plume of smoke, no injuries reported

It is important to secure loose objects and assess whether work taking place outdoors can be changed or postponed, said Gunn Robstad Andersen of the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority. She added that employers should encourage people to work from home and avoid unnecessary travel.

In the wake of the predictions, schools, roads, tunnels and bridges across Norway have been closed. Some ferry lines linking Norwegians islands have also suspended their services.

Police have asked people to avoid going outside if possible, and to watch for flying objects when doing so.
Mike Gill, a former member of Donald Trump's administration, is in critical condition after being shot during a night of carjackings in Washington, D.C. Former Trump administration member shot during violent string of carjackings in D.C.(X)

The incident unfolds

The attack happened on Monday evening around 5:45 p.m. in the 900 block of K Street NW. Reports suggest that the suspect entered Gill's car, shot him, and fled the scene.

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A family's heartfelt words

Gill's family describes him as an "amazing" husband, father, friend, and colleague. A spokesperson stated, "His warmth and kindness have touched the lives of many."

Community figure attacked

Gill's ability to connect with people made him a community figure. His family emphasises his love for his three children and his deep respect for his wife, Kristina.

Part of a disturbing trend

Gill's carjacking is part of a violent string of armed carjackings in D.C. and Maryland, according to Metropolitan Police Department officials.

Rampage continues

The same gunman attempted another carjacking two hours later and eventually shot a man, who tragically died at a nearby hospital. The suspect stole a Chrysler 200 and later abandoned it in a local park.

Escalating chaos

The suspect continued the rampage, carjacking a Toyota Camry, then a rideshare pickup, and later a Nissan Rogue. Shots were fired at a Maryland State Police trooper and a D.C. police officer, fortunately, without injuries.

Authorities swiftly respond

State and local authorities collaborated to locate and confront the suspect. Early Tuesday, New Carrollton police officers shot and killed the suspect in Prince George's County.

Suspect's identity unknown

As of now, the suspect remains unidentified, leaving authorities and the community searching for answers.

Reflection on a night of tragedy

The chaos left a community in shock, highlighting the importance of addressing and preventing such incidents. Our thoughts are with Mike Gill and all those affected by this tragic series of events.
In a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham didn't hold back, accusing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg of having "blood" on his hands. The hearing, titled "Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis," witnessed intense exchanges and a spotlight on youth safety. Let's break down the key moments and developments from the hearing so far. Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. Congress has increasingly scrutinized social media platforms as growing evidence suggests that excessive use and the proliferation of harmful content may be damaging young people's mental health. Photographer: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg(Bloomberg)

Senator Lindsey Graham's Strong Words:

Senator Lindsey Graham didn't mince words, directly telling Zuckerberg, "Mr. Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us, you have blood on your hands. You have a product that's killing people."

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Graham highlighted the tragic story of South Carolina State House Rep. Brandon Guffey, whose son fell victim to a scam on Instagram, leading to devastating consequences. To which the Meta CEO said, "That's terrible. I mean, no one should have to go through something like that." Graham questioned Zuckerberg about Guffey's ability to sue Meta, to which Zuckerberg responded, "I think that they can sue us."

Responsibility Shift:

Zuckerberg suggested that Apple and Google, not social media companies, should bear the responsibility of checking users' ages to prevent underage access to apps. The Meta CEO proposed legislation regulating app store owners, emphasising the need for parental consent for app downloads.

My understanding is Apple and Google, or at least Apple, already requires parental consent when a child does a payment with an app. So it should be pretty trivial to pass a law that requires them to make it so that parents have control anytime a child downloads an app, Meta CEO said.

Section 230 scrutiny:

Senator Graham emphasised the need to reconsider Section 230, the federal law providing immunity to tech platforms for content moderation decisions. Graham's call to repeal Section 230 resonated with the audience, triggering applause and cheers.

Internal warnings from senior Meta executives:

Newly released internal documents revealed that senior Meta executives had expressed concerns about the company's handling of youth safety, warning Zuckerberg in 2021. The documents indicate internal disagreements and highlight potential underinvestment in user safety.

Recent safety measures for teens by Meta:

In response to the lawsuits and accusations, Meta asserts it has numerous tools to ensure teen safety and support parents on its platforms. Meta rolled out a series of youth safety policies and features weeks ahead of the hearing. These include hiding inappropriate content, expanding search term restrictions, introducing a "nighttime nudge," adjusting default privacy settings for teens, and partnering with the Center for Open Science for privacy-preserving data sharing.
The CEOs of top social media platforms like TikTok, Meta, and X are set to appear at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the safety of children online. On Wednesday, top executives of widely used social media apps- CEO of X, formerly Twitter, Linda Yaccarino, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, and Discord CEO Jason Citron will testify before Congress alongside TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew arrives to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on online child safety on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)(AP)

CEO Shou Zi Chew pledges to spend $2 billion for the safety of children on TikTok

Ahead of the Senate hearing, Shou Zi Chew has vowed to spend $2 billion to protect the children who use the popular video-sharing platform TikTok. According to Bloomberg, Chew is planning to spend a hefty amount on trust and global safety at his company, which consists of a team of over 40,000.

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Chew is expected to unveil the details of his plans to protect 170 million users on his platform at the hearing in Washington. The outlet adds that he is also planning to bring into focus various policies around teenagers on TikTok. Among those policies is that those under the age of 16 will be prohibited from sending messages.

Moreover, the videos shared by teenagers under 16 will not be able to be downloaded. Such videos will also not be recommended to users they aren't already connected with on the platform. For those aged 17 and under, TikTok will have a pre-set screen limit time of 60 minutes, after which a password will be required to use the platform.

Per Bloomberg, Chew's prepared testimony reveals that TikTok uses a special technology to review public content, which monitors and filters out prohibited sexual imagery, including those of children. The outlet adds that Chew will also share with the court that his company uses third-party applications like PhotoDNA and Take It Down to moderate direct messages.
An explosion took place on a natural gas pipeline operated by DCP Midstream near the Texas-Oklahoma border on Tuesday night, sending the flames over 500 feet into the air, local media reported. An explosion took place on a natural gas pipeline operated by DCP Midstream near the Texas-Oklahoma border on Tuesday night.(Elmwood Fire/Facebook)

"Flames are shooting 500-feet into the air. Crews are staged a 'safe distance' away until the gas can be turned off," Reuters reported, citing the Booker fire department.

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Multiple agencies reacted to the incident, and technicians were stationed a "safe distance" away until the gas could be shut off, the agency said.

The videos of the explosion show flames soaring far into the sky and torching what seem to be nearby electrical cables.

Also Read: Horrifying video shows Oklahoma highway trooper flying through the air after being hit by speeding car

Are there any health threats to neighboring residences?

According to local television station KVII, the fire broke out near a road intersection about a mile from the state line in Beaver County, Oklahoma, between Darrouzett and Logan. The incident happened around 9:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday.

No injuries have been reported so far and the cause of the explosion has not been announced yet.

"There have been no injuries associated with the incident and no health threats to neighboring residences," a spokesperson for Phillips 66 told Newsweek. "Phillips 66 has shut in the affected section of pipeline and has made the appropriate regulatory notifications."

According to a Phillips 66 representative, the rupture's source is still unknown, and the company's "first priority in responding to this incident is ensuring the safety and health of its workers, emergency responders, and the surrounding community."

Also Read: Animal control to pick up 'furries' from schools? Oklahoma's bizarre new proposed bill

We are 36 miles away from the fire: locals react

Meanwhile, locals reacted to the Elmwood Fire Department's social media post and confirmed that they could see the massive blaze from miles away.

"Crews from several departments are staged at a safe distance until the gas can be turned off," Booker Fire Department said in one of the videos. ...The flames are estimated to reach over 500 feet high.

"We are 36 miles away from the fire and we can see it," one person wrote on Facebook, while another said, That looks like a tornado fire.

Several U.S. states have witnessed anumber of gas pipeline explosions in recent years. A gas line near Strasburg, western Virginia, exploded along I-81 last year in July.Before the fire was suppressed, the explosion caused a brief shutdown of the highway and the pipeline.
A year after a disastrous train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, caused havoc with toxic chemical spills, President Biden plans a belated visit in February 2024. Former President Trump criticises Biden's delayed visit to East Palestine, calling it politically motivated. ((AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta))

Trump's Truth Social rant:

Former President Trump, expressing his views on Truth Social, criticised Biden's delayed trip, calling it politically motivated and highlighting the ongoing global crises.

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Trump's words: "With the World blowing up around us, with the Middle East on FIRE, Biden has finally decided to visit East Palestine, Ohio, a year late, and only to develop some political credibility because EVERYTHING else he has done has been such a DISASTER."

Biden's timing criticised:

Trump emphasized that Biden's timing for the visit is questionable, considering the multitude of global issues. He predicts a chilly reception, labelling Biden as the "Worst President in History."

Trump's past response:

Trump, who visited East Palestine soon after the derailment, provided aid and called the federal response a "betrayal." His actions during the crisis resonate with the local community. "I know those great people, I was there when it counted, and his reception won't be a warm one."

Biden's previous choices:

Biden's decision to visit Kyiv around the same time raised eyebrows, with Mayor Conaway calling it a "slap in the face" to the East Palestine community. "A year late, and only to develop some political credibility because EVERYTHING else he has done has been such a DISASTER," says Conaway.

Busy schedule explanation:

When questioned about not visiting East Palestine earlier, Biden cited a busy schedule and other commitments, despite taking vacations during the intervening period. "I had not had the time to go despite taking several vacations in the intervening period," Biden responded.

Ongoing cleanup efforts:

A year post-derailment, cleanup operations persist, focusing on removing contaminated soil and treating polluted waterways caused by the toxic spills.

NTSB findings:

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation determined that an overheated wheel bearing caused the train derailment.

NTSB's conclusion: "The derailment was caused by an overheated wheel bearing failing on one of the train cars."
YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, a consultation was held, during which the master plan of the Academic City was presented.



The meeting was attended by members of the Board of Trustees of the "Academic City" Foundation, Tobias Keyl, Deputy Director of the gmp International GmbH Architects and Engineers company, which is developing the master plan of the Academic City, and heads of concerned departments, the PM's Office said in a readout.

Tobias Keyl presented details about the design and research works of the "Academic City" project, discussions with stakeholders and noted that as a result, the vision of the "Academic City" was reaffirmed. He noted that the main concept will be ready by the second half of this year and emphasized that related processes can already be launched.

The participants of the meeting discussed in detail issues related to engineering infrastructure, road network, landscape. Recommendations and observations related to the topic were presented.

Based on the result of the discussion, the Prime Minister gave specific instructions to the officials regarding the creation of the infrastructure of the "Academic City" and a number of other issues.
French President Emmanuel Macron is in Sweden for a two-day visit to the Nordic nation, with the main objectives being the country's NATO membership and the war in Ukraine.

On Tuesday (Jan. 30), Macron was received by Swedish monarch, King Carl XVI Gustaf, at Stockholm's royal palace.

He would also discuss the future of European security at a military academy in the Swedish capital together with Carl Gustaf and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, the Associated Press reported.

After Sweden, Macron is scheduled to travel to Ukraine in February.

Read Also: Swedish PM Kristersson Willing to Meet Hungary's Orban to Finalize NATO Membership

Macron Talks about Sweden's NATO bid, War in Ukraine

It was earlier reported that Turkey has approved the Swedish application to become part of NATO, with Hungary being the only nation in the bloc yet to approve it.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Sweden and Finland abandoned their traditional positions of neutrality and military nonalignment to seek protection under NATO, with Finland entering the alliance last year.

The French president initially was to travel to Sweden in late October, but the visit was postponed due to the Gaza war that began with Hamas's attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Meanwhile, back in France, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal was left behind after being ordered by Macron to deal with the protesters attempting to besiege Paris and other regional centers as part of a larger farmers' revolt across Europe.

Related Article: France: Farmers Threaten 'Quasi-Military Siege' of Paris, Major Cities as Protests Continue
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh confirmed on Tuesday, Jan. 30 that his group has received a proposal for a hostage deal with Israel, saying that it would study the details and be "open" to serious discussions as hundreds more hostages remain in Gaza for over 100 days.

Sky News reported that the group would submit its response to the proposal made by US, Egyptian, Israeli, and Qatari officials "on the basis that the priority is to stop the aggression," pertaining to Israel's offensive on the strip.

However, Haniyeh added, any deal would require a complete and permanent ceasefire, a prospect Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet are not considering.

"The movement is open to discussing any serious and practical initiatives or ideas, provided that they lead to a comprehensive cessation of aggression... lifting the siege, and achieving a serious prisoner exchange," his statement said.

Senior Hamas officials have also been invited to Egypt for talks on the deal.

Read Also: IDF Demolishes Gaza Cemetery Used by Hamas as Military Cover

NZ, 6 Other Countries Cut UNRWA Funding

Meanwhile, New Zealand, France, Austria, The Netherlands, Iceland, Romania, and Estonia have joined several other countries, including the US and UK, in suspending their funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) amid allegations that several employees were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel.

According to The Independent, the European Commission also said that no additional funding would be provided to UNRWA until the end of February, indirectly suggesting it would join individual nations in its boycott against the UN agency. The commission also said that upcoming funding decisions would be determined in light of the "very serious allegations" of UNRWA employees participating in the Hamas attack.

However, the Spanish government announced that it would not be making "any modification" in its relations with UNRWA, with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares calling UNRWA an "indispensable" agency in mitigating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Albares also stressed that there were no more than 12 of its 30,000 employees involved in the Hamas attack.

The stance was similar to that of UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, who warned that the UNRWA's operations in Gaza would collapse with the continued defunding of several nations.

Related Article: Palestinian Relief Agency Employees Allegedly Participated in Hamas Assault on Southern Israel, Document Claims
Toyota issued a "do not drive" advisory for 2003-2004 Corolla, 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix, and model year 2004-2005 RAV4 vehicles on Tuesday (Jan. 30) because of their use of defective Takata airbags that could explode and injure or kill drivers.

The company also advised customers not to drive their vehicles to their dealerships. Instead, they would offer mobile repair at the vehicle's location or towing services.

The recall followed a similar but larger one last December, which impacted 1.12 million vehicles.

"If the airbag deploys, a part inside is more likely to explode and shoot sharp metal fragments which could cause serious injury or death," the Japanese automobile company stated in its advisory, adding that they would repair or replace the airbags free of charge.

Part of the recall included about 50,000 vehicles in the US and around 7,300 in Canada.

Read Also: Toyota Battery Fire Hazard Leads to Massive Recall

Defective Takata Airbags

Time reported that Takata airbags led to some of the largest recalls in motor vehicle history, which has since impacted over 100 million products and over 20 automobile manufacturers. There have been at least 27 deaths and 400 injuries in the US since the recall was introduced, according to US Department of Transportation data.

In 2017, Takata filed for bankruptcy after years of recalls, lawsuits, and a criminal investigation, with its assets sold to Chinese-owned Key Safety Systems.

Meanwhile, Toyota has also been facing issues regarding the shipment of various models with diesel engines due to an affiliate misleading Japanese officials over certification tests.

When asked about the scandals at Toyota's subsidiaries, the company's president Koji Sata cited workplace pressures and a highly competitive industry.

"We recognize that not only people at the testing site but also management did not have proper understanding of certification," he added.

Those who think they are affected by the recall could input their vehicle identification number at Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Related Article: GM Recalls Roughly 900 Cars Due to Issue With Takata Air Bag Inflators
American Airlines will improve its customer service department by laying off employees. This is quite a surprising plan for the U.S.-based travel company.

Most organizations and companies tend to increase their customer service representatives to ensure that all their consumers are being accommodated properly.

This can give them numerous advantages, such as reducing the wait times that customers need to go through when calling the customer service department.

But, American Airlines has another thing in mind. Unfortunately, its effort leads to a mass layoff that will affect hundreds of staff.

American Airlines To Layoff Hundreds of Customer Service Reps

On Monday, Jan. 29, American Airlines confirmed that it will be laying off 656 employees in its customer service department. Among the affected staff are those in Phoenix, which will be 335 staff, as well as another 321 customer support employees in Dallas-Fort Worth.

These AA staff are part of the Customer Relations Central Baggage Resolution, as well as the AAdvantage Customer Service group. These groups are under American Airlines' Service Recovery Team.

For those who are unfamiliar with this department, it is responsible for assisting customers of AA with their concerns. Most of the queries they resolve are after-flight issues.

These include damaged baggage, loyalty program problems, and lost items. Since they mainly focus on after-flight issues, they no longer handle reservation processes.

American Airlines promised that it would work closely with affected employees to support them through the transition. Those who are lucky will be offered exclusive access to job openings throughout AA.

"The immediate impact will be on roughly 600 jobs, but the company is looking to accommodate employees in other roles, which will mitigate the impact," said AA Reservations and Service Recovery Vice President Carolyne Truelove via CNBC.

Read Also: American Airlines Passenger Removed From Flight After Excessive Farting-Here's the Full Story

How Layoff Can Improve AA's Customer Service Department

According to Fox Business' latest report, American Airlines' customers are being handled by multiple team teams to handle their issues.

This could be stressful for passengers since they have to talk with different AA employees just to solve one concern. Because of this, American Airlines plans to eliminate the inconvenience of reaching out to multiple AA staff.

The Texas-based airline said that it will do this by launching its new Customer Success team. AA said that this new team will be dedicated to offering "more convenient, elevated support" to their customers, especially on most complex travel needs.

Related Article: American Airlines Flight Attendant Charged for Allegedly Recording Young Girls in Aircraft Restroom
Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah announced on Tuesday the suspension of all its military operations against US forces in the region to prevent "embarrassment" of the Iraqi government.

Iran-aligned groups have been attacking Israeli and US targets from Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria since their Palestinian ally Hamas and Israel started fighting on October 7.

Kataib Hezbollah Suspends Military Operations Against US Forces

Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, the secretary-general of Kataib Hezbollah, said in a statement posted on Telegram, "We will continue to defend our people in Gaza in other ways as we announce the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces - to prevent the embarrassment of the Iraqi government."

The Pentagon announced on Sunday that a drone attack near the Jordan-Syria border killed three US forces and left footprints of Kataib Hezbollah, which opened a new chapter in the conflict. However, a formal evaluation has not yet been done.

A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on the group's statement, saying, "Actions speak louder than words."

Kataib Hezbollah is the most powerful faction within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of hardline Shi'ite armed factions that launched over 150 strikes on US forces in Iraq and Syria.

The US retaliated with deadly strikes in both Syria and Iraq in a cycle of increasing violence that Iraqi officials said threatened to undo progress toward strengthening the country after decades of conflict.

Foreign affairs adviser Farhad Alaadin reported that Kataib Hezbollah's decision came after days of intense efforts by Iraq's prime minister to prevent a new escalation following the attack in Jordan.

Alaadin said in an interview that prime minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has worked hard in the past few days, engaging with all relevant parties inside and outside Iraq. He added that all sides need to support the efforts of Al-Sudani to prevent any possible escalation.

Iran has denied any role in the attacks carried out by Iraqi groups, claiming that members of Iran's "Axis of Resistance" plan and execute operations by themselves.

According to Western and Iraqi sources, the government of Iraq is supported by parties and armed groups close to Iran but not directly by the hardline groups that have been firing on US forces. Baghdad has denounced the attacks and said that there will be regional escalation as long as the Gaza war continues.

Read Also: Hamas Studies New Truce Proposal

At Least 3 US Troops Killed in Jordan

President Joe Biden and US officials said on Sunday that three US troops were killed and at least 34 had been injured in a drone attack by Iran-backed militants on US forces in northeastern Jordan.

It is the first deadly attack against US forces since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in October, which sparked a major escalation in tensions that have enveloped the Middle East.

Biden said that they are still gathering the facts of the attack, but they know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.

"Have no doubt - we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing," he added.

Related Article: Biden Vows Retaliation After 3 US Troops Killed in Drone Attack in Jordan


French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the European Union to make bold decisions to defend Ukraine, preventing any US decision to withhold or reduce its military support.

Macron arrived in Sweden on Tuesday for a two-day state visit. He is scheduled to meet with the Scandinavian monarch, King Carl XVI Gustaf, and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

Macron Urges EU to Defend Ukraine

Macron said in a speech in Sweden, which aspires to be the next country to join NATO that the future security architecture of Europe, including arms control agreements covering European territory, could no longer be settled simply by the US and Russia, and Europe must have the authority to determine its future.

His speech was intended to warn Europe that it needed to step up its defense efforts. He noted that it had to prepare for the possibility that either Biden would not be able to get Congress to approve his budget for military aid to Ukraine or that isolationist Donald Trump would defeat him later in the year in a presidential election.

The president also argued that the US could no longer control future relations with Moscow through NATO if Europe intervened and helped to prevent a Russian victory.

While speaking with Kristersson at the Swedish Defence Academy, Macron declared, "This is a decisive and testing moment for Europe. We must be ready to act to defend and support Ukraine whatever it takes and whatever America decides."

He continued that Europe had been lucky to have America as a partner, but they had to be lucid. He noted that Ukraine is part of the European continent, and whatever America decides, they have to make the right and bold decisions to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

Furthermore, he insisted that Europe must make Russia lose for years to come, at whatever cost. If Europe wins, it will not have a functional security architecture, which would affect NATO's eastern flank, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.

Macron said that the real cost to them of a Russian victory in the short and long run is too high for all of them. He argued that for Ukraine to be in a position to negotiate a lasting peace, Europe would need to step up its defense production effort.

Read Also: Philippines' Marcos Hoping for Maritime Cooperation With Vietnam During State Visit

Macron Supports Europe's Military Purchases

Macron commended Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for her demand early in December for the EU to develop new ways of raising funds to finance Europe's military purchases in response to Russia's invasion.

He claimed that he wanted to praise their colleague Kaja Kallas for her bold decision for their defense industry strategy to have some grant approach to raising more funds to finance support.

EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday at the European Council to discuss aid to Ukraine as the conflict approaches its second anniversary.

Related Article: Macron Visits Stockholm to Tackle Sweden's NATO Membership




Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor hired by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to lead the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump, avoids testimony in an affair case by reaching a divorce settlement.

The prosecutor will not be required to testify this week about his alleged romantic relationship with Willis. The resolution of the matter between Wade and his wife, Joycelyn Wade, for now, leaves unanswered a question that has placed the district attorney's high-profile prosecution of the former president and more than a dozen aides at risk.

Nathan Wade's Divorce Settlement

Willis hired Wade in 2021 while he was a lawyer in private practice to help her run the Trump case, adding that she needed a trustworthy confidant for the job. However, three weeks ago, a filing from one of Trump's co-defendants, Michael Roman, claimed that the two were romantically involved. He also claimed that the two had taken vacations that were paid for by Wade.

Roman also said that the situation amounted to a conflict of interest and claimed that it was grounds for removing both prosecutors from the case. He also believes that the district attorney's entire office should go along with them, as per the New York Times.

Since the allegations surfaced, neither Wade nor Willis have confirmed nor denied the claims that they were in a romantic relationship. Recently, however, it seemed increasingly likely that the special prosecutor could be forced to address the claims at a divorce hearing on Wednesday where he was expected to take the stand.

But the hearing was hurried at the last minute and the judge on Tuesday afternoon announced a "temporary agreement." A spokeswoman for Wade's divorce lawyer, Andrea Dyer Hastings, said that the final details of the case are being worked out.

Now, Willis has until Friday to respond to Roman's filing against her and it remains unclear whether or not she will address the relationship allegations in her response. Despite the allegations, the former Trump campaign staff member's filing did not offer any evidence of the supposed romantic relationship between Wade and Willis.

Read Also: Ex-IRS Contractor Sentenced to 5 Years for Leaking Tax Records

Fani Willis Affair Case

Roman's claims also showed bank statements that appear to have shown the flights that were purchased for Wade and Willis to San Francisco and Miami. While the district attorney was previously subpoenaed in the divorce case, a judge temporarily paused her deposition until after Wade was questioned, according to The Hill.

With Wade avoiding testimony in the case on Wednesday, it is highly likely that the Fulton County district attorney will also not be required to speak. Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the 2020 Georgia election interference case, ordered Willis to respond to Roman's allegations in writing by Friday.

On top of the affair allegations, Trump's lawyer in the Georgia case, Steve Sadow, accused the district attorney of violating the state's rules of professional conduct. He argued that she accused her critics of "playing the race card" in a fiery speech at an Atlanta church.

The rules in question state that the prosecutor in a criminal case shall "refrain from making extrajudicial comments that have a substantial likelihood of heightening public condemnation of the accused," said the Washington Post.



Related Article: NRA Chief Wayne LaPierre Admits To Misuse of Agency Funds for Private Flights, Handbag for Wife
The French government announced new measures in an attempt to quell the anger of protesting farmers who have blocked roads and highways across the country with tractors.

The European nation's new prime minister, Gabriel Attal, showed promises of assistance on Tuesday. These new measures include emergency cash aid and controls on imported food that seek to address the issues that farmers are currently facing.

French Government's New Measures

The protesters are demanding better pay, fewer constraints, and lower costs as they camped out on hay-strewn highways and encircled Paris. They are posing the biggest challenge to Attal since he was appointed less than a month ago.

Since becoming the prime minister, he has sought to assuage the farmers' concerns in a sweeping policy speech on Tuesday at the National Assembly. He said that they need to listen to the farmers who he described as working and worried about their future and their livelihood.

Attal argued that the goal is clear, which is guaranteeing fair competition, especially so that regulations that are being applied to farmers in the country are also respected by foreign products, as per the Associated Press.

The French prime minister also said that protection against cheap imports is one of the main demands of the farmers. Attal also promised emergency aid to struggling wine producers and quick payments of EU subsidies to others.

He said that food retailers who do not comply with a law meant to ensure a fair share of revenues for farmers will have to pay a fine. French farmers spent several days in protest and also spent nights at barricades on Monday and Tuesday.

They then pressed their case that growing and rearing food has now become too difficult and sufficiently lucrative. They also rejected pro-agriculture measures that the prime minister announced last week, calling them insufficient.

Attal also said that he had gathered a coalition of 22 European Union countries to agree on an EU waiver on fallow land. He noted that they are now close to achieving a new extension of the exemption to benefit farmers, according to Aljazeera.

Read Also: France Fails To Appease Farmers' Outrage as Demonstrations Continue To Spread

Farmers' Protest

The prime minister pledged that his government stands ready to resolve the current crisis without ambiguity" and praised the agriculture sector as "our force and our pride." Currently, farmers are required to meet certain conditions in order to receive EU subsidies, including leaving 4% of farmland to "non-productive" areas so that nature can recover.

The president of the main and powerful agriculture union FNSEA, Arnaud Rousseau, said that there is "total determination" among the farmers. He was received by Attal and it was announced that they were continuing negotiations between the union and the government.

Rousseau said during an interview that there needs to be a "change of course" by the country's government as well as "symbolic emergency measures." He said that the impression he got from the prime minister during their meeting was that he was "ready to go further on all issues."

Amid the mass protests, farmers have managed to avoid police attempts to stop them as they claimed that their aim is to block access to the Rungis food market, which is the largest in Europe and located roughly 15 kilometers from Paris, said EuroNews.



Related Article: Belgian Farmers Stage Road Blockades at Zeebrugge Port Amid Spillover from French Protests
An Ohio man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after he attempted to firebomb a church in March 2023 over the hosting of drag shows at the religious place of worship.

The sentence on the suspect was handed down after he pleaded guilty to the charges of trying to burn down a Chesterland Church. It was a week before the church was set to host two drag show events.

Firebombing Ohio Church

The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a news release on Tuesday, saying that the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Aimenn D. Penny, pleaded guilty in October last year. This was to one count of violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and one count of using fire and explosives to commit a felony.

As part of the suspect's sentence, he also faces three years of supervised release following his time in prison. In a statement, the assistant attorney general of the DOJ's National Security Division, Matthew G. Olsen, said that the sentence holds Penny accountable for carrying out violence against the Ohio church, as per CNN.

He said that the attempted firebombing was because the suspect disagreed with the way that congregants chose to express their beliefs. Olsen noted that such acts of extremist violence have no place in their communities.

The official added that the DOJ is committed to bringing to justice any individual who would use or threaten violence to prevent their fellow citizens from freely exercising their fundamental rights.

When Penny was arrested, the DOJ said that the suspect used Molotov cocktails to try and burn the Community Church of Chesterland to the ground. He admitted to his cause during an interview with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

During his sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court, the suspect was standing calmly wearing an orange prison jumpsuit. There, he maintained that his attack was a protest against the LGBTQ+ community and drag shows and was an effort to "protect children," according to USA Today.

Read Also: New York Brothers Had Arsenal, Homemade Explosives in Apartment, Prosecutors Say

Protest Against Drag Shows

He added that he does not believe that men should dress as women or that women should dress as men. Penny noted that he was particularly true in a place of worship, arguing that his actions did not hurt anyone.

However, the judge and victims of his crime begged to differ. U.S. District Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan handed out the defendant's sentence and ordered him to pay $10,507 in restitution to the church. He will also be required to undergo mental health treatment.

Penny was also found to be a member of the extremist groups White Lives Matter Ohio and the Blood Tribe. His attack, which was carried out at around 1:00 a.m. on Mar. 25, 2023, left minimal structural damage.

The chief of the DOJ's civil rights division, Kristen Clarke, said in a statement on Tuesday that they were hoping that Penny's sentence would send a clear and resounding message. This was that this type of hate-fueled attack against a church will not be tolerated in the United States, said the New York Times.



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YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. NATO supports the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and insists that, at this stage, the principles agreed upon between the parties till the present moment should not be changed, Javier Colomina, the special representative of NATO in the South Caucasus, stated in an interview with "Armenpress" in Brussels.

Colomina noted that respect for the fundamental principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries, which is the basis of the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, is very important. The representative of NATO in the South Caucasus also referred to the role of Turkey in the process of normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, prospects of Armenia-NATO cooperation and other topics.

- Mr. Colomina you were recently in Armenia, you had various meetings. What were the main issues discussed? What conclusions have you drawn and what are your expectations for the near future?



- Yes, I was last week in Armenia. I met with the Prime Minister Mr. Pashinyan, with the Secretary of the Security Council Mr. Grigoryan, with the Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan, with Defence Minister Papikyan. Moreover, I also had the possibility to meet students and junior diplomats and I gave a lecture there. It was very substantial visit. We are very satisfied with the bilateral relationship that we have today with Armenia. We are also very encouraged by the decisions that Armenia has decided to take in their foreign policy and defense policy, the shift they have decided to implement. I know it is a decision that is difficult to implement and will probably take a long time, but, of course, we encourage our partners to get closer to us, and that is what Armenia is doing.

We also talked quite a lot, extensively I would say, about the situation in the regional context and particularly about the peace talks with Azerbaijan. As you know, our policy is very clear. We support the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We do not take sides between our partners, unless there is a violation of the principles and the main elements of the UN Charter that we are very attached to. Therefore, the message was very clear. We would like the peace talks to reconvene as soon as possible. We know there are different tracks, the bilateral track, the US track, the EU track. For us, the most important thing is the outcome at the end, is there lasting peace? Because that would be very important for the stability of the Caucasus.

- Of course, when talking about a lasting and sustainable peace, one should know that it is also one of the main goals of Armenia itself. But what developments can be expected from the Armenia-Azerbaijan settlement process? Especially having in mind the background of aggressive and destructive statements from Azerbaijan, which contain territorial aspirations/demands towards Armenia?



Well, I have heard many concerns from your authorities about the statements from President Aliyev in particular. For us, as I mentioned , the normalization of relations that lead to a lasting peace is a fundamental element today and we will be pushing for that, support whatever tracks brings the two nations to sign something like that. We are supporting the US; we are supporting the European Union. Actually, I was there at the same time that Tovio Klaar, the Special representative of the European Union.

Therefore, I had the opportunity to speak with him at length and we are supporting the bilateral track. At the end it is for the two nations to decide how they move on, so we will be supportive of everything that at the end of the day brings as an outcome a lasting peace. We believe that the principles that were set at the beginning of the process of course respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity are fundamental. I actually tweeted at the end of my visit on that. It is one of the principles that we are very attached to, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Of course, we believe that together with that principles, delimitation of borders, the connectivity, the principles that were set at the beginning of the process should be part of that process. Unless, of course, the two sides decide to change those principles and have different principles or other principles or more.

However, the agreed principles should not change at this stage. Therefore, as I said, I heard a lot of concern. I do not think that statements help the process move forward, that we will continue to send the same message to the partners; they need to reconvene the talks as soon as possible. Actually, I would like to add that my trip was supposed to be a regional trip. In addition, we had already worked with both capitals to make it regional, but at the beginning of January, Azerbaijan decided to postpone the visit because of the presidential elections, so I couldn't actually convey the messages that I was going to convey. One of those messages was a very clear message that we expect you guys to reconvene the peace talks as soon as possible.

- And what about Turkey? As you know, Armenia is trying to normalize the relations with Turkey as well. In your opinion, what is Turkey's real position regarding the settlement of relations with Armenia, will it go for a real settlement of relations, or will the negotiations again be of a formal nature?



- Well, for us Turkey is a very important ally, as you know, it is the only ally that has borders in the region and therefore is a key actor in the region. We have a very frank conversation with Turkey on every topic and of course, we talk about the concourses as well. Turkey knows that we are supportive of the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey. I think Turkey is willing to make progress in this direction. I do not know if they are actually waiting for some progress in the Azerbaijan-Armenian track first. That could be probably one of the considerations, but I think they are genuinely interested in advancing on that. As you know, I cannot really go into the foreign policy, the domestic politics of our allies, but I think, and we have talked about this, it would be a very positive development whenever that happens.

- You have mentioned the territorial integrity and sovereignty as important principles. However NATO member Turkey openly supported the large-scale war in the South Caucasus, unleashed by Azerbaijan. The reaction of the organization was not so strict and binding. Considering that Turkey clearly supports Azerbaijan, do you think it is possible for Turkey to directly intervene in the event of a new aggression by Azerbaijan against Armenia? And what will NATO's reaction be in that case? Considering that this time "disputed territory" cannot be used as an excuse, because we are talking about an internationally recognized country and its borders.

Well, it is very difficult to preempt conversations and as I said I can't really go into foreign policy decisions of my own allies. What I can tell you is that we are very attached to those two principles: sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have been very clear always that for us those are very important. The situation three years ago was different. As you said, there was a controversy in terms of how you looked at the particular enclave. In addition, even though there was recognition of the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Azerbaijan, there was a controversy, as I said. I think we are now facing a different situation and, in my opinion, and without preempting anything, the reaction I would assume would be different.



- What steps is NATO ready to take to support international efforts aimed at establishing peace and stability in the South Caucasus?



- Our policy is very clear and that policy honestly limits very much what we can do. However, the policy is based on we don't take sides between partners in general, not just between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we have decided to implement that policy. Unless there are violations of principles of the UN Charter and the principles that are also enshrined in the Washington Treaty, so at this stage what we are doing and what we are planning to do, and I have the full support of the Secretary General in that work, is to support, to have a larger presence. I have visited the region seven times since I took office on September 21, probably more than in the previous 10 Years. Therefore, I think we have leverage, politically more presence of NATO in the context of the Caucuses in general. So, the three countries, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, but particularly in the context of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In addition, we have been always very clear about what we expect from our partners. We expect normalization of relations, based on agreed principles and some of those principles are principles that are enshrined in the Washington Treaty and the UN Charter, such as sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we will continue to support that same line and to continue to push for the normalization of relations.



- Coming back to what you said in the beginning, that you are very satisfied by your relations with Armenia. Are there plans to expand them? If so, in what directions?

- Yes, we are very satisfied. In the last couple of years, Armenia has decided to step up politically and practically the cooperation with NATO in general terms, we are always willing to move at the pace that our partners want to move. So, we've been encouraging whatever was coming from Yerevan. Yerevan has decided, for instance, to increase to more than 50 soldiers, their contribution to KFOR , they have decided to make that visible, which is clearly a sign of political engagement and commitment. We are now working on the new ITPP with quite ambitious goals. We are working on training opportunities. We are working on all kinds of partnership work, different tools that we have. I'm not going to bother you with those, but we are using all of them. While two years ago basically the cooperation after the war was sort of frozen and the moves, the shift has been very substantive. So now what we have ahead is the approval of the ITPP. I have high expectations and hopes that that will be done in the next weeks and from there we'll take it. But after the conversations I had in Yerevan, my impression is that the Armenians are willing to continue that path and to increase the cooperation, and we will be helping Armenia doing that.

- And last but not least, since the Cold War, NATO has been conducting its largest military exercises. We can probably guess for whom exactly this message is intended. However, I would like to ask, what kind of message is this?



- Well, NATO has been very clear since the war started in February 2022. We have been increasing our ability to defend and deter. The message has been very clear. We will be supporting Ukraine as much as we can. And at the same time, we won't allow any violation of our territory. To do that, we have taken many decisions from the summit in Madrid to the summit in Vilnius. Now to this very large exercise: most of those decisions are regarding our ability to deter and the message is clear. We want to deter, particularly Russia, a threat considered as such in our joint threat assessment. They already made a strategic mistake invading Ukraine. And they need to understand that NATO will be ready to defend every inch of our territory.

- What is the role of Turkey in particularly in this message? Because Turkey also tries to be in somehow intermediary or facilitator between Russia and Turkey, as the only NATO Member state that can talk to the two parties.

- Turkey has a very specific regional and geographical situation and that is why their foreign policy, that I am not really allowed to talk about, is probably more complex than the one of other allies, but they are absolutely committed with our efforts on defense and deterrence. They are committed with our assessment on which are the two threats that we have, Russia and terrorism. They are contributing as much as any other ally in the efforts we are implementing and they will be part of that very large exercise as they have been part of all the big exercises that we have done in the past.

Lilit Gasparyan
The African National Congress (ANC) has suspended former South African President Jacob Zuma, a decision that highlights the growing divisions in the governing party ahead of national elections.

The 81-year-old previously served as the country's leader from 2009 to 2018 and was forced to step down by the ANC to make way for Cyril Ramaphosa. Zuma's presidency was hounded by a series of corruption allegations and poor growth in Africa's most industrialized economy.

ANC Suspends Jacob Zuma

Zuma launched his own political movement last month which is known as uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) after the ANC's former military wing. He argued that there had been a "failure of leadership" in the governing party." He noted that he cannot and will not campaign for the ANC of Ramaphosa.

The ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, said that the former president was "actively impugning the integrity of the ANC" with his campaigning to unseat the party. He added that the ANC's decision to suspend the former president, who is a former head of intelligence, was unanimous, as per the Financial Times.

Mbalula added that the formation of the MK party was not an accident, arguing that it was a deliberate attempt to use the proud history of armed struggle against the apartheid regime. He added that it was an attempt to lend credibility to what he considered a blatant counter-revolutionary agenda.

On Monday, Mbalula sent a three-page letter to Zuma, where he said that he was being suspended immediately. However, the decision was on a temporary basis and made for a number of infractions of the party's constitution.

These included acting in a way that could "provoke division" within the party, bringing the ANC into disrepute, and campaigning for a party that it had not endorsed. A political analyst, Richard Calland, said that the former president launched the MK party as an attempt to weaken Ramaphosa's efforts to reform the ANC.

On top of the suspension of Zuma, Mbalula said that the ANC could complain to the electoral court to get the new MK party deregistered and mount a trademark challenge to recapture the name, according to Aljazeera.

Read Also: Macron Urges EU To Defend Ukraine During State Visit to Sweden

South Africa's Political Divisions

However, a longtime ANC activist on the local level, Vincent Mthembu, said that Zuma was the only hope for the party. He said that he was the "people's president," adding that whatever he was doing was enriching Black people.

Mthembu, who is among those who could not resist supporting Zuma, quit the ANC after a news conference last month that revealed the former president would not vote for the party. He added that the governing party is no longer what it once was, pointing to what he saw as a double standard.

He argued that when Zuma and his allies are accused of corruption, the ANC punishes them, but this is not something that the party does to the current president and his allies. When Zuma announced the MK party, he gave hope to South Africans who had become disenchanted with the current political system.

The ANC currently holds majorities in the legislatures of the two most populous provinces in the region, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. However, political analysts see both as tossups in this year's elections, said the New York Times.



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Iran summoned the British ambassador to Tehran to protest against "baseless accusations" and "illegal" sanctions by London.

The summons followed the UK's announcement of sanctions on Iranian officials, some of whom it claimed were involved in threats to kill British journalists and others it said were part of international criminal gangs linked to Tehran.

Iran Summons UK Envoy

On Tuesday, the IRNA state news agency said, "Following the continuation of the British regime's accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Simon Shercliff, the British ambassador in Tehran, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was informed of our country's strong protest."

Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, the director general of Western Europe at the Iranian foreign ministry, condemned the British government and claimed that its actions were another "destructive and unconstructive" act towards Iran.

An official said that it is a bitter historical irony that a country that is the founder and supporter of organized terrorist groups, drug trafficking, and criminal gangs wants to make accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran and its loyal and honest forces, who are at the forefront of fighting organized crimes.

Furthermore, the UK has accused Iranian-linked groups of being responsible for a deadly attack on US troops in Jordan.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron condemned the attacks by Iran-aligned groups against US forces and urged Iran to de-escalate in the region.

However, Iran rejected the claim that it was seeking an "expansion" of the tensions in the Middle East and that it was connected to the Jordan strike that killed three US service members.

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Jordan Attack Kills 3 US Troops

On Sunday, Biden announced that three US troops had been killed and over 34 were injured following a drone attack on a US service base on the border of Jordan and Syria. Biden blamed Iranian-backed groups in Iraq for the deadly attack and vowed to respond to the attack.

The Iranian-backed umbrella organization Islamic Resistance claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack on Tower 22, a military outpost on the Jordanian-Syrian-Iraqi borders. The US did not attempt to hide its belief that Iran was ultimately responsible.

Iran's envoy to the UN denied Tehran's role in the attack in a statement released on Monday.

"Iran had no connection and had nothing to do with the attack on the US base," the mission said, adding: "There is a conflict between US forces and resistance groups in the region, which reciprocate retaliatory attacks."

Four separate drone strikes had targeted three US bases, and the US was investigating why the T-22 base's security system had not put off the drone. The injured American service members suffered from traumatic brain injuries.

An official said the drone struck near the barracks early in the morning, explaining the high number of casualties.

Related Article: Iran Issues Chilling Warning of All-Out War If US Strikes Iranian Soil After Death of 3 American Soldiers


New York City Mayor Eric Adams lost in a legal feud after the City Council rejected his veto on two reform bills, including what is known as the "How Many Stops Act."

The City Council is led by a relatively moderate Democrat who is aligned with the body's progressive members who delivered a striking rebuke to Adams. This was by overriding two of the mayor's vetoes by an overwhelming margin.

New York City Council Rejects Eric Adams Veto on Reform Bills

The votes on the bills capped weeks of lobbying and media appearances from officials on both sides of the debate. A flurry of activity was exacerbated over the weekend when law enforcement personnel pulled over a Council member who had spent seven years in jail after being wrongly convicted as part of the "Central Park Five."

After the vote on Tuesday, the City Council punctuated the most significant clash yet between the two Democratic-led branches of city government. It could also potentially complicate Mayor Adams' 2025 re-election bid, as per Politico.

One of the bills in question would require police officers to report demographic data on low-level interactions with civilians. Supporters have said that this is necessary to hold the New York City Police Department (NYPD) accountable. This is because it has had a history of racially motivated police officers.

The other bill seeks to limit the amount of time a detainee spends in isolation in the city's jail system, which is a policy that has been criticized by a federal monitor who oversees the notoriously violent Rikers Island facility.

In a statement, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said that they were standing together as a united front, which includes council members, advocates, and directly impacted families. She said that they were sending a clear message that New Yorkers need and deserve transparency.

The rejection of the vetoes came as Adams failed to sway the two council members that he needed to maintain his opposition to the reform bills. Following the vote, the mayor argued that the bills would only make New York less safe for people on the streets, according to the New York Post.

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Increasing Reporting of Police-Civilian Encounters

He added that one of the bills would force police officers to fill out additional paperwork rather than focus on helping the people of the city and strengthening community bonds. Adams said that it would make staff in jails and those who are in custody less safe by impairing their ability to hold those who commit violent acts accountable.

Under one of the bills, the NYPD's officers will have to record the "apparent" race, gender, and age of nearly every person they question. This includes someone who could just be a potential witness to a crime and those involved in the lowest-level encounters.

Furthermore, law enforcement personnel will have to report the reason for the interaction as well as the circumstances that led to stopping a particular person. The data that they record will be made public on the police department's website.

The City Council speaker said that Black and Latino New Yorkers continue to be disproportionately subjected to unconstitutional stops that go on to report. She added that civilian complaints of police misconduct are at their highest level in the past decade, said ABC7NY.



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The Taiwanese government criticized its Chinese counterpart after the latter "unilaterally" changed a flight path close to the sensitive media line in the Taiwan Strait.

Taipei said that the development appeared to be a deliberate attempt to change the status quo for possible military means. On Tuesday, China's civil aviation administration said that from Thursday onward, it was canceling an "offset measure" for the southbound operation of the M503 flight route, which is located just west of the strait's median line.

Unilateral Change to Taiwan Strait Flight Path

For years, the median line had served as an unofficial barrier between Chinese-claimed Taiwan and China. However, Beijing said that it does not recognize its existence, and Chinese warplanes have begun regularly flying over it as officials seek to pressure Taipei to accept its sovereignty claims.

Furthermore, China said that it was opening routes from west to east on two flight paths from the Chinese cities of Xiamen and Fuzhou. These areas are close to the Taiwanese-controlled island groups of Kinmen and Matsu. The latter have regular flights going to Taiwan, as per Reuters.

Taiwan's civil aviation administration and China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council both labeled the moves as "unilateral," adding that they strongly protested against it. The latter said that China is ignoring flight safety, disrespecting Taiwan, and trying to "package" civil aviation for political or military considerations.

The Mainland Affairs Council said that if the mainland obstinate clings to its court, it must bear any serious consequences that affect cross-strait relations. A military researcher at Taiwan's National Policy Foundation, Chieh Chung, said that the new route would be found roughly 7 kilometers from the median line.

He said that the decision would completely eliminate and deny the existence of the median line. Furthermore, Taiwan's defense ministry said that Beijing's actions, which it called "rude and unreasonable," can easily lead to an increase in tensions in the region.

Read Also: China Lacks Capabilities To Launch 'Ambitious' Taiwan Invasion, New Survey Finds

Escalating Tensions in the Region

On the other hand, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said that the changes to the flight path are "routine" and will help alleviate pressure on airspace. In a statement, it added that it is conducive to improving cross-strait flight operations and further facilitating cross-strait people-to-people exchanges, according to Rappler.

The Taiwanese defense ministry said that any unknown aircraft entering their air defense identification zone (ADIZ) will be dealt with in accordance with operating procedures and emergency handling regulations.

The ADIZ is a broad area that Taiwan monitors and patrols to give its forces more time to respond to external threats. Also, Chinese military aircraft have so far not entered territorial Taiwanese airspace.

A spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, Chen Binhua, spoke during a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday. He said that the "so-called median line does not exist." He added that the M503 route is for civil aviation and is in the Shanghai flight information region.

This route is mostly used by Chinese airlines and by foreign airlines that go to and from cities such as Shanghai to Southeast Asia. Taiwan has previously complained about the M503 when it said that China opened the northbound part without informing Taipei, said Yahoo News.



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Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, one of Malaysia's wealthiest individuals, was officially crowned on Wednesday as the nation's 17th king under the country's rotating monarchy system.

The coronation took place at the majestic Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur as Sultan Ibrahim assumed the role of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA), or the king, succeeding his predecessor in this unique constitutional monarchy.

Coronation Ceremony Marks a Symbolic Transition

The coronation ceremony, attended by dignitaries and members of the royal family, marked a symbolic transition in Malaysia's leadership.

Sultan Ibrahim, hailing from the state of Johor, took the oath of office and pledged to fulfill his constitutional duties diligently. The event signifies the rotational nature of the Malaysian monarchy.

He is set to serve a five-year term as per Malaysia's distinctive system. In this arrangement, the nation's nine hereditary rulers rotate, taking turns to assume the role of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, also known as He Who is Made Lord, for a five-year term each.

His predecessor, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah of Pahang, wrapped up his term on January 30th, overseeing a turbulent period characterized by COVID-19 lockdowns and political instability.

As the newly appointed king, the 65-year-old billionaire inherits the responsibility of upholding the principles of the Malaysian constitution, representing the unity of the nation, and contributing to the well-being of its citizens.

This ceremonial transition not only highlights the rich cultural heritage of Malaysia but also showcases the continued relevance of its constitutional monarchy in the modern era.

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Sultan Ibrahim's Background and Wealth Dynamics

Sultan Ibrahim, known for his immense wealth and influential stature, brings a unique blend of traditional values and modern perspectives to the role of the king.

Engaged in diverse sectors such as real estate, agriculture, and manufacturing, the Sultan's business ventures have made him a key player in Malaysia's economic landscape.

With an estimated wealth in the billions, he stands among the wealthiest individuals in the country, and his significant investments have played a crucial role in shaping Malaysia's economic terrain. His background as a prominent figure in the business world adds an interesting dimension to his reign, raising questions about the intersection of wealth and royalty in the country.

Hailing from the esteemed Johor royal family, the Sultan, whose heritage is rooted in Malay-British ancestry, has played an active role in philanthropy and developmental initiatives within the state.

Sultan Ibrahim, known for his outspoken stance on Malaysian politics and corruption, has openly expressed his willingness to take on the responsibilities of the throne.

In a statement to the national Bernama news agency last month, he emphasized, "It is not a promotion; it is a responsibility I am prepared to undertake. The people will always come first."

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Hamas's political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, has confirmed that the group is carefully studying a new proposal aimed at pausing the fighting.

The proposal was put forth by mediators representing Israel, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, marking what appears to be the most serious peace initiative in months, as per BBC.

Gaza Ceasefire Proposal Amid Regional Tensions

The proposed ceasefire, disclosed after talks in Paris involving intelligence chiefs from key stakeholders, outlines a three-stage truce. According to a senior Hamas official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the plan involves the release of remaining civilians among hostages captured on October 7, followed by the release of soldiers, and finally, the return of the bodies of hostages who were killed.

The seriousness of the negotiations is underscored by Ismail Haniyeh's announcement of his first public trip to Cairo in over a month to discuss the proposal. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his commitment to not withdrawing troops from Gaza until achieving "total victory."

Netanyahu clarified, "We will not end this war short of achieving all of its objectives. That means eliminating Hamas, returning all of our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel."

Hamas, the group responsible for initiating the conflict by storming into Israeli towns on October 7, resulting in 1,200 casualties and 253 hostages, insists on releasing its remaining captives only as part of a comprehensive deal to permanently end the war.

The proposal comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with more than 26,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces and over 2 million people displaced. The conflict has also led to repercussions across the Middle East, with armed groups allied to Iran carrying out attacks on US forces, according to Reuters.

Read Also: Hamas Studies New Truce Proposal

Biden Concerned Amid Israel-Palestine Conflict

US President Joe Biden, discussing a recent drone attack that claimed the lives of US service members in Jordan, confirmed his opposition to increasing tensions in the Middle East. However, he refrained from providing specific information regarding the response. Diplomatic changes took place alongside an undercover Israeli raid in the West Bank, which unexpectedly led to the loss of three Palestinian militants.

The proposed ceasefire represents the first detailed plan since the collapse of the only brief truce in late November. Despite diplomatic efforts, the gaps in the public stances of the warring sides remain substantial, with Netanyahu insisting on total victory and Hamas prioritizing an end to the Israeli offensive and a full troop withdrawal.

As negotiations unfold, concerns arise domestically for Netanyahu, pressured by Washington to find a resolution, and from relatives of hostages who see negotiations as the pathway to their loved ones' return. However, far-right parties in the ruling coalition threaten to quit if a deal leaves Hamas intact.

Amidst the diplomatic intricacies, an Israeli raid at the Ibn Sina hospital in Jenin, West Bank, drew attention, with troops disguised as medical workers killing three Palestinian militants. The incident intensified the ongoing debate about the use of civilian areas and hospitals in the conflict.

The situation continues to evolve, with both sides carefully considering their next steps, and the global community closely monitoring the progress in the hopes of a significant breakthrough in the enduring conflict, Today reported.

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American and Chinese officials have pledged to collaborate in combating the trafficking of fentanyl into the United States.

The commitment to joint efforts was disclosed following a meeting in Beijing, marking a positive step in the midst of strained relations between the two global powers, as per Fox News.

US-China Cooperation on Fentanyl Control

The US delegation, led by Deputy Homeland Security Adviser Jen Daskal, emphasized the need for increased information sharing, enhanced law enforcement cooperation, and stringent control over chemicals produced in China that serve as key ingredients for fentanyl production elsewhere. This cooperative stance arises from the November summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, where both leaders vowed to address companies involved in precursor chemical production for fentanyl.

Fentanyl, a highly addictive synthetic opioid, has been a major concern for the US, with China alleged to be the primary source of precursor chemicals used by drug cartels in Mexico. The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has previously pointed to China as the main supplier of fentanyl-related substances entering the country.

The joint working group, established as a result of the leaders' common understanding, is viewed as a positive development amid escalating tensions over issues ranging from human rights to trade tariffs and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong, expressed optimism, stating that cooperation between China and the US contributes positively to their relationship.

The significance of the issue was underscored by Daskal, who highlighted the devastating impact of synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl, responsible for thousands of deaths. The high-profile US delegation sent to Beijing reflects the gravity of the situation and the importance attached to resolving the crisis by the American people, according to Al Jazeera.

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US Overdose Crisis Spurs Joint Action

In 2022, over 100,000 people in the US lost their lives to drug overdoses, with opioids implicated in approximately 82,998 of these deaths, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The urgency to address the fentanyl trade is evident, and the working group aims to develop concrete actions to reduce precursor chemicals that contribute to this public health crisis.

Despite previous allegations and confrontations between the US and China on the fentanyl trade, both nations are now signaling a willingness to cooperate. In October, the US imposed sanctions on Chinese entities allegedly involved in the illegal fentanyl trade. Beijing, however, has consistently denied any complicity and attributes the roots of the addiction crisis to the US.

The ongoing discussions are viewed as a positive beginning, although both parties recognize that further efforts are necessary to attain concrete outcomes. Our main objective is to implement concrete measures that will effectively decrease the precursor chemicals that contribute to the opioid crisis in the United States.

As the China-US counter-narcotics cooperation working group sets the stage for ongoing coordination, the international community watches closely, hopeful that this joint effort will contribute to addressing the illicit production, financing, and distribution of fentanyl on a global scale, Barrows reported.

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A new study suggests a new theory of why insects are attracted to artificial light, which is that the creatures' sense of direction is actually being messed with by the illumination.

The question of what brings insects toward lights of all kinds, including flames and porch lamps, is an ancient one. A postdoctoral research associate at Imperial College London, Sam Fabian, said that this phenomenon has been observed for thousands of years, even being found in ancient writing.

Effect of Artificial Light on Insects

Fabian, alongside Yash Sondhi and other biologists, set up high-speed video cameras, both in the field in Costa Rica and in their laboratory. They sought to see exactly how light affected the movements of flying insects, such as butterflies, moths, and dragonflies, at night.

In their lab, the researchers used motion capture by outfitting the insects with miniaturized markers similar to what actors wear in action scenes for films or video games. Fabian said that what they observed gave phenomenal resolution to what was going on with the insects, as per Business Insider.

Even only analyzing the video footage, the researchers quickly observed a common trend across several species. This is that they exhibited what Fabian described as "these strange paths."

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The insects were seen turning their back toward the light and if that illumination was below or horizontal to their flight path, it often caused the insects to fly in circles or crash. It seemed like they were using the light source as a means to orient themselves to the sky.

The executive director and collections manager at the Essig Museum of Entomology, Peter Oboyski, said that when bugs get too close to artificial light, they can become almost trapped by it. He added that the idea is that the creatures want their dorsal surface to face the light, which he said made a lot of sense.

Messing With Their Sense of Direction

This habit is more logical in the dark because in a natural setting, such as a forest, the star-strewn sky is the brightest light source. Any insect that flies in all directions through the air can quickly reorient themselves by pointing its back toward the light, according to NPR.

Fabian noted that a flying insect while veering in multiple directions, can frequently experience whole-body accelerations that could be five times the acceleration due to gravity. This makes it difficult for the creatures to tell up from down.

The researcher noted that it is a very smart way to reorient themselves and works well until the invention of the lamp or the light bulb. The new research showed that when the brightest light source is an artificial one, the insects tried to keep their backs tilted towards it and flew in crazed patterns.

For a long time, researchers warned that light pollution is a big driving force in the dramatic decline in populations of insects. Moths and other insects become trapped around lamps, thus becoming easy prey for predators. Additionally, the light can trick them into thinking it's daytime and skip nighttime feeding altogether, said The Guardian.



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Defector Kim Kyu-li, now residing in Morden, south London, reveals her deep concerns for her younger sister, Kim Cheol-ok, who may face dire consequences, including possible death in prison, upon her return to the oppressive regime.

Kyu-li successfully escaped to China and later found refuge in the UK. However, her sister Cheol-ok, after escaping into China, fell victim to bridal traffickers who forced her into marriage. Living in China for 25 years under constant threat of deportation, Cheol-ok's precarious life took a grim turn in 2023 when she was arrested and forcibly returned to North Korea.

Concerns Rise for North Korean Defectors

Human rights groups report a concerning increase in the deportation of defectors, with a massive repatriation event in October involving 500 individuals. Cheol-ok, with her own grown-up daughter, navigated a perilous existence, constantly bribing local officials to avoid detection. Despite connecting with her sister through social media, their plan for Cheol-ok to escape to Vietnam was foiled when she was apprehended by Chinese authorities.

Kyu-li expresses her fears for Cheol-ok, anticipating severe punishment, lack of food, and harsh labor upon her return to North Korea. In a heart-wrenching statement to Sky News, Kyu-li emphasizes the inhumanity of the situation, stating, "It's not human, we are not animals. If she goes back to North Korea [she will be treated] like flies, they kill flies."

North Korean defectors often face brutal consequences, including imprisonment, torture, and even execution, while China insists that deportations comply with the 1951 Refugee Convention. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin rejects the term "defector," stating that those entering China illegally for economic reasons violate Chinese law.

Cheol-ok's story is not unique, as human rights groups warn that deportations from China continue at an alarming pace. The October mass deportation event, involving up to 500 people, raised international concerns, leading to questions directed at China during the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review, as per to Mirror.

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North Korean Escapees' Plight in China

Kyu-li's ordeal resonates with the broader challenges faced by North Korean escapees in China. Lacking identification, they have no right to work or access basic services, leading to a perilous, undocumented existence. The Seoul-based human rights NGO Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) highlights the vulnerability of these individuals, with Cheol-ok likely among a group of 500 deported in October.

The international community is increasingly pressuring China over its handling of North Korean defectors. South Korea, for the first time, raised concerns at the UN Human Rights Council review, urging China to cease repatriating North Koreans. However, experts note that geopolitical considerations, such as China's alliance with North Korea, may outweigh human rights concerns in the global context.

The fear of destabilizing North Korea, akin to the collapse of East Germany in 1989, influences China's stance on the issue. Amid rising tensions globally, including the conflict in Ukraine, China prioritizes maintaining stable relations with North Korea. Legal analyst Ethan Hee-Seok Shin of TJWG emphasizes Beijing's primary interest in preventing the collapse of the North Korean state.

As Kyu-li continues her fight for her sister's safety, the geopolitical complexities surrounding the issue persist. The ongoing relationship between North Korea and Russia, coupled with increased threats against South Korea, adds urgency to the plight of North Korean defectors. In London, Kyu-li remains determined, vowing to tell Cheol-ok to "stay strong," but she acknowledges being a small piece in a much larger geopolitical puzzle, Sky News reported.

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Hunter Biden's business associate, Eric Schwerin, is now under scrutiny for his knowledge of then-Vice President Joe Biden's use of pseudonyms in email communications regarding Ukraine-related activities.

Schwerin, who served as the president of Hunter Biden's Rosemont Seneca Partners, faced questions regarding his role in performing financial tasks for Joe Biden without charge.

Eric Schwerin's Testimony in Hunter Biden's Case

The inquiries focused on bookkeeping, bill payments, and preparation of taxes and official financial disclosure forms for the former vice president. Notably, Schwerin did not address the press during his appearance on Capitol Hill.

According to sources familiar with Schwerin's testimony, despite being one of Hunter Biden's closest associates, he claimed to have limited knowledge about the details of payments from benefactors in China, Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine. This testimony has the potential to fuel Republican claims that Joe Biden misrepresented his level of involvement in his family's business dealings.

One of the key points raised during the closed-door session was the use of pseudonyms by Joe Biden in emails. 'Robin Ware,' 'Robert L. Peters,' and 'JRB ware' were identified as pseudonyms used in emails concerning both official and family business matters. The content of these emails, exchanged at least 54 times during Joe Biden's vice presidency, could shed light on potential conflicts of interest.

Schwerin's opening statement identified his role in providing services to Joe Biden as a friend, clarifying that these favors were separate from his work with Hunter Biden. However, the specific information regarding Schwerin's comments on his communication with Joe Biden using unknown email addresses has not been revealed.

The House Ways & Means Committee, leading the impeachment inquiry, is expected to probe Schwerin on whether any foreign funds indirectly flowed to Joe Biden and to unveil the contents of their emails, which have not been fully disclosed, according to New York Post.

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Eric Schwerin Affirms Transparency in Biden's Business

Schwerin, who co-founded Rosemont Seneca Partners, described the firm as a consulting and investment entity that offered development and public policy advisory services to various clients. In his opening statement, he expressed no awareness of any financial transactions or compensation received by Joe Biden related to his family members' business dealings.

While emphasizing transparency and ethical conduct, Schwerin asserted that he never asked Joe Biden to take official actions benefiting Hunter's clients and had no recollection of promises made to clients about Joe Biden's involvement in their business activities.

Despite Schwerin's testimony, questions persist about his knowledge of foreign payments to the Bidens. A source familiar with the closed-door session noted that Schwerin's opening statement was narrowly tailored, leaving many questions unanswered.

This development follows earlier reports that Joe Biden, as vice president, used email aliases and private addresses in extensive communications with Hunter Biden and associates, including Schwerin. The House Ways & Means Committee revealed that 54 of these emails were exclusively between Joe Biden and Schwerin.

The data also indicates an increase in direct emails between Schwerin and Joe Biden during the vice president's trips to Ukraine, raising further inquiries into the timing and content of these communications. As the impeachment inquiry progresses, scrutiny intensifies over potential conflicts of interest and transparency within the Biden family's business dealings, Fox News reported.

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YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. Two Armenian companies are now looking to attract investors for their projects through ARFI, the first Armenian crowdfunding platform.

The two companies are Barekam Logistic Services, the first Armenian organization of its kind that provides international door-to-door postal and courier services, and Planet Fiber, an IT infrastructure provider.

ARFI is gradually expanding the list of business projects.

ARFI CEO Edgar Evoyan told Armenpress that investors from all over the world can participate in the Armenian projects.

Furthermore, the company has received numerous new submissions and is simultaneously working to expand the circle of investors.

We are now working to select the right targets, Evoyan said.

Planet Fiber CEO Armen Hayrapetyan lauded ARFI, noting that the platform has a good opportunity to expand and develop. It will also enable to acquire bigger audiences, according to Hayrapetyan.

Meanwhile, Barekam Logistic Services, which was founded in 2017, decided to apply to ARFI due to an increase in the demand of its services. As a result of growing demand for our services around the world, we decided to apply to ARFI in order to be able to expand and render more high-quality services, Barekam Logistic Services Founder and Director Narek Mkrtchyan said.
Israel admitted that it is now flooding Gaza tunnels, which it claims to be used by Hamas terrorists, despite the recent warnings from the United States and other Western countries.

This was confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday, Jan. 30, saying that they began pumping large volumes of water into the tunnels.

The latest announcement of the IDF broke the silence of the Israeli government regarding this issue as officials kept quiet regarding this alleged plan.

Now, IDF leaders confirmed that they are using this alarming tactic, although it could risk the lives of civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Israel Admits Flooding Gaza Tunnels Despite US Warning

The Israel Defense Forces said that it is flooding these underground tunnels to stop Hamas's terrorist infrastructure.

"The pumping of water was only carried out in tunnel routes and locations that were suitable, matching the method of operation to each case," said the IDF via ABC News.

"This project was developed following combat procedures, accelerated force-building efforts, and while training forces with technological expertise," added the Israeli military.

IDF officials said that the flooding tool they are using represents a significant technological and engineering breakthrough in fighting the underground terror infrastructure's threat.

They added that it is the result of a collaborative effort between Israel's numerous security establishment bodies. According to the New York Post's latest report, footage was even published showing how IDF pumps seawater into a Hamas tunnel.

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Why US is Against Flooding of Gaza Tunnels

Recently, U.S. officials said shared their concerns regarding the flooding plans of Israel against the tunnels used by the Palestinian terrorist group.

They explained that pumping seawater into these underground tunnels could threaten the lives of innocent civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip.

But, the ones mostly at risk here are the hostages who are still being held by Hamas terrorists; around 100 hostages are still under the hands of these Palestinian militants.

Aside from U.S. government leaders, some experts also warned that pumping large volumes of seawater into Gaza tunnels can have negative effects on the limited water supply in the Palestinian territory.

Another issue with this military tactic is that it could pollute the soil with hazardous materials from Hamas' weapons that are hidden in the Gaza tunnels.

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Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were sentenced to 14 years in prison each on Wednesday (Jan. 31) for corruption.

The sentence was given a day after another special court convicted Khan - currently serving an initial three-year sentence - to an additional 10-year jail time for leaking state secrets, making it the third since he was ousted from power in 2022. All of the sentences virtually disqualified Khan from holding any public office.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the former prime minister told his followers to "take revenge for every injustice" by voting for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Party on Feb. 8 "while remaining peaceful."

"Tell them that we are not sheep that can be driven with a stick," he added.

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Khan's Lawyer Claims His Rights Were Violated

Khan's lawyer Babar Awan even alleged that his client was convicted and sentenced in such a hurry that the judge did not wait for the arrival of his legal team.

"It seems the judge was in a hurry to announce the verdict," he said, adding that Khan's basic human and fundamental rights had been violated.

Nevertheless, Awan explained, his latest conviction and sentencing would be challenged in higher courts.

According to the Associated Press, Khan and Bibi were accused of retaining and selling state gifts when the former was in power.

Three weeks earlier, the couple were indicted on graft charges for retaining state gifts such as jewelry and watches from Saudi Arabia's government.

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Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out an operation inside a West Bank hospital while disguised as doctors and patients, which killed three Palestinian men identified as members of both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. According to several experts who spoke with ABC News, the raid at Ibn Sina Hospital on Monday, January 29, may have breached international law.

Reportedly, a member of the IDF was in a wheelchair, two were holding a doll in a baby carrier, others were dressed as nurses, one as A doctor, and a few as civilians. Under the Geneva Convention, medical personnel and their patients benefit from "protected status" during times of armed conflict.

ICC's Involvement

The experts stressed that the ultimate authority to decide whether the raid violated international law is the International Criminal Court (ICC). Nevertheless, they did cite provisions of the Rome Statute--the ICC's governing treaty--and the study on the principles of customary international humanitarian law that the IDF might have broken during the raid.

While South Africa sued Israel, claiming the Jewish state committed genocide against the Palestinians, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) released a preliminary verdict in the case last week. The ICC, on the other hand, is distinct from the ICJ.

In cases involving "genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes," the ICC has the authority to exercise jurisdiction via preliminary examinations, investigations, and, in extreme cases, trials.

The prosecutor from the ICC has already looked into Israeli policies regarding Palestinians, but Israel does not recognize the court and denies its authority.

Also Read: Undercover Israeli Troops Say They 'Neutralized' 3 Gunmen Hiding in West Bank Hospital

Potential Violations

International law prohibits impersonating a protected status, such as a patient or doctor, with the intent to gain an adversary's trust before killing or injuring them, according to Aurel Sari, an associate professor of public international law at the University of Exeter. Sari said this is against the rule that one cannot harm or kill one's enemy by using deception.

"The rule is part of customary international law in both international and non-international armed conflicts, which means Israel is bound by it," Sari added. "Based on what has been reported, it appears that the Israeli forces involved in the operation in the Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin did resort to perfidy in violation of the law of armed conflict."

Another potential breach of international law that the IDF may have committed is the prohibition on attacking wounded or sick combatants or individuals "hors de combat," said Tom Dannenbaum, an associate professor of international law.

Reportedly, a paralyzed Palestinian man, Basel Ghazawi, was one of those who were killed. He was receiving treatment at the hospital at the time of the raid. However, claims that Ghazawi was paralyzed were refuted by the IDF.

Also Read: IDF Demolishes Gaza Cemetery Used by Hamas as Military Cover
Ukraine claims that Russia is unwilling to return the dead bodies of Ukrainian prisoners of war. Recently, the Kremlin made huge headlines after its Russian military transport plane crashed near the border with Ukraine.

Authorities said that the cargo warplane crashed in the Belgorod region. As of writing, the main reason for the incident is still unknown.

The Russian aircraft, which was an Il-76, was confirmed to be carrying more than 60 Ukrainian POWs. Belgorod Oblast Gov. Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Gladkov said that all these prisoners of war died because of the plane crash.

Unfortunately, Russia denied the claims that its military cargo aircraft were carrying Ukrainian soldiers.

Ukraine Says Russia Will Not Return POW Bodies

According to The Guardian's latest report, a Ukrainian military spy official announced on Tuesday, Jan. 30, that Russia was showing no intention of returning the bodies of dead Ukrainian POWs.

"It's a statement from Russia that our prisoners were there, and so far we can analyze only their words," said Andriy Yusov, a Ukrainian politician.

But, he added that Russian officials are no longer showing any willingness to transfer the dead Ukrainian POW bodies back to Kyiv.

Yusov further stated that Moscow didn't provide any evidence to support the assertion that the Russian military cargo airplane carried Ukrainian prisoners of war.

However, this is quite different from what the Russian Investigative Committee showed since footage showing a single body in the snowy field was recently published by the committee.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that he had no information on what the Russian government plans to do with the dead bodies or if they would be handed to Ukraine.

Read Also: Ukraine-Russia Dispute Details in Fatal Crash

Ukraine, Russia Accused Each Other Over Plane Crash

Ukraine and Russia both accused each other over the controversial military cargo plane crash, as reported by The Associated Press. Kremlin officials claimed that Ukrainians were the ones who shot down the plane.

But, Kyiv said that the allegations of Russia against it are nothing but propaganda to cast doubt that the warplane carried Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said that Russia's rampant propaganda is trying to direct a fake stream of information to the international audience.

However, media in Ukraine were reportedly citing sources within the Ukrainian military, claiming that the Russian military plane was also carrying S-300 missiles, which were supposed to be used against the nearby Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

Related Article: Russian Military Plane Carrying Ukrainian POWs Crashes; Kremlin Officials Say It's Near Ukraine Border
Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Yemen toward the Red Sea on Tuesday (Jan. 30).

According to the Pentagon and the US Central Command, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Gravely, which was in the area, shot it down.

No injuries or damage were reported, the command's report added.

Read Also: Red Sea: Houthi Rebels Fire Missile at US Warship Amid Escalating Middle East Crisis

On the other hand, Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed that the attack was "a victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people" and a "response to the American-British aggression" against the regime. Saree added that they have fired "several" missiles, which was not acknowledged by the US Navy.

The Associated Press reported that the Houthi claims have not been verified for the most part.

Since November, the rebels have been targeting shipping traffic in the Red Sea in support of Hamas in its war against Israel.

Related Article: Houthi Supporters Swarm Yemen's Capital in Parade Celebrating Attacks on US, Israel in Red Sea
Top United Nations (UN) officials have warned that the defunding of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) could lead to the "collapse of the humanitarian system."

They voiced their concerns following the allegations that some of its employees were involved in the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, which the UN said they have already dismissed from work, the BBC reported.

As a result of the allegations, UNRWA warned that it would virtually cease to exist by the end of February if funding would not be resumed.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres added that a full independent investigation into UNRWA is underway. He also met over 30 donor states on Tuesday (Jan. 30) and was reported to have urged those who have withdrawn funding to reconsider.

"The allegations of involvement of several UNRWA staff in the heinous attacks on Israel on 7 October are horrifying," a statement by the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee said. "Withdrawing funds from UNRWA is perilous and would result in the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, with far-reaching humanitarian and human rights consequences in the occupied Palestinian territory and across the region."

UNRWA also stated on Tuesday that the agency was irreplaceable as it has the "knowledge" of the population of Gaza.

Read Also: Hamas 'Open to Discussions' on New Hostage Deal; NZ Among 7 More Nations Cutting UNRWA Funding

Israeli, US Responses

On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier described UNRWA as "perforated with Hamas," saying that his country's intelligence apparatus "discovered" that at least 13 UNRWA workers "directly or indirectly" participated in the Hamas attack.

Meanwhile, the United States, the biggest UNRWA donor prior to Washington's recent decision to cut funding due to the agency's Hamas connection, said it wanted to see the agency continue its work.

"There is no other humanitarian player in Gaza who can provide food and water and medicine at the scale that UNRWA does," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. "We want to see that work continued which is why it is so important that the United Nations take this matter seriously, that they investigate, that there is accountability for anyone who is found to have engaged in wrongdoing."

Related Article: Israel Says UN Staff "Hardened Fighters, Killers"
The Russian Defense Ministry said that it has exchanged 195 prisoners of war (POWs) each with Ukraine, saying that they conducted the swap on Wednesday (Jan. 31), the Associated Press reported.

The announcement came a week after Russia alleged that Ukrainian forces shot down a military transport plane carrying Ukrainian POWs who were to be swapped for Russian POWs.

Read Also: Russia Sacrifices Internet to Deploy Electronic Warfare Systems Against Ukraine Drones

During that time, the Kremlin said that missiles fired from across the border brought down the plane in Russia's Belgorod region on Jan. 24, with local authorities saying that the crash killed all 74 people on board, including six crew members and three Russian servicemen.

On the other hand, Ukrainian officials confirmed last week that a prisoner swap was due to happen that day but said that it had been called off.

This is a developing story. Please follow HNGN for more updates.

Related Article: Ukraine Claims Russia Unwilling to Return POW Bodies, Denies Military Plane Carried Ukrainian Soldiers
H&M has announced the unexpected resignation of CEO Helena Helmersson amid the Swedish fashion retailer's lackluster sales and share performance against the fast-growing Chinese online store Shein.

The company's shares dropped 10% as the leadership change came as it earlier said that its sales for December and January fell by 4% compared to the previous year, indicating a poor key Christmas shopping period.

Helmersson said that the role she held for four years had been "very demanding" for her, telling reporters that she did not have the energy to continue in the post.

Her replacement, Daniel Erver, is an 18-year veteran of H&M and has been the head of the retailer's core H&M brand, a role he would keep alongside his CEO job.

Erver told Reuters that he voiced his interest in the role last December and the board approved of his pitch on Wednesday morning (Jan. 31).

Read Also: PayPal to Lay Off 2,500 Workers as Company Battles Rising Competition

Analysts Weigh In on H&M's Future

H&M only trails behind Inditex as the biggest listed fashion retailer. However, it has since struggled to compete with Zara and Shein, both of which have seen strong sales growth.

"I think the market will welcome the change after digesting the numbers," Oslo-based Storebrand portfolio manager Adil Shah. "Speculation that margin targets will not be met is one of the reasons being stated for the CEO change."

H&M has recently focused on profitability rather than sales volumes as it aimed to reach a 10% operating margin this year and cut costs by closing stores and laying off staff.

Erver told Reuters that the 10% goal on profitability would stay and that they would "work hard to make that goal happen."

Meanwhile, Karl-Johan Persson, H&M chairman and grandson of founder Erling Persson, said that the company was in a strong position with "good conditions to make further improvements" this year. The Persson family has a 51% stake in H&M.

However, H&M's shares further plunged by 9% on Wednesday after Helmersson's shock resignation.

Related Article: Shein Reportedly in Buyout Negotiations With Frasers Group Over Missguided
Newsweek reported that former Mexican drug cartel member Jesse Ocana compared the people behind his former profession to progressive-leaning billionaire philanthropist and political donor George Soros.

When asked by Fox News presenter Bill Hemmer in an interview on Wednesday (Jan. 31) if the US and Mexican governments should work together to take out the cartels, he replied that it could be done, but it would be difficult due to the cartels "[having] a lot of money."

"They can buy you. You can say they're like Soros. They can buy people out," he said. "If you're a governor, a senator, and if you're a big man in government, they can still buy you out."

The comments were made as the US government has been struggling to protect the southern border and tackle the migrant issue, particularly in the state of Texas.

Read Also: Razor Wire to Be Removed From US-Mexico Border, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Vows "To Defend Texas' Property"

Mexican Cartel Violence Block Tourists from Visiting Mayan Ruins

Meanwhile, multiple ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico have been inaccessible due to cartel violence since last year, which discouraged tourists from visiting the country's southern state of Chiapas, near the border with Guatemala.

The Mexican government admitted that tourists could no longer get to at least two of the popular Mayan ruins - Yaxchilan and Tonina - with tour guides in Chiapas telling the Associated Press that additional ruins the government claimed to be open were only accessible by passing through gang-controlled checkpoints.

Related Article: [UPDATE] Texas Border Dispute: Ken Paxton Says State Will Not Comply With Supreme Court Ruling
Reuters is reporting that Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, who leads the ground forces in Ukraine, was offered the job of commander of the armed forces by Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces President Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, but declined.



Syrskyi has successfully commanded Ukraine's ground forces against Russian aggression since 2014. His call sign is "snow leopard," a cool but subtle indicator of the methods he uses on the battlefield.

He fought a Moscow-supported insurgency in eastern Ukraine prior to the current onset of violence and told reporters he got the name because he uses "tactics that were similar to how this cat hunts," he explained.

"This creature is very careful, cunning, and courageous."

Two years ago, he led a counteroffensive to retake large patches of land in the Kharkiv region. The commander has also been the target of multiple assassination attempts from the Russians because of his proficiency on the battlefield.

"Let's say this: we're familiar with rocket strikes," he said at the time.

Ukraine media had reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had asked the head of the Ukrainian army, General Zaluzhnyi, to step down earlier this week but he refused.

What Would The Ramifications Be?

If the general were to step aside, it would certainly affect Ukraine's ongoing defense effort against Russia, which already holds 18% of Ukraine's territory-and attempting to fend off attacks on multiple arenas in the east of the country.

This as future military aid from the United States remains something of an uncertainty. Senior intelligence officer Kyrylo Budanov is also being considered to replace Zaluzhnyi. It is not immediately known how Western allies will react to such a shakeup in leadership.

According to the Council on Foreign Affairs, Ukraine has become the top recipient of U.S. foreign aid since February 2022.

This is the first time a European country has received this much aid from the United States since the Marshall Plan was initiated by the Truman administration in the aftermath of World War II.

As of December 2023, the United States had given more than $75 billion to Ukraine in the form of humanitarian, financial, and military support.
BRUSSELS, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. The Europeans for Artsakh movement gathered thousands of supporters across Europe on January 28-29 to condemn Azerbaijans policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The movement advocates for EU sanctions against Azerbaijan, condemns the ethnic cleansing and genocidal policies of Azerbaijan, demands the immediate release of Armenian POWs and hostages, calls for the defense of Armenia, particularly Syunik, and expresses solidarity with Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and seeks international guarantees for them to live freely and independently in their homeland, safeguarding their fundamental rights.

The Pan-European Mobilization demonstrations and events took place in 50 cities across Europe, such as Paris, Vienna, London, Hamburg, Athens, Stockholm and more.

Turkish author Pnar Selek attended the demonstration in Nice, France. She expressed support to the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and said shes ready to fight for Armenia because the world has a debt to pay to Armenia.

By protecting Armenia, we will protect justice, dignity and peace, she said.

Demonstrations took place in Georgia as well, where participants gathered outside the EU representation in Tbilisi.
U.S. war planners have already begun preparing for a potential conflict with China over Taiwan. Last summer, the U.S. and Australian troops practiced amphibious landings, ground combat, and air operations.

Officials in the United States told Reuters that the high-profile Talisman Sabre exercises had a far more discreet value: They helped create new stockpiles of military equipment that were left behind in Australia after the drills ended in August.

The preparation behind the United States military drills stems from the growing concern that in the coming years, Chinese President Xi Jinping could order his military to seize Taiwan, the democratic government island China considers its territory.

As the military took a hard look at their readiness, they focused on a critical area: its logistic network. The equipment from Talisman Sabre included roughly 330 vehicles and trailers and 130 containers in warehouses in Bandiana, in southeastern Australia, the Army says.

The United States military has not acknowledged the amount of equipment. Reuters reported that it's enough to supply about three logistics companies, with as many as 500 or more soldiers, centered on ensuring supplies reach warfighters. The supplies are the material needed for a future drill, a natural disaster, or a war.

"We're looking to do this more and more," Army General Charles Flynn, the top Army commander in the Pacific, told Reuters in an interview.

"There are several other countries in the region where we already have agreements to do that," he added, without naming specific countries.

Reuters interviews with more than two dozen current and former U.S. officials found that American military logistics in the Pacific is one of the greater U.S. vulnerabilities in any potential conflict over Taiwan.

According to Reuters, officials said the U.S. is trying to spread its military logistics hubs across the region, including warehouses in Australia. Officials from the Pentagon stated that the Department of Defense is working with allies to make U.S. forces more mobile and distributed.

What Will America Do?

The U.S. has not formally confirmed it would intervene if China were to attack Taiwan, but President Joe Biden has suggested he would deploy U.S. troops to defend the island on more than one occasion.

In July, the Biden administration announced the United States would also create an interim logistics center in Bandiana, Australia, to eventually create an "enduring logistics support area" in Queensland. According to an internal U.S. military document seen by Reuters, the facilities in Bandiana could hold more than 300 vehicles and had 800 pallet positions.

Per Bloomberg, China has said a victory by Donald Trump in the 2024 Presidential Election could implicitly lead to the U.S. abandoning Taiwan.

"The U.S. will always pursue America first, and Taiwan can change from a chess piece to a discarded chess piece at any time," Chen Binhua, spokesman for the office in Beijing that handles matters related to the island, said at a regular press briefing on Wednesday.

Bloomberg reported China frequently suggests that the U.S. isn't a reliable partner for Taiwan, a gimmick they use to undermine the island's confidence and ability to withstand an invasion.
AI-generated child abuse content is alarmingly increasing. This was confirmed by the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The warning of NCMEC comes as child safety researchers and experts sounded the alarm regarding the risk of generative artificial intelligence models.

For the past few months, they said that these AI tools-which can easily generate images and create texts-could make online exploitation worse.

AI-Generated Child Abuse Content Alarmingly Increases, Says NCMEC

Generative AI tools can easily be used by anyone. All you need to do is use prompts to instruct these AI models to create the images and texts you want.

But, since it can be accessed by anyone, this means that malicious actors can also take advantage of it, and this is what's happening in the U.S. and other parts of the globe right now.

NCMEC said that in 2023, it received more than 4,700 reports about AI-generated child abuse content. However, the child protection organization hasn't published the total number of child abuse photos and other content generated by AIs.

This means that this could still increase as NCMEC continues tallying the AI-generated child abuse content reports it received. In 2022, NCMEC said that it received reports of over 88 million files.

"We are receiving reports from the generative AI companies themselves, (online) platforms, and members of the public. It's absolutely happening," said NCMEC Senior Vice President John Shehan via US News.

NCMEC shared its statistics as social media chief executives are testifying in a Senate hearing regarding online safety.

Read Also: Biden Admin to Restrict China From Using US Cloud Services for AI Training-Here's the Plan

UK Also Faces Same Issue With AI Tools

The United Kingdom is also suffering from increasing child sex abuse materials generated by artificial intelligence tools. But, what's alarming about the U.K.'s problem with AIs is that these child abuse content are made by children.

The U.K. Safer Internet Center said that it received a small number of reports from schools because some students are using AIs to generate child abuse material, as reported by BBC News.

UKSIC suggested that school teachers and parents work together to solve the issue, especially since most of these children are just victims of their curiosity.

However, the main issue here is that the U.K. law considers making, possessing, and distributing images depicting child abuse illegal in all circumstances whether they are real or AI-generated.

Related Article: Black Celebs Targeted With Fake AI-Generated Images-Spreading False Rape, Sex Trafficking Accusations
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele is something of an enigma in his modernity and for his heavy-handed approach to law enforcement. Nicknaming himself the "World's Coolest Dictator," Bukele has ushered in a new era for El Salvador in just five years in office.

The nation has one of the lowest homicide rates in Latin America and gang activity, which plagued the country for decades, has been all but eliminated.

Bukele's war on gangs is largely to blame.

Under the president, the country lengthened the period of detention without charge and lowered the age of prosecution to twelve. Additionally, police and soldiers mounted checkpoints throughout poor districts with historic gang problems.

Some national human rights groups believe that he has entered into secret talks with imprisoned gang leaders and former gang leaders to negotiate a reduction in criminal violence in exchange for benefits.

The crackdown was spurred by a murdering spree in March 2022 prompted by MS 13 that resulted in the deaths of 62 in one day, the most murderous day in the country's history.

The president's response has doubled the number of people in prison, with 2% of the adult population currently behind bars. More than 70,000 suspected gang members have been arrested since the state of emergency was declared in 2022.

He's currently gearing up for reelection on Sunday for another five-year term, which is against the country's constitution which forbids immediate re-election. Concern about the economy, and the civil rights and human rights violations inherent in the state of emergency measures, are a primary concern for many voters.

"Why switch leaders? To go back to the same? We're happy without the gangs and he needs power to keep making change," said Elmer Martinez, a 53-year-old construction worker in San Salvador.

What Is The Current Status Quo?

Under the current president, security forces can arrest anyone without a warrant or any solid evidence. Also, the government has access to all private communications and individuals can be held without being charged.

"They can take anyone at any time and do whatever they want," said Laura, a teacher who declined to give her last name for fear of reprisal. "This isn't democracy."

A University of Central America public poll conducted in January 2024 showed Bukele has an 82% approval rating. Manuel "Chino" Flores, the next closest candidate, only has 4%.

"Bukele proved a 'zero tolerance' model suspending rights works - and quickly," said Amparo Marroquin of the University of Central America. "Now others in Latin America want rapid results in security and the polls, and along with that comes more power in the executive."

Bukele has warned that a vote for the opposition would mean a return to the past, when El Salvador was known as the "world's most dangerous country."

"The opposition will be able to achieve its true and only plan, to free the gang members," Bukele said in a video weeks before the election.

The front page of the government newspaper Diario El Salvador on Jan. 23 read: "War against the gangs could be reversed if the opposition wins more deputies."

El Salvador was embroiled in a civil war from 1979 to 1992 to remove what many saw as a corrupt two-party system.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reported nearly eight million have been displaced and forced to flee their homes as the war rages on. The alarming figure was announced Wednesday as High Commissioner Filippo Grandi concluded a visit to Ethiopia, to which many of the displaced people have fled.

According to Al Jazeera, since April 2023, more than 100,000 people have crossed into Ethiopia from Sudan, including close to 47,000 refugees and asylum seekers -- this excludes the 50,000 Sudanese refugees who were already in the country.

Grandi called for "urgent and additional support to meet their needs" as he inspected the efforts of the Ethiopian government and the UNHCR to assist.

Neighboring countries have also seen a rise in the number of Sudanese refugees coming to them. More Al Jazeera reports more than half a million people have fled to Chad since April. On average, 1,500 people cross daily into South Sudan.

The recent surge in violence amid the 20-year conflict has left nearly half of Sudan's 49 million population in dire need of assistance. The UN also reports that 12,000 people had been killed by the end of 2023, although the death toll is believed to be higher.

The current status in Sudan is an extension of an earlier conflict that began in 2023. Rebels from the territory's ethnic sub-Saharan African community organized an armed rebellion against the Arab-dominated government of Khartoum with accusations of discrimination and neglect.

How Did This Start?

Simmering tensions reached a high last April between the military, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, headed by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo-- also referred to as Hemedti, that resulted in an eruption of street battles in the capital Khartoum, and surrounding areas.

The government, under President Omar al-Bashir at the time, responded with aerial bombings, unleashing the militia group, Popular Defence Forces or Janjaweed, and stands accused of mass killings and rapes. Up to 300,000 people were killed, and 2.7 million were driven from their homes.

International entities and peacekeeping forces have continued to struggle to find a way to subdue the violence over the last two decades.

The UN Refugee Agency reported Grandi's three-day visit to Ethiopia gave him an inside observation of the first-hand efforts of the Government of Ethiopia, supported by the UNHCR and partners, to assist Sudanese refugees who have recently arrived in the country.

"I heard stories of heartbreaking loss of family, friends, homes, and livelihoods, yet amid this despair, I also saw refugees' determination to move forward, if given the support and opportunity," said Grandi.

"Ethiopia's continued generosity to the displaced, including those who have recently arrived from Sudan, is commendable and should be matched with even greater support from the international community. Without further donor support, it will be extremely difficult to deliver much-needed help to those who need it most," Grandi added.

Ethiopia hosts one of the largest refugee and internally displaced populations globally and is the third largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, and is currently home to nearly 1 million refugees -mainly from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan - while an estimated 3.5 million Ethiopians are internally displaced.
Mark Zuckerberg apologized to online harm victims' families during the U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 31, on Capitol Hill.

The conference aims to pressure social media platforms to make more drastic efforts to protect users, especially young ones, against the spread of harmful content.

The hearing comes as U.S. officials accuse social media CEOs of failing to protect kids from exploitation and abuse on Facebook, WhatsApp, and other social media platforms.

Mark Zuckerberg, Other CEOs Apologize to Online Harm Victims' Families

According to ABC News' latest report, Sen. Josh Hawley called Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg during the hearing, asking him if he wanted to directly apologize for online harm to victims' families in front of him.

"They're here. You're on national television ... Would you like to apologize for what you've done to these good people?" said the U.S. senator.

After hearing these words, Zuckerberg decided to stand up and turn around to apologize to the parents; some of them were raising photos of their loved ones who died because of harmful online content.

"It's terrible. No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered," said the CEO.

Aside from Mark Zuckerberg, Snap Inc. CEO Evan Spiegel also apologized to the families who attended the hearing. This happened after Sen. Laphonza Butler told him that there were children who were able to access illegal drugs on Snapchat.

"I'm so sorry that we have not been able to prevent these tragedies," said Spiegel via The Guardian.

Read Also: AI-Generated Child Abuse Content Alarmingly Increases; NCMEC Says This Problem Will Only Get Worse

What is the plan to protect users?

Mark Zuckerberg promised that they would continue investing in efforts that can help Facebook and other Meta-owned apps protect users from harmful online content.

He claimed that they are going to continue making "industry-leading efforts" to ensure that no one will have to go through the suffering that families at the hearing experienced moving forward.

Meanwhile, Spiegel said that didn't promise anything. But, he said that they are working very hard to block all search terms related to drugs from Snapchat.

"We proactively look for and detect drug-related content. We remove it from our platform, preserve the evidence, and then we refer it to law enforcement for action," he explained.

Related Article: Facebook Encryption Brings Fear to Sex Abuse Survivors-Here's What Some Victims Are Saying
The U.S. government is now accusing Iraq's ISIS of the deadly drone attack, which recently killed three American servicemen and injured dozens of troops.

The incident happened on Sunday, Jan. 28, at Tower 22; a secret military base located in northeastern Jordan. This facility is critical for the United States since it helps maintain American presence in Syria.

Now, National Security spokesman John Kirby said that the drone attack was conducted by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. Here are other details you need to know.

US Blames Iraq's ISIS for Deadly Drone Attack That Killed 3 American Troops

On Wednesday, Jan. 31, NSC spokesperson John Kirby said that Iraq's ISIS was the one that planned, resourced, and facilitated the deadly drone attack, which killed three U.S. troops and injured 40 American soldiers.

Kirby said that U.S. President Joe Biden "believes that it is important to respond in an appropriate way," as reported by The Associated Press.

He added that the American president is now weighing retaliation options for the U.S. against the deadly drone attack. John Kirby warned Iraq's ISIS that the first thing they see won't be the last one; saying that it "won't be a one-off."

The NSC spokesperson also mentioned the decision of Iraq's militia Kataib Hezbollah to suspend military and security operations against occupation forces to save the Iraqi government from embarrassment.

Kirby explained that the Hezbollah group is not the only one attacking the United States, which is one the group can't be taken at face value.

Read Also: President Joe Biden Hints at How To Reponse to Drone Strike That Killed 3 US Troops

Biden Says US Will Respond To Deadly Drone Attack

According to ABC News, U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed on Tuesday, Jan. 30, that the United States will respond to the drone attack.

However, he clarified that the U.S. is not seeking a wide war in the Middle East. As of writing, the Biden Admin hasn't confirmed the exact retaliation efforts they plan to make against those who launched the drone attack.

But, a U.S. official said that in the next several days, the government start striking multiple targets.

"These are going to be very deliberate targets -- deliberate strikes on facilities that enabled these attacks," said the American official.

Related Article: The United States Mulls Retaliatory To Drone Strike Options as Iran Remains Steadfast in Defiance
Israel continues to defy court orders issued last week by the U.N.'s top court. In a matter of days, Israel killed hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza said South Africa's Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor. Additionally, she has asked why an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not been issued in a case South Africa filed at the separate International Criminal Court.

The Associated Press reports South Africa would "look at proposing other measures to the global community" in a bid to stop Israel from killing civilians in its assault on Gaza.

The preliminary ruling by the U.N.'s International Court of Justice in South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction, and any acts of genocide against Palestinians in the territory. It stopped short of ordering a cease-fire. It also ruled Israel must urgently get basic humanitarian aid to Gaza and submit a report on steps taken to abide by the ruling within a month.

A higher-up official in South Africa's foreign ministry revealed to the AP that the country hopes Friday's ruling will be discussed on a larger scale within the United Nations, possibly as early as Wednesday.

Since the court's ruling, Israel has not taken any steps to withdraw its military offensive. Israel continues to claim the defense is aiming at Hamas, however, hundreds more Palestinians have been killed, according to figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The ministry said Wednesday that 150 people were killed in the territory in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of Palestinian deaths in the war to more than 26,700.

What Does The Health Ministry Say?

The Health Ministry says the majority of the dead are women and children.

"I can't be dishonest. I believe the rulings of the court have been ignored," South Africa's foreign minister said. "Hundreds of people have been killed in the last three or four days. And clearly, Israel believes it has a license to do as it wishes," reported the AP.

Pandor elaborated on the danger of the world doing nothing to stop the killing of civilians in Gaza and said similar ignorance contributed to the horrific death toll in the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, where 800,000 Rwandans were slaughtered in the East African country.

"We are allowing this to happen again, right before our eyes, on our TV screens," Pandor said.

Israel could face U.N. sanctions if found in breach of the court's orders. Nevertheless, The United States has the power to veto the sanctions as it's an extraordinarily close ally of Israel.

Netanyahu said Israel "will continue to do what is necessary to defend our country and defend our people." Israel says the offensive aims to destroy Hamas after its Oct. 7 attacks on Israel that killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

Israel says it has allegedly abided by international law and is doing its best to minimize its killings in Gaza. Israel says it has killed more than 9,000 militants and accuses Hamas of embedding in civilian areas, making it truly difficult to avoid 26,700 Palestinian civilian casualties.

The African National Congress, South Africa's governing party, has always compared Israel's policies in Gaza and the West Bank to its history under the apartheid regime of white minority rule, which restricted Black people to "homelands" before ending in 1994.

Pandor also said South Africa was eager to pursue the case it has lodged with the separate International Criminal Court, an indication the country will continue its legal pressure on Israel. In the ICC case, South Africa accuses Netanyahu of war crimes and asks the court to order his arrest.

The ICJ and ICC are based in The Hague but deal with different cases. The ICJ is a U.N. court that decides disputes between countries. The ICC prosecutes individuals.

Israel, like Russia, is not a signatory to the treaty that created the ICC and does not recognize the court's authority.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan has met with visiting President of the Chamber of Deputies of Czechia Marketa Pekarova Adamova.

Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting on Wednesday, Simonyan said they discussed the processes taking place in the South Caucasus.

We also discussed the development of relations between our countries, the trade turnover, as well as cooperation in various international platforms. At a one-on-one meeting with Ms. Adamova we discussed regional issues and the normalization with our neighbor Azerbaijan. As you know, our guest will then travel to our neighboring country from here. We had discussions about that too. Id like to once again say that I am happy to welcome my colleague here, Simonyan said.
citizenM, the pioneer of affordable luxury hotels, is celebrating the debut of its first Austin-based property - citizenM Austin Downtown. Located deep in the heart of Texas' city capital, developed in partnership with Turnbridge Equities, and designed by citizenM's long standing architecture partner concrete and local architecture firm Baskervill, the 17-story tower features 344 signature citizenM rooms with XL king-size beds to get lost in. After all, everything is bigger in Texas.

The new opening is part of citizenM's ambitious expansion plan in the US and beyond, which aims to introduce its innovative lifestyle brand to hubs with travelers on-the-go. Guests have come to not only recognize citizenM's distinct style but seek out its 'affordable luxury' experience. citizenM Austin Downtown will join the portfolio as the 34th hotel and follows recent openings in Miami (Miami Worldcenter and Brickell), citizenM Menlo Park on the Meta campus, and several other North American cities.

As a continuation of the brand's citizens of the world series, citizenM will spotlight three citizens of Austin who will be featured in lifestyle content and storytelling across the brand's digital channels. Launched originally in 2018 with citizens of the Bowery (in connection with the opening of citizenM New York Bowery) citizens of the world spotlights citizens across multiple pillars including art, business, culture, fashion, and party. The content series has since continued to expand across cities where citizenM hotels are located, and has spotlighted over 365 citizens of the world to date.

Just a stroll away from Lady Bird Lake, the charms of Congress Avenue, and the iconic music destination Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater (ideal for travelers looking to catch a concert in the "Live Music Capital of the World"), the property dares to be different - just like the city of Austin. A natural fit for the eccentric and entrepreneurial spirit of the city, citizenM's vibrant design, locally sourced art, savvy technology and affordable luxury have become key pillars of the guest experience, while paying homage to the city across every element. Within the property, guests will have access to stylish amenities, including a cozy living room perfect for bleisure travelers catching up on emails, the brand's signature canteenM serving 24/7 snacks and drinks, a 24/7 gym, rooftop bar and pool, in addition to an array of eye-catching art. Emphasizing citizenM's commitment to sustainability, citizenM Austin Downtown has been constructed adhering to elevated environmental standards, encompassing energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction, and is working towards securing LEED Gold certification. This initiative aligns with citizenM's broader environmental ethos - 100% of citizenM hotels either hold green building certifications or are on the path to achieving them.

Embracing Austin's colorful and unique attributes, citizenM has commissioned famed Contemporary Mexican Illustrator Hilda Palafox (PONI) - who has collaborated with Vans, Red Bull, Kichink, Mercadorama and Google - for the rooftop mural. Meanwhile, Austin-based painter Calhan Hale - known for her work with local art gallery Martha's Contemporary - was commissioned for the ground level exterior piece, which will highlight the reality of living in Austin and its real draw to visiting or calling it home. The property will also feature in-room artwork sourced from Austin Contemporary Museum; pieces from the KRC Collection, citizenM's founder Rattan Chadha's private collection; and a selection of silent video artwork, which was chosen following citizenM's recent 'open art call' for video artists in collaboration with The One Minutes.

citizenM's philosophy of "affordable luxury" is best experienced in the guest rooms, which showcases their commitment to high-tech amenities, ultimate comfort, eye-catching art and more. The rooms are smartly furnished with "everything modern travelers need, and nothing they don't." All guestroom features are designed to be the very best: the beds are XL king-size wall-to-wall with an extra comfy mattress and luxury bedding. An HD widescreen TV offers streaming options via free super-fast Wi-Fi, so that guests can enjoy their own content. A powerful rain shower with full-size shower gel and shampoo (as well as giant fluffy towels) will soothe all long- and short-haul travelers. The room ambiance is fully controlled by an in-room iPad - the blinds, climate, the TV, even the lights with changeable colors - or via the award-winning citizenM app.

"We are thrilled to open the doors to citizenM's first Austin-based hotel," says Robin Chadha, Chief Brand Officer. "citizenM encourages guests to be daringly different, likewise all are welcome in Austin's progressive and inclusive metropolis. Austin beats to its own drum - rich with cultural diversity through delicious eateries and vibrant nightlife options - and we are excited to be a part of this bustling community. With our curated selection of artwork, rooftop pool, and this prime location, citizenM Austin Downtown will offer mobile citizens a great base to experience this exciting city."

At the heart of citizenM's top-notch service and signature personality is its hotel staff - the ambassadors. Typically hired from outside of the hospitality industry, ambassadors are chosen first for their attitude (not skills), and put through a six-week immersion course to learn all about citizenM's unique culture. All ambassadors are trained in all jobs, from receptionist and problem-solver to barista and bartender, meaning guests are never told to speak to someone else when they need help. More importantly, they all embody today's modern citizen: curious, well-traveled and open-minded. They are also citizenM's walking concierges who know lots of things about their city, and readily provide tips about the best places to visit.

To further enhance the guest experience, citizenM offers travelers the world's simplest hotel membership program: mycitizenM+. Members simply sign up with a small monthly fee to enjoy 'all the perks without the points,' including an extra 10% discount off the lowest public rate, free late check-out, free upgrade to a premium view room, early access to discounts, members-only events and more.

The new property, found at 617 Colorado Street, will join the growing citizenM US portfolio, which includes properties within Boston, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Miami, Menlo Park, Austin, and more worldwide.

Hotel website
Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort announces the appointment of Daniel Scott as Regional Vice President and Managing Director. A Rosewood Hotels & Resorts veteran of two decades, Daniel brings a wealth of experience to the role as a seasoned hotelier and transformational leader within the organization. In addition to overseeing daily operations at Kona Village, Daniel continues his current role as Regional Vice President, with operational oversight of The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, Rosewood Washington, D.C., and Rosewood Baha Mar.

Daniel joins Kona Village from Mexico's Rosewood Mayakoba, where he was a key pillar of the Riviera Maya community and a champion for the resort's associates. A true innovator, Daniel has been integral in establishing Rosewood Mayakoba's status as a leader in luxury and advocate for positive social impact.

Daniel has dedicated his career to Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, having joined the company in 2003, and quickly rising through the ranks. Throughout his career, he has developed meaningful leadership skills and a deep understanding of the luxury hospitality industry. His tenure with the brand has included leadership positions across several properties within the United States, Mexico and Caribbean, including Rosewood Sand Hill and Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort.

Given Daniel's purpose-driven approach to luxury hospitality, he is a natural leader to Kona Village's 'ohana of associates. In 2017, he co-founded Centro Educativo K'iin Beh, a school built for the children of Rosewood Mayakoba employees and the local community. Located 15 minutes from the resort, K'iin Beh now welcomes over 500 students and offers bilingual, full-time education at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The creation of the school reflects not only Rosewood Mayakoba's but also Daniel's commitment to the well-being and success of hotel staff and the surrounding community. This initiative aligns with the brand's overarching Rosewood Impacts vision, which seeks to create an ecosystem where people and place enrich one another. Since Kona Village's opening in July 2023, the resort has set a standard for sustainability and embraced the rich culture and history of its sacred shores.
Resolute Road Hospitality, a third-party management company founded on the promise to change the way owners think of their management company, announced today that Noall T. Silvester, MMH, CHA, has joined the leadership team as Regional Vice President of Operations, bolstering the corporate leadership team as the Resolute Road portfolio continues to grow.

Silvester will be responsible for overseeing hotels in Utah, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada within Resolute Road's portfolio. His primary focus will be supporting on-property teams as they implement strategies to drive GOP, strengthen owner service, maintain a high-level of guest satisfaction, and optimize operational leadership. Silvester will collaborate closely with recently appointed Senior Vice President of Operations Tony Cruz as they collectively work towards improving processes and implementing new strategies for success.

In his most recent position as Regional Vice President of Operations at Aimbridge Hospitality, he demonstrated his leadership skills by driving the performance of a diverse portfolio comprising 20 major-brand hotels. He was responsible for over 1,650 guest rooms and excelled in coordinating regional operational efforts, revenue management, market share, profit, guest services, and brand/owner/management company relations.
In an extraordinary alliance positioned to elevate Ovolo Hotels' awareness across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, the designer hotel collection proudly announces a strategic partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), encompassing eight iconic boutique designer hotels across Hong Kong, Australia, and Bali. The partnership will see Ovolo Hotels expand its global presence through SLHs global sales, distribution, and marketing platforms.

Ovolo Hotels, known for its avant-garde approach to tourism and hospitality; is a dynamic and innovative hotel brand with a collection of boutique designer hotels. Each Ovolo represents cutting-edge design, technological integration, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability, encapsulated in its distinctive 'Do Good. Feel Good.' policy and achieving the Bronze Benchmark across its Australian and Bali hotels from Earth Check, the worlds leading certification, consulting, and advisory group for sustainable destinations and tourism organisations.

Dave Baswal, CEO of Ovolo Hotels, shared his enthusiasm about the collaboration, saying, "At Ovolo, we are thrilled to partner with Small Luxury Hotels of the World, a brand synonymous with independently spirited hotels and excellence. This strategic alliance not only strengthens our presence across key global markets while remaining independently owned and operated, but also allows us to showcase the distinct character and innovation that defines Ovolo while connecting with travellers emotionally."

SLH is a distinguished global collection of over 500 independent hotels in more than 90 countries, each offering bespoke and personalized luxury designer experiences coupled with a firm sustainability objective. Synonymous with independently spirited hotels, delivering curated stays that reflect the individuality and character of each destination. The brand's Considerate Collection aligns with sustainable practices, embodying a commitment to responsible luxury on a global scale.

The global alliance with Ovolo Hotels brings exciting prospects and elevates SLH's presence in Australia. Each Ovolo hotel, with its unique character, exemplifies the high standards of excellence and impeccably embodies the spirit of individual character and connects with the independently minded traveller that SLH member hotels are known for. Mark Wong, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific, Small Luxury Hotels of the World

This strategic collaboration seamlessly integrates the following hotels from the Ovolo Hotels collection into SLH's curated collection with plans to add the By Ovolo Collective collection in Q1 2024:

Ovolo hotels:

Ovolo Woolloomooloo (Sydney, Australia)

Ovolo South Yarra (Melbourne, Australia)

Ovolo The Valley (Brisbane, Australia)

Ovolo Nishi (Canberra, Australia)

Ovolo Central (Hong Kong)

By Ovolo Collective:

Laneways by Ovolo (Melbourne, Australia)

Mamaka by Ovolo (Bali, Indonesia)

This synergy amplifies the diversity and uniqueness of the offerings, creating a one-of-a-kind proposition for travellers seeking bespoke luxury designer experiences across continents.

This partnership is a testament to the shared values and commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences that both Ovolo and SLH have. The integration of our eight distinctive hotels into the SLH collection amplifies the diversity and uniqueness of our offerings, opening new and existing markets through increased sale and distribution networks. Together, we look forward to truly connecting with the independently minded traveller in our regions. Ryan Tuckerman, Group Director of Sales, Distribution & Revenue at Ovolo Hotels

The collaboration marks the beginning of a new era for Ovolo Hotels as SLH comes together to offer unparalleled experiences that transcend borders and redefine the very essence of bespoke designer luxury.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is doing everything to establish lasting peace in the region, but Azerbaijan fails to do the same, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan has said.

Simonyan made the remarks at a joint press conference with President of the Chamber of Deputies of Czechia Marketa Pekarova Adamova when asked how Czechia can support the Armenia-Azerbaijan talks.

I think that not only Czechia, but all our international partners should exert maximum pressures to bring peace to the region, because Armenia has numerously said that it is ready and is doing everything to establish lasting peace in the region, but we see that our neighboring country doesnt stand out much in this sense. And the international community must unambiguously react to all the steps that are aimed at undermining the establishment of peace, Simonyan said.

Citing Azerbaijans refusal to take part in talks under various mediations, Speaker Alen Simonyan warned that Azerbaijan could be deliberately stalling the talks.

In case of the presence of political will, I dont see any reason that could obstruct the signing of the peace treaty based on all the principles that were agreed upon in Prague. We dont understand how someone can come to an agreement, make a statement, which was issued by the European Council President Charles Michel, and to date not have a peace treaty based on those fundamental principles, Simonyan said.

The Speaker said that Armenia will continue its efforts in the direction of establishing peace and strengthening democracy.

Theres no second opinion that Armenia is a democratic country, and we are the leading democracy in the region and we will continue making steps in that direction. We need support from our partners to further deepen that direction. We think we will succeed in our steps aimed at both peace and the development of democracy, he said.
Joyned, an award-winning travel tech startup with an innovative social revenue technology platform, has just announced the completion of an $8 million Series A funding round. The funds raised will fuel Joyned's mission to become a global growth engine for travel and hospitality brands.

The round was led by Reach Markets, an Australian private equity and financial services company. Sentor Investments, a private investment firm based in Australia, Velocity Ventures, a Singaporean investment fund focused on investing in innovative solutions in the tourism and hospitality sectors, and Lucerne Investment Partners, an Australian private investment group also participated.

Joyned enables end-users to discuss and book trips together directly on the website, making travel booking seamless and collaborative. This can be done anonymously, without registration, from a secure, private online space. The solution provides a cross-website, live experience for customers, at the same time empowering travel sites to own their shoppers natural social engagements and significantly increasing their conversion rates.

Joyneds AI-based social revenue platform identifies critical data such as price perception and sentiment analysis, giving travel sites access to a comprehensive overview of the customer booking journey, which then allows them to offer users personally tailored deals.

With clients reporting increases across a wide range of metrics (KPIs), such as conversion rates, average transaction size, organic traffic, and more, Joyned generates remarkable improvements in the business performance of travel sites. By using its social revenue platform, the average booking value of users grows by an impressive 25%, and the conversion rate increases fourfold.

The platform we have developed addresses the travelers need to experience the holiday booking process together. We are the first to bridge the gap between users' desire for shared experiences and the possibility of doing so. Together with our partners, we are making a significant difference to the global hospitality industry, which is expected to roll over $4.6 trillion by the end of the year. The power of our solution is evidenced by the agreements we have signed with the world's leading travel brands and the impact the solution has had on their businesses. We are proud of the support we received from leading funds joining our journey. Joyned CEO, Jonathan Abraham

Joyneds innovative approach to collaborative travel booking experiences and its ability to drive engagement and conversions make it a standout player in the market. This investment will help catalyse Joyned's expansion efforts and create lasting value for both customers and stakeholders. Jonathan Cocks, Partner, Velocity Ventures

Joyned has made significant strides in its global expansion with commercial agreements with dozens of international travel brands, including a strategic commercial agreement with Amadeus, the world's leading travel technology provider, OYO Vacation Homes, one of Europe's leading holiday home rental companies, and TravelUp, the UK's leading travel arrangements company. The capital raised will be used for product development, consolidating growth in international markets as well as business development and driving sales and growth processes in new verticals.

About Joyned

Joyned enables customers to book trips, vacations, and holidays together, making the travel booking experience collaborative. It provides a cross-website, live experience for online shoppers, empowering travel sites of all sizes to own their shoppers' natural social engagements directly on-site.

The company's AI-based social revenue platform analyzes and identifies consumer group-buying intent from previously unavailable data. Coupled with actionable insights, it provides visibility into buyers' decision-making process, intent, group dynamics, conversations, and activities to maximize revenue.

Global online travel agencies, hotel chains, booking sites, and travel tech providers rely on Joyned to uncover hidden opportunities and optimize their offering thereby maximizing revenue, conversions, and customer lifetime value.
In the intricate tapestry of the hospitality industry, Global Distribution Systems (GDS) have long been the favored tools of major playershotel chains, airlines, and travel agents. However, as we stand on the cusp of 2024, the spotlight turns toward independent hotels and small groups. Should they venture into the realm of GDS as a pivotal element of their business strategy? Lets unravel the potential and key considerations for these entities as they embark on the GDS Odyssey.

GDS  How the Corporate Booking Engine is becoming a Consumer Magnet

For years, GDS has operated as the unsung hero, orchestrating seamless corporate travel arrangements. Notably, major entities like American Express continue to wield GDS for booking hotels, flights, and more, cementing its role as the undisputed corporate booking dynamo.

While flights often adhere to corporate policies, the landscape is evolving for hotels. Travelers, particularly in the corporate sphere, crave unique experiences. The allure of boutique hotels can now be amplified through GDS, turning them into sought-after destinations for the discerning corporate traveler.

Beneath the surface, GDS holds strategic advantages. For hotels, it translates into wider market visibility, specifically targeting the coveted corporate segment. Guests, in turn, relish the convenience of having all travel arrangements taken care of on their behalf. Providers thrive in a symbiotic relationship through the revenue share model.

How the GDS is Growing and Morphing to Match Consumer Desires

Despite shifting travel trends, GDS stands resilient and continues to grow. At a recent conference in November 2024, panelists from Amadeus forecasted an annual growth of 1 to 2%.

Although corporate travel has been slower to resume following 2020, this arena is making a robust comeback, with a notable shift toward unmanaged travelan area where GDS sees an opportunity for conversion into a managed environment. The heart of GDS strength lies in the Travel Management Company (TMC)-Hotel relationship. This partnership extends beyond bookings, ensuring complex problems are solved, namely as they relate to seamless transactions, cross-border commissions, and payments between multiple actors in the travel supply chain. It also opens up a colossal opportunity to drive GDS growth by converting unmanaged travel into a managed domain.

The Next Leap in GDS Growth

Global Distribution Systems are a legacy of the travel industry, and have been around for many years. Yet, these solutions are set to continue evolving in order to meet rapidly-evolving tech trends and consumer demands. Below are just 4 of the many trends set to shape GDS innovation in 2024 and beyond:

1. Adoption of Self-Booking Tools

Corporate travelers are increasingly embracing self-booking tools as a means to exercise greater control and autonomy in curating their hotel accommodations and travel experiences. This shift reflects a desire for personalized and tailored solutions that align with individual preferences and priorities. By utilizing self-booking tools, business travelers can efficiently browse through various hotel options, considering factors such as location, amenities, and pricing, to make informed decisions that cater to their specific needs.

This trend is crucial for hotels as it not only streamlines the booking process but also enhances customer satisfaction by empowering travelers to choose accommodations that align with their preferences and work requirements. The adoption of self-booking tools contributes to a more seamless and efficient travel experience, fostering a positive relationship between hotels and corporate clientele, ultimately leading to increased loyalty and repeat business. Hotels that prioritize providing a user-friendly and customizable booking experience stand to benefit from the evolving preferences of corporate travelers in todays dynamic business landscape.

2. Air Travel in 2024 will Create Challenges & Opportunities for GDS Distribution

Looking ahead to 2024, the resurgence of air travel presents a unique set of opportunities and challenges for Global Distribution Systems. As air travel is set to surpass 2019 levels, GDS providers play a pivotal role in navigating this trajectory. GDS becomes the gateway for hotels to explore new segments, particularly in the realm of simple meetings.

However, amidst the positive projections, challenges like RFP spam and evolving sustainability expectations must be addressed. GDS providers need a strategic approach that positions them as catalysts for growth, ensuring they are ready to ride the wave of renewed air travel and its impact on distribution in 2024 and beyond.

3. Generative AI and Tailoring GDS for Personalized Experiences

The future unfolds with the acceleration of change, introducing us to the era of Generative AI. For Global Distribution Systems (GDS), this is likely to mark a pivotal shift towards crafting personalized experiences.

Amadeus, in collaboration with Microsoft and Accenture, is pioneering AI-powered integrations between its Cytric Easy travel and expense platform and Microsoft 365. The development includes a generative AI-powered chatbot, leveraging Microsoft technologies like GPT models from Azure Open AI Service, Microsoft 365, and Teams. This chatbot, embedded in Cytric Easy, aims to enhance the business travel booking experience by offering a dynamic, interactive, and conversational interface. The collaboration also involves a new plugin for Microsoft 365 Copilot, facilitating streamlined travel itinerary matching and booking within Microsoft 365.

The integration of generative AI solutions is part of a broader vision to transform business travel, providing hyper-personalized journeys while ensuring responsible global scalability. This initiative holds significant implications for hotels, as it highlights the growing trend of AI-driven, user-centric travel experiences, potentially impacting Global Distribution System (GDS) distribution and emphasizing the importance of hotels adapting to evolving corporate traveler preferences.

4. Sustainability will continue to Redefine GDS Impact on the Travel Landscape

Within the intricate fabric of the travel landscape, sustainability emerges as a decisive thread, profoundly influencing Global Distribution Systems. Many big corporates such as Siemens now have sustainability policies in place, and will not work with providers or partners who do not adhere to the criteria. Therefore, hotels that wish to compete on GDS must take this into consideration.

4 GDS Must-Dos for Independent Hotels and Small Groups

In 2024, hotels and groups will face a strategic imperative to maximize the potential of Global Distribution Systems (GDS). As the industry anticipates a resurgence in air travel and the widespread adoption of self-booking tools, hotels must adopt intelligent practices to navigate these shifts effectively.

Below are 4 best practices to make your hotel stand out in the GDS:

1. Partnering for Power: Strategic Alliances in the GDS Universe

For independent hotels and small groups aiming to thrive in the competitive hospitality landscape, strategic collaboration is essential. Embracing consortia and offering corporate negotiated rates, particularly for major corporations like Salesforce and Volkswagen, is crucial.

In various industries such as pharmaceuticals, finance, and technology, companies actively seek negotiated rates for their business travels. Independent hotels can stand out by providing these rates, positioning themselves as attractive options for corporate clientele. This approach not only boosts the hotels visibility but also establishes long-term relationships with business travelers, leading to increased bookings, revenue, and overall business success.

2. Personalized Perks: Tailoring GDS Strategies for Distinctive Stays

Its imperative for independent hotels to underscore perks that resonate with the evolving preferences of business travelers. Essentials like in-room coffee machines, complimentary water bottles, room service available at specific times, and grab-and-go style food and beverage options are crucial. While business travel preferences may evolve, these essentials remain steadfast. Independent hotels should spotlight these amenities to cater to the changing needs of corporate travelers, emphasizing convenience and comfort. By prioritizing and showcasing these valued perks, hotels can attract and retain business travelers, ultimately enhancing their overall appeal and boosting customer satisfaction.

Harness the Potential of Personalization: Capitalize on the strength of personalization by customizing your GDS listings to showcase the distinctive features and experiences that make your hotel stand out in the crowd. Create engaging content that resonates with potential guests, aligning with their preferences for a more tailored experience.

3. Digital Dazzle: Crafting Intelligent GDS Strategies for 2024 and Beyond

To effectively resonate with corporate travelers, independent hotels must prioritize optimizing their digital experiences. Its not merely about functionality; its about creating a delightful online presence. Start by thoroughly reviewing both static and dynamic content on your website to ensure it reflects the uniqueness and excellence of your hotel. Highlight key features and amenities that cater specifically to the needs and preferences of business travelers, such as efficient business centers, dedicated meeting spaces, high-speed Wi-Fi, and business-friendly services like early check-ins or late check-outs.

Consider incorporating visually appealing and user-friendly elements into your website design. This includes intuitive navigation, high-quality images of your facilities, and concise yet compelling descriptions that capture the essence of your hotel. Implement responsive design to ensure a seamless experience across various devices, acknowledging that corporate travelers often rely on smartphones and tablets for travel planning.

Furthermore, leverage technology to facilitate easy booking processes and provide transparent information about rates, policies, and any corporate discounts or perks available. A well-optimized website not only attracts corporate travelers seeking efficiency and convenience but also positions your hotel as a top choice for their business-related accommodation needs. By focusing on these aspects, independent hotels can ensure that their digital presence aligns seamlessly with the expectations and preferences of corporate travelers, enhancing the likelihood of attracting and retaining this valuable clientele.

4. Align GDS Strategies with Sustainability Expectations

Last but not least, hotels should implement sustainability policies and communicate them on the GDS. In an era where sustainability is a key consideration, ensure your GDS strategy aligns with eco-friendly practices. Highlight green initiatives and showcase your commitment to responsible hospitality, because large corporate companies will need to adhere to sustainability policies and wont partner with hotels that do not follow the criteria.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the curtain rises on 2024, presenting a thrilling horizon for independent hotels and small groups to amplify their success by embracing the dynamic world of Global Distribution Systems. Navigate through trends, forge strategic bonds, and implement savvy practices to carve your niche in the ever-evolving tapestry of the hospitality industry. Its time to unleash the power of GDS and embark on a transformative journey that defines the hospitality landscape in the years to come.

About GuestCentric

GuestCentric is a leading provider of cloud-based digital marketing software and services that help extraordinary hoteliers promote their brand, drive direct bookings and connect with customers on all digital platforms. GuestCentric's all-in-one platform provides hotels with the only unified solution for managing their guests' online journey: award-winning, high impact websites; an integrated, easy-to-use booking engine; social media marketing and publishing tools; a GDS chain code and a channel manager to offer rooms on Amadeus, Booking.com, Expedia, Galileo, Google, Sabre, TripAdvisor and hundreds of other channels. GuestCentric is a proud provider of solutions that maximize direct bookings to hotel groups and independent hotels from collections such as Design Hotels, Great Hotels of the World, Leading Hotels of the World, Relais & Chateaux, Small Luxury Hotels and Small Danish Hotels. GuestCentric is featured on Skift Travel Tech 250, a list of the top 250 travel tech companies shaping the modern-day travel experience.

Melissa Rodrigues

Content Manager

+35 196 157 3854

GuestCentric Systems

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Extended Stay America, Inc., the largest owner/operator of company-branded hotels in North America, owns and operates 682 hotels in the U.S. and Canada comprising approximately 76,000 rooms and employs approximately 10,000 employees in its hotel properties and headquarters. The Company owns and operates hotels under the core brand Extended Stay America, which serves the mid-priced extended stay segment, and other brands.
Bob W Kamppi - Apartment with kitchen - image provided by Koko3

Bob W Kamppi - shared space including work from Finnish designers Vaarni & Basta - image provided by Koko3

Finnish tech-led short-stay rental brand Bob W announces its latest expansion, Bob W Kamppi, in Helsinki's central business district, in partnership with real estate investor Slatto.

Introducing and leading an entirely new category of true tech-enabled hospitality, Bob W provides a smarter and climate-neutral alternative to hotels and short-stay rentals. The company operates over 3000 serviced apartments in 10 countries and 16 cities across Europe. Each Bob W apartment incorporates its own bespoke local design and technology that give guests the Best of Both Worlds: the consistency and quality of a lifestyle hotel, coupled with the local authenticity and the amenities of a home.

In a proactive collaboration, where Bob W identified and presented the site for development to Slatto, the new Bob W Kamppi exemplifies Bob Ws dedication to quality, local design, and technological innovation. Slatto acquired this site specifically for converting it into a new Bob W. This transformation of a former office building into 99 apartments offers a mix of studios and one-bedroom units, each equipped with a kitchen. Enhancing the living experience, the property includes a co-working lounge and a rooftop terrace with a sauna, ideal for relaxation and social interactions.

The property, situated in the prime area of Kamppi, is ideally positioned for long-stay guests due to its excellent public transport connectivity and proximity to Helsinki's central stationa mere 10-minute walk awaybut also benefits from its location in the heart of the Finnish music scene. Kamppi, known for its rich cultural offerings and vibrant music industry, provides a perfect backdrop for Bob W, adding a unique charm to the property.

Bob W Kamppis mixture of studios and one-bedroom units will have an interior concept designed by local award-winning design agency KOKO3, uniquely merging the building's 70s raw architecture with modern Finnish design. A colour palette inspired by the local neighbourhood combines with pattern and statement design pieces. Locally sourced artworks, a signature of the Bob W brand, capture Kamppis essence and add to the delicate graphics and rich, solid tones of the interior. Collaborations from renowned contemporary Finnish designers Vaarni & Basta, showcasing a mix of nostalgia and modernity will also feature in the apartments, coworking space as well as the rooftop lounge and sauna facilities overlooking the city.

Avarrus Architects, a distinguished firm recognized for their work in sustainable architecture, bring their expertise to the Bob W Kamppi project. In 2023, Avarrus was shortlisted for Finlands highest architectural award, underscoring their capability and innovative approach. Their vision for Bob W Kamppi is to preserve the building's original 1970s essence, while significantly elevating its sustainability and functionality. The refurbishment plan includes eco-friendly upgrades such as advanced HVAC systems, energy-efficient window replacements, roof repairs, a renovated parking deck, and the integration of solar energy solutions, all aligning to achieve LEED Gold certification.

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expresses her enthusiasm about the project: "Bob W's expansion into Helsinki's Kamppi district, renowned for its cultural vibrancy and abundance of services, signifies a major advancement. Our property, with its unique architecture and prime location, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to delivering 5-star hospitality experience to our guests. By strengthening our partnership with Slatto, we are not only enhancing our presence in the Nordic region but also reinforcing our status as the leader in our market."

Erik Moller, Head of Hotels at Slatto, comments on the market dynamics: "Helsinki city center is a market we strongly believe in. There is a shortage of high-end modern hotel apartments there and Bob W Kamppi will be one of the most central alternatives for both business and leisure. The innovative, digital platform from Bob W allows to focus on both short and long stay, driving high utilization and efficient operations.

We are very pleased to add another property to our partnership with Bob W, says Ilkka Salminen, Slattos Country Head in Finland. With two assets in the central business district of Helsinki, Slattos portfolio is an attractive investment proposition.



Mari Relander, Creative Director and Partner at Koko3, shares the essence of the Bob W. Kamppi project: 'At Bob W. Kamppi, we're blending 70s charm with modern sophistication. This project is more than a building; it's a celebration of history and contemporary Finnish design, offering a unique experience in the heart of Helsinki.



Anne Landsdorff, Architect SAFA, and Pauli Siponen, Partner at Avarrus Architects, jointly express their enthusiasm: 'We are immensely proud to bring our sustainable architectural vision to the Bob W Kamppi project. Our aim is to seamlessly integrate the building's historic charm with cutting-edge, environmentally responsible designs, paving the way for a new era in urban redevelopment.'

Renovations for Bob W Kamppi are set to begin in 2024, with the opening scheduled for 2025.

Bob W is actively expanding, seeking partnerships aligned with their quality and environmental standards to bring their unique blend of local authenticity and modern design to more European locations.
Playa Serena Puntacana Resort Announced for 2026

During the 44th edition of the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR 2024), held in Madrid, Spain, Grupo Puntacana announced the development of its next hotel project in Playa Serena Puntacana Resort.

The Playa Serena hotel will have capacity for 160 guests, 75 suites, 5 overwater villas, 1 beach club, 3 restaurants, 1 themed restaurant, 1 beach restaurant, 4 bars and 8 spa bungalows. It is projected to open in 2026.

The announcement was made by Grupo Puntacana executives Frank Elias Rainieri, CEO; Paola Rainieri, Chief Marketing Officer; and Francesca Rainieri, Chief Financial Officer; accompanied by Frank Rainieri, founder and Chairman of the Board of Grupo Puntacana; and Haydee Rainieri, member of the Board of Grupo Puntacana.

"The Playa Serena hotel will elevate the hospitality experience at Puntacana Resort. We are very excited, as it is a new concept that will drive the Dominican Republic's tourism industry for years to come," said Frank Elias Rainieri, CEO of Grupo Puntacana.

In addition, Grupo Puntacana signed an agreement with Melia Hotels International with the Bergantin Trust, and the support of Banreservas, for the construction of the third hotel within the tourism project being developed in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

The hotel to be built in Puerto Plata is planned as a 300-room five-star establishment, managed under the Melia Hotels & Resorts brand. It will also include the management of a 100-apartment condohotel. The estimated investment of the project would exceed US$70 million and the opening would be scheduled for 2026.
Homewood Suites Dallas Addison

CBRE Hotels is soliciting offers to acquire the fee-simple interest in the Homewood Suites Dallas Addison in Addison, Texas. Located close to Addison Airport, the Galleria Dallas, and 30 minutes north of the center of Dallas, the 120-room hotel receives business from a diverse population of both corporate and leisure segments.

Investment Highlights

Institutionally-Owned Homewood Suites - Opportunity to acquire an institutionally-owned, 120-room, Homewood Suites that sits on 3.34 acres of land in Addison, 30 minutes north of the center of Dallas, Texas. The hotel was fully renovated in the 2017-2018 period.

- Opportunity to acquire an institutionally-owned, 120-room, Homewood Suites that sits on 3.34 acres of land in Addison, 30 minutes north of the center of Dallas, Texas. The hotel was fully renovated in the 2017-2018 period. Operational Efficiency Opportunities - The Homewood Suites will be delivered unencumbered of management, providing management flexibility for the new owner. Because of the current operators national presence and significant corporate overhead allocation, this project presents significant potential for a more hands-on operator to optimize the hotels top-line revenue and streamline the operational expenses effectively.

- The Homewood Suites will be delivered unencumbered of management, providing management flexibility for the new owner. Because of the current operators national presence and significant corporate overhead allocation, this project presents significant potential for a more hands-on operator to optimize the hotels top-line revenue and streamline the operational expenses effectively. Convenient Location - The property benefits from close proximity to significant hotel demand generators, including Addison Airport, the Galleria Dallas, and numerous corporate offices, including Hilton, Concentra, and Bennigan, etc. The hotel is also well-connected to the areas diverse array of restaurants, shops, medical centers, and colleges.

- The property benefits from close proximity to significant hotel demand generators, including Addison Airport, the Galleria Dallas, and numerous corporate offices, including Hilton, Concentra, and Bennigan, etc. The hotel is also well-connected to the areas diverse array of restaurants, shops, medical centers, and colleges. Strong Submarket - Situated in Dallas Countys platinum corridor along the Dallas North Tollway, Addison proudly holds the distinction of being the #1 city in Texas to initiate a business and the #1 suburb in Texas for young professionals. Additionally, Addison is a vibrant town pulsating with entrepreneurial energy, hosting a variety of businesses from small start-ups to major corporations, including Mary Kay Cosmetics and Hitachi Consulting. With over 2,000 businesses calling Addison home, it is a thriving hub of economic activity.

- Situated in Dallas Countys platinum corridor along the Dallas North Tollway, Addison proudly holds the distinction of being the #1 city in Texas to initiate a business and the #1 suburb in Texas for young professionals. Additionally, Addison is a vibrant town pulsating with entrepreneurial energy, hosting a variety of businesses from small start-ups to major corporations, including Mary Kay Cosmetics and Hitachi Consulting. With over 2,000 businesses calling Addison home, it is a thriving hub of economic activity. Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) MSA is the 3rd Largest Metro Area in the Country and the Largest in the South - Contributing about one-third of Texas GDP, DFWs economy is the most diverse in the state. Thanks to its central location, low cost of living, world-class cultural and art institutions, state-of-the-art hospitals, universities, and robust transportation connectivity, DFW has become a top relocation destination for corporations and job seekers alike.

For inquiries visit here.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

A few snow showers scattered about the area this morning, otherwise a good deal of clouds. High 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%..

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

Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 46F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A few flurries are possible. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. Czechia supports Armenia on its path towards Europe, the visiting President of the Chamber of Deputies of Czechia Marketa Pekarova Adamova said in Yerevan on Wednesday.

Its a great honor to be here today, thank you for the reception, Adamova said at a joint press conference with Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan. We had a productive bilateral meeting with President of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan. Czechia has been cooperating with Armenia for a very long time and we definitely support your path towards Europe, we have supported Armenia in this direction, including as part of the Eastern Partnership program. We cooperate bilaterally, the parliaments can cooperate in various areas. I have already invited Mr. Simonyan to visit Prague. I will be very happy to host him and his delegation there, Adamova said.

The President of the Chamber of Deputies said that Armenia and Czechia are working to develop economic relations. On this occasion, a part of my delegation are entrepreneurs, especially IT representatives, and one of the members of the delegation is from the Czech ministry of trade, which means that we still have the opportunity to improve our bilateral economic relations, and we are working in that direction, she said, adding that cooperation includes culture and education. On this occasion I am happy that I will be opening an exhibition in the Armenian History Museum which will present our cultural heritage. I hope it will be a good opportunity to invite Armenian tourists to our beautiful country, the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Czechia Marketa Pekarova Adamova said.
Adams Hit With OML Complaints

ADAMS, Mass.  The Board of Selectmen has received several Open Meeting Law complaints and a broad request for meeting minutes over the past four years.

The minutes are the request of Patrick Higgins, a frequent filer of OML complaints in Massachusetts over the past decade. His website, openmeetinglawenforcer.com , claims to be "the biggest Open Meeting Law enforcer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."

Higgins is requesting copies of minutes for open and executive sessions from 2020 to 2023.

The three OML complaints were made by resident Catherine Foster and are largely related to executive sessions as well as statements and actions by Chair Christine Hoyt regarding Adams Ambulance.

In one complaint, Foster points to six executive sessions, saying the board failed to announce their purpose, approve minutes in a timely manner, make appropriate declarations in open session, take attendance or vote by roll call in executive session and keep accurate minutes, and had improperly redacted minutes.

The complaint refers to sessions held on Oct. 19, 2022; Jan. 18, 2023; March 1, 2023; Aug. 2, 2023; Oct. 4, 2023, and Nov. 20, 2023, all signed and posted on Dec. 3, 2023. "These may be the first approved in many years," states her complaint.

She says executive session was used improperly in several cases, including the sale of 20 East St., the old community center, and, in a separate complaint, discussion of lifting a housing rehabilitation lien on a property.

The community center was the subject of the Oct. 19 executive session for having a "detrimental effect" on the town's negotiating position for the "purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property."

Foster notes the sale had already been approved by town meeting the previous June.

"There were members of the public who were upset that the historical property was being sold to the developer for $25,000 and have concerns that the public body used executive session to keep the citizens of being aware of the details of the sale," the complaint states.

The minutes of the executive session, which redacts the address for some reason, broadly mentions aspects of the development and purchase-and-sale agreements being proposed. The sale closed on Dec. 12, 2022.

The complaint also states on two occasions executive sessions were held to "discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining" for already negotiated contracts and failed to note materials used during those meetings.

"The reasons the violations should be construed as intentional are threefold. Firstly, this public body was cautioned in 2019 about creating timely minutes and including sufficient detail for the purpose of executive sessions," writes Foster, noting four of the selectmen were in office at the time. "Secondly, the violations are numerous and routine, and have occurred for many years, despite at least one warning from the attorney general's office."

In her second complaint, she notes she twice publicly objected to the board going into executive session over the release of a property lien related to the town's housing rehabilitation program on Nov. 15 (at which time it was delayed) and again on Nov. 20, 2023 (when the session was held). Hoyt said then that she was being guided by town counsel and that speaking openly would have a "detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body."

Town counsel explained in a response to Foster that the name and address of the individual in question is redacted in the minutes and discussions held in executive session because of federal privacy guidelines. The housing rehabilitation program is through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Foster says nothing in the pamphlet provided from HUD about keeping personal identifying information confidential relates to Exemption 6 of Open Meeting Law, which relates to purchase, lease and sales of real property.

Exemption 7 involves complying with special laws or federal grant-in-aid requirements. The public body is required to cite the law and requirement that "necessitates confidentiality."

The complaint filed against Hoyt says she violated OML "while acting beyond the authority granted by law for a Select Board member."

This is in relation to the now closed Adams Ambulance and the decision to designate Northern Berkshire Emergency Medical Services as the town's primary emergency responder effective Jan. 1.

Foster claims that Hoyt had been representing the town for nearly two years in discussions about the ambulance service's financial problems, including a meeting at the ambulance on Sept. 7, on which she did not update the board.

Hoyt, at a joint meeting with the Cheshire and Savoy select boards on Nov. 20, gave a timeline of interactions with the service. The first joint meeting with the ambulance was in March 2022 with "some" officials; a second meeting was held on Sept. 7, 2023, but Hoyt said Adams officials did not attend as it was at the same time as the Selectmen's meeting.

A news story on the service's fiscal woes was published on Sept. 15 and, on Sept. 25, there was a meeting with the ambulance manager and two board members. The town administrator was involved in all of these meetings. Hoyt refers to a few dates prior to the Nov. 20 joint meeting but it's not clear if these were "meetings" or communications between the town administrator and the ambulance.

Foster's complaint points to Hoyt's statement the board was not involved in the discussions and that they work through the town administrator; that a workshop would be held about the ambulance but was not; and that an EMS service zone committee was organized without approval by the Selectmen.

Foster is asking that board taken Open Meeting Law training and commit to following the law; release unredacted minutes; ensure all executive session minutes are approved and available; nullify actions held during improper sessions; and pay a fine for "intentional violations."

She also asks that the Board of Selectmen acknowledge Hoyt's violations and release any written records of her involvement and disband the service zone committee.

All of these matters were referred to town counsel.
School Committee Chair Richard Peters, new Dalton representative Sara Tucker and Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis.

Central Berkshire School Committee Appoints Dalton Representative

DALTON, Mass.  Central Berkshire Regional School Committee appointed its newest member, Sara Tucker, during its meeting last week.

Tucker will be serving as the committee's Dalton representative taking the place of the town's former representative Nicole Tucker. Although Sara and Nicole share a last name they have no relation.

Nicole Tucker decided to leave her seat early, which caused a vacancy on the committee that needed to be filled. The district put a call out for applications and received three but two dropped out.

The seat will be included in the elections in November so the community can vote who they want to have as the Dalton representative.

Sara Tucker is a supervisor for an adolescent unit at the state Department of Children and Families.

As a social worker, she has experience working with teens in the criminal justice system which the committee has not had before, committee Chair Richard Peters said.

"I'm excited actually, because obviously she has a lot of energy and a lot of really good experience and it's good to have a really great mix of people, parents, other folks who've been not in education, folks that are in education, and we have a really good blend of all of the above characters," Peters said.

"So, it really works out well and everybody on the committee is very respectful and it's just a pleasure to be on this committee, and I hope it maintains that for sure. It actually makes it really nice. So, I'm excited to have her, that's for sure."

Tucker has children in the district, one who will be going to Nessacus Regional Middle School next year and another one is involved in special education and receives Individualized Education Program services. She also is president of the Parent Teacher Organization.

"Since my kiddos started, I've been trying to figure out ways to kind of be helpful to the school system to be helpful to my children and their growth within the school system," Tucker said.

"I think she has an excellent background," Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis. "She has great ideas, great suggestions. She's very invested in all students. She has children in the district."

As the PTO president, Tucker has helped the Craneville Elementary School principal bring in more "diversity, equity inclusion" with a reading program.

The program works to increase belonging and make children feel included while also encouraging readers, especially the reluctant readers, she said. She is also working with Craneville to bring the entrepreneur fair for its fifth graders.

She has a master's degree in social work from the University of Albany in New York and a post-master's certificate working with adolescents and children that are dealing with different challenges.

"Having that experience and coming from where I'm trying to kind of fix things. I would love to be able to kind of come in here and help create more positive change for our kids and our staff," Tucker said.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. President of the Chamber of Deputies of Czechia Marketa Pekarova Adamova has said she will use all available levers to make Azerbaijan resume the peace talks with Armenia.

Adamova made the comments in Armenia.

She is expected to travel to Azerbaijan.

We must never give up and we must encourage them to take part in the talks, she said when asked how the international community can return Azerbaijan to the negotiations table. This is very important. During my visit to Baku, I will definitely raise these issues, on why they are not willing to find solutions that would be respected also by Armenian representatives. This is what we should do. We will certainly use all opportunities to be able to exert such pressure on all representatives of Azerbaijan in order for them to continue participating in the negotiations, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Czechia Marketa Pekarova Adamova said.
Activists are calling for an immediate government inquiry into the skyrocketing rate of deaths along beaches in an established "national blackspot" known for its "dangerous currents and rips", after a staggering six people drowned in the region in under two weeks.

The Bass Coast, in Victoria's southeast, is known for its pristine shorelines and picturesque beaches, but it's also becoming infamous for a more sinister reason  the soaring rate of swimmers dying in the ocean.

Between Friday, January 12 and Wednesday, January 24, six people drowned at beaches under the Bass Coast Shire LGA in the space of just 13 days. While the figure is steep, it comes after years of what activists have said are similar, preventable drownings.

A total of six people have died in rough surf along the Bass Coast in the space of just under two weeks. Source: Instagram / Bass Coast Surf Academy.

Locals say recommendations haven't been implemented

The deadly strip hasn't gone unnoticed by authorities, with the 2019 "Bass Coast Shire Coastal Risk Assessment" conducted by Surf Life Saving Victoria (LSV) recommending a raft of changes, though locals say they haven't been implemented and exhaustive attempts to review the report  which hasn't been made public  have not been successful.

One such recommendation that was released however cited the need for increased signage along shorelines, warning beachgoers of the risks.

Poor signage could contribute to increased drownings

One key risk treatment strategy proposed for all sites is signage, and this report strongly recommends a Shire-wide uniform signage strategy," the report stated. "Used on public land specific to aquatic recreation drowning and injury event minimisation; it should be implemented in a coordinated and consistent manner.

Surf Life Saving Victoria say better signage is needed at hazardous spots, but recent pictures show many are in a state of disrepair. Source: Sentinel-Times.

Though, images taken at beaches in the shire  of which there are over two dozen between Phillip Island, Cape Patterson, Inverloch and Wonthaggi  show that signs remains lacklustre, many in states of decay, fallen from their posts or even absent altogether. The majority of these beaches are also unpatrolled.

Story continues

All deaths at unpatrolled beaches

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a LSV spokesperson said every single death in the two-week timespan occurred at a beach not monitored by lifeguards, including four people from one group drowning in one afternoon in the ocean off Newhaven on Phillip Island.

"The Bass Coast Shire has been recognised as a national blackspot in terms of coastal drowning risk," the spokesperson said.

"In addition to its residential population, it is also popular among day and overnight visitors. The recent drownings have all occurred at unpatrolled locations that are popular with surfers, but known for their dangerous currents and rips in an exposed stretch of coastline."

20 drownings in Victoria since December

Asked whether the deaths can be attributed to a spike in beach activity or surges in people to the area, the authority said it wasn't aware "of any significant increase in tourism or unusually rough surf in the region".

The spokesperson did however say the figures are "concerning" and that overall in the state, drownings have spiked this summer.

"There have been 20 fatal drowning incidents in Victoria from December 1, 2023, to January 30, 2024," the spokesperson said. "This is three more than the five-year average (from 1 December 2018 to 30 January 2023)  that is 18 per cent higher. This is two more than the same period last year... 11 per cent higher."

The drownings in the shire make up an incredible 30 per cent of the state's total during the summer so far.

Bass Coast Shire weighs in

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Mayor of Bass Coast Shire Council Clare Le Serve urged people not to swim at beaches if they're "unsure of the conditions".

"Our community is deeply saddened and affected by the drownings in our region. Whilst we live in a beautiful region surrounded by beaches; this is sadly a tragic reminder of how dangerous the ocean can be," Le Serve told Yahoo.

"We extend our thoughts and sincerest thanks to the first responders and other beachgoers who tried to save these victims in a major multi-agency operation.

30 per cent of Victoria's drownings this summer have occurred in the Bass Coast region. Source: Visit Phillip Island.

"As always, we encourage all beach users to assess the environment and take precautions to prevent tragedy by swimming on patrolled beaches, checking signs and swimming between the flags. If you are unsure about conditions on a beach; do not swim there. "

Le Serve added that "council will continue to consult and work closely with experts" and will "consider all advice and ideas that may make our beaches safer".

"Beach signage is just one important component of beach safety education," she said.

Yahoo News questioned the Shire Council over accusations that recommendations included in the Bass Coast Shire Coastal Risk Assessment had not been implemented. A spokeswoman said she would look into the matter.

Local's plea

Local resident Graham Jolly called for more transparency from council when it came to implementing the recommendations from LSV's report, and urged them to immediately fix inadequate signage at the entrances to high hazard beaches.

"Together with the impact on these poor families, this has had a profound impact on the emergency services people who responded and on the broader community of Phillip Island and Bass Coast," Jolly told the Sentinel-Times.

"The community is tremendously saddened by what has occurred and they want action. What have the authorities done about implementing the recommendations in this report, and why hasnt the full report been released, five years on?"

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FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

IFTA AWARDS 2024

Advent

The last chapter is the hardest. A famed writer returns home to an Irish castle to complete his long overdue second novel, but is plagued by a rogues' gallery of local villagers, who refuse to leave him alone. As time passes and he struggles to finish his book, their intrusions become increasingly disruptive, and eventually, more sinister.

Director: Richard Waters Writer: Emmett Hughes Producers: Alison Scarff, Aisha Tyler

Filmmaker Q&A

Q: What was the genesis of this film, and how did it evolve over the course of development to production and completion?

Emmett Hughes (Writer, Producer, Actor): "ADVENT started with an idea  a man comes home to Ireland to right the wrongs of his youth. Carraigin is a 13th century castle in my home county on Loch Corrib. I knew I could write something great for that evocative setting."

Alison Scarff (Producer): "Emmett sent us a link to photos of Carraigin. No script, no budget, not an actor in sight, but a hint of a story. Very unorthodox, but a beautiful opportunity to collaborate."

Richard Waters (Director): "Emmetts energy to make this happen cannot be understated. When we got to post, we really honed in on what brought the story to life. Aisha was great there, bringing enthusiasm and pointing at which bits of marble we might consider chipping away."

Aisha Tyler (Producer): "Ive been collaborating with Emmett Hughes since our 2015 short AR SCATH LE CHEILE, which he wrote and I directed in Galway. Emmett demands a lot of himself, and that energy radiates to everyone on set. The process with him is always energizing."

Q: What did you feel was the most fulfilling element of working on this film?

Alison: "It had been ten years since we last worked with Emmett  it was exciting to see our joint growth and how far we could push our creative boundaries."

Richard: "Seeing festival audiences react to the film and the unexpected twists and turns has been so gratifying. As a filmmaker, you always want people to react. This is my version of a guitar solo in Wembley Stadium."

Emmett: "We had a small budget and very little time  the movie was propelled forward by pure passion. Everyone really stepped up, going beyond their job description to make it all happen."

Q: What do you hope audiences will take away from the film?

Alison: "That life is funny even when it's heartbreaking. Finding the comedy, love and joy in all moments is difficult but worth it."

Emmett: "For me, film is an escape. I want to give audiences the feeling I had as a boy, falling in love with movies, being transported to another world through vision and imagination."

Q: To what extent was your on-screen talent vital to the success of the film?

Emmett: "Words are nothing without the talent to deliver them. The brilliant Brid Ni Neachtain infused the film with so much power and light. I was lucky to work across from her. The entire cast really delivered."

Richard: "The on-screen talent is how audiences experience the film. We were blessed with a stacked cast."

Q: Whats the most interesting/inspiring piece of feedback youve received from people who have seen the film?

Richard: "Nothing could have prepared me for how shocked audiences have been at where the film takes them. People have a preconceived idea of what this indie Irish comedy is going to be and are floored by where they end up."

Q: Can you speak to the growth in the Irish film industry in recent years and how it helped your film get off the ground?

Alison: "Access to the art form is expanding, which is creating more diverse crew opportunities. We kept the crew on ADVENT to a bare minimum to keep costs low, and were still able to make our film quickly and effectively. It's exciting to witness here in Ireland."

Richard: "We are in a golden age of Irish filmmakers getting out there and telling their stories across all the different budget scales. How can that be anything but invigorating?"

Q: Why is it important to see your work represented at the IFTAs and to be acknowledged by your peers in the Irish film community?
Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free 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

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Argylle director Matthew Vaughn has questioned the timing of Milly Alcocks casting as Supergirl.

On Monday (29 January), Alcock, who played the young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon, was revealed to have been cast as the character in the forthcoming DC film.

Its believed that CODA star Emilia Jones and Supergirl voice star Meg Donnelly were both in the running, but Australian actor Alcock won the role in the film, titled, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, after a costume tryout.

Vaughn, who is promoting his new spy film Argylle, was extremely complimentary of Alcock, saying that he was sad when the actor turned down a film he once offered her.

But the British filmmaker is confused by the timing of the casting considering the film currently has no director attached. At this point, it is only in the planning stages with DC bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran.

Speaking to BroBible, Vaughn said; Im a huge fan of Milly Alcock. Huge fan. Met with her for this other project were working on  she turned me down, which was sad. Shes a fabulous actress.

Then again, I do find it very weird that they havent got a director. That surprised me, because you shouldnt cast a movie the director should be casting the movie. I dont understand who cast it if there isnt a director.

When asked if he would direct the film, he said he would consider it, adding: Never say never.

But Vaughn, who directed 2011 film X-Men; First Class, did reveal he was approached about directing The Flash, but turned it down as he wanted his own, new superhero as opposed to the one played by Ezra Miller.

Supergirl is now expected to make her debut in the forthcoming Superman film, which is titled Superman: Legacy and will star David Corenswet in the lead role. Rachel Brosnahan will play Lois Lane, while Nicholas Hoult has been cast as the films villa, Lex Luthor.

House of the Dragon actor Milly Alcock has been cast as Supergirl (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

The film, which will be directed by Gunn, is scheduled to be released on 11 July 2025.

Vaughns spy action comedy Argylle, starring Henry Cavill, is in cinemas on Friday (2 February).
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China has confirmed the death of a woman due to an infection with combined H3N2 and H10N5 strains of bird flu.

The 63-year-old woman from Anhui province in China died due to the combined infection, attributed to cross-species transmission, on 16 December.

According to reports, the woman had underlying health conditions.

Her symptoms included cough, sore throat, and fever that started on 30 November.

Chinas National Disease Control and Prevention Administration stated that screenings of her close contacts yielded negative results, and no suspected cases were found.

Whole genome sequencing revealed that the H10N5 virus is of avian origin and lacks the ability to effectively infect humans.

The outbreak is an episodic cross-species transmission from bird to humans, the statement from the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration said.

The agency described the incident as an isolated case of bird-to-human transmission, emphasising the low risk of the virus infecting people and confirming that no human-to-human transmission has occurred.

The situation in China, with its large populations of farmed and wild birds, provides an environment conducive to the mixing and mutation of avian viruses.

Meanwhile, last year in April, a woman died from H3N8 bird flu in China in the first known human fatality from the avian influenza strain.

The World Health Organisation confirmed the death from the virus which had not been detected in humans before two non-fatal cases emerged  both also in China  in April and May 2022.

The woman who died was a 56-year-old from Guangdong province in southeast China.

H3N8 is known to have been circulating since 2002 after first emerging in North American waterfowl. It is known to infect horses, dogs and seals.

Additional reporting with agencies
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Taiwan on Wednesday protested China's "unilateral" change to a flight path close to the sensitive media line in the Taiwan Strait in an alleged attempt to change the status quo.

China's civil aviation administration said Beijing was cancelling an "offset measure" for the southbound operation of the M503 flight route, which was just west of the strait's median line.

The median line separating Taiwan from China was drawn by the US in 1954 during a period of heightened friction between Beijing and Taipei. The line has been repeatedly violated by the Chinese military in recent years.

China said it was also opening routes from west to east on two flight paths from the Chinese cities of Xiamen and Fuzhou which are close to the Taiwanese-controlled island groups of Kinmen and Matsu, which have regular flights to Taiwan.

"If the mainland side clings obstinately to its course, it must bear any serious consequences affecting cross-strait relations," said Taiwan's mainland affairs council, adding that China was trying to "package" civil aviation for military considerations to challenge the status quo.

The decision is seen as a deliberate attempt to threaten the self-governed island just weeks after China-critic Lai Ching-te was elected Taiwans new president in a vote that has been heavily pressurised by Beijing.

Taiwanese assault boats take part in naval drills in Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Beijing argues Taiwan, which has been self-ruled since a 1949 civil war, is part of its sovereign territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control.

The Xi Jinping administration has beefed up its military presence in the waters surrounding the island to intimidate Taiwan, and has said it was aiming to have its military ready for a potential invasion by 2027.

Apart from Chinese military aircraft routinely crossing the median line, Beijing has also flown 57 "weather monitoring balloons" in January inside Taiwan's territory, according to Taiwan News.

Taiwanese sailors on board a corvette stand near the Phalanx close-in weapon system (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan affairs office, said the balloons were used for meteorological monitoring purposes. "They have a long history and are nothing new," he said.

"The Democratic Progressive Party authorities are advised not to politically hype up such issues and incite cross-strait antagonism and confrontation," he added, referring to the ruling party.

The high-altitude balloons became a point of contention between the US and China in February last year after Washington shot down an alleged Chinese surveillance balloon, which Beijing said was a civilian craft that accidentally drifted astray.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's defence ministry on Wednesday said it detected 22 Chinese air force planes conducting "combat readiness patrols" with warships around the island.

The patrols were likely conducted in response to the Taiwan military's two-day annual sea and air drill, which concluded on Wednesday.
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At least 300 stranded tourists were rescued in Indias northern Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh after a delayed spell of heavy snowfall left drivers trapped inside a high-altitude tunnel.

Around 50 vehicles and a tourist bus were stranded in the Atal Tunnel through the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh for hours after snowfall in many parts of the northern region of the country on Tuesday.

An orange alert has been issued by the countrys federal weather agency for snowfall in the higher mountains and rains in other parts of the state over the next 48 hours.

"Around 50 vehicles and one Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus got stuck near the South Portal (SP) of ATR (Attal Tunnel Rohtang), in which 300 tourists were travelling. All tourists have been evacuated from ATR, police officer Sakshi Verma said.

Videos showed dozens of cars lined up on the highway as snow continued to fall. People and police personnel tried to help those stranded near the Atal Tunnel, said to be worlds longest high-altitude highway tunnel.

Every year thousands of tourists visit the Himalayan states to witness snow but a lack of snowfall this season left the locals and environmentalists concerned. The latest spell of snowfall since Sunday graced the Indian regions of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh with the India Meteorological Department warning of snowfall for this week.

Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the head of IMD, said that this would mark the initial substantial rainfall in North India this year. The winter season has witnessed minimal precipitation, with just one episode of rain in December, which had no impact on the hills.

Participants walk during the opening ceremony of Khelo India Winter Games at a ski resort in Gulmarg north of Srinagar on February 10, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

The ongoing western disturbances are expected to result in widespread snowfall in the Himalayan region. This snowfall is crucial for the hill ecology as it replenishes water sources and glaciers, which in turn supply water to both the region and the plains of North India, he said.

Environmentalists point out that the region has been experiencing the effects of climate change, leading to extreme weather occurrences and extended periods of dry weather in both winter and summer seasons.

Orange alerts have been issued for Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi for Wednesday, and Thursday for heavy snowfall in higher altitude regions and fog in the plains.
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A court in the southern Indian state of Kerala awarded the death penalty to 15 men linked with a banned Islamic outfit for the murder of a local politician from the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2021.

Ranjith Sreenivasan, a lawyer and member of prime minister Narendra Modi-led BJP, was hacked to death in front of his wife, mother, and daughter in Alappuzha town in December 2021.

At least 15 men associated with the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its political wing Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), were accused of killing Sreenivasan in a tit-for-tat murder. PFI was banned by the Indian government in 2022.

In a rare judgment, judge Sreedevi VG of the additional district sessions court on Tuesday said the accused, all aged between 25 and 49, could not be handed a lesser sentence as the murder was committed most cruelly, heinously and dastardly".

The court found eight of the accused to be directly involved in the killing, while four others were found guilty of standing guard with weapons to prevent Srinivasan from escaping. The three remaining men were convicted of conspiracy to murder.

The judge said the report of the state shows that the "accused are hardcore criminals and there is no chance for reformation because they are very deeply interested in the affairs of the said organisation which is widespread in the country".

Following the verdict, prosecutor Prathap G Padikkal said even the three convicted for conspiracy to murder were awarded death as the court found it to be a "rarest of rare case".

The court accepted the prosecutions argument that it was a rarest of rare case since the accused were a well-trained team that barged into a house one early morning and cruelly hacked to death the victim before defenceless women and children, he said, according to The New Indian Express.

The verdict was welcomed by Sreenivasan's family, who said the court couldn't have dismissed his dead as just another murder.

"Our loss is immense. We express our gratitude to the prosecution and investigating officers for conducting a thorough and honest investigation into the incident, ultimately resulting in the imposition of the maximum punishment," the victim's wife, Lisha Ranjith, said.

Sreenivasan was killed a day after an SDPI state secretary, KS Shan, was murdered in Alappuzha by the right wing. Eleven members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological head of the BJP, were charged over the murder of Shan and awaiting trial.

Shan was reportedly killed in a retaliatory attack for the murder of an RSS worker, Nandukrishna, allegedly by SDPI men in Alappuzha in February 2021.
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Maldives prosecutor general Hussain Shameem was attacked on Wednesday by unidentified people amid brewing political tensions in the island nation, according to local reports.

Reports said he was taken to a hospital after the assault. Details of the attack, however, were not clear but the local police said that it was not carried out with a sharp object.

The Edition reported that Mr Shameem sustained injuries to his left forearm. The incident took place early in the morning and he was taken to ADK Hospital, according to a statement from a prosecutors office, NDTV reported.

Since the attack took place on the street, it is considered to be premeditated and well-planned, a statement by the party of former president Mohamed Nasheed said.

Such an attack on a person holding a highly constitutionally appointed position in the state to avoid politics and perform important duties within the criminal justice system is an attack on the entire system, the statement said, according to news agency ANI.

Local reports said that the attack was perpetrated by two individuals riding on a motorcycle as Mr Shameem was on his morning run by himself.

Police have launched an investigation into the assault.

The attack on Mr Shameem comes amid political tensions involving the proposed impeachment of president Mohamed Muizzu.

Mr Shameem was appointed by the previous government led by Ibrahim Mohamed Solihs Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Violent clashes broke out in the Maldivian parliament when government and opposition MPs confronted each other over the approval of new ministers in Mr Muizzus cabinet.

The opposition MDP withheld parliamentary approval for four of Mr Muizzus cabinet appointees.

In response, members of the ruling coalition, comprising Peoples National Congress (PNC) and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), protested and disrupted the parliamentary session.

Despite forming the government, the ruling coalition does not have a majority in parliament, which remains under the control of the MDP.

Meanwhile, the opposition party accuses Mr Muizzu of a pro-China stance, particularly after the controversial docking of a Chinese spy ship in its capital Male. A row in parliament ensued, culminating in the decision to begin impeachment proceedings.

The Maldivian opposition parties have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the current regimes perceived anti-India pivot.

Mr Shameem is in stable condition and his security has been enhanced.
A lifeguard at one of the country's most popular beaches has warned swimmers to keep hold of their possessions after suspected MDMA pills washed ashore on Tuesday.

It comes as health authorities alert Aussies of dangerous tablets being sold as ecstasy, that are laced with deadly opioids.

Posting to social media, Bondi lifeguard and TV personality Dean Gladstone uploaded a video in which he shows a packet of two coloured tablets, likely containing MDMA, in a small satchel that had washed up on the iconic beach.

Suspicious pills wash ashore at Bondi

"Just a reminder to keep your possessions safe at Bondi," Gladstone said. "Someone clearly lost these 'vitamins' while swimming in the water today," he joked. "Thankfully, someone handed them in  if they are your vitamins or if you know a friend that lost some vitamins, please tag them."

Bondi lifeguard Dean Gladstone found some suspicious-looking 'vitamins' on the beach. Source: TikTok

While Gladstone's words were spoken in jest, health authorities on Monday warned Aussies over MDMA on a more serious note, with "deadly" ecstasy tablets currently on the market being found to contain the potent opioid nitazene.

Aussies warned over 'dangerous' opioid-laced MDMA

Three people have been hospitalised this week alone across Sydney after taking as little as half a tablet, NSW Health warned, with one patient even being admitted to the ICU. Tests confirmed the patient had ingested nitazene after being sold what they were told was MDMA.

NSW Poisons Information Centre Medical Director Dr Darren Roberts said consuming drugs containing potent opioids such as nitazenes can kill. "Nitazenes can be as strong, or stronger than fentanyl and may be more likely to impair breathing than other opioids," he said.

MDMA pills often come in compressed tablet form with stamped symbols on the top. Source: Getty

"It's important people recognise the signs of an opioid overdose early and know how to respond. Taking the appropriate action early can save a life."

Story continues

Opioid overdose symptoms can include pinpoint pupils, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, slow breathing or snoring, or skin turning blue and grey.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
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A Thai court has awarded a two-year suspended jail term to a political activist for her remarks about the monarchy under a controversial law.

Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon, popularly known as "Mind", was initially sentenced to three years in prison by the Bangkok South Criminal Court on Wednesday for violating Thailand's lese-majeste law. Her sentence was later reduced to a two-year suspended term due to her cooperation.

Ms Patsaravalee, 28, had pleaded not guilty to an offense under Article 112 of the criminal code about a speech she gave at a rally in March 2021.

Thailand has one of the worlds strictest lese-majeste laws, which protects the palace from criticism and carries a maximum prison sentence of up to 15 years. The law allows for cases to be filed for each perceived royal insult, a punishment widely condemned by international human rights groups as extreme.

Ms Patsaravalee was acquitted of a charge of violating an emergency decree on public gatherings because she was not an organiser of the event.

"I am confident that the content of my speech on that day was polite and humble," she told reporters.

"I spoke with good intentions, not defamation. It was necessary to talk about the monarchy and Thai politics because it had become an issue".

Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon receives a garland from her supporter on her arrival at Southern Criminal Court in Bangkok (AP)

She was one of the new wave of young leaders to lead a series of unprecedented protests calling for reforms in the monarchy, that shook the Southeast Asian country in 2020.

A small group of supporters handed flowers to Ms Patsaravalee before she entered the court.

Meanwhile, Thailands Constitutional Court on Wednesday ruled the Move Forward Party had violated the constitution in seeking to change a law against insulting the monarchy.

The party won last years election on a progressive platform that included a once unthinkable proposal to amend the lese majeste law.

The court asked the party to abandon the plan, which it found was tantamount to calling for the overthrow of the system of constitutional monarchy.

At least 262 people have been charged under the controversial law for allegedly insulting the monarchy since the 2020 protests, according to data tracked by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

Most of those cases are related to the youth-led democracy movement, which has since lost momentum after posing one of the biggest challenges to Thailands conservative establishment.

Earlier this month, a human rights lawyer was sentenced to four years in prison for royal insults from a 2021 social media post.

Arnon Nampa, 39, has been serving a four-year sentence since last September after a criminal court found him guilty over remarks about the monarchy at a speech during a 2020 rally. The sentences will run consecutively, so he will serve eight years, Reuters reported.

A 29-year-old progressive Thai MP was sentenced to six years in prison in December 2023 for insulting the monarchy on social media.

Rukchanok Srinork was found guilty of breaching the lese-majeste law in a case related to comments posted or reposted on social media.
 Close Toppled tree falls on roof of California house as state battles floods and landslides

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Flash flood warnings were announced in parts of California early on Thursday amid reports of a possible tornado in the southern half of the state.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms were expected to continue Thursday with widespread flooding risk including in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Pomona, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

A possible tornado was reported overnight in Grover Beach, southern California after warnings were issued late Wednesday.

The threat of mudslides remains high from the storm, which unleashed historic amounts of rain this week, leaving the ground saturated.

At least nine people have been killed from falling trees, car crashes, and being swept away in raging waters.

Community organisers told The Independent on Wednesday that Los Angeles storm response for the citys large homeless population was abysmal and accused authorities of telling bold-faced-lies.
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A man used a ticket from 1978 to get into Disneys Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.

In a now-viral TikTok video, Matthew Ables revealed that the 46-year-old ticket was sold back in the day at the low cost of $8, which compared to the triple-digit cost of Disney tickets in 2024 sounds unbelievable. The ticket was an old family keepsake that was collecting dust even before he was born. It turns out that it was the golden ticket to Magic Kingdom.

I realised it had never been used and there is no expiration date, Ables said in the video, showing a clip of him walking up to the guest services booth. When he made it to the ticket booth, he wasnt sure if his ticket would still be valid for the parks, but he was willing to take the chance. I was getting nervous there because she started aggressively stamping void all over the ticket booklet and then left.

A few moments later, Ables said a cast member handed him a yellow pass, which allowed Ables to get into the park for the day. Still shocked, he told viewers, I cant believe this actually worked.

The video has since received over 900,000 likes on the platform, with many users in his comment section expressing their awe and shock that the ticket worked.

Glad that Disney honoured it for you, one viewer wrote, while another added: So magical!!!! Love this!

That was a treasured relic I do hope they put it up like a museum piece, one person said. It is something from the past.

Someone who used to work in guest services at Disney Parks commented that this kind of thing happens more often than the public may think.

I used to work Magic Kingdom guest relations, they wrote. This exact scenario would happen a few times a week!

According to the Walt Disney World Resort website, they pledge to honour all unexpired theme park tickets with remaining admission days or zero expiration dates. However, with theme park tickets that are dated, guests have the option to change the date on their tickets.

Some viewers below Ables video noted that the ticket from 1978 was likely considered a collectors item and couldve been worth a lot of money. Dude that was worth so much money, someone wrote.

Another person marveled at how much the prices have hiked since 1978.

$8 in 1978 is worth about $40 in todays value, one viewer commented. Its crazy how much they keep raising the prices.

An animated chart posted on TikTok by the user piechartpirate shows the increase in Walt Disney World ticket price since opening in 1971 to October 2021, showing how it greatly outpaces increases in wages, rent, and gas prices. Prices have reportedly gone up by at least 3,871 per cent in the past 50 years.

The TikTok account belongs to Sjoerd Tilmans of SJ Data Visualizations, a UK-based firm. The chart does not account for price increases since it went up, however, prices have reportedly continued to increase in 2022 and 2023.
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It can be easy to conflate the common cold with the more serious flu when we're hiding under a duvet feeling worse for wear. But how can we actually tell the difference between the two?

While a cold and the flu share several symptoms, there are clear ways of differentiating between them - and this can be vital when deciding how to treat your illness.

From prevention to treatment, heres everything you need to know about distinguishing between the prevalent winter illnesses:

Symptoms: Cold

Both the cold and the flu are respiratory illnesses with very similar symptoms. However, these symptoms can be less severe if youre suffering from the cold.

The common cold and flu are different conditions, but often share some of the same symptoms in the early stages, such as a headache, runny nose, or a sore throat, says Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

The first sign of a cold can appear in the form of a sore throat, the NHS says. This will typically be accompanied by a runny nose and slight congestion of the sinuses.

You may then develop a cough after a few days, with children more likely to also experience a fever.

While it isnt pleasant to experience symptoms of a cold, you may still feel as though youre well enough to carry on with normal everyday activities such as going to work.

Symptoms: Flu

The symptoms of the flu run pretty much along the same lines as the cold, although they may be more acute and materialise rapidly.

The difference is that flu is potentially much more serious, particularly for children and the elderly, and tends to leave people feeling unwell for much longer, sometimes taking a week or two to fully recover, Professor Stokes-Lampard explains.

Additional symptoms that people may experience when suffering from the flu include a fever, headaches, achy muscles, an upset stomach and nausea.

If youre experiencing the flu, then youre far more likely to feel overly fatigued and unable to continue with your everyday routine as usual.

Prevention: Cold

The NHS recommends that you wash your hands with warm water and soap regularly (Getty Images)

Colds spread extremely easily, especially when you spend a lot of time in close proximity with other people. This can be particularly relevant if you work in an open-plan office or if you take public transport to work.

Germs that are spread from coughs or sneezes can survive for up to 24 hours, which is why taking some simple precautionary measures could do you and those around you a whole lot of good.

The NHS recommends that you wash your hands with warm water and soap regularly and avoid sharing items such as towels or cups with people who may be infected.

If youre in the early stages of a cold, make sure you use tissues when you cough or sneeze and then discard them in a bin as soon as possible. Also wash your hands regularly to avoid spreading the germs.

Prevention: Flu

To safeguard yourself from the flu, Vicks advises that you boost your immune system by sticking to a regular bedtime and keeping yourself fit and healthy.

Due to the unpredictable nature of the flu, having the flu jab is also a wise course of action if youre more vulnerable to the illness than others.

Those who are deemed as being high-risk, including people who are over 65, pregnant or have a serious health condition, are eligible for a free flu vaccine through the NHS.

The flu jab will provide you with greater protection from the various strains of the flu that spread on an annual basis.

Longevity: Cold

One of the symptoms of a cold is a high temperature (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Symptoms of a cold such as a high temperature and fatigue dont usually last longer than seven to 10 days in adults and older children, the NHS explains.

For children under the age of five, colds can last for up to 10 to 14 days.

While you may start to feel better a week or so after contracting a cold, you may still experience coughing and a buildup of mucus for around two to three weeks.

As long as you have any symptoms of a cold, whether its the slightest cough or occasional sneeze, you will still pose the risk of infecting others with the virus.

Longevity: Flu

If you have the flu, your symptoms may start to abate after a week, although the NHS states that you might still feel weakened for a longer period of time.

While you may make a full recovery in the space of a week or two, catching the flu could lead to a variety of other health problems if youre particularly susceptible to infection.

Consequences: Cold

The common cold does not usually lead to other serious health conditions.

However, symptoms of a bacterial infection can sometimes be mistaken for those of a cold, in which case you could be at risk of further illness.

These bacterial infections include conditions such as bronchitis and sinusitis.

Consequences: Flu

Those who are classified as being high-risk may find themselves more prone to developing severe illnesses following a bout of flu.

While it is unlikely that a cold will manifest into pneumonia, bacterial infections or hospitalisation, this is a greater possibility for people with the flu than those suffering from a cold, as explained by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Treatment: Cold

You can buy over-the-counter cough or cold medicines or pain relief from your local pharmacy to ease your symptoms (Getty Images)

If you catch a cold, youll ordinarily be capable of treating yourself with a few simple measures.

While the common cold and the flu can be very unpleasant, they are unfortunately the result of viruses, which means they have no cure and patients are usually better off treating them at home with simple self-care remedies, Professor Stokes-Lampard outlines.

The NHS has advised that anyone with a cold has plenty of rest, keeps themselves warm and drinks lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.

You can also buy over-the-counter cough or cold medicines or pain relief from your local pharmacy to ease your symptoms and ensure your comfort.

If you have a cough, drinking hot lemon with honey can have the same effect at soothing your throat as cough medicines, the NHS states.

Treatment: Flu

As with the cold, flu symptoms can often be treated from home by having lots of rest and taking medicine such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature.

According to the NHS, GPs wont recommend you take antibiotics for flu as contrary to popular belief, they dont speed up your recovery.

"Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics don't work against infections caused by viruses, such as colds and flu," writes the Health Service Executive of Ireland.

"So there's no point taking antibiotics to treat a cold or flu, and no point asking your doctor to prescribe them for a cold or flu."

Your local pharmacist can provide you with any additional advice on flu treatment should you need it.

If you're suffering from the flu, Professor Stokes-Lampard advises taking some time to consider whether or not you need to visit a doctor or can be treated from home.

We encourage patients who are ill to think hard about whether they do need to see a GP  not just in terms of reducing pressures on the NHS, but to minimise the possibility of passing viruses, such as flu, to other people, particularly in at-risk groups, such as those with long-term conditions or pregnant women," the professor says.

If your flu symptoms dont improve after seven days, then the NHS recommends arranging an appointment with your GP.
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Loved by some, loathed by others, Valentines Day is widely regarded as the ultimate day of cheesy, unapologetic romance.

While some may be vaguely aware that the occasion takes its name from a priest called Saint Valentine, they may not be acquainted with the full history of Valentines Day, which is decidely less romantic than one may expect.

Valentine of Terni was a Third-Century-priest who ministered to Christians in ancient Rome. Various accounts exist detailing the events that led to him becoming a martyr and subsequently being named a saint by the Catholic Church.

One of the most widely-believed accounts suggests that Valentine defied Emperor Claudius II of Rome. The Emperor had outlawed young men getting married, as he thought them to be of more use on the battlefield than at home.

Some accounts detail Valentines stark defiance of this law, seeing him marry young couples in clandestine ceremonies. This was regarded as a serious offence in the eyes of the Emperor, and the priest was beheaded on 14 February as a consequence.

Despite the emperors wrath, the Catholic Church commended Valentine for uniting couples who observed the Christian faith. Thus, Valentine was formally recognised by the church as a saint after his death. Saint Valentine has since become associated with courtly love and the romantic traditions of Valentines Day.

Along with this account, some believe that the history of Valentines Day may also be rooted in a pre-ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia. The festival, which was celebrated every year by Romans on 15 February, celebrated fertility. Those who took part worked to purify the city of evil spirits in order to maximise fertility and bring prosperity to their villages.

Luperci from J. Grasset Saint Sauveur Antique Rome, Bergamo 1825 (Rex Features)

The pagan festival was also known as dies februatus, meaning day of purification, which is how the month of February acquired its name.

Part of the proceedings saw the priests of the god Lupercus  the Luperci  sacrifice goats and a dog and then daub their foreheads with the animals blood.

These men would then run around the Palatine Hill naked, striking any women who came near them with the hides of the animals that theyd sacrificed. The priests believed that hitting women with the animal hides would ensure that theyd remain fertile.

While the concept of Lupercalia may differ greatly from our modern understanding of Valentines Day, the two observances are closely connected.

The celebrations of Lupercalia came to an end around the 5th Century, following objections made about the festival by Pope Gelasius I.

The pope condemned the practises of the pagan festival, describing those who participated in it as vile and common, abject and of the lowest order.

The holiday of St. Valentines Day on 14 February was officially declared by the pope in 496 AD, leading some to believe that he had effectively replaced Lupercalia with the holiday honouring Saint Valentine.

The first evidence of Valentines Day having romantic connotations came in the 14th Century, through the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer. For this was on St. Valentines Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate, the English poet wrote to honour the engagement of King Richard II and Anne of Bohemia.

William Shakespeare also referenced Valentines Day in his work, having Ophelia speak of the day in his 17th Century play Hamlet.

Valentines Day as we know it today started to take form in the 19th Century and early 20th Century, thanks in part to the boom of the industrial revolution.

In 1913, Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri, began mass-producing Valentines Day cards, sparking the beginning of the commercial holiday the 14 February has become.

A decade later, chocolatier Russell Stover had the innovative idea of selling chocolates in heart-shaped boxes, encased in satin and black lace.

In 2018, money saving website Finder reported that 22 million Brits were preparing to spend money on their significant others on Valentines Day.

The average spend for an individual taking part in the love-filled celebrations was 28.45, while 16 per cent of the population stated that they planned on celebrating the day without spending a penny.
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Going to the chapel and were not gonna get married, as it turns out. Thats because, for the first time on record, the percentage of over-16s in England and Wales who are wed or in a civil partnership has fallen below 50 per cent, according to just-released Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates for 2022. The figure had dropped to 49.4 per cent from 51.2 per cent a decade previously.

Its the latest stat proving the immutable fact that marriage is on the decline. And not just in the UK  its a trend thats happening in countries all over the world. Almost 90 per cent of the worlds population now live in countries with falling marriage rates; in the US, marriage has decreased by 60 per cent since the 1970s.

Right-wing think tank Civitas has gone so far as to predict that marriage will all but disappear by 2062 after analysing marriage trends over a 50-year period. One couple will get married for every 400 adults in the UK (0.52 per cent of the population over 16) compared to one couple for every 100 adults today  a drop of more than 70 per cent in two generations, said the research.

So why is it that weve fallen so dramatically out of love with marriage? Its not that the desire to get hitched has disappeared. Based on a 2023 survey of 906 Generation Z and millennials who are currently in relationships but not married, the Thriving Center of Psychology found that 83 per cent anticipated tying the knot at some point. Its still the case that people want to get married, that hasnt changed greatly, unlike lots of other societal attitudes over the last 30 years, agrees Paul Dolan, author of Happy Ever After: Escaping the Myth of the Perfect Life and professor of behavioural science at the London School of Economics (LSE). But there is a general trend for people doing things later.

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell famously never married (Getty)

Thats certainly true of marriage; the age at which people get married for the first time has consistently been on the rise. In Britain, the median first marriage age for opposite-sex couples in 2020 was 35.3 years for men and 33.2 for women, about five years older than they would have been in 1995, and nine years older than in 1964.

One factor, particularly amid the cost of living crisis, could be cold, hard cash. An annual national wedding survey of 1,800 British newlyweds conducted by Hitched.co.uk found that the average cost of a wedding had increased to 20,700 last year, up from 18,400 in 2022 and 17,300 in 2021. Couples didnt set out to spend this much  more than half of those surveyed (59 per cent) revealed they had gone over their original budget.

Its very difficult to separate out the rising cost of living with the decline in married couples, says the editor of Hitched.co.uk, Zoe Burke. As the cost of living rises, couples look to cut spending and a wedding can often feel unjustifiable when you are working to a budget. With the average cost of a wedding rising by 12.5 per cent in the past year to 20,700, it makes sense that for many couples it wont be a priority to get married. However, with that being said, it is possible to get married on a budget. Registry office weddings have risen in popularity in recent years, as well as the popularity of civil ceremonies, as couples look to pare back their celebrations.

According to the Thriving Center of Psychology survey, 73 per cent of respondents felt it was too expensive to get married in the current economic climate. However, a higher proportion of those surveyed (85 per cent) did not feel marriage is necessary to have a fulfilled and committed relationship. It could simply be that marriage is seen as less necessary for modern couples. Been together 32 years, not married  if it aint broke, dont fix it, says Chris Coleman from North Yorkshire. I definitely dont see the point, its just not for me. Plus, Im not religious.

Writer Debbie Rolls has similarly lived with her partner since 1988 with no intention of ever marrying. When we were young we felt our relationship had nothing to do with church or state, she tells me. Now it seems a waste of money and time. There was a point where we might have done it for financial reasons but now our teacher pensions are transferable without marriage. Why would we get married?

Many women have more choice when it comes to marriage than ever before: whether to marry, who, and then whether to stay married Rachael Lennon, author

The decline in marriage rates is often cast in a negative light, particularly among conservatives with a small c. Societies throughout history have encouraged marriage because they know its the most effective method for bonding men with the mothers of their future children, said Harry Benson, research director of Marriage Foundation, a charity championing marriage for the good of society, in response to the latest ONS stats. The continued trend away from marriage is bad news for couples and bad news for children. Nearly half of all teenagers do not live with both natural parents, most of which due to the separation of parents who never married. Marriage may not be a panacea but it stacks the odds in favour of stable families.

However, marriage equalling a more stable upbringing for children isnt something we should accept as fact, argues Dolan. People will often talk about how divorce is awful for children, he says. But you need to know what the counterfactual would be  how would those children fare if the parents had stayed together? Quite often in high-conflict marriages, its arguably better for the kids that they do divorce.

One positive contributing factor is the fact that women have more independence and agency in 2024 than theyve ever had historically. Generations of women in the past found that their only means of accessing sex and parenthood, a household and opportunities to contribute to society was as a married woman, says Rachael Lennon, author of Wedded Wife: A Feminist History of Marriage. Jane Austens Charlotte Lucas [in Pride and Prejudice] preferred the idea of marriage to Mr Collins than the alternative of unmarried life  [being] dependent on her parents at home. A womans entire identity and status were routinely transformed at her wedding.

Its great that so many women feel freer from the pressures to marry that their predecessors experienced. Many women have more choice when it comes to marriage than ever before; whether to marry, who, and then whether to stay married.

This sentiment is echoed in a piece of global research documenting the lives and marriages of women, conducted by Dinah Hannaford, associate professor of anthropology at the University of Houston and co-editor of the book Opting Out: Women Messing with Marriage around the World. It identified various reasons why more and more women are choosing not to get married: increasing career opportunities and independence, finding more security living with their parents and siblings, and partners infidelity.

Less than 50 per cent of over 16s are married in England and Wales (PA)

Marriage has mostly not been a great situation for women historically and across the world, and theyre trying to find alternative solutions, Hannaford wrote. As new opportunities open up for women to be full people without it, theyre opting for that.

Hannaford and her team found that, in many of the societies they studied, when women had the option of staying with their own family rather than moving in with a husband, they preferred the former. They also highlighted the value of friendship: Anthropologists are so focused on lineage and marriage, we dont think about how friendship plays a really important role in everyones lives, Hannaford wrote.

This is something that Dolan agrees is paramount to our overall wellbeing. If there was one question I could ask that wasnt directly related to happiness, but was a good guide to how your life was going, it would be: Have you got someone you can talk to? Close relationships are fundamental to the human condition and help us flourish. But they dont need to be monogamous or intimate. Friendships are critical; marriage is an add-on.

Perhaps for this reason, men benefit more from being married than women do, according to Dolans research. Lots of men are not very equipped to deal with the absence of a partner, while women are generally better at cultivating networks of friendships and relationships, he says. Hes the one losing out by not getting married more than she is  so why do we judge unmarried women more?

Maybe women are finally waking up to the fact its not always in their interests to get married Paul Dolan, author

In fact, while married men are generally healthier and happier than their unmarried counterparts, data analysis in Dolans book found that women who are single with no children live longer and often claim to be happier than those who are hitched. Maybe women are finally waking up to the fact its not always in their interests to get married, he tells me. Maybe the power of the narrative that they need to do it is getting less potent.

Rather than tying ourselves in knots worrying about why people arent tying the knot, maybe we should all be prioritising friendships and social networks that will stand us in good stead, no matter our marital status. We dont want to throw the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to marriage, says Dolan. But marriage can sometimes be a proxy for close relationships. If you want to be happy, focus on working out what good, healthy relationships look like, and how to cultivate them.

While it doesnt look like the institution of marriage is going anywhere anytime soon  its existed in some form or another in almost every society in recorded history  we need to keep questioning the assumptions and expectations that have come down to us  and to continue to let go of bad habits, argues Lennon. Nearly 90 per cent of women in the UK continue to give up their name following their wedding. Why should women be disproportionately pressured to change their names? Why shouldnt we expect womens voices to be heard in wedding speeches as much as mens? In different-sex weddings, do women really need to be given away while their husbands-to-be remain qualified to give themselves?

And, the million-dollar question: Can we let go of outdated ideas of what it means to be a woman and a wife and see a fairer distribution of social and domestic labour in our society? Lennon asks. We still have some way to go. Marriage needs to keep evolving to survive.
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Queen Camilla has said King Charles is getting on and doing his best as he recovers from surgery for an enlarged prostate.

Charles, 75, smiled and waved to members of the public on Monday (29 January) as he left the London Clinic hospital following a three-night stay during which he underwent a corrective procedure for the benign condition. Charles could reportedly take up to a month off from public duties and engagements as he recuperates.

Camilla, 76, was asked about her husbands health as she officially opened a new Maggies cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in northwest London on Wednesday (31 January).

After she arrived at the centre, the queen was introduced to donors including Sir Gerald Ronson, who enquired about Charless recovery after he was admitted to hospital ahead of the planned procedure last Friday (26 January).

Hes getting on, doing his best, Camilla replied, according to a report by The Telegraph.

When Dori Dana-Haeri, who spearheaded the fundraising efforts for the new centre, told Camilla she was so pleased Charles was well, she replied: Thank goodness!

Meanwhile, Sir Michael Pakenham, a supporter of Maggies, wished the king the very best recovery as Camilla was given a tour of the new 6m centre. In turn, she promised to pass his wishes on to Charles.

Buckingham Palace said Charles has rescheduled forthcoming public engagements to allow for a period of private recuperation after the surgery in a statement on Monday.

The Palaces official announcement read: The King was this afternoon discharged from hospital following planned medical treatment and has rescheduled forthcoming public engagements to allow for a period of private recuperation.

Charles underwent a corrective procedure for the benign condition last week (Getty Images)

His Majesty would like to thank the medical team and all those involved in supporting his hospital visit, and is grateful for all the kind messages he has received in recent days.

He left the London Clinic a few hours after the Princess of Wales was discharged from the same hospital, almost two weeks after she underwent abdominal surgery. The king is believed to have spent time with his daughter-in-law before his own scheduled treatment began. Kate is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter.

Charles was diagnosed with the benign condition on 17 January while staying at Birkhall in Scotland, 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.

Camilla has been a president of Maggies since 2008. The charity supports cancer patients and their families, with its 24 centres all based in hospital grounds.

While Camilla has visited many centres across the country over the years, this is her first visit since becoming queen.

I think all hospitals should have a Maggies, Camilla told Rebecca Longmate, the Royal Frees director of nursing, during the event on Wednesday.

She joked with a group of donors, telling them: I try to get around them and another one goes up - I never can catch up.
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TikTok has banned the term legging legs after an alarming trend circulated on the platform that was flagged as potentially triggering for those with eating disorders.

Although the hashtag #legginglegs has since been deleted from the platform and now directs users to information about eating disorders or disordered eating, the short-lived trend made its impact. It first went viral after women began to share videos of themselves in yoga pants showing off their thigh gaps.

As it was gaining traction, TikTok users swiftly began to push back against the trend, saying that the trend could be particularly damaging by encouraging eating disorders and body dysmorphia.

Therapist Holly Essler condemned the trend in a video, saying: If you have seen this on social media, its repulsing.

Basically its a trend saying that if you have leggings and you wear leggings your legs have to look a certain way in them, she continued. Again, this is disgusting. Do not let social media tell your body that it is a trend. If you have a body and you have leggings, you have legging legs.

Thank you for speaking up against these toxic trends that lead girls to so much insecurity and worse, one person wrote in the comment section of Esslers video.

It isnt just Essler who criticised the popularity of the trend, plus-sized influencer Ashlee Rose Hartley (@ashleyrosehartley) shared her thoughts in another video that has received over 2.1mil views on the platform and 900 comments from women who felt the same way about the toxic trend.

In the overlaid text of her video, Hartley wrote: I just saw a new trend called legging legs thats circulating on the internet & its young people critiquing their legs in leggings & saying that the perfect legs for leggings is a giant square thigh gap & small legs...here to remind you all that legs are legging legs.

I have been crying for the past 4 hours bc I dont have legging legs and my bf has been trying to comfort me the entire time, one viewer commented below the video. Hartley responded, Im so sorry youre feeling that. Just know youre beautiful no matter what. Trends like this are designed to be exclusive but keep shining.

Another TikTok user @emilyxpearl chimed in on the discourse, expressing how appalled she was at the people on the app.

Do we understand what we are doing to the younger generation of women? she said in her video. Do we understand that there are 15-year-old girls that wear leggings every single day that now feel that they cannot wear leggings because they dont have legging legs...the most stupid thing Ive ever heard in my life.

She added, Do you understand that because of your video telling some little girl that she doesnt have legging legs, she now feels that she cant fit into society?

The legging legs trend perpetuates the idea that one singular body type and look is ideal, spreading misinformation and potentially harming impressionable and vulnerable minds in the process. An estimated 28.8 mil Americans reportedly experience an eating disorder within their lifetime, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Researchers have found that social media usage can cause body image issues including eating disorders and body dysmorphia.
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Italian authorities ramped up protests Wednesday over the treatment of an Italian antifascist activist being held in a Hungarian jail after images of her chained and shackled at a Budapest court hearing this week sparked outrage in the Mediterranean country.

Police arrested Ilaria Salis in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, last year after she was suspected of involvement in assaults against participants in Hungarys Day of Honor commemoration. The event takes place on Feb.11 each year, with far-right activists marking the failed attempt by Nazi and allied Hungarian soldiers to break out of Budapest during the Red Armys siege of the city in 1945.

Hungarian prosecutors have requested 11 years in prison if Salis is convicted.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni spoke about Salis' detention with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Wednesday, the Hungarian leader's press chief Bertalan Havasi told local news site telex.hu.

Earlier in the week, the Italian Foreign Ministry summoned the Hungarian deputy ambassador to formally protest, after Salis appeared in court with her wrists and ankles shackled, and chains limiting her movement.

In a statement, the ministry recalled European and international law which calls for the need to respect the dignity of prisoners including the way in which defendants are transferred to court and the guarantees of a fair trial.

Specifically, the foreign ministry requested alternatives to pre-trial detention, such as house arrest, and called for the indictment to be translated into Italian and for Salis' attorneys to have access to a video of the alleged incidents so she can mount a defense.

The case, however, is delicate for the far-right-led government of Meloni, who has forged friendly ties with Orban.

But Salis' fate has resonated with ordinary Italians and in the media. On Wednesday, street artist Laika unveiled his latest work on a wall near Hungary's embassy in Rome: an image of a woman hanging Christ-like in chains with the words Ila Resist written on her dress.

Senate President Ignazio La Russa, who is a member of Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, said that Italian law prohibits inmates from being exhibited with handcuffs and in conditions of humiliation, whereas this isnt the case in Hungary.

In comments to RAI, La Russa called on the government to intervene further, given the need to not humiliate the inmate and respect the dignity of the person even when detained for serious crimes.

Even before this weeks courtroom images made front pages in Italian newspapers, Salis case and her prison conditions had been raised at the European Parliament by left-leaning lawmakers. They cited news reports that she was being bound by the neck in a cell with mice and roaches.

The state of Hungarian prisons has been documented and criticized by the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europes Committee for the Prevention of Torture, noted the request for EU intervention by Italian lawmakers from the Socialists & Democrats alliance.
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New rules for owning American XL bully dogs are being put in place in the UK after a spate of violent attacks across the country.

On 31 December 2023, it officially became illegal to sell, give away and breed from an XL Bully. It also became illegal to abandon an XL Bully or allow one to stray.

Furthermore, as of 1 February of this year, owners can not own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless their dog has a valid Certificate of Exemption. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said, advertising, gifting and exchanging the pups will also be banned.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the restrictions on XL bullies last year after labelling the breed a danger to the public.

Speaking to BBC Radio West Midlands in September 2023, Mr Sunak said: These American XL bully dogs are a danger to our communities and we are urgently working on ways to stop these attacks and to protect the public, not just in the West Midlands but across the country.

Which dog breeds are banned in the UK?

American Bully

(Getty Images)

The XL Bully was developed through the crossing of various bull breeds, including the American Pit Bull Terrier.

The breed is typically larger both in height and body body as it is more muscular than other bully breeds.

Height: An XL male no more than 23 inches tall and females up 22 inches.

Size: The males can weigh between 31 kilograms and 58 kilograms of muscle and bone.

Pit Bull Terrier

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

This breed, known as an American Pit Bull Terrier or just Pit Bull is a fighting dog first developed in the 19th century in England, Scotland and Ireland from a bulldog and a terrier.

Although pit bulls were bred and trained to be aggressive against other dogs, aggression against humans was not encouraged because the animals had to be handled by their trainers. The dogs that showed signs of aggression towards humans were not selected for breeding.

However, over recent years there has been a resurgence of dogfighting where the animals are bred to be aggressive.

After a number of fatal attacks in England and Wales by Pit Bulls on humans between 1981 and 1991  the UK government decided to take action and ban the breed in 1991 under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Size: Medium-sized dogs, with males weighing around 13 to 36 kilogrammes.

Height: 19 inches.

Japanese Tosa

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The Japanese Tosa, also called the Japanese Mastiff, is a breed of fighting dog created in Japan in the mid-nineteenth century.

Outside Japan, the Tosa was crossbred with large and giant breeds, including the Great Dane and Mastiff, to produce very large individuals, while those bred in Japan remain truer to the original type, at around half the size, Dog Zone.com says.

The breed is considered dangerous in the UK and controlled very strictly in Ireland. If the dog is not trained and socialised properly, it can be aggressive towards strangers and it is not recommended for families with children and other pets.

The Japanese Tosa was also banned in 1991 under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Size: The breed generally weighs between 36 to 61 kg.

Height: 24 to 32 inches.

Dogo Argentino

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A breed of a working dog developed in Argentina in the 1920s as a pack-hunting and big-game hunter  these are dogs that are known to hunt bigger animals.

The breed was created by two brothers, the Argentinian physicians Antonio and Agustin Nores Martinez. They decided to mix the nearly extinct Viejo Perro de Pelea Cordobes which was an old fighting dog of Cordoba, with several other breeds.

Due to it being a potentially dangerous breed, this animal has also been banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Size: Weighs between 36 to 45kg.

Height: 24 to 27 inches.

Fila Brasileiro

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

This breed was developed in Brazil many centuries ago as a large game-hunting dog and a working dog. The Fila Brasileiro is also known as the Brazilian Mastiff, Brazilian Bloodhound, Cao de Brasil, Cao de Fila, and the Fila.

The word filar in Portuguese means to hold, arrest, grab,  which is why it has been named such - given that the breed is known to be instinctively protective, extremely wary of strangers and incredibly agile when protecting its master.

This animal is banned or restricted in a number of countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, and others.

Size: Weighs between 40 to 81 kg.

Height: 25 to 30 inches.
Residents of an affluent Aussie suburb are in disbelief after a man was spotted mining for expensive items inside a Make-a-Wish Foundation charity bin.

The sight of a pair of legs dangling out of the charity bin in Bondi Junction Eastgate shopping centre in Sydneys east stopped a local resident named DJ in his tracks. After initially thinking he was stuck inside, concern quickly turned to anger as DJ discovered a collection of expensive items nearby.

When we found him, it was just this pair of legs sticking out that we thought he might have been actually caught, DJ told Yahoo News Australia. And then we realised that things were coming out [of the bin].

A man was spotted clambering into the Make a Wish charity bin to allegedly take items. Source: Facebook

Man was mining charity bin

After believing the person was allegedly stealing from the charity bin, DJ described the act as mining. He was reportedly there for up to 15 minutes in the same bin.

He was leaning on the floor with one hand and going through the bags upside down. He had a head torch on. It was like he was mining. The nimbleness and adeptness of what he was doing would suggest he does it regularly.

I would suggest that it's a business for him. And I would suggest that he's doing very well in this current economic crisis, he added.

Disappointed by the act, DJ shared the image to social media, reasoning: Someone who is that brazen is not gonna listen to somebody telling them not to do it.

This guy was helping himself to all kinds of stuff. Designer handbags, high-end backpacks, powerful and expensive torch. It wasn't the first time by the look of it.

While some optimistic commenters thought the person could be looking for items for his family, DJ strongly disagreed. The argument that he was taking things for his family is absolute bulls**t because the stuff he was taking was high-end stuff. It wasn't like he was getting clothes for his wife and size eight or whatever, he said.

Bondi Eastgate shopping centre. Source: ISPT

DJ also claimed he contacted the local council, shopping centre management along with the Make a Wish foundation but little has been done to curb the act from happening again. No one gives a flying f**k except the charity itself, he said.

Story continues

Local donations under threat

DJ feared the alleged theft may prevent other residents in the area from donating their unwanted items.

People are thinking they're doing the right thing by putting [their goods] in the bins have a good feeling rather than tossing something out," he said. "Thats [now] threatened.

Yahoo reached out to Waverley Council and Bondi Eastgate shopping centre who declined to comment on the matter. Make-a-Wish did not respond to requests for comment.

Dangerous act has proven fatal

Climbing into a charity bin is considered a dangerous act, with two women found dead just months apart in 2021. In April, 43-year-old Mikki OShea, also known as Charmaine, was found dead by a member of the public trapped in the bin near a shopping centre on the Gold Coast.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman told Yahoo News Australia at the time it appeared the bin lid had come down on the woman. Firefighters had to cut her body free.

In July of the same year, Alarrah Lawrence, 33, was looking inside a Good Sammys clothing donation bin outside a WA shopping centre when she became trapped and unable to remove herself, police told reporters. Ms Lawrence was seen on CCTV approaching the bins alone at about 1.40am. Her body was found by a member of the public at around 5am, "half in, half out" of the bin. It's believed she died from asphyxiation.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
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An XL bully lover driving 250 miles a day to rehome dozens of the dogs says some owners are cruelly abandoning the breed after Sunak government announced ban in December 2023. It will be illegal to own a bully XL in England and Wales from 1 February.

Sammy Wilkinson hit the headlines after taking 35 of the banned dogs to new homes since October, racking up to 6,000 miles with journeys to as far as Scotland from his West Midlands home.

But the 29-year-old tanning salon owner has told The Independent that his job has become harder with irresponsible owners ditching their pets.

Hes discovered three abandoned in the area around his home in Tipton, while helping rescue another found in an emaciated state in a cage outside a car wash.

It comes after one XL bully was found tied up and set on fire in Carshalton in south London.

Whether the owners have left it too late or they have panicked, weve already seen a rise in XL bully dogs being abandoned in the area, Mr Wilkinson said. Its heartbreaking and is just another sign that the government ban on breeds just isnt the right way to tackle the issue.

Wilkinson says hes desperate to help rehome as many dogs as possible before the complete ban comes in on 1 February (Sammy Wilkinson)

The government introduced a ban on XL bully dogs in a bid to tackle a rise in attacks. Since 1 January, its been illegal to sell or buy the breed in England and Wales, while owners must have them kept on a leash and muzzle while outside.

It comes before a complete ban on the breed from 1 February, although those with exemption certificates  which require the dog to be insured and neutered  can keep the pets.

The change in law has led to a scramble amongst owners wanting to either apply for certificates or rehome their pets. In response, Mr Wilkinson offered to help people rehome the dogs and has since made journeys across the country.

On New Years Eve he was pictured driving two dogs to a new home in Scotland, where the ban does not apply. On Friday he drove one dog to County Durham, and on Tuesday hes heading to Carlisle for a meet and greet ahead of a potential rehoming.

Wilkinson says hes driven 6,000 miles to help the dogs, costing him an average 50 a day since October (Sammy Wilkinson)

Ive got people coming to me every few minutes, he said. Owners are desperate and I wish I could help more of them.

But some owners, according to Mr Wilkinson, are simply ditching the pets.

On Thursday night, he helped rescue a dog kept in a cage outside a car wash in Dudley Port. Hes also found three XL bully dogs abandoned, including one near a canal in Darlaston and another caught after a two-day search in Wednesbury.

The ban on the breed faced strong opposition, including from the RSPCA which instead called on the government should bring in dog licencing with training for owners to bring down the number of attacks.

As dog homes stopped taking in the breed, the charity had said expected a rise in abandoned dogs.

Wilkinson has rehomed 35 XL bully dogs across the UK  but says hes concerned over owners now abandoning the breed (Sammy Wilkinson)

Mr Wilklinson said: The government has caught the wrong end of the lead. The dogs are born as a blank slate, it is up to the owners to carve them into the right sculpture. It is unfair for us to mark out a particular breed.

Environment secretary Steve Barclay said: The prime minister pledged to take quick and decisive action to protect the public from devastating dog attacks with measures in place by the end of 2023.

We have met that pledge  it is now a legal requirement for XL bully dogs to be muzzled and on a lead in public. It is also now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL bully dogs stray.
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Conscription in Britain would teach the young respect and pride and could be life-changing in a good way, some Independent readers have argued.

However others have countered that the British Army simply needs proper funding and to make military service more attractive.

The discussion comes after comments from General Sir Patrick Sanders, the outgoing Chief of the General Staff (CGS), were interpreted as suggesting that conscription could be required in any potential future battle with Moscow due to the British Army being too small.

Sir Patrick, in a speech at the International Armoured Vehicles conference in south-west London on 24 January, said Britain should train and equip a citizen army to ready the country for a potential land war.

Pointing to Sweden introducing a form of military service for its population, the head of the army said at least 45,000 reservists and citizens should be trained up in the next three years to top-up the current 74,000, in what he called a whole-of-nation undertaking.

Heres what you had to say:

Conscription is not going to happen

Every family facing an equal chance of a family member being killed, injured or left with PTSD might mean that politicians and generals face more and harder questions.

Questions about why go to war - is this one for political advantage or oil company profits?

Questions too about competence and corruption in, for instance, the equipment and housing provided.

For these reasons, conscription is not going to happen.

andysmart1948

Teach the young respect and pride

I do think it needs thinking about. It will take the young off the streets and teach them respect and pride. Possibly a career. It would only be a couple of years out of their life and might make them better citizens, hopefully, might...

Then there is the other argument, it teaches them how to use guns etc. So could go the other way. Needs thinking about for sure.

Bubs

Britain needs to expand its regular, professional forces

My first reaction is no.

Israel and Russia have conscripted armies and the USA conscripted men to fight in Vietnam. Argentina had hundreds of conscripted youths in the Falklands. From those experiences, we can see just how ineffective poorly trained and disciplined amateur soldiers are, particularly when faced with either well-motivated irregular troops or well-trained professionals.

The exception to the rule (as it so often is) is Finland. However, as with education, I cant see any British government following their lead- far too much of a departure from Thatcherite dogma!

Britain needs to expand its regular, professional forces, probably by tens of thousands, by making military service more attractive. I have served (a while ago now) but would be unlikely to make the same decision now. For one, the shrinking of our forces means theres hardly anywhere left to go, even in the UK, let alone overseas unless youre in the Navy. There are frequent overseas deployments (which are generally detrimental), but these are not the same as an overseas posting.

Pay still isnt great, accommodation is quite often inadequate (a consequence of Portillo selling off the entire MoD estate to private interests whilst making the taxpayer still responsible for upkeep and repairs) and privatisation pervades whole areas of military life now.

The other option would be to continue the privatisation and shrinkage but stop pretending to still be a global military power.

That said, I can see the political attraction of having hundreds of thousands of working-class men and women with years of active military service behind them. It certainly focused right-wing minds after the Second World War and made Attlees political platform much more persuasive and enduring!

Northwing

Life changing in a good way

Other countries have conscription that works well not just as a means of defence but using the armed forces in other ways too. Conscription teaches those called up a lot of things including personal pride, discipline, interpersonal skills and responsibility to others.

I think it would be a great idea. Having been a conscript in Australia when they still had it during the Vietnam War era I thoroughly enjoyed my two years and consider it life-changing in a good way.

Stardust

Plan for the worst scenario

Is it wise to train street thugs to kill professionally? Then this was always the way, remember Wellingtons opinions during the Peninsular War.

It is still best to plan for the worst scenario unless we wish to just capitulate without any fight.

Martyn

Dire need of expansion

Everyone in the UK knows that our armed forces have been hollowed out and are in dire need of expansion. Everyone it seems, except this awful government.

Devon Dumpling

The young are a cause without a rebel

It would be a massive turnaround from the pandemic. Five minutes ago we were too weak to defend ourselves from almost nothing. But now the prospect is trench warfare... hm.

Id bring in conscription in the hope that it builds character. The young are a cause without a rebel, our establishment is the worst in the whole of British history and if you make the young strong enough to defend themselves, be careful what you wish for.

TheRedSquirrel

What would this army be defending?

We dont want a land war, or any war, so we dont need a bigger army. The government, Tory or Labour, can stuff that where the sun doesnt shine.

What would this army be defending? Not democracy, because its been comprehensively traduced. The right of the government to ban the right to strike for millions? The filthy streets, inadequate schools and collapsing healthcare? The pre-eminence of profit for the rich above the wellbeing of the many? The right of the government to bomb people without asking us? The right of Israel to be excused from all law and decency?

We will no longer defend the fading imperial powers. Try forcing us, therell be a general strike. The future lies with the global south. It at least seems to have retained some respect for the law and humanity.

nakaserokid

Properly funded

No conscription, that just turns professional soldiers, sailors and airmen into instructors.

We need properly funded armed services, professional procurement to avoid waste and the equipment required to defend our country. we currently have two aircraft carriers with borrowed air wings and unable to leave port without other nations ships to assist in forming a carrier group, an army short on men, armour, helicopters ammunition and much else and an airforce smaller that British Airways.

Laurence

Some of the questions and answers have been edited for this article. You can read the full discussion in the comments section of the original article.

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Residents of a north west London block of flats have demanded an investigation after fire tore through their building - which had flammable cladding still in place.

The Fire Brigades Union issued a warning over the dangers of cladding following the blaze that happened in Wembley on Monday afternoon.

At least 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines were called to the scene and firefighters were still seen dampening down the block on Elm Road on Tuesday morning.

The London Fire Brigade said that initial investigations confirmed that cladding was involved in the blaze.

Hundreds of Petworth Court residents were evacuated, with some recounting the frightening moment they were told the leave - which reminded some of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Hundreds of residents were evacuated, with some recounting the frightening moment they were told the leave - which reminded some of the Grenfell Tower fire (@LondonFire/Twitter)

Mar, a mother of one who lives on the fourth floor, told the Evening Standard that residents wanted to see a full investigation.

The cladding on this building was down to be replaced two years ago but nothing has been done, she told the paper.

Its scary and devastating to think that we still have cladding that everyone knew could be dangerous. This could have been another Grenfell, we are very angry and want a full investigation and answers.

They had put in some fire measures inside the building to make it safer but whats the point if the cladding is still in place?

The aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire - which left 72 dead in 2017 - has seen calls for the removal of flammable cladding from buildings.

The Grenfell Tower in west London after the fire in which 72 people died (Steve Parsons/PA) (PA Archive)

Brent North MP Barry Gardiner told the Standard that he had repeatedly warned the blocks managers about the safety risks the cladding imposed.

Resident Amare Gealam, 28, also told the Evening Standard: It was very frightening. There were police and firefighters knocking on the doors. The fire started small then went up quick.

I dont know whether thats because of the cladding but you couldnt help thinking of Grenfell.

The Fire Brigades Union issued a warning over the use of cladding after over 100 firefighters were called to put out the fire.

Firefighters have once again been called to cladding fire which could have resulted in tragedy, Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said.

Decades of deregulation have created unnecessary risks to residents and firefighters, and put homes and lives at risk.

The London Fire Brigade said that half of the external side of the building and all of the roof and four external balconies were damaged by the fire. ( @LondonFire/Twitter)

The London Fire Brigade said that half of the external side of the building and all of the roof and four external balconies were damaged by the fire.

Five adjoining blocks were also evacuated as a precaution. All residents were accounted for following the evacuation and there were no reports of any injuries.

The Independent has contacted Octavia Housing for a comment.

A spokesperson told the Standard that staff had been on site and confirmed the building has external cladding.

The building has some external cladding in its construction, and we are working with the developer and our insurer to get this removed. There is a plan in place to address this which includes on-going negotiations with the developer and our insurer as part of an arbitration process, a spokesperson told the paper.

They added: The safety of residents is paramount and the needs of those with vulnerabilities have been prioritised.

Our emergency planning procedures were activated. We ensured all evacuated residents were supported with access to welfare facilities. Overnight hotel accommodation was found, where required, for residents who were unable to return home and they continue to be supported.

The London Fire Brigade is on site this morning and we are awaiting an update from them. The fire brigade have yet to determine the extent of the damage and cause of the fire.

Petworth Court has a Fire Risk Assessment which has been shared with the London Fire Brigade, who we have been working with since last August to manage the building.
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Martin Bashirs explosive interview with Princess Diana made headlines across the globe when it aired in the 1990s and was viewed by over 200 million people.

Speaking openly about her marital woes and bulimia, as well as confirming the then-Prince Charles affair with Camilla, the interview served as a tipping point for the royal family and led to Dianas divorce.

Nearly 30 years later, it has only served as a royal headache for the BBC, as a 2021 report found that Mr Bashir had obtained the interview through deceit, after forging bank statements that implied Diana was being spied on by members of her household staff.

Here is the full timeline of how Mr Bashirs actions unravelled, and the ongoing ramifications for the broadcaster:

- 20 November 1995

After initially joining the BBC as a reporter in 1986 and working on series including Songs of Praise, Mr Bashir began to work for their investigative programme Panorama.

With speculation about Dianas love life and relationship to the then-Prince of Wales constantly dominating headlines, Mr Bashirs Panorama interview with the princess was deemed the scoop of the generation.

Diana, Princess of Wales, during her interview with Martin Bashir for the BBC (BBC, PA) (PA Media)

It was conducted in secrecy at Kensington Palace and included the infamous line there were three of us in this marriage, which confirmed the future kings affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles.

The interview was watched by 23 million people in the UK and led the Queen to issue letters to both Charles and Diana, advising them to divorce.

 1996

Former BBC director-general Lord Hall, then head of news, leads an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Dianas appearance.

Her brother, Earl Spencer, later alleged the inquiry was a whitewash.

It was claimed that Mr Bashir had doctored bank statements to gain Dianas trust, which appeared to show that senior courtiers were being paid by the security services to spy on her.

Mr Bashir was cleared of any wrongdoing with Lord Hall finding that the journalist was ultimately an honest and honourable man.

 August 1997

Diana is killed in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. She was in a car with her partner, Dodi Fayed, who also died.

 1999

Bashir leaves the BBC and joins ITV where he works on documentary specials and features for Trevor McDonald.

Diana spoke openly about her unhappy marriage to King Charles, and confirmed his affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles (Getty Images)

 2016

Bashir returns to the BBC as religious affairs correspondent before being made religion editor.

- October 2020

Three documentaries about the BBC Panorama interview air on ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, which re-ignites interest in the controversy.

It also emerges that Bashir is seriously unwell with coronavirus-related complications.

- 3 November 2020

A BBC investigation is launched into allegations made by Earl Spencer that he was shown false bank statements to help encourage his sister to take part.

He accused Mr Bashir of sheer dishonesty and claimed he would not have introduced him to Diana if he had not seen the forged documents.

Lord Dyson, former Master of the Rolls and head of civil justice, is appointed to head the report, which is welcomed by Prince William, who described it as a step in the right direction.

The BBC says it has found a handwritten note from Diana that appears to absolve Bashir of using false documents to influence her Panorama appearance.

Prince William condemned the BBC after the publication of the Dyson Report (ITN)

 March 2021

Scotland Yard says it will not launch a criminal investigation over the allegations.

 May 2021

Bashir quits the BBC on health grounds, stepping down as religion editor. A new Panorama documentary investigating the Diana interview is delayed until after the publication of Lord Dyson report.

Later that month, it was reported that Dysons inquiry found Mr Bashir guilty of deceit and of breaching BBC editorial conduct to obtain the interview. The 1996 inquiry led by Lord Hall was described as woefully ineffective with the BBC issuing an apology.

Both of Dianas sons released statements, with Prince William stating that the lies told to his mother contributed to her sense of fear, paranoia and isolation.

In a statement, Mr Bashir said: I apologised then, and I do so again now, over the fact that I asked for bank statements to be mocked up. It was a stupid thing to do and was an action I deeply regret.

- September 2022

The BBC donates 1.4 million, which it had earned by selling the rights to the interview to other TV channels, to seven charities associated with the Princess of Wales.

Since the publication of the Dyson Report, the corporation also pays out signifcant sums in damages to individuals affected by the interview, including former royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke.

Mr Bashir stepped down from the BBC for health reasons in 2020 (PA)

- December 2023

A judge orders the BBC to release a large number of emails surrounding Mr Bashirs interview, which related to how the broadcaster had handled the scandal when it came to light in 2020.

Judge Brian Kennedy said the corporation had been inconsistent, erroneous and unreliable in the way it dealt with the initial request to release material under Freedom of Information (FOI) law, which had been made two years previously by journalist Andy Webb.

- January 2024

The BBC releases around 3,000 emails which include Bashirs claims that allegations he secured the interview through forgery were a result of professional jealousy and his ethnicity.

He told Robert Seatter, head of BBC history, that securing the interview while being the child of immigrants with working-class roots led to some irritation among BBC colleagues.

A BBC spokesperson said on Tuesday: There is nothing to support the allegations that the BBC acted in bad faith in 2020 and we maintain this suggestion is simply wrong.

We have worked to provide relevant material throughout this lengthy process, which has involved extensive archive and record searches spanning nearly 30 years.

We have also accepted and apologised when errors have been made and taken extensive steps to rectify those errors.
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Scotlands former first minister Nicola Sturgeon fought back tears at the Covid inquiry as she denied using the pandemic for political purposes.

The ex-SNP leader choked up as she rejected claims that she had pushed for fights with Boris Johnsons government to boost her Scottish independence cause.

She insisted that she had not been thinking of political opportunity, as she was grilled about WhatsApps which showed she wanted public arguments with Mr Johnson.

Ms Sturgeon also finally admitted that she had deleted her own WhatsApp messages with officials and ministers, but attempted to play down the importance of the messages.

The former first minister said she did not make extensive use of informal messaging  claiming that her officials discussion of deleting messages was merely light-hearted banter.

And she became visibly emotional as she spoke of being overwhelmed at times during the crisis. Theres a large part of me wishes that I hadnt been, but I was, and I wanted to be the best first minister.

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon arrives at the Covid inquiry (PA)

It came as Ms Sturgeon vehemently denied that the government had politicised the pandemic to pursue Scottish independence, stating that would have been robbing people of their livelihoods and would absolutely have been a betrayal of the Scottish public.

She told the Covid inquiry that she had never thought less about Scottish independence as she did during the course of the pandemic.

The former SNP boss also said that she will absolutely assert that no decisions were made for political reasons, or that were influenced in some way by considerations for the constitutional argument".

Tory cabinet minister Michael Gove previously accused the Scottish government of seeking political conflict with Westminster government during the pandemic.

Messages between Ms Sturgeon and her top adviser Liz Lloyd showed they had discussed a good old-fashioned rammy with Boris Johnsons government over the furlough scheme. It emerged that Ms Sturgeon called Mr Johnson a f***ing clown, while Ms Lloyd said she sought a spat with a purpose.

The former SNP leader, fighting back tears, told the inquiry: The idea that in those horrendous days, weeks, I was thinking of political opportunity was not the case. She added: It wasnt true.

Sturgeon cabinet meeting minutes from June 2020 show that her ministers agreed to consider how the Covid crisis could be used to boost support for Scottish independence.

But Ms Sturgeon pointed to a 2020 letter from her then constitution secretary, Mike Russell, to Mr Gove saying the Scottish government was suspending all work on an independence referendum.

Nicola Sturgeon leaving the Covid inquiry hearing (PA)

Ms Sturgeon apologised when grilled about her statement to a Channel 4 journalist during the Covid crisis saying she would be fully transparent in allowing access to her WhatsApp messages. She said she could have been more clear.

She admitted that she deleted these informal messages  but said it was in line with official advice because salient points were all recorded on her governments corporate record.

Amid the storm of controversy over deleted messages, Ms Sturgeon conceded that WhatsApp had become too common a means of communication within the Scottish government during the crisis.

But she insisted that she exchanged WhatsApps with no more than a handful of people  including key ally Ms Lloyd, and the now first minister Humza Yousaf, who was health secretary.

The ex-SNP leader also dismissed messages sent by senior civil servants and officials about the deletion of WhatsApp messages as light-hearted.

Nicola Sturgeon admits she deleted her WhatsApp messages during Covid inquiry

Ken Thompson, the Scottish governments director-general for strategy, wrote in August 2020 that plausible deniability are my middle names. He also told colleagues they should know where the clear chat button is on WhatsApp.

Ms Sturgeon said: I look at that exchange and what I dont see is an exchange about the decisions that were taken, I see a light-hearted discussion between officials.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said Ms Sturgeons behaviour has smashed trust in the SNP, as he accused the Scottish government of having a culture of secrecy and cover-up.

The Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said the inquiry hearings had shown Ms Sturgeon to be a liar and a fraud, as he accused the former first minister of destroying vital evidence.

And one of the Scottish Covid Bereaved group said Ms Sturgeons crocodile tears arent washing with me as they reacted to her evidence. Pamela Thomas lost her brother, James Cameron, said: I dont think theyre capable of actually telling the truth or being transparent.

Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon also rejected accusations of secrecy during the pandemic. She claimed she did not have carte blanche to make decisions on her own, as she was grilled about her so-called gold command meetings of only senior cabinet ministers.

Inquiry counsel Jamie Dawson KC put it to her that she did not like light to be shone on the way decisions were taken. I would very strongly refute that, Ms Sturgeon replied. I did not have carte blanche, wide latitude to take decisions  and nor should I have had.

Ms Sturgeon confirmed that no minutes were taken of the gold command meetings. There were not minutes taken of them in the way you would have cabinet minutes because they were not decision-making meetings.

Defending small meetings, she told the inquiry she did not have a great deal of patience with the idea of everybody wanting to be in the room  saying said there was a tendency for a cast of thousands to want to be in the room with her.

And Ms Sturgeon also admitted that it was a mistake to use a SNP email account to conduct some government business with public health expert Professor Devi Sridhar. On reflection, perhaps I shouldnt have done that.

Ms Sturgeon also said she regretted not locking down a week, two weeks earlier than Mr Johnsons UK government did. She said it was one of the many regrets I have.
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Police officers made sickening comments about a victim of an assault while watching a body-worn video of her in a seizure with her groin and chest exposed, an investigation has found.

Three Thames Valley Police officers watched and ridiculed footage of a 21-year-old woman suffering from a seizure while held in leg restraints in a police van, the BBC probe revealed.

Despite an investigation by the forces professional standards department, there has since been no public evidence of the officers facing misconduct hearings, while the student officer who raised says he has been shunned by colleagues.

Detail of Police officers (Joe Giddens/PA) (PA Archive)

The incident happened when the victim was arrested, handcuffed and placed in a police van in Newbury, Berkshire after officers believed she had committed an assault, despite having been assaulted herself.

She was then recorded on body-worn video vomiting and losing consciousness. She suffered a seizure in the police van which resulted in her groin and chest being exposed.

The next day, a female officer reviewing CCTV watched the officers body-worn video of the victims journey inside the police van while at her desk at Newbury Police Station.

She was joined by three male colleagues who all watched the footage while making sickening comments about the victims body, according to the student officer.

One officer asked to see the womans groin area while another made derogatory comments about her breasts. Another discussed what they would need to be paid to sleep with her.

In a witness statement seen by the BBC, the student officer reported that the other officers referred to the woman by name while making comments, and were clearly aware of her identity.

It makes me feel betrayed, the victim told the BBC. The police are supposed to be the people you go to when you need help.

After reporting the officers conduct, the student officer was shunned by colleagues and expected to leave. He claimed a sergeant showed him job adverts outside policing.

In August, he was told he was not physically or mentally fitted to be a police constable and was dismissed.

Thames Valley Police told the BBC the remarks caught in the recording were unacceptable. The force said it was thankful the student officer reported what he saw, and his disclosure had been treated seriously but the ending of his employment was an entirely separate matter.

In a statement, it said that the student officer was moved to a different station, given a new tutor and supported through his complaint.

It also said officers involved faced misconduct meetings - which were not held in public.

The case was a horror story of misogyny and sexism that is massively damaging to public confidence, said Nazir Afzal, a former chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service.

He said it had uncovered systemic failings in the scrutiny of police body-worn video - and the Newbury case is very troubling.

A previous BBC investigation in 2023 determined more than1 50 reports of misuse of body-worn cameras.

The broadcaster found several serious allegations, which included reports in seven police forces where officers shared camera footage with friends or colleagues, either in person or online via social media.
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The Queen invited renowned authors to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the worlds most famous dolls house the day after King Charles was discharged from hospital.

She created a tiny manuscript for the library of Queen Marys Dolls House, as did some of the nations best-loved writers, from Sir Tom Stoppard and Dame Jacqueline Wilson to Sir Ben Okri and Alan Bennett.

Camilla joked that writing a miniature book for the centenary celebrations of the worlds most famous dolls house affected her eyesight.

The Kings consort stood by her husbands side on Monday as he left hospital following treatment for an enlarged prostate and a day later was all smiles during a Windsor Castle reception to thank those involved in the project.

She praised the gathered writers, binders and illustrators for contributing to the fantastic initiative and told them: As a child, seeing the dolls house for the first time, I was always fascinated by the books.

Britain's Queen Camilla looks at Queen Mary's Dolls' House as she hosts a reception at Windsor Castle for authors, illustrators and binders (Getty Images)

The idea of actually seeing these important writers, actually seeing their writing, was huge excitement  thinking that was written by Conan Doyle, whoever.

And I know the future generations are going to feel the same about all of you. They are going to look at these books and say Goodness, how wonderful. Its wonderful to see Alan Bennett or Tom Stoppard, to see their writing.

She made her guests laugh when she quipped: I hope your eyesight hasnt deteriorated that much  certainly mine did.

Bennett, Stoppard and Okri were among those attending, alongside many of the craftspeople who created the bindings for the books.

Queen Marys Dolls House was completed in 1924 for King George Vs consort as a gift from the nation after the First World War.

It features a library reflecting tastes from the 1920s, but the 20 new manuscripts update the collection with short stories, poetry collections, illustrated tales, plays, articles and recipes, many inspired by the dolls house or written specially for the occasion.

Queen Camilla speaks to Haein Song during a reception at Windsor Castle for authors, illustrators and binders who have been involved in the new Miniature Library collection (Getty Images)

She said: For me, it is the library that is the most breath-taking space in the house.

These new books highlight the incredible richness of 21st century literary talent  and demonstrate how fortunate we are to have access to so many outstanding writers, whose work brings joy, comfort, laughter, companionship and hope to us all, opening our eyes to others experiences and reminding us that we are not alone.

It is a perfect 1:12 scale replica of an Edwardian home, complete with electricity, working lifts, running water, luxurious royal suites and functional below-stairs servants quarters.

Former childrens laureate Julia Donaldson created a tiny version of her popular childrens book The Gruffalo illustrated by the original artist Axel Scheffler.

She said: It was quite tricky working out the new pagination and making my handwriting as small as could be, but Axel had a greater labour of love creating all those extra pictures.

Queen Camilla hosts a reception at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, for authors, illustrators and binders who have been involved in the new miniature library collection (PA)

The poet and novelist Sir Ben Okri, whose book The Famished Road won the Booker Prize in 1991, said: There is something magical about working with the very small. My contribution to this enchanting project was making a little book of my poems. Writing small concentrates the mind and draws one into the mysterious kingdom of art.

But then the Dolls House too is a mysterious kingdom that once encountered starts a secret yearning to dwell there.

Alan Bennett created The Mantelpiece for the project while Camillas son Tom Parker Bowles, a food writer, was also asked to contribute and produced A Recipe Fit for a Queen.

Playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, whose miniature manuscript is called Kolyas Glove, said: As a child I was always fascinated by Queen Marys Dolls House, though I dont think I ever set eyes on it. I must have read about it.

At a young age, the miniaturisation seemed almost miraculous to me. So I was frankly thrilled to be invited to contribute to the new Dolls House library so many years later.

The event comes after the King spent three nights at The London Clinic after being admitted on Friday, before leaving the hospital shortly after Queen Camilla was spotted smiling in a black Audi car on her way to visit her husband for the fourth time.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29: Britains King Charles III and Queen Camilla are seen leaving The London Clinic on January 29, 2024 in London, England. The King has been receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate (Getty Images)

Queen Camilla told people inside The London Clinic on Friday that the King was doing well after the procedure.

Their daughter-in-law Kate Middleton was admitted to the same clinic to have abdomen surgery and was admitted a few hours before the King, almost two weeks after undergoing abdominal surgery for an undisclosed reason. Kensington Palace released a statement on Monday to say she is continuing her recovery at home and is making good progress.

The 42-year-old future Queen is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter, and the Prince of Wales has temporarily stepped back from his royal role to juggle caring for her and their children.
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The UK is set to be battered by strong winds and rain as Storm Ingunn passes by to the north, bringing hurricane-force gusts as it powers towards Norway.

The Met Office has issued multiple weather alerts on Wednesday as the Atlantic storm clips Britain, and warns of the potential for flying debris and rough coastal conditions to pose a danger to life.

A wind speed of 155mph has already been recorded in the Faroe Islands, the BBC reports  far stronger than any gust seen during the UKs Great 1987 Storm  and residents in Norway have been told to brace for their worst storm in 30 years.

The Met Office has put two weather warnings in place on Wednesday (Met Office)

In Britain, gusts are expected to reach 85mph, and two weather warnings have been put in place.

The first  in force in northern Scotland, the Hebrides, and Orkney and Shetland from 5am on Wednesday  warns of potential power cuts, mobile phone blackouts, and damage to buildings, such as tiles being blown from roofs.

Roads and bridges could be closed, with road, air and ferry travel all potentially affected, the Met Office warned, with the small chance that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.

That warning will remain in force until 7pm, during which time a second warning stretching nearly as far south as Harrogate and impacting Northern Ireland will also come into effect, lasting from 9am until 5pm.

Residents in those areas are warned of travel disruption, power cuts and the potential for damage to trees, with coastal communities affected by large waves.

The slightly more severe weather warning in the north will be in force from 5am to 7pm (Met Office)

The second weather warning stretches nearly as far south as Harrogate (Met Office)

More than 40 train services have already been cancelled in Scotland out of concern for passenger safety, including those between Dundee and Glasgow, and Aberdeen to Edinburgh. Speed restrictions were put in place across much of the network, with safety inspections to continue throughout the day.

Ferry operator Calmac also cancelled all departures on five of its routes, with many more services under review for the rest of the day. No ferries will sail from Oban to Colonsay, or from Mallaig to Armadale, while scheduled departures from Ardrossan and Ullapool may be cancelled at short notice too.

Storm Ingunn was named by the Norwegian weather service, where police are warning that gusts of up to 112mph are expected. The storm was expected to land in central Norway around midday on Wednesday before moving north the following day.

The storm is what is known as a bomb cyclone, an area of low pressure which strengthens quickly and dramatically in what is referred to as explosive cyclogenesis  a rapid deepening of pressure within 24 hours.

In Wednesday mornings forecast, Met Office forecaster Clare Nasir warned of a very windy day, with gusts in the far north of Scotland potentially reaching 85mph as a result of the storm moving in from the northwest.

Towards Cumbria and north Yorkshire, there will be some damaging winds throughout Wednesday, with heavy rain in western parts of Scotland, and Orkney and Shetland, the meteorologist said.

From Wales to the Midlands, lower temperatures could bring patcy frost, and mist and fog, with a cloudy and windy end to the day across central and southern England and Wales. By rush hour, the rain will slide towards the south of England, where brief thunderstorms cant be ruled out as the band of rain moves southwards, said Ms Nasir.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Owners of XL bully dogs have just hours left to apply for certificates of exemption if they wish to keep their pets before a ban on the breed comes into force.

From 1 February, it will be a criminal offence to own an XL bully in England and Wales without a certificate. Applications must be submitted by midday on Wednesday.

It follows restrictions which came into force at the end of last year which mean the dogs must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public.

Breeding, selling or abandoning the dogs also became illegal as of 31 December. Here is a deeper look into what the move will mean for dog owners.

American XL Bullies have been linked to 40 per cent of more than 800 attacks tracked by campaign group Bully Watch (Getty Images/iStockPhoto)

What will happen if you own an American XL bully dog?

To qualify for an exemption certificate, owners must prove their XL bully had been neutered by 30 June 2023.

If owners have a pup which is less than a year old on Wednesday, they must be neutered by the end of 2024, and evidence that they have done so must be provided.

As well as neutering their animals, XL bully owners seeking an exemption must also pay an application fee, hold third party public liability insurance for their pets, and ensure the dogs are microchipped.

Since 31 January, owners of the animal were required to have the dogs neutered and muzzled and on a lead when in public.

What are American XL bully dogs?

American kennel clubs have different definitions of what an American XL bully is but it is not recognised as a specific breed by the UKs The Kennel Club, dog expert witness Colin Tennant told the PA news agency.

The American Bully Kennel Club defines the American XL bully as a crossbreed of the American pit bull terrier, olde English bulldogge, English bulldog and the American bulldog, while the American Dog Breeders Association defines it as a crossbreed of the American Staffordshire terrier and the American pit bull terrier.

Why are they not defined as a breed in the UK?

The dog is not recognised as a specific breed by The Kennel Club.

It could be hard to define and some fear a ban could inadvertently outlaw a range of other dogs.

How does identifying a dog as a banned breed work?

Police or dog experts can judge the type of dog.

Mr Tennant said this is done with lists of characteristics, so it can be classed as a banned breed if it ticks the boxes, even if the dog is crossbred with a breed which is not banned.

Will this make it difficult to enforce a ban?

Ministers were quick to acknowledge that the details of the ban, and the exact definition of the breed, would need to be worked out.

But officials appear confident that a consensus can be reached that will target a ban specifically on the American XL bully.

The chief veterinary officer said officials would work with vets, dog experts, the police and NGOs to find an appropriate breed definition.

XL Bullies will join the list of banned breeds by the end of the year, Rishi Sunak says (Getty Images)

Which dogs are already banned in the UK?

In the UK, it is against the law to own certain types of dog.

According to the government website, these are the pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, dogo Argentino and fila Brasileiro.

It is also against the law to sell a banned dog, abandon a banned dog, give away a banned dog, and breed from a banned dog.

What happens if you own a banned dog?

The police or local council dog warden can take it away, even if it is not acting dangerously and there has not been a complaint made.

A police or council dog expert will judge what type of dog it is and whether it is (or could be) a danger to the public. The dog will then either be released or kept in kennels while the police (or council) apply to a court.

It is the owners responsibility to prove the dog is not a banned type. If it is proved, the court will order the dog to be returned. If the owner cannot prove it (or they plead guilty), they will be convicted of a crime.

The owner can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months (or both) for having a banned dog against the law. The dog will also be destroyed.

If the dog is banned but the court thinks it is not a danger to the public, it may put it on the Index of Exempted Dogs and let the owner keep it.

When the ban comes into force, owners will need to prove their dog is not a banned type (Getty Images)

The owner will be given a certificate of exemption, which is valid for the life of the dog, and comes with a number of conditions.

The dog must be neutered, microchipped, kept on a lead and muzzled at all times when in public, and kept in a secure place so it cannot escape.

The owner must take out insurance against the dog injuring other people, be aged over 16, show the certificate of exemption when asked by a police officer or council dog warden, either at the time or within five days, and let the Index of Exempted Dogs know if the owner changes address, or the dog dies.
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Boris Johnson has attacked Rishi Sunaks new Brexit deal with the DUP  warning that it could tie the UK to EU trade rules in future.

Mr Sunaks government revealed new arrangements to remove routine checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland in a bid to restore power-sharing at Stormont.

Checks required under the previous so-called green lane will be further reduced  a tweak aimed at fixing some of the unresolved mess left by Mr Johnsons Brexit deal.

Despite effectively being an extension of his own deal, Mr Johnson joined Tory rebels in claiming the new arrangements could thwart Britains post-Brexit freedom to diverge from EU rules.

The former PM  who has repeatedly criticised Mr Sunak since he was kicked out of No 10  called on his successor to have the courage to ditch more Brussels regulations.

We must retain the appetite and the courage to diverge from the low-growth high-regulation European model, said Mr Johnson on X, formerly Twitter.

We must at all costs avoid a return to anything remotely like the disastrous Chequers formula, whereby artificial concerns about the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland are used to keep the whole of the UK in alignment with EU rules.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak at odds over Brexit again (Getty)

Mr Johnsons former Brexit negotiator Lord David Frost  believed to be part of a small cabal of right-wing MPs and ex-advisers plotting to bring down Mr Sunak  said he agreed with the former PM.

The trouble-making Tory peer warned that the new agreement with the DUP should not slow the push to diverge from the EU.

Under the new deal set out in Mr Sunaks Safeguarding the Union paper, the red lane for transporting goods from GB to NI, and then on into the EU single market in the Republic of Ireland, will remain.

But routine checks will be removed from the green lane on goods from the GB destined to stay in NI, and replaced with only occasional checks when smuggling and disease risks are suspected.

The old green lane will be rebranded as the UK internal market system. And the government estimates that 80 per cent of goods will now move free of routine checks.

The government has pledged to amend domestic law  specifically a section of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act  to affirm the fact that new EU laws will not automatically apply in Northern Ireland, and must first be subject to oversight by Stormont.

In a bid to keep both the DUP and Brexiteers happy in allowing UK-wide divergence from EU standards, there is also a legal requirement that any new legislation is assessed as to whether it impacts on trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris sets out new deal agreed with DUP (Getty)

But some Brexiteer Tory MPs remain sceptical. Former home secretary Priti Patel and former business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg challenged Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris to explain how the UK would be able to diverge on EU rules without risking arrangements for Northern Ireland.

Answering their questions in the Commons, Mr Heaton-Harris insisted that the deal did not change the freedoms and powers we have secured through Brexit. The minister added: It will not reduce our ability to diverge.

But fellow right-winger Theresa Villiers  a former Northern Ireland secretary  said she was troubled by the deal and the prospect of it being rushed through parliament. It is vital that theres nothing in the deal which prevents Great Britain from diverging from EU rules, she told The Telegraph.

However, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has hailed the plan, claiming it would effectively scrap the contentious Irish Sea border for goods. There should not be a border within the UK internal market, he said. These proposals remove that border.

Sir Jeffrey praised Mr Sunak for going further than Mr Johnson. Whilst Boris Johnson promised us a lot of things, he didnt deliver them. Rishi Sunak has worked with us, [Mr Heaton-Harris] worked with us, to make these changes, the DUP leader told the BBC.

The DUP has agreed to drop its two-year blockade of Stormont but there are those within the unionist party who remain deeply sceptical of the proposed agreement.

Sammy Wilson, the most outspoken, said the UK would still have to follow EU rules. This is a result of this spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying government  refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has hailed the deal (PA)

Legislation promised in the deal is set to be fast-tracked through parliament on Thursday to enable the restoration of the institutions at Stormont  possibly as soon as Saturday.

No 10 has insisted that the DUP deal would not mean that the Windsor Framework agreement Mr Sunak struck with the EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen would not have to be reopened.

Downing Street said on Wednesday that the deal contains significant changes to the Windsor deals operation but is not about altering the fundamentals of the framework.

The European Commission effectively endorsed the new arrangement by saying it had come following in-depth technical discussions with the UK. Vice-president Maros Sefcovic said on Wednesday that it replies to the needs of Northern Ireland businesses while protecting our single market.

And Micheal Martin, the Republic of Irelands deputy PM, does not expect the European Commission to object to the new Sunak plan, saying: I do not anticipate any particular difficulties in respect of the EU side.

It came as Tory minister Andrea Leadsom dismissed the concerns of business chiefs over the costly new checks imposed on EU imports  calling them the price you pay for Brexit.

The Brexiteer said on Times Radio that British firms must simply adapt to the new rules which began on Wednesday, and suggested they should even consider changing their trading arrangements with the EU if they were struggling.

Nigel Jenny from the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) warned that the checks for food and plant importers are essentially a 200m tax on the industry and would push up prices for consumers.

And Paolo Arrigo, managing director of London-based importer Seeds of Italy, told The Independent that the new checks were anti-small business and that it was now easier to import from China than France.
There's a problem on the rise in the Aussie wilderness, and rangers, including Olivia Hickey, are kicking up a stink about it.

As a ranger for Tasmania Parks and Wildlife, Hickey says she's noticed an "unprecedented" amount of human poo in wilderness areas throughout the state because bushwalkers simply "don't know how to toilet" while outdoors in "very fragile alpine ecosystems".

She and her colleagues find faeces near rivers, lakes, streams, and campsites and even next to toilets. It's not experienced bushwalkers though who already "know what to do and where to toilet", Hickey told Yahoo News Australia. She suggests it's those who are new to bushwalking and visitors to Tassie  and there's "lots of proof".

Visitors to remote Tasmania are encouraged to educate themselves before visiting, with a major poo problem emerging in the wilderness. Source: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife

"As a wilderness ranger, we transport a lot of poo that we find while out and about," the Tassie ranger told Yahoo News Australia. "We have to pick it up and have to deal with it by carrying it to the toilet. So there are a lot of people clearly doing the wrong thing. [People] are just pooing straight on the ground and that's become a much more obvious problem.

"Covid actually made a lot of people want to go out and explore kind of their backyards, and nature is a fantastic spot to be in. But they've just missed the education of how to look after their waste properly."

How to dispose of waste properly

When you gotta go, you gotta go, which is "normal", says Hickey. But the problem now is there are a lot more people bushwalking who "don't know how to do it". For many years, bushwalkers have been encouraged to bury their poop in a hole at least 15 centimetres deep  and away from water and campsites. This often requires people to carry a hiking shovel.

Rather than going to the toilet straight on the ground, people are encouraged to carry their waste in a pot or jar until they find a toilet. Source: Olivia Hickey

This approach is still encouraged however only in areas "that have got lots of soil"  so you need to know where to dig. "It breaks down very quickly and that's been the go for bushwalkers for years," said the ranger.

Story continues

Specifically designed products including poo pots and poo tubes  sealable containers for transporting human waste from sensitive wilderness areas back to toilets  are another option. But Hickey says a simple Google search before venturing outdoors will offer lots of different ways to carry the waste.

"You could use a peanut butter jar or something that's fully compostable like a cornstarch bag,' she suggested. "You can put that on the ground and poo into the bag itself, and then put that in the pot and then carry it to the next toilet".

Problematic on both 'environmental and human' level

The dumping of human waste is problematic on both a human health and an environmental level. "From a human perspective, there are now lots of places in Tassie I wouldn't drink the water from because [the poo] brings all kinds of viruses and bacteria into the water. It can cause all sorts of belly upsets," Hickey said.

Experienced bushwalkers 'know how to toilet' says Ranger Olivia Hickey, but new walkers do not. Source: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife

But the environmental level is a "massive concern". Human poo can "kill the plants or make it more available for other weed species to come in" essentially ruining the natural landscape.

"A lot of Tassie's wilderness is a world heritage area and has seen unchanged landscapes for a very long time," Hickey said. "So that human impact will have a long-lasting impact on the environments that we're in."

The ranger said it's up to bushwalkers to be aware of their surroundings and to educate themselves before heading out. Part of being in the wilderness means not having signage or technology. "It's nice to be able to just get away from all signs and all technology," she said.

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Conservative minister Andrea Leadsom has dismissed the concerns of business chiefs over the costly new checks imposed on imports from the EU as the price you pay for Brexit.

The leading Brexiteer defended the friction in the new system for physical checks at the border  describing it as the costs of doing business.

Ms Leadsom said British firms must adapt and could even consider changing their trading arrangements with the EU if they wanted to bring down their costs.

Rishi Sunaks health minister, a senior figure in the Leave campaign, telling Sky News: Leaving the single market was always going to have implications.

Ive had many constituency cases over the years of people who have changed their trading arrangements with the European Union as a result of different frictions, whether its postal cost changing, whether its border control, said Ms Leadsom.

Asked if she was suggesting that UK businesses stop buying from Europe, she said: No, Im not saying that. Im just saying that businesses need to adapt to meet the changing environment. There are huge opportunities from the rest of the world.

Dame Andrea Leadsom has defended the costly Brexit border checks amid backlash from businesses and suppliers (PA Archive)

The former business secretary added: Obviously, what some businesses will do is continue to trade with the EU and absorb those costs, and others will choose to find access from elsewhere.

Her comments come after business chiefs warned the new checks could significantly reduce the shelf life of fresh food imported from the EU, and could see some European suppliers quit the UK.

And business groups say some suppliers of specialist products  like French cheeses and Italian meats  will give up on Britain because of the extra expense and huge hassle involved.

Ms Leadsom also told Times Radio that it was long known that friction would occur as a result of Brexit.

It was very clear in the Brexit discussions a long time ago now, today is the fourth anniversary of leaving the EU, it was very clear that we would be leaving the single market, said the Leave-supporting minister.

What that does mean is that there is some friction in trade, she added. However, we also have huge trading arrangements with other countries around the world.

She said: So there is a huge new opportunity for the UK at the same time as continuing to trade, albeit with some friction, which is the price you pay for leaving the single market and for being a sovereign state again.

Ms Leadsom added: For me as a Brexiteer, I am still absolutely convinced that this is the right thing to do.

Business leaders are concerned that the onerous border checks will reduce supply and force small businesses to close or reduce stock (PA Wire)

Costly new health certificates are required for medium-risk food, animal and plant imports  including meat and dairy  from today, 31 January. A brand-new system for physical checks at the border comes into force on 30 April.

EU firms will now need to pay for veterinary health certification  a new check within their own country  as well as fill out online paperwork to notify the UK the goods are coming.

One of Sir Keir Starmers shadow ministers has suggested that a Labour government would look again at the trading relationship with the EU if businesses are struggling with the new checks.

Tulip Siddiq, a shadow Treasury minister, told Sky News: If there are things that arent working, then of course we need to review it and look at it.

The Labour frontbencher added: We would look at look at where businesses are struggling, where the economy is struggling, and go and see if we can get a better deal for our country. They (voters) may have voted to leave the European Union, but they didnt vote to get a bad deal.

On going back to the EU to discuss trading arrangements, Ms Siddiq added: If we can work to get some sort of negotiation which is good for our country, I dont think any British person is going to say no to our economy improving or our trade deals getting better.

Sir Keir has promised to seek a new veterinary agreement with the EU to align some stands in a bid to ease current trade friction.

The Labour leader has also made vague pledges to examine the current Brexit trade deal when it comes up for review in 2025 with a view to making it better.
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The U.K. government on Wednesday published the details of a deal that has broken Northern Irelands political deadlock and should  barring a major upset  restore the regional government in Belfast after almost two years on ice.

Unveiled on the fourth anniversary of the U.K.s departure from the European Union, the agreement eases some of the border checks imposed because of Brexit that unsettled Northern Irelands delicate political balance and sparked a political crisis.

CRISIS, WHAT CRISIS?

Britains exit from the European trading bloc in 2020 imposed new trade barriers between the U.K. and the EU, and also between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. Thats because Northern Ireland shares a border with an EU member, the Republic of Ireland.

An open border between the north and the republic is a key pillar of the peace process that ended three decades of violence in Northern Ireland, so checks were imposed instead between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K.

That angered Northern Irelands British unionists, who said the east-west customs border undermined Northern Irelands place in the U.K. In February 2022, the Democratic Unionist Party walked out of Northern Irelands government in protest.

The walkout collapsed the administration. Under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday peace accord, power must be shared between Northern Irelands two main communities  British unionists who want to stay in the U.K., and Irish nationalists who seek to unite with Ireland. One side cant govern without the other.

The DUP boycott left Northern Irelands 1.9 million people without a functioning administration for two years as the cost of living soared and public services creaked under the strain.

WHAT BROKE THE BOYCOTT?

The U.K. government sought to coax the DUP back into government by easing the burden of the border checks.

In February 2023, the U.K. and the EU agreed on a deal, known as the Windsor Framework, that eased customs checks and other hurdles for goods moving to Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K. But it didnt go far enough for the DUP, which continued its boycott.

The new changes go farther, eliminating routine checks and paperwork for goods entering Northern Ireland and making legal tweaks designed to reassure unionists that Northern Irelands position in the U.K. is secure.

The agreement includes legislation affirming Northern Irelands constitutional status as part of the U.K. and gives local politicians democratic oversight of any future EU laws that might apply to Northern Ireland.

More concretely, the U.K. government also agreed to give Northern Ireland more than 3 billion pounds ($3.8 billion) for its battered public services once the Belfast government is back up and running.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The deal doesn't have universal support. Some unionists and hard-line Brexit supporters argue that Northern Ireland will still be treated differently to the rest of the U.K. in order to keep the U.K.s deal with the EU intact.

But the British and Irish governments, and the DUP leadership, all support the deal, and the necessary legislation is likely to be sped through the U.K. Parliament on Thursday.

The Northern Ireland Assembly then can meet to elect a speaker, followed by the nomination of a first minister and a deputy first minister.

The new first minister is likely to be Michelle ONeill of Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein  a landmark in Northern Ireland, which was established as a unionist, Protestant-majority state in 1921.

Unionists were the largest force in the Northern Ireland Assembly from its establishment in 1998 until 2022, when Sinn Fein won the largest number of seats in an election. That gives the nationalist party, affiliated with the militant Irish Republican Army during the Troubles, the right to hold the post of first minister, with the DUP supplying a deputy.
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Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves sparked a Labour backlash after saying it will not scrap former Tory prime minister Liz Trusss decision to lift the cap on bankers bonuses.

Ms Reeves told the BBC on Wednesday that the party does not have any intention of bringing that back.

Sir Keir Starmers top ally said that while the cap on bonuses was the right thing to do to rebuild the public finances [] that has gone now and we dont have any intention of bringing that back.

Former leader Jeremy Corbyn joined left-wing Labour MPs in criticising the move  saying Sir Keir and Ms Reeves must appeal for support beyond the already wealthy.

And Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he still believed it was wrong to lift the cap  suggesting Ms Reeves should keep it under review if she becomes chancellor.

Strict regulations on bonuses, which limit annual payouts to twice a bankers salary, were introduced by the EU in 2014 in a bid to avoid excessive risk-taking after the 2008 financial crisis.

Former prime minister Ms Truss and chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng made the decision to scrap the cap on bankers bonuses in 2022, in a bid to encourage more investment in the UK,

Trade unions have also called for the cap to be reinstated, with the TUC declaring that the removal of the cap was fuelling a greed is good mentality (PA)

Sir Keir had previously vowed to curb bankers bonuses by reinstating the cap. He said in 2022 that lifting the cap shows the Tories are absolutely tone deaf to what so many people are going through.

Trade unions have also called for the cap to be reinstated, with the TUC declaring that the removal of the cap was fuelling a greed is good mentality.

The four big banks, HSBC, Lloyds, Natwest and Barclays paid an estimated 4bn in bonuses in 2021, and an estimated 3,000 UK bankers earn more than 1m per year.

Kwasi Kwarteng lifted bankers bonuses in the 2022 mini budget (PA)

The decision is the latest U-turn by the party under Sir Keirs leadership, and comes just months after Ms Reeves said scrapping the bonus cap tells you everything you need to know about this government.

It comes amid mounting speculation the party is set to finally ditch its 28bn a year green spending pledge, having previously watered down the commitment.

But the decision on bankers bonuses is yet another signal from the Labour leader the party has fully parted with the left-wing influence of former leader Mr Corbyn.

Mr Corbyn seized on Ms Reeves decision, describing it as a political choice to enrich the wealthy. The ex-Labour leader contrasted it with the partys refusal to commit to scrapping the two-child benefit cap, which he called a political choice to impoverish the worst-off.

The Scottish Labour leader said he still believed it was wrong to lift the cap. We were right to oppose the lifting of the cap on bankers bonuses, Mr Sarwar told reporters. At the time I said it was a further demonstration of an economically illiterate and morally bankrupt Tory party. I still believe that.

Mr Sarwar said he wanted a Labour government to make sure we never return to a situation where bankers can behave inappropriately and risk our wider economy like we saw with the financial crash.

The Scottish Labour leader added: I think we have to keep it constantly under constant review  Im not here to defend bankers bonuses, Im not here to defend banks  thats something the UK Treasury has got to keep an eye on.

Clive Lewis, left-wing MP for Norwich South told The Independent that a lot of people will be disappointed because bankers bonuses, and the caps on them, werent just a policy implemented because of what happened in 2008.

He said: There was also an element of social and economic justice in what people perceived to be fair, which was that bankers, who had trashed the economy, who were then bailed out by the taxpayer ... should see limits to the amount of wealth that they could extract from the British economy.

He added: If in government, Labour has a historic chance to show the country we will do things differently, acting in the best interests of everyone  not just the already wealthy.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he still believed lifting cap was wrong (PA)

Barry Gardiner, MP for Brent North, also told the BBCs Politics Live that he disagreed with the decision and would like to see [the cap] still there.

I think, actually, one of the things we do see in society is the gap between the very richest and very poorest is growing day by day, said the left-winger. I want to see a society that comes together that doesnt have people struggling to keep the light on in their own home.

And left-wing Labour MP John Trickett said bankers should not have unlimited bonuses. I worked in 10 Downing Sreet at the time of 2008 financial crash ... I saw what happened when a culture of greed endangered the lives of working people, he added.

Westminster leader of the SNP, Stephen Flynn, also criticised Labours policy. During PMQs, he said Rishi Sunak could be comforted by the fact that hes now no longer alone in this house in being completely out of touch with public opinion.

The general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, Matt Wrack, called Labours policy on bankers bonuses utterly daft.

Former Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn was critical of the financial services industry (AP)

Ms Reeves comments appear to be timed to coincide with a Labour conference with business chiefs on Thursday, where the party will seek to convince businesses that their investment is safer under a Starmer government than it is with the Conservatives.

Mick McAteer, co-director of the Financial Inclusion Centre, told the BBC that Labour was going too far.

Ordinary people and the UKs public services are still paying the price for that failure, he said on the 2008 crash. The City finance lobbies are very vocal at promoting the benefits of the sector. The City doesnt need another champion in Labour, Mr McAteer added.

It comes as Jeremy Hunt is understood to have warned Mr Sunaks cabinet that tax cuts in the upcoming 6 March Budget are likely to be smaller than they were in the autumn statement.

The chancellor, in comments first reported by The Times, told colleagues: We are not likely to have as much room for tax cuts as we had in the autumn.
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The number of asylum seekers sent on one-way flights to Rwanda under Rishi Sunaks plan could be quite low, home secretary James Cleverly has admitted.

The cabinet minister was unable to say how many of the 33,000 people identified as potentially eligible would be sent to Rwanda if flights begin.

Mr Cleverly told MPs the home affairs select committee the total number of deportations was uncapped  but said it could also be small if other work to reduce small boat crossings is successful.

It comes as the Archbishop of Canterbury and Baroness Hale  the judge who declared Boris Johnsons Brexit-related prorogation of parliament illegal  have joined forces to thwart Mr Sunaks current Rwanda plan.

Lady Hale has tabled a new amendment in the Lords that could derail the bill by insist that the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) declares Rwanda safe before flights can begin.

No migrants who make unauthorised crossings have been removed because of the legal challenges that resulted in the Supreme Court finding the scheme unlawful. The Home Office has identified 33,085 people as eligible.

Home secretary James Cleverly hopes to get flights to Rwanda off the ground by spring (PA)

Under persistent questioning over how many of those people will end up in Rwanda, Mr Cleverly insisted the scheme remains uncapped but said he could not speculate about the figure.

The answer is entirely dependent on other work were doing in parallel, the home secretary told MPs during his select committee grilling on Wednesday.

It may well be if were successful with returns agreements, if circumstances in other countries change, it may well be that the figure is quite low, he said.

It could be nearly at that figure, but the point is the number of people that we might send to Rwanda is entirely contingent on a whole set of other work that were doing.

So far, the UK has paid Rwanda 240m under the PMs plan to stop the boats, but ministers expect to pay an additional 50m next year.

Mr Sunak is trying to revive his deportation policy by passing legislation deeming Rwanda a safe country and ratifying a new treaty with the African country.

The Rwanda Bill is currently making its way through a House of Lords that is hostile to the scheme.

Baroness Hale has laid amendment which could delay Sunaks Rwanda bill (Press Association)

Baroness Hale  the former Supreme Court president who became well known at Westminster for wearing a spider brooch during her judgement against Mr Johnsons attempt to prorogue parliament to push through Brexit deal  has tabled a significant amendment.

It requires that the UNHCR says Rwanda is a safe country for asylum seekers before the government can send any migrants there  a move which could delay Mr Sunaks plan.

The amendment was presented along with Church of Englands mosty senior cleric, the Rev. Justin Welby, along with leading human rights lawyer Shami Chakrabarti.

Meanwhile, Mr Cleverly also had a tussle with Labour committee chair Dame Diana Johnson over whether the 94,000 asylum claims awaiting a decision is a backlog.

The home secretary told her: You keep describing it as a backlog  its the caseload. Its a queue. I think your use of the word backlog implies something that I disagree with.

There are a number of cases that were working through. At any given time someone who has arrived will be added to the caseload, by your definition if someone arrived yesterday that would be a backlog, said the Tory cabinet minister

Mr Cleverly joked that sessions like this are a trip to the dentist, we can all pretend we enjoy it  we really dont  but we also recognise it is quite important.

Mr Sunak had promised to abolish by the end of last year the legacy backlog of 92,601 claims made before the end of June 2022.

The Home Office was reprimanded by the UK Statistics Authority for claiming it had been achieved when 4,537 of those applications were still outstanding.
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Amelia Earhart made her final airborne radio call at 8.43am, local time, approximately one hour after she warned the Coast Guard cutter Itasca that she was running out of fuel and could not see her target destination, Howland Island.

We are on the line 157 337," she said from the cockpit of her Lockheed 10-E Electra aircraft. "We will repeat this message. We will repeat this on 6210 kilocycles. Wait.

She did not repeat the message.

Earhart's fate has been one of America's great enduring mysteries. Her doomed 1937 attempt to become the first woman to circumnavigate the world by aircraft spawned the most expansive  and expensive  rescue operation in the history of the US Navy and Coast Guard.

Since then, countless researchers, reporters, and historians have attempted to find out what really happened to Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, high over the Pacific on the day of their disappearance.

Advances in deep sea scanning tech  and a hefty $11m investment  may finally provide some definitive answers.

Amelia Earhart stands June 14, 1928 in front of her bi-plane called "Friendship" in Newfoundland. (Getty Images)

Deep Sea discovery

Deep Sea Vision, a Charleston, South Carolina-based company, believes it may have finally found Earhart's plane resting on the floor of the Pacific Ocean.

The company began scanning the ocean floor in September. Its powerful sonar, attached to a $9m submersible named Hugin, searched the murky depths, scanning in total more than 5,200 square miles of the region where Earhart is believed to have crashed.

Approximately 16,000 feet below the Pacific's surface, resting among the silt and marine sediment, Hugin's sonar spotted something unusual; the shape of an airplane.

Deep sea scanning company believes it may have found Amelia Earhart's lost plane

Well youd be hard-pressed to convince me thats anything but an aircraft, for one, and two, that its not Amelias aircraft, Deep Sea Visions founder, Tony Romeo, said in an interview with NBC's Today show. Theres no other known crashes in the area, and certainly not of that era in that kind of design with the tail that you see clearly in the image.

Mr Romeo, a former US Air Force intelligence officer, sold off his real estate assets and poured $11m into funding the expedition to find Earhart's lost plane.

"This is maybe the most exciting thing I'll ever do in my life," he told the Wall Street Journal. "I feel like a 10-year-old going on a treasure hunt."

Mr Romeo, while excited, maintained his expectations after the initial discovery. He admitted that the images could be that of rocks or some other underwater object. He noted, however, that the image does reflect the shape and dimension of the aircraft Earhart flew on her final voyage.

Unfortunately for Deep Sea Vision, the image was one of many thousands taken during their scans, and the anomaly was not discovered until three months after it had been taken. By then, the crew had traveled far from the discovery site.

With an image and coordinates in hand, the next step in unraveling the mystery will require examination of the physical remains.

Earhart's rise

Earhart's disappearance was the culmination of a decade of newspaper and radio stories documenting her record-setting flights.

On June 17, 1928, at the age of 30, she became the first woman to pilot a plane  a bright red Lockheed Vega 5B, which she called "old Bessie, the fire steed" across the Atlantic. The endeavor made headlines across the nation.

Later, she became the first person to complete a solo flight across the Pacific, flying from California to the Hawaiian islands in 1934.

Earhart was initially treated as an aviation oddity due to her gender; news reports at the time called her the first "girl" to fly across the Atlantic, and another referred to her as an "aviatrix". At the time, the skies were dominated by men. But as she continued to prove her prowess in the cockpit she gained notoriety as a great pilot, rather than as a curious outlier. Even still, she used her growing prominence to push for equality in the skies; in an interview with the Evening Star in 1929, Earhart pleaded with the public to "give women a chance in the air."

American aviator Amelia Earhart (1898 - 1937) (centre) is surrounded by a crowd of wellwishers and pressmen on arrival at Hanworth airfield after crossing the Atlantic. (Getty)

"Women can qualify in the air as in any other sport. Their influence and approval are vital to the success of commercial aviation," she said at the time. "Women and girls write to me by the thousands to learn the truth about aviation and what women's chances are. There is nothing in women's make-up which would make her inferior to a man as an air pilot. The only barrier to her swift success is her lack of opportunity to receive proper training."

After numerous successful and record-setting flights in the late 20s and early 30s, Earhart set her sights on a new goal; becoming the first woman to circumnavigate the planet in an aircraft.

Following her disappearance, the public remained somewhat hopeful that she would be found to fly again another day. But after a two-month search that turned up no trace of her or Noonan, the pair were presumed dead.

Finding Amelia

Researchers have attempted to find Earhart's remains  or any evidence of her fate  since her disappearance nearly 90 years ago.

The most recent search to bear some fruit occurred in 2012, when the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery discovered that Earhart may have sent out numerous distress calls over the radio following her crash. Those transmissions, the group argues, went ignored.

"Amelia Earhart did not simply vanish on July 2, 1937. Radio distress calls believed to have been sent from the missing plane dominated the headlines and drove much of the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy search," Ric Gillespie, the executive director of TIGHAR, told Discovery News. "When the search failed, all of the reported post-loss radio signals were categorically dismissed as bogus and have been largely ignored ever since."

He believes Earhart crashed on Gardner Island, approximately 350 nautical miles from her intended destination on Howland Island. In his theory, Earhart spent a week calling for help before the tides washed her plane out to sea.

Mr Gillespie was skeptical of Deep Sea Visions discovery.

Despite media hype, this is NOT a sonar image of Amelia Earharts airplane, he wrote on his Instagram page.

In 2018, researchers used modern forensics to examine a set of human remains found on Nikumaroro Island in 1940 that were candidates for the remains of Earhart. According to Richard L. Jantz, an anthropology professor at the University of Tennessee, studied the remains and determined that they are likely those of Earhart.

Mr Jantz theorised that Earhart landed her plane on Nikumaroo and died as a castaway on the island, according to The Florida Times-Union.

Now, Deep Sea Vision's discovery looks to shake up what we know of her final days.

Next steps

Sonar experts will need to take a closer look at the object discovered by Deep Sea Vision before it can be confirmed that it is actually Earhart's lost plane.

"Until you physically take a look at this, there's no way to say for sure what that is," expert Andrew Pietruszka told the Wall Street Journal.

Mr Romeo said he planned to take his team back to the site to collect more images of the object.

The next step is confirmation and theres a lot we need to know about it. And it looks like theres some damage. I mean it's been sitting there for 87 years at this point, he said.

Until Deep Sea Vision can return, the mystery of Earhart's lost plane will remains just that.

I think myself, that it is the great mystery of all time," Mr Romeo said. "Certainly the most enduring aviation mystery of all time."
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On 2 July 1937, Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan took off from Papua New Guinea, nearing the end of their record-setting journey around the world never to be seen again. Until today.

Deep Sea Vision found what appears to be Earharts Lockheed 10-E Electra.

That message was posted on Instagram by the South Carolina-based underwater exploration company on 27 January alongside a series of yellow sonar photographs of a distinctly plane-shaped object lying 16,000 feet below the waves on the floor of the Pacific Ocean.

The Charleston company believes that shape could just be the missing plane in which the legendary American aviatrix Amelia Earhart disappeared 87 years ago, a discovery that promises to solve one of the 20th centurys most enduring mysteries.

Deep Sea Visions 16-member team used a state-of-the-art Hugin undersea drone to survey more than 5,200 square miles of the Pacific before it found what it believes to be the wreck of Earharts plane.

The companys thrilling discovery  if that is what it proves to be  was made possible by Tony Romeo, a pilot and former US Air Force intelligence officer, who sold off a commercial real estate portfolio in order to bankroll the $11m hunt for Earhart.

This is maybe the most exciting thing Ill ever do in my life, Mr Romeo told The Wall Street Journal.

I feel like a 10-year-old going on a treasure hunt.

We always felt that a group of pilots were the ones that are going to solve this, and not the mariners.

Amelia Earhart disappearance solved as explorer reveals 'images' of missing plane

Earhart, who was born in Atchison, Kansas, on 24 July 1897, was a natural adventurer who saw her first plane at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines in 1907, obtained her pilots licence in 1922 and became the first female passenger to cross the Atlantic by air in 1928, just a year after Charles Lindberghs celebrated solo flight.

Having been flown out of Trepassey Harbor, Newfoundland, in a Fokker F.VIIb on 17 June by pilot Wilmer Stultz and landed in Pwll near Burry Port in South Wales almost 21 hours later, Earhart quickly became a celebrity, nicknamed Lady Lindy, sponsored by Lucky Strike cigarettes and paid handsomely to undertake a lengthy lecture tour.

She was dismissive of her role in the exploit, however, remarking: Stultz did all the flying  had to. I was just baggage, like a sack of potatoes... Maybe someday Ill try it alone.

Amelia Earharts long-lost plane wreckage may have been found in Pacific. (Getty)

She did precisely that four years later, setting out from Newfoundland alone on 20 May 1932 in a Lockheed Vega 5B and arriving in a cow pasture in Culmore, just north of Derry in Northern Ireland.

Although she had been aiming for Paris, Culmore was close enough and the achievement brought her worldwide fame and the United States Distinguished Flying Cross, Frances Legion of Honour and the National Geographic Societys Gold Medal for her trouble, as well as the hearty congratulations of President Herbert Hoover.

Her disappearance in 1937 alongside Noonan, her navigator, came during an attempt to become the first woman to complete a circumnavigational flight of the globe, setting out from Miami, Florida, on 1 June after a botched first attempt on a journey that would take the duo across South America, Africa, the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia.

Earhart and Noonan were last seen at Lae Airfield in New Guinea on 2 July during the penultimate refuelling stop of the attempt before losing contact not long afterwards near Howland Island, en route to Honolulu in Hawaii for the final 7,000-mile leg of her 29,000-mile round trip.

Neither Earhart, Noonan nor their Lockheed were found despite the US Navy and Coast Guard mounting the largest search-and-rescue operation in its history.

Amelia Earhart is surrounded by a crowd of wellwishers and reporters after crossing the Atlantic in 1932 (Getty)

The pair were finally declared dead in absentia on 5 January 1939 but her legacy has remained a source of fascination ever since and inspired songs by Joni Mitchell and The Handsome Family, film biopics starring the likes of Rosalind Russell, Diane Keaton and Hilary Swank and even a Barbie doll in 2018.

According to Mr Romeo, Deep Sea Visions submersible has now photographed what the team believes is the missing plane around 100 miles off Howland Island.

However, rival experts are preaching caution against what they consider to be over-excitement about the find, given that several competing explanations for Earharts disappearance have also been offered.

Ric Gillespie, an expert on the doomed pilots career, told CBS News in 2018 that he believes she actually crash-landed on Gardner Island  350 nautical miles from Howland  and spent a week calling out for help before finally expiring when her plane was washed out to sea.

Mr Gillespie reported people hearing distress calls believed to be from Earhart as far away as Florida, Texas, Iowa and Canada on ham radio sets.

The experts own organisation, the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, also claims to have found its own evidence, including human bones, to prove its counter-theory, according to CBS.
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Alex Murdaughs former law firm has been named Business of the Year just months after the convicted killer pleaded guilty to stealing millions of dollars from clients.

The Hampton County Chamber of Commerce bestowed the honour to the South Carolina firm, now known as Parker Law Group, during their annual awards dinner last week.

Parker Law Firm was previously known as The Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED) law firm before it changed its name in 2022 after Murdaugh was charged with the June 2021 murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul.

The disgraced legal scion was later disbarred by the South Carolina Supreme Court and in 2023, pleaded guilty to a slew of financial crimes.

On Friday, Murdaughs brother Randy Murdaugh expressed his thanks for the honour in a post on the firms social media accounts.

At Parker Law Group we love Hampton, we are proud to be here in Hampton, Mr Murdaugh wrote. We hope that the Chamber, and each of you know, how much we appreciate the honor of receiving this award.

While the firm is seeing a good start to 2024, Alex Murdaugh and his defence team hit another roadblock on Monday as Judge Jean Toal denied their request for a new trial over claims that Colleton County Clerk Becky Hill, who went on to write a book about the six-week double murder trial, had tampered with jurors.

The judge did acknowledge that Ms Hill had a conflict of interest but said that the fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court were not sufficient to grant a new trial.

I find that the clerk of court was not completely credible as a witness. Miss Hill was attracted by the siren call of celebrity, Judge Toal said.

Judge Toal called the jurors to the stand one by one and questioned them about potential comments that may have tainted their verdict. Only one of the jurors, identified as juror Z by Judge Toal, said that Ms Hills remarks made it seem like Murdaugh was guilty.

Other jurors who were questioned denied hearing inappropriate remarks made by Ms Hill, or being influenced by her comments.

Ms Hill testified under oath she had taken some poetic license, but never told jurors that she thought Murdaugh was guilty. She also admitted that she made around $100,000 in book sales, and apologised for plagiarising reporting from a BBC reporter in her book.

Im very sorry and I have apologised, she said.

Alex Murdaugh s request for a new trial was denied on Monday (The State Newspaper, 2024)

Judge Toals ruling earlier this month had set a difficult standard for the defence to prove. She ruled Murdaughs attorneys had to prove that potential misconduct including alleged comments by Ms Hill warning jurors not to trust Murdaugh when he testified directly led jurors to change their minds to guilty.

Ms Hill has denied all of the allegations levelled against her in a September motion from Murdaughs legal team. In a sworn statement, the state branded the allegations as a sweeping conspiratorial theory and said that not every inappropriate comment made by a member of court staff to a juror rises to the level of constitutional error.

Ms Hill is now the subject of two investigations by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (Sled)  the same state agency that led the investigation into the murders of Murdaughs wife Maggie and son Paul.

But Murdaugh has remained adamant that he did not kill his younger son with a shotgun and his wife with a rifle since the moment he told deputies he found their bodies at their Colleton County home in 2021. He testified in his own defence.

Hes also serving 27 years after admitting he stole $12 million from his law firm and from settlements he gained for clients on wrongful death and serious injury lawsuits. Murdaugh promised not to appeal that sentence as part of his plea deal.
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The parents of an OnlyFans model accused of murdering her boyfriend have now been charged in connection to his death.

Courtney Clenney, 28, is charged with the second-degree murder of Christian Obumseli after he was stabbed to death at the couples Miami apartment in April 2022.

Ms Clenney, who had been in a tempestuous relationship with Obumseli since November 2020, stabbed him in the chest, piercing a major artery.

While she has not denied killing Obumseli, Ms Clenney has insisted that she attacked her boyfriend in self-defence.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, have said that videos showing Ms Clenney physically and verbally attacking Obumseli suggest that she was the abuser in the relationship.

On Tuesday, Ms Clenneys parents Kim and Deborah Clenney were suddenly arrested by the Travis County Sheriffs Office in Texas on unspecified out-of-state felony charges.

According to The Miami Herald, the couple is accused of hacking into a laptop that belonged to Obumseli before police could seize it from Obumseli and Ms Clenneys apartment.

In a statement released shortly after their arrests, the Clenney family attorney accused prosecutors of misconduct, alleging that the family is being targeted with some trumped-up charges to discredit them in the press and make their lives miserable.

We believe the Clenney family has been targeted with some trumped-up charges to discredit them in the press and make their lives miserable. It stinks of a power play by prosecutors to control the narrative, the statement to CBS read.

This Thursday, the State is seeking a gag order in the case. Now theyve gone after Courtneys Mom and Dad in such a way that requires them to spend considerable time in jail without bond.

Courtney Clenney and Christian Obumseli (Instagram )

Kim and Deborah Clenney are now expected to be extradited to Miami to face charges.

Prosecutors have previously said, in a request to deny Ms Clenneys bail, that she had earned $3m from her OnlyFans profile  who went by Courtney Taylor on the adult site.

According to an arrest report, Ms Clenney said Obumseli had pushed her and thrown her to the floor on that deadly day, prompting her to grab a knife and throw it at him from about 10 feet away.

The medical examiner said Obumselis wound could not have been caused by a knife thrown from that distance.

Her claims that she acted in self-defence have been previously contradicted by video from an elevator in the luxury apartment complex, which showed her physically attacking Obumseli months before his death.

The recently resurfaced video, first reported by The Miami Herald, is among mounting evidence of the couples volatile relationship and Ms Clenneys outbursts.

Another video also showed Ms Clenney seemingly hitting Obumseli and telling him he was the reason she was no longer sober while the couple was on a trip to Colorado.

According to her defence lawyer, Ms Clenney was in rehabilitation for substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder in Hawaii when she was arrested four months after Obumselis death.
As water temperatures heat up in Australia, drawing more sharks closer to shore, a marine biologist has explained what you should never do during an unexpected underwater encounter with the ocean predators.

Andriana Fragola, who goes by Andriana Marine on TikTok and Instagram, warned to never "splash and run away" from the potentially deadly predator, even if it's swimming towards you. Because splashing could actually attract the shark which could mistake you for an animal.

A heart-stopping video re-shared by the shark safety diver this week shows her getting up close and personal with a mammoth tiger shark  the second most dangerous shark behind the great white  while swimming in Hawaii where she lives.

Shark diver Andriana Fragola says you should never splash and swim away from a shark. Source: TikTik/Andriana_Marine

The eerie clip shows Fragola snorkelling near the water's surface and slowly kicking her flipper-donned feet. But in the background, the silhouette of the huge shark appears, becoming clearer as it gets closer.

Eventually, Fragola turns her body to face the shark  which is exactly what you should do, she says.

"Sharks are typically attracted to the swimming away motion from other animals because that usually means they are scared or are prey. It is also important not to splash because splashing can make you also appear injured, or weak to the shark," she explained next to the video.

"Instead of swimming away, stand your ground, face the shark, make eye contact, extend your fins out if you can to ask for space, and if you absolutely need to then push firmly down on the top of the sharks head to guide them away from you, making sure to follow through as they swim away."

The video has been posted previously by Fragola but was re-shared as a reminder to swimmers about how to behave in front of shark. The shark diver also stressed to "only use these tips as a last resort if you run into a shark while diving or swimming" and advised against diving with sharks without a professional guide.

Story continues

Andriana Fragola is a shark safety diver and marine biologist and regularly uploads jaw-dropping videos of her encounters with sharks

Warmer waters means more sharks

The safety warning comes days after a young woman was badly mauled by a shark in Sydney Harbour. Kayaker Lauren O'Neill was taking a dip off a private jetty in Elizabeth Bay, in the city's east, on Monday night when a suspected bull shark bit her on her right leg, leaving her with critical injuries.

Humane Society International marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck earlier told Yahoo News that warmer waters in Australia "will definitely bring more bull sharks and tiger sharks to the area."

"We just have to be make smart choices when entering the water. That means we're swimming with a buddy, but also not swimming in extra cloudy water, or right after it rains, or in the middle of a ball of bait fish," he explained.

"Even when theres a higher incidence of sharks due to the warmer water, I don't think we need to be any more worried or responsible than we already are."

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
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A Florida woman has been accused of trying to kill her husband after he was sent a postcard from a woman he dated 60 years ago.

Bertha Yalter, 71, was arrested after police arrived on the scene in the Eastern Shores neighborhood of North Miami Beach to find her husband in an extremely fragile state and with several serious bruises and open lacerationsas well as open bite marks that were bleeding, according to an arrest report obtained by WTVJ.

The report added that police were responding to a call they received from a man who claimed his wife had tried to kill him at their home.

The man allegedly told officers the attack happened after he received a postcard from a woman he dated before marrying his wife in the 1960s.

It is unclear what the postcard said, however, the man said it greatly angered Ms Yalter, who tried to smother him with a pillow, police allege.

North Miami Beach Police Department said Ms Yalter and her husband had been married for nearly 52 years when the incident occurred.

Investigators said footage of at least some of the attack was captured on a cellular phone, which detectives viewed at the scene.

Police said the footage appeared to confirm the mans account of the attack, while prosecutors later alleged that Ms Yalter had admitted to depriving her husband of his cell phone at some point.

She also allegedly confessed to committing the attack when interviewed by law enforcement, according to a police report obtained by Tampa-based Fox affiliate WTVT.

However, an attorney for Ms Yalter later denied claims of an assault.

This is a couple who has been married for 51 years, Ms Yalters attorney told Law&Crime. The police overcharged this case in the extreme. Our clients husband said he is perfectly fine. That he regrets the argument. And that he regrets what happened.

They added that Ms Yalters husband was only taken to the hospital by the police because law enforcement insisted he go and that he was only there for around three hours because there was little hospital staff could do for him  due to the lack of severe injuries.

Ms Yalter was charged with one count each of attempted murder in the second degree, aggravated battery against an elderly person, and tampering with a witness or victim, according to court records. She was also ordered to have no contact with her husband.

The 71-year-olds lawyer called the attempted murder charge absurd.

I am very confident that were going to get this case resolved quickly and favourably, they added.

Meanwhile, a public defender assigned to the case argued that the attempted murder charge should be downgraded to a domestic battery by way of strangulation charge.

There is nothing indicating she was trying to kill him, they argued.

However, prosecutors disagreed, arguing that the attempted smothering by a pillow covered attempted murder because that would suffocate and kill him.

I think she also admitted to urinating on him, the states attorney said. So, I think if you look at the totality of the circumstances, this appears to be more than a domestic battery by strangulation.

Ms Yalter has been ordered to remain in pretrial detention pending a final bond hearing, scheduled for 1 February.
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A man has been arrested after he allegedly decapitated his father before holding up the 68-year-olds severed head in a disturbing, politically-charged YouTube video.

Justin Mohn, 32, is claimed to have beheaded his father Michael Mohn, 68, at their home in Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

Middletown Township Police confirmed a suspect, a man in his 30s, was arrested just after 9pm in Central Pennsylvania after the headless body of a man in his 60s was found at a house in Levittown, Middletown Township, Bucks County.

Law enforcement sources told LevittownNow.com that a YouTube video posted by a man identified as Justin Mohn was linked to the death. In the footage, a man is seen holding up what appears to be the decapitated head of a man he said was his father in a plastic bag.

Later the head can be seen in a cooking pot.

The man in the video issues threats and goes on extreme political rants, the outlet reported. He also allegedly blasts the federal government and the Biden administration, saying many see him as the messiah and want him as president.

I am now officially the acting president of America under martial law, the man says, before calling for a second American Revolution.

The man can also be heard in the video saying his father was a federal employee for 20 years and refers to him as a traitor, calling for the death of all federal officials.

He is now in hell for eternity as a traitor to his country, he said.

He also attacked the Black Lives Matter movement and the LGBTQ+ community.

YouTube removed the video, which is more than 14 minutes long, hours after it was posted.

Many of Mr Mohns alleged talking points in the video echoed violent conspiracy theories, such as the QAnon movement, which has been peddled by far-right commentators.

In a statement released on Tuesday night, Bucks County District Attorneys Office said that Middletown Township Police were called to a report of a deceased male in Upper Orchard Drive, Middletown Township, close to the New Jersey border, at 7pm.

The call to emergency dispatchers came from the victims wife. When officers arrived, they located the male deceased in the bathroom, the statement said.

Police Chief Joseph Bartorilla said Mr Mohn was not at home at the time, but he was found about 100 miles away in Fort Indiantown Gap and was arrested just before 11.30pm.

It was not immediately clear why Mr Mohn was in the area, however, Fort Indiantown Gap is located near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which has a National Guard training facility.

Police said they went to the home in Middletown Township after they became aware of the YouTube video.

Detective Lt Stephen Forman added that police had previous contact with the man in the video as far back as 10 years ago.

However, Mr Mohn had no criminal charges in Bucks County before this week, LevittownNow.com reported, citing court records.

Mohn previously authored several self-published books, including ones about a new revolution, according to an Amazon listing.

One of the books was titled The Second Messiah: King of Earth, which he wrote was loosely based on the life of author and musician Justin Mohn. He also had several songs on a Spotify account that he produced and performed.

This is a womans world. Empowering only girls, he sang in one song. Step on all the men. Kill the cock and praise the hen.

Meanwhile, according to court documents, Mr Mohn previously sued the government for allowing him to take out student loan debt that he had to repay.

His claims centered on his years-long inability to find a good-paying job, and he asked for $10m, LevittownNow.com reported.

His complaint was shot down in federal court four times.

Mr Mohn reportedly moved to Colorado for employment at a credit union after college and then went to an insurance company for a higher-paying position.

In another court filing from 2019, Mr Mohn sued his former employer, Progressive Insurance, after he said he failed to move ahead in the company. In this case, he claimed his lack of advancement at Progressive Insurance was because he was a man.

According to public records, Mohn eventually moved out of Colorado and returned to Middletown Township to live with his parents.

Following his arrest, police said the investigation into Mohn is active and ongoing. The process of transferring custody of Justin Mohn to our jurisdiction is underway and he will likely be arraigned on the charges sometime in the morning, Captain Feeney added.
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An Ohio man has been sentenced to 216 months in prison for trying to burn down a church that showed its support for the LGBT+ community by hosting a drag show.

Aimenn Penny, 20, of Alliance, Ohio, was arrested and charged in 2023 with one count of violating the Church Arson Prevention Act, another count of using fire to commit a federal felony, a count of malicious use of explosives, and a count of possessing a destructive device, according to the Department of Justice.

Penny pleaded guilty to the church arson hate crime and using fire and explosives to commit a felony on 23 October 2023.

On 25 March 2023, Penny reportedly made Molotov cocktails and then drove to the Community Church of Chesterland in Chesterland, Ohio.

Court documents say Penny was motivated by his anger at the church for hosting a pair of drag events that were scheduled for the following weekend. He then threw a pair of Molotov cocktails at the church, reportedly with the intent to burn them down.

During his guilty plea, Penny admitted he used the explosives to stop the church's congregants from holding the events.

Penny is a member of the extremist White Lives Matter Ohio group and another organisation called the "Blood Tribe," which the Anti-Defamation League describes as a "neo-Nazi group" that espouses "white supremacist beliefs" that include the deification of Adolf Hitler.

This sentence holds Mr. Penny accountable for carrying out violence against an Ohio church because he disagreed with the way congregants chose to express their beliefs, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G Olsen of the Justice Departments National Security Division, said. Such acts of extremist violence have no place in our communities and the Justice Department is committed to bringing to justice those who would use or threaten violence to prevent their fellow citizens from freely exercising their fundamental rights.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division said she hopes Penny's sentence "sends a clear and resounding message that this type of hate-fueled attack against a church will not be tolerated in our country.

This defendant tried to burn down a church simply because its members created space for and provided support to the LGBTQ+ community," she said. "The Justice Department will vigorously investigate and prosecute such senseless, bias-motivated violence against people exercising their constitutionally protected right to practice their religion and express their beliefs.

Penny insisted during his sentencing that he acted in an effort to "protect children", and said he did not believe that men should be dressing as women, or vice versa, according to USA Today.

"Especially in a place of worship," Penny said. "I didn't hurt anyone."

In addition to his prison sentence, Penny will have to pay $10,507 in restitution to the church, undergo mental health treatment, and serve three years of supervised probation following his release.

Megan Carver, a church official who organised the drag shows, said she was saddened that Penny chose hate over "everything".

"I'm all about free speech in this country. It's one of the things I love about this country," she said. "But violence is absolutely unacceptable. I'm crestfallen because this person chose hate over everything."
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A man convicted of opening fire on a wedding in New Hampshire, wounding a bishop and the bride, has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.

Dale Holloway, 41, was sentenced on Monday after representing himself at his trial, during which he claimed he was mentally unstable during the October 2019 shooting at the New England Pentecostal Ministries in Pelham.

However, the jury rejected his insanity defence and found him guilty.

Holloway was accused of shooting the bride, 60-year-old Claire McMullen, in the arm, and a bishop, Stanley Choate, 70, in the chest.

Both survived the shooting, but continue to have health problems as a result, they told the judge, with Ms McMullen saying she had to give up her career of more than 30 years, while Mr Choate said he had to learn how to walk again, and for a time, couldnt use his arms.

I thank God that Ive made a lot of progress, but Im still not the man I was, Mr Choate said.

The shooting happened nearly two weeks after Holloways stepfather, a pastor at the church, was killed by the son of the groom. The son was later sentenced to prison.

Prosecutors said a separate celebration of life ceremony for Holloways stepfather had been planned at the Pelham church for later that day, which Holloway saw as a sign of disrespect.

They planned to stomp on his grave, he said.

As well as shooting Ms McMullen and Mr Choate, Holloway was also convicted of simple assault for striking the groom, Mark Castiglione, on the head.

Authorities said Mr Castiglione is the father of a man convicted of killing Holloways stepfather, Luis Garcia.

Brandon Castiglione was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 42 years in prison earlier this year for fatally shooting Holloways stepfather inside his home. There was no clear motive for that shooting.

He turned a marriage into mayhem, prosecutor Seth Dobieski said of Holloway at the sentencing on Monday.

During his trial, Holloway tried to present evidence that he had suffered from a mental disease, playing his own rap music to the jury to explain his state of mind.

Maybe I did some things that I didnt want to do that I feel as if Satan made me do, he said.

He also presented testimony from psychologists who said they believed he was suffering from mental health issues, including antisocial personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder.

However, psychologists also testified that they thought Holloway tended to exaggerate his symptoms and concluded his mental illness did not spark his actions.

The jury ultimately convicted Holloway of attempted murder in shooting Mr Choate, and two counts of second-degree assault in causing bodily injury to Mr Choate and Ms McMullen, as well as the simple assault charge.

Holloway was acquitted of an attempted murder charge in the shooting of Ms McMullen.

He was sentenced to 40 years to life on the attempted murder conviction, and two terms of 10 to 30 years on the assault and being a felon in possession charges, as well as one year for the simple assault charge.

My hope is he will remain incarcerated forever so he never has the opportunity to negatively impact another innocent person, Ms McMullen said at the sentencing.

The wounds of Mr Holloways victims, they might fade with time. But the mental anguish and emotional pain he caused them is never going to go away, prosecutor Mr Dobieski added.

Holloway was already serving seven-and-a-half to 15 years in state prison for assaulting his lawyer.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press
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A New York grand jury has indicted two brothers after finding more than a dozen explosives and weapons in their Queens home along with a hit list of potential targets.

Officials took Andrew Hatziagelis, 39 and Angelo Hatziagelis, 51 into custody after the grand jury indicted them on 130 counts of criminal possession of a weapon and related charges, according to a statement from Queens County, New York District Attorney Melinda Katz.

The charges come after officials found eight improvised explosive devices (IEDs), six constructed ghost guns, more than 600 rounds of ammunition, and several other suspicious items in their home. Police also found a hit list with cops, judges, politicians, celebrities and banker scum written on it, according to the statement.

Ghost guns are firearms constructed by the user, typically out of buy build shoot kits or 3D-printed components. The Hatziagelis had a 3D printer and at least two 3D-printed ghost guns, according to the statement.

The hit list that police say was found in the home of the Hatziagelis brothers includes cops, judges and celebrities." (Queens County District Attorneys Office)

The Biden administration implemented stronger ghost gun regulations in 2022, banning the manufacturing of unserialised buy build shoot kits, which gun rights groups met with strong opposition. Tactical Machining LLC filed a complaint against the regulations, claiming they contradicted wording in the 1968 Gun Control Act that defined a firearm. They were soon joined by several other companies.

The case made it to the Supreme Court last summer, where the Justices voted 5-4 to permit the regulations to continue.

In 2022, the US Department of Justice recovered 25,785 ghost guns in domestic seizures and 2,453 through international operations. In the first six months of 2023, the Department recovered more than 10,000 domestically and 1,000 internationally.

Among other things, the brothers also had three sets of body armour, 29 high-capacity ammunition feeding devices  several of which were 3D-printed  metal knuckles, nine smoke bombs as well as tools and supplies to build ghost guns and IEDs, according to the statement from Ms Katzs office.

Todays charges underscore the harsh reality that our communities contain a small number of people who conceivably harbor evil intent, New York Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban said in a statement. This cache of weapons  including explosives and untraceable, 3D-printed ghost guns  had the potential to wreak horrendous carnage.

The brothers next court appearance is set for 15 February and the duo could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted, according to the statement.
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Police responded to alleged threats made by a student of a potential school shooting, only to find a collection of ghost guns and destructive devices at his home.

The San Diego high school student and his father were both arrested following the alleged verbal threats of a shooting heard by students at Rancho Bernardo High School.

The teen was allegedly showing concerning videos and making threatening statements against others and the school, according to a letter to the families of those who attend the high school from principal Hans Becker, obtained by NBC San Diego.

The San Diego Police Department subsequently responded to investigate reports they received of a student making verbal threats of a school shooting, the police department said in a statement on Tuesday.

This is a situation where everything went right. The students saw some videos, they heard some statements that were really concerning, and I think by what was found in the search warrant, those fears were valid, said Christine Paik, Poway Unified School District chief communications officer, to ABC 10News.

The police filed a gun violence restraining order for the juvenile, which can stop someone from having, owning, or buying any firearms (guns), firearm parts, ammunition, or magazines, according to California law.

Principal Hans Becker said he commended the students who acted responsibly and reported what they heard (Fox 5)

At the house, authorities found several unserialised firearms, commonly referred to as ghost guns, other assault weapons and several destructive devices, the police department said.

The San Diego Metro Arson Strike Team assisted in retrieving and seizing all the destructive devices.

The collection of weapons included handguns, to shotguns, to grenade launchers and grenades, described San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit to Fox 5.

After a preliminary investigation, the teen student, who has not been identified, was taken into custody and later booked into juvenile hall.

A police presence will be on campus next week to follow up on the investigation (Fox 5)

His father, Neal Anders, 45, has also been arrested on charges of possession of illegal firearms, manufacturing assault weapons and possession of a destructive device, the police statement said.

He is being held on a $300,000 bond and is set to appear in San Diego Court downtown on Thursday, according to jail records.

Making sure there were no explosives at the school, authorities did a sweep of the high school campus, NBC San Diego reported.

In Mr Beckers letter, obtained by the outlet, he said that he wanted to commend the students who acted responsibly by reporting what they heard.

He added that the San Diego Police Department will be on campus next week to follow up on an investigation and to provide a reassuring presence and reiterated that Rancho Bernardo High School remains a safe place for both students and staff.

The Independent has contacted Poway Unified School District, Rancho Bernardo High School and the San Diego Police Department for comment.
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The man who shot and killed three faculty members at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and injured another last month reportedly was carrying a laminated card detailing his targets, according to a report.

A confidential investigative synopsis compiled by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department first obtained by ABC News revealed that Anthony Polito was carrying a blood-stained, laminated index card containing the job titles and room numbers of his intended targets on the day of the shooting.

The cards contained employee photos of the intended victims of the mass shooting as well as insulting comments.

Cha Jan Chang, a business professor, Partricia Navarro Velez, an assistant account professor, and Naoko Takemaru, an associate professor of Japanese studies, were killed in the attack.

Polito ultimately died at the scene of the shooting after a shoot-out with responding police officers. Police arrived approximately 10 minutes after the first shots were reported at the university.

Before the attack, Polito allegedly sent approximately 22 letters containing white powder to university workers across the county, according to investigators. All of the recipients were people working in fields related to his academic background, with the one exception being a vehicle insurance claims supervisor.

Police believe an inferiority complex  exacerbated by his apparent inability to land a job or find acceptance at colleges  motivated Polito's attack. His personal website was reportedly full of delusions of grandeur and proclamations celebrating his intelligence, investigators said.

Investigators reported that Polito was using a legally purchased handgun on the day he attacked the campus, and that he was carrying more than 150 rounds of ammunition.

911 calls from the day of the attack captured the terror on the campus the day of the attack.

"Someones shooting inside the office," a woman who reported the gunfire told dispatchers. "Please hurry."

Another caller said they had just gotten off an elevator when they heard gunshots and screaming.

"I was getting off the elevator. I heard shots fired and screaming and I ran ... Lots of students are running out ... Two officers ran into the building and I ran out of the building," they said on the call, ABC News reports.
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A Minnesota man has been accused of impersonating a UPS driver in order to gain access to a home where he allegedly murdered three people.

Alonzo Mingo, 37, is facing three counts of second-degree murder committed without premeditation but with intent after an attempted robbery turned deadly, according to the complaint filed in Anoka County, Minnesota, district court.

Authorities said Mr Mingo drove his car to a home in suburban Minneapolis where two children under the age of five were present shortly after noon on Friday, before going to the front door dressed as a UPS delivery worker.

He was then let inside the house, authorities said, and demanded money at gunpoint before shooting three people in the head.

He was accompanied by one other person dressed in a UPS uniform and a third suspect, all of whom went into the residence, prosecutors said. One of the suspects was seen carrying a cardboard box.

Police arrived at the home on Friday where they found two dead men and a dead woman.

Authorities named the deceased as 42-year-old Shannon Patricia Jungwirth, her 20-year-old son Jorge Alexander Reyes-Jungwirth, and her 39-year-old husband Mario Alberto Trejo Estrada.

Prosecutors said footage from a home camera showed Mr Mingo lead a man at gunpoint into a bedroom where a woman and two children were, before holding the man and woman at gunpoint.

Mr Mingo could then be seen leading the group from the room before returning to the bedroom with only the woman and shooting her at point-blank range, according to police.

The older child can be seen entering the bedroom shortly thereafter, crying hysterically, Coon Rapids police wrote in a probable cause statement.

The younger child later tried to check on the woman, but the older child pulled them away and out of the room, according to the statement.

Police arrested Mr Mingo several hours later after they found him driving the same vehicle seen in the footage leaving the property seven minutes after the attack.

The two other people seen entering the home were not found, and the criminal complaint makes no mention of charges against them. No other suspects have been named.

Coon Rapids police said they found a UPS delivery uniform top and vest in a backpack in Mr Mingos vehicle.

Police added Mr Mingo had been employed at UPS until early January.

UPS spokesperson Karen Tomaszewski Hill said in an email that Mr Mingo was a seasonal employee who only worked for the company for a short time.

As this is an active investigation, we will defer to investigating authorities for additional questions, she said.

Following his arrest, Mr Mingo was jailed on a $5m bond. He could face up to 40 years in prison for each murder count if he is convicted.

A potential motive for the killings was not revealed. However, the Star Tribune reported on Monday that it had obtained an affidavit connected to the investigation which alleged that Mario Alberto Trejo Estrada, one of the victims, had been selling cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine, resulting in cash earnings he sent to Mexico.

Authorities reportedly searched a storage unit affiliated with Mr Estrada later on Friday and turned up psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, methamphetamine and an unspecified white powder.

In 2020, a Massachusetts man was accused of murdering his former neighbour while disguised as a UPS delivery driver.
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A man has been arrested in Arkansas after allegedly attempting to kidnap a child in a Walmart parking lot.

Timothy Caudle, 58, was detained on Monday after authorities received a call saying that a man was inside a womans vehicle at the Walmart Supercenter in Sherwood, the citys police department said.

Officials said the caller told them that the man was attempting to take a young girl.

Police arrived to find the two-year-old girl and her mother, who told officers she noticed a man hiding under clothing in her car as she was putting her daughter inside the vehicle.

She said she began yelling at the man and reached for her daughter, according to police.

The mother was eventually able to get her daughter out of the vehicle after a short struggle.

Police arrested Caudle, from Jacksonville, at the scene after he allegedly lied to investigators about his name.

Timothy Caudle was arrested after he was accused of attempting to abduct a two-year-old girl from a Walmart parking lot (Sherwood Police Department)

He is facing charges of breaking or entering, first-degree false imprisonment, first-degree endangering welfare of minor, third-degree assault, public intoxication and obstructing governmental operation.

Caudles arrest comes one month after Pablo Pintueles Hernandez, 64, was arrested for attempting to kidnap a four-year-old in the middle of a Walmart store in Lehigh Acres, Florida.

CCTV footage showed the 64-year-old trying to grab the child and walk away with him. He was arrested for false imprisonment of a child 13 years old and under.

Meanwhile, in 2022, Troy Driver, 41, was jailed after he was accused of kidnapping 18-year-old Naomi Christine Irion from a Walmart parking lot in rural Nevada and shooting her before burying her body.

Driver later died by suicide in his jail cell while awaiting trial.
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A former Boeing engineer said he would tell his family to avoid the Boeing 737 Max 9  the aircraft that was involved in an Alaska Airlines emergency earlier this month in which a doorplug came off the plane mid-flight.

The bolts that were supposed to be on the doorplug were reportedly missing from the aircraft altogether, recent media reports stated.

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, which also owns a large number of the aircraft, have begun to return their planes to service following strict Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspections.

Before that decision, both airlines reported finding loose bolts on their models of the plane.

I would absolutely not fly a Max airplane, Ed Pierson, a former Boeing senior manager, told the Los Angeles Times. Ive worked in the factory where they were built, and I saw the pressure employees were under to rush the planes out the door.

I tried to get them to shut down before the first crash.

The 737 Max 8 was involved in two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 that resulted in the deaths of nearly 400 passengers.

Joe Jacobsen, a former engineer at Boeing and the FAA, echoed Mr Piersons remarks. I would tell my family to avoid the Max, he also told the outlet. I would tell everyone, really.

Mr Pierson called the decision to return the aircraft to service another example of poor decision making that risks the public safety. Meanwhile, Mr Jacobsen said he and other colleagues had been warning of problems with the model for the last several years.

He called the decision to return the planes to the sky premature.

Instead of fixing one problem at a time and then waiting for the next one, fix all of them, he said, unsure about whether the next emergency might occur. Maybe its a week. Maybe its a month.

He continued: Imagine you had a new car that had a couple parts fall off of it, and the manufacturer went to go look at it and they found a couple other parts fell off.

They got and fix it, but would you think theres a possibility that something else wouldve been done improperly on that car? the expert asked. Now magnify that by 100.

Piersons group, the Foundation for Aviation Safety, completed a report in September that found more than 1,300 reports about safety problems on the aircraft.

These same issues that were there in 2018 and 2019 that were the precursors to the accidents are still there, he said. This is a culture where money is everything. They measure success by how many airplanes are delivered, instead of how many quality airplanes are delivered.

When you factor all of this together, its just a disaster waiting to happen.
Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to close up to five New York prisons is an "insult" to correctional staff, Republican lawmakers said Wednesday.

Members of the Assembly GOP conference rallied at the state Capitol to oppose the prison closure plan. Many of the lawmakers present, including Assemblyman John Lemondes, represent districts with state prisons. Auburn Correctional Facility is in Lemondes' district.

Hochul's plan, which is included in her 2024-25 state budget proposal, would allow her administration to expedite the prison closures with 90 days' notice. Daniel Martuscello, acting commissioner of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, told lawmakers at a budget hearing last week that the prison closures are necessary due to a "staffing crisis."

But the lawmakers who participated in the press conference questioned whether closing more prisons will address the staffing problem. Assemblyman Brian Maher, an Orange County Republican, cited statistics from DOCCS that the agency is losing approximately 54 correction officers every two weeks.

"If and when we close five prisons, that is a not long-term sustainable solution," Maher said. "We are going to be right back here."

One of the speakers at the event was Alisa, whose full name was not provided because her husband is a correction officer in a New York state prison. Alisa said her husband works excessive overtime  last week, he worked three consecutive 16-hour shifts  and hardly sees his family because the prison needs him to work.

Staffing levels have fallen since the early 2000s. In 2006, there was a high of 21,505 correction officers, sergeants and lieutenants, according to DOCCS. Last year, there were 15,143 correction officers  the lowest number recorded by the agency since 2003.

Past prison closures contribute to the declining number of officers. In the last 13 years, the state has closed 24 correctional facilities and eliminated more than 13,000 prison beds. The department says staff reductions "have been consistent with incarcerated population declines." The number of incarcerated individuals in state prisons has dropped by 54.9%, from 72,649 to 32,766, over a 25-year period.

But opponents of the prison closure plan think there are other factors to consider. Correction officers are overworked and underpaid, they say. Prison violence has increased, with record levels of assaults on incarcerated individuals and staff in 2023.

Instead of closing more prisons, Assembly Republicans said the state should provide more incentives to recruit and retain correction officers, increase pay and benefits, and provide more resources to combat violence in correctional facilities.

"We are once again watching ignorance and the lack of common sense govern the state of New York," said Assemblyman Chris Tague, a Schoharie Republican.

If the state chooses to close more prisons, which will be discussed during budget negotiations between the Hochul administration and legislative leaders, Republican lawmakers think DOCCS should follow existing law which requires a one-year notification instead of expediting the process with 90 days' notice.

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, a Corning Republican, panned the 90-day notification that is part of Hochul's prison closure plan.

"One year is bad enough," he said. "But 90 days is an insult to the working men and women and staff at our correctional facilities."
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Four tourists are dead after a boat capsized off the coast of Mexicos Isla Mujeres, an island about 20 kilometres away from Cancun, a popular tourist destination.

The incident occurred well into Monday night after the small boat, named Diosa Del Mar or Goddess of the Sea, left Puerto Juarez for Cancun with 17 tourists from Mexico City on board, despite official orders warning of bad weather conditions.

Two crew members, a captain and a helper, were also on board. Officials said the captain tried to turn the boat around when it was struck by a large wave causing the vessel to sink and everyone on board to fall into the bay between Isla Mujeres and Cancun.

Authorities managed to rescue 15 of the 19 individuals on board, including the two crewmembers. Of the four people that died, three were adults while one was a 10-year-old child. At least one passenger was seriously injured and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

We express our solidarity with the families of the victims and the people who were rescued, The Isla Mujeres City Council said in a news release.

On Tuesday, Raciel Lopez Salazar, the attorney general of Quintana Roo, the Mexican state where the incident occurred, said the captain had been taken into custody amid an ongoing investigation. He is expected to face criminal charges.

I can tell you that he had some responsibility, Lopez Salazar said.

Based on local reports, the small boat could only carry six passengers and high waves had been reported on the night of the incident.

Still, the probe will examine how many people could fit on the vessel, the weather conditions at the time of the incident and whether the crew members were at fault. The stretch between the island and Cancun is popular amongst tourists and ferry companies. The journey from one spot to the other normally takes around 30 minutes.
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A night of celebration ended in tragedy for three Kansas City Chiefs fans who mysteriously met their deaths in the backyard of a Missouri home.

Kansas City authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the deaths of Clayton McGeeney, 36, David Harrington, 37, and Ricky Johnson, 38.

The victims were last seen alive on the night of 7 January. Hoping to continue celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs victory against the Los Angeles Chargers that night, the three men decided to visit a friend.

Two days later, the bodies of the three men were found behind the home, two of which were discovered in the backyard, and one was found on the back porch. Law enforcement has not officially confirmed their cause of death, but it is suspected they died of hypothermia after Kansas City saw below-freezing temperatures that reached the teens.

An attorney for the owner of the home where the bodies were found told The Independent in a statement that his client was not aware his friends were dead behind his home until police showed up at his door on 9 January. The Kansas City Police Department said that the victims deaths are not being investigated as homicides and that the homeowner is not a suspect.

But three weeks after the tragedy, the mystery surrounding it has deepened as it recently emerged there was a fifth person present at the home when McGeeney, Harrington and Johnson visited their friend.

Heres everything we know about the case:

Homeowner went to bed before victims left, attorney says

The three men arrived at the home of their friend, Jordan Willis, shortly after 9pm on 7 January to celebrate a game that saw the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Los Angeles Chargers. Mr Willis reportedly went to bed while his friends were still at the home.

Although a cause and manner of death have not been confirmed pending an autopsy, John Picerno, an attorney for Mr Willis, said the men seemingly died by hypothermia. Mr Picerno said it was a mystery how the three bodies went undiscovered for two days.

Jordan had absolutely nothing to do with their deaths, Mr Picerno said in that statement to The Independent. He does not know the timing or manner of their deaths, nor does he know how or when they exited his house. He had no knowledge that they remained in his back yard, or that they needed medical attention.

According to Mr Picerno, Mr Willis was unaware that loved ones had been trying to locate his three missing friends. Although two cars that belonged to his friends were parked in his street, Mr Willis didnt notice the cars because they were not parked in his driveway.

Two people came to his house; however, he did not hear them as he sleeps with earbuds and a loud fan, Mr Picerno added. One of those people, the wife of one of the deceased, tried to reach him via Facebook messenger, unfortunately, he did not see the message until after the police contacted him.

Authorities do not suspect foul play

The Kansas City Police Department is investigating whether alcohol or drugs were involved in the incident. KCPD Captain Jake Becchina told Fox News Digital that Mr Willis had been cooperative with the investigation and he was not considered a suspect.

First and foremost, this case is 100% NOT being investigated as a homicide, Cpt Becchina said. There have not been any arrests [or] charges, and no one is in custody. There are no specific threats or concerns for the surrounding community at this time.

Fifth individual was present at gathering

Mr Picerno recently revealed that there was a fifth friend with Mr Willis and the other three men on the night of 7 January.

The man, who has not been named publicly, had arrived at Mr Willis home before McGeeney, Harrington and Johnson, and left around midnight. The mans attorney, Andrew Talge, told NewsNation that the other four men were alive and watching Jeopardy! when he left.

Mr Talge also said that his client had received messages from McGeeneys fiancee and Johnsons mother, who were concerned after not hearing from their loved ones. Despite Mr Picernos previous statements, Mr Talge said his client did send a text to Mr Willis asking if he knew McGeeney, Harrington and Johnsons whereabouts.

Family members voice frustration

Family members of the deceased have expressed their frustration at the lack of answers in the investigation into their loved ones deaths.

My son and these other men were wonderful people. They deserve justice, Jennifer Marquez, Harringtons mother, told WDAF-TV. The story, the whole story needs to come out.

Just the thought of him dying and then him sitting outside in the cold for two days, McGeeneys cousin Caleb McGeeney told FOX 4. Its extremely devastating. The whole family is messed up. He was such a good person.

Neighbour recorded video of chaotic scene moments after bodies were found

Ashton Brady told NewsNation that he was getting ready for bed when he noticed a woman who appeared to be distressed, walking up from behind Jordan Willis house, across the street.

An ambulance and multiple police cars arrived on the scene and Mr Brady began recording on his phone, capturing Mr Willis being detained by police in front of his home.

Bro, what is going on right now, Mr Brady is heard on the video exclaiming. What is going on right now?? Dude, domestic violence is crazy. Yo, everybody be nice to one another, cmon now. What is going on?

Mr Brady told NewsNation that he thought it was some sort of domestic dispute and eventually he went to bed. It wasnt until the next day that he found out what happened.

The police searched the house, went to the backyards, everything, and I had no idea what had happened, Mr Brady said. The next morning I saw the news. I just was kind of in disbelief.  I watched that happen.

Brother of Chiefs fan says frozen body was found in lawn chair

Jonathan Price told NewsNation that the frozen body of his brother Ricky Johnson was found in a sitting position in a lawn chair.

David [Harrington] was found in a lawn chair on the back porch rather than all three laying flat, Mr Price said. As a brother Im looking at everything.

He said the information paints a picture we didnt have from the beginning.

Mr Price is among several other family member of the three men who are frustrated with the lack of answers in the bizarre case.

Its the same every day with the lack of answers and the inability to truly mourn without any cause, Mr Price said. I want to be involved more. My mother and Rickys father want to be involved more and were not just getting answers from the investigation.

Im not saying there was or was not a crime, but if you immediately suspect no foul play, then you should have a story, you should have something to tell the families and for no one to hear anything, that doesnt make any sense, he added.
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A missing California woman has been located by authorities after she was reported missing by her concerned parents overseas.

India OHanlon, 25, was last seen by her parents during a video call on 16 January in which she appeared agitated and scared, her father Creed OHanlon, who resides in Morocco with Indias mother, told The Independent.

India then abruptly hung up the call when a man entered the room, prompting her parents to become concerned for her safety.

Mr OHanlon reported his daughter missing on 25 January after she failed to answer several calls.

Detectives with the San Diego Police Department have since made contact with India, who reportedly said she does not want her location to be disclosed to her parents. Although she told law enforcement she was safe, India made a distressing phone call to a friend on the day she spoke to detectives.

We are very relieved to hear that she is alive. But given what we heard on this mornings phone message, were not reassured. Our worry for her well-being persists, Mr OHanlon wrote on X.

Mr OHanlon had told The Independent that India called out of the blue on 16 January after her parents had fruitlessly tried to reach her by phone, email and social media for weeks. Mr OHanlon said that India seemed agitated, high and possibly scared when a man walked into the room mid-conversation.

She immediately looked wary, maybe even frightened, she then said, I gotta go, and hung up. Her mother tried to call her back but no answer. That was the last time we saw her or had any kind of contact, he said just hours before India was found.

According to her father, India, an Australian-American who moved to Southern California from the UK in 2019, had changed her behaviour over the last four to six months.

Prior to this, she was self-disciplined, committed to getting a tertiary education, and looking after her health and fitness, Mr OHanlon said.

Mr OHanlon said his concerns about Indias safety remain.
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Prison labour is feeding into US food suppliers including Burger King, McDonalds and Costco, an investigation has found.

The Associated Press reported that inmates across the country are engaged in agricultural work thats feeding into popular national retailers and making its way to supermarket shelves at stores like Whole Foods.

At the Louisiana State Penitentiary, a former plantation, a reporter observed inmates raising cattle which was later bought by a Texas slaughterhouse and sent to the food giants.

The outlet said it found hundreds of millions of dollars tied to goods sold on the open market from prison labour, including Frosted Flakes cereal, Coca-Cola and Riceland rice.

Other prison products were discovered in supermarkets such as Kroger, Target and Aldi. Some of the goods had even been exported to countries that the US has blocked products from because of forced labour.

Prison work is enshrined in the Thirteenth Amendment of the US Constitution, which abolished slavery except for times of criminal punishment.

At the Louisiana prison, inmates made pennies an hour or nothing at all. If the prisoners refuse to work, they risk jeopardising their chances of parole or could face punishments like solitary confinement. Sixty-four per cent of Louisianas incarcerated population is Black.

About $200m from prison work has been tied to goods sold within the past six years. Some of the largest sums came from the leasing out of prisoners to corporations. In one case, the outlet found that some inmates had been transported for work at a Tyson Foods plant.

The number of prisoners serving in agricultural capacities is significantly higher in the South, including states like Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana.

In other parts of the country, inmates may work in landscaping, tending greenhouses, raising livestock, beekeeping and fish farming. Proponents of the labour force say that the programmes give prisoners a sense of purpose and better food in the kitchens.

The outlet reached out to several companies that benefitted from the labour. The majority of them did not respond to requests for comment.

An American Civil Liberties study from 2022 found that two out of three prisoners are likely to be forced labourers.
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Alina Habba, the attorney for Donald Trump who recently defended him in the E Jean Carroll defamation trial, walked back her claim that Ms Carrolls attorney had a mentor type relationship with the judge who oversaw the trial after being threatened with sanctions.

Three days after a jury in New York awarded Ms Carroll $83.3 million in damages, Ms Habba filed a letter to Judge Lewis Kaplan inquiring about his relationship with Roberta Kaplan, one of Ms Carrolls attorney. Ms Habba cited a New York Post exclusive that said Judge Kaplan and Ms Kaplan worked together in the 1990s and had a mentor relationship.

Ms Habba accused Judge Kaplan of displaying preferential treatment toward Ms Kaplan and her associates and asked the court to provide more information on the troubling matter.

Throughout the defamation trial, Judge Kaplan grew frustrated with Mr Trumps counsels blunders, miscommunications and requests. At times he instructed Ms Habba to sit down, stop talking and respect his ruling.

Alina Habba (AP)

But just two days later, Ms Habba was forced to backtrack her informal complaint after Ms Kaplan responded to the conflict of interest accusation by denying having a mentor relationship and threatening to seek sanctions under a rule that prohibits filing something that does not contain contentions with evidentiary support.

Ms Kaplan clarified that she worked at the same large law firm where Judge Kaplan was a senior litigator but their careers crossed over for less than two years. Additionally, Ms Kaplan said did not know Judge Kaplan well during that time.

While Ms Habba ends her letter by characterizing this as a troubling matter... what is actually troubling is both the substance and timing of her false accusations of impropriety by on the part of E Jean Carrolls counsel or the Court, Ms Kaplan wrote.

Mr Trumps attorney responded quickly, saying the only purpose of her initial letter was to seek more information on the judge and Ms Kaplans relationship and declared the issue seemingly resolved after Ms Kaplans clarification.

Judge Kaplan has not responded to either letter and it is unclear if he will. A court official told NBC News, the judge had no comment on it.
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President Joe Biden said its fine if Donald Trump remains on 2024 ballots, as the former president faces a wave of lawsuits challenging his eligibility under a constitutional clause blocking insurrectionists from holding public office.

Mr Biden, briefly speaking to reporters shouting questions outside the White House as he prepared to board a helicopter, was asked whether Mr Trump should be allowed to stay on presidential election ballots.

As far as Im concerned, thats fine, Mr Biden replied.

The reporter then asked why Mr Trump is leading in the polls if hes a threat to democracy, as you say.

Because of guys like you, Mr Biden said, laughing.

What am I doing? Cmon, the reporter replied.

Im teasing, man. Im teasing, he said. Its early.

The US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments next month to consider whether Mr Trump is ineligible for office under the scope of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars anyone who has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding public office.

Last months historic Colorado Supreme Court decision at the centre of the case determined that his actions on January 6 during the attack on the US Capitol constituted overt, voluntary, and direct participation in the insurrection.

The case was appealed to the Supreme Court as Trump v Anderson, among dozens of challenges from voters and state officials to Mr Trumps eligibility under the provisions of the 14th Amendment.

Justices will hear arguments on 8 February.

Joe Biden speaks to reporters before leaving the White House on 30 January. (AP)

A decision from the high court could have sweeping impacts for Mr Trumps campaign as he seeks the Republican nomination for president while battling multiple criminal indictments, including state-level and federal trials on charges connected to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, culminating in his failure to stop the mob that breached the halls of Congress to do it by force.

Mr Bidens re-election campaign has framed Mr Trumps refusal to accept his election loss as part of an autocratic movement that poses a direct threat to American democracy and civil liberties.

Whether democracy is still Americas sacred cause is the most urgent question of our time. It is what the 2024 election is all about, Mr Biden said in remarks from Pennsylvania earlier this year.

In a speech to supporters in South Carolina, Mr Biden connected the conspiracy-theory fuelled attack on the Capitol to a far-right reactionary movement targeting Americans civil rights that is determined to erase history and your future.

Banning books, denying your right to vote and have it counted, destroying diversity, equality, inclusion all across America, harbouring hate and replacing hope with anger and resentment and a dangerous view of America, he said.
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A federal judge has dismissed the Walt Disney Companys lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who was accused of waging a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against the company in retaliation for its opposition to what critics have called the states Dont Say Gay law.

After Disneys public objections to the Parental Rights in Education Act in 2022, the governor and members of his administration ignited a feud that escalated with his administration taking control of the district in which its sprawling park campus operates.

That law  which Republican lawmakers emulated in states across the country and in Congress  has threatened to freeze classroom speech involving LGBT+ people and issues as well as discussion of LGBT+ students, school staff and their families, fuelling anti-discrimination campaigns and lawsuits amid a wave of legislative threats to LGBT+ Americans. That measure and the governors high-profile feud with a massively influential right-wing target also helped fuel his failed bid for the Republican nomination for president.

Disney alleged in its federal lawsuit that the DeSantis administrations dissolution of a decades-old municipal district that allowed the company to effectively control its own land use was a retaliatory political move and an unconstitutional threat to free speech.

In a decision on Wednesday, US District Judge Allen Winsor determined that Disney lacks standing to sue the government, arguing that a plaintiff cannot bring a free speech challenge by claiming that the lawmakers who passed it acted with a constitutionally impermissible purpose.

After weeks of pressure from LGBT+ advocates and Disney employees urging company leadership to publicly lobby against it, then-CEO Bob Chapek announced in March 2022 that the company would oppose the bill and suspend its political donations in the state.

He stated that the company would immediately begin supporting efforts to combat similar legislation elsewhere and pause all political donations in the state pending a review of the companys political giving.

One month later, Governor DeSantis expanded the scope of a special legislative session on the states redistricting plans to also consider the termination of all special districts that were enacted in Florida prior to 1968  including the municipal taxing and government district that allows Disney to tax and regulate its sprawling park and resort properties in the Orlando area.

The Reedy Creek Improvement District was first created in 1967 to give Disney control of its land use, zoning rules and public services without putting a tax burden on Florida residents.

With Disney as the primary landowner for the district, the company is largely responsible for all costs of those municipal services that otherwise would fall under the jurisdiction of county and local governments, including the taxpayers who live within them. In effect, Disney used the Reedy Creek board to tax itself to foot the bill for all of its municipal needs.

The governor and his administration insisted that the initial proposal was intended to block what they called special privileges for big business in the state, but fundraising messages promoting Reedy Creeks demise explicitly mentioned Disneys opposition to the so-called Dont Say Gay bill.

Disney thought they ruled Florida, an email from the DeSantis campaign said on 19 April 2022. They even tried to attack me to advance their woke agenda. Now, parents see Disney for what it is. And now is the time to put the power back in the hands of Floridians and out of the pockets of woke executives.

Moments after the new board voted to effectively strip Disney control of its Florida resort, the company filed a federal lawsuit against the governor and state officials alleging a targeted campaign of government retaliation.

Disney regrets that it has come to this, the lawsuit states.

At the governors bidding, the states oversight board has purported to void publicly noticed and duly agreed development contracts, which had laid the foundation for billions of Disneys investment dollars and thousands of jobs, the complaint alleges. This government action was patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional.

Disney, a political and economic heavyweight in the state, is likely to appeal the latest decision.

This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here, according to a statement from a Disney spokesperson for. If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with. We are determined to press forward with our case.

Judge Winsor dismissed the case without prejudice, which leaves Disney an opportunity to file another complaint against the governor.

Since the lawsuit was filed, Floridas legislative and political threats to LGBT+ people in the state  which prompted a state of emergency from some of the nations largest civil rights groups  have accelerated, with sweeping proposals that critics warn are intended to erase LGBT+ from public life.

This year, Florida lawmakers are considering expanded bans to transition healthcare as well as a measure that opponents are calling the LGBT+ Erasure Act that to regulate the definition of sex across government agencies and issue state identification that only lists sex assigned at birth. Another measure, named by opponents as the Dont Say LGBTQ+ bill, would ban state and local governments from honouring employees pronouns if they do not align with a persons assigned sex at birth, among other measures.

This week, Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles revoked the ability for transgender people in the state to update gender markers on their drivers licenses and ID cards, which Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson characterised as part of a nationwide campaign to humiliate, harass, and use policy to eliminate transgender people from public life.
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A Republican lawmaker has nominated Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, citing his historic policy in the Middle East.

New York representative Claudia Tenney said in a statement that she decided to nominate the former president for his role in the Abraham Accords treaty, which formally normalised relations between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel.

Donald Trump was instrumental in facilitating the first new peace agreements in the Middle East in almost 30 years, she claimed in a statement posted on her website.

For decades, bureaucrats, foreign policy professionals, and international organisations insisted that additional Middle East peace agreements were impossible without a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. President Trump proved that to be false, she added.

The valiant efforts by President Trump in creating the Abraham Accords were unprecedented and continue to go unrecognised by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, underscoring the need for his nomination today. Now more than ever, when Joe Bidens weak leadership on the international stage is threatening our countrys safety and security, we must recognise Trump for his strong leadership and his efforts to achieve world peace. I am honoured to nominate former president Donald Trump today and am eager for him to receive the recognition he deserves, the statement continued.

Mr Trump has previously complained that he has not received enough recognition for his work on foreign policy.

But while the Abraham Accords have been cited as a way to introduce and strengthen Israeli-Arab ties, the historic agreements have also been criticised for so far failing to produce meaningful solutions for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Abraham Accords without the Palestinians were a disaster, just like his deal with the Taliban without the Afghan government. On top of that, he bombed the Middle East more than Obama, one person posted on X, following news of Mr Trumps Nobel Prize nomination.

Someone explain to me how she nominates him for a Nobel for a peace accord in the middle east WHILE the middle east is at war in Gaza! another person wrote.

Despite such criticism of Mr Trumps foreign policy, the 77-year-old was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize several times during his presidency. However, he failed to win the prize.

I would get a Nobel Prize for a lot of things, if they give it out fairly, which they dont, the former president complained at a press conference in New York in 2019.

Claudia Tenney nominated the former president for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the Abraham Accords treaty (Getty)

Mr Trump was nominated for the prize in 2020 by far-right Norwegian politician Christian Tybring-Gjedde, citing his efforts to bring reconciliation to North and South Korea.

But despite a period of improved relations between North and South Korea, the negotiations ultimately failed in making any clear progress towards denuclearizing the North.

Swedish MP Magnus Jacobsson also nominated Mr Trump in 2020 for his role in brokering a deal to normalise relations between Serbia and Kosovo.

The following year, Swedish nationalist MP Laura Huhtasaari and a group of Australian lawmakers then nominated him for his role in brokering the Abraham Accords.

Mr Trump lost out that time to Filipino and Russian journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, who received the prize for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.

The former president has routinely conflated his Nobel Peace Prize nominations  which the organisation does not record, release or consider to be endorsements  as an honorific.

Speaking at an Iowa rally in 2020, he said: I get home, I turn home the television and they talked about your floods in Iowa. How is Iowa doing? The crops. How is this happening? How are they doing in Florida? Three or four stories, one after another.

Where is my Nobel Peace Prize? They dont talk about it. I said, You know, darling. This news is a little tough to crack.

Meanwhile, former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany previously described the nomination as a well-deserved honour for Mr Trump.

Donald Trump has failed to win a Nobel Peace Prize several times (POOL/AFP via Getty)

The organisation stresses that receiving a nomination, which any one of thousands of people can make, is not an extended honour.

While Mr Trump has never won the prize, his predecessor, former president Barack Obama, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.

Mr Obama donated the $1.4m award to charity.

His win is something that has irked Mr Trump, who previously suggested his predecessor had no idea why he was nominated for the prize just months into his presidency.

When Obama got it he didnt even  he just said, What did I do? He had no idea what he did, Mr Trump said at a rally in 2020.

And they made it a big story, he added. I did a great job.

In 2013, Mr Trump tweeted calling for Mr Obamas award to be rescinded.

The former director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, Geir Lundestad later said he regretted Mr Obamas selection. Even many of Obamas supporters believed that the prize was a mistake, he told the AP news agency. In that sense the committee didnt achieve what it had hoped for.

The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced in October.
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Watch as Mike Johnson delivers remarks in the House chamber on Wednesday, 31 January, on the proposed border legislation that a bipartisan group of Senate negotiators have been working on.

Senate negotiators have been working to finish a national security spending bill they hope will fund Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and offer a solution to slow down a surge of migrants arriving at the southern border.

The Republican House Speaker told ABC News on Tuesday that the proposed bill is a "nonstarter in the House" despite not having seen the agreement at the time.

"We have to insist... we have a responsibility, a duty, to the American people to insist that the border catastrophe is ended. And just trying to whitewash that or do something for political purposes... that it appears that may be, is not going to cut it and that's a nonstarter in the House," he added.
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Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called out a Republican lawmaker for invoking what she called a "racist and tired" trope while discussing Congresswoman Cori Bush.

Ms Bush has been accused of using her campaign funds to pay her husband for security services. She said she needed the security due to "relentless threats to my physical safety and life" on Tuesday, according to The New Republic.

Mr Nehls suggested that Ms Bush  a member of the progressive "Squad"  would not need security if she wasn't so "loud" and if she would "tone it down."

The idea to pay her thug money to try to help protect her this and that, for what? Mr Nehls, of Texas, said. Maybe if she wouldnt be so loud all the time, maybe she wouldnt be getting threats.

When pressed by CNN's Melanie Zanona on whether or not he felt Ms Bush deserved the threats, he suggested that "the way" makes her a target.

No, what Im saying is, is that when youre out there talking the way she does. Shes pretty radical. And maybe she should tone it down a little bit," he said.

Ms Omar called out Mr Nehl's comments on X/Twitter.

"The loud black woman trope is racist and tired. The Congressman should apologize and all members of Congress should condemn him," Ms Omar wrote. "No one in our government deserves to be threatened regardless how loud they advocate for their positions and blaming the victim of harassment and threats cant be condoned."

Ms Bush also responded to Mr Nehl's comments, saying he was using the "kind of rhetoric that endangers Black lives."

"@RepTryoNehls just called my husband, a Black man and army veteran, a thug. And I'm the loud Black woman who needs to be silent in order to be safe from violence, or else?" she wrote on X/Twitter.

She demanded that he apologise for his comments.

Ms Bush confirmed on Thursday that she was under investigation by the Department of Justice for the security payments.

"Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life," Ms Bush said during a presser outside the US Capitol. "As a rank-and-file member of Congress, I am not entitled to personal protection by the House and instead have used campaign funds as permissible to retain security services."

She said she is fully cooperating with the investigation.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On January 30, Great Wall Motor's TANK brand commenced pre-sales for its new flagship model, the TANK 700 Hi4-T, offering two variants at 468,000 yuan and 508,000 yuan, respectively.

Photo credit: TANK

Measuring 5,090mm long, 2,061mm wide, 1,952mm tall, with a 3,000-mm wheelbase, the TANK 700 Hi4-T boasts the striking Bromo Volcano Eye headlights  the world's first rotating cover with 260 LED beads, creating a captivating interplay of mechanics and technology, resembling a cascade of flames erupting from the volcano.

Photo credit: TANK

Equipped with the 3.0T Hi4-T technology architecture, the TANK 700 Hi4-T features a high-displacement hybrid powertrain producing 385 kW of combined power and 800 Nm of torque, offering a 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 5 seconds. The vehicle offers 12 driving/terrain modes calibrated by TANK's professional technical team, covering 38 off-road scenarios worldwide.

The TANK 700 Hi4-T introduces an electronic disconnect sway bar system, facilitating rapid coupling/decoupling of stabilizer bars for enhanced off-road performance. Under extreme off-road conditions, the system can add an additional 60mm suspension rebound travel. Moreover, it features an active suspension system, combining air springs with CDC electromagnetic shock absorbers, providing adjustable ride height and suspension firmness for a cloud-like comfort, whether on asphalt or unpaved roads.

Furthermore, the TANK 700 Hi4-T incorporates full-range silent engineering with meticulous NVH optimization, ensuring a whisper-quiet driving experience with minimal noise from key components.
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President Joe Biden has been upping the stakes in the partisan fight over funding for the war effort in Ukraine and securing the southern border.

While Mr Biden wants to further arm Ukraine, Republicans are refusing to back any new funding unless they get investments in border security in exchange. Or at least those were the rough contours of a deal until former President Donald Trump chose to enter the fray.

The ex-president and frontrunner for his third GOP nomination in a row came out against any deal in any shape or form, seemingly unwilling to hand his likely opponent a political win and yet another bipartisan deal, pulling many congressional Republicans along with him and making a deal a lot less likely.

Mr Trump said on Saturday: Ill fight it all the way. A lot of the senators are trying to say, respectfully, theyre blaming it on me. I say thats okay. Please blame it on me. Please.

A bipartisan bill would be good for America and help fix our broken immigration system and allow speedy access for those who deserve to be here, and Congress needs to get it done, Mr Biden said at the weekend, according to the AP. Itll also give me as president, the emergency authority to shut down the border until it could get back under control. If that bill were the law today, Id shut down the border right now and fix it quickly.

Mr Bidens new tough rhetoric comes as he tries to push back on right-wing criticism regarding his handling of immigration.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has said that any deal similar to what has so far been reported would be dead on arrival in the lower chamber, wrote on X that Mr Biden said Ive done all I can do with executive authority to secure the border. That is simply untrue. Hes either lying or misinformed.

Mr Johnson also mentioned the presidential authority to restrict entry, expedited removal, discretionary detention authority, and mandatory detention.

The authority to restrict entry gives the president the power to suspend or restrict the entry of immigrants for as long as he would think was needed with the motivation that the commander in chief would think that such entries would be negative for US interests.

Expedited removal allows US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to quickly deport undocumented non-citizens who have committed fraud or misrepresentation.

Regarding discretionary detention, the ACLU Analytics and Immigrants Rights Project stated in 2018 that since 2016, 9,188 people have been locked up in our immigration system for over 30 days despite having been granted bond, most often because they could not afford to pay it  most of them are immigrants seeking asylum. They are not convicted of crimes or subject to immediate deportation  in these cases, ICE had a choice, and it chose to imprison them.

Mandatory detention refers to a provision of the INA that states that non-citizens with certain criminal convictions must be detained by ICE. People who are subject to mandatory detention are not entitled to a bond hearing and must remain in detention while removal proceedings are pending against them, according to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

Mr Biden could theoretically severely restrict asylum claims and border crossings, but any measure would likely face court challenges and would probably be blocked or significantly pulled back unless it had the support of new legislation, something which would have to be passed by Congress.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has said that Congress needs to act. They must act. Speaker Johnson and House Republicans should provide the administration with the policy changes and funding needed.

Even if a deal on the border made its way through Congress, which now appears unlikely, citizens and legal residents would continue to be able to cross the border, and trade would not be shut down.

When Mr Biden said he would shut down the border, he was referencing an expulsion authority which is part of the current negotiations on a possible deal which would automatically be activated on certain days when illegal crossings passed more than 5,000 a day across a five-day average. The southern border is currently seeing as many as 10,000 crossings each day, the AP notes.

That authority would close down asylum screenings for any migrants crossing unlawfully. Migrants would still be able to apply for asylum at ports of entry until crossings go below 3,750 under the proposed deal, which is still being negotiated.

The Biden administration has so far attempted to combine humanitarian pathways for migrants with new restrictions at the border to urge migrants not to make the trip to the border on foot and to instead fly with a sponsor.

Mr Biden signed more executive orders than Mr Trump on his first day in office  he also sent an immigration proposal to Congress. According to the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute, Mr Biden has since put in place more than 500 executive measures.

While some policies have succeeded, crossings have still increased. Mr Biden has also struck agreements with other countries in the region. Mr Biden and his allies view the changes to the asylum rules as part of the crackdown in their immigration strategy, but they have pushed back against the idea of ending the presidents ability to grant humanitarian parole  that is to allow people into the country in emergencies.
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Republicans in the House of Representatives voted along party lines early Wednesday to move toward impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for a willful and systematic refusal to enforce immigration laws as border security becomes a top 2024 election issue.

The articles allege Mr Mayorkas refused to comply with Federal immigration law, amid a record surge of migrants and that he breached the public trust when he told Congress the US-Mexico border was secure

Homeland Security Committee Republicans voted in favour, while the Democrats unified against it in an 18-15 vote.

It is a rare charge against a Cabinet official unseen in nearly 150 years, as Republicans make presidential front-runner Donald Trumps hard-line deportation approach to immigration their own.

The committee spent much of Tuesday debating before recommending two articles of impeachment against Mr Mayorkas to the House floor.

We cannot allow this man to remain in office any longer, committee Chairman, Mark Green, said.

A vote on the House floor could occur as soon as next week. If approved, the charges would go to the Senate for a trial, though senators may first convene a special committee for consideration.

Its rare for a Cabinet member to face impeachments bar of high crimes and misdemeanors. Democrats dismissed the proceedings as a political stunt that could set a chilling precedent for other civil servants snared in policy disputes by lawmakers who disagree with the presidents approach.

This is a terrible day for the committee, the United States, the Constitution and our great country, said Mississippi Representative Bennie Thompson.

He added that the MAGA-led impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas is a baseless sham.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee October 31, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The Houses proceedings against Mayorkas have created an oddly split-screen Capitol Hill, as the Senate works deliberately with the secretary on a bipartisan border security package that is now on life support.

The package being negotiated by the senators with Mr Mayorkas could emerge as the most consequential bipartisan immigration proposal in a decade. Or it could collapse in political failure as Republicans, and some Democrats, run from the effort.

Trump, on the campaign trail and in private talks, has tried to squelch the deal. Id rather have no bill than a bad bill, Mr Trump said over the weekend in Las Vegas.

President Joe Biden, in his own campaign remarks in South Carolina, said if Congress sends him a bill with emergency authority hell shut down the border right now to get migration under control.

Ive done all I can do, Mr Biden told reporters. Give me the power through legislation, which he said is something hes asked, from the very day I got in office.

The Republicans are focused on the secretarys handling of the southern border, which has experienced an increasing number of migrants over the past year, many seeking asylum in the U.S., at a time when drug cartels are using the border with Mexico to traffic people and ship deadly fentanyl into the states.

Representative Elise Stefanik, a Trump ally often mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick, called it an invasion.

Republicans contend that the Biden administration and Mr Mayorkas either got rid of policies in place under Trump that had controlled migration or enacted policies of their own that encouraged migrants from around the world to come to the US illegally via the southern border.

Democrats argue that Mr Mayorkas is acting under his legal authority at the department and that the criticisms against him do not rise to the level of impeachment.

An aerial image shows migrants waiting along the border wall to surrender to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents for immigration and asylum claim processing after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United Staes on the US-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, on May 10, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Its unclear if Republicans will have the support from their ranks to go through with the impeachment vote in the full House, especially with their slim majority and with Democrats expected to

AP contributed to this report
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US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Tuesday that he would be stepping away for a minimally invasive medical procedure and passing his duties along to his deputy attorney general, Lisa Monaco.

Justice Department spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa did not give specifics on the medical reason for Mr Garlands period of leave, but did note that he would be under general anesthesia for the procedure.

"The delegation of his duties will go to the Deputy Attorney General shortly before the procedure, during the procedure, and for a brief period following the procedure to allow for recovery from general anesthesia," she said.

Mr Garlands announced absence comes after the Department of Defense was caught up in a media frenzy over the revelation that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been hospitalised for a procedure to treat prostate cancer and passed his duties on to a deputy without notifiying the White House or the public  President Joe Biden had apparently been unaware of his Cabinet secretarys hospitalisation for several days. Republican members of the House, eager to embarrass the president in an election year, have called an investigation into the matter.

That semi-scandal led to an official change in procedure wherein Cabinet-level officials are now required to report absences to the White House.

Agencies should ensure that delegations are issued when a Cabinet Member 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, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients wrote in a memo distributed throughout the government.

Mr Garlands agency is currently leading an unprecedented prosecutorial effort to charge thousands of pro-Trump insurrectionists who were involved in the storming of the US Capitol on January 6 in a failed attempt to halt the certification of Joe Bidens election victory. More than 1,200 alleged participants in the attack have already been charged in federal court, and more than 700 have already pleaded guilty. Dozens more have been found guilty at trial.

His agency also recently announced a surging of resources to aid local authorities in Washington DC with efforts to battle a rise in carjackings and violent crimes.
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Nevada is the next state to vote for the Republican nominee for president but you could be forgiven for missing that fact, given the lack of media attention.

Both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, the only two prominent contenders remaining in the fight for their partys nomination, are technically on the ballot in Nevada.

But they are on different ones  Ms Haley has already competed in the states primary, losing embarrassingly on Tuesday to none of these candidates, while Mr Trump is running in Thursdays caucus, his sole remaining challenger being the obscure Texas pastor Ryan Binkley.

That means the front two will not actually be against each other in the Silver State because while Republican voters can choose to participate in both the primary and the caucus, the candidates cannot.

It is a bewildering system that has almost entirely sapped the states political relevance for the 2024 primary season.

And its all thanks to 2020, when a delay in the results led to many Democratic political leaders in the state, including the late Harry Reid, pushing for the state to abandon the caucus system in favour of a primary.

Only, they didnt: Nevada now has both.

This is because the states Republicans unsuccessfully fought in court to stop the primary from going forward, having opposed the switch. They lost and a judge ruled last year that both contests could take place  the state GOP left to decide how to allocate delegates to the participants on its own.

Unsurprisingly, the Nevada Republican Party chose to award those delegates to the winner of the caucus, which will be Mr Trump, given Ms Haleys non-participation.

The former president will therefore walk out of the state with up 26 delegates and without having to do much by way of campaigning against his rival.

He has, however, rallied in the Silver State since New Hampshire, not least because it will have a renewed significance come Novembers general election.

Mr Trump will hardly have forgotten that Nevada flipped from red to blue in 2020 and helped usher in Joe Bidens victory.

For that reason, the Biden campaign is already eyeing up the state as well.

His vice president Kamala Harris was in town for a campaign rally recently, held just a short distance away from Mr Trumps own on the same day.

In Ms Haleys case, the real battle in the days ahead remains South Carolina.

She hopes her home state, where she served two terms as governor, will provide the stage for a major upset against Mr Trump, without which her claims to be a serious contender for the nomination would begin to look slim indeed.

The front-runner meanwhile continues to maintain a strong lead in both the opinion polls and in the delegate battle, the latter required to secure the nomination itself.

Recognising this, Ms Haleys campaign is focusing most of its attention on the Palmetto States primary on 24 February.

She has vowed to remain in the race past South Carolina whatever happens, although her path to victory remains a steep climb after a second-place finish in New Hamsphire, where she failed to come within single digits of Mr Trump.
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One is a former three-term Democratic Congressman and failed gubernatorial candidate. The other is an Ethiopian-born, former Israeli Defense Force paratrooper and political newcomer whose life story appears almost as compelling as the one dreamed up by the disgraced fantasist she is running to replace.

Democrat Tom Suozzi and Mazi Pilip, a Republican, are vying to take George Santos seat in New Yorks 3rd congressional district in a high-stakes special election on 13 February that could have major implications in Washington DC.

Should Mr Suozzi regain the seat he vacated in 2021, paving the unlikely path for Santoss success, it would shave the Republican majority in the House of Representatives to just two votes.

The two candidates have largely steered clear of any mention of their parties historically unpopular leaders in campaign adverts, while heavily focusing their message on border security and New Yorks migrant influx.

Mr Suozzi, 61, has expressed criticism of Democrats while trying to portray himself as tough on the border and crime.

Ms Pilip, a 44-year-old mother of seven who entered local politics in 2021, has cast herself as a moderate Republican. She recently declined to defend Donald Trump in an interview with Jewish Insider, and has pledged not to support a national abortion ban.

Polling shows the race will be tight. A December survey from Emerson College Polling/Pix11 showed Mr Suozzi with 45 per cent of registered voters, while 42 per cent of voters preferred Ms Pilip.

Whoever wins, the district that became a national punchline thanks to its scandal-plagued, federally indicted former representative is ready to move on from the long, tawdry shadow of George Santos.

Im a legal immigrant

Ms Pilip was selected as the GOP candidate in mid-December after an exhaustive vetting process by New York Republicans.

She has maintained a relatively low-profile ever since, and her campaign did not respond to a request for comment for this article.

Six weeks after launching the campaign, she held her first press conference in the parking lot of the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens on 26 January.

The site was carefully chosen as it has been home to a migrant shelter housing around 2,000 undocumented men since August.

Ms Pilip, who was elected to New Yorks Nassau County Legislature in 2021, invited just a few local select news outlets, as Politico noted.

My name is Mazi Pilip. Im a legal immigrant, she said in opening remarks, according to Politico, before running through a four-minute prepared speech.

She was flanked at the conference by New York Republican House member Anthony DEsposito, who spoke for three times longer than she did.

Tom Suozzi has been running an insurgent-style candidate, despite serving three-terms in Congress (Getty Images)

Mr Suozzi gate-crashed the event, and held his own press conference immediately afterwards to try to counter her narrative on the migrant influx.

The tactic highlighted a curious feature of the by-election. Mr Suozzi, a quasi-incumbent who represented the 3rd district for six years before resigning in 2021 to run for governor, has taken on the mantle of underdog, turning out for press conferences and public events throughout the campaign on a daily basis.

And Mazi who hasnt run for Congress before is behaving more like the incumbent and not wanting to give the challenger opportunities or airtime to confront her, Grant Lally, a local attorney and publisher of the North Shore Leader , told The Independent.

The timing of the by-election may work to Ms Pilips advantage, Mr Lally believes, due to the perception that Democrats are responsible for the migrant crisis in New York.

An estimated 161,000 asylum seekers have arrived in New York since April 2022, and the cost of housing them has blown a multi-billion dollar hole in the citys finances.

Six weeks into the campaign, Mazi Pilip has largely allowed surrogates and Republican Party officials to make her case (John Lamparski/Sipa USA/AP)

Mr Suozzi has tried to emphasise his differences with the Biden administration over its handling of the crisis.

I support strong border security... and anything else you hear is garbage, reads the tagline of his latest advert, as he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with an imposing US Border Patrol officer.

He has his own proposals to try to fix the problem, but as a Democrat he is part of that team and has received some of the blame for it, Mr Lally told The Independent.

The national committees of both parties are pouring huge sums into negative advertising to try to smear their opponents as extremists who are soft on immigration.

Democrats have spent $8m on political adverts in which they portray Ms Pilip as a MAGA extremist, while Republicans have invested $3m attempting to paint Mr Suozzi as running to the left of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Tom Suozzi is running on a platform of being tough on border security amid the unprecedented influx of migrants into the New Yorks 3rd Congressional District (Suozzi For Congress / YouTube)

Mr Lally believes the enormous ad spends would have zero impact in a district that straddles the New York borough of Queens and Nassau County in Long Island and was the nations fourth wealthiest by median household income in 2022.

Theyre spending ridiculous amounts of money, and its just a waste. Most of the Washington money from both parties is almost cartoonish, he said.

The candidates ability to get their messaging out through their campaign literature and door-to-door canvassing will have a far greater impact, he says.

The rest is just neighbours talking to neighbours, its phone banking, ringing doorbells. Thats not free but its cheap, Mr Lally said.

The district is estimated to have the fourth-highest number of Jewish voters in the country, according to the Jewish Democratic Council of America.

And while emotions remain high in the district after the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel, the conflict has largely receded as a campaign issue, Mr Lally believes.

Mr Suozzi travelled to Israel in December to meet with relatives of the hostages taken by Hamas, and has described calls to limit US aid to Israel clueless.

George Santos: The imposter in Congress | On The Ground

On abortion, both candidates have vowed to maintain womens right to reproductive care in New York, which has effectively neutralised it as an issue, according to Mr Lally.

Voters will get the chance to hear from both candidates at a town hall-style event hosted by Pix11 on Tuesday night (30 January).

News 12 will host a head-to-head debate between the candidates on 8 February.

Regardless of who wins, the special election result will deliver an important message to Washington DC on the need for tighter border security and asylum seeker reform, Mr Lally believes.

Mr Lally had the chance to meet both candidates when they visited the North Shore Leader on Monday.

The Conservative-leaning newspaper based in Long Islands wealthy Gold Coast enclave, which was first to expose the former Congressmans bogus campaign filings in September 2022, is still weighing up who to endorse.

This is a tough call because they are both really good candidates, and unlike voting for George Santos, I dont think anyone has to be embarrassed how they vote, he said.

This is not a Santos race. Both are relatively mainstream candidates. Its amazing how quickly he has evaporated and disappeared.

Who is Mazi Pilip?

Born into poverty in a remote Ethiopian village, Ms Pilip was one of thousands of Ethiopian Jews airlifted to Israel in Operation Solomon in 1991 at the age of 12.

She went on to graduate with a bachelors degree in occupational therapy from the University of Haifa and a masters in diplomacy and security from Tel Aviv University.

Ms Pilip met her future husband, Adalbert Pilip, in college, and the couple moved to the US in 2005.

Ms Pilip is being touted by the GOP as a future star, despite the fact she is still registered as a Democrat.
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Robert F Kennedy Jr has claimed he was approached by Donald Trumps team about being his 2024 running mate despite firm denials from the former presidents campaign.

A report in the New York Post over the weekend stated that the Trump team had tapped Mr Kennedy in April 2023 to be on the presidential ticket, and that despite the approach going nowhere anything was still possible, citing anonymous sources.

Mr Kennedy confirmed the overture had occurred in a NewsNation interview but said he was not interested in serving as Mr Trumps vice president.

I would not take that job. And Im flattered that President Trump would offer it to me, but its not something that Im interested in, he told NewsNation.

Mr Kennedys campaign team have not responded to multiple requests for comment by The Independent.

The New York Post report earlier drew a firm denial from senior Trump adviser Chris LaCivita.

No one from the Trump Campaign ever approached RFK Jr (or ever will)  one of the most liberal and radical environmentalists in the country, Mr LaCivita wrote in a post on X.

Robert F Kennedy Jr says the Trump campaign did tap him for the ticket (EPA)

Mr Kennedy initially ran in the Democratic primary against Joe Biden before declaring he would run as an independent in October 2023.

He has since signalled he would be open to running as a candidate for the Libertarian Party.

Despite only securing ballot access in two states, Mr Kennedy has touted his strong polling in three-way match-ups against the two likely candidates in the 2024 presidential race.

A recent Economist/YouGov Poll found he was among the best-liked national political figures, with 45 per cent of Americans having a very or somewhat favourable opinion of him, compared to 34 per cent with an unfavourable opinion.

However, the poll found Mr Kennedys popularity did not translate into votes, with just one percent of likely voters saying they would cast a ballot for him.

Mr Kennedy has trafficked in conspiracy theories about vaccines, the Covid-19 pandemic, school shootings, 9/11, and claimed he is being censored by Big Tech and the federal government.

While being highly critical of the Biden administrations policies, Mr Kennedy has largely avoided criticising Mr Trump in speeches and press statements.

He told NewsNation he had changed his mind on Mr Trumps planned wall along the US-Mexico border, and now supports a barrier in certain parts of the border.
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At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on social media safety, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told major tech CEOS they have blood on their hands.

Mr Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us, I know you dont mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands, you have a product thats killing people, Mr Graham, a Republican, said at the hearing.

TikToks Shou Zi Chew and Metas Mark Zuckerberg were the only CEOs who appeared voluntarily, Mr Durbin said. Discord CEO Jason Citron, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, and X CEO Linda Yaccarino attended under subpoenas, he said.

The remarks came as the CEOs of X, TikTok, Discord, Meta and Snap gathered in Washington DC Wednesday morning to testify to the committee, led by Chairman Dick Durbin of Illinois and Ranking Member Graham.

The hearing began with video testimonies from survivors of childhood sexual abuse on social media, as well as their families. The loved ones of those who have died by suicide after suffering from childhood sexual abuse online also spoke via video.

Senate hearings with tech CEOs have been historically contentious, and Wednesdays hearing was no different.

In his introduction, Mr Graham called on lawmakers to repeal Section 230 , a portion of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. The section protects social media companies by providing immunity to civil liability based on third-party content or the removal of content under some circumstances.

Later, Mr Graham grilled TikToks chief executive Shou Zi Chew and said that the law must be changed to allow families to sue on behalf of children.

Nothing will change until the courtroom door is open to victims of social media, he said. Mr Graham also pointed out how TikToks top official in Israel resigned because of antisemitism and his colleagues celebrating attacks on Jews. Mr Graham also exhorted Jason Citron, the chief executive of Discord.

Go to the American courtroom and defend your practices, he said. Open up the courthouse door. Until you do that nothing will change until these people can be sued for the damage they're doing.

Mr Graham also lambasted tech companies for blocking legislation.

There's not one law on the book because you oppose everything we do, he said.
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At this point, its pretty fair to say that Big Tech is about as loved on Capitol Hill as the tobacco companies were in previous decades. Conservatives have taken to hating on the tech world  except for some executives within it, like Elon Musk  for suppressing free speech, which is shorthand for suppressing conservative speech.

Liberals, who previously relied on tech companies for large sums of campaign cash, have also become increasingly wary of tech companies for promoting misinformation which they believe contributed to Donald Trumps victory, the January 6 insurrection, and Covid vaccine conspiracies.

Such bipartisan dislike should lead to the ability to pass some kind of legislation. Instead, most legislation today stalled. Executives for Meta, Twitter-turned-X, Discord and TikTok testified on Capitol Hill  but doing so has become an semi-regular event. Lawmakers now regularly thrash tech executives but do almost nothing to effect change, as my colleague Katie Hawkinson recently reported.

Republicans made the most out of their time during the hearing. Senator Lindsey Graham came stumbling out of the gate, telling Meta executive Mark Zuckerberg that he had blood on your hands, which elicited applause.

Graham is partially right that a big reason why families cannot publicly sue tech companies on behalf of their loved ones is probably because of lobbying. The four companies spent more than $28m in lobbying last year, according to summaries from the Center for Responsive Politics. That means that the best that lawmakers can do is to preen and grandstand about the lack of legislative action.

Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri  who, despite being a Stanford and Yale graduate, has fashioned himself as a populist warrior who opposes the tech industry  elicited an uproarious applause when he said that Meta was a disaster for teenagers.

Meanwhile, the tech executives gave such evasive answers to lawmakers question that they did something previously considered impossible even by some Republicans  they made Texas Senator Ted Cruz come off as likable. When he asked Zuckerberg, What the hell were you thinking? in a question concerning a label that asked people about to view child sex abuse images whether they wanted to get resources or continue viewing, there was general assent.

But for all the applause from families who are understandably heartbroken about the loss of their loved ones this week, the realities of the Senate mean little will get done. Senator John Cornyn, a former judge and Texas attorney general, told me shortly after the first half of the hearing that the Senate has worked on multiple bills. He blamed Senator Chuck Schumer for them not passing.

Senator Schumer needs to put them on the floor, he said. The fact that outside the hearing room, Cornyn reverted to partisan bickering when away from the pressure of families spells grim news. The truth is that the Senate will likely keep hammering tech because it politically benefits the congressional members who do. Having a solution might not even be in such Senators best interests.

Democrats, as is their wont, sang from mostly the same hymnal as their Republican colleagues, albeit in a softer tone. X executive Linda Yaccarino, whose job has been to act as a sieve filter for Musks outlandish tweets, did come out in support of the Kids Online Safety Act, which Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut sponsored.

During his line of questioning, Blumenthal asked Zuckerberg if he believed he had a constitutional right to lie to Congress. Later on, Blumenthal told me that it was a good sign that half of the Senate sponsored his bill and contradicted Cornyn by saying Schumer has committed to getting votes on it.

So I think we will see action on it before before the summer, he told me. But, he added, the action that comes after the hearing matters far more.

Theres no basis to rely on them to in effect grade their own homework, he said. We need to impose legal safeguards and guardrails so that parents and kids have tools to disconnect from these blackbox algorithms that drive toxic content at them and impose a duty of care and responsibility so they can be held accountable.

Of course, there seems to be little appetite for doing the difficult leg work. And ironically, many of the elected officials, particularly Republicans, went viral on X, one of the very platforms they were railing against. Essentially, the incentives to take actual action are too perverse and too much money flows to Capitol Hill to do anything to actually stop tech companies.
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President Joe Biden faces his own issues heading into a 2024 general election rematch with Donald Trump, but the former presidents criminal trials may very well spell his second political downfall, according to a new survey.

A Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll released on Wednesday gave the clearest picture yet of the dangers Mr Trump faces in the general election: More than half, 53 per cent, of all registered voters in swing states across the US would decline to support him were he to be convicted of one or more of the 91 felony counts he now faces in four jurisdictions. That figure climbs even higher when voters were asked about the possibility of Mr Trump being sent to prison.

His problems are multiplied by the fact that this deficit of support would, according to the survey, extend to his own base of Republican voters should a conviction occur. Twenty-three per cent of all Republican voters in swing states said that they would decline to support Mr Trump if he were convicted.

Its the exact nightmare scenario for Republicans that Nikki Haley has attempted to warn voters about following her assumption of the role of Mr Trumps chief rival for the Republican nomination. Ms Haley, who is now the only prominent Republican besides Mr Trump remaining in the race, has thus far failed to convince a majority of Republican voters to back her candidacy with the argument that her rival is unelectable. This latest poll may sharpen that assertion, though it remains unclear if GOP voters care  even when the threat of low Republican turnout on down-ballot races is raised.

Ms Haley and other Republicans desperately seeking an alternative to the former president have argued that Mr Trump no longer represents a real driving force at the ballot box beyond his ability to motivate Democratic voters to turn out in opposition; that particular argument grew much louder after a resoundingly disappointing performance for the GOP in the 2022 midterm elections, where the party lost ground in the Senate and eked out a victory in the House which has since decayed to a single-digit majority.

The incumbent president has no reason to take things easy, however; the Bloomberg/Morning Consult survey also showed that Americans by and large remain pessimistic about the economy and apparently distrustful of the measurements by which the Biden administration has used to tout the supposed success of Bidenomics. A wide majority of voters  71 per cent to 29 per cent  say the economy is headed in the wrong direction at the national level specifically; those numbers drop but remain underwater when focused on the state level and turn positive when voters are asked about their local town or neighbourhood.

Mr Bidens personal popularity also remains in the negatives, as does the popularity of his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris. Less than four in 10 voters have favourable opinions of either politician. 46 per cent of voters, by comparison, had at least a somewhat favourable view of Mr Trump, who importantly also had the highest very unfavourable rating of any individual politician named in the poll  by far.

Overall, voters remain torn: They are widely unhappy with their choices for 2024, and seemingly unimpressed with the alternatives. What that will mean for voter turnout and down-ballot races is unclear, but both parties clearly have reasons to worry about the latter in this survey.

The Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll sureyed 4,956 registered voters across Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin between 16 to 22 January. The margin of error is 1 percentage point for the full sample of voters.
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Political action committees tied to Donald Trump spent roughly $50m on legal costs last year as the former president navigates four criminal indictments and a mountain of litigation that could threaten his White House ambitions and his family business.

Campaign filings with the Federal Election Commission outline a long list of legal expenses to more than 50 firms and attorneys, offering the best glimpse yet of the enormous costs of Mr Trumps year of lawsuits and criminal cases.

The latest filings shared with The New York Times ahead of Wednesdays deadline only scratch at the surface of the mounting legal expenses facing the Republican Partys likely nominee for president. Jury trials have not yet started, he is in the middle of several appeals involving at least two cases headed to the US Supreme Court  and he cannot legally touch any of his campaign cash to pay out potentially tens of millions of dollars in a devastating pair of civil suit judgments.

In a deposition last year, the former president described his cash stockpile as substantially in excess of $400m, while Bloomberg listed his liquid assets at roughly $600m, though the actual state of his financial affairs is unclear.

A jury determined he owes more than $83m in damages to E Jean Carroll, whom he repeatedly smeared after a separate jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The attorney general of New York also is seeking $370m from Mr Trump and his co-defendants in a separate civil case targeting his Trump Organization for fraud.

Back-to-back judgments totalling more than $400m within a week could not only evaporate his wealth but also seriously imperil the family business and real estate empire on which he has built his brand and political career.

Dave Aronberg, the state attorney in Floridas Palm Beach County, home of Mr Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate, explained to MSNBC that Mr Trump has to post a bond just to appeal the jury verdict in Ms Carrolls case within 30 days of the decision, so E Jean Carroll will get her money at some point.

He can try to get money from his supporters, but hes got to tell them what its for ... He cant say, Help me with my re-election fund and then divert the money to E Jean Carroll, he said. That would be a crime.

Donald Trump sits with his attorneys Chris Kise, left, and Alina Habba, right, during a civil fraud trial in New York on 7 December. (AP)

Daniel Weiner, a director for elections and government at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, said such rules wont necessarily stop Mr Trump, but super PACs are not supposed to donate to candidates, theyre supposed to be independent, he told Bloomberg. It would violate the spirit of the law to use super PAC money, raised to support the candidate, to pay his debts.

Save America PAC, which started 2022 with $105m, was burning through cash for Mr Trumps legal bills through the first half of last year. The organisation spent more than $40m on legal fees by July.

The group asked for a refund of a $60m donation to Trump-connected Make America Great Again Inc. That PAC refunded $30m to Save America in the second half of the year  an average of about $5m a month  in addition to $12.5m that it gave back to Save America in the first half of the year, records show.

In all, a PAC established to re-elect Mr Trump funneled $42.5m back into a fund that is now chiefly used for paying his lawyers, a total that is nearly equivalent to super PAC spending on other campaign expenses like television advertising.

Ten per cent of donations raised by Save America  or 10 cents of every dollar from Mr Trumps supporters  has also been going into a lawyers fund.

The Independent has requested comment from Mr Trumps campaign and connected political action committees.

Alex Pfeiffer, a spokesman for Mr Trumps super PAC, told The New York Times that the group had raised $120m, a figure that includes the $60m that is being refunded.

The refund is old, recycled news, he said in a statement to the newspaper. The battle to defeat Joe Biden is here, and the time for everyone to step up and join this fight is now. Every dollar being raised by MAGA Inc is going directly to defeating Joe Biden in November.

Trump uses his legal battles to raise millions for his campaign

Mr Trumps campaign operations have raked in millions of dollars following news of criminal charges against him, with a flood of campaign messages using his mugshot and framing his legal challenges as a political attack to cast him as a victim of a Democratic conspiracy against him. The former president continues to baselessly cast the consequences of his alleged actions as election interference under President Joe Biden, who is weaponizing the judicial system against him.

The House select committee investigating the events surrounding the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 reported that Mr Trumps fundraising arms collected more than $100m in the first week after Election Day in 2020 alone.

His campaign and allies raised $250m from baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, the committee found. In 2022, the panels senior investigative counsel Amanda Wick said Mr Trumps campaign pushed false election claims to fundraise, telling supporters it would be used to fight voter fraud that did not exist.

Campaign fundraising messages routinely rely on his legal challenges and courtroom appearances to tell his supporters that their contributions help defend our movement against witch hunt trials.

Nothing will energize me more when my team walks into that courtroom  than to see all the patriots like YOU who stepped up to have my back, Patriot, according to a message from his campaign earlier this month.

When he appeared in a New York courtroom for closing arguments in the civil fraud trial, potentially facing $370m in sanctions, that email message to supporters said he set set an ambitious new goal of 370,000 grassroots contributions of any amount to peacefully DEFEND our movement from the never-ending witch hunts.

In another message before he joined his legal team in a federal appeals court hearing on his immunity defence, he said: Please make a contribution to show that YOU too will NEVER SURRENDER  even on this dark day in American history  and I promise you this: together, we will win back the White House and SAVE our country!

After he was booked on criminal charges in Georgia for his attempts to overturn the states election results in 2020, his campaign slapped his mugshot on fundraising merchandise. The image appears on signed posters with the words never surrender. Its on $47 T-shirts, $35 mugs, and Trump-branded Christmas wrapping paper.

Trump-connected PACs pay millions to attorneys defending him in court

The attorneys on his legal team, meanwhile, are earning millions of dollars defending him in court, according to The Independents reviews of FEC filings ahead of 2024 deadlines.

The firm of Alina Habba, who has represented Mr Trump in the defamation case and the civil fraud lawsuit targeting his Trump Organization, received more than $3.5m from Trump-affiliated PACs since 2022, government records show. She also is a senior adviser for MAGA Inc.

Donald Trumps attorney Alina Habba speaks to reporters outside Manhattan federal court on 26 January following a second defamation trial stemming from E Jean Carrolls lawsuits against the former president. (REUTERS)

Robert & Robert PLLC, the firm for Trump attorney Clifford Robert, who has represented Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump in the civil fraud trial, was paid more than $1.3m by the Save America last year.

Chris Kise, who is representing Mr Trump in the fraud trial and the federal case involving his retention of White House documents at his Mar-a-Lago property, was paid at least $2.15m from Trump-affiliated campaigns last year.

Red Curve Solutions, the firm of longtime campaign treasurer Bradley T Crate, was paid at least $1.8m for reimbursement for legal expenses and reimbursement for legal fees, records show.

Silverman Thompson Slutkin & White  the firm of attorney Evan Corcoran, who was also called to testify before a grand jury in the classified documents case  received more than $3.5m from Trump-connected PACs since 2022, including at least $2.2m last year.

High-profile criminal defence attorney Joe Tacopina, who recently withdrew from Mr Trumps legal team on the eve of the defamation trial, was paid at least $1.7m by PACs last year.

Mr Trump, meanwhile, is competing with Nikki Haley for a pool of campaign cash from billionaire Republican megadonors that could keep Mr Trumps PACs afloat.

Robert Bigelow, formerly Ron DeSantiss largest donor, told Reuters on Tuesday that he gave Mr Trump $1m to support his legal fees and agreed to donate another $20m to a Trump-aligned super PAC for campaign purposes.

I gave him $1m towards his legal fees a few weeks ago. I made a promise to give him $20m more, that will be to the super PAC, he told the outlet.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Baidu Apollo Go allowed for paid unmanned Robotaxi service in Shenzhen

On January 31, Baidu's autonomous driving ride-hailing service, Apollo Go, secured the license for intelligent connected vehicle autonomous commercialization pilot operation from Shenzhens Baoan District. This milestone allows Apollo Go to conduct fully autonomous commercial fee-based services in the area.

Photo credit: Baidu

XPengs He Xiaopeng: autonomous driving will be first application scenario for AI large models

On January 30, He Xiaopeng, Chairman of XPeng, emphasized at a social media event that autonomous driving would be the first application scenarios to achieve comprehensive commercial deployment for AI large models. He disclosed an annual investment of 3.5 billion yuan and an R&D team exceeding 3,000 members dedicated to intelligent driving at XPeng.

ARCFOX S HI to roll out HUAWEI ADS 2.0 OTA upgrades

ARCFOX's S HI model is set to roll out nationwide OTA with the release of the HUAWEI ADS 2.0 version intelligent driving system. In early February, the company plans to recruit 200 beta testers for public trials. In the first quarter, the S HI owners subscribing to the ADS 2.0 advanced feature package will receive free updates of the HUAWEI ADS 2.0 version.

CATL forecasts YoY surge of 38.31%-48.07% in 2023 net profit attributable to shareholders

On January 30, Chinese power battery giant CATL disclosed its annual performance forecast for 2023, anticipating a net profit attributable to shareholders ranging between 42.5 billion yuan and 45.5 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 38.31% to 48.07%. After deducting non-recurring gains and losses, the net profit is projected to be between 38.5 billion yuan and 41.5 billion yuan, with a year-on-year jump of 36.46% to 47.09%.

United Nova Technology becomes supplier of NIOs first self-developed 1,200V SiC modules

On January 30, 2024, United Nova Technology Co., Ltd. ("UNT"), a player in the production and supply of automotive chips, modules, and solutions, signed an agreement for production and supply silicon carbide (SiC) modules with China's prominent new energy vehicle brand, NIO.

SAIC-GM-Wuling launches fresh new energy commercial vehicle model Wuling Yangguang

SAIC-GM-Wuling ("SGMW") officially announced today its latest generation of new energy commercial vehicle (NECV)-- the Wuling Yangguang. The vehicle made its debut with the innovative Wuling Red No. 1 battery, marking the company's first NECV model built on an entirely new native platform.

Pony.ai launches paid unmanned Robotaxi service in Shenzhen

On January 31, Chinese autonomous driving solution provider Pony.ai received the unmanned intelligent connected vehicle commercial pilot license from Shenzhen's Bao'an District. This marks the commencement of the country's first commercial operation of unmanned Robotaxis in the central urban areas of a first-tier city.

GAC AIONs Rapow Intelligent Ecological Electric Drive Plant starts production

On January 30, GAC AION celebrated the completion and commencement of operations at its Rapow Intelligent Ecological Electric Drive Plant. At the same time, GAC AIONs Quark Electric Drive technology-powered M25 Super Electric Drive product entered mass production stage.

Kaixin Auto secures export intention order of 1,000 NEVs to Myanmar

Chinese auto retail platform Kaixin Auto Holdings revealed on January 30 that it has formalized an intention order to export 1,000 new energy vehicles (NEVs) in collaboration with Myanmar's New Power Auto Ltd.

JAC Group expects 136 million yuan of net profit in 2023

On January 30, Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (JAC Group), announced its anticipated 2023 annual financial results, forecasting a net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company of approximately 136 million yuan for the year.

Audi FAW New Energy Vehicle Company rolls off pre-mass production unit of Audi Q6 e-tron

On January 26th, Audi witnessed a significant milestone as the first pre-mass production unit of the Audi Q6 e-tron rolled off the assembly line at the production base of Audi FAW New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd. (Audi FAW NEV).

TANK 700 Hi4-T kicks off pre-sale, starting at 468,000 yuan

On January 30, Great Wall Motor's TANK brand commenced pre-sales for its new flagship model, the TANK 700 Hi4-T, offering two variants at 468,000 yuan and 508,000 yuan, respectively.

Great Wall Holdings Group, North China Electric Power University join forces for new energy & hydrogen power development

During the recent announcement of hydrogen energy industry achievements and the initiation ceremony of a hydrogen energy environmental services project in Baoding city, Hebei Province, Great Wall Holdings Group Limited signed a memorandum of strategic cooperation with North China Electric Power University.
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Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas engaged in a heated discussion with Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg when asking about the promotion of child sex abuse images on Instagram.

Mr Cruz and Mr Zuckerbergs intense exchange took place during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee about the role of major tech companies and the exploitation of children. During Mr Cruzs time to question, he asked about the proliferation of hashtags on Instagram that let predators find child sex abuse images.

Similarly, he noted that Instagram displayed a warning screen saying These results may contain images of child sexual abuse before asking whether users wanted to get resources or see the images anyway.

Mr Zuckerberg, what the hell were you thinking? Mr Cruz asked Mr Zuckerberg.

Senator, the basic science behind that when people are searching for something that is problematic, it's often rather than just blocking it to help direct them toward that, Mr Zuckerberg said.

But Mr Cruz pushed back.

I understand get resources. In what sane universe is there a link for see results anyway? the Texas Republican asked.

Well, because we might be wrong, Mr Zuckerberg said. In response, Mr Cruz asked how many times was the wording on the screen displayed. In response, Mr Zuckerberg said he did not know off the top of his head, to which Mr Cruz responded by saying that in 2023, he sent a letter which Mr Cruz said Meta refused to answer.

Will you commit right now to within five days answering this question for this, Mr Cruz asked.

Senator, Ill personally look into it, Mr Zuckerberg said.

Tech executives, including Linda Yaccarino of X, Jason Citron of Discord and TikTok Shou Zi Chew also faced heated questioning from senators from both parties on the committee.

Mr Cruz also grilled Mr Chew for why various content was being repressed on TikTok, specifically related to the genocide of Uighur people in China and the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
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A woman in New Hampshire miraculously survived after falling into a garbage truck and being compacted several times along with the neighbourhood trash.

Fire officials said they were still unclear how the incident in Manchester, New Hampshire, occurred.

According to Boston 25 News, it is believed the woman  a 60-year-old resident  was thrown from a dumpster into the truck on Beech Hill Drive on Monday afternoon.

The garbage was reportedly compacted up to four times before the driver noticed the woman through a camera in a truck. Neighbours reported hearing frantic screaming coming inside from the vehicle.

Matthew and Amanda Czzowitz, said that the unnamed woman sounded like she was in agony.

We realised someone was actually in the truck in the compactor because we could hear screaming, Mr Czzowitz told Boston 25.

Firefighters later used a basket pulled by the fire truck crane to carefully hoist the woman to safety (Boston 25 News)

My kids are home from school, and theyre watching. I was like, girls, once you see her come out, I dont want you watching.

Ms Czzowitz added: All you heard was screaming She was in agony.

Firefighters later used a basket pulled by the fire truck crane to carefully hoist the woman to safety.

She told firefighters through a side access panel of the truck that she somehow fell into a dumpster while tossing the trash, but was not alert enough to answer further questions, Boston 25 reported.

The woman was transported to Elliot Hospital, in Manchester, in serious condition.

An investigation into how the incident occurred is ongoing. It is unclear how long the woman had been in the dumpster for before she was thrown into the garbage truck.
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Watch as French farmers continue their protest on Wednesday 31 January, besieging Paris for a third day as they demand just prices and loosened regulations.

Major roads and motorways to the French capital have been blocked since Monday 29 January as thousands of farmers take part in the action.

Emmanuel Macron has blamed war-torn Ukraine for intensifying the European agricultural crisis by flooding the market and undercutting France.

The president said his nation wants to have clear measures on imports from Ukraine because today we have in volume and quality things that are destabilising the European market, whether chicken or cereals.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Clarkson sent a message of support to the farmers, wishing them good luck in a message posted on social media website X entirely in French.

French farmers. I bet no one has ever said that before, but good luck, coming from England, the ex-Top Gear host wrote.
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Hungary leader Viktor Orban has sat down with the European Unions five most powerful leaders ahead of a summit that could decide the future of the blocs financial aid to Ukraine during a key juncture in its war against Russia.

Mr Orban remains the last member of the EU opposing a 50 billion (43bn) support package for Kyiv - the motion requires unanimity to be passed - and the blocs leaders arrived this morning nervous to finally push through a deal that has been delayed multiple times.

The Hungarian leader, who met with Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin last October in Beijing, has refused to approve military aid to Ukraine and has proved a permanent obstacle to the blocs ambitions to send communal support to Kyiv.

Posting a picture of his meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, French leader Emmanual Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, he described the sit down as a casual morning conversation.

But the stakes for Ukraine, for the European Union and for the collective opposition to Russian aggression has never been higher.

Polands new prime minister Donald Tusk, a staunch ally of Ukraine, said he had nothing nice to say to Mr Orban when he arrived in Brussels this morning.

Kaja Kallas, the Estonian leader, another strong ally of Kyiv, made portentous comments about the state of Hungarys economy when asked about her hopes of a deal today.

Her comments were a thinly-veiled reference to an EU plan leaked on Sunday to strong-arm Hungary into approving the bill by threatening to permanently shut off all funding to Budapest if Mr Orban continued to block the bill.

If you look at the economy of Hungary... the interest rate of their central bank is 9 percent, that shows how well his economy is going, she said. Hungary needs Europe, so he should also look into what is in it for Hungary, being in Europe."

But other leaders were more optimistic.

Germanys Chancellor Scholz, as he arrived for the summit, said: My strong conviction is that this should be possible. Its time to make this happen.

Outgoing Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said he was cautiously optimistic, adding I do believe we have come to an agreement today with the 27, including Hungary.

The European Union last night made a last-ditch attempt to convince Hungary and its pro-Kremlin leader to cease blocking further aid to Ukraine by offering the chance to debate funding annually.

EU ambassadors, following a meeting on Wednesday ahead of the summit today, agreed to the proposal of an annual debate over the package to Ukraine worth around 50 billion (43bn), according to a draft summit.

The EU aid is to help cover Ukraines needs for 2024-2027, with 33 billion in cheap loans and 17 billion in grants from the blocs budget to give Kyiv stable financing as it fights off Russias invasion. It is not a military package.

Mr Orban has been pushing for an annual review that would give Hungary a right to veto the disbursements every year.

This goes against the idea of predictable funding and other EU countries reject it, but if the money is to come from the EU budget, it requires unanimity among the 27 EU countries, so Hungarian consent is necessary.

After nearly two years of Russian aerial attacks, Ukraine needs EU funding to help stabilise and rebuild the economy (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

In an attempt to win Hungary over, the EU ambassadors agreed to propose to Budapest that they hold yearly debates on how the bloc money is being spent by Ukraine, based on reports by the European Commission.

This would not give Hungary a right to veto the money - but it would allow them to air concerns.

The European Council will hold a debate each year on the implementation of the facility with a view to providing guidance on the EU approach towards the situation stemming from Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, the draft read.

It remains unclear if Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban will agree to such a deal.

But Hungarys representative at the EU ambassador meeting on Wednesday allegedly responded to the proposal by reiterating that Budapest demands an annual veto on the funding.

Multiple attempts to convince Hungary to give its consent have failed over the past few months.

EU diplomats told Politico last week that if Mr Orban blocks Ukraine aid again during the meeting on Thursday, Brussels could look to invoke Article 7, the most serious political sanction on a member country that involves suspending its right to vote on EU decisions.

If Mr Orban really blocks again an agreement [on the budget and the 50 billion for Ukraine] at the February summit, using Article 7 to strip Hungary of its voting rights could become a real option, said one EU diplomat.

But Polands Mr Tusk said this morning that there was no plan B if Mr Orban remains obstinate.

During the last round of talks, Mr Orban refused to back down despite the EU releasing 10.2bn of bloc funding to Hungary the night before the meeting. The money had been previously withheld on grounds that Mr Orban was violating the rule of law prerequisites of EU membership.

After those talks concluded with no deal on Ukraine aid, Mr Orban told Hungarian state radio: [The EU] wants to give the money of the Hungarians to continue the war. This is not acceptable.

He did, however, allow Ukraine and Moldova to start membership to the bloc talks; he did so not by approving the application but by going for a coffee while the vote was taking place.

European Council President Charles Michel said at the time it was important that no member states opposed this decision, a reference to Mr Orbans lack of approval.

Failure to pass additional aid to Ukraine would force the bloc to rethink again how best to fund the prospective member in its war against Russia.

The most obvious option would be to extend an existing loan scheme for 2024, which does not require unanimity.

The 26 countries would need to set up two intergovernmental schemes to allow the bloc to transfer grants and loans to Ukraine, but this would require parliamentary approval from individual countries.
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Italy has expressed strong disapproval of the treatment of Ilaria Salis, a 39-year-old Italian woman, by Hungarian authorities after images emerged of her in chains in a Budapest court.

Ms Salis is facing trial in Hungary for allegedly attacking neo-Nazis and the images of her, shared widely by the major Italian newspapers, have sparked outrage. Italy officially summoned the Hungarian ambassador to express its concerns.

A teacher from Monza near Milan, Ms Salis was arrested in Budapest in February last year after participating in a counter-demonstration  the annual Day of Honour  against a neo-Nazi rally, according to reports.

She faces three counts of attempted assault and is accused of being affiliated with an extreme left-wing organisation.

Ms Salis denies these charges, which carry a potential prison sentence of up to 11 years.

In the images, she can be seen in court in chains with tied hands and feet.

This time it seems to me it has gone too far, Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani told RAI radio. Treating a prisoner in that way really seems inappropriate, not in tune with our legal culture.

The prosecutor claimed that Ms Salis came to Hungary to carry out rapid attacks which could cause serious injury against people believed to be far-right.

Her case came to the spotlight after her father, Roberto Salis, spoke publicly about the harsh conditions of her detention.

We are in the European Union and there are citizens rights that must be respected, Mr Tajani said. He suggested that the woman be put under house arrest rather than a jail.

Ms Salis is due to stand trial on 24 May.

Meanwhile, an online petition calling for her to be returned to Italy has gained massive support, amassing over 90,000 signatures.

Ms Saliss lawyer accused Hungarys judicial system of being highly repressive and said that it was quite difficult to be optimistic about the outcome of the trial.

Her father, Roberto Salis was quoted as saying by TGCOM24: It was a hard blow to see my daughter Ilaria dragged to court in chains. She needs to be got out of that prison in Budapest. The pictures speak for themselves. Ilaria has to go back to Italy.
 Close Moment Russian plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war appears to crash

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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.
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Russia and Ukraine have exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in the first swap since a plane that Moscow claimed was carrying 65 Ukrainian captured soldiers crashed earlier this month, killing all those on board.

Ukraine said it had received 207 PoWs in the latest exchange, while the Russian defence ministry said both sides had exchanged 195 captured soldiers each.

Our people are back. 207 of them. We return them home no matter what, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

We remember each Ukrainian in captivity. Both warriors and civilians. We must bring all of them back. We are working on it.

Ukraines state body in charge of PoWs said the exchange, the 50th of its kind, had brought home soldiers involved in defending the cities of Mariupol and Kherson, both in southern Ukraine, as well as some captured by Russia on Snake Island in the Black Sea.

It said marines and combat medics were among the Ukrainians returned, with 36 injured or seriously ill.

Dozens of Ukrainian PoWs, wearing black Russian prisoner uniforms, leave a bus as part of the swap (via REUTERS)

Footage filmed by Ukrainian authorities showed dozens of PoWs tumbling off buses shouting Glory to Ukraine. All had their heads shaven and wore black Russian prison uniforms.

One man could be seen collapsing on the floor and kissing the ground as he got out of the bus. Another could be seen crying into a Ukrainian flag, while others teared up during phone calls, presumably talking to relatives they had not spoken to for months or even years.

The Russian Ministry of Defence was cited by the RIA state news agency as saying that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had helped broker the deal, adding that its soldiers would be flown to Moscow for medical and psychological treatment.

It is a surprisingly swift return to prisoner exchanges since the Il-76 military transport plane went down in Russias western Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine.

A Russian Investigative Committee employee walks near the wreckage of the Russian military Il-76 plane that crashed near Yablonovo, in the Belgorod region of Russia (Russian Investigative Committee)

Russia has accused Kyiv of shooting down the plane, saying that 65 PoWs were on board, along with six crew and three other officials. However, it has not released proof that there were prisoners onboard or a confirmed flight manifest. Ukraine has not confirmed or denied bringing down the plane but has accused Russia of putting the lives of PoWs at risk. Ukrainian officials said they were not informed that the flight would be travelling on that path, but they did confirm that a prisoner swap was due to take place on the day of the crash.

Kyiv has also questioned Moscows claims about who was onboard, saying it has no information about who was on the plane. Both sides have called for an international investigation. Ukraines army said that Russias accusations could amount to a planned action to destabilise the situation in Ukraine and weaken international support for our state.

The Belgorod region has been the target of frequent cross-border attacks by Ukraine, and Kyiv has said it is also a hub for the transport of Russian missiles used on Ukrainian cities.

In the latest claim from the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin alleged that Ukraine had used two US-supplied Patriot air defence missiles to shoot down the plane, without offering any evidence. But he did add that Moscow would continue prisoner exchanges and that Kyiv had indicated it was open to more.

A Ukrainian serviceman carries a 155mm shell into self-propelled howitzer "Bohdana" before firing towards Russian positions near Bakhmut, Ukraine (AP)

It comes as the European Unions foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he expected the bloc to reach 52 per cent of its target to send one million rounds of shells to Ukraine by March this year, having delivered only 30 per cent of its original target by the end of 2023.

Ukraine is suffering from a shortage in artillery shells, particularly of the vital 155mm variation, after a high rate of fire during its summer counteroffensive last year and an absence of further EU and US military packages as both allies struggle to pass fresh aid. EU support is being held up by Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an impasse leaders hope to break at a meeting on Thursday. Meanwhile, domestic political squabbles are holding up the US Congress from agreeing new funding for Kyiv.

Michael Koffman, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he specialises in analysing the Russian and Ukrainian military, estimated that Kyiv was currently suffering a five-to-one deficit in artillery shells.

Ahead of a meeting with EU defence ministers in Brussels on Wednesday, Mr Borrell warned that Ukraine needed more ammunition urgently.

We have to show that our clear commitment with Ukraine remains and continues," he said, adding that it was important to clarify the situation and "know where we are now, where we will be by March and by the end of the year".

After the meeting, Estonian defence minister Hanno Pevkur said they had agreed to make sure that more than half a million artillery shells had reached Ukraine by March.

He added that they planned to have delivered 1.1 million rounds by the end of this year and increase EU production capacity to 1.5 million.

Mr Borrell has also revealed that EU countries plan to train another 20,000 Ukrainian soldiers, on top of the 40,000 already trained.
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Ukraine is facing a crucial year as it battles Russias invasion and if the US fails to pass fresh aid for Kyiv at this critical moment it will be an own goal of historic proportions, the CIA director has warned.

This year is likely to be a tough one on the battlefield in Ukraine, William Burns said, adding that Kyiv faces a difficult test of its ability to safeguard its sovereignty.

For the United States to walk away from the conflict at this crucial moment and cut off support to Ukraine would be an own goal of historic proportions, he wrote in an article for the Foreign Affairs..

Mr Burns also added that the Russian war in Ukraine is quietly corroding the power of president Vladimir Putin, with Russia increasingly isolated on the world stage thanks to the bloody war it is waging in Ukraine.

Disaffection with the war is continuing to gnaw away at the Russian leadership and the Russian people, beneath the thick surface of state propaganda and repression. That undercurrent of disaffection is creating a once-in-a-generation recruiting opportunity for the CIA. Were not letting it go to waste, Mr Burns wrote.

The CIA chief said Mr Putin is betting on time to grind down Ukraine and wear down its Western supporters.

"Ukraines challenge is to puncture Putins arrogance and demonstrate the high cost for Russia of continued conflict, not just by making progress on the frontlines but also by launching deeper strikes behind them and making steady gains in the Black Sea," he said.

He warned that Mr Putin will likely engage again in nuclear sabre-rattling and it would be foolish to dismiss escalatory risks entirely by the Russian president. But it would be equally foolish to be unnecessarily intimidated by them, he said.

Western aids preservation is a key to success, he said.

It offers a chance to ensure a long-term win for Ukraine and a strategic loss for Russia; Ukraine could safeguard its sovereignty and rebuild, while Russia would be left to deal with the enduring costs of Putins folly, the US intelligence official said.

This comes as the US secretary of state Antony Blinken warned on Tuesday that Ukraines gains can dissolve without any further US aid via supplemental funding, risking a victory for Russian troops invading Ukraine.

"Without it, simply put, everything that Ukrainians achieved and that weve helped them achieve will be in jeopardy," Mr Blinken said in a joint news conference. It will simply reinforce for Vladimir Putin that he can somehow outlast Ukraine and outlast us.

"Absent that supplemental, were going to be sending a strong and wrong message to all of our adversaries that we are not serious about the defence of freedom, the defence of democracy," he said.

Congress has approved more than $110 bn for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

But Ukraine has been left in the lurch at a critical juncture in the war as no new funds have been issued since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in January 2023.
One of Ukraines chief strengths in its fight against Russias invasion has been its immense sense of national unity, with every sector of society involved in repelling the Russian invasion.

But the apparent attempt by the countrys president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to remove Ukraines top  and vastly popular  military commander, General Valery Zaluzhny, from his post has revealed cracks in that unity.

Zelensky is said to have asked Zaluzhny to leave his post during a meeting on Monday but the general refused. Zelenskys spokesman, Sergii Nykyforov, refuted that Zaluzhny had been asked to leave his role as military commander and offered another job, possibly as an adviser on defence or an ambassador. But the reports continued to come.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On January 30, GAC AION celebrated the completion and commencement of operations at its Rapow Intelligent Ecological Electric Drive Plant. At the same time, GAC AIONs Quark Electric Drive technology-powered M25 Super Electric Drive product entered mass production stage.

Photo credit: GAC AION

With a total investment of 2.16 billion yuan and spanning 104,000 square meters, the facility focuses on in-house R&D and industrialization of the IDU electric drive system and electronic control, achieving a fully integrated approach covering R&D, manufacturing, sales, and service. It is projected to produce 400,000 sets of IDU electric drive systems and 100,000 sets of GMC hybrid electromechanical coupling systems annually by 2025.

Photo credit: GAC AION

The inaugural product from the plant, the M25 Super Electric Drive, is set to debut in GAC AIONs Hyper-branded vehicles. Boasting a maximum motor speed of 22,000rpm, an impressive system efficiency of 92.5%, and supporting 900V ultra-high voltage, the M25 sets the bar high with a power density of 12 kW/kg.

The completion of the Rapow Intelligent Ecological Electric Drive Plant signifies GAC AION's comprehensive self-researched and self-produced initiatives in the new energy vehicle technology sector, establishing a strategic layout for an autonomous and controllable industrial chain.
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An Iran-backed Iraqi militant group suspected of killing three US soldiers in a drone strike on a military base in Jordan says it has suspended its attacks on American forces  with President Joe Biden having vowed to respond to the strike.

Kataib Hezbollah, the armed faction of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, issued a statement saying it was planning to suspend military and security operations against the occupation forces, referring to the US forces stationed throughout the Middle East.

Concerns have been growing over the spread of violence across the region linked to Israels war on Hamas in Gaza. That conflict was triggered by an attack by Hamas inside Israel in which around 1,200 people were killed and another 240 taken hostage. Hamas are allied to Iran and another Tehran-supported groups have launched strikes and linked it to the situation in Gaza, where health officials in the Hamas-controlled territory say more than 26,000 people have been killed.

The three US soldiers were killed when a drone hit Tower 22, part of a military base in Jordan, in the early hours of Sunday. Dozens more were injured, as the drone struck while most of the soldiers were asleep in their bunks. It was the first time since 7 October that US soldiers had been killed, though there have been more than 150 attacks across Syria, Iraq and Jordan, as well as on a US-led naval coalition protecting ships in the Red Sea, where the Yemen-based, Iran-backed Houthis have been launching attacks along a key maritime trade route.

Kataib Hezbollahs secretary-general, Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, said: As we announce the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces - in order to prevent embarrassment of the Iraqi government - we will continue to defend our people in Gaza in other ways.

His comments come as President Biden said he had finally decided on a response to the deadly drone attack on a US military base near the Syrian border on Sunday, though he dd not provide details.

He did say that the US doesnt need a wider war in the Middle East, echoing comments he and his staff have made consistently since a deadly Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October

Iran, Kataib Hezbollahs backers, have said it is not in anyones interests to open a wider war, but that it would "decisively respond" to any US attack on its territoryu

Kataib Hezbollah took credit for the attack on US soldiers on Sunday  a Pentagon spokesperson said they havent confirmed the groups involvement but it bears their footprints  and various officials have said a response is necessary.

After al-Hamidawi announced the suspension of military activity, Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said the US would respond nonetheless.

Actions speak louder than words, he said. There will be consequences.

The US secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, acknowledged the current volatility of the Middle East in comments on Monday but added that a response to the Jordan attack was likely to be multi-levelled, come in stages, and be sustained over time.

We are going to defend our people, he said. We are going to defend our interests.
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A traumatised victim of the Hamas attack on Israel is said to have pretended to be dead as women were shot and raped around her.

Mirit Ben Mayor, an Israeli Police Chief Superintendent, recounted the eyewitnesss horrifying testimony at an event at the House of Lords on Wednesday as reports of sexual violence committed by the militants mount.

Mayor said the woman was at the Nova music festival on 7 October when Hamas launched its bloody assault on attendees. The eyewitness was forced to pretend to be dead while seeing women brutally and continually raped, said the Ch Supt. She saw a woman raped by a number of terrorists. The last one shot her in the head while still raping her.

Israeli soldiers inspect the burnt cars of festival-goers at the site of an attack on the Nova Festival by Hamas gunmen from Gaza (REUTERS)

Israeli Police are leading its biggest-ever national investigation into the militants attack on that day, including into the reports of sexual offences committed. Eyewitness accounts from survivors, first responders and police officers are key to the body of evidence they are building, said Mayor, as the vast majority of the victims of alleged sexual crimes are dead. There is evidence that rape and sexual violence occurred, she said, describing its use as a weapon of war.

Hamas has denied all allegations its militants committed sexual violence.

It comes as UN experts earlier this month called for full accountability for the alleged crimes committed against civilians in Israel in the 7 October attacks, including sexual torture, such as rapes and gang rapes, sexual assaults, mutilations and gunshots to genital areas. The experts said female bodies were found with their clothing pulled up to their waists, with underpants removed or torn or stained with blood.

An Israeli officer walks on the ground of the Nova music festival in Re'im, Israel after the event was attacked by Hamas on 7 October (EPA)

These acts constitute gross violations of international law, amounting to war crimes which, given the number of victims and the extensive premeditation and planning of the attacks, may also qualify as crimes against humanity, the experts said.

Speaking of how forensic evidence of sexual offences can quickly disappear, Alicia Kearns MP told The Independent: Sexual war crimes are the oldest war crimes in history, and they always take place because men know they can get away with it. Our job is to end the impunity.

Sheryl Sandberg, former chief operating officer of Meta and founder of LeanIn.org, told reporters at the event on Wednesday: There should be one thing we all agree on  rape can never be used as an act of war, ever, under any circumstances. We have to make sure this happens to women nowhere, anywhere on the globe.

Pictures of the festivalgoers who were killed or kidnapped during the 7 October attack by Hamas gunmen from Gaza (REUTERS)

It is almost impossible to fathom how these Israeli women spent the last moments of their lives. The intention of sexual violence is to generate fear  instead, we must generate justice.

Another survivor of the deadly Nova music festival attack recounted a testimony from a police officer who said they were unable to drive down a road because the bodies of a baby and a naked woman were blocking their way. Hundreds of bodies were arriving at identification centres with their genitals cut off, she said, with witnesses having seen Hamas cutting off peoples body parts.

Cherie Blair told reporters on Wednesday she felt humbled by the brave women sharing testimonies, while also feeling ashamed by the lack of response from countries like Britain. We cannot just put this to one side and say it doesnt matter, she said. We are going to make sure this is not ignored, not justified, not set to one side.

Alex Davies-Jones MP, the UKs Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding, said Jewish Womens Aid had told her it had seen a 70 per cent decrease in women coming forward to report sexual assault due to the issue of women not being believed. She said, If we dont bear witness, it has far-reaching consequences.
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A deadly drone strike on a US military base in Jordan has left US President Joe Biden with a difficult decision about how to respond.

Concerns have been growing over the spread of violence across the Middle East, linked to Israels war on Hamas in Gaza. That conflict was triggered by an attack by Hamas inside Israel in which around 1,200 people were killed and another 240 taken hostage. Hamas are allied to Iran and other Tehran-supported groups have launched strikes and linked it to the situation in Gaza, where health officials in the Hamas-controlled territory say more than 26,000 people have been killed.

Sundays drone strike was the most serious of more than 160 aerial assaults by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, Syria and now Jordan on US forces across the region since October.

The attack, carried out on Sunday, hit a base called Tower 22 where dozens of US soldiers were sleeping in bunks. Three soldiers were killed - the first US personnel since the attacks began - and more than 40 injured. Kataib Hezbollah, the armed faction of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-backed group, claimed the strike.

Mr Biden has said he has made a decision on how to respond, but has offered no details.

The Independent looks at why the US is yet to hit back, the options available to them and how far they are willing to go.

Why hasnt the US hit back yet?

Satellite imagery shows Tower 22 US military base (Planet Labs/AFP via Getty Images)

The Biden administration has made it clear it does not want to be dragged into a war with Iran, even if Washington blames them for supplyng the weapons used in strikes across the region.

They have other issues to focus on - think support for Ukraine against Russia and for Taiwan against China - and do not want a third front.

That this is an election year in the US is further disincentive for another war in the Middle East.

It is less than three years since Mr Biden finally withdrew US forces from Afghanistan after a 20-year war against Al-Qaeda and then its Taliban protectors.

That war wasnt popular then; another war in the Middle East would not be popular now.

Nonetheless, when US soldiers are killed, a response is necessary.

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Ryder said there would be consequences to the drone strike in Jordan (AP)

Addressing this week the deadly strikes on the Jordan base, Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder told reporters simply: There will be consequences.

Mr Biden, then, must balance three different objectives.

They include deterring Iran and its proxies from launching further attacks and preventing Iran from expanding its influence in the Middle East - all while avoiding a war.

What are the options?

Again, there are three main military options: to hit Iran-backed groups; to hit Iran directly or to engage in irregular warfare, including cyber attacks or covert operations.

The first option, to hit Iran-backed militia forces, is the most likely and the least risky.

Kataib Hezbollah has announced since the strike in Jordan that it has suspended attackjs on US forces, but that will have little impact on US decisions on whether to strike their positions.

Members of an Iraqi Shiite militant group attend the funeral of a fighter with the Kataib Hezbollah, who was killed in a US airstrike (AP)

Targeting Kataib Hezbollah would not be difficult but it risks damaging ties between Washington and Baghdad at a time when Iran is vying for more influence.

Dozens of other Iran-backed groups may also be hit, though it is unclear which ones could be targeted.

The second option, to hit Iran directly, is less likely and far riskier. However, as previous strikes on Iran-backed militias have failed to have a significant deterrent effect, direct assaults on mainland Iran could be more impactful.

Officials across the administration have said the US believes Iran bears responsibility for arming, funding and supporting the militias that have been waging an escalating campaign of drone, missile and rocket strikes on American forces.

I do hold them responsible in a sense because theyre supplying the weapons to the people who did it, Mr Biden said on Tuesday.

Striking inside Iran would send a strong, direct message to Tehran.

The US believes Irans Quds Forces chief, Esmail Qaani, is responsible for overseeing the funding of militias across the Middle East (AFP via Getty Images)

But the US will have to weigh the strength of that message against the risks of Iranian retaliation.

Iran said it would decisively respond to any US attack on the Islamic Republic following President Joe Bidens linking of Tehran to the killing of the three US soldiers in Jordan.

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in New York, said in a briefing to Iranian journalists late on Tuesday: The Islamic Republic would decisively respond to any attack on the county, its interests and nationals under any pretexts.

He described any possible Iranian retaliation as a strong response, without elaborating.

When the US killed the Iranian Quds Force leader, General Qassem Solemaini, the figurehead of Irans foreign military activity, Tehran responded by launching a barrage of ballistic missiles at al-Asad air base in Iraq.

The attacks injured dozens of US forces, with most suffering traumatic brain injuries.

The third option, according to experts, is cyber warfare or covert operations, which would likely involve attacks on high-ranking officials and military infrastructure.

How big will the US go?

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed to respond to Sundays drone attack with force.

The US response, he said, could be multi-levelled, come in stages, and be sustained over time.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the response would be multi-levelled ... and sustained over time

He said their response would be more forceful than their other retaliatory strikes on Iran-backed forces.

A former senior US military commander in the Middle East told The Financial Times that there will probably be several rounds of strikes targeting Iran-backed militias and the Iranian military stationed abroad.

But it is unclear if and how these responses will differ to their previous strikes on the militias, as well as their largely unsuccessful attacks on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been bombing commercial ships in the Red Sea and disrupting global maritime traffic.

What about non-military action?

An alternative option is economic sanctions - a punishment used routinely by the Biden administration and its predecessors.

Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for the administration to adopt an Iran policy focused on imposing meaningful economic and military costs on the regime.

The US could beef up sanctions aimed at cutting off the flow of funds to Iran and its proxies, particularly in Iraq.

The administration has already slapped sanctions on some of the Iraqi militias - notably Kataib Hezbollah - as well as on businesses believed to be funnelling dollars to the militias or to Iran.

But it remains unclear how effective sanctions would be at seriously gutting the arsenals of Iran and its militias. They have proved resilient in the past.

Additional measures include imposing sanctions on Irans oil exports - the US has seized millions of barrels of Iranian oil in the past - but that risks raising petrol prices for American drivers. During an election year, Mr Biden will be loath to risk the domestic backlash to such a move.
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Elon Musk may lose his position as the worlds richest person after a US judge ordered him to return a corporate payout worth nearly $56 billion.

A court in Delaware ruled on Tuesday that the SpaceX and Neuralink boss could not keep the massive pay package he received from Tesla, the electric car company that he has run since 2008.

Elon Musk attends a symposium on antisemitism in Poland, January 2024 (Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images)

The ruling was a victory for Tesla shareholders who had accused Mr Musk of effectively dictating the terms of his own pay to board members who were not truly independent of him.

If implemented, the court's order would slash Mr Musks estimated $200bn-plus fortune and probably drop him below Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and French fashion baron Bernard Arnault in the rankings of Earths wealthiest humans.

"Put simply, neither the compensation committee nor the board acted in the best interests of the company when negotiating Musks compensation plan. In fact, there is barely any evidence of negotiations at all," wrote judge Kathaleen McCormick.

She described Mr Musk as a "superstar CEO" who used his influence over the company and close ties with multiple board members to create a "deeply flawed" approval process that arrived at an "unfair price".

In response, Mr Musk quipped: Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware."

Tesla shares slipped by as much as 4 per cent in after-hours trading on Tuesday evening.

Both the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq exchange require the majority of a companys board of directors to be independent of the company before its shares can be traded on the open market.

During the trial, Teslas lawyers argued that the mammoth pay package  approved in 2018 by the board and then by shareholders  was necessary to keep one of the worlds foremost engineers focused on the firm.

At the time, Tesla was mired in production hell and struggling to produce its Model 3 sedan in large numbers. Mr Musks deal awarded him an extra 1 per cent of the companys shares for each commercial milestone that he reached.

This, Ms McCormick wrote, was "the largest potential compensation opportunity ever observed in public markets by multiple orders of magnitude".

Since then, the company has smashed past all 12 milestones and become one of the most valuable enterprises in the world, propelling Mr Musk from the mid-twenties of Forbes rich list all the way to the top.

At their peak, Teslas shares traded at nearly 14 times their value at the beginning of 2020, and even today  after a sustained period of economic gloom and a rough year for the company  they remain more than five times that level.

Antonia Gracias, who sat on Teslas board from 2007 to 2021, argued in court that it was a great deal for shareholders because it had led the company to new heights of success.

But in her ruling, McCormick argued that Mr Musk was already highly incentivised to run the company well because he owned 22 per cent of its shares.

Swept up by the rhetoric of all upside, or perhaps starry-eyed by Musks superstar appeal, the board never asked the $55.8 billion question: Was the plan even necessary for Tesla to retain Musk and achieve its goals? she wrote.

She said that Mr Musk had "extensive ties" with the people who negotiated his pay and had rendered the entire company "highly dependent" on him, noting his 2021 change of title from "CEO" to "Technoking".

She also said that shareholders had not been fully informed when they voted for the deal because the company's statement about it had obscured key directors' connection to Mr Musk.

At one point, Ms McCormick said, Mr Musk bluntly described an early version of the deal as "me negotiating against myself".
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Oh my god. Its a bear, Im almost sure of it, whispers wildlife guide Andrea De Angelis, handing me his thermal monocular and pointing to a spot on the adjacent hillside. The morning is ice cold and dawn still blankets the lumbering central Apennine mountains, which are a muted winter brown. We have set up on a treeless hillside a few miles from a farm; somewhere far away, cows are lowing in the lightening air. I pull off a glove and put the monocular up to my eye, scanning across the valley.

Its too big to be a wolf and it doesnt move like a deer. Definitely bear, says Andrea confidently. I scan around until I see the ghostly white outline of a large animal loping through the black-and-white frame. Suddenly the animal stops and turns sideways, and there it is: the distinctive outline of a Marsican brown bear.

Ive come on this wildlife-watching trip in central Italy with Wildlife Adventures, a tour agency that works closely with Rewilding Europe, the NGO working to boost rewilding conservation across the continent. The concept of rewilding is fairly new within nature conservation  it is a non-traditional approach focused on managing nature in such a way that it can begin to take its own course, so that natural processes will reshape and repair degraded ecosystems and landscapes.

The idea is that, through rewilding, Earths natural rhythms create freshly wild and newly biodiverse habitats on their own. The NGOs local branch, Rewilding Apennines, is tasked with tracking and populating several endangered and threatened species  animals that once roamed freely across central Italy  and works toward human-wildlife coexistence in these rural communities.

Wildlife guide Andrea De Angelis hikes through the wilderness (Megan Eaves)

Read more on Italy travel:

Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, where we are standing, was founded in 1923 and protects the Apennine wolf, Apennine chamois (a type of antelope), gryphon vultures and the endemic Marsican brown bear, a critically endangered variety of the Eurasian brown bear that survives in and around the park. Were lucky to spot one  Rewilding Apennines estimates only 60 to 90 individual bears are left. They typically start hibernating around December or earlier, but their habits are shifting due to global warming.

Tourism is a powerful aid to rewilding efforts here. The presence of wildlife draws visitors, who stimulate the economy and provide new livelihoods for locals in otherwise under-visited, rural mountain communities. Valerio Reale, enterprise officer for Rewilding Apennines, tells me that they have formed a small network of tourism providers  local artisans, small enterprises, brewers, cheesemakers and accommodation owners  who support the rewilding efforts and enrich travellers experiences with, for example, small-batch cheese-and-beer pairings, boutique B&Bs, Montepulciano vineyard tours (where you might just spot bear tracks) and markets that sell local honey, craft cider and prized black truffles.

One of the main strengths of this area is the combination of interesting products and the coexistence with wild animals, says Reale. Were driven by this idea that there is more to this region than the ski destination. And so we do lots of community events and we organise rewilding weeks and weekends, which are all tools for us as an NGO to raise awareness on rewilding in Italy and to support the local economy, support local jobs and give visibility to some interesting products.

The Marsican brown bear gets its name from a local tribe that pre-dated the Romans (Antonio Monaco)

Rewilding Apennines also runs Rewilding Experiences  weekend and week-long tours that include hands-on conservation science and education, alongside wildlife watching and visiting local artisans. Activities usually involve checking camera traps, building electric fences or tracking and cataloguing wildlife movements.

Reale tells me they are finding that more and more, people want to get their hands in the soil. They dont want to hear the story, they want to see the story, he says. Many want to spend time in the mountains removing barbed wire and things like that. Rewilding Apennines only hosts a few such experiences per year and these often sell out quickly  its worth keeping an eye on its website for dates and registration.

Back on the hillside, I am shivering while dawn has started to break in a sweep of magentas over the eastern horizon. The bear has moved on but Andrea has spotted something else. Something smaller this time. Something four-legged and wiry. Something I came here desperately hoping to see: a wild wolf.

He hastily trains the spotting scope onto the area while I keep watch through the thermal monocular. The wolf is on the move, heading up the hillside in search of higher ground.

Its likely been out hunting all night and looking for a place to rest, says Andrea, and sure enough, a few minutes later, the wolf comes to a halt on some boulders. It takes some serious skill with the scope but eventually, Andrea locates the wolf, its ruddy hackles, stone-grey fur and black-tipped tail blending in perfectly with the Abruzzan landscape.

The writer spotted a wolf, who did a fine job of blending into the landscape (Andrea De Angelis/Wildlife Adventures)

I fall immediately in love with this creature, whose floppy ears and cute, grinning snout stand in stark contrast to the ideas that society has ingrained us to believe about wolves. I know in theory I probably wouldnt survive an attack by this animal but if not friend, why friend-shaped? In reality, wolves in this area present very little risk to humans and will shy away from people, thanks largely to the work that the National Park and Rewilding Apennines do to keep wolf territories secluded from hikers and hunters.

Andrea and I stand together, taking turns peering through the scope watching the wolf nest in the rocks, occasionally sniffing the air or standing to reposition. Eventually, Andrea spots two more wolves trotting down a hillside farther away, musing that they are probably all part of the same pack, which prowls this specific ridgeline as its home territory.

The following day, we take a short but steep hike up the adjacent spine of mountains away from the packs territory. We dont spot any wolves in this part of the park, but there are several herds of red deer orbiting around us, including a magnificent group of stags, their giant antlers bobbing as they trot through a cluster of thick pines. There are also gryphon vultures and two golden eagles circling quietly overhead. At the top of the climb, on a saddle between two peaks, we toss our backpacks on the ground, fix our eyes on the mountainsides, and munch silently on local bread, salami and cheese  all made within a few miles of here.

Sitting here, where it feels remote and with wild animals roaming freely all around, it seems unfathomable that one of Europes biggest and most ancient cities  Rome  is only a 90-minute drive away. And that is the whole point of rewilding conservation: rather than aiming to restore an arbitrary baseline from the past, it seeks instead to allow nature to become wild anew in its own way, alongside humans  and to re-teach humans how to live alongside wildlife, too. The aim is a balanced ecosystem that allows communities and nature to coexist harmoniously. Spending time out here, in this small patch of re-flourishing biodiversity in the heart of Europe, seems a great way to get started.

Make it happen

Wildlife Adventures offers three-day, two-night trips for 240 (206) per person, which includes self-catering accommodation in a historic house in Pescasseroli. It also offers coordinated bespoke trips to visit local artisans or treks with an overnight stay in a mountain hut. You should be reasonably fit for mountain hiking and early morning excursions.

For an all-inclusive trip, Exodus Travels offers a longer six-day trip designed in partnership with Rewilding Apennines, including a 4-star hotel stay, hearty meals in local restaurants and trekking guides.

From the UK, take Eurostar plus international trains to Rome, or fly to Rome Ciampino and hire a car.

Read more on the best hotels in Italy
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When an Air France plane went tech in the Caribbean last month, business-class passengers were given hotel rooms, while those in the cheap seats had to sleep at the airport.

On 9 December Air France flight AF499 was due to fly non-stop from the Caribbean airport on St Martin to Paris. Instead of going direct, the Airbus A330 flew 160 miles southeast to Pointe-a-Pitre airport on the island of Guadeloupe.

The reason given: the need to refuel the 22-year-old jet because of unfavourable headwinds on the transatlantic crossing.

Night view: Camp beds at the airport at Guadeloupe after an Air France jet went tech' (Laura, a passenger)

One passenger, Laura from the north of England, picks up the story: We landed at Guadeloupe around 6pm and were told it would take an hour to refuel  so we would arrive into Paris around 90 minutes later [than scheduled].

After a period of time we were informed that there was an issue with the electronics and an engineer was working on it.

We were left on the aircraft on the tarmac for five hours. We received food and a soft drink only at 10pm.

The captain informed us that the problem couldnt be fixed and we would be sorted with hotel accommodation overnight.

At around 11pm they disembarked the business-class passengers and held everyone else back. They were sent to hotels. The rest of us arrived in the airport terminal to find camp beds and bottles of water.

Under European air passengers rights rules, Air France was required to provide hotels for travellers in the event of an overnight delay.

While the airline insists there were insufficient rooms on the island for all the stranded travellers, some passengers say hotels had space  which a number of people booked at their own expense.

I personally didnt, said Laura. As a lone female traveller with no knowledge of the island I didnt want to risk putting myself into a situation which may have been unsafe.

A handful of staff were around in the terminal, but soon left the passengers to fend for themselves overnight.

There were elderly people and people with children, all left with no food, no information and camp beds, said Laura.

The following morning, the in-flight breakfast provisions were taken off the aircraft and given to the passengers.

The flight eventually left around 24 hours late, with all connections at Paris Charles de Gaulle having been missed.

A spokesperson for Air France said: At the time of the incident, Pointe-a-Pitre airport staff were faced with an unexpected number of passengers needing assistance due to the cancellation of the Air France flight.

To manage the situation, they did their utmost to find accommodation for all the passengers on board. Once hotel accommodation was arranged for those who required assistance and vulnerable passengers, the rest of the limited allocation of rooms went to some business-class passengers.

In response, Laura told The Independent: I spent the night talking with a couple in their eighties  one of whom I had to help walk off the plane and buy them a hot chocolate the next morning as they needed looking after. They should have been given accommodation.

If passengers are not provided with hotels, they do not have the right to claim for the failure  unless they found and paid for accommodation, in which case they can claim back the cost.

Laura concluded: Hopefully Air France will put contingencies into place to ensure this does not happen again.

She has applied to the airline for compensation for the delay  which should total 600 (514)  but has not yet had a response from Air France.
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The prime minister has been accused of playing games rather than trying to help resolve the long-running train drivers dispute as another strike caused travel disruption across parts of England.

Members of Aslef on some of the busiest commuter routes, including many into London, walked out on Tuesday, crippling services on operators such as Southern, SouthEastern, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway.

Some areas had no trains all day, forcing many people onto the roads, leading to huge traffic jams in parts of the country.

Train drivers at Northern Trains and the TransPennine Express are striking today (31 January) as part of a rolling programme of action until early next week in a bitter row over pay and conditions.

None of the operators hit by strikes used new regulations aimed at ensuring a minimum level of service during industrial action.

Read more: January, February and March train strike dates  everything you need to know about rail disruption

Downing Street said it will consider if they can strengthen minimum service level (MSL) rules after train operators opted not to use the new law during strikes.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: This is something that the rail companies have asked for and we have delivered it for them.

We believe they should be ready to use the legislation to reduce the impact of rail strikes on passengers, but we are always open to looking at how we can strengthen the rules around MSLs to ensure they deliver for the best interests of passengers. Thats something we will continue to look at and of course we will keep discussing with the rail companies themselves.

Sources told the PA news agency that rail companies had not asked for the regulations amid warnings from unions and opposition politicians that they were unworkable.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak told PA: This is a desperate attempt to distract from the Governments failings. Employers from rail to health warned months ago these new laws are unworkable and would escalate industrial tensions.

The PM should stop playing games and help resolve this dispute.

A spokesperson for Rail Delivery Group, said: Minimum Service Level legislation is one of many useful tools for managing strike disruption, but it is not a silver bullet.

Operators guiding principle is always to make sure they can offer the best, most reliable services possible for their passengers on and around industrial action days, and to do that they need to make careful assessments of their own particular operational circumstances before deciding the best way forward.

Meanwhile, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) announced a strike by London Overground workers in a separate dispute over pay.

More than 300 union members will walk out for 48 hours on 19 February and again on 4 March.

Security, station, revenue and control staff are among those taking industrial action.

Aslef says it has not met with Transport Secretary Mark Harper for more than a year despite a series of strikes which have caused travel misery and cost industries such as hospitality tens of millions of pounds in lost business.

A Department of Transport spokesperson said on Monday: Aslefs leadership is refusing to let their members vote on an offer that would see the average train drivers salary increase to 65,000.

The Transport Secretary and Rail Minister have already facilitated talks that led to this fair and reasonable offer from industry  Aslef bosses should put it to their members so we can resolve the dispute, which has already happened with the RMT, TSSA and Unite unions.

With passenger revenues not having recovered since the pandemic, the taxpayer has had to prop up the railways with 12 billion in the past year alone  these strikes will not change the need for urgent workplace reforms that Aslef continue to block.

It is understood that rail industry sources do not recognise the idea that the Government was asked to bring forward these new laws.

But the rail industry did engage throughout the process of the legislation being drafted.
A husband who has three wives has hailed their polyamorous relationship as a way of helping them "thrive."

Mazayah Andrews, 38, and his partners Stephanie Almonte, 30, Rosa Zelaya, 30, and Dezeray Carrera, 23, from Miami, Florida, spoke to This Morning hosts Rylan Clark and Rochelle Humes on Tuesday (30 January) about their family's way of life.

The quad, who call Andrews their "king", have 11 children living under the same roof.

"The house is always clean, we have multiple houses, condos and properties, so we thrive with each other in the household," Andrews said.
Robert Garcia mocked Donald Trump's ideas for border security during a hearing to advance the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday, 30 January.

With a picture of a huge reptile held up behind him, the Democratic Representative said: "Donald Trump has said that he wants to build alligator moats on the border, that's one of his incredible ideas.

It comes as the former president, who is campaigning to be the 2024 Republican presidential nominee, said he will send Texas "reinforcements" to deal with border control if elected president in the upcoming election.
Lindsey Graham told Mark Zuckerberg he has blood on his hands during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation on Wednesday, 31 March.

The Meta CEO appeared alongside tech leaders from TikTok, X/Twitter, Discord, and Snap to answer lawmakers questions on the steps their companies are taking to keep children safe online.

The California-based tech giant has been sued by several states that allege it knowingly and deliberately designed features on Instagram and Facebook to make them addictive to children, and has not protected them from online predators.

You have blood on your hands. You have a product thats killing people, Mr Graham said as applause rang out.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On January 30, Chinese power battery giant CATL disclosed its annual performance forecast for 2023, anticipating a net profit attributable to shareholders ranging between 42.5 billion yuan and 45.5 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 38.31% to 48.07%. After deducting non-recurring gains and losses, the net profit is projected to be between 38.5 billion yuan and 41.5 billion yuan, with a year-on-year jump of 36.46% to 47.09%.

Photo credit: CATL

This positive outlook is attributed to the sustained rapid growth in the domestic and international new energy industries, continuous expansion of the power battery and energy storage market, and a clear trend towards clean energy transformation under the "Dual Carbon" goals, said CATL. As a global leader in new energy innovation and technology, CATL has contributed to this growth by intensifying R&D efforts, introducing cutting-edge product solutions, and expanding services. CATL added the company's commitment to innovation has led to the successful implementation of new technologies and products, accelerated overseas market penetration, deepened customer cooperation, and achieved both rapid production and sales growth and notable economic benefits.

CATL's strategic collaborations have played a pivotal role in its success. The three-year strategic cooperation agreement signed with MHERO in early January, the new energy off-roader brand of Dongfeng Motor Group, notably features the "CATL Inside" logo on the the M-Hero 917 new energy off-road SUV model.

Further strengthening its position in the industry, CATL announced the establishment of a joint venture for battery swapping businesses with DiDi Chuxing ("DiDi"), the Chinese ride-hailing titan. The collaboration aims to rapidly deploy battery swapping stations, promote battery swappable vehicle models, enhance the operational efficiency of the public energy replenishment market, and drive the green transformation of transportation.

In addition to the joint venture, CATL has expressed a strategic cooperation intention with DiDi's subsidiary, Orange Energy, focusing on broader collaboration in areas such as energy storage and electric vehicle charging integration.
Two New York Police Department (NYPD) officers were assaulted while attempting to arrest a male suspect in Times Square.

CCTV footage from the incident on Saturday 27 January shows officers trying to disperse a group in front of a building on West 42nd Street before a scuffle breaks out.

The suspects are then seen punching and kicking police, before running off towards 7th Ave.

One lieutenant suffered a cut to his face, while the other officer had injuries to the side of his body, according to local reports.

Five people have been arrested, accused of assault or attempted assault on a police officer and gang assault.
Rishi Sunak took a swipe at Rachel Reeves during Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday, 31 January.

The Prime Minister and Keir Starmer were going back and forth over tax cuts in the Commons when he brought up the Shadow Chancellors comments.

In Davos she said she did back tax cuts, but back here in Westminster, she called them a scorched earth policy, he said towards her.

He followed up the remark with a jibe, saying: She obviously cant decide which Wikipedia page to copy this week.

Mr Sunak was likely referring to her 2023 book The Women Who Made Modern Economics which was found to have plagiarised paragraphs from Wikipedia.
Plumes of smoke filled the air in South Africa as a wildfire raged near a small town close to Cape Town on Tuesday, 30 January.

Firefighters continued to fight the blaze, which had forced the temporary evacuation of the town, on Wednesday.

Pringle Bay was ordered to evacuate on Tuesday, but residents were later allowed to return to their homes.

Households in Bett's Bay were ordered to evacuate on Wednesday.

Helicopters were dispatched in effort to contain the fire, flying over the flames and dumping water on the blaze.
A hiker who fainted on a mountain in Spain was airlifted to safety by the civil guard and local firefighters.

Responding to a call around 4:30pm on Monday 29 January, authorities located the hiker on Pico de la Tinosa, the highest mountain in the province of Cordoba, which rises to 1,570 metres above sea level.

Footage released by Spains Guardia Civil shows the rescue unfolding.

The hiker was taken to the town of Priego de Cordoba for medical attention after being airlifted to safety.
James Cleverly hailed impressive French efforts on illegal migration as he met his French counterpart in Paris, with the pair promising to build closer ties to tackle crossings in the Channel.

The meeting between the home secretary and French interior minister Gerald Darmanin on Tuesday evening (30 January) came as Rishi Sunak hopes to show progress in his promise to stop the boats.

More than 1,000 migrants have arrived in the UK so far this year after crossing the Channel, as Mr Cleverly acknowledged that figures were comparable to last year.
The View hosts walked on set on Monday (29 January) to The Apprentices theme tune as Whoopi Goldberg mocked the show's former host Donald Trump.

In the show's opening segment, the actor and comedian explained the reference to the audience.

"You-know-who has to pay money, money, money, money  $83.3m," Goldberg joked.

It comes after a New York jury ordered Mr Trump on Friday to pay the huge sum to to retired magazine columnist E Jean Carroll in damages for having defamed her.
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Three years ago, during a row with the actor and political activist Laurence Fox on social media over a supermarket chains support for Black History Month, he called me a paedophile for no reason whatsoever.

At that moment, things could have gone one of a couple of ways. I could have turned a blind eye, and that would have been the end of it. Theres a totally different timeline of events in which I just let his comment slide.

But I chose to take Fox to the High Court and sue him for defamation. Im glad now that I did.

Yesterday, I was vindicated when the judge described him labelling me and another man, Simon Blake, a former Stonewall trustee, as paedophiles as seriously harmful, defamatory and baseless.

Drag artist Crystal speaks out after Laurence Fox loses High Court battle

The moment Fox called me a paedophile, I felt I had to do something. Its a slur Ive seen normalised and weaponised, particularly against the trans community and the drag community and anyone whos gender non-conforming.

I needed to have my name cleared and for this incredibly damaging allegation to have been ruled as a baseless attack. I hope it goes some way to restoring my reputation. Im also very satisfied with the win on its own, for the principle of it. The trope about gay men being paedophiles is as old as the hills, and I felt it was important to challenge it.

Every now and then, you need to remind people that defamation has consequences  particularly if anyone is stupid enough to do it from a verified account  and that those consequences might be ruinous.

For some, anti-gay bigotry never died but they realised it had become socially unacceptable for them to express it out loud, so they found a new avenue where they feel emboldened and think that theyre going to get away with it. Calling someone a paedophile, or groomers, or nonces, is often the first line of attack, a new way of framing very old homophobia  and its all bound up in a modern trans panic.

Its hard to say whats going on with Laurence Fox because he contradicts himself daily. Just last night, he was saying hed won the case, even though he lost  now this morning, hes saying he lost and how devastated he is. I think he will say whatever he needs to to maintain attention on him.

One of the interesting things that came up in court was an email he sent, saying (and I paraphrase): Im getting a huge wad of cash for this game, and I suppose its better to be hated and rich than hated and fired from a job in a supermarket.

Who can say how much of what he says he actually believes, and what is said just to agitate and rile up his base? Frustratingly, he is also trying to play the victim and the martyr when the nasty things he says have consequences.

What was remarkable was how great a poker face the judge had. She had to watch Fox throwing out the n-word, and doing the haka  twice.

There was one day in the courtroom when the clerks sat in a row under the judges chair, taking notes, and there was a black man, a Muslim woman and a trans woman, and they were all sat there, listening to Fox on the stand. And you could see that they were trying very hard to remain neutral and composed in the face of the absolute rubbish coming out of his mouth. You could just see their bodies react.

At one point in court, a barrister was trying to get him to agree that some things are racist, and he wouldnt agree to anything. He constantly equivocated. And so she said: Well, lets try and agree on this: if someone said, I hate black people, would that always be racist? And he said: Well, its so difficult because youre being subjective. If a man has just been released from a Ugandan jail where hes been gang-raped by several men and he walks out and he says, I hate black people, its a sort of understandable response. Youve got to be specific. The mind boggles.

I went on Sky News this morning to discuss the case, and Kay Burley asked me if I had any sympathy for Fox. I havent seen a second of genuine remorse or accountability or reflection from him. Its always doubling down and digging the hole deeper. I think until he demonstrates some actual willingness to examine his behaviours, I cant feel anything for him except contempt.

The things Ive had to put up with over the past three or so years have been disgusting. Ive been physically threatened, in person, even at Pride gigs. Ive had emails saying if I ever show my face in Southend again, Ill get whats coming to me. Its been years of pretty relentless abuse. I cant attribute it to Fox directly but none of it happened before our run-in  and the judge was keen to point that out in her ruling.

I thought about coming off social media, to back away from it, but its how I make my living as a drag performer. Its how I get work, how I get bookings. Im not prepared to sacrifice my freedom and my ability to do the job I love because someone else is trying to make it unpleasant for me.

When I embarked on all this, I was assured by my fantastic legal team (shout out to Mark Lewis) the whole way through that we had a really good case. Now, Im just so relieved, like a huge weight has come off that I almost didnt realise I was holding because its been so long.

Its very satisfying, very gratifying  and nice to know it has all been worth it. Damages and costs havent been awarded yet but I hope they will reflect the harm that has been caused to me.

I notice Fox has been making noises that he wants to appeal. Im hopeful that permission wont be granted. I mean, running his own political party, hes a busy man. Presumably, hes got multiple elections to lose.

Crystal is a drag performer and TV personality and was a contestant in the first series of RuPauls Drag Race UK
Accounts say the firm is engaged in several ongoing legal proceedings

A management firm owned by businessman Patrick McKillen Sr has made a provision for 25m of management fee contracts which are currently the subject of legal proceedings.

That is according to new accounts for Mr McKillens Hume Street Management Consultants which show that the company recorded a loss of 1.65m in 2022.

Mr McKillen is currently in dispute with the Qatari owners of the Maybourne luxury hotel group and the new Hume Street accounts state that the company is engaged in several ongoing legal proceedings in France, the UK and the US, some of which are confidential.

Signed off on January 15, the note states that the financial statements include a provision for income associated with claims being pursued by the company in these proceedings.

The note states however, these proceedings are ongoing and their respective outcomes have not been determined.

In the row with the Qatari owners of the Maybourne group, Mr McKillen claims he is owed billions of pounds under an agreement to share future profits struck with the Qataris at the time of the 2015 sale, which valued Claridges, the Connaught and the Berkeley at 1.3bn (1.5bn).

The terms of the contract reportedly confirm Mr McKillen is in line for 36pc of the upside valuation of the hotels minus capital expenditure.

In 2022, the Maybourne group confirmed that it had not renewed its management contract with Hume Street Management Consultants.

The business with the Maybourne Group was worth 3.75m per annum to Hume Street and the non-renewal of the work coincided with the McKillen firm recording a loss in 2022.

The McKillen company recorded a post tax profit of 7m in 2021.

The McKillen firm paid out of a dividend of 1.09m in 2022 and this followed a dividend payout of 8.8m in 2021.

The dividend payout of 1.09m combined with the post-tax loss of .65m reduced accumulated losses from 4.4m to 1.66m.

A note attached states Mr McKillen has agreed to provide continued financial support to ensure the company can meet its liabilities as they fall due.

The note states that furthermore, Mr McKillen and related parties have confirmed that they will not seek payment for amounts owed to him until the company has adequate funding available to repay the amounts due.

Numbers employed increased by one to nine.

Pay to directors was 219,715 that included 53,000 in pension payments.

In a note attached to the Maybourne Group-controlled Coroin Ltd accounts in a reference to the McKillen row, it states that Coroin is a claimant in ongoing confidential arbitral proceedings against a service provider which involve a disputed counterclaim by the service provider against the company.

The note adds: That counterclaim concerns sums that allegedly became payable by the company to the service provider for the accounting period January 23rd 2022 to December 31st 2022.

The note concludes that the directors dont believe the outcome will have a material impact on the accounts.
Planning delays, including judicial reviews, can add 20,000 to the cost of a new home. Photo: Jason Alden

Irish houses and apartments are bigger, have higher specifications and are built to higher environmental standards than in Britain and Northern Ireland, making them more expensive.

The relatively large minimum sizes, energy ratings and other standards are laid down in planning rules that are more stringent here than in the neighbouring housing markets, including north of the Border, according to a new report from the ESRI.

Planning delays, including judicial reviews that can add 20,000 to the cost of a new home, also drive up costs here.

Meanwhile, limited access to construction finance from the private sector means the Government is increasingly likely to have to step in to ensure building does not slow down.

The ESRI report, Contrasting Housing Supply in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, which is published today, was done in partnership with the Shared Island Unit in the Department of the Taoiseach.

It draws on new and existing research comparing factors such as the scale and type of building undertaken in each jurisdiction as well as labour, finance, planning and the cost of materials to compare output and make recommendations to improve supply here.

Recommendations from the report include cutting the number of planning authorities to streamline the system.

This would potentially result in multiple local authorities sharing a joint planning arm and the introduction of pre-planning local area consultations to win buy-in for development in advance and reduce appeals, currently in place in Scotland.

Professor Kieran McQuinn, one of the authors of the report, said a key finding is the need for government funding to ensure the supply of affordable homes. Provision of social housing has dropped to historical lows across all of the markets examined.

The research shows that you do need government investment over time to ensure a consistent level of supply, but that right now there is a particularly pressing need for an above-normal level of support to get levels up, he said.

The report found the construction sector here is more sensitive to house price movements than England in particular, with evidence that an anticipation of house price increases leads to greater supply, while declining confidence in prices sees developers slow down output.

The authors say better regulation of land supply could alleviate some of the effects of that tendency. They also found the relatively bigger hit to Ireland from the global financial crisis has left deeper scars and significantly limited the availability of construction finance.

The traditional financial sector is not able to provide the requisite amount of credit for the necessary level of housing activity, the report found, increasing the need for the State to step in to ensure provision of affordable homes.

Limited access to financing may be exacerbated by the fact that question marks over the financial viability of new schemes were cited as a concern among industry people interviewed as part of the report.

The gap between affordability and build costs has been the main driver of taxpayer-funded home-buyer supports, including the Help-to-Buy scheme.

The research found some reasons homes being built in Ireland cost more than their UK equivalents include larger floor areas, which are set down under planning rules; higher energy standards, though that gap is predicted to close; and higher specifications per unit.

Based on a previous study published by the Department of Housing, the result is a premium of as much as 29pc to build a three-bed semi-detached home in Dublin compared with Birmingham.

Higher labour costs here are a factor, but the bulk of the cost difference reflects the larger size  110sq m in Ireland versus 93sq m  and higher fit-outs with en suites and built-in wardrobes seen as extras in Birmingham but standard in Dublin for new homes.
Samsungs top phone sees improvements in cameras, power, screen quality and design. But it is the new AI features that make it really interesting and also where it sometimes struggles

After 10 days testing Samsungs Galaxy S24 Ultra, its pretty clear that this is the best, most powerful flagship Android phone you can buy. It costs more (from 1,469) than almost any other Android, but it cant really be beaten.

Its physical design is improved, its screen is substantially improved, its battery is excellent and its camera system is, once again, top of the line in the Android world.

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a built-in S Pen stylus

But its extra appeal may be in the slew of new AI features which, while shared with the less expensive S24 and S24 Plus models, make it one of the most compelling software experiences on any recently-launched phone.

The one that most people will use quickly is circle to search. On any screen on your phone  a photo, a web page youre on, or whatever  just long press the home button and it will invite you to circle (with your finger or the S Pen) whatever you want on the screen. Once you do that, it will instantly call up results via a reverse Google image search.

In general, I have found that it works very well for most things, from landmarks to celebrities to animals to food. For example, it recognised most photos of city-centre buildings in Dublin I threw at it. I also found that, when watching a movie, I could quickly snap a photo of the actor and then look them up quicker than it would take to google [film] cast and then click on the right one.

It can also be potentially useful for those who scroll a lot of Instagram or TikTok, as it will throw up things like recipes for circle-searches you do around bits of food, or clothes-shopping sources for garments you circle.

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra has a new 5x camera lens

To be clear, this isnt a Samsung-exclusive feature  its rolling out on Googles Pixel 8 range right now and Id expect to see it on more Android phones over time. But the S24 models are the first to get it.

What is a Samsung exclusive AI feature is instant translation within telephone calls. This translates your voice or text into another language instantaneously and vice versa, once youre using the native Samsung calling or texting app. Its something of a wow feature on paper but, while it does work, its more than a little rough. For a start, its not quite instantaneous, taking a second or two sometimes to get the translation sorted.

But the main challenge in this early implementation is accuracy. When I spoke into it to translate my remarks into German, it completely mistook what I was saying more than a bit of the time. (It gives you a written transcript of your utterances, as well as speaking the translated language for the person on the other end of the line, so I could see that it quite often mangled what I was saying.)

Im not sure its my Irish accent, as transcription services such as Otter understand me just fine  I think its just a slightly weaker voice recognition engine that Samsung is using. Hopefully, it will get better as right now I dont think I could depend on it, especially for any kind of important call.

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra comes in four colours

Other fairly impressive uses of AI on the phone include the ability to make summaries and bullet points out of notes and some fairly advanced photo-editing tricks (see below).

In fact, theres a whole list of new AI things that Samsung has in a new menu called Advanced Intelligence.

One thing to remember about these Galaxy AI features is that theyre not exclusive to the S24 Ultra  theyre available to all of the S24 range. Thats a good thing for creating the widest-possible audience for Samsungs latest AI interface tools. But it also means that the actual differentiator of an S24 Ultra over, say a cheaper S24 or S24 Plus, remains the hardware and cameras.

Ill start with the cameras which are still, in my opinion, the clearest hardware difference between the S24 Ultra and the standard S24 models.

And theyre truly excellent here.

Samsung has changed the order of things around a little from last year. It has swapped of the four optical lenses  the top 10x optical lens  for a 5x optical lens.

That means you now have a separate 0.6x, 1x, 3x and 5x lens (zoomable up to 100x digital), instead of last years 0.6x, 1x, 3x and 10x lenses.

Samsung appears to have done this to improve the quality of the zoom shots between 5x and 10x which, last year, were stretched digital shots from the 3x lens; now theyre clearer, less stretched images from the 5x optical lens.

Of course, the price to be paid for this might be in the longer end of the zoom photos and videos. If you want to take a shot or video at 20x zoom, for example, youre now digitally stretching the 5x lens four times instead of the 10x lens two times.

Samsung has tried to compensate by making the resolution of the new 50-megapixel 5x lens a lot higher than last years 10x lens, meaning that you can digitally crop in further and still see similar resolution because of the greater number of megapixels. I no longer have an S23 Ultra to directly compare the two phones zooms, but I recently posted examples of some 100x photos I took from the S24 Ultra lens and theyre not, to my eye, any worse looking than photos I posted last year when testing the S23 Ultra.

Basically, Samsung thinks that when youre using the zoom, youre more likely to want shots and videos under 10x than over 10x and has rearranged the lenses to maximise the quality in that regard. I think that this is, overall, the right estimate and its a good thing that they did it.

(One extra bonus is that the 5x optical lens takes relatively nice, mid-zoom portrait shots of people, something that wasnt possible on last years S23 Ultra.)

Other smaller, but still noteworthy, upgrades include faster shutter speeds (an issue with Samsung phones compared to iPhones), 4K video at 120 frames-per-second (fps) in Pro mode and the ability to zoom between lenses while recording at 4K 60fps (which you cant do on the S23 Ultra).

But AI is also an important feature in the updated cameras system. The S24 Ultra can photoshop photos in quite a convincing way, moving objects (or people) within photos or removing them altogether. If you delete something from a photo, the cameras AI tech then fills in the gap left with what it thinks looks like continuity from the rest of the photo. For the most part, it works pretty well; sometimes if you look closely, you can see a slight fuzziness in the replacement background where the removed object or person was.

Google was the first to introduce this feature on its Pixel phones two years ago, but it works nicely here too.

If youre into videography, theres quite an impressive AI feature that lets you create slow-motion videos out of any video youve already taken, by just long-pressing on the video. What the phone does is to create new frames that look seamless to the ones youve shot, stitching them in between the video frames youve actually shot. The effect is, artificially, more frames in your video which allows it to do a slow motion version of it.

From a physical design perspective, there are some tiny physical differences between last years S23 Ultra and the S24 Ultra. The new model is slightly wider and very slightly thinner than its predecessor; it also now has tougher, light titanium as frame instead of aluminium and the glass is completely flat (an improvement over the slightly curved aesthetic of last year and most previous high-end Samsung flagships).

That glass is a little tougher than last years version and is also a bit less reflective on a sunny day or with a bright light overhead.

The overall feel of the handset is still a little too angular in the corners for my pocket threadings liking, but it still feels to me like a design upgrade.

Just as it has been every year, the Ultras main physical distinction over any other flagship phone is still the built-in S Pen stylus, which is nice and responsive and clicks nicely back into place inside the lower left corner of the phone.

Other than the difference in glass quality, the display technology is worth talking about on its own merits as its probably one of the phones biggest technical upgrades. Its peak brightness capability (again, think about using it on a sunny day) is way, way brighter than last years S23 Ultra  2,600 nits compared to 1,750 nits. Thats a genuinely serious upgrade that anyone using this daily will really, really appreciate.

As for engine-power, the under-the-hood upgrades here should leave even the most demanding mobile user fairly happy. Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, slightly modified for this phone, is now benchmarked as the most powerful phone chip you can get (slightly surpassing Apples A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro). This, allied with a bump from 8GB to 12GB of Ram, creates an absolute beast that cant really be topped by any mainstream rival.

Aware of the gaming opportunities this presents, Samsung has almost doubled the size of vapour chamber (compared to the S23 Ultra), meaning longer playing time without needing a break to let things cool down.

The extra graphics firepower can also be seen with the addition of ray tracing  which is used for more lifelike lighting effects like shadows and reflections  in the phones arsenal.

The S24 Ultras battery life is very, very good  noticeably better than last years S23 Ultra, which was already absolutely adequate. I could usually get a day-and-a-half out of a single charge with normal usage, putting it within range of the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max, the current phone battery kings.

Finally, the S24 Ultra gives seven full years of Android updates, which is considerably more than anyone else in the Android world and which means that this phone should, if you take care of it, be fully usable for several years.

Overall, this is  again  the reference phone for Android. It doesnt really get any more comprehensive or high-performing than this S24 Ultra.

You can see where Samsung  and most phone makers  are now going; the phones are to become way smarter and faster at letting you do everyday stuff.

The S24 Ultra comes in a choice of four colours  Titanium Grey, Titanium Black, Titanium Yellow or Titanium Violet. It starts at 1,469 for 256GB and  at the time of writing  costs 1,589 for the 1TB variant.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- BYD, a global frontrunner in the new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturing sector, commenced the initial stage of its NEV production facility in Hungary by officially signing the Preliminary Sales and Purchase Agreement with the government of Szeged city on January 30, 2024.

The move marks a significant breakthrough in BYD's localization efforts in the European region, said the company.

A state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is set to be constructed in Szeged, situated in the southeastern region of Hungary. This facility will be exclusively devoted to manufacturing BYD electric vehicles targeted for the European market.

Photo credit: BYD

Notably, the Szeged facility will stand as the inaugural passenger vehicle manufacturing plant built in Europe by a Chinese automotive company.

Peter Szijjarto, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, expressed, "BYD's decision to establish its first European new energy passenger car factory in Hungary is one of the largest and most crucial investment projects in Hungarian history. The construction of this project will further strengthen Hungary's economic position, fortify the foundations for long-term economic growth, and enhance Hungary's standing in the global electric vehicle transformation. Both the central and local governments in Hungary are committed to providing comprehensive support for BYD's complete vehicle plant project, accelerating its early production and operation."

Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD, expressed, "As the world's largest new energy vehicle company, BYD is pleased to bring our highly advanced processes and highly automated production lines to Hungary, supporting the local transition to electrification. In the future, through localized manufacturing, BYD will accelerate the creation of products with European localized brand attributes, fostering closer business exchanges and complementary cooperation with Europe, jointly promoting green and low-carbon transformation in the industry and global sustainable development."

In December of last year, BYD announced the construction of a new energy passenger vehicle production base in Szeged, Hungary, becoming the first Chinese automaker to build a passenger vehicle factory in the European Union region. The factory is expected to be completed and go into operation within three years, focusing on producing passenger car models for sale in Europe. The construction of the factory will create thousands of jobs locally, contributing to Hungary's green economic transformation.
Court orders broker to let AerCap have insurance documents

Ruling relates to $3.5bn case over 116 jets and 23 engines seized in Russia after sanctions had been imposed

AerCap chief executive Gus Kelly. Photo: Aidan Crawley/Bloomberg

John Mulligan Wed 31 Jan 2024 at 03:30







A specialty insurance and reinsurance broker has been ordered by London High Court to disclose documentation to Dublin-based leasing giant AerCap that relates to reinsurance connected to 116 jets and 23 engines that were seized in Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Elon Musks X had the right to fire an employee over her online posts protesting its return-to-office policy because she was being insubordinate, the company told a US labour board judge.
The documentary doesnt use narration or need any dramatisation to tell the harrowing stories of families trying to escape from North Korea

There is no narration and none of those dramatised recreations beloved of so many documentaries. The closest it comes to a conspicuous flourish is a handful of simply drawn black-and-white animations that flash by in seconds.

Frankly, when the stories a documentary is telling are as nail-bitingly tense and heart-breakingly sad as the ones here, no such adornments are necessary.

One thing Beyond Utopia does have is a clear-cut hero: South Korean pastor Seungeun Kim, an extraordinary man whos devoted his life to helping people escape from North Korea, the most closed country on earth with one of the most brutally repressive regimes in history.

Pastor Kim, whose wife is herself a defector, is far too modest to see himself as a heroic saviour, yet over the past decade hes helped, at huge personal risk and at considerable cost to his health, get out about 1,000 people who, if caught, would have been returned to the country to face torture, imprisonment and possibly execution.

Given some of the smuggled-out footage of how savagely would-be defectors are treated that we see here, its debatable whether continuing to live is the most appealing option.

Pastor Kim is a man of God whos had to do a deal with the devil in the shape of the so-called brokers who, provided the money is right, will guide defectors to freedom and safety.

But even when the money is right, the brokers  traffickers by another name  cant be trusted. They dont see these desperate people as human beings; they see them as a commodity.

Theres no guarantee the more unscrupulous ones wont take the money and then just abandon them, selling any young women and girls into a life of sex slavery.

Even if the escape mission succeeds, the families the defectors left behind are likely to face horrifying consequences, including being banished and left to starve to death.

Beyond Utopia (North Korean citizens are brainwashed from childhood into believing theyre living in a paradise and not the hell on earth the country is) toggles between two stories of escape.

The first follows Soyeon Lee, a past defector who lives in South Korea, as she tries to retrieve the son she left behind in the North. At the time of filming, the boy was 17 and she hadnt seen him in 10 years.

The documentary features phone video footage of the Roh family. Photo: BBC/TGW7N LLC

At one point shes showing Gavin, who remains off-camera, the clothes shes bought for her son to wear and jokes about not knowing if hell like the colours.

Then her face darkens as she realises she has no idea how tall hes grown and if the clothes will fit him. Its a quietly heart-wrenching moment.

As she desperately tries to find out about her sons progress (her only sources of information are the short, crackly phone calls she receives from a North Korean contact working off a weak Chinese mobile signal), a disquieting possibility emerges. Her son is as desperate to be reunited with her as she is with him, but does he really want to defect or does he expect her to return to North Korea?

The Roh family trek through the jungle. Photo: BBC/TGW7N LLC

The second story, which is the real spine of the documentary, follows the progress of the Roh family  a mother, father, two young children and their 80-year-old grandmother  as they make a gruelling overland trek through Southeast Asia.

Until they reach the safety of Thailand, every step is fraught with danger. Captured solely on the familys mobile phone cameras, its nerve-shredding to watch.

The film is peppered with North Korean propaganda footage, which hammers home the ignorance in which its citizens are kept. Perhaps the most disturbing clip is of small children performing a musical routine about killing American-Bastards, the blanket term used to describe all Americans. Its obscene.

At a rest-stop at a safe house, the Roh family marvel at wonders like the flatscreen television and the indoor plumbing.

This is the point when they begin to fully understand that everything theyve been told about the outside world is a lie. The hardest escape can be from the prison of the mind.
Ragwort usually flowers in summer and autumn, but can easily flower into the winter months if conditions allow.

Farmers have been encouraged to consider the environmental benefits of ragwort, with it recently found to be the thirteenth most common plant found in Ireland.

A new survey undertaken by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) found ragwort to be back in the top 20, having previously held ninth position in 2020.

Agriculturally speaking, when its in hay and all of those kinds of things its a noxious weed, but its also a native species and it does have quite a lot of benefits for wildlife," BSBI Ireland Officer Bridget Keehan told the Farming Independent.

What we classify as a weed is something which is growing in the wrong place. In other places when its not growing on agricultural land it does have quite a lot of benefits for insects. I suppose theres two sides to every story.

So maybe we should not get too worried about it when its growing in other areas, not agricultural fields.

BSBI runs an annual New Year Plant Hunt', with volunteers across Britain and Ireland documenting what is flowering in their local patch.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 31st

In Ireland, 135 surveys were conducted. Around half the species in bloom were flowering later than expected while around a quarter flowering earlier than expected.

The milder south and coastal areas of Britain and Ireland had the highest numbers of species in flower.

Ragwort usually flowers in summer and autumn, but can easily flower into the winter months if conditions allow.

This year's mild autumn and winter have likely contributed to its relatively high position in the list.

Ragwort is very toxic to livestock, especially to horses. It is generally avoided by livestock when growing, except where there is a shortage of food or it is present in very large quantities.

However in hay, haylage and silage it is undetectable, and will be consumed if present.

Ragwort grows best on lighter, free-draining soils, where fertility has been enhanced and heavy grazing pressure has left gaps in the sward.

The presence of large amounts of ragwort in grassland tends to indicate that the land has been managed intensively. Good grazing management will prevent the establishment and proliferation of ragwort in pastures.

Ragwort is a native species that is a natural component of native grasslands, and as such it has a number of biodiversity benefits.

Its flowers provide large amounts of nectar for pollinating species, such as butterflies, bees and hoverflies.
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson hails deal to restore Stormont, while Michelle ONeill set to become first Sinn Fein First Minister of Northern Ireland

Sinn Feins Conor Murphy, Mary Lou McDonald and incoming First Minister Michelle ONeill welcomed the imminent return of the power-sharing Executive in Stormont. Photo: Getty

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has hailed a new agreement on the movement of some goods into Northern Ireland, as he said people are already beginning to see the benefits of the deal his party has struck with the UK government.

Mr Donaldson also predicted the green lane element of the Windsor Framework will go as he expressed hope that the Stormont power-sharing institutions can be restored within days.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said her party is satisfied that the 1998 Good Friday Agreement has not been damaged or undermined by the DUP deal over post-Brexit trading arrangements and said a united Ireland is now within touching distance.

The end of the two-year Stormont impasse was signalled in the early hours of yesterday when Mr Donaldson secured the backing of his party executive for UK government proposals aimed at addressing his partys concerns over Brexits so-called Irish Sea border.

Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he now believes that all the conditions are now in place for Stormont to return.

The UK government said it will today publish proposals to secure Northern Irelands place in the UK internal market and to strengthen the union.

The parties eligible to participate in a revived ministerial Executive met at Stormont Castle yesterday afternoon to discuss the next steps.

As the parties were meeting, the UK government and EU announced an update to the Windsor Framework  which governs Irish Sea trade.

The new decision allows Northern Ireland to better benefit from a free-trade agreement secured by the UK government covering agri-food produce.

A spokeswoman for British prime minister Rishi Sunak said this was not part of the agreement struck with the DUP.

This is separate  this is an update on some separate work we have been working on with the European Commission, she added.

However, Mr Donaldson said the change was one of the key elements in his negotiations with the UK government.

I welcome the fact that we are now beginning to see the delivery of what was promised, with the announcement today between the UK government and the EU that there is further legal change that will be of real benefit to businesses in Northern Ireland, that ensures that Northern Ireland benefits fully from UK free trade deals, he said.

These were key elements in our requirements, in our negotiations with the government. Those who said there will be no legal change, who were predicting things would fall short; I simply asked people to wait and see the outcome.

Wait and see the evidence and judge for yourself what this deal does, what it delivers, the change that it secures. I believe we are now beginning to see on day one, that delivery coming through.

The DUP leader also predicted that the agreement he had secured would lead to goods which are destined for Northern Ireland through the green lane element of the Windsor Framework, flowing freely from the rest of the UK.

On checks, on goods, moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and staying within the UK, there will no longer by physical checks, identity checks, save where  as is normal in any part of the UK  there is a suspicion of smuggling, of criminal activity, Mr Donaldson said.

Some people said youre going to take the green lane and paint it red, white and blue, and put a flag on it. If someone wants to put a flag on it, whatever.

As far as we are concerned, the green lane will go and be replaced by the UK internal market system that reflects the reality that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, that goods flowing within the United Kingdom flow freely.

That was our core key objective and I believe what we have secured represents real change and everybody will be able to see it for themselves.

Sinn Fein leader Mrs McDonald said her party had no concerns over the deal, which she said had been reached after painstaking work.

We have been in close contact with both governments, and indeed with Brussels, she said. We are satisfied that no part of the Good Friday Agreement has been undermined or damaged.

We also know that Brussels, Dublin, all parties are satisfied that what has been agreed stays between the hedges of Brussels and the European market and also the concerns that the DUP expressed. All of that has been accommodated and worked on painstakingly.

Ms McDonald also talked up the prospects of a united Ireland as she hailed the significance of a member of Sinn Fein assuming the role of Stormont First Minister for the first time.

She said the expected appointment of her party colleague Michelle ONeill into the job in the coming days would be a moment of very great significance.

Striving for the new Ireland isnt some kind of dusty legal, constitutional matter  although it is that  it really is about us collectively having a conversation about what Ireland can look like and will look like in the next five years, 10 years, 20 years , she said.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he does not see any "red flags" in the newly-published deal aimed at restoring power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

Speaking in Brussels on Wednesday, Mr Varadkar said Ireland and the EU will have questions around the deal published by the British government, which will mean no routine checks on goods crossing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland - a key demand of the DUP.

Were going to have to study it, I think there are certainly going to be some questions that we will want to ask, more particularly the European Commission will want to ask some questions about the trading arrangements," he said.

"But from what weve seen so far I dont see any red flags; anything that would give us undue cause for concern.

He said it was important that it is "faithful" to the Good Friday Agreement, the Windsor Framework and ensures no hard border between North and South.

"What I would like is a situation whereby Northern Ireland can benefit both from unfettered access to the internal market of the UK but also unfettered access to the single market of the European Union, he added.

Routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Great Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland are to be removed as part of a British government deal to restore powersharing at Stormont.

A command paper titled "Safeguarding The Union" commits to replacing the current green lane process, which requires percentages of goods to be checked as they arrive from Great Britain, with a "UK internal market system" that will govern the movement of goods that will remain within the United Kingdom.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has hailed the move as a key concession that will effectively scrap the contentious so-called Irish Sea border for goods destined to remain within the UK.

"There should not be a border within the UK internal market. These proposals remove that border," he said.

The measure is part of a wide-ranging deal agreed between the DUP and the Government that is set to bring about the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland after a two-year hiatus.

Speaking on RTE's Six One News, Mr Donaldson said he believed Stormont could return within the coming days, if the government delivered on its commitments.

"Tomorrow the proposals will be published. Everyone will be able to see them. Then on Thursday I expect that the legislation will be brought before parliament.

It will be debated and voted upon in the House of Commons and I think that will then clear the way for the next steps to be taken to have Stormont restored.

And I believe that can happen within the next few days, provided and upon the condition that the government delivers on its commitments, Mr Donaldson said.

When asked about the live leaks from the DUP meeting where members discussed the deal, Mr Donaldson said it was something the party would seek to deal with.

Of course Im concerned when we have someone who is secretly recording things that are happening in a private meeting. That is something that we will seek to deal with, Mr Donaldson said.

When Stormont is restored, it will be with Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill as first minister, the first time the party has occupied the role.

Asked if Mr Donaldson will be happy to see Ms ONeill as first minister, the DUP leader said Stormont was about parties working together.

It is a joint office. There will be the first and deputy first minister working together and thats what Stormont is about. It is about the parties working together to deliver for Northern Ireland, Mr Donaldson said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said restored powersharing in Northern Ireland offered the prospect of a "brighter future".

Mr Sunak told the Commons: "After two years without an executive, there is now a prospect of powersharing back up and running, strengthening our Union, giving people the local, accountable government that they need, and offering a brighter future for Northern Ireland."

The DUP has agreed to drop its two-year blockade of Stormont in exchange for the Government measures aimed at addressing its concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements that created economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

The Stormont Assembly could sit again as soon as Saturday.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 31st

The post-Brexit red lane for transporting goods from GB to NI and on into the EU Single Market will remain, but the command paper offers measures aimed at reducing the volume of trade required to use that red-tape heavy route, with a prediction that 80pc of goods will now move free of routine checks through the internal market system.

The move to reduce post-Brexit checks on GB-NI trade would represent a change to the current EU/UK Windsor Framework agreement and therefore would require Brussels approval.

It is understood the EU has been kept up to date with the shape of the Government's package of measures.

Downing Street has said that the deal contains "significant" changes to the Windsor Framework's "operation", but is not about altering the "fundamentals" of the framework.

The formal implementation of any changes to the framework are expected to be examined and decided upon within the existing EU/UK Joint Committee framework in the days and weeks ahead.

The command paper said the replacement of the green lane would ensure there will be "no checks when goods move within the UK internal market system save those conducted by UK authorities as part of a risk-based or intelligence-led approach to tackle criminality, abuse of the scheme, smuggling and disease risks".

The paper adds: "This will ensure the smooth flow of goods that are moving within the UK internal market."

As well as moves to cut Brexit bureaucracy on Irish Sea trade, the command paper includes a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Ireland's constitutional position within the United Kingdom.

Legislation will be tabled with the purpose of "affirming Northern Ireland's constitutional status underpinned by, among other provisions, the Acts of Union".

The paper said: "The legislation will affirm Parliament's sovereignty over all matters in Northern Ireland, and address the concern that Northern Ireland's constitutional position in the Union has been weakened by the creation of specific arrangements for trade in goods."

The Government has also pledged to amend domestic law, specifically section 7A of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, to affirm the fact that new EU laws will not automatically apply in Northern Ireland, and must first be subject to democratic oversight by the Stormont Assembly.

The oversight procedures already outlined in the Windsor Framework include the so-called Stormont brake mechanism that enables 30 or more MLAs to flag a concern about a new EU law planned to come into effect in Northern Ireland. The Government is obliged to assess whether those concerns meet a threshold that could then result in the UK vetoing the application of the law in the region.

Legislation promised in the deal is set to be fast-tracked through Parliament on Thursday to enable the swift restoration of the institutions at Stormont.

The command paper also includes commitments to ensure Northern Ireland goods will always be able to be sold in the GB market regardless of any divergence in EU and UK standards.

In respect of further UK divergence from EU standards, there is also a legal requirement that new Westminster legislation is assessed as to whether it "impacts on trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain".

If it does, there will be a statutory duty for the relevant minister to make a statement "considering any impacts on the operation of Northern Ireland's place in the UK's internal market".

A requirement that saw certain goods sold in Northern Ireland to display a label stating "not for sale in the EU" will now to extend to cover the whole UK.

The Government is also creating two new bodies.

An UK East-West Council will bring together representatives from government, business and the education sector from Northern Ireland and Great Britain to "identify opportunities for deepening connections between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK in areas such as trade, transport, education and culture".

Intertrade UK will promote trade within the UK. Among its roles will be to proactively communicate with businesses that currently choose not to sell products in Northern Ireland and identify solutions that could enable them to expand their services to the region.
Re Natalie and Eduard Chiper. The house owned by the Chipers which is the subject of a CAB application. Pic taken 23-1-2024

This is the stunning mansion belonging to a glamourous Moldovan couple which is now the target of the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Natalie and Eduard Chiper are being pursued by CAB in a legal case after criminal charges against them were dropped over an almost 1 million drugs haul in 2019.

It emerged last week that The White House in Co Louth townland, seven kilometres north of Drogheda is the subject of a Proceeds of Crime Act action launched last year.

Situated on a narrow cul-de-sac and surrounded by a leylandii hedge, the two-storey house is in a very private setting.

With four bedrooms and 3,400 square feet of space, it also boasts a double staircase in the hall, according to the original planning permission made by a previous owner.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 31st

Eduard Chiper lodged a second planning application in 2015 to add a garage to the property which was granted.

The wrought-iron gates and railings at the front of the property would now cost close to 20,000 to manufacture, according to a gate-maker consulted by the Sunday World.

Four-bed detached houses in the countryside surrounding Drogheda are currently being sold with asking prices of around the 600,000 mark.

The last property sold in the area went for 505,000 in 2018, according to the Price Property Register.

Re Natalie and Eduard Chiper. The house owned by the Chipers which is the subject of a CAB application. Pic taken 23-1-2024

In the High Court last week it was heard that a forensic accountant had been engaged, they had agreed to allow documents to be inspected and that the case was moving forward, according to counsel for the couple

However, counsel for CAB said no replying affidavits had yet been received and that to say there was talks with is misconceived.

Counsel for the couple said that they had wanted access to CAB documents, but Judge Alex Owens said the forensic accountant should be able go ahead with the available information.

Additional affidavits can follow if needed, he said.

The couple had been arrested in January 2019 after gardai found 940,000 of cannabis herb in a County Louth premises.

The Sunday World previously reported how they both spent time in custody before getting bail, the case against them was later dropped by the Director of Prosecutions.

In 2019 the DPP withdrew charges against the husband and wife who were alleged to have been in possession of the cannabis.

They had been charged in January that year with being in possession of the drugs with the intent to sell or supply under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

They were also charged with simple possession of drugs under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, it had been heard in court hearings at the time.

The couple were arrested after a planned search of the premises was carried out by detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, assisted by officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau and officers from the Co Louth division.

The couple were remanded in custody for a time before they were granted bail after independent sureties lodged large sums of money.

The charges were struck out at Drogheda District Court.

At an earlier bail hearing a judge approved two independent sureties totalling 30,000 to allow Natalie Chipers release on bail.

At that stage she had already been in custody for four weeks at the Dochas Centre in Mountjoy.

Under the Proceeds of Crime the Criminal Assets Bureau can seek to have property of people declared as being bought with crime cash.

Targets of a CAB action, who may have no criminal convictions, must provide evidence of legitimate income to show how the assets were bought.

The case against the Chipers is currently at the Section 3 stage to have their assets declared the proceeds of crime.

If CAB wins such as order it can move onto Section 4, which involves a receiver being appointed with the power to take over the property and to sell it off.

Last year saw properties belonging to Ross Browning, the Kinahan Cartels man in Ireland, being taken over by CAB which have yet to go on the market.

Meanwhile in November the last refuge Co Wexford house of Kinahan Cartel drug-dealer Barry Fowler and his partner Lorna Palmer sold for 266,000 in a five-minute auction.
CORK faces a "transformational decade" as it aims to boost its population by over 60pc before 2040 and copper-fasten its status as a strategic counterweight to Dublin.

Cork City Council outlined a series of major infrastructural investments which, allied to major docklands projects, will dramatically boost the development of the Republic's second city.

The aim is to exploit Cork's status as the fastest growing city in Ireland and the second biggest English-speaking city in the EU.

Cork City Council chief executive Ann Doherty said the city is facing an exciting period of development, investment and expansion.

As well as a proposed 17km light rail network connecting Mahon and Ballincollig, Cork will next month see the long-awaited completion of the Dunkettle Interchange project with work also progressing on the Ringaskiddy motorway.

The Port of Cork aims to have all its operations transferred from the city to the deepwater berth at Ringaskiddy by 2050.

Four major docklands developments - Navigation Square, Albert Quay, Penrose Quay and Horgan's Quay - have already been completed.

Brian O'Callaghan, managing director of O'Callaghan Properties (OCP), confirmed that site works are set to commence within days on the exciting 350m Kennedy Quay project which involves over 1 million sq ft of mixed use development.

Cork will also see the planned completion of its long-awaited Events Centre while major transport projects include a new 24 hour bus service on the Mahon-Cork city centre-Ballincollig route as well as enhanced urban rail services on Cork-Mallow, Cork-Cobh and Cork-Midleton lines.

Major greenway, cycle lane and park projects aim to dramatically enhance the quality of urban life for city dwellers.

Cork, according to the latest Census data, is on course to achieve its ambitious growth targets as it aims to fulfill its role as a strategic counterweight to the expansion of Dublin and Ireland's east coast.

Cork's development plan, 'Our City, Our Future', is backed by 3.5bn in ringfenced Government funding over the next 20 years with Cork's 140 hectare docklands now ranking as the "jewel in the crown" of European urban regeneration projects.

Over 1.8bn in targeted Exchequer funding is being provided.

Ms Doherty said Cork was on course to see its population soar from 211,000 to 336,000 by 2040 - an increase of 125,000 or almost 60pc.

Cork has already seen its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) job growth rise from 21,454 in 2010 to 43,863 in 2020 - as the profile of FDI jobs shifted to a more broad- based pattern.

However, she warned that it was imperative population growth was focused on the city and, in particular, on the city centre.

"Our city needs to be compact and have a very strong (city centre) heart."

The city now aims to develop its sprawling docklands, enhance urban green spaces and upgrade local transport networks.

Cork has also focused on enhancing its Huguenot, Medieval and Victorian quarters.

"There is a visible confidence in our city as evidenced by planned landmark projects such as the 46m Grand Parade Quarter and the Cork City Docklands, a scheme of international significance that, as Irelands largest regeneration project has already received 355m from the Governments Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF)," Ms Doherty said.

"We are being primed to be a counterweight to Dublin."

The Cork City Council boss also challenged issues over shop closures pointing out that studies have shown footfall in the city centre is up 9pc over the past 12 months with major new retailers moving into the city centre including North Face, Mango, Dune and Elvery's.
The High Court has refused an injunction preventing the deportation of a Somalian man on Thursday to France.

The man failed in an application to prevent his return to the EU country he was last in, France, and where he was refused international protection.
There were dozens of CCTV cameras, but no clue where she is  disappearance of Jean Tighe four years ago was plagued by confusion from the start
A Travellers rights advocate has won a discrimination case and must get 6,500 compensation and an apology from the head of JD Wetherspoon after the chain's Dun Laoghaire pub refused to serve her a drink.
Pictured: Double-crossing criminal convicted over role in three gangland shootings

Dubliner Charles McClean owned up to involvement in two murders

Charles McClean to be sentenced for his role in a third gangland shooting.

Ken Foy and Alison O'Riordan Wed 31 Jan 2024 at 03:40

A double-crossing criminal has become one of the only people to be convicted in relation to three separate gangland shootings.
Shots fired at home of innocent woman linked to gang boss Mr Flashy

The female occupant of the property has no involvement in organised crime and previously had to leave her home because of safety concerns

Gardai near the scene of the gun attack in Finglas

Ken Foy and Robin Schiller Wed 31 Jan 2024 at 11:52







A large-scale garda operation took place last night after a house that is associated with jailed gang boss Mr Flashy was shot at.
The building at the centre of the UL controversy. Photo: Emilian Craciun

The University of Limerick has acknowledged it overpaid for a controversial former Dunnes Stores building purchased in 2019.

It means the college will write off 3m in payments made to acquire and refurbish the former shop.

A new valuation report carried out for the university acknowledges UL overpaid for the building by about 1.5m when market prices at the time and other variables are taken into consideration.

The purchase has been heavily criticised at several Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee meetings after a Sunday Independent investigation highlighted how the deal was rushed through and normal approval processes were bypassed.

UL bought the building for 8.3m in April 2019 despite never getting a formal valuation of the property. The deal raised questions about due diligence and the spending of public money.

When additional costs to bring the building into use as a city centre college campus are considered, UL is said to have spent about 8.7m on the site.

UL commissioned a formal valuation of the campus last year, the first such estimate since it was acquired. The report, carried out by Power Property Ltd, said the building has a current market value of 5.4m excluding vat.

This means UL has been left with an impairment charge, an accounting practice used to write down an assets value, of 3,043,748.

If the building was listed for sale today, UL could expect to receive about 3m less than it paid for the building.

UL president Professor Kerstin Mey informed the universitys student and staff of the impairment change in an email this afternoon. This followed a meeting of ULs governing authority yesterday  the board responsible for policy and planning decisions at the university.

Prof Mey said UL is working with PWC to reflect the change in its accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General has also been notified.

The purchase of the Dunnes building in April 2019 was financed from cash reserves of the university, she added.

The valuer was also of the opinion that UL can be described as a special purchaser, which is a term defined as a particular buyer for whom a particular asset has special value because of advantages arising from its ownership that would not be available to other buyers in the market.

This means the valuer believes UL could reasonably have expected to apply a 500,000 premium to secure the property because of the size of the premises, its potential to accommodate students, nearby public transport links, its waterfront location on the Shannon and potential as a college campus.

Power Property has retrospectively analysed 2019 market prices and determined the building was worth 6m plus vat when UL purchased it.

When the special purchaser premium is applied, the valuer feels UL could have expected to pay about 6.5m plus vat to secure it.

This is 1.5m less than UL paid.

Prof Mey said the building is currently worth less than the 2019 value because of changes in the world economy. The pandemic and increased remote working contributed to the commercial property market shrinking in recent years.

In the opinion of Power Property, the market value of the subject property in September 2023, is 5.4m (ex vat) and adjusting the value to reflect the special purchaser specific property requirement by 450k, the value was 5.85m, Prof Mey said.

They arrived at the figure by making an appropriate deduction of circa 10pc on the 6,500,000 reported as at April 5, 2019, to reflect current market conditions as at September 30, 2023.
The head of Irelands electricity system has said predictions that data centre power demand will double in two years are alarmist.

The IEA got it wrong, Mark Foley, chief executive of Eirgrid said of the International Energy Agency analysis.

It forecast that data centres would consume 32pc of all electricity supply in Ireland by 2026  up from 17pc in 2022.

An increase of that scale would strain national supply which is already close to maximum capacity.

Mr Foley said the IEA analysis was based on unrealistic assumptions that every data centre approved for connection to the power system would be built and operating at full capacity in 2026.

Its not realistic, he told the Oireachtas Environment Committee.

We will diplomatically work with IEA on its slightly alarmist view but its not going to happen.

However, Eirgrids own forecasts also anticipate a significant increase in data centre power use  rising to 25.7pc of national demand by 2026.

Mr Foley said there would be reliance on emergency electricity generators for longer than intended because efforts to get new power plants built had failed.

He blamed the energy regulator, the CRU, for offering prices too low to get energy operators to bid for in recent auctions for contracts to build plants.

The price has been got wrong and spectacularly wrong, he said.

The Government bought in temporary emergency generation  large mobile generators  to keep the lights on after Eirgrid warned of a looming shortage in 2021.

They are intended to be used for only about four years while longer term gas power plants are built.

If they continued in use, they might not meet planning conditions on environmental grounds, Mr Foley warned.

We need to stop running auctions for the sake of running auctions. We need to rethink the whole policy, he said.

He was adamant that provision of adequate electricity was the problem, not growing demand for it.

The demand for electricity in Ireland is that of a normal growing prosperous economy, he said.

Sinn Fein Senator Lynn Boylan challenged that claim, arguing Ireland was an outlier as EU-wide electricity demand had fallen, and that the increase in Irish demand was almost entirely from data centres.

Independent Senator Alice Mary Higgins rejected the assumption that it was natural for prosperous economies to keep growing.

Under the Paris Climate Agreement, wealthy countries were supposed to do more to cut their emissions than poorer nations yet Ireland was allowing electricity demand to grow when it was still largely fossil fuel dependent.

Mr Foley said demand growth was needed to make Ireland attractive for large renewable energy providers to establish here.

He argued Ireland was doing well in rolling out renewables, with 39pc of electricity provided by wind and solar last year.

The 2030 target is 80pc and if we hit that, well have the lowest carbon electricity system in the world.

Sinn Fein TD Darren ORourke said allowing electricity demand to grow while trying to decarbonise it felt like trying to go down the up escalator.
Levi Jordan (6), Aliza Blu Doody (5) and Ivy Walsh (7), from Francesca Arkins Dance Group, during the programme launch in Dublin for this years St Patricks Festival. Photo: Collins

Green ministers flights will rack up almost 11 tonnes of carbon emissions on St Patricks Day trips to Brazil, the US, the Far East and other locations this year.

Thats the equivalent of a years worth of emissions by two average family cars.

Environment Minister Eamon Ryan will lead the Green exodus as he travels to Brazil between March 13 and 17 where he will visit the cities of Brasilia and Sao Paulo  a journey that will create 2.37 tonnes of emissions.

His spokesperson said last night: Every individual minister tries to line up functions and events relating to their responsibilities. In this case, the Brazilian rainforest is an area of interest to him in his portfolio.

Media Minister Catherine Martin, the partys deputy leader, will also travel long-haul to the US with visits to Nashville, Tennessee and Austin, Texas between March 8 and 14  a journey that will create 1.90 tonnes of emissions.

Another Green Party member undertaking a long-haul journey is Childrens Minister Roderic OGorman who will travel to Tokyo and Osaka in Japan  the highest-emitting individual journey of 2.69 tonnes. Junior minister Ossian Smyth is also heading to the Far East and will travel to Seoul in South Korea between March 14 and 20, a journey of 2.41 tonnes.

Land Use Minister Pippa Hackett is travelling to Finland, Estonia and Latvia - a journey likely to result in a carbon footprint of almost one tonne.

Fellow Green junior ministers, Joe OBrien and Malcolm Noonan, are remaining in Europe where it may be possible for them to travel by rail and boat.

The emissions calculations are based on the online flight carbon footprint calculator and done using conservative estimates, including that all ministers will travel economy class. The spokesperson said flights would be booked in line with government policy.

The combined carbon emitted from the six ministerial trips by air amounts to around 10.8 tonnes.

According to the CSO, the average yearly travel racked up by a typical passenger vehicle is around 16,000km or the equivalent of 4.22 tonnes.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will travel to Washington DC and Boston as part of the annual St Patricks week exodus of members of the Government to destinations worldwide.

Mr Varadkar will travel between March 12 and 17, with his visit expected to include a high-profile bilateral meeting with US president Joe Biden in the Oval Office.

Among the other members of the Government travelling abroad over the St Patricks Day period are Tanaiste Micheal Martin who will visit Canada. Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe will travel to France and Bulgaria.

Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney will travel to India and Bangladesh, while Education Minister Norma Foley will visit the UK.

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue will visit Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan, while Childrens Minister Roderic OGorman will go to Japan.
In one of the heartlands of unionism, it is the morning after the long night before, and word of the DUP deal is discussed by many.

Residents in east Belfast on Tuesday welcomed Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons agreement which has paved the way for the imminent restoration of Stormont, but it has cost the party at least one voter in the Shankill.

Speaking under the shadow of loyalist murals, the views of voters on the Newtownards Road were at odds with the anti-Protocol placards adorning many lampposts in the area.

Stand Firm, the posters read. Power-sharing OR Protocol.

Watch: Shankill and Falls react to DUP deal to return to Stormont

However, Brian Miller (76) welcomed the progress made by the Lagan Valley MP in terms of undoing the damaging aspects of post-Brexit trade agreements.

We had to get back at some time, it went on long enough and we cant stay in limbo with all the strikes, he said. I havent seen the details of the deal, but I believe him when he says it is enough.

Mr Miller believes Mr Donaldson must now return to Stormont and take up the role of deputy first minister.

We are a democratic country and election results should be respected, I have no issue with a Sinn Fein first minister, he said.

But Jeffrey needs to serve alongside.

Brian Miller (76) welcomed the progress made by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

Sharon (60), who did not wish to share her surname, also has trust in the DUP leader.

Its about time Stormont was back  Jeffrey has pushed and pushed and held out long enough, she said. But the strikes are hurting people.

A neighbour is taking me to a hospital appointment that I cannot afford to cancel on Thursday. I rely on buses to get around and have been really put out.

The fed-up resident said everyone wants normality after two years without a government.

Things have gone from bad to worse, she continued. We dont know whats on the table, but things couldnt get any worse.

Im keeping my fingers crossed and well find out in six months if its worked out.

Many other local residents believe that Mr Donaldson has made the right decision.

I supported him at the start, but it went on too long and too many people were suffering, one told this newspaper. Something had to give.

They too said Sir Jeffrey must take the seat he won at Stormont in the 2022 Assembly election to serve as deputy first minister, adding: I dont trust anyone else to do it.

DUP return to Stormont: Who is Jamie Bryson's 'mole'?

Even a staunch loyalist agreed the boycott of the devolved institutions needed to end. The DUP backed themselves into a wee corner, he said. I believed in them walking out, but they should not have been getting paid.

Overall, the DUP is better going in and seeing what is going on. If they dont get what they want, the British Government are complete liars and they can always walk back out.

Bus driver Lee Maxwell (29) said he has no interest in the ins and outs of the deal, he just wants to see Northern Ireland moving again. Money needs to be invested in the public sector, especially the health service  that is the priority, he said.

Even the most cynical residents agreed the time had come to restore power-sharing  although they said they want to see the details of the deal. Its hard to trust any politician, but I wouldnt be listening to your man [Jamie] Bryson, one added.

Lee Maxwell (29) believes resolving public sector crisis trumps politics.

Gavin Robinson was among the names put forward by residents in the east of the city for who should serve as deputy first minister if Mr Donaldson chooses to stay at Westminster, albeit that would mean standing down as MP for East Belfast and being co-opted as an MLA.

The DUP leader even had some residents in the Falls Road area on his side on Tuesday.

Mark McCann was optimistic that, depending on the nature of what has been agreed, things could soon be a lot better in Northern Ireland.

He now wants to see rules put in place to stop any one party from bringing down Stormont in the future. [Theres] nothing getting done  its just like everything [has] been put to a stop the last couple of years, Mr McCann added.

Martha Shields said its about time the largest unionist party agreed to form an executive.

Im fed up with those people out striking  one thing and another, she added. Nobody cares about ordinary people.

Residents views at odds with anti-Protocol poster on Newtownards Road in east Belfast.

Meanwhile Brendan Keane is very happy about the deal and hopes everyone has learnt the right lessons. Im a firm believer in look to the future rather than the past, he said.

I wish all the politicians good health and good will and the ability to relate well to each other because if they can do that we will all benefit.

However, those on the streets of the Shankill Road were much more critical of Sir Jeffrey and his party. DUP voter Scott Carson branded the deal a sell out and insisted Sir Jeffrey should have stuck to the principles of what the people wanted.

Yes, it is tiring at times, but the DUP has sold out, he said. Next time going to the election box [my vote] will be for Jim Allister.

Meanwhile Freda McKernan said she would love to see the details of what they [the DUP] signed before making her mind up. I just hope theyve made the right decision, she added.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has suggested the Goverment is examining safeguards for direct RTE funding -- which would mean the abolition of the TV licence.

He was answering Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who demanded to know, "Yes or No," whether the Government was going to abolish the 160 charge on all households.

Mr Ryan said the Government was studying reform of the funding model. But he added: "I do not expect it to be a continuation of the TV licence."

He said people should continue to pay the licence in the meantime, and called on Ms McDonald to call on her members to do so.

Ms McDonald said she had paid her own TV licence fee. "I have made no suggestion that people not pay their licence." She added: "As a matter of fact, save your homily for Catherine Martin, your colleague, who equivocated on the matter." She said the State and Government "should not chase thousands of people through the courts for non-payment, as it seemed it was "only the ordinary Joe" who who had faced the wrath of prosecution or "been held accountable in the midst of all the scandal."

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Ryan said: "We will provide an alternative funding mechanism.

"I do not expect that to be a continuation of the current licensing system. And the exact details would have to agreed with Government before I give you the final answer on that."

On the direct Exchequer funding method, which arose as one option from the Future of Media Commission, Mr Ryan said there was concern in Government "among the party leaders" about a potential switch in this direction.

"The main reason for that concern was for fear that in a future Government you could well have political interference that would fundamentally undermine the independence of Irish media."

Apparently referring to a Sinn Fein Government, he added: "That was the concern and the reason for such concern."

He referred to Sinn Fein legal actions against members of the media, which he said was fair and impartial, although all parties would feel hard done by on occasions.

Mr Ryan said that in historic cases there had been "improper and due political interference" with RTE by Government.

"I believe we can overcome that by putting in place secure mechanisms that such fears of political interference will not be realised.

"But it's complicated. We will look at safeguards. This government will stand up for independent media like RTE and other organisations, and we will find the structure to do that."
Ryanair CEO Michael OLeary clashed with broadcaster Claire Byrne in a heated discussion on air this morning in which he called Transport Minister Eamon Ryan an idiot.

Speaking on RTEs Today with Claire Byrne, Mr OLeary hit out at the Government and Mr Ryan for doing absolutely nothing to ensure the passenger cap at Dublin Airport increases above the current cap of 32 million.

Mr O'Leary said it was "a joke" that Dublin Airport was opening a new runway at a time when passenger numbers were not allowed to grow, warning that airfares would rise unless capacity can be increased.

He said the Green Party and the idiots on the left were effectively taxing passengers while Mr Ryan has a block on the expansion of traffic at Dublin Airport.

Ms Byrne asked Mr OLeary about the Green Party leaders proposal to boost capacity at Shannon and Corks airports as an alternative.

"That is the kind of stupidity that only a Green minister would give you, Mr OLeary said.

"This is not an environmental issue. Its just more incompetence from an incompetent Minister for Transport.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 31st

As the interview got heated, the RTE presenter asked Mr OLeary to move away from the personal insults and the pair talked across one another.

"Michael, Michael, stop talking. Planning decisions are made independently of Government, that is how it should be. I cant think who in this country, given what weve seen in the past, would say that planning decisions should be interfered with by Government, she said.

Ms Byrne also told Mr OLeary there should be a tax on aviation due to the industrys carbon emissions, a claim Mr OLeary dismissed as completely, utterly wrong and rubbish.

Last week it emerged that Ryanair had bought 25 out of 28 homes in a housing development in the Fosterstown Place estate in Swords to house staff close to Dublin Airport.

Mr OLeary said the airline had bought a total of 40 properties for housing staff in the Swords area and highlighted how the Government built more than 32,000 new homes in 2023.

He said his job was to ensure Ryanair staff had accommodation that would give staff, including new cabin crew recruited every year, easy access to Dublin Airport.

"By buying these houses, what were able to do now is to facilitate with rental properties that are just one bus stop from Dublin Airport, so its easy and adjacent to the airport for our cabin crew, he said.

"And by the way, I would apologise to nobody for it. Our first job here is to look after our passengers and our second job is to look after our staff. Anybody else that wants to whinge about it, they can buy one of the other 32,555 houses that have been built last year.

Mr OLeary said he "wont apologise for the decision and had nothing to say to local residents who may have deposits saved up who were waiting to buy one of the properties purchased by Ryanair.

"Im very proud that were able to invest in affordable accommodation for our staff that is here in Swords, where we employ many thousands of people, and we can guarantee and deliver good, clean, affordable accommodation for our staff.

He confirmed Ryanair would charge staff a lower rate of rent than market value for the first 12 months and would then charge a market rate because most new cabin crew staff would have been promoted to a more senior position and received a pay rise.

Mr OLeary said the airline certainly will buy more properties for staff if needed but he didnt expect that would be the case.
THE Ceann Comhairle is declining to comment on a meeting with the Israeli Ambassadot at Leinster House.

Envoy Dana Erlich was pictured shaking hands with Sean O Fearghail, who was the subject of Dail demands for explanations last week over comments seen by left-wing TDs.

They claimed his comments on the Middle East conflict had been lacking in even-handedness.

Ms Erlich posted on X: "In a meeting with the Ceann Comhairle we discussed his recent visit to Auschwitz, and his important statement on the need to fight Hamas."

She said they had also engaged on "concerns about the rise in antisemitism and hate speech.

"We also discussed the kidnapped still held in Gaza, and the need for their immediate release."

There was no mention of a ceasefire, as demanded by popular demonstrations across the western world.

Asked about the post and his meeting at Leinster House with Ms Erlich  whose expulsion from Ireland has been demanded in the House by Sinn Fein, the Social Democrats, and others  a spokeswoman for the Houses of the Oireachtas said: "It was a private meeting and therefore the Ceann Comhairle will not be commenting."

The Speaker of the House meets many Ambassadors in the course of his work, including at Leinster House.
Recording understood to have been made by executive at crunch DUP meeting

A leaked audio recording of the DUPs crunch meeting has heard Sir Jeffrey Donaldson complaining about repeated leaks to the media.

In a partial recording of Monday nights meeting obtained by this publication, Mr Donaldson is heard explaining to party officials that the reason for the short notice of the gathering was because the longer the gap between notices and meetings, the more likely that it gets out.

Unfortunately in recent weeks, every decision we make, every meeting we hold, gets into the hands of the media. In some cases, in less than an hour of those decisions being made, said Mr Donaldson in the recording.

That impacts on the way we do business, it certainly impacts on the way we conduct ourselves as a party.

It undermines trust within the party I want you to understand the constraints we are operating in, as a political party at this time I appreciate so many of you (inaudible).

Mr Donaldson gathered members of his party on Monday evening to vote on the deal struck by the DUP and the UK Government on changes to previous EU withdrawal agreements.

DUP return to Stormont: Who is Jamie Bryson's 'mole'?

It is understood the audio was obtained after a senior DUP executive member entered the meeting wearing a wire, with the audio relayed back to loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, who was live-blogging the information on X, formerly Twitter.

The new audio emerged after much of the dramatic hours-long meeting was shared on social media by Mr Bryson.

At one point, Mr Bryson claimed the PSNI had been brought in to try and block phone signals, something the police denied, stating it had no involvement.

He also claimed Mr Donaldson told those present that efforts to block mobile phone signals had been unsuccessful.

Mr Bryson said the move showed the depth of feeling of those opposed to the deal.

All Im prepared to say on it is that there are people in the DUP who feel so strongly about this, and who feel this is such a betrayal that extraordinary steps had to be taken, he said.

It may be the case that we have to direct some friendly fire towards each other in the coming weeks and months, but it shows the depth of feeling at a senior level in the DUP.

People are grown adults, theyve been around politics for a long, long time; they take their own decisions and they take their own risks.

Nobody is under duress to me. I will never be exposing anybody no matter what.

The DUP has said it will conduct an investigation into the incident.

The British Government is due to reveal details today of the deal it did with the DUP in order to secure its decision to re-enter Stormont.
Rishi Sunak used a call with the Taoiseach to confront his counterpart about the UK's "disappointment" over Ireland's decision to legally challenge the UK's response to the Troubles.

Laws enacted by the UK government strive to provide a limited form of immunity to those accused of Troubles-related offences. The move has faced staunched criticism and is opposed by many victims' groups in Northern Ireland and all the main Stormont parties.

The UKs prime minister, in a conversation with Leo Varadkar, confronted him over Irelands response to pursuing those responsible for sectarian violence that marred Ireland and Northern Ireland for decades.

The call between the pair comes after Mr Varadkar in December announced that the Government would legally challenge the UKs legacy legislation in the European Court of Human Rights.

He said at the time that the "strong" legal advice was the UK legacy act breached the United Nations' Convention on Human Rights.

Downing Street confirmed Mr Sunak raised the legal action during his conversation with Mr Varadkar.

A No 10 spokesman said: "The leaders addressed the Irish Government's launching of an interstate case on the UK government's legacy act.

"The prime minister expressed his disappointment at the timing and course of action in December, coming at such a sensitive time.

"He noted that the Irish Government had yet to respond to important questions about its own approach to legacy issues, including with regard to investigations into the 1998 Omagh bombing.

"The UK government would continue to pursue answers to those questions which had been laid out by the Secretary of State (Chris Heaton-Harris), including with regard to the lack of criminal prosecutions in Ireland."

A spokeswoman for the British prime minister denied that the conversation had been terse. She said the Conservative Party leader had been "reiterating the government's disappointment" that had previously been set out by Mr Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary.

Mr Heaton-Harris wrote to Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin earlier this month questioning Ireland's opposition to the Legacy Act.

Aspects of the recently passed UK laws includes a limited form of immunity from prosecution for Troubles-related offences for those who co-operate with the new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 will also halt future civil cases and legacy inquests.

In his letter to Mr Martin, the Northern Ireland Secretary challenged Ireland to set out its own record on tackling legacy issues, pointing out that, while the UK has initiated a public inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bomb, the Irish Government has not, despite a court ruling saying it should do likewise.

Mr Heaton-Harris also called on Mr Martin to list the number of prosecutions mounted in the Irish State since 1998 related to Troubles incidents.

The phonecall with Mr Sunak and Mr Varadkar came after there was a breakthrough in the DUP's two-year boycott of powersharing arrangements at Stormont.

Mr Sunak briefed his Irish counterpart on the details of the deal that could see devolved government restored in Northern Ireland.

Asked whether the call had been difficult, Mr Sunak's spokeswoman said: "No, it was a good call, positive. They both welcomed the step that we saw from the DUP last night."
The threats to block roads that have been shared on social media. Pic: Kevin Scott

Police are aware of uncorroborated social media posts suggesting roads could be blocked by loyalists in protest at a deal to restore Stormont.

The messages, which have been shared widely on WhatsApp, claim the protests will take place on Friday, February 2  with the Shankill Road a 100% no go area.

Loyalists staged a protest outside Larchfield Estate on Monday night where DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson briefed the party executive on the deal with the Government to restore power-sharing.

During that meeting, loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson live tweeted what was said at the event  despite the partys efforts to keep it private.

It has since been claimed the senior DUP executive member behind the leaking of the speech was wearing a wire.

The WhatsApp messages claim the loyalist protests are against this supposed Stormont deal, blocking roads.

It outlined a number of roads in north and east Belfast that are confirmed roads to be blocked.

Obviously more locations to be released when everybody get back to this today numbers etc [sic]. Shankill 100% no go.

The messages do not include a supposed time the alleged road closures will occur.

A spokesperson for the PSNI said: Police are aware of these uncorroborated social media posts suggesting roads could be blocked on Friday, February 2.

Police will continue to monitor tensions surrounding the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and work with communities and partners to fulfil our statutory obligations.

Some protests and marches were held by unionists and loyalists across Northern Ireland in 2022 against the Northern Ireland Protocol.

However, the Parades Commission were made aware of the vast majority of the protests before they took place.
WORKERS face a 47 a year hike in PRSI to help fund new unemployment benefits that will be linked to employees previous pay later this year.

An Oireachtas committee heard today that workers, employers and the self-employed will be hit with a 0.1pc increase in PRSI from October.

Jackie Harrington, principal officer at the Department of Social Protection, said this equals around 90 cent a week for a worker on an average wage.

Workers, employers and the self-employed will be affected, and will face further PRSI hikes in the years ahead.

The department has commenced work on the necessary arrangements to introduce this scheme towards the end of this year for which 5m has been provided by government, she said.

When quizzed about whether it will be introduced for part time workers, she said this could be approved by government and rolled out over time.

The PRSI increases will cover the cost of pay-related jobseekers benefit and support the growing state pension bill, particularly due to a government decision to keep the pension age at 66.

Ms Harrington was speaking during pre-legislative scrutiny of a bill on jobseekers pay related benefits at the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands.

She said all PRSI classes will increase by 0.1 per cent from October, followed by a further 0.1pc in October next year, increases of 0.15pc in October 2026 and October 2027, followed by a 0.2pc increase in October 2028.

There will be a total increase of 0.7 pc in in PRSI rates over the next five years.

In addition, the annual minimum contribution payment for self-employed contributors will increase by 150 to 650 from October 1 this year.

She said responses from the public and others to the principle of linking benefit payments to previous earnings when workers lose their jobs were overwhelmingly positive.

The benefit will be paid for nine months for those who were over five years in a job.

Their weekly rate will be set at 60pc of previous earnings, up to a maximum of 450 a week for the first three months.

After that, the rate drops to 55pc of earnings, capped at 375, for the next three months.

The final three months are paid at half their previous earnings up to a maximum payment of 300.

For those whose with between two and five years or PRSI contributions, the rate will be set at half of previous earnings, up to a maximum of 300 a week for up to six months.

Ms Harrington said it had been acknowledged that the measure will bring Ireland in line with its EU counterparts.

The full yearly cost of pay related benefit is estimated at 130m.
The Mayo magic has struck again, this time in Lonely Planets book of exceptional beaches

A jaw-droppingly beautiful horseshoe bay on Irelands west coast has been named among 100 of the worlds most incredible beaches by Lonely Planet.

Keem Bay on Achill Island, Co Mayo, is the only Irish beach to make a list ranging from Brazils Baia dos Porcos to Australias Whitehaven Bay.

The beach, on Irelands Wild Atlantic Way, famously featured in The Banshees of Inisherin starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. This month, it ranked second in a list of Irelands top beaches in the Irish Independents Reader Travel Awards 2024.

In the new book, Best Beaches, Lonely Planet hails Keem as one of Irelands most glorious, secluded strands, celebrated for its jaw-droppingly beautiful horseshoe bay of pale blonde sand, framed by the Croaghaun Cliffs and thundering moody Atlantic.

The book features 100 of the most exceptional and unexpected beaches from around the world, ranging from Icelands Raudasandur, with its turquoise lagoon and red and orange hued sand, to Croatias pebbly Punta Rata.

Lonely Planet's 'Best Beaches'

"The tucked away location means calm (if cool) waters, so swimming and snorkelling are popular, it says of Keem.

Summer kayaking trips are a fabulous way to drink in the wild and rural scene from the water, and those with keen eyes might spot rare plankton-eating basking sharks and pods of dolphins, which sometimes swim and feed around the swirling bay.

The Achill oasis is no stranger to global nods. In 2022, it was named the No 1 wild swimming spot in the UK and Ireland, while Lonely Planet previously placed it on its Top 20 beaches in Europe, describing it as a gloriously remote treasure.

Keems beauty and popularity have also contributed to problems with peak season traffic, crowds and littering, however.

Keem Bay, Achill Island. Photo: Pol O Conghaile

A new development plan commissioned from placemaking and marketing agency Toposophy by Mayo County Council aims to create a tailored visitor management and sustainable strategy for the bay.

I love that this book challenges what we might define a best beach, said Chris Zeiher, Lonely Planets Senior Director, Trade Sales & Marketing.

Theres such diversity here, and hidden, unexpected beaches you might otherwise not have known about in places you may not have expected ultimately, we wanted to show the vast diversity of beaches, from Antarctica to Madagascar, from swirling sand to wild horses.

It follows the brands recent inclusion of Co Donegal among the worlds top 10 regions to visit in 2024, in its annual Best in Travel book.
Numerous ministers public pledges to decide soon on future funding for RTE  and indeed other media  lose more and more credibility as the days tick down to various elections, including a Dail election likely later this year, if not in early 2025. As each day passes, a sticking-plaster remedy for the stricken public service broadcaster looks increasingly likely.

Past experiences, such as the water charges debacle from 2014 onwards, serve as a warning to the Government. It is long agreed that the 160 licence fee, always gifted to RTE, is overtaken by technology and some new form of charge is desirable. But what seasoned politician is going to introduce what will be perceived as a new tax to bail out a spendthrift RTE before going on the canvass trail seeking votes?

We will have local and European Parliament elections in early June and the Dail election in the months which follow that. Already, four years after the last vote, the February 2020 general election, there are signs of serious pent-up public frustrations ready to be vented.

So, it comes as no surprise to hear that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is among those who favour direct taxpayer funding for RTE, and perhaps other media outlets. Since its foundation, RTE has been in the privileged position of receiving the licence fee and also being able to sell advertising.

Small wonder at the public disgust at the broadcasters current financial problems, with excessive rates of pay for an elite, questionable pay-off deals and the squandering of over 2.3m on the quixotic flop that was Toy Show The Musical. Other media organisations, including this one, have to live in the real world and rely on sales and advertising revenues. It is very far from a level playing field in the Irish media.

There are, of course, well-known tensions within the three-party Coalition, which is very possibly in its final year of office. Media Minister Catherine Martin, who has had a deal of criticism over affairs at RTE, has argued trenchantly for exchequer funding. Her Green Party colleagues are believed to be of a similar view. The direct exchequer funding approach was recommended by the Commission on Media Future in 2022.

But Fianna Fail remains to be convinced and party leader and Tanaiste Micheal Martin believes some form of charge replacing the licence fee is required. His party colleague, Finance Minister Michael McGrath, takes a similar view, as does Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe of Fine Gael. Such divisions suggest that an early decision on future funding is less likely to happen.

Another torrid week for RTE began yesterday with the publication of the massive salaries of its 10 top broadcasters in 2022. We also await revelations about a pay-off to at least one former management executive. These issues need to be fully explored and publicly discussed.

But a decision on future funding for RTE  and the media generally  is urgently required. Let us recall that while RTE has long enjoyed a near monopoly on public funding, it has not had a monopoly on public service news provision, spanning parliament, the courts, business and other spheres.
DUP leader Jeffery Donaldson during a press conference at Hinch Distillery, Ballynahinch, after his party executive held a meeting about returning to Stormont. Photo: PA

Finally, the party of Ian Paisley has followed its founders belated example and said Yes to ending the political stasis in Northern Ireland. Yesterdays early-morning breakthrough, when the DUP endorsed a compromise deal with London to manage Brexit checks on goods, comes two years after the party had shut down the devolved parliament and ministerial executive at Stormont.

For those two years, ordinary citizens across the North suffered as basic services such as health, education and transport were curbed due to dwindling funds. The senior civil servants sitting in for elected ministers had only limited decision-making powers.

Hailing the decision, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson conceded that his party had not got all its demands. However, he insisted that what they got in prolonged discussions with London means Northern Ireland retains its co-equal UK internal trade status with England, Scotland and Wales.

This is not a time to bring up, again, the points at which the DUP misjudged and mishandled Brexit, going right back to the start of the referendum campaign in late 2015. We must instead look forward with hope, principally the hope that power-sharing can be in place as early as this coming weekend.

From there we must hope that the infuriating stop-start pattern of power-sharing can be consigned to the past. The people of the North deserve political stability and continuity founded on fairness and democratic will.

So does everyone on the island of Ireland. When we are deprived of stability, day-to-day issues are neglected and many peoples welfare, prosperity and happiness are diminished.

It will soon be 30 years since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which established power-sharing after the three decades of murder and mayhem of the Troubles. It is past time that a good dose of pragmatism and collaboration was factored into the political mix at Stormont.

Whether we get political stability in the North depends on the DUP, which made a good start with its belated positive decision, but it also depends on the behaviour of the other parties, notably Sinn Fein.

Can its leader in the North, Michelle ONeill, make a nationalist debut in the symbolic post of First Minister in a spirit of generosity and with good grace?

It has been a long road since June 2016 when UK voters opted to leave the EU, and it is again worth saluting the EU leaders who kept faith with Ireland to ensure no return of a hard border. Let us also recall that the Irish Government stood its ground over the years.

Let us also hope this potential new dawn can bring the return of practical cross-border co-operation projects, largely shelved as collateral damage here; they can improve daily life on both sides of the Border.

There is lingering regret at the return of customs and health checks on Irish food exports to the UK from midnight last night, but that is part of the brutal folly of Brexit.
The large group that attended the Dementia-Inclusive Community Event which was hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Mallow Chamber of Commerce at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.

Lena O Sullivan of Mallow Day Care and Home Care Team, Garda John Fitzgerald, Dr. Kevin Quaid, Chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group, Estelle Varney, President of Mallow Chamber, Councillor Gearoid Murphy and Mairead Dillon, Alzheimer Society Head of Fundraising, pictured at the Dementia-Inclusive Community Event which was hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Mallow Chamber of Commerce at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.

Deirdre Healy, Chair of the Cork Branch of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Dr. Kevin Quaid, Chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group and Cathryn O Leary, Alzheimer Society National Community Engagement Manager, pictured at the Dementia-Inclusive Community Event which was hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Mallow Chamber of Commerce at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.

Councillor Gearoid Murphy, Siobhan O'Connor, ASI Dementia Adviser for North Cork and Padraig O Sullivan TD pictured at the Dementia-Inclusive Community Event which was hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Mallow Chamber of Commerce at the Hibernian

Councillor Liam Madden, Dr. Kevin Quaid, Chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group, Estelle Varney, President of Mallow Chamber of Commerce and Councillor Tony O Shea pictured at the Dementia-Inclusive Community Event which was hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Mallow Chamber of Commerce at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.

Mairead Dillon, Alzheimer Society Head of Fundraising, addressing the audience at the Dementia-Inclusive Community Event which was hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Mallow Chamber of Commerce at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.

Mairead Dillon, Alzheimer Society Head of Fundraising, Dr. Kevin Quaid, Chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group and Cathryn O Leary, Alzheimer Society National Community Engagement Manager highlighting the Dementia-Inclusive Community Event which was hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Mallow Chamber of Commerce at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.

Dr. Kevin Quaid, Chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group, addressing the audience at the Dementia-Inclusive Community Event which was hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Mallow Chamber of Commerce at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.

The Mallow Day Care and Home Care Team attended the Dementia-Inclusive Community Event which was hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Mallow Chamber of Commerce at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow. Pictured are Lena O Sullivan, Ann O Sullivan, Amanda Sheehan, Bernie O Donoghue, Marie Gallagher and Brid Cashman

Councillor Gearoid Murphy, Fr. Andrew Carvill and Padraig O Sullivan TD attended the Dementia-Inclusive Community Event which was hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Mallow Chamber of Commerce at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.

The ASI Dementia Adviser for North Cork, Amy Murphy, speaking at the Dementia-Inclusive Community Event which was hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Mallow Chamber of Commerce at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.

Lena O Sullivan of Mallow Day Care and Home Care Team, Colm Burke TD, Siobhan O'Connor, ASI Dementia Adviser for North Cork, Councillor Liam Madden, Mairead Dillon, Alzheimer Society Head of Fundraising and Deirdre Healy, Chair of the Cork Branch of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland pictured at the Dementia-Inclusive Community Event which was hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Mallow Chamber of Commerce at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow. Photos by Sheila Fitzgerald

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (the ASI), in conjunction with Mallow Chamber of Commerce, hosted a Dementia-Inclusive community event last week at The Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.

The event encouraged people, businesses, services and community groups to create a more accessible environment for people living with Dementia.

People with dementia are among the most marginalised and can often face social exclusion and stigma. To address this issue, Dementia Inclusive Communities, an initiative of The Alzheimer Society of Irelands Friends of ASI, invites community members and people living with dementia, to make their communities more dementia-inclusive.

There was an excellent turnout at the event which featured speakers such as The ASI Head of Operations and Community Engagement, Siobhan OConnor, National Community Engagement Manager, Cathryn OLeary, The ASI Dementia Adviser for North Cork, Amy Murphy, and Chair of The Irish Dementia Working Group Dr. Kevin Quaid.

The most important part of any Dementia-Inclusive Community is taking action; an action plan will be developed, with significant input from the local Friends of ASI, to identify what the priorities should be.

The ASI is pleased to have the support of the Mallow Chamber of Commerce. Mallow Chamber is committed to actively engaging in all Friends of ASI Mallow initiatives and promoting them to its members.

Head of Operations and Community Engagement at The ASI, Siobhan OConnor, said: At The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, we firmly believe in overcoming the stigma surrounding dementia, ensuring that individuals with this condition feel heard, understood, and valued so they can thrive in their communities. Its fantastic to see Mallow embrace our mission. Were extremely grateful to Mallow Chamber of Commerce for their support and all who attended.

Estelle Varney of Mallow Chamber of Commerce said: We are so pleased to support The Alzheimer Society of Ireland as we strive to make Mallow a more inclusive, supportive and understanding place for individuals living with dementia. The importance of creating dementia-inclusive communities cannot be overstated.

Chair of The Irish Dementia Working Group, Dr Kevin Quaid said: Events like this help shine a light on dementia which affects so many people in Cork and across Ireland. It is so important that people living with this condition feel safe and supported in their communities. My dream is to see every village and town in Ireland become dementia inclusive.

This was the third ASI-led dementia-inclusive event in Cork, following the successful dementia-inclusive evening in Macroom in April 2023. In November, The ASI launched Mahon Point as the first dementia-inclusive shopping centre in Ireland.

In August, Minister of State at the Department of Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, officially opened The ASIs new Dementia-Specific Day Centre in the St. Marys Centre in Mallow.

An estimated 7,509 people live with dementia in Cork, and 63% of people with dementia live in the community in Ireland.

To learn how you can help to make Mallow Dementia-Inclusive, please contact Laura Curtin at friendsofasi@alzheimer.ie or 086 8537043.
Satellite kept a keen eye on Midleton during recent floods

Researchers have developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model that can act as an early warning system for communities who live in areas like Midleton, Cork, which are threatened by flooding.

It is hoped the model will soon be used to forewarn communities ahead of periods of heavy rain, providing local authorities with time to take emergency measures to limit damage to homes and businesses, evacuate residents, and protect livestock.

The model has been developed at CeADAR, Irelands centre for applied AI, with data collected by the European Space Agencys Sentinel-1 satellite to map historical flooding events in areas like Midleton, Carrick-on-Shannon, Athlone, and Limerick City.

The map data was fed to the AI model designed to predict the extent of future flooding events in these areas and researchers say it is accurate up to a distance of approximately 20 metres.

Dr Omid Memarian Sorkhabi is the post-doctoral researcher leading the development of the AI model and he monitored the Midleton flooding in real-time during Storm Babet with the Sentinel-1 satellite. The satellite uses advanced radar technology to penetrate heavy cloud cover, measuring soil moisture and water bodies at any time of day and night.

Data gleaned from the event, Dr Sorkhabi said, will help refine the model and improve its accuracy.

Flooding events like the one that hit Midleton during Storm Babet are devastating for households and business owners whose properties are worst affected.

The silver lining is that Sentinel-1 was right over the area at the time so we have gathered a lot of valuable data that will help predict the extent of the next event and ensure that future damage is limited.

Were in the process of developing, testing and validating the tool. But theres huge potential for it to be made available to local authorities and other research projects, Dr Sorkhabi added.

Director of Applied Research at CeADAR, Dr Oisin Boydell, said the AI project has major implications for communities in areas at high risk of flooding.

Weve witnessed extensive flooding across the country in recent times and, with increasing greenhouse gas emissions certain to lead to more rapid climate change, we can expect even more intense precipitation events in the future, Dr Boydell said.

Predicting when and where a flood will strike allows time to organise mitigation measures, like preparing sandbags and evacuating people and livestock from certain areas.

"Traditionally flood prediction and mapping would have been based on weather models and low-resolution elevation maps, whereas this one is very much data driven, based on events over the past decade and the current situation in a given area.

This creates an accuracy level thats down to approximately 20 metres. The fine-grained and detailed picture would be an invaluable resource for many and we look forward to seeing it scaled up in the coming years.

The project is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Enterprise Ireland under the Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund.
There were celebrations throughout Kilbrin last week when Betty Cashman celebrated her 100th birthday.

Betty began the day by getting her hair done, listening to the radio and keeping up to date with current affairs. She enjoyed visits from family, friends and local people and was very grateful to all of those who rang her to pass on their good wishes.

In the afternoon Betty read the huge amount of cards that she received and was absolutely over the moon reading the kind sentiments that people expressed.

Then it was time for tea, cake and singing some traditional Irish songs with her close family. Betty also enjoyed viewing videos from relatives both here in Ireland and in London.

Betty and her family would like to thank every single person who sent cards (including President Michael D Higgins), flowers, scratch cards, gifts, and messages. They would like to mention Kilbrin GAA and Kilbrin Community Council, and thank them for the fabulous bouquets of flowers and cards given to Betty.

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Betty was also delighted to receive a special card from all of the students at Kilbrin National School. It was a fabulous gesture and she will enjoy the chocolate bar they gave her with a nice cup of tea.

Betty said that she has had a beautiful long life with many happy memories. She has seen many momentous events in world history and is a fountain of wisdom and knowledge.

From world wars, to pandemics, numerous presidents, and lots more - she has lived through it all.

When asked what is the secret of her longevity she said: good, home cooked food, fresh air, and hard work outdoors.

Her advice to younger generations is to try and enjoy a good, happy life and to always have hope.

Elizabeth Cashman was born in Greenfield, Kanturk on January 26th, 1924, making her 100 years young. She had one brother and two sisters and loved her early years going to school and working on the farm. She has fond memories of all of her neighbours in Kanturk.

Betty met her husband, Joe Cashman, at a dance one night and when they married she moved to Garrison, Kilbrin. The couple lived in a thatched cottage and worked the farm.

Betty loved the fresh air, cooking, baking, knitting, and chatting with friends. Betty and Joe had four children; Bill, Tom, Kay, and Edel.

Now Betty has five grandchildren; Joe, Danny, Miriam, Jack, and Aine. She also has many new additions to the family with Charlie, Liam, Layla and Molly, her beloved great grandchildren.

She adores all of her family, giving them advice, and enjoying all their adventures in life.
The chairperson of Charleville Community Forum is seeking greater communication with residents regarding proposed public safety works in the town and also called for the scheduled pedestrian crossing works to commence immediately.

Members of Charleville Community Forum organised a public meeting at Charleville Park Hotel on Monday, January 29 to get updates from public representatives on public safety and a ring road.

Community council chair Evelyn OKeeffe who has been selected to represent Sinn Fein in the upcoming local elections said there was anger at the lack of communication with residents over the public safety works. There was a good crowd there. We had at least 100 people. Overall it was a positive meeting. The tone from the audience was one of anger at the lack of communication from our councillors. One local councillor Ian Doyle (Fianna Fail) turned up and he took questions from the floor, she said.

People were upset with the lack of community engagement, said Ms OKeeffe. There was a lot of anger about the lack of information that was forthcoming to the public. We have had ten pedestrian fatalities on the main street in the last ten years. There isnt a town in the country that has that kind of a record. It is not one we like to have. We have had pedestrian crossings promised since 2020. Since then we have had two deaths at that particular junction where the pedestrian crossings were supposed to be.

Funding was allocated and still nothing. Back in December we were told the works would start in January, but nothing started in January. It could now start in March and this has angered people. It keeps being pushed out and there is a high risk of another accident, she added.

Ms OKeeffe said attendees however gleaned more information on both the short-term and long-term plans for public safety at the meeting. A positive from the meeting is that we got more information than we had prior to the meeting. The five pedestrian crossings will be table tops. They are also going to put in an extra pedestrian crossing at the library crossing where the last two incidents were and another one at Broad Street as well. It is good news that we are getting extra pedestrian crossings. It is also good news that the bus stops are being separated from the loading bays.

We want this work to start immediately, said the community council chair. Time is of the essence. It is a major worry that while we are talking and making plans, we are getting closer to the next fatality.

Looking to the long-term, Ms OKeeffe said a ring road is needed to take the HGVs off the street to alleviate the 15,000 vehicles using the Main Street daily. Residents want work to start on the short-term plans but long-term they want to see a ring road out of the town. We were told at the public meeting that the money isnt there for that, but money is available for a feasibility study to look at the ring road. Members of the audience quickly pointed out that we have had a lot of feasibility studies on ring roads and it never materialises.

Charleville is a big town. People are sitting in traffic and they have no reason to be in Charleville. They are just going from A to B, Cork to Limerick. Especially the HGV drivers, they dont want to be stuck in Charleville. It is also not good for the air quality in the town. The community wants a ring road. It is needed, she added.
Renewed calls have been made for the reopening of a full-time fire station in Ballincollig by a Sinn Fein representative for Ballincollig.

Joe Lynch, who is a Sinn Fein local election candidate for Cork City South West said Sinn Fein is fully committed to the reopening of Ballincollig fire station.

Mr Lynch was speaking after the commitment was contained in the party's 'Vision for Cork' proposals which were published at Cork City Hall earlier this week.

He said the people of Ballincollig have been denied a service they were initially promised when the city boundaries were redrawn. "It is now nearly two and a half years since the doors of Ballincollig fire station were shut. Throughout that time, the people of Ballincollig have been denied the service they were promised when the city boundaries were redrawn, he said.

"Sinn Fein will continue to fight tooth and nail for the reinstatement of a full-time fire station in Ballincollig, said Mr Lynch. A service befitting a town with a population nearing 20,000 people. We have made that clear commitment in our 'Vision for Cork' proposals.

"Unfortunately, due to the complete failure of Cork City Council management and the pact parties on the Council, the situation remains as it was; with local Fianna Fail and Fine Gael councillors abstaining on a motion in City Hall directing the Council to reopen Ballincollig fire station in recent months, he added.

Mr Lynch said another key priority is the delivery of community facilities west of the White Horse in Ballincollig town. Another very important commitment for Ballincollig is to ensure the delivery of community infrastructure west of the White Horse. This is an area that has seen a rapid expansion in house building in recent years which is very welcome, but which seriously lacks vital community facilities."
Dublin Port lands could be used for large-scale housing, it has been claimed

Dublin Port is the obvious place for additional large-scale apartment blocks in the city, the head of the Docklands Business Forum has said.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Alan Robinson said developing the area around the port could rejuvenate the city, drawing Dubliners living in surrounding counties back to the city centre.

If tens of thousands of predominantly young people are living within walking distance, we will be compelled to regenerate services, he said.

Mr Robinson was responding to recent claims made by former Dublin Port CEO Eamon OReilly, that calls to relocate the port for housing were nonsensical.

Were already on the backfoot of this issue in terms of public policy, and were not building, Mr Robinson said.

There are only three large tracts of land that can deliver the scale we need to get ahead of the housing crisis.

He believes Dublin Port, farmland in Fingal, and other green belt areas in surrounding counties with open fields, are the only spaces where significantly more living space could be created.

He said the current area of Dublin Port is the combined space of Sandymount, Ranelagh and Harolds Cross, and called on naysayers to think big.

Mr Robinson also expressed concern about the heavily road-based transport infrastructure for Dublin Port.

The Government was informed late last year that Dublin Port risks running out of space for key capacity operations within the next 15 years, and alternative measures will need to be taken.

Dublin Port has said they are committed to ensuring that capacity constraints do not emerge, leading to supply chain inefficiencies.

The companys Project 3FM includes a plan to build Irelands largest container terminal in front of the ESBs power station in Poolbeg, and a new 190-metre bridge with a lifting section over the River Liffey.

Alan Robinson, CEO of Dublin Docklands Business Forum

A 2.2km road will run parallel to the East Link Toll Road and includes a stretch along the southern shore of the River Liffey.

The plan will double capacity at the port to 77 million tonnes by 2040 and have capacity to handle more than 350,000 containers each year.

Dublin Port recently acquired 44 hectares of land in Fingal, 14km from the docklands, which is being developed as Dublin Inland Port to address current capacity.

They have admitted in their own proposals that they are running out of space. We can see they have to move, but its getting too late, Mr Robinson said.

He also acknowledged the achievements since the passage of the Docklands Development Authority Bill in 1997.

We had some of the most contaminated soil in Europe, asbestos in the buildings, and nobody encouraged us to do it, thinking it would take too long, he said. But now it's 25 years later, and it's done.

Dublin Port has been contacted for comment.
Ken McAndrew will be taking a dip every day in February at Dublin's Forty Foot

A Dubliner is taking to the Irish Sea every day next month to raise funds for a charity he says has always been close to his heart .

Ken McAndrew, from Dalkey, has set himself the challenge of taking a dip every day throughout February at Dublins Forty Foot in aid of Little Flower Penny Dinners, a charity established 100 years ago in the Liberties.

As a regular swimmer braving the water roughly three times a week, Mr McAndrew came up with the idea for the fundraiser after seeing a friend take part in a February Freeze for his local GAA club last year.

Ive always loved to swim as its a nice place to think and reflect, and its good for my head, he said.

I also used to work in my uncles antique shop on Francis Street at a young age, so Ive always known the Little Flower, the locals, and the amazing work they do there. So Ive always had a strong association, I suppose.

My mum passed away about six years ago now, and she always had a strong belief in the patron associated with the charity, and the ethos of that saint is related to doing as many good things on earth as you can.

St Therese of Lisieux is the Patron of Little Flower Penny Dinners in Dublin. She was a French Catholic nun who is popularly known as the Little Flower of Jesus.

Little Flower Penny Dinners has always supported people in need, especially elderly people, by creating an atmosphere of caring, compassion, understanding, and welcoming, and by providing services and meals.

The charity spoke to the Irish Independent back in December, saying their services are needed now more than ever.

Mr McAndrew recently visited the charity to meet some of those working there, and decided to walk into the church beside it, despite not being very religious. While there, he saw a statue of the patron of the charity, St Therese.

Its not a common statue in Ireland; it felt like a sort of sign to me, and I felt it would be a great partnership working with that charity, he added.

The avid swimmer said that most mornings he goes at the minute its still dark, meaning the stars are still visible in the night sky.

Sometimes its quite choppy, and to see 20 people down there, theres a great sense of camaraderie, and you can see everyone is going for their own particular reasons, he said.

It might be just kickstarting your day or dealing with mental health issues or grief, but whatever it is, everyone has their own story, and its a nice feeling due to the sense of community.

If youd like to donate to Kens fundraiser, see here.
Home loans provided by Kerry County Council to help first time buyers get on the property ladder are completely inadequate in West Kerry where spiralling prices have put homes beyond the reach of young couples. Local Authority Home Loans are provided by the Government to first time buyers to cover the cost of the purchase or build of a home. The properties can be new or second hand and each County Council has a limit for the market value of the house that can be financed. These range from 360,000 in Dublin and surrounding counties to a low of 275,000, which is the maximum property price that can be funded by a Council home loan in Kerry.

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However, according to figures released by the Property Price Register (PPR), it is several years since the average price of a house in West Kerry was 275,000 or less. In 2020 the average price of a home sold in Dingle was 285,296, and by the following year the figure increased to 305,158. Average house prices in West Kerry stabilised at 303,728 in 2022, but rose sharply again in 2023 with the average price of a house sold in Dingle standing at 362,831 last year. The staggering rise in prices is exemplified by a single house in Gortonora, which was bought in 2016 for 50,000, was re-sold in 2021 for 230,000 and last November the house was sold once again with the purchaser paying 425,000 for the property, according to figures published on the Property Price Register. It is not only in Dingle town that eyewatering prices are asked for and paid for properties. In Ventry a field with a derelict cottage is on the market with an asking price of 200,000, effectively the price for a large site with a very good sea view. Managing Director of West Kerry Properties Ltd, Anthony Fitzgerald said this week that the average price for a house is currently in the region of 360,000. Youd hardly get anything in Dingle [or West Kerry] for 230,000, he added.

In contrast, the average price of properties sold in Tralee in 2023 was 272,165 and over 70 per cent of properties sold in the county capital for less than 275,000. The disparity in prices presents enormous challenges for young people looking to start out with their first house in West Kerry. According to Anthony the main driver of house prices in West Kerry is a dire lack of supply. The number of houses in West Kerry that I have on my books at the moment is in single digits. Ive never before had so few houses for sale, he said. According to Anthony, the most popular houses are three-bed detached or semi-detached and the preference is for houses rather than apartments. But people have to take what they can get. Too few new houses are being built, he said adding that, everything is stacked against the developers. Plans that have been submitted to Kerry County Council for developments in Dingle have often faced staunch resistance from surrounding residents, with many objections stating that they types of living units being proposed  often mostly made up of apartments - are not suitable and that the density is too high for a rural town and more suited to a city or large town environment. Meanwhile, Census figures show that Dingle has one of the oldest populations in Ireland, and that retired and elderly families make up almost 30 per cent of the households on the peninsula. The Census figures appear to confirm evidence on the ground that young people are being excluded from the property market in West Kerry. With an aging population, the lack of provision of opportunity for young people to buy or acquire a permanent home suitable to their needs may set the seeds for larger problems in future years.
A new building is to be added to Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra in Rathmore to provide a new special education base for the area.

The school, which has around 400 students, will be getting a new modular building for two special needs classes under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme.

Minister for Education and Kerry TD Norma Foley has welcomed the approval of a new special needs base for Kerry.

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She said it is part of the expansion of special classes which have increased to around 3,000 over the past three years.

Minister Foley said: I welcome the opportunity to provide a new special needs base for Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra. This is about children and young people growing up and learning together to the greatest possible extent. Having an education system that is a broad reflection of Irish society is important to me as Minister.

Weve invested very significantly in special education with a package of 2.7 billion for 2024, which is 26 per cent of the Departments budget. We now have almost 3,000 special classes, including around 1,800 which have been added in the past three years, and we will open another 600 in the next two years. This level of expenditure and resourcing is now providing almost 40,000 additional teachers and SNAs in schools."

Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra is a modern co-educational secondary school established in 1998 with the amalgamation of St Mary's Presentation Convent Secondary School and Rathmore Vocational School.
Wu Xieyu, a former Peking University student who killed his mother, was executed on Wednesday after China's top court approved his death sentence.

The execution was carried out by the Fuzhou Intermediate People's Court in Fujian province, where Wu was convicted of intentional homicide, fraud and the illegal purchase of identity cards and given the death penalty.

The court told Wu, 29, he had the right to apply to meet family members before the execution, but he did not make an application. The execution process supervised by Fuzhou prosecutors.

According to the Supreme People's Court statement approving the death sentence, Wu, from Fujian, was pessimistic and tried to commit suicide. After his father died of an illness he thought the life of his mother, Xie Tianqin, was meaningless, so he prepared to kill her in early 2015 and bought some items for that purpose.

On July 10 that year, when Xie arrived home, Wu hit her repeatedly in the head and face with a dumbbell, resulting in her death, and then fled the scene, the statement said.

Previous reports said Wu wrapped his mother's body in layers of bedsheets, plastic sheets and activated carbon bags after the killing.

To cover up the killing, Wu "borrowed" 1.44 million yuan ($201,000) from relatives and friends, telling them he and his mother would need the money when she accompanied him as he traveled overseas to study. In reality, he squandered the money, the top court said.

He also purchased more than 10 identity cards to hide his real identity and avoid arrest, it added.

The relatives became suspicious when Xie failed to contact them for some time, and they found his mother's body in February 2016 in her faculty dormitory apartment at the Fuzhou middle school where she worked.

Wu was then named as suspect by local police. He was captured in Chongqing in 2019 after being on the run for more than three years.

The Fuzhou court heard Wu's case in late 2020, and handed down the death penalty in August 2021.

In May last year, the Fujian High People's Court upheld the original ruling.

In China, a death sentence made by lower courts must be submitted to the top court for review. The sentence can only be carried out after it is approved by the top court.

On Wednesday, the top court said that Wu's behavior had constituted the crimes of intentional killing and the illegal purchase of ID cards, and the sum of the money involved in the fraud he perpetrated was extremely large.

"Wu should be punished, as his killing method was cruel, which seriously violated human ethics and trampled on the public's emotion, with severe negative effects to society," it said.

It agreed with the verdicts made and upheld by the lower courts, saying the facts in the case were clear, the evidence was sufficient, the application of the law was correct and the sentencing was appropriate.
Tipperary brothers looking for love on First Dates Ireland

Tipperary brothers Gary and Anthony Lyons are hoping to find love on First Dates Ireland this Thursday, February 1, on RTE Two, at 9.35pm.

Gary and his brother Anthony are from Thurles in the Premier County. Gary is also known as MC Daycent and rose to fame by reaching the semi-finals of Ireland's Got Talent in 2019. He has since grown quite the social media following on Instagram, Snapchat and Tik Tok.

Tipperary brothers Gary and Anthony Lyons are hoping to find love on First Dates Ireland this Thursday, January 1, on RTE at 9.35pm.

By day Gary works as a barber in Kilkenny. Anthony is an aircraft engineer. It's Gary's second time appearing on the show.

After a less than daycent outcome on his first date, the former Ireland's Got Talent star Gary returns to the restaurant for a double date accompanied by his younger brother Anthony, his best friend but also self-confessed worst wingmen ever.

Anthony (33) meets Bart Simpson fan Angie (35) from Australia who is looking for a Keanu Reeves/Jack Black combo. Meanwhile, things heat up for Gary (36) as he encounters the chaotic energy of fire breathing Oriel (33) from Kildare.

Things will heat up for Gary (36) as he encounters the chaotic energy of fire breathing Oriel (33) from Kildare

Other participants on Thursdays show include adventurous Trina (67) from Balbriggan who meets long suffering Dad Leo (68) from Sandyford, whose daughters applied to First Dates for him.

Hip-hop dancer George (22) from Glasnevin and drag queen Killian (22) from Ballybrack will also compare moves on the hit show.
Eight people were rushed to hospital in Limerick city as a university campus building was evacuated over fears of contamination by a potential irritant on Wednesday morning.

Limerick Fire Service evacuated staff and students from the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) campus main building in Moylish on Wednesday morning, January 31, at about 11.45am.

The emergency services were called to the scene after complaints of a possible irritant in the building.

Eight people were taken to University Hospital Limerick as a precaution.

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However the campus was deemed safe and reopened, following an inspection conducted by the Fire Service, at 2.30pm.

TUS and gardai explained they are investigating the cause of the incident.

A garda spokesperson explained: Gardai assisted emergency services at an incident that occurred at a third-level institution in Limerick at approximately 11:45am this morning, Wednesday, 31st of January 2024.

Eight people have been conveyed to University Hospital Limerick as a precaution. Enquiries are ongoing.

In a statement, the university said: TUS Moylish Campus main building was evacuated at 11am today as Limerick Fire Service investigated complaints of a possible irritant in one part of the building. No source was found and following inspection, the Fire Service have advised that the main building can re-open at 2:30.

TUS added: Staff and students are now preparing to return to the building. As protocol dictates, seven people (including TUS staff and students) were taken to the University Hospital Limerick by ambulance as a precaution. TUS has begun an investigation into the cause of this incident.

The incident came just one week after University of Limerick staged an extremely realistic emergency simulation, the largest of its kind in Ireland, on its campus.

The major incident exercise took place on Thursday, January 25, and involved students from paramedics, medicine and nursing, alongside personnel from the emergency services.

The immersive simulation, played out on the North Campus Plaza in UL, was designed to prepare both students and professionals for a multi-casualty, major incident where an inter-professional response is required across multiple agencies.
The scene of the shooting at Aughnacliffe's Glenview Lounge in north Longford.

A jilted farm labourer who carried out a drive by shooting when firing two shots from a double barrel shotgun outside a Longford pub where his ex-girlfriend had been socialising has walked free from court.

Twenty-one-year-old Jason Murray, of Barradrum, Streete, Co Westmeath was handed a two years and three months suspended sentence at Longford Circuit Criminal Court today (Wednesday) for the reckless discharge of a firearm at the Glenview Lounge, Glenmore, Aughnacliffe, Co Longford on February 10 last year.

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The court heard how Murray had been left hurt and angry by the breakdown of his relationship with his former partner Rebecca Collum in the weeks leading up to the shooting.

It was revealed Murray had been in contact with her ex-girlfriends sisters boyfriend on social media forum Snapchat on the evening of the incident and had been seeking to confront him.

Murray, who had earlier returned home from working on a local piggery in nearby Multyfarnham and dropped off his sister, picked up three friends before travelling to a pub in Granard.

The scene of the shooting at Aughnacliffe's Glenview Lounge in north Longford.

The court heard Murrays three passengers, one of whom Jack Sullivan (19) of Kilmore, Streete, Co Westmeath is a co-accused, noticed a double barrel shotgun sitting in the centre console of Murrays Audi A4.

Judge Kenneth Connolly heard no major discussion was held about the gun being in the car with the men later stopping off in Mr Sullivans house where the latter removed three or four shotgun cartridges from his fathers gun safe.

The vehicle, from there, travelled towards Edgeworthstown, stopping at Coolamber Woods where Mr Murray discharged a shot.

Under cross examination in the witness box, Detective Sgt Keelan Brennan said a follow-up search of the area found no evidence of the dispensed cartridge.

Shane Geraghty, BL, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said Ms Collum and her sister Rebecca, together with their two partners had, meanwhile, decided to travel to the Glenview Lounge in Aughnacliffe from Ms Collums house in Ballinalee.

As the group left the driveway in Rachel Collums blue coloured VW Polo, they spotted the accused slowly driving by before heading off in the direction of Aughnacliffe.

A short time later and in a statement to gardai, Rachel Collum said she had been at the door of the Glenview Pub in conversation with another man when she spotted Murrays car parked up a few yards away.

As she approached the car, she noticed Murray moving a fluorescent jacket towards the passenger side of the vehicle.

Upon noticing the double barrel shotgun, which the court heard was a legally held firearm, Murray told her: Its not loaded, I promise, before Ms Collum shouted at the accused: Stop driving by our house and leave my sister Rebecca alone.

It was at that stage, Rebecca Collum, Murrays former girlfriend appeared and opened the back door and slapped the accused across the face.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - January 31st

Mr Geraghty said Murray had been left enraged by the incident and he drove off in a temper before stopping the car a short distance down the road where he ordered Mr Sullivan to swap seats.

Moments later, and with Sullivan at the wheel and Murray in the front passenger seat, the court was told the accused rolled down the window, took out the shotgun before firing two shots into Ms Collums vehicle.

One of the shots entered the vehicle through the rear window and travelled through the car, hitting the front windscreen in the process. The second shot hit the drivers door, but did not penetrate the door.

The Glenview Lounge in Aughnacliffe, Co Longford.

Following the incident, Murray dropped of his three friends and proceeded to a parcel of local bogland where he smashed the front window of the car and removed the vehicles number plates.

The accused mans grandfather retrieved the Murrays car the following day and with the registration plates being put back on with Murray, the court hearing knowing the game was up.

When detectives from Longford arrested Murray the following day, he told officers after caution: It was stupid what had happened and a moment of madness.

Murray was later interviewed on five separate occasions over the next three days, Murray made full admissions over his culpability but denied any inference his actions were intended to cause physical harm, insisting he was not aware the car belonged to Ms Collum.

John Shortt, SC, defending conceded the actions of his client were a profoundly dangerous, reckless and frightening thing to do

He said the episode was one in which tensions had been running high, set against the backdrop of a breakdown in Murrays relationship with Rebecca Collum that was fuelled by angst between Murray and Rachel Collums boyfriend.

He implored the court to factor in Murrays early guilty plea, his lack of relevant previous convictions and an excellent work history.

Hes not a bad lad, said Mr Shortt.

He is somebody who made a very, very serious error in his behaviour on the night in question.

Murray, himself, penned two letters to the court, outlining his regret over what had occurred.

In one of those directed to his ex-girlfriend and her family, Murray said he always hoped that he and Ms Collum would get back together, but said he had been left hurt and angry when he found out she was seeing someone else.

"I know this does not excuse my behaviour and the stress it has caused my own family, he said.

"I am hoping that I can get a second chance to prove how much I have changed and grown since this incident. I will continue to be a better person and work on my flaws in the future.

The court was also provided with a character reference from Murrays employer Bernard Gilsenan of Ballindurrow Pig Farm in Multyfarnham, who told of his shock upon learning of the incident and of how the accused was an otherwise excellent, loyal, reliable and honest employee.

In delivering his verdict, Judge Connolly as a very, very, very serious incident and one that would otherwise command a lengthy custodial sentence.

I shudder to think the consequences that could have flowed from this act, he said, adding he did not entirely agree the actions of Murray on the night amounted to a moment of madness.

He said the court found it bizarre and hard to comprehend how four young men could deem it acceptable to drive around rural Ireland with a shotgun in the centre console of a car.

Judge Connolly said the court also had to bear in mind the weapon used was a powerful instrument that was loaded with 7.5mm gauge cartridges.

He said the court had to be mindful of the exceptional circumstances that were linked to the case, most notably Murrays age, his previous good character and the genuine remorse he had shown since.

He subsequently sentenced Murray to two years and three months in prison, suspending the term for a period of three years.

In doing so, he ordered Murray to have no unsolicited contact with Ms Collum or her family and to refrain from applying for a firearms licence for a period of ten years.

Murray was similarly compelled to enter into a probationary supervision bond for a period of 18 months with the 1,500 he came to court with being handed over to Rachel Collum by way of compensation.
Dundalk base led by local directors

Ryanair, Europes No.1 airline, has agreed a new partnership with OTA loveholidays for its customers who wish to book low-cost package holidays. This deal allows loveholidays customers to buy Ryanair flights, seats, and bags as part of their loveholidays package at Ryanairs low prices. It guarantees that loveholidays customers will not be overcharged and they will have direct access to their myRyanair account for all customer info questions.

The Irish arm of Loveholidays is based in Dundalk and is led by Siobhain Mulholland, Operations Director Ireland and Clem Walshe, Commercial Director for Ireland. Loveholidays is now the biggest Irish Travel Agent and a two-time winner of the Best Irish Online Travel Agent category at the World Travel Awards in 2022 & 2023.

Siobhain and Clem are vastly experienced travel business professionals and are looking to add to their Dundalk team which is based in Finnabair Business Park.

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This partnership with loveholidays also guarantees that Ryanair flight info will be provided directly to each customers email address, including pre-departure info on Ryanair T&Cs, and in cases of disruptions. loveholidays agrees that it will only display Ryanairs real prices, without mark-ups and will only pass accurate customer contact and payment details to Ryanair. This means loveholidays customers will not need to complete Ryanairs customer verification process which unauthorised OTA Pirates customers must continue to do.

Ryanairs Dara Brady said: We are pleased to announce this first OTA partnership with loveholidays, which will ensure that loveholidays customers can now book Ryanair flights, seats, and bags as part of their package with the guarantee that they will not be overcharged for flights, bags, or seats, they will receive flight updates directly from Ryanair and will also have direct access to their booking through their myRyanair account.

loveholidays Chief Marketing Officer, Al Murray, added: As the UK and Irelands largest and fastest growing OTA, we are delighted to be the worlds first Ryanair-approved package holiday provider. Our status as an approved Ryanair partner will ensure the process of booking and managing a Ryanair flight as part of a loveholidays package is seamless for customers; something no other package holiday provider can offer.

The loveholidays-Ryanair partnership means all our customers can take advantage of Ryanairs low fares while benefiting from our unrivalled choice of hotels, flexible payment plans and ATOL protection. Ultimately, this new partnership highlights our commitment to championing consumer choice, with the overall aim of making travel more affordable and accessible while opening the world to everyone.
Guilty plea entered to two charges at Sligo Circuit Court

A 37 year old man has been remanded for sentencing after pleading guilty to possessing over 13,000 child sexual abuse images and over 1,200 videos.

Gavin Flynn of Ballyscanlon, Grange admitted two charges of possession of child pornography at Sligo Garda Station on July 2nd 2019.

No plea was entered with regard to a third charge but Prosecuting Barrister Mr Leo Mulrooney (instructed by Ms Elisa McHugh State Solicitor) said the two guilty pleas were entered on a full facts basis to be outlined at the sentencing hearing.

Flynn pleaded guilty on Tuesday before Judge to possessing 13,078 images and 1,204 videos at Sligo Garda Station on his Samsung Notebook.

He further pleaded guilty to possessing 285 images and 58 videos on a HP laptop.

The defendant had also been facing a third count - possessing 2,248 images and 124 videos on a USB drive but no plea was entered to this charge.

Ms Eileen OLeary SC with Mr Eugene Deering BL, instructed by Mr Mark Mullaney, Solicitor (defending)), sought the preparation of a probation report in advance of the sentencing hearing and she was hopeful the defendant could be placed on a Safer Lives Programme in the interim.

Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to July 23rd.
Young people from Sligo Community Training Centre attended an innovative workshop at the Aviva Stadium this week, hosted by electricity grid operator, EirGrid, and non-profit youth organisation, Young Social Innovators (YSI).

The workshop, entitled Powering Up, brought together students from across the country to learn about the critical role EirGrid plays in decarbonising the power system and the challenges and opportunities at play as it works to transform the electricity grid for future generations.

They also gained an insight into the inner workings of the National Control Centre, the headquarters for matching electricity production to customer demand in real time.

EirGrid is leading the secure transition of Irelands electricity grid to low carbon, renewable energy, creating a cleaner energy future. In line with Government targets, its ambition is to ensure up to 80% of Irelands energy comes from renewables by 2030.

EirGrid is the Climate Action and Energy partner with Young Social Innovators, a national organisation that engages thousands of young people annually in co-creating and developing innovative ideas to address social challenges.

During the workshop, the Sligo students had the opportunity to engage in thought provoking sessions on climate justice and biodiversity, led by experts from EirGrid and YSI. The teenagers explored various ways to make a positive impact on the environment which they implemented into their own project, which focused on water as a source of power.

Speaking at the event, EirGrids chief infrastructure officer, Michael Mahon said: We are proud to partner with YSI for this workshop and to engage with the next generation of clean energy advocates. By empowering teenagers to develop initiatives around more sustainable energy practices in their communities, we hope to inspire them to continue the great work they are already doing in addressing climate change.

This partnership highlights the importance of collaboration between industry leaders and youth organisations in addressing challenges of climate change and promoting sustainable development. We look forward to seeing these projects come to life and being adopted in schools and communities around the country, added Mahon.

Young Social Innovators CEO, Roger Warnock said: We are delighted to partner with EirGrid and participate in this innovative workshop for teenagers focused on climate action, the environment, and sustainability. The enthusiasm and creativity demonstrated by these young minds are a testament to the potential they hold as the leaders of tomorrow. Their social innovation ideas are not only inspiring but crucial drivers for the positive change we urgently need in our world. This event perfectly aligns with our mission at YSI, as we strive to empower future change-makers and foster a collaborative spirit for a better and more sustainable tomorrow".

The workshop concluded with an opportunity for participants to share their project ideas, drawing from the days activities around sustainable energy, positive biodiversity practices and social justice commitments.
Demonstrators hold Palestine flags outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands. Photo: Reuters

TDs across the Sligo/Leitrim constituency have been urged to back Sinn Feins motion which would mandate Ireland to support the case by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention.

Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny has called on all TDs and government representatives in the Sligo and Leitrim area to support the motion which will be debated on Tuesday evening.

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He added that a notice to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Ireland intends to join proceedings would send a huge message that would be heard the world over.

Ahead of the Dail motion, Deputy Kenny said, Last Fridays judgement from the ICJ has changed everything.

The Court may not have used the word ceasefire, but the only way to operationalise the findings of the Court is a full, permanent and complete ceasefire.

The Court has ruled that South Africa have a plausible case and that Israel has a case to answer in respect of violations of the Genocide Convention.

Now is the time for the government, on behalf of the Irish people, to indicate that they will join with South Africa in their case to hold Israel accountable for their crimes against the Palestinian people.

There are no more excuses, Israeli impunity must end, said Deputy Kenny.

He said the timely motion before the Dail gives TDs across Sligo, Leitrim and the wider northwest an opportunity to be on the right side of history.

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Unanimous support for the Sinn Fein motion would send a huge message from Ireland, heard the world over, that we are firmly on the side of international law, international Humanitarian law and the UN charter.

The provisional ruling from the Court on Friday demands action from the international community.

South Africa has shown leadership, now is the time for others, Ireland included, to do so too, concluded Deputy Kenny.
Six of the seven nurse specialists who graduated from Saoltas first hybrid post-graduate Childrens Nursing Diploma. From left, Amy Gannon, Helen Rooney, Faith Zinyemba, Agnieszka Maria Kuczewska, Lorna Middleton and Soumya Assariparambil Renjan. (Absent from the photo is Cait Costello)

Lorna Middleton, Specialist Childrens Nurse in Sligo University Hospital is presented with a graduation medal by Saolta Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Paul Hooton.

Seven new Childrens Nursing Specialists have graduated from an innovative postgraduate programme developed by Saolta in conjunction with Trinity College Dublin and Childrens Health Ireland.

The newly qualified specialist nurses are based in Letterkenny University Hospital, Sligo University Hospital, Mayo University Hospital, Galway University Hospitals and Portiuncula University Hospital.

The programme is unique in that it delivers a blended learning model with remote and in-person lectures, and is the only pathway which allows post-registration nurses to pursue a Higher Diploma in Childrens Nursing without undertaking a course based in Dublin.

Childrens healthcare services are facing ever-increasing demands due to the evolving profile of childrens healthcare needs.

The number of childrens nurses qualifying is low in comparison with other disciplines and this programme was born from a need to ensure Saoltas nursing teams continue to have the highest level of skill, qualification and training to care for our younger population.

Siobhan Horkan, Director of Paediatric Nursing for the Saolta Group who led the project, explains, The provision and resourcing of effective child healthcare services are critical in both preventing and managing illness and chronic disease in childhood.

For this, we need an adaptable, knowledgeable and skilled childrens nursing workforce. Its crucial we continue to train Registered Childrens Nurses in a way that works for students.

Throughout the hybrid programme students attended lectures online and in person, had clinical placements in hospitals across Saolta, CHI at Crumlin, CAMHS, Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Emergency Departments as well as clinical placements in the community. The blended learning model means students can undertake placements closer to home and are not required to be based in Dublin, this is a huge selling point.

Lorna Middleton, is one of the seven graduates of the new programme. She is a nurse at Sligo University Hospital and spoke about her motivation for undertaking the course.

She said, I never thought it would be possible to achieve my dream of becoming a registered childrens nurse. I had over 16 years experience in the paediatric ward but moving to Dublin for a year was not an option due to a busy family life.

The new hybrid Higher Diploma in Childrens Nursing allowed me to pursue my dream.

Although it was a busy year with work and travel, I felt very well supported by my clinical placement coordinator, my lecturers and the other students.

I found that I enjoyed the academic work and the load was achievable whilst juggling placements and family commitments.

Having obtained the formal Registered Childrens Nurse qualification I feel very proud. I have more self-confidence and motivation and my patients will benefit from up to date evidence based care.

Paul Hooton, Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery for the Saolta Group said; This programme is a milestone in the training of Childrens Nurses in Ireland and also a brilliant example of nursing innovation in action.

The Saolta Hybrid Post Registration Nursing Programme is a proven, successful education model which will positively impact both our capacity to deliver specialist nursing care, and the health and wellbeing of the children and young people who use our services well into the future.

We are now training specialist Childrens Nurses in the West and North West of Ireland and have the opportunity to expand the number of registered Childrens Nurses available to care for children across our acute and community services. I am very proud of everyone involved in this programme and congratulate the inaugural class of 2023 on their achievements.

The programme will be open to new applications shortly, email Karen.Grennan2@hse.ie) for more information.
Ireland has an interesting role in Europe. As a small country, we have the ability to be more flexible, nimble and fast moving than some of the bigger states. This can mean that progressive legislation can sometimes be introduced rapidly, and the subsequent success (or failure) can be helpful as a guide for larger, less flexible countries when making their own decisions.

Examples that I remember are the charge for plastic bags in supermarkets in 2002 (which led to a 90% drop in use of plastic bags), and the smoking ban in pubs in 2004 (twenty years ago now). These were innovative changes at the time, and many people thought theyd fail, but their success has been evidenced by the fact that we have all accepted these changes, they have improved our environment significantly, and other countries have followed Ireland with similar legislation.
Mean Streets (1973) Film4, 11.20p.m.

Martin Scorseses hard-hitting third feature film truly marked him out as one of Americas most exciting directors, demonstrating many of the themes and stylistic touches that would recur throughout his distinguished career. It was also his first collaboration with his frequent leading man Robert De Niro (the pair recently reunited for Killers of the Flower Moon).

Harvey Keitel co-stars as Charlie, a young Italian-American who feels torn between his Catholic faith and his desire to rise through the ranks of the mob. To ease his conscience, Charlie takes it upon himself to protect his friend Johnny Boy (an electrifying De Niro), a reckless, self-destructive gambler who is in debt to the local loan sharks.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1

Pride and Prejudice (1940) BBC4, 10.45p.m.

Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson take the lead roles in this adaptation of Jane Austens much-loved novel. Mary Boland co-stars as Mrs Bennett who is excited by the arrival of a rich man into the neighbourhood, seeing a chance to marry off one of her five daughters. She has more reason to be happy when the newcomer brings an even wealthier friend, Mr Darcy, with him but he fails to make a good first impression on her headstrong daughter Elizabeth.

Austen purists may be annoyed by the way the film takes liberties with the source material, from moving the time period  reportedly because the wardrobe department wanted the costumes to be more flamboyant  to making Mr Collins a librarian rather than a vicar because the Hayes code forbade making fun of the clergy. However, judged on its own merits its a fun period romance.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2

Long Shot (2019) BBC1, midnight

When he was 13, journalist Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) fell hopelessly under the spell of his 16-year-old babysitter. Decades later, the girl of his hormone-addled dreams, Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron), is Secretary of State for the United States, who has just been endorsed by President Chambers (Bob Odenkirk) as his successor. Luckily for Fred, Charlotte needs an idealist to add verbal firepower to her speeches and she asks him to join her on the long and winding road to the White House.

Directed by Jonathan Levine, Long Shot is a crowd-pleasing comedy of burning political ambitions and shameless media intrusion. Gender parity and climate change are easy targets for scriptwriters Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah and they land punchlines with forcible precision.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3

A Fish Called Wanda (1988) BBC1, 11.30p.m.

Stuffy British barrister Archie (John Cleese) has his well-ordered world thrown into chaos when he meets Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis), a sultry American thief who wants to know where his client George (Tom Georgeson) has hidden a stash of diamonds. While being seduced by Wanda for inside information may have its upsides, Archie becomes entangled with her thuggish lover Otto (an Oscar-winning Kevin Kline), who is also busy terrorising Georges animal-loving sidekick Ken (Michael Palin).

This comedy is one of the funniest Britflicks ever committed to film, largely thanks to the cast. Cleese and Palin are terrific, but the American contingent nearly beat the Pythons at their own game. And if it feels like an updated take on the classic Ealing comedies, that may be down to director Charles Crichton, who helmed The Lavender Hill Mob.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4

Ant-Man (2015) BBC1, 3.45p.m.

Cat burglar Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is released from San Quentin Penitentiary and, desperate to pay child support, agrees to a lucrative heist set up by his former cellmate (Michael Pena).

Unfortunately, the robbery lands Scott in a police cell. Inventor Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) offers Scott a way out if he agrees to don a superhero outfit, which shrinks the wearer at the touch of a button. Aided by Hanks feisty daughter (Evangeline Lilly), Scott masters the suit and learns to mind-control four species of ants.

Ant-Man is a boisterous action adventure, anchored by a winning performance of charm and chutzpah from Rudd. The actor flexes his comic muscles as well as his abs and pecs, which are flaunted in an obligatory scene to prove he hit the gym for the role.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Vice (2018) BBC2, 11.15p.m.

In 1963 Wyoming, a young Dick Cheney (Christian Bale) works on the power lines and drinks to excess. He is a crushing disappointment to 21-year-old sweetheart Lynne (Amy Adams), whose father also lives by the bottle.

In response, Dick secures an internment at the White House, where he assiduously aligns himself with Republican Congressman Donald Rumsfeld (Steve Carell). By playing the waiting game on Capitol Hill, Dick manoeuvres himself into the position of running mate to George W. Bush (Sam Rockwell) during the 2000 US presidential election.

Written and directed by Adam McKay, Vice is a briskly paced and engrossing portrait of ambition, which nervously prowls the corridors of power in Washington DC to satirise a true story of malicious meddling and unabashed self-interest.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6

Dead of Night (1945) Film4, 2.55p.m.

A hearse with room for one more inside, a ghostly Christmas encounter inspired by a true story, a haunted mirror, a spectre who cant remember how to make himself invisible and a ventriloquists dummy with a mind of its own  these are the haunting stories awaiting those brave enough to tune into Dead of Night.

It might be nearly 80 years old, but this classic still has the power to give you nightmares. The classic chiller was made by Ealing Studios, shortly before it became famous for its whimsical comedies, and stars Michael Redgrave, Mervyn Johns, Googie Withers, Roland Culver and Sally Ann Howes. Intriguingly, the over-arching plot inspired astronomer Fred Hoyles steady state model of the universe
Ex-Nebraska tight end transfer Arik Gilbert pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors Tuesday in connection to a break-in at a vape and liquor shop in Lincoln last August.

Gilbert initially was charged with burglary, a felony.

But at Tuesday's hearing the Lancaster County Attorney's Office amended it to first-degree trespassing and criminal mischief and he entered the plea.

Judge Timothy Phillips then fined him $400 and ordered him to pay $450 restitution for the damage he caused Aug. 29 at SJ's Liquor and Vape Shop at 27th and O streets.

Early that morning, Lincoln police got a report from the store's owner saying someone had broken in and was still inside. Police arrived to find 21-year-old Gilbert, shirtless, walking toward the exit holding a bag filled with $1,600 of vape products, a shirt wrapped around his face, Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jim Rocke said.

When police yelled for him to drop the bag, he did, and crawled out the door, which Gilbert had broken to get inside.

Gilbert spent a day in jail before he posted bond and later was cut from the team.

Rocke said Gilbert had a similar offense pending in Georgia, but no other criminal record in Nebraska.

Gilbert's attorney, Sandy Pollack, said Gilbert returned home to Georgia where he is under doctor's care and taking medications to regulate his mood.

At the time of the crime, Gilbert's status with the Huskers had for months been hanging in the balance as he awaited an NCAA waiver for immediate eligibility because he had transferred twice in college after beginning his career at LSU in 2020.

Photos: UNL's Kiewit Hall seeks to be premiere engineering education facility
A young Wexford student is celebrating this week after he was announced as one of the gold winners at the recent Irish Heritage Council Lego awards.

Tadhg Sinnott impressed judges with his Lego model of Mise agus Pangur Ban joining an array of fellow winners which featured The Cliffs of Moher, a piano accordion, Dr Hyde Park and Thin Lizzys Phil Lynott.

The competition, organised by the Irish Heritage Council, tasked children with recreating their favourite example of Irish heritage using Lego and to explain what their chosen subject meant to them

The competition finale, which took place at Kilkennys Medieval Mile Museum on the eve of World Lego Day (Saturday January 27), was also attended by Lego Brick artist and competition judge Jessica Farrell.

Commenting on his work and why he chose it, Tadhg said: I got a vision as I was falling asleep of a scribe hunched over a manuscript. When I woke in the morning, I felt inspired to try to make it from my Lego. Adding Pangur Ban came later.

"It brought the poetry, art, and history of the Medieval period to life. I had heard the poem many times and I had watched The Secret of Kells and How the Celts Saved Britain and I had recently visited Glendalough. This piece was inspired by all those things, said Tadhg.

Lego Brick artist and competition judge Jessica Farrell said of Tadhgs work: This delightful rendition of a monk working on an illuminated manuscript is as entertaining as it is accurate. I enjoyed reading about the inspiration from poetry and love the cat-and-mouse sub-plot. Fantastic job, Tadhg!

The competition received more than 150 entries from across the island, with entrants turning to all aspects of Irelands rich and varied built, natural and cultural heritage for inspiration. The competition was open to children aged between four and twelve years, with two age categories: 4-to-7-years, and 8-to-12-years. Children were asked to build their model, choose their category, write a short description of what their model represents and why its important to them, and then take a photo of the model and submit it via the Heritage Council website.

The winning entries are now on display at a special exhibition at Kilkennys Medieval Mile Museum. The exhibition runs until February 8.
Online petition set up as potential building and staff changes cause concerns in New Ross

Calls have been made for An Post to reverse its decision to seek a franchise for the Charles Street post office in New Ross, amid claims that this could mean a downgrading of the service.

The semi-state body is delivering sweeping changes to the business model of its post office in New Ross, having announced it will become a contractor run facility, most likely later this year.

Staff were informed Thursday evening about the change which will see a new Postmaster take over running the business, providing the interest is there.

In a statement released Friday afternoon, An Post said: An Post staff formerly employed there will take up a number of possible options, including taking up employment for the new Postmaster or being redeployed within the An Post network. It is likely that a new location for the post office will be sought by the new Postmaster.

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In this event the landmark red brick building on Charles Street will be sold as it is owned outright by An Post.

In line with the ongoing transformation of the national post office network An Post has announced that its office in New Ross will become a contractor run post office. New Ross joins the mainstream of national post offices of which more than 95pc of the countrys 900 plus offices which are run by contractors. Fewer than 40 post offices nationally are run directly by An Post.

The move  which was decided upon before Christmas by An Post management  represents a significant business opportunity for the newly appointed Postmaster, An Post Public Affairs Manager Angus Laverty said.

The change in business model of our post office in New Ross will not in any way change the range or extent of the services offered by An Post. We remain committed to providing New Ross with the highest level of services for the future.

Changing the business model of a post office, does not impact on the level or variety of services which are available to customers. Continuation of service is of key importance to An Post. All services available before the change remain available after the change. In addition, in many cases the premises and facilities available have been improved. We will continue to provide a top-class service.

An Post, as a commercial semi state company, has an obligation to operate in a commercial manner, the statement continued.

In the late 1990s we recognised the challenges that we faced in our retail business. This arose principally from greater choice being available to customers for many of our traditional services and the move to online and digital services. These included the direct transfer of funds for social welfare payments, the availability of direct debit and online channels for bill payments.

The development of An Post banking and financial services for customers and SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) has been a feature of the transformation of the company in recent years. Our task has always been to build a sustainable national post office network which remained relevant to the people of Ireland, both now and for the future.

Other leading post offices following the New Ross route include Phibsboro, Rathmines and Tallaght (Dublin), Roscommon and Tipperary town offices. The timescale for the change in New Ross and other locations will be over the coming months.

Mr Laverty said there will be little or no change for customers. New Ross will have a post office. The only difference is who is running the post office. At some stage the new Postmaster may want to move to another location. It (the post office) has been there for generations and this will bring it in line with the bulk of other post offices across the country. There is no break in service or degrading of the service. Its unlikely a new Postmaster will reduce staff as we know what it takes to provide the service in New Ross.

He said there are currently seven people working for An Post at Charles Street. There is no reason that will change. All change is difficult. Its not a downgrading. Its the same company providing the same service.

Cllr Michael Whelan grew up in a house with both parents running a post office in Ballycullane.

My father was the postman and my mother, the postmistress and my sister currently runs the post office in Ballycullane.

This is an insult to New Ross. Its an iconic building. If a supermarket take the service on, people will be employed privately. Current staff will have the option of moving to Enniscorthy, Wexford or Gorey.

Cllr. Michael Whelan. Photo; Mary Browne

He has contacted Minister of State Jack Chambers and Minister of State James Browne about the matter, asking them to call on Communications Minister Eamon Ryan to reverse the decision.

Post offices hold an important role in communities and they are definitely important in towns of 8,000 people like New Ross. Its not a post office thats losing money hand over fist like some of the smaller post offices. Its another example of An Post running to a standstill.

Cllr Whelan said whoever gets the franchise is unlikely to employ as many staff. As it stands you have people queuing up, waiting out in the rain some days. With the new tenderer its likely to be slower again and that queues will be longer.

The post office is ideally located now in the centre of the town. God forbid it would move too far out. Ministers Browne and Chambers couldnt believe of a possible downgrade in a town of this size. I am asking Minister Ryan to intervene.

He said people who use the post office often spend money in shops in New Ross.

To close a post office is so cruel to a community. Weve seen this in rural parts of the county. You lose shops and people dont move to an area. You can see the community spirit a post office brings and the relationships built up between staff and customers. The post office is a great hub within the community and its a shame for it to be taken away. An Post also has a social obligation as well; it cant just be about the bottom buck.

He said SuperValu or Tesco could tender for the franchise. Its a cost cutting exercise and a huge loss to the town of New Ross. We have been fighting to keep post offices in rural villages, I never thought wed be fighting to keep them in our urban areas.

They invested in this post office five or six years ago and now its going out for franchise. Its a nice building in the middle of the town. Are we going to have to board it up and just leave it like other derelict buildings in the town.

Cllr Michael Sheehan said: Im opposed to a change that will lead to a reduction of services, reduction of workers and the sale of the iconic premises in the centre of New Ross Town. I have spoken to Minister Jack Chambers, who is responsible for postal services and he too shares my concerns and he is to meet senior management in An Post to go through this.

Cllr Michael Sheehan. Photo; Mary Browne

Cllr Sheehan has created an online petition and is seeking signatories to build a case against the changes planned by An P:ost.

He said he has asked for a similar meeting with An Post to outline his concerns, adding, I am adamant that the premises should not be sold or abandoned as a post office. I was the only representative to fight the campaign for a better post office for our people, so I am not going let the service slip out of town without a fight. This move has profound implications on the post office retail service in New Ross.

As Post needs to engage with the community and immediately suspend or mothball any plans. The people of New Ross deserve better.

He said: My concern is the service is not connected to the building. Across the country Supervalu and other multiples are making spots available in their premises for post office counters.

Anything that threatens the service in New Ross and looks like a downgrading of services I am dead opposed to. The post office brings a lot of business to the town. A lot of people come in on a Friday to get their pension and do a lot of shopping in the town.

He said if a private company takes over the service their sole focus will be on profit, which will, he believes, lead to less staff and possibly a reduced service.

There is no better location than in the middle of the town to provide the retail post office service but if the service is not connected to the building it could go to Irishtown or SuperValu or to a booth in the corner of some building.
Michal Piotrowski was last seen leaving University Hospital Waterford on December 19

The daughter of a long-time New Ross resident made an emotional appeal on RTEs Crimecall programme Monday night for anyone with information about her fathers residence to contact gardai.

Michal Piotrowski (69) has not been seen since he was discharged from University Hospital Waterford on December 19.

CCTV footage shows him turning left as he exited the hospital, but the cameras at Maxol show no trace of him. Garda sniffer dogs picked up his scent at the Waterford Castle ferry on Nursery Lane off the Dunmore Road, but despite extensive searches  including the use of drones  he has not been seen since.

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His daughter Ewa and granddaughter Klaudia were interviewed on Crimecall, speaking of their grave concerns for him.

Klaudia said: Its been a full month now since hes gone. Its been very hard.

Ewa said: He has lived for the last 19 years in New Ross. He is a good father. I talked with my dad in December and he was laughing and smiling and happy. He loves to dance and has special moves.

A well-known face in New Ross town, Michal is considered very vulnerable as he has had health setbacks.

Michal Piotrowski.

Michal is described as being approximately 5' 6" in height with a slim build and with grey hair. He was last seen wearing a tan coloured jacket, denims, black boots, with a satchel across his back.

Ewa said anytime he was in difficulty in the past he phoned her. We miss him so much. We dont know where he is. It is very hard as my mother, she died and now my father is missing. Its very hard for Klaudia too as she was living with me and my father.

Klaudia said: We are in constant worry. My grandfather would be very vulnerable and he would be missing his medication right now, so that would be very stressful for us as we just dont know if he is Ok. Me and my Mom have been thinking of every possibility. It would be nice to know if he is still out there somewhere just waiting to get home.

Looking at the camera, appealing directly to her father in Polish, Ewa said: Dad, if youre watching us, please contact me. You know my number. Please get in touch.

Garda Jordan Quinn  who is overseeing the case from Waterford Garda Station  outlined the last known movements of Michal.

"Unfortunately no trace of Michal has been detected. If Michal was every attending University Hospital Waterford he would always call home and let the family know if he was unwell. We are very concerned for Michal at this time.

He said reports of Michal in Kilkenny and Cork were inaccurate.

He appealed to anyone in the Dunmore Road, Waterford Castle ferry area on December 19 who may have dash cam footage to contact Waterford Garda Station on 051 305300.
Conall Butler (right) gets the ball away for Pres Bray under pressure from Colaiste Chraobh Abhann's Joe Heatly during the Wicklow Schools Senior football championship game in Kilcoole.

Christ Church COI

Services of Worship for this Sunday: 11am Morning Prayer.

Parish Life Centre [PLC] Bookings: The Parish Life Centre is available for day and evening bookings. Please contact Tracey in the Parish Office at 01-286 2968.

Parish Office: The Parish Office can be contacted at 01- 286 2968 or info@christchurchbray.ie between 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday.

Bray Churches Together: Tomorrow (Thursday) St. Brigids Day, as part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, there will be an Ecumenical Prayer Service at 7pm in the side chapel of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, Bray. The theme this year is You shall love the Lord your God and your neighbour as yourself.

Bray Methodist Church

Worship for this Sunday: 10amSunday Worship with Creche and Sunday School.

Bray Presbyterian Church

Worship for this Sunday: 11.30am Sunday Worship.

Christian Assembly Church

Worship for this Sunday: 10.45am Morning Worship; Wednesdays: 8pm Prayer Meeting & Bible study.

Cornerstone Church at The Well

Worship this Sunday: 11am.

Bray Gospel Hall

Bray Gospel Hall, 27 Florence Road - Sunday Morning: 10.45am to 12 Noon: Breaking of Bread (Lords Supper)A Time of Worship, Praise and Remembrance.

Holy Redeemer Parish

Parish Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 9.30am to 11am. If you need to contact us email: office@holyredeemer.ie.

Mass Times: 10amMonday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday No Mass on Tuesday. Sunday Masses: 6pm Vigil Mass on Saturday and on Sunday at 10.30am and 12Noon.

Baptism: Registration for Baptism can be made online via the parish website www.holyredeemerbray.ie.

St. Peters Parish

Parish Office: Parish Office opening hours areMonday: 9.30am to 12.30pm; Tuesday: 9am to 12.30pm; Wednesday: Closed; Thursday: 9am to 12.30pm; Friday: 9am to 12.30pm. The parish office can be contacted by calling 01-282 4967 or by email: stpeterslittlebray1@gmail.com.

St. Peters Church Mass Times: Sunday: 9.30am (Irish), 11.30am. Holy Days of Obligation: 11.30am. No Weekday Mass. Mass on the First Friday of the Month is celebrated at 10am. Sunday Mass is broadcast on the parish web-site at 9.30am (Irish) and 11.30am (English)Google Chrome required.

Car Park Hours: These are from 9am to 12.30pm, Monday to Friday, for parish business and at the weekends during church ceremonies. The Cemetery is accessible via the laneway for pedestrians.

St. Peters Cemetery: There is a strict policy of No Dumping Allowed in any area of the cemetery. Visitors to the cemetery are requested to take home all forms of rubbish with them in order to keep the cemetery tidy. Your co-operation is appreciated.

St. Annes Church, Shankill: A Vigil Mass is celebrated on Saturdays at 5pm. All are welcome.

St. Fergals Parish

Mass Times: Mass times are 9.30am Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. No morning Mass on Thursdays and Saturdays. Saturday: 7pm Vigil Mass; Sundays: 8am and 10.30am.

The Feast of St. Brigid Thursday February 1st: There will be a Prayer Service in the Church at 9.30am.

Baptism: Baptisms take place on the first and third Saturday of each Month at 12Noon. Bookings can be made through the Parish Office Only. The Preparation meeting takes place on the Monday before the 1st Saturday of the month. Please call into the Parish Office three weeks in advance of the Baptism to complete the Baptism Form and to confirm the date.

Confessions: Are heard on Saturdays after the 7pm Vigil Mass.

Marriage: All couples must give notice to the priest or Parish Secretary at least three months prior to the date of marriage.

Syro Malabar Catholic Church

Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 2.30pm in St. Fergals Church, Ballywaltrim.

Our Lady Queen of Peace

Church Opening Hours: The Church closes at 4.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Eucharistic Adoration: Eucharistic Adoration takes place from 11am to 10pm on Mondays only in this Church.

Mass: Weekday Masses are celebrated at 10.30am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Weekend Masses are at 6.30pm on Saturdays and 10.30am and 12 Noon on Sundays.

Parish Centre: To book a meeting room in the Parish Centre please call 01-2760045 or email: villafas1@hotmail.com.

QOP youth club

At the Queen of Peace Adventure Youth Club Annual General Meeting the following were elected Chairperson Albert Kerr, Secretary and Treasurer, Paul Temple, Equipment Officer, Cormac Brierton, Procurement Officer, Christina, and leaders Stephen, Aoife, Eileen, and Vivian. There is some enthusiasm to extend the programme to bring in more challenging activities during the year.

Diving club

Many scuba diving clubs cease diving during what is considered to be the off season when the sea is rough, lacks underwater visibility, and the air temperature drops considerably.

Bray Divers Sub-aqua Club continue diving every weekend right through the year using rivers, quarries, and lakes. Mid-week activities include training in manual handling, first aid, and lectures on leadership, mindfulness, successful ageing, and voluntary work. To join in all this call 0876756439, and get involved in all kinds of everything.

Bray Library

Opening hours are 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday with late opening on Tuesday and Thursday until 8.30pm. The library can be contacted at 01-2862600 or email: braylib@wicklowcoco.ie. Online services including e-books, audio-books, digital magazines and newspapers and e-learning are available via the library website.

The library is again involved in Imbolc, the Community Seed Arc programme, where one can get seeds for a variety of plants and after they flower, donate seeds from them for the programme. As always, you can have seeds sent to your local Wicklow Library branch by emailing your branchand requesting up to 4 packets.

Doodle Time for 9-12 year olds takes place every Thursday from 3pm to 4pm. Afterschool Storytime takes place every Tuesday at 3pm in the Junior Library.

Resistance training for beginners commencing on February 16th is now fully booked out. The Junior Book Club (ages 9 to 11) is now accepting new members. It meets on the second Monday of each month at 3.15pm. Email:braylibrary@wicklowcoco.ie or ask at the library desk to book a place.

The library will be closed this Saturday and next Monday due to the February Bank Holiday and will reopen on Tuesday at 10am.

On Wednesday February 7th as part of Local History in your Library Bill Nelson will recall a Junkers 52 Plane Crash in the Wicklow Mountains at 6.45pm in Enniskerry Libraryadmission is free but booking is requiredcall 01-2864339 or email: enniskerrylib@wicklowcoco.ie.

There will be a recital King of the Fairies a musical story about the Irish fairy king and his magical harpwith Aisling Ennis in Bray library at 10am on Monday February 26th. All are welcome.

Ballywaltrim Library

Opening hours are 10am to 5 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and 10am to 8pm on Wednesday. The library can be contacted at 01-2723205 or by email at: ballywatrimlibrary@wicklowcoco.ie. Online services including e-books, audio-books, digital magazines and newspapers and e-learning are available via the library website. Borrowers can renew their books on-line at any time. Tummy-Time for Babies takes place every Monday and Friday from 10.30am to 12pm no booking required.

The library will be closed this Saturday and next Monday due to the February Bank Holiday and will reopen next Tuesday at 10am.

Ballywaltrim Librarywill host a Genealogy Workshop with Claire Bradley at 3pm on Saturday February 10th. Wicklow Libraries has an array of available subscription sites that can be used, free of charge, to help people with their family history research. However, many people dont know where to start their research. This workshop will give people an idea of the first steps needed to undertake family history research. Demos on how to search sites will be provided including the Census, IrishGenealogy.ie, Findmypast.ie, and the British Newspaper Archive websites. Claire Bradley is a professional Irish genealogist. She is passionate about teaching people how to research their own ancestry and regularly lectures both in person and online to family history and historical societies in Ireland, the UK and countries with large Irish diasporas. This event is free but booking is required. To book a place please contact Ballywaltrim Library at 01-2723205 or email ballywaltrimlib@wicklowcoco.ie.

Bray Cualann Historical Society

Bray Cualann Historical Society, the local history society for Bray and North Wicklow, and Sunbeam House Trust, would like to invite you to a historical presentation on Thursday February 15th to mark the events of 150 years ago that shaped the future healthcare when Lucinda Sullivan nee Brady, opened a home to care for crippled children in Bray. As a result of Lucindas actions other childcare facilities open in Bray. The evening will commence with a wreath laying at the Cornerstone Church (St Pauls) at 7pm and will continue in the Royal Hotel, Bray, at 8pm with an illustrated presentation by Brian White on Victorian Childcare in BrayMarking the 150th Anniversary of the Cripples Home, Bray. All are welcome admission is 8 for non-members.

Members and supporters of the Bray Cualann Historical Society are asked to note that tomorrow (Thursday) Michael Shiel will present Dublin Kingstown Railway 1834 The Worlds First Commuter Railway at 8pm to the Mount Merrion Historical Society in The Fitzwilliam Rooms, Mount Merrion Community Centre, Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin. All are welcomeadmission is 4/Students 2; on Saturday the Medal Society of Ireland will hold a Medal, Militaria and Collectables Fair from 10am to 2pm in the Knox Memorial Hall, Monkstown Village, Co. Dublin. All are welcomeadmission is 2 for members and 4 for non-members; next Tuesday night John Martin will present Robert Warren and Queenstown The Victorian New Town on Killiney Hill that never happened at 8pm to the Killiney Historical Society in the Druids Chair pub upstairs lounge, Killiney, Co. Dublin. All are welcome admission is 5; next Wednesday Bill Nelson will recall a Junkers 52 Plane Crash in the Wicklow Mountains at 6.45pm in Enniskerry Library, Church Road, Enniskerry. Admission is free but booking is requiredcall 01-2864339 or email: enniskerrylib@wicklowcoco.ie; Colman O Clabaigh will present Sanctuary in Medieval Ireland at 8pm to the Rathmichael Historical Society in Rathmichael National School, Stonebridge Road, Shankill, Co. Dublin. Admission is 5 for non-members.

The Bray Cualann Historical Society is always interested in new members and those wishing to join the Society can do so at the February 15th meeting of the Society in the Royal Hotel, Bray, or log onto the Societys website to obtain more information.

Poetry in the Park

Poetry in the Park takes place on the First Sunday of Every Month at 12pm on the bandstand in the Peoples Park, Lower Dargle Road, Bray. Listen to or read your favourite poems, hear original poetry performed by local poets or simply chat with other poetry fans in this beautiful outdoor setting on the banks of the River Dargle.
Sisters Zoe and Julia Doumenc showing their drawings they did when visited childrens author Mary Murphy at Halfway Up The Stairs Bookshop in Greystones.

Parish of Powerscourt with Kilbride

Services at Powerscourt with Kilbride: All Services are available on the Parish YouTube Channel.

Service of Worship in St. Patricks Church, Powerscourt, for this Sunday: 11.30am Morning Prayer 2.

Service of Worship in St. Brigids Church, Kilbride, for this SundayThe Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: 9.45am Holy Communion 1.

Irish Trefoil GuildGuiding for Life: Calling all former leaders of the Irish Girl Guides in Bray and the surrounding area. There is now a Trefoil Guild in Bray. Contact Anne at braytrefoilguild@gmail.com.

St. Marys Church

Parish Website: www.enniskerryparish.ie is the Parish website of the Immaculate Heart of Marycheck it out for the latest information about our parish.

Facebook Page: There is a facebook page for the parish of Enniskerry, incorporating all four churches which facebook users will find under Enniskerry parish with a cover photo of trees and profile picture of a quote from Pope Francis. Please give it a like and feel free to post news from your community.

Enniskerry (also Curtlestown & Glencree) Parish Office opening times: Monday to Friday: 10am to 1pm; email: stmarys@enniskerryparish.ie; or call 01-2760030.

St. Mochonogs Parish Office opening times: Monday: 9am to 2pm, Tuesday: (by phone) 10am to 1pm, Wednesday: 10am to 2pm, Thursday (by phone) 10am to 1pm. Closed Friday.

Parish Churches Schedule of Masses: EnniskerrySt Marys: Saturday evening 6pm and also via parish webcam; Sunday 11am and also via parish webcam. Weekday Mass at Enniskerry is at 10.15am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and also via parish webcam lay-led prayer service on Wednesday; and Saturday at 10.15 am and also available via parish webcam. Masses in Curtlestown and Kilmacanogue are on Sunday at 10am. Mass in Glencree is at 9am on the first Sunday each month.

Baptism Requests: Requests for Baptism now take place online at www.enniskerryparish.ie.

St. Mochonogs, Kilmacanogue: St. Mochonogs are starting to put together ideas to celebrate our 200th anniversary this year. If you feel you can help in anyway, please give Joyce a call and we will get back to you. We are anxious to include the entire Community and involve as many parishioners as possible. All are welcome

Hard of Hearing: There is a hard at hearing acoustic loop in St. Marys Church. If you are having difficulties in hearing and you have hearing aids with a hard at hearing radio facility, switch your hearing aid to this radio mode.

Church Music Group: We meet on Tuesday evenings at 7.15pm in St. Marys Church. We would love to have a few more voices. If you would like to try, just come along and you will be warmly welcomed.

Broadcast List: A broadcast list for the parish is now up and running. This is to keep everyone up to date with what is happening in the parish and for easy communication in relation to building our communities. If you would like your name added to the list please contact Aideen 086-8182 241.

New Here? You are very welcome. Please keep up to date with us at www.enniskerryparish.ie. You can register as a parishioner by mailing us at stmarys@enniskerryparish.ie or stmochonogs@enniskerryparish.ie. If you wish to receive items, or if you would like to receive the Parish Link by email weekly please phone the Parish Office in Enniskerry on 01-2760030 (10am to 1pm Monday to Friday or email: stmarys@enniskerry.ie; and Kilmacanogue on 01-2021882. (10am to 1pm) Monday to Thursday, or email:stmochonogs@enniskerryparish.ie.

Rosary: A group from the parish meets every Wednesday evening, on Zoom, from 7.30pm to 8pm to pray the Rosary. Please call or message 087-4189 338, to be added to the group or for further information.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul: The local telephone number is 01-8550022.

History Society

Members and supporters of the Enniskerry History Society are asked to note that the following events will take place in the week ahead.

Tomorrow (Thursday) Michael Shiel will present Dublin Kingstown Railway 1834 The Worlds First Commuter Railway at 8pm to the Mount Merrion Historical Society in The Fitzwilliam Rooms, Mount Merrion Community Centre, Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin. All are welcomeadmission is 4/Students 2; on Saturday the Medal Society of Ireland will hold a Medal, Militaria and Collectables Fair from 10am to 2pm in the Knox Memorial Hall, Monkstown Village, Co. Dublin. All are welcomeadmission is 2 for members and 4 for non-members; next Tuesday night John Martin will present Robert Warren and Queenstown The Victorian New Town on Killiney Hill that never happened at 8pm to the Killiney Historical Society in the Druids Chair pub upstairs lounge, Killiney, Co. Dublin. All are welcome admission is 5; next Wednesday Bill Nelson will recall a Junkers 52 Plane Crash in the Wicklow Mountains at 6.45pm in Enniskerry Library, Church Road, Enniskerry. Admission is free but booking is requiredcall 01-2864339 or email: enniskerrylib@wicklowcoco.ie; Colman O Clabaigh will present Sanctuary in Medieval Ireland at 8pm to the Rathmichael Historical Society in Rathmichael National School, Stonebridge Road, Shankill, Co. Dublin. Admission is 5 for non-members.

There will be a Genealogy Workshop at Ballywaltrim Library, Bray, with Claire Bradley at 3pm on Saturday February 10th. Wicklow Libraries has an array of available subscription sites that can be used, free of charge, to help people with their family history research. However, many people dont know where to start their research. This workshop will give people an idea of the first steps needed to undertake family history research. Demos on how to search sites will be provided including the Census, IrishGenealogy.ie, Findmypast.ie, and the British Newspaper Archive websites. Claire Bradley is a professional Irish genealogist. She is passionate about teaching people how to research their own ancestry and regularly lectures both in person and online to family history and historical societies in Ireland, the UK and countries with large Irish diasporas. This event is free but booking is required. To book a place, please contact Ballywaltrim Library at 01-2723205 or email ballywaltrimlib@wicklowcoco.ie.

Enniskerry Library

Opening hours are Tuesday 10.30am to 12.30pm & 1.30pm to 4.30pm; Wednesday: 2pm to 4.30pm & 6pm to 8pm; Friday: 10.30am to 12.30pm & 1.30pm to 4.30pm; Saturday: 10am to 2.30pm. The library is closed on Mondays and Thursdays and on the Saturdays of Bank Holiday weekends. The library can be contacted at 01-2864339 or email: enniskerrylib@wicklowcoco.ie. Online services including e-books, audio-books, digital magazines and newspapers and e-learning are available from the library website.

The library will be closed this Saturday and next Monday due to the February Bank Holiday, reopening next Tuesday at 10.30am.

On Wednesday February 7th as part of Local History in your Library Bill Nelson will recall a Junkers 52 Plane Crash in the Wicklow Mountains at 6.45pm admission is free but booking is requiredcall 01-2864339 or email: enniskerrylib@wicklowcoco.ie.

Ballywaltrim Library, Bray, will host a Genealogy Workshop with Claire Bradley at 3pm on Saturday February 10th. Wicklow Libraries has an array of available subscription sites that can be used, free of charge, to help people with their family history research. However, many people dont know where to start their research. This workshop will give people an idea of the first steps needed to undertake family history research. Demos on how to search sites will be provided including the Census, IrishGenealogy.ie, Findmypast.ie, and the British Newspaper Archive websites. Claire Bradley is a professional Irish genealogist. She is passionate about teaching people how to research their own ancestry and regularly lectures both in person and online to family history and historical societies in Ireland, the UK and countries with large Irish diasporas.This event is free but booking is required. To book a place please contact Ballywaltrim Library at 01-2723205 or email ballywaltrimlib@wicklowcoco.ie.

Bray Library will host a recital King of the Fairies a musical story about the Irish fairy king and his magical harpwith Aisling Ennis at 10am on Monday.
Mairead Kelly presenting her Audio Tour 'Ireland's Hillfort Capital' in Baltinglass Library last week financed by Wicklow County Council, Creative Places Baltinglass and her own organisation Inisfail Social Circle.

A large contingent of community people attended the launch of Mairead Kellys (Inisfail Social Circle) Audio Tour of Irelands Hillfort Capital in Baltinglass library last Tuesday night.

The five orated stops were presented detailing the pre-historic significance from each vantage point, three of which are within the town of Baltinglass (stops 1, 2, 3), and two outside, at Kilranelagh (stop 4) and the Glen of Imaal (stop 5).

Mairead thanked her sponsors Creative Places Baltinglass and Wicklow County Council for financing the recording of the audio clips and thanked everyone who supported her to bring this project to fruition. The website to access the tour is irelandshillfortcapital.com/theaudiotour.

St. Patricks Day Parade

The St. Patricks Day Parade committee are excited to hear what businesses and community groups will be entering in this years parade. In the past, the event has been a great day to get involved in for everyone.

There is an air of excitement and celebration and everyone is in good spirits. Each float or entry gets a cheer for taking part from spectators doing their part by donning the Irish colours. Volunteers are right at the centre of the event and the committee welcomes people who would like to volunteer. Contact the Baltinglass & District Forum page on facebook.

If you would like to participate with a float or as a walking group, log on to the facebook page Baltinglassparade or Baltinglass & District Forum page and message the page.

Bigstone Community Network

A shout out to all the women of Bigstone/Carrigeen area. A member has come up with the idea of starting a womens social group in the area. Nothing formal, just a get together for a coffee or a walk or maybe a trip to the cinema or other social activities that would bring the women of the area together. If you are interested, please text or WhatsApp Margaret and something will be organised to meet up and get the ball rolling. Phone Margaret Kelly at 087 9548647.

Active Retirement

The next meeting of the Baltinglass & District Active Retirement group will take place this Wednesday January 31 at 3 p.m. in Inis Fail, Germaines. New membership is very welcome.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for the February meeting.

Rathdangan News

Come and dance the night away in OToole Hall on Saturday, February 10 from 9 p.m. to 12 midnight to music by Michael Cahill. Refreshments will be served as always.

Ramblers night takes place in OToole Hall on Friday, February 16 at 8 p.m. Refreshments included.

Troubled Bachelors Drama

Rathdangan Drama Group will be back on stage to entertain us on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 23, 24 and 25, and again on Thursday, March 7, Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10. This year they are performing Troubled Bachelors by A.J. Stanley. Audiences are assured plenty of laughter in this three-act comedy. The play is set in rural Ireland of the 1940s where theres a housing shortage (sound familiar?).

Three bachelors, Peter, Jack and Tom, who live in adjoining cottages in the townland of Tullabawn, are very troubled as they are faced with the threat of eviction by their local council who want to reserve the cottages for married men with families. The lads are given three months notice to leave unless they get married within that time. However, they are not going to give up their homes without a fight, and they are also determined to stay single and resist the amorous advances of some local lassies whove taken an interest in these eligible bachelors.

Tickets are 10 and are available from: Angela Keogh 087 6440751, Paul OToole 087 6907044, Teresa Love 087 6173 879, John Coogan 087 7709000, Filie Cullen 085 1009 244.

Rathdangan Writers Group

Are you interested in creative writing? Whether you are experienced or new to writing, Rathdangan Writers Group welcomes new members. The group meets every two weeks in OToole Hall Rathdangan.

If you are interested contact John at 087 9484938

Kiltegan Lip Sync Battles

Brace yourself for the 2024 Kiltegan GAA & Camogie fundraising Lip Sync Battles taking place in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel in Carlow on Sunday February 4.

This is a show not to be missed with top class talent battling it out through the night to be crowned the winner. Tickets are 25 and can be purchased at the club over the next couple of weeks on Wednesday nights from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12 midday. You can also reserve a place with Paul at 087 1554233, Grainne at 086 3884598, or Siobhan at 087 2372050. Places are limited, so book early.

The club is thankful to their loyal sponsors School Uniforms Direct for their support. The show starts at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Fill a Bag Weekend

West Wicklow Day Care Centre is holding a Fill a Bag Weekend over two weekends in February. The first weekend is Friday and Saturday, February 16/17 and then Friday and Saturday 23/24 February.

The times the Centre will be open on those days are: Fridays 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. On the Saturdays, it will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring all your unwanted clothes, shoes, sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, curtains and towels. No dirty garments or unusable garments, no duvets, pillows, rugs, blankets or carpets please.

Free CPR Training

McGreals in Baltinglass will be providing a series of free CPR training sessions in each of their outlets during February. The Baltinglass training will take place on Tuesday, February 20 at 6.30 p.m. You will be shown the basics of CPR by Wicklow First Responder Paul Byrne and the correct procedure to follow in an emergency. Call in to the chemist to book your place.

Baltinglass Sings

Baltinglass Sings will be closing to new members soon to work on their repertoire of songs for the coming weeks. There are weekly rehearsals on Wednesdays in The Lalor Centre from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

There has been an increase in the number of men in the tenor and bass section which is very welcome. Contact Paula Phelan at 085 7882385 as soon as possible if you would like to join.

Social Dancing

Alistair Fingleton will be the music for the Social Dance in The Glen Lounge on Saturday next, February 3. Tickets are 15 and the proceeds will go towards the Raise the Roof fund for the Imaal Hall in Dunlavin.

Bigstone Tractor Run

The Bigstone Tractor and Vehicle Run date is set for Sunday, February 25. Follow Bigstone Community Network page on facebook for updates.

Mart sale

Baltinglass Mart will hold their 49th Annual Show & Sales over two days this Wednesday, January 31 for Bullocks, and Wednesday, February 7 for the Heifers and Cows. Entries are invited for both Sales. Contact John at 085 8103620.

Community Shop

Baltinglass Community Shop will have a pop-up shop this Thursday, February 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with stocks of childrens clothing, childrens footwear and school uniforms. If you need school uniforms call into the Tea Room on Thursday as these are not available on any day.

Condolences

We extend our sympathy to the Walsh and Byrne families on the death of Catherine Walsh (nee Byrne) from Carrigeen, Baltinglass, last Tuesday, January 23 from The Beacon Hospital. Catherine was predeceased by her sister Marian.

She will be sadly missed by her husband Philip and sons Patrick and Philip and all her siblings, relatives, neighbours and friends. Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam.


Brave Baltinglass girl Abigail Donohoe (11) pictured with AsIAm CEO Adam Harris, who honoured Abigail for her courageous actions on the day of the Dublin stabbings.

Brave Baltinglass girl Abigail Donohoe (11) has been honoured for her courageous actions on the day of the Dublin stabbings.

The daughter of the Wicklow man who risked his life to help save children during the Dublin stabbings has been honoured for her quick thinking and bravery in alerting staff at the nearby Rotunda Hospital to the emergency.

Amidst the chaos and confusion of the November stabbings, 11-year-old Baltinglass girl Abigail Donohoe showed wisdom beyond her years by running around the block to the Rotunda to raise the alarm, all while dad Warren was tackling the attacker to the ground and pinning him to the floor until Gardai arrived.

Warren, his partner Stacey Power, their three other daughters, Maisie (8), Evie (6) and Nova (2) and Staceys mother Bernie and her partner Alan had commuted to the capital that day to celebrate what promised to be an afternoon to remember for birthday girl Abigail, who has been diagnosed with autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and dyspraxia.

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The family were in the Parnell Square area when they noticed what initially seemed to be a row between a woman and a man, who turned out to be the attacker, prompting Warren to run straight across the road to confront him.

We had all gone to visit Collins Barracks for Abigails birthday, as she is mad for Irish history, Stacey recalled.

She had great fun trying on the uniforms, getting pictures taken with the guns, and then we met my Mam and went to Burger King.

After we left, we were passing by the Rotunda Hospital, and I pointed out the room where Abigail was born to her, which is how she remembered where to go when we turned the corner and saw everything happening.

When we saw what was going on, Warren ran over and jumped on top of the fella. We didnt know how many attackers there were, and I was screaming, trying to get the baby out of the pram and keep my children safe.

Then, all of a sudden, Abigail was just gone.

Afterwards, she told me that she stood back, counted how many children needed help and ran around the whole block  all while I was there screaming like a lunatic.

With her hero father and other courageous citizens busy subduing the attacker and mum Stacey trying to protect her siblings, amidst all the confusion Abigail took it upon herself to rally local emergency services.

Brave Baltinglass girl Abigail Donohoe (11) pictured with AsIAm CEO Adam Harris, who honoured Abigail for her courageous actions on the day of the Dublin stabbings.

Arriving at the entrance to the Rotunda minutes later, she called staff to attention before informing them about the casualties and issuing a detailed breakdown of the response required.

Apparently, she ran into the Rotunda yelling that help was needed, including 15 doctors and x number of nurses and ambulances, Stacey continued.

How her brain even worked like that, for her to act so considerately during all that confusion, Ill never know.

The staff at the hospital were very good with her, especially the security guard, who let her watch the cameras so she could see when I was coming to find her.

Warren was across the road on top of the fella  he didnt know Abigail was missing  and I didnt want to go around the corner because I was afraid of what state Warren might be in after running over to a guy with a knife, and I had the other three kids with me.

It felt like Abigail was gone for hours, and people were stopping and trying to help me find her, but I decided I just had to do something, she added.

So, I hid Maisie and Evie at the Ambassador with two passers-by, two lovely women that I begged not to let kids out of their sight, while I looked for Abigail.

When Abigail and I were reunited, she kept saying she was so sorry, but I told her she did the right thing, had made herself safe and helped all the kids.

The nurses came out of the back entrance of the hospital onto Parnell Square and started helping people, so I told her that it was a really good thing she did.

She was more panicked about me being panicked about her than anything else!

Thankfully, Warren didnt sustain any injuries during his valiant intervention, though his jumper was slashed from one side to the other.

His actions were just the latest in a series of selfless deeds undertaken by the west Wicklow family, with Stacey having established the This is Me sensory group for children in Baltinglass and co-founded the Kiltegan Womens Shed.

Abigails thoughtfulness and regard for others on that horrific day have not gone unnoticed, with staff at the Rotunda Hospital posting her a birthday card, thanking her, with 100 in it.

Earlier this month, Stacey received a phone call from Adam Harris, CEO of the national autism charity foundation AsIAm (and brother of Wicklow Minister Simon Harris), who invited the altruistic family to their Dublin offices to commend Abigail on her bravery.

After we got the lovely message from the Rotunda staff in the post, they contacted my Mam through Facebook, and we brought Abigail up there just before Christmas to thank all the staff, Stacey said.

She brought them boxes of biscuits, cards, and a bottle of aftershave for the security guard!

Adam Harris from AsIAm had contacted me by email around that time too, and said that they would like to reward Abigail for her bravery and what she had done on the day.

They got back to me again recently to invite us up to Dublin, so we got the bus from Baltinglass up to Dublin, and then we took a DART out to their offices in Blackrock, where they had tea and biscuits, and Abigail could play with LEGO  it was brilliant.

The staff there were so nice to Abigail, and Adam Harris couldnt have been more welcoming. It was just a really lovely gesture by Adam and the fantastic team at AsIAm.

Praising Abigail as an inspiration to young people across the country, Mr Harris said: We were delighted to recognise Abigail and her incredible act of bravery.

So often, autistic people are seen as simply service recipients as opposed to those actively giving service within the community and that is why we felt it was important to recognise her contribution on that most awful of days in November.

We think Abigail is a real role model not just within the autistic community but for all young people and her courage is a testament to how the very worst of human actions, can bring about the very best of human kindness.

With Stacey channelling all her energy into her childrens well-being, she has postponed the re-opening of her sensory group, but has plans to re-form the group once she acquires a location in her locality.

A huge hit with all her children, particularly Abigail, This is Me had become an invaluable resource for parents across west Wicklow and beyond, providing a safe, secure and non-judgmental group where children with additional needs can play and meet new friends, with parents meeting other parents and supporting one another, in a relaxed environment.

With all the chaos leading up to Christmas and me focusing on my kids, I havent had time to start up the group again just yet, although I plan to over the coming weeks, Stacey said.

My kids love it, especially Abigail. We have sensory lights, toys, arts and crafts, stress balls and books, along with home-made play dough, slime and gloop that are all edible and non-toxic.

Were trying to secure a new home for the group at the moment, to save me lugging all the gear around!

Once we do, well put the word out there that were back, and itll be great to see all those familiar faces again, and hopefully a few new ones too.
An Australian woman bitten by a shark while swimming near the iconic Sydney Opera House has thanked her "heroic" neighbours for their help in a statement issued from her hospital bed on Wednesday.
New French prime minister tries to calm farming protests

Gabriel Attal promises cash aid and controls on imported food to appease farmers

French farmers block a motorway near Paris yesterday during a protest over price pressures, taxes and green regulation. Photo: Reuters

Sylvie Corbet in Jossigny Wed 31 Jan 2024 at 03:30







Frances new prime minister showered promises of help on angry farmers yesterday, from emergency cash aid to controls on imported food, in hopes that cools a protest movement that has seen tractors shut down motorways across France and inspired similar actions around Europe.
A Ukrainian serviceman installs an electronic warfare system to quell Russian drones at the front line, near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Monday (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged about 200 prisoners of war each, the countries said Wednesday, despite tensions stemming from last week's crash of a military transport plane that Moscow claimed was carrying Ukrainian POWs and was shot down by Kyiv's forces.
The Hall County Attorneys Office has dropped the criminal case against a former Grand Island teacher who lost his job last year as a result of the sexual assault allegations.

Philip Zlomke, 41, had denied the accusations.

At a two-day trial in October in Hall County District Court, the jury found Zlomke not guilty of two counts of first-degree sexual assault alleged to have occurred in October 2021 involving an adult woman, according to his attorney, Jon Hendricks.

Hendricks said after he and co-counsel, Robert Alexander, got discovery in the second case, where Zlomke was accused of two counts of sexual assault of a minor, prosecutors agreed to file a motion to dismiss it last week.

The case since has been sealed.

When the allegations came out, Zlomke had been a teacher at a middle school in Grand Island, though the allegations didnt involve Grand Island Public School students, according to the district.

Last summer, he had asked the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education to maintain his contract until his court case was resolved, but the board unanimously voted to end his contract effective immediately.

On Friday, Hendricks called it a sad deal all around.

While Zlomke got his life back and got justice in his case, hes no longer working in the career he loves, he said.

Grand Island lost a great teacher, Hendricks said.

He said Zlomke had been voted teacher of the year several times and earned a masters degree in teaching while the case was pending.
Italy protested to Hungary yesterday over the treatment of an Italian woman who appeared in a Budapest court chained and shackled to face charges of taking part in an anti-fascist assault on far-right militants.

Images of Ilaria Salis (39) being led into court on Monday with her feet and hands bound and a chain round her waist, made headlines in Italy, prompting the opposition to urge Romes right-wing government to do more to help her.
Imran Khan sentenced to 10 years in jail on official secrets charges

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were each sentenced to 14 years in jail in a case related to illegal selling of state gifts, his party said on Wednesday.
Illinois election board yesterday kept former president Donald Trump on the states primary ballot, a week before the US Supreme Court hears arguments on whether the Republicans role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol disqualifies him from the presidency.
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Image Credit: UNI

New Delhi/UNI: A day before the Budget session of Parliament, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar revoked the suspension of 11 opposition MPs on Tuesday.

The suspended parliamentarians were held guilty of breach of privilege and contempt of the Council of States by the Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee.

In its report, the committee stated that "the period of suspension already suffered by the members should be treated as sufficient punishment for the transgression.".

A total of 11 Members of Parliament were held "guilty of breach of privilege and contempt of the Council" of States, including Jebi Mather Hisham, L Hanumanthaiah, Neeraj Dangi, Rajmani Patel, Kumar Ketkar, G C Chandrashekhar, Binoy Viswam, Santosh Kumar P, M Mohamed Abdulla, John Brittas, and A A Rahim.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters on Tuesday, Everybody's suspension will be withdrawn. We have requested the Speaker and the Chairperson on behalf of the government, and they have agreed."

A total of 146 opposition MPs have been suspended from both houses of Parliament during the winter session. While 49 MPs were suspended in the Lok Sabha, 78 were suspended.

The suspensions come as opposition MPs have demanded a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the security breach in Parliament on December 13, when two men jumped from the visitors gallery and opened yellow smoke canisters.
British MPs committee report claims 'silent killer' heatwaves may claim up to 10,000 lives annually. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

A report has claimed the 'silent killer' heatwaves could claim up to 10,000 lives annually in the UK without concerted action.

The Environmental Audit Committee has raised concerns over the UKs lack of preparedness in its report on Heat resilience and sustainable cooling.

The committee of UK Parliamentarians heard that suicide risk is twice as high in the UK when the temperature was 32C rather than 22C.

"Work-related injuries also increase, and interrupted sleep patterns due to high temperatures can cost the UK economy 60bn a year, or 1.5% to 2% of GDP," the Committee said in its report.

The social and economic case for accelerating heat adaptation measures in the UK is clear-cut, and EAC recommends measures around prioritising passive cooling  that do not involve expending energy  and clear Government messaging on the risks of heat events, underpinned by a national strategy on heat resilience.

Nature-based solutions

Nature-based solutions offer important passive cooling measures and additional co-benefits.

Parks, trees, water bodies and green infrastructure - such as green roofs  can have significant cooling effects and also help biodiversity and air quality.

The committe recommended the government must adopt a range of these measures, particularly in areas where the urban heat island effect typically raises temperatures: for example, London can be up to 8C warmer than surrounding rural areas.

Over 4.6 million English homes experience summertime overheating, and with 80% of homes that will exist in 2050 having already been built, retrofitting for net zero and thermal comfort will be needed on a vast scale.

Existing initiatives on insulation and energy efficiency should be developed into a national retrofit programme which should be delivered by local authorities, supported by long term funding, focusing on insulation and ventilation, as well as passive measures, above active cooling mechanisms.

Fans may also have a role, and the Government should consider amending Building Regulations to encourage the use of ceiling fans. The Government must urgently bring forward proposals to encourage access to low-cost finance for householders to retrofit passive cooling measures.

Some of the passive measures EAC heard about included installing external shutters, which could reduce incidences of heat mortality by around 40%, and coating the roofs of buildings with reflective white paint.

Environmental Audit Committee Chair, Philip Dunne, MP, said: The world is heating up, and in the coming year we may exceed an increase of over 1.5C above pre-industrial levels: breaking a key ambition of the Paris Agreement. The record temperatures we are seeing in UK summers, triggered by climate change, pose significant risks to health and wellbeing, and swift action must now be taken to adapt to the UKs changing climate."

Projections suggest that without action, there could be 10,000 UK heat-related deaths annually. High temperatures are costing the UK economy 60 billion a year: so measures to address the risks from overheating are simply a no-brainer. There are a number of relatively simple ways to mitigate overheating risk, such as installing shutters, increasing the size of green spaces and using reflective paint on roofs. Yet none of these measures are being rolled out at scale. There is now a real opportunity to focus on these measures in tandem with improving the energy efficiency of the countrys homes in a new national retrofit programme," Philip Dunne said.

Tackling overheating at scale will not be a quick or easy undertaking. Clear collaboration between Government departments and local authorities is necessary, supported by a clear messaging campaign and a pipeline of funding and skilled retrofitters to undertake the work needed. Existing Government policy fails to grasp the urgency of the task at hand. A Minister with oversight on heat resilience must be appointed to oversee this important work," he said.

Radhika Khosla, Associate Professor at the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment, University of Oxford, who acted as Specialist Adviser for the EACs inquiry, said: We were delighted to partner with the EAC for this timely and important inquiry. Sustainable cooling has rightly been pushed up the global agenda in recent years as temperatures rise around the world. But now that we recognise the problems from extreme heat, it is imperative we commit to the solutions. Our hope is that this report helps the UK take action to meet its Global Cooling Pledge commitments and, most importantly, helps to save lives and protect peoples wellbeing while reducing emissions from cooling.
Hemant Kumar with his wife Kalpana/ courtesy: Facebook

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren 's wife Kalpana Soren might step into his shoes if he gets arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), media reports quoting sources in his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party have claimed.

The ED will question Soren in connection with an alleged money laundering case on Wednesday.

There are chances that he might be arrested by the agency after his statement is recorded.

According to reports, Soren announced this at a meeting of the MLAs of the ruling alliance this evening. The MLAs have agreed since preservation of the government is crucial at this point.

"We, all the MLAs of the alliance of Congress, are fully supporting the Chief Minister," Banna Gupta, the state's health minister who belongs to the Congress, told reporters late this evening.

Constitutional provisions demand that if the term of the assembly expires in less than a year, by-polls cannot be held. In that case, it would be difficult for Kalpana Soren to become an MLA.

The assembly election in Jharkhand is due in November this year.

Hemant Soren earlier in the day appeared in the state capital Ranchi amid speculations over his whereabouts following ED officials' bid to reach out to him for questioning in connection with a money laundering scam.

Soren was seen going out of his official residence after holding a meeting of the ruling coalition MLAs.

So far, the Chief Minister has evaded seven summons for questioning and reports said he is preparing to challenge the ED's summons in court.

Soren has claimed that he is being targeted as a part of a huge conspiracy.

"A conspiracy was hatched against me, but the final nail in the coffin of the conspirators will be put by us... We will not be scared, your leader will face the bullets first and keep your morale high," Soren had told the workers of his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

The case involves a "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, as per the central agency.


Photo courtesy: Facebook/Hemant Soren

Ranchi/IBNS: In a much similar scenario to what had happened in Bihar in 1997, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana Soren may assume the top post if the former is arrested in a money laundering case, media reports said.

As per several media reports quoting the sources in the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Kalpana, who has no political experience, may become the Chief Minister if Hemant is arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which will question him on Wednesday.

Days after the ED couldn't get his whereabouts for questioning, Hemant on Tuesday made his surprise appearance in Ranchi, where he met the ruling coalition MLAs for a meeting.

Interestingly, Kalpana was also present in the meeting.

Who is Kalpana Soren?

Forty-eight-year old Kalpana, who is from Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, got married to Hemant in 2006.

The couple have two children, Nikhil and Ansh.

Kalpana, who studied engineering, runs a school and is also involved in charity.

Since she is not an MLA, Kalpana, if assumes the Chief Minister's post, will have to get elected from any assembly constituency through a by-election within six months after assuming the charge.

Will Kalpana become Rabri Devi of Bihar?

In 1997, then Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's wife Rabri Devi, who was also devoid of any political experience, assumed the top post after the former was forced to resign following an arrest warrant issued against him.

Lalu was arrested in the fodder scam cases, where he has been sentenced to jail.

Rabri Devi went on to rule till 2005.

Hemant Soren goes 'missing'

The ED last Friday conducted a raid at Soren's Delhi residence and seized some documents and his BMW car.

Soren was not at home during the search operations.

As per reports, Soren travelled from Ranchi to Delhi in a chartered plane, which was parked at the city Airport.

However, the officials, who wanted to record Soren's statement, were left in the dark on his whereabouts.

So far, the Chief Minister has evaded seven summons for questioning and reports said he is preparing to challenge the ED's summons in court.

The investigating team visited Jharkhand Bhawan and his father's residence at Motilal Nehru Marg. But Soren could not be found there either.

A note from the Chief Minister's Office, however, reached the ED, informing them that they could interrogate him at 1 pm on Jan 31 -- the last day of the time allotted to him -- at his home in Ranchi.

Soren has claimed that he is being targeted as a part of a huge conspiracy.

"A conspiracy was hatched against me, but the final nail in the coffin of the conspirators will be put by us... We will not be scared, your leader will face the bullets first and keep your morale high," Soren had told the workers of his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

The case involves "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, as per the central agency.
Photo Courtesy: UNI

The District Court on Wednesday directed Varanasi District Magistrate in north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh to make arrangements for the worship of idols seated inside the basement situated on the south side of the Gyanvapi complex.

The court of District Judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha in the case of Shailendra Kumar Pathak versus the Committee of Management, Anjuman Intezamia Committee, and others.

The court ordered, "District Magistrate Varanasi and Receiver are directed to perform puja, Raag-Bhog of idols located in the basement on the south side of the building of settlement plot number 9130, which is the suit property, by a priest named by the plaintiff and the Kashi Vishwanath Trust Board. Get the puja and Raag-Bhog performed and make proper arrangements for the iron fence within 7 days for this purpose."

Counsel of Hindu side Madan Mohan Yadav said that in 2023 Shailendra Kumar Pathak filed an application that puja of idol situated in the basement of the south side of the temple was being done, but after December 1993, the priest Vyas was prevented from entering the barricaded area of the said premises due to which rituals of Raag-Bhog also stopped.

The applicant stated that there was an adequate basis for believing that priest Vyasji was in possession of the said place on a hereditary basis even during British rule and performed puja until December 1993 in the said building. It was pleaded that it was necessary to perform puja on the idols present in the basement on a regular basis.

The applicant stated that the state government and the district administration have stopped worship inside the basement since December 1993 without any legal authority.

The application was opposed by the defendant, who claimed that none of the members of the Vyas family ever performed puja in the said basement; therefore, there was no question of stopping in December 1993. It was stated that there was no so-called idol at the said place.

It was claimed in the plaintiff's statement that the Vyas family had the basement, and it was in the possession of the Intezamia Committee. It was claimed that there was no idol of the deity in the basement, and in such a situation, directing any receiver to make arrangements for puja was not justified.

The court observed, "In my opinion, keeping in mind the above material, it seems appropriate that the Receiver and the District Magistrate, Varanasi, should be directed to make arrangements for puja and Raag-Bhog of the idols in the basement on the south side of the building by a priest named by the plaintiff and by the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, for which proper arrangements of iron fencing should be made within 7 days."

(With UNI inputs)
Yellowstone County prosecutors are accusing a Billings resident of providing the fentanyl that killed a young man in December 2022.

Erik Matthew Castillo has been charged with criminal distribution of dangerous drugs that resulted in a death, along with an alternative count of criminal distribution of fentanyl. Police arrested the 25-year-old Tuesday on a $50,000 warrant. He has yet to make his initial appearance in court.

On Dec. 15, 2022, court documents said, officers with the Billings Police Department received a report of a suspicious death at an apartment on Sixth Street West. A man called 911 after finding his 23-year-old roommate, Cadden Winnick, dead in his bedroom.

An autopsy later determined Winnicks cause of death to be mixed drug toxicity, with state medical examiners finding alcohol and fentanyl in his system when he died. His alcohol concentration alone, according to court documents, was not enough to cause his death. The man who called emergency crews to the apartment told police he last saw Winnick alive earlier that morning.

An agent with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a federally funded task force, followed up on the investigation. Two days after Winnicks death, the agent allegedly reviewed a text exchange between Winnick and Castillo that appeared to be a drug transaction.

The agent also spoke with family and friends of Winnick about the hours before his overdose, and pulled online exchanges between Castillo and two others, court documents said. Castillo allegedly arranged to buy $100 worth of fentanyl two days before Winnick died.

In July, the agent and a detective with the Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office spoke with Castillo, according to charging documents. Castillo allegedly admitted to giving Winnick half of a fentanyl pill and smoking it with him in the early hours of Dec. 15, 2022. He denied giving Winnick any more pills.

Criminal charges connected to Winnicks death were filed against Castillo Jan. 25, along with a $50,000 warrant for his arrest signed by Yellowstone County District Judge Jessica Fehr.

Castillo was booked into Yellowstone County Detention Facility on Jan. 30. At the time of his arrest, Castillo had a previous warrant dating back to a 2019 charge in which a county deputy allegedly found illegal prescription opioids in his vehicle during a routine traffic stop.

Following a national reckoning on the overprescribing of prescription painkillers in the United States, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl have become the latest drug crisis. Fentanyl, produced as pills or loose powder by drug cartels in Mexico, has been linked to well over 100,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. In 2021, about 220 people died every day of the year due to an opioid overdose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, have consistently driven up fatal overdoses in Montana since 2017, according to statements made by local and statewide law enforcement agencies. Increases in overdoses have coincided with massive seizures of the drug across the state, with pill counts in some of those seizures amounting to over 1,000 pills.

In 2022, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed into law stiffer penalties for fentanyl traffickers. Those convicted of trafficking the drug in Montana now face a mandatory minimum of two years in prison.

If Castillo is convicted of drug distribution that results in a death, he could be sentenced up to 100 years in Montana State Prison, while a conviction for fentanyl distribution comes with the possibility of up to 25 years in prison.

On Wednesday, a Minnesota man was sentenced to eight years in prison following his conviction in federal court for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl to people in Billings and Havre. Law enforcement in Havre arrested 33-year-old Rembrandt Carlos Kemp and two codefendants after a traffic stop. During a subsequent search, police seized meth, fentanyl pills, a rifle and about $1,400 in cash.
Lucknow: On Tuesday, Opposition alliance INDIA suffered another setback after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav unilaterally announced candidates for 16 seats in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

This came after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumars decision to join NDA dealt a massive blow to the INDIA bloc, which had already failed to reach a seat-sharing arrangement in West Bengal and Punjab.

State Congress leaders believe that the Samajwadi Party (SP) is using 'pressure tactics' to compel it into a seat-sharing arrangement, rejecting Akhilesh Yadavs assertion that the talks with Congress have been finalised.

An agreement was almost reached on the seat-sharing arrangement between the India Gathbandhan (I.N.D.I.A. Alliance), according to media reports. The Congress party got 11 seats in the Lok Sabha. Akhilesh Yadav stated in a post that a strong start had been made with Congress on 11 robust seats.

Before this, a deal was also made with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for 7 seats. Congress high commands response is yet to come on SPs declaration and it is unclear whether Congress is satisfied or dissatisfied with the allocation of 11 seats, as they were initially demanding 23 seats.

Amid the quickly changing political landscape, NDA as well as the INDIA alliance is making quick calculations to achieve the tricky coalition formula that would convert into votes in Uttar Pradesh.

Image Credit: Nitish Kumar X page

Meanwhile, allying with Nitish Kumar in Bihar is expected to bolster the BJP-led coalition in Uttar Pradesh, given his substantial influence over the state's backward classes, including the Kurmis, in Purvanchal during the Lok Sabha elections.

Uttar Pradesh has 80 Lok Sabha seats. It should be noted that in the previous general elections, Congress received more than 8% of the votes on 19 seats in Uttar Pradesh. There has been a consistent decline in Congress' performance. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Congress secured 7.53% of the votes on two seats. In the previous Lok Sabha elections, Congress won one seat with 6.36% of the votes.

In 2017, despite successfully securing 100 seats from the Samajwadi Party (SP) in the assembly elections, Congress' performance remained poor.

According to media reports, the Congress may field candidates in Rae Bareli, Amethi, Pratapgarh, Varanasi, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Allahabad, Saharanpur, and Muradabad.

Image Credit: UNI

Amid the developments, the Samajwadi Party is fast-tracking its decisions in a bid to secure its prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In the absence of a beneficial ally, Akhilesh Yadavs main task will be to secure the maximum seats and improve his partys position in Lok Sabha.

The Achilles heel for the united Opposition platform (I.N.D.I.A) lies in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP has the potential to enhance its electoral count.

Image Credit: UNI

Almost a year ago, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) started focusing on formulating a strategy to reclaim the seats it had lost in the 2019 elections16 out of the 78 seats contested. The efforts also showed results when the BJP managed to secure two seats from the Samajwadi Party (SP) in two subsequent by-elections.

In 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 49.5 percent of the vote in Uttar Pradesh, leading the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to victory with 64 seats. Meanwhile, the Congress managed to secure only 6.3 percent of the vote, and only Sonia Gandhi won her seat from Rae Bareli. The Samajwadi Party (SP), which was then in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), clinched five seats. The BSP won 10 seats in that election, but since then, the party led by Mayawati has experienced a decline and is not currently part of any joint opposition strategy.

Experts believe that Nitishs return to NDA has dispelled the fear of a potential decline in the Kurmi vote bank. As a result of the strategic realignment in Bihar, there is also hope for the party to gain an advantage in the Bhumihaar community's vote bank in Purvanchal.
Iran's IRGC Chief Hossein Salami (courtesy: wikipedia.org)

Tehran: Chief Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Hossein Salami said on Wednesday that the country is not after war but not afraid of war either, vowing to let no threat go unanswered, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

He made the remarks at the closing ceremony of a national congress to commemorate the country's martyrs in Tehran, reacting to some alleged threats uttered by U.S. officials against Iran over the past few days.

Salami said, "We are not warmongers, but they impose war on us. Therefore, we defend our causes and do not let foreigners interfere in our internal issues. We are independent."

Condemning the "unjustified" threats from U.S. officials, he said that "we do not leave any threat unanswered, and even though we are not after war, we do not fear it, and we resist."

Salami's remarks came after U.S. President Joe Biden linked Iran to the recent killing of three U.S. soldiers at a military base in northeastern Jordan near Syria's border.

Biden said the United States "will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing."

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Monday rejected the country's involvement in the drone attack targeting the U.S. forces in Jordan, saying the accusation is "baseless and provocative."

On Tuesday, Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations warned in a statement that any attack against the country, its interests, and its people would receive a crushing response from Tehran, the official news agency IRNA reported.

(With UNI/Xinhua inputs)
Photo Courtesy: In image Myanmar Parliament/ Wikimedia Commons

Naypyidaw: Myanmar authorities on Wednesday extended the country's state of emergency for six months, citing ongoing terrorist attacks and drug trafficking.

"Members of the National Defence and Security Council of Myanmar... have conducted a review and discussion and expressed their support for a further extension [of the state of emergency] for six months," the government said in a statement.

Among the reasons for such a decision are continuing terrorist acts by some ethnic armed organisations, drug trafficking, and internet scamming, as well as the need to create conditions for holding free and fair democratic elections and a national census.

It is the fifth extension of the state of emergency by the military government. The previous one was in July 2023 and also lasted six months.

On February 1, 2021, the military seized power in Myanmar using a constitutional mechanism for transferring powers in an emergency situation. They arrested government officials, accusing them of rigging the general election, and later appointed a new administration.

The takeover sparked major civil unrest, resulting in widespread armed resistance.

An opposition has created an underground alternative government of national unity, which includes former members of the toppled National League for Democracy party and representatives of ethnic political forces and calls for an active confrontation with the military government.

(With UNI/Sputnik inputs)
Photo Courtesy: Wallpaper Cave

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed it maintained control over Mach city in Pakistan and surrounding areas for the past 40 hours.

BLA said the area was taken into control under its Operation Dara-e-Bolan'.

BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch detailed a significant attack on a Pakistani military convoy comprising eighteen vehicles from Sibbi, reported The Balochistan Post.

The convoy, including FC (Frontier Corps) forces, police, Levies, and armored vehicles, was allegedly ambushed near the Gokurt Hotel on the outskirts of Mach.

BLA claimed the attack left at least four personnel killed.

Earlier, on Tuesday, the BLA reported maintaining control over Mach city for more than 24 hours, alleging that the Pakistani military had been confined to a small area of the FC headquarters, the news portal reported.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Pakistan's Punjab Police have detained several members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) after they protested against illegal arrest and detention of PTM chairman Manzoor Pashteen.

PTM Lahore reported that the police have transferred several workers, including PTM Lahore Chairman Rahim Wazir, to the police station after apprehending them, reported The Balochistan Post.

PTM claimed police initially halted the peaceful protesters advocating for Manzoor Pashteen and then arrested the members forcefully.

PTM has claimed the immediate release of the detained members.
Photo Courtesy: Rehan Zeb Khan X page

Unidentified attackers shot dead a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed candidate from NA-8 Bajaur, Rehan Zeb Khan, in the poll-bound country's Siddiqabad Phatak Bazar area on Wednesday.

Khan, contesting as an independent, was also a candidate for provincial assembly seat PK-22, reported The Express Tribune.

Khan was at Siddiqabad Gate canvassing for the upcoming general elections when he was targeted by attackers.

He was reportedly travelling in his vehicle when the incident happened.

PTI rally targeted

In the past 24 hours, this is the second time PTI, the political outfit which ruled the country till former PM Imran Khan was removed from power in 2022, was targeted.

At least four people died after a bomb blast rocked a PTI rally in Balochistan's Sibi region on Tuesday.
Joe Biden decides US response to Jordan attack. Photo Courtesy: Joe Biden Instagram page

US President Joe Biden said he has decided how to respond to a drone strike in Jordan that killed three American soldiers, an episode that may potentially further escalate the tension in the Middle East.

Without elaborating his remark, the President was quoted as saying by BBC: "I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East."

"I do hold them [Iran] responsible in the sense that they're supplying the weapons to the people who did it," he said.

Meanwhile, an Iran-backed militia group that the US blamed for the attack has said it suspended anti-US operations.

The Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah have suspended their operations against the US occupation forces in Syria and Iraq, the group's Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi said as quoted by Mehr News Agency.

Reacting to the developments, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters: "The President has said, we will. We are going to respond. And we are going to do it really in a way and a time of our own choosing. And, you know, thats no different  thats not a different approach than weve taken in the past."

"We know for a fact that Iran and the IRGC provide these groups weapons and capabilities. We know for a fact that they have provided them drones in the past as well. But as for the exact drone that was  that was involved in this attack, again, DOD is still working through the forensics on it," he said.

Three US troops were killed in an unmanned drone attack in Jordan

At least three US service members were killed in a drone attack on a US base near Jordan's border with Syria on Sunday (January 28, 2024), US Central Command confirmed.

"As an update to the earlier announcement, the number of U.S. personnel with injuries has increased to at least 34 service members, but we expect this number to fluctuate as service members continue to seek follow-on care," read a statement issued by the US Central Command.

"Eight personnel that received injuries required evacuation from Jordan to higher level care, but they are in stable condition. All other service members are being fully evaluated for follow-on care," the statement said.

This is the first time that US army personnel were killed in a strike in the region since the start of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7.

The war started after Hamas members targeted Israel.

Officials earlier told the BBC that US sites in Iraq and Syria had been attacked at least 165 times since October 17.

Red Sea and Houthi

The US in recent times carried out a series of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen to ensure disrupting the rebel groups ability to target international shipping lanes.

The Houthis earlier said they were targeting Israeli-owned ships on the Red Sea.

US-led naval forces have so far thwarted several such attacks.

Who are the Houthis?

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica website, the Houthi movement is an Islamic fundamentalist movement in northern Yemen and one of the main actors in the Yemeni Civil War (2014 ). The network grew out of a revivalist movement among Zaydi Muslims, who belong to a small sect of Shii Islam centered in northern Yemen
What could be more comfortable than curling up at home with your preferred snacks and drinks while you wait for Valentine's Week 2024? If this seems like a good plan to you, you can watch several romantic K-dramas on OTT in the upcoming days.

Watch these 7 K-dramas on streaming platforms

1. Crash Landing On You

The 20192020 South Korean television series Crash Landing on You, which stars Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Seo Ji-hye, and Kim Jung-hyun, was written by Park Ji-eun and directed by Lee Jeong-hyo. The story revolves around a prosperous South Korean businesswoman and chaebol heiress who, while paragliding close to Seoul, gets caught in an unexpected storm and crashes in the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). There, she meets an army captain in the Korean People's Army who happens to be the son of the GPB Director and decides he will help her hide. Despite the conflict and division that exists between their two nations, they eventually fall in love.

Crash Landing On You

Where To Watch: Netflix

2. King The Land

In King the Land, Kim Yoon-ah plays hotelier Cheon Sa-rang, who never seems to stop smiling until she meets Gu Won (Lee Jun-ho), the heir of The King Group, a luxury hotel conglomerate, who was thrust into an inheritance dispute.

king the land

Where To Watch: Netflix

3. My Demon

Korean television series called My Demon has Kim Yoo-jung, Song Kang, Lee Sang-yi, and Kim Hae-sook as its main actors.The show tells the tale of a contract marriage between Jeong Gu-won (Song Kang), a demon who momentarily loses his abilities, and Do Do-hee (Kim Yoo-jung), the evil heiress of a conglomerate. They are happy about this brief loss.

Netflix

Where To Watch: Netflix

4. Doona!

The South Korean drama Doona! delves into the truths of life and passionate love. The protagonist of the tale is Doona, a former K-Pop idol who finds comfort in Lee Won-jun's friendship. Lighthearted comfort comes from Won-jun's friendship with his boyhood friend, despite their intense and ardent affection.

Netflix

Where To Watch: Netflix

5. Snowdrop

Snowdrop is set in 1987, a critical year in South Korean history that saw the end of the authoritarian Fifth Republic of Korea and the founding of the democratic Sixth Republic of Korea. It also included the June 1987 Democracy Movement, a nationwide protest movement intended to force the country's dictatorship to hold free and fair elections, and the December 1987 democratic elections that followed.

snowdrop

Where To Watch: Disney+Hotstar

6. When The Weather Is Fine

Cellist Mok Hae-won (Park Min-young) leaves her work in Seoul and returns to Bookhyun Village in Gangwon Province, where she temporarily resided during her high school years, following a string of bad incidents. There, she re-connects with Im Eun-seob (Seo Kang-joon), her old neighbor and classmate who currently operates a bookshop. They both find warmth in one other throughout the chilly winter, which is enough to defrost their long-frozen hearts as they try to escape the harsh and cruel truth of life. They eventually fall in love after they work over their old hurts together.

when the weather is fine

Where To Watch: Viki

7. Business Proposal

The webcomic of the same name, written by HaeHwa and illustrated by Narak, is the basis for the romantic comedy television series Business Proposal, which is produced in South Korea. Ahn Hyo-seop, Kim Se-jeong, Kim Min-kyu, and Seol In-ah are among its stars. It was directed by Park Seon-ho and written by Han Seol-hee and Hong Bo-hee. In lieu of her buddy, Shin Ha-ri, an employee, agrees to go on a blind date; however, she soon discovers that her date is actually her boss.

Business Proposal

Where To Watch: Netflix

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


The Enforcement Directorate has opposed Jacqueline Fernandez's plea to dismiss the FIR and supplementary chargesheet in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, stating that it is not sustainable.

Jacqueline Fernandez in blue dress/Twitter

What Is The ED Saying Now?

This statement was given in reply to Fernandez's request to dismiss the FIR in the Delhi High Court. The ED stated that the Bollywood actor consistently hid the truth about her financial transactions with Sukesh Chandrasekhar, only admitting to the facts when presented with evidence.

The ED declared that despite knowing about Chandrasekhar's criminal history, Jacqueline Fernandez persistently received, enjoyed, and held onto the proceeds of crime for herself and her family.

The Enforcement Directorate's argument was presented in an affidavit filed in reply to Fernandez's request to dismiss an FIR against her in the money-laundering case.

The case appeared before Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri, and Fernandez's legal representative requested additional time to submit a rejoinder in reply to the ED's affidavit.

The high court has scheduled the next hearing for April 15, 2024.

How Did The Case Against The Actor Start?

Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez faced questioning from the ED as part of the ongoing money laundering investigation involving Sukesh Chandrasekhar and others.

The Delhi Police previously filed an FIR against Sukesh Chandrasekhar, accusing him of defrauding the spouses of former Ranbaxy promoters, Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh, of Rs 200 crore.

#WATCH | Actor Jacqueline Fernandez leaves from Delhi's Patiala House Court after ED extends her interim bail & protection till November 10th, in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case. pic.twitter.com/sGdHtG8TsD  ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2022

Following the arrest of Chandrasekhar and his wife, along with others, the ED initiated a money laundering case against the suspects.

According to Delhi Police allegations, Sukesh Chandrasekhar and his wife utilised hawala routes and established shell companies to conceal the proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 200 crore.

The Bollywood Career Of Jacqueline Fernandez

Remaining in the spotlight for her purported connection to the money laundering case, Jacqueline Fernandez has been a prominent Bollywood actor for over a decade.

Throughout the years, she has solidified her position as one of the most recognisable figures in the Hindi film industry, contributing to over 20 feature films including Murder and Aladin.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


When it comes to India's finance ministers, the focus is usually on their economic policies and budget presentations. However, some ministers have also made distinct fashion statements, often reflecting their personal style and cultural background. Now that the interim budget is right around the corner, we can see the style statements of some of India's prominent finance ministers.



Here's a look at 6 Indian Finance Ministers and their signature fashion styles:

1. Nirmala Sitharaman

The current finance minister has a fashion sense that blends tradition with modern touches. She frequently wears sarees in a variety of patterns and fabrics, sometimes pairing them with stylish jackets or blouses. Her choice of footwear ranges from traditional sandals to contemporary heels, showcasing her comfort with diverse styles.

iPicci

2. Arun Jaitley

Jaitley preferred classic, tailored Nehru jackets in bold colours with his plain shirts or kurtas. He rarely strayed from this formula, projecting an air of stability and seriousness befitting his role as finance minister. His consistent look conveyed a message of focus and control over the country's finances.

iPicci

3. P. Chidambaram

Chidambaram, who was the finance minister for four years exuded a more sophisticated elegance. He often wore a crisp white shirt along with either a white lungi or white pants at most of his events and mostly paired it with a neutral-coloured shawl over his neck during the colder months. His carefully curated appearance projected an image of competence and professionalism.

iPicci

4. Manmohan Singh

The economist-turned-politician was known for his simple and understated attire. He typically wore a white kurta-pyjama paired with a Nehru jacket, a look that symbolized humility and focus on substance over flamboyant displays.

iPicci

5. Yashwant Sinha

Known for his colourful personality, Sinha's fashion choices also reflected his vibrancy. He often wore bright-coloured kurtas adding a touch of cultural flair to his official attire. Not just that, he was known to wear on several official occasions a Nehru jacket with his kurtas. But nomatter what he wore, his signature was a band collar.

iPicci

6. Indira Gandhi

Breaking away from the male-dominated field, she favoured simple, handloom cotton weaves, often adorned with understated borders and minimal embellishments. This deliberate choice resonated with the ideals of self-reliance and swadeshi.



iPicci

It's important to note that fashion statements are subjective and open to interpretation. While some may see these choices as mere personal preferences, others might read them as symbolic messages about the ministers' personalities, political stances, or even economic philosophies. The key takeaway is that beyond the numbers and policies, India's finance ministers have also used their attire to leave a lasting impression.

For more stories like these, follow us on Indiatimes Lifestyle.
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.
The world of work is changing and the new year has brought with it new hopes and aspirations.

This aligns with the fact that nearly 88% of professionals in India are considering moving jobs in 2024.

LinkedIn India has recently shared a list of the top jobs that are in demand in India in 2024.

Top jobs in India in 2024

Here is a list of the fastest-growing jobs in India, according to a LinkedIn survey:

Closing Manager

The position of a closing manager typically involves overseeing and managing the final stages of daily operations within a business or organisation such as staff management, inventory management, quality control, etc.

This role is crucial in ensuring the smooth conclusion of activities, tasks, and responsibilities at the end of a business day.

Influencer Marketing specialist

Unsplash

The role of an Influencer Marketing Specialist involves developing and executing influencer marketing strategies to promote a brand, product, or service.



Key responsibilities include influencer identification, relationship building, campaign management, budget management and trend analysis.

Design Specialist

Everblue Training

The role of a Design Specialist involves a deep understanding of design principles and expertise in using design tools to create visually appealing and effective solutions.



It can include graphic design, User Interface (UI) design, branding and prototyping.

Drone Pilot

A Drone Pilot plays a critical role in operating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones for various purposes.

This role involves flying drones safely and efficiently, capturing aerial footage, and ensuring compliance with regulations.

Responsibilities include conducting pre-flight checks, navigation, remote sensing, data analysis, geospatial mapping etc.

Recruiter

Unsplash

A Recruiter is a professional responsible for identifying, attracting, and hiring qualified candidates to meet an organization's staffing needs. The role involves managing the end-to-end recruitment process, from sourcing candidates to onboarding.



They are also responsible for employer branding, i.e. promoting the organization as an employer of choice through effective communication of its values, culture, and opportunities.

Sales Development Representative

A Sales Development Representative (SDR) is a key role within the sales and marketing team, responsible for generating and qualifying leads to create a robust sales pipeline.

They need to conduct market research, have a deep understanding of the products or services offered by the company and deliver compelling sales pitches that resonate with the target audience.

For more information on exams, results and careers, please visit Indiatimes Education.


Police disclosed on Tuesday that a woman apprehended for defrauding a luxury hotel in Delhi's Aerocity of approximately 6 lakh was found to possess a mere 41 in her account following her arrest.

Pullman

Woman was not cooperating

As of now, authorities have been unable to determine the motive behind the Andhra Pradesh-based woman's decision to stay in proximity to the airport.



A senior police officer revealed that the Delhi Police have reached out to their counterparts in Andhra Pradesh, requesting assistance in obtaining the woman's actual address and information regarding her family members.

"The woman was interrogated and counselled by our experts but she was not cooperating with us. We asked her to show her bank account details but she failed to do so," another official said. He added that when the police checked her back account, they found it had only  41 as the balance amount.

pullman

Stayed at Pullman Aerocity for 15 days

Police reports indicate that the woman, identified as Jhansi Rani Samuel, lodged at the Pullman Hotel in Aerocity near the Delhi Airport for a duration of 15 days. During her stay, she purportedly conducted fraudulent transactions totaling approximately 5,88,176.

The hotel staff informed the police that the woman had presented a counterfeit identity card bearing the name Isha Dave at the hotel's spa facility. Subsequently, she availed services amounting to 2,11,708, as reported by the official.

Made fraudulent payments for services at the hotel

The police stated that Jhansi Rani Samuel purportedly displayed transactions on the ICICI Bank UPI app to the hotel staff. However, upon conducting payment reconciliation, it was revealed that the bank had not received any payment for the transactions. "It is suspected that the app she used was dubious," the official said.

The official indicated that the accused woman was uncooperative during the investigation. Initially, she claimed to be a doctor, stating that her husband also practiced medicine and resided in New York. However, the veracity of this information remains to be confirmed, according to the official.

Representational Image

Was arrested by Delhi Police

Jhansi Rani Samuel was arrested by the Delhi police on January 13 following a PCR call from the hotel staff. Initially arrested for cheating, subsequent investigations led to the addition of Sections 419 (punishment for cheating by impersonation), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to the FIR, as stated by the official.
This morning, Delhi and its surrounding areas were shrouded in a thick blanket of fog, significantly reducing visibility on roads. The intense winter chill has worsened the situation, leading authorities to release advisories and causing disruptions in transportation services.

Delhi Airport issued a passenger advisory

Responding to the challenging weather conditions, Delhi Airport issued a passenger advisory, warning of possible flight disruptions for those not equipped with CAT III compliance. Travelers were advised to stay informed by contacting their respective airlines for the latest flight updates.





Daily commuting affected

Images from different parts of Delhi depict residents gathering around bonfires, seeking refuge from the biting cold. The drastic drop in temperatures has not only impacted personal comfort but has also presented challenges for daily commuting.

#WATCH | Delhi: A thick layer of fog enveloped parts of the national capital this morning.



(Visuals from Kartavya Path, shot at 5:40 am) pic.twitter.com/Yzb444lKfD  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2024





Several trains delayed

The dense fog enveloping Delhi caused numerous trains to experience delays in both arrival and departure schedules.

#WATCH | Delhi: Passengers face difficulty as several trains delayed and cancelled at Anand Vihar Railway Station due to dense fog.



(Visuals shot at 6:05 am) pic.twitter.com/CYokcAuZQZ  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2024





Additionally, residents in the Red Fort area expressed their frustrations over delayed bus services and, in some cases, the total absence of public transportation due to the severe weather conditions. Beyond disrupting daily routines, the inclement weather has also taken a toll on businesses, with customers hesitant to venture out amidst the thick fog.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.


The Madras High Court issued a noteworthy directive on Tuesday, instructing the Tamil Nadu HR&CE department to place boards in all Hindu temples explicitly stating that non-Hindus were restricted beyond the 'Kodimaram' (flagpole) area.

TIL

The court has highlighted that it is a fundamental right for Hindus to practice their religion.



Madras HC directive extended to all TN temples

Justice S Srimathy of the HC's Madurai Bench delivered this judgment while addressing a plea from D Senthilkumar, who sought specific instructions to allow only Hindus into the Arulmigu Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple and its sub-temples.

He insisted on installing display boards at all entrances to convey this message.

The HR&CE department extended the directive to all Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu.

Boards should indicate non-Hindus are not allowed: Madras HC

Mandating the installation of boards, the court specified that they should indicate, "non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple after Kodimaram."

These boards are to be placed prominently at the entrances, near the flagpole, and within the shrine.

Additionally, the court ruled that non-Hindus claiming to visit a particular deity must provide an undertaking expressing faith in the deity, a commitment to follow Hindu customs and practices, and adherence to temple customs.

TIL

The court emphasised the significance of adhering to temple customs, known as agamas while maintaining temple premises. Admission of non-Hindus was allowed based on a provided undertaking and recorded in a register.



In response to the plea being limited to the Palani temple, the court rejected the request, asserting that the order applied to all temples in the state.

Justice Srimathy justified the broader application by stating that such restrictions would promote communal harmony among followers of different religions and ensure peace in society.



Non-Hindus treating Brihadeeswarar Temple as a picnic spot: Madras High Court

During the proceedings, the state argued that Lord Murugan, worshipped at the Palani temple, is also revered by non-Hindus, and as a secular state, the government and temple administration must uphold citizens' rights under the Constitution.

However, the court rejected this argument, emphasising that the authorities were concerned about the sentiments of non-Hindus without faith in Hinduism while neglecting the protection of Hindu sentiments.

TIL

The judge referred to incidents such as non-Hindus treating Brihadeeswarar Temple as a picnic spot and another group entering Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai with their scripture, both incidents violating the fundamental rights guaranteed to Hindus under the Constitution.



For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.


A day after Hyderabad Police ordered social media sensation 'Kumari aunty' to close her food booth, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy urged the DGP and Urban Development Ministry to reverse their decision.

Who closed Kumari Aunty's food stall?

The Raiduram traffic police in Hyderabad's Madhapur closed her stall on Tuesday | Image: YouTube Screengrab

The Raiduram traffic police in Hyderabad's Madhapur closed her stall on Tuesday to relieve traffic congestion and urged 'Kumari Aunty' to relocate it.



'Kumari Aunty' rose to prominence on social media in the last two months, attracting enormous crowds to her roadside eatery near the ITC Kohenur crossroads in Madhapur. The stall served rice, chicken, mutton curry, and a variety of other non-vegetarian dishes.

Why was the food stall closed?

However, after multiple complaints from commuters about traffic bottlenecks, the police intervened and ordered the shop to close.

Kumari aunty responded to her business closure orders, stating that she had been running the booth for over 13 years. She also revealed that her husband was furious that the closure was due to media prominence.

How was the situation resolved?

According to CMO officials, the Chief Minister would likely visit the eatery within the next day or two to reassure small business owners like Kumari Aunty.

Honble CM Sri @Revanth_Anumula garu directed the @TelanganaDGP&MAUD to rescind their decision to shift #KumariAunty a streetside eatery. She will stay in her place. Prajala Palana means the govt stands by entrepreneurs. Congress govt will stand by poor & visit her stall shortly  ayodhyareddy_boreddy_cprocm (@ayodhyareddyb73) January 31, 2024

The ruling YSRCP administration in Andhra Pradesh accused opposition leader Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena party chairman Pawan Kalyan of being engaged in the closure of the food stand, sparking a political feud.



Taking to social media site X, the YSRCP said the event occurred after the Jagan Reddy government handed over a house to Sai Kumari, the proprietor of the 'Kumari Aunty' food cart.

Check the video here.

"Too Much of Anything Is Good For Nothing"



The Famous "Sai Kumari Aunty" Food vans have been stopped this afternoon and Hyderabad traffic police have Halted their business today



She requested media not to give too much attention to her pic.twitter.com/ChkEcRh3HO  Daily Culture (@DailyCultureYT) January 30, 2024

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.


In the heart of Lucknow, the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) stood proudly, its hallowed halls echoing with the footsteps of ambitious students aspiring to carve a niche in the corporate world.

However, a cloud of concern hung over the institution as it grappled with an unexpected challenge that threatened its long-standing legacy of a 100% placement record.

News had spread like wildfire within the IIM Lucknow community - a stark departure from the usual celebratory atmosphere that enveloped the institution during placement season.

IIM Lucknow reached out to alumnus 'seeking employment opportunities'

The administration decided to turn to its greatest strength - its vast and accomplished alumni network | Image: LinkedIn

The management was faced with an unusual predicament: 72 bright minds, armed with top-notch education and unparalleled skills, were still seeking their professional foothold.



Alarmed by this unprecedented situation, the administration decided to turn to its greatest strength - its vast and accomplished alumni network.

With an urgent appeal, IIM Lucknow reached out to its former students, imploring them to extend a helping hand in securing placements for the deserving candidates.

What message did the alumni receive?

IIM Lucknow reached out to alumni | Image: X

Ravi Handa, an IIM Lucknow alumni received the message on Whatsapp, which he shared on X. He informed in the post, "IIM Lucknow is reaching out to alumni to help them with placements. It is crucial to maintain the legacy of IIM Lucknows 100% placement record. It isnt about 5-10 people but 72 candidates at IIM-L do not have a job. Imagine the status at other B-schools."



The message read, "Dear Batch of 2011 I hope this message finds you well. We are writing to address the current situation regarding unplaced students from our batch. Currently, 72 talented individuals are seeking employment opportunities. We are reaching out to our alumni of the 2011 Batch for assistance."

The text to alumni's further read, "We understand that everyone has unique connections and networks, and we are hopeful that you may be able to help in placing our students. If you are aware of any job opportunities or have connections within your professional network that align with the skill sets of our 2024 batchmates, please consider referring them or informing us about potential openings. Your support is crucial in maintaining the legacy of IIM Lucknow's 100% placement record."

In another tweet, Handa said, "For those who dont know, IIM Lucknow is one of the old IIMs and often considered to be one of the top 5 colleges in the country. They have alums over decades who are in extremely powerful positions. They can and will help."

How did people on the internet react?

Needless to say the post caught attention on the internet, with almost 200k views. Some people blamed government, with a user writing, "Welcome to "Amrit Kaal"



While other said it is the story of several other B-schools as well. "Every B-School is facing the same situation, the people from IIMC and IIMB are also worried about it," wrote another user.

Some questioned, "Are companies moving away from MBA obsession or hiring processes are changed?"

Check the viral post here.

IIM Lucknow is reaching out to alumni to help them with placements.



It is crucial to maintain the legacy of IIM Lucknows 100% placement record.



It isnt about 5-10 people but 72 candidates at IIM-L do not have a job.



Imagine the status at other B-schools. pic.twitter.com/uYaTCmY3h7  Ravi Handa (@ravihanda) January 31, 2024

But the fact remains, top tier graduates are jobless today, what does it say about the future?

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
Kamala Harris Shouted Down in San Jose by Genocide is not Reproductive Freedom

June 29 protest organized by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and other activist groups. While protesters rallied outside, VP Harris was shouted down at least four times at her event. Photos by Len and Nancy.

Activists calling for a ceasefire in Gaza disrupted Vice President Kamala Harris during her "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" appearance in San Jose, January 29. Several held a Palestinian flag and a 'Ceasefire Now' banner before being escorted out of the room.



Outside the event, protesters spoke with the press and explained that the call for cease-fire is a call for reproductive freedom that the Biden administration is conveniently ignoring. While we demand reproductive freedom in the US, we must also demand permanent ceasefire to stop the genocide of women, babies and others in Gaza, they said. Their placards and banners read

"Bombing Babies is Not Reproductive Justice," "Genocide is Not Reproductive Freedom", and more.



Organizers said they will continue holding protests until a permanent ceasefire is realized.
Greece will "be present in all international initiatives that guarantee peace and international legality in the Middle East," Foreign Affairs Minister Georgetold the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in Parliament on Wednesday
The European operation against Yemens Houthi rebels in the Red Sea will be named Aspides and could start on February 17, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and

Greece will propose to assume command of EU Operation in Red Sea named Aspides -  
Foreign Minister Georgesent the message that Greece is a strong geopolitical hub
Four people have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to gun violence on the Spirit Lake Reservation in 2021 and 2022.

Skyla Cavanaugh, 23, of St. Michael, was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Fargo to three years in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised released. She pleaded guilty last October to charges of accessory after the fact, false statements and retaliating against a witness. Her federal sentence will begin after she completes a state prison sentence. She was sentenced last April to three years behind bars on felony and misdemeanor drug charges out of Ramsey County.

The federal charges stemmed from a May 2022 non-fatal shooting of a man in St. Michael, according to U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider. Cavanaugh was accused of being an accessory to the crime after the fact, lying to investigators, and confronting and striking a witness.

Nathaniel Azure, 21, of St. Michael, was convicted in that shooting after a seven-day jury trial in federal court in Fargo last December. He also was convicted for his role in a nonfatal shooting in Fort Totten in January 2021, and for assaulting another person while brandishing a firearm in St. Michael in May 2022. He's to be sentenced April 16 on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Michael Denne, the 25-year-old brother of Azure, previously pleaded guilty to his participation in the January 2021 shooting. The St. Michael man was sentenced in May 2023 to a total of 10 years in prison on weapons and sex crime charges.

Dantae Whitetail, 21, of Minnewaukan, previously pleaded guilty to his participation in the May 2022 gun-brandishing assault, and is scheduled to be sentenced March 6.

This result is reflective of the offices commitment to public safety in Indian Country, Schneider said in a statement. Retaliation against people who witness crimes and tell the truth to law enforcement will not be tolerated. This sentence will serve as a strong deterrent to anyone who thinks they can use violence to evade justice.

The case was investigated by the FBI, federal Bureau of Indian Affairs and Benson County Sheriff's Office.
As part of efforts to end insecurity in Nigeria, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has insisted that state police must be established as soon as possible, noting that it has become imperative to surmount the security challenges facing different parts of the country.

Makinde, on Tuesday, noted that the refusal of the Federal Government to approve South-West Governors demand to establish state police few years ago led to the emergence of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun.

The Governor made this known when he received the Conference of Speakers of State Legislators, South-West Chapter, led by its chairman and Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye.

He said: I want to observe that you need to all come together irrespective of the political party that brought you into office.

This is a demonstration that the electioneering period is over and you need to have everybody pulling together to govern and deliver dividends of democracy to our people.

READ MORE: Ibadan Explosion Traced To Illegal Miners Explosives  Gov Makinde

A lot of people may not know that before we launched Amotekun in this state, some of us governors went to the Federal Government and we asked to be allowed to set up state police for our various states but we did not get that approval during the time of President Muhammadu Buhari.

I disagreed at that particular time and still disagree to date that the states are not in the position to maintain state police. I have never seen where the Federal Government went to a particular state and gave the police everything they needed. So, the states are already maintaining the police.

So, the issue of being unable to maintain state police will not arise again. Give us the responsibility first and see if certain states will be able to maintain it or not.

But since we could not get state police, we settled for Amotekun. All the state assemblies in the South West passed a common law for its establishment. So, we have to be pushing for state police, and you lawmakers have a role to play to make that a reality.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has imposed 6 pm to 6 am curfew on Ilobu and Ifon communities, following renewed crisis involving the towns.

The Governor, on Tuesday, made this known in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, noting that the restriction was aimed at ensuring lasting peace in the feuding communities.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that some Militias from Ilobu and Ifon communities had resumed fighting in villages at the border of Osun and Oyo States on Monday.

However, Police also confirmed the death of two persons in the crisis while property was also said to have been destroyed.

The statement partly reads: Premised on the review of the security situation, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, in his capacity as the Chief Security Officer of the state, has approved that the 6 pm to 6 am curfew be imposed with immediate effect.

READ MORE: Police Nab Osun Prince Over Alleged Killing Of US-based Lecturer

A high-powered stakeholders meeting will be held with all traditional chiefs and rulers from the three communities with government officials and all security chiefs in attendance. That a contingent of all security personnel, comprising the Army, Police, Civil Defence, be deployed to the warring communities with immediate effect.Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has imposed 6 pm to 6 am curfew on Ilobu and Ifon communities, following renewed crisis involving the towns.
President Bola Tinubu has condemned the killing of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State, vowed that culprits wont escape justice.

It was gathered that the monarchs were said to be returning from a security meeting in Irele-Ekiti, in a vehicle, driven by one of their counterparts, the Alara of Ikole Ekiti, Adebayo Fatoba, when gunmen struck at a community in Ikole Local Government Area of the State, on Monday.

However, Tinubu, in a statement released by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, on Tuesday, condoled with the families and subjects of the traditional rulers, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, and the people of Ekiti State on the horrible development.

READ MORE: Gunmen Ambush, Kill Two Ekiti Traditional Rulers

The President also condemned the mindless and brutal bloodletting of the Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Olusola; and the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Ogunsola.

The statement reads: President Tinubu condemns this mindless and brutal bloodletting, and pledges that the perpetrators will not escape justice.

In the same vein, the President directs the immediate rescue of pupils and teachers kidnapped around Eporo-Ekiti area of the State.

As security of life and property is the primary responsibility of government, President Tinubu assures Nigerians that the nations security architecture is being robustly fortified for better and expected outcomes.
The Presidency, on Tuesday, reacted to the berating comment of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the failure to resolve the security crisis in the country.

Atiku had in a post via X, asked Tinubu step aside from office if the shoes are too big. 

Abubakar accused Tinubu of fiddling with Nigeria in the face of worsening insecurity.

He said while the president has been away on a private visit to France, kidnappers have killed a grandmother in the nations capital and two traditional rulers in Ekiti State.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party said the country needs 24/7 leadership to confront insecurity and address the countrys ailing economy.

Reacting in a statement, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said Abubakar was latching on any issue to attack President Tinubu because he is still nursing hangover of his electoral defeat.

His words: Alhaji Atiku Abubakars statement accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of fiddling amidst some security and economic challenges is to say the least, reckless.

Coming days after he made an equally reckless allegation against the President on the crude for loan deal for NNPC Limited, his latest statement fell short of what is expected from an elder statesman.

READ ALSO: Take Tough Decisions To End Insecurity, Demand Greater Performance From Service Chiefs  Abbas To Tinubu

President Tinubu did not travel without informing Nigerians of his whereabouts. He announced a private visit to France and announced a return date.

While in France, President Tinubu has been following developments at home and he is on top of the situation in the country. Todays inauguration of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage bore his imprimatur.

He is in constant touch with his officials and security chiefs and has directed them to stamp out every form of criminality in the country.

He has particularly ordered them to apprehend those criminals responsible for the murder of two monarchs in Ekiti State and the kidnapping of some pupils in the state.

We are already seeing results with the arrest of over 139 kidnappers around Abuja, Kaduna and Benue States in the last one week. The police Special Intervention Squad (SIS) and DSS have also rescued 154 abducted persons in the last few days.

Just last week President Tinubu approved N50 billion as Special Fund to address some of the lingering security challenges in the North East where Alhaji Atiku hails from.

If Alhaji Atiku is really concerned about security issues and not playing cheap politics, he should have known that President Tinubu is on top of issues and working hard to restore peace to every part of our country.

The presidential aide furthered that security agencies are working very hard to bring the security situation under control.
A 37-year-old security guard at a private school on Danmusa Street, Gadon Kaya in Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State, Nuradeen Shehu, has taken his own life.

Hussaini Gumel, Commissioner of Police (CP) in the State, confirmed that the incident occurred in one of the classrooms of Prestige International College.

According to him, on Sunday morning, January 28, one Abdullahi Abdulsalam of Rijiyar Zaki reported to the police that the security guard hanged himself with a rope in the classroom.

The CP explained that a team of police from Gwale division led by the Divisional Police Officer went to the scene and forced the classroom door open.

The operatives were said to have taken the guard to Murtala Mohammed General Hospital where a medical doctor confirmed him dead, as disclosed by News Agency of Nigeria.

After his body was released to his family for burial, it was learnt that Shehu hanged himself because his ex-wife remarried.

The police commissioner said the command had commenced investigation into the incident

Similarly, Idris Nasiru, a 17-year-old Almajiri, committed suicide in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of the State.

READ ALSO: US Based Lecturer Shot Dead In Osun Community

Nasiru, who was a pupil of Malam Shuaibu Tsangaya in Tudun Wada, was found hanging in an uncompleted building in the area on January 22, 2024.

Alhaji Bako Alu, District Head of Tudun Wada, confirmed the incident and disclosed that an investigation had commenced into the incident.

Nasiru Habu Faragai, Zonal Information Officer of Rano town said, The news was announced in a report delivered before Emir of Rano, Ambassador Kabiru Muhammad Inuwa, at his palace. Alhaji Bako Alu, representing the office of Wakilin Sarkin Rano at Tudun Wada Local Government Area, revealed that Nasirus death, with no apparent motive, has left the community in dilemma.

Nasirus teacher, Malam Ayuba Shaaibu, made the grim discovery after searching for the missing boy and tracing him to the uncompleted building. Shaaibu immediately notified the village head of Tudun Wada and the police.

Adding to the mystery, authorities apprehended another Almajiri boy named Nura, a friend of Nasiru who was also 17 yeard old. Nura had recently reconciled with Nasiru, prompting suspicion over his potential involvement. The police are currently interrogating him in connection with the tragedy.

In recent times, couple of suicides have been recorded in Kano.

A middle-aged man had hanged himself along Yahaya Gusau Road recently while another case was recorded separately in Sauna Kawaji and Tsamiya in Gezawa Local Government Area of the State.
Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says the anti-graft agency has uncovered how a religious sect in Nigeria is laundering money for terrorists.

According to him, another religious factuon was found to be protecting a money launderer after some smurfed money was traced to the organisations bank account.

Speaking on Wednesday at the Musa YarAdua Centre, Abuja, during a one-day dialogue on Youth, Religion, and the Fight against Corruption, he made the disclosure.

Without naming those involved, he said, A religious sect in this country had been found to be laundering money for terrorists.

We were able to trace some laundered money to a religious organisation, and when we approached the religious organisation about it and we were carrying out our investigation, we got a restraining order stopping us from carrying out our investigation.

READ ALSO: Zamfara: Army Eliminates Two Terrorist Kingpins, Rescue 20 Abducted Victims

The EFCC boss added that there was a need for religious, traditional leaders and public officials to assist the EFCC in its bid to curb corruption in the country.

The agency, he furthered, would not spare anyone found culpable of financial crimes, including members of the executive, legislative, and judiciary arms of government.

No one will be spared, well probe everyone who is suspected to be committing financial crimes, and these include members of the executive, legislative, and judiciary arms of government, Olukoyede added.

Vice President, Kashim Shettima represented President Bola Tinubu at the event, where he spoke extensively about the need to curb corruption in government, and amongst young people.
Rights activist, Femi Falana, on Tuesday, faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his private trip to France.

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, had announced that Tinubu had embarked on a private visit to Paris, the French capital, without citing a reason.

According to him, the President is expected to return to the country by the first week of February.

Reacting to the development in a chat with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica, Falana said Tinubus visit to France is embarrassing to Nigeria, especially as the French country has not recognised his presence.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria cited the recognised private visits to France by Fela Anikulakpo-Kuti, the late Afrobeat legend, at the invitation of former President Francois Mitterrand.

READ ALSO: Yes, My Daughter Works At CBN, But I Spoke Truth Against Moving Offices To Lagos  Ali Ndume

While wondering why a Nigerian President would travel to the same country for the same purpose and get no official recognition, he said: I hope this will be the last time that a President of Nigeria will expose the country to embarrassment and ridicule by going to a country where his presence is not recognized.

According to him, the law does not make provision for a private visit by the President.

There is no provision in the constitution for a private visit by the Nigerian president. Therefore, he cannot go on a private visit and still be running the country.

So to the extent that the activities of the state are still being conducted by him, the question of a private visit does not arise, Falana added.
Microsoft Visual Studio Code is a flexible, cross-platform editor that can be transformed into a full-blown IDE for most any language or workflow. Over the past few years, it has exploded in popularity. Thanks to Microsoft's Python extension for Visual Studio Code, VS Code has also become one of the best tools for working with Python. The Python extension provides not only syntax highlighting, but linting tools, environment management, and lots more, all tailored for the Python programming language.

In this article, we'll walk through how to get started with VS Code's Python tools, whether for new projects or existing ones.

Install VS Code and the Python extension

If you haven't already set up and familiarized yourself with Visual Studio Code, that's your first step. Check out InfoWorld's guide to setting up VS Code.

You should also have an instance of Python installed and be familiar with how Python works, especially the mechanics of Python virtual environments. If you're using the Anaconda distribution of Python, you can use that in conjunction with VS Code, too.

The core functionality you need to use Python in VS Code comes from Microsoft's Python extension. This extension provides syntax highlighting, debugging tools, code navigation, refactoring, and test runners. It doesn't provide linting, IntelliSense completion, or type checking. Those functions are provided in another extension automatically installed along with the Python extension, called Pylance. The two are kept separate so they can be developed independently, but you will almost always want to use them together.

IDG Figure 1. The official Microsoft-authored extension for Python in VS Code also bundles the Pylance linting and type-checking extension.

In addition to the Python and Pylance extensions, several other extensions are recommended for Python developers:

Black Formatter adds automatic formatting of source code with the de facto standard formatter for Python, black . You don't need to install black into the virtual environment where you're doing your development work to use it; the extension comes with its own, independently updated copy.

adds automatic formatting of source code with the de facto standard formatter for Python, . You don't need to install into the virtual environment where you're doing your development work to use it; the extension comes with its own, independently updated copy. Another formatter for Python, ruff , is gaining attention for being written in the Rust language, and so it runs much faster than black . It's still earlier in its development than black , so you may want to stick with black for the sake of correctness, but you can always install and toggle between the two extensions.

, is gaining attention for being written in the Rust language, and so it runs much faster than . It's still earlier in its development than , so you may want to stick with for the sake of correctness, but you can always install and toggle between the two extensions. If you use Jupyter Notebook with Python, you can add support for it directly in VS Code with the Jupyter extension.

extension. If you're on Windows and using the Windows Subsystem for Linux to run your Python code, you can use the WSL extension to perform your development work directly in WSL.

extension to perform your development work directly in WSL. The Python extension has some provisions for working with virtual environments (more on this soon), but they are relatively minimal. If you want broader-scale management for Python environments, grab the Python Environment Manager extensionit allows sophisticated operations like managing Conda-based environments, or automatically activating a venv for a given console session.

extensionit allows sophisticated operations like managing Conda-based environments, or automatically activating a for a given console session. By default, the Python extension for VS Code doesn't have a feature for inaugurating or setting up a new, blank Python project. Some third-party Python project management tools like poetry or hatch set up a new Python project directory and scaffolding from the command line, but VS Code's Python extension doesn't yet support those functions directly. A third-party extension for working with poetry does exist.

See the InfoWorld video tutorial, Setting up the Python extensions for Microsoft Visual Studio Code, for further setup instructions.

Tip If you use VS Code for other kinds of projects that don't involve Python, you can (and should) disable the Python extension for those projects. The reverse is also true: you should disable any other extensions you don't use in your Python projects.

Setting up a new Python project in VS Code

When you set up a new Python project, there generally are two basic steps:

Create a directory to hold the project. If needed, create a virtual environment for the project and install requirements into it.

The Python extension for VS Code doesn't handle the first part by itself. You create the directory you want for your project, then set up scaffolding in it and populate it with other things if needed. In theory, you can start a Python project with nothing but an empty directory, or as little as a directory with a single (empty) main.py file.

The first time you open a project directory with VS Code, you'll be greeted with a dialog that asks if you trust the authors of the files in this directory. Click "Yes, I trust the authors." This lets VS Code know you're not opening the directory provisionallyyou want to use it as an actual project directory.

If you're using a tool like hatch or poetry to manage projects, create the project directory with those tools first before opening the directory in VS Code. This is more because it's better to get that kind of housekeeping out of the way first than because you'll run into problems. It's easier to configure a project for VS Code after the manual configuration work outside of VS Code is already done.

IDG Figure 2. When opening a directory for the first time with VS Code and the Python extension, you'll need to affirm the contents can be trusted.

Python virtual environments in VS Code

One key thing the Python extension can handle for you is managing virtual environments for Python projects. You can set up a venv for a project, and automatically install requirements for it depending on how you have things configured:

In the VS Code command palette (Ctrl-Shift-P), select "Python: Create Environment". Select an environment type. This is typically venv or Conda, the environment used by the Anaconda Python distribution. Conda does not appear unless you have Anaconda installed, and the vast majority of the time you'll use venv . If an existing environment is detected, you'll be given the option to use the existing one as-is, or to delete it and create a new one. Choose an interpreter. The Python extension will attempt to detect all the available installed instances of Python in your system. If the Python version you want to use doesn't show up, it may have been installed incorrectly. Pay close attention to the path to the interpreter you select this can save you a lot of confusion about which one you're actually using. You can also type a path to an interpreter.

Once you've done this, the Python extension will create the virtual environment, update pip within the venv , and install any requirements it detects (for instance, through a pyproject.toml file in the project). You can click the Output tab in the VS Code console pane to see the logs from the setup process.

Setting up an existing Python project in VS Code

If you want to set up VS Code for an existing Python project, you generally do not have to do much more than open the project directory in VS Code, grant permissions, and select a virtual environment for it if needed.

Selecting a virtual environment

When you have a Python project open in VS Code, you can freely switch between what virtual environment you use for it. To do this, you can:

Click on the version of the interpreter at the bottom right of the VS Code window. In the command palette, choose "Python: Select Interpreter".

This brings up a list of available interpretersboth globally and in any virtual environments configured with your project. Again, pay close attention to the paths for the interpreters! Otherwise, you may end up selecting a global Python instance when you want a venv , or vice versa.

IDG Figure 3. Python in VS Code detects virtual environments automatically and allows you to choose from existing ones, create a new one, or supply a path manually to one.

Activate the Python extension before activating venvs

The Python extension in VS Code has a subtle behavior involving virtual environments that might trip you up if you're not aware of it.

When you open a Python project in VS Code, the Python extension does not activate until you do something specifically Python-related. The most common action in this vein is opening a Python file in your project.

Here's why this matters: If you have a virtual environment configured with your Python project, it'll activate automatically in a terminal session when you open the VS Code terminal pane. But if the Python extension isn't running when you do that, the venv will not activate, and any commands typed in that window will not involve the venv . Also, the venv doesn't get activated on already existing terminal sessionsonly on newly opened ones.

To that end, get into the habit of opening a Python file of some kind when you open your Python project. This ensures the Python extension is active. You can also do something with the Python extension from the command palette to activate it. Any action will do in that case.

Launching VS Code for a Python project

The most basic way to run Python code in VS Code is to use the Run command on the file currently open in VS Code. This you can do from VS Code's menu ( Run | Run without debugging ), or by pressing Ctrl-F5, or by clicking the right-facing arrow at the top right of the code area.

IDG Figure 4. Launching Python code with the debugger lets you pause execution and inspect the program state interactively through VS Code's GUI.

If you want to set up more complex scenarios for running your code, you can select the Run and Debug action from the left-hand action panel (or press Ctrl-Shift-D) to create a new program runner configuration. This gives you a drop-down menu of possible ways to run your program in the Run and Debug section.

The configuration files are in .JSON format, and you can select the gear icon to the right of the drop-down menu to edit the file in VS Code itself. You can change which file to run, what kind of console to use, whether or not to attach a debugger, and so on.

Running Python through the debugger gives you insight into exactly what's happening in your code at any given moment. You can inspect the call stack, examine the state of local and global variables, and set breakpoints to automatically trigger the debugger.

Note that running Python through VS Code's debugger incurs a performance penalty. If you're gathering performance metrics on your code, be sure you run Python with debugging disabled (e.g., with Ctrl-F5).

Python linting and checking for VS Code

The Python VS Code extension includes the Pylance extension for linting and type-checking Python code. It also provides live feedback on code through its language server, for the sake of autocompletion and tooltips. As long as the extension is active and you have a Python file loaded in VS Code, it should run automatically.

You can also configure two major options for Pylance right in the VS Code interface. At bottom right, click on the {} icon next to Python to expose those options:

Auto Import Completions : If you write code that depends on something that needs to be imported, Pylance can add the import statements automatically. However, this can lead to imports being added by accident, so it's off by default.

: If you write code that depends on something that needs to be imported, Pylance can add the statements automatically. However, this can lead to imports being added by accident, so it's off by default. Type Checking performs stringent type checks on your Python code. If you are working on a large project where type checking helps keep things correct, enable this. But it can be left off (the default) if you're only working on something small where correctness isn't essential.

iDG Figure 5. Auto-import completions and type checking can be toggled on or off through this element in the VS Code GUI.

Creating and managing Python tests with VS Code

Python test frameworks are generally written using one of two libraries unittest in the standard library, and the third-party pytest . The Python VS Code extension can automatically discover and configure test runners for those libraries. You can also install extensions to handle other test frameworks or testing for special application setups (e.g., Django).

Click the "testing" icon in the action bar at left, then select "Configure Python Tests" in the panel that appears. Choose either unittest or pytest as your test framework (or another if an extension is there to handle it). Select the directory where your tests reside (typically tests ). Choose a filename pattern to find the tests, or supply one manually (e.g., *.py ). To run all the tests configured, click the double arrow at the top of the Testing pane at left. The results will be written to the "Test Results" tab in the terminal pane, and can also be examined as a tree or list in the Testing pane.
Data integration platform provider SnapLogic has unveiled GenAI Builder, a no-code development tool for creating applications and automations powered by large language models (LLMs).

GenAI Builder, announced January 24 and accessible from the company website, leverages conversational AI to allow business users to create LLM-powered applications and workflows for customers, employees, and partners, SnapLogic said. The tool lets users integrate AI with enterprise data to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and personalization of data for customer support automation, data analysis and reporting, contract and document review, personalized marketing, and many other enterprise use cases.

GenAI Builder lets IT or business teams do the following:

Deliver digital experiences and support demand for AI-driven services.

Add conversational AI copilots to existing and new applications through a no-code visual designer and pre-built templates for common use cases.

Integrate data with LLMs to create retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) applications without coding, ensuring context-specific AI results while safeguarding data integrity.

GenAI Builder is compatible with legacy mainframe data, modern databases, and APIs, whether hosted in the cloud or on premises. The product is available now in private beta, with general availability slated for February.

GenAI Builder is the latest addition to the SnapLogic AI Suite. SnapLogic said generative AI could help global businesses improve customer interactions, automate business processes, provide conversational business intelligence, and offer IT acceleration via code generation.
Councilman-at-large David Oh speaks during a 2019 news conference announcing a Music Industry Task Force to help grow the industry in Philadelphia. His new job will focus on finding businesses/employers for Philadelphia. Read more

David Oh, the last Republican elected to an at-large seat on Philadelphia City Council and the partys candidate against now-Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, starts Monday as president and CEO of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia.

Oh, 63, was an attorney in private practice, an Army lieutenant, a prosecutor, and politically active at the state and city level before he was elected to Council in 2011. At the chamber, he succeeds Khine Zaw Arthur, who recently located to Texas. Its a full-time job, though Oh says he plans to also consult on the side.

The former Council member, whose unusual coalition of supporters included members of the many immigrant small-business groups he aided, agreed to answer questions about his role, past and future. His remarks have been edited for space and clarity.

Why the chamber job?

I ran for mayor. I lost. I have four kids, and I want to build a better future for my family. Now what do I do?

I havent been in the job market since I left the Army [in 1992]. The good news is, work has become a lot more flexible. It used to be you had to accommodate your life to the job. Now, there is a lot more work you can do from home or the office, long or short hours, so long as you get what you need done. That was always the way for salespeople and creative types. Now more of us can design our own way.

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From before I was in office, I have tried to attract jobs and investment to the city, traveling to Korea and other countries and meeting with senior officials at companies like Hyundai, urging them to consider opening facilities and employing people here. But honestly, there isnt much support for that in Philadelphia.

The Asian American Chamber provides an opportunity to help the citys economy and to inform people here on whats going on overseas that allows for a level of interfacing with immigrant communities, including companies that want to invest and employ people here. The chamber is really good for making those connections.

You and Helen Gym were the two Council members of East Asian descent. With you both off Council, who is taking up your causes?

As you know, we had different focuses. The good news for her constituents, there are still progressives on Council, dealing with the issues she championed.

Not a lot of politicians  Republican, Democrat, progressive, right-wing  seem to care about small-businesspeople or anyone outside their fold. Our system is focused on helping people you know will vote for you. Poor people  African American, Caucasian, Latino, Asian  the perception is they dont vote.

But I saw that people who might not vote today will vote tomorrow. Thats how it was with the Irish and the Italians and the African Americans. And now theres a lot of Southeast Asians, Central Asians, Central Americans, West Africans who dont vote today, but they will vote tomorrow. They are focused on their neighborhoods, on public safety and public transportation and public education. In office, I reached out to these people. I dont think anyone is now representing them.

When the Sixers unveiled downtown arena plans in 2022, and Comcast and some in Chinatown mobilized against it, you urged study and engagement. When you ran for mayor, you came out against it. What changed?

My first response was: I dont live in Chinatown. I dont have a business there. Im not in a [Chinese American] association. I think you who are should talk to the people directly involved. And they did have meetings where they heard from both the Sixers and from Comcast Spectacor.

But, unfortunately, they got divided before they could really get a process going. Groups got courted by both sides. It became racial. The arena supporters promised African Americans jobs and contracts, then they started adding promises for Asians. And it became political: Chinatown was a rallying point [in the Democratic mayoral primary]. Groups that formed to support Helen Gym would say, Its racist to support an arena.

But there were important questions: Would this bring in luxury housing? Would it price people out? Would there be traffic congestion? Would it affect the hospitals? Finally, I said, Its the responsibility of the people supporting it to show how its good for the city. Why are you announcing this before you have a detailed plan?

And we need to evaluate Chinatown. Chinatowns dont last forever. There was a division in the Asian community over the George Floyd protests, a portion of pro-Black Lives Matter Asians were going through the community saying things like Asians have white privilege. I found that problematic. This is an immigrant-dominated group, people who work hard because its all they have. And then we had COVID and people who wanted to associate Chinese people with COVID.

Is the new Chinatown in Northeast Philly?

The Chinese people on Cottman Avenue and up in Mayfair predominantly didnt come here directly from China. A lot of them came here from New York when they retired. They are selling their houses in Brooklyn and Queens for $800,000 and buying homes in the Northeast for $150,000, and they can save the rest to live. They have Chinese businesses right in their new neighborhoods without going to Chinatown, except maybe for a special event.

But Chinatown is still an economic engine. You need new immigrants to own and work in the restaurants. And you need tourists and visitors from outside the city. You need a continuous influx of people, or you end up like Little Italy in New York City, which has shrunk to one block, because the restaurant owners kids succeeded as doctors and lawyers and didnt have to work in restaurants anymore.

We dont have good conditions to keep this going right now. And I dont see how the arena will help bring new immigrants in.

Before you were in Council, you worked with the city to get Korea-based Rotem to build a railcar plant in South Philly. But SEPTA decided later to buy railcars from a China-based company, so the Rotem plant closed. Why did the city let this big industrial employer go?

I was grateful we got [Council members including] Mark Squilla and Curtis Jones to say we have to retain our train manufacturer because of the economic impact on our city. It was not enough. Later I tried to get another Korean manufacturer, TSI, to go into that plant to make sliding doors for advertising, but SEPTA refused that, too.

We needed more political support. Too often colleagues would say a big employer was never gonna leave. If you take them for granted, if you dont take their complaints seriously, we will keep losing industry. I dont know why there are so many agendas we allow to get in the way of this obvious problem: our lack of good jobs and tax revenues.
The Daily Pennsylvanian bought this home at 3721 Chestnut St., formerly the home of Penn undergrad Elon Musk, according to ex-classmates and his biographers. Read more

The Daily Pennsylvanian, the student-run independent news organization that focuses its reporting on the University of Pennsylvania, will mark its final separation from the Ivy League school its reporters cover when it moves out of its offices at a Penn warehouse and into the home it has purchased at 3721 Chestnut St.

The DP Foundation, a year-old fundraising affiliate, last summer paid $1.7 million for this six-bedroom rowhouse with a history: The last surviving house on a block now lined with high-rise apartment towers, its one of the places where classmates and biographers say Elon Musk, now the worlds richest man and boss of Tesla, Starlink, SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter), lived as a student.

Musk attended Penn from 1992 through 1995, graduating (by the time his paperwork cleared in 1997) with degrees in physics and economics.

Its very exciting for us: We will be 100% independent, said Molly Cohen, a Penn junior and president of the student-run news organization, which brings in $1 million a year in revenue.

She said the foundation that helps fund the Daily Pennsylvanian  universally dubbed the DP  is raising funds to turn the house into the media hub on campus, the place where, at a school with no undergraduate journalism major, journalists can gather for programs and work in a comfortable professional environment and in up-to-date facilities.

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Cohen said the group hopes to someday broaden coverage beyond Penn and host new media groups.

Rising rent at Penn

If work begins on schedule this year, the DP will in 2025 leave its longtime offices in the Greek-temple-fronted University Records Center warehouse building at 4015 Walnut St., known to students as the Pink Palace, which it rents from the university.

The move will end that landlord relationship and the DPs formal ties to the institution its reporters and editors cover, which, with its dozen professional and undergraduate schools, and its teaching hospitals and other programs, is Philadelphias largest private employer.

The rent Penn charged the DP as a tenant kept escalating, from $1 in the early 1980s to over $100,000 this year, noted Chuck Cohen (no relation to the president), a former DP managing editor who chairs the DP Foundation board. It was time to do our own thing.

Chuck Cohen, who is managing director at Benco Dental Co., based near Scranton., said he and other DP alumni, most of whom arent journalists, have gladly donated to fund the students vision for a place of their own.

Despite the published reports linking Musk to the property, Cohen is circumspect: Im told Elon Musk lived there. I havent confirmed it. Its part of the local legend.

The seller of the DPs new office, University City Housing Co., could have gotten more for the property  but owner Michael Karp liked the idea of selling to the DP, said Andy Margolis, of A Margolis Realty Co., who brokered the sale.

DP leaders say Margolis convinced Karp to sell the building, which hadnt been listed. University City Housing had rented the off-campus house since at least the 1980s.

Margolis said the Chestnut Street deal capped a long search for a suitable property. Karp did a handshake agreement. Thats trust.

The three-story house, with brick-patterned stucco over soft local green serpentine stone on a lot 25 feet wide and half a block deep, will be expanded and given a new glass-and-panel facade.

Financial freedom for the Daily Pennsylvanian

The move comes 40 years after student and alumni backers of what was then a daily print newspaper  now a print weekly with continuously updated reports online  separated from the university and set up a fund to support independent operations, including an eventual new home.

This has been a long time coming, said Jesse Zhang, a Penn senior and Molly Cohens predecessor as the DP president. He credited alumni donors and the newsrooms firm financial footing from advertising, now largely digital.

The new building will be renovated to fit updated versions of the podcasting studios and green screens and emerging and advanced technologies the DP added to its current home, and new facilities, said Steven Molberger, the foundations executive director.

He said the foundation has collected commitments totaling $2.5 million so far for the expansion and upgrades. A website highlighting donors and asking for more will go live next month. This represents true financial freedom for the organization, he added.

Elon Musks connection

According to biographers and news accounts relying on classmates and friends, including venture capitalist Adeo Ressi, a longtime Musk confidant, the Space X and Tesla boss stayed at 3721 Chestnut St. for part of the period when he was earning degrees in physics and economics.

Citing Musks biographers, Molberger said the Musk ties to the property are inspirational: He got significant work done there. He spent a lot of time on projects. He souped up the electrical system at the house.

Musk transferred to Penn from his former school in Canada in 1992. Friends and classmates have also said he lived at the Quad, the brick, gargoyle-studded dorm complex along Spruce Street where mostly first-year students reside. Biographers say he was briefly assigned there as a transfer student, and he later served as a residential adviser there in his senior year.

Bill Groves, a manager since the late 1980s for Karps University City Housing, calculates that Musk lived in the house for the two years between his Quad stints.

The house was rented for four years to Musks friend Ressi, who lined up many of the students for its six bedrooms, including Musk, Ressi has told reporters and biographers.

Groves remembers the energetic Ressi vividly; Musk didnt stand out.

Groves confirmed reports that the young men hosted parties at the house but said it was not notorious as the loud party center some media accounts have described, unlike some other student houses that the company owned in those days.

What was special at 3721 Chestnut in the Ressi and Musk era was the number of computer hookups the friends and future tech company heads installed. Those guys had more phone lines than a high-rise, Groves said. They had copper cable coming in that was as thick as my arm, stapled to the walls.

That was back in the modem days, when computers still needed individual phone lines to talk to other machines  making the future DP home a node for nerds with vision, back in the infancy of the internet.

The story has been updated to correct the address of the Pink Palace and Steven Molbergers title.
The Tredyffrin-Easttown has made progress in a proposal to purchase this corporate office building at 1200 West Swedesford and convert it into a new elementary school. Read more

After the pandemics remote work transformation took much of white-collar labor out of the office, developers snatched up underused corporate buildings, flipping them into luxury residential apartments and lavish medical centers.

Soon they could also become public school classrooms.

In a proposal to transform a corporate office building into a new elementary school, the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District school board this month overwhelmingly approved a tentative deal to purchase a 15-acre Berwyn property in what would be a $64.4 million project.

The proposed elementary school, which would be the Chester County districts sixth, would not only ease the burden on a district with a rising cohort of school-age children, it also would allow for full-day kindergarten and additional special-needs programs.

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Charter schools, with fewer facility requirements than larger public school districts, have spent a lot on corporate office conversions in recent years, reorganizing interior walls, adding additional windows, and tacking on gymnasiums and cafeterias to meet their needs. But Tredyffrin-Easttowns proposal marks one of the first instances of a Philadelphia-area school district considering an office-to-school renovation.

Growing districts may also signal an opportunity for a struggling corporate real estate market that, although more stable since the pandemic, has left landlords and building owners open to creative new uses for their properties.

There are a number of office buildings that are vacant  either the leases have expired, or theyre available for sublet, said Jeff Mack, a commercial real estate executive in the Philadelphia region. Theres a lot of opportunity.

Cubicles to classrooms

When the MaST Community Charter School launched two state-of-the-art suburban campuses in 2019, it chose the former corporate headquarters of a Fortune 500 beverage-packing company in Northeast Philadelphia as the site for one of the schools.

Keith Fallon, executive vice president of EwingCole  the architecture firm that oversaw the MaST III project  had little trouble converting the space. The office already featured a fluid design, Fallon said, with moveable walls that designers could reconfigure into new layouts. His team later constructed a free-standing gymnasium.

What challenges Tredyffrin-Easttown might face remain to be seen.

During public meetings this winter, school board officials lauded the idea of converting the three-story, 86,000-square-foot office building at 1200 W. Swedesford Rd. into the districts next elementary school.

The board presented two other comparably priced construction plans, but each would require building from scratch on district-owned land that, between limited space and uneven terrain, would present their own hurdles.

The Tredyffrin-Easttown school board has described the building on West Swedesford Road as something of a Goldilocks situation, just the right amount of interior space, a location near existing populations of school children, and ample room to construct playing fields and other additions.

Residents have responded with few objections. Some parents, citing the cost of full-day kindergarten programs, said they fully supported the Swedesford Road conversion, which the school board said could take less time to complete than new construction.

But first the board will have to determine whether the project is even feasible; in January, Tredyffrin-Easttown placed a six-figure deposit with Brandywine Realty Trust, the office buildings owner, giving its design team two months to assess the buildings fit for a school. The district will then have the option to purchase the property for $15.95 million this spring.

Flight to quality

Since March 2020, few offices have been spared from the effects of hybrid work.

In 2022, nearly one in four suburban Philadelphia offices was empty, according to the real estate company CBRE. The citys offices didnt fare much better, and by the end of 2023, the entire regions offices had about 22% vacancy overall, CBRE data show.

Although some landlords have lured companies back, others have increasingly sought out smaller spaces for teams that rarely spend five days a week at their desks. In Philadelphias suburbs, thats led to what Katie Wenger, a Radnor-based CBRE agent, calls a flight to quality.

To attract talent, Wenger said, downsizing companies are flocking to compact, high-end spaces in walkable business districts, such as the Main Line. In turn, Wenger said, the owners of sprawling, more traditional office spaces have struggled to find stable, long-term tenants  and are more open to alternative uses of their buildings.

From a landlords perspective, if theres not a foreseeable strong demand in the near term, this is a really unique, unicorn-type opportunity that I think could pique someones interest, Wenger said of Tredyffrin-Easttowns proposal for the Swedesford Road building. It really speaks to the whole repositioning of assets that are kind of in the middle ground.

New opportunities for growing districts

For Tredyffrin-Easttown schoolteacher Katie Walter, a new elementary school cant come soon enough.

According to a school board presentation, the district considers its elementary school population, at just under 2,500 students, stable but high, and predicts that number will remain steady throughout the 2030s.

My first classroom was a classroom that was made out of what was a storage closet and workspace for teachers, Walter said at a Jan. 17 school board meeting. ... Weve gotten to the point where we cant maximize the space any further than what we have.

But in the highly developed suburbs, finding space for a surplus of students is not always an easy task.

In Lower Merion, a new $90 million middle school opened in 2022 to ease elementary overcrowding. The project also enabled the district to offer full-day kindergarten this fall.

Officials had been trying to secure a location to build the new Black Rock Middle School in the eastern part of the township, at the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. But they lost out to Main Line Health, and instead bought property in the western part of the township, on the site of a historic mansion in Villanova.

Generally, school districts are limited in their choices on where to put a new school, said Dan Bernheim, a Lower Merion Township commissioner who was president of the board at the time of the location search. Among the limiting factors: busing logistics and space for playing fields, the latter of which has been highly controversial at the Black Rock site.

Bernheim said the St. Charles location would have been ideal  I will go to my grave saying thats where the school should have been  but when that failed, the current Black Rock site became the prime target  maybe the only target.

Hannah Barrick, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials, said the association is aware of a few school districts in the state that have bought and renovated commercial space.

Proposals like that of Tredyffrin-Easttown have occurred relatively rarely, as schools were often priced out of the opportunity to purchase commercial facilities when they were in high demand, Barrick said.

But with changes in the market and commercial property usage, perhaps there will be additional opportunities and something we see more frequently, Barrick said.
The U.S. Department of Labor is holding onto $16.4 million for 16,000 Pennsylvania workers who were the victims of wage law violations. Officials are trying to get the word out so the money is claimed.

Much of that money is owed to workers in Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties. In the region, 12,795 workers are entitled to $13 million in back wages  over $1,000 per affected worker, on average.

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The departments Wage and Hour Division recovered that money after investigating employers for labor law violations. While employers dont get to keep the unclaimed funds, the government holds onto it for workers for only three years before the funds are turned over to the U.S. Department of Treasury.

In 2023, the division recovered $274 million for more than 163,000 workers across the United States.

Jim Cain, the Wage and Hour district director for Philadelphia, said that his division can often obtain employee contact information through the employer and that news releases and coworker word of mouth also help with notifying workers who are owed back wages.

Sometimes employers dont keep good records; sometimes they may have only a partial name in their records. There are times when theyre not paying people on the record, so they dont necessarily have a record at all from the employer, Cain said.

How to check if you have unclaimed wages

Workers dont have to wait for contact from the government to see if they have unclaimed wages. The Labor Department has an online tool for workers to find out whether theyre owed wages and claim them if so.

The tool, called Workers Owed Wages, is available in English and Spanish. The department disbursed nearly $27 million through the system to almost 4,000 workers in 2023.

Cain said home health care, restaurants, and gas stations have been among the more frequent violators of wage and hour laws in the region. Sometimes employers arent aware theyre violating the law because of specific job-related tasks that dont get compensated, he noted.

For instance, Cain said, a worker who is required to wear protective gear for their job should be allowed to punch the clock before putting on that gear each day and clock out after removing it.

In addition to using the online tool, workers who have questions about wage and hour issues or who think they have back wages to claim can contact the Wage and Hour Division at 215-597-4950.

The department can answer calls in over 200 languages, and Cain made note that individuals immigration status is not a factor in their ability to receive back wages owed to them.

We dont even ask about it, Cain said. If somebody is in the U.S. working, then theyre covered by the applicable laws, and we would treat them just like anybody else.
Protesters hoist signs during testimony at a public hearing at Widener University, in Chester, in August on a proposed Liquefied Natural Gas facility. Read more

President Joe Bidens decision to pause federal approval of liquefied natural gas plants may have cost the desperately broke bankrupt City of Chester and Pennsylvania hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues and hundreds of jobs.

And the newly inaugurated mayor couldnt be happier.

I think he saved Chester, said Stefan Roots, who took office earlier this month. While some were encouraged by the prospect of hosting the plant, he said doing so would be game-over, because no one would want to come here. Chester already is home to an incinerator and a waste-treatment plant.

In making his controversial decision, Biden said he would heed the calls of young people and take aim at quelling the climate crisis ... the existential threat of our time. But in Chester, opposition to siting an LNG plant along its historic waterfront is more about the potential hazards, said Roots. Youre not only putting us in danger, youre contributing to our health disparity.

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 READ MORE: An August hearing on LNG turned into a protest rally in Chester

Said Zulene Mayfield, a longtime Chester activist who has organized anti-LNG protests, Were still cautious. ... Its an election year. Its a pause. We want to celebrate it, but our head is still on a swivel. Were keeping our eyes open.

Not everyone is wild about Bidens decision

Biden said that during the pause, which could affect several pending projects, we will take a hard look at the impacts of LNG exports on energy costs, Americas energy security, and our environment.

His edict has drawn considerable blow-back from business interests and some politicians.

In statement, state Rep. Martina White (R., Philadelphia), chair of the LNG task force appointed by then-Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, said: This horrible policy decision by the Biden administration will cost tens of thousands of family-sustaining union jobs.

The opposition hasnt been all partisan.

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.), chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said he would convene a hearing to unveil the facts about the administrations motivations, and their implications.

About LNG plants

Plants constructed along the Gulf Coast use massive refrigeration units to cool natural gas sufficiently to liquify it. It then is stored and shipped in insulated tanks and reheated into vapor form. The nation has seven LNG export terminals, and the nearest large-scale LNG plant is in Cove Point, Md., on the west bank of the Chesapeake Bay.

LNG proponents say it is gentler on the environment than traditional fossil fuels.

According to the Energy Information Administration, Natural gas has many qualities that make it an efficient, relatively clean burning, and economical energy source. However, the production and use of natural gas have some environmental and safety issues to consider.

Environmentalists contend that all the processing and shipping represents a major source of pollution and greenhouse gases. They also say that potential explosions present eminent danger to residents.

Chester as a prospective site

Chester never was identified officially as a prospective site. However, as The Inquirer reported, a New York firm headed by a Philadelphia native, has wanted to build an export terminal along the waterfront in Chester or a neighboring area to exploit the states shale gas supplies and escalating worldwide demand.

 READ MORE: The prospective LNG plant was a well-kept secret

Whites task force held a hearing in Chester in August ostensibly about the LNG concept, but it turned into a raucous anti-LNG protest by a standing-room-only crowd.

The holding of that hearing in Chester persuaded Roots that the citys riverfront was a serious candidate for the plant.

I always thought this was a pipe dream until the task force showed up, he said. Then I realized, this is real. Its already down the road. The fact that they would even target Chester as a location just shows you the disrespect that people have way above our heads here in the city, Roots said. Chesters population is more than 75% Black.

Environmentalists and social-justice advocates have long held that the preponderance of waste facilities have been sited in and near lower-income communities of color. Philadelphia recently created an Environmental Justice Advisory Commission to address that issue.

Mayfield said Biden acted because residents of Chester and other communities where LNG plants are located or targeted had raised their voices. He didnt just think of that, said Mayfield. Theres been pressure.

Making an anatomical reference, she added, Everyone wants to put a pause on things, because weve put our foot up their ... "
Stacey Weeks, mother of Tahiem Weeks-Cook, speaks to the media during a news conference Tuesday in Philadelphia next to her attorney, Paul J. Hetznecker, and sister, Terra Johnson. Read more

Its been nearly six months since Stacey Weeks workday at the ICU at Penn Medicine was interrupted by a call informing her that her 22-year-old son had been shot.

Six months and a couple hours since she learned FBI agents trying to arrest him struck him down.

And six months and two days since Weeks, sitting by his bedside at Temple University Hospital, watched her son  Tahiem Weeks-Cook  take his final breaths.

But despite all the time thats passed since, Weeks still has no idea what prompted her sons death. No one from the FBI has reached out to her, she said. Her repeated requests for information have seemingly fallen on deaf ears.

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He was on a ventilator. I couldnt ask him what happened, she said, choking back tears. I have no answers. All I want to know is, how did it lead to this?

Weeks, 41, of Upper Darby, described that frustration during a news conference Tuesday as her attorney announced her family had taken preliminary steps to sue the FBI and filed a records request for any documents that could shed light on the circumstances behind her sons death.

Since the Aug. 4 incident, authorities have released scant details, except to say that agents struck Weeks-Cook four times while attempting to arrest him on the 1700 block of Venango Street in the Nicetown-Tioga section of Philadelphia.

They have not explained why agents were seeking to arrest him or offered any narrative of the events that led up to his death, citing FBI protocols while the shooting remains under investigation.

Sources familiar with the probe say that the warrant that brought agents to Weeks-Cooks door was tied to a string of armed robberies across the region. Upper Southampton Township police filed state felony charges against him the same day he was shot  including counts of robbery, conspiracy, and making terroristic threats  for a July 30 stickup at a 7-Eleven along State Road.

But his mother said Tuesday that information has never officially been conveyed to her. Had she known her son was wanted, she said, would have insisted he turn himself in.

If you have an arrest warrant, it should not be a death warrant, she said. And thats what this was for my son.

Surveillance videos  recovered from businesses nearby the shooting by Weeks attorney Paul J. Hetznecker  have shed some light on Weeks-Cooks last moments.

In one, Weeks-Cook can be seen leaving his apartment on the 1600 block of Venango as four armed agents in military-style camouflage tactical gear leap out of the back of an unmarked white van. He spots them, and takes off running toward 17th Street as they pursue.

Another shows Weeks-Cook, moments later, running up to another unmarked van, occupied by agents, and attempting to either take cover behind it or get inside before he suddenly falls to the ground.

A third video shows agents surrounding Weeks-Cooks fallen body in what appears to be an attempt to render aid.

Weeks-Cook does not appear to be armed in any of the footage. None of the videos depict the shooting itself.

Hetznecker said Tuesday that the FBI did not recover any weapons either from the Weeks-Cooks apartment or the scene of the shooting, raising questions as to why agents would have used deadly force.

My greatest concern is that Tahiem Weeks-Cook is not dehumanized as a result of this process, and thats easy to do because of the charges, he said. But everyone is entitled to due process under the law  including the FBI agent involved.  We just want answers. We want accountability. We want transparency.

Though Weeks-Cooks family on Tuesday filed what is known as a notice of claim with the FBI  a precursor to suing the bureau  such notices are not public filings, and Hetznecker declined to discuss any compensation they might eventually pursue in court.

The family, he said, was more concerned with learning what happened than any potential financial payout that could result from a lawsuit.

A spokesperson for the FBI declined to comment Tuesday on either the familys filing or the investigation into Weeks-Cooks fatal shooting, saying the bureaus internal probe of the incident remains ongoing.

Though that answer disappointed Weeks, its the one shes come to expect in the six months since her sons death.

I just want some answers, she said. Its not going to bring him back, but just let me know what happened.
Milltown, N.J.'s., popular Groundhog Day festivities were canceled for the third time in a row in 2024. The town groundhog wranglers have not been able to find a suitable replacement after the death of Milltown Mel (pictured above) in 2022. Read more

For the third year in a row, residents of one New Jersey town will not have a groundhog to tell them if theyre due for an early spring.

Organizers of Milltowns formerly annual Groundhog Day celebration announced that they have yet to find a suitable replacement for Milltown Mel, their beloved local groundhog who died right before the big day in 2022.

The Milltown Wranglers (aka Milltowns self-appointed groundhog scouts and handlers) said the vaguely Pagan tradition is being blocked by bureaucratic red tape.

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After months of trying to solve our dilemma, your Milltown Mel wranglers are sorry to report that we are unable to have a groundhog available for this years festivities, the wranglers wrote on Mels official Facebook. The new groundhog we originally scheduled to have made his debut is currently not allowed to be here according to a state of New Jersey statute. We have been trying to find a replacement that the state will approve of, but we could not make it happen in time for this year.

According to New Jersey groundhog law, theres a limited list of out-of-state-breeders that can import the critters. The wranglers must get pre-approval and supply proof that the groundhog wasnt scooped up in the wild, since groundhogs can bring with them a variant of rabies that isnt present in New Jersey.

You cant just say, Oh I got one in my backyard, Milltown Wrangler Russ Einbinder previously told The Inquirer. You try handling one that you havent handled since birth and youre gonna get your hand bit off.

 READ MORE: 2023 Groundhog Day ceremony canceled in Milltown, N.J., as search for new Mel continues

When Mel died a few days before Groundhog Day in 2022, the wranglers canceled because they couldnt find a replacement in time. And in 2023, the festivities were canceled again because, while the wranglers did announce the birth of New Jerseys next top groundhog meteorologist, the state said the newborn didnt meet its wildlife regulations.

Milltown residents, it appears, are ready for a new furry prognosticator.

How about a badger? Or get a cat that identifies as a groundhog? Time to get creative! read one Facebook comment.

I feel a groundhog puppet would do. The show must go on, read another.

In the past, PETA has also recommended that Milltown honor Mels legacy by replacing him with an animatronic groundhog outfitted with predictive AI. (The wranglers said no thanks.)

 READ MORE: Punxsutawney Phils New Jersey counterpart dies right before Groundhog Day

The concept is a little cheesy to begin with, but at least its a cool tradition with us, Pennsylvania, and other places doing it over 100 years and change, Einbinder has said. The point is, we didnt want to get too cheesy.

The wranglers recommend Groundhog Day devotees should instead listen to Phil and all his cousins, which include Lady Edwina of Essex County, Sussex Countys Stonewall Jackson VI, and New York City fixture Staten Island Chuck.

The Milltown Wranglers, meanwhile, are still chipping away at a 2025 relaunch.

We have not given up, and will keep at it, they posted on Facebook. At least we know Mel is watching over us!
Gwen Soffer, the manager of wellness at Nationalities Service Center in Philadelphia, stands with an Afghan refugee in October, 2022. Increasing language diversity in the mental health field has been a top priority for Soffer. (Alejandro A. Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS) Read more

When it comes to accessing adequate mental health care, immigrants and refugees face a plethora of barriers. But for those who speak little to no English, one of their biggest obstacles is language.

According to data from Psychology Today, a website where many mental health providers list their practices, of the 1,258 therapists and therapeutic clinics listed in Philly, only 171 (or 13.6%) speak a language other than English. Of those 213, Spanish was the most represented with 71 Spanish-speaking providers. The next most-spoken languages amongst Philly therapists are Russian, at 17; French, at 16; and Mandarin, at 11.

These numbers are in stark comparison to the languages that Philadelphians speak. According to census data, 24% of Philadelphians speak a language other than English at home, and 11% dont speak English very well.

This issue is very much on our mind, because we have found it almost impossible to provide therapy services for our clients outside [our organization] except for a few small exceptions, said Gwen Soffer, associate director of wellness and trauma-informed practice at the Philly-based Nationalities Service Center, which offers resettlement and support services to refugees and immigrants.

Language vs. vocabulary

The mental health field was a mystery to Hider Shaaban when he first immigrated to the United States.

Shaaban and his family fled the Iraq War in 2007 before making their way to the U.S. under refugee status two years later. That was when he discovered the mental health field  something he didnt hear about much when he was growing up in Iraq  and later decided to become a therapist.

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It was a revelation to me, in a way, said Shaaban, now a clinical psychologist and the executive director of the Philadelphia Center for Psychotherapy. He went on to specialize in trauma, a nod to the trauma that he and his community experience, and that he often sees swept under the rug.

They dont necessarily have the language to describe [the trauma]  which can feel isolating on top of the existing pain of that trauma, he continued.

Today, Shaaban is one of four Arabic-speaking therapists in Philadelphia, according to Psychology Today. Meanwhile, roughly 3,700 Arabic-speaking Philly residents are not fluent in English, according to census data  demonstrating the disproportionate representation many locally spoken languages may have in the citys mental health field.

If youre offering therapy and you dont have their mother tongue, they really arent accessing everything that they could be accessing in a therapy session. Gwen Soffer

Mental health professionals are largely in agreement that sharing a language, particularly the patients native language, can deeply impact the therapeutic experience for the client and the clients relationship with the provider. Sharing a native language not only provides more room for connection between the patient and provider, but also allows for the patient to better articulate emotions.

If youre offering therapy and you dont have their mother tongue, they really arent accessing everything that they could be accessing in a therapy session, Soffer said. And it could go in the other direction for the therapist  what are they missing from what the client is saying, and what are they missing in their own expression?

This is particularly true when there arent direct translations of English wellness terminology to other languages.

When you talk about language, its not just do we have people that speak the language of the community members with whom we work but also, do we have the same vocabulary of expressing their needs and their hope for outcomes? said Cathi Tillman, executive director of La Puerta Abierta in Norris Square, which focuses on providing mental health care to immigrants and refugees.

When someone indicates being depressed, or anxious, or isolated, Tillman said, that could mean something very different not only in the clients language, but also within the context of the persons cultural and life experiences.

On the other hand, focusing the conversation on how clients feel in their bodies, whether they have trouble sleeping at night, or what thoughts are running through their head are ways to approach mental wellness conversations with people hailing from cultures that may not put mental health care as front-and-center it is in American culture.

Addressing systemic issues

When a therapist and patient dont share a spoken language, an interpreter can be brought in to sessions. But, sometimes, bringing an interpreter into a therapeutic session can be disruptive, both to the flow of the session and to the provider-patient relationship.

But when its done right, Soffer says, it can be a magical triad.

Oftentimes, the interpreter can even serve as a cultural broker, suggesting the therapist rephrase or rethink questions or comments to the patient.

Soffers favorite success story is of a Spanish-speaking, Puerto Rican female therapist treating a Sudanese, Arabic-speaking man using a Syrian, Arabic-speaking interpreter.

Normally, you might look at those three people and go, why? Soffer said. But they have this magical triad going on where the client actually trusts both of them so much.

Its a trusting relationship that wouldnt exist if his therapist was using a translation service hotline, bringing in a different interpreter for each session. But according to Soffer, the consistency of working with these two women for three years has led the man on an incredible healing journey with a strong support system.

Lamya Broussard, a resident therapist for the nonprofit Caribbean Community in Philadelphia, has had similar success when using interpreters for her sessions with predominantly Haitian-Creole or French-speaking patients.

We speak the language of love, of humanity, of dignity, of respect, that opens up our communities, even when you have a translator, she said. It takes a little patience  but in terms of the healing Ive seen, its very much the same as when Im speaking to someone who is English-speaking.

 READ MORE: Mental health care for refugees is tricky. These three Philly providers found an answer in group settings.

But that doesnt mean that utilizing interpreter services does not come without some difficulties.

La Puerta Abierta also utilize interpreters for patients who speak Indigenous Latin American languages, such as Kaqchikel. But finding interpreters who speak such lesser-known languages can be extremely challenging. Some providers have even heard stories of therapists allowing patients to bring in family members as interpreters or using Google Translate, avenues that they strongly discourage.

To steer therapists away from those discouraged practices, some providers are taking matters into their own hands.

The Nationalities Service Center, for example, has recently launched a mental health interpreter training program to create a pipeline for people with immigrant lived experiences and language expertise to be able to access such careers. Creating such a program, Soffer said, is a way to try to remove barriers such as cultural stigma and the expense of pursuing interpreter degrees.

The program both trains interpreters to use their skills specifically in mental health settings and provides supportive supervision for them because of the trauma they may be exposed to in sessions  sessions that could invoke their own shared traumas. The program also provides scholarships for people interested in pursuing mental health or social service careers.

Its important to address the systemic issues, Soffer said. Were creating the model, and hopefully we can do something that will bring more people in.
A Philadelphia police officer was shot Wednesday morning while serving a warrant, the second officer to be shot on duty in the last week.

Officers were serving a narcotics warrant just after 6 a.m. on the 1300 block of Kings Place, near North 12th Street and Master Street, in the Yorktown section of North Philadelphia, when they were fired on, police said.

The officer, who has not been identified, was hit by a shot on his ballistic vest that police believe ricocheted and struck his hand, according to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. The officer was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and was listed in stable condition.

Bethel said the ballistic vest was an upgrade given to officers about seven months ago, and credited it with potentially saving the officers life.

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It could have been much worse, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker told reporters Wednesday morning. This is another reminder of the senseless and all-too-present gun violence here in the city of Philadelphia.

A SWAT team responded to a barricade situation, and the suspected shooter surrendered to police, Bethel said. Another person was detained. Their names were not released, and no charges had been announced. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.

As someone who spent 15 years in narcotics, one of the most dangerous operations to execute is doing search warrants on a property, Bethel said. Youre always at a disadvantage when you go into those properties because you do not know whats on the other side.

This is the second time that a Philadelphia police officer has been shot within a week. On Friday, an officer was wounded by a shot fired in a Fairhill corner store while inspecting a group of men for weapons. During that case, another officer  Raheem Hall, 33, a six-year department veteran  shot and killed Alexander Spencer, a 28-year-old they were attempting to search.

This is the second time since I put my hand on the Bible to be sworn in as mayor of the city that we have gathered at a hospital emergency room for [the] shooting of a Philadelphia police officer, Parker said. Our police officers are on the front lines of our city every day and every night, putting their lives on the line to protect and serve.

Shootings that killed or injured Philadelphia police officers reached a four-year high last year, when eight officers were shot, according to data provided by the police department. In both 2022 and 2021, seven officers were shot, and four were shot in 2020.

Three of those officers died: Cpl. Jimmy OConnor in 2020, and Sgt. Richard Mendez and Temple University Officer Chris Fitzgerald in 2023.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel watches video at a news conference Tuesday Jan. 30, 2024 showing the Fairhill shooting that left an officer wounded and a suspect dead, Read more

Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Welcome to Wednesday. Some isolated showers are expected, but overall, it should be mostly cloudy with a high near 44.

Officials are continuing to investigate the Friday shooting in Philadelphias Fairhill neighborhood that left one man dead and an officer injured. Police have now released surveillance footage that they say provides a more complete account of what happened, and one they hoped would quell speculation stirred by a shorter viral video posted over the weekend.

Our lead story lays out what we know and what we dont as the investigation continues.

 Paola Perez (@pdesiperez, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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A deadly confrontation at a Fairhill corner store, in which police shot and killed 28-year-old Alexander Spencer and an officer was injured, drew controversy after an Instagram video circulated showing two police officers wrestling with Spencer on the floor moments before he was shot. The video sparked anger and raised questions about the initial description police provided last week.

Catch up quick: The departments narrative surrounding the incident faces formidable scrutiny after police have provided inconsistent accounts of other recent police shootings, forcing officials to walk back their initial version of events.

On Tuesday, law enforcement released surveillance video of the incident to combat speculation surrounding the circumstances of the shooting. Police also identified Raheem Hall, 33, a six-year department veteran, as the officer who fatally shot Spencer. The department said it would not publicly confirm the wounded officers name without his consent, as hes considered a victim.

What happens next: Criminal and administrative investigations are underway. District Attorney Larry Krasner said Tuesday that he would be able to speak about the incident in more detail within 90 days.

Keep reading for the latest developments in this case, and more on what we know and dont know.

What you should know today

Flush with a million dollars and seeking independence, the Daily Pennsylvanian is moving from its Pink Palace Penn HQ to a rowhouse where the worlds richest man once resided.

The student-run independent news organization, which reports on the University of Pennsylvania, will mark its final separation from the Ivy League school its reporters cover once they move out of their offices and into a six-bedroom rowhouse with a history.

The home at 3721 Chestnut St. is one of the places where classmates and biographers say Elon Musk lived as a student. He attended Penn from 1992 through 1995 and graduated with degrees in physics and economics.

Long time coming: The move comes 40 years after student and alumni backers of what was then a daily print newspaper  now a print weekly with continuously updated reports online  separated from the university, and set up a fund to support independent operations, including an eventual new home.

Read on for more on the local legend and whats next for the DP.

 Trivia time

Spoiler alert! On the second episode of ABCs The Bachelor, we lost yet another Philadelphia ambassador, bringing our count from three down to one.

Of the departed, which one is from Philly?

A) Lauren Hollinger

B) Erika Cardenas

C) Marlena Haddad

D) Taylor Weins

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we're...

 Reading: Craig LaBans review of Loch Bar, a new high-end seafood spot on Broad Street.

 Checking out: Phillys new nightclub, Midnight & the Wicked.

 Adoring: The local puppies (and some kittens) starring in the Puppy Bowl.

 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Philly pub kingpin and famous Irishman

CAFE SURGERY

Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Stacy Stone who correctly guessed Tuesdays answer: Cry Baby Pasta.

Photo of the day

That should get you started for the day. Thanks for starting your morning with The Inquirer.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Campus of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts at North Broad and Cherry Streets in Philadelphia as shown on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. Read more

Recently, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the oldest art school in the country, announced that it would no longer be accepting students for its degree-granting programs. Combined with the ongoing financial struggles of esteemed art schools nationwide, this marks a calamitous moment for the present and future of art schools.

For years, art schools across the nation have grappled with dwindling enrollments and escalating costs. The upkeep of art studios is a costly affair, requiring space, materials, and technical expertise. Faced with the challenge of attracting additional students, arts institutions have been forced into legitimizing their studies on a vocational level, shifting toward professionalized programs, and compromising the core of art education to mirror the (justifiably important) return on investment that many college students seek.

Ultimately, the issue is that colleges are big businesses. They are market-driven. The value of an education is determined by its return on investment, rather than how it supports student growth, learning, creativity, and motivation. This is not to blame schools themselves. With limited funding, colleges and high schools must comport themselves toward a big business model for the sake of survival. This, in turn, is limiting institutional investment in the arts.

But there are also socially contrived myths that eat into the possibility of more students studying the arts  namely, that it is a dead-end career.

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This is patently false.

Contrary to many beliefs, working in the arts is far more profitable than people consider it to be. In December, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, independent artists, writers, and performers made on average more money than those working in manufacturing, retail, nursing, accounting, construction, transportation, utilities, or even hospitals. And these are just the independent artists, not those working in design, advertising, marketing, business, or other more lucrative creative sectors.

According to the World Economic Forums The Future of Jobs Report 2023, business leaders agree that some of the top skills required for workers in the 21st century are creative thinking, resilience, motivation, self-awareness, curiosity, empathy, active listening, and technological literacy. Anyone who has spent time at an art school can tell you that studying the arts supports each one of these dispositions. In addition, the arts and cultural production bring in over $1 trillion to the U.S. economy each year.

That being said, the heart of the matter is not an economic problem, its a societal one. The loss of arts institutions negatively impacts young students from a creative, critically engaged, and empathetic perspective. What we teach our students reflects what we value as a people. And what we value based on our current models are shortsighted investments in intensely stressful environments to reap maximal returns. The results are students suffering from anxiety and feeling lost with limited self-worth.

I work primarily with teenagers, and what I have seen over the past several years is a concerning trend toward depression, anxiety, apathy, frustration, and alienation. Most of us have read the news about the mental health crises in young adults, and we are all, of course, aware of how this can play out socially.

I understand it is a massive leap from art school closures to these expansive issues, but we must certainly acknowledge the ever-conforming, highly pressured environments we force our children into daily as a component of their struggles.

Im not saying that the arts are a panacea for these complicated social ills. By thinking about ourselves and asking questions, however, we can learn to value who we are and critically engage with thinking and making.

When taught well, the arts provide a perfect opportunity for everyone to understand that their thoughts and identities matter. And in a country and at a time where self-value and creativity are subjugated to groupthink, anger, and self-loathing, we need arts education more than ever.

Every student  even those who dont know it  is an artist with something to say. The more we offer opportunities for students to share and express themselves, and the more we listen and engage empathetically, the better off we all will be.

Art schools are part of this network of support. I encourage everyone reading this to support an art school, talk to an artist, or learn about the arts. When an art school dies, part of the fabric of who we all are  or, more appropriately, who we should be  goes with it.

Massimo Pacchione is the founder and principal of Vision Field, an arts education and admissions company. He is a Philadelphia-raised artist and arts advocate.
Missing a bus would be an inconvenience for most people. For Raymond Mallard, a 53-year-old homeless man, it was fatal. He appears to have missed a bus back to Bismarck from Mandan and died from exposure on the coldest night of the year.

Sometime on the evening of Jan. 13 on into the morning, as temperatures dropped to minus 21 with a windchill in the minus 60s, Mallard succumbed outside Wildwood Mobile Home Park.

He was visiting one of his friends and he was coming back that night. He was walking here, his relative Lisa Ireland said during an interview at the homeless shelter Ministry on the Margins in Bismarck. He just missed the bus.

Ireland herself has been homeless for nearly a year. She and others at the shelter are among some 2,500 homeless people in the state, according to the most recent data from the North Dakota Homeless Management Information system.

Discussions with homeless people and those who provide food, shelter and care for them paint a picture of haphazard municipal management, a lack of overall funding, and little direction from the state.

Those gaps literally leave many out in extreme conditions like those that hit the state in early and mid-January.

There is no permanent low-barrier shelter in Bismarck during daytime hours, leaving homeless who suffer from active addiction no choice but to get out of the cold at a public library or business places. There arent any shelters across the river in Mandan for those in Mallards condition, either.

This winter is probably one of the hardest winters Ive been through, said Robin Martin, who stays at Ministry on the Margins in the evening. Originally from North Dakota, he previously wintered in Rapid City, South Dakota, after becoming homeless. Its cold out there.

Martin said theres need in Bismarck for at least an emergency warming shelter in the daytime during cold weather, if not another shelter. The public library, hospitals or other businesses arent a good solution, because the homeless are usually forced out, he said.

If you find a place to warm up at, they kick you out right away, Martin said.

After discussions among the Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People, Ministry on the Margins decided to open earlier during the latest extreme cold period and unlocked its doors at 5 p.m. instead of the usual 10 p.m.

The high-barrier shelter run by Missouri Slope Areawide United Way provided space for anyone homeless during the daytime in the extreme cold period. High-barrier facilities have daily breathalyzer and drug testing to ensure clients are clean, while low-barrier centers do not.

Those not staying the night had to trek the mile-and-a-half to Ministry on the Margins twice per day during extreme cold, or shelter where they could. Back in mid-December in Bismarck, a homeless woman also died of exposure, while another, known to be struggling with addiction, was killed by a train strike later that month.

Sister Kathleen Atkinson, who runs Ministry on the Margins, said that while theres emergency response during floods and other events, there is a lack of government coordination about cold weather. During the extreme cold, the shelter housed 45-55 people per night, she said.

These would be those who are in active addiction, or have a mental health issue, Atkinson said. They would be among the three people that died, so far.

Atkinson said there is state and municipal money to fund shelters like hers, but she sees a bigger issue at play.

Theres not a united vision or a moral, strategic, collaborative leadership, she said.

Over at the United Way shelter, homeless crowded in where they could during the day. It was an unplanned plan, according to Executive Director Jena Gullo, and a repeat of last winter.

Were taking people from Ministry on the Margins during the daytime because we dont want them to die, outside, Gullo said. And they will certainly die outside. The unfortunate thing is that it was cold weeks ago, and just because it wasnt subzero, it was too cold for people to be outside.

Gullo said the coalition has been providing for unmet needs, but ultimately United Way doesnt have the funding to sustain long-term assistance for those who fall through those gaps.

If we would have said no, what would have happened? said Gullo, referencing the decision to open the doors to all homeless during the daytime in recent weeks.

Brighter spots

Elsewhere, communities and community leaders have stepped up to fill local gaps during emergency situations.

In Fargo, a winter warming center at the Downtown Engagement Center is available to protect some among the states largest homeless population of 1,000 people, a number that includes the southeast region.

Knowing that the rates of homelessness were trending upward, we wanted to make sure that there was an additional place that people were able to access to get out of the elements, said Chandler Esslinger, who works with the harm reduction program at Fargo Cass Public Health.

Its not a traditional shelter setting, but it is a place intended to provide respite and get people out of the elements to ensure that there's no adverse health effects, injury due to cold weather or cold weather-related deaths, she said.

Esslinger said the city certainly learned a lot that it is willing to share as a possible template for other municipalities across the state.

Weve identified a population that needs to be served in this way, folks that dont fit with other area shelters that specialize in families, single adult men, or veterans, she said. We're really working to ensure that those folks who maybe fall through the cracks of that system still have a place to be, and I do think thats a conversation that can be had across the state.

Sherry Adams, Southwestern District Health Unit administrator in Dickinson, said local police recognized an emergency due to the severe cold and called her on Jan. 10 to spearhead a response.

That response included reopening a facility that had previously been used for the COVID-19 emergency. Initially, 10 cots were set up for men, then later space for women was added, and another section for anyone who came in sick. Two homeless came the first day and seven more trickled in on following days, she said. Services included three meals a day and shuttling to a local truck stop for showers.

Even after the extreme cold subsided, Adams said, she didnt want to just force people out, so she worked with area partners on getting case managers to find housing for at least another month. Several of those who came in have been placed in jobs, she said.

I feel like it's a success story in the fact that at least we know we saved a few lives in the storm but we're also making a different impact in following up with them, Adams said.

In other, more rural areas, gaps are wide. Providers in the Williston and Watford City area and northwest region are mostly churches, according to a provider who mainly focuses on homeless victims of abuse and who estimated homeless at over 150 in that area.

In Devils Lake, the area shelter has space for 12 people, and staff there said they werent overwhelmed during the recent cold but said the population is likely around 175 homeless, with many of those staying with family, friends' couches or sleeping in hallways above apartment buildings in the downtown area.

Neither provider wanted to be quoted on the record for fear of losing funding.

Back at Ministry on the Margins in Bismarck, homeless people there said they felt there was a general lack of compassion among the wider community and that any small measure would help.

Wayne Fast Horse, a good friend of Mallard, said providing bus or other transportation passes could help, and that a warming house is needed.

Brenda Bruning, who was at Ministry accompanying a relative with an elementary school-age daughter on the verge of homelessness, said another shelter is needed in the area.

I think they could easily even use another shelter in Bismarck, because United Way, man, its packed, Bruning said.
Even as GOP hawks promote a dangerous new Mideast war with Iran, MAGA Republicans are pursuing a U.S. defeat in a much more critical conflict: Ukraines war with Russia.

Yes, you read that correctly. On the one hand, Donald Trump decries President Joe Bidens weakness and surrender over a drone attack by a radical Iraqi militia allied with Iran that killed three U.S. troops on Sunday. This has prompted GOP demands that Biden bomb Iran  never mind that this could trigger the wider Mideast conflagration that everyone feared might be provoked by the war in Gaza.

Yet, at the same time, also obeying Trump, House Republicans are determined to cut off military aid for Ukraine. This, even though Democrats have bowed to GOP demands that this funding be linked to legislation to block the massive flow of migrants on the southern border. This aid cutoff will doom Kyiv in 2024 and convince Vladimir Putin that he need only wait for Trump, who, if elected, will consign Ukraine to Russian domination.

But the depth of the GOPs betrayal of U.S. security is even more severe than I have described. Contrary to many news reports, Ukraine has scored impressive sea victories in 2023 and could still force Putin to the table on Kyivs terms.

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Instead, Trumps GOP is pushing for an unnecessary new Mideast war while promoting defeat in a war where Ukraine could still win.

 READ MORE: U.S. government paralysis scares allies even more than possible Trump victory | Trudy Rubin

This is an absurd moment to embark on a U.S. war with Tehran. U.S. focus needs to be on pursuing regional diplomacy over the war in Gaza  diplomacy that can bring Israeli hostages home, address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and, ultimately, neuter Hamas terrorists.

Iran has been using the excuse of the Gaza war to activate pro-Iranian militias  Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen  or Shiite militias in Syria and Iraq. They include the Iraqi band that managed to kill three soldiers at a small U.S. base in Jordan used to monitor resurgence of Islamic terror groups.

Yes, after these American deaths, the U.S. response must convince Tehran that its proxies must be restrained from blocking Red Sea maritime traffic and attacking U.S. bases. However, the goal should not be an all-out conflict with Iran that would embroil major U.S. forces and trap Israel into a wider war with Hezbollah on its northern front.

As former NATO supreme commander James Stavridis proposed via Bloomberg, there are many options short of attacking the Iranian mainland. For example, use cybertools against Tehrans oil and gas infrastructure, hit an Iranian warship supporting its proxies in Yemen, or target Iranian oil and gas platforms in the Arabian Gulf.

What is infuriating about the GOPs Mideast warmongering is not just the usual Trump hypocrisy (he backed off bombing Iran after a rocket attack by Tehran proxies in 2020 killed two Americans). Much more outrageous and anti-American is the Trump-led resistance in Congress to helping Ukraine push back an expansionist Russia  an adversary that poses a far greater threat to America than Iran.

Putin has made clear that his imperialist goals in Europe go far beyond taking control of Ukraine. I believe his threats of using nuclear weapons in Europe and against America are bluster. But if the U.S. bows to Putin on Ukraine, whether from fear or from Trumps embrace of autocrats, it will encourage the Russian leader and other dictators to undermine our interests on land, sea, and in space.

What is particularly tragic is that Ukraine has achieved astonishing gains in 2023 that get insufficient attention in the mainstream press. Although Kyiv lacks a navy, it forced Russia to withdraw the bulk of its Black Sea fleet from Moscows main naval base in occupied Crimea. It used sea drones invented by Ukraines impressive tech sector, along with domestic cruise missiles, plus long-range missiles supplied by the United Kingdom and France.

 READ MORE: Why Ukraine can beat Russia, and why that matters to America | Trudy Rubin

The Ukrainians even managed to break Russias blockade of Ukraines Black Sea ports, which was driving up global food prices.

I was in Odesa in July, when Moscow abandoned a U.N.-brokered deal to let grain ships leave the port city. Putin threatened to bomb any further grain exports and targeted grain silos in Odesas harbor. But in August, Ukraine struck back and hit a Russian oil tanker near the Russian port of Novorossiysk on the Black Seas eastern coast, threatening Russian oil exports. The Russians blinked and pulled most of their fleet from Crimea back to Russia, enabling Ukraine to set up a new export corridor for grain and other goods.

The clear message: If you push back hard enough against Putin, he yields and abandons red lines. If the GOP permitted the passage of Ukraine aid  and if Biden would finally green-light the export of U.S. long-range ATACMS single warhead missiles  Ukraine could make the entire Crimean Peninsula untenable for Russian occupation. This would finally put Putin on the back foot and force him to reconsider his war.

Instead, Trump tells Republican legislators to defeat an emerging bipartisan bill in the Senate that would link Ukraine aid to detailed protections for the southern border  a compromise demanded by the GOP. Meantime, the MAGA crowd pursues a circus impeachment vote against Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

There are no two ways to describe the current degradation of the Republican Party. Having morphed into the party of Trump, the GOP seeks to open a new Mideast war that would harm Americans and Israel  but godfathers defeat in a war that Ukraine could win.
Biden's campaign announced that Brendan McPhillips, Nikki Lu, and Kellan White will head efforts in Pennsylvania. Lu will be campaign manager for the state. McPhillips and White will be senior advisors. Read more

Pennsylvania is shaping up to be the center of President Joe Bidens presidential reelection campaign  and now three Pennsylvania political operatives are in charge of winning it for him again.

The Biden campaign will bring on two senior advisers and a state campaign manager to run Pennsylvania operations, the campaign said Wednesday. The trio will be charged with boosting Bidens support in a state where tiny margins can have huge consequences. Biden won Pennsylvania by about 80,000 votes, a little more than 1 percentage point, in 2020. Former President Donald Trump won it in 2016 by 44,000 votes, less than 1 point.

Nikki Lu, a Biden appointee at the Department of Labor, who previously worked as deputy state director for Biden in Pennsylvania, will be his state campaign manager.

Lu is currently the Womens Bureau chief of staff in the U.S. Department of Labor. She also worked as state director at SiX, a progressive governance nonprofit and as the Western Pennsylvania political director of SEIU Local 32BJ, which represents janitors, security guards, and food service workers.

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Brendan McPhillips, who led Bidens campaign in Pennsylvania in 2020 and Sen. John Fettermans U.S. Senate campaign in 2022, will be a senior adviser. McPhillips was also Iowa State director for Pete Buttigieg in 2020 and is an alum of President Barack Obamas and Hillary Clintons campaigns in Pennsylvania. He headed Fettermans first run for Senate in 2016 and former City Councilmember Helen Gyms 2023 primary campaign for mayor in Philadelphia.

Kellan White joins the Biden campaign as a senior adviser for Philadelphia, while also working as a senior adviser to Sen. Bob Caseys reelection campaign. White is an alum of Katie McGintys 2016 U.S. Senate campaign and Judge Timika Lanes successful race for the Pennsylvania Superior Court. He was the first deputy city controller under Rebecca Rhynhart and managed her primary campaign for mayor last year. His father, John F. White Jr., is a former state representative.

Both White and McPhillips live in Philadelphia and have found themselves at opposite ends of several Democratic primary match-ups in the past  working for opposing campaigns in the 2023 mayoral race and the 2016 Senate race. Now theyll be on the same team.

White will focus specifically on Philadelphia, where the Democratic vote share has dropped relative to other parts of the state in recent elections. Biden has made frequent trips to the city since becoming president and based his 2020 presidential election campaign here. This years campaign is based in Wilmington.

In a vacuum the trend is obviously concerning, White, 38, who lives in Brewerytown, said. But there is a significant amount of potential to increase the vote share in Philadelphia and theres opportunities to engage with voters early and get them fired up.

The hires follow staff announcements in other battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, and North Carolina, with less than nine months to the general election.

The campaign had faced some scrutiny over staffing levels at this stage of the race, and as Trump has appeared to lock up the Republican nomination early. In 2020, Biden named his top Pennsylvania aides in July after sealing the Democratic nomination in early April.

We are thrilled to announce the hiring of these battle-tested and trusted operatives to lead our campaign in the all-important Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Biden-Harris campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement. This team includes members of our 2020 state leadership team who brought home Pennsylvania and have years of experience winning statewide.

McPhillips, 40, who lives in East Passyunk, called Pennsylvania ground zero, in the general election campaign. 2020 was a fight for the soul of the nation, he said. And were very much fighting to preserve all of the important gains the president has made and once again, fighting to preserve our democracy.

Trump and Biden have been polling neck and neck in the state. In a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll of six swing states released Wednesday, Biden lagged Trump 42% to 48% across all states. He trailed in every state but lagged by the smallest margin  3 points  in Pennsylvania.

More than half of swing-state voters in the poll said they wouldnt vote for Trump if he were convicted of a crime.

Both Trump and Biden were frequent visitors in 2020 and Trump has his first scheduled trip to the state next week in Harrisburg.
Mark Rozzi got into politics to give survivors of child sex abuse such as himself a voice in Harrisburg.

But after 11 years serving in the Pennsylvania House, including a brief stint last year as House speaker, the Democrat from Reading is leaving politics less hopeful than he was when he started.

Rozzi, 52, quietly ended his auditor general campaign in December and told The Inquirer he has spent the last few months isolating himself during a particularly difficult bout of depression, a yearslong struggle caused by being sexually abused by a Catholic priest when he was a boy. Hell serve the remainder of his term before leaving office at the end of the year.

A lot of times, my mind and body is stuck in that of a 13-year-old boy, and its hard to get out of that hole, Rozzi said in an hour-long phone interview, through tears. I have to look at it through a 52-year-old mans brain and say, You were 13. You didnt know what was going on.

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Rozzi said he chose to share his disillusionment with state politics and details about his depression to tell fellow clergy abuse victims that hell keep working for them  and to encourage them to get the help they need.

After leaving office, Rozzi said, hell work on his mental health. As he finishes his term, hell also help the campaigns of his ex-wife, Jacklyn Rusnock, who is running for his House seat, and Joe Khan, the former Bucks County solicitor running for attorney general  both of whom helped him through his latest depressive episode.

And he said hell spend the remaining months of his term trying to pass statute of limitations reform that would allow victims of childhood sex abuse to sue their abusers and the institutions that protected them. Lawmakers must approve a constitutional amendment by this summer for it to be a ballot question in November, or the process will have to start from the beginning and could take years before it goes to voters.

The only thing I can see is whats in front of me right now: to heal Mark, Rozzi said. I will be good to nobody if I dont put myself first right now and just focus on my health.

From clergy abuse survivor to House speaker

Rozzi is among thousands of clergy abuse survivors in Pennsylvania, many of whom were counted as part of a landmark 2018 grand jury report that found more than 300 priests in the Roman Catholic Church across six dioceses sexually abused children. Rozzi accepted a settlement from the Diocese of Allentown a few years ago as part of its compensation program for victims and would not be eligible for any benefit under any changes to the statute of limitations, he said.

He was elected to his House seat in 2012 and has been a key player in pushing for a two-year window for victims of childhood sexual abuse to pursue civil action in cases for which the statute of limitations had already run out. He ascended to the speaker position last January, when three vacancies left Democrats lacking the majority they needed to seat their choice. Rozzi struck a deal with Republicans to serve as an independent speaker, and he used that platform to fight for child sex abuse survivors.

But his nearly two months leading the chamber ended with little progress on the statute of limitations legislation. The House, under Rozzi, passed the legislation for the fourth time in six years, but the bills have sat untouched in the GOP-controlled state Senate.

Since then, Rozzi has returned to his spot as a rank-and-file member of the Democratic caucus, which controls the House with a one-seat majority. After stepping down as speaker, Rozzi started a run for state auditor general that never really took off. Hes expected to endorse State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Philadelphia) in the race on Wednesday.

In November, Rozzi said the familiar feelings of depression crept back in. He was unable to get out of bed, and spent most days crying or revisiting his abuse. He remembered his friends and fellow clergy abuse survivors who died by suicide.

I started thinking: Maybe I am a failure. Maybe I am that garbage that is on the curb. Im never going to be healthy in my mind, Rozzi added.

Rozzi said he is now receiving outpatient treatment and eye-movement desensitization therapy for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. He is now hopeful for his future again, he said.

I know we have a tendency to try to bury things, and we want to pretend it doesnt exist and just go on suffering, Rozzi said. But we suffer the consequences of it. Our families suffer the consequences of it. Its OK to talk about it, we all struggle.

Rozzi said painting is an outlet to process his emotions, and he plans to continue that hobby.

A fight for a reopened statute of limitations

Child sex abuse survivors have been trying for more than a decade to get a two-year window opened to pause the statute of limitations so they can pursue civil action.

But at every turn, theyve been let down. First, the state Senate refused to consider the legislation. Then lawmakers struck a deal to put a constitutional amendment before voters, but the Department of State failed to advertise it correctly. Now, the Senate has refused to pass a stand-alone amendment unless it includes voter ID requirements and regulatory changes  and it needs to pass by this summer or the clock will be reset once again.

Rozzi blames Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland) for breaking a promise to get this done.

Theyre playing with the lives of these adults who have been [sexually] assaulted, he said. Whether they were abused at church, public schools, or by their families, these kids deserve justice.

Ward declined to comment.

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, who released the 2018 grand jury report as attorney general, maintains that the statute of limitations is one of his top priorities this year.

Rozzi is still proud of the wins he has gotten for victims. In 2019, then-Gov. Tom Wolf signed a law that eliminated the criminal statute of limitations for child sex abuse survivors to come forward and extended the statute of limitations for some child abuse victims to file civil suit. It also created a state fund for sexual assault victims to pay for therapy.

As of 2019, childhood sexual abuse survivors have until they are 55 to file civil suit, and there is no statute of limitations for most criminal childhood sexual assault cases. But these changes were made for cases going forward, which advocates say blocks many adult victims of childhood sexual abuse from getting any closure to their decades-old cases.

Rozzi said he hasnt given up on the constitutional amendment, but said hed like to apologize to other survivors that it hasnt gotten done yet.

He added: I have given everything that I have possibly had, in my heart, in my soul.
Johnson, currently based in Singapore, will be taking over as CEO at the end of September, following regulatory approval. In this role, he will be responsible for expanding Price Forbes (re)insurance broking platform across Asia, working closely with the Ardonagh Specialty teams in London, Bermuda, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Brace set out to provide support to the niche and alternative risk MGAs so often underserved by traditional P&C carriers, he said. Following four successful years, it is the natural next step to expand our footprint further into the US and partner with businesses with multi-class approaches and non-standard exposure, coupled with a compelling distribution advantage. With Glenn at the helm, supported by the wider Brace leadership team, I am confident that Brace USA will quickly find success.
Recent years have seen Citizens become the largest property insurer in Florida, responsible for 18% of the market. It currently holds over a million policies, although it is looking to offload a significant portion of these policies to private insurers.
Horak Insurance has a longstanding reputation in the communities they serve and provides significant growth opportunities for our business in Iowa, said J. Patrick Gallagher Jr., chairman and CEO of Arthur J. Gallagher. I am delighted to welcome Paul, Luke and their associates to Gallagher.
Fourteen agencies across North Dakota are getting a total of about $7 million through a state grant program funded by money from settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors.

The grants will support the implementation of prevention, treatment and recovery initiatives and the enhancement of the behavioral health workforce in the state, according to the North Dakota Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Division.

Over the next 18 years, North Dakota will receive approximately $60 million in opioid settlement funds, Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller said in a statement. The state has an opportunity to ensure we invest in long-lasting improvements that increase access to addiction services and prevent deaths.

The 2023 Legislature in House Bill 1447 created a fund in the state treasury for the settlement money. Lawmakers appropriated $8 million from the fund to HHS for the 2023-25 state budget period. At least 20% of the money must be used for opioid use prevention and overdose prevention.

Sixty-five applications were received, requesting about $59 million, Behavioral Health Division Executive Director Pamela Sagness said. We are grateful to see the dedication of so many organizations working to support behavioral health needs in the state.

Bismarck-based Heartview Foundation is among the recipients of a North Dakota Opioid Settlement Fund Grant award. The Tnonprofit with addiction treatment facilities in Bismarck, Dickinson and Cando is getting $426,527 to establish medications for opioid use disorder services in southwest North Dakota.

The largest grant of $3.9 million is going to Community Connect Providers, a community-based behavioral health program created by the 2019 Legislature.

Other grants range from about $21,000 to $535,000. A full list of recipients is at bit.ly/3U9vOoL.

More than three-fourths of the 107,000 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2021 involved an opioid, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency said that an average of 220 people died each day of that year from an opioid overdose.
Over the last 25 years, we have built an organization that supports our brokers in many ways, from the proprietary product that we develop to staffing, so they can appropriately serve their client base, providing them ownership opportunities in the company, and providing resources that are a value to them that they can deliver to their clients, said Zimmer. As we maintain that environment, we will continue to be the home of choice for top talent acquisition.
The state of Connecticut is suing 28 chemical manufacturers that it alleges are responsible for knowingly contaminating the states waters and natural resources and harming public health with toxic PFAS forever chemicals.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has filed two lawsuits seeking to hold the companies responsible for alleged per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemical contamination. One suit involves aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) used in firefighting, while the other involves chemicals that are used in manufacturing and added to consumer products, such as food packaging, cookware, carpeting, clothing, and cosmetics.

Connecticuts lawsuits, filed in Superior Court Judicial District in Hartford, are among thousands that have been filed across the country in the last several years over alleged PFAS contamination. They include lawsuits by other states claiming damage to natural resources and water, water utilities seeking cleanups, individuals claiming personal injury, and consumer class actions.

Major manufacturers 3M, DuPont, Chemours and Corteva have reached settlements in some cases but thousands of suits remain in courts. A group of 22 states has opposed as inadequate the biggest of the settlements, a deal by 3M that would provide $10.3 billion over a 13-year period to cities, towns and other public water systems.

In the face of continued litigation, 3M Co. announced in late 2022 that it would stop making forever chemicals and aim to discontinue their use in products by the end of 2025.

The lawsuits contend that PFAS chemicals are toxic and have been shown to persist in the environment indefinitely. PFAS have been associated with pollution and damage as well as adverse human health effects including cancer.

Connecticut claims that the companies knew as early as the 1950s that PFAS chemicals were toxic, highly persistent, and likely to spread to groundwater and contaminate the environment.

These companies knew the truth decades ago, and they buried the evidence and lied to all of us. Because of that, we are dealing with widespread contamination of drinking water and natural resources across Connecticut, claimed Tong.

Peter Brown, president of the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association, welcomed the litigation. He claimed occupational cancer is the number one killer of firefighters and exposure to PFAS chemicals is a leading factor in the increased risk

According to the state, PFAS products have contaminated several public water systems and rivers. The state has issued PFAS-related consumption advisories for fish caught throughout or in portions of the Connecticut, Farmington, Hockanum, Housatonic, Natchaug, Naugatuck, Pequabuck, Quinnipiac, Scantic, Shetucket, Still, Tankerhoosen, and Willimantic rivers.

Regarding contamination specific to AFFF firefighting foam, PFAS have been detected in private wells and the towns water supply in Killingworth near the fire training area and fire department there. The state says other locations are known to be contaminated by AFFF products, including several schools and communities near Bradley International Airport. The state is aware of at least 200 reported emergency incidents where AFFF was likely deployed.

Relief Sought

The complaints seek both injunctive and monetary relief, including ordering the companies to abate all PFAS pollution in Connecticut, remove and dispose of AFFF stocks in Connecticut, and release all research related to PFAS health and environmental effects, and compensatory damages related to PFAS pollution to natural resources and properties.

The state seeks to recover past and future costs related to testing and monitoring of PFAS and remediation of harm to drinking water, soil, and wildlife. The complaints further seek civil penalties of tens of thousands of dollars per day for various violations of state laws, and compensation for all expenses paid by the state in responding to PFAS pollution.

The companies named in the suit regarding chemicals used in manufacturing and consumer products include EIDP, Inc.; Dupont De Nemours, Inc.; The Chemours Company; The Chemours Company FC, LLC; Corteva, Inc.; and 3M Company.

Those named in the AFF suit include 3M Company; AGC Chemicals Americas, Inc.; Amerex Corporation; Angus Fire Armour Corporation; Archroma U.S., Inc.; Arkema Inc.; BASF Corporation; Buckeye Fire Equipment Company; Carrier Fire & Security Americas Corporation; Carrier Global Corporation; Chemdesign Products, Inc.; Chemguard, Inc.; Chemicals Incorporated; Clariant Corporation; Corteva, Inc.; Daikin America, Inc.; Deepwater Chemicals, Inc.; Dupont De Nemours, Inc.; Dynax Corporation; EIDP, Inc.; Fire Service Plus, Inc.; Kidde-Fenwal, Inc.; Nation Ford Chemical Company; National Foam, Inc.; RTX Corporation; The Chemours Company; The Chemours Company FC, LLC; and Tyco Fire Products LP.

Topics Lawsuits Connecticut Chemicals
Two current and two former Massachusetts State Police troopers are among six charged in connection with an alleged conspiracy to give passing scores to certain Commercial Drivers License (CDL) applicants, including individuals who had failed or did not take the CDL skills test, in exchange for bribes that included free spring water, a new driveway and a snow blower.

According to allegations in the the charging document, between May 2019 and January 2023, the troopers and others conspired to give preferential treatment to at least 17 CDL applicants by agreeing to give passing scores on their skills tests whether or not they actually passed, using the code word golden to identify these applicants who received special treatment.

Additionally, prosecutors allege that one trooper gave preferential treatment to four Class A CDL applicants who were state troopers by falsely reporting that each passed a Class A skills test. However, courts documents claim, in reality the four troopers did not pass the skills test and that they drove a vehicle which did not qualify as a Class A vehicle. The deal was allegedly arranged with a Brockton trucking company.

The following individuals have been indicted on three counts of conspiracy to falsify records; three counts of conspiracy to commit extortion; three counts of extortion; six counts of honest services mail fraud; 31 counts of falsification of records; 27 counts of false statements; and one count of perjury: Gary Cederquist, of Stoughton; Calvin Butner, of Halifax; Perry Mendes, of Wareham; Joel Rogers, of Bridgewater; Scott Camara, of Rehoboth; and Eric Mathison, of Boston.

Troopers Text Messages The court documents charging the Massachusetts state troopers in a CDL bribery scheme contain what prosecutors claim are text conversations among officers regarding applicants. Here are several: Applicant-I (5/15/19) On May 15, 2019, referring to Applicant-I, CEDERQUIST texted BUTNER, Did the 1030 pass today? BUTNER replied, Yes sir he got the golden handshakei::!). CEDERQUIST replied, c!) Knowing it was false, BUTNER reported in CSTIMS that Applicant-I had passed a Class B skills test on May 15, 2019. On May 16, 2019, CEDERQUIST texted CEDERQUISTs boss: Your buddy passed yesterday he owes you thats an automatic Fail leaving the door open !!! Also did not have 3 points of contact and [they] came out forward instead of backwards but [they] passed thanks to you. Applicant-2 (8/23/19) On August 23, 2019, BUTNER texted CEDERQUIST, Good morning sir what is the name of the person today that gets the golden treatment

(3 Smile face emojis)  CEDERQUIST replied, [last name of Applicant-2]. 1230. (Laughing crying emoji) For Lt [name redacted]. BUTNER replied, Ok. Ok np. CEDERQUIST replied, (Laughing crying emoji) Applicant-3 (l/20/20)

On January 20, 2020, CEDERQUIST texted BUTNER, Im doing a golden handshake at 9 [referring to Applicant-3] what are you scheduled for. BUTNER replied, 9 and 1030. I can get Peny [MENDES] to help you out with that l . CEDERQUIST replied, OK we will handle it. Applicant-17 (1/5/23) On January 5, 2023, CEDERQUIST texted ROGERS, Please take care of [name redacted] today he is engaged to my buddies daughter. [Name of Applicant-17] golden please!!!!!

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

According to the U.S. Attorneys office, MSP Sergeant Cederquist was in charge of MSPs CDL unit, of which Trooper Rogers and retired Troopers Butner and Mendes were members.

Members of MSPs CDL unit were responsible for administering CDL skills tests. Test requirements for CDLs are established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The CDL skills test is an in-person test that consists of three segments: Vehicle Inspection, in which an applicant is tested on their knowledge of the vehicle; Basic Control Skills, in which an applicant is tested on their ability to perform certain maneuvers; and the Road Test, in which an applicant is tested on their ability to drive a commercial vehicle on an open roadway. In Massachusetts, the pass rate was 48% in 2019, 44% in 2020, 41% in 2021 and 41% in 2022.

Test scores reported by members of MSPs CDL unit are material to whether applicants meet federal requirements for, and therefore whether the state Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is permitted to issue CDLs to the applicants. Class A CDLs are required to drive combination vehicles such as tractor-trailers. Class B CDLs are required to drive heavy single vehicles including box trucks and school buses.

Butner and Mendes were arrested Monday, January 29 in Florida. They will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. The remaining defendants were arrested Tuesday, January 30 and were to appear in federal court in Boston at 2 p.m. on that day.

The court documents claim that Cederquist conspired with his friend Mathison, who worked for a spring water company, to give passing scores to certain license applicants affiliated with the water company. The indictment alleges that Cederquist gave passing scores to three water company applicants who actually failed, in exchange for bribes of free inventory from the water company, such as cases of bottled Fiji, VOSS and Essentia water, cases of bottled Arizona Iced Tea, and coffee and tea products.

The indictment further alleges that Cederquist sent Mathison a text describing one of these applicants as an idiot, who had no idea what hes doing, and should have failed about 10 times already. Cederquist then allegedly texted Mathison that Mathisons boss owes big time.

The indictment also alleges that Butner assisted with this conspiracy, including by giving Mathison a key to a Stoughton yard so that Mathison could drop off water company inventory even when the site was closed. The indictment alleges that Mendes also took part in the conspiracy.

According to the charging document, in addition to Mathisons bribes of free inventory from the water company, Cederquist accepted additional bribes in exchange for using his official position as the Sergeant in charge of MSPs CDL Unit including a $750 granite post and mailbox; a new driveway valued at over $10,000; and a snow blower valued at nearly $2,000. Cederquist allegedly described one such applicant as horrible, and brain dead, but gave him a passing score anyway in exchange for the snow blower.

Along with Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, Michael J. Krol, of Homeland Security Investigations in New England and Christopher A. Scharf, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Wichers and Adam W. Deitch are prosecuting the case.

The federal investigation remains ongoing.

Last April, several people pled guilty to a bribery scam involving non-commercial drivers license tests within the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance Personal Auto Law Enforcement Massachusetts
The European Union will need 1.5 trillion euros ($1.6 trillion) per year of investments to meet its 2050 net zero emissions target, research backed by Green EU lawmakers said on Monday.

The European Commission is set to recommend next week that the EU cuts net emissions 90% by 2040, from 1990 levels, and outline the huge upfront increase in investments needed to get Europe on track to have zero net emissions by 2050.

Most of the funding needed for net zero  1.16 trillion euros per year  could be secured by redirecting existing spending, much of it on polluting activities, according to the research by the Institut Rousseau think-tank, which was commissioned by Green EU lawmakers.

That would imply a huge divestment from areas like combustion engine cars, fossil fuel production and new airports, and a jump in investments into public transport, renovating buildings and expanding renewable energy, the researchers said.

Much of the money needed is out there, but we need massive divestment from climate killing projects, said Philippe Lamberts, co-president of the Green lawmakers group in the European Parliament.

As climate change unleashes increasingly costly extreme weather, EU policymakers are gearing up for EU elections in which climate policy is set to be a key issue.

Some governments are pushing back on the EUs green agenda, citing its costs, while farmers protesting in France have called for the rolling back of some EU environmental rules. Opinion polls suggest the EU election could make passing ambitious climate policies harder, if it results in more lawmakers from populist and right-wing parties.

A draft of the Commissions internal modeling for the 2040 climate target, seen by Reuters, suggested a similar scale of investment would be needed, of roughly 1.5 trillion euros per year in less polluting energy systems.

The researchers said the investments needed to reach net zero emissions would mostly come from the private sector, but public spending on the green transition would also need to double, to 490 billion euros per year.

For comparison, the EU currently spends 359 billion euros per year on fossil fuel subsidies, they said.

($1 = 0.9256 euros)

(Reporting by Kate Abnett; editing by Mark Potter)

Topics Europe
The UK Navy posted an advisory to merchant ships in the Indian Ocean warning of pirate activity, a sign of a growing threat to a maritime industry thats been coming under missile attacks near Yemen.

Two so-called pirate action groups are likely to be operating in the Indian Ocean, the UK Maritime Trade Operations, the liaison between the UK Navy and merchant shipping, said in a post on X.

UKMTO ADVISORY INDIDENT 025

IRREGULAR ACTIVITYhttps://t.co/HKeQknNyU0#Maritimesecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/iUSCAUWWuq

 United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) Jan. 30, 2024

Somali piracy dogged merchant shipping more than a decade ago, prompting widespread use of armed guards and increased military interventions that ultimately quelled the attacks. Tuesdays warning is the latest sign they may be making a comeback. In December, the first hijacking of a ship by Somali pirates took place since 2017, according to the International Maritime Bureau.

The warning follows an incident over the weekend in which a ship was approached by a blue and gray small boat about 700 nautical miles away from Salalah, Oman.

The merchant vessel exchanged fire with the occupants of the boat, before they eventually sailed away. The assailants were carrying rocket propelled grenades and assault rifles.

That incident was several hundred miles away from where most Houthi attacks on merchant shipping have been concentrated, and far beyond the area that insurers currently charge extra premiums due to their heightened risk.

Since mid-November, military forces in the region have been concentrating their efforts on deterring attacks by Yemens Houthi militants. The rebels have been striking vessels in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians, following Israels continued war with Hamas.

Photograph: A seaman walks past a Royal Navy F-35B Lightning multirole combat aircraft along the deck of the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier. Photo credit: Roy Issa/AFP/Getty Images

Related:

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
Responding to a report of workers being exposed to anhydrous ammonia, federal investigators found a Madison, Wisconsin ice cream plant lacked sufficient process safety management procedures to control the release of hazardous chemicals. Exposure to anhydrous ammonia, used in the refrigeration process, can cause respiratory injuries and burns to the skin and eyes.

Investigators with the U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined AJLS Enterprises Inc.  operating as Schoeps Ice Cream  failed to document that equipment was being operated consistent with best engineering processes, update processes following audits and respond to changes in the process.

Employers must continually evaluate their engineering processes and train workers on how to safely operate equipment, explained OSHA Area Director Chad Greenwood in Madison, Wisconsin. Every employer should embrace safety and health as a core value in their establishment.

OSHA issued 12 serious citations and proposed $145,097 in penalties. In addition to insufficient process safety procedures, OSHA noted multiple safety and health violations including:

Lack of lockout/tagout procedures.

Lack of machine guarding.

Failing to train workers in lockout/tagout procedures.

Not having a written hazard communication plan.

Failing to update the emergency action plan.

Ladder openings not protected from fall hazards.

AJLS Enterprises has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA

Topics Wisconsin
The role drug distributor McKesson Corp. had in the opioid crisis was no accident, meaning the company is not entitled to defense costs related to litigation against it.

McKesson Corp. appealed a district courts ruling that subsidiaries of AIG and Chubb were not obligated to provide defense costs under general liability policies that covered bodily injury caused by an accidental occurrence, not deliberate conduct.

Underlying lawsuits alleged McKesson deliberately schemed to increase the sale of opioids by flooding the market and defying safeguards. However, the distributor attempted to claim it could not have foreseen the downstream actions of doctors, pharmacists and opioid addicts.

We reject this argument, wrote Circuit Judge Eugene E. Siler for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

It is simply not credible that when doctors prescribed the drugs McKesson allegedly pushed, when pharmacists filled those prescriptions with drugs McKesson distributed, and when end users became addicted to those drugs, overdosed, resorted to heroin, and died, that was a mere matter of fortuity,' Siler continued.

Having found no basis that McKessons action were accidental, the appeals court ruled in the favor of AIGs Nation Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh and Chubbs ACE Property and Casualty Insurance Co. and affirmed an earlier ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Insurers have in the past looked to deny defense costs or indemnify those involved in the opioid epidemic. At the start of last year the 6th Circuit said policies written by Westfield National Insurance Co. and Motorists Mutual Insurance Co. for Quest Pharmaceuticals covered only damages resulting from bodily injuries, not the economic damages sought by local and state governments.

Chubb was dealt a blow in August 2023 when the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina rejected the insurers attempted use of two D&O exclusions and ruled it had to provide defense costs to drug wholesaler North Carolina Mutual Wholesale Drug Company.

Topics Carriers Legislation
Bayer AG faces mounting pressure to come up with a new plan for handling its Roundup weedkiller litigation after getting hammered by US jury verdicts totaling almost $4 billion over the last three months.

The German conglomerates latest courtroom loss was its biggest since Roundup cases started going to trial five and a half years ago, with a Pennsylvania jury awarding $2.25 billion to a former Roundup user who blamed his cancer diagnosis on long-term exposure to the herbicide.

Related: Bayer Jurys $2.2 Billion Roundup Verdict Is Biggest Yet

That prompted a fresh slump in Bayers shares, as investors worried about the more than 50,000 Roundup claims outstanding in the US that accuse the companys Monsanto unit of hiding the products cancer risks. After last weeks award, theyre beginning to worry about whether the company has the financial resources to keep fighting these cases for years to come.

If they settle again, it will not put an end to future cases, and we might see another wave of litigation in one or two years, said Markus Manns, a portfolio manager at Union Investment in Frankfurt. Manns said the Roundup cases will probably be more expensive than we thought, and it is unclear if the legal provisions are sufficient.

Limited Options

The company has spent about $10 billion of the $16 billion it set aside to resolve more than 150,000 cases over Roundup. The remainder is intended for newly filed cases and existing suits that bowed out of previous settlement efforts.

But if Bayer cant strike a new deal, and if it fails in an appeals court argument that federal law preempts state-based claims against it, the company could face similar high jury verdicts every few months.

Their only option is to continue winning cases and settle the cases which they fear they might lose, Manns said. Obviously they havent done a good job in selecting these cases in the past.

Negotiating a global Roundup settlement may be difficult for Bayer because the cases now going to trial are spread out among several state courts that operate under different rules and procedures. The previous accord involved federal cases that were consolidated and overseen by a single judge.

It also involved thousands of state cases  the majority of the lawsuits, according to Bayer  that werent grouped together under the judge. Still, the federal multidistrict litigation gave Bayer a center of gravity that it doesnt have this time around, said Elizabeth Burch, a University of Georgia law professor. I dont see an easy way out for them.

Strength of the Science

Bayer, which has won 10 of the last 16 Roundup trials over the last half decade, says it has a winning record even in difficult venues for corporate defendants, like California, in which plaintiffs strategically file their suits. It says it wont back down.

The company is committed to trying Roundup cases based on the strength of the science, favorable regulatory assessments worldwide and a proven record of success at trial, Bayer said in a statement. It said it has appropriately provisioned for this litigation and will not incentivize plaintiff law firms through mass settlements of claims that are completely at odds with the overwhelming weight of the research.

The companys stock has lost about 70% of its value since Bayers 2018 acquisition of Monsanto, when it inherited Roundup and the resulting legal headaches. On Tuesday in Frankfurt the shares fell 2.2% to close at 30.08 ($32.62), the lowest since June 2006, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Bayer increased its litigation fund to $16 billion from $11.6 billion in mid-2021, but the lawsuits keep piling up.

Broader Problem

Despite Bayers win-loss record, the whopping size of some of the recent verdicts is making it harder for new Chief Executive Officer Bill Anderson to convince investors that he can contain the litigation. Some investors are hoping Bayer can come up with a new and creative way to put a solid lid on the Roundup litigation.

They need to spell out the strategy, for sure, as long as they can do so without strengthening the hand of the plaintiffs attorneys, said David Herro, a portfolio manager at Harris Associates LP, one of Bayers top investors.

The costs of the litigation extend beyond dollar figures. The Roundup mess has created a cloud of uncertainty over the company that complicates efforts by Anderson  a Texas native who joined Bayer only last year  to deal with several other challenges.

For one thing, Anderson is leaning against separating either the consumer health or crops science division for now, despite calls from many investors to do so, after spending months reviewing strategic options, Bloomberg News reported earlier this month. But if Bayer keeps its current corporate setup, its challenging to raise money to pay down debt and beef up its pipeline of experimental pharmaceutical products.

The Roundup litigation hangs over it all.

At some point there needs to be an endgame for the lawsuits, said Stanford Law School Professor Nora Freeman Engstrom, who teaches about mass tort law. This drip, drip, drip of billion-dollar verdicts has to be extremely upsetting to Bayer and destabilizing to its bottom line.

Diverging Fortunes

When Bayer first pursued Monsanto in 2016, it had a market cap of about 85 billion, roughly the same as German software giant SAP SE at the time. Bayer is now worth about 30 billion ($32.48 billion). Meanwhile SAP, which is betting big on artificial inBayer Montelligence, more than doubled its stock price and is now valued at about 200 billion.

The recent Roundup court losses may push Anderson to tighten up on shareholder dividends, ranging from lowering the payout band to a potential suspension, Thibault Boutherin at Morgan Stanley wrote in a client note.

Amid legal payouts and other problems, Bayer may record no free cash flow for fiscal 2023, a situation that Anderson decried in November as unacceptable.

Bayer has said it has strong grounds to appeal the $2.25 billion Roundup verdict and seek to have the award declared excessive, but theres no guarantee judges will reduce the payout to the companys liking.

After Johnson & Johnson challenged a jurys $4.7 billion award in 2018 to 20 women who blamed their cancers on tainted talc in its baby powder, it ended up with a final tab of about $2.5 billion. The US Supreme Court declined to take up its appeal.

Bayer says that in its first three losses it got the final judgments knocked down on appeal by more than 90% overall.

Hopes on Appeal

Bayer still hopes it can reduce much of the uncertainty, and cost, of the litigation by convincing US appeals courts that federal law preempts state-based claims that Monsanto failed to warn consumers of Roundups risks. The argument is based on the Environmental Protection Agencys finding that glyphosate, a Roundup ingredient, isnt a carcinogen and the EPAs approval of the Roundup label without a warning.

Such an appellate ruling could hobble thousands of Roundup cases.

If that effort fails, the picture could keep getting bleaker. The final price tag for the litigation could well exceed the $16 billion Bayer has set aside, according to Manns of Union Investment.

We could see a cash outflow of $1 billion to $2 billion per year for the foreseeable future, he said.

Photo: Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) company Freeport LNG said on Friday it expects one of three liquefaction units at its Texas plant will be out of service for about a month after it faced a technical issue during last weeks Arctic freeze.

This shutdown was the latest in a series of incidents at the plant since it exited an eight-month outage from June 2022 to February 2023 following a fire and explosion.

Since April, at least one liquefaction train at the plant has shut or tripped  sometimes several times, according to company filings with state environmental regulators.

One of our refrigeration electric motors at our liquefaction facility experienced an electrical issue that will necessitate a replacement of the motor with an on-hand spare, the company told Reuters about the latest incident in an email.

Natural gas prices around the world were little changed following the Freeport news as the global market is already well supplied with fuel due to a mostly mild winter. NGA/NG/EU

So far in January, each of the three trains at Freeport have either tripped or experienced shutdowns for other reasons at least five times, according to company filings with state regulators.

Those filings showed that Train 1 had a trip or shutdown that caused an emissions event on Jan. 24-25, Train 2 on Jan. 24, Jan. 22 and Jan. 16-17, and Train 3 on Jan. 17.

Each of the three trains at Freeport can turn about 0.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of natural gas into LNG.

Those Freeport outages helped cut the amount of gas flowing to the nations seven big LNG export plants by around 6% to an average of 13.8 bcfd so far in January, down from a monthly record of 14.7 bcfd in December.

One billion cubic feet of gas is enough to supply about 5 million U.S. homes for a day.

The U.S. became the worlds biggest LNG supplier in 2023, ahead of recent leaders Australia and Qatar, as much higher global prices NGc1, TRNLTTFMc1, JKMc1 fed demand for more exports due in part to supply disruptions and sanctions linked to Russias war in Ukraine.

(Reporting by Vakil in Bengaluru and DiSavino in New York; Editing by Jan Harvey, David Gregorio and Marguerita Choy)

Topics Texas Windstorm
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), last month announced that Lafourche Medical Group, a Louisiana medical group specializing in emergency medicine, occupational medicine, and laboratory testing, agreed to a settlement over a 2021 phishing attack.

The settlement resolves an investigation following a phishing incident that affected the electronic protected health information of approximately 34,862 individuals This marks the first settlement OCR has resolved involving a phishing attack under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Rules. HIPAA is the federal law that protects the privacy and security of health information.

Lafourche Medical Group agreed to pay $480,000 to OCR and to implement a corrective action plan that will be monitored by OCR for two years.

On May 28, 2021, Lafourche Medical Group filed a breach report with HHS stating that a hacker, through a successful phishing attack on March 30, 2021, gained access to an email account that contained electronic protected health information. When protected health information is compromised by a cyber-attack breach such as phishing, incredibly sensitive information about an individuals medical records is at risk. The types of sensitive information can include medical diagnoses, frequency of visits to a therapist or other health care professionals, and where an individual seeks medical treatment.

OCRs investigation revealed that, prior to the 2021 reported breach, Lafourche Medical Group failed to conduct a risk analysis to identify potential threats or vulnerabilities to electronic protected health information across the organization as required by HIPAA. OCR also discovered that Lafourche Medical Group had no policies or procedures in place to regularly review information system activity to safeguard protected health information against cyberattacks.

Lafourche Medical Group will take the following steps to resolve and comply with:

Establishing and implementing security measures to reduce security risks and vulnerabilities to electronic protect health information in order to keep patients protected health information secure;

Developing, maintaining, and revising written policies and procedures as necessary to comply with the HIPAA Rules; and

Providing training to all staff members who have access to patients protected health information on HIPAA policies and procedures.

Source: HHS

Topics Cyber Louisiana
The division in the North Dakota Republican Party has become obvious, and it will have an impact on the upcoming primary election.

Last week at Bismarck District 30s endorsing convention the three legislative incumbents were pushed aside for three other candidates. Attendees voted 33-29 to censure the incumbents, Sen. Diane Larson, Rep. Mike Nathe and Rep. Glenn Bosch, for their legislative votes on a number of issues.

A censure carries no weight; its just a vote of dissatisfaction. The three incumbents didnt attend the convention, saying they wanted to avoid conflict. They have already filed the required signatures to run in the June 11 primary.

They had good reason to skip the convention since a notice of the meeting published in The Bismarck Tribune listed the three challengers and not the incumbents. Justis Amundson and Dave Charles were endorsed for the House, and Adam Rose got the Senate nod. Amundson is the chair of District 30 and ran the convention.

The incumbents are conservatives, but in what has become common across the state, not conservative enough for some Republicans. The ultraconservative wing of the party has gained control of the leadership of some districts, allowing them to censure legislators over votes they disliked.

This has resulted in more competition in the primary, which isnt a bad development. Especially since the Democratic-NPL Party hasnt run candidates in all legislative races in recent years.

Nathe doesnt plan to attend state Republican Convention in Fargo on April 5-6. Larson and Bosch are unsure about attendance. The District 30 convention filled 35 of its 47 delegate slots last week and gave Amundson the authority to name the remaining 12. This will give him the ability to name like-minded delegates.

Its likely more Republicans will skip the convention, which is unfortunate since the convention will be endorsing for the governors office and the U.S. House seat. Its likely some candidates who dont get an endorsement will run in the primary. The Tribune expects contested primary races for the GOP nominations for governor, U.S. House and a number of legislative races.

How deeply this splits the party remains to be seen. It could have a serious impact on the next legislative session, in 2025. There has been bickering in the last two legislative sessions, so expect it to continue, though a new governor also will help set the tone for the session.

The Republican infighting isnt unique to North Dakota. The most recent example involves Sen. James Langford, R-Oklahoma, whos in negotiations on a border bill in the U.S. Senate. The bills details havent been released yet, but that didnt stop the Oklahoma Republican Party from voting to censure Langford for playing fast and loose with Democrats on our border policy.

Obviously, for some Republicans, compromise is forbidden. Presidential candidate Donald Trump also has urged Republicans to reject the compromise legislation.

The Tribune doesnt believe a legislature or Congress can govern without compromise. Voters need to consider candidates positions on issues and their willingness to forge compromises that benefit states and the nation.

There will be competition in North Dakotas primary, which will make the Republican primary especially important since Republicans have been dominating the general election. Voters need to get to know the candidates.
A key Florida Senate committee this week advanced a bill that would allow surplus lines carriers to take over coverage of second homes from Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Reaction by agents and brokers was mixed.

The issue of having the state-backed insurer provide coverage of so-called vacation homes, often at rates that are below what the admitted market can offer, has cropped up repeatedly in recent years as Citizens has grown in policies and exposure. A 2022 effort to end the coverage died in committee.

This year, Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Chairman Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, has revived a plan to let surplus carriers step in as a way to help depopulate Citizens. The carrier now insures 45,000 to 60,000 secondary homes, Citizens Christine Ashburn told the committee on Monday.

Senate Bill 1716, as revised in the committee Monday, would allow surplus carriers to make takeout offers, as long as the insurers have a financial strength rating of A or higher, as determined by the financial rating firm A.M. Best. The insurers also would have to utilize Florida-based surplus lines brokers; and would be required to have their takeout plans and rates approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

The Florida Association of Insurance Agents supports the bill as a way to help with Citizens depopulation plan and because it would help ensure that Florida agents would be kept in the process, said B.G. Murphy, director of government affairs for the association.

But some Florida insurance brokers have said that allowing surplus lines into the primary market may not go far enough to solve the affordability crisis for many homeowners and condominium associations that have seen premiums quadruple in some cases and have seen coverage limits drastically reduced. Mike Clarkson, managing director of Hilb Group of Florida, the insurance brokerage for hundreds of condo associations, suggested that second-homers that go with surplus carriers would likely try to return to Citizens upon renewal the next year. He also is concerned because surplus lines are not regulated as tightly as admitted insurers.

And state Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, pointed out that surplus lines insurers claims would not be backstopped by the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association in case of insolvency.

Boyd, an insurance agency owner, said in the committee hearing that most surplus firms tend to have larger surplus levels than do primary carriers, meaning they are less likely to become insolvent.

A recent bulletin from A.M. Best, suggests that surplus carriers can occasionally encounter financial headwinds. The rating firm on Dec. 20 downgraded the outlook, from stable to negative, for James River Group but affirmed the financial strength rating as A-. James River includes James River Insurance Co., a specialty and excess and surplus carrier operating in all 50 states. But for the E&S segment of the industry, A.M. Best in November revised its outlook from stable to positive, citing efficiencies and strong underwriting results.

Florida Condos Say They Cant Get Coverage. Bill Would Let Citizens Step in

The committee also approved SB 966, which would require that most home warranties provided by home builders to be automatically transferred to subsequent home buyers while the warranties are in effect.

Senate Bill 988 would exempt information about homes, collected as part of the states My Safe Florida Homes wind-mitigation grant and inspection program, from Floridas broad open records law. The committee passed the bill by a vote of 9-0, with the sponsor noting that it would help protect private information about homes, including photographs, from falling into the hands of unscrupulous individuals.

SB 1622 was requested by the Florida OIR. If signed into law, it would require insurers, including reciprocals, to file supplemental financial reports monthly instead of quarterly, and to break the data down by ZIP code. The bill also would codify that property insurers during a declared state of emergency, may not cancel or non-renew a homeowner or condominium policy for a wind-damaged property for at least 90 days after the structure has been repaired. That time frame would be shortened if the policyholder has not paid premiums, has provided a material misrepresentation of the facts in a claim, or has caused a delay in repairs, the bill notes.

The measure also would eliminate the current requirement that property insurers utilize a weighted model or the average of two or more hurricane loss models. The bills sponsor, Sen. Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, said that change was needed to prevent insurers from choosing the two models showing the largest projected losses, which can affect rates and premiums for property owners.

My goal and intention was to make sure that we werent using two models that were the two more expensive models, and that we were focusing on ones that were less expensive, Trumbull said at the meeting. A Senate staff analysis can be seen here.

SB 1622 also would eliminate the current requirement that the states public housing authorities self-insurance funds cap losses per occurrence at $350,000.

There are 24 housing authorities in the state. This would allow them to have an actuarily defined premium they could write instead of having to go to HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) for the excess, Trumbull said.

The bills now move to a second Senate committee.

Top photo: Sen. Bobby Powell at the Senate committee meeting (The Florida Channel)

Topics Florida Excess Surplus
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A South Carolina judge on Monday denied Alex Murdaughs bid for a new trial after his defense team accused a clerk of court of tampering with a jury.

Judge Jean Toal said she wasnt sure if Colleton County Clerk Becky Hill was telling the truth that she never spoke to jurors about the case, saying she was attracted by the siren call of celebrity.

But Toal said the 12 jurors who testified all said any comments did not directly influence their decision to find Murdaugh guilty.

Toal said after reviewing the full transcript of the six-week trial, she couldnt overturn the verdict based on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-seeking clerk of court because they didnt actively change the jurors minds.

All 12 jurors took the 90-mile (145-kilometer) trip from Colleton County to Columbia to give what was typically about three minutes of testimony, mostly yes-or-no questions from the judges script. Murdaugh, now a convicted killer, disbarred attorney and admitted thief serving a life sentence, wore an orange prison jumpsuit as he watched with his lawyers.

Hill also testified, denying she ever spoke about the case or Murdaugh at all with jurors.

I never talked to any jurors about anything like that, Hill said.

Toal questioned her truthfulness after Hill said she used literary license for some things she wrote about in her book about the trial, including whether she feared as she read the verdict that the jury might end up finding him not guilty.

I did have a certain way I felt, Hill said.

Murdaughs defense later called Barnwell County Clerk Rhonda McElveen, who helped Hill during the trial. McElveen said that Hill suggested before the trial that they write a book on the case together, because she wanted a lake house and I wanted to retire, and that a guilty verdict would sell more books.

Under cross-examination, McElveen said she didnt reach out to the trial judge because she didnt think any of Hills comments or behaviors rose to the level of misconduct.

Hill was also questioned about why she told people hours before the jury received the case that she expected deliberations to be short. The clerk said it was a gut feeling after years in a courtroom.

The unusual hearing was prompted in part by a sworn statement from the first juror called to the stand Monday.

She affirmed what she said last August, repeating Monday that Hill told jurors to note Murdaughs actions and watch him closely when he testified in his own defense.

She made it seem like he was already guilty, the woman, identified only as Juror Z, said. Asked whether this influenced her vote to find him guilty, she said, Yes maam.

In later questioning, the juror said she also stands by another statement she made in the August affidavit: that it was her fellow jurors, more than the clerks statements, that influenced her to vote guilty.

I had questions about Mr. Murdaughs guilt but voted guilty because I felt pressured by other jurors, she said.

The rest of the jury filed in one by one and said their verdicts werent influenced by anything outside the trial. One said he heard Hill say watch his body language before Murdaugh testified, but said Hills comment didnt change his mind.

You have 11 of them strong as a rock who said this verdict was not influenced, prosecutor Creighton Waters said. The evidence is overwhelming from the people who mattered.

Defense attorney Jim Griffin said Toals belief that Hill was not credible will eventually be a win in an appeals court and Murdaughs conviction will be overturned.

The innocent man was wrongly convicted  we didnt think she would say that, Griffin said outside court.

Murdaughs fall from his role as an attorney lording over his small county to a sentence of life without parole has been exhaustively covered by true crime shows, podcasts and bloggers.

Toal set a difficult standard for Murdaughs lawyers. She ruled the defense must prove that potential misconduct by Hill directly led jurors to change their minds to guilty.

Toal was Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court for 15 years before retiring. She was appointed by the current high court justices to rule on the juror misconduct allegations.

Toal also limited what could be asked of Hill, ruling out extensive questions about a criminal investigation into whether the elected clerk used her office for financial gain, emailed prosecutors with suggestions on how to discredit a defense expert, conspired with her son who is charged with wiretapping county phones, or plagiarized part of her book using a passage from a BBC reporter who accidentally emailed her instead of her boss with a similar address.

Hill admitted lifting the writing of the BBC reporter during her Monday testimony.

Even if Murdaugh, 55, gets a new murder trial he wont walk out free. Hes also serving 27 years after admitting he stole $12 million from his law firm and from settlements he gained for clients on wrongful death and serious injury lawsuits. Murdaugh promised not to appeal that sentence as part of his plea deal.

Murdaugh has remained adamant that he did not kill his younger son Paul with a shotgun and his wife Maggie with a rifle, since the moment he told deputies he found their bodies at their Colleton County home in 2021. He testified in his own defense.

Even if this effort fails, Murdaugh hasnt even started the regular appeals of his sentence, where his lawyers are expected to argue several reasons why his murder trial was unfair, including the judge allowing voluminous testimony of his financial crimes. They said this enabled prosecutors to smear Murdaugh with evidence not directly linked to the killings.

Photo: Murdaugh with Phil Barber this week at a hearing. (Tracy Glantz/The State via AP, Pool)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation Claims
This year could be the year that Georgia joins most other states and repeals its direct-action law that has reportedly caused severe problems for trucking companies needing liability insurance.

Several Georgia Republican legislative leaders and the states insurance commissioner said they are behind bills that would limit lawsuits filed by those injured in trucking-involved accidents. For years, injured motorists have been able to sue truckers insurance companies directly, which has led to large verdicts and settlements and has prompted many insurers to raise rates or curtail coverage in the state, said Bryce Rawson, assistant to Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King.

It has destroyed our market. No one wants to insure trucking here, Rawson said. And 87% of trucking companies in Georgia are small businesses, with fewer than five employees.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper reported Tuesday that state Senate leaders are backing the Senate bill, SB 426. Lawmakers and the governor late last year talked about a comprehensive tort-reform effort, perhaps similar to one passed in Florida in 2023. But Gov. Brian Kemp recently said such an effort could take at least a year to accomplish.

The Senate trucking bill would allow exceptions to the direct-action ban, such as when a trucking company enters bankruptcy or when trucking company officials cannot be served with court papers. Sen. Blake Tillery, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is the lead sponsor.

The House bill, HB 271, does not provide exceptions. It simply strikes the current statutory wording that reads: It shall be permissible under this part for any person having a cause of action arising under this part to join in the same action the motor carrier and the insurance carrier, whether arising in tort or contract.

Neither bill has seen a committee vote so far in the session that began Jan. 8 and ends in late March.

A similar bill was approved by a Senate committee in 2023 but failed to advance.

Georgia is one of only four states left that still allows plaintiffs attorneys to seek damages from the actual insurance carrier, the bills chief sponsor, Sen. Shawn Still, R-Norcross, said at a committee hearing in 2023.

The current law, penned in 1937, came about as a way to allow injured parties to be made whole if the trucking company owner or operator could not be located. But transport companies and insurers have said the law is unnecessary in todays online world, where truckers can be tracked down.

Plaintiffs attorneys have opposed the changes and have said the current law does not force insurers to pay higher damages than policy limits allow.

Topics Lawsuits Carriers Georgia Trucking
Last month, Mike Weber got the news every poultry farmer fears: His chickens tested positive for avian flu.

Following government rules, Webers company, Sunrise Farms, had to slaughter its entire flock of egg-laying hens  550,000 birds  to prevent the disease from infecting other farms in Sonoma County north of San Francisco.

Its a trauma. Were all going through grief as a result of it, said Weber, standing in an empty hen house. Petaluma is known as the Egg Basket of the World. Its devastating to see that egg basket go up in flames.

A year after the bird flu led to record egg prices and widespread shortages, the disease known as highly pathogenic avian influenza is wreaking havoc in California, which escaped the earlier wave of outbreaks that devastated poultry farms in the Midwest.

The highly contagious virus has ravaged Sonoma County, where officials have declared a state of emergency. During the past two months, nearly a dozen commercial farms have had to destroy more than 1 million birds to control the outbreak, dealing an economic blow to farmers, workers and their customers.

Merced County in Central California also has been hit hard, with outbreaks at several large commercial egg-producing farms in recent weeks.

Experts say bird flu is spread by ducks, geese and other migratory birds. The waterfowl can carry the virus without getting sick and easily spread it through their droppings to chicken and turkey farms and backyard flocks through droppings and nasal discharges.

California poultry farms are implementing strict biosecurity measures to curb the spread of the disease. State Veterinarian Annette Jones urged farmers to keep their flocks indoors until June, including organic chickens that are required to have outdoor access.

We still have migration going for another couple of months. So weve got to be as vigilant as possible to protect our birds, said Bill Mattos, president of the California Poultry Federation.

The loss of local hens led to a spike in egg prices in the San Francisco Bay Area over the holidays before supermarkets and restaurants found suppliers from outside the region.

While bird flu has been around for decades, the current outbreak of the virus that began in early 2022 has prompted officials to slaughter nearly 82 million birds, mostly egg-laying chickens, in 47 U.S. states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Whenever the disease is found the entire flock is slaughtered to help limit the spread of the virus.

The price of a dozen eggs more than doubled to $4.82 at its peak in January 2023. Egg prices returned to their normal range as egg producers built up their flocks and outbreaks were controlled. Turkey and chicken prices also spiked, partly due to the virus.

I think this is an existential issue for the commercial poultry industry. The virus is on every continent, except for Australia at this point, said Maurice Pitesky, a poultry expert at the University of California, Davis.

Climate change is increasing the risk of outbreaks as changing weather patterns disrupt the migratory patterns of wild birds, Pitesky said. For example, exceptional rainfall last year created new waterfowl habitat throughout California, including areas close to poultry farms.

In California, the outbreak has impacted more than 7 million chickens in about 40 commercial flocks and 24 backyard flocks, with most of the outbreaks occurring over the past two months on the North Coast and Central Valley, according to the USDA.

Industry officials are worried about the growing number of backyard chickens that could become infected and spread avian flu to commercial farms.

We have wild birds that are are full of virus. And if you expose your birds to these wild birds, they might get infected and ill, said Rodrigo Gallardo, a UC Davis researcher who studies avian influenza.

Gallardo advises the owners of backyard chickens to wear clean clothes and shoes to protect their flocks from getting infected. If an unusual number of chickens die, they should be tested for avian flu.

Ettamarie Peterson, a retired teacher in Petaluma, has a flock of about 50 chickens that produce eggs she sells from her backyard barn for 50 cents each.

Im very concerned because this avian flu is transmitted by wild birds, and theres no way I can stop the wild birds from coming through and leaving the disease behind, Peterson said. If your flock has any cases of it, you have to destroy the whole flock.

Sunrise Farms, which was started by Webers great-grandparents more than a century ago, was infected despite putting in place strict biosecurity measures to protect the flock.

The virus got to the birds so bad and so quickly you walked in and the birds were just dead, Weber said. Heartbreaking doesnt describe how you feel when you walk in and perfectly healthy young birds have been just laid out.

After euthanizing more than half a million chickens at Sunrise Farms, Weber and his employees spent the Christmas holiday discarding the carcasses. Since then, theyve been cleaning out and disinfecting the hen houses.

Weber hopes the farm will get approval from federal regulators to bring chicks back to the farm this spring. Then it would take another five months before the hens are mature enough to lay eggs.

He feels lucky that two farms his company co-owns have not been infected and are still producing eggs for his customers. But recovering from the outbreak wont be easy.

We have a long road ahead, Weber said. Were going to make another run of it and try to keep this family of employees together because theyve worked so hard to build this into the company that it is.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California Agribusiness
California small business owners in are decidedly against three proposals or potential ballot initiatives they believe could impact their operations.

A poll from the National Federation of Independent Business asked respondents four questions that are being considered in the Legislature either as potential bills or ballot proposals.

The questions and the response include:

Should California abolish private insurance plans and replace them with a government-run single payer healthcare system?

Yes 5%

No 89%

Undecided 6%

Should California reduce full-time work hours from 40 to 32 hours per week?

Yes 2%

No 95%

Undecided 3%

Should all California businesses be required to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and those of any entity with whom they do business?

Yes 2%

No 94%

Undecided 4%

Should California amend its constitution to require voter approval for all new state taxes and tax increases passed by the legislature?

Yes 87%

No 8%

Undecided 5%

NFIB is a nonprofit association that includes small and independent businesses members.

Topics California
An Alaska fishing guide company has paid $900,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the U.S. government alleging one of its guides started a wildfire in 2019, the U.S. attorneys office for Alaska said in a statement.

Court documents said the Groves Salmon Charters guide, Joshua McDonald, started a campfire July 8, 2019, at a campground around Mile 16 of the Klutina River near Copper Center, located about 160 miles northeast of Anchorage, to keep fisherman warm. Later that day, a large forest fire along the Klutina River was reported near that area.

The government alleges McDonald started the fire despite knowing there was a high fire danger at the time. Investigators determined the fire started when he failed to properly extinguish the camp fire, according to the statement.

Messages were sent to three email accounts and a voicemail was left at one phone number, all believed to belong to McDonald.

Stephanie Holcomb, who owns the guiding service, told The Associated Press in a phone interview that its not certain that others may be to blame, but in a civil case, the preponderance of evidence favors the plaintiff, in this case the government.

Even in the settlement report, one of the last sentences was it cannot be substantiated that there wasnt other users at the site after Josh, so thats why I say life isnt always fair, Holcomb said. Im more than willing to take responsibility and to face this, but its only a 51% chance  maybe, which seems like an awful lot of wiggle room to like really ruin someones business.

A copy of the settlement was not available on the federal court online document site, and a request for a copy was made to the U.S. Attorneys office.

The $900,000 will help cover the costs incurred by state and federal firefighters to extinguish the fire, which burned about 0.28 square miles.

As we experience longer fire seasons and more extreme fire behavior, we will hold anyone who ignites wildland fires accountable for the costs of fires they cause, S. Lane Tucker, the U.S. Attorney for Alaska, said in the statement.

Escaped campfires like this one are the most common for human-caused wildfires on Bureau of Land Management-managed lands in Alaska, the federal agency said.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Alaska
New York, United States - January 31, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Renewable energy is derived from non-depletable resources, such as sun, wind, and hydropower. These renewable energy sources are continually replenished and never deplete, in contrast to traditional energy sources, which are costly and harmful to the environment. Solar energy is utilized to heat and illuminate residential and commercial structures. This renewable energy resource is also utilized for power production, water heating, and several other industrial and commercial applications. Wind energy, on the other hand, is one of the most recognized kinds of renewable energy.

Download Free Sample Report PDF @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/renewable-energy-market/request-sample

Rising Energy Demand and Renewable Energy in Power Generation Drives the Global Market

According to Straits Research, "The global renewable energy market size was valued at USD 1085 billion in 2023. It is estimated to reach USD 2450 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 9.47% during the forecast period (2024-2032)." According to the New Energy Outlook 2018 by Bloomberg NEF, worldwide power consumption will increase to 38,700 terawatt-hours by 2050 from 25,000 terawatt-hours in 2017 due to increased urbanization, population growth, infrastructure development, and access to electricity. In addition, technical improvements in the industrial, commercial, and residential sectors increase the availability of energy-intensive items. Furthermore, increased concerns about decreasing carbon emissions necessitate a more significant proportion of renewable energy in the power-generating mix. Renewable energy sources, such as wind and hydroelectricity, are less susceptible to wide-scale failure since the installation of these power plants is dispersed across a vast area, preventing a power outage in the entire region if a severe weather event occurs in a single site.

Scope of Renewable Energy as a Power Source in Remote Areas Creates Tremendous Opportunities

In remote, underdeveloped areas, renewable energy sources, such as solar power plants, can provide enough energy to power buildings with the increase of research and development initiatives related to renewable energy. Establishing new utility lines in these undeveloped regions is a laborious endeavor since it may be difficult and expensive. Due to developments in solar panel technology, installing solar panel systems in distant places is advantageous since they provide a very stable and cost-effective energy source.

In addition, the grid-stabilizing system, which includes control systems, batteries, inverters, and software for virtual generator control, enables the utilization of renewable energy sources in remote places. It offers electrical assistance to remote communities and industrial zones, such as mines and construction sites, where fuel costs play a significant role, making the global renewable energy market flexible, cost-effective, and integrated.

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific renewable energy market share is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.10% during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is one of the world's most significant renewable energy marketplaces. Due to the region's expanding population and rising per capita disposable income, there is a growth in energy consumption. Moreover, these fast-expanding economies in this area are the world's leading polluters. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, over two-thirds of the global increase in renewable generating capacity in 2017 was attributable to Asia. In addition, Asia-Pacific nations are concentrating on renewable energy sources, including wind, bioenergy, solar, and hydropower, because of environmental concerns, price volatility, and supply security. Solar energy has been regarded as the greatest alternative to traditional fossil fuels, and it may be utilized to cut carbon emissions by efficiently satisfying power demands.

North America is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.79% over the forecast period. Due to economic expansion, power consumption in the region is predicted to continue rising during the projection period. North America is divided into the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The United States is one of the world's most industrialized nations, and American corporations have made substantial investments in innovative renewable energy generation systems. In 2017, around 17% of the total power demand in the United States was fulfilled by renewable energy sources. Solar and wind energy will be the predominant renewable energy sources during the predicted period. In addition, the pace of expansion of wind and solar energy production in Canada is the fastest among renewable energy sources. Geothermal and ocean energy are also utilized nationwide, with a total installed capacity of around 1,200 MW.

Key Highlights

Based on type, the global renewable energy market is divided into hydropower, wind energy, solar energy, bioenergy, geothermal energy, and ocean energy. The hydropower segment is responsible for the largest market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.22% over the forecast period.

Based on end-user, the global renewable energy market is segmented into industrial, residential, and commercial. The industrial segment owns the highest market share and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9.20% over the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific is the most significant global renewable energy market shareholder and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.10% during the forecast period.

Competitive Players

The key players in the global renewable energy market are Ocean Power Technologies, Inc, rsted A/S, General Electric, NextEra Energy, Inc., Enel Spa, On Power, Yingli Solar, Tocardo BV, SynTech Bioenergy LLC, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Siemens AG, and Canadian Solar Inc.

Market News

In December 2022, Canadian Solar Inc. announced that its majority-owned subsidiary CSI Solar Co., Ltd. ("CSI Solar") had signed a 256 MW solar module contract with SOLA Group, an independent power producer situated in Cape Town. The 256 MWs will serve the two largest utility-scale solar power plants in South Africa based on private power purchase agreements (PPAs).

In January 2023, Canadian Solar Inc. revealed that CSI Energy Storage, a division of its majority-owned subsidiary CSI Solar Co., Ltd. ("CSI Solar"), has been chosen to provide up to 550 MWh of SolBank energy storage products to Pulse Clean Energy ("Pulse") for use in various UK-based projects.

Global Renewable Energy Market: Segmentation

By Type

Hydropower

Wind Energy

Solar Energy

Bioenergy

Geothermal Energy

Ocean Energy

By End-User

Industrial

Residential

Commercial

By Regions

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

South America

The Middle East and Africa

Get Detailed Market Segmentation @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/renewable-energy-market/segmentation

About Straits Research Pvt. Ltd.

Straits Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision-makers. Straits Research Pvt. Ltd. provides actionable market research data, especially designed and presented for decision making and ROI.

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PepsiCos five decades of business in Cork

Global food and beverage company PepsiCo has almost reached 50 years in business in Ireland where it has grown from a 30-person operation to a workforce of 1,250.

Most of staff in Ireland are based at PepsiCos two Cork sites in Carrigaline and Little Island, where it has based its headquarters for global manufacturing operations servicing customers across the globe.

The company is among the nominees in the International Business of the Year category at the upcoming Cork Chamber Awards.

We are delighted to be finalists in Cork Chambers International Company of the Year, especially this year as it coincides with our 50-year anniversary of doing business from our home in Cork, said Mary Lane, senior director of commercialisation at PepsiCo Ireland.

Last year, PepsiCo continued its expansion into Cork with a further 39m investment into its facility on Little Island.

This cash injection followed a 127m investment in the same site and the adjacent research and development facilities in early 2023. In addition to new investment, the company said at the time that it was committed to hiring more staff despite a tight labour market.

The company has also invested in some environmentally friendly measures at its Cork locations. For example, its Carrigaline plant is now 100% fossil fuel-free through the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a renewable biofuel. It has also installed solar panels. The company is on track to achieve its 2030 target of 75% reduction in the rest of its Ireland based plants.

PepsiCo is the worlds second-largest food and beverage company and its products are consumed by customers in more than 200 countries and the company generated more than $86bn (79bn) in net revenue in 2022, driven by a beverage and convenience foods portfolio including Lays, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade and Pepsi-Cola.

Today, PepsiCos Ireland campus includes a wide-ranging suite of business activities. Along with three beverage and food manufacturing operations, Cork is the headquarters for global manufacturing operations servicing customers across the globe. It also hosts the companys research and development campus in the areas of measurement science, beverages, packaging and dairy. Global business services also operate from Ireland including engineering, financial services, procurement, quality, supply chain, marketing, customer insights, manufacturing and technology. Also, Corks expertise in global logistics ensures the fastest routes-to-market for new PepsiCo products.

PepsiCo said that over the next few years they will invest in Corks capability, expanding the technology for manufacturing operations, and scale digital solutions to improve capacity and agility.

BioMarins 355m investment in Cork

California-headquartered biopharmaceutical firm BioMarin has pledged to ramp up packaging capabilities at its Cork site before the end of the year through a 30m investment.

The investment is part of a 355m expansion plan that has been ongoing since 2011, when BioMarin chose Shanbally for its first non-US manufacturing site.

Conor Delaney, site lead and vice-president of Shanbally manufacturing operations at BioMarin International, which was created in 1997.

The focus on manufacturing operations at the Shanbally site will continue to be an important node in our global supply chain as the company grows, BioMarin said.

The company injected 38m into the site last year to develop the production facility over the next four years.

BioMarins staff in Ireland has grown from 12 employees in Cork in 2012 to 500 across its two locations, the other being Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin.

Our culture in Shanbally revolves around a sense of community, collaboration, and a commitment to high performance. We take great pride in our place within the Cork business community and our impact on the local economy, said Conor Delaney, site lead and vice-president of Shanbally manufacturing operations, of BioMarin International, which was created in 1997.

BioMarin makes drugs, including Roctavian, which a breakthrough gene therapy approved for the treatment of severe haemophilia A, a bleeding disorder.

Were not only focused on our current therapies, but also exploring new products, investing nearly a third of revenue back into research and development, double the industry average, the company said.

BioMarin is among the nominees for international company of the year for the upcoming Cork Chamber awards.

This recognition is a wonderful testament to our team in Shanbally, who are dedicated to addressing unmet medical needs through expertise in genetics and molecular biology, said Mr Delaney.

The company employs 800 people in its offices in 40 countries across Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

BioMarin is one of the foreign-direct investment firms that make up a cluster of life sciences firms in Cork, which includes heavyweights such as Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer.

Their manufacturing operations at the Shanbally site are an important node in their global supply chain. BioMarin said it intends to leverage the end-to-end commercial manufacturing capacity that has been installed in Cork to bring more products to patients around the world.

BioMarin has the ambitious goal of submitting two to three new drug applications per year, showing its commitment to R&D and placing the firm on a trajectory of accelerated growth.

In addition to drug manufacturing, the company has also placed more focus on its energy usage at its facility in Cork by using LED lighting and installing Solar PV.

Pharma giant Janssen to increase drug manufacturing in Cork

Pharmaceutical multinational Janssen Sciences Ireland said it expects to increase manufacturing capacity at its Ringaskiddy site in Cork by 2025 through a 150m project.

The company employs more than 1,000 staff at the location where it develops and manufactures treatments for lung cancer, multiple myeloma and biomedicines for immune-related diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis for patients in Ireland and around the world.

Dana Daneshvari. General Manager Janssen Sciences Ireland at The Janssen Pharmaceutical.

Since its establishment in 2005, our site in Ringaskiddy has been at the cutting edge of delivering healthcare products which transform the lives of patients around the world, said Dana Daneshvari, general manager at Janssen Sciences Ireland.

We have an amazing team in Cork, made up of the best and brightest minds, and this recognition is a real testament to their talent and dedication.

Total investment into the site has reached around 750m since the facility was established in 2005. Most of this money has been injected into establishing and expanding manufacturing, research and development capabilities.

The firm has put money towards building an end-to-end supply chain digital and analytics operation through process technology-enabling projects.

Their Ringaskiddy plant has developed a plan to enable its 2030 vision of becoming a more predictive and adaptive plant and in May last year it opened its Innovation Hub which facilitates the training and upskilling of staff.

The company said it continues to look at hiring opportunities despite the current tight labour market. It works continuously to attract and retain talent through partnerships with UCC and MTU.

In the last three years, the company has used virtual reality and augmented reality technology to support training and process modelling while also investing in a large wind turbine reduces site energy costs.

The company also has a designated a protected habitat for the Irish Arctic hare, an apiary and wildflower meadows.

In 2009, the facility started the production of two commercial products that treat immune-related conditions, psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

In 2023, six additional commercial products make up the sites portfolio and Janssen secured US approval for its eighth commercial product.

The company has also invested significantly in its digital journey, appointing the first Digital & Technology Lead at the site as a pilot for the Global Janssen Supply Chain.

A roadmap has been developed to enable its vision of becoming a more predictive and adaptive plant. Last May they opened an Innovation Hub which facilitates the training and upskilling of staff in digital acumen, change management and problem-solving.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J), which owns Janssen, posted quarterly results just above expectations earlier this month, helped by strong sales of its blockbuster psoriasis drug Stelara.
Vodafone said it had rejected a sweetened offer from rival telecom operator Iliad to merge their Italian businesses and was pursuing other deals in a market where it is losing revenue and makes no return on its capital. Iliad is the French telecom operator that owns Eir in Ireland.

Iliad said Vodafone had rebuffed a revised 50:50 proposal to create an operator with a combined enterprise value of 14.7bn.

Vodafone said in December, after Iliad made its approach public, it was exploring options with several parties, potentially including a merger or a disposal.

One of them was a deal with Swisscom's Fastweb Italian unit, sources familiar with the matter said.

A Vodafone spokesperson said on Wednesday: "We are no longer in talks with Iliad, but our discussions with others continue."

The talks with Swisscom were more advanced than others, one person with knowledge of the matter said.

Analysts at Citi said Vodafone's rejection of Iliad, founded and majority owned by French billionaire Xavier Niel, was disappointing. "A deal with Swisscom's Fastweb could now become the base case," they said. "An inferior outcome in our view."

Shares in Vodafone, which have fallen 28% in the last 12 months even as it agreed consolidation deals in Spain and Britain, were trading down 3% in morning deals.

The consolidation of telecom providers appears to have quickened following the ending of the pandemic. A longstanding proposal by Vodafone UK and Three UK to merge their operations is to be investigated by the UK's competition watchdog. They plan to create the largest mobile operator in Britain.

In Ireland, Three Ireland said in January it planned to cut up to 150 jobs, or over 10% of its total staff, as the company's earnings continue to be hit by rising costs. It employs more than 1,300 staff, including at a customer-care facility in Limerick and at head offices in Dublin.

 Reuters and Irish Examiner
Boeing has "much to prove" to regain the confidence of regulators and customers after a mid-air cabin-panel blowout of a 737 Max aircraft, chief executive Dave Calhoun has said, adding that the planemaker will "go slow" as it faces a "serious challenge".

As expected, Mr Calhoun did not offer a financial or delivery forecast for 2024, stating that the company must focus on delivering quality airplanes.

"We will not rush the system and we will take our time to do it right," Mr Calhoun said in a letter to employees, while voicing confidence in Boeing's recovery from the current crisis.

The accident involving an Alaska Airlines-operated Max 9 jet in early January has turned into a full-blown safety and reputational crisis for the planemaker, potentially leading to slower jet production and a loss of more narrow body market share to Airbus.

Boeing said that 737 aircraft were being produced at a previously outlined rate of 38 a month, a level that it plans to maintain after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) barred the company from lifting production, while increasing its oversight.

Increasing production of 737 Max jets is crucial to Boeing's recovery from a separate safety crisis arising from two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 and the subsequent aerospace slump that followed due to the onset of the covid pandemic.

"We've taken significant steps over the last several years to strengthen our safety and quality processes, but this [Alaska Air] accident makes it absolutely clear that we have more work to do," Mr Calhoun said, amid mounting pressure on the company's top brass.

He also pointed to an announcement by Boeing earlier this month that it would add further quality inspections for the 737 Max and deploy a team to supplier Spirit AeroSystems, which makes and installs the plug door involved in the incident.

In its earnings release, Boeing did not provide an update to its 2025-2026 cash flow and Max production forecast amid lingering industry doubts on whether the planemaker will be able to achieve those targets after the FAA's unprecedented decision.

During its investor day in November 2022, Boeing projected free cash flow of about $10bn by 2025 to 2026 and 737 production of 50 per month.

The planemaker, long a symbol of America's manufacturing prowess, has yet to consistently report positive cash flows as it faced difficulties in raising production in the last two years due to a fractured supply chain and nagging quality issues.

The FAA has barred Boeing from expanding the production of the best-selling 737 Max aircraft.

The regulator launched a formal investigation into the 737 Max 9, grounding the planes for safety checks and tightening oversight of Boeing itself.

The single-aisle 737 Max, launched in 2011, is Boeing's cash cow and investors keep a close watch on its production and deliveries.

Boeing handed over 387 Max aircraft in 2023 and had unfulfilled orders for 4,783 Max jets, according to its website.

The Max, which is powered by Leap engines made by a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran, comes in four variants.

Separately, major Boeing customer Ryanair said earlier this week it was hopeful the 737 Max 10 would be certified before the end of the year and flying at the start of 2025.

"We'd be hopeful that the Max 10 will be certified somewhere towards the back end of 2024," Ryanair chief financial officer Neil Sorahan said.

"You might not see the first aircraft flying in 24, maybe in the first quarter of 25," he said.

Ryanair has firm orders for 150 Max 10 aircraft and options for 150 more.

Reuters
New to the market with Clonakilty-based auctioneers Hodnett Forde Property Services is a 68.7-acre farm near Innishannon, County Cork.

The property is in the townland of Coolcullitha, 4km northeast of the village of Innishannon and 11km from Bandon. With Cork city a 15-minute commute, its well placed to attract strong interest from farming and non-farming sources.

According to selling agent Ernest Forde, the property consists of top-quality level lands, laid out in one block. The holding has extensive road frontage onto two roads, says Ernest of the farm, presented in separate lots. The house and outbuildings on Lot D of the farm. Lot A consists of the entire 68.7-acre holding, with old traditional residence and outbuildings; Lot B consists of 41 acres; Lot C is 24.5 acres with farm buildings; Lot D consists of the residence and stone outbuildings on 3.25 acres. Its an executor sale, says Ernest. The enquiries have been good so far Its early days yet, but it could be sold in separate lots  theres a good bit of interest in the house its own, for example, due to its location. But it will be sold whichever way makes the most money. A quality land parcel close to Cork City such as this one tends to hit peak demand and Ernest expects that the price guide of 15-20,000/acre will end up much closer to 20,000. Read More 41-acre farm within 20 minutes of Cork City under offer
According to Teagasc, around 50% of dairy cows will calve between January and the end of February.

Its no surprise that by now, dairy farmers across the country are in the thick of it.

The Irish Examiner has spoken to farmers who are working hard and prioritising their animals health and welfare during this time, despite this coming after a very difficult number of months for farms.

Tough year

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association chairman Denis Drennan has said that last year was a tough year for so many and that there is not that spring in peoples step that there was last year with beef and milk price.

However, there are many still feeling hopeful, and he is advising farmers that theres only so much one person can do, no matter the position you find your farm in currently and what you feel needs to be done to improve it.

While most in farming will put the health and wellbeing of their animals first, they are being urged to make sure they not only survive the coming weeks, but make a conscious effort to look after themselves.

Mr Drennan is also advising: People have to prioritise their health both mental and physical health and look after themselves - a health check-up, eat properly, and get themselves in the best possible shape for the start of a very tough period in the year.

Safety

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Martin Heydon has urged farmers to prioritise safety during the busy calving season.

Mr Heydon said that time spent managing farm safety is time well spent.

Health and Safety Authority (HSA) data shows that attacks by a cow with a calf account for a third of all fatalities involving livestock.

Cows with calves were involved in more fatal incidents than bulls over the 10 years from 2014 to 2023.

Reflecting on the HSA data, Mr Heydon said: Cows will naturally be anxious at calving time and will defend their calves, not just after giving birth, but throughout the grazing season in the case of suckler cows.

We must be conscious of the risks when working with cows, even those we consider to be quiet animals.

The long working hours during the calving season can also lead to tiredness, which increases the risk of an incident.

Good planning and preparation in advance of the calving season helps improve efficiencies and helps reduce the risk of an incident.

Plenty help

For DJ Keohane in Timoleague, West Cork, he knows well the work involved during calving and he said that during this period, it is easy to believe he wont leave the place.

Having plenty facilities and plenty help is the biggest thing. Keep the head down, keep going, thats it, Mr Keohane says.

His wife and kids lend a hand, along with a lad he has working with him since 2009.

DJ Keohane on his farm in Timoleague, Co Cork with his sons Daniel and James and their dog Bailey. Picture: David Keane

The kids are from 18 down to nine, they help out to be fair to them. Theyre looking forward to the spring with all the calves.

Mr Keohane is farming about 200 acres, and milking about 170 cows in dairy country in Timoleague.

"Wed be calving about 30 cows in the autumn and the rest would be calving in the springtime, he said.

We have a pedigree Holstein Friesian herd.

Self-suffiency

Mr Keohane also values self-sufficiency and grows around 20 acres of maize and five acres of fodder beet.

But no matter the level of preparedness farmers had going into 2023, it was still tough, Mr Keohane said.

From output prices to the awful weather that began in July and its been raining since, Mr Keohane said any farmer wouldnt want to get another year like it.

The bad weather, the milk price falling, and it was all the doom and gloom about nitrates  it was in our face from the word go, Mr Keohane said.

Derogation

His farm is in derogation  he is at 250kg of organic nitrogen per hectare, so well have to cut back this year if worse comes to worst, he said.

He feels that many family farms never could have imagined it would come to this post-2015 quota lifting.

Mr Keohane is looking forward to the new arrivals to come from the 140 calvers from mid-January on.

DJ Keohane on his farm in Timoleague, Co Cork. Picture: David Keane

Ahead of this, he had 24 autumn calves in the calf house and theyve been moved into the shed.

Cows start calving and hopefully in the middle of February theyll start to go out to grass, then the first week of April youd be hoping the majority will be calved and youre back into the breeding season soon after and you start it all over again, he said.

Planting the beet, planting the maize around the end of April, your silage the middle of May.

October calving begins again, cut the maize, winters coming then so you must have your houses ready and up to Christmas, drying off the spring cows.

Hungry year

In terms of fodder, the farm has been tight.

Cows were in late in October so a lot of silage was used by Christmas, he said.

In a typical year, the farm would be fairly sufficient, last year we had 150 bales left over at the end of the winter and they were all gone by the summer. We never stopped feeding during the summer last year.

We were feeding maize all the way through, some of the time we fed silage, it was just a hungry year.

A difficult year was made all the more difficult with farmers weary from the constant criticism related to the environment.

Embracing change

The perception has changed, especially towards dairy farmers, he said, despite them having embraced change as best they can

Ive joined ACRES, planted trees and hedges, we use trailing shoe for low emission slurry spreading, people are starting to use protected urea, weve built slurry storage, farmers have done their best to embrace it all, Mr Keohane said.

Farmers are making a genuine effort to comply and weve been thrown under the bus environmentally.

In terms of other technologies, Mr Keohane said he hasnt used sexed semen yet, but can see the need for it going forward on many farms.

He sells bull calves for export around three weeks of age, and said that looking ahead, the farm would be looking at keeping the calves a little bit longer.

However, he fears for some dairy farms that there is no welfare benefit to the calf in keeping calves longer.

Calf welfare

The welfare of male dairy calves came under increased scrutiny in the past year.

A consultation was recently launched on a new action plan focused on highlighting the potential of dairy calf-to-beef systems as an option for farmers.

According to professor Frank OMara, Teagasc director, the building blocks are in place now to improve the beef merit of the calf crop from the dairy herd.

This is a result of the progress that has been made in the use of sexed semen, and the advances in genetic tools such as the Dairy Beef Index and the Calf Beef Value, coupled with the new genotyping programme.

The ICMSAs Denis Drennan said that the dairy calf to beef initiatives are hugely positive, but there is work to be done by all in industry.

Theres work to be done on the dairy farmer side to produce a calf thats fit for purpose, theres work to be done on the beef farmer side to get better performance through better nutrition, better grassland management, he said.

According to the new action plan, approximately 275,000 straws of sex-sorted semen were available for the 2023 breeding season, with this number expected to increase in 2024.

The AI industry has reported significant increases in the use of beef AI in dairy herds with a corresponding reduction in the use of dairy AI (driven by the adoption of sexed semen).

Next steps in this area for industry include targeted communication to dairy farmers this spring to incorporate sexed semen into their plans for generating

replacement heifers, and to provide clear communication on the optimum strategies to use sexed semen technology.

Replacements

Martin Crowe is farming in Doon in East Limerick, milking 200 cows, on 350 acres.

Embracing the technologies out there, he uses about 100 sexed straws to get 50 Friesian heifers on the ground to rear as replacements.

Martin Crowe, in Doon, Co Limerick with his calves. Picture: Kieran Ryan-Benson

Almost everything else is bred to beef including most of the repeats, thereby I get my replacements from my best cows and have them early to give them every opportunity to hit their target weights for breeding 15 months later, according to Mr Crowe.

I have used a lot of Belgian Blue for the last few years - they have a short gestation, calve mostly on their own, calves are good to drink and my calf buyers are very happy with them, especially coming off a pure Friesian cow.

'Disaster'

Not everything can be planned on the farm though, as Mr Crowe, who also works as an agricultural consultant off-farm, says that 2023 had months that could be described as a disaster, as the milk price was bad and weather was terrible.

We did our first cut of silage in end of May / early June, next thing it started raining and didnt stop, he said.

"Only for we got a fine week in September we took the second cut and the third cut in as one cut.

We were lucky to get it. Glad to have it, feeding it to dry cows now at the moment, theyre getting on fine with it.

The cows came in early, I put them dry in November where normally they were dried off in December.

Hoping for better this year.

Picture: Kieran Ryan-Benson

However, he said, he is lucky enough with the nitrates compared to many other farms across the country as a result of the European Commissions recent decision as a result of water quality.

I have a nice bit of land, most of it leased in but Im on 165/170kg the last couple of years. I hope to stay down in that area, he said.

I had previously been in derogation, I didnt have all the land I have now. When I got the opportunity to get out of it, I said Id go.

The 250/220kg divide crosses right through the middle of my farm as well  it would have been tricky enough if I had to go down that road.

Its a lot easier to manage out of derogation. There was a lot more compliance work involved in derogation farming.
The original Young Offender is back in town. Kieran MacFeely - aka Simple Kid - is set for his first Cork headlining gig in 17 years.

Mac Feely will be headlining at Cyprus Avenue on Sunday May 5, with tickets to go on sale on Friday at 10am.

Having made a name for himself in mid-90s indie outfit The Young Offenders, Mac Feely struck out on a solo basis under the Simple Kid moniker in the early-2000s -

Debut album Simple Kid 1 came in for critical acclaim and commercial success, as single Truck On landed in the UK Top 40, while Mac Feely ended up playing Glastonbury and appearing on Later with Jools Holland.

When a second album coincided with changes at home and in the wider music business, however, Mac Feely quietly retired the name and began life as a teacher in the UK.

The Douglas musician told this writer last year: "Changes came along, and some of them were very hard, a lot of financial stuff, young kids coming along, so by the time I came up for air, I was a very different person, with a very different set of limitations. Instead of becoming an alcoholic and buying a Harley-Davidson or having an affair, I set about trying to work it out, really."

A 2018 excursion back into songwriting and home recording, however, resulted in the online return of the Simple Kid name in 2022 - and the self-release of a third self-titled album, comprised of songs written in the period, kickstarted a comeback.

His first Irish gig in over a decade came in for acclaim from gig-goers at Whelan's in Dublin last April.

"To a projected backdrop of 1970s and 80s pop-culture clips old singles Truck On, The Average Man and Serotonin are rapturously received, but deeper cuts - Supertramps & Superstars and The Commuter - also inspire mass singalongs," wrote Irish Examiner reviewer Paul McDermott.

"This was a triumphant return, the headful of Bolan-esque corkscrew curls may have long receded but theres no doubting that the Kid is back."

Simple Kid plays Cyprus Avenue on Sunday May 6, with support to be announced. Tickets on sale Friday at 10am via Eventbrite.
A complete re-think in how rural doctors are recruited is needed to address the crisis in GP numbers, the Irish Medical Organisation has said.

The Irish Examiner reportedlast weekend how one region in Kerry has gone from six doctors to three, including one approaching retirement in a microcosm of the national crisis.

Irish Medical Organisation former president and a GP in rural Galway Dr Martin Daly said the impact of funding cuts in 2011 has lingered.

There was, I would say, a lost 15 years and we are now playing catch-up, he said.

He echoed calls by South Kerry taskforce, Tascfhorsa Uibh Rathaigh, for more supports.

In the rural areas, I do think there has to be a complete re-think around how services are provided, he said.

Communities are entitled to expect general practitioner services in those areas. A number of different models should be considered.

He suggests GPs could be employed by the HSE in some areas or financially supported more directly than currently.

Supporting doctors to work together in a clinic rather than in single-handed practices could also be explored, he said.

Dr Daly is also a GP trainer, and said a survey of trainee GPs in the West he saw this weekend was positive.

It was the first time in over a decade where there was an indication that GPs in training want to stay in this country and want to commit to full-time practice. That is heartening, he said.

He added: The HSE and Department [of Health] will need to look at supporting GPs to establish in those areas.

It may be for one, two, or three years but it may be an ongoing support where the infrastructure is provided to the establishing GP to walk into.

Meanwhile it has emerged uptake of new GP visit cards has been extremely low with just 15,000 out of 430,000 eligible people doing so.

Dr Daly said the scheme is promoted by GPs but he sees one major barrier.

In my experience talking to patients, the application system is cumbersome and complex, he said.

People are discouraged when they go online from applying for a visit card.

I think the HSE needs to look at streamlining the application process and making it much more accessible.
Routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland are to be removed as part of a British government deal to restore powersharing at Stormont.

A command paper titled Safeguarding The Union commits to replacing the current green lane process, which requires percentages of goods to be checked as they arrive from Britain, with a UK internal market system that will govern the movement of goods that will remain within the United Kingdom.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has hailed the move as a key concession that will effectively scrap the contentious so-called Irish Sea border for goods destined to remain within the UK.

There should not be a border within the UK internal market. These proposals remove that border, he said.

The measure is part of a wide-ranging deal agreed between the DUP and the British government that is set to bring about the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland after a two-year hiatus.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak said restored powersharing in Northern Ireland offered the prospect of a brighter future.

Mr Sunak told the Commons: After two years without an executive, there is now a prospect of powersharing back up and running, strengthening our Union, giving people the local, accountable government that they need, and offering a brighter future for Northern Ireland.

The DUP has agreed to drop its two-year blockade of Stormont in exchange for the government measures aimed at addressing its concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements that created economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

The Stormont Assembly could sit again as soon as Saturday.

The post-Brexit red lane for transporting goods from Britain to The North and on into the EU Single Market will remain, but the command paper offers measures aimed at reducing the volume of trade required to use that red-tape heavy route, with a prediction that 80% of goods will now move free of routine checks through the internal market system.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London. Picture: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire

The move to reduce post-Brexit checks on British-NI trade would represent a change to the current EU/UK Windsor Framework agreement and therefore would require Brussels approval.

It is understood the EU has been kept up to date with the shape of the British governments package of measures.

Downing Street has said that the deal contains significant changes to the Windsor Frameworks operation, but is not about altering the fundamentals of the framework.

The formal implementation of any changes to the framework are expected to be examined and decided upon within the existing EU/UK Joint Committee framework in the days and weeks ahead.

The command paper said the replacement of the green lane would ensure there will be no checks when goods move within the UK internal market system save those conducted by UK authorities as part of a risk-based or intelligence-led approach to tackle criminality, abuse of the scheme, smuggling and disease risks.

The paper adds: This will ensure the smooth flow of goods that are moving within the UK internal market. As well as moves to cut Brexit bureaucracy on Irish Sea trade, the command paper includes a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Irelands constitutional position within the United Kingdom.

Legislation will be tabled with the purpose of affirming Northern Irelands constitutional status underpinned by, among other provisions, the Acts of Union.

The paper said: The legislation will affirm Parliaments sovereignty over all matters in Northern Ireland, and address the concern that Northern Irelands constitutional position in the Union has been weakened by the creation of specific arrangements for trade in goods.

The British government has also pledged to amend domestic law, specifically section 7A of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, to affirm the fact that new EU laws will not automatically apply in Northern Ireland, and must first be subject to democratic oversight by the Stormont Assembly.

The oversight procedures already outlined in the Windsor Framework include the so-called Stormont brake mechanism that enables 30 or more MLAs to flag a concern about a new EU law planned to come into effect in Northern Ireland.

The British government is obliged to assess whether those concerns meet a threshold that could then result in the UK vetoing the application of the law in the region.

Legislation promised in the deal is set to be fast-tracked through Parliament on Thursday to enable the swift restoration of the institutions at Stormont.

The command paper also includes commitments to ensure Northern Ireland goods will always be able to be sold in the GB market regardless of any divergence in EU and UK standards.

In respect of further UK divergence from EU standards, there is also a legal requirement that new Westminster legislation is assessed as to whether it impacts on trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

If it does, there will be a statutory duty for the relevant minister to make a statement considering any impacts on the operation of Northern Irelands place in the UKs internal market.

A requirement that saw certain goods sold in Northern Ireland to display a label stating not for sale in the EU will now to extend to cover the whole UK.

The government is also creating two new bodies.

An UK East-West Council will bring together representatives from government, business and the education sector from Northern Ireland and Britain to identify opportunities for deepening connections between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK in areas such as trade, transport, education and culture.

Intertrade UK will promote trade within the UK. Among its roles will be to proactively communicate with businesses that currently choose not to sell products in Northern Ireland and identify solutions that could enable them to expand their services to the region.
A first of its kind centre has opened in north Dublin that aims to help people with disabilities become familiar with public transport and teach authorities how to design more accessible services.

It is understood that just 6% of people in Ireland with disabilities use public transport.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) and Vision Ireland, formerly the National Council for the Blind (NCBI), showcased The Wayfinding Centre, which cost 7.83m, on Wednesday.

The centre is located on a 31,000 sq ft site of a former printworks on Botanic Road in Glasnevin and will open to the public in April after six years of construction.

The Wayfinding Centre in Glasnevin, Dublin (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

It includes half an Airbus A319 plane, part of a Luas tram, part of a DART carriage, pathways, cycle lanes, traffic lights, buses and an example of an airport security scanner.

Ministers and disability organisations have hailed it as the first of its kind, and it is understood parliamentarians from other countries attended the event on Wednesday.

The centre aims to give people with access needs the confidence to use public transport by familiarising them with it through real-world scenarios in a safe and controlled environment.

It will also give public transport drivers, architects, designers, engineers and students a chance to learn how public services can be made more accessible.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, Minister for Children Roderic OGorman, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe, and minister of state with responsibility for disabilities Anne Rabbitte attended the launch.

Ministers Anne Rabbitte and Paschal Donohoe at the launch of The Wayfinding Centre (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

Its a really positive development that were seeing here today, Ms Rabbitte said.

The location is really, really good, theres a bus stop outside the door, theres a DART around, were just off the M50 and the airport is down the road.

A lot of people like to leave the country on their holidays so the training of staff that work in various airlines to come along here and give people the opportunity to feel that they have the right to travel, I think thats what this is all about.

Mr Donohoe, who is a local TD, said this was a unique centre, not just in Ireland but across the world.

He added: On a lighter note, theres been some speculation for a while regarding why were moving half an airplane and various forms of public transport into the centre  Im delighted to be able to explain what theyre all being used for now, and the role that theyre going to play in supporting our citizens with disabilities to travel in Ireland.

The Wayfinding Centre will open to the public in April (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

Chris White, chief executive of Vision Ireland, said the main focus will be to engage with the 1.1 million people with disabilities in Ireland, and also with the 50,000-60,000 people who work in public transport services.

But whats going to change Ireland is this centre is linked to DCU, to TU Dublin, to University College London and well be educating all the future architects, engineers, surveyors and planners, to ensure that they understand accessibility properly, and can actually put accessibility as an equal valued element of the design, he told the PA news agency.

So what were looking at is the architects doing modules here as part of their degree.

So this centre sets out what good looks like, what the challenges are, and we can have a more consistent, more joined up public realm that is more considered for people with disabilities.

Mr White added: Theres nothing else like this in the world. There is a centre in Melbourne, but all they have is a tram.

Vision Ireland and the National Transport Authoritys Wayfinding Centre (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA)

So theres nothing else like this in the world. So weve got an MP from England today going Wow, this is amazing.

Weve got a guy from the United States, weve got EU representatives here as well and well be hosting EU conferences in May of this year.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has called the transport minister "incompetent" and "an idiot" and hit out at the Green Party over its opposition to raising a cap on passenger numbers at Dublin Airport.

The airport's operator, daa, is seeking permission to raise the cap on passengers from 32m to 40m a year over the next two years, a move which drew an objection from junior minister Joe O'Brien.

The Green Party TD for Dublin Fingal's objection was one of 380 submissions made before the deadline on Monday.

Mr O'Brien's submission says that the move "will significantly increase noise exposure from aircraft to residents of north county Dublin and cause a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions".

"During a climate emergency, I believe it is contrary to our national and international commitments to expand airport passenger numbers by 25%."

Mr O'Leary told RTE radio that Transport Minister Eamon Ryan is "incompetent" and "does not want to touch Dublin Airport".

He said the cap remaining in place would mean higher air fares in the future and that Mr Ryan had a "block" on expansion of the airport.

"We have this absolute joke of a situation where we've just opened a second runway which creates more capacity, but now none of the airlines can grow and from a selfish point of view, this is great for Ryanair's business.

A spokesperson for Transport Minister Eamon Ryan declined to respond to Mr O'Leary. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

"I mean, if we can't grow at Dublin Airport, it's inevitable that air fares will rise for the next couple of years... while we have a transport minister who sits there and does nothing."

Mr O'Leary said the "Greens and the idiots on the left" wrongly want to tax aviation companies and said that the idea of using Shannon or Cork more instead of increasing the Dublin cap is "the kind of stupidity only a Green minister would give you".

"50% of the passengers on our flights are inbound passengers.

"If they wanted to go to Cork, we'd fly them to Cork.

"If they wanted to go to Knock, we'd fly them to Knock.

"The vast majority of those passengers, the vast majority of that hotel accommodation is in Dublin  they want to come to Dublin."

The Ryanair CEO denied there is "intense congestion" around the capital's airport but said there had to be an expansion of the boarding gates in the terminals.

Asked about the issue at the launch of the Wayfinding Centre in Glasnevin in Dublin, Mr Ryan said he could not interfere in the planning system.

He said that Mr O'Brien is entitled to his view as both a person and a representative for the area.

"I'm in a different position as the minister of transport, there are additional legal considerations... Fingal County Council and the other authorities have to assess the planning permission and as minister of transport I have to be careful not to intervene in what is a legal process."

A spokesperson for Mr Ryan later declined to respond to Mr O'Leary.

At the same event, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe said he is "supportive of any project in any airport that can make a difference to access and transport into our country".
There was nothing the fire service could have done to prevent the deaths of the victims of the Stardust fire on the night, despite the first appliance arriving less than 10 minutes after the initial 999 call made from inside the club, fresh inquests have heard.

Furthermore, the task facing the first firefighters on the scene was unprecedented and something which was extremely difficult to plan for.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, expert Mark Ross said: I dont think anything done before or during that incident wouldve changed the outcome. Can I be certain? No. But I think its highly unlikely.

You could liken it to something like Grenfell, turning up to that.

Separately, another expert told the 13-person jury that numerous bylaws related to the operation of the Stardust were not complied with, including matters related to exit doors and fire safety measures at the premises.

Having now sat for over 100 days, the fresh inquests for the 48 people who died is nearing its conclusion with the testimony of fire experts as to the cause of the fire, the emergency response and the evacuation of the building.

In the early hours of February 14, 1981, a fire swept through the ballroom in North Dublin just at the close of a disco dancing competition. The average age of the deceased was just 19, and new inquests were ordered after sustained campaigns by families for fresh inquiries into the disaster.

Firefighters' response

Looking at the response from firefighters who rushed to the scene, Mr Ross  who worked for London Fire Brigade for 28 years  said within a few minutes, the seriousness of the fire was recognised in the control room on Tara Street.

He said when the first crews arrived, the main priorities would have been to get fire fighting apparatus in place, a steady water supply and begin rescue attempts for those trapped inside.

"It was a sound tactic in my opinion, he said. I dont think Id have done anything differently to that. They did the best they could with those limited resources. It was clearly a challenging situation. Thats an underestimate, really, for what they faced.

The jury heard how at least three people were rescued from one set of toilets and five from another near the front of the building. Just a few weeks before, metal plates had been welded to block access to the windows of these toilets. It was claimed this was done to prevent drink or weapons being passed through the windows to those inside.

Mr Ross said the firefighters in the building would have faced difficult choices about whether to try to remove someone from the premises or look for someone who perhaps had a better chance of survival.

Making assessments on a casualties condition by sight or touch alone is extremely difficult, he said. Initial condition may not give you all the information you need.

He said, with hindsight, he would have recovered the two bodies that were found at the top of the stairs near the main door of the premises. The inquests have heard these were not immediately removed from the Stardust when discovered. But, Mr Ross added, he could understand why the decision was made not to.

Under questioning by counsel Mark Tottenham, for the coroners team, Mr Ross was asked if it was likely that most of those who died in the Stardust had already died by the time of the arrival of the first appliance at 1.51am. The first emergency call from within the Stardust to report a fire had come at 1.43am.

From what Ive reviewed, I think it is likely, he said.

Within 23 minutes of the arrival of the first fire appliance, the officer in command at the scene switched from a rescue operation to a recovery one as it was considered there may not be anyone else alive in the Stardust at that point.

Fire engineering expert's evidence

Later, fire engineering expert Martin Davidson began his evidence. He said the carpet tiles used on the wall of the Stardust did not have the required surface spread of flame rating that was required of it by the chief fire officer.

At the time, there were no national building regulations in Ireland and the bylaws in individual jurisdictions would have applied. In the case of the Stardust, it was to adhere to the bylaws of Dublin Corporation.

Mr Davidson said of the 26 bylaws deemed relevant to the Stardust, 16 of them were not complied with. This ranged from the exit doors not being made available to the public at all times when they were on the premises and no fire drills ever being held at the Stardust.

However, he did say with the exception of the entrance foyer, the Stardust had a good design, with an adequate number of exits and reasonably good access to the building.

Which leads to the question as to why so many people died in the fire, he concluded on Wednesday afternoon.

There were a number of issues and the means of escape strategy was undermined by a number of factors."

Mr Davidson continues his evidence on Thursday.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that there are no red flags in the deal reached between the DUP and British government to end post-Brexit checks between the North and Britain.

Speaking in Brussels, Mr Varadkar said that the Government had only just seen the detail of the agreement, adding that it will need to be studied.

I think there are certainly going to be some questions that we will want to ask, more particularly the European Commission will want to ask some questions about the trading arrangements, Mr Varadkar said.

But from what Ive seen so far, I dont see any red flags.

"I dont see anything that would give us undue cause for concern, but like I say we will have to study it further and certainly there will be some questions.

The Taoiseach said that it was key for the Government that any deal reached is faithful to the Good Friday Agreement, adding that he is confident this is the case.

He added that it also needs to be faithful to the Windsor Framework, agreed between Britain and the EU in early 2023.

The command paper, which sets out the changes made to post-Brexit trading arrangements between the North and Britain, commits to replacing the current green lane process with a UK internal market system, which will govern how goods move between Britain and the North.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has said that the plan is a key concession from the British government, which removes the so-called Irish Sea border for goods that are due to remain within the North.
Here are answers to some of the key questions surrounding the Government package that is set to deliver the restoration of powersharing in Northern Ireland.

 What led to the current Stormont stalemate?

During the Brexit divorce talks, former British prime minister Boris Johnson negotiated the Northern Ireland Protocol with the EU in order to ensure the continued free movement of goods on the island of Ireland.

However, this led to the requirement for checks on goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and was deeply unpopular with unionists, who described it as an Irish Sea border.

After feeling that the Government was not responding fast enough to his concerns, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson collapsed the Stormont powersharing institutions when he withdrew Paul Givan as first minister almost two years ago.

In response, Rishi Sunak negotiated the Windsor Framework with the EU, introducing new rules on the movement of goods and a veto for the implementation of EU law in Northern Ireland.

However, Mr Donaldson insisted this did not go far enough, leading to months of protracted negotiations that have culminated in the command paper Safeguarding The Union, published by the Government.

Paul Givan announces his resignation as first minister in February 2022 (Peter Morrison/PA)

 Why has the DUP agreed to the deal?

Mr Donaldson has insisted the new arrangements have removed the Irish Sea trading border and restored Northern Irelands place within the UK internal market.

The deal will see the end of routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Great Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland, as well as a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Irelands constitutional position within the United Kingdom.

The DUP leader says this is the best deal that could be achieved for the people of Northern Ireland and has persuaded him to end his boycott of the powersharing institutions.

Mr Donaldson has long argued in favour of restoring devolved government, providing his concerns over post-Brexit trade and sovereignty were addressed.

 Does this represent a major change to the trading arrangements agreed with Brussels?

It depends who you listen to.

Mr Donaldson says his party has delivered fundamental change to the Windsor Framework by ending routine checks on goods moving from Great Britain to and staying in Northern Ireland.

Downing Street, however, has insisted the measures unveiled on Wednesday do not require specific EU sign-off, characterising them instead as operational changes to the framework, without altering the fundamentals of the bilateral deal.

The EU, for its part, has said it will carefully analyse the measures.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris both briefed EU executive vice-president Maros Sefcovic on the paper on Wednesday.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin has suggested Brussels will have a role, telling reporters in Belfast that the EU/UK Joint Committee will need to look at the package.

Mr Martin made clear he did not anticipate any push-back from the European Commission on what has been agreed between the DUP and UK.

(l to r) Jamie Bryson, Jim Allister and DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson attend a rally in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol in Lurgan, County Armagh in 2022 (Liam McBurney/PA)

 Who is opposed to the DUP leaders move?

Not everyone in the DUP supports accepting the arrangements that will lead to a return to powersharing.

A meeting of the partys ruling executive, where Mr Donaldson presented the proposals to members, lasted for more than five hours on Monday night.

He was ultimately able to secure the backing of the executive, insisting the margin of support was decisive, and the endorsement of the majority of his 12 party officers.

However, just hours after the command paper was published on Wednesday, senior DUP MP Sammy Wilson launched a scathing broadside against the Government in the House of Commons in a clear sign of the differing opinions at the highest levels of the party.

The arch Brexiteer claimed the ongoing application of EU law in Northern Ireland was the result of a spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying Government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

On top of internal tensions, Mr Donaldson faces criticism from some in the wider unionist and loyalist community.

They insist the Stormont boycott should only end when the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol, and the subsequent Windsor Framework, are scrapped entirely.

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister is a vocal critic, describing the DUP as protocol implementers.

High-profile loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, who live-tweeted elements of the private DUP executive meeting after securing an audio feed from a wired-up mole inside the party, has challenged Mr Donaldson to a public debate on the new measures.

There have also been suggestions on social media that roads could be blocked in loyalist areas as part of protests against the deal.

The DUP leader has hit back, claiming his opponents have delivered a big blank sheet of nothing when it comes to removing the Irish Sea border.

Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill is set to become Northern Irelands first nationalist first minister (Niall Carson/PA)

 So what happens next?

The Government aims to fast-track two statutory instruments through Westminster on Thursday.

One will provide legislative assurances on Northern Irelands constitutional position within the UK with the other delivering the changes to the trading system by amending the Internal Markets Act.

Their passage would pave the way for the DUP to give the green light for a Stormont return.

MLAs have already been put on notice on the prospect of a hastily-recalled sitting.

The expectation is Stormont could be back up and running as soon as Saturday, when the Assembly chamber at Parliament Buildings would witness the historically significant moment of the appointment of its first-ever nationalist first minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill.
Eight people who may have been exposed to a chemical agent at the Technological University of the Shannon in Moylish, Limerick, were kept under observation and separated from other patients at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

A total of nine people, including TUS students and staff, are understood to have suffered irritations to their eyes and a burning sensation in their throat leading to the evacuation of part of the campus at 11am on Wednesday.

Seven patients were taken by ambulance from the university campus to UHL, an eighth person self-presented at the hospital, and a ninth person was assessed by paramedics at the scene.

A fleet of HSE ambulances and tenders attached to Limerick City and County Fire and Rescue Service responded to the scene, and investigations into the cause of the incident are continuing.

As the patients in question may have been exposed to an as-yet-unknown chemical agent, they were cohorted and kept under observation in a designated area separate from but adjacent to the ED proper, said a spokesman for the UL Hospitals Group.

A total of eight patients presented to the Emergency Department at UHL following an incident at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) campus at Moylish, Limerick, it said.

Seven patients were conveyed to the Emergency Department by ambulance and another self-presented. Patients were re-triaged on arrival and have been reassessed.

"A ninth patient was assessed at the scene by the Alternative Pre-Hospital Pathway (APP) service, a collaboration between the National Ambulance Service and UL Hospitals Group.

Hospital sources said the hospitals major emergency plan swung into action to provide emergency response to the casualties brought in from the scene.

Staff at the Emergency Department regularly take part in training exercises and drills in the event of such an incident.

"All the patients are stable and all but one have been discharged from hospital as of 3.30pm, the hospital group said.

A spokeswoman for the Technological University of the Shannon said its Moylish Campus main building was evacuated at approximately 11am as members of Limerick Fire Service investigated complaints of a possible irritant in the air in one part of the building.

No source was found for the irritant and the fire service advised that the main building could re-open from 2.30pm, the spokesperson added.

A source familiar with the incident said people at the campus had complained of a strange odour before experiencing a burning sensation in their throats.

They could not see it but they could smell it, it could have been far more serious and everyone who was taken to hospital is being looked after, the source said.

More than 1500 students are registered across seven TUS campuses across the country.
The UK government is due to publish the details of its deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which sets the stage for the return of the Stormont powersharing institutions.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has already said that the agreement will remove all post-Brexit checks on goods destined for Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

The unionist party has been using a veto power to block Stormonts devolved institutions for almost two years in protest at the post-Brexit arrangements that have created trade barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

DUP leader Sir Jeffery Donaldson has said checks on goods destined for NI from the UK would end (Liam McBurney/PA)

However, Mr Donaldson announced earlier this week that his party was prepared to return to Stormont, dependent on the UK government implementing the various legislative assurances and other measures it has offered.

This is expected to lead to the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland within days and will see Michelle ONeill become the regions first ever nationalist first minister.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin will take part in a round of talks with Northern Irelands main political parties and business leaders in Belfast on Wednesday.

Speaking ahead of the meetings, Mr Martin said the Irish Government has no issue with streamlining and ensuring a seamless passage of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Mr Martin also paid tribute to Mr Donaldson, praising him for his leadership, saying he has opened a path to a functioning Executive and Assembly.

Well await the publication of the documents today by the British Government, Mr Martin added.

I think it would be prudent to examine those and we will do that. The British Government and the European Union have worked hard to address many of the practical concerns about the outworking of Brexit and Northern Ireland.

We need to move forward for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland in terms of economy, in terms of jobs, in terms of public services. He added: But my sense is that the (EU) Commissions main concern is the single market, not necessarily the transfer of goods between GB and Ireland.

So my view is that the Commission all along, has been cooperative and constructive in endeavouring to get a resolution to all of these issues, so that people can get about their daily lives in a less constrained way.

He also referred to the changes that will come into effect from today, which will see goods exporting from Ireland to Britain being subjected to checks for the first time under Brexit rules.

All of this has been about really trying to manage what was the fundamental change in over 50 years, and the impact on Northern Ireland has been significant, Mr Martin added.

It is understood the government will introduce two statutory instruments at Westminster to give legislative effect to the commitments it has made on trade and sovereignty.

The return of Stormont will also see the Treasury release a 3.3 billion package to support under-pressure public services in Northern Ireland. The financial package includes money to settle the demands of striking public sector workers in the region this year.

Speaking on Tuesday, following meetings with other Stormont parties, Mr Donaldson said the deal would represent a significant change in addressing unionist concerns over Brexits so-called Irish Sea border.

He said: On checks, on goods, moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and staying within the UK there will no longer by physical checks, identity checks, save where, as is normal in any part of the UK there is a suspicion of smuggling, of criminal activity; that is the same for every part of the United Kingdom.

On customs paperwork, customs declarations, supplementary declarations, will be gone.

(left to right) Sinn Fein representatives MLA Conor Murphy, president Mary Lou McDonald and vice-president Michelle ONeill (Liam McBurney/PA)

Sinn Fein has focused on the imminent return of the Stormont Assembly, with party leader Mary Lou McDonald stating that Irish unity is now within touching distance as she hailed the significance of her party assuming the role of Stormont first minister for the first time.

Ms McDonald said the expected appointment of her party colleague Michelle ONeill into the job in the coming days would be a moment of very great significance.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he believes the conditions exist for the return of the Stormont powersharing institutions (Victoria Jones/PA)

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he would publish the Governments proposals on Wednesday.

He added: I believe that all the conditions are now in place for the assembly to return.

Mr Donaldson announced his support for a Stormont return after receiving the decisive backing of the 130-strong party executive during a five-hour meeting on Monday night.

He said DUP party officers, a key 12-strong decision-making body, had also mandated him to move forward on the basis he was proposing.

Support for the deal is not unanimous within the DUP and several senior figures remain opposed to the proposed agreement to restore powersharing.
The Government has voted down a Sinn Fein motion calling for Ireland to immediately declare its intention to intervene in South Africas genocide case against Israel.

The Sinn Fein motion, which was debated on Tuesday in the Dail, called on the Government to immediately declare its plans to intervene in South Africas case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

However, a Government amendment to the motion slightly changed the wording.

This wording change said that the Government would consider filing an intervention in the South Africa case, following legal analysis.

The Government's amendment was passed by the Dail, with 70 votes in favour and 63 against.

During the debate on Tuesday, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said that he is puzzled by the reaction of opposition TDs to Irelands response to attacks in Gaza when Palestinian officials are welcoming the Governments support.

I cannot help but be puzzled by the disconnect between what I hear in this chamber and what I hear internationally, Mr Martin told the Dail.

What we hear from the opposition benches is that the Government should be ashamed  of not doing enough, of not representing the will of the Irish people, of letting down the Palestinian people.

But shame is not the word I hear outside this House. Shame is not the word I hear from our partners in Palestine and across the Arab world and the Global South; from the UN agencies and civil society organisations that we work with.

Mr Martin said that he has received requests for Ireland to maintain its current position and be a principled and effective voice within both the EU and UN on Palestine.

The Tanaiste also criticised the opposition for calling on Ireland to join the South African case, saying that this is not how the ICJ works.

He said that interventions are not able to be filed until South Africa files its main case  or memorial  with the ICJ.

Introducing the Sinn Fein motion, the partys foreign affairs spokesperson Matt Carthy said that the provisional measures from the ICJ were historic.

Crucially, the court clarified that the Palestinian people of Gaza are entitled to be protected from acts of genocide under the convention.

"It clearly stated that some of the claims made by South Africa are plausible, Mr Carthy said.

In effect, the ICJ has found that genocide may or may imminently be committed by Israel against the Palestinian people of Gaza.

Mr Carthy said that this means the Government can no longer deny that there is an imminent threat of genocide in Gaza".
Strangers still visit the grotto where Ann Lovett gave birth to her baby 40 years ago, a pilgrimage to a place that exposed cruel secrets and religious hypocrisy, and ultimately prompted positive change in Ireland.

Forty years ago on Wednesday, the 15-year-old schoolgirl died of shock after exposure and severe blood loss when she delivered her baby alone on cold, wet stone under a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Anns son, Patrick, died just a few short hours before his mother on January 31, 1984.

She was found bloody and cold, lying in her soaked school uniform beneath the statue of a woman who would also have been persecuted for being unmarried and pregnant, and who had nowhere to go to birth her baby.

The irony that Christianitys hallowed matriarch was also an unmarried pregnant woman  a group so maligned by then-powerful voices in the Catholic church that Ann was left alone to give birth on that dark January afternoon  is stark.

Anns death became a powerful symbol of a system and a culture that no longer served its people.

She died at a time of burgeoning social change in Ireland, when a more secular youth, eyes and minds opened by education and immigration, railed against a hyper-conservative, theocratic society, and pushed hard to create a new Ireland.

For many, Ann's tragic death became a clarion call for that change.

In 1984, Catholic doctrine still influenced public policy.

Contraception was illegal without a prescription (until 1985), marital rape was not a crime (until 1990), homosexuality was illegal (until 1993), and Magdalene Laundries were still in operation

Ann Lovett was 15 when she died.

A few months before Ann died in 1983 the Eighth Amendment, which effectively banned abortion in the Irish Constitution, was passed in a fractious referendum.

Anns death prompted an outpouring of anger and grief. Hundreds of letters were written to RTE where people shared their own similar secrets and shames.

Her death made an indelible impact on the town of Granard in Longford.

It had a big impact. It was a big trauma for the town, a Granard local who knew the Lovetts but who asked not to be named said.

A lot of journalists came and they wouldnt be welcome. It was a big intrusion. But overall it was a good thing that it was out in the open.

But many in Granard wish it remained a secret, kept locked away safely behind local doors and tightly pulled curtains.

Shadows of that tribal, secretive old Ireland still dance around the edges of Anns story, and around Granard.

Many locals want it forgotten, her memory and the learnings we should all take from her death not worth the pain of confronting societys thinly veiled prejudices and the mundane, blind cruelties that ultimately led to her death.

The grave of Ann Lovett at Granardkill Graveyard, Granard, Co Longford. Picture: Lorraine Teevan

Ann died in Granard, but the town was not unique in its attitudes towards a young unmarried mother at the time.

Pubs are still asked to switch off the TV when Anns name is broadcast and many locals still refuse to watch films or documentaries about her death.

The town would rather forget about it now. You often hear people complain in pubs theyre showing it again when something comes on the TV about Ann.

Christy Moore wrote a song about Ann, people wouldnt listen to that here, the local said.

But many people from outside Granard are still drawn to Ann and her story decades later.

Youd often see people up at her grave or the grotto. Theyre from out of town. You often hear people asking if thats where the young girl and her baby died, the local said.

Call to leave family in peace

Former town councillor Brenda Tallon said she wished everyone would leave the Lovetts alone.

They need some peace and quiet.

It keeps rearing its head. Theyre not getting any peace over Anns death.

Ann Rose Lovett was born into this world on April 6, 1968, in Cobh General Hospital, Co Cork.

She lived in the Victorian Grahams Terrace overlooking the sea, the seventh of nine children.

Ann's father, Diarmuid Lovett, at her inquest. He died three years after his daughter. Picture: Independent News And Media/Getty Images

Her father, Diarmuid Lovett, moved the family back to his home village, Kilnaleck, Co Cavan, in 1972.

The family then moved to nearby Granard in Co Longford, in 1981. Her father bought a pub, the Copper Pot, but it was often closed.

A budding artist and journalist, Ann worked in her school, Cnoc Mhuires magazine, Feach.

She was described by people who knew her as independent, outgoing, and bubbly.

And she was creative. At school, she loved art, English, and biology.

On January 31, 1984, she took a pair of scissors from her home before ostensibly leaving for school.

But she never went to school that day.

Instead, she went alone to the grotto where she gave birth to a baby boy on the cold stone ground in the rain. She used the scissors to cut the umbilical cord.

Three boys were walking home from school at about 4pm when one of them saw Anns red schoolbag near the entrance to the grotto and heard moaning.

They found Ann covered in blood and lying on the cold, wet ground, her dead baby lying nearby.

They ran for help, first finding local man Tony Kelly. He came to Ann, saw her critically ill and her baby already dead, and went to the parish priest for help.

The priest told him the girl needed a doctor, not a priest.

But Canon Gilfillan did not call a doctor, and instead went to collect what he needed to perform Last Rites, according to media reports.

The boys knocked on a neighbours door  Eugene Gallagher  who was the first person to call a doctor for Ann at 4.14pm and brought her blankets.

Dr Tom Donoghue immediately called an ambulance, but it was 42km away in Mullingar hospital.

Dr Donoghue drove Ann, her dead baby, and her father to their home to wait for the ambulance, which arrived at 5.10pm.

People still visit the grotto where Ann died. Picture: Brenda Fitzsimons

Anns lips and fingertips were white when she arrived at Mullingar hospital at 5.55pm.

She was cold to the touch and was still dressed in her soaking-wet school uniform.

Although efforts were made to save her she died a short time later.

Anns death was caused by irreversible shock due to exposure and blood loss in childbirth, with exposure being the main factor, pathologist Ken Cunnane reported.

The baby had died from asphyxia, probably in delivery, and had been stillborn.

Ann and her baby were buried together in Granard graveyard.

Less than three months later, on April 22, 1984, Anns younger sister Patricia, aged 14, died by suicide.

Diarmuid Lovett died three years later, aged 54. Ann's mother Patricia Lovett remained living on Main Street, Granard, until her death in June 2015, aged 81.

Ann's family never spoke publicly about her death.

Ann attended the Catholic Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School. The school always maintained that it did not know Ann was pregnant and said staff would have helped her if they knew.

A past pupil of the school, a few years younger than Ann, said the school was extremely strict.

It was horrific going to school there.

The nuns were horrific. And they were so strict on uniform, I dont know how she [Ann] got away with being pregnant in there.

Lord have mercy on her, she must have gone through hell.

Patricia Lovett, mother of Ann Lovett at the inquest into her death. Picture: Independent News And Media/Getty Images

Orla OConnor, director of the National Womens Council, said that although there has been huge change for women since Anns death, that change had to be fought for and the journey to equality is not yet over.

Things have changed enormously for women in Ireland," Ms OConnor said.

But change has come as a result of very hard-fought campaigns and real tragedies for women  not just 40 years ago, but right up to recent times.

Change in abortion laws after the death of Savita Halappanavar.

Vicky Phelan and everything she did campaigning for women's health.

None of the change has come automatically, or come because governments have believed that equality is a good thing.

The National Womens Council is now campaigning for a Yes vote on both referendum questions on March 8, to enshrine equality for women and families into the Constitution.

We are calling for the sexist, stereotypical reference to womens place in the home to be removed from the Constitution and replaced with a recognition of the shared responsibility of care, Ms OConnor said.

Article 41.2 never led to any supports for women to work solely within the home, but underpinned discriminatory practices

So the fight continues for women's equality.
There has been a sharp increase in antisemitism around the world since the October 7 massacre by Hamas and Israels subsequent military attacks in the Gaza Strip.

The apparent connection of this spike to many countries condemnation of Israels response has brought renewed focus on the relationship between antisemitism and anti-Zionism. When does criticism of Israel cross the line to antisemitism, and when is it a legitimate political expression?

As a scholar of modern Jewish history, antisemitism, and Zionism, I suggest that the key to understanding that relationship begins with understanding antisemitism itself.

Anti-Jewish animosity is certainly not new  it dates to antiquity. The early Christian church attacked Jews for rejecting Christ and blamed them collectively for crucifying him.

The Gospel of John in the New Testament was particularly vitriolic, accusing Jews of being Satans children. Medieval Christians added other myths, such as the infamous blood libel  the lie that Jews ritually murdered Christian children for their blood. Other myths accused them of poisoning wells, of desecrating the consecrated host of the Eucharist to reenact the murder of Christ; some even claimed that they had inhuman biology such as horns, or that they suckled at the teats of pigs.

Such lies led to the violent persecution of Jews over many centuries.

In the 19th century, these myths were supplanted by the additional element of race  the claim that Jewishness was immutable and could not be changed via conversion. Though this idea first appeared in 15th-century Spain, it was deeply connected to the rise of modern nationalism.

In 1879, the German journalist Wilhelm Marr coined the term antisemitism to reflect that his anti-Jewish ideology was based on race, not religion. He chose the term because he imagined the Jews as a foreign, semitic race, referring to the language group that includes Hebrew. The term has since persisted to mean specifically anti-Jewish hostility or prejudice.

Modern antisemitism built on those premodern foundations, which never completely disappeared but was fundamentally different. It emerged as part of the new politics of the democratic modern era.

Antisemitism became the core platform of new political parties, which used it to unite otherwise opposing groups such as shopkeepers and farmers, anxious about the modernising world.

Unlike anti-Jewish hatred in this past, this was less about religion, that Jews rejected Christ, and more about political and social issues.

Antisemites believed the conspiracy theory that Jews all over the world controlled the levers of government, media, and banking and that defeating them would solve societys problems.

Thus, one of the most important features of modern antisemitic mythology was the belief that Jews constituted a single, malevolent group, with one mind, organised for the purpose of conquering and destroying the world.

Antisemitic books and cartoons often used claws or tentacles to symbolise the international Jew, a shadowy figure they blamed for leading a global conspiracy, strangling and destroying society. Others depicted him as a puppet master running the world.

Caricatures of George Soros portray him as a puppet master secretly controlling all levers of government, media, the economy, and even foreign migration.

In the late 19th century, Edmond Rothschild, head of the most famous Jewish banking family, was villainised as the symbol of international Jewish wealth and nefarious power. Today, it is typically the billionaire liberal philanthropist George Soros who is often portrayed in similar ways. Caricatures of Soros portray him as a puppet master secretly controlling all levers of government, media, the economy, and even foreign migration.

This myth that Jews constitute an international creature plotting to harm the nation has inspired massacres of Jews since the 19th century, beginning with the Russian pogroms of 1881 and leading up to the Holocaust.

Modern antisemites ascribe many immutable negative traits to Jews, but two are particularly widespread. First, Jews are said to be ruthless misers who care more about their ill-gotten wealth than the interests of their countries. Second, Jews loyalty to their countries is considered suspect because they are said to constitute a foreign element.

Since Israels establishment in 1948, this hatred has focused on the accusation that Jews primary loyalty is to Israel, not the countries they live in.

In recent years, the relationship between antisemitism and anti-Zionism has taken on renewed importance. Zionism has many factions but roughly refers to the modern political movement that argues Jews constitute a nation and have a right to self-determination in that land.

Some activists claim that anti-Zionism  ideological opposition to Zionism  is inherently antisemitic because they equate it with denying Jews the right to self-determination and therefore equality.

Others feel that there needs to be a clearer separation between the two, that not all criticism of Israel is anti-Zionist, and not all anti-Zionism is antisemitic.

Zionism in practice has meant the achievement of a flourishing safe haven for Jews, but also led to dislocation or inequality for millions of Palestinians, including refugees, West Bank Palestinians who still live under military rule, and even Palestinian citizens of Israel who face legal and social discrimination. Anti-Zionism opposes this, and critics argue that it should not be labeled antisemitic unless it taps into those antisemitic myths or otherwise calls for violence or inequality for Jews.

Definitions of antisemitism

This debate is clearly evident in the competing definitions of antisemitism that have recently emerged. Three have gained particular prominence. The first was the so-called working definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Association, or the IHRA, published in 2016.

In response, an academic task force published the Nexus definition in 2021, followed by the Jerusalem Declaration that same year, the latter signed by hundreds of international scholars of antisemitism.

Remarkably, all three definitions tend to agree on the nature of antisemitism in most areas except the relationship of anti-Israel rhetoric to antisemitism. The IHRAs definition, which is by design vague and open to interpretation, allows for a wider swath of anti-Israel activism to be labelled antisemitic than the others.

The Jerusalem Declaration, in contrast, understands rhetoric to have crossed the line only when it engages in antisemitic mythology, blames diaspora Jews for the actions of the Israeli state, or calls for the oppression of Jews in Israel. Thus, for example, IHRA defenders use that definition to label a call for binational democracy  meaning citizenship for West Bank Palestinians  to be antisemitic. Likewise, they label boycotts even of West Bank settlements that most of the world calls illegal to be antisemitic. The Jerusalem Declaration would not do so.

In other words, the key to identifying whether anti-Israel discourse has masked antisemitism is to see evidence of the antisemitic mythology. For example, if Israel is described as part of an international conspiracy or if it holds the key to solving global problems, all three definitions agree this is antisemitic.

Equally, if Jews or Jewish institutions are held responsible for Israeli actions or are expected to take a stand one way or another regarding them, again all three definitions agree this crosses the line because it is based on the myth of a global Jewish conspiracy.

Critically, for many Jews in the diaspora, Zionism is not primarily a political argument about the state of Israel. For many Jews, it constitutes a generic sense of Jewish identity and pride, even a religious identity. In contrast, many protests against Israel and Zionism are focused not on ideology but on the actual state and its real or alleged actions.

This disconnect can lead to confusion if protests conflate Jews with Israel just because they are Zionist, which is antisemitic. On the other hand, Jews sometimes take protests against Israel in defence of Palestinian rights to be attacks on their Zionist identity and thus antisemitic, when they are not. There are certainly grey areas, but in general calls for Palestinian equality, I believe, are legitimate even when they upset Zionist identities.

In my view, antisemitism must be identified and fought, but so too must efforts to squash legitimate protest of Israel by conflating it with antisemitism. By understanding the mythology underlying antisemitism, hopefully both can be accomplished.

Joshua Shanes is Professor of Jewish Studies at College of Charleston. This article featured on The Conversation, a news analysis and comment website written by academic experts.
New York City police officers will be required to record the apparent race, gender and ages of most people they stop for questioning under a law passed by the city council, which overrode a veto by Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday.

The issue was thrust into the national spotlight in recent days when NYPD officers pulled over a black council member without giving him a reason.

The Bill gives police reform advocates a major win in requiring the nations largest police department and its 36,000 officers to document all investigative encounters in a city that once had officers routinely stop and frisk huge numbers of men for weapons  a strategy that took a heavy toll on communities of colour.

It would require officers to document basic information in low-level encounters, where police ask for information from people who are not necessarily suspected of a crime.

Officers also would have to report the reason for the interaction and the circumstances that led to stopping a particular person. The data would be made public on the police departments website.

New York City public advocate Jumaane Williams, who sponsored the Bill, said reporting the encounters could be done in less than a minute on an officers smartphone through a system already in place.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (Peter K Afriyie/AP)

Since 2001, NYPD officers have been required to document instances in which they have asked someone accusatory questions as part of an investigation, detain or search someone or arrest them.

This is not about preventing police work, Mr Williams said. This is police work.

But the mayor, a Democrat and former police captain, has said imposing the reporting requirements for low-level stops would be too time-consuming for officers, forcing them to fill out forms every time they speak to a person rather than focusing on solving a crime.

If you talk to the victim of a crime or law enforcement professional, they will tell you: in public safety, seconds matter, Mr Adams said on Tuesday at City Hall as he implored the council to let his veto stand.

Anyone who has wrestled with a dangerous person and waited for help to come, anyone whos tried to disarm someone with a knife, disarm someone with a gun, fighting on a platform, on the roadbed of the train, or inside an apartment and wrestling with someone who is dangerous: seconds matter.

Republicans, by far the minority on the council, also oppose the Bill.

Police are underfunded, understaffed and overworked, said council member Vickie Paladino, a Queens Republican, ahead of the expected council vote.

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, a Democrat who is not related to the mayor, pushed back Tuesday.

There should not be resistance to telling people who is being stopped in this city and why, she said.

In 2013, a federal judge ruled that the NYPD violated the civil rights of black and Hispanic residents with its stop-and-frisk tactic. Since then, the department has reported a large decline in such encounters, though an ACLU report found people of colour were still the targets of the vast majority of stop-and-frisks in 2022.

After the council first approved the How Many Stops Act in December, Mr Adams and the NYPD went on the offensive to publicly campaign against it. On Friday night, the mayor hosted a police ride-along for council members in an effort to sway some lawmakers from voting to override his veto.

Council member Yusef Salaam said he was stopped and pulled over by police without being given an explanation (Mary Altaffer/AP)

But the event was overshadowed that same evening when an officer pulled over council member Yusef Salaam, an exonerated member of the Central Park Five who with four other black and Latino men were falsely accused and convicted of raping a white jogger in Central Park in 1989. Their convictions were eventually overturned through DNA evidence.

In the very brief encounter, an officer asked Mr Salaam to roll down his windows and identified himself. Mr Salaam told the officer he was on the city council and asked why he was pulled over, according to audio of the encounter published by The New York Times.

The officer told Mr Salaam, Oh, OK. Have a good one before walking away, body camera footage showed. The NYPD later released a statement that said Mr Salaam was pulled over for driving with dark window tints beyond the legal limit. Mr Adams praised the conduct of both the officer and Mr Salaam in his WNYC interview.

Though such a stop would not be covered by the transparency bill  police already have to record information when they pull a driver over  Mr Salaam argued that it shows the need for greater police transparency.

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 underreported, Mr Salaam said in a statement.

The councils public safety committee, which the Harlem Democrat chairs, approved overriding the mayors veto, a procedural step ahead of Tuesdays full council vote.
Hunter Biden has again asked a judge to dismiss the federal gun case against him on Tuesday, arguing it is politically motivated and key evidence was tested after charges were filed.

Cocaine residue found on the pouch of US President Joe Bidens son used to hold his gun was only identified last year, after a scuttled plea deal and subsequent indictment, Mr Bidens defence lawyer said in court documents.

The pouch was originally found in a trash can and not tested for fingerprints or to determine how long the residue had been there, defence lawyer Abbe Lowell wrote.

It had been in police evidence storage since 2018, and testing it last year to bolster the case is clear evidence of selective prosecution, Mr Lowell argued.

Hunter Biden accompanied by his lawyer Abbe Lowell (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Prosecutors had been ready to strike a plea deal in the case, but Mr Lowell argued they bowed to political pressure after the agreement stalled in court and was publicly pilloried by Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, as a sweetheart deal.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, have said theres no evidence the case is politically motivated, while the strength of the evidence against him is overwhelming.

The charges were brought in spite of, not because of, any outside noise made by politicians, they said in court documents this month.

Mr Biden has pleaded not guilty to lying about his drug use in October 2018 on a form to buy a gun that he kept for about 11 days.

He has acknowledged struggling with an addiction to crack cocaine during that period, but his lawyers have said he didnt break the law and another non-violent, first-time offender would not have been charged.

President Joe Biden (Evan Vucci/AP)

The yearslong investigation had looked ready to wrap up with a plea deal last year, but the agreement fell apart and now Mr Biden is facing a possible trial this year while his father is campaigning for another term.

Mr Biden was indicted in Delaware after the plea deal broke down following a hearing where a judge who was supposed to approve it instead raised a series of questions.

He is also facing tax charges in Los Angeles.
The billionaire sultan who rules Malaysias Johor state was sworn in as the nations new king on Wednesday under a unique rotating monarchy system.

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, 65, took his oath of office at the palace and signed the instrument of the proclamation of office in a ceremony witnessed by other royal families, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and cabinet members.
The chief executives of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies are giving evidence before the Senate Judiciary Committee about child safety on their platforms.

The hearing comes as US politicians are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young peoples lives.

While Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is a veteran of congressional hearings since his first one over the Cambridge Analytica privacy debacle in 2018, it will only be the second time for TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew and the first for Linda Yaccarino, the chief executive of the former Twitter.

The hearing began with recorded testimony from youngsters and parents who said they or their children were exploited on social media.

Theyre responsible for many of the dangers our children face online, US Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee, said in opening remarks.

Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg (PA)

South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, echoed Mr Durbins sentiments and said he is prepared to work with Democrats to solve the issue.

After years of working on this issue with you and others, Ive come to conclude the following: social media companies as theyre currently designed and operate are dangerous products, Mr Graham said.

He told the executives their platforms have enriched lives but that it is time to deal with the dark side.

Beginning with Discords Jason Citron, the executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work they have done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.

Snapchat had broken ranks ahead of the hearing and began backing a federal bill that would create a legal liability for apps and social platforms who recommend harmful content to minors.

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel reiterated the companys support on Wednesday and asked the industry to back the bill.

Mr Chew said TikTok is vigilant about enforcing its policy barring children under 13 from using the app. Ms Yaccarino said X, formerly Twitter, does not cater to children.

We do not have a line of business dedicated to children, Ms Yaccarino said. She said the company will also support Stop CSAM Act, a federal bill that make it easier for victims of child exploitation to sue tech companies.

Yet child health advocates say social media companies have failed repeatedly to protect minors.

(PA)

When youre faced with really important safety and privacy decisions, the revenue in the bottom line should not be the first factor that these companies are considering, said Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of Design It For Us, a youth-led coalition advocating for safer social media.

These companies have had opportunities to do this before they failed to do that. So independent regulation needs to step in.

Meta will likely be a central focus of the hearing, with the Menlo Park, California, tech giant being sued by dozens of states that say it deliberately designs features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms and has failed to protect them from online predators.

New internal emails between Meta executives released by Senator Richard Blumenthals office show Sir Nick Clegg, president of global affairs, and others asking Mr Zuckerberg to hire more people to strengthen wellbeing across the company as concerns grew about effects on youth mental health.

From a policy perspective, this work has become increasingly urgent over recent months. Politicians in the US, UK, EU and Australia are publicly and privately expressing concerns about the impact of our products on young peoples mental health, Sir Nick wrote in an August 2021 email.

The emails released by Mr Blumenthals office do not appear to include a response, if there was any, from Mr Zuckerberg. In September 2021, The Wall Street Journal released the Facebook Files, its report based on internal documents from whistleblower Frances Haugen, who later testified before the Senate.

Meta has beefed up its child safety features in recent weeks, announcing earlier this month that it will start hiding inappropriate content from teenagers accounts on Instagram and Facebook, including posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders.

It also restricted minors ability to receive messages from anyone they do not follow or are not connected to on Instagram and on Messenger and added new nudges to try to discourage teens from browsing Instagram videos or messages late at night.

The nudges encourage children to close the app, though it does not force them to do so.

But child safety advocates say its actions from the companies has fallen short.

Looking back at each time there has been a Facebook or Instagram scandal in the last few years, they run the same playbook. Meta cherry picks their statistics and talks about features that dont address the harms in question, said Arturo Bejar, a former engineering director at the social media giant known for his expertise in curbing online harassment who recently testified before Congress about child safety on Metas platforms.

Instagram promises features that end up hidden in settings that few people use. Why is quiet mode not the default for all kids? Mr Bejar added.

Meta says that some of the new work will help with unwanted advances. It is still not possible for a teen to tell Instagram when theyre experiencing an unwanted advance. Without that information how can they make it safer?

Googles YouTube is notably missing from the list of companies called to the Senate on Wednesday even though more children use YouTube than any other platform, according to the Pew Research Centre.

Pew found that 93% of US teenagers use YouTube, with TikTok a distant second at 63%.
Ukraine and Russia have exchanged 195 prisoners of war each, Russias defence ministry has said.

The swap happened on Wednesday, it added.

It comes a week after Russia accused Ukrainian forces of shooting down a military transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war who were going to be swapped for Russian counterparts.

Missiles fired from across the border brought down the plane in Russias Belgorod region on January 24, the defence ministry said.

The crash killed all 74 people onboard, including six crew members and three Russian servicemen, local authorities in Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, said.

Moscow said 65 Ukrainian prisoners were on the plane.

Our people are back. 207 of them. We return them home no matter what.



We remember each Ukrainian in captivity. Both warriors and civilians. We must bring all of them back. We are working on it.



The Ukrainian team has done another excellent job. Budanov, Yermak, Usov, Maliuk, pic.twitter.com/ZNNdTz3mKO  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) January 31, 2024

The incident also led some Russian officials to publicly question the possibility of future prisoner swaps.

Ukrainian officials confirmed last week that a prisoner swap was due to happen that day but said it had been called off.

It said it has seen no evidence the plane was carrying prisoners.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 207 Ukrainians were freed in Wednesdays exchange.

There was no immediate explanation for the different figures.

We remember each Ukrainian in captivity. Both warriors and civilians. We must bring all of them back. We are working on it, Mr Zelensky wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Among the Ukrainians released are members of the armed forces, national guard, border service and national police, said Andrii Yermak, head of Ukraines Presidential Office.

He said some of them were captured while defending Mariupol, Azovstal and Snake Island.

The Russian military said, without providing details or evidence, that the Russian prisoners of war faced deadly danger in captivity and will be flown to Moscow for treatment and rehabilitation.
A wealthy aristocrat was allegedly spotted walking in a park with her lifeless baby in a sling more than a month after going on the run with her partner.

Constance Marten, 36, and Mark Gordon, 49, are on trial at the Old Baileyaccused of the manslaughter of their daughter Victoria.

It is alleged the couple travelled across Englandand lived off-grid on the South Downs in a bid to keep the baby after four other children were taken into care.

On January 5 last year, Greater Manchester Police launched a missing persons inquiry after finding a placenta in the couples burnt-out car on a motorway near Bolton.

Abandoned items near the Peugeot on the M61 included a bible, a bag of more than 30 mobile phones, five used nappies and a cat in a cat box.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon (Greater Manchester Police/PA)

The defendants spent hundreds of pounds on taxis taking them from the North West to Essex, London and the south coast, jurors have heard.

On February 19, Pauline Mason and her husband went to Stanmer Park in Brighton for some fresh air.

Mrs Mason was in a mobility scooter and her husband was walking when she saw a tent near Stoney Mere Way.

She told jurors: I noticed a tent, the tent was royal blue, it was not very big. I just thought it might be a hiker.

My husband had walked ahead of me and I shouted to him, Come over, whats that tent doing there?

He said, Dunno, someone is sleeping out on a cold night. I was taken aback by it then continued on my scooter.

Further on, she noticed a mum with baby, Mrs Mason said.

Prosecutor Tom Little KC asked: What did you notice, if anything, about the baby?

I kept thinking and thinking about that baby. I thought that the colour, it did not go

Mrs Mason said: The mother was focused on the baby, her eyes were totally focused on that baby and my eyes went from her to the baby.

The baby was in a sling. She was holding her around the babys head to steady it.

The child was very pale, did not make any sound and her head was wobbling, floppy and unsteady, the witness said.

She was very surprised to see the child had no hat, socks or booties on and was only wearing a cardigan and leggings.

Mrs Mason said the woman looked tired and she felt sorry for her.

A few steps behind was Gordon, she said, adding: He looked at me and acknowledged that I had looked at the baby and gave me a smile.

Mr Little said: At that point in time, as you had seen the baby for six to eight seconds, you then continued on your fresh air turn around Stanmer Park. Did you think the baby was alive?

Mrs Mason replied: I kept thinking and thinking about that baby. I thought that the colour, it did not go.

CCTV footage of Constance Marten holding baby Victoria under her coat in east London (Metropolitan Police/PA)

She spoke about her experience that mixed-race babies were rosy cheeked, adding: There was no colour and that baby was white.

I do think that baby had died. It was dead.

Asked if anything else caused her to think that, she said: It was inappropriately dressed. There was no blanket, no hat, no socks, thin cardigan.

Mrs Mason said she continued up the path but looked back towards the couple because she could not believe what she had seen.

Cross-examining for Gordon, John Femi-Ola KC asked if she could have been mistaken about seeing him.

She replied: Yes, I might have been but I believe that they connected and as soon as I saw her and him behind her I knew they were together.

On seeing the baby, she said: I was quite shocked when I saw it. I did not want to believe it.

I did not want to know it was dead.

CCTV footage of Constance Marten, Mark Gordon and baby Victoria in a doner kebab shop (Metropolitan Police/PA)

On February 27, Marten and Gordon were arrested in East Sussex.

Days later, Victorias body was found in a Lidl supermarket bag covered in rubbish in a disused shed.

Previously, jurors viewed CCTV of Victoria alive and moving around with the defendants in East Ham, east London, on January 7 last year.

The couple moved on to Whitechapel, where Gordon had bought a two-person tent and camping bedding, including a childrens unicorn sleeping bag, in Argos, the court was told.

The couple allegedly abandoned a buggy and were carrying Argos bags and a Lidl bag when they got into a black cab shortly after midnight on January 8.

In a statement read to the court, taxi driver Abdirisakh Mohamud said he became suspicious and uncomfortable during the journey.

The male passenger allegedly asked the driver if he was a Muslim, whether he was trustworthy and if there were cameras in the cab.

Mr Mohamud said he told the man there were cameras, even though there were not, because he wanted to feel safe.

CCTV footage of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon arriving in Newhaven (Metropolitan Police/PA)

The man then asked him: Are you sharing this conversation with anyone? and Mr Mohamud said no, jurors heard.

He asked the couple why they were wearing blue Covid facemasks, and the woman said she was a Muslim and it was her hijab, the court heard.

On being told by the driver that it was not a hijab, she allegedly told him it was the only thing she had.

The man said he was wearing a mask because he had a problem with his hair, the witness said.

Mr Mohamud said he decided to drop the couple off early in Green Lanes, Haringey, rather than Enfield Tesco Extra where they had asked to go.

He said: The more I thought about it, the more concerned I felt about the baby.

Another taxi driver, Hasan Guzel, described hearing meowing noises when he drove the defendants from Haringey to Newhaven in East Sussex early on January 8.

He said: I heard what sounded like a cat meowing. I was annoyed at first because I thought she had a pet without telling me.

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon seated with a dock officer at the Old Bailey (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

I could see it was a baby, I could see the noise was coming from a baby.

I thought, why didnt she tell me about this, its been nearly four hours we have been travelling.

He said that when he dropped them in Newhaven, it was cold and dark and he was concerned as to what they were going to do next.

The couple were captured on CCTV heading towards the South Downs at around 6.30am and were not spotted again until they were seen at a Texaco garage four days later, on January 12.

The defendants, of no fixed address, deny manslaughter by gross negligence between January 4 and February 27 last year.

They are also charged with perverting the course of justice, concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of a child.

The Old Bailey trial continues.
Wednesday, Jan 31st, 2024 (12:01 am) - Score 1,000

The Local London organisation, which is one of four sub-regional partnerships in the UKs capital city, has today published a new Digital Infrastructure Strategy, which among other things aims to tackle over 150,000 premises in south and east London that do not have access to high speed  Gigabit capable  internet connections.

According to the new Digital Strategy, there are currently estimated to be over 151,000 premises in Local London and 73,000 premises in the South London Partnership that are unable to obtain a Gigabit-capable broadband service from an ISP. Over 29,000 premises also sit in a not spot, which in this case seems to mean theyre unable to receive even a 30Mbps service.

NOTE: The latest data from The latest data from Thinkbroadband states that 98.50% of premises can access a fixed 30Mbps+ broadband service in London, which falls to 89.59% for gigabit (c.1000Mbps) lines or 65.55% when only looking at full fibre ( FTTP ).

Suffice to say, while fixed broadband coverage across the city is actually fairly strong, there remain some well-known patches of poor connectivity that have yet to be resolved by commercial investment. By comparison, most of the UK Governments public funding (e.g. Project Gigabit) tends to be directed more toward remote rural areas, where theres usually little to no prospect of major private sector builds and fewer competition concerns with the use of state aid.

Mapping out the digitally poor postcodes, the new strategy highlights best practices, learning and actions that the public and private sector can take together to help build world-leading digital infrastructure for some of the fastest growing parts of London. This is part of a wider pilot that aims to deliver an interactive mapping tool and an online digital toolkit, which will assist borough officers to deliver digital infrastructure to their sites and leverage additional commercial digital infrastructure investment.

The strategy highlights some of the usual challenges with improving the situation in London (e.g. complexity of securing wayleave agreements, fragmentation of responsibility between boroughs, build challenges with legacy infrastructure, cost, lack of public subsidy and so forth), before proposing ways of resolving this and attracting more inward investment (tricky in the current climate).

Key Focus Areas  Map and statistics illustrating clearly where poor digital infrastructure issues lie.  Recommendations for public sector resourcing and roles, industry engagement, procurement options and commercial models, and key components of a successful delivery strategy.  Case studies and examples from across the UK demonstrating successful ways of working and benefits gained.  The strategic, commercial, financial, management case and options analysis.

Theo Blackwell MBE, Chief Digital Officer, Greater London Authority, said: Widely available, easily accessible digital connectivity is essential for people to reach public services and is key to helping cities grow through driving innovation and the creation of new businesses. Yet there are still parts of London that suffer from a lack of commercial investment in digital infrastructure, and this results in gaps in internet coverage or not spots. We must address these gaps and drive the up the quality and accessibility of the services that are already available, to help the capital to be a fairer, more prosperous, and more equal London for everyone.

Cllr Baroness ONeill of Bexley OBE, Chairman of Local London and Leader of London Borough of Bexley, said: We are delighted to launch the Sub-regional Digital Infrastructure Strategy with our colleagues at South London Partnership. This provides step-by-step guidance to public sector colleagues for unlocking inward investment and maximising existing infrastructure to benefit people and businesses in the area. Along with the database and digital toolkit, this pilot approach will help all 14 boroughs tackle the digital divide, whilst also creating a legacy of learning that have even wider benefits.

At this point, weve lost count of how many reports and strategies weve seen for improving fixed broadband connectivity in London over the years, which  after the sound bites are done  always seem to end up leaving gaps and kicking the can down the road when it comes to tackling the hardest bits. Progress does get made, just not enough to reach everybody.

Suffice to say, it would be all too easy to level a degree of pessimism at this report too, but the feeling we get from reading it is that Local London has actually done a fairly strong job of examining the issues and how to potentially address them. In template terms, its a reasonably confident effort and demonstrates a good level of knowledge about the underlying issues. As starting points go, its a good one.

The challenge thus shifts to the problem of turning that knowledge and ambition into tangible action, something  a real change  that people living in these areas can actually see. Some solid coverage targets and funding commitments might help that, but at present these have yet to be set.

As a complement to this, we recommend checking out Project Gigabits examination of broadband coverage across the much wider Greater London area (here).
Wednesday, Jan 31st, 2024 (9:49 am) - Score 4,960

Mobile provider Tesco Mobile (Tesco plc) has today announced that theyve renewed their existing Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) partnership with O2 (Virgin Media) to run for another 10 years, which marks a significant commitment given that MVNO deals usually attract 5-year terms.

The deal signals strong confidence in VMO2s platform, which is despite the fact that O2 doesnt always deliver the best UK 4G and 5G data / broadband speeds or network availability in studies. On the flip side, O2s various MVNO partners often perform extremely well for customer support and service quality, with surveys frequently ranking them near the top (example).

NOTE: Tesco Mobile is a Joint Venture owned equally (50:50) by Tesco Plc Group and VMO2.

The partnership has so far helped to give Tesco Mobile a massive base of more than 5.5 million customers, which makes them the UKs largest MVNO operator. No doubt Tesco must have negotiated some fairly favourable terms in order to see them commit for such a long period of time, although todays announcement doesnt provide much in the way of specifics.

Lutz Schuler, CEO of Virgin Media O2, said: We have enjoyed great success with Tesco Mobile over the past 20 years, as a partner and a network provider, and I have no doubt that will continue over the next decade. With demand for mobile data greater than ever, were continuing to invest heavily in our network to give our customers, and those of other providers who use our connectivity, an even better experience with the fast and reliable mobile services they expect and rely on.

Jonathan Taylor, CEO at Tesco Mobile, commented: With the combined power of Virgin Media O2 and Tesco were an MVNO which packs an almighty punch. Were incredibly proud of the success weve achieved over the last 20 years, weve gone from strength to strength and now serve over 5.5 million customers across the UK. Were looking forward to unlocking further opportunities with our partners to drive future growth and continue to offer our customers the best value, helpful propositions and award-winning service.

MVNO operators are usually a bit behind their primary networks when it comes to introducing new network enhancements but, given the significance of todays announcement, we wouldnt be at all surprised if Tesco Mobile were much closer to O2 on that in the future (e.g. expect 6G on Tesco Mobile to launch around the same time as it does on O2).
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OLAF FUB SEZ: According to actress Tallulah Bankhead, born on this date in 1902, If I had to live my life again, Id make the same mistakes, only sooner.

. . .

WARMING UP  Chefs representing three schools  Frontier Central, Hamburg Central and Randolph Academy  compete for the Golden Ladle today in the third annual Soup-er Bowl in the new cafeteria at Frontier Middle School, 2751 Amsdell Road, Hamburg. Awards will be given for best chili, best mac and cheese and best soup. Public tasting begins at 5 p.m., with unlimited samples for $1. After winners are announced at 6, the sponsors, the Hamburg Parent-Child Connection, will hold an anxiety management workshop for families with middle and high school children who have panic attacks or symptoms of anxiety.

. . .

MUSIC PLUS  Three violin concertos are featured at the first Buffalo Chamber Players concert of the year, Bach and Brews, at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Ninth Ward at Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Ave. $20, $15 advance at buffalochamberplayers.org.

Buffalo Girlchoir launches its first full-length album, Sing a Song of Childhood, with a party from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in its rehearsal studio in Suites 310 and 312 at 255 Great Arrow Ave. Its free and open to the public. RSVP to director@buffalogirlchoir.org.

. . .

INNER WORKINGS  The Roycrofters-at-Large revive their Little Journey Artist Speaker Series at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Morris Room of the Roycroft Inn, 39 S. Grove St., East Aurora. Master photographer Peter Potter will give a free talk about the connections between Elbert Hubbard, pioneering art critic Carl Sadakichi Hartmann and the birth of fine art photography. For more info, visit the Roycrofters-at-Large Association Facebook page.

Phil Stokes, executive director of the Hamburg Historical Society and Penn Dixie Fossil Park, is guest speaker at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Buffalo Geological Society meeting in the Heritage Discovery Center, 100 Lee St. His topic: Back from the Dead: Unveiling an Enigmatic New Species from Western New York. No admission fee. All are welcome.

Naturalist Doug Bassett will give a free talk, The Intrigue of Botany: Ramblings on 50 Years at Letchworth, in a program sponsored by the Niagara Frontier Botanical Society at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Road, Amherst.

. . .

EAT RIGHT  Restaurants all over Western New York are invited to take part in the second annual Healthy Options Restaurant Week March 4 to 10. Restaurants can sign up at no cost by submitting menu items through Monday at healthyoptionsbuffalo.com/restaurantweek.

. . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY  Marilyn Sultz, Allen Beroza, Warren Todd Colville, Stuart L. Harper, Stuart Angert, Joyce Block, Bobby Stark, Cynthia Fasla, Rick Kustich, Janice Seiling, Alice E. Williams, Molly Joyce, Riley Mitchell, Giovanni Mangino, Brittany Moore, Paul Makowski, Matthew McGowan, Joann Viapiano and Paul Rosplochowski.

AND THURSDAY  Ashok Subramanian, Cindy Chan, Father Mike McGavis, Mark Tasca Jr., Dorothy Blewis, David Safe, Darlene Sikorski, Stan Staniszewski, Daisy Skinner and Maria Peri.

To submit birthdays and other items of interest to Reporters Notebook, please email olaffub@buffnews.com or send a letter to Reporters Notebook, Buffalo News, Box 100, Buffalo, NY 14240.
The Buffalo News otherwise cogent editorial of Jan. 4 lauding Buffalos recent crime decrease fails when it attempts to fold in a defense of the states disastrous bail reform law, asserting it had no role in previous years increases.

The negative effects of the law are crystal clear. Detailed articles/analysis in 2022 in the New York Post (1/21, 3/27, 9/19, 9/27) and for the Manhattan Institute (7/28, 9/22) conclusively prove so. As an example, in the 27 years before bail reform, index crimes in New York City declined by 76%, while in the two years after they rose 36%. Other equally sobering statistics and anecdotal examples are readily available for anyone willing to acknowledge them.

Law enforcement officials warned all this would happen when the law was being debated and still assert today that repeat offenders continuously released are responsible. They were and are right. It defies logic to argue that a law leading to the wholesale and continuous release of accused criminals plays no role in a massive crime increase that happens contemporaneous with its passing. Such is painfully obvious common sense. If these front-line officials are some of the bail reform detractors the editorial writers castigate, they should stop and think twice.

The editorial also argues against itself, saying the law has already been adjusted twice, and a third one possibly advisable or not. If the law is not the issue (the editorials words), why did it need adjusting? Were these adjustments one of the reasons for the crime decrease the editorial applauds?

Bail Reform remains the poster child for a destructive progressive governing philosophy that knee-capped the cops and changed many criminal justice procedures. The predictable result was rampant crime. A one-year decrease in it from the astronomical levels the law helped cause doesnt change that.

Gary Brignone

Amherst
Dana Goldberg said, Theres something terribly wrong in this country that a convicted sexual assaulter with 91 federal and state charges, (was impeached twice, lied over 33,000 times as president and) who incited a coup in this country can even run for President of The United States. Theres something even more wrong that even one person would support him.

The Supreme Court will be the real villains in this godawful mess. They do not have the courage and fortitude to stand up to a bully - Donald Trump.

The six GOP justices need to apply section three of the 14th Amendment to remove an open and obvious insurrectionist from the ballot for his actions on Jan 6, 2021.

America is supposed to be the place where tyrannies and bullies go to die. Whether it is King George III or Adolf Hitler, when the greatest challenges to civilization and human freedoms are put in Americas way we rise, accept, and successfully meet the challenge.

It was said of Kafka and his novella The Trial, A society built on deference to authority above all else is inherently at odds with the nuance and reason required of genuine justice.

The whole analysis about Trump and whether he deserves to be removed from the ballot is an obvious and easy one - he must be removed. This isnt a close call, this is about as subtle as a flying meat cleaver and with past as prologue, the Supreme Court will take this in a supine posture and fail the Constitution and America.

Bill Licata

Buffalo
by Dr Binoy Kampmark

Imperilled, tormented Palestinians in Gaza had little time to celebrate the January 26 order of the International Court of Justice. In a case brought by South Africa intended to facilitate a ceasefire and ease the suffering of the Gaza populace, Israel received the unwanted news that it had to, among other obligations, ensure compliance with the UN Genocide Convention, including by its military; prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to genocide against the Palestinian populace in Gaza and permit basic services and humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip.

Within hours, Israel, bruised and outraged by a body its officials have decried as anti-Semitic and favourably disposed to Palestinian propaganda, found an excuse to flaunt the ruling. 12 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), the agency responsible for distributing aid in Gaza, were accused (not found) by Israels intelligence agency, Shin Bet, of involvement in the Hamas attacks of 7 October.

The response from UNRWA was swift. Contracts were terminated; an investigation was launched, including a full inquiry into allegations made against the organisation. The Agencys Commissioner General, Philippe Lazzarini promised, on 27 January, that Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.

Not content with this, Israel stormily took to the campaign trail hoping to rid Gaza of the UN agency it has despised for years. UNRWA, after all, is a salutary reminder of Palestinian suffering, dispossession and desperation, its existence a direct result of Israeli foreign policy. Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, was severe in laying bare his countrys loathing for UNRWA. We have been warning for years: UNRWA perpetuates the refugee issue, obstructs peace and serves as a civilian arm of Hamas in Gaza, he stated on Shabbat. UNRWA is not the solution  many of its employees are Hamas affiliates with murderous ideologies, aiding in terror activities and preserving its authority. Deviously and fiendishly, Katz was dismissing the entire enterprise of aid through a UN outlet as a terroristic extension, rather than the ghastly product of Israels own ruthless, generational war against Palestinians. Leave it to us to oversee matters of aid: we know best.

Powers, many with military ties with Israel and sluggish about holding the Jewish State to account in its Gaza campaign, were relieved by the distraction. Rather than assessing their own export regime, the grant of licenses in the arms market in gross violation of human rights and the facilitation of crimes against humanity, an excuse to continue and prolong the weapons transfers and assistance to Israel, had presented itself.

Within hours, nine states had added their names to the list suspending allocated aid. Australia, along with the United States and Canada, rushed to the podium to condemn UNRWA and freeze funding. The United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland followed.

The measure of rage could now be adjusted and retargeted. A spokesperson for the UK government was appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK government has repeatedly condemned. The US State Department was extremely troubled and had temporarily paused additional funding. Canada was also deeply troubled by the allegations relating to some UNRWA employees.

Australias Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, despite accepting that UNRWAs role in conducting vital, life saving work, providing essential services in Gaza directly to those who need it, with more than 1.4 million Palestinians currently sheltering in its own facilities, felt a suspension of funding was wholly sensible. This, coming from a minister who never tires about praising international law and its profoundly sacred qualities.

The assessment by Lazzarini was one of dismay and bafflement by the speed at which the funding had been halted. These decisions threaten our ongoing humanitarian work across the region, including and especially in the Gaza Strip.

Aljazeera English Video: UN Secretary General meets UNRWA donors: Numerous countries suspend funding of UN agency

The measure could almost be regarded as hysterical, given that a mere 12 individuals had been tarnished from a pool of some 30,000 members. Johann Soufi, a lawyer and former director of the Agencys legal office in Gaza, gave this assessment to Agence-France Presse: 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 conditions.

Australian Greens Senator and defence spokesman, Senator David Shoebridge, also picked up on the grotesque twist the latest stifling of aid to the beleaguered residents of Gaza entailed. The one temporary pause [Senator Wong] has been able to achieve is not the bombing or killing, or even weapons exports, its providing aid to [Palestinians].

For Israel, the focus can now shift back to prosecuting the war against Palestinians collectively blanketed for terrorist tendencies. Meddlesome aid workers can also be put into the mix. Cut the aid, cut the means of survival. Along the way, international law can be blithely mocked and ignored by the principles of might. With grimmest irony, the provisional measures outlined by the ICJ order, which includes increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, are being frustrated by signatories to the UN Genocide Convention. The collective regime of punishment ushered in by Israels policy of murderous asphyxiation, and which so concerned South Africas legal team, can now continue.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.
( Tomdispatch.com )  In war, people die for absurd reasons or often no reason at all. They die due to accidents of birth, the misfortune of being born in the wrong place  Cambodia or Gaza, Afghanistan or Ukraine  at the wrong time. They die due to happenstance, choosing to shelter indoors when they should have taken cover outside or because they ventured out into a hell-storm of destruction when they should have stayed put. They die in the most gruesome ways  shot in the street, obliterated by artillery, eviscerated by air strikes. Their bodies are torn apart, burned, or vaporized by weapons designed to destroy people. Their deaths are chalked up to misfortune, mistake, or military necessity.

Since September 2001, the United States has been fighting its war on terror  whats now referred to as this countrys Forever Wars. Its been involved in Somalia almost that entire time. U.S. Special Operations forces were first dispatched there in 2002, followed over the years by more security assistance, troops, contractors, helicopters, and drones. American airstrikes in Somalia, which began under President George W. Bush in 2007, have continued under Presidents Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden as part of a conflict that has smoldered and flared for more than two decades. In that time, the U.S. has launched 282 attacks, including 31 declared strikes under Biden. The U.S. admits it has killed five civilians in its attacks. The UK-based air strike monitoring group Airwars says the number is as much as 3,100% higher.

On April 1, 2018, Luul Dahir Mohamed, a 22-year-old woman, and her 4-year-old daughter Mariam Shilow Muse were added to that civilian death toll when they were killed in a U.S. drone strike in El Buur, Somalia.

Luul and Mariam were civilians. They died due to a whirlwind of misfortune  a confluence of bad luck and bad policies, none of it their fault, all of it beyond their control. They died, in part, because the United States is fighting the Somali terror group al-Shabaab even though Congress has never declared such a war and the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force on which the justification for the conflict rests predates the groups existence. They died because Somalia has limited options when it comes to rural public transport and they caught a ride with the wrong people. They died because the United States claims that its brand of drone warfare is predicated on precision strikes with little collateral damage despite independent evidence clearly demonstrating otherwise.

In this case, members of the American strike cell that conducted the attack got almost everything wrong. They bickered about even basic information like how many people were in the pickup truck they attacked. They mistook a woman for a man and they never saw the young girl at all. They didnt know what they were looking at, but they nonetheless launched a Hellfire missile that hit the truck as it motored down a dirt road.

Even after all of that, Luul and Mariam might have survived. Following the strike, the Americans  watching live footage from the drone hovering over the scene  saw someone bolt from the vehicle and begin running for her life. At that moment, they could have paused and reevaluated the situation. They could have taken one more hard look and, in the process, let a mother and child live. Instead, they launched a second missile.

What Luuls brother, Qasim Dahir Mohamed  the first person on the scene  found was horrific. Luuls left leg was mutilated, and the top of her head was gone. She died clutching Mariam whose tiny body looked, he said, like a sieve.

In 2019, the U.S. military admitted that it had killed a civilian woman and child in that April 1, 2018, drone strike. But when, while reporting for The Intercept, I met Luuls relatives last year in Somalias capital, Mogadishu, they were still waiting for the Pentagon to contact them about an apology and compensation. I had obtained a copy of the internal U.S. military investigation which the family had never seen. It did acknowledge the deaths of a woman and child but concluded that their identities might never be known.

Expendable People

The Pentagons inquiry found that the Americans who carried out the strike were both inexperienced and confused. Despite that, the investigation by the very unit that conducted the attack determined that standard operating procedures and the rules of engagement were followed. No one was judged negligent, much less criminally liable, nor would anyone be held accountable for the deaths. The message was clear: Luul and Mariam were expendable people.

In over five years of trying to get justice, no one has ever responded to us, another of Luuls brothers, Abubakar Dahir Mohamed, wrote in a December 2023 op-ed for the award-winning African newspaper The Continent. He continued:

When I found out later that the U.S. admitted that they killed civilians in the attack, I contacted them again, telling them that the victims were my family members. I am not sure if they even read my complaint. In June 2020, [U.S. Africa Command] added a civilian casualties reporting page to their website for the first time. I was very happy to see this. I thought there was finally a way to make a complaint that would be listened to. I submitted a description of what happened and waited. No one got back to me. Two years later, in desperation, I submitted a complaint again. Nobody responded. I now know that the U.S. military has admitted not only to killing Luul and Mariam, but doing so even after they survived the first strike. It killed them as Luul fled the car they targeted  running for her life, carrying Mariam in her arms. The U.S. has said this in its reports, and individual officers have spoken to journalists. But it has never said this to us. No one has contacted us at all.

Late last month, a coalition of 24 human rights organizations called on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to make amends to Luul and Mariams family. The 14 Somali groups and 10 international non-governmental organizations devoted to the protection of civilians urged Austin to take action to provide the family with an explanation, an apology, and compensation.

The undersigned Somali and international human rights and protection of civilians organizations write to request that you take immediate steps to address the requests of families whose loved ones were killed or injured by U.S. airstrikes in Somalia, reads the letter. New reporting illustrates how, in multiple cases of civilian harm in Somalia confirmed by the U.S. government, civilian victims, survivors, and their families have yet to receive answers, acknowledgment, and amends despite their sustained efforts to reach authorities over several years.

Days later, the Pentagon unveiled its long-awaited Instruction on Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response, which clarified the Departments enduring policies, responsibilities, and procedures for mitigating and responding to civilian harm and laid out further steps to protect civilians and to respond appropriately when civilian harm occurs. Under the DoD-I or dody, as it is known at the Pentagon, the military is directed to take steps including:

(1) Acknowledging harm suffered by civilians and the U.S. militarys role in causing or otherwise contributing to that harm. (2) Expressing condolences to civilians affected by military operations. (3) Helping to address the harm suffered by civilians.

Under the DoD-I, the military is instructed to acknowledge civilian harm resulting from U.S. military operations and respond to individuals and communities affected by U.S. military operations This includes expressing condolences and helping to address the direct impacts experienced

The mandate seems clear. The implementation is another story entirely.

Phoning It In

Since the letter from the humanitarian organizations was sent to Austin, the defense secretary has been both everywhere  and nowhere to be found. In December, he traveled to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to thank American military personnel for their selflessness and service. He met with the king and crown prince of Bahrain to discuss their enduring defense partnership with the United States. On December 20th, he paid a visit to the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group in the Mediterranean Sea to thank the sailors for their patriotism and professionalism.

A couple days later, Austin underwent surgery without informing his deputy Kathleen Hicks, much less his boss, President Biden. On January 1st, Austin was rushed back to the hospital, in intense pain, but that information, too, was withheld from the White House until January 4th, and from Congress and the American public for an additional day.

Austin reportedly worked from his hospital room, monitoring American and British air attacks on Houthi rebel targets in Yemen  more than 150 munitions fired from the sea and air on January 11th, alone  and conducting meetings by phone with military officials and the National Security Council. He was released from the hospital four days later and began working from home. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone today with Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov to discuss the latest on the situation on the ground, Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder announced on January 16th. Two days later, he had a call with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. And on the 19th, he talked shop with Swedish defense minister Pal Jonson.

Austin has had plenty of time for phone calls, travel, and elective surgery. Hes been around the world and is now hunkered down at home. But what he hasnt done, since the letter from those 24 humanitarian groups was sent to the Pentagon more than a month ago, is make any apparent effort to contact Luul and Mariams family.

Since the strike, our family has been broken apart. It has been more than five years since it happened, but we have not been able to move on, wrote Abubakar in December. Its been a common story. In Yemen, where the U.S. has recently ramped up air strikes, victims of past U.S. attacks wait  just like Luul and Mariams family  for acknowledgment and apology.

Between 2013 and 2020, for example, the U.S. carried out seven separate attacks in Yemen  six drone strikes and one raid  that killed 36 members of the intermarried Al Ameri and Al Taisy families. A quarter of them were children between the ages of three months and 14 years old. The survivors have been waiting for years for an explanation as to why it happened while living in fear. In 2018, Adel Al Manthari, a civil servant in the Yemeni government, and four of his cousins  all civilians  were traveling by truck when a U.S. Hellfire missile slammed into their vehicle. Three of the men were killed instantly. Another died days later in a local hospital. Al Manthari was gravely wounded. Complications resulting from his injuries nearly took his life in 2022. He beseeched the U.S. government to dip into the millions of dollars Congress annually allocates to compensate victims of U.S. attacks. They ignored his pleas. His limbs and life were eventually saved by the kindness of strangers via a crowdsourced GoFundMe campaign.

The U.S. has a long history of killing civilians in air strikes, failing to investigate the deaths, and ignoring pleas for apology and compensation. Its a century-old tradition that Austin continues to maintain, making time to issue orders for new strikes but not to issue apologies for past errant attacks. Through it all, Luul and Mariams family can do nothing but wait, hoping that the U.S. secretary of defense will eventually respond to the open letter and finally  almost six years late  offer amends.

My sister was killed, and she wont be back again  but doesnt she have the right to get justice, and for her family to at least be compensated for the loss of her life? Abubakar wrote in his op-ed. He and his relatives find themselves endlessly grappling with their loss as the Pentagon puts out press releases filled with high-minded and (as yet) hollow, rhetoric about improving the Departments approach to mitigating and responding to civilian harm, while promising to make amends under the DoD-I.

It isnt the only War on Terror pledge to be broken. President Joe Biden entered the White House promising to end the forever wars. I stand here today for the first time in 20 years with the United States not at war, Biden announced in 2021. Weve turned the page. It wasnt remotely true.

Instead, the Forever Wars grind on from the Middle East to the African Sahel. And despite assertions to the contrary, Americas conflict in Somalia grinds on, too, without apology  from Biden for the broken campaign promise and from the Pentagon for Luul Dahir Mohamed and Mariam Shilow Muses deaths.

The U.S. claims that it works to promote democracy, social justice, the rule of law, and the protection of rights around the world, Abubakar wrote. As we struggle to get them to notice our suffering, we hope the U.S. will remember what they claim to stand for.

Copyright 2024 Nick Turse

Via Tomdispatch.com
TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wallbridge Mining Company Limited (TSX: WM, OTCQX:WLBMF) (Wallbridge or the Company) today announced that, effective immediately, its Board of Directors has appointed Brian Penny and Mary Montgomery, who have been serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, respectively, since October 10, 2023, to permanent positions as Wallbridges CEO and CFO. In addition, the Company announced the resignation of Vice-President, Exploration Attila Pentek, effective March 31, 2024.

The Board has been very impressed with the way Brian and Mary have managed the Company since October and is pleased that they have agreed to continue in a permanent capacity. With a track record of successful team building and a proven understanding of what drives value in our industry, Brian is exceptionally well suited to lead Wallbridge at this exciting stage in our development and in todays challenging market for gold equities. Mary has been a valuable part of Wallbridge for many years, and we are very pleased that the Company will continue to benefit from her financial discipline and strong leadership skills, said Tony Makuch, Chair of Wallbridges Board of Directors.

Since joining Wallbridge in 2018 I have witnessed the dedication and commitment Mary brings to work daily, said Mr. Penny. Mary is a results-driven and highly experienced financial professional and I look forward to working closely with her and the rest of Wallbridges talented team to develop and execute strategies to lead the Companys next phase of growth.

Mr. Penny is an experienced mining Industry executive, with over 30 years experience in leadership roles in finance. Prior to joining Wallbridge as CFO in 2018, Mr. Penny held a number of senior positions, including Executive Vice President and CFO of New Gold Inc. and Vice President of Finance and CFO of Kinross Gold Corporation. He played a leading role in the performance of the companies he represented, maintaining capital allocation discipline, and delivering shareholder returns, while strengthening the balance sheet. Mr. Penny also brings broad board experience, having served as non-executive director of Equinox Minerals Limited (2004 to 2011), Alamos Gold Inc. (2005 to 2008); and Baffinland Iron Mines Limited (2004 to 2008). Most recently, Mr. Penny served as a Director of Maverix Metals Inc. (2019 to 2023). Mr. Penny is a CPA, CMA with a strong background in M&A spanning geographies, commodities, and stages of company and project development within the natural resource sector.

Ms. Montgomery joined Wallbridge in 2007, having previously held senior positions with a number of companies associated with the mining industry in Sudbury. Ms. Montgomery is a CPA, CA. She previously also held the positions of CFO of Miocene Metals Limited and CFO and VP Finance of Wallbridge.

Mr. Pentek commented: I am leaving my role as VP Exploration to pursue other opportunities. It has been an absolute pleasure working with the team at Wallbridge over the past 14 years. The Company has an exceptionally talented exploration group whose passion and dedication are evident every single day. I am very pleased with all that we achieved so far at Wallbridge and am confident there is plenty more to come.

On behalf of the Board and stakeholders of Wallbridge, I would like to thank Attila for the role he played in establishing the exploration program that led to the discovery of over three million ounces of indicated gold resources and over two million ounces of inferred gold resources on the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend. We wish him well in his future endeavours, said Mr. Makuch.

Mr. Penny added: I would like to thank Attila for his leadership, which has enabled Wallbridge to advance to its current stage. He leaves the Company with the people and platform in place for future growth. Mr. Pentek will remain in his current position to support Wallbridge through the management transition. The Company will begin a search for a permanent VP Exploration immediately.

The Company has a young talented geology team. Mark Petersen, a highly experienced senior mining executive and economic geologist, has been engaged on a consulting basis to mentor the team and guide it through a seamless leadership transition Mr. Petersen has held senior exploration roles with a number of companies, including New Gold Inc., Metallica Resources Inc. and Lac Minerals Ltd. Most recently he served as VP Exploration for mid-tier gold producer Calibre Mining Corp. where gold reserves tripled within two years under his leadership. The team will also be supported by the board, which has several members with strong technical backgrounds.

About Wallbridge Mining

Wallbridge is focused on creating value through the exploration and sustainable development of gold projects along the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend in Quebecs Northern Abitibi region while respecting the environment and communities where it operates.

Wallbridges most advanced projects, Fenelon Gold (Fenelon) and Martiniere Gold (Martiniere) incorporate a combined 3.05 million ounces of indicated gold resources and 2.35 million ounces of inferred gold resources. Fenelon and Martiniere are located within an 830 square kilometre exploration land package controlled by Wallbridge.

Wallbridge has reported a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) at Fenelon that estimates average annual gold production of 212,000 ounces over 12 years.

Wallbridge also holds a 15.9% interest in the common shares of Archer Exploration Corp. (Archer) as a result of the sale of the Companys portfolio of nickel assets in Ontario and Quebec.

For further information please visit the Companys website at https://wallbridgemining.com/ or contact:

Wallbridge Mining Company Limited

Brian Penny, CPA, CMA

CEO

Tel: (416) 716-8346

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Victoria Vargas, B.Sc. (Hon.) Economics, MBA

Capital Markets Advisor

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

The information in this document may contain forward-looking statements or information (collectively, FLI) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. FLI is based on expectations, estimates, projections, and interpretations as at the date of this document.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are FLI that involve various risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties. Generally, FLI can be identified by the use of statements that include, but are not limited to, words such as seeks, believes, anticipates, plans, continues, budget, scheduled, estimates, expects, forecasts, intends, projects, predicts, proposes, "potential", targets and variations of such words and phrases, or by statements that certain actions, events or results may, will, could, would, should or might, be taken, occur or be achieved.

FLI in this document may include, but is not limited to: statements regarding the Shelf Prospectus, the effectiveness and timing thereof and any future offerings; the Companys exploration plans; the future prospects of Wallbridge; statements regarding the results of the Fenelon preliminary economic assessment; the potential future performance of Archer common shares; future drill results; the Companys ability to convert inferred resources into measured and indicated resources; parameters and methods used to estimate the MREs at the Fenelon and Martiniere properties (collectively the Deposits); the prospects, if any, of the Deposits; future drilling at the Deposits; and the significance of historic exploration activities and results.

FLI is designed to help you understand managements current views of its near- and longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. FLI by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such FLI. Although the FLI contained in this document is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Company that actual results will be consistent with such FLI, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such FLI. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such FLI contained in this document to reflect new events or circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, this document has been prepared based on information available as of the date of this document. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the FLI, or information contained herein.

Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in FLI.

Assumptions upon which FLI is based, without limitation, include: the results of exploration activities, the Companys financial position and general economic conditions; the ability of exploration activities to accurately predict mineralization; the accuracy of geological modelling; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the legitimacy of title and property interests in the Deposits; the accuracy of key assumptions, parameters or methods used to estimate the MREs and in the PEA; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; and failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated. Risks and uncertainties about Wallbridge's business are discussed in the disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

Cautionary Notes to United States Investors

Wallbridge prepares its disclosure in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Terms relating to mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources and economic studies used herein are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended. NI 43-101 differs significantly from the disclosure requirements of the SEC generally applicable to US companies. As such, the information presented herein concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
TORONTO, Jan. 30, 2024 /CNW/ - Laramide Resources Ltd. ("Laramide" or the "Company") (TSX: LAM) (ASX: LAM) (OTCQX: LMRXF), following our January 11, 2024 announcement which presented a summary of economic highlights from a Preliminary Economic Assessment NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report ("PEA") for the 100% owned Churchrock In-situ Uranium Project ("Churchrock Project") located in New Mexico, U.S., Laramide is pleased to announce that the full report is now available on SEDAR, www.sedar.com/www.sedarplus.ca, as well as on the Company website, www.laramide.com.

The PEA has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") by SLR International Corporation ("SLR"), an independent consulting firm with considerable expertise in mining and mineral processing, including uranium mining in the United States.

For the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 5.12, Laramide Resources cautions that the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Churchrock Project is not reported in accordance with the Australasian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves 2012 (JORC Code) because the mineral resource estimate which underpins the production target, is 100% Inferred classification. The Mineral Resource Estimate underpinning the Production Target in the PEA has been prepared by a Qualified Person(s) in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101.

Technical Report and Qualified Persons

The Churchrock Project PEA has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101 by Mark B. Mathisen, C.P.G., and Stuart E. Collins, P.E., SLR International Corporation, Houmao Liu, Ph.D., P.E., Itasca Denver Inc., Lee (Pat) Gochnour, MMSA (QP), Gochnour & Associate Inc, Walter L. Niccoli, P.E., Telesto Solutions, Inc., and Benjamin J. Schiffer, P.G., WWC Engineering, who are QPs as defined under NI 43-101.

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About Laramide Resources Ltd.

Laramide is focused on exploring and developing high-quality uranium assets in Australia and the western United States. The company's portfolio comprises five advanced uranium projects in districts with historical production or superior geological prospectivity. Each asset has been carefully chosen for their size, production potential, and are considered late-stage, low-technical risk projects.

The Westmoreland project in Queensland, Australia, is one of the largest uranium development assets held by a junior mining company. This project has a PEA that describes an economically robust, open-pit mining project with a mine-life of 13 years. Additionally, the adjacent Murphy Project in the Northern Territory of Australia is a greenfield asset that Laramide strategically acquired to control the majority of the mineralized system along the Westmoreland trend.

In the United States, Laramide's assets include the NRC licensed Crownpoint-Churchrock Uranium Project, which is proposed to be developed using in-situ recovery ("ISR") production methodology. The Company also owns the La Jara Mesa project in the historic Grants mining district of New Mexico and an underground project, called La Sal, in Lisbon Valley, Utah.

Forward-looking Statements and Cautionary Language

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expect, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Laramide disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Since forward-looking information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, exploration and production for uranium; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of resource estimates; health, safety and environmental risks; worldwide demand for uranium; uranium price and other commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations; environmental risks; competition; incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, royalties and environmental regulations.
Coquitlam, BC  TheNewswire - January 26, 2024- Grid Battery Metals Inc. (the Company or Grid Battery) (TSXV: CELL, OTCQB: EVKRF FRA: NMK2) is pleased to announce that the Technical Report for the Texas Spring Lithium Project, dated January 25, 2024, prepared by Mr. Seth Cude, P.G. of Rangefront Geological, has been filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and can be viewed on the Companys website at Texas Springs 43-101 Report.

Our team recently completed the Phase 1 exploration of the Texas Springs Property in fall 2023 which included both a CSAMT geophysical survey and a detailed soil sampling on a 50 m X 100 m spacing. Results were impressive and on-trend with the results found at the Surge Battery Metals Inc. (Surge) (TSXV: NILI, OTC: NILIF) Nevada North Lithium Property that adjoins the Texas Spring Property to the north. Our Phase 1 Exploration results included average Lithium Grades of 2010 ppm, applying a 1,000 ppm cut-off, and up to an impressive 5,610 ppm Lithium.

As mentioned previously, the Texas Springs Lithium Property adjoins the southern border of the Nevada North Lithium Project - owned by Surge Battery Metals Inc. Surge's first round of drilling identified strongly mineralized lithium bearing clays. The average lithium content within all near surface clay zones intersected in the 2022 drilling program, applying a 1000 ppm cut-off, was 3254 ppm. On September 12, 2023, Surge announced some exciting results of its most recent drilling program at this property, and recorded its highest grades to date, with up to 8070 ppm Lithium on the Northern Nevada Lithium project. These results were followed up on December 5, 2023 with a subsequent drill program yielding core drilling intercepts with assays over 7,630 ppm and multiple horizons upon deeper drilling performed.

Furthermore in May 2023, Nevada was ranked again as the #1 Mining Jurisdiction in the world by the Fraser Institute, a position it has held several times in the recent past.

Mr. Tim Fernback, Grid President & CEO comments We are happy to report the filing of the NI 43-101 Technical Report on our Texas Spring Lithium Project. The recommendation for future exploration includes a multi-phase drilling program as a logical next step here on the property. The timing is good for the Company, and with approximately CAD$7.2 million in our treasury, we are well-positioned and fully funded for our 2024 exploration season.

About Rangefront Geological

Elko Nevada-based Rangefront Geological has combined in-depth expertise with cutting-edge technology to provide mining consulting services, contract labor, field crew services, and vehicular support to the mining industry. With services available across North America, Rangefront works closely with its clients to provide high-quality mineral exploration services.

The Company also announces that further to the Companys news release dated December 13, 2023, the Company has decided not to go forward with the Media Services contract with Omni8 Communications Inc.

Qualified Person

Mr. Seth Cude, P.G. is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical information contained within this news release.

About Grid Battery Metals Inc.

Grid Battery Metals Inc. is a Canadian based exploration company whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Companys maintains a focus on exploration for high value battery metals required for the electric vehicle (EV) market. www.gridbatterymetals.com.

About Texas Springs Property

The Company owns a 100% interest in the Texas Spring Property which consists of mineral lode claims located in Elko County, Nevada. The Property is in the Granite Range southeast of Jackpot, Nevada, about 73 km north-northeast of Wells, Nevada. The target is a lithium clay deposit in volcanic tuff and tuffaceous sediments of the Humbolt Formation.

The Texas Spring property adjoins the southern border of the Nevada North Lithium Project - owned by Surge Battery Metals Inc. (Surge) (TSXV: NILI, OTC: NILIF) and comprised of 303 mineral claims. Surge's first round of drilling identified strongly mineralized lithium bearing clays. The average lithium content within all near surface clay zones intersected in the 2022 drilling program, applying a 1000 ppm cut-off, was 3254 ppm. (Press release March 29, 2023). More recent results have shown higher grade lithium up to 8070 ppm on this property after initial drilling (Press release September 12, 2023).

About Clayton Valley Lithium Project

The Company owns a 100% interest in 113 lithium lode and placer claims covering over 640 hectares in Clayton Valley. Clayton Valley is a down-dropped closed basin formed by the Miocene age Great Basin extension and is still active due to movement along the Walker Lane structural zone. As a result, the basin has preserved multiple layers of lithium bearing volcanic ash, resulting from multiple eruptive events over the past 6 million years including eruptions from the 700,000-year-old Long Valley Caldera system and related events. These ash layers are thought to contribute to the lithium brines extracted by Albemarle and are also likely involved in the formation of the exposed lithium rich clay deposits on the east side of Clayton Valley.

Volt Canyon Lithium Property

The Company owns a 100% interest in 80 placer claims covering approximately 635 hectares of alluvial sediments and clays located 122 km northeast of Tonopah, Nevada.

About the British Columbia, Nickel Projects

The Grid Nickel Project consists of three claim blocks with a total area of 5,000 hectares in the area surrounding Mount Sidney Williams, near the Decar project of FPX Nickel Corp., located 100 kilometres northwest of Fort St. James, B.C., in the Omineca mining division. Metallic mineralization includes nickel, cobalt, and chromium, whereby nickel has been recorded in the Fe-Ni alloy awaruite as well as nickel sulphides The Grid Nickel Project are partially underlain by rocks of the Trembleur Ultramafic Unit, which consist of variably serpentinized harzburgite, dunite, orthopyroxenite, and locally carbonate-talc altered rocks and listwanite.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Tim Fernback

Tim Fernback, President & CEO

Contact Information:

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone: 604- 428-5690

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements.




Company Selected to Receive $200,000 Ontario Government Grant

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Solstice Gold Corp. (TSXV: SGC) (Solstice, we, our or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on the exploration program at its Church and Kamuck Projects in the Quetico Subprovince, located approximately 85 km and 200 km NE of Thunder Bay, Ontario, respectively in the actively explored Quetico lithium district.

Emerging Quetico Lithium District

Spodumene discoveries reported by exploration groups in 2023 are defining a greatly expanded area with high lithium potential within the Quetico subprovince. The Quetico Lithium District is centred around the Georgia Lake Lithium deposit (owned by Rock Tech). In 2023, a new spodumene discovery was reported by Pegmatite One ("PGA"1) west of the Georgia Lake pegmatites and within 15 km of Solstice's Church Property. Spodumene was also reported in 2023 to the east of Georgia Lake by Tearlach ("TEA") on their Georgina Properties2, immediately adjacent to Solstice's Gathering Lake claims, optioned to Green Technology Metals. Solstice's Kamuck Property is located just to the east of these discoveries and exhibits abundant fertility indicators.

Principal Findings

Pablo McDonald, Solstice CEO stated, After discovering several 20 to 30m wide pegmatites on the Church Property on the first few days of prospecting, our more in-depth exploration efforts throughout the fall showed a trend of lithium enrichment in alkali feldspars across the southern part of the property, as well as radiometric anomalies that are similar to those seen proximal to spodumene-bearing pegmatites in the region. We have also seen abundant pegmatite on both Kamuck and Church, with promising LIBS readings in an unknown mineral of up to 3.0% Li 2 O. The combination of positive signs coming out of these properties after initial prospecting show that these areas have the potential to host LCT Pegmatites and Im therefore very excited to get back on the ground with detailed prospecting and sampling.

Both properties produced favourable results in 2023, which continues to show promise for Solstices projects in the Quetico Lithium District:

Preliminary exploration at Church in August of 2023, covering less than 5% of the area, delineated five 12-30m-wide pegmatites with quartz, albite and potassium feldspar along with books of muscovite, garnet, and beryl or fluorapatite 3 .

. High Lithium values in alkali feldspars (50 - 280 ppm using LIBS 4 ) define a lithium-enriched trend along the Southern end of Church. This trend largely aligns with the anomalies in radiometric data which continue to the north of Church and are spatially related to the Pegmatite One spodumene occurrence.

) define a lithium-enriched trend along the Southern end of Church. This trend largely aligns with the anomalies in radiometric data which continue to the north of Church and are spatially related to the Pegmatite One spodumene occurrence. LIBS analysis of unknown minerals at both Church and Kamuck have registered strong lithium responses. At Church, readings of up to 1.18% Li 2 O in an unknown mineral are coincident with the southern radiometric anomaly. At Kamuck, readings of up to 3.0% Li 2 O in a green mineral, likely fluorapatite were recorded after only one day of prospecting5.

Detailed Results

Further exploration of the area included prospecting and sampling throughout the fall of 2023, whole rock geochemical and LIBS analysis. Further study of publicly available geological and geophysical data has also helped to reveal promising geochemical and structural trends related to pegmatites on the Project.

Key results include:

Analysis of Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) radiometric data 6 show Equivalent Uranium ( eU ) anomalies that are related to a major structure  the Black Sturgeon River Fault ( BSRF ) and related faults which are also developed near Pegmatite Ones recent spodumene discovery and other known pegmatites in the area (see Figure 1 ). The eU anomalies are interpreted by Solstice to be associated with a potassic granite source intrusion(s) which may also be the source of related pegmatites on the Property. Some pegmatites in the area are known to be uranium-bearing 7 .

show Equivalent Uranium ( ) anomalies that are related to a major structure  the Black Sturgeon River Fault ( ) and related faults which are also developed near Pegmatite Ones recent spodumene discovery and other known pegmatites in the area (see ). The eU anomalies are interpreted by Solstice to be associated with a potassic granite source intrusion(s) which may also be the source of related pegmatites on the Property. Some pegmatites in the area are known to be uranium-bearing . Geochemical analysis using LIBS has identified a lithium-enriched trend of over 50 ppm Li in alkali feldspars (50  280ppm), from potassic granites or pegmatites. Similar readings in alkali feldspars have been shown to be reliable indicators for the presence of spodumene in known lithium districts 8,9 .

. Sampling to date at Church suggests that elevated lithium in alkali feldspars is largely coincident with the pronounced eU anomaly. More regionally, the Pegmatite One spodumene occurrence and mapped (OGS) fertile pegmatites also display a close spatial relationship with eU anomalies (see inset, Figure 1 )

) eU anomalies coincident with lithium enrichment in alkali feldspars at Church suggest potential fractionation outwards from core potassic (and uranium-enriched) source intrusion area(s). This is supported by low K/Rb ratios (a measure of fractionation) in pegmatites sampled to date outside the main area of eU enrichment ( Figure 1 ).

). LIBS analysis in an unknown mineral has registered readings of up to 5,470ppm Li (1.18% Li 2 O) in a newly identified area of pegmatites in the SE area of the Project.

Figure 1: Church Project exploration results



Much of the Church Property has not been prospected or sampled. Based on the promising results that are clearly tied to eU anomalies that have analogs to the North along the BSRF, these areas have the potential to host LCT Pegmatites, and therefore the next step on the Property will be to cover the rest of this area with detailed prospecting and sampling.

Kamuck Property

Solstice acquired the 31km2 Kamuck Property in October 2023 after a one-day property due diligence examination. Key observations include:

Confirmation of a well exposed pegmatite swarm covering a 1km by 800m area which was initially identified using aerial imagery ( Figure 2 ). The pegmatite is typically coarse-grained plagioclase feldspar with abundant indicators of fertility including books of muscovite, garnet, cordierite, and possible fluorapatite 10 . The pegmatite swarm correlates with a pronounced ENE and NNE trending, 3.9km long eU radiometric anomaly 1 1 that satellite imagery shows has extensive exposure.

). The pegmatite is typically coarse-grained plagioclase feldspar with abundant indicators of fertility including books of muscovite, garnet, cordierite, and possible fluorapatite . The pegmatite swarm correlates with a pronounced ENE and NNE trending, 3.9km long eU radiometric anomaly that satellite imagery shows has extensive exposure. Elevated Li content (LIBS readings of up to 3.0% Li 2 O ) in a green mineral, likely fluorapatite 1 2 . According to Selway et.al.,  the presence of blue or green Mn-rich fluorapatite indicates that the pegmatite has economic potential for Li-Cs-Ta  1 3 . The fluorapatite also contains up to 1.02% Mn (1.31% MnO) which is also noted as a component in other fluorapatites in LCT pegmatites.

) in a green mineral, likely fluorapatite . According to Selway et.al.,   . The fluorapatite also contains up to 1.02% Mn (1.31% MnO) which is also noted as a component in other fluorapatites in LCT pegmatites. The pegmatite swarm lies at the western end of, and is coincident with, part of a prominent ~3km ENE-trending eU anomaly interpreted to be a potential fault structure along which additional pegmatites may be developed. This, and other prominent structures and eU anomalies will be prospected in the 2024 field season.

Upon seeing positive correlations between eU anomalies and lithium values in alkali feldspars at Church and Kamuck, Solstice subsequently staked a strong eU anomaly adjacent to Kamuck to bring its entire area to 43 km2.

Figure 2: Kamuck Property, showing eU responses and individual samples on prospected areas identified by aerial imagery

Solstice Selected to Received $200,000 Ontario Government Grant

The Company has also been selected to receive grant funding of up to $200,000 under the Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) from the Ontario Government. This amount will cover up to 50% of eligible exploration costs, to a maximum of $200,000 in respect of expenditures incurred by the Company during the period from April 1, 2023 to February 15, 2024. The Company also received a $200,000 OJEP Grant for the exploration program on its SLP Project in 2023.

As the global search for critical minerals intensifies, our governments Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) gives us a major competitive advantage and ensures Ontario will be a leading global supplier of critical minerals, said George Pirie, Minister of Mines. Our government's $200,000 investment in Solstice Golds Church Project will help develop this promising lithium deposit in northwestern Ontario and create jobs. Lithium is a vital component in the manufacturing of electric vehicles, and it is great to see companies exploring for the critical minerals that will help us build an integrated supply chain in Ontario.

We would like to thank the Ontario Government for the approval for funding under the OJEP program. We look forward to using these funds to extend our exploration program at our Church Project, which is in the heart of the Quetico Lithium District, only 85km from the Port of Thunder Bay commented Pablo McDonald, Solstice CEO.

Data Sources and References

LIBS:

Initial analysis of samples from Solstice's site visit were completed using a Sci-Labs Z-300 LIBS (laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy) analyzer. Lithium data were calibrated against LCT pegmatite standard GTA-06. Data should be considered semi-quantitative, but are independently confirmed by whole rock data (K/Rb values, for example). In addition, at least four analyses per mineral were carried out (two in Geochem mode, two in Element Pro mode).

Whole Rock Analysis:

Sample material weighing from 1 to 2 kg is selected and placed in plastic bags. Sample details and a GPS coordinate were recorded. A sample tag with the sample number is tied with flagging tape to an example of the sample and left in the field. A duplicate sample tag is placed in the sample bag. The samples were delivered directly to the lab in Thunder Bay, Ontario by Solstice employees. Analysis method: Peroxide (Total) Fusion, ICP-OES & ICP-MS with 55 elements that include detection levels for Li of 15ppm - 50,000ppm and Rb of 0.4ppm - 5,000ppm (ActLabs code UT7). Sodium peroxide fusion provides total metal recovery and is effective for the decomposition of sulphides and refractory minerals which are common to pegmatites.

References:

Pegmatite One News Release: Pegmatite One Discovers High-Grade Lithium Mineralization During Extended Exploration at Frazer Lake Mound Property, August 2, 2023. Tearlach News Release: Tearlach Resources Discovers Spodumene on Georgina Properties, October 18, 2023 XRD or other additional work will be required to definitively identify this mineral. See LIBS under Data Sources and References above for a detailed description of LIBS procedures. It is important to note that these unknown minerals occur only in trace amounts and their significance is an indicator of fractionation and lithium pegmatite potential. Ontario Geological Survey, Ontario Airborne Geophysical Surveys: Aeromagnetic and gamma-ray Spectrometric Data, Lake Nipigon Embayment Area. Geophysical Data Set 1074. Reference Ontario Mineral Index assessment data (OMI) Maneta, V. and Baker, R. The potential of lithium in alkali feldspars, quartz, and muscovite as a geochemical indicator in the exploration for lithium-rich granitic pegmatites: A case study from the spodumene-rich Moblan pegmatite, Quebec, Canada, Journal of Geochemical Exploration, Volume 205, 2019, 106336, ISSN 0375-6742, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2019.106336. Morozova,L. et al. Distribution of Trace Elements in K-Feldspar with Implications for Tracing Ore-Forming Processes in Pegmatites: Examples from the World-Class Kolmozero Lithium Deposit, NW Russia. Minerals 2022, 12, 1448. https://doi.org/10.3390/ min1211144. The probable fluorapatite has well developed P, Fl, Cl, Br peaks in LIBS spectra consistent with fluorapatite but XRD or other work is required to confirm this with 100% certainty. Ontario Geological Survey, Ontario Airborne Geophysical Surveys: Aeromagnetic and gamma-ray Spectrometric Data, Lac des Mille LacsNagagami Lake Area. Geophysical Data Set 1078. The mineral tentatively identified as fluorapatite contains well developed fluorine, chlorine and bromine peaks in LIBS analysis which is consistent with fluorapatite. Further analytical work will be required to positively confirm its composition. It is important to note that the probable fluorapatite mineral occurs only in trace amounts and its significance is an indicator of fractionation and lithium pegmatite potential. Selway et.al. A Review of Rare-Element (Li-Cs-Ta) Pegmatite Exploration Techniques for the Superior Province, Canada, and Large Worldwide Tantalum Deposits. Exploration and Mining Geology, Vol. 14, Nos. 1-4, pp. 1-30, 2005

About Solstice Gold Corp.

Solstice is an exploration company with quality, district-scale gold and lithium projects in established mining regions of Canada. Our 268 km2 SLP lithium property is located in the English River Subprovince in an area that has recently garnered significant interest for its potential to host rare metals. Our 194 km2 Red Lake Extension (RLX) and New Frontier projects are located at the northwestern extension of the prolific Red Lake Camp in Ontario and approximately 45 km from the Red Lake Mine Complex owned by Evolution Mining. Our 322 km2 Atikokan Gold Project is approximately 23 km from the Hammond Reef Gold Project owned by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited. Our Qaiqtuq Gold Project which covers 886 km2 with certain other rights covering an adjacent 683 km2, hosts a 10 km2 high grade gold boulder field, is fully permitted and hosts multiple drill-ready targets. Qaiqtuq is located in Nunavut, only 26 km from Rankin Inlet and approximately 7 km from the Meliadine Gold Mine owned by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited. An extensive gold and battery metal royalty and property portfolio of over 80 assets was purchased in October 2021. Over $2 million in value and three new royalties have been generated since the acquisition.

Solstice is committed to responsible exploration and development in the communities in which we work. For more details on Solstice Gold, our exploration projects and details on our recently acquired portfolio of projects please see our Corporate Presentation available at www.solsticegold.com.

Solstices Chairman, David Adamson, was a co-award winner for the discovery of Battle North Gold Corporation's Bateman Gold deposit and was instrumental in the acquisition of many of the district properties in the Battle North portfolio during his successful 16 years of exploration in the Red Lake.

Sandy Barham, M.Sc., P.Geo., Senior Geologist, is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 standards responsible for reviewing and approving the technical disclosures of this news release.

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.

On Behalf of Solstice Gold Corp.

Pablo McDonald, Chief Executive Officer

For further information on Solstice Gold Corp., please visit our website at www.solsticegold.com or contact:

Phone: (604) 283-7234

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Forward-Looking Statements and Additional Cautionary Language

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements (FLS) including, but not limited to rare metal pegmatites prospectively, the need for more prospecting and analysis, reconnaissance prospecting in currently unexplored areas of the project, the focus of follow-up efforts on promising geochemical and mineralogical anomalies, the potential for LCT pegmatites to be high, and the extension of in-depth systematic prospecting and sampling program in the fall. FLS can often be identified by forward-looking words such as approximate or (~), emerging, goal, plan, intent, estimate, expects, potential, scheduled, may and will or similar words suggesting future outcomes or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. In respect of the FLS, the Company has made certain assumptions that management believes are reasonable at this time. The assumptions include that the Company will have sufficient financial resources for fall sampling and prospecting, that pegmatite discoveries will be to the level anticipated however, there can be no assurance that such assumptions and statements will prove to be accurate and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any FLS include, but are not limited to, limited capital or access to additional capital for prospecting, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required TSXV, governmental, environmental or other project approvals, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, regulatory approvals and other factors. FLS are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. Potential shareholders and prospective investors should be aware that these statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the FLS. Shareholders are cautioned not to place undue reliance on FLS. By their nature FLS involve numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and various future events will not occur. Solstice undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any FLS whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Archer Exploration Corp. (CSE: RCHR) (OTCQB: RCHRF) (FSE: 6YR0) (the "Company" or "Archer") is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced for the 2024 Winter Exploration Program at the 100% owned Grasset Nickel Project ("Grasset") in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt of Quebec, Canada.

Highlights

The first drill hole of the 2024 Winter Program will test the newly identified N9 electromagnetic (" EM ") conductor approximately 2 kilometres northeast of the Grasset Deposit

While drilling the N9 target, downhole EM (" DHEM ") surveys on Holes GR23-07 and GR 23-08 will be conducted, providing a higher resolution of the underground conductive anomalies and refining current exploration targets

In 2023, three drill holes defined a high-grade extension of the H1 Horizon, up to a depth of 450 metres below surface GR23-03 : 1.55% Ni, 0.18% Cu, 1.2 g/t Pt-Pd over 5.80 metres GR23-07 : 2.97% Ni, 0.10% Cu, 4.1 g/t Pt-Pd over 0.44 metres GR23-08 : 1.06% Ni, 0.14% Cu, 0.7 g/t Pt-Pd over 5.60 metres



"We are thrilled to kick off winter drilling at our Grasset Nickel Project and are eager to test for extensions of the H1 Discovery Zone and the highly prospective N9 electromagnetic anomaly identified last year. The presence of geophysical anomalies such as N9, which exhibits a more conductive EM response than the H1 Horizon at the Grasset Deposit less than 2 kilometres away, in a similar geological environment, underscores the immediate and untapped potential of the Grasset Ultramafic Complex. Our exploration has only just begun at Grasset, and we maintain confidence that we are uncovering a much larger mineralized system than what has been discovered thus far," stated Tom Meyer, Archer's President and Chief Executive Officer.

Winter 2024 Drill Program

The 2024 Winter Program will consist of three to four diamond drill holes and up to 2,000 metres of drilling. The primary objectives of the Winter 2024 Exploration Program are to test the new geophysical anomaly, N9, approximately two kilometres northeast of the Grasset Deposit and further exploration of the high-grade H1 Discovery Zone.

N9 Target Drilling

The N9 EM conductive plate (Figure 1) was interpreted from a high-power, large loop InfiniTEM-XL surface survey conducted in 2023 and presents very similar characteristics to the S6 plate (Figure 1) that overlays the H1 Discovery Zone. The N9 plate ranges from a depth of 300 to 700 metres and occupies an area of approximately 400 by 400 metres. Notably, the N9 plate generated a higher conductive response than the S6 geophysical plate.

The N9 electromagnetic anomaly is located at the northern contact of an interpreted (from magnetic surveys) ultramafic sequence similar in nature to the H1 Discovery Zone. The geophysical characteristics and geological environment of the N9 anomaly make it a high priority drill target that will be tested with hole GR24-09 (Figures 1 and 2).

H1 Discovery Zone Drilling

To facilitate further exploration of the H1 Discovery Zone, time-domain large-loop down-hole surveys will be conducted in holes GR23-07 and GR23-08. The technique is a very useful tool in determining the presence and directionality of highly conductive nickel sulphides. Holes GR23-07 and GR23-08, drilled in December 2023, confirmed the extension of mineralization in the H1 Horizon to a depth of approximately 430 metres, over 100 metres below hole GR23-03, which intersected 1.55% Ni, 0.18% Cu, 1.17 g/t Pt-Pd over 5.80 metres, including 5.75% Ni, 0.24% Cu, 5.53 g/t Pt-Pd over 0.60 metres of massive sulphides, at a depth of 330 metres.

The H1 Discovery Zone demonstrates the presence of a strong mineralizing system that is still open in all directions below 250 metres in the southeast portion of the H1 Horizon (Figure 3). Grades and textures observed indicated the potential for recent intersections to be at the fringe of a new high-grade-hosting ultramafic conduit. All three drill holes in the H1 Discovery Zone intersected nickel grades higher than the Indicated Resources average grade of the H1 Horizon (Table 1).

Figure 1: Grasset Geological Surface Plan

Figure 2: Hole GR24-09 Vertical Section

Table 1: Assay Highlights from 2023 Drilling

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Ni

(%) Cu

(%) Co

(%) Pt

(g/t) Pd

(g/t) GR23-03 403.0 408.8 5.80 1.55 0.18 0.04 0.35 0.82 Including 408.2 408.8 0.60 5.75 0.24 0.13 1.68 3.85 GR23-07 516.2 516.6 0.44 2.97 0.10 0.07 1.14 2.96 GR23-08 486.0 487.4 1.40 2.14 0.09 0.03 0.40 0.22 GR23-08 490.5 496.1 5.60 1.06 0.14 0.03 0.23 0.51 Including 493.6 496.1 2.50 1.61 0.24 0.05 0.34 0.75

All lengths are downhole lengths and true widths are expected to be greater than or equal to 50-70% of downhole lengths.

Figure 3: H1 Horizon Metal Factor Vertical Longitudinal Section

The Grasset Project

The Grasset Deposit, discovered in 2012 and located at the southern end of the Grasset Ultramafic Complex, comprises two subparallel, and sub-vertically dipping zones (H1 and H3 horizons) of disseminated to locally semi-massive sulphides mineralization. The H1 and H3 horizons each remain open at depth and along strike to the northwest.

In 2021, an updated mineral resource estimate, using a 2016 drilling cutoff, was completed with an Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate of 5.5 Mt grading 1.53% nickel equivalent ("NiEq") and an Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 217,000 tonnes grading 1.01% NiEq. For additional information regarding Archer's Grasset Project please refer to the Technical Report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Grasset Property, Quebec, Canada" dated effective September 2, 2022, prepared by Carl Pelletier, P.Geo., available under Archer's profile on www.sedarplus.ca.

The vast majority of the Grasset Ultramafic Complex is underexplored and limited exploration prior to 2016 resulted in the discovery of several significant nickel sulphides showings along the entire 23-kilometre-long belt. Most notable is the GUC Central discovery, 7 kilometres northwest of the Grasset Deposit, which hosts a 950-metre-thick ultramafic sequence with several mineralized horizons of nickel sulphides and a best mineralized intercept of 4.14% Ni over 0.65 metres, within 7.58 metres of 1.05% Ni.

The Grasset Deposit is one of the largest nickel sulphides deposits in Canada's Abitibi region and the only North American nickel sulphides deposit, with an Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate of more than 50,000 contained tonnes of nickel and an average NiEq grade of over 1.5%, not controlled by a major mining company.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Archer implements high-quality industry-standard quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures for its diamond drill programs. Archer's geologists insert alternating blanks and standards approximately one per every 10 samples collected. Moreover, a blank is added after logged, potentially high-grade mineralized zones with standards additionally inserted within such mineralized zones. Overall, blanks and standards account for approximately 12% of the samples submitted to the lab.

All samples are being assayed at ALS's Val d'Or laboratory where duplicates are inserted in the sample sequence at a rate of 1 in 40 samples sequence alternating with standards and blanks to result in a QA/QC insertion rate of about 1 in 10 samples. All drill core samples are analyzed using a 4-Acid digestion followed by 33 element ICP-AES analyses (ALS's Code ME-ICP61). Over limit Ni results are further analyzed by 4-Acid ore grade elements ICP-AES process (Code ICP-81 or ME-OG62). Analyses for Au, Pd and Pt are done using the ore grade ICP-AES procedure (Code PGM-ICP23). Gold only assays are performed with Au-ICP21 or AU-GRA21 if any visible gold. ALS is an accredited laboratory (SCC - CAN-P-1579 and CAN-P-4E ISO/IEC 17025) and is independent of the Company.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Jacquelin Gauthier, P.Geo, Vice President, Exploration, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Gauthier is satisfied that the analytical and testing procedures used are standard industry operating procedures and methodologies, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information disclosed in this news release.

About Archer

Archer Exploration is a Canadian Ni-Cu-Co-PGE focused exploration and development company with an extensive portfolio of assets in Quebec and Ontario, Canada. The Company's flagship asset is the Grasset Project, located within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, with an Indicated Resource of 5.5 Mt @ 1.53% NiEq. In addition, the Company holds a portfolio of 37 properties and over 300 km2 in the world-class mining district of Sudbury, Ontario.

The Company's growth strategy is focused on the exploration and development of its nickel sulphide properties within its portfolio. Archer's vision is to be a responsible nickel sulphide project developer in stable pro-mining jurisdictions. Archer is committed to socially responsible exploration and development, working safely, ethically, and with integrity. For more information, please visit www.archerexploration.com.

Tom Meyer

President & Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +1 866.899.7247 (RCHR)

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that Archer expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking information and statements contained herein includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the continued exploration, drilling and anticipated completion of the Winter 2024 campaign; and that funding from the Company's recent private placement is sufficient for operations.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct Archer's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by Archer in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities; risks and uncertainties associated with certain exploration and drilling tools and/or measures; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks related to the use of proceeds of the Company's recent private placement; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East; general economic factors (including inflationary pressure); the price of commodities; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's public disclosure documents.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Archer as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Archer does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Radio Fuels Energy Corp. (CSE: CAKE) (OTCQB: CKEFF) (the "Company" or "Radio Fuels") is pleased to announce the appointment of Philip O'Neill as Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company.

Mr. O'Neill is an experienced mining executive and corporate director. He is currently the President and founder of MP1 Capital, a Calgary based investment company created to focus on the natural resources sector. Mr. O'Neill was Director and Chief Operations Officer of Palisades Goldcorp Ltd. from 2019 to 2021, during which Palisades Goldcorp Ltd. became one of the most active financiers in the junior mining space. He was also President and Director of Nevada King Gold Corp. ahead of its go-public transaction in 2021. In 2010, Mr. O'Neill founded TSX listed Sunward Resources Ltd. ("Sunward") where he held the positions of CEO and Director, raising $81 million in a 10-month span to advance the Titiribi gold/copper project in Colombia. In 2015, Mr. O'Neill negotiated Sunward's acquisition by NovaCopper Inc., now Trilogy Metals Inc., at a +140% premium to market. Mr. O'Neill has also held directorship roles for several TSX, TSX Venture, and ASX listed companies.

"We are very pleased that Phil will be joining our team as CEO and Director," stated Jack Campbell, Chair of the Board of Radio Fuels. "With his previous experience and track record in the industry, Radio Fuels welcomes his leadership in taking the Company through its next phase of growth and development."

The appointment of Mr. O'Neill follows the resignation of Cejay Kim as Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director. Mr. Kim has played an integral role in helping shape Radio Fuels from its inception. The Company would like to thank him for his contributions and wishes him well in his future endeavors.

About Radio Fuels Energy Corp.

The Company is a junior natural resource company focused on providing exposure to uranium and other commodities through the investment, acquisition, exploration, and development of projects and companies.

For further information, please contact:

Philip O'Neill

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (403) 614-2552

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-Looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-Looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 30, 2024) - Lion Rock Resources Inc. (TSXV: ROAR) (FSE: KGB) (the "Company" or "Lion Rock") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (the "LOI") with Tinton Partners, LLC (the "Tinton Partners") to acquire the Volney Lithium Project, strategically located in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota (Figure 1). The Volney Lithium Project is comprised of 114 private land claims extending over 510 ha which is host to the historic Giant Volney pegmatite.

Figure 1. Lion Rock Resources' Volney Lithium Project map in the Black Hills, South Dakota.

Project Highlights

The Volney Lithium Property (the "Property"). The Property is 510 ha in the Northwestern district of the Black Hills known as Tinton. Historic pegmatites on the property comprise of seven discrete pegmatite bodies ranging from 10 to 23 m wide, converging to the south to form a single large lithium-rich pegmatite, the Giant Volney, over a known strike length of 635 m at surface (Figure 2).[1] None of the known pegmatites have been drilled below a depth of 50 m. There are 9 claims within the traditional boundaries of the Property which are excluded from the Property (the "Carve Out Property").

Property Geology. Tinton pegmatite camp in the northern Black Hills is underlain by a domal inlier exposing a late Neoarchean greenstone-supracrustal belt heavily invaded by a swarm of 2.61 to 2.48 Ga rare metal pegmatites. The pegmatites at Tinton belong to the same global superswarm of major lithium pegmatites formed at the end of the Archean.[2] The pegmatites were historically mined for Tin with limited investigation into the LCT pegmatite potential.

Figure 2. Lion Rock Resources' Volney Lithium Project map showing documented pegmatite location from Nellis, 1973.

Terms of Option

The LOI provides for the parties to enter into a formal option agreement (the "Option Agreement") under which the Company will be granted the sole and exclusive right and option (the "Option") to acquire the Volney Lithium Project by completing the following cash payments, share issuances and work program expenditures ("Expenditures"), and will be subject to the two royalties described below.

Lion Rock shall pay the Tinton Partners US$25,000 upon execution of the LOI (paid);

Lion Rock shall pay the Tinton Partners US$475,000 cash within 5 business days of TSX Venture Exchange (" TSXV ") approval (" TSXV Approval ") of the Option Agreement;

") approval (" ") of the Option Agreement; Lion Rock will issue within 5 business days from TSXV Approval such number of common shares in the capital of Lion Rock (the " Shares ") to the Tinton Partners in such denominations and names as directed the Partners, as is equal to 9.9% of the issued and outstanding shares of Lion Rock (" Lion Rock Shares ") on an undiluted, post-transaction basis and post financing basis to the extent that Lion Rock undertakes financing in connection with the LOI or the Option Agreement;

") to the Tinton Partners in such denominations and names as directed the Partners, as is equal to 9.9% of the issued and outstanding shares of Lion Rock (" ") on an undiluted, post-transaction basis and post financing basis to the extent that Lion Rock undertakes financing in connection with the LOI or the Option Agreement; On or before the first anniversary of the TSXV Approval (the " First Anniversary Date "), Lion Rock shall incur a total of US$1,800,000 of exploration expenditures (" Expenditures ") on the Property, all of which shall be filed as assessment work with the applicable government registry to maintain the Property in good standing;

"), Lion Rock shall incur a total of US$1,800,000 of exploration expenditures (" ") on the Property, all of which shall be filed as assessment work with the applicable government registry to maintain the Property in good standing; Within 10 business days of the First Anniversary Date, Lion Rock shall pay US$1,250,000 cash, and issue such additional number of Lion Rock Shares, issued at a price based on the 20 day VWAP immediately prior to the First Anniversary Date, as is equal to the greater of (i) that number of Lion Rock Shares required to maintain the Tinton Partner's shareholdings at an amount equal to 9.9% of the then issued and outstanding Lion Rock Shares calculated as of the First Anniversary Date on an undiluted basis, or (ii) the number of Lion Rock Shares equal to a value of US$500,000 (converted to Canadian dollars using the Bank of Canada exchange rate on the First Anniversary Date);

On or before the second anniversary of the TSXV Approval (the " Second Anniversary Date "), Lion Rock shall incur a total of US$3,500,000 of Expenditures on the Property, all of which shall be filed as assessment work with the applicable government registry to maintain the Property in good standing;

"), Lion Rock shall incur a total of US$3,500,000 of Expenditures on the Property, all of which shall be filed as assessment work with the applicable government registry to maintain the Property in good standing; Within 10 business days following the Second Anniversary Date, Lion Rock shall pay the Tinton Partners US$2,250,000 cash, and issue such additional number of Lion Rock Shares, issued at a price based on the 20 day VWAP immediately prior to the Second Anniversary Date as is equal to the greater of (i) that number of Lion Rock Shares required to maintain The Tinto Partner's shareholdings at an amount equal to 9.9% of the then issued and outstanding Lion Rock Shares calculated as of the Second Anniversary Date on an undiluted basis, or (ii) the number of Lion Rock Shares equal to a value of US$750,000 (converted to Canadian dollars using the Bank of Canada exchange rate on the Second Anniversary Date);

Expenditures incurred by any date in excess of the amount of Expenditures required to be incurred by such date shall be carried forward to the succeeding period and qualify as Expenditures for the succeeding period.

If Expenditures incurred by any date are less than the amount of Expenditures required to be incurred by such date provided such shortfall shall not exceed 20% of the expected Expenditures, Lion Rock shall have the right, but not the obligation, to pay the shortfall to, or at the direction of, the Tinton Partners in cash within 10 days of such date, in order to maintain the Option in good standing.

Such payments in cash in lieu of Expenditures shall be deemed Expenditures incurred on the Property on or before such date.

Failure to make any of the Expenditures or payments on a timely basis will result in an immediate termination of the Option.

Once Lion Rock has completed the Expenditures and made all payments and issuances of Lion Rock Shares as specified in the Option Agreement, Lion Rock will have exercised the Option and acquired a 100% interest in the Property, other than the Carve Out Property, subject to the royalties described below.

The Parties will enter into (i) a Gross Smelter Returns Royalty Agreement, other than for gold, under which Lion Rock will grant the Partners a 2% GSR on the Property subject to a buy back option exercisable upon the commencement of commercial production for a period of five years in favour of Lion Rock of 1% of the GSR (effectively reducing the GSR to 1%) for US$1,000,000; and (ii) a Net Smelter Returns Royalty Agreement for gold under which Lion Rock will grant the Tinton Partners a 2% NSR on the Property subject to a buy back option exercisable upon the commencement of commercial production for a period of five years in favour of Lion Rock of 1% of the NSR (effectively reducing the NSR to 1%) for US$1,000,000. In all circumstances the royalties will be registered on title and will be assigned with the Property in the event of any sale of the Property, whether in whole or in part.

The Share issuances described above will be subject to the prior approval of the TSXV and may require the filing and approval of Personal Information Forms from representatives of the Tinton Partners and shareholder approval if required under TSXV policies.

About the Volney Lithium Project

The Volney Lithium Project is comprised of 114 private land claims totaling 510 ha in the Black Hills. The Property is located 20 km south of Spearfish, South Dakota and approximately 15 km west of Lead. Pegmatites are within a Neoarchean greenstone belt, featuring the Giant Volney pegmatite, historically mined for Tin. The Property is accessible by road and strategically located with proximity to infrastructure and major mining jurisdiction.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Carl Ginn, P.Geo., consultant to the Company and a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101.

About Lion Rock Resources Inc.

Lion Rock Resources Inc. is a brownfields exploration company focused on the Maybrun Copper-Gold Project in northwestern Ontario, approximately 80 km from New Gold's Rainy River Gold Mine and 15 km from First Mining Gold's Cameron Lake Project. The Company also holds properties prospective for lithium in Ontario and Quebec.

On Behalf of the Board

R. Dale Ginn, President & Chief Executive Officer

O: 604-678-5308

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

[1] Nellis, D.A., 1973, Tantalum in the Volney Pegmatite, Tinton, South Dakota, Boston, Boston University Ph.D.

[2] Lincoln, P.R, 1954, Pegmatite Investigations 1942-1945 Black Hills, South Dakota.
Following the riveting conclusion of ENA's 'Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand,' Jang Dong-yoon, the lead actor, opens up about the intense physical transformation he underwent to authentically portray Kim Baek-du, a wrestling prodigy facing a turbulent phase in life.

The actor provides an in-depth account of the challenging process, shedding light on the meticulous journey of gaining approximately 14kg to embody the Taebaek-level wrestler.

Jang Dong-yoon's Physical Transformation for Wrestling Role: A Grueling Journey of Gaining 14kg

Jang Dong-yoon shares the highs and lows of this transformative experience, emphasizing the happiness he derived up to a certain weight threshold.

However, he candidly reveals the difficulties encountered in surpassing the 80kg mark, elaborating on the strain it imposed on his ankles and waist.

The actor, having successfully shed the weight post-production, reflects on the physical toll such drastic changes can take and the dedication required to bring authenticity to his character.

A production briefing session for 'Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand' stirred controversy as all cast members, except Jang Dong-yoon, opted for black attire, prompting speculation and rumors of bullying. In response to these allegations, Jang Dong-yoon dismisses the controversy, attributing the choice of attire to the nature of the drama.

The actor explains that the decision to wear black was aligned with the overall theme of the drama, a healing narrative that explores themes of hope and resilience.

He addresses the camaraderie among the cast, dispelling any notions of discord by stating that the actors are genuinely close and care for each other. Jang Dong-yoon's lighthearted response aims to quell the brewing rumors and refocus attention on the positive atmosphere within the cast.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: THIS '20th Century Girl' Actress Rumored to Lead 'All of Us Are Dead' Season 2

Decoding the Title: Jang Dong-yoon Reflects on the Meaning Behind 'Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand'

In a thoughtful exploration of the drama's title, Jang Dong-yoon shares his interpretation, likening the wasted youth of his character, Kim Baek-du, to sand.

The actor delves into the metaphorical significance, suggesting that viewers may have initially perceived the narrative as one where success and conventional achievements are prerequisites for the blossoming of flowers.

However, he challenges this notion, asserting that 'Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand' encapsulates a broader message of hope. Jang Dong-yoon believes the drama conveys the idea that flowers can bloom in any circumstance, defying societal expectations.

As he reflects on the enduring impact of the role, he expresses a profound connection to the character and anticipates that this work will stand out in his filmography, offering valuable insights and nurturing his love for the craft of acting.

READ ALSO: 'King the Land,' 'Strong Woman Do Bong Soon,' More K-Dramas Confirmed for Remakes

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Michelle Williams.
Ahn Bo Hyun made viewers delighted after showing lovely gestures during his trip to Japan.

The K-drama actor appeared in a vlog of his YouTuber friend as he filmed their journey overseas.

Ahn Bo Hyun Refuses to Enter Maid Cafe in Japan

In KwakTube's channel, the South Korean hearthrob is being pressured by his friend to enter Maidreamin, one of the largest maid cafe restaurant chains in Japan.

The restaurant chain has more than maids serving in the 18 restaurants. Apart from Japan, Maidreamin also has a franchise in Thailand.

In the video, Ahn Bo Hyun was seen standing just right at the door.

He was hesitant to enter the themed cafe and was grabbing the door knob like it was his life.

Despite the actor looking uncomfortable entering the establishment, the YouTuber attempted to pursue Ahn Bo Hyun once more.

However, the "My Name" star makes it clear that he didn't want to enter the cafe and asked his friend if they could grab a coffee somewhere else.

"It's OK! It's not like the maids are going to kill you," the YouTuber said, to which the actor responded, "Come, I'll buy you something else" and mentioned a popular coffee chain instead.

In an online community, Ahn Bo Hyun's action garnered mixed reactions from viewers.

While some criticized the YouTuber for insisting on the actor trying the themed cafe, others find it endearing that Ahn Bo Hyunb refuses to go inside the maid cafe.

Other than this, the viewers were delighted to see the true Ahn Bo Hyun and his personality behind the camera.

What's Next for Ahn Bo Hyun?

The South Korean hearthrob is currently starring in the action comedy drama "Flex X Cop."

Taking on the role of Jin Yi Soo, he is a third-generation chaebol who unexpectedly joins the police force because of an incident.

To prove his worth to his family and to people around him, he wants to do well in handling the case and as a certified cop.

Interestingly, joining Ahn Bo Hyun on his K-drama comeback is "Yumi's Cells" co-star Park Ji Hyun, who played the role of detective Lee Kang Hyun.

Adding to the list of "Flex X Cop" cast members are Kang Sang Jun, Kim Shin Bi, Jang Hyun Sung, and Kwak Si Yang as Jin Yi Soo's older brother.

Meanwhile, viewers get to see the latest episode every Friday and Saturday at 10 p.m. KST.

While local viewers could watch the series through SBS, "DFlex X Cop" is available via streaming platforms such as Wavve, Hulu, and Disney+.

Other than his current K-drama, Ahn Bo Hyun is expected to headline the upcoming webtoon-based series "Haesi's Shinru," replacing Kim Seon Ho as the lead star.


Wednesday, January 31, 2024  American actor, Alec Baldwin will face court charged with involuntary manslaughter on Thursday, February 1, after accidentally shooting a camerawoman dead on a film set.

The actor, 65, is scheduled to be arraigned in the First Judicial District Court in New Mexico, on February 1 though he will appear virtually.

Named Alexander Rae Baldwin in the case, the movie star was charged after a grand jury voted to indict him on January 19.

Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins on the set of his ill-fated Western film Rust when a prop gun was loaded with live bullets.

The grand jury indicted him on the grounds of negligent use of a firearm and disregard for others' safety in the October 21, 2021, shooting.

He faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted, but previous charges, filed by New Mexico prosecutors, were dismissed in April last year.

Baldwin always maintained that he followed gun safety laws and that the fault lies with the armourer or crew who handed him a gun loaded with a live round.

He insists he confirmed that the gun was 'cold', meaning not containing live ammunition when he took it to rehearse the scene.

Gloria Allred, the lawyer for Halyna's parents and sister, said in response to the new charges: 'Our clients have always sought the truth about what happened on the day that Halyna Hutchins was tragically shot and killed.

'They continue to seek the truth in our civil lawsuit for them and they also would like there to be accountability in the criminal justice system.

'The grand jury has decided that there is sufficient evidence to indict Alec Baldwin on the charge of involuntary manslaughter.

'We are looking forward to the criminal trial which will determine if he should be convicted for the untimely death of Halyna.'

Baldwin's lawyers Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas countered: 'We look forward to our day in court.'

They responded to the indictment almost immediately, arguing the ongoing media interest in his case could alter a jury's ability to be impartial.

The filings noted a speedy trial would 'minimize public vilification and suspicion', and may 'avoid the hazards of proving his innocence that often arise after a lengthy delay in prosecution'.

The film set's armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will stand trial in February after she has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Prosecutors charged her with failing to properly check the gun's ammunition and for allowing live rounds onto the movie set.

Baldwin was practising drawing the prop weapon from his holster when he claimed it fired spontaneously.

He has always been adamant that he did not pull the trigger.

But a new report by Lucien Haag of Forensic Science Services in Arizona states that the trigger 'had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver.'

He was initially charged in January 2023 by First Judicial District Attorney of New Mexico Mary Carmack-Altwies, who launched her own media tour soon after filing charges.

Baldwin's team interpreted her enthusiasm for the case as a fame-hungry effort to boost her own career.

After hashing it out with his team in the court of public opinion, Carmack-Altwies stepped down from the case and a special prosecutor was appointed to take over.

That team opted to drop the charges against Baldwin, who had already settled a wrongful death lawsuit launched by Hutchins' family.


Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka left Kenyans talking yesterday after he failed to attend the Executive Summit of the Azimio One Kenya Coalition Party led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Addressing the media after the meeting, DAP-K Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa disclosed that Kalonzo had other engagements in South Sudan and could not attend the meeting.

Wamalwa noted that Kalonzo sent his apology and gave his blessing on the meeting to go on without his presence.

Absent with apology was the Honorable Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka who is currently in Sudan for other engagements but who spoke to our leader this morning and sent his apologies and the meeting went on with his blessing and his views were incorporated, Wamalwa stated.

The meeting was attended by Raila Odinga, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa Mwangi Wa Iria, Wycliffe Oparanya, Peter Munya, Jeremiah Kioni, Nderitu Murithi, George Wajackoyah, and Opiyo Wandayi.

Raila dismissed reports that the opposition coalition was splitting after leaders fell out.

There has been a lot of speculation in the media that Azimio is splitting and convening meetings which have not been held that is all trash media propaganda, Raila stated.

Karua, who also read the coalitions statement, noted that they had a robust discussion and agreed on different strategies and tactical positions.

Azimio remains one and is here to stay committed to shared values that include accountability, integrity, public participation, good governance, respect for the rule of law, social justice, and non-discrimination, Karua stated.

The Narc Kenya boss mentioned that the Azimio coalition will strengthen its constituent parties through member recruitment drives, delegates conferences, and PG and NEC meetings.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has dismissed claims that Azimio One Kenya Alliance is dying.

Addressing a press conference in Nairobi on Tuesday, Raila Odinga, who is among coalition principals, said the alliance is still intact and all leaders are united.

Raila further said the claims are nothing but media propaganda.

There is a lot of speculation in the media; Azimio is splitting, Azimio convened meetings which have not been held, and so on.

"All those are trash, mere media propaganda, Raila said.

The presser was convened to assure the nation of Azimios unity amid claims of turbulence, as well as to push the Kenya Kwanza Government to address the high cost of living.

The presser was attended by top Azimio honchos including Narc Kenya chairperson, Martha Karua, former Murang'a county governor, Mwangi wa Iria, former Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni, former Presidential hopeful George Luchiri Wajackoyah and former Cabinet secretary, Eugene Wamalwa.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Tuesday, January 30, 2024  The body of a popular fitness influencer was dumped outside her parents' house in Brazil after her husband killed her during a heated argument, reports say.

Debora Michels, 30, was found on a pavement in Montenegro, a city in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the early hours of Friday, January 26.

Police believe she was killed by her husband of 10 years, who then heartlessly ditched her lifeless body outside her parents' home.

Michels, known as Deby, was found covered in a red blanket yards from the house.

The suspect reportedly told the police that the pair had gotten into a heated argument that became physical.

The husband, named Alexander Gunsch, is said to have grabbed Deby around her neck before lifting her and throwing her against a wardrobe.

At this point, he told police his bodybuilder wife started to feel sick and soon lost consciousness, according to local reports.

He then took Deby to hospital for medical attention, but after realising that she was dead, he ditched her on the pavement in front of the house, local media said.

Citing the Military Brigade (BM), the Correio Do Povo newspaper reports that CCTV footage captured the moment the suspect removed Deby's body from his car and placed it on the pavement.

He has since been remanded in custody by the police.

Debora's funeral took place on Saturday, January 27, before being buried in the Municipal Cemetery of Montenegro at around 11am the same day.

Her heartbroken brother Alex Michels told local media: 'This situation is revolting. What our family wants is justice. You cannot leave anyone unpunished.'





He added that Deby had wanted to leave Gunsch before the tragedy.

'The family is having a lot of strength to endure this situation,' Alex Michels said, according to Correio Do Povo.

'The community is terrified. The day before the crime, he and my father talked about separating. Everything seemed to be fine until my parents woke up to find their daughter dead in front of the house,' he said.

Her close friend Deise Chemelo said: 'Debora was a magnetic person. She lit up every place she went; she only had friends, and she only did good.

'A fighter, an entrepreneur, there is no explanation for what happened. She didn't deserve it. We don't understand.'

According to Cleusa Spinato, a women's aid advocate at a Specialised Police Station, Gunsch surrendered and confessed to the crime when police visited his address on Saturday.

Ms Spinato said police were treating the case as femicide, and that Gunsch was the main suspect in the death of his wife.

The police investigation is ongoing.


Tuesday, January 30, 2024  Footage captured a chaotic scene where members of the Maldives parliament traded kicks and fought with opposition lawmakers near the Speaker's chair.

The session descended into chaos when the main Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) decided to withhold parliamentary approval for some members of President Mohamed Muizzu's cabinet ahead of the key vote on the Cabinet, according to local media reports.

Subsequently, pro-government MPs initiated a protest, obstructing the parliamentary sitting from proceeding, the reports said.

Government MPs were seen disrupting the proceedings by blowing toy horns next to the speaker to stop him from addressing the special session.

This led to a physical fight between members near the speakers chair, while others shouted from the floor and the sounds of toy trumpets rang out.

Videos from inside the parliament on Sunday, Jan. 28, show Kanditheemu MP Abdulla Shaheem Abdul Hakeem and Kendhikulhudhoo MP Ahmed Easa engaging in a scuffle after Mr Hakeem knocked down Mr Easa.

Mr Hakeem sustained injuries on his head when two MPs fell near the chamber during the physical altercation. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in an ambulance for treatment.

The MDP defended Mr Hakeem's actions during a press conference late on Sunday, calling it an act of self-defence.

"The actions of pro-government MPs left MDP MPs with no other option than to act in self-defence. That is how any human will react in such a situation," MP Hisaan Hussain told reporters.

The microphones installed inside parliament were taken away to prevent the lawmakers from using them as weapons against each other during the brawl, according to Wion.

Another MP, Hassan Zareer, also sustained injuries on his fingers after being allegedly attacked by a member of MDP.

Following the scuffle, members and supporters of the ruling coalition staged a protest outside the parliament, demanding the approval of ministers.

The coalition has also filed a no-confidence motion against the speaker Mohamed Aslam and deputy speaker Ahmed Saleem.

Watch the video below.
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - Chief Justice Martha Koome has expressed her anger after President William Rutoss close lieutenants continued to threaten the Judiciary.

The lieutenants, led by Mogotio Member of Parliament Reuben Kiborek, threatened to cut the Judiciary budget if Judges and magistrates continue to rule against the government.

But speaking on Tuesday, Koome asserted that the merits of cases are determined according to pieces of evidence presented before the judges and cannot be swayed by politicians.

We will never discuss the merit of a case that will be determined by the judge based on evidence, the law, and their understanding of whatever has been presented to the court and if the decision turns out to be erroneous and not acceptable to any party, they should appeal to the Court of Appeal, Koome said.

She further stated that the decision-making process of the Judiciary would remain independent and cannot be discussed in any platform including the state house.

Even when we open ourselves up to dialogue, one thing we will not open ourselves to is our decision-making independence.

"I want to take this opportunity to reassure our partners and Kenyans that we, the Judiciary, will remain independent, we will live up to the ideals of decisional autonomy as protected in the Constitution, Koome stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Wednesday, January 31, 2024  The African Union has expressed deep regret over the decision by the military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw from the West African bloc ECOWAS.

On Tuesday, January 30, Niger joined Burkina Faso and Mali to send ECOWAS official notification of its withdrawal from the West African bloc.

The three countries, which have sour relationships with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since the coups, announced their decision in a joint statement on Sunday.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger were founding members of ECOWAS in 1975, but the bloc suspended all three and imposed sanctions on them following military coups that overthrew elected civilian governments.

ECOWAS also left open a possible military intervention to re-establish constitutional order in Niger as a final option if needed.

The coups took place in Niger in July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.

Reacting to the news, Tuesday night, January 30, the AU said its commission president, Moussa Faki Mahamat, calls on regional leaders to intensify the dialogue between the ECOWAS leadership and the three aforementioned countries, which accused the West African bloc of posing a threat to their sovereignty.

The AU said that the African Union Commission was willing to provide all the assistance in its power for the success of the logic of fraternal dialogue, far from all external interference from wherever they come.

On Sunday, the trio- which have formed an Alliance of Sahel States (AES)-jointly said ECOWAS had come under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles and was a threat to member states and peoples.

The notification by the three states marks the start of a one-year period before withdrawal from the bloc takes effect. During that time, countries remain bound by their membership obligations, under the blocs statutes.


Tuesday, January 30, 2024  A Paraguayan drug smuggler who tried to bring a kilo of cocaine with him to the UK has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Armando Formigli Palma, 31, was caught during a routine check by Border Force at Heathrow Airport on 31 July 2023, after disembarking a plane from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

He claimed someone else had packed his bags for him but a Google search of 'what to what to take to London in your suitcase' was found on his phone.

The cocaine smuggler said he was visiting London to 'see the sights.' Yet an X-ray of his luggage revealed hidden compartments in two suitcases that contained the cocaine.





Formigli Palma admitted drug smuggling at Winchester Crown Court yesterday and was sentenced to five years and seven months.

Formigli Palma initially claimed he was given the luggage by a criminal organisation and did not pack the suitcases.

But it was gathered that he had been in contact with a second person who had sent him a hotel booking voucher, travel insurance, and a flight itinerary.

Formigli Palma's web history also revealed that he had looked up the weather forecast for the capital.





John Turner, National Crime Agency Operations Manager, said: 'Formigli Palma invented a back story to try and avoid the consequences of his involvement in the drugs trade, underestimating the determination of our officers to uncover the truth.

'Drug mules like him play a crucial role in the business model of organised criminals, who fuel violence and exploitation across the UK.'
Kevin Kangethe was arrested in a nightclub in Kenya on Monday in connection with the killing of nurse Margaret Mbitu, who was found dead in November

GoFundMe Margaret "Maggie" Mbitu

A man has been arrested in Kenya months after a Massachusetts nurse was found slain and mutilated inside a car in the parking garage of Boston's Logan International Airport in November.

Massachusetts State Police said Kenyan authorities arrested Kevin Kangethe, 41, a Boston-area man who was wanted for the murder of Margaret Mbitu, 31, on Monday night. The arrest took place in a nightclub in Nairobi.

According to a news release from police, Kangethe flew to Kenya shortly after allegedly killing Mbitu, with whom he had been in a relationship.

Ms. Mbitu's body was located in a parked car in the Central Parking garage at Logan International Airport on the evening of November 1, 2023, the release read, adding that the victim had been reported missing by her family prior to the discovery of her body.

Per CNN, police said Mbitu was found dead in the front passenger seat with slash and stab wounds on her face and neck and a puncture wound to her side.

Office of Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Kangethe

Authorities claimed that Kangethe, who lived in Lowell, had bought a plane ticket to Kenya the morning before the discovery. Surveillance footage showed him leaving the parking garage, entering the airport terminal and checking in for a flight.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by local media outlet Boston 25, license plate recognition cameras allegedly picked up the location of Kangethes vehicle and it appeared consistent with the location of Mbitus phone.

Investigators tracked Kangethes Toyota SUV from Lowell to the Logan Airport parking garage, where they found Mbitu dead.

Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Mbitu was found dead in a car inside a parking garage at Boston Logan Airport

After the investigation identified Kangethe as the suspect, detectives obtained a warrant charging him with murder in connection with Mbitus death. Investigators then began working with the State Department Diplomatic Security Service, Interpol and Kenyan authorities to locate Kangethe in Kenya.

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Kangethe is expected to appear at a preliminary court hearing in Kenya within the next few days, according to the news release. The process to extradite him to Boston for prosecution has begun.

It's not immediately clear if he has a lawyer.

BAMSI/X Margaret Mbitu

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Mbitus family said in a written statement, per Boston 25, We are overjoyed by the news of the capture of Maggies murder suspect. The long hand of the law is finally catching up with Maggies murder suspect. We have confirmed with law enforcement and the DA of the arrest of Mr. Kangethe in Kenya and are waiting on the next step of extradition and eventual prosecution.

We want to thank our friends, law enforcement here in the US and in Kenya, and the community at large for the efforts in the capture of Mr. Kangethe. We are confident that the truth will prevail and that justice for Maggie will be achieved, they added.



If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has continued to defy court orders in her war with the War Memorial Hospital.

This is after she sent goons to raid the facility and removed all signages.

Kihikas goons painted over the signages, erasing all information about the hospital from the gates, signposts, and other areas.

In videos shared by eyewitnesses, workers were seen protesting and singing outside the hospital after they were blocked from accessing it.

In other reports concerning hospital wrangles, the Police Commander in Nakuru, also defied orders directing him to supervise the facility's reopening.

A court had ordered the police boss to escort workers to the hospital and provide them security as they resumed operations.

Further, the police commander who was also expected to report to a Nakuru court failed to do so, defying previously issued orders.

A judge hearing the case ordered him to avail himself upon mentioning on Thursday failure to which he would be arrested for contempt of court.

The hospital wrangles have prolonged for weeks, with the county government accusing a private firm of illegally running the hospital.

According to the county government, the lease signed by the hospital had expired and was not up for renewal.

The hospital management, however, refuted the claims and presented documents that allegedly proved that the lease was renewed.

In response, the county claimed that the documents were forged, promoting the arrest of five directors accused of forgery.

This comes even as Senator Tabitha Karanja has threatened to orchestrate the impeachment of Governor Kihika for being insensitive to the plight of Nakuru residents.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - President William Ruto has said he will ignore a court order that suspended his government from sending police officers to Haiti for a peacekeeping mission.

A high court sitting in Nairobi last week ruled that it would be unconstitutional to deploy officers abroad unless there was a "reciprocal arrangement" in place with the host government.

But in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday, Ruto said Haiti had asked for help months ago, and he expected a request would come shortly that would satisfy the demands of the court.

"So that mission can go ahead as soon as next week if all the paperwork is done between Kenya and Haiti on the bilateral route that has been suggested by the court," Ruto said following an Italian-Africa summit in Rome.

Asked if discussions were underway with Haiti to get the necessary request, Ruto said: "Absolutely. Haiti has written formally, not today, several months ago."

Haiti first sought help in 2022 as gang violence surged but was unable to find anyone willing to take charge, with many foreign governments wary of supporting the impoverished country's unelected administration.

Kenya, which has a long history of taking part in international peace-keeping operations, stepped forward last July and committed 1,000 police officers, saying it was doing so in solidarity with a brother nation.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - A team of homicide detectives visited the home of Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale to conduct investigations, following the death of his fighter bulls caretaker, Kizito Moi.

Although Khalwale had claimed that Moi was killed by the fighter bull while drunk, prominent Kakamega businessman Cleophas Shimanyula alias Toto alleged that the vocal Senator stabbed his caretaker to death after finding out that he had an affair with his wife.

Khalwale shared photos of a team of detectives conducting investigations at his Malinya home and said he is ready to cooperate.

I've readly opened up my home to the police to afford them an opportunity to make credible and conclusive investigations into this sad death, he said.

He also postponed the burial until detectives conclude investigations.

















The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Wednesday, January 31,2024 - Controversial lawyer, Miguna Miguna, has blasted the Kenya government after the man behind the Triton scandal Yagnesh Devani was released on a sh 1 million cash bail on Tuesday.

Devani, who has been on the run since 2008, is said to have stolen 318.656 metric tonnes of jet fuel valued at US$ 365,974.05 (equivalent to Sh1.5 billion).

Surprisingly, after being presented before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki, he was released on a Sh 1 million cash bail.

Reacting to the ruling, Miguna said it is moronic for the Kenya government to request extradition of Devani from the United Kingdom and when he comes back here he is released without even being ordered to return the billions he stole from taxpayer's money.

This man stole billions of public money many years ago.

"The UK returned him to Kenya to face charges.

"But, the Kenyan authorities are more interested in threatening judges.

"They didnt even bother to keep him at the Industrial Area Remand Prison pending his prosecution.

"They havent sought the repatriation of the billions he stole and stashed abroad, plus accrued interest.

"Instead, the @ODPP_KE had him FREED for Sh. 1M bail.

"They normally ask for Sh. 200M for Kenyan Africans who have stolen much less!

" The Kenyan cartels have no shame!, Miguna wrote on his X platform on Tuesday.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odingas ardent supporter, Nuru Okanga, has explained why he will not reveal details of the secondary school he joined after performing exemplary during last years Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).

Although he claimed he passed the exam with flying colors, Okanga opted for a day school since he has a family to cater to.

During an interview with one of the local dailies on Tuesday, Okanga cited substantial reasons for his decision to keep the identity of the secondary school undisclosed.

He said his security was one of the reasons for withholding the name of the secondary school where he is presently pursuing his studies from the public.

He also said naming the school would put the school principal at risk of being attacked by Kenya Kwanza Alliance goons and operatives.

For security purposes, and many issues that are ongoing in the Kenya Kwanza government, I will not name the school for now.

"If I name the school, I will be putting the life of the school principal at risk, he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Wednesday, January 31, 2024  The Haitian Government is hell-bent on receiving the 1,000 police officers that President William Ruto promised despite a Kenyan court ruling otherwise.

Following the ruling by Kenya's High Court barring 1,000 Kenyan police officers from going to Haiti, the foreign government has proposed setting up a bilateral agreement.

According to a Haitian government official, they had asked Kenya to set up a bilateral security agreement that would make the deployment of Kenyan police officers possible.

If approved, the country hopes that with the new agreement, the High Court will rule in their favour after Ruto vowed to appeal.

The Caribbean country expects that the agreement will lay out a clear way of deploying the officers.

Additionally, Haiti would outline its responsibility in the ties.

High Court Judge Chacha Mwita last week ruled that Kenya and Haiti lacked a reciprocal arrangement and thus the deployment could not commence.

"It is not contested that there is no reciprocal arrangement between Kenya and Haiti and for that reason, there can be no deployment of police to that country," Mwita ruled.

However, despite the ruling, Ruto has promised to deploy Kenyan police to the war-torn country. This is part of a UN-approved security mission.

The ruling to halt the deployment of police officers, caused tension in Haiti as citizens lamented about the gang violence making life unbearable.

The locals appealed to Ruto to disregard the ruling and continue with the deployment.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, January 31, 2024  The government of President William Ruto has accused former President Uhuru Kenyattas company of being among those that pollute the Nairobi River.

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has flagged 29 companies within the Nairobi metropolis, among them Uhurus Brookside Milk company, accusing them of pollution of the Nairobi River.

In a statement, NEMA noted that the discovery was made during an inspection of the river in January.

As a result, the companies were directed to clean the water body within the next 30 days.

Some of the companies that were listed by NEMA include Brookside Dairy Limited, Ndhiwa Sukari Industries Limited, Pearl Dairy Farm Limited, Kenya Tea Packers Limited, Mini Bakeries (NRB) Limited and Mjengo Limited.

Others were Unilever Kenya Limited, Kapa Oil Refineries Limited, BAT Kenya, Yemken Trading Company Limited, Kilimambogo Millers Limited, Dawa Limited, UDV (Kenya) Limited, Meru Central Dairy Cooperative Union Limited, Softcare Kenya Company Limited and Sunveat Foods Limited.

Fabrique Par; Promasidor (Kenya) Limited, Bidcoro Africa Limited for Suntory Beverage & Food Kenya Limited, Weetabix East Africa Limited, Laboratory and Allied Limited, Beta Health Care, Mars Wringley Confectionery Kenya Limited, Global Mark Food Limited, Premier Food Limited, and Gold Crown Beverages (Kenya) Limited.

NEMA also flagged the Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society, Kinangop Dairy Milk Limited, Kamili Packers Limited and. Kensalt Limited

Additionally, apart from cleaning the river, the companies were directed to file a report on the cleaning exercise.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - President William Ruto has surprised Kenyans for the first time since taking over as President.

This is after he declined a whopping Sh161 billion loan from the Trade and Development Bank (TDB).

This comes even as Ruto has been moving around the world with a begging bowl and taking loans from right, left, and center despite vowing never to take a loan for the sake of the country.

While speaking in Rome, Italy, Ruto revealed that Kenya was foregoing a Ksh161 billion ($1 billion) syndicate loan offered by the Trade and Development Bank (TDB).

The revelation was made a few hours after President Ruto called for a comprehensive reform agenda for Multilateral Development Banks and asked for increased concessional loans.

Syndicate loans entail more than one lender merging to offer a single large loan. This credit system can be expensive and complex to manage, unlike concessional loans offered at favourable rates that are sometimes lower than market value.

Ruto stated that his administration was no longer counting on the bank to deliver the loan as earlier agreed on October 2023.

It should be noted that before Ruto made the pronouncement, Kenya had already received Ksh34 billion from TDB.

The now-turned-down Ksh161 billion syndicated loan from TDB was aimed at boosting Kenyan foreign reserves and further settling external debts maturing in 2024.

Putting faith in Kenyas economic standing, Ruto remarked that it was no longer necessary to settle for an expensive syndicate loan.

A country like Kenya approaches financial institutions like TDB, Bank of China, or J.P Morgan for a huge loan.

If the financial institution agrees to extend the loan, it assumes the responsibility of finding several lenders who will pool resources to raise the cash.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives from Kuresoi North are investigating an incident where 5 men were assaulted by bodyguards allegedly attached to area MP Alfred Mutai.

According to police reports, the five men were attacked on different occasions, for allegedly supporting opponents of the area MP and actively campaigning against him.

Mutai has, however, denied the claims, adding that the recent reports are fictitious accounts manufactured by his political opponents, ostensibly crafted to dim his political star.

Two of the victims are bloggers who mostly commentate on political affairs, with a specific bias for Nakuru County.

The first victim assaulted on January 13, 2024, narrated how men whisked him away, took him to the MP's home, handcuffed him, and beat him mercilessly.

The MPs bodyguard approached me and asked that I follow him to answer to a report they had received. I followed him; however, two more people joined us and one handcuffed me, he narrated.

They took me to the MPs house, cuffed my hands in one of the rooms, and started beating me.

Reporting the incident at Kuresoi Central police station, the man explained that the MPs driver let him go, after helping him wipe blood from his face and giving him food.

Mutais driver told them to stop beating me, he then led me out through the back door and asked me to keep the ordeal to myself, he stated.

One of the bodyguards later on called him and apologized for the incident, requesting him to pick up calls from the MP.

I want to send you Ksh3,000, so you can buy medicine, he narrated.

The other victims were ambushed on different occasions, some receiving threats to stop criticising the governments work.

The police need to investigate these incidents because so many of us have reported and nothing has been done, the second victim said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - Former Mukurweini Member of Parliament, Kabando Wa Kabando, has blasted President William Ruto for launching projects that had been launched earlier by his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta.

Commenting on social media on Tuesday, Kabando gave an example of the launch of Mitunguu Technical Training Institute which Ruto launched two days ago when he was touring Mt Kenya East.

Kabando said the project was launched 8 years ago and the technical training has been running.

Mitunguu Technical Training Institute has been operational for 8 years and has conducted KNEC exams since 2017, a record five years before Ruto became president, but he purported to open it 2 days ago!

"Leaders who host Ruto for these shenanigans are a problem like him, Kabando wrote on his X page.

According to the Jubilee governments Delivery Unit, Mitunguu College was fully revitalised for Sh340 million.

It was set to be commissioned in the first week of May 2019 alongside Karumo TTI which had been renovated for Sh284 million.

The college was among 13 TTIs across the country which the Jubilee government had earmarked for revitalisation.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Most travelers hold their own unique bucket list of destinations, but how many have every single country in the world listed?

While the number of people whove been able to achieve this is still relatively small  reportedly estimated at around 400 or so  more and more are going all out to achieve this feat.

In fact, 2023 saw a record 50 new entries joining the coveted list of people whove traveled to all 195 UN-recognized countries and territories, according to NomadMania, an online platform that allows global explorers to track their travels.

So what inspires someone to seek to travel to every country, and how difficult is this to actually achieve?

Collecting countries

Rauli Virtanen is believed to be the first person to have traveled to every country in the world. - Rauli Virtanen

Finnish writer and foreign correspondent Rauli Virtanen, who grew up in a rural village, is believed to be the first person to have visited all of the countries in the world.

While there were fewer UN-recognised countries (170) when Virtanen achieved this goal in 1988, he says hes been adding the new ones in the years since then.

When questioned about the motivation behind his desire to visit every country, Virtanen puts it down to extreme curiosity and collectors mentality.

In the mid 80s, I noticed that I had already been to 150 countries and thought that maybe before I die, I can visit the rest of them, he tells CNN Travel via email.

Virtanen may well have completed this challenge in the late 1980s, but the notion of travelers collecting countries dates back much further.

The Travelers Century Club (TCC,) an organization for people whove visited 100 or more of the worlds countries and territories, first launched in 1954 and is still going strong today.

In the years since then, further platforms, such as competitive travel community Most Traveled People (MTP,) and Nomad Mania, have emerged.

I think its always been there as an intrinsic motivation to roam, but historically, travel was limited to people with the financial resources, career flexibility, and great health, says Michael ORegan, a Tourism and Events lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University in the UK.

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ORegan goes on to point out that more people have the means to earn money while traveling now, while many are choosing to travel after early retirement.

Before, you might have needed connections in particular countries, [or] have difficulty in getting visas or invitations, he says.

You needed a strong passport, and access to resources, such as tour guides and insider knowledge about transport and hotels.

Of course, this isnt the case for many travelers today thanks in part to low-cost air carriers, visa on arrivals, and online booking systems, notes ORegan.

Its much easier to travel and clock up country visits (especially if you count stopovers, or transits,) he adds.

Patrick Gilliland from the US is among the many people whove opted to devote their later years to traveling the world.

Accessibility factor

Patrick Gilliland, from the US, finished his quest to travel to every country in 2023. - Patrick Gilliland

Like many of those whove been finishing off the last countrys on their list in recent years, his epic adventure was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought about border closures and lockdowns, with some countries keeping restrictions in place for longer than others.

But the 62-year-old was finally able to achieve his dream last year after many years on the move.

I never really thought it was possible to visit every country until the last few years, he tells CNN Travel. I figured certain places would be too dangerous or visas impossible.

Gilliland, whos spent at least 48 weeks of the year traveling in recent years, acknowledges that getting access to every country wasnt easy and involved a bit of luck and timing.

I visited North Korea 20 years ago when relations were better with the US,  he says. I tried several times over the years to get an Iran visa, Nauru is so little visited that the visa is difficult and decisions are on the whim of an individual.

When he arrived in his final country, Libya, which had just re-opened to US citizens, in September, he was initially denied entry at the airport.

Of the select few travelers whove visited every country, the majority, if not all, appear to have had a significant number of countries ticked off before taking on the challenge.

Slovakian travel blogger Martina Sebova had already visited over 100 of the 195 UN-recognized countries and territories on the globe before deciding to visit the remaining countries with her Australian partner Rachel Davey.

I think it would terrify me if I had to start visiting every country and Id been to like 10, Sebova told CNN Travel in 2023.

I dont really think that thats even viable. You need to be well traveled [before doing something like this].

The explosion of social media, which first became popular in the early noughties, has undoubtedly played a huge role in the rise of people attempting to visit every country.

The advent of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok mean, some will be continually inspired by others who are pursuing this goal of visiting X, Y or Z across the globe, says ORegan. It now seems more accessible and feasible than ever before.

However, its worth noting that this accessibility is ultimately limited to those who have the financial means to travel frequently, as well as a passport that allows them to go to any destination that they want to.

Uncomfortable reality

Virtanen now has "mixed feelings" about his travel achievements. - Rauli Virtanen

This is an uncomfortable reality for Virtanen, who admits that hes developed mixed feelings about his incredible accomplishment over the years.

I have been very fortunate, he acknowledges, before explaining that he was able to visit 95% of the countries through his work, and would never have been able to afford to travel to so many places otherwise.

I had editors who signed my travel expenses and accepted my ideas to travel to distant countries so that my readers and viewers would know whats going on.

I belong to that very tiny minority of people, born and educated in wealthy countries, who can afford to travel anywhere in the world. I have a kind of guilty feeling about that  if you understand me  and therefore I never tell people in poorer countries that I have visited all the countries of the world.

Jamaican born traveler Romaine Welds had few opportunities to see the world before he moved to the US in 2007 and began working for an airline. In fact, hed never left Jamaica before then, and recalls looking at the countrys blue mountains and wondering what lay beyond them.

My family was poor and no-one in my family traveled, except for my father who would travel back and forth between England and Jamaica once in a few years, he explains via email.

After making the most of the free and discounted flights he was able to get through his job, Welds starting visiting his bucket list places and managed to travel to 100 countries.

When he realized he was halfway there, he set about visiting the other 95 UN-recognized countries, with the aim of being the first Jamaican and Caribbean person to do so. He visited his final country, Antigua, in 2022.

Its very special for me to be in a country as a Jamaican and represent the country, he adds, recalling how rare it was to see people traveling extensively while he was growing up.

The length of time travelers take to visit every country in the world tends to vary. While Welds was able to complete it in around 15 years, it took Gilliland around four decades.

Some travelers have been racing to achieve it in record time  with Taylor Demonbreun from Canada currently holding the title of fastest time to visit all sovereign countries (overall) after achieving this in one year and 189 days.

Elite group

When they realized they'd each visited over 100 of the 195 UN-recognized countries and territories on the globe, Rachel Davey and Martina Sebova decided to visit the remaining countries together. - Rachel Davey/Very Hungry Nomads

This competitiveness is something of a concern for Virtanen, who admits to being critical when he sees people seemingly hopping from one place to another one and the only information we get from them in each country is selfies promoting themselves.

Lately it has been very easy to visit every country in the world, if you have the money and [the] right passport, he adds.

We are not a tribe of Lonely Planet guide book-carrying backpackers anymore. The motivations are changing.

The majority is still a curious explorer type, but also vanity is taking over now when globetrotting is becoming so easy.

Becoming part of the elite group of travelers whove visited every country in the world can certainly open up further opportunities.

A number, including Ugandan-American travel influencer Jessica Nabongo, who became the first Black woman to document traveling to every country in the world in 2019, and Gunnar Garfors, believed to be the first person to visit every country in the world twice, have released books about their experiences.

Last year, search aggregator and travel agency Skyscanner launched a pop-up Everywhere Agency that connects travelers with people who have visited every country across the globe  among them Garfors and Basanth Sadasivan, one of the youngest people to visit every country in the world.

While ORegan acknowledges that some travelers are propelled by an uncontrollable urge to visit every country, he feels that collecting countries in such a way can promote superficial travel that neglects deeper cultural understanding or connection.

There is incentive to hop regions quickly and risk the very things we want to recover from: physical and mental burnout, says ORegan.

It undervalues travels potential for cultural exchange, self-reflection, and the concepts of slow travel and sustainability.

When it comes to the question of speed, Welds concedes that each traveler will have their goals, but feels that its important to travel slowly and enjoy each country.

I think if you really want to see the world, you will take time, he tells CNN Travel. To each person their own, but I wouldnt race around the world. Its just a waste of money in my eyes.

Ruration conundrum

Thor Pedersen spent nearly a decade traveling to every country in the world without flying. - Maxime Champigneulle

The idea of what constitutes a true visit has been a hot topic of discussion in recent years, with many travelers disagreeing on what the criteria should be.

Last year, NomadMania produced detailed guidelines on this subject after polling its users in 2022 and 2023.

It has been important for me to get to know as much as I can about each country we visit, says Gilliland, explaining that he sometimes spent up to six weeks in a country while completing the challenge, but only spent around half a day in smaller countries like Monaco and Luxembourg.

My opinion regarding a visit is that airport stops/transits wont qualify, says Virtanen. Visiting [the] DMZ is not a visit to North Korea Always go through the immigration

Stay overnight - but on the other hand day trips to smaller countries like Nauru, San Marino, Andorra, Liechtenstein or Luxembourg are ok.

A real traveler stays days or weeks in places like Lagos, Mumbai, Mongolia, Colombia

As travelers who were previously prevented from finishing their challenge due to border closures and political unrest in specific countries in recent times are able to tick their final countries off, its likely that well see the list of people whove traveled to every country jump up even further in 2024.

For OReagan, this isnt necessarily a positive thing, as most of these tourists simply dont have the time to travel sustainably or think about their impacts.

Their lifestyle, if measured, would probably make a huge contribution to climate change through carbon-hungry activities, he adds. They do not realize this.

He goes on to point out that its estimated that more than 90% of people have never flown and just 1% of the worlds population is responsible for 50% of emissions from flying.

Traveling to every country without flying is certainly possible, for those who have the time, money and stamina at least, as proved by Torbjrn Thor Pedersen who set off from Denmark to do just that back in 2013.

After nearly 10 years on the move, Pedersen, who included both UN-recognized sovereign states and partially recognized states in his quest, entered his final country, the Maldives, last May.

This achievement, along with that of Garfors, will likely help to inspire other travelers to attempt similar feats and/or come up with newer challenges in the coming years, with more and more competing to claim titles and/or break records.

While Virtanen accepts that this is inevitable, he feels that those intent on visiting every country, as he did, should also try to find ways to help to improve the lives of those who cant afford to travel.

If we can afford to fly around just for the sake of collecting countries and leaving a massive carbon footprint, then we are rich enough to afford to pay back somehow, he adds.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com


Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - Azimio One Kenya Alliance leaders have urged foreign powers, especially the United States of America, to keep off Kenya's affairs.

In a statement read by Narc Kenya chairperson, Martha Karua, the opposition coalition told the Joe Biden-led administration to let Kenyans decide on the way forward and avoid interference.

Karua spoke after the US Justice Department welcomed President William Rutos move to appeal the ruling on the deployment of security forces to Haiti.

A court sitting in Nairobi last week declared the move by the government to send troops to Haiti unconstitutional.

We take note of the support expressed by the United States government for the Ruto regime to appeal against the ruling on the deployment of police to Haiti, Karua said

The Narc Kenya boss urged all parties to respect the independence of the judiciary.

We hope that all parties shall respect the Independence of the Judiciary and that foreign Interest will keep off our national affairs, she stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - There was drama after a woman threatened to attack an official from Kenya Power and Lighting Company who stormed her residence, claiming that she had connected power illegally.

In the video, the infuriated woman is seen telling the young KPLC staff to leave her residence or face dire consequences.

Toka kwa nyumba yangu. Sijaibia mtu yeyote stima, the woman says and threatens the female staff with a panga.

The Kenya Power staff tries to call her bosses but the defiant woman continues threatening her and demands that she leave her residence.

She is further heard telling her bosses that she will send them a pin of her location after being cornered and urges them to send police officers.

Watch a video of the violent confrontation.

A woman chased away a kplc official yesterday

Now this video is interesting coz of how the mother behaves

On the other hand I think if someone tells u to live their house please do .

Anyway what do u think?



| Toto Pauline | pic.twitter.com/XUZEEYOs81  Sholla  (@Haaland_sholla) January 30, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - Ugandan Minister for Energy Ruth Nankabirwa has explained why her government opted to import oil through Tanzania ahead of a ruling on its diplomatic tiff with Kenya.

While addressing the nation on the progress of the country's oil and gas sector, the minister acknowledged that the Tanzania route would be more expensive than the Kenyan one.

However, she maintained that their decision was informed by the need to prevent a potential fuel shortage crisis.

Uganda's plan to start importing oil on its own in January this year was hampered by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) which declined to award it a certificate for business.

Uganda hence sued Kenya at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), seeking to be granted a licence to operate as an Oil Marketing Company (OMC).

On the other hand, she noted that Tanzania was likely to waive taxes for Uganda, making the route more viable in the long run.

"We are prepared for any emergency crisis, ensuring uninterrupted supply. I have already started engagement with the President of Tanzania to make sure that the country is secure in terms of supply.

"You cannot sit there and be at the mercy of one person. We know that the alternative route might be expensive because of the logistics involved but we also know that there is a possibility of negotiation with the government of Tanzania to waive some taxes so that their sister country can be able to do business," she stated.

On the other hand, the Minister expressed that they would continue to pursue the interests of its citizens even as they await the court ruling next month.

"The final ruling of the court case is expected to be made on January 22 but was deferred to February 12. We are in court, not because we wanted to but because the government-only oil company was denied a certificate by EPRA," she added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - Former President Uhuru Kenyatta's son, Jomo Kenyatta, has given up fighting with President William Ruto and his government.

This is after he surprisingly dropped a case he filed against Rutos government after the two parties solved the wrangle amicably.

Jomo had accused the government of raiding his premises in a witch-hunt through which the State sought to seize his legally acquired firearms.

On Wednesday, Uhuru's eldest son withdrew the case after the state pledged to never interfere with his gun license.

Further, Jomo was assured that the Firearms Licensing Board had no plans to revoke his permit.

High Court Judge Jairus Ngaah ruled that both parties had consented to the withdrawal of the case.

"By consent, this matter is hereby marked as settled," the judge ruled.

However, should the matter arise again, it shall be dealt with as guided by the Firearms Act.

Jomo sued the government in July 2023 after police attempted to raid his house in Karen at night.

He complained that the police violated his constitutional rights in the exercise which he argued was conducted illegally.

He further emphasized that he was a licensed gun holder contrary to claims by the police.

Jomo thus asked the Firearms Licensing Board and the Attorney General to halt the revocation of his license until they followed due process.

Following the attempted raid, Uhuru condemned the government for going after his children in a strategy choreographed to frustrate and force him to retire.

Kenya's 4th President asked the police to follow the stipulated procedures of arresting his son if found culpable. Uhuru addressed the media after confronting the police at his son's premises.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - President William Rutos Cabinet opened doors for Kenyans who have never attended classes to acquire professional certificates after approving the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

RPL is the process of identifying, assessing, and certifying knowledge, skills, and attitudes regardless of how, when, or where learning occurred.

The RPL certificate is only awarded by institutions that have been certified by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA).

Currently, KNQA only offers certifications to four categories of institutions that have also been accredited by the Ministry of Education.

All Kenyan universities formed under regulations set by the University Act no 42 of 2012 are eligible to offer RPL certificates upon certification. Currently, Kenya has 35 public universities.

National polytechnics in Kenya can also receive a legal order to offer RPL certificates.

There are currently 11 national polytechnics in Kenya which include; Kabete, Eldoret, Nyeri, Meru, Kisumu, and Kitale national polytechnics.

Others include; North Eastern, Sigalagala, Kisii, Kenya Coast, and Nyandarua national polytechnics.

The third category of schools that can offer RPL certificates include institutions under Government Ministries with a legal order to award qualifications.

Under this category, the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) is at the forefront of offering RPL certificates.

Currently, NITA has training centres in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Athi River.

Institutions established by an Act of Parliament to develop and award qualifications, KNQA explains the fourth category allowed to offer the certificates.

Apart from the Kenyan-based institutions, foreign institutions accredited in their home countries as qualification awarding institutions can be certified by KNQA to offer RPL certificates to Kenyan citizens.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - T he Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives have arrested Kilifi County Assistant Commissioner Teddy Buya Bonaya in connection with selling relief food meant for starving residents.

The anti-graft agency said that its detectives pounced on him in Kilifis Ganze sub-county on Wednesday morning.



EACC accuses Bonaya of selling relief food valued at Sh 550,200.



The aid was meant for needy residents in Tana North Sub-County within Tana River County.



He will be arraigned tomorrow (Thursday), EACC said.



The arrest comes as the Renson Ingonga-led agency steps up its war on graft within the public sector.













The Kenyan DAILY POST.
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In a survey conducted by a University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing team led by Linda Aiken, PhD, RN, of 21,050 physicians and nurses at 60 hospitals, it was found that more than 40 percent of clinicians were not confident that hospital management would act to resolve problems that clinicians identify in patient care. Close to one-third of clinicians said their values were not aligned with those of their hospitals management. Twenty-nine percent of physicians and twenty-three percent of nurses reported that they did not feel free to question authority. This was a rather disheartening and eye-opening result reached by the survey.

We are aware of the serious repercussions of burnout in the health care professions. This condition began long before COVID-19 struck the world. In fact, in my opinion, the corporatization of health care has played a pivotal role in diminishing the satisfaction that physicians and nurses derive from their professions of attending to the sick. In the attempt by the corporate entity to remain solvent, more and more patients must be seen in a shorter time interval, leading to potentially less than adequate care for the patient. Both physicians and nurses have taken professional oaths to cause no harm to their patients, but it seems they are caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. If they hurriedly move through appointments to keep the patient chain moving, they may not have the ability to address the issues the patient has, thereby causing the patient to feel unheard and underserved. The clinician feels resentment toward a system that puts the physicians sense of professionalism and compassionate care toward his patients second in importance.

However, to take the corporate viewpoint for a moment, increased patient flow leads to increased profit to subsidize the ever-ongoing building construction and to cover the cost of salaries of administrative personnel. So whats not to love?

Another area of contention is the electronic health record, which was supposed to be a boon to health care but has turned out to be a bust. It has become nothing more than a glorified billing and coding machine where physicians put in more time on this clerical task than what is spent directly dealing with their patients. It seems to me that the time a clinician spends inputting data could be better spent building a trusting relationship with his patient. Health care administrators, listen to members of your professional staff: Assign truly clerical tasks to members of the clerical staff or use more efficient forms of modern technology to perform this function.

A recent survey from the AMA, Mayo Clinic, and Stanford Medicine showed an alarming 62.8 percent of physicians experienced symptoms of burnout in 2021, up from 38 percent the previous year. Also, the study indicated that one in every five physicians and twice as many nurses planned to leave practice within two years.

The burnout of our physicians and nurses has reached epidemic levels. More and more of these professionals are leaving jobs in medicine and taking early retirement or seeking employment in other fields to regain a sense of work-life balance. Their calls for improvement in the health care environment for the past several years have, sadly, fallen upon deaf ears from all sectors.

For the patient, this translates into longer and longer waits and delays for a patient to seek medical care in the primary care office and also in the specialty areas, therefore putting health at risk.

There needs to be a significant overhaul of health care in the United States, with a close examination of the documentation of clerical tasks required by government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and private insurance companies. For each hour of clinical face time a physician spends with his patient, an additional two hours are required to complete clerical and administrative tasks. Former president of the AMA, Robert M. Wah, made the following statement, Physicians want to provide our patients with the best care possible, but today there are confusing, misaligned, and burdensome regulatory programs that take away critical time physicians could be spending to provide high-quality care for their patients.

Individuals standing behind podiums and espousing nice-sounding phrases have not seemed to avert the health care crisis we find ourselves in: an ever-increasing shortage of physicians and nurses which results in those who remain on the job, overworked and at times, overwhelmed. All sectors of health care need to put aside differences and work toward solutions for the common good. If not, health care as we know it in America is going straight down the tubes and taking patients, physicians, and nurses with it.

It appears that the narratives of the patient, physician, and nurse have been effectively removed from the handbook of corporate medicine. This handbook needs a drastic rewrite. We all can agree that our current system of health care is strained to its limit and needs repair. Simplify and streamline paperwork mazes; let healing be the key in the process. Harness the use of technology with a conscience. If all sectors  health corporations, government, insurance, and pharmaceutical companies work together to develop solutions rather than creating additional roadblocks  maybe there remains a chance of righting the sinking ship of health care.

Michele Luckenbaugh is a patient advocate.
A group of legislative Republicans is proposing a constitutional amendment aimed at further limiting the governors partial veto authority  a tool Democratic Gov. Tony Evers used last summer to lock in K-12 school funding for the next 400 years when he signed the states two-year spending plan.

The proposed amendment was introduced Wednesday by Sen. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown; and Reps. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, and Shae Sortwell, R-Two Rivers. It would restrict Wisconsins governor from using a partial veto to increase taxes or fees in appropriation bills such as state budgets.

The lawmakers said in a memo seeking co-sponsors that the proposal was crafted to address specific situations that the public would find the most egregious: the ability for a single person to create or raise taxes and fees on our citizens with a single stroke of a pen.

If adopted, this amendment would appropriately rebalance power between the executive and the Legislature and further restrict the executive from completely rewriting laws that are not representative of the people, the lawmakers wrote.

Wisconsin governors have the authority to alter certain legislation by striking numbers and words wherever they like.

Partial veto authority has been used by both Republican and Democratic governors since the power was created by a constitutional amendment in 1930. The power also has been tightened over the years, largely in reaction to partial vetoes issued by past governors including Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle and Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson.

Even so, the existence of partial veto authority has led state lawmakers to carefully craft legislation to make it as close to vetoproof as possible, while governors look for creative ways to exercise the power.

Wisconsin passed constitutional amendments limiting gubernatorial power in 1990 banning the so-called Vanna White veto to delete phrases, digits, letters and word fragments to create new words and phrases; and in 2008 prohibiting using the veto to create new sentences by combining parts of two or more sentences in an appropriation bill, known as the Frankenstein veto.

Past vetoes

Evers has issued dozens of partial vetoes in each of the three biennial budgets he has signed as governor, though the most notable took place last summer when he locked in K-12 school funding for the next 400 years. The change cannot be undone unless a court strikes it down or a future Legislature and governor agree to amend it.

In order to do so, Evers removed words and a hyphen in a section of the budget that referred to when the change in the revenue limit Republicans approved would apply. As a result, the phrase for the 2023-24 school year and the 2024-25 school year became for 2023-2425.

Evers issued partial vetoes in previous budgets as well, including one to the states 2019-21 biennial budget to increase K-12 school district aid by $87 million. A similar proposal to curb the governors veto power was introduced soon after but did not pass the Legislature.

Evers use of partial vetoes has angered legislative Republicans, who do not have enough votes in the state Assembly to successfully overturn a veto.

Legislative Republicans worked tirelessly over the last few months to block Governor Evers liberal tax and spending agenda, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said in July after Evers signed the budget. Unfortunately, because of his powerful veto authority, he reinstated some of it today.

Vos said Evers use of the veto to boost K-12 funding will lead homeowners to experience massive property tax increases in the coming years.

Evers said at the time the move provides schools with predictable long-term increases for the foreseeable future.

The proposal introduced Wednesday seeks to amend the Wisconsin Constitution to restrict the governor, in exercising partial veto power over an appropriation bill, from creating or increasing or authorizing the creation or increase of any tax or fee, the measures co-authors wrote in a memo seeking co-sponsors.

Unlike bills, the governor cannot veto constitutional amendments. Such measures must pass two successive legislative sessions before voters have the final say. If enacted, such changes can only be reversed through the same amendment process or by a court order.

Today in history: Jan. 31 1865: The 13th Amendment 1919: Jackie Robinson 1958: Explorer 1 1961: Ham the Chimp 2001: Lockerbie Conviction 2012: Facebook 2015: Bobbi Kristina Brown 2016: Novak Djokovic 2017: Neil Gorsuch 2018: Lunar Trifecta 2020: Donald Trump 2022: Moderna Vaccine 2023: Alec Baldwin
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U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) on Tuesday announced the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) will receive $15.3 million in federal funding. These funds will be used to enhance and maintain existing infrastructure at 21 airports statewide.

The Columbus Municipal Airport will be receiving a $448,000 grant.

From Omaha to Chadron, Atkinson to Lexington  Nebraskas airports connect our communities, ensure accessibility for travel, and grow the rural economy. I was proud to vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support Nebraskas airports. Nebraska continues to see a return on that investment, as our state will now receive $15.3 million to support and maintain essential airports statewide, Fischer said in a press release.

Nebraskas airports are essential to our states economy. These strategic investments in critical infrastructure will improve safety and support the continued growth of communities across our state, Ricketts said.
Mourners are offering condolences to the family of a Kilkenny man who served in the Irish Defence Forces.

Patrick "Paddy" Cody was a retired Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant (BQMS) with the Irish Defence Forces who died peacefully on January 29, 2024 in the care of the staff at Youghal and District Nursing Home, Gortore, Co Cork.

He formerly lived at Fr Murphy Square, Kilkenny, The Curragh Camp, Co Kildare and Dungourney, Co Cork.

Paddy will be dearly missed by his loving brothers Liam in Florida and Anthony (Tony) in Dungourney, Co. Cork, sisters-in-law Margaret and Monica, his nephew John, nieces Fiona and Antoinette, grandnephews and grandnieces, relatives, his many friends and neighbours and all of his army colleagues.

He is predeceased by his parents William and Margaret.

According to RIP.ie, Paddys family would like to especially acknowledge the care and kindness shown to him by all the staff at Youghal and District Nursing Home.

He was buried in St Kieran's Cemetery in Kilkenny earlier today (January 31).

The Irish United Nations Veterans Association posted their condolences on their official Facebook page, where they confirmed Paddy served in three Infantry Batallions (Inf Btn) and Military College (Mil Col), overseas with the UN in Cyprus with five Infantry Groups from October 1965 to March 1966, and with Infantry Groups from October 1967 to March 1968.

Hundreds of mourners paid tribute to the military man on RIP.ie:

"For the short time I have known Paddy I feel like it has been a life time. From stories to chats I will be forever grateful for the time spent getting to know him. Every time I see the sun come up and the birds chirping I will always think of him. Thinking of all the family at this time. Sleep peacefully soldier. We will miss you."

"My sincere sympathy to Tony, Margaret and all of Paddys family, it was indeed a privilege to get to know paddy over the past year and to listen to his incredible stories . May he now rest in peace."

"It was an honour to have been able to care for Paddy. His wit and humour and kindness will be missed by all of the staff at Youghal and District Nursing Home."

"R.I.P Paddy, remembering you as one of my daddy's good friends & a real gentleman. My sincere condolences to all your family."

Father Eddie Dowley said, "Sincere sympathy to Paddy's brothers Liam and Anthony, and his extended family. I was in the same class with Paddy in the C.B.S. and knew Paddy as a very loyal friend of the Friary all his life."

Paddy's former colleagues also offered their condolences.

Captain Joe Kelly (Retd) said, "Deepest sympathy to the Cody family on the passing of Paddy. I had the great pleasure of serving with Paddy, a true gentleman and great company."

Michael Gannon said, "My deepest sympathy to all of Paddy's family on his leaving us. I had the privilege of serving with Paddy in the Defence Forces over many years. A genuine and as very helpful an army man as you could wish for. I very quickly learned that his advice and especially his word was inviolable. I know so many who did likewise. May you now rest in peace, Paddy."

BQ Pat Foley (Retd) said, "Condolences to Paddy's family on his passing. Knew Paddy very well in the Curragh he was always a gentleman and great soldier. Rest in eternal peace."

Maeve Quigley said, "I had the pleasure to serve with Paddy in The Army Apprentice School. An absolute gentleman . Condolences to all of Paddy's family. R.I.P."

CQMS Davy Ussher (Retd) said, "Deepest sympathy to all of Paddy's family on his passing. I had the privilege of serving with Paddy in the Defence forces. A genuine and very helpful NCO who knew all there was to know about logistics. The advice and encouragement given to me and many others was legendary. May he rest in peace."

Lieutenant Colonel J O Neill (Retd) said, "Rest in Peace Paddy. Fond memories of our time together in 52 Inf Bn Lebanon."
Principal Shane Campion of Lisnafunchin National School offered condolences in the wake of her death.

A Kilkenny national school principal has offered condolences to the family of a retired teacher upon her death.

Mary Hackett of Dublin Road, Co Kilkenny and formerly of Headford, Co Galway passed away on January 29, 2024 peacefully at St Luke's Hospital.

Principal Shane Campion of Lisnafunchin National School spoke highly of the former teacher.

He said, "On behalf of Lisnafunchin National School, I would like to express my condolences to Mary and her family. She added so much to this school and the effort will never be forgotten.

"The students and teachers will hold her in our thoughts and prayers this week."

According to RIP.ie, she is predeceased by her parents John and Kate, brother Christy and sisters Anne and Sr. Leo (Jane).

Mary will be sadly missed by her brothers John (Cordarra) and Tom (Galway), sisters-in-law Marion and Mary, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.

Reposing in Johnston's Funeral Home, John's Green, Kilkenny (R95XE00) on Friday morning with Funeral Prayers at 9.45am followed by removal to St. John's Church, Kilkenny arriving for Requiem Mass at 10.30am.

Removal afterwards to Carey's Funeral Home, Headford, Co. Galway (H91E6X9) where Mary will repose on Friday evening from 6pm with removal at 7pm to St. Mary's Church, Headford.

Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday at noon with interment afterwards in Cloughanover Cemetery.

Both Masses can be viewed online.

Dozens of mourners have left condolences on RIP.ie, including the following:

"Deepest sympathies to all of Marys family on your very sad loss. Mary was a treasured friend of our late mother, Bernie. They enjoyed many long chats and days out together. Mary always spoke so lovingly about her family. We are thinking of and praying for you at this sad time. May Mary Rest in Peace."

"Sincere sympathy to all Ms. Hackets family and friends on her great loss. She made a huge contribution to the education of pupils in County Kilkenny. Grateful for her service and dedication given so generously. May her soul enjoy the peace and reward of Heaven."

"So sad to hear of Mary's death. I only got to know her in recent years but always enjoyed her company and her mischievous sense of humour. She will be sadly missed by her 10.30am friends in St Johns. Sincere condolences to Mary's family and friends. Enjoy your reward in Heaven, Mary."

"Sincere condolences to Mary's family and friends. Such a kind, gentle lady and a good friend. Rest in Peace Mary."

"Our deepest condolences to Marys extended family. Mary was a lovely lady who enriched our family over the years. The McElwain clan was very fortunate to have Mary in our circle. Our mum Terry counted Mary among her nearest and dearest. May she rest in peace."
Sisters Karena and Paula Dowling were recently presented with a national award from Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and Spink Branch of Comhaltas in recognition of their 40 years' contribution to Ireland's for the.

They are daughters of Joe and Pauline Dowling, Firoda and granddaughters of the late Mikie Dulaing, button accordion player from The Spike, who himself was a weekly performer on Radio Eireann, for many years.

The girls, who were taught at the age of four by their father Joe, established traditional music classes in the Convent when they were very young teenagers, renting the room from the nuns for 3 every week. They have taught consistently since that time in the local communities of Castlecomer, Spink and Lisdowney, with some families having had three generations attend classes with them.

In addition to their classes, they have represented Ireland abroad, performing live in concert, and on television and radio in Canada, America, Europe, and Africa. They have also worked as full-time career musicians here in Ireland, but the most memorable times were those spent performing with their father Joe, brothers Joe and Shane and sisters Lynn and Emer, as part of the family trad group. They are both still busy passing music on to the next generation of musicians in the local communities.
LONDON  Britains King Charles III has been discharged from a hospital in London after undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace said the 75-year-old monarch had left the hospital and that his upcoming public engagements have been rescheduled to allow for a period of private recuperation.

The palace added that he would like to thank the medical team and all those involved in supporting his hospital visit, and is grateful for all the kind messages he has received in recent days.

The King spent three nights at the London Clinic  a private hospital near Regents Park  after being admitted on Friday, and was said to be doing well following the procedure.

Queen Camilla, who has been visiting her husband daily, was by his side as he left on Monday.

Camilla previously said her husband was fine and looking forward to getting back to work while on recent engagements.

The Kings departure comes hours after Kensington Palace announced that Catherine, Princess of Wales had left the same private hospital and returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from abdominal surgery.

The princess went into the London Clinic two weeks ago for an abdominal operation.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said Catherine is making good progress and that she and her husband, Prince William, were grateful to the staff at the hospital for the care they have provided.

The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world, the spokesperson added.

The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital on January 16 for planned abdominal surgery. A day later, Kensington Palace announced the operation was a success and that she would remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days.

News of Catherines surgery, which was announced only 90 minutes before Buckingham Palace separately revealed Charles diagnosis, sparked concern at the time.

It is unclear what her surgery was for, but a royal source told CNN on January 17 that the 42-year-olds condition was non-cancerous.

It is expected that the princess will need to recuperate for several months, as Kensington Palace previously said she was unlikely to resume her public duties until after Easter.

According to a royal source on Monday, the princess return will depend on medical advice closer to the time. Prince William has also taken a step back from public engagements to support his wife while juggling childcare duties.

Charles was diagnosed after experiencing symptoms and receiving a check-up while at his Birkhall residence in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the UKs PA Media news agency previously reported.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wished the monarch a speedy recovery after his procedure, PA reported, citing a Downing Street spokeswoman.

Buckingham Palace previously said the King was delighted to have helped raise awareness with his diagnosis.

NHS England said visits to its enlarged prostate webpage  which provides information on causes, symptoms and treatment options  saw traffic surge more than 1,000% above its daily average after the palaces announcement on January 17.

___
Belarus Actively Developing CBDC Platform on Hyperledger Fabric Blockchain

Belarus is at the forefront of financial innovation as it takes significant strides towards introducing its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), the digital Belarusian ruble. In collaboration with the Center for Banking Technologies, the National Bank of Belarus is leveraging the open Hyperledger Fabric blockchain network to develop a robust platform for this digital currency.

According to the Ekonomicheskaya Gazeta, a local newspaper, the development of the digital rubles infrastructure commenced this month, with the National Bank actively expanding its team by recruiting skilled professionals, including programmers. These professionals will be crucial in shaping the core platform and designing innovative financial services tailored for the CBDC.

The National Bank of Belarus Initiates Digital Ruble Project on Hyperledger Fabric



The platforms foundation will be built on the open-source Hyperledger Fabric blockchain. Job openings for backend developers with knowledge of Hyperledger Fabric and Linux, along with experience in creating smart contracts, have been posted on the official website of the Center of Bank Technologies.

The decision to introduce the digital ruble was discussed at an extended meeting of the board of the National Bank, where Deputy Chairman Dmitry Kalechits highlighted the project as one of the significant areas of development in the payment sector.

Notably, the digital ruble represents a new form of the Belarusian ruble issued by the state as a cryptocurrency. This move aligns with the broader trend of central bank digital currency (CBDC) exploration in various countries.

The National Bank of Belarus sees the technology behind the digital ruble emission as having particular relevance in cross-border payments. Similar efforts have been observed in other countries, including Russia, where the digital ruble is undergoing testing in real transactions.

The growing popularity of cryptocurrencies and the desire to maintain control over transactions are key motivations for introducing CBDCs. Additionally, the prospect of using digital currencies to navigate financial flows in the face of sanctions has heightened interest in countries like Russia and Belarus.

Additionally, CBDCs are viewed as a strategic response to sanctions, providing countries with a means to establish interstate financial flows that can persist even under sanctions.

The National Bank of Belarus Advances with the Launch of the Digital Ruble Project



Deputy Chairman Dmitry Kalechits emphasized the strategic significance of the digital Belarusian ruble project, positioning it as a cornerstone of advancement in the payment sector. Belarus aspires to position the digital ruble as a key player in cross-border transactions, contributing to the broader agenda of reducing reliance on traditional currencies, particularly the US dollar.

The National Bank of Belarus had previously announced a CBDC pilot in April 2023, and the final decision on the CBDC was expected to be made at the level of the head of the state by the end of the same year. Belarus intensified its CBDC efforts in 2023, with the CBDC experiment targeting a select group of participants, including commercial banks and individuals.

Chairman of the National Bank, Pavel Kallaur, highlights the significance of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) as a third form of money. He described the digital ruble as akin to other forms of non-cash money, but with the added capability of being available offline and online. Kallaur emphasized that cross-border payments are a particularly interesting aspect of CBDC technology.

In 2023, Kallaur expressed the countrys readiness to adapt its system to integrate with digital currencies introduced by other nations. The goal is to ensure that Belarusian citizens and companies receive a high level of service in a cross-border digital currency environment.
Albemarle County police have launched an investigation into a series of reported "swattings" that occurred last Friday, Sunday and Monday.

Swatting is the act of calling 911 with a false police report, often meant to draw armed police officers to a residence as a means to intimidate, harass or harm an innocent or unsuspecting person.

On Friday, Albemarle police said they received a call of a suicidal juvenile in the 1200 block of Timberwood Boulevard. County police officers and a fire rescue crew responded, but after investigating found that there was nothing to support the report was accurate. The very same thing occurred the following Sunday. Police and fire rescue were once again deployed to the same location, and after an investigation, they again reached the same conclusion.

The next day at 9:40 a.m., authorities received yet another call. This time the caller reported an injured and suicidal juvenile in the 3300 block of Rodman Drive. Again, police and fire rescue responded to the area. Again, they found the report to be unfounded.

Based on existing evidence, Albemarle police are now investigating the incidents as suspected swattings. No additional details have been provided to the public apart from a police statement which includes a warning from Capt. Darrell Byers of the departments criminal investigations division.

"Swatting is an irresponsible act that poses significant risks to everybody involved and places an undue burden on law enforcement resources, said Byers. As a community, we must condemn and address swatting with the seriousness it deserves and recognize the profound dangers it poses to public safety and community well-being.

Under Virginia law, making a fake report of an emergency that results in a response from police is a Class 1 misdemeanor. It is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

ACPD maintains positive working relationships with its state and federal partners and will work with them to prosecute these cases, reads the police department's statement.

Authorities have asked anyone with knowledge of the incidents to contact the Albemarle County Criminal Investigations Division at (434) 296-5807. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact the Crime Stoppers tip line at (434) 977-4000.
A Nashville-area construction company, trying to pay its tax bill, sent a six-figure check last April to the regional office of the Internal Revenue Service in Charlotte, North Carolina. The nearly $157,000 check never reached the IRS. Instead, it was deposited at an ATM near the University of Virginia, and a 22-year-old local man now faces a pair of felony charges.

Albemarle County resident Avyonne Eugene Cobbs has been charged in Charlottesville General District Court with two crimes: forgery and obtaining money by false pretenses.

Charlottesville law enforcement was tipped off about the case last summer, when a local police investigator was contacted by detective Jason Dowdle of the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office in Tennessee. Located on the southeastern outskirts of Nashville, Rutherford County is home to Southerland Construction LLC, which had been trying to find out what happened to its check in the amount of $156,693. The company contended that it mailed the check on April 14, the day before Tax Day.

The company was notified by the IRS that the money was never received for their taxes, wrote the Charlottesville investigator, detective Christopher Wagner.

The construction company eventually obtained a copy of the deposited check which showed it had been whitewashed, Wagner noted in his criminal complaint against Cobbs. The name on the pay to the order of section was altered to say Avyonne Cobbs.

Dowdle issued a subpoena to the bank where the check was deposited, Chase, which showed that the depositor had directed the money into an account in the name of Cobbs, Wagner wrote.

Wagner was also shown evidence that the deposit took place April 25 at Chases ATM at 1415 University Ave. on the Corner commercial district adjacent to University of Virginia Grounds.

Wagner also viewed security footage of a young man at the ATM at the time of the transaction. Although the man was wearing a face mask, Wagner compared the mans appearance to a Department of Motor Vehicles photo of Cobbs and contended that that hed found his suspect.

The picture appears to match the security footage based upon his eyebrow shape, hairline and overall facial structure, Wagner wrote.

In mid-August, Wagner placed a telephone call to Cobbs, who, he said, denied making the deposit.

I told him that I had pictures and video of him depositing the check, but he stated that I was lying and that he didnt do it, wrote Wagner. He ended our interview.

In early November, Cobbs was arrested and charged with the two aforementioned Class 5 felonies. Under Virginia Code, conviction on such crimes can carry up to 10 years behind bars.

Court records indicate that Cobbs obtained a personal recognizance bond from a magistrate and thereby avoided a visit to Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. That might have been awkward, as the court records show that Cobbs was then working at that jail.

However, four days after his Nov. 4 arrest, he resigned from the jail. Cobbs, who was hired in July, left his position as a jail officer Nov. 8, according to Col. Martin Kumer, the jails superintendent.

Unmentioned in the court papers was how a check mailed from Tennessee to North Carolina might have ended up in Charlottesville. Legal analyst Scott Goodman wonders if theres more to the story.

This has all the hallmarks of a situation where someone is not acting alone, Goodman told The Daily Progress. It could be part of a ring.

Goodman said that a participant in a ring can sometimes gain lenience by providing evidence against another participant.

One wrinkle in this case is that neither Cobbs nor any other suspect appear to have profited from any ill-gotten gains.

I confirmed with Det. Dowdle that the suspect never actually obtained the money from the check, as Chase marked it as fraudulent and deposited it into their own secure account, wrote the Charlottesville police investigator.

So even without cooperating, Goodman contends that a conviction for Cobbs, who does not appear to have received any money illegally or otherwise and has no prior criminal record, might not lead a judge to levy any active jail time. On the other hand, Goodman said, the case could go differently, given the size of the check.

The amount aggravates the situation, said Goodman.

Cobbs is slated for a hearing in Charlottesville General District Court on Feb. 1. He is represented by the office of the public defender.
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Adell Harriman & Carpenter Inc. lowered its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 1.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 19,352 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 230 shares during the quarter. Adell Harriman & Carpenter Inc.s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $1,874,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 79,221 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $7,673,000 after acquiring an additional 1,830 shares during the period. Prosperity Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter. Prosperity Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,431 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $235,000 after acquiring an additional 144 shares during the period. Vaughan David Investments LLC IL increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vaughan David Investments LLC IL now owns 418,615 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $40,543,000 after buying an additional 4,560 shares during the period. Qsemble Capital Management LP bought a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the 3rd quarter worth $5,307,000. Finally, Great Lakes Advisors LLC increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 28.6% during the 3rd quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 1,316,125 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $127,467,000 after buying an additional 292,882 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.70% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.00, for a total transaction of $1,620,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,022,916. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Abbott Laboratories Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of ABT stock traded down $0.62 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $112.86. 4,238,027 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,171,773. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $109.08 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $103.80. Abbott Laboratories has a 1-year low of $89.67 and a 1-year high of $115.83. The company has a market cap of $195.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.19 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.19. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.84% and a net margin of 14.27%. The firm had revenue of $10.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.19 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.03 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 15th. Investors of record on Friday, January 12th will be given a dividend of $0.55 per share. This is a boost from Abbott Laboratoriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 11th. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.95%. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is presently 67.48%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. UBS Group decreased their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $118.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 19th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Raymond James raised their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $124.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $128.00 price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $120.00.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on ABT

About Abbott Laboratories

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

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Avant Capital LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPLV  Free Report) by 0.8% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 38,465 shares of the companys stock after selling 302 shares during the period. Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF comprises about 2.6% of Avant Capital LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest position. Avant Capital LLCs holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF were worth $2,261,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in SPLV. HBW Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. HBW Advisory Services LLC now owns 17,986 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,057,000 after buying an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Golden State Equity Partners increased its stake in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Golden State Equity Partners now owns 13,175 shares of the companys stock valued at $775,000 after buying an additional 176 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC increased its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 4.8% during the 3rd quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC now owns 3,892 shares of the companys stock worth $229,000 after purchasing an additional 180 shares during the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,317 shares of the companys stock worth $313,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 6,298 shares of the companys stock worth $423,000 after purchasing an additional 193 shares during the last quarter.

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Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF stock traded up $0.34 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $63.55. 1,135,424 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,823,881. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.07 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $62.33 and a 200-day moving average price of $61.21. Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF has a 1-year low of $57.17 and a 1-year high of $64.52.

Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF Profile

The Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Low Volatility index. The fund tracks a volatility-weighted index of the 100 least-volatile stocks in the S&P 500. SPLV was launched on May 5, 2011 and is managed by Invesco.

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Beacon Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC  Free Report) by 701.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,848 shares of the specialty retailers stock after purchasing an additional 8,619 shares during the quarter. Beacon Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Genuine Parts were worth $1,422,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in GPC. Imprint Wealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of Genuine Parts by 16,507.5% during the 2nd quarter. Imprint Wealth LLC now owns 2,611,194 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $261,119,000 after acquiring an additional 2,595,471 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in shares of Genuine Parts by 99,476.2% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,768,474 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $299,279,000 after acquiring an additional 1,766,698 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Genuine Parts during the 4th quarter worth approximately $239,384,000. Capital World Investors bought a new position in shares of Genuine Parts during the 1st quarter worth approximately $124,130,000. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Genuine Parts by 820.4% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 759,062 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $14,426,000 after acquiring an additional 676,588 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.51% of the companys stock.

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Genuine Parts Price Performance

GPC traded down $1.76 on Wednesday, reaching $141.49. The stock had a trading volume of 191,864 shares, compared to its average volume of 816,318. Genuine Parts has a fifty-two week low of $126.35 and a fifty-two week high of $181.37. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $138.11 and a 200-day moving average of $143.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The company has a market capitalization of $19.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 0.93.

Genuine Parts Announces Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 1st were issued a $0.95 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.69%. Genuine Partss payout ratio is presently 42.99%.

Several research firms recently issued reports on GPC. Truist Financial reduced their price target on Genuine Parts from $172.00 to $155.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 20th. Wedbush reduced their price target on Genuine Parts from $160.00 to $140.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 20th. UBS Group began coverage on Genuine Parts in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. They issued a neutral rating and a $160.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Genuine Parts from $184.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Genuine Parts in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $168.11.

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Genuine Parts Company Profile

(Free Report)

Genuine Parts Company distributes automotive replacement parts, and industrial parts and materials. It operates through Automotive Parts Group and Industrial Parts Group segments. The company distributes automotive replacement parts for hybrid and electric vehicles, trucks, SUVs, buses, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, farm vehicles, small engines, farm equipment, marine equipment, and heavy duty equipment; and accessory and supply items used by various automotive aftermarket customers, such as repair shops, service stations, fleet operators, automobile and truck dealers, leasing companies, bus and truck lines, mass merchandisers, farms, and individuals.

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Leuthold Group LLC lessened its stake in shares of Lennar Co. (NYSE:LEN  Free Report) by 1.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 50,777 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 920 shares during the quarter. Leuthold Group LLCs holdings in Lennar were worth $5,699,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BluePath Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Lennar in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Lennar in the second quarter worth $46,000. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of Lennar during the third quarter valued at $56,000. West Tower Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Lennar during the second quarter valued at $57,000. Finally, First Pacific Financial bought a new position in shares of Lennar during the third quarter valued at $59,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.87% of the companys stock.

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Lennar Stock Up 1.0 %

Shares of LEN stock traded up $1.50 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $151.07. 1,597,463 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,194,904. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.56. Lennar Co. has a one year low of $94.11 and a one year high of $156.01. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $143.50 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $126.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a current ratio of 6.12.

Lennar Increases Dividend

Lennar ( NYSE:LEN Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, December 15th. The construction company reported $4.82 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.59 by $0.23. The firm had revenue of $10.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.22 billion. Lennar had a net margin of 11.51% and a return on equity of 15.84%. The companys revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $5.02 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Lennar Co. will post 14.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 7th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 24th will be paid a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, January 23rd. This is an increase from Lennars previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.32%. Lennars payout ratio is currently 14.53%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, VP David M. Collins sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total value of $1,300,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 37,060 shares in the company, valued at $4,817,800. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, VP David M. Collins sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total transaction of $1,300,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 37,060 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,817,800. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Mark Sustana sold 37,304 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.38, for a total transaction of $5,460,559.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 18,694 shares in the company, valued at $2,736,427.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 57,304 shares of company stock valued at $8,237,860. Insiders own 9.53% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on LEN. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Lennar from $123.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 8th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Lennar in a research report on Monday, November 27th. They set a hold rating and a $117.00 target price for the company. Raymond James increased their price target on Lennar from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Barclays raised their price objective on Lennar from $132.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. Finally, JMP Securities raised their price objective on Lennar from $150.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $140.53.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on LEN

About Lennar

(Free Report)

Lennar Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a homebuilder primarily under the Lennar brand in the United States. It operates through Homebuilding East, Homebuilding Central, Homebuilding Texas, Homebuilding West, Financial Services, Multifamily, and Lennar Other segments. The company's homebuilding operations include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, as well as the purchase, development, and sale of residential land; and development, construction, and management of multifamily rental properties.

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PIMCO Low Duration Exchange-Traded Fund (NYSEARCA:LDUR  Get Free Report) shares fell 0.1% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $95.22 and last traded at $95.29. 42,253 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 0% from the average session volume of 42,063 shares. The stock had previously closed at $95.34.

PIMCO Low Duration Exchange-Traded Fund Stock Performance

The firms 50 day moving average is $94.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $94.03.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On PIMCO Low Duration Exchange-Traded Fund

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. AIFG Consultants Ltd. increased its stake in shares of PIMCO Low Duration Exchange-Traded Fund by 0.8% in the second quarter. AIFG Consultants Ltd. now owns 110,888 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,395,000 after purchasing an additional 891 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI increased its stake in shares of PIMCO Low Duration Exchange-Traded Fund by 10.6% during the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 2,624 shares of the companys stock valued at $245,000 after acquiring an additional 252 shares during the period. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. increased its stake in shares of PIMCO Low Duration Exchange-Traded Fund by 5.1% during the second quarter. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. now owns 46,453 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,355,000 after acquiring an additional 2,253 shares during the period. Curi Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of PIMCO Low Duration Exchange-Traded Fund by 19.3% during the second quarter. Curi Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,336 shares of the companys stock valued at $313,000 after acquiring an additional 540 shares during the period. Finally, Sage Rhino Capital LLC boosted its holdings in PIMCO Low Duration Exchange-Traded Fund by 0.5% during the second quarter. Sage Rhino Capital LLC now owns 27,720 shares of the companys stock worth $2,599,000 after buying an additional 126 shares in the last quarter.

PIMCO Low Duration Exchange-Traded Fund Company Profile

The PIMCO Enhanced Low Duration Active Exchange-Traded Fund (LDUR) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund is an actively managed broad-market, investment-grade bond fund with target duration between 1-3 years. LDUR was launched on Jan 22, 2014 and is managed by PIMCO.

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Summit Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT  Free Report) by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 8,675 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 435 shares during the period. Summit Financial LLCs holdings in Caterpillar were worth $2,368,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. BCK Partners Inc. bought a new position in Caterpillar during the first quarter valued at $2,580,000. Sei Investments Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 17.3% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 65,643 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $14,634,000 after acquiring an additional 9,695 shares during the last quarter. Dakota Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Caterpillar in the 1st quarter worth about $405,000. Mather Group LLC. lifted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 6.8% in the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 2,592 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $577,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 49,705 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $11,075,000 after acquiring an additional 2,076 shares during the last quarter. 69.20% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Caterpillar Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of Caterpillar stock traded down $3.14 on Wednesday, reaching $301.62. The stock had a trading volume of 1,500,099 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,566,369. The stock has a market capitalization of $153.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.14, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.13. Caterpillar Inc. has a 1 year low of $204.04 and a 1 year high of $305.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $279.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $270.56.

Caterpillar Dividend Announcement

Caterpillar ( NYSE:CAT Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The industrial products company reported $5.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.75 by $0.77. The company had revenue of $16.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.57 billion. Caterpillar had a net margin of 13.69% and a return on equity of 56.29%. Caterpillars revenue was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.95 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Caterpillar Inc. will post 20.59 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 22nd will be paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.72%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 19th. Caterpillars payout ratio is 29.46%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Caterpillar

In other Caterpillar news, CFO Andrew R. J. Bonfield sold 10,000 shares of Caterpillar stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.04, for a total transaction of $3,000,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 67,317 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,197,792.68. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently issued reports on CAT. HSBC began coverage on shares of Caterpillar in a report on Monday, November 20th. They issued a hold rating and a $250.00 target price for the company. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $285.00 to $293.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of Caterpillar from $315.00 to $274.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of Caterpillar from $323.00 to $297.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price objective on shares of Caterpillar from $216.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $269.79.

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Caterpillar Profile

(Free Report)

Caterpillar Inc manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives in the United States and internationally. Its Construction Industries segment offers asphalt pavers, compactors, road reclaimers, forestry machines, cold planers, material handlers, tractors, excavators, telehandlers, motor graders, and pipelayers; compact track and multi-terrain, wheel, track-type, backhoe, and skid steer loaders; and related parts and tools.

Further Reading

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Tenaga Nasional Berhad (OTCMKTS:TNABY  Get Free Report)s share price traded down 6.3% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $8.59 and last traded at $8.59. 1,038 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 411% from the average session volume of 203 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.17.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad Trading Down 6.3 %

The stock has a market cap of $12.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.67 and a beta of -0.13. The firms fifty day moving average price is $8.63 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $8.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.23.

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Tenaga Nasional Berhad (OTCMKTS:TNABY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 24th. The company reported $0.13 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $2.91 billion for the quarter. Tenaga Nasional Berhad had a net margin of 5.77% and a return on equity of 4.93%.

About Tenaga Nasional Berhad

Tenaga Nasional Berhad engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in Malaysia and internationally. The company operates and maintains thermal generation facilities and hydroelectric power generating schemes; and manages and operates the National Grid that is connected to Thailand's transmission system, as well as Singapore's transmission system at Senoko.

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Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Snow this morning will transition to snow showers this afternoon. High 34F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 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.
Amherst resident and former Virginia Speaker of the House Vance Wilkins Jr. announced Jan. 22 his resignation as chair of the Amherst County Republican Committee, a role hes held for nearly a decade.

Wilkins, who served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1978 to 2002 and was the first Republican Speaker of the House, said he is turning 88 in August and felt the timing was right to step down. He said in a phone interview he will remain active in the Amherst GOP and be helping its leadership in any way he can.

Another major reason for stepping down is to focus personal time on supporting the reelection campaign of U.S. Rep. Bob Good, R-5th District, who seeks a third term. Good, chair of the House Freedom Caucus, recently endorsed former President Donald Trump as the GOP in the current race for the White House after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whom Good previously endorsed, dropped out.

Good faces a challenge in the GOP primary from state Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland. Wilkins said it is critical Good remains representative for the largely Republican district that includes Amherst and Nelson counties.

Hes one of the most courageous congressmen Ive ever seen, Wilkins said. "I want to make sure he gets the nomination and I will do everything I can to make that happen."

One of Goods stances Wilkins said he impressed by was opposing the speakership of former U.S. Speaker Kevin McCarthy and taking part in his historic ouster last year. Wilkins said he knows firsthand the risk of opposing a speaker and he also deeply admires Goods stances on reducing federal spending.

The former speaker criticized Democrats and federal spending that he feels is a threat to the nations future, comparing the nations financial situation to the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

Were going to lose the battle if we dont get our economy straight and were going to have one hell of a crash, Wilkins said.

While Wilkins said he feels Good is in a good position to retain his seat, he feels compelled to help, adding: I dont like taking these chances.

Wilkins said any comments McGuire has made or others assert challenging Goods loyalty to Trump are the biggest bunch of hooey Ive ever seen.

He said as chair of the Amherst GOP committee it would not be appropriate to be involved in swaying a candidates campaign over another within the party, which is reason he resigned. The Amherst GOP is expected to take up selecting a new chair at its Feb. 26 meeting, Wilkins said.
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 80%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A few flurries are possible. Low 26F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Snow this morning will transition to snow showers this afternoon. High around 35F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
The mother of ASTRO member Cha Eunwoo is garnering attention for how strictly she raised her children. Keep on reading for all the details.

Post Brings Attention to Cha Eunwoo's Mother's Strict Upbringing Method

On January 30, 2024, a post titled "Cha Eunwooo's mother" was posted to a popular South Korean online community forum, drawing over 240,000 views and 200+ comments. The post went viral after photos of Cha Eunwoo's brother were shared online, drawing attention for his stunning visuals.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Top 10 K-pop Boy Group Members in January 2024: ASTRO Cha Eun Woo, Park Ji Hoon, More!

The post looks back to an interview Cha Eunwoo had with news outlet News1 in 2022. In the interview, Cha Eunwoo revealed his mother did not praise him or his brother's looks much when they were very young. She was afraid that overindulging them with compliments would cause them to be too arrogant.

Because of that, Cha Eunwoo rates his visuals a 50 out of 100. He gets awkward when complimented over his visuals and ends up only saying "thank you" politely.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: ASTRO Cha Eunwoo Releases Cover of 'Love is Gone' For Moon Bin's Birthday - Original Artist Reacts

The author of the post praised Cha Eunwoo's mother for her strict upbringing. They compared how the two were raised to other Korean men, saying uglier men are constantly praised by their mothers, causing them to grow an ego and become violent when rejected as adults.

The post reads,

"Cha Eunwoo's mother said she didn't praise them much when they were young because she was afraid that complimenting them for their looks too much would cause them to be arrogant. Meanwhile, mothers of other Korean men who are 100 times worse than them would be praised all the time, causing them to think they are good-looking. As a result, when these men grow up and get rejected, they become angry and commit crimes."

ASTRO Cha Eunwoo's Mom Draws Applause for the Strict Upbringing Method

Those who saw the post couldn't help but agree with the author. They stated that toxic Korean men hate Cha Eunwoo, but that the idol and his brother are better than the majority of Korean men.

CHECK THIS OUT: Moonbin's Birthday Celebrated by ASTRO, SinB, Seungkwan, More Through Heartfelt Posts & Songs

Some comments read,

"Cha Eunwoo and his brother are worth more than 1,000 toxic Korean men. We need to save their bloodline."

"I am so curious about Cha Eunwoo's parents. They gave birth to two sons who look just like each other. Wouldn't they look like celebrities?"

"Toxic Korean men claim they hate Cha Eunwoo, saying they prefer manly men and that people like Jung Woo Sing and Won Bin are better. However, if Jung Woo Sung and Won Bin were in their 20s, the same toxic Korean men would use the'manly man' excuse against them too."

"I think Korean men need to be raised strictly from a young age so they can have a lower self-esteem. Otherwise, when they grow up and get rejected, they won't know how to control their anger."

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
The already-controversial Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not shy away from controversy during a Friday appearance at the University of Virginia School of Law, an appearance that UVa attempted to close to the press.

The Daily Progress was able to gain access and witnessed a two-hour discussion that one law student described as a roller coaster.

While it was made clear the appearance on UVa Grounds was not a campaign event, it was an opportunity for the independent presidential candidate and UVa Law School alumnus to get in front of a demographic he believes can power him to victory in November.

The son of late New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of late President John F. Kennedy covered a lot of ground during his whirlwind discussion with a student moderator Friday: deeply personal stories about his battles with addiction, his unequivocal support for Israel, his fathers assassination, the COVID vaccine, accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of wiretapping and worse at the National Security Agency.

He really went full send, law student Justin Peterson told The Daily Progress. Its interesting that even in person hes just going to talk about vaccine stuff or the NSA conspiracy theory. So you know what youre getting, which is something to be said at least.

Kennedy appears to believe that if he is going to do the improbable, becoming the first independent candidate ever to win the U.S. presidency in the modern era, he will do so by winning over young people, like the UVa law students in the Caplin Auditorium last Friday.

Some data shows the candidate is popular among independent and young voters. He cited a Sienna poll of voters under 45 years old, which indicates him winning 31% of that electorate in key battleground states. That same poll shows his Democrat and Republican rivals, President Biden and former President Donald Trump, tied at 30%.

I think Im doing well with those groups, because Im talking about issues that concern young people, Kennedy told the audience.

One of those issues he spent time on was his desire to make homeownership more affordable for young Americans.

Kennedy has identified a general discontent that exists among many young voters. He referenced a Gallup poll that shows that national pride has plummeted among people between 18 and 34 years old, with only 18% saying they are extremely proud to be American. Thats a drop from 2013, when 85% of that demographic said it was extremely or very proud to be an American.

Kennedy argues that malaise is a result of a system that is not just broken but rigged. Young people have been betrayed by their country, he said, and neither major party is willing to do anything about it.

Do you feel like its fixed? It is fixed. There are ways to unwind it, but Trump or Biden arent going to do it, he said.

In essence, Kennedy painted his candidacy as a solution to the problems that have made so many voters feel disaffected with their own country.

The Daily Progress was first alerted to the UVa event by Kennedys campaign, which has stationed its Virginia headquarters in Charlottesville. But days before the planned appearance, the newspaper was informed UVa did not want press to attend.

The Kennedy event is closed to the media and is not open to the public. The students organized the event, which is only open to UVA community members who registered in advance. It is not a campaign event, Mike Fox, director of media relations for UVa School of Law, told The Daily Progress.

The Student Bar Association, which organized the Fireside Chat, allowed The Daily Progress entry.

There was a common, conspiratorial theme in much of what Kennedy preached Friday: A handful of corporate interests quietly dictate most key aspects of American life, whether it be media coverage or U.S. foreign policy decisions, the political establishment profits along the way.

That through line could be found in many of the claims Kennedy made.

Among them: The Democratic party is controlled by BlackRock, the multinational investment firm; the COVID vaccine is not to be trusted because the Food and Drug Administration receives significant funding from pharmaceutical companies; Biden wants the Ukraine-Russia war to continue, and in April 2022 the warring countries signed a peace agreement that Biden demanded be thrown out.

The latter is a claim made by Russian officials and denied by the U.S. Lead Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia has told Ukrainian press that his country did not trust Russia to uphold its end of any deal.

Kennedy was a curiosity for many of the UVa students in attendance. Those that spoke with The Daily Progress said theyd previously only seen brief clips of the candidate online.

I thought he was a lot more charismatic in person than in interviews that Ive seen online, which is really interesting. And he was a lot more articulate than I thought he would be, Peterson said. On the other hand, there were some moments that I would probably describe as less filtered than a lot of other politicians would probably be.

Schoolmate Devin Thompson agreed.

It was like a roller coaster. Ups and downs, Thompson said.

Anyone hoping for hot takes from Kennedy didnt leave disappointed. The candidate was happy to opine on a long list of issues.

On Israel: All this stuff about it being an apartheid state is propaganda.

On Epstein: You could see he was creepy when you met him.

On the NSA: We get mad at Putin for killing some of his enemies and say, Oh, hes a murderer. Well, so are we.

While some students appreciated Kennedys position on Israel, it did not sit well with others, with one student saying What the fk? loud enough for the audience to hear.

Whether or not students agreed with Kennedy and his positions, many at least found him interesting.

He brought up a lot of stuff that you normally dont hear from people in mainstream media  certain opinions that you normally wouldnt see. So, that was definitely a little shocking at first, said one 23-year-old student who declined to provide his name.

Daniel, another student at the school who declined to give his last name, said the perception he had of Kennedy entering the event was that of a conspiracy theorist.

Hearing him in a longform conversation, I was pretty impressed by a lot of what he said, Daniel said. Hearing him out in that format, a lot of what he said I think made a lot of sense in context than it would in a little sound bite.

He described Kennedys frequent criticisms of BlackRock to be eye opening.

The 23-year-old student felt Kennedy was arguing that BlackRock is pulling the strings on important global issues, including the Ukraine-Russia war.

Neither would commit to voting for Kennedy, but both said the candidate had piqued their interest.

What he was saying about having someone independent from the partisanship of current politics did resonate with me a little bit, but I also need to see a bit more in terms of viability against the two main candidates, the 23-year-old said. He definitely struck a chord with me. In the last couple elections, theres been a sense that were choosing the better of two evils.

While Trump portrays himself as the anti-establishment candidate, Daniel felt that message was more convincing coming from Kennedy, despite his pedigree as a scion of one of Americas most famous political dynasties; the candidate spoke to students of his time as an environmental lawyer and his multiple lawsuits against large corporations and government agencies.

It feels a lot more genuine coming from him. It has a lot of the same feel that Bernie Sanders has for example. Hes been doing this his whole life basically, Daniel said. The things he said resonate. He talked about home prices, job prospects, things that a lot of young people are struggling with right now.

Another student, Alec Block, said he was pleasantly surprised by Kennedy.

He spoke really well. He was charismatic, Block said. Theres a lot I think you cant tell about a candidate from their social media presence that you can tell in person. So thats kind of why I wanted to be here.

Nevertheless, Block is a Democrat and said hell be voting for Biden in November. Despite the fact that Kennedy is polling well among young people, Block doesnt think thats enough to make him a legitimate candidate.

Could he affect the race? Absolutely. Can he win? No shot, Block said. Frankly, he appeals to a lot of people who arent very political. His talk about housing and supporting my generation, I think, can sound good to people my age.

Block said he thinks young liberals frustrated with the current administration could turn to Kennedy in protest. While thats unlikely to power him to victory, it could be enough to hurt Bidens reelection bid.

At the end of the day, thats not how elections are won, Block said of Kennedys attempt to harness the youth vote. If anything, its going to sink Joe Biden. So for me, thats frustrating. Hes got some good ideas, but hes not my candidate.
ENGENEs have expressed concern for ENHYPEN member Jake's safety after discovering a sasaeng has been stalking him. Keep on reading for all the details.

ENGENES Concerned For ENHYPEN Jake Safety Due To Stalker

On January 31, 2024, ENGENEs took to social media to express concern for ENHYPEN member Jake's safety.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: BELIFT LAB, HYBE Accused of STEALING Music for ENHYPEN's Epic Performance - 'It just doesn't make...'

It was recently discovered that Jake is suffering from a sasaeng. For those unaware, a sasaeng is a Korean term used to describe obsessive fans who do everything they can to stalk their idols and become close to them.

It was discovered that this sasaeng, known online as Chloe (or ReALcHLoE_ on Weibo), would purchase plane tickets to sit nearby Jake. She would even take photos of the male idol while he was asleep. Chloe did not censor herself or Jake. If she was on the flight with a friend, she would also forget to censor her accomplice's face.

this one mf op kept on taking pictures of idols (esp jake) sleeping on plane. throw your phone u creepy weirdo! give the artists the privacy they deserve!



kindly report this on weibo and twt! her un's @ ReALcHLoE_



and @BELIFTLAB @HYBEOFFICIALtwt CAN'T U PROTECT UR ARTISTS WTF pic.twitter.com/KwghMxBx4l January 30, 2024

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Allegedly, Chloe has been stalking Jake for a while. In fact, she has been doing this for a long time. Her behavior does not end with just getting on the same flight as him. One of her posts read, "Look at the puppy who slept through the entire flight," suggesting she watched the idol as he slept for the entire trip.

Sadly, it appears Chloe will not stop soon. Chinese fans have noted that Chloe has also stalked other Korean celebrities before, and not just ENHYPEN's Jake.

this IS NOT her first time! JAKE is not the only victim. the real fucking sasaeng



report this mfhttps://t.co/SyXX4oAcWX pic.twitter.com/kVY1NKQ3ed  jiji (@jaeyunion) January 30, 2024

MORE OF ENHYPEN'S JAKE: ENHYPEN Jake Apologizes For Purchasing Starbucks- Here's Why



Many are taking to social media to call the sasaeng out. They are also tagging the official accounts of BELIFT Lab and HYBE Labels in the hopes that the company will take action to better protect their artists.

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

ENHYPEN Recent Activities

On January 31, 2024, ENHYPEN was announced as the new model image of the Japanese mail-order retailer Peach John. The group will be the face of the brand's unisex room wear as part of their 30th anniversary special project.

CHECK THIS OUT: [WATCH] ENHYPEN Sunghoon and IVE Jang Wonyoung's 'Sweet Venom' Dazzles at Golden Disc Awards

On November 17, 2024, ENHYPEN released their fifth extended play, "Orange Blood," with the lead single, "Sweet Venom."

From January to February 2024, ENHYPEN will continue their second world tour, with stops in Tiawan, Singapore, China, and the Philippines. Two shows were added in Seoul for February 24 and 25. A third was show added to their Macau stop on December 9.

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
SHREVEPORT, L. - With February almost here and less than 60 days until the March election, C
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EU reaffirms trade support for Ukraine and Moldova

The Commission has today proposed to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian exports to the EU for another year, while reinforcing protection for sensitive EU agricultural products.

This is done in line with EU commitments to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

These Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs) have been in place since June 2022 and are a key pillar of the EU's unwavering support for Ukraine and its economy. The measures help alleviate the difficult situation faced by Ukrainian producers and exporters as a consequence of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression.

While the main objective of the ATMs is to support Ukraine, the measures are also mindful of EU farmers' and other stakeholders' sensitivities. To this end, and considering a significant increase in imports of some agricultural products from Ukraine to the EU in 2022 and 2023, the renewed ATMs contain a reinforced safeguard mechanism. This makes sure that quick remedial action can be taken in case of significant disruptions to the EU market, or to the markets of one or more Member States.

For the most sensitive products  poultry, eggs and sugar  an emergency brake is foreseen which would stabilise imports at the average import volumes in 2022 and 2023. This means that if imports of these products were exceeding those volumes, tariffs would be reimposed to ensure that import volumes do not significantly exceed those of previous years.

In parallel, the Commission proposes to renew by another year the suspension of all remaining duties on Moldovan imports in force since July 2022.

Next steps

The proposals will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The goal is to ensure a seamless transition from the current regime of ATMs to the new one, by the time the current regimes expires on 5 June 2024 for Ukraine and 24 July 2024 for Moldova.

Background

In force since 4 June 2022, the ATMs for Ukraine have had a clear positive effect on Ukraine's trade to the EU. Together with the Solidarity Lanes, the ATMs have ensured that trade flows from Ukraine to the EU have remained remarkably stable in 2022 and 2023, despite the major disruptions caused by the war and against the general trend of a decrease in Ukraine's trade overall. Total EU imports from Ukraine amounted to 24.3 billion in the 12 months to October 2023 compared to pre-war levels in 2021 of 24 billion.

Unilateral and temporary in nature, the ATMs significantly broaden the scope of tariff liberalisation under the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) by suspending all outstanding duties, quotas and safeguard measures on Ukrainian imports in Ukraine's time of need. In parallel, the EU and Ukraine continue discussions about further permanent and reciprocal tariff liberalisation under Article 29 of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

The ATMs for Moldova have been in force since 25 July 2022. Moldova's exports to the rest of the world have suffered from Russia's military aggression against Ukraine as they often relied on transit through Ukrainian territory and Ukrainian infrastructure. The ATMs have assisted Moldova's efforts to re-orient exports via the EU. Overall, exports from Moldova to the EU increased from 1.8 billion in 2021 to 2.6 billion in 2022.

The Commission now proposes to renew the suspension of all duties on imports from Moldova by another year. This means in practice that exports of seven agricultural products from Moldova which are subject to tariff-rate quotas will continue to be fully liberalised: tomatoes, garlic, table grapes, apples, cherries, plums and grape juice.

For More Information

EU-Ukraine Trade Relations

EU-Moldova Trade Relations

Quote

The EU must continue to show solidarity with Ukraine and Moldova in the face of Russias continuing aggression. This proposal strikes the right balance: we are maintaining our economic support for both countries, while taking EU farmers interests and sensitivities fully into account. This will achieve the dual objective of helping to keep Ukraine's and Moldovas economies going, while at the same time having stronger safeguards to prevent market disruptions in the EU.

Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade 2024-01-30
Nearly half of Monroe Rural Fire Protection Districts volunteer firefighters have resigned after a firefighter was allegedly terminated in retaliation.

A tort claim filed with the district, often a precursor to a lawsuit, describes battery, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, whistleblowing retaliation and wrongful termination at the hands of the fire chief.

A Place to Sleep, episode 10: Wrapping up We check back with some of the people we've met along our travels and we catch up with politicos who are trying to come up with solutions.

Critically understaffed, the former firefighters say they are concerned about the district's ability to respond to emergencies going forward if changes are not made.

When reached for comment, Chief Chris Barnes said district officials are seeking legal advice and the number of volunteer firefighters is on the rebound, with some volunteers having returned to regular attendance of weekly training drills.

Meanwhile, the district's Board of Directors met in closed session Tuesday, Jan. 30 and has scheduled another meeting for 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 1. On the agenda is an item to "review, discuss and vote to determine need for investigation."

Terminated

During the recent winter storm that blanketed the mid-Willamette Valley with a layer of ice, Barnes and Roselyn Baker, an acting-in-capacity lieutenant, responded to a call at a Benton County home, according to a letter she wrote to Barnes.

Baker was the sole employee who performed EMT duties, according to the tort notice.

During the Jan. 16 incident, she put her portable radio on the back of her pants, attached to her duty belt and bent down to evaluate a patient. Wanting to call more medics to the scene, Barnes approached Baker from behind and grabbed her radio, yanking it several times before freeing it from her belt, the letter, dated Jan. 22, says.

The action of approaching me from behind and removing the radio from my belt made me feel extremely uncomfortable. I am more than capable of removing the portable radio from my belt in a timely manner if you are unable to find yours, the letter says.

Baker specifically asked Barnes not to touch her or her belt unless her life is under immediate threat or she gives direct consent.

"Ms. Baker previously reported a hostile work environment when she reported Chief Barnes' display of sexual material in the workplace," the tort claim notice, filed Monday, Jan. 29, says.

Within two hours of delivering her written complaint to Barnes, she was fired, according to the tort claim.

Resignations

Soon after her termination, five volunteers tendered their resignations. The district employs three people, including Baker's position, and augments staffing with volunteers who numbered 11 before the termination and resignations.

The five who resigned penned a letter to the fire district's board members on Jan. 23, saying they had no confidence in Barnes' leadership.

Chris Barnes has consistently created a hostile working environment at the department with his inappropriate actions, of which there is considerable documentation, that culminated in an event on Monday, the letter says.

Kevin Krallman, one of the volunteer firefighters who drafted the letter of no confidence, said he was present at the scene during the incident between Baker and Barnes. When Krallman first heard of Bakers termination, he couldn't believe it, he said.

Its just so egregious, he said.

It didnt take long for him to collect his things and submit his resignation. Among those who resigned included EMTs and volunteers who drive and operate the engine, he said.

Krallman said he didnt want to leave, but he didnt feel he had a choice.

This is a dangerous thing we do, and I have to trust the people I respond with, Krallman said. To see such a hard-working, capable, dedicated responder just being thrown away was just painful. It was just an irrational, emotional decision, and I cant trust him (Barnes) after that.

The Monroe Rural Fire Protection District covers Monroe and surrounding Bellfountain, Alpine and Irish Bend communities. Since its formation, volunteers have been vital to the existence of the fire district, Krallman said.

Those volunteers that left and the fired employee are the only responders on the vast majority of calls for service in the Monroe service area. Chief Barnes actions and behavior have left the citizens of Monroe without adequate fire and medical protection, directly putting lives at risk, the letter Krallman and others signed reads.

The fire district is vital to the rural communities it serves, Krallman said. For a lot of calls, Monroes firefighters are the only responders. They are the ones on scene, stabilizing patients or deciding whether to send a helicopter out to get patients critical care.

The major highway that cuts right through the town, Route 99W, can be a source of accidents and injuries. The district also covers Alsea Falls and the logging and farming communities in the area as well, he said.

Its not a big department, but it's important for us to rely on each other, and I dont know how we can continue to do that if nothing happens, he said.

The letter the volunteers sent to the district's board urges members to place Barnes on an administrative leave and hire an independent entity to investigate his actions. If the board takes those actions, the five volunteers would seek an immediate reinstatement and be ready to respond to calls for service.

But based on his interactions with board members, Krallman worries there wont be any accountability.

Taking it to court

Baker's tort claim notice, filed against both Monroe Rural Fire Protection District and Chief Barnes, says several laws may have been broken, including the Oregon Workplace Fairness Act  which prohibits any conduct at work that a reasonable person in the individual's circumstances would consider unwelcome, intimidating, hostile, threatening, violent, abusive or offensive  as well as violating her constitutional right to freedom of speech.

At no time did defendants enact and present to Ms. Baker or any other employee a policy for the prevention and reporting of sexual harassment and discrimination, the document reads.

There is no employee handbook, Krallman confirmed. The special district is operating without a policy on how to terminate, he said.

The tort claim alleges discriminatory behavior on the basis of sex, saying Barnes would whistle to get her attention, and he questioned her ability to drive in inclement weather  actions he did not do to male employees or volunteers.

Chris Barnes also violated Ms. Baker's right to due process. She was terminated with no warnings, no notice, and no opportunity to be heard. Moreover, Chief Chris Barnes terminated Ms. Baker for exercising her right to free speech, the notice read.

Baker declined to comment, saying her attorney has advised her not speak to to reporters.

When Mid-Valley Media reached out to Barnes, he supplied this response via email:

We do not discuss specific employee matters. Certain actions require time and are not taken lightly. These actions are carefully considered with legal services. After some resignations last week, our weekly training drill attendance has seen an increase amongst the remaining members with some existing members having returned to regular attendance. We have and will remain committed to serving the fire district.

The Board of Directors' closed session on Tuesday was agendized under a state law that covers the dismissal, disciplining of, or hearing of complaints of charges brought against a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent. It was not more specific than that.

Under Oregon's public meetings law, members of the public cannot attend these closed sessions. While members of the media can, they cannot report on what was said during the meeting.

Barnes made a call before the meeting began. The call was for legal counsel, he said after the meeting.

Elected officials must make all decisions in public. Thursday's meeting is set for 10 a.m. at the Monroe Rural Fire Protection District station, 680 Commercial St.

Related story:
VMPL

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], January 31: Over the past 74 years since India became a republic, farmers have made significant contributions. It is crucial to acknowledge that, even during challenging times such as the 'Corona' pandemic, the resilience of the agriculture sector has been a key factor in maintaining the GDP of our economy. The distinctive importance of farmers in agriculture has played a crucial role in shaping India as an agrarian nation. Their contributions continue to be pivotal as India strives to emerge as an economic superpower in the coming years.

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To acknowledge the invaluable contributions of farmers to the development of India, employees at Kan Biosys, a multinational company, celebrated Republic Day with farmers across 75 locations in the country. This initiative has been conceptualized by Dr Prashant Pawar -Assistant Vice President -Business Development and HR, endorsed by Sandeepa Kanitkar -Managing Director of Kan Biosys and executed with the help of Rahul Parkhi- Assistant Vice President -Sales Operations.

All the Sales employees, Agronomists and other supporting members have successfully celebrated the 75th republic day with respective farmers in their field

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Working with farmers for more than three decades, Kan Biosys is a leading multinational company in biological fertilizers and pesticides.

Sandeepa Kanitkar, a microbiologist, founded this company in 2005. Kan Biosys is renowned for its production and supply of liquid bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, seed treatment processes, and certified agricultural products focused on soil health, crop nutrition, and crop protection. Kan Biosys is dedicated to producing and providing high-quality, biological products for sustainable and certified farming practices. All products of Kan Biosys are registered with Ecocert, FCO, and CIB for their new and innovative productions.

The Research and Development department of Kan Biosys has been recognized by the Department of Science and Industrial Research in India.

Kan Biosys has received numerous national and international accolades for its quality. In November 2023, the company's product 'Speed Compost' was honored with the first position in the 'National Sustainable Agriculture Award' category by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Notably, the company employs more than two hundred staff, working in more than 7 states in India. While distributing over 25 products across various states in India, Kan Biosys also exports its high-quality products to more than 10 progressive countries.

The changing and fluctuating weather conditions, along with extensive use of chemical pesticides, have adverse effects on the health of the soil and crops. As a result, there has been a noticeable decline in crop production and productivity. To counteract this, Kan Biosys has introduced several popular products such as Taba, Vitormone, Sudo, Milastin K, Tricho-Shield Combat, Speed Kompost, CM-33, Nemastin, Brigade-B, and Brig Boss. These well-established products have been serving farmers in the Indian market for many years as effective preventive measures against the challenges posed by the current environmental and chemical conditions.

Kan Biosys is a specialized agri-biotech company operating in the realms of plant nutrition and pest management. With a vision to establish a presence across India and subsequently globally, Kan Biosys is steadfast in its commitment to unlock the full potential of plants through microbial inputs and precision agriculture.

The prevalent wasteful expenditure in agriculture not only escalates cultivation costs but also contributes to environmental pollution affecting food and water. Bio-fertility solutions, in the form of bio-fertilizers, offer a sustainable means to supplement Nitrogen and Phosphorus. PGPR bacteria (Plant Growth Promoting) significantly enhance plant growth.

Our primary objective is to assist farmers in maximizing yields while concurrently reducing toxic residues in food. We specialize in manufacturing innovative certified agri-inputs such as Bio-fertilizers, Bio-pesticides, and services for Soil Health Management.

For more details please visit: https://www.kanbiosys.com

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

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New Delhi [India], January 31 (ANI): Ahead of the start of the interim budget session, Aam Aadmi Party leader Swati Maliwal offered prayers in Hanuman Temple at Connaught Place, Delhi on Wednesday.

"Today, before taking oath in the Rajya Sabha, CP took blessings by bowing his head at the feet of Bajrang Bali at the ancient Hanuman temple. Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bajrang Bali," Swati Maliwal posted on X.

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The former Delhi Commission for Women chief will take the oath as a Rajya Sabha Member of AAP today.

"This budget should be such that it benefits the women, the farmers, the poor, the youth and also the middle class," said Aam Aadmi Party leader Swati Maliwal.

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Earlier on January 12, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members Sanjay Singh, Swati Maliwal and ND Gupta were elected unopposed as Rajya Sabha members.

After being elected Rajya Sabha MP, Swati Maliwal said that she would fulfil her duties with true devotion and honesty.

"A new responsibility is starting today. Thousands of women came today to encourage them. I assure all the people of Delhi that I will serve you with true devotion and honesty. Gratitude to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal," Swati Maliwal said.

The AAP leader has also called for the government to take special interest in issues relating to crimes against women.

"Women across the country are breaking all barriers and obstacles to move forward... Women's safety is a burning issue in the country. Every hour, crimes against women and children are only increasing. It is my request to the central government to pay special attention to this issue and come up with a hard-hitting solution to this problem... If a person sitting at the helm of the government indulges in such crimes, they should be tried even more strictly. Additionally, I demand laws to protect domestic helpers from such crimes..." the AAP leader had said on the occasion of Republic Day.

The three candidates had filed their nominations on January 8 in the national capital.

AAP has renominated Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta for a second term, while Swati Maliwal, who was the former Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), has been sent to the Rajya Sabha for the first time. Swati Maliwal is replacing Sushil Gupta. (ANI)

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Barpeta, January 31: A 17-year-old boy was arrested for the alleged rape and murder of a 6-year-old girl in Assam's Barpeta district on Tuesday. According to police, the minor was allegedly murdered at Baghbar Mouripam in Barpeta district on January 29. The body of the minor was found inside a sack at a house in the same village.

After receiving word of the incident, Barpeta district police launched an investigation into the matter and apprehended the culprit. Mamoni Hazarika, additional superintendent of police, Barpeta district, the accused, who is also a minor, was presented before a local court that committed him to a juvenile observation home. Rajasthan Shocker: School Teacher Rapes, Murders 17-Year-Old Girl in Barmer; Dumps Body in Storage Water Tank at Her Residence.

The officer informed that the girl was sexually assaulted before being murdered. "The girl was sexually assaulted before being killed. We also recovered the murder weapon," Hazarika said. "The accused was presented before a local court, which sent him to a juvenile observation home at Bako in Kamrup district," Hazarika said.

The officer informed further that the girl's parents filed a complaint at Baghbar police station on January 26 evening, saying that their daughter went missing while playing outside their house. Fatehpur Gang Rape and Murder: Woman's Husband in Dubai Plots Her Gang-Rape and Killing by His Brothers in Uttar Pradesh.

The sleuths launched a search operation and on January 29, the minor was found dead inside a sack on the premises of the accused's house. A case was registered at Baghbar police station under IPC sections 302 and 210, as well as Section 6 of the POCSO Act. Further investigation is underway and more information is awaited.

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New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) The BJP on Wednesday cited a CAG report to allege that "mother of all scams" to the tune of about Rs 2 lakh crore had taken place in Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal.

In a press conference, BJP West Bengal president Sukanta Majumdar accused the state government headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of treating the public money like her own.

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"Her government has tried to loot public money everywhere. The CAG report is a slap on her government's face and exposes it," Majumdar alleged.

In strong-worded remarks, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that the "mother of all scams" has been found out in West Bengal even though Banerjee speaks about "Maa, mati and manush".

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He alleged that the Trinamool Congress president was a "chor" (thief) and the "kingpin of the corrupt".

"It is a battle of two ideologies," Bhatia said and claimed that all constituents of the INDIA bloc are part of an ideology that centred on corruption and family rule while the Modi government is dedicated to promoting honesty and ridding society of graft.

According to Bhatia and Majumdar, the report highlights that over 2.4 lakh utilisation certificates, required to be submitted for completed projects within a fixed time, were not done so by the state government. The total money involved is around Rs 1.95 lakh crore, they added.

Both the leaders alleged that Rs 3,400 crore was withdrawn from the exigency fund by Banerjee's government and one-third of the amount was for the utilisation by the home ministry which is headed by her. The government has not accounted for the money, they said.

"Was this money given to Rohingyas, her family members or for triggering riots," Bhatia asked.

Bhatia alleged that be it the Congress, AAP, RJD or the TMC, no one should believe they are above law. Several leaders who had this kind of an arrogance are behind bars, he added.

He said she has forgotten that the baton of law straightens up the worst of the corrupt. He hit out at the state government for a recent incident in which Enforcement Directorate officials were attacked by a violent mob close to a TMC leader whose house they had gone to raid as part of their probe in a corruption case.

(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 31 (ANI): Ahead of scheduled budget session before Lok Sabha election, Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government was allowing cheap steel imports resulting in huge problems for steel producers.

He claimed that India had imported 5.6 million tonnes of finished steel between April-Dec 2023, which was the highest in five years. Pointing out that cheap steel import makes Indian steel uncompetitive in the domestic market, the Congress leader demanded justice for steel producers.

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"India imported 5.6 million tonnes of finished steel between April-Dec 2023. This was a five-year high. Imports from China alone were close to a record 1.8 million tonnes. Indian steel producers are rightly concerned at the shocking insensitivity of the Modi Govt that is allowing cheap imports resulting in huge problems for them. They too deserve Nyay." Jairam Ramesh posted on X.

India is currently the the world's second-biggest crude steel producer.

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Mewnwhile, budget session of Parliament, the last session before Lok Sabha polls expected to be held in April-May this year, will commence with President Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the new Parliament building.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the interim budget on February 1. The budget session will conclude on February 9. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], January 31 (ANI): Delhi Customs recovered a gold bar weighing 997.8 grams from a passenger who arrived at Terminal-3, IGI Airport on Tuesday.

During the personal and baggage search of the pax, the customs officers recovered one foreign-origin gold bar with a market value of Rs. 66,07,432, as per an official statement.

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Based on specific intelligence, the officers of Delhi Customs Preventive, New Customs House, New Delhi booked a case of foreign-origin gold being smuggled into India and further brought from Pune to Delhi, added officials. The said recovered foreign origin gold bar was seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962 on the reasonable belief that the same are liable for confiscation under Section 111 of the Customs Act 1962.

The passenger was arrested on Wednesday in under section 104 of the Customs Act, 1962.

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Further investigation into the case is in progress. More details are awaited. (ANI)

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Bhopal, Jan 31 (PTI) BJP veteran Uma Bharti on Wednesday demanded that temples be built at the "original places" in Kashi and Mathura like Ayodhya and Hindus get the right to worship, as she hailed the Varanasi district court's order on Gyanvapi matter.

The Varanasi district court has granted the family of a priest the right to worship Hindu deities in the Gyanvapi mosque cellar.

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Hailing the court order as "sukhad" (pleasant), Bharti stated she had worshipped the idols inscribed on the walls of Gyanvapi in 1993.

"After the decision of the Varanasi District Court, I would again request that like Ayodhya, the temples should be built at the original places in Mathura and Kashi and the right to worship should be given to Hindus. Hand over these places to Hindus, this is the complete solution," the former Union minister posted on her X account.

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Bharti also said she had proposed in Parliament in 1991 that Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi should be handed over to Hindus.

The Varanasi district court on July 21 last year directed the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a "detailed scientific survey" -- including excavations, wherever necessary -- to determine if the mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple was built on the remains of a temple.

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Noida, Jan 31 (PTI) Budget carrier IndiGo on Wednesday cautioned flyers against sharing their PNR number on social media or to unauthorised people in light of an incident in which flight tickets of eight passengers were cancelled without consent.

The Noida-based software engineer had reportedly shared ticket details, including the PNR, on social media platform X and the airline believes that is when cyber thugs took him for a ride.

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The techie was travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi on January 7 and had booked eight tickets at around Rs 72,000.

He reportedly shared on X a purported screenshot of the web check-in process, and tagged IndiGo to ask "Why forced to web check in? If it is mandatory, why should I pay additional charges?"

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"If auto-assignment stopped and I have 8 passengers on my PNR, why is the portal forcing me to pay an additional amount for all eight seats?" he added.

Later, a conversation took place between the techie and an IndiGo representative over direct messages (DM), whose screenshots were also shared by him.

He claimed that he was asked for the PNR by an IndiGo official which he shared it at 1.27 am and at 1.38 am he was informed by the customer care that his tickets had been cancelled.

"Without my confirmation or consent you can't cancel my ticket. Reinstate my ticket as my money is not for charity for your staff's mistake. @DGCAIndia @JM_Scindia my flight is in 6 hours and I am being harassed," the techie said in another post.

Responding to his post, IndiGo said: "We have put forth our utmost effort to assist you, sir. We would recommend refraining from sharing personal details on social media. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you on board for your future travel with us."

After looking into the details of the episode, IndiGo on Wednesday said the passenger was duped by cybercriminals. The airline added that as a gesture of goodwill, it has offered the passenger a waiver of the cancellation fee on the original tickets.

"We are aware of an incident involving an IndiGo customer who was defrauded by cybercriminals. The passenger had reached out to the IndiGo team on X (formerly Twitter) with their PNR details visible in the public domain.

IndiGo's social media team assisted the passenger and advised not to share PNR details in public. However, it seems that a fraudster obtained the passenger's PNR to change the personal details and subsequently cancelled the bookings," IndiGo told PTI in a statement.

IndiGo further said it maintains industry-standard cybersecurity protocols and works constantly to strengthen them. It urged customers not to share their PNR or contact details with any unauthorised person or website or publish it on any public platforms like X.

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Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], January 31 (ANI): Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday filed a complaint against officials of the Enforcement Directorate alleging that the officials tried to 'harass' and 'malign' him and his entire community.

This comes amid questioning by the central agency in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

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CM Soren, in his complaint, wrote, "I, Hemant Soren, son of Shibu Soren, resident of 3, Kanke Road Ranchi, member of Scheduled Tribe and member of legislative assembly representing Sahibganj constituency write to lodge a complaint against Mr Kapil Raj, Mr Deovrat Jha, Mr Anupam Kumar, Mr Aman Patel, and unknown others, all officers of the Directorate of Enforcement, Ranchi Zonal Office, having their office at Hinoo, Ranchi."

"When I came to Ranchi, I saw in the electronic media and also in Print media on January 30, 2024, the action of the above officers who have conducted search operation in Jharkhand Bhawan, New Delhi, and at 5/01, Shanti Niketan, New Delhi, to harass and malign me and my entire community," read the letter.

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CM Soren went on to allege that the search carried out by the ED officials at Shanti Niketan on January 29, was without any prior notice to him.

"On 27th and 28th January, I visited New Delhi and stayed at Premises no. 5/1, Shanti Niketan, which is taken on lease by the State of Jharkhand for residence and office use. On 29th January 2024, I came to learn that the abovenamed persons along with others had carried out a purported search at the said premises. The purported search was without any prior notice to me nor was my presence required on 29th January at New Delhi by the abovenamed persons," CM Soren stated in the letter.

"I have come to learn from the reports in the electronic media that on 30th January 2024, the abovenamed persons have leaked selective misinformation that a blue BMW car seized from the said premises belongs to me huge sums of illicit cash belonging to me was found at the said premises. I am not the owner of the car of BMW which the abovenamed persons claim to have seized. I do not own any illicit cash," he added.

The complaint has been filed at the SC ST police station in Ranchi. Further probe is underway.

Meanwhile, a team of ED officials on Wednesday arrived at the residence of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren for questioning in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

After the meeting was concluded late at night at Soren's residence in Ranchi on Tuesday, JMM MP Mahua Maji informed that in the meeting Hemant Soren said that he is ready to face the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 and has absolutely no fear.

The ED officials visited the residence of Soren in the national capital on Monday night to question him in connection with an alleged land scam case and said that the Jharkhand Chief Minister could not be located.

As per sources, the ED had issued a fresh summons to Soren, asking him to be available for questioning on January 29 or 31, or else the agency itself will go to him for questioning. This is the tenth summons issued to the Jharkhand Chief Minister, by the ED.

There was heavy police deployment around the Chief Minister's residence in Ranchi. (ANI)

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By Vishu Adhana

New Delhi (India), January 31 (ANI): Jawaharlal Nehru University has reached out to the central government for funds to build boundary walls to curb trespassing, said Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit.

Also Read | Anil Kalajerao Babar Dies: Ruling Shiv Sena MLA From Khanapur-Atpadi in Sangli Passes Away at 74; To Be Accorded State Funeral.

Santishree said the work is also underway to install CCTVs in public places, including hostel gates, to improve safety on the campus.

Security has always been a concern at the university, with incidents of vandalism and violence, especially against women, having been reported often.

Also Read | Budget Session 2024: President Droupadi Murmu Arrives in Parliament in Traditional Buggy (Watch Video).

Speaking to ANI, Santishree claimed that no "major" incident compromising the safety and security of the students and teachers on the campus has taken place since she took rein in the centrally funded university.

"You see, (JNUSU) elections are coming. So you will hear more and more such things (about violence) because I think in elections, every side will have competing things, but really, I'm told by the Security Committee of teachers and others. We have not had a major incident," she said.

"We are asking the government of India to give us money for the wall. You know we are a campus of nearly 2,000 acres, and there are a lot of areas where our wall has broken down, so we have people who cannot only enter from the gates; they can even enter from those areas, and it's all forest area," she added.

In addition to government help, the university is also looking at CSR funds and help from alumni associations to enhance security and improve infrastructure.

Though security has beefed up on the campus in recent years, some incidents of vandalism and violence have still been reported.

In December, slogans demanding the rebuilding of Babri Masjid surfaced on the walls of the Language Study Centre at JNU.

"We can't have human security, you know, petrol in every part. So we are also looking at CSR funds and other things for repairing our walls and other things," the VC stated.

Despite the protest from a section of students over the installation of cameras, the vice chancellor is of the view that CCTV is the best solution to keep an eye on illegal activity on the campus.

"We were saying last year we're putting in scan cameras. We have convinced students the best talker is their mobile because, with Wi-Fi, they can ignore everything for free. So I told them this was dangerous. They will scan cameras, or we will see if somebody comes in, right?" she mentioned. (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 31 (PTI) Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Kerala Janapaksham (Secular) chief P C George merged his party with the BJP on Wednesday.

George along with his son Shaun and other Kerala Janapaksham (Secular) leaders joined the BJP here in the presence of the saffron party's in-charge for political affairs in Kerala Prakash Javadekar and other senior leaders.

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"We are very delighted to welcome Kerala Janapaksham (Secular) leaders P C George, Shaun George and George Joseph," Javadekar said at a joint press conference at the BJP headquarters here.

George, BJP national secretary Anil Antony and Union minister V Muraleedharan were also present at the press conference.

Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Minor Boy Stabs 30-Year-Old Man To Death Over Liquor in Sangam Vihar, Arrested.

Javadekar described George as "a fiery speaker and a great catholic diocese leader".

"We will win a minimum of five (Lok Sabha) seats in Kerala. That's the difference we are going to make in Kerala politics," the BJP leader said.

A big rally will be held in Kerala. The first meeting of BJP leaders, including those of the now-merged Kerala Janapaksham (Secular), will also be held in the state, Javadekar said.

"This is just the beginning. Much more will follow in the coming days," he added.

The BJP leader also attacked the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala, saying it has lost its credibility due to crime and corruption in the state.

"This is not the 2019 (Lok Sabha) elections when people in Kerala believed that Rahul Gandhi would become the prime minister. Now you ask anybody in Kerala, everybody says Narendra Modi would be the prime minister," Javadekar said.

"That's a change. They (LDF) have lost their credibility... The UDF is confusion, contradictions and a rudderless combination," he said.

Speaking at the press conference, George said Kerala is witnessing an "agrarian crisis" under the LDF rule and farmers are committing suicides.

In such a situation, George said, he had no other choice but to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi to transform the state.

"The prime minister and the Union government's intervention is absolutely required to get the farmers out of the debt crisis. I have already requested the central government for support. And the central government has been very sympathetic, empathetic and supportive of our request," he said.

George asserted that the BJP will win at least five Lok Sabha seats in Kerala in the upcoming elections and emerge as a leading political player in the state.

"I also have no doubt that in the 2026 assembly polls (in Kerala), the BJP will be in a direct fight with both the CPI(M) and the Congress. In the coming years, the BJP will emerge as a leading political player in Kerala," he said.

Speaking at the press conference, BJP national secretary Anil Antony said the merger of the Kerala Janapaksham (Secular) with the BJP will contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to transform India into a developed country.

"Today, Kerala Janapaksham (Secular) led by P C George is merging with the BJP, showing full confidence in our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji's vision to transform India into 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047," he said.

Welcoming George into the BJP fold, BJP national secretary Antony said, "The merging of Janapaksham today will be the start of a historic trajectory in Kerala where the BJP will grow more and more, and contribute towards the prime minister's mission to transform India into a developed country."

A seven-time MLA, George is "one of the stalwarts of Kerala politics", he said.

"He was also the chief whip of the UDF government in Kerala from 2011 to 2015 and is a very prominent member of the Roman Catholic community in Kerala," he added.

Union minister V Muraleedharan said the merger of Kerala Janapaksham (Secular) with the BJP shows that in Kerala, more and more people are getting convinced that a stable government that can develop the country can only be formed by the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

The merger, he said, has also exposed the "malicious propaganda" that the BJP is anti-minority.

(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 31 (ANI): Ram Nath Kovind, chairman of the High-Level Committee (HLC) on the One Nation, One Election and former President of India, met and interacted with Praful Patel and Sunil Dattatray Tatkare of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday as part of his consultations with political parties, who gave their considered opinions on the subject.

Committee Chairman Kovind also held consultations with Upendra Kushwah, National President, of Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal, along with two other members of the party regarding their views and suggestions on holding simultaneous elections in the country.

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Representatives of the parties also handed over their suggestions in writing.

Earlier on January 30, Kovind met Justice Pradeep Nandrajog, former Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, and sought his views on the subject.

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On January 27, former President Kovind held consultations with Justice U. U. Lalit, former Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjib Banerjee, former Chief Justice of Madras High Court, and Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of the Bar Council of India, who gave their considered opinion on the subject.

Continuing his discussions with political parties, Ram Nath Kovind held interactions with Deepak 'Pandurang' Dhavalikar, President, of the Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party, Goa. The party has offered its strong support to the concept of One Nation, One Election, inter alia, because it will strengthen grass-roots democracy.

Earlier, a presentation was made before the committee based on the research paper 'Macroeconomic Impact of Harmonizing Electoral Cycles, Evidences from India'.

Co-authored by N.K. Singh and Prachi Mishra indicated that simultaneous elections would precipitate higher economic growth and result in more government investment in expenditure on capital and revenue, as there would be less expenditure on freebies.

Recently, the Committee had also met a delegation of the Lok Jan Shakti Party, comprising members including Pashupati Kumar Paras, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, President Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), Prince Raj (Member of Parliament, Samastipur, Lok Sabha), Sanjay Sarraf, Spokesperson, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), and Ramji Singh, General Secretary, Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP).

The committee had also held consultations with eminent jurists Justice Dilip Bhosale, former Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, and Justice Rajendra Menon, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, who gave their considered opinions on the subject.

Initiating discussions with financial and economic experts, Ram Nath Kovind also held interactions with Ajay Singh, President of ASSOCHAM, and Chairman and Managing Director of Spicejet Airlines, who was also accompanied by the Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General of ASSOCHAM. Ajay Singh put forth his views in detail on the economic advantages of holding simultaneous elections for the nation.

The High-Level Committee relating to the holding of simultaneous elections in the country has initiated a consultation process under the chairmanship of Ram Nath Kovind.

The High-Level Committee recently also sought public opinion regarding the one nation, one election issue. The public notice issued stated, "Notice for inviting suggestions from members of the general public for making appropriate changes in the existing legal administrative framework to enable simultaneous elections in the country."

Earlier, the High-Level Committee was constituted and held its preliminary meeting under the chairmanship of the former President of India. Amit Shah, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation; Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Law and Justice; Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha; N. K. Singh, former Chairman, 15th Finance Commission; Subhash C. Kashyap, former Secretary General, Lok Sabha; and Sanjay Kothari, former Chief Vigilance Commissioner, attended the meeting. Harish Salve, Senior Advocate, joined the meeting virtually.

One Nation, One Election was constituted through a notification dated September 20, 2023. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], January 31 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to allow a 26-year-old woman, who had lost her husband in October 2023, to terminate her over-32-week pregnancy.

A bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Prasanna Bhalachandra Varale said the medical board has held that there were no abnormalities in the foetus.

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"It's a 32-week foetus. How can it be terminated? The medical board has also said that it cannot be terminated. It is a matter of two weeks, then you can give it for adoption if you want," said the apex court.

It refused to interfere with the Delhi High Court's January 23 order, which had recalled its earlier order allowing the woman to terminate her then-29-week-old foetus.

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An advocate appearing for the woman told the bench that if she were to give birth, then it would be against her wish. She will have to bear the trauma throughout her life, he said.

The bench then said, "We cannot go beyond the opinion of the medical board. The medical board has opined there is no abnormality, and it is a normal foetus."

The medical board has also said that there is no risk even to the woman if she carries on with the pregnancy, the bench said.

On January 4, the High Court allowed the widow, suffering from depression, to terminate her then-29-week-old foetus as the continuation of pregnancy could affect her mental health.

It was observed that the right to reproductive choice also includes the right not to procreate.

However, on January 24, it overturned its order after the Centre filed a plea seeking recall of its January 4 order, by which it had allowed medical termination of the pregnancy on the woman's petition.

The Centre had said that the child has a fair chance of survival, and the court should consider protecting the right to life of the unborn child.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), where the woman was medically examined, also claimed that the pregnancy should have been continued for another two to three weeks for the betterment of the health of the mother and the child.

The woman, who got married in February 2023, lost her husband on October 19, after which she came to her parents' house and learned on October 31 that she was 20 weeks pregnant.

Rule 3(B) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Rules permits a woman to terminate her pregnancy up to 24 weeks with certain conditions. (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 31 (ANI): Delhi's Tis Hazari Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Director of the Forensic Science Lab, Delhi and directed him to expedite the FSL results pending in the Swiss woman murder case. The Court also directed him to file an appropriate report before the next date of hearing.

The matter is related to the alleged murder of a Swiss woman in the Tilak Nagar area in October 2023. The Delhi police have already filed a charge sheet. This matter is at the stage of arguments on charge and the FSL report is awaited.

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Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Vijay Shankar directed the director of FSL to expedite the results and file an appropriate report.

"Issue notice to the Director, FSL, Rohini, Delhi, with direction to expedite the FSL result and file an appropriate report in respect of the FSL result on or before the next date of hearing," ASJ Vijay Shankar ordered on January 30, 2024.

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The court has also issued notice to the SHO of Tilak Nagar police station with directions to file an appropriate report in respect of the FSL result on or before the next date of hearing.

A notice has also been issued to the Investigation Officer (IO) for the next date of hearing.

The court has put up the matter for arguments on charge on March 18, 2024.

This matter has been assigned to ASJ Vijay Shankar after cognizance of the charge sheet.

The court has requested the Secretary, DLSA, West District, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi, to appoint a legal aid counsel to the accused, Gurpreet Singh, alias Mandeep Singh.

During the hearing, accused Gurpreet Singh informed the court that he was not having any counsel and legal aid counsel be provided to him.

On January 15, the court took cognizance of the charge sheet filed in the Swiss woman murder case.

Delhi police had arrested Gurpreet Singh for allegedly murdering Swiss woman Nina Berger. He was arrested on October 21.

The charge sheet has been filed under sections 302, 201, 404, 482, 411 against accused Gurpreet Singh alias Mandeep Singh.

Delhi police Police have filed a 1,000-page charge sheet under sections related to murder, destruction of evidence, etc.

Delhi police have invoked sections 302 (murder), 201 (disappearance of evidence), 404 (misappropriating or using the property of a deceased person), 482 (punishment for using false property marks), and 411 (found in possession of stolen property).

As per Delhi police, an unidentified woman's body found near the wall of an MCD school located in Tilak Nagar was that of a Swiss national, police said on Saturday, adding that the accused has been arrested.

The police had also seized the car used in the commission of the crime by the accused.

Following the murder, as per police sources, accused Gurpreet dumped the body in the same car on a roadside.

During the interrogation, the accused revealed that he had met the woman through a social media networking website four years ago.

"The meeting, which took place three to four years ago, turned into a friendship, and the accused fell in love with the girl. However, the girl had another boyfriend, which did not go down well with the accused," police said.

"The accused called the girl from Switzerland to India on the pretext of meeting her and then tied the girl's hands and legs with a chain, saying that he would give her a surprise in 10 minutes and choked her to death," police added.

According to the police, the accused had purchased a car by showing the ID of another girl and dumped the body in the Tilak Nagar area.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vichitra Veer had said that they had received a call between 8:45 a.m. and 9 a.m. at Tilak Nagar police station about the incident, and specialised teams reached the spot.

"Prima Facie, we thought that it was a murder case. We registered a case under sections 302 and 201 and started an investigation. Nearby cameras showed a suspicious car passing by... We identified the car, it was brought from a second-hand car dealer in Janakpuri with cash. We traced an accused named Gurpreet. He was using the car... We apprehended Gurpreet from Janakpuri last night."

"Only initial interrogation has taken place. He is not very cooperative. It is a confirmed fact that the body was dumped in a car. The victim was in touch with the accused for last 8-10 days," DCP Veer added.

Police said they have recovered Rs 1.5 crore from the accused, which he had allegedly acquired by selling the property.

Earlier, police said they had formed multiple teams after an unidentified woman was found dead near the wall of an MCD school located in Tilak Nagar on Friday morning. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], January 31 (ANI): Two persons including a shopkeeper were arrested for allegedly killing a 35-year-old man in Madhya Pradesh's Indore, police said on Wednesday.

The victim was identified as Jagdish Chauhan (35), a resident of Govind Colony of Marimata area.

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According to officials, the incident occurred at the shop of the accused in JS market under the jurisdiction of MG Road police station in the district on Tuesday night.

A video of the incident also surfaced on social media.

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MG Road police station in-charge Vijay Singh Sisodiya said, "A complaint was received in the police station about Jagdish Chauhan being assaulted by the accused on Tuesday night. Acting on it, the police verified the complaint and registered a case under IPC section 307. Later on, Jagdish Chauhan died late at night, and based on this IPC section 302 was added to the case."

The two accused identified as Sikandar, a resident of Chhota Bangarda, and Nitin were arrested in the matter. The case is registered against both the accused, he added.

When asked about the reason, the officer said, "The wife of Jagdish Chauhan used to work at the shop of one of the accused, Sikandar. Jagdish had a suspicion about his wife having an affair with Sikandar. On Tuesday night, Jagdish visited Sikandar's shop to talk to him about the same, during which they got into an argument, and the accused hit him with an iron rod. The victim later died."

The second accused was also present there. Further investigation into the matter is underway, 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)
Dehradun, Jan 31 (PTI) The Uttarakhand Assembly will pass legislation on the Uniform Civil Code during its session beginning February 5, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said.

"It is a special session of the state assembly convened particularly for the passage of a bill on the UCC," Dhami told PTI.

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The expert panel headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai will hand over the draft of the UCC to the state government on February 2, he said.

After that, all formalities will be completed and constitutional processes followed to make it a law, Dhami said.

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The draft will be discussed at a meeting of the state cabinet which will be held after the submission of the UCC draft, he said.

A session of the assembly has already been convened specially to take steps to make it an act, he said.

Uttarakhand will be the first state in the country to implement the UCC. It was a major poll promise made by Dhami for the state assembly polls in 2022.

After taking the reins of power for a consecutive second term in Uttarakhand, Dhami decided to constitute a committee to draft the UCC at his first cabinet meeting.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Abu Dhabi, January 31: Indian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sunjay Sudhir on Tuesday hosted diplomats from across the globe for a special tour of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. The envoys were impressed by the temple's unique architecture, intricate motifs and its message of unity, peace and harmony.

"Less than a month to go for the inauguration of the @AbuDhabiMandir @BAPS, Amb @sunjaysudhir hosted diplomatic corps from across the globe for a special tour of the temple. Envoys were awed by its unique architecture, intricate motifs and its message of unity, peace & harmony," as per the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi's official handle on 'X'. PM Narendra Modi Accepts Invitation To Inaugurate BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on February 14, 2024.

BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi

Less than a month to go for the inauguration of the @AbuDhabiMandir @BAPS , Amb @sunjaysudhir hosted diplomatic corps from across the globe for a special tour of the temple. Envoys were awed by its unique architecture, intricate motifs and its message of unity, peace & harmony. pic.twitter.com/GhCxVWlly6  India in UAE (@IndembAbuDhabi) January 30, 2024

At the invitation of the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, representatives from 42 nations on Tuesday convened at the 27-acre construction site of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, as per a release issued by the BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi.

The temple visit served to foster intercultural understanding, goodwill and respect while providing the guests an opportunity to witness the ongoing progress of the Middle East's inaugural traditional Hindu temple, symbolising the universal principles of tolerance and harmony.

Among those who visited the site were ambassadors and senior diplomats from Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chad, Chile, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, the European Union, Fiji, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Moldova, Montenegro, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, the UAE, the UK, the US, Zimbabwe and Zambia, as per the official release. UAE: Construction of BAPS Hindu Mandir Underway in Abu Dhabi, Stunning Drone Video Surfaces.

Over 60 dignitaries were welcomed with garlands and greeted with the traditional tying of a sacred thread, marking the significance of their presence. Ambassador Sudhir in a brief welcome address, thanked the distinguished guests for attending and shared his excitement at the Mandir nearing completion. "It seemed impossible, but the dream has truly become a reality."

Head of the BAPS Hindu Mandir project Swami Brahmaviharidas, in his keynote address, provided a succinct overview of the Mandir's historical significance, construction process, and global impact. He also expressed gratitude to both the UAE and Indian leadership, emphasising the Mandir's role as a powerful agent of interfaith and intercultural harmony.

Nepal's Ambassador to the UAE, Tej Bahadur Chhetri, called the Mandir a "tirthbhumi (place of pilgrimage)", adding: "It is an inspiring building that teaches us about love, harmony and tolerance. It is something that we will gift to our future generations. Mahant Swami Maharaj is a great sadhu. Because of him, people were inspired to build this mandir, and it is a huge success", as per the release.

Canadian Ambassador to UAE Radha Krishna Panday, shared, "Dedication to quality, the artistry, the thought that went into the choice of images to celebrate the diversity and harmony of human nature is all very striking and most appealing."

Thailand Ambassador Sorayut Chasombat stated, "This is one of the best experiences I have had in the UAE. I have seen [the Mandir] from the start to now near the finish, and I have to say it is the symbol of harmony that will stand the test of time for thousands of years into the future. I wish to express my gratitude to the leadership of the UAE, the leadership of India, and [Mahant] Swamiji for bringing forward this big project for humanity."

To commemorate their visit, each guest was presented with a beautiful stone hand-painted by children featuring an image of the Mandir. The ambassadors' visit was a significant step in promoting peace, fostering cultural interaction, and strengthening diplomatic ties between the participating countries and the UAE, as per the release.

As construction of the religious campus nears completion, Mahant Swami Maharaj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to inaugurate the temple on February 14, 2024. PM Modi recently accepted the invitation extended by Swami Ishwarcharandas and Swami Brahmaviharidas, along with the board of directors for the inauguration of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on February 14, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha said in a press statement.

In December, PM Modi and the BAPS Swami Ishwarcharandas met at the Prime Minister's residential office and PM Modi graciously accepted the invitation, expressing his enthusiastic support for the historic and iconic temple. Swami Ishwarcharandas honoured the Prime Minister by adorning him with a garland and draping a saffron shawl over his shoulders, acknowledging his significant contributions to our nation and the world.

PM Modi was specially commended for the remarkable renovation and development of pilgrimage sites across India, a feat unparalleled in recent centuries, said the press statement. During the meeting, the discussions revolved around the Abu Dhabi temple's significance for global harmony and Modi's vision for India's spiritual leadership on the global stage.

The release read, "The BAPS delegation prayed for the Prime Minister's health and acknowledged his exceptional global achievements, notably strengthening relationships with the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries. They also discussed the pride and inspiration Modi's leadership has instilled in Indians worldwide."

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, January 31: The H-1B visa application submission process for the fiscal year 2025 would start from March 6, a US federal agency said Tuesday as it announced a major overhaul of its annual lottery for this specialty occupation visa. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

The new system, among other things, includes provision of a beneficiary-centric selection process for registrations by employers. As a result, unlike in the past of multiple applications by an individual that often resulted in abuse in fraud of the system, the H-1B visa applications would now be counted and accepted based on individual applicants. Even if one individual files multiple applications for various companies, they would be counted as one application based on their personal credentials like passport numbers. Good News for H-1B Visa Holders: Pilot Programme Allowing Visa Holders to Renew Visas Without Leaving US Clears White House Review.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also announced a set of new rules which are aimed at strengthening the integrity of and reducing the potential for fraud in the H-1B registration process. This includes reducing the potential for gaming the registration system and ensuring each beneficiary would have the same chance of being selected, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf, the federal agency said.

"We're always looking for ways to bolster integrity and curtail the potential for fraud while improving and streamlining our application processes," said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou. "The improvements in these areas should make H-1B selections more equitable for petitioners and beneficiaries and will allow for the H-1B process to be fully electronic from registration, if applicable, until final decision and transmission of approved petitions to the Department of State," he said. H-1B Visa Update: Biden Administration Proposes Changes in Foreign Workers Programme to Improve Efficiency.

USCIS said the initial registration period for the fiscal 2025 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 6, and run through March 22. During this period, prospective petitioners and their representatives, if applicable, must use a USCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated registration fee for each beneficiary.

Starting February 28, companies would be allowed to open their account which can be used to start and complete the registration process. USCIS said this final rule contains provisions that will create a beneficiary-centric selection process for registrations by employers, codify start date flexibility for certain petitions subject to the congressionally mandated H-1B cap, and add more integrity measures related to the registration process.

According to USCIS, under the beneficiary centric process, registrations will be selected by unique beneficiary rather than by registration. This new process is designed to reduce the potential for fraud and ensure each beneficiary would have the same chance of being selected, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf by an employer, it said.

Starting with fiscal 2025, that begins on October 1, 2024, initial registration period, USCIS will require registrants to provide valid passport information or valid travel document information for each beneficiary. The passport or travel document provided must be the one the beneficiary, if or when abroad, intends to use to enter the United States if issued an H-1B visa. Each beneficiary must only be registered under one passport or travel document, it said.

USCIS is also clarifying requirements regarding the requested employment start date on certain petitions subject to the congressionally mandated H-1B cap to permit filing with requested start dates that are after October 1 of the relevant fiscal year, consistent with current policy. Also, the H-1B final rule codifies USCIS' ability to deny or revoke H-1B petitions where the underlying registration contained a false attestation or was otherwise invalid. Also under the new rule, USCIS may deny or revoke the approval of an H-1B petition if it determines that the fee associated with the registration is declined, not reconciled, disputed, or otherwise invalid after submission, it said.

In a statement, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Director of Government Relations Sharvari Dalal-Dheini said the new H-1B registration process will revise how lottery registration is run and create a more equitable system. "After last year's registration period, when more than 750,000 registrations were submitted for 85,000 visas, it was clear that the existing system was unworkable. AILA and our partners advocated for exactly the sort of changes announced in this rule; changes that will ensure a beneficiary-centric lottery process to level the playing field," she said.

"It is commendable that DHS took steps to shift from a flawed model to one that will create a fairer system in time for this year's registration period," Dalal-Dheini said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Tel Aviv [Israel], January 31 (ANI/TPS): After recent revelations of UNRWA's support for terrorism and participation by some of its members in the October 7 attack on the northwestern Negev, Israel has demanded the UN agency be stripped of its authority in the Gaza Strip.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, the Prime Minister's Office detailed how UNRWA aids Hamas. The PMO demanded that UNRWA be defunded, its leadership resign or be dismissed, and that it no longer play an educational role in the Gaza Strip.

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"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken forcefully of the need for deradicalization in Gaza. He has therefore stated clearly the need to ensure that Gaza children not be educated to be terrorists," PMO spokesman Eylon Levy said, noting that UNRWA indoctrinates children against Israel and Jews.

"UNRWA is part of the problem, not part of the solution. It is a Hamas front and it's time to put it behind us," Levy said.

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"Foreign Minister Israel Katz has called for UNRWA to be replaced with agencies dedicated to genuine peace and development," he added. "It happens in every other conflict in the world where people are helped by genuine UN agencies and not by tailor-made refugee agencies."

Levy referred to the fact that UNRWA exists to assist only Palestinian refugees while all of the world's other refugees are assisted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Existing UN aid agencies can take over from UNRWA to deliver assistance to Palestinians, he said.

UNRWA came under fire after The New York Times broke the story on Sunday that 12 staff members took part in the Oct. 7 massacre in which Hamas terrorists rampaged through Israel's south, murdering some 1,200 persons, mostly civilians.

The Wall Street Journal subsequently reported that one in 10 UNRWA employees is either an active member or has ties to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

"Our intelligence indicates that out of approximately 12,000 UNRWA employees in the Gaza Strip, about 10% are Hamas or Islamic Jihad operatives, and another 50 per cent are first-degree relatives of a Hamas operative," Levy said.

At least 15 countries, including the US, suspended funding to the organization following the revelations. The US is UNRWA's largest donor, giving the group USD 422 million in 2023.

"The minority of states still funding UNRWA despite revelations of its staff's involvement in the 10/7 massacre must suspend funds immediately," the Prime Minister's spokesman said.

The UN is trying to save UNRWA. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to governments to continue sending cash to UNRWA at least until war-related humanitarian needs subside. He was due to meet with major donors on Tuesday. (ANI/TPS)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jerusalem, Jan 31 (AP) Gaza's Health Ministry says 150 people have been killed in the territory in the last 24 hours and another 313 were wounded as Israeli forces continue to battle militants, even in the northern part of the territory.

The north, where entire neighbourhoods have been flattened, was the initial target of Israel's ground offensive in late October.

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Israel's military said on Wednesday that its forces killed more than 15 Hamas militants in northern Gaza over the past day and targeted militant infrastructure in a school.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected two key demands made by Hamas in indirect cease-fire talks, saying that Israel will not withdraw from the Gaza Strip or release thousands of jailed militants.

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The latest deaths bring the Palestinian death toll from Israel's offensive to 26,900, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. It does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths but says most of those killed were women and children.

Hamas' October 7 attack in southern Israel that sparked the war killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and about 250 people were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.

Here's the latest:

150 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN GAZA IN THE PAST 24 HOURS, HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS

RAFAH, Gaza Strip  Gaza's Health Ministry says 150 people have been killed in the last 24 hours and another 313 were wounded.

The deaths bring the Palestinian death toll from Israel's offensive to 26,900, according to the Hama-controlled ministry. It does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths but says most of those killed were women and children.

The nearly four-month war began with Hamas' October 7 attack in Israel, in which Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted another 250.

Israeli forces are still battling militants across Gaza, even in the northern part of the territory, which was the initial target of the ground offensive in late October and where entire neighbourhoods have been flattened.

The military said on Wednesday that its forces killed more than 15 Hamas militants in northern Gaza over the past day and targeted militant infrastructure in a school.

It said air and ground forces targeted militants on the outskirts of the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, which dates back to the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation and resembles a dense urban neighbourhood.

The military had said in mid-November that it was in control of Shati.

The heaviest fighting is in the southern city of Khan Younis, where Israeli officials suspect senior Hamas leaders may be hiding in a labyrinth of tunnels.

The war has driven some 85 per cent of Gaza's population of 2.3 million from their homes into other parts of the besieged territory, and UN officials say a quarter of the population is starving.

IRAN THREATENS TO DECISIVELY RESPOND' TO ANY US STRIKES AS BIDEN WEIGHS RESPONSE TO JORDAN ATTACK

JERUSALEM  Iran threatened on Wednesday to decisively respond to any US attack on the Islamic Republic following President Joe Biden's linking of Tehran to the killing of three US soldiers at a military base in Jordan.

The US has signalled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Mideast in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that also injured at least 40 troops at Tower 22, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan that's been crucial to the American presence in neighbouring Syria.

However, concerns remain that any additional American strikes could further inflame a region already roiled by Israel's ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea.

A US Navy destroyer in the waterway shot down an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the Houthis late Tuesday, the latest attack targeting American forces patrolling the key maritime trade route, officials said.

UN AGENCIES URGE CONTINUED FUNDING FOR UNRWA

GENEVA  An array of UN organisations that focus on refugees, humanitarian aid, migration, health, children, food, women, human rights and other issues have united in an appeal to some key donor countries to reconsider their plans to halt funding for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

The United States and more than a dozen other countries have announced plans to suspend contributions to UNRWA after Israel alleged that 12 of its workers participated in the October 7 attacks in Israel. UN officials fired most of the workers and vowed an investigation.

The heads of the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, International Organisation for Migration, World Food Programme and other UN agencies and partners said allegations that several UNRWA staffers were involved in the heinous attacks on Israel were horrifying.

However, we must not prevent an entire organisation from delivering on its mandate to serve people in desperate need, the joint statement said.

Decisions by various member states to pause funds from UNRWA will have catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza, it said. No other entity has the capacity to deliver the scale and breadth of assistance that 2.2 million people in Gaza urgently need.

We appeal for these decisions to be reconsidered, the statement said.

On Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met behind closed doors with 35 donor nations and appealed for a restoration of funding as well as new support. The US State Department said it expects to resume funding for UNRWA if the organization carries out a credible investigation into possible links between some staffers and the Hamas militant group.

EU AIMS TO LAUNCH A RED SEA NAVAL MISSION WITHIN 3 WEEKS TO PROTECT SHIPS FROM REBEL ATTACKS

BRUSSELS  The European Union plans to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea within three weeks to help defend cargo ships against attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen that are hampering trade and driving up prices, the bloc's top diplomat said on Wednesday.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he wants the mission to be up and running by February 17. Officials say that seven EU countries are ready to provide ships or planes. Belgium has already committed to send a frigate. Germany is expected to do the same.

Last week, US and British forces bombed multiple targets in eight locations used by the Iranian-backed Houthis. It was the second time the two allies have conducted coordinated retaliatory strikes on the rebels' missile-launching capabilities.

The Houthis have waged a persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October, but Borrell insisted that the EU mission will not take part in any military strikes.

US DESTROYER SHOOTS DOWN A HOUTHI-CLAIMED MISSILE IN THE RED SEA

A US Navy destroyer in the Red Sea shot down an anti-ship cruise missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels, the latest attack targeting American forces patrolling the key maritime route, officials said Wednesday.

The attack late Tuesday night targeted the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the US military's Central Command said in a statement.

There were no injuries or damage reported, the statement said.

A Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed the attack in a statement on Wednesday morning, calling it a victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people and a response to the American-British aggression against our country.

Saree claimed the Houthis fired several missiles. something not acknowledged by the US Navy. Houthi claims have been exaggerated in the past, and their missiles sometimes crash on land and fail to reach their targets. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, Jan 31 (PTI) Intensifying its attack on Indian-American Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, the Trump campaign on Tuesday accused her of being a warmonger.

"The fact is that Haley knows she doesn't have a cogent argument or even a coherent reason for why she should be President. But what voters do know is that she's a warmonger who would rather throw America into endless wars," Steven Cheung, Trump spokesperson, said.

Also Read | Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, January 31, 2024.

"Her bloodthirst is only rivalled by her dependency for Democrats to interfere in the Republican primary," Cheung said in a strongly worded statement on Tuesday.

Former US president Donald Trump has won the first two GOP primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire and is leading by more than 30 percentage points in South Carolina where the primary is scheduled for February 23.

Also Read | India Mourns Holocaust Victims, Reaffirms Its Stand Against Terrorism Amid Israel-Hamas War.

However, Haley's popularity is gradually picking up in her home state, where she hopes to make a strong showing. On Tuesday, Haley said Trump can't beat President Joe Biden if he's spending all his time and money on court cases and chaos.

The Trump campaign launched a counterattack immediately. "The fact is that America was safer under President Trump. In the last four years with Crooked Joe Biden, America's enemies have been emboldened by weak and incompetent leadership from the White House. It would be no different with Nikki Haley at the helm," Cheung said.

According to the New York Times, Donald Trump's campaign PAC spent more than USD 50 million of donor money on legal fees in 2023  not exactly a winning strategy for beating Joe Biden.

"Under Donald Trump, Republicans lost in 2018, 2020, and 2022," said Haley communications director Nachama Soloveichik. "With Trump spending all his campaign money and time on court cases and chaos, we can expect to add 2024 to the list. America deserves a better choice. Nikki Haley is focused on making America strong and proud and making Joe Biden a one-term president," she said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Indonesian operator Telkomsel announced it has formed a strategic partnership with Google to provide rich communication services (RCS), including a rich business messaging (RBM) feature aimed at enterprises.

Telkomsel signed of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday with Google for the development of RCS in Indonesia. Telkomsels parent company Singtel also signed the MoU, under which it will develop and offer RCS in Singapore.

RCS is the messaging protocol spearheaded by the GSMA, whose RCS Universal Profile is designed to enhance SMS and MMS with features such as more interactivity, better support for multimedia content, group chats, notifications for received and read messages, and typing indicators.

The RBM feature is designed to enable businesses to use RCS messaging as another application-to-person (A2P) channel to reach consumers, similar to how many businesses currently use OTT messaging apps like WhatsApp.

A recent report from Emergen Research said that businesses are increasingly adopting RCS because of its ability to engage customers effectively: Research suggests that RCS messages are read 35 times more often than emails, and engagement with brands using RCS is 74% higher.

The catch is that consumers need a phone that is compatible with RCS  which at the moment is limited to Android phones running Android 5.0 or later. iPhones currently do not support the RCS Universal Profile, although Apple announced in November that iPhones will start supporting RCS later this year.

We hope that this service can support digital transformation in various types of businesses and open up new opportunities for business innovation in the future," said Jason Choy, international director of Android and Business Communication Product Partnerships at Google.

Telkomsels RCS play comes almost three months after rival telco Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison launched Indonesias first RCS service in November.
Dubai, Jan 31 (PTI) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on Wednesday signed an agreement paving the way for the 16th session of the Convention's Conference of the Parties (COP16) here from December 2-13.

According to UNCCD data, up to 40 per cent of the world's land is degraded, affecting half of humanity and with dire consequences for our climate, biodiversity and livelihoods. If current trends continue, restoring 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030 will be necessary to achieve a land-degradation-neutral world.

Also Read | Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar Sworn In As 17th King: Malaysia's New King Is Outspoken Billionaire in Role With Growing Political Influence.

Droughts are hitting more often and harder all over the worldup by 29 per cent since 2000driven by climate change but also the way we manage our land. One-quarter of the world's population is already affected by droughts, with every three out of four people around the world projected to face water scarcity by 2050.

"The Riyadh COP16 will be the largest-ever meeting of UNCCD's 197 Parties, the first to be held in the Middle East region and the largest multilateral conference ever hosted by Saudi Arabia," said a release from the UNCCD.

Also Read | UK: Indian-Origin Couple Jailed for 33 Years for Exporting Over Half Tonne Cocaine to Australia Using Commercial Planes.

At the signing ceremony, Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the COP16 President, said: The hosting of the conference (COP16) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reflects the commitment of the wise leadership to environmental protection at the national, regional, and international levels."

UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: Today, we are losing fertile lands at an alarming rate, jeopardizing global stability, prosperity and sustainability. The Riyadh COP16 must mark a turning point in the way we treat our most precious resourcelandand collectively tackle the global drought emergency.

Year 2024 also marks the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD, one of the three major environmental treaties known as the Rio Conventions, alongside climate change and biodiversity.

(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 31 (ANI): Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has detected seven Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 am (local time) on Tuesday and 6 am (local time) on Wednesday, Taiwan News reported.

Following China's action, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to keep a watch on the People's Liberation Army (PLA) activity, Taiwan's MND said. According to Taiwan's MND, no PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line or entered Taiwan's southwest air defence identification zone (ADIZ) during that time.

Also Read | Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar Sworn In As 17th King: Malaysia's New King Is Outspoken Billionaire in Role With Growing Political Influence.

Meanwhile, one Chinese balloon was detected crossing the median line at 10:30 am (local time) on Tuesday, 119 km (64 NM) northwest of Keelung. The balloon flew east and disappeared at 12:15 pm (local time), according to Taiwan News report.

So far in January, Taiwan detected 298 Chinese military aircraft and 136 naval ships. Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan, the report said.

Also Read | UK: Indian-Origin Couple Jailed for 33 Years for Exporting Over Half Tonne Cocaine to Australia Using Commercial Planes.

Grey zone tactics is an "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force," Taiwan News reported.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's Marine Corps on Wednesday held a maritime drill at the Zuoying Naval Base in Kaohsiung, featuring a mine-laying ship and a domestically built assault boat that carried out maritime surveillance and combat operations to simulate defending against a Chinese invasion, Focus Taiwan reported citing Central News Agency (CNA).

The manoeuvres, which took place in waters around Zuoying Harbour, were designed to test the Marine Corps' ability to identify Chinese military movements quickly as well as their combat preparedness and capability, according to CNA report.

During the exercise, the Taiwan Navy made an emergency departure from the harbour with a minelayer and an indigenous M109 assault boat and performed a variety of actions, including surveillance and the use of radar systems and drones to alert battleship forces to approaching hostile forces, the report 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)
Sangli, January 31: Veteran politician and ruling Shiv Sena MLA from Khanapur-Atpadi in Sangli Anil Kalajerao Babar passed away here on Wednesday following a brief illness, party officials said. He was 74 and had been admitted to a local hospital for treatment of pneumonia but did not recover.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde condoled the passing of Babar and has directed that his funeral should be performed with full state honours. As a mark of respect, the state cabinet meeting was cancelled and the CM, along with several cabinet ministers, shall be going to Sangli and pay their last respects to Babar. Surajit Datta Dies: BJP Tripura MLA Passes Away After Prolonged Illness at 69.

Babar started his political life aged 19 with the Congress, became a Sarpanch, then joined Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party with which he remained for over 15 years before joining the undivided Shiv Sena. He was elected as MLA from Sangli in 1990 (Independent) and 1999 (NCP) plus again on a Shiv Sena ticket in 2014 and 2019. Manvendra Singh Dies: Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA From Dadraul Passes Away in Delhi After Prolonged Liver Problem.

In 2019, he was extremely hopeful of getting a cabinet berth in the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government but was overlooked. Later, when the Shiv Sena split in June 2022, Babar joined the Shinde faction and remained a close loyalist of the CM till his demise on Wednesday.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 31, 2024 12:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Bengaluru, January 31: A youth has been arrested here for allegedly spanking a woman at a hotel, the police said on Wednesday, adding the man was prompted to carry out the objectionable act by his friends over a bet. The youth, identified as Chandan, told the police during questioning that he was challenged to spank a young woman at a hotel where he had visited along with his friends. The police said that incident happened on December 30 last year. The accused works as a gas cylinder delivery boy.

The incident happened at Nammoota Hotel in the Vijayanagar locality of Bengaluru at around 7.30 p.m. on December 30, 2023. A complaint was filed by a female employee of the hotel who saw the accused spanking the woman who was standing near the cash counter while his friends allegedly watched and laughed. The police registered an FIR in this connection on January 10. After being spanked, the woman "strongly objected" to Chandan's act and confronted him, following which others also gathered. Bengaluru Shocker: Father Kills Son Over Liquor Money

However, the accused claimed he was "innocent" and got into an argument along with his friends. The police during the investigation learned that the accused had formed a group that targetted young girls and women who visited hotels. They allegedly made a habit of touching them inappropriately, with one of the accused performing the act while others watched. In case of any trouble, the three would re-group and escape. Bengaluru Shocker: 12-Year-Old Girl Jumps to Death from 29th Floor, Police Launch Probe

CCTV footage related to the incident accessed by the police shows the three accused individuals arriving at the hotel, and "planning" the indecent act. One of the youths spanks the young woman while his two other friends "closely watch and enjoy the act". The woman can be seen strongly objecting to the act following which others present in the hotel question the accused individuals. On sensing trouble, the three youths eventually fled the hotel. The police have launched a hunt to trace the other two accused.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 31, 2024 06:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, Jan 31: The Supreme Court has imposed a cost of Rs 12 lakh on six Maharashtra Police personnel for conspiring and abetting illegal detention of three persons and getting their rented property demolished without any court order.

"Out of the six police personnel, three are constables, one is a Head Constable, one is a Sub Inspector, and one is an Inspector. They shall suffer a cost of Rs 50,000 per constable, Rs 1 lakh by the Head Constable, Rs 1.50 lakh by the Sub-Inspector, and Rs 2 lakh by the Inspector, totalling Rs 6 lakh for each case with the above distribution," said a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and S.C. Sharma. Supreme Court Orders All Courts To Shun Practice of Mentioning Caste or Religion of Litigants in Cases.

The bench said that this amount will be deposited within 4 weeks in the Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund and thereupon, the proceedings of the two complaint cases will stand closed.

If the proof of deposit is not filed within the stipulated time, the petitions filed before the Supreme Court by the police personnel would stand dismissed, it added.

On March 9, 2022, three tenants were held for about 24 hours in the police station and in the meantime, their rented premises were demolished by relatives of the former owner with the support of the local police.

At the police station, the tenants were also forced to sign some documents, apparently giving their consent to vacate the premises voluntarily. Thereafter, two tenants moved an application before a Magistrate for registration of FIR against relatives of former owner, subsequent purchasers, and six police personnel namely, Shatrughna Atmaram Patil, Jaipal Manikrao Hire, Milind Ashok Bhamare, Suryakant Raghunath Salunkhe, Nilesh Subhash More, and Sunil Kautik Hatkar. Single Judge vs Division Bench: Supreme Court Stays All Further Proceedings Before Calcutta High Court; Issues Notice to West Bengal and Others.

During the pendency of the case, the evicted tenants filed affidavits before the apex court stating that they do not wish to further prosecute their complaint as they have entered into settlement with the subsequent purchasers.

"However, what we are not satisfied with is why the police personnel have been allowed to go scot-free in a case where they had an apparent role in conspiring and in abetting the crime of the illegal detention of the tenants, coercing them to sign the document against their will, and getting the premises in question demolished without any order from a competent Court," said the bench in its judgment passed on January 30.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 31, 2024 10:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Celebrations for Munawar Faruqui's Bigg Boss 17 win took a surprising turn when a fan's unauthorised drone flight caught the eyes of Mumbai Police. Reportedly, investigations revealed that Arbaaz Yusuf Khan, the drone operator, lacked the necessary permits to fly in the area. Consequently, Dongri Police registered an FIR against him and confiscated the drone camera. On Monday (January 29), Faruqui returned to his childhood neighbourhood of Dongri, Mumbai, to a triumphant welcome after being crowned the show's winner. Bigg Boss 11 Contestant Files FIR Against Friend For Alleged Rape Case in Delhi - Reports.

Munawar Faruqui's Fan Lands in Trouble:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tellychakkar Official  (@tellychakkar)

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
New York, January 31: No signs of trauma or significant injuries have been found during the autopsy of Indian student Neel Acharya, a US county coroner said, confirming that "foul play" is not suspected at the moment in the death of the Purdue University student. Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello said she met with the next of kin of Acharya on Tuesday who confirmed his identity as a "19-year-old Purdue University student".

"On January 29, 2024, a forensic autopsy was performed at the Tippecanoe County Coroners Office on Neel... There was no trauma or significant injuries found during the autopsy. No foul play is suspected at this time," Costello said. She added that a report on the preliminary cause of death, toxicology and the preliminary manner of death are still pending. US: Missing Indian Student of Purdue University Found Dead Inside College Campus.

"This is an ongoing investigation with the Tippecanoe County Coroners Office and the Purdue University Police Department," Costello added. While meeting the next of kin of Acharya, Costello expressed her deepest sympathies and condolences to the family that is going through a "difficult time".

Officials were called around 11.30 am on Sunday to West Lafayette after a "college-aged male" was found deceased outside Maurice J Zucrow Laboratories on Purdue University campus. Acharya, a double major in computer science and data science at the John Martinson Honors College, had gone missing last week just before his death. US Shocker: Police Take Action After Viral Video Shows Indian Student Vivek Saini, Brutally Killed by Hammer Inside Store in Georgias Lithonia (Watch Video).

According to Goury Acharya, her son was last seen by the Uber driver who dropped him off in Purdue University. Chris Clifton, the university's Computer Science head called Acharya a "driven individual and academically talented". Acharya's friend and roommate, Aryan Khanolkar, told The Purdue Exponent, the university's student-run newspaper, that he was a "loving, charismatic soul, and will be cherished by all of us".

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 31, 2024 12:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
TIMES STAFF WRITER

A host of beleaguered technology companies announced a staggering 31,000 worldwide job cuts Thursday, marking one of the worst days for layoffs since the tech bubble burst a year ago.

Thursdays moves from a variety of tech titans, which already are slogging through the worst year in the industrys history, caused analysts to wonder whether the carnage would get even worse and when it would come to an end.

I dont think anybody has the faintest idea, said Richard Shaffer, principal with Technologic Partners in New York. My guess is the CEOs who are doing it are clueless. When sales start to tank, they dont know what else to do.

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More than 300,000 tech jobs, nearly 40% of the U.S. total, have been eliminated in the first half of this year, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago outplacement firm. Along the way, the tech industry has fallen from its position as the U.S. economys hero to being its Achilles heel. New orders for equipment such as personal computers and other gadgets have shrunk at their fastest pace ever--49.2% on an annualized basis--in the last year, according Moodys Investors Service Inc.

When times get tough, people dont buy the new car, they dont buy the new PC, and they dont buy the new Palm, Shaffer said.

Business spending is off just as sharply. Telecommunications companies, which are drowning in a surplus of equipment amid plummeting demand, reported the deepest cuts Thursday.

French telecom equipment maker Alcatel said it will shed more than 10,000 jobs in addition to the 5,800 cuts announced earlier this year. San Jose-based JDS Uniphase, which makes fiber-optic components, added 7,000 workers to its previous tally of 9,000 layoff victims. And Silicon Valley bellwether Hewlett-Packard Co. announced 6,000 layoffs as it warned that its revenue will be well below Wall Streets expectations because of plunging consumer sales.

A few smaller companies, including German chip maker Infineon Technologies, New Jersey communications software maker Avaya Inc., El Segundo-based International Rectifier and data storage device maker Quantum Corp. of Milpitas, Calif., announced additional cuts totaling 8,000 jobs.

The tally from tech companies on Thursday alone exceeds by nearly one-third the 24,356 U.S. layoffs announced by companies during all of last week, according to International Strategy & Investment Group, or ISI, in New York.

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Even mighty Microsoft said Thursday that it will add fewer than 4,000 jobs between now and June--half as many as it added in the previous year.

Weekly U.S. layoff announcements peaked in late April at 60,954 and have trended sharply lower since then, averaging a relatively meager 23,762 cuts in the last four weeks, according to ISI. But now some industry experts are predicting that trend will reverse.

The news from Hewlett-Packard, in particular, spooked Fred Hickey, editor of the High Tech Strategist newsletter in Nashua, N.H. If HP is ready to cut 6.5% of its work force, he said, other companies may soon follow suit.

They all believed there would be a second-half rebound, so they were slow to lay people off, Hickey said. Now that its clear that the business climate isnt likely to improve until next year, they could follow with more job cuts.

There are about 130 million jobs left in the U.S. economy. Nationwide, the jobless rate stands at 4.5%, still low by historical standards.

I dont believe 4.5% unemployment is going to be the low for the cycle, said Hickey, who expects the bad news to keep dragging out over the next several quarters at least.

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But layoffs tend to be a lagging indicator. By the time they are announced, companies typically have experienced the worst in the previous three months or so.

Michael Reynnells, associate managing director at ISI, said he expects the layoffs to keep coming, though not necessarily at the levels seen in the spring.

The company news is pretty bleak, and that doesnt really foreshadow any great improvement in layoff announcements, Reynnells said. As long as companies are under this kind of pressure, theres always going to be that looming layoff announcement. Maybe the worst is over, but it doesnt preclude more of these things.

The layoffs are hitting especially hard at telecommunications equipment firms, which saw record sales volumes abruptly disappear as the Internet economy soured, pushing smaller phone companies and other customers into bankruptcy.

Until the dot-com boom went bust, nearly every start-up with funding was buying communications hardware to handle corporate data, Internet traffic and e-commerce transactions. Phone companies joined the buying spree, adding more hardware and high-capacity lines to handle the rocketing data traffic.

When the high-tech fortunes collapsed, equipment makers were unprepared for the sudden reversal. The ripple effect has extended beyond the equipment companies to their parts suppliers, hitting hard at chip makers and fiber suppliers alike.

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The financial crunch was made worse at equipment maker Lucent Technologies Inc. and others because they had provided billions of dollars in equipment loans to firms that ultimately failed. Lucent has responded in breathtaking fashion.

After announcing 19,000 layoffs earlier this year, the company said Tuesday that it would slash its work force by an additional 15,000 to 20,000 workers. Lucent also eliminated 17,000 positions by spinning off its semiconductor and optical components division into a separate company. When the cuts are done, Lucent will be left with 57,000 employees, less than half the 123,000 workers who began the year with the company.

Just like the corner coffee shop, tech giants that cant sell their products cant afford to pay their workers. With consumers holding onto their old PCs, Gateway, Compaq Computer and Dell Computer have announced the elimination of 11,500 jobs since January.

*

Times staff writers Elizabeth Douglass and Walter Hamilton and researcher Nona Yates contributed to this report.

MORE INSIDE

Stocks rise: Gains are strongest in tech issues, even with more job cuts and revenue warnings. C4

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

High-Tech Woes

From January to June, 777,362 layoff announcements hit the U.S. economy, 40% of those in technology industries, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago outplacement firm. Heres a look at some of the biggest tech company layoffs announced in recent months:

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Cuts announced:

Company: Lucent Technologies Communications equipment

Cuts announced: 39,000

Company: Motorola Cellular phones

Cuts announced: 30,000

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Company: Nortel Networks Communications equipment

Cuts announced: 30,000

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Company: JDS Uniphase Fiber-optic components

Cuts announced: 16,000

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Company: Alcatel Telecom equipment

Cuts announced: 16,000

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Company: Cisco Systems Networking equipment

Cuts announced: 8,500

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Company: Compaq Computer Personal computers

Cuts announced: 8,500

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Company: WorldCom Telecommunications

Cuts announced: 6,000

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Company: Hewlett-Packard Personal computers, printers

Cuts announced: 6,000

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Company: Dell Computer Personal computers

Cuts announced: 5,700

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Company: 3Com Computer-networking products

Cuts announced: 4,300

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Company: Gateway Personal computers

Cuts announced: 2,400

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Company: Amazon.com Online retailing

Cuts announced: 1,300

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Company: Oracle Software

Cuts announced: 900

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Researched by NONA YATES/Los Angeles Times

Source: Times files
On 30 January Brazils government confirmed the dismissal of the national intelligence agency (Abin)s deputy director,, in relation to the scandal involving the alleged abuse of Abins surveillance capabilities during the presidency of(2019-2023).

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On 30 January a court in Argentina invalidated the labour reform contained within the decree of necessity and urgency (DNU) issued in December by President

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Vodafone Idea  the only Indian telco currently not in the 5G race  reportedly now plans to launch its 5G service in about six to seven months, by which time it hopes to have an idea how to make money from it.

According to ETTelecom, Vodafone Idea CEO Akshaya Moondra told investors during a third quarter earnings call on Tuesday that the telco is in discussions with various technology partners to finalise its 5G rollout, which includes implementing vRAN and Open RAN technologies.

The telco is also working with partners to develop device ecosystems and 5G uses cases for the Indian market, the report said.

Vodafone Idea, which has been beset by financial problems, is the laggard in Indias 5G race. Rival telco Reliance Jio completed its 5G rollout at the end of last year, while Bharti Airtel is scheduled finish its rollout by March.

Moondra observed that while Jio and Airtel may have a whopping head start on 5G rollouts, there is no monetisation happening yet. He added that monetisation isnt that far off, and that we expect to have a better idea on 5G monetisation by the time we launch.

Moondra said on the same call that Vodafone Idea plans to switch off its 3G network in 2025 and refarm the 2100-MHz band for its 4G network to boost capacity. Vodafone Idea has already turned off 3G in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai and Kolkata, the report said.

On Monday, Vodafone Idea reported that it had narrowed its net loss to INR 69.8 billion (US$840.1 million) for the quarter ending December 2023. Revenues were up just 0.5% year on year, but the operator managed to boost its 4G subscriber base from 121.6 million to 125.6 million during the quarter, with ARPUs up 7.4% year on year.
On 30 January Bolivias deputy interior minister,, called for roadblocks on the countrys key highways to be lifted following an agreement between Presidents government and its opponents on the holding of overdue judicial elections.

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Several Mexico nationals have been behaving badly in a foreign country as they robbed a Turkish tourist and wounded him, leading to their arrest in the island resort paradise of Bali, Indonesia, one of the biggest tourist destinations on Earth.

According to the Jakarta Globe, the three Mexican nationals were arrested through a collaboration between the Bali Regional Police and the Turkish National Police. They were reportedly apprehended in a residential area in Ungasan, South Kuta, Bali on Saturday,

There is actually a fourth Mexican suspect, but he managed to evade capture when police arrived in the place that the suspects have been staying in since December 7, 2023. The motive for the attack on the Turkish tourist is still under investigation, says a police source. However, authorities suspect that the attack may be linked to an extortion attempt by the victim, who has been identified as "a 30-year-old Turkish national," Turan Mehmet.

"The three Mexican nationals were apprehended while sleeping in one of the houses around 07:00 AM local time. They were arrested without any resistance," an unnamed source told a local news outlet.

At the place where the suspects from Mexico were staying, police found various pieces of evidence, including helmets, shoes, flip-flops, clothing, gloves, mobile phones, and their passports. The police also found ash amounting to Rp 10 million ($632), with the police still looking for the gun used in the shooting of the tourist.

The public relations officer of the Badung Resort Police in Bali, meanwhile, did not confirm nor deny the arrest of the three tourists from Mexico, with a spokesperson saying, "Details will be revealed at the Bali Regional Police Headquarters."

READ MORE: Mexico: Mexican Journalist Abducted by Armed Men in Broad Daylight

What Did the Mexico Men Do To Get Arrested in Bali, Indonesia

The three Mexicans, as well as the fourth suspect, broke into a villa near the popular tourist spot of Kuta last week. They reportedly pointed their guns at a local security guard and forced him to surrender to gain access to the area where the Turkish tourist was staying.

According to the Associated Press, this was when the four Mexican suspects shot their guns at several guests who ran out of the villa for safety. They then stole money worth about $5,900 from the villa, police said. This was when they shot the Turkish tourist thrice.

The Turkish tourist was reportedly hit in his stomach, left hand, and left back chest, according to police.

Mexico Men Targeted Bali Villa, Says Police

For now, police are saying that the evidence points to the four suspects planning the robbery before they prepared the guns and targeting and surveilling the villa, according to News Social 4.

The attack itself was captured by surveillance camera recordings. Coupled with eyewitness reports, this led Indonesian police to the four Mexican suspects. As for the three who were captured, they were reportedly paraded at a news conference while wearing handcuffs and orange vests.

READ MORE: Journalist in Mexico Tells Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador He's Afraid for His Life During Press Briefing

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Bali Bombing: Cracking Southeast Asia's Deadliest Terror Attack | Bali Bombing - Part 1/2 - CNA Insider
House Republicans want to have Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas impeached over the border crisis. Most of them are allied with Donald Trump and are accusing Mayorkas and the Biden administration of disregarding federal laws on immigration. Should they impeach him, Mayorkas would become the second Cabinet official to be impeached in US history.

The formal vote to impeach Mayorkas in the full House could happen as soon as next week, a source close to the impeachment proceedings told NBC News.

The move received much pushback, including from Democrats and Secretary Mayorkas himself, arguing that the impeachment effort is all political with no legal grounds, just like the Biden impeachment inquiry.

The first article of impeachment claimed that Mayorkas has "willfully and systemically refused to comply with Federal immigration laws." In addition, House Republicans also blamed the Homeland Security Secretary for "allowing millions of people to enter the country illegally" and that many are "unlawfully remaining" in the US.

Meanwhile, the second article of impeachment claimed that he breached the "public trust" and "knowingly" obstructed "lawful oversight of the Department of Homeland Security."

Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee, the Republican chair of the Homeland Security Committee, claimed that Mayorkas "has willfully and systematically refused to comply with the laws passed by Congress and breached the trust of Congress and the American people. The results have been catastrophic and have endangered the lives and livelihoods of all Americans."

Hispanic Civil Rights Group Condemns Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Impeachment Attempt

Soon after the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas were revealed, Janet Murguia, President and CEO of the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization, UnidosUS, released a statement calling House Republicans impeachment attempt "baseless."

READ MORE: Texas Promises To Continue Placing Razor Wire Along US-Mexico Border Despite Supreme Court Ruling

"The House Republicans' pursuit of articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas remains unfounded and politically motivated. Despite the lack of evidence of impeachable offenses, they are moving forward with their predetermined partisan agenda," she said. "This undermines the credibility of the impeachment process, as constitutional grounds for such actions against Mayorkas are nonexistent."

"It is crucial for Congress to refocus on genuine bipartisan solutions for our immigration system and border challenges, rather than engaging in political theatrics that do not serve the interests of the American people," she added.

Donald Trump Responsible for Blowing Up Bipartisan Immigration Bill, Say Republican Senators

As House Republicans are blaming Alejandro Mayorkas for the US immigration woes, Senate Republicans, on the other hand, have come out and outright blamed Donald Trump for torpedoing an emerging bipartisan deal over the southern border.

According to CNN, Trump has been lobbying other Republicans to shut down the bill as it would have made it look like Biden was doing something for the border.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged this in a private meeting, saying that Trump had animosity toward the yet-to-be-released border deal. This has placed Republicans in a serious bind as they now look like hypocrites for only shutting down such an important border deal just because Joe Biden might benefit from it politically and hurt Trump.

"I think the border is a very important issue for Donald Trump. And the fact that he would communicate to Republican senators and congresspeople that he doesn't want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it is ... really appalling," said Utah Senator Mitt Romney. "The reality is that we have a crisis at the border, and the American people are suffering as a result of what's happening at the border. And someone running for president not to try and get the problem solved. as opposed to saying, 'hey, save that problem. Don't solve it. Let me take credit for solving it later.'"

READ MORE: Mexico Finds Another Dead Body Near Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's Floating Barriers

WATCH: I am hopeful an immigration fix will occur, says Homeland Security secretary - MSNBC
The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office took decisive legal action on January 30, 2024, indicting five men in connection to a chilling California mass murder case in the desolate stretches near Adelanto, according to VVNG.

The victims, discovered on January 23, prompted a swift response from law enforcement after a distress call by Franklin Bonilla, who tragically succumbed to gunshot wounds despite alerting 911.

The ensuing investigation by the Sheriff's Specialized Investigations Division Homicide Detail led to the apprehension of five suspects within five days.

Each now faces six felony counts of murder with a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, alongside six felony counts of robbery, as confirmed by the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office.

The individuals identified are Jose Nicolas Hernandez-Sarabia, Toniel Beaz-Duarte, Mateo Beaz-Duarte, Jose Gregorgio Hernandez-Sarabia, and Jose Manuel Burgos Parra.

Toniel Beaz-Duarte and Mateo Beaz-Duarte pleaded not guilty to all charges during their court appearance on Tuesday, with the others scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday.

The San Bernardino County Public Defender's Office approached for comment but has not yet responded.

READ NEXT: California Snowboarder Trapped in a Lake Tahoe Ski Resort's Gondola

Disturbing Details Unveiled

All six victims were likely shot to death, with four of the bodies discovered partially burned together, according to Warrick, an official involved in the case.

The macabre scene unfolded in a secluded California desert area known for illegal marijuana operations, shedding light on the dark consequences of such activities, as emphasized by District Attorney Jason Anderson.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus revealed that the bodies were found in a region notorious for black market cannabis, approximately 50 miles northeast of Los Angeles, AP reports.

Highlighting the prevalence of illegal marijuana operations, Dicus shared that in 2023, his department executed 411 search warrants, seizing 655,000 plants and $370 million.

The suspects were arrested, and eight firearms were confiscated during search warrants executed in the Adelanto and Apple Valley areas of San Bernardino County, as well as the Pinyon Hills neighborhood in Los Angeles County.

California Mass Murder Victims and Motive Unveiled

Four victims have been identified as Baldemar Mondragon-Albarran, Franklin Noel Bonilla, Kevin Dariel Bonilla, and an unnamed 45-year-old man pending family notification.

Two individuals remain unidentified, per CNN.

Investigators believe the victims had arranged to meet for a "marijuana transaction" in the remote location.

The suspects, for reasons still under investigation, arrived and shot at the victims, leading to the tragic outcome.

Sergeant Warrick emphasized the ongoing nature of the investigation and expressed confidence in the belief that the murders stemmed from a marijuana-related dispute.

All five suspects in the California mass murder are currently in custody without bail.

While the investigation remains open, Warrick refrained from confirming whether the case is gang or cartel-related.

Sheriff Dicus reiterated the connection between illicit marijuana activities and violent crime scenes, emphasizing the need to address the issue.

"It looks like illicit marijuana was the driving force behind these murders, and that's all we really know at this point," he said.

READ MORE: California Boy, Father, Arrested After Fatally Shooting of Another Child

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Arrests made in mass killing in Mojave Desert - From KTLA 5
Alina Habba tried to pull a Donald Trump and accused the judge overseeing the E. Jean Carroll rape case that he was the mentor of Carroll's lawyer 30 years ago. Unlike her client, Donald Trump, however, Habba soon backed off her unfounded claims after she was threatened with sanctions.

Former President Donald Trump's attorney claimed that US District Judge Lewis Kaplan and Carroll attorney Roberta Kaplan, who are not related to each other, previously worked together in the 1990s under the major law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, with Lewis Kaplan allegedly serving as Roberta Kaplan's mentor.

Habba then claimed that the situation was "insane and so incestuous," even if the judge and the Carroll attorney were not even related to each other in the first place, just the same last names.

"This is news to us," she said in an interview. "We are going to include this in our appeal and take appropriate measures. The fact it wasn't disclosed is an ethics violation."

"If Your Honor truly worked with Ms. Kaplan in any capacity-especially if there was a mentor/mentee relationship-that fact should have been disclosed before any case involving these parties was permitted to proceed forward," wrote Habba in her letter on Monday, noting that there had been "many clashes" with the judge during the trial and another last year and said he had been "overtly hostile towards defense counsel."

A day after her filing, however, Habba changed her tune and backed off her claims. This came after Roberta Kaplan responded in a letter of her own to the judge, stating that the "allegations are utterly baseless."

E. Jean Carroll Lawyer Threatens Sanctions Vs. Alina Habba Over Baseless Claims

Carroll's attorney did admit that she was in the same law firm with the judge previously but clarified that she did work for some of the partners in the firm, but not including Judge Lewis Kaplan.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Prepared To Cry Foul and Repeat His Debunked Voter Fraud Claims Should He Lose

"The length of our overlap at Paul, Weiss was less than two years," she wrote in her letter. "During that relatively brief period more than thirty years ago, I do remember the Paul, Weiss partners with whom I worked and none of them are Your Honor."

This was when the Carroll lawyer told the judge that she may seek sanctions against Habba for the false accusation.

"While Ms. Habba ends her letter by characterizing this as a 'troubling matter,' what is actually troubling is both the substance and timing of her false accusations of impropriety by on the part of E. Jean Carroll's counsel or the Court," she told the judge. "Accordingly, while we wanted to submit our response to Ms. Habba's letter as soon as possible, we reserve all rights, including but not limited to the right to seek sanctions."

Donald Trump Still Awaiting New York Fraud Verdict While Alina Habba Lands in Legal Trouble

As for Habba's client, there is a big possibility that Donald Trump might lose his business in New York as State AG Letitia James not only seeks $370 million but also to dissolve his real estate empire and ban him from doing business in New York.

The New York state court decision is expected to come any day now as both sides have already made their closing arguments. Trump has already been found liable for fraud, and they are only awaiting what sort of punishment will be given to him.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Is Confused Why Co-Defendants Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Kenneth Chesebro Pleaded Guilty

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Habba COMPLETELY FOLDS after THREATENED with SANCTIONS - MeidasTouch
Partisan gridlock in Washington, D.C. Geopolitical threats from Ukraine to the Middle East to North Korea and China. The threat of a cyberattack paralyzing the United States.

Is there any reason for hope?

Leon Panetta, who was CIA director and defense secretary under President Barack Obama, had an answer to that question after bringing his perspective on national security threats to Lehigh University on Tuesday night.

Panetta stressed a call for a return to governing by leadership rather than governing from crisis to crisis. And he opened the door for young people to get involved through public service and action.

Youve got to get off your rear end, youve got to get involved, youve got to be able to put together a voice that can be heard, Panetta told a capacity crowd inside Baker Hall of the Zoellner Arts Center.

Panetta was the second speaker on a theme of national security in Lehighs inaugural Compelling Perspectives series, launched in October with a visit by former United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May. Earlier on Tuesday, Panetta had testified before a House Select Committee on Chinas foreign policy, alongside former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The appearance on Southside Bethlehem comes amid numerous geopolitical flashpoints around the globe, including Israels nearly 4-month-old retaliatory invasion into Gaza to battle Hamas and days after three American service members were killed Sunday in a drone attack in Jordan.

Panetta, fresh from U.S. Army service in the 1960s, worked briefly in President Richard Nixons administration before being elected to the U.S. Congress and serving nearly nine terms, then working as budget director and chief of staff under President Bill Clinton and continuing his service under Obama.

Hes seen Washington work, he said, with Democrats and Republicans compromising and negotiating to address problems like rising debt.

Ive had a hell of a ride in the different positions that Ive been in, Panetta said.

He was critical of members of Congress putting politics over governing, including a reference to talk of delaying a deal on the border crisis because its a great political issue in an election year. He blasted the rejection of setting fiscal year spending each October in favor of passing continuing resolutions throughout the year to fund the government.

Are we governing by crisis? Youre damn right we are, he said.

That D.C. disfunction is being watched, Panetta said, by leaders in Russia and China, North Korea and Iran, and by terrorists  all of whom sense American weakness.

We elect people to leadership positions in the Congress not to go back to Washington, D.C., to pound a shoe on the table but to go back to Washington, D.C., and govern, Panetta said. And that means to deal with the problems that we face.

Leon Panetta, from left, who was former President Barack Obama's CIA director and defense secretary, takes part in a conversation with Lehigh University President Joseph J. Helble on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at Lehigh's Zoellner Arts Center on Southside Bethlehem as part of the schools Compelling Perspectives series.Courtesy Christa Neu/Lehigh University | For lehighvalleylive.com

By working to maintain a strong economy and military, the United States can work with its allies to counter threats to democracy and peace, Panetta argued.

Panetta was challenged by Lehigh staff and students alike during an audience question-and-answer that followed a discussion moderated by university President Joseph J. Helble.

Should the United States continue to defend Europe by funding NATO? Nobody else is going to fill that role of being a world leader, and its going to jeopardize our security, he said.

What about the United States record of international intervention that has killed innocent people and disrupted nations? Well, welcome to America, Panetta responded. The reality is that we dont always solve the problems that we go after ... but it doesnt mean we have to stop trying.

Panetta stressed the need to invest in technological advancements, like artificial intelligence, and called cyber-technology the battlefield of the future. He said he was unsure if the United States has developed strategies to respond to cyberattacks that can shut down electrical, financial, water systems and more.

You can paralyze this country, he said.

The first-generation United States citizen from California returned again and again to the need to fight for the American dream.

Man, do we need a new generation of young and educated children and young people who are willing to get involved in our democracy, Panetta said.

Leon Panetta, from left, who was former President Barack Obama's CIA director and defense secretary, takes part in a conversation with Lehigh University President Joseph J. Helble on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at Lehigh's Zoellner Arts Center on Southside Bethlehem as part of the schools Compelling Perspectives series.Courtesy Christa Neu/Lehigh University | For lehighvalleylive.com

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Service provider Telekom Malaysia is said to be exploring plans to build a new hyperscale data centre, expanding its capacity from the existing Klang Valley Data Centre (KVDC) and Iskandar Puteri Data Centre (IPDC).

The hyperscale data centre is likely to be a large facility offering at least 40 Megawatts (MW) of IT power capacity, catering to large cloud service providers and internet companies.

CIMB Investment Bank, which, according to the Edge Malaysia news service, announced the news, suggests that, by leveraging its extensive submarine and terrestrial networks as well as its strong local relationships, Telekom Malaysia may be able to attract strong strategic international partners to co-invest in the new data centre.

"Besides helping to partly fund the investment required, a strong strategic international partner could also share expertise in the design and operation of data centres that cater to hyperscalers and AI workloads," CIMB said in a note earlier this week.

If Telekom Malaysia proceeds, CIMB, a leading ASEAN-focused bank and one of the regions foremost corporate advisors, expects the group to develop the facility in phases. It notes, "If kicked off in 2H2024, the first phase could be ready for service by 1H2026."

For the moment, this news awaits confirmation. However, data centre activity in Malaysia does seem to be ramping up. Among many similar announcements in recent months to appear in these pages, we reported last week that Malaysias Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) has formed a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Investment of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to develop data centres in Malaysia.
UPDATE: Man accused of beheading his father in Bucks County home was caught at Pa. military base

A man in Pennsylvania has been charged with first-degree murder and abusing a corpse after his father was found decapitated.

Police are investigating a video on social media that allegedly shows him holding up the head, authorities said Wednesday.

The father was found beheaded in the bathroom of his home in Bucks Countys Middletown Township on Tuesday night. Police said the son, identified as Justin Mohn, 32, was arrested about 100 miles away in Fort Indiantown Gap.

We didnt know where he was going and what his intentions were when he left here, Capt. Pete Feeney of the Middletown Township Police Department said. Fortunately, we were able to get a location based on his cellphone.

Police took him into custody without incident, Feeney said.

Mohn, who also was arrested on a weapons possession charge, was arraigned early Wednesday and held without bail. He is scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 8.

An attorney for Mohn wasnt listed in court records Wednesday morning and a message seeking comment on his behalf was left at a phone listing for him. The Associated Press emailed the court clerks office to see if he had a lawyer yet.

Detectives are investigating a video, allegedly posted by Mohn, that shows him holding up what appears to be his fathers head and making threats against federal law enforcement agencies, Feeney said.
UPDATE: A beheading video was on YouTube for hours. Why wasnt it taken down sooner?

A man accused of beheading his father in suburban Philadelphia and posting a gruesome video on social media that shows him holding up the severed head has been charged with first-degree murder and abusing a corpse, authorities said Wednesday.

Justin Mohn was armed and had jumped a fence at a National Guard facility about 100 miles away when he was arrested late Tuesday, hours after the killing, a Guard spokeswoman said.

The victim, identified as Michael Mohn, was found beheaded in the bathroom of his home in Levittown, Bucks County, where court records said his 32-year-old son also lived. Police said Justin Mohn was taken into custody at Fort Indiantown Gap.

Police said Michael Mohns wife, Denice Mohn, arrived home and found the body about 7 p.m. Tuesday. Officers found Mohns body and bloody rubber gloves, according to a police affidavit. Denice Mohn told police her husbands white Toyota Corolla and her son were missing.

Police said the YouTube video, which was more than 14 minutes long, showed Justin Mohn picking up his fathers decapitated head and identifying him by name. Police said it appeared Mohn was reading from a script as he railed about the government.

In a statement, YouTube said the video, which was uploaded and not livestreamed, was removed for violating its graphic violence policy and Mohns channel was shut down. Police said the video was posted about 10 p.m. and was online for about five hours.

Mohn embraced violent anti-government rhetoric in writings he published online going back several years. In August 2020, Mohn published an online pamphlet in which he tried to make the case that people born in or after 1991  his birth year  should carry out what he termed a bloody revolution. He also complained at length about a wrongful termination lawsuit that he lost, and encouraged assassinations of family members and public officials.

In the video posted after the killing, he described his father as a 20-year federal employee and called him a traitor to his country. He also espoused a variety of conspiracy theories and rants about the Biden administration, immigration and the border, fiscal policy, urban crime and the war in Ukraine.

Mohn was driving his fathers car when police took him into custody, Capt. Pete Feeney of the Middletown Township Police Department said. Officials at Fort Indiantown Gap were told late Tuesday that Mohns cellphone had pinged nearby, according to Angela Watson, communications director for the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Investigators caught up with Mohn inside the National Guard base, where he was walking after having apparently jumped the fence. He had a gun when he was caught, Watson said. She said he has never been a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

The house where the body was found is in a suburban development of single-family homes. No one answered the door there early Wednesday.

Neighbors out walking dogs Wednesday morning described Justin Mohn as a regular walker in the development, someone they recognized and described as weird.

Bart DeHaven said he called police a handful of times since the summer after Justin Mohn sat on a raised manhole cover in a park directly across the street from his home and stared at his house.

Its just sad, DeHaven said. He should have got some kind of help.

Carrie McCarthy said she saw him walking frequently and sitting in the wooded area in the neighborhood. She said someone sent her the YouTube video, which left her stunned.

I screamed. I totally screamed, she said. I opened the video and I was like, Oh my God, thats the guy I see every day, and I knew something was unhinged.

While living in Colorado in 2017, Mohn allegedly harassed employees at the Colorado Springs credit union where he once worked, threatening to sue the business for $10 million unless it agreed to a $2 million settlement. He also allegedly threatened to publish false statements about them or come to the credit union and make false statements to provoke police to attack the employees and then film it.

Three employees sought protection orders against Mohn but dropped the case under a settlement in which he promised not to contact them and they paid him $10,000.

In one email submitted as evidence, Mohn accused his co-workers of tampering with evidence in a disciplinary matter against him in 2016 and said that the states civil rights division was investigating that. There were also songs or poems written by Mohn that employees found threatening, including one entitled Men Dont Get No Warning Shot.

A man who lived in apartments with Mohn about a decade ago in Colorado Springs, Colorado, recalled hearing Mohn talk at length about conspiracy theories. Davis Rebhan said he left the living situation shortly after Mohn became volatile one night and damaged the walls and other objects.

Mohns only visitor during the year they lived together was his father, who visited for a weekend, Rebhan said.

I got nothing from that visit that would have made me ever think this would happen, Rebhan said. There was nothing that would lead me to believe that Justin didnt care about his dad. And it was really clear that his dad cared about him because it was clear he had these issues and his dad still came across the country to stay with him.

In 2018, Mohn sued Progressive Insurance, alleging he was discriminated against and later fired from a job at an agency in Colorado Springs because he was a man who was intelligent, overqualified and overeducated. A federal judge said Mohn provided no evidence to indicate he was discriminated against because he was a man  in the length of his training or in being denied promotions to jobs. Progressive said it fired him because he kicked open a door. An appeals court upheld the finding that Mohn did not suffer employment discrimination.

Mohn, who also was arrested on a weapons possession charge, was arraigned early Wednesday and held without bail. He is scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 8. Police said prosecutors were expected to release additional details at a news conference on Friday.

An attorney for Mohn wasnt listed in court records Wednesday and a message seeking comment on his behalf was left at a phone listing for him. The district court office said it had no record of a lawyer representing him.

By MIKE CATALINI

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During a special meeting on Tuesday night, Phillipsburg lawmakers tapped former town council President Robert Bobby Fulper to join the Phillipsburg Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.

In his new role, Fulper will be expected to work with the five other housing authority commissioners to develop policies, approve budgets and generate community support for housing programs.

The housing authoritys executive director and staff manage day-to-day operations.

Town Councilman Lee Clark and Councilman Keith Kennedy both voted against the appointment, which was approved in a 3-2 split. Fulper is under indictment by a Warren County Grand Jury, and naming him to any public-facing role is irresponsible while the case is still pending, Clark said.

I just dont think it would be a good look for the town, he said. Its public knowledge hes under indictment.

I believe in innocence until proven guilty, Councilman Matthew Scerbo Sr. replied.

Fulper lost his council re-election bid in 2021, when Clark and Kennedy  both Democrats  were elected, along with Republican and current council President Pete Marino.

Fulper was charged in 2022 with official misconduct and trafficking in personal identifying information, according to investigators and New Jersey court records.

In 2021, authorities said, a search of Fulpers residence and personal devices turned up personal information, including Social Security numbers, information from driver licenses and passports, and the bank account details of seven Phillipsburg employees.

Three of the employees had each sued the town in the past and settled their cases separately, authorities said. A joint lawsuit by these complainants claimed Fulper accessed their information in retaliation.

Warren County Prosecutor James Pfeiffer on Wednesday confirmed the charges are still pending against Fulper.

The issue is being handled by his first assistant attorney, Pfeiffer said.

Fulpers attorney, Donald Souders, called the accusations politically motivated.

Once all of the relevant facts are adduced at a trial or pre-trial hearing, his innocence will be established beyond any doubt. He remains committed to his fellow residents of Phillipsburg and ensuring they are treated fairly and appropriately, notwithstanding what I have previously described as a witch hunt against him, Soulder said.

Calls for comment to numbers listed for Fulper were not returned.

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Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on Twitter.
A new phase of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion will be brought to Laois this year, but Rathdowney is already "full up" a local Fine Gael councillor has said.

Laois has so far taken in 1,462 war refugees from Ukraine, in latest figures given by Laois County Council.

Ireland must take a new phase of Ukraine refugees, starting later in 2024 for another 18 months, the CEO John Mulholland said in his monthly report.

Stradbally is to get another 850 people on top of the 101 currently camped in the Cosby estate.

However Cllr John King has said his town of Rathdowney is "at full capacity" for services.

Rathdowney is one of the few places in Ireland where a new modular housing estate has been built for Ukrainian refugees, and the 42 houses in 'Spring Crescent' are now occupied by 168 people.

"70 children came with the Ukraine families. I am happy to say that there are 30 in the national school and 30 in St Fergal's College, with the remainder in Clogh NS and Errill NS.

"Rathdowney is at full capacity as regards services. We have our fill, we can't take any more, we are full at the moment," he said at the January 2024 council meeting.

A recent report commissioned on Rathdowney found that it suffers a 50% vacancy rate in commercial buildings, has no cafes or gift shops, and poor public transport options. It has a population of just under 1,300 people.

Last December, Cllr King had said the Government wants to build 50 more houses in the Rathdowney estate.

Stradbally is also set to receive many more Ukrainian temporary residents.

There are now 101 people staying in the 'transitional site' in the Electric Picnic grounds, at the Cosby estate in Stradbally but that is set to grow dramatically.

A more permanent accommodation centre in Stradbally will open once the Government approves legislation. It will be a "90 day centre" with a capacity of 950 people.

Most of the 1,462 Ukrainian refugees staying in Laois live in privately sourced or pledged accommodation, at 878 people.

Another 315 live in accommodation centres such as hotels, guesthouses, hostels and refurbished properties.

Spring Crescent in Rathdowney has 168 Ukrainians living in the 42 new prefab family homes. It was funded by the Office of Public Works, built on council land. It is now under management by the Tuath Housing Association, appointed by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

"A very successful welcome event took place in the community centre in Rathdowney on January 15, with good attendance from the local Ukrainian community in the catchment area, and from Response Forum agencies and local community groups. The objective was to propmote and support the integration of these recent new arrivals into the wider Rathdowney community," Laois County Council reported.

The council is looking for more accommodation in Laois.

"The council continues to assist the Department with the temporary accommodation of Ukrainian arrivals to our county, as well as providing liaison locally in relation to vacant buildings and sites suitable for medium to long term accommodation solutions.

"The council continues to allocate privately pledged / offered accommodation to Ukrainian families, with 53 households having been provided to date".

They add that a new council Integration Support Service began in January at Treo Nua in Portlaoise, to "support all newly arrived refugees with aspects of their integration including linking them in with mainstream support services, independent living and social inclusion".
A young mother in Laois who passed away is said to have been 'taken much too soon'.

People have paid tributes online to Marta Dyrcz of Riverside, Portarlington, Offaly / Portarlington, Laois.

Formerly of Poland, Ms Dyrcz is going to be laid to rest in Poland. She will be sadly missed by her loving husband Pawel and two adoring sons, Olaf and Tymon, father, mother, brothers, sisters, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, extended family, neighbours and friends.

While Ms Dyrcz's funeral service will take place in Poland, she will be reposing at Maher's Chapel of Rest, Portarlington this Tuesday evening, January 31, from 7pm until 8pm for anyone wishing to pay their condolences.

"Deepest sympathy to Marta's family such a beautiful young woman. Taken much too soon. May she rest in peace and may God help her family in their time of need," one person said.

Another person left their condolences, saying: "Martha was beautiful inside and out. May she give Paulo and her boys, family the strength they need around this time. Rest easy Martha, we will miss you."
Plans for ESB work are continuing to block the start of construction of a new Laois special needs school.

The Minister of State for Special Education Josepha Madigan gave an update on January 31 on the planned Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise, after a request by Laois TD Charlie Flanagan.

It is three weeks since ESB Networks said their work to put the second of two power wires underground "would now be expedited" after getting a goahead from the HSE as landowner.

Now another waiting game has begun, this time for the ESB to supply a "programme of works".

"There are two individual ESB line installation works to be completed at the new site - the first was completed in December 2023, in relation to the second line, the HSE issued the signed and sealed SWA1 (deed of transfer easement for underground cables) to the ESB 9th January 2024. Following an update received on 29th January from the Design Team, the Project Design Team are awaiting receipt of the ESB programme of works for installation of the 10kv line," Minister Madigan said.

She said that ducting pipes to take the cables underground are in place since last October.

"The Enabling works contractor completed the ground works for the ESB ducting in October 2023, and remaining works for the diversion of the ESB overhead wires will be co-ordinated by ESB Networks Ireland and the Design Team."

The Minister repeated the procedure to get shovels in the ground, first given last December by the Department of Education.

"On completion of the ESB works, the enabling works Contractor will have approximately 1 weeks work remaining to make the site safe and to decant from the site to enable the main contractor to commence.

"The Invitation to Tender issued in April 2023 and the tenders to build the new school itself were received from contractors in late September 2023. Recent experience has shown that a Tender stage can take between 8-12 months from the initial Invitation to Tender, subject to no issues arising.

"The Tender Report was received from the Kolbe Board of Management and the Design Team is currently under review. Only when the Letter of Acceptance has issued is there a contract in place and all the contract terms and conditions apply.

"However, in this particular instance it will not be possible to issue the Letter of Acceptance until the enabling works contract is completed and unencumbered possession of the site is available to the incoming contractor for the new school building."

Deputy Flanagan said he will continue to push the case.

"The progression of the Kolbe Special School project remains a priority for me and my team," he told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

The school who rely on cramped, poorly insulated prefabs, has been given another modular en-suite classroom.

"In parallel to the enabling works and the tender process, the School Authorities received approval for a classroom for children with special educational needs in 2023 with an area of 100m2, to be installed on the site currently occupied by Kolbe Special School. The Department assisted the Modular Building Contractor and School Authorities in determining the layout, including assisted user WC Facilities. Additional Boundary Fencing and some external play area works were also agreed.

This modular unit was completed and made available to the school for the start of the first term of 2024."

Its principal Orlagh Mahon told the Leinster Express / Laois Live earlier in January that she is still hopeful that work on the new eight classroom special school will start in March.

She hopes the 18 month build will be ready by September 2025 for the children to move in, as scheduled.
A teenage boy accused of being involved in a car chase has had his case sent forward for trial.

The boy, who is currently remanded at a juvenile detention facility, appeared before Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court on Thursday, January 25 last.

He was led in handcuffs, but these were later taken off him.

It was alleged on a previous court date that the boy was the driver of a stolen car and had been involved in a car chase, which crossed over into County Kildare, alongside two other juvenile males.

As part of a Section 75 application, the defending barrister for the teenager asked Judge Zaidan to reconsider his initial decision to refuse jurisdiction over the case.

He asked the judge to consider the boy's age and level of maturity at the time of the alleged offence, and also noted that his client had previously availed of special needs services when he was in primary school.

"However, when he transitioned to secondary school, he wasn't getting specialist one-on-one attention, and then during the pandemic, doing school work from home didn't agree with him either," the barrister added.

He also noted that both Tusla and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (also known as CAMHS) are both liasing with his client.

After consideration, Judge Zaidan said that while he has sympathy for the boy, and noted his personal circumstances, his initial decision would remain.

A book of evidence was the served on the boy by gardai and his case was sent forward for trial to the present sittings of Naas Circuit Criminal Court.

When a social worker from the detention centre tried to put the handcuffs back on the boy, he became visibly upset and resisted, which prompted a court garda to step in.

Eventually, the boy agreed to have the handcuffs placed on him again.

When he was being led out, Judge Zaidan told the defendant look after himself, and also urged him to keep up with his educational work while he was remanded in detention.
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The Newbridge College Union Business Lunch at the Keadeen Hotel took place on Friday, January 26th 2024.

PHOTOS BY TONY KEANE

Sean Bay, Gavin Buckley, at Newbridge College Union Business Lunch 2024, Keadeen Hotel, Friday January 26

The welcome address was delivered by MC and Past Pupil Bernard Jackman (Class 1993), and the event was opened by Union President Mark Prendergast, Newbridge College Union who welcomed everyone in attendance, thanked the Union Committee, sponsors, and the guest speakers on the panel whilst highlighting the importance of the event, supporting the Union and keeping the Alumni community together.

During the lunch, Bernard Jackman interviewed past pupil James Tracy (Class 2010), former Ireland and Leinster player. His second interview was with Sonia Deasy (Class 1993) CEO of Pestle & Mortar.

All three past pupils on the Q&A Panel were presented with a Distinguished Alumni Award within their field.

In closing of the event, Mark Prendergast thanked the management and staff at the Keadeen Hotel and the Union committee for making the event such a success.

The proceeds from the event will go to the Union Benevolent Fund and a donation to the Unions chosen charity Tiglin.

Thank you to all our sponsors, especially Newbridge Silverware, The Silken Thomas and The Curragh Race Course.
Preparatory work has started at a site near Naas which will accommodate refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Some 950 people, who have left because of the war started by Vladimir Putin two years ago, could take up residence there. The conflict has created tens of thousands of civilian casualties among the population of Ukraine.

Kildare Live previously reported that the Department of Children, Equality, Integration , Disability and Youth is exploring the possibility of availing of a site near Floods Cross, which is on the route which lies roughly between Caragh village and Toughers Industrial Estate.

The road passes the M7 Business Park and links areas like Allen, Rathangan and Blacktrench with Naas. It also connects to the Newbridge-Naas dual carriageway.

Cllr Rob Power

The area is currently a greenfield site and it is likely that the arrivals will be accommodated in winter ready cabins inside large marquees.

Its also understood that Pastures New Ltd will manage the project and this company was associated with the creation of tented-type accommodation for Ukrainians at Stradbally, County Laois, in the wake of the Electric Picnic concert event last year.

Local councillors were given an initial briefing by Kildare County Council.

Cllr Rob Power said he welcomed the fact that there has been engagement at an early stage.

The site is near the locally known Flood's Cross junction

Cllr Power and his Fianna Fail colleague Cllr Noel Heavey met with some 60 local residents last night to discuss the proposed development of an arrival centre in Newhall.

Ukrainians are described as Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who differ from asylum seekers originating elsewhere and who come to Ireland seeking refugee status.

Representatives of Pastures New also attended and gave an overview of the project addressing some - but not all - of the local concerns, said Cllr Power.

The councillors took note of several issues raised and said they are committed to working with local residents through a committee on finding answers.

Cllr Power added: "It's my understanding that discussions on contracts between the landowner and developer and between the developer and the department are at concluding stages.

Currently, KCC is considering various aspects of the proposed development such as the environmental impact assessment and traffic management plan. I'm aware preparatory works are taking place on site but it's only when those formal elements are approved can the development go ahead.

If the development is in compliance with all the appropriate regulations we are told that the first occupants could be in place in a few weeks and that further capacity for up to 950 will be developed within two months. At any one time it is expected that 600 Ukranians will be living on site."

He also said that because the numbers of Ukranians entering Ireland in 2024 have fallen to approximately 32 per day, it is expected reception centres such as the one proposed in Newhall will allow hotel spaces to be returned to tourism use.
Morocco-based telecommunication operator Inwi has announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with the Medusa submarine cable system to reinforce its trans-Mediterranean connectivity.

This agreement focuses on the supply and operation of dedicated fibre optic links in the new Medusa cable, the longest in the Mediterranean region. Medusa spans from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, establishing a new link from Asia to the Atlantic.

Connecting Morocco to Southern Europe, bridging Nador and Marseille, the cable aims to address the ongoing growth in fixed and internet traffic and provide diverse and secure connectivity paths for Inwis individual and professional customers.

Inwi and Medusa says this partnership underscores Inwis ongoing commitment to provide innovative and secure solutions to meet the diverse needs of its customers, while contributing to the development of the Moroccan digital ecosystem. Inwi will also play a role in positioning Morocco as a major technological hub in Africa.

Medusa aims to interconnect six South European countries  Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Cyprus  with five North African countries  Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.

It is expected to be ready in 2025 for the service connecting Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco and Algeria. In 2026 it will connect Tunisia, Greece, Libya, Cyprus and Egypt.

According to Orange, one of the participants in the project, once it is complete, Medusa will span an impressive distance of over 8,700 kilometres, making it the longest cable in the Mediterranean Sea.
Just as RTE are volleying another scandal in the shape of its board not actually signing off on the monumental flop that was Toy Show The Musical, thousands of people are getting summonsed for not paying their TV licence.

The musical made a 2.2m loss for RTE in 2022, the equivalent of around 13,750 TV licences, and the debacle has been explained away without much recourse. Public money squandered in a curtain call of jazz hands without board approval and yet the news cycle moves on.

Where is the political outrage that washed over the country last summer when we were hearing day after day of financial fiasco at RTE through Oireachtas briefings? The TV cameras were there and TDs and Senators were doing handstands that would outdo anyone on the Toy Show The Musical stage in order to get their sound bite heard.

Between barter accounts and fancy London venue memberships, Ryan Tubridy's Renault payments and years of mismanagement of public money, the country was shocked and rightly up in arms. People seemingly refused to pay their 160 TV licence in protest. People are still doing that now and fair play to them.

Back in 2023, there was anecdotal evidence of judges refusing to prosecute people hauled before them over non-payment of the charge. Proper order too! There isn't a judge in the country who should be prosecuting anyone now in 2024 as summonses pile up. If I had the gumption, I'd be one of the holdouts but the fear factor of the summons threat in the post in early January prompted me to pay for my well-out-of-date TV licence.

I have a great deal of respect for anyone who is withholding their TV licence on a matter of principle because RTE has not been reformed and the Director-General at the time of most of these financial faux pas is nowhere to be seen. Dee Forbes ran the proverbial ship into the iceberg and then hopped overboard and left the petty officers deal with the fallout.

We saw that band of officers traipse up and down Kildare Street and into Oireachtas committees last year to answer questions as the public poured over the offending balance sheets. How many of them batted away questions by saying it wasn't their job? Some of them have even since retired or resigned with very little repercussion, if any at all. Not least Dee Forbes who hasn't surfaced since the scandal broke and never once answered to the public last year. No one should be prosecuted for having no TV licence until she answers questions and there is legitimate consequences for the people responsible for the financial impropriety at the broadcaster.

As many as 60 people a day are now being summonsed for not paying their TV licence, latest figures reveal. Figures released by the Department of Media show that more than 13,000 were summonsed to appear before the courts last year for non-payment, with the numbers facing prosecution since the controversy broke increasing by 33% a month.

In total, the number of cases brought before various district courts was 8,612. Those who do not pay the TV licence face fines of up to 1,000 or a term in prison. This is a scandal in and of itself. Not one of these people should be dealt the indignity of walking into a courtroom while there still remains so much unresolved at RTE.

What has really changed in the few months since? Yes, a new Director General is cutting the station's cloth to measure and is making very welcome changes, not least the capping of ridiculous salaries paid to top 'talent' but that doesn't fully address the blatant wrongs committed at the station over a long period of time. Someone must answer for those before we can really move on.

A series of statements from RTE acknowledging the mistake made is not nearly adequate. If you receive an extra 5 in your Social Welfare or are taxed 5 less than you should have been in your wages, the arms of Government are not long about reaching into your pocket and taking back what you owe them. I'm not satisfied that one person in RTE has been dealt with properly for their collective handling of the payments scandal.

We've effectively been given the usual response we get get with any public scandal; there is a public flogging where every politician in the country is none too delighted to get involved and throw a few rotten tomatoes. Then there is a review from all angles, internal, the government, independent bodies, blah, blah, blah. And then we're razzle-dazzled with wishy-washy PR speak; 'there will be learnings from this' and an 'action group is being established' and on and on it goes until they think people aren't looking anymore.

It's all very predictable but still very disappointing that this is the level of scrutiny, or lack thereof, our public bodies are held to when they are spending our money on trips to the Champions League final for advertising clients, or flip flops of all things. Sometimes you feel like laughing because the whole thing is so incredible but then you check the postbox, and after all is said and done, you're still the one being held to account over 160.
The exit package for RTEs former chief financial officer (CFO) was not considered or approved by network executives, an independent report has found.

An investigation by legal firm McCann FitzGerald found that the package offered to Breda OKeeffe was the only case where the terms of the 2017 voluntary exit programme were not complied with.

The report said more than 250 applications were submitted under the 2017 programme and 176 were successful.

It also said the failure to follow the rules of the scheme rests with RTE.

The former chief financial officer (Breda OKeeffe) asserts that responsibility for failing to comply with the terms of the 2017 VEP rests solely with RTE and not with her. In this regard, we accept that individual applicants were not responsible for bringing their own applications to the executive board for approval, the report said.

The report does not give the value of the exit payment, but said Ms OKeeffe was entitled to a redundancy lump sum calculated under the rules of the 2017 programme.

It also said Ms OKeeffe had requested that her privacy and GDPR rights be respected so it had limited our commentary to the decision-making process in relation to her departure.

RTE announced in July an external review into its voluntary exit programmes after the Public Accounts Committee was told the voluntary redundancy offering to Ms OKeeffe was not signed off by every member of the broadcasters executive.

Another former CFO, Richard Collins, told the committee he was on the executive board when the payment to his predecessor was made but not when it was agreed, and said he knew nothing about that package.

Deputy director general Adrian Lynch, who was also on the executive board at the time, told the committee it never came to us for sign-off.

Labour TD Alan Kelly put it to RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst that the issue needed to be investigated, and Mr Bakhurst said he took the issue seriously.

The report, published on Thursday evening, said Ms OKeeffe stated she had no awareness of the assertion that her application had not been approved by the executive board.

She also said she made her statement to the Oireachtas in the belief that her VEP application had been approved by the executive board and that she was shocked by statements made to the Oireachtas committees to this effect by RTE Executives in July 2023.

In a separate issue, the McCann FitzGerald investigation found that 10 applications under the 2017 programme were approved and termination payments paid but did not satisfy the requirements of a redundancy within the meaning of the Redundancy Payments Acts and that Revenue needed to decide if a tax exemption should have been applied.

In relation to the 2021 exit programme, the report found that all formal applications submitted were considered consistently and all departures were in compliance with its terms.

Mr Bakhurst said: RTE accepts the findings of the McCann Fitzgerald report, which I commissioned. The report finds that the rules of the two schemes were observed in all instances save one. I remain shocked by this serious breach of procedure  my aim continues to be the implementation of measures to ensure this cannot happen again.

This report arrives as we near completion of a new Governance Framework for RTE, informed by ISO 3700 standards, which will enshrine best practice governance standards across the organisation.

I am satisfied that the additional systemic protections that have been introduced over the last six months will safeguard future processes, including the broadening of the terms of reference and oversight controls of the Remuneration Committee, and stronger governance procedures at interim leadership team level.

The RTE Trade Union Group said staff had expressed their outrage at senior management failures at the national broadcaster in the wake of the report.

It added: Staff are exhausted with the relentless revelations due to shoddy governance while dealing at the same time with the challenges they now face as a consequence.

Despite this, workers in RTE strive every day to provide quality services to the public as they try to rebuild the trust that has been lost.

Minister for the Media Catherine Martin said that the report demonstrated an appalling disregard for the principles of equity, fairness and transparency in the treatment of staff, which prevailed at the time.

Earlier today, I met the director-general, Kevin Bakhurst, and he assured me that the control and oversight reforms, introduced over the past number of months, will ensure that this will not happen again, she said in a statement.

The report has been forwarded to two independent Expert Advisory Committees which were commissioned by Government to carry out Reviews of Governance, Culture, and HR matters at RTE. It will help inform their work, which is ongoing, and I await their recommendations.

According to the report, Ms OKeeffe said she had met former RTE director general Dee Forbes about the exit package and that on September 6 2017, Ms Forbes confirmed her support for my application to the VEP 2017, with a proposed exit date of June 2018.

Her exit was deferred several times, the report said, until RTEs director of human resources issued an offer letter to Ms OKeeffe on June 13 2019, which was in the standard form of letter issued to all successful applicants under the 2017 VEP.

Ms OKeeffe signed and returned this letter, which was a legally binding agreement between her and RTE, the report said.

Neither Ms OKeeffe, who was CFO from 2012 to 2020, nor Ms Forbes were available for interview for the independent report.

Ms OKeeffe did provide information for consideration during the review and responded to queries through her solicitors, the report said.

It added that Ms Forbes was unable to participate in the review for medical reasons, and her solicitor said she had reserved the right to comment further on all matters when she is medically fit to do so.

The McCann FitzGerald report said the absence of Ms Forbes account has inhibited its ability to understand why the application was not put before RTE executives for approval.
The Galway community will rally to support a talented GAA player who suffered life-altering injuries after a road accident.

Moycullen native, Liam Davoren suffered from serious injuries and underwent two major surgeries after a road accident last year.

The 20-year-old was taken to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, after the incident which occurred on Lombard Street in Galway at around 10.20pm.

To support his recovery, family adventure park Widlands, will donate the funds of all their activity proceeds from the Bank Holiday Monday.

Liam is a cherished member of the Wildlands team along with many of his friends and to support Liam and his family Wildlands is donating ALL activity proceeds from Bank Holiday Monday 5th February to the Hope4Liam campaign. The proceeds of every activity whether its soaring on the zipline or navigating the challenge rooms or simply walking through the fairy trails will be donated to the campaign to aid Liams recovery, Widlands said in a statement.

David Bohan, Co-owner and Director of Wildlands added: We want to make Monday 5th a day to remember for everyone who attends and for Liam and his family to know that they are not alone  we are thinking of them all the time.
Fennemore and Sullivan Hill Combine Law Offices in San Diego





Fennemore, the fastest growing Am Law 200 firm in the country, has announced its strategic combination with the San Diego-based firm Sullivan Hill. The combined entity will operate under the Fennemore name, unifying the exceptional and forward-thinking legal services of Fennemore with Sullivan Hill, which offers outstanding insurance coverage, construction, commercial bankruptcy, and employment practices among others. The Sullivan Hill lawyers join Fennemore's existing San Diego legal team to offer a full range of legal services for business and industry, capitalizing on San Diego's status as a thriving community and California's second largest city.

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Fennemore, the fastest growing Am Law 200 firm in the country, has announced its strategic combination with the San Diego-based firm Sullivan Hill. The combined entity will operate under the Fennemore name, unifying the exceptional and forward-thinking legal services of Fennemore with Sullivan Hill, which offers extensive experience in insurance coverage, construction, commercial bankruptcy, real estate transactions and leasing, and an illustrious history in business and commercial litigation, among others. Sullivan Hill lawyers and Fennemore's San Diego team will join forces at the established Sullivan Hill San Diego office. Together, they will provide a comprehensive suite of legal services tailored to businesses and industries, leveraging San Diego's vibrant community and its position as California's second-largest city.

James Goodnow, Fennemore's CEO and managing partner, said, "We're not just expanding our San Diego presence with the accomplished lawyers of Sullivan Hill, but we're also shaping the firm's future through an ongoing commitment to strategic growth and building a deep and talented bench of lawyers in practices focused on the needs of not only today's but tomorrow's businesses. We share a forward-looking vision and a client-first mentality to deliver legal services and solutions tailored to clients' needs."

Robert Allenby, the managing partner at Sullivan Hill, is assuming the role of office managing partner at Fennemore's San Diego office. He said, "We are thrilled to join forces with Fennemore, marking a significant milestone in our firm's journey. We will bring to Fennemore new and expanded practice areas, and our clients will enjoy a platform that will ensure both continuity of representation for the years to come and a broadened access to legal services to serve their needs. This combination heralds an expansion of both expertise and regional reach that can only improve the quality of legal services that Fennemore and we can provide."

In addition to its main office in San Diego, Sullivan Hill has an active practice in Las Vegas, Nevada, which will combine with Fennemore's Las Vegas office.

With this strategic combination, Fennemore's footprint expands to 17 offices across five states: Washington, California, Colorado, Nevada, and its founding state, Arizona. The combination with Sullivan Hill further solidifies Fennemore's position as a trailblazer in the legal industry committed to serving clients throughout the Western United States.

About Fennemore

Since 1885, Fennemore has led the way in providing top-flight legal services tailored for businesses and business owners across the Western United States. With a focus on people, innovation, and collaboration, Fennemore ensures that businesses receive exceptional service. Known for setting the standard in comprehensive legal solutions, Fennemore is a trusted partner with a presence in 17 offices throughout the West. Committed to client satisfaction and success, Fennemore offers cutting-edge legal services designed to empower businesses and their owners. For more information, visit FennemoreLaw.com.

About Sullivan Hill

Sullivan Hill is a distinguished business and trial law firm headquartered in San Diego, California. With a legacy spanning more than half a century, the firm has continuously adapted to the evolving business landscape, demonstrating a deep understanding of San Diego's historic industries and emerging sectors. Clients, ranging from local businesses to Fortune 500 companies, receive personalized attention and access to the firm's top resources, resulting in exceptional service. Sullivan Hill's renowned practice groups in Insolvency and Commercial Bankruptcy, Insurance Coverage, Business Litigation and Construction/Real Estate Law have earned a reputation as some of the best in San Diego, serving both local and national clients.

"We're not just expanding our San Diego presence with the accomplished lawyers of Sullivan Hill, but we're also shaping the firm's future through an ongoing commitment to strategic growth," says James Goodnow , Fennemore's CEO and managing partner.

Media Contact

Lindsay Moellenberndt, Fennemore, 602.916.5212, lmoellenberndt@fennemorelaw.com, www.fennemorelaw.com

SOURCE Fennemore

30 january 2024 at 14:54

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Tom Wheelwright, CPA and CEO of WealthAbility, Releases Third Edition of Amazon's #1 Bestselling Tax Book, Tax-Free Wealth: How to Build Massive Wealth by Permanently Lowering Your Taxes





The updated edition of this seminal work is available for purchase on January 30th, 2024

TEMPE, Ariz., Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, tax and wealth expert Tom Wheelwright, CPA and CEO of WealthAbility, published the third edition of the decade-long bestselling book, Tax-Free Wealth: How to Build Massive Wealth by Permanently Lowering Your Taxes.

Tax-Free Wealth is a comprehensive guide to the strategies that are available to everyone to build massive wealth and permanently reduce their taxes. The third edition revisits and updates this wealth-building philosophy and is expanded and updated to include recent tax law changes.

In Tax-Free Wealth, readers learn why governments want them to pay less taxes, why entrepreneurs and investors get all the breaks, why to never fear an audit, how to survive one, and how to use your tax savings to build tremendous wealth. Wheelwright makes taxes fun, easy, and understandable, providing actionable insights that empower readers to demystify the lax law and use it to their advantage.

Wheelwright has a wide range of professional experience. He has worked in Big 4 accounting, where he managed and led professional training for thousands of CPAs at Ernst & Young's National Tax Department in Washington, D.C., served as in-house tax advisor for Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, and taught as an adjunct professor in the Masters of Tax program at Arizona State University for 14 years. He's built and scaled multiple CPA firms and serves as the personal accountant of renowned author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki.

"I think you'll find, as I have, Tom's passion for taxes ? and helping you save money in taxes ? to be infectious," remarked Kiyosaki. "And I know you'll find the wealth of knowledge he brings to the table to be life changing."

Continues Wheelwright, "Taxes often steal people's dreams and retirement, and Tax-Free Wealth explains how to use the tax law as a road map for reducing your taxes and increasing your wealth. The book is a valuable resource not only for individuals but also for entrepreneurs, investors, and small business owners looking to minimize their tax burdens and maximize their wealth accumulation."

Tax-Free Wealth, the third edition, is available starting January 30th, 2024. For more information about Tax Free Wealth, visit https://taxfreewealthbook.com/. For more information about Tom Wheelwright, CPA and WealthAbility, visit https://www.wealthability.com/.

About Tom Wheelwright, CPA

Tax and wealth expert Tom Wheelwright is a CPA, CEO of WealthAbility, Rich Dad Advisor, entrepreneur, international speaker, and author of the bestselling books The Win-Win Wealth Strategy and Tax-Free Wealth. Wheelwright is the CPA for Robert Kiyosaki and has spoken on stage on six continents to over 100,000 entrepreneurs, small business owners, and investors. He also hosts two popular podcasts: The WealthAbility Show with Tom Wheelwright CPA and The WealthAbility for CPAs Show.

Media Contact:

Terri Kayden, Krupp:

[email protected]

SOURCE WealthAbility

30 january 2024 at 17:13

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ACX Celebrates Successful Inaugural Trade of SYLVERA 'A' Nature Tonne (SAN) Contract with First Abu Dhabi Bank in ADGM, Abu Dhabi





ABU DHABI, UAE and SINGAPORE, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ACX Ltd (ACX), a leading Recognised Investment Exchange in environmental markets exchange, is excited to announce the successful execution of the first trades of its innovative ACX's SYLVERA 'A' Nature Tonne (SAN) contract. Launched in mid-December 2023, this contract has witnessed its first trade, giving buyers confidence that they are investing in credits high in environmental integrity, this achievement underscores the market's confidence in the viability and efficacy of such contract.

The inaugural trade, completed on 19 December 2023, signifies a pivotal milestone in the evolution of carbon markets. The SAN contract, designed to meet the demands of a rapidly changing environmental landscape, garnered significant attention and participation from key industry players such as the First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB). This successful trade validates the relevance of such instruments in fostering a more efficient, transparent, and dynamic carbon trading ecosystem.

Sameh Al Qubaisi, Group Head of Global Markets at FAB, said, "As a leader in the emerging voluntary carbon market, FAB endeavors to promote contracts that instill confidence in buyers, assuring them that their investments support credits with high environmental integrity. This inaugural ACX SAN contract is one such, validating the relevance of financial instruments in fostering a more efficient, transparent, and dynamic carbon trading ecosystem."

Andrew Cullen, VP of Institutional Sales at ACX, said, "We are thrilled to witness the successful execution of the first trade of our revolutionary carbon contract since the launch. This not only demonstrates the market's trust in our platform but also highlights the collective commitment towards advancing sustainable practices. Our innovative contract is poised to reshape the future of carbon trading, offering participants new avenues for impact and engagement."

By emphasising its concentration on nature-based credits, the SAN contract's distinctive features, such as accepting only carbon credits from Sylvera's highest-rated projects (AA & AAA) with a co-benefits score of three and above, contribute to simplifying decision-making in the trading process yet ensuring strict compliance with social and environmental safeguards. This successful inaugural trade sets the stage for increased adoption and liquidity in the emerging market for environmental derivatives.

ACX remains at the forefront of environmental markets, continuously striving to provide cutting-edge solutions that align with the evolving needs of the industry. The success of this first trade reinforces ACX's commitment to driving positive change through innovative financial instruments.

About the ACX Group:

ACX Group, including the regulated ACX Exchange (operated by ACX Ltd and ACX Clearing Corporation Ltd) and the Singapore based AirCarbon Pte. Ltd., provides corporates, financial entities, carbon project developers and other market participants, with an efficient and transparent means of trading environmental instruments. Through leveraging distributed ledger technology, ACX provides a seamless and user-friendly platform, with the lowest transaction fees in the market, to facilitate growth of environmental instrument markets and contribute to the necessary transition to a net zero global economy.

ACX Group is proud to be a member of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), further enhancing its commitment to sustainability and responsible trading practices for carbon and other environmental products. ACX Group has garnered international recognition as the Best Carbon Exchange globally in Environmental Finance's esteemed Voluntary Carbon Market Rankings for three consecutive years (2021, 2022, 2023), solidifying its position as a leader in the industry.

For more information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.acx.net.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2286691/ACX_Logo.jpg

30 january 2024 at 23:30

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Announcing the 2024 GSV Cup 50: The World's Most Innovative Digital Learning & Workforce Skills Startups





CHICAGO and NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The GSV Cup ? presented by Google Cloud and GSV Ventures, and supported by HolonIQ ? announces the 50 most innovative digital learning and workforce skills startups that are poised to revolutionize "Pre-K to Gray" learning.

After evaluating 1,000 nominated pre-seed and seed-stage startups, the 2024 GSV Cup 50 were selected using GSV Ventures' "Five P's" framework: People, Product, Potential, Predictability, and Purpose. The chosen companies are advancing the future of lifelong education, supporting learners across early childhood, K-12, higher education, workforce learning, and adult consumer learning.

"We are always looking for the stars of tomorrow, and the GSV Cup 50 are just that," said Deborah Quazzo, Managing Partner of GSV Ventures and Co-founder of the ASU+GSV Summit. "These companies are activating opportunity, hope, and advancement through scaled innovations across 'Pre-K to Gray' learning, and they're doing so in incredibly thoughtful and exciting ways. We're confident these 50 companies will have a massive impact on the global education landscape."

The 2024 GSV Cup 50 recognizes the following as the world's most innovative digital learning and workforce skills startups: AccioJob, Ann Education, Answer AI, ASI, Atypical AI, Boddle Learning, BoldVoice, Careerflow.ai, Cerebry, Class Companion, Curipod, Diffit, Doowii, Ed Machina, Edison, Enlighten AI, Enroll ML, GPTZero, InSpace, Jamworks, Josh Talks, KaiPod Learning, LitLab.ai, Litmus Learn, Ludenso, MagicSchool AI, Meadow, Mesa School of Business, NOLEJ, Pace AI, Pep, Playground, Primer, Project Read, Quazel, Quizard AI, Scaffold Ed, SchoolAI, Schoolytics, Sizzle AI, SpaceBasic, Sparkwise, Stimuler, Training All People (TAP), uDocz, Uplimit, UpSmith, Vani, Vedika, and Voys AI.

Of these 50 companies representing 15 different countries, 34% are headquartered outside the US, 66% have female and/or BIPOC founders, and 78% leverage AI for learning and skill development. All will showcase their product and impact on the global stage at the 2024 ASU+GSV Summit , April 14-17, in San Diego, CA.

The 2024 GSV Cup 50 join a prestigious group of former Cup participants including Ello, Ethena, LingoAce, Prenda, Stride, TransfrVR, and TeachFX.

Learn more about the 2024 GSV Cup 50 here .

ABOUT ASU+GSV

Now celebrating its 15th year, the ASU+GSV Summit is the world's most important and impactful gathering of leaders across "Pre-K to Gray" education and workforce learning. Hosted in San Diego, the annual event attracts over 7,000 in-person and 10,000 virtual registrants. This year, ASU+GSV is also hosting its inaugural AIR Show, an immersive exploration of the AI Revolution in education, held in conjunction with the ASU+GSV Summit. Past GSV keynote speakers and honorees have included Presidents George Bush, Barack Obama and Vicente Fox Quesada, Former Secretaries of Education Arne Duncan and John King, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Gina Raimondo, Reed Hastings, John Legend, Condoleezza Rice, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Priscilla Chan, Laurene Powell Jobs, and more.

SOURCE ASU+GSV Summit

31 january 2024 at 06:47

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Aim Security Raises $10M to Secure Generative AI Enterprise Adoption





Aim Security, an Israeli cybersecurity startup offering enterprises a holistic, one-stop shop GenAI security platform, today announced $10 million in seed funding. The round was led by YL Ventures, with participation from CCL (Cyber Club London), the founders of WIZ and angel investors from Google, Proofpoint and Palo Alto Networks. Aim Security was founded by cybersecurity veterans Matan Getz, CEO and Adir Gruss, CTO who pioneered the use and adoption of AI and big data tools in the IDF's elite intelligence Unit 8200.

Generative AI isn't the future of technology, it's the present. McKinsey & Company's report on "The State of AI in 2023" states that one-third of respondents use GenAI regularly in at least one business function and 40% of respondents indicate that their organizations plan to increase their investment in AI overall. Interestingly and concerningly, 53% of those surveyed in McKinsey's report consider cybersecurity risks the most acute risks of GenAI adoption, but only 38% of respondents who reported GenAI adoption state that they are able to mitigate GenAI risks.

"The stringent regulations of the finance industry and our concern for our customers' data make GenAI adoption challenging," says Drew Robertson, CISO at Finance of America. "Aim secures the entire breadth of our GenAI use, no matter where it is applied ? public SaaS apps, enterprise chats or our own internal developments ? and helps us place and enforce the guardrails that fit our industry regulations and unique needs."

GenAI is implemented in three main ways, each with its unique risk surface. Public GenAI tools and 3rd party apps with embedded GenAI features accelerate how employees send sensitive data to external tools. Some of these tools may be ungoverned and unsanctioned by security teams, who must then chase the adoption of these Shadow AI tools, mapping each of their unique risks and understanding what tools are training their models on the data submitted. In addition, there is a massive and growing adoption of GenAI-powered copilots by enterprises. These hyper-productivity tools connect to the company's environment and may break all existing trust boundaries, flatten the authorization layer and create unauthorized data access. Companies have also realized the immense value of using GenAI agents and AI-led development to augment their own applications, leading to ownership and GenAI regulation issues, safety questions regarding malicious and manipulated GenAI output and unique attack vectors such as jailbreaks and prompt injection.

Traditional security tools lack the specific expertise required to understand the foundations of GenAI and the scope of its risk, and these are blind spots that organizations can't see until it's too late. "This enormous risk surface is replete with unique attack vectors that existing security solutions cannot sufficiently address," says Matan Getz, CEO and co-founder of Aim Security. "Much like the cloud revolution and the bespoke security solutions that followed, the GenAI revolution requires an entirely new approach to addressing its unique vulnerabilities and vectors."

Across the organization, business users and developers can leverage GenAI technology while Aim provides security teams with the oversight, visibility and control they never had. Aim's unparalleled GenAI Protection Suite is a holistic platform that is dedicated to continuously addressing these risks while ensuring increased productivity and secure GenAI adoption.

"While the market is still finding its footing in the GenAI wilderness, Aim is already arming its customers with everything they need to address emerging GenAI security threats while providing invaluable business insights on GenAI use," says Ofer Schreiber, Senior Partner at YL Ventures. "Matan and Adir are true visionaries whose innovative approach is crucial when breaking into a constantly evolving new sector. They already have a strong customer base, indicating an exceptional ability to quickly execute while continuing to address customer needs along their GenAI journey."

A comprehensive security solution for any GenAI use, Aim goes beyond security. It provides organizations with critical insights that augment their understanding of how GenAI can be used to drive business goals. "In our business, GenAI is truly revolutionary for our daily productivity and efficiency," says Elie AbenMoha, CISO at a Global 1000 media company. "We are deeply invested in the space and leading innovative integrations of GenAI to our environment. The pivotal role of security in shaping the deployment architecture and establishing policy cannot be overstated. I am delighted to have Aim's expertise guiding us through this crucial process."

"Aim gives us complete visibility of employee GenAI usage, with proactive guardrails and preventive controls, elevating the MIO Information Security team as a business enabler," says Israel Bryski, CISO at MIO Partners, Inc. "Aim's business-forward approach and nimbleness served a critical role in MIO's GenAI Exploration Committee, helping us shape our GenAI strategy rooted in a strong security foundation."

For more information on how Aim Security can help drive secure GenAI adoption, please visit: Aim.Security

Additional Quotes

"Not only has Aim helped us verify that sensitive data is not leaked to public GenAI tools, but they also provided a secure alternative, transforming our security team into true business enablers. As a health-tech company, we must utilize the most forward-thinking technologies to enhance our products. With Aim, we are confident about the level of security we provide and can accelerate our GenAI adoption without concern." Sarah Hendrickson, CISO at Cerebral

"Generative AI is the future of business and can't be secured using traditional security strategies and tools. Aim introduces an entirely new, holistic approach and specific expertise to secure the unique risks of GenAI, with a quick time-to-value and a streamlined approach." Michael Sutton, former CISO at Zscaler

"After helping companies secure their data for over 20 years, I can say with certainty that the legacy security stack can't help companies secure their proprietary and regulated data in the GenAI age. A new, innovative platform is needed to address the unique challenges that GenAI uncovers. Aim is exactly what you need in your current security stack, to ensure your data is protected." Yair Grindlinger, former SVP of Product at Proofpoint

About Aim Security

The Age of GenAI will radically transform the traditional security stack. Aim Security is the industry guide to secure GenAI adoption, equipping security leaders with the ability to drive business productivity while providing the right guardrails and ensuring proactive protection for all use cases across the entire organization, whether enterprise use or production use. Leading CISOs and security practitioners on their secure GenAI journey, Aim empowers enterprises to unlock the full potential of GenAI technology without compromising security.

About YL Ventures

YL Ventures funds and supports visionary cybersecurity entrepreneurs from seed to scale to help them evolve transformative ideas into market-leading companies. The firm accelerates company growth with tailored support through its powerful network of Chief Information Security Officers, global industry leaders and a dedicated team of multidisciplinary experts. Based in Silicon Valley, New York and Tel Aviv, YL Ventures manages five funds with $800M in total AUM. The firm has a track record of seeding cybersecurity unicorns such as Axonius and Orca Security and its portfolio companies have been successfully acquired by high-profile, global industry leaders including Palo Alto Networks, Microsoft, Okta and Proofpoint. In 2022, YL Ventures ranked 8th out of over 250 venture capital firms in PitchBook's prestigious Global Manager Performance Score League Tables and was the only cybersecurity-focused VC to secure a top 10 spot.

31 january 2024 at 07:05

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Successful STRATCO Alkylation Technology Startup at PetroChina Guangdong Refinery





PetroChina Guangdong (PetroChina), a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation, has successfully completed and surpassed all performance guarantees for its groundbreaking 595 thousand metric tons per annum (KMTA) STRATCO alkylation unit. These guarantees cover crucial aspects such as alkylate yield, research octane number (RON), motor octane number (MON), acid consumption, D-86 end point, and Reid vapor pressure (Rvp). The completion of the performance test period for the STRATCO alkylation unit allows PetroChina to adhere to China VI quality specifications in their gasoline pool, contributing to the sustainable development of China's energy landscape.

This successful performance test marks a significant milestone as one of the largest alkylation units operating within China. This achievement is a testament to PetroChina's capability to implement production measures at a scale that meets the country's growing energy demands. This accomplishment also aligns with the company's commitment to environmental responsibility, ensuring that the gasoline produced meets the highest standards for emissions and quality.

"Seeing the PetroChina STRATCO alkylation unit handedly pass all performance guarantee tests is a testament to the technology and the aptitude of the staff of the refinery. We're all very pleased with the results and look forward to working with PetroChina on future endeavors," said Mike Cherry, Vice President of Refining, Elessent Clean Technologies.

"The implementation of the STRATCO unit not only demonstrates our commitment to delivering robust technology but also highlights the exceptional operational flexibility that garners strong appreciation from our valued partners at PetroChina," said Guoqiang Zhang, Project Execution Manager for Alkylation Technical Services in China.

PetroChina looks forward to continued success and growth as it leverages the capabilities of the new STRATCO alkylation facility to further enhance its position as a leading player in the global energy industry.

The STRATCO alkylation technology is a sulfuric acid-catalyzed process that converts low value, straight-chain olefins (propylene, butylene and amylene) into high-value, branched components called alkylate. Alkylate is known for its superior blending properties and is a key component for clean gasoline. The STRATCO alkylation technology helps refiners safely produce cleaner-burning gasoline with high octane, low Reid vapor pressure, low sulfur, zero aromatics and zero olefins. Licensed and marketed by Elessent Clean Technologies, the STRATCO alkylation technology is the world-leading alkylation technology with more than 100 licensed units worldwide and more than 915,000 bpsd (35,800 kmta) of installed capacity. Elessent is committed to alkylation research and has extensive experience in assisting refiners with alkylation research, design, start-ups, test runs, troubleshooting, optimization, revamps, expansions, analytical testing, operator training, turnarounds and HAZOP studies. Learn more at STRATCO.ElessentCT.com.

About Elessent Clean Technologies

Elessent Clean Technologies is a leading source of solutions for decarbonizing the industrial manufacturing sector and transitioning the industry to a sustainable future. Our clean technology solutions minimize environmental impact and optimize productivity while remaining cost competitive. As a responsible supplier and partner to the metal, fertilizer, chemical, petrochemical and oil refining industries, our technology portfolio includes MECS sulfuric acid production, STRATCO alkylation, BELCO gas cleaning and IsoTherming hydroprocessing. Offering critical process equipment, products, technology and services, we are dedicated to helping our customers produce high-quality, cleaner products for the world. Learn more at www.ElessentCT.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Elessent Clean Technologies, the Elessent Logo, and all trademarks and service marks denoted with tm, SM or  are owned by affiliates of Elessent Clean Technologies Inc. unless otherwise noted.

31 january 2024 at 09:05

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NANJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday. With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. As a manufacturing hub in the Yangtze River Delta, the city has magnetized a thriving cluster of top-notch battery and new energy vehicle (NEV) makers, infusing robust momentum into its economic growth. The output value of the new energy industry in the city reached about 768 billion yuan last year, and the city aims to expand the output value to over one trillion yuan by 2025, according to Chen Jinhu, Party chief of Changzhou. "The new energy industry is a winning formula for Changzhou's development." Data show that the industrial chain integrity of power batteries in Changzhou has reached 97 percent, ranking first in China, and the output accounts for 20 percent of the country's production capacity. The city also contributes to 10 percent of Chinese-made photovoltaic cells and modules. In 2023, it produced more than 700,000 NEVs, accounting for 70 percent of those made in Jiangsu. "Changzhou's new energy industry cluster is very developed and highly concentrated, so it fosters strong innovation capacity and great efficiency in production," said Zhang Yaojun, a professor from Renmin University of China. Plenty of foreign-funded companies in new energy have also settled in Changzhou and benefited from the local industrial chain. "We choose Changzhou because we need a place where we can get to scale very quickly, and Changzhou offers a unique combination of supply chain infrastructure," said Jorg Heinemann, CEO of America's EnerVenue, a storage battery supplier. "We want to be a large part of Changzhou's new energy vision and scale here and grow very big in this location." And the progress of Changzhou is the epitome of how China is continuously moving toward the green transition. The city representatives were invited to a side event at the China Pavilion of the COP28 climate change conference last year. "For Changzhou, new energy is not just an industry, and the ultimate participants and beneficiaries of promoting green and low-carbon development are the people," said Wang Xiaodong, a local official, at the event.
Reveal Mobile Announces Partnership with LoopMe for Out of Home Measurement





Reveal Mobile, the leading provider of Out-of-Home (OOH) measurement, today announced a partnership with LoopMe for brand lift measurement.

The partnership between Reveal Mobile and LoopMe solidifies a true full-funnel campaign performance solution for OOH, providing the market with measurement solutions for outcomes, from brand lift to sales.

LoopMe's proprietary AI-led survey technology optimizes media campaigns in-flight, creating a real-time feedback loop to improve advertising performance and outcomes. With the new Reveal partnership, LoopMe expands its industry leading technology to offer best-in-class measurement across OOH, as well as digital and CTV.

Brand lift has long been a staple for traditional brand marketers to evaluate the efficacy of their advertising campaigns. The explosive growth in Out of Home opportunities has brought more brand marketers into the channel and with them their demand for measurement rigor. LoopMe's solution provides those brand marketers confidence to continue investing more in Out of Home. Reveal is proud to help broaden adoption of LoopMe's solution.

"As Out of Home grows based on the value it brings brand advertisers, reliable and affordable campaign measurement is critical," said Anna Bager, President & CEO of the industry's trade organization OAAA. "New technologies from the application of programmatic to the deployment of experiential creative are enhancing the efficacy of OOH and brands marketers are noticing."

"This partnership with Reveal is a critical step in measuring the impact of OOH campaigns on foot traffic, in-app, and online activities, and delivering brand lift outcomes across all consumer advertising channels," said Lisa Coffey, Global CRO of LoopMe. "We are excited to expand our U.S. offering with purpose built solutions for measuring campaign effectiveness in the OOH space."

Randy Kilgore, Reveal's CRO said, "We're immensely honored to be chosen as LoopMe's exclusive partner for Brand Lift surveys in the OOH channel. LoopMe is a global organization with leadership in media optimization and analytics. They have the highest standards for themselves and we're humbled to be chosen."

The power of Out of Home advertising is borne out in research:

68% of U.S. adults notice OOH ads on their way to the store.

76% of U.S. adults took action on their mobile phone after recently seeing a mobile ad and 43% made a purchase.

61% of adults view OOH ads favorably which is higher than any competitive media.

For more information, please visit https://revealmobile.com/resource/ooh-brand-survey-solution-brief/.

About Reveal Mobile

Reveal Mobile is the leading provider of Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising campaign performance measurement. Mira Studies from Reveal were the first to measure OOH advertising's impact on foot traffic, in-app purchases, and web based activity (and since expanded to include brand awareness). Reveal Mobile has expertise in measuring all types of OOH including programmatic, place based, and moving. Reveal Mobile also measures foot traffic attribution for digital media through its proprietary VISIT Local product. The company is based in Raleigh, NC and New York, NY. For more information, please visit www.revealmobile.com.

About LoopMe

LoopMe is a technology company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to improve brand advertising performance and outcomes. LoopMe was the first to apply AI to brand advertising and its Intelligent Marketplace, finding solutions to industry challenges that haven't previously been solved. With consumer insights and AI at its core, LoopMe makes brand advertising better, outperforming industry benchmarks for leading global brands. Our vision is to change advertising for the better, by building technology that will redefine brand advertising. LoopMe was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in the UK, with global offices across New York, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Dnipro, Krakow and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.loopme.com.

31 january 2024 at 10:05

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Clayton Reaches 100,000 Hours in Company Volunteer Program





Exciting Milestone Showcases Team Members' Commitment to Investing in Local Communities

MARYVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Clayton , a leading national builder of single-family attainable housing, reached a milestone in its enterprise-wide team member volunteer program. As of December 2023, Clayton team members invested over 100,000 total volunteer hours in communities across the country.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9249351-clayton-impact-paid-volunteer-time-off/

Each year, the Clayton Impact program provides all 20,000+ full-time team members across the U.S. with 8 hours of paid time off to volunteer for local causes that are meaningful to them. Through the program, Clayton provides organized volunteer opportunities as well as encourages team members to volunteer independently.

Since the program began in July 2021, team members have embraced the opportunity to use their volunteer time off (VTO). In 2023 alone, Clayton team members contributed over 71,700 total VTO hours. Clayton has seen a steady increase in annual engagement. Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose , a coalition led by over 200 executives that provides insights on strategies to achieve positive social impact, found that the average employee volunteer participation rate is less than 20 percent. An innovative approach to its company volunteer program helped Clayton achieve nearly a 49 percent participation rate in 2023.

In 2023, Clayton team members came together to support their local communities in several ways. Listed below are a few examples.

Clayton Home Building Group team members volunteered over 530 collective hours to repair homes and community spaces with the nonprofit Rebuilding Together .

. Over 590 Clayton team members volunteered to clean the East Tennessee watershed with the nonprofit Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful.

watershed with the nonprofit Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful. 120 Retail Home Centers participated in a total of 132 service projects for their communities, with projects including creating animal toys for local shelters and friendship bracelets for nursing home/assisted living clients.

350 Clayton team members volunteered 1,300 hours to build homes with Habitat for Humanity.

Clayton Home Office team members volunteered 304 collective hours to build over 80 beds for local children in need with Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

"This volunteer program inspires team members to do good by making a difference in their local communities. This milestone shows how dedicated they are to making an impact," said Sarah Jo Gregory, Director of Clayton Wellbeing and Clayton Impact. "We're excited to see this program continue to grow and make a positive difference in the lives of team members and the communities they serve."

Learn more about Clayton's social responsibility efforts at claytonhomes.com/social-responsibility .

About Clayton

Founded in 1956, Clayton is committed to opening doors to a better life and building happyness through homeownership. A Berkshire Hathaway company, Clayton is a leading single-family, values-driven home builder dedicated to attainable housing, sustainable practices, and creating a world-class experience for customers and team members. The company's portfolio includes a comprehensive range of site-built, off-site, Tiny, CrossMod and modular housing. In 2023, Clayton built more than 52,000 homes across the country. For more information, visit claytonhomes.com.

CrossMod is a registered trademark of the Manufactured Housing Institute.

SOURCE Clayton

31 january 2024 at 11:24

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Tradewind Finance Continues Commitment to Financing Textile and Apparel Industry with Two New Credit Facilities





MONCHENGLADBACH, Germany, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The apparel and textile market continues to be an important contributor to the global economy. The fashion industry experienced over "double the levels of economic profit in 2022 than in all the years between 2010 and 2020", apart from one, McKinsey & Company reports.[1] Fiber produced globally also reached a record 116 million tons in 2022.[2] Rising costs, swings in consumer demand, and geopolitical factors, however, have put pressure on the industry.

Tradewind Finance, a financial services firm offering tailor-made trade finance solutions, has been a witness to this growth, as well as the challenges, through its role financing the apparel and textile industry for nearly 25 years.

In addressing the working capital requirements of doing business, Tradewind today announced funding for two new clients within the apparel and textile market, further extending its reach in the segment. Through the new client relationships, Tradewind continues to improve liquidity and enable trade for companies by converting their unpaid receivables into ready cash.

The firm structured a EUR 3 million credit facility for a German company that trades in polyester fibers used for bedding, furniture, and other applications. It also delivered EUR 650,000 in funding for a Turkish clothing manufacturer that makes denim and non-denim apparel including jackets, pants and skirts.

Both of Tradewind's new clients, which export to the EU, are using the firm's export factoring solutions to free up capital from their invoices and accelerate their cash flow to support their operational and growth needs. These solutions are especially known to bridge the payment gap and include credit protection and accounts receivable management, mitigating the risks associated with cross-border trade.

The staying power of brick-and-mortar retailers and rollout of small-format stores, embrace of e-commerce, and the array of production lines creating everything from bath linens to popular athleisure keep the textile and apparel industry an active one. The global textile market's value reached USD 1,695.13 billion in 2023 alone and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.6% in terms of revenue from 2024 to 2030, based on data from Grand View Research.[3]

With a financing portfolio that now spans over 20 industries, Tradewind has its roots funding Turkish textile suppliers selling to European importers. More than two decades later, the firm's comprehensive suite of trade finance products continues to enable apparel and textile companies to trade seamlessly. Tradewind's solutions not only mitigate trade uncertainties and enhance working capital for businesses in this sector, but they also empower them to achieve growth.

Scalable funding offered by Tradewind can adjust to shifts in sales, allowing the firm to keep up with their clients' cash flow needs long-term.

About Tradewind Finance

Founded in 2000, Tradewind Finance maintains a network of offices all over the world, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, India, Pakistan, Peru, Turkey, UAE, and the USA as well as the headquarters in Germany. Combining financing, credit protection, and collections into a single suite of trade finance products, Tradewind brings streamlined, flexible, and best-in-class services to the world's exporters and importers.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

[1] "The State of Fashion 2024", Business of Fashion & McKinsey & Company, November 29, 2023

[2] Materials Market Report, Textile Exchange, December 2023

[3] Textile Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Raw Material (Wool, Chemical, Silk), By Product (Natural Fibers, Polyester), By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2024 ? 2030, Grand View Research, December 2023 Grand View Research, Accessed December 2023

SOURCE Tradewind Finance

31 january 2024 at 12:15

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At the Port-Bouet military base in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, December 19, 2019. LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

After intense discussions, the French president has finally decided on the future of the three French bases on the West African coast. Following months of uncertainty regarding the armed forces' future, pending a verdict from the Elysee, Emmanuel Macron opted for a significant reduction of military personnel in Gabon, Senegal, and Cote d'Ivoire during a defense council meeting in mid-December 2023, according to Le Monde's sources.

At this stage, the precise number of French soldiers to be maintained at these bases in Libreville (Gabon), Dakar (Senegal) and Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire) has not been set in stone. However, according to senior officers in the French Army, the primary group impacted, the intended cutbacks are significant. In the most drastic scenario being considered, only around 100 posts, mainly in support functions, will be kept permanently in each of the three cities.

For the Libreville and Dakar bases, which in recent months officially housed 350 military personnel each, and for Abidjan, France's logistical hub for its Sahel operations, which was home to some 950 soldiers, this downsizing is a turning point. The president has not, however, decided to close them  a move that had previously been considered. Conversely, the French presence in Djibouti and Chad (1,500 soldiers in each case) remains unchanged.

'We'd like to move quickly'

"There's no change of axis," was the message from the Elysee, pointing out that the strategy of reducing France's military presence in Africa had been on the cards since February 2023, which the president announced on the eve of a tour of the continent. "But there are factors that led to progress being made," the source added. "We want to move away from a model where we had a significant presence in the capitals to a much smaller footprint."

Editorial A low profile for France in Africa

The coup d'etat in Niger in July 2023 played a decisive role in this restructuring. The forced withdrawal, under pressure from the putschists, was completed at the end of December and followed those in Mali and Burkina Faso. Now, both at the Elysee and in the military leadership, people say they're in a hurry to progress. "We'd like to move quickly," said a source at the French presidency, while pointing out that the "technicalities" need to be discussed with the partner countries.

French Army leadership plans to limit the number of military personnel stationed with their families, which has contributed to the perception of France as operating in isolation. The goal is to create bases that are seen as simple "caretaking posts." In other words, bases with limited visibility but where it will still be possible to vary the number of personnel for specific missions, with "the idea of troop movements according to the needs of partners (...) who each have their own distinct requirements," according to the Elysee.

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LIMERICK has seen a significant drop in the number of speeding fines handed out to motorists over the past decade, figures released to Dail Eireann have revealed.

In 2014, a total of 17,035 speeding fines were issued in Limerick while in 2023, this figure had fallen to 7,597.

This is according to figures released by way of a Parliamentary Question to Aontus Peadar Toibin.

Commenting on the figures, Aontus Limerick representative Sarah Beasley said that ongoing carnage on our roads can be directly linked to a fall in the number of gardai policing our roads and the sharp decline in speeding enforcement.

Seven people lost their lives on Limerick roads last year, which was down from 10 the year before, according to road traffic collision figures published by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) on January 1, 2024.

Separate figures from the RSA show that in 2014, there were 10 road deaths in Limerick.

The figures for Limerick are absolutely dire, Ms Beasley said.

Helen McEntee has admitted that there has been a massive fall in the number of gardai employed to police our roads.

We are just a few short weeks into 2024 and already 11 people have died (nationally) on our roads, she added.
THE FUNERAL Mass of the man who tragically died in a workplace incident at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin, takes place this Thursday.

The deceased - John (Jack) Hurley, aged in his 70s, of Windy Gap, Glenagross, Meelick, Co Clare - has been described as a true gentleman" and "a great character.

Gardai are investigating the fatal workplace incident at Garda Headquarters which occurred on Friday, January 26. The Health and Safety Authority have been notified. It is understood Mr Hurley passed away after falling while carrying out works.

Reposing in St John the Baptist Church, Meelick this Wednesday, January 31, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Funeral Mass on Thursday at 2pm followed by cremation in Shannon Crematorium at 4pm.

Mr Hurley is sadly missed by his heartbroken partner Richella, from Pallaskenry, and his brother Anthony. His daughters Catherine and Ita and their mother Peggy, grandchildren, sister-in-law Liz, brothers-in-law Terry and George, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and his many friends. He was predeceased by his sisters Maureen, Tess, Ann, and his brother Michael.

The Meelick correspondent for the Limerick Leader, Donal OShea paid a touching tribute in his notes this week.

Meelick was united in grief last weekend when news filtered through that well known steeplejack, Jack Hurley, of Glenagross, died following a workplace incident in Dublin.

Formerly of Clancy & Partners Steeplejacks, Jack had friends in every part of the country and over the years travelled the length and breadth of Ireland in his line of work. He was in his early seventies and was a keen sportsman throughout his life, said Mr OShea.

Mr Hurley was a prominent hurler for Meelick in his youth and earned the affectionate moniker, The iron man from the Windy Gap. A colleague on the Meelick team said, He always played hard and fair, and always gave one hundred per cent.

He was extremely popular and well-liked. He was a kindly neighbour and loyal friend, said Mr OShea.

Many condolences have been written under Mr Hurley's death notice on RIP.ie One of countless tributes reads: We wish to express our sincere condolences to Richella and the Hurley family at this very sad time. I have known John for many many years.

He was a gentleman and obliging and efficient when it came to doing business. We had many fun times over the years. John will be sadly missed. May he rest In peace."

Another person wrote: So sorry to hear about the sudden passing of John who was a legend and very kind man. Always had a smile and enjoyed the banter among colleagues and friends. Fond memories and a pleasure to work with over 25 years. He will be sadly missed by all.

One mourner simply wrote: What a great character and true gentleman.

May he rest in peace.
WELL-KNOWN Limerick businesswoman Helen O'Donnell is weighing up a bid to become the first Directly Elected Mayor of the city and county.

Limerick is expected to go to the polls in early June to elect an executive mayor for the first time, following the passage of a plebiscite approving the measure five years ago.

Ms O'Donnell, who was part of the campaign to introduce the measure, now is considering contesting the maiden election.

Only a handful of people have formally declared their interest in the all-powerful role, which carries a five-year term, so far.

"It's something I am giving serious consideration to," Ms O'Donnell told Limerick Live, "There are a number of things I have to consider."

"It's a very big opportunity for Limerick. It's a big life-changing decision for me to make. I do what I do and love what I'm doing. But this would be a major change in my life. I'd need to take it seriously. Until you know exactly what the role it is hard to make decisions," she added.

The legislation is currently passing through the Oireachtas, and is being spearheaded by Limerick TD and Minister of State Kieran O'Donnell.

Ms O'Donnell has been in business in Limerick for more than 30 years, running the cafe in the Hunt Museum through her firm Dolmen Catering up to 2022.

She also chairs the Paul Partnership, which aims to tackle disadvantage in the city.

A community activist, she chairs the board of management at Crescent College Comprehensive and a member of A t-Udaras Rialaithe, the governing body of Mary Immaculate College.

Elsewhere, she chairs the Limerick City Tidy Towns committee and sits as a member of the JP McManus Benevolent Fund committee.

Her late husband, Tom is a former government minister and MEP.
A five-year-old girl who was seriously injured in a stabbing outside a school on Parnell Square last November is understood to have been readmitted to intensive care in recent days following a "setback".

A GoFundMe page set up on her behalf confirmed the news this week.

The young girl was one of three children attacked outside Colaiste Mhuire, Parnell Square in Dublin on November 23rd, and suffered the most serious injuries.

A boy and a girl who were also injured during the attack were discharged from hospital in November.

A care worker who was also stabbed during the attack spent over a week in intensive care in the Mater hospital. She was then moved to a high-dependency unit and, later, to a regular ward. However, she was discharged from the hospital shortly before Christmas.

The five-year-old girl was in a critical condition for weeks in Temple St Hospital after the attack. However, her condition had improved and she was moved to a ward in late December.

"We had a bit of a setback and are currently in the ICU once more," the organiser of the GoFundMe page said.

"Bumps in the road, particularly this long one, are to be expected. Nevertheless we are still positive and hoping to get back on the ward. Fingers crossed," the fundraising page administrator said.

So far, 76,485 has been raised for Barrog do Chailin Beag (A Hug For A Little Girl), the name of the fundraising page. The page has received over 3,700 donations.


An independent review of of RTEs voluntary exit package is to be published on Thursday, the Minister for Communications has said.

The external review is understood to reveal details of the voluntary exit package for Geraldine OLeary, the former head of commercial at RTE, and Breda OKeeffe, the former chief financial officer.

During a heated debate between Green Party leader Eamon Ryan and Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald over the future funding of the national broadcaster, Mr Ryan said that the report will be published on Thursday while two final reports on RTE governance issues are due next month.

Mr Ryan came under pressure from Ms McDonald about the governments position on whether the TV licence fee model should be reformed.

With tens of thousands now refusing to pay the TV license it's clear it needs to be scrapped & replaced with direct exchequer funding No clarity on the license's future from Minister Eamon Ryan though, who chose to talk absolute rubbish instead of answering the question pic.twitter.com/fk13ZCOEGT  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) January 31, 2024

Ms McDonald called for the TV licence to be scrapped and replaced with direct Exchequer funding.

The Dublin TD said the recent debacle around the Toy Show The Musical has rocked peoples trust and confidence in the national broadcaster.

She said that some 13,000 people were summoned before the courts last year for failure to pay the TV licence.

The government has promised for years to come up with a new model to replace the TV licence and yet, here you are, plodding along in the midst of confusion and a licence that now does not enjoy widespread public support, Ms McDonald said.

The public want decisive action on this minister. For our part, Sinn Fein would abolish the TV licence and invest Exchequer funding into supporting public service media in Ireland to put it on a sustainable footing.

This, of course, is in line with the recommendations of the future of Media Commission Report, a report thats been sitting on governments desk for two years now.

She said the public wants a modern funding model that works and delivers value for money.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said a decision on a future funding model for RTE will be made once all the reports into the RTE governance crisis has been published.

That process will conclude in the coming weeks, he added.

I think we have another report tomorrow, initiated by RTE, on the governance of the old severance payments.

Then the two final reports on the governance issue, due in February, will allow us to come to a conclusion of that process answers how to future payments and supports for RTE and indeed for other major organisations, through whichever mechanism.

Be it through direct Exchequer payments or household payment or whatever other arrangements that we will decide upon.

Clarity can only come when government has made that decision.

Mr Ryan also accused Ms McDonald of insinuating that the public should not pay the TV licence in the interim period, before the government makes a decision on a reformed funding model.

Mr Ryan added: But I think any fair assessment would say in RTE, and other media organisations, particularly in charge current affairs, that by and large, we are well served with the media, which is independent, fair and not biased, not deserving to be attacked by legal challenge or by other public commentary which does them down, which Ive heard too much from our political system, in my mind.

Ms McDonald rejected Mrs Ryans accusations that she is encouraging people not to pay the licence fee, saying she too has paid the licence fee.

She said: Well Ive heard some bluster in my time, but that really was now a bravura performance of absolute rubbish  sound and fury, signifying nothing.

My god, its remarkable how one person can talk so much and say so very, very little in response to a very straightforward question.
New Delhi: Dr. Bina Modi, Chairperson of Modi Enterprises, was honoured with the 'Outstanding Business Woman of the Year - 2023' Award. The award, presented to her at a prestigious conference by Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) on 'Strengthening Indo-US Relationship in Amritkal-Aatmanirbhar Bharat', recognizes her remarkable contributions to the industry that place her among the distinguished few women chairpersons of Fortune500 and ET500 India companies. Speaking about the recognition, Dr. Bina Modi expressed her gratitude, stating, "These recognitions always help me realize the responsibility I have, not just towards Modi Enterprises - KK Modi Group, but towards the whole Indian industry. We have immense potential for growth, but the focus should be on sustainable business practices - good for people, good for the planet, along with being good for profit. That has been and continues to be my focus for the Group. The incredible individuals associated with our Group are the true architects of our success. It fuels my belief in empowering people, fostering the enduring philosophy of People-First within our organization. I firmly believe that when our people thrive, so does our business."

Dr. Bina Modi, the Chairperson of Modi Enterprises - KK Modi Group, also heads the Groups FMCG giant Godfrey Phillips India and one of Indias agro-chemical leaders, Indofil, as the Chairperson and Managing Director. All businesses of the Group are witnessing steady growth. But more than profit, Dr. Modis focus continues to be on the people and the planet.



Commending Dr. Bina Modi, Conference Chair Dr. Lalit Bhasin stated, She is an amazing businesswoman who inspires generations of women. Her trailblazing ideas have broken the glass ceiling, paving the way for many others."



Under Dr. Bina Modi's leadership, Modi Enterprises - KK Modi Group has grown steadily, with flagship companies - Godfrey Phillips India Ltd. and Indofil consistently breaking records year on year. Honoured with two honorary doctorates, most recently, Dr. Bina Modi was recognised with 'Women Empowerment Leadership Principles Award, Asia, 2023,' and the Most Inspiring Woman In Business award in 2023. But with her People-First philosophy, among all her achievements, she takes most pride in the recurring Great Place To Work certifications for many of the Groups Companies.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the interim budget at the parliament on February 1. There are less chances of some big announcements or major policy changes because of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Also Read: Budget 2024: These are the 6 key Budget promises delivered in recent past

The full budget will be presented after the formation of the new government post-Lok Sabha elections. In the Union Budget, the central government presents the proposed financial objectives and policy updates for that year. Several Union Budgets presented under different governments are remembered for their landmark decisions and policy announcements. Here are the top remarkable Union Budgets of India.

Also Read: Union budget 2024: A wishlist of the middle class

The Black Budget

The Union Budget was presented by Yashwantrao B Chavan during the Indira Gandhi government in the year 1973-74. It was termed the Black Budget because of the high fiscal deficit of 550 crore during that year, according to PTI. The nation was going through acute financial hardships at that time.

Carrot and Stick Budget

Presented by then Finance Minister VP Singh, the Union Budget of 1986 was called as Carrot & Stick Budget because it was the first step towards demolishing the licence raj in India.

The Budget presented in 1986 earned the name because of its dual nature. On the one hand, the government introduced the MODVAT (Modified Value Added Tax) credit to lower the cascading effect of tax that consumers had to pay, on the other hand, it also launched an intense drive against smugglers, black marketers, and tax evaders.

Epochal Budget of 1991

The economic reforms introduced by the central government in the year made it one of the most iconic budgets presented so far. Presented by Manmohan Singh in 1991, the budget was the final blow to end licence raj. Moreover, it brought the era of liberalisation. Hence, it is famously known as the Epochal budget, according to PTI.

The budget was presented at a time when India was on the verge of an economic collapse. In that year, the government significantly reduced customs duty from 220 per cent to 150 per cent and took steps to promote exports.

Dream Budget

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced a significant tax cut while presenting the Union Budget in 1998. He slashed the maximum marginal income rate for individuals from 40 per cent to 30 per cent and that for domestic companies to 35 per cent. Apart from these measures, the government also announced a voluntary disclosure of income scheme to recover black money. In that year, the government also trimmed customs duty to 40 per cent.

Millennium Budget

The Union Budget presented by Yashwant Sinha presented the road map for the growth of the Information Technology (IT) industry of the country. To boost the Indian sector, it also phased out incentives on software exporters and lowered customs duty on 21 items like computers and computer accessories.

Rollback Budget

The budget presented by Yashwant Sinha during the NDA government in the year 2002-03 was famously called as the Rollback Budget. It earned this name because of the withdrawal of several proposals and policies by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

Once-in-a-Century Budget

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Union Budget of 2021 is popularly known as the once-in-a-century budget' because of its enhanced focus on privatisation, robust tax collections, and investment in infrastructure and healthcare.

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ATHENSShip operators have a radical idea for industrial companies that are searching for ways to dispose of carbon emissions: Take the captured C02 out to sea and bury it deep under the ocean floor.

But first, supercool the carbon emissions to temperatures so low that they become a liquid.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, the worlds largest shipyard, and Greece-based shipowner Capital Product Partners have designed a specialized vessel to carry liquefied CO2. They envision such ships transporting their cargo to depleted offshore oil-and-gas wells, where it would be pumped in and entombed for permanent storage. Capital Product Partners signed a deal for four such ships, to be delivered in 2025 and 2026, that together cost more than $300 million.

Ships move everything from oil to our furniture, clothes and toothpaste. Now theyll move our emissions, which is in effect waste management," said Jerry Kalogiratos, chief executive of U.S.-listed Capital Product Partners, which operates more than 100 cargo vessels.

The strategy still faces unknowns on its safety and environmental impact, as storing large volumes of CO2 under the seabed long-term hasnt been tested and research is inconclusive on the effects if it escapes.

In some countries, big corporate emitters must pay taxes for their CO2 discharges, which they try to minimize by trapping them before they hit the atmosphere. This leaves companies with millions of metric tons of CO2 that they need to store.

In some areas, inland facilities for storing captured CO2, such as depleted oil wells, are gradually running out of room and becoming increasingly expensive, prompting emitters and cargo-ship owners to look for an offshore solution.

A typical voyage of the CO2-carrying ship, which will have a reinforced hull and special tanks, would start at a terminal with gas-liquefaction facilities. Cooled to minus 50 degrees Celsius (minus 58 Fahrenheit), carbon dioxide becomes a liquid more than 600 times denser than gas, enabling the transportation of large volumes. The vessels are built to each move up to 25,400 metric tons of CO2 per trip, according to Capital Product Partners.

yLiquefied natural gas has long been transported by ship, but liquefied carbon dioxide is heavier than LNG and moved under higher pressure and temperatures, requiring different storage tanks and overall ship design.

The ships would take their cargo of liquefied CO2 to terminals in Northern Europe where it could be pumped into inland oil wells through a series of pipes. Or, they would head out to sea, where they would use the pumps in offshore rigs to transfer the CO2 into disused offshore oil-and-gas wells and designated caverns under the seabed.

The vessels will be fitted with aft and bow thrusters to make them more maneuverable and keep them steady in high seas.

They will also capture their own emissions or burn ammonia that doesnt emit carbon. During loading or unloading, they will plug into power sources onshore to minimize fuel consumption. Capital Product Partners said that the overall volumes of carbon emissions destined to be buried will be multiple times higher than the emissions produced in liquefying and transporting the CO2 by sea.

Capital Product Partners said it invested in the vessels after talks with some of its biggest clients, including major energy companies, utilities and commodity traders. Kalogiratos said he is convinced that seaborne CO2 transportation will take off in coming years as many areas lack inland wells to store the emissions.

The global carbon-capture, utilization and storage market is expected to grow to $5.2 billion by 2026 from $2.6 billion in 2021, at a compound annual growth rate of around 15%, according to Boston-based BCC Research. In the European Union, carbon storage is expected to rise to 80 million metric tons of CO2 in 2030 and reach at least 300 million metric tons in 2040, according to the EU Commission.

Cement and building materials companies such as Heidelberg Materials and Holcim, chemical giants like BASF, and energy companies including BP, Denmarks rsted and Norways Equinor plan to build their own carbon-capture plants. They aim to dispose of their emissions inland and offshore, for instance in undersea caves off Norway and in the North Sea, potentially using the specialized ships. Some big EU companies plan to build their own berths to load CO2 waste for transport. Smaller ones could use a network of pipelines with access to terminals.

Other big polluters such as Japan and South Korea might also make plans to store CO2 under the waters off Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia, according to industry executives in those countries.

The concept still faces hurdles. Storing CO2 under the seabed hasnt been conclusively tested, and inland storage is still at a relatively early stage. Geologists and naval architects of offshore rigs say one risk associated with storage is that seals on depleted wells may erode over time, and the CO2 could escape.

The wells are sealed with a fast drying mix of concrete and sand. If there is a leak inland the gas could end up back in the atmosphere, but there is no conclusive research about what will happen if it escapes in the water," said Fotis Pagoulatos, a naval engineer in Athens. The consensus for now is that pollution risk at sea from leaked CO2 is low."

Accidental leakage while the CO2 is pumped underwater into the wells or caves through pipelines is also a concern, he said. In that case, the liquefied gas could potentially reach the waters surface and cause respiratory problems for crews.

CO2 leaks can form plumes that rise through the water to the surface, according to George Dimopoulos and Christos Papadopoulos, two marine engineering professors at the National Technical University of Athens. These plumes can affect marine life, depending on their concentration and composition. High concentrations of CO2 can displace oxygen in the water, which can be harmful or deadly to fish and other organisms," they said in an email.

In some cases the injection of liquefied fluids in deep geological formations can cause earthquakes, they added. The risk of induced quakes from CO2 injections is still being evaluated, but tremors are more likely to happen at onshore storage sites rather than underwater, they said.

Kalogiratos said Capital Product Partners is aware of the safety concerns but none of its potential clients has raised any such issues.

While no contracts have been signed, Kalogiratos said Capital Product Partners is in talks with a number of European emitters as well as big energy companies in Japan and South Korea. The Japanese government recently committed to capturing 13 million metric tons of CO2 a year by the year 2030, using local and cross-border storage.

Write to Costas Paris at costas.paris@wsj.com
Gujarat Natural Resources , a leading company in the natural resources sector, recently announced its quarterly results for Q3 FY24. The company reported a profit of 0.7Cr, showing a significant improvement compared to the loss of 1.98cr in the same period last year. This marks a positive turnaround for the company.

The revenue of Gujarat Natural Resources witnessed a remarkable growth of 97.11% on a year-on-year basis. This growth is a result of the company's strategic initiatives and strong performance in the market. It is an impressive achievement for the company, considering the decline of 8.31% in revenue compared to the previous quarter.

The selling, general, and administrative expenses of the company increased by 22.28% quarter-on-quarter and 22.64% year-on-year. This increase in expenses indicates the company's efforts to expand its operations and invest in its growth.

The operating income of Gujarat Natural Resources showed a remarkable improvement, with a growth of 138.72% quarter-on-quarter and 165.49% year-on-year. This indicates the company's effective cost management and operational efficiency.

The earnings per share (EPS) for Q3 FY24 stood at 0.09, reflecting a significant increase of 136% year-on-year. This improvement in EPS demonstrates the company's ability to generate higher profits for its shareholders.

In terms of market performance, Gujarat Natural Resources has delivered impressive returns to its investors. The company has achieved a return of 23.14% in the last week, 101.14% in the last six months, and 36.17% year-to-date. These returns highlight the strong performance of the company in the market.

Currently, Gujarat Natural Resources has a market capitalization of 226.31 Cr and a 52-week high/low of 28.2 and 11.86 respectively. This indicates the market's confidence in the company's potential for growth and success.

Gujarat Natural Resources Financials Period Q3 FY24 Q2 FY24 Q-o-Q Growth Q3 FY23 Y-o-Y Growth Total Revenue 6.42 7 -8.31% 3.26 +97.11% Selling/ General/ Admin Expenses Total 1.08 0.88 +22.28% 0.88 +22.64% Depreciation/ Amortization 1.19 2.4 -50.66% 2.17 -45.31% Total Operating Expense 5.35 9.78 -45.28% 4.9 +9.24% Operating Income 1.07 -2.77 +138.72% -1.64 +165.49% Net Income Before Taxes 0.78 -3.06 +125.32% -1.98 +139.23% Net Income 0.7 -3.01 +123.25% -1.98 +135.35% Diluted Normalized EPS 0.09 -0.37 +124.32% -0.25 +136%

FAQs

Question : What is the Q3 FY24 profit/Loss as per company?

Ans : 0.7Cr

Question : What is Q3 FY24 revenue?

Ans : 6.42Cr

Stay updated on quarterly results with our results calendar

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New Delhi: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd on Wednesday posted a consolidated net profit of 2,523.75 crore, an increase of 16.5% year-on-year (y-o-y), on the back of robust sales, volume growth, and new product launches in key regions.

It reported a consolidated revenue of 12,380.7 crore in the December quarter, against 11,240.97 crore a year ago. Analysts polled by Bloomberg had estimated revenues of 12,339.9 crore and a net profit of 2,464.8 crore.

We are pleased by our continued broad-based growth including in global specialty. We are keenly looking forward to the EMA filing of Nidlegy in the coming months. Once approved, Nidlegy will significantly expand our oncoderm franchise in Europe," said Dilip Shanghvi, managing director of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, in an exchange filing.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (Ebitda) stood at 3,476.8 crore, which is up 15.8% y-o-y, with an Ebitda margin of 28.1% during the quarter. The companys expenditure on research and development (R&D) for the third quarter was 824.5 crore.

Our R&D efforts span across both specialty and generic businesses, and we continue to invest in strengthening product pipeline for various markets. Our specialty R&D pipeline comprises six molecules undergoing clinical studies," the company added.

The Mumbai-based company that specializes in specialty, generics, and consumer healthcare products, reported a revenue of 3,778.5 crore from the sales of formulations in India, up 11.4% from the year-ago period. Sales from the Indian formulations segment accounted for 31% of the total sales of the company in the quarter.

Global specialty sales stood at $296 million, including the $20 million milestone received in the quarter, which means a growth of 24.2% y-o-y, ex-milestones. The global specialty sales accounted for 19.1% of the total sales, it added.

The phase two study for GL0034, being developed for diabetes indication, will start in the second half of 2024, the candidate is also being evaluated for its potential use in multiple indications," the company said in the post-earnings call, in response to whether GL0034 will be used for obesity indications. The company also said that its product Nidlegya will be filed with the European authorities during the first half of the current year. Once approved, it will enhance our offerings in skin cancer and synergize. We also expect to start phase three trials for MM-II, by the second half of 2024, while the focus remains to look at opportunities for GLP-1 which we can license from the innovator companies. Our own GLP-1 is in the early stage of development and just completed phase one trials," the management said in the earnings call.

US formulations reported revenue of $477 million, a growth of 13.2% y-o-y. This includes revenues from the recently-acquired Taro Pharmaceuticals as well. Sales from formulation in the US accounted for 33% of total sales in Q3FY24. Taro reported a revenue of $157 million in Q3, up 12.9% year-on-year, with a net profit of $20.2 million, against $7.3 million in the corresponding quarter a year ago.

The company earlier in the month had signed a definitive merger agreement with Taro to acquire the remaining stake that it doesnt already own for approximately $347.8 million. The agreed price of $43 per share is poised to deliver a 48% premium to the unaffected price on 25 May 2023. The merger agreement is subject to various closing conditions including shareholder approval," it added.

Formulation sales in emerging markets stood at $252 million in Q3, a 2.3% decline due to adverse currency movements.

The segment accounted for 17% of the total sales of the company. In comparison, rest of the world markets were up 12.9% year-on-year at $214 million, and accounted for 15% of the total sales. Among the largest markets, Brazil and Romania performed well.

Indias growth has bounced back, with the market growing at 9% y-o-y in Q3 (as per AIOCD), but we expect our coverage companies to grow faster at 10% and can fetch revenue of  206 billion (  20,600 crore). Price hikes, new launches, and acquisitions are likely to be the main growth drivers. In contrast, volume growth for the industry had bounced back in December 2023," said Abdulkader Puranwala, a research analyst at ICICI Securities Ltd. Aggregate US sales of our coverage universe may scale up to $2.5 billion, up 12% y-o-y. Lesser price erosion in base business and improved supplies, coupled with a seasonally strong quarter, may drive growth. While the tailwinds in the US may be short-lived, the initial signs of volume revival in the domestic market are encouraging."

HDFC Securities also maintains a buy rating on the company due to structural growth through the Indian market, leading to a steady margin.

The company also disclosed that during the quarter, it earned 466.1 crore from external sales of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), which was 9.65% lower. The company, though, said that it continues to focus on increasing API supply for captive consumption for key products.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Naman Suri Naman is a skilled business journalist who excels in breaking down complex financial details. He specializes in the corporate sector, providing thorough coverage of the pharmaceutical industry, the dynamic field of sports business, and the fascinating area of white-collar crime. Naman has a knack for making sense of numbers and presenting them in an understandable way. Read more from this author
Suzlon Energy , one of the leading renewable energy solutions providers, released its Q3FY24 results today, reporting a consolidated net profit of 203.04 crore, marking a remarkable 160% improvement compared to the net profit of 78.28 crore posted in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.

On a sequential basis, the net profit witnessed a notable increase of 52.62%, up from 133.15 crore in Q2FY24. The revenue from operations for the reporting quarter showed a YoY improvement of 7.17%, reaching 1,552.91 crore compared to 1,448.97 crore in Q3 FY23.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Q3 Results: Net profit jumps 33% to 3,130 crore, revenue grows 15% YoY

During the quarter, Suzlon Energy successfully lowered its finance cost to 14.28 crore from 86.28 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. In Q2FY24, the finance cost stood at 43.70 crore.

The company has set an ambitious goal of becoming net-debt-free. In 2QFY24, Suzlon Energy raised funds amounting to 20 billion through a qualified institutional placement (QIP), utilising a significant portion for debt repayment.

The operating profit during the December quarter jumped to 248 crore, up by 15.34% YoY. The operating profit margin expanded to 16%, reflecting a 100-basis point increase compared to the same period last year. However, on a sequential basis, the operating profit margin remained flat.

Also Read: BLS E-Services IPO: Check out 10 key things to know from RHP before investing

Commenting on the Q3 performance, Girish Tanti, Vice Chairman, Suzlon Group, said, "In Q3 of FY24, we concluded 2023 on a strong note. The quarter showcased impactful policies propelling India's renewable energy vision ahead."

We've witnessed a pivotal year of foundational growth, and in Q3 of FY24, we've solidified this foundation with a robust performance and a substantial influx of new orders from our marquee customers. We deeply appreciate the trust bestowed upon us by our customers and eagerly anticipate collaborating with them to realise their green energy aspirations. The coming decade holds immense promise for renewables globally, and we are on track to strengthen all our strategic pillars to seize this opportunity from a position of strength," he added.

Meanwhile, the company's shares have proven to be a wealth creator in the Indian market, as over the past year, they have surged from 9.20 apiece to the current level of 45.95, providing their shareholders with an impressive return of 400%.

Disclaimer: We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

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LONDON : Tata Steel would consider additional future investments in its Port Talbot plant in the UK, if more government funding was made available, the company's Chief executive T V Narendran said on Wednesday.

The UK government has already agreed to a 500 million pound package to support the loss-making steel plant which was facing shutdown over high carbon emission. The plant employs around 8,000 people.

As part of its restructuring plan backed by the government funding, Tata Steel will replace the blast furnaces at the unit with electric furnaces to use recycled steel in order to reduce carbon emission. However, the installation of low-emission system will lead to a loss of 2,800 jobs as electric furnaces need less manpower.

"The electric arc furnaces need not be the end, it is the beginning," Narendran told the Welsh Affairs Committee of the House of Commons.

Earlier, steel unions had also suggested the UK government to put more money into securing the future of Tata Steel.

The company has earlier said it will close both blast furnaces in Port Talbot, the UK's largest steelworks, by the end of 2024.

Narendran told the Committee on Wednesday that "if there is funding available" for greener ways of making steel, Tata would discuss it.

Tata Steel said it is currently losing around 1 million pound a day from its operations in the town, and keeping a blast furnace open on the site and making steel from scratch would lead to a further lose of 600 million pound.

Meanwhile, in his questioning, Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP of Aberavon which covers Port Talbot, accused Tata Steel of bluffing when it persuaded UK ministers to pay 500 million pound towards its future plans.

Kinnock said: "I put it to you that when you threatened the British government, which it sounds like you did, you would close completely.

"I don't actually believe that was the case.

"If that is correct... then it was not a choice between total closure and 8,000 job losses. It was a choice between your plan and the multi-union plan which would have actually saved 2,500 jobs."

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The Karnataka government on Wednesday said Taiwan-based Wistron (ICT Service Management Solutions) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up a laptop manufacturing plant near Bengaluru.

MB Patil, Karnataka minister of large and medium industries, said under the MoU, the electronics manufacturing company will invest 1,500 crore to set up the plant and the unit is likely to create around 3,000 employment opportunities.

The minister said the company has sought 32 acres of land for the proposed project, and the state government is considering providing the required land in the surroundings of the Bengaluru region.

The minister said the company plans to commence work related to setting up the plant in July and aims to start manufacturing laptops by January 2026.

Also Read | RBI bars Paytm from accepting deposits in any customer account after February 29

Patil further said the Wistron plant is going to be the first of its kind unit to manufacture laptops in the state. The unit will be aligned to Industry 4.0 standards with a fully automated facility and will make laptops for all brands.

Over 50% of laptops manufactured here will be exported, the minister said adding that the plant will also produce Internet of Things (IoT) components and EV-related parts.

Patil also highlighted that this move is not just about the production of electronics, it is also about fostering innovation, creating job opportunities, and positioning Karnataka as a leader in the electronics manufacturing industry.

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Main Street Enterprise recently honored volunteers who together contributed more than 3,000 hours of service to the downtown district in 2023.

The ceremony, which was an Organization Committee Project, recognized the men and women who play a crucial role in supporting the local community.

As Main Street Enterprise continues to flourish in our efforts to revitalize downtown Enterprise it is vital to recognize the many volunteers who make it possible to accomplish our goals, Main Street Enterprise Board Chair Shelia Harris told the crowd, which included volunteers, Enterprise City Council members, Mayor William E. Cooper, and other city leaders. Its important to acknowledge all our volunteers, no matter the task, for assisting with events, fundraisers, and more.

The following awards were presented:

Organization Award:Shana Demby;

Design Award: Jennie Chancey;

Economic Vitality Award: Shelia Harris;

Promotion Award: Kayla Tice;

Young Main Street Award: Rachel Lesh;

Impact Award: Jane Wardrobe;

Leadership Award: Adam McCollister; and,

Chairmans Award for Exceptional Service: Katie Sawyer.

You all are the heart of our community, Cooper told the volunteers, who gathered at Enterprise First Methodist Church. You all are the ones who run and own the businesses along Main Street. You are the ones organizing and executing events downtown. You are making a difference in our community. You are what makes Enterprise, Enterprise.

Shana Demby, Vice President of Main Street Enterprise, agreed. The award ceremony is important because it celebrates the selflessness of individuals and the impact those individuals can have on the community. The organization committee chose to pursue this event to show gratitude, honor those who volunteer, and inspire others to do the same for our community. It is also important to understand the award ceremony acknowledges our volunteers who play a crucial role in supporting our community.

Each winner was presented with an award featuring the Main Street Enterprise logo symbol, custom-made by Isom Laser & Lens.

The Main Street Alabama Awards of Excellence were also on display for the ceremony. Main Street Enterprise was awarded Excellence in Volunteer Development, Excellence in Marketing and Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation at the annual ceremony in August. Main Street Enterprise was also recognized for hitting the $3 million milestone for investment into the district since the Main Street Enterprise program began at the end of 2019.
The Delaware Court of Chancery's Judge Kathaleen McCormick has termed CEO Elon Musk's $56-billion compensation from Tesla as "an unfathomable sum". This ruling could upend the heftiest corporate remuneration in the US. The electric vehicle maker's directors, captivated by Musk's superstar appeal" or the company's rhetoric of all upside", might not have critically evaluated the necessity of such a massive package for retaining Musk, as per Judge McCormick.

The board never asked the $55.8 billion question: Was the plan even necessary for Tesla to retain Musk and achieve its goals?" Judge McCormick noted. Also Read: Elon Musk now has more money than Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani combined Tesla's stocks dipped by 3% post-announcement. McCormick has instructed the disputing parties to craft an actionable order based on her decision, hinting at potential appeals. The legal team representing Elon Musk has yet to comment publicly. However, Musk's satirical response on X (formerly Twitter) apparently critiqued Delaware's corporate environment. "Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware," he wrote.

Richard Tornetta, the Tesla shareholder who initiated the 2018 lawsuit, celebrated the verdict. "Good day for the good guys," Reuters quoted him as writing in an email.

His legal squad argued the board's failure to present a more modest package or consider a different CEO. They contended that the board's expectations were not as tough as portrayed, easing Musk's path to the colossal pay.

Tesla defends Elon Musks package

During the trial, Tesla's leadership defended the package. It stressed its role in securing Musk's focus on the company. Musk owns about 13% of Tesla. He earlier said he was uncomfortable in leading the company without substantial voting control. The court's critique of the board's process casts doubt on Musk's demand for a 25% stake.

Musk, during the trial, linked the compensation to his vision of interplanetary travel, particularly Mars colonisation. His wealth, significantly tied to this deal, stood at $210.6 billion, per Forbes.

Also Read: Elon Musk Says Neuralink Has Implanted Brain Chip in Human

The compensation, structured as stock options contingent on escalating targets, required Musk to retain acquired stocks for a minimum of five years. Musk achieved all 12 performance targets. The company's valuation soared to a peak of $1 trillion in 2021, up from $50 billion at the deal's inception.

(With Reuters inputs)

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These are humbling times for Europe. The continent barely escaped recession late last year as the U.S. boomed. It is losing out to the U.S. on artificial intelligence, and to China on electric vehicles.

There is one field where the European Union still leads the world: regulation. Having set the standard on regulating mergers, carbon emissions, data privacy, and e-commerce competition, the EU now seeks to do the same on AI. In December it unveiled a sweeping draft law that bans certain types of AI, tightly regulates others, and imposes huge fines for violators. Its executive arm, the European Commission, might investigate Microsofts tie-up with OpenAI as potentially anticompetitive.

Never before has America innovates, China replicates, Europe regulates" so aptly captured each regions comparative advantage.

The technocrats who staff the EU in Brussels arent anti-free market. Just the opposite: they still believe in free trade, unlike the U.S. or China. Much of their regulation is aimed at protecting consumers and competition from meddling national governments.

But theres a trade-off between consumer protection and the profit motive that drives investment and innovation, and the EU might be getting that trade-off wrong.

For example, to preserve competition, European regulators have resisted mergers that leave just a handful of mobile phone carriers per market. As a result Europe now has 43 groups running 102 mobile operators serving a population of 474 million, while the U.S. has three major networks serving a population of 335 million, according to telecommunications consultant John Strand. China and India are even more concentrated.

European mobile customers as a result pay only about a third of what Americans do. But thats why European carriers invest only half as much per customer and their networks are commensurately worse, Strand said: Getting a 5G signal in Germany is like finding a Biden supporter at a Trump rally." Putting European networks on a par with the U.S. would cost about $300 billion, he estimated.

This has knock-on effects on Europes tech sector. Swedish telecommunications equipment manufacturer Ericssons sales in Europe suffer in part because many carriers are too small and unprofitable to update to the latest 5G networks. Europe has prioritized shorter-term low consumer prices at the expense of quality infrastructure," chief executive Borje Ekholm told me in Davos earlier this month. Im very concerned about Europe. We need to invest much more in infrastructure, in being digital."

Of course, Europes economy underperforms for lots of reasons, from demographics to energy costs, not just regulation. And U.S. regulators arent exactly hands-off. Still, they tend to act on evidence of harm, whereas Europes will act on the mere possibility. This precautionary principle can throttle innovation in its cradle.

Starting in 2018, Europes General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, imposed strict requirements on websites collection and use of personal data with fines of up to 4% of global sales. A study by University of Maryland economist Ginger Jin and two co-authors found this depressed European venture-capital investment relative to the U.S. over the next two years. Investors might have shunned business models that werent in compliance with, or less valuable because of, GDPR, they said.

History might be about to repeat with AI. Since 2021, AI-related venture-capital deals have raised $44 billion in Europe, roughly equal to China but just a quarter of the U.S., according to PitchBook, and the gap is growing. Last year Europes AI industry warned lawmakers their AI law could lead to highly innovative companies moving their activities abroad [and] investors withdrawing their capital."

The draft law was watered down, and days later Frances Mistral AI, which aspires to be a European rival to OpenAI, closed a funding round valuing it at around $2 billion, according to Bloomberg.

European regulation has a protectionist element, often crafted to hit American tech giants while sparing indigenous startups. Despite that, European startups rarely become giants, and even established companies are smaller than their U.S. counterparts.

I dont think that the lack of winners in recent decades can be attributed to a single monocausal factor," one European-born founder of a U.S. tech company told me. But Europes regulatory culture, including prosaic tax and labor laws, is near the top, he said. Simply granting stock options, for example, is pretty difficult in most European countries. Its famously difficult to part ways with hires that turn out to be misfits."

In a recent study, the McKinsey Global Institute noted Europes internal market is larger than Chinas and almost as big as the U.S.s. But when it compared companies with more than $1 billion in revenue, the U.S. firms spent 80% more on research and development, boasted 30% higher return on capital, and 1.3-percentage points faster revenue growth.

As the U.S. and China put more muscle into their technological contest, Europe risks falling even further behind. China spends 2% to 5% of GDP on industrial policysupport of sectors deemed strategiccompared with Europes 1%, McKinsey said. In December, Brussels approved up to $1.3 billion of aid over eight years for cloud computing-related R&D, but thats just 4% of what Amazons cloud division invests in a year, McKinsey noted.

If Europe is going to compete with the U.S. and China, it will need to rethink its balance between regulation and innovation. As German economy minister Robert Habeck observed last fall: If Europe has the best regulation but no European companies, we havent won much."

Write to Greg Ip at greg.ip@wsj.com
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) arm Indian Highways Management Company will extend the KYC compliance deadline for FASTags by one month, news agency PTI quoted a senior government official as saying on 31 January.

Earlier on 15 January, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said FASTags with valid balances but incomplete KYC will get deactivated by banks post-January 31, 2024.

"Only 7 lakh multiple FASTags have been closed out of 1.27 crore. Hence, we are proceeding with extending the deadline by another one month," the official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

ALSO READ: Your FasTags will become invalid if you don't do this today. Check details

On January 29, NHAI had announced that FASTags with valid balances but with incomplete KYC will get deactivated by banks post-January 31, 2024.

"Only the latest FASTag account shall remain active as previous tags will be deactivated/blacklisted after 31st January 2024," the statement said.

The NHAI taken the 'One Vehicle, One FASTag' initiative to enhance the efficiency of the electronic toll collection system and provide seamless movement at toll plazas.

This aims to discourage the use of single FASTag for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags to a particular vehicle, NHAI had said earlier this month.

Adding more, the NHAI said that it is encouraging FASTag users to complete the 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) process of their latest FASTag by updating KYC as per RBI guidelines.

With a penetration rate of around 98 per cent and over 8 crore users, FASTag has revolutionised the electronic toll collection system in the country.

FASTag is an electronic toll collection system in India, operated by the NHAI. It employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it or directly toll owner.

With agency inputs.

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BEIJINGSeveral prominent commentaries by economists and journalists in China have vanished from the internet in recent weeks, raising concerns that Beijing is stepping up its censorship efforts as it tries to put a positive spin on a struggling economy.

This month, top lieutenants of Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged officials to promote the bright prospects of Chinas economy." Those calls came after an unusual warning from Chinas top spy agency in December, which cautioned the public to be wary of those who denigrate the economy. Economic security is a key component of national security," the Ministry of State Security said.

One recent commentary that disappeared was an editorial published last month by Caixin Media, a Beijing-based business news outlet known for backing pro-market reforms. The editorial called for officials to confront economic challenges directly, harking back to when Chinas economy was on the brink of collapse during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. The editorial said that, at the time, officials insisted that the situation is excellent," but in reality people were destitute.

The article urged officials to seek truth from facts," quoting an ancient Chinese aphorism that was frequently invoked by Mao Zedong and especially by his successor Deng Xiaoping, who ushered in four decades of reform and opening.

One can only correct inappropriate policies in a timely manner if one sticks to seeking truth from facts," read the unsigned article, which was published on Dec. 25, a day before the 130th anniversary of Maos birth.

Within hours, the editorial disappeared from Caixins website. A representative for Caixin declined to comment.

That same day, Li Xunlei, an economist at state-owned Zhongtai Securities, warned in a column published on Chinese news outlet Yicai that insufficient household consumption would persist unless Chinas leadership took steps to help lower-income families. Li also highlighted a study conducted by Beijing Normal University showing that some 964 million Chinese people, representing roughly 70% of the population, were living on a monthly income of less than 2,000 yuan, equivalent to about $280.

That data point quickly went viral on Weibo before it disappeared from the Chinese microblogging platforms official list of trending topics. Before long, Lis column vanished from Yicais website too. It has also become inaccessible on Lis public account on Chinese messaging platform WeChat, where a message read: The content cant be viewed due to violation of regulations."

Li couldnt be reached for comment. Yicai didnt respond to a request for comment.

Beijings increased concern about the discourse around its economy comes as growth in the worlds second-largest economy has slowed. Officials say China hit its official target of 5.2% gross domestic product growth in 2023, but it was one of the slowest growth rates in decades, apart from the pandemic era.

Chinas economy is facing an array of headwinds, including a prolonged downturn in the property market and softening exports. Authorities have taken steps to revive consumer and business confidence, including releasing more liquidity into the financial system.

Still, home prices are falling across major cities, foreign investors are fleeing China at a rapid pace and the countrys stock market is suffering one of its worst slides in years.

As the data have worsened, Beijing has tightened the flow of information around its economy. In August, Chinas statistics bureau abruptly stopped releasing youth unemployment data, after the rate hit a record 21.3%, before unveiling a new youth jobless methodology in December that showed just 14.9% of young people out of work. Regulators have restricted overseas access to some databases and raided the office of foreign due-diligence firms.

Economists have pointed to depressed confidence among consumers and private entrepreneurs as one of the biggest sources of economic weakness, dampening spending appetite and deterring entrepreneurs from making new investments.

Discouraging free discourse about the economy reflects the Chinese leaderships anxieties, said George Magnus, a research associate at the China Centre at Oxford University, who warned that the clampdown on information and commentary will only increase opacity and the risk of policy mistakes.

Its really about cheerleading," said Magnus, a former chief economist at UBS. If you stifle debate about important economic developments, it leads to bad decision-making."

At a forum last month hosted in part by a state-backed think tank, Liu Jipeng, dean of the business school at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing, said that Chinas capital markets arent yet mature and advised individual investors to stay away from domestic stocks.

Later that same month, Liu wrote on his personal account on WeChat that he had stepped down from his position at the university, according to Chinese media reports. Lius personal account on short-video platform Douyin, the domestic Chinese counterpart of TikTok, can no longer be followed by new users because of what Douyin calls violations of the platforms rules."

The university didnt respond to calls seeking comment. Liu couldnt be reached for comment.

Chinas Communist Party has often reined in public discussion of the economy when prospects have dimmed. China was ranked worst for internet freedom among 70 nations for a ninth straight year in 2023, according to Freedom House, a conservative Washington-based nonprofit organization.

In mid-December, Weibo sent notices to some users to warn them against making any negative commentaries on the economy," according to a copy of the notice received by one user and shared with the Journal.

Any comments on the economy that deviate from the official narrative are unwelcome," said the user, who is an economist. Clearly, the leadership doesnt want us to focus on the economy."

Weibo didnt respond to a request for comment.

To help lift the sagging mood, Beijing has turned not only to internet platforms, but also to law enforcement and the countrys spy agency, for help.

The economy has emerged as a key battleground" of competition between large countries, Chinas spy agency wrote in an article last month on its official WeChat account. Various cliches intending to denigrate Chinas economy continue to appear," the Ministry of State Security wrote. Their essence is to use various false narratives to construct a discourse trap and cognitive trap about Chinas decline in order tostrategically contain and suppress China."

Economists are skeptical that such messages are having the desired effect.

In the long run, the confidence of consumers and investors is determined by whats actually happening to the economy," said Mark Williams, chief Asia economist at Capital Economics. Censorship of critical messages only provides a veneer that things are going well."

Write to Jonathan Cheng at Jonathan.Cheng@wsj.com
Drivers in the Midwest may soon have to pay a bit more at the pump. The reason? Cheap Canadian oil will soon have a new set of buyers.

For years, Canadas booming oil fields have had few choices but to funnel the countrys thick, tar-like crude oil through pipelines snaking through the Midwest to the Gulf Coast. That has pushed down prices paid by many U.S. refiners and, in turn, gas stations and airports from Minneapolis to Chicago to Detroit.

Those days are numbered. Canadian oil companies will soon have the option to ship crude through a long-delayed, 715-mile pipeline expansion to the Pacific Ocean. That will allow traders to sell more oil to the U.S. West Coast and to fast-growing Asian economies.

The Trans Mountain expansion, which will nearly triple the capacity of an existing pipeline to 890,000 barrels a day, promises to give Canadian companies more pricing power and boost the countrys position as a global energy powerhouse.

This is a big deal thats been 10 years in coming," said Kevin Birn, an analyst with S&P Global Commodity Insights. It does allow Canada, for the first time in its history, as the fourth-largest oil producer in the world, direct access to international markets."

That could come at the expense of Canadas largest trading partner. Americans guzzled Canadian oil even as U.S. crude output ballooned in recent years, turning Canada into an export juggernaut. Imports from north of the border surpassed 4 million barrels a day some months last year, U.S. officials say, nearly two-thirds of total shipments.

Those supplies have come at a bargain, as the price of Canadian oil accounts for transport costs, differences in crude quality and a limited pool of buyers. Benchmark Canadian crude cost about $18 a barrel less than its U.S. counterpart Tuesday. That differential reached $47 in 2018, forcing the government of Alberta to curtail production to support prices.

Traders are already anticipating markdowns to shrink by a few dollars a barrel. Forward Western Canadian Select discounts for the second quarter traded at $13.80 a barrel Monday, according to Platts, part of S&P Global.

Thats a huge hit," said Kristine Oleszek, an analyst at East Daley Analytics, adding that the total annual impact on the U.S. could reach billions of dollars. The refiners arent going to eat that themselves. Its going to be passed along [to consumers]."

The project cleared its last major regulatory hurdle in mid-January, and workers are laying the final stretch of pipe that will carry Canadian crude from Albertas oil sands to the Pacific. Traders are now trying to time the startup of the project, which faces last-minute construction challenges before it can shake up the North American market.

Canadian companies have ramped up production in anticipation that more supplies may soon reach an export terminal and pipeline hookups to Washington state. November output in the prolific oil-producing province of Alberta rose to a record 4.16 million barrels a day, according to government figures.

Kinder Morgan initially proposed an expanded pipeline in 2013, expecting to spend the equivalent of $4 billion to twin a pipeline that now winds southwest from Edmonton to the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby, British Columbia. But regulatory delays and opposition from environmentalists frustrated the Houston-based company so much that it sold the project to the Canadian government in 2018 for $3.5 billion.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to finish the expansion, calling it vital" to Canadas strategic interests. The pipeline in January appeared to have cleared its last obstacle when the Canada Energy Regulator approved a change in the pipelines thickness during the final stretch of drilling.

Construction snarls, regulatory hurdles and court cases have run up government spending on the project to about $25 billion, according to the latest estimates.

The project is meant to boost a Canadian industry whose growth over the past 15 years in many ways reflects that of its hulking counterpart down south. While Americas hottest oil field in West Texas and New Mexico pumps out light, sweet crude, Albertas oil sands dish out heavier supplies that are generally costlier to refine.

Companies across much of the U.S., including some owned by Canadian companies, have responded by adding capacity or honing operations to turn Canadian crude into fuel, chemicals or asphalt. The Midwest, the countrys largest importing region, hasnt received foreign shipments from anywhere but Canada in years, according to the Energy Information Administration.

The Midwest is held captive by Canadian crude oil," said Martin King, an analyst at RBN Energy. Farther south, where refineries and export terminals dot the shores of Texas and Louisiana, traders have more alternatives in the form of heavier crude produced in Mexico or Venezuela.

U.S. refining officials have played down the impact on American consumers and the domestic fuel-making industry, saying the sector can tweak plant-by-plant operations based on what crude is available. But some have warned that it could siphon off supplies from the arcane business of sending tankers-full of Canadian crude to countries such as China.

North of the border, the project represents a much-needed correction for energy companies and investors after years of discounted commodity prices. Until those companies production levels outstrip Trans Mountains expanded capacity, theyre going to have the leverage," said Jacques Rousseau, an analyst at ClearView Energy Partners.

Assuming that crude actually begins flowing. On Monday, Trans Mountain said drilling issues in the final section of construction would delay the projects startup to the second quarter. Canadian oil prices fell 5.5% that day in response.

Write to David Uberti at david.uberti@wsj.com and Vipal Monga at vipal.monga@wsj.com
The Finance Minister's emphasis on 'Green Growth' in the previous budget aligns seamlessly with India's commitment to environmentally conscious and technology-driven agricultural practices. As we eagerly anticipate the Union Budget for 2024-'25, there are key expectations and potential areas of emphasis that can propel the agricultural sector toward sustainability and precision farming.

At the forefront of expectations from this budget is the requirement for substantial investments in smart agriculture. Modernising storage facilities, improving transportation systems, and creating integrated supply chains are essential steps toward enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of the agricultural sector. These investments can significantly reduce post-harvest losses, ensuring a more resilient and streamlined food supply chain.

A pivotal aspect of the anticipated budget would also be a heightened focus on Research and Development (R&D) in agriculture. Increased funding for R&D initiatives can foster innovation in crop varieties, pest control, and farming techniques. By promoting scientific advancements, the government can contribute to the overall resilience of the agricultural sector, equipping farmers and agribusinesses with the knowledge and tools necessary for sustainable practices.

Transparency and traceability in the agricultural sector are expected to receive a boost through the integration of blockchain-based solutions. Blockchain technology offers a decentralised and secure ledger, creating an immutable record of transactions from farm to market. This not only reduces instances of fraud but also empowers consumers to make informed choices about the origin and quality of the produce they purchase.

The budget is anticipated to lay a strong emphasis on the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices for precision farming. Deploying IoT devices on farms can enable the collection of real-time data on soil health, weather conditions, and crop growth. This data-driven approach empowers growers to make informed decisions, optimise resource utilisation, and enhance overall productivity. Precision farming, facilitated by IoT, addresses each plant's needs with accuracy, minimising waste and maximising output.

A significant expectation also revolves around the adoption of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions in agriculture. ERP-based farm management software can revolutionise operations by providing up-to-date information on greenhouse gas reporting and the environmental impact of agrochemicals. These solutions contribute to sustainable farming practices, assisting in efficient resource management, waste reduction, and improving the overall environmental footprint of agriculture.

As we have seen, the expectations for sustainable and precision farming in the Union Budget for 2024-'25 are rooted in a comprehensive approach. It combines technological innovation, increased R&D, strategic investments, and a commitment to 'Green Growth.' As we anticipate the budget announcement, there is optimism that it will not only address the immediate needs of farmers and agripreneurs but also lay the groundwork for a resilient and sustainable future for Indian agriculture.

Expectations for sustainable farming include a dedicated focus on climate-smart agriculture, carbon net zero compliance, and regenerative practices, with an overarching goal of enhancing the 3Ps of agricultural business i.e., productivity, predictability, and profitability.

The transformative potential of this budget is immense, shaping the trajectory of agriculture towards a greener and technologically advanced future.

Santosh Shinde, Co-Founder & COO - FarmERP

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Customers of Paytm Payments Bank will not be able to make fresh deposits or top up wallets, FASTags and mobility cards issued by it after a month, as the central bank cracked down following an audit that revealed persistent non-compliances" and continued material supervisory concerns" at the payments bank.

However, customers can freely withdraw their money, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in a statement. Interest payments, cashbacks and refunds can continue to be credited to these accounts. But it cannot provide any banking service or facility other than fund transfers, bill payments and UPI (Unified Payments Interface) from 1 March.

For all practical purposes, the above notifications end the operations of Paytm Payments Bank. This is a definite negative development and adds to the already heavy regulatory overhang on the business," analysts at Bernstein said in a note on Wednesday.

RBI clamped down under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act. The section relates to the central banks power to issue directions in public interest or to prevent the affairs of any bank being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of the depositors, besides others.

The new restrictions come nearly two years after the payments bank was barred from signing up new customers.

Also, in October, RBI had fined it 5.39 crore for non-compliance with some provisions of KYC (know your customer) guidelines, cybersecurity framework, etc.

Paytm Payments Bank is an associate company of listed One97 Communications Ltd, which held a 49% stake in it as on 31 March 2023. Shares of One97 Communications closed at 761 on the BSE on Wednesday, unchanged from a day ago. The RBI announcement came after market hours.

Experts said the FASTag business of the company would be severely impacted as customers would now need to look for an alternative issuer.

The regulator also asked the bank to terminate all nodal accounts of One97 Communications and Paytm Payments Services by the end of February. All transactions in the pipeline and nodal accounts that were initiated by end-February need to be completed by 15 March.

A nodal account acts as a link between merchants, customers and intermediaries like payment aggregators and payment gateways. Money paid by customers is sent to the nodal accounts before being settled with the merchant or seller.

Experts, however, said that the RBI order on nodal accounts would not impact the point-of-sale (PoS) business of Paytm. My reading is that nodal accounts that One97 Communications would have with Paytm Payments Bank will have to be terminated. One97 may have nodal accounts with other banks, which I believe would continue and, therefore, the primary business of One 97PoS terminalswould not get impacted," said Parijat Garg, a fintech expert.

A former RBI official said the regulator takes a grave view of repeated non-compliance, which would have been the case with Paytm. It would have not been able to rectify deficiencies pointed out by the regulator despite extending the deadline to do so. RBI does not take these things lightly," the former official said, adding that central bank has depositor interest to keep in mind.

Others compared the RBI action to a moratorium on Paytm Payments Bank, except that there is no bar on withdrawal of deposits.

It could mean further erosion of deposits if its consumers start withdrawing from the bank. The RBI restriction would leave the company in a difficult position as it would no longer be able to cross-sell products on its platform and customers might not be interested in keeping money in their accounts when they cannot use it," said Srinath Sridharan, a policy researcher and corporate advisor. He added that since banking is all about consumer trust, it looks like Paytm Payments Bank has to build it all over, especially with the regulator.

Paytm Payments Banks deposit base stood at 3,285.26 crore on 31 March 2023, up from 2,642.34 crore in the previous year, showed data from the Registrar of Companies.

As per RBI data, it accounted for 27% of deposits with all payments banks in the country.

Introduced during the tenure of former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, payments banks aim to reach the under-banked and unbanked population, accepting deposits up to 2 lakh per customer. They, however, cannot lend.
UPS on Tuesday joined a small group of large companies pushing for a return to what has become an anomaly in American worklife: five days in the office.

The delivery giant followed JPMorgan Chase and Boeing among employers requiring full-time attendance for at least some segment of their workforces.

The push for in-person attendance Monday through Friday reflects a desire among top executives to fully repopulate offices and to return to prepandemic ways of working. Some CEOs say it is unfair for corporate employees to do their jobs remotely part of the time while front-line staffers must show up daily.

During contentious labor negotiations at United Parcel Service last year, union officials said drivers and warehouse staffers resented working in-person while office employees could stay at home.

Im a big believer in the power of one," UPS Chief Executive Carol Tome said on a call with investors Tuesday, explaining the move to require everyone back in offices. In terms of our culture, we are a network company, not just of logistics capabilities, but of personal relationships, too."

It is still relatively uncommon for large employers to require corporate staff in person full time. In the Fortune 500, 82% of employers offer at least some remote-work opportunities, according to data from Scoop Technologies, a software firm that tracks return-to-office efforts. An analysis from Stanford University economics professor Nicholas Bloom and colleagues found that Americans spent about 30% of their paid days working from home in January 2024, largely the same from a year earlier.

The five-day club appears to be shrinking. The number of companies requiring full-time attendance dropped to 38% at the end of 2023 from 49% at the start of the year, according to Scoop.

Some notable employers, particularly in finance, have insisted on a full office return for at least some employees. JPMorgan Chase issued a memo to the company last year telling managing directorsamong the companys most senior employeesthat they would now be required in offices five days a week.

Boeing last fall told workers in its commercial division they need to be in the office five days a week, without setting a deadline for the return or threatening consequences for those who failed to do so. Stan Deal, who heads the unit, told managers to work on getting their teams back on site working their prepandemic schedules.

Boeing noted that manufacturing employees have been working in person since factories reopened following a brief pandemic shutdown. As we continue to hire new employees and continue our airplane development work, its beneficial to have teams in the office more often to support our customer commitments and collaborate in person," the company said.

Employees took to social media to complain, and the union representing Boeing engineers said some of its members planned to quit if they were forced back full time.

If Boeing can outsource engineering work to Poland or Indiaeffectively letting those workers telecommute from other continentsit can and should also allow its aerospace professionals living in Stanwood or Sumner to work remotely too," the union, known as Speea, said.

Surveys have repeatedly shown that there is a disconnect between bosses and workers on return-to-office policies. Many workers want to retain some flexibility, while CEOs have indicated that they hope to see greater in-office attendance.

In the continuing tug of war, workers have largely won out. Office occupancy rates in 10 major U.S. cities have hovered around 50% for months, according to data from security provider Kastle Systems, with large corporate offices still sparsely populated on days like Friday.

At chip maker Qualcomm, the company requires that employees spend four days a week in its offices. CEO Cristiano Amon said he doesnt see a need to change the policy to full-time in-office attendance.

I feel like four days a week, five days a week is kind of the same right now," he said.

In Qualcomms San Diego headquarters, the office looks like it did before the pandemic, with engineers working together and employees largely complying with the policy, Amon said.

Were back to normal," he said.

For years, bosses felt they didnt have enough leverage to compel employees back to the office. When employees ignored return-to-office directives, managers often felt reluctant to enforce the policies, fearing high-performing workers might quit. Now, in the face of a softening job market and white-collar layoffs, some workers say they feel more compelled to show up.

Walmart has asked campus office associates to be in offices the majority of the time while continuing to reinforce the importance of flexibility, said a spokeswoman for the company. Practically, in-office requirements and behavior vary greatly department-by-department at the countrys largest retailer, who has offices in California, the New York area and Bentonville, Ark.

Other companies say they want to maintain a hybrid approach with work at home and in the office. At tech company HP, the printer and laptop maker has asked that employees come into the office a few days a week, as determined by teams. CEO Enrique Lores said a younger generation of workers, including his own children, wont tolerate a five-day-a-week plan.

They value flexibility so much that they will not work for a company that will tell them you need to come to the office five days per week. They will not do it," he said. We really think the way of working in the future is hybrid."

Lores said he sees the value of in-office work for training, collaborating with colleagues and learning from peers.

But you dont need to be 8-to-5, five days a week to do that," Lores said.

Sharon Terlep, Lauren Weber and Sarah Nassauer contributed to this article.

Write to Chip Cutter at chip.cutter@wsj.com
Telecom operator Vodafone Idea Ltd faces a daunting set of challenges, with declining subscriber base a key concern. In the December quarter (Q3FY24), the service provider saw its subscriber loss expand to 4.6 million, up from 1.6 million in the previous quarter, leaving it with 215.2 million subscribers as of end of December. Additionally, there was a sequential drop in data usage per customer in Q3.

This indicates that some of the higher usage (read quality) subscribers of Vodafone Idea could be porting out, possibly to take advantage of Bharti Airtels and Reliance Jios 5G network, said an Axis Capital report dated 30 January.

Clearly, the company needs to make investments in network infrastructure to contain subscriber loss. However, its high debt level complicates matters. As of December end, Vodafone Idea's net debt stood at a whopping 2.1 trillion, up nearly 1% from September end. With about 5,400 crore in debt repayments due over the next year and an annualized Q3 Ebitda (pre Ind AS 116) of around 8,600 crore, the company's financial position is precarious. Ebitda is earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.

The significant amount of cash required to service debt leaves limited upside opportunities for equity holders, despite the high operating leverage opportunity from any source of Arpu (average revenue per user) increase," said analysts at Motilal Oswal Financial Services in a report on 30 January.

In short, it is high time that Vodafone Idea raises funds. In fact, capital expenditure (capex) required to expand 4G coverage and launch 5G services hinges on fund raise. Capex levels are currently falling, and spending stood at 330 crore in Q3, down about 37% sequentially. Once the funds are raised, the company would take six to seven months to roll out 5G.

On the other hand, peers Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have already rolled out 5G. The delay in 5G capex by Vodafone Idea could hurt subscriber base, which is already declining.

Amid this gloom, a bright spot is that Vodafone Idea's Arpu has been growing steadily, helped by changes in entry-level plans and subscriber upgrades. In Q3, Arpu stood at 145, up 2% sequentially, whereas growth in Jios Arpu was flat. The migration from 2G to 4G would continue to drive Arpu growth for Vodafone Idea. But against the current backdrop where competition is heightened and the company continues to lose market share, fund raise is critical to revive investor sentiment, which has been battered.

Shares of the company are down 22% from a 52-week high of 18.40 apiece seen in early January. Besides fund-raise, tariff hikes could be another significant trigger for the stock.
PB Fintech , the parent company of Policy Bazaar and Paisa Bazaar, witnessed its shares surpass the IPO price apiece after two years as investors responded positively to the company's robust performance in Q3FY24.

The company released its December quarter results on Tuesday after market hours, showcasing a strong performance in its core business. Additionally, the company's new initiatives exhibited robust revenue growth.

The core online business witnessed significant growth, with new protection premiums (health insurance + term insurance) surging by 44% and the core operating revenue reaching 593 crore, up 39% YoY. Notably, the contribution margin improved to 44% in Q3, and adjusted EBITDA showed an increase to 76 crore, with the margin expanding to 13%.

Also Read: Also Read: Larsen & Toubro share price declines 5% post Q3 earnings

Its adjusted EBITDA for the last 6 quarters has improved by 50 crore each quarter, in line with the company's annual guidance of incremental 200 crore adjusted EBITDA.

The overall revenue from operations during the third quarter of the current fiscal year improved by 43% YoY to 871 crore. Additionally, the company achieved a positive adjusted EBITDA margin of 4%, a noteworthy improvement from the -5% margin recorded in the same period last year.

On the bottom line, the company turned a net profit in Q3 two quarters ahead of its estimates. In Q3, it reported a net profit of 37 crore, a significant improvement compared to the net loss of 87 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal, marking an improvement of 124 crore.

For the first nine months of FY24, its total operating revenue jumped to 2,348 crore, and the consolidated PAT improved by 482 crore to 4 crore.

Buoyed by these impressive Q3 results, the stock commenced today's trading session with a notable gap-up, opening at 963.95, a 6.20% increase from the previous close of 907.65 apiece. The upward momentum continued, and in early trade, the stock surpassed its IPO price of 980, reaching a two-year high of 1,020, representing a gain of 12.5%.

Stock Price History

PB Fintech is engaged in providing integrated online marketing, IT consulting, and support services largely for the financial services industry, including insurance. PB Fintech operates PolicyBazaar, India's largest digital insurance marketplace, and PaisaBazaar, which provides services related to lending products.

The insurance and financial aggregator made a decent debut on the exchanges on November 15, 2021, listing at a premium of 22.7% at 1,202 apiece as against the issue price of 980.

However, within two months of its listing, the stock dropped below its IPO price. Over the subsequent months, it faced challenges, sliding below the 500 mark and reaching a record low of 356 apiece in November 2022.

As the company's financials started improving, the stock began a recovery, and since February 2023, it has consistently followed an upward trend, leading to its current achievement of surpassing the IPO price today.

Disclaimer: We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

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The American Red Cross will be installing free smoke alarms in Coffee County Saturday and those interested need to call (334) 350-1018 before Saturday to make an appointment to have the free smoke alarms installed in their home.

There is a limit of two free smoke alarms per home.

The Red Cross will join with community partners to Sound the Alarm. Save a Life from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. During this time, they will be in coffee county advancing our lifesaving Home Fire Campaign, which installs free smoke alarms in vulnerable communities across the nation. They also share critical fire safety tips, including home fire escape plans with residents.

Since its launch in 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign has saved 1500 lives, installed 2.5 million smoke alarms and made 1 million households safer with community partners.
A countrys growth can be gauged by various initiatives such as infrastructure development and the availability of homes and basic services like electricity. While each of these is important, one sector that supports them all is the explosives industry.

Explosives are primarily used in the mining and construction industries, and by defence forces.

The global explosives market is expected to grow from $44 billion now to $61.8 billion by 2027. While India's explosives industry accounts only for a small part of this, it is growing rapidly with annual usage at 500,000 tonnes and is expected to reach $159.2 million by 2028.

The primary reason for this is the high demand for explosives across the mining, construction, and infrastructure industries. To add to this, an increase in the use of explosives in defence and space missions has also supported the sectors growth. Government policies such as Make in India have further accelerated the growth of the domestic explosives industry.

While all companies involved in explosives manufacturing stand to benefit from this, we take a look at the growth potential for two important players in this spaceSolar Industries India Ltd and Premier Explosives Ltd.

Business overview

Solar Industries

The Nagpur-based company is a leading manufacturer of bulk explosives, packaged explosives and initiating systems. Its products find use in the mining, infrastructure, and construction industries.

Solar Industries has 34 manufacturing plants in India and six abroad, with a total capacity to produce over 450,000 tonnes of explosives. Apart from a strong domestic presence, the company sells its products in over 50 nations.

For the defence sector, Solar Industries manufactures propellants for missiles, rockers, and warhead explosives. Recently, the company also ventured into manufacturing propulsion systems for space launch vehicles.

Premier Explosives

The Secunderabad-based maker of industrial explosives and detonators also undertakes the operation and maintenance of propellent plants at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota as well as the solid fuel complex of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Premier Explosives other clients include Bharat Dynamics Ltd, Coal India Ltd, Bharat Electricals Ltd, and Advanced Systems Laboratory. The company also serves the defence sector and manufactures propellants for tactical and strategic missiles including Astra, Akash, LRSAM, Agni, and Veda.

Premier Explosives has seven manufacturing facilities for explosives and two for defence equipment in India. It also exports to several countries, including Israel, Greece, Jordan, Nepal, Turkey, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

A market comparison

Solar Industries has a larger market capitalisation of 585.8 billion, against Premier Explosives 14.1 billion. Also, Solar Industries order book value of 39.1 billion is almost four times that of Premier Explosives 10.5 billion.

This is primarily because Solar Industries is a leading manufacturer of bulk explosives globally and commands a 24% share of the domestic explosives market.

View Full Image Both Solar Industries and Premier Explosives have raced ahead of the Nifty 50.

Both the companies outperformed the Nifty 50 over the past year. Premier Explosives, however, clearly jumped ahead, giving a 247% return as against the 60.3% return of Solar Industries.

The financials race

Revenues

In terms of revenue, Solar Industries outpaced Premier Explosives. Over the previous five financial years, Solar Industries net sales grew at a compound annual growth rate of 23%, whereas Premier Explosives net sales contracted 4.4%.

Sharp increases in realisations and strong volume growth have helped Solar Industries grow its revenue faster. Apart from this, the companys leadership position in the explosives industries, strong relations with its clients, and high demand from user industries have supported its revenue growth.

View Full Image Source: Equitymarket

On the other hand, Premier Industries revenue contracted primarily because of tender-based orders in the commercial explosives segment and long gestation periods involved in executing defence orders.

In the previous two financial years, though, the companys revenue increased due to high demand from user industries and a growing share of defence revenue. With a high inflow and faster execution of defence orders, its revenue is expected to grow further.

Profitability

Over the previous five financial years, Solar Industries ebitda has grown at a CAGR of 21%, as against Premier Explosives growth of 2.1%. In terms of after-tax profit, Solar Industries grew at a CAGR of 24%, whereas Premier Industries witnessed a contraction of 9.1%.

View Full Image Source: Equitymaster

Solar Industries leads in terms of profitability primarily due to backward integration. The company manufactures a majority of its raw materials internally. To add to this, the company has a price escalation clause in its agreement with key clients, which reduces the risk of raw material price volatility on its margins.

For Premier Explosives, volatility in raw material prices and fixed price contracts in the defence segment have led to a fall in profits over the years. This also affected its profit margins. However, a growing share of defence contracts will help the company improve its margins in the medium term.

Debt management

The debt-to-equity ratio of Solar Industries is 0.2x. In the previous five financial years, the companys debt-to-equity ratio increased due to its capital expenditure plans. The company also increased its borrowing limit to 30 billion in FY22.

For FY24, the company is planning a capex of 7 billion for modernisation and capacity expansion.

Moreover, for the next two financial years, the company plans to invest 6 billion annually for capital expenditure.

As for Premier Explosives, the companys debt-to-equity ratio is zero despite investing heavily in capex. In the previous few financial years, Premier Explosives has invested in a greenfield plant to manufacture solid propellant.

The company also invests heavily in research and development to develop new products. Moreover, the company has no major capex planned and, hence, has sufficient cashflows to fund its operations.

View Full Image Source: Equitymaster

Financial efficiency

To measure the financial efficiency of a business, it is important to look at its return ratiosReturn on Capital Employed (RoCE) and Return on Equity (RoE). These metrics indicate a companys ability to generate profits from the capital invested.

The RoCE and RoE of Solar industries have been expanding continually owing to rising profits.

On the other hand, Premier Explosives ratios have fallen due to a decline in profit. However, in the previous two financial years, its return ratios have improved, leading to an improvement in revenue and profit.

View Full Image Source: Equitymaster

Dividends

A company distributes its profits to shareholders in the form of dividends. If a company pays dividends regularly, it indicates stability in its financial health.

Solar Industries average dividend payout ratio over the previous five financial years stands at 17%, and its dividend yield at 0.4%. Premier Explosives five-year average payout is 16.6%, and its dividend yield 0.4%.

Essentially, Solar Industries is paying a higher dividend per share than Premier Explosives.

View Full Image Source: Equitymaster

Valuations

To know the real worth of a company, we must look at its valuation. It gives us an idea of whether a company is overvalued or undervalued and helps in making investing decisions.

The two important valuation ratios to look at are Price to Earnings (P/E) and Price to Book Value (P/Bv). A high ratio when compared to peers indicates a company is overvalued, and a low ratio indicates it is undervalued.

View Full Image Source: Equitymaster

In terms of P/E and P/BV, Solar Industries is overvalued when compared with Premier Explosives. Moreover, based on a five-year average, both companies look overvalued. Compared with the industry average, again, both companies are overvalued.

Which stock is better?

In terms of revenue, revenue growth, profitability, and financial efficiency, Solar Industries has the upper hand over Premier Explosives. In terms of valuations and debt management, however, Premier Explosives has outpaced Solar Industries.

Premier Explosives, although a small player when compared to its competitors, has made its mark in the industry. It has a leadership position in India in manufacturing explosives and detonation fuses with indigenous technology.

Moreover, it is the first private company to manufacture propellants for Indian missile programs. The company is a member of the Missile Technologies Control Group, India, which provides it access to advanced technologies.

Premier Explosives has also collaborated with universities such as BITS Pilani, Gulbarga University, and IIT-Madras to conduct research in high-energy materials. It has invested in R&D and is working on developing new products such as 70 mm rockets and air-glide bombs for the Indian Air Force.

The company also received licenses for bulk storage of ammonium nitrate (solid and melt), which will help it reduce its raw material costs and ensure sufficient supply.

Solar Industries, on the other hand, has a leadership with a 24% market share in industrial explosives. It has a sizable manufacturing capacity, allowing it to scale up production during peak demand season. The company is also setting up facilities in Australia, Thailand and Indonesia to scale up production.

Solar Industries has also entered into a partnership with the Indian Space Research Organisation to manufacture space launch vehicles and is scaling up its defence product portfolio to expand its business.

All this shows that both companies are gearing up to meet the growing need for explosives and defence products.

While Solar Industries is a well-established player in the explosives industry, Premier Explosives is focusing on its defence and space portfolio.

With the high demand for explosives, both companies are well-positioned to benefit from it.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such.

This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com
The Rajasthan government has imposed a deadline of January 31, 2024, for farmers and beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana to complete their e-Know Your Customer (e-KYC) process. Failure to comply may result in the termination of eligibility and suspension of the 16th instalment payment under the scheme.

This directive applies nationwide to all PM-KISAN beneficiaries, as the government aims to streamline the disbursement process and ensure efficient delivery of benefits.

What is the PM-KISAN scheme and its benefits?

The PM-KISAN scheme is a central sector scheme designed to provide income support to all landholding farmers' families across the country. It offers an annual financial benefit of 6,000 in three equal instalments of 2,000 each will be deposited in the farmers Aadhaar-linked bank account every four months.

This support caters to the financial needs of farmers for agricultural inputs and domestic requirements. The government takes full responsibility for transferring the benefits to targeted beneficiaries under this scheme.

Why is the e-KYC process important?

The government aims for intended recipients efficiently. By completing the e-KYC process, farmers and beneficiaries can verify their identity and eligibility, allowing for accurate and targeted disbursement of financial benefits.

What are the requirements for e-KYC?

Farmers who have not completed Aadhaar seeding (linking their Aadhaar number to their PM-KISAN account) and land verification are urged to do so promptly. Failure to fulfil these requirements by the stipulated deadline may render farmers ineligible for the upcoming instalment, according to the Agriculture Department.

What are the available modes of e-KYC?

There are three modes of e-KYC available to PM-KISAN beneficiaries:

OTP-based e-KYC: This mode can be accessed on the PM-KISAN portal and mobile app.

Biometric-based e-KYC: This mode is available at CSCs (Common Service Centers) and State Seva Kendra.

Face authentication-based e-KYC: This mode can be accessed on the PM-KISAN mobile app.

What are the steps involved in the e-KYC process?

To complete the e-KYC process, beneficiaries must follow these steps:

Visit the nearest e-Mitra or CSC centre. Request online biometric authentication. Present original documents and provide biometrics. Submit the application, and the KYC process will be completed.

What if land details have not been verified?

For beneficiaries whose land details have not been verified, it is necessary to present relevant documents at the concerned Patwari Halka or Tehsil office. This includes mentioning the list number, registration number, and mobile number.

Who is not eligible under the PM-KISAN scheme?

Exclusions from the PM-KISAN scheme include institutional landholders and farmer families whose members have paid income tax in the last assessment year. Additionally, families with members holding or having held constitutional positions such as mayors of Municipal Corporations, chairpersons of District Panchayats, and former or current members of state legislative assemblies, state legislative councils, Lok Sabha, or Rajya Sabha are not eligible for the scheme's benefits.

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(Bloomberg) -- Dish Network Corp. parent EchoStar Corp. nixed a divisive proposal to restructure more than $5 billion of debt, marking a win for creditors who banded together in the aftermath of the offer.

The company in its sole discretion" terminated an offer to swap the debt, which is due in the coming years, for new notes, according to a Monday statement. It didnt disclose the reason for killing the exchange.

Earlier this month, the Englewood, Colorado-based company offered the bondholders the ability to swap their notes for different instruments with a 10% coupon. The new bonds were to be backed by 3 million television subscribers  but those subscribers were transferred out of the reach of existing Dish creditors just days earlier, a move that angered some debt investors.

Dish did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Groups of Dish creditors have since signed cooperation agreements, binding them to act together in negotiations with the company, Bloomberg previously reported.

Read More: Dish Networks Wireless Dream Turns Nightmarish for Creditors

Still, the companys previously announced offer to exchange about $4.9 billion of convertible debt for new bonds paying 10% and backed by wireless spectrum assets stands. Holders of more than 60% of the companys convertible notes due 2026 have signed a cooperation deal, Bloomberg reported.

A group comprising holders of most of the secured and unsecured bonds tied to a key Dish unit earlier sent a letter to the companys board threatening legal action if the proposed debt restructuring wasnt undone.

Dish is working to tame a more-than $20 billion debt load, several billion dollars of which is coming due soon. The company, best known as a pay-TV provider, recently recombined with satellite operator EchoStar.

--With assistance from Erin Hudson.

(Updates with cooperation pact details and context throughout.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2024 Bloomberg L.P.

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India and Bhutan are in talks to expand and develop Gelephu airport, located near Bhutans boundary with India, according to persons aware of the matter. The plan assumes importance given the Himalayan kingdoms plans to make Gelephu a hub for economic investments in South Asia.

According to media reports in Bhutan, a master plan for the expansion of the airport has been prepared which proposes developing the airport, which currently stands at over 500 acres, by expanding its size as well as the length of the existing runway. The Airports Authority of India is in talks with Bhutan to help develop the airport, an Indian official confirmed. Talks are currently in early stages, they added.

Queries mailed to the ministry of external affairs and the Airports Authority of India went unanswered.

Gelephu has become the focus of Bhutans efforts to reach out to the global economy. During last years National Day Address, Bhutans King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk laid out plans for the new Gelephu Mindfulness City.

South Asia is experiencing an unprecedented economic transformation. This is a period of growth and a period of immense opportunities for our region, which is home to around two billion people. The land connection from Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar through Assam and Northeast Indian states, to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore is a vibrant economic corridor linking South Asia to Southeast Asia," King Wangchuk had said in the course of his remarks.

The Gelephu project requires greater physical connectivity with India, through road and railway linkages. The plan to expand and develop Gelephu airport with support from India is believed to be in line with these ambitions.

The proposed Special Administrative Region (SAR) in Gelephu could reshape Bhutans economic landscape. The SAR will have autonomy and legal independence to secure investments and develop the 1,000 sq. km project.

Bhutan is seeking Indian investments for essential physical infrastructure, including an airport and roads, to develop the SAR. Mint had earlier reported that Bhutan is in discussions with GMR to develop the SAR, complete with infrastructure required to push the region to becoming a key economic centre.

Bhutan has four airports including Paro, Gelephu, Bathapalathang, and Yongphulla airports. Currently, the country operates all its international flights from Paro airport via state carrier Druk Air. In fact in 1968, the Indian Border Roads Organisation built an airstrip in the Paro valley, which was initially used for on-call helicopter operations by the Indian Armed Forces on behalf of the Royal Government of Bhutan.

The initial work for domestic airport of Gelephu was completed in 2012 but the airport faced several financial and operational challenges over the years. Recently, the airport received aerodrome certificate from the Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority in September 2023 for international flights.

The Airports Authority of India has provided its services in supporting aviation in other countries as well in the recent past. In 2021, the AAI had agreed to assist the Bangladesh aviation regulator in enhancing its capacity in terms of infrastructure and skilled manpower.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on January 31, put forth a message to 'unruly MPs' accused of disrupting the parliamentary proceedings and called for introspection as the Budget Session of Parliament begins today.

A day before the announcement of the interim Budget 2024, PM Modi slammed MPs in his address, while calling these MPs habitual offenders, he said, "In the last 10 years, MPs did what suited them in Parliament. But I must say that those who are 'habitual offenders', those who have the habit of doing 'cheerharan' of democracy should introspect at the last session. They can even ask the people of their constituency whether the people remember them for that."

During the previous Parliament session, an unprecedented number of suspensions were witnessed, with 146 opposition MPs suspended between December 17 and 19. The suspension of 14 MPs was lifted on the day before the session.

PM Modi referred to the women's reservation bill that was passed in the new Parliament as he said, "On January 26 too, we saw a display of women empowerment. Today, President Droupadi Murmu will address the session and tomorrow Nirmala Sitharaman ji will present the interim Budget. This is a festival of Nari Shakti," the Hindustan Times quoted PM Modi as saying.

Those who opposed for the sake of opposing are not remembered unlike those who use the harshest words for criticism but contribute to the debate positively and meaningfully, PM Modi added.

While urging fellow parliamentarians to not let go of this session, PM Modi said, This is also an opportunity for regret."

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present present the Interim Budget 2024-25 tomorrow, February 1. The full Budget for FY25 will be presented after the formation of the new government following the general elections.

This Budget will contain details about the estimated receipts and the expenditure of the government until the formation of the new government.

PM Modi said in his address, We will present the full Budget after we form the government after the election."

The proceedings of both the Houses will begin half an hour after the President's address. The Secretary Generals of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha are set to present a copy of the President's address to their respective Houses.

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A video showing Chinese soldiers intercepting Indian shepherds in the Kakjung area of Ladakh and claiming the area belongs to China is doing the rounds on social media. The confrontation, which happened on January 2, saw the shepherds reportedly throwing rocks at the Chinese personnel, as per The Hindu.

The incident transpired near Patrolling Points (PPs) 35 and 36 at Kakjung under the Nyoma constituency in Ladakh. Ishey Spalzang, Councillor of Nyoma told the paper that the disputed area aligns with India's perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Also Read | Budget Session 2024: Prez Murmu praises members for passing Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam; 10 key points from her address

Video Reveals Absence of Indian Security Forces

The video caught the presence of Chinese soldiers and their vehicles in the region, while there is a notable absence of Indian security forces. The Ladakh MP, who shared the 6.50-minute-long video, said the shepherds refused to leave the place and even pelted stones at the soldiers. Watch here

Following the confrontation, on January 12, the sarpanch, sub-divisional magistrate, Indian Army, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officials visited the grazing site.

Also Read | What is India watching? Check most-watched movies, OTT series, shows on Amazon Fire TV in 2023

Spalzang emphasised the valley's significance for winter cattle grazing. He recalled a similar attempt by the Chinese in 2019, countered by locals pitching tents to assert their claim. The nearest army unit, approximately 5-7 km away, was reportedly absent on the day of the incident.

Unpatrolled Patrolling Points Raise Concerns

The incident raises concerns as it occurred in an area with at least 26 out of 65 PPs in eastern Ladakh that have not been patrolled by Indian troops since April-May 2020. After violent clashes on June 15, 2020, where 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in confrontations with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), tensions persist in the region.

Also Read | Pakistan news: Ex-PM Imran Khan, wife Bushra Bibi sentenced to 14 years in Toshakhana case. Details here

Despite multiple rounds of talks between the two countries to resolve the border issue, numerous areas in eastern Ladakh have become "buffer zones," with both Indian troops and Chinese forces refraining from patrolling.

Border Clashes With China Have Continued Despite Peace Talks

New details from the Indian Army's gallantry award citations reveal that Indian and Chinese soldiers engaged in clashes at least twice in 2022 along their Himalayan frontier, Reuters reported on January 17. The confrontations, marked by hand-to-hand combat, occurred amidst diplomatic and military talks between New Delhi and Beijing to resolve their ongoing standoff since 2020.

Contrary to the 2020 deadly clashes, the recent skirmishes in India's Ladakh region, with the last known occurrence in November 2022, did not result in any reported deaths. Both the Indian and Chinese armies have yet to provide official comments on the recent revelations.

Also Read | Who is Neel Acharya? Another Indian student killed in US after brutal murder of Vivek Saini

Details of the clashes surfaced following the award of gallantry medals to Indian soldiers who confronted Chinese troops attempting to enter Indian territory in two separate incidents in 2022.

Despite ongoing military and diplomatic discussions between the nuclear-armed neighbours, the standoff that began in mid-2020 remains unresolved. The India-China border dispute, rooted in the 1950s, has persisted, with a brief but bloody war fought over it in 1962.

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Maldives envoy Ibrahim Shaheeb, who is at the Parliament on the first day of the Budget session told reporters that all is well between the two country's relationship.

"All is good..." Shaweeb said when asked about India-Maldives relations. Also Read | Maldives row impact? India drops to 5th spot on island's top 10 tourism markets list  where China stands

Demands for Formal Apology from Maldives President

Earlier on January 30, it was reported that Gasuim Ibrahim, leader of the Jumhoori Party, urged Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu to formally apologise to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recent controversial remarks, seeking "diplomatic reconciliation" to mend bilateral relations, PTI reported.

Amid a diplomatic row with India following derogatory social media posts by three ministers, President Muizzu, known for his pro-China stance, stated on January 13, "We may be small but this doesn't give them the license to bully us." This comes after Muizzu's high-profile state visit to China.

Also Read | India-Maldives row: Why does Maldives want Indian troops out | Explainer

Gasuim, speaking after a Jumhoori Party meeting, called on President Muizzu to apologise formally to India and PM Modi. He expressed concern over the comments made during an interview and attributed them to former President Abdulla Yameen's "India Out" campaign.

The demand coincides with the Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) plan to submit a motion to impeach Muizzu, who defeated the India-friendly Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff in September.

Muizzu, on his return from China, suggested reducing dependence on India, including exploring alternatives for medical services and medicines. Gasuim opposed the proposal, highlighting India's significant role and expertise in these fields.

Also Read | Wooing China? How Maldives is swiftly reducing its dependence on India

Muizzu's recent comments further complicate the relationship between Maldives and India, with Gasuim urging "diplomatic reconciliation through a formal apology to mend bilateral relations."

India-Maldives Relation on the Rocks?

This isn't the first time Muizzu has faced calls to improve relations with India. On January 24, the MDP and Democrats expressed concern about the governments "anti-India stance," emphasizing India as the "most long-standing ally."

Also Read | India-Maldives row: As Male sets deadline for Indian troops' withdrawal, Jaishankar says cannot guarantee that

The support for India by the two parties followed the announcement of a Chinese ship docking at a Maldivian port amid strained ties between India and Maldives. This move comes after Muizzu made Beijing his first port of call, breaking the tradition of New Delhi being the first port of call for a new Maldivian President.

Shortly after assuming office, Muizzu requested India to withdraw 88 military personnel by March 15, citing a "strong mandate" from the Maldivian people.

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In Gujarat a scrap merchant has found an interesting solution to the an impending threat of demolition by the Bharuch-Ankleshwar Urban Development Authority (BAUDA) of unauthorised construction. The scrap merchant employed Modi-Yogi-Ram-Sita quartet to avoid demolition of an illegal additional floor.

The BAUDA officials had sent Mohanlal Gupta notice about an illegal construction- an extra floor. Notably, Gupta had bought the property in 2023.

Mohanlal Gupta, taking whiff of the current fervor in the country decided to do something to avoid demolition, that caught even the BAUDA officials off-guard.

Gupta constructed a a temple" with the idols of Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman on the illegal additional floor. Further he placed statues of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as guards" outside the temple on the illegal floor.

Gupta, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, also went a step ahead and inaugurated the temple atop the purported illegal scrap godown on 22 January to coincide with the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya by PM Modi.

According to an Indian Express report, BAUDA has now given Mohanlal Gupta seven days to submit necessary documents.

However, according to Mohanlal Gupta, Jitendra Oza, from whom he had bought the property last year, had already taken permission for the construction from Gadkhol Gram Panchayat in 2012.

Gupta alleged that envious people have complained against the structure. I have made changes to the property by demolishing some parts. There are some people who are jealous of me and are threatening to get the structure demolished. They have also demanded money from me. They reside in a residential society far from our Riddhi Siddhi society," Indian Express quoted Mohanlal Gupta.

Gadkhol village Sarpanch Manjulaben Patel said she did not attend the temple inauguration on 22 January, but has learnt that a large number of people attended the event". Photos and videos of the event have since gone viral on social media.

The 'Pran Pratishtha' of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya's Ram Temple was held on January 22.

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Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's Tuesday was spent being chased by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), who accused him of being absconding. The Jharkhand CM on Tuesday travelled to Ranchi and held meetings with his party and other alliance MLAs, ahead of his scheduled questioning by the ED in a money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate will question Soren on Wednesday in Ranchi in a money laundering case probe linked to an alleged land scam.

Speculations that Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana Soren might become the next chief minister of Jharkhand were rife amid huge drama over Hemant Soren's apparent 'disappearance' for around 40 hours when ED searched his Delhi house on Monday. Kaplana Soren's possible ascension echoes a similar move by Lalu prasad Yadav, who made wife Rabri Devi the chief minister of Bihar when he was arrested.

Amid allegations of being absconding" by Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and untraceable" by ED, media reports citing JMM officials informed that the Jharkhand CM travelled from national capital Delhi to Ranchi undertaking a journey of over 1250 kilometres.

The federal agency questioned Hemant Soren on January 20, and later issued a fresh summons, asking him to confirm his availability for questioning on either January 29 or January 31.

Who is Kalpana Soren?

-Kalpana Soren is not from any political background and is originally from Odisha's Mayurbhanj district.

-Born in Ranchi in 1946, Kalpana Soren studied engineering and MBA.

-Kalpana Soren got married to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on February 7, 2006

-Kalpana and Hemant Soren have two children -- Nikhil and Ansh.

-Kalpana's father is a businessman and her mother is a homemaker. Kalpana is involved in business and charity work.

-Kalpana Soren reportedly runs a school and is involved in organic farming.

-Since Kalpana Soren is not an MLA, her becoming the CM will need a present MLA to vacate his or her seat.

-Hemant Soren's alliance legislators have signed a letter of support without any name as speculations are rife that the chief minister's wife Kalpana Soren will be handed over the reins in the event of his arrest.

-According to BJP's Nishikant Dubey, Hemant's brother Basant Soren and sister-in-law Sita Soren did not agree to the proposal of Kalpana becoming the CM

-Kalpana Soren was present at the meetings of the state's ministers and party MLAs in Ranchi on Tuesday. The meetings took place amid BJP claims that Hemant Soren absconded after the ED did not find him in his Delhi residence. Hemant Soren reached Ranchi from Delhi by road and held two meetings.

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According to Korean legend, a teenage princess from Ayodhya crossed the ocean in a boat some 2,000 years ago, sailed 4,500 kilometres to Korea and married King Kim Suro who founded the Gaya Kingdom in the north Asian country. The princess, Suriratna, then became Queen Heo Hwang-ok.

The fable is hardly known in India, nor is the fact that some 60 lakh people in South Korea, who consider themselves descendants of Suriratna, consider Ayodhya as their maternal home. It was therefore natural that many of them eagerly watched the Ram Temple consecration online from their homes on January 22.

And now they can't wait to visit Ayodhya to see the grand new Ram temple complex up close.

Many members of the Karak clan visit Ayodhya every year to pay tributes at the memorial of Queen Heo Hwang-ok at the Queen Heo Memorial Park, which was set up on the banks of Sarayu river in Ayodhya in 2001 in a partnership between the Uttar Pradesh government and the Gimhae city in South Korea.

"Ayodhya is very special to us as we see it as our grandmother's home," said Kim Chil-su, the secretary general of the Central Karak Clan Society. He was among those who attended the January 22 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the new idol of Ram Lalla at the temple, a few kilometres away from the Queen Heo Memorial Park.

Spread over a 2,000 square metre area, the park features a meditation hall, pavilions dedicated to the queen and king, pathways, a fountain, murals and audio video facilities. The pavilions are built in a typical Korean style with tiled sloping roof.

"We visit Ayodhya every year to pay tributes at the memorial and this time we plan to go to the new Ram temple too. We watched the ceremony on-line and what a feeling it was. I haven't been to the old makeshift shrine but have read about the dispute," Yu-Jin Lee, who plans to travel with 22 others to the city in February, told PTI over phone from South Korea.

Queen Heo Hwang-ok is revered as the progenitor mother of the Gimhae Heo families, according to an ancient Korean history text, "Samguk Yusa". It states that the queen came to Korea in AD 48 from "Ayuta". She is still revered as the progenitor mother of the Gimhae Heo families of the Karak clan.

In a post on X, the South Korean embassy had also congratulated India for the consecration ceremony on January 22. "The place holds a great symbolic importance for Korea-India relations based on the matrimonial link between Queen Sriratna (Heo Hwang-ok) from Ayodhya and King Kim Suro from Gaya (Korea) in 48 AD," it said.

In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former South Korean president Moon Jae-in signed an MoU for expansion of the memorial.

South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook attended the inauguration of the beautification work in 2018. In 2019, commemorative 25 and 5 postage stamps for the queen were also issued by India.

Indian diplomat N Parthasarathi, who served as ambassador to South Korea, also wrote a novel based on Suriratna's life, "The Legend of Ayodhya Princess in Korea. It was translated in the Korean language as "Bi Dan Hwang Hoo", or Silk Princess, and published in Seoul.

Later, the National Book Trust of India published a children's book based on the novel.

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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
On January 23, the Iranian regime hanged twenty-three-year old Mohammad Ghobadlou. He is the ninth known Iranian protester, arrested in connection with the massive anti-regime demonstrations of 2022, to be executed.

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets for months after the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been detained for failing to wear her hijab properly. Peaceful protesters were met with brutal force. Five hundred people were killed by security forces during the demonstrations; thousands were arrested; and an unknown number remain in prison.

Ghobadlou, who allegedly struggled with mental illness, was accused of killing a police officer. After a trial that U.N. experts, Amnesty International, and other rights groups claim was grossly unfair, he received a sentence of death. His attorney said that the sentence had been stayed by Irans Supreme Court; yet the attorney was informed of the decision to execute Ghobadlou just hours before his client was killed.

At a press briefing, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel condemned the Iranian regimes use of the death penalty to punish people for what we believe to be just exercising their human rights. He noted, There have been ... widespread reports of torture, forced confessions, and restrictions on legal counsel. All of this, we believe, undermine any shred of credibility in the decisions handed down by Iranian courts.

Since the Iranian regimes violent suppression of nationwide protests following Mahsa Aminis death, the United States has imposed more than a dozen rounds of sanctions in response, targeting Iranian officials, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Law Enforcement Forces, the head of Irans Prisons Organization, other individuals, and media outlets involved in censorship.

The U.S., Principal Deputy Spokesperson Patel declared, will continue to take actions to support the people of Iran in practical ways, both seen and unseen, in close coordination with our allies and partners in the region as well.

I will just note that when it comes to holding the Iranian regime accountable for its malign activities, including its repression of its own people, we will not hesitate to take action.
A Varanasi district court on Wednesday allowed the Hindu side to worship inside the southern cellar, also known as Vyas Ka Tehkhana, inside the Gyanvapi mosque.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, says, ...Puja will start within seven days. Everyone will have the right to perform puja..." "The Hindu side is allowed to offer prayers at 'Vyas Ka Tehkhana'. The district administration will have to make arrangements within seven days," Jain said.

The court ordered the district magistrate to arrange for the prayers within seven days and a priest nominated by Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust. On the other hand, the Muslim siderepresented by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committeesaid they would challenge the order in the higher court.

Also Read | RBI bars Paytm Payments Bank from accepting deposits in any customer account from next month

Rejecting the ASI findings, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said that the report of the ASI is not "conclusive evidence".

"Hindu communal organisations have been misleading the public for many years regarding the Gyanvapi Masjid. The latest example of this is a report of the Archaeological Survey of India which they filed in the court and made available to the plaintiff and defendant only on the orders of the court. This report was for their study and preparation but by publishing it in the press, the opposition party has not only insulted the court but has also tried to mislead the simple people of the country," AIMPLB executive member Qasim Rasool Ilyas said.

Also Read | Varanasi court permits Hindu side to offer prayers at Gyanvapi mosque complex

The order followed a plea by four Hindu women to the Supreme Court requesting the excavation and scientific survey of a sealed portion of the Gyanvapi mosque. The plea was filed in the apex court after the report of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was made public in which the ASI concluded that a significant Hindu temple structure was predating the mosque's construction.

The ASI report about the Gyanvapi mosque:

After an in-depth study of the existing structures, and artefacts recovered from the Gyanvapi site, the ASI in its report concluded that there existed a large Hindu temple before the construction of the existing structure" in the 17th century.

Based on scientific studies/ survey carried out, the study of architectural remains, exposed features and artefacts, inscriptions, art and sculptures, it can be said that there existed a Hindu temple before the construction of the existing structure," the ASI report said.

The report said the western wall of the Gyanvapi mosque, which is made of stones and decorated with mouldings, is the remaining part of an earlier Hindu temple.

Citing existing architectural remains, decorated mouldings on the walls, karma-ratha" and prati-ratha" (something to depict Shiva and Parvati) of the central chamber, a large decorated entrance gate with ornamental skirting on the eastern wall of the western chamber, a small entrance with a mutilated image on the door jamb, birds and animals carved for decoration inside and outside, suggests that the western wall is the remaining part of a Hindu temple, the report said.

The ASI report said that after studying the pillars and pilasters used in the existing structure scientifically, the officers concluded that the parts of the pre-existing temple were used in the present structure.

The report further said during the scientific investigations/survey, the ASI officers noticed a number of Sanskrit and Dravidian inscriptions dated 12th to 17th centurynot only on the pre-existing structure but also on the existing structure.

"Most of these inscriptions which can be dated from 12th to 17th century have been reused in the structure, suggesting that the earlier structures were destroyed and their parts were reused in construction/ repair later," the report said.

The report also pointed out that some sculptures of Hindu deities and carved architectural structures were also found buried under the dumped soil in one of the cellars.

Pillars from earlier temples were reused while making cellars in the eastern part of the platform. A pillar decorated with bells, niches for keeping lamps on all four sides, and bearing an inscription of Samvat 1669 is reused in cellar N2," said the report.

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Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday resigned ahead of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. The federal agency had seized one BMW car and 36 lakh in cash from his Delhi residence during the search.

In a late-night development, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and MLAs supporting the Soren government elected senior cabinet minister Champai Soren as the leader of the legislative party.

Also Read | ED arrests JMM President Hemant Soren in land scam; Champai Soren will be new CM

Here are five facts about the new chief minister of Jharkhand who is also known as the Jharkhand Tiger':

Champai Sorena senior minister in the Hemant Soren governmentis the eldest son of Simal Soren, a farmer from the Jilinggoda village in the Saraikela-Kharsawan district. Champai Soren has also worked on his farms alongside his father. He received education up to the 10th grade from a government school. During this time, he got married at a young age and had four sons and three daughters. Champai Soren actively participated in the Jharkhand movement in the late 90s along with Shibu Soren, and soon gained fame as the 'Jharkhand Tiger.' He started his political career by becoming an independent MLA through a by-election on the Saraikela seat. Champai Soren was appointed cabinet minister in the BJP government led by Arjun Munda. He held important ministries during this period. He served as a minister from September 11, 2010, to January 18, 2013. After the President's rule, when Hemant Soren formed a government in the state, Champai Soren became the Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Transport

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India-Maldives row: The Maldives Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim has called on Maldivian President Mohammed Muizzu to formally apologise to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India, as reported by a Maldivian digital news outlet.

"Regarding any country, especially a neighbouring one, we shouldn't speak in a way that affects the relationship. We have an obligation to our state that must be considered. President Solih did consider this obligation and issued a Presidential Decree banning the "India Out" campaign. Now, Yameen is questioning why Muizzu, who participated with him in the India Out Campaign, has not nullified the Presidential Decree," he said as quoted by the news outlet, Voice of Maldives.

Further adding, he said, "The Decree should not be nullified, as it would only result in a loss to the nation. That cannot be done. I would tell Muizzu that it shouldn't be done. Also, I call on President Muizzu to formally apologize to the Indian government and Prime Minister Modi regarding his remarks after the China trip."

Earlier last year, the then Maldives President Ibrahim Solih signed a decree stating that the opposition's 'India Out' campaign is a "threat to national security". This allows security agencies to take down campaign banners and provides constitutional cover to take action against opposition parties.

For more than a year, the opposition, led by former president Abdulla Yameen of the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), has been pushing unproven claim that Indian military officers stationed in the Indian Ocean island nation are a violation of Maldives' sovereignty.

The campaign's implicit target was then Maldivian President Solih and the Maldivian Democratic Party, both perceived as close to India.

Notably, Solih was one of the prominent Maldives leader to condemn the derogatory remarks made by some junior ministers which led to a diplomatic standoff between the two nations.

India and the Maldives on January 14 "agreed to fast-track the withdrawal of Indian military personnel" from the island nation, according to the Maldives' Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu had made a formal request to New Delhi to remove its military personnel from the island nation by March 15, 2024.

The removal of Indian troops in the Maldives was the main campaign plank of Muizzu's party during the presidential elections. Tensions between India and the Maldives have been rising since Muizzu swept into power in September on a campaign to reduce Indias influence on the island. Muizzu is known to share a closer relationship with China. Both India and China have alternatively vied for influence in the tiny island country, investing heavily in upgrading the Maldives infrastructure and extending loans to it.

Currently, there are around 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed On the second day of assuming office, Muizzu officially requested the Indian government to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives.

Apart from the call for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel, a massive row erupted after a Maldivian deputy minister, along with other cabinet members and government officials, made disparaging and unsavoury references to Primer Minister Narendra Modi's recent Lakshadweep visit and call to development the Indian archipelago as a global retreat for beach tourism. The Maldives government, however, distanced itself from the remarks.

(With inputs from ANI)

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UK PM Rishi Sunak follows a rigorous wellness routine which includes fasting for 36 hours, according to media reports. He consumes only water, tea and calorie-free drinks during this period.

From Sunday 5 pm to Tuesday 5 am, he consumes nothing, suggested reports. This routine of the prime minister aroused curiosity within social media with experts pouring in their opinions.

The PM shared some information about his fasting routine during a recent interview. Rishi Sunak appeared on ITV's mid-morning show on January 30 to discuss the upcoming general election along with other issues, reported Metro.

The show's hosts, Rylan Clark and Rochelle Humes, asked the PM about his intermittent fasting routine. "We have so much to talk to you about, as I'm sure you can imagine, but we do need to talk to you about fasting from Sunday evening to Tuesday morning. You just had some chicken, is that your first bit of food since?" asked host Clark, reported Outlet.

Here's what UK PM Rishi Sunak said about his fasting routine

Also read: Sacked UK minister Suella Braverman backs PM Rishi Sunak for next election



The PM, in astonishment over the personal question, responded, I've already had my second pastry today. No, yes! I didn't think we'd ever be talking about this but there we go".

Answering the question, he further said, I wish I was as disciplined as has been reported. Like all of us, I start the week with the best of intentions and then you hit contact with reality at some point."

The PM tries to control his cravings every Monday after an indulgent weekend and tries to have a day of fasting. However, he sometimes fails to stick to his resolution. "But it's not totally nothing, but largely nothing. I do have the odd nut. I start with the best of intentions, as we all do, but then things happen," he added.

Also read: Rishi Sunak says would only agree trade deal with India if it benefits Britain

Rishi Sunak further stated his liking for sugary foods as he said, "I love sugary things, so I eat a lot of sugary pastries the rest of the week. I love my food.

While mentioning that his work-related engagements don't permit him to exercise as much as he used to earlier, the PM said, "I don't exercise as much as I used to because of my job. It's a little reset and a detox at the start of the week."

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Halle (Belgium): Farmers blocked more traffic arteries across Belgium, France and Italy on Wednesday, as they sought to disrupt trade at major ports and other economic lifelines. They also moved closer to Brussels on the eve of a major European Union summit, in a continued push for better prices for their produce and less bureaucracy in their work.

The protests had an immediate impact on Wednesday, as the EUs executive commission announced plans to shield farmers from cheap exports from wartime Ukraine and allow farmers to use some land that had been forced to lie fallow for environmental reasons.

The plans still need to be approved by member states and parliament, but they amounted to a sudden and symbolic concession.

I just would like to reassure them that we do our utmost to listen to their concerns. I think we are addressing two very important (concerns) of them right now," EU Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic said.

The rallies are part of farming protests across the 27-nation EU and have shown how only a few hundred tractors can snarl traffic in capitals from Berlin to Paris, Brussels and Rome. Millions across the bloc have been facing disruptions and struggling to get to work, or seen their doctors appointments canceled because protests blocked their way.

It obviously has a major economic impact. Not only for our company but for many companies in Flanders and Belgium," said Sven Pieters of the ECS transport company in Belgium's Zeebrugge North Sea port.

A climax in Belgium is set for Thursday, when farmers plan to protest outside EU headquarters during a summit of government leaders. They will seek to get their issues on the summit agenda and win some concessions on the financial burdens they face and the increased competition from nations as far away as Chile and New Zealand.

It is important that we listen to them," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said. They face gigantic challenges," from adapting to climate change to countering environmental pollution, he said.

Belgium currently holds the EU presidency and De Croo said that he would address the issue during the summit as a late addition to an agenda centered on providing aid to Ukraine, after Russias invasion nearly two years ago.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said he wants to hold off on a free trade deal with South American nations because of the vehement opposition of EU farmers and will discuss the issue at the summit.

Despite the widespread inconveniences, governments in the EU are treating protests, which have been mostly peaceful, with extreme caution.

Spanish farmers were also set to add their weight to the protests. Three main Spanish farming associations agreed to begin protests in the coming weeks to demand changes in what they describe as overly restrictive EU policies.

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Israeli soldiers dressed as medical professionals shot and killed three Palestinian men in a hospital in Jenin located in West Bank occupied area, during early hours on Wednesday.

Israeli authorities claim these men were fighters. According to International law, the killing of combatants receiving medical attention is prohibited if they are not, or no longer, taking part in hostilities." CCTV footage shared on social media show commandos, disguised as nurses and women in hijabs and locals, storm into the hospital corridor carrying weapons.

The hospital reported that the three men were asleep during the attack. One of them, claimed by Hamas, was identified as a member, while the other two were claimed by Islamic Jihad. Hamas stated that all three were also Jenin Brigade fighters, as per CNN. Jenin Brigade is an umbrella group of armed Palestinian factions in the West Bank city.

These disguised Israeli special forces infiltrated the hospital individually, headed to the third floor, and assassinated the young men," Palestinian state news agency WAFA reported.

Israel on Tuesday demanded the UN agency, UNRWA be stripped of its authority in the Gaza Strip as it exists to assist only Palestinian refugees while all of the world's other refugees are assisted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

According to Prime Minister's Office's press briefing UNRWA aids Hamas and demanded that the organisation be defunded and replaced with agencies dedicated to genuine peace and development. It further demanded its leadership to resign or be dismissed, and that it no longer play an educational role in the Gaza Strip.

PMO spokesman Eylon Levy claimed that UNRWA indoctrinates children against Israel and Jews and demanded a prohibitory order against its educational role in the Gaza Strip. Eylon Levy demanded that its leadership should resign or be dismissed. He said, "UNRWA is part of the problem, not part of the solution. It is a Hamas front and it's time to put it behind us," reported ANI.

UNRWA was attacked following The New York Times story published on Sunday that claimed 12 staff members of UNRWA participated in the October 7 massacre led by Hamas. Moreover, The Wall Street Journal reported that one in 10 UNRWA employees is either an active Hamas member or has ties to the group.

In response, the UN's coordinator for Gaza aid said on Tuesday that nothing can "replace or substitute" the UN Palestinian refugee agency, whose staff were implicated in the Hamas attacks on Israel. UN's chief, including the heads of the WHO, the UN rights office, UNICEF and the World Food Programme, warned that defunding UNRWA would lead to a "catastrophic" humanitarian collapse in Gaza, reported AFP.

Following the disclosure of this information, over 15 countries suspended funding to the organisation including the US with the US being UNRWA's largest donor.

(With agency inputs)

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Maldives Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem fell victim to a violent assault on January 31 in Male. Reports indicate that an unknown assailant ambushed Shameem and struck him with a hammer in the national capital. This attack took place when Shameem was going to work in the morning.

Shameem has suffered a left arm injury. Prompt medical attention was sought at ADK hospital, where authorities affirmed Shameem's stable condition.

"Prosecutor Hussain Shamim has been attacked on the streets of the city. He is being treated at ADK. The attack was not carried out with a sharp object," ANI quoted the police as saying in a statement.

The police, actively investigating the assault, have hinted at potential connections between this attack and Shameem's prior legal actions against criminal elements, as per AFP. Appointed in December 2019, Shameem's tenure as the top prosecutor has been eventful and influential. Three days back, Maldivian legislators rejected the appointment of three cabinet posts, including the attorney general job.

It was the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government that appointed Hussain when former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was in power.

Solih has been a strong voice against the apparent anti-India sentiment in the island country led by recently-elected President Mohamed Muizzu. In 2023, Solih declared the Opposition's 'India Out' campaign a national security risk.

Unrest in Maldives Parliament

Only days before this attack, the Maldives' political landscape was marred by tumultuous events. The Parliament witnessed severe unrest when legislators from the ruling party and the main Opposition clashed over Cabinet appointments. They also took on one another over the role of the attorney general.

The discord escalated into physical confrontations. Various video clips on social media reportedly show the chaos, where legislators engaged in physical altercations. Several of them were injured while the parliamentary proceedings were temporarily halted.

While the authorities are exploring leads, they have yet to establish any direct link between the assault and recent political upheavals.

(With agency inputs)

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The United States has launched a pilot programme that will benefit Indian tech professionals- Washington has launched a program to renew the much sought-after H-1B foreign work visas domestically.

This is for the first time in nearly two decades that a limited number of H-1B nonimmigrants will be able to renew their visas from within the US.

What is H-1B Visa?

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

H-1B Visa renewal: Dates

Launched on January 29, the H1-B pilot renewal programme will run till 1 April.

In a statement on Monday, the State Department said the pilot programme will accept applications from January 29, 2024, through April 1, 2024, or when all application slots are filled, whichever comes first.

Application slots for H1-B visa renewal domestically will be released on January 29, February 5, February 12, February 19, and February 26.

H-1B Visa renewal

The H-1B foreign work visas renewal programme will allow H-1B visa holders who are currently in status to renew their visas in the US before a temporary trip abroad. An announcement in this regard was made during the historic State visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June last year.

H-1B Visa renewal: Application limit

The State Department said the pilot programme is voluntary and it will allow approximately 4,000 applications each week, with 2,000 for applicants whose prior H-1B visas were issued by its diplomatic missions Canada, and another 2,000 for applicants whose prior H-1B visas were issued by US embassies and consulates in India.

H-1B Visa renewal: Application Process

H-1B Visa applicants will only be able to apply through the portal. Applications will be handled on a first-received, first-processed basis until the weekly limit is reached.

Applicants who are unable to apply on one application date may reattempt application on any of the remaining application dates during the entry period. The application period will close when all application slots are filled or on April 1, 2024, whichever comes first," it said.

H-1B Visa renewal: Application process duration

The estimated processing time will take six to eight weeks from the date the applicants passport and other required documents are received by the state department.

The State Department said all applications will be handled on a strict first-received, first-processed basis.

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It is a universally accepted fact that interim budgets in an election year are likely to be crafted with an eye to the coming political maelstrom. The budget speech typically becomes an occasion for grandstanding, with much energy expended on exaggerating achievements of the government while making generous promises of future giveaways and new opportunities. This year, Indias finance ministry has introduced a new practice by releasing a document called The Indian Economy: A Review, thereby inviting comparisons with the annual Economic Survey that usually precedes the Union budget by a day or two if general elections are not due. In keeping with an interim budgets hyperbolic air, the review released on Monday has turned out to be a paean to the current governments economic management, while underplaying some of the economys most chronic problems. The review could hence be viewed as another pre-election tool, marshalled with embellishments that appeal to the ruling partys middle-class support base, providing harmony to the interim budgets poll trumpet and possibly also ideas for the partys manifesto.

Such a review is an otherwise welcome idea. In these fraught times of geopolitical conflict and economic uncertainty, a calm and staid look at the economy would have gone a long way in assuaging anxieties. The document, unfortunately, strays from the straight and narrow. It is not that it trades in untruths. The problem is different: it appears to sidestep some crucial questions. Let us take up some illustrative examples. The first is its exultation over the economy hitting its growth stride in the midst of global turmoil, while the rest of the worlds large economies struggle to find their feet. Amid this braggadocio, two critical facts are missed. One, estimated nominal GDP growth for 2023-24 has come in lower than what was projected, which will have its own repercussions. Also, the review fails to meaningfully address mounting criticism over GDP over- estimation or the lingering problems with estimating the GDP deflator, which has led to discrepancies of output estimation between the expenditure and production methods.

It is particularly worrisome that the review overlooks the elephant in the room: current unemployment. It uses the governments recently released Periodic Labour Force Survey data to celebrate growing job opportunities and declining joblessness. However, it ignores data from other independent sources, such as the 9%-plus unemployment estimate for November 2023 by the projection of Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy. In fact, Bibek Debroy, chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, admitted in an interview to Mint that slow job creation in the economy is a matter of concern. The review also has other odd stuff in store: it cites a 2023 paper to use Angus Maddisons conclusion that India contributed a 22.6% share of the worlds GDP in 1700, rather than citing the British economists work directly. Having used that paper to extract one data-point, it makes no reference to its disquiet over growing unemployment and poor-quality economic development. Ideally, a realistic examination of the economyin the true democratic spirit of full disclosurewould have helped citizens make independent assessments. The government may have pushed the envelope by breaking with convention, but sadly, its an opportunity missed.
Going by the International Monetary Funds (IMF) assessment, risks hanging over the world economy may be starting to ease. The clouds are beginning to part," Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, its chief economist, said on Tuesday at the release of IMFs World Economic Outlook, as the global economy begins its final descent for a soft landing" amid a steady decline in inflation even as growth holds up.

That said, its expansion is slow and could yet face headwinds. The big challenge, however, will be for central banks to ease monetary policy without letting price pressures loose again. How the world economy performs would matter to India too, for export buoyancy, although its strong domestic impulses are helping it hum along nicely. For India, the IMF now projects 6.7% expansion in 2023-24, up from 6.3% predicted earlier, and 6.5% in 2024-25, also up from 6.3%.

Though still below Indias official estimates of 7% or more, policymakers would take it as an endorsement of robust growth. With fiscal levers set to weaken, however, private investment will need to pick up fast to bear the expansionary burden. The governments budget-making for the next two fiscal years and beyond must keep that in mind.
Haiti is trapped in a vicious cycle, according to the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, a regional intergovernmental union there. Speaking before the United Nations Security Council, a representative for CARICOM said that the lack of a strong political framework is breeding increased gang activity, while insecurity is undermining efforts towards political progress.

At the same time, a representative for Human Rights Watch warned that the persistent political deadlock in Haiti impedes effective governance. Government failure to deliver access to fundamental rights and essential services fuels recruitment by criminal groups.

The briefing paints a sobering picture of the reality in Port-au-Prince, where the security situation continues to deteriorate, said United States Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs, Robert Wood. The murder rate nearly doubled in Haiti in 2023, and the number of kidnapping victims soared by more than 80 percent over the previous year.

In addition to the alarming levels of violence, gangs continued to control access to critical infrastructure, including Port-au-Princes largest aquifer. They extorted Haitian businesses and individuals and continued to use sexual violence to consolidate their control over Haitis population, he said. As all this happens, the Haitian National Police force continues to shrink, even as new officers are rapidly trained and developed.

One of the problems is the high resignation rate among the Haitian police force. Its why the UNSC authorized the deployment of a Multinational Security Support, or MSS mission to provide support to the Haitian National Police to combat the violence Haitis gangs have unleashed, said Ambassador Wood. Essential to the MSS missions success is the need to develop mechanisms to prevent and address potential violations or abuses of human rights, including sexual exploitation and abuse.

The United States has pledged 100 million dollars toward funding the Mission and another 100 million dollars in enabling support.

The United States calls on all Haitian political actors to find consensus on a pathway to return to democracy, said Ambassador Wood. We continue to urge Prime Minister Henry and other political, economic, religious, and civil society actors to urgently work together to find a peaceful path toward free and fair elections through dialogue and compromise. The global community, alongside Haitian political and civil society actors, must urgently help to put the country back on a path toward long-term stability.

The United States remains committed to supporting the Haitian peoples desire for a democratic, peaceful future.
Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar has spoken on the INDIA bloc that he quit, after orchestrating its formation. Addressing the media on Wednesday, Nitish Kumar said that he had urged the opposition INDIA bloc to use a different name for the coalition.

Nitish Kumar, after parting ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2022, took on the initiative of uniting all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP-led coalition in the national election. On Sunday, Nitish Kumar took oath as chief minister of Bihar for the ninth time at Raj Bhawan in Patna, switching sides again, this time with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). It was for the second time in two years that Nitish Kumar had jumped the ship, his fifth crossover in a little over a decade, preceding his ninth time as chief minister. I was urging them to choose another name for the alliance. But they had already finalised it. I was trying so hard. They did not do even one thing. Till today they haven't decided which party will contest how many seats. This is why I left them and came back to who I was with initially. I will keep working for the people of Bihar." Nitish Kumar said.

Justifying his move to join the rival National Democratic Alliance, the Janata Dal (United) stalwart accused the INDIA bloc of inaction regarding seat-sharing agreements for the Lok Sabha assembly elections. Earlier, Nitish Kumar had cited the state of affairs being "not right" under the Mahagathbandhan alliance as his reason for quitting.

Nitish Kumar also attacked Congress MP from Wayanad Rahul Gandhi, saying he is trying to claim fake credit for the Bihar caste census.

"Has he forgotten when the caste census happened? I conducted it in the presence of nine parties. In 2019-2020, I would talk about conducting caste census everywhere, from Assembly to public meetings... He is taking fake credit, what can I do? Let it be," he added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday resumed his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' with a roadshow in Bihars Katihar district.

On the Enforcement Directorate's action against Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the land-for-job scam case, Nitish Kumar said, Everyone is aware of the allegations against him (Lalu Prasad Yadav), investigation is underway. I am not aware of it much. Neither I have asked about it, nor anyone has told me anything about it."

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing one of the toughest political decisions of his long career: who should govern Gaza after Hamas?

So far hes dodging it.

The question would be difficult for any Israeli leader, because there are no easy options. Its especially politically explosive for Netanyahu, however, because any answer that would satisfy Israels military and its main international partners, especially the U.S., also risks detonating his governing coalition and ending his hold on power.

The U.S. and key Arab governments want the Palestinian Authority, which runs parts of the West Bank and is Hamass main rival in Palestinian politics, to oversee Gaza. Thats anathema to much of Netanyahus right-wing Likud partyand especially to his far-right coalition partners, who want Israel to reoccupy and resettle Gaza. Israels Defense Ministry rejects that, saying Palestinians must run Gaza. It wants to see a plan enacted as soon as possible, fearing that achievements in the war effort could be rolled back due to a political vacuum in Gaza that allows Hamas to reassert itself.

Political indecision may harm the progress of the military operation," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said recently, expressing frustration at a lack of discussion inside the government about what the plan is, beyond physically destroying Hamas. It is the duty of the cabinet and the government to discuss the planand to determine the goal," Gallant said, adding that military action needs a policy to guide it.

For Netanyahu, the pressure for a decision over Gazas future is the biggest test so far of his attempt to keep his political career afloat. The 74-year-old Israeli premier became the countrys longest-serving leader by focusing on security, but he oversaw Israels worst-ever security failure on Oct. 7, when major lapses allowed Hamas to attack southern Israel and kill 1,200 people.

Public opinion has turned sharply against him. Netanyahus rule depends on avoiding snap elections and keeping his narrow parliamentary majority intact. He has vowed to stay on until he has led Israel to total victory" over Hamas. Netanyahus hope, say analysts: a visible victory, such as the killing of Hamass top leaders in Gaza, would help him to bounce back.

The longer you can delay and be ambiguousfrom his point of view, thats the best situation," said Gadi Wolfsfeld, a political scientist at Israels Reichman University. Not to decide is also to decide."

But current and former officials warn that Netanyahus indecision is making it harder to win the war. Last week, 43 former top officials of Israels military and intelligence services wrote to the countrys head of state, President Isaac Herzog, calling for Netanyahus removal as prime minister. The letter, whose signatories included several intelligence and security chiefs who had worked under Netanyahu, said he poses a clear and present danger" to Israel, in part because he has refused to define the political goals of the war.

Netanyahu, even at this dark hour of the gravest crisis in Israels history, is trying to escape public accountability and is clinging to power," the letter said.

Any Israeli leader would find no easy solutions for replacing Hamas as the dominant power in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority, which currently governs parts of the West Bank, is viewed internationally as corrupt and in need of overhauls. It is also unpopular among Palestinians, and mistrusted by Israelis who see it as soft on terrorism.

Israels military believes the war effort in Gaza urgently needs a civil authority to deliver humanitarian aid, restore order and basic services, and manage nearly two million displaced residents, according to Israeli officials. The bulging refugee population in a shrinking area of Gazas south, leading to a worsening humanitarian crisis, is greatly complicating Israeli forces effort to defeat Hamas there, officials and analysts say.

The U.S., Saudi Arabia and Egypt are also urging Israel to reach an agreement on who will govern Gaza after the war, including overseeing its reconstruction.

In the absence of a strategy, Israeli military officials warn that Hamas is already trying to regroup in Gaza City in the enclaves north, where Israel withdrew several brigades after conquering the area late last year. This week, Israeli forces launched another operation against Hamas in parts of Gaza City they had previously withdrawn from.

This is why we have all this tension between the military and the government. Its impossible to achieve the goals of destroying Hamas as a military and political force unless you have an alternative," said Ofer Fridman, a former Israeli officer and a war-studies expert at Kings College London. You need a civil authority, a partner. A political decision is necessary."

The Israeli bombardment and invasion of Gaza after Oct. 7 has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities there, who dont distinguish between combatants and civilians, and heaped international pressure on Israel.

Netanyahu has said that the aim of Israels invasion of Gaza is to eliminate Hamas, free the roughly 130 hostages still held in the enclave, and ensure the strip can never be used to attack Israel again like on Oct. 7. But the Israeli leader has said little about the thorny question of who should govern the Gaza Strip.

His far-right coalition partners want Israel to reoccupy Gaza and build settlements therea plan unacceptable to Israels international partners, particularly Arab states that Israel hopes will fund reconstruction of the strip.

The U.S., Saudi Arabia and Egypt insist that an overhauled Palestinian Authority should oversee Gaza after Hamas. The Saudis have also offered to restart U.S.-backed talks aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Israela goal that Netanyahu supportsif Israel agrees to a process aimed at the creation of a Palestinian state. The U.S. says the centurylong conflict cant be resolved without a Palestinian state.

Netanyahus far-right coalition partners, as well as much of his own right-wing Likud party, are strongly opposed to both involving the Palestinian Authority in running Gaza and to a future state for the Palestinians.

Netanyahu firmly rejected the idea of Palestinian statehood on Jan. 18, telling a news conference that Israel must keep security control" of Gaza and the West Bank to prevent terrorist attacks. It contradicts the idea of sovereignty" for the Palestinians, he said.

Israels military has proposed working with civilians in Gaza who have good standing in their community and arent affiliated with Hamas. Some government officials have also floated similar ideas. But other government members say suitable people cant be found. Some analysts warn that Hamas would try to assassinate Gazans who cooperate with Israel.

Some far-right government members say the Israeli military is the only alternative power to Hamas in Gaza. But the army is loath to reoccupy Gaza, which Israel pulled out of in 2005. Gallant, the defense minister, insists Palestinians must run the enclave.

Most analysts say the answer must involve Gazans who arent in Hamas and some role for a revamped Palestinian Authority. Netanyahus national security adviser has said that could be the answer. But the premier himself hasnt backed it.

No option is popular with Israelis, opinion polls suggest. Still, political analysts say the role of any prime minister is to make unpopular decisions in a time of crisis and explain why the national interest requires it.

I find that if you have the right leader at the right time, the public opinion about things like the two-state solution could change very quickly," said Wolfsfeld.

If elections were held now, polls say the National Unity Party of Benny Gantz would easily defeat Netanyahus Likud. Gantz has neither called for nor ruled out working with the Palestinian Authority and working toward a Palestinian state.

Gantz, who joined Israels war cabinet after Oct. 7, is widely seen as more flexible than Netanyahu on both issues. Netanyahu has attacked Gantz for being ambiguous. A Gantz-led coalition wouldnt include the far-right parties that have constrained Netanyahu.

Fatima AbdulKarim contributed to this article.

Write to Rory Jones at Rory.Jones@wsj.com and Dov Lieber at dov.lieber@wsj.com
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Sarat Pattanayak on Wednesday said the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi is likely to enter the state through Sundergarh district on February 6.

The senior Congress leader will reach Biramitrapur on the Odisha-Jharkhand border on the night of February 6 where he will be accorded a rousing welcome by party leaders and workers, the OPCC president said.

Gandhi will lead the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra through Sundargarh, Rourkela, and Jharsuguda, before leaving the state for Chhattisgarh.

"Gandhi will tentatively arrive at Biramitrapur on February 6 night. The next day he will hold a roadshow in Rourkela, Gadagaon and Uttara. He will have a night halt in Jharsuguda on February 7," PTI quoted Pattanayak as saying.

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"On February 8, he will lead the Yatra to Belpahar, Hrudaynagar and Kanaktara, before entering Chhattisgarh. All the programmes will be finalised very soon," he added.

Apart from Rahul Gandhi, several other prominent Congress leaders are likely to visit Odisha in the run-up to the Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections, which are held simultaneously in the state.

Earlier on January 29, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a mega rally in Bhubaneswar.

The Yatra began in Manipur on January 14. It will culminate in Mumbai on March 20 after crossing 15 states.

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Mumbai faces a stark imbalance in infrastructure development, according to an Indian Express investigation . The allocation of funds from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) leans heavily towards MLAs of the ruling BJP-Eknath Shinde Shiv Sena coalition. The pattern of sidelining those from the Opposition emerged from a February 2023 policy that enabled MLAs to request BMC funds for local projects.

More than 500 crore was disbursed during Februaru-December 2023. The entire amount, as per the publication, was allotted to MLAs from the BJP-Shinde coalition.

Records indicate that all 21 ruling coalition MLAs successfully secured funds up to December 2023. However, the 15 opposition MLAs received none despite 11 requests. The funds, a small part of the BMC's 52,619-crore budget, were meant for diverse development tasks. These range from drain repairs in Dharavi to park beautification in Sewri. The BMC, typically managed by 227 elected corporators, currently operates without an elected body.

Under this framework, Guardian Ministers authorise fund disbursements for MLAs' projects. While ruling party MLAs swiftly obtained approvals, the opposition faced roadblocks, reported the publication.

For instance, BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha secured 24 crore within a week for his constituency. Opposition MLAs like Uddhav Bal Thackeray Shiv Senas Ravindra Waikar and Congress' Varsha Gaikwad, on the contrary, await funds despite repeated requests, as per Indian Express. This discrepancy extends to various constituencies and hinders essential civic work.

The Indian Express highlighted these disparities, shedding light on the challenges faced by opposition MLAs in garnering support for their constituencies' development.

No pending requests

Guardian Minister Lodha, however, insisted on a non-partisan approach to fund allocation. He said there were no pending requests from opposition MLAs.

At present, I dont have any pending letters in my possession from the Opposition MLAs. We are disbursing the funds in a liberal manner by assessing the merit of the proposals, which we are receiving and there is no favouritism being done towards anybody," Lodha told the publication.

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Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) president Hemant Soren was arrested on Wednesday. JMM MP Mahua Maji confirmed the news of the arrest of the Hemant Soren. The MP has requested the Governor to appoint Champai Soren as the next chief minister of Jharkhand.

Jharkhand politics live updates "The CM is in ED custody. The CM has gone to the Governor with the ED team to submit his resignation... Champai Soren will be the new Chief Minister... We have enough numbers...," JMM MP Mahua Maji told reporters on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Soren had lodged an FIR against senior Enforcement Directorate personnel at the SC/ST police station here over searches conducted by the agency at his Delhi residence, officials said on Wednesday.

Soren alleged that the ED conducted the search operation at his residence in the national capital to "harass and malign him and his entire community", the officials said, quoting the FIR.

JMM heads a coalition government in the state, including Congress. The decision on a new CM was taken by JMM MLAs in a meeting, after which they went to the Raj Bhavan to apprise Governor CP Radhakrishnan of their decision.

"We have chosen Champai Soren as the leader of the Legislative Party. We came to the Raj Bhawan to request the Governor for the oath ceremony," JMM leader and state minister Banna Gupta told reporters.

In the wake of ED's action against Hemant Soren, a large number of police personnel were deployed around the Chief Minister's residence in Ranchi on Wednesday. Section 144 was imposed within a radius of 100 metres outside the CM house, Governor house, and the ED office to deal with any untoward situation because of protests, rallies and processions by the ruling party workers.

The JMM workers had earlier gathered at Morabadi ground against the ED's action and raised slogans against the central government.

The ED officials had reached out to Soren at his Delhi residence for interrogation on Monday. The law enforcement agency also seized two cars and 36 lakh but did not find the JMM leader.

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BRUSSELSThe prospect of Donald Trump returning as president is prompting some of Americas staunchest allies in Europe to push their neighbors that are more reluctant to spend into further action on defense and security.

Results are slowly emerging, but the question dogging Europe is whether the continent can convince Trump it isnt free-riding, as he has said it is. Campaigning in Las Vegas on Saturday, Trump criticized Europeans for insufficient military spending.

Were paying for NATO and we dont get so much out of it," he said, predicting European allies wouldnt support the U.S. in an emergency. If we ever needed their helplets say we were attackedI dont believe they would be there."

Senior European leaders are starting to discuss how to prepare for and react to a potential change of U.S. administration, but are struggling to agree on the steps to take, say people involved in the discussions.

Defense ministers from the European Unions 27 members will discuss expanding their industrial base when they meet on Wednesday in Brussels. The issue will also be central to a mid-February meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations defense ministers and their close partners.

In a sign that European officials are starting to address their armaments shortages, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Jan. 23 announced a $1.2 billion multicountry contract for 200,000 155-millimeter artillery shells, a type being heavily used in Ukraine. The shells will be produced in France and Germany and purchased by Spain, Belgium and Lithuania.

EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton said Monday that thanks to increased artillery production, the bloc will soon have capacity to supply Ukraine with one million shells annually.

Many European NATO countries say their increases in military spending were prompted more by Russias initial 2014 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent hostility than by Trumps threats. Last year, nine of NATOs 29 European members met the alliances target of spending 2% of gross domestic product on defense by 2024, compared with just two in 2014 when NATO set the threshold. About half are expected to hit the target this year.

For the countries that have been spending most on defense and warning about security, the recent shift is a welcome change.

Polish President Andrzej Duda, whose country is spending roughly 4% of GDP on defense, said Trumps argument made sense.

Polands richer neighbors want the American taxpayer to pay for their safety," Duda said. As president, I would have raised the same argument."

When Trump was president, he repeatedly criticized U.S. allies in Europe for insufficient military spending. He floated the idea of demanding repayment for past U.S. defense of the continent and urged Europeans to act more in their own security, including by cutting reliance on Russian gas. On several occasions he raised doubts about his commitments to NATO.

Today, Trumps campaign website advocates fundamentally re-evaluating NATOs purpose and NATOs mission."

European leaders are struggling to align against what many see as a severe potential threat to the postwar order and the prosperity that Washingtons security umbrella has brought to the continent. NATO, which turns 75 in April, has allowed Europeans to focus on economic development, confident that the U.S. would repel threats from Moscow or elsewhere.

Europeans largely cheered the election of President Biden and his more trans-Atlantic perspective. They are now rushing to prepare for a Trump presidency because he is likely to secure the Republican nomination and some opinion polls show him leading Biden.

One potential step for Europeans is to endorse Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as Stoltenbergs successor in NATO when his term expires in September. In 2018, Ruttewho is among Europes longest-serving national leadersbluntly contradicted Trump at an on-camera White House appearance, something few foreign politicians were willing to do.

European diplomats say that kind of backbone is one reason Rutte is emerging as the top candidate for the NATO job. The Dutch Defense Ministry has said military spending will hit 2% of GDP this year. It was 1.7% of GDP last year, according to NATO.

Rutte recently told Bloomberg Television that Trump was completely right in forcing us to live up to the 2% commitment."

Despite increased European military spending, high-level talks are failing to deliver big results in part because the cost of shifting from U.S.-backed security to a more independent stance would be enormous. European economic growth has been weak for years, crimping many countries ability to significantly boost military spending.

European leaders are placing new focus on a possible Trump administration not just because he is the clear Republican front-runner for the presidency, but also because aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia is being blocked in Congress by Republican representatives who are closely allied to Trump.

European politicians understand that Trumps outspoken wariness of the war in Ukraine and skepticism about European resolve to defend itself are shared by a vocal and powerful minority of U.S. legislators, who are influencing public opinion.

Sweden, which hopes to join NATO this year and already spends more than 2% of GDP on defense, is urging allies in the EU to align more closely with the U.S., and not only on arms spending.

If the European Union wants the U.S. to remain interested in whats going on in our part of Europe and in Ukraine, we have to show similar interest in whats important to the U.S. from a strategic point of view," said Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom, pointing to China, Taiwan and the South China Sea.

We really have to keep very close to the focus being put by Congressnot just the administrationon China," said Billstrom, who said he does so. I encourage my colleagues all the time to do the same."

To prepare for a potential Trump presidency, European governments are contacting political and business figures in Washington and across the U.S. to understand who might join his administration, the officials said.

Some European leaders are also working to show the U.S. that they take military spending seriously. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who announced days after Russias large-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago that Germany would meet NATOs 2% target, recently urged other European countries to increase their military aid to Kyiv, which he said was insufficient.

The planned weapons deliveries to Ukraine of most EU member states are not enough," Scholz said.

Russias invasion of Ukraine, one year after Trump left office, brought a brutal, deadly war to Europes doorstep. It intensified talks about military spending and prompted EU members to significantly shrink their reliance on Russian energy suppliesas Trump had advocated.

But while Europe has given Ukraine financial support that is roughly equivalent to the value of weapons that the U.S. has supplied, European countries havent managed to strengthen their defenses or defense industries.

We have to reorganize ourselves so we dont work along national lines," said Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren, criticizing nationalism in Europes defense industry. We have to find new ways to meet our target."

Write to Daniel Michaels at Dan.Michaels@wsj.com
iPhone-maker Apple marked 2023 as the first year when it topped the smartphone market revenue chart in India, said a report by market researcher Counterpoint India on Wednesday. Two industry officials who consult multiple smartphone brands said that Apples India revenue from iPhones fell just short of the $10 billion mark, but was enough to topple Korean electronics brand Samsungs long-duration stronghold on being the leader in terms of revenue from smartphone sales in India.

Apples record smartphone revenue comes in a year of continued lack of enthusiasm among consumers towards smartphones. Counterpoints report said that shipments of smartphones in India remained flat through 2023 at 152 million units. Apple, in comparison, shipped more than 10 million iPhones for the first time, growing at over 50% year-on-year (YoY).

Mint had reported on 30 October that Apple had led Indias smartphone market by revenue in the first half of 2023, and after strong festive period sales, was on track to top the smartphone market revenue by approaching the $10 billion mark in 2023.

Apple continues to see strong consumer demand, and is likely to maintain a strong double-digit shipment growth in CY24 as well. In comparison, the overall smartphone market could see a small 5% YoY growth through this calendar yearalthough much of this will depend on how global macroeconomic conditions play out through the rest of this year," said Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint.

This market share for Apple comes off the back of multiple consecutive quarterly revenue records from its iPhone sales in India. On 4 November, Mint reported that Apple, in its September quarter earnings, disclosed its sixth consecutive quarterly revenue recordwith its volume-wise market share crossing 6% for the very first time. Pathak said that Apple is likely to be the sixth most popular brand in India, with a 6.6% market share in terms of shipments at the end of 2023.

Interestingly, Apple is projected to have pipped Samsung for the top spot in terms of revenue with almost one-third of Samsungs total shipment volumewhile Apple is said to have shipped just over 10 million iPhones last year, Samsung shipped over 27.3 million to capture 18% of the market. However, Apples average selling price (ASP) is 3x that of market leader Samsungin comparison to a $950 ( 78,000) per-device price for Apple, Samsungs ASP is around $350 ( 29,000).

Samsung, on its part, is also pushing for more premium devices in the market. However, Pathak said that Samsungs bulk market share in the sub- 20,000 budget price ranges has considerably declined, which has contributed to Apple overtaking it in terms of annual revenue.

The rise of demand for iPhones in India is likely to continue in the short-term, as multiple financing options, bank-linked discounts and strong resale programmes offered by organized refurbished smartphone sellers are boosting sales of premium smartphones in India. Industry experts expect this growth to sustain for three calendar years, before Apples double-digit growth tapers off.

Navkendar Singh, associate vice-president at market researcher IDC India, told Mint in October last year that due to its high ASP, Apple is likely to hit a glass ceilingbeyond which it may struggle to continue selling incrementally higher iPhones every year in a value-conscious market.

The iPhone, however, has been more significant for India than just consumer-end sales. A 21 January report by industry body, India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) said exports of Apples made-in-India iPhones crossed $7 billion in value at the end of December 2023contributing nearly 70% of all mobile phone exports, and around 35% of all electronics exports from India at the end of last year.

On Tuesday, the Centre further slashed import duty on mobile phone spare parts from 15% to 10%a move that experts said could further boost the local smartphone component ecosystem. Such moves may further generate increased value addition for Indias assembly ecosystem, which would gain from more localized device assembling going forward.

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WASHINGTONMeta Platforms Mark Zuckerberg, TikToks Shou Zi Chew and other tech CEOs will take heat on Wednesday from senators who say that online risks for children are growingand going largely ignored by some social-media platforms.

The Wall Street Journal has highlighted persistent dangers to children on social-media platforms in recent years, including how Instagrams algorithms connect a vast network of pedophiles and how TikToks algorithm serves teens weight-loss videos and other concerning content. The industry also faces a wave of lawsuits from people who say they have been harmed by social media and from state attorneys general making similar claims.

Zuckerberg could face tough questions from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee about internal Meta documents released Wednesday by two lawmakers that show top company officials asking him to invest in additional protections for children on their platforms.

Those requests for resources werent granted, according to state attorneys general who previously referenced some of the same material.

Zuckerberg refused to fund programs that support the protection and well-being of kids, even after being urged to by his entire team," Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.) said in an interview. Blumenthal and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.) obtained the Meta documents, some of which had been previously cited in filings by attorneys general in Tennessee, Massachusetts, Colorado and New Mexico.

A Meta spokesman said the documents do not provide the full context of how the company operates or what decisions were made" and noted Zuckerbergs written testimony for the hearing said the company has spent $5 billion on safety and security in the past year.

Im proud of the work our teams have done to improve online child safety, not just on our services but across the entire internet," Zuckerberg said in the prepared remarks, pointing to technology that detects inappropriate or abusive content and controls to help parents navigate the reality of raising kids today, including tools that enable them to be more involved in their kids decisions."

Lawmakers including Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin (D., Ill.), who will lead Wednesdays hearing, have introduced several bills to address problems with sexual exploitation of children online, including by making it easier to sue tech platforms used to harm young people.

So far, despite other congressional tongue-lashings for Silicon Valley CEOs, legislation has stalled.

In addition to Meta and TikTok, the hearing also will include the chief executives of X, Snap and Discord. But Metas Zuckerberg and TikToks Chew, who are locked in a fierce competition for social-media users, are likely to come in for most of the tough questions, according to Senate aides.

Zuckerberg plans to tell lawmakers that there are positive aspects of childrens interactions on Meta platforms, according to his prepared testimony for the hearing. He will also praise Facebooks investment in child-safety work, saying the company has gone beyond legal requirements in seeking to remove abusive material.

Meta reported about 27.2 million instances of suspected child sexual-abuse material on its main platforms to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2022, far more than any other company, according to the nonprofit groups data. The U.S. total for all platforms was about 32 million in 2022.

But Meta has announced plans to encrypt messaging on its platforms, a step that will block the automated detection systems responsible for the majority of its reports.

Chew will tout TikToks growing U.S. user basenow at 170 million, up from 150 million in 2023and its average age of 30. He plans to say that the platform takes steps to minimize the exploitation of children, such as prohibitions on direct messaging for users under 16 and on recommending their videos to strangers.

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel on Wednesday plans to emphasize benefits for young people on his platform, saying in written testimony that social media made him feel miserable as a teenager. So he says he designed the Snapchat messaging app to open into the camera, instead of a content feed, to encourage creativity instead of passive consumption."

Groups representing young victims of online harms including social-media addiction and sexual exploitation held media events on Tuesday to help drum up support for lawmakers efforts to rein in social-media platforms. One featured the father of a Michigan teenager, Jordan DeMay, who died by suicide after falling victim to an online extortion scheme.

John DeMay, Jordans father, said he hopes the Senate hearing will bring awareness that social media is not a safe place, especially for children." He and his family are considering legal options.

But suing the companies for harm to children can be legally difficult.

Currently, the platforms often can avoid liability when someone is harmed as a result of social-media use because of special legal protections that Congress created for the platforms in the 1990s when the internet was in its infancy. Those protections generally immunize the platforms from liability for harm from content generated by other users.

Durbin and other lawmakers have proposed removing those special legal protections in cases where children are sexually exploited.

Industry representatives say that those bills could harm users privacy, mainly by discouraging the platforms use of encryption. Tech industry allies argue that could affect a range of groups from LGBTQ youth to people seeking reproductive health services.

Some advocates for children note that some tech companies are already moving to expand the use of encryption, which the advocates say could make it easier for the platforms to ignore harmful content.

Some lawmakers are skeptical that any package can break through the opposition from tech companies and their allies.

The reason no big tech legislation has movedis the amount of money and the influence they wield," said Sen. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.), who is a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Jeff Horwitz contributed to this article.

Write to John D. McKinnon at John.McKinnon@wsj.com and Ryan Tracy at ryan.tracy@wsj.com
In a flurry of changes, Google Assistant is poised for a significant transformation with the integration of its AI chatbot, Bard. Following recent layoffs impacting hundreds of Bay Area employees and the removal of 17 underutilized features from Google Assistant, the tech giant is gearing up to breathe new life into its virtual assistant.

Reports from the Google News Telegram channel suggest that the integration of Bard into Google Assistant could be imminent, with a rollout anticipated as soon as March. In preparation for the launch, Google has purportedly created a dedicated page within the Pixel Tips app to showcase the features of the upcoming Bard-integrated Google Assistant, though this page remains inaccessible to users at present.

The integration is expected to leverage Google's Gemini family of Large Language Models (LLMs), unveiled last year, to power the enhanced capabilities of the virtual assistant. According to leaked details, users will be able to activate the Bard-enabled Google Assistant using familiar commands such as "Hey Google" or double-tapping the side buttons.

Upon activation, the Bard-enabled Google Assistant is said to offer users multiple input methods, including typing queries using a keyboard, speaking commands aloud, or even providing queries accompanied by images for context. A welcome message shared by 9to5Google suggests that the integrated assistant will assure users of its continued ability to provide hands-free assistance while hinting at its expanding capabilities.

Although Google had previously announced its intention to integrate Bard into Google Assistant, specifics regarding the rollout and features have remained largely undisclosed until now, with leaks offering glimpses into what users can expect from the AI makeover.

As anticipation builds for the forthcoming integration, users and tech enthusiasts alike await further official announcements from Google regarding the transformative changes set to redefine the Google Assistant experience.

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James Gill is a 16-year-old from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, who has caused Apple a few problems in recent months. Gill's interest in figuring out how Apple 's iMessage service works led to a new app that attempted to break the tech giant's monopoly on its blue bubbles, while a potential lawsuit from the US government may be on the way.

The 16-year-old was at school and working casual shifts at McDonald's when he decided to make it a personal goal to figure out how Apple's iMessage worked.

"I sort of just wanted to poke at how certain features worked As a teenager I have a large amount of time to throw at things." Gill told ABC Net.

I wanted to know how it worked, and I knew it was possible ... I just kept working at it It was more just curiosity, wanting to figure out how the thing worked and also like it'd be cool to mess around with it, you know?" the teenager added.

During his mid-year summer break, Gill started observing how a non-Apple how a non-Apple and Apple device were registered with the Cupertino based tech giant's servers. In a bid to figure out how iMessage worked, Gill reverse engineered the iMessage protocol using a programme called "Pypush".

Start of Android's iMessage alternative:

Gill then posted his findings on Github, where some users understood the importance of the project and some even pointed out the commercial interest in such a venture.

The teenager also later sent a message to the CEO of US software company Beeper, Eric Migicovsky, telling him about Pypush. The Canadian entrepreneur would later admit that Gill's discovery was the "breakthrough" that helped his company develop an application to circumvent the iMessage protocol.

Migicovsky responded to the text saying, "Holy crap! Does it work? No-one has ever done this before." He also offered Gill a job at Beeper that paid 10 times the wages offered to him at McDonald's.

Using Gill's discovery, Beeper went on to launch a standalone app last month called Beeper Mini which was touted to help users get blue bubbles on Android.". The app was an instant hit and was downloaded over 100,000 times within just two days of its launch.

Explaining how Beeper Mini worked in an interaction with TechCrunch, Migicovsky said, Were not actually a middleman anymore. The research that weve done is actually reverse-engineering the iMessage protocol, down to the lowest layer of the protocol. So Beeper Mini doesnt use a Mac server as a relay like all the other apps  they have a Mac Mini in a data center somewhere. And when you send a message, youre actually sending a message to the Mac Mini, which then forwards it to iMessage,"

However, just three days after the launch of Beeper Mini, Apple began blocking the technology's access to iMessage, claiming that it was protecting the security and privacy of iPhone users. Beeper tried to find alternative ways to work, and Apple found new ways to block the app. However, on December 22, Beeper finally decided to abandon its attempt to bring Blue Bubbles to Android, noting that it can't win a game of cat and mouse with the largest company on Earth.

Legal troubles brewing for Apple:

The matter did not end there, with US Senator Elizabeth Warren questioning why Apple would restrict access to Beeper Mini when the app was working to bring parity between Android and iOS users.

Later, a bipartisan group of four US politicians wrote a letter to the Department of Justice asking it to investigate Apple for "anti-competitive behaviour". The ABC Net report, citing US media, noted that the Justice Department is preparing an antitrust case against Apple, focusing on how the tech giant has used its hardware and software to make it difficult for customers to leave its offerings.

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Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong (L) and his visiting Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr inspect the guard of honour in at the Presidential Palace in Ha Noi, January 30, 2024.

VIET NAM  PHILIPPINES JOINT PRESS STATEMENT

*****

1. At the invitation of H.E. Mr. Vo Van Thuong, President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, H.E. Mr. Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, paid a State-visit to Viet Nam from 29 - 30 January, 2024.

2. During the visit, President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. was accorded an official welcoming ceremony, and held bilateral talks with President Vo Van Thuong. The President of the Philippines also paid courtesy calls on H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Viet Nam, and H.E. Mr. Vuong Dinh Hue, President of the National Assembly of Viet Nam.

3. At their talks, both Leaders highly valued the strong and substantive development of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Given the many similarities in views and interests of both countries, they agreed to further strengthen and develop the partnership in a deeper and more comprehensive manner ahead of key milestones of the 10th anniversary of Viet Nam  Philippines Strategic Partnership in 2025 and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026.

4. The two Presidents agreed to enhance political trust, friendship and comprehensive cooperation through holding regular high-level engagements and visits at all levels through Party, State, Government and parliamentary channels as well as people-to-people exchanges. They committed to uphold established bilateral cooperation mechanisms and implement effectively the instruments signed between the two countries to enhance mutual understanding and trust.

5. The Leaders agreed to deepen economic relations and encourage joint initiatives between the two countries. They emphasized the importance of increasing the volume of two-way trade and investment, including through leveraging on the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in promoting more integrated supply chains among companies from the two economies.

6. Both sides agreed to work closely on creating favourable conditions for smooth trade flows in order to achieve the trade target of USD 10 billion at the earliest, as well as enhancing the business environment to make it more conducive to invest in sectors of interest to both countries. They also discussed promising cooperation in areas such as agriculture, particularly in rice trading, market access for agricultural products, food security, energy security, infrastructure development, education, transportation management, innovation, tourism, connectivity, science and technology, and environmental protection, among others. Both sides took note of strong security and defence cooperation, which contributes to enhancing the strategic cooperation between Viet Nam and the Philippines. In this regard, both Presidents agreed to: (i) continue high-level visits, information sharing, education and training exchanges, and defense dialogue mechanisms; (ii) further enhance collaboration on defense industry, as well as cooperation on military medicine, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, maritime and aviation security, counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, peacekeeping operations, among others; (iii) intensify law enforcement cooperation against transnational crimes, including those related to migrant smuggling, human trafficking, gambling, underground and illegal credit facilities, illegal residence and labour as well as other traditional and non-traditional security concerns, and called on concerned officials to build on each other's expertise and experience.

7. The two Leaders agreed to strengthen existing maritime cooperation mechanisms, notably the Joint Commission on Maritime and Ocean Affairs at the Deputy-Minister level, the hotline communication mechanism between coast guard authorities of both countries, among others, and to adopt other measures to ensure the safety and security of fishermen from both countries as well as to solve amicably the unexpected incidents at sea.

8. The Leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation in education, culture, tourism, healthcare, people-to-people exchanges, cooperation between localities, and promoting the role of each other's friendship organizations in order to strengthen their people's bond, increase mutual understanding, boost connectivity, enrich cultural diversity and promote the overall relations.

9. The Leaders exchanged views on a wide range of sub-regional, regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the situation in Myanmar and the South China Sea. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to upholding peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, including advancing ASEAN community building efforts through the full and effective implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the ASEAN Community's Vision 2045, supporting the sub-region cooperation, including Mekong cooperation mechanisms and BIMP-EAGA. Towards this end, the two Presidents welcomed the effective cooperation between Viet Nam and the Philippines within the ASEAN and agreed to enhance cooperation, coordination, and consultation with one another to respond effectively to regional and international issues of mutual concern in a timely manner, thus, further contributing to the consolidation of ASEAN's solidarity, centrality and pivotal role in ASEAN-led mechanisms and processes.

10. Both Presidents appreciated the close coordination, consultation and mutual support, including on each other's candidacy bids, within international organizations and multilateral frameworks, particularly in the United Nations (UN), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

11. Both Presidents emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, maritime security, safety, and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea. They called for exercise of self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect regional peace and stability, and avoidance of unilateral acts that can change the status quo and increase tensions, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes without resorting to the threat or use of force in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS). They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the full and effective implementation of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and working towards the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) that is in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS. In this regard, they urged the promotion of an environment that is conducive to the COC negotiations.

12. During the visit, President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and President Vo Van Thuong also witnessed the exchange of bilateral documents in various fields including the MOU on Rice Trade Cooperation, Understanding on Incident Prevention and Management in the South China Sea, MOU on Cooperation in Agriculture and related fields, Programme on Cultural Cooperation for the period 2024  2029, and the MOU on Maritime Cooperation.

13. President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. highly appreciated the warm welcome and kind hospitality extended to the Philippine delegation by the Leaders and the people of Viet Nam during his visit. The President of the Philippines further invited the Leaders of Viet Nam to visit the Philippines at a mutually convenient time./.
Local 3 spoke with residents who say mail hasn't been delivered to their homes for several weeks and now they are having to show up to the post office to retrieve it.
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.

Editor: ZAD
The chief executives of Meta, TikTok, Snap, Discord and X, formerly known as Twitter, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier Wednesday.
In this screengrab taken from police body camera footage released on January 30, former officer Preston Hemphill tells other officers Tyre Nichols was initially pulled over for speeding.
An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 21, 2023 shows a city view of Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

NANJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone.

As a manufacturing hub in the Yangtze River Delta, the city has magnetized a thriving cluster of top-notch battery and new energy vehicle (NEV) makers, infusing robust momentum into its economic growth.

The output value of the new energy industry in the city reached about 768 billion yuan last year, and the city aims to expand the output value to over one trillion yuan by 2025, according to Chen Jinhu, Party chief of Changzhou. "The new energy industry is a winning formula for Changzhou's development."

Data show that the industrial chain integrity of power batteries in Changzhou has reached 97 percent, ranking first in China, and the output accounts for 20 percent of the country's production capacity.

The city also contributes to 10 percent of Chinese-made photovoltaic cells and modules. In 2023, it produced more than 700,000 NEVs, accounting for 70 percent of those made in Jiangsu.

"Changzhou's new energy industry cluster is very developed and highly concentrated, so it fosters strong innovation capacity and great efficiency in production," said Zhang Yaojun, a professor from Renmin University of China.

Plenty of foreign-funded companies in new energy have also settled in Changzhou and benefited from the local industrial chain.

"We choose Changzhou because we need a place where we can get to scale very quickly, and Changzhou offers a unique combination of supply chain infrastructure," said Jorg Heinemann, CEO of America's EnerVenue, a storage battery supplier. "We want to be a large part of Changzhou's new energy vision and scale here and grow very big in this location."

And the progress of Changzhou is the epitome of how China is continuously moving toward the green transition. The city representatives were invited to a side event at the China Pavilion of the COP28 climate change conference last year.

"For Changzhou, new energy is not just an industry, and the ultimate participants and beneficiaries of promoting green and low-carbon development are the people," said Wang Xiaodong, a local official, at the event.

This photo taken on Jan. 3, 2024 shows a workshop of the CRRC Qishuyan Co., Ltd. in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)

A staff member works at a workshop of the Jiangsu Hengli Hydraulic Co., Ltd. in Wujin District of Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 22, 2023. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 4, 2024 shows a view of China Dinosaur Park in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 4, 2024 shows the Changzhou-Taixing Yangtze River bridge under construction in east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 4, 2024 shows a view of China Dinosaur Park in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 5, 2024 shows the Jiangsu Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. in Liyang, Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 22, 2023 shows the night view of the oriental salt lake resort in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

Robots weld bodyshells of cars at a workshop of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Li Auto Inc. in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 10, 2024. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

A staff member helps a senior citizen with games at a community service center in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 9, 2024. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

An elderly couple watch wedding dress photos shot by their nursing home in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 9, 2024. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 22, 2023 shows the night view of the oriental salt lake resort in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 24, 2023 shows the view of a culture village in Tianmu Lake scenic spot of Liyang, Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 27, 2024 shows the Changzhou-Taixing Yangtze River bridge under construction in east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 21, 2023 shows a city view of Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 21, 2023 shows a city view of Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 4, 2024 shows a city view of Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 21, 2023 shows the view of a historical and cultural block in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

This photo taken on Jan. 10, 2024 shows a factory of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Li Auto Inc. in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

A staff member works at the Micro Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 3, 2024. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)

People visit the Industrial Heritage Exhibition Hall of Changzhou Section of the Grand Canal in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 3, 2024. Dubbed as a capital of new energy, Changzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, reported a regional gross domestic product (GDP) of 1.01 trillion yuan (about 140.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 6.8 percent year on year, the local statistics department said Tuesday.

With a population of around five million, Changzhou has become the least populated Chinese city with a regional GDP of over one trillion yuan, joining Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi, and Nantong as the fifth city in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)

Editor: WRX
Here are answers to some of the key questions surrounding the Government package that is set to deliver the restoration of powersharing in Northern Ireland.

 What led to the current Stormont stalemate?

During the Brexit divorce talks, former prime minister Boris Johnson negotiated the Northern Ireland Protocol with the EU in order to ensure the continued free movement of goods on the island of Ireland.

However, this led to the requirement for checks on goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and was deeply unpopular with unionists, who described it as an Irish Sea border.

After feeling that the Government was not responding fast enough to his concerns, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson collapsed the Stormont powersharing institutions when he withdrew Paul Givan as first minister almost two years ago.

In response, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak negotiated the Windsor Framework with the EU, introducing new rules on the movement of goods and a veto for the implementation of EU law in Northern Ireland.

However, Sir Jeffrey insisted this did not go far enough, leading to months of protracted negotiations that have culminated in the command paper Safeguarding The Union, published by the Government.

 Why has the DUP agreed to the deal?

Sir Jeffrey has insisted the new arrangements have removed the Irish Sea trading border and restored Northern Irelands place within the UK internal market.

The deal will see the end of routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Great Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland, as well as a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Irelands constitutional position within the United Kingdom.

The DUP leader says this is the best deal that could be achieved for the people of Northern Ireland and has persuaded him to end his boycott of the powersharing institutions.

Sir Jeffrey has long argued in favour of restoring devolved government, providing his concerns over post-Brexit trade and sovereignty were addressed.

 Does this represent a major change to the trading arrangements agreed with Brussels?

It depends who you listen to.

Sir Jeffrey says his party has delivered fundamental change to the Windsor Framework by ending routine checks on goods moving from Great Britain to and staying in Northern Ireland.

Downing Street, however, has insisted the measures unveiled on Wednesday do not require specific EU sign-off, characterising them instead as operational changes to the framework, without altering the fundamentals of the bilateral deal.

The EU, for its part, has said it will carefully analyse the measures.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris both briefed EU executive vice-president Maros Sefcovic on the paper on Wednesday.

Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin has suggested Brussels will have a role, telling reporters in Belfast that the EU/UK Joint Committee will need to look at the package.

Mr Martin made clear he did not anticipate any push-back from the European Commission on what has been agreed between the DUP and UK.

 Who is opposed to the DUP leaders move?

Not everyone in the DUP supports accepting the arrangements that will lead to a return to powersharing.

A meeting of the partys ruling executive, where Sir Jeffrey presented the proposals to members, lasted for more than five hours on Monday night.

He was ultimately able to secure the backing of the executive, insisting the margin of support was decisive, and the endorsement of the majority of his 12 party officers.

However, just hours after the command paper was published on Wednesday, senior DUP MP Sammy Wilson launched a scathing broadside against the Government in the House of Commons in a clear sign of the differing opinions at the highest levels of the party.

The arch Brexiteer claimed the ongoing application of EU law in Northern Ireland was the result of a spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying Government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

On top of internal tensions, Sir Jeffrey faces criticism from some in the wider unionist and loyalist community.

They insist the Stormont boycott should only end when the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol, and the subsequent Windsor Framework, are scrapped entirely.

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister is a vocal critic, describing the DUP as protocol implementers.

High-profile loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, who live-tweeted elements of the private DUP executive meeting after securing an audio feed from a wired-up mole inside the party, has challenged Sir Jeffrey to a public debate on the new measures.

There have also been suggestions on social media that roads could be blocked in loyalist areas as part of protests against the deal.

The DUP leader has hit back, claiming his opponents have delivered a big blank sheet of nothing when it comes to removing the Irish Sea border.

 So what happens next?

The Government aims to fast-track two statutory instruments through Westminster on Thursday.

One will provide legislative assurances on Northern Irelands constitutional position within the UK with the other delivering the changes to the trading system by amending the Internal Markets Act.

Their passage would pave the way for the DUP to give the green light for a Stormont return.

MLAs have already been put on notice on the prospect of a hastily-recalled sitting.

The expectation is Stormont could be back up and running as soon as Saturday, when the Assembly chamber at Parliament Buildings would witness the historically significant moment of the appointment of its first-ever nationalist first minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill.
Local News, Crime

By Long Island Published: January 30 2024

Jeffrey Edsall pleads guilty to Aggravated Vehicular Assault and related charges after stealing a car, driving under the influence, and causing a four-car collision.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Jeffrey Edsall, 52, pleaded guilty to Aggravated Vehicular Assault and other related charges, for stealing a car, driving it while under the influence of alcohol, and causing a four-car collision in North Patchogue that left a 73-year-old woman with serious physical injuries.

This defendant was not only operating a stolen car, but he was doing so while under the influence of alcohol, said District Attorney Tierney. Motorists and their passengers have the right to drive the streets of Suffolk County without having to fear that they are going to be struck by a reckless drunk driver. This defendant presented a clear danger to the citizens of Suffolk County and now will be held accountable for his dangerous actions.

According to court documents and the defendants admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on June 15, 2023, at approximately 7:04 p.m., Edsall was driving a stolen blue 2001 Ford Explorer northbound on North Ocean Avenue in North Patchogue. Video surveillance footage from a nearby business captured the stolen vehicle rear-end an SUV which was waiting to make a left turn into a parking lot.

The force of the crash caused the SUV to be pushed forward several feet and the stolen vehicle to spin into the oncoming southbound lane where it collided with two additional vehicles, one of which contained a 73-year-old woman. As a result of the crash, the victim suffered a broken nose, a fractured right wrist, a fractured right leg that required surgery, and other physical injuries.

During the crash, Edsall was ejected from the stolen vehicle and found lying unresponsive nearby. The Suffolk County Police Department transported Edsall to Stony Brook University Hospital, where a sample of his blood taken by hospital staff was subsequently seized pursuant to a search warrant. Edsalls blood was tested, which revealed that his blood alcohol concentration was .13% at the time the blood was drawn.

On January 30, 2024, Edsall pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro, to the following charges:

 One count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, a Class C felony;

 One count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony;

 One count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a Class E

felony; and

 One count of Driving While Intoxicated Per Se, a Class E felony.

Edsall is due back in court on March 4, 2024, and is expected to be sentenced to 3 to 6 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. The District Attorneys Office is recommending that Edsall be sentenced to the maximum sentence allowed by law, which is 7.5 to 15 years in prison with 5 years post-release supervision. Edsall is being represented by Adam J. Markou, Esq. of the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: January 31 2024

Under the NYS Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act New York Would Become the 2nd State in the Nation to Pursue its Own Drug Manufacturing to Lower Costs.

The Senate Democratic Majority today will advance legislation to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, eliminate cost sharing for insulin, and promote health equity for patients in New York. The proposed legislation includes the New York State Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act. If signed into law, New York would become the second state in the nation besides California to pursue its own drug manufacturing to lower costs and protect against short supplies. As prescription drug costs, even for generics, continue to rise out of reach for patients and insurers, this legislation directs the Department of Health to identify generic drugs that are high cost or susceptible to shortage for manufacturing partnerships. This legislation would allow New York to pursue its own drug manufacturing and partner with other states moving in this direction to both lower costs and protect against drug shortages. Additionally, the Senate Majority is taking action to eliminate cost sharing for insulin, which 1.6 million New Yorkers with diabetes rely upon to be healthy and stay alive.

This package also features legislation that will establish the creation of a wholesale drug importation program; would limit drug manufacturers ability to prevent competing manufacturers from producing a generic alternative after a certain period of time passes; and requires a utilization review agent to follow certain rules when establishing a step therapy protocol to ensure that patients do not need to try and fail repeatedly on inappropriate medications. This comprehensive approach to healthcare reform underscores the Senate Democratic Majority's commitment to safeguarding the health and financial stability of New York residents.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, Accessible and affordable prescription medication is not a luxury but a necessity. Im proud that today we are taking another step to address the financial burden high prescription drugs place on the livelihood of New Yorkers by reimagining how we manufacture and import these life-saving drugs to make them more affordable. We are dedicated to improving the lives and well-being of all New Yorkers by making essential treatments accessible to everyone. I thank the sponsors for advancing this timely and crucial legislation.

Bill sponsor and Chair of the Senate Health Committee, Senator Gustavo Rivera said, I am proud that the Senate Majority is taking legislative action to alleviate the financial burden many New Yorkers are experiencing, specifically when it comes to having access to the medication and prescriptions they need to survive. My groundbreaking New York State Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act will make New York the second state in the nation to collaborate with drug manufacturers to produce our own generic medications, helping to directly address our current drug affordability crisis. A second bill would eliminate co-payments and other cost sharing requirements for insulin, preventing New Yorkers from needing to ration or forgo insulin treatments to make ends meet. Lastly, another would make prescription drugs more affordable by expanding the EPIC program to more seniors. As our State faces an affordability crisis, the Senate Majority is eliminating barriers New Yorkers are facing so they can access the medications they need."

The legislation being passed on prescription and health affordability on Tuesday, January by the Senate Majority includes:

New York State Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act: This bill, This bill, S4786A , sponsored by Senator Gustavo Rivera, would permit and galvanize the NYS Department of Health and its Commissioner to establish partnerships directly with drug manufacturers to help significantly lower the cost of drugs for consumers by helping secure more generic alternatives to prescription.

Prohibits Cost Sharing for Insulin: This bill, This bill, S504A , sponsored by Senator Gustavo Rivera, eliminates any deductible, copayment, coinsurance or any other cost sharing requirement for insulin drugs.

Program Eligibility for Plans Comparable to Medicare: This bill, This bill, S966 , sponsored by Senator Gustavo Rivera, would allow individuals who have comparable coverage to a Medicare Part D plan to also be eligible for Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance coverage (EPIC) if they otherwise qualify.

Step Therapy Reform: This bill, This bill, S1267 , sponsored by Senator Neil Breslin, requires a utilization review agent to follow certain rules when establishing a step therapy protocol. For example, the bill honors step therapy exceptions for 12 months after the date of the approval or renewal of the plan. It also prevents plans from requiring a patient to try and fail more than one drug before providing coverage for the originally prescribed medication.

Disclosure of Pay-for-Delay Agreements: This bill, This bill, S3518 , sponsored by Nathalia Fernandez, would require drug manufacturers to report all pay for delay agreements to the Attorney Generals Office (AG). The AGs office would subsequently report to other state and outside entities and post the notice in a searchable database on its website. Brand-name drug manufacturers typically use pay for delay agreements to delay the entry of lower-cost generic drugs into the market.

Prescription Drug Supply Chain Transparency Act: This bill, This bill, S6738A , sponsored by Senator Zellnor Myrie, requires pharmacy services administrative organizations, switch companies, and rebate aggregators to register with the Department of Financial Services. These companies will have to provide certain disclosures like ownership, structure, and audited financials to the Department. The Department will post the information in a searchable database on its website.

Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation: This bill, This bill, S604 , sponsored by Senator James Skoufis, establishes a wholesale prescription drug importation program in New York State, in accordance with federal law, from countries with consumer safety on par with the U.S. drug supply chain system and where significant consumer cost savings are possible.

Bill Sponsor Senator Neil Breslin said, "The cost of a prescription drug should never be a deterrent to someone accessing the treatment they need. This patient centered legislative package will not only bring greater transparency to the prescription drug supply chain, but also make prescriptions drugs more affordable."

Bill Sponsor Senator Nathalia Fernandez said, "The Pay-for-Delay Limitation Act is a pivotal step in combating unjust pharmaceutical practices by restricting manufacturers' ability to stifle competition. By mandating timely reporting to the Attorney General's Office, we ensure transparency and accountability, ultimately fostering a fairer and more accessible prescription drug market for consumers. I am honored to join my colleagues as we push for crucial legislation on prescription drug and health affordability."

Bill Sponsor Senator Zellnor Myrie said, "No New Yorker should have to choose between paying for medication and affording housing, food or other necessities. Yet expensive middlemen and intermediaries in the pharmaceutical supply chain can drive up prices without accountability. Our legislation will increase transparency in the industry and give New Yorkers more opportunities to afford the drugs they need."

Bill Sponsor Senator James Skoufis said, Having long been an advocate for patients, I am glad to stand with my colleagues to advance this package of legislation aimed at combating the sky high costs of prescription drugs. Access to prescriptions can be the difference between life and death, and no one should have to choose between their medication and putting food on their table. My bill creates a wholesale import program for prescription drugs from countries with consumer safety on par with the US drug supply chain, allowing us to drive down costs by increasing our states buying power. I applaud my colleagues for advancing this and other efforts to make healthcare more accessible and affordable.

AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel said, AARP New York applauds the leadership of Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and the State Senate for boldly continuing to address the high cost of prescription drugs. The ever-rising cost of medications impacts all New Yorkers, especially older people living on a fixed income. In an AARP survey in 2022, 87% of New York residents age 45 and older said they thought being able to pay for prescription drugs is extremely or very important. Four out of five respondents supported requiring pharmaceutical companies to use lower Canadian prices when selling prescription drugs in New York. More needs to be done to bring down prescription drug costs, and the State Legislature and Governor Hochul can accomplish that this year for the betterment of all New Yorkers.

Monica Billger, Director of State Government Affairs for the American Diabetes Association said, The American Diabetes Association applauds the New York Senates advancement of Senate Bill 504, which eliminates cost-sharing for insulin with state-regulated commercial health insurance plans. As the leading advocacy organization for 1.6 million New Yorkers living with diabetes, we know that too many people have had to ration life-saving insulin because they can't afford it - increasing their risk for complications, hospitalizations, and even death.

Maria Alvarez, Executive Director of NY StateWide Senior Action Council, said, NY StateWide Senior Action Council is pleased to see the Senate continuing its long standing efforts to address the affordability of drugs for all New Yorkers. We have heard from callers to our hotline about their problems paying for prescriptions as well as finding their needed drug in stock. This package of bills will address both issues as well as promote price transparency. Additionally, Senator Rivera's bill (S966) is a particular priority for us, as it is unfortunate that the EPIC program changed its criteria years ago to require a Medicare Part D plan enrollment, even though many are exempt from late penalties for enrolling because the federal government recognizes their coverage to be equitable to Part D coverage.

Ashira Vantrees of the Aimed Alliance, a not-for-profit health policy organization, said, The Aimed Alliance greatly appreciates Senator Breslin for his leadership and the Senate Majority for their action passing this crucial legislation. We commend their continued commitment to patient access to lifesaving treatment and medications. With patient well-being at the forefront, S.1267 would provide safeguards against the hurdles of step therapy protocols that prevent patient access. These commonsense protections will ensure New Yorkers receive their necessary treatments quickly and prevent further degeneration and disease progression. Step therapy, often dubbed as "fail first" protocols, force patients into a cycle of trying and failing on alternative treatments before obtaining coverage for their initially prescribed medication. This practice risks exacerbating health conditions, advancing irreversible diseases, and introducing needless complications. The provisions within this bill serve as crucial guardrails to mitigate such adverse impacts on patients and ensure the rational utilization of step therapy protocols.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: January 31 2024

According to MIT, a deepfake refers to a specific kind of synthetic media in which a person in an image or video is swapped with another persons likeness.

Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz (R,C-Oyster Bay) has hit the ground running during the 2024 Legislative Session by introducing two comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) bills, the Swift Act and the New York AI Child Safety Act, which seek to protect children and hold those accountable who abuse New Yorkers using artificial intelligence-generated media, such as deepfakes.

According to MIT, a deepfake refers to a specific kind of synthetic media in which a person in an image or video is swapped with another persons likeness. Protecting our most vulnerable populations from abuse must be our top priority as leaders, especially in the wake of emerging technologies such as AI and the corresponding proliferation of deepfakes across the internet, said Blumencranz.

In response to the rise of deepfakes being shared on the internet, Blumencranz introduced the New York AI Child Safety Act, which would increase criminal penalties for those charged with promoting or possessing child pornography generated by AI, empowering law enforcement, prosecutors and the judiciary to hold malfeasors accountable and impose longer criminal sentences.

As the Ranking Member of the Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology, I understand firsthand New Yorkers need greater protections from their likeness being stolen and weaponized through the use of deepfake and AI-generated content. Long Island itself has fallen victim to deepfakes and I refuse to stand idly by while my neighbors and fellow New Yorkers suffer. Just last year, a man in Nassau County was sentenced to six months in prison after he used images of his former classmates to make sexually explicit content online. Criminality in any form has no place in Nassau County, New York state or our nation, said Blumencranz.

In addition to children, individuals from all walks of life are being targeted daily by the unlawful distribution of sexually explicit deepfakes. Just last week, pop star Taylor Swift fell victim to the dissemination of sexually explicit deepfakes.

In response, Blumencranz promptly introduced another robust bill  this one aimed at requiring social media platforms like X to promptly remove unlawful publications of intimate images, including those created by digitization or generative AI. Blumencranzs proposed legislation would also increase criminal penalties for this form of unlawful conduct from a misdemeanor under current law to a felony. Lastly, the Swift Act would empower the attorney general with the discretion to enforce this proposed new law and seek to obtain restitution and civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation.

Blumencranz is committed to ensuring regulatory and penal safeguards exist to keep our communities and vulnerable populations safe from abuses of AI and other emerging technologies. Both the Swift Act and the New York AI Child Safety Act are currently being considered by the New York state Assembly.

Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz represents the 15th Assembly District, which includes portions of the towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay. For more information on Assemblyman Blumencranz, follow him on Facebook.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: January 31 2024

Declaration Provides Funding for Local Governments in Kings, Nassau and Westchester Counties.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that President Biden approved her request for a Major Disaster Declaration to provide federal assistance to downstate communities impacted by heavy rain and flooding in September. The declaration allows for federal assistance to support recovery and reconstruction efforts in Kings, Nassau and Westchester Counties, including assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to public buildings and infrastructure. New York has also already secured low-interest recovery loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration for home and businessowners in Kings and Nassau Counties.

Im committed to securing every possible dollar of federal aid to help the people of New York, Governor Hochul said. The major storm in September caused significant damage, and well continue our efforts to help communities recover and rebuild.

A Major Disaster Declaration secures financial assistance from the federal government, primarily through FEMA's Public Assistance Program, to provide funding to local governments, tribes and eligible non-profits for debris removal, protective measures, and repairs to buildings and infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water and wastewater treatment facilities, critical infrastructure sites, schools, parks and other facilities.

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, Communities throughout the lower Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island were devastated by historic rainfall and flooding at the end of September. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul and President Biden, these communities will now have access to the federal funding they need to support a strong recovery.

More than eight inches of rain fell in parts of Brooklyn, and more than six inches of rain fell in parts of Nassau and Westchester counties during a 24-hour period on September 29, 2023. Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency for all of New York City, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson Region on September 29, as heavy rain impacted the downstate region. In advance of the storm, Governor Hochul directed State agencies to prepare emergency response assets and stay in constant communication with local governments to monitor weather impacts and respond to requests for assistance.

About the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) provides leadership, coordination, and support to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters and other emergencies. For more information, follow @NYSDHSES on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter) or visit dhses.ny.gov.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: January 31 2024

50 School Districts and BOCES Receive Grants to Address Learning Loss and Support Mental Health Services.

Governor Kathy Hochul today awarded $100 million for 50 school districts and BOCES to address pandemic learning loss and provide students with mental health support. The funding will expand student access to evidence-based interventions to combat learning loss and also help staff and students identify and respond to mental health concerns. Todays announcement builds on Governor Hochuls priority to expand mental health support for students.

New York is making historic investments to ensure all our students are on the path towards success, Governor Hochul said. This funding will help our teachers and school staff pinpoint where students have fallen behind and provide students with the crucial resources needed to support their mental health, especially after the pandemic.

15 school districts and BOCES across the state have received the Learning Loss Recover from COVID School Program (RECOVS) Grant. The funding will expand student access to academic recovery professionals to counter learning loss; improve capacity for school staff and students to identify learning loss; implement evidence-based and evidence-informed school-based learning loss and academic recovery practices; and ensure financial stability for school-based academic recovery opportunities.

40 school districts and BOCES have received the Mental Health RECOVS grant that expands and supports practices that promotes mental health and wellness, improves capacity for staff and students to identify mental health concerns and increase help-seeking behaviors, and promotes student diversity, equity, and inclusion.

State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, The RECOVS grant funding underscores our commitment to fostering equitable access to education opportunities and mental health services for all students. By addressing lost instructional time and prioritizing student well-being, we aim to create an inclusive educational environment that empowers every learner to thrive in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, The Board of Regents and I are delighted with this significant funding dedicated to enhancing student well-being and addressing learning loss. This critical support will empower educators to create nurturing environments as our school communities continue to navigate the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic.

State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, I am so pleased that through $100 million in state funding that my Senate colleagues and I were able to secure with support from Governor Hochul, 50 school districts and BOCES across New York State will receive the financial support they need to address student learning loss and mental health challenges. I am especially pleased that several school districts that I represent, Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District, the Yonkers City School District, and districts that were part of the Southern Westchester BOCES application, will receive shares of this funding. Over the past few months, I have been fortunate to tour schools across the state  including Canajoharie  to observe the innovative work schools are doing to address these exact issues, and was impressed with their efforts. With these grants, more schools will be able to secure the resources they desperately need to address learning loss and mental health challenges to New Yorks students.

State Senator John Liu said, The learning loss and mental health concerns brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a significant challenge for schools to overcome, so this investment will help get our kids and teachers the support they need to get back on track. Thanks to Governor Hochul for this commitment to prioritizing and expanding mental health support for our students.

In August 2023, Governor Hochul announced $100 million was available for school districts through the Learning Loss and Mental Health RECOVS Program.

Pandemic Learning Loss RECOVS awardees:

School Districts/BOCES Award Amount Amityville School District $1,030,422 Broome Tioga BOCES $4,147,183 Buffalo City School District $2,883,515 Clyde-Savannah Central School District $1,188,000 Cuba-Rushford Central School $308,298 Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES $667,742 Hempstead Union Free School District $5,000,000 Lyons Central School District $1,373,141 New York City Public Schools $19,722,761 Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District $2,400,000 Sodus Central School District $1,308,000 Solvay Union Free School District $1,187,298 Syracuse City School District $5,000,000 Watertown City School District $1,783,640 Yonkers City School District $2,000,000

Mental Health RECOVS awardees:

School Districts/BOCES Award Amount Auburn Enlarged City School District $828,421 Baldwinsville Central School District $568,022 Bellmore Union Free School District $431,724 Buffalo City School District $5,000,000 Canajoharie Central School District $163,602 Carmel Central School District $227,432 Clarence Central School District $921,702 Dryden Central School District $231,820 Dunkirk City School District $290,572 East Quogue Union Free School District $663,180 Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES $364,202 Freeport Union Free School District $1,344,000 Gouverneur Central School $508,336 Gowanda Central School District $182,733 Haverstraw-Stony Point Central School District $3,499,312 Hendrick Hudson School District $474,770 Iroquois Central School District $200,000 Liverpool Central School District $3,925,110 Lyons Central School District $1,368,357 Monroe 1 BOCES $373,262 Moravia Central School District $360,880 Oneida City School District $1,000,000 Peekskill City School District $2,207,130 Pine Bush Central School District $503,829 Red Hook Central School District $786,400 Rochester City School District $1,266,800 Roxbury Central School District $231,440 Saranac Central School District $2,487,466 Schenectady City School District $2,491,944 Schodack Central School District $151,852 Shenendehowa Central School District $248,581 South Country Central School District $252,500 South Glens Falls $2,560,877 Southern Westchester BOCES $2,347,319 Syracuse City School District $5,000,000 Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES $702,556 Tonawanda City School District $1,250,106 Wappingers Central School District $2,527,780 Williamsville Central School District $55,983 Yonkers City School District $2,000,000

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has increased school funding by record amounts  a total of $5 billion over two years. This year, Governor Hochul is proposing $35.3 billion in total School Aid, the highest amount in New York States history. The FY 2024 Budget provided a historic $34.5 billion to New Yorks schools to help give every student the tools to succeed through a high-quality education.

Addressing youth mental health concerns has always been a priority for Governor Hochul and is a critical component of her historic $1 billion plan to enhance, expand and strengthen mental health services across the State. Her plan includes $30 million to expand mental health services for school-aged children, including $20 million for school-based mental health services and $10 million to implement wraparound services training, as well as regulatory changes to close gaps in insurance coverage for mental health care and substance use disorder services. This includes requiring commercial insurance plans to cover services provided in school-based mental health clinics. The Governor also announced the creation of new Home-Based Crisis Intervention teams and expansion of existing teams, which provide critical mental health services to at-risk children and youth and help them avoid psychiatric hospitalization.

Last summer, the Governor hosted the States first Summit on Youth Mental Health, which brought together state and national experts as well as service providers and stakeholders to discuss the challenges young people face today. She also directed the NYS Office of Mental Health and Office of Children and Family Services to conduct a statewide Listening Tour on Youth Mental Health to hear directly from kids across the state about their experiences with mental health care, and how the system can be strengthened.

In this years State of the State address, Governor Hochul proposed measures that will dramatically expand access to services for children, youth and families. The proposals include establishing school-based mental health clinics for any school that wants one, introducing legislation to limit social media features that are harmful to young people, establishing new Youth Assertive Community Treat (ACT) teams, and expanding loan repayment programs for childrens mental health practitioners.

New York State School Boards Association Executive Director Robert Schneider said, NYSSBA supports and appreciates the states dedicated investment in school districts efforts to aggressively respond to the myriad of student impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person said, NYSUT has long advocated for fulfilling the needs of the whole student  including mental health  as critical to academic success. These state investments bring us closer to our goal of building the safe and supportive classrooms that our students need to reach their full potential.

United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said, Our school's communities are still hurting. This funding is designed to recognize and tackle this reality. The challenge now is to make sure these funds reach the students.

SAANYS Executive Director Kevin Casey said, As school districts continue to meet the challenges of the past few years, school administrators identify the mental health needs of students and the school community as one of their highest priorities. SAANYS is buoyed to see needed resources being directed to our schools to meet the complexities facing students and staff on a daily basis. We are certain the RECOVS funding will be utilized efficiently and effectively and bolster the work currently underway.

Conference of Big 5 School Districts Executive Director Jennifer K. Pyle said, On behalf of the nearly 50 percent of the State's public-school children who are educated in the Big 5 school districts, we are truly grateful for the Governor and the Legislature's support for critical programs and services to address the myriad of pandemic related needs of our schools through the RECOVS Grants. These resources will enable school districts to fund essential academic and mental health programs and services in order to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic. The needs of the Big 5 school districts are immense and the RECOVS dollars will support our school districts in their steadfast commitment to ensuring that each and every child is afforded the supports necessary to succeed.
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi HaLevi meets with Israeli reservists on January 30. (IDF)

Hezbollah in Lebanon continued to carry out attacks against Israel, even as Israel has sought a diplomatic solution via mediation from countries including the US and France. The IDF said on Tuesday that a rocket launched from Lebanon targeted the community of Arab al-Aramshe. The IDF said it responded with fighter jets attacking a Hezbollah command center. There were other strikes by Israel in Lebanon during the day. Later in the evening of January 30, more sirens were heard in Arab al-Aramshe, indicating a new threat. This community is made up of members of the Arab beduin minority who live in northern Israel. Most of the residents who live along Israels northern border have been evacuated.

Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant went to Haifa on January 30 and warned about the threats faced by northern Israel. The stage will come when our patience will run out, and a forceful action to enforce peace on the northern border will also affect the Haifa metropolis, he said. On January 29, Israels Reshet Bet radio interviewed a security officer in the community of Margaliot who described how a Hezbollah journalist had threatened him personally by posting his photo online with a gunsight around the image. In addition, the pro-regime Iranian media outlet Fars News highlighted Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel, noting that Hezbollah was using heavier Barkan missiles.

Amidst threats from the north, Israel Chief of Staff Herzi HaLevi visited IDF reservists posted near the Gaza border to brief them on IDF operations. He was visiting the unit after 21 Israeli soldiers were killed last week in Gaza following the explosion of a building near which the soldiers were carrying out an operation. The Chief of Staff met with the commanders of Israels Gaza Division and the commander of the Southern Gaza brigade. Before the Hamas attack on October 7, these units would have been stationed on Israels border with Gaza.

HaLevi addressed Israeli soldiers in the wake of a successful raid in Jenin in which three terrorists were neutralized in a hospital. This morning soldiers of the Yamam Unit entered into a hospital in Jenin, inside which a terrorist cell was planning to carry out a serious attack and to kill Israeli civilians, HaLevi said. He went on to note that Israel is determined to confront terror in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, echoing statements from commanding officers and many in the defense establishment. Israel will continue the war in Gaza and efforts therein to uproot Hamas terrorist infrastructure. This is what will give us the ability to go to a long, complex war, and at the end of the road to win a victory that is very important and will also be very clear, HaLevi said.

The IDF also released details on January 30 of its Atlantis program that uses water to erode and destroy Hamas tunnels in Gaza. The process of finding and destroying hundreds of miles of tunnels with thousands of potential entrances has proven to be incredibly complex and taken specialized forces. It has also taken time. The IDF has been working with the Israeli Ministry of Defense to develop tools and methods to channel large volumes of water into Hamas terror tunnels in the Gaza Strip. This is part of a range of tools deployed by the IDF to neutralize the threat of Hamas subterranean network of tunnels, the IDF said. The IDF said the flooding of the tunnels is done in such a way that does not damage groundwater, thus requiring analysis of local soil and water systems.

The tunnel operations occur as another Israeli unit, the Kiryati brigade, was withdrawn from Gaza after months of operations against Hamas.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the acting news editor and senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post.
ABH Holdings SA (ABHH), which owned Sense Bank (Kyiv) before its nationalization, in connection with press reports about the potential privatization and transfer of the bank to a third-party investor, says that it will consider any such transfer as the sale of stolen property.

"ABHH unequivocally warns potential buyers or recipients of Sense Bank or its assets that we intend to bring the full weight of the law against any such parties, treating them as purchasers of stolen goods. Legal actions will be pursued in any appropriate jurisdiction," the report says.

As reported, on December 29, 2023, ABHH filed a request with the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) for arbitration and a claim against Ukraine in excess of $1 billion, demanding full compensation.

In commenting on the progress of the proceedings, ABHH noted the Ministry of Justice's response to this request as a recent positive development.

"In a recent and positive development, we acknowledge the Ukrainian Ministry of Justices response to our request. Their expressed willingness to cooperate in forming the arbitral tribunal and advancing the case is a hopeful sign of their adherence to the international rule of law," they said.

In terms of assets (about 3.4% of the assets of the entire banking system - UAH 96.637 billion), Sense Bank ranked 11th among 65 operating banks in Ukraine as of mid-2023. It was nationalized in July 2023 under a specially adopted law as a systemically important bank with majority shareholders from Alfa Group, who were subject to sanctions.

In June 2023, ABHH announced that it had reached an agreement to sell a package of 75.6% of Sense Bank shares to an international investor for $1, but at the end of September, after nationalization, it announced the initiation of international arbitration.
Michel Toungouz Nevessignsky will take over the leadership of Luxembourgs national health laboratory, the institution announced Wednesday.

Toungouz, who specialised in laboratory medicine and has a PhD in immunology, will replace Andre Rosenthal from Thursday on, the Laboratoire national de sante said in a news release. Rosenthal has been acting director since 2022.

Michel Toungouz Nevessignsky is an experienced healthcare manager with leadership experience in culturally diverse ecosystems, said Evelin Schrock, president of the LNS Board of Directors.

I am sure that Michel, together with the international team at LNS, will improve the quality and turn-around-time of the routine diagnostics services and advance the medical diagnostics portfolio to serve the growing medical needs in precision oncology and personalized medicine of all patients in Luxembourg, Rosenthal said.

Toungouz, from Belgium, will contribute to networking and continuing collaborations of the LNS with Luxembourgs research institutions, like the University of Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Institute of Health, the statement said.

The LNS operates as a central medical laboratory providing diagnostic and analytical services, as well as disease surveillance and control. It also engages in public health research and checks the quality of pharmaceuticals, among other tasks.

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The State Council released on Monday an implementation plan for Pudong New Area's pilot comprehensive reform between 2023 and 2027 so that it can better fulfill its role as a pioneering area for China's socialist modernization, facilitating the country's high-level reform and opening-up. By overcoming the institutional obstacles, more substantial measures should be rolled out in key areas and scenarios so that the overall vitality can be enhanced in Pudong. Larger stress tests should be taken to serve institutional opening-up at the national level. By the end of 2027, a high-standard market system and a high-level open market mechanism should be built in Pudong, said the plan. In specific, a classified and layered data trading mechanism will be set up. The Shanghai Data Exchange, which was established in 2021, should help to facilitate the trusted data flow. Efforts should be made to build a mechanism that separates the right to hold, process, use and operate data. Public data should be made accessible to market entities in an orderly manner. First attempts should be made to use e-CNY for trade settlement, e-commerce payment, carbon trading and green power trading. The digital Chinese currency's application in fiscal scenarios should be regulated and expanded. Companies or institutions with their headquarters in Pudong are encouraged to develop offshore economic and trade activities. A chief production officer mechanism mainly made up of company managers or owners from key industries should be set up in Pudong, according to the plan. Efforts should be made to roll out option products for the technology-heavy STAR Market at the Shanghai Stock Exchange. More convenient settlements in both renminbi and foreign currencies should be provided for cross-border technology trade. To better attract talents from all over the world, Pudong is given the authority to review and issue confirmation letters for qualified foreign talents. Qualified foreign talents are supported to serve as legal representatives of public institutions and State-owned enterprises in the Lingang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and Zhangjiang Science City, both of which are located in Pudong. Meanwhile, foreign scientists who have obtained permanent residency qualifications in China are allowed to take the lead in undertaking national science and technology projects and serve as the legal representatives of new research and development institutions in Pudong, according to the plan. Key domestic universities are supported to introduce well-known foreign colleges and universities to set up high-level schools jointly operated by Chinese and foreign parties in Pudong, which is part of the area's efforts to improve the services provided to the people living here. Pudong-based State-owned enterprises, which have fully participated in market competition, are supported to introduce strategic investors to take part in corporate governance. Eligible State-owned science and technology enterprises are encouraged to carry out equity and dividend incentives, said the plan.
At the forum on Ukraine's restoration in Istanbul, a joint Ukrainian-Turkish Reconstruction Task Force was created, which will focus on implementing projects in the field of road infrastructure, water transport and aviation, the Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine reported on Facebook on Wednesday.

The priority areas of cooperation of the task force will be projects for the restoration of road infrastructure and the construction of temporary bridges and overpasses on key routes, restoration and development of water transport infrastructure, protection of critical infrastructure and housing restoration, as well as cooperation in the field of aviation, the statement said.

"Aviation. We are ready to cooperate in the event of the air traffic restoration. Over the past two years, the ministry has focused on retaining highly qualified aviation personnel, maintaining the aviation infrastructure in proper condition and deregulating the industry. All this will allow the service to be launched as quickly as possible, as soon as the security situation allows," Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction - Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Facebook.

According to him, proposals and design solutions for the water area and seaports of Ukraine are being discussed in the field of water transport.

"We see the willingness of companies to invest in the development of maritime logistics and infrastructure," the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

He also pointed out that Turkish government and business entities have deep technical expertise and experience in rebuilding infrastructure after the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition, they have experience working with international financial institutions and organizations, which will help in the implementation of projects to protect critical infrastructure and restore housing.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that Turkish business has extensive experience in the field of road infrastructure. Its representatives took part in the construction of the Zaporizhia and Kremenchuk bridges, establishing themselves as reliable partners.

The current agreements are a continuation of cooperation that began at a summit meeting in the presence of the Presidents of Ukraine and Turkey, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the middle of last year. Then a memorandum of understanding was signed to restore the infrastructure, the Ministry of Restoration recalled.
NORTHAMPTON  A decorative cupola has been removed from the rooftop of the former St. John Cantius Church.

But the question of what  or if anything  will replace the small structure that once sat atop the 111-year-old landmark will be up to the citys Historical Commission at its Feb. 26 meeting.

On Monday night, commissioners delayed a decision and asked owner OConnell Development Group to do more research and determine if the cupola was an original component of the structure, said Sarah I. LaValley, assistant director of the citys Office of Planning and Sustainability.

The cupola at issue is not the five-story bell tower attached to the southwest corner of the building at 10 Hawley St. building, said Sarah Stine, development manager for OConnell. OConnells contractors are repointing the masonry on that tower, she said, as part of its restoration efforts.

This is the smaller octagonal cupola, described in a 2022 historic structure report as made of galvanized iron sheet metal, placed over a base that rose above the roof ridge. It had metal slats on all sides and a ribbed copper dome roof with a metal cross placed on the top of the dome.

It was on the east end of the building, directly over the apse where the altar was located.

Workers make exterior repairs to the former St. John Cantius Church in Northampton in December 2023. (Jim Kinney / The Republican, File)The Republican

Stine said the structure had deteriorated and had to be removed, while the roof, gutters and masonry were repaired. The historic structure report, prepared for OConnell by an Albany, New York, architecture firm to meet city and state requirements, also calls for the cupola to be removed.

In October 2022, OConnell sought and received $500,000 in Community Preservation Act funds from Northampton to repair and preserve the buildings exterior. That grant from the city also protects the building from changes to its exterior look. Thats why the matter of the cupola came to the Historical Commission.

In 2010, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield closed St. John Cantius as part of a citywide consolidation and put it up for sale. Buyers emerged with pitches and projects, but nothing happened.

OConnell bought the property from the diocese in 2020 for $1.6 million, at first saying it would preserve the church building and build a 23-unit townhome project  where units cost $695,000 a piece  around it.

Then, Holyoke-based OConnell  citing the pandemic  said it wanted to demolish the church.

Northamptons Polish-American community and neighbors fought those plans, and OConnell came forward with new plans to seek the city funds and embark on a $4.6 million rehab project on the neighborhood landmark. OConnell said it wants to convert the 6,200-square-foot St. John Cantius into 10 market-rate apartments.

The building gets new windows in the spring, Stine said.

Polish immigrants started work on the church in August 1911, and the church was dedicated in April 1913.
A Rhode Island chef with Massachusetts roots will be competing on Food Networks Guys Grocery Games Wednesday night, Jan. 31.

Milena Pagan, chef and owner of Little Sister in Providence and soon-to-open Rebelle Bagels in Cambridge, Mass., will appear in the episode of Triple G at 9 p.m. Pagan will be making dishes inspired by her Puerto Rican upbringing, a spokesperson told MassLive.

The show sends four chefs running through the aisles in a grocery store cooking competition. The chefs are hit by real-world challenges like being out-of-stock of an ingredient or having to create a meal using 5 items or less on a $10 budget, the shows description states. The winning chef gets to take a victory lap for a chance some serious cash. The episode title for Wednesday night at 9 is titled 10 Pounds, Two Rounds.

You can tune in by watching Food Network on Philo, FuboTV or DirecTV Stream.

Pagans award-winning bagel shop Rebelle is relocating to 249 3rd St. in Cambridge this winter, just a stones throw away from the Massachusetts Institute for Technology, which is Pagans alma mater.

Rebelle was named a Best of Rhode Island winner by Rhode Island Monthly three years in a row. Pagan has also received a James Beard Award nomination for her Little Sister, was a PBN 2023 Business Women Awards Achievement Honoree and the 2020 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipient.

The chef has also appeared in Bon Appetit, The New York Times and countless local Rhode Island publications. Updates about the upcoming shop can be found online or by following Rebelle on Instagram.
A popular Mexican restaurant in Bostons Back Bay neighborhood is moving onto bigger and better things in Seaport later this year.

Citrus & Salt, has outgrown its current Back Bay location and is moving to a newer and larger space in Bostons energetic Fort Point neighborhood this March, the restaurant said in a press release.

With room for 40 more guests, an outdoor patio, and private dining room, the new Citrus & Salt will relocate to 319 A St. in March. The last day of service at the Back Bay spot will be Friday, Feb. 23.

We are super excited to move our Citrus & Salt restaurant across town to a newer and larger location which offers features that the restaurant needed as we have outgrown the existing space, Citrus & Salt Chef/Owner Jason Santos said in the release. Guests will now enjoy a larger dining room, additional private dining rooms, an expansive patio and an intimate Patron Room with some fun and exciting surprises for guests.

The Baja-inspired restaurant took over for Back Bay Harrys at 142 Berkeley St. in November 2017, according to an article from EaterBoston. The new location of Citrus & Salt will offer lunch, dinner and weekend brunch and late-night dining program called Tacos After Dark.

Most of the original menu will exist at the new location in addition to new and innovative dishes and imaginative cocktails, according to the press release.

Additionally, the original Citrus & Salt will host a Leaping From Back Bay to the Seaport Party on its last day of service. The event will include some of the restaurants signature menu items, cocktails and live music.

Tickets will be on sale shortly. People can follow Citrus & Salt on social media for updates and more information.
The Russian Federation is keeping six ships on combat duty in the Black Sea, including one Kalibr carrier, the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Wednesday morning.

"As of 07:00 of January 31, 2024, there are six enemy ships in the Black Sea, including one carrier of Kalibr cruise missiles, with a total salvo of up to four missiles, one enemy ship in the Sea of Azov, two enemy ships in the Mediterranean Sea, among which one carrier of Kalibr cruise missiles, with a total salvo of up to eight missiles," the Telegram channel of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

It is also reported that during the day, in the interests of the Russian Federation, the passage of the Kerch Strait was carried out: six ships entered the Sea of Azov, five of them moved from the Bosphorus Strait. There are six vessels in the Black Sea, of which one continued to move towards the Bosphorus Strait.
The Starbucks menu item that has caused quite a stir among coffee lovers is now taking a spot in every U.S. Starbucks store.

On Monday, the coffee chain announced that Oleato beverages are now available at all U.S. Starbucks company-operated and licensed stores, including those in grocery stores, airports, and college campuses.

The coffee drink is infused with Partanna extra virgin olive oil, Starbucks said.

The drinks on the Oleato menu include an oat milk latte infused with the extra virgin olive oil and an iced shaken espresso with golden foam, which is vanilla sweet cream infused with extra virgin olive oil into a cold foam. The foam can also be added to Matcha and Starbucks Refreshers.

According to Starbucks, the Oleato started in Sicily, Italy when Starbucks founder Howard Schultz was introduced to the daily Mediterranean custom of having a spoonful of olive oil.

As he sipped his morning coffee, he was inspired to put the two flavors together. The chain describes the drink as coffee enhanced with lush, velvety flavor that lingers beautifully on the palate.

The olive-oil based drink is also available at Starbucks locations around the world, including Canada, London, Paris, Osaka and Tokyo.

MassLive had the chance to try the menu back in June of 2023. Read the review here.
Starbucks is back again with another release of seasonal menu goodies.

On Tuesday, the chain announced the launch of its Valentines Day menu, Today reported. Starting Tuesday, both coffee and Valentines Day lovers can order two new beverages featuring chocolatey and strawberry flavors.

The first item hitting stores is the Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Creme Frappuccino. The beverage features a blend of strawberry puree and Frappuccino chips with milk and ice, layered on top of a splash of strawberry puree and finished with vanilla whipped cream.

Joining alongside the pink Valentines Day drink is the Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie Cold Brew. The drink features notes of roasted hazelnut, topped with a chocolate cream cold foam and chocolate cookie crumble.

Apart from stores, the Valentines Day menu items will also be available to order in the Starbucks app.

The chains Valentines Day drinkware collection is also on shelves stores across the country. The collection includes tumblers, cold cups and more featuring Valentines Day designs.

Read more about the coffee chains merchandise here.
The Massachusetts State Police has suspended without pay two of its members who appeared in federal court in Boston on Tuesday to face federal charges stemming from an alleged scheme where troopers approved commercial drivers license tests in exchange for gifts.

Sgt. Gary Cederquist and Trooper Joel Rogers were suspended without pay indefinitely on Wednesday following a status duty hearing held at the departments headquarters, according to state police spokesperson David Procopio.

Cederquist, 58, and Rogers, 54, were among six total defendants named in a 74-count indictment unsealed by federal prosecutors on Tuesday morning.

Two retired state troopers, Calvin Butner, 63, and Perry Mendes, 63, were named in the indictment and both were arrested in Florida on Monday and appeared in a federal court in that state on Tuesday. They are expected to appear in Boston federal court on Feb. 7.

All four were assigned to the Commercial Driver Licensing Unit at the time of the alleged offenses, which is responsible for administering skills tests for commercial drivers license applicants.

Procopio said the Massachusetts state police have received more than 15 subpoenas since the fall of 2022 related to the grand jury investigation into the bribery scheme.

The state polices Office of Professional Integrity and Accountability continues to investigate allegations of misconduct, according to Procopio.

The indictment also named two civilians: Scott Camara, 42, of Rehoboth, and Eric Mathison, 47, of Boston.

Two other unnamed individuals, including one state trooper, were also listed as co-conspirators.

Officials said the troopers received an assortment of goods and services in exchange for automatically passing the applicants, including drivers they identified as clearly unqualified to safely operate tractor-trailers and other large commercial vehicles.

One driver testing for his license was an idiot who had no idea what hes doing, a state police sergeant texted a civilian accomplice, before nonetheless handing the driver a passing grade, according to the indictment.

Its concerning and its why we bring these cases, to put a spotlight on conduct like this, acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said at a press conference at Bostons federal courthouse Tuesday morning.

Cederquist, the sergeant at the helm of the state polices commercial drivers licenses unit, is accused of receiving a repaved driveway valued at over $10,000 and a $2,000 snowblower, among other gifts.
HOLYOKE  Alums who graduated between 1947 and 1964 from Holyoke Junior College are invited to attend a first-ever reunion event later this year.

The event will take place on June 5, from 3 to 6 p.m., at the Holyoke Community College MGM Culinary Arts Institute on Race Street. Reunion attendees will tour the culinary arts facility and have dinner prepared by HCC culinary arts students and faculty.

On the reunion planning committee are alumni Maurice Ferriter, Class of 1952, Frances Kane, Class of 1956, Carl Iger, Class of 1956, Pat Bresnahan, Class of 1957, Peg Wendlandt, Class of 1958, Jim Izatt, Class of 1959, and Richie Sobon, Class of 1964.

At a recent meeting, Kane and Angela Wright, a graduate of Holyoke Junior College from the Class of 1954, took a stroll down memory lane.

You dont often have a chance to catch up with classmates from your school. I dont know how many of us are left. Id be thrilled to see them and just chat, Wright said.

Holyoke Junior College was very good to me. I was young. Coming out of high school, I didnt know where I was going to go. I went to Holyoke Junior College, which set me on my pace, Kane said.

Kane returned to the college in the early 1970s to serve on the Board of Trustees and, later, on the HCC Foundation board.

Ive made a lot of friends, and Id like to see whos left from my class, Kane said.

This is a time for our oldest alumni to meet our new leader, President George Timmons, catch up with classmates, and reminisce about the good old days, said Julie Phillips, HCC director of development.

Holyoke Graduate School was established in 1946 and changed its name to Holyoke Junior College in 1947. After it joined the states community college system in 1964, the name changed to Holyoke Community College.

HCC was on Sergeant and Pine street in the former Holyoke High School building.

For more information about the event or to secure your spot for the reunion, contact John Sieracki at jsieracki@hcc.edu or 413-687-0322.
A 53-year-old Hyannis man died after a crash between two vehicles on Monday, Barnstable police said.

At around 1:44 p.m., Barnstable police went to 852 Bearses Way in Hyannis regarding a crash and a reported injury, police said in a statement.

Officers arrived to find several vehicles off the roadway, including one that ran over a fire hydrant and struck a tree along the road. Hyannis firefighters arrived and immediately began to treat the drivers of the two vehicles involved.

A third vehicle ran over debris from the crash, but the driver was not injured, police said.

Both drivers were taken to Cape Cod Hospital, with the Hyannis man being pronounced dead, police said. The other driver, a Plymouth man, 58, was treated with non-life-threatening injuries.

The crash continues to be under investigation, conducted by the Barnstable Police Departments Traffic Unit.
SPRINGFIELD  Students are talking about saving for retirement, learning how to invest in the stock market and creating a budget to decorate a dorm room  all in middle school.

Concerned children may be graduating with few financial skills, getting into debt and facing financial problems because of it, the school department has started a new program to teach students how to manage money before they graduate.

It is being implemented across the district in phases.

The program, which came from the long-term Portrait of a Graduate project, has been piloted in different schools over the past two years. It is designed to begin with kindergarteners and run through high school, said Thomas Rachele, director of humanities for the schools.

We are committed to addressing the need for financial literacy that has been expressed by parents, students and a number of community partners, he said.

The program is a comprehensive one that begins in kindergarten with age-appropriate, fun lessons that give children a basic understanding about finances. It also explores career paths in finance, he said.

The lessons, which are being called Financial Fridays, will be spread over nine hours so children will receive a total of 54 hours of financial literacy classes before they graduate to middle school, he said.

When students hit middle school, the classes ramp up and talk about a variety of topics including the gig economy, individual retirement plans, retirement savings and stock investing, he said.

Since some students are old enough to have their first part-time job at that age, they also talk about smart spending and saving, Rachele said.

In one lesson, students are given a budget to decorate and furnish a dorm room and have to figure out what their needs and wants are and how to balance those, he said.

All students receive financial literacy in eighth grade. When they move to high school, it becomes an elective course but it is growing in interest. Last year a little over 500 students across the city took the class and this school year that number has grown to about 772, he said.

The high school course continues on the same pathway of teaching students lessons they will need for the future especially since students are getting closer to joining the workforce or have to make decisions about college and facing how to pay for a higher education and the impact student loans may have on their future, he said.

The class also studies things like if they buy a car as a teenager, the cost of learning how to drive and paying insurance, he said.

Chief Schools Officer Kimberly Wells said she spent time observing a financial literacy class where high school students were figuring out how they could fall into serious debt with a credit card. At the same time, they also discussed how to build positive credit.

It was astonishing to watch the students do the math and think about compound interest over time and if they paid their minimum balance what it would actually cost them on their initial purchase, she said. To hear them say Im not ever doing that.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, School Committee chairman, said that lesson alone is so valuable because so many young people get into serious credit card debt since it is so easy to apply for a card.

One of the next goals is to train more teachers in the financial literacy curriculum to ensure there are enough classes available in the high schools for all the students who want to take it, Rachele said.

There was a report that talked about Massachusetts having an F when it comes to having financial literacy in our schools and Im so happy that we are a part of the trend of making sure that our kids have financial literacy in our schools, said LaTonia Monroe Naylor, a committee member.

Joesiah Gonzalez, vice chairman of the committee, asked if the schools were creating any partnerships with financial institutions as part of the curriculum so students can open bank accounts and learn about careers.

Rachele said the program is also working with banks and other financial institutions to add to the program in the future.
A Massachusetts man who failed to stop for police in New Hampshire and fled to Maine crashed his truck and was shot by a Maine police officer after brandishing a knife, multiple outlets have reported.

The man was Kenneth Ellis, 52, of Massachusetts, who died at the scene after being shot by Fryeburg, Maine, police officer Michael St. Laurent, Fryeburg police told News Center Maine. Police said Ellis had approached the officer holding a knife.

Ellis had originally failed to stop for New Hampshire police, leading to a chase into Maine, officials told the news outlet. Fryeburg police took over the chase from New Hampshire police, officials said.

On Maine Street in Fryeburg, Ellis struck multiple vehicles and then crashed into a snowbank in front of Norway Savings Bank, News Center Maine reported. It was then that Ellis emerged from his vehicle and made his way toward St. Laurent with a knife, they reported.

An Oxford County Sheriffs deputy, Justin Groetzinger, was taken to a hospital with injuries from a separate crash when he struck a vehicle that turned in front of him on Maine Street, and his injuries are non-life-threatening, the outlet reported.

St. Laurent has been placed on leave amid an investigation over his use of force in this case, News Center reported.
In a move that raised the profile of the Newton teachers strike, the president of the National Education Association (NEA)  the countrys largest union  spoke in support of its Newton affiliate at a rally in Newton Wednesday morning.

They cannot afford to not listen to your voices, because you have dedicated your lives to ensuring that our students, every one of them, has what they need and what they deserve, NEA President Becky Pringle told the crowd outside the Newton Education Center.

Despite the fact that it is illegal in Massachusetts for teachers to walk off the job, the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) voted to begin striking earlier this month in response to failed negotiations with Newton officials over a new contract.

The negotiations started in October 2022 and have lingered on as the two parties continue to fight over issues such as increased teacher pay, insurance benefits and putting more social workers in schools.

Wednesday marked the ninth school day lost to the strike, which, according to The Boston Globe, is the longest teacher work stoppage Massachusetts has seen since the 1990s.

On Tuesday night, the Newton School Committee said it was optimistic about an end to the strike, and Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller attended the negotiations for the first time. But on Wednesday, the NTA criticized the school committees latest contract proposal and announced Pringles appearance later that morning.

The rally began with performances by a live band, and Pringle soon danced onto the stage as she began to hype up the crowd. Is the NTA in the house? she began, starting a round of cheering.

I heard tell that you were standing up for a fair contract. Is that right? That you wanted a contract that actually respected you as educators. Is that right? she said. I heard tell that you were going to do what you needed to do to ensure not just our teachers, but our education support professionals, our social workers, get a fair contract.

Pringle continued on, balking at city officials repeated claims that the district cant afford to meet the NTAs demands. What they cant afford is to lose the highly qualified educators who are in this district, she said.

Read more: Newton mother files lawsuit asking judge to stop teacher strike

The NTA has the support of the NEAs three million members and many Newton parents, which is important because its negotiators are tired and need continued support, Pringle told the crowd.

The NEAs president ended the rally by repeatedly asking the crowd what they would do to achieve the NTAs goals, starting a call and response where the crowd answered whatever it takes to every question.

I know that you will continue to stand up and lift up your voices and fight for your students and for your colleagues and for this community. That is what you will do every day, all day, she said.

Despite Pringles assertion that parents support the NTA, two families who believe the strike is harming their children have now filed lawsuits asking a judge to take further action to pressure the union to call it off. Per a judges order, the NTA already owes $525,000 in fines for not ending the strike  a sum which will increase by $50,000 each day the strike continues.

After the rally Wednesday, the NTA delivered a counterproposal to the school committee, a union representative said. The school committee is considering it.

We know this strike is incredibly difficult for Newton families. All of us want what is best for our kids and our staff, the school committee wrote in an update to families Wednesday.  ... We have to remain hopeful that we can settle an agreement with the NTA that allows us to emerge from this moment onto a path of progress for our district.
The president of the National Education Association  the countrys largest labor union  is set to speak in support of its Newton affiliate Wednesday morning as the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) continues its nine-day strike.

Despite the fact that it is illegal in Massachusetts for teachers to walk off the job, the NTA voted to begin striking earlier this month in response to failed negotiations over a new contract, which have been going on since October 2022.

The teachers have been working without a new contract since August 2023 as the two parties continue to fight over issues such as increased teacher pay, insurance benefits and putting more social workers in schools.

According to The Boston Globe, the NTAs strike is the longest teacher work stoppage Massachusetts has seen since the 1990s.

On Tuesday night, the Newton School Committee said it was optimistic about an end to the strike, and Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller attended the negotiations for the first time. But on Wednesday, the NTA criticized the school committees latest contract proposal and announced that NEA president Becky Pringle would speak at a union rally at the Newton Education Center on Walnut Street at 11:30 a.m.

NEA President Becky Pringle is supporting Newton educators because she recognizes that our fight is grounded in what all students and educators in public schools across the country deserve, the NTA said in a press release.

The union said Pringles comments will focus on the issue of living wages for teacher aides and behavioral therapists, which it considers one of the NTAs core demands.

In recent years, teachers unions in Andover, Malden, Brookline, Woburn and Haverhill have organized similar strikes and faced fines, but none of them dragged on for more than a week. Per a court order, the NTA now owes $525,000 in fines for not ending the strike  a sum which will increase by $50,000 each day the strike continues.

The union is also facing blowback from parents who say the strike is harming their children. Two families have now filed lawsuits asking a judge to do more to end the strike.

The NTA said it plans to respond to the school committees latest proposal at noon Wednesday.
Newton Public schools will be closed again Wednesday due to an ongoing teachers strike.

Its the ninth straight school day Newton schools will be closed.

The Newton School Committee said it was optimistic about an end to the strike in a message to families Tuesday. Additionally, that night, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller attended the negotiations for the first time.

But on Wednesday, the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) announced that the president of the National Education Association  the largest union in the country  would speak in support of its local affiliate at the Newton Education Center later that morning.

NEA President Becky Pringle is supporting Newton educators because she recognizes that our fight is grounded in what all students and educators in public schools across the country deserve, the union said in a press release.

Though it is illegal in Massachusetts for teachers to strike, NTA voted to begin striking on Jan. 19 after over a year of failed contract negotiations with Newton officials. Per a court order, the NTA now owes $525,000 in fines for not ending the strike  a sum which will increase by $50,000 each day the strike continues.

The school committee told families Tuesday night that steady progress had been made in financial discussions that day, and that it had made its latest contract proposal. The proposal offered cost of living adjustments a major sticking point in the negotiations  of at least 12% by 2027, it said.

The NTA on Wednesday morning criticized the proposal for not including changes that would improve working conditions for educators and learning conditions for students, such as full-time social workers in every school. The union further addressed this topic by responding to comments School Committee Chair Chris Breszki made to WBZ-TV Tuesday about the NTA having a bigger agenda.

He is not wrong. The NTAs agenda is to end Mayor Fullers practice of underfunding Newton Public Schools, the union said.  ... Brezskis singular focus on wages demonstrates a lack of understanding about the entirety of what the NTA is fighting for and what must be sufficiently addressed before educators return to work.

The NTA said it would respond to the school committees latest proposal later on Wednesday.

According to Newton Superintendent Anna Nolin, the two parties have been able to find agreement on issues such as a more generous family leave policy, but distrust has negatively affected negotiations. The union has repeatedly argued that city officials budget concerns are false or exaggerated, while city officials have often asserted that meeting the unions demands would force the district to cut jobs.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Newtons city council president pressured the NTA and the school committee to come to an agreement and end the strike.

This is not good for our teachers. This is not good for our staff. This is not good for families. This is not good for community members as a whole, Marc Laredo said. And most importantly ... the people that we care about the most, our children, are suffering because theyre not in school.

Read more: Newton mother files lawsuit asking judge to stop teacher strike

On Monday, a parent of three Newton Public Schools students asked a Middlesex Superior Court judge to take further action to end the strike, arguing that it was interfering with her childrens education and social and emotional well-being.

According to WCVB, a second family filed a motion for further court interference on Tuesday, saying in the lawsuit that their elementary school-aged daughter, who has a learning disability, is missing valuable time with her teachers.

Newtons teachers have been working without a contract since August 2023, even though negotiations began in October 2022. In response to similar circumstances in recent years, teachers unions in Andover, Malden, Brookline, Woburn and Haverhill have organized similar strikes.

Even so, according to The Boston Globe, the NTAs is the longest teacher work stoppage Massachusetts has seen since the 1990s. The school committee said Tuesday night that it would communicate with families soon about how the 21-school, 11,700-student district will make up the lost days.
U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday, January 31, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said.

A warm welcome back to Ukraine, Under Secretary Victoria Nuland. Today we will meet government leaders, veterans, and civil society to underscore our shared commitment to defeating Russian aggression in Ukraine, the ambassador said on X.
SPRINGFIELD  Nearly three years to the day after robbing a Boston Road convenience store at gunpoint, a Springfield man was sentenced to 17 to 23 years in prison, thr Hampden District Attorneys Office announced Tuesday.

On Friday, Warner Donaldson, 50, was found guilty of armed robbery while masked, assault with a dangerous weapon, and larceny under $1,200 for the February 2021 armed robbery.

On Feb. 28, 2021, at 8:46 p.m., Springfield police responded to the 500 block of Boston Road for a report on the robbery. Police learned that Donaldson flashed a gun during the robbery and demanded the cashier give him all the money in the register. No one was injured during the crime.

Warner Donaldson, 50, was sentenced to 17-23 years in prison for committing an armed robbery in 2021.Hampden County District Attorney's Office

Donaldson took off down Boston Road with about $600 in cash. Witnesses described seeing the suspect wearing an all black hoodie, pants, sneakers, along with latex gloves and a mask. Police also obtained surveillance video of the crime, which led to a warrant for Donaldson.

Four hours after the incident, police arrested Donaldson at his familys home on Stuart Street.

Assistant District Attorney Kelsey Baran successfully represented the commonwealth at trial, with the support of Kristin Welch, a victim-witness advocate.
One police officer was accused of closed-fist punching a handcuffed person more than a dozen times, less than six months after he was suspended for striking another person during an arrest.

Another officer, a high-ranking member of his department, is on probation after he was accused of smacking two female coworkers on their behinds during St. Patricks Day festivities.

For both former police officials, their law enforcement careers in Massachusetts are over. A state watchdog on Wednesday said it had decertified a former Weymouth police officer and a former West Springfield police captain, revoking the licenses all police in the Bay State are required to hold.

Justin Chappell, formerly of the Weymouth Police Department, and Brian Pomeroy, formerly of the West Springfield Police, are the 10th and 11th officers decertified by the Massachusetts Peace Office Standards and Training (POST) Commission.

They join a list that includes former police officers found guilty in criminal cases and others accused of a variety of serious but non-criminal infractions. Decertified officers have been convicted of child exploitation, assault and battery, falsifying traffic tickets and other offenses. Other officers were decertified following claims they lied on official reports or marched at a white supremacist rally.

In its order decertifying Chappell, the commission cited a July 2022 incident in which the officer was captured on his body-worn camera striking a person 13 times to the head while their hands were cuffed behind them.

It was not Chappells first time using excessive force against a detainee. The commission also cited a February 2022 episode in which Chappell delivered two closed-fist strikes to the head of a person resisting arrest.

Chappell was suspended for a day and ordered to receive remedial training after the February arrest, the commission said. Five months later, after he again used excessive force against a civilian during the July 2022 incident, Weymouth police officials moved to fire Chappell. He resigned before a scheduled termination hearing.

Weymouth Police Chief Richard Fuller shared the results of an internal investigation with the POST Commission and recommended that Chappell be decertified, according to a 2023 Boston.com report.

Weymouth police did not respond to a request for further comment.

Pomeroy, a 25-year veteran of the West Springfield police force, last April was placed on probation for a pair of indecent assaults on female coworkers at the 2022 Holyoke St. Patricks Day festivities, which typically feature large contingents of first responders from across the region.

Pomeroy was accused of slapping and squeezing their buttocks during the citys famous holiday parade and at a bar afterward, according to past reporting in the Republican/MassLive.

Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band performs at the 70th Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade on Sunday, Mar. 19, 2023. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

Pomeroy was placed on leave two days after the incidents and resigned three months later as his arraignment on charges of indecent assault and battery approached.

Under a deal with Hampden County prosecutors last year, he admitted to sufficient facts, and the case was continued without a finding with an 18-month term of probation. The charges will be dropped if Pomeroy completes probation with good behavior.

The POST Commission is required to decertify any officer found to have committed a felony. Though not a guilty plea, an admission to sufficient fact allows the commission to revoke an officers certification.

In a brief statement, a spokesperson for the West Springfield police said Pomeroy had not been employed there for over a year and a half and declined further comment.

The commission emerged three years ago in the police reform legislation signed by former Gov. Charlie Baker following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

In Chappells case and several others, the commission has used its discretion to decertify an officer for certain egregious misconduct that doesnt result in criminal charges.

State law prevents any decertified officer from being employed by a law enforcement agency in Massachusetts. Following their decertifications, the commission will submit Chappell and Pomeroys names to a national registry of decertified police officers, potentially preventing them from finding police work in other states as well.
State officials have laid out a plan for sheltering the hundreds of migrants who have been sleeping on the floor in Bostons Logan Airport amid an influx of migrants to Massachusetts that is already straining its shelter system.

With nowhere else to go, the migrants  about 80% of whom are from Haiti  have been gathering in Terminal E of the airport, MassLive reported last week. According to GBH, there were hundreds of migrants sleeping in the terminal Monday night.

Read more: Haitian migrants hunker in Boston Logan terminal amidst shelter crisis

On Tuesday, Emergency Assistance Director General Scott Rice said in a statement that, beginning Wednesday, the Cass Recreation Complex in Roxbury will begin serving as a temporary safety-net site for families in need of shelter, including the migrants who have been sleeping at Logan.

According to Gov. Maura Healeys Office, eligible families can stay at the recreation center while they wait for long-term shelter placement. While staying at the center  which can accommodate about 400 people  they will be provided food, security, legal services, medical care and transportation.

The state is in the process of finding other venues to host the recreation centers programs in the hopes of minimizing impacts on the Roxbury community, Rice said. Healeys office said the state plans to stop using the center as a shelter by May 31 so that its pool can be used over the summer like normal.

On Monday, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu told WBUR that the state and city had reached an inflection point in the ongoing migrant crisis over using the Cass complex as a shelter. She called the recreation center beloved and well-used and said its use as a safety-net site would burden a historically marginalized community.

As the Cass complex is owned by the state and not the city, the final decision was left to state officials, and Wu did not have the power to block the outcome. The mayor acknowledged in the interview that, when it comes to the shelter crisis, there are no good options.

Our system is at capacity and there is an urgent need for additional safety-net sites, and we appreciate the collaboration of communities to help us ensure that no family is left out in the cold, Rice said in a statement Monday.

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) said Friday that Logan was seeing more migrants arrive daily, and that they receive services at the states welcome centers during the day. The state has already set up three other safety-net sites in Cambridge, Quincy and Revere, and United Way has temporary shelters in Greater Boston and Central Massachusetts as well, according to Healeys office.

The states shelter system is currently housing more families than it is supposed to under the cap of 7,500 that Healey set last year, but only by a small margin. According to state data, as of Jan. 19, 7,505 families were enrolled in the Commonwealth Shelter System, and 14 new families had been enrolled in the last 24 hours.
Four men, including two members of the Massachusetts State Police, were released from federal custody Tuesday after pleading not guilty to charges of running a bribery scheme in which the state troopers are accused of exchanging commercial drivers licenses for goods and services worth thousands of dollars.

State Police Sgt. Gary Cederquist, 58, of Stoughton, and Trooper Joel Rogers, 54, of Bridgewater, were arrested Tuesday morning and appeared in court hours after federal prosecutors unsealed a 74-page indictment that they said detailed a four-year scheme that saw two dozen drivers receive commercial licenses through preferential treatment.
Lawmakers in more than a half-dozen U.S. states are pushing laws to define antisemitism, triggering debates about free speech and bringing complicated world politics into statehouses.

Supporters say its increasingly important to add a definition that lays out how to determine whether some criticism of Israel also amounts to hatred of Jewish people. In so doing, lawmakers cited the Oct. 7 attacks in which Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 hostages back to Gaza, which sparked a war that has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians.

For anybody that didnt think that anti-Zionism could cross into antisemitism, the rest of the world could see that it had, said Democratic Rep. Esther Panitch, the only Jewish member of Georgias Legislature and one of the sponsors of a bill that the state Legislature passed last week. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to sign.

Defined in 2016 by the the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

But Kenneth Stern, the author of IHRAs definition, said using such language in law is problematic.

Theres an increasingly large number of young Jews for whom their Judaism leads to an antizionist position, said Stern, director of the Bard Center for the Study of Hate. I dont want the state to decide that issue.

Over the past three months, there has been a rise in protests around the country calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages. A coalition of organizations, including Jewish Voice for Peace and CAIR, issued a joint statement saying that the Georgia bill falsely equates critiques of Israel and Zionism with discrimination against Jewish people.

Measures using the same definition of antisemitism  but in anti-discrimination laws  have advanced in legislative chambers in Indiana and South Dakota. A report from the Anti-Defamation League last year found major increases in antisemitic incidents in Georgia and Indiana, but not in South Dakota, where fewer than 10 a year were recently reported.

Read more: Fired Amherst teacher thinks she was caught up in overreaction to district controversy

Other legislation with the definition is pending in at least five other states this year.

Bill supporters say that more than 30 states have adopted the definition in some way over the years. Before now, the legal definitions  including in New York, the state with the largest Jewish population  came primarily through resolutions or executive orders rather than forceful laws.

In other parts of the country, Iowa incorporated the definition into law in 2022 and Virginia did the same last year, among others.

Lawmakers say their bills are in response to the Oct. 7 attacks, though before that, the problem of antisemitism has been on the rise in the U.S. and globally. Since the Israel-Hamas war erupted, several states have passed resolutions condemning Hamas and voicing support for Israel.

Thousands of entities around the world, including the U.S. State Department, major companies and colleges, have officially recognized the definition, with groups including the American Jewish Committee supporting it.

Read more: Harvard faces backlash for choice in antisemitism task force leader

However the U.S. Congress and American Bar Association have declined to do so. Among those urging lawmakers to vote no are chapters of the ACLU.

There is fundamental First Amendment harm whenever the state tries to silence pure speech on the basis of its viewpoint, said said Brian Hauss, an ACLU lawyer.

Backers of the laws emphasize that theyre not trying to ban speech but rather decipher between actions that amount to discrimination or hate crimes, which carry different degrees of severity.

This bill is entirely about conduct  adverse or unequal treatment thats prohibited in state law, said South Dakota state Rep. Fred Deutsch, a Republican whose father was a Holocaust survivor. This bill doesnt limit a person or organizations freedom of speech or expression. This week the chamber passed a measure by a 53-14 vote.

Lara Friedman, president of Foundation for Middle East Peace, said the laws could elevate charges, such as those against a protester for property destruction to the level of a hate crime if the perpetrator is seen with a Palestinian flag.

Georgia State Rep. Ruwa Romman, a Democrat of Palestinian descent, said that the definition, when adopted by colleges, has stifled students right to free speech.

When they attempted to host a Palestinian poet or Palestinian culture night, the administration has preemptively canceled the events for fears of being antisemitic, she said.

Some protesters gathered in the capitol in Indiana this month before the House unanimously advanced a bill incorporating the definition there.

I dont need to feel like as a student Im going to be either censored or attacked or harassed, said Yaqoub Saadeh, president of the Middle Eastern Student Association at Indiana University  Purdue University Indianapolis.

How colleges are acting to prevent or stop antisemitism on campus has become a hot-button issue across the country. Last year, fallout from campus presidents testimony before Congress led to the resignation of presidents at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania.
After nearly two years, Vermont State Police have made their first arrests in connection with the death of a Springfield, Massachusetts, 17-year-old whose body was found in Danby in 2022 after he was shot and killed.

On Monday, state troopers arrested Bennington residents Ashley Wicks, 32, and Shawn Bulson, 28, on charges of accessory after the fact of a fatal shooting in connection with the death of Isaiah Rodriguez, police said in a press release. Wicks was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Read more: Springfield teen found shot to death in Vermont

Rodriguezs body was found on Danby Mountain Road the morning of Feb. 3, 2022. Soon after, police said that the Chief Medical Examiners Office had determined that Rodriguez had died from being shot in the torso, and that his manner of death was homicide.

Police said Tuesday that they now believe a dispute among a group people about drug trafficking and stolen guns led to Rodriguezs death. Police previously determined that he must have been killed between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m. the night before his body was found.

Read more: Springfield man sentenced to prison for 2021 armed robbery at convenience store

No further information about Rodriguezs killing has been released. It is unclear if more people will be charged in connection with his death.
Nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester have filed official complaints with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and other state agencies over dangerous conditions they say are jeopardizing patient safety, the states largest nurses union announced Tuesday.

The complaints are based on over 500 reports made by nurses over the last six months that detail issues such as staffing deficiencies and poor allocation of technology, the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), which represents the nurses, said in a press release.

The reports  over 100 of which were filed in January 2024  also describe a deliberately punitive management culture that is causing delays in delivering patients medications and treatments, preventable patient falls and even preventable patient deaths, according to the MNA.

By allowing these problems to persist, the union claims, Tenet Healthcare  the Dallas-based health care company which runs Saint Vincent  has violated state patient care standards.

We are sickened to report, but find ourselves duty bound to do so, that the conditions documented in these complaints raise serious concerns about the safety of patient care at our hospital, Marlena Pellegrino, a nurse at the hospital and an MNA representative, said in the release. As these complaints show, our administration has created an environment that too often violates the dignity of our patients and compromises our ability to meet accepted standards of patient care.

Tenet Healthcare did not respond to a request for comment on the unions allegations.

How the hospital got to this point

Nurses have been concerned about conditions at Saint Vincent for years, the MNA said. But the situation became worse over the past year after a new chief nursing officer implemented a concerted campaign to cut staffing levels and increase nurses patient loads in blatant violation of the nurses union contract.

Notably, the contract ended a 10-month-long nurses strike orchestrated by the MNA that ended in early 2022.

According to the MNA, the hospitals emergency department is the nurses greatest concern. Despite the new contract requiring that at least 12 nurses to be on duty at all times, the hospital cut over half the departments nursing staff, often leaving just four or five nurses on a night shift to handle a busy, urban emergency department, the union said.

Nurses in the department are often responsible for as many as 15 patients at a time, even when patients are critically ill, need constant monitoring or have behavioral problems, the union said. Additionally, the MNA claims, there is often no nurse available to triage patients.

How patient care has been affected

The MNA provided several examples of the impacts that understaffing has had on patients. In one example, a patient who needed heart monitoring was admitted to Saint Vincent even though the hospital didnt have any monitors available.

The resolution presented by hospital administrators was hoping that patients would be discharged so that the new patient could be given a monitor, the union said. In the meantime, the admitting doctor was told to cancel the order for the monitor.

In another example from the MNA, an ICU nurse was assigned a new patient even though she was currently holding pressure on another patients bleeding artery.

In many of the reports, nurses said they were so busy that bed alarms and call bells went unanswered, the MNA said. This resulted in patients not receiving their medications on time, going unwashed and becoming at risk of getting bed sores.

Numerous nurses reported patients left to lie in their own urine and feces for extended periods of time, the MNA wrote.

Hospital leaders response to concerns

The MNA claims hospital administrators have also failed to adequately respond to nurses safety concerns. According to the union, Saint Vincent currently has more than 250 open nurse positions.

While nurses struggle every day to keep their patients safe, Tenet management refuses to engage in any meaningful effort to recruit and retain needed nursing staff, the MNA wrote. Nurses who are recruited to the facility, particularly newly graduated nurses, end up leaving their positions, many before they even finish their orientation.

Read more: Mailbox blasts in four Massachusetts towns lead to charges for Worcester County pair

Additionally, the MNA said, nurses who raise concerns have been met with retaliation and have had their union rights violated. The union claims that three such nurses were fired and six others were put on leave without pay this month. As such, the MNA has also filed an unfair labor practice charge against Tenet and is asking that the nurses be reinstated.

The MNA is set to hold a rally outside its Worcester office on Wednesday during which it will provide further details and updates on the situation at Saint Vincent.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has joined with colleagues in nearly two dozen other states to urge the U.S. Supreme Court to protect access to a commonly used drug that assists in abortions and helps to manage miscarriages.

The nations highest court is set to hear oral arguments next month in the case, which centers on when and how patients can access mifepristone, a pharmaceutical the U.S. Food and Drug Administration originally approved more than two decades ago, States Newsroom reported.

Mifepristone has been used safely for more than two decades and is the gold standard in medication abortion, Healey said in a statement. We have taken steps to ensure it remains safe, legal and available in Massachusetts, but it is essential that the Supreme Court rejects this attack on womens health and freedom.

Mifepristone is currently approved for use up to 10 weeks gestation and accounts for more than half of abortions in the United States when used in combination with a second pharmaceutical called misoprostol, States Newsroom reported.

The Democratic governors action comes as part of an amicus brief filed Tuesday by the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, an interstate coalition of governors formed in 2023 to protect abortion access.

In their brief, the governors argue, among other things that they rely on the expertise of FDA to determine the safety and effectiveness of drugs and medical devices, including particular indications and conditions for use.

 ... Nothing about this framework contemplates a single out-of-state litigant who morally disapproves of a particular drug using out-of-state federal courts to invalidate FDAs expert judgment nationwide, the brief continued. This strategy, if successful, would have an enormously disruptive impact on state governance and hamstring Governors ability to fulfill their mandate of protecting public health and safetyin the reproductive healthcare context and beyond.

Last April, a federal judge in Texas stayed the FDAs original approval of mifepristone. That ruling was stayed pending an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. In May 2023, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in the case, ruling in August that the medication could stay on the market. That ruling also was put on hold, pending the high courts action.

In the wake of that April lower court action, and just months after taking office, Healeys administration asked the University of Massachusetts and health care providers to stockpile doses of mifepristone. The administration also issued an executive order confirming protections for medication abortion under existing state law.

Those actions protects patients and providers from liability. In Massachusetts, Healey said in a statement issued at the time. We stand for civil rights and freedom. We will always protect access to reproductive health care, including medication abortion.
U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss had a testy exchange on Capitol Hill on Tuesday with a former senior Trump administration official who once described the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol as a peaceful transition of power.

When the United States degrades its own democracy on the world stage for people all over to witness, it undermines our ability to lead and the power of our example, Auchincloss, D-4th District, rebuked former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who had previously questioned the legitimacy of President Joe Bidens 2020 election win.

The exchange between Auchincloss and Pompeo came during Tuesdays meeting of the Houses Select Committee on China, where the panel focused on the threat that authoritarian regimes, such as China, pose to global security and stability.

Pompeo, who served as the nations top diplomat from 2018 to 2021, after a year helming the Central Intelligence Agency, was joined at that hearing by former Obama administration Defense Secretary and CIA boss Leon Panetta.

According to a transcript provided by Auchincloss office, Pompeo told lawmakers that a degradation of decency and respect for institutions was a troubling sign for the nations future.

That prompted Auchincloss, a former Marine, to observe that it was a worthy message undercut by the record of its messenger.

On Tuesday, Auchincloss told Pompeo that the events of Jan. 6 were Chinese leader Xi Jinpings best day in office.

In early 2023, as he promoted his memoir, Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love, Pompeo told SkyNews that the Trump White House delivered a peaceful transition on January 6, 2021, exactly as our Constitution requires, according to NBC News.

On that day, hundreds of supporters of former President Donald Trump descended on the Capitol as Congress met to certify the election results, breaking into the building, vandalizing congressional offices, and doing battle with law enforcement.

The violence eventually claimed the lives of 10 people, four on the day, and six more later, according to published reports. Hundreds more were injured.

Some 1,265 people eventually were charged in connection with the violence that day, resulting in 718 people pleading guilty, according to U.S. Justice Department data.

Auchincloss continued by asking Pompeo what kind of example are we setting when former administrations take the side of dictators? What kind of example are we setting when your former boss, the likely presidential nominee of your party, is promising to be a dictator?

In a Fox News town hall in Iowa last year, Trump asserted that he would not be a dictator if he wins the GOP nomination and beats Biden in a November general election match-up except for day one, the Guardian and other news outlets reported at the time.

Speaking to Pompeo, Auchincloss repeated the contention held by Democrats, and some Republicans, that global strongmen such as Chinas Xi, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Russian President Vladimir Putin would have an ally in Trump were he to regain power.

However, the Massachusetts Democrat said he and Pompeo agreed on one thing: Our democracy is stronger when we invest in and celebrate our free society.

The nation has the tools to outcompete autocracies at home and abroad  but its not just, as you say, a strong military and a strong economy, as you write, Mr. Pompeo  it is also a strong democracy, Auchincloss observed.

Turning to Panetta, Auchincloss credited the former Obama-era official with [making] this clear in your remarks: The greatest threat to national security is if we fail to govern our democracy. I agree with you. But, Mr. Pompeo, this cannot happen if we defy reality and rewrite history for political expediency.

Auchincloss wrapped up his remarks with a challenge to Pompeo: On behalf of your call for respect for vital institutions, will you here attest, now that you are under oath, that Joe Biden was duly elected in a free & fair election?

Pompeos response was omitted in a statement sent out by Auchincloss office. But in a video, the Kansan can be seen taking to his microphone to answer.

Well so much for bipartisanship on this committee. Well done, sir. You have destroyed that, he said.

Pressed again on whether Bidens election was free and fair, Pompeo responded, Of course President Biden is the duly elected president of the United States.

After a bit more back and forth, Auchincloss said with the witness unwilling to respond to the question I am going to assume that his answer is no.

He then posed the same question to Panetta, asking him if a Republican were to win in November, would you recognize that individual as the duly elected president of the United States?

Of course, Panetta responded.

Of course is the right answer, Auchincloss said.
Three Massachusetts airports are among the airports in 37 states that will share in nearly $246 million in funding from the federal infrastructure law to make a raft of safety and operational improvements, federal officials said Tuesday.

The Mansfield Municipal Airport, the Westfield Barnes Regional airport, and Pittsfield Municipal airport, will respectively receive $254,880, $531,000, and $603,000 in federal assistance, according to a summary released by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation.

The 153 grants nationwide, totaling $245.9 million, announced Tuesday will be doled out through the federal agencys 2024 Airport Infrastructure Grant program, the administration said.

We saw a record number of passengers fly during the recent holiday season, and we can expect increased demand for air travel to continue U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in the agencys statement.

The infusion of federal cash will [make] it possible to modernize our countrys aging airport infrastructure to meet this demand today and ensure safe, efficient travel into the future, Buttigieg continued.

Over the last 10 years, inconsistencies in federal have " delayed the ability to modernize technology and infrastructure that support the airspace, the agency said in its statement. The grants will [help to]reverse that trend to ensure that American air travel remains the safest and most efficient in the world, officials added.

With an average age of 40 years, American airports are ill-equipped to handle an ever-increasing number of travelers, according to a 2019 briefing paper by KONE U.S., an Illinois-based manufacturer.

Collectively, these grants help airports across the nation make timely improvements to key critical infrastructure which ensures passengers have a safe, efficient and enjoyable experience as they travel, Shannetta R. Griffin, the Federal Aviation Administrations associate administrator for airports, said in a statement.
The National Police of Ukraine notified almost 2,500 occupiers of suspicion, 22 Russian servicemen were convicted of shelling humanitarian and evacuation convoys, rape, and other war crimes, said Maksym Tsutskiridze, First Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine, Head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine.

"We recognize that the military aggressor is strong, and most of the war criminals are either in the occupied territory of Ukraine or in the Russian Federation. But still, we solve crimes and today we already have 2,400 suspicions," said Head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

According to him, in the vast majority of cases its about in absentia procedure of bringing to justice. ""At the same time, we have personal suspicions. Twenty-two Russian servicemen have been convicted," Tsutskiridze said.

He added that Andrei Medvedev and Nikolai Kartashov are among media-famous occupiers imprisoned in jail in Ukraine. Judicial investigation is being conducted against them.
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Did you send a sexy photo to your beau before going to bed last night? Under a proposed Oklahoma law regulating sexual material, exchanging sexual images would be a crime unless youre married.

Oklahoma Senate Bill 1976 filed by freshman Oklahoma state legislator Sen. Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin), would prohibit consuming or producing sexual content that lacks serious literary, artistic, educational, political, or scientific purposes or value in any medium.

This bill is one of a growing number of bills filed in the last few years that target access to sexually explicit material. While Oklahoma is one of a number of states to file bills related to the regulation of pornography, the Oklahoma bill has been called one of the most extreme porn ban bills filed in the 2024 legislative session and a threat to the First Amendment by net neutrality activists.

Bills like these are often filed with the intention of protecting children from being exposed to pornography, but the reality is that such regulations effectiveness in achieving this is dubious, explained Kelsy Burke, a sociology professor at the University of Nebraska and author of The Pornography Wars.

Creating laws to try to right our sexual wrongs or return to a more innocent time before sexual images were saved for marriage just isnt practical, said Lisa Lindquist-Dorr, professor of history who teaches on the history of sexuality at the University of Alabama.

Heres how the Oklahoma bill could change the legality of pornography consumption:

1. Steeper legal consequences for child pornography

Child pornography is illegal in every state, but the bill would create steeper legal consequences for possessing, distributing or producing child pornography, which is any content that depicts a minor engaged in sexual activity or images of a minor intended for sexual gratification, as Oklahoma defines it.

For possession of a single image of child pornography, a person is subject to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 per image, with each image counting as a separate offense, according to current Oklahoma law.

The new bill would make it a crime to possess any pornography, whether or a child or adult, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.

2. No sexting outside of marriage

This proposed bill comes with a very important caveat: if youre married to the person you have sexual images of, its not a crime. The only exception the bill makes for possession or production of pornography is for sexual content exchanged between married couples. Otherwise, its a felony.

The bill would change a lot of things about states obscenity laws, but the ban on sexting outside of marriage has been the topic of many internet forum conversations, like this post in the r/politics subreddit, where members discuss political election and legislative news, last week.

Commenters on the post were quick to point out the author of the bill was a pastor, and some even placed bets on if Deevers would be caught breaking the law he wrote. Deevers is Baptist pastor who was elected last year to represent a rural district that includes the tiny cities of Comanche (population under 1,400) and Elgin (about 3,700).

The dipshit doth protest too much, methinks. Always assume this is projection. I wonder how long until hes caught sexting and looking at porn, said commenter u/RubyRhod2263, in the top comment on the post.

Another commenter, u/seizurevictim, bet $100 that Deezer has a porn addiction. Other commenters made sure to reference reality TV star turned political operative Josh Duggar, who is serving a 12-year sentence for possession of child pornography. Duggar is the first son of the reality TV family thats the focus of TLCs Counting On, which the network canceled in 2021 because of the child porn case. The family followed conservative Christian beliefs, including not using birth control and requiring their children to court instead of date.

It is not uncommon for consensual adults, sometimes younger than adults, to share images of themselves with someone that theyre sexually intimate with, regardless of whether they are in a state sanctioned relationship. It seems out of step plus some to make it a felony, Lindquist-Dorr said.

3. Criminalizing the production of sexual images  even normal porn

While the bill lays out extensive rules about sexual material, even any act of sexual intercourse considered normal or perverted. The bill doesnt define the difference between normal and perverted, casting a wide net over the types of content that will be further controlled by the bill, if it becomes law.

The Oklahoma bill also allows private citizens to fill a civil lawsuit against any person who participates in the production of pornography. The plaintiff would be able to receive statutory damages at the rate $10,000 per pornographic image, according to the bill.

I see these laws as part of a broader string of laws and resolutions  like resolutions declaring pornography to b e a public health crisis  that are more about value-signaling than actually making concrete and realistic gains to protect children and/or sex workers from exposure to sexual violence. They signal only a long-held disdain for the sex industry, Burke said in a statement to Reckon.

But wait! Theres more porn bans on the horizon

Oklahoma isnt the only state taking on pornography this legislative session. Other lawmakers are pushing for bans on AI-generated child pornography and age verification requirements for access to online sexual material.

Lawmakers that are promoting age-verification laws as the solution to the problem are short-sighted in that they havent really outlined how compliance is possible without violating other laws that protect peoples privacy online, Burke explained.

Some critics of age-verification laws say that they may have the unintended consequence of pushing children and teens to sites that lack other safety mechanisms in place, she said.

Read more about porn in the news:
SOUTHWICK - The Southwick Regional High School wrestling team added an exclamation point to the end of their dual meet portion of their 2023-24 regular season schedule.

Southwick slipped past Chicopees co-operative wrestling program, 42-36, in a closely-contested meet Tuesday night at home. The Rams landed four pins.
Absa Group announced its physical expansion into the Peoples Republic of China with the opening of a new non-banking subsidiary in Beijing.

The non-banking subsidiary is now open, with the official launch event in Beijing, scheduled for the 8 May 2024.

At a ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa today, attended by Enoch Godongwana, the Minister of Finance of South Africa and Chen Xiaodong, the Chinese Ambassador to South Africa  Absa Group showcased the continued growth of its international footprint alongside its commitment to fostering new opportunities between Africa and China.

The new office will enable Absa Group to offer local support to Chinese clients and stakeholders to conclude transactions across the African continent, helping to support clients needs, goals, and ambitions. This is part of a wider commitment from Absa to expand its operations with international representative offices in strategic markets and offer deep expertise in African markets to its overseas clients.

Were thrilled to add our office in China to our global footprint, commented Arrie Rautenbach, Group CEO of Absa Group.

Todays announcement reinforces our ambition to grow our international strategy  particularly as China is such a strategically important market for Africa. Our expansion into this dynamic market represents an exciting opportunity to unlock new avenues of growth and prosperity for Africa and China.

The China-Africa investment relationship has flourished over the past few decades, with China emerging as the continents largest bilateral trade partner. This has been fuelled by Chinese investment in Africas vast natural resources and infrastructure projects, creating huge commercial opportunities for both regions.
Deputy Michael Ring is calling for a review of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990, saying that strengthened laws are required for Gardai to combat knife crime and keep our streets safe.

Knife crime is on the rise in Ireland. Figures show that between 2016 and 2022, a shocking 13,138 knives were seized by Gardai said Mr Ring.

Too much knife crime is being committed in Ireland and we have to deal with it. We owe it to the victims, their families and to the gardai to create the robust legislation needed to crack down on these harmful weapons and those who use them maliciously, he continued.

Deputy Ring acknowledged the hard work of the Justice Minister Helen McEntee on this serious matter and said: The Anti-Social Behaviour Forum (a Programme for Government commitment) and the knife crime subcommittee have made considerable progress in examining the various approaches which can deal with these issues at source

Currently, someone found in unlawful possession of a knife in a public place can be fined and receive a prison sentence of 12 months. Deputy Ring said we need to have stronger laws as soon as possible. He shared that Minister McEntee informed him that the knife crime sub-group met last month to outline new proposals including the increase of penalties for more serious knife-crime offences.

He said: When knife crime does occur, we need to ensure Gardai are supported in their efforts to tackle these kinds of offences. Its time to make the necessary changes to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 so that anyone caught carrying a knife or using a knife to inflict harm on another faces the full extent of the law

Rigorous legislation combined with the preventive measures already in motion would create a substantial and effective deterrent. concluded Deputy Ring.
CLAREMORRIS Musical Society is putting the finishing touches to their rehearsals for their presentation of the Broadway and West End hit musical comedy, Young Frankenstein, which they will stage over five nights in Claremorris Town Hall Theatre from Wednesday, January 31, to Sunday, February 4, at 8pm nightly.

This is the seventeenth production by the highly acclaimed CMS and is the follow-up to last years delightful production of the Dolly Parton classic 9 to 5 that went down a storm with the audiences.

CMS has garnered various awards at countrywide level over the years at the Associations of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) annual ceremonies and they are blessed with a talented and experienced production team that features Donna Ruane as director, Deirdre Lee as musical director and Claudia OSullivan as choreographer. They have a great rapport with the cast and always manage to get the very best from the enthusiastic players.

New members

THIS year has seen CMS welcome some new members on board and they will play an active role in the new production.

The principal roles this year will be performed by David Alexander (Frederick Frankenstein), Mervyn Fahy (Igor) Nicole Scott (Inga), Vivienne Lee (Frau Blucher), Mary Dempsey (Elizabeth), Ger Scott (Inspector Kemp), Enda Mulchrone (The Monster) and Ronan Egan (Harold the Hermit), all of whom have a wealth of stage experience.

This musical was written by Mel Brooks (who received three Academy nominations for his hysterical Blazing Saddles movie in 1974) and features his hilarious take on the classic monster tale adventure in Transylvania.

Young Frankenstein follows the story of brilliant brain surgeon Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of Dr Victor Frankenstein. When Frederick inherits his grandfathers castle in Transylvania, he becomes drawn into the world of mad science and reanimation.

Claremorris Musical Society extends grateful thanks to the local shops, clubs and businesses that have sponsored and supported this production and others over the years. The committee features June Allison-Keane (chairperson), Sophia Sheridan (treasurer), Vivienne Lee (PRO), Rebecca Moriarty (secretary), David Alexander and Dee Hosty.

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Tickets are 18.50 (opening night) and 22.50 for all other nights are available online at www.townhall.ie or by calling the Town Hall Theatre Box Office on 094 9310999.
A CALL for all meetings of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District to take place in Westport was met with a fierce backlash from the three Belmullet-based councillors.

The monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District which took place in Belmullet heard claims that holding in Belmullet was no longer sustainable due to the travel involved and that it did not have facilities to hold online meetings.

An arrangement has been in place to alternate the monthly meetings between Westport and Belmullet but the four members of the Westport Electoral Area all agreed that the majority of monthly meetings should now be held in Westport.

This was strongly opposed by the three Belmullet Electoral Area members who were informed that a motion was passed in their absence to hold municipal district meetings in a venue which can cater for online participation. This motion was passed at the special meeting on January 19 to discuss the Westport Local Area Plan which was not attended by the three Belmullet members.

Not Sustainable

Westport councillor Peter Flynn who made the proposal at the special meeting raised it at Monday's monthly meeting in Belmullet and said the motion should be adhered to.

I have no problem coming to Belmullet every now and again but if you look around the room at least 80 percent are after travelling over an hour to get here. In terms of sustainability alone it is crazy that we are having this many meetings in Belmullet itself.

We need a venue where we are supposed to have online facilities available to us. If the offices in Westport did not have facilities then the Leeson [Enterprise] Centre [in Westport] does and we have the option of using Castlebar MD office or the Aras [council chamber in Castlebar]. We agreed to the motion which was passed unanimously and we need to adhere to it, he said.

The suggestion lit the fuse among the Belmullet Electoral Area members who said this was another example of taking all services away from rural areas and into urban centres.

We are talking about sustainability and rural Ireland but this is another one to take out of the rural areas and bring into the urban towns, said Achill-based councillor Paul McNamara.

Myself and Cllr [Sean] Carey and Cllr [Gerry] Coyle all have to travel an hour every second month when the meeting is in Westport. So if we take the municipal meeting out of our electoral area in Belmullet, it is not a good sign for the people who have elected us and also for rural Ireland itself.

It is very important that we carry one as we have and we go out into the rural areas where it was proposed to have the municipal district meeting, he said.

The Westport/Belmullet Municipal District comprises the four councillors from the Westport Electoral Area and three from the Belmullet Electoral Area.

Cllr McNamara was supported by Erris-based councillor Gerry Coyle who said he was shocked by the suggestion to move meetings from Westport and he will not be agreeing to it.

We went to Carrowtighe [for a monthly meeting] and they were delighted to see us there and that the council were shown that there are people living there. I will not be agreeing to go to Castlebar or Westport for every meeting just because facilities are in that area. There should be meetings all over the area not just Westport, he said.

Time Change

There was further acrimony between the two electoral areas when a proposal by Cllr Brendan Mulroy to change the time of monthly meetings from 2pm to 10am was strongly opposed by the three Belmullet members.

Cllr Mulroy said that the time change was to allow councillors to canvass ahead of the local elections in June and was supported by all the Westport members.

In opposing the proposal, the three Belmullet members said that they had all agreed a time for the monthly meetings at the start of the council term and they cannot change the standing orders with just four meetings left.

The meetings have been working perfectly for the last ten years since I was elected and why change now is beyond me, said Cllr McNamara.

Cllr Mulroy accused the Belmullet councillors of opposing the time change just to be argumentative.

Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District, Cllr Sean Carey who is based in Belmullet, came under pressure to take a vote on the time change but resisted saying that they had no prior knowledge of the proposal and needed time to think about it.

Cllr Mulroy accused his Fianna Fail party colleague of refusing to take a vote but Cllr Carey did not accept this was the case.

The division between the two electoral areas led to a plea from Padraig Walsh, the manager of the municipal district, to consider a compromise as it was 'regrettable' that things were becoming divisive.

It is regrettable that it is going to be divisive and I would fear for this body doing its work efficiently because this will be divisive.

If there is a proposal to go to morning meetings full time you do need to amend standing orders as well. I would appeal to the members to find a middle ground to suit everyone and not to be divisive because it will not help the efficient working of the municipal district, he said.

Cllr Flynn said that standing orders state that meetings of the municipal district should take place in the Civic Offices in Westport and having meetings in Belmullet every second month was in breach of them.

As a compromise, Mr Walsh suggested that the next monthly meeting take place at 10am and the matter can be revisited.

It was agreed to have the next meeting at 10am but Cllr Mulroy said he wanted the proposal to change the remaining meetings to 10am to be placed on the agenda.

The discussion on the venue of the meeting and the change of time lasted for close to an hour which prompted Cllr Coyle to comment that it was fortunate it was not online for people to see.
Deputy Alan Dillon has said a community near Balla are fearful and apprehensive about plans to accommodate a large forestry plantation in their area.

Residents of Craggagh have recently spoken out against plans for a French investment company to plant a new 15 hectare sitka spruce forest in the area.

The community is concerned about the impact of the trees on local waterways, their homes, particularly the decrease in their value and the risk of forest fires.

Deputy Dillon shared the concerns of the community to the Dail saying he wants to lend his voice as their local representative about the ability of a small community like Craggagh, to accommodate large forestry plantations.

Especially when an area already hosts many similar plantations that have been met with significant opposition. Nearly 300 people have already signed a petition objecting to this forest proposition. Residents feel excluded from the decision making process as the department, not the council, hold full authority over this type of forest planting, he added.

In the Dail last night (Tuesday), Deputy Dillon urged Minister Neale Richmond - who spoke on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Pippa Hackett - to outline these concerns to Minister Hackett and her officials.

The resources of Mayo should not be exploited by a foreign based company, and local residents deserve better than having their home surrounded by 30- 40-foot trees, said Deputy Dillon.

Speaking on behalf of Minister Hackett, Minister of the Department of Enterprise, Neale Richmond, said while he was not in a position to comment on individual applications for which the licence approval is ongoing.

However, he assured Deputy Dillon that there is a robust, comprehensive, assessment, and a public consultation process in place to ensure all relative information is taken into account before permission to plant forest is granted.

Minister Richmond brought attention to the 1.3 billion budget behind this forestry programme, to which Deputy Dillon responded: While I welcome the terms of [the] forestry programme and strategy, the Government must be aware that there can be an excess of good things in our rural areas.

The Fine Gael TD said he is concerned that the amount of forestry in the small community is not being factored in and the Government needs to ensure that this is within the recommended national average.

I think farmers are at the centre of this new strategy in terms of their commitment to plant trees and not just these foreign investor pension funds who are buying up large sways of land to make a quick buck at the behest of the local community continued Deputy Dillon.

Minister Richmond reiterated that the Government takes matters like this very seriously and agreed with Deputy Dillon on the need to encourage farmers to enter this process.

Minister Richmond explained the benefits he has seen in his own local area regarding the planting of trees, saying there were benefits in terms of tourism, farming, wood production and sheer beauty.

However, he acknowledged that planting must be done in consultation with the local community whether that's Tiknock or Craggagh.

Deputy Dillon concluded saying that a balance needs to be struck that respects the needs of the community and also our environmental commitments.
The National Police of Ukraine recorded 88 detention centers for Ukrainians set up by the occupation forces: 57 of them were discovered after de-occupation, and 31 torture rooms are currently located in the occupied territories of Ukraine, First Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine Maksym Tsutskiridze, who is also the Head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police, has said.

"As for torture rooms, in the cases under investigation, 88 places of detention were recorded, including 57 ones [that were revealed and recorded] after entering the de-occupied territories. As a rule, these were basements, temporary detention facilities, pre-trial detention centers," he said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency.

According to the official, another 31 detention facilities are now operating in the occupied territories.

"We document them and understand who exactly is involved in these crimes. Some of the occupiers have already been notified of suspicion," Tsutskiridze said.

Places of illegal detention of Ukrainians have also been established on the territory of Russia, and investigations into these cases are being conducted jointly with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), he said.

The National Police official also noted that it is difficult to say exactly how many Ukrainians suffered from torture and inhuman treatment.

"We talked about 6,800 our missing citizens. So, these are Ukrainian civilians who might be in prisons of the Russian Federation or in another territory. It is possible that the occupiers captured civilians with the aim of using them further in prisoner swaps, perhaps they covered themselves with a [live] shield when retreated," he said.
The leaders of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) and their colleagues from the UK discussed the continuation of humanitarian assistance to victims of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation.

"Today, the Ukrainian Red Cross hosted a delegation of colleagues from the UK  During the meeting, issues of current cooperation and plans for the long term were discussed. As well as a vision of the situation for further humanitarian activities and assistance to Ukrainians," the URCS said on Facebook on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by URCS President Mykola Polischuk, Director General of the National Committee of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society Maksym Dotsenko, newly elected Chief Executive Officer of the British Red Cross Beatrice Butsana-Sita and Executive Director for International Relations Richard Blewitt.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 30, 2024

A federal judge has again sided against Meta Platforms in a privacy battle centered on allegations that it tracked Facebook users' visits to websites operated by health care providers.

In a ruling issued Monday, U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick in the Northern District of California essentially found that the allegations, if proven true, could support a claim that Meta violated California privacy standards and also wrongly interfered with users' devices. Orrick previously ruled that the allegations could support claims that Meta violated federal and state wiretap laws.

The decision comes in a battle dating to May 2022, when several Facebook users alleged in a class-action complaint that Meta tracks their visits to hospital and health-care websites via the Meta Pixel -- analytics code that transmits information about website visitors.

The patients, who are proceeding anonymously, sued soon after The Markup reported that 33 of the country's top 100 hospitals have the Meta Pixel on their sites.

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Meta urged Orrick to dismiss the lawsuit at an early stage in the proceedings, arguing that the Meta Pixel isn't in itself illegal. The company also said it didn't intentionally receive sensitive health data, arguing it instructs outside web developers who install the tracking code to avoid sending health information, and that it attempts to filter out sensitive data.

In September, Orrick dismissed several claims in the complaint, including that Meta interfered with users' devices and that it engaged in intrusion upon seclusion -- a broad California concept that allows people to sue for highly offensive privacy violations. At the time, he allowed the users to beef up those claims and refile them.

The users did so in October, when they specified their medical conditions in an amended complaint. (The conditions themselves have been blacked out of the publicly available version of the amended complaint.)

Orrick said in his new ruling that the additional information is detailed enough for the users to move forward with their intrusion upon seclusion claim.

For the most part, plaintiffs identify the health conditions for which they sought treatment or services, as well as examples of their queries, appointment requests, or other information and services about which they communicated with their providers, Orrick wrote.

The allegations suffice at this juncture because they identify generally the types of sensitive information plaintiffs shared with their healthcare providers that was plausibly collected by Meta, he added.

Orrick also allowed the users to proceed with a claim that Meta violated the California Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act, writing that the amended complaint included allegations that Meta stored information on users' devices without authorization, causing them to slow down, and that Meta profited from the data.

Plaintiffs revised allegations identifying the measureable impact on their devices is sufficient at this juncture, he wrote.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 30, 2024

The tech industry is pressing a federal judge to block an Ohio law that would force some large tech platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube, to ban minors under 16, without parental consent.

U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley in the Southern District of Ohio previously issued an emergency order barring enforcement of the law until at least February 8.

The industry group NetChoice, which is suing to invalidate the law on First Amendment grounds, is now asking Marbley to extend that ban while the case proceeds.

The Ohio Parental Notification By Social Media Operators Act, which was originally slated to take effect in early January, prohibits some but not all sites with social functionality from allowing minors to create accounts or access content, without parental permission. The law generally applies to sites that have social features (such as allowing users to create profiles and interact) and are likely to be accessed by minors under 16, but excludes ecommerce sites that allow people to post reviews, and established and widely recognized media outlets that report news.

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When Marbley issued a temporary restraining restraining order, he called the law troublingly vague, and said its prohibitions weren't tailored to the goal of protecting minors from social media's potential harms.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recently asked Marbley to lift the block, arguing that the law doesn't regulate speech but instead restricts contracts -- meaning minors' ability to agree to terms of service, register with online services and create usernames.

The states purpose -- to prohibit covered operators from contracting with minors -- is content neutral, Yost's office wrote in papers filed earlier this month.

His office added that parental consent is traditionally required before minors can engage in activities that, by their nature, pose health and privacy risks -- such as getting tattoos or using tanning beds.

NetChoice counters in its new papers that getting a tattoo or using a tanning bed is worlds apart from accessing speech on social media.

Laws regulating tattoos (injecting permanent ink into the skin), piercings, and tanning target health consequences of conduct regardless of content, NetChoice writes in papers filed late last week. The Act here directly regulates broad swaths of speech because of its content.

The group argues that the decision to exempt news publishers and certain other companies from the parental consent requirement shows that lawmakers were more concerned with regulating speech than contracts.

To create an account for the New York Times online, a minor must agree to detailed terms of sale, terms of service, and a privacy policy, NetChoice writes. Yet the Act leaves all those 'contracts' and 'terms of service' -- and many more -- unregulated.

Marbley is expected to hold a hearing on February 8.
The National Police of Ukraine documented the death of 9,700 civilians of Ukraine as a result of the fullscale aggression of the Russian Federation, almost 7,000 civilians are missing, damage from the loss of housing and property of Ukrainians exceeds UAH 40 billion, said First Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine Maksym Tsutskiridze, who is also the Head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police.

"The police themselves documented the death of 9,700 Ukrainians, 11,000 more were injured, almost 7,000 are missing. These are all civilians," said the head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

According to him, 18,000 children were among the injured, 522 died.

"According to our proceedings, the occupiers deported 14,000 Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation and Belarus," Tsutskiridze noted.

Speaking about the victims, he drew attention to the fact that it is only about the territory that is not occupied by the enemy. "I am even afraid to imagine what is happening in the occupation. We do not know the whole truth  it will be necessary to collect testimony and evidence bit by bit in the future. The enemy simply leveled houses in Mariupol to the ground, and it is unknown whether people remained there. Ukrainians died not only from shells, but also from soot and suffocation," he added.

Also, the head of the Main Investigation Department of National Police reported damage and destruction by the enemy of 3,700 educational institutions, 1,600 hospitals, almost 9,000 critical infrastructure facilities, 185,000 residential buildings.

"In the property aspect, both the citizens, who lost their homes, and our state suffered. As for the direct losses that we have established based on the results of examinations, Ukrainians have lost their homes and property for more than UAH 40 billion! And I'm talking only about those industries that are being investigated by the police and for which there are already economic calculations," said the head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police.

Tsutskiridze noted that the police properly record all war crimes of the Russian Federation and expressed confidence that in the future there will definitely be reparations from the occupiers.
by Ray Schultz , January 30, 2024

The union that represents journalists at The Arizona Republic has negotiated a two-year contract with parent company Gannett, setting a $50,000 minimum salary and other benefits.

The contract was approved unanimously by Guild members last week.

I was surprised when we started this, and really talking to my fellow co-workers about how many of them were having to work side jobs or do meal delivery or things like that, to try to make ends meet, says Richard Ruelas, chair of the Arizona Republic Guild.

Ruelas adds that some new reporters made as little as $30,000.

Four years ago in Phoenix, we began negotiating a first contract fully aware of the complexities," says Greg Burton, executive editor of the Republic. "Today, we emerge united around mutual priorities, a mission to serve readers and an obligation to hold the powerful to account."

The union posted on X, We are proud to announce we have ratified our first contract with 100% voting in favor of ratification. This first contract was four years in the making, and we appreciate all of the support we received from our community.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, January 31, 2024

Ad agency Moroch, a franchise specialist for marketers such as Honda, McDonalds, and Planet Fitness, has named Jaquie Hoyos chief media officer.

Since joining Moroch as EVP/media services in 2020, Hoyos has revamped the agencys approach to media by introducing ways to understand local culture more deeply and measure local business impact.

advertisement advertisement Her innovations are credited with helping many clients successfully address disruptions caused by the pandemic and made media capabilities a top selling point for the agency.

The pandemic rendered many clients historical learnings irrelevant, so we had to rethink audiences and how we discover them, said Hoyos. Thats put media at the center of our strategic approach. Essentially, weve re-imagined media as a sales engine that runs on local culture.

For example, Hoyos and team recast Google Performance Max as a local platform before the national product was even out of beta testing and have turned it into a key capability for Moroch. Thats made for significant results for such clients as Midas and Planet Fitness, while the agency will be rolling it out for McDonalds this year.

Reasoning that great media often comes down to collaboration among talented people, Hoyos has also changed the culture at Moroch. Since joining the team, she helped restructure pay and benefits, launched a mentorship program, and reframed performance conversations to emphasize contribution and identify what motivates team members. As a result, knowledge sharing, testing and learning, and collaboration have increased dramatically.

Jaquie is boosting our performance and raising our inspiration rate, said Moroch CEO Matt Powell. Shes upgrading everything that goes into more successful media, from redefining the basis of getting local marketing right to revamping our team management.

Before joining Moroch, Hoyos was group head for brand media at The Richards Group, after rising through the media ranks at Publicis Groupes Mediavest.
Highlights: A 20-meter shuttle run among obese kids improved executive functions and brain health

Unlike shuttle run, treadmill test did not reveal evident improvement in brain indicators

The shuttle run test can serve as an effective tool to tailor public health strategies for obese children

  Trusted Source

Which indices of cardiorespiratory fitness are more strongly associated with brain health in children with overweight/obesity?



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20-meter shuttle run performance correlates with improved brain function and grey matter volume in overweight/obese children. #shuttlerun #obesekids #brainhealth #medindia

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Aerobic Fitness and Brain Health

Did You Know?

Nearly 30% of children in European countries are living with overweight/obesity, and the prevalence may be increasing.

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Associations with Shuttle Run Test

Read More to Know About Lowering Screen Time & Increasing Physical Activity Curbs Childhood Obesity

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Implications for Fitness Monitoring

Which indices of cardiorespiratory fitness are more strongly associated with brain health in children with overweight/obesity? - (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/sms.14549)

Improving child health through physical activity is crucial for overall well-being and aerobic fitness is one of them. Aerobic fitness refers to the body's ability to take in, transport, and utilize oxygen during exercise, commonly measured by assessing cardiovascular endurance or aerobic capacity.A recent study by the University of Jyvaskyla and the University of Granada highlights the significance of aerobic fitness, particularly as measured by the 20-meter shuttle run test, in relation to various aspects of childhood health and brain function ().The study included 100 overweight or obese children aged 8 to 11 years as part of the ActiveBrains study conducted in Granada, Spain.Aerobic fitness was measured by the 20-meter shuttle run test- a widely used method in schools worldwide. Brain health was evaluated through cognitive tests and brain imaging. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was objectively measured during a maximum treadmill test The results showed consistent and clear associations with various brain health outcomes in children. The outcomes includedChildren who performed well in the shuttle run test exhibited better executive functions, academic performance, and higher total brain grey matter volume. The maximal oxygen uptake estimated using an equation based on the shuttle run test results was associated with general intelligence and reasoning ability.Maximal oxygen uptake measured objectively during the treadmill test was not associated with any brain health outcomes. The study suggests that factors such asThe 20-meter shuttle run test is widely used in schools globally, including in fitness monitoring systems. Fitness assessments using the shuttle run test can provide informative and predictive insights into the brain health status of children.Monitoring systems can help identify regions with poorer fitness, informing public health strategies to address childhood health concerns.In summary, the 20-meter shuttle run test may be a valuable tool in assessing and predicting various aspects of brain health in children, and its inclusion in fitness monitoring systems can aid in identifying and addressing health concerns among obese kids.Source-Medindia
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Prenatal substance exposure and child health: Understanding the role of environmental factors, genetics, and brain development



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Complex Interplay of Prenatal Substance Exposure & Childs Mental Health



Prenatal alcohol exposure is directly associated with an increased gray matter volume in a child's brain, suggesting a compensatory response to cope with the impact of maternal alcohol use. #pregnancy #substanceuse #mentalhealth #childhealth #medindia 

Prenatal substance exposure and child health: Understanding the role of environmental factors, genetics, and brain development - (https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/3/1/pgae003/7591617?login=false)



Exposure to substance use like caffeine tobacco , and marijuana during pregnancy is associated with poor mental health in their children aged 1012. However, controlling for environmental and genetic factors can eliminate these associations, according to a study published in).Qiang Luo and colleagues analyzed longitudinal data from almost 10,000 participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development cohort, looking for associations between maternal self-report of prenatal exposure to caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana with mental health outcomes from age 10 to 12.Although themany of these associations diminished when the authors controlled for environment and genetics.Environmental risk factors were captured using metrics such as planned birth, vitamin intake during pregnancy, duration of breastfeeding, premature birth, parental ages at birth, parental partnership, parental education level, family income, and measures of neighborhood safety.Genetic context was established by family history of psychiatric disorders and polygenic risk scores. None of the associations between prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke and outcomes at age 1012 remained significant after genetics and environment were considered.On the other hand,even after controlling for environment and genetics. In addition, the authors found that contrary to earlier reports of prenatal alcohol exposure correlating with smaller cerebral gray matter volumes in later life, children who had been exposed to alcohol in utero had larger gray matter volumes.According to the authors, the increased gray matter volume, accompanied by low functioning of other brain regions, may reflect a compensatory response of some brain regions coping with the impact of maternal alcohol use.Source-Eurekalert
The new season of Shark Tank India saw a blend of OG sharks joined by the new additions and one among the latter is OYO CEO Ritesh Agarwal. The entrepreneur recently revealed that hell soon be opening an OYO in Lakshadweep and opened up about his favourite celebs he thinks will make great sharks on the show.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Ritesh was asked to name a celeb wholl make a perfect shark and he named Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav. When asked to name anyone from the Hindi film industry, the new shark replied Ranveer Singh and explained, I think Ranveer Singh would be the one. He will bring a sense of consumer understanding and energy, which we also try to bring, but of course, he will bring his own perspective.

 SonyLIV Besides Ranveer, Agarwal also thinks Kartik Aaryan will be an apt choice as well and added, Kartik Aaryan is a small-town person, but has done very smart things. Not much is talked about him, but he came from a small town and became very successful in Bollywood. He has done it all, but very quietly and systematically and made a bunch of investments. I would say these two (Ranveer Singh and Kartik Aaryan) would be best.

Further talking about the hospitality business amid the boycott calls for Maldives, Ritesh stated that people want to travel within India. I noticed people don't like to share that they have travelled overseas. I think Lakshadweep will be an incredible destination. We are quite preparing to announce our launch in Lakshadweep. We are quite excited about it. He also shared an interesting stat that their bookings in Benaras surpassed that of Goa on December 31. The Sharks Of Season 3 The new season features returning sharks like Amit Jain - CEO and co-founder of CarDekho, Aman Gupta - Co-founder and CMO of boAt, Anupam Mittal - founder and CEO of Shaadi.com and People Group, Namita Thapar - Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Peyush Bansal - Co-founder and CEO of Lenskart and Vineeta Singh - CEO and co-founder of SUGAR Cosmetics.
Eighty-nine Ukrainians suffered from sexual violence committed during the war, the police of Ukraine notified 27 occupiers of suspicion of committing these crimes, the vast majority of suspicions are in absentia, First Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine, Head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine Maksym Tsutskiridze has said.

"There are 77 cases of sexual violence committed during the war, with 89 victims involved. Some of the victims are in Ukraine, some have left, but they are cooperating with the investigation," the head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

He noted that the results of solving these crimes are not one hundred percent, but the police notified 27 invaders of suspicion for these crimes. "The vast majority are suspicions in absentia," he added.

"Again, we do not know the real figures on sexual violence, just as we do not know how many people actually died in the occupied territories. But this crime belongs to the military and does not have a statute of limitations," the head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police summed up.
British soldiers with captured German Goliath tracked mines.

The Goliath Tracked Mine

Standing at a mere 1ft tall and 4ft long, it must be assumed that the Goliath Tracked Mine was named with the same light-hearted irony as Robin Hoods trusty, burly companion Little John. The idea behind the miniature motor was inspired by the French vehicle designer Adolphe Kegresse after the Wehrmacht recovered his prototype from the River Seine in 1940.

Impressed with the destructive potential of the device, the Wehrmachts ordnance office ordered the Carl F W Borgward automaker to begin work developing a similar vehicle with the intention of using it as a delivery system for explosives. It did not take long for Borgward to deliver the goods, and that same year, the SdKfz 302  or Sonderkrafahzeug (special-purpose vehicle)  was born, at first going by the name of Leichter Ladungstrager (light charge carrier), then later more simply as Goliath.

The tracked vehicle could carry 60kg of explosives and was steered remotely using a joystick control box attached to the rear of the Goliath by 650m of triple-strand cable. Two of the strands accelerated and manoeuvred the Goliath, while the third was used to trigger the detonation.

Each Goliath had to be disposable, as each was built specifically to be blown up along with an enemy target. The first models were powered by an electric motor, but these proved difficult to repair on the battlefield, and at 3,000 Reichsmarks were not exactly cost effective. As a result, later models (the SdKfz 303) used a simpler, more reliable gasoline engine.

Being sent back to the drawing board is a disgrace usually reserved for weapons that never saw battlefield action. Goliaths did see combat and were deployed on all German fronts beginning in the spring of 1942. Their role in the action was usually nugatory, however, having been rendered immobile by uncompromising terrain or deactivated by cunning enemy soldiers who had cut their command cables.

The latter trick was carried out most effectively by the Polish resistance of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising who, acknowledging their minimal supply of anti-tank weapons, sent volunteers into the eye of the advancing storm of SS units to cut the Goliaths cables before they reached their targets. Some Goliaths were also spotted on the beaches of Normandy, but those too were quickly put out of action, this time by artillery blasts severing the command cables.

7,564 Goliaths were produced. But even though it only had a single use, could travel no faster than 6mph, was expensive to make, had thin armour, was vulnerable to anti-tank weapons and cable-cutters, and had a poor ground clearance of just 11.4cm, the Goliath was considered a success. For while this particular model proved to be something of a disaster, it paved the way for the surge in development of post-war remote-controlled vehicle technologies, its failures helping to guide engineers to come.



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A number of Goliaths survived the war, and are preserved at various museums around the world. You can learn more about the Goliaths and visit the last remaining models at: the Canadian War Museum; United States Army Ordnance Museum; the Bovington Tank Museum and The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Museum in the UK; the Dutch Cavalry Museum; Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Belgium; the Kubinka Tank Museum; Polish Army Museum; Warsaw Uprising Museum; the Deutsches Panzermuseum in Germany, and the Musee du Debarquement Utah Beach in Normandy, France.
Reforming military pay and benefits and improving housing conditions are the top two quality-of-life issues for service members that lawmakers should address immediately, the senior enlisted leaders for all the military services told Congress on Wednesday.

"A couple of these problems are so big that if we don't start taking immediate action on them now, we're going to miss the curve in the future," Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea said Wednesday at a House hearing.

Honea was testifying at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee's military quality-of-life panel alongside his fellow senior enlisted leaders from the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force and Joint Chiefs of Staff. The leaders were called to Capitol Hill following months of news stories and watchdog reports documenting foul living conditions, limited food options and subpar health care -- problems that come as most of the military services struggle to meet their recruiting goals.

Read Next: Army Posthumously Promotes 2 Georgia Soldiers Who Were Killed by Iran Militia Drone Attack in Jordan

"Military pay and compensation reform is going to be one of those big problems that we need to start taking a bite at today," Honea said. "I would also offer unaccompanied housing for our service members. That's also going to be a very big problem, and it's not going to be solved by Saturday. It's not going to be solved by this one year or in the next maybe five years, even.

"So, we need to start on that today, otherwise we're not going to be in front of this problem," he added.

Pressed by House panel Chairman Don Bacon, R-Neb., to identify the top two quality-of-life issues facing their services, all the enlisted leaders agreed that pay and housing are the most pressing concerns.

As evidence has piled up of declining quality of life and as recruitment continues to flag, the House panel has spent months examining military pay, housing, health care and family life with an eye toward enacting significant reforms in the annual defense policy bill lawmakers will consider later this year. Wednesday's hearing, which came after several closed-door briefings with key players and an open hearing on housing with civilian officials last year, is expected to be the final public session of the panel before it releases its recommendations later this spring.

"The work of this panel has revealed an alarming erosion of military quality of life that, if not addressed quickly, will place the very existence of our all-volunteer force at risk," Bacon said at the top of the hearing. "I believe that reversing this decline will require a national commitment to change course while there is still time."

In recent years, lawmakers have proposed overhauling the military pay chart to give junior enlisted service members a significant pay boost in addition to the annual across-the-board raise for all troops. Lawmakers have also advanced new, targeted bonuses and allowances to make military service more appealing amid the recruitment crisis.

But in most cases, civilian defense officials and other administration officials have rebuffed those proposals, arguing they are premature amid an ongoing comprehensive review of military pay that is expected to be done by early 2025.

At Wednesday's hearing, while the enlisted leaders similarly said they are eagerly awaiting the results of the pay review, they also implored lawmakers to take action immediately.

"We have not done a targeted pay raise for your military service members since 2007," said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, referencing when some enlisted troops and warrant officers got an extra pay bump on top of the annual across-the-board raise.

The hearing also comes on the heels of a nearly 100-page report this past September from the Government Accountability Office, or GAO, that detailed substandard living conditions in military housing, with examples ranging from rancid sewage smells and rust-colored water to issues with bugs and even squatters entering buildings. Investigators with the GAO went to six military facilities for the report.

Lawmaker concerns about housing sparked the sharpest moment of the hearing when Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., challenged Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz about housing issues in her home state.

In the weeks prior to the hearing, the Marine Corps started a messaging campaign focused on improved barracks and housing. That messaging has been challenged by images and reports of squalid living conditions, Military.com has previously reported. At the hearing, Ruiz was explaining the "business model" of the living facilities at installations such as Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

"I'm not sure that we have a disconnect with information, I think --," Ruiz said before Mace cut him off.

"No, there's definitely a housing issue down there," Mace said. "I'm not going to accept that there's an issue with disinformation or misinformation. ... That's not happening."

Ruiz went on to explain progress at fire stations and schools at the South Carolina base, but was interrupted again.

"We're talking about housing -- the issues of housing -- not with the fire station or anything else," Mace said.

Meanwhile, the Army owns the largest portfolio of barracks in the military. But Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer, who was making his Capitol Hill debut after taking the role in August, offered few new insights or details in his testimony Wednesday on how the service plans to fix what its own measurements have found is one-quarter of buildings in poor or failing condition.

Service planners have previously pointed to insufficient funding to maintain the Army's barracks properly, projecting they would need at least $6.5 billion on top of their current budget of about $1 billion for barracks just to catch up on maintenance issues.

Key service planners from across the Army met in December to come up with policy plans to do what they can with their limited budget, but the service declined to answer questions from Military.com ahead of the hearing on what, if any, plans exist to maintain or enhance its large inventory of barracks.

For the Air Force, Bass admitted it was "not shocking to any of us" that "most of our infrastructure is like antiques," adding that underfunding modernization efforts in its dorms is partially to blame.

Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna said that "nothing was unlivable" in dorms at Space Force bases and added that the airmen and Guardians in Department of the Air Force housing were "relatively happy." But he said the majority of the criticism from enlisted members is over when the facilities will, eventually, be modernized.

Honea, the Navy's enlisted leader, told the committee that one of his goals is to offer every sailor a barracks room. Right now, about 800 sailors per aircraft carrier -- which have a permanent crew of about 3,000 service members -- have to live on ships while in port because barracks rooms aren't available and the Navy cannot offer a housing allowance to most junior enlisted members, he said.

Reacting to complaints and clusters of suicides last year, Congress gave the Navy the ability to offer sailors in shipyards a housing allowance to find stable and comfortable housing off base.

Now, Honea said he wants to expand that authority to every sailor.

"The immediate impact that it's going to have is ... [to] give us the ability and the flexibility and the authority to pay those sailors to secure their own housing, and then that will no longer then have to be an afterthought of the maintenance budget," he told the representatives.

Allowing more sailors to find off-base housing will, Honea added, "give those sailors that immediate separation from their work life to their home life"

The effort may take some time, though, Honea said in an interview with Military.com on Monday.

"It's going to be something that we're going to have to lay out with a ... 5-, 10-, 15-year strategy, he said.

Related: The Army's Sergeant Major Is About to Face Congress on Quality-of-Life Issues. He May Have a Lot to Answer For.
If Ukraine does not receive enough ammunition from one place, then it will working on other places from where they can be obtained, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

There is no situation that has no solution. If we don't get enough ammunition from one place, we are working on another, from where they can be obtained, Kuleba said in an interview with BBC Newsnight.

He stressed that no matter what the price of supporting Ukraine is for the partners, the price of solving the situation in the world if Ukraine does not win will be much higher.

The EU is demonstrating its ability to make big decisions on its own, and that's a good thing. We also continue to work with the two parties in the United States to make sure that the necessary decisions are made, the minister said.
A deserter from Joint Base Lewis-McChord was being sought in connection with a recent homicide when he was arrested Friday in King County, a law enforcement official told The News Tribune.

Army law enforcement personnel and Tukwila police arrested Army Spc. Jonathan Kang Lee on Jan. 26 near Redmond. Lee had not been seen at JBLM since Jan. 14 as his trial on child-sex charges there approached. He was convicted of those charges in absentia on Jan. 19 and sentenced to 64 years in prison, the Army said.

Contacted by The News Tribune on Saturday, a spokesperson for the Redmond Police Department said that at the time of his Friday arrest Lee was being sought in connection with a Jan. 15 homicide in Tukwila. She declined to provide further details.

On Sunday, Tukwila Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Zachary Anderson would neither confirm nor deny if Lee is a suspect in the death of taxi driver Nicholas Hokema, whose body was discovered Jan. 15 in a Southcenter Mall parking lot. On Sunday, Hokema's missing taxi was found in the Redmond Ridge neighborhood. Tukwila police impounded it, according to the King County Sheriff's Office.

The Redmond Ridge development is adjacent to the neighborhood where Lee was arrested Friday in the 9500 block of 226th Place NE, according to a search warrant.

"Specialist Lee was arrested by Army CID on charges unrelated to our investigation," Anderson told The News Tribune on Sunday.

Lee has not been charged in Hokema's death, according to state court records.

On Tuesday afternoon, Tukwila police released a statement on Hokema's death which said in part, "A person of interest in this case is currently in custody with another agency on unrelated charges. We are working closely with the King County Prosecutor's Office during this investigation."

Why wasn't Lee in custody?

I Corps spokesperson Lt. Col. Jennifer Bocanegra said she had no comment on Lee's possible involvement with Hokema's homicide when contacted by The News Tribune on Monday. She referred the newspaper to Tukwila police.

Asked why Lee was allowed freedom before his court martial in the child-sex case, she referred the newspaper to the Commanders Legal Handbook's "Pretrial Restraint" section. It states that there is no bail system in the military. An arrest or a situation that is considered to be an arrest triggers the "speedy trial clock" for that suspect and, if a trial is not held soon enough, charges could be dismissed with prejudice.

It also states that pretrial confinement should only be used if the accused is a flight risk or might commit serious future misconduct.

"It is not enough that the accused is a pain in the neck or a hassle," the manual states. "He must either be a flight risk OR have the potential to commit SERIOUS future misconduct, which could include SERIOUS threats to your unit's discipline and readiness."

Nicholas Hokema

On Jan. 15, the Tukwila Police Department announced on social media the discovery of Hokema's body.

Jacob Stapp, Hokema's colleague at Olympia-based RediCab, told The Olympian that Hokema had driven a taxi for the business since 2016.

Stapp said they learned about Hokema's death from police about noon Jan. 15. He said Hokema was a "good-natured and kind-hearted guy," and customers often said he had great taste in music.

"It might seem like small thing, but it made a difference with customers," he said.

On Jan. 18, Tukwila police announced on Facebook that Hokema's death was being investigated as a homicide. They also asked the public to help identify a taxi connected to the suspicious death. Also on Jan. 18, the King County Medical Examiner's Office reported Hokema, 34, died of multiple sharp-force injuries and listed his death as a homicide.

That was followed by information that the vehicle was seen in unincorporated Redmond midday on Jan. 19, but it fled before police arrived, according to the department's Facebook page.

Hokema's death has left his family and friends bereft.

"I haven't always had the best luck with relationships," Hokema's girlfriend Nicole Sharkody told KIRO 7. "It took me years before I even thought about dating again. But I am so glad that I met him."

A GoFundMe page has been launched to help Hokema's family.

"The loss of Nick has been profoundly devastating for those who loved him," the post reads. "Recently learning he was going to be an uncle, Nick had been enthusiastically researching how to establish a college fund for his niece before his untimely death."

Court-Martial

Child sex-abuse charges against Lee were first filed in Pierce County in May 2022. In Pierce County charging documents, Lee was accused of child rape and molestation crimes that occurred in Steilacoom as early as 2020. The victims were known to him and were about 6 or 7 at the time.

Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mary Robnett dismissed the charges in September 2022 when the military took over Lee's prosecution.

"The military is better situated to handle this case, as some of the alleged abuse might have happened outside the State of Washington," she wrote. Some of the abuse might have occurred in Georgia, according to charging papers.

Lee's court-martial began on Jan. 16, two days after he was last seen at JBLM. On Jan. 19, he was convicted by a military panel composed of officers and enlisted members, according to the Army.

In addition to his confinement sentence, the military judge reduced Lee's military grade to E-1  the lowest rank. The judge also ordered Lee to forfeit all pay and allowances. When his sentence is completed, Lee will be released from the Army with a dishonorable discharge.

The court-martial did not include any charges related to Hokema's death or Lee's desertion.

Lee's attorney did not immediately return a request for comment on Tuesday.

Staff writer Rolf Boone of The Olympian contributed to this report.

___

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The Navy's personnel boss is touting the services latest policy shift dropping the requirement that applicants have a high school diploma or GED certificate, a move aimed at getting more sailors in uniform amid a recruiting crisis.

Vice Adm. Rick Cheeseman, in an interview with Military.com on Wednesday, said the change has long been in the works and is about offering Americans opportunities as much as it is about boosting recruiting numbers. The service said Jan. 26 that applicants with Armed Forces Qualification Test, or AFQT, scores of 50 or higher who do not have a diploma can still enlist.

Since the policy's rollout, officials have bristled and pushed back against the idea that the change is a lowering of standards, and have pointed to both data and anecdotes to back up the assertion that, while the service is broadening the scope of who it considers eligible for enlistment, those decisions are not weakening the Navy.

Read Next: Immediate Action Needed to Boost Military Pay and Improve Housing, Senior Enlisted Leaders Tell Congress

"The Navy is a different place than it has been in the past, and we know through data that your education credential may not be the front and center thing that predicts your success in the Navy," Cheeseman said.

The admiral also stressed that potential recruits who join without a diploma need to score 50 or higher -- a result that normally makes them "available for technical ratings" -- on the entrance exam.

"We're talking highly qualified people when it comes to the AFQT, and we didn't think that the education credential should stop them from having this opportunity," Cheeseman said. Other officials also noted that academics are not the only reason that people leave high school before graduating.

The hope is that the change will lead to a few thousand more possible recruits. In 2023, Cheeseman said that the Navy had 2,442 people walk into a recruiting station with no formal education credentials.

"I'm hoping that 2,442 people got phone calls over the weekend and they're scheduled to take tests," he said.

The move comes just over a year since the Navy made a few other major changes to its recruiting parameters. In November 2022, the sea service said it would take recruits as old as 41. A couple of months later, the Navy also announced it would also take recruits who score between 10 and 30 on the AFQT, provided they still qualify for a rate based on the narrower topic scores.

Cheeseman now says the data vindicates the changes because more recruits than usual are making it through boot camp and moving on to their specialty schools.

The admiral pointed out that, over the last seven years, the average recruit dropout rate at the Navy's boot camp was about 15%. However, last year's rate, according to data provided by his office, was only 9.8%.

Among the Category IV recruits -- the term for the low-scoring recruits the Navy started accepting in December 2022 -- the total drop rate for the year was 11.4%.

"We're building trust in the Navy from the minute they hit the recruiting station. They go through [military entrance processing], they get up to boot camp -- it is a shock to the system still -- but they get to boot camp and they can see immediately what we're investing in them as people," Cheeseman said.

The admiral did concede that there is a "risk" associated with the policy, but he sees it as "minimal."

This is not the first time the Navy has allowed recruits to join without high school diplomas -- they did so for a time up to the year 2000 -- and it is not the first service to flirt with the idea more recently.

In June 2022, the Army, which has also been struggling to meet its recruiting totals, dropped the education credential requirement while also asking recruits to score a 50 or higher on the AFQT. The policy lasted a week before the Army reversed course, citing pushback in the media and online.

Cheeseman wouldn't comment on the Army but noted that he and his office have been working on the Navy policy on education credentials for almost a year and got buy-in not only from recruiters but the service's top leaders and Congress.

"We've done a lot of grunt work, for lack of a better term, to make sure people understood we were looking to do this," the admiral said.

Meanwhile, the reaction on LinkedIn, the professionally oriented social media site, has been largely positive, with many sailors reacting to the announcement from Cheeseman by sharing their family or personal stories of joining the Navy, and succeeding despite having a diploma.

"I was buoyed by those comments," Cheeseman said. "We're trying to make a positive effect on people's lives -- yes, we have a mission to meet -- but impacting Americans is pretty damn important, too."

Related: The Navy's Personnel Boss Is Confident Data Can Fix the Service's Recruiting Woes
Rifts within Ukraines top leadership have burst into the open following swirling rumors that the country's top military chief will be dismissed amid reported tensions with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The rumors that Valerii Zaluzhnyi would be sacked were denied by Zelenskyys office and the Defense Ministry this week and the immensely popular top commander still retains his post. But the reports have fueled expectations of his imminent resignation, which could be a boon for Russia as the war approaches its second anniversary.

His departure would be the most severe shakeup of Ukraine's top military brass since the Russian invasion as the country grapples with dire ammunition and personnel shortages following a failed summer counteroffensive. It also could hurt the morale of Ukrainian troops, who have been fighting grinding battles for nearly two years.

A Ukrainian official in Europe speaking to The Associated Press said Zelenskyy told Zaluzhnyi during a meeting on Monday that he must resign if they cannot come to a common solution on key issues.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the meeting was emotional, and suggested that mobilization was one area of disagreement. The official said that tensions between the two men are rising and that the general would not leave his post voluntarily.

Reports about Zaluzhnyis possible dismissal appeared in Ukrainian media Monday. Ukraines Mirror of the Week said, citing unidentified sources close to Zelenskyy and Zaluzhnyi, that the president had asked the general to step down. Zaluzhnyi was offered a post as an adviser, but he rejected that, according to the reports.

Requests for comment by the presidents office and Zaluzhnyis office were not answered.

Much needed military aid to fuel the next phase of the fight is blocked in the U.S. Congress, and Ukrainian forces are digging in to defend positions against advancing Russian troops.

Zelensky has the right to remove Zaluzhnyi. But he needs to have a very good justification for that, a very good explanation which is understandable to Ukrainians," said Oleksii Haran, research director at the Democratic Initiatives Foundation in Kyiv.

"We know that if Zaluzhnyi is dismissed right now, it will be used by Russian propaganda, it will be used by forces, including those inside the United States, which are delaying supplies of arms to Ukraine. So this wont be a good thing," Haran said.

Zaluzhnyi enjoys widespread popularity across the country and the military, but he has had been at odds with Zelenskyy since saying in an interview with The Economist last year that the fighting with Russia had stalemated. The president denied that was the case.

Russian state media delighted Wednesday at Western reports on the rumors, covering the story several times during the flagship discussion program 60 Minutes on the Russia 1 television channel as well as during news bulletins on the news channel Russia 24.

Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that the Kremlin is of course following the news about Zaluzhnyi.

There are still many questions, Peskov said, according to Tass, adding: One thing remains obvious: The Kyiv regime has many problems, everything is wrong there. This is clear.

Its obvious that the failed counter-offensive and the problems at the front have led to growing conflict ... both in the military and civilian elite in Kyiv, Peskov said. He predicted that these conflicts will grow as Russias military operation continues successfully.
The Texas Military Department posted a photo to its official X account Tuesday afternoon, showing the Gonzales flag flying above its headquarters in Austin.

The flag, which reads Come and Take It underneath an image of a cannon, is the best-known flag of the Texas Revolution and originated at the Battle of Gonzales, according to the Texas Historical Commission. In the post on X, its shown flying below the Texas flag at Camp Mabry.

No message was posted with the photo. The post had garnered more than 20,000 views about an hour after it went online.

The Texas Military Department could not be reached immediately for comment Tuesday afternoon. A spokesperson for the National Guard Bureau said he could not provide context about the post. The Texas Military Department is a state agency that supports the Texas Military Force, which includes the Texas National Guard. Both are led by the state adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer.

The post on X comes amid a standoff between Texas and the federal government over authority and security at the U.S.-Mexico border as the country sees record levels of unauthorized crossings.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he would continue to use the Texas National Guard to secure the border and ordered troops last week to roll out more concertina wire to deter migrants at the bank of the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass. Guard members at the border are on state orders and are constitutionally obligated to obey Abbott.

The order to roll out more wire came after a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision that gives the U.S. Border Patrol the authority to cut the concertina wire. The decision was narrow in scope, and while it says Texas cant block federal authorities from the border, it doesnt prevent the state from taking action.

Twenty-five Republican governors issued a joint statement Thursday supporting Abbott, arguing that states have a right to self defense.

The standoff has sparked outrage nationwide, and on Monday a protest convoy left Virginia for Texas, where participants plan to hold a rally in support of the Texas government.

This story originally appeared on Military Times as part of partnership with Military Veterans in Journalism
The Angels announced that they have traded infielder/outfielder Trey Cabbage, who was recently designated for assignment, to the Astros. In exchange, the Angels will receive minor league right-hander Carlos Espinosa. The Astros designated right-hander Declan Cronin for assignment to open a roster spot for Cabbage, per Ari Alexander of KPRC 2.

Cabbage, 27 in May, made his major league debut with the Angels last year, making 56 plate appearances in 22 games. He hit just .208/.232/.321 in that time, pairing a 3.6% walk rate with a 46.4% strikeout rate.

But his minor league results have naturally been much better. In 107 Triple-A games, he hit 30 home runs last year. His 30% strikeout rate was still on the high side but his 9.5% walk rate was strong. Even in the hitter-friendly environs of the Pacific Coast League, his .306/.379/.596 batting line still led to a wRC+ of 128. On top of that, he stole 32 bases in 35 attempts while lining up at first base and all three outfield spots.

If we could somehow get a left-handed bat, preferably an outfielder with some speed, that type of package well pounce on it. Those were the words of Astros general manager Dana Brown last week, after the club signed Josh Hader. Cabbage doesnt have any major league success yet but he ticks those boxes for Houston, as he does indeed hit from the left side.

The Astros have lefties Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker set for regular action, but the rest of their lineup skews right-handed. That includes outfielders Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers, as well as depth option Corey Julks and utility player Mauricio Dubon. If Cabbage can have his major league offense make progress towards what hes done in the minors, he could be a nice complement to the clubs current roster. He still has two options and doesnt need to be on the active roster right away.

In order to add Cabbage to the organization, the Astros have removed Cronin from their 40-man. The 26-year-old was just claimed off waivers from the White Sox a few weeks ago. Similar to Cabbage, he just made his major league debut in 2023 with uninspiring results. He tossed 11 innings for the Sox, allowing 11 earned runs in that time.

But also like Cabbage, his work in the minors was more impressive. He tossed 51 2/3 Triple-A innings last year, allowing 3.83 earned runs per nine. His 18.7% strikeout rate was subpar but his 54.5% ground ball rate was very strong. Thats been a hallmark of his career, as hes kept more than half of balls in play on the ground at every level of the minor leagues and in that brief major league debut as well.

The Astros will now have a week to trade Cronin or pass him through waivers. He still has a full slate of options and limited service time, which could help him appeal to a club in search of some bullpen depth and roster flexibility.

As for the Angels, they nudged Cabbage off their roster a few days ago when they signed Matt Moore, but they were able to salvage some value from him by sending him across the division in exchange for Espinosa. The 22-year-old Cuban has limited experience in affiliated ball, having only played in the Complex League and Single-A. He has thrown 84 1/3 innings at those levels with a 3.74 ERA, 27% strikeout rate and 9.9% walk rate.

Eric Longenhagen and Tess Taruskin of FanGraphs gave Espinosa a brief mention on last years list of Houstons top prospects. They noted that the righty was throwing in the mid-90s, while also featuring a slider and a changeup.
During the fullscale aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, investigators of the National Police identified more than 3,600 people who were considered missing, to date, 2,100 Ukrainians, including military personnel, remain unidentified, First Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine, Head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine Maksym Tsutskiridze has said.

"Since the full-scale invasion, National Police investigators have identified more than 3,600 people who were considered missing," Tsutskiridze said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

According to the head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police, identification took place in different ways. "First of all, this is identification by relatives and friends by means of visual features. Their brothers-in-arms help to identify the dead servicemen - they know what documents and certificates, things the military had," he added.

Tsutskiridze said: "2,100 people, including the military, remain unidentified. The bodies are in such a state that you don't understand whether it's a military man or a civilian. There are also many non-body remains."

He clarified that a large number of unidentified people are from Dnipropetrovsk region. "We understand that most of them are the bodies of our defenders, which are brought from the front line," said the first deputy head of the National Police.

"The positional war, unfortunately, does not allow us to quickly take the bodies of killed soldiers from the battlefield. The bodies of both our military and Russian servicemen are stored in our refrigerators, which are then exchanged," Tsutskiridze added.

He also said that work is currently underway to enter the DNA profiles of relatives into the database: "There are already 7,000 profiles for comparison. At the moment, we have 32 high-speed DNA sampling laboratories provided by international partners, and we expect 12 more."

According to Tsutskiridze, about 1,000 people were identified precisely due to DNA examination.

"Criminologists are doing a tremendous job so that loved ones can bury their close person in a human way," said the head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police.
HOUGHTON, MICH. -- Our Lady of the Snows, a special winter chapel carved out of snow and Lake Superior ice, is once again taking shape in Michigans remote Keweenaw Peninsula.

Organized by St. Albert the Great University Parish, the temporary chapel and its annual Ice Masses have become beloved traditions during Michigan Technological Universitys Winter Carnival each February.

RELATED: Snow sculptures, ice bowling, human dog-sled race: When to catch this U.P. winter carnival

It is a unique expression of Catholic faith in the deep snow country of the Keweenaw, St. Albert organizers said in a statement. By building the Ice Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows every year since 2016, St. Als hopes to share the faith and connect people in this unique winter setting.

The chapel is currently being constructed by college students and community members who spend weeks stomping and shoveling a mountain of snow around plywood forms to create the wintry wonder. Over the years the project has expanded to include many intricate architectural details, including a carved confessional, a raised pulpit, and beautiful stained ice windows. The centerpiece is a hand-cut altar made of Lake Superior ice.

An arched side aisle being constructed at Our Lady of the Snows Ice Chapel in Houghton in 2024. The construction of the chapel and the Roman Catholic Mass services held within it are organized by St. Albert the Great University Parish, with help from students and community members. (Photo provided by St. Albert the Great University Parish)Courtesy photo

The creative addition for winter 2024, weather permitting, will be an arched side aisle. Chapel construction progress photos are posted on Facebook here.

This year St. Alberts will host three Ice Masses in the Ice Chapel, the first of which will be live-streamed on Facebook on Friday, Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Visit mtucatholic.org/icemass to register for the link to watch the livestream.

Learn more at mtucatholic.org and facebook.com/stagmtu.
By ED WHITE Associated Press

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP)  Hours after a teenager killed four students at his Michigan high school, his mother said, Hes going to have to suffer, an investigator testified Wednesday.

I found that odd. She was referring to someone who was her son, Detective Lt. Sam Marzban of the Oakland County Sheriffs Office told jurors.

Marzban testified on the fifth day of trial in the involuntary manslaughter case against Jennifer Crumbley. It was part of the prosecutions effort to portray her as a cold, thoughtless parent whose gross negligence contributed to the deaths at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. Seven other people were wounded.

Prosecutors claim that Jennifer and James Crumbley could have prevented the deaths if they had addressed their son Ethan Crumbleys mental health. Theyre also accused of making a gun accessible at home. They are the first parents in the U.S. to be charged in a mass school shooting committed by their child.

Marzban was among many officers who rushed to the school on the day of the attack. He was later in charge of getting a warrant to search the Crumbley home and collect their phones.

I told her that there were several dead kids and kids shot in the school. It was on the national news. Even the president had addressed it, Marzban testified.

Jennifer Crumbley seemed irritated and frustrated, he said, especially about giving up her phone.

I remember taking notes down, Marzban recalled. She made a statement: So many lives were lost today, and hes going to have to suffer.

He said investigators were interested in the phones after seeing text messages from the parents on their sons phone.

Ethan dont do it, Jennifer Crumbley wrote about an hour after the shooting started.

Defense attorney Shannon Smith said last week that Jennifer Crumbley was referring to her son possibly killing himself.

Defendant Jennifer Crumbley listens to witness testimony during her jury trial at Oakland County Courthouse, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. Crumbley, 45, is charged with involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors say she and her husband were grossly negligent and could have prevented the four deaths if they had tended to their sons mental health. Theyre also accused of making a gun accessible at home. (Clarence Tabb Jr./Detroit News via AP)AP

Ethan, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, is serving a life sentence. Hes now 17. James Crumbley, 47, is due to stand trial on involuntary manslaughter charges in March.

Jurors also learned Wednesday how the parents were captured by police. Roughly 13 hours after charges were announced, they were found on a mattress at an acquaintances Detroit art studio, roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of their home.

Luke Kirtley, a sharp-eyed coffee roaster in the building, said he spotted their car in the parking lot and called 911.

Smith insists that the parents were not on the run. She has said they couldnt stay at home because they had received threats, and that they had planned to voluntarily appear in court.

A meeting between school staff and the Crumbleys hours before before the shooting has been a focal point in the case.

The parents were presented with a disturbing drawing their son had scrawled on an assignment. It depicted a gun and a bullet and the lines, The thoughts wont stop. Help me. The world is dead. My life is useless.

The school recommended that the couple get him help as soon as possible, but they declined to take him home, saying they needed to work. Ethan stayed in school and later pulled a gun from his backpack to fire at students.
PETOSKEY, MI  A Northern Michigan teacher has been arrested related to an alleged sexual relationship with a student, authorities said.

A 51-year-old Kalkaska man was recently arrested at Grand Traverse Academy where he was a teacher, WPBN/WGTU reports. He is charged with 16 counts of criminal sexual conduct stemming from alleged crimes against a student at Concord Academy in Petoskey where he was formerly employed. He is expected to be arraigned today.

Investigators do not believe that these crimes indicate a pattern of abuse that either school could have caught, Emmet County Undersheriff Matt Leirstein told the TV station. The investigation began when the victim came forward.

While police have no further leads, any other victims are encouraged to come forward; call the sheriffs office at 231-439-8900.
The U.S. State Department is advising Americans to reconsider traveling to Jamaica for the time being due to a rise in violent crime combined with other factors. A travel advisory issued last week even indicates that some government personnel are prohibited from visiting parts of the country due to crime.

Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts, reads a portion of the summary.

Related story: US issues new security alert for this popular vacation island, citing murders in broad daylight

Because of the increasing criminal activity, those who do visit Jamaica are warned not to walk or drive at night, avoid taking the bus, stay out of secluded areas and do not attempt to physically resist a robbery. Government personnel are barred from taking the bus completely and cannot drive at night in certain parts of the country.

On top of the increase in violent crime, State Department officials say police work in Jamaica is not effective and even when arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a conclusive sentence. Thats particularly concerning considering the homicide rate in Jamaica routinely ranks near the top of the list of countries located in the Western Hemisphere, according to the advisory.

Officials say it frequently takes a year or more to receive a death certificate if a loved one dies in Jamaica.

If you still plan on visiting Jamaica, officials recommend buying travelers insurance which includes medical evacuation coverage. Medical services in the country are lackluster and U.S. health insurance is not accepted.

Public health care systems are not reliable, according to the State Department and private health care requires payment up front. Even if you pay front, it doesnt guarantee the facility will be able to properly care for you. If you do not have coverage and have to use an air ambulance service to return to the U.S. for care, the flight alone can cost between $30,000-$50,000.

For more information on traveling to high risk areas outside of the U.S., visit the State Department website.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- The verdict is in for the Ypsilanti Township woman accused of resisting and obstructing police during 2020 shooting investigation.

A jury found ShaTeina Grady El and her husband, Daniyal Grady El, not guilty on all counts on Wednesday afternoon.

The jury did the right thing, said attorney Trovious Starr, who represented Daniyal Grady El.

Attorney William Amadeo  representing ShaTeina Grady El  said he was relieved when the verdict came in on Wednesday.

ShaTeina Grady El was on trial for three counts of resisting and obstructing an officer, one count for causing injury to an officer for her resistance and one count for malicious destruction of police property. The charges carried a maximum punishment of 14 years in prison. Her husband, Daniyal Grady El, was charged with two felony counts for resisting and obstructing an officer, with the maximum punishment being four years in prison.

The trial began Monday, Jan. 29 with jury selection and opening statements before Washtenaw County Trial Judge Patrick Conlin.

Starr opened his case by saying officers miscommunicated while on scene that night and contending officers commands were unlawful.

In the state of Michigan you have the right  the legal right  to resist an unlawful arrest, Starr said. If a police officer does not have the legal right to do or say something, you have the right to resist. So first and foremost, [prosecutors] have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that these commands were lawful.

Amadeo opened his case on Monday saying that authorities did not interview the witnesses who can be seen in the video of the Grady Els arrest, and the only evidence presented to the jury was from the words of police officers.

ShaTeina, the evidence will show, was filming near her property, Amadeo said on Monday. The evidence will show she never once touched an officer until she was attacked. The evidence will show she never cursed the officer until she was attacked. The evidence will show that both the Grady Els had no weapons on them that night.

The Michigan Attorney General charged ShaTeina and Daniyal Grady El after the office reviewed the conduct of Deputy Austin Pearson, who testified in court that he struck ShaTeina Grady El three times in the head after she bit his arm hard enough to draw blood. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel found in September 2020 the deputy was justified in his actions.

Assistant Attorney General Michael Doby opened on Monday contending that the shooting, which injured a woman, remains unsolved as a result of the Grady Els actions.

The case stemmed from a May 26, 2020 incident when sheriffs deputies ordered the Grady Els to leave the scene of a shooting in Ypsilanti Townships Appleridge neighborhood.

At the time of the incident, the Grady Els were trying to film police forming a perimeter near their daughters home in the 2000 block of Peachcrest Street. Daniyal Grady El previously said the police didnt explain the shooting to them.

After authorities repeatedly told the pair to back away from the scene, where a suspected shooter was on the loose, deputies tried to physically remove the two from the area by arresting them.

Pearson testified on Monday that ShaTeina Grady El pulled away from him when he initially went to handcuff her. So, he picked her up and carried her to a fence so she could not run away. Pearson said she then bit down on his arm.

Given the close proximity and the limited amount of resources I had at that time  or at least have access to at that time given our close proximity  I struck her in the back of the head three times with a closed fist, Pearson testified.

Once she released her jaw, Pearson alleged ShaTeina then began to swing and claw at him, which left multiple scratches and cuts on the back of his head.

Pearson said they were halfway to the patrol car when he saw a man who matched the shooters description, called out to him and then briefly chased him.

He said he handed ShaTeina off to another officer at that point. He testified she continued to resist arrest, kicking off a piece of paneling on a patrol car door while she was being secured inside, according to prosecutors.

The incident with the Grady Els sparked several days of protests in Washtenaw County during the summer of 2020. Protesters called for a change in the departments use of force policy and for the release of ShaTeina Grady El, who was then detained in the Washtenaw County Jail.

Read more: Video of Washtenaw County deputy punching woman sparks outrage in Ypsilanti Township

The couple also filed a lawsuit in May 2022 in the U.S. District Court against the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office and the Ypsilanti Police Department arguing they were the victims of unjustified use of force. That lawsuit is pending with a scheduling conference set for Feb. 15, according to court records.

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FLINT, MI  The Flint Community School district is facing a staggering debt that some within the district think that only help from the state can relieve.

Now with just under 3,000 students, the Flint Community Schools district has approximately $56,093,404 in debt with an operational deficit of approximately $14 million.
FLINT, MI -- The state is doubling down on its financial support of the redevelopment of the former Buick City site in Flint.

Three months after the Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved $8.5 million in funding to help turn the former General Motors property into a new light manufacturing and distribution center, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation said on Tuesday, Jan. 30, that its adding $5.9 million to the project.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  After 10 years of bringing a wide range of food and events to West Michigan, the Grand Rapids Downtown Market is unveiling a new look.

A new logo, featuring a fork, knife, window and silhouette of the destinations iconic greenhouse, will be implemented beginning this month. The new logo includes an updated color palate of red, orange and purple.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  Some of the Ottawa County boards most controversial actions are among its leaders most proud moments.

Ottawa County Board Chair Joe Moss, who led a slate of far-right candidates who took majority of the countys decision-making body in 2023, reflected on the year Tuesday night. In his State of the County address, Moss highlighted getting rid of the countys diversity, equity and inclusion office, passing a resolution banning county employees from participating in Pride events and refusing to accept grant money tied to COVID-19 measures.
BAY CITY, MI  A Northern Michigan man is federally charged after allegedly authoring a deluge of online posts calling for the execution of President Joe Biden and numerous other government officials.

The President of the United Sates of America, Joseph Biden, has been CONDEMNED, reads one Jan. 26 post from account Lancer 227. Take Him to the Prisons to await Execution. He shall be Hanged.
China commissioned an advanced rescue ship on Tuesday, deploying it to the South China Sea for emergency response tasks. The Nanhai Jiu 103 was delivered to the Nanhai Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Transport in October and formal operations started on Tuesday. The vessel features air, surface and underwater rescue capabilities, a high technological level and a very long operational range, according to the ministry. Designed by the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute of the State-owned conglomerate China State Shipbuilding Corp, the vessel is 136.9 meters long, 26.7 meters wide, and weighs 19,000 metric tons when fully loaded. It is capable of sailing nearly 30,000 kilometers or operating 90 days on a single operation without needing to dock at port or receive supplies, the ministry said in a news release, adding that it can carry a large helicopter and underwater robots for search and rescue. The vessel is able to conduct search, rescue and salvage tasks for ships, aircraft and submarines in very tough conditions, as it can withstand typhoons as strong as 12 on the Beaufort scale, according to the Shanghai institute. In addition to rescue and salvage operations, the ship can also be used to tow disabled ships, monitor oil spills, perform deep-water scanning and surveys, extinguish fires or ferry supplies to vessels in emergencies, designers said. After the new vessel's commissioning, the Ministry of Transport has 25 rescue ships, four helicopters and a number of first-response professionals, ensuring a 24-hour search-and-rescue capability, it noted. Shi Gongqian, the ship's project manager at the Shanghai institute, said it is no exaggeration to call Nanhai Jiu 103 the world's most advanced and most capable rescue ship. "The ship can operate independently in any ocean worldwide. It is good at all work involved in maritime emergency response. It has cutting-edge equipment such as rescue submersibles that can dive 300 meters below the surface and remotely operated underwater vehicles or autonomous underwater vehicles capable of reaching a depth of 6,000 meters. "The ship-mounted crane is able to salvage capsized vessels or wrecks as heavy as 350 metric tons. Moreover, the ship is equipped with medical facilities, such as operating rooms," Shi said. The craft has been designed to carry 30 crew members and up to 90 search-and-rescue personnel, and it is capable of accommodating as many as 200 people rescued from disasters.
The Forum of Reconstruction of Ukraine is taking place in Istanbul; it began with a meeting between Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu with Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov.

"Had fruitful meetings with Omer Bolat and Abdulkadir Uraloglu who hosted the Forum of Reconstruction of Ukraine - initiative fostering collaboration in rebuilding and developing affected regions. It demonstrates a strong commit," Kubrakov said on X.

He indicated that the forum would help increase the trade potential of countries, expand logistics and foreign economic relations.

"We have a common goal  the Black Sea is to become an area of cooperation, trade and economic growth. Important to attract private investments in the recovery of infrastructure. This year, the priority are projects aimed at restoring energy, housing, critical and social infrastructure," Kubrakov said.

The Turkish Trade Minister, in turn, emphasized that the experience gained from successful projects implemented to date by Turkish contractors in various regions of the world would become the cornerstone of cooperation between the two countries, especially in reconstruction in Ukraine.

"Additionally, with H.E. Kubrakov, we conducted significant assessments on increasing our mutual trade volume and enhancing economic relations between the two countries," he said on X.
KOCHVILLE TWP, MI  In a river of blue they came, police officers from across the state and the nation. Their solidarity, their purpose was singular  to honor their slain brother-in-arms, Michigan State Police Trooper Joel E. Popp.

A lead gray sky hung heavy over the cavalcade of patrol vehicles as steam rose from piles of melting snow, as though nature itself was commiserating with the bereaved.

The solemnity heralded Popps funeral, held Wednesday, Jan. 31, within the Ryder Center at Saginaw Valley State University. Popp, 39, suffered fatal injuries the evening of Jan. 24, as he and other troopers investigated a traffic incident on Interstate 75 near Birch Run.

Addressing the media before the service began, MSP Lt. Kim Vetter said the past week has been a trying time for the agency.

To our community, wed like to say thank you for your outpouring of support and support for the Popp family, Vetter. Wed like to ask that you continue to keep the Popp family and the Tri-City Post troopers in your thoughts and prayers as we continue this healing and investigation.

Thousands of people poured into the arena, its parking lots filled with police vehicles from other states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, New Jersey, West Virginia, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Florida, and Colorado.

Vetter praised the wider law enforcement community for coming together to show reverence for Popps sacrifice.

Were a family and its difficult to lose a family member, she said. We spend a lot of time together, we train together, we work together, and we become really close. Any time someone loses a co-worker, especially in a tragedy like this, its really difficult. The law enforcement community is a big family and were really feeling the loss of Trooper Popp.

The service began at 11 a.m. Speakers included Tri-City Post Commander 1st Lt. Eric Wilber, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and MSP Col. James F. Grady II. At its conclusion, pallbearers in their dress blues carried Popps casket outside and placed it in a black hearse as the Metro Detroit Police and Fire Pipes and Drums filled the air with the melancholic melody of Amazing Grace.

Michigan State Police Trooper Joel Popp, 39, died Wednesday after he was struck by a vehicle during a traffic stop.Michigan State Police

Seven troopers held rifles aloft, conducting a three-volley salute in Popp. Afterwards, a fleet of three MSP helicopters cut through the brumal sky.

Popp, a Bridgeport Township native, joined the Michigan State Police at age 35 in January 2020 and graduated as a member of the 137th Trooper Recruit School. He worked his entire career out of the Tri-City Post. Before becoming a trooper, Popp worked for Frito-Lay.

The evening of Jan. 24, dispatchers put out a be-on-the-lookout advisory for a vehicle that had struck a guardrail or abutment in northern Genesee County. Popp and two other troopers spotted the vehicle already stopped in the left lane of I-75 under the Birch Run overpass.

As Popp was standing outside his vehicle investigating the matter, a northbound minivan driven by an 81-year-old man crashed into the two patrol vehicles and Popp.

Popp was taken to Hurley Medical Center in Flint where he died of his injuries. The 81-year-old man also suffered serious injuries requiring hospitalization for several days, though he is recovering at his Atlanta, Michigan, home as of Jan. 29.

The investigation is ongoing, with Vetter asking the public to be patient for answers.

Its a tragedy that could have been avoided; most crashes can be avoided, Vetter said. The overarching message here is, please slow down, pay attention to your surroundings. When you see a first responder or lights or anybody pulled over on the side of the road, please slow down and move over.

She referenced the states Move Over Law, which requires drivers to slow down and move over for stationary emergency vehicles with their lights activated. The law states that drivers are to slow to at least 10 mph below the posted speed limit and fully move over into an open lane if it is safe to do so.

Violating the law is a civil infraction, though it can be increased to a 15-year felony if the violation causes the death of a police officer, firefighter, or other emergency response worker.

Popp is the 56th MSP trooper to be killed in the line of duty. He is survived by his wife and 8-year-old daughter.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Prime Ministers of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, Czech Republic Petr Fiala, Estonia Kaja Kallas and the Netherlands Mark Rutte in a joint letter called for collective efforts to arm Ukraine in the long term.

The letter was published by the Financial Times. "We call on friends and partners of Ukraine to recommit to sustainable long-term military support for Ukraine as a joint European responsibility. This decision must be taken by each and every country. Only then will Ukraine be able to succeed in its defence against Russian aggression," according to the letter.

Leaders call on EU member states to step up military support for Ukraine and do everything possible to do so  this must remain a collective effort. It is also emphasized that "Russia doesn't wait for anybody and we need to act now."

"If Ukraine loses, the long-term consequences and costs will be much higher for all of us. We Europeans have a special responsibility. Therefore, we must act. Europes future depends on it," the leaders said.

It is stated that "our ability to continue to support and sustain Ukraines defence, both during the winter and in the longer term, is decisive. In fact, it is a matter of our common European security, and for the brave women and men of the Ukrainian armed forces a question of life and death," the leaders said in the letter.

According to the letter, it is now extremely important to provide ammunition and weapons systems, including howitzers, tanks, UAVs and air defense systems, which Ukraine so desperately needs.

"We must therefore insist on finding ways to accelerate the delivery of the promised artillery rounds to Ukraine," the leaders said in the letter.
The United Arab Emirates assisted in organizing the 50th prisoner exchange; in total, 3,035 Ukrainian defenders and defenders have already been returned home since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said.

"Since the full-scale invasion, 3,035 defenders and defenders have already been released from Russian captivity. We express our gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for their assistance and assistance in organizing this exchange. Every day our team works to bring everyone back as quickly as possible," according to the Telegram channel.

It is noted that among the released military personnel are defenders of Mariupol, Kherson, soldiers from Zmiinyi Island, marines and combat medics.

"In particular, junior sergeant Zakhar was rescued from enemy captivity. He fell into the hands of Russian terrorists along with his wife Tetiana after being evacuated from Azovstal in May 2022. In less than six months, the woman was exchanged and returned to Ukraine. Tatyana settled with her two daughters in Dnipro. However, on January 14, the Russians fired a missile at the high-rise building where the family lived. The defender died under the rubble along with the man's youngest daughter and mother. The eldest 19-year-old daughter Ruslana is waiting for her dad to return today," the headquarters said.

The doctors who saved their brothers and civilians at Mariupol Metallurgical Plant and Azovstal were also returned home. In addition, the senior lieutenant, who passed through Debaltseve and was twice awarded the Order of Courage, returned to his native land, and another defender of Zmiinyi Island was also saved.

Among the rescued military personnel this time are 95 representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 56 National Guardsmen, 26 border guards, 29 Territorial Defense soldiers and one representative of the National Police of Ukraine.

The headquarters said 180 defenders who are returning home are from private and non-commissioned officers, another 27 are Ukrainian officers. At least 36 of them are injured or seriously ill. The eldest of the released defenders is already 61 years old, and the youngest will soon be 21 years old.
On January 31, the UN International Court of Justice ruled in the case of Ukraine against Russia and found Russia violated some parts of the UN Convention for the Prevention of the Financing of Terrorism because it did not investigate financial support for separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Radio Liberty said in Wednesday.

Despite this, the court did not award compensation, as requested by the Ukrainian side. The court also refused to make a specific decision on the probable responsibility of Russia for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over territory not controlled by Ukraine on July 17, 2014, as Ukraine requested.

This is a decision in a 2017 case in which Ukraine accuses Russia of financing militants in 2014 and discrimination against the multi-ethnic community of Crimea after its occupation. Ukraine also accuses Russia of violating conventions against discrimination and financing terrorism. Ukraine is seeking to have the court order the Russian Federation to pay reparations for attacks and crimes in the east of the country, including for the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

According to the publication, on February 2, the same court will decide on the admissibility of Ukraines complaint against the Russian Federation about "distorting the concept of genocide."
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that Germany will make every effort to ensure the appropriate level of support from European countries for Ukraine.

"We will do everything to guarantee that Europe's joint contribution will be so enormous that Ukraine can rely on it," Western media said, citing his words from a speech before the Bundestag.

Focus magazine said if the United States reduces support for Ukraine, Germany will take first place in terms of assistance to Kyiv. At the same time, Scholz declared that such a situation was unacceptable.

"Help should not depend only on Germany. (...) We want more countries to act more actively," the chancellor said.

In October 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden sent a request to Congress to provide financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $61.4 billion for a year. However, this funding has not yet been approved. Earlier in January, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Washington was not currently working on new military aid packages to Ukraine.

The day before, French President Emmanuel Macron called on European countries to be ready to fully support Ukraine if the United States reduces or stops aid to Kyiv.

The EU is discussing the creation of a military assistance fund for Ukraine in the amount of EUR 5 billion. It should transform the European Peace Facility: now the emphasis will be not on using existing arsenals, but on acquiring new weapons through joint contracts. The topic of the fund should be discussed by EU leaders at the summit on February 1.
Leuthold Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Nucor Co. (NYSE:NUE  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 20,890 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $3,266,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in Nucor by 127,059.1% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 155,232,061 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $20,461,138,000 after purchasing an additional 155,109,984 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its position in Nucor by 101,409.0% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,646,476 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $269,989,000 after purchasing an additional 1,644,854 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its position in Nucor by 30.0% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 4,247,626 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $559,880,000 after purchasing an additional 979,824 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Nucor during the 4th quarter valued at $111,725,000. Finally, Imprint Wealth LLC raised its position in Nucor by 21,987.3% during the 2nd quarter. Imprint Wealth LLC now owns 528,992 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $52,899,000 after purchasing an additional 526,597 shares in the last quarter. 77.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently commented on NUE. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Nucor from $162.00 to $154.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. StockNews.com lowered Nucor from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, December 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Nucor from $151.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. Finally, UBS Group initiated coverage on Nucor in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. They issued a buy rating and a $210.00 price target for the company. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $174.43.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Nucor news, CEO Leon J. Topalian sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.28, for a total transaction of $2,644,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 140,558 shares in the company, valued at $24,777,564.24. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Nucor news, CEO Leon J. Topalian sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.28, for a total transaction of $2,644,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 140,558 shares in the company, valued at $24,777,564.24. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Douglas J. Jellison sold 11,491 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.83, for a total value of $2,031,953.53. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 127,615 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,566,160.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 71,830 shares of company stock worth $12,647,513. 0.46% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Nucor Stock Performance

Shares of NUE stock traded up $12.25 on Tuesday, hitting $188.89. The company had a trading volume of 3,641,523 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,630,166. The firm has a market cap of $46.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.42 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $169.59 and a 200-day moving average price of $163.40. The company has a quick ratio of 2.50, a current ratio of 3.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Nucor Co. has a twelve month low of $129.79 and a twelve month high of $190.74.

Nucor (NYSE:NUE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, January 29th. The basic materials company reported $3.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.83 by $0.33. The business had revenue of $7.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.64 billion. Nucor had a return on equity of 24.38% and a net margin of 13.98%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 11.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $4.89 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Nucor Co. will post 17.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Nucor Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 29th will be given a dividend of $0.54 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 28th. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.14%. This is an increase from Nucors previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. Nucors dividend payout ratio is currently 10.95%.

Nucor Company Profile

(Free Report)

Nucor Corporation engages in manufacture and sale of steel and steel products. The company's Steel Mills segment produces hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and galvanized sheet steel products; plate steel products; wide-flange beams, beam blanks, and H-piling and sheet piling products; and bar steel products, such as blooms, billets, concrete reinforcing and merchant bars, and engineered special bar quality products.

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The a2 Milk Company Limited (OTCMKTS:ACOPF  Get Free Report)s stock price was up 1% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $3.10 and last traded at $3.10. Approximately 1,095 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 46% from the average daily volume of 2,026 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.07.

a2 Milk Stock Up 1.0 %

The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $2.73 and a 200-day simple moving average of $2.81.

About a2 Milk

(Get Free Report)

The a2 Milk Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, sells A2 protein type branded milk and related products in Australia, New Zealand, China, other Asian countries, and the United States. The company also engages in the manufacturing and sale of nutritional and commodity products. It offers its products under the a2 Milk and a2 Platinum brands.

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American Assets Trust, Inc. (NYSE:AAT  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,460,000 shares, an increase of 5.0% from the December 31st total of 1,390,000 shares. Currently, 4.1% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 389,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.7 days.

Institutional Trading of American Assets Trust

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AAT. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in shares of American Assets Trust by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 11,476,222 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $213,343,000 after purchasing an additional 609,764 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in American Assets Trust by 3.8% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 8,388,060 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $215,741,000 after acquiring an additional 310,320 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of American Assets Trust by 0.5% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,170,762 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $94,172,000 after buying an additional 16,207 shares in the last quarter. LSV Asset Management raised its position in American Assets Trust by 26.3% during the third quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 1,666,543 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $32,414,000 after purchasing an additional 346,937 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of American Assets Trust by 77.5% during the second quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 1,638,865 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $31,466,000 after buying an additional 715,429 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.44% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently commented on AAT. StockNews.com initiated coverage on American Assets Trust in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Mizuho increased their price objective on American Assets Trust from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th.

American Assets Trust Price Performance

Shares of AAT traded down $0.81 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $22.43. The stock had a trading volume of 542,975 shares, compared to its average volume of 318,261. American Assets Trust has a 52 week low of $16.04 and a 52 week high of $29.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 2.63 and a quick ratio of 2.63. The company has a market capitalization of $1.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.99 and a beta of 1.27. The firms 50 day moving average price is $22.22 and its 200-day moving average price is $20.86.

American Assets Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

American Assets Trust, Inc is a full service, vertically integrated and self-administered real estate investment trust ("REIT"), headquartered in San Diego, California. The company has over 55 years of experience in acquiring, improving, developing and managing premier office, retail, and residential properties throughout the United States in some of the nation's most dynamic, high-barrier-to-entry markets primarily in Southern California, Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Texas and Hawaii.

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Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE:AMP  Get Free Report) CEO William F. Truscott sold 9,689 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $390.22, for a total transaction of $3,780,841.58. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 12,126 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,731,807.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website.

Ameriprise Financial Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:AMP traded up $0.55 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $393.66. The stock had a trading volume of 390,184 shares, compared to its average volume of 570,332. Ameriprise Financial, Inc. has a 52 week low of $275.09 and a 52 week high of $402.64. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $371.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $348.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 0.56 and a quick ratio of 0.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.84 billion, a PE ratio of 16.60, a P/E/G ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.40.

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Ameriprise Financial (NYSE:AMP  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The financial services provider reported $7.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $7.67 by $0.08. Ameriprise Financial had a net margin of 16.27% and a return on equity of 77.39%. The company had revenue of $3.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $6.94 earnings per share. Ameriprise Financials quarterly revenue was up 9.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Ameriprise Financial, Inc. will post 34 earnings per share for the current year.

Ameriprise Financial Announces Dividend

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th will be paid a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 8th. Ameriprise Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.78%.

Several research firms recently weighed in on AMP. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Ameriprise Financial from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $355.00 to $452.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Evercore ISI cut shares of Ameriprise Financial from an outperform rating to an in-line rating and increased their target price for the company from $385.00 to $400.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Ameriprise Financial from $440.00 to $445.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of Ameriprise Financial from $410.00 to $420.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Ameriprise Financial from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $416.25.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on AMP

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of AMP. Signaturefd LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ameriprise Financial by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,238 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $738,000 after buying an additional 31 shares during the period. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. increased its stake in shares of Ameriprise Financial by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 2,969 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,128,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the last quarter. Motco increased its stake in shares of Ameriprise Financial by 15.6% during the 2nd quarter. Motco now owns 237 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $79,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Ameriprise Financial by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,872 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,286,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. increased its stake in shares of Ameriprise Financial by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 2,176 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $827,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.62% of the companys stock.

About Ameriprise Financial

(Get Free Report)

Ameriprise Financial, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services to individual and institutional clients in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Advice & Wealth Management, Asset Management, Retirement & Protection Solutions, and Corporate & Other.

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AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN  Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of 106.03 ($134.79) and traded as high as 106.14 ($134.94). AstraZeneca shares last traded at 105.68 ($134.35), with a volume of 2,345,376 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an overweight rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a 125 ($158.91) target price on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th. Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on AstraZeneca from 130 ($165.27) to 125 ($158.91) and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, AstraZeneca has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of 118.95 ($151.22).

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View Our Latest Analysis on AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca Trading Down 0.8 %

Insiders Place Their Bets

The company has a fifty day simple moving average of 104.39 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of 106.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 79.40. The company has a market cap of 162.75 billion, a PE ratio of 3,523.49, a P/E/G ratio of 0.50 and a beta of 0.16.

In other AstraZeneca news, insider Anna Manz acquired 487 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of 101.90 ($129.54) per share, for a total transaction of 49,625.30 ($63,088.35). In other news, insider Anna Manz purchased 487 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were purchased at an average price of 101.90 ($129.54) per share, for a total transaction of 49,625.30 ($63,088.35). Also, insider Michel Demare purchased 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 22nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of 101.70 ($129.29) per share, for a total transaction of 101,700 ($129,290.62). 0.21% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About AstraZeneca

(Get Free Report)

AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, andcommercialization of prescription medicines. The company's marketed products include Calquence, Enhertu, Faslodex, Imfinzi, Iressa, Koselugo, Lumoxiti, Lynparza, Orpathys, Tagrisso, and Zoladex for oncology; Andexxa/Ondexxya, Atacand, Atacand HCT, Atacand Plus, Brilinta/Brilique, Bydureon/Byetta, BCise, Byetta, Crestor, Evrenzo, Farxiga/Forxiga, Komboglyze/Kombiglyze XR, Lokelma, Onglyza, Qtern, Xigduo/Xigduo, and Zestril XR for cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism diseases; Accolate, Accoleit, Vanticon, Bevespi Aerosphere, Breztri Aerosphere, Bricanyl Respules and Turbuhaler, Daliresp/Daxas, Duaklir Genuair, Fasenra, Pulmicort, Rhinocort, Saphnelo, Symbicort, and Tezspire for respiratory and immunology; and Kanuma, Soliris, Strensiq, and Ultomiris for rare diseases.

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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA  Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Monday. The bank reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by $0.02, MarketWatch Earnings reports. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria had a net margin of 26.36% and a return on equity of 14.46%.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Stock Up 5.6 %

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria stock traded up $0.50 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $9.35. The company had a trading volume of 1,287,538 shares, compared to its average volume of 863,722. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The firms fifty day moving average is $9.08 and its 200-day moving average is $8.35. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria has a fifty-two week low of $6.24 and a fifty-two week high of $9.52.

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Institutional Trading of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BBVA. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its position in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 124.8% in the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 6,859 shares of the banks stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 3,808 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 120.9% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 11,037 shares of the banks stock worth $49,000 after buying an additional 6,040 shares during the period. Savant Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria during the 4th quarter worth $58,000. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL bought a new stake in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria during the 4th quarter worth $68,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers bought a new stake in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria during the 1st quarter worth $72,000. 2.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on BBVA shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. Finally, Barclays upgraded shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, October 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides retail banking, wholesale banking, and asset management services. It offers current accounts; and demand, savings, overnight, time, term, and subordinated deposits. The company also provides loan products; deals in securities; leasing, factoring, brokerage, and asset management services; and manages pension and investment funds.

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Another 20,000 Ukrainian soldiers to undergo training in EU countries by end of summer  Borrell

EU defense ministers at an informal meeting in Brussels agreed on Wednesday to train an additional 20,000 military personnel for the Ukrainian army, Head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell has said.

At a press conference Borrell said EU officials have almost completed the mission of training almost 40,000 soldiers for the Ukrainian army. Now they have agreed to add another 20,000 soldiers to this number, so a total of 60,000 soldiers will be trained, he said.

According to him, this number will be reached by the end of the summer.

At the end of November, the EU Council decided to provide additional funding of EUR 194 million for the training of Ukrainian military personnel as part of the EU military assistance mission to Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine).

"Such support will be granted through the European Peace Facility (EPF) and take the form of necessary lethal and non-lethal equipment and supplies, as well as services to back the training activities," the council said in a communique issued in Brussels.

"The financial amount is increased by EUR 194 million totalling EUR 255 million," accoding to the document.

It emphasized that the purpose of this decision is to "continue supporting the capacity building of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by EUMAM, based on Ukrainian needs and taking into account the increasing scope and complexity of the training curriculum."
Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,930,000 shares, a growth of 19.3% from the December 31st total of 5,810,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 3,170,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.2 days. Approximately 1.3% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Operose Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Centene in the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Centene during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. purchased a new position in Centene during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Centene in the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in shares of Centene during the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.92% of the companys stock.

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Centene Trading Up 1.1 %

Centene stock traded up $0.80 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $74.86. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,197,576 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,034,527. Centene has a one year low of $60.83 and a one year high of $79.83. The stock has a market cap of $39.99 billion, a PE ratio of 16.82, a P/E/G ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a 50 day moving average of $75.11 and a 200-day moving average of $70.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 1.12.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on CNC shares. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price target on Centene from $82.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, December 15th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Centene from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the company from $82.00 to $90.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Centene in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Centene from $72.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Finally, Truist Financial raised their price target on Centene from $83.00 to $86.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Centene presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $84.47.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Centene

Centene Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Centene Corporation operates as a healthcare enterprise that provides programs and services to under-insured and uninsured families, commercial organizations, and military families in the United States. It operates in two segments, Managed Care and Specialty Services. The Managed Care segment offers health plan coverage to individuals through government subsidized programs, including Medicaid, the State children's health insurance program, long-term services and support, foster care, and medicare-medicaid plans, which cover dually eligible individuals, as well as aged, blind, or disabled programs.

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Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL (NYSE:ELP  Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $7.29 and traded as high as $8.16. Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL shares last traded at $8.05, with a volume of 378,582 shares trading hands.

Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL Stock Up 2.0 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 1.46. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $8.01 and its 200-day simple moving average is $7.30.

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Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL (NYSE:ELP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 8th. The utilities provider reported $0.02 earnings per share for the quarter. Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL had a net margin of 9.27% and a return on equity of 9.18%. The business had revenue of $1.14 billion during the quarter. As a group, analysts anticipate that Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL will post 0.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL

About Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new stake in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL in the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. Citigroup Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. UBS Group AG lifted its position in Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL by 2,558.9% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 5,557 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 5,348 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL during the 1st quarter worth about $46,000. Finally, Ronald Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL by 36.8% during the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 6,318 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 1,700 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 3.98% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

Companhia Paranaense de Energia  COPEL engages in the generation, transformation, distribution, and sale of electricity to industrial, residential, commercial, rural, and other customers in Brazil. The company operates through Power Generation and Transmission, Power Distribution, Power Sale, and Gas segments.

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Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE:CMP  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,230,000 shares, an increase of 19.3% from the December 31st total of 1,870,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 485,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.6 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on CMP shares. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of Compass Minerals International from $75.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Compass Minerals International from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the company from $36.00 to $24.00 in a report on Monday, November 20th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Compass Minerals International from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Friday, November 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $46.80.

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Compass Minerals International Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of CMP traded down $0.23 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $23.50. The stock had a trading volume of 779,079 shares, compared to its average volume of 646,193. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 2.15 and a quick ratio of 0.73. The businesss fifty day moving average is $23.82 and its 200 day moving average is $27.45. Compass Minerals International has a 52-week low of $18.88 and a 52-week high of $47.68. The firm has a market cap of $968.44 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 65.28, a P/E/G ratio of 0.50 and a beta of 1.25.

Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 16th. The basic materials company reported ($0.06) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.14 by ($0.20). The firm had revenue of $233.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $234.84 million. Compass Minerals International had a net margin of 1.29% and a return on equity of 4.00%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Compass Minerals International will post 0.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Compass Minerals International Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 11th were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 8th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.55%. Compass Minerals Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 166.67%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Joseph E. Reece bought 5,000 shares of Compass Minerals International stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of $21.24 per share, with a total value of $106,200.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 16,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $339,840. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.51% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Compass Minerals International

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CMP. Raymond James & Associates raised its holdings in Compass Minerals International by 123.8% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 15,171 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $953,000 after buying an additional 8,391 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Compass Minerals International by 8.6% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 13,269 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $833,000 after acquiring an additional 1,048 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Compass Minerals International by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 10,615 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $667,000 after acquiring an additional 284 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Compass Minerals International by 40.0% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,327 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $209,000 after acquiring an additional 950 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can boosted its position in shares of Compass Minerals International by 12.4% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 53,798 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $3,410,000 after purchasing an additional 5,926 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.79% of the companys stock.

Compass Minerals International Company Profile

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Compass Minerals International, Inc, provides essential minerals in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Salt and Plant Nutrition. The Salt segment produces, markets, and sells sodium chloride and magnesium chloride, including rock salt, mechanically and solar evaporated salt, and brine and flake magnesium chloride products; and purchases potassium chloride and calcium chloride to sell as finished products or to blend with sodium chloride to produce specialty products.

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Cranswick plc (OTCMKTS:CRWKF  Get Free Report)s stock price traded down 0.6% on Monday . The company traded as low as C$36.19 and last traded at C$36.19. 13 shares were traded during mid-day trading, The stock had previously closed at C$36.40.

Cranswick Price Performance

The businesss 50-day moving average price is C$36.19 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$36.29.

About Cranswick

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Cranswick plc manufactures and supplies food products to grocery retailers, food service sector, and other food producers in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and internationally. The company offers fresh pork, gourmet bacon and gammon, fresh and coated chicken, ready to eat chicken, charcuterie, houmous and dips, and olives and antipasti, gourmet sausages, cooked meats, and gourmet pastries, as well as provides food services.

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Lazari Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN  Free Report) by 28.0% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 7,786 shares of the energy companys stock after buying an additional 1,701 shares during the quarter. Lazari Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Devon Energy were worth $371,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. CENTRAL TRUST Co lifted its position in shares of Devon Energy by 21.1% during the 2nd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 8,881 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $429,000 after acquiring an additional 1,550 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Devon Energy by 3.6% in the second quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 67,064 shares of the energy companys stock worth $3,242,000 after acquiring an additional 2,302 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Europe London LLP acquired a new position in shares of Devon Energy in the second quarter worth $15,068,000. National Bank of Canada FI increased its stake in shares of Devon Energy by 548.8% in the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 840,334 shares of the energy companys stock worth $38,356,000 after acquiring an additional 710,811 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC increased its stake in shares of Devon Energy by 224.8% in the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 151,305 shares of the energy companys stock worth $7,217,000 after acquiring an additional 104,716 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.34% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Mizuho lowered their target price on shares of Devon Energy from $54.00 to $53.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Truist Financial lowered their target price on shares of Devon Energy from $68.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Devon Energy from $50.00 to $48.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on shares of Devon Energy from $60.00 to $55.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. Finally, Pickering Energy Partners upgraded shares of Devon Energy from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Devon Energy currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $56.65.

Devon Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE DVN traded down $1.05 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $42.27. 4,309,090 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,421,589. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 0.96. The company has a market cap of $27.08 billion, a PE ratio of 7.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.16 and a beta of 2.20. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $44.25 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $47.25. Devon Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $40.51 and a 1-year high of $64.40.

Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 7th. The energy company reported $1.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.56 by $0.09. Devon Energy had a net margin of 24.63% and a return on equity of 33.97%. The firm had revenue of $3.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.03 billion. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Devon Energy Co. will post 5.67 EPS for the current year.

Devon Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 15th were paid a dividend of $0.77 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 14th. This represents a $3.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.29%. This is an increase from Devon Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. Devon Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 13.68%.

Devon Energy Company Profile

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Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It operates in Delaware, Anadarko, Williston, Eagle Ford, and Powder River Basin. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Great Wall Motor Company Limited (OTCMKTS:GWLLY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,600 shares, a growth of 18.2% from the December 31st total of 2,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 4,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.6 days.

Great Wall Motor Trading Down 0.6 %

GWLLY stock traded down $0.06 on Tuesday, reaching $10.14. 388 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,468. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $12.75 and a 200-day moving average of $12.76. Great Wall Motor has a twelve month low of $10.00 and a twelve month high of $15.79.

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Great Wall Motor Company Profile

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Further Reading

Great Wall Motor Company Limited researches and develops, manufactures, and sells automobiles, and automotive parts and components in China, Russia, South Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Chile, and internationally. The company offers SUVs, sedans, pick-up trucks, and energy vehicles primarily under the Haval, WEY, ORA, Tank, and Great Wall Pickup brand names.

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MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM  Get Free Report) Director Mitchell Jacobson sold 137,716 shares of MSC Industrial Direct stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.66, for a total transaction of $13,449,344.56. Following the sale, the director now owns 1,708,311 shares of the companys stock, valued at $166,833,652.26. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Mitchell Jacobson also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Friday, January 26th, Mitchell Jacobson sold 18,746 shares of MSC Industrial Direct stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.63, for a total transaction of $1,830,171.98.

On Monday, January 22nd, Mitchell Jacobson sold 51,040 shares of MSC Industrial Direct stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.31, for a total transaction of $4,966,702.40.

MSC Industrial Direct Stock Up 1.9 %

MSC Industrial Direct stock traded up $1.86 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $99.65. The stock had a trading volume of 330,807 shares, compared to its average volume of 533,445. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. has a 52-week low of $77.99 and a 52-week high of $105.77. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $98.44 and a 200 day moving average price of $98.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 2.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The stock has a market cap of $5.62 billion, a PE ratio of 16.95 and a beta of 0.97.

MSC Industrial Direct Announces Dividend

MSC Industrial Direct ( NYSE:MSM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 9th. The industrial products company reported $1.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.30 by ($0.05). MSC Industrial Direct had a return on equity of 23.46% and a net margin of 8.27%. The firm had revenue of $954.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $971.31 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.48 EPS. The firms revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. will post 5.91 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 23rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 9th were paid a $0.83 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, January 8th. This represents a $3.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.33%. MSC Industrial Directs dividend payout ratio is currently 56.46%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MSM. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its position in shares of MSC Industrial Direct by 4.5% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 9,923 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,005,000 after buying an additional 423 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its position in shares of MSC Industrial Direct by 62.6% during the 4th quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 3,451 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $349,000 after buying an additional 1,329 shares during the last quarter. Bison Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of MSC Industrial Direct by 7.3% during the 4th quarter. Bison Wealth LLC now owns 2,685 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $272,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System purchased a new stake in shares of MSC Industrial Direct during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,316,000. Finally, WCM Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MSC Industrial Direct during the 4th quarter worth approximately $220,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.51% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on MSM shares. KeyCorp dropped their price objective on shares of MSC Industrial Direct from $105.00 to $102.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Loop Capital upgraded shares of MSC Industrial Direct from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $96.00 to $124.00 in a report on Monday, October 9th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of MSC Industrial Direct in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, MSC Industrial Direct has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $105.00.

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About MSC Industrial Direct

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MSC Industrial Direct Co, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products and services in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's MRO products include cutting tools, measuring instruments, tooling components, metalworking products, fasteners, flat stock products, raw materials, abrasives, machinery hand and power tools, safety and janitorial supplies, plumbing supplies, materials handling products, power transmission components, and electrical supplies.

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German American Bancorp Inc. grew its stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWS  Free Report) by 1.8% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 46,680 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 808 shares during the period. German American Bancorp Inc.s holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF were worth $4,871,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in IWS. Accredited Investors Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF by 13.7% in the 3rd quarter. Accredited Investors Inc. now owns 57,979 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,049,000 after purchasing an additional 6,966 shares during the last quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF by 16.0% during the third quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 17,508 shares of the companys stock worth $1,827,000 after purchasing an additional 2,418 shares in the last quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc increased its position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF by 2.7% during the third quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc now owns 3,935 shares of the companys stock worth $411,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Atria Investments Inc increased its position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF by 3.6% during the third quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 27,472 shares of the companys stock worth $2,866,000 after purchasing an additional 965 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF by 1.6% during the third quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 33,567 shares of the companys stock worth $3,503,000 after purchasing an additional 524 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF Stock Down 0.1 %

IWS stock traded down $0.17 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $115.84. The company had a trading volume of 321,564 shares, compared to its average volume of 511,365. The firm has a market cap of $13.41 billion, a PE ratio of 12.62 and a beta of 1.08. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF has a 1-year low of $97.40 and a 1-year high of $117.18. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $113.09 and a 200-day moving average price of $109.20.

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF Profile

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell Midcap Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell Midcap Value Index (the Value Index). The Value Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization value sector of the United States equity market.

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Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (NYSE:KFS  Get Free Report) (TSE:KFS)s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $8.01 and traded as high as $8.94. Kingsway Financial Services shares last traded at $8.84, with a volume of 11,667 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com lowered shares of Kingsway Financial Services from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, October 31st.

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Kingsway Financial Services Stock Down 0.9 %

The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $8.17 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $8.01.

Kingsway Financial Services (NYSE:KFS  Get Free Report) (TSE:KFS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 7th. The insurance provider reported ($0.04) earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $24.79 million for the quarter. Kingsway Financial Services had a negative return on equity of 42.04% and a net margin of 16.64%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of KFS. California State Teachers Retirement System acquired a new position in shares of Kingsway Financial Services in the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Kingsway Financial Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its holdings in shares of Kingsway Financial Services by 4,215.4% in the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 4,488 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 4,384 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC acquired a new position in shares of Kingsway Financial Services in the 2nd quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, American International Group Inc. acquired a new position in Kingsway Financial Services during the 2nd quarter valued at about $42,000. 68.65% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Kingsway Financial Services Company Profile

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Kingsway Financial Services Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the extended warranty and business services in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Extended Warranty and Kingsway Search Xcelerator. The Extended Warranty segment markets, sells, and administers vehicle service agreements and related products for new and used automobiles, motorcycles, and ATVs.

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Leuthold Group LLC lessened its holdings in TFI International Inc. (NYSE:TFII  Free Report) by 1.8% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 28,178 shares of the companys stock after selling 517 shares during the quarter. Leuthold Group LLCs holdings in TFI International were worth $3,618,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. QV Investors Inc. increased its stake in TFI International by 14.0% in the 2nd quarter. QV Investors Inc. now owns 382,088 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,581,000 after buying an additional 47,058 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in TFI International by 11.8% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 355,237 shares of the companys stock worth $40,483,000 after buying an additional 37,443 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in TFI International by 9.8% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 277,978 shares of the companys stock worth $31,698,000 after buying an additional 24,872 shares during the period. Amundi boosted its holdings in TFI International by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 161,222 shares of the companys stock worth $17,286,000 after buying an additional 9,262 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in TFI International by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 132,859 shares of the companys stock worth $12,022,000 after buying an additional 1,208 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.32% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. National Bankshares cut their price objective on shares of TFI International from $191.00 to $178.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Desjardins cut their price target on shares of TFI International from $192.00 to $182.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of TFI International from $160.00 to $164.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of TFI International from $148.00 to $149.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $155.00 price target on shares of TFI International in a report on Monday. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $155.81.

TFI International Trading Down 2.3 %

NYSE:TFII traded down $3.20 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $133.36. The companys stock had a trading volume of 492,268 shares, compared to its average volume of 232,398. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.68, a PEG ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 1.52. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $126.43 and a 200-day simple moving average of $125.13. TFI International Inc. has a 1 year low of $100.96 and a 1 year high of $138.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.23.

TFI International Profile

(Free Report)

TFI International Inc provides transportation and logistics services in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company operates through Package and Courier, Less-Than-Truckload (LTL), Truckload (TL), and Logistics segments. The Package and Courier segment engages in the pickup, transport, and delivery of items.

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In light of the launch of an investigation by the European Parliament into the case against Latvian MEP Tatjana Zhdanoka, who is suspected of spying for Russia, Latvian MEPs from different political groups in a letter to EU President Roberta Metsola warn that there are others like Zhdanoka.

The text of the letter, dated January 30, was transferred to Interfax-Ukraine. It was signed by Sandra Kalniete (a group of European populists), Roberts Zile (a group of European conservatives) and Ivars Ijabs (a group of reformists and liberals).

"Crucially, we are convinced that Zdanoka is not an isolated case. There are other MEPs besides her knowingly serving Russias interests, as reflected by their public interventions, voting record, organised events, as well as covert activities, even after the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Their activities are undermining the security, credibility, and democratic resilience of the EU," according to the letter.

The signatories expressed confidence that the Green group, of which Zhdanoka previously belonged, should bear "a degree of responsibility for long-term cooperation, financial support, and informational exchange with Zdanoka." "Zdanoka was only expelled from the group at the beginning of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Her naked sympathy for dictatorslike Putin and Assad was thinly veiled as a struggle for human rights, anti-fascism and anti-Nazism. At last, we cannot tolerate a delayed EP response in light of this weeks revelations. We demand a strong and swift EP reaction, clear communication of the EP position and investigation by the Advisory committee on the Code of Conduct, as well as stricter scrutiny for event organisation and invited speakers, guests, accessibility of EP communication platforms, and political conformity with the EP position of involved staff and accredited assistants. We expect real considerations and practical changes in the EP code of conduct to prevent similar cases in future EP mandates," the EP members listed their demands.

Commenting directly on the information released, according to which Zhdanoka is accused of espionage activities in favor of Russia, the signatories stated that they were "not surprised in the least." "We have never doubted Zdanokas true allegiance, and for many years, we have sought to prevent her various foreign interference activities using the available EP instruments. For context, in the late 1980s, Zdanoka became one of the leaders of the Interfront, an organisation established by Moscow to counter Latvias independence movement. Since then, all her activities have been deliberately and systematically directed against the restoration and the integrity of Latvian statehood. Since the restoration of Latvias independence, all active members of the Soviet communist party, including Zdanoka, have been barred from participating in national and local elections. Since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she has also been barred from participating in EP elections," the MEPs said.
OmniStar Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 17,341 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 376 shares during the period. Philip Morris International accounts for approximately 1.9% of OmniStar Financial Group Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest position. OmniStar Financial Group Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $1,610,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. raised its stake in Philip Morris International by 9.1% in the third quarter. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. now owns 44,283 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,046,000 after buying an additional 3,687 shares during the period. Alpha DNA Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Philip Morris International during the third quarter worth approximately $1,771,000. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC grew its position in Philip Morris International by 17.9% during the third quarter. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC now owns 28,259 shares of the companys stock worth $2,616,000 after buying an additional 4,289 shares in the last quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 26,532 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,456,000 after purchasing an additional 469 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Metis Global Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 47,763 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,422,000 after purchasing an additional 1,324 shares in the last quarter. 79.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Philip Morris International Price Performance

PM stock traded up $0.05 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $91.75. The company had a trading volume of 6,120,487 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,768,986. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $87.23 and a 52 week high of $105.62. The business has a 50 day moving average of $93.58 and a 200 day moving average of $93.90. The company has a market cap of $142.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.80, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.67.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 21st were issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 20th. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 100.97%.

PM has been the subject of a number of research reports. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. They issued a neutral rating and a $95.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $113.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. UBS Group downgraded Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and reduced their target price for the company from $105.00 to $86.50 in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. StockNews.com started coverage on Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus restated a buy rating and issued a $114.00 target price on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Philip Morris International presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $107.39.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Philip Morris International

Insider Activity

In other Philip Morris International news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total value of $942,500.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 198,447 shares in the company, valued at $18,703,629.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.15% of the companys stock.

Philip Morris International Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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Leuthold Group LLC lessened its stake in Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:PAG  Free Report) by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 37,002 shares of the companys stock after selling 683 shares during the period. Leuthold Group LLCs holdings in Penske Automotive Group were worth $6,182,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of PAG. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Penske Automotive Group by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 120,271 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,272,000 after buying an additional 2,842 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in shares of Penske Automotive Group by 9.7% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 32,424 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,039,000 after buying an additional 2,877 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its position in Penske Automotive Group by 1.2% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 307,996 shares of the companys stock worth $28,864,000 after purchasing an additional 3,730 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Penske Automotive Group by 1.7% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 8,367 shares of the companys stock worth $784,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. boosted its position in Penske Automotive Group by 3.5% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 25,355 shares of the companys stock worth $2,376,000 after purchasing an additional 860 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 27.26% of the companys stock.

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Penske Automotive Group Price Performance

Shares of Penske Automotive Group stock traded up $0.07 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $156.04. 141,507 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 158,076. The business has a 50-day moving average of $154.48 and a 200 day moving average of $158.37. Penske Automotive Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $125.07 and a fifty-two week high of $180.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.49 billion, a PE ratio of 9.25, a PEG ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a quick ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34.

Penske Automotive Group Increases Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, February 15th will be issued a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.23%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 14th. This is a boost from Penske Automotive Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. Penske Automotive Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.75%.

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on PAG shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Penske Automotive Group in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Benchmark reiterated a buy rating and set a $196.00 price target on shares of Penske Automotive Group in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Penske Automotive Group from $145.00 to $140.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $166.60.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on PAG

Insider Activity at Penske Automotive Group

In related news, Director Sandra E. Pierce sold 8,750 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.62, for a total value of $1,326,675.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 20,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,108,210. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 46.60% of the companys stock.

Penske Automotive Group Profile

(Free Report)

Penske Automotive Group, Inc, a diversified transportation services company, operates automotive and commercial truck dealerships in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Retail Automotive, Retail Commercial Truck, Other, and Non-Automotive Investments. It operates dealerships under franchise agreements with various automotive manufacturers and distributors.

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Qsemble Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 32,334 shares of the transportation companys stock, valued at approximately $2,882,000. Qsemble Capital Management LP owned approximately 0.08% of Copa as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CPA. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in Copa by 16.2% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 1,083 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $92,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Copa in the 1st quarter worth $435,000. Prudential Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Copa in the 1st quarter worth $4,152,000. First Trust Advisors LP acquired a new stake in shares of Copa in the 1st quarter worth $1,904,000. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Copa by 96.9% in the 1st quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 1,693 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $141,000 after acquiring an additional 833 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.94% of the companys stock.

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Copa Trading Up 0.3 %

Copa stock traded up $0.29 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $97.47. 92,709 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 363,803. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $98.79 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $96.88. Copa Holdings, S.A. has a 12-month low of $78.12 and a 12-month high of $121.20. The firm has a market cap of $3.84 billion, a PE ratio of 9.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55.

Copa Announces Dividend

Copa ( NYSE:CPA Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, November 16th. The transportation company reported $4.39 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.62 by $0.77. The company had revenue of $867.71 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $870.57 million. Copa had a return on equity of 39.91% and a net margin of 12.07%. Copas revenue for the quarter was up 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.91 EPS. Research analysts expect that Copa Holdings, S.A. will post 16.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 30th were paid a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 29th. Copas payout ratio is presently 31.36%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. TheStreet raised Copa from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Raymond James raised their price objective on Copa from $152.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Copa from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Copa

About Copa

(Free Report)

Copa Holdings, SA, through its subsidiaries, provides airline passenger and cargo services. The company offers approximately 327 daily scheduled flights to 78 destinations in 32 countries in North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean from its Panama City hub. As of December 31, 2022, it operated a fleet of 97 aircraft comprising 67 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, 9 Boeing 737-700 Next Generation aircraft, 1 Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter, and 20 737-MAX aircraft.

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Qsemble Capital Management LP purchased a new position in Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE:JCI  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 73,400 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,906,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in Johnson Controls International in the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. Certified Advisory Corp bought a new position in shares of Johnson Controls International in the first quarter worth about $26,000. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Johnson Controls International by 145.4% during the second quarter. BDO Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 427 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 253 shares in the last quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Johnson Controls International during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Johnson Controls International during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 88.64% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Johnson Controls International

In other Johnson Controls International news, CEO George Oliver sold 103,332 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.30, for a total value of $5,404,263.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 980,403 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,275,076.90. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 103,892 shares of company stock valued at $5,435,042. 0.69% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Johnson Controls International Trading Down 3.5 %

Shares of NYSE:JCI traded down $1.90 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $52.59. 5,726,822 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,407,754. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.24. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $55.21 and a 200-day moving average price of $56.22. Johnson Controls International plc has a 1 year low of $47.90 and a 1 year high of $70.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.72.

Johnson Controls International (NYSE:JCI  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The company reported $0.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.51. The company had revenue of $6.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.94 billion. Johnson Controls International had a return on equity of 13.85% and a net margin of 6.90%. Johnson Controls Internationals revenue was up .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.67 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Johnson Controls International plc will post 3.66 earnings per share for the current year.

Johnson Controls International Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 12th. Investors of record on Monday, December 18th were issued a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 15th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.81%. Johnson Controls Internationals payout ratio is 55.02%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have weighed in on JCI. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and issued a $60.00 price target (down from $65.00) on shares of Johnson Controls International in a research note on Wednesday. UBS Group cut their price target on Johnson Controls International from $80.00 to $74.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. Melius Research reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Johnson Controls International in a report on Tuesday. Oppenheimer reissued an outperform rating and issued a $66.00 target price on shares of Johnson Controls International in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Johnson Controls International from $58.00 to $61.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $62.64.

Get Our Latest Analysis on JCI

Johnson Controls International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Johnson Controls International plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in engineering, manufacturing, commissioning, and retrofitting building products and systems in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates in four segments: Building Solutions North America, Building Solutions EMEA/LA, Building Solutions Asia Pacific, and Global Products.

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Razor Energy Corp. (OTCMKTS:RZREF  Get Free Report) shares were down 17.3% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $0.01 and last traded at $0.12. Approximately 320,657 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 394% from the average daily volume of 64,869 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.15.

Razor Energy Price Performance

The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $0.23 and a 200 day simple moving average of $0.37.

About Razor Energy

(Get Free Report)

Razor Energy Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas properties in western Canada. The Company produces primarily light oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in Alberta. It operates assets in the Swan Hills area covering 155,520 gross acres of total land and the Kaybob area covering 84,320 gross acres of total land located in the west central Alberta, as well as the District South area covering 79,093 gross acres of total land located in the southern Alberta.

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Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR  Get Free Report) (TSE:QSR) had its price objective upped by equities researchers at Piper Sandler from $72.00 to $85.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage presently has a neutral rating on the restaurant operators stock. Piper Sandlers price objective would suggest a potential upside of 7.88% from the stocks current price.

Several other analysts have also weighed in on QSR. Barclays cut their price objective on Restaurant Brands International from $86.00 to $75.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 23rd. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on Restaurant Brands International from $88.00 to $85.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 7th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Restaurant Brands International from $86.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, November 6th. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on Restaurant Brands International from $89.00 to $83.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price objective on Restaurant Brands International from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $80.04.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on Restaurant Brands International

Restaurant Brands International Stock Performance

QSR traded up $0.10 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $78.79. 623,284 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,168,335. The stock has a market cap of $24.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.22, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.97. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $75.30 and a 200 day moving average of $71.38. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.82. Restaurant Brands International has a 52 week low of $59.99 and a 52 week high of $79.94.

Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR  Get Free Report) (TSE:QSR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 3rd. The restaurant operator reported $0.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.85 by $0.05. Restaurant Brands International had a return on equity of 32.72% and a net margin of 13.22%. The company had revenue of $1.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.87 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.96 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Restaurant Brands International will post 3.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Restaurant Brands International

In related news, insider Duncan Fulton sold 1,218 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.23, for a total value of $89,194.14. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 14,330 shares in the company, valued at $1,049,385.90. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Restaurant Brands International news, insider Duncan Fulton sold 1,218 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.23, for a total transaction of $89,194.14. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 14,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,049,385.90. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Chairman J Patrick Doyle sold 40,783 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.97, for a total transaction of $2,853,586.51. Following the sale, the chairman now directly owns 62,503 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,373,334.91. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 74,657 shares of company stock worth $5,430,934. Insiders own 1.25% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Restaurant Brands International

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Pacifica Partners Inc. lifted its position in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 196.0% in the 4th quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 370 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 245 shares during the period. Missouri Trust & Investment Co bought a new position in shares of Restaurant Brands International during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Rise Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 88.3% during the 4th quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 371 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Oakworth Capital Inc. bought a new position in shares of Restaurant Brands International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp raised its stake in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 209.0% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 411 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 278 shares in the last quarter.

About Restaurant Brands International

(Get Free Report)

Restaurant Brands International Inc operates as a quick-service restaurant company in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Tim Hortons (TH), Burger King (BK), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (PLK), and Firehouse Subs (FHS). The company owns and franchises TH chain of donut/coffee/tea restaurants that offer blend coffee, tea, and espresso-based hot and cold specialty drinks; and fresh baked goods, including donuts, Timbits, bagels, muffins, cookies and pastries, grilled paninis, classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, and other food products.

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Shares of Rio Tinto Group (LON:RIO  Get Free Report) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 5,243.82 ($66.66) and traded as high as GBX 5,593 ($71.10). Rio Tinto Group shares last traded at GBX 5,578 ($70.91), with a volume of 1,278,197 shares trading hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have issued reports on RIO. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,100 ($64.84) to GBX 4,800 ($61.02) in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 6,000 ($76.28) price target on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Thursday, November 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Thursday, November 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Rio Tinto Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 6,000 ($76.28).

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on RIO

Rio Tinto Group Price Performance

Insider Buying and Selling at Rio Tinto Group

The company has a current ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 26.39. The company has a market cap of 68.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,328.13, a PEG ratio of -0.64 and a beta of 0.69. The businesss fifty day moving average is GBX 5,588.32 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 5,248.40.

In other Rio Tinto Group news, insider Jakob Stausholm sold 3,868 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 5,557 ($70.65), for a total transaction of 214,944.76 ($273,258.02). Insiders own 14.69% of the companys stock.

Rio Tinto Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. It offers aluminum, copper, iron ore, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, silver, molybdenum, and lithium. The company also owns and operates open pit and underground mines, refineries, smelters, and concentrator facilities, as well as power stations, research, and service facilities.

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ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence ETF (NYSEARCA:THNQ  Get Free Report) fell 0.9% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $42.33 and last traded at $42.46. 35,761 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 20% from the average session volume of 44,596 shares. The stock had previously closed at $42.83.

ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence ETF Stock Down 0.9 %

The firms 50-day moving average is $40.28 and its 200-day moving average is $36.94. The company has a market cap of $65.81 million, a PE ratio of 29.03 and a beta of 1.21.

ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence ETF Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The Robo Global Artificial Intelligence ETF (THNQ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence index. The fund tracks a global index of companies involved in developing the technology and the infrastructure of enabling artificial intelligence. THNQ was launched on May 11, 2020 and is managed by ROBO Global.

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CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CEIX  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,240,000 shares, an increase of 8.2% from the December 31st total of 2,070,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 497,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.5 days. Approximately 7.5% of the companys stock are sold short.

CONSOL Energy Stock Performance

CEIX traded up $1.71 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $95.39. 875,408 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 454,205. CONSOL Energy has a fifty-two week low of $49.35 and a fifty-two week high of $114.30. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $100.43 and a 200 day moving average price of $94.37. The company has a market capitalization of $2.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.77 and a beta of 1.80.

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CONSOL Energy (NYSE:CEIX  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 31st. The company reported $3.11 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.52 by ($1.41). The firm had revenue of $569.86 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $578.50 million. CONSOL Energy had a return on equity of 50.26% and a net margin of 27.06%. As a group, analysts predict that CONSOL Energy will post 18.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at CONSOL Energy

Hedge Funds Weigh In On CONSOL Energy

In related news, CEO James A. Brock sold 1,622 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.29, for a total transaction of $159,426.38. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 538,398 shares of the companys stock, valued at $52,919,139.42. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . In other news, CEO James A. Brock sold 1,622 shares of CONSOL Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.29, for a total value of $159,426.38. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 538,398 shares of the companys stock, valued at $52,919,139.42. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, CEO James A. Brock sold 6,669 shares of CONSOL Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.55, for a total transaction of $683,905.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 526,682 shares in the company, valued at approximately $54,011,239.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 11,625 shares of company stock valued at $1,176,732. 2.49% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of CONSOL Energy by 58.3% in the 4th quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 1,208,213 shares of the companys stock valued at $121,462,000 after purchasing an additional 445,155 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its position in CONSOL Energy by 17.5% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,740,648 shares of the companys stock worth $159,698,000 after acquiring an additional 407,651 shares during the last quarter. J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in CONSOL Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,922,000. Tejara Capital Ltd acquired a new position in CONSOL Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $17,904,000. Finally, Great Lakes Advisors LLC acquired a new position in CONSOL Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $17,457,000. 87.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About CONSOL Energy

(Get Free Report)

CONSOL Energy Inc produces and exports bituminous coal in the United States. It operates through Pennsylvania Mining Complex and CONSOL Marine Terminal segment. The company's Pennsylvania Mining Complex segment engages in mining, preparation, and marketing of bituminous coal to power generators, industrial end-users, and metallurgical end-users.

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Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:DHY  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 99,500 shares, a drop of 13.3% from the December 31st total of 114,700 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 365,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days.

Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund Price Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN:DHY remained flat at $1.97 during trading hours on Wednesday. 659,103 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 471,762. Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund has a one year low of $1.65 and a one year high of $2.04.

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Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 24th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 18th were given a dividend of $0.0155 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 17th. This represents a $0.19 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.44%.

Insider Activity

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund

In related news, CIO Thomas J. Flannery acquired 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 21st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $1.96 per share, for a total transaction of $39,200.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the executive now directly owns 215,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $421,400. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link . Insiders purchased 59,704 shares of company stock worth $118,005 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 14.35% of the companys stock.

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund by 7.6% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 279,600 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $610,000 after purchasing an additional 19,700 shares during the period. Centaurus Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund in the first quarter worth about $33,000. UBS Group AG increased its position in shares of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund by 145.4% in the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 31,275 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $68,000 after acquiring an additional 18,531 shares in the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund during the first quarter valued at approximately $90,000. Finally, Rivernorth Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $144,000. Institutional investors own 15.49% of the companys stock.

Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund, Inc is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It invests in the securities of companies across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in below-investment-grade corporate bonds with an average credit quality lower than BBB by Standard & Poor's and an average duration of 5.07 years.

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Ukrainian servicemen, who, as the Russian side claimed, were planned for exchange and allegedly died in the crash of an Il-76 military transport plane a week ago in Belgorod region, were absent from the exchange that took place on Wednesday, a representative of the Main Intelligence Agency Andriy Yusov told Voice of America.

As reported, on the morning of January 24, an Il-76 plane crashed near the Russian city of Belgorod, on board which, according to Russian media reports, could have been Ukrainian prisoners of war.

The Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said they do not have reliable information about who exactly was on board the Russian Il-76 aircraft, and believe that the situation may indicate deliberate actions by Russia aimed at creating a threat to the life and safety of prisoners. At the same time, the Main Intelligence Agency confirmed that an exchange of prisoners was supposed to take place on January 24, but it did not take place.

As the Main Intelligence Agency said, Ukraine, for its part, fulfilled all agreements to prepare for the exchange, and the Russian captured military personnel were delivered on time to the agreed point for the exchange, where they were safe. "At the same time, the Ukrainian side was not informed of the need to ensure the security of the airspace in the area of the city of Belgorod during a certain period of time, as has been done repeatedly in the past. Ukraine was not informed about the number of vehicles, routes and forms of delivery of prisoners," the intelligence service said.

On Wednesday, January 31, 207 Ukrainians were released from Russian captivity, almost half of whom were defenders of Mariupol.
Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. decreased its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK  Free Report) by 7.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,500 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 204 shares during the period. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co.s holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $710,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in ROK. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. BluePath Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, First Manhattan Co. raised its position in shares of Rockwell Automation by 150.0% during the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 125 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.84% of the companys stock.

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Rockwell Automation Stock Up 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE ROK traded up $2.64 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $307.26. The company had a trading volume of 759,486 shares, compared to its average volume of 580,382. The stock has a market capitalization of $35.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 1.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a 1-year low of $252.19 and a 1-year high of $348.52. The firms 50 day moving average is $295.39 and its 200-day moving average is $293.98.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Rockwell Automation ( NYSE:ROK Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The industrial products company reported $3.64 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.49 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $2.56 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.44 billion. Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 40.19% and a net margin of 15.32%. On average, analysts expect that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 12.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ROK has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Stephens restated an equal weight rating and issued a $350.00 price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. KeyCorp initiated coverage on shares of Rockwell Automation in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. They issued a sector weight rating for the company. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Rockwell Automation from $287.00 to $270.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Rockwell Automation from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price objective for the company from $280.00 to $357.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $312.31.

View Our Latest Analysis on ROK

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Blake D. Moret sold 6,644 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $279.68, for a total value of $1,858,193.92. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 73,715 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,616,611.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Rockwell Automation news, SVP Veena M. Lakkundi sold 597 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $257.14, for a total transaction of $153,512.58. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 2,805 shares in the company, valued at approximately $721,277.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Blake D. Moret sold 6,644 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $279.68, for a total value of $1,858,193.92. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 73,715 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,616,611.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 10,346 shares of company stock valued at $2,878,915. 0.68% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Rockwell Automation

(Free Report)

Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services.

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TransAlta Renewables Inc. (OTCMKTS:TRSWF  Get Free Report)s share price traded up 2.8% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $9.21 and last traded at $9.15. 28,900 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 225% from the average session volume of 8,885 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.90.

TransAlta Renewables Trading Up 2.8 %

The stock has a fifty day moving average of $9.15 and a 200 day moving average of $9.39.

TransAlta Renewables Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

TransAlta Renewables Inc owns, develops, and operates renewable and natural gas power generation facilities and other infrastructure assets in Canada, the United States, and Australia. The company operates through Canadian Wind, Canadian Hydro, Canadian Gas, US Wind and Solar, US Gas, and Australian Gas segments.

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Truxt Investmentos Ltda. reduced its holdings in shares of VTEX (NYSE:VTEX  Free Report) by 60.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 650,545 shares of the companys stock after selling 974,300 shares during the period. VTEX comprises approximately 0.8% of Truxt Investmentos Ltda.s portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Truxt Investmentos Ltda.s holdings in VTEX were worth $3,259,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new position in shares of VTEX during the first quarter valued at about $8,747,000. Citigroup Inc. boosted its stake in shares of VTEX by 1,707.8% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 10,829 shares of the companys stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 10,230 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in shares of VTEX by 151.7% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 18,349 shares of the companys stock worth $112,000 after buying an additional 11,060 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in shares of VTEX by 314.1% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 228,600 shares of the companys stock worth $1,406,000 after buying an additional 173,400 shares during the period. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC bought a new stake in VTEX during the 1st quarter valued at $3,245,000. 50.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of VTEX from $8.50 to $12.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley upgraded VTEX from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the company from $5.50 to $8.00 in a report on Friday, January 5th. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price target on VTEX from $6.00 to $7.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $7.29.

VTEX Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of VTEX stock traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $8.25. 211,101 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 424,385. The companys 50-day moving average price is $7.18 and its 200-day moving average price is $6.10. The company has a market cap of $1.56 billion, a P/E ratio of -91.22 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a quick ratio of 3.94, a current ratio of 3.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. VTEX has a 12 month low of $3.24 and a 12 month high of $8.38.

VTEX (NYSE:VTEX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 7th. The company reported ($0.01) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.03) by $0.02. VTEX had a negative net margin of 8.91% and a negative return on equity of 6.34%. The business had revenue of $50.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $49.28 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.06) earnings per share. VTEXs quarterly revenue was up 30.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that VTEX will post -0.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About VTEX

(Free Report)

VTEX provides software-as-a-service digital commerce platform for enterprise brands and retailers. Its platform enables customers to execute their commerce strategy, including building online stores, integrating, and managing orders across channels, and creating marketplaces to sell products from third-party vendors.

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Tsuruha Holdings Inc. (OTCMKTS:TSUSF  Get Free Report) shares dropped 17.1% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $76.12 and last traded at $76.12. Approximately 300 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 77% from the average daily volume of 1,300 shares. The stock had previously closed at $91.80.

Tsuruha Stock Down 17.1 %

The companys fifty day simple moving average is $83.44 and its 200 day simple moving average is $77.52.

About Tsuruha

(Get Free Report)

Tsuruha Holdings Inc operates drugstores in Japan. It sells pharmaceutical, cosmetic, miscellaneous goods and food products. The company was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in Sapporo, Japan.

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Vaughan David Investments LLC IL increased its holdings in shares of Target Co. (NYSE:TGT  Free Report) by 3.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 278,509 shares of the retailers stock after acquiring an additional 8,137 shares during the period. Vaughan David Investments LLC IL owned about 0.06% of Target worth $30,795,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Tower View Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Target by 82.8% during the 3rd quarter. Tower View Wealth Management LLC now owns 234 shares of the retailers stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 106 shares during the last quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC lifted its stake in shares of Target by 150.6% during the 2nd quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC now owns 213 shares of the retailers stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. bought a new stake in Target during the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in Target during the 2nd quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Target during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. 78.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other news, insider Christina Hennington sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.55, for a total value of $522,200.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 38,451 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,019,778.05. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, insider Don H. Liu sold 16,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total value of $2,080,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 48,882 shares in the company, valued at $6,354,660. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Christina Hennington sold 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.55, for a total value of $522,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 38,451 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,019,778.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 24,000 shares of company stock valued at $3,127,520. Company insiders own 0.23% of the companys stock.

Target Stock Performance

Shares of TGT stock traded down $0.21 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $140.31. The stock had a trading volume of 874,137 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,226,388. The businesss fifty day moving average is $138.40 and its 200-day moving average is $126.74. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. The firm has a market cap of $64.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.92, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.12. Target Co. has a 1-year low of $102.93 and a 1-year high of $181.70.

Target (NYSE:TGT  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 15th. The retailer reported $2.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.48 by $0.62. The business had revenue of $25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.28 billion. Target had a return on equity of 30.69% and a net margin of 3.40%. The companys revenue was down 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.54 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Target Co. will post 8.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Target Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Sunday, January 21st will be issued a $1.10 dividend. This represents a $4.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 19th. Targets dividend payout ratio is presently 56.12%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

TGT has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley raised Target from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their target price for the company from $140.00 to $165.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Roth Mkm reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $140.00 target price on shares of Target in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Target from $120.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. StockNews.com raised Target from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 14th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their target price on Target from $133.00 to $116.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Target currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $155.62.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on TGT

About Target

(Free Report)

Target Corporation operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. The company offers apparel for women, men, boys, girls, toddlers, and infants and newborns, as well as jewelry, accessories, and shoes; and beauty and personal care, baby gear, cleaning, paper products, and pet supplies.

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Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:EAD  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 78,800 shares, a growth of 19.0% from the December 31st total of 66,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 217,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.4 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EAD. MML Investors Services LLC grew its position in shares of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 7.3% in the second quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 27,174 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $175,000 after purchasing an additional 1,856 shares during the last quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 20.0% in the 1st quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 12,000 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $95,000 after buying an additional 2,000 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG increased its position in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 358,239 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $2,325,000 after buying an additional 2,052 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 17.5% during the second quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 14,201 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $92,000 after buying an additional 2,118 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 1.5% in the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 150,731 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $935,000 after acquiring an additional 2,227 shares in the last quarter.

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Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN:EAD traded up $0.04 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $6.70. The company had a trading volume of 225,288 shares, compared to its average volume of 158,064. Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund has a 1-year low of $5.69 and a 1-year high of $7.05.

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Dividend Announcement

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Company Profile

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 13th will be issued a $0.0517 dividend. This represents a $0.62 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.26%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 12th.

(Get Free Report)

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. It is co-managed by Wells Capital Management Incorporated. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in below investment grade debt securities, high-yield debt securities, loans and preferred stocks rated Ba or lower by Moody's Investors Service, Inc or BB or lower by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group.

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WPP plc (LON:WPP  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 749.67 ($9.53) and traded as high as GBX 784.40 ($9.97). WPP shares last traded at GBX 780.60 ($9.92), with a volume of 3,120,324 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on WPP shares. Numis Securities reiterated an add rating on shares of WPP in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Macquarie cut their price objective on shares of WPP from GBX 850 ($10.81) to GBX 800 ($10.17) in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of WPP from GBX 850 ($10.81) to GBX 890 ($11.31) and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday. Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of WPP in a research report on Thursday, October 19th. Finally, Barclays restated an overweight rating and set a GBX 1,000 ($12.71) price objective on shares of WPP in a research report on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 1,005.83 ($12.79).

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WPP Price Performance

Insider Activity

The stocks fifty day moving average price is GBX 738.49 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 748.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 187.82, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 0.88. The firm has a market cap of 8.25 billion, a PE ratio of 1,587.51, a P/E/G ratio of 13.44 and a beta of 1.13.

In related news, insider Thomas Ilube purchased 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 11th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 719 ($9.14) per share, for a total transaction of 14,380 ($18,281.21). Insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock.

About WPP

(Get Free Report)

WPP plc, a creative transformation company, provides communications, experience, commerce, and technology services in North America, the United Kingdom, Western Continental Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and Eastern Europe. The company operates through three segments: Global Integrated Agencies, Public Relations, and Specialist Agencies.

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Shmyhal discusses further financial support for Ukraine with G7 ambassadors

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal held a meeting with ambassadors of the G7 countries.

"We discussed the continuation of uninterrupted financial support for Ukraine. This is vital for maintaining the macroeconomic situation. For our part, our government is introducing reforms necessary to strengthen economic stability," Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram channel.

He also thanked Japan for its successful G7 presidency, full of important and timely decisions in support of Ukraine.

"I also congratulated Italy on the start of its chairmanship. We look forward to continuing a fruitful and constructive dialogue with the Group of Seven countries," the prime minister emphasized.
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Meghna Mittal MEGHNA MITTAL is Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com
Preeti Kulkarni is a financial journalist with over 13 years of experience. Based in Mumbai, she covers the personal finance beat for Moneycontrol. She focusses primarily on insurance, banking, taxation and financial planning
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. Azerfloat Company, one of the residents of Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park (SCIP), is in favor of subsidizing glass exports, Trend reports.

According to Azerfloat CJSC General Director Emil Hasanov, 4-4.5 percent of the sale price of products abroad is lost when declaring glass exports.

"It would be expedient if glass exports were subsidized in Azerbaijan," Hasanov said.

He cited Uzbekistan as an example, where the state covers part of the cost of glass exports.

Hasanov made this proposal at the Transport and Trade Forum in Baku organized by Caspian Energy Group.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years.
Ashwin Mohan is Editor (Deals) at Moneycontrol and leads the M&A, private equity and equity capital market transactions coverage. He anchors the video show 'Deal Central ' and tweets at @ashwinmohansays. He has previously worked with ET NOW, CNBC TV-18 and The Times of India.
The Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) ban on Paytm Payments Bank on accepting fresh deposits and making credit transactions, is expected to put pressure on the shares of the company, thus impacting the mutual fund schemes holding the stock.

The central bank in a press release on January 31, said, No further deposits or credit transactions or top-ups shall be allowed in any customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, FASTags, NCMC cards, etc. after February 29, 2024, other than any interest, cashbacks, or refunds which may be credited anytime.

The central bank said no other banking services like fund transfers and UPI facilities should be provided by the bank after February 29.

Nirav Karkera, Head of Research at Fisdom, sees a big negative impact on the stock in the upcoming trading sessions.

Also read | Budget 2024: Will the government rationalise capital gains taxes?

Outright, the business operations have been suspended. However, it is expected that Paytm will resolve the issues as RBIs notice has come on the back of a comprehensive system audit, and this is part of a supervisory action, said Karkera.

On mutual funds reaction to the RBI ban, Karkera added, Post-facto dropping the stock doesn't make sense, and mutual funds will choose to drop the stock if they believe that this is beyond remedy. Also, mutual funds allocation to Paytm is not too high.

A mutual fund executive on condition of anonymity said, We will hold on to our shares. We have a small holding, so even if prices fall -- and many do expect that -- it wont impact our NAVs (net asset value). Also, we had purchased new-age companies shares at rock-bottom prices, so we arent into losses (yet) with Paytm. But we will have to wait till markets open and my fund managers will take the final call. Principally, I dont foresee us selling shares.

Data available with Value Research showed that 23 mutual fund houses via 69 schemes had invested Rs 1,994.74 crore in Paytm as of December end.

As per the latest AMFI categorization list, Paytm is a mid-cap stock with an average market capitalization of Rs 53,327 crore during the June to December period.

This shows that Paytm stock is not heavily-owned by mutual fund houses in India.

Also read | Top sectors that MF increased exposures, lately. Are you invested in them?

Further, as per data available with Value Research, UTI Innovation Fund had the highest allocation to the stock at 4.80 percent as of December end. It was followed by Quant Teck at 3.26 percent, Quant Mid Cap 3.17 percent, Nippon India Innovation 2.96 percent and Mirae Asset Focused 2.90 percent.

In terms of amount invested, Mirae Asset Large Cap has the highest exposure to Paytm stock at Rs 430 crore, followed by Mirae Asset Focused Rs 269 crore, Quant Mid Cap Rs 134 crore, Nippon India Large Cap Rs 127 crore and Mirae Asset ELSS Tax Saver Rs 105 crore.

Note that these figures are for the December-end period, and allocations might have changed during the first month of this year.

When it comes to individual fund houses, Mirae Asset Mutual Fund had invested Rs 1,011 crore via nine schemes in Paytm as of December end.

Next, Nippon India Mutual Fund had invested around Rs 422 crore via nine schemes in Paytm.

Also read | Tax-saving mutual funds and Section 80C: Why lock-in is good news

Meanwhile, Bernstein Research in a note to investors said, "This for all practical purposes, the above (RBI) notifications end the operations of

Paytm payments bank. This is a definite negative development and adds to the already heavy regulatory overhang on the business."
Jinit Parmar is a correspondent based out of Mumbai covering the banking sector, fintechs, NBFCs, insurance and more, tweets @jinitparmar10
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. The COP29 organizing committee includes 12 women, said Azerbaijan's Ambassador to France Leyla Abdullayeva during the next annual consultative meeting of the International Transport Forum (ITF), Trend reports.

Abdullayeva addressed the gathering during the opening session.

The ambassador emphasized Azerbaijan's active measures in establishing multimodal routes for the stable and sustainable development of regional transport communication, citing the ITF as a powerful global platform for fostering dialogue in the transport sector and improving regional transport and communication connections. Abdullayeva emphasized Azerbaijan's commitment to achieving the organization's aims and vital role, mentioning the country's impending presidency in the ITF from 2025 to 2026. She expressed confidence that COP29, which will be hosted in Baku later this year, will provide an opportunity to discuss issues related to the decarbonization of the transportation sector.

In addition, the Ambassador highlighted Azerbaijan's commitment to a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. She pointed out that areas in Azerbaijan liberated from occupation have been designated as "zero emission" zones. Moreover, Azerbaijan has actively participated in the Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) program initiated by the UK.

Regarding COP29, slated to take place in Baku, Abdullayeva underscored that preparations for the event are well underway. The organizing committee has been formed, with 12 women among its members.

"COP29 boasts a commendable gender balance in its mandate positions, with women holding three out of the six key positions," she said.

The Ambassador highlighted the traditionally male-dominated nature of the transportation sector and underscored the significance of increasing awareness regarding the promotion of gender equality, women's empowerment, and their pivotal role in decision-making within this field. She shared statistical data with participants, illustrating women's employment in Azerbaijan's transportation sector. The emphasis was placed on the noteworthy strides taken in the country's transportation industry to promote gender equality, with a commitment to continued efforts aimed at achieving even more significant results.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is currently convening its annual consultative meeting, with a specific focus on the transport sector, gender equality within this domain, and climate change matters within the framework of the Green Transport Summit. Azerbaijan is represented by the Ambassador to France Leyla Abdullayeva at this significant gathering. The meeting aims to deliberate on the tangible initiatives undertaken by Azerbaijan to advance the development of multimodal transport routes and foster stable and sustainable transport connections in the region.

The decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023.



To note, besides Azerbaijan, both Armenia and Bulgaria nominated their candidatures. However, after direct negotiations between the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia on December 7, 2023, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in favor of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed suit and also withdrew its candidacy.



On January 4, 2024, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, was appointed as President of COP29.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. Polling stations will be opened at the Azerbaijani Embassy in the Russian Federation, as well as at the Consulates General in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, in connection with the upcoming February 7 extraordinary presidential election in Azerbaijan, Trend reports, referring to the Central Election Commission (CEC).

Polling stations will be open from 08:00 to 19:00 local time.

Addresses of polling stations:

Moscow city, 15 Voznesensky avenue;

St. Petersburg city, 27, 2nd Sovetskaya street;

Yekaterinburg city, 5 Karla Libknecht street;

To note, citizens of Azerbaijan who have reached the age of 18 and are permanently residing in the territory of the Russian Federation may participate in voting. For this purpose, it is necessary to present a passport or ID card of a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the representatives of the polling station. Citizens of Azerbaijan planning to visit the Russian Federation during the presidential election and wishing to vote are also asked to bring absentee voting certificates.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. Armenia is another victim of the West, Deputy Director General of Trend News Agency, Head of Turkic World media platform, and political scientist Rufiz Hafizoglu told BakuTV, Trend reports.

"Armenia looks to be unwilling to pursue peace, which is supported by a variety of grounds. Accepting Azerbaijan's proposal would be a practical demonstration of a real desire for peace. Similarly, if Armenia sought to encourage improved Turkish-Armenian relations, it would be reflected in constitutional reforms and abandon the mindset of viewing Turkiye's territory as "ancient Armenian land" thereof," he said.

Hafizoglu underscored the significance of the events in Ukraine as a crucial lesson for the Armenian authorities.

"Armenia believes that the United States and France will back it. However, Europe should understand that Armenia will constantly hunt for a new sponsor and patron. Armenia is an open field for France and India, as well as is another victim of Western influence," the political analyst added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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Tim Culpan is a technology columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. Based in Taipei, he writes about Asian and global businesses and trends. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication
In today's edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: More NBFC's piled in past three years, simultaneous polls may not be an unalloyed...

Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Markets need their Vitamin D too, as disclosures make them stronger

Its that time of the year when stock market participants start second-guessing the budget. However, this budget, unlike regular budgets, cannot offer any big-bang sops to investors and traders as it is an election year. The budget will be a vote-on-account budget, which means as per the laws of the land, the government will present a budget that will provide for necessary expenses to keep the administration going till the next government presents a full fledged budget

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Karishma Vaswani is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Javier Blas is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy and commodities. He previously was commodities editor at the Financial Times and is the coauthor of "The World for Sale: Money, Power, and the Traders Who Barter the Earths Resources."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. NATO supports the normalization process of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, the new Special Representative of NATO Secretary General for the South Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina told Armenian media, Trend reports.

He stated that both countries' territorial integrity and sovereignty must be recognized and serve as the foundation for the normalization process.

"We want the peace talks to restart as soon as possible. We know there are numerous formats for negotiating," Colomina noted.

The NATO representative stressed that sustainable peace is crucial for stability in the South Caucasus region.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. As reported earlier, a meeting of commissions on the delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border has started, Trend reports, referring to the local media (AzTv).

At the meeting, it is planned to transfer maps of minefields of three districts from Armenia to Azerbaijan.

To note, the meeting is held between delegations headed by Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.

Meanwhile, the last meeting was held on the border on November 30, 2023.

Will be updated
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. Due to the prevailing atmosphere of racism, Azerbaijanophobia, and Islamophobia in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Azerbaijani delegation has decided to halt its engagement and presence in the PACE until further notice.

Following this decision, experts from the Administration of the President of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani parliament, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan have held a working discussion, an informed source told Trend.

The discussions covered the political and legal considerations of Azerbaijan leaving the Council of Europe, as well as Azerbaijan's rejection of recognizing the jurisdiction of the International Court in response to biased treatment and baseless accusations in the PACE

There have been previous reports of Azerbaijan contemplating leaving the Council of Europe as a form of protest against the biased policies of the PACE. Currently, experts are discussing this matter, and the likelihood of Azerbaijan exiting the Council of Europe is on the rise.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. Russia believes that the best guarantee for establishing stability and sustainable long-term peace in the South Caucasus is the early resumption of the implementation of a set of trilateral agreements at the highest level, Spokesperson for Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said during a weekly press briefing while commenting on Yerevan's proposal to sign a non-aggression pact with Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

"This is a non-alternative roadmap for reconciliation between Baku and Yerevan and it includes, among other things, the elaboration of a peace treaty," she said.

Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated earlier that Yerevan offered Baku to sign a non-aggression pact if the process of signing a peace treaty is delayed.

"We proposed to Azerbaijan to introduce a mechanism of mutual arms control. It was also proposed to sign a non-aggression pact if it appears that the signing of the peace treaty will take longer than expected," Pashinyan said.

Meanwhile, negotiations on the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia are conducted through direct meetings.

Azerbaijan received another package of proposals on the peace treaty with Armenia in early January.

Presently, the Azerbaijani side is carrying out its internal work on this package following the procedure.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said earlier that Azerbaijan will submit a response to Armenia in the coming weeks.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The three-member arbitral tribunal has directed Central Depository Services (India) Ltd (CDSL) to reimburse Rs86.02 lakh for the loss suffered by an investor-client of BRH Wealth Kreators Ltd (formerly BMA Wealth Creators Ltd). BRH Wealth Kreators had misused the power of attorney (PoA) after the death of the investor-client's husband and pledged the shares to obtain a loan from HDFC Bank. In the order, the arbitral tribunal also criticised the lethargic approach taken by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), National Stock Exchange (NSE) and CDSL for not resolving the grievances of the investor-client in a timely manner.

In an order, the bench of Dr Dilip Virani (presiding arbitrator) and co-arbitrators Ashwin Ankhad and SN Ananthasubramanian says, "...CDSL cannot shy away from its paramount duty of protecting the investor's interest from malpractices such as ones committed by BRH Wealth Kreators. Therefore, we find that there is a dire need for CDSL to put in place an updated mechanism for better surveillance and prevention of mis-utlising securities at such a large scale. CDSL must assure that they conduct sufficient due diligence about the rightful ownership of securities before permitting any creation and invocation of pledge."

"We grant the claim of the claimant to the extent of Rs86,02,768 and direct CDSL to pay the same to the claimant within four weeks from the date of the award, being the value of the claimant's shares on the date of dispute. We also grant post-award simple interest at 9%pa (per annum) on the above amount from the date of this award till full realisation of the combined amount. This interest is granted to the claimant for her inability to utilise the principal amount..." the bench says.

Kheda (Gujarat)-based Daksha Narendra Bhavsar had filed the arbitration application as per orders passed by the securities appellate tribunal on 6 June 2023.

On 31st July and 23 August 2019, BRH Wealth Kreators invoked the PoA signed by Ms Bhavsar and her husband to transfer shares worth Rs94.56 lakh from her demat account to the account of the stock broker without consent. Meanwhile, Mr Bhavsar died on 7 June 2019, much before the PoA was invoked by BRH Wealth Kreators, making Ms Bhavsar the sole holder of the demat account.

After becoming the holder of the shares, BRH Wealth Kreators pledged Ms Bhavsar's shares with HDFC Bank and borrowed money. After BRH Wealth Kreators defaulted, HDFC Bank invoked the pledge and sold Ms Bhavsar's shares in the market to recover its dues.

The bench observed that BRH Wealth Kreators had carried out similar transactions worth over Rs100 crore by invoking securities of other clients by defrauding them.

Aggrieved by the unilateral, non-consensual and fraudulent transfer of shares through misusing PoA by BRH Wealth Kreators, Ms Bhavsar approached CDSL to initiate conciliation or arbitration proceedings. However, CDSL told her that since the securities had been debited based on the PoA, she should approach the police in the case of the unauthorised transfer of shares.

Ms Bhavsar's complaint and her review application were rejected by the NSE. She then filed an appeal before the securities appellate tribunal (SAT) which directed CDSL to initiate arbitration proceedings.

During the hearing, Ms Bhavsar contended that CDSL had acted negligently by not monitoring its record to correctly indicate that she was the beneficial owner of the shares. "Due to CDSL's negligence, HDFC Bank invoked the pledge and sold the shares in the open market as CDSL's records showed BRH Wealth Kreators as the beneficial owner of the shares."

After hearing all parties, the arbitral tribunal observed that while the standard PoA only enables a broker to invoke PoA for meeting margin requirements, in this case, BRH Wealth Kreators, as a broker, appears to have misused the PoA to pledge shares for availing a loan for itself from the bank. "BRH Wealth Kreators, as depository participant (DP) failed to obtain the pledge request from the client before pledging the client's securities as required under SEBI (DP) Regulations and CDSL Bye-Laws. This actually amounts to serious manipulation by DP on its clients."

Further, the bench observed there has been an abject failure of governance both structurally and hierarchically and all attempts are being made to insulate CDSL as a depository from the defaults committed by BRH Wealth Kreators as DP. "The Act makes it abundantly clear that the DP perform their roles as agents of depositories. Strangely, this fact has not been highlighted in the SEBI adjudication order on 24 July 2023, which seems to have adopted a more emphatic view of CDSL's incapacity to monitor BRH Wealth Kreators as DP's actions in the circumstances leading to the creation of the fraudulent pledge," it says.

"It also needs to be mentioned that SEBI has, in the meanwhile, on 24 July 2023, announced an acceptable solution to the matter of loss of securities by identifying the entities from whom the claimant has to seek redressal based on the nature of causes as understood and outlined by SEBI. This has to be seen as SEBI's ardent attempt to bring closure to the matter of claims, which may have been made or are in the process of being made," the arbitral tribunal says.

Coming down heavily on CDSL, the bench says, "It would indeed be a travesty of justice if only NSE, the stock exchanges, where BRH Wealth Kreators was registered as a stockbroker, is made to pay for its lapses (gross misuse of client's PoA for the purpose of pledging securities for availing loan against shares and lack of monitoring on the part of NSE) and CDSL is permitted to take refuge, without sufficient reason, on an extraordinary plea that it cannot be expected to monitor BRH Wealth Kreators as broker's operations as contained in the SEBI adjudication order, especially when BRH Wealth Kreators was also performing the role of DP as its agent."

"Therefore, in furtherance of justice, CDSL deserves to be made to indemnify the claimant for a) its failure to monitor BRH Wealth Kreators as DP's operations in accordance with the Depositories Regulations, CDSL Bye-Laws as one of its AGENTS and its negligence in performing its duty, particularly with reference to tis (its) not obtaining the client's approval or concurrence before making the securities available for pledge and b) its casual conduct in not registering the case for arbitration in question as early as in November 2021 and finally taking steps to appoint this panel only upon the orders of the SAT in June 2023," the bench says.

The arbitral tribunal also criticised SEBI for not issuing timely directions to protect investor clients. It says, "In the instant case as also in similar cases witnessed in the recent past, SEBI seems to have gone all over the place initially before finding its niche after the substantive lapse of critical time. Even though the claimant (Ms Bhavsar) had to go to CDSL and NSE twice only to be rebuffed, it is only after SAT ruled for arbitration that this matter assumed the much-needed seriousness and CDSL initiated arbitration proceedings on June 2023. Perhaps it would have been in the fitness of things if SEBI had, as early as 7 October 2019, issued appropriate directions in this regard so as to protect the interest of the clients of BRH Wealth Kreators as DP whose securities were fraudulently pledged by BRH Wealth Kreators to obtain loan from HDFC Bank."

In February 2021, SAT stayed an order passed by SEBI against HDFC Bank in the BRH case. In January of that year, SEBI had asked the lender to deposit Rs158.68 crore along with interest in an escrow account and pay a penalty of Rs1 crore in this case.

HDFC had granted credit facilities to BRH worth Rs191.16 crore and to BRH Commodities worth Rs26.61 crore, out of which Rs87.75 crore was granted as a loan against securities (LAS). On 14 October 2019, HDFC Bank invoked securities pledged by BRH to the extent of Rs158.68 crore. Read: SAT Stays SEBI Order against HDFC Bank in BMA Wealth Case

SEBI, in its order on 7 October 2017, had barred BRH Wealth Kreators, Shiv Kumar Damani, Anubhav Bhatter, Murgesh Devashrayi, BRH Commodities, Prosperous Vyapaar Pvt Ltd, Polo-Setco Tie Up Pvt Ltd and Parton Commercial Pvt Ltd from markets.
We kill people on the basis of metadata.

-Unrepenting admission of Michael Hayden, former head of USAs NSA and CIA, quoted in the Draft Resolution on Mass Surveillance, The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe dated 18 March 2015

If once people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, Congress and Assemblies, judges and Governors shall become wolves.

-Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of USA in a letter dated 16 January, 1787

The Supreme Courts seven-judge constitution bench is all set to decide Indias first metadata case which pertains to four existing Aadhaar databases. The first database is the person database which stores the personal attributes of a person (name, address, age, etc) along with his/ her Aadhaar number. The second is the reference database which stores the Aadhaar number of a person along with a unique reference number (which has no relationship with the Aadhaar number of an individual). The third database is the biometric database which stores the biometric information of a person along with the unique reference number and the fourth database is the verification log which records all ID verifications done in the past five years. The matter is listed for hearing on 30 January 2024.

The metadata is not defined in the Aadhaar Act. Metadata is information about the time and location of a phone call or email or electronic transaction, as opposed to the actual content of those conversations or messages or transactions.

As part of the 44th chief justice of India (CJI) led 9-judge constitution bench in the Aadhaar case, Dr Chandrachud authored the leading order dated 24 August 2017 wherein he mentions 'metadata' only once but with a very categorical emphasis. He underlined that metadata has the ability to redefine human existence in ways that are yet fully to be perceived. He drew on the paper of Christina Moniodis titled "Moving from Nixon to NASA: Privacys Second Strand- A Right to Informational Privacy.' Dr Chandrachud cites her with approval. He states that metadata results in the creation of new knowledge about individuals; something which even she or he did not possess. This poses serious issues for the Court. In an age of rapidly evolving technology, it is impossible for a judge to conceive of all the possible uses of information or its consequences.

He quoted Moniodis saying, The creation of new knowledge complicates data privacy law as it involves information the individual did not possess and could not disclose, knowingly or otherwise. In addition, as our state becomes an information state through increasing reliance on information such that information is described as the lifeblood that sustains political, social, and business decisions. It becomes impossible to conceptualise all of the possible uses of information and resulting harms. Such a situation poses a challenge for courts who are effectively asked to anticipate and remedy invisible, evolving harms.

Notably, her paper drew on Elbert Lin's "Note on Prioritizing Privacy: A Constitutional Response to the Internet" and Andrew M Ballard's report about "3.6 Million SSNs Exposed in Hack of South Carolina Tax Agency's System" on social security number (SSN) which prompted the governor of South Carolina to issue an executive order upbraiding the states information technology policy in 2012.

Drawing from Yvonne McDermotts paper "Conceptualising the right to data protection in an era of Big Data", Dr Chandrachud observes, The contemporary age has been aptly regarded as an era of ubiquitous dataveillance, or the systematic monitoring of citizens communications or actions through the use of information technology. It is also an age of big data or the collection of data sets. These data sets are capable of being searched; they have linkages with other data sets; and are marked by their exhaustive scope and the permanency of collection.

One can hear the echo of what Dr Chandrachud wrote in the book Permanent Record by Edward Snowden who makes 24 references to 'metadata' and explains it. The content of our communications is not as revealing as the unwritten, unspoken information that can expose the broader context and patterns of behaviour. USAs national security agency (NSA) calls the unwritten, unspoken information 'metadata'. It use the term 'meta' in the sense of 'about'. It implies that metadata is data about data. It is, more accurately, data that is made by dataa cluster of tags and markers that allow data to be useful. The most direct way of thinking about metadata, however, is as activity data, all the records of all the things you do on your devices and all the things your devices do on their own. It emerges from Snowdens book that metadata is not some benign abstraction, but the very essence of content: it is precisely the first line of information.

The seven-judge Constitution bench is going to decide the constitutionality of the Aadhaar Act which enables indiscriminate collection of metadata besides other legislations. The bench, comprising 50th CJI, Dr DY Chandrachud, justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, has issued directions for the pre-hearing steps in various matters before the seven-judge Constitution bench and the nine-judge Constitution bench. In its 12 October 2023 order, it instructed that the compilation of documents, pleadings, and precedents must be filed in three weeks along with written submissions.

The Supreme Courts decision dated 13 November 2019 had referred the illegitimate enactment of the Aadhaar Act as a 'Money Bill' for consideration by a seven-judge constitution bench to hear the Roger Mathew vs South India Bank Ltd case as a consequence of the verdict by the 46th CJI led five-judge constitution bench.

This 46th CJI led bench detected an unprecedented blunder in the majority verdict dated 26 September 2018 by the 45th CJI, justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar and Ashok Bhushan regarding the Money Bill and UID/ Aadhaar being a 12-digit number, not a 'card'.

As part of the blunder, justice (now retired) AK Sikri tortured the word 'resident' in the Aadhaar Act/Money Bill verdict. As the author of the majority order, he compelled the 'resident' word to confess that it has two names- its other name is 'citizen'. He empowered himself with such unlimited power he would have the world believe that the 'resident' word can be tortured to confess that it is the same as 'citizen'. But such third-degree torture of words has failed to get its meaning changed from the dictionary.

The seven-judge constitution bench is likely to save every 'resident' of India from automatically becoming a 'citizen' without their consent.

It is germane to underline that every person, including the public institutions, parties, editors, donors, advertisers and judicial officers who refer to the 12-digit unique identification (UID) number branded as 'Aadhaar' as 'card', betrays their colossal ignorance about the worlds biggest data transfer project. This is a unique number that can be authenticated digitally, not a 'card'.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is responsible for the processes of enrolment and authentication and other functions assigned to it under the planning commission's notification dated 28 January 2009 and subsequently the Aadhaar Act, 2016. These 'other functions' include ownership of the central identities data repository (CIDR), a centralised database in one or more locations containing all Aadhaar numbers issued to Aadhaar number holders along with the corresponding "demographic information and biometric information of such individuals and other information". The 'other information' includes metadata which is under the control of UIDAI as part of its 'other functions'.

After the promoters of CIDR of Aadhaar numbers were proven wrong by the nine-judge bench with regard to their flawed claim that the right to privacy was not a fundamental right, a five-judge bench led by the 45th CJI was set up. Justice Sikri (on behalf of the 45th CJI, himself and justice AM Khanwilkar), Dr Chandrachud and justice Ashok Bhushan pronounced three separate judgements of the bench. Justice Bhushan agreed with the justice Sikri authored order on the enactment of the Aadhaar Act as Money Bill. Dr Chandrachud disagreed with them and termed the enactment of the Aadhaar Act as Money Bill as a fraud on the constitution of India.

Significantly, the 1,448-page-long verdict on the Aadhaar Act makes some 50 references to metadata'. The Union government informed the Court about three types of meta-data: technical, business and process metadata. Process metadata describes the results of various operations such as logs key data, start time, end time, CPU seconds used, disk reads, disk writes, and rows processed. This data is valuable for purposes of authenticating transactions, troubleshooting, security, compliance and monitoring and improving performance. The government has submitted that the metadata contemplated under the regulation framed under the Aadhaar Act is process metadata.

In a glaring omission, the government chose not to reveal anything about the Standard for Preservation Information Documentation of Electronic Records, which would enable standardised metadata dictionary and scheme for describing the preservation metadata of an electronic record framed in 2013. But the Court was kept in the dark about it.

The first reference to 'metadata' in the 1448-page-long verdict on the Aadhaar Act reproduces Dr Chandrachuds observation about 'metadata' made as part of a nine-judge bench.

The verdict refers to the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) Tele2 Sverige AB vs Post-och telestyrelsen (2016) wherein it was seized with the issue about whether in light of Digital Rights Ireland, a national law which required a provider of electronic communications services to retain meta-data (name, address, telephone number and IP address) regarding users/ subscribers for the purpose of fighting crime, was contrary to Article 7, 8 and 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The CJEU struck down the provision allowing collection of such metadata on grounds of lack of purpose limitation, data differentiation, data protection, prior review by a court or administrative authority and consent.

The operative order of the Indian Courts verdict referred to the decision of CJEU in Maximillian Schrems vs Data Protection Commissioner (2016) , which struck down the transatlantic US-EU Safe Harbor agreement that enabled companies to transfer data from Europe to the United States on the ground that there was not an adequate level of safeguard to protect the data. It held that the US authorities could access the data beyond what was strictly necessary and proportionate to the protection of national security. The subject had no administrative or judicial means of accessing, rectifying or erasing their data.

These judgements of foreign courts are quite relevant for India because the contract agreement between USAs Accenture and UIDAI enables the transfer of data from India to USA. The US government can access the data of all the residents of India including all the present and future citizens in complete disregard of national security. The data of Indians is in the possession of US agencies under the USA Patriot Act, 2001.

The US government has access to data through UIDAIs contract agreement with L1 Identities Solution company, a US company which got bought over by Safran, a French conglomerate on 26 July 2011. It implies that the French too have access to it. UKs Ernst & Young too have signed a similar contract agreement. Indians have no administrative or judicial means of accessing, rectifying or erasing their data which is in the possession of these foreign entities.

As part of his order, Dr Chandrachud has recorded the submission of the government with regard to the process of authentication and metadata retained under the Aadhaar Act. It records that metadata allows officials to make precise conclusions about a persons private life, and dragnet data collection creates a chilling effect based on the sense that ones life is subject to surveillance at all times.

On the nature of metadata, the Court observed that: Taken as a whole, [metadata] may allow very precise conclusions to be drawn concerning the private lives of the persons whose data has been retained, such as the habits of everyday life, permanent or temporary places of residence, daily or other movements, the activities carried out, the social relationships of those persons and the social environments frequented by them. The only data, which has been excluded from retention is the purpose of authentication.

Dr Chandrachuds order takes note of a report titled as Analysis of Major Concern about Aadhaar Privacy and Security  4 March 2018, authored by professor Manindra Agrawal who is a professor at IIT Kanpur and is a member of the technology and architecture review board (TARB) and of the security review committee of UIDAI.

Professor Agarwals report reveals that for each verification, the biometric data, Aadhaar number, and ID of the device on which verification was done, is stored. The report analyses the situation if any of the databases get leaked. The report points out that Its leakage may affect both the security and the privacy of an individual as one can extract identities of several people (and hence can keep changing forged identities) and also locate the places of transactions done by an individual in the past five years.

A breach in the verification log would allow a third party to access the location of the transactions of an individual over the past five years. The report indicates that it is possible, through the Aadhaar database, to track the location of an individual.

In this backdrop, it is noteworthy that the operative part of the verdict states that Section 2(d) of the Aadhaar Act which pertains to authentication records, such records would not include metadata as mentioned in regulation 26(c) of the Aadhaar (Authentication) Regulations, 2016. Therefore, this provision in the present form is struck down. The governments explanation that metadata refers to process data only does not find specific mention in the law. This deliberate silence of the law makes the law illegitimate and is fraught with genocidal implications.

In his book, Snowden says, Intelligence agencies are far more interested in the metadatathe activity records that allow them both the big picture ability to analyse data at scale, and the little picture ability to make perfect maps, chronologies, and associative synopses of an individual persons life, from which they presume to extrapolate predictions of behaviour. It is evident that metadata acts as a digital panopticon and is a tool for indiscriminate unlimited mass surveillance. The marriage of metadata with biometric data by State and non-State actors seems to be aimed at ensuring the extinction of the natural rights of human beings.

In April 2022, the audit report of the comptroller auditor general (CAG) of India revealed flaws in the management of various contracts entered into by UIDAI. The report states that statistical information on generation, update and authentication services of Aadhaar and financial information referred to in the Report have been updated up to March 2021, to the extent as furnished by UIDAI .

It implies that UIDAI has not been furnishing all the information required for audit by CAG. The audit report also discloses that The decision to waive off penalties for biometric solution providers was not in the interest of the Authority giving undue advantage to the solution providers, sending out an incorrect message of acceptance of poor quality of biometrics captured by them."

It shows that the rejection of the bharatiya automated fingerprint identification system (BAFIS) in favour of foreign firms was a flawed decision of the Indian government. The audit report corroborates the findings of the report titled Biometric Recognition: Challenges and Opportunities (2010). It has concluded that biometric identification systems are 'inherently fallible'. It was funded by the US Pentagon's defence advanced research projects agency (DARPA), the National Science Foundation, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and USAs department of homeland security.

The 42nd report of the Yashwant Sinha-headed parliamentary standing committee on finance submitted to the Parliament revealed that BAFIS was launched in January 2009. It was funded by the department of information technology, ministry of communications and information technology, for the collection of biometric information of the people of the country.

But UIDAI did not use it because, according to the government, The quality, nature and manner of collection of biometric data by other biometric projects may not be of the nature that can be used for the purpose of the Aadhaar scheme and hence it may not be possible to use the fingerprints captured under the Bharatiya-AFSI project.

The Supreme Courts operating order refers to this parliamentary report which shows that the government reached the conclusion that biometric technology of foreign firms is better than the existing Indian one from the point of uniqueness without any comparative study with regard to the quality, nature and manner of collection of biometric data. This parliamentary report has underlined that the estimated failure of biometrics is expected to be as high as 15% due to a large chunk of population being dependent on manual labour.

The CAGs audit report reveals that foreign biometric technologies are no better than the Indian one. In any case, it has been conclusively established that the biometric identification system is fallible and unreliable.

The CAGs audit report reveals that "UIDAI had not ensured that the client applications used by its authentication ecosystem partners were not capable of storing the personal information of the residents, which put the privacy of residents at risk. The Authority had not ensured the security and safety of data in Aadhaar vaults. They had not independently conducted any verification of compliance to the process involved."

On 17 July 2022, the government informed the Lok Sabha that the Recommendation of CAGs Audit Report No.24on Performance Audit on Functioning of UIDAI has been accepted for implementation. Action taken report on CAG's report on 'Performance Audit of UIDAI' uploaded on Audit Para Monitoring System (APMS) ( https://apms.nic.in ). It could not be traced on this website. This report does not appear to be in the public domain.

It may be recalled that annexure 1 of the notification of the government of India dated 28 January 2009 constituted UIDAI deals with the role and responsibilities of UIDAI. It states: "implementation of UID scheme will entail taking necessary steps to ensure collation of NPR with UID (as per. approved strategy). NPR refers to the national population register. The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 subsumed the governments notification dated 28 January 2009. The convergence initiatives of MHA like NPR and UIDAIs UID/ Aadhaar use myriad fish baits like goods, services and subsidies besides mandatory quoting for PAN to entrap the present and future generation of citizens, the data subjects at the behest of transnational commercial and surveillance technology czars.

A joint reading of two orders of justice Subramonium Prasad, Delhi High Court dated 6 September 2023 in Mathew Thomas vs Union of India (2014) case and 5 October 2023 in Prashant Reddy v. CPIO, UIDAI (2023) case shows that all the contracts of UIDAI and foreign firms come under the Right To Information Act. There is a logical compulsion for the Supreme Court to examine these contracts with reference to Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act and Section 139 AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 as well.

Notably, the justice Sikri authored judgement by a division bench comprising justice Bhushan in Binoy Visman vs Union of India (2017) on Section 139 AA was given at a time when the constitutionality of enactment of the Aadhaar Act was not adequately adjudicated. It pre-dates the pronouncement about the unconstitutionality of Section 57.

Against such a backdrop, in the aftermath of the revelations by the CAG about contracts awarded to foreign firms which are involved in UIDAIs CIDR and the home ministrys NPR, this national security-related case deserves utmost priority. Structurally, Aadhaar and NPR is part of one initiative being pushed by the World Bank Group which admits its central pillar to be surveillance including military surveillance. It emerges that the Aadhaar Act has put the privacy and security of present and future residents, citizens, prime ministers, chief ministers, judges, legislators, soldiers, civil servants, editors, intelligence officials and their families at risk by transferring demographic data, biometric data and metadata to foreign State and non-State actors. It is hoped that attempts by foreign entities, which are subverting public institutions through anonymous and limitless donations, are being resisted by the judiciary.

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(The author is a lawyer and philosophy and law researcher. He had appeared before the Parliamentary Committee that examined the National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010 that was withdrawn in 2016 and enacted later as Aadhaar Act 2016.)
While upholding an order passed by the Rajasthan state consumer disputes redressal commission, the national consumer disputes redressal commission (NCDRC) directed MakeMyTrip India Pvt Ltd to pay Rs2 lakh compensation and Rs21,000 litigation cost for deficiency in service for a tour package.

In an order last week , the NCDRC bench of Subhash Chandra (presiding member) and Dr Sadhna Shanker (member) says, "Premium inclusions at Singapore shows that there was three nights accommodation and the proposed hotel was Marina Bay Sands, Singapore but the booking was made only for two nights, i.e. from 24 June 2012 (check-in) to 26 June 2012 (check out). It is to be noted that had the change of hotels been made subject to non-availability, it was the duty and responsibility of the travel company to inform the complainant well in advance but the travel company had not informed the complainant. Further, by providing the details of the tour in the last day, the travel company did not give the complainant the time to seek out or make any adjustments to the same in consultation with the travel company. Considering the above, we are of the view that the travel company is deficient in providing service to the complainant causing him inconvenience and hardships."

"...keeping in view the fact that complainant is aged above 75 years and was travelling along with his two grandchildren, the compensation granted by the state commission is just and proper. And the state commission has passed a just and well-reasoned Order, which does not call for any interference by this Commission," NCDRC says.

Jaipur-based Devraj Beharnani had booked a travel package with MakeMyTrip to visit Jakarta, Bali and Singapore for himself and his grandchildren from 17 June 2012 to 26 June 2012 and after that for himself to stay in Singapore up to 2 July 2012. The tour package included obtaining necessary visas, air tickets and reservation of accommodation in hotels, pick and drop facilities, one veg and two non-veg meals, sightseeing, and his travel insurance policy. Mr Beharnani paid Rs4.50 lakh to MakeMyTrip for the tour package.

Mr Beharnani alleged that MakeMyTrip had not provided the travel itinerary, hotel booking chart, check-out time for hotels, tickets for flights, and travel insurance policy well within time intentionally. "It is only on the evening of 16 June 2012, MakeMyTrip provided the details regarding reservation, accommodation and other facilities and on 17 June 2012 in the early morning, my grandchildren and I had to leave for Delhi for an onward tour."

Further, instead of booking the tickets in direct flights, MakeMyTrip changed the route and booked the tickets on double hopping flight of Air Asia from Singapore to Jakarta, requiring a change of aircraft first at Singapore for Bali and then at Bali for Jakarta with the whole day in transit, Mr Beharnani says, adding, "As the flight from Singapore to Jakarta was indefinitely delayed, I and my grandchildren were asked to wait at Singapore Airport for at least five to six hours. We were not supposed to wait at Singapore Airport for an indefinite time. I purchased three new tickets at 250 Singapore dollars for each ticket, totalling 750 Singapore dollars, which is equivalent to Indian Rs33,000."

Mr Beharnani also alleged that MakeMyTrip changed their hotel accommodations in Jakarta, Bali and Singapore.

When he filed a complaint, MakeMyTrip sent him an email informing him that Rs1,62,681 would be refunded within seven days by crediting the same to his credit card account. However, no money was refunded by MakeMyTrip till Mr Beharnani filed a complaint before the state commission.

He sought a refund of Rs4.50 lakh with an interest at 18%pa (per annum), Rs50 lakh compensation for monetary loss as also for physical and mental agony and Rs66,000 litigation costs.

MakeMyTrip, in its written statement before the state commission, stated that the complaint is not maintainable under the eye of the law and the state commission does not have the jurisdiction to deal with this matter as the courts of the national capital region (NCR) Delhi have the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the dispute. MakeMyTrip stated that the delay of five to six hours at Singapore airport pertains to the operational issue of the airline company and it has no control over such unwarranted delay. "There was only a two-hour break in the journey, which was not a big issue and the travel company acted as a booking agent; therefore, the liability cannot be vested upon it."

While allowing the complaint, the Rajasthan state commission directed MakeMyTrip to pay Rs2 lakh compensation for deficiency in service along with Rs21,000 as litigation costs.

Aggrieved by the state commission's order, MakeMyTrip filed an appeal before NCDRC.

The counsel for MakeMyTrip argued that Rajasthan state commission had no territorial jurisdiction to entertain the complaint as the travel company had neither carried its business within the vicinity of Jaipur nor had the cause of action arisen at Jaipur. He further argued that MakeMyTrip is only a facilitator and acts as an agent and not a service provider; hence, it is not responsible for flight operations. He further submitted that, as per the itinerary, the names of the hotels provided to Mr Beharnani were proposed hotels and subject to availability, and the rooms were not available; therefore, the accommodation was provided in other hotels.

Ramlal, the manager of Mr Beharnani, submitted that the travel package was booked at the Jaipur office of MakeMyTrip; therefore, the cause of action arose at Jaipur. He further submitted that due to mismanagement and irresponsible attitude on the part of MakeMyTrip, Mr Beharnani had spent extra money on hotels. He further argued that MakeMyTrip is an internationally renowned tour organiser; therefore, its duty is to make foolproof arrangements so that no inconvenience would be caused to Mr Beharnani but delay and confusion in getting the rooms in hotels, keeping facsimile of his credit card, hopping flights in place of direct flights have caused unnecessary physical and mental agony.

After perusing the documents on record, NCDRC noted that since the package was booked from the Jaipur office of MakeMyTrip and Mr Beharnani is also a resident of the same city, the Rajasthan state commission has territorial jurisdiction to deal with the complaint.

The bench also referred to an email sent by Mr Beharnani to MakeMyTrip on 15 June 2012 and a reply received on 16 June 2012 from the travel company. "It is apparent that all the details of the flights and the proposed hotels and vouchers had not been provided well in advance. The mail sent by the executive staff of MakeMyTrip also reflects that the travel company had not provided all the details of the hotel voucher, transfer vouchers and the sightseeing voucher well in time prior to the departure, which was on 17 June 2012."

Dismissing the appeal as devoid of merit, NCDRC asked MakeMyTrip to pay Mr Beharnani Rs2 lakh compensation and Rs21,000 as litigation costs as awarded by the Rajasthan state commission.

(First Appeal No236 of 2018 Date: 22 January 2024)
President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, mentioning the removal of Article 370, economic reforms, educational reforms and indigenous defence manufacturing. In her first address in the new Parliament building. she said that building of the Ram temple in Ayodhya had been a dream for centuries and it is a reality now.

The president said there were doubts regarding the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. Those are now history. This Parliament also enacted a strict law against Triple Talaq and also a law to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from our neighboring countries.

She said, "My government also implemented One Rank One Pension, appointment of Chief of Defence Staff."

She said, "According to NITI Aayog, in the last one decade of my government, about 25 crore countrymen have been lifted out of poverty. We have seen India transform from fragile five to a top five economy."

The president said that Indias exports have increased from about 450bn (billion) dollars to more than 775bn dollars. FDI flows have doubled. The number of people filing income-tax return has increased from about 32.5mn (million) to about 8.25mn. start-ups in the country have grown to more than 100,000 today. In December 2017, 9.8mn (million) people used to pay GST, today their number is 14mn.

Around 130mn vehicles were sold in the 10 years before 2014. In the past 10 years, countrymen have purchased more than 210mn vehicles. About 2,000 electric vehicles were sold in 2014-15, whereas, till the month of December for the year 2023-24, about 1.2mn electric vehicles have been sold, she added.

In 10 years, Capital expenditure (capex) has increased five times to Rs10 lakh crore. The fiscal deficit is also under control. Today, we have forex reserves in excess of US$600bn (billion). The non-performing assets (NPAs) of banks which used to be in the double digits in the past are today around only 4%. Today, India is the worlds second largest producer of mobile phones. Today India is exporting made in India toys. India is maintaining a growth rate of over 7.5% for two consecutive quarters.

India became the first country to hoist its flag on the southern pole of the Moon. India successfully launched the Aditya Mission and its satellite reached a distance of 1.5mn kilometers away from Earth. The success of the historic G-20 Summit strengthened Indias global standing.

India won more than 100 medals for the first time in the Asian Games. We also won more than 100 medals in the Para Asian Games. India got its largest sea bridge, the Atal Setu. India got its first Namo Bharat train and the first Amrit Bharat train. It became the country with the fastest 5G rollout in the world.

The President stated, "I appreciate all of you for having enacted the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam after a wait of three decades. This has paved the way for ensuring greater participation of women in the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies. The nation has got a new Nyaya Sanhita based on the principle of Justice First."

She said that the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act will ensure the right to representation to tribals there. Indias defence production has crossed one lakh crore rupees. The country has the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, combat aircraft Tejas, manufacturing of C-295 transport aircraft is going to take place in India. Defence corridors are being developed in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The space sector has been opened for young start-ups.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
Coming down heavily on Paytm Payment Bank over persistent non-compliance and continued material supervisory concerns, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked it to stop deposits, credit transactions and top-ups after 29 February 2024, among other restrictions. RBI also asked Paytm Payment Bank to terminate the nodal accounts of One97 Communications Ltd and Paytm Payments Services Ltd as soon as possible.

In a release, RBI says on 11 March 2022 had directed Paytm Payments Bank to stop onboarding of new customers . "The comprehensive system audit report and subsequent compliance validation report of the external auditors revealed persistent non-compliances and continued material supervisory concerns in Paytm Payments Bank, warranting further supervisory action."

Here are the directions issued by RBI to Paytm Payment Bank...

1. No further deposits or, credit transactions or top-ups shall be allowed in any customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, FASTags, and national common mobility cards (NCMC) after 29 February 2024, other than any interest, cashback, or refunds which may be credited anytime.

2. Withdrawal or utilisation of balances by its customers from their accounts, including savings bank accounts, current accounts, prepaid instruments, FASTags, and NCMC, are to be permitted without any restrictions upto their available balance.

3. No other banking services, other than those referred to in (2) above, like fund transfers (irrespective of name and nature of services like Aadhaar enabled payment system (AePS), and immediate payment service-IMPS), Bharat bill payment operating unit (BBPOU) and unified payments interface (UPI) facility should be provided by the bank after 29 February 2024.

4. The nodal accounts of One97 Communications Ltd and Paytm Payments Services Ltd. are to be terminated at the earliest, in any case not later than 29 February 2024.

5. Settlement of all pipeline transactions and nodal accounts (in respect of all transactions initiated on or before 29 February 2024) shall be completed by 15 March 2024 and no further transactions shall be permitted thereafter.

In October last year, RBI slapped a Rs5.39-crore fine on Paytm Payments Bank for not complying with its guidelines related to know-your-customer (KYC) norms and not reporting incidents of cyber security breaches in time.
Lindsay Benes

Lindsay Benes, associate professor at the Mark and Robyn Jones College of NursingsMissoula campus, is the recipient of the Excellence in Outreach Award, which recognizes a faculty member with significant achievements in outreach, an established body of engagement-related scholarship and a record of collaboration outside the academic community to address challenges or opportunities that align with MSUs land-grant mission. Sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs, the Outreach and Engagement Council and MSU Extension, the award includes a $2,000 honorarium.

Benes has demonstrated excellence in outreach in her work with Open Aid Alliance, an organization specializing in harm reduction, to support people with substance use disorders and those living unhoused, said Tracey Koch, the Missoula campus director of the nursing college. In nominating Benes for the award, Koch said Benes facilitates the student experience and fosters student interactions with vulnerable populations. Benes research focuses on syringe services and nurse-led treatment programs for individuals with substance use disorders, with the goal of enhancing access to medications for opioid use disorder for Montanas unhoused population.

Dr. Lindsay Benes is the epitome of excellence in outreach, Koch said. She collaborates with OAA, community agencies and other health care disciplines as part of the triad of teaching, scholarship and service. Her compassion, empathy and commitment to the houseless population in Montana is unmatched.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. Azerbaijan will charge one-time fees for vehicles transferred for utilization, Trend reports.

This is reflected in the "Procedure of Formation and Use of Funds of the Fund for Utilization of Vehicles," approved by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.

According to the order, the resources of the Fund for the utilization of vehicles are used in the following directions:

- reimbursement of the amounts of discounts applicable to the purchase of newly produced domestic vehicles by transferring the document confirming their sale to the sellers of vehicles;

- payment of funds for the organization and ensuring the performance of functions of the operator related to the utilization of vehicles.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. With Baku's COP29 looming, many innovative products in the field of sustainable finance may enter the country's market, Board Governor of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) Taleh Kazimov told Trend.

"Azerbaijan will host COP29, a renowned event. It is a wonderful opportunity for our country to host it. This process involves the entire country's structures," Kazimov noted.

According to him, Azerbaijan's efforts to issue "green loans" and "green bonds" are not only the responsibility of the CBA.

"Green loans" should be in demand among businesses. The bank can then take action in this regard. The situation regarding "green instruments" of funding is being examined," he added.

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Lewis Hamilton, the distinguished 39-year-old Formula One driver holding a joint-record seven world titles, has admitted to the possibility of retiring this year due to what he describes as a love-hate relationship with the sport.

Despite his remarkable achievements, including his last victory in 2020, the past three years have witnessed Red Bull's Max Verstappen emerging as the dominant force in F1.

With the imminent arrival of the new season, set to kick off in Bahrain on March 2, Mercedes is optimistic about turning the tide with the return of Hamilton's former right-hand man, Marc Hynes.

However, the challenges posed by Verstappen's dominance have led Hamilton to contemplate the prospect of retiring from Formula One at the end of the year, despite his existing contract extending until 2025.

Hamilton, who had previously expressed doubts about racing beyond the age of 40, reiterated this sentiment in a recent interview with Formule1.nl. He stated, That is still possible. I have no set plan for the future  I still feel fit and still enjoy what I do.

Ive now learned that you should never say never in life. I never thought that, after such a long time in Formula One, I would still feel the same love for the sport. It is a love-hate relationship  at times you love it more than at others. I think there comes a point when youve had enough. But the love is still there.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 31. The budget of the road industry in Kazakhstan's Kostanay region amounted to 56 billion tenge (about $124 million) in 2023, said Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, Trend reports.

He made a remark during a meeting on the topic of the socio-economic development of the Kostanay region.

The PM noted that, using these funds, 700 km of roads between populated areas and 299 streets in populated areas were repaired.

According to him, this year, more than 66 billion tenge (about $146 million) has been allocated from the budget for these purposes.

"An important project for the region to reconstruct the Kostanay-Denisovka highway has been completed. Design work is underway on sections of republican roads. These are Uzunkol  Troebratskoe, Sarykol  border of the North Kazakhstan region" and the road from the border of the Ulytau region to Arkalyk. In the future, after the completion of existing projects, it is planned to reconstruct the Kostanay-Russian border highway," the PM said.

Meanwhile, reconstruction and repairs covered 10,700 km of roads in Kazakhstan in 2023. In the coming years, it is planned to reconstruct major highways with a length of 4,700 km (13 priority projects) as well as repair the main regional roads for 4,300 km.

To date, 13 international transport corridors have been formed and operate in Kazakhstan: 5 railways and 8 roads.
Dr. Anne Perez Hattori, professor of History, CHamoru Studies, and Micronesian Studies at the University of Guam, holds the first and reprinted editions of her book Colonial Dis-Ease: US Navy Health Policies and the Chamorros of Guam, 18981941.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas takes his seat to testify before a Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on the department's budget request on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 26, 2021.
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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 31. The President of Hungary Katalin Novak will visit Astana on an official visit and attend the Astana International Forum in June 2024 upon the invitation of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Hungary Kristof Altusz said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during a meeting with the Ambassador of Kazakhstan Zhanibek Abdrashov.

The diplomats also discussed current issues on the agenda of bilateral relations within the framework of the Kazakh-Hungarian strategic partnership.

Abdrashov briefed the Hungarian diplomat on the progress of political and socio-economic reforms in Kazakhstan, the country's foreign policy activities, and its investment policy.

The meeting reviewed the implementation of tasks resulting from official visits in 2023, and it was noted that concrete measures are undertaken to implement the tasks set during the negotiations between President Tokayev and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Astana last year.

As a result of the negotiations, the diplomats confirmed their commitment to further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries and expressed confidence in the further comprehensive development of Kazakh-Hungarian relations.

The Astana International Forum to be held on June 13-14 this year will serve as a platform for high-level delegates from foreign governments, international organizations, businesses, and academic circles to engage in dialogue and seek solutions to problems such as climate change, food shortages, and energy security.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Suspect inside the store during the burglary -- ACSO photo View Photo

Amador County, CA  Stolen security cameras at an Amador County business were still able to reveal a burglar.

A business owner in Amador City discovered that her store had been burglarized during the night on Saturday, January 27, and then called 911. While the thief had stolen all the security cameras to conceal their identity, one camera captured an image of the suspect before the cameras went dark. The shop owner turned over what little surveillance footage there was to Amador County Sheriffs deputies, and it proved enough as the suspect was recognized by the deputies.

Later that day, deputies contacted the suspect, 26-year-old Matthew Petty of Amador City. Sheriffs officials disclosed, After being confronted with the video evidence, he confessed and returned the stolen property.

Petty was arrested for burglary and possession of methamphetamine. What items he stole and how much of the drug he had were not disclosed. This is an ongoing investigation, according to sheriffs officials, who added, Great job to the store owner for planning ahead and installing a quality video surveillance system!
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 31. The South Korean company KEPCO will conduct a pilot inspection of several thermal power plants in Kazakhstan, Trend reports.

An agreement on this was reached during a meeting between Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Almassadam Satkaliyev and the vice presidents of the Korean corporations KEPCO and DOOSAN ENERBILITY.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the issue of an upcoming inspection of the condition of several power plants in Kazakhstan with a view to further investment.

Thus, it is planned that KEPCO will conduct a pilot survey of the thermal power plants Topar, Astana, Pavlodar, and Almaty.

"Based on the results of the survey, we expect your expert assessment of the prospects for further operation of the stations, modernization, and improvement of their environmental performance," the minister said.

He noted that the ministry will provide the necessary support to the company.
Police in Zimbabwe are investigating two suspected murder cases that occurred recently. In Damofalls Phase 5, Ruwa, the body of 34-year-old Shadreck Maresa was discovered in a fowl run at a private residence.

Initial investigations suggest Maresa may have been attacked by a mob after allegedly being caught trying to steal car batteries in the nearby Gazebo area. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police are still looking into the full circumstances surrounding Maresas death.

In a separate incident, an unidentified mans body was found near a mining site in Bindura. According to police, the deceased had stab wounds on his chest and was wearing blue jeans, an orange T-shirt, black shorts, a grey cap, pink shoes, and a wristwatch. The discovery was made in an area known as the Cottco Panning Site.

Police are treating this case as suspected murder and are appealing to the public for any information about the unknown victim. Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest police station. Both incidents remain under active investigation.

Breaking News via Email
Yves here. KLG returns to the work of Raymond Geuss, which KLG covered last year in a review of Not Thinking Like a Liberal. Here Geuss, and KLG, both of whom came from working class backgrounds, ponder what work might amount to as broader economies look likely to face substantial relocalization, whether they embrace it or not. It does seem helpful and timely to approach this topic with some rigor. Having said that, talking to my inner toddler, I am not sure I buy the definition that good work serves the common good. How does making my bed daily serve the common good? More seriously, how much of the definition of good work is tied up with bourgeois norms?

I know this may sound petty, but a lot of impetus behind the womens liberation movement was based on the anomie married middle class women felt being relegated to housework and [not sufficiently esteemed] childrearing. But women had to get married because the labor market didnt offer jobs to them that would allow them enough independence. Even now, employed women still lack the economic leverage and perceived rights to typically get their husband to do his share of house and child care duties.

By KLG, who has held research and academic positions in three US medical schools since 1995 and is currently Professor of Biochemistry and Associate Dean. He has performed and directed research on protein structure, function, and evolution; cell adhesion and motility; the mechanism of viral fusion proteins; and assembly of the vertebrate heart. He has served on national review panels of both public and private funding agencies, and his research and that of his students has been funded by the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and National Institutes of Health.

Work, jobs, making a living, right livelihood. In this so-called modern world of Late Neoliberal Capitalism, there is no dearth of books and essays on what we (all of us) do for a living and how to navigate our political economy, especially in an era of forcible precarity. In fact, this flood can be overwhelming, at times comprising much nonsense. Thus, a good, readable treatment of work as a philosophical topic is much to be desired. In A Philosopher Looks at Work [1] by Raymond Geuss, we have that book. The authors Not Thinking Like a Liberal was discussed here previously. In my view, both works have benefitted from Professor Geusss thoroughly working-class origins. An academic in any discipline whose father was a locomotive mechanic in a steel mill in Pennsylvania, especially a professor who worked at times during his college years in the same unionized environment, is very rare in my long experience (which includes similar work in a heavy chemical plant with a strong local and international union).

Raymond Geuss knows the world of work at all levels, and as Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Cambridge, he is well positioned to treat the topic with the seriousness it requires. He does this in four focused chapters that repay close study:

Chapter 1: What is Work?

Chapter 2: The Organization of Work.

Chapter 3. The Anthropology and Economics of Work.

Chapter 4. Radical Discontent and the Future of Work.

In what follows I will summarize his philosophical bases of work and then consider where we are and where we should go from here.

Work, we know it when we see it and, just as importantly, when we dont see it. By definition, work is a process that:

requires expenditure of energy and is strenuous: the product is not produced effortlessly or by magic, but by human exertion

is a necessity of life

has an external produced product that can be measured and evaluated independently

And in the industrial world, work is:

a distinct and almost self-contained activity, and thus (is) most appropriately conducted in its own space, a factory or garage, or mill (or eventually office) in order that it not be confused with anything else.

And due to the industrial nature of work, which would include office work that has accompanied the deindustrialization of North America and Europe, work is:

almost invariably distinct from what one might do for fun, for pleasure, or as a joke. It is paradigmatically serious.

Physical work is most often thought of as work. It closely approaches the formal definition: Work in physics is the measure of energy transfer that occurs when an object is moved over a distance by an external force at least part of which is applied in the direction of the displacement. The common problem with academics and especially the PMC in general is that too many of them have never had to work for a living, either moving things around or directly serving their fellow citizens.

Work is a necessity, both individual and social: What we attribute to people is the need to lead a life which satisfies at least the minimal conditions of what they take to be a human life, where that is culturally defined; sometimes this is called a decent lifeand what counts as an acceptable decent life is (culturally determined) and (has) varied enormously through time and in different places. A social system that does not include meaningful work, i.e., work that is productive and useful, will collapse in on itself. Work has an objective product, in the form of a good or a service. Goods and services sometimes overlap but they are real and essential.

In the modern world, work is organized as jobs, careers, and professions, sometimes in succession for an individual. While work is often thought of in physical as well as moral terms, it is also a social construct. Work and employment are not the same thing. A lot of work is done that is not considered employment, such as in the home or work done by volunteers. Most importantly for the coming world that will get smaller of necessity, there are other ways of organizing work than the current industrial model. This reorganization will be essential in the near future.

Which brings us to the anthropology and economics of work. What makes people want to work? What makes people who would rather shirk? People will work because they are coerced or incentivized, but with diminishing returns. What social, political economic, and cultural characteristics are best at facilitating the good work that must be done? These have varied with time and place through history, and while we will probably not return to hunter-gatherer or pastoral modes, agriculture, properly practiced, and craft production for the people are likely to become more important in the coming world. The sooner we realize this, the better. The late, great anarchist anthropologist David Graeber was a leader in this anthropological approach to work in society and culture.

Discontent with the world of work is a given in our Late Neoliberal World. A point made, most often on the notional Left, is why dont we just abolish work? The more intelligent and sensible question is, How can work be transformed into something good?

What is good and productive, useful and meaningful work? As with science, good work serves the common good. All other work is dispensable. This good work includes construction of the built environment and production of the artifacts that make human life possible and rewarding. This work includes the services necessary for that life. We all know this at a fundamental level, but the disorganization and purposeful obfuscation inherent in our political economy hide it well. It goes without saying that the most important and fundamental jobs are not paid in proportion to their worth: caregivers, cleaners; those who work in trades such as carpentry and plumbing; electricians and roofers; dockworkers and deck workers and truck drivers; railroad engineers, brakemen, and conductors. Their recognition and often their pay may be insufficient, but their essential nature is never totally forgotten by those who believe they coast above it all. Especially in an emergency.

[Digression: If Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has his way, the latter two jobs on the railroad will disappear if they have not already. I worked with railroaders just after graduating from high school and it is hard to keep up, but it took more than one to operate a train safely. The several railroads in the US and the Department of Transportation seem to think that a mile-long freight train needs only the person who drives the train. No. And the one thing I have never understood is the description of these laboring jobs as unskilled. They are nothing of the sort. I have worked in the labor gang in a heavy chemical plant at the lowest end of the wage scale. It takes considerable skill and ability to work at any level in heavy industry without hurting yourself or others, or much worse. I was taught well and learned much from the men (women were hired a few years later to work in production and maintenance) in that plant, now long defunct and currently a Superfund site (another lamentable but common story). I will also add that in the mid-1970s I was paid well as that young laborer: ~$49,000 a year (~$23.54 per hour) in current dollars, not including substantial but optional overtime at time-and-a-half, double on holidays, while on a regular and guaranteed schedule. This, as a high school graduate, which was the only absolute requirement for employment. Although we were all just skilled laborers in that plant, very few were noticeably alienated from their work. Most were proud to be producing chemicals that were essential in industrial applications. And the transnational chemical company whose name was on One Times Square at that time? It was profitable despite outrageous labor costs that had the highest paid (hourly, union) Relief Operator making more than $180,000 a year in current dollars. The CEO also undoubtedly knew he was wealthy. End Digression]

It is not only those with mere jobs who remain unrecognized, unrewarded, and often poorly paid. This includes people with what may be called careers and/or professions. Although not addressed explicitly in A Philosopher Looks at Work, this is kept hidden within the Neoliberal mantra Do what you love! This is more properly described as You will get very little from us and you will like it, because your job is your life (no matter that it will also consume you). See, for example, 24/7: Late Capitalism and the Ends of Sleep by Jonathan Crary and his subsequent Scorched Earth: Beyond the Digital Age to a Post-Capitalist World. The message here also applies to those of us who have had the privilege of pursuing our vocation, or calling, a concept with a theological connotation that goes back to the premodern world. This includes innumerable teachers, nurses, social workers, scientists, architects, psychologists, and not a few physicians, pastors, priests, and professors.

From the individual and social perspectives, why work? Because we must, but there is much more than this. Work gives meaning to our lives, when properly required and pursued. But following Jon Elster, whose work in this vein is largely consonant with A Philosopher Looks at Work, work has been corrupted in capitalism by the following: (1) the best life for the individual is one of consumption, (2) consumption is valued because it promotes happiness, (3) but there are limits to who gets what, (4) what gets produced is limited by what can be produced at a private profit, and (5) who gets what depends on how much money they have. Elster argues to the contrary that the good life is one of active self-realisation rather than passive consumption. [2] He is correct. Moreover, humans are animals. To remain healthy, we must be active. On the other hand, the powers that be would prefer we continue Amusing Ourselves to Death. The PTB are winning.

Work is also and most importantly a matter of solidarity. This ethos goes back to the premodern world. Solidarity has been largely destroyed by the paths taken as a naked Liberalism attendant to the Enlightenment has become our regnant political philosophy (both liberal and conservative). Elevation of the individual above society is taken to be the root of all current political and economic evil by Post-liberals such as Patrick J. Deneen. As much as I heartily support his excoriation of Liberalism in Why Liberalism Failed (2018) and Regime Change: Towards a Postliberal Future (2023), it is not only Liberalism that has destroyed the solidarity that makes a truly human life possible. There were many choices taken along the way to the present that have little to do with Liberalism, and a postliberal future that is grounded in conservative Christianity instead of a legitimate social democracy, at the very least, is problematic. Michael Walzer considers these cultural critics in the current issue of the journal Liberties (paywall).

This brings us to work in the coming world if our discontent is to diminish. There will be no technological fix for scarcity in a full world or global warming as the inevitable consequence of the Industrial Revolution, contrary to the wishful thinking of the occasional apostate from the Chicago School, Deirdre McCloskey, who stated during an entertaining and enlightening roundtable discussion of Liberalism in Harpers last year, Global warming is already on the way to being solved by technological innovation, by the very capitalism that you (Patrick Deneen) think is so bad. Actually, not so much. Our only real hope, which leaves no room for optimism, is for the economy to approach a steady state as described in the lifes work of Herman Daly. The solution is most certainly not to preen while tooling around in a Tesla. Much more is required of us.

Work as we have known it, for example during the Great Compression in the thirty years after World War II, cannot reappear but there is still much to be done. From the conclusion of A Philosopher Looks at Work:

One thing we have to learn is how to be meaningfully active while producing and consuming less, and while freeing ourselves from the pathologies of infinite growth and the ever-increasing development of human productive powers (impossible in a finite ecosphere). The elements that came together to make up the traditional conception of work  the idea that most of the population will be engaged in the strenuous production of necessities organised into a series of jobs  have now separated, dissociated themselves from each other, and dispersed, and many of them have changed so much that they are scarcely recognisable at all. Where we go now, if we survive long enough to be said to go anywhere, is anybodys guess.

We do not have to guess. As the world necessarily gets smaller (if we do not blow it up first, which is a pressing and frightening question this very day), The Idea of a Local Economy becomes more believable. Can we depend only on our local economies? No. We must rebuild our infrastructure (e.g., buses, trams, light rail, and passenger trains) so that the Tesla is not viewed as the entirely false solution of our distress. The age of the Global Standard Consumersupported by Global Standard Industry and its adjunct Global Standard Industrial Agriculture is coming to an end, no matter what science and technology think about our predicament. In living and acting locally we can begin to heal what has been ruined by thinking globally. Yes, some unavoidable drudgery will be required, but as noted in A Philosopher Looks at Work drudgery is just another word for work that must be done, by each one of us doing his or her part.

Any serious analysis of work as an individual and cultural necessity must address how to make work more humane. Raymond Geuss does this well from the philosophical perspective. And in this he echoes the work of others, mostly forgotten. Fifty years ago, the nature of work in late capitalism was described by Harry Braverman in Labor and Monopoly Capital: The Degradation of Work in the Twentieth Century. Braverman worked variously as a coppersmith, pipefitter, and structural steel fitter before becoming Director of Monthly Review Press. He knew work, just as does Professor Raymond Geuss. Much earlier, John Crowe Ransom wrote in the Statement of Principles of Ill Take My Stand [3] that labor saving devices dont save labor so much as evict laborers from their land and their place in society. Where have we read and heard this before? Ransom also wrote that it is a modest demand that work partake of happiness.

Indeed, alienation is the most salient characteristic of work in the modern world. The artist and intentional homesteader Harlan Hubbard often said, What we need is at hand. No, we cannot and should not expect to live in Payne Hollowas he and Anna Eikenhout did. However, we can begin to pay attention, while using properly what we have at hand to do good work for the common good, where we live. As Abraham Joshua Heschel put it in his lesson for all people in all times, few are guilty but all are responsible. There is enough to go around for everyone. But time is short.

Notes

[1] A Philosopher Looks at Work is part of a series in which philosophers write about Sport, Science, The Religious Life, Architecture, Digital Communications, and Human Beings. I have read Science and Human Beings in addition to Work. So far, the series has been very much worth the time, easily ordered from Blackwells if not available in your local bookstore.

[2] Jon Elster, Self-realisation in work and politics: The Marxist conception of the good life. Reprinted in Alternatives to Capitalism, Jon Elster and Karl Ove Moene, eds., Cambridge, 1989.

[3] Ill Take My Stand (1930) has been as willfully misunderstood as The Rise of the Meritocracy (1958) and for the same reason by the same kind of people (rightfully called the Professional Managerial Class these days, or Caste as it has been aptly renamed by the NC commentariat). Ill Take My Stand was followed in 1936 by Who Owns America? A New Declaration of Independence. Remarkably congruent themes run through this work during the past 90+ years.
Yves here. Holy moley, if this reading of the latest developments in Iraq and the aftermath of the attack on the US installation in a still-disputed location (Jordan? Syria) is correct, there may be an unexpected silver lining to the servicemember deaths. If you are up on this developing story, Biden had decided to attack so-called Iran-linked militias rather than attacking Iran, keeping the response at a tit-for-tat level. Thats not such a bad outcome but still left room for more exchanges sooner rather than later leading to escalation, either by accident or design.

But this piece reports that the Iraq Kataib Hezbollah, which has nothing to do with the more famous Hezbollah in Lebanon, put up its hand and fessed up to the attack. As important, it said it had nothing to do with Iran and promised to cut it out so as not to make life more difficult for the government in Iraq. It further contends this means the plan to pull US forces out of Iraq is back on track.

Admittedly I am not sure how I missed the underlying accounts, since CNN had the story hours ago, with the headline predictably depicting Kataib Hezbollah as Iran-backed.

Recall the press reported a few days ago the US will finally leave Iraq after being told in not very polite terms by the Iraqi government to get out and the US initially balked. From Aljazeera in US, Iraq begin formal talks on winding down US-led military coalition:

Currently, there are about 2,500 US troops still deployed in Iraq as part of the coalition that was formed in 2014 to help the Iraqi government defeat ISIL. The US says its aims to set up a committee to negotiate the terms of the missions end were first discussed last year. But as Israels war on Gaza ramps up, US forces in Iraq and Syria have faced frequent attacks by Iran-allied groups, resulting in US retaliatory attacks and Iraqi complaints of US aggression against its territory.

If you skim the Congressional Research Services report on the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the number evacuated was greater that the force commitment because we also attempted to transport US civilian personnel and US citizens along with government personnel.

By Jake Johnson, a staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams
LONG LIVE THE SNAKE: CLEOPATRAS POISON Antigone

First Lab-Grown Eel Meat Revealed Guardian

New Zealand to ban forever chemicals in make-up PhysOrg

Extreme metal guitar skills linked to intrasexual competition, but not mating success PsyPost (Micael T)

#COVID-19

Already more people have died of COVID in January of 2024 than normally die of influenza in an entire year pic.twitter.com/ZS74GLREum  Gregory Travis. Make schools #DavosSafe (@greg_travis) January 31, 2024 "It is now clear that the CDC and the WHO erred in clinging to the droplet dogma with the insistence that the virus could be controlled by limiting exposure to droplets through surgical masks, distancing, and handwashing "https://t.co/NaLGhXiuJ0    joseph.vipond@ucalgary.ca (@jvipondmd) January 31, 2024

Climate/Environment

China?

Old Blighty

European Disunion

Gaza

New Not-So-Cold War

Syrqistan

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

Western Values

Imperial Collapse Watch

Trump

To beat Trump, we need to know why Americans keep voting for him. Psychologists may have the answer Guardian (Kevin W). This is beyond stupid as well as condescending and wrong. Lets start with the fact that members of the PMC, stereotypically but also more often that not actually, are extrensically motivated, despite their preening pretenses otherwise. By contrast, for some, voting for Trump is altruistic punishment. Altruistic punishment is when a member of a group punishes someone for group-harming behavior, incurring some costs and at no benefit to himself. The effort South Africa went to to pursue its case against the ICJ is an example. Here, at least some Trump voters are voting for Trump to punish the feckless Dems, knowing the cost they will incur is having the awful Trump as president.

Biden

Biden Owes the Country a New Vice President Time

GOP Clown Car

One way to get better government is to refuse to allow them to meet in DC. Senators and Representatives should have to stay in their own state and district, and conduct their business remotely, recorded for all of history. Much harder for lobbyists to get to all of them if  Lisa Pease (@lisapease) January 30, 2024

Idaho Senate passes bill to define domestic terrorism as activity associated with foreign groups Idaho Capital Sun (furzy)

Gunz

Jamie Raskin: A manual for Republicans commenting on mass shootings Washington Post (Dr. Kevin)

AI

Falling Apart Boeing Airplanes

The Bezzle

Guillotine Watch

Job Openings Rise in December But Quits Tell the Real Story Michael Shedlock

Class Warfare

Antidote du jour (via):

And a bonus (Chuck L):

Baby elephant fell asleep, worried mother elephant went to get the keepers because she couldn't wake up her baby.  Prague Zoo pic.twitter.com/YWDtd71OxK  og (@Yoda4ever) January 30, 2024

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here
Yves here. From my old days in New York City, I can attest to how the loss of cheap housing led directly to a rise in homelessness.

This post deals with another layer of this problem, that many live in dilapidated, dangerous rentals, unable to afford to move and lacking any way to get the landlord to fix the property. The communist city of New York at least has a 311 line where tenants can report a lack of heating (below a certain temperature in the winter) and IIRC water and the city does get on those cases pretty quickly. But nationally, that sort of thing is lacking.

For instance, in Birmingham, the regular short cut to the airport (a mere 5 minute drive from a tony area) had a fallen down house and ones near it that were in similarly bad shape. One driver told me hed repeatedly called the city to get the collapsed house razed. I was going to have the driver stop for a second and take a picture and write this up on my blog, since this house had fallen down months ago and the site still had not been cleared. The driver told me he had already been on this (!!!) and had called the city repeatedly about it. When he finally was able to reach a nominally responsible person, he was told no one would schedule a removal till someone in the neighborhood filed a complaint. We discussed at lenght that the pretense that no one had complained was clearly bogus; someone was looking for a payoff.

By Fran Quigley, who directs the Health and Human Rights Clinic at Indiana University McKinney School of Law. Originally published at Common Dreams

Last week, my students and I worked with several unhoused persons who had been recently living in dangerous, unhealthy apartments or homes in our community of Indianapolis. One, a young mother of a toddler with another baby soon on the way, had just left a home where eight people across three generations were living. The house had no central heat, so space heaters were the only source of warmth during a month when the temperature dipped below zero for several days. Those heaters and everything else electrical in the house were linked to a complex web of extension cords connected to a solitary working outlet.

On Thursday, we were in court with another client, a mother of four young children still living in a house where mold is spreading, windows are nailed shut, and electrical wires are exposed. This summer, a decrepit air conditioner unit overheated to the point where it nearly caught fire. The landlord repeatedly ignored the moms requests for repairs, claiming she accepted the home as isa disclaimer that may be allowed with used car purchases but is explicitly illegal in rental housing. When the landlord finally did take some action, it was to simply paint over the mold.

Also last week, I read that, in the Indiana city of South Bend, six children ranging in age from 17 months to 11 years old were killed when the home where they were living caught fire. The South Bend Tribune reports that the rental home failed a safety inspection in July after an inspector found ten separate violations, including an electrical problem throughout the entire home. Demetris Smith, 10 years old; Davida Smith, 9 years old; Deontay Smith, 5 years old; DAngelo Smith, 4 years old; and Faith Smith, 17 months old, all perished. Angel Smith, 11 years old, survived for a few days before dying last week in Riley Childrens Hospital here in Indianapolis. Angels death officially made it the most deadly fire in the citys history.

Almost every person we speak with in eviction court, along with virtually every unhoused person we connect with, has been or still is living in housing that is seriously unhealthy and often dangerous. Health departments struggle to regulate housing codes. The handful of lawyers available to file claims against landlords are overwhelmed with their current docket, constantly having to turn away tenants who endure horrible conditions.



We do our work in Indiana. Our state is certainly not alone in our struggle to ensure decent housing conditions, but we are among those who do the least to protect tenants. The Greater Indianapolis Multifaith Alliance told the stories of some Indiana renters in this short video; our student Jacob Purcell wrote a detailed analysis of the housing conditions crisis in a comprehensive report available on our clinic web page. Ko Lyn Cheang, then of the IndyStar, wrote here about one of the many local investor-owned apartment complexes where tenants are forced to live in egregious conditions.

Thank goodness for all the tenant leaders and organizers, outreach workers, shelter staff, social workers, physical and mental health professionals, lawyers, advocates, and others who work every day to make the situation as tolerable as possible for as many people as possible.

But we can add the toll that indecent housing conditions takes on low-income renters to the suffering caused by housing insecurity overall. A study by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Eviction Lab at Princeton University showed dramatic increases in mortality rates associated with evictions. Simply being threatened with an evictioneven when that case did not result in an eviction judgmentwas associated with a 19% increase in mortality, the researchers reported. Receiving an eviction judgment was associated with a 40% increase in the risk of death.

Add that startling finding on top of what we know happens post-eviction. It has long been clear that there is a hugely disproportionate death toll among unhoused people. Homeless individuals die at an average age of 50 years old.

None of this comes as a surprise here: with our clients, it is easy to see the physical and mental pain caused by their housing crises. Fortunately, none have yet suffered the unimaginable tragedy that was visited on the Smith family in South Bend. But our housing crisis is definitely a life-and-death struggle, and this week a lot of people were losing that fight.
Two bills sponsored by state Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) saw significant debate in the House K-12 subcommittee Tuesday. One bill aims to ban certain flags  including Pride flags  from being displayed in public schools. The other seeks to allow anyone whose child attends a school or is eligible to attend a school in a district to sue that school district if it is found to violate the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022. That law requires schools to document library books, create a process to review them and evaluate feedback and  if books are deemed inappropriate for certain age levels  remove them.

During a debate over the flag bill, Bulso repeated his stance that he believes children are being indoctrinated by Pride flags and similar political flags. He also stated that he believes Pride flags are one of the most exclusive symbols in our polity today, saying the symbol represents practices and beliefs including same-sex marriage  a value he said he does not share  and transgender rights.

There's no imminent danger or problem that stems from displaying a piece of nylon, said Erica Bowton, who testified against the bill as the mother of three public school students. The hypocrisy is extremely difficult to reconcile, given that this legislative body has repeatedly sent the message that banning items  even deadly ones such as guns  from schools and public places is a violation of the Constitution.

Bowton also accused Bulso of having a conflict of interest because he represents parents who are suing the Williamson County Board of Education for not removing challenged books. According to The News, the books include Stephen Chboskys The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Delia Owens Where the Crawdads Sing, Laurie Halse Andersons Speak, Ben Philippes The Field Guide to the North American Teenager and Jonathan Safran Foers Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The subcommittees only Democrat, Rep. Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville), asked about the conflict of interest. After going out of session to discuss, committee chair Kirk Haston (R-Lobelville) said, There is no code of ethics violation or House rule violation.

+2 Tennessee Bill Aims to Ban Pride Flags From Public Schools Legislation sponsored by Republican Gino Bulso would ban flags other than those of the United States and the state of Tennessee

While Bulsos flag bill was rolled to a Feb. 6 K-12 subcommittee meeting, the bill regarding the Age-Appropriate Materials Act passed through the subcommittee.

Debate surrounding both of Bulsos bills was robust. At one point, a spectator yelled, This is fascism.  Fuck you, and was removed. The Tennessean reports that the spectator, Aiden Pratt, was asked to leave because it appeared Pratt was recording. Earlier in the meeting, Haston said audience members were not allowed to livestream or record. While a new House rule prevents members from recording legislative affairs, it does not prohibit audience members from doing so.

An amendment on a caption bill (HB1191/SB0135) introduced by Rep. Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville) would require school districts with charter schools to report vacant and underutilized school buildings. The bill gives charter schools the right of first refusal to purchase or lease these buildings at or below market value. The bill passed the subcommittee and is scheduled to be discussed in a Senate Education Committee on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
On Wednesday (31 January 2024), Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg delivered a speech at the Heritage Foundation in Washington D.C. He emphasised that in a world with rising security threats, NATO Allies must ensure robust deterrence, prepare for enduring competition with China, and invest more in defence.

Mr Stoltenberg underlined that NATO has implemented the most robust collective defence since the Cold War, with more forces at higher readiness and more capabilities to protect citizens and Allied territory, not to start wars, but to prevent them. On support to Ukraine, the Secretary General stressed that Allies need to remain decisive and strong. Ukraine must prevail and it can, but it needs our continued help. The Secretary General warned that if we cannot stop Russias cycle of aggression in Europe, others will learn the lesson that using force against Americas interests works.

On China, the Secretary General outlined the importance of eliminating harmful dependencies on critical China raw materials and products. Drawing the parallel with European reliance on Russian oil and gas, Mr Stoltenberg added dependencies make us vulnerable. The Secretary General reiterated through NATO, the US has the support of 31 Allies and a vast network of partners. The Alliance is working more closely with partners to make national forces more interoperable and increase cooperation on issues of shared interest, including China.

Lastly, Mr Stoltenberg pointed to the importance of increased defence investment to keep the Alliance strong. The Secretary General welcomed increased spending from all Allies, adding an additional 450 billion dollars. Allies recently have agreed to purchase 120 billion dollars worth of weapons from U.S. defence companies. What Allies buy keeps American businesses strong. So NATO is a good deal for the United States, said Mr Stoltenberg. Looking forward to July, the Secretary General underscored the Washington Summit will be an opportunity to send a powerful message of unity and resolve in this challenging century.

Later today, the Secretary General will travel to Troy, Alabama to visit the Missiles and Fire Control Facility of Lockheed Martin. He will conclude his trip by visiting the headquarters of the US Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, January 31. Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, has received 124 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, procured via funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Trend reports.

As per the bank, this initiative is part of the Green Cities program, aimed at addressing environmental issues and investing in sustainable municipal infrastructure. More buses funded by the EBRD are expected to be added to the city's fleet in 2024.

The new buses are designed to provide comfort for senior citizens, disabled passengers, and families with children. Once in operation, these CNG buses are anticipated to significantly reduce harmful emissions along their routes, decreasing nitrous oxide by more than 71 percent and carbon dioxide by almost 38 percent.

This project marks the first step in Bishkek's Green Cities Action Plan (GCAP), funded by a 33 million euro EBRD financing package, which includes a 25 million euro loan and an investment grant of up to 8 million euro. The initiative is further supported by a 950,000-euro grant from the Government of Japan.

The funds will not only facilitate the introduction of CNG buses but also contribute to the renovation of the city's bus depot, the procurement of necessary maintenance equipment, and the implementation of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with GPS navigation. This system is expected to significantly enhance the efficiency of the municipal bus company.

EBRD has channeled 948 million euros into Kyrgyzstan through 239 projects, with a focus on supporting private entrepreneurship.
(As delivered)

Thank you Dr. Roberts,

dear Kevin,

Good morning all.

It is great to be back in Washington.

And a pleasure to speak at the Heritage Foundation.

You seek to advance the interests of American citizens.

And stand up for ideas that strengthen America,

and the fundamental values that underpin this great democratic nation.

Freedom, opportunity and prosperity.

Today, these values are under attack by malign foreign actors seeking to undermine them.

They are threatening our free world.

They are openly contesting American power.

And not just America.

They are trying to trample over the global rules that keep us all safe.

These are dangerous times.

China is modernising its military and developing new weapons,

without any transparency or any limitation.

It is trading unfairly.

Buying up critical infrastructure.

Bullying its neighbours  not least Taiwan.

And seeking to dominate the South China Sea.

While China is the most serious long-term challenge,

Russia is the most immediate one.

Putin has brought war back to Europe, on a scale not seen since the Second World War.

And is developing new strategic weapons to threaten the United States and its Allies.

His war is not just about controlling Ukraine.

It is about re-establishing Russias sphere of influence.

And shaping alternative world order.

Where U.S. power is diminished.

NATO is divided.

And smaller democracies are forced to kneel.

Other authoritarian regimes in Iran and North Korea are also expanding their aggressive behaviour.

Tehran is backing terrorists and militias that are attacking ships in the Red Sea.

And American military bases in the Middle East.

Just this week we saw the tragic consequences of the attack in Jordan.

Pyongyang continues to test missiles that could reach South Korea and Japan.

As well as the United States.

China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are increasingly aligned.

Together, they subvert sanctions and pressure.

Weaken the US dollar-based international financial system.

Fuel Russian war in Europe.

And exploit challenges to our societies,

such as terrorism, disruptive technologies, or migration.

In these dangerous times, we must stand strong against any regime that seeks to undermine us.

To do so, we must do three things.

First , we must ensure robust deterrence.

Not to start wars.

But to prevent them.

And preserve peace.

Any sign of wavering or weakness on our part will invite challenges from those who wish us harm.

That is why NATO has implemented the most robust collective defence since the Cold War.

We have more forces at higher readiness.

And more capabilities to protect our people,

and our territory.

We need to remain decisive and strong in our support to Ukraine.

Make no mistake: that is where we are being tested right now.

Ukraine must prevail.

And it can.

But it needs our continued help.

And let me recognise the leading role of the United States in supporting Ukraine.

Not least in providing essential military aid.

At the same time, we should acknowledge that European Allies and Canada also provide significant support to Ukraine, what they support, what they provide, in terms of military, financial, and humanitarian aid actually exceeds what the U.S. is providing.

Since the outbreak of the war, the United States has provided around 75 billion U.S. dollars.

Other Allies and partners have provided over 100 billion dollars.

And measured as share of GDP,

most Allies provide more than the United States.

In addition, Europe Allies host six million Ukrainian refugees.

European Allies were the first to provide tanks and long-range missiles to Ukraine.

The first to provide fighter aircraft.

And the first to train thousands of Ukrainian soldiers.

Supporting Ukraine is not charity.

It is an investment in our own security.

The United States has spent a small fraction of its annual military budget to aid Ukraine.

With that, Ukraine has managed to destroy a substantial part of Russias combat capacity.

And again, supporting Ukraine is in Americas own interest.

If we cannot stop Russias cycle of aggression in Europe, others will learn the lesson that using force against Americas interests works.

The price for our security will go up.

China is watching closely.

And supporting Putin.

Lets remember, China and Russia are partners.

Putin and Xi have signed an agreement of limitless partnership.

Beijing has failed to condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine.

It continues to spread Russian lies,

and to prop up the Russian economy.

It is Ukraine today.

Taiwan could be tomorrow.

This brings me to my second point .

We must organise ourselves for enduring competition with China.

The U.S. has been doing this for some time.

You shifted your policy on China in 2017, under President Trump.

And since then, NATO has gone a long way in helping European Allies fully appreciate the challenges posed by China.

And respond to it.

It is clear that we must eliminate harmful dependencies on critical Chinese raw materials and products.

Europe made the mistake to rely on Russian oil and gas.

We cannot repeat that same mistake with China.

Dependencies make us vulnerable.

That is why we need to protect our critical infrastructure, strategic materials and supply chains.

We must not lose control of our ports, railways, and telecommunications  like 5G.

And we must not export technology that can be used against us.

Managing the China challenge is not something the U.S. can do alone.

And you dont have to.

Through NATO, the U.S. has the support of 31 Allies and a vast network of partners.

Especially in the Indo-Pacific.

NATO is working more closely than ever with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.

We are making our forces more interoperable.

So they can work seamlessly together.

And we cooperate on issues of shared interest.

Including China.

Together, we are much stronger.

Now to my third and final point.

We must invest in our defence.

NATO will remain central to this effort.

Over many years, the United States has criticised NATO Allies for not spending enough on defence.

Rightly so.

And I commend the U.S. leadership on this important issue.

But things have changed.

All Allies have increased defence investments.

Adding an additional 450 billion dollars.

NATO Allies have committed to spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence.

And many are exceeding that target already.

For example, this year Poland will spend more than 4%.

No other Ally spends more.

With more money, we are boosting our defence industry.

NATO creates a market for defence sales.

Over the last two years, NATO Allies have agreed to purchase 120 billion dollars worth of weapons from U.S. defence companies.

Including thousands of missiles to the U.K, Finland and Lithuania,

Hundreds of Abrams tanks to Poland and Romania,

And hundreds of F-35 aircraft across many European Allied nations  a total of 600 by 2030.

From Arizona to Virginia, Florida to Washington state,

American jobs depend on American sales to defence markets in Europe and Canada.

What you produce keeps people safe.

What Allies buy keeps American businesses strong.

So NATO is a good deal for the United States.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Heritage Foundation stands for the power of ideas that keep America strong.

NATO is an incredibly powerful idea.

That advances U.S. interests.

And multiplies Americas power.

The U.S. alone represents a quarter of the world economy.

But together, with NATO Allies,

we represent half of the worlds economic might.

And half of the worlds military might.

Together, we have world-class militaries,

vast intelligence networks,

more defence spending,

and unique diplomatic leverage.

More than an idea, NATO is a strong Alliance.

Getting stronger, and bigger.

With new Allies  Finland, and soon Sweden.

And more partnerships around the world.

Through NATO, the U.S. has more friends and allies than any other power.

China and Russia has nothing like NATO.

It is why they always try to undermine our unity.

In times of growing competition and rivalry.

NATO makes the U.S. stronger.

And all of us safer.

This year, we will celebrate NATOs 75th anniversary.

With a Summit here in Washington in July.

It will be an opportunity to send a powerful message of unity and resolve in this challenging century.

Thank you so much.

NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg answers audience questions at the Heritage Foundation in Washington D.C.

Victoria Coates, Vice President, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy

Thank you, Mr Secretary General for a very compelling and engaging address, I look forward to following up on some of these topics with you, and welcome everyone to the Heritage Foundation.

I am going to revert to one of my favourite habits, which is to tell a story about Donald Rumsfeld. And there's always a Rumsfeld story for any topic and I know them. But he was of course, Ambassador to NATO in 1974. And it was an interesting choice for him because Nixon had just won this massive re-election and the decision was made for him to become NATO Ambassador and the Washington Post published an article saying Rumsfeld is the dumbest man in Washington - why would you leave the centre of the universe and go off to Brussels? But he did. This was 73 actually. And then, over the summer of 74, he had a very interesting experience with the Alliance as Watergate was breaking out here in Washington, and the Nixon presidency descended into a paralysis. And the Washington Post published an article saying Rumsfelds the smartest man in Washington, he got out.

But what he experienced and what he talked about a great deal in terms of his interest in and value for NATO was the crisis in NATO in the summer of 74. When he was basically cut off from DC because everybody was focused internally on protecting the Nixon presidency. But in Europe, we had a massive crisis between Turkey and Greece, resulting in Greece withdrawing from the NATO command structure and then Secretary General Luns basically pleaded with Rumsfeld to go back to DC and come up with some kind of resolution to this crisis. And what he knew is if he went back to Washington, no one would talk to him about anything but Watergate. So he stayed engaged in Brussels and always spoke very admiringly about how the Alliance functioned through that crisis, and kept it from coming off the rails during a very dangerous time in the Cold War, when a crisis in NATO would have been particularly disruptive.

So my first question to you is, you know, with 75 years of this Alliance, what was forged in the, you know, sort of the ashes of World War Two has emerged as one of the most powerful alliances in history. Is there any accomplishment that you would point to, like that summer of 74 accomplishment? That is not fully appreciated?

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General

First of all, I think actually NATO is quite well appreciated. And more appreciated now than just a few years ago, because with a full-fledged war going on in Europe, with China becoming stronger and stronger, I think more and more Allies realise the value of standing together. It's as simple as that. When we are together, we are stronger and safer, all of us. And that applies for Europe, but it also applies for the United States and Canada, for North America. So, and I feel, and also when you look at your opinion polls, there is actually strong support for NATO, across Europe and in the United States. So of course, there are things that are not as appreciated as they should, but in general I feel welcomed all over the Alliance. And we see it also reflected in the fact that Allies are investing more in defence.

But on that story from 1974 and the crisis caused by the crisis in Cyprus, I think it demonstrates why NATO is the most successful alliance in history. And NATO is the most successful alliance in history for two reasons. One is that we have been able to change when the world changes. For 40 years, we deterred the Soviet Union, and then suddenly the Soviet Union was no longer there. And people said NATO has to go out of business or out of area and we went out of area and helped to end two brutal ethnic wars in the Balkans. In Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Serbia or Kosovo. And then after 9/11, NATO did something no one envisaged we were going to do and that was to be on the front line fighting terrorism and helping United States. And then after 2014 NATO has adapted again with more focus on collective defence in Europe, the strongest reinforcement of our collective defence. So the first reason why NATO is a success is that we are changing and we will continue to change. The other reason why NATO is a success is that despite our differences, we are able to agree around the core task of NATO and that is to protect all Allies. Because we are now soon 32 Allies from both sides of the Atlantic with different history, different geography, different political parties in power. And it changes and we disagree on many issues and we haveYou know NATO was founded in 49. And then we had the Suez Crisis in 56. We had in 67, we had France asking NATO to leave, our headquarters were in Paris, and we had to move to Brussels. Of course, that was a crisis. And then we had 74 and we had the Iraq War and we had many differences. And we'll have them in the future too, I promise.

But despite all these differences, we have been able to deter every adversary and unite around the core task to protect each other. Because we realized that we are safer when we stand together. So that's in a way the key, realizing that we are different, we are still able to protect and defend each other, not to provoke a war but to prevent a war and preserve peace. And NATO has done that successfully for 75 years and will continue to do so as long as we adapt to a changing world and as long as we are united despite our differences.

Victoria Coates, Vice President, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy

And I'm actually going to push back a little bit on that one. Because in 2022 deterrence did fail. And I think the, you know, the challenge we have to NATO going forward is, you know, why did that deterrence fail? I think to your point about winning the Cold War and it being a good thing that NATO did not go out of business after the Cold War, because Russia did not go out of business. And so that threat was still very much present. And is, as it turns out, gathering. You recently referred to the war in Ukraine as a battle of ammunition. And clearly, you know, we do have Allies who have their stocks running dangerously low and our ability to resupply is not what it should be.

What would be your views going forward into the next 25 years of NATO as we approach the centennial, about how we can build up that capacity in Europe in a way that is interoperable with the United States? So that we can present a greater deterrence for Russia for any further ambitions that Mr Putin may have? And how quickly do you think that capacity can be built up?

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General

It is extremely important to build up that capacity of our defence industries. But let me first briefly respond to what you said about deterrence failed. I think we have to be very precise, NATO's deterrence is about Article 5. And that applies for NATO Allies - that has never failed. Except there have been terrorist attacks, there have been cyber attacks, but there have not been any major military attacks against any NATO Ally. We will have cyber attacks, we may have terrorist attacks also in the future. But the core responsibility for NATO - to deter military attacks - that deterrence has not failed.

Ukraine is a partner but Ukraine is not covered by Article 5. So I think we should not confuse those two things, because then we are actually undermining the credibility of Article 5. Because if you said that Article 5 failed in 22, then we undermine the credibility of Article 5. Article 5 didn't fail in 22 when Russia invaded Ukraine because Article 5 and NATO's collective defence assurances does not apply for Ukraine - so therefore, it cannot fail. That doesn't make the invasion of Ukraine less serious but we should not confuse those two things.

Second, the war in Ukraine is more and more a war of attrition. And a war of attrition becomes a war of logistics. It's about producing the weapons, the ammunition the spare parts, the maintenance needed to sustain the war effort. And that demonstrates the need to produce ammunition because so far, we are mainly digging into our stocks to supply Ukraine. That cannot continue, that's not sustainable. So therefore, we started actually, quite early into the war to work with the defence industry, about how can we ramp up production? And it revealed some serious weaknesses, that our defence industry on both sides of the Atlantic doesn't have the capacity needed to sustain this type of war and even less big conflicts between peer enemies. So the bad news is that we have seen some serious gaps. The good news is that Allies are now addressing them and production is gradually going up. NATO is playing a key role in two, three ways. First, is that we are aggregating demand, we are ensuring that Allies - especially the small and medium sized Allies - are buying stuff together. This is helping to reduce the unit cost or the cost per produced unit. The economy of scale is utilised by bigger contracts and of course it increases the market power of those who are buying. So just two weeks ago, we had the some Allies agreeing to buy 1000 Patriot interceptors, so it's such a big investment that they are actually building a new factory to deliver those interceptors. In total, NATO Support and Procurement Agency, just over the last six months, has signed contracts worth $10 billion - partly to replenish NATO stocks, but partly also to enable Allies to continue to deliver support to Ukraine.

The other important role NATO is playing is that we are setting the capability targets to the NATO Defence Planning Process and we are setting the standards. And standards are extremely important, because we have to ensure that weapons, ammunition is interoperable. This is partly about 155 ammunition but also you know that the different systems can talk to each other and communicate in a world of artificial intelligence and more and more advanced weapon systems. This has to be NATO standards. Because we cannot not have different sets of standards for the same Allies. And the good thing with that is that while having common standards we ensure interoperability, interchangeability, that we can work together on the battlefield, but also that we have an open defence market. And again, this is a huge advantage for the United States. I mentioned in my speech, 120 billion in sales to European Allies and Canada just over the last two years. And later on today, I'm going to Alabama to Pike County to Lockheed Martin there where they are producing Javelins. Jobs in the United States, support to Ukraine and paid by European Allies. So NATO is a good deal for the United States.

Victoria Coates, Vice President, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy

One thing I was struck by in your remarks is you raised one of my favourite topics, which is energy and I think that how energy and how we're going to fuel the future has become a national security issue is something we might not have talked about 20 years ago, but with the extraordinary demands on energy and requirements for energy, to fuel, modern life and to fuel modern warfare, I think we're just sort of beginning to focus on that in the early days of the invasion of Ukraine.

A gentleman thats sometimes in the news here in Washington, Senator Manchin referred to the Ukraine war as an energy war, which it, which it largely is and I know in the summit in Vilnius last summer, where they have a NATO Energy Centre that this issue came up. As we move into this new phase and we have these new requirements, given the United States new role as one of the world's great energy producers, given how increased United States natural gas exports have been able to support Europe during the war. How do you see energy factoring into NATO strategy going forward?

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General

So energy and security is closely linked and the war in Ukraine demonstrated how vulnerable we are if we are too dependent on a commodity from an authoritarian power and this has been clearly communicated from the United States. And I remember for instance, President, then President Trump at different NATO summits clearly saying that we should not be dependent on Russian gas. While the challenge was that many Europeans said that well - when we buy gas from Europe or not it's a commercial issue, it's not a political issue. But the reality is to be so dependent on gas from Russia it's a political issue. It's about our security. All European Allies understand that now. Because actually, some months before the invasion of Ukraine, Russia started to use gas as a tool, as a weapon they weaponized energy to coerce NATO Allies to not support Ukraine. Then luckily, Allies - European Allies - decided to support Ukraine, but they paid a high price because the gas supplies from Russia was cut off.

The good news is that since then, European Allies have been able to divert their supplies from not least from the United States LNG, but also from the Middle East, liquefied natural, natural gas but also from Norway and some other countries that are now supplying more natural gas and energy to Europe. So in short, energy is about security. We need to prevent any dependencies. One of the challenges we see is that some of those new energies, which I think actually have an important role to play, like solar, the challenge is that a lot of the materials we need for the solar panels are coming from China. So of course, we should not replace one over-dependency on Russia with another on China. So we need to find ways to also not go into the same trap once again.

Victoria Coates, Vice President, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy

Now that's a critical issue and one of our key projects this year in the Davis Institute is a project called Chinese handcuffs, which is on precisely that topic that are we trading one dangerous dependency for another? And for the United States, if we walk into that trap, we would be giving up our ability to you know, surge energy to partners and allies of our own, from our own resources rather. And that gives me a convenient pivot point to my next question, which you also raised in your in your remarks, which is how we as NATO are going to confront China?

That this is becoming clear it is the generational challenge we will face. They are resolutely hostile, resolutely opposed to the kind of rules that we have laid out for everything from trade, to arms control, and, you know, shackling ourselves by rules that they won't follow, you know, it's not going to be a successful strategy. So even as we have to continue to confront Russia, and as you pointed out, in many ways, the Russian and Chinese problem sets are morphing into one. How can how can NATO become more, more flexible into the Pacific? And do you see an opportunity to either create a sister alliance amongst the Pacific nations you mentioned? Or how could we increase cooperation with them?

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General

This is extremely important because China is obviously the most challenging challenge we face. It's the biggest long term challenge NATO Allies faces and therefore, we need to address it. For decades NATO didn't address China at all. In the Strategic Concept we agreed, which is our basic paper, in a way which we agreed on this point in 2010. China is not mentioned with a single word. Then in 2019, we started and over the last years, NATO has really put China on the agenda because Allies now fully recognise that China is about our security. Again, the US has been showing leadership on this issue within the Alliance. NATO will remain a regional Alliance of North America and Europe. NATO will not become a global Alliance, but the North Atlantic region, North America and Europe. We face global threats and challenges and we have to address them.

That's not new. Cyber is global, space is global and terrorism is global. But of course we also as North America and Europe, we face the challenges that Russia represents. This is about the heavy investments in modernising their armed forces, it's about trying to control our infrastructure. This is in a way China coming closer to us. We see them in Africa, we see them in the Arctic, we see them trying to control our critical infrastructure. We had a very important discussion in Europe about 5G. In the beginning again many allies said this is a commercial issue. And we said no, no. 5G is partly commercial. It's also about our security. And actually, allies realised and saw the danger of being too dependent on Chinese suppliers of 5G networks. Then, just to highlight as you also said, the idea to distinguish that the challenge from the Russia and challenge from China that there's no meaning in that because China and Russia are more and more aligned.

What happens in Ukraine, matters for Asia and what happens in Asia matters for Europe. And when we see how Russia and China are coming closer and closer. Actually how Russia is more and more dependent on China, and is mortgaging its future to China. Then the idea that we can just address Russia without at the same time addressing China or vice versa, is meaningless. So we don't have the luxury of saying we will only talk about China or only talk about Russia. This is one part of the same challenge. They are partners without any limits. And therefore we think it is  the main thing we need to invest now in deterrence and defence we need to invest in technology - we need to work on resilience or critical infrastructure. All of this is relevant to address the challenge from China, and NATO Allies are doing that.

But we also need to work more closely with those Asia Pacific partners. I think there's a great potential for actually doing more. But this is an ongoing discussion within Allies. Again it will not become a global alliance but we need to work with the global partners about Asia Pacific

Victoria Coates, Vice President, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy

Well, my last question, which both you and Dr Roberts touched on is, is defence spending and we have covered it but it gives me an opportunity to bring this back to Rumsfeld. So in the, in the interest of symmetry I will. Because another interesting aspect to his archives from the NATO period were cables he was writing home to then Secretary Kissinger about what he saw is a very dangerous culture of dependency that was growing in NATO in terms of reliance on American security for Europe. And of course, what they were grappling with then was the Vietnam War being a specific distraction for the US from, Europe. And he was, he was deeply concerned that the major - particularly the major - NATO Allies, were not investing sufficiently in defence.

And you know, we then have the situation where this summer we will mark not only the 75th anniversary of NATO's founding, but also the 10th anniversary of the Wales Summit, which established 2%. The 2% benchmark which everybody pledged but was not bound to reach. What tools do we have to accelerate progress toward that 2% mark? Because you might have read about it in the paper - we're going to have an election in November and in the event of a political change in the United States, I think this issue could become really quite acute. And so what will your message be going into the Washington Summit this summer, as Secretary General, to encourage additional progress?

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General

First of all, it is extremely important that European Allies and Canada are investing more in defence and the very clear message from the United States and also the very clear message from President Trump back when he was President from 2017 to 21 has had an impact. So things are now changing. Because you have to remember that when you made the pledge a few years ago at the base, at the summit in Wales to spend 2% of GDP on defence, only three Allies, the United States, the United Kingdom and Greece spent 2% or more.

This year, we don't have the final figures, but this year, we expect at least half of the Allies to meet the 2% target. That's not good enough, but it's enormously much better than when we made the pledge. And also our Allies who are not yet at 2%, they are coming very close, most of them. And all have a plan in place to reach 2%. So that's a total different world than where we were just a few years ago.

Second I think that this is partly about spending more, but it's also about realising that we need to spend together because that's a great advantage we have compared to any other major power is that we can get so much out of our investments when we do it together as we do as an Alliance. So I'm actually quite optimistic when it comes to NATO Allies delivering and that's my main message to United States. That European Allies have understood the seriousness and European Allies are investing more.

Victoria Coates, Vice President, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy

Well, I think we can open it up to some audience questions now. How does this work Catherine?

Audience question 1

Thank you very much. I'm the defence attache of Poland here in DC. I represent the Ministry of Defence in the Embassy of Poland. First of all, I'd like to express my admiration for your leadership and the things you have done over the past year for the whole NATO and my question pertains regional plans. We know that the last summer the Allied heads of states and the governments approved the regional plans. So for the first time in our history, we have plans - actually a family of plans - that fit the purpose of the regional defence of the Euro Atlantic area and my question is about executability of these plans. What is your assessment on that? It pertains mostly the member states to field these plans with the capabilities but I believe you have some things to share, how long it might take? Thank you very much.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General

Well, these plans are extremely important, we agreed them last year. We are able to execute our plans. But of course, the more forces the more capabilities we have, there is less and less risk. And the good news is that again because Allies are spending more, they are also now delivering the forces, setting up the forces and, and establishing the readiness we need to reduce the risks we face. So these are ambitious plans. And we are delivering on them.

Audience question 2

My question is what is NATOs strategy to defeat Russia - if that is your strategy? And please define defeat - other than as long as it takes.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General

But I have to understand. You mean when it comes to NATO territory? Our strategy is to deter Russia from attacking us. And that has been a successful strategy for 75 years. But maybe you asked about Ukraine? Yeah, okay. That's again, that's important but that's a different issue, and we must not mix those two.

When it comes to Ukraine the strategy is to ensure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign independent nation and that Putin realises that the cost of trying to control Ukraine is too high. This is partly about liberating territory and we have to recognise or acknowledge that Ukrainians have liberated roughly half the territory that Russia occupied at the beginning of the war. Of course, you would have liked to see more territory liberated. We would have liked to see the offensive that was launched last year to yield more gains, but we need to remember where this whole thing started. At the beginning of the war, most experts believe that Ukraine will be controlled by Russia within weeks and Kyiv within days - that didn't happen. And the Ukrainians have been able to liberate roughly half of the territory.

In addition to that Ukrainians have also been able to open a corridor in the Black Sea to push back their Russian Black Sea fleet, which is actually a huge achievement. And they are now able to export grain and other commodities out of the Black Sea. And thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, they are constantly inflicting heavy losses on the Russian armed forces. Russia has lost more than 300,000 as casualties, thousands of armoured vehicles, half of their battle tanks or perhaps even more, and hundreds of aircraft. So Russia is paying a high price because of the Ukrainians determination and courage and because of our military support.

Wars are by nature unpredictable and I can never, no one can tell you exactly how this war ends. But what I can tell you is that the likelihood for end to this war where Ukraine prevails, increases the more support we give them. And therefore I welcome that European Allies have been pushing and also of course the support that the United States has provided since the beginning of this war. Because as long as Putin believes that he can win on the battlefield he will continue. When he realises that the price he is paying on the battlefield is too high, and that he will not win in the battlefield, he will have to sit down and recognise, agree, negotiate some kind of agreement, where Ukraine continues to be a sovereign independent democratic nation in Europe. So the strategy is to inflict so high costs on Russia, that they accept that they will not control Ukraine.

Victoria Coates, Vice President, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy

Well, Mr Secretary General, thank you very much, we are at time and I know you have a very busy schedule. A little bit of housekeeping. If everyone could remain seated until the NATO party has left the auditorium that would be great. I would like to echo my Polish friends thanks for your service to NATO and have fun out in America.
REPORT: 137 Abortion clinics have been SHUT DOWN since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022

A 2023 survey reveals that a total of 137 abortion clinics have been shut down in the United States following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Conducted by Operation Rescue, a prominent pro-life organization, the annual survey found that 49 abortion clinics shut down in 2023 while another 88 were shut down in 2022 following the Supreme Court's landmark decision.

A small number of additional closures that occurred after the publication of the survey in November 2023 were not recorded and will instead be reflected in the organization's 2024 report.

According to the report, the Dobbs ruling contributed significantly to the shutdown of dozens of abortion clinics. The ruling removed federal protections for abortion and allowed states to decide abortion policies for themselves, leading to direct abortion bans for the first time in nearly half a century. The net decrease in abortion centers for 2023 was 13, considering the closures and openings. (Related: NO TO "ABORTION TRAFFICKING": Lubbock County Commissioners Court approves anti-abortion transport ban.)

Operation Rescue President Troy Newman said there has been a 69 percent decrease in abortion clinics since 1991. Back then, there were 2,176 abortion clinics operating in the United States. Now, only 670 abortion clinics are still operating.

Newman also noted that the industry has been quick to adapt to abortion restrictions. Fifty-three abortion centers have either newly opened or resumed operations last year. Additionally, 79 percent of these newly established abortion facilities exclusively offer abortion-inducing drugs and do not provide surgical abortions, representing a trend in the abortion industry wherein abortion clinics are reorienting to providing more mail-order abortions by providing abortion pills to circumvent restrictions.

Abortion allies have pursued various other tactics to sustain the industry. These include attempts to enshrine abortion rights in state constitutions, lobbying for more legal protections for abortions and providing financial support for interstate abortion expenses such as travel. These groups are also funding the construction of new abortion facilities near state borders and the establishment of liberal states as sanctuaries for those seeking to evade pro-life laws.

Newman stated that it is important for pro-life organizations to highlight the corruption of the abortion industry and its dangerous practices, and vowed to continue Operation Rescue's campaign until every abortion clinic in the U.S. is shut down.

"We will not relent until every abortion mill is piled up on the ash heap of history. Not only do we strive to keep the public informed of the corrupt abortion industrys dark, horrid underbelly, but we work closely with boots-on-the-ground pro-lifers across the country to save [the] lives of innocent babies by nailing shut the doors of these wretched killing centers for good," Newman said.

More and more states ban all or most abortion services

Abortion has effectively been abolished across a vast swath of America, spanning 2,000 miles from the Texas border to West Virginia. A block of 10 states, primarily in the South but also including states like the Dakotas and Idaho, have successfully implemented near-total bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with limited exceptions.

Fourteen states currently have laws that ban all or most abortions, and available data suggests that these pro-life laws could potentially eliminate an estimated 200,000 abortions annually.

These 14 states, which accounted for approximately 110,000 abortions per year before the overturning of Roe v. Wade, have witnessed a drastic reduction in abortion numbers. Abortion rates have plummeted to below 10 per month since the reversal, leading to the closure of numerous abortion facilities and a shift in the reproductive landscape.

Birth data reflects the efficacy of these pro-life measures, with Texas experiencing a notable 4.7 percent increase in births last year. Reports also indicate that women in states with abortion bans are increasingly choosing life, often with the support of pro-life pregnancy centers.

The Roe v. Wade overturn has not only led to a decline in abortion numbers but has also paved the way for the enforcement of various pro-life protections, including parental consent measures, dismemberment abortion bans, fetal burial laws and protections for babies with Down syndrome.

Check out Abortions.news for more stories related to the murder of the unborn.

Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams and Susan Swift as they discuss the dismantling of the abortion cartels.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Susan Swift condemns woke narrative that abortion is "healthcare" and "necessary to save women."

Angela Stanton-King urges people to set aside differences and unite against abortion, child mutilation  Brighteon.TV.

Satanic Temple files lawsuit against Idaho over abortion ban, claiming it prevents members from practicing "abortion ritual."

ABORTION LUNACY: Elizabeth Warren called for abortion TENTS at national parks to butcher babies in red states.

Trump hits Dems for saying 'Black lives matter' while supporting 'unlimited abortion of Black children.'

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com 1

LifeSiteNews.com 2

Brighteon.com
NATO to hold biggest military exercise since the Cold War amid rising tensions with Russia

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has begun its largest military exercise since the Cold War , with all 31 member states and some 90,000 military personnel taking part. The last NATO-wide military drill of comparable size was Exercise Reforger in 1988, right at the tail-end of the Cold War, with 125,000 participants.

The exercise, known as Steadfast Defender 2024, began on Jan. 22 and is expected to end on May 31. Its goal would be to rehearse how the United States could reinforce its NATO allies in Eastern Europe and those that border Russia if a conflict were to flare up. (Related: Top NATO official warns of ALL-OUT WAR with Russia within 20 years.)

Technically, NATO does not specifically state that the exercises are meant to simulate how to respond to a Russian invasion, only to a conflict with a "near-peer" adversary of the United States.

The exercises also come as military analysts agree that the Russian special military operation in Ukraine enters a new phase of protracted, attrition-focused warfare. While NATO is officially not directly involved in the conflict, it provides Ukraine with non-lethal support, and its members as individual nations as well as the European Union continue to send weapons and ammunition and provide military training.

In a statement, NATO said the Steadfast Defender 2024 "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 alliance will demonstrate its ability to reinforce the Euro-Atlantic area via transatlantic movement of forces from North America," said NATO Supreme Commander, U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli. He added that the exercise will demonstrate NATO's "unity, our strength and our determination to protect each other."

Dozens of ships and planes and thousands of combat vehicles to participate in military exercises

NATO added that more than 50 ships, from aircraft carriers to destroyers, will be participating in Steadfast Defender 2024, as well as more than 80 aircraft including fighter jets, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. NATO added that more than 1,100 land vehicles, including over 100 tanks and over 500 armored fighting vehicles will also be taking part.

Finland, the bloc's newest member, is participating in the exercise. Sweden, which is expected to join NATO sometime this year after its membership is approved by Hungary, is also taking part.

United Kingdom Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has touted Britain's increasing involvement, stating that the U.K. would be sending 20,000 troops backed by dozens of advanced fighter jets, surveillance planes, warships and submarines, with many of these units being deployed in Eastern Europe for the entirety of the exercise.

Royal Netherlands Navy Adm. Rob Bauer, chairman of the NATO Military Committee, said that NATO is seeing "a record number of troops "participating in its exercise and represents perhaps the most troops "that we can bring to bear  across the alliance, across the ocean from the U.S. to Europe."

Troops will be moving throughout Europe until May 31 in what NATO describes as "a simulated emerging conflict scenario" with NATO's chief adversaries, which official documents state are Russia and terrorist organizations.

During the second part of Steadfast Defender, a special focus will be on NATO's ability to deploy rapid reaction forces  military units capable of responding to emerging threats quickly  to Poland's eastern border with close Russian ally Belarus.

Other major locations for the drills will be the three Baltic states, which are seen as most at risk from a potential Russian attack; Germany, a hub for incoming reinforcements from North America and Southern and Western Europe; and countries on NATO's other fringes, such as Romania and the Scandinavian nations of Finland, Norway and Sweden.

NATO members and Sweden agreed to the regional plans for the exercise on July 2023 at the military alliance's latest summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. It was at this summit that NATO also abandoned its decades-long era of not needing large-scale defense plans, as Western nations were for the longest time focused only on fighting small, regional wars such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq. NATO, before 2023, believed that it no longer had to deal with any significant, existential threats since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.

Watch this clip from France 24 reporting on NATO's largest military exercise since the Cold War and how the military alliance is preparing the world for another global war.

This video is from the PureTrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Senior NATO official warns there could be a major war with Russia in the coming years.

NATO holds massive military exercise to prepare for planned escalation of war with Russia.

Putin denies Biden's claim that Russia plans to attack NATO, calls it COMPLETE NONSENSE.

EXPERTS: Putin wants to keep Ukraine out of NATO, not conquer it.

It's never enough  NATO chief wants MORE AID for Ukraine.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

Reuters.com

APNews.com

Brighteon.com
Beto urges Biden to treat Texas like segregationist Arkansas in 1950s, send in troops

There are plenty of takes on the showdown between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and President Joe Bidens administration over the situation at the nations southern border. As always, some of these takes are good, some are bad.

(Article by C. Douglas Golden republished from WesternJournal.com)

But why am I not surprised that arguably the worst take came from a man who  in spite of every reason for him to disappear from our public life  refuses to go away: former Democratic Rep. Beto ORourke?

ORourke, as you may remember, was campaigning to be Texas governor during the 2022 midterms. Texans had other plans, handing the Republican Abbott a third term by a margin of nearly 11 percent.

Abbotts third term has inarguably been his toughest, and for reasons beyond his control: Thanks to the Biden administrations de facto open borders policy, Texas has been swamped with illegal immigrants.

The governor and other Texas Republicans have employed a number of measures to try and stem the flow when it became clear Washington wasnt going to do anything  which caused the Biden administration to take them to court repeatedly, claiming it had responsibility for the border even as it was obviously abdicating that responsibility.

The latest salvo came in the form of a Supreme Court decision on Monday, in which the high court ruled 5-4 that the Biden administration had the authority to remove a temporary barbed-wire border the state had put up to deter illegal crossings.

As is fitting for a state where the unofficial motto is molon labe  come and take it in Greek, used as a rallying cry during the Battle of Gonzales during the Texas Revolution  Abbott and the Texas National Guard are standing their ground.

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

Under President Bidens lawless border policies, more than 6 million illegal immigrants have crossed our southern border in just 3 years, Abbott wrote in a Wednesday letter in response to the decision. That is more than the population of 33 different States in this country. This illegal refusal to protect the States has inflicted unprecedented harm on the People all across the United States.

The letter went on to note that Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution guarantees that the federal government shall protect each [State] against invasion and that Article I, Section 10, Clause 3 of the document recognizes the States sovereign interest in protecting their borders.

The failure of the Biden Administration to fulfill the duties imposed by Article IV [Section 4] has triggered Article 1, [Section] 10, Clause 3, which reserves to this State the right of self-defense, the letter continued. For these reasons, I have declared an invasion  to invoke Texass constitutional authority to defend and protect itself.

My statement on Texas constitutional right to self-defense. pic.twitter.com/seNFZdmujP  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 24, 2024

As of Friday morning, 25 Republican governors had pledged to stand with Texas efforts to defend itself:

I'm proud to stand with 24 other fellow Republican governors today in support of Texas' constitutional right to self-defense in response to the Biden Administration's continued attacks on their border security effort: pic.twitter.com/oTqmwDPJfQ  Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) January 25, 2024

Naturally, this could go a number of ways. To Beto ORourke, it should go literally the worst, bloodiest, most divisive way possible: with Biden treating this as President Dwight Eisenhower treated the state of Arkansas when it refused to abide by Supreme Court-ordered desegregation.

Abbott is using the Texas Guard to defy a Supreme Court ruling, ORourke said in an X post on Wednesday evening.

When Gov. [Orval] Faubus did this in 1957, Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas Guard to ensure compliance with the law, the Democrat said.

Biden must follow this example of bold, decisive leadership to end this crisis before it gets worse, he concluded.

Abbott is using the Texas Guard to defy a Supreme Court ruling. When Gov. Faubus did this in 1957, Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas Guard to ensure compliance with the law. Biden must follow this example of bold, decisive leadership to end this crisis before it gets worse.  Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) January 24, 2024

Now, a little bit of a history lesson for you younguns who might not be familiar with just what kind of force ORourke is suggesting Biden use here: In 1954, the Supreme Court issued Brown v. Board of Education, which ordered public schools to desegregate. The Jim Crow South didnt like this much, and Faubus  a Democrat and consummate racist of the highest order  decided that he would use the Arkansas National Guard to prevent black students from attending Little Rock Central High School.

Yes, Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas National Guard  and sent in an escort from the 101st Airborne Division to ensure integration happened, for good measure. This, for those who havent seen it, is what that action looked like:

Just so were clear, this is the level of force and chaos that Beto ORourke believes is necessary to preserve the right of criminal cartels and migrant caravans to illegally cross into the United States.

This is bold, decisive action on the part of a president to allow people to break the law  the same level of force that was necessary to break the massive resistance of the Jim Crow South to public school integration.

Rest assured, Dwight David Eisenhower didnt use this level of force because he merely felt the need to show bold, decisive action. He did it because he had to.

He did it to prevent violence and lawlessness, which is what the minatory, bigoted mob that was opposed to integration promised to inflict upon the black students and the city of Little Rock.

He did it because Orval Faubus  a witless Dixiecrat demagogue who would have gladly lit the powder keg of racial resentment he was sitting atop if it increased his chances at re-election in 1958  was doing nothing but stoking racial resentment for his own personal gain. And to do it, he violated the law of the land.

Abbott is defending Texas border because Biden refuses to  and, in doing such, refuses to enforce the law of the land, or even recognize that land has actual borders that must be legally crossed.

Biden, like Faubus, is stoking lawlessness and violence for his own cynical political benefit  demographics is destiny, after all, and pro-amnesty groups have been breathing down his neck since day one in the White House for him to pass progressive immigration reform legislation that would legalize illegal aliens.

The president has no interest in carrying out the dictums laid out in the Constitution, the ones that say its Washingtons job to defend the individual states from those who would illegally enter them.

And despite all this, Beto ORourke thinks its high time that Eagle Pass in 2024 looks like Little Rock in 1957  all so people can enter the country illegally. That, to him, is presidential strength and boldness of character.

Thank heavens that Democrats had the good sense to reject this man as their presidential nominee in 2020. Thank heavens, too, that Texans have had the good sense to reject his bids for senator in 2018 and governor in 2022.

This is an unserious attention-grabber whose ill-considered, daft ideas would have devastating real-world consequences  as evinced by his suggestion that the mere enforcement of border law requires force commensurate to that used in Little Rock in 1957, or that the use of such overwhelming, divisive military force in wildly differing situations is justified by the same moral principle.

ORourkes solution to the impasse isnt just dangerous, its shameful, and politicians of all stripes should condemn his disgraceful suggestion.

Read more at: WesternJournal.com
CDC knowingly labeled accurate news stories about the dangers of COVID-19 vaccines misinformation, internal messages show

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) routinely labeled accurate news articles as misinformation because they went against the governments pro-vaccine narrative, a review of internal messages that were circulated widely within the CDC shows.

One of them referred to a peer-reviewed study that concluded that myocarditis, a type of heart inflammation, was more common among patients following COVID-19 vaccination than an infection with the virus itself.

In the study, Nordic researchers assessed electronic health records and found 530 cases of myocarditis following the vaccine versus just 109 after infection. It was printed by the highly respected British Medical Journal.

However, the CDC noted in an internal e-mail that it had been picked up by anti-vax proponents as evidence that vax was more likely to cause myocarditis than COVID-19 infection.

That email, which was dated February 7, 2023, listed an article from the Epoch Times about the peer-reviewed study in a list of points of confusion/potential rumors/misinformation without providing any additional information to support this classification.

A physician and scientist for the University of California San Francisco, Dr. Tracy Hoeg, told the Epoch Times that its article on the study should not be labeled as misinformation," adding that the studys findings aligned with those of previous research, such as a paper printed in the journal JAMA Cardiology concluding that some populations had higher rates of myocarditis after receiving the vaccines than they did after being infected with the virus.

There were numerous other instances of similar studies being falsely labeled as misinformation by the CDC. For example, their emails show that a video in which a doctor explains data showing the COVID-19 vaccines have an adverse effect on gut health was labeled misinformation by the agency despite being based on published research.

In another case, the CDC labeled a story about the government being paid royalties from Modernas COVID-19 vaccine as being misleading or inaccurate despite officials from the company disclosing in an earnings call that they had formed a patent agreement with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and had sent a $400 million payment, which would be followed by further royalties in the future.

A CDC e-mail that was dated in March of 2023 said: Anti-vax proponents question Modernas new patent agreement with NIAID, citing catch up payments and royalties as a conflict of interest."

Yet thats exactly what it was, and the director of the NIAIDs parent agency, Dr. Lawrence Tabak, conceded that royalty payments present an appearance of a conflict of interest.

The Epoch Times pointed out that the CDC itself defines employees participating in matters that they have a financial interest in as a conflict of interest. The CDCs parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, notes that a financial conflict of interest could jeopardize honesty, particularly when the financial interests in question are significant  and $400 million feels pretty significant.

Michael Chamberlain, the director of Protect the Publics Trust, a nonprofit that aims to inform the public about conflicts of interest among government officials, told the Epoch Times: The agency is quick to slap a derogatory label on any statements that dont fit its preferred narrative, and just as quick to impugn the motives of anyone who dares make those statements. This is not government working for the people, it is government as adversary to the people.

CDC labeled vaccine criticism misinformation so they could censor it

Last fall, a U.S. appeals court ruled that the CDC, along with other governmental entities such as the Surgeon General, FBI and White House, likely violated the First Amendment by coercing social media platforms to moderate content about vaccines that they claimed was misinformation.

Much of the pressure referred to in the decision took place in 2021 as the government tried to push people to get COVID-19 jabs.

The decision noted that the pressure had the intended result of suppressing millions of protected free speech postings by American citizens.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

ProtectPublicTrust.org

TheHill.com
DHS knew mail-in voting was risky but pressured Big Tech to censor users who voiced concerns, lawsuit claims

When the idea of relaxing mail-in ballot rules to facilitate voting during the pandemic was initially floated ahead of the 2020 presidential election, many peoples first instinct was that the move would open the process up to an undue amount of fraud. And while we now know thats exactly what happened, it turns out that the Department of Homeland Security also knew it would play out this way  but they chose to not only ignore it but censor those who dared to criticize the policy.

The nonprofit group America First Legal obtained documents as part of a lawsuit proving that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, highlighted a series of major voter fraud risks in the run-up to the presidential election of 2020.

For example, they said that some of the risks that are normally avoided by in-person voting would be in the hands of outside entities rather than those manning the polls. These entities include the United States Postal Service, mail processing facilities and even ballot printers.

They also said that inbound and outbound processing of these ballots requires further technology and infrastructure, which could potentially make it easier to scale cyber attacks. They also said that threat actors could take advantage of the general lack of understanding among the public about mail-in voting processes to confuse and mislead people.

CISA also concluded that voting in person would not raise the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Considering this conclusion as well as the six-point list of risks identified by the agency, it is fair to question why they still put their support behind implementing mail-in voting throughout the nation.

Moreover, CISA provided its findings to the mainstream media, yet numerous outlets chose to ignore them and instead derided those who expressed concerns about the process. One such outlet was the Washington Post, which chose to focus on the agency's independence from Trump and the statements made by the agency's director about the security of mail-in ballots that went against concerns identified by Trump.

Americans who shared their fears about the risks of mail-in voting were censored

CISA even went so far as to monitor social media and flag posts made by Trump as well as other conservative commentators who discussed the risks of the policy on social media. They formed an alliance known as the Election Integrity Partnership to censor people's speech and discussions about the mail-in voting process.

America First Legal stated: Accordingly, EIP collaboratorsincluding CISAsubmitted tickets to flag social media posts relating to mail-in voting.

It appears that the federal government was set on using COVID-19 as an excuse to get the country to shift toward mail-in voting despite its many risks precisely because these vulnerabilities could help them ensure a victory for Joe Biden and get Trump out of office.

AFLs Senior Counselor and Director of Oversight and Investigations, Reed Rubinstein, said: These documents demonstrate federal bureaucrats knew that there was no credible evidence supporting the claim that in-person voting spread COVID-19, and that mail-in and absentee voting were indeed less secure than in-person voting, precisely as President Trump, Attorney General Barr, and others had warned.

The group sued CISA to compel them to release records showing their collusion with Big Tech and the media to shape peoples opinions about mail-in voting. They maintain that terms like misinformation are so vague that it is easy for authorities to abuse them to further their narrative.

"State and CISA are not ministries of truth  the public has a right to know precisely who decides what information to censor, and how the government is using its private sector allies to shape public opinion, Rubinstein noted.

Sources for this article include:

InfoWars.com

AFLegal.org

WashingtonExaminer.com
Oregon jury orders PacifiCorp to pay $62 million in damages to homeowners affected by 2020 wildfires

An Oregon jury has ruled that utility company PacifiCorp must pay a minimum of $62 million in damages to homeowners affected by the devastating wildfires that ravaged the state in 2020.

PacifiCorp, the second-largest electrical utility in Oregon and owned by billionaire Warren Buffett's holding and investment firm Berkshire Hathaway, was previously found liable by an Oregon jury for causing some of the destructive wildfires in 2020.

According to the lawsuit, the equipment of PacifiCorp was responsible for the fires due to its failure to cut off power to its 600,000 customers during a Labor Day windstorm. The power lines toppled and fires burned through 1,900 square miles, destroying over 5,000 buildings and claiming nine lives.

"PacifiCorp and Pacific Power have caused Plaintiffs, the class members and their communities to suffer devastating property damage, economic losses and disruption to their families, homes, communities, livelihoods, businesses and well-being. Life will never be the same for the thousands of victims of Defendants fires," the plaintiffs wrote.

The verdict, which was delivered on Jan. 23, mandated the company compensate homeowners for approximately $6.3 million for property damage and other economic losses. The jurors allocated $56 million for the emotional distress, pain and suffering of the victims during and after the wildfires after a Jan. 9 trial in Multnomah County Circuit Court. The decision also included $9 million designated for a man who bravely leaped off a cliff into a river to escape the encroaching flames that consumed his home.

This marks the completion of the first of three mini-trials scheduled to determine the extent of PacifiCorp's financial responsibility to the victims of the 2020 wildfires in Oregon.

The subsequent damages trial is set to begin on February 27, seeking compensation for nine other survivors and a camp providing Christian-based recreational and educational experiences for people with disabilities. This camp operates in a location where a power line, allegedly owned by PacifiCorp, is believed to have sparked one of the 2020 fires. The third damages trial is scheduled for April 22.

Furthermore, a jury had previously granted approximately $90 million to 17 homeowners, and damages for a larger class, estimated to include owners of around 2,500 properties, are yet to be determined. PacifiCorp also agreed to pay $299 million in a separate legal resolution in December to settle a lawsuit brought by 463 victims of wildfires in southern Oregon on that same day.

PacifiCorp denies wildfire accusations, blames victims and climate change

PacifiCorp has vehemently denied these claims, stating that the plaintiffs failed to establish a direct link between its equipment and the wildfires.

The 2020 wildfires were undeniably tragic. PacifiCorp has settled and will continue to settle all reasonable claims for actual damages under Oregon law. The growing threat of wildfires to communities and businesses is bigger than any one company or industry," PacifiCorp said in a statement to ABC News after the ruling.

Moreover, the company claimed that factors like worsening climate change, difficulties in managing forests by state and federal authorities and more people living in areas where the wildlands meet urban spaces are making wildfires more likely.

"These systemic issues affect all Oregonians and are larger than any single utility, such as Pacific Power. A holistic perspective and public-private leadership will be essential to adapt society to natural disaster risks. As we look to recent events in California that have impacted the availability of routine property insurance for residents and businesses and wildfire smoke from Canada affecting the Northeast U.S., it is critical that we all work together to protect Oregonians through constructive, enduring solutions," the company said. (Related: Wildfires in Greece a result of ARSON, not climate change.)

Visit Disaster.news for more stories about 2020 wildfires.

Watch this video that explains what happened during the wildfires on the island of Maui.

This video is from the Alex Hammer channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Chinese state media (justifiably) MOCKS Bidens INCOMPETENCE in handling Hawaii wildfires.

The Resistance Chicks: Non-native grasses contributed to wildfires in Hawaii  Brighteon.TV.

ARSON is the new CLIMATE CHANGE: 79 people arrested for starting wildfires in Greece.

Maui wildfires continue to expose governments FAILURES and QUESTIONABLE decisions.

Maui wildfires: Lawsuit accuses Hawaiian Electric of negligence resulting in wrongful deaths, severe injuries and damages to property.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com 1

TheEpochTimes.com 2

ABCNews.com

Brighteon.com
Most people DO NOT REALIZE that Google is a corporation thats controlling, censoring and warping vital information

Most people think Google is some kind of public library of information available at one's fingertips, providing straight facts about anything under the sun, but nothing could be further from the truth, especially when it comes to health, safety, and human rights topics. No doubt, with over 85 percent of the search market share and 95 percent of mobile traffic, Google is by far the most popular search engine (talk about monopolies).

Worldwide, nearly 100 million students and teachers use "G Suite" as a primary source of information, and more than 40 million use Google Classroom as a "learning management" system, but there are major pitfalls to all of this, and few realize it. Like Wikipedia, most information about natural health is warped, twisted, censored, wrongfully discredited, and labeled as "quack medicine."

AI and algorithms are adding quickly to this chaos, denying billions of people the right to helpful information that could change their lives, extend their lives, prevent and heal sicknesses and diseases.

More powerful and worse than Wikipedia and WebMD, evil Google has billions of people fooled about their health and safety

There used to be a term called "burning of books," which literally meant burning certain history books so the general literate public couldn't look up information about events that politicians and pharma goons don't want anyone knowing the truth about. Today, burning books is much simpler, as no fire is needed, and not even trash cans or dumpsters.

Google deliberately "burns books" by mass censoring all "non-mainstream" health websites that gain popularity for telling the truth about important health (and safety) topics. This is especially true regarding the pandemic (a.k.a. plandemic) and the deadly mRNA "vaccinations" that cause vascular clots, turbo cancer, long-vax syndrome, and autoimmune disorders.

The biggest bonfire book burning "ceremony" is taking place daily now, hosted by Google search engine, and millions, if not billions, of people's search results are changed, blocked, and banned behind the scenes. This is no conspiracy theory either. Even when the proper health and safety search results do show up, they don't show up on the first page of results, even if they are the most popular searches. This is all part of Google's algorithms and AI effort to work in tandem with Big Pharma to suppress natural cures and prevention of diseases, disorders, and holistic medicine in general.

Google functions as the "thought police" for all things health and safety related, as they de-platform and censor valuable and often vital information for surviving the onslaught of lab-created diseases in this new age of sickness. High quality health content, for example, about ivermectin, vitamin D, zinc, and quercetin, helping combat and prevent Covid-19 infections is nowhere to be found if you use Google's search engine.

Even research and clinical information published in academic medical journals is censored by Google when it helps people find out about pharmaceuticals and vaccines that cause more harm than good. Google is NOT transparent about all this policing and book burning that's going on, and that is for sure. Most Americans have no clue, especially children, teens, and those who also think social media is a source of actual real news and information.

It is important that every person realize that Google is an technology company that is a subsidiary of a corporation, focused on artificial intelligence and controlling media platforms and operating systems. They are a monopoly on information control and "too big to fail," many would attest. It's a Google dictatorship. The Google Nazis are spreading propaganda and censoring anything that counters the mainstream "narrative."

Do your own research and dont use Google. Try the search engine Brave BETA and get more truth news and real information. Bookmark Censored.news to your favorite websites for truth news about big tech and mental health horror stories that are being censored from mass media while you read this.

Sources for this article include:

Blog.Hubspot.com

NaturalNews.com

DailyMail.co.uk

SelfHack.com
PLAIN STUPIDITY: Pharmaceutical front group American Academy of Pediatrics condemns natural breastfeeding, calling it ethically problematic

Is it bad for modern medicine to promote breastfeeding as the optimal way for a mother to feed her baby? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a known pharmaceutical front group, the answer is yes.

In a recent announcement, the AAP criticized the leading medical and public health organizations for recommending that mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies for at least six months, this based on profuse evidence of breastmilk being the healthiest food for babies to grow and develop.

According to the AAP, a "spate of recent work challenges the extent of these benefits," the suggestion being that there are other, perhaps better, ways to feed a baby without breastmilk.

The AAP insists that promoting breastfeeding is "stigmatizing," its members claiming that they are "concerned about breastfeeding promotion that praises breastfeeding as the 'natural' way to feed infants."

"This messaging plays into a powerful perspective that 'natural' approaches to health are better, a view examined in a recent report by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics," the AAP says.

"Promoting breastfeeding as 'natural' may be ethically problematic, and, even more troublingly, it may bolster this belief that 'natural' approaches are presumptively healthier. This may ultimately challenge public health's aims in other contexts, particularly childhood vaccination."

(Related: Women who are "fully vaccinated" for the Wuhan coronavirus [COVID-19] might want to avoid breastfeeding because mRNA toxins transfer to their breastmilk, research shows.)

Breastfeeding provides natural immunization for babies  no vaccines necessary

It is that last little bit about "childhood vaccination" that cuts to the heart of what the AAP is really concerned about underneath all that feigned moral outrage: mothers not getting their children vaccinated because the breastmilk is doing all the vaccinating naturally.

You see, once a critical mass of the population figures out that breastmilk and other living foods are the real preventions and cures for life's ailments, Big Pharma will lose its cash cow  and we can't have that if Wall Street expects to keep reaching all-time highs.

When a mother breastfeeds her child, she passes on her adaptive immune system to her babies. This is what you might call "nature's pharmacy," and for all intents and purposes it is free as opposed to the "medicine" dispensed by the pharmaceutical and vaccine industries, with the blessing of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"All of the antibodies that the mother has accumulated through her life on Earth are gifted to her baby, to the obvious benefit of the child's needy and developing immune system," writes Ben Bartee for Armageddon Prose.

"Breastfeeding enhances the mother-child bond, the first and arguably most important social bond serves as the foundation for all others ... Each of these effects of breastfeeding enhances the baby's physical and psychological health and fosters a functional society. Conversely, neither enhances pharmaceutical profits or the social control of the state."

Keep in mind that this is the same AAP that is pushing transgenderism on today's youth with reckless abandon.

"Transhumanist ideology is hellbent on severing every physical and emotional tie that binds people  actual, biological, honest-to-God people  together and weaponizing human physiology for profit and social control," Bartee further writes.

"The social engineers want us isolated, atomized, afraid, sick and sad. Ultimately, they want us dead. Anti-humanism is at the heart of their ethics."

Commenters on Bartee's story about the AAP's insanity largely agree that "if ever there was proof of the anti-human agenda, this is it," to quote one of them.

"The AAP doesn't even bother to hide its goal, but segues straight to vaccine uptake and the promotion of all things technological and artificial. How anyone can read this and not have their eyes opened immediately is beyond me."

The latest news about the assault on motherhood can be found at ScienceFraud.news.

Sources for this article include:

ArmageddonProse.substack.com

NaturalNews.com

AAP.org
True story: 2021 Report reveals growing cases of gender detransitioners receiving minimal to zero support from healthcare practitioners

The satirical website Babylon Bee published a "fake story" about a gender alteration surgeon making a five-year-in-advance appointment for his "patient," predicting the latter will come back wanting to reverse the violent mutilation procedure he has inflicted on him/her.

"Yeah, it's pretty much a given that after the initial euphoria of getting your bits hacked towellbits, that patients decide they want their bits back," the Californian surgical specialist supposedly told reporters. "I try to tell them there's not much we can do at that point, but they at least want us to give it the old college try and build something from the horror show we created down there."

But for some observers, this concept may not be true in only a specific account, but in general. For a growing number, sentiments like these are all too real. In fact, according to a 2021 report on detransitioners from the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), the first large-sample, peer-reviewed study of the experiences of individuals who identify as detransitioners, most participants reported significant?difficulties finding the help that they needed during their detransition process from medical, mental health, or LGBT communities.

The study indicated that only 13 percent of the respondents received help from LGBT?organizations when detransitioning, compared to 51 percent when transitioning. Several participants reported negative reactions from LGBT and medical communities and 51 percent expressed that they did not feel supported?during their detransition. Also, 65 percent of detransitioners reported ongoing needs related to managing comorbid mental health conditions while another 65 percent are finding alternatives to medical transition. Meanwhile, 60 percent are coping with regret. Half of the respondents said they need medical information on stopping or changing hormone regimens. Also, a shocking 87 percent want to hear about others detransition experiences and 76 percent want to get in contact with other detransitioners. (Related: MTV poster child for transgenderism REGRETS surgical mutilations, which RUINED her life.)

One of the famous conservative activists, who have been going around the country to spread "transhumanism violence" awareness, is Chloe Cole, 19 years old. She began transitioning from female to male at 12 years old and is currently in the process of transitioning back to female. "We must keep fighting to rid the country of this practice of manipulating, utilizing, mutilating and sterilizing children," Cole said back in November when she spoke for an event of Young Americans for Freedom at the University of Utah. "We must address how to otherwise care for these kids who are struggling with pain and trauma.

Cole said her transition was brought on by her "tomboy" interests and alleged that doctors lied to her about her being transgender. "They were emotionally manipulated and thinking that this was life or death for their child," she said, referring to her parents. "The doctors told them that they had two choices for me  transition or suicide. My childhood was destroyed for the sake of medical experimentation."

She also supported the Utah State's passing of S.B. 16, a bill that banned all access to gender-affirming care for Utah minors in 2022. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Cole spoke to lawmakers at a hearing regarding the bill earlier in 2023.

Gender alteration does not solve mental health issues

Like what her doctors told Cole, most transitioning youth believe that the "gender alteration procedures" could finally make them feel, look and think better. They are brainwashed that when they embark on the transitioning journey, they will feel the peace and calm they think they have been yearning for.

However, a Finnish study published in November in the journal European Psychiatry, concluded that people experiencing gender dysphoria cannot expect gender-reassignment interventions to solve other mental health issues. It indicated that gender dysphoric people "present many more common psychiatric needs" than the general population. "Even when medical GR [gender-reassignment] interventions are carried out," it further said. The authors recommended a "cautious assessment of the timeliness of medical GR and of other treatment needs that may be more urgent."

They also found that nearly three times as many people with gender dysphoria did not proceed to gender-reassignment procedures when they obtained serious psychiatric treatment before their first appointment with gender-identity services. The study also showed that the proportion of people needing serious psychiatric treatment increased more, from 15.3 to 52.9 percent, among people with gender dysphoria who received cross-sex hormones or gender-reassignment surgeries than among those who did not (from 47.0 to 66.7 percent). Also, fully half of those who received gender-reassignment interventions later obtained serious psychiatric treatment, although they were slightly less likely to do so than those who did not receive gender-reassignment interventions. Finally, among the people who obtained serious psychiatric treatment before engaging in gender-identity services, 70 to 80 percent of them still needed psychiatric treatment afterward, regardless of whether or not they received cross-sex hormones or gender-reassignment surgeries.

Check out Transhumanism.news for more stories about "gender transitions" among minors.

Sources for this article include:

BabylonBee.com

LifeSiteNews.com

SEGM.org

DailyUtahChronicle.com

DailySignal.com
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, January 31. Kyrgyzstan and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) discussed cooperation issues, Trend reports.

According to the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, the matters were discussed during a meeting between the First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Adylbek Kasymaliev, and the Director of the KOICA Representation in Kyrgyzstan, Lee Jong-su.

During the meeting, the parties talked about strengthening bilateral cooperation, including the implementation of joint projects.

"KOICA has made a significant contribution to the digitization of state processes, the development of agriculture, the enhancement of the fire and rescue service, as well as the professional development of the public officials of Kyrgyzstan," Kasymaliev said.

In turn, Jong-su provided an update on the current status of the collaborative projects and expressed readiness to enhance cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.
Texas Military Department ramps up recruitment to support border security efforts

Amid Gov. Greg Abbott's escalating feud with the administration of President Joe Biden over the migrant invasion, the Texas Military Department (TMD) has ramped recruitment to support border security efforts.

On Jan. 21, the Biden administration urged Texas to stop blocking Border Patrol agents from entering a part of the border in Eagle Pass, which the Texas National Guard had recently taken control over. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) General Counsel Jonathan Meyer wrote to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that the use of Texas National Guard troops, equipment and barriers is unconstitutional and limits Border Patrol's ability to access around 2.5 miles of the border in the city.

This battle over the border escalated to what it is today, with Abbott insisting that Texas has the right to police the border despite Biden and the Supreme Court allowing Border Patrol agents to take command of certain sections of the border whenever necessary.

To support the Lone Star state's efforts to defy Biden, the TMD has ramped up recruiting efforts, including offering volunteers who want to work with the TMD full-time a pay rate of $55 per day.

These volunteers must already be members of the TMD and will be specifically tasked with participating in Operation Lone Star, the Abbott administration's specific anti-illegal immigration project. They will be deployed as additional security assets to high-threat areas along the border to prevent criminal organizations from illegally trafficking drugs and people into Texas. (Related: 24 Republican governors pledge to support Texas in securing US-Mexico border.)

"Operation Lone Star integrates TMD with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to deploy border security assets to high-threat areas to deny criminal organizations the ability to illegally move drugs and people into Texas," said the TMD in a statement. "The Texas Military Department has new full-time positions available for the Operation Lone Star border support mission."

"These positions offer an array of benefits, including lodging and per diem of $55 per day. Volunteers must be medically and administratively deployable and a military member of the Texas Military Department," the TMD continued.

Abbott continues to defy Biden administration

Abbott remains defiant with Biden despite the Supreme Court's decision in favor of U.S. Border Patrol agents.

On Jan. 22, the Supreme Court allowed Border Patrol agents to resume cutting razor wires installed on the U.S.-Mexico border after the Biden administration contended that the wire hindered Border Patrol agents' access along the border. The razor wire, set up along the banks of the Rio Grande, has been at the center of an escalating dispute between the Biden administration and the state of Texas over immigration enforcement.

The court order clears the way for Border Patrol agents to cut or clear out concertina wire that Abbott had authorized to deter migrants from entering the United States illegally. Justices provided no explanations for their votes, but the one-page order is seen as a victory for the Biden administration while the legal battle over the wire continues.

But then, Abbott criticized "Biden's reckless open-border policies" and argued that the wire is an "effective deterrent against illegal border crossings" in his tweet after the decision.

"We continue to deploy this razor wire to repel illegal immigration," he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, despite the ruling.

Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for Abbott's office, also argued that the absence of deterrents such as razor wire makes the job of Texas border personnel more difficult and encourages migrants to make unsafe crossings.

"The absence of razor wire and other deterrence strategies encourages migrants to make unsafe and illegal crossings between ports of entry while making the job of Texas National Guard soldiers and DPS troopers more dangerous and difficult. This case is ongoing, and Governor Abbott will continue fighting to defend Texas' property and its constitutional authority to secure the border."

Visit BorderSecurity.news for more stories about Texas' efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

Watch this video of treacherous U.S. Border Patrol agents destroying a wire fence in Texas to allow illegal aliens through.

This video is from the HALOROCK channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Texas border sector reports 10K known border crossers in single week.

Texas to place FLOATING BARRIERS along Rio Grande River to block border crossers.

Biden regime threatens WAR with Texas over border security: Give us access, or else.

Texas installs RAZOR WIRE along New Mexico border to block ILLEGAL ALIENS from crossing.

Bidens federal border patrol agents sabotage Texas Gov. Abbotts efforts to keep illegal migrants out.

Sources include:

Newsweek.com

Yahoo.com

AssociatedPress.com

TMD.texas.gov

Brighteon.com
Libby Emmons: What happens in Texas will decide the fate of the nation

Texas has been doing the work the Biden administration refused to do: securing the US-Mexico border against invasion. They erected fencing only for Biden's border minions to tear it down. They put buoy barriers in the river to stop people from crossing, but these, too, Biden's border guards took down at his order. They even took the case to the Supreme Court to ask them to tell Texas to back off and let the illegal immigrants flood in.

(Article by Libby Emmons republished from HumanEvents.com)

In a completely absurd ruling, the Supreme Court sided with Biden and said that federal officials may cut the wire barrier put up by Texas to protect their state and, in turn, the entire nation from invasion. It was a 5-4 ruling overturning a lower court ruling that Biden could, indeed, cut the razor wire. Conservative justices, including Amy Coney Barrett, ruled against the state in allowing the appeals court ruling to stand. Texas is appealing, arguments will be heard February 7, there will be more lawfare between Texas and Biden, and for sure, the case is not closed.

It's possible that the Supreme Court is attempting to put power back in the hands of the legislatures, and not the courts or federal agencies, as they did with the Dobbs ruling, EPA v West Virginia, or as oral arguments indicated they may rule in the challenge to Chevron deference.

But until then, Texas, and the nation, are just open to the wolves at the door who seek to destroy the border and America.

Literally what the hell.

After the Supreme Court vacated the injunction, saying only "The application to vacate injunction presented to Justice Alito and by him referred to the Court is granted," Texas said no. By then, Texas National Guard had taken up a strong position at a major border crossing. They were keeping Biden's border agents out and erecting more razor wire, which the White House said was "getting in the way," which of course, for Texas, was the point.

Article IV, Section IV of the Constitution points out, "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence."

"Shall protect against invasion." Those are the wise words used. Yet for Joe Biden and his handlers, the words mean nothing. The Supreme Court has deferred to a pending decision by a lower court. All entities but Texas abandoned their sacred duty to uphold the laws of the US. The US border open and available for trespass.

Texas pointed this out with a full-throated defense of their border and their state's rights. "The failure of the Biden administration to fulfill the duties imposed by Article IV section 4 has triggered Article 1, section 10, Clause 3, which reserves to this State the right of self-defense."

It's no wonder that so many states have said they back Texas, with Utah, West Virginia, Virginia, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Tennessee all saying they support Abbott.

If Biden cared as much about literal, invading trespassers into the United States as he and his DOJ cared about the patriotic Americans who spoke up on J6, petitioning their government for a redress of grievances, the United States would not be buckling under the burden of some 10,000,000 illegal immigrants who have come through since Biden took the White House. Many of these have been processed and released into the US by Biden's border agents, the rest have got away.

Biden's border agents will go out there and cut the wire anywhere they are able. They will spend more time processing illegal immigrants for unlawful entry into this country than they do securing the border. And cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and others will bear the responsibility to feed, clothe, house and find work for people who probably should have stayed home.

DHS has already admitted that most of those who have applied for asylum will not be granted it due to their lack of eligibility, but they let them in anyway. The officials know that human trafficking is rampant at the border, that the Flores Settlement has created policies where coming across the border with children is a "golden ticket" for adults. DHS has admitted that the so-called sponsors to whom unaccompanied children are handed off have not been vetted. Drugs come across illegally and kill our young adults in massive numbers.

But when Texas goes and does the work of the nation, the Supreme Court tells them to wait just a little longer for another ruling that will be likely appealed and appealed again, and gives Biden the green light to rip the border open. It is frankly absurd.

Neither the court nor Biden has the legal right to decide that the country is open to invading armies of young men from all across the world, to drug cartels, and to human traffickers. Biden says he believes Congress should act, and likely the Court would prefer that as well. But with Democrats holding up the works in the Senate, and Biden the one wielding the mighty veto sword, there is no hope at all that any action will get taken at all.

One begins to wonder if the end goal to this mass influx isn't going to be a total amnesty for all those who broke national and state laws by entering the country illegally, ditching their IDs at the border, and claiming asylum or refugee status. Court dates being given out by border agents to rule on asylum cases are five or more years into the future.

Governor Greg Abbott brought in his own National Guard, the troops of Texas, to secure the border from the literal invasion that is taking place. Biden's DHS took Texas to court saying that they had no right to secure that national barrier, or their state barrier which lies along the same lines, because that work is for the federal government to do. But the federal government isn't doing it.

Those troops have held a park near Eagle Pass to prevent illegal immigrants from entry. They are arresting illegal immigrants who have entered illegally for that very crime. Biden's border agents are pissedthey want access to the border, they want to help more cartel-backed illegal immigrants into the country, to see further explosion of sex trafficking of children, of drug trafficking to American citizens.

Texas' actions at the border will decide the fate of the nation. If they hold to their position of self-defense, if they protect the nation against invasion, if Biden loses in another appeal, the nation will be better off for their actions. If, however, Biden's border agents and the troops of the National Guard clash, if Biden attempts to seize Texas' Guard, or if other states send their National Guards in to help Abbott in his fight to save Texas, America will face her worst enemy: internal strife and conflagration.

Read more at: HumanEvents.com
12 UNRWA employees accused of HELPING HAMAS stage Oct. 7 attack

Israel has accused a dozen employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) of being involved in the Hamas attacks against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The UNRWA workers were accused of kidnapping, providing ammunition and participating in the massacre of 97 people at a kibbutz. Israeli officials claimed that 1,200 Israelis were killed and about 240 were abducted and taken to Gaza on Oct. 7. The UNRWA schools, shelters and feeds Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

A dossier provided by Tel Aviv to Washington cited the 12  seven teachers, two school employees, a clerk, a social worker and a storeroom manager  as the individuals responsible for helping Hamas days after the attack. Some of the accused were also members of Hamas  formally the Islamic Resistance Movement  and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a Hamas ally.

Israeli intelligence officers claim to have established the movements of these employees based on phone tracking, while others were allegedly monitored discussing their involvement in the Hamas attack.

According to the dossier, a school counselor from Khan Younis in southern Gaza teamed up with his son to kidnap a woman from Israel. Meanwhile, a social worker from Nuseirat in central Gaza is accused of transporting the body of a deceased Israeli soldier to Gaza. This same social worker also allegedly distributed ammunition and organized vehicles on the day of the attack.

The allegations prompted the U.S. and seven other nations to suspend funding to the UNRWA. But UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pleaded with the eight countries to reconsider this decision, given that there are 13,000 UNRWA staff members  mostly Palestinians  who depend on this money. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini backed Guterres' plea.

"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. The lives of people in Gaza depend on this support, and so does regional stability," Lazzarini said.

Lazzarini added that nine of the 12 employees named in the dossier had been fired from the UNRWA, while two others were already dead.

Accusations against UNRWA employees coincide with ICJ ruling

The accusations Israel lobbed against UNRWA employees coincided with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issuing an interim ruling against Israel. In response to the accusations of genocide filed by South Africa, the ICJ ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and allow more aid into the territory.

According to the UN's top court, Israel must undertake "all measures" to ensure its military does not commit acts that could violate the Genocide Convention. However, it stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire in the war-torn region.

South Africa, a party to the genocide convention along with Israel, brought the case to the ICJ. Pretoria accused Tel Aviv of intending to "destroy the Palestinians as a group in Gaza."

The court issued six provisional measures, acting as restraining orders, directing Israel to limit the death and destruction caused by its military campaign, prevent and punish incitement to genocide, and ensure the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Ahead of the ICJ ruling, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Tel Aviv would not comply with the order to halt operations in Gaza. "Nobody will stop us. Not The Hague, not the Axis of Evil and not anybody else," he stated. (Related: Israel-Hamas war will continue until rights are recognized  analyst.)

During the court hearing, Israel rejected the accusations, describing them as a "grossly distorted story." Israel maintained that its actions in Gaza were in self-defense, targeting Hamas rather than civilians, and denied any genocidal intent.

Follow WWIII.news to read more stories related to the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Watch Glenn Beck discuss the warning signs of World War III in the clip below.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Hamas leaders preparing for permanent war with Israel.

Netanyahu: Israel to take over security in Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war.

World War 3 could be imminent as Israel-Hamas war escalates, experts warn.

Looking for more trouble? Israeli airstrikes hit Damascus amid escalating Israel-Hamas war.

Senior Hamas official Ali Baraka: Hamas began planning the attack on southern Israel two years ago.

Sources include:

DNYUZ.com

CNNPhilippines.com
Border Patrol defies Bidens orders by REFUSING to remove Texas razor wire barriers  and adding MORE

Things are heating up in the Lone Star State after senior figures within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) defy the Biden regime concerning the removal of the razor wire barriers that were set up along sections of the southern border near Eagle Pass, Texas.

According to reports, the senior Border Patrol officials are refusing to take down the razor wire barriers, which were originally set up by the Texas National Guard. A high-ranking Border Patrol official told FOX News that the federal agency's relationship with the Texas National Guard is "strong," suggesting its relationship with the Biden regime is not.

"While this issue plays out in the courts, the relationship between Border Patrol, Texas DPS [Department of Public Safety], & TMD [Texas Military Dept.] remains strong," the official said. "Our focus is and will always be the mission of protecting this country and its people."

"On the ground, we continue to work alongside these valuable partners in that endeavor. Bottom line: Border Patrol has no plans to remove infrastructure (c-wire) placed by Texas along the border."

The official went on to state that Border Patrol's "posture remains the same," regardless of what the Biden regime says or does contrary to federal and state immigration laws.

"If we need to access an area for emergency response, we will do so," he added. "When that happens, we will coordinate with Texas DPS & TMD."

Border Patrol has 'no plans' to remove razor wire set up by Texas amid feud with Biden admin https://t.co/CUFO0e60Wl  Fox News (@FoxNews) January 26, 2024

(Related: Did you know that Maine is now providing free housing to illegal aliens, even as its homeless veteran population suffers on the streets.)

Border Patrol won't interfere with "lawful" operations of Texas National Guard

To be sure that nobody, including everyone within the Biden regime, missed the memo, the Border Patrol Union issued a statement clarifying that its agents will not interfere with the "lawful" operations of the Texas National Guard, regardless of what the spooks in D.C. order them to do otherwise.

"TX NG and rank-and-file BP agents work together and respect each other's jobs. Period," the statement reads. "If TX NG members have LAWFUL orders, then they have to carry out those orders."

"Rank-and-file BP agents appreciate and respect what TX has been doing to defend their state in the midst of this catastrophe that the Biden Admin has unleashed on America, the statement continues, adding "We want to be perfectly clear, there is no fight between rank-and-file BP agents and the TX NG, Gov. Abbott, or TX DPS."

"It may make flashy headlines, but it simply isn't true."

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

During a recent appearance with Tucker Carlson, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said his state is "prepared" for a likely inevitable conflict with the federal government over the matter.

Thus far, 25 states, or half the country, has expressed support for Texas and its efforts to seal its southern border with Mexico. Ten of them, including Oklahoma, are deploying their own National Guard to help Texas in the effort.

"We have the right to defend our country against invasion," said Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt.

The White House, meanwhile, says it might try to federalize the Texas National Guard to stop Texas, Oklahoma and the others from securing the southern border.

The latest news about the showdown between Texas and the Biden regime can be found at InvasionUSA.news.

Sources for this article include:

Modernity.news

NaturalNews.com
2A UNDER ATTACK: Democratic AGs call for the closure of Missouri ammo plant to deprive citizens of affordable, quality ammunition

Democratic attorneys general (AGs) are calling for the closure of an ammunition plant based in Missouri purportedly to prevent "mass shootings."

The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, which is the largest producer of small arms ammunition in the U.S., has become one of the latest targets of the anti-gunner crowd in their quest to keep as many Americans disarmed as possible. But the Democratic AGs' call for the facility's closure will only infringe the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

The Democrats' request seeks to curb the availability of "military-grade rounds" in the commercial market, furthering their goal of "decreasing the prevalence of gun violence." But a group of 28 Republican AGs begged to differ, expressing their opposition to the move.

The group asked President Joe Biden and Stefanie Feldman, director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, to disregard the Democrats' request in a Jan. 24 letter. (Related: Biden administration suspends issuance of export licenses for civilian firearms and ammunition in latest attack on gun industry.)

"Their tactic is an overt attempt to punish Americans' exercise of their Second Amendment rights," the GOP AGs wrote. "Perhaps those [blue] states should focus more on prosecuting crime to stop mass shootings, rather than trying to stop lawful Americans' use of guns and ammunition."

According to the GOP AGs, ammunition manufactured for military use isn't sold on the commercial market. "First, the ammunition manufactured at Lake City and sold into the commercial market is not the primary rifle cartridge used by the U.S. military. [It] is proprietary to the Army and may not be sold commercially," they explained.

"Second, while the U.S. military purchases and uses a particular type of ammunition, that is not determinative as to whether it is 'military ammunition' that should be banned for public use. If the U.S. military using ammunition precluded that ammunition's use by civilians, then other widely and commonly available ammunition  including 9mm and 12-gauge shot shells  would also be prohibited for public use."

Livelihood of locals also under attack

They also noted that the economic impact of shutting down the ammunition plant would be immense for the city. According to the letter, the plant employs a significant portion of the population and any decision to close the plant could impact between 500 and 700 jobs. This would affect the livelihoods of a substantial percentage of the local population while not offering any real benefits.

Shutting down Lake City could also hamper the military's efficacy and readiness, given that the Department of Defense has a contract with the plant. "The law-abiding target shooters and gun owners who buy Lake City ammunition are subsidizing national defense and military readiness," the GOP AGs wrote.

They also countered an argument made by the Democratic AGs contending that the ammunition manufactured in the plant has been used by mass shooters.

"Gun control advocates are firing blanks when they contend that taxpayers are subsidizing mass shooters; they get causality backward," the Republicans pointed out. "Indeed, Lake City is not the sole source of any of the types of ammunition manufactured and sold commercially."

"Several other U.S. ammunition manufacturers make and sell the same types of ammunition for civilian use. That ammunition is also imported into the U.S. by foreign manufacturers. If gun control proponents' goal is to cut off the civilian ammunition supply, ending commercial sales from Lake City will not achieve their objective. But it will undermine national security and result in an increase in reliance on foreign-made ammunition, to the detriment of U.S. manufacturers."

"We should be focused on the free flow of illegal weapons coming across our border  not taking aim at law-abiding patriots," Indiana AG Todd Rokita said, adding that the border crisis "is exactly why law-abiding citizens need the liberty to defend themselves.

Visit SecondAmendment.news for similar stories.

Watch Ben Swann explain that the Second Amendment is an absolute right below.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Donald Trump pushes national reciprocity at NRA: Second Amendment must apply across state lines.

Gov. Newsom of California wants to SCRAP the Second Amendment by pushing new 28th Amendment.

Another win for the Second Amendment: Oregon judge rules that Ballot Measure 114 VIOLATES state constitution.

Sources include:

RedState.com

Brighteon.com
Fulton County, Ga., DA Fani Willis faces 22 articles of impeachment for malfeasance, oppression and tyrannical partiality

The criminal escapades of Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis continue to come to light after a Georgia lawmaker filed a resolution to impeach her for various acts of "malfeasance, tyrannical partiality and oppression."

As we reported, Willis was exposed recently for hiring Nathan Wade, her secret lover, to be the special prosecutor in Georgia's racketeering case against Donald Trump. Willis paid Wade $700,000 for the role, and he spent thousands of that taking Willis on lavish vacations around the world.

Rep. Charlice Byrd (R-Ga.) pointed out in a January 26 statement that Willis has committed all sorts of other crimes as well. Accompanying the introduction of House Resolution 872, Byrd introduced her impeachment resolution to deal with the matter.

"Fani Willis has a laundry list of potential conflicts that make her unworthy and unfit to be the district attorney in Fulton County," Byrd said about the proposal.

Your sins will find you out

Willis infamously filed a case against Trump alleging 2020 election interference. Her case included more than a dozen other co-defendants, having been filed under Georgia laws that were originally intended to fight organized crime.

One of Willis' claims is that Trump asked Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, to "find" more votes for him. It turns out that Trump was merely commenting on all the votes that had been "found" for Biden in the middle of the note, using the same word but in a different context.

Byrd's resolution is a full 10 pages in length, laying out an extensive case against her for violating her oath of office, which reads:

"Any public officer who willfully and intentionally violates the terms of his oath as prescribed by law shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years."

Byrd's statement calling for impeachment came on the same day that the Georgia State Senate voted to establish a new committee to investigate the many claims of criminal acts by Willis, which range from accusations of prosecutorial misconduct to questions about how she chose to use public funds.

Byrd says that Willis made a "wrongful" indictment of Trump and his 18 co-defendants, which is now down to 14 co-defendants since four have already pleaded guilty.

The resolution calls Willis' indictment "the severest case of gross abuse of discretion" while acting as DA for Fulton County. Willis also "grossly violated" her oath of office, which she swore to handle impartially, the resolution further states.

Concerning Willis' relationship with lead prosecutor Nathan Wade, Byrd's resolution calls it "inappropriate" and "unethical."

In total, Byrd's resolution contains 22 articles of impeachment, each of which is an alleged violation of Georgia Code 16-10-1. Nineteen of the impeachment charges pertain to Willis' prosecution of Trump and the 18 other co-defendants, alleging that she "grossly violate[d]" her oath of office in order to illicitly advance her political career.

The remaining three articles of impeachment deal with Willis' alleged perpetration of "prosecutorial vindictiveness" when she withheld material evidence from a jury and false claimed that she was "not the holder of any unaccounted-for public money due the state."

Willis also lied about swearing in her oath of office to take "only my lawful compensation," this before she allegedly proceeded to profit from her relationship with Wade.

All of this is grounds, according to Trump and others, to dismiss Willis' racketeering case against the former president, who says the case is "totally compromised" because of Willis' alleged crimes.

"Despite having wide-ranging powers to carry out the investigation, the panel will not have the ability to impose sanctions on Ms. Willis," reported Zero Hedge about the new committee that was established to investigate Willis.

Do you think Trump will win the election in 2024? Find out more at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
Illegal migrants camp at U.S. airports; MA Governor Healey pleads for Washington and Congress to act on the crisis

America's migrant crisis has indeed reached its breaking point as various airports in the country are now being conquered by undocumented migrants . The most recent air station that has been overtaken by illegals is Terminal E at Boston's Logan International Airport.

Migrant families are reportedly sleeping on the airport floor, according to a report by WBZ-TV. A photographer captured images of approximately 100 migrants, many with young children, camped out in a corner of the terminal, sleeping on blankets.

According to the media outlet, Ed Freni, the interim CEO of the Massachusetts Port Authority which runs Logan, said the airport was "not an appropriate place" to house migrants back in November when a similar occurrence happened. However, Massachusetts hit its capacity to assist 7,500 families in its emergency shelter system, and is now putting families on a waitlist.

"The airport has been a wonderful partner and I really want to thank the folks at the airport who are doing a wonderful job including members of the state police who are working their regular shifts but who are managing the inflow and outflow of folks from the airport," Governor Maura Healey told reporters at a news conference earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, a Medford woman who has been helping out at the airport revealed that the overflow of illegals has caused hygiene problems due to limited facilities. "They dont have access to a shower so theres like some shower wipes, little towels just to clean up while they wait," she told the news outlet. The state police are also working on paid overtime to assist with security.

Healey is thankful for the efforts by law enforcement but said that this is a federal issue that requires action from Washington. "We need D.C. to act. We need Congress to act," the governor pleaded. "The path is there in terms of what needs to be done to fix the border situation, to fix some of the asylum processes and to get much-needed funding to some of the interior states who have had to shoulder the burden for a problem that is geopolitical and is not the states making."

She also requested emergency funds from the state legislature amounting to $250 million to manage costs this year. Her administration predicted that the expenses could surge to $915 million in 2024 as more asylum seekers arrive in need of housing and care, WBZ further reported, adding that she is to submit a supplemental budget soon that may use $700 million from the state's budget surplus.

Logan Airport in Boston is filled with third-world migrants. They aren't coming here to provide value, they aren't even assimilating. They're leveraging public handouts while trampling our high degree of social trust. Clear them all out now.pic.twitter.com/JnP5VmKn2f  Joe Consorti ? (@JoeConsorti) January 23, 2024

Earlier in January, parts of Chicago's O'Hare Airport were sectioned off as sleeping areas for migrants, but there were reportedly too many of them to contain, causing them to overflow into the terminal area. Moreover, San Diego International Airport suffered a similar fate around the busy Thanksgiving travel period as hundreds of migrants camped at the facility, as per a report by the New York Post.

Biden vows to "shut down" borders when overwhelmed

Still several months ahead of the elections, President Joe Biden is standing his ground in his belief that the migrant crisis is still "manageable" but recently admitted that a set of reforms are possible. He also vowed to "shut down the border" the day he signs a new proposed bill. (Related: POLL: Immigration now the leading policy concern among U.S. voters.)

The Democrat president seeking reelection in November 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 former President Donald Trump, a Republican and the frontrunner for his party's nomination in November. "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. "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 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 southern border illegally to be rapidly returned to Mexico if migrant encounters surpassed 4,000 per day. It also provided that if encounters go over 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. The United States 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.

In December 2023, encounters averaged more than 9,500 per day, according to U.S. government statistics released on Friday, Jan. 26.

Back in October, Biden asked Congress to provide the funding to secure the border. He recently followed up on this. "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.

Head over to InvasionUSA.news to read more news related to the worsening migrant crisis in the United States.

Sources for this article include:

WesternJournal.com 1

CBSNews.com

WesternJournal.com 2

NYPost.com

Reuters.com
IRS contractor sentenced to 5 YEARS IN PRISON for illegally leaking tax records of Trump

A former contractor for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) who leaked the tax records of former President Donald Trump and several others has been sentenced to a five-year prison term

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes of the D.C. District Court handed down the sentence to Charles Littlejohn, 38, on Jan. 29. He had entered a guilty plea in October, and had appeared before Reyes for his sentencing hearing. Aside from jail time, the federal judge also fined Littlejohn $5,000.

The erstwhile IRS contractor made headlines by leaking Trump's tax records to the New York Times (NYT). The former president wasn't the only one victimized in the scheme, as billionaires like Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Tesla's Elon Musk also found their tax details leaked to ProPublica.

Reyes condemned the defendant's actions during the hearing, describing the leak as an "attack on our constitutional democracy. "When you target the sitting president of the U.S., you target the office," said Reyes. "It cannot be open season on our elected officials."

Prosecutors pressed for the maximum statutory sentence of five years, according to the Daily Mirror. They emphasized that Littlejohn had "abused his position by unlawfully disclosing thousands of Americans' federal tax returns and other private financial information to multiple news organizations."

According to prosecutors, Littlejohn breached the trust placed in him by the U.S. government as a contractor for the IRS. They also argued that he "weaponized his access to unmasked taxpayer data to further his own personal, political agenda  believing that he was above the law."

"Littlejohn stole thousands of individuals' tax returns and tax information for the purpose of publicizing that information in service of his own political agenda," said Department of Justice Public Integrity Section Chief Corey Amundson in a court filing. "He fully understood, indeed intended, that his disclosures would damage his victims reputations and hoped that such reputational damage would affect our nations political process."

Littlejohn uses "moral belief" to justify leaking tax documents

Reyes noted that Littlejohn seemed to have a "sincere moral imperative" with his actions of leaking the tax documents of various personalities. Nevertheless, she stressed that he was not above the law.

In a brief address to the court before his sentencing, Littlejohn said he "acted out of a sincere but misguided belief that I was serving the public." He ultimately acknowledged that his "actions undermined the fragile trust we place in government."

Lisa Manning, one of Littlejohn's attorneys, argued that her client acted "out of a deep, moral belief that the American people had a right to know the information, and sharing it was the only way to effect change." Despite acknowledging the inexcusable nature of Littlejohn's conduct, she and the other defense lawyers highlighted that a "strong message of general deterrence" had already been sent to the public.

According to a court filing by Manning, Littlejohn was disturbed that Trump refused to release his tax returns even after being elected president despite a 50-year tradition of disclosure. The IRS contractor eventually gained access to 15 years' worth of the former president's tax returns.

Littlejohn then turned over these tax returns to the NYT in August 2019, with the paper publishing articles about these documents more than a year later in September 2020. But the former IRS contractor did not stop there.

As he learned that billionaires typically paid lower effective tax rates than average American taxpayers, he downloaded tax returns for the wealthiest 500 Americans during the same 15-year period, the filing stated. These filings were then forwarded to ProPublica, which proceeded to publish stories about these documents in September 2020. (Related: IRS consultant charged with leaking Trump's tax returns to media.)

He contended that taxpayers deserved to know about the ease with which the wealthy could avoid paying into the system. Littlejohn expressed his belief that Americans make their best decisions when properly informed, acknowledging that he anticipated the legal consequences of his actions.

Head over to BigGovernment.news for more stories like this.

Watch Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton as he talks about why the probe on Trump's tax returns amounts to unprecedented abuse by the IRS below.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

INSANITY: NYT hit piece on Donald Trump demonstrates stunning financial illiteracy of the left... money for nothing and chicks for free.

Trump tax return "bombshell" BACKFIRE Trump paid $38M in taxes in 2005 MSNBC becomes Comedy Central.

Ex-IRS consultant took job with intention of stealing Trump's tax returns: DOJ.

Sources include:

Mirror.co.uk

MSN.com

Brighteon.com
BEYOND EVIL: At least 20 killed after Israeli tanks OPENED FIRE on Gazans waiting for aid

Israeli tanks opened fire at Gazans waiting for much-needed aid , killing at least 20 and injuring 150.

According to the Cradle, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tanks fired in the direction of Gazans lined up to receive humanitarian aid. The incident happened at the Kuwait Roundabout in Gaza City on Jan. 25. Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra confirmed the incident, describing it as a "massacre."

Al-Qudra continued that the number of casualties might increase due to the severity of injuries, overwhelming the limited medical capabilities of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, which has been subjected to bombardment and raids by Israeli troops since the start of the conflict. Al-Shifa Hospital, a crucial healthcare facility in Gaza, now operates with only a few doctors, exacerbating the challenges faced in providing medical assistance to the victims.

This tragic incident comes on the heels of another devastating attack the day before when the Israeli army targeted a crowded shelter in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis. The shelter housing thousands of displaced Palestinians was struck by an Israeli tank shell, causing significant casualties. (Related: Gazans held in torture camp by Israeli army: Report.)

At least 12 people lost their lives in that assault, said Thomas White, a senior official of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Seventy-five were wounded, including 15 in critical condition.

While Tel Aviv has claimed it "currently ruled out" responsibility for the attack, investigations are ongoing. The Israeli military has withdrawn some forces from Gaza, following advice from the U.S. to minimize harm to civilians. However, clashes persist throughout Gaza, including the north, where Israel alleges that Hamas has been dismantled.

In the southern region, particularly in Khan Yunis, heavy clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian resistance fighters continue. Israeli warplanes conduct daily carpet bombing campaigns, intensifying the humanitarian crisis.

UN condemns attack on shelter

Video footage verified by Reuters depicted hundreds of people fleeing amid chaos and gunfire in Gaza City's al-Zeitoun neighborhood.

CBS News, however, couldn't independently verify the information from the ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths. The Israeli military stated that it is investigating the incident.

Gaza City, the primary focus of Israel's offensive against Hamas, has seen intense fighting. The IDF claimed that militants were mostly driven from the city, and recent operations have centered around Khan Younis, further south.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini condemned the attack, emphasizing that the compound was clearly marked as a U.N. facility.

The Israeli army is currently the only force known to operate tanks in the Gaza Strip. The U.S. also criticized the bombardment, emphasizing the protection of civilians, U.N. facilities, and humanitarian workers.

In Khan Younis, Israel's ongoing assault has even placed the city's hospitals under siege. Health officials reported over 50 civilian deaths in the preceding 24 hours, pushing the overall Palestinian death toll in Gaza to almost 26,000 since the conflict began.

White highlighted the failure to uphold international humanitarian law principles and called for measures to protect civilians. Hospitals in Khan Younis face encirclement, leaving staff, patients and displaced individuals trapped.

Visit IsraelCollapse.com for more stories about the ongoing conflict in Israel.

Watch this clip of Palestinian resistance forces destroying Israeli tanks in Khan Younis.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Gaza media office: Israel has dropped 40,000 tons of bombs since October 7, dwarfing the size of the Hiroshima explosion.

NO SAFE PLACE: Israel attacks UNRWA school in Gaza refugee camp, leaving 6 dead and dozens injured.

9 UN workers killed as Gaza Strip suffers from unrelenting Israeli airstrikes.

WHO describes scene at Gaza hospitals as UNBEARABLE.

40 percent of Palestinians killed in Gaza are children.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

CBSNews.com

Brighteon.com
Trump warns: There is now a 100% chance of major terror attacks in the U.S., thanks to Bidens OPEN BORDER policies

Former President Donald Trump has warned that the Biden administration's open border policies are making it certain that the U.S. will experience major terror attacks perpetrated by illegal immigrants

"Just three years ago, we had the strongest and safest border in U.S. history. Today, we have a catastrophe waiting to happen," Trump wrote in his account on the social media platform Truth Social. "It is the worst border in the history of the world, an open wound in our once great country." (Related: Intelligence community veterans warn of "imminent danger" facing the U.S. due to MIGRANT INVASION at the southern border.)

Through this so-called "open wound," Trump warned that "terrorists are pouring in" unchecked from "all over the world." He continued: "There is now a 100 percent chance that there will be major terror attacks in the United States. Close the border!"

Trump also used his Truth Social profile to send a message to Republicans in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to vote against a bipartisan deal that the Biden administration claims could address the crisis at the southern border.

"A bad border deal is far worse than no border deal," Trump wrote. He pointed out that the Democrats have turned the border and the thousands of illegal immigrants crossing it into a "weapon of mass destruction," and that the U.S. went from having the "best" border in history to the "worst" in just three years, thanks to the Biden administration.

The Biden administration and members of the Senate supportive of the border deal claim it would be one of the harshest immigration bills passed by Congress in a century. In exchange, Biden and the Democrats would be able to push through more taxpayer-funded military aid to Ukraine as well as to other nations like Taiwan.

"It's not going to [pass], and I'll fight it all the way," said Trump during a Jan. 27 campaign event in Nevada.

Speaker Johnson: Border deal "dead on arrival"

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who said he frequently talks with Trump regarding the border, has come out in support of the former president's wishes. He called the deal "dead on arrival" and doubled down on it in a later statement, claiming that the terms on the table were insufficient to stop illegal border crossings.

While the text of the border bill has not yet been released, details that have leaked to the press suggest that it will include a measure that will lower the cap on the number of people who can apply for asylum at the southern border each day. It would effectively shut down the border if the number of migrant encounters hits 8,500 in a single day or a daily average of 5,000 in a week.

These restrictions are only temporary, and would only remain until the number of illegal crossings drops and remains low for an extended period. The deal would also expedite the asylum process, allowing genuine asylum seekers to receive the good news they have been waiting for within six months while fast-tracking the expulsion of fraudulent asylum seekers.

Trump's opposition has also raised concerns among a small group of Republicans  among them Utah Sen. Mitt Romney.

"The border is a very important issue for Donald Trump," Romney told reporters in a statement wherein he claimed Trump wanted to keep the border crisis to continue until November so that he could then take credit for solving it. "The fact that he would communicate to Republican senators and congresspeople that he doesn't want us to solve the border problem  because he wants to blame Biden for it  is really appalling."

Learn more about the ongoing border crisis at OpenBorders.news.

Watch Health Ranger Mike Adams and retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer discuss Trump's platform on border security and immigration in the "Health Ranger Report" below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden agrees to a deal that allows the border to be SHUT DOWN when Texas gets overwhelmed  But why wait? Shut it down now!

Trump calls on states to DEPLOY NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS to Texas to protect the border amid Abbott-Biden feud.

25 Republican governors pledge their support to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his DEFIANCE of Biden's illegal orders to allow an unlimited MIGRANT INVASION of the USA.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

TheHill.com 1

Axios.com

Politico.com

TheMessenger.com

TheHill.com 2

Brighteon.com
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, January 31. The Head of the Presidential Administration and the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Akylbek Japarov, is set to visit the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan on February 1-2, Trend reports.

According to the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Japarov will participate in the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (EIGC) and the "Digital Almaty 2024: Industry X" international digital forum as part of the visit.

During the EIGC meeting, leaders of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will discuss a wide range of issues related to trade and economic cooperation, technical regulation, the integrated information system of the union, and other relevant topics.

Moreover, Japarov, along with the prime ministers of EAEU countries, will take part in the plenary session of the annual digital forum, Digital Almaty. The forum is expected to attract prominent international and public figures, as well as leaders of major IT companies and businesses.

Additionally, as part of the visit, the head of the Kyrgyz delegation will hold a series of bilateral meetings, including with the Prime Minister of Russia, Mikhail Mishustin, and the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov.

During these meetings, the parties will discuss current issues of multifaceted cooperation and deliberate on the implementation of agreements in several important directions.
Twelve states sound the alarm: Globalist banks are conspiring with the UN to WIPE OUT U.S. farms and food production

The following analysis of today's Brighteon Broadcast News audio program is created by "Neo," our in-house Language Model that's currently being trained on reality-based content to understand the world in a way that corporate media refuses to recognize. Neo listens to the broadcast, notes the most important points and composes a highlights article consistent with pro-liberty, pro-human values rooted in morality and honesty. The full broadcast episode will be available at: Brighteon.com/channels/hrreport

CIA Chief Says US No Longer Dominant Power

In a surprising turn of events, the CIA chief William Burns published an op ed in Foreign Affairs magazine that aligns with Mike Adams' statements made yesterday about the world no longer being afraid of the US Empire. Burns states that the United States no longer enjoys "uncontested primacy," making it clear that the country is no longer the dominant power in the world, not just militarily and economically, but also as a naval power.

FAA Secret Code Words for Black Aviation Students Resumes

A shocking story from revolver news reveals that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has created secret code words for black aviation students' resumes to push them to the front of the line, bypassing other more qualified individuals. This is part of the DEI philosophy, which promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion while giving advantages to black people or trans people over white and Asian people.

Israel's War with Palestine and Hamas

As the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas escalates, there are concerns that it may expand to other fronts such as Lebanon. This has prompted the global credit rating agency S&P to warn that it could cut Israel's sovereign credit rating if the conflict expands and negatively affects their economy. Additionally, evidence of Israeli forces dressed as medics raiding a hospital in Jenin to murder specific patients highlights ongoing war crimes and further tensions between the two nations.

Chicken Plant Fire in Texas: More Food Sabotage?

A massive fire at Feather Crest Farms in Texas raises suspicions of more food sabotage, as multiple chicken houses burn down, leading to a loss of life for many chickens. This adds to the ongoing concerns about the safety of our food supply chain, as well as the need for individuals to secure their own food supplies through means such as growing their own food or having backup plans in place.

US Debt Spiral: Nassim Taleb's Warning

Nassim Taleb, author of Black Swan, warns that the US is facing a death spiral of swelling debt and that only a miracle can reverse the problem. The absolute level of US public debt is now at a "scary" number, with the federal debt topping $34 trillion for the first time in history, impacting an average American family of three with debt of approximately $102,000 per family. Unfunded liabilities stand at $212 trillion, or $631,000 per citizen, making it clear that the US government is heading towards a collapse that will affect all aspects of life and society.

US Banks Warned About Pushing for ESG Investing

A dozen Republican state agricultural commissioners have penned a letter to six US mega banks, informing them that pushing for ESG investing may lead to food price increases and impact food availability. They criticize the banks' membership in the United Nations-organized group called Net Zero banking Alliance (NZBA), which aims to finance ambitious climate action, potentially harming American farming and ranching operations by promoting an agenda that prioritizes wind turbines and solar panels over energy sources such as diesel fuel.

As these issues continue to unfold, it is clear that the United States and other countries around the world are facing unprecedented challenges in terms of food security, economic stability, and political power dynamics. It is crucial for individuals to stay informed and proactive in securing their own well-being by making smart choices about where they invest their money, how they manage their finances, and what kind of actions they take to ensure their personal safety and security in an increasingly volatile and uncertain world.

The full podcast on which this analysis was based will be published at: Brighteon.com/channels/hrreport
Ukraine uncovers $40 million EMBEZZLEMENT SCHEME involving Defense Ministry officials and private arms manufacturer

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has uncovered a major embezzlement scheme involving high-ranking officials and a private arms maker.

According to Russia Today, the scheme involved high-ranking officials of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the private munitions company Lviv Arsenal. The conspirators attempted to steal 1.5 billion hryvnias (approximately $40 million) in state funds designated for the acquisition of mortar shells for Ukrainian troops in the conflict with Russia.

The eponymous firm based in western Ukraine received an order for 100,000 rounds from the MOD in August 2022. However, the company allegedly failed to deliver the munitions. Instead, it transferred the funds to a foreign company affiliated with an entity based in the Balkans, which ultimately did not supply any mortar shells to Ukraine. (Related: Where are the tens of billions being spent in Ukraine really going? Analysis dares to ask the tough questions.)

The SBU identified key figures in the scheme:

Aleksandr Liiev , former head of the MOD's Department of Military and Technical Policy, Development of Armaments and Military Equipment

, former head of the MOD's Department of Military and Technical Policy, Development of Armaments and Military Equipment Toomas Nakhur , incumbent head of the aforementioned department

, incumbent head of the aforementioned department Yury Zbitnev, Lviv Arsenal founder and CEO

One of the suspects was detained by SBU operatives while attempting to cross the border out of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Zbitnev said the person responsible for the ammunition contract has been terminated. He added that his company has been collaborating with the MOD to return the funds to the state for more appropriate purposes.

The suspects are facing fraud charges, which carry a potential sentence of up to 12 years in prison, along with property confiscation. According to the Ukrainian prosecutor general, the stolen funds have been seized and will be returned to the defense budget  a move upheld by a Kyiv appeals court.

Ukraine's military, defense ministry plagued by CORRUPTION

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klymenkov issued a statement regarding the matter on Jan. 27. "The MOD continues to fight uncompromisingly against those who embezzle from weapons procurement," he said. "We have no place for corrupt officials."

The recent revelations underscore the challenges posed by corruption in the procurement and supply of essential military equipment for Ukrainian forces. Corruption within the MOD and the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been an ongoing concern during the conflict with Russia, and this incident adds to a series of corruption scandals involving the ministry.

In another case in December, a senior defense ministry official was detained over allegations of embezzling $40 million related to an artillery shells contract.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has taken actions to address corruption, dismissing officials in charge of regional military recruitment centers and firing then-Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov in September, citing the need for new approaches amid ongoing scandals. Rustem Umierov replaced Reznikov in the MOD.

Amid these developments, Ukraine has faced increasing pressure from the U.S. to tackle government corruption. Washington has reportedly tied certain types of economic aid to Kyiv's progress in reforming its institutions, as reported by CNN in December.

Moscow meanwhile escalated its aggression, launching drone and missile attacks on both civilian and critical infrastructure across Ukraine, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Jan. 28.

Russia targeted the central Poltava region using two ballistic missiles fired from its Iskander ballistic missile system. Filip Pronin, the region's governor, reported an industrial site in Kremenchuk was hit, causing a fire. As of writing, there are no preliminary reports of casualties, Kyiv stated.

Additionally, three surface-to-air missiles were launched over the Donetsk region in the east. In the southeast Zaporizhia region, a drone attack hit an infrastructure site, according to its governor Yuri Malashko.

Visit Corruption.news for more stories about embezzlement in Ukraine.

Watch the late Gonzalo Lira expose how corrupt Ukrainian oligarch Igor Kolomoysky, who was jailed for embezzlement, funded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion.

This video is from the HaloRock channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Zelensky and his cronies are trying to cover up a major corruption scandal in Ukraine  what role is the US playing?

Zelensky's billionaire backer jailed, now facing $13.5 million in fraud and money laundering charges.

Corruption in the midst of war: Ukraine unlikely to receive the promised $65 billion in Western aid.

Sources include:

RT.com

Edition.CNN.com

AlJazeera.com

Brighteon.com
United Nations allocates $372 million for U.S.-bound immigrants in 2024

The United Nations (UN) is providing over $372 million for U.S.-bound immigrants this year.

To aid migrants on their way to the U.S.-Mexico border, the UN announced it is allocating nearly $1.6 billion to 17 Latin American nations in the 2024 update to its "Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan."

The UN and its partner agencies are planning to spread $372 million in "Cash and Voucher Assistance" and "Multipurpose Cash Assistance" to some 624,000 migrants in transit to the United States. This money is more often than not handed out as pre-paid, rechargeable debit cards. But the UN also regularly provides migrants with funding through hard cash given in envelopes and through electronic transfers by bank and mobile numbers. (Related: Intelligence community veterans warn of "imminent danger" facing the U.S. due to MIGRANT INVASION at the southern border.)

The UN Network on Migration claims that the cash giveaways to the 624,000 migrants "represent a significantly greater share of the financial requirements" for 2024, but it is still only one part of the much broader UN Americas-wide effort to spend nearly $1.6 billion in assisting about three million migrants in 17 countries all over the Americas.

Most of the Migration Network's support will be provided to "in-destination" recipients, or migrants already settled in other nations. But analysts have noted that a larger percentage of the Migration Network's aid funds will be given to in-transit migrants launching journeys from their home countries or their temporary abodes to the United States.

Both in-transit and already-settled groups get access to UN cash and "humanitarian transportation," shelter, food, legal advice, personal hygiene products, health care and "protection" against threats such as protesters, militias, criminal syndicates and smugglers.

In addition, the Migration Network is also expected to provide $184 million to an additional 1.2 million migrants, $122 million in rent support and "temporary collective shelters" for 473,000 migrants and $25.8 million in "humanitarian transportation" to nearly 130,000 people crossing borders. The UN has also expanded its provision of "multi-purpose cash" for those seeking asylum on the basis of "gender-based violence."

UN blames American policies for rising migration to the U.S.

Along with the UN's multiple agencies that handle migration and refugees, some 57 other international organizations will be managing the handing out of $273 million in cash and relief assistance to migrants, while 132 "national NGOs" and "civil service organizations" will be handing out an additional $70 million in aid. Fifteen UN agencies alone would get the lion's share, handing out around $1.2 billion to migrants all over the Americas.

The NGOs were chosen for their strict adherence to the UN's migration and refugee plans for 2024. These plans were crafted at a time when the UN actually foresaw immigration to the U.S. declining in 2023 and 2024 rather than its actual state today.

Along with domestic factors, the UN places most of the blame for the increased migration to the U.S. to the policies of the current government that created "newly established opportunities for regular pathways to move to the United States of America," especially for those who could make their way to northern Mexico.

Follow Migrants.news for more news about the illegal immigration happening in America.

Watch the video below about investigative journalist Todd Bensman's report on the UN paying illegal immigrants using U.S. taxpayer money.

This video is from the Worldview Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden agrees to a deal that allows the border to be SHUT DOWN when Texas gets overwhelmed  But why wait? Shut it down now!

25 Republican governors pledge their support to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his DEFIANCE of Biden's illegal orders to allow an unlimited MIGRANT INVASION of the USA.

Abbott declares the federal government HAS FAILED TEXAS by refusing to protect the border and defend against migrant invasion.

Journalist uncovers "shadowy network" of non-governmental organizations enabling southern border invasion.

Expose shows how NGOs funded by American taxpayers are shipping illegal immigrants into the United States.

Sources include:

Technocracy.news

CIS.org

Brighteon.com
EXPOSED: NIH-run biolab in Montana with ties to the Wuhan Institute of Virology deliberately infects animals with deadly pathogens for Wuhan-like experiments

A pro-liberty and animal rights watchdog organization has uncovered disturbing footage and images of laboratory experiments from an American "bioagent superlab" involving animals like monkeys and pigs being deliberately infected with deadly pathogens

The White Coat Waste Project, an advocacy group against wasteful and cruel experiments on animals like dogs, cats and monkeys, has uncovered the "Wuhan-like experiments" of highly contagious and deadly diseases, including Ebola virus disease, the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), Lassa fever, Nipah virus and the bubonic plague.

These experiments were being done at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana, a government facility run by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and with links to the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.

According to the White Coat Waste report, the experiments include injecting pigs with Ebola and injecting monkeys with COVID-19. The researchers also allegedly studied the reaction of monkeys to viral hemorrhagic fever, which caused excessive bleeding and organ failure. They also found videos of piglets suffering after being infected with Ebola. (Related: Jane Goodall among 380+ scientists demanding end to cruel Harvard monkey experiments.)

In response to the findings, Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) have sent a letter to the NIH demanding to learn more about the "potentially risky research" being done at the Rocky Mountain Labs. Ernst has also called on Congress to immediately stop the grants for the experiments.

Furthermore, Justin Goodman, the senior vice president of the White Coat Waste Project, stated that Rocky Mountain Labs is currently expanding its animal testing labs using $125 million of taxpayer money that was diverted from COVID-19 relief funding. So, he argued that taxpayers have the right "to know how their money is being spent in barbaric NIH animal labs."

"We've uncovered how NIH gain-of-function researchers linked to EcoHealth and the Wuhan lab import primates to the Rocky Mountain Lab from Fauci's 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," he said. "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 United States."

Study proves many infections and deadly pathogens have escaped from research labs

White Coat Waste has not found any concrete evidence of illegal activity at Rocky Mountain Labs. However, the organization claimed that experiments with the deadly pathogens the labs are using may cause a new pandemic.

A comprehensive study published in The Lancet Microbe has revealed that between 2000 and 2021, at least 16 pathogens reportedly escaped from research laboratories. The study authors warned that the reported cases might only be the "tip of the iceberg" due to a lack of standard reporting requirements.

The research team, which surveyed peer-reviewed articles and online reports in English, Chinese and German, identified 16 instances of pathogenic "escape" and 309 cases of lab-acquired infections involving 51 different pathogens. The majority of infections occurred due to procedural errors, biosafety breaches and inadequate risk mitigation procedures.

For instance, a large-scale outbreak of Brucella in 2019 originated from a biopharmaceutical plant in Lanzhou, China, due to poor sanitation practices. The plant released contaminated gas into the air, leading to infections in nearby areas. Another case involves a researcher in Singapore getting infected with the SARS virus in 2003 because of inadequate training. This person exposed others to the virus, risking a new outbreak. Similarly, in Taiwan in 2003, a researcher in a high-security lab was careless and got infected with SARS.

In an interview with The Defender, Francis Boyle, J.D., Ph.D., an international law professor at the University of Illinois and a bioweapons expert who drafted the Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989, suggested that such incidents indicate a violation of the Biological Weapons Convention. Boyle advocated for the immediate shutdown of all Biosafety Level 3 and Biosafety Level 4 labs globally to prevent another pandemic.

"Generally speaking, these lab leaks indicate that the respective labs are engaged in the research, development, testing and stockpiling of their respective offensive biological warfare weapons in violation of the Biological Weapons Convention and, here in the U.S., in violation of the Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989," he said.

Follow BiologicalWeapons.news for more stories about American biolabs.

Watch the full conversation between RFK Jr. and Tucker Carlson below about possible American biolabs in Ukraine.

This video is from the Thrivetime Show channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

DARK SECRETS: Musks company Neuralink HIDES photos of DEAD animal subjects used to test brain implants.

Pentagon funding MORE dangerous bioweapons experiments on animals, this time to recreate Havana Syndrome.

Propaganda from the 1950s shows how the polio vaccine was made  and its not pretty.

Mad scientists are now experimenting with mRNA injections in beef, poultry, pork, and produce food supply bioweapons?

THEY NEVER LEARN: Chinese scientists to conduct experiments on 8 newly discovered viruses, sparking fears of another pandemic.

Sources include:

The-Sun.com

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Brighteon.com
U.S. currently has troops on the ground in Yemen, White House confirms following Pentagon denial

There is mixed messaging coming from the spooks in D.C. who cannot seem to get their story straight about whether or not United States military troops are currently on the ground in Yemen.

On January 17, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder gave a press briefing at which he said, "I'm not aware of any U.S. forces on the ground." Just a few days prior, the White House released a report stating that some U.S. military troops are, in fact, on the ground in Yemen.

When the Pentagon was later asked why Brig. Gen. Ryder made an opposing claim on January 17 that defied what the White House previously said, the Pentagon refused to acknowledge that Brig. Gen. Ryder ever even made the statement in the first place.

"A small number of United States military personnel are deployed to Yemen to conduct operations against al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIS," the White House told Congress in a December 7 report.

.@JackPosobiec on US troops in the Middle East: "This crooked administration want them as human meat shields." pic.twitter.com/q2zxw9lsbI  Human Events (@HumanEvents) January 29, 2024

(Related: Did you hear? The International Court of Justice [ICJ] has found that Israel's military operation in Gaza is not "self-defense," but rather genocide.)

Pentagon doubles down on no U.S. troops in Yemen

The Intercept, which conducts extensive investigative work into these types of matters, reportedly reached out to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for clarification about the matter, only to receive yet another contradictory claim from DoD spokesman Lt. Col. Bryon McGarry.

"Maj. Gen. Ryder's prior assertion that there are no U.S. forces on the ground in Yemen remains accurate," Lt. Col. McGarry said.

According to Erik Sperling, executive director of Just Foreign Policy, the contradictory messaging could simply mean that there are now so many U.S. troops spread so thinly all around the world that even the Pentagon is no longer aware of where they all are at any given time.

"It's possible that U.S. forces are spread so widely around the globe that not even the professional tasked with knowing that can keep track of it all," Sperling said. "But it's also possible that, given the dramatic expansion in U.S. presence in the region in recent months, he is trying to skirt the question to avoid greater scrutiny."

Concerning the White House report from back in December, it further states that the U.S. military "continues to work closely with the Republic of Yemen government and regional partner forces to degrade the terrorist threat posed by" alleged terrorist groups throughout the Middle East.

To commence 2024, the U.S. launched a military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen for attacking shipping vessels passing through the Red Sea. The purpose of the Houthi attacks is to deter Israel from continuing its military operation against the Palestinians in Gaza, which many agree constitutes genocide.

The Biden regime does not seem to like to talk about Yemen all that much, part of the reason being that it says it does not want Israel's war on Gaza to expand into a full-scale regional, or even worldwide, war.

"We don't think that we are at war," said Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh just one day after Brig. Gen. Ryder claimed that the U.S. does not have any troops in Yemen. "We don't want to see a regional war."

One member of the press corps who heard Singh make these statements struck back with a statement about how "we've bombed them five times now," referring to the U.S. military in Yemen.

"If this isn't war, what is war?"

The latest news about the escalating situation in the Middle East can be found at WWIII.news.

Sources for this article include:

ThePostMillennial.com

NaturalNews.com

TheIntercept.com
The discovery of two weevils in the Philippines is an encouraging sign for the recovery of wildlife.

Recovery From Human-Cause Disruption

A University of Alberta researcher discovered two species of weevils-one new and one assumed to be extinct-that have survived clearcutting in the Philippine rainforest.

Tom Terzin, an Augustana Campus biology professor who made the identifications, describes the discoveries as "an encouraging sign" of wildlife's ability to recover from human-caused disruption.

"Nature is amazingly resilient, if we give it a chance for recovery," he added.

He uncovered the discoveries while combing through beetle samples collected from bushes in Northern Negros National Park on Negros Island between 2016 and 2017. By the end of the twentieth century, the tropical island's virgin forest in the central Philippines had been nearly totally destroyed by logging, cultivation, and population growth.

Terzin, whose undergraduate research lab examines color patterns and mimicry in insects (when one species imitates another), saw a short-nosed weevil that struck out not for its pattern but for its simplicity.

The black beetle, which was about a half-centimeter long, lacked the metallic sheen of its cousins and instead had a scattering of light scales across its surface that did not form any pattern.

The new specimen, dubbed Metapocyrtus (Trachycyrtus) augustanae after the Augustana Campus, has Terzin enthusiastic about the implications of its finding. It could mean a redirection of the habits of these species, evolutionarily speaking, and being known from a single specimen.

He added that the species behave like little, natural robots. They have an exoskeleton and segmented bodies, and they crawl around according to simple guidelines. If there's a barrier in their way, they normally navigate past it, just like a robot would.

He also rediscovered a short-nosed weevil, Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) bifoveatus, which was last seen on the island 100 years ago. The beautiful bug, known to exist mainly in the rainforest's lowlands, which were destroyed by deforestation, was considered to be extinct until this sample was discovered in a much more forested part of the island.

Somehow, this species has managed to thrive at higher altitudes of over 1,000 meters, demonstrating a struggle for existence that has prevented them from becoming extinct due to destruction.

Read Also: Sneaky Smaller Weevils Get the Girl Too

Monitor The Population

Though weevils, the largest family of beetles, are a natural part of the rainforest, Terzin emphasizes the need to know that these two varieties exist since they could become pests, especially in the face of climate change.

"They're like asteroids that cross the Earth's orbit. Some of them can be dangerous, but they're even more dangerous if we don't know about them. So it's important to monitor their population-and that means we first need to discover them," he added.

Both specimens are presently housed in the Augustana Tropical Insects Research Studio entomology collection, where they can be used for teaching and research purposes.

Terzin hopes to discover more new bug species when he returns in 2025. He also believes the finding of the two weevils will urge the Philippine administration to accept more international scientists.

Related Article: Sweetpotato Weevils' Favorite Color Switches When it Moves Indoors
An environmental group called disposable vapes a "clear environmental menace" as the United Kingdom moves to ban its use among youth.

Under newly stated powers, the British government plans to make vaping less enticing to children by prohibiting sweet and fruity flavors, introducing plain packaging, and making displays less visible in stores. It also intends to stick to its contentious proposal to prohibit today's youth from ever purchasing cigarettes.

Ban of Using Vape

The adjustments are scheduled to take effect by the end of this year or early 2025.

It is now illegal to sell vapes or tobacco to minors under the age of 18 in the United Kingdom, but officials claim teenage vaping has increased in the last three years, with cheap, colorful disposable vapes in flavors like bubblegum and candy floss serving as a "key driver."

"As any parent or teacher knows, one of the most worrying trends at the moment is the rise in vaping among children, and so we must act before it becomes endemic," said UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The administration hopes to introduce legislation banning disposable vapes as soon as possible by utilizing current environmental protection rules. The restriction will also be implemented in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland under devolved law.

E-cigarettes, often known as vapes, function by heating a solution containing water, flavoring, and nicotine to produce a vapor that the user inhales.

Disposable vape pens are pre-filled with approximately 600 "puffs" of e-liquid and nicotine and cannot be refilled.

Read Also: Teens Who Regularly Vape Could Become Heavy Cigarette Smokers Within 6 Months

Rising Environmental Threats

According to the non-profit Material Focus, Brits toss away 1.3 million disposable vapes each week.

Anna Diski, a plastics campaigner at Greenpeace UK, described vapes as a "clear environmental menace" because they are "nearly impossible to recycle."

It is difficult to separate the lithium battery from the plastic and other components that comprise a vaporizer.

A 2022 study published in the peer-reviewed Lancet journal cautioned about vapes' "rising environmental threat."

According to the study, disposable e-cigarettes, like cigarette butts, are "thrown away carelessly" rather than disposed of in dedicated facilities, as cellphones are.

As they decompose, they release plastic, "toxic compounds," and nicotine into the environment.

While trash is a problem, experts warn that vapes should not be thrown out because they can spark fires.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which supports the ban, claims that single-use vapes are "a hazard for waste and litter collection and cause fires in bin lorries." The Lancet research also cautioned about the fire risk.

According to the LGA, the lithium batteries inside the plastic "can sharply increase in temperature and become flammable" if crushed.

Vapes are made from plastic and essential minerals, which are in high demand for green solutions to combat climate change. Each single-use vaporizer includes an average of 0.15 g of lithium.

According to Material Focus, with over a million discarded each week, this amounts to 10 tons of lithium every year, which is equivalent to the lithium in the batteries of 1,200 electric vehicles.

The International Energy Agency predicts that demand for lithium will increase 40 times over the next two decades compared to 2020. The price of lithium carbonate is growing, with a 150% increase expected in 2021 alone.

Related Article: Disposable Vape Problem: Non-Recyclable and Hazardous Waste Reaches 12 Million Per Month
In a world where biodiversity is rapidly declining, a researcher from the University of Alberta has stumbled upon a remarkable discovery in the dense forests of the Philippines.

Two species of weevils, one new and another believed to be extinct, have been found thriving amidst the lush greenery.

This discovery not only underscores nature's tenacity but also offers valuable insights into how species adapt and survive against all odds.

A Remarkable Discovery of Lost and New Species

The weevils, named Metapocyrtus (Trachycyrtus) augustanae, are likened to finding a dodo bird - an extinct species that once roamed our planet. These creatures have managed to survive despite significant human-made disruptions and environmental changes.

The researcher, Tom Terzin, a biology professor at Augustana Campus, identified these creatures while sifting through beetle samples that had been collected from bushes in Northern Negros National Park on Negros Island in 2016 and 2017.

Located in the central Philippines, the tropical island's virgin forest had been almost completely wiped out by logging, agriculture and population growth by the end of the 20th century.

As part of a larger project to find out how insect life had fared, Terzin, whose undergraduate research lab studies color patterns and mimicry in insects -when one species imitates another-noticed a short-nosed weevil that stood out not for its pattern, but for its plainness.

The black bug, about half a centimeter long, didn't have the metallic sheen of its relatives, but a scattering of light scales across its surface that didn't form a pattern.

Terzin described the new specimen as "a bit strange, some sort of rebel in refusing to mimic the species". He named it Metapocyrtus (Trachycyrtus) augustanae, after Augustana Campus, and was excited about the implication of its discovery.

He explained that it could mean there was "a redirection of the habits of these species, evolutionarily speaking", and that being only known from a single specimen, for now, indicated it was "probably a rare species".

Also Read: Discovery Of Weevils In The Philippines: An Encouraging Sign For Wildlife To Recover From Human-Made Disruption

Nature's Remarkable Recovery

Terzin's findings, published in Topola, are heralded as an "encouraging sign" for wildlife recovery amidst human disruption. He emphasizes nature's incredible resilience when given an opportunity.

This discovery is more than just unearthing lost species; it's a testament to nature's indomitable spirit. It serves as both a warning and an inspiration underscoring the urgent need for conservation efforts while highlighting nature's ability to rebound with vigor if given half a chance.

Terzin was even more enthused about rediscovering another short-nosed weevil, known as Metapocyrtus (Orthocyrtus) bifoveatus, that was last sighted on the island 100 years ago.

Known to live only in the rainforest's lowlands, which were wiped out by deforestation, the colorful insect was thought to be extinct, but this sample was found in a much higher forested area of the island.

Terzin compared the rediscovery to "finding a dodo bird". He said that it showed that some species could survive in very different habitats than they were originally adapted to.

Terzin hopes that his discovery will spark more interest and research on the biodiversity of the Philippines, which is one of the world's hotspots for endemic species - those that are found nowhere else.

He also hopes that his discovery will inspire people to appreciate and protect the beauty and diversity of nature, especially in the face of climate change and other threats.

He said that "nature is amazing, and we should do everything we can to preserve it". He added that "we never know what secrets and surprises it may hold."

Related article: Sweetpotato Weevils' Favorite Color Switches When it Moves Indoors
Amelia Earhart, one of the most famous American pilots, achieved a track record of being the second person to fly alone continuously across the Atlantic Ocean in May 1932. She was also recognized as the first person to fly solo and non-stop across the continental United States during the same year. However, the aviator's feats were overshadowed by the mystery of her disappearance.

In July 1937, Earhart and her fellow navigator Fred Noonan suddenly disappeared while they were flying over the Pacific Ocean. The flight was an attempt by Earhart to become the world's first female aviator to circle Earth. Following their disappearance, both Earhart and Noonan have been presumed dead more than a year after the US Navy and Coast Guard searched them for 16 days but without success.

Since then, various theories have emerged about what happened to the famed navigator, ranging from scenarios that she was captured and killed by the Japanese to being a spy for the US, eaten by monster coconut crabs on an island, and the simplest notion that she drowned in the Pacific Ocean after crashing her plane.

Amelia Earhart's Plane Found?

Despite the multitude of theories mentioned, none have been confirmed by the US government to be credible. The prevailing official narrative is that Earhart's aircraft crashed somewhere in the Central Pacific, near Howland Island. Recently, an unprecedented discovery from sonar imagery may have uncovered Earhart's long-lost plane following the detection of a strange anomaly 16,000 feet beneath the Pacific.

According to a deep sea exploration company, Deep Sea Vision, its sonar images indicate a potential plane wreckage that likely belongs to Earhart. However, it is still planning to take more sonar imaging to verify that the wreckage is the aviator's Lockheed 10-E Electra plane. The discovery consists of a team of scientists, including underwater archaeologists and marine robotics experts.

In an Instagram post on January 27, Deep Sea Vision revealed that the search for Earhart made new developments after its 16-person crew and its most advanced underwater drone detected the strange anomaly, which could potentially be Earhart's doomed plane. Despite the groundbreaking discovery, there are no official confirmations yet that the anomaly is the actual aircraft of the female pilot.

Also Read: What Happened to Amelia Earhart? New Evidence Proves She Survived for Months, Did Not Die of Plane Crash

Coconut Crab Theory

Prior to the sonar imaging revelation, an animal-related theory circulated on the internet depicting the potential fate of Earhart and Noonan. Based on this concept, known as the coconut crab theory, gargantuan-sized crustaceans called coconut crabs may have eaten a dead or dying Amelia Earhart, according to the Smithsonian Magazine in 2013.

The said theory provides insight into the possibility that Earhart did not drown in the Pacific Ocean, but instead crashed on a remote atoll or island called Nikumaroro, where she was eaten by the coconut crabs (Birgus latro). These wild animals are known for their excellent sense of smell and for killing even large birds.

Related Article: Monster Coconut Crabs: Did Giant Land Crabs Kill Missing American Pilot Amelia Earhart?
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, January 31. Kyrgyzstan and Russia discussed the construction of an industrial park in the Kyrgyz territory, Trend reports.

According to the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, the matter was addressed in a meeting between Akylbek Japarov, the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, and Alexei Besprozvannykh, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia.

During the meeting, the parties also delved into the details of furthering cooperation between the two countries in areas such as trade, manufacturing, and the processing of rare and precious metals.

The Cabinet noted that the delegation, comprising representatives from relevant Russian authorities, had already engaged in negotiations with the governmental bodies of Kyrgyzstan across various mutually beneficial sectors.

According to the State Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, the country's trade turnover with Russia reached $2.568 billion from January through November 2023 and decreased by 20 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2022 ($3.193 billion).

The country's exports to Russia totaled $676.540 million during the 11 months of 2023, declining by 31 percent compared to the same period in 2022 ($989.798 million). Kyrgyzstan's imports from Russia amounted to $1.892 billion, which is a 14 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2022 when imports from Russia were $2.203 billion.
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BackBox today announced it has incorporated zero-trust capabilities into its network automation platform that will enable network operators to automate security actions including privileged access and vulnerability management.

The vendor set out to simplify and tailor zero-trust technologies to network teams, calling its approach zero trust network operations (ZTNO). As part of the BackBox Network Automation Platform, ZTNO is designed to help network operators address complex security requirements with actionable insights. The new release includes upgrades to the platforms privileged access management (PAM), network vulnerability management (NVM), and search capabilities.

ZTNO will enable network operations teams to automate specific security tasks at the network layer. It aligns NetOps with Zero Trust principles in a user-friendly, efficient, and comprehensive manner, said BackBox CEO Andrew Kahl in a statement.

ZTNO is designed to comply with the zero trust architecture (ZTA), which is a trust but verify approach to cybersecurity that government agencies and their contractors must follow by September 2024. ZTA helps agencies build zero trust principles into industrial and enterprise infrastructure and workflows by treating all networks and traffic as potential threats, according to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

ZTNO makes Zero Trust actionable; NetOps teams can follow the framework to create a Zero Trust NetOps environment to complement the organizations Zero Trust Architecture, said Josh Stephens, CTO of BackBox, in a statement. It ensures the network remains secure without limiting a network engineers ability to get things done.

BackBox says its ZTNO framework provides:
Sophie Ellis-Bextor to perform at BAFTA Film Awards

London, January 31

Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor is all set to showcase her singing skills at the upcoming edition of the BAFTA Awards.

The track, which was released almost 20 years ago, found renewed attention on social media. It was recently featured in Emerald Fennell's BAFTA-nominated film 'Saltburn'. So the latest edition of BAFTA is truly going to usher in a wave of nostalgia among fans.

The 'Saltburn' effect has seen the disco romp become something of a viral sensation, amassing hundreds of thousands of TikTok videos and storming back up international charts. Just a few weeks after Emerald Fennell's dark comedy landed on Amazon, Sophie made her first-ever Billboard Hot 100 appearance with "Murder" bowing at No. 98 and continuing to rise since then, the publication reported.

The BAFTA ceremony will be hosted by David Tennant. The nominations were announced earlier this month. Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' led nominations, securing 13 nods.

Yorgos Lanthimos' black-comedy science fantasy 'Poor Things' also grabbed the top spot in the list as it earned 11 nods.

'Oppenheimer' is competing for British Academy honors in categories such as best film, director (for Nolan), adapted screenplay, as well as for best leading actor (Cillian Murphy), best-supporting actress (Emily Blunt) and best-supporting actor (Robert Downey Jr.), among others. 'Poor Things' is nominated for such honors as Best Film, outstanding British Film (for Lanthimos and others), Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as Best Leading Actress (Emma Stone). Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie', one of the highest-grossing films of 2023, fell short. It secured nomination in only five categories.

'Saltburn' is nominated for five awards, including Keoghan for Leading Man. The ceremony will take place on February 18.

(ANI - Posted on 31 January 2024)

Sophie Ellis-Bextor to perform at BAFTA Film Awards

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Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

A few snow showers scattered about the area this morning, otherwise a good deal of clouds. High 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 50%..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 27F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.
In a recent article published in the journal Nature Food, researchers developed a global database that can provide consequential insights into the locations, composition, magnitude, and environmental footprint of food loss and waste (FLW). Their work can be an important tool for policymakers to make global food supply chains (FSCs) more sustainable and secure.

Study: Global food loss and waste estimates show increasing nutritional and environmental pressures. Image Credit: ArieStudio / Shutterstock

Background

Transitioning to a more sustainable and secure food system requires drastic reductions in FLW globally. Not only does food wastage from FSCs imperil efforts to achieve universal food security and eliminate hunger, but it also leads to natural resource depletion, contributes to climate change, and threatens economic stability.

To meaningfully address the issue of FLW, policymakers require accurate estimates of the locations, composition, and magnitude of wastage to identify where interventions can provide the greatest environmental and socioeconomic benefits. However, there is a lack of consistent FLW estimates resulting from a dearth of comprehensive approaches. Multidisciplinary frameworks are required to formulate policy responses. Single-country assessments have also not been undertaken on a large scale.

About the study

Researchers collected the most reliable estimates of discarded and lost foods from several commodity groups, geographical regions, and stages of food supply. Their definition of FLW included inedible parts and pre-harvest losses but excluded seeds and material converted to animal feed, bio-based products, or other material uses.

They used the database to trace nutrition and food supply across different FSC stages and create an input-output framework at the global level. The additional analysis included country-level FLW trends from 2004 to 2014 and factored in the effects of international trade. Environmental footprints of FLW generation were calculated by integrating data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and land and water use.

Findings

The results indicate that 1.92 gigatons of food were wasted in 2014, a rise of 24% over 2004 levels. Traded food accounted for nearly 16% of global food waste. The manufacturing stage was the most significant contributor to this drastic increase as processed food consumption rose worldwide.

However, agricultural cultivation, including post-harvest management, accounted for nearly half of global FLW (956 megatons). In terms of plant-based waste, sugarcane and sugar beet cultivation were major contributors.

Together, India, China, and North America (particularly the United States) accounted for 43% of global food waste. However, in terms of per capita FLW, high-income countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia were the largest contributors, while India and China contributed far less FLW per person.

An important difference between high-income and low-income countries was which FSC stages were most wasteful  in low-income countries, there were more losses during early stages, such as during handling and storage post-harvest. In contrast, high-income countries waste more during the final stages, such as consumption.

Decomposition analysis suggests that rising food demand accounts for 96% of the increase in FLW between 2004 and 2014. Greece, Italy, and Japan have successfully reduced FLW by addressing this driver, while Germany and Mexico were able to do so by modifying the composition of their food.

As FLW rises, so does the magnitude of nutritional losses, including calories, proteins, and carbohydrates. The study estimates that 775 calories on average are lost per person every day, rising to 1,560 calories per capita in high-income regions due to the consumption of high levels of sugars, processed foods, and animal-sourced foods. Sub-Saharan Africa showed the lowest amount of calorie and protein losses.

The environmental footprint estimates suggested that nearly one-fifth of agricultural lands and water in the world were used to produce food that was wasted or lost; Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean islands accounted for the majority of the land, while Southeast Asia, Oceania, and North America contributed the largest amount of water. The carbon footprint of wasted food in 2014 was 1.8 gigatons of CO 2 , with sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and North America contributing the largest share of emissions.

Conclusions

As the global population grew and wealth increased, FLW led to rises in environmental and nutritional pressures. Alarmingly, this research estimated that between one-third and one-fourth of all food produced for the consumption of humans was wasted or lost. The researchers validated their findings and cross-referenced them with regional and country-level estimates where available.

The authors acknowledged certain limitations based on the lack of high-quality granular data, particularly in the final stages of FSC and in low- and middle-income countries. Further research can build on these findings to conduct multidisciplinary investigations that will promote strategies to build a more sustainable and less wasteful global food system.
Life has a challenging tempo. Sometimes, it moves faster or slower than we'd like. Nevertheless, we adapt. We pick up the rhythm of conversations. We keep pace with the crowd walking a city sidewalk.

There are many instances where we have to do the same action but at different tempos. So the question is, how does the brain do it." Arkarup Banerjee, Assistant Professor, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Now, Banerjee and collaborators have uncovered a new clue that suggests the brain bends our processing of time to suit our needs. And it's partly thanks to a noisy critter from Costa Rica named Alston's singing mouse.

This special breed is known for its human-audible vocalizations, which last several seconds. One mouse will sing out a longing cry, and another will respond with a tune of its own. Notably, the song varies in length and speed. Banerjee and his team looked to determine how neural circuits in the mice's brains govern their song's tempo.

The researchers pretended to engage in duets with the mice while analyzing a region of their brains called the orofacial motor cortex (OMC). They recorded neurons' activity over many weeks. They then looked for differences among songs with distinct durations and tempos.

They found that OMC neurons engage in a process called temporal scaling. "Instead of encoding absolute time like a clock, the neurons track something like relative time," Banerjee explains. "They actually slow down or speed up the interval. So, it's not like one or two seconds, but 10%, 20%."

The discovery offers new insight into how the brain generates vocal communication. But Banerjee suspects its implications go beyond language or music. It might help explain how time is computed in other parts of the brain, allowing us to adjust various behaviors accordingly. And that might tell us more about how our beautifully complex brains work.

"It's this three-pound block of flesh that allows you to do everything from reading a book to sending people to the moon," says Banerjee. "It provides us with flexibility. We can change on the fly. We adapt. We learn. If everything was a stimulus-response, with no opportunity for learning, nothing that changes, no long-term goals, we wouldn't need a brain. We believe the cortex exists to add flexibility to behavior."

In other words, it helps make us who we are. Banerjee's discovery may bring science closer to understanding how our brains enable us to interact with the world. The possible implications for technology, education, and therapy are as unlimited as our imagination.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. Nationals of 28 countries can visit Iran as tourists without a visa as of February 4, 2024, said Alireza Bikdeli, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran for Consular Affairs, Trend reports.

According to Bikdeli, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran announced the cancellation of the visa regime for all relevant institutions in accordance with the decision of the Cabinet of Iran dated December 13, 2023.

Bikdeli added that among the 28 countries, only Indian citizens will have to obtain a visa while visiting Iran by land, not by air.

The deputy minister noted that citizens of the other 27 countries will be able to visit Iran without a visa.

Iran has so far canceled the visa regime with 10 countries - bilaterally with 6 countries and unilaterally with 4 countries.

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Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur
Personalized therapies could improve the treatment of many diseases in the future. Cancer medicine in particular has made significant progress in recent years. Applications of artificial intelligence (AI) will allow to adapt personalized therapies in an even more targeted manner. New, AI-based therapies require a flexible and safe legal framework, in order to reach patients quickly and safely. In their paper published today in the Nature Portfolio journal "npj Precision Oncology", researchers from Dresden, Leipzig, Marburg and Paris provide an overview of possible AI-based applications for personalized cancer medicine and the associated regulatory challenges. They emphasize that the current rigid and slow approval requirements impede technological progress and argue for an adaptation of the existing regulations.

The application of AI in precision oncology has so far been largely confined to the development of new drugs and had only limited impact on the personalization of therapies. New AI-based approaches are increasingly being applied to the planning and implementation of personalized drug and cell therapies. Therapies can be adapted to individual patients' needs - for example to improve efficacy and dosage, reduce toxicity, develop combination therapies and even personalize preclinical cell therapies regarding their molecular properties.

AI-based healthcare is developing continuously and with increasing speed. It can support doctors with decision-making and therapy planning as well as in early multi-cancer precision diagnostics. Other potential applications include the design of new types of personalized medical products, drug companion apps for patients and the use of so-called "digital twins". The latter use patient data in almost real-time to enable more precise diagnosis by means of simulation and modeling and to adapt treatments to individual requirements. Advancing these products through regulatory pathways is enormously challenging. They combine technologies governed by different legal frameworks and regulatory bodies and are so novel that they are not well dealt with in current legislation. It can already be anticipated that the current approval conditions will make rapid clinical application difficult.

Making approval processes more agile in the future

The publication identifies two large challenges: legislators and regulatory bodies underestimate the importance of the developing technologies in this area as well as the extent of required regulatory change to make approval processes more agile in the future.

The current regulations are a de facto blocker to AI-based personalized medicine. A fundamental change is needed to solve this problem." Stephen Gilbert, Professor of Medical Device Regulatory Science at the Else Kroner Fresenius Center for Digital Health at TU Dresden and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden

The researchers therefore suggest, among other things, updating risk-benefit assessments for highly personalized treatment approaches. Solutions already established in the US could also be adopted in the EU for certain classes of low-risk decision support for doctors. The authors further suggest approaches to allow digital tools on market to be safety adaptable in a more flexible manner and to establish suitable test platforms for on-market monitoring. Multi-layered approaches would help to spread the load of oversight and make evaluation more relevant to patient safety.

Employees from the following institutions were involved in the publication: EKFZ for Digital Health at TU Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Dresden/Leipzig, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI (Leipzig), Institute for Clinical Immunology at University of Leipzig, University Clinic Marburg as well as the Universite Paris-Saclay (Paris/France) and the life science consulting company ProductLifeGroup.
CN Bio, a leading Organ-on-a-Chip (OOC) company that designs and manufactures single- and multi-organ microphysiological systems (MPS), today announced the appointment of Joseph Parisi as US Director of Sales. In his new role, Joe will lead the expansion of the Companys sales and support activities for the US market to address the growing demand for new alternative methodologies (NAMs) in preclinical drug discovery.

Following several key senior appointments in the UK last year, Joes appointment will strengthen CN Bios growth in another of its key markets - the US, providing a local source of expertise and support for customers looking to harness the Companys PhysioMimix OOC range of MPS. Over the past year, the global demand for NAMs has accelerated, particularly in the US following the enactment of the FDA Modernization Act 2.01. Joes sales expertise will be crucial for meeting this growing demand; working alongside the leadership team to drive the commercial expansion strategy, whilst supporting customers to improve the human relevance of preclinical workflows and reduce animal model reliance.

Joe holds a strong track record in delivering successful sales strategies across the biotechnology sector. He joins CN Bio from Phenomix (acquired by Bruker Corporation in 2023), where he was Director of Sales for US West and led an experienced sales team responsible for growing the proteomics side of the business. At Purigen Biosystems (acquired by Bionano Genomics in 2022), Joe was Director of West Coast Sales, where he oversaw commercial development, supporting the Companys growth from start-up to commercial success over three years. As part of this, he led the development of internal commercial processes as well as a pre-launch sales plan, helping to accelerate early sales and adoption. Additionally, he has held senior roles at numerous life sciences organizations, including Isoplexis, NanoString Technologies, and Life Technologies. Joe has a BSc in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The potential offered by CN Bios PhysioMimix range, substantiated by the Companys collaborative work with the FDA, is truly transformative for the drug discovery industry, providing clinical translatability that can improve efficiency and minimize drug failures. In my new role, I look forward to harnessing my experience within the sector to support the design and implementation of a commercial strategy that will enable us to meet the significant demand for animal model alternatives here in the US. Joe Parisi, US Director of Sales, CN Bio

Dr. Paul Brooks, Chief Executive Officer, said: It is great to welcome Joe to the team. Throughout his career, he has repeatedly demonstrated his expertise in biotech sales, with a proven history of success across companies at all stages of growth and commercialization. Joes appointment represents an important milestone in CN Bios growth, having successfully built a strong international presence and now looking to expand this further into the US, a key market for innovative drug discovery.
In a recent study published in The Lancet Digital Health, a group of researchers developed and evaluated a scalable, privacy-preserving federated learning solution using low-cost microcomputing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) screening in United Kingdom (UK) hospitals.

Background

Patient data use in medical artificial intelligence (AI) research faces ethical, legal, and technical challenges, including risks of misuse and privacy breaches. Federated learning offers a privacy-protecting approach by allowing AI model development without sharing data outside organizations. It enables local data training, contrasting with traditional centralized training.

This method, especially client-server federated learning, involves sharing model weights, not patient data, for global model development. Real-world hospital implementations are rare, often requiring technical expertise and data separation from clinical systems.

Further research is needed to refine and validate the federated learning approach in diverse healthcare settings and to address implementation challenges for wider adoption in real-world clinical environments.

About the study

The present study involved a detailed process to develop and test a federated learning solution for COVID-19 screening in UK hospitals. Researchers selected four National Health Service (NHS) hospital groups - Oxford University Hospitals (OUH), University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB), Bedfordshire Hospitals (BH), and Portsmouth Hospitals University (PUH) and used Raspberry Pi 4 Model B devices for full-stack federated learning. This setup allowed each hospital to train, calibrate, and evaluate AI models locally using de-identified patient data, ensuring privacy.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria were provided to NHS trusts for data extraction from electronic health records. Data de-identification was rigorously conducted by clinical teams or NHS informaticians. The study used a pre-pandemic control cohort and a COVID-19-positive cohort for training, with data including vital signs, demographics, and blood test results. Data extracts were loaded onto client devices for federated training, calibration, and evaluation.

The federated training employed logistic regression and deep neural network classifiers. Features were preprocessed into a common format, and missing data were imputed using local median values. The FedAvg algorithm facilitated training across hospital groups, with clients transmitting model parameters to the central server for aggregation. Calibration of local models aimed for a set sensitivity threshold, with evaluation results aggregated by the server.

The federated evaluation involved using prospective cohorts from various hospitals. Calibration and imputation strategies varied depending on whether sites participated in both training and evaluation or evaluation only. Site-specific model tuning tested the global model's adaptability, and a centralized server-side evaluation verified federated evaluation fidelity. The study also examined the impact of individual features on model predictions.

Statistical analysis focused on comparing model performance across different configurations and training methods, using measures like AUROC, sensitivity, and specificity.

Study results

In the study, the comparison revealed a notable increase in the AUROC of the logistic regression model. For instance, the OUH saw an increase in AUROC from 0.685 to 0.829, and PUH experienced an increase from 0.731 to 0.865. Similarly, deep neural network models showed even more significant improvements, with AUROC values rising from 0.574 to 0.872 at OUH and from 0.622 to 0.876 at PUH.

Three NHS trusts- OUH, UHB, and PUH- participated in this federated training, contributing data from a large cohort of patients. The federated evaluation included data from patients admitted during the pandemic's second wave, with varying COVID-19 prevalence rates and median ages across participating sites.

When the final global models were externally evaluated, both logistic regression and deep neural network models demonstrated high classification performance. The federated calibration achieved impressive sensitivities, with the logistic regression model at 83.4% and the deep neural network model at 89.7%.

The performance of these models remained stable across the different evaluation sites. The deep neural network model, in particular, showed more marked improvement through federation compared to the logistic regression model, reaching a performance plateau after about 75-100 rounds.

Site-specific tuning of the global models resulted in a slight improvement in the deep neural network model at PUH. Still, no significant improvement was observed for the logistic regression model. This suggested a high level of generalizability of the global models and minimal shifts in predictor distributions between sites.

The analysis of the logistic regression global model highlighted several key predictors, such as granulocyte counts and albumin concentrations, aligning with previous studies emphasizing their roles in the inflammatory response. The deep neural network model's analysis using Shapley additive explanations revealed eosinophil count as a highly influential predictor.
The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) will release the third set of dummy admit cards for the State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) 2024 today, January 31. Candidates who applied for the BSEB STET can download the dummy admit cards from the official website at bsebstet2024.com. The board has divided the STET 2024 into two phases. Phase 1 is set to take place from March 1 to 20, while Phase 2 will occur from September 10 to September 30, 2024. The result will be announced in May 2024.

BSEB STET 2024 Dummy Admit Card: How to Download

Step 1: Open the BSEB STETs official website at bsebstet2024.com.

Step 2: On the homepage, click on the BSEB STET 2024 third dummy admit card link.

Step 3: A new page with an admission card will be displayed on the screen.

Step 4: Check the admission card and download it.

Step 5: Take a printout for future reference.

BSEB STET 2024: Exam Pattern, Passing Marks

The STET Bihar board exam consists of two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 is for recruiting secondary school teachers, and Paper 2 is for senior secondary teachers. In the 2023 exam, the BSEB STET question paper had 150 multiple-choice questions, each carrying one mark. There were no negative marks for incorrect answers.

To pass the examination successfully, candidates belonging to the general category need to attain a minimum of 50 per cent marks, whereas individuals from the backward class are required to secure 45.5 per cent marks.

The BSEB administers the Bihar Secondary Teachers Eligibility Test (STET) to candidates seeking positions as Higher Secondary (Class 11 to 12) and Secondary (Class 9 to 10) teachers. Candidates, who pass the Bihar STET 2023, are entitled to apply for teaching vacancies in the states schools. In Bihar, the STET has only been held three times in the last 13 years. It was first organised in 2011. After that, the test was scheduled for 2019, but due to a paper leak, it was cancelled and rescheduled for 2020. It was held for the third time in 2023.
The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to take a decision on amending service rules to make teacher eligibility test (TET) mandatory for promotion of teachers of senior basic, junior basic and nursery schools, as mandated by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

The Lucknow bench of the high court said no such promotions should be made before bringing the required change in rule 18 of the UP Basic Education (Teachers) Service Rules 1981, pertaining to promotion of teachers.

The bench, however, clarified that the order would not bar the promotion of qualified teachers who have cleared TET, but such promotions would be subject to final outcome of the instant petition.

The bench of Justices A R Masoodi and B R Singh passed the order on a writ petition moved by Himanshu Rana and others.

The petitioners have questioned the validity of rule 18 of the UP Basic Education (Teachers) Service Rules 1981 to the extent of non-inclusion of TET criteria for promotions of teachers in senior basic, junior basic and nursery schools.

The petitioners said that the NCTE clarified through a notification on September 11, 2023 that TET was compulsory for such promotions and hence without sticking to this criteria, no promotions can be made.

The petitioners counsel, Amrendra Nath Tripathi, relied on a judgment of the Madras High Court holding that TET was compulsory for such promotions.

The bench said that since the Madras High Court judgment is sub-judice in the Supreme Court which has issued notices to the parties concerned, the instant matter requires consideration.

Passing the interim order, the bench directed the central and state governments to file their replies in the matter within three weeks.
The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) is all set to start the board exams for Class 10 from today February 2, 2024. According to the WBBSE Madhyamik exam routine, the revised exam timings are from 9:45 AM to 1 PM. Earlier, the exam timings were set from 11:45 AM to 3 PM but the board changed it via an official notice dated January 18.

It is important to note that students appearing for the Madhyamik Board Exam 2024 are required to carry their admit cards to the examination centre. Also, it is mandatory to cross-check all the instructions on the admit card and report to the examination hall as per the mentioned timings.

According to the WBBSE guidelines, examinees will be permitted to enter the examination centre from 8:30 AM. The paper distribution will commence at 9:45 AM and the exam duration is from 10 AM to 1 PM. The board has also instructed the teachers and non-teaching staff to reach the exam centre at 8 AM.

WBBSE Board Exams 2024: Madhyamik Routine

 February 2, 2024: First Language (Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Modern Tibetan, Nepali, Odia, Gurmukhi (Punjabi), Telugu, Tamil, Urdu, and Santali).

 February 3, 2024: Second Language (English, if any language other than English is offered as the First Language and Bengali or Nepali, if English is the First Language.)

 February 5, 2024: History

 February 6, 2024: Geography

 February 8, 2024: Mathematics

 February 9, 2024: Life Science

 February 10, 2024: Physical Science

 February 12, 2024: Optional Elective Subjects

The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) has scheduled the music vocal and instrumental theory exam for 2 hours and 15 minutes. Students are required to secure at least 272 marks to qualify for the West Bengal Madhyamik exam 2024.

In addition to that, the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) on January 26 opened the control rooms in every district for 9.23 lakh students who will be sitting for the upcoming West Bengal Madhyamik examination. The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education has also released helpline numbers for students to clarify all their exam-related issues.
The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered the Tamil Nadu (TN) Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) department to install boards in all Hindu temples, explicitly stating that non-Hindus are restricted from entering beyond the Kodimaram (flagpole) area.

ALSO READ | Temple Not a Picnic or Tourist Spot: Madras HC On Entry of Non-Hindus In Tamil Nadu Temples

Justice S Srimathy issued the order while hearing a petition filed by D Senthilkumar, organiser of Palani or Pazhani Hill Temple Devotees Organisation, seeking directions for installation of such prohibitory boards and signages.

The respondents in the case were the TN government, commissioner of the HR&CE department and the Executive Officer of Arulmigu Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Devasthanam, Palani.

WHY THE PETITION WAS FILED

According to the petitioner, who also ran the Shashti Toy Shop at Adivaram Pazhani, a few days ago, some non-Hindus purchased tickets at the Winch Station in Pazhani to reach the temple hilltop. One Shahul, who runs a fruit shop near Pazhani Bus Stand, brought his relatives who were wearing burqas and had bought tickets. When the ticket issuing authority noticed burqas, the authority retrieved the tickets as they are non-Hindus. But the said Shahul reportedly argued with the employees saying, This is a tourist place. If non-Hindus are not allowed, then you should put up a banner, should I get some banners for you from my money.

As the news spread, the devotees argued in support of the temple employees. Further, the devotees condemned the Arulmigu Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Devasthanam, Palani for failing to put the banner mentioning that non-Hindus were not allowed, which was removed during renovation work for Kumbabishekam of the temple. Following this, the banners were placed at the entrance, but removed again within a few hours. It was speculated that the temple authorities were under pressure from higher authorities to do so.

According to the petition, recently, a group of Muslims was found consuming non-vegetarian food on the Brihadeeswara Temple premises in Thanjavur. Another group was caught eating meet in Hampi Temple complex. A Muslim youngster was arrested after he offered namaz in a Hindu Temple in Uttar Pradesh.

#BreakingNews: Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu HR&CE department to install boards in all Hindu temples stating non-Hindus were not permitted beyond the 'Kodimaram' (flagpole) area in the respective shrines. @nimumurali with more@anjalipandey06 | #TamilNadu #Hindu pic.twitter.com/7liA7ENBNq News18 (@CNNnews18) January 31, 2024

THE PALANI TEMPLE

The respondents further submitted that the Hill Temple of Arulmighu Dhandapani Swamy, Pazhani is mentioned in Thirumurugatruppadai (Sangam Literature) as the third abode of Lord Muruga of the six Arupadai Veedu.

The Moolavar is said to have been made of Navapashanam (nine poisonous materials). Not only Tamil Nadu, but devotees from all over the country, and even non-Hindus from foreign countries worship Lord Murugan. Devotees are allowed to reach the hill temple from the Giri Veethi path by Winch Service, Rope Car Service and footsteps as well as the elephant path.

WHAT IS A TEMPLE? WHO IS ALLOWED?

The Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1947, defines temple premises as sanctum and sanctorum in which people of other than Hindu religion are restricted.

The Temple Entry Act under section 3 speaks about Hindus rights to enter temple. Rule 3(a) states that non-Hindus are not permitted to enter a temple.

Under Section 10 of the HR&CE Act, the Commissioners, Joint Commissioners etc. shall be those professing the Hindu Religion and shall cease to hold office as such when they cease to do so. Under section 24 of the Act, non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the temple.

TN TEMPLES THAT ALLOW NON-HINDUS

Many temples in Tamil Nadu allow non-Hindus to enter.

The Arulmighu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai provides entry to foreigners for a fee of Rs 50, restricting them to the Kodimaram of the temple.

In a similar instance, when a writ petition was filed seeking for a direction not to permit non-Hindus to enter the temple premises during the Kumbabishekam festival of Arulmighu Adikesavaperumal Thirukovil Thiruvattar Kanyakumari District, the Court had dismissed it saying: When a public festival like the Kumbabishekam of a temple is performed, it will be impossible for the authorities to check the religious identity of every devotee for the purpose of permitting his entry into the temple. That apart, if a person belonging to another religion has faith in a particular Hindu deity that cannot be prevented nor can his entry into the temple be prohibited

All foreigners and persons belonging to other faiths are allowed inside Arulmighu Brahadeeswarar Thirukovil, Thanjavur.

At Arulmighu Ranganathaswamy Thirukovil, Srirangam, there is a particular shrine for Bibi Nachiyar also called Thuluka Nachiyar, who was said to be the daughter of Mogul Emperor and even today, the presiding deity is offered roti with butter every morning.

There are other instances in Arulmighu Sowriraja Perumal Tirukkannapuram, Nagapattinam District and Bhuvarahaswamy Temple Srimushnam, Cuddalore District, where both the deities are taken in procession and they are halted before a mosque.

WHAT THE SC SAYS

In the Kalyan Das case, the Supreme Court had held that it is well-known that there could be no such thing as an unregulated and unrestricted right of entry in a public temple or other religious institution, for persons who are not connected with the spiritual functions thereof.

There can be restrictions in case of non-Hindus entering religious places of Hindus, likewise, there can be restrictions non-Christians entering churches by non-Christians or non-Muslims entering mosques and the same would not be violative of Article 15 of the Constitution which allows right to religion. In fact, these restrictions would ensure communal harmony among different religions and ensure peace in the society, the SC had said.

NON-HINDUS & THE MADURAI EXAMPLE

While the petitioner said non-Hindus should not be allowed from the entrance of the temple, the respondents contention, too, was they cannot be allowed, but from Kodimaram/Dhwajasthambham.

The court took note of the system at Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and other such temples where the temple administration takes an undertaking from a non-Hindu, stating he has faith in the deity and will follow the customs of the religion and temple.

Even non-Hindu foreigners, who enter by paying a fee, are not allowed beyond the Kodimaram/Dhwajasthambham.

NOT HURTING SENTIMENTS, NOT AGAINST CONSTITUTION

The respondents stated that a Board indicating Non-Hindus are not allowed would hurt the religious sentiments of those who would like to visit the temple.

The HC, however, said the respondents were confusing the issue. If a non-Hindu is not having faith, declines to follow the customs and practices of the Hindu religion and the Temple, then the said non-Hindu cannot be allowed, and hence there is no question of hurting his sentiments.

On the other hand, if a non-Hindu, who declines to follow the customs and practices of the Hindu religion and the temple, is allowed inside the temple, it would affect the sentiments of the large number of Hindus practising the faith. This would affect the right of Hindus guaranteed under the Constitution of India. In fact the Hindu Religion & Charitable Endowment Department is mandated to protect the Hindu religion, Hindu temples, its customs and practices, temple customs etc.

The Constitution allows people to follow their religions. But the customs and practice of their respective religion cannot be in interference with and any interference ought to be curtailed. The Temple is not picnic spot or tourist spot. Even in Arulmighu Brahadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur the other religion people are allowed to admire and appreciate the architectural monuments of the temple, but not after Kodimaram. While admiring the architectural monuments people cannot use the premises as picnic spot or tourist spot and the temples premises ought to be maintained with reverence and as per agamas. Therefore, the rights guaranteed under the Articles is not granting any right to the respondents to allow the other religion people, if they do not have any faith and belief in the Hindu religion. Moreover, the rights are guaranteed to all religions and there cannot be any bias in applying such right, the court said.

the Hindus have a right to maintain their temples as per their customs, practices and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department is dutybound to protect temples from such unwanted incidents. In fact in the above narrated incidents, the Department had failed to protect the fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution.

The next contention of the respondents was that the Board need not be installed near the entrance of the temple, near Winch Station or Rope Car Station, as the same would not come within the temple premises. This contention of the respondents cannot be accepted, as the entire Pazhani hill is considered as sacred/holy to the Hindus. Moreover if the Board is kept in the entrance like Gopuram or Winch station or Rope Car Station, it would be a warning to the non-Hindus. If a non-Hindu climbs all the way to the Hill and then it comes to the knowledge that non-Hindus are not allowed, it would frustrate him and he would question why it was not informed before climbing. In order to avoid such situations, it is imperative to install a board in the entrance itself and also at as many places as possible.

NOT JUST PALANI TEMPLE

The respondents had submitted that the said writ petition is filed only for the Palani temple and the order may be restricted to the said temple alone. However, the HC said it is a larger issue and the same ought to be applicable to all Hindu temples and the restrictions would ensure communal harmony among different religions and ensure peace in the society.

Therefore, the state government, HR&CE department, respondents and all persons who are involved in temple administration are directed to follow these directions:
Seven persons died on Wednesday when a vehicle they were travelling in skidded off the road and rolled down into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla district, police said.

A passenger vehicle rolled down into a deep gorge in Boniyar area of Uri in the north Kashmir district, they said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Traffic Rural Kashmir, Ravinder Paul Singh, told PTI that seven people died in the incident while seven others sustained injuries.

The bodies have been recovered and medico-legal formalities are being conducted, the SSP said.

The injured persons have been taken to a hospital in Baramulla, he added.
Around 718 snow leopards remain in the mountainous states of the country, according to the first-ever Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) carried out by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) over the last four years. India is believed to be home to at least 10 per cent of the global population of this elusive predator which is among the most endangered wildlife species.

Ladakh recorded the highest estimate of around 477 snow leopards, followed by 124 in Uttarakhand and 51 in Himachal Pradesh. Jammu and Kashmir recorded only nine. Western Ladakh and Spiti region in Himachal Pradesh was also found to have the best habitat suitability and high prey density for the high-altitude big cat which is rarely sighted, but has become an icon for the critically important Himalayan landscape.

The Eastern Himalayan states of Arunachal Pradesh recorded an estimate of 36 snow leopards, followed by around 21 in Sikkim. The four-year long assessment covered over 70 per cent of the potential snow leopard range in the country which stretches from an altitude of 3,200 to 5,200 metres. In Himachal Pradesh, Tabo, Hangrang and Spiti Valley exhibited the highest densities of snow leopards, while Bhaga recorded the lowest.

Rishi Kumar Sharma, head of the Himalayas Conservation Program of WWF-India, said the dwindling supply of wild prey, driven by competition with livestock and poaching, is proving to be the biggest threat for snow leopards. Linear infrastructure, retaliatory killings due to livestock predation, and environmental degradation linked to unregulated tourism pressures are other threats, he said.

Climate change emerges as another formidable overarching menace, affecting mountain ecosystems and communities on multiple fronts. This includes challenges like water scarcity, diminished productivity in alpine grasslands, and the escalating frequency of severe weather events such as intense snowfall or prolonged droughts, he added.

The team led by WII consisted of members from the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), Mysuru, and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-India. It conducted the survey from 2019 to 2023, deploying camera traps in as many as 1,971 locations which were pre-determined. This eventually led to the identification of 241 unique snow leopards.

A two-step process was followed to arrive at the final estimate. The first step involved the evaluation of snow leopard spatial distribution through an occupancy-based sampling approach in the potential distribution range. In the second step, snow leopard abundance was estimated using camera traps in each identified stratified region.

The teams covered over 120,000 sq km of crucial snow leopard habitat across the trans-Himalayan region, covering the UTs of Ladakh and J&K, and states such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. The snow leopard occupancy was recorded in 93,392 km2, with an estimated presence in 100,841 km2.

Until recent years, the snow leopard range in India was undefined due to a lack of extensive nationwide assessments for this vulnerable species.

Before 2016, approximately one-third of the range received minimal research attention, reduced to just five per cent in pockets like Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. According to the team, recent status surveys have significantly increased understanding, providing preliminary information for 80 per cent of the range, compared to 56 per cent in 2016. Consistent monitoring is essential to ensure long-term survival of these elusive predators, which are identified as Vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list.

Merely 4,000-7,500 are estimated to be surviving in the high altitudes of the Himalaya and Central Asian mountains, and facing tremendous human pressures. They are also included in the Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and are provided the highest legal protection under the provisions of the Act. The animals are facing immediate threats of habitat degradation due to tourism and infrastructural development in the Himalayas.
The budget session of Parliament got underway on Wednesday with the address of the President of India to both houses in the Lok Sabha chamber. This was Droupadi Murmus first address to a joint session in the new Parliament building, which was inaugurated in the middle of last year. After the presentation of the interim union budget on Thursday, the reply to the motion of thanks to the Presidents address will begin in both houses. Sources have told CNN-News18 that the discussion will get underway on Friday. While the Lok Sabha has allocated a discussion time of 12 hours, the Rajya Sabha will hold a discussion on the address for 10 hours. Following the discussion, a reply will come from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in both houses. Government sources have told CNN-News18 that on Monday, February 5, Modi will reply in the Lok Sabha, followed by his reply in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, February 7.

During the discussion, several MPs, both from the treasury and opposition benches, will have an opportunity to speak about the performance of the government over the past year, which was the crux of the Presidents address.

In the Lok Sabha, the BJP is expected to have seven to eight speakers. Having over 300 MPs in the lower house, the ruling party is expected to get nearly half the time allocated for the discussion.

The party which is finalising the list of speakers to speak on the motion is expected to pick several lawmakers from the OBC community. This is expected to blunt the attack of the opposition, especially the Congress party, which has questioned the Modi government of being unfair to the community, a source told CNN-News18.

In both houses, an intervention by a union minister is also expected to be finalised shortly.

After the discussion on the Presidents address, there will be deliberations on the interim budget and the budget will be passed.

During her address to the joint session of Parliament, Droupadi Murmu, who is Indias first tribal woman President, highlighted the achievements of the Modi government, especially with a thrust on farmers, women, the youth, and the marginalised sections of society.

The President also touched upon the importance of fulfilling the dream of crores of Indians to see the Ram temple being built in Ayodhya. This remark saw BJP MPs thumping the desks and shouting Jai Sri Ram". Several opposition leaders, including Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, were also seen thumping their desks.

Murmu spoke about India being the country that the world looked towards in the midst of a serious global crisis like the Covid pandemic. India emerged as the fastest-growing major economy, consistently maintaining a growth rate of over 7.5 per cent for two consecutive quarters," she also said.

With the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas" at its core, she said, the Modi government has worked tirelessly over the last decade for the empowerment of four pillars of society: Garib, Mahila, Kisan, and Yuva. The foundation of a strong nation can be only by the thrust of any government on these four pillars, Murmu underscored.

I appreciate all of you for having enacted the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam after a wait of three decades. This has paved the way for ensuring greater participation of women in the Lok Sabha and the legislative assemblies. This strengthens my governments resolve for women-led development," the President said.

Since childhood, we have been hearing the slogan of Garibi Hatao. Now, for the first time in our lives, we are witnessing the eradication of poverty on a massive scale. According to NITI Aayog, in the last one decade of my government, about 25 crore countrymen have been lifted out of poverty. This is something that instills great confidence among the poor. If the poverty of 25 crore people can be alleviated, then her poverty can also be alleviated," Murmu said.

While speaking about the central governments Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, which has been ongoing since November 15, 2023, she said that it has seen the participation of more than 19 crore people across the country. This yatra focuses on reaching out to people across the country with the objective that no eligible beneficiaries should be left out of any central government schemes.

The President also highlighted that 4.10 lakh crore poor families now have their own pucca houses for which the government has spent more than Rs 6 lakh crore. Piped water has also reached the homes of about 11 crore rural families, for which the government has spent about Rs 4 lakh crore.

The President said that a total of 10 crore Ujjwala cooking gas connections have by now been provided. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, 80 crore countrymen are being given free ration. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana Stands extended for the next five years.

The ongoing budget session of Parliament, the last one before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, is a short one. Beginning on January 31, the session will go on till February 9.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. Those seeking proximity, should be aware of how dangerous it is and the consequences, Spokesperson for Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said during a weekly press briefing, Trend reports.

She made the remark, commenting on the statement of NATO Special Representative for the South Caucasus Javier Colomina that Armenias foreign policy is aimed at closeness with NATO.

We have already seen what closeness with NATO leads to: involvement in conflicts, loss of sovereignty and independence, subordination of the will to someone else's planning in every sense of the word and in all areas, and, most importantly, the inability to realize one's own national interests, the official noted.

According to Zakharova, it's needed to open a map and see in which region and between which neighbors this country is located.

We need to analyze all this and understand what the national interests of Armenia itself are, what is beneficial, what brings short-term benefits, what is medium-term, what is long-term, and proceed from this instead of making promises, she added.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Hindu side petitioners can perform puja in the Vyas Tekhana  basement  portion of the Gyanvapi mosque premises, the Varanasi Court said on Wednesday.

ALSO READ | What is the Gyanvapi Mosque Case? History and Timeline of the Legal Battle Explained

The order was passed by judge A K Vishvesh, who directed the district magistrate to make arrangements within seven days, counsel Madan Mohan Yadav said, adding the prayers will be facilitated by the Kashi Vishwanath Trust. There was no basis to stop the puja. The Temple Trust will now get the puja done here, we are very proud of thisThis is the first step, if this verdict is opposed, we are ready to answer," he said.

Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Nagendra Pandey, Chairperson of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, said that the puja will begin in 2-3 days and once it starts, it will be performed daily. We are aspiring to perform puja in the whole Gyanvapi temple. A door will built to protect the area where the puja will be performed," he said.

One of the advocates of the Hindu side, Vishnu Shankar Jain, called it a turning point" and historic verdict". Jain told News18 that they have sent the order copy to the District Magistrate for compliance.

PUJA WAS CONDUCTED TILL 1993: HINDU SIDE

According to the petition, priest Somnath Vyas used to perform prayers there till 1993 when the cellar was closed by the authorities. Shailendra Kumar Pathak, maternal grandson of Somnath Vyas, had sought the right to worship the deities there. He said the barricades before the Nandi statue in front of the wazukhana  where ablutions are performed before offering namaz  in the mosque complex will be removed to make way for the petitioner to perform puja.

The Hindu side counsel said the puja of deities was stopped during the rule of chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. Advocate Hari Shankar Jain told ANI: Till 1993, Hindus had been performing prayers there for centuries In 1993, Mulayam Singhs government did the barricading and iron fencing, and stopped Hindus from performing prayers The right to perform prayers has been restored"

Ashutosh Vyas, a kin of the priest, said, Their tapasya of 400 years has now borne fruit. Like the earlier times, we will start the mangal aarti, bhog and puja in seven days."

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav called it a milestone decision". I want to congratulate the court," he said.

#WATCH | Gyanvapi case | Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh: Advocate Hari Shankar Jain says, "This is a historic decision Till 1993, Hindus had been performing prayers there for centuries In 1993, Mulayam Singh's government did the barricading and iron fencing, and stopped Hindus pic.twitter.com/r0m5k9JXFm ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2024

CELLAR PART OF MOSQUE: MUSLIM SIDE

The Muslim side has argued that the cellar is part of the mosque complex, and hence permission to perform puja there should not be granted.

ALSO READ | Gyanvapi Case: Muslim Side Questions ASI Findings, Says Nothing But Elaborate Version of Old Survey

The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee has said that it will challenge the district courts order in the Allahabad High Court. In opposition to this, Jain will be filing a caveat before the Allahabad HC that they should be heard first.

THE ASI SURVEY

The area of wazukhana was sealed in 2022 following an apex court order after discovering what was said to be a Shivling.

The Varanasi district court, on July 21 last year, directed the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a detailed scientific survey"  including excavations, wherever necessary  to determine if the mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple was built upon a temple. In December, the ASI had submitted the survey report in a sealed cover on the Gyanvapi mosque complex in the district court. The ASI report, submitted to the court, reportedly concluded that there existed a Hindu temple prior to the construction of the existing structure" at the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

ALSO READ | Reply to Plea by Hindus for Wuzukhanas ASI Survey, Allahabad HC Tells Muslim Side on Gyanvapi Mosque

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, the lawyer representing the Hindu side while citing the 839-page ASI survey, said the Gyanvapi mosque  standing adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple  was built on the remains of a grand Hindu temple after it was demolished in the 17th century by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He said remnants of the statues of Hindu gods have been found in two basements during the court-ordered survey.

The Supreme Court on January 16 allowed a plea moved by Hindu women plaintiffs to clean the water tank in the mosque located in an area that has been sealed. Last week, the cleaning work of the wazukhana was completed under the supervision of the district magistrate of Varanasi following orders of the Supreme Court.

A Varanasi court on January 24 ordered that the ASI report on the Gyanvapi case be made public and provided to both sides. The Hindu side on Monday filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking the de-sealing of wazukhana area and another comprehensive survey by the ASI without harming the Shivling. The Allahabad high court on Wednesday issued a notice to Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee and other opposition parties to reply to it.

With PTI Inputs
The Varanasi Court on Wednesday granted permission to the Hindu side petitioners to perform puja in the basement of the Gyanvapi mosque premises.

The said basement was cleaned during the scientific survey of the mosque premises by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 2023.

Last week, the Varanasi court ordered that the ASI report on the Gyanvapi Masjid case be made public and provided to both sides.

The Varanasi district court, on July 21, 2023, directed the ASI to conduct a detailed scientific survey  including excavations, wherever necessary  to determine if the mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple was built upon a temple.

In December 2023, the ASI had submitted the survey report in a sealed cover on the Gyanvapi mosque complex in the district court.

All About the Gyanvapi Mosque

The Gyanvapi Mosque has been a subject of extensive legal and historical debate as many Hindu groups believe that the mosque stood atop a demolished portion of the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

The mosque is located close to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple and the current judicial proceedings started after a group of women sought permission for daily prayers before the idols on its outer walls.

Several petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court, Allahabad High Court, and Varanasi Court regarding the Gyanvapi mosque case. As per reports, there are 18 pleas related to the Gyanvapi dispute being heard by various courts of Varanasi, besides the original suit in the High Court.

The petitions seek to address various aspects of the dispute, including the mosques alleged construction by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and the right to worship inside the disputed site.

How Did the Gyanvapi Masjid Case Start?

In October 1991, a petition was filed before Varanasi civil judge on behalf of Swayambhu Jyotirlinga Bhagwan Vishweshwar and five others demanding the restoration of Gyanvapiland to the adjacent Kashi Vishwanath temple. The petition sought removal of Muslims from the complex and the demolition of mosque.

The petitioners of 1991 had said that the mosque was built on the orders of Aurangzeb by demolishing a part of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple during his reign in the 16th century.

However, in 1997, the Varanasi Civil Court said that the suit was not maintainable under the Places of Worship Act, 1991. Subsequently, both the temple and mosque sides filed several revision petitions before district court.

In 1998, the District Judge merged all the petitions and ordered the civil court to adjudicate the dispute afresh after considering all evidence. But the High Court stayed the Varanasi district court order. The stay continued for 22 years with the High Court continuing to extend it.

In 2020, the plaintiffs again approached the Varanasi civil court to reopen the case which had been stayed since 1998. The plaintiffs cited a Supreme Court order from 2018 which said that a stay order has to be rectified every six months. Since this was not done in the case, the civil court agreed to reopen the case.

The Allahabad High Court stayed proceedings in the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir-Gyanvapi Masjid case in a Varanasi court in 2021.

Gyanvapi Case: Court Battle So Far
Members of the Muslim community staged protests and blocked roads at Sirwar in Karnatakas Raichur over a garland of footwear on a portrait of Tipu Sultan on Wednesday morning.

According to sources, a few unknown miscreants garlanded a portrait of the Islamic ruler with slippers on Tuesday night.

The protesters blocked the roads and burned tyres seeking the arrest of the miscreants. Police officials and community leaders reached the protest sites and urged the protesters to call off their stir, assuring them of prompt action.

Protests involving the 18th-century ruler is not new for Karnataka. The Islamic ruler has been at the centre of several Congress vs BJP squabbles in the state.

In December last year, A Congress MLA from Karnataka sparked a row after proposing to rename the Mandakalli Airport in Mysuru after Tipu Sultan. I propose the naming of Mysuru Airport to Tipu Sultan Airport, Prasad Abbayya, the Hubballi-Dharwad (East) MLA said during a discussion on changing airport names.

Abbayyas statement triggered protest from the Opposition BJP, stirring the old row over the Tiger of Mysuru. The row over Tipu Sultan goes back to 2016, when the then Congress government led by Siddaramaiah began celebrating his birthday on November 10.
KERALA LOTTERY FIFTY FIFTY FF-82 RESULT ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results of the Fifty Fifty-FF-82 lucky draw for Wednesday, January 31. Check the district-wise full list of winning numbers below.

ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Result Today LIVE: Win Win W-755 WINNERS for February 5, 2024; First Prize Rs 75 Lakh!

FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR FIFTY-FIFTY FF-82 LOTTERY

WINNING NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE WORTH RS 8,000 ARE

FO 619922

FP 619922

FR 619922

FS 619922

FT 619922

FU 619922

FV 619922

FW 619922

FX 619922

FY 619922

FZ 619922

WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE WORTH RS 1 CRORE IS FN 619922 (THRISSUR)

Agent Name: JENSAN C J

Agency No: R 6548

WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE WORTH RS 10 LAKH IS FX 441991 (WAYANADU)

Agent Name: SIBI POULOSE

Agency No: W 760

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE WORTH RS 5,000 ARE

0144 0197 1349 1675 2149

2457 2564 2573 2745 3466

3661 3804 4366 5252 5951

5993 6281 6683 7503 7736

8614 9198 9669

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE WORTH RS 2,000 ARE

0779 2912 2915 5680 6124

6481 7682 8197 8520 8819

9264 9712

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE WORTH RS 1,000 ARE

0455 0827 2152 2767 2845

3224 4309 4387 4910 5164

5649 5978 7004 7273 7541

7892 7955 8271 8582 8653

8867 9042 9297 9638

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE WORTH RS 500 ARE

0029 0209 0270 0414 0511

0750 0752 0766 0954 1129

1170 1534 1578 1649 1655

1740 1749 1956 2000 2340

2394 2607 2649 2661 2677

2708 2743 2941 2997 2998

3118 3122 3226 3243 3261

3305 3345 3376 3787 3863

3899 4040 4064 4116 4213

4502 4580 4739 4753 4776

4870 4951 4960 5063 5426

5563 5647 5666 5722 5739

5924 6166 6169 6318 6371

6448 6618 6676 6718 6743

6793 6907 7034 7148 7168

7205 7761 8007 8105 8485

8763 8778 8797 8870 8879

8930 8960 8984 8990 8991

9241 9721 9726 9810 9824

9864

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE WORTH RS 100 ARE

0098 0104 0123 0155 0248

0301 0333 0340 0398 0420

0421 0459 0573 0621 0667

0725 0781 1288 1329 1386

1506 1546 1554 1575 1600

1650 1799 1830 1921 1994

2003 2065 2084 2086 2089

2098 2235 2309 2376 2478

2591 2809 3075 3111 3147

3248 3356 3488 3503 3517

3644 3658 3689 3690 3773

3798 3987 4002 4045 4240

4320 4346 4381 4605 4627

4749 4822 4980 5017 5034

5526 5585 5640 5789 5875

5899 5914 6022 6156 6244

6510 6647 6700 6714 6735

7043 7125 7225 7230 7303

7340 7474 7475 7548 7560

7602 7631 7676 7786 7885

7924 7946 7971 8014 8040

8122 8270 8354 8469 8535

8709 8868 9021 9095 9117

9168 9267 9310 9380 9564

9597 9612 9681 9714 9764

9770

KERALA LOTTERY RESULT TODAY: FIFTY-FIFTY FF-82 PRIZE STRUCTURE

1st Prize: Rs 1 Crore

2nd Prize: Rs. 10 Lakh

3rd Prize: Rs. 5,000

4th Prize: Rs. 2,000

5th Prize: Rs. 1,000

6th Prize: Rs. 500

7th Prize: Rs. 100

Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000

HOW TO CONFIRM KERALA FIFTY-FIFTY FF-82 LOTTERY RESULTS?

Visit the official Kerala Lottery Department website at www.keralalottery.info to check if youve won the Kerala Fifty-Fifty FF-82 Lottery. Alternatively, you can verify your ticket numbers by visiting the Kerala Government Gazette office and cross-referencing them with the officially declared draw results.

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE MONEY?

To check if you qualify for the Kerala Fifty-Fifty FF-82 Lottery prize, compare your ticket number with the draw results in the Kerala Government Gazette. You win if both numbers match. Once confirmed, winners need to claim their prizes at the Kerala lottery headquarters in Gorky Bhavan within 30 days of the result announcement. Do not forget to carry your winning ticket and a valid ID for verification.
A woman from Andhra Pradesh, who was recently arrested for cheating a posh hotel in Delhis Aerocity of over Rs 6 lakh, had only Rs 41 in her account after she was arrested, police said.

Police, however, said they had not been able to ascertain the womans motive behind the act yet.

Delhi Police has written to its counterpart in Andhra Pradesh to know if they could provide her actual address and details about her family members.

The woman was interrogated and counselled by our experts but she was not cooperating with us. We asked her to show her bank account details but she failed to do so, another official told PTI.

He added that when the police checked her bank account, they found it had only Rs 41 as the balance amount.

The accused, Jhansi Rani Samuel, resided at the Pullman Hotel in Aerocity near Delhi Airport for 15 days, and allegedly made fraudulent transactions worth around Rs 5,88,176, the police said.

According to hotel staff, she presented a counterfeit identity card under the name Isha Dave at the spa facility, where she availed services amounting to Rs 2,11,708.

While claiming to make transactions through a UPI app, Jhansi Rani Samuel demonstrated the process to the hotel staff. However, during payment reconciliation, it was revealed that the bank had not received any payment, leading officials to suspect the legitimacy of the app used.

The accused woman is reportedly uncooperative in the ongoing investigation. Initially asserting that she is a doctor and her husband, residing in New York, is also a doctor, this information is yet to be verified, according to the official.

Following a PCR call by the hotel staff, Jhansi Rani Samuel was arrested by the Delhi police on January 13. Initially charged with cheating, additional sections, including 419 (punishment for cheating by impersonation), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), and 471 (using a forged document as genuine) of the IPC, were later added to the FIR.

(With PTI inputs)
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to visit to the UAE mid-February for a massive Indian community gathering and a dedication ceremony of a large Hindu temple, officials from the Indian missions in the Gulf nation are preparing for the two major events.

Modi is scheduled to address the Indian community event, Ahlan Modi (Hello Modi), at Abu Dhabis Sheikh Zayed stadium on February 13 and is scheduled to attend on February 14 a dedication ceremony at the BAPS Hindu temple getting the finishing touches at the UAE capital.

As construction of the religious campus nears completion, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to inaugurate the Mandir on 14 February 2024, a release from BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha said. Prime Minister Modis visit to the UAE is not yet been officially announced.

Regarding the Ahlan Modi event, Indias ambassador to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, said they are expecting tens of thousands of people to throng the site of the reception. Prime Minister Modi along with then US President Donald Trump addressed a massive community event called Howdy, Modi! in Houston, Texas on September 22, 2019. A registration portal has been set up to smoothen the process and transport is being arranged from all emirates for participants to reach the venue. The event is being organized collaboratively by 150 Indian community organisations in the UAE.

A cultural programme involving 400 local talents has been put together to add colour to the show. During the last 3 years, over 2,000 artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat have carved the 402 white marble pillars for the temple. Earlier, addressing a gathering of diplomats invited to celebrate the Republic Day, Ambassador Sudhir said over 3.5 million Indians call UAE their home, thanks to the affection shown by the countrys leaders.

One of the most significant developments in bilateral relations in recent years is the construction of the BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, Ambassador Sudhir said. The temple, which is expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on the 14th of February, will be a spiritual oasis. Standing on top of a hillock on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, the temple will be a testimony to the enduring tradition of peace and tolerance as aspired by our forefathers Mahatma Gandhi and Sheikh Zayed, he said.

As announced by the ambassador then, a preview of the temple for ambassadors and spouses from 42 countries to catch a glimpse of the architectural marvel spread over expansive 27-acre construction site before its inauguration was organised on Monday. In his welcome address, Ambassador Sudhir shared his excitement at the Mandir nearing completion. It seemed impossible, but the dream has truly become a reality, he said.

In his keynote address, Swami Brahmaviharidas, head of the BAPS Hindu Mandir project, provided an overview of the temples historical significance, construction process, and global impact.

He also expressed gratitude to both the UAE and Indian leadership, emphasising the temples role as a powerful agent of interfaith and intercultural harmony. Tej Bahadur Chhetri, Ambassador of Nepal, called the temple a tirthbhumi (place of pilgrimage), adding, It is an inspiring building that teaches us about love, harmony and tolerance. It is something that we will gift to our future generations. Mahant Swami Maharaj is a great sadhu. Because of him, people were inspired to build this mandir, and it is a huge success.

Jonathan Knight, Deputy Ambassador of the United Kingdom, said, Its wonderful to see a place thats been contributed by so many different faiths coming together to build something that will last for generations. My hope is this building provides a home away from home.

The foundation for the first traditional BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi was laid on April 20, 2019. Later, in May 2023, diplomats from over 30 countries visited the under-construction temple site.
The Madras High Court on Tuesday issued a directive to the Tamil Nadu HR&CE department, instructing them to install boards in all Hindu temples explicitly stating that non-Hindus are restricted from entering beyond the Kodimaram (flagpole) area within the respective shrines.

The court emphasized that Hindus also possess the fundamental right to profess and practice their religion.

Justice S Srimathy from the Madurai Bench of the High Court delivered this judgment during the hearing of a petition filed by D Senthilkumar. The petitioner sought specific instructions to allow only Hindus access to the Arulmigu Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple and its sub-temples. Additionally, he requested the installation of display boards conveying this restriction at all entrances to the temples.

The famous Lord Murugan temple is located in Palani in Dindigul district. The respondents were the TN government, represented by Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments, The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) and the Executive Officer of the Palani temple. The HR&CE department administers Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu.

Admitting the petition, the court directed the respondents to install boards indicating non-Hindus are not allowed inside temple after Kodimaram in the entrance of the temples, near the flagpole and at prominent places in the shrine. The respondents are directed not to allow the non-Hindus who do not believe in Hindu religion. If any Non-Hindu claims to visit particular deity in the temple, then the respondents shall obtain undertaking from the said non-Hindu that he is having faith in the deity and he would follow the customs and practices of Hindu religion and also abide by the temple customs and on such undertaking the said non-Hindu may be allowed to visit the temple, the court ruled.

Further, whenever a such a person is allowed based on the undertaking the same shall be entered in the register which shall be maintained by the temple.

The respondents shall maintain the temple premises by strictly following the agamas (temple rules), customs and practices of the temple, the judge said. The respondents submitted the said writ petition was filed only for the Palani temple and the order may be restricted to it alone.

But the issue raised is larger issue and the same ought to be applicable to all Hindu temples, hence the plea of the respondents is rejected. As stated supra these restrictions would ensure communal harmony among different religions and ensure peace in the society. Therefore the State Government, the HR&CE department, the respondents and all persons who are involved in temple administration are directed to follow the directions to all Hindu temples, the court said.

The people belonging to Hindu religion have right to profess and practice the faith. Likewise, people belonging to other religions have right to profess and practice their religion. But the customs and practice of their respective religion cannot be interfering with and any interference ought to be curtailed.

The temple is not (a) picnic spot or tourist spot. Even in Arulmighu Brahadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur the other religion people are allowed to admire and appreciate the architectural monuments of the temple, but not after Kodimaram.

While admiring the architectural monuments the people cannot use the premises as picnic spot or tourist spot and the temples premises ought to be maintained with reverence and as per agamas. Therefore, the rights guaranteed under the Articles is not granting any right to the respondents to allow the other religion people if they do not have any faith and belief in the Hindu religion. Moreover, the rights are guaranteed to all religions and there cannot be any bias in applying such right, the court added.

The HC also referred to certain incidents of non-Hindus allegedly entering temples.

It was also reported that in Arulmighu Brahadeeswarar Temple a group of persons belonging to other religion had treated the temple premises as picnic spot and had non vegetarian food inside the temple premises. Likewise, recently on 11.01.2024 a newspaper had reported that a group of persons belonging to the other religion had entered the Arulmighu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai with their sacred book near sanctum and sanctorum and was attempting to do their prayers there. These incidents are absolutely interfering with the fundamental rights guaranteed to the Hindus under the Constitution, the judge said.

The Hindus also have fundamental right to profess and practice their religion freely and propagate their religion without interfering in their way of practice. Therefore, the Hindus have right to maintain their temples as per their customs, practices and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department is having duty to protect the temples from such unwanted incidents.

In fact, in the above narrated incidents the Department had failed to protect the fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution, the court added.

(With inputs from PTI)
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Wednesday instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to give permission to re-open Kumari Aunty Food Stall located at ITC Kohinoor Circle in Hyderabad, days after it was shut by cops.

The chief minister will soon visit the stall and have his lunch at the popular street food stall, according to an official source to News18.

Kumari Aunty is very popular in Telugu states after videos and reels of her street food stall in Hyderabad went viral on social media.

She achieved celebrity-like status overnight which has attracted foodies from across the state. Many film personalities visit her stall as part of their movie promotions.

The eatery which has been running for over 13 years, is causing severe traffic issues at ITC Kohinoor Circle leading to the registration of a case against the owner, Sai Kumari.

The Hyderabad cops cited reasons including no parking facility at the street food stall and traffic jams caused by the stall in the Hi-tech City route. The police ordered her to vacate the area with her stall till further orders.

I am requesting the customers not to create vehicular traffic but they are not listening to me. Though there are many food stalls here the police closed my stall only. The stall is my livelihood. Please provide justice to me, Kumari lamented.

The video of the eatery closure and Kumaris reaction went viral on social media and it went to the notice of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who has now ordered the DGP to re-open the stall.

The Raidurgam traffic police fined or towed cars parked near the food stand in ITC Kohinoor, which is next to Knowledge City as many YouTubers, and influencers visit the eatery every day between 12-2 p.m. to shoot videos, leading to traffic snarls.

The stall offers rice, chicken, mutton curry, and several other non-vegetarian food items along with four different of rice that are attracting foodies, vloggers, and other people across the state.
Ajith Kumar stars in Magizh Thirumenis fifth directorial venture, Vidaamuyarchi, described as a high-paced action thriller supported by Lyca Productions. The filming, which commenced in Azerbaijan in October, is nearing its conclusion, as per an official announcement. Upcoming schedules for Vidaamuyarchi are slated for Chennai and Hyderabad. The first look poster is expected to be revealed in mid-February, with Lyca Productions intending to provide frequent updates starting next month after the release of Lal Salaam on February 9.

The filming for Vidaamuyarchi is anticipated to conclude by the end of February or March. Speculations suggest a grand release in late April or May. The latest reports confirm the successful conclusion of the Azerbaijan schedule for Vidaamuyarchi. Ajith Kumar and the team spent over a month filming in Azerbaijan, with regular glimpses of the lead actor shared from the shooting location. Ajiths PR manager shared some of the pics from the sets with the caption, The schedule of Azerbaijan wrapped up. Team heading to a new location in a few days. #VidaaMuyarchi #AK.

The schedule of Azerbaijan wrapped up. Team heading to a new location in few days. #VidaaMuyarchi #AK pic.twitter.com/WBOJodm1Gn Suresh Chandra (@SureshChandraa) January 29, 2024

Ajith exudes class and style in a black suit as he casually strolls along the streets of Azerbaijan. The team is rumoured to be heading to London next for the shooting of Vidaamuyarchi. With the film planned as an overseas action thriller, Ajith is expected to showcase a never-before-seen stylish avatar.

Last year, a viral photo of Ajith Kumar, posing with a fan, raised buzz online. The actor, dressed in a casual grey T-shirt, continues to captivate his devoted followers. It follows a prior image of Ajith in a white T-shirt and grey shorts, intensifying anticipation for his look in the upcoming film VidaaMuyarchi.

The star-studded cast includes Ajith Kumar, Trisha, Arjun, Aarav, Regina Cassandra, Maybu George Paul and more. Anirudh is in charge of the music, with Om Prakash as the Director of Photography and Supreme Sundar handling stunts.
It was reported yesterday that Ananya Panday is likely to be approached to play one of the female leads in Desi Boyzz 2 with Varun Dhawan and Tiger Shroff. Now, the latest reports claim that she and Sara Ali Khan are in talks for Cocktail 2. The speculation arose after the two actresses were spotted leaving the office of Maddock Films, the production house behind Cocktail.

Ananya looked gorgeous in a white tank top and jeans. She left her hair open and opted for a simple look. She completed her look with a black handbag. Meanwhile, Sara also opted for a casual yet chic look in a white cropped T-shirt and black pants. She also let her mane flow naturally. Watch here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Snehkumar Zala (@snehzala)

The original 2012 film featured Saras father Saif Ali Khan as the lead actor. Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty were the lead actresses. Cocktail was Dianas debut film. Randeep Hooda and Dimple Kapadia also played key characters in the movie. All performances were lauded by the audiences and the critics alike. An official statement from the makers is awaited on their casting for the films casting.

As for Desi Boyzz 2, according to the latest reports, Varun Dhawan and Tiger Shroff have been approached for the sequel of the popular Akshay Kumar-John Abraham film and Ananya Panday might play one of the female leads.

Hindustan Times quoted a source as saying, Desi Boyzz 2 actors are still getting finalised, they will locked once the scripting is done completely. But yes, its true that the OGs John and Akshay wont be coming again in part two.

There are talks about approaching Varun Dhawan and Tiger Shroff for the lead roles. The story of part two will be completely different and with new actors, just the title remains the same. the source said. Ananya Panday might be approached as Varuns romantic partner, but the second actress name is still being contemplated and there are no specific names in mind for that, the source added. However, an official confirmation from the makers is awaited.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. The man who desecrated the monument to the children of besieged Leningrad in Yerevan was detained, the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs said, Trend reports.

It is reported that he has been transferred to the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

Earlier, footage of yet another Armenian vandalism appeared on social networks. This time the Armenians decided to insult the memory of the children of besieged Leningrad.

In the first video, you can see how the Armenian vandal pulls out ribbons with the image of the Russian flag from wreaths, throws them on the ground and tramples them under his feet.

And in the second video, he goes even further - he turns over the wreaths, calling the besieged children fascists and claiming that there are no documents confirming this event.
The highly anticipated finale of Bigg Boss Season 10 Kannada, hosted by Kiccha Sudeepa, concluded with actor Karthik Mahesh emerging as the winner. The nail-biting finale took place on January 28, Sunday, with Karthik Mahesh not only lifting the coveted trophy but also bagging exciting prizes, including Rs 50 lakh in cash, a luxury car and an electric moped. Following his victory, Karthik Mahesh has been making the rounds on various channels for interviews, where a common question revolves around his ideal life partner.

Given his notable interactions and evolving dynamics with fellow contestants Sangeetha Sringeri and Namratha Gowda during the show, the media is keen to know about Karthik Maheshs preferences as a life partner. While his friendship with Sangeetha Sringeri faced its share of twists and turns, a close bond with Namratha Gowda became apparent. Speculations about a potential reconciliation with Sangeetha Sringeri have surfaced, but his continued friendship with Namratha Gowda has also caught the audiences attention.

Despite the rumours, Karthik Mahesh has clarified that marriage is not in his immediate plans. His focus is currently on building a house for his mother before considering marriage. The Bigg Boss winner expressed his desire to work in a couple of movies before contemplating marriage. Although his interactions with Namratha Gowda continue the show, he maintains that marriage is not on the cards shortly.

Addressing the matter, Karthik Maheshs mother shared her thoughts on her future daughter-in-law, emphasising the importance of the prospective partner being a good person and suggesting self-evaluation before choosing Karthik.

On the professional front, Karthik Mahesh is rapidly gaining recognition in the Kannada film industry. Apart from his successful stint in the reality show, he was featured in the 2022 movie Dollu directed by Sagar Puranik. The film, which also starred Nidhi Hegde, Babu Hirannaiah, Chandra Mayur, Nayana and others, contributed to Karthik Maheshs growing popularity.

As Karthik Mahesh navigates post-Bigg Boss fame, fans eagerly await updates on his cinematic ventures and any potential developments in his personal life.
Korean actor Chae Jong-hyeop is making quite a name for himself as a rising star. Having worked in a string of back-to-back series, this actor has effortlessly delved into a spectrum of roles, showcasing versatility on the screen. From embodying the endearing potato boy in the romantic drama Nevertheless to portraying the charismatic and handsome athlete Park Tae-joon in Love All Play, Chae Jong-hyeops ability to undergo significant transformations is evident. Currently, hes taking the lead in Netflixs Japanese series Eye Love You, where despite the show having only two episodes out till now, Chae Jong-hyeop has already managed to seize the attention of viewers, thanks to a particularly intense bed scene.

The narrative of Eye Love You revolves around Motomiya Yuri, a woman in her early thirties who also happens to be the CEO of a chocolate shop. Yuri possesses an intriguing telepathic ability, she can hear a persons true thoughts simply by locking eyes with them. However, this unique gift becomes a burden, exposing her to the genuine feelings of others, and leading her to renounce the pursuit of love. That is until a sudden encounter with Yoon Tae Oh, a Korean student unafraid to express his emotions. Yet, a language barrier emerges when Yuri realises she cant comprehend his thoughts in Korean. This realisation becomes a turning point, prompting her to gradually open her heart to him.

In the series, Chae Jong-hyeop takes on the role of Yoon Tae-oh. In a recently aired episode, the actor adds a layer of intensity by participating in a steamy bed scene, where he notably removes his shirt. As the main characters acknowledge their feelings for each other, they express a desire to progress their relationship to the next stage.

Watch it here:

              pic.twitter.com/ujNeBPFx9d  (@lxxkdA) January 30, 2024

However, as soon as Chae removes his shirt, the plot takes an unexpected turn  it was all just a dream! Yuri wakes up, realising that the intimate encounter with Yoon Tae-oh existed solely in her imagination. Given that the drama is still in its early stages, viewers eagerly await the upcoming developments in the relationship between the characters.

During the brief scene featuring Chae Jong-hyeop, viewers not only appreciated his acting skills but also couldnt help but swoon over his robust physique.

Eye Love You is available on Netflix, with a new episode released every Tuesday. This series marks Chae Jong-hyeops return to the screen after Castaway Diva, and he shares the screen with Japanese actress Fumi Nikaido in this latest venture.
A Munawar Faruqui fan has landed in trouble after he used an illegal drone during the comedians Bigg Boss 17 wins celebrations in Mumbai. Munawar was announced the winner of Bigg Boss 17 on Sunday night. Salman Khan had presented him the award, a cheque of Rs 50 lakhs and a car. On Monday, Munawar headed to Dongri, the area he grew up in, and was greeted with a grand celebration. Videos and photos from the grand celebrations went viral. One of which included Munawar standing on the sunroof while fans surrounded him.

The picture highlighted the comedians popularity. However, the said shot has also caught Mumbai Polices attention. It has been revealed that the photos and videos were taken using an unregistered drone. It has now been revealed that Dongri Police has registered an FIR against a drone operator. The operator has been identified as Arbaaz Yusuf Khan. His drone camera has been confiscated by cops.

Munawar was competing with Abhishek Kumar for the trophy. When Salman Khan announced Munawars name, it took everyone a moment to realise that Salman was not joking about the winner. The comedian was overwhelmed with joy when his name was announced as the winner of the popular reality show. His mother and sister had also come on the show to support him and were beaming with pride at his win.

Although the comedian always tried to make the audience laugh with his one-liners, his journey on the show often left him teary-eyed and emotional. Munawars stint on the show has been marked by several controversies, including allegations of two-timing with ex-girlfriend Nazila Sitaishi and pre-existing marriage proposals before entering the Bigg Boss house. Despite these hurdles, Munawar Faruqui managed to win the hearts of Bigg Boss fans and emerge as the winner of the popular reality show.

(With inputs from Yesha Kotak)
When Vicky Jain walked out of the Bigg Boss 17 house during the finale week, he held a get-together at his Mumbai residence which was attended by Isha Malviya, Ayesha Khan and Sana Khan among others. However, there was one photo from the party in which Vicky was seen holding influencer-actress Purva Rana close. The photo left many disappointed and Vicky was brutally trolled for the same.

However, in a recent interview, Isha Malviya opened up about the trolling Vicky Jain faced for the picture and revealed that the party was more of a dinner gathering. She mentioned that even Vickys mother and Ankitas parents were present at home and therefore the trolling does not look good.

Ayesha (Ayesha Khan) was there. I went with my mom, Ankita dis mother, uncle, and brother all were there. The party was held to celebrate Vickys achievement that he made it to the top 6 with his own efforts. It was not even a celebration that we went to a club or something. We were at Vickys house, we had dinner, and a get-together happened, Isha told E-Times.

Isha further urged trolls not to comment on somebodys personal life and added, Looking at that people commented Vicky ki aiyashiyaan chal rahi hai, womaniser and all. I feel what people say easily, they must also feel it. It doesnt look good, especially since he is a married man. Tomorrow if their kids see all this, what will they feel? There are many parties where Ankita di goes alone, she also has a huge friend circle so that doesnt mean she is doing something wrong. People need to understand this before commenting on others lives.

Bigg Boss 17 concluded on Sunday, January 28. Munawar Faruqui emerged as the winner of the show, whereas Abhishek Kumar was the first runner-up. The other three finalists of the show were  Mannara Chopra, Ankita Lokhande and Arun Mashetty.
Munawar Faruqui enjoys a massive fan following and there is no doubt about it. Two days after winning Bigg Boss 17, the stand-up comedian made a public appearance on Tuesday night when he stepped out for a dinner with Abdu Rozik. However, as Munawar was leaving the restaurant, he got mobbed by fans.

Read More: Munawar Faruqui FALLS, Gets MOBBED Days After Winning Bigg Boss 17; Video Goes Viral

Earlier this month, legendary filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali surprised everyone by announcing his next cinematic spectacle, Love & War. The filmmaker has got the biggest casting coup on board with Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal. This evening, Ranbir was spotted outside Sanjay Leela Bhansalis office for a meeting. He sported a clean-shaven look with a cap. Fans are speculating that this look is for the upcoming film.

Read More: Ranbir Kapoor Sports Clean-Shaven Look Outside SLB Office, Fans Speculate Its For Love And War; Pic

Ever since its release, Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukones Fighter has been getting an overwhelming response from the audience. Recently, R Madhavan also took to his X handle and praised the Siddharth Anand directorial. He called Fighter an extraordinary movie and added that it is an example of international Indian cinema.

Read More: R Madhavan Reviews Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukones Fighter, Calls It An Extraordinary Film

A television actress and former Bigg Boss 11 contestant has recently filed a First Information Report (FIR) at Tigri Police Station in South Delhi accusing her friend of allegedly raping her. As per the information available, the complainant claimed that her friend raped her in 2023 at a flat in Deoli Road area in the national capital.

Read More: Bigg Boss 11 Contestant Alleges Rape By Friend, FIR Filed In Delhi

Days after the Bigg Boss 17 finale, Ankita Lokhande is now all set to return to the big screen once again. The actress will soon be seen in Randeep Hooda starrer Swatantra Veer Savarkar. On Tuesday, Ankita took to her X (formerly known as Twitter) handle and announced that the film will hit theatres on March 22, 2024. She also mentioned that starting this new chapter after Bigg Boss 17 feels extra special.

Read More: Ankita Lokhande Starts a New Chapter After Bigg Boss 17, To Star In Randeep Hoodas Next Film
Rajkumar Hirani is a happy man as his last release Dunki has been a commercial and critical success. The Shah Rukh Khan-Tapsee Pannu starter which released on Christmas last year has grossed over Rs 500 crore at the worldwide box-office.

While it is rumoured that the actor will next collaborate with his Sanju actor Ranbir Kapoor, Hirani has already moved on to his next project an untitled web series which features 12th Fail actor Vikrant Massey in the lead. The show which is directed by Amir Satyaveer Singh who has assisted Hirani in the past, revolves around cybercrime and the actor will be playing the role of cybercrime security expert.

Contrary to popular rumours, Hirani is not only producing the show but will also be the show runner. Confirming the same, the 3 Idiots director exclusively tells News18, Certain stories require a long format approach and not make into a film. The one which we are working on currently (with Vikrant Massey in the lead) is something that we found during Covid times. Ill be working as a showrunner on the series and so Ill be completely involved on the show. It is something that I am very happy about as I am excited about the script and the way it has panned out.

Ask him if he would like to make his OTT debut soon as a director and he says, Yes Id love to when some day I have a story to tell. But honestly, for me the platform doesnt matter. If it is for a television it should be on TV or if it is a long format, make it for OTT.

While the details of the show have been kept under wraps, the makers plan to shoot it over a two month long schedule. The series is going to go on floors next month and it will be Masseys fourth web series after Mirzapur, Broken But Beautiful and Criminal Justice.
Bollywood stars Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani have chosen to tie the knot in an intimate two-day celebration, set to conclude on February 21 in Goa. The couple, originally planned a destination wedding overseas, made a last-minute decision to align with Prime Minister Narendra Modis call for families to host their wedding festivities within India.

The love story between Rakul and Jackky blossomed, leading to this joyous moment of matrimony. From their initial encounters to the love they share, their journey has captivated fans and set the stage for a heartwarming celebration.

A source close to the soon-to-be-married couple revealed, Rakul and Jacky had initially planned for their wedding to take place in the Middle East. After nearly six months of meticulous planning, everything was pretty much in order. However, following the call from the Indian PM in December, urging rich and influential families to choose India as the venue for their big life events, Rakul and Jackky reconsidered their original plans and relocated the wedding to India. Their decision, made in mid-December, necessitated a complete reset, involving the destination, resc and accommodations. Despite the considerabl changes, the couple embraced the overhaul, driven by their love for the country and desire to contribute to its growing economy.

This decision showcases the couples sense of responsibility as citizens, aligning with the national sentiment and contributing to the collective effort of holding events within the country. As responsible citizens, they are not only celebrating their love but also doing their duty towards the nation.

Hosting the wedding in India aligns with economic goals, providing a boost to the local wedding industry. This choice exemplifies their commitment to supporting the nations economy and promoting the richness of Indian celebrations.

As we eagerly await more details about this intimate celebration, fans are ready to immerse themselves in the joy of this beautiful union. Stay tuned for more moments that will make Rakul and Jackkys wedding an affair to remember.
Rashmika Mandanna often makes headlines for her rumoured relationship with Vijay Deverakonda. While the two have never admitted to dating, their social media posts often spark these speculations. Recently, Rashmika was asked about her experience working with several co-stars, including Vijay, and her answer left their fans gushing.

While speaking about her Dear Comrade co-actor, she told We Are Yuvaa, Viju and I, we sort of grew up together. So anything I do in my life right now, he has a contribution in it. I take his advice in anything that I do. I need his opinion, and he is not a yes person.

Rashmika continued, He is like on the point, this is good, this is not good, this is what I think, this is what I dont think. He has supported me personally, more than anyone else in my entire life. So, I feel hes someone who I really, really respect.

A source close to the couple told HT recently that they arent looking at being open about their relationship. The source said, They are not at all planning to go public with their romance, or planning to take their relationship to the next level by exchanging rings They are living together, are happy and content with how their relationship is going, and dont feel the need to get engaged at the moment.

It was rumoured earlier that they are getting engaged soon. It was said that the families of both the actors have agreed to the marriage. The couple recently went to the Maldives together to spend their vacation. This led the fans of the duo to anticipate a possible marriage announcement from their favourite couple. It is believed that the couple is set to get engaged in the second week of February.

However, their teams denied the rumours. Their representatives told IANS that there is no truth in these claims. Rashmika and Vijay have been rumoured to be dating for years now. However, theyve maintained that they are just friends.

Meanwhile, Rashmika will next be seen with Vicky Kaushal in Chaava. She is also working on a film with Dhanush.
Bollywood actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood has received the prestigious Champions of Change award in recognition of his outstanding humanitarian efforts. Renowned for his selfless endeavors, Sood has garnered widespread acclaim for his unwavering commitment to societal welfare, which has earned him numerous accolades.

Through his charitable organization, The Sood Foundation, the actor has helped the underprivileged in terms of education, helped the poor promote their enterprises, and he has also begun work on his dream project, an old age residence. His dedication to uplifting communities in times of crisis has been praised globally and has emphasized the impact of individual self-sacrifice on a broader scale.

Sharing a bundle of photos from the ceremony, the actor wrote, Humbled and honored to receive the Champions of Change Award Maharashtra to be conferred by the Honble 37th Chief Justice of India Justice K G Balakrisnan & Honble Justice Gyansudha Misra ( Former Judge Supreme Court of India ) Grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact, and I am eager to continue contributing to the betterment of society & Indian film Industry.

On a closing note, he added, Thank you, Shri Nandan Jha ( Chairman Champions of Change award Committee)

for acknowledging the efforts of individuals striving for positive change.

The Champions of Change recognition adds to Soods power to influence change and represents his contribution towards social responsibility. His initiatives have not only provided immediate relief but have also inspired collective action and solidarity in times of adversity. Through his persistent actions, Sonu Sood continues to inspire hope and ignite positive change, personifying the essence of humanitarianism.

On the work front, Sonu Sood has just completed his maiden film as a director. Fateh is a cybercrime thriller starring Sood and Jacqueline Fernandez in the lead, produced by Soods production company, Shakti Sagar Productions, and co-produced by Zee Studios.

Expressing his excitement for this upcoming film, Sonu had earlier shared on his social media handle, Fateh has been special and a personal film to me. It is a tribute to the youth who have been victims of cybercrime on various levels.

Last year, in October, Sonu Sood completed the Delhi schedule for his film, Fateh. Fans and audience members alike reacted positively to the announcement. The lead actress in Fateh, Jacqueline Fernandez, had shared BTS photographs from the Delhi shoot with her fans on social media, along with the accompanying caption, Delhi schedule wrap for Fateh. Thank you, Sonu Sood, for always inspiring us and pushing us to do our best.

Apart from Sonu Sood and Jacqueline Fernandez as the leads, Fateh also stars Vijay Raaz and Shivjyoti Rajput in important roles. According to reports, the cast of the film includes some of Hollywoods top names, such as the director of photography, research team, and action choreographers. Fateh is billed as a dramatic and action-packed drama, and its compelling premise has sparked tremendous interest. The plot of the film revolves around the titular character, a former gangster hired to protect a young woman. To keep her safe, he must use all of his powers while also striving to understand the truth about the nature and origins of the threats she faces.
I have been an observer of the crisis in Islam, the clash of ideology and its dissenters, particularly described in Ali Allawis book, The Crisis in Islamic Civilization, for decades now. The dissenters of radical, political Islam are increasing in numbers; they do not want the dissolution of Islamic supremacists in Islamic as well as non-Islamic areas and people. If Olivier Roy, the French intellectual and author, is to be believed then, radical political Islam failed in the last century due to its lack of answers to the everyday problems of common Muslims. The rise of populist governments all over has provided the space for dissenters of Muslim heritage to openly voice out their heresy (disagreement), controversial opinions, and taboo thoughts without the backlash, the kind that Bangladeshi and Maldivian bloggers and Salman Rushdie have faced all their lives.

The 22 January 2024 Pran Pratishtha event in the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya is attributed to the cultural resurgence of the Indic civilisation and the religious revival of Hinduism. After nearly five centuries of Mughal rule, French, Portuguese, and British colonialism, and the Communist historians whitewashing of history, the Ram Mandir was constructed, restoring Ayodhya to its rightful city of reverence and importance. Since childhood, we have been aware of the significance of holy cities, always having the photo frames of Mecca and Medina almost worshipped in Muslim homes. As children, we would get a knuckle-rapping if we knocked them down while dusting or somehow touched them with dirty hands. Such was the admiration for the photo frames of the cities that no one would sit with their feet towards the pictures and our mothers chappals used to be always ready for a bashing in case we forgot.

Imagine our chagrin when we grew up, the conditioning of the matrix of our society, and unlearning all that we had been taught in the educational institutions of India. If the cities of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem had so much meaning and symbolism for the billions of Muslims across the world, why wouldnt Ayodhya have the same meaning to billions of Hindus across the country and abroad? Two articles in two different portals attempt to answer this question and the travesty of justice that Hindus endured for decades and yet triumphed in triumph. One is from the usual cabal of left-liberal, closet Islamist journalists whom I admire for one exceptional achievement, that of writing the book, Women in Masjid: A Quest for Justice by Ziya us Salam.

His book examines the historical and contemporary status of Muslim womens access to mosques, particularly in India and other global regions. The central argument asserts that Islam does not prohibit women from participating in mosque prayers; rather, the denial of this right stems from patriarchal and cultural influences. Throughout the narrative, the book illuminates the stories of courageous women who actively advocate for their right to pray in mosques and sheds light on the various challenges they face in this endeavour. In essence, it explores the intersection of religious beliefs, gender equality, and cultural norms, providing a comprehensive examination of the complex dynamics surrounding Muslim womens access to mosques.

Apart from that, Ziya us Salam, Associate Editor of The Hindu, asserts the Oppression Olympics of Indian Muslims by writing doomsday pieces such as What it is like to be a Muslim in Hindu India? In the piece, he says, To be a Muslim in an increasingly militant Hindu India is to feel alienated and dejected. This was on the occasion of the Ram Temple consecration, the Pran Pratishtha, or the establishment of the life force, of the Hindu deity on Jan.22 in Ayodhya. To Zia, it is important that the Babri Masjid stood from 1527 to 1992 at the same spot, when it was brought down, brick-by-brick, by karsevaks, or faith volunteers, drunk on hardcore Hindutva. Supremacist Indian Muslims, or closet Islamists never question why a masjid stands at the heart of a place that is similar to Mecca, Medina, or Jerusalem to Hindus.

He asserts that more than 2,000 people died, most of them Muslim, in communal riots in various cities in the days that followed. It was never restored, though the Supreme Court in its 2019 judgment called the demolition an egregious violation of the law. Now a grand temple dedicated to Lord Ram is being readied atop the ruins of the mosque. Then he starts with the doom and gloom conspiracy theories, In recent weeks, a new fear, palpable albeit defying definition, can be perceived among Muslims across Delhi and the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh in north and central India. Everywhere there is a saffron surge and in-your-face aggression of Lord Rams devotees.

I wanted to laugh loudly at this  in Muslim-majority pockets of Indian cities, towns, villages, ghettoes, or the state of Kashmir with a Muslim majority population, this in-your-face-Islamism was and has been prevalent for decades ever since 1979  an important year for the Islamic world. The Iranian Revolution, the Siege of Mecca, and the Afghan-Soviet Jihads impact on Kashmir through ISI led to a rivalry for Islamic dominance between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The resulting Black Wave brought forth extremist scriptural interpretations and mandatory veiling, as detailed in Kim Ghattas book Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East (2020), casting its influence over the Indian subcontinent as well.

Ziyas cabal is responsible for spreading this canard of Muslim small traders and businessmen putting travel plans on hold and cancelling their train bookings on the advice of family elders. This is similar to what we grew up with when the Intifada factory in Kashmir was in control of the narrative, and the Jagmohan canard was spread about the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits. Ziyas anecdote about a woman Muslim journalist who went to Ayodhya to cover the temple consecration telling him she felt compelled to wear a Hindu bindi and considered coming back before the ceremony next week, is just one of many that are taken as data for the alleged Muslim genocide in India. This canard has been made popular by the likes of Rana Ayyubs, Saba Naqvis, Arfa Khanum Sherwanis, and Fact-checking Zubairs, boosted by NYT, WaPo, TRT, DW, and Al-Jazeera.

However, not all Indian Muslims support this left-liberal and Islamist-allied narrative, or the disinformation campaign by anti-India forces. Ibn Khaldun Bharat, a pseudonym for an upright citizen of India of Muslim heritage, regularly writes articles for The Print on Indian Muslim issues. That he must use a pseudonym after writing under his name for a few years, signals the toxic trolling and vitriol that critical-thinking, rational Muslims who push for reform in Islam and voice out their opinions, face online and offline. The fact that ZIya us Salam can write biasedly, and unabashedly about the fictional Muslim genocide in India, while Khaldun Bharati cannot even speak out his opinions and analyses, reveals a lot about the democracy and the alleged fascism of India.

Khaldun Bharati, now known as a Renaissance writer by non-Muslims, writes the profound words, in his article Ram Mandir construction shows a wounded civilisation healing itself. Muslims will gain from it, in The Print. His words are, What was suppressed was Indias soul, her ancient spirit, and not the modern concept of India. Therefore, freedom would mean the creation of that spirit from which a thousand ideas of India could come to life as they did before being suppressed.

Bharati is referring to the same event that triggered Ziya us Salam. Bharati discusses the resurgent spirit of Hindutva, highlighting its role in Indias civilisational growth and highlighting that Muslims are integral to this phenomenon. He further asserts that Muslims benefit from the economic, educational, and political advancements in India under Hindutva, asserting that they are superior materially and religiously.

Khaldun has been brave enough to observe the empowerment of Muslims in Indias democracy, contrasting it with Muslim-majority nations. He also mentions the rise of Pasmandas, lower-caste Muslims of Hindu ancestry, as a reflection of Indias revival. He concludes his article by stating that Indians, including Muslims, should support the idea of Akhand Bharat (Undivided India) and India as Vishwa Guru (World Leader), asserting that India will not revert to being a province of the Caucasus.

The Indian Muslim echo chambers will embrace one and dismiss the other. Mind you, the majority of 20 crore Muslims are law-abiding citizens, have accepted the decision of the courts, and are ready for amicable setting aside of differences and moving forward together as a nation with the majority of Hindus. It is the cabal that milks disgruntlement and real instances of anti-Muslim bigotry for their agenda activism, while numerous integrated Muslims have assimilated into the ethos of the new Bharat, that is India. The pseudonym should convey that.

The author is a writer and an educationist from Srinagar. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. The US and British armed forces attacked targets of the rebel movement "Ansar Allah" (Houthis) in Yemen, Trend reports.

According to information, the northern outskirts of the city of Saada, which is the administrative center of the province of the same name, was attacked.

There are no reports of possible losses, injuries or damage.
India is actively establishing a robust digital public infrastructure (DPI) ecosystem, not only on the domestic front, but also on a global scale. It is gaining recognition as a game-changer in Indias pursuit of achieving financial inclusion for its citizens.

According to an exclusive report by the Mint, the Indian government is now considering leveraging its lines of credit to offer digital public goods and infrastructure stacks to other developing countries. Spurred by the success of digital public goods and infrastructure such as CoWin (portal for Covid vaccination drive), and UPI (unified payments interface) at home, India wants to share the technology with emerging economies. India hopes to develop partnerships, especially with the global south which is development-oriented, as well as demand-driven, the person said, requesting anonymity.

Countries such as Ethiopia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and Togo have actively utilized or tested technologies and services from Indias DPI.

THE DIGITAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE

A robust digital public infrastructure (DPI) consists of distinct digital identification, a payments system, and a data exchange layer, holding the promise of driving economic transformation and fostering inclusive growth.

Indias foundational DPI, known as India Stack, has actively stimulated innovation and competition, playing a crucial role in expanding markets, bridging gaps in financial inclusion, enhancing government revenue collection, and optimizing public expenditure efficiency.

Indias experience in crafting a top-notch DPI actively guides other nations venturing into digital transformation. Notably, the emphasis on shared building blocks and supporting innovation across the ecosystem actively emerges as a pivotal design approach for the World.

In 2015, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Digital India initiative, its focus was to provide a digitally inclusive India. As a result, Government services have gradually been integrated into digital platforms, allowing for quick and efficient delivery at the grassroots level.

Aadhaar, bank accounts for all Indians, data exchange (account aggregators and DigiLocker) and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) have today become a cornerstone of Indias digital public infrastructure.

A World Bank report from September 2023 hailed the success of Indias DPI to enhance financial inclusion and delivery of public goods and services. As a result of the Modi governments DPI push, the World Bank claims India has achieved a remarkable 80 per cent financial inclusion rate.

LINES OF CREDIT

At the outset, it is the intertwining of Indias digital and economic diplomacy.

Indias DPI is a much sought after digital infrastructure and governance programme, and combining it with the LOCs provides India a chance to once again showcase its digital prowess and prove that its DPI is for everyone. Moreover, it will also bolster Indias tech and economic diplomacy.

Combining LoCs with DPI will also establish multiple channels of co-operation with existing partners. It will also allow those partners to modernise their governance model without the cost of investing heavily in R&D, which would have happened if they had started it from scratch. This also makes Indias LoCs more attractive and lucrative. In Africa, where India is second only to China in terms of investments, aligning DPI with the LoCs would make Indian funds irresistible. State-backed institutions such as The Exim Bank in India actively provide LOCs to overseas financial institutions, regional development banks, sovereign governments, and other overseas entities.

In addition to supporting the import of goods and services, the LOCs actively promote the exports of Indian products and services across various sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, telecom, railway, transmission/power and renewable energy.

According to the External Affairs Ministry, India has so far offered 308 LOCs, worth about $32.02 billion, to various partners in Asia and Africa. These funds have supported more than 600 development projects in sectors such as infrastructure, power, connectivity and health across countries of the Global South. About $17.06 billion has gone to countries in Asia, $12.15 billion to those in Africa and $2.81 billion to countries elsewhere.

In Asia, New Delhis Neighbourhood First policy remains at play, as is evident from the grant assistance projects with countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

GOING GLOBAL

Indias digital infrastructure has caught the eye of the world, across continents.

Western nations such as France and Germany, along with many in South Asia and Africa, have also either shown interest or have started to use the India stack either as a pilot or running full-fledged. Even countries as far as Brazil are privately engaged to make use of Indias DPI.

UPI, launched in 2016, has certainly become the apple of the eye for many, including French President Emmanuel Macron. During his recent visit to India, he shared a cup of kulhad tea with PM Modi in Jaipur, the payment for it was made through UPI. Macron was vowed with the feasibility of payment and remembered to mention it in his speech at the official banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu for him at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

During PM Modis July visit to France, he announced that India and France have agreed to implement the UPI payment mechanism, starting with the iconic Eiffel Tower. Indian tourists in France will now have the capability to make payments in rupees.

A top government official informed News18 that 35-40 countries are currently considering adopting UPI, with India actively engaging with them on the matter.

India has UPI-related bilateral agreements with Singapore, Australia, the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Nepal and Bhutan. Since early 2023, Japan, too, has been evaluating the possibility of adopting Indias UPI system.

Apart from UPI, which is a gemstone of Indias DPI, eight countries have already signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with India for the India stack. Interest has been shown in adopting the payments and healthcare systems.

Armenia, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Papua New Guinea, and Mauritius have all signed pacts that allow them to access the India DPI at no cost and with open-source access. These nations can now use these resources to develop their unique innovations.

The Pan African e-Network, Africas largest digital project, is actively connecting 54 African countries to India, enabling them to access expertise in telecommunications, medicine, health, resource mapping, and digital governance. In a significant move aimed at accelerating financial inclusion across Africa, the Indian government this year decided to contribute $2 million to the Africa Digital Financial Inclusion Facility (ADFI), managed by the African Development Bank.

In May 2023, the EU-India Trade and Technology Council, recognised the importance of DPI for the development of open and inclusive digital economies. The EU and India agreed to collaborate on enhancing the interoperability of their respective DPIs, using it as a foundation to promote secure privacy-preserving solutions for developing countries.

In the same month, the Quad Leaders Statement highlighted the transformative power of DPI to support sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific. Additionally, the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) unanimously endorsed Indias proposal to assist SCO member states in evaluating and adopting India Stack.

WHY GLOBAL REACH MATTERS

Surely, there are hundreds of tech giants emulating Indias DPI or have already been doing it for some time. But what India offers is an alternative to the tech giants-led, capitalist model and giving back the control of their digital journey to the people. Given their low cost and inherent scalability, there is much interest among other nations to explore the establishment of DPIs.

Indias DPI is for everyone. Indias digital frameworks such as MOSIP can be used by other countries. These tools are flexible and open, allowing nations to adjust and use them based on what they need. By sharing these tools, India helps other countries create their own digital systems that are fair and efficient.

And last but not least, it helps in speeding up the progress. It makes it easier for governments to provide services such as healthcare and education efficiently. Using technology in this way helps everyone access these services easily. Overall, it contributes to making countries better and more developed.

Moreover, developing nations widely acknowledge the fundamental value of DPI as an accelerator of the SDGs. In 2018, India established the Modular Open Source Identity Platform (MOSIP) to assist countries in constructing foundational digital identity systems. Presently, nine developing countries have collaborated with India through MOSIP, leveraging Indian expertise to develop their national ID platforms. This solidifies the position of DPI as a global digital public good.

LEADER OF A DIGITAL GLOBAL SOUTH

India, during its G20 Presidency last year, played a crucial role in showcasing the countrys DPI potential to the world, particularly to nations in the Global South. As India envisions a larger global role, the Modi government prioritises the high-mission of sharing its digital infrastructure model with the developing and underdeveloped world.

Recognising the transformative impact the Indias DPI model can have globally, the government has actively worked to share the India Stack with numerous countries.

To facilitate the adoption of Indias DPI by countries aspiring to replicate it, the government is set to establish and manage a Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR). This virtual repository of DPI will be made accessible for use by other G20 members and beyond.

Another initiative is the creation of a Social Impact Fund aimed at promoting the development of Social Impact Fund to advance Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the Global South.

The 8 MOUs signed during the G20 last year and the interest shown by the African nations in Indias DPI is not just a testament to Indias digital growth, but also provides it a modern platform to be a leader of the global south.

During its G20 presidency, India also put forth the One Future Alliance (OFA) to build capacity, offer technical assistance and provide funding support for implementing DPI in LMICs. The OFA has the potential to aid developing countries in adopting DPI by delivering capacity-building programmes, sharing knowledge and expertise, and establishing an open-source solutions repository.

The high-level G20 Framework for Systems of DPI, which delineates principles for designing and deploying DPIs, is anticipated to become an indispensable tool as countries implement their DPI roadmaps.

In 2024, India will actively learn about how different countries are using DPI. India has the know-how to provide assistance to these countries by using its experience in cooperation and knowledge-sharing through MOSIP and MOUs signed. With the inclusion of Lines of Credit in the equation, it is set to be another significant year for Indian diplomacy, driven by DPI.

As the world inches towards 2030, the proven impacts of DPI in terms of galvanising inclusive development, seamless public service delivery, and the digital economy, will become a fulcrum for advocacy, with India leading from the front.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
A claim persists that Istanbuls iconic Hagia Sophia went from church to mosque not through conquest but through a generous sultans magnanimity and that it was not usurpation but a fair-and-square real estate deal.

The claim isnt new but has surfaced once again in light of the temple consecration in Ayodhya. The motivation is evidentto neutralise the parallels drawn between the two highly contested structures journeys. But do historical records bear out the claim?

Though interesting, it is complicated by the fact that the propagators of this claim rarely, if ever, offer any evidence in its support. In the absence of any such source, the investigation becomes remarkably harder. But that doesnt mean it cant be done. Only itll take a tad longer than otherwise.

We will examine three tertiary, one secondary, and three primary sources; one of them is an eyewitness account. This should be a fair distribution. Ideally, one would eschew anything that isnt primary, but some accounts, despite their tertiary character, hold immense value owing to their authors subject-matter authority. With that preamble out of the way, a quick primer on the structure in question.

Hagia Sophia rose in the city of Constantinople as the ecclesiastical centre of the Eastern Roman Empire, colloquially referred to as Byzantium, shortly after the fall of Rome in the middle of the first millennium AD.

The latter refers to the Western Roman Empire. After about a thousand-year run, Constantinople fell to the Ottomans, following which Sultan Mehmet converted several churches to mosques, including Hagia Sophia. This event is called the Fall of Constantinople.

The Fall of Constantinople 1453

Our first exhibit is a work by Sir James Cochran Stevenson Runciman, or Steven Runciman for short. To anyone who digs into Byzantine history, the name should most certainly ring a bell, for so far as authority on the subject goes, Runciman is widely acknowledged as an ultimate. He is best known for his three-volume work on the Crusades, but its his work on Constantinoples conquest that were interested in here.

1453 is the year the city fell after a protracted siege. In the month of May, to be precise. Hagia Sophia was then the largest ecclesiastical building on Earth, with the Titanic Basilica of the Vatican still half a century away. As was commonplace in those days, the conquest involved much carnage and pillage.

Runciman informs us that the Ottomans, in keeping with a longstanding Islamic tradition, allowed their soldiers three days of unchecked pillage immediately upon a successful conquest.

During that window, they could loot, plunder, destroy, enslave, and kill at will. Whatever they could loot was theirs. Needless to say, this is the fate that befell Constantinople too.

While not much is known of what happened to most churches in the city, Runciman lists four whose fates are on record. Among them is Hagia Sofia. Unambiguously, he affirms that it was converted into a mosque, and its bishop, also the Patriarch of Constantinople, Gennadius, was taken prisoner. We will circle back to this character a little later. For now, suffice it to note that Runcimans book makes no mention of any real-estate transaction whatsoever. It makes copious mention of sacking, burning, rape, and plunder, but none of a church being purchased by the Ottomans.

While taking Runcimans word as final, given his stature, isnt such a terrible idea, well continue with other sources. As they say, absence of evidence isnt necessarily evidence of absence.

An Imperial Commission

The work is titled Aya Sofia, Constantinople, as recently restored by order of H M the sultan Abdul Medjid. As the name suggests, its a detailed architectural exposition of Aya Sofia (Turkish for Hagia Sophia) commissioned by the Ottoman emperor Abdulmejid I. Hes best known as one of the sultans who presided over the beginning of the caliphates decline.

While being a nineteenth-century work, its as tertiary as it gets, and its status as an imperial project makes it worth examination. Interestingly, its not in Turkish but in French, a language not uncommon in the country. While the book is about architecture, its opening chapter offers a decent insight into its history by way of introduction. Its titled Ste. Sophie, a reference to the Church of Saint Sophia or Hagia Sophia (Hagia Sophia, by the way, is Greek for Holy Wisdom).

In this intro, on the very first page, theres a mention of the structures conversion to a mosque towards the end of 1453. Thats about five months or so after the fall. What transpired in those months, it doesnt say anything.

Most importantly, there is no mention of a purchase. It even details how the Sultan ordered a fresh coat of paint to hide all Christian art painted on its walls. But why no mention of the purchase? An imperial document would surely see no merit in concealing such an upright act that showcases nothing but its Sultans magnanimity, would it?

The Endowment Deed of Mehmed the Conqueror

Royals make endowments to religious bodies all the time. This earns them doctrinal legitimacy, especially in a highly orthodox medieval society where blurring the line between State and religion had direct material incentivesa rather pragmatic arrangement of shared sovereignty if you will. This practice featured in polities all over the world, from India to Europe and, of course, the Muslim world.

Therefore, when Mehmet acquired Constantinople, and the Church with it, a similar endowment followed. This was recorded in, as was the norm, a deedit is called Fatih Sultan Mehmed Vakfiyesi or The Endowment Deed of Mehmed the Conqueror. If the acquisition was the result of a financial transaction, this is where one would expect to find it mentioned. Besides any other document more specific to the transaction, that is. The document is currently held in the archives of the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre.

The original document is in the Arabic script, which is how they wrote Turkish in those days. More recently, someone transcribed it into the modern Latin script which enables us non-Turks to read it with a little help from online translation services. And when we do, what do we find? Only one mention of the Hagia Sophia as a church, one among many that the Ottoman Sultan found upon visiting the sacked city after the conquest.

The verb used is bulunan which Google wrongly translates as made foundation instead of found, which may give the impression that he built many churches when he actually just found them. Then, records the deed, he took its possession as a divine reward for jihad in accordance with the Sharia.

In the same page, the document then speaks of a qibla and an imam in the context of Hagia Sophia. In case there still remains any confusion, all subsequent references are to a Hagia Sophia Mosque and not a Church.

In the entire document, there isnt one mention of any purchase. Wonder why a deal of this significance and quantum would be skipped over in a paper that documents all other aspects of the conquest and conversion.

Historians of the Fall

Among the primary sources of the event, collectively called the Historians of the Fall, only one happens to be an eyewitnessGeorge Sphrantzes. A Byzantine historian and courtier at Constantinople, Sphrantzes was still in the city when the siege fell and the city was sacked. He penned his experiences through the war and his subsequent flight to Morea in Chronicon Minus or Minor Chronicle.

The work does not say much about the fall and makes no mention of Hagia Sophia whatsoever. Perhaps because he was captured and enslaved immediately upon the fall and the conversion came months later. As soon as he was freed, about four months later, he fled Anatolia. This doesnt leave it very useful to our discussion here, but the work forms the core of yet another which is.

Decades after Sphrantzes, a Greek historian named Makarios Melissenos endeavoured to expand his work with more insights. Melissenos lived a couple of decades after the Fall which makes his writing a secondary source. But dismissing it would be unwise for a reason well discuss in a bit. First, lets get to our final primary source, the only one in Latin.

Body of Byzantine History Writings

Doukas (yes, we dont know his first name) was of a Hellenic stock but was native to Anatolia, not uncommon for the time. He is best known for his Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae or Body of Byzantine History Writings, a work of great industry that narrates the history of the region through the siege and the conquest. One reason Doukas is significant is because hes the only one on our list who could speak both Turkish and Latin. Thus, he was able to draw from both Ottoman and Genoese sources in his narration. Which is why despite his Greek identity, his work is in Latin.

So what does he say about Hagia Sophia? A lot more than Sphrantzes did for sure. He categorically confirms the conversion of the structurewhich he refers to as S. Sophiam, Latin for Saint Sophiainto a meschitam or mosque. Interestingly though, he mentions no Patriarch, much less a deal. With no Patriarch and the emperor dead, who signed away the church for Rome? Again, had there been a purchase, Mehmet would have made it as public as it gets to establish his image as a righteous conqueror. And had something like that been public, surely it wouldnt have escaped the work of a historian who happened to be present in the city at the time.

Hagia Sophia Museum

Our solitary tertiary source happens to be a website (https://muze.gen.tr/muze-detay/ayasofya). Sure, thats too modern, too removed from the event in question, but the fact that the website belongs to none other than the Hagia Sophia Museum does accord it a measure of authority, wouldnt we agree? If something as monumental as a royal purchase took place, surely it would find at least a fleeting reference here? Especially in a section that discusses the very conversion the sale allegedly facilitated. Unfortunately, no such mention.

When Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror conquered the Konstantiniyye, says the website, he converted it into his imperial mosque. No sale. From that point on, the whole discussion is about the modifications made to the structure to lend it a new Islamic character.

Major Chronicle

And now we can finally return to Melissenos, the Greek contemporary we left behind while discussing George Sphrantzes. As we already noted, Melissenos did not produce anything independently but instead, built upon that of Sphrantzes, adding a whole lot of missing insights to it. These additional insights were possible only because he was able to draw on more sources than one, thanks to his proficiency in both Latin and Turkish. Thats why his work is titled Chronicon Maius or Major Chronicle.

While Melissenos wasnt exactly a contemporary of Sphrantzes or the Fall, his work is perhaps the most important of all despite its secondary nature. More so than even the primary ones. Because its the only source of the purchase narrative.

Being a Greek, Melissenos is naturally far from charitable of Ottomans in general and Mehmet in particular. But that doesnt make him any less useful. The Patriarch who was missing from Sphrantzes work, finally makes an appearance in Melissenos. In fact, this is the only source from the time that mentions him.

So the story goes that Mehmet, on his maiden visit to the sacked city, invited Gennadius to a private dinner where the two had a long conversation. What transpired over dinner is not public knowledge but when the Patriarch emerged, he was carrying a very expensive crozier and being ushered by the Sultan to a horse awaiting him at the gates.

A crozier, also known as bishops staff, is a sigil of ecclesiastical office. Even today, the Pope carries one. But office of what? One would think Hagia Sophia, of course, considering he was the Patriarch of the city. But no, the horseback ride was a one-way trip to the Church of the Holy Apostles where hed remain until being eventually deposed from there too. Why the change? Because Hagia Sophia was now a mosque. The crozier was a gift from the Sultan. Now the in camera conversation might start making sense and bring to mind the iconic offer he could not refuse from The Godfather.

This precisely is the episode that is now widely being picked by the Ottoman apologists as evidence for the alleged purchase. Which is absurd because, given the immense power differential between a conqueror and the conquered, how exactly is the latter in a position to transact? Was the Patriarch equipped to say no to a conquering Sultan? Lets not forget the king was already dead, which leads us to another most obvious question: What authority does a priest even has to sell a State church? And even if we concede on these points, is a church worth just a dinner, a stick, and a horseback ride? This is the largest and grandest ecclesiastical structure of its time were talking about. Wheres the sale deed if it truly was a sale? At best, Melissenos account establishes duress rather than negotiation. Duress signifies usurpation, not purchase.

Conclusion

In the interest of brevity, we wont get into the legalities, both doctrinal and political, of the conversion here, but we should be abundantly sure by now that there is no evidence of Mehmet ever having purchased the Hagia Sophia Church. On the contrary, all primary and secondary sources agree on churches being taken by force, pillaged, burned, and converted to mosques. So if Mehmet didnt have a problem doing all those things to other churches in the same city, why would he even bother going fair and square on this one?

Amit Schandillia is a writer and author. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The tremors had been felt for months, a quiet rumble beneath the surface of Indian politics. But when Nitish Kumar, the enigmatic chief minister of Bihar, took a decisive step back from the INDIA front, the earth beneath the opposition movement truly cracked open. What was once a meticulously constructed edifice, a united front against the behemoth of the BJP, now lies in scattered fragments, exposed to the harsh winds of political reality. This implosion is not just a tactical retreat; its a stark revelation of the rot within, a symptom of a disease that festers at the heart of the opposition: the Congress party and its dynastic legacy.

To point fingers at Nitish Kumars ambition is a convenient narrative, a scapegoating exercise that masks the deeper culpability. Years of infighting within the Congress, the spectre of centralised control under the Gandhi family, and an inability to articulate a compelling vision have left regional allies disillusioned and vulnerable. The INDIA bloc, conceived as a beacon of hope, withered under the weight of unfulfilled promises and a lack of clear leadership. While the BJP, under Narendra Modis iron grip, marches resolutely towards a centralised vision, the opposition remains entangled in a quagmire of indecision and self-preservation.

Delaying tactics in Congress

In the intricate dance of political alliances, the Congresss recent manoeuvres have left many scratching their heads. Despite joining forces with opposition parties, their delaying tactics have only added fuel to the fire of discord within the coalition. As the state assembly elections loomed late last year, the Congress opted to procrastinate on crucial discussions within the alliance, a move that backfired spectacularly when it faced a resounding defeat in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. Only then did the party scramble to revive talks, but the damage had been done. This series of fumbles by the Congress undermined its position and dealt a blow to regional players counting on a unified front against the ruling party. Its a textbook case of self-sabotage in the political arena.

Attempting to shift blame onto others, particularly regarding Nitish Kumars departure, only further exposes the disarray within the opposition ranks. Offering him a leadership role in the alliance while simultaneously failing to provide the cohesion necessary to retain him smacks of a strategic miscalculation. In the court of public opinion, televised debates and discussions have laid bare the truth: the opposition alliance failed to muster the unity required to retain key players. The Congress cannot absolve itself of responsibility in this debacle. For a party aiming to lead a united front against the ruling government, such missteps are not just setbacks but strategic blunders with far-reaching consequences. In the unforgiving arena of politics, timing and cohesion are everything, and the Congress must learn from its mistakes if it hopes to regain lost ground and present a formidable challenge in future elections.

Lack of understanding of ground realities

The party, consumed by internal factions and power struggles, has failed to adapt to the changing political landscape, clinging to a fading image of itself while the ground beneath it shifted. This implosion is not just a political setback; its a blow to the very foundations of Indian democracy. A vibrant, functioning opposition is the lifeblood of any healthy democracy, serving as a check and balance and a voice of dissent against the tide of power. With the INDIA bloc in tatters, the BJP stares across a barren political landscape, its dominance seemingly unchallenged. This is not an environment conducive to healthy debate, diverse perspectives, or the protection of individual rights. It is a recipe for complacency, unchecked power, and a democracy teetering on the edge of a one-party state. But there is, perhaps, a sliver of hope amid the wreckage. Nitish Kumars defection can be seen as a wake-up call, a harsh but necessary nudge towards introspection and course correction.

Rahul Gandhi-centric affair and ignoring opposition leaders

Long before Nitish Kumars dramatic exit, murmurs of disquiet echoed through the opposition alliance. Mamata Banerjee, the firebrand chief minister of West Bengal and once a Congress ally, was one of the first to sound the alarm. Her stinging criticism of the Congresss discouraging behaviour towards regional leaders resonated across the political landscape. The dissonance was stark. While the Gandhis embarked on their Bharat Jodo Yatra, a grand march ostensibly designed to unite the opposition, their West Bengal unit, led by Rahul Gandhi confidante Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, was locked in open hostility with Banerjee. This disparity in approachnational grandeur versus state-level discordepitomised the communication gap plaguing the alliance.

Leaders like Banerjee, Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann represent crucial forces within the opposition tent. Yet, the Congress often seemed fixated on its internal narrative, with Rahul Gandhi taking centre stage. His yatra, traversing opposition-ruled states, felt less like a collective crusade and more like a Congress spectacleone to which regional allies werent cordially invited. This perceived imbalance bred resentment. Unlike Gandhi, for whom national losses are setbacks, not existential threats, regional leaders face the stark reality of wiped-out state elections obliterating their political careers. Their desperation is understandable, and the Congresss apparent disregard for their anxieties fueled the flames of discontent. Nitish Kumars defection was merely the last brick falling from the already crumbling wall. The foundation, eroded by mistrust, poor communication, and a top-down approach, could no longer sustain the weight of a diverse opposition.

The Congress must now face a harsh reality: its dynastic baggage and inward focus are crippling the very alliance it desperately needs. To truly stand against the BJP, it must shed this self-centred approach and embrace genuine collaboration. Regional leaders deserve respect, not relegation to the chorus line of a one-man show.

The oppositions babel needs a translator, not a conductor. True unity demands shared platforms, open communication, and an acknowledgement that the fight against the BJP requires more than just one familys spotlight. Only then can the opposition hope to rebuild the tower of its dreams, stronger than before, on a foundation of trust and shared purpose.

Lost momentum of opposition

The Ayodhya Ram temple inauguration handed the BJP a golden moment, while the opposition stumbled with fractured leadership. Nitish Kumars U-turn exposes a stark reality: theyve let momentum slip through their fingers. Fighting Modi in 2024 on just development, Hindutva, welfare, and nationalism will be like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops. The opposition lacks a compelling narrative, a counterpoint to the BJPs carefully crafted tapestry. Their sole advantage, the united front optics, has vanished, replaced by a fragmented tableau. Unity may not win elections, but fragmentation hands victory on a silver platter.

To truly challenge the BJP, the opposition needs more than just Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. They need a shared vision, a narrative that resonates beyond their echo chambers, and leaders who inspire not just dissent but hope. Otherwise, 2024 may see them relegated to the sidelines, watching the BJPs victory march unfold.

Way forward

Damage control is tough, but it should start first with a humbling acceptance of responsibility. The narrative of victimhood, of being unfairly targeted by Modi and the BJP, must be abandoned. Instead, the party must look inwards, at its organisational weaknesses, its leadership vacuum and its disconnect from the aspirations of the people.

Secondly, the Congress must loosen its grip, both literally and figuratively. The suffocating control exerted by the Gandhi family must be relaxed, allowing for the emergence of new voices, fresh ideas, and regional leaders who can connect with the diverse realities of India. The party must become a platform, not a pedestal, a facilitator of collective action, and not a dispenser of dynastic entitlements. Finally, and most importantly, the Congress must rediscover its purpose. In its quest for power, it has lost sight of the ideals that once defined it. It must re-articulate its vision for India, a vision that goes beyond mere anti-BJPism. It must speak to the anxieties of the youth, the concerns of the marginalised, and the aspirations of the middle class. It must offer a compelling alternativea future built on social justice, economic equality, and environmental sustainability.

The road ahead is long and arduous. The damage done is significant; the trust was fractured. But within the ruins of the INDIA bloc lies an opportunitya chance to rise from the ashes and build anew. The Congress and the Gandhis have a choice to make: remain prisoners of their past, clinging to a fading relevance, or embrace the mantle of change and chart a new course for Indian democracy. The clock is ticking, and the future of Indias opposition, indeed the future of Indian democracy itself, hangs in the balance. Their decision will echo through the corridors of power, shaping the narrative of a nation for years to come.

The author teaches journalism at St Xaviers College (autonomous), Kolkata, and he is a political columnist. He posts on X at @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
It all started with a long-standing demand for the construction of a Ram temple at the contested site where Mir Baqi, a commander of the Mughal emperor Babur in Ayodhya, built a disputed edifice in 1528-1529 (935 AH). Some individuals, particularly those who supported the Lutyens cabal, rejected the moving 1990s saying Ayodhya to bas jhanki hai, Kashi-Mathura baaki hai (Ayodhya was merely a glimpse; Kashi-Mathura would follow suit) as empty rhetoric. However, the emotion behind the shout appears to have set in motion a cascade of events that should not be stopped.

Shringar Gauri Worship Suit 2022

In Rakhi Singh & others, Varanasi district judge A K Visvesha ruled that the five Hindu womens petition is maintainable under the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) 1908, noting that the petitioners are not seeking to convert the Gyanvapi mosque into a Shiva temple or claiming ownership. They are just seeking the freedom to worship as a civil right; hence, the 1991 Acts prohibition is inapplicable. The Places of Worship Act, its validity, and what it allows or prohibits is at the centre of the spiralling controversy. The Places of Worship Act exempts judicial proceedings, lawsuits, and appeals that began after August 15, 1947.

As a result, it obstructed judicial investigations into the factual and historical nature of religious sites. In response to Ram Mandirs efforts at revival, the Congress administration hastily passed this contentious and obscure act in 1991. Many people believe this was a constitutional shield to prevent investigations into thousands of gruesome Islamic-occupied Hindu temples, including Mathura and Varanasi.

The Background

Since the Islamic invasion of India in the 11th century, the destruction of Hindu temples has been nothing but an unceasing practice, as the Prophet is reported as desecrating idols and razing a pagan temple to seek the assent of Kaba, all based on the provisions established in the Holy Quran, citing a few:

The total devastation and extermination of Kafirs and polytheists (40:70).

Hindus (the pagans) are described as the worst of creatures (98:6).

Non-believers in Islam face eternal burning (4:56).

Allah is the only deity that must be worshipped (40:62).

So combat the devils minions (4:76).

Fight against them until idolatry is no more (2:193).

Idolatry is worse than carnage (2:217).

As Muslim marauders desecrated temples, slaughtered Brahmins, committed mass rapes and enslaved women, their intolerance was reflected in their savagery. The Somnath temple was destroyed 17 times, displaying Islamists religious intolerance for anything non-Islamic. The Talibans destruction of the Buddha of Bamyan is a recent example of Islamist supremacist ideology that values exclusionary authoritarianism over humanitys most valuable treasures. Throughout history, Islamist conquerors have converted Hindu temples into mosques in order to debase, demoralise and denigrate Hindus who refused to convert.

The Places of Worship (PoW) Act was passed without consultation with Hindus, and the Law Commission did not conduct an investigation at the governments request. No one debated the bills impact on Indian communities Article 25 rights. The PoW Act unconstitutionally limits communities ability to seek legal redress for historical and civilisational abuses. The Act palpably appears to be gravely unjust and invalid and ought to be overturned.

ASIs involvement in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple survey

The ASI, tasked with determining whether the mosquewhich began the survey of the site on August 4, 2023was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple then submitted its report to the court in a sealed cover, which is now open for the world to see following the Varanasi district courts orders on January 24, 2024. According to the ASI investigation, a big Hindu temple existed prior to the construction of Varanasis Gyanvapi Masjid. Based on scientific studies and surveys carried out, studies 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. Among a multitude of finds, the ASI also exhumed numerous Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada inscriptions within the Gyanvapi Mosque. Prior to the temples destruction and forced conversion into a mosque, pilgrims from the south and academics who visited it inscribed these. This is but one instance of how the Kashi Vishvanath Temple unified Bharat.

The Catch

The 1958 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act protects archaeological sites and ancient monuments, so it is not applicable to them under the 1991 Places of Worship Act. The appellants requested an ASI-led archaeological survey. Since the ASI team discovered the Shivling and other Hindu relics in the complex, the structure should be exempt from the Places of Worship Act since it is subject to court procedures under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.

In his exhaustive work Hindu Temples: What Happened To Them, historian Sitaram Goel wrote, The mosque of Benares, built by Aurangzeb, was constructed on the site of the Bisheshwar (Vishwanath) Temple. The temple was exceedingly tall and considered very holy among Hindus. He built a towering mosque on this precise place, using those very stones, and rearranged the ancient stones once they were embedded in the mosques walls. They are happy to call a mass movement majoritarianism or Hindu communalism but if there is no mass movement, people question the veracity of the claims. Estimates put the number of temples destroyed by invaders at over 1800.

It is unsurprising that modern Muslims who visited the supposed Islamic construction known as the Gyanvapi Mosque were aware of the Shivling and chose to refer to it as their wazookhana, or the bathroom where they cleansed their bodies. The fact that Muslim clerics present during the survey attempted to prevent the recording by using a poor reason, the fish might die, attests to this. What sort of fraternity do these Muslims have for Hindus, and should Hindus reconsider secularism? After all, temples were constantly demolished across Bharat.

Sitaram Goel and Arun Shourie, historians, have written extensively on the subject, including efforts to secularise history. In his article titled Hideaway Communalism, Shourie uncovered the efforts of numerous significant academies to bury original manuscripts that detailed and glorified the destruction of temples in various sections of the country by invaders, as well as the rationale for such devastation. In any case, because it is a matter of property and religious rights, no one may make concessions on behalf of affected temples and communities.

Negationism cannot pass as secularism in New India. It is time for us, as Indians, to ask these questions.

In retrospect, is it fair to assume that the Islamic pillagers, who hailed from rags in the desert and never built any mosque or building of any kind anywhere in the world, who coveted water and left riches behind, came to India and suddenly began building monuments like the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, and Qutub Minar? Let alone the construction; the name of the putative Islamic structure, Gyanvapi, is a Sanskrit word. Why would a zealot who only wants to follow the Quran use a Sanskrit term for a mosque when everything else is repulsive, vile, and undesirable to him? Should the Indian state be regarded as smart and sagacious if it continues to oppress the Hindu population by enforcing the Abrahamic religious annexure on the key foundations of Hindu society, namely temples? Islamic sectarianism has concentrated on the most revered Hindu places, including Shri Ram Janmabhoomi, Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi, and thousands of other temples. Isnt the chain of terrorist attacks on Hindu pilgrims, such as the burning of train compartments containing Karsewaks in Godhra, as well as the recent bombing of a bus to Vaishno Devi, motivated by the same religious motives as the Islamists who destroyed temples in the first place? Is there any cessation to the ever-perpetual jihad of the Islamic conquest of Bharatwhich most Hindus in India are unaware ofa major factor in the formation of Pakistan and modern-day Bangladesh, till the ideas of Ghazwa-e-Hind and Dar al-Islam live? Doesnt this suggest that those who oppose the Hindu regaining of seized territories are ignorant of historical facts?

Yuvraj Pokharna is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets with @iyuvrajpokharna. Heres the link to Yuvrajs official WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBKt038vd1QvwLPp515. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched the Jai Jawan campaign to provide justice to 1.5 lakh youth in the country who were selected for defence services but not allowed to join after the launch of the Agnipath scheme.

Gandhi launched the campaign on the eighteenth day of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Bihar. He promised these youth that he would raise the issue of injustice with them at every forum.

Due to the implementation of the Agnipath Scheme, around 1.5 lakh candidates selected for the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy between 2019 and 2022 were allegedly denied joining. Our Jai Jawan campaign is dedicated to those youth who have faced this injustice, Gandhi said, adding that it is the fight for Nyay (justice) against this Anyay (injustice).

There are three phases of Jai Jawan campaign  mass contact (February 1-28), satyagraha (March 5-10) and padyatra (March 17-20).

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, party media and publicity department head Pawan Khera, chairman of the ex-servicemen cell Col Rohit Chaudhry (retd), Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV and NSUI president Varun Chaudhary said the scheme was not only against the countrys interests, but also playing with the aspirations of lakhs of youth in the country.

Khera asked why the defence experts opinion was not taken before launching of this scheme. He said the country cannot afford an army on rent or contractual soldiers. Pointing out that for the Agniveers, there is neither a job guarantee, nor any guarantee in case they get martyrdom unlike the regular soldiers, Khera disclosed that 60 lakh youth had taken various tests for selection of whom 1.5 lakh had been selected.

He claimed that the government had charged Rs 100 crore as examination fee for these selections. Chaudhary warned that the Agnipath scheme is like playing with fire and putting the countrys security at stake.

He said after the introduction of the scheme the defence forces strength had come down by three lakh and claimed that in another 10 years the total strength will be reduced to just 10 lakh. Chaudhary equated Agnipath scheme with private armies.

He alleged that the prime minister might handover this job to his capitalist friends who are already in the security services.

Giving an example of the Wagner Army of Russia, he said the private armies dont win any wars. Chaudhary said Russia has not been able to defeat Ukraine which, he claimed, has a regular army while Russia is fighting through a private army.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Sorens questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) followed by a high-voltage drama, has brought other politicians who are also under the radar of the central probe agency, in focus. With high-profile cases involving politicians, actors and celebrities, raids, seizures, attachments, summons and interrogation, the ED has turned into Indias most debated, discussed, opposed and feared agency.

ALSO READ: Newsmaker | With CMs, IAS and IPS Officers in the Net, How ED Became the Most Debated & Feared Agency

Amidst the high-voltage drama surrounding ED summons to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in connection with a money laundering case, let us take a look at other politicians who are being probed by the central agency-

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren

According to ED, the case against Hemant Soren is in connection with a huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia in Jharkhand. The probe agency has summoned the CM seven times in connection with stone mining and land scam cases.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is on the central probe agencys radar in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy. The AAP supremo has previously skipped summonses by ED calling them illegal and politically motivated

Former Delhi Minister Manish Sisodia

Former Delhi Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia has been lodged in jail in connection with the central agencys probe into alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

RJD Leader Tejashwi Yadav

Tejashwi Yadav on January 30, 2024, appeared before the ED for questioning in a money-laundering case linked to the alleged land-for-jobs scam,

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav

ED is probing former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadavs involvement in the land-for-job scam case which saw the alleged sale of properties at throwaway prices or as gifts to the RJD chiefs kin during his term as Railway Minister in the 2004-2009 United Progressive Alliance government.

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel

The Congress leader is on ED radar in connection with the alleged involvement in the Mahadev betting app scam.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee

ED probing Abhishek Banerjees involvement in the bribe-for-job scam in the West Bengal education department. Several TMC leaders, including former education minister Partha Chatterjee, are in judicial custody in connection with the case which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also probing under orders of the Calcutta High Court.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlots Son Vaibhav

The central agencys action against Vaibhav was in connection with an ongoing investigation into a case against a Rajasthan-based hospitality group Triton Hotels and Resorts and its directors and promoters Shiv Shankar Sharma, Rattan Kant Sharma and others for the alleged violation of the FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act).

Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi is on the radar of the central probe agency in connection with the National Herald newspaper-linked money laundering case.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

According to sources, Rahul Gandhi is being questioned about the ownership of Young Indian Private Limited (YIL) by the Gandhi family and its shareholding pattern in Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the company that runs the National Herald newspaper.

P Chidambarams son and Congress MP Karti Chidambaram

The ED has filed a money laundering case against Congress MP Karti Chidambaram and others in the matter related to the facilitation of project visas for Chinese nationals for a power project of the Vedanta group in Punjab in return for bribes.
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case pertaining to a land scam in the state. Following his arrest, Soren tendered his resignation from the Jharkhand CM post.

Champai Soren is set to be the new chief minister of Jharkhand.

Quoting an official, a Hindustan Times report said the probe agency has evidence that Hemant Soren is the key beneficiary in the alleged land-related irregularities in Ranchi, where a network of brokers and businessmen worked to create fake deeds of landed parcels by forging records in the registrar offices and further selling them off over the years.

We have evidence that Hemant Soren had grabbed some parcel of land under probe in Jharkhand, which was illegally obtained by others through falsified documents, an officer was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying on the condition of anonymity.

Timeline of Events Leading to Hemant Sorens Arrest by ED-

August 8, 2023: The ED issued a summon to then-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren for the first time for questioning in connection with the land scam case.

The ED issued a summon to then-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren for the first time for questioning in connection with the land scam case. August 14, 2023: Hemant Soren asked the federal agency to withdraw the summons warning of legal actions. Soren stated that he had already provided all the necessary information and documents.

Hemant Soren asked the federal agency to withdraw the summons warning of legal actions. Soren stated that he had already provided all the necessary information and documents. December 11, 2023: ED issued fresh summons to Hemant Soren for questioning in connection with the land scam case. He was asked to appear before the agency on December 12.

ED issued fresh summons to Hemant Soren for questioning in connection with the land scam case. He was asked to appear before the agency on December 12. January 16, 2024: After several summons by the federal agency, Hemant Soren told ED he would record his statement at his secretariat on January 20. This was the eighth summons by the probe agency to the JMM leader.

After several summons by the federal agency, Hemant Soren told ED he would record his statement at his secretariat on January 20. This was the eighth summons by the probe agency to the JMM leader. January 20, 2024: ED recorded Sorens statement for the first time in connection with the money laundering case.

ED recorded Sorens statement for the first time in connection with the money laundering case. January 23, 2024: ED again issued a fresh summon to Soren asking him to be available for questioning between January 27-30.

ED again issued a fresh summon to Soren asking him to be available for questioning between January 27-30. January 26, 2024: Soren acknowledged the summons by the probe agency and said he will reply in due course.

Soren acknowledged the summons by the probe agency and said he will reply in due course. January 29, 2024: A team of ED officials visited Hemant Sorens Delhi residence as part of the investigation into the land scam case. The former Jharkhand CM went untraceable for two days only to appear in Ranchi on Tuesday and call a meeting of the legislators of the ruling JMM-led coalition.

A team of ED officials visited Hemant Sorens Delhi residence as part of the investigation into the land scam case. The former Jharkhand CM went untraceable for two days only to appear in Ranchi on Tuesday and call a meeting of the legislators of the ruling JMM-led coalition. January 30, 2024: Hemant Soren took the signatures of the lawmakers on the letter of support without any name. He also denied allegations by the BJP leaders that he went missing following scheduled raids and questioning by the ED.

Hemant Soren took the signatures of the lawmakers on the letter of support without any name. He also denied allegations by the BJP leaders that he went missing following scheduled raids and questioning by the ED. January 31, 2024: Hemant Soren was taken into custody following questioning by the ED in connection with the land scam case. Soren tendered his resignation from the top post making way for Champai Soren to be the next Jharkhand CM.

Hemant Soren has filed a writ petition in Jharkhand HC against ED summons. The case will be taken up at 10:30 am on February 1. He is likely to spend the night at the ED office in Ranchi and be produced before the court on Thursday.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday after over seven hours of questioning on money laundering charges in an alleged land fraud case, sources said.

Before his arrest, Soren tendered his resignation as Jharkhand chief minister to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan and was then taken to the ED office in Ranchi. Soren will be replaced by JMM leader Champai Soren as the chief minister.

Sources claimed 48-year-old Soren was evasive in his replies during his questioning and hence was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED is expected to produce Soren before a special PMLA court in Ranchi and the agency will seek his remand for custodial interrogation, the sources said.

The sources said the agency put across 15 questions to Soren during the second round of questioning in the case. He was first quizzed on January 20. The JMM leader was shown the typed statements he recorded with the agency and before taking him in custody, his signatures were sought on these documents.

It was, however, not clear if he signed them. The allegations of money laundering against the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader pertain to the alleged illegal possession of certain immovable assets apart from his purported links with members of the land mafia.

From Going Untraceable to Resigning as CM, A Timeline of Hemant Sorens Arrest by ED

What Is Land Scam Case?

The investigation is linked to a huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia in Jharkhand, according to the central probe 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 states Social Welfare Department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi.

An employee of the Jharkhand land revenue department, Bhanu Prasad Prasad, was also arrested by the agency in the case. The ED is probing the alleged huge amounts of proceeds of crime generated by manipulation of official records by showing dummy sellers and purchasers in the guise of forged/ bogus documents to acquire huge parcels of land having value in crores.

Blow to Federalism: Congress

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said forcing Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to resign after putting the Enforcement Directorate against him is a blow to federalism.

Targeting the government over the development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that agencies such as the ED, CBI and the I-T Department are no longer government agencies, now they have become BJPs eliminate opposition cell.

In a post in Hindi on X, Congress chief Kharge said, The one who did not go with (Narendra) Modi ji will go to jail. Putting ED against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and forcing him to resign is a blow to federalism. Intimidating opposition leaders by making the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) draconian is part of the BJPs toolkit, he alleged. The BJPs work of destabilising opposition party-led governments one by one as part of a conspiracy is continuing, the Congress chief further alleged.

washing machine

What went into the BJPsis clean as white, what didnt is tainted? If democracy has to be saved from dictatorship then the BJP will have to be defeated. We will not be afraid. We will continue to fight from Parliament to streets, he also said. In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi alleged that in its obsession for power, the BJP, which is steeped in corruption, is running a campaign to destroy democracy.

From Hemant Soren To Kejriwal, List Of Top Opposition Leaders Feeling ED Heat

One More Feather of Corruption in Cap of INDIA Bloc: BJP

After Hemant Soren stepped down as Jharkhand Chief Minister following daylong questioning by the Enforcement Directorate, the BJP on Wednesday dubbed him one more feather of corruption in the opposition bloc INDIAs cap.

Reacting to the development, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla wrote on X, One more feather of corruption in cap of INDI Alliance from Jharkhand.

The BJP leader also used the opportunity to target Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said, There was a time (when) Kejriwal used to demand arrest of Lalu, Soren, Sonia. These days he defends them because he himself is (the) mastermind of Sharab Ghotala (excise policy scam). The ED has issued a fifth summons to the Delhi chief minister for his questioning in the excise policy linked money laundering case, official sources said Wednesday.

(With PTI inputs)
Hemant Soren News: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in connection with a money laundering case, sources said.

Earlier in the day, a seven-member team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrived at Hemant Sorens residence in Ranchi to question him in connection with a money laundering case in an alleged land fraud case

Following two days of being untraceable amid the scheduled raids and questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren resurfaced in Ranchi on Tuesday and called a meeting of all the members and ministers of his party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Soren took the signatures of the lawmakers on a letter of support without any name.

The Jharkhand CM later filed an FIR against the probe agency for raiding his Delhi residence last week.

It was also speculated that the Jharkhand CMs wife, Kalpana Soren  not a legislator  who also attended the meeting with the lawmakers, might be handed over the reins.

Earlier, on Monday, a team from the anti-corruption agency visited Sorens Delhi residence with the intent of questioning him in connection with the case and claimed that he was untraceable.
Maa Sita  this is how leaders and workers of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha address Kalpana Soren, chief minister Hemant Sorens wife. With an arrest looming large, he has reportedly nominated her as the next chief minister. There is, however, no official confirmation from the party on Sorens choice even as seven officers of the Enforcement Directorate are presently questioning him in connection with a land scam.

Rabri Devi 2.0  this is another term being used for 48-year-old Kalpana in political and media circles. A well-known personality in Jharkhand despite not being part of active politics, she has made a mark in the sociocultural sphere of the state and across tribal societies in the region.

Accidental chief minister  she is also being seen as the second such chief minister of the region, after Bihar from where her state was carved out. Following Rabri Devis ascension as Bihar CM and with Hemant Soren following Lalu Prasad Yadavs footsteps in this matter, it may become a trend as many senior politicians holding crucial positions are facing investigations.

But, all of this poses a question  which of these three identities does Kalpana Soren embody?

Non-political background

Unlike her sister-in-law Sita Soren, who is an MLA from Jama, Kalpana never took part in politics. Instead, she limited her activities to education, organic farming and real estate. A native of Mayurbhanj, her proximity to President Droupadi Murmu is also known in the state. The district in Odisha is also the home district of the president.

Murmu served as the governor of Jharkhand before being elevated to the position of the President of India. Kalpana is seen as an educated, sophisticated and soft-spoken individual, who maintains a low profile and appears in public functions alone and, occasionally, with the chief minister. She studied in Ranchi and holds degrees in engineering and MBA.

Even though there has been no opposition or objection to Hemants proposal of nominating his wife, which is part of his partys effort to avoid a constitutional crisis, Sita Soren has issued a statement calling Kalpana a non-political person while also saying her opinion was not sought before taking this decision.

Kalpana Soren not the same as Rabri Devi

Even as comparisons and similarities are being drawn between the two, Kalpana is not exactly the same as Rabri Devi. The former Bihar CM was a homemaker, mother of nine and had no interest in politics when she was dragged out of the kitchen and handed the responsibility of a state, which is primarily feudal in nature and saw the female politician playing a limited role.

Rabri Devi, however, grew fast in her position, appeared composed and calm during her media addresses, and even during her confrontation with the opposition in the assembly. Even though she failed to win seats later, she will be remembered as the first accidental woman chief minister of India. She was never seen or heard attacking her rival party members using foul language or even criticising them for that matter.

Kalpana is a mother of two sons and married for almost 18 years, and has a completely different personality. Unlike Rabri Devi, she is educated, is known to have an opinion but has always stayed away from politics. She has been heard addressing her husband as Sir in public functions, and keeps away from political discussions.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. The Russian Federation condemned the desecration of the monument to the children of besieged Leningrad in Yerevan, Armenia, reports Trend.

This was made in a written statement by Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

We strongly condemn the act of vandalism committed at the monument to the children of besieged Leningrad in Yerevan on January 29. We note with deep regret that this is not the first case of desecration of monuments dedicated to heroic pages of history common to Russia and Armenia. We see a sharp reaction of rejection of what happened on the part of the friendly Armenian people. We expect the same from the authorities of the republic, as well as the suppression of such manifestations of barbarism in the future, she said.

This kind of antics is facilitated by the public campaign launched in the republic to denigrate Russia and its role in the South Caucasus. We will not allow mockery of the blessed memory of 1 million, 384 thousand Leningraders who died during the siege. In connection with this egregious crime, we are interacting with relevant federal agencies, including the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, which opened a criminal case into the act of vandalism. The director of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Yerevan sent an official appeal to the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia. On the evening of January 30, the Armenian competent authorities initiated criminal proceedings, Zakharova noted.

We thank the caring citizens of Armenia who, at the call of their hearts, restored justice today by laying new wreaths at the monument to replace the damaged ones, as well as one carnation, symbolizing each day of the blockade. No one will be able to rewrite the common history of Russia and Armenia, concluded Zakharova.
Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar and his daughter Suranya Aiyar have been asked to vacate their home in Delhis Jangpura by the Residents Welfare Association (RWA) over a social media post against the Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration event on January 22.

The RWA, in its notice, urged the father-daughter duo not to indulge in rants that might disturb the peace or hurt the religious sentiments of other residents.

We do not appreciate a resident rant which may disturb the peace in the colony or hurt the religious sentiments of the residents, read the notice.

In case you think what you have done in protesting against the consecration of Ram mandir at Ayodhya, we would suggest you to kindly move out to another colony where people can turn blind eye to such hatred, it added.

This should serve as a message for everyone, who think abusing Hindu beliefs is par for the course. The Jangpura Extension Welfare Association, in a terse letter, have asked Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar and his daughter to apologise for defiling the Pran Pratistha ceremony pic.twitter.com/6eQ0U1AmzW Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) January 31, 2024

Suranya Aiyar observed a three-day fast from January 20 to 23 in protest against the temples consecration, expressing solidarity with Muslims and denouncing what she described as acts done in the name of Hinduism and nationalism. She wrote about the fast in a Facebook post on January 20.

The RWA cited her post and said, What Ms Aiyar said through social media was unbecoming of an educated person, who should have understood that the Ram Mandir was being built after 500 years and that too after 5-0 Supreme Court verdict.

You might take the cover of freedom of speech but please remember as per the Supreme Court of India freedom of speech cannot be absolute, it added.

The RWA urged Mani Shankar Aiyar to condemn his daughters post or move out of the house.

You may do whatever in politics for the good of your country, but please remember whatever you say and your actions count thus bringing good or bad name to the colony. Therefore, you are requested to please refrain from making such posts/comments, the notice said.

However, Suranya Aiyar has released a statement responding to the developments and claimed that she never lived in the housing society that issued the notice.

The consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was a grand affair, celebrated by millions of Hindus not just in India, but worldwide. The temple has been built on a 2.67-acre site inside a 70-acre complex and only its first phase is ready. The second and final phase is expected to be completed by December 2025.

The temple, which opened to the public on January 23 following the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, has attracted an estimated 18.75 lakh devotees from across the country. The first day alone had a staggering 5 lakh visitors, and the numbers have remained consistently high, with daily visits averaging more than 2 lakh.
Nitish Kumar, who has now joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar, quitting the Oppositions Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), was made to apologise to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin for his should learn Hindi" remark, according to Congress sources.

ALSO READ | Nitish Kumar Didnt Pass INDIAs Ally Detector Test: DMK, TMC and RJD Had Warned Congress

Kumar made this remark at the INDIA meeting in New Delhi on December 19.

As he was addressing the meet, DMKs TR Baalu was unable to understand what Kumar was saying. Baalu then asked Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Member of Parliament (MP) Manoj K Jha, seated on the other side, to translate. As Jha sought permission from Kumar, the latter flared up, saying: We call our country Hindustan and Hindi is our national language. We should know the language."

Kumar then asked Jha not to translate his speech.

According to Congress sources, as Kumars name started doing the rounds for the post of convener, a number of parties in the alliance were against this, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and DMK. The Congress decided to be a bridge between these parties.

Congress leaders convinced both Stalin and Shiv Senas Uddhav Thackeray in favour of Kumar. Later, Kumar was made to call Stalin on January 4, in which the former apologised for his remark, said sources. Stalin accepted the apology.

According to Congress sources, the party and INDIA leaders got to know about Kumars plan to switch to the BJPs side four to five weeks ago. Still, honest efforts were made to stop him.

In the last virtual meeting of INDIA partners, leaders of 13 parties, except TMCs Mamata Banerjee, were present. At the meeting, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury was the first to propose Kumars name for the post of convener, which was supported by leaders of all parties. Banerjee was not present at the meeting, hence it was decided that she should be informed before the formal announcement. But at the last moment, Kumar proposed that the chairman of INDIA should be from the Congress and Rahul Gandhi should accept this post.

ALSO READ | Why Nitish Kumar Said Chuck De INDIA: Mamatas PM Face Was Kharge, Rahul Vetoed Nitish as Convener

Gandhi understood Kumars game and immediately said that the president and senior leader of the Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, is absolutely worthy of this post, said sources.

With Kumar leaving the INDIA alliance, there will be fresh talks on seat-sharing in Bihar between the RJD, Left and Congress.
A car in which Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was travelling in West Bengals Malda district as part of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was pelted with stones on Wednesday, claimed state party chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

According to the party leader, the window pane of the car was smashed by unidentified persons.

Chowdhury said that he just heard a noise and saw the window pane of Rahul Gandhis car falling off.

Television visuals showed Gandhi alighting from the vehicle after reaching a designated halt and inspecting the damaged windowpane.

How do we know who has done it? Police will look into the matter, Chouwdhury added. His statement came minutes after reports claimed that the rear window pane of Gandhis vehicle was smashed.

While Congress is blaming Trinamool Congress behind the incident, sources are saying that the incident took place with a massive crowd in the area and some locals were behind it.

The attack took place in Maldas Harischandrapur area as the yatra re-entered West Bengal from Bihar. Trinamool Congress leaders, however, took to social media to claim the incident did not take place in Malda.

Gandhi on Wednesday resumed his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra with a roadshow in Bihars Katihar district. After his night halt at Katihar, Gandhi started his Yatra in the morning and is expected to enter West Bengal through Malda.

Locals queued up on both sides of the road and watched the procession. The Congress Yatra was underway at a time when the party was left high and dry with former ally Nitish Kumar, the Bihar chief minister, making a return to the BJP-led NDA.
Throwing light on the Backward Class (BC) caste census bill, which is likely to be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Wednesday said the party will consult professors, retired government officials, intellectuals and BC associations to prepare it.

He said that after the Congress comes to power at the Centre, they will undertake this exercise in the entire country. To make this a reality, he urged people of Telangana to make ensure that the Congress wins all 17 MP seats in the state.

The government is reportedly studying how the caste census was conducted in states like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. The BC caste census survey of Bihar was contested in the Supreme Court after petitioners pointed out that only the Centre has the power to publish such a census.

What if Telangana meets a similar hurdle?

Replying to this, the minister said: We will seek the advice of legal experts in case of such hurdles. No court has said that we cannot carry out the caste census. In case any objection arises, we will challenge it legally.

Our election manifesto had said that the BC caste census will be done after coming to power. We are fulfilling that as our party is the only one that cares for weaker sections of society. We have already conducted the preliminary discussion with our chief minister, Revanth Kumar Reddy. Allotment of necessary funds is also going to happen under his leadership. The government will take steps to ensure that there are no difficulties statistically, said the minister.

He appealed to the people of Telangana to cooperate in this exercise and also come forward with suggestions.

When asked about Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavithas request to install the statue of social reformer Jyotirao Phule in the Assembly, the minister quipped, Why did they not do it in the past 10 years when they were in power?
Amid buzz that Hemant Sorens wife Kalpana Soren may replace him as the Jharkhand chief minister, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey late on Tuesday said that Hemants elder brother Basant Soren and sister-in-law (bhabhi) have come out in protest.

Only 35 MLAs reached the meeting (where decision on Kalpana was to be taken). The MLAs signed on plain paper. Hemant ji has no plans to meet the governor tomorrow (Wednesday). May be hell join the enforcement directorates inquiry, Dubey posted on X (formerly Twitter).

An X user posted a screenshot of a local newspaper, where Sita Soren said that she will oppose Kalpanas name as she equally deserves the post since she is a three-time MLA and her husband has struggled for the party.

What is the Buzz Around Kalpana Soren and Who is She

 A report in NDTV quoted its sources in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Party as saying that Hemant Sorens wife Kalpana Soren might step into his shoes if he gets arrested

 Soren will be questioned by the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday in connection with an alleged money laundering case. There are chances that he might be arrested by the agency after his statement is recorded.

 According to a report in Hindustan Times, Kalpana Soren is not from any political background and is originally from Odishas Mayurbhanj district. She got married to Hemant Soren on February 7, 2006.

 The couple has two children  Nikhil and Ansh. Kalpanas father is a businessman and her mother is a homemaker. Kalpana is involved in business and charity work.

 The report stated that Kalpana runs a school and is involved in organic farming. She studied engineering and MBA.

 The NDTV report stated that if Kalpana Soren is to take over, they may be a legal hurdle. Constitutional provisions demand that if the term of the Assembly will expire in less than a year, by-polls cannot be held. In that case, it would be difficult for Kalpana Soren to become an MLA, the report stated. Assembly election in Jharkhand is due in November this year.
Vishnu Gupta of the Hindu Sena on Wednesday said he has received a letter threatening him to withdraw from the Krishna Janmabhoomi case or pay for it with his life. Three live cartridges were enclosed with the letter, he said.

Gupta, whose outfit is party to the ongoing case, further alleged that the threat letter was handwritten and sent to his Madhu Vihar address in Delhi. I want to tell them that I wont be deterred. We will fight this case to its logical conclusion. The way we legally fought, and now Ram Mandir is under construction in Ayodhya; Gyanvapi matter (in Varanasi) is also sub-judice. We will legally remove the eidgah and construct Shri Krishna temple (in Mathura), he said.

The Hindu Sena leader further said he has filed a formal complaint with the Madhu Vihar East police station and he has been assured of an inquiry into the matter.

Deputy commissioner of police (east) Apoorva Gupta said they have received the complaint and it is being looked into. Legal action will be taken as appropriate, she said.

Gupta spearheads Hindu Sena, which is a fringe outfit known for making allegations against Kerala House in the national capital, saying it serves beef, and for wiping off names of roads named after Mughal dynasts. He became a party to Krishna Janmabhoomi case when his demand that the Shahi Eidgah in Mathura is originally the birthplace of Hindu deity Krishna, was admitted by a local court in December 2022. The Muslim side, however, had filed an objection in the Allahabad High Court.

The case so far

The ban on survey in the Shahi Eidgah mosque of Mathura will remain intact. The Supreme Court has extended the interim stay till April and will hold the hearing for this in the first part of that month. The court has asked all the parties to file written replies.

On December 14, 2023, the Allahabad High Court accepted an application filed by Hindu devotees for the appointment of a commissioner to inspect the disputed premises. It has been legally argued that the birthplace of Krishna is below a mosque in Mathura, and it is necessary to appoint a commission to find out the truth.

(With inputs from Anvit Srivastava)
A tragic incident unfolded over the weekend when Magno Sergio Gomes, a 46-year-old man from Brazil, lost his life after reportedly consuming a poisonous pufferfish. The deadly episode occurred in Aracruz, Espirito Santa, according to the report by the NY Post. Magnos sister, Myrian Gomes Lopes revealed that her brother had never handled or cleaned a pufferfish before.

The lethal seafood was reportedly given to Magno as a gift by an unnamed friend, raising questions about its origin and safety. Despite lacking experience with the species, Magno and his friend decided to gut the fish, remove its liver, and then boil and consume it with lemon juice. Within an hour of ingesting the pufferfish, both Magno and his friend fell seriously ill.

Magno started to feel numb in his mouth, recounted Myrian Gomes Lopes.

Alarmed by the worsening condition, Magno rushed himself to the hospital. However, the numbness spread, and he went into cardiac arrest for eight minutes.

The US Centers for Disease Control reported that Magno suffered from the effects of tetrodotoxin, an exceptionally potent poison found in the liver and gonads of pufferfish. This toxin, over 1,000 times deadlier than cyanide, interferes with nerve signals to muscles, leading to paralysis and potential death.

Despite being intubated and put on life support, Magno passed away on January 27 after spending 35 days in the hospital. The toxin had paralysed his system, and seizures in the later stages significantly impacted his brain, leaving little chance of recovery.

Miraculously, Magnos friend survived, though he is struggling with neurological issues affecting his legs. Hes not walking very well, shared Myrian Gomes Lopes. He was neurologically impacted, but he is recovering.

Raw pufferfish, known as fugu in Japan, is considered a delicacy, and gourmands enjoy the slight buzz that comes with ingesting trace amounts of the toxin. In Japan, only licensed fugu chefs are permitted to prepare the dish due to its hazardous nature.

Ueno Kenichiro, owner of the fugu restaurant Fuku no Seki in the Yamaguchi Prefecture, emphasised the importance of safe preparation. While Japan sees around 50 poisoning incidents per year, the majority occur when inexperienced individuals attempt to handle or consume the pufferfish, similar to the tragic case of Magno Sergio Gomes in Brazil, reports the NY Post.
Right after reports surfaced about the Indian Navy warship INS Sumitra successfully rescuing a hijacked fishing vessel, Al Naemi, from Somali pirates approximately 800 miles off the coast of Kochi, a photo depicting the apprehended individuals with their gadgets began circulating on social media. While initially blending in with the usual internet news flow, perceptive users stumbled upon a noteworthy detail in the viral picture, propelling them from mere shock to full-on ROFL mode.

And what sparked this laughter-inducing revelation, you wonder? Well, it turns out one of the Somali pirates was flaunting none other than an RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore) jersey!

Yes, upon closer inspection, the zoomed-in photo exposed a man boldly donning the notorious IPL jersey in striking black and red. This revelation set the internet ablaze  because, of course, why not? Virat Kohlis fans couldnt contain their excitement, welcoming this unexpected addition to their fanbase with open arms.

Also Read: RCB Won Trophy? Viral Video of Kohli and Team Posing for Winning Pic Has Fans in Virtual Delight

One user humourously exclaimed, A Somalian pirate wearing RCB Jersey captured by Indian navy while trying to hijack an Iranian cargo ship is the peak 2024 already. Another cheekily added, This pirates might have thought that Indian forces will pardon him on seeing his @RCBTweets jersey.

He was frustrated with RCB not winning Pankaj desai (@PankajDesai93) January 30, 2024

Was wondering was one of these looked like a calculator. https://t.co/1nOgfFTBYb pic.twitter.com/WGzPOnh2Nt Heisenberg  (@internetumpire) January 30, 2024

Keeping the banter alive, a third user suggested, Trophy churane gaya hoga (Hed have come to steal trophy). Meanwhile, a fourth contributor playfully teased the RCB fanbase, stating, But this is definitely not the biggest crime this guy has committed. Because, lets be real, being an RCB fan was the initial offense, right? (We didnt say this)

But this is definitely not the biggest crime this guy has committed. https://t.co/7ar9Px6DPT pic.twitter.com/q8xBnH3TW5 Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) January 30, 2024

The peakness of 2024 is not going to be stopped near soon. Learner (@trulyindian_111) January 30, 2024

Now, setting aside the jest, this incident marked the Indian Navys second daring rescue mission within a mere 24-hour window. The Al Naemi, navigating the waters off the East Coast of Somalia, witnessed the successful rescue of 19 Pakistani nationals on Monday. Additionally, on Sunday, the Indian Navy thwarted another piracy attempt on the Iranian-flagged fishing vessel, FV Iman, saving its 17 crew members along the east coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden.
Pakistans prime ministerial hopeful Nawaz Sharif seems to be the obvious front-runner just ahead of the national elections, observers have told CNN-News18.

Sharif has the experience and his political qualifications give him the upper hand, they said. Huge crowds are showing up at his campaign rallies, the sources added.

Sharifs economic policies, youth-focused development, and works done in the past will ensure his victory, they said.

During Nawaz Sharifs PM tenure (2013-2017), thousands of young graduates found jobs, boosting employment.

Following his departure, job opportunities dwindled, leading to a surge in overseas migration. Over 50,000 youngsters now seek opportunities abroad every year.

According to reports, Sharifs party Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) has fielded the best possible candidates looking at the present scenario.

All sections of society, specifically the business community, are placing confidence in him because of the struggle and borrowing they have seen, said observers.

According to top business houses, only Nawaz Sharif can bring the economy back on track and the country can see the revival of its income generation system under his guidance.

Nawaz Sharifs past work in infrastructure development, including roads and highways, will also give him a boost in the elections, sources said.

Also, they said, a large section of the Pakistani populace is upset with Imran Khans tenure as PM.

Khan will not be able to contest this time because hes behind bars serving a sentence he and his supporters decry as politically motivated and a conspiracy.

Even foreign rating agencies that have done independent work in the country give the upper hand to Nawaz Sharif.

Also, the Muslim world has been backing Sharif as every time he was jailed or sent abroad, Saudi Arabia gave him residency and also negotiated his homecoming, said sources.
The population of Gaza is starving to death due to constraints imposed on humanitarian aid, the World Health Organizations emergencies director Michael Ryan said on Wednesday.

The WHO said the risk of famine in the Palestinian territory was already high and on the rise, with the space for humanitarian intervention being increasingly squeezed.

This is a population that is starving to death, this is a population that is being pushed to the brink, Ryan told a press conference.

The civilians of Gaza are not parties to this conflict and they should be protected, as should be their health facilities.

The Palestinian people in Gaza are right in the middle of a massive catastrophe, Ryan said, adding that things could get worse.

Ryan said access to proper nutrition had become a major issue in the Gaza Strip, with the calorie count and the quality of nutrition consumed by Gazans having dropped sharply.

Populations are not supposed to survive indefinitely on food aid, he said.

Its supposed to be emergency food aid to tide people over.

And if you mix a lack of nutrition with overcrowding and exposure to cold through lack of shelter you can create conditions for massive epidemics, particularly in children.

And were seeing them, Ryan said.

The space for humanitarian intervention was being constrained in every aspect, he added.

He pointed to the dramatic reduction in the number of operational health facilities and to how efforts to bring aid into the Gaza Strip were constantly disrupted and impeded.

 Extreme challenges

The war was triggered by Hamass October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Militants also seized about 250 hostages. Israel says 132 of them remain in Gaza including at least 29 people believed to have been killed.

Following the deadliest attack in Israels history, its military launched an air, land and sea offensive that has killed at least 26,900 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the territorys health ministry.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency was facing continued extreme challenges in propping up Gazas health system.

Over 100,000 Gazans are either dead, injured, or missing and presumed dead, he said.

The risk of famine is high and increasing each day with persistent hostilities and restricted humanitarian access.

Tedros said the Nasser medical complex, the chief hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, was now operating with one ambulance, with patients being brought in on donkey carts.

The WHO attempted to deliver food to the hospital on Tuesday but that aid was stripped from the trucks by crowds who are also desperate for food, said Tedros.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. Venezuela and Turkiye have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in oil and natural gas fields, Trend reports.

The Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar met with Venezuelan Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.

Following a meeting between the delegations of Venezuela and Turkiye, the sides officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate in the areas of oil and natural gas.

On January 25, 2023, in Caracas, Venezuela, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Venezuela and Turkiye, delineating their economic collaboration in trade, investment, and economic development. The signing ceremony was attended by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Turkish Trade Minister Mehmet Mus.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
China on Wednesday defended its President Xi Jinping receiving the credentials from the official of the Taliban-headed interim government in Afghanistan, saying that it is a normal diplomatic arrangement and urged the international community not to exclude the Afghan militant group even though it is yet to respond to global concerns.

Xi on Tuesday received the credentials of ambassadors from several countries, including from Bilal Karimi, the Taliban-appointed Afghan ambassador in what was termed the first diplomatic recognition of the Taliban government in Kabul, which is yet to get official recognition internationally.

Its a normal diplomatic arrangement for China to receive the new ambassador to China sent by the Afghan interim government and for him to present his credentials to the Chinese leader, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing here on Wednesday.

When asked to state clearly if the move amounts to recognition of the Taliban government, he said, You asked whether China officially recognises the Afghan interim government? I would like to say that China believes that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community.

China is committed to a foreign policy of friendship towards all Afghan people and has maintained diplomatic ties and exchange and cooperation in various areas with Afghanistan, Wang said.

We hope that the international community will step up engagement and exchange with the Afghan interim government, encourage it to actively respond to international concerns, jointly help with Afghanistans reconstruction and development, and support Afghanistans effort to combat violent terrorist forces and contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity, he said.

Without referring to the global concerns over the Talibans ban on womens education and work and its disinclination to share power with other political groups in the war-torn country, Wang said China hopes Afghanistan will further respond to the expectations of the international community.

Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Talibans chief spokesperson, on Tuesday said, China has understood what the rest of the world has not. We are not in a unipolar world, he posted on X, while calling on Russia, Iran and other countries to take similar steps and upgrade bilateral diplomatic relations with Kabul.

According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, Xi told the new ambassadors that China is seeking deep friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with their countries. Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, said whether Beijing has officially recognised the Taliban regime is for Chinese officials to clarify.

I have seen some comments from them to the contrary, Miller told Voice of America (VOA) on Tuesday. For the US, Miller said, the Talibans relationship with the international community depends on their actions.

China may be getting ready to break ranks and take the final technical step either within the UN system or outside of it through a bilateral initiative, Omar Samad, a former Afghan ambassador was quoted as saying by VOA.

China along with Pakistan and Russia maintained its embassy in Kabul after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, following the withdrawal of American troops from the country. Significantly, Chinas diplomatic recognition of the Taliban government comes at a time when Pakistan, Beijings all-weather ally, is having serious problems with the militant group that it once nurtured.

Pakistan is now blaming the Taliban government for recurring terrorist attacks in the country and criticised it for not cracking down hard on Pakistan Islamic militant groups operating from Afghanistan. In retaliation, Pakistan has ordered forceful evacuation of thousands of Afghan refugees living in the country for decades.

While Chinas recognition marks a significant step, it remains an isolated one. No other major nation has recognised the Talibans Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and the UN has repeatedly denied their requests for representation at the world body, the VOA report said. The US and the EU have imposed economic and political sanctions on Taliban leaders and entities, accusing them of grave human rights violations, particularly concerning womens rights to education and work.
WASHINGTON: The return of sea otters and their voracious appetites has helped rescue a section of California marshland, a new study shows.

Sea otters eat constantly and one of their favorite snacks is the striped shore crab. These crabs dig burrows and also nibble away roots of the marsh grass pickleweed that holds dirt in place.

Left unchecked, the crabs turn the marsh banks into Swiss cheese, which can collapse when big waves or storms hit, said Brent Hughes, a Sonoma State University marine ecologist and co-author of the new study published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

Researchers found that the return of the crab-eating sea otters to a tidal estuary near Monterey, California, helped curb erosion.

They dont completely reverse erosion, but slow it down to natural levels, said Hughes.

For many years, there werent any sea otters in Elkhorn Slough.

The 19th century fur trade decimated their global population which once stretched from Alaska to California, as well as into Russia and Japan. At one point, as few as 2,000 animals remained, mostly in Alaska.

Hunting bans and habitat restoration efforts helped sea otters recover some of their former range. The first returnees were spotted in Elkhorn Slough in 1984. The Monterey Bay Aquariums program for raising and releasing orphaned sea otters also boosted the estuarys population.

For the new study, researchers analyzed historic erosion rates dating back to the 1930s to assess the impact of sea otters return. They also set up fenced areas to keep otters away from some creek sections for three years  those creek banks eroded much faster.

Past studies about the return of top predators to various habitats  most famously, the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park  show how such species maintain ecosystem stability. Wolves curbed the number of elk and moose that ate saplings and slowed riverbank erosion.

Many past studies relied on observations, but the design of the latest research left no doubt as to the sea otters impact, said Johan Eklof, a Stockholm University marine biologist who was not involved in the new study.

Other research has shown that sea otters help kelp forests regrow by controlling the number of sea urchins that munch kelp.

Sea otters are amazing finders and eaters, said Brian Silliman, a Duke University coastal ecologist and co-author of the latest study.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Indian-American presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Tuesday coined a new slogan, Make America Normal Again, as her campaign enters the critical phase ahead of the GOPs South Carolina Primary on February 23.

Our campaign has been flooded with notes and emails from folks across the country who want to make America normal again. They know that we can do better than two 80-year-old names from the past. Im fighting every day to make you proud lets go! Haley said as her team launched an aggressive campaign in her home state of South Carolina.

Our campaign has been flooded with notes and emails from folks across the country who want to make America normal again. They know that we can do better than two 80-year-old names from the past. Im fighting everyday to make you proud  lets go! https://t.co/XcfJpVXxxC pic.twitter.com/TFtCrrysHy Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) January 30, 2024

Trumps never-ending chaos

Haley, 51, is trailing by more than 30 points against former president Donald Trump in her home state where the Republican presidential primary is scheduled for February 23. The two-term governor is confident of making a strong showing in the South Carolina primary and then moving to Super Tuesday states in March. From California to North Carolina, from grandmothers to young parents, these Americans are tired of Joe Biden and Donald Trumps never-ending chaos and confusion. They dont want another Trump-Biden rematch, her campaign said Tuesday.

Stay in the race Nikki!! This country, this nutty world, needs leadership with civility, compassion, and toughness. I think you are the only one in the presidential race that can bring that to the office. My wife and I are generational ranchers, both in our 70s, married 53 years, with kids and grandkids and sincerely counting on you to win the presidency this year, wrote Gary M. Please stay strong! Stay in the race and keep your name out there! Your opportunity is coming. I think a lot of us just know that it is. Thank you, Nikki, for putting a sane, smart, thoughtful, and dignified face and mind and heart into the race. Thank you for what you do for America and the world! God bless you! wrote.

200 PC increase in email

Martha R. Haleys campaign has received an over 200 percent increase in email traffic from supporters asking the candidate to stay in the race following former president Trumps primary victory in New Hampshire, according to Fox News. In the last six days, the campaign has received more than 6,000 emails total with messages supporting the former South Carolina governor and saying things like, Youre the real Republicans only chance to be a normal political leader! and please do not quit!, the news channel said.

Our campaign has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of grassroots support from across the country, Haley campaign spokesperson AnnMarie Graham-Barnes told Fox News Digital. The political establishment is trying to coronate Trump, but Nikki has never listened to the establishment. She listens to Americans, and their message is clear: Nikki is the last one standing between the Trump-Biden rematch that 70 percent of people dont want to see, she said.

Warmonger Haley

Intensifying its attack on the Indian-American candidate, the Trump campaign on Tuesday accused her of being a warmonger. The fact is that Haley knows she doesnt have a cogent argument or even a coherent reason for why she should be President. But what voters do know is that shes a warmonger who would rather throw America into endless wars, Steven Cheung, Trump spokesperson, said.

Her bloodthirst is only rivalled by her dependency for Democrats to interfere in the Republican primary, Cheung said in a strongly worded statement on Tuesday. Trump has won the first two GOP primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire. However, Haleys popularity is gradually picking up in her home state, where she hopes to make a strong showing. On Tuesday, Haley said Trump cant beat Biden if hes spending all his time and money on court cases and chaos.

(With agency inputs)
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has dismissed a report claiming New Delhi wants to distance itself from Moscow in the area of defence cooperation, a key domain of collaboration between the two nations with a history spanning several decades.

His response came following a Reuters report that said India is seeking to distance itself from its largest arms supplier after Russias ability to supply munitions and spares was hampered by the Ukraine war. Citing Indian sources, the report said New Delhi must step carefully to avoid pushing Moscow closer to China.

We have no such information. This is all on Reuters conscience. Our Indian partners, as before, are interested in cooperation, including in this area, the Russian diplomat was quoted as saying by Russias TASS news agency. Russia supplied more than 60 percent of Indias weapons purchases of more than $60 billion during the last two decades. From Russian-origin tanks to an aircraft carrier and surface-to-air missile systems, they make up a significant portion of Indias military hardware. The two countries jointly make the BrahMos cruise missile and plan to produce AK-203 rifles in India.

India-Russia ties remain strong

Last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Moscow and held comprehensive talks on key areas of bilateral cooperation including trade and energy, and defence. India-Russia relations have remained strong and steady building upon strategic convergences, geopolitical interests, and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he discussed with Jaishankar prospects for military and technical cooperation, including joint production of weapons, adding that Russia was also ready to support Indias goal of increasing domestic production.

However, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the Ukraine war accelerated Indias impetus to diversify its weapons base. The worlds biggest arms importer is slowly turning West as Washington looks to strengthen ties in the Indo-Pacific region, hoping to contain a more assertive China by weaning New Delhi off a traditional dependence on Moscow, the Reuters report said. It also added that India must walk a fine line in ties with Russia, as the largest buyer of its arms and, since 2022, one of the largest purchasers of its oil. Halting such trade would push Moscow closer to Beijing.

This comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned his focus to domestic production in line with the Make in India programme to encourage domestic manufacturing. Last year, India and the United States signed a deal for General Electric, to produce engines in India to power its fighter jets, the first such US concession to a non-ally. The two sides also plan to fast-track technology cooperation and co-production in areas ranging from air combat to intelligence.

(With agency inputs)
Maldives Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem, who was appointed by the previous government, was attacked in Male, local media reported on Wednesday. Shameem has been injured after he was attacked on a street in the capital city, SunOnline International reported.

Hours after an attack on the Prosecutor General, the largest opposition party in the island nation accused President Mohamed Muizzus administration of protecting criminals. Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem was attacked on a street in Male City. He is receiving treatment for his injuries at the ADK Hospital, Sun.mv, a news portal, said. The alleged close ties between top government officials and criminal gangs were resulting in open violent assaults on top state officials, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in a statement said.

Preliminary findings establish that he was not attacked with a sharp-edged weapon, the spokesperson added. This incident comes as the main opposition announced its plan to impeach Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu this week. However, the government has approached the Supreme Court over the recent amendment to Parliaments standing orders which makes the process of impeachment easier.

Political Upheaval

The Attorney Generals Office filed the case on Sunday, the same day when clashes broke out in the House between pro-government MPs and opposition lawmakers following differences over the approval of four members of his cabinet. The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which holds a majority in the Maldivian Parliament, on Monday, had stalled approval of three members of President Mohamed Muizzus cabinet.

The three ministers were, however, re-appointed by Monday evening. The row over the three ministers started after seven lawmakers resigned from Parliament in November, to assume top positions in Muizzus administration. But the Elections Commission decided against holding by-elections as the parliamentary elections are scheduled for this year, online news portal Sun.mv reported on Tuesday. The main opposition MDP then amended Parliaments standing orders so that vacated seats arent counted when determining the total number of MPs.

MDP-Democrats Alliance

Parliament currently requires 54 votes to impeach President Muizzu, instead of the previous 58, as, according to the amendment to the standing orders, the total number of MPs is now 80, instead of 87. Last week, the MDP and the Democrats announced an alliance to work together in the Parliament to hold the government accountable. The MDP and Democrats, have 56 MPs between them; 43 MPs from MDP, and 13 from Democrats. They now have the power to impeach the president.

Earlier on Monday, a lawmaker from MDP confirmed the party had gathered enough signatures to file an impeachment motion. But the party has not yet submitted it. Pro-China Muizzu, 45, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September last year. On January 24, calling India the most long-standing ally, the MDP and the Democrats expressed concern about the Muizzu governments anti-India stance.

(With agency inputs)
Nothing can replace or substitute the UN Palestinian refugee agency, whose staff were implicated in the Hamas attacks on Israel, the UNs coordinator for Gaza aid said Tuesday even as Israel made fresh claims against it. More than a dozen countries, including the US, have suspended funding to the UNRWA agency.

A newly released dossier details the names, details and positions of the 12 people, and contends that 10 of the workers in question are members of Hamas while one belongs to Palestinian Islamic Jihad. One UNRWA school counselor from Khan Younis in southern Gaza is accused of working with his son to abduct a woman from Israel, The New York Times reported.

No organization can be a substitute for @UNRWA in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, UN Senior Coordinator Sigrid Kaag said on Tuesdayhttps://t.co/MwXT3Kan0H UN News (@UN_News_Centre) January 30, 2024

Catastrophic Gaza collapse

Agency chiefs in the UNs highest-level humanitarian coordination forum, including the heads of the WHO, the UN rights office, UNICEF and the World Food Programme, warned defunding UNRWA risked a catastrophic humanitarian collapse in Gaza. Withdrawing funds from UNRWA is perilous and would result in the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, with far-reaching humanitarian and human rights consequences in the occupied Palestinian territory and across the region, said the statement from heads of organisations that form the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee.

The dispute intensified Tuesday after Israel accused the UNRWA of allowing Hamas to use agency infrastructure in Gaza for military activity. UNRWA said it has acted promptly over allegations by Israel that 12 of its staff were involved in the Hamas attacks, adding that cuts in funding will affect ordinary Palestinians. The UN agency has long been under scrutiny by Israel, which accuses it of systematically going against the countrys interests.

Read More: UN Staff Accused of Kidnapping Woman, Taking Part In Oct 7 Hamas Attack on Israel: NYT Report

Compromised

Israel has promised to stop the agencys work in Gaza after the war and doubled down on Tuesday when government spokesman Eylon Levy said UNRWA has been fundamentally compromised. He accused it of hiring terrorists on a massive scale, letting its infrastructure be used for Hamas military activity and relying on Hamas for aid distribution in the Gaza Strip. UN Gaza aid coordinator Sigrid Kaag said earlier Tuesday there is no way that any organization can replace or substitute (the) tremendous capacity, the fabric of UNRWA  (their) ability and their knowledge of the population in Gaza.

Washington, which said it was the largest donor to the agency having given $131 million to UNRWA since October, said it very much supported its work. There is no other humanitarian player in Gaza who can provide food and water and medicine at the scale that UNRWA does, said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. We want to see that work continued, which is why it is so important that the United Nations take this matter seriously, that they investigate, that there is accountability for anyone who is found to have engaged in wrongdoing.

The unprecedented October 7 Hamas attack resulted in about 1,140 deaths, mostly civilians, in southern Israel. Militants also seized 250 hostages, of whom Israel says around 132 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 28. Israel responded with a relentless military offensive that has killed at least 26,751 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in the territory.

(With agency inputs)
An Indian-origin couple in the UK has been sentenced to 33 years in prison after being convicted of exporting more than half a tonne of cocaine to Australia.

Arti Dhir, 59, and Kavaljitsinh Raijada, 35, from Hanwell in Ealing were identified by the National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators after Australian Border Force intercepted the cocaine worth 57 million pounds upon its arrival in Sydney in May 2021, the UK agency said in a statement on Monday.

The couples extradition was earlier sought by India, news agency PTI reported. They are accused of arranging the murder of their 11-year-old adopted son Gopal Sejani for an insurance pay-out in 2017. The pair from Hanwell travelled to Gujarat to adopt Gopal in 2015, promising him a better life in London.

A married couple have been convicted of exporting more than half a tonne of cocaine to Australia, after a NCA investigation found they were behind a front company sending the drugs by plane under a cover load of metal toolboxes.Read the full story  https://t.co/rSVSgEr7i1 pic.twitter.com/1vAgDGuoJU  National Crime Agency (NCA) (@NCA_UK) January 29, 2024

Drugs shipped via a commercial flight

Dhir and Raijada denied exporting cocaine to Australia and money laundering. They were convicted of 12 counts of exportation and 18 counts of money laundering by a jury following a trial at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. The drugs had been shipped via a commercial flight from the UK and consisted of six metal toolboxes which, when opened, were found to contain 514 kilos of cocaine.

The drugs would have been worth up to 57 million pounds when sold in Australia, where prices are significantly higher than in the UK. In the UK, a kilo of cocaine at wholesale is priced at around 26,000 pounds per kilo but in Australia, the same amount sells for 110,000 pounds. British Officers traced the consignment back to Dhir and Raijada, who had set up a front company called Viefly Freight Services with the sole purpose of smuggling drugs.

Both defendants had been directors of the company at different points since its incorporation in June 2015. Raijadas fingerprints were found on the plastic wrappings of the metal toolboxes containing the seized drugs, while receipts for the order of the toolboxes, worth 2855 pounds were discovered at the couples home. The NCAs case was that there had been 37 consignments sent to Australia since June 2019, of which 22 were dummy runs and 15 contained cocaine. Dhir had been employed by a flight services company at Heathrow from March 2003 until October 2016.

Raijada worked at the same company from March 2014 to December 2016. NCA investigators believe that their knowledge of the airport freight procedures was used to cover their criminal activities. Dhir and Raijada were arrested at their home in Hanwell on June 21, 2021. and officers seized 5000 pounds worth of gold-plated silver bars, 13,000 pounds inside the home and found 60,000 pounds in cash in a safety deposit box.

After further probe, the pair were arrested again in February 2023. NCA officers discovered almost 3 million pounds in cash hidden in boxes and suitcases at a storage unit in Hanwell, which Raijada had rented in his mothers name. Financial inquiries found they had also purchased a flat in Ealing for 800,000 pounds and a Land Rover for 62,000 pounds, despite declaring profits of only a few thousand pounds.

Investigations showed that both defendants held cash in bank accounts which far exceeded their declared income. They had deposited almost 740,000 pounds in cash into 22 different bank accounts since 2019 and were further charged with money laundering. Piers Phillips, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, said: Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada used their insider knowledge of the air freight industry to traffic cocaine worth tens of millions of pounds from the UK to Australia, where they knew they could maximise their revenue.

Kept their illicit profits in cash

They kept their illicit profits in cash at their home and in storage units, as well as purchasing property, gold and silver in an attempt to hide their wealth. These defendants may have thought they were removed from the misery caused by the drug trade but their greed was fuelling it. The NCA worked closely with our partners in Australia and the UK Border Force to dismantle the supply chain created by Dhir and Raijada and bring them to justice. We will continue to target class A drugs supply and the criminals overseeing it, both in the UK and overseas.

Commander of the New South Wales Police Force Organised Crime Squad, Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, said the result was a great example of how law enforcement are working together to disrupt the international drug trade. The partnership between both authorities in Australia, and abroad, was the reason police were able to stop a sophisticated attempt at importing drugs via air freight into Australia and hold those responsible accountable, Det Supt Faux said. Serious and organised criminal networks often have no borders, which is why working collaboratively with our international counterparts is so important to tackle what is a global issue, Faux said.

(With agency inputs)
Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Yemen toward the Red Sea, the US militarys Central Command said on Tuesday, adding that an American destroyer in the area shot it down.

On Jan. 30, at approximately 11:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea. The missile was shot down by USS Gravely (DDG 107). There were no injuries or damage reported, US Central Command (CENTCOM) wrote on X.

On Jan. 30, at approximately 11:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea. The missile was shot down by USS Gravely (DDG 107). There were no injuries or damage reported. pic.twitter.com/Wf1OhwPhhW U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 31, 2024

Biden under pressure

This comes days after three US service members were killed and at least 34 wounded in a drone attack by Iran-backed militants on US troops in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border. US President Joe Biden is under pressure for a strong response with Republicans accusing the Democratic president of letting American forces become sitting ducks.

On Tuesday, Biden said he has made up his mind on how to respond to a drone attack that killed US service members in Jordan. Biden, speaking to reporters as he left the White House on a campaign trip to Florida, did not elaborate on his decision, which came after consultations with top advisers at the White House. Biden said the United States does not need a wider war in the Middle East, echoing comments from other officials on Tuesday that the United States does not want a war with Iran.

Read More: Hit Them Hard: Calls for Retaliation Grow After US Troops Killed in Jordan Attack; Iran Denies Links

He has been weighing his options and the expectation has been that there will be retaliatory strikes, but the timing of the response has been unclear. I dont think we need a wider war in the Middle East. Thats not what Im looking for, said Biden. Biden replied yes when asked if he had decided how to respond to the attacks. Asked if Iran was responsible, Biden added: I do hold  them responsible in the sense that theyre supplying the weapons to those who carried out the attacks.

There have been a total of 166 attacks on US military installations since Oct. 18, including 67 in Iraq, 98 in Syria and now one in Jordan, a US military official said. On Tuesday, Al-Asad Air Base in Western Iraq was targeted again by a single rocket. The three soldiers killed in the Jordan strike were the first US military fatalities in the Middle East since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out.

(With agency inputs)
The US has formally launched a pilot programme to renew the H-1B foreign work visas domestically. Launched on January 29, the pilot renewal programme will run till April 1 and is likely to benefit thousands of Indian tech professionals.

It will allow H-1B visa holders who are currently in status to renew their visas in the US before a temporary trip abroad. This initiative was announced during the historic State visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June last year. In a statement on Monday, the State Department said the pilot programme will accept applications from January 29, 2024, through April 1, 2024, or when all application slots are filled, whichever comes first.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. This is for the first time in nearly two decades that a limited number of H-1B nonimmigrants will be able to renew their visas from within the US.

The State Department said the pilot programme is voluntary and it will allow approximately 4,000 applications each week, with 2,000 for applicants whose prior H-1B visas were issued by its diplomatic missions Canada, and another 2,000 for applicants whose prior H-1B visas were issued by US embassies and consulates in India.

Application slots will be released on January 29, February 5, February 12, February 19, and February 26. Applicants will only be able to apply through the portal linked below during the specified dates above, it said, adding that applications will be handled on a first-received, first-processed basis until the weekly limit is reached. Applicants who are unable to apply on one application date may reattempt application on any of the remaining application dates during the entry period. The application period will close when all application slots are filled or on April 1, 2024, whichever comes first, it said.

The estimated processing time will take six to eight weeks from the date the applicants passport and other required documents are received by the state department. The State Department said all applications will be handled on a strict first-received, first-processed basis, it said. Individuals who do not meet the requirements for participation in the pilot programme, or those who choose not to participate in the pilot programme, may continue to apply for visa renewal at a US embassy or consulate overseas, the State Department said.

(With agency inputs)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 31. Former US President Donald Trump has once again been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by US House of Representatives member Claudia Tenney, Trend reports.

According to the American lawmaker, the merit for which Trump should be awarded is the help in signing the Abraham Accords - documents on the normalization of Israel's relations with the UAE and Bahrain. "The valiant efforts by President Trump in creating the Abraham Accords were unprecedented and continue to go unrecognized by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, underscoring the need for his nomination [for the award] today," Fox News quoted Tenney as saying. "For decades, bureaucrats, foreign policy 'professionals', and international organizations insisted that additional Middle East peace agreements were impossible without a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. President Trump proved that to be false," she said.

To date, Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times, including for his role in brokering the Abraham Accords.

Traditionally, nominations for the prize can be made until January 31. After that, the right to nominate is reserved for committee members, who can exercise it at their first meeting, usually in February.

The full list of nominees is kept strictly confidential and may not be made public until after the 50th anniversary of the award. Each year, however, information about the nomination of certain candidates is leaked to the media by organizations or individuals with the right to nominate. These include former and current members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and its advisors, previous Peace Prize laureates, members of national parliaments, university professors specializing in history, philosophy, law or theology.

In September 2020, the Israeli side signed documents in Washington to normalize relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The trilateral agreement was dubbed in the West as the Abraham Accords (in memory of the biblical figure considered the spiritual ancestor of all followers of Judaism, Christianity and Islam). Previously, Israel had only established relations with Egypt and Jordan among Arab countries.
THE High Court has upheld an appeal by former Air Zimbabwe bosses Peter Chikumba and Grace Pfumbidzai who were challenging their conviction for swindling the airline of $10 million.

Chikumba, Air Zimbabwes ex-chief executive, and Pfumbidzai, the airlines former corporate secretary, were in 2015, convicted of criminal abuse of office and sentenced to an effective seven years in prison each.

They were then freed by the High Court on bail pending the determination of their appeal against conviction and sentence. Former High Court judge Justice Edith Mushore later dismissed their appeals, saying they were fatally defective.

Their lawyers had unsuccessfully applied for permission to amend the notice of appeal, resulting in the dismissal of the appeals. The judge said it was not possible to amend a fatally defective appeal.

On Monday during a civil appeals court, Harare High Court judges, Justices Pisirayi Kwenda and Benjamin Chikowero quashed Chikumba and Pfumbidzais convictions.

Whereupon, after reading documents filed of record and hearing counsel, it is ordered by consent that the appeal be and is hereby allowed. The conviction is quashed, ruled the judges.

Pfumbidzai was represented by Advocate Thabani Mpofu while Chikumbas lawyer was Tapiwanashe Kujinga.

Pfumbidzai and Chikumba appealed against both conviction and sentence, arguing that they were wrongly convicted.

In the notice of appeal, their lawyers submitted that the magistrate misdirected herself by failing to assess all the evidence adduced in the trial.

The magistrate, the lawyers argued, erred by concluding that the auditor, Bhudhama Chikamhi, was a credible witness when he stood to benefit financially by testifying against the duo.

Charges against Pfumbidzai and Chikumba arose after an anomaly was discovered by former Air Zimbabwe board chairman Mr Ozias Bvute pertaining to amounts paid between April 2009 and April 2013 to a company called Navistar Insurance Brokers (Private) Limited in respect of aviation insurance premiums.

The State accused the duo of enlisting the services of Navistar to provide aviation and insurance cover without going to tender after terminating services of other existing companies.

Pfumbidzai and Chikumba also inflated aviation insurance premiums payments made to Colemont Reinsurance Brokers (Private) Limited and Reinsurance Brokers (Private) Limited, both United Kingdom-based companies.

The firm released 15 452,93 to Navistar, 10 607 859,22 to the two British companies, while they pocketed 5 895 695,49. Chronicle
BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 1. The US Army launched new strikes on Yemen, US Central Command (CENTCOM) wrote on its "X" page, Trend reports.

According to information, the target of the strikes was a surface-to-air missile belonging to the Houthi rebels from the Ansar Allah movement.

Central Command noted that the US military detected a missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that it poses a direct threat to US aircraft.
AN organised cattle rustling syndicate has reportedly descended on Umguza District on the outskirts of Bulawayo where one farmer has been left counting losses after the thieves raided his farm and stole 50 head of cattle on different occasions since the beginning of last year.

Working closely with locals, police have escalated the fight against the criminals, amid growing concerns that the stolen meat finds its way to Bulawayo markets for cheap sales at some butcheries and on the streets. So daring are the cattle rustlers that in some instances they leave evidence in the form of cowbells, heads, hooves, and ear tags where they would have slaughtered the stolen animals.

Mr Kindness Ndlovu of Ward 16 in Umguza District is one of the affected cattle farmers feeling the scourge of stock theft, a major problem that costs the livestock industry hundreds of thousands of United States dollars every year. He lost over 50 beasts to cattle rustlers, which by any standards is a massive loss of income while thieves appear to act with impunity.

The only things that these stock thieves leave as evidence are the heads, ear tags, or cowbells of your cattle left at the scene, Mr Ndlovu told a meeting during a police anti-stock theft awareness campaign on the outskirts of Bulawayo near Khami in Umguza District.

Having worked so hard over the years to grow my herd, it pains me to see someone straying into my kraal and taking what does not belong to them.

Cases of stock theft are rampant across Zimbabwe with rustlers hitting hardest farmers in border areas where they work with cross-border syndicates to steal livestock. On average, between 5 000 and 10 000 cases of livestock theft are reported each year in the country according to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Anti-Stock Theft Unit.

The unit has over the years intensified its campaigns, deployments, and community-based initiatives to fight animal theft, which is causing huge losses to farmers, and high levels of anxiety in communities that have built their flock over the years.

Mr Ndlovu, who is a retired soldier, said he started losing his cattle early last year, and the trend continued until December last year. I have been a cattle farmer for more than 20 years and losing such a huge number of cattle is completely new to me, he said.

Stock thieves are depriving us of the much-needed income. What is even more saddening is that they even kill a pregnant cow and then remove the calf, leaving it lying on the ground.

The farmers told of how the daring stock thieves set traps in areas where the animals graze, and once the animal is ensnared, they immediately axe it to death before skinning it and fleeing.

I am even thinking of selling the remaining herd because I fear that I might end up losing the entire herd with all my efforts going down the drain.

Whenever I sell my cattle, each animal goes for US$400 and, therefore, if you multiply that amount by 50, it translates to US$20 000, which l have lost, said Mr Ndlovu

Another farmer, Mr Mandlenkosi Gamangu said there is rampant stock theft in the area, a development that continues to destroy livelihoods.

As farmers, our wealth lies in our herd. We invest a lot in our cattle when we buy vaccines so that we get returns, but thieves come and take away that wealth. This is getting out of hand l hope the culprits get caught sooner than later, he said.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube, said they have launched a three-day campaign in response to an increase in stock theft.

He said last week farmers in Ward 16 caught two Honda Fit cars carrying carcasses of stolen beasts.

Livestock, particularly cattle, form an integral part of our economy, and farmers must uphold strategies being churned out by the ZRP to ensure livestock security, said Insp Ncube.

He urged farmers to tighten their surveillance mechanism to curb the scourge.

Most of these cattle that are stolen, slaughtered, and then transported to business centres in either Honda fits or donkey-drawn carts, said Insp Ncube.

Ward 16 Cllr Obert Mangwana said he is working with local farmers and the police to address the problem.

He has also donated fuel to farmers who are part of the neighbourhood watch committee to fuel their cars for night patrols.

We are facing a very difficult situation that is why everyone needs to be hands-on. At the moment, we are also working on fixing the road so that movement can be easy for those patrolling, says Cllr Mangwana. Chronicle
"The actions and decisions of Secretary Mayorkas have left us with no other option but to proceed with articles of impeachment," Republican Rep. Mark Green said Tuesday at the start of a daylong hearing on sending the articles detailed Sunday to the full House. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas didn't speak at the House Homeland Security Committee hearing, but he sent Green, the committee's chairman, a letter pushing back against the allegations, the Washington Post reports. "I assure you that your false accusations do not rattle me and do not divert me from the law enforcement and broader public service to which I remain devoted," Mayorkas wrote.

House Republicans accuse Mayorkas of failing to enforce the law at the border and of breaching the public trust by making false statements and blocking oversight of the DHS. "We have provided Congress and your Committee hours of testimony, thousands of documents, hundreds of briefings, and much more information that demonstrates quite clearly how we are enforcing the law," Mayorkas said in his letter to Green, per the Post. Mayorkas, who has been working with the Senate on a bipartisan border deal, said the House committee should be working with the Biden administration to fix the country's "broken and outdated" immigration system, the AP reports.

If the panel sends the charges to the full House, it will require a near-unanimous vote from Republicans to send it to the Senate. There is little chance of Mayorkas being convicted in that chamber, but the move will "force an election-year trial" in which Republicans will have the chance to criticize the Biden administration's border policies, the New York Times notes. Democrats called Tuesday's hearing a political stunt. It's "a terrible day for the committee, the United States, the Constitution, and our great country," said Rep. Bennie Thompson, the panel's ranking Democrat. (More Alejandro Mayorkas stories.)
The son of the imam fatally shot outside his New Jersey mosque on January 3 was arrested Friday on a firearms charge. Abdush K. Sharif, 36, was arrested at a Newark residence along with Kevin Rogers, 46, and Dashawn Kitchen, 49, who were also at the home and also taken into custody on gun charges, NBC News reports. While it was not officially made clear whether the arrests are related to the investigation into Imam Hassan Sharif's murder, the New York Daily News reports that they are connected. Law enforcement sources have previously told news outlets that police were investigating the son, and were looking into whether a relative was responsible for the imam's murder.
Another state could soon join Alabama in using a controversial new execution method. Ohio, where executions have been paused since 2018 due to problems obtaining lethal injection drugs, is considering the use of nitrogen gas executions, USA Today reports. Two Republican state representatives have introduced legislation that would allow death row inmates to state a preference between lethal injection and nitrogen hypoxia as the method of execution, but which would also dictate that in cases where the death sentence "cannot be executed by lethal injection," the nitrogen method would be used instead. Gov. Mike DeWine said in 2020 that lethal injection appeared "impossible from a practical point of view" and that lawmakers would need to settle on a different execution method before any death sentences could be carried out.

Alabama last week became the first state to execute someone using nitrogen gas, raising concerns from activists who questioned whether it's a humane method of execution. In a press conference regarding the proposed Ohio legislation, the state's attorney general said he supports the bill, ABC News reports. "I am aware of the moral weight of this debate, but this is law of the land," he said. "If we wish to break the promises that we made to the families of all these victims over all these years, if we wish to not keep faith with the jurors that we asked to take this heavy weight on to make a judgment, then we owe it to our society and to all those that are involved to own our decision to change our minds." Mississippi and Oklahoma have also approved nitrogen gas executions. (More nitrogen hypoxia stories.)
Tony Romeo, chief executive of Deep Sea Vision, believes he's found Amelia Earhart's airplane during a search of 5,200 square miles of ocean floor. Other experts who've viewed the sonar image showing what Romeo is certain is a Lockheed 10-E Electra with two distinctive fin stabilizers beneath the ocean within 100 miles of Howland IslandEarhart's destination on her last flight from Papua New Guineaaren't so sure. "There's no way you could definitively say that's even an aircraft," Dr. Andrew Pietruszka, an underwater archaeologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography who's searched for lost planes, tells the New York Times , noting the image could reflect a geological feature or sonar "noise."

Dr. Megan Lickliter-Mundon, an underwater archaeologist specializing in sunken aircraft, notes the unlikelihood of Earhart's plane retaining its original shape after 87 years beneath the waves. She notes that confirming the item pictured is a plane will require sonar images from different angles, while confirming it's Earhart's plane will require deployment of a remotely operated vehicle that can identify markings. The Nauticos Corporation, which previously searched 1,860 square nautical miles near Howland Island, argues "all airplane 'like' targets" in the area "should be positively identified." But it's pretty sure this target isn't Earhart's plane. It claims the discovery lies "significantly west" of Howland where Earhart is unlikely to have found herself after running out of fuel, per the Messenger.

"Nauticos historic radio testing and analysis has determined that she was just outside visual range of the Coast Guard cutter Itasca anchored at Howland Island" at 8am on July 2, 1937, 43 minutes before her last transmission, "when she stated that she was flying north and south (157/337)," it says. It adds the sonar target is "not consistent with a Lockheed Electra 10E," partly due to its "swept wings." The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery notes the wings of an Electra couldn't "fold rearward as shown" given the plane's "immensely strong center section," per Live Science. However, Romeo claims "sonar data will appear more and more stretched the further the target is from the sonar" and straightening out the shape solves that issue. (More Amelia Earhart stories.)
It may not actually be better in the Bahamas, at least not at the moment, according to a new security alert . The warning disseminated last week by the US Embassy in Nassau notes there've been 18 murders this year so far in the Bahamian capital alone, and that "murders have occurred at all hours, including in broad daylight on the streets." The embassy points to gang violence as the driving force for the killings. The New York Times calls the alert "startling" and "unusual" for the island nation, which sees about 7 million tourists annually.

The US State Department's travel advisory for the Bahamas remains at a "Level 2" designationthe same as other travel hot spots like Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and parts of Mexicomeaning travelers should simply "exercise increased caution." Level 1 is considered the safest benchmark, with the Times noting that "the majority of visitors to those countries" with a Level 2 label "do not experience any danger." The advisory notes that "the majority of crime" in the Bahamasincluding burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaultsis taking place on the islands of New Providence, where Nassau is located, and Grand Bahama.

If you do decide to venture to the islands, both the US Embassy and the State Department offer a slew of tips to keep tourists safe, per the Times and USA Today. They include keeping under the radar (for example, don't be an obnoxious, loud American tourist) and remaining aware of your surroundings at all times, especially at short-term vacation rental properties that may not have a security presence. They also recommend not opening your door unless it's someone known, and not physically resisting a robbery. The State Department suggests signing up for its Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, so that you can receive direct information on security updates, and so the US Embassy can track you down in an emergency. (More Bahamas stories.)
Getting in touch with an old flame could have deadly consequences, according to Florida police, who allege a woman tried to kill her husband of 51 years after he received a postcard from a lover of six decades previously. Upon learning of the note, Bertha Yalter, 71, tried to smother her elderly husband with a pillow, a charge she admitted to during an interview, according to a police report. From there, "I think she also admitted to urinating on him," an attorney for the state said during a Monday bond hearing, per Law & Crime .

According to the report, police arrived to the couple's North Miami Beach home on Sunday to find the "extremely fragile" victim with "several serious bruises and open lacerations  as well as open bite marks that were bleeding." Part of the attack had been recorded on cellphone video, per Law & Crime. Officers who viewed the video said it confirmed the victim's story that he was attacked by his wife, who was enraged by the note. Police described it as a postcard, though Yalter's lawyer tells the New York Post it was in fact an online message, to which the victim had responded.

Yalter is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery against an elderly person, and tampering with a witness or victim. But her lawyer tells Law & Crime that "police overcharged this case in the extreme" given that "our client's husband said he is perfectly fine, that he regrets the argument," and views attempted murder as "an absurd charge." The state's attorney justified the charge, noting smothering by pillow "would suffocate and kill him," per Law & Crime. Yelter, who remains in custody pending a final bond hearing on Thursday, has been ordered to have no contact with her husband if released. (More Florida stories.)
FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday issued what CNN calls a "dramatic public warning" about the cyberthreat posed by China, specifically to US infrastructure. Appearing before the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, he said Chinese hackers are going after the things that keep us "safe and prosperous," including America's water treatment plants, electrical grid, oil and natural gas pipelines, and transportation systems.

Wray's key quote: "China's hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if or when China decides the time has come to strike. We cannot afford to sleep on this danger."
A federal judge threw out Disney's First Amendment lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, finding that the company doesn't have legal standing to bring the case against the governor and the secretary of the state's Commerce Department. And the suit against members of the board of a special improvement district "failed on the merits," said Judge Allen Winsor, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Disney suggested it will appeal the ruling, saying in a statement, "We are determined to press forward with our case."

The company says the Florida government was retaliating against it for opposing the legislation, supported by DeSantis, known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill when it started to dismantle the district that provides services to the company's theme parks. "If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with," a company statement said Wednesday.

DeSantis filled the board with his supporters, but Winsor, who was appointed by former President Trump, said Disney did not show it suffered any harm because of that, per NBC News. This was "in the past," Winsor wrote. The state and Disney are still engaged in a legal case over land use agreements in a Florida court, per Politico. Florida officials did not immediately comment on Wednesday's ruling. DeSantis repeatedly brought up his battle with Disney in his recently ended presidential campaign. (More Walt Disney Co. stories.)
Auckland police were kept busy overnight arresting several people, including three people for assaulting a member of the public.

The first incident occurred at 6:49pm on Tuesday on Karangahape Road when police were alerted to a man pointing a pistol at a member of the public.

Auckland City Central Area Commander Inspector Grant Tetzlaff said officers arrested the man within 10 minutes.

"Our city camera operators heard this incident come across the radio, and immediately began to track the person of interest, who had gone past Edinburgh Street," Insp Tetzlaff said.

"Our frontline staff were soon in the area, locating the man and arresting him."

When the man was found, he was located carrying a toy gun, Insp Tetzlaff confirmed.

A 65-year-old man has been charged with unlawfully carrying an imitation firearm.
Record value and a sharp rise in volumes

Swiss watchmaking continued to grow sharply in 2023, following strong performance the previous year. Watch exports achieved record value, while the corresponding number of watches also increased significantly.

Swiss watch exports for the year as a whole exceeded their 2022 result by 7.6%, increasing to a total value of 26.7 billion francs. Growth in the first half of the year was 11.8% before slowing, as expected, to 3.6% in the second six months.

Operating mainly in the upmarket sector, Swiss watchmaking benefited from steady demand in the luxury goods market. It also achieved excellent performance in the entry-level segment, illustrating the still significant interest in Swiss-made products.

This remarkable momentum was supported by an increase in the number of employees in the sector, which grew by 7.7% to over 65,000 people in Switzerland last year, as announced by the Employers Federation of the Swiss watchmaking industry.

2024 looks calmer for both exports and the number of people employed in the sector, with results expected to remain high or only increase slightly. Nonetheless, the disparities between different players will remain and performances will therefore vary. Subcontractors and suppliers, particularly, are expecting a less positive outlook this year. Although the sluggish economic situation has only appeared to have a partial impact on the luxury goods market so far, it is nonetheless affecting consumer confidence at all levels and several brands have already indicated that they intend to be cautious in their forecasts. In addition, the particularly high level of the franc will affect results, particularly in the entry-level and mid-range segments.

Products

The number of wristwatches exported grew by 7.2% compared with 2022, to 16.9 million items. This means that an additional 1.1 million watches were shipped abroad in 2023, confirming the recovery already observed a year before. As a result, the export value of watches increased by 7.7%, to 25.5 billion francs.

Mechanical watches (+7.0% by value) generated almost 80% of the growth in export turnover. At the same time, quartz watches (+12.6%) accounted for three quarters of the increase in volumes, which rose by 8.8%.

The same polarisation can also be seen in the main price ranges. With an increase of 940,000 units (+11.2%), watches with an export price of 200 francs represented 83% of the increase in the total number of items. At the other end of the price scale, watches priced at over 3,000 francs (+9.4% by value) generated 92% of the growth. Between the two, the 200-3,000 francs segment varied only slightly compared with 2022, with an increase of +0.9% by value and +1.9% number of items. Steel watches, representing more than one item in two, stagnated in 2023, by both volume (+0.4%) and value (+1.4%). Export turnover was mainly driven by watches made from precious metals (+9.2%) and bimetallic watches (+11.2%).

Markets

North and South America (+6.7%), driven mainly by the United States, absorbed 19% of Swiss watch exports in 2023. Europe (+6.8%) followed the same trend, representing a 30% share. Asia (+8.2%) accounted for almost half (49%) of Swiss watch exports.

Swiss watch exports per market in 2023  Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH

Having grown by 27.1% on average in 2021 and 2022, watch exports to the United States (+7.0%) remained very dynamic last year.

In Asia, China (+7.6%) posted growth identical to the global average after the market disruptions in 2022, but has still not returned to its pre-crisis level (-6.9% compared with 2021). Hong Kong (+23.4%) achieved a strong recovery following the lifting of health restrictions, which lasted three years and caused the market to fall to a historically low level. Japan (+7.7%) performed in line with the average, while Singapore (+2.5%) remained below it because of an unfavourable base effect. In the Middle East (+6.0%), the United Arab Emirates (+12.2%) outperformed, while Saudi Arabia (+2.6%) saw more moderate growth. The only shadow on the horizon, South Korea (-7.3%) suffered the full effect of competition from the duty-free market on the Chinese island of Hainan.

Performance in the main European markets was more uniform, at +7.6% for the United Kingdom, +5.1% for Germany, +8.1% for France, +9.3% for Italy and +5.7% for Spain.
However, police are still looking for items of interest in the investigation dubbed Operation Walter, including a gun.

"Several people have been to be spoken to and as the investigation continues, we expect to speak with a number of others and carry out further searches in other areas of interest," Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Baillie said.

"We are committed to thoroughly investigating the death of Mr Bridgewater.

"Our thoughts are with the family of Mr Bridgwater, his mother, brother and children who are still seeking answers as to what happened."
Police will be keeping an eye on gang members travelling through Porirua for a funeral on Thursday morning.

Kapiti-Mana Relieving Area Commander Simon de Wit said the funeral is planned for about 8am tomorrow at Whenua Tapu Cemetery.

"Motorists can expect to see a large number of gang members and associates travelling around the region."

Police will be visibly present around the cemetery and surrounding areas, de Wit added.

"We urge all those travelling on our roads to not act in a way that puts other road users at risk and to expect delays."
It's not quite the very first. The maiden meeting in the 2+2 format was the Finance and Climate Ministers' summit last year.

But Peters and Collins' Melbourne mission is the first time it's happened for foreign affairs and defence.

"A lot of things didn't happen in the last three years and now things are getting back on the mainstream so to speak," said Peters.

"There's a lot of engagements. We've got a lot of ground to make up and real fast."

It looks like Collins and Peters themselves have made up. They've not previously been so friendly.

"He would be the last person in the world I would ever want to do approachments with," said Collins in 2014.

Asked if the pair had buried the hatchet, Collins said: "Well not in each other, no.

"We actually get along very well and we have a common interest for New Zealand, and we're really working hard for that."

Together they've got new challenges; tightening New Zealand's defence ties with our only ally, Australia, and the US, UK and Canberra's nuclear submarine pact AUKUS. There's a lower level - pillar 2, as it's called - which is more focussed on intelligence and tech.

"It's very important that we are at least open to listening to what they have to say and whether or not we can be part of that," Collins said.

The prospect of a 2+2 meeting was raised during the Labour-led Government but the meeting - set to be while then-Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was in China - fell through. The new Coalition has made the get together a top priority in its eagerness to strengthen ties to Aotearoa's traditional western allies in an increasingly complex world.
Finlay Butcher is a 19-year-old Kiwi whose main excitement in life is exploring the sights that New Zealand has to offer with his family.

But because Finlay lives with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, he's often not able to join in on activities on family trips. He often has to be lifted by two people to do most tasks as accessibility standards are so low.

Finlay's mum Kimberly Graham told AM as her son has gotten older, the things he can do have gotten "even more limited".
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In September 2011, the STB TV channel aired the first season of the popular project "Zvazheni ta Schaslyvi," where overweight individuals attempted to shed as many extra pounds as possible under the watchful eye of trainers. The winner, eligible for the cash prize, was the contestant who lost the highest percentage of weight from their initial measurement on the scales. The post-project fates of the participants remain relatively unknown: some successfully maintained their new shape, while others experienced setbacks, each with their own unique story. However, news of the deaths of the reality show's "graduates" has always been impactful and widely reported.

ADVERTISIMENT

It is inappropriate to attribute the deterioration of the health of the participants of "Zvazheni ta Schaslyvi" solely to intense exercise and severe emotional stress; only doctors can draw conclusions in this regard. In the meantime, let's take a moment to remember those project participants who are no longer with us.

Ilya Yakovlev

A participant of the third season of "Zvazheni ta Schaslyvi," passed away in May 2015 due to a stroke at the age of 32. He entered the project weighing 147 kilograms. Viewers remembered his participation not only for his battle against unwanted pounds but also for his love story. Ilya met his love, Natalia Moskalenko, during filming. The couple got married in the summer of 2014, and sadly, a year later, Ilya passed away.

ADVERTISIMENT

As you know, Yakovlev lost 48 kilograms on the project.

Ihor Pashynskyi

In November 2015, Ukrainians were shocked to learn about the passing of another former contestant of "The Weighted and the Happy," Ihor Pashynskyi, at the age of 52. He was remembered by viewers as the heaviest contestant of the fifth season. During his time on the show, Pashynskyi successfully lost 51 kg in four months.

According to his wife, the cause of death for the "Zvazheni ta Shchaslivi" contestant was the misdiagnosis of Pashynskyi. He eventually passed away due to a massive heart attack.

"The autopsy revealed that he was initially misdiagnosed, and the treatment was incorrectly prescribed. They administered drips to stop peptic ulcer bleeding, and a significant amount of them, which was not permissible... This amounts to negligence. A person's heart stops, and there is no one around. No one! There is no attending physician! It's very difficult to recall," mentioned Ihor's wife.

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Yevheniia Mostovenko

On January 26, 2017, four days after her 44th birthday, Yevheniia Mostovenko, a participant of the third season of "Zvazheni ta Shchastlivi" (The Weighty and the Happy), passed away. As you mentioned, she joined the project with her daughter. During the first weigh-in, Yevheniia's weight was recorded at 130 kilograms. Over the course of 9 months, she successfully reduced this figure to 94 kilograms. Despite this achievement, the Ukrainian woman expressed her intention to continue losing weight.

ADVERTISIMENT

The cause of death of 44-year-old Mostovenko is identified as a cerebral hemorrhage.

Ruslana Pysanka

In the seventh season, a notable participant joined the project - the renowned TV presenter and actress Ruslana Pysanka. She participated in the show alongside her husband, Igor Isakov. At the start of filming for "Zvazheni ta Shchastlivi," she had a weight of 136 kilograms, and by the final episode, her weight was 94 kilograms. In other words, the star successfully lost 42 kg during the show.

The news of the death of the prominent Ruslana Pysanka shocked Ukrainians on July 19, 2022. The heart of the favorite of millions stopped beating in Germany, where she battled cancer, which progressed very rapidly. The star kept her illness private, revealing it only to her husband, who remained by her side until the end. Regarding speculations linking her death to her participation in "Zvazheni i Shchaslyvi," he responded, "You know, only God knows what could have influenced all this. As challenging as it was, it made us much healthier. After all, we are minus one person, 80 kilograms between the two of us. Like some kind of medicine - if in small doses, it is medicine, if in large doses, it is poison. There was some poison, but 90 percent of it was positive."

ADVERTISIMENT

Ruslana Pysanka was only 56 years old. Her death was a great loss for the entire Ukrainian people.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa affirmed Bahrains support for the Palestinian cause and all efforts to achieve a just, permeant, comprehensive peace in the region.

HM the King reiterated the Kingdoms support for initiatives to guarantee the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state by the two-state solution and international legitimacy resolutions and to promote prosperity, stability, and peace for all nations in the region.

His Majesty made the statements as he received yesterday Yasser Mahmoud Abbas, son of Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, at Al Safriya Palace.

Abbas conveyed a verbal message from his father regarding Bahraini-Palestinian relations and recent developments in Palestine. HM King Hamad welcomed Abbas and relayed his greetings to the Palestinian leadership and wishes to the Palestinian people for peace and stability.

Abbas conveyed greetings and appreciation from the Palestinian President to HM the King and expressed sincere wishes for the prosperity and progress of Bahrain and its people.

He commended His Majesty the Kings humanitarian stances in support of the Palestinian people and Bahrains stances in support of the legitimate national rights of Palestinians.
Prince Christian of Denmark temporarily assumed the duties of the king while his father, King Frederick X, left the country. The monarch traveled to Poland on his first visit abroad.

ADVERTISIMENT

The 18-year-old crown prince will act as ruler until his father returns on Friday. This includes signing laws, making public speeches, and appointing or dismissing ministers, the Daily Mail reports.

Although it is very unlikely that Christian will have to make any major decisions in these few days, this temporary appointment could have a positive impact on his reputation as the future king.

For the prince, this is his first experience of governing the state, but it is quite legal and natural, because on January 14, Queen Margrethe abdicated, leaving Frederick as her successor.

When he is not in office, the management passes into the hands of the eldest heir, and then the position may pass to his mother Mary. The new queen consort will take over as "deputy" only if her adult son is unwilling or unable to replace his father.

ADVERTISIMENT

For these three days, the prince has been given the same power as the king, and will probably not shirk his duties.

Royal expert Sebastian Olden-Jorgensen from the University of Copenhagen suggested that if Christian needs to sign a law while Frederik is away, he will do it himself without waiting for his father.

"We have a constitution and some laws, but we also have a political culture, and it is just as strong and says, among other things, that the regent signs what the parliament has passed," the expert explained.

As a reminder, 83-year-old Margrethe II became the first monarch of the kingdom in almost 900 years to voluntarily abdicate.

ADVERTISIMENT

As reported by OBOZ.UA, in honor of the 18th birthday of Danish Prince Christian, who is now the new heir to the throne, his portraits with and without his parents were made public. Despite his young age, he already knows how to behave in public, communicate with other European royal families, and is said to have introduced his grandmother to his girlfriend.
Record quarterly production of 4.0M wmt, surpassing Bloom Lake's expanded nameplate capacity, revenue of $507M , EBITDA of $247M 1 and EPS of $0.24

wmt, surpassing Bloom Lake's expanded nameplate capacity, revenue of , EBITDA of and EPS of Advanced work programs in connection with the final investment decision for the DRPF Project

Positive results from the Kami Project Study, positioning the Company to consider strategic partnerships to advance the project

MONTREAL, Jan. 30, 2024 /CNW/ - (Sydney, January 31, 2024) - Champion Iron Limited (TSX: CIA) (ASX: CIA) (OTCQX: CIAFF) ("Champion" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its operational and financial results for the 2024 financial year third quarter ended December 31, 2023.

Champion's CEO, Mr. David Cataford, said: "We are excited to implement key elements of our expansion strategy, with the receipt of an allocation of additional hydroelectric power from Hydro-Quebec and our recently secured additional financing. Central to this, our Board provided a final investment decision for the DRPF project. This carbon neutral project, which remains on schedule to be completed in calendar H2/2025, positions the Company and the region to contribute to the accelerating green steel transition, particularly considering the recent decisions by the governments of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador to include high-purity iron ore on their critical mineral lists. Bloom Lake demonstrated its ability to produce at or above its recently expanded nameplate capacity, resulting in a quarterly production record and robust financial results. Our team also achieved another important milestone by announcing the details of the Kami Project Study which evaluated the construction of a 9.0M wmt per year DR quality iron ore operation. The Study enables the Company to consider strategic partnerships prior to advancing the project, providing an opportunity to capitalize on the growing demand for green steel."

Conference Call Details

Champion will host a conference call and webcast on January 31, 2024, at 9:00 AM (Montreal time) / February 1, 2024, at 1:00 AM (Sydney time) to discuss the results for the financial third quarter ended December 31, 2023. Call details are outlined at the end of this press release.

1. Quarterly Highlights

Operations and Sustainability

No serious injuries and no major environmental incidents reported in the quarter;

Published Champion's 2023 Annual Modern Slavery Statement, highlighting the Company's commitment to upholding human rights;

Production exceeded Bloom Lake's recently expanded nameplate capacity, resulting in a record quarterly production of 4.0 million wmt (3.9 million dmt) of high-grade 66.3% Fe concentrate for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023 , up 17% from the previous quarter, and 36% over the same period last year;

, up 17% from the previous quarter, and 36% over the same period last year; Record quarterly iron ore concentrate sales of 3.2 million dmt for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023 , up 12% and 20% from the previous quarter and the prior-year period, respectively; and

, up 12% and 20% from the previous quarter and the prior-year period, respectively; and While Bloom Lake's production capacity increased during the period, exceeding its expanded nameplate capacity, the rail operator did not haul at contracted levels. This haulage shortfall resulted in the inability to ship all of the iron ore concentrate produced during the period. Additionally, rail service was interrupted for several days after heavy rains in late December. Accordingly, iron ore concentrate stockpiled at Bloom Lake increased by 0.8 million wmt to 2.4 million wmt during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023 . The Company is engaging with the rail operator to receive contracted haulage services to ensure that Bloom Lake's increased production, as well as iron ore concentrate currently stockpiled at Bloom Lake, is hauled over future periods.

Financial Results

Gross realized selling price of US$144.0 /dmt 1 , compared to the P65 index average of US$138.7 /dmt in the period;

/dmt , compared to the P65 index average of /dmt in the period; Net realized selling price of US$115.6 /dmt 1 , representing a 15% increase quarter-on-quarter, and a 20% increase year-on-year;

/dmt , representing a 15% increase quarter-on-quarter, and a 20% increase year-on-year; C1 cash cost of $73.0 /dmt 1 ( US$53.6 /dmt) 2 , a decrease of 1% quarter-on-quarter, and 4% year-on-year, respectively;

/dmt ( /dmt) , a decrease of 1% quarter-on-quarter, and 4% year-on-year, respectively; EBITDA of $246.6 million 1 , an increase of 59% quarter-on-quarter, and 109% year-on-year, respectively;

, an increase of 59% quarter-on-quarter, and 109% year-on-year, respectively; Net income of $126.5 million , an increase of 94% quarter-on-quarter, and 146% year-on-year, respectively;

, an increase of 94% quarter-on-quarter, and 146% year-on-year, respectively; EPS of $0.24 , an increase of 85% quarter-on-quarter, and 140% year-on-year, respectively;

, an increase of 85% quarter-on-quarter, and 140% year-on-year, respectively; Strong cash position at quarter-end with $387.4 million in cash and cash equivalents as at December 31, 2023 , an increase of $70.8 million since September 30, 2023 ;

in cash and cash equivalents as at , an increase of since ; Procured a new US$230 million term loan, maturing in November 2028 with no principal repayment before June 2026 (the "Financing"). Repaid the US$180 million outstanding balance from the Company's existing US$400 million revolving facility, with the proceeds of the Financing, and extended its maturity from May 2026 to November 2027 ;

term loan, maturing in with no principal repayment before (the "Financing"). Repaid the outstanding balance from the Company's existing revolving facility, with the proceeds of the Financing, and extended its maturity from to ; Available liquidity, including amounts available from the Company's credit facilities, totalling $937.6 million 1 at quarter-end, compared to $645.9 million 1 as at September 30, 2023 , to support growth initiatives; and

at quarter-end, compared to as at , to support growth initiatives; and Paid the fifth semi-annual dividend of $0.10 per ordinary share on November 28, 2023 , totalling $51.8 million .

Kamistiatusset Project (the "Kami Project" or the "Project") Study Highlights

The Kami Project Study (the "Study") evaluated the construction of mining and processing facilities to produce Direct Reduction ("DR") grade pellet feed iron ore from the mining properties of the Kami mine located in the Labrador Trough in southwestern Labrador and Newfoundland . The Study details a 25-year life of mine with average annual DR quality iron ore concentrate production of approximately 9.0M wmt per annum at above 67.5% Fe;

and . The Study details a 25-year life of mine with average annual DR quality iron ore concentrate production of approximately wmt per annum at above 67.5% Fe; Project construction period is estimated at 48 months, following a final investment decision, and it benefits from permitting work completed by the Project's previous owner;

Total capital expenditures of $3,864 million , resulting in a Net Present Value ("NPV") of $541 million and Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 9.8% after-tax, based on conservative pricing dynamics compared to prevailing iron ore prices; NPV of $2,195 million and IRR of 14.8% after-tax, based on the previous three calendar year average of the P65 index price;

, resulting in a Net Present Value ("NPV") of and Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 9.8% after-tax, based on conservative pricing dynamics compared to prevailing iron ore prices; NPV of and IRR of 14.8% after-tax, based on the previous three calendar year average of the P65 index price; Benefiting from expected access to hydroelectric power and significant investments to reduce its GHG emissions, including a near pit crushing facility and conveyor circuit for ore and waste, the Project is expected to have an emission intensity of approximately 6.7 kilogram of CO 2 per tonne of DR grade pellet feed iron ore produced, positioning the Project as potentially one of the lowest emitting producers of DR grade pellet feed iron ore locally and globally; and

per tonne of DR grade pellet feed iron ore produced, positioning the Project as potentially one of the lowest emitting producers of DR grade pellet feed iron ore locally and globally; and Completion of the Study enables the Company to evaluate the Project in relation to its portfolio of other organic growth opportunities, while aiming to maintain a prudent balance sheet and avoid equity dilution. The Company expects to continue optimizing the Project, engage with stakeholders, evaluate opportunities to improve its economics, advance permitting and work on strategic partnership opportunities prior to considering a final investment decision.

Direct Reduction Pellet Feed Project Update

With significant available liquidity and allocation of additional hydroelectric power from Hydro-Quebec, securing access to renewable power required for the DRPF project, the Board provided a final investment decision to proceed with the DRPF project on January 30, 2024 (Montreal time);

(Montreal time); The DRPF project final investment decision secures the project's expected commissioning in the second half of calendar year 2025, a timeline which is subject to completing key construction milestones in mid-2024 calendar year; and

Project remains on budget, with quarterly investments of $31.0 million and a cumulative investment of $59.9 million , as at December 31, 2023 , from the total capital expenditures of $470.7 million as estimated in the results of the study released in January 2023 .

Other Growth and Development

Recognizing its positive impact in reducing GHG emissions in steelmaking and its importance in the green steel supply chain, high-purity iron ore was listed on the province of Quebec's and Newfoundland and Labrador's critical minerals lists, joining other minerals such as nickel, copper and cobalt; and

and critical minerals lists, joining other minerals such as nickel, copper and cobalt; and Advanced a study, which is expected to be completed in the near term, in collaboration with a major international steelmaking partner, to re-commission the Pointe-Noire Iron Ore Pelletizing Facility (the "Pellet Plant") to produce DR grade pellets.

2. Kami Project Study

Project Description

The Kami Project is a DR grade quality iron ore project near available infrastructure, situated only a few kilometers south-east of the Company's operating Bloom Lake mine, in the Labrador Trough geological belt in southwestern Labrador and Newfoundland, near the Quebec eastern border. The Study evaluated the construction of mining and processing facilities, including a concentrator, tailings facilities and related infrastructure to produce DRPF iron ore from the mining properties of the Kami mine.

The Project is expected to benefit from several competitive advantages including:

a sizeable high-purity iron resource, significantly de-risked by the Project's previous owners;

location near available infrastructure and Bloom Lake, enabling potential synergies;

potential Project ranking as one of the lowest emitting high-purity iron ore projects, both locally and globally, by leveraging expected access to hydroelectric power;

a supportive Newfoundland and Labrador government which identified high-purity iron ore within their critical minerals plan; and

and government which identified high-purity iron ore within their critical minerals plan; and advanced permitting work completed by the previous owner.

The Study did not incorporate prospects for potential economic support from governments to encourage development of critical minerals, preferential funding opportunities or other economic incentives, which could improve economics and influence a final investment decision.

Economic Summary and Key Assumptions

KEY ASSUMPTION SUMMARY UNIT

Mineral reserves M dmt 643 Production life of mine Years 25 Average annual production M dmt 8.6 Average annual production wet M wmt 9.0 Average Fe In-situ grade to plant % 29.2 % Average Fe metallurgical recovery % 76.4 % Average concentrate grade sold % Fe DR quality iron ore above 67.5% Average stripping ratio Waste:Ore 1.6 MACROECONOMIC AND MARKET ASSUMPTIONS

C$ US$ P65 Index CFR China Iron ore price (Kami iron ore

concentrate gross realized price is based on (i) P65 index

and (ii) an additional premium for DR grade quality iron

ore) $/dmt 156.0 120.0 Average shipping cost $/dmt 28.6 22.0 Average foreign exchange rate C$:US$ 1.30 CAPITAL COSTS

C$ US$ Construction period Months 48 Initial CAPEX M 3,864 2,972 OPERATING COST PER TONNE SOLD

C$ US$ Total cash cost (C1 Cost) $/dmt 76.1 58.5 Total AISC $/dmt 89.5 68.9

ECONOMIC RESULTS BASE PRICE SCENARIO MARKET PRICE SCENARIO (3-Year Trailing Scenario: CY2021-2023)

C$ US$ C$ US$ P65 Index CFR China Iron ore price (Kami iron ore

concentrate gross realized price is based on (i) P65

index and (ii) an additional premium for DR grade

quality iron ore) 156.0 120.0 197.9 152.2 C3 Index price ($/wmt) 28.6 22.0 31.2 24.0 PRE-TAX







NPV in M at 8% discount rate 1,482 1,140 4,034 3,103 IRR 12.1 % 18.0 % AFTER-TAX







NPV in M at 8% discount rate 541 416 2,195 1,688 IRR 9.8 % 14.8 % Payback period (years) 7 5 All other assumptions besides P65 index and C3 index are held constant





Mine

The Kami Project is planned as a conventional open-pit mine combined with an In-Pit Crushing System ("IPCS") for waste rock. Mining operations will utilize drills, haul trucks coupled with hydraulic shovels, and a semi-mobile waste IPCS, with the ore crusher located at the pit exit on the East side. The Project contains the Rose pit, which is to be split into three phases. The peak mining rate is expected to be 81.0 Mtpa over a life of mine of 25 years. A total of 643 Mt of ore will be mined at an average total iron ore grade of 29.2% with a total of 1,019.5 Mt of combined waste and overburden, resulting in a stripping ratio of 1.6 tonnes of waste per tonne of ore mined.

Concentrator Plant

The proposed Kami concentrator plant is based on the flowsheet developed and contained in previous studies completed by the Project's former owner, the 2023 test work and input from the Company and its advisors' engineering teams and manufacturers. The proposed concentrator is designed to process ore grading at 29.2% total Fe over a 25-year mine life. The test work conducted during 2023 resulted in the redesign of a revised process flowsheet that will enable the production of a DR quality iron ore concentrate at or above 67.5% Fe and below 2.5% SiO 2 + Al 2 O 3 , with an iron recovery of 76.4%, allowing an average life of mine production of 9.0M wmt per year.

The flowsheet includes proven and modern technologies for processing iron ore, including a gyratory crusher, autogenous mill, gravity separation circuit consisting of spirals and Reflux Classifiers currently operating in the Bloom Lake Phase II concentrator, a magnetic separation circuit consisting of a ball mill, and low intensity magnetic separators. The flowsheet will also include regrind mills and a reverse flotation circuit that will enable the production of DR quality iron ore concentrate.

Infrastructure and Regional Advantages

The Kami Project is expected to benefit from access to renewable hydroelectric power, water, roads, existing rail and port facilities in a proven regional labour market in a mining friendly jurisdiction with a long history of supporting iron ore operations.

The Kami Project is located directly south of Bloom Lake's existing and operational rail loop infrastructure, with access to end markets via port and rail. Rail access for the Kami Project is expected to consist of three separate segments. The first segment, a new rail spur, will be required to connect the mine site to the Quebec North Shore & Labrador ("QNS&L") railway line north of the Wabush-Labrador airport. The second segment would utilize the existing QNS&L railway, connecting Wabush to the Arnaud junction in Sept-Iles, Quebec. The third and last segment, the existing Arnaud railroad, connects the Arnaud junction to the Societe Ferroviaire et Porturaire of Pointe-Noire ("SFPPN") port facilities in Sept-Iles, currently utilized by Bloom Lake, where unloading facilities will be upgraded. Once unloaded, the DR quality iron ore will be stockpiled, then loaded onto vessels to supply the Company's global customers. Modifications are expected to be required to the existing railway segments and port infrastructure to accommodate the increased capacity from the Kami Project.

Tailings Management

The Tailings Management Facility ("TMF") will consist of a total of five centerline construction method dams built in nine total embankment stages over the life of the facility. Tailings slurry will be pumped from the plant in two streams, coarse and fines. In addition, the TMF will enable the storage of solid waste tailings from the processing plant, as well as operational, storm and snow water management. Contact water, consisting of runoff and embankment seepage, will be collected with collection ditches.

DRPF Quality Iron Ore and Pricing

The Project is expected to produce a DR quality iron ore. With an increased focus on reducing GHG emissions in the steelmaking processes, the steel industry is experiencing a structural shift in its production methods. This dynamic is expected to create additional demand for higher-purity iron ore products, as the industry transitions towards using alternative technologies to produce liquid iron, such as the use of Direct Reduced Iron in Electric Arc Furnaces instead of Blast Furnaces and Basic Oxygen Furnaces.

As DR grade quality iron ore is a niche product in the iron ore industry, representing approximately 5% of the global seaborne iron ore production, pricing tends to be directly negotiated between producers and buyers without an available global pricing index. Due to its higher Fe content and lower impurities, pricing for DR grade iron ore product, used as a raw material input to make DR grade pellets, is expected to attract a significant premium over the traditional high-grade iron ore P65 index and correlates with the DR grade pellet indices. The Company believes, in tandem with several market experts, that the accelerating transition to reduce emissions in the steelmaking process will result in rising demand for DRPF products. As a result of this expected rising demand and product scarcity, the Company believes that its industry leading DRPF quality product will attract increasing premiums over time. In addition to Bloom Lake's expected production of DRPF quality iron ore, the potential production of Kami Project DRPF quality iron ore would further enable the Company to diversify its customer mix, including steelmakers in closer proximity to the Port of Sept-Iles, which could result in freight advantages for the Company.

The Study's base case economic assumption utilizes a conservative blended net realized price based on a P65 index price of US$120.0/t for the life of mine, a C3 index price of US$22.0/t and a conservative premium for DR quality iron ore. The P65 index price of US$120.0/t utilized in the Study compares to the trailing three calendar years' average price of US$152.2/t and the trailing five calendar years' average price of US$136.5/t.

Project Timeline

The Project benefits from the permitting work completed by its previous owner and has an estimated construction period of approximately 48 months following a final investment decision. The Kami Project is one of several organic growth opportunities currently being considered by the Company. The Company will continue to optimize the Project, engage with stakeholders, evaluate opportunities to upgrade its economics, advance permitting and consider strategic partnerships prior to considering a final investment decision.

Study and Qualified Persons

The Study will be filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca , the ASX at www.asx.com.au and the Company's website at www.championiron.com within 45 days of the date of this news release. The following Qualified Persons participated in the preparation of the Study:

Andre Allaire, P. Eng.  BBA Inc.

Christian Beaulieu , P.Geo.  consultant for G Mining Services Inc.

, P.Geo.  consultant for G Mining Services Inc. Alexandre Dorval , P.Eng.  G Mining Services Inc.

, P.Eng.  G Mining Services Inc. Mathieu Girard , P.Eng.  Soutex

, P.Eng.  Soutex Siavash Farhangi , P.Eng.  WSP Canada Inc.

, P.Eng.  WSP Canada Inc. Marie-Helene Paquette, P. Eng.  AtkinsRealis Inc.

Emmanuelle Millet , P. Geo.  AtkinsRealis Inc.

, P. Geo.  AtkinsRealis Inc. Tarek Khoury , P. Eng.  Systra Canada Inc.

Each of these Qualified Persons has reviewed and approved, or has prepared, as applicable, the disclosure of the scientific and technical information contained in this news release that is relevant to their area of responsibility and verified the data underlying such technical information. Reference is made to the Study that will be filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca , the ASX at www.asx.com.au and the Company's website at www.championiron.com .

Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates

The following table presents the mineral resource estimate for the Kami Project, estimated at a cut-off grade of 15% Fe, inside an optimized open-pit shell based on a long-term reference P62 index iron price of US$95/dmt (C$124/dmt) and P65 index iron ore price of US$115/dmt (C$150/dmt). An exchange rate of 1.30 C$/US$ was used. The open-pit measured and indicated mineral resources for the Kami Project, including the Rose and Mills Lake pits, are estimated at 975.5 Mt with an average grade of 29.6% Fe, and the open-pit inferred mineral resources at 163.0 Mt with an average grade of 29.2% Fe. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves have not demonstrated economic viability.

Mineral Resource Estimate



Category Density Mass TFe Mag Fe Hem Fe Mag+Hem

Fe MnO SiO2

(t/m3) (Mt) ( %) ( %) ( %) ( %) ( %) ( %) Rose Central Measured 3.47 93.8 29.3 16.9 9.37 26.3 2.2 45.1 Indicated 3.46 363.7 28.9 17.4 7.39 24.8 1.9 45.6 M&I 3.46 457.5 29.0 17.3 7.80 25.1 1.9 45.5 Inferred 3.44 59.8 28.0 16.7 7.47 24.2 1.6 46.1 Rose North Measured 3.48 81.7 31.0 9.2 19.8 29.1 1.2 50.7 Indicated 3.45 338.5 29.9 13.9 13.6 27.5 1.2 50.0 M&I 3.46 420.2 30.1 13.0 14.8 27.8 1.2 50.2 Inferred 3.30 89.8 29.9 11.7 16.1 27.8 0.9 49.5 Mills Lake Measured 3.59 37.0 30.5 21.4 7.10 28.5 1.3 46.5 Indicated 3.57 60.8 30.3 21.5 5.91 27.4 1.2 46.0 M&I 3.58 97.8 30.4 21.5 6.36 27.8 1.3 46.2 Inferred 3.55 13.4 29.6 23.1 3.34 26.5 1.2 46.1 Total Measured 3.49 212.4 30.2 14.8 13.0 27.8 1.6 47.5 Indicated 3.46 763.0 29.5 16.2 10.0 26.2 1.5 47.6 M&I 3.47 975.5 29.6 15.9 10.7 26.6 1.5 47.6 Inferred 3.37 163.0 29.2 14.5 11.9 26.4 1.2 48.0

Notes on Mineral Resources:

1. The Mineral Resource estimate described above has been prepared in accordance with the CIM Standards (Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, 2014) and follows the Best Practices Guidelines outlined by the CIM (2019). 2. The qualified person for this Mineral Resource Estimate is Christian Beaulieu, P.Geo., consultant for G Mining Services Inc. Mr. Beaulieu is a member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland & Labrador (#10653) and of l'Ordre des geologues du Quebec (#1072). 3. The effective date of the Mineral Resource Estimate is November 15, 2022. 4. The cut-off grade used to report Open Pit Mineral Resources is 15.0% total iron (TFe). 5. Density is applied by rock type and is related to the amount of iron in each block. 6. Pit optimization parameters are described as follows:

i. Based on a P65 index iron price of US$115/dmt

ii. Concentrate grade of 65.2% Fe

iii. Exchange rate of 1.30 C$:US$

iv. Metallurgical recoveries of 83.55%

v. Mining costs of US$2.11/t mined

vi. Total ore based costs of US$5.33/dmt

vii. Overall slope angle varies from 48.4 to 51.6 for the footwall and hanging wall domains respectively. 7. Measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources have been defined mainly based on drill hole spacing. 8. Mineral resources (Rose Central, Rose North and Mills Lake combined) have a stripping ratio of 2.0:1 (W:O). 9. The tonnages and grades outlined above are reported inside a block model with parent block size of 10 m x 20 m x 10 m, and subblocks of 5 m x 10 m x 5 m. 10. Tonnages have been expressed in the metric system and metal content as percentages. Totals may not add up due to rounding. 11. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they have not demonstrated economic viability. The quantity and grade of reported inferred mineral resources are uncertain in nature. 12. The qualified person is not aware of any factors or issues that materially affect the mineral resource estimate other than normal risks faced by mining projects in the province in terms of environmental, permitting, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political factors and additional risk factors regarding indicated and inferred resources. 13. See the appendix to the Company's quarterly activities report filed on January 31, 2024, on the ASX at www.asx.com.au on January 31, 2024, for additional information regarding Joint Ore Reserves Committee ("JORC").

The proven and probable mineral reserves for the Kami Project are estimated at 643.0 Mt at an average grade of 29.2% Fe based on a cut-off grade of 15% Fe. The mineral reserves were estimated using a long-term P62 index iron ore price of US$80/dmt, a long-term P65 index iron ore price of US$100/dmt and an exchange rate of 1.30 C$/US$. The mineral reserves include mining dilution and ore loss calculated on a block-by-block basis, based on the neighbouring blocks lithology and grade. The average stripping ratio of the open pit is 1.6.

Mineral Reserve Estimate

Mineral Reserves by Category Unit Proven Probable Proven & Probable Crude Ore Tonnage Mt 167 476 643 Crude Hematite Grade % HemFe 13.84 10.6 11.4 Crude Magnetite Grade % MagFe 13.18 15.1 14.6 Crude Total Iron Grade % TotFe 29.7 29.0 29.2 Concentrate Tonnage Mt 54.8 157.6 212.4 Concentrate Iron Grade % Fe 67.6 67.6 67.6

Notes on Mineral Reserves:

1. The qualified person for this Mineral Reserve Estimate is Alexandre Dorval, mining engineer at G Mining Services Inc. Mr. Dorval is a member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland & Labrador (#11042), of the Professional Engineers of Ontario (#100214598) and of l'Ordre des Ingenieurs du Quebec (#5027189). 2 Mineral Reserves based on an updated Lidar dated September 2011. 3. Mineral Reserves are estimated using a long-term iron price reference price (Platt's 62%) of US$ 80/dmt and an exchange rate of 1.30 C$/US$. An Fe concentrate price adjustment of US$ 20/dmt was added as an iron grade premium. 4. The effective date of the Mineral Reserve Estimate is November 15, 2022. 5. Bulk density of ore is variable but averages 3.1 t/m3. 6. Cut-Off Grade of 15% TotFe used to calculate reserves. 7. The average stripping ratio is 1.6:1 W:O. 8. The Mineral Reserve includes a 1.4% mining dilution. 9. The number of metric tonnes was rounded to the nearest thousand. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding; with rounding following the recommendations detailed in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). 10. See the appendix to the Company's quarterly activities report filed on January 31, 2024, on the ASX at www.asx.com.au on January 31, 2024, for additional information regarding Joint Ore Reserves Committee ("JORC").

3. Bloom Lake Mine Operating Activities

Phase II and Rail Capacity Update

While the Phase II project was completed as planned and ahead of schedule, the Company faced challenges regarding delays in deliveries and commissioning of additional required mining equipment, creating inefficiencies across the site, which negatively impacted the Company's ability to reach its expanded nameplate capacity. Despite such challenges, Phase II reached commercial production in December 2022 and produced at nameplate capacity for thirty consecutive days for the first time during the first quarter of the 2024 financial year. Further to the improvements to stabilize and optimize operations, Bloom Lake demonstrated additional stability during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, to produce above its recently expanded nameplate capacity over a significant period.

Phase II work on third-party infrastructure was completed in the second quarter of the 2024 financial year, further positioning the Company to benefit from additional flexibility and capacity to handle the Company's expanded nameplate capacity at the port facilities in Sept-Iles. The commissioning of three additional locomotives, an additional stacker reclaimer and associated conveyors, positively impacted the Company's shipment capacity and vessel loading time, required to support the expanded production capacity at Bloom Lake.

Although the commissioning in August 2023 of three additional locomotives, received earlier in June, positively impacted the volume of concentrate transported to Sept-Iles, it was offset by reduced railway services as well as planned and unplanned maintenance activities at the port facilities in Sept-Iles. As a result of the disconnect in railway services and Bloom Lake's increasing production capacity, the iron ore concentrate stockpiled at Bloom Lake increased from 1.6 million wmt at the prior quarter-end to 2.4 million wmt as at December 31, 2023.

The Company is engaging with the rail operator to receive contracted haulage services to ensure that Bloom Lake's increased production, as well as iron ore concentrate currently stockpiled at Bloom Lake, is hauled over future periods. The Company expects to incur additional rehandling costs in future periods to reclaim the iron ore concentrate from the stockpile.

Impact of Forest Fires

Forest fires emerged on May 28, 2023, north of Sept-Iles, Quebec, resulting in railway service interruptions between Bloom Lake and the port of Sept-Iles from May 30 to June 10, 2023. As forest fires subsided in the region, railway services resumed at partial capacity on June 10, 2023, until they returned to pre-forest fire levels during the three-month period ended September 30, 2023. As a result, shipments and sales were impacted in the first half of the 2024 financial year.

Despite supply chain challenges caused by multiple highway closures impacting operations during the quarter ended September 30, 2023, Bloom Lake operated continuously throughout the railway interruptions and iron ore concentrate was stockpiled at the mining complex. The Company responded to the situation by triggering its emergency response plan and managed supply chain risks by focusing mine operations on critical activities required to feed the two plants. This impacted the Company's ability to move waste and generate blasted ore inventory in the first quarter of the 2024 financial year. The Company also used its crusher's stockpiles to supply the two plants during that period.

Operational Performance





Q3 FY24 Q2 FY24 Q/Q Change

Q3 FY23 Y/Y Change















Operating Data













Waste mined and hauled (wmt)

6,993,200 6,264,600 12 %

4,371,500 60 % Ore mined and hauled (wmt)

11,215,800 10,593,600 6 %

8,840,400 27 % Material mined and hauled (wmt)

18,209,000 16,858,200 8 %

13,211,900 38 %















Stripping ratio

0.62 0.59 5 %

0.49 27 %















Ore milled (wmt)

11,137,000 10,339,700 8 %

8,503,400 31 % Head grade Fe (%)

29.4 28.2 4 %

28.5 3 % Fe recovery (%)

81.4 77.8 5 %

80.1 2 % Product Fe (%)

66.3 66.1  %

66.0  % Iron ore concentrate produced (wmt)

4,042,600 3,447,200 17 %

2,962,500 36 % Iron ore concentrate sold (dmt)

3,227,500 2,883,800 12 %

2,694,200 20 %

During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, 18.2 million tonnes of material were mined and hauled, compared to 13.2 million tonnes during the same period in 2022, an increase of 38%, and 16.9 million tonnes during the previous quarter, a quarter-over-quarter increase of 8%. Additional material mined and hauled is attributable to the contribution of additional equipment commissioned during the 2024 financial year, a higher utilization and availability of mining equipment, and reduced trucking cycle time associated with the construction of additional ramp accesses. The stripping ratio of 0.62 for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, was higher than in the same prior-year period, and increased as planned, compared to 0.59 in the previous quarter. The Company plans to gradually increase stripping activities in accordance with the LoM plan.

During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, the two plants processed 11.1 million tonnes of ore, compared to 8.5 million tonnes for the same prior-year period and 10.3 million tonnes in the previous quarter, an increase of 31% and 8%, respectively, as the Company surpassed Bloom Lake's expanded nameplate capacity of 15 Mtpa during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023.

The iron ore head grade for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, was 29.4%, compared to 28.5% for the same period in 2022, and 28.2% during the previous quarter. The variation in head grade was within expected normal variations in the mine plan.

The Company's average Fe recovery rate was 81.4% for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, compared to 80.1% for the same period in 2022, and 77.8% during the previous quarter. The increase in Fe recovery is attributable to work programs that aimed to increase throughput and ore recoveries and optimize operations. Significant improvements were also made to increase the reliability and productivity of the Company's crushed ore conveying systems, which allowed the Company to optimize its recovery circuits level in line with its expected Fe recovery rate target of 82.0% in upcoming quarters, as detailed in the technical report, in respect of Bloom Lake, prepared pursuant to NI 43-101 and Chapter 5 of the ASX Listing Rules entitled "Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves for the Bloom Lake Mine, Fermont, Quebec, Canada", prepared by BBA Inc., SRK Consulting (U.S.) Inc., Soutex and Quebec Iron Ore Inc. and dated September 28, 2023 (the "2023 Technical Report").

With higher head grade and Fe recovery, Bloom Lake delivered record production of 4.0 million wmt (3.9 million dmt) of high-grade iron ore concentrate during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 36% compared to 3.0 million wmt (2.9 million dmt) during the same period in 2022, and an increase of 17% compared to the previous quarter.

4. Financial Performance





Q3 FY24 Q2 FY24 Q/Q Change

Q3 FY23 Y/Y Change















Financial Data (in thousands of dollars)













Revenues

506,891 387,568 31 %

351,233 44 % Cost of sales

235,457 212,584 11 %

209,070 13 % Other expenses

27,219 20,192 35 %

23,780 14 % Net finance costs

8,747 11,634 (25 %)

1,858 371 % Net income

126,462 65,281 94 %

51,406 146 % EBITDA1

246,609 155,036 59 %

118,206 109 %















Statistics (in dollars per dmt sold)













Gross average realized selling price1

195.8 169.4 16 %

171.6 14 % Net average realized selling price1

157.1 134.4 17 %

130.4 20 % C1 cash cost1

73.0 73.7 (1 %)

76.0 (4 %) AISC1

83.9 99.1 (15 %)

86.7 (3 %) Cash operating margin1

73.2 35.3 107 %

43.7 68 %

A. Revenues

Revenues totalled $506.9 million for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, compared to $351.2 million for the same period in 2022, mainly due to sales volume increasing to 3.2 million tonnes of high-grade iron ore concentrate from 2.7 million tonnes for the same period in 2022, and a higher P65 index price. Sales volume during the quarter was impacted by lower rail services, unplanned maintenance at the port facilities and several days of rail service outages after heavy rains in December 2023.

The gross average realized selling price was US$144.0/dmt1 during the third quarter of the 2024 financial year, up from US$126.5/dmt1 for the same period last year, benefiting from higher P65 index prices. During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, the P65 index averaged US$138.7/dmt, an increase of 25% from the same quarter last year. The P65 index premium was only 8.1% over the P62 index average price of US$128.3/dmt during the quarter, down from a premium of 9.6% in the previous quarter. The high-grade P65 index premium over the P62 index averaged 12.0% during the three-month period ended December 31, 2022. The depressed premiums for high-grade iron ore, compared to recent periods, are mainly attributable to lower European steel output, a key consuming region for high-grade iron ore, struggling profitability at global steel mills, together with the lack of environmental control for the steel industry in China.

The gross average realized selling price of US$144.0/dmt1 for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, was higher than the P65 index average price of US$138.7/dmt for the period due to the 1.8 million tonnes in transit as at December 31, 2023, provisionally priced using an average forward price of US$149.6/dmt, which is higher than the P65 index average price for the period. This was partially offset by sales contracts using backward-looking iron ore index prices, when prices were lower than the P65 index average price for the period.

The average C3 Baltic Capesize Index ("C3 index") for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, was US$24.9/t compared to US$20.6/t for the same period in 2022, representing an increase of 21%, which is higher than the increase in freight and other costs of 11%. Champion typically books vessels three to five weeks prior to the desired laycan period when contracting vessels on the spot market, which creates a delay between the freight paid and the C3 index. The effect of this delay is eventually reconciled since Champion ships its high-grade iron ore concentrate uniformly throughout the year. Freight and other costs during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, were also impacted by higher demurrage expenses resulting from a combination of higher demurrage rates, compared to the same period last year, and lower than expected shipment.

Provisional pricing adjustments on prior quarter sales of $16.0 million were recorded during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, representing a positive impact of US$3.8/dmt over the total volume of 3.2 million dmt sold during the period, due to an increase in the P65 index average in the period. During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, a final average price of US$135.4/dmt was established for the 1.3 million tonnes of iron ore that were in transit as at September 30, 2023, and which were previously evaluated using an average expected price of US$125.9/dmt.

After taking into account sea freight and other costs of US$32.2/dmt and the positive provisional pricing adjustment of US$3.8/dmt, the Company obtained a net average realized selling price of US$115.6/dmt (C$157.1/dmt)1 for its high-grade iron ore shipped during the period.

B. Cost of Sales and C1 Cash Cost

For the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, the cost of sales totalled $235.5 million with a C1 cash cost of $73.0/dmt1, compared to $209.1 million with a C1 cash cost of $76.0/dmt1 for the same period in 2022, and $212.6 million with a C1 cash cost of $73.7/dmt1 in the previous quarter. These improvements were mostly driven by production achieving nameplate capacity during the quarter, and to increased shipments amortizing fixed production and handling costs.

The cost of sales and C1 cash cost for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, continued to be negatively impacted by higher than planned utilization of contractors to fill vacant positions, and below expected run rate shipment levels during the quarter to amortize mostly fixed costs at the port facilities in Sept-Iles. The cost of sales and C1 cash cost for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, benefitted from lower fuel and explosives prices, much higher production levels and lower rail service costs due to semi-annual fuel price adjustments based on trailing prices, compared to the same prior-year period.

Mining and processing costs for the 3.9 million dmt produced in the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, totalled $45.3/dmt produced, a decrease of 4% compared to $47.3/dmt produced in the previous quarter, reflecting a stronger mining performance, lower quarter-over-quarter planned maintenance activities and production exceeding nameplate capacity.

C. Net Income & EBITDA

For the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, the Company generated EBITDA of $246.6 million1, representing an EBITDA margin of 49%1, compared to $118.2 million1, representing an EBITDA margin of 34%1, for the same period in 2022. Higher EBITDA was mainly due to higher sales volume and net average realized selling price and lower cash cost, as described above.

For the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, the Company generated net income of $126.5 million (EPS of $0.24), compared to $51.4 million (EPS of $0.10) for the same prior-year period. The year-over-year increase in net income is attributable to higher gross profits partially offset by higher current income and mining taxes.

D. All In Sustaining Cost & Cash Operating Margin

During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, the Company realized an AISC of $83.9/dmt1, compared to $86.7/dmt1 for the same period in 2022. The decrease was attributable to lower C1 cash costs which benefited from Bloom Lake achieving nameplate capacity, partially offset by slightly higher sustaining capital expenditures. Refer to section 6  Cash Flows for details on sustaining capital expenditures.

The Company generated a cash operating margin of $73.2/dmt1 for each tonne of high-grade iron ore concentrate sold during the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, compared to $43.7/dmt1 for the same prior-year period. The variation is due to a higher net average realized selling price for the period and lower AISC.

5. Exploration Activities

During the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023, the Company maintained all of its properties in good standing and did not enter into any farm-in/farm-out arrangements. During the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023, $5.8 million and $13.1 million in exploration and evaluation expenditures were incurred, respectively, compared to $3.8 million and $6.8 million, respectively, for the same prior-year periods. During the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023, exploration and evaluation expenditures mainly consisted of costs associated with work related to updating the Kami Project feasibility study (refer to section 2  Kami Project Study), claim renewal fees and claim staking around the Kami property. In addition, the Company completed a 1,400 m diamond drill campaign for hydrogeological characterization. Details on exploration projects and maps are available on the Company's website at www.championiron.com under the section Operations & Projects.

6. Cash Flows  Purchase of Property, Plant and Equipment





Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended



December 31,

December 31,



2023

2022

2023

2022

















(in thousands of dollars)















Tailings lifts

11,662

10,547

66,649

47,972 Stripping and mining activities

7,227

3,207

17,032

18,000 Mining equipment rebuild and replacement

5,095

5,741

20,330

16,649 Other sustaining capital expenditures

47



269

 Sustaining capital expenditures

24,031

19,495

104,280

82,621

















DRPF project

30,989



59,010

 Other capital development expenditures at Bloom Lake

41,656

36,822

79,442

174,894 Purchase of property, plant and equipment as per cash flows

96,676

56,317

242,732

257,515

Sustaining Capital Expenditures

The increases in tailings-related investments for the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023, are part of the Company's long-term plan to prepare the site for a higher level of operations with the commissioning of Phase II. As part of the Company's ongoing and thorough tailings infrastructure monitoring and inspections, the Company continues to invest in its safe tailings strategy and is implementing its long-term tailings investment plan. The Company's tailings work programs are typically completed in the first half of the financial year due to more favourable weather conditions.

Stripping and mining activities for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, included $1.6 million of capitalized stripping costs (nil for the same prior-year period) and $5.7 million of other mine development costs, including access ramps, topographic and pre-cut drilling ($3.2 million for the same prior-year period). For the nine-month period ended December 31, 2023, capitalized stripping costs totalled $1.8 million ($6.1 million for the same prior-year period) and other mining development costs totalled $15.2 million ($11.9 million for the same prior-year period). The stripping and mining activities for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2023, were slightly lower than planned for the 2024 financial year, due to the prioritization of critical activities to mitigate the impacts of the forest fires in the first quarter.

The increase in the Company's mining equipment rebuild program for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2023, is attributable to the major overhaul of its growing mining fleet over the last two years, used to prepare for additional mining activities driven by the Company's expansion. The mining equipment rebuild program is in line with the Company's fleet management program for the 2024 financial year.

DRPF Project

During the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023, $31.0 million and $59.0 million, respectively, were spent in capital expenditures related to the DRPF project. Investments mainly consisted of on-site preparation activities, engineering work, long lead-time equipment purchasing and the construction of a lodging complex. Cumulative investments of $59.9 million were deployed on the DRPF project as at December 31, 2023, with an estimated capital expenditure of $470.7 million, as per the study released in January 2023.

Other Capital Development Expenditures at Bloom Lake

During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, other capital development expenditures at Bloom Lake totalled $41.7 million ($36.8 million for the same period in 2022), including $17.9 million for third-party facilities in Sept-Iles to handle additional production from Phase II ($5.3 million for the same period last year), $9.3 million in infrastructure improvements and conformity ($9.9 million for the same prior-year period), $5.4 million for the garage expansion to support the expanded truck fleet, and $7.7 million in deposits for a shovel and a loader at the mine ($15.8 million for the same prior-year period).

During the nine-month period ended December 31, 2023, other capital development expenditures at Bloom Lake totalled $79.4 million ($174.9 million for the same period in 2022) and comprised $23.3 million in infrastructure improvements and conformity, including the construction of two pads to expand the mine's capacity to stockpile concentrate near the loadout ($19.7 million for the same prior-year period), $20.5 million for the garage expansion, $17.7 million for third-party facilities in Sept-Iles to handle additional production from Phase II ($99.3 million for the same prior-year period) and $19.4 million for mining equipment deposit, including a drill, a haul truck, two loaders as well as a shovel ($35.0 million for the same prior-year period). The addition of this mining equipment made a significant contribution to the Company's recent performance. The expenditures for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2023, also included $1.3 million in capitalized borrowing costs ($14.4 million for the same prior-year period). During the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, other capital development expenditures were partially offset by the receipt of a $5.2 million government grant related to the Company's GHG emissions and energy consumption reduction initiatives.

7. Qualified Person and Data Verification

Mr. Vincent Blanchet, P. Eng., Engineer at Quebec Iron Ore Inc., the Company's subsidiary and operator of Bloom Lake, is a "qualified person" as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved, or has prepared, as applicable, the disclosure of the scientific and technical information contained in this document and has confirmed that the relevant information is an accurate representation of the available data and studies for the relevant projects. Mr. Blanchet's review and approval does not include statements as to the Company's knowledge or awareness of new information or data or any material changes to the material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the 2023 Technical Report. Mr. Blanchet is a member of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec.

The mineral resource qualified person, Christian Beaulieu, P.Geo., undertook data verification and validation of information included in section 2 - Kami Project Study, including, but not limited to, drill core inspection of sampling, logging and mineralization style, outcrop inspection, drill hole collar location, quality assurance and quality control results review, independent sampling, and database verification against laboratory certificates. The qualified person is of the opinion that the drilling database and supporting information can be used for a mineral resource estimate. No major issues were found during data validation, both digitally and on the field.

8. Conference Call and Webcast Information

A webcast and conference call to discuss the foregoing results will be held on January 31, 2024, at 9:00 AM (Montreal time) / February 1, 2024, at 1:00 AM (Sydney time). Listeners may access a live webcast of the conference call from the Investors section of the Company's website at www.championiron.com/investors/events-presentations or by dialing toll free +1-888-390-0546 within North America or +1-800-076-068 from Australia.

An online archive of the webcast will be available by accessing the Company's website at www.championiron.com/investors/events-presentations . A telephone replay will be available for one week after the call by dialing +1-888-390-0541 within North America or +1-416-764-8677 overseas, and entering passcode 228228#.

About Champion Iron Limited

Champion, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Quebec Iron Ore Inc., owns and operates the Bloom Lake Mining Complex, located on the south end of the Labrador Trough, approximately 13 km north of Fermont, Quebec. Bloom Lake is an open-pit operation with two concentrators that primarily source energy from renewable hydroelectric power. The two concentrators have a combined nameplate capacity of 15 Mtpa and produce low contaminant high-grade 66.2% Fe iron ore concentrate with a proven ability to produce a 67.5% Fe direct reduction quality iron ore concentrate. Benefiting from one of the highest purity resources globally, the Company is investing to upgrade half of the Bloom Lake mine capacity to a direct reduction quality pellet feed iron ore with up to 69% Fe. Bloom Lake's high-grade and low contaminant iron ore products have attracted a premium to the Platts IODEX 62% Fe iron ore benchmark. The Company ships iron ore concentrate from Bloom Lake by rail, to a ship loading port in Sept-Iles, Quebec, and has sold its iron ore concentrate to customers globally, including in China, Japan, the Middle East, Europe, South Korea, India and Canada. In addition to Bloom Lake, Champion owns a portfolio of exploration and development projects in the Labrador Trough, including the Kamistiatusset Project, located a few kilometres south-east of Bloom Lake, and the Cluster II portfolio of properties, located within 60 km south of Bloom Lake.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain information and statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates", "aims", "targets" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Inherent in forward-looking statements are risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond the Company's ability to predict or control.

Specific Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this press release that address future events, developments or performance that Champion expects to occur are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, Management's expectations regarding: (i) the Company's Phase II expansion project, its impact on nameplate capacity, economic and other benefits and associated costs; (ii) Bloom Lake's life of mine, recovery rates, production, economic and other benefits; (iii) the project to upgrade the Bloom Lake iron ore concentrate to a higher grade with lower contaminants and to convert approximately half of Bloom Lake's increased nameplate capacity of 15 Mtpa to commercially produce a DR quality pellet feed iron ore, expected project timeline, economics, capital expenditure, budget and financing, production metrics, technical parameters, permitting and approvals, efficiencies and economic and other benefits; (iv) the study evaluating the re-commissioning of the Pointe-Noire Iron Ore Pelletizing Facility to produce DR grade pellets, including its anticipated completion timeline; (v) the Kami Project's Study, its purpose, including evaluating the potential to produce a DR grade product, expected project timeline, economics, capital expenditure, budget and financing, production and financial metrics, technical parameters, flowsheet, permitting and approvals, available and planned infrastructure, expected environmental footprint, efficiencies and economic and other benefits and related engagement with stakeholders and strategic partners; (vi) the shift in steel industry production methods towards reducing emissions and green steel production methods, including expected rising demand for higher-grade iron ore products and related market deficit and higher premiums, and the Company's participation therein, contribution thereto and positioning in connection therewith, including related research and development and the transition of the Company's product offering (including producing high quality DRPF products) and expected benefits thereof; (vii) greenhouse gas and CO 2 emissions reduction initiatives, objectives, targets and expectations; (viii) increasing stripping activities; (ix) stockpiled ore levels, shipping and sales of accumulated concentrate inventories and related rehandling costs; * increased shipments of iron ore and related railway and port capacity and transportation and handling costs; (xi) the Company's mining equipment rebuild program, fleet management program, tailings investment plan and related investments and benefits; (xii) production and recovery rate targets and the Company's performance; (xiii) pricing of the Company's products; (xiv) the Company's expected iron ore concentrate production and sales; (xv) available liquidity to support the Company's growth projects; and (xvi) the Company's growth and opportunities generally.

Deemed Forward-Looking Statements

Statements relating to "reserves" or "resources" are deemed to be forward-looking statements as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves and resources described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated and that the reserves can be profitably mined in the future. Actual reserves and resources may be greater or less than the estimates provided herein.

Risks

Although Champion believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, most of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements include, without limitation: (i) the results of feasibility studies; (ii) changes in the assumptions used to prepare feasibility studies; (iii) project delays; (iv) timing and uncertainty of industry shift to green steel and Electric Arc Furnaces; (v) continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions; (vi) general economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; (vii) future prices of iron ore; (viii) future transportation costs; (ix) failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; * delays in obtaining governmental approvals, necessary permitting or in the completion of development or construction activities; and (xi) the effects of catastrophes and public health crises, including the impact of COVID-19 on the global economy, the iron ore market and Champion's operations, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" of the Company's 2023 Annual Report, Annual Information Form and MD&A for the financial year ended March 31, 2023, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca , the ASX at www.asx.com.au and the Company's website at www.championiron.com . There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Additional Updates

All of Champion's forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof or such other date or dates specified in the forward-looking statements and is based upon the opinions and estimates of Champion's Management and information available to Management as at the date hereof. Champion disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. Champion cautions that the foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive. Readers should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risks they entail.

Abbreviations

Unless otherwise specified, all dollar figures stated herein are expressed in millions of Canadian dollars, except for: (i) tabular amounts which are in thousands of Canadian dollars; and (ii) per share or per tonne amounts. The following abbreviations and definitions are used throughout this press release: US$ (United States dollar), C$ (Canadian dollar), Fe (iron ore), wmt (wet metric tonnes), dmt (dry metric tonnes), Mtpa (million tonnes per annum), M (million), km (kilometers), LoM (life of mine), Bloom Lake or Bloom Lake Mine (Bloom Lake Mining Complex), Phase II (Phase II expansion project), DRPF (direct reduction pellet feed), GHG (greenhouse gas), G&A (general and administrative), P62 index (Platts IODEX 62% Fe CFR China index), P65 index (Platts IODEX 65% Fe CFR China index), C3 index (C3 Baltic Capesize index), CAPEX (capital expenditures), EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization), AISC (all-in sustaining cost), EPS (earnings per share) and Management (Champion's management team). The utilization of "Champion" or the "Company" refers to Champion Iron Limited and/or one, or more, or all of its subsidiaries, as applicable. "IFRS" refers to International Financial Reporting Standards.

For additional information on Champion Iron Limited, please visit our website at: www.championiron.com .

This document has been authorized for release to the market by the Chief Executive Officer of Champion Iron Limited, David Cataford.

The Company's unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 (the "Financial Statements") and associated Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca ), on the ASX ( www.asx.com.au ) and the Company's website ( www.championiron.com ).





_______________________________ 1 This is a non-IFRS financial measure, ratio or other financial measure. The measure is not a standardized financial measure under the financial reporting framework used to prepare the financial statements and might not be comparable to similar financial measures used by other issuers. Refer to the section below  Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures for definitions of these metrics and reconciliations to the most comparable IFRS measure when applicable. Additional details for these non-IFRS and other financial measures, have been incorporated by reference and can be found in section 21 of the Company's MD&A for the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca , the ASX at www.asx.com.au and on the Company's website under the Investors section at www.championiron.com . 2 See the "Currency" section of the MD&A for the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023, included in note 7  Key Drivers, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca , the ASX at www.asx.com.au and on the Company's website under the Investors section at www.championiron.com .

Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures

The Company has included certain non-IFRS financial measures, ratios and supplementary financial measures in this press release to provide investors with additional information in order to help them evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. These measures are mainly derived from the Financial Statements but do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management believes that these measures, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors with an improved ability to understand the results of the Company's operations. Non-IFRS and other financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. The exclusion of certain items from non-IFRS financial measures does not imply that these items are necessarily non-recurring.

The Company presents certain of its non-IFRS measures and other financial measures in U.S. dollars in addition to Canadian dollars to facilitate comparability with measures presented by other companies.

EBITDA and EBITDA Margin





Q3 FY24 Q2 FY24 Q3 FY23









(in thousands of dollars)







Income before income and mining taxes

204,981 112,187 85,629 Net finance costs

8,747 11,634 1,858 Depreciation

32,881 31,215 30,719 EBITDA

246,609 155,036 118,206 Revenues

506,891 387,568 351,233 EBITDA margin

49 % 40 % 34 %

Available Liquidity





As at December 31,

As at September 30,



2023

2023









Cash and cash equivalents

387,373

316,530 Undrawn amounts under credit facilities

550,253

329,386 Available liquidity

937,626

645,916

C1 Cash Cost





Q3 FY24 Q2 FY24 Q3 FY23



















Iron ore concentrate sold (dmt)

3,227,500 2,883,800 2,694,200









(in thousands of dollars except per tonne)







Cost of sales

235,457 212,584 209,070 Less: Bloom Lake Phase II start-up costs

  (4,292)



235,457 212,584 204,778









C1 cash cost (per dmt sold)

73.0 73.7 76.0

All-In Sustaining Cost





Q3 FY24 Q2 FY24 Q3 FY23



















Iron ore concentrate sold (dmt)

3,227,500 2,883,800 2,694,200









(in thousands of dollars except per tonne)







Cost of sales

235,457 212,584 209,070 Less: Bloom Lake Phase II start-up costs

  (4,292) Sustaining capital expenditures

24,031 60,446 19,495 G&A expenses

11,206 12,729 9,212



270,694 285,759 233,485









AISC (per dmt sold)

83.9 99.1 86.7

Cash Operating Margin and Cash Profit Margin





Q3 FY24 Q2 FY24 Q3 FY23



















Iron ore concentrate sold (dmt)

3,227,500 2,883,800 2,694,200









(in thousands of dollars except per tonne)







Revenues

506,891 387,568 351,233 Net average realized selling price (per dmt sold)

157.1 134.4 130.4









AISC (per dmt sold)

83.9 99.1 86.7 Cash operating margin (per dmt sold)

73.2 35.3 43.7 Cash profit margin

47 % 26 % 34 %

Gross Average Realized Selling Price per dmt Sold



Q3 FY24 Q2 FY24 Q3 FY23







Iron ore concentrate sold (dmt) 3,227,500 2,883,800 2,694,200







(in thousands of dollars except per tonne)





Revenues 506,891 387,568 351,233 Provisional pricing adjustments (15,997) (1,559) 5,205 Freight and other costs 140,971 102,411 105,987 Gross revenues 631,865 488,420 462,425







Gross average realized selling price (per dmt sold) 195.8 169.4 171.6

SOURCE Champion Iron Limited

For further information: Michael Marcotte, CFA, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Development and Capital Markets, 514-316-4858, Ext. 1128, [email protected]
REGINA, SK, Jan. 30, 2024 /CNW/ - SSC Security Services Corp. ("SSC" or the "Company") (TSXV: SECU) (OTCQX: SECUF), a national provider of cyber, physical and electronic security services to commercial, industrial and public sector clients across Canada, is pleased to announce the launch of a formal partnering strategy with strong national Managed Service Provider's ("MSP's") to specifically market and deliver cyber security services.

Today, SSC formally entered a Collaboration and Partnering Agreement with WBM Technologies ("WBM"), one of Western Canada's largest MSP's to co-market the cyber security services of SSC.

"The partnership with WBM is the latest collaboration with a nationally recognised Managed Service Provider and represents a substantial step forward for SSC in the marketing of our highly specialised cyber security services across Canada," said SSC President and CEO Doug Emsley.

This formal Partnering Strategy will continue to grow our operations and accelerate the market penetration and reach of our cyber division to deliver a suite of technical security services listed below:

Behavioural Analysis  to better allow for monitoring of customer environments for anomalies.

 to better allow for monitoring of customer environments for anomalies. Threat Hunting  using our cyber team to proactively assess our customers' IT environments.

 using our cyber team to proactively assess our customers' IT environments. International Threat Intelligence  using our international partnerships and security tools to monitor and rapidly respond to emerging new threats.

 using our international partnerships and security tools to monitor and rapidly respond to emerging new threats. Dark Web Monitoring  use of the latest robust Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and our deep bench of cyber experts to monitor the dark web for email identity and company brand theft for malicious use.

 use of the latest robust Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and our deep bench of cyber experts to monitor the dark web for email identity and company brand theft for malicious use. 24/7 Operations Centre  for monitoring and incident response

 for monitoring and incident response Penetration Testing  continual testing and management of client networks for vulnerabilities and weaknesses

 continual testing and management of client networks for vulnerabilities and weaknesses Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT)  our CIRT is highly experienced and available 24/7 to assist our clients in responding to and resolving all threats such as denial of service and ransomware attacks.

JoeAnne Hardy, President of WBM stated that the new Collaboration and Partnership Agreement with SSC's Cyber Security division will "provide WBM with a suite of products and service capabilities that will greatly enhance WBM's own offerings to existing and new clients. The cyber security specialists at SSC bring a particular focus and strength in the area of cyber security that is difficult to find in Canada. I am very pleased with this collaboration."

ABOUT SSC

SSC Security Services Corp. is a leading provider of cyber, physical and electronic security services to corporate and public sector clients across Canada. For more information, please visit www.securityservicescorp.ca.

ABOUT WBM

WBM Technologies LP (WBM) is a Western Canadian leader in the provision of outcome driven information technology solutions. Established May 1, 1950, WBM now operates out of Operation Centers located in Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg, employing a team of over 600 IT professionals across Canada. SSC and WBM are driven by the difference we can make together, providing business solutions across the WBM Enterprise UX Platform, including core practice areas Data & Security, End User Computing, Modern Workplace, Managed Print Solutions, and Enterprise Service Desk.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Forward Looking Statements

This release includes forward-looking statements regarding SSC and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of SSC's management. In some cases the forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting SSC, including risks regarding the security industry, economic factors and the equity markets generally and many other factors beyond the control of SSC. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and SSC undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE SSC Security Services Corp.

For further information: Doug Emsley, President & CEO, (306) 347-1024, [email protected]; Blair Ross, Chief Operating Officer, (306) 522-1677, [email protected]
At the end of October 2023, Chinas NEA (National Energy Administration) reported Chinas installed renewable energy capacity had exceeded 1.4 Terawatts. This capacity includes 420 GW of hydropower, 404 GW of wind power, 536 GW of solar, and 44 GW of biomass. China added 216.9 GW of solar capacity in 2023, marking a 148 % YoY increase compared to 87.4 GW in 2022. Major power generation enterprises invested CNY967.5 billion (~$151.17 billion) in power projects, representing a 30.1% YoY increase.

In 2022, Chinas solar power generation reached 418 terawatt hours (TWh), a 20.9% increase from 2021. China had 392 GW of installed solar at the end of 2022. In 2022, the US had 110 Gigawatts of installed solar and it generated 204 TWh. China is averaging a little 1 MWh/year (2.8kWh/day) per kilowatt of installed solar. The US is getting 1.85 MWh/year (4.8 kWh/day) per kilowatt of installed solar.

It is a common mistake for people to assume that the kilowatts of installed energy are all equal. US nuclear power can get 8 MWh/year (22 kWh/day) per installed kilowatt. Other countries get 6-7 MWh/year per installed kilowatt of nuclear. Coal power can get about 4 MWh/year per kilowatt of installed power. Hydro can get about 3 MWh/year per kilowatt of installed power. There is also a lot of variability by country, locations and projects even for the same energy type.

The fast build out of solar power in China could take time to fully connect to the grid. China had much more installed solar power in 2017 at 130 GW than the US in 2022 but it took until 2019 for China to generate more electricity than the US using 110 GW.

Mongolia is a good location for solar power generation, with 270300 sunny days per year. This is equivalent to 2,2503,300 hours of sunshine. Mongolia has cold winters with snow and ice. The number of sunny days should not be the problem. Too much heat can also be bad for solar panels, reducing their efficiency by 10%-25%. Chinas solar power only generates about 55-65% of the electricity for the same installed capacity as the USA. The fast buildout could have a lag factor before everything is connected. The China solar locations are probably 20-40% worse than the best places in the USA. China has dust and air pollution that is reducing the effectiveness of the solar power. China is choosing to mass install in north and northwest where the Gobi desert is located. China is also building solar in many other locations by the super-scale projects are in the Gobi desert.

China had 3.56x as much installed solar capacity but just over 2X in electrical generation.

The Kubuqi Base Project is a 16-gigawat (GW) solar, wind, and coal project in Chinas Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Its the worlds largest wind and photovoltaic power project developed and built in a desert. The Kubuqi base project is roughly the size of 20 Central Parks. China will build 450 Gigawatts of solar and wind power in the desert.

Chinas solar power reached 610 GW at the end of 2023. 74 GW was activated in November and December. Chinas company and government have put $130 billion into solar cell and energy production. This will capture about 80% of the global market. China will have losses and low margins while they generate a solar power glut while capturing market share. Solar module prices dropped 42% in the last year. They are now at $0.15 per watt. This is down to $150 per kilowatt. The US has prices for home installation of $3 per watt which is $3000 per kilowatt. The $0.15 per watt is 60% below the $0.40 per watt for wholesale utility scale US prices.

China will reach over 1 terawatt of solar installed capacity by the end of 2025. This will generate about 1100 TWh/year. Chinas total power generation volume was about 9,360 TWh in 2023. Chinas electrical power generation and demand will be about 9600-9700 TWh in 2024 and about 10000 TWh in 2025.

An Australian energy project, Uaroo, combined a 3.33GW solar park with a 2.04GW wind farm and a battery with a storage capacity of 9.1GWh. Swedish state-owned utility Vattenfall also aims to address the grid congestion in the Netherlands with its integrated wind, solar, and BESS project. Its 61 million Energypark Haringvliet, which opened in March, has 38MW of solar capacity, 22MW of wind and a 12MWh BESS.

The BESS (Battery electric storage system) sizing for these renewable projects is roughly 2 hours of storage for each megawatt of solar or wind generation.

The Tesla Megapack provides about 3.9 MWh of storage which would match up with 2 MW of solar or wind generation. 1 Terawatt of solar in China would match up to 2 TWh of battery storage for a fully stored energy solution. This would move the generation from say 9AM-11AM to 6pm -8pm. 2 TWH would be 500,000 Tesla Megapacks. It would take 10 Tesla factories at full 40 GWh per production to build this number of megapacks in 5 years. Global Solar would need to continue scaling for 20 years to meet current world electricity demand. World electricity demand would increase 30% by electrifying all cars and trucks. World electricity demand could start doubling every 5-10 years with growing energy demand from AI data centers. The existing solar and wind energy (2TWh) already need about 1,000,000 megapacks of storage. There is some pumped hydro and other storage but almost all of the solar and wind energy has no battery storage to make the energy created more efficient, productive and valuable.

Chinas Energy Storage increased from 8.7 GW at the end of 2022 to 31.4 GW at the end of 2023. China has invested $14 billion into mainly lithium ion battery energy storage in 2022 and 2023.
Kaiser Permanente, Oaklands largest private employer, has issued a memo directing workers in downtown Oakland to stay in their buildings for lunch and work. Kaiser has office all over the Bay Area and operates in multiple states. I, Brian Wang, worked for Kaiser for seven years (2010-2017). Kaiser Permanente operates 39 hospitals and more than 700 medical offices, with over 300,000 personnel, including more than 87,000 physicians and nurses. Kaiser provides health services for over 12 million members.

Another memo issued last month, tells workers not based in Oakland to not have any meetings downtown and to instead move them elsewhere, or have them online.

In 2023, Oakland had a 21% increase in violent crime last year over 2022. Robberies climbed 38%, and burglaries increased 23%. For the second consecutive year, the city logged 120 homicides.

Health Insurer, Blue Shield, also has Oakland offices and is offering employees ride-hail services, secure parking and security guards.

There has been significant private security in Detroit for years. Above on the left is picture from private security company, Detroit Threat Management.

Robocop was a dystopian future in movies and other media that saw high crime and corporatized security to manage it.

Private security companies are reporting a boost in business, like Ranger Guard, based in Houston. The company employs 400 security guards in Texas. It also operates in Florida and Nevada. It is no longer just unarmed mall cops but armed security guards.

Popular hamburger store, In and Out, shut down an Oakland restaurant. In and Out has long lines everywhere. They shut it down because daily car break ins, car theft and for crime affecting the safety of staff and customers.

A Korean Grocery store in Oakland now has six armed guards. The store is about half the size of a Safeway.

There are police cars on every block of Oakland Chinatown. This is better than the first year or two of the Pandemic when the crime was rampant but the security and police were not matching the level of crime.

A 7-11 security was killed in Oakland in December.
Russia reported an attack by a Ukrainian drone on the Leningrad region on the morning of January 31. The drone was allegedly shot down by the S-400.

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At the same time, it fell very successfully on the territory of the Nevsky Mazut plant: a fire broke out there, writes the St. Petersburg edition of Fontanka. And sources in the GUR confirmed to OBOZ.UA that the Ukrainian drone won a "fight" with Russian air defense.

The report emphasizes that the unknown drone was shot down using S-400 Triumph.

"Air defense systems were used today at 4:20 a.m. against an object flying over Kolpino. The drone was shot down, but still managed to reach the Nevsky district and crashed on the territory of the Nevsky Fuel Oil plant," the journalists said.

At the same time, they hastened to reassure Russians that nothing terrible had happened.

"According to preliminary data, there was no serious fire, three empty tanks were quickly extinguished. According to initial information, there were no injuries," the statement said.

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The St. Petersburg authorities called the UAV attack an "incident on Glukhoozerskoye Highway" and also reported no casualties and "no damage to property."

Instead, OBOZ.UA's sources in the Main Intelligence Directorate confirmed the hit and that the Ukrainian UAV had won a "duel" with Russian air defense in the skies over St. Petersburg.

Despite the loud statements of the authorities and the media, eyewitnesses to the "incident" doubt that the morning attack really had any significant consequences.

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"According to eyewitnesses, after the drone crash in St. Petersburg on the territory of the Nevsky Mazut plant at 15 Glukhoozerskoye Shosse, the entrances to the enterprise were blocked by special services until 9 a.m., and smoke and fire were observed on its territory. The drone attacked the plant at about 4:20 am," the Russian Telegram channel VCHK-OGPU writes.

The public also refutes the St. Petersburg edition's claim that Nevsky Fuel Oil got off with a "mild scare."

"The Nevsky Fuel Oil facility suffered significant damage after the UAV attack. Buildings, tanks and vehicles were destroyed," the statement said.

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Fontanka previously wrote that the residents of St. Petersburg were woken up this morning by a powerful explosion that could be heard in different parts of the city. At that time, the "Carpet" plan was introduced at Pulkovo airport: the sky over the "northern capital" was closed from 03:53 to 05:11 Moscow time.

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Several flights were delayed and departed later.

The newspaper also published complaints from St. Petersburgers about the "pop" that woke them up.

"We live on Piatiletok Avenue in St. Petersburg. Around 5 a.m., something thumped loudly outside the window. Basically, it sounded like thunder, but only one rumble.", "04:47, a loud bang or explosion in the area of Tavriyskaya Street", "At 4:45-47 there was an extremely strong explosion. Walls and windows shook in Krasnogvardeisky, Nevsky and Tsentralny", "In Kolpino and Telman at the beginning of five, a loud bang was heard, maybe a plane going supersonic", "Something just banged loudly near Moskovsky railway station, windows rattled in the apartment", Russians complained in a row.

Fontanka also published a video from super-view webcams: it clearly shows the sound of a powerful explosion, after which the cars' alarms went off. Air defense systems are not heard.

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Instead, the unsuccessful attempts of the Russians to shoot down the drone can be heard in other videos that also recorded the sound after the UAV hit.

Nevsky Mazut started operating in 2001, and its first specialization was the production and supply of marine fuel. In 2002, it began supplying bunker fuel, and since 2003, it has been running its own bunker operations in the port of St. Petersburg.

Today, Nevsky Mazut's activities include bunkering, export, transshipment, storage of gasoline and diesel fuel, and transportation of petroleum products.

The day before, on January 30, an explosion occurred in Moscow near a thermal power plant. It caused a puff of black smoke to rise into the sky.

Also on the same day, Russians complained about a drone attack on an oil depot in Kaluga, and the day before, a UAV attacked an oil refinery in Yaroslavl.

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More than 320 Nigerians stranded in Libya have been rescued with the International Organisation for Migration coordinating moves to help them return to Nigeria.

War-torn Libya has become a key departure point on North Africas Mediterranean coast for migrants, mainly from other parts of Africa, risking dangerous sea voyages in hopes of reaching Europe.





AFP reports that Libyas rival administrations last year agreed on a Tripoli-based anti-immigration body tasked with coordinating deportations of foreigners who are in the country illegally.





We carried out on Tuesday the expulsion of 163 irregular migrants of Nigerian nationality from the Mitiga airport, including 107 women, 51 men and five children, Libya migration agencys head of security, Mohamad Baredaa, told AFP.

In a move coordinated with the IOM, Baredaa added that 160 Nigerians will be sent back to their country from Benina airport in Benghazi later on Tuesday.

An AFP correspondent saw the first group at Tripolis Mitiga airport early Tuesday, where they were given a laissez-passer before boarding shuttles to the plane.





According to the IOM, there are more than 700,000 migrants in Libya.

As foreign countries like the United Kingdom tighten their immigration policies, many Nigerians are still racing to leave the country following the wave of Japa and as economic conditions continue to worsen amid naira devaluation.








The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said about 67,315 eligible voters will participate in the February 3 re-run elections in Enugu State.





INECs Head of Department for Voters Education and Publicity, Mr Rex Achumie, disclosed this to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday while speaking on the voting population for the re-run.





According to him, the re-run would take place in Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency and Enugu South (Urban) State Constituency between 8 a.m. and 2:30p.m. on Saturday, February 3.





Achumie said a total of 173 polling units in 25 Registration Areas, popularly known as political wards, would be open for the elections.





He noted that for Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, there would be a total number of 62,697 eligible voters within 24 Registration Areas as well as 165 polling units.





The INEC official further said that for Enugu South (Urban) State Constituency, there would be a total number of 4,618 eligible voters within one Registration Area (political ward) as well as eight polling units.





He said just like the main 2023 elections, all technological devices of INEC would be deployed, these include: Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV).





Achumie added that all rules and regulations for a normal election would apply and observed during the re-run, assuring that any eligible voter that made himself/herself available before 2:30 p.m. will vote and his/her vote will count.





The Enugu State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, has been working round the clock to ensure hitch-free elections by ensuring water-tight arrangement and meeting various election stakeholders, he said.
The hydrogen flicker in the galaxies of the early Universe, which has long stumped scientists, may have finally been explained. Observations by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) suggest that the cause of these light signals is faint galaxies colliding with each other.

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This is stated in a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy. Scientists know that the early Universe, within 1 billion years after the Big Bang, was filled with pure gas, which should have blocked the abundant light emitted by hydrogen atoms. However, scientists saw exactly this kind of flickering in many early galaxies over and over again. This type of light was eventually called the Lyman alpha radiation but scientists did not understand why it occurred.

Now the authors of the new study are closer to solving this cosmic mystery.

Callum Witten of the University of Cambridge and his colleagues analyzed JWST images of nine distant galaxies that emitted Lyman alpha radiation. It turned out that each of these galaxies had a smaller one next to it. No one had ever noticed this before because these secondary galaxies are too faint to be seen with previous generations of telescopes.

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The observations also revealed that these galaxies are most likely merging with their larger and brighter partners.

In the process of such mergers, bursts of star formation and light, including the Lyman alpha radiation, occur.

In addition, this process leads to the emergence of powerful winds that are quite capable of blowing away cosmic galactic gas, opening "gaps" for light to escape.

Scientists also suggest that such winds may well deprive gas atoms of electrons that would help absorb light.

Witten said that scientists had previously assumed that they did not see fainter galaxies in the early Universe but they also did not suspect that there would be so many of them and that they would be so close to these bright galaxies, contributing to the "leakage" of Lyman alpha radiation.

The researchers' simulations confirmed that the interaction between galaxies can indeed create channels in the gas that allow hydrogen emission to flow out in a way that our telescopes can detect.

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However, they warn that the study of only 9 galaxies is not sufficient to draw definitive conclusions about the source of the Lyman radiation. In particular, there is a theory that turbulence from active black holes in the centers of these galaxies may also contribute to it.

Witten and his colleagues intend to study the new JWST data on more Lyman alpha emitters when they become publicly available.

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Elisha Abbo, a former senator representing Adamawa north, has written a petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC) against Chioma Nwosu-lheme, a judge elevated from the court of appeal to the supreme court.

Nwosu-lheme was among the 11 justices of the appeal court screened by the senate for promotion to the apex court.

The screening exercise followed a request by President Bola Tinubu to screen and confirm them as justices of the apex court. The justices are yet to be sworn in as justices of the apex court.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Abbo said Nwosu-lheme and members of the panel made up of Muhammad Ibrahim and Olabode Adegbehingbe erred when they declared Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly elected senator of the district.

The former senator said he had written the NJC and Tinubu to stop the elevation of Nwosu-lheme into the Supreme Court until an investigation is conducted.

"The kernel of my submission at this press conference is that the appointment of Justice Chioma Nwosu-lheme to the supreme court is not good for our judicial system and dispensation of justice," he said.

"For required punishment and deterrence, I have filed petitions against Justice Chioma Nwosu-lheme, Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe and Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo, to the National Judicial Council and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) over their judgment in the electoral case between Reverend Amos Kumai of the PDP and me."

Abbo appealed to President Tinubu to act in line with his renewed hope mantra and "terminate the appointment of Justice Chioma Nwosu-lheme to the supreme court to save our judiciary".

In his petition, Abbo said: "Let me ask a rhetorical question, how can judges sitting in a court of justice, cancel elections in 253 polling units out of 924 polling units, meaning election was cancelled in 27% of the total polling units in the senatorial district, cancel 57,775 valid votes, disenfranchise 155,800 voters, and award the senate seat to a person they claimed won with 5,000 votes margin, in determining Section 136(1)(a)(b) of the Electoral Act of Nigeria 2022 (as amended)?"

The former senator said the appellate court handled his matter like voodoo, asking "No be juju be that?"

He added that he is not seeking a review of the judgment against him.




The presidency has chided former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his comment that President Tinubu should step aside from office if the shoes are too big.

Earlier in a post on X, Abubakar accused Tinubu of fiddling with Nigeria in the face of worsening insecurity.

He said while the president has been away on a private visit to France, kidnappers have killed a grandmother in the nations capital and two traditional rulers in Ekiti state.

The former vice-president said the country needs 24/7 leadership to confront insecurity and address the countrys ailing economy.

However, in a statement, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Abubakar is still nursing the hangover of his electoral defeat.

Onanuga added that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 elections now latches on to any issue to attack President Tinubu.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakars statement accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of fiddling amidst some security and economic challenges is to say the least, reckless, the statement reads.

Coming days after he made an equally reckless allegation against the President on the crude for loan deal for NNPC Limited, his latest statement fell short of what is expected from an elder statesman.

President Tinubu did not travel without informing Nigerians of his whereabouts. He announced a private visit to France and announced a return date.

While in France, President Tinubu has been following developments at home and he is on top of the situation in the country. Todays inauguration of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage bore his imprimatur.

He is in constant touch with his officials and security chiefs and has directed them to stamp out every form of criminality in the country.

He has particularly ordered them to apprehend those criminals responsible for the murder of two monarchs in Ekiti State and the kidnapping of some pupils in the state.

We are already seeing results with the arrest of over 139 kidnappers around Abuja, Kaduna and Benue States in the last one week. The police Special Intervention Squad (SIS) and DSS have also rescued 154 abducted persons in the last few days.

Just last week President Tinubu approved N50 billion as Special Fund to address some of the lingering security challenges in the North East where Alhaji Atiku hails from.

If Alhaji Atiku is really concerned about security issues and not playing cheap politics, he should have known that President Tinubu is on top of issues and working hard to restore peace to every part of our country.

The presidential aide said the security agencies are working very hard to bring the security situation under control.




The Supreme Court has affirmed the victory of Ahmadu Fintiri as the duly elected Governor of Adamawa State.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as winner of the March 11 gubernatorial polls.

His victory was, however, challenged in court by Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Details shortly.




A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday issued a warrant for the arrest of Hon Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, over his alleged involvement in the burning of the State House of Assembly.





Ehie, who is the immediate past factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, was ordered to be arrested alongside five other persons based in Port Harcourt for allegedly participating in some criminal activities.





Those ordered to be arrested along with the former factional Speaker are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter, also known as Rambo.





Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order for their arrest while delivering ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by the Inspector General of Police.





The ex-parte application was predicated on sections 37, 113, 114, 84 and 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Section 32 of the Police Act, 2020.





In the ex-parte application argued by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Simon Lough, the six defendants were said to be at large.





The senior lawyer submitted that the defendants were involved in conspiracy, arson, terrorism, attempted murder and murder of a Superintendent of Police, SP Bako Agbashim and five other police informants.





The five police informants they were alleged to have killed are Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.





Justice Nwite granted the request of the IGP to declare the defendants wanted and upon their arrest and investigation, be brought before the court for trial.





The ex-parte application is marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/12/2024.





It will be recalled that the IGP had two weeks ago put five Port Harcourt-based persons on trial on terrorism charges and were remanded at Kuje Prison upon their arraignment.





They were ordered to remain in prison custody till February 2 when their respective bail applications would be determined by the Judge.





The five defendants are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.





In the 7-count charges, the defendants were accused of committing alleged terrorism offences by invading, vandalizing and burning down the Rivers State House of Assembly in the wake of the political crisis that rocked Port Harcourt in October last year.








Biodun Oyebanji, the governor of Ekiti, has described the recent cases of insecurity in the state as devastating.

On Monday, gunmen kidnapped six pupils of Apostolic Faith School, three teachers, and a driver during an attack on the school bus on its way to Eporo-Ekiti from Emure.

The abduction occurred a few hours after two traditional rulers in the state were killed by suspected kidnappers.

In a statement by the governor on Tuesday, Oyebanji said security agents have been tasked to fish out the killers of the traditional rulers and abductors of the students.

He said his administration has prioritised the security of lives and properties since he took over the leadership of the state from Kayode Fayemi, his predecessor.

I want to express my deep condolences to the immediate families of the late monarchs, their communities and the entire members of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers for the loss of these selfless royal fathers, the statement reads.

Similarly, just yesterday, we received another disturbing news that some pupils of the Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary School, Emure-Ekiti and their teachers who were being conveyed home after school, were waylaid and kidnapped between Emure-Ekiti and Eporo.

Security agents are currently working hard to rescue them. They have my instructions to ensure the victims are saved from the clutches of their abductors and reunited with their families very soon and unhurt.

As your governor, this new turn of events in our dear State is a very devastating and sad one for me; this is because security has always held a significant priority in our administration and this can be seen in our State being consistently adjudged one of the most peaceful with the low crime rate in the entire Federation.

Meanwhile, the police command in the state arrested five suspected kidnappers during a raid of some forests on Tuesday.

The police identified the suspects as Usman Jelili, Mohammed Bande, Abubakar Aliu, Isah Abdulahi, and Suleiman Abdulahi.




The Household of David church in the Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State has reportedly caught fire.





Confirming the incident to our correspondent, the Lagos State Fire Service spokesperson, Amodu Shakiri, disclosed that the churchs auditorium ceiling was overheating, which caused the ceiling to collapse and ignite a fire.





He added that the damage is being managed by members of the fire department and other relevant agencies at the scene.
FBN Holdings has appointed Femi Otedola, the billionaire businessman and investor, as the new chairman of its board of directors.

FBN Holdings is the parent company of First Bank of Nigeria.

The company notified investors of the new development in a corporate filing on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Wednesday.

The appointment comes two years after the investor became the firm's single largest shareholder in December 2021, when he increased his stake to 7.57 percent.

The bank said Otedola, who is also the chairman of Geregu Power, was appointed after a meeting by its board of directors on January 31, 2024.

FBN Holdings said Otedola joined its board on August 15, 2023, as a non-executive director.

"He is a visionary entrepreneur with a track record of pioneering businesses, growing and transforming corporations," the financial institution said.

"His first foray into the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry began with Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited thus disrupting and redefining standards in the industry. He thereafter initiated the purchase of majority shareholding in the then African Petroleum Plc in May 2007 and became the Chairman of the Board on 25 May 2007.

"His vision transformed African Petroleum Plc into Forte Oil Pic (FO PIC). The company grew in leaps and bounds to become a model of the possibilities inherent in Nigeria, winning numerous accolades in recognition of the successful business turnaround, diversified portfolio, prompt financial reporting, strong corporate governance, and Investment of choice within the oil and gas industry.

"In December 2018, he divested from the company by selling his shareholdings to the Ignite Consortium led by Prudent Energy Services Limited and handed over in June 2019 after completing the transaction."

The bank also said he has investments spread across various other interests including storage, shipping, and insurance brokerage in addition to port agency and petroleum retail outlets and "he has built a formidable, value-driven presence along the downstream value chain".

Prior to the appointment, Otedola has been in the news for his recent acquisition of shares in Dangote Cement, an investment that has since been linked to the increase in the market capitalisation of the cement plant, and pushing Aliko Dangote back to the list of the world's top 100 billionaires.

With a total wealth of $1.1 billion, Otedola was ranked as the 20th richest person in Africa by Forbes on January 22, 2024 - making him the fourth richest Nigerian.




Popular Nollywood actor Baaj Adebule has revealed that he doesnt intend to marry a virgin when he is ready to settle down.





According to him, he doesnt want to marry a virgin because of the process of disvirgining.





He said he had been through the process before and it was traumatic.





Speaking in a recent interview with Pulse, Adebule said: I dont want to marry a virgin. Because first, obviously, you will have to do the disvirgining which is something Ive been through before and it is quite traumatic.





When people think about it, they only think about the lady, nobody thinks about the guy and what he goes through to do it. It is a very terrible experience for a guy.




Okechukwu Isiguzoro, a chieftain of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, apex Igbo sociocultural organization, has slammed President Bola Tinubu over his private visit to Paris, France, amid the current security, economic, and other pressing challenges facing Nigeria.

Isiguzoro said Tinubu should have dutifully transmitted power to Vice President Kashim Shettima in accordance with the law.

The factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, urged Tinubu to transmit power to allow Shettima address the prevailing security challenges confronting the country.

A statement by Isiguzoro urged the president to consistently communicate the reasons behind engaging in private visits to the Nigerian people.

According to the statement: Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the unwavering voice of the Igbo, finds it both intriguing and deeply unfortunate that President Tinubu chose a private visit to France

We hereby implore the President to dutifully fulfill his constitutional obligations by formally transmitting power to Vice President Kashim Shettima in his absence.

Nigerians are already suffering immensely due to the escalating security challenges and the dire state of our economy, exacerbated by the crash of the naira in foreign exchange markets. The consequences of neglecting these pressing issues pose a severe risk, as the potential fallout could be nothing short of disastrous.

President Tinubu should consistently communicate the reasons behind engaging in private visits to the Nigerian people. It is important to emphasize that Nigerians are deeply dissatisfied with the worsening state of security and the persistent decline in economic activities, pushing their patience to its limits. The President must not underestimate the resolve of the Nigerian people or take their grievances for granted.

It is imperative that he expeditiously address the grave challenges of insecurity and economic turmoil in the first quarter of 2024, to avoid the potential eruption of citizen revolt akin to those witnessed in Venezuela and the Arab Spring in Nigeria.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo fervently prays for President Tinubu to be endowed with divine wisdom in navigating these troubled times. We implore him to recognize the urgent need for proactively resolving the security and economic crises afflicting our nation, as the fate of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its citizens remain at stake.




President Bola Tinubu says associating the Nigerian populace with cybercrimes without statistical evidence amounts to a misrepresentation of the country.

Tinubu spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at an event organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The event which focused on youth, religion, and the fight against corruption, also featured the launch of the inter-faith manual and fraud risk assessment project for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

Represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu said Nigerians have been linked with cyber crimes without any statistics to back it up.

"Over the decades, Nigerians have been victims of mislabelling," the president said.

"Such gross misrepresentation fails to reflect the true essence of our diverse and resilient nation. The association of internet crimes with the entire Nigerian populace lacks statistical evidence and does not align with the sociology of everyday Nigerians.

"Our nation comprises hardworking, honest citizens who contribute significantly to various fields globally, from Artificial Intelligence to medicine.

"While we reject blanket stereotyping that undermines the majority upholding principles of integrity and diligence, we must face the fact that we function in an interconnected world where cybercrimes have evolved into a global phenomenon.

"This poses a threat not only to our nation but to the entire world."

Tinubu said his administration would support the anti-graft agency to combat digital crimes.

"We must recognize that the commission's lawful efforts to bring fraudsters to book are imperative for the overall well-being of our society," he said.

"The government is aware that our ambitious goal of eradicating internet offences and corruption demands an atmosphere steeped in trust and integrity.

"We must foster open communication channels and ensure that law enforcement actions align with justice and accountability."

Tinubu added that there are lawful opportunities for Nigerians within and outside the country.
On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, an event of historic significance for Ukraine and the world is to take place. At 16:00 Kyiv time, the International Court of Justice will announce a decision on the merits of Ukraine's lawsuit against Russia regarding the latter's violation of the Conventions on the Prohibition of the Financing of Terrorism and on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

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This is stated in a statement on the court's website. In this case, Ukraine argues that the terrorist state Russia has violated the relevant conventions by arming the groups of the "republics" under its control in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

In addition, it refers to discrimination by the Russian Federation against Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, the ban on the activities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, as well as disappearances, murders and illegal searches and detentions in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

Former Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine for European Integration Lana Zerkal also posted on Facebook about the historic decision. She explained the consequences of the verdict.

"Tomorrow this court will recognize Russia as a violator of international law. This will become a historic precedent - Ukraine will receive a legally established right to adequate compensation for violation of these international treaties. The ICJ's decision will also be crucial for the further development and application of international law in the field of combating the financing of terrorism and racial discrimination," the diplomat added.

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According to Zerkal, the Court will in fact determine whether a state that is a permanent member of the UN Security Council can violate all norms of international law with impunity, manipulate facts and cynically lie to the world by spreading its dirty propaganda.

"For now, Russia is trying to prove to the world that in the face of a 'powerful nation', the rule of law and this Court mean nothing. The judgment in this case will be the first legal response of the civilized world to Russia's grandiose disregard for international law and the International Court of Justice in particular. What are we proving in this case? In the case, which we have been preparing for a long time and carefully, we prove that Russian officials deliberately financed terrorist acts in Ukraine," Zerkal emphasized.

She also reminded that in November 2019, she had won her first and significant victory.

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"At that time, the ICJ rejected all the objections raised by Russia and its prominent lawyers to the Court's jurisdiction to hear the case on Ukraine's claim for the application of the International Conventions for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. In fact, these photos from the history of the process illustrate only a small part of the nine-year work," Zerkal said in her post.

The first photo shows the number of volumes that each copy of the Memorandum (a document that sets out legal positions and facts) consists of.

On the other, this is the exact moment when Zerkal signed each copy.

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The third step is to present Ukraine's position to the full Court.

Zerkal recalled that the Russians supplied money, missiles and bombs to illegal armed groups, knowing that they would be used to kill, coerce and intimidate civilians.

"This is not a story of 'mistakes', but a clearly defined pattern. When Russian individuals provided money and weapons to the perpetrators of terrorist acts, they clearly knew how these funds would be used. When the so-called "DPR" fired a weapon that could not distinguish between civilian and military aircraft, it meant that the terrorists had illegally and intentionally destroyed the plane in violation of the Montreal Convention. When Russian officials provided the "DPR" with the Buk system, they knew that it was going to be used for a terrorist attack," emphasized Zerkal.

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She also noted that many discriminatory actions of the Russian authorities were aimed at destroying or violating the human rights of two ethnic groups in Crimea: the Crimean Tatars and the Ukrainian community. In the annexed Crimea, these two ethnic groups have been targeted by Russia to collectively punish them for their principled resistance.

According to Zerkal, Russia's discriminatory actions concern not only many aspects of the political and cultural life of these communities, but also "behavioral patterns."

"Taken together, Russia's actions constitute a consistent pattern of punitive actions against ethnic groups for discriminatory purposes. The International Court of Justice can recognize Russia's violation of its international obligations to prohibit the financing of terrorism and racial discrimination; clarify the fundamental standards of these conventions. Order Russia to fulfill the requirements of both conventions. To maintain permanent jurisdiction to keep Russia's actions under continuous judicial supervision until full and fair compensation is determined," she said.

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According to Zerkal, this decision will also affect the development of the situation in the Middle East, where Iran and possibly Russia are financing Houthi attacks and providing resources to their proxies.

"Tomorrow we will find out not only what decision the Court made regarding Russia's violations, but also understand what path the international regulation of the fight against terrorist financing and racial discrimination will take," the diplomat summarized.

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As a reminder, preliminary hearings on Ukraine's genocide claim against Russia began in The Hague in September. It was filed three days after the invasion - on February 27, 2022.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

On March 9, 2020, a court hearing began in the Netherlands in the case of the Boeing 777 plane crash, which was shot down over Donbas on July 17, 2014. The crash killed 298 people on board.

At the same time, not a single suspect appeared at the trial. These are Russians Sergei Dubinsky, Igor Girkin and Oleg Pulatov, as well as Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko.

The prosecution in the case of the downing of Malaysian Boeing MH17 said it had evidence that the liner was shot down by a Russian Buk missile.

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Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Kidnappers of five pupils of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, and four staff members have demanded N100m ransom for the release of the nine victims who were taken away on Monday.

The principal of the secondary section of the school, Boje Olanireti, confirmed the ransom demand, in a chat with newsmen on Tuesday.

The abduction epidemic has continued to defy the efforts of the security agencies as cases of kidnappings were being recorded in various parts of the country daily.

On Monday, gunmen killed two Ekiti monarchs-the Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, while the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, narrowly escaped.

The traditional rulers were returning from a function in Kogi State when their vehicles ran into the suspected kidnappers who were operating on the highway between Ipao and Oke Ako in the Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The abduction of the schoolchildren and four staff members occurred when the school bus conveying 25 pupils home after school hours was waylaid by the gunmen in the Emure community in Ekiti State.

Shedding light on how the incident occurred, Olanireti explained that the abduction occurred about a five-minute drive from the school.

She said, Immediately the school closed at 3pm, and by the time we gathered all the children, it was already 3:30pm. It was that time that they moved. So, the incident happened between 3:30pm and 4pm. The school is in a suburb of Emure village, so they were going back home in Eporo. The incident occurred just about a five-minute drive from the school to Eporo.

When the gunmen attacked, the people around heard the gunshots and they came to Emure with motorcycles to inform the people in the school about what happened. We immediately reported to the police station at Emure.

The students were over 25 on the bus when the incident happened. When the gunmen attacked them, they shot the tyre of the vehicle and asked the children to come out of the bus. They asked all of them to lie down. They picked five students and four staff members. They, after that, asked others to go.

Olanireti added, The five students comprise two from the secondary (school) and three from primary school while the four staff comprise two teachers, one driver and one bus assistant.

When the parents heard about the incident, they came from Eporo and they have been making frantic efforts by reaching out to some security outfits, including the police and Amotekun.





The security operatives have also been talking to the proprietor of the primary school and he has been giving them information. By the time they opened communication, they first called the husband of one of the teachers and demanded N10m for each kidnapped victim. But when they later called the headmaster, they demanded N100m for all of them. the principal said.





A family source at Eporo Ekiti, who preferred anonymity, confirmed on Tuesday that the kidnappers had contacted the family of one of the children demanding N100m on the victims.





The source said, They called the family of one of the school children and they are requesting N10m per victim. What we gathered is that there are nine persons kidnapped  five schoolchildren, two teachers, one bus assistant, and a driver.





The parents are at Eporo. The bus was taking them home after closing. It was in the process that the kidnappers struck. None of the families of the abductees can afford the ransom.





Meanwhile, the Aremo of Emure Kingdom, Chief Clement Akinola, has appealed to the state government to assist in the release of their children.





Akinola, who in the company of the Emure Local Government Chairman and state government officials visited the families of the kidnapped persons at Eporo Ekiti, said, One can imagine the condition the children will be in, one can imagine the state of mind of the parents, the entire Emure community and the Eporo people. There is tension, very high tension.





The chief called for the establishment of military posts on the many borders between the Emure community and Ondo State to tame kidnappings and the activities of gunmen in the area.





He said, Emure is a border town, we have a boundary with Ondo State at Owo through Eporo, we have a boundary with Ondo State through Supare Akoko, and we have some farm roads pliable by motorbikes to Ondo State at Uso.





My appeal is that there should be military checkpoints between Emure and Owo and Eporo and as well around Supare. These will reduce the violent crimes in the areas.





The Chairman of the Joint Security Committee of Ise, Emure and Ikere, Tunji Falana, who corroborated Akinola, said, The boundaries are too porous. We have been appealing to the government to establish police posts and army checkpoints at the borders.

Porous boundaries

This is not the first time kidnappers would kidnap there. The place is porous. But in this kidnap case, the Kabiyesi, the Elemure of Emure Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo, a former commissioner of police, is working round the clock to ensure the release of the abductees.





Falana advised that in the meantime, Bush combing should be at regular intervals, not more than two weeks interval. When the kidnappers realize the forests are free, they return especially during dry seasons like this when there is North-South migration.





They destroy our farms at Ise Ekiti and Emure Ekiti here and nobody can control them. We commend the police because they are making arrests and taking them for prosecution.





Suspects arrested

Meanwhile, the police in Ekiti State said on Tuesday that they had arrested five suspected kidnappers just as the command launched a manhunt for the kidnappers in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun, Odua Peoples Congress, and hunters.





The Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, disclosed in a statement that the suspects were arrested during a joint operation with other security agencies.





He said, The suspects were arrested by a combined team of policemen, civil defence corps, Amotekun Corps Odua Peoples Congress, and local hunters on Tuesday during a bush combing operation through Oke-Osun, Ikere/Igbo-Okah to the thick forest around Iju/Ikere boundary.





During the operation, five suspected kidnappers namely- Usman Jelili, Mohammed Bande, Abubakar Aliu, Isah Abdulahi, and Suleman Abdulahi were arrested.





During interrogation, the suspects claimed to be herdsmen, but it was later discovered that none of them had cattle and no cattle was found with them in the forest where they were arrested.





The following items were found with them in the forest  two motorcycles, one cutlass, one jack knife/dagger, and four phones, the PPRO stated.





In response to the killing of two monarchs by suspected kidnappers on Monday, Ekiti State communities wore sober looks on Tuesday when the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, paid condolence visits to the palaces of the two communities and the people of the two towns.





The indigenes of the two communities, who spoke on the deaths of their monarchs, described the incident as a great loss to the two communities.





At the palace of Elesun, they cut the trees to signify the passage of the monarch while red flags were flown on masts as people sat in groups singing dirges over the Elesuns transition.





Oyebanji, who said Ekiti State had been very peaceful, lamented the attack and unexpected killings, which he described as unfortunate and an affront to the peaceful nature of the state.

The governor, who spoke at the Palace of the Elesun and a small hall at Imojo where the building of the palace was ongoing, said that the incident was a sacrilege to the traditional institution in the state.





He said it was a good development that President Bola Tinubu, who was on the phone with him for about an hour on Monday to commiserate with the Ekiti people had given directives to security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them to book.





Oyebanji said, I have absolute confidence in the security agencies to fish out the people involved in this crime against the traditional institution in Ekiti. The government will continue to step up efforts at the security of the people because that is why we are here in government.





My message to all the criminals is that Ekiti State is going to be too hot for them, we are going to get hot at them, and for those that are involved in this act, this sacrilege, they will be fished out.





He described security as a joint task of both residents and the government, urging residents to continue assisting the security operatives by giving timely information to the security men within their environment.





The Second-in-Command to the Onimojo, the Elejira of Imojo, Chief Ayodele Dada, described the killing of the monarch as painful, saying the late traditional ruler initiated several developmental projects in the community.





Dada, who lamented frequent kidnapping activities in the area in the last few months, called on the government to double its efforts in providing security for the people of the state.





The traditional chief said, We will sorely miss the late Kabiyesi. But in his memory, we appeal to the state government to complete the Imojo palace project which he began so that we can name it after him to immortalize him.





The governor promised to assist the bereaved family and assist the Imojo community with the construction of the ongoing palace in the community.





Oyebanji also said efforts were in top gear to rescue the abductees describing the kidnap of the schoolchildren as callous and unacceptable.





A statement by the Special Adviser to Ekiti State Governor on Media, Yinka Oyebode, confirmed that 10 persons were abducted.





He said, Security agencies are already on the trail of the abductors with a mandate to bring the pupils back safely. Security is being stepped up across the state to flush out criminal elements from their hideouts.





Also, President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, condemned the killing of the two obas even as he assured that the perpetrators would not go unpunished.





President Tinubu condemns this mindless and brutal bloodletting, and pledges that the perpetrators will not escape justice, a statement signed by Tinubus Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, read.





The statement was titled, President Tinubu condemns killing of traditional rulers in Ekiti, directs immediate rescue of kidnapped pupils.





Tinubu, who grieved over the demise of the two monarchs, also directed the immediate rescue of pupils and teachers kidnapped around the Eporo-Ekiti area of the State.








The Lagos State Government (LASG) has announced a temporary traffic diversion at the Ijora 7up end of the Marine Bridge.





The diversion is scheduled to commence on 2nd February and is expected to last until 10th May 2024.

The decision was communicated to the public in a statement released on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi.

The comprehensive maintenance work is deemed necessary to address structural issues and enhance the overall condition of the Marine Bridge.

During the period of the repairs, motorists are strongly advised to adhere to alternative routes provided by the state government to minimise disruptions and ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

The alternative routes have been carefully mapped out to ease the inconvenience caused by the temporary closure.

Motorists traveling towards Apapa from Marine Bridge are encouraged to use the Malu road via Mobil road u-turn to connect to the Marine Bridge Access Ramp (Inbound Apapa).

From there, they can proceed to Point Road u-turn, leading into Marine Bridge (Ijora bound), following the diversion at the closed section.

Another viable option for motorists is to take the Marine Bridge road inwards Malu road, utilising the Mobil road u-turn, and proceeding to Area B/NAGAFF to access Point road u-turn into Marine Bridge (Ijora bound).

This route allows them to join the counter flow lane on the Apapa bound lane and divert back to the Ijora bound lane after the closed section.

To ensure the smooth operation of the diversion plan, the Commissioner for Transportation, Osiyemi, has assured the public that Traffic Management Personnel will be strategically deployed along the affected routes.

Their presence aims to minimise inconveniences and improve traffic flow during the repair period.




Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has said the reconciliation meeting instituted by the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has put to rest anxieties within the party in the state.





He stated this on Tuesday shortly after a reconciliation meeting of the party held at the Benue State Government House, Makurdi.





He said he was happy that the leadership of the party made their time to come to the state to ensure peace was restored.





Alia said the outcome of the meeting suspends everything that was drawing the party back, saying the state can now look forward to the gains the meeting will bring.





The meeting has resolved everything, putting to rest all the anxieties.





The outcome of the meeting as it is, has brought happiness on the faces of the great men and women in the party, and the party is going to turn a new leaf, which suspends anything that was drawing us back.





The state can now look forward to the gains the meeting will bring, especially with me as the governor and the SGF, Senator George Akume, at the federal level, he said.





Earlier, the Deputy National Secretary of the APC, Barrister Festus Fuanter, who led the reconciliation team from the National Secretariat, said they were in the state to ensure the return of peace within the party.





He described the meeting as one among many which the National Working Committee of the APC has arranged for all the zones in the country to ensure there is absolute peace, especially in states where there appears to be internal wrangling.





The meeting is a series of meetings that the National working Committee of the All Progressives Congress has arranged to do in all the zones where there are issues for the leadership to come in and midwife the processes for a harmonious working relationship, and Benue state is not different.





Whatever it is that was, the outcome of the meeting as can be seen on the faces of the attendees; it means we are going to work together as one indivisible family and that all the loose ends have been tightened. We have agreed amongst ourselves as a family that henceforth, it is a new dawn and that the sky is the limit for the APC, he said.





Asked who the leader of the party is at the state level, Barrister Fuanter said the constitution of the APC has given the leadership powers at the state level to the Governors.





The leadership of the party as far as the constitution of the party is concerned is bestowed on the Governor of the state.





Though we have the SGF from the same state. The SGF is the son of Benue, their working together is a plus and a win-win for Benue State, he added.





He said the APC will be going into the Guma 1 State Constituency bye-election slated for Saturday, February 3, 2024, as an indivisible front, assuring that the party will come out victorious in the election, winning back the seat.





On his part, the state Chairman of the Party, Hon. Austin Agada, said the party in the state has been yearning for peace, and he was happy that peace has returned within the party.




The Lagos police command has arraigned six suspects before a court for allegedly pirating Toyin Abrahams movie Malaika.

Malaika premiered in Lagos on December 17. It also made its theatrical debut on December 22.

Aminat Mayegun, the spokesperson at the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon in Ikoyi, Lagos, earlier paraded the suspects.

Mayegun said the suspects were allegedly involved in the conspiracy, infringement on intellectual property, piracy, and cyber-related crimes with the unlawful utilisation of cyberspace to broadcast the movie.





The spokesperson said a criminal complaint was lodged by Abraham and Seun Olayemi, the co-producer of the movie.

Speaking with TheCable Lifestyle on Wednesday, Mayegun said six suspects were arraigned on Tuesday.

The six suspects, four boys and two ladies were arraigned yesterday at the Chief Magistrate Court 1, Tinubu, she said.

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The defendants, identified as Kehinde Oseni, Adekunle Segun, Adebiyi Sodiq, Oseni S. Akano, Agboola Motunrayo, and Adebiyi Suliat were accused of stealing intellectual property, conspiring, and attempting to obstruct justice.

Morufu Animashaun, the prosecuting counsel, told the court that the alleged illegal activities took place in January at Apapa.

He added that the defendants violated sections 411, 972, 415, and 87 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

While the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, Animashaun prayed the court to remand the accused persons at the correctional centre until the resolution of the case.

However, Ganiyu Oyarevuegbe, the representative of the defendant, sought bail for them, making an oral request using the most permissive terms.

Abraham recently revealed that she experienced panic attacks and was hospitalised after she found out about the piracy of her movie.
The Presidency on Tuesday night described the statement of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar berating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the failure to resolve the security crisis in the country as reckless.





Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a reaction to Wazirin Adamawa, said the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections was latching on any issue to attack President Tinubu because he was not nursing hangover of his electoral defeat.





The presidential spokesman said President Tinubu remained on top of domestic situation, giving the security agencies all the necessary support they needed to win the battle against criminal elements and secure every inch of our country.





The statement read: Alhaji Atiku Abubakars statement accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of fiddling amidst some security and economic challenges is to say the least, reckless.





Coming days after he made an equally reckless allegation against the President on the crude for loan deal for NNPC Limited, his latest statement fell short of what is expected from an elder statesman.





We like to believe that Alhaji Atiku is still not nursing hangover of his electoral defeat and now latches on any issue to attack President Tinubu.





President Tinubu did not travel without informing Nigerians of his whereabout. He announced a private visit to France and announced a return date.





While in France, President Tinubu has been following developments at home and he is on top of the situation in the country. Todays inauguration of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum wage bore his imprimatur.





He is in constant touch with his officials and security chiefs and has directed them to stamp out every form of criminality in the country.





He has particularly ordered them to apprehend those criminals responsible for the murder of two monarchs in Ekiti State and the kidnapping of some pupils in the state.





We are already seeing results with the arrest of over 139 kidnappers around Abuja, Kaduna and Benue States in the last one week. The police Special Intervention Squad (SIS) and DSS have also rescued 154 abducted persons in the last few days.





Just last week President Tinubu approved N50billion as Special Fund to address some of the lingering security challenges in North East where Alhaji Atiku hails from. To cope with the kidnapping challenges in the FCT, President Tinubu also approved funds for the acquisition of equipment to track criminals.





If Alhaji Atiku is really concerned about security issues and not playing cheap politics, he should have known that President Tinubu is on top of issues and working hard to restore peace to every part of our country.

Our security agencies are working very hard to bring the security situation under control. President Tinubu is giving them all the necessary support they need to win the battle against criminal elements and secure every inch of our country.




Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has officially declared a state of emergency in the states health sector.





The governor announced the development during a state-wide broadcast on Tuesday, expressing deep concerns after an unscheduled visit to Gusau General Hospital revealed deplorable conditions in the health facility.





Visibly disturbed by what he witnessed, the governor outlined a comprehensive plan to address the challenges within the health sector.





As a responsible government, we are taking urgent steps towards intervention, Lawal declared, acknowledging the need for immediate action.





The key initiatives outlined by the governor include: Massive Infrastructural Development: Improving the quality of all general hospitals through significant infrastructural development.





State-of-the-Art Medical Equipment: Providing state-of-the-art medical equipment to enhance healthcare delivery.





Standard Laboratories: Establishing standard laboratories for proper diagnosis.





Maternal and Child Healthcare: Offering free services to address maternal and child healthcare, with the aim of reducing morbidity and mortality.





Primary Health Centres (PHCs): Giving special attention to PHCs in remote communities to enhance standard primary healthcare delivery.





The governor also expressed his commitment to the well-being and welfare of healthcare service providers as he pledged to establish an affordable and comprehensive health insurance scheme for all citizens of Zamfara State.





Furthermore, the governor assured of the distribution of necessary equipment and essential medicines to hospitals across the 14 local government areas.





To ensure accountability, Lawal announced mandatory physical verification of all hospital staff, including casual workers, stating that the state health commissioner will establish a proper channel for external supervision of staff on duty.





In addition to these measures, the government plans to enhance ongoing Special Modified Medical Outreach, strengthen emergency response, and reposition human resources for the health structure.





The governor reiterated his dedication to the urgent and effective transformation of the health sector in Zamfara State, saying that the declaration of a state of emergency marks an important step towards achieving the goal and ensuring the well-being of the citizens.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: If 19th-century upper crust Americans thought that aping British aristocracy was the height of sophistication, how is it that the American style of eating (swapping the fork from the right hand to the left, and then back again) became the American standard?

GENTLE READER: Actually, those Americans were using the style of eating prevalent in Europe when their forebears immigrated to the United States, and just didnt change when Europeans dumbed down the rules.

A note of caution here: It is never the most advantaged layer of society -- aristocrats, or what you call the upper crust -- who welcome change. Being on top, they think things are just fine as they are. Rather, it is those on the rise who seek ways to distinguish themselves from those whose ranks they have risen above.

The fork arrived in England long after it did in Italy and France, and in the 19th century, there were still some landed aristocrats who resisted its use. And when they did use it, it was to replace the knife or spoon hitherto in use in the right hand.

It was the newly rich beneficiaries of the Industrial Revolution who invented specialized flatware -- and, unpleasantly, used it as a social test. Aristocrats scorned this as long as they could. But that was only until the prudence of their marrying into the moneyed set became obvious.

***

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
The body of Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, formerly of Willingboro, one of the three soldiers killed in an attack on a military outpost in Jordan, will return to the United States on Friday, Department of Defense spokesperson Jon Kirby confirmed.

In a briefing with reporters on Airforce One Tuesday, Kirby said President Joe Biden had spoken to all of the families and that he would attend the dignified transfer of the bodies on Friday at Dover Air Force Base.

The president had an opportunity this morning to speak with the family members of the three service members who were tragically killed in this attack, Kirby told reporters. He expressed to them how proud we all are of their service, how we mourn and feel sorrow over their loss.

Kirby said Biden spoke to the families about attending the dignified transfer of the solders remains and that all of the families supported his attendance.

Sgt. Rivers wife declined to speak to NJ Advance Media Tuesday evening. He enlisted in the Army Reserves in August 2011 as an interior electrician and had been in Jordan as part of Operation Inherent Resolve since September 2023.

Sgt. Rivers and two other soldiers, Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffet, 23, were killed when an unmanned, one-way drone hit their housing unit while they were sleeping, according to the Department of Defense. Sanders and Moffet were posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant Tuesday.

Gov. Phil Murphy issued a statement Monday night on the death of Sgt. Rivers saying he and his family sent their sympathies to all three families of the soldiers killed.

Other county, state and federally-elected officials offered their condolences to Sgt. Rivers family, including Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.

Sgt. Rivers served with courage, honor, and a deep sense of duty, embodying the best of New Jersey and our nation, Booker said. His death is a profound loss to his family, friends, colleagues, and our entire country, and a reminder of the heavy debt we owe to our military families for their sacrifice.

Sgt. Rivers and his family were currently living in Carrollton, Georgia, about 47 miles west of Atlanta. According to local Fox affiliate in Georgia, Sgt. Rivers name will be added to a memorial wall honoring deceased veterans. His name will be added to the section honoring veterans killed in action.

Messages of condolences and appreciation were shared on social media Tuesday from law enforcement agencies in New Jersey and Georgia.

On behalf of Director of Public Safety Ian S. Bucs and the Willingboro Township Police Department, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sergeant William Jerome Rivers, a brave son of Willingboro who tragically lost his life while serving our country, a post on the Willingboro Township Police Department Facebook page read Tuesday.

The Sheriffs office in Georgia county, where Sgt. Rivers and his family lived, offered their support in a Facebook post Tuesday as well.

We join our community as we mourn the loss of this brave solider, Sergeant William Jerome Rivers, 46 of Carrollton, GA who tragically lost his life in a drone strike on a military outpost in Jordan yesterday, the Carroll County Sheriffs Office said. We salute you and your family for your selfless sacrifice to our nation and we will never take for granted our freedoms that you and so many other men and women bravely defend each day.

Posts on the Residents of Willingboro past/present/future reminded the community to keep Sgt. Rivers memory alive. Some posts asked if the township planned to hold a memorial for Sgt. Rivers.

A message left for Mayor Kaya McIntosh was not returned Tuesday afternoon. Messages left with the Townships public information officer and township manager were not immediately returned Wednesday.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
Nearly two years after New Jersey enacted one of the toughest plastic bag bans in the nation, is it working?

A study making its way around the state and the nation  paid for by a group thats been known to lobby against plastic bag bans  says its backfired.

However, some environmental groups and Gov. Phil Murphy have balked at the studys conclusions  and who paid for it.
A tip led officers on Monday to a chop shop hidden inside an Essex County business, police said.

The tipster told police shortly after 2:30 a.m. that stolen cars were being housed and disassembled at Veracity Stone Fabricators in Fairfield and that the evidence of the illegal activity would be removed before 6 a.m., according to a release from the Fairfield Police Department.

The caller also gave police photos of cars being taken apart at the business, which is used to craft stone materials into countertops and other furnishings for home and business installation, police said.

Officers rushed to the building and found no one there, but a stripped 2016 blue Honda CRV that had been reported stolen in New York City on Dec. 11, 2023 was in the rear parking lot, police said. The engine of the CRV was later found inside of the business, police said.

While police were investigating, a Honda Ridgeline came to the property twice and it was eventually stopped and three of its occupants were detained, authorities said. One of them, a 29-year-old Ridgewood man, was charged with cocaine possession, police said.

Detectives also found a second, chopped-up vehicle inside the building, police said. The 2016 grey Honda CRV was reported stolen out of New York on Jan. 5.

Two other CRVs were found at the site, police said. Investigators found that one had its VIN number defaced while the other had its VIN number concealed, according to the release. Police were in the process of gathering search warrants to get more information on the pair of SUVs.

Two chopped-up SUVS were discovered at a stone fabricating warehouse in Fairfield on Monday.Fairfield Police

On Tuesday, Edison Cuevas, 37, of Yonkers, New York, turned himself in to Fairfield authorities to be charged with two counts of receiving a stolen motor vehicle, one count of operating a facility for the sale of stolen automobile parts and a single count of conspiracy to operate a facility for the sale of stolen automobile parts, the department said. He was being held in the Essex County Jail.

Cuevas has been accused of being one of the people responsible for dismantling several cars at the stone fabricating warehouse in the early morning hours on Monday, police said. Attorney information for him was not immediately available.

Our detectives have done an outstanding job in tracking down suspects in this case and have been working diligently at determining the culpability of each, Fairfield Police Chief Anthony G. Manna said in a statement. As the investigation continues, the department is not ruling out the possibility of additional arrests being made.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
In the past, stone crossings were considered the main part of transportation routes. They were built to swiftly transport necessary cargo to the destination, with no other purpose in mind. No one prioritized the beauty of the structure. Primarily, they were constructed to be robust giants capable of withstanding titanic loads. However, over time, everything changed, and these "workhorses" transformed into some of the most visited tourist locations.

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Read below to discover where to find them.

The Old Austrian Bridge

In the village of Vorokhta in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, the longest viaduct in Europe rises above a deep abyss. Nowadays, its purpose is to welcome tourists and serve as a picturesque backdrop for photographs, as every traveler desires a snapshot near it.

But even before 2000, it served a fully functional role, allowing railroad trains carrying multi-ton cargo to pass through.

This crossing was constructed during the reign of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was opened in 1895. Its construction involved not only hired laborers but also local residents and captured Italian soldiers.

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Havana Bridge

This handsome bridge is located in Kyiv. It was constructed to alleviate traffic between Obolon, Troyeshchyna, Vyhurivshchyna, and the city center. Initially, there were plans to make it a drawbridge, but the designers never decided to take this step.

Six support columns sustain the bridge above the water. Currently, it accommodates two-way traffic, but the road lanes were opened in different years. The first lane was from Naberezho-Khreshchatytska Street, and the others followed.

The Artprychal gallery is situated beneath the bridge. It showcases works by various artists, and the walls of the exhibition hall are adorned with ultra-modern graffiti.

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Ingul Bridge

The most significant drawbridge in the country is located in Mykolaiv. Until a certain period, it even held the top position among similar European structures in terms of size. However, later it was surpassed by a structure in Rotterdam. Despite this fact, Ukrainians have not stopped admiring it.

Moreover, it was not constructed to break world records. Since the city is a port city with constant ship traffic, building a conventional bridge with columns was not feasible. In such a case, most ships would be unable to reach the endpoint.

Today, the ferry continues to operate. However, we do not recommend going to Mykolaiv to see it. Air raid sirens sound here every day, and explosions are quite frequent. Therefore, it's better to postpone your trip. But if you are already here, you should definitely visit the bridge.

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Plebanivskyi Viaduct

We've already talked about this impressive structure, but it would be a shame not to mention it again. It was built more than 120 years ago and is still in use for its intended purpose. This is what happens when architects take construction seriously.

When designing it, the architects considered many nuances, from seismic belts to gusts of wind. It seems that the giant is simply indestructible. Just like a century ago, it is not afraid of any multi-ton cargo. And this is very reassuring.

By the way, this bridge is often compared to the viaduct that appeared in the Harry Potter films. Unfortunately, access to the bridge is currently closed, so you can only admire it from a distance.

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Pedestrian Bridge in Uzhhorod

There are many pedestrian crossings in Ukraine where cars are not allowed. But this one is special. It spans the swift Uzh River, connecting two embankments - Nezalezhna and Studentska, as well as the old part of the city with the new one.

There is a belief that a person who crosses the bridge for the first time should make a wish. You can make the craziest one. Uzhhorod residents assure us that it will definitely come true; you just have to believe in it.

Mother-in-law's bridge

This beautiful bridge is located in the capital of humor, Odesa. It is the tallest and narrowest in the city, and it was given such an original name for a reason.

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Built over a ravine in the 1960s, the initiative to construct it came from a respected individual who wanted a quicker route to his mother-in-law's house. The philanthropist had an excellent relationship with his wife's mother. To make the journey to her house less time-consuming, the man decided to take drastic action - building a bridge. And why not, if he had enough money?

Currently, Odesa, like Mykolaiv, is under fire. So, it's not worth putting yourself in danger. You will still have time to see this handsome structure.

When traveling around Ukraine, be sure to visit these locations. We are sure you will like them.

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Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A federal judge has granted a New Jersey farmers request to push a prison term for his role in the Jan. 6 riots until October so he could work the harvest season on his Gloucester County land.

Ezekiel Zeke Stecher was sentenced to 60 days behind bars on Jan. 3 for the felony charge of civil disorder by Judge Randolph D. Moss.

Stecher was present in the Capitols Lower West Terrace Tunnel during rioters heavy fighting with police.

Stechers lawyers asked that he be allowed to surrender later in 2024 so he could work the family farm he owns, Stecher Farms, in Mantua Township.

Moss said hed rule after prosecutors submitted legal papers arguing the request, but the judge seemed to be willing to do it. You have to plant the seedlings when you have to plant the seedlings, Moss said at the Jan. 3 sentencing, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Federal prosecutor Matthew Beckwith wrote in objection that many Jan. 6 defendants have business interests and work related matters that are interrupted by incarceration and are swiftly and in a reasonable time frame sent to prison. He called it a poor precedent to delay the jail term.

Stechers lawyer, Michael E. Lawlor, countered that his client has been compliant with his pretrial release conditions since his March 2021 arrest, has accepted responsibility for his conduct on Jan. 6, and needs to perform critical duties at the farm - which has been in his family since 1905.

The farm cannot survive the harvest season without Mr. Stecher, Lawlor wrote. It is Mr. Stechers request that he be permitted to serve the custodial portion of his sentence at a time in the year when his absence will not threaten the livelihood of his family and his team.

Judge Moss agreed in a brief order issued Tuesday

Mr. Stecher owns and operates his familys farming business, Moss stated. If he were required to surrender sooner, he would be unable to work during the farming season and would, as a consequence, risk losing his farm.

Stecher now has to report to jail on or after Oct. 1, on a specific date that will be set by federal probation authorities. Stecher also has to serve 24 months of supervised release, a term which typically starts after incarceration.

None of the court filings say exactly why a two-month Stecher absence now would put the farm in danger.

Online listings and past news stories describe Stecher Farms as growing produce and vegetables on 150 acres off Bridgeton Pike (Route 45) in the Sewell part of Mantua.

Stecher Farms did receive $190,080 in April 2020 through the federal Paycheck Protection Program, commonly referred to as PPP, during the coronavirus pandemic.

The PPP is credited with saving countless jobs and keeping businesses afloat as the pandemic shut down major sectors of the countrys economy.

The Stecher Farms loan retained 21 jobs, loan listings show.

Ezekiel 'Zeke' Stecher at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.(Image from federal court documents)

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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
A U.S. transportation company faces violations at its Gloucester County location over mislabeled chemical containers years after similar infringements resulted in an workers death in Pennsylvania, federal labor officials said Wednesday.

Dana Container, Inc., which leases transportation equipment and operates tank truck washes, was fined $437,860 for a series of violations, including over mislabeled chemicals, at its Paulsboro site, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The company has 15 business days to comply with the federal governments orders, federal officials said Wednesday. It can also request an informal conference with the agency or challenge the findings.

Dana Container, Inc. did not respond to a request for comment from NJ Advance Media.

Dana Container continues to jeopardize the well-being of its workers by repeatedly disregarding federal safety and health laws and standards, OSHA Area Office Director Paula Dixon-Roderick, based in Marlton, said in a statement. The company must address these violations immediately to fulfill its legal obligation to provide a safe and healthful workplace.

OSHA cited Dana initially for not properly maintaining a safety data sheet for chemicals including corrosives. Those types of materials are harmful to human eyes and skin by direct contact and threaten both the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal system if consumed, according to Princeton University Health and Environmental Safety.

The federal administration issued three repeat violations against Dana over non-updated chemical container labels that officials said left workers exposed to dangerous substances. Eye washing stations were also not properly maintained, and medical evaluations were not conducted for workers before they began using respirators, officials said.

OSHA fined the company for similar violations in 2023 and 2019, a year in which a Dana employee in Pittston, Pennsylvania, died from asphyxia from chemical exposure while scraping oil sludge inside a rail tank car.

Four serious citations were also issued because the company failed to inspect hoists, establish a written hazard communication program and ensure safety requirements were met for a lifeline fall protection system.

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 Gloucester County man was sentenced to four years in prison Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to filing tax returns for a phony company for three years, according to authorities.

Christian L. Whittaker, 43, of Williamstown, was sentenced to four years in prison and three years of supervised release Tuesday in an indictment charging him with making false claims against the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a statement.

His attorney took issue with the sentence.

The guideline range applied over represents the severity of Mr. Whittakers prior record, Whittakers attorney, Gina Amoriello, said Tuesday night. Mr. Whittaker accepted responsibility for his actions and is considering filing an appeal.

According to court documents, Whittaker filed tax returns with the IRS for a fictitous company from 2016 through 2019.

Authorities said Whittaker claimed a phony business that paid him significant wages took substantial losses and caused the IRS to pay him more than $300,000 in refunds. Authorities said over $80,000 of the refunds were garnished to pay previous debts he owed.

As part of his sentence, Whittaker was ordered to pay over $390,000 in restitution.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
Lead contamination has been discovered on the property of a Trenton public school and students that have attended the school will be tested to determine if they have been affected, the citys mayor announced Tuesday night.

The presence of lead contamination at Ulysses S. Grant Intermediate School was detected by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which will help coordinate the cleanup with local health officials, Mayor Reed Gusciora said in a text to NJ Advance Media.

This is an area where pottery factories were located in the East Trenton neighborhood, Gusciora said. We have closed off the playground areas.

The Ulysses S. Grant Intermediate School at 159 N. Clinton Avenue serves students in fourth to sixth grades. The playgrounds that have been closed are located at the rear of the property along Southard Street, Gusciora said.

The school is across the street from the Trenton Board of Education Administration Building.

Officials for the EPA and the state Department of Environmental Protection could not be reached on Tuesday evening.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
Since implementing an outright ban on e-scooters, e-bikes and other personal electric vehicles last week, Princeton University officials have confiscated at least 80 e-scooters on campus, a spokesperson said Tuesday.

In December, Princeton University sent out an email notifying students and faculty that starting Jan. 25 all personal electric vehicles would be prohibited from being stored, charged and used in the universitys restricted zone, which includes nearly the entire campus.

The crackdown was initiated in response to concerns about safety and a lack of compliance with the previous policy implemented in August, which restricted the use of these personal vehicles during peak hours.
An unlicensed hit-and-run driver who fled following a crash in South Brunswick last year that killed a 43-year-old New Jersey woman has been charged with vehicular homicide and other offenses, authorities said.

Giovanni Gaines-Little, 24, was arrested Monday, more than 11 months after the Feb. 25, 2023 crash at the intersection of routes 130 and 32, the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office said.

Gaines-Little ran away after the crash, officials said. The driver of the other car, Kerri Lynn Shea, 43, of East Windsor, later died of her injuries.

A married mom of a daughter, Shea was a vice president at Merrill Lynch in Hopewell, Mercer County, according to an online obituary.

She also was active in the local theater community, volunteering at Playhouse 22 in East Brunswick in several capacities. Shea is also survived by her parents, two siblings and many other relatives.

Gaines-Little, of Camden, is also charged with knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, causing death while operating a motor vehicle while unlicensed, obstruction, two counts of hindering prosecution, and witness tampering.

He is being held in the Middlesex County jail, with a detention hearing scheduled for Friday.

Gaines-Little has no attorney listed in court records and will be represented by a public defender at the hearing, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors office said.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
A Brooklyn man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years and one month in prison for trying to extort money from a Monmouth County resident and the mans adult son in 2019, officials said.

Francis A. Garzon, 35, previously pleaded guilty before in Trenton Federal Court to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and one count of attempt to commit Hobbs Act extortion, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

The Hobbs Act prohibits robbery and extortion affecting interstate or foreign commerce that includes violence in relation to those crimes.

Garzon and his co-defendant, Endrit Kllogjeri, also of Brooklyn, traveled to the elder victims home in Marlboro on December 1, 2019 and ordered him to help them recover a bag with $100,000 in items inside while pointing a revolver at him, according to charging documents. The Brooklyn duo also demanded another $100,000 in interest because they insisted the Monmouth County mans son was still in possession of the bag.

Court papers did not detail what the alleged bag contained.

Garzon later called the mans son and made similar demands, the office said.

The threats continued over the next few days with the father and son victims continuing to tell Kllogjeri and Garzon they didnt know where the bag was, authorities said.

Garzon also texted the father photos and video of his son as well as the sons wife and child he scraped off social media, all three of whom reside in Brooklyn, federal prosecutors said.

Two days after he received the initial visit, the father gave his phone to investigators and let law enforcement communicate with Kllogjeri and Garzon while pretending to be him, officials said. Investigators used the phone to negotiate a $70,000 settlement with the extortionists as authorities began tracking their phones.

Garzon and Kllogjeri were taken into custody on Dec. 9, 2019 when law enforcement stopped their vehicle in the area of Third Avenue and Douglass Street in Brooklyn, the office said.

Kllogjeri, was found guilty following a jury trial in June 2023 and was scheduled to be sentenced on March 21, according to the release.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
A Morris County woman admitted Tuesday to claiming that she was injured while working as a carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and collecting disability benefits, even though she was secretly still working as the owner and operator of a travel agency, authorities said.

Pamela VanSyckle, 60, of Oak Ridge, pleaded guilty before in Newark federal court to one count of federal employee compensation fraud, according a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

In September 2020, VanSyckle signed and filed a claim form alleging that she sustained an injury at work and claimed that she could no longer perform her duties, the office said.

While she received $155,000 in disability benefits from September 2020 to September 2023, VanSyckle signed and filed multiple federal claim forms alleging that she had not worked or had outside employment, investigators said.

However, during the time in which she received federal benefits, she was actually working as the owner and operator of an unidentified travel agency where she handled sales, marketing and financial operations, officials said.

After pleading guilty, VanSyckle faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine as much as a $250,000, the office said. She was scheduled to be sentenced on June 12.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Right before the 1968 presidential election, Johnson administration peace talks were progressing on the Vietnam War. Republican nominee Richard M. Nixon needed those peace talks to fail. His election likely depended on it, since the Democrats failure to end the war was a major campaign issue.

Nixon approved the clandestine sabotaging of those peace talks, conducted through back channels with the South Vietnamese government. The talks failed, Nixon got elected, and thousands more soldiers died until the eventual U.S. withdrawal.
Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing roughly 1,200 people and capturing 240 more.

Hamas yanked Israeli civilians from their homes and brutalized them. Israel retaliated, resulting in over 25,000 deaths in Gaza to date, according to Gazan health authorities. A majority have been women and children. Nearly 80% of the population has been displaced, based on U.N. figures. In December, UNICEF described Gaza as the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defends his governments stance of complete victory over Hamas, maintaining that Israel must have security control over all the territory west of the Jordan. This is a position that even some in his own war cabinet reject.
During a significant prisoner of war exchange today, on January 31, Ukrainian soldiers, who were scheduled to be released on January 24, were returned from Russian captivity. However, 65 individuals from the original list were not part of this exchange as they were allegedly declared dead by Russia due to the crash of the Il-76 military transport plane in the Belgorod region.

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Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, provided this information to OBOZ.UA. He mentioned that not all individuals from the previous list, intended for the exchange on January 24 but delayed due to the plane crash, were included in this exchange.

"The basis of the list remained the same. Unfortunately, it excludes the 65 people whom Russia declared dead," stated the representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.

Yusov highlighted that Russia asserts that these Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the plane crash, but this information has not yet been confirmed.

As a reminder, a substantial exchange of prisoners of war between Ukraine and Russia occurred on Wednesday, January 31. This marks the 50th exchange of prisoners with Russia to date.

OBOZ.UA reported that 207 Ukrainian soldiers returned home as part of the exchange, including those who defended Mariupol, Azovstal, Zmeinyi Island, and defended the state in various areas. The participants included soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, and the National Police.

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For only verified information, refer to our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Be cautious of misinformation and fake news!
A 27-year-old woman was found stabbed to death outside an apartment complex in Somerville on Tuesday night, authorities said.

The woman, a Somerville resident, was pronounced dead after police were called to the complex on North Bridge Street around 10:20 p.m.

The prosecutors office declined to identify the woman, who was stabbed multiple times. A spokesman couldnt immediately be reached for additional information.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the prosecutors office at 908-231-7100 or Somerville police at 908- 725-0331. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 888-577-TIPS (8477)

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
A Rahway woman has been sentenced to 10 years in state prison for the fatal stabbing of her mother nearly four years ago.

Malika Jones, 26, was found guilty last year of aggravated manslaughter in the death of her mother, Inell Jones, 58, in 2020.

On Friday, Judge Thomas Isenhour sentenced Malika to 10 years with a requirement she serve 85% of her term before becoming eligible for parole.

While this sentencing does not bring Mrs. Inell Jones back, we hope it can bring some relief to all those in mourning, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel said in a statement on Wednesday.

Rahway police were called to a home in the 100 block of East Albert Street about 3 p.m. Feb. 16, 2020, where they found Inell Jones dead from a stab wound to the chest.

Authorities said Malika Jones and her mother argued twice on the day of the stabbing and that Jones stabbed her mother once in the chest with a kitchen knife. Inell Jones died at the scene.

After the stabbing, Malika Jones called 911 and told the dispatcher that her mother was unresponsive and that the stabbing was an accident, authorities said. She later claimed that her mother tried to hurt her, authorities said.

An affidavit of probable cause stated the mother and daughter were arguing over school and Malikas living situation.

Malika Jones was initially charged with first-degree murder. Her attorney told the New York Times in 2020 that she had acted in self-defense during a dispute that got out of control.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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Jan, the deputy commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion of the International Defense Legion of Ukraine, known as "Kenobi," discussed the unit's work and structure within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He also addressed questions from journalists regarding why foreigners choose to join the Legion and the roles of Ukrainians in the unit.

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Kenobi's interview was shared on the YouTube channel of the Ukrainian Witness project, aiming to document war events and disseminate information both within Ukraine and internationally.

Having served in the army for 12 years, Jan ("Kenobi") participated in defending the Kyiv region, got wounded in the battles for Hostomel, and is currently engaged in the Bakhmut sector. His brother fought in Donbas and went missing in the fall of 2022.

"People from all over the world join us. Foreigners arrive continuously, representing different nationalities and religions. There are even legionnaires from Sri Lanka and African countries. They all realize that if Ukraine loses, the Baltic States, Poland, and other territories to which Russia claims its 'rights' may be next," Kenobi stated.

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The command structure in the International Legion comprises Ukrainians, serving as officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs).

Yan mentioned that occasionally, legionnaires, feeling fatigued, take leave for a few months. Sometimes, they terminate their contracts, return to Ukraine, and resume their service.

The legionnaires receive state honors, with some having already been awarded the Order for Courage. Many express a desire to obtain Ukrainian citizenship.

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"Some people are hesitant because acquiring Ukrainian citizenship means giving up their original citizenship. However, many foreigners decide to do so and eventually become citizens of the Ukrainian state," Kenobi explained.

Yan also shared memorable moments from clashes with invaders, thoughts on encouraging people to join the Armed Forces and contribute, his perspective on heroism, and his vision of the Ukrainian army post-victory.

Previously, OBOZ.UA reported on the creation of the International Legion in 2022 in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and outlined its role.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
So, youre ready to head out to the streets of New Orleans and celebrate at one of the citys Mardi Gras parades. But how do you get there and
Ukrainian soldiers eliminated the Russian militant and propagandist Hlib Kozlov. The traitor from the Donetsk region fought against Ukraine both on the battlefield and in the information space.

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The last post on the channel created by Kozlov was clearly mocking Ukrainian servicemen, but now he is not laughing at all. Journalist Yurii Butusov reported on the elimination of the militant propagandist.

"Thanks to the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, there are fewer Kozlovs. Our soldiers eliminated a terrorist blogger from ORDLO, widely known in narrow circles, Hlib Kozlov. The tanker was running a propaganda TV channel 'You're f*cking crazy, but this is the DNR,' where he was constantly rude and clearly asking for trouble. Such a fate awaits all traitors," the journalist emphasized.

In the public space created by the eliminated occupier, his ideological "associates" are mourning that Ukrainian soldiers have finally issued a ticket to a Kobzon concert for the traitor.

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According to the occupiers, the native of the Donetsk region, who betrayed his homeland, "fought to the end for his family, for his land."

"He managed to unite us so that we could also come to the rescue," the authors of the obituary mysteriously described the collaborator's "merits."

The liquidated occupier was called "a very kind and bright man" by his associates. Butusov drew attention to one of the videos made by this "kindest" war criminal. In it, he was standing on armored vehicles in a mocking manner, boasting about the killing of Ukrainian soldiers and opening fire on Ukrainian positions.

The video, according to the words of the now-liquidated traitor, was recorded on a religious holiday, which does not bother the "pious" Russian occupiers, who repeat "God is with us" like a mantra.

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According to the Russian occupiers, Kozlov went to "eternity," but in reality, to hell, leaving behind a "message" in the form of a repost of a mocking video comparing the Ukrainian military to pigs and promoting the Kremlin's methodology that it is not really Ukrainians who are fighting but "Americans."

However, Kozlov is not laughing now.

At the same time, there are hints in the comments that the occupier could have been eliminated earlier: one commenter complains that she has been waiting for him to appear online since January 15.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
"You have to be incompetent to do that," Washington said of the city. "You have the truck in the impound lot for God's sake."

It was a New Orleans trip to forget for Washington and his wife, Minnie, who came to vacation with family. They pulled into Harrah's Hotel on Jan. 15 at about 5 p.m., and Stephen Washington started unloading while Minnie went inside to check in. Minutes later, a man with a gun had his foot on their truck's gas pedal.

At 12:16 a.m. on Jan. 16, a camera caught the truck, a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado, run a red light at South Carrollton Avenue and Earhart Boulevard.

"Now, you're adding more stress by putting a traffic ticket on me, compounding what has already happened?" Stephen Washington said. "After knowing that the truck was stolen, then you're going to send me a citation from the city?"
At a meeting between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhny, the latter was offered a new position as Secretary of the National Security Council. However, the general refused.

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This was reported by the Economist, citing its sources in the General Staff of the Armed Forces, among "people close to General Zaluzhny" and unnamed MPs. The newspaper notes that the leak of information about the alleged dismissal of the commander-in-chief "hurt both men" - the general and the president.

The Economist names two other generals among the candidates for Zaluzhny's post: 58-year-old Oleksandr Syrsky and 38-year-old Kyrylo Budanov.

"Both are considered to be close to the presidential team," the newspaper said, adding that the head of Ukrainian intelligence refused to work as head of the Armed Forces at the last minute.

The newspaper also emphasized that the leak about Zaluzhny's dismissal, whether true or not, was to the benefit of Russian propagandists and Ukrainian opposition politicians.

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"The previous president, Petro Poroshenko, who has little love for his successor, was quick to capitalize on the unrest," the Economist wrote.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on the evening of January 29, it became known that the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Zaluzhny, was allegedly dismissed. Presidential spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov, commenting on the information about Zaluzhny's resignation, said: "There is no subject of discussion."

Meanwhile, sources told OBOZ.UA that Zelensky did meet with Zaluzhny and offered him to resign as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces in exchange for another position, but he refused.

Earlier, official Kyiv tried to clarify the alleged conflict between Zaluzhny and Zelensky. For example, Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the head of the Presidential Office, has already stated that there is no reason to talk about the general's resignation, as he is clearly fulfilling his functions.

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, announced a historic verdict in Ukraine's lawsuit against Russia. The case pertained to Moscow's support for terrorists in Donbas and violations of minority rights in Crimea. The court found that Russia had violated certain provisions of the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism by failing to adequately investigate financial support for the separatists in 2014. However, it did not order compensation as requested by Ukraine.

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Furthermore, the court declined to issue a specific ruling on Russia's responsibility for the downing of flight MH17 from non-government controlled areas on July 17, 2014, as requested by Kyiv. According to the court's decision, the financing of terrorism, as defined by the Convention, only pertains to the transfer of funds and does not cover the provision of military equipment and weapons to militants. Consequently, the supply of Buk missile systems does not fall under this prohibition.

The court also determined that it does not believe Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians have been subjected to physical violence by the Russian Federation due to their ethnicity.

Simultaneously, the judges acknowledged that Russia failed to protect the rights of ethnic Ukrainians in Crimea, where the number of students studying in the Ukrainian language had significantly declined. Thus, Russia has breached its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the court stated.

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Radio Liberty reports that it took more than an hour to read the verdict.

The head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, stated at the beginning of the hearing that the Russian delegation was not present in the room. However, later, two representatives of the Russian Federation did arrive in court.

"The judges entered the courtroom at 15:04. The session has started. The delegation of Russian representatives is absent... This seems to be a positive signal about the decision," Chubarov wrote.

The lawsuit, filed by Ukraine with the UN court in 2017, asserted that Russia finances and provides weapons to separatists in Donbas, as well as violates the rights of Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea. The case also referenced the downing of the passenger Boeing flight MH-17 in 2014, resulting in the death of all 298 people on board, and the shooting of a bus in Volnovakha.

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The volumes of evidence totaled 17 thousand pages. A panel of 15 judges studied them for several years and on January 30, 2024, issued a final decision that is not subject to appeal. Russia sent only two representatives to the trial in The Hague.

Former Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine for European Integration, Lana Zerkal, stated on the eve of the hearing that the court's decision would set a historic precedent.

"Ukraine will receive a legally established right to adequate compensation for violations of these international treaties. The ICJ's decision will also be crucial for the further development and application of international law in the field of combating the financing of terrorism and racial discrimination," the diplomat emphasized.

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In the summer of 2014, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry officially notified Russia of its violation of international conventions, which led to a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and a number of war crimes against civilians. Over the next two years, eight rounds of bilateral negotiations took place, after which Ukrainian diplomats concluded that it was impossible to resolve the dispute through negotiations.

Therefore, in its claim to the ICJ, Ukraine stated that:

1. Russia violates the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

2. Russia violates the requirements of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

In June 2023, court hearings were held in this case.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

 In September 2023, the ICJ began preliminary hearings on Ukraine's second lawsuit against Russia. From September 18 to 27, the court examined the case of Russia's violation of the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

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 Ukraine's second lawsuit against Russia is unprecedented in that it involves 34 countries and has major consequences. The hearings will focus on the court's jurisdiction and the admissibility of Ukraine's complaint; Moscow has already raised preliminary objections.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The 111-year-old St. Joseph Carmelite Home in East Chicago is being rebranded as Damar North and is adding disability services now that it's under new ownership.

On Friday, Indianapolis-based Damar Services will start providing services at the residential treatment home to children with intellectual, developmental and behavioral disabilities.

The St. Joseph Carmelite Home started as an orphanage in 1913 and long provided emergency shelter and residential care for children in crisis. The Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus sold the home last year, saying they were being called to a new ministry in another state.

Damar Services retained all 50 St. Joseph Carmelite Home employees. It plans to hire more as it works to offer more treatment options for children with disabilities.

It's now hiring for nursing, education and autism-specific technicians.

Damar is honored to build on the Carmelite Sisters century-plus mission of compassion, said Dr. Jim Dalton, president and CEO of Damar Services. Were eager to share our staffs experience and expertise helping children with some of lifes most challenging situations.

Janelle Reed will serve as executive director of Damar North, located at 4840 Grasseli Ave. in East Chicago. She and development specialist Yursely Garcia moved from Damars main campus in Indianapolis to Northwest Indiana to integrate St. Joseph Carmelite Home into the system.

Damar was founded by Theodore and Beverly Farkas in 1967 after they found few options to take care of their children with disabilities. The main option at the time was a state institution with limited visitation.

They started Damar, which combines the names of their children David and Martha. It operates a 205-bed residential treatment facility on Indianapolis' southwest side, as well as five ABA autism clinics, outpatient behavioral health services and community-based treatment programs serving children throughout the state.

St. Joseph Carmelite Home was founded as an orphanage by Mother Mary Theresa of St. Joseph from Toronto, who came at the request of Bishop Herman Joseph Alerdin of the Diocese of Fort Wayne. She started the St. Joseph Carmelite Home in two frame houses on Grasselli Avenue in East Chicago when it was still a burgeoning steel town drawing immigrants from all over the world to work in its mills.

It was one of 15 such homes in North America and ended up becoming the last remaining Carmelite Home in the United States.

The home quickly grew to 70 children, taking care of many kids whose fathers died in industrial accidents in the steel mills.

Col. Walter J. Riley, an early civic booster who ran the First National Bank in East Chicago, helped establish the orphanage. Riley, a flamboyant personality who was known for wearing white suits like Col. Sanders and riding around town in a chauffeured limo, took some of the children on trips to the Shedd Aquarium and 1933 Chicago World's Fair.

The St. Joseph Carmelite Home adjusted over time to start providing emergency shelter services and care for teenage mothers and their babies. Nuns lived next door to care for the children around the clock.

It helped thousands of children over the years and in 1984 became a residential treatment center, caring for children sent there by the Indiana Department of Child Services, such as if their parents were abusive or had been arrested.

The population eventually started to dip as the state began to send more children to foster homes instead. The St. Joseph Carmelite Home worked to return the children, who were sent to East Chicago public schools during the day, back to their own homes as soon as possible.
Pierogi Fest in Whiting is the first festival from Northwest Indiana to be featured on the cover of the Indiana Festival Guide, a widely distributed tourist brochure.

The statewide booklet is a staple at rest stops, museums, hotels and tourist attractions across the Hoosier State. A half million copies of the 116-page publication are distributed at 1,200 locations across Indiana.

We are proud to earn the distinction of the front cover," said Tom Dabertin, chairman and co-founder of Pierogi Fest. "Pierogi Fest has won a number of accolades as one of the best festivals in the nation; the front cover is a confirmation of the hard work that more than 600 volunteers undertake annually to make it a success."

The Indiana Festival Guide is distributed across all 92 counties in Indiana, from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River and from Terre Haute to Richmond. It tells people about festivals, fairs, gatherings and special events like the 500 Festival, the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, the Fort Wayne Water Lantern Festival and the Lotus Music and Art Festival in Bloomington.

This is the first time a festival in Northwest Indiana has ever been featured on the front cover," said Heather Becerra, chief marketing officer of the South Shore CVA and associate board member of the Indiana State Festivals Association. "Each year an event from a different region of the state is showcased. The covers have already been approved through 2030. The next opportunity for a Northern Indiana festival to be featured wont be until 2036. This is a great opportunity to highlight one of the most unique festivals in all the Midwest.

Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Pierogi Fest will take place from July 26 to July 28 this year. More than 75 food booths will serve pierogi, halupki, buttered noodles, Polish sausage and 1,200 other menu items along 119th Street in downtown Whiting.

It kicks off with the polka parade featuring Mr. Pierogi, the buscias and the Precision Lawnmower Drill Team. The weekend-long festival features seven live entertainment stages, two beer gardens and 55 arts and crafts vendors.

A copy of the Indiana Festival Guide is available at 7770 Corinne Drive in Hammond

For more information, visit www.indianafestivals.org.
EAST CHICAGO  Police in search of a wanted person made the shocking discovery Tuesday of a decomposing body in the basement of a home in the 4000 block of Deal Street, the department said.

Members of the East Chicago Gang and Narcotics Division, along with the Lake County Sheriff's Department Warrant Division, were inside the home around 11 a.m. taking a person into custody when they smelled "a strong and foul odor coming from the basement."

"They also observed a bed in the basement covered with clothes and maggots," police said.

The East Chicago Criminal Investigation Division and Lake County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force were called out and discovered a deceased individual underneath a pile of clothes in the basement, officials said.

"The Lake County Sheriff Crime Scene Unit and Coroners Office were then called out to the scene," police said.

"Two persons of interest were taken into custody and transported to the East Chicago Police Department Jail," the department said. "The identity and cause of death of the deceased individual have not been determined."
VALPARAISO  A 24-year-old Portage man, already on a lifetime sex offender registry, was locked up Tuesday on five new charges of child molesting dating back to 2016, records show.

Joshua Shepherd, who is being held without a bond until his initial hearing before Porter Superior Court Judge Mike Fish, is accused in the latest case of repeatedly molesting a girl from the age 10 until 12, Portage police said.

Shepherd was between the ages of 16 and 18 at the time, according to police.

The allegations came to light in April after the girl, who is now 17, reported it during a body safety program at school, police said. The girl reported five incidents beginning when she was 10.

The alleged offenses grew in severity as time went on, records show.

The Porter County Sheriff's Department lists Shepherd as being required to register as life as a sex offender from a sentence in Florida, Portage police said.

He was convicted in 2016 of two counts of attempted sexual battery on a person under the age of 12, and lewd or lascivious molestation with a victim under 12 years of age, records show.

He transferred his registration to Indiana in January 2020 and was due to register again in January 2021, police said.

When police went to check on him at a home in Portage during February 2021, Shepherd reportedly fled and took a bus to Florida. Police said they were unable to find him registered anywhere until taking him into custody in Porter County in October 2021 on allegations of failing to register.

Portage police said they reached out to Shepherd in May on the new allegations and he responded that upon advice of his attorney he would not be giving a statement.

The five new counts of child molesting were signed Thursday and police picked him up Tuesday morning at a home in Portage, records show. Four of the counts carry a potential sentence of three to 16 years behind bars, and one has a potential sentence of two to 12 years.
CROWN POINT  Years before his tenure as Lake County prosecutor began, a 20-something Bernard Carter spent multiple midnights as a part-time correctional officer at Blackmon Correctional Complex in Lexington, Kentucky.

At that point, he already knew he wanted to work in the criminal justice system. However, his time there provided a useful perspective that he'd carry with him when he was appointed to the top office-holder in Lake County's 31st Judicial Circuit more than a decade later.

"That provided me an opportunity, a good opportunity to understand human interaction, the inmates, the prison system," Carter said, "Not knowing that one day I would be intricately involved in deciding who goes there and who doesnt."

Since he assumed the role of county prosecutor 30 years ago, Carter said he continues to work to understand the causes behind crime in Lake County, what more can be done proactively to keep crimes from happening and how his office can offer resources to underprivileged citizens, rather than punish them.

This is not at the expense, however, of the pursuit of justice for those who have been impacted by crime. The two can happen in tandem.

Humble beginnings

Carter grew up in Gary and East Chicago. He attended West Side High School in Gary, graduated from Washington High School in East Chicago and moved to Lexington for his undergraduate degree, where he earned a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice from Kentucky State University in 1978. He returned to Northwest Indiana for law school and earned his degree from Valparaiso University in 1984.

He said he'd known he wanted to be a lawyer since he was in fifth grade. He received encouragement from his father, who died from a heart attack when Carter was 14, and his mother, who supported him every step of the way.

"As a child, I respected my father and mother," Carter said. "I listened to them."

"Well, not always. But I tried," Carter said with a laugh.

He served as a Lake County deputy prosecutor from 1984 to 1990 and tried more than 80 high-level felony cases including multiple death penalty cases. He ran for and was elected as a Lake Superior Court judge in 1990.

In the fall of 1993, he was appointed to be county prosecutor by former Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh after then-Lake County Prosecutor Jon DeGuilio left the role to become U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana. When Carter took office, he knew he would be up for election for the role in just a few months. Despite criticism from some naysayers, he chose to run and was elected.

"Some people said, 'I dont know if I would do that if I were you, Bernie,' he said. "I didnt listen to that. Once Bayh appointed me to the position, I wanted to keep it. I thought I could do more as a prosecutor than as a judge."

Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Barbara McConnell first met Carter when she was interviewing for a position at the prosecutor's office in 1989. He was part of the panel that interviewed her.

She said Carter is "one of the most down-to-earth, caring individuals" she's ever met. His "heart is in his work," which she believes has helped him sustain his avidity for the job over the last 30 years.

Ive seen that [passion] for decades," McConnell said. "The person he is today is the same person he was when I first met him. You cant be the same person for decades without being genuine.

Reflecting on his upbringing and career, Carter said he's come to understand how crucial it is for young people to have excellent role models, economic resources and proper support in order to be successful and avoid crime. He understands, however, this is not always realistic and knows not everyone will agree with him on some parts of this notion.

"You need families. You need fathers who are are intricately involved in their childrens life on a daily basis," Carter said. "Children need acknowledgement that, my son, my daughter, Im here to guide you."

His own mother died four years ago, but he recalls her support and presence throughout his career.

That was the best part of those accomplishments," Carter said. "Letting my mother see what she has done for me.

He passes messages of encouragement onto his own children, one of whom works in his office as a deputy prosecuting attorney. He said three of his other children are interested in becoming lawyers, too.

He said texts each of his children a variation of the same question almost everyday:

"What are you going to do today to make tomorrow better?"

Preparing for tomorrow

Carter understands the need for punitive measures and said he vows to ensure those who commit violent crimes are held accountablehowever, he doesn't believe prison is always the answer.

The product we put in prison comes out worse, he said. They come out mad, angry. If you want to change your life, you can. But it's not conducive to make that change once you get in there."

Since the criminal justice system is not set up to help individuals once they are incarcerated, he and other decision-makers in the county strive to find alternative measures for non-violent offenders and provide the help that they can to make the transition out of prison less stressful.

He mentioned the county's Community Transition Court under judges Salvador Vasquez and Natalie Bokota with the help of Magistrate Kathleen Sullivan and Executive Director Kellie Bittorf of the Lake County Community Corrections program. The court is designed to help transition people coming out of incarceration back into the community. The county's Drug Court, headed by Judge Samuel Cappas and Sullivan, serves as an alternative for anyone who has committed a crime as a result of their substance abuse disorder. It focuses on therapeutic initiatives more than penal actions.

"I like to try to get to young people before they even get to that mess, he said.

He tries to act as a role model for Lake County youth. He frequently attends local schools and gives speeches about the importance of making responsible decisions as a young person to set oneself up for success. He said he is in the process of starting an initiative to serve young men of color with the goal of partnering with My Brother's Keeper through the Obama Foundation, a group that attempts to address opportunity gaps faced by this population. Recently, his office partnered with local community groups, politicians and businesses to provide free gun locks and firearms training to the community with the goal of avoiding negligent shootings.

He reaches out to the clergy through his Lake County Prosecutor's Clergy Council, which meets quarterly to discuss the law and how clergy members can better help their parishioners who might encounter the criminal justice system.

The Lake County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force, created in March, is made up of a team of 10 detectives to exclusively investigate homicides. The goal, he said, is to build a solid relationship between police and prosecutors so evidence can be developed properly and cases can be prosecuted thoroughly. His office also created the High Tech Crime Unit, tasked with processing evidence from cameras, laptops, cellphones and other electronic devices.

Carter said one of his priorities is to mentor his staff, especially his attorneys who are early in their career. He calls the group a "big healthy family."

I dont take credit for that," Carter said. "I take credit for creating an atmosphere where they can learn the law and go onto bigger and better things."

As he celebrates his 30 years in office and looks to his future, he hopes to continue to seek justice and accountability for those who deserve it most and partner with the community to improve the lives of the citizens in Lake County.

I have a great passion and great love for what we do, he said. I want to help these challenges to make our society better.

GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week
The East Chicago School Board interviewed three finalists for its vacant board seat on Monday.

The candidates are Mercedez Taylor, Cristina Williams and Jose Arteaga.

Each of them is vying to succeed former school board member Vanessa Hernandez-Orange, who stepped down at the end of last year ahead of taking an at-large seat on the East Chicago Common Council.

Monday's interviews were the third round of questioning held by the school board.

On Jan. 10, Taylor, Williams and two other candidates were interviewed in what was supposed to be the sole round of questioning.

Last Saturday, the four original candidates, plus Arteaga and two others took part in the second round of interviews.

Monday's questioning mainly asked the finalists how they would conduct themselves as board members and how they would help improve the reputation of the board.

Taylor, a healthcare administrator, said she would like to see clear communication and explanations of decisions made by the board to the public.

In addition, Taylor said she would work to build positive relationships and foster mutual respect with critical stakeholders.

Williams, the director of diversity, equity and belonging at Ivy Tech Lake County, said she would be responsive to residents' emails and phone calls.

"In order to build trust with the community they have to know that you're invested just as well as they are," Williams said.

Arteaga, an educator at Bishop Noll High School, said he believes being visible at community events would help build trust in the board.

"I think that says a lot to the community that we are supporting our students," Arteaga said.

The candidates were also asked if they would support measures, like school building closures, outsourcing services, referendums and job cuts if the district were to enter into financial distress.

All of them stated they viewed school consolidation as a last resort.

Arteaga said that while he would ultimately support a referendum if necessary, he would also want to make sure the district made the best financial decisions before asking taxpayers, given the recent defeats of tax levy proposals in Hammond, Whiting and Highland.

All the finalists also voiced their support of holding back third graders from moving on to fourth grade if they are not reading at grade level, as long as those students were provided with additional support, such as tutoring.

"I would definitely not promote them to set them up for failure," Taylor said during her interview.

The East Chicago School is expected to announce its selection at their next meeting, set for Feb. 5.

Chronic absenteeism is still up in schools across the US Chronic absenteeism is still up in schools across the US An improving situation, but not enough
Europe should increase its support for Ukraine and simultaneously convince American politicians to unblock theirs, as European aid to Ukraine alone will not be enough. Putin should not count on the fact that the support of Ukraine by its partners will ever end.

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This was stated by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a speech in the Bundestag. The politician assured that Germany will make a significant contribution this year, but more countries should actively join.

"It is very important for me that we receive wider European support. It should not depend solely on Germany... Even if we do our best, it is not enough for Ukraine, and we want more countries to join, in particular, with the supply of weapons," the Prime Minister emphasized.

He noted that this issue will be discussed in the EU these days, but the process will not end there. In any case, Scholz assured, Germany will do everything to ensure that the joint contribution of the whole of Europe is so significant that Ukraine can rely on it, and Putin cannot expect that the support of Ukraine by its partners will ever end.

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"He should not think so," the politician said. Scholz added that the Russian president is obviously looking forward to the US elections. The situation is not easy given the delay in the decision to allocate more than $60 billion in US aid to Ukraine, the chancellor admitted, but expressed optimism that President Joe Biden will still be able to provide assistance to Ukraine this year.

"And we will all do our part to help convince (our colleagues in the United States) that it is a common task for us, as friends of freedom and democracy, not to leave Ukraine alone," Scholz said.

He noted that if the aid had not been unblocked, Germany would have become the largest arms supplier to Ukraine in the world.

"We must do everything to prevent this from happening. We would be presumptuous if we thought we could do it alone. This is not the case. We need unity and solidarity," Scholz emphasized.

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The politician reminded that Germany is already Ukraine's second partner after the United States in terms of military assistance, and the funds provided in the budget for 2024 are more than half of what will be allocated to Ukraine this year by other EU countries. He emphasized the need to support Ukraine in its struggle for freedom and that this support should not stop.

"This is our duty for freedom and security in Europe," the Chancellor emphasized.

The head of the German government also mentioned another issue that is currently on the EU's agenda - the issue of European financial assistance, namely "the allocation of 12 billion euros to Ukraine per year for the coming years."

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Germany announced the allocation of another military aid package for Ukraine. It includes, among other things, six Sea King Mk41 multi-purpose helicopters, more than two dozen armored personnel carriers, missiles for air defense systems and more than a thousand artillery rounds.

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It also became known that the German Armed Forces are preparing for an armed conflict against Russia. An escalation between NATO and Russia may occur as early as February this year.

It is noted that the terrorist state will once again use the territory of Belarus for a massive deployment of troops on the border with Poland and Lithuania.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Could Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita become the second Republican attorney general in a row to fail to win a second term?

Sabato's Crystal Ball, a national organization that predicts the outcome of election contests, on Wednesday shifted its forecast of this year's Indiana attorney general race to "Lean Republican" from "Safe Republican."

Indiana was the only attorney general race in the country to get a ratings shift. Louis Jacobson, senior columnist for Crystal Ball, attributed the change to Rokita's "Trumpian, bare-knuckled response" to a variety of legal and ethical qualms facing the incumbent.

Specifically, Jacobson cited the Indiana Supreme Court issuing a public reprimand to Rokita last year for professional misconduct stemming from his office's investigation of the abortion provided in Indiana to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio.

"Establishment Republicans already werent thrilled with Rokita, and its possible he could get intra-party opposition in the Republican nominating convention," Jacobson said.

Rokita, a former congressman and Indiana secretary of state originally from Munster, took the GOP attorney general nomination at the 2020 Republican State Convention from then-Attorney General Curtis Hill Jr.  short-circuiting Hill's reelection bid.

Jacobson suggests Hill might try to grab it back this summer if Hill's poorly funded gubernatorial campaign is unsuccessful at the May 7 primary.

"Alternately, a more pragmatic Republican could seek the convention nod," Jacobson said.

At the same time, Jacobson observed either of the two Democrats seeking their party's attorney general nomination  2022 secretary of state nominee Destiny Wells and former Marion County Clerk Beth White  will have strong party support in what's expected to be a marquee race on this year's general election ballot in Indiana.

"It would be a heavy lift for any Democrat to beat Rokita  no Democrat has won a statewide contest in Indiana since 2012  but a Democratic win is no longer outside the realm of possibility," Jacobson said.

Griffin Reid, spokesman for the Indiana Republican Party, seemed to shrug off the implications of the ratings shift in the attorney general race.

"While Indiana Democrats continue to push the Biden agenda, which has failed at every level, Indiana Republicans have a proven track record of delivering results for the state of Indiana, and we look forward to taking that message on the road in the upcoming election cycle," Reid said.

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Ordinances adopted by a dozen Northwest Indiana municipalities banning the sale of puppies and dogs at retail pet stores as a means to combat animal abuse would be invalidated July 1 under legislation approved by the Republican-controlled House.

House Bill 1412, which now goes to the Senate, preempts rules limiting or restricting dog sales crafted by local elected officials across Indiana and replaces them with a package of one-size-fits-all state regulatory mandates spanning some two dozen single-spaced pages.

State Rep. Beau Baird, R-Greencastle, the sponsor, believes a comprehensive state statute addressing the breeding and retail sale of dogs in the Hoosier State will "empower consumers" purchasing dogs by "fostering transparency and responsible breeding practices."

"Let me be clear, this bill is, in fact, an anti-puppy mill bill," Baird said. "By implementing statewide regulations, we not only safeguard the welfare of the dogs, but also prevent the emergence of puppy mills in rural areas where animal shelters are already struggling to manage their capacity."

Under the plan, cosponsored by state Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron, all retail pet stores, animal care facilities, animal rescue operations and hobby breeders that sell dogs to retail pet stores would be obligated to register with the Indiana Board of Animal Health.

BOAH also would be entitled to conduct random, unannounced inspections of any commercial dog breeder, broker, or retail pet store beginning July 1, 2025.

In addition, Indiana pet stores selling dogs would have to disclose all fees associated with the purchase, each dog's age and breed, medical history, breeder name and address, details needed for pedigree registration, proof of microchipping and the store's return policy.

A purchaser would be entitled to a return or refund, including repayment of veterinary bills, if a veterinarian certifies within certain time frames that the dog was sick or died because it was unfit for purchase due to illness or disease, or possesses a congenital or hereditary condition requiring significant veterinary care, according to the legislation.

"House Bill 1412 is a proactive solution to address the root cause of unethical breeding practices," Baird said.

Critics of the proposal pointed out BOAH lacks the administrative and inspection staff, as well as the necessary funding, to oversee the more than 300 dog breeders, animal rescues and animal shelters that would fall under the board's authority if the measure is enacted into law.

"This legislation operates under the assumption that all mills  once registered with the Board of Animal Health  will bring themselves up to code with the newly-imposed regulations. If the Indiana State Board of Animal Health does not have the appropriate manpower to cover this large increase in businesses to inspect, theres no guarantee that these hobby breeders and other facilities will actually follow through," said state Rep. Kyle Miller, D-Fort Wayne.

The plan also is opposed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which called it "the puppy mill industrys latest attempt" to "remove local authority to meaningfully address problems associated with the sale of puppies in pet stores."

"If passed, this bill would override our local officials and allow an outdated business model built on animal suffering to continue to operate in Indiana. This is not what Hoosiers want and we urge state lawmakers to oppose House Bill 1412," said Sana Azem, ASPCA senior legislative director for the Midwest.

The measure was approved 59-36, with support from Northwest Indiana state Reps. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer; Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point; Hal Slager, R-Schererville; Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso; and Aylesworth.

The Region municipalities at risk of losing their pet store dog sale bans are: Cedar Lake, Crown Point, Dyer, East Chicago, Hebron, Highland, Lake Station, Lowell, Munster, Schererville, Valparaiso and Whiting.

Meet the 2024 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago State Sen. Dave Vinzant, D-Hobart State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr. State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie
The infamous Doomsday Clock has been reset to 90 seconds to midnight, the closest our world has ever been to apocalypse, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

The symbolic Clock was created in 1947 by a group of scientists, including Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer and University of Chicago scientists, who worked on the Manhattan Project. It was designed to demonstrate how close we, as humans, are to self-destruction through nuclear war or man-made technologies. And the contemporary idiom of nuclear explosion (countdown to zero) to convey threats to humanity and the planet.

When I first wrote about the Clock - on the last day of January in 2000 - Stephen Schwartz, the former publisher of the Bulletin, told me the metaphorical concept of a clock helps people better understand an unfathomable concept  the end of the world as we know it.

Otherwise, this concept is too abstract and too horrific to understand enough to act on it, he said.

The Clock wasnt always so close to midnight in recent memory. In 2007, it was at seven minutes to midnight, where it stood for the five previous years. Today, its teetering just 90 seconds away from  something.

Ominous trends continue to point the world toward global catastrophe, the Bulletin states.

Is this merely Chicken Little hyperbole or is it an inevitable reality for our species?

A variety of global threats cast menacing shadows in our world while hanging over us like sharpened guillotines. For example: the Russia-Ukraine war and deterioration of nuclear arms reduction agreements; the Climate Crisis and 2023s official designation as the hottest year on record; the increased sophistication of genetic engineering technologies; and the dramatic advance of generative artificial intelligence which could magnify disinformation and corrupt the global information environment making it harder to solve the larger existential challenges, the organization insists.

Make no mistake. Resetting the Clock at 90 seconds to midnight is not an indication that the world is stable. Quite the opposite, said Rachel Bronson, president and CEO of the Bulletin. Its urgent for governments and communities around the world to act. And the Bulletin remains hopeful and inspired - in seeing the younger generations leading the charge.

A familiar face from an older generation - Bill Nye the science guy - attended the Bulletins public announcement, saying, For decades, scientists have been warning us of the dangers facing humankind. We could be facing catastrophe unless we better manage the technologies weve created. Its time to act.

The skeptic in me says this is merely decades-old hogwash, dragged out of the Cold War closet by a group of overly concerned scientists. Is anybody with any power really listening? I doubt it.

The idealist in me says such stunts may actually prompt global action from lazy and apathetic citizens. Every action matters. Every effort counts. Everyone is in the same sinking Titanic.

The realist in me knows darn well that certain nuclear-obsessed leaders in Iran, Russia and North Korea, for example, couldnt care less about the time of day on some silly Doomsday Clock.

And yet, we quietly wonder if nuclear warfare is a possibility versus an inevitability.

If an expert offers you a probabilistic assessment of the likelihood of nuclear war breaking out, you should be very skeptical, states an insightful analysis from The Brookings Institution.

The Washington, D.C.-based think tank and its scholars are known as a trusted resource for rigorous research and innovative ideas across fields such as foreign policy.

We are likely to overestimate the likelihood of nuclear war when those estimates are informed by public behavior, because we cant see the private behavior that would decrease our estimates, the analysis states.

Private behavior is what Im more interested in because I have little hope in public behavior. I have even less hope in our global leaders, many who lust for power more than they love mankind. They are ruthless scorpions in a proverbial sea of clueless frogs.

Only the big powers like China, America and Russia can pull us back. Despite deep antagonisms, they must cooperate  or we are doomed, said Jerry Brown, executive chair of the Bulletin.

Critics of the Doomsday Clock insist that our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years and we will figure out ways to not only survive but to persevere. The Bulletins board of directors, including nine Nobel laureates, agrees but only if we change our self-destructive habits.

The world can be made safer. The Clock can move away from midnight, the Bulletin states.

In 1945, just after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Bulletins founding scientists felt a profound sense of responsibility for the potential consequences of their own work. All of us should feel a similar sense of responsibility for the consequences of our actions, or our inaction.

Tick-tock, everyone.

GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week
Dear listeners,

The 66th annual Grammy Awards take place on Sunday, and this years lineup of performers is pretty exceptional. I mean, Joni Mitchell is performing! For the first time ever at the Grammys! I could really just stop there, but Billy Joel, Billie Eilish, SZA, U2, Olivia Rodrigo, Burna Boy, Luke Combs, Dua Lipa, Travis Scott and more are scheduled to grace the stage. Will Joel and Eilish take this opportunity to start a supergroup called the Billies? Will SZA and U2 start an all-caps collaborative side project called SUZA2? Will Travis Scott meet Joni Mitchell, and if so, what will they talk about? The possibilities of this years ceremony are endless, and a little weird.

To kick off Grammy week, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at another exceptional-if-slightly-odd year in Grammy history: the 10th annual ceremony, which took place on Feb. 29, 1968 and honored the music of 1967.

The Grammys, infamously, do not always get it right. Sometimes their slights are laughably egregious (like when Metallica lost the 1989 award for best hard rock/heavy metal recording to  Jethro Tull); other times, they play things annoyingly safe (see: Beyonces last three losses for album of the year). But just as a broken clock is right twice a day, sometimes justice actually is served at the Grammys. And 1968 was one of those years.

Consider that album of the year went to a release that pushed the format forward into the future, and one thats still often (and rightly) mentioned in lists of the greatest albums of all time. Some incredibly worthy artists won their first-ever Grammys that year: Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin and Tammy Wynette. Many of the songs and artists awarded have  gasp  actually stood the test of time.
As Mayor Eric Adams battles low poll ratings, a federal investigation and potential challengers to his re-election in New York City, a Democratic ally has emerged as an unexpected adversary: Adrienne Adams, the City Council speaker.

Ms. Adams, who shares many of the mayors moderate stances, has become one of his most powerful and vocal critics, unifying the most diverse City Council ever and empowering it as a forceful wedge against him.

On Tuesday, Ms. Adams led the Council in overriding the mayors vetoes of a bill banning the use of solitary confinement in the citys jails and another bill requiring police officers to record the race, age and gender of most people they stop.

The actions were an unusual rebuke of a New York City mayor by his Democratic colleagues: It was only the second time in nearly a decade that the Council has overridden a mayors veto.
A onetime top editor of an Orthodox Jewish newspaper in Brooklyn pleaded guilty on Tuesday to obstructing police officers efforts to hold off the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The editor, Elliot Resnick, entered the plea, to a felony count of obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder, before Judge Rudolph Contreras of Federal District Court in Washington. Mr. Resnick, 40, of Manhattan, is scheduled to be sentenced in June.

Clay Kaminsky, a federal public defender who is representing Mr. Resnick, declined to comment.

At the time of the riot, Mr. Resnick was the top editor of The Jewish Press, which began publishing in 1960 and describes itself on its website as the largest independent weekly Jewish newspaper in the United States and politically incorrect long before the phrase was coined.

After Politico reported in April 2021 that Mr. Resnick, who began working at The Jewish Press in 2006, had been part of the Jan. 6 mob, the papers editorial board published a statement saying he had been in Washington to cover the days events as a journalist.
FRONT PAGE

An article on Sunday about a lack of support for Nikki Haley in her home state of South Carolina misstated when Ms. Haley resigned as governor of South Carolina to serve in Donald J. Trumps administration. It was seven years ago, not eight.

NATIONAL

An article on Monday about President Biden and the Senates progress in appointing judges in Republican states misspelled the given name of a federal judge and misstated the groundbreaking nature of her appointment. She is Sara E. Hill, not Sarah, and she is the first Native American woman confirmed as a federal judge in Oklahoma, not the first Native American.

An article on Tuesday about three men charged in a plot to kill two Iranian refugees in Maryland misstated when three men accused of plotting to assassinate a human-rights activist who has criticized Irans repression of women were charged. They were charged at different times, not together in July 2023. The article also misstated when an Indian man accused of plotting to murder a Sikh dissident in New York was indicted. It was in June, not November.

An article on Friday about New Jerseys approval of two offshore wind farms attributed an erroneous distinction to the Leading Light Wind project. It would be the first large-scale U.S.-led operation to build a wind farm in the ocean and deliver power from it. It would not be the first such operation of any size to build a wind farm in the ocean. The much smaller Block Island Wind Farm, built by an American developer off the coast of Rhode Island, started production in 2016.
Hundreds of tourists were stranded near Machu Picchu, Perus most-visited site, over the weekend after demonstrators blocked railway and bus routes to the site and shut down local shops and restaurants in Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu, in the countrys Cuzco region. Some visitors posted videos on social media pleading for help. The police evacuated about 700 tourists on Saturday. Many left without seeing the site.

The protesters had taken to the streets on Thursday to demand the government rescind a contract that allows a company to sell tickets to Machu Picchu for the first time. Tickets had previously been sold through the office of culture in Cuzco, which is controlled by the regional government.

Protesters agreed to a 24-hour truce on Tuesday to take part in talks with government officials. While Machu Picchu is officially open, train service to Aguas Calientes and buses that take tourists to the citadel remain suspended. The U.S. Embassy advised travelers who want to try to reach the site by other means to make sure they take enough food and any medicine they might need.

Machu Picchu, believed to be a 15th-century getaway for Incan royalty, received some 2.2 million visitors last year, below prepandemic levels of 4.6 million. Peru has been trying to encourage tourists to visit other ancient sites in part to prevent overcrowding, which UNESCO has warned could damage parts of its structure.
Pakistans former leader is sentenced

Imran Khan, Pakistans former prime minister, was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday. The verdict is widely seen as part of a military campaign to sideline him and his party, and comes about a week before the countrys first national election since Khan was ousted in April 2022.

Analysts say the election will be among the least credible in Pakistans 76-year history. The military  long the invisible hand guiding Pakistans politics  has meddled in elections before. This time its interference is more visible.

Khans popularity  though he has been jailed in several legal cases and barred from contesting the national election  has remained high since his removal from power, which he claims the military orchestrated. The military has denied the accusation. Public anger at the military has grown, even as members of Pakistans elite have been arrested after supporting Khan.

Details: Khan was accused of leaking state secrets. The verdict was handed down by a special court, established last year, that analysts say is deferential to the militarys wishes. Khan has called the trial a fixed match, and his party has said it would appeal the verdict.
Over the course of three weeks, the art world watched as a Russian oligarch pursued a lawsuit in an American court in which he accused Sothebys of abetting a fraud.

The oligarch, Dmitry Rybolovlev, testified in federal court in New York that a Swiss art dealer had cheated him by pretending to be his agent when instead he was buying artworks and flipping them to Rybolovlevs company at hefty markups. Sothebys, he said, was in on it.

But after only a few hours of deliberation on Tuesday, the jury found differently, voting unanimously that Sothebys had not played a role in any fraud. The dealer, Yves Bouvier, who was not a defendant in the case, said he felt vindicated too.

Bouvier has long insisted that he did nothing wrong and that he was always clearly acting as a dealer, free to charge Rybolovlev whatever price the Russian would pay.
Germany, the Netherlands and Poland signed an agreement on Tuesday aimed at cutting red tape that impedes the rapid cross-border movement of troops and weapons along one of the main corridors leading from the North Sea to NATO's eastern flank. After Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, NATO and the European Union began to accelerate preparations in case of a military conflict with Moscow.

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This was reported by the international news agency Reuters. The United States and other NATO allies are expected to send large military reinforcements through North Sea ports via Germany and Poland to the eastern front.

NATO is currently conducting its largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War called Steadfast Defender 2024, involving about 90,000 troops.

Speaking at an event at the EU's European Defense Agency in Brussels, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said it was important to create conditions that allow for the rapid deployment of military forces before any possible conflict arises.

"Geography is what it is. This means that we have to be able to move quickly from the Netherlands through Germany to Poland," she said before the three countries signed a letter of intent for closer cooperation on military mobility.

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NATO has warned its members that too much red tape is impeding the movement of troops across Europe, a problem that could lead to serious delays in the event of a conflict with Russia.

NATO forces still need to comply with various rules, ranging from the prior notification required to send ammunition to the permissible length of military convoys.

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Culture can sound like an abstract concept, but it matters for drug policy. Consider smoking. In 1965, more than 42 percent of American adults smoked cigarettes. In 2021, less than 12 percent did. The country did not criminalize tobacco. And while policy changes like higher taxes played a role, much of the drop happened through a sustained public health campaign that led most Americans to reject smoking.

In San Francisco and other liberal cities, the opposite shift has happened with hard drug use. The culture has become more tolerant of people using drugs. When I asked people living on the streets why they are in San Francisco, the most common response was that they knew they could avoid the legal and social penalties that often follow addiction. Some came from as close as Oakland, believing that San Francisco was more permissive. As Keith Humphreys, a drug policy expert at Stanford University, told me, San Francisco is on the extreme of a pro-drug culture.
The drug maker Biogen said on Wednesday it would abandon its ownership rights to Aduhelm, an Alzheimers drug that had provoked fierce criticism of the company and regulators after it was approved based on weak evidence that it would help patients.

The company will also stop a clinical trial that the Food and Drug Administration had ordered to confirm whether the drug is effective in slowing the progression of Alzheimers disease.

With an initial sticker price of $56,000 a year, Aduhelm was once projected to be taken by millions of Alzheimers patients, strain Medicares budget and bring in billions of dollars a year. But Aduhelm failed spectacularly in the marketplace.

Biogens decision closes out a yearslong saga that generated outrage and eroded trust in the regulatory process for bringing new medicines to market. One F.D.A. adviser called the approval of the drug perhaps the worst approval decision that the F.D.A. has made that I can remember. A congressional inquiry later found that the F.D.A.s process for approving Aduhelm had been rife with irregularities and involved lapses in protocol, including unusually close collaboration with Biogen.
Chinas top intelligence agency issued an ominous warning last month about an emerging threat to the countrys national security: Chinese people who criticize the economy.

In a series of posts on its official WeChat account, the Ministry of State Security implored citizens to grasp President Xi Jinpings economic vision and not be swayed by those who sought to denigrate Chinas economy through false narratives. To combat this risk, the ministry said, security agencies will focus on strengthening economic propaganda and public opinion guidance.

China is intensifying its crackdown while struggling to reclaim the dynamism and rapid economic growth of the past. Beijing has censored and tried to intimidate renowned economists, financial analysts, investment banks and social media influencers for bearish assessments of the economy and the governments policies. In addition, news articles about people experiencing financial struggles or the poor living standards for migrant workers are being removed.

China has continued to offer a rosy outlook for the economy, noting that it beat its forecast for economic growth of 5 percent last year without resorting to risky, expensive stimulus measures. Beyond the numbers, however, its financial industry is struggling to contain enormous amounts of local government debt, its stock market is reeling and its property sector is in crisis. China Evergrande, the high-flying developer felled by over $300 billion in debt, was ordered into liquidation on Monday.
The big stakes of Musks outsize pay deal

An unusual pay package that Tesla devised in 2018 helped make Elon Musk the worlds wealthiest individual.

But a Delaware judges ruling that the arrangement was unfair to other Tesla shareholders raises questions about much more than Musks net worth, including control of his companies and his ability to fund them  and how corporate leaders are paid.

The backstory: In 2018, Tesla set out 12 milestones tied to market capitalization, revenue and profit targets that Musk needed to reach to qualify for a stock package that is now worth over $50 billion. Experts thought it would be impossible to hit. Yet Musk  who told Andrew at the time that Tesla would hit a $1 trillion market cap within a decade  pulled it off. (He hasnt taken possession of the shares yet.)

Shareholders sued, however, arguing that the plan was devised unfairly, with Musk essentially creating his own pay package with the help of allies on the Tesla board.
In a significant victory for Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a federal judge on Wednesday threw out a lawsuit filed by the Walt Disney Company claiming that Mr. DeSantis and his allies violated the First Amendment by taking over a special tax district that encompasses Walt Disney World.

Disney said it planned to appeal the ruling.

Disney and Mr. DeSantis, who recently ended his campaign for president, have been at odds for nearly two years over Disney World, the 25,000-acre theme park and resort complex south of Orlando. Angered over Disneys criticism of a Florida education law that opponents called anti-gay  and seizing on an opportunity to score political points with supporters  Mr. DeSantis took over the tax district, appointing a new board and ending the companys long-held ability to self-govern Disney World as if it were a county.

Before the takeover took effect, however, Disney signed contracts  quietly, but in publicly advertised meetings  to lock in development plans worth some $17 billion over the next decade. An effort by Mr. DeSantis and his allies to void the contracts resulted in dueling lawsuits, with Disney suing Mr. DeSantis and the tax district in federal court and the new appointees returning fire in state court.

On Wednesday, Judge Allen Winsor of U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida in Tallahassee dismissed Disneys case in its entirety. The lawsuit had accused Mr. DeSantis of a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint. The campaign, the company had added, now threatens Disneys business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region and violates its constitutional rights.
Universal Music Group, the worlds largest music company, said it would revoke the licenses for its vast catalog of songs from TikTok after its current contract expires on Wednesday if the two companies could not reach a new deal addressing Universals concerns over artist compensation, artificial intelligence and other issues.

In an open letter posted late Tuesday, Universal accused TikTok of responding to its requests with indifference, and then with intimidation, creating a public squabble in the remaining hours of the two companies existing contract. If the talks fail, TikTok users would be unable to use music by Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, U2, Bad Bunny and thousands of other artists in their videos.

TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, is one of the worlds most popular and fastest-growing social media platforms, with more than a billion users, and its influence on youth culture around the world is unmatched. The company says it is used by more than 150 million Americans. For a majority of TikTok users, music is an integral part of the experience, with songs  often comically sped up  playing over the short clips that fill users feeds.

In its public letter, Universal said that during negotiations it asked TikTok to address its concerns over three issues: compensation for artists and songwriters, online safety for TikToks users and protecting human artists from the harmful effects of A.I. Universal accused TikTok of allowing the platform to be flooded with songs created by artificial intelligence, which Universal said dilutes royalties for real, human artists and amounts to sponsoring artist replacement by A.I.
A giant Brazilian meatpacking company is facing persistent opposition to its plans for a listing on the New York Stock Exchange because of concerns about corruption settlements, accusations of Amazon deforestation and its growing market share in the United States.

The proposed listing by JBS, the worlds biggest meatpacker, has brought together American beef producers, environmentalists and politicians from both major parties in a rare common cause.

JBS is a leader in the American meat industry and has millions of dollars in government contracts to supply meat for food banks and school lunches. The company announced last year that it was planning an initial public offering in the United States, but calls from major investors to vote on the proposal have delayed the move.

A listing on the New York exchange would give JBS broader access to capital.

Theyve been able to take dollars from their own government and our government and keep building up their market share, and theyre doing this as a bad actor, said Lia Biondo, executive vice president of the United States Cattlemens Association.
Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times

As the world focuses on the war in Gaza, pressure is mounting on the West Bank.

Israelis and Palestinians live worlds apart, separated often by a single road  or roadblocks.

They are united only by a sense of growing anger and resentment.
Minutes into New Years Day 1987, a French couple visiting New York fell behind their companions while walking in Midtown Manhattans holiday crowds and were attacked.

The couple, Jean and Renee Casse, were on 52nd Street when Mr. Casse was robbed, assaulted and thrown to the ground. Days after Mr. Casse, 71, died from injuries to his neck and head, two people  Eric Smokes and David Warren  were arrested in the attack. By the summer, the two had been convicted.

For nearly the next four decades, Mr. Smokes, who was 19 when he was arrested, and Mr. Warren, who was 16, would try to clear their names without success. On Wednesday, under a new district attorney, the two mens convictions were overturned and their indictments were dismissed.

Eric Smokes and David Warren lost decades of their life to an unjust conviction, said Alvin L. Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, in a statement. I am inspired by the unyielding advocacy of Mr. Smokes and Mr. Warren and hope that todays decision can finally bring them a measure of comfort and justice.
Then Fossati said that she had M.S. herself.

That was very moving, Raab said, to realize that someone had turned her own challenges into working on solving a problem for the general population.

Raab was hired as president and chief executive of the foundation. The space mission was launched on her third day on the job. The project, conducted in collaboration with other research institutions, will study the cells when they are brought back to earth. The researchers will look for changes brought on by microgravity in space and whether such changes could be applied to work on diseases like Parkinsons or M.S.
There are two things I believe about the widening crisis in the Middle East.

We are about to see a new Biden administration strategy unfold to address this multifront war involving Gaza, Iran, Israel and the region  what I hope will be a Biden Doctrine that meets the seriousness and complexity of this dangerous moment.

And if we dont see such a big, bold doctrine, the crisis in the region is going to metastasize in ways that will strengthen Iran, isolate Israel and leave Americas ability to influence events there for the better in tatters.

A Biden Doctrine  as Im terming the convergence of strategic thinking and planning that my reporting has picked up  would have three tracks.
The baby bust that we all know about has gotten worse in a way that isnt yet widely understood.

Birthrates, which have been falling for decades, declined even more during the Covid pandemic. And they have continued to fall since, according to a report to clients by James Pomeroy, a global economist for HSBC, the London-based bank. Its titled, The Baby Bust Intensifies: How Bad Could It Get? (Sorry, no link.)

Pomeroy didnt wait for the official data collectors such as the United Nations to assemble data trickling in from national statistical agencies. He went out and collected the numbers from them himself. Some are provisional or dont cover all the way through the end of 2023, and some are produced from very interesting back corners of government statistics offices, Pomeroy wrote to me in an email.

While the final numbers may come in marginally different, theyre unlikely to change the message of this chart below, which itself is slightly updated from the one that appeared in the banks report. In most of the countries for which Pomeroy managed to get data, the total number of births continued to fall steeply in 2023. The United States did better than most, with a decline of 1.9 percent. The Czech Republic, Ireland and Poland all experienced declines of 10 percent or more.
To the Editor:

Re Undoing Chevron Would Duly Shift Power Back to Congress, by David French (column, Jan. 22), and Undoing Chevron Would Unduly Shift Power to the Courts, by Jody Freeman and Andrew Mergen (Opinion guest essay, Jan. 22), about a case before the Supreme Court:

I agree with Mr. French that it is Congress, rather than the courts or the administrative agencies, that should fill the gaps in any laws that it passes. But Mr. French acknowledges that Congress is dysfunctional and unlikely to act in a timely manner on the many instances when a gap in a law must be filled or an ambiguous term must be defined.

The real question, then, is if Congress fails to act, should the administrative agencies be the second choice or the courts. I am confident that the administrative agencies are the better choice.

Courts are not experts and are not responsive to the electorate. By contrast, administrative agency heads are appointed by the current president, who, the Electoral College notwithstanding, is responsive to the will of the people.

Moreover, unlike judges, administrative agencies have true subject matter expertise, and that was the entire premise of the Chevron decision, as noted by no less a jurist than Justice Antonin Scalia.
Hours before Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Meta, was set to testify on Wednesday about child safety online, lawmakers released internal documents showing how his company had rejected calls to bulk up on resources to combat the problem.

In 90 pages of internal emails from fall 2021, top officials at Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, debated the addition of dozens of engineers and other employees to focus on childrens well-being and safety. One proposal to Mr. Zuckerberg for 45 new staff members was declined.

The documents, which are being released in full for the first time, were cited in a lawsuit last year by 33 state attorneys general who accused Meta of getting young users hooked on its apps. They contradict statements from company executives, including the head of global safety and the head of Instagram, who testified in congressional hearings on child safety during that period that they prioritized the well-being of their youngest users and would work harder to combat harmful content on their platform.

Mr. Zuckerberg, who will be testifying before Congress on Wednesday for the eighth time, is in the hot seat to defend Metas lack of investment in child safety amid rising complaints of toxic and harmful content online, said Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, who released the emails with Senator Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee.
Lawmakers on Wednesday denounced the chief executives of Meta, TikTok, X, Snap and Discord, accusing them of creating a crisis in America by willfully ignoring the harmful content against children on their platforms, as concerns over the effect of technology on youths have mushroomed.

In a highly charged 3.5-hour hearing, members of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee raised their voices and repeatedly castigated the five tech leaders  who run online services that are very popular with teenagers and younger children  for prioritizing profits over the well-being of youths. Some said the companies had blood on their hands and that users would die waiting for them to make changes to protect children. At one point, lawmakers compared the tech companies to cigarette makers.

Every parent in America is terrified about the garbage that is directed at our kids, Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, said.

The tech chiefs, some of whom showed up after being forced by subpoena, said they had invested billions to strengthen safety measures on their platforms. Some said they supported a bill that bolsters privacy and parental controls for children, while others pointed to the faults of rivals. All of the executives emphasized that they themselves were parents.
President Biden will visit East Palestine, Ohio, in February to mark the first anniversary of the toxic derailment that plunged the small community into a health and environmental crisis, the White House announced on Wednesday.

Mr. Biden has faced criticism from political leaders and residents for delaying a visit, which he had promised to make one month after the Feb. 3, 2023, derailment. The White House did not specify when in February Mr. Biden would visit.

The Biden administration has sent a steady stream of resources to East Palestine and oversees the cleanup efforts of Norfolk Southern, the rail company responsible for the derailment. The administration has maintained that the company should be held accountable for the cleanup cost and other remedies.

But political pressure has mounted as residents expressed deep fears about lingering contamination and Republicans seized on the issue. Former President Donald J. Trump, Mr. Bidens likely rival in the presidential election, visited East Palestine within weeks of the disaster and told the crowd, You are not forgotten.
Its usually thankless work to be a state-level political operative. But not this year for Democrats in South Carolina.

The state was the home of President Bidens political resurrection in the primaries four years ago, and now it is reaping the rewards, moving up to become the first official primary on the Democratic presidential calendar. And the states county party chairs and partisan activists are basking in the attention.

Biden spent the night in the state last weekend. Vice President Kamala Harris will make her third trip in the last month here on Friday. A slew of A-list Democrats, including Gov. Gavin Newsom of California and the former New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu, have also made pilgrimages to heavily Black and rural areas.

All have come singing the praises of the voters who salvaged Bidens fortunes during a tough presidential race in 2020. And, naturally, theyre being asked to do it again.
Christopher A. Wray, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, warned on Wednesday that China was ramping up an extensive hacking operation geared at taking down the United States power grid, oil pipelines and water systems in the event of a conflict over Taiwan.

Mr. Wray, appearing before a House subcommittee on China, offered an alarming assessment of the Chinese Communist Partys efforts. Its intent is to sow confusion, sap the United States will to fight and hamper the American military from deploying resources if the dispute over Taiwan, a major flashpoint between the two superpowers, escalates into a war, he added.

Before his testimony, F.B.I. and Justice Department officials revealed that last month, they had obtained a court order that authorized them to gain access to servers infiltrated by Volt Typhoon, a Beijing-directed hacking network that has targeted a range of critical infrastructure systems, often by infiltrating small businesses, contractors or local government networks.

Chinas hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if or when China decides the time has come to strike, said Mr. Wray, who pressed the committee to increase funding for the bureau.
Follow our live coverage of the Mayorkas impeachment vote.

House Republicans impeachment case against Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, boils down to a simple allegation: that he has broken the law by refusing to enforce immigration statutes that aim to prevent migrants from entering the United States without authorization.

The Homeland Security Committee approved articles of impeachment against Mr. Mayorkas on a party-line vote early Wednesday morning, setting the stage for a vote of the full House next week. If impeached, he would be only the second cabinet secretary to receive that punishment in American history, the first in 148 years and the only one to be indicted by Congress for nothing more than carrying out the policies of the president he serves.

Republicans have moved forward with the process even though constitutional scholars, past secretaries of homeland security and even some former legal advisers to former President Donald J. Trump have noted that nothing Mr. Mayorkas is accused of rises to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors, the standard for impeachment laid out in the Constitution.

The G.O.P. argues that the secretarys failure to uphold certain aspects of immigration law is itself a constitutional crime. But in the United States, the president and his administration have wide latitude to control the border, and Mr. Mayorkas has not exceeded those authorities.
She spent a lot of hours joking and hanging out with her friend and platoonmate in their Army Reserve engineer unit, Specialist Breonna Moffett, who slept in a nearby rack and was hoping to celebrate returning home this summer by attending a Nicki Minaj concert.

The two were killed on Sunday, along with another soldier in their unit, Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, in what the Pentagon said was a drone attack by an Iranian-backed militia.
Just a day after he was sentenced to a decade in prison, former Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan on Wednesday was ordered jailed for 14 years in a separate case, dealing him another heavy blow in his bitter feud with the countrys powerful military.

The new sentence, handed down eight days before a scheduled national election in which Mr. Khans party has been battered by a widening crackdown, came in a case involving state gifts. His wife, Bushra Bibi, also received a 14-year sentence. Both have denied any wrongdoing.

In announcing the verdict at the high-security prison where Mr. Khan, 71, has been held for months, the judge also said that the former prime minister and his wife would be barred from holding office for 10 years.

Mr. Khan questioned the fairness and impartiality of the trial during the hearing on Wednesday. He asked the judge: Why are you in a hurry to announce the verdict? I have not even recorded my final statement. Mr. Khan then exited the courtroom, and the judge announced the sentence in his absence.
The most popular political party in Thailand won its following last year, and the ire of the conservative establishment, by campaigning to end military rule and to weaken the draconian law that prohibits criticism of the countrys monarchy.

But on Wednesday the Move Forward Party and its push for change were dealt a severe blow. Thailands Constitutional Court ruled that the partys proposal to scale back the royal defamation law violated the Constitution because it was an attempt to overthrow the monarchy. It ordered Move Forward to stop all activities related to amending the law.

The verdict, in effect, lays out explicitly that the royal defamation law is sacrosanct for Thailands conservative establishment, a nexus of royalists, military officials and wealthy elites. Their motives were already clear last year, when they moved quickly to block Move Forwards leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, from becoming prime minister, pushed the party into the opposition even though it won the general election and installed a coalition of allies into power.

Wednesdays ruling leaves Move Forward vulnerable to more legal challenges, which could pave the way for its eventual disbandment. It could also set the stage for a showdown between Thailands progressive opposition and the establishment. Move Forward and its supporters argue that the royal defamation law  known as Article 112  needs to be amended because it is being used as a political weapon, while the establishment says that any change to the law could lead to abolishing the monarchy altogether.
A medieval knight returns to a Swiss castle after a victorious battle. With a hearty whoop he tosses aside his prized gauntlets at the blacksmith shop. As he rushes off to a celebratory feast, they sit out of sight in a dark corner. Not too long after, a fire breaks out, the shop is destroyed and the gauntlets are lost for more than 600 years.

OK, so maybe it didnt happen that way. But maybe it did. When an astonishingly well preserved piece of armor from so long ago is rediscovered, its hard not to speculate a little romantically about its origins.

Demolition work near Kyburg Castle, northeast of Zurich, threatened a site that was known to be the location of a medieval town. So a rescue excavation was carried out in the winter of 2021 and early 2022. We knew that all the archaeological remains in the ground would be destroyed during this construction work, said Lorena Burkhardt, the excavation leader.
Russia and Ukraine announced the exchange of hundreds of prisoners of war on Wednesday, resuming the carefully choreographed trading of captives only a week after Moscow accused Kyiv of shooting down a Russian military transport plane that it said was carrying dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war on their way to be exchanged.

The cause of the crash, which occurred in Russias Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine last week, remains unknown. Ukrainian officials have neither confirmed nor denied responsibility, have called for an international investigation and said that the Russians had offered no conclusive evidence that prisoners were on the flight.

After the crash, families of Ukrainian prisoners worried publicly that the episode might imperil one of the few diplomatic channels left between the two countries, making it less likely that they would see their loved ones again.

But the process of exchanging prisoners, while at times slowed down, has endured even during the most trying moments of a war that has stretched on for nearly two years.
After days of sharply criticizing the U.N. agency charged with assisting Palestinian civilians, donor countries signaled on Wednesday that they would continue to support the organization under the right conditions and stressed its essential role in delivering lifesaving aid as widespread starvation and disease loom in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

At least 12 countries, including the United States and Germany, the two biggest donors, have temporarily suspended funding after the Israeli government circulated allegations that employees of the group, known as UNRWA, participated in the Oct. 7 attacks.
Nearly every week for a decade, Iri Kassel picked up sick Palestinian children at Israels Erez border crossing with Gaza and drove them with their guardians to Israeli hospitals for treatment.

But on Oct. 7, the crossing was raided by Palestinian militants who blasted the passport control booths and magnetic scanners as they stormed into southern Israel.

The deadly attacks plunged Israel into all-out war in Gaza and disrupted the work of Road to Recovery, the Israeli nonprofit organization that Mr. Kassel volunteers for, which has ferried more than 1,500 Palestinian patients a year to Israeli hospitals.

Several of the groups volunteers died in the Hamas-led attack, including Vivian Silver, a prominent peace activist who was killed in her home at Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel. Others were taken hostage, like Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz, a couple in their eighties from Nir Oz, a kibbutz near the Gaza border. Dozens more lost loved ones or were evacuated from their homes near Gaza.

The organizations staff and volunteer drivers were devastated. It was a blow to the stomach, Mr. Kassel said. Even for those who survived the attacks, he said, there was an almost physical pain.

Road to Recovery was founded in 2010 by Yuval Roth, a peace activist whose brother had been kidnapped and killed nearly 20 years earlier by Hamas militants. The group helps Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank access medical treatment in Israel, where health services are among the most advanced in the region.
NYU President Linda G. Mills has been inducted into the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW), the nations leading honorific society of scholars and practitioners dedicated to achieving excellence in social work and social sciences. She was one of eight Fellows selected for membership this year. Additionally, the academy named NYU Silver School of Social Work Dean Michael A. Lindsey to be its president.

In addition to serving at the helm of the nations largest private research university, Mills is the Lisa Ellen Goldberg Professor of Social Work, Public Policy, and Law at NYU. In her role as a professor, she carried out groundbreaking research funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Justice that is helping reshape the field of domestic violence treatment.

At the AASWSW induction ceremony convened in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 13, President Mills emphasized how important it is that the social work profession continue to generate leadership, scholarship, and work that advances the social good. She congratulated the seven other new Fellows.

People enter social work because they are compelled to address societys most pressing needs, rarely with much recognition, said Mills, who called the ceremony one of those occasions that puts a deserved spotlight on the field and the unstinting work of the academys fellows to serve, educate and uncover knowledge that can help improve peoples lives. She said she was honored to join the academys ranks of Fellows. And when introducing Dean Lindsey to the gathering, she stated: There is no one better right now to elevate social work and our values.

A nationally recognized scholar in the field of child and adolescent mental health, Dean Lindsey received the mantle from outgoing AASWSW President Mary McKay of Washington University in St. Louis. He offered brief remarks highlighting the need to further develop the pipeline of social workers to meet the needs of people in the post-pandemic world.

"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, he noted, projects that the gap between the supply of social workers focused on mental health and substance abuse and the demand for them will be as much as 31% by 2025.

Lindsey lauded contributions from Fellows of the academy in addressing societys pressing problems and voiced a desire to amplify Fellows visibility and impact and to connect them to other thought leaders and policymakers.

We must never forget the power of what we do and our ideal position to lead critical conversations about the many challenges that our world faces, he said.
Eric McKeeby

Eric McKeeby, a 25-year cancer survivor and veteran healthcare and biotech communicator, has joined San Franciscos Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy as head of communications and marketing.

He leads corporate and internal PR, brand management and audience engagement.

Prior to PICI, he served as communications director for insitro, AI-driven drug discovery company; head of marketing & communications for Regeneron Genetics Center; director of health communications at Ancestry; director of community engagement at the American Board of Internal Medicine; and VP-health at Edelman.

McKeeby began his career as a PA officer for the US Army. He was deployed to the Horn of Africa, where he established relationships with the Kenyan, Ethiopian and Djiboutian media.

PICIs goal is to turn all cancers into curable diseases by fostering collaboration between researchers, non-profits and pharmaceutical companies.
Two newly developed family rooms, one sensory room located in the hospital Emergency Department (E.D.) and the Bluebell Room located on Clonmacnoise ward at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore were officially opened last Thursday.

The Family and Sensory Room is located in the hospital E.D. and the purpose of this room is multifunctional. As a sensory room it is a safe space reducing environmental triggers, minimising undesirable sensory stimuli for susceptible patients during their stay in the department.

The need for this sensory space was identified with the growing number of children and adults in Ireland being diagnosed with sensory needs along with patients with Dementia meaning that E.D.s need to change and adapt to meet their needs.*

As a family room, it is also used for having conversations with families in a private, dignified environment.

Ann Bugler, Staff Nurse MRHT who was part of the team who took on this project as a service improvement initiative project stated: This Family Room, in particular the designated sensory area will enhance our ability to complete more compliant comprehensive assessments and examinations in a more comforting environment for patients.

When children or adults with sensory needs have to go to the ED for medical care they can find it overwhelming with noise, lighting, smells and the sheer volume of people and equipment. Data shows us that adults and children with autism have higher attendances to the ED when compared with their peers without autism. The figures show thirty percent higher attendance for children, seventy percent higher for adolescences and a twofold increase for adults with autism. **

The multifunction purpose of this room means that this area is individualised as much as possible based on each patients needs. In particular, it will be used to optimise patient comfort, dignity and respect for their condition or situation. The room was completed by the addition of new flooring and furnishings which were kindly funded by the Friends of the Hospital Committee.

Breda Murray, Chairperson, Laois Offaly Families For Autism states that The sensory room will help many people with an autism diagnosis, sensory needs or an intellectual disability and their families when they have to go to hospital in an emergency.

It can be an anxious time for such children when they go to hospital, and this room will help promote emotional regulation and address sensory needs thus reducing anxiety so they can access treatment in a way that is not frightening for them. Simple changes make a big difference.

The Bluebell Room

The Bluebell Room is a beautiful serene space in the midst of a very busy acute Medical ward. The room will primarily be used for meetings with patients and families, but it will also provide family members with a peaceful and restful space. The room can accommodate up to 8 people comfortably and can facilitate overnight stays. It includes a kitchenette, sofa bed and seating areas.

Zara Dagg, End of Life Care Coordinator MRHT says When creating the room we followed the Irish Hospice Foundation Design and Dignity Guidelines.*** The Bluebell Room is a quiet and private room in which staff can engage in caring and compassionate interactions with patients and family members in the midst of a busy ward.

Friends of the Hospital Committee stated. We are pleased to be associated with this project by committing funds for the provision of a dedicated room in the hospital to be used as a family room and also for the purpose of having a quiet and dignified space to discuss patient care with patients and their families. The name Bluebell Room was chosen as it symbolises spirituality, healing and everlasting love.

The Friends of the Hospital worked closely with Ms Zara Dagg in agreeing the requirements to ensure that the room could be converted to a warm and welcoming space, with soft furnishings, tea and coffee facilities and also to ensure that there was no clinical feel to the room.

We also commissioned a piece of Glass Art which is mounted on a wall to provide a focal point in the Bluebell Room, the design portrays an impression of movement with a petal blowing effect. It creates a sense of peace and calm in the room.

Catriona Mc Donald, General Manager for Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore stated: Commitment to ensuring the safety and also comfort of our patients is a top priority for those in our care. It's really important that we provide services, facilities and environments that are less clinical and can support our patients and staff feel comfortable and at ease.

A sensory room decreases barriers for care and can create a positive healthcare experience, a family room can provide comfort and dignity for family members in a time of heightened uncertainty and stress.

The Management and staff of the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore thank the support and funding received from Friends of the Hospital and all our colleagues who worked together to make the two new rooms safe comfortable spaces for patients
Protestors encamped at the gates of the Racket Hall Hotel in Roscrea held a public meeting on Monday night to debate what direction the ongoing demonstration will take as it moves beyond its third week.

Since Roscrea became the latest flashpoint in the national debate over immigration the town has been visited by a flood of media, politicians and people interested or inspired by the stand taken by local people after the closure of the town's only active hotel.

However, things have quieted down considerably this week and protestors continue to maintain a smaller, but ever present, demonstration at the entrance to the premises.

On Monday night they discussed moving the protest to the town centre to attract more attention to their cause and outlined what they hope to achieve by continuing their fight against the closure of the hotel and social hub.

Opinions are divided among the group and no decision has yet been finalised on moving the protest into Roscrea, with Castle Street suggested as a possible relocation point; but there was some consensus on their aims and what they want to achieve.

Achieving a final cap on the number of people who will be housed in emergency accommodation in Roscrea is one of the group's primary concerns and most agreed they will not attempt to prevent any buses or vehicles from entering the hotel carpark.

Protestors remain at the gates of the Racket Hall Hotel. Photo: Darren Keegan

Well known local man Sid Carney, who is also a passionate advocate for the people of war torn Gaza, addressed the small crowd of protestors numbering approximately 60 people several times.

Mr. Carney said he fears inflicting more trauma upon people, particularly children, who are now in Ireland seeking international protection after possibly witnessing horrific events in their home country.

The protestors' anger is directed towards the government he stressed, not the people seeking help in Ireland and who have travelled to Roscrea and he advised against any attempts to "hard protest" and prevent people accessing their emergency accommodation.

"This is a stand for our civil rights and for our country", Mr. Carney said. "It only takes one person to make a difference, but that person can't do it on their own".

Protest organiser, James Gleeson from Roscrea, expressed disappointment over a potential fracture and encouraged all participants to express their opinions and suggestions to find a path forward.

One local woman suggested "bombarding" the email accounts of Dail members with daily messages highlighting the needs of Roscrea, while others expressed their hope to see the ongoing demonstration continue indefinitely to prevent any further international protection applicants arriving.

Some protestors said they intend to participate in a large national demonstration planned for Dublin on February 5 - "we will fly our Roscrea flags" they said and encouraged people in Roscrea to travel en-masse to the capital.

A committee has been formed to steer the demonstration forward and they will update local media on their plans as the protest moves beyond the third week.

Members of the group told the crowd they had ascertained what they believe to be the exact number of refugees and asylum seekers living across the town's three emergency accommodation centres and multiple residences in the town centre to reach 1,600 people when the Racket Hall reaches its capacity at 160.

Construction works to repurpose the former Sacred Heart Convent on Convent Hill in Roscrea as an emergency accommodation centre for refugee families fleeing the war in Ukraine began last year and are continuing.

Currently approximately 160 people are accommodated in the former Convent and will reach full capacity at 400 people later this year.

Corville House on the grounds of Sean Ross Abbey, which is a former mother and baby home, is currently a direct provision centre and accommodates approximately 200 people seeking international protection; many of whom have secured work in the local area.

The Tribune understands that the annual commemoration organised by mother and baby home survivors group 'We Are Still Here' has been cancelled this year mainly due to the loss of the Racket Hall Hotel which traditionally accommodated participants who travel to Roscrea from the UK, USA and Canada for the event.

Visitors to the Sean Ross Abbey site, located on the expansive St. Anne's campus north of Roscrea and only 2kms from the Racket Hall, can no longer access the former mother and baby home building, Corville House, since it began providing direct provision accommodation.

Visitors can pay their respects at the Angel's Plot cemetery, which was recently the site of ground scans which revealed several anomalies and may play a crucial part in identifying the location of the remains of some of the 1,024 children who died at the facility between 1932 and 1970.

The ongoing demonstration will reach the three week milestone on Thursday February 1st. Photo: Darren Keegan
THE Supreme Court has ruled that the long-time partner of a woman from Toomevara who died in 2021 is entitled to the Widower's Pension despite the fact that the couple were not married and did not have a civil partnership.

The court made its ruling in the case of Toomevara man Johnny O'Meara, and his three children on Monday of last week, after which the decision was welcomed by Tipperary Labour TD, Alan Kelly, who strongly campaigned for justice for the family.

Speaking following the Supreme Court ruling Deputy Kelly said: Im personally delighted that my friend and neighbour Johnny OMeara has been successful with this case and today I am thinking of him and his three children and what they have gone through.

"This case underscores the pressing need to address the disparity in our social protection system. Johnny O'Meara's advocacy has brought attention to a glaring gap that denies essential support to grieving partners in cohabiting relationships.

It is fundamentally unjust that if a partner of a cohabiting couple passes away, they currently have no entitlement to a widows or widowers pension. This inequity persists, the law must evolve to recognize and support the diverse ways in which families are formed and maintained," Deputy Kelly said.

"Our current system fails to provide adequate protections for those who choose not to marry or those who simply haven't formalised their partnership."

"The concept of family has evolved, and our laws must reflect this reality. It's time for immediate action to rectify this injustice and ensure equal treatment for all families.

Johnny OMearas case has always been about equality for his family. The lack of welfare supports for unmarried couples is a stain on Irish society. We need to step up and address the situation to provide equality for all families.

"Our social protection system has failed to keep pace with the way people live their lives. It is imperative that we address this gap to uphold the principles of fairness and compassion," Deputy Kelly said.
OFFALY Tourism Marketing (CLG) has taken a significant stride towards establishing Offaly as a vibrant and sustainable tourism destination with the launch of its ambitious Tourism Strategy 2023-2027.

The official launch event, held at the County Arms Hotel, Birr, drew a distinguished audience from the tourism and hospitality sector along with representatives from Offaly County Council, Failte Ireland and Offaly Local Development Company.

The focus of the new strategy is on establishing a strong foundation for future growth. This will be done through maximising recent and ongoing investment, creating new opportunities, harnessing technology where appropriate, supporting industry growth, and implementing effective marketing initiatives.

At its core, the Strategy centres on four pillars, which include nine key priorities. This Strategic Framework provides a practical structure that will guide Offaly Tourism Marketing (CLG), Offaly County Council and stakeholders in achieving its priorities. Actions related to delivery of these priorities are detailed in the Action Plan and underlying them is a commitment to people, planet and prosperity - the pillars of a resilient tourism economy.

Speaking at the launch Offaly County Council Tourism Officer, Olive Farrelly expressed enthusiasm for the potential positive impact this strategy will have on the local economy, environment, and overall quality of life for residents.

Ms Farrelly added Huge progress has been achieved in recent years in terms of building our tourism offering. Developments such as the Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trails, Grand Canal Greenway and Tullamore DEW Distillery Visitor Experience are strong attractions. There is further potential in Offaly to build on progress to date, especially that Offalys strength lies in its natural environment, a key draw for discerning markets seeking authentic experiences.

Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney confirmed With the recently launched EU Just Transition Fund, public, private and Community SMEs alike are well positioned now to avail of funding to establish new businesses and improve the quality of existing visitor experiences. Alongside the Trail Network Development Scheme and soon to launch plans for specific sites e.g. Derryounce, Banagher Marina, Offaly is posed for strong growth in this sector, which in turn will have a huge benefit for the local economy and communities.

Ms Farrelly further acknowledged the role Offaly Local Development Company played by assisting with funding for the Strategy and concluded the future of tourism in Offaly is exciting and Offaly County Council looks forward to working with key partners in implementing the Strategy.

Philip OBrien, chairperson of Offaly Tourism Marketing (CLG) is also looking forward to assisting in the implementation of the plan. Key to the strategy is infrastructure and attraction development, and industry support, which we will assist our strategic partners in implementing. Offaly Tourism Marketing will have a pivotal role in the marketing and communications actions identified in the strategy. Much progress has been made to date, but we intend to build on this, elevating Offaly as a vibrant sustainable tourist destination, a gem in Irelands Hidden Heartlands, and a must visit location. We encourage new members of the trade to join our network group, Offaly Tourism Marketing (CLG) as collaboration is key.

The Offaly Tourism Strategy 2023-2027 is available to download from www.offaly.ie and www.visitoffaly.ie .
The Irish Labour Party has criticised Sir Keir Starmer for his disappointing stance in relation to Gaza and asked him to turn the course on it.

Labour TD Aodhan ORiordain said Sir Keir was effectively cheerleading the military offensive in the enclave, as the death toll climbs above 25,000.

Both the UK Conservative government and the Labour opposition have said they back Israels right to defend itself following Hamas October 7 attacks in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 others kidnapped.

Both the Tories and UK Labour have expressed support for a two-state solution to the conflict and a sustainable ceasefire but have resisted calls to back an immediate one.

Sir Keir came under criticism for comments made during an interview with LBC in November, where he appeared to claim that Israel has the right to withhold power and water from Palestinians in Gaza.

He later moved to clarify the comments by saying that his remarks referred to Israels right to self defence and that he was not saying that Israel had the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines.

In recent weeks the Labour Party has hardened its tone towards the Israeli prime minister, with Sir Keir describing Benjamin Netanyahus opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state when the war ends as unacceptable.

Speaking in Dublin on Tuesday, Mr ORiordain, who is a former junior minister, urged the UK Labour leader to shift his partys stance on the issue.

Ive spoken to people in the UK Labour Party who are disappointed.

They want to win the election, I understand that, theyve come from controversies about antisemitism in the UK Labour Party, I understand that as well.

But if youre going to be a Labour leader of a country like the UK, you have to believe in something better than just middle-of-the-road, steady-as-she-goes politics.

Its evil in our time, its a genocide on our watch.

If youre going to be Prime Minister of the UK, either youre against this stuff, or you just let it happen.

And to my mind  and Im pretty sure (Senator Rebecca Moynihan) agrees me and people in the Irish Labour Party agree with me  Keir Starmers reaction to this has been incredibly disappointing and we wish he would turn the course on it.

He added: I believe theres a breakdown in moral leadership across western democracies when it comes to Gaza.

Because I find it quite difficult to leave Leinster House every evening and see the Ukrainian flag projected up against Leinster House because there was a collective sense at that time that there was right and wrong.

And that there was an evil act taking place on our borders in Europe, in terms of Ukraine, and everybody was on the same side, everybody understood what was right and wrong.

The EU understood it, the UK understood it, America understood it, and we were all happy to row in behind that.

Now it feels like its completely hypocritical.

Now feels like it was almost smug, because now we have (European Commission president) Ursula von der Leyen who is resolutely in Israels camp.

You have in the UK, not just the Prime Minister, but the Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer, a Labour leader, cheerleading this stuff effectively, and you see it in the US as well.

Israel has defended its military actions in Gaza as a fight against Hamas extremists, with Israeli ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich stating recently that significant measures have been taken to minimise civilian casualties.
Family members of a woman killed in a central London bus crash have paid tribute to their beloved daughter, sister, partner.

Catherine Finnegan, known as Kathleen, died after she was hit by a bus at Victoria Bus Station on Monday morning.

Ms Finnegan, 56, from County Galway, died at the scene despite efforts of land and air ambulance crews.

Her family paid tribute via the Metropolitan Police, and said: Our beloved daughter, sister, partner, most adored auntie and treasured friend Catherine Finnegan, known as Kathleen, lost her life on January 29.

She will be remembered as a very unique lady who had the fast Irish wit and who made her family and friends so very proud of her bright, clever personality.

She was a whirlwind in any room and lit up this world with her energy, enthusiasm for life and joy.

She will be forever in our hearts.

Officers were called to a collision between a bus and a pedestrian at 8.59am.

Reports suggested a Number 13 double-decker bus crashed into a shelter at the busy transport hub.

The female bus driver, in her 40s, was taken to the hospital and later discharged.

In 2021, Melissa Burr was killed at the station after bus driver Olusofa Popoola accidentally accelerated into the back of a stationary bus, shunting it into her.

She was using a pedestrian walkway at the bus station and crossed towards the door of a 507 bus parked at its stop before she was hit.

Victoria bus station was closed late last year for works designed to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility for partially sighted passengers.

Problems highlighted included an unconventional layout of pedestrian crossings, use of markings and a lack of tactile paving, as well as one crossing that directed pedestrians into a bus stop.

Police asked any witnesses who have not yet come forward to call 020 8543 5157 quoting CAD 1417/29Jan.
Home Instead, Ireland's leading home care provider, are hiring in various areas of Offaly, including Tullamore, Edenderry, Birr and more.

In a society that has long undervalued the pivotal role of caregivers, Home Instead is on a mission to redefine perceptions and elevate the status of those who dedicate themselves to the well-being of others.

This campaign is a celebration of the remarkable skills, commitment, and compassion that characterise Home Instead CAREGivers.

In a world where caregiving is often seen as routine, Home Instead recognises the extraordinary contributions of family and professional caregivers.

According to recent findings by Family Carers Ireland, family caregivers alone save the state a staggering 20 billion annually.

This underscores the urgent need for increased recognition and support for those who play a vital role in our communities.

The Global Coalition on Aging's Workforce Report (2021), sponsored by Home Instead, identifies the "Image Problem" in the long-term care sector, emphasising the high level of skills, emotional intelligence, and determination required for caregiving.

Home Instead stands at the forefront of professionalising caregiving, maintaining high standards through best-in-class training and operations.

The commitment to the CAREGiver experience is evident through initiatives that celebrate and support CAREGivers continuously.

Home Instead Midlands, as a part of this commitment, conducts various events to acknowledge and appreciate the tireless efforts of CAREGivers.

Throughout the year, Home Instead Midlands hosts events to celebrate the dedication and skills of its CAREGivers. These events go beyond recognition; they create a sense of community, providing a platform for CAREGivers to share experiences and learn from each other.

Whether it's through training sessions, appreciation days, or skill-building workshops, Home Instead Midlands ensures that CAREGivers feel valued and supported in their vital roles.

Home Instead invites individuals with a heart for caregiving to join our growing team, where your skills, compassion, and creativity can truly make a difference.

To learn more about Home Instead or explore career opportunities, visit careers.homeinstead.ie or contact 044 938 5260.

Join us in recognising that caregivers are not just caregivers  they are the heart and soul of compassionate care.
Reliances Jio, Gortune pre-qualify for Sri Lanka Telecom stake bid

Posted by Editor on January 31, 2024 - 2:27 pm

Sri Lankas Ministry of Finance says two companies from China and India have been pre-qualified for the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage of the divestiture of the majority stake in the state-owned Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT).

The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) acting through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies, had recently called for Request for Qualification (RFQs) from potential investors for the divestiture of its shares in Sri Lanka Telecom PLC.

The deadline for submission of proposals ended at 2:00 PM on Friday, January 12, 2024.

The Finance Ministrys State-Owned Enterprise Restructuring Unit (SRU) states that the RIQs received were evaluated based on the Special Guidelines on Divestiture of State-Owned Enterprises approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in July 2023.

Accordingly, the Cabinet Appointed Special Project Committee (SPCC) and the Special Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee (SpCANC) have pre-qualified Indias Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd. owned by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, and Chinas Gortune International Investment Holdings as bidders for the RFP stage.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) acts as the Transaction Advisor for the divestiture of shares held by the Government in Sri Lanka Telecom PLC.
The next time you want to take a holiday, go to Sri Lanka  Jaishankar to Indians

Posted by Editor on January 31, 2024 - 5:56 pm

Commenting on the recent aid extended by India to Sri Lanka at a crucial juncture during the countrys most severe and unprecedented economic crisis, Indias Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar has urged all Indians to visit Sri Lanka, emphasising the strong ties between the two nations.

My first advice would be, the next time you want to take a holiday, go to Sri Lanka, he said.

Responding to questions from students at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Mumbai on Indias role in the global stage, Dr. Jaishankar provided a detailed account of the economic woes faced by Sri Lanka during this time, and the unwavering support extended by India.

Mix with the normal person in Sri Lanka and ask them what do you think about India, and I can tell you, you will feel yourself grow with that answer, he said.

Talking about the extreme fuel and food crises in the island which the Indian Foreign Minister said he himself witnessed during his visit to Sri Lanka at the time, Dr. S, Jaishankar highlighted that the country was unable to secure essential commodities, running out of food, and had petrol queues running for kilometres.

At a time where the rest of the world turned its back on Sri Lanka, the only country which came forward, and not in a small way, Indias External Affairs Minister emphasised, adding that India had committed USD 4.5 billion to Sri Lanka.

Emphasisng that monetary support to Sri Lanka should have ideally been extended by the International Money Fund (IMF), Dr. S. Jaishankar further highlighted that although this assistance was given later, it amounted to less than USD 3 billion.

What we did immediately, quickly and efficiently, was 50% bigger than what the IMF did, and no other country came close, he stated.

Responding to a question raised as to whether the shift in the geopolitical alignment of Indias longest standing regional partners, including Sri Lanka, towards China, was indicative of the perceived failure of Indias Neighborhood First Policy, the Minister said, I think this idea that somewhere, neighbours are turning against us and we are failing, we need to have more confidence.

While admitting that China too, is a neighbouring country, Dr. S. Jaishankar stated that China, in many ways, as part of competitive politics, will inevitably influence surrounding countries.

I dont think we should be scared, I think we should say okay, global politics is a competitive game, you do your best, I will do my best, Dr. Jaishankar said when asked about the way in which India could respond to Chinas strategic expansion within the Indian Ocean region.

Today, China is a major economy, it will deploy resources, it will try and shape things in Chinas way, why should we expect otherwise, but the answer to that is not to complain that Chinas dong it, the answer is okay, if youre doing it, let me do it better than that, the Minister stated.

Dr. S. Jaishankar also emphasised that the suggested notion that the countrys Neighbour First Policy is a failure is untrue, saying You are right, there is competition, you are wrong that its a failure. I would say today, as India, we should not be scared of competition, we should welcome competition and say I have the ability to compete.
Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) January 31, 2024: I usually do not review reference books, because they are designed to be dipped into and consulted for specific targeted information, not read straight through. For example, biblical commentaries are usually designed to be used as reference books to be consulted for information about specific biblical texts.

The prolific American Catholic diocesan priest and advocate of and activist for nonviolence John Dear (born in 1959), of the diocese of Monterey, California, a former Jesuit (1982-2014), who lives in Cayucos, California, has designed his new 2024 book The Gospel of Peace: A Commentary on Matthew, Mark, and Luke from the Perspective of Nonviolence (Orbis Books) as a biblical commentary on each of the three synoptic gospels.

Father John Dear himself says, "Matthew's Gospel includes 90 percent of Mark's Gospel; Luke's Gospel includes 50 percent of Mark's" (p. 148). These percentages regarding Mark's Gospel suggest that perhaps it would be most efficient to read Father John Dear's commentary on Mark's Gospel (pp. 148-221) first.

As an aside, I should point out here that now-former Harvard University president Claudine Gay's plagiarism in her published works has been in the news lately - just as the posthumously discovered plagiarism of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in his published works was in the news at one time in the past. However, in ancient times, when the anonymous authors of the gospels known as Matthew, Mark, and Luke were composed and written down in ancient Greek, our modern notions of plagiarism had not yet been formulated.

Incidentally, on the reverse side of the title page in Father John Dear's new 2024 book The Gospel of Peace, we read "Includes bibliographical references and index." But the book does not include an index. No doubt an index would call attention to the understandable repetition in the book. Nevertheless, it would be helpful to have an index in the book.

Now, if you have no interest in the three synoptic gospels, then you will probably not be interested in the book. However, in honor of Rob Kall's fascination with bottom-up imagery, I should also mention here that Father John Dear says, "My hope and prayer are that every Christian from now on will read the Gospels from the perspective of Gandian/Kingian nonviolence, and that with this perspective, we might all choose Jesus's way and wisdom of active nonviolence, that we might carry on Jesus's bottom-up, people-power grassroots campaign of creative nonviolence for global disarmament, justice, and environmental sustainability" (p. xxix).

Now, Father John Dear, the former Jesuit, refers to the Spanish Renaissance mystic St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Jesuit order, when he says, "We are told to let our light shine, and if we do this, we glorify the God of peace, which is the ultimate goal; in the end, it is the only goal that matters. St. Ignatius put it this way: try to go even beyond that and bring 'greater' glory to God" (p. 21). It is true enough that St. Ignatius Loyola himself originally used the expression in Latin "Ad majorem Dei gloriam" (For the greater glory of God) that Jesuits popularized as a kind of motto - and made into an inscription: A.M.D.G.

The American Jesuit Renaissance specialist Walter J. Ong (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) wrote perceptively about this expression in his article "A.M.D.G.: Dedication or Directive?" in the now-defunct Jesuit-sponsored journal Review for Religious, volume 11, number 5 (September 15, 1952): pp. 257-264; it is reprinted in volume three of Ong's Faith and Contexts, edited by Thomas J. Farrell and Paul A. Soukup (Scholars Press, 1995, pp. 1-8).

Disclosure: I myself was in the Jesuits for a period of time (1979-1987).

Now, in the detailed table of contents in Father John Dear's new 2024 book The Gospel of Peace (pp. vii-xi), he provides far too much detail regarding specific contents of each of the three synoptic gospels for me to reproduce here. Suffice it to say that Father John Dear discusses "Matthew: The Mountaintop Sermon of Nonviolence" (pp. 1-147); "Mark: The Radical Discipleship of Nonviolent Resistance to Empire" (pp. 148-221); "Luke: The Grassroots Campaign of Peace, Nonviolence, and Compassion" (pp. 222-395). Father John Dear's "Conclusion" (pp. 396-397) is short and succinct.

In Father John Dear's "Acknowledgments" (pp. 402-403), he says that his new 2024 book "is the culmination of a series of books about Jesus: The Questions of Jesus [2004], Jesus the Rebel [2000], Lazarus Come Forth! [2011], The Beatitudes of Peace [2016], They Will Inherit the Earth [2018], and Walking the Way [2015; rpt. 2022]" (p. 402).

The dates of publication of these books (2000 to 2018) show that Father John Dear has been ruminating about the New Testament texts and nonviolence for more than two decades. In other words, his new 2024 book The Gospel of Peace represents a grand synthesis, a tour de force. Through Father John Dear's close commentary in his new 2024 book, he demonstrates that his understanding of nonviolence enables him to closely interpret the three synoptic gospels as coherent literary works. It is not unreasonable to conclude that each of the three anonymous authors understood the teaching of the historical Jesus.

Now, because Father John Dear ruminated on these matters for more than two decades, people who read his new 2024 book The Gospel of Peace should not expect to digest it perfectly the first time they read it.

Now, in Father John Dear's 2011 book Lazarus Come Forth! How Jesus Confronts the Culture of Death and Invites Us into the New Life of Peace (Orbis Books), he discusses the Gospel of John. The concise Wikipedia entry about the prolific Father John Dear lists the books he has written and edited.

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On January 23 Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda called a meeting of the country's State Defence Council.

Public was informed that during the meeting, members of the State Defence Council got acquainted with the strategic threat assessment by the country's intelligence services and discussed the principle structure of the national defense system.

The SDC also assessed economic and financial models for acquisitions needed for the development of an infantry division.

As we know, Lithuania plans to establish an entire light infantry division by 2030, a unified force with enablers that would be more potent than its constituent brigades as independent formations. Although this division would admittedly be light, Lithuania is also seeking to transform one mechanized infantry battalion into a tank battalion. It should be said, the country has never fielded a military unit such size.

The council also agreed that in addition to the division, a division-level artillery regiment would be established, while air defence and engineering battalions would be raised to regiments.

In the naval forces, a harbour and coastal defence service is being set up. There is also the addition of a Cyber Defence Board and other changes.

Lithuania's State Defence Council agreed also to buy German Leopard 2 tanks for the country's planned new army division.

Honestly, this decision looks more like a deal with Germany in exchange for the deployment of a German brigade in Lithuania from next year, rather than the urgent need to equip a new division. Germany made a number of difficult demands in exchange for its brigade's deployment. This decision is too expensive for Lithuania.

It is not clear why the authorities do not bear in mind that it will require a lot of money because a division is not a divisional headquarters; a division is a unit that commands several brigades, usually three, all of which are capable of going to war. According to experts, these changes would require additional funding of around 0.4-0.5 percent of GDP, on top of the 2.52 percent of GDP currently agreed by political parties.

One of the ways ministers are now looking into is the introduction of a defense tax. However, some politicians are skeptical about such a potential tax. Taxpayers will not be happy at all with such decision. So, establishing of a division is completely unreasonable both financially and politically.

The more so, there is insufficient manning of the existing military units of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Lithuania will have to find young people to man a new division. In case Lithuanian authorities do not find the necessary number of conscripts, they have to repeat Latvia's plans to permit foreigners to serve in the National Armed Forces.

The Latvian Ministry of Defence has already prepared amendments to the Military Service Law, which provides for the possibility to accept foreign citizens in military service. Amendments to the Military Service Law of Latvia provide that nationals of a Member State of the European Union, a Member State of the European Free Trade Association, a NATO Member State, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, or Ukraine may volunteer for military service in the National Armed Forces. It is intended that during the performance of the service the foreigner will perform active service and have the status of soldier. This means that he would receive the monthly salary set for soldiers and the social guarantees provided to soldiers and members of their families, with the exception of the right to a retirement pension.

Need to mention that Lithuania is already conducting training for Ukrainian military and easily can involve those who are ready to volunteer for military service in Lithuania in military exercises and courses. So, the realization of all these plans will demand huge funding, solving problems of manning new military units under conditions of growing discontent and economic crisis.

So, decision to form a new division, to by expensive Leopard2 tanks, to change conscription and military training system in Lithuania, is absolutely useless and thriftless. Taking into consideration the words of K?stutis Budrys, a presidential advisor, who said after the meeting of State Defence Council, that Lithuania is not facing a military threat in the near future.


Ukraine & other topics - Russian Foreign Minister Press Conference | United Nations Briefing reporters in New York, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Wednesday morning (24 Jan) Ukraine ...

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Ukraine, Palestine, Israel & other topics - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Press Conference | United Nations YESTERDAY AT THE PRESS BRIEFING AT THE U.N.

.youtube.com/watch?v=OPoYPb21kAw

__________

Note from Stephen Fox, Founder United Nations Santa Fe

Lavrov was considered by former New Mexico Governor and UN Ambassador William Blaine Richardson IIII Bill as a good friend, and when the now deceased Ambassador/Governor Richardson and I talked, Richardson mentioned that when he was not in government and was teaching at Harvard University in the JFK School of Government, he invited Sergei Lavrov to come to speak to his students! They were both UN Ambassadors at roughly the same time, eh?

[Netanyahu was a UN Ambassador about the same time, but that would be an entirely different article.]

__________

I remind some of those who will read this that I am one of the few persons to ask questions of former President Mikhail Gorbachev when he came to Santa Fe just before the 2008 elections. I was the Managing Editor at that time of New Mexico Sun News, and went to the press conference at the Inn of Loretto.

Gorby was here to discuss his Ecological Organization: GREEN CROSS.

Barry Massey from Associated Press at that time, who is now the Press Officer for the Administrative Office of the Courts, asked Gorbachev what he thought of USA putting Intercontinental Ballistic Thermonuclear Weapons into Eastern Poland.

Gorbachev said that was a bad idea, taking about 20 seconds to reply. What a question, eh?

What did the Associated Press (still owned, I think, by Baron Rothschild) expect former Russian President and Nobel Peace Laureate Mikahil Gorbachev to say, "Oh, yes, all 200 million Russians are thrilled with the presence of those missiles...."?

I was the last person to able to ask a question; Gorbachev was late for some other function, a big jam-packed $500-a-person fundraiser for GREEN CROSS at Rio Chama Restaurant, but he liked my question so much, he took 23 minutes to answer it, entirely in Russian, which was simultaneously translated by body guard-translator-moderator of press conference.

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The "Doomsday Clock" of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was kept at 90 seconds to midnight this week-- the closest to midnight that the clock has been set since it was created in 1947. Midnight is defined by The Bulletin as "nuclear annihilation."

The hands of the clock were initially moved forward to 90 seconds to midnight last year. In moving the clock forward in 2023, The Bulletin, founded by Albert Einstein and scientists who helped develop the first atomic weapons in the Manhattan Project, issued a statement declaring it was: "A time of unprecedented danger."

"Largely" but "not exclusively," said The Bulletin in 2023, the clock was moved "to 90 seconds to midnight-- the closest to global catastrophe it has ever been-- "because of the war in Ukraine. It went on: "Russia's thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons remind the world that escalation of the conflict-- by accident, intention, or miscalculation-- is a terrible risk," said the statement. "The possibility that the conflict could spin out of anyone's control remains high."

On this Tuesday, January 23, The Bulletin, in keeping the clock at 90 seconds to midnight issued a statement that said: "Ominous trends continue to point the world toward global catastrophe."

Said Dr. Rachel Bronson, president and CEO of The Bulletin, "Make no mistake: resetting the clock at 90 seconds to midnight is not an indication that the world is stable. Quite the opposite. It's urgent for governments and communities around the world to act."

The hands of the Doomsday Clock are set every year by the Bulletin's Science and Security Board which includes 10 Nobel laureates.

Last year, The Bulletin's statement quoted Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, as saying it had become "a time of nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War."

Since, there have been additions to that nuclear danger.

Take North Korea.

Said the Newsweek headline this month: "North Korea Issues Ominous Warning About Nuclear Strike This Year." The subhead: "North Korea Ramps Up Preparations For War With U.S."

The headline of the Associated Press story: "North Korea's Kim says military should 'thoroughly annihilate' US, South Korea if provoked." AP's piece on January 1st included: "In a meeting yesterday with commanding army officers, Kim said it is urgent to sharpen 'the treasured sword' to safeguard national security, an apparent reference to the country's nuclear weapons program."

The Agence France-Presse article the day earlier began: "North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wrapped the year with fresh threats of a nuclear attack on Seoul and orders for a military arsenal build-up to prepare for a war that can 'break out any time'".[North Korean] state media reported".Kim lambasted the United States during a lengthy speech."

And in Newsweek last week, the article was headlined: "Kim Jong Un Has Decided To 'Go to War,' North Korea Watchers Warn." It quoted researchers at the Stimson Center saying Kim "has made a strategic decision to go to war" and the story said they regarded "the situation on the Korean Peninsula is now more dangerous than it has been at any point since the Korean War."

But now, unlike during the Korean War 70 years ago, North Korea has nuclear weapons and rockets to deliver them.

Consider Iran. The headline last week in the Daily Express: "Iran 'one week' away from nuclear bomb, warns ex-UN inspector as West braces for a showdown." The article quoted nuclear weapons expert David Albright saying: "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."

The New York Times this month reported "the Iranian nuclear program has suddenly been put on steroids." The headline of its article: "From Lebanon to the Red Sea, a Broader Conflict with Iran Looms." The subhead: "With its proxies attacking from many vantage points and its nuclear program suddenly revived, Iran is posing a new challenge to the West-- this time with Russia and China on its side."

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The bestselling and award-winning author Joyce Carol Oates (pictured above) came under attack on X for posting that the Bible "is a work of fiction".

Oates, who is an Atheist, was accused of religious bigotry. More than likely, the person of faith* who responded with the bigotry charge against her doesn't know the meaning of the word bigotry. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines bigotry as: "the fact of having and expressing strong, unreasonable beliefs and disliking other people who have different beliefs or a different way of life."

Looking at Oates' claim that the Bible is a work of fiction, we realize she is factually correct and that her belief is NOT unreasonable. In fact, it IS unreasonable to believe the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible are not fiction.

When we objectively look at the Hebrew Bible and its foolish claims, we cannot help but realize it is fiction. For just one example out of many, the claim at Numbers 22:27-30 of a talking donkey does not at all withstand the test of our innate God-given reason. Those verses read:

And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

Our innate God-given reason is also assaulted by the Christian New Testament. Again, for just one example out of many, Matthew 27:50-53 claims that when Jesus died on a cross on a Friday afternoon, dead people in cemeteries around Jerusalem came back to life and hung out at their graves until Sunday morning when Jesus also allegedly came back to life, at which time the zombies went into Jerusalem and "appeared unto many". There is no way we can make this unadulterated nonsense align with our gift from The Supreme Intelligence/God of innate reason. Thomas Paine did an outstanding job of showing the foolishness of this Bible claim when he wrote in The Age of Reason:

It is an easy thing to tell a lie, but it is difficult to support the lie after it is told. The writer of the book of Matthew should have told us who the saints were that came to life again, and went into the city, and what became of them afterward, and who it was that saw them - for he is not hardy enough to say he saw them himself; whether they came out naked, and all in natural buff, he-saints and she-saints; or whether they came full dressed, and where they got their dresses; whether they went to their former habitations, and reclaimed their wives, their husbands, and their property, and how they were received; whether they entered ejectments for the recovery of their possessions, or brought actions of crim. con. against the rival interlopers; whether they remained on earth, and followed their former occupation of preaching or working; or whether they died again, or went back to their graves alive, and buried themselves.

(Here is the World Union of Deists' page about this ludicrous Bible zombie story.)

This case of Joyce Carol Oates being falsely labeled a bigot by religious/superstitious people makes it very clear how dangerous it is to attack freedom of speech with hate speech laws, etc. Instead of being carried away with emotion, we should focus on facts. We should embrace this principle expressed by the Deist Thomas Jefferson:

We are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.

Regarding free speech, we have this important advice from the Deist George Washington:

...reason is of no use to us if the freedom of Speech may be taken away -- and, dumb & silent we may be led, like sheep, to the Slaughter.

We need to always make sure facts take precedence over emotions. This is essential if we truly want to get closer to truth and make true progress.

*Most rank-and-file members of the religious right admire America's Founders, not realizing the key Founders were not Christians, they were Deists (they believed in God based on reason and nature and rejected irrational beliefs such as Christianity and the other "revealed" religions). This quote from Thomas Jefferson should be taken seriously by people of faith: "...man, once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without rudder, is the sport of every wind. With such person, gullibility which they call faith, takes the helm from the hand of reason, and the mind becomes a wreck."
For a couple of decades now, the very worst people in Washington, D.C., have pushed hard for a war on Iran. Some high points have come in 2007, 2015, 2017, and 2024. Each time it has been absolutely critical to attack Iran at once. There could be no delay. Dominoes would fall. Terrorism would prevail. Credibility would be sqandered. And yet, each time, the threatened war has not been launched, and the world has gone on just the same.

We've seen a wide variety of excuses deployed over these years of unsuccessful propaganda for a war on Iran, including false claims about nuclear weapons, the pretense that attacking Iran would improve civil liberties within Iran, and shockingly honest commitments to gaining control of more oil with which to slowly destroy the habitability of the Earth. The push to attack Iran has been on for so long that entire categories of arguments for it (such as that the Iranians are fueling the Iraqi resistance) and demonized leaders of Iran have come and gone. The latest excuse is the killing of three members of the U.S. military.

Ordinarily, killing people could be prosecuted as a crime. But that's tricky, because the United States government opposes and refuses to take part in international law, the U.S. troops had no legal justification for being where they were, and the violence across the region is being driven by U.S. support for enormous crimes by the Israeli government.

More importantly, the advocates for war do not want to prosecute a crime, but to use a crime as an excuse to commit much larger crimes, on the familiar model of September 11, October 7, etc. The choice to escalate is not imposed on anyone; similar situations in the past have been used as excuses for war and also allowed to pass without the launching of any war.

The U.S. government purports to believe that escalating wars will reduce wars, flying in the face of the overwhelming evidence of centuries, and to believe that there is no alternative, even though the demands of all sorts of warmakers across Western Asia are all the same and extremely easy to satisfy (and satisfying them has been ordered by the International Court of Justice): stop destroying Gaza and killing Gazans.

The U.S. government distorts the notion of "defense" beyond all recognition by claiming that harm done to its imperial troops anywhere on Earth can justify a "defensive" war. This is highly convenient for war hawks in Washington, D.C., who have known for many years that getting U.S. troops killed can be a big propaganda boost for war madness -- an idea eagerly encouraged today by U.S. media outlets that are always perfectly capable of demanding revenge while simulaneously calling it "defense."

In 2022 military spending, Iran spent 0.8% what the U.S. did. Iran is not a threat to the United States, despite having put its nation so close to so many U.S. military bases.

This is what the empire of U.S. military bases looks like to Iran. Try to imagine if you lived there, what you would think of this. Who is threatening whom? Who is the greater danger to whom? The point is not that Iran should be free to attack the United States or anyone else because its military is smaller. The point is that doing so would be national suicide. It would also be something Iran has not done for centuries. But it would be typical U.S. behavior.

The U.S. overthrew Iran's democracy in 1953 and installed a brutal dictator / weapons customer. The U.S. gave Iran nuclear energy technology in the 1970s. Following the Iranian revolution, the United States aided Iraq in the 1980s in attacking Iran, providing Iraq with some of the weapons (including chemical weapons) that were used on Iranians and that would be used in 2002-2003 (when they no longer existed) as an excuse for attacking Iraq.

The roots of a Washington push for a new war on Iran can be found in the 1992 Defense Planning Guidance, the 1996 paper called A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm, the 2000 Rebuilding America's Defenses, and in a 2001 Pentagon memo described by Wesley Clark as listing these nations for attack: Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. It's worth noting that Bush Jr. overthrew Iraq, and Obama Libya, while the others remain works in progress. The arguments in these old forgotten memos were not what the war makers tell the public, but much closer to what they tell each other. The concerns were those of dominating regions rich in resources, intimidating others, and establishing bases from which to maintain control of puppet governments.

In 2000, the CIA gave Iran nuclear bomb plans in an effort to frame it. This was reported by James Risen, and Jeffrey Sterling went to prison for allegedly being Risen's source. But nobody involved in the scheme was ever punished in any way.

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The most anticipated game of the Portland Trail Blazers 2023-24 season takes place Wednesday night when Damian Lillard makes his first return to the Rose City as a member of the Bucks. Milwaukee make their only visit to Portland this season to face the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center tomorrow on January 31. And tickets to this game are more affordable than you might think.

 Get seats for Blazers vs. Bucks on January 31 from Vivid Seats | Stub Hub | Ticketmaster | Seat Geek. Through a special arrangement, if you are purchasing tickets for the first time through Vivid Seats, use our special discount promo code Oregon20 at checkout to save $20 on orders of $200 or more for the event you plan on attending.

Currently, the cheapest available seats for Blazers vs Bucks tickets price for Damian Lillards return are selling for only $50, which is much cheaper than they were back in October. Following the trade last year, tickets for Blazers vs. Bucks in Portland were selling for $117. If money is no object, or you want the best seats available, the most expensive tickets currently available are in the Club Level (Section 230 in Row H or Row E) and selling for around $1,100 a seat, but you will have to purchase those in a pair for over $2,200 total.

You could also get tickets closer to the action for cheaper. If you want to sit closer to the court in the lower bowl, tickets near midcourt in Lower Level Section 112, Row F start at around $300, but you could also pay up to $700-800 per seat in order to sit even closer to the players on the court.

There will surely be a tribute to their former star when Lillard makes his return to Portland, but what else will the Blazers have planned for their former franchise pillar? Youll have to get tickets in order to be there live when it happens.
Employees at two locations of Oregons sprawling McMenamins chain of hotels and bars were forced to share their tips with management against federal rules, the United States Department of Labor informed employees after an investigation.

In a letter sent to employees at McMenamins Edgefield and Cedar Hills locations on Jan. 23, the Department of Labor informed employees that tips earned by you and others may have been unlawfully kept by your employer from May 2019 until at least October 2022.
It was a gruesome scene, but Anthony Millner told 911 dispatchers little about it.

There was a body inside his third-floor flat at the Erickson-Fritz Apartments in Portlands Old Town that had been there probably a couple of hours, Millner said, according to court records.
Portland police are searching for a woman in connection with the killing of her 37-year-old husband, Phillip Pierce.

The suspect, identified as Analiesa Golde, is wanted on allegations of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Pierce in Portlands Lents neighborhood Friday, police said Tuesday. Officers have been unable to find Golde, but warned that she may be armed and dangerous.
Police arrested a Tigard man on a burglary charge Tuesday morning thanks in part to the detective work of three Portland homeowners.

The alleged burglary occurred in the aftermath of the wicked winter storm that recently ravaged the Portland metro area.
Portland police used the phone of a man whod died with fentanyl in his system last month to set up his alleged dealer, court documents state.

Jordan Scott Feinstein-Smith, 29, died at OHSU Hospital after collapsing inside his Southwest Portland house Dec. 30. Tests showed fentanyl in his system, and police found very obvious drug text messages on his phone, according to court records.
A 22-year-old Portland man who hijacked peoples cellphone numbers to take over their online accounts and steal more than $3 million worth of cryptocurrency, was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison.

One victim said in court that he lost 99% of his savings and was on the verge of bankruptcy several times because of Daniel James Junk.
Bend-La Pine Schools and its educators union reached a tentative contract agreement Monday after seven months of bargaining.

Union members, including more than 1,000 teachers, school psychologists, librarians and others, have been working without a contract since June.

This contract would cover the next four years.

The district and the Bend Education Association tentatively agreed to a 6.2% raise for the current school year, retroactive to July 2023, and a 4.15% raise for the next school year, starting this July. The districts contribution to insurance will increase by $50 a month as of last October and another $45 a month as of this October.

Unlike Portland Public Schools, central Oregons largest district and its union reached that agreement without a strike.

Both bargaining teams will bring the tentative contract to union members for ratification and then to the school board for approval.

We are committed to continually working to make Bend-La Pine Schools an employer of choice in our region, and to ensure our employees feel valued and cared for, Superintendent Steve Cook said in a press release. We move closer to these goals with the mutual agreements we worked out through these negotiations.

Union president Sarah Barclay said she was pleased the negotiations prioritized workload, learning environments, salary and benefits.

The bargaining teams were dedicated to finding solutions to issues that our members advanced as necessary improvements for our students, staff and community, and persevered through a difficult process until those issues were addressed sufficiently, she said in a press release. This agreement is a step in the right direction, and we still have work to do, together.

The union and district agreed to reopen negotiations around salary and insurance adjustments in spring 2025 for the 2025-27 school years. Each bargaining team will be allowed to revisit two topics to discuss language decisions as well.

The bargaining teams recently called for a mediator, but that wont be necessary now.

The district and the local branch of the support staff union, Oregon School Employees Association, are still in contract negotiations and will have sessions Wednesday and Friday.

-- Noemi Arrellano-Summer, The Bulletin; narellanosummer@bendbulletin.com, 541-383-0325
After nearly a year at the bargaining table, Portland Community College has reached a tentative contract agreement with the union that represents its roughly 1,400 faculty members, the college announced Tuesday.

We are thrilled to have reached an agreement, which reflects our commitment to fostering an environment that values both our educators, the pursuit of academic excellence and our students, PCC President Adrien Bennings said in a statement.

The contract includes a 14% cost of living increase over the next two years, along with an additional 6% step increase. Thats up from the 10% increase that the college first offered faculty last year, but down from the 26% increase by 2025 that the union first requested.
After months of contentious bargaining, Portland Public Schools and the union that represents classified staff, including classroom aides, paraeducators, campus safety officials, library aides, administrative assistants and occupational and physical therapists, have reached a tentative contract agreement.

The district has also reached a tentative agreement on a contract with the Service Employees International Union, which represents custodians and cafeteria workers, said Genevieve Rough, the districts senior director for employee and labor relations.
During the years he lived in Portland, Gus Van Sant became celebrated for movies that focused on characters defined by their gritty circumstances or outsider status, notably the drug addicts and thieves in Drugstore Cowboy (1989), the street kids and hustlers in My Own Private Idaho (1991), and the Oscar-winning films, Good Will Hunting (1997), about Matt Damons working-class math whiz, and Milk (2008), which starred Sean Penn as the trailblazing, martyred gay activist, Harvey Milk.

So, it might seem a stretch to see Van Sant as an executive producer and principal director of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, an eight-part limited series on FX and Hulu that tells the story of what happened when author Truman Capote wrote a story that betrayed the secrets of the New York socialites who had made Capote their friend and confidant.

But as Van Sant said in a recent phone interview from his home in Los Angeles, he was, in fact, quite familiar with the actual episode that inspired Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, which involved Capote -- who had become famous for the nonfiction book, In Cold Blood -- publishing a story in the November 1975 issue of Esquire magazine.

The story, La Cote Basque, 1965, was presented as an excerpt from Capotes in-the-works novel, Answered Prayers. Using a combination of fictionalized and real names, the story was taken as a gossipy, scandalous expose of the private lives of the wealthy women whom Capote had befriended and nicknamed his swans.

I was in Connecticut during the 60s, said Van Sant, 71. In Cold Blood had come out, and all the housewives in Darien, Connecticut, had it on their tables.

Capote wasnt just a renowned writer, he was a celebrity, a character that was around, appearing on talk shows. In Cold Blood made him a household name.

Later on, I was subscribing to Esquire when it printed La Cote Basque, and I was aware that it sort of undid him, Van Sant said, and that it got him in trouble with the people he was writing about.

Ryan Murphy is executive producer of Feud Capote vs. The Swans, the second edition of the Feud franchise, which debuted all the way back in 2017, with Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange playing, respectively, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in Feud: Bette and Joan.

Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans is written by Jon Robin Baitz, based on Laurence Leamers book, Capotes Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era. The eye-poppingly star-studded cast includes Tom Hollander (The White Lotus) as Capote, Naomi Watts as Babe Paley, Diane Lane as Slim Keith, Chloe Sevigny as C.Z. Guest, Calista Flockhart as Lee Radziwill, Demi Moore as Ann Woodward, Molly Ringwald as Joanne Carson, and the late Treat Williams as William Paley.

While having dinner with Baitz, Van Sant recalled, Baitz talked about working with Murphy on the Capote vs. The Swans project. I said, its a great story. Do they need a director?

Van Sant directed six of the eight episodes, which traverse eras, from the 1960s, when Capote enjoyed lunching with his glamorous society friends at Manhattans La Cote Basque, to the fallout after the Esquire story appeared, when the ladies shunned Capote, and the writer devolved into a self-destructive spiral in the years leading up to his death at 59, in 1984.

From left, Chloe Sevigny as C.Z. Guest, Naomi Watts as Babe Paley, and Diane Lane as Slim Keith in "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans."FX

A director known for guiding actors to acclaimed performances, Van Sant said that, when working with the Capote vs. The Swans cast, I always tried to make it as realistic as I could. The female actors drew from parts of their lives, and they all had ideas of the way the women were. We were using our own collective ideas about what was happening with these women.

As Capote, Hollander had the tricky job of not turning the author, whose mannerisms were quite distinctive, into a caricature.

Van Sant credits Baitzs writing for creating a kind of facsimile of Truman, using a lot of his own ideas, and matching them with Trumans history. And it all played, it all played really well, I think, Van Sant said.

Hollander was uniquely prepared for his role, because he had played a lot of characters that resembled Truman Capote. He could use his imagination, and his past experiences to really grab onto the words, and make them vivid and entertaining.

Van Sant, who attended Catlin Gabel School in Portland, left the city after that to attend the Rhode Island School of Design, and worked in Los Angeles and New York before eventually returning to Portland, where he made his first feature, Mala Noche (1986), adapted from a book by the late poet, Walt Curtis.

The filmmakers Portland-filmed works include Elephant (2003) Paranoid Park (2007) and Restless (2011), and though principally filmed in California, the 2018 feature, Dont Worry, He Wont Get Far On Foot, is about the late Portland-based cartoonist, John Callahan.

Van Sant no longer lives in Portland. I guess I officially moved when I no longer had a house there, somewhere about eight years ago, Van Sant said. I had bought a place in Palm Springs, so I needed to let go of a condo that I had in the Pearl District, and that was kind of like the last place that I had lived in Portland. So, officially, I was gone. But it wasnt really like a purposeful move, or anything. I spent a lot of time in Los Angeles already, so now, Im here, sort of wondering whether I should go somewhere else.

Tom Hollander, center, as Truman Capote in "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans." FX

Van Sant has had a place in Los Angeles since 2007, he said. He saw the Palm Springs home on Zillow. It was a house that Cary Grant had owned for 20 years, its kind of this cool place, Van Sant said. So, I impulsively bought that, and now Im not sure if I should keep it or not.

But it doesnt sound as if Van Sant will return to Portland. I dont know, but thats not in the plans, he said. I came to Portland for Walt Curtis funeral, in November 2023. I used to go back and forth from L.A. to Portland, like twice a month. But now its not that often that I get back.

Feud: Capote vs. The Swans premieres with two back-to-back episodes Wednesday, Jan. 31. The first episode airs at 10 p.m. on FX and the second follows at 11:19 p.m. on FX. The series also streams on Hulu.

 Kristi Turnquist

503-221-8227; kturnquist@oregonian.com; @Kristiturnquist

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After a series of cancelations due to ice and snow, the Disney musical The Lion King is coming back to Portland in the fall of 2025.

According to Broadway in Portland, the show will be back for a two-week engagement as part of the 2025-2026 season. People who had tickets to the canceled January shows will get pre-sale access to tickets for the 2025 shows.

Dates have not been announced yet for the new performances.

The Lion King was scheduled to run through Jan. 28 at Keller Auditorium. The show had to cancel four performances on Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 13-14, and four more performances on Tuesday-Friday, Jan. 16-19 due to extreme weather and icy conditions.

One show during that period did go on: A matinee that was a scheduled make-up for previously canceled shows.

 Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052; lacker@oregonian.com; @lizzzyacker

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
Seven California condors were released into the wild in the U.S. state after the endangered animals were hatched and raised at Oregon Zoo.

The birds, which spent time at the zoos Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation located in rural Clackamas County on Metro-owned open land, flew out of a cage in San Simeon, Calif., last month.

The wild releases were soft releases, meaning the birds exit their pens at their own time.

The condors hatched at the center in spring 2022.

With a wingspan of up to nine feet, the California condor is the largest bird in North America and one of the original animals included on the U.S. 1973 Endangered Species Act and is classified as critically endangered.

Because of the recovery programs like the Oregon Zoos, the worlds California condor population now totals around 500 birds, most of which are flying free.

The Associated Press

Mark Graves/The Oregonian contributed to this report
After years of lobbying, a tenacious group of local activists has finally convinced the Portland City Council to propose a ban on gas leaf blowers.

But the activists say that a draft ordinance, co-written by the city and Multnomah County, is too weak because the start dates are too far out and the enforcement has no teeth.
The city of Portland is requiring homeowners who had a tree fall on their house during the recent storm to obtain a permit retroactively to remove the tree, (Editorial: Portland should put punitive tree permit requirement on ice, Jan. 28). A city spokesman has said that the city cannot ignore the city code, which requires a permit for removal.

As a legal matter, the contention that the citys hands are tied  that it has no choice but to consider the violent uprooting of the tree by a storm to be the homeowners removal  is laughable. Not for the first time do we see the astonishing arrogance of the Portland city government, which considers the people of Portland to be its subjects rather than its citizens.

Barry Bennett, Portland

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
Business owner Mike Erickson will once again seek the Republican nomination in Oregons 6th Congressional District, his campaign announced Wednesday.

Erickson, the founder of shipping consulting firm AFMS Logistics Management Group, won the Republican nomination for the seat in 2022, but lost to U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas by 2.5 percentage points in the general election.
When Christina Stephenson was elected Oregons labor commissioner in 2022, she stressed the importance of resolving the backlog of wage and civil rights claims as soon as possible.

Especially a person who has had their wages stolen, getting them the money that they are owed could be the difference between them making rent, being able to pay for groceries, Stephenson said in an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting. So of course, it is a top concern for us to get these cases through as fast as we possibly can.

At the time, there were more than 5,000 wage claims and nearly 2,000 civil rights claims waiting to be investigated.

Today, that number has dwindled to around 3,000 wage claims and nearly 1,300 civil rights claims. But Stephenson is asking lawmakers this session for more funding to support the agencys efforts. Workers sometimes wait a year or more to get justice after experiencing discrimination or having their wages stolen. And a majority of employers dont even wind up paying what they owe, as InvestigateWest revealed in a recent analysis of wage claim data, which Stephenson cited in a presentation this month to lawmakers.

This is obviously not what we want, Stephenson said. It gives a competitive advantage to employers that dont play by the rules. This is millions of dollars that arent getting back into our economy.

Officials cite a large uptick in claims filed over the last few years and an outdated system for managing cases as main factors in the civil rights and wage claim backlogs. The pandemic also prevented other labor bureau staff from conducting in-person reviews of Oregons apprenticeship programs, as required by federal and state law, to ensure theyre meeting quality standards in training and instruction. Today, 98% of apprenticeships in trades such as electrical and plumbing are overdue for a review.

The Bureau of Labor and Industries is requesting two budget adjustments in the upcoming session to help.

The first request would spend $632,000 of the agencys unused pandemic relief money on nine temporary positions in the apprenticeship review division. The bureau estimates that it can review 85 apprenticeship programs in eight months with the extra personnel in place. That would be about half of the reviews that are outstanding.

At its Jan. 12 meeting, the Legislatures appropriations committee approved the labor bureaus request, increasing its chances of being included in the budget reconciliation.

In addition, the Bureau of Labor and Industries is requesting $160,500 in new funds, which it will combine with $87,500 it already has, to take the first step to replace what agency leaders say is an outdated and inefficient computer system used to track and manage cases. The current system requires extensive manual data entry, and lacks automation leading to increased workload and errors, said Rachel Mann, a bureau spokesperson.

The agency has already tried to make parts of its process more efficient to reduce the logjam. In January, the labor bureau changed the online portal that workers use to file civil rights and wage complaints. The new system will help ensure that claims dont get bogged down because of missing information, Mann said.

The agency has also sought more staff  most recently, the Legislature funded two additional investigators in the wage division.

The agency is laser focused on increased investments to reduce wait times and provide Oregonians with faster and better service, Mann said.

But in the long term, Stephenson and legislators agree that funding positions alone isnt enough to solve the staffing capacity issues. Bureau workers also need to be paid better, they said, to help with retention and recruitment.

A recent study of the civil rights division showed that labor bureau investigators earned anywhere from 16% to 64% less than employees in comparable positions at other state agencies  and the agencys work is suffering as a result.

I do think that this has been the way its been done for a long time, and so it just requires us to rethink what were asking of each of these individuals, Stephenson said. If youre staring down a 3,000 (case) backlog, thats a difficult place to be when youre not making much more than you could at Target.

Legislators have indicated that theyre prepared to help out. Several lawmakers who listened to Stephensons pre-session presentations said they agreed that compensation is an important consideration in the effort to reduce backlogs.

Weve got a problem area that needs some addressment if we want to deal with this troubling backlog, said Rep. David Gomberg, D-Central Coast.

Stephenson said the agency will continue to seek ways to work more efficiently aside from adding staff.

We will persist, she said.

-- Kaylee Tornay, InvestigateWest

InvestigateWest is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest. Reach reporter Kaylee Tornay at kaylee@invw.org.
The newest member of the Oregon House of Representatives claimed supporting LGBTQ+ people was akin to supporting child abuse and accused drag queens of pedophilia in months-old posts on his campaign website.

Dwayne Yunker, a real estate broker and city councilor from Grants Pass, was appointed in December to finish the term of former Rep. Lily Morgan, who resigned to become the city manager of Gold Hill. Yunker was already planning to challenge Morgan in the Republican primary, arguing she wasnt conservative enough for the southern Oregon district.
A Republican Oregon lawmaker has suggested that you dont want Muslims, atheists and other non-Christians to serve in elected office.

Rep. E. Werner Reschke, of the small town of Malin near the California border, made the comments in a Jan. 17 appearance on Save the Nation, a talk show streamed on Facebook that is affiliated with the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported Monday. Reschke is a member of the association.

The shows host, former Arkansas lawmaker Jason Rapert, for much of the episode asked Reschke about what he called the sad reality of the lax treatment of drugs in Oregon. Reschke said drug decriminalization makes our state unlivable, and argued that spirituality and church leaders are part of the solution.

Last week, Oregon Democratic lawmakers introduced a new bill that would undo a key part of the states first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization law, a recognition that public opinion has soured on it amid a fentanyl-fueled overdose crisis deadlier than any the U.S. has ever seen.

During the interview, Rapert also asked why Reschke feels it is important that Christians be involved in government.

You go back in history, and you look at men and the struggles that they faced, and the faith that they had, Reschke said. Those are the types of people you want in government making tough decisions at tough times. You dont want a materialist. You dont want an atheist. You dont want a Muslim.  You want somebody who understands what truth is, and understands the nature of man, the nature of government and the nature of God.

The remarks prompted the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin nonprofit that advocates keeping religion out of governance, to call for Reschke to apologize to people in his legislative district or to resign. The group sent Reschke a letter last week saying his duty is to support the state and federal constitutions and not to promote his personal religious views.

Reschke told Oregon Public Broadcasting in an email that his comments had been grossly taken out of context. But when asked for more specifics about what he meant to say, Reschke did not respond.

Muslim state Sen. Kayse Jama, a Portland Democrat, told the public radio station that he was disheartened to see one of my legislative colleagues express views contrary to American values, the U.S. Constitution, and our collective aspiration of building a more perfect union. Our ability to live and work with our fellow Oregonians who speak different languages, pray or vote different ways, celebrate different cultures is our strength.
The union that represents the nearly 100 prosecutors in the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office voted to endorse their colleague Nathan Vasquez over their boss Mike Schmidt in the district attorneys race.

Vasquez picked up the endorsement after he and Schmidt held separate forums with union members.
New York, US (PANA) - No organisation can be a substitute for the UN agency assisting Palestinians, UNRWA, in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, the Organisations senior coordinator for the enclave said on Tuesday
Tunis , Tunisia (PANA) - On Tuesday, Tunisian President Kais Saied extended the state of emergency throughout the country until 31 December, according to information published in the official gazette
Sonoco to Sell Its Protective Solutions Business to Black Diamond Capital for $80 Million

Sonoco's Protective Solutions business is one of North America's premier manufacturers of molded expanded polypropylene and expanded polystyrene foam components and integrated material solutions Sonoco's Protective Solutions business is one of North America's premier manufacturers of molded expanded polypropylene and expanded polystyrene foam components and integrated material solutions

Jan. 31, 2024 - Sonoco Products Company announced that certain of its subsidiaries entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Protective Solutions business to Black Diamond Capital Management, LLC for an estimated $80 million in cash. This sale is the result of Sonoco's continuing evaluation of its business portfolio and is consistent with its strategic and investment priorities.

Sonoco's Protective Solutions business is one of North America's premier manufacturers of molded expanded polypropylene and expanded polystyrene foam components and integrated material solutions serving the automotive, power sports, impact surfaces, HVAC, electronics/technology, appliances, and various other industrial end markets. The business operates nine manufacturing facilities and has approximately 900 employees. Net sales were approximately $170 million in 2023.

"We believe this divestiture builds on our previously articulated strategy to divest non-core assets and to refocus our efforts on core businesses to achieve greater scale, profitability, and market leadership," said Howard Coker, President and CEO of Sonoco. "I personally would like to thank the entire Protective Solutions team for their years of delivering quality products and outstanding customer service on behalf of Sonoco. We know their knowledge, experience, and leadership will be greatly valued by their new owner and wish the entire team much continued success in the future."

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2024.

Founded in 1899, Sonoco (NYSE:SON) is a global provider of packaging products.

SOURCE: Sonoco
Photo: (Photo : David Greedy/Getty Images)

A prevalent sexually transmitted virus, with the majority of individuals experiencing an infection at some point in their lives is called Human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV can persist in the body for extended periods, often at low or undetectable levels, and may have originated from a past partner without the person being aware. The immune system in most cases can eliminate the virus without any noticeable symptoms.

Importance of the HPV Vaccine

Parents need to sign and return a consent form to ensure the child receives the vaccine. Officials highlighted that they have seen nearly 90% decrease in cervical cancer rates in women in their 20s who received the vaccine at school.

The Director of Public Health, Professor Peter Bradley, gives full emphasis to the importance of vaccination in reducing the risk of HPV, a widespread virus transmitted during any sexual activity through close skin-to-skin contact.

The HPV vaccine, declared by the health experts, is effective to prevent infections that can lead to most cervical cancers, as well as certain anal, genital, and head and neck cancers.

Professor Bradley also encourages parents to consent their children to receive protection against HPV, emphasizing the safety and efficacy of the vaccine for Year 8 children aged 12 to 13.

There are many HPV types, and only specific high-risk types pose a risk of leading to cancer. HPV, in some women, may cause abnormal changes in cervical cells, potentially progressing to cervical cancer if left untreated. For men, high-risk HPV types can contribute to rarer cancers, including those affecting the anus, penis, head, and neck.

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Vaccine safety is assured, with the Gardasil brand having undergone extensive studies. Mild soreness may occur during post-vaccination, with extremely rare and serious side effects.

Cervical screening is still vital despite vaccination, as the vaccine doesn't assure protection against all HPV types. However, fewer screenings in the future for vaccinated individuals may be required.

Partnerships, Programs To Improve Vaccination Rates

In several states, including New Jersey, given the low coverage of the HPV vaccine, they are actively participating in initiatives to better improve vaccination rates among adolescents.

Starting from the end of January, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine will be accessible for children aged 12 and 13.

The Department of Health's Vaccine Preventable Disease Program (VPDP) and the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey (Partnership), are leading efforts to increase adolescent vaccination rates, particularly for HPV in New Jersey.

Since the year 2000, Greater Newark, New Jersey, and Partnership, a recipient of VPDP grants, has been committed to raising childhood vaccination rates.

Over time, the Essex Metro Immunization Coalition, initiated by Partnership, has expanded its efforts to enhance and sustain timely immunization rates across individuals' lifespans.

Both the VPDP and Partnership maintain a significant focus on bolstering adolescent immunization rates to protect against severe vaccine-preventable diseases.

Apart from collaborating with Partnership, the VPDP has actively partnered with cancer coalitions and other immunization organizations to improve coverage rates for HPV and all other vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

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A Minnesota murder unfolded after a fake UPS driver broke into a house after pretending to be a package delivery driver.

The man, identified as Alonzo Pierre Mingo, 37, has been charged with three counts of second-degree murder for a gruesome murder spree that unfolded in a suburban Minneapolis home.

The horrifying crime was perpetrated by Mingo, who was pretending to deliver a package at the residence, with the chilling detail that two children under the age of 5 were forced to witness the unspeakable horror.

Minnesota Murder Motivated by Money

Authorities reveal that Mingo, cunningly disguised in a UPS-style uniform, infiltrated a suburban Minneapolis home under the guise of a package delivery driver.

A disturbing video captures three individuals leaving Mingo's vehicle, two dressed as delivery drivers, and the assailant himself leading a man at gunpoint into a bedroom where a woman and two young children were present.

Mingo's malevolent intentions quickly became apparent as he demanded money from the terror-stricken victims, using the guise of delivery to gain access to the residence.

The assailant then callously led the group out of the room, only to return alone, where he shot the woman at point-blank range.

The haunting scene unfolded as the two young children, one of whom was seen crying hysterically, were forced to witness the gruesome act.

Gruesome Discovery and Swift Arrest

Coon Rapids police responded swiftly to an emergency call made from the residence on that fateful Friday.

Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered the lifeless bodies of two men and a woman, each with gunshot wounds to their heads.

One of the deceased men was found at the house's doorway, another in an office, and the woman's body tragically lay in the bedroom.

Video evidence showed Mingo and two other adults leaving the home just seven minutes after entering. Authorities located Mingo several hours later driving the same vehicle, leading to his prompt arrest.

The criminal complaint, however, does not specify charges against the two additional suspects who entered the home with Mingo.

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Prosecutors Seek Aggravated Sentence for Murder Spree

In the wake of this chilling crime, prosecutors are gearing up to seek an aggravated sentence for Alonzo Pierre Mingo.

The severity of this crime prompts an unusual sentencing protocol, despite the fact that he will already be facing the maximum sentence of 40 years for second-degree murder.

Prosecutors cite aggravating factors, including the particular cruelty with which the victims were treated and the fact that the horrifying murders occurred in the presence of two young children.

Minnesota's sentencing guidelines were designed to ensure consistency, but the nature of this crime compels a departure from the norm.

The intention is to address the profound impact of the murders on the victims, especially considering the presence of innocent children forced to witness the brutality.

As the investigation unfolds, the community grapples with the shock and horror of a seemingly ordinary day turned into a nightmare by the actions of a man masquerading as a UPS driver.

The consequences of this fake UPS driver's murderous rampage are reverberating not just in the courtroom but across the lives of those who witnessed the unspeakable horror unfold within the confines of a suburban Minneapolis home.

Related Article: FBI Reveals Schools Rank Third in US Hate Crimes, With 10% Spiked in 2022
Photo: (Photo : China Photos/Getty Images)

A former paraprofessional in Larimer County, Colorado, from the Poudre School District entered a guilty plea on Monday, admitting to fewer than a dozen charges out of the initial 164 he faced related to child abuse.

Tyler Zanella, 37, was arrested in May 2023 for allegedly physically abusing a kindergartner with disabilities on multiple occasions, as revealed by surveillance videos.

The charges included crimes against an at-risk juvenile, third-degree assault, and child abuse. I n the plea deal, Zanella pleaded guilty to 11 counts, including seven counts of assault in the third degree against an at-risk person, two counts of harassment, and two counts of child abuse.

Zanella, who worked on a bus route primarily serving children with disabilities, was caught on surveillance hitting a non-verbal 6-year-old with autism.

Other recorded instances showed him striking children multiple times, using backpacks to hit them in the face. Parents contacted investigators after their children exhibited fear and trauma, leading to Zanella's arrest in May 2023.

All 11 identified victims were at-risk due to their disabilities. The Poudre School District hired Zanella in August 2022, terminating his employment on May 24, 2023.

Zanella Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse Charges

Parents of the 11 affected children had mixed reactions to the plea deal. Some supported it, expressing a desire to avoid a trial and start the healing process, while others opposed it, seeking the maximum sentence for Zanella.

Daisy Montgomery, a parent with autism, acknowledged the anger inflicted on the families but emphasized that justice for the children was essential.

Another parent, Sabrina Herrick, opposed the plea deal, recounting a disturbing interaction between Zanella and her daughter.

Zanella's sentencing is scheduled for April 12, with Judge Daniel McDonald awaiting a Presentence Investigation Report (PSI) and a community corrections screening for review. The judge will decide whether to accept or reject the plea, determining the case's progression.

Zanella's potential punishment, which could exceed a decade in prison, hinges on various factors and the judge's decision.

Zanella had a prior arrest for child abuse in 2012, resulting in a dismissed case after pleading guilty to child abuse - negligence - no injury.

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Investigation Reveals Paraprofessional's Abuse

Tyler Zanella, was arrested by Fort Collins Police Services (FCPS) on May 24, 2023 facing charges including felony crimes against at-risk juveniles, misdemeanor third-degree assault, and misdemeanor child abuse.

According to PSD spokeswoman Emily Shockley, Zanella underwent a thorough background check before his hiring in August 2022, where employers in Colorado typically look back seven years into an applicant's arrest record.

Although Zanella was questioned about his 2012 child abuse case during the hiring process, the details of that case, including his guilty plea for child abuse, were not immediately available.

On Tuesday, an "inappropriate comment" from Zanella to a student prompted a review of bus route 2235's video footage. The investigation revealed Zanella striking a student on the bus, leading to his immediate placement on paid administrative leave.

He did not participate in the afternoon route on Tuesday and was formally terminated the following day, rendering him ineligible for future employment with the district.

Further video analysis showed additional incidents involving the same student on April 25 and May 19, 2023.

The May 19 footage captured Zanella hitting a nonverbal, autistic student in the back of the head.

On May 22, 2023, Zanella was seen hitting one student multiple times and another student in the head with his fist.

Shockley confirmed at least two victims but acknowledged the possibility of more.

Video evidence depicted Zanella repeatedly hitting a student on May 24, 2023 with marks on the child's face visible in a photo taken on April 25.

In response to the arrest, PSD Superintendent Brian Kingsley strongly condemned Zanella's alleged actions, emphasizing that they go against the values the school stands for.

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A few days ago, I posted some quotations from an interesting paper that I had just read  Stephan A. Schwartz, Nonlocality and Exceptional Experiences: A Study of Genius, Religious Epiphany, and the Psychic, Explore 6/4 (July/August 2010): 227-236. My doing so gave such extraordinary joy to the denizens of the Peterson Obsession Board  far over and above any value in the quoted passages  that I think Ill do so again. (Making others happy makes me happy.) So here are a few more quotations from the article:

First, Schwartz quotes Jessica Utts, a professor of statistics at the University of California, Irvine, who had been asked to review a series of studies of the phenomenon often called remote viewing, which is in the same general neighborhood with, if not altogether identical to, the alleged phenomenon that has been called clairvoyance:

Using the standards applied to any other area of science, it is concluded that psychic functioning has been well established. The statistical results of the studies examined are far beyond what is expected by chance. Arguments that these results could be due to methodological aws in the experiments are soundly refuted. Effects of similar magnitude have been replicated at a number of laboratories across the world. Such consistency cannot be readily explained by claims of aws or fraud. The magnitude of psychic functioning exhibited appears to be in the range between what social scientists call a small and medium effect. That means that it is reliable enough to be replicated in properly conducted experiments, with sufcient trials to achieve the long-run statistical results needed for replicability. (cited on 228)

Another passage that intrigued me mentions the work of a team led by the chemist Gregory S. Engel, who was then at the University of California at Berkeley but who is currently at the University of Chicago:

Using femtosecond lasers to follow the movement of light ene rgy thro ugh a photosynthetic bacterial cell, Engel et al, quoted in Gareld, observed the energy traveling along every possible direction at the same time. Instead of following a single trajectory like the electrons on a silicon chip, the energy in pho tosy nthesis expl ores all of its options and collapses the quan tum process only after the fact, retroactively deciding upon the most efcient pathway. Thi s mea ns the basic processes of li fe rely ultimately on quantum tra nsf ers of inform ation backward in time, which looks remarkably li ke ret rocausal experi ments to be found in physics or medi cine ; all of which suggest the primacy of consciousness. (229)

The article casts a wide net. Here is something with which, I think, many people might be able to report experience:

Natural sleep also plays a role. Psychologist Stanley Krippner who, together with Montague Ullman, headed the dream labora to ry at Maim oni des Medical Cente r in New York City in the late 1960s, and into the 70s, assisted by Alan Vaughan and Charle s Honorton, took the ndings of Kleitman, Dement, and Aserin sky and carried out a pioneering series of experiments exploring the conn ect ion between nonl ocal awarenessthey called it telep athyand dreaming. When the sleepers brain pattern indicated they were dreaming, and their eyes were moving behind their closed lids, the wakeful partner would open an envelope, which contained a picture, and attempt to link with the dreamer while looking at this image. After a few minutes, or when REM stopped, the dreamer would be awakened and asked to describe their dream. The results produced a signicant correlation be tween the image held by the wakeful partner and the imagery in the dream. This research line has now progressed to a point where remote viewing, the most concrete of the nonlocal perception protocols, has shown that when a sleeper trained in the skillset required to induce lucid dreaming attempts to remote view from within a dream, it can be accomplished (Figures 1 and 2).Once again it strikes me as signicant that this laboratory research so closely parallels the ethnohistorical record of genius. Lloyd Osborne, who wrote The Ebb Tidewith Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, quoted Stevenson as saying that he went to sleep asking the gremlins of my mind to write a story while I slept. Physician and researcher Dr Jonas Salk said something similar: Intuition is something we dont understand the biology of yet, but it is always with excitement that I wake up in the morning wondering what my intuition will toss up to me, like gifts from the sea. I work with it, and rely upon it. Its my partner. Salk was reported by Fortune magazine editor Roy Rowan as crediting this technique in guiding him to make the correct leap that led to the discovery of the polio vaccine. Perhaps the most ironic example of dreams as a part of this pattern is the account of Rene Descartes. On Saint Martins eve (November 10th) 1619, in Neuberg, Germany, he had an expe- rie nce that led to what he cal led a wonderful discovery. From it he formulated a marvelous science, a worldview whose hall mark was its commitment to the primacy of the intellect, a view that has dominated how technological cultures have thought about the world ever since. What was this wondrous experience? It was that most nonintellec tual of events: a dream. (232-233)

Now, will all of survive scrutiny in the long run? Who knows? But I rule nothing out in advance. Im dogmatic that way.
The Ambivalence and Inconsistencies of Protestant Thought on the Earliest Monarchical Bishops

Protestants, especially Presbyterians and Baptists, who hold to a low church ecclesiology without bishops, habitually argue that monepiscopacy, or the notion and state of affairs of single monarchical bishops holding the leadership of local churches, was a phenomenon that only started to significantly  and to them, unfortunately  occur in the mid-second century or even later than that. This is demonstrably untrue, based on the best historical sources we have for the early Church, as I documented in my recent articles about St. Ignatius of Antioch and Church historian Eusebius and other early Church fathers (before 200 AD).

Nevertheless, despite all of this rather compelling evidence, and granting a certain fluidity and development of Church offices in the New Testament and early Church, as I do, and as Cardinal Newman did in writing about development of doctrine, Protestants argue that the norm in the earliest decades of the Church, and the teaching of the Bible, was government by a group of presbyters or elders in each church or congregation.

On the other hand, there is a certain self-contradiction or tension in this view insofar as the same people concede that St. James was the bishop of Jerusalem at the time of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15; thought to have occurred around 48-51 AD). Despite generally arguing against monepiscopacy in the first two centuries, they somehow manage to make an exception for James in Jerusalem. Why? Well, I submit and speculate that they tend to do that in order to avoid the implication that St. Peter presided over this council, in a position that would correspond to a bishop of bishops or the papacy. They dont like that idea, and so they argue that James presided and was thus over Peter. And he did so because he was the bishop of Jerusalem. According to this thinking, there was no higher office in the Church than that.

Renowned 19th century Protestant Church historian Philip Schaff is an interesting case in this regard. He repeatedly asserts in his notes for McGifferts translation of Eusebius Ecclesiastical History (the first and most important history of the Christian Church), that monepiscopacy was projected back from the second or third centuries or beyond, to the Church of the first century. And so, in his Popular Commentary on the NT, in his Introduction to the book of James, he refers to James as the so-called bishop of Jerusalem. But then he also virtually contradicts himself, in writing:

James . . . was a prominent person in the early church. . . . he occupied a distinguished position in the early church. To him Peter sent a message, on his release from imprisonment: Go show these things unto James and the brethren (Acts 12:7) [should be 12:17]. He presided at the Council of Jerusalem, and pronounced the decree of the assembled church (Acts 15:19). To him, as the head of the church of Jerusalem, Paul repaired on his last visit to that city (Acts 21:18). . . . and along with Peter and John, he mentions him as one of the three pillars of the church (Galatians 2:9). In the same Epistle we are also informed, that it was the presence of certain who came from James which was the cause of Peters withdrawing himself from converse with the Gentiles (Galatians 2:21). . . . If not actually bishop of Jerusalem, it would appear from these scriptural notices that James at least exercised a very important influence in the mother church. He was the recognised head of the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. When Christianity was chiefly confined to Jewish converts, his influence must have been almost paramount And after its extension to the Gentiles, the Jewish Christians would esteem him to be peculiarly their apostle, as Paul was the apostle of the Gentiles; his influence would not be confined to Jerusalem, but would extend to all believers among the twelve tribes, wherever scattered.

I dont see how being the recognised head of Christians in Jerusalem and indeed the head of the church of Jerusalem and a man who presided at the Council of Jerusalem is distinguishable from being a bishop. Its a distinction without a difference, especially since St. Paul in the Bible wrote about bishops five times (Acts 20:28 [overseers]; Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:1-2; Titus 1:7). So Schaff wants to have his cake and eat it, too, or in other words, he is equivocating. James isnt the bishop of Jerusalem, but he is, but he isnt, etc.

This is the sort of cognitive dissonance among Protestants, in grappling with Catholic elements of Scripture and early Church history, that was the theme of an entire book of mine: The Catholic Verses: 95 Bible Passages That Confound Protestants (Sophia Institute Press, Aug. 2004). I do love Schaff as a scholar, however, and Ive cited him hundreds of times because  ultimately  he always tries to be honest, sometimes even despite his strong denominational inclinations. The above is a prime example of this. He doesnt agree with the idea that James was or could be the bishop of Jerusalem. But the facts are too great to deny it. And so he tries to deny it but in the end, simply cant.

The great Protestant Bible scholar F. F. Bruce shows a similar ambivalence. He describes James very much as a bishop would be described, yet doesnt want to use the word. Writing specifically about him and the early church in Jerusalem, he refers to the increasingly dominant role which James would fill in Jerusalem which was documented by Paul and Luke independently and his leading role and the fact that he was evidently acknowledged as a leader of that church as a whole. In the Jerusalem Council, According to Luke, . . . it was James who summed up the sense of the meeting and expressed his judgment . . . the terms of the so-called Jerusalem decree. In fact, according to Bruce, that the Jerusalem church could not have promulgated this decree without Jamess approval. See: Peter, Stephen. James & John (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1979, 90-91, 93).

The Eerdmans Bible Commentary, at Acts 15:13, states that James appears by this time to be the acknowledged leader of the Jerusalem church, . . . (p. 992).

The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (James) opined:

It was this James who assumed leadership of the church in Jerusalem . . . James dominates the accounts of official actions of the council at Jerusalem; he cast the deciding vote . . . According to Church tradition, James was the first bishop of Jerusalem. (p. 549)

The New Bible Dictionary (James) concurs:

Tradition stated that he was appointed first bishop of Jerusalem by the Lord Himself and the apostles (Eus., EH, vii. 19). He presided at the first Council of Jerusalem . . . (p. 597 in the first edition, 1962)

Note how the last two reference sources note that Church tradition held that James was the bishop of Jerusalem, without indicating whether they agreed with it or not.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (James; 1939) exhibits the usual Protestant reluctance to use the word bishop:

By the time of the Jerusalem convention, i.e. about 51 AD (compare Ga 2:1), James had reached the position of first overseer in the church (compare Ac 15:13,19). . . . Once more (58 AD), James was head of the council at Jerusalem when Paul made report of his labors, this time of his 3rd missionary Journey (Ac 21:17 ff).

Acts 21:17 refers to a meeting of the Jerusalem church including Paul. James is clearly the leader, as indicated by the wording: On the following day Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present (RSV). This is similar to the language Peter used in Acts 12:17, after he was delivered from a Jerusalem prison: Tell this to James and to the brethren.

McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia (James; 1880) is more directly skeptical:

Eusebius (Hist. Eccles. 2, 1) says that James, the first bishop of Jerusalem, . . . was surnamed the Just by the ancients on account of his eminent virtue. . . . Eusebius . . . says elsewhere that he was appointed by the apostles (V. Eccl. 2, 23). Clement of Alexandria is the first author who speaks of his episcopate (Hypotyposeis, bk. 6, apud Eusebius, Hist. Ecc. 2, 1), and he alludes to it as a thing of which the chief apostles, Peter, James, and John, might well have been ambitious. . . . According to Hegesippus (a converted Jew of the 2nd century) James, the brother of the Lord, undertook the government of the Church along with the apostles (  ). . . . (ap. Euseb. Hist. Eccles. 2, 23).

St. Clement of Alexandria (c. 150- c. 215), according to Eusebius, wrote: Peter and James and John after the ascension of our Saviour, as if also preferred by our Lord, strove not after honor, but chose James the Just bishop of Jerusalem. (EH, Bk II, 1, 3). The above source focuses on Peter, James, and John. Nevertheless, it is stated that the three chose James as bishop of Jerusalem. It doesnt get any clearer than that. But the Protestant bias shines through again. The obvious facts of the matter as reported have to be undermined somehow, so that episcopal government is not seen to be the norm in the first century Church.

Hegesippus [fl. c. 180] was also cited by Eusebius  writing at a time close to that of Clement of Alexandria  as having stated the following: And after James the Just had suffered martyrdom, . . . Symeon, the son of the Lords uncle, Clopas, was appointed the next bishop [of Jerusalem]. All proposed him as second bishop because he was a cousin of the Lord. (EH, IV, 22, 4; my italics). In the same context (IV, 22, 2-3) Hegesippus refers to Primus . . . bishop in Corinth and also a succession of bishops in Rome: Anicetus was succeeded by Soter, and he by Eleutherus. In every succession, and in every city that is held which is preached by the law and the prophets and the Lord. Plainly, he believe in monepiscopacy, including in Jerusalem. Eusebius also cites Hegesippus as stating:

They came, therefore, and took the lead of every church as witnesses and as relatives of the Lord. And profound peace being established in every church, they remained until the reign of the Emperor Trajan, and until the above-mentioned Symeon, son of Clopas, an uncle of the Lord, was informed against by the heretics, and was himself in like manner accused for the same cause before the governor Atticus. And after being tortured for many days he suffered martyrdom, . . . (EH, BK III, 33, 6; my italics)

Again, clear as day. James was bishop of Jerusalem, and then Symeon succeeded him. In his Bk IV, 5, 2-3, Eusebius names fifteen bishops of Jerusalem, from James to Judas (up to 135 AD). We see not a word there about government by a board of presbyters (not even conjointly with Peter and John). All we see are single bishops, one after another in succession.

McClintock and Strong then try to make an issue of how Hegesippus described James appointment as bishop of Jerusalem in another passage. Here are the actual words, as translated by Schaff and Wace: James, the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the Church in conjunction with the apostles (EH, II, 23, 4; my italics). They construe the word with as signifying government by a group rather than by one man. Eusebius had just written in section 1 of the same passage, about James, . . . to whom the episcopal seat at Jerusalem had been entrusted by the apostles.

The Greek word for with Hegesippus used, provided by McClintock and Strong themselves, is  (meta): Strongs word #3326 (see also a second Strongs page for it). As a proposition, it can mean several things. It certainly often  even usually  means with but it can also mean after. The NASB translation renders meta as after 82 times (KJV: 95 times). So it comes down to context. I have already provided two cross-reference from Hegesippus himself that contradict the Protestant interpretation in this instance (that James was not sole bishop of Jerusalem). As with the Bible, we interpret less clear utterances of the fathers by clearer ones, and we seek to harmonize them. Schaff draws the same cynical-of-episcopacy conclusion in his notes (footnote 491) for Eusebius, EH, II, 23, 4:

  , with the apostles; as Rufinus rightly translates, cum apostolis. Jerome, on the contrary, reads post apostolos, after the apostles, as if the Greek were   . This statement of Hegesippus is correct. James was a leader of the Jerusalem church, in company with Peter and John, as we see from Gal. ii. 9. But that is quite different from saying, as Eusebius does just above, and as Clement (quoted by Eusebius, chap. 1, 3) does, that he was appointed Bishop of Jerusalem by the apostles.

Galatians 2:9 (RSV) reads: James and Cephas [Peter] and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship. This happened in Jerusalem, but technically, its not about leadership in the church of Jerusalem in particular. Its about, I submit, leadership in the universal Church, by apostles who were still then living. If this supposedly means that the three conjointly led the Jerusalem congregation, then Schaff and those who think like him have to explain the contextual remark from Paul fourteen and fifteen verses earlier (Gal 1:18-19): Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lords brother.

Very few argue that Peter  or John  was the leader of the Jerusalem congregation, over against James. Whenever anyone states that there is a bishop or leader etc., its always James. But if this passage were only about the local Jerusalem church, we would have to conclude from how Paul worded it, then Peter was over James. But if Peter is viewed as the leader of the entire Church, and James of the local Jerusalem church, it makes perfect sense. The three pillars of Galatians 2:9 are pillars of the universal Church, not just the church in Jerusalem.

We see similar opinions about James as the leader in Jerusalem (bishop or no) in classic Protestant Bible commentaries (at Acts 15:13):

Ellicotts Commentary: James answered. The position which James the brother of the Lord . . . occupies in the Council is clearly that of pre-eminence, justifying the title of Bishop of Jerusalem, which later writers give him. No one speaks after him; he sum up the whole debate; he proposes the decree which is to be submitted to the Council for approval. The position which James the brother of the Lord . . . occupies in the Council is clearly that of pre-eminence, justifying the title of Bishop of Jerusalem, which later writers give him. No one speaks after him; he sum up the whole debate; he proposes the decree which is to be submitted to the Council for approval. * Barnes Notes on the Bible: Hearken unto me  This whole transaction shows that Peter had no such authority in the church as the papists pretend, for otherwise his opinion would have been followed without debate. James had an authority not less than that of Peter.

This is sheer nonsense. Peters statement was indeed followed without debate. The actual text states that after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, . . . (Acts 15:7), and that after he spoke (his words recorded in 15:7-11), all the assembly kept silence (15:12). James  as the local bishop and master of ceremonies so to speak  then completely agreed with what Peter had said (Simeon has related . . .: 15:14) and simply reiterated his reasoning, which was the essence and ground of the councils decree, supporting it from the Bible. It was Peter who was given a vision by God about the inclusion of the gentiles, recorded a bit earlier in Acts. He took the lead in promulgating this new teaching, as is appropriate for a pope. Contrary to Barnes inane anti-Catholic view, Peter is presented as the leader of the Church in the first half of the book of Acts (before it moves on to describing St. Pauls life and activities), as He was before Jesus death, too

Peters name occurs first in a list of the apostles (Acts 1:13; cf. Mt 10:2; Mk 3:16; Lk 6:14). * Peter is regarded by the Jews (Acts 4:1-13) as the leader and spokesman of Christianity. Peter is regarded by the common people in the same way (Acts 2:37-41; 5:15).

Peters words are the first recorded and most important in the upper room before Pentecost (Acts 1:15-22). Peter takes the lead in calling for a replacement for Judas (Acts 1:22). Peter is the first person to speak (and only one recorded) after Pentecost, so he was the first Christian to preach the gospel in the Church era (Acts 2:14-36). Peter works the first miracle of the Church Age, healing a lame man (Acts 3:6-12). Peter utters the first anathema (Ananias and Sapphira) emphatically affirmed by God (Acts 5:2-11)! Peters shadow works miracles (Acts 5:15). Peter is the first person after Christ to raise the dead (Acts 9:40). Cornelius is told by an angel to seek out Peter for instruction in Christianity (Acts 10:1-6). Peter is the first to receive the Gentiles, after a revelation from God (Acts 10:9-48). Peter instructs the other apostles on the catholicity (universality) of the Church (Acts 11:5-17). Peter is the object of the first divine interposition on behalf of an individual in the Church Age (an angel delivers him from prison  Acts 12:1-17). The whole Church (strongly implied) offers earnest prayer for Peter when he is imprisoned (Acts 12:5). Paul distinguishes the Lords post-Resurrection appearances to Peter from those to other apostles (1 Cor 15:4-8). Peter is often spoken of as distinct among apostles (1 Cor 9:5; cf. Mk 1:36; Lk 9:28,32; Acts 2:37; 5:29). Peter is the first to recognize and refute heresy, in Simon Magus (Acts 8:14-24). Peters name is mentioned more often than all the other disciples put together: 191 times (162 as Peter or Simon Peter, 23 as Simon, and 6 as Cephas). John is next in frequency with only 48 appearances, and Peter is present 50% of the time we find John in the Bible! Archbishop Fulton Sheen reckoned that all the other disciples combined were mentioned 130 times. If this is correct, Peter is named a remarkable 60% of the time any disciple is referred to! Hes even mentioned more than St. Paul, whose name appears 184 times in the NT (23 of those as Saul). Peters proclamation at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41) contains a fully authoritative interpretation of Scripture, a doctrinal decision and a disciplinary decree concerning members of the House of Israel (2:36)  an example of binding and loosing. Peter was the first charismatic, having judged authoritatively the first instance of the gift of tongues as genuine (Acts 2:14-21). Peter is the first to preach Christian repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38). Peter (presumably) takes the lead in the first recorded mass baptism (Acts 2:41). Peter commanded the first Gentile Christians to be baptized (Acts 10:44-48). Peter was the first traveling missionary, and first exercised what would now be called visitation of the churches (Acts 9:32-38,43). Paul preached at Damascus immediately after his conversion (Acts 9:20), but hadnt traveled there for that purpose (God changed his plans!). His missionary journeys begin in Acts 13:2. Paul went to Jerusalem specifically to see Peter for fifteen days in the beginning of his ministry (Gal 1:18). All of this (most of it in the first half of the book of Acts) is in the New Testament, yet Barnes claims that James had an authority not less than that of Peter?! Its utterly ludicrous. But that is what bias does to a mind. And Barnes is very often and excellent, insightful commentator. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: James . . . was the acknowledged head of the church at Jerusalem, and . . . president of the assembly, . . . * Matthew Pooles Commentary: . . . president of this council.

*

[W]e shall see afterwards how great his authority was at Jerusalem. The old writers think that this was because he was bishop of the place; but it is not to be thought that the faithful did at their pleasure change the order which Christ had appointed. Wherefore, I do not doubt but that he was son to Alpheus, and Christs cousin, in which sense he is also called his brother. Whether he were bishop of Jerusalem or no, I leave it indifferent; neither doth it greatly make for the matter, save only because the impudency of the Pope is hereby refuted, because the decree of the Council is set down rather at the appointment, and according to the authority of James than of Peter. And assuredly Eusebius, in the beginning of his Second Book, is not afraid to call James, whosoever he were, the Bishop of the Apostles. Let the men of Rome go now and boast that their Pope is head of the Universal Church, because he is Peters successor, who suffered another to rule him, if we believe Eusebius.

*

Note, by the way, that Calvin believed that James  someone called the Lords brother  was literally His cousin, and that this is the scriptural sense in which brother is often used in the NT, thus disagreeing with the vast majority of Protestants today who deny Marys perpetual virginity. I have myself documented this several times (Luther and virtually all of the early Protestant leaders believed the same).

*

I have no idea what Calvin is referring to in claiming that Eusebius wrote that James was the Bishop of the Apostles. In Bk II, ch. 1 , the word bishop occurs twice (in sections 2 and 3): both times referring to James as the bishop of Jerusalem. I searched in vain for the word bishop in the next fifteen chapters of Eusebius; so Calvin appears to have been using an edition of Eusebius that is now antiquated and inaccurate. Nice try, though. Calvin also futilely tried to argue  probably because of the same bias  that the epistles of St. Ignatius of Antioch were not authentic

*

Its appropriate and fitting to end with Calvins words  so quintessentially and textbook low church Protestant  and my reply.

*
Gathered in the Crystal Palace Suite at the London Hilton hotel on Park Lane, were a collection of key UK corporate leaders with roots in Ghana, including High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland, H.E. Papa Owusu-Ankomah and Tullow Plc Chief Executive, Rahul Dhir.



Other Tullow Executives, including Director of People and Sustainability, Julia Ross, Ghana Managing Director Wissam Al-Monthiry, his deputy, Cynthia Lumor and External Affairs Manager, David Amoah, were also present.



It was the second time such a gathering was taking place in Englands capital in the last three years. Dubbed, The Ghana Energy Evening, it is a platform created by H.E. Papa Owusu-Ankomah and Tullow Executives, to bring together key players with ties to Ghana to collaborate and share ideas about the countrys energy future and how to sustain investments over the next decade.



The first edition, held in 2022, threw light on critical topics, including climate change, the energy transition, and the search for an answer to the existential question of the energy trilemma  how to ensure secure, affordable and accessible energy for the world. Much of the discussions that year also focused on how to support countries like Ghana with the right investment to utilise its endowed natural resources for the wellbeing of its citizens and economic growth.



On this evening in 2024, however, the participants were meeting at a crucial time for the energy sector in the world, especially in Africa. Questions around the trilemma still remained. But other emerging issues needed attention, including how to ensure a just energy transition for African countries, amidst talk of the phase-down of fossil fuels. Additional issues, including the need to promote the right investments in countries like Ghana, the commitment to clean energy by 2030 and empowering local resources to transform the sector, were all concerns on the minds of these guests.



The main speakers at the event were immediately recognisable by almost all the participants  Dr. Bassam Fattouh, Director at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies and Yaw Nsarkoh, former Unilever Executive Vice President. Their presentations elicited the kind of engagement that such a crowd needed.



Dr. Fattouh was quite vocal about the need to recognise that a just transition for energy must allow countries in sub-Saharan Africa the right to transition at a pace that will allow them to develop their hydrocarbon reserves to promote industrialisation and energy access. He acknowledged the expansion of the energy mix, made possible by the growth of renewables and clean energy advocacy. However, he was emphatic that oil and gas will remain an important part of the energy mix in most parts of the world, especially Africa, until around 2050.



He added that a just energy transition is necessary if you consider that Africa has contributed less than 3 percent to the worlds cumulative energy-related carbon emissions since 1890.



Yaw Nsarkoh dissected the African leadership and governance problem, insisting that unless something was done about the mindset of political and economic leadership, it will be difficult to promote a just transition and progress for the energy sector. He also said despite being a committed defender of the climate change agenda, it should be pursued from a segmented approach or risk an entire collapse. Yaw advocated that the decarbonisation agenda must be viewed as a means to an end  where the end means that an improved society gives a better capability to secure long-term health, which translates into improved livelihoods for the people. He added that to remain a relevant energy provider, Ghana must advocate to have a thriving society at all times.



The conversations that followed the presentations demonstrated the importance of the topics for the Ghanaian diaspora. Many of the comments signalled a recognition that Ghanas energy sector was at an inflection point, requiring proactive measures to uphold its two-decade success story. Ghanas High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland, H.E. Papa Owusu-Ankomah, acknowledged the role of leadership and governance, highlighting the need for Ghanaian diaspora talents to look towards home with their skills to transform the economy.



Fresh from announcing that Tullow was on track to deliver $600 million free cash flow in the next two years, Chief Executive Rahul Dhir said the energy sector is respected for what it does for humanity and Tullow remains well positioned to be a leader in the African energy industry - and unlock value of hydrocarbon resources for its host nations and communities. Rahul further insisted that the challenges Tullow currently faces will require much stronger collaboration between host governments and industry to address; adding that a natural alignment is needed to ensure that the nations resources are developed in a timely manner and not stranded.



The Ghana Energy Evening, a joint effort by the Ghana High Commission in the UK and Tullow, brings key players together annually to collaborate and partner for the good of Ghana's energy agenda. It also aligns with Tullows vision of building a better future for Ghana by linking the right minds and investments to reshape the countrys energy landscape.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Ningo -Prampram, Hon. Sam George, has accused the Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Rev. Fr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah of attempting to re-award a contract given to a Ghanaian to an Indian Firm.



The Member of Parliament revealed that, although the Ghanaian company, Axom Ghana, is working as expected, the GRA boss insists that the contract be rewarded to the Indian firm known as Qata.



Hon. Sam George made this revelations while granting an interview to Umaru Sanda on Citi FMs Eyewitness News on Tuesday, 30th January, 2024.



Adding to his commentary, the Ningo-Prampram legislator said he is going to petition the President, His Excellency Nana Akufo Addo over this act by the Commissioner- General since the GRA management are vehemently against.



"Ofori-Atta and the Board Chair, Oteng Gyasi, have simply decided that they are going to take that contract away from a Ghanaian company and give it to a crony Indian company of theirs called Qata. They themselves know that Qata has been involved in all kinds of challenges, in Rwanda, in Zambia, and in about three other African countries. They know, and the GRA management is against it. But because Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai is simply hanging there by a string because he has no legal basis to be there, he has become the hatchet man who is being used to carry out all of these illegalities for Ofori-Atta and the Board Chair for GRA.



This week I am going to be writing officially to the President, and we will be demanding a response from him. I would be raising this with the Speaker as well when Parliament reconvenes on Tuesday, Sam George added.

Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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Tech billionaire Elon Musk says his Neuralink company has successfully implanted one of its wireless brain chips in a human for the first time.



Initial results detected promising neuron spikes or nerve impulses and the patient is recovering well, he said.



The company's goal is to connect human brains to computers and it says it wants to help tackle complex neurological conditions.



A number of rival companies have already implanted similar devices.



BBC News has approached both Neuralink and the US's medical regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for comment.



Mr Musk's company was given permission to test the chip on humans by the FDA in May, a critical milestone after earlier struggles to gain approval.



This gave the green light for the start of the six-year study during which a robot is being used to surgically place 64 flexible threads, thinner than a human hair, onto a part of the brain that controls "movement intention", according to Neuralink.



The company says that these threads allow its experimental implant - powered by a battery that can be charged wirelessly - to record and transmit brain signals wirelessly to an app that decodes how the person intends to move.



Posting on X, the social media platform he owns which was formerly known as Twitter, Mr Musk said Neuralink's first product would be called Telepathy.



Telepathy, he said, would enable "control of your phone or computer, and through them almost any device, just by thinking".



"Initial users will be those who have lost the use of their limbs," he continued.



Referring to the late British scientist who had motor neurone disease, he added: "Imagine if Stephen Hawking could communicate faster than a speed typist or auctioneer. That is the goal."



While Mr Musk's involvement raises the profile of Neuralink, he faces rivals, some of who have a track record dating back two decades. Utah-based Blackrock Neurotech implanted its first of many brain-computer interfaces in 2004.



Precision Neuroscience, formed by a Neuralink co-founder, also aims to help people with paralysis. And its implant resembles a very thin piece of tape that sits on the surface of the brain and can be implanted via a "cranial micro-slit", which it says is a much simpler procedure.



Existing devices have also generated results. In two separate recent US scientific studies, implants were used to monitor brain activity when a person tried to speak, which could then be decoded to help them communicate.

Source: BBC









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The Minerals Commission has stated that it has not received any request from FGR Bogoso Prestea Ltd, the operators of the Prestea-Bogoso Mine, regarding placing it under care and maintenance.



In a press statement issued on Tuesday, January 30, the commission clarified that the Prestea-Bogoso Mine is currently under the control of FGR Bogoso Prestea Ltd (FGR) and its principal shareholder, Blue International Holdings Limited, based in the United Kingdom.



The commission emphasized that neither they nor the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has received a formal application or request from FGR to place the mine under care and maintenance.



However, it mentioned that if a formal request is submitted, it will be considered under section 51 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).



"For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Ministry nor the Commission has received a formal application or request from FGR to put the Mine under Care and Maintenance."



"An application to suspend production is set out in section 51 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) which requires the holder of the Mining Lease to serve a notice to that effect on the Minister. As indicated earlier, no such request or application has been submitted to the Minister."



"If such an application is received, it shall be considered by applicable Regulations and the current state of the mine and a decision taken in the best interest of the Country," an excerpt of the statement said.



The Commission guaranteed the public that it would uphold the effective management of the country's mineral resources and safeguard mining investments.



"The Commission wishes to assure the public of its unflinching commitment to ensuring the effective and efficient management of the mineral resources of the country, the protection of mining investment in general and the Prestea Bogoso Mine in particular to protect jobs, the local Prestea economy, community development as well as revenue generation for the benefit of the good people of Ghana."

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Toyota has urged owners of 50,000 older vehicles in the US to get immediate repairs as airbag inflators made by Takata could explode and kill them.



The "Do Not Drive" advisory covers some of the world's biggest carmaker's models from 2003 to 2005.



Since 2009, more than 30 deaths have been linked to air bag inflators produced by Takata.



Toyota says "if the airbag deploys, a part inside is more likely to explode and shoot sharp metal fragments".



Those fragments "could cause serious injury or death to the driver or passengers," it added.



The vehicles involved in the recall are the 2003-2004 model Corolla, 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix, and 2004-2005 RAV4.



Serious issues with Takata airbag inflators have resulted in the biggest motor industry safety recall in history, involving more than 100 million products and over 20 carmakers.



After more than a decade and a half of recalls, lawsuits and a criminal investigation in the US, Takata filed for bankruptcy in 2017. Its assets were sold to Chinese-owned Key Safety Systems for about $1.6bn (1.3bn).



This is not the only issue Toyota has been dealing with in recent months.



This week, the Japanese car giant suspended shipments of some vehicles because of irregularities in certification tests for diesel engines, which were developed by Toyota Industries.



An investigation found that Toyota Industries employees manipulated horsepower output tests.



The affected engines are used in 10 models sold globally, including the Hiace van and Land Cruiser sport utility vehicle, Toyota said.



Toyota is also seeking to resolve a case of misconduct at small car specialist Daihatsu, after it admitted falsifying safety tests dating back more than three decades.



Late last year, Daihatsu headquarters were raided by Japan's transport ministry and global shipments of the vehicles were suspended. The government has since revoked certification of three Daihatsu models.



When asked this week about the scandals at Toyota's subsidiaries, President Koji Sato acknowledged that workers had felt pressure to cut corners in an intensely competitive industry.



"We recognise that not only people at the testing site but also management did not have proper understanding of certification," he said.



Separately on Tuesday, Toyota said it sold a record 11.2 million vehicles in 2023, cementing its position as the world's top-selling carmaker for a fourth year in a row.



Its nearest rival, Germany's Volkswagen, sold 9.2 million vehicles last year.

Source: BBC









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The family of the late Major Maxwell Mahama has revealed that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police has not closed docket on the murder of their beloved relative, Major Mahama.



The father of the late soldier, Captain Dennis Mahama (Rtd) disclosed this information on TV3.



According to the deceased's father, there are many more accomplices who are on the run and the police is trying as much as possible to close in on them.



Following the gruesome murder of the gallant soldier, some persons suspected to be behind the mob justice were picked up by the joint forces of the military and the Ghana police service. They were subsequently arraigned before court for prosecution.



After a seven (7) year trial, the court pronounced judgement on the accused persons on Monday, January 29, 2024. Twelve (12) persons out of the fourteen persons arraigned, were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.



The verdict of the seven member panel who adjudicated the murder case was a unanimous one.



Providing further details, the retired military officer revealed that, the CID in charge of the murder case presented three video evidences which were adduced by the court as part of the viable evidence, which captures the images of several other accomplices.



"There were over a hundred people; those who were preventing him from dying, those who were encouraging them to do what they did. They are all accomplices but we got only fourteen. Two have been discharged and twelve have been sentenced but that is the law so we will take it like that....The CID has not closed the case but has revealed that there are more people in the video who are accomplices. The CID will fish them out wherever they are," he stated.



Captain Dennis Mahama (Rtd), however, added that the twelve persons who have been slapped with life imprisonment jail terms, does not meet the expectation of the family.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has expressed concern about what it describes as the indiscriminate invasion and use of schools, particularly public schools, by persons known to be involved in drug use disorders across the country.



Such persons, the Commission indicated in a statement that these individuals use classrooms as places of trade, bedrooms, and smoking area and even as a place of convenience.



Persons with drug use disorder the Commission continued exhibit propensities, which pose security, public health and safety risks to students, and hinder their academics.



The Commission has, in reaction to the development, cautioned the public, particularly those identified as perpetrators of such acts, to refrain from using public schools with immediate effect, as it will not hesitate to clamp down and prosecute offenders by Act 1019, which mandates the Commission to ensure public health and safety of the citizenry.



The public is also reminded that the possession and use of marijuana and other similar narcotic substances is still unlawful and punishable under the law.



The Commission according to the statement is also working with key stakeholders such as the Metro, Municipal and District Assemblies, Ghana Police Service, Traditional Leaders, Christian Council, Ministry of Education, and Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure that the looming threat is mitigated.



Parents, teachers, and students are also assured that the Commission will work tirelessly and collaboratively to address the issue of perpetrators exploiting public schools and classrooms for their illicit drug activities.



Opinion and community leaders as well as teachers are also encouraged to report individuals who are observed engaging in such acts to the appropriate authorities so that prompt action can be taken.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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An Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting to deliberate on the change of the date for the 2024 general election was held in Accra on Monday [January 29, 2024].



The meeting was attended by representatives of the various political parties that make up IPAC.



The meeting, which started at 10:30 a.m. with the two Deputy Commissioners of the Electoral Commission (EC) -Corporate Services, Dr Eric Bossman Asare; and Operations, Samuel Tettey, at the helm of affairs allowed IPAC members to discuss the ECs proposal to move the election date from the traditional December 7 to November 7 and also make it a holiday.



While the EC maintained that it could go through the needed processes to effect the change of date, some of the political parties said activating such a move in an election year was too short a period.



However, the parties have agreed in principle that the processes for the change in election date could begin after the 2024 elections and be applied in the 2028 elections.



The New Patriotic Party (NPP) was represented by the Director of Research and Elections of the Party (NPP), Evans Nimako, and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapem South, Osei Bonsu Amoah.



Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was represented by the party's General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwettey, and the Director of Elections and Information Technology, Dr Edward Omane Boamah.



Other parties such as the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), The Peoples National Convention (PNC) and the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) were present at the meeting.



At the meeting, the participants discussed the EC's programme of activities for the year and the issue of general election day being made a holiday.



The burning issue for discussion was the feedback from the political parties on the proposal by the EC to hold the polls on November 7 instead of the usual December 7.



In an interview with the Daily Graphic after the meeting, Dr Bossman said the EC was satisfied with the proceedings at the IPAC meeting.



He explained that the main agenda was a discussion around finding a day in November for the election and making it a public holiday.



Most of the parties supported the idea, but we still have some of the parties saying that it should be implemented in 2028.



We at the EC pleaded that we have what it takes to be able to do it this year, he said.



He added that there had not been any firm decision on it yet, but as a Commission, we will go back and reflect on it.



NPP



For his part, Mr Amoah said the NPP was not opposed to the move by the EC to change the election date to November, as long as the Commission demonstrated the ability to do so.



Our party's position is that if the EC can work on its timetable to be comfortable with the parliamentary calendar, we do not have any problem, he said.



He added that the NPP was opposed to a similar move by the EC in 2016 because the time was evidently short for the Commission to go through the parliamentary processes to change the general election day.



In 2016, there was a bill in Parliament to change the date to November 7, but we argued that the EC did not appear to be ready for the November 7 election, and as a result, the bill did not pass the second reading, he said.



NDCs position



Describing the discussions at the IPAC meeting as healthy and cordial, Dr Boamah said there was an overwhelming consensus that given the load of work EC has to do in terms of parliamentary and presidential elections, they will be biting more than they can chew if they want to add the needed parliamentary processes to change the date for the elections.



In terms of the day of the election, he said the general view was that the issue needed broader national discussion so that all shades of opinion could be factored into it for the appropriate decision to be taken.



For the elections day to be made a holiday, we felt it is not necessary, but if others think it must be done, it can be considered, he said.



He stressed that given the short time available for the EC to undertake various activities for this years polls, the issue of change of date should be shelved for the next election cycle.



Dr Boamah called on the EC to make the programme for this years elections available by the next IPAC meeting, which was likely to be in February.

Source: graphiconline









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The Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah, has hit back at the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Former President John Dramani Mahama, accusing him of living in a fool's paradise for patting himself on the back over completion of developmental projects in the region by his administration.



According to Hon Simon Osei, the former President has been largely misinformed about projects in the Ashanti Region he (Mahama) believes to have completed.



"Indeed, most of these projects the former president claimed to have undertaken n the Ashanti region were not fully completed," he added.



With particular reference to the Kejetia Market, Hon Simon Osei asserted that the project was completed in 2019 under the NPP government.



He was speaking to Kwame Nkrumah Tikesie on Okayfm's Ade Akyi Abia on morning show.



".....even with the Kumasi airport, the project was started by the NPP government at the time when Mad. Cecelia Dapaah was the Sector Minister for Aviation.... His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, His Royal Majesty, Otumfour Osei-Tutu II, and the sector minister did the sod- cutting for the construction of the Kumasi Airport.



Former President Mahama spent over $20 million just for the construction of a runway, he added.



The Ashanti Regional Minister reiterated the NPP governments quest to make the living conditions of Ghanaians better. He noted that, the NPP government has been able to complete some hospitals across the country.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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Henry Kwabena Kokofu, the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has urged the parliamentary aspirants who emerged victors in the party's just-ended elections to reach out to those who lost.



Mr. Kokofu applauded the party for a successful and violence-free primary over the weekend.



The New Patriotic Party held their parliamentary elections on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament.



Some of the Members of Parliament retained their seats and others unfortunately ended their journey to the Legislative House.



Over 20 sitting Members of Parliament of the New Patriotic Party will no longer join the next Parliament; they add up to the 19 MPs of the party who decided not to contest their seat again.



In some of the constituencies such as Bantama, the incumber MP, Francis Asenso-Boakye who doubles as Work and Housing Minister retained his seat but lawyer Sarah Adwoa Safo, MP for Dome-Kwabenya, lost her seat to the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, Mike Oquaye Jnr.



Speaking on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", the EPA Boss implored the candidates to unite behind a single mission which is to seek the success of the New Patriotic Party.



"They should let their victory become the New Patriotic Party's victory. They should reach out to their fellows who lost. The same goes for those who lost; they should admit their defeat and unite with the winners. We should all unite and work for the party", he said.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Senior Psychologist, Professor Joseph Osafo has described the New Patriotic Party parliamentary election over the weekend as a win for Ghana's democracy.



Professor Joseph Osafo, speaking to host Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", lauded the leadership and aspirants as well as the delegates and supporters of the party for a successful primary on Saturday, January 27.



He also applauded the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare and the Police Service for doing a great job by maintaining law and order during the election.



The New Patriotic Party elected new candidates and in some constituencies maintained their Members of Parliament during Saturday's election held in constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament.



Some incumbent Members of Parliament lost their seats, among them was lawyer Sarah Adwoa Safo who is the MP for Dome-Kwabenya.



Other sitting MPs like Francis Asenso-Boakye, who represents Bantama constituency, retained their seats.



The party also saw new faces like the Spokesperson for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Gideon Boako jump on the party's parliamentary ticket for this year's general elections.



Dr. Gideon Boako defeated the sitting Member of Parliament for Tano North, Freda Prempeh.



Prof. Osafo was delighted with the outcome of the NPP election saying "what happened is a win for democracy. It's a win for the NPP. It is a win for our security apparatuses".





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Director of Research and Elections, Evans Nimako, has said the just-ended parliamentary primaries of the ruling party were largely successful.



That, he said, was due to the strong collaboration with the Electoral Commission (EC), the Ghana Police Service, the partys parliamentary candidates and the media.



Mr Nimako said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic.



He said the mechanisms put together by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party ensured transparency and provided a level playing field.



He said the party was also looking forward to reconciling the teams that participated in the January 27 contest that saw the elections of the partys parliamentary candidates for the 2024 general election.



We are urging all candidates who emerged victorious to exhibit magnanimity in their victory and extend an olive branch to their fellow contestants who were unsuccessful, he said.



The party, Mr Nimako said, was also looking forward to consolidating its electoral gains in the constituencies where the primaries were held last Saturday and, above all, ensuring that the Flag bearer of the NPP, Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, would garner the overwhelming support to win election 2024.



Yendi



Touching on the Yendi parliamentary primary that was disrupted during sorting and counting, the Director of Research and Elections said the party was waiting for the official report from the Regional Executive Committee to deal with the issue.



Meanwhile, the EC that was tasked with the exclusive responsibility to conduct the elections has said the party would have to decide on the next steps for the Yendi parliamentary primary, following the disruption of counting and destruction of ballot papers last Saturday.



No official winner has been declared by the EC.



While there is no official declaration, both candidates, Farouk Mahama and Abibata Shani, have independently claimed victory in the contest.



The Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Dr Serebuor Quaicoe, in an interview, emphasised that an official winner had yet to be determined.



"The feedback from the region is that we were not able to declare the results there," Dr Quaicoe said.



"From the Electoral Commission's point of view, we did not complete the process...



Like I said, the party is conducting and we are supervising, so the party will have to make a decision," he added.



Twenty-eight sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) lost in the elections in their bid to return to Parliament, while another 19 of them did not seek re-election in the primaries.

Source: graphiconline









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The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, today delivered a scathing critique of the country's stagnant fight against corruption today in a speech titled "Corruption and Justice: Where Does Ghana Stand?".



He characterized the battle as an "unruly bride" resisting "agreeable domestication," lamenting Ghana's continued score of 43 on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).



Mr. Agyebeng acknowledged commendable efforts like the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan and the creation of his office, but emphasized that these haven't translated into progress. He likened Ghana's situation to a spinning gyroscope, stuck in the same spot despite considerable effort.



The Special Prosecutor lamented the ineffectiveness of anti-corruption initiatives, questioning the commitment to genuine change. "We know the cure to the malaise," he stated, "but we are unwillingly to take the medication fully."



He attributed this hesitancy to a lack of clarity about truly wanting to eradicate corruption - Graphic online reports



Mr. Agyebeng highlighted the vital role of a just society in combating corruption. He argued that without untainted scales of justice, anti-corruption efforts will prove futile. He presented the absence of truth and integrity as the bedrock of corruption, emphasizing the need to prioritize both in legal institutions.



The speech addressed the public's perception of anti-corruption institutions as compromised by political influence and impunity.



Mr. Agyebeng also acknowledged the skepticism towards the judiciary, seen as part of the same system as the government. He stressed the importance of addressing these perceptions to regain public trust.



Mr Agyebeng concluded by proposing concrete steps to strengthen the fight against corruption. These included:



- Entrenching anti-corruption institutions in the Constitution and expanding their powers.



- Protecting these institutions from political interference and reprisals.



- Guaranteeing adequate resources and true judicial independence.



- Establishing a specialized anti-corruption court and providing competitive salaries for legal officers.



- Fostering a culture of truth and integrity within these institutions.

Source: Graphiconline









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The second of three men charged in connection to a high-speed chase that emerged from a Home Depot theft was sentenced to prison earlier this month.

Terrence Caton, 26, will spend almost a full year in prison11.5 monthsplus 18 months of probation for his role in the failed theft of $4,000 of circuit breakers from a Home Depot in Carlisle.

When loss prevention employees confronted them, Caton, Latrell White and Julien Fleury rushed to a rented Honda Civic abandoning the items and sped off onto Carlisle Pike, sometimes at speeds greater than 100 miles per hour, according to prosecutors.

Police deployed Spike strips across the road, flattening the tires of the Honda Civic, and police captured White and Caton. But, Fleury made off into a nearby development, stole a Honda Pilot and led a second chase that ended when he hit two vehicles near Carlisle Pike and Silver Spring Road.

Two state troopers in a cruiser racing to intercept the three crashed into a tractor-trailer truck  driven by Donald Haney, Jr.  making a U-turn across Carlisle Pike, as well.

Caton, from Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty in Cumberland County Court in December to fleeing and eluding, receiving stolen property, conspiracy for retail theft, and fleeing or evading arrest on foot.

That same day, Cumberland County Judge Jessica Brewbaker sentenced White to nine to 23 months in prison and a year.

Fleurys case remains unresolved due to scheduling issues since September.

He is facing 11 charges including theft by unlawful taking, fleeing or attempting to elude, evading arrest, conspiracy of retail theft, criminal mischief, recklessly endangering another person and receiving stolen property.

District Judge Jonathan Birbeck previously denied bail to all three defendants. Nichole Vito, the prosecutor overseeing the cases, previously argued all three face similar charges in New York and that the Carlisle Pike chases endangered numerous people on the highway.
By Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News (TNS)

Rates of routine childhood vaccination hit a 10-year low in 2023. That, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, puts about 250,000 kindergartners at risk for measles, which often leads to hospitalization and can cause death. In recent weeks, an infant and two young children have been hospitalized amid an ongoing measles outbreak in Philadelphia that spread to a daycare center.

Its a dangerous shift driven by a critical mass of people who now reject decades of science backing the safety and effectiveness of childhood vaccines. State by state, theyve persuaded legislators and courts to more easily allow children to enter kindergarten without vaccines, citing religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs.

Growing vaccine hesitancy is just a small part of a broader rejection of scientific expertise that could have consequences ranging from disease outbreaks to reduced funding for research that leads to new treatments. The term infodemic implies random junk, but thats wrong, said Peter Hotez, a vaccine researcher at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas. This is an organized political movement, and the health and science sectors dont know what to do.

Changing views among Republicans have steered the relaxation of childhood vaccine requirements, according to the Pew Research Center. Whereas nearly 80% of Republicans supported the rules in 2019, fewer than 60% do today. Democrats have held steady, with about 85% supporting. Mississippi, which once boasted the nations highest rates of childhood vaccination, began allowing religious exemptions last summer. Another leader in vaccination, West Virginia, is moving to do the same.

An anti-science movement picked up pace as Republican and Democratic perspectives on science diverged during the pandemic. Whereas 70% of Republicans said that science had a mostly positive impact on society in 2019, less than half felt that way in a November poll from Pew. With presidential candidates lending airtime to anti-vaccine messages and members of Congress maligning scientists and pandemic-era public health policies, the partisan rift will likely widen in the run-up to Novembers elections.

Dorit Reiss, a vaccine policy researcher at the University of California Law San Francisco, draws parallels between todays backlash against public health and the early days of climate change denial. Both issues progressed from nonpartisan, fringe movements to the mainstream once they appealed to conservatives and libertarians, who traditionally seek to limit government regulation. Even if people werent anti-vaccine to start with, Reiss said, they move that way when the argument fits.

Even certain actors are the same. In the late 90s and early 2000s, a libertarian think tank, the American Institute for Economic Research, undermined climate scientists with reports that questioned global warming. The same institute issued a statement early in the pandemic, grandly called the Great Barrington Declaration. It argued against measures to curb the disease and advised everyone  except the most vulnerable  to go about their lives as usual, regardless of the risk of infection. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, warned that such an approach would overwhelm health systems and put millions more at risk of disability and death from COVID. Allowing a dangerous virus that we dont fully understand to run free is simply unethical, he said.

Another group, the National Federation of Independent Business, has fought regulatory measures to curb climate change for over a decade. It moved on to vaccines in 2022 when it won a Supreme Court case that overturned a government effort to temporarily require employers to mandate that workers either be vaccinated against COVID or wear a face mask and test on a regular basis. Around 1,000 to 3,000 COVID deaths would have been averted in 2022 had the court upheld the rule, one study estimates.

Demonstrators prepare to depart Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, Maryland, on March 7, 2022, during "The People's Convoy" event. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)TNS

Politically charged pushback may become better funded and more organized if public health becomes a political flashpoint in the lead-up to the presidential election. In the first few days of 2024, Floridas surgeon general, appointed by Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, called for a halt to use of mRNA COVID vaccines as he echoed DeSantis incorrect statement that the shots have not been proven to be safe and effective.

And vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running for president as an independent, announced that his campaign communications would be led by Del Bigtree, the executive director of one of the most well-heeled anti-vaccine organizations in the nation and host of a conspiratorial talk show. Bigtree posted a letter on the day of the announcement rife with misinformation, such as a baseless rumor that COVID vaccines make people more prone to infection. He and Kennedy frequently pair health misinformation with terms that appeal to anti-government ideologies like medical freedom and religious freedom.

A product of a Democratic dynasty, Kennedys appeal appears to be stronger among Republicans, a Politico analysis found. DeSantis said he would consider nominating Kennedy to run the FDA, which approves drugs and vaccines, or the CDC, which advises on vaccines and other public health measures. Another Republican candidate for president, Vivek Ramaswamy, vowed to gut the CDC should he win.

Todays anti-science movement found its footing in the months before the 2020 elections, as primarily Republican politicians rallied support from constituents who resented pandemic measures like masking and the closure of businesses, churches, and schools. Then-President Donald Trump, for example, mocked Joe Biden for wearing a mask at the presidential debate in September 2020. Democrats fueled the politicization of public health, too, by blaming Republican leaders for the countrys soaring death rates, rather than decrying systemic issues that rendered the U.S. vulnerable, such as underfunded health departments and severe economic inequality that put some groups at far higher risk than others. Just before Election Day, a Democratic-led congressional subcommittee released a report that called the Trump administrations pandemic response among the worst failures of leadership in American history.

Republicans launched a subcommittee investigation into the pandemic that sharply criticizes scientific institutions and scientists once seen as nonpartisan. On Jan. 8 and 9, the group questioned Anthony Fauci, a leading infectious disease researcher who has advised both Republican and Democratic presidents. Without evidence, committee member Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) accused Fauci of supporting research that created the coronavirus in order to push vaccines: He belongs in jail for that, Greene, a vaccine skeptic, said. This is like a, more of an evil version of science.

Taking a cue from environmental advocacy groups that have tried to fight strategic and monied efforts to block energy regulations, Hotez and other researchers say public health needs supporters knowledgeable in legal and political arenas. Such groups might combat policies that limit public health power, advise lawmakers, and provide legal counsel to scientists who are harassed or called before Congress in politically charged hearings. Other initiatives aim to present the scientific consensus clearly to avoid both-sidesism, in which the media presents opposing viewpoints as equal when, in fact, the majority of researchers and bulk of evidence point in one direction. Oil and tobacco companies used this tactic effectively to seed doubt about the science linking their industries to harm.

Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, said the scientific community must improve its communication. Expertise, alone, is insufficient when people mistrust the experts motives. Indeed, nearly 40% of Republicans report little to no confidence in scientists to act in the publics best interest.

In a study published last year, Jamieson and colleagues identified attributes the public values beyond expertise, including transparency about unknowns and self-correction. Researchers might have better managed expectations around COVID vaccines, for example, by emphasizing that the protection conferred by most vaccines is less than 100% and wanes over time, requiring additional shots, Jamieson said. And when the initial COVID vaccine trials demonstrated that the shots drastically curbed hospitalization and death but revealed little about infections, public health officials might have been more open about their uncertainty.

As a result, many people felt betrayed when COVID vaccines only moderately reduced the risk of infection. We were promised that the vaccine would stop transmission, only to find out that wasnt completely true, and America noticed, said Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), chair of the Republican-led coronavirus subcommittee, at a July hearing.

Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. holds a campaign event with voters in Brooklyn on Aug. 30, 2023, in New York City. The 69-year-old Democrat is challenging President Biden in a longshot bid in the 2024 presidential race. Kennedy has been denounced by members of his family and many in the Democratic party for his fringe positions on vaccines and COVID. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images/TNS)TNS

Jamieson also advises repetition. Its a technique expertly deployed by those who promote misinformation, which perhaps explains why the number of people who believe the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin treats COVID more than doubled over the past two years  despite persistent evidence to the contrary. In November, the drug got another shoutout at a hearing where congressional Republicans alleged that the Biden administration and science agencies had censored public health information.

Hotez, author of a new book on the rise of the anti-science movement, fears the worst. Mistrust in science is going to accelerate, he said.

And traditional efforts to combat misinformation, such as debunking, may prove ineffective.

Its very problematic, Jamieson said, when the sources we turn to for corrective knowledge have been discredited.

(KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News (KHN), is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.)

2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
By Amanda Hernandez, Stateline.org (TNS)

Still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, court systems in many states are working to clear their case backlogs.

Some court systems have moved cases faster using virtual court proceedings, court data dashboards and online jury selection. In other states, lawmakers are stepping in.
Firefighters battled a fire at a Lancaster County restaurant Tuesday night, one month after an explosion at the businesss adjacent hotel killed a longtime staff member.

The second-alarm fire was first reported around 10:49 p.m. Tuesday at the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord on the 2700 block of Old Philadelphia Pike in Leacock Township, according to fire officials.

Intercourse Fire Co. said initial reports said flames were coming through the restaurants roof. No injuries have been reported.

The Hand-in-Hand Fire Co. chief told FOX 43 that Tuesdays fire caused extensive damage to the restaurant. He said firefighters worked for about half an hour to get the blaze under control.

Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant, known for its Pennsylvania Dutch offerings, reopened in late December after an overnight Dec. 18 explosion at the businesss neighboring Bird-in-Hand Family Inn.

The explosion killed Michelle Miller, 61, who worked as a night auditor at the hotel for 34 years, the Bird-in-Hand Corporation, which runs the hotel and other tourist destinations in the area, posted on its website.

The Bird-in-Hand Family Inn reopened in January. Inn officials estimated the explosion caused between $12 million in damages to the sales office, registration area and several of the rooms in the front building.

News reports said the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal is investigating the Tuesday night fire. The fire marshal also investigated the December explosion.
WILLIAMSPORT  A New York man has admitted passing counterfeit $20 bills at retailers throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania last February.

Dejuan Smartt, 26, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. Middle District Court to a charge of conspiracy to pass counterfeit obligations.

Trial for the co-defendant Eli Gabriel Lewis Jr., 21, of Selinsgrove, is scheduled for May.
Want a say in the news? Email Claudia at todayinpa@pennlive.com to have your thoughts on the stories covered here or on PennLive heard.

You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit!

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | January 31, 2024

UPMC has been hit by a class action lawsuit. The number of millennials living at home with their parents is up nationwide, including a city in Pennsylvania. Toyota is urging 50,000 drivers to get their car fixed. And Pennsylvanians are pretty quick to say I love you.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too.

As sponsored by Renewal by Anderson of Central PA.
WILLIAMSPORT  A Jamaican native is facing deportation after admitting he was a money mule for mass marketing fraudsters.

Troy Romario Leonardo Smith, 29, of Gulfport, Mississippi, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. Middle District Court to a charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

His wife, Michelle Greenwood, 38, who is a U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty last April to the same charge.
A Democratic primary candidate in a western Pennsylvania congressional district drew the crowds ire on Sunday during a forum by saying that her would-be constituents have no families and live in squalor.

Laurie MacDonald, the CEO and president of the nonprofit Center for Victims, was instantly bombarded with jeers from those gathered at Carnegie Mellon University, her alma mater, in Pittsburgh for the 12th Congressional District forum, as shown in videos posted online.
Supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

The plaintiffs seeking to remove former President Donald Trump from Colorados 2024 presidential election ballots filed their brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 26, 2024. They asked the court to uphold the ruling by Colorados highest court that Trump engaged in an insurrection against the United States and, accordingly, should be disqualified from the presidential election under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

Trump refused to accept the will of the over 80 million Americans who voted against him, the brief filed by Norma Anderson and several other plaintiffs said. Instead of peacefully ceding power, Trump intentionally organized and incited a violent mob to attack the United States Capitol in a desperate effort to prevent the counting of electoral votes cast against him.

Anderson, a Republican and former Colorado state lawmaker, and several other plaintiffs had filed suit in September 2023 to keep Trump off the 2024 Colorado ballots. The Colorado Supreme Courts conclusion that Trump was ineligible to appear on the ballot was appealed by Trump to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The 14th Amendments Section 3 bars those who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding federal office.

The outcome of the case will likely determine if Trump can appear on ballots in states across the country.

Facts vs. assertions

Unlike Trumps brief, which he filed with the Supreme Court on Jan. 18, Anderson primarily focuses on the facts, pointing out that Trumps brief lacks any meaningful rebuttal of the most damning evidence against him.

Some of the most damning evidence that Andersons brief highlights includes how Trump deliberately summoned to D.C. an angry and armed crowd who came ready to fight and that Trumps speech on the White House Ellipse explicitly and implicitly incited the angry and armed crowd to imminent lawless violence.

The Anderson brief describes how the Jan. 6 attackers injured over 140 law enforcement officers, left one dead, and forced Congress and Vice President (Mike) Pence to flee for their lives.

In his brief, Trump mainly argued that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment does not apply to the presidency because the president is not an officer of the United States under the Constitution. Trumps brief also argued that Section 3 does not bar a candidate from running for office but rather bars the candidate from holding office, if elected.

And Trump asserted in his brief that Calling for peace, patriotism, respect for law and order, and directing the Secretary of Defense to do what needs to be done to protect the American people is in no way inciting or participating in an insurrection.

Monumental case

The Supreme Court will have several issues to consider in this case. The justices will have to address the legal questions presented by Trump, such as whether Section 3 of the 14th Amendment applies to the presidency. And the court will also have to answer mixed questions of law and fact.

Traditionally, the Supreme Court does not delve into questions of fact in the cases it considers  those facts are understood to have been established in lower court decisions. And while I initially stated that the court would not consider such questions in this case, I now join other constitutional scholars who believe the court will likely have to answer what constitutes an insurrection under the 14th Amendment, and whether Trumps actions  or inactions  sufficiently meet that definition.

Perhaps the justices will turn to the history of the 14th Amendment to answer those questions. As Andersons brief points out, Congress and the states ratified the amendment, including Section 3, after the Civil War because they believed that oath-breaking insurrectionists could, if given the power of elected office, dismantle the countrys constitutional system from within. The 39th Congress considered Section 3 a necessary measure of self-defense  ensuring that those who had proven themselves faithless would be deprived of the political power to threaten the future peace and security of the United States.

But Section 3s text may present the deciding factors for the court. Section 3 clearly states that No person shall  hold any office, civil or military, under the United States. It provides no language that appears to prohibit candidates from running for office.

Ultimately, Trump v. Anderson will be a monumental case. Regardless of its outcome, however, Andersons brief asserts that the desecration of the U.S. Capitol by a mob of insurrectionists on January 6, 2021, will forever stain our Nations history.

Wayne Unger, Assistant Professor of Law, Quinnipiac University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
They are few in number but the migrating snow geese and tundra swans have arrived at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on their trip north.

This winter has been a weird one and has left us scratching our heads wondering when the peak of the migration season will be. This update comes shortly after snow geese have decided to call Middle Creeks lake home for the first time this year.
Police in Moose Jaw, Sask., say they have charged Saskatchewan legislature member Greg Lawrence with assault and assault by choking. Lawrence is shown in this handout image provided by the Saskatchewan provincial government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Saskatchewan provincial government, **MANDATORY CREDIT **
Ontario has ordered municipalities that directly operate child-care centres to do a value-for-money audit of their programs to determine if they could instead be operated by a "third party," raising concerns about privatization and undermining progress on staff wages. Animal puppets are seen at a daycare facility in Langley, B.C., on May 29, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Backcountry skiers are make their way along a mountain ridge near McGillivray Pass Lodge located in the southern Chilcotin Mountains of British Columbia, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012. The flood and avalanche risks remain elevated throughout British Columbia's South Coast, where a series of atmospheric rivers continues to bring heavy rains along with unseasonably warm temperatures to the region. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Omar J. Helmuth, age 96, was born August 6, 1927 in Kalona, Iowa, and entered the glory of heaven on January 22, 2024. His Celebration of Life service was held Saturday, January 27, at Crossroads Community Church in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming.

Omar grew up in Iowa, worked on the family farm and learned the carpenter trade. When he injured his hand in a planer while doing carpentry work, he decided to attend a Bible School for six weeks while his hand healed. While he was at Bible School the direction of his life changed when he felt the Lord calling him into mission work.

Throughout the next yea...
Sean Hannity seems to think that Taylor Swift was lied to and misled by the left as he tried to get her not to support President Biden.

Hannity said, Maybe she just bought into all the lies about conservatives and Republicans, that theyre racist and sexist and homophobic, and xenophobic and transphobic and Islamophobic, that Republicans and conservatives want dirty air and water and a total ban on all abortion with no exceptions. If she believes all that, she is believing a lie because those talking points are simply untrue. Now, Im just saying maybe she wants to think twice before making a decision About 2024.

Video:

Hannity: Maybe Taylor Swift just bought into all the lies about Republicans that they are racist and sexist and homophobic and xenophobic and transphobic and Islamophobic and they want a total ban on abortion If she believes all that she is believing a lie. pic.twitter.com/rO4rLCtuaw To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.  Acyn (@Acyn) January 31, 2024

Republicans are the ones that are committed to making it more difficult for black people to vote. Republicans are the people who want to repeal marriage equality. Republicans in states across the country are passing laws that discriminate against trans persons, and it is Republicans who dont believe that climate change is real and think Americas energy future is in fossil fuels. On top of it all, Republicans are passing laws banning abortion in every state where they have power, and Donald Trump already has a plan for a national abortion ban.

Taylor Swift hasnt been brainwashed, or misled, or lied to. The Republican problem with her is that she is a powerful, successful woman who uses her brain.

Sean Hannity seemed awfully desperate to stop Taylor Swift from endorsing Joe Biden. Trump may think he is more popular than Swift, but given how his flying monkeys in the media are acting, the fear is palpable.

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Seven Former state supreme court justices, including several elected or appointed by Republicans, filed a brief urging the Supreme Court to affirm Trumps Colorado disqualification.

Why Are Former State Supreme Court Justices Supporting Trumps Disqualification?

The seven former justices wrote in an amicus brief to the Supreme Court:

The Supremacy Clause requires state courts to enforce federal constitutional provisions where they apply to state-law causes of action. And state courts have continuously enforced Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendmentincluding the Equal Protection and Due Process Clausessince Reconstruction. In this respect, Section 3, like the presidential qualifications established in Article II, operates like Section 1: state courts do not require congressional permission to enforce it.



To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.

Under the Electors Clause, states plenary power to appoint presidential electors allows states to condition appointment on their voting only for constitutionally eligible candidates. This necessarily includes power to decide whether candidates are eligible. Neither the Twelfth nor the Twentieth Amendment, nor any other constitutional provision, commits this determination exclusively to Congress or strips states of their power.



State courts have a particular interest in vindicating Section 3s purpose: protecting the republic from insurrectionists returning to power. Trump exemplifies this risk by repeatedly threatening judges, judicial employees, and others involved in the court system. Declining to apply Section 3 for fear of Trump-incited mob violence would not prevent that violence; it would simply shift its burden to thousands of justices, judges, and court staff, and would invite more chaos, violence, and insurrection.



This Court must not be swayed by fear of mob violence that Trump may incite upon its affirming Colorados decision. The Constitution and the rule of law demand enforcing Section 3. The arguments for reversal are political arguments, not based on the law, but rather on threats and fears of supposedly adverse consequences that this Courtbound by the plain text and original public meaning of the Constitutionmust not indulge. Failing to enforce Section 3 out of fear of reaction by Trump and his supporters would prostrate the Constitution before a mob.

Who Are The 7 Former State Supreme Court Justices?

The seven former state supreme court justices who signed the amicus brief are:

1). Paul H. Anderson (Associate Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, 1994-2013);

2). Fernande Duffly (Associate Justice, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 2011-2016);

3). James Exum, Jr. (Associate Justice, North Carolina Supreme Court, 1975-1986; Chief Justice, 1986-1994);

4). Joseph Grodin (Associate Justice, California Supreme Court, 1982-1987);

5). James Nelson (Associate Justice, Montana Supreme Court, 1993-2013);

6). Robert Orr (Associate Justice, North Carolina Supreme Court, 1995-2004);

7). Peggy Quince (Associate Justice, Florida Supreme Court, 1999-2008 and 2010-2019; Chief Justice, 2008-2010)

The seven justices served on courts that stretch from Massachusetts to California. These are not all liberal justices. Several of them were appointed by or elected to the court as Republicans.

Trumps Disqualification Is A Bipartisan Issue

Many of the voters who are challenging Trumps ballot status are Republicans. Some conservative legal experts and scholars believe that Trump is disqualified under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Contrary to what Trump and his supporters claim, the challenges to his ballot status are not a Democratic plot being orchestrated by President Biden. The ballot challenges are coming from voters who do not believe that a man who tried to overthrow the United States government is legally allowed to appear on the ballot.

If the Supreme Court upholds Trumps Colorado disqualification, the door will be open for ballot challenges to accelerate as each state would have to make its own decision about including Trump on the ballot.

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Gov. Greg Abbott appears to be having a difficult time understanding the Constitution as it relates to immigration, so Stephen Colbert explained it to him.

Colbert said:

Abbott introduced an anti-immigration crackdown, putting razor wire along 60 miles of the border. But the federal government didnt like the razor wire, saying it physically prevented border patrol agents from entering the area, processing migrants, and providing assistance to drowning victims, which is why border patrol had been cutting the razor wire to reach them. As a general rule, you want to be able to help people who are drowning or really in any mortal danger, not make things worse. Thats why the fire safety signs dont say, Stop, drop, and stab. Now, once the feds started cutting the wire, Abbott sued, but he also doubled down, installing razor wire under the surface of the Rio Grande and circular saw blades between buoys. Next, hes gonna change the poem on the Statue of Liberty from Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free to Would you like to play a game?

The razor wire case went to the Supreme Court, which ruled against Texas in a 5-4 decision with no details or explanations provided. The dissents simply read Nay, nay, nay, and Does this luxury RV come in mother-of-pearl? Now, this really should have been a clear 9-0 decision against Texas.

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The federal government has the final say on immigration. Its in the Constitution. Its called the supremacy clause and it clearly states that federal law and federal treaty obligations Shall be the supreme law of the land. For those of you who didnt go to law school, supreme law means it comes with sour cream. But unanimous or not, SCOTUS has spoken. Its been decided, right? Wrong. Cause Greg Abbott is plowing ahead.

After the ruling, the Texas National Guard ignored the Supreme Court decision and Abbott continued construction along the border, claiming that he doesnt have to listen to the Supreme Court because the Biden administration had Broken the compact between the United States and the states, a reference to an archaic idea called the compact theory and nullification. That theory states that states can ignore any federal laws they choose. It was used to justify secession by the confederacy and was originally championed in the 1830s by vice president, notorious racist, and guy who just got spun around in the barber chair and does not like what he sees, John C. Calhoun. Calhoun opposed a tariff back then designed to help northern manufacturers, and he convinced his home state of South Carolina to pass a law nullifying the tariff in their state. Well, that did not please president and pantene-american, Andrew Jackson.

President Jackson threatened to invade South Carolina, so Calhoun backed down, and the state repealed the nullification act. Jackson never forgave his vice president. When asked about his time in office, Jackson replied, I regret I was unable to hang John C. Calhoun. Hang his vice president? So Trump has no original ideas. [Applause] Were cooking along. Were humming. Now, Abbott says that nullification applies here because the rush of migrants at the border constitutes an invasion. But that argument was struck down in 1800 by James Madison, who, its worth remembering, wrote the [bleep] Constitution. He said, Invasion is an operation of war, and the removal of alien friends has appeared to be no incident to a general state of war. Hes saying this isnt an invasion because were not at war with Mexico or anyone else. These migrants fall under the category of Alien friends, alongside Mork, E.T., Stitch, and Tilda Swinton.

Video:

It is not very often that viewers get an explanation of the supremacy clause, nullification theory, and a John C. Calhoun namedrop on a comedy show. In fact, it is not very often that those things are mentioned on cable news.

Greg Abbott doesnt have the power or authority to do what he is doing on the border, and yes, states thinking that they can nullify and ignore federal laws and powers is the ideological underpinning for the Civil War.

It is not an exaggeration to suggest that Abbotts behavior could provoke a real crisis on the border What Republicans arent saying is that secession might be the only way that they get Trump back into power, and thats what Abbotts behavior is really all about.

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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
Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 67F. Winds NW 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.
Santee Cooper added a record number of ratepayers to its electric grid last year, driven largely by population growth along the Grand Strand.

The state-owned utility said Jan. 31 that its retail customer base grew by 7,832 accounts in 2023 to bring the total to 212,597. The 4 percent increase followed what Santee Cooper described as "strong growth" in 2022.

May marked the busiest month, when 1,090 households signed up.

Setting up service for nearly 8,000 new customers takes time, effort and dedication," CEO Jimmy Staton said in a written statement.

He added the extra demand for power "does bring challenges, and we are working to enhance our infrastructure and develop new generation to best serve our growing customer base and provide the reliability they have come to expect.

Santee Cooper noted that Myrtle Beach was recently ranked the fastest-growing area in the nation for 2023-24, "so brisk growth is likely to continue as the new year continues."

The Moncks Corner-based utility directly serves customers who live along the coast in Horry and Georgetown counties and near its headquarters in Berkeley County. Santee Cooper also supplies power to 15 of the 20 independent electric cooperatives in the state, which deliver it to about 800,000 households.

In November, the utility paid $17 million for a generating plant in Gaffney to ensure it can meet short-term demands on its system. The following month Santee Cooper reported that its energy sales through 2029 are projected to rise faster than previous forecasts.

That's going to require us to expand our transmission system and distribution system to be able to serve those new customers," finance chief Ken Lott told the board in December, when a newly approved budget for 2024 included $461 million for various grid upgrades.

In May, Santee Cooper approved an energy roadmap to show how it will meet demand through 2040 while also reducing carbon emissions. The $23.4 billion proposal filed with regulators calls for adding more solar farms, investing in battery-storage technology and building a large natural gas power plant to replace several coal-fired units that are scheduled to be closed by 2031.
On March 5, special agents with the South Carolina Department of Social Services, Office of Inspector General, arrested a Dorchester County woman in connection with fraudulently receiving $9,584 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Read moreDSS charges Dorchester County woman with food stamp fraud
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
With the Cooper River Bridge Run mere weeks away, two of the thousands of contributors who chipped in on the building of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from 2001-2005 hearkened back to the efforts that went into making the structure an iconic masterpiece. Read more'Built to last forever': Workers recall Ravenel Bridge construction
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH  More than 200 acres of one of South Carolinas last remaining undeveloped beach fronts will be protected through a public-private partnership.

Conservation group Open Space Institute, the South Carolina Office of Resilience and the South Carolina Conservation Bank announced the purchase of five properties consisting of 219 acres on Waties Island from longtime landowners Olivia Boyce-Abel and Merrill Boyce.

The purchase price was not disclosed.

In 2022, the Open Space Institute acquired nearly 260 acres on the northern half of the 2.5-mile-long island from Boyce-Abel. That deal was supported by the SCCB and Sustain SCs Land and Water Action Fund. Both tech giant Google and the Waccamaw Community Foundation donated $500,000 in grants to OSI for the acquisition.

The 260-acre purchase generated incredible state-wide enthusiasm and momentum for this project, said Maria Whitehead, OSIs vice president of land for the Southeast.

Just beyond locked gates at the end of Little River Neck Road on the northern end of the Grand Strand sits a completely different world, set apart from the high-rises and beach homes located miles away in Cherry Grove.

State officials have said that 191 bird species have been documented on Waties Island, which is nearly half of all the bird species in the state. The island provides a crucial habitat for migratory birds, shorebirds and sea turtles.

The islands sand dunes protect inland communities from storms, and much of its mainland, known as Little River Neck, contains a maritime forest that absorbs floodwaters and hosts a variety of species.

The latest 219-acre acquisition is the first use of SCORs Disaster Relief and Resilience Reserve Fund for planning and implementing nature-based solutions. Officials said the fund was created to support projects that reduce the impact of flooding on state communities.
Every year, newcomers pour into South Carolina by the tens of thousands, many of them leaving behind colder weather, higher taxes and costly housing.

Our property taxes are like $600 or $700," said David Maxwell, a retired commercial roofer who moved from San Jose to the outskirts of Conway in 2015. "And back in California it would have been $6,000 or $7,000.

California and New York were recently the top two states people left to move to South Carolina, and they helped make the Palmetto State the fastest-growing in the nation.

"I like snow, but I dont like four or five months of cold," said Chris Kelly, who moved from upstate New York to Greer in 2023 with wife Johanna. "It would start snowing in November and it could last into April."

The Kellys' decision was influenced by their daughter's move to Greenville and other family relocating. But Chris Kelly said the South Carolina climate and cost of living helped seal the deal.

"The (New York) taxes were bad, and we wanted to get away from that," he said.

Some of the movers said they had vacationed in South Carolina before deciding to relocate, including Cary Eades.

"Its everything we hoped it would be," said Eades, whose family moved from Normal, Illinios, to Mount Pleasant last summer. We knew we wanted to be in the South, away from Midwest winters."

South Carolina's conservative politics were an attraction for some, and that's part of a larger trend. Some of the fastest-growing places, the Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head/Bluffton areas, have seen huge influxes of new residents and have become deep pockets of reliably Republican voters.

We gave up on the North because were conservatives, said Jason Manos, who moved from Westchester County in New York to the small town of Clover a few years ago. I got tired of being called a racist because I was proudly voting for Donald Trump.

Kelly and Eades also mentioned being disappointed by the politics and policies of their previous states. Kelly expressed frustration with New York's strict COVID regulations early in the pandemic, while Eades said Illinois is "a very Democratic state, and I dont necessarily adhere to a lot of the policies of the Democratic Party."
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.
FLORENCE  McLeod Regional Medical Center selected Donna Bellido as the 2023 Volunteer of the Year at its Jan. 25 volunteer luncheon held at the Hellenic Center.

Bellido is the 36th recipient of the award.

She started volunteering for McLeod in March. She volunteers for the McLeod Center for Cancer Treatment and Research, the McLeod Health Foundation, the McLeod Gift Shop and McLeod Home Health.

Bellido also has given her time to support McLeod Physician Associates, the Recovery Unit and the Patient Representatives.

McLeod Director of Volunteer Services Linda Boone said Bellido completed nearly 400 hours of volunteering in less than a year.

"Sometimes you meet a person that just shines. Their smile, their willingness to help others and their lack of fear to approach new adventures. All this and more describes our 2023 Volunteer of the Year."

Bellido receives high praise from the departments in which she volunteers. She rarely turns down a request to help someone or take a new job that no one else wants to do.

More than 200 volunteers at McLeod Regional Medical Center were honored for their service in 2023. The volunteers dedicated more than 41,800 volunteer hours to McLeod Regional Medical Center in 2023.

More than 50K patients use Black River Medical Center in first year

CADES  More than 50,000 patients have received care at the MUSC Health Black River Medical Center since its January 2023 opening.

The Black River Medical Center serves residents in southern Florence County and Williamsburg County.

The rural hospital in Cades has been called a giant leap forward in the region.

"The response from the community to MUSC Health Black River Medical Center has been very positive. This is due in no small part to the dedicated staff who truly care about our patients. We look forward to continuing to expand the medical services this rural hospital will provide," Hospital Executive Director Allen Abernethy said.
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MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 /AcuityTec, a KYC and fraud prevention provider, announces a significant enhancement to its data hub through the integration with ComplyAdvantage, an AI-driven sanctions screening and monitoring software leader. This strategic integration marks a pivotal advancement in AcuityTec's commitment to providing best-in-class Anti-Money Laundering (AML) screening to businesses navigating the complexities of regulatory compliance.AcuityTec Expands Data Hub In our online economy, businesses face the formidable challenge of strengthening their global fraud defenses while remaining agile against ever-evolving local and international regulatory landscapes. In 2022, credit and financial institutions were fined almost USD 5bn for anti-money laundering (AML) issues, sanction breaches and deficiencies in their know-your-customer (KYC) systems. As a result, 70% of corporate risk and compliance professionals say they have noticed a shift from check-the-box compliance to a more strategic approach.Online entities require dynamic and automated access to real-time global KYC and AML data to attain the highest level of precision in risk assessment. The partnership between AcuityTec and ComplyAdvantage is pivotal for businesses striving to navigate compliance intricacies effectively and defend themselves against financial crime.ComplyAdvantage's watchlist data is renowned for its quality, undergoing meticulous manual quality checks by domain expert researchers and trusted by over 100 partners in our global compliance ecosystem. Alfredo Solis, Managing Director at AcuityTec, comments, "The unmatched speed of live updates to our sanctions data, powered by ComplyAdvantage, keeps our clients at the forefront of their regulatory requirements. Dynamic and interlinked datasets enable instant customer screening against the world's most trusted sanctions, watchlists, PEPs and warning lists with real-time alert notifications and multi-faceted risk scoring for rapid and informed decision-making." AcuityTec and ComplyAdvantage share a unified vision, aiming to harness the power of data-driven technologies and automation to streamline risk mitigation and bolster compliance adherence. Through AcuityTec's single API, businesses gain seamless access to a comprehensive suite of KYC, KYB and compliance data, coupled with proprietary adaptive risk analysis and fraud defense technology. Additionally, it offers tailored data workflows and simplified management of customer profiles, whitelists, negative databases, real-time transaction monitoring, suspicious activity detection, and swift generation of suspicious case reports for immediate submission to regulatory authorities. Businesses gain access to a streamlined, user-friendly, and cost-effective solution, ready to support them in adapting to evolving regulatory environments seamlessly."Our partnership with ComplyAdvantage is more than just an integration; it's a strategic alignment of our vision to provide the most advanced data-driven compliance solution in the market with best-in-class data performance, results and coverage," emphasizes Solis. "At AcuityTec, we're committed to staying ahead of the curve and remaining a trusted partner for businesses worldwide with the most effective tools to automate risk screening, global fraud prevention and regulatory adherence." For more information, visit www.acuitytec.com or contact sales@ acuitytec.com . For media inquiries, contact marketing@ acuitytec.com Contact Information Alfredo SolisSenior Director and Business Strategistalfredo@ acuitytec.com +1-866-504-2170SOURCE: AcuityTecView the original press release on newswire.com
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Do you, or did you, own shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM)? Did you purchase your shares between April 30, 2020 and January 22, 2024, inclusive? Did you lose money in your investment in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company? Do you want to discuss your rights? NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the common stock of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company ("ADM or the "Company") (NYSE:ADM) between April 30, 2020 and January 22, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its officers (the "Complaint").If you purchased or acquired ADM common stock, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Archer-Daniels-Midland Company Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact paralegal Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com According to the Complaint, ADM is an agricultural supply chain manager and processor that operates through three main business segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. The Nutrition segment is engaged in the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of a range of ingredients and solutions, including plant-based proteins, natural flavors, flavor systems, natural colors, emulsifiers, and other specialty food and feed ingredients.Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made misleading statements about the Nutrition segment as a future profit-driver for the Company. Defendants also created the impression that the Nutrition segment's growth would provide more diversification and earnings stability for ADM.On January 21, 2024, ADM announced that it had placed its CFO Vikram Luther on leave effective immediately. The Company said that Luther's "leave is pending an ongoing investigation being conducted by outside counsel for ADM and the Board's Audit Committee regarding certain accounting practices and procedures with respect to ADM's Nutrition segment, including as related to certain intersegment transactions." The Company also revealed that its investigation was initiated in response to its receipt of a voluntary document request by the SEC. As a result, ADM delayed its Q4 and FY 2023 earnings release and withdrew its outlook for the Nutrition segment.On this news, the price of ADM common stock declined by $16.50 per share, or over 24%, to close at $51.69 on January 22, 2024.If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later thanMarch 25, 2024 . A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.If you purchased or acquired ADM common stock, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Archer-Daniels-Midland Company Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact paralegal Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.  2024 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.Contact Information:Peter AlloccoParalegalBernstein Liebhard LLP https://www.bernlieb.com (212) 951-2030 pallocco@ bernlieb.com SOURCE: Bernstein Liebhard LLP
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Bernstein Liebhard LLP:Do you, or did you, own shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)? Did you purchase your shares between February 9, 2023 and December 6, 2023, inclusive? Did you lose money in your investment in British American Tobacco p.l.c.? Do you want to discuss your rights? Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of British American Tobacco p.l.c. ("BAT or the "Company") (NYSE: BTI) between February 9, 2023 and December 6, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its officers (the "Complaint").If you purchased or acquired BAT securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit British American Tobacco p.l.c. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact paralegal Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later thanMarch 25, 2024 . A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.According to the Complaint, BAT is a multi-national tobacco company that sells cigarettes (which the Company refers to in its filings as "combustibles" or "sticks", for individual cigarettes) and other tobacco-related products, such as vaping products, chewing tobacco, snus, and heated tobacco products. BAT refers to itself in its filings as the "Group".In January 2017, BAT, which already had a 42% stake in Reynolds American Inc. ("Reynolds"), took over the remaining interest in Reynolds for $49.4 billion dollars, valuing Reynolds at around $86 billion. This resulted in Reynolds becoming a BAT subsidiary. In doing so, BAT took control of the Camel, Newport, and Natural American Spirit cigarette brands (the "Premium American Cigarette Brands" or the "Brands"), among others, which are considered to be premium cigarettes.Throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose that BAT materially understated the risks and potential likelihood of an impairment to the Brands as a result of various longstanding headwinds.On December 6, 2023, BAT issued a press release announcing that it was taking a 25 billion Pound (or around $31.5 billion USD) impairment on the cigarette brands it acquired from Reynolds.On this news, British American's American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") price fell $2.68 per share, or 8.88%, to close at $28.86 per ADR on December 6, 2023.If you purchased or acquired BAT securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit British American Tobacco p.l.c. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact paralegal Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.  2024 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.Contact Information:Peter AlloccoParalegalBernstein Liebhard LLP https://www.bernlieb.com (212) 951-2030 pallocco@ bernlieb.com SOURCE: Bernstein Liebhard LLP
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ZUG, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 /Camino Network Foundation , the non-profit organization fostering the development ofCamino Network , is announcing the first public sale of Camino Token (CAM), the native cryptocurrency of the Layer1 for the global travel industry.The CAM token's public sale comes in the wake of a successful seed round of the project's main developer, followed by private pre-sale and industry rounds that saw strong demand from ecosystem participants and other early investors. In total, 8.8 m CHF (approx 10m USD) were raised.Camino Network is a public and permissioned blockchain specifically designed for the travel industry and run by a consortium of travel industry participants. It promises to transform the travel industry by enabling participants to build and deploy decentralized applications powered by smart contracts, ushering in a new era of travel-related products and services. First promising dApps are already live on Camino Network - and more than 170 major travel players, from airlines, technology providers and hotels to tour operators are part of the ecosystem and supporting the network. These companies include major brands like Lufthansa, TUI, DER Touristik, Eurowings, Sunny Cars, Sixt and others.Within the Camino Network, CAM plays a vital role as its native cryptocurrency, facilitating transactions, incentivizing participation, solving B2B distribution challenges while creating entirely new business models and making Web3 technologies more accessible to organizations within the travel sector.The CAM total supply is 1 billion tokens, of which 900 million were pre-minted at the time of origin on April 26, 2023, and 100 million were left unminted and are currently used to issue rewards for deposits that accrue them.In September of last year, Camino Network hit the target of its private pre-sale of 4,6 million CHF.For the first public sale, 75 million CAM tokens will be available for buyers in three tranches of 25 million tokens each. The first tranche will be priced at 0.15 CHF. Once sold out, the second tranche is set at 0.175 CHF and the third costing 0.2 CHF. Participants in the sale must commit a minimum of 1,000 CHF to acquire CAM tokens. All tokens will be locked for a period of 1.5 years, with a vesting period of 1 year. The participants will be rewarded at a rate of 3% per year for 2 years, beginning at the public sale which leaves participants with a total reward rate of 6% of unlocked tokens.Under Swiss and European legislation, CAM is legally defined as a utility token that's used to facilitate transactions and provide utility in the form of network validation and access to specific products and services. This multi-dimensional utility makes CAM an integral part of the Camino Network's ecosystem, acting as a key element in its operation and growth. The Camino Network Foundation will announce the exact date for the listing once all conditions for a successful launch are met.Participate here: https://camino.network/public-sale Please note that this is not a financial advice.About Camino Network FoundationCamino Network Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Zug, Switzerland, driving the development of a blockchain-based ecosystem in the global travel industry. The Camino Network Foundation supports the development of Camino Network, the first Layer 1 blockchain built specifically for the travel industry by travel technology experts.Contact details:Avishay Litani pr@ marketacross.com SOURCE: Camino Network Foundation
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Leading Automotive Digital Agency Unveils SEO and SEM SolutionsSARASOTA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Dealers United has announced a major expansion to their product suite. To complement the company's industry leading social advertising campaigns, Dealers United will offer Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) solutions to attract and convert car shoppers.Dealers United Expands Automotive Full-Service Digital Solutions "The online marketplace and car buying behaviors continue to rapidly change," said Dealers United CEO Brian Malsom. "What worked just a few years ago simply doesn't work today. Dealers need the absolute best digital partner on their team, working hand-in-hand with them to constantly optimize each piece of their digital footprint. With this launch, we now offer the tools and expertise needed to do just that." Dealers United has helped dealerships in the United States and Canada reach and convert in-market auto shoppers across top social platforms since 2018. The company and its dealer partners have been recognized in Ad Age, AdWeek, and Automotive News Canada for their custom approach and success with advertising on social media. And now, Dealers United is eager to revolutionize the way the automotive industry approaches SEO and SEM."We've seen the need to combine the powers of social, organic and paid search solutions for a while," said Justin Friend, Senior Vice President. "Dealers have been loud and clear that they want to get to the top of search engines and own their local market, that they want to do it with one vendor, and with transparent pricing. We heard them. Our team has been working in the background for a long time to build up our skills, product and team to meet this demand." Dealers United's new offerings will further power dealer success in today's constantly changing digital landscape. Customers can expect best-in-class account support from a team of dedicated experts who prioritize quality website traffic, leads, and vehicle sales. In addition, dealers will gain access to omnichannel analytics that enable full-funnel visibility into campaign performance and return on investment, all the way down to cost per car sold metrics."We've invested significant resources to ensure a world-class customer experience, and that these new online solutions will translate to offline sales and results," said CEO Brian Malsom. "As automotive digital marketing continues evolving, we are committed to evolving alongside it, helping dealers adapt, innovate and ultimately win more customers." To learn more about Dealers United's expanded full-service digital marketing capabilities, visit www.dealersunited.com About Dealers United:Dealers United is the premier digital marketing partner for car dealerships looking to accelerate their online presence and drive more sales. Since 2010, we have worked with dealers to develop innovative and effective digital strategies that deliver real ROI. Our experts specialize in Social, Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, and-above all-building true partnerships with dealers. We take the time to understand each dealer's goals to deliver VIP "white glove" digital marketing that drives real-world results.Contact InformationBrooke JensenVice President of Marketingbrooke@ dealersunited.com SOURCE: Dealers UnitedView the original press release on newswire.com
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against GrafTech International Ltd. ("GrafTech" or "the Company") (NYSE:EAF) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired GrafTech securities between February 8, 2019 and August 23, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/EAF Case Details:The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, GrafTech made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:(1) GrafTech's manufacturing operations in Monterrey, Mexico had for decades chronically contaminated neighboring communities with harmful carcinogenic gasses and particulate matter;(2) GrafTech had signed agreements with local authorities committing itself to improving the environmental performance of its Monterrey facility, but repeatedly failed to honor these commitments;(3) GrafTech had been repeatedly warned over an approximately 30-year period regarding its wanton disregard for the environment and health and well-being of people near its operations in Monterrey, Mexico;(4) GrafTech's operations in Monterrey, Mexico were not in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations;(5) GrafTech had failed to adequately remediate the environmental problems caused by the Monterrey facility following the 2019 administrative proceeding conducted by the Department of Sustainable Development of the State of Nuevo Leon;(6) the government of Apodaca had sought intervention from the State of Nuevo Leon authorities to curtail and prevent the adverse environmental impacts and noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations caused by the Monterrey facility;(7) GrafTech's purported cost leadership was achieved in substantial part by failing to implement appropriate and effective environmental safeguards at its manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico;(8) GrafTech's capital expenditures and/or related operational projects were woefully insufficient to adequately address the harm that GrafTech's operations in Monterrey, Mexico had inflicted on the environment and people within the neighboring communities;(9) as a result of the above, GrafTech was acutely exposed to undisclosed material risks that GrafTech's manufacturing operations in Monterrey, Mexico would be severely disrupted by government action or enforcement; and(10) as a result of the above, GrafTech was acutely exposed to undisclosed material risks that its supplies of pin stock and graphite electrodes would be withdrawn and/or materially diminished, thereby materially harming GrafTech's business, operations, reputation, and financial results.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/EAF or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in GrafTech you have until March 25, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 00:45:22

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OVERLAND PARK, KS / ACCESSWIRE / January 30, 2024 / Novel recruitment platform EnjoyMondays.com has announced its official launch as of October 7, 2023. The company's goal is to make the job hunt process more efficient, utilizing an AI-driven system to streamline recruitment.Enjoy Mondays has a platform that leverages fact-based vetting along with machine learning and human intelligence to automate job matching. The idea is to eliminate inefficiencies prevalent in traditional job hunting, and allow job seekers to maintain more control over their career trajectory. Once a user creates a one-time digital profile encompassing their skills, experience, career aspirations, and work preferences, the platform's AI algorithm initializes, with the intention of finding ideal job matches.The team at Enjoy Mondays designed the software with the modern job seeker in mind. The company's AI goes beyond matching skills with job requirements, diving deeper into a consideration of company culture, team dynamics, financial goals, and growth opportunities. These integral points were developed in the hopes of helping users not just get a job, but the right job.The platform offers advanced personalization. Users can customize their profiles to align with their specific job hunting objectives - from preferred job titles, industries, and locations to work setup (remote or in-person), and even desired office environments. This allows the AI to provide a more nuanced matching process, factoring in the individual's unique preferences and needs.In addition to providing a personalized job matching service, Enjoy Mondays also helps to streamline the transparency aspect of the recruitment process. The platform offers detailed feedback on job matches, keeping job seekers informed about why a particular job might be an excellent fit for them. Job seekers will also be informed about companies that are interested in their profile.This focus on transparency is intended to demystify the hiring process and empower job seekers with critical insights and knowledge, which are not always available during traditional hiring. The minds behind Enjoy Mondays believe that this transparency will both enhance the job search experience and also contribute to a more balanced power dynamic in recruitment.Enjoy Mondays is a two-sided marketplace revolutionizing the job search process for both job seekers and employers. For job seekers, it removes the hassles of traditional hiring, offering transparency, fairness, confidential searches, and increased pay equity. It features a Smart Profiling system where both passive and active job seekers create a one-time digital profile reflecting their work preferences, eliminating the need for manual job searches and wasted conversations with non-matching companies or roles.For employers, Enjoy Mondays streamlines the recruitment process, promising time savings, reduced candidate ghosting, higher acceptance rates, decreased bias in the interview process, and significant cost savings per hire. The platform pre-vets candidates' career goals, preferences, and dislikes, allowing its matching technology to deliver accurate results based on technical and culture fit evaluations.Enjoy Mondays is dedicated to eliminating sourcing for new talent and wasteful candidate conversations, helping both sides find fulfillment and satisfaction in the recruitment process. Its vision is a future where everyone anticipates Monday mornings due to higher job satisfaction levels brought about by smarter talent acquisition solutions.Founder and CEO Travis Lindemoen shares that the platform is a two-sided marketplace. "We wanted to change the job searching process and provide value to both the job seeker and employer and we think we've done that. For job seekers, we're looking to remove the hassles of traditional hiring, offering transparency, fairness, and increased pay equity," he explains. "We have a Smart Profiling system where both passive and active job seekers create a one-time digital profile reflecting their work preferences. This can eliminate the need for manual job searches and wasted conversations with non-matching companies or roles." He adds that for employers, Enjoy Mondays streamlines the recruitment process, with the goal of saving time, reducing candidate ghosting, seeing higher acceptance rates, and decreasing bias in the interview process. The platform pre-vets candidates' career goals, preferences, and dislikes, allowing its matching technology to deliver accurate results based on technical and culture fit evaluations.Enjoy Mondays' launch represents a milestone in AI's utilization in the recruitment industry. The platform prioritizes the job seeker's unique needs and harnesses machine learning's power with the hope of transforming the job hunt from a challenging, time-consuming process into an efficient, streamlined, and fulfilling journey.Lindemoen says that the mission at Enjoy Mondays is to make job hunting a stress-free, empowering experience. "We seek to help job hunters find fulfilling careers where they can thrive," he says.Enjoy Mondays is dedicated to eliminating sourcing for new talent and wasteful candidate conversations, helping both sides find fulfillment and satisfaction in the recruitment process. Its vision is a future where everyone anticipates Monday mornings due to higher job satisfaction levels brought about by smarter talent acquisition solutions. Enjoy Mondays is free for job seekers, and the company is offering a limited amount of free resume assessments for applicants.About Enjoy MondaysEnjoy Mondays is an AI-driven job matching platform designed to simplify the job search process. The platform utilizes advanced machine learning algorithms to match job seekers with ideal employment opportunities. Users create a one-time digital profile encompassing their skills, experiences, and career aspirations, with the goal of eliminating the need for manual job searches, multiple applications, and wasted interviews.Website: https://enjoymondays.com/ Contact Travis Lindemoen atinfo@ EnjoyMondays.com SOURCE: Enjoy Mondays
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 10:00:22

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of Evolution AB ("Evolution" or "the Company") (OTCMKTS:EVVTY; EVGGF). Investors who purchased Evolution securities are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/EVVTY-EVGGF Investigation Details:On January 24, 2022, Analyst Alpha Generation Limited released a report on Evolution (the "Report") to certain institutional investors. According to subsequent media coverage, the Report stated that (1) a significant portion of Evolution's revenue "could be at risk due to future regulatory clampdowns," and (2) Evolution was "exposed to revenues from what we [the authors of the Report] believe to be illegal gambling activities." On this news, Evolution's American Depositary Share ("ADS") price fell $19.78 per ADS, or 14.68%, over the following three trading sessions, to close at $115.00 per ADS on January 27, 2022.On April 26, 2022 (that is, on April 25, 2022 in the United States), Australia's gambling regulator announced that it had requested that Australian internet service providers block six online gambling sites, the operators of at least five of which were direct or indirect customers of Evolution's, alleging that the sites were engaged in illegal gambling. On this news, Evolution's ADS price fell $6.02 per ADS, or 6.22%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $96.73 per ADS on April 27, 2022.On May 4, 2022, industry press reported that the Swedish Administrative Court had upheld most of the record Swedish fines of 175 million Swedish Krona (approximately $17.8 million) that had been imposed on brands operated by ComeOn Group, a subsidiary of Cherry AB (publ), a customer of Evolution's, in relation to breaches of Swedish online gambling regulations. On this news, Evolution's ADS price fell $12.34 per ADS, or 10.88%, to close at $101.09 per ADS on May 5, 2022.On May 7, 2022, media outlets reported that industry participants had lobbied the UK government against an overhaul of gambling laws in the UK. On this news, Evolution's ADS price fell $14.84 per ADS, or 14.54%, over the following three trading sessions, to close at $87.25 per ADS on May 11, 2022.On April 27, 2023, Evolution released its financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2023. Among other items, the Company disclosed that Evolution's revenue from the RNG segment of its business did not grow, and that its North American business segment had experienced a low growth rate. On this news, Evolution's ADS price fell $11.24 per ADS, or 8.23%, over the following four trading sessions, to close at $125.26 per ADS on May 2, 2023.Finally, on October 26, 2023, Evolution released its financial and operating results for the third quarter of 2023 and held an analyst call to discuss the results. In its quarterly report and on the analyst call, Evolution disclosed that the Company faced delays in opening new studios and that revenues for its RNG and North American business segments did not grow. On this news, Evolution's ADS price fell $7.15 per ADS, or 7.61%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $86.80 per ADS on October 27, 2023.What's Next?If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation or purchased Evolution securities, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/EVVTY-EVGGF . You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his law clerk and client relations manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 332-239-2660.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson 332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 15:16:22

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The report outlines progress to date and future plans for the company's ESG goalsMARSHFIELD, WI / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 /Nelson-Jameson, a leading food processing distributor with roots in the dairy industry, released its 2023 Corporate Responsibility report, a comprehensive update on its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals and community investment. The company has operated with respect for the environment and the communities it serves since its founding more than 76 years ago and rolled out formalized ESG goals over the past several years. The 2023 report shares updates across five key areas: Meaningful Partnerships, Food Safety & Quality, Community Enrichment, Sustainable Supply, and Thriving Employees.Nelson-Jameson 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report Photo Caption (Courtesy of Nelson-Jameson): Nelson-Jameson has released its 2023 Corporate Responsibility report, a comprehensive update on its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals and community investment."We're honored to share our Corporate Responsibility report publicly, and proud of the progress we have made to date in meeting our ESG goals," said Mike Rindy, President of Nelson-Jameson. "We're committed to delivering the exceptional to our customers while leading by example as a sustainably driven corporate citizen." In 2023, the organization set new targets for its ESG framework, and utilizes a comprehensive, cross-category internal scorecard to measure progress. The company has announced their intention to work on establishing a baseline for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2024 and seek new ways to reduce their carbon footprint while contributing to a sustainable environmental future. The company focuses on ensuring a fair and ethically sound supply chain, sustainable supplier sourcing, and community investment. It also participates in the EcoVadis Business Sustainability Index, a globally respected measure of business sustainability ratings.Nelson-Jameson has a 99.3% combined average for its Safe Quality Food (SQF) scores, reflecting the company's strong commitment to being a partner in ensuring food safety for customers and to providing quality products that are safely received, handled, stored, and delivered. It also offers over 1300 hours of essential training and development as part of its people-first culture. Through the Nelson-Jameson Foundation, the company supports philanthropic organizations, employee support initiatives including scholarships and emergency grants, and charitable programs that align with the values of Nelson-Jameson's culture of honesty, integrity, and kindness."Nelson-Jameson has a legacy of leadership in industry stewardship and philanthropy," says Mat Bartkowiak, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Development at Nelson-Jameson. "Our ESG goals inform every aspect of our operations, and we will continue working toward a sustainable future in partnership with our vendors, suppliers, employees, and community stakeholders." The report is available for download here: Nelson-Jameson Corporate Responsibility ReportMore information on the company can be found at www.nelsonjameson.com About Nelson-JamesonNelson-Jameson is a fourth-generation, family-owned distributor to the food processing industry. From the company's roots in dairy production supplies, it has expanded to offer a broad range of food processing products and services that help food and beverage organizations operate efficiently with the highest quality, food safety, and compliance standards. The company represents more than 1,000 vendors, distributes more than 78,000 curated products, and employs more than 260 people nationwide. The food processing industry leader also operates NEXT Logistics, a transportation arm that provides delivery services from its Wisconsin, California, Idaho, Pennsylvania, and Texas strategic distribution centers.For more than 76 years, Nelson-Jameson has supported food, beverage, and dairy processors with innovative products and a comprehensive set of solutions that keep pace with changing consumer tastes, manufacturing processes, and distribution channels. The company values delivering the exceptional for its customers by leading with the guiding principles of kindness and mutual respect. Nelson-Jameson is a supplier of choice for customers in all 50 states and international markets.For more information, please visit: www.nelsonjameson.com Media Contact:Karolyn Raphael karolyn@ wingermarketing.com(312) 494-0422Contact InformationKarolyn RaphaelPR for Nelson-Jamesonkarolyn@ wingermarketing.com 312-494-0422SOURCE: Nelson-JamesonView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 07:45:29

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Do you, or did you, own shares of GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF)? Did you purchase your shares between February 8, 2019 and August 3, 2023, inclusive? Did you lose money in your investment in GrafTech International Ltd.? Do you want to discuss your rights? NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the common stock of GrafTech International Ltd. ("GrafTech or the "Company") (NYSE:EAF) between February 8, 2019 and August 3, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its officers (the "Complaint").If you purchased or acquired GrafTech common stock, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit GrafTech International Ltd. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact paralegal Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later thanMarch 25, 2024 . A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.According to the Complaint, GrafTech is a global manufacturer of graphite electrode products that are used in the production of electric arc furnace ("EAF") steel - a purportedly greener alternative to traditional steelmaking methods. In contrast to conventional blast furnaces, which rely directly on coal, natural gas, and oil, EAF utilizes graphite electrodes to conduct electricity and to generate sufficient heat to melt scrap metal, iron ore, or other raw materials used to produce steel or other metals. GrafTech's customers are comprised of steel manufacturers that use EAF to produce steel.Throughout the Class Period, Among other things, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (i) GrafTech's manufacturing operations in Monterrey, Mexico had for decades chronically contaminated neighboring communities with harmful carcinogenic gasses and particulate matter; (ii) GrafTech had signed agreements with local authorities committing itself to improving the environmental performance of its Monterrey facility, but repeatedly failed to honor these commitments; and (iii) as a result of the above, GrafTech was acutely exposed to undisclosed material risks that GrafTech's manufacturing operations in Monterrey, Mexico would be severely disrupted by government action or enforcement.On September 16, 2022, GrafTech unexpectedly revealed that GrafTech's critical manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico had been shut down by regulators following inspections by the State Attorney's office for the Secretary of Environment and the Ministry of the Environment. This information was of critical importance to investors as the Monterrey facility was responsible for manufacturing 30% of GrafTech's overall graphite electrode output and 100% of its pin stock.Then, on August 4, 2023, GrafTech issued a press release disclosing the Company's financial and operational results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 ("2Q23 Release"). The 2Q23 Release reported that sales declined 49% compared to the second quarter of 2022 as the Company continued to "recover" from the effects of the Monterrey facility shutdown in 2022. As a result of the substantial decline in net sales, the 2Q23 Release reported a net loss of $8 million compared to $115 million in net income the Company reported in the second quarter of 2022. On the corresponding conference call, defendant Marcel Kessler, CO for part of the Class Period, described the Monterrey suspension as the "key driver" of the underperformance and revealed that GrafTech's ability to secure customer contracts would continue to be indirectly impacted in the second half of fiscal 2023.On this news, GrafTech's stock price fell $1.18 per share, or 22.56%, to close at $4.05 per share on August 4, 2023.If you purchased or acquired GrafTech common stock, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit GrafTech International Ltd. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact paralegal Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for sixteen consecutive years.ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.  2024 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.Contact Information:Peter AlloccoParalegalBernstein Liebhard LLP https://www.bernlieb.com (212) 951-2030 pallocco@ bernlieb.com SOURCE: Bernstein Liebhard LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 14:07:22

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Combined heat and power plant (CHP) will deliver 50 megawatts equivalent (MWe) of heat and power, supporting Poland's plans to achieve net zero by 2050 Gas-powered plants are expected to deliver environmentally friendly electricity and district heating for the city of Bydgoszcz INNIO Group's Jenbacher team will provide maintenance support for the CHP plant as part of the 10-year long-term service agreement BYDGOSZCZ, POLAND / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / INNIO Group (INNIO) today announced that five Jenbacher J920 FleXtra engines will power a 50 MWe combined heat and power project in Bydgoszcz, Poland, for PGE Energia Ciepa S.A. (PGE).PGE Cogeneration Facility in BYDGOSZCZ, Poland The five Jenbacher CHP units - generating a total of 52.6 MWe - each will consist of a steam generator, a turbocharger, and an auxiliary module. Additionally, under a 10-year service agreement with PGE, the Jenbacher team will provide maintenance and assembly work, as well as start-up and operator training.The "Ready for H2" CHP plant will be fueled with gas, replacing coal-fueled power plants that are currently in use. The Jenbacher team will work with engineering and construction firm Polimex Mostostal S.A. and its subsidiary Polimex Energetyka Sp. z o.o. to implement the design, construction, installation and all other aspects of the building process to construct the turnkey cogeneration power plant, electrode water boiler and standby/peak boiler."INNIO Group's technology is helping to achieve the transition to net zero by replacing coal power plants, resulting in eliminating over 70% CO2 per power plant," said Dr. Olaf Berlien, president and CEO of INNIO Group. "Our Ready for H2' engines help ensure that PGE assets will be able to deliver carbon-free power and heat well into the future when hydrogen is more readily available." The use of gas for decentralized power and heat generation is an important aspect of PGE's strategy to decarbonize its district heating operations. With the operational efficiency of the Jenbacher combined heat and power solution, PGE's transition from coal-fueled power generation to natural gas helps support the Polish government's plans to phase out coal and reduce carbon emissions.The Bydgoszcz CHP facility will be the largest gas-fueled power plant using "Ready for H2" engines to replace a coal-fired power plant in Poland. The CHP plant supports the central aspect of Poland's energy policy of reducing reliance on coal, especially for electricity generation and district heating. The facility marks the first Jenbacher J920 FleXtra project in Poland and is an important milestone for INNIO Group in Poland.###About INNIO GroupINNIO Group is a leading energy solution and service provider that empowers industries and communities to make sustainable energy work today. With its product brands Jenbacher and Waukesha and its digital platform myPlant, INNIO offers innovative solutions for the power generation and compression segments that help industries and communities generate and manage energy sustainably while navigating the fast-changing landscape of traditional and green energy sources. INNIO is individual in scope, but global in scale. With its flexible, scalable, and resilient energy solutions and services, INNIO enables its customers to manage the energy transition along the energy value chain wherever they are in their transition journey.INNIO is headquartered in Jenbach (Austria), with other primary operations in Waukesha (Wisconsin, U.S.) and Welland (Ontario, Canada). A team of more than 4,000 experts provides life-cycle support to INNIO's more than 55,000 delivered engines globally through a service network in more than 100 countries.In March 2023, INNIO's ESG rating ranked first out of more than 500 companies worldwide in the machinery industry assessed by Sustainalytics.For more information, visit INNIO's website at www.innio.com . Follow INNIO Group and its brands on X (formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn.INNIO, Jenbacher, myPlant, Waukesha are trademarks in the European Union or elsewhere owned by INNIO Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG or one of its affiliates. All other trademarks and company names are property of their respective owners.In general, "Ready for H2" Jenbacher units can be converted to operate on up to 100% hydrogen in the future. Details on the cost and timeline for a future conversion may vary and need to be clarified individually.Contact InformationSusanne ReicheltINNIO Media Relationssusanne.reichelt@innio.com +43 664 80833 2382SOURCE: INNIO GroupView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 18:01:28

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / In an impressive display of digital prowess,Konekt Grouphas emerged as the winner of the 'Boutique Agency of the Year' category at theNetty Awards . This esteemed accolade recognizes the groundbreaking work Konekt Group accomplished in partnership withThe Prince's Trust , revolutionizing their digital presence and setting new standards in the industry. The entry titled "Konekt Group & The Prince's Trust: Digital Transformation" serves as a testament to Konekt Group's commitment to innovation, quality, and excellence in digital design and functionality.Innovation and Differentiation Konekt Group's collaboration with The Prince's Trust marked a significant milestone in digital innovation and differentiation. The project involved a comprehensive overhaul of The Prince's Trust website, transitioning from an outdated system to the advanced headless CMS Contentful. This shift not only enhanced the website's functionality but also infused it with a fresh, vibrant design, aligned with new branding, that resonates with young users. The new design emphasized user-friendliness, making site management effortless for The Prince's Trust team. The result was a responsive website that perfectly encapsulates the brand identity, achieving this feat within a constrained timeframe and budget.Measurable Impact and Success The transformation brought about by Konekt Group is quantifiable in several key performance indicators. The enhancement in website accessibility was remarkable and SEO performance experienced an 88% increase, boosting the site's organic search presence. In an era where environmental impact is crucial, the website's carbon emissions were notably reduced, setting a benchmark in sustainable web design. The new CMS streamlined the operational aspects for The Prince's Trust, simplifying content updates and data management. The feedback from the end-users, particularly young people seeking courses, was overwhelmingly positive, indicating the project's resounding success in meeting and exceeding user expectations.Creative Elements and Execution The challenge of integrating the charity's brand identity into a digital-first format was met with creative ingenuity by Konekt Group. The team ensured that the new website was not only visually appealing but also functionally robust, catering to a diverse range of users from young course seekers to corporate partners and donors. The design prioritized an intuitive user journey, with clearly defined pathways through extensive content. Extensive user testing was pivotal in ensuring the site's effectiveness, resulting in a user experience that successfully catered to The Prince's Trust audience - and their varied needs.Overall Excellence and Industry Advancement Konekt Group's work with The Prince's Trust is a paradigm of excellence and industry advancement. The project's timeframe, a mere five months, is a striking illustration of efficiency and effectiveness in digital transformation. The new website stands as a model of user-centered design, utilizing research and data to inform its architecture. The improved accessibility broadened opportunities for young individuals, aligning with The Prince's Trust's mission to empower young people to start something. The use of a headless CMS not only secured sensitive data but also minimized the website's environmental impact, outperforming the majority of web platforms in terms of carbon emissions.A Word from the CEO Reflecting on this prestigious win, James Towning, CEO of Konekt Group, shares his insights:"It was an honour and pleasure working with The Prince's Trust and their fantastic team to help create a new site and digital platform. Not least as my first business was launched from a Prince's Trust loan many years ago. I hope our work helps inspire and engage more young leaders and entrepreneurs." A Word from The Prince's Trust Sarah Charlton, Head of Digital at The Prince's Trust, shares her feedback: "Konekt have done a fantastic job working in partnership with The Prince's Trust to successfully design and launch our new website within tight timescales. The new site is a huge step forward on our transformation journey. We look forward to continuing to working with the team at Konekt to leverage digital technology for our partners and donors, but most importantly to support young people." About Konekt Group Konekt is a full service digital media group based in London, fusing creative & strategic excellence with a deep understanding of technology, innovation and data. For our clients we are a truly integrated digital media group designed from the ground up for today's business. Operating as a catalyst for innovation & growth, we help organisations identify & solve tomorrows challenges today.About The Prince's Trust The Prince's Trust believes that every young person should have the chance to succeed, no matter what their background or the challenges they are facing. We help those from disadvantaged communities and those facing the greatest adversity by supporting them to build the confidence and skills to live, learn and earn.The courses offered by The Trust help young people aged 11-30 to develop essential life skills, get ready for work and access job opportunities. We support them to find work because having a job or running a business can lead to a more stable, fulfilling life.Since The Trust was founded by HM The King in 1976, when he was HRH The Prince of Wales, we have helped more than a million young people across the UK, and three in four of those we supported over the last five years have moved into work, education or training.We are committed to enabling even more young people to create a better future for themselves. By helping young people today, the benefits for them, their communities and the wider economy will be felt for years to come.Further information about The Prince's Trust is available at princes-trust.org.uk or on 0800 842 842.About the Netty Awards The Netty Awards are a prestigious awards program that honors top leaders and companies across various industries in the digital age. With over 100 unique categories and a longstanding track record as one of the most trusted organizations in the industry, the Netty Awards celebrate achievements in Design, Social Media, Influencers & Creators, Web, Advertising & PR, and Apps & Software.Contact Information Omar Camara Omar.camara@konekt.group SOURCE: The Netty Awards
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 17:30:44

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TAMPA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Full Alliance Group, Inc. (OTC Pink:FAGI) is thrilled to announce the addition of Edgar Mojica as Co-Founder of DYNAMAXX International LTD's relaunch. With an illustrious 30-year career in the dynamic world of network marketing, Mojica's extensive experience spans decades, earning him the prestigious title of a Top 100 global income earner.Edgar Mojica is a bilingual professional, fluent in both Spanish and English, whose success extends across diverse markets. With a remarkable track record as a multi-million dollar earner and producer, Mojica has cultivated a network of over 1.2 million team associates, customers, and affiliates spanning across 128 countries. He is the Founder and President of the Millionaires Club, a testament to his exceptional leadership and success in the industry. #EdgarMojicaNetworkStepping into the role of DYNAMAXX Corporate and Field Leadership Development Team member, Edgar Mojica is positioned to be a key player in propelling the growth and triumphs. His extensive 30 years of experience, strategic foresight, and dynamic leadership style seamlessly align with the core goals and values of Full Alliance Group, Inc.Jay Archer, CEO of DYNAMAXX, expressed excitement about Mojica's inclusion, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Edgar Mojica as Co-Founder of DYNAMAXX. His extensive 30 years of experience, leadership, and global success in network marketing will undoubtedly contribute significantly to the continued growth and success of DYNAMAXX." For Full Alliance Group, Inc., aligning with Edgar Mojica represents a strategic maneuver to reinforce its foothold in the thriving health and nutraceutical sector. Mojica's track record in building and steering high-performance teams, coupled with his expansive global network, is poised to unlock fresh avenues for expansion. The partnership gains added significance with insights from the Global Wellness Institute, highlighting wellness as a burgeoning global market with $5.6 trillion in revenue in 2022. This amalgamated entity is strategically positioned to seize opportunities within this lucrative industry, harnessing Mojica's expertise to propel innovation in the realm of health and wellness.Bill Heneghan, COO of Full Alliance Group, Inc., echoed the sentiment, stating, "Edgar Mojica's addition to our leadership team is a tremendous asset. His remarkable 30 years of experience, achievements, and leadership qualities align perfectly with our vision for strategic growth, and we are excited about the future opportunities Edgar brings." The merger of Full Alliance Group, Inc., and DYNAMAXX International LTD, now enhanced by the inclusion of Edgar Mojica, positions the company for sustained success and innovation in the health and wellness sector. This collaboration promises to be a driving force behind the company's journey towards greater achievements in the future.About Full Alliance Group, Inc.Full Alliance Group, Inc. is a holding company in the health and wellness sector.FAGI's wholly owned subsidiary, Bio Lab Naturals, Inc., founded in 2000, through its FDA-registered wholly owned subsidiary Pure Solutions, Inc ., was built on the simple principles of using the highest quality ingredients, producing products with the greatest possible efficacy, and providing its partners with unsurpassed customer service all at a fair price. From day one, the Company has specialized in custom product development and FDA-compliant contract manufacturing, with a passion for cutting-edge formulations and innovative product selection. Now housed in a state-of-the-art 25,000 square foot facility in Tampa, Pure Solutions remains committed to its founding principles and is ready to expand its operations through growing organically by adding diversity to its in-house product lines and strategically through joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, exclusive manufacturing and distribution agreements, and mergers.FAGI's other wholly owned subsidiary DYNAMAXX International Ltd. is in the health and supplement space using the direct selling channel as its sales force with its main operations in the United States and Canada. DYNAMAXX was founded in 2009 and has expanded globally since that time with its line of supplements. In addition to having a world class supplement product line, in October 2023 DYNAMAXX launched the first ever cash pay medical referral network through its independent reps ("Members"); allowing its Members to refer friends, family, other Members and customers to doctors who participate in the Dynamaxx Health Network. Initially, Dynamaxx Health Inc. is referring patients for EBOO/EBO2, PRP, Shockwave procedures to Doctors in the network. DYNAMAXX has a cost-effective way for individuals to participate in the ever-growing GIG economy by offering an aggressive compensation program to those that refer customers who purchase products, refer individuals to the Dynamaxx Health Network or to other individuals who want to start their own business. The company offers training and support to their distributors and has a strong focus on helping people achieve financial freedom through their business opportunity.For media inquiries, please contact:Contact: Samantha Brainerd, Director of Sales and Marketing DYNAMAXXEmail: scolvin@ dynamaxx.com Phone: (949)-212-8863Full Alliance Group Inc. Investor RelationsContact: Ryan Gresham, CEO, or Bill Heneghan, COO, Full Alliance Group, Inc.Email: ir@ fullalliance-group.com Phone: (800) 895-4415Forward-Looking StatementsThis shareholder update may contain forward-looking statements. Words and variations of words such as: "expect," "goals," "could," "plans," "believe," "continue," "may," "will," and similar expressions are intended to identify our forward-looking statements, including but not limited to our expectation for growth, benefits from brand-building, cost savings, and margins. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to continued volatility of and sharp increase in costs/pricing actions, increased competition, ability to raise sufficient operating capital, risks from operating internationally, consumer weakness, weakness in economic conditions, and tax law changes.SOURCE: Full Alliance Group, Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 18:31:16

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LA VERNE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Global Processing Systems (GPS), a leading name in the payment processing industry, continues to redefine excellence under the visionary leadership of CEO and founder, Moses Heredia. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, GPS, headquartered in San Dimas, California, stands as a beacon of innovation, integrity, and unmatched service in the dynamic world of financial transactions.In 2003, Moses Heredia embarked on a bold journey to revolutionize the payment processing sector. His founding principles - honesty, integrity, and exceptional service - have not only shaped the ethos of GPS but have also carved out a unique space for the company in a competitive market. Today, GPS is not just a testament to these enduring values but a symbol of Heredia's unwavering commitment to client success and industry leadership.The story of GPS is deeply intertwined with Heredia's own narrative, a 29-year odyssey of professional growth and strategic acumen in the payment processing realm. His leadership has earned GPS a reputation as a top Independent Sales Organization (ISO) and secured Heredia a prestigious position on the advisory boards of industry giants Fiserv and TSYS - the only Latino to hold such a dual role.Born into humble circumstances in Hobbs, New Mexico, Heredia's rise is a classic tale of American dreams realized through resilience and hard work. Inspired by his mother, Elestina Heredia, whose compassion and community service were legendary, Heredia has infused GPS with a spirit of philanthropy. His journey from riding a bike to work to becoming a CEO who could buy a home for his mother is a source of inspiration for many.Heredia's dedication to community service is evident in GPS's culture. From clearing layaways at local stores to supporting orphanages in Mexico, GPS under Heredia's guidance has extended its reach beyond business, touching lives and fostering community well-being. This ethos was highlighted in 2023 when Heredia was honored with the Business of the Year award by the Latino Business Association, recognizing his significant contributions to the Latin community and beyond.The 20th anniversary of GPS was not just a celebration of past achievements but also a reaffirmation of the company's commitment to future innovation and growth in the ever-evolving payment processing landscape. With Heredia at the helm, GPS is poised to continue its journey of excellence, underlined by a deep commitment to making a positive difference in the world.As Global Processing Systems moves forward, it does so with the assurance of continued innovation, community impact, and success, guided by Moses Heredia's exceptional leadership and vision. The future of GPS shines bright, promising to redefine industry standards and contribute significantly to the payment processing world.Media Contact:Name: Moses HerediaWebsite: https://gprocessing.com/ Email: customersupport@ gprocessing.com SOURCE: Global Processing Systems
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 15:40:50

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MILWAUKEE / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Northwestern Mutual:The company and its local partners are helping Milwaukee residents secure financial stability through affordable housing effortsOriginally published by Northwestern Mutual on June 20, 2023Despite gains in education and earnings, the racial wealth gap remains a deep issue in America. According to the Federal Reserve Board, Black Americans' net worth is 70% below that of non-Black households. In Milwaukee, homeownership is less attainable for Black residents, which is due in part to this gap. As part of Northwestern Mutual's efforts to build healthier and stronger neighborhoods, the company is working to lessen this gap. To help progress towards this goal, the company is dedicating $3 million through its Sustained Action for Racial Equity initiative and its Foundation to provide Milwaukee residents with the resources and tools to achieve financial stability through homeownership."As a financial services company, we recognize our responsibility to support and add economic value to our communities," said Grady Crosby, vice president, chief sustainability and impact officer at Northwestern Mutual. "By leveraging our expertise and working directly with local residents and partners, we're helping to create a pipeline to homeownership that makes housing more affordable and gives residents a stake in their properties for generations to come." Northwestern Mutual is investing $2.5 million in the Milwaukee Community Land Trust (MCLT) to help drive affordable housing and ensure homeownership affordability over time. The investment comes from the company's $100 million impact investment fund, which is working to deliver on the company's commitment to addressing inequality and the racial wealth gap in the U.S. Funds from this initiative are dedicated to Black, African American and other underserved communities on local and national scales, specifically focusing on building physical and social infrastructure, increasing access to capital and creating healthy, sustainable neighborhoods and communities.In addition, through its Foundation, the company is donating $500,000 to Acts Housing's Homeownership Acquisition Fund. This fund was formed with the support of the Community Development Alliance and is a key strategy of Milwaukee's collective affordable housing plan. The funds will address the shortage of quality affordable homes available for purchase by low-income Black and Latino residents by purchasing houses to rehab and sell to new homeowners. The combined funds will support up to 20 homes."Homeownership is strongly tied to economic empowerment, financial security and community development," said Steve Radke, president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. "Research has found that stable housing can improve education dropout rates, economic vitality and health, as well as reduce crime. As a company, we firmly believe that helping residents access fair and sustained homeownership opportunities is an important means to helping close the racial wealth gap, and we are grateful to our partners for helping us tackle this generational issue." For more than a decade, the company has partnered with Milwaukee's Amani, Metcalfe Park and Muskego Way neighborhoods to create long-term sustainable impact, with more than $15 million already invested toward revitalization efforts and economic empowerment. Those investments have paved the way for the establishment of thriving neighborhood associations, resident driven revitalization plans, deeper collaboration between non-profit partners and the development of a citywide shared housing strategy."Milwaukee is unique compared to other cities with a stark racial inequity in homeownership," said Lamont Davis, executive director for the Milwaukee Community Land Trust. "At MCLT, we are focused on a long-term strategy investment. Together with our partners, like Northwestern Mutual, we've already been able to invest in 10 affordable homes throughout the city and are working to add more than 30 more by 2025.""In Milwaukee, families of low-to-moderate income are increasingly rent burdened and forced to make decisions that limit their ability for upward mobility," said Dorothy York, vice president, real estate at Acts Housing. "We are working to acquire at least 100 properties per year beginning this year and convert these properties into owner-occupied homes. This strategy works through a combination of program investments from philanthropies and long-term patient capital from financial institutions like Northwestern Mutual." On average, the median income for a Black household in Wisconsin is $31,351, which is less than half the state's and nation's median household income. Through these investments and partnerships, Northwestern Mutual is providing a sustainable pipeline to homeownership which will enable Milwaukee residents to invest in their future in a tangible and meaningful way.About Milwaukee Community Land Trust (MCLT) The Milwaukee Community Land Trust (MCLT) transforms houses into pillars of strong families and safe neighborhoods by making homes permanently affordable to low-income buyers through a proven community land trust model. There are 270 community land trust across the country all dedicated to providing affordable homes and wealth creation opportunities to those who otherwise would not have those chances.Using public and private subsidies, MCLT purchases land and home and either rehabs the existing homes or builds new ones, keeping prices well below market for homebuyers. In return, they agree to sell their home for below market value, ensuring subsidies are passed onto future generations. And homeowners can build wealth from market appreciation and equity growth.About Acts HousingActs Housing provides one on one and online, HUD approved homebuyer and financial counseling for individuals and families to help them become ready to buy. As a real estate brokerage, Acts represents families in the purchase of homes for owner occupancy, in Milwaukee and Beloit, Wisconsin. Acts then helps families plan and execute home rehabilitation, with a focus on reclaiming vacant foreclosures. Affiliated nonprofit partner, Acts Lending, Inc., provides mortgage loans for rehabilitation projects.About Community Development Alliance (CDA) The Community Development Alliance believes that homeownership is a catalyst for dismantling systemic racism and building strong communities. That's why their work as accomplices with the community is centered on change for and with people and policy. By working collaboratively, they invest in neighborhoods, providing access to quality homes for Milwaukee families and nurturing capacity for Black and brown families to build gene
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 15:26:11

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Las Vegas SandsLas Vegas SandsOn November 8, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) and Sands co-presented the 2023 Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit at The Smith Center for Performing Arts, with support from the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and the Las Vegas Review-Journal.The 2023 Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit marked a major turning point as the Summit convened experts and stakeholders from across Nevada for the first time, in preparation for development of the state's first standalone plan to end youth homelessness."The energy, enthusiasm and knowledge from all who participated in Summit 2023 was an incredible accelerator for the Movement to End Youth Homelessness in Nevada," said Arash Ghafoori, CEO of NPHY. "We've reached a point in which meaningful impact can only be achieved by evolving to a statewide approach with all resources and service providers aligned. I am inspired by the coalition we convened at Summit 2023, and we are well-positioned to successfully lead the work ahead." Randy Hyzak, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Sands and an NPHY board member, opened the Summit by recognizing the progress that has been made, commending the response from around the state and calling for continued commitment, especially from the private sector. Ghafoori followed with an update on the Movement to End Youth Homelessness, setting the stage for a series of rapid-fire presentations and a panel discussion outlining regional perspectives from representatives in northern, southern and rural Nevada and tribal communities.Important points outlined in regional presentations and the panel discussion included the lack of any state-level funding for youth homelessness and the critical need for more housing and supportive services, particularly around mental health, to give youth experiencing homelessness the resources they need to recover from the trauma they have experienced and aim toward building a promising future.Youth homelessness remains an urgent issue in Nevada. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, roughly 12% of youth experiencing homelessness across the United States in 2022 were residing in Nevada. The state also is facing an estimated shortage of more than 80,000 affordable rentals for extremely low-income tenants, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.The stories behind these numbers were brought to life during the Pull Up A Chair presentation by youth leaders with lived experience of homelessness. Presenters gave emotional accounts of their journeys using artfully decorated chairs that represented the hurdles they encountered, along with symbols of hope and inspiration. The challenges faced by homeless youth were further illustrated by keynote speaker Jimmy Santiago Baca, author of A Place to Stand and a former homeless youth, who captivated the audience with stories of his journey from a youth on the streets to award-winning writer and poet. Both of these sessions highlighted the power of self-expression in overcoming trauma.Afternoon breakout sessions at the 2023 Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit were then dedicated to the work and beginning to align around a statewide plan to end youth homelessness, with topics including direct cash transfers for youth; the intersectionality between childhood trauma, sex trafficking and the unsheltered; a study on youth experiencing homelessness that will serve as the Movement's statewide needs assessment and restful leadership.Addressing youth homelessness is a primary focus of the Sands Cares community engagement program in Las Vegas. Sands' work with NPHY spans nearly a decade and more than $2.3 million in contributions to provide immediate relief, lasting solutions, and advocacy and awareness for youth experiencing homelessness since 2014."Today marked a major milestone in the Movement to End Youth Homelessness," Hyzak said. "We now have a united coalition of statewide leaders, ready to take measured and decisive action to help our most vulnerable youth. The stories we heard from the young leaders who have gone through these experiences underscore the critical work we must do and undoubtedly have motivated and inspired all who attended the Summit." To learn more about Sands' youth homelessness efforts as part of its focus on hardship relief in communities around the world, read the company's latest environmental, social and governance report: https://www.sands.com/2022-environmental-social-and-governance-report/ NPHY CEO Arash Ghafoori presented an update on the Movement to End Youth Homelessness, outlining accomplishments to date and the work ahead, at the 2023 Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Las Vegas Sands on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: Las Vegas SandsWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/las-vegas-sands Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Las Vegas Sands
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 19:00:41

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OAKLAND, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / "When we founded Red Bay Coffee it was a special moment, that moment has evolved into a Black Coffee movement." -Keba Konte, FounderRed Bay Coffee, the longest-running black-owned coffee brand in the U.S., is proud to announce its upcoming 10th-anniversary celebration, marking a decade of resilience, innovation, and breaking down barriers in the coffee industry. The celebration, aptly named RED BAY 10, will showcase the company's remarkable journey and commitment to diversity, equity, and excellence under the visionary leadership of founder Keba Konte.Keba Konte, an artist and entrepreneur, started Red Bay Coffee with a vision to bring diversity and excellence to an industry that lacked representation. His unwavering commitment to social responsibility, ethical business practices, and fostering community engagement has been instrumental in Red Bay Coffee's success over the past decade.Red Bay Coffee's inception traces back to the home roasting lab, nestled in Keba Konte's garage. In his quest to master the art of specialty coffee, Keba built this intimate coffee sanctuary, affectionately known as the Coffee Dojo. Here, he dedicated himself to learning and refining the intricacies of coffee craftsmanship. The term "Dojo" takes on a profound meaning, representing more than just a physical space-it embodies a school for training and practice, shaping Red Bay Coffee's commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in the world of coffee.The RED BAY 10 celebration will honor the legacy of Red Bay Coffee's journey. Special events, collaborations, and limited-edition releases throughout February will pay tribute to the legacy of Red Bay Coffee. To commemorate this historic celebration, Red Bay Coffee has organized a vibrant brass band performance, scheduled to take place on February 10 at noon, right in front of our Grand Lake Cafe.One of the highlights of RED BAY 10 is the release of a commemorative limited edition coffee blend and collector's tin can. Crafted from meticulously sourced beans from Kenya and Guatemala, this unique blend embodies the company's commitment to supporting small farmers.To our valued supporters, including Oakland's own Zendaya, thank you for standing by us, believing in our mission, and helping us break down barriers in the coffee industry. And to our esteemed investors, including Ryan Coogler and Hannibal Buress, your belief in our vision and support have played a pivotal role in our growth and impact.The company invites its loyal customers, partners, and the general public to join in the celebration of RED BAY 10. Follow Red Bay Coffee on social media and visit the official website for updates on events, releases, and other anniversary festivities.Contact InformationRachel KonteChief of Brandrachel@ redbaycoffee.com SOURCE: Red Bay CoffeeView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 16:20:24

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Revolve Renewable Power Corp. (TSXV:REVV)(OTCQB:REVVF) ("Revolve" or the "Company"), a North American owner, operator and developer of renewable energy projects, is pleased to announce that it has expanded its presence in the Canadian market through the addition of a new 150MW solar development project (the "Project") in the province of Saskatchewan.On June 8, 2023 the Company announced its expansion into the Canadian market completing the last phase of its market strategy to create a North American focused renewable Independent Power Producer ("IPP"), ( https://revolve-renewablepower.com/revolve-announces-expansion-into-the-canadian-renewable-energy-market/) . The Company commenced early-stage development work and targeted an initial portfolio of utility scale projects by the end of 2023.The result of this initial development work was, completion of land procurement for the Project, which represents the first development asset in the Company's Canadian portfolio. The Company is in the process of finalizing a development plan for the Project with further work expected to commence later this year.WindRiver Acquisition UpdateAnother key component of the Company's expansion strategy has been to consider M&A opportunities for operating assets in the US and Canada. On October 4, 2023, the Company announced the proposed acquisition of WindRiver Corporation, a Canadian based owner, operator and developer of wind and hydro projects (the "Proposed Acquisition") in the Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta ( https://revolve-renewablepower.com/revolve-announces-proposed-acquisition-of-canadian-renewable-energy-operator-and-developer-windriver-power-corporation/) The Proposed Acquisition, once completed, will add 96.63MW of net operational and development capacity to the Company's portfolio, which is split between 6.63MW of net operational capacity and 90MW of development assets, all located within Canada.The Company continues to work with the WindRiver team to finalise the completion of the Arrangement Agreement signed between WindRiver and the Company. Closing of the Proposed Acquisition is expected to be completed in February 2024.The Company is actively reviewing and assessing a number of other potential acquisition opportunities and will provide an update to shareholders should binding terms be agreed.About RevolveRevolve was formed in 2012 to capitalize on the growing global demand for renewable power. Revolve develops utility-scale wind, solar and battery storage projects in the US, Canada and Mexico with a portfolio of approx. 2,988MW under development. The Company has a second division, Revolve Renewable Business Solutions which installs and operates sub 20MW "behind the meter" distributed generation (or "DG") assets. Revolve Renewable Business Solutions currently has an operating portfolio of 6MW with an additional 3MW under construction phase and 156MW under development.Revolve has an accomplished management team with a demonstrated track record of taking projects from "greenfield" through to "ready to build" (or "RTB") status and successfully concluding project sales to large operators of utility-scale renewable energy projects. To-date, Revolve has developed and sold over 1,550MW of projects.Revolve is targeting 5,000MW of utility-scale projects under development in the US, Canada and Mexico, and in parallel is rapidly growing its portfolio of revenue-generating DG (distributed generation) assets.For further information contact:Steve Dalton, CEO IR@ revolve-renewablepower.com OrSunita PrasadVP, Corporate Development & Investor RelationsPhone: +1 778-885-5550 IR@ revolve-renewablepower.com Forward Looking InformationAlthough Revolve believes, considering the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Revolve can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to information relating to the business plans of Revolve and Revolve's management's expectation on the growth and performance of its business in the United States, Canada and Mexico, including the planned MW capacity of its projects;The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, having regard to the Company's experience and its perception of historical trends, and includes, but is not limited to, expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions relating to the extent of regulations pertaining to the Company's projects and Revolve's ability to continue as going concern. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information, including but not limited to: the effects of weather, catastrophes and public health crises, including COVID-19; labour availability; disruptions to the Company's supply chains; changes to regulatory environment, including interpretation of production tax credits; armed hostilities and geopolitical conflicts; failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals in a timely fashion, or at all; risks related to the development and potential development of the Company's projects and specifically the Project; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; the availability of tax incentives in connection with the development of renewable energy projects and the sale of electrical energy; as well as those factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings on SEDAR. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Revolve. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-lookin
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 17:01:08

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Robomart leverages PIX's RoboBus and autonomous vehicle manufacturing prowess to enhance Robomart's fleet of autonomous mobile retail stores. This innovative operating model affords retailers with the mobile real-estate and technology to simplify their consumers' shopping process by eliminating a range of tedious steps such as ordering, picking up, packaging, and waiting in line for checkout. Shopping can now be as convenient as using Uber, with no need for customers to commute to stores.SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 /Robomart, the American robotics pioneer building self-driving smart shops for retailers, established a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with PIX Moving. This collaboration opens up new avenues for the application of PIX Moving Spaces in unmanned retail scenarios as Robomart smart shops. The initial deployment of autonomous mobile retail stores will take place in California, featuring unmanned ice cream parlors, cafes, and quick service restaurants.Robomart and PIX Moving Partnership PIX Moving and Robomart enter into partnership to bring fleet of autonomous mobile retail stores powered by PIX Robobus to the US Robomart is transforming retail with innovative, on-demand autonomous stores, combining cutting-edge technology with a cost-effective white-label platform. These stores have been designed to be the smartest and most secure shops in existence.Robomart has already contracted major customers, including Unilever (Ben & Jerry's), Mars, Fatty Mart and others, for over 100 Robomarts. PIX Moving will be working closely with Robomart to expand their autonomous fleet via the innovative PIX Moving Spaces and exploring various additional business use cases."We are thrilled to collaborate with PIX Moving. While Robomart has been at the forefront of pioneering autonomous mobile retail technology, PIX Moving's expertise in custom autonomous vehicle manufacturing is unparalleled. This partnership will enable us to scale our fleet with high-quality advanced vehicles designed to deliver an exceptional shopping experience. PIX Moving's contribution to vehicle manufacturing, combined with our robust retail technology, will redefine convenience and accessibility in retail." -Ali Ahmed, CEO of RobomartAbout Robomart Based in California, Robomart is building patented self-driving smart shops for retailers, expand their footprint at a fraction of cost. Robomarts are engineered with cutting-edge technology, giving retailers the most convenient way to get goods to consumers through the unique model of store-hailing. Founded in 2018 by serial entrepreneurs with deep expertise in robotics, retail, and delivery, the company is venture backed and on a mission is to be the largest purveyor of mobile real-estate in the world.Learn more about Robomart at robomart.ai About PIX Moving Established in 2017, PIX is a global pioneer in the third generation of automobiles. The primary focus lies in the development of autonomous driving Moving Spaces, which encompass shared options like the Robobus and coffee truck, as well as personal choices such as the micro-NEV. Behind the smart mobility products, AI-driven design and manufacturing approaches have been adopted by PIX Moving to produce the diverse range of innovative urban mobility products.Learn more at pixmoving.com Contact InformationNancy LeeInternational Business Directornancy@ pixmoving.com (86)18111991219Related FilesRobobus Product Intro 2023 EN_compressed (2).pdfSOURCE: PIX MovingView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-31 15:31:04

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Rover Metals Corp. (TSXV:ROVR)(OTCQB:ROVMF)(FSE:4XO) ("Rover" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it is changing its name to Rover Critical Minerals Corp. The name change marks the Company's successful pivot into critical minerals exploration, a process which started in January 2022. Trading will commence under the new name on Monday February 5, 2024. The Company's shares will continue to trade under the symbol ROVR on the TSXV; ROVMF on the OTCQB; and 4XO on the FSE.New ISIN/CUSIP numbers reflecting the name change have been made eligible. The Company's transfer agent, Computershare, can be contacted with any further questions. Effective Monday February 5, 2024, the Company's will be launching a new website with a new URL of www.rovercriticalmierals.com . Officers and Directors of the Company will continue to use their existing emails and gradually migrate to new email domain over the coming months.Judson Culter, CEO at Rover Metals, states "Management and Directors at Rover are doubling down on our pivot into critical minerals. We remain resolute in our focus on advancing the Let's Go Lithium project in the Amargosa Valley of Nevada." LGL ProjectThe LGL project is a claystone sedimentary lithium project located in a flat playa in an ancient volcanic lakebed. The claim block, which is approximately 8,300 acres in size, includes several limestone-capped butte-like outcrop formations. As released on September 7, 2023, a successful Phase 1 surface sampling program has returned multiple high-grade surface lithium samples. The clay body, as it's known today, is believed to have very little overburden, and at the southern boundary of the project the lithium rich clay is exposed at the surface, or above surface in butte outcrops. Project infrastructure includes hydro power lines on site, direct road access, access to the Union Pacific rail line, and the nearby town of Pahrump with a readily available work force.LGL Property MapRegional GeologyThe project is located within the prolific southwest Nevada claystone lithium jurisdiction. LGL is located just 12 km away from the historic Franklin Wells hectorite (a rare lithium smectite mineral) deposit. Mining at Franklin Wells dates back to the 1920's. The regional geology of the Amargosa Valley is a basin-and-range structure with the Greenwater Range and Funeral Mountains to the west and the Amargosa Desert to the east. The Greenwater/Funeral mountains are fault-controlled with narrow interior valleys and are bounded by broad, coalescing alluvial fans. The Greenwater/Funeral mountains are composed of lower Paleozoic marine and metamorphic rocks. LGL is located in a large basin of clay rich Tertiary lakebed sediments, the major host rock for the other lithium claystone deposits in the southwest Nevada lithium jurisdiction. Lhoist North America has been open pit mining the specialty clays in the area since 1974.Later-stage company comparable claystone lithium projects in southwest Nevada include Century Lithium Corp.'s Clayton Valley project; American Lithium's TLC project; Noram Lithium's Zeus project, and Nevada Lithium's Bonnie Claire project. All of the aforementioned companies are later-stage mining companies, with a NI 43-101 resource calculation.About Rover MetalsRover is a publicly traded junior mining company that trades on the TSXV under symbol ROVR, on the OTCQB under symbol ROVMF, and on the FSE under symbol 4XO. The Company has a diverse portfolio of mining resource development projects with varying exploration timelines. Its critical mineral projects include lithium, zinc, and copper. Its precious metals projects include gold and silver. The Company is exclusive to the mining jurisdictions of the U.S. and Canada.Swiss Business Development ConsultantIn May 2023, the Company hired a Switzerland, based consultant (the "Consultant") to provide business development consulting services in the key mining markets of England, France, Germany, and Switzerland. The Consultant's roles and responsibilities include traveling through-out central Europe representing the Company at mining events. Further to its release of May 26, 2023, the Company is issuing 150,000 common shares in the Company for services provided by the Consultant. The Consultant is independent (arm's length) to the Company. The share-based payment is for the payment of consulting services for the period of October 1st to December 31st, 2023. The Company has received approval from the Toronto Venture Exchange to make the issuance, pursuant to the common shares bearing the standard four-month regulatory hold period from the date of issuance.You can follow Rover on its social media channels:Twitter: https://twitter.com/rovermetals LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rover-metals/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoverMetals/ for daily company updates and industry news, andYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJsHsfag1GFyp4aLW5Ye-YQ?view_as=subscriber for corporate videos.Website: https://www.rovermetals.com/ ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS"Judson Culter" Chief Executive Officer and DirectorFor further information, please contact:Email: info@ rovermetals.com Phone: +1 (778) 754-2617Statement Regarding Forward-Looking InformationThis news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause Rover's actual results, performance, achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. There can be no assurance that such statements prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Any factor could cause actual results to differ materially from Rover's expectations. Rover undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates, opinions, or other factors, should change.THE FORWARD-LOOKING
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Stemtech Corporation Secures Exclusive Agreement to Propel Stemtech's Revolutionary Stem Cell Nutrition Across Six African NationsNAPLES, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Stemtech Corporation (OTCQB:STEK), a leading innovator in patented stem cell nutrition health products, announces a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy with the signing of a license Agreement with an established direct sales company, based in Kenya. The Agreement, effective January 29th, 2024, grants the license to purchase, use, market, and distribute Stemtech's cutting-edge health related products within the designated Territory(s), including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria.This strategic move represents Stemtech's commitment to reaching new markets and introducing its patented stem cell nutrition, skin care and oral care products to new markets. The licensing agreement includes the distribution of StemRelease3, StemFlo Advanced, MigraStem, OraStem, and Cellect One Rapid Renew Stem Cell Peptide Night Cream.John W. Meyer, President & COO of Stemtech Corporation, expressed excitement about the expansion, stating, "We believe that this partnership marks a significant opportunity for Stemtech to establish brand recognition in key African markets and contribute to the overall health and wellness of the region. We are confident that our stem cell nutrition products will make a positive impact and contribute to the growth of the wellness industry in Africa. Distributors will benefit from additional income for the current network marketers already engaged through the Licensee and for new potential distributors that they will gain with the proprietary Stemtech line of products." Additionally, the new Licensee has already placed a significant initial order, and Stemtech Corporation has received certified funds for these products. This financial commitment underscores the confidence both parties have in the success of this venture.The licensing agreement is structured for a twenty-four (24) month term, during which the new distributor will serve as the exclusive Stemtech representative for the specified products in the agreed-upon Territory(s). The Agreement includes provisions for annual sales volumes, product pricing, and compliance with applicable laws. Stemtech Corporation looks forward to a successful collaboration within Africa and anticipates mutual growth and success as they work together to bring Stemtech's innovative products to new African markets.Vice President of Global Sales for Stemtech, Alejandro Carrillo, commented, "My current efforts are focused on expanding our Latin American markets. We just reopened Colombia where we historically sold over $10 million dollars of Stemtech products. Recently, we were approached by a company with similar interests in specific African countries who were aware of the benefits of our products, unsolicited. Because of the quality and legacy of Stemtech products, we were sought out to provide Stemtech products in an area we were not even looking to engage at this time! The stem cell industry is in significant growth mode and Stemtech provides a natural way to benefit from stem cells without injections or surgery, naturally. It seems to be catching on." ABOUT STEMTECHStemtech Corporation, a leading stemceutical company with a direct sales distribution model, was founded on April 18, 2018, after acquiring the operations from its predecessor Stemtech International, Inc., which was established in 2005. From 2010 through 2015, Stemtech International, Inc., was recognized four separate times on the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies list. In 2018, Stemtech underwent an extensive executive reorganization, and continued operations under new leadership as Stemtech Corporation. In August 2021, Stemtech became a publicly traded company (OTCQB: STEK) and has expanded business opportunities for its Independent Business Partners, who may earn incomes by sharing Stemtech products. The Global Stem Cell market is projected to be $30 billion by 2030 and similarly, the nutritional supplement market is projected to be over $700 billion by 2030 as well. With these two leading market indicators, Stemtech is well positioned as the pioneer in stem cell nutrition, oral and skin care products, to increase sales in the wellness industry.Forward-Looking StatementsThis announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include but are not limited to statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "projects" and similar expressions. The statements in this release are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences, including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials and/or other studies, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, the effect of any competitive products, our ability to license and protect our intellectual property, our ability to raise additional capital in the future that is necessary to maintain our business, changes in government policy and/or regulation, potential litigation by or against us, any governmental review of our products or practices, as well as other risks discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our latest 10-Q Report filed on December 1, 2023. We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement, or any information contained in this press release or in other public disclosures at any time. Finally, the investing public is reminded that the only announcements or information about Stemtech Corporation which are condoned by the Company must emanate from the Company itself and bear our name as its Source.Investor Relations:Gabriel RodriguezEmail: erelationsgroup@ gmail.com Ph: 623-261-9046Stemtech Phone: 954-715-6000 ext 1040 Email: invrel@ stemtech.comwww.Stemtech.com SOURCE: Stemtech Corporation
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ROCK HILL, SC / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Today, January 31, 2024, is the deadline tofile 1099 ,W-2 , and 94x Payroll Forms with the IRS, SSA, and states. Additionally, recipient copies of Forms 1099 and W-2 must be distributed to vendors and employees today. Not to mention, businesses that offer health coverage plans to residents of Massachusetts and California have ACA state deadlines today. TaxBandits, an industry-leading e-file provider of these forms, and many more, offers seamless e-filing and distribution solutions paired with expert customer support.The team at TaxBandits is working extended hours through the deadline to ensure that all of their clients' needs are taken care of, and in turn, their clients are responding with rave reviews and positive feedback. Clients of TaxBandits have expressed their satisfaction with the swift and precise assistance received during critical moments of the tax filing process.Expert, Local Customer Support:The company's dedication to understanding each client's unique needs and providing tailored solutions has become a hallmark of its service.TaxBandits' client testimonials underscore the application's effectiveness in delivering timely and accurate solutions, ensuring a smooth tax filing experience. The company's commitment to excellence has solidified its position as a trusted partner for businesses, tax professionals, and payroll providers alike.TaxBandits largely credit their client loyalty to their human approach to customer service. Where other companies cut costs with complex phone trees and automated chat-bots, their team instead focuses on human interaction and expedited attention for their clients.Why Businesses, Tax Professionals, and Service Providers Choose TaxBandits:The TaxBandits team operates on the mindset that their clients' feedback speaks volumes about their product and services. Here is some of the feedback received as of late."Your service is efficient, user friendly, well organized, affordable, and convenient. I am going to recommend you to every small business owner I know. Nice product and service." "TaxBandits, your filing system is amazing. Thank you for having such a great platform to perform the items needed to be done in the crazy tax season." "TaxBandits is so easy to use - simply the BEST tax filing software." "I do quarterly and annual tax filings for 6 small businesses. This year I tried out 3 different companies to complete and efile those forms and TaxBandits was far and away the easiest and most pleasant experience in this regard." "I cannot tell you how thankful I am for TaxBandits and the Sage link. Filing was very simple once I had watched the videos and learned the how-to get it done!""WOW, just WOW, so easy and fast! It is rare to have services exceed your expectations but TaxBandits did just that, thank you." When asked about the recent surge in client appreciation, Agie Sundaram, the CEO and Co-founder of SPAN Enterprises (parent company of TaxBandits), responded with excitement, stating, "Our team works very hard to provide every client with a seamless e-filing experience and customer support that is quick, effective, and most importantly - human. While many companies choose to cut corners and replace expert support with bots and complex phone trees, that's not how we do business. Clients needing assistance can easily reach out to our team and get in touch with one of our representatives. For businesses seeking a reliable e-filing partner with a proven track record of expert customer support, TaxBandits is the perfect choice for you." Join the thousands of happy Business owners and tax professionals meeting today's deadline with TaxBandits by creating a free account atTaxBandits.com About TaxBandits:TaxBandits is a SOC 2 Certified, IRS-authorized e-file provider specializing in1099 ,Form W-2 ,Form 1095-C ,Form 1095-B ,Form 940 ,Form 941 , andForm W-9 . Serving businesses, service providers, and tax professionals, TaxBandits offers a comprehensive solution for year-end filings.Software providers and other high-volume filers can take advantage ofTaxBandits API . The integration allows them to add value for their clients and expand monetization efforts. TaxBandits API enables seamless preparation and e-filing of 1099, W-2, 941, 940, and ACA 1095 forms. Software providers can also use the developer-friendly1099 APIto request W-9s andautomate 1099filings efficiently.About SPAN Enterprises:Headquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina, SPAN Enterprises has been developing industry-leading software tools for e-filing and business management for over a decade. The SPAN Enterprises portfolio includes Tax 990, ACAwise, ExpressExtension, 123PayStubs, and TruckLogics.For any media inquiries, please reach out to Stephanie Glanville, Content Writer at stephanie@ spanenterprises.com ####SOURCE: TaxBandits
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Top Five Conveyor Car Wash Company Expands in Alabama, Minnesota, and OklahomaTHOMASTON, GA / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the nation's fastest-growing express car wash companies, celebrated the opening of three brand-new locations this week in Madison, AL, Eagan, MN, and Bartlesville, OK.To celebrate the Grand Openings, both new locations are offering eight days of free car washes from January 31 - February 7. This limited-time promotion provides an opportunity for car owners to experience Tidal Wave's premium wash option, Graph-X4, at no cost. Additionally, any new customer that joins a Clean Club unlimited wash membership plan during Grand Opening week will enjoy their first month of unlimited washes for only $9.97 - saving up to $40."We're excited to close out January with three grand openings," said Tidal Wave Auto Spa founder and CEO Scott Blackstock. "We started the year strong adding 10 brand-new locations to our footprint across seven states. Our team is looking forward to continuing the momentum into 2024 to bring our industry-leading car wash experience to more communities and is proud to join the Madison, Eagan, and Bartlesville communities this week." Madison, AL Location: 7850 Hwy 72 W, Madison, AL 35758Nearby locations: Athens, Harvest, HuntsvilleEagan, MN Location: 2021 Cliff Lake Road, Eagan, MN 55122Nearby locations: Maplewood, Lino Lakes, Waconia (Coming Soon)Bartlesville, OK Location: 2505 SE Adams Blvd, Bartlesville, OK 74006Tidal Wave Auto Spa currently has 18 Alabama locations, seven Minnesota locations, and three Oklahoma locations. The company has plans for continued expansion throughout all three states in the future and will open new locations in Cullman, AL, Boaz, AL, Waconia, MN, Ponca City, OK, and more in the coming months.Tidal Wave Auto Spa is committed to providing every customer with an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and attractive locations, and friendly customer service at every location. Stop by for a single wash or join Tidal Wave's Clean Club for the ultimate experience. Members can wash every day of the month for one convenient monthly payment and save time with exclusive club member wash lanes - plus, memberships can be used at any Tidal Wave location. For those needing to wash multiple cars, Tidal Wave offers discounted monthly family plans and fleet plans for businesses with five or more vehicles.For additional information, including upcoming locations, fundraising, fleet plans, and more, please visit: https://www.tidalwaveautospa.com/ About Tidal Wave Auto SpaTidal Wave Auto Spa is an industry-leading conveyor car wash company founded in 1999 by Scott and Hope Blackstock in Thomaston, GA. Tidal Wave is committed to providing cutting-edge car care technology and exceptional customer service at each of their 233 locations sprawling 23 states across the South, Midwest, and Northern United States. In 2020, Tidal Wave partnered with Golden Gate Capital to facilitate their accelerated growth across the country. Tidal Wave is one of the top five conveyor car wash companies in the country and has been included in the Inc. 5000 list for America's Fastest Growing Companies since 2020. The company was recognized as a 2023 Champion of Charity Honoree by Professional Carwashing & Detailing and has raised over $3 million dollars for organizations in their communities.Contact InformationHeather ColemanMarketing Managermedia@ tidalwaveautospa.com Andrea TraylorSenior Director of Digital Marketingandrea.traylor@tidalwaveautospa.com 2058212220SOURCE: Tidal Wave Auto SpaView the original press release on newswire.com
Nigerias fourth-best-performing stock last year, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp), reported a two-fold jump in bottom line to N34.1 billion for the 2023 financial, according to its earnings report issued Wednesday.

Energy, which contributed 78 per cent of gross revenue, is the heart of the conglomerate, whose other divisions comprise agro-allied business and hospitality.

Turnover at that flagship subsidiary rose to N151.3 billion from N103.3 billion a year earlier, in turn driving gross revenue, which leapt 44 per cent to N194 billion.

Transcorp financials were released a day after one of its biggest rivals in the energy market, Geregu Power  controlled billionaire magnate Femi Otedola  recorded a 58 per cent jump in post-tax profit to N16.1 billion.

Tony Elumelu, who chairs Transcorps directors board, is its biggest shareholder, just as he is the chairman and top shareholder of Nigerias third biggest bank, United Bank for Africa.

Together with his family, Mr Elumelu holds about 36 per cent stake in Transcorp, by PREMIUM TIMES estimate.

The two billionaire investors were the subject of a top ownership battle at the conglomerate last year, when Mr Otedola started acquiring Transcorps shares surreptitiously, at a point overtaking Mr Elumelu.

The Geregu Power chairman would later offer Mr Elumelu N250 billion to acquire Transcorp, which the latter rejected.

Transcorp has a combined installed generating capacity of 2,000 megawatts from three power plants, while Geregu has 972 megawatts.

Transcorps finance cost for the year soared by roughly 60 per cent on the back of higher cost of servicing foreign debt after a free fall in the value of naira, following several foreign exchange reforms during the year, worsened the conversion rate of the local currency into dollar.

Profit before tax accelerated 84.5 per cent to N55.9 billion, while profit after tax advanced to N34.1 billion from N16.8 billion.

Transcorp may likely come under funding pressures in the short time as its current liabilities surpassed its current assets by as much as 39.2 per cent or N106.6 billion.

That could force it to turn to lenders for financing to bridge the gap.

Trade and other receivables, which represent the cash that is due from trade partners, jumped to N140.3 billion from N82.6 billion a year ago.

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Femi Otedola, billionaire businessman and chairman of Geregu Power Plc, today emerged as the chairperson of the board of FBN Holdings Plc, whose flagship arm is First Bank.

The change of guard happened at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Group in Lagos on Wednesday, company insiders told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Otedola succeeds Ahmad Abdullahi, a seasoned economist who was appointed chair of the Holdco on 17 December 2021.

Mr Otedola became a non-executive director of FBN Holdings on 14 August 2023, months after he acquired a substantial stake in First Bank.

Mr Otedola is the financial institutions biggest and only substantial shareholder, holding a 5.6 per cent stake.

He has had investments in port agency, shipping, storage and insurance brokerage. In 2007, he acquired a controlling interest in African Petroleum, which later metamorphosed into Forte Oil. Forte Oil itself would later be sold and renamed Ardova.

Geregu Power, which he took public in October 2022, accounts for about nine per cent of Nigerias grid electricity.

He has held several board memberships, including President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping and as past Chairman of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

He was part of the National Economic Management Team, chaired by former President Goodluck Jonathan from 2011 to 2015. At the moment, he is a member of the National Peace Committee.

A botched move to become the chief shareholder of Transnational Corporation, Nigerias biggest conglomerate by market value, in April 2023 saw him sell his stake of 6.3 per cent to rival Tony Elumelu.

This January, Mr Otedola acquired a significant stake in Dangote Cement, a company largely owned by his friend, Aliko Dangote. The exact value of his shares remained unknown, but those close to him say his holdings are worth more than N6 billion.

Femi Otedola is a dyed-in-wool and visionary entrepreneur whose energy is directed at transforming enterprises and putting them on the path of growth, First Bank Holding said of the businessman while announcing his appointment as non-executive director in August 2023.

He was thrust into the publics consciousness with his foray into the downstream sector of the oil industry when he started Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited.

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Nigeria has witnessed a steady increase in active voice and internet subscriptions, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said.

The NCC said this in a statement signed by Reuben Muoka, the director of public affairs of the commission, on Tuesday.

Mr Muoka said this also includes a drop in teledensity which has been adjusted to reflect the latest population growth figures, in line with international best practices.

He explained that the adjustment which is reflected in the telecom industry statistical reports of September, October, and November 2023 published on the commissions website, was predicated upon the Nigerian Population Commissions projection of 216 million as of 2022, replacing the previously used 2017 projection of 190 million people.

With the consequential adjustment, which is in line with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)s calculation of teledensity, the nations teledensity dropped from 115.63 per cent to 102.30 per cent in September, while broadband penetration witnessed a similar drop from 45.47 per cent to 40.85 per cent in the same month, the statement said.

He said the active voice subscription statistics witnessed a marginal growth from 220,361,186 to 221,769,883 as of September 2023.

In addition, Mr Muoka said internet subscriptions also enjoyed a marginal growth, from 159,034,717 in August 2023 to 160,171,757 in September 2023.

In October 2023, he said, the industry also experienced a 0.19 per cent growth in active voice subscriptions while teledensity stood at 102.49 per cent with internet subscriptions increasing by 0.60 per cent compared to September 2023.

In November of the same year, the statement added that the industry also experienced a 0.46 per cent growth in active voice subscriptions. Teledensity stood at 102.97 per cent with a 0.57 per cent increase in internet subscriptions when compared to October 2023.

Teledensity is an index prescribed by the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, for the measurement of telephone penetration in a population by a factor of one line per 100 individuals in the population.

The adjustment by the commission is consistent with Section 89, subsection 3(d) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (NCA 2003). It mandates the commission to monitor and report on the state of the Nigerian telecommunications industry, provide statistical analysis and identify industry trends concerning services, tariffs, operators, technology, subscribers, and issues of competition.

Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, affirmed the nations telecom statistical adjustment process as an appropriate step to maintain the integrity of data about the Nigerian telecom industry as collected, collated, and published by the commission.

He noted that this will also ensure the accurate measurement of the commissions progress towards attaining increased broadband penetration rates, improved quality of service, and increased population coverage, among other targets set out in the strategic plan for the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.

He also said such data provides information for both the International Telecommunications Union to which Nigeria belongs, and other development agencies as well as the operators, investors, multilateral agencies, and the public.

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An APC member of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Gagdi, has said he will only relent once Sadiya Marshall, a popular commentator and businesswoman, produces all the evidence she claims to have against his wife, Layla Othman.

Arewa social media has been agog since Saturday when Sadiya posted a video on Facebook threatening to reveal her erstwhile best friends dirty secrets.

She alleged that Laylah, who married lawmaker Gagdi in 2023, has a series of secret relationships.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the trouble began when Sadiyas associate leaked an audio conversation between himself and Laylah, wherein the latter described her friend as a talkative and troublesome person.

Sadiyas social media outbursts were a response to her friends alleged remarks.

Gagdis response

The lawmaker reacted to the ongoing spat on his X handle when a follower asked if he knew of Sadiyas controversial video and remarks against his wife. His response suggested that Sadiya was being detained over the comments and damning Facebook video.

Mr unknown, ask for her whereabouts she will take her same mouth and counter her many lies against my wife. She cannot be in detention for two days now and wouldnt produce the so-called evidence that she claimed to have. Read my lips I will make sure that she go jail  Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, PhD, OON (@YusufAdamuGagdi) January 29, 2024

He wrote, Ask for her (Sadiya) whereabouts. She will take the same mouth and counter her many lies against my wife. She cannot be in detention for two days now and wouldnt produce the evidence she claimed to have.

Read my lips. I will make sure that she (Sadiya) goes to jail if she doesnt produce the videos, pictures, text messages and audio recordings of my wife with anyone, not even with the convict that she (Sadiya) claimed she had.

Maybe she wants to go to Kuje and spend some years with her co-travellers. Say what you wish, Malam; I will stand by my wife for better and worse. My wives (Family) are no go area to anyone, Gagdi wrote.

Sadiya, who has been off social media since Saturday, has yet to respond to Mr Gagdis threats.

Laylas response

In a video Layla posted on her Facebook page on Wednesday, she corroborated what her husband said.

In the two-minute video, Layla thanked her friends for all the birthday wishes and advice since Marshals video went viral.

 I thank everyone for the birthday wishes, and I want also to say here that my husband and I are taking legal action against Marshal. She has to prove what she accused me of.

Sadiyas controversial video/claims

In the 13-minute video recorded in Hausa, Sadiya warned Laylah to steer clear of her and stop talking about her in her conversations.

I have heard what you said, and you said I am troublesome. Let me tell you, and open your ears wide. Never did you call my name or any family member in any of your waffles from today. You know I know who you are and all your secrets. I will expose you to the world if you try me again. Who do you think you are? Calling me a troublesome person did not sit well with me, and I am warning you to seal up your mouth, or I will expose you to the world.

You started by brainwashing young girls not to respect their husbands and to be feminist in their dealings. You also lied that you will not marry a married man again in many of your interviews on social media. Yet you married a family man now, a member of the House of Representatives.

You think we dont know why you married him. We know it is about his money. And you have the plan to divorce him when he leaves office. I know all your boyfriends and what you do to them.

Sadiya accused Laylah of sending nude pictures and videos to some of her boyfriends in Abuja, claiming they were in her (Marshals) possession.

I have your videos, photos, and even audio conversations of what you do and what you tell people about me. They record and send it to me. If you speak again, I will expose you and tell the world who you are. I want you to know that I was the one who recommended Abdulrasheed Maina, who was at Kuje prison in Abuja, to patronise your restaurant.

That they should buy food for him from you. I know all your hidden and dangerous escapades, all your boyfriends. You hide under your restaurant to pretend that is where you make money from. That is a lie, and we know what you are doing.

Sadiya also said that her friend had a false identity.

I dare you to deny changing your name from Hauwa Ali to Laylah Othman. That was your reality, but you changed it because you are not proud of yourself and your family.

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YouTube has taken down Emmanuel TV, the main channel run by the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).

It is the second time in three years that openDemocracys reporting has led to YouTube suspending content from Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).

openDemocracy is a UK-based independent media platform and news website.

This development comes on the heels of the damning BBC Africa Eye documentary expose on the late renowned Nigerian pastor Temitope Joshua, widely known as T.B. Joshua, as it delved into serious allegations against the deceased pastor.

The documentary, released on 8 January, has generated diverse reactions and pitted the churchs faithful, some Nigerian personalities and celebrities against critics.

In April 2021, PREMIUM TIMES reported that a YouTube belonging to the church, which had amassed more than 1.8 million subscribers, was closed after openDemocracy contacted YouTube to inquire whether its content violated community guidelines.

The new closure, as reported by openDemocracy on Monday, followed allegations that the late preacher had groomed and raped multiple former leaders of his ministry over decades.

The report highlighted openDemocracys identification and reporting of over 50 abusive videos on the video platform, amplifying abuse against Joshuas accusers.

The report added that YouTubes policies against cyberbullying and harassment, mainly targeting survivors of sexual violence, were underscored.

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According to the report, YouTube accounts promoted SCOAN broadcasts and shared archival video footage depicting the experiences of whistleblowers while they were church members.

These videos, filmed initially by the churchs Emmanuel TV media department, showcased women participating in an investigative documentary undergoing humiliating rituals and confessing to alleged moral wrongdoing.

Furthermore, openDemocracy stated that the sharing of the clips aimed to discredit the survivors, alleging that SCOAN habitually employed psychological manipulation, near starvation, and isolation against members.

The survivors reported that the church videotaped these confessions as a form of blackmail, intending to threaten ex-disciples with exposure or reputational damage should they speak out about their experiences.

App to the rescue

In response to the clampdown, SCOAN introduced a new app for its Emmanuel TV cable channel on the Android platform.

The announcement was made on the churchs Facebook page on Sunday, less than two weeks after the cable channel ceased airing on Multichoices DStv and GOtv platforms.

The statement read, The New Emmanuel TV Android App can now be downloaded from the Emmanuel.TV website for any Android Smartphone. For Samsung Galaxy Phone users, we advise you to download the New Emmanuel TV Android App in the Samsung Galaxy Store).

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Tobe, the son of Nollywood actress Omoni Oboli, is engaged to his fiancee, Marelle.

Ms Oboli announced this on her Instagram page on Wednesday, expressing her overflowing joy.

Tobe, the actresss first son, proposed to Marelle on a cold winter night.

The 45-year-old actress married Nnamdi Oboli in 2000 at 22, and they have three sons: Gozi, Chizi and Tobe.

The actress described Marelle as someone deeply in love with the new family and expressed gratitude to God for being too good to her family.

She wrote: My heart has been bursting with joy, and I cant keep it to myself. It was a cold winter night when our son Tobe asked the love of his life, Marelle, to marry him. We are so thankful for the gift of this perfect and gorgeous daughter.

Thank you, Tobe @tobeoboli, for choosing a wife that shares our familys values. We absolutely love our new family, and God has been too good to us.

Marelle @marelle.b wanted a simple diamond ring with three stones and trusted @bozdiamonds to deliver exactly what she requested. Online aunties and uncles, we have a wedding to plan.

Ms Obolis colleagues took to the posts comments section to congratulate her and her son.

Kiekie, Ini Edo, Obi-Cubana, and others were among the actresses and actors who sent congratulations.

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The Jigawa State Government and the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) have signed an innovative partnership that will ensure stable electricity across the state.

Under the deal, Jigawa State, in partnership with Future Energies Africa, the new core investor in KEDCO, will be increasing its shareholding in KEDCO from 7.5% to 10% while also committing KEDCO to an electrification partnership, Hamisu Gumel, the governors spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday.

The partnership will see KEDCO (and partners) invest to build up to 10 megawatts of solar-interconnected mini-grids in the key urban hubs of Dutse, Gumel, Hadejia, Kafin Hausa, Kazaure, and Ringim to augment the power supply and ensure stable electricity across the state, Mr Gumel said.

He said the partnership will also see KEDCO complete the Gagarawa-Taura-Ringim line and connect the communities on the axis to the grid.

The agreement between the Jigawa State Government and KEDCO will include the two parties partnering on joint electrification plans to raise access levels for electricity in the state to greater than 90 per cent by 2030.

The electrification plans will include grid expansion, embedded generation, solar hybrid mini-grids, and solar home systems across the state.

This agreement is in line with Governor Mallam Umar Namadis dynamic agenda for the state, dubbed The Agenda for Greater Jigawa, which is encapsulated in the Governors 12-point agenda blueprint for the development of Jigawa State Mr Gumel explained.

The multi-billion-naira agreement is expected to catalyse the continued transformation of Jigawa into an agro-processing and renewable energy hub, was signed on Tuesday in the presence of the governor at the Council Chamber of the Government House, Dutse.

At the event, Governor Namadi remarked that with stable electricity across the state, the lives of our people will be improved, and we can sustain a consistent double-digit growth rate to expel more and more people from poverty and make Jigawa State a prime destination for investment and jobs in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Kano DISCO, Adamu Ibrahim Gumel, emphasised his companys aspirations and commitment to diversify green energy in partnership with the state government.

We are very excited about this agreement. The new core investor in KEDCO is focused on ensuring that KEDCO becomes the best DISCO in Nigeria in the next few years. We hope to unveil similar partnerships with Kano and Katsina states later this year as part of our broad recapitalisation exercise.

READ ALSO: Kano politician remanded over speculated planned reinstatement of Sanusi as emir

We will make KEDCO the first green electricity distribution company in sub-Saharan Africa while supporting the development agendas of the state governments in our franchise areas, the KEDCO chairman said.

The Secretary to Jigawa State Government, Bala Ibrahim, signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the Jigawa State Government, while the Chairman of the Board of Directors of KEDCO, Mr Adamu Ibrahim, signed for the company.

The partnership for renewable electricity between the Jigawa State Government and KEDCO is the first of its kind in the country, Mr Gumel said.

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The Presidency has dismissed a statement by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar calling on President Bola Tinubu to step aside if he could not resolve the nations security challenges.

Atiku had in a statement posted on X said President Tinubu was fiddling while Nigeria was drowning in insecurity.

Tinubu is playing fiddle while Nigeria is drowning in the ocean of insecurity. Imagine that the Commander-in-Chief is on a so-called private visit.

At the same time, kidnappers kill a nursing mother and grandmother in Abuja for failing to pay N90m ransom and two monarchs in Ekiti, among other regular tragedies besetting Nigerians.

If the shoes are too big for Emilokan, he should step aside. Nigeria does not need another Tourist-in-Chief.

The country needs 24/7 leadership to confront the pervasive insecurity and collapsing economy, Atiku said.

The former vice presidents statement comes few days after he asked President Tinubu to explain the $3.3 billion NNPCL repayment loan deal.

But the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Atikus statement as reckless,

Mr Onanuga said the president is on top of the situation despite his current private visit to France.

While in France, President Tinubu has been following developments at home and he is on top of the situation in the country. Todays inauguration of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum wage bore his imprimatur, he said.

He is in constant touch with his officials and security chiefs and has directed them to stamp out every form of criminality in the country.

He has particularly ordered them to apprehend those criminals responsible for the murder of two monarchs in Ekiti State and the kidnapping of some pupils in the state, he said.

Mr Onanuga said Atiku may still nursing hangover of his electoral defeat as he latches on any issue to attack President Tinubu.

He said if the former vice president was really concerned about security issues and not playing cheap politics, he should have known that President Tinubu is on top of issues and working hard to restore peace to every part of our country.

President Tinubu left Nigeria for France last Wednesday and would return in the first week of February.

There have been killings and kidnappings as well as other forms of criminal activities since the president travelled.

For instance, on Monday, two traditional rulers were murdered by suspected bandits in Ekiti State.

Read the full statement by Mr Onanuga:

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

President Tinubu on top of domestic situation:

RESPONSE TO ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR

Alhaji Atiku Abubakars statement accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of fiddling amidst some security and economic challenges is to say the least, reckless.

Coming days after he made an equally reckless allegation against the President on the crude for loan deal for NNPC Limited, his latest statement fell short of what is expected from an elder statesman.

We like to believe that Alhaji Atiku is still not nursing hangover of his electoral defeat and now latches on any issue to attack President Tinubu.

President Tinubu did not travel without informing Nigerians of his whereabout. He announced a private visit to France and announced a return date.

While in France, President Tinubu has been following developments at home and he is on top of the situation in the country. Todays inauguration of the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum wage bore his imprimatur .

He is in constant touch with his officials and security chiefs and has directed them to stamp out every form of criminality in the country.

He has particularly ordered them to apprehend those criminals responsible for the murder of two monarchs in Ekiti State and the kidnapping of some pupils in the state.

We are already seeing results with the arrest of over 139 kidnappers around Abuja, Kaduna and Benue States in the last one week. The police Special Intervention Squad (SIS) and DSS have also rescued 154 abducted persons in the last few days.

Just last week President Tinubu approved N50billion as Special Fund to address some of the lingering security challenges in North East where Alhaji Atiku hails from. To cope with the kidnapping challenges in the FCT, President Tinubu also approved funds for the acquisition of equipment to track criminals.

If Alhaji Atiku is really concerned about security issues and not playing cheap politics, he should have known that President Tinubu is on top of issues and working hard to restore peace to every part of our country.

Our security agencies are working very hard to bring the security situation under control. President Tinubu is giving them all the necessary support they need to win the battle against criminal elements and secure every inch of our country.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy

January 30, 2024

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Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru has said the government will adopt the results of research carried out by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) on the security situation in the country.

Mr Badaru said this on Wednesday in Abuja when he received Executives of the institute led by the Director General, Ayo Omotayo.

He said that the research findings would be studied and applied to help mitigate security threats and promote peace and stability in the country.

Mr Badaru also said the defence ministry would partner with NIPSS in the fight against insecurity, adding that the outcome of the recent summit on insecurity in Northern Nigeria would be forwarded to the institute for proper analysis.

The minister said that the institute was an apparatus of change and had contributed to the development of the nation in various ways, including strengthening the security architecture of the country.

He assured Nigerians that the government and security forces were taking measures to address the security situation bedevilling the country.

In his remark, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ibrahim Kana, said that the ongoing reforms in the defence sector were meant to enhance inter-agency cohesion and professionalism, as well as strengthen military-civil interactions.

Earlier, Mr Omotayo said that the visit was to solicit the support of the ministry in the areas of security, infrastructure and deployment of directing staff to the institute.

(NAN)

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An opinion piece that you describe, praises or criticizes, on the whole or partly, to cultural or entertainment work. It must be written by an expert on the matter

The first scenes of Apple TV+ drama Criminal Record are a small lesson in storytelling. They also serve as a preview of what the viewer can expect over the following episodes. We see a close-up of Daniel Hegarty (a sinister and impeccable Peter Capaldi, who seamlessly detaches himself from his most charismatic role as Doctor Who). Hes a cop who earns extra money as a chauffeur for VIP clients. There is something shady in his look and his way of speaking, providing more information than in the flashbacks so common to the genre. In the background is a dated London at night.

The impeccable pace of this series then leads us to the phone call that triggers the case: a battered woman claims that her boyfriend has confessed to her that he committed a murder for which another man is serving a 24-year prison sentence. Fielding the call is a young and ambitious detective, June Lenker (Cush Jumbo, who fans of The Good Wife and The Good Fight will remember fondly). She pieces things together, no matter how much trouble it brings or how much Detective Chief Inspector Hegarty  who led the case that condemned an innocent man  belittles her, sets traps, and does everything possible to prevent her from uncovering his trickery and corruption. The parallel stories (the life of the son of the falsely accused man, for example, and how he tries to cope with a father in jail and in a hostile environment) are told in the right measure and acquire full meaning when integrated into the main plot.

Peter Capaldi in a scene from the first episode of 'Criminal Record.' apple tv

Midway through the eight-episode miniseries, the story unfolds after the murder of a 9-year-old boy in a park. Lenker steps into the lions den and joins the investigation team led, precisely, by Hegarty. Here we see another side of Capaldis character: that of a corrupt and frightening cop, but also a man willing to do anything to catch the killers. It sends shivers down the spine, but by giving Hegarty these blurred edges, the story becomes uncomfortable and gripping for the viewer. Despite appearances, Dan is one of the good guys, a chief tells Lenker about the shady DCI. It is left to the viewer to make the final judgment.

That would be enough for a police procedural measured to the millimeter, which British television does so well, but Criminal Record goes much further. It is a story of women fighting to stay alive and to denounce and bring down those who are killing them. It is also a drama about male violence, so measured, so intense, so well-written and acted that it is genuinely unsettling. It is also about the power of organized crime in big cities, and the pain and incomprehension felt by the innocent caught in the crossfire.

Tom Moutchi as the falsely accused Errol in 'Criminal Record.'

The viewer should not expect a series that offers theses or heavy sociological analysis: the plot twists are delivered in an almost perfect puzzle, which skillfully ups the pace in the final third without derailing. Lenker is tenacious, she gets closer to the truth, but all that crime stains those who investigate it; it affects their families, their way of seeing the world, and of inhabiting reality. It fills their existence with darkness and trauma, whether they are young police officers with beautiful families or lonely and tainted individuals at the end of their careers. That is the most difficult thing to portray in crime fiction and, again, those behind Criminal Record nail it.
The police in Ekiti State say they have arrested five suspected kidnappers during a bush combing exercise on Tuesday.

The operation was in response to two attacks by bandits in Ekiti on Monday resulting in the death of two monarchs and the kidnapping of school children, a bus driver and teachers.

A statement by Police Public Relations Office for Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, on Tuesday, states that five persons were arrested in the forest during a bush combing operation.

In a bid to flush criminal elements, especially kidnappers, out of the state, a combined team of the police, NSCDC, Amotekun, O.P.C and local hunters embarked on a bush combing operation through Oke-Osun, Ikere/Igbo-Okah to the thick forest around Iju/Ikere boundary.

During the operation, five suspected kidnappers, namely Usman Jelili, Mohammed Banded, Abubakar Aliu, Isah Abdullahi and Suleiman Abdulahi were arrested, the statement read.

Mr Abutu said the suspects claimed to be herdsmen during interrogation, but it was later discovered that none of them has a cattle and no cattle was found with them in the forest where they were arrested.

He listed the items found with them in the forest to include two motorcycles, one cutlass, one jack knife/dagger and four phones.

Mr Abutu, however, did not disclose whether any of the suspects was involved in the two incidences of kidnapping, which occured on Monday in different locations in Ekiti State.

Besides the kidnapping of six school pupils, three teachers and a driver by unknown gunmen on Monday, bandits also attacked a vehicle conveying three traditional rulers, opened fire on them, killing two of them in the process.

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The Taraba State Police Command on Tuesday says its officers rejected a bribe of over N8.5 million offered them after they intercepted a vehicle in Jalingo, the state capital.

Joseph Eribo, the state commissioner of police disclosed this while parading some suspects at the state police headquarters in Jalingo.

According to the police chief, the incident happened on Monday at about 9:45 p.m.

He said officers attached to the 40 Police Mobile Force (PMF) on a nipping point duty at Yaggai, along the Jalingo-Yola bye-pass had intercepted a Toyota Starlet car with registration number YLA 321 ZY.

Mr Eribo said the sum of N8.5 million suspected to be ransom money was found in possession of the suspect, Aliyu Mohammed, M aged 35 years of Mubi, Adamawa State.

When interrogated, the suspect could not give a satisfactory account of himself, hence search was conducted on his vehicle and the following items were recovered in his possession: a cash sum of eight million, five hundred and fifty- five thousand-naira (N8,555,000).

He said other items found include seven phones, three thousand unused MTN recharge cards and seven amulets.

The suspect bribed the PMF personnel requesting them to take the whole money and allow him to go, but the PMF personnel refused and arrested him accordingly, Mr Eribo said.

In another development, officers attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the police arrested some suspected kidnappers and other suspects in Jalingo, Lau and Yorro, including the alleged mastermind of the kidnapping of a third-class chief of Pupule and others.

Acting on credible information the Police operatives attached to the Anti- Kidnapping unit, on the 22/01/2024 swung into action and moved to Maihula town in Bali LGA where they arrested one Badon Linus M 30yrs old of Gwampa village Yorro LGA.

The suspect fled Yorro to Maihula to evade arrest after alleged participation in a series of kidnapping incidents around Yorro, Zing and Lau LGAs. The suspect has confessed to the crime, that he led the syndicate that kidnapped the third-class chief of Pupule, a pastor and others.

Mr Eribo paraded over 20 suspects accused of taking part in kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes across the state.

He said several AK-47 rifles, ammunition, transformer oil and cables believed to be properties of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) were recovered from the suspects.

Mr Eribo said the Command would always remain resolute in protecting life and property in the state.

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The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, says Nigeria needs the right police personnel officers with mental mobility and fertile minds to relate effectively, with the public.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the statement, Mr Arase spoke when he paid a courtesy visit to the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Is-haq Oloyede.

Mr Arase said the focus of discussion during the visit was on the process of engaging JAMB to conduct Computer Based Tests for applicants seeking employment in the Constable Cadre of the Nigeria Police.

He said the Police Force he joined 42 years ago was knowledge-based with officers who could relate with the public and engender love and confidence.

The PSC boss said there was a need for a paradigm shift in the recruitment of Nigerian youths into the police.

If the commission can get 50 per cent high flyers with this recruitment, the progression to a better and effective police service would have started.

Mentally mobile policemen will have self-confidence and be capable of discharging their duties creditably, Arase said.

According to him, going forward, the JAMB computer-based tests will be done first before the screening exercises to weed out those with questionable certificates.

In his remark, the JAMB registrar commended Mr Arase for the visit and pledged to support the commission in its project to change the narrative of the Nigeria Police for good.

He urged the PSC boss to take note of the peculiarities of the countrys diverse population and get the best for every state and zone in the recruitment process. (NAN)

IMC/MAM/SH

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A Technical Committee, comprising the security agencies met in Abuja on Tuesday to discuss ways of tackling the security challenges in the nations mining sector.

The meeting, held at the Police Force Headquarters, had representatives from the armed forces, police, NSCDC, Federal Ministries of Solid Minerals, Environment, and other relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Adejobi said the core mandate of the committee is to curb illegal mining activities perpetrated by both foreigners and Nigerians.

The mandate of the proposed Taskforce is multifaceted, aiming to curb illegal mining activities perpetrated by both foreigners and Nigerians.

Key objectives include enhancing security in mining areas, enforcing mining laws, ensuring proper warehousing and monitoring of explosives, and advancing environmental sustainability in our mining operations, the statement said.

Read the full press release:

In line with the frantic efforts of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government of Nigeria, to emplace sanity in the countrys mining sector, the technical committee charged by the federal government to set up a joint task force, convened on Tuesday 30th January 2024, at the instance of the IGP, Abuja to address the challenges posed by illegal mining in Nigeria.

The Committee meeting, which was held at the Police Force Headquarters, had in attendance the representatives from the Armed Forces, Police, NSCDC, Ministry of Solid Minerals, Environment, and other relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

The mandate of the proposed Taskforce is multifaceted, aiming to curb illegal mining activities perpetrated by both foreigners and Nigerians.

Key objectives include enhancing security in mining areas, enforcing mining laws, ensuring proper warehousing and monitoring of explosives, and advancing environmental sustainability in our mining operations.

The Nigeria Police Force, security forces, and other MDAs remain steadfast in supporting the agenda of the federal governments quest for economic recovery and growth as well as the socio-political development of Nigeria. The insecurity challenges in the countrys mining

Many mining areas in Nigeria are currently experiencing illegal mining activities, which are often perpetrated by individuals or groups both National and foreigners seeking quick gains without adhering to regulations.

This has led to various forms of insecurity challenges in some parts of the country. A typical example was the recent explosion in Ibadan which the state confirmed was caused by illegal miners who were storing up explosive devices in a residential area of Bodija.

On January 16 an explosion killed five persons, injured 77 and destroyed 58 houses in the Old Bodija area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, further declared that the preliminary investigations by security agencies revealed that the explosion was caused by explosive devices stored by illegal miners.

Additionally, the presence of bandits and criminal elements in mining regions further complicates security in the sector.

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The police in Ondo State have arrested a 22-year-old man, Bakare Ayobami, for allegedly buying a car with a fake bank alert.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Akure.

Mr Odunlami-Omisanya said that on 26 Oct 2023, a case of cybercrime was reported to the Police, involving one Bakare Ayobami aged 22, of Ode Irele in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The PPRO explained that Mr Ayobami had on 20 Oct 2023 at about 1800hrs, gone to a car stand belonging to Filani Oluwaseun and Ogbaguwa Oluwasola at Ikare Road, Owo, to buy a Toyota Corolla 2006 model in the sum of N4,650,000.00 using fake bank alert.

According to the PPRO, through intelligence gathering, police operatives attached to the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad, arrested Ayobami Bakare and his accomplice, one Abdullahi Abubakar, aged 26, in Ekiti.

The stolen vehicle was recovered in Osogbo, Osun State, while another Toyota Camry 2014 model valued at N6.2 million suspected to have been stolen, was also recovered from the suspect.

Other items recovered include one iPhone 12 PRO Max valued at N600,000.00k and one iPhone 14 PRO, all purchased with fake transfer, he said.

Mrs Odunlami-Omisanya, who said that the suspect had confessed to the crime, said he would be charged in court after investigation.

(NAN)

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An official of the Anambra State Government, South-east Nigeria, has intercepted a 38-year-old woman in the state who was scouting for people who could buy her two sons from her.

The older son, whom she put up for sale, is nine years old while the other is eight.

The woman, Chinyere Chukwu, and her first daughter, Joy, have been arrested for the alleged offence, according to a statement by Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, a media aide to the State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo.

How they were caught

Ms Ikeanyionwu, in the statement on Wednesday, said the woman and her 17-year-old daughter were arrested after Mrs Obinabo approached them and pretended to be a willing buyer.

The media aide said the commissioners action followed a tip-off that the suspects were looking for a buyer for the children.

Mrs Chukwu hails from Ozubulu, a community in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, but she resides in Okija, a community in the Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.

Why she did it

The statement said when Mrs Chukwu was questioned at Prof Dora Akunyili Women Development Center Awka, she said she and her daughter decided to sell the two sons because of economic hardship.

The suspect claimed she had 11 children, but could not cater for them, which pushed her to consider selling the two children.

She further said that she had only two children with her husband and gave birth to the remaining nine children after her husbands death, but could not give them adequate care because of hardship.

Mrs Chukwu, according to the statement, said she had resolved to sell the two sons at N1 million each, but after bargaining, the two sons were sold to the commissioner for N1.8 million.

The suspect said she developed an interest in selling the children after her unnamed neighbour sold her children to some buyer.

She claimed this was her first time selling children.

On her part, the 17-year-old daughter, Joy, said the plan was to use the proceeds from the sale to fund her tertiary education.

Meanwhile, Mrs Obinabo has ordered that the remaining children of the suspect should be taken into the state governments custody for proper care, the statement said.

She also directed that the suspects neighbour be arrested for allegedly selling her child, adding that contact tracing of the child will be carried out to retrieve the baby from the buyer.

The commissioner said the Anambra State Government is determined to eradicate crimes in the state. She warned that people who engage in any crime would be prosecuted.

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The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment and deployment of 10 commissioners of police (CPs) to various commands in the country.

Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

The newly-appointed CPs include Peter Opara, Osun; Olughemiga Adesina, Benue; Akinwale Adeniran, Ekiti; Mohammed Abba, Adamawa; Beneth Igwe, FCT, and Abaniwonda Olufemi, Delta.

Others are Ademola Ayilara, Akwa Ibom; David Iloyanomon, Taraba; Abayomi Peter, Ondo State, and Hassan Yabnet, Plateau.

Mr Ani said the appointment and deployment followed the promotion of 14 deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) to the rank of CP.

He said the PSC Chairman, Solomon Arase, had called on the newly deployed CPs to rebuild public trust in the police through robust partnership.

Mr Arase warned that the commission would not accept any excuse for failure in delivering effective and efficient leadership.

He pledged the commitment of the commission to continue to encourage the CPs but warned that the security of lives and properties in their areas of jurisdiction should not be taken for granted.

(NAN)

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The Commonwealth has appointed former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, as head of its Election Observation Mission to Pakistans general elections scheduled for 8 February.

Mr Jonathan will be leading a group of multidisciplinary experts from across the Commonwealth to observe the elections in Pakistan and offer an independent and comprehensive assessment of the electoral process.

In a letter to Mr Jonathan, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, expressed her gratitude to the former Nigerian president for agreeing to undertake the assignment, adding that the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) would benefit from his leadership, experience and wisdom.

The Commonwealth Secretariat, in a statement, said the 13-member Observer Group is due to arrive in Islamabad on 1 February 2024 and will remain in the country until the electoral process is completed.

It quoted the Commonwealth Secretary-General as applauding Pakistans commitment to transparency and accountability, adding that the organisation is pleased to support Pakistans democratic journey and looks forward to peaceful and fair elections.

Speaking further on the mission, Ms Scotland said: I am grateful that the former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has once again accepted our invitation to serve as Chair of an election observer group. The team of observers will assess the conduct of the process as a whole and, where appropriate, make recommendations for the further strengthening of the electoral system.

It is hoped that these recommendations will be of benefit to the people and government of Pakistan in strengthening their electoral processes. The Commonwealth Secretariat would be ready to assist with this process, if deemed necessary.

She also called on all stakeholders, including political parties and their supporters, to contribute to a peaceful election in keeping with the Commonwealth values.

During their stay, the members of the observer group will be stationed throughout the country. The COG will be supported by a team from the Commonwealth Secretariat led by Mr. Linford Andrews, Adviser and Head of the Electoral Support Section.

The Commonwealth further stated that while in Pakistan, the members of the observer group will also meet with a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from political parties, election officials, the media and civil society groups.

On election day, members of the COG will observe and consider all aspects of the election process across Pakistan- from the opening of polling stations and the voting process to the counting of ballots and announcement of results. Following election day, the group will hold a press conference and issue an interim statement with its preliminary findings.

The statement added that a final report, which will include recommendations to help improve future electoral processes, will be presented to the government of Pakistan and the Election Commission. The report will also be shared with other stakeholders.

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The Governor of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has signed into law Executive Order 001 of 2024 on the safe handling and storage of harmful substances in the state.

This is coming after the explosion that rocked Ibadan on 16 January in which five people lost their lives, 77 were left injured and many properties were destroyed.

During the brief signing ceremony held at his private office on Wednesday, Mr Makinde said the move was necessary to prevent a recurrence of the Bodija explosion where explosives were stored in a residential area.

The governor urged companies or individuals with harmful substances stored in residential areas in the state to notify the state government.

He said failure to comply with the provisions of the executive order shall constitute an offence and shall be punishable by the law.

Mr Makinde, who was also at the ground zero of the explosion site, disclosed that structural integrity tests on affected buildings have been concluded, adding that the official report is expected next week.

The governor disclosed that most patients hospitalised due to the explosion have been discharged, with only one person awaiting surgery.

We have also continued our engagement with the affected community and we are working towards supporting them to resume their normal lives.

We have scheduled an expanded meeting for Tuesday, 6 February, after which we will outline the next steps our administration will take on this issue, Mr Makinde said.

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The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has set aside the suspension of Augustine Agada, the chairperson of the Benue State chapter of the party.

Mr Agada was suspended on Monday by APC Ehaje Ward 1 in Owukpa of Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesperson of the APC, Felix Morka, announced the revocation of the suspension on Wednesday in a statement.

The NWC directed the chapter to stay in action pending a review by the national body.

The party has directed that the said suspension and all related actions in the matter be, and are hereby, set aside pending further review and decision of the Partys National Working Committee (NWC) on the matter.

Therefore, Mr Augustine Agada remains a bonafide member, and the Chairman of the Benue State Chapter, of our party, the statement reads in part.

Crisis-ridden party

The Benue APC has been in crisis for a couple of months. There are speculations that the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, have been locked in a supremacy battle for the control of the party.

Mr Agada, who is believed to be in the camp of Mr Akume, has been at loggerheads with the governor.

Mr Alia, 56, ditched his cassock last year and emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He won the election on the back of a mass following.

Analysts believe that Mr Akume, a former governor of the state, provided the political structure that ultimately propelled the APC back to power in the state.

Last year, a group of federal lawmakers, loyal to Mr Akume, called for the intervention of President Bola Tinubu as they accused the governor of marginalising the members of the ruling party in the state.

Also, last week the APC candidate for Benue South Senatorial District in the 2023 General Elections, Daniel Onjeh, petitioned the national headquarters of the party, accusing Mr Agada of anti-party activities.

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Evergrande has become the most visible face of the deep liquidity crisis that has been sweeping Chinas real estate sector in recent years. The industry represents a quarter of the second-largest economy on the planet. The company led the market until 2021, when its serious financial problems began to come to light: it had a large debt that snowballed until the companys liquidation was decreed by a Hong Kong court on Monday after months of turmoil.

Below are the key dates in Evergrandes collapse.

August 2021: A warning from the authorities

The construction of numerous Evergrande projects throughout China experience stoppages because of debts coming due. Faced with this situation, the central bank and financial authorities summon the groups leaders, urging them to reduce debt risks and prioritize stability.

September 2021: Default on payments and free fall on the stock market

The clearest signs of financial problems are coming from the worlds most indebted real estate company. With a debt of $305 billion, Evergrande defaults on interest payments on two bonds contracted abroad for $131 million, which have a grace period of 30 days. The companys shares are in free fall on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The real estate company warns about the risks of cross-default (default on certain bonds triggering defaults on other financial instruments) due to the slump in property sales.

October 2021: Dodging bankruptcy

Evergrande suspends the trading of its shares in Hong Kong on October 4 and resumes trading on October 21, albeit with a 10% drop in value. The company, which was due to repay $721 million in dollar-denominated bonds and $436 million in domestic yuan bonds between October and December, avoids bankruptcy after depositing these payments at the last minute.

November 2021: Xu Jiayin reduces his stake in the company

Xu Jiayin, the firms chairman who founded the company in 1996, reduces his stake from 77% to 67.9% after selling 1.2 billion shares.

December 2021: Insolvency

The Chinese brick giant is once again facing liquidity problems and defaulting on its debts. The Fitch rating agency declares it insolvent after its official default on the repayment it previously agreed to with its lenders in dollars, amounting to some $82.3 million. Its shares fall to the lowest level since the conglomerate debuted on the market in 2009. The company announces that it will negotiate a restructuring plan with its overseas creditors.

March 2022: The seizure of deposits

Evergrande once again suspends the trading of its shares, citing the inability to produce audited results. In addition, an investigation into the property management unit is opened; banks confiscate 13.4 billion yuan (over $1.86 billion) in deposits from the same.

January 2023: The auditor resigns

PriceWaterhouseCoopers announces that it will not continue to audit the indebted real estate company as it believed that it had not received sufficient information on some key matters for evaluating the companys accounts in 2021.

March 2023: Restructuring

Evergrande presents a plan to restructure part of its offshore debt and offers holders of such bonds new debt securities with the same value and equity-linked instruments, which can be converted into shares of its property management or electric vehicle subsidiaries, both of which are listed in Hong Kong.

July 2023: Losses

Evergrande reports huge net losses: in 2021 they totaled 476.035 billion yuan ($66 billion) and, in 2022, they were 105.914 billion yuan ($14.9 billion). In 2020, the group had generated 8.076 billion yuan ($1.13 billion) in profits.

August 2023: Bankruptcy in the U.S.

Evergrande invokes the suspension of payments law in the United States to avoid the seizure of its assets. This law allows foreign firms that are in the process of restructuring to suspend payments on their international debts in the U.S. The conglomerate announces losses of 33.012 billion yuan ($4.6 billion) in the first half of the year, 50.4% less than during the same period of the previous year. The companys shares are back on the Hong Kong stock exchange after being suspended for five months. However, they take losses of 79%. Evergrande had already lost over 90% of its stock market value when it suspended the trading of its shares in March.

September 2023: Arrests

Shenzhen Police arrest several employees of an Evergrande financial subsidiary, Evergrande Financial Wealth Management. Shortly thereafter, the conglomerate postpones its debt restructuring meetings, citing the need to reevaluate the terms of the proposal. On September 25, Evergrande announces that it cannot comply with the requirements for issuing new debt securities because its subsidiary Hengda Real Estate Group is under investigation by the China Securities and Exchange Regulatory Commission for alleged illegal disclosure of information.

On September 28, it suspends trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange again, after it goes public that Evergrandes CEO and chairman is under investigation. Xu has been under house arrest since then.

December 2023: Creditor opposition

A Hong Kong court approves the seventh extension for Evergrande to finalize its restructuring plan. Later, it is learned that bondholders strongly oppose the companys revised terms.

January 2024: Liquidation

On January 8, Evergrandes electric vehicle subsidiary reveals that its vice chairman, Liu Yongzhuo, was arrested and is under police investigation. The groups creditors join the complaint seeking the developers liquidation.

After over a year and a half of unsuccessful attempts to restructure its offshore debt, on January 29 a Hong Kong court decrees the companys liquidation.

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No fewer than 17 internet fraudsters have been convicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Oyo and Ogun states.

The commissions Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

The commission said the internet fraudsters were convicted by its Ibadan zonal office.

According to the EFCC, the convicts were arrested between 8 and 28 January, and were convicted after they each pleaded guilty to the one-count charge against them.

They were arraigned and convicted by Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan and Justice A.A. Babawale of the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta respectively.

The convicts are Akinbode Abiodun, Samad Tijani Owolabi, Ademola Olabamiji Quadri, Evewiekpoamare Tivere Jackson, Adeagbo Stephen Adegbenro, Adesanya Olamilekan Dare, Yusuf Saka Olaoluwatobi, Akinbode Adedolapo Joshua, Musa Ayinde Olorunnisola and Lawal Mohammed Segun.

Others include Moses Bitrus Bugama, Odude Kehinde Ayomipo, Bashiru Quadri Adeyinka, Ochoche Silas Ochola, Nurudeen Olamilekan Quam, Afeez Adewale Jimoh and Olowookere Ademola Sobbur.

One of the charges read: That you, Adesanya Olamilekan Dare M on or about 24 May 2023, at Ibadan, Oyo State, within the jurisdiction of this Court, fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be a white man by the name, Daryl Huffman, from the United States of America, to one Angie Shepard, through your Facebook account with email address: daryhuffman1960@gmail.com, and other pretences, which pretences you knew to be false, thereby committed the offence of impersonation, contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

Before the convicts were sentenced, facts of the cases were reviewed by the prosecution counsels, as indicting documents and other incriminating materials were tendered as evidence in the court.

They urged the courts to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

Upon the prayers of the prosecution counsels, Justice Babawale convicted and sentenced Sobbur to one year imprisonment without an option of fine. Also, Justice Adetujoye convicted and sentenced Olorunnisola to two months imprisonment; and Jimoh, Quam, Ochola, Adeyinka, Ayomipo, Bugama, Segun and Olaoluwatobi to one month jail term each.

Furthermore, Joshua, Dare, Adegbenro and Abiodun were convicted and sentenced to two weeks imprisonment each without an option of fine while Owolabi, Quadri and Jackson bagged two weeks of community service each, Mr Oyewale said.

The court also ordered the convicts to make restitution to their various victims, including Owolabi who is to pay the sum of N11,749,823.36 (Eleven Million, Seven Hundred and Forty-nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty-three Naira, Thirty-six Kobo).

Items forfeited by the convicts to the Federal Government of Nigeria include one gold colour Lexus ES 330 with Registration number: FKG 184 HZ, one unregistered silver colour Toyota Corolla 2006 model, one black colour Honda Pilot 2004 model with registration number: LSR 783 HW and Chassis number: 2HKYF18464H598117, and one black Lexus ES 300 2002 model with registration number: APP 27 GT with chassis number: JTHBF30G020048119, among others.

In a related development, the Oyo State Police Command handed over four suspected internet fraudsters to the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC on 26 January.

The suspects are Abiodun Ajayi, Salako Saheed, Qudus Owolabi and Abiodun Ridwan.

They were arrested at the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo state following actionable intelligence on suspected fraudulent internet-related activities.

ALSO READ: US court jails Nigerian 10 years for internet fraud

Mr Oyewale said that they would be charged to court after investigations are concluded.

Items recovered from them include one unregistered Toyota Camry, one gold colour Toyota Camry with Registration number: APP 192 CB; two laptops and five mobile phones, among others.

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The Network of African Investigative Reporters and Editors (NAIRE) has issued a call to support the efforts of its members in exposing regimes consisting of kleptocrats who sell out resources, promote incompetence and nepotism, and oppress civil society.

Noting that these same regimes harass, imprison, and even kill credible journalists and increasingly pay fake news reporters and publications to drown out those who aim to unveil injustice, the NAIRE members add that international powers (should) take cognisance of reports (that) have highlighted the cry for freedom that is growing louder in more and more of our countries.

As investigative reporters committed to democracy, social justice, transparency, and accountability, the group says, we need to be heard and read in London, Paris, New York and indeed Moscow, Teheran, or Beijing.

In its Call to Action, NAIRE also states that reports by African investigative journalists that expose wrongs such as kleptocracy and oppression are not only important to the African continent but to the rest of the world as well.

How will migration away from Africa subside when kleptocrat rulers benefit from it through ever higher passport fees and involvement in human traffic agencies? How can climate change and deforestation be halted when international funding meant to address these problems disappears into individuals pockets? Europe has expressed concern about African military coups, but does it really expect desperate citizens to continue to submit to the rule of thieving and incompetent postcolonial regimes?

The group pledges to continue its work as ethical journalists who stand firm amid a barrage of fake news and paid propaganda while also seeking the debate within our communities as well as with the international community and the powerful.

NAIRE further calls upon colleagues from countries where journalism is more protected to work with us in equality and help amplify our work and on pro-democracy forces, powerful partner countries internationally, the European Union and the African Union to support professional journalism and forces for democracy, accountability and transparency on the continent.

Noting that NAIREs reports are published through African-based publications and ZAM Magazine, the group pledges to continue to use those platforms to broadcast our calls and our pan-African transnational efforts.

The group plans to engage with international supporters of democracy and free media to assist in setting up more professional media platforms of good standard in Africa.

The statement has been signed by 22 NAIRE members representing or working for media houses in Uganda, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Mali, Cameroon, Mozambique, Comoros, Malawi, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

See the full statement signed by participating journalists below.

2024: A call to action from the Network of African Investigative Reporters and Editors

In 2023, Africa proved to be an increasingly dangerous place, both for journalists and for journalism itself. Not only were at least eight of us murdered and 67 imprisoned in this one year, with scores more threatened and harassed, but even the practice of reporting the truth around us is being made increasingly difficult by the corrupt who lead our countries. Political leaders  often kleptocrats who sell out resources, promote incompetence and nepotism and harass and oppress civil society  pay fake news reporters and publications vast amounts of money to drown out those who aim to unveil injustice and hold ruling elites accountable. They use violence to intimidate us, deny us access to information and refuse to even answer the phone when we raise questions. Citizens report losing hope, especially when manipulated elections merely keep the same political elites in power.

It needs to be noted that our corrupt leaders, besides hurting their own citizens, also cause damage to the rest of the world. How will migration away from Africa subside when kleptocrat rulers benefit from it through ever-higher passport fees and involvement in human trafficking agencies? How can climate change and deforestation be halted when international funding meant to address these problems disappears into individuals pockets? Europe has expressed concern about African military coups, but does it really expect desperate citizens to continue to submit to the rule of thieving and incompetent postcolonial regimes?

Nevertheless, the fact that our current political leaders spend vast amounts on fake news while hunting credible journalists also appears to show that they do increasingly see us as a threat. This we are proud to have in common with the activists, critical professionals and other citizens in our countries who challenge the current powers and their systems. Our reports have highlighted the need for international powers to listen to the cry for freedom that is growing louder in more and more of our countries. As African investigative reporters committed to democracy, social justice, transparency, and accountability, we need to be heard and read in London, Paris, New York and indeed Moscow, Teheran, or Beijing.

We are pleased to say that in this respect too, we have made great strides in 2023, with publications by or about us in media in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and the USA. In 2024, we ask to be heard even more by these media outlets and their audiences, simply because its no longer business as usual. Without our voices, without support for free media and democracy on our continent, without a joint effort to stand against kleptocratic oppressors, Africa is at risk of sliding down even further, with more and more drought and conflict, more people voting with their feet, and more and more despair forcing military coups and other nightmarish futures on the continent.

Journalists are not activists, nor should they be. But it is our professional and ethical duty to report in the public interest, unveil wrongdoing, hold wrongdoers accountable and indeed seek impact for the better. We issue this call for support to colleagues, the wider international citizenry, and the world because we believe that with more freedom for credible media, more support for the forces of democracy and less kleptocracy, Africa can be a better place. And that a better Africa, which is better equipped to serve its people as well as its nature, forests and climate will also mean a better world.

We hereby pledge in 2024 to:

Distinguish ourselves, members of NAIRE, as credible, ethical journalists who stand firm amid a barrage of fake news and paid propaganda;

Seek the debate within our communities as well as with the international community and the powerful;

Inform our civil society and equip it with the information it needs to act for the public interest;

Establish a strong presence on social media, from where we plan to increasingly engage pan-African and international audiences;

Call colleagues from countries where journalism is more protected to work with us in equality and help amplify our work;

Call pro-democracy forces, powerful partner countries internationally, the European Union and the African Union to support professional journalism and forces for democracy, accountability and transparency on the continent. And to establish this support in dialogue with African citizens structures as well as with independent journalists and their networks;

Continue to build and use the ZAM platform to broadcast our calls and our pan-African transnational efforts. And to increase its function as a channel for the editorial, security, legal and psychological support that we so sorely lack in most of our countries;

To engage with international supporters of democracy and free media in assisting us to set up more professional media platforms of good standard in Africa itself.

Signed

Agather Atuhaire, independent journalist, Uganda, @AAgather

Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Ghana, @anasglobal

Brezh Malaba, Newshawks, Zimbabwe, @BrezhMalaba

Catherine Muema, Africa Uncensored, Kenya, @catevacemuema

Charles Mafa, Makanday Centre for Investigative Journalism, Zambia, @MakandayMedia

Chief Bisong Etahoben, Cameroon, @ChiefBisongEta1

David Dembele, Depeches du Mali and Mail24Info, Mali, @alcofris

Derick Matsengarwodzi, free-lance, Zimbabwe, @Comic24Derick

Elizabeth BanyiTabi, The Guardian Post, Cameroon, @ElizabethTabi1

Emmanuel Mutaizibwa, Nation Media, Uganda, @emutaizibwa

Estacio Valoi, Moz24H, Mozambique, @estaciosvaloi

Gregory Gondwe, Platform for Investigative Journalism, Malawi, @PlatformMalawi

Hayatte Abdou, National Magazine, Comoros, @hayatteabodu

John-Allan Namu, Africa Uncensored, Kenya, @AFuncensored

Josephine Chinele, Platform for Investigative Journalism, Malawi, @JosephineChinel

Joy Kirigia, Africa Uncensored, Kenya, @Joy_Kirigia

Musikilu Mojeed, Editor in Chief Premium Times, Nigeria, @musikilu

Ngina Kirori, Special Projects and Investigative Reporter, Nation Media, Kenya, @NginaKirori

Ohemeng Tawiah, Joynews, Ghana, @ohemengtawiah

Selay Marius Kouassi, journalist/media trainer Information Integrity Initiative, Ivory Coast, @selaymariusk

Taiwo Adebulu, The Cable, Nigeria, @taiween

Theophilus Abbah, The Insight, Nigeria, @theinsightngr

See for our recent publications:

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The Rivers House of Assembly has asked Governor Siminalayi Fubara to withdraw some appointments which it described as illegal.

The pro-Wike assembly gave the order in a letter addressed to the governor on Monday and signed by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, Channels TV reported.

Mr Amaewhule, in the letter, cited three appointments, including the appointment of Goodlife Ben as the acting chairperson of the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission.

The speaker said Mr Bens appointment contravened Section 44(3) of the Rivers State Local Government Law No 5 of 2018 which stipulates that the Governor shall appoint the Chairman and Members of the Commission, subject to the confirmation by a resolution of the House of Assembly.

The house said, This law does not grant the Governor any power to appoint anyone, howsoever, as Chairman or Member of the Commission, even in an acting capacity.

Besides Mr Ben, the lawmakers said the appointment of Ine Briggs as the acting director-general of the Bureau for Public Procurement contravened Sections 5(1) of the Rivers State Public Procurement Law No. 4 of 2008 which said: there shall be for the Bureau, a Director-General who shall be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Board after competitive selections.

The house said, The Board is yet to be reconstituted in line with Section 4(a) which states that the Chairman and Members shall be appointed by the Governor for a term of four years subject to the confirmation of the Rivers State House of Assembly so, there could not have been a recommendation when there is no Board to warrant the invocation of the powers of the Governor in Section 5(1) of the law.

The house further said that the appointment of Tonte Davies as Acting Administrator of a non-existent New Cities Development Authority (NCDA) is not backed by any legislation and the Governor cannot on his own or by executive fiat create this Authority without legislation from the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The House said the appointments violate the Nigerian Constitution and other extant laws.

We call on you to withdraw these appointments without further delay, the house ordered.

The lawmakers are backed by a former governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, who is at loggerheads with Governor Fubara over the control of governance and politics in the state.

The latest directive came two days after the lawmakers stripped Mr Fubara of the power to appoint a caretaker committee for local government councils in the state.

The lawmakers, which last December withdrew an impeachment plot against Mr Fubara following President Bola Tinubus intervention, appear ready to tackle the governors on various fronts, going by their actions lately.

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the appeal filed by Aishatu Ahmed, widely known as Binani, challenging the election of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State.

Delivering the lead judgement of the five-member panel of the court, the presiding justice, John Okoro, held that the appeal filed by Ms Dahiru lacked merit.

Mr Okoro also held that a resident electoral commissioner, who had declared Ms Dahiru the winner while collation of results was still ongoing, lacks powers to announce election results.

Ms Dahiru had asked the Supreme Court to uphold the declaration made by embattled Hudu Yunusa, an INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), for being an official of the electoral umpire in line with Section 149 of the Electoral Act.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had affirmed the election of Mr Fintiri .

A three-member panel of the court had upheld the 28 October 2023 decision of the Adamawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, declaring Mr Fintiri the winner of the 18 March 2023 poll.

Ms Dahiru, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate at the poll, had urged the court to sack Mr Fintiri who was the flagbearer of the PDP on account of INECs non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

In the unanimous judgement, the three-member appellate court panel led by Tunde Awotoye, said Ms Onoh failed to prove allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act in the conduct of the March governorship election in Adamawa State.

It held that the appellants claim of electoral fraud in 14,104 polling stations was not substantiated.

There is no way three witnesses can prove allegations of noncompliance in 14,104 polling units. Besides, the witnesses were not at the polling units but were campaign coordinators for the appellants.

The justice equally noted that the record of proceedings transmitted from the tribunal and the briefs to the court were incomplete.

On the whole, this appeal lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed. The decision of the lower Tribunal is hereby confirmed, the court awarded N1 million against the petitioners in favour of Fintiri and the PDP.

(NAN)

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The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has written a letter of complaint to the State Security Securitt (SSS) over what he called false allegations and sustained campaign of calumny against him.

The letter, addressed to the Director General of the SSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, which was sighted by our PREMIUM TIMES, indicated that other security agencies may have been directed to launch investigations as well.

Mr Gbajabiamila served in the House of Representatives for over 20 years, during which he was minority whip, minority leader (for eight years) and majority leader before becoming Speaker in 2019. He was appointed chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu days after the president was sworn into office on May 29, 2023.

In his letter to the SSS, the chief of staff lamented a sustained regime of smear campaigns against him. He therefore requested the security agency to investigate and fish out those spreading falsehood about him.

The letter was titled Request for Investigation of False Allegations and Sustained Campaign of Calumny Against my Person by Unknown Elements.

In the letter dated 9 January, 2023, Mr Gbajabiamila said: Over the past six months, unknown individuals or groups have made a sustained effort using social media to spread unfounded allegations of corruption, malfeasance, and abuse of office against my person. This campaign of calumny has gotten progressively more aggressive in tone and content over the last month, thus necessitating this letter.

I have served in the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the past two decades, first in the legislature, where I rose to the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and now in the executive as Chief of Staff to the President. In that time, my efforts to ensure probity in the management of public resources are well documented. As Speaker of the House of Representatives, I presided over the national budget for all ministries, departments and agencies for four years without blemish.

While it is my inclination to ignore these attacks as part of the usual mischief of politics, my position as Chief of Staff to the President compels me to act because falsehoods left unchallenged soon take on the toga of truth. Furthermore, the aggressive escalation of these attacks suggests that the perpetrators of these attacks will continue until they are held to account. For these reasons, the stoic silence I have maintained on this matter thus far will no longer suffice.

READ ALSO: Gbajabiamila denies plans to renovate official residence with N10bn

I am satisfied that I have not acted in any way to warrant or justify these attacks. Therefore, I am requesting your office to investigate the sources and substance of these false allegations. Rather than hide behind the anonymity of the internet, let my accusers be unmasked to substantiate their claims or face the consequences of their libel against me.

The chief of staff to the president, therefore, requested prompt intervention of security agencies in the matter.

The letter indicated that a selection of some of the more egregious attacks of the past few months were attached to aid security agencies in their investigations.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has deplored what he termed mislabelling and blanket stereotyping of Nigeria as a country with the highest prevalence of cybercrime and other forms of corrupt practices among its population, saying it undermines majority of the citizens maintaining the principles of integrity and diligence.

He regretted that over the years, the entire Nigerian populace had been linked with internet crimes without statistical proof, a development he said is out of tune with the way of life of the typical Nigerian citizen.

The president made the observation on Wednesday during a Public Engagement on Youth, Religion, and the Fight Against Corruption, as well as the Launch of Inter-Faith Manual and Fraud Risk Assessment Project for MDAs at YarAdua Centre, Abuja.

The event organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a multi-dimensional stakeholders involvement in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

The president who was represented at the event by Vice President Kashim Shettima, noted that on the contrary, Nigerians are meticulous, authentic citizens who have been making significant contributions to innumerable fields of endeavours around the world.

Over the decades, Nigerians have been victims of mislabelling. Such gross misrepresentation fails to reflect the true essence of our diverse and resilient nation. The association of internet crimes with the entire Nigerian populace lacks statistical evidence and does not align with the sociology of everyday Nigerians.

Our nation comprises hardworking, honest citizens who contribute significantly to various fields globally, from Artificial Intelligence to medicine.

While we reject blanket stereotyping that undermines the majority upholding principles of integrity and diligence, we must face the fact that we function in an interconnected world where cybercrimes have evolved into a global phenomenon. This poses a threat not only to our nation but to the entire world, President Tinubu stated.

Delivering his speech titled, Youth, Religion, and Our Battle Against Corruption: A Call to Action, the president applauded the EFCC for remaining a moral compass, persistently rousing the nations conscience, just as he said through its operations, the commission has remained vocal in telling the world that Nigeria is neither complicit nor complacent in confronting the menace of corruption.

Underscoring the urgency of combating internet crimes and neutralising the threat caused by other forms of corruption head on, President Tinubu assured the anti-graft agency of the governments support in its quest to combat these digital offences.

We must recognise that the Commissions lawful efforts to bring fraudsters to book are imperative for the overall well-being of our society. The government is aware that our ambitious goal of eradicating internet offences and corruption demands an atmosphere steeped in trust and integrity. We must foster open communication channels and ensure that law enforcement actions align with justice and accountability, he added.

The president also stressed the need to remind Nigerian youth that there are abundant opportunities for lawful enterprises, both within and outside the shores of the country.

This, he said, is the reason why the federal government has taken steps to establish a Students Loan Board to address the financial needs of students.

He continued: This initiative aims not only to alleviate financial burdens but also to disincentivize criminality by offering a tangible alternative. Our message to the youth is clear: the horizon is wide, and opportunities abound across various sectors.

Seize these prospects, embark on lawful enterprises, and let your talents shine. The government encourages you to leverage these opportunities, exhibit your capabilities across all sectors, and contribute to the prosperity of our great nation.

President Tinubu lauded efforts by the EFCC to tackle corruption through the Inter-Faith and Fraud Risk Assessment Projects, saying the initiative recognises the potential of religion as a tool for ethical reformation and underscores the importance of engaging diverse faith communities in our fight against corruption.

Simultaneously, this initiative addresses vulnerabilities within government agencies and acknowledges the critical need to fortify these institutions against corrupt practices.

Our nation is deeply rooted in religious values, and it is crucial to acknowledge that both Christianity and Islam vehemently condemn corruption. With these profound teachings in mind, I urge our revered religious leaders to demonstrate a pillar of guidance, he added.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said the launch of the interfaith manuals and the Fraud Risk Assessment Project for MDAs are all geared towards engaging relevant and critical stakeholders in the reinvigorated anti-corruption fight in the country.

He said the prevalence of cybercrime and related activities involving youths is worrisome and necessitates the adoption of proactive measures by the commission under his watch.

The EFCC boss also spoke about the involvement of religious organisations in illicit activities, including money laundering and urged leaders across different groups to partner the commission by propagating messages that glorify the virtues of integrity, honesty and hard work.

In his goodwill message, the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), emphasised the significance of paying more attention to preventive measures in the renewed fight against corruption.

He urged religious leaders, traditional rulers, heads of tertiary institutions in the country and youth groups to take ownership of the reinvigorated anti-corruption crusade under the Tinubu administration.

In separate remarks, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Daniel Okoh; Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, and the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, were unanimous in their commendation of President Tinubu and the EFCC management for the administrations avowed commitment to the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

They declared the total support of their various communities and groups to the renewed fight against corruption that prioritises prevention, urging political leaders at all levels to intensify efforts by leading by example and ensuring the reviewing of existing laws to prevent corrupt activities in public and private establishments.

Also present at the event were the Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Emmanuel Udende who represented the Senate President; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu; Chairperson of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Lilian Salami; Chairman of Channels TV, John Momoh; former Minister of Works & Housing, Babatunde Fashola; JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, and some heads of government agencies and parastatals, among others.

Stanley Nkwocha

Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications

(Office of The Vice President)

31st January, 2024

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The House of Representatives has set December 2025 as the deadline for the conclusion of the ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

The Deputy Speaker, Ben Kalu, who is also the Chairman of the House Constitution Review Committee, stated this on Wednesday at the inaugural meeting of the committee.

Mr Kalu said the committee currently has about 40 bills seeking to amend the constitution, noting that it has a deadline of December 2025.

It is the view of Mr Speaker that we set a realistic timeline that does not conflict with electoral activities which would advertently or inadvertently affect the alteration process, specifically, December 2025, the time we are looking at to conclude the activities of this committee.

It is not out of place to guess that there is some level of fatigue in the amendment process by some vocal sections of the populace. Whatever opinion you hold, it is important to let you know that we presently have 40 bills that are at various stages of consideration which relate to the alteration of the Constitution.

We are well aware of our present challenging circumstances as a nation. The twin challenges of insecurity and economic difficulties could tamper with the confidence of our citizens.

It is therefore our constitutional responsibility to respond to the 40 bills so far proposed and also attend to the duty of government to ensure the security and welfare of the citizen as provided by the constitution, he said.

On the last alteration, Mr Kalu said some bills, notably the gender bills, failed because lawmakers did not understand the bills and their implications.

In the last constitution review efforts, there were some key constitution amendment proposals that did not pass either because we did not fully understand their provisions or we did not have enough time to agree on them. An example was the proposal to create additional seats for women in Federal and State Legislative Houses.

Let us use this opportunity to understand this proposal, hoping that those who are the promoters of this particular amendment will start their advocacy timely and be more thorough and comprehensive, reaching the stakeholders to control the mindsets of their representatives, he said.

He pledged the provision of adequate resources to enable the committee to deliver on its mandate.

The secretariat will be very well equipped to function optimally and deliver results. We have created a partnership with Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre who has committed to supporting the work of this committee as they have done in previous constitution review efforts, he said.

The 37-member committee is made up of representatives of the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

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The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has awarded doctoral scholarships to 12 Nigerian academics to study in France.

The academics were drawn from eight public tertiary institutions across the country.

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, disclosed this at a pre-departure briefing for the scholars in Abuja on Monday.

He said the scholarship falls under the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff Intervention (TSAS).

He added that the scholarship is the implementation of an April 2023 agreement between TETFund and Campus France. Campus France is a French governmental organisation in charge of the promotion of French Higher Education.

France and Nigeria have excellent bilateral relations. We have so many commonalities. We as a country are surrounded by French-speaking countries. We have areas of cysteine agreements, bilateral agreements in various fields to the cultural exchanges in education, in defence, amongst others, Mr Echono said.

He added that TETFund has trained close to 40,000 Nigerian academics in postgraduate studies, locally and internationally. He added that there are over 1,000 Nigerian students currently studying in Malaysia.

We are looking forward to expanding the numbers in coming years and I believe it is something we can achieve. In addition, we expect all the scholars to be good ambassadors of this country as they have been chosen to fulfil a specific mission. Campus-France has been a wonderful partner as they will accept the scholars as partners when they get there, he said.

Campus Frances Nigeria manager speaks

In her presentation, Campus Frances Nigeria Manager, Moras Laura, said the management is ready to welcome and accept the scholars, adding that the presentation has been prepared for them to be acquainted with the dos and donts of the country.

The presentation is created into seven parts to prepare you towards your departure and arrival in France. The preparation of documents and revalidating of your visa is very important and we will advise the scholars to be careful with all your belongings on arrival at the airport. We look forward to welcoming you, she said.

Beneficiaries

The scholars are Balogun Peter and Akeem Temitope from Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH); Jafar Usman, Federal University Gusau (FUGUS); Abel Oroke, Ebonyi State College of Education (EBSCOEI); Adesanmi Adegoke and Francis Maji from the University of Jos (UNIJOS);

Others are Fati Salami, Federal University of Lokoja; Esimone Jennifer and Kanu Chidiebere from Nnamdi Azikiwe University; Samuel Faluyi, Ekiti State University (EKSU); Musbau Idris, Federal and Ishaq Shehu, Federal University of Dutsinma (FUDMA), Katsina.

Improved scholars welfare

Mr Echono said recently that the agency has also moved to resolve problems arising from the increase in exchange rates, saying the agency has made provisions to address the shortfall.

Last year, Scholars under TSAS in Malaysia wrote the Fund requesting bailout funds due to the rising cost of living and the fluctuating exchange rate, which they claim had affected their upkeep.

TETFund recently announced the disbursement of N683 billion to Nigerian tertiary institutions, a record amount that is twice the N320 billion disbursed to the institutions last year.

According to TETFund, each university gets N1.9; N1.1 billion for Polytechnics and N1.3 billion for Colleges of Education.

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As we reflect on these initial 100 days, the narrative echoes a journey underway, a story of resilience and transformation. Challenges have metamorphosed into pillars of change, and strategic initiatives are carving a path toward a future where VON stands not only as a fulfiller of mandates but as a beacon of excellence in the global media landscape. The journey continues, and as the sun sets on these first 100 days, it rises on a new dawn for the Voice of Nigeria.

In the hushed corridors of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), a narrative of change and renewed hope unfolded under the warm embrace of the October sun when I was appointed Director-General/CEO of the media agency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) on 20 October, 2023, marking the beginning of a transformative journey within the Nigerian international broadcasting corporation.

The handover ceremony from my predecessor, Mr Osita Okechukwu, was more than a ceremonial passing of the baton. Stepping into leadership on 23 October, 2023, the canvas of change began to take shape during my attendance of AFRICAST 2023 in Lagos. It was during this visit that I paid a visit to the Broadcasting House in Ikoyi and the Ikorodu Transmitting Station, which serve as poignant reminders of untapped potential, urging a commitment to revitalisation.

Returning to the heart of VON, the Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, told its own story  a tale woven with threads of promise and challenge. The deplorable state of infrastructure in Lagos reverberated through the echoing hallways of Abuja, creating a stark reality that demands immediate attention and a resolute commitment to transformation.

Even in the situation at the Lugbe Transmitting Station in Abuja, a glimmer of innovation emerged through its commendable solar power facility. VON, it was evident, held promise, but it needed a guiding hand to restore its vigour.

Yet, beyond the tangible structures and facilities, the true heartbeat of VON lay within its people. A pervasive low staff morale lingered in both Abuja and Lagos, fueled by unmet claims and promotion arrears. This challenge became the rallying cry for immediate attention and a strategic vision for a brighter future.

Organically, imperatives emerged  a blueprint for transformation. Boosting staff morale became a mission entwined with improved welfare initiatives, regular promotions, and a cultural shift that celebrates excellence. The synergy among the Board of Management staff emerged as the adhesive binding the threads of transformation.

Active participation at the 42nd UNESCO General Conference in Paris and the World Radio Conference in Dubai were not mere formalities but windows to global possibilities. These experiences became platforms to showcase VONs commitment to international standards and collaborations, laying the groundwork for a globally relevant institution.

The inaugural Board of Management meeting on 19 December, 2023, was not just about discussions, it was the laying of a foundation for collaborative strategies that would steer VON towards its objectives.

Engaging with the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, defending budgets before both Senate and House Committees, and a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, transcended bureaucratic rituals. They became the building blocks of partnerships, forging alliances that would secure support and understanding.

Engagements with public and private agencies Thunderbird, Image Merchants Promotions Limited, SMEDAN, GOTNI, NIPR, NUJ Chairman in Minna, and representatives from Dangote Group, Jaiz Bank  were not just courtesy visits. They were conversations that opened doors, created bridges, and fostered connections vital for VONs relevance in the broader societal landscape.

The series of courtesy calls, including those to Media Trust, National Orientation Agency, News Agency of Nigeria, Nigerian Diaspora Commission, and Nigeria Television Authority, along with high-profile military leaders, showcased a commitment to repositioning the brand and giving it the spotlight it deserves.

Within the first 100 days, I declared that all NYSC and interns at VON must undergo an orientation programme, fostering a sense of belonging throughout their stay. In addition, strategic partnerships with the Guards Polo Club and the CEOS Network Africa were initiated, redirecting attention to the external broadcasting station of Nigeria.

And amidst all this, the stories from the heart of VON  the views of its staff  resonated with optimism. The focus on revitalising the dormant terrestrial broadcast, addressing equipment deterioration, and seeking government intervention for the Lugbe Transmitting Station showcased a leadership dedicated to overcoming challenges and ensuring VONs prominence.

As we reflect on these initial 100 days, the narrative echoes a journey underway, a story of resilience and transformation. Challenges have metamorphosed into pillars of change, and strategic initiatives are carving a path toward a future where VON stands not only as a fulfiller of mandates but as a beacon of excellence in the global media landscape. The journey continues, and as the sun sets on these first 100 days, it rises on a new dawn for the Voice of Nigeria.

Jibrin Baba Ndace is the director general/CEO of Voice of Nigeria (VON), the official international broadcasting station of Nigeria.

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Falolas proposition that we should consider the combination of humanities and science courses has provoked reactions because he has found himself to be an artist in intellectual provocation. In essence, that people are reacting to him is an indication of at least two things. One, it strikes their intimate chord where they begin to identify how they have placed limitations on their thinking without imagining how such limitations have impeded the actual transformation of their minds.

The 54th Convocation Lecture by Professor Toyin Falola, held at the University of Lagos in January 2024, has become a global document. With its theme on decolonisation, his recommendations went viral. Pertaining to his suggestions to tap into epistemic knowledge in Ifa, the Pentecostals pounced on them, just as the missionaries of the nineteenth century ruthlessly attacked Yoruba religion as paganism. In not understanding what Falola is suggesting, they confused epistemology with practice. Epistemologies are how we know how other people think and then convert that knowledge into philosophies. Falola himself is not a Babalawo!

Those totally unfamiliar with Falolas provocative methodology need to read my forthcoming book, Power, Politics and African Agency, in the works of Toyin Falola. In this book, I argue that only a few scholars have centralised Africa far more than Falola. And in so doing, he belongs to the league of Wilmot Blyden, Cheikh Anta Diop, WEB Dubois, and Molefi Asante, all of whom breathe Africa. Falola has become a canonical figure. But if we fully understand Blyden, Diop and Asante, no one can fully grasp the essence of what Abdul Bangura calls Falolaism. My book, the twelfth on a mysterious personality, will not be the last.

It was in the process of conducting interviews for my book that I came across the profound statement attributed to the distinguished Emeritus Professor of Political Science and Law, AB Assensoh. To him, Falola visits your campus to give a lecture and sets it on fire. As I understand his strategy, he makes the most provocative statement you can imagine, and before the audience departs, he is nowhere to be found. Where is the back exit door, he is fond of asking. If you are in a conference with him, while most people want to be seen and socialise, he disappears. That disappearance itself becomes magical: Did he come; where is he? Perhaps, after his presentation, he left for the airport to give another lecture.

As I study him, I notice that the man and his ideas are cultivated to rupture existing knowledge. He did so even in my house at a social event where, weeks after he left, we kept talking about what he said. He did so at the University of South Africa, where he first presented his ideas on ritual archives, an essay that is now part of classroom text. He did so in a lecture on social engineering, where he advocated polygamy. How can a monogamist create a far-reaching justification for polygamy, which is now legal in South Africa, Cameroon, and Kenya? He called for the abolition of Departments to be replaced by new ones. He asked for the creation of the Department of Kingship. His recommendations before bodies such as the African Union are so provocative that he has become extremely unique. If Wole Soyinka is heavy on political activism, he is weak on suggestions to transform the continent. If Falola is weak in political activism, he is heavy in policy recommendations. Both have become canonical figures for different reasons.

Albert Einsteins profound quote that Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result remains in public memory because it speaks directly to the human family unhinged by pressure to make generational changes. This quote resonates with Falola, given his prolonged and valuable examination of the human mind through interactions with them and the discovery that Einstein is right. Falolas contributions to intellectual engagements, as I argue in my forthcoming book, have always provoked controversial conversations owing to his original and productive perspectives, which he offers when the time calls for it.

A very recent example is the one associated with the convocation lecture, which he was privileged to offer in Lagos. As usual, he made uncomfortable recommendations on the harder ways by which Africans can progressively advance their civilisation and challenge others for a global impact, and the positions he held and recommendations that he made have all generated heated debate in ways that accentuate the familiar knowledge of things that he projects to the world.

However, we cannot continue to sustain the colonial legacy reflected in the orientational composition of one-way educational services that separate arts and humanities from the sciences and technology. This would mean that we are still beleaguered with strange inflexibility and borderline irrationality in our educational system. The pre-European African educational systems did not make such rigid classification of knowledge. An expert in geology then, for example, was not precluded from being an established doctor

I suspect, as Professor Assensoh did, that he finds himself in this position owing to his discovery that the hardest decisions produce vibrant results, but the process of carrying out the actions required demands courage and commitment, the two characteristics that are not common among the human family. People normally seem comfortable with situations. Falola is not unless it is better.

To that extent, his examination of the African sociopolitical and moral downtrend informed the conclusion that Africa and its people need urgent and critical orientational shifts in their understanding of what higher educational institutions should do if they are indeed interested in competing globally. For instance, the indestructible progress recorded in other continents is a testament to the installation of values into their younger generations, which they eventually converted to results across every department, including but not limited to their economy, politics, technology, and even moral ideologies.

If, as I have argued, institutions have become the sole and formal agency of information or knowledge transmission into the African mind, it is safe to conclude that this agency must transmit substantial values to the students so that there will be resounding progress in their engagements. In whatever way possible, students at that level of education are expected to attract various educational values, as that would be what would transform into results individually in society and then collectively in the continent. No nation of the world grows without values, and unless graduates have values which are beyond the ordinary, we cannot but continue to experience familiar downward results. In fact, this was what informed the re-interpretation of Einsteins quote made above.

On that note, I believe that the developers of the African school curriculum must come to the awareness that commitment to their liberating operational values is necessary to swiftly attain greater heights. Although we can blame the educational developers of the colonial and the immediate postcolonial era for certain things, we cannot, in good conscience, heap the blame for the lack of generational advancement of today on these beings, for they rose to the occasion of the period to fashion out what was considered best in their interest.

However, we cannot continue to sustain the colonial legacy reflected in the orientational composition of one-way educational services that separate arts and humanities from the sciences and technology. This would mean that we are still beleaguered with strange inflexibility and borderline irrationality in our educational system. The pre-European African educational systems did not make such rigid classification of knowledge. An expert in geology then, for example, was not precluded from being an established doctor, if they had accumulated the requisite knowledge. It shows that their understanding of the human mind was more advanced than we have in the current time, for it seemed they believed that as humans can assimilate additional information, they could use the knowledge to transform their world without limitations. It was, therefore, a time of the fluidity of knowledge and expertise.

That awareness was, therefore, one that motivated Falolas plea to African universities to consider re-thinking the degrees that we offer in our educational institutions. Tertiary educational institutions would accommodate this system if the agencies of knowledge transmission there were equipped with the necessary resources that would facilitate their effective functioning. In no place is it written in the world that someone who learns computer science and is groomed for computer expertise cannot at the same time be educated as a sociologist? These courses are not mutually exclusive.

the Pentecostals and the media, who continue to focus on the suggestion of Ifa and witchcraft studies, should go back to the text and locate where such a statement was made. Whenever I ask Falola while his texts follow the academic script and his presentation follows the medium of a sage, his answer is the same: Ask Esu, the god of the crossroads. Falola is unknowable, either in the depth of his knowledge

Falolas proposition that we should consider the combination of humanities and science courses has provoked reactions because he has found himself to be an artist in intellectual provocation. In essence, that people are reacting to him is an indication of at least two things. One, it strikes their intimate chord where they begin to identify how they have placed limitations on their thinking without imagining how such limitations have impeded the actual transformation of their minds. Secondly, the protests come from some minds which are obviously comfortable with only their comfort zones. While the former represents the first two stages that humans arrive at when they want to transition to something bigger, the latter, however, indicates the refusal to explore the fertile minds that God has deposited in us all.

On this note, Falola recommends that all African agencies of knowledge transmission, that is, the educational institutions themselves, should, as a matter of practicality, consider the understanding (not the practice) of esoteric knowledge, which was otherwise eclipsed by the interception of colonial educational systems. The moment that the white individual introduced an academic institution where the transmission of education is possible, he immediately marginalised the existing infrastructure of knowledge to be successful in the alienation of students from the cultural landscape and systems that naturally should be responsible for their socialisation. That development, therefore, necessitated absolute and, in some cases, partial de-Africanisation of people when they finally internalised the values transmitted to them through available institutions. Without visibly leaving their cultural environment, their indigenous values and cultures became inaccessible, and where they could access them, it was difficult to interact with them. Meanwhile, true development would not happen in situations where owners of an epistemological powerhouse cannot effectively interact with the associated values in the understanding that they have been mentally positioned at a great distance from it. This was the genesis of the unprovoked distance of those who have acquired colonial education in colonially installed institutions. In essence, it was the beginning of the African downward slope.

Let me break this down a little more. A medical expert inducted into a medical group would deny the operations of unseen forces in the anatomical structures and designs of their patients, thereby prescribing drugs and other medical efforts, all of which would not have desirable effects, especially when the victim is confronted with supernatural problems. Unlike such experts, indigenous medical professionals would undertake a series of processes to restore their health to normalcy by undertaking responsibilities that would appeal to the unseen forces, while simultaneously addressing the physical danger. The former is unable to provide effective treatment because not only can he not comprehend the dynamics of human engagements in their environment, both at the physical and metaphysical levels (of course, he was not taught about this in Western schools), but he also does not understand the layers of healing that are identified within the cultural landscape of his identity. It, therefore, becomes a problem for medical professionals to provide effective solutions to the myriad of these medical challenges that have confronted people from time immemorial. The right counterpoint to this would be: Why are the doctors in other places more successful? The answer to this also would be that the dynamics of peoples experiences differ from culture to culture, and for that reason, they need different approaches to address those challenges that they face.

Interestingly, Falola mentioned that lecturers who are the information conveyors to the students should have their pay increased in line with the emerging realities of the current time. Of course, many of them would agree with Falola here, perhaps because it has a direct impact on their lives. But this is not the sole reason that he has said this. In the current society, it cannot be overemphasised that things are becoming increasingly difficult for an average individual and even when you are not expected to compete with the extravagant political class, you are at least expected to have access to basic qualities and a good life. Once the government is not producing these things at its expected rate, lecturers should not be denied the opportunity to create this for themselves.

Meanwhile, they can only achieve this when they are paid handsomely. Although the government has always underplayed brain drain, it remains true that every brain forfeited by the country would have unimaginable consequences in some ways. There is need to allay the fears of the lecturers, and that can be done effectively only when we begin to remunerate them bountifully so that they can afford the basic things that their colleagues enjoy in other parts of the world. Regardless of the positions of people on the ideas suggested in Falolas Convocation Lecture in Lagos and the proposition that he made, Falola sees his calling, as Kwame Nkrumah did, that Africa is his only project, and he will not cease to be at the frontline of advocacy for courses of action that would bring the continent to the limelight.

To end on a lighter note, the Pentecostals and the media, who continue to focus on the suggestion of Ifa and witchcraft studies, should go back to the text and locate where such a statement was made. Whenever I ask Falola while his texts follow the academic script and his presentation follows the medium of a sage, his answer is the same: Ask Esu, the god of the crossroads. Falola is unknowable, either in the depth of his knowledge, a boundless energy that produces ten men in one person, the mastery of a dozen disciplines, and the art of intellectual insurgency.

Serges Kamga is dean, Faculty of Law, University of the Free State, South Africa.

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One of the indisputable benefits of social media is that it has become a showcase for health professionals whose posts seek to educate and raise awareness, while making empathy a weapon (almost) as powerful as medicine itself. Thanks to the digital universe, weve met doctors who, with their didactic online presence, manage to bring healing a little closer, thanks to profiles full of advice and explanations in which information and parasocial intimacy go hand in hand. The well-regarded Marimer Perez, gynecologist and obstetrician, is a great example of this wave of doctors 3.0. In addition to the knowledge shes accumulated over a 24-year career, plus the confidence, realness and humane treatment she offers to patients, Perezs success can be credited to her personable communication, sense of humor and, of course, her immense sense of empathy. Founder of WoMer, a Barcelona integral health center born out of sisterhood, she is a popular communicator when it comes to menopause, a process that she herself has been going through during the past two years.

An expert in communicating through Instagram about when its like to live in the middle of menopause, when Perez is asked by a reporter to talk about her symptoms, she flatly refuses. Lets put a new twist on the subject: I dont want to talk about hot flashes or things you read about in other places  So much negative messaging! Whens the euthanasia? she asks, with her characteristic humor. We talked to her to rethink our perceptions of menopause and to get to know its lighter side. We covered these topics, plus common male misunderstandings when it comes to her work But were getting ahead of ourselves. Lets begin.

Question. You speak openly about your menopause on social media. Why does it continue to be such an embarrassing topic for so many women?

Answer. I dont know whats up with us. People are surprised by the fact that Im not ashamed to say that Im going through menopause, because they think that men wont find me attractive. Doctor, think about it: men wont see you in the same way, they tell me with the utmost affection, allowing me to see how they think that menopause says everything you need to know about us. Many women write to me saying that it embarrasses them to tell people, and its important that they speak openly about it so that the male sector understands us. The problem is that this subject has never really been put on the table, certain symptoms that our partners should understand have never been talked about, it makes it seem like menopause doesnt affect them. However, menopause is not just a womens issue: its everyones issue. Along with the fear and shame, youve got to add the societal conviction that we will get over it. This is not how it works: we do not have to suffer, endure or limit our care to just fanning ourselves. It seems that this suffering is part of being a woman: we are continually Joan of Arc, and it seems that we have to be, in all the stages we go through.

Q. Have you noticed a change in womens attitudes during their first gynecological appointment?

A. Teenagers are much wiser than we are. I have been in this profession for 24 years, and Im seeing that they have a very clear eco-conscious and speak openly about contraception, STDs It seems significant to me that with maturity, we have not lost our embarrassment. Nowadays, younger women approach sex in a way that makes you fall out of your chair. They have de-romanticized it, they have sex for pleasure and are clear on the issues. The word shame does not exist for them.

Q. So what youre saying is, were not leaving behind fear and shame with the passage of time?

A. I find the most shame in older women. It is not uncommon for me to meet patients in my office who ask me how they are going to explain to their husband that it hurts to have sex because of menopause. The reality is, its just like telling your spouse that you are taking insulin because youre diabetic. Its a physiological process: the less estrogen you have, the more vaginal dryness. If you explain the physiological process well, men will have to understand. Its important that the male sector understands that its tough living without estrogen. We are going to live a third of our lives without the principal hormone that factors into all of our lifes processes, which tells you that this cannot be a subject that embarrasses us. Women will have to talk about menopause all the time, and theyll have to give us a medal of honor, because its not easy and we do it with dignity.

Q. What are the positive aspects of menopause?

A. Ive been going through menopause for two years and Im not at all in the worst phase of my life. On top of that, on a mental level, there are things that have benefited me. I am more mature and having more androgens has given me a mentality with which I can easily set boundaries. I used to be a fleuma [lazy person, in Catalan]; everything affected me, and now much less. There are issues that I thought about treating with my psychologist that menopause solved for me. Things start to matter much less. The best part is that you dont have to do a mental exercise to think this way and face things with this attitude: youre simply in that mood.

Q. Are the sexual problems associated with menopause typically addressed?

A. I think that the sexuality problem is easy to understand: estrogen raises sexual desire, so if you have less, its logical that youre not going to be chasing after your partner. Its necessary to have nurturing, one-on-one conversations, and explain to your partner that they dont need to get overwhelmed, but that initiating relationships is complicated for you right now for these reasons. If you use testosterone as the example, it will be even clearer: if they have less testosterone, they have a hard time getting an erection, right? Thats why couples have to work on it, and look for spaces of intimacy. You have to make it clear to the other person that it is not about there being a lack of attraction. You are not going to stop having orgasms, but you will still have to pay more attention to foreplay. I think we have to start being more permissive with ourselves. We have to understand ourselves and take advantage of the good that can come from menopause. When you understand what is happening to you and talk about it openly with your friends, you see that were all going through the same stuff. Ive heard that thing about, Theyre going to give me the Oscar for Best Actress, because if you could see how I get when hes after me and how I make him think Im so excited I see 12 to 14 Oscar winners every year in my practice.

Q. Is a female gynecologist more empathetic than a male gynecologist, or is there really no difference?

A. The profession has become more female. I have a male gynecologist, but for dealing with menopause, I think I would recommend a female gynecologist. Empathy does not depend on ones gender, but there are certain subjects, like menopause or adolescence, for which I think a female gynecologist will be more empathetic. During menopause, it seems to me that youre immediately empathizing with the patient.

Q. Do you have hope for the male birth control pill?

A. I have little hope for anything that depends on men. Now that weve finally gotten the HPV vaccine for women and children, it is mind-boggling the percentage of mothers who have sons who they do not vaccinate. They have HPV, they say. It is a culturally ingrained issue. I have no hope, like when a man sees that his wife has had three Cesarean sections and she doesnt want to be a mother again, and when you ask him to get a vasectomy, hell refuse. In that case, I would recommend that the patient find an empathetic urologist and make an appointment for her husband. Vasectomy rates are very low, because men believe that it affects their virility.

Q. Tell us some classic stories that youve encountered in your practice when men accompany their partners.

A. Lets imagine that a woman just gave birth, she wants to breast-feed and she doesnt want to take hormones I find out that he doesnt want to use condoms. In 90% of cases, you have to implant an IUD. Given that men are vectors, carriers of everything, they dont get it. Since we have so few reliable methods for screening HPV, you cant scare them with the data. Then theres the issue of male infertility. You cant imagine how many semen analyses turn up negative results these days, but we keep on blaming the woman when there are infertility issues.

Q. Speaking of infertility, theres more and more assisted reproduction clinics

A. Were doing something wrong. To begin with, weve pushed back the age at which were having kids: now its normal to have your first even at 38. Were just sneaking in under wire. I think that we are doing the right thing by spreading the word that fertility is not eternal. This is true: there are less and less taboos around cryopreservation. Given the pace of life that we are leading, and the idea that we have to be the best mother and the best businesswoman, it is impossible to raise your child giving it all the attention that it requires, and to properly fulfill all the professional duties weve set for ourselves. That pressure is having repercussions on reproduction, and thats why semen has the quality that it does these days. That mega-executive man who has a frenetic pace of living, who doesnt sit down to eat, who comes into contact with dire environmental factors and who has the lifestyle he does, will see the effects on his semen. Nonetheless, ask him for a semen analysis, and look at the face he gives you. You have to explain to him how he may have altered semen. I always hit them with that in my consultations.
Zambias contribution to the decolonisation project, under the leadership of KK and his comrades, remains indelible in the annals of African history. The sacrifices made and the unfailing support provided resonate through the fabric of the nation, solidifying its position as an emblem of emancipation and unity. Its legacy of commitment to independence ought to be preserved to inspire generations, embody the unyielding spirit of a nation dedicated to the cause of justice and freedom for all.

2024 is a milestone year for Southern Africa. Zambia is readying for its diamond jubilee. The country is considered the cradle of liberation in the region. The last to be free was South Africa, now marking its 30th anniversary but economic inequality is rife. Its among the worlds worst in the lack of equity. Factors like half-hearted transformation are to blame. Until 1994, conservatives like Ian Smith and Hendrik Verwoerd subjected Southern Africa to colonialism of a special kind. Despite colonial-driven massacres and destruction, Zambia remained true to the subcontinents liberation project. As we commemorate our hard-earned independence this year, we also pause to preserve our liberation heritage for future generations

Ensconced in the heart of Southern Africa, Zambia epitomises resilience and sacrifice in the continents journey to decolonisation.

Zambias role  along those of Botswana, Tanzania and Lesotho  to support the regions liberation project is testament to the nations support, under the Kenneth David Kaundas visionary stewardship, and the dedication of then-ruling United National Independence Party (UNIP). The nations unwavering solidarity with, and material support for, the oppressed is a defining legacy in Africas relentless pursuit of freedom.

A look at the life of KK, as the revered leader was called, is a quick reminder that he believed that Zambia was not free if the rest of its neighbours were not independent. Born 100 years ago, the measured activist-statesman swore by the philosophy and biblical commandments of loving thy neighbour, and treating others the way youd like to be treated. Such outlook birthed the One Zambia, One Nation motto to cultivate unity in a country of more than 70 ethnicities. Soon, it inspired a contagious slogan, Tiyende pamodzi ndi mtima umodzi. Thats Chinyanja for Lets move together in unity, and it is the hallmark of the AU.

Zambia was a sanctuary for freedom fighters from Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Put differently, their route to decolonisation traversed KK-led lands. Lusaka, the epicentre, offered safety to the regions political activists. It is not by accident that the United Nations (UN) looked to Zambia as the base for the Institute for Namibia in exile. The fact that the Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania, Namibias SWAPO, and others had their offices or leaders based in Zambia speaks volumes. Revolutionaries who lived, trained and worked in Zambia  and Tanzania  include Josina Machel (nee Muthemba), Thabo Mbeki, and President Hage Geingob, Namibias First Citizen. Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) leader, Herbert Chitepo, was assassinated in Lusaka in 1975.

The landlocked countrys support transcended mere refuge provision to extending vital assistance to freedom fighters and their movements, who established pivotal operational hubs in Zambia. Oliver Tambo House in Lusaka was among the sanctuaries or safe houses for these leaders during their protracted struggle. So was Robert Gabriel Mugabe House at Chalimbana University, the Freedom Camp and Chitepos House, bombed by Rhodesian security forces in 1975. Likewise, apartheid Pretoria dispatched cross-border mercenaries who, at the start of their killings in February, 50 years ago, assassinated student leader, Onkgopotse Tiro (in Gaborone) and Umkhonto we Sizwe founder, John Dube (in Lusaka). Thus, sites like the ones mentioned here, given the Liberation Routes Agenda, can boost cultural tourism.

Against the background of Zambias commitment to justice and liberation, the impact of its involvement reverberated across societal domains. Socially, the nation emerged as a symbol of solidarity and Pan-African unity, fostering a profound sense of comradeship among nations united in their quest for independence. In the second place, politically, Zambias steadfast support contributed substantially to the eventual downfall of apartheid and colonial regimes.

Attacks such as the Kavalamanja bombings and Operation Green Leader, both waged by Ian Smiths regime in 1978, and the Chambeshi Bridge Bombings in 1979, underscored the perils faced by Zambia in its support for decolonisation. Those attacks were part of the broader efforts by racist regimes to extend their illegitimate minority rule. The attacks went on to claim the lives of Zambian soldiers and civilians alike. This highlights the steep price the host nation paid in its relentless fight against oppression.

The sacrifices borne by the nation were immense, including unfair diplomatic pressures. Strains on resources and infrastructure posed significant challenges to the landlocked nations own developmental aspirations.

Against the background of Zambias commitment to justice and liberation, the impact of its involvement reverberated across societal domains. Socially, the nation emerged as a symbol of solidarity and Pan-African unity, fostering a profound sense of comradeship among nations united in their quest for independence. In the second place, politically, Zambias steadfast support contributed substantially to the eventual downfall of apartheid and colonial regimes. Economically, Zambia faced formidable challenges due to sanctions and disruptions  meted out by minority-rule regimes and their Western principals  as a form of punishment for the nations solidarity with then-oppressed Southern Africa.

In the final analysis, the support offered by Zambia turned it into a paragon of dedication among African states. Its historical significance in those struggles aligns profoundly with the Liberation History agenda of the AU and the UNESCO World Heritage Convention Agenda. The countrys role warrants the advancement of Zambian sites as part of the Southern African Liberation Routes for several compelling reasons:

The liberation sites in Zambia hold immense historical significance. They mark critical moments and events in the struggle as tangible reminders of the sacrifices made and the resilience displayed during that era. These sites represent not only Zambias involvement but also the collective efforts of other nations in the emancipation project  symbolising unity, resilience, and the spirit of Pan-Africanism. Inclusion in the Southern African Liberation Routes would ensure the preservation and conservation of these sites; including educating generations about such history, and fostering more appreciation of Africas fight for independence. Recognition of these sites within the World Heritage Agenda acknowledges their outstanding universal value; amplifies their importance; and facilitates their protection and conservation measures under the World Heritage Convention Inclusion in the Liberation Routes agenda fosters regional cooperation and solidarity; sharing of experiences, knowledge, and heritage, contributing to a sense of unity and common purpose in pursuit of shared values.

Not to keep as a secret the statesmans contribution in the regions march to freedom, Zambia is taking its KK tribute to the globe. Last year, the UNESCO General Conference passed a resolution to approve Zambias, among the proposals by Member States, for the celebration of anniversaries in 2024-2025 with which the organisation could be associated. Zambias proposal, supported by South Africa and Zimbabwe, is the celebration of 50 years of Kaundas contribution to peace in Southern Africa.

Thus, Zambias historical sites encapsulate the struggles and triumphs of the people of the subcontinent. As discussed, advancing these sites as part of the Liberation Routes aligns with the objectives of the AU and the UNESCO World Heritage Convention Agenda. It honours the legacy of the struggle.

Zambias contribution to the decolonisation project, under the leadership of KK and his comrades, remains indelible in the annals of African history. The sacrifices made and the unfailing support provided resonate through the fabric of the nation, solidifying its position as an emblem of emancipation and unity. Its legacy of commitment to independence ought to be preserved to inspire generations, embody the unyielding spirit of a nation dedicated to the cause of justice and freedom for all.

Not to keep as a secret the statesmans contribution in the regions march to freedom, Zambia is taking its KK tribute to the globe. Last year, the UNESCO General Conference passed a resolution to approve Zambias, among the proposals by Member States, for the celebration of anniversaries in 2024-2025 with which the organisation could be associated. Zambias proposal, supported by South Africa and Zimbabwe, is the celebration of 50 years of Kaundas contribution to peace in Southern Africa.

To safeguard that part of African history, relevant institutions must collaborate in the name of preservation and documentation. The National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC), alongside Zambia National Commission for UNESCO, is well placed to spearhead that process. Further, history-rich sites like Oliver Tambo House and Kavalamanja not only deserve to be declared as shared National Monuments but also World Heritage Sites. Continued collaboration by members of the regional family will enable our children and grandchildren to appreciate the history and the power of the spirit of the AU or Bantuism-Ubuntu.

Kagosi Mwamulowe is a Director Conservation Services under Zambias NHCC, and president of Zambia ICOMOS.

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Today, Vin has become many things to a lot of people. To some he is this benefactor who has changed their lives. To others, he is the go-to person for advice and support. For many, he is one of the stars of Nigeria journalism and the golden voice of radio. He is mentor to many and trusted community leader in our state. But to me, he will always be the big brother that had my back since I was little. The one that led me by the hands when I was growing up, and paved the way for me and my siblings to soar.

Anyone who grew up in the 80s will recall that owning a television was one of the exclusive luxuries of the rich. The technology for television in rural areas was also uniquely strange. It involves an intricate connection of the black and white television set to a car battery, which you are obligated to go and recharge every other week. Because there was no electric power supply and generators were rarely owned by private individuals, watching television was only possible by powering the set with car batteries. The technology was funny, but television brought so much joy to the neighbourhood Owning a television also meant you are the rallying point of the community. You command immense convening power. Who didnt respect a television owner in the 80s? In Ozalla, a rural community where we lived, we were not one of the fortunate ones. We had to trek for about 10 to 15 minutes to go watch my brother, Vinmartin in the popular television drama series then on NTA called Ikoro. Vinmartin, after finishing secondary school, had gone on to star in this weekly drama series, while also hustling for gigs at Radio Nigeria.

I recall this particular day vividly. I was at Central School, Ozalla, doing my after-school classes. I was about six years old then. My parents were teachers and we lived in the Teachers Quarters right in the school compound. I looked through the window of the classroom and saw Vin, who then lived in Enugu with one of my aunties, carrying a television set and his friend, Oseloka Zikora, hauling a car battery and walking towards our house. Vin had recently secured a permanent job with Radio Nigeria and had used all of his first salary to buy a television set for our parents. I will never forget the joy on my parents faces. It was such a pleasant surprise and on reflection, such a huge sacrifice to make for the family. 40 years later, Vin is still giving joy and making sacrifices, not only for family but for everyone who encounters him.

Vin has always shown a hunger for growth and curiosity for knowledge. When most kids his age were taking life easy after secondary school, Vin, understanding the financial situation of the family, went to work and landed a role in Radio Nigeria, where he quickly became a rising star and a celebrity of a sort, because of his remarkable skills as a newscaster. While working for Radio Nigeria, he also sponsored himself through school, ensuring that he reduced the financial burden of his education on our parents. This streak of hard work, focus, sacrifice and empathy has been the hallmark of his life. Vin spent more than 13 years of his career with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (Radio Nigeria), where he rose to the position of Senior Announcer/Network Newscaster, at a time when Nigeria had no private radio station, and Radio Nigeria was about the only major source of news on radio. For the years he was in Radio Nigeria, listening to his golden voice reading the news and on the many programs he anchored, became a daily culture and ritual for millions of listeners and admirers all over the country and beyond.

One of Vins remarkable works was his extraordinary courage in foiling the unconstitutional removal of the then Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chris Ngige in 2006, through a remarkable live broadcast that has become a reference point in Nigerian media history. His brave reporting of the fatal stampede at the Catholic Adoration Ground in Enugu in 2005, under a very tense and explosive political environment, earned him encomiums as one of Nigerias top journalists.

Ebubedike Vinmartin Obiora Ilo joined DAAR Communications PLC, owners of the first private radio and TV stations in the country, in 1996. As a pioneer staff, my brother and his colleagues blazed a trail in private sector electronic media in Nigeria. His time in DAAR communication was interrupted in 2007, when he accepted the invitation of the Governor of Enugu State, Mr Sullivan Chime to serve as Special Adviser, Media. What most people do not know was that Vin passed over an opportunity to serve in the Presidency at that time because he felt he had to prioritise his local community. This was one decision that speaks to his altruistic instinct, often at the expense of his own interest. Vin returned to DAAR Communication in 2011. He left DAAR in 2014 as director, Special Duties and South-East Operations, having served in other capacities including Diplomatic/Foreign Correspondent, General Manager State Operations and Zonal Director South-East.

Vins time in DAAR communication was eventful. One of Vins remarkable works was his extraordinary courage in foiling the unconstitutional removal of the then Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chris Ngige in 2006, through a remarkable live broadcast that has become a reference point in Nigerian media history. His brave reporting of the fatal stampede at the Catholic Adoration Ground in Enugu in 2005, under a very tense and explosive political environment, earned him encomiums as one of Nigerias top journalists. Vin has interviewed presidents, world leaders and influencers including the former president of Israel, Shimon Perez.

He is the chief executive officer of Signature Communications Ltd, owners of the newly licensed Signature Television, with studios in Abuja and Enugu, and signaturetv.org, an online TV/multi-media platform, that offers 24/7 breaking news to thousands of subscribers around the world. Over the years, his hunger for knowledge kept taking him back to the classroom. He is a PhD candidate in Development Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and holds an MSc in Development Studies from the same university.

It has been about 40 years since Vin gave our parents the television that gave them so much joy and made them the centre of attention. Vins life has been like the gift of a television set to our family and his friends. His love for others powers him forward, and he has been the source of inspiration, love, laughter and learning to us all. Happy birthday big brother.

Vins capacity for kindness and sacrifice overflows filial bounds. In the last twenty years, Vin has run a self-funded education foundation that has provided scholarships up to tertiary level to over two hundred and fifty students from his hometown of Adu Achi in Enugu State. His commitment to using education as a tool of empowerment is unflinching and exemplary. My parents fondly call him Obiora (the heart of the people), perhaps as a foretelling of his magnanimity and propensity towards communal wellbeing. He has lived up to that name in his service to his people.

As we celebrate Vin, who my late daughter Natasha started calling Grandpa soon after our dad passed, there is a lot to learn from him in his determination to not be limited by his environment and his insatiable hunger for knowledge. Today, Vin has become many things to a lot of people. To some he is this benefactor who has changed their lives. To others, he is the go-to person for advice and support. For many, he is one of the stars of Nigeria journalism and the golden voice of radio. He is mentor to many and trusted community leader in our state. But to me, he will always be the big brother that had my back since I was little. The one that led me by the hands when I was growing up, and paved the way for me and my siblings to soar. He will always be the one that I raided his wardrobe and the one that dressed me up as young adult when I had a date. When I count my life blessings, I count my brother and my friend. It has been about 40 years since Vin gave our parents the television that gave them so much joy and made them the centre of attention. Vins life has been like the gift of a television set to our family and his friends. His love for others powers him forward, and he has been the source of inspiration, love, laughter and learning to us all. Happy birthday big brother.

Udo Jude Ilo is the Interim Executive Director at the Center for Civilians in Conflict.

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Our leaders are our deadliest enemies.

Not given to altruism, these leaders dont also subscribe to the law of the power of example. This is the golden rule insisting that rulers arent graded great until they exhibit selfless, sacrificial and Spartan conduct that sparks same virtues in the citizens. But our leaders, elected, selected or dictated, believe in the precept of the example of power. Here, the goal is, as you grab power, you must dig in, you must live in it and flaunt it and extend its frontiers like youd be in its embrace forever. They invest their all in it, nursing it with a lusty affection that outlaws competition or regard for other existential concerns. They bequeath a depressed economy after fattening their personal bank accounts and acquiring more property than they had at the point of entry. They exploit the led and desecrate their sacred office. They arrange a superannuation that glides them into a lifetime of cloying affluence and luxury. Its the reason our rulers disengage from public office into private opulence. In retirement, they become epicurean billionaires in a land rated as the global epicenter of poverty. When they drop out of public office, they boast of 50-room palatial mansions, yachts, exotic vehicles, private jets etc., forming oases of their ilk here and there.

Yet, the leader humanity would honour must leave office a poorer man than when he comes in, even if hes bearing the tale of one born with the proverbial golden spoon. When youre ruling the overwhelmingly poor, you dont take sumptuous meals while they feed from the trashcan. Youre not to play the dandy in the midst of those in rags, as it were. Whether in your closet or in the open, you must relate (acclimatize) with their indigence, regardless of your aristocratic background or the lifetime harvests from your depthless severance benefits. Thats the price of genuine leadership.

But Nigerian leaders dont see serving the masses in the light of sacrifice, of self-abnegation, of self-abasement. For them it is to gain weight, enlarge harem, add so-called side chicks, cultivate sybaritic habiliment, change wardrobe and eating habits to match new patrician status and gargantuan tastes, wire money abroad in savings and for indulgence homes and, finally, move into the phase of hedonistic hallucinations about life in an idyllic future.

These engagements put our leaders in an alien and broken world. They deliver great homilies on nationalism and religion and sacrifice. But alas, they wont drop their ornate robes to reflect their oration. They copiously quote the Scripture; but they fail to follow its teachings. They read of the abstemious lives of the prophets; but they dont take after them. They dont duplicate the noble life of a personality called Nehemiah, a governor in Bible-time Israel. He rejected the legitimate dainties of office because he met a people in the arms of death, the same forlorn conditions in which our current administrators met us last year. He declined the offer of the bread of the governor together with daily provision of one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine. Nehemiah said he couldnt live in such splendor when his compatriots were locked in squalor. He said: the bondage was heavy upon this people. His pillaging, parsimonious and parasitic predecessors had pauperized the land with their avarice. It was the suffering masses blood-robed toil that provided for the masters table. Sadly, the leaders conscience didnt quake as they gobbled the product of the poor!

If our leaders dont read the Scriptures, wouldnt they have read about a Kwame Nkrumah, Ghanas first president and foremost Pan-Africanist? After the coup of 1966 displaced him, his traducers turned local and international commercial banks inside out to bring out evidence that Nkrumah was a corrupt leader who deceived the people with his socialist ideology. They got none, because he didnt have any. Like Nehemiah, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah led a Stoic life, to serve his people. He rejected so-called personal allowances, even if there were legalized or admissible excuses to use them. The revolutionary has been quoted as saying: I refused to accept, as a political gesture, any of the expense allowances allotted to the President by lawIf my Will had been published, it would have shown that I left nothing even to my own family but bequeathed everything I did possess to the Party and the State. The money he had after office was royalties from his numerous books, which were paid into a bank in the UK.

When he died in exile in April 1972, more of this austere life came to light. His remains were to be interred at his hometown, Nkroful, a small village in southwest Ghana. The military regime of Ignatius Acheampong was horrified to learn that the road to the home of this revered African statesman wasnt motorable. Worse, what passed for the abode where Nkrumahs aged mother lived was only a shade above a shed. The junta wouldnt stand presenting these eye-sore scenes to the world leaders who would be attending Osagyefos funeral in July 1972. So, hurriedly, within weeks, they civilised the access routes to Nkroful and gave Madam Nkrumahs home a facelift, to enable it face the VIPs coming to honour a greater VIP.

Late Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, the remarkable Nigerian Sunday Times editor and columnist, once returned to Lagos from a visit to Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere in Dar es Salaam, with the report that the home of a middle level civil servant in Nigeria had more totems of civilization and luxury than that of the man who has blazed into history as one of Africas greatest leaders.

But Nigerian leaders are exemplars of power. This is our chief curse. Our leaders, bereft of the power of example, have poured themselves into the citizens, teaching us to follow their lifestyles of corrupt enrichment, in public or private. Were all reflecting our leaders materialistic penchants: greed, corruption, power-snatching for oppressive rule for keeps and illicit and exhibitionist wealth etc. Its the reason all the society has gone under. Whichever way you turn, the singsong is, The beautiful ones are not yet born. (Ayi Kwei Armah). The bandits, kidnappers, assassins, yahoo boys and girls, ritual killers, armed robbers, embezzlers, fake prophets, raiders of the national treasures, compromising security personnel and civil servants, are all perfect replicas of those in power. These leaders, whether in politics, security sector, traditional institutions, judiciary, religion, industry, academia, the professions etc. are Nigerias deadliest enemies because they recreate citizens larger than their own image who turn in gratuitous violent vengeance on the people. They entrench a rat-race system that encourages a destructive lust for power and wealth. They make room for those succeeding them in office to seek to outdo them. Therefore, the malcontents of the society in the name of bandits, unknown gunmen, prostitutes, online fraudsters, false prophets, prostitutes etc. are merely the outcrop of gaudy leaders who give more time to addressing their leviathan tastes than to caring for the majority poor in the land.

Meagre funds are released for strategic infrastructural development and welfare of the masses, because a larger chunk is retained exclusively for the leaders, leaving the society impoverished, unsecured and at the mercy of marauders unyielding to reason or patriotism. The wealth of society is headquartered in the rulers through a corrupt wage structure that ensures those in government and their cronies are richer than the creators of wealth. Thus, the state is rich, but the citizens are rendered miserably poor.

One way out this national conundrum is to abolish salaries and allowances altogether for political office holders. Let those coming into office and their families be cared for by the state. They should make use of public schools and government hospitals. Only acute medical conditions would necessitate overseas attention at state expense. There should be no wardrobe or vehicle allowances for them; nor should there be vacation abroad for those who opt to govern us. Public office shouldnt be where to make money. Its not where to invest N350m for a seat in the House of Representatives and seek to gain some billions of naira at the end of four years or so. Public office is where you give to the public, not where you take from it. You leave there a poorer person.

Secondly, we must get those who want to lead us to submit to the scales. We must record their weight as they come in. As they exit, we take the stats again. Have they lost weight to suggest theyve been toiling sleeplessly for the people? Or theyve put on furbished flesh to tell the tale of tainted integrity and failed leadership?

These measures should help sanitize the system in three ways: big money would be freed for more of society as we wouldnt have a humongous and bottomless wage bill for government; two, only selfless and patriotic citizens would be attracted to the hallowed business of serving the nation; three, we would no longer be having a venal class generationally giving birth to its own small class of preying gourmands.

Banji Ojewale writes from Ota, Ogun State.

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Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has received the eleven-year-old Almajiri boy, Isah Muazu, who was allegedly tortured by an Islamic school teacher in Suleja, Niger State. The governor, disturbed by the incident, sent an emissary to locate the boy and bring him to Kaduna.

Speaking upon receiving the Almajiri boy, who is also an indigene of Kaduna State, Governor Sani vowed to press criminal charges against the Almajiri school teacher. He emphasised that no part of the Quran supports the dehumanising torture of underaged children.

Muazu, along with other children from similar Almajiri schools who have suffered abuse, was repatriated back to Kaduna from Niger State. The governor announced that the repatriated children, including Muazu, would be given free education under the Tsangaya education system in Kaduna State.

The governor expressed his commitment to preventing child abuse and stated that the Kaduna State government would not tolerate such actions. He emphasised the need to provide Islamic and formal education without subjecting children to dehumanising punishment.

We have brought back all the children from Niger State. We have a better Tsangaya system in Kaduna State where we will give them Islamic and formal education. There is no place in the Holy Quran that says underaged children have to be taken away from their parental care before they get an Islamic education. We dont want to see children roam the streets begging, MrSani stated.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajia Rabi Salisu, reported that after his repatriation, Muazu

received treatment in a state government hospital and underwent psychosocial treatment.

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The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, hosted his Northwest counterparts for the official unveiling of the State Community Protection Guards (CPG).

The graduation ceremony for the Community Protection Guards (Askarawan Zamfara) was held on Wednesday at the Trade Fair Complex in Gusau, the state capital.

A statement issued by the governors spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that governors of Jigawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Sokoto attended the graduation ceremony.

Mr Idris said the Zamfara State Government has perfected plans to utilise a multi-faceted and multi-dimensional approach to address security challenges for now and in the future.

Last year, Governor Dauda Lawal approved the engagement of 5,200 guards across 14 local government areas. Today, 2,645 community protection guards graduated in the first batch, the spokesperson added.

In his remark at the graduation ceremony, Governor Lawal declared that his administration embarked on the arduous task with a commitment to gradual reforms across all sectors of the states economy to instill sanity and accelerate development.

The governor stated: While we make these efforts, the lofty goals we set out to achieve will remain a mirage as long as the formidable challenge of insecurity remains unaddressed.

This informed our decision to, among other things, establish the Community Protection Guards, known as Askarawa. The steering committee for establishing the Community Protection Guards traversed the 14 Local Government Areas and screened eligible volunteers for enrolment into the outfit.

We believe that the bulk of the challenges we face as a state and region are borne out of severe neglect in advancing public policy to serve the socioeconomic expectations of our people. We will never take for granted the message of the people of our state through their votes in March 2023.

Today, therefore, the first batch of the Community Protection Guards, 2,645, are graduating. These young, energetic and vibrant personnel have undergone rigorous training, extensive drilling, and an understanding of the rules of engagement, amongst other skills, in the due discharge of their responsibility of partnering, assisting and working with the security agencies to defend our communities, Mr Lawal emphasised.

In his speech, the Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda who is also the Chairman of Northwest Governors Forum, reaffirmed their joint decision not to engage in negotiations with bandits.

We have gathered here today with a common purpose: to unite against banditry and insecurity in the Northwest. Regardless of political affiliation, we are committed to never negotiating with bandits,

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, General Aliyu Muhammad Gusau (retired), praised the state government for establishing the Community Protection Guards.

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of Edison Ehie, the chief of staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, less than two days after Mr Ehie was sworn into office.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Wednesday, following an ex-parte application brought by the Inspector-General of Police.

Mr Ehie is accused of being involved in the 29 October 2023 arson at the Rivers House of Assembly complex, Port Harcourt, which occurred during an attempt by some lawmakers to initiate an impeachment proceeding against Governor Fubara.

The court also issued a warrant of arrest against five others  Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter, also known as Rambo  over the same accusation.

Mr Ehie was the speaker of a four-member faction of the assembly. The faction, which is now defunct, was loyal to Mr Fubara in the feud between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is the FCT minister.

Mr Ehie resigned as the factional speaker and member of the assembly to pave the way for the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to take control of the assembly as part of a controversial peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu between Messrs Fubara and Wike.

The police suspect that Mr Fubaras allies carried out the arson at the assembly complex in order to prevent the impeachment plot against the governor.

The Rivers State Government later demolished the complex, claiming that the structure had become defective following the arson.

Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, remanded Chime Ezebalike, Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald, and Ochueja Thankgod over similar accusation of invading, vandalising and burning down of the Rivers assembly complex.

Mr Ehie was not listed among the defendants in the case which is being prosecuted by the police.

In the suit before Justice Nwite, Mr Ehie and the other defendants are accused of conspiracy, arson, terrorism, attempted murder, and murder of a superintendent of police, Bako Agbashim, and five other police informants, according to Punch newspaper.

Another Court bars arrest of Ehie

While a federal court ordered his arrest, a State High Court in Port Harcourt granted an application filed by Mr Ehie against his arrest by the police.

Mr Ehie, in the application, asked the court to restrain the police and other security agencies from arresting, detaining and harassing him over his alleged involvement in the burning of the Rivers assembly complex, the Nation newspaper reported.

The judge, Sika Aprioku, granted the application before adjourning the matter to 6 February for a hearing.

As of the time of this report, it was unclear which of the court orders the police would honour. Both courts are of equal powers.

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The Ebonyi Police Command on Wednesday confirmed the death of three men as a result of a cult clash in the Oriuzor community, Ezza North Local Government of the state.

Joshua Ukandu, the Acting Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Ebonyi Command, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki that the clash was between some cult groups in the area.

According to Mr Ukandu, there was a report of gunshots and cult members clashing on Sunday at the Oriuzor community. Unfortunately, three people were killed as a result of the incident.

Two persons have been arrested in connection with the clash, although, the situation has been put under control.

READ ALSO: Presidential aide tasks security agencies on safe return of abducted Ekiti pupils

Our team has been on top of the matter and investigations are still ongoing to ascertain the root causes of the shootings and killings, though preliminary investigation revealed that there was a cult clash between rival groups in the community.

We immediately deployed a team of our men to the community and normalcy has returned to the area, the PPRO said.

(NAN)

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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has departed for Beijing, China, as part of efforts to fulfil his promise of delivering a multimodal transportation system for Lagos residents.

He would also attend meetings aimed at strengthening trade and investment relations between China and Lagos State.

In a statement, the governors Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said Mr Sanwo-Olu will also be in talks with the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) regarding the Lagos metro Blue railway line.

The CCECC constructed the first phase of the Lagos Metro Blue railway line, which spans 13 kilometres from Marina to Mile 2.

Mr Akosile said the governor will also inspect the headquarters of the Chinese construction giants and some ongoing projects undertaken around Beijing.

Governor Sanwo-Olu will depart Beijing for Dalian later in the week for a visit to the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation headquarters and CRRC Lvshun base.

During his visit, he is scheduled to hold a high-level official meeting with the Head of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, CRRC Dalian, Mr Akosile said.

READ ALSO: Police arrest suspected child trafficker in Lagos

He noted that there would also be a technical discussion on the DMUs for the Red Line and EMUs for the Blue Line between the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), CCECC and CRRC Dalian.

Governor Sanwo-Olu is accompanied on the trip by the Commissioner for Transportation, Seun Osiyemi; Chairman, House Committee on Transportation, Temitope Adewale; Chairman, House Committee on Environment parastatals, Rasheed Shabi; Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, (LAMATA), Abimbola Akinajo and Director, Rail Transport, Mr. Olasunkanmi Okusaga, among other officials.

The Governor and the entourage are billed to return to Lagos next week, the statement added.

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The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Bola Tinubu on School Feeding, Yetunde Adeniji, has tasked security agencies to ensure the safe return of the abducted Ekiti school children.

Ms Adeniji said this in a statement signed by Mr Olumobi Adewale on Wednesday in Abuja.

I strongly condemn the abhorrent incident that occurred on Monday in Emure-Ekiti, Ekiti State, six pupils, teachers, and a driver were abducted in this distressing event.

She expressed deep concern and outrage over the abduction of the innocent individuals and called for their immediate and safe release.

READ ALSO: Student reportedly commits suicide

This act of violence against members of the educational community is unacceptable and goes against the fundamental right to safety and security.

I extend my heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of the abducted individuals and reassure them of the governments commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, she said.

(NAN)

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Udaipur - The 66th Foundation Day Celebration of the Rajasthan Sahitya Academy concluded with a grand event at the Academy Auditorium. The occasion included a special tribute to the esteemed literary figure Dr. Tara Prakash Joshi, honored with the highest literary accolade by the academy. Dr. K.K. Sharma, the program's chairperson, highlighted the visionary role of Dr. Janardanrai Nagar in the foundation of the Sahitya Academy. He praised the academy's success in achieving its objectives, with initiatives like the Madhumati magazine and various literary activities that have gained recognition across India.

Reflecting on Dr. Tara Prakash Joshi's contributions, Kishan Dadhich emphasized the social, cultural, and national impact of her poetry on the literary landscape of Rajasthan. He acknowledged Dr. Joshi's efforts during the severe famine in Rajasthan, where she collaborated with poets to raise awareness and help people through her literary works.

Dr. Kundan Mali, a special guest, provided an overview of the academy, highlighting its crucial role in elevating the status of literary figures today. He commended the academy for providing inspiration, encouragement, and support to writers without any discrimination. The event began with Iqbal Husain Iqbal offering Saraswati Vandana, praising the academy for its significant contributions.

Dr. Basant Singh Solanki, the Secretary of the Rajasthan Sahitya Academy, extended a warm welcome and shed light on various activities of the academy. Jagdish Tiwari shared the famous song "Mera Vetan Itna Rani Jitna Garam Tawe Par Pani," paying tribute to Dr. Tara Prakash Joshi. Dr. Jyoti Poonj reminisced about her experiences associated with the academy.

Nirmala Sharma Nilofar, the anchor for the event, managed the proceedings gracefully, and Rajesh Mehta concluded the program by expressing gratitude to all the guests. The event witnessed the presence of distinguished literary figures and representatives from various literary organizations of the city, including Ashok Jain, Shailendra Dadha, Manmohan Madhukar, Khurshid Sheikh, and others.

Source :
Callie Seaman was 16 when she started smoking cannabis to control her epilepsy. The seizures that had started two years earlier were affecting her ability to function and, while shed excelled at school until her diagnosis, her studies were now suffering.

That was back in 1997, when cannabis was still illegal throughout Europe even for medical use. Anyone who wanted to acquire some was forced to do business with a street dealer or rely on someone else to do so.

Reassuring changes

I never took it for the euphoric high, said Seaman, who lives near Sheffield in the U.K. I took it to give me a good nights sleep  not getting enough sleep is a huge trigger for a seizure  and it worked.

Seaman continues to be a daily consumer of cannabis and, since 2018, key compounds from the Cannabis sativa plant have been available to her by prescription. Shes reassured to know that the medication is now quality controlled, containing predictable amounts of active ingredient. I havent had a seizure for two years, Seaman said. Epilepsy can kill, so its very possible cannabis has saved my life.

Yet how cannabis works isnt entirely clear. Never has it been more important to understand it better, to find ways both to use it in medicine and to reduce the potential harm when its used recreationally, said Micah Allen, a professor at the Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience at Aarhus University in Denmark.

We want to determine what happens in the brain when a person uses a cannabis product. Professor Micah Allen, CANNABODIES

Laws on cannabis are changing regularly. In most European countries, one of its active ingredients  cannabidiol, or CBD  is legal. But cannabis for personal use generally isnt, even if medical marijuana is becoming increasingly available on the continent.

Some cannabis compounds are believed to help with depression, anxiety, addiction, chronic pain, inflammatory diseases and the nausea associated with chemotherapy, among other things.

And though cannabis can be misused  some people such as teenagers and pregnant women would probably be better off avoiding it altogether  European scientists are on a quest to make full use of the health-giving properties of some of its ingredients.

Allen leads a research project that received EU funding to learn more about how cannabis compounds including CBD affect human health. Called CANNABODIES, the five-year project is due to run until the end of January 2027.

Key compounds

Of the thousands of compounds produced by the cannabis plant, a group of 100-plus ones known as cannabinoids is of most medical interest. Of those, CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, are seen as the most clinically relevant.

Both CBD and THC trigger the release of chemical messengers in the brain that can affect pain, mood, sleep and memory. But THC induces a so-called high, whereas CBD doesnt. That makes THC open to misuse.

Cannabinoids are no cure for disease. Instead, they work by changing how symptoms  physical or mental  register on a conscious level. By tweaking the nervous system, these chemicals have the power to alter a persons perception of, say, pain. They can also change the emotional response to a stressful situation and, less positively, diminish motivation.

What people are consuming today is expensive, not terribly effective and unpleasant for many to ingest. Professor Antonio Vicente, CBDHIGHBIO

Exactly how cannabinoids influence the human brain and body remains poorly understood because most studies have been carried out on animals. This severely limits our ability to design effective cannabinoid-based treatments, said Allen.

Perceptive powers

CANNABODIES is looking at how THC and CBD influence something called interoception  the perception by people of the internal state of their bodies and how this affects decisions. Examples of interoception include mentally focusing on hunger, heartbeat or pain. For instance, is a person who registers less physical pain after taking CBD inclined to work harder at a task? Or is someone more in tune with the heartbeat after taking THC liable to feel increased anxiety?

While peoples descriptions of experiences with cannabinoids suggest big changes in body sensations, no scientific studies have examined this matter, according to Allen. Many psychiatric disorders involve a disruption to healthy interoception, he said. So if cannabinoids prove to be therapeutic in this area, this will be valuable information.

Allen plans to establish some basic science. We want to determine what happens in the brain when a person uses a cannabis product, he said. Which neural pathways fire up when they ingest CBD, THC or a placebo?

Brain-scan quizzes

For this research, participants inside an MRI scanner will be given tasks to perform. Mostly, the participants will be asked to squeeze a handheld device or to breathe into a tube in response to simple challenges usually involving images appearing on a screen, akin to a video game. Theyll be awarded points with every correct choice and receive a financial reward of around 100 Danish kroner  roughly $14  for completing a task.

The speed and accuracy of responses, the participants willingness to put in extra effort and their perception of discomfort will be among the factors that Allen will be exploring. In learning more about the effects of cannabinoids on interoception, Allen aims to advance the goal of developing new treatments based on either CBD or THC that are safe, effective and customized.

Circulation hurdle

Sold as an oil or infused into novel foods and drinks, CBD is already widely marketed as a potent treatment for all manner of ailments from anxiety and arthritis to bowel disease and multiple sclerosis. But theres a big drawback with products sold today: bioavailability, which is the proportion of a drug or other substance that enters the circulation when introduced in the body.

Once the active ingredient of a CBD product from a shop has been ingested, only a small amount  as low as 6%  enters the circulation and becomes available to the brain. That means significant amounts of CBD must be taken for it to have an effect.

Researchers at the University of Minho in Portugal are halfway through a two-year project to shed light on the metabolic processes that determine how much CBD is available to the body after ingestion.

Theres variability from person to person, but the reasons for this are poorly understood, said Dr. Renata Vardanega, a bioengineering expert who coordinates the EU-funded project. Called CBDHIGHBIO, it is scheduled to end in October 2024. Vardanega and her team are studying what determines how much ingredient is absorbed after CBD has been ingested. For instance, does it depend on what else the person has eaten or drunk?

Delivery duos

Theyre also working to improve the absorption of CBD by pairing it with a long-chain fatty acid during delivery. This method diverts the absorption route to prevent CBD from being metabolized by the liver.

A third strand of work involves finding a way to boost the absorption of CBD by combining it with piperine, a compound derived from black pepper. Because it is an excellent bioenhancer, piperine increases the bioavailability of another substance, according to Professor Antonio Vicente, a bioengineer on the project. Were looking for ways to capitalize on this property to make CBD more available to the body, he said.

The projects overarching goal is to create cannabinoid edibles such as chocolates, drinks or butters that are far more potent than any current product but that contain as little CBD as possible. What people are consuming today is expensive, not terribly effective and unpleasant for many to ingest, said Vicente. We think we can do a lot better.

Research in this article was funded by the EU via the European Research Council (ERC) and the Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The article was originally published in Horizon, the EU Research and Innovation Magazine.

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Udaipur - Dr. Sharad Chandra Purohit, former director of the Rajasthan State Educational Research and Training Institute, emphasized that effective protection of child rights requires a collaborative approach from both government and non-government organizations. He made these remarks while chairing the inaugural meeting of the Rajasthan Child Advocacy Group (R-Keg) at the Vivekananda Hall of Gayatri Seva Sansthan in Udaipur.

Dr. Shailendra Pandya, a child rights specialist and director of Gayatri Seva Sansthan, provided insights into the current efforts by various organizations at different levels to protect child rights. He highlighted the importance of collaborative initiatives at both the policy and grassroots levels. Dr. Purohit expressed his optimism about the significant impact that can be achieved when government, voluntary, and individual organizations work together to eliminate child abuse and violence comprehensively.

During the meeting, Chandragupta Singh Chauhan, a member of the core group and social worker, shared information about linking retired administrative officers from R-Keg to involve young individuals interested in working in the field of social service. He stressed the need to identify and recognize initiatives with far-reaching results for child rights.

Dr. Dhruvakumar Kaviya, a member of the Rajasthan Child Commission and representative of the state government, commended the efforts of R-Keg and suggested providing recommendations for Mission 2030 aimed at children's welfare.

Former President of the Bal Kalyan Samiti, Udaipur, Dr. Preeti Jain, and former member Dr. Rajkumari Bhargava, along with social worker Dr. Rajshree Gandhi and others, attended the meeting. They collectively agreed to appoint Dr. Sharad Chandra Purohit as the Chairman of the Rajasthan Child Advocacy Group.

The first meeting of the group saw the participation of various organizations, including Bal Kalyan Samiti, Udaipur, and representatives from Bal Suraksha Network, expressing unanimous support for the newly appointed Chairman. The meeting concluded with thanks extended by Nitin Paliwal from Gayatri Seva Sansthan.

Source :
MOBILE, Ala., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The legal firms of Cunningham Bounds and Laird, Baker & Blackstock secured a $5 million settlement against Lakeland Tours, LLC d/b/a WorldStrides, Inc. The settlement, obtained on the fifth day of the trial, was on behalf of the family of a 15-year-old boy who tragically lost his life after falling ill during an educational trip to Washington, D.C.

WorldStrides, a prominent student travel company operating educational trips worldwide, marketed a "Doctors on Call" program, assuring customers access to a dedicated team of emergency physicians for the care of students during trips. The settlement exposed a disturbing discrepancy between what the company's told parents and the actual care provided.

In June 2018, a Cunningham Bounds client entrusted her 15-year-old son, Ryan Stokes, to a WorldStrides trip. Relying on the company's representations, especially due to her son's medical history, she believed that if a medical issue arose, a qualified doctor would be readily available. Unfortunately, when Ryan became sick during the trip, the reality starkly differed from the promised "Doctors on Call" program.

Despite the chaperone's notification to WorldStrides and the belief that a doctor was en route, an unlicensed physician assistantrather than an emergency physicianwas dispatched to the hotel. The physician assistant misdiagnosed Ryan and failed to involve a doctor, leading to devastating consequences. Ryan collapsed the next morning, was rushed to the emergency room, diagnosed with a bowel obstruction, underwent surgery, but tragically, never regained consciousness and passed away three days later.

Attorney Joseph McGowin of Cunningham Bounds emphasized the need for accountability, stating, "Companies like WorldStrides should be held accountable when they choose to put children at risk through deceptive sales tactics. Ryan's family deeply appreciates the dedication of the jurors in Covington County who served on this case. After years of denying responsibility, WorldStrides only offered a fair settlement once a jury had heard the evidence and a verdict was imminent."

Representing the Stokes family alongside Joseph McGowin were Cunningham Bounds attorneys Skip Finkbohner, Dave Wirtes, and Joe Steadman, as well as attorney Wesley Laird of Laird, Baker & Blackstock.

Cunningham Bounds remains focused on and committed to fighting for plaintiffs in cases involving serious personal injury, products liability, industrial accidents, and complex civil litigation. For more information on Cunningham Bounds, visit: www.cunninghambounds.com.

The law firm of Cunningham Bounds has offices in Mobile, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia and has been representing plaintiffs for more than 65 years. Today the firm continues its tradition of representing victims in cases involving catastrophic personal injury, industrial accidents, defective products, truck and automobile accidents, and medical malpractice. The firm also has expertise in business litigation, complex litigation, and national and state class action litigation involving defective products and consumer fraud.

Media Contact:

Amanda Cotton

[email protected]

251.471.6191

SOURCE Cunningham Bounds
Valeria Casillas refuses to live in fear. She does not want the violence she endured, which almost killed her, to define her. Still bruised, physically and emotionally scarred, she emphasizes that other women are at risk. She seeks justice, not personal revenge, she stresses. In December she traveled from her native Mexico to Colombia to spend her vacation with the man with whom she had been in a long-distance relationship for three months. Jonathan Lynn Wright is a 39-year-old U.S. citizen living in Pereira, a city located 300 kilometers (186 miles) west of Bogota. Two days after landing, the romance turned into a nightmare.

Casillas says Wrights abuse began with possessive comments that escalated into fat-phobic attacks. Verbal violence was followed by anger and, later, a beating. He punched me several times against the wall, in the face, until he punched me so hard that he knocked me to the floor, the 29-year-old recounts. Once on the ground, Casillas recalls being kicked in the back. At one point I thought that if I took one more punch, I was going to die, says Valeria, still affected. Her assailant checked if she was still breathing, the victim says. When he saw that she was still alive, he told her to leave. Get the hell out of my house. Youre fat, you disgust me, he yelled at her as he threw her things out the door.

With a bloodied face, disoriented and without her passport, Casillas says she was left in the street. Passersby called the polices purple patrol (a unit specialized in dealing with cases of gender violence) and they took her to the Los Rosales Clinic. EL PAIS has had access to her medical records, which state that Valeria was admitted with polytrauma, a sprained ankle and a head wound, which required five stitches. From her hospital bed, the photographer asked for help from her family in Mexico. Her mother alerted the Mexican consulate in Bogota, which contacted Valeria by phone. I was in a state of anxiety, paranoia, fear, frustration... she recalls.

Documents relating to Valeria Casillas' case. CORTESIA

Before leaving  she still does not know with what strength  Valeria reported Wright to the Prosecutors Office. The police managed to recover her passport from her aggressor and she flew home on December 29 with a ticket bought for her by her mother. She returned home battered, but convinced that she had escaped death. An opportunity that 403 women in Colombia and 827 in Mexico, all victims of femicide in 2023, did not have.

Wrights harassment continued after the assault. Casillas explains that she continued to receive cell phone messages and veiled threats. He would write me telling me that I deserved it because I was fat. That he loved me and that he had given me a chance, but that he couldnt deal with my current physical state.

Valerias case is proof that male violence does not understand borders or nationalities. Only one in 10 women in Mexico and Colombia dares to file a complaint, and more than 90% of these cases go unpunished. Victims know that reporting a crime is a tortuous path that can take months, even years. On many occasions, these women not only have to face their abusers, but also the authorities and a justice system that punishes and violates them.

Although Casillas filed a complaint for attempted femicide, the Prosecutors Office classified the case as domestic violence, a crime that carries much lower penalties. In addition, the Colombian justice system required her to return to attend the hearings in person. For three weeks, with no news of her case, she asked for help from Mexicos Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Barcena.

Through social networks, Barcena saw images of a woman with a face covered in blows, asking for her help. I am desperate. I was the victim of an attempted femicide while visiting Colombia by an American resident in that country. Please help, Casillas wrote on the social network X. Her message was seen by more than two million people. The foreign minister asked the director general of Consular Protection to attend to her case and reiterated her willingness to support her. After an interview on Mexican television, the authorities began to follow up on the case. That day I began to feel the support of the authorities. The embassy is in communication with me and the ones I am struggling a bit with are the authorities in Colombia, she says. This newspaper contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but did not receive a response to its request.

A screenshot of the messages that Wright sent to Casillas.

Without having clear and precise information on the progress of her complaint in Colombia, when the arraignment hearing was announced, Casillas requested that it be held virtually. Just 48 hours beforehand, she met the public defender assigned to her and did not have time to speak with him before the hearing. Casillas claims that, as such, her attorney did not know the details of the case. This newspaper contacted the lawyer in question, who refrained from providing information and referred the matter to the Prosecutors Office. The latter does not have effective channels to provide more information on the progress of the complaint.

As scheduled, the hearing was held last Friday, January 19. Although Wrights activity on social networks indicates that he is still in Pereira, he did not show up, claiming that he was out of town.

Under Law 1257 of 2008, in Colombia no magistrate can force a woman to confront her aggressor against her will. It is a right that has been reiterated by the Constitutional Court in several rulings, and implies that we must adopt tools that the justice system already has in place to guarantee the continuity of the judicial process, of the investigation, and an eventual punishment, Adriana Alquichides, a lawyer and expert in gender-based violence, tells EL PAIS.

Wright was not arrested after the assault, despite the evidence against him and the continued harassment of the victim. Casillas states it is not the first time that her aggressor has been denounced for violence against women. Wright was convicted in 2009 for possession of cocaine and served a sentence in Illinois, according to official documents to which this newspaper has had access. After that he lived in Mexico for 10 years and then moved to Colombia.

As seen by his posts on platforms such as Facebook or WhatsApp, Wright continues with his life. Just a few hours after the assault, he posted photos. He has not been arrested nor has he provided a statement. I fear for my life, thats why I dont want to go back to Colombia. Besides, he also has a Mexican residency permit and I am afraid there will be repercussions, Casillas says.

Desperate to prevent her attacker from fleeing, Casillas turned to the U.S. Embassy for help. The U.S. authorities referred her to the Colombian police, arguing that they could do nothing against one of their citizens overseas. What he did to me, he could do to more women, she says.

After the hearing on January 19, Casillas lawyer managed to reclassify the investigation into the crime as attempted femicide due to the brutality of the assault and thanks to the evidence provided by the victim. A month has passed since the photographer experienced what she considers one of the most painful episodes of her life. Meanwhile, her assailant remains at large.

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NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The cosmetic skin care market is estimated to grow by USD 79.37 billion from 2022 to 2027, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.72% during the forecast period. However, the growth momentum will progress. The growth is notably driven by the presence of premium brands. The premium skincare market is thriving, driven by affluent consumers investing in luxury brands. Premium skincare companies are leveraging digital platforms to enhance appeal, introducing innovative products like serums and retinol creams to address diverse skin concerns. Internationalization, with tourists contributing to sales, is a key growth factor. Leading players like L'Oreal and The Estee Lauder Companies emphasize facial, anti-aging, and body skincare products to bolster brand value and drive sales in this competitive segment. For more insights on the historical (2017 to 2021) and forecast market size (2023 to 2027) - Request a free sample report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Cosmetic Skin Care Market 2023-2027

Technavio has segmented the market based on Product (Face skincare products, Body skincare products, and Others), Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), and Geography (APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America).

The skincare market share growth by the face skincare products segment will be significant during the forecast period. Face skin care products encompass a range of solutions like creams, lotions, toners, exfoliators, and serums, serving purposes like anti-aging, skin-whitening, and sun protection. Beyond these, they contribute to moisturizing, hydrating, and achieving a smooth, blemish-free appearance. Growth factors include an aging population and technological advancements in manufacturing. Premium products stimulating natural skin rejuvenation are anticipated to drive demand among fashion-conscious consumers and makeup artists.

By geography, the global cosmetic skin care market is segmented into APAC, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa, and South America. The report provides actionable insights and estimates the contribution of all regions to the growth of the global market.

APAC is estimated to contribute 51% to the growth of the global cosmetics market during the forecast period. The APAC region experiences significant growth in cosmetic skincare, driven by consumer preferences for products like skin-lightening creams. Companies engage in promotional efforts, utilizing advertisements and appealing packaging to showcase positive effects, attracting customers. The rise of specialty stores and increased cellular subscriptions enhance product awareness and availability. Online retailers, reaching semi-urban and rural areas, contribute to the growing demand for cosmetic skincare in APAC.

Insights on the contribution of various segments including country and region wise historic data (2017 to 2021), and forecast market size (2023 to 2027) - Download a Free Sample Report

The increase in the number of distribution channels is a primary trend shaping the growth.

is a primary trend shaping the growth. Stringent regulations are the major challenges restricting growth.

Insights on Drivers, trends, & Challenges, historic period(2017 to 2021), and forecast period(2023 to 2027)- Request a sample report!

Benefits of Cosmetic Skincare

Cosmetic skincare products offer various benefits for skin health and appearance. Moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, exfoliators, and masks provide hydration, nourishment, and cleansing. Sunscreens protect against UV damage, while anti-aging creams, eye creams, and acne treatments target specific skin concerns. Skin brighteners, spot treatments, and facial oils help improve skin tone and texture. Retinoids, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C serums, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid are known for their skincare benefits. Natural ingredients like aloe vera, tea tree oil, and CBD-infused products offer gentler options. Organic, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, and sensitive skin formulations cater to various skin types and preferences. Cruelty-free and vegan skincare options are also available, along with probiotic skincare and hydrating mists for added benefits.

What are the key data covered in this report?

CAGR during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth between 2023 and 2027

Precise estimation of the size and its contribution to the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the industry across APAC, Europe , North America , Middle East and Africa , and South America

, , and , and A thorough analysis of the competitive landscape and detailed information about companies

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of Companies

Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform

Related Reports:

The cosmetic ingredients market size is estimated to grow by USD 4,888.02 million at a CAGR of 7.08% between 2022 and 2027.

The Global Cosmetic Serum Market size is projected to increase by USD 1,394.77 million at a CAGR of 4.36% from 2022 to 2027.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Segmentation by Product

Segmentation by Distribution Channel

Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About US

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their 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 insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential areas and assess their competitive positions within changing 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
Record-breaking, 29-hour long event aims to help marketers and entrepreneurs #MakeMoreTime in 2024

CHICAGO, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ActiveCampaign, the must-have platform for intelligent marketing automation, announced the opening of registration for The ActiveCampaign Leap Day Extravaganza a free virtual conference on February 28th through March 1st produced in partnership with Goldcast, Calendly, and The Juice. Designed to help marketers and entrepreneurs #MakeMoreTime in 2024, attendees will hear from some of the brightest minds in AI, content creation, customer experience, ecommerce, email, entrepreneurship, marketing automation, podcasting, and time managementall from the comfort of their home or office.

ActiveCampaign joins forces with title sponsors Goldcast, Calendly, and The Juice to launch a first-of-its-kind Leap Day Extravaganza

Speakers scheduled to present include:

Jay Baer - Serial entrepreneur, NYT bestseller & author of The Time to Win

Ian Faison - Founder & CEO, Caspian Studios

Rand Fishkin - Co-Founder & CEO, Sparktoro & author, Lost & Founder

Ann Handley - MarketingProfs Chief Content Officer & author, Everybody Writes

John Jantsch - Author, speaker, consultant & host, Duct Tape Marketing

Scott Monty - CEO, Scott Monty Strategies & host, Timeless Leadership Podcast

- CEO, Scott Monty Strategies & host, Lindsay Tjepkema - Founder & CEO, Casted

Paul Roetzer - CEO, Marketing AI Institute & author, Marketing Artificial Intelligence

& author, Sangram Vajre - CEO, GTM Partners & author, MOVE: The 4-question GTM Framework

Purna Virji - Principal Consultant, LinkedIn & author, High Impact Content Marketing

- Principal Consultant, LinkedIn & author, Father Time - Primordial deity & personification of time itself

"At a time when marketers around the world are being challenged to do more with less, it struck us that Leap Day provides the perfect moment to share how technology, process improvements, and strategic changes can help marketers save time, increase productivity, and be more efficient," said Jason VandeBoom, founder and CEO of ActiveCampaign. "Intelligent marketing automation enables marketers to make more time for the things they value most, and we can't wait to help even more professionals tap that power for their own businesses."

In a date-inspired twist, the event will run a record-breaking 29-hours straight on the Goldcast B2B Events Platform. "The ActiveCampaign Leap Day Extravaganza will be the longest, continuous virtual event ever produced on our platform," said Palash Soni, co-founder and CEO of Goldcast. "We're excited to partner in its production and share our team's insights on how to produce content in increasingly effective and efficient ways."

"One in four workers spend nearly half a workday on the painful back and forth of scheduling meetings," said Jessica Gilmartin, CRO at Calendly. "Calendly drives business growth by enabling our customers to generate more meetings efficiently, and it's exactly why this event spoke to us as we focus on helping individuals and teams take back control over their work."

Well before the ActiveCampaign Leap Day Extravaganza sunrise, marketers and entrepreneurs can get a headstart on their productivity goals thanks to The Juice. "We've launched a new #MakeMoreTime topic channel to share time-saving tips, tricks, and technologies," shared Jonathan Gandolf, founder and CEO of The Juice. "It's the perfect compliment to what is going to be a truly, one-of-a-kind event come Leap Day."

Additional sponsors of The ActiveCampaign Leap Day Extravaganza! include Caspian Studios , Casted , Duct Tape Marketing , Emailpref , Fairplay Communications , HelpBnk , Help Scout , the Marketing AI Institute , MarketingProfs , Postmark , Rebrandly , Salesmsg , Sendoso , TACK , and Thinkific .

Registered attendees of The ActiveCampaign Leap Day Extravaganza will be able to attend sessions, chat with speakers, learn more about sponsor solutions in their virtual booths, network with fellow attendees, and more thanks to the Goldcast platform. Learn more and register to attend The ActiveCampaign Leap Day Extravaganza for free on February 28th through March 1st (depending on your time zone) at leapday.activecampaign.com .

About ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign helps small teams power big businesses with the must-have platform for intelligent marketing automation. Customers from over 170 countries depend on ActiveCampaign's mix of pre-built automations and integrations (including Facebook, Google, WordPress, Salesforce, Shopify, and Square) to power personalized marketing, transactional emails, and one-to-one CRM interactions throughout the customer lifecycle.

ActiveCampaign holds the highest customer satisfaction rating among Marketing Automation, E-Commerce Personalization, Landing Page Builders, and CRM solutions on G2 and is one of only a handful of software solutions with over 10,000 positive reviews. ActiveCampaign has also been named the Top Rated Email Marketing Software on TrustRadius. Learn more and start your free trial at ActiveCampaign.com .

About Goldcast

Goldcast is your favorite B2B marketers' go-to platform for creating engaging events and video. Transform your marketing by effortlessly hosting captivating events and webinars that can be easily repurposed into a multi-channel strategy with a click of a button. Thousands of B2B marketers, from companies like Adobe, Microsoft, Zuora, and Mailchimp, leverage Goldcast to boost event attendance, create captivating experiences, repurpose event and video content, and capitalize on intent data. Elevate your event and video strategy with Goldcast for true audience engagement, brand development, and revenue growth; moving beyond basic events and content to revenue-driving engagement from webinars, virtual conferences, and social-ready video. For more information, visit www.goldcast.io .

About Calendly

Calendly helps individuals, teams, and organizations globally automate the meeting lifecycle by removing the scheduling back and forth. Calendly enables companies to close deals, hire candidates, build relationships, and grow their businessfaster. More than 20 million users across 230 countries use Calendly to simplify meetings and collaborate more effectively and efficiently. To learn more, visit Calendly.com .

About The Juice

The Juice is a B2B content discovery platform that connects sales and marketing professionals with insightful resources from across the internet on one platform. Headquartered in Indianapolis, The Juice is on a mission to transform the content experience by creating an independent space where users can discover, save, organize, and enjoy podcasts, videos, ebooks, and more without having to fill out a form. To learn more about The Juice, visit www.thejuicehq.com .

SOURCE ActiveCampaign, LLC
TAIPEI, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Anbogen Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in groundbreaking cancer drug development, today announced the successful completion of its Series A funding round. The lead investor is China Development Industrial Bank (CDIB), with significant contributions from Taian Venture Capital, Maxpro and the National Development Fund (Business Angel Investment Program, and Implementation Project for Strengthening Investment in SMEs), with a total investment of approximately 12.5 million. The raised capital will be directed towards the ongoing development of Anbogen's two main drug candidates, ABT-101 and ABT-301. It is worth mentioning that both of these candidate drugs were supported by the National Research Program for Biopharmaceuticals (NRPB) before Anbogen took over. With the continued endeavor from Anbogen, these candidate drugs are steadily advancing in clinical trials for evaluation of their efficacy.

ABT-101, a HER2-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has exhibited substantial potency and safety during its pre-clinical and phase 1b clinical trial. During the pre-clinical study, ABT-101 demonstrated superior selectivity against HER2 exon20 insertion mutation. In the Phase 1b trial, Dr. Tsu-An Hsu, CEO of Anbogen, stated, "Signs of safety and clinical benefits have been observed in non-small cell lung cancer patients, including sustained tumor suppression in patients who previously developed resistance to Enhertu treatment." ABT-101 has completed the DLT evaluation of 3 dosage groups (100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg), and is now advancing to the 250 mg cohort in the phase 1b trial to continue evaluation of safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and efficacy. Phase 2 is scheduled to commence upon the completion of phase 1 trial in 2024.

Joe Hsueh, Anbogen's General Manager, stated, "With bioventure investors support, we aim to expedite ABT-101 development and broaden its use across various solid tumor types (including colorectal, biliary tract, breast, urothelial, and other gastrointestinal cancers) through our basket trial. Furthermore, the integration of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) will facilitate our efforts in developing precision medicine for cancers with unmet clinical need, making a substantial contribution to the advancement of the field."

Additionally, Anbogen is actively progressing ABT-301, a novel small molecule drug that potentiates efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Having completed its phase 1 trial, ABT-301 exhibited superior safety and pharmacokinetic profiles compared to other marketed drugs with similar mechanism of action. Repeated animal studies reveal a surprising synergistic effect when ABT-301 is used in combination with immune ICIs (anti-PD1/anti-PD-L1) in animal models including colorectal cancer of microsatellite stable (MSS). ABT-301 can modulate the tumor microenvironment, increase the number of killer T cells in peripheral blood and infiltrating the tumor, enabling ICIs to overcome the limitations of "cold" tumors and produce immunotherapeutic effects. Additionally, remarkable efficacy of such combination was observed in head and neck cancer, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and liver cancer animal models. Based on these results, Anbogen has initiated preparations for the Phase 2 clinical trial of ABT-301, combining it with ICIs for the treatment of cancer patients.

Furthermore, leveraging years of experience in developing small molecule cancer drugs, Anbogen's R&D team independently developed the ABT-200 series of small molecule inhibitors targeting pan-KRAS gene mutations. The ABT-200 series is an exciting development in the field of cancer treatment, showing promising advancements in its early stages. This series holds tremendous potential for addressing cancers that currently lack approved KRAS-targeted drugs, including pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer.

The Series A funding not only reflects the value of Anbogen's innovative pipeline, but also underscores the company's commitment to advancing cancer treatment to fulfill the unmet medical needs.

About Anbogen:

Anbogen is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing precision anti-cancer drugs that hold the/promise of curing cancers and/or improving the lives of cancer patients worldwide. Anbogen, whose founding was proposed by Dr. Joe Shih, aligns with national policies and addresses significant medical needs. We prioritize innovative research and development for diverse cancer types. For more information, please visit www.anbogen.com.

For Media Inquiries, Please Contact:

Angus Wu

Business Development, Vice President

[email protected]

SOURCE Anbogen Therapeutics
Community partners encouraging HIV and STI awareness, hosting testing event coinciding with National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7

ATLANTA, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AvitaCare Atlanta and MedCura Health are partnering to bring Atlantans a weeklong testing event for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from February 5-11, 2024, at AvitaCare Atlanta's clinic located at 2140 Peachtree Road, Ste. 232, between Midtown and Buckhead.

While all Atlantans, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, are encouraged to overcome the stigma and fear associated with undergoing HIV and STI testing, the weeklong event coincides with National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7 and serves as a call to action for Black Atlantans to be tested to stay informed about their health status.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 16 percent of Georgians with HIV are unaware of their status, which means they aren't getting the HIV care they need. Locally, in Atlanta, where new HIV diagnoses rank among the highest in major U.S. cities, there is an increased likelihood that Black men and women will be living with an HIV diagnosis over white men and women, respectively. Data presented by Emory University finds the rate of Black males living with an HIV diagnosis is 6.3 times that of white males, while Black females living with an HIV diagnosis is 16.7 times that of white females.

"There's no power in the unknown, only fear," says AvitaCare Atlanta Medical Director Quintin R. Robinson, MD, AAHIVS. "People living with HIV or diagnosed with an STI can enjoy full, healthy lives with treatment. That's why we're encouraging Atlantans to empower themselves by getting tested."

Jeff Taylor, CEO of MedCura Health, agrees. "Early detection and timely access to treatment significantly enhance the quality of life for people affected by HIV and STIs and reduce further transmission within the community," he says. "Testing is crucial to helping the Atlanta community put an end to these historic health disparities."

HIV and STI testing is available on a walk-in basis, February 5-9 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and February 10-11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Testing can also be scheduled by visiting avitacareatlanta.com/befearless or calling (404) 231-4431. Results are confidential, and expert healthcare providers will offer personalized follow-up care.

ABOUT AVITACARE ATLANTA

Trusted in the community for over two decades, AvitaCare Atlanta, an Avita Care Solutions company, partners with MedCura Health to offer compassionate, comprehensive, and inclusive primary and specialized care services to the greater Atlanta community, including gender-affirming care, sexual wellness care, diabetes management, behavioral health, comprehensive in-person and telehealth-based HIV prevention and treatment programs, and more. A full-service lab and pharmacy are conveniently located within the clinic, and patients receive discreet prescription delivery options, financial assistance support, and medication counseling. To learn more, visit avitacareatlanta.com.

ABOUT MEDCURA HEALTH

MedCura Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) leader with 45 years of experience providing affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare services to more than 35,000 patients with over 72,000 visits annually to eleven (11) site locations. With locations in Stone Mountain, Decatur, Rockdale, and Fulton County, its healthcare services are available to all individuals and families throughout Metropolitan Atlanta. To learn more, visit medcura.org.

SOURCE AvitaCare Atlanta
Strong clinical evidence base, largest volume of real-world use reinforce safety, efficacy and efficiency advantages of the system

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announced it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System. The FARAPULSE PFA System is indicated for the isolation of pulmonary veins in the treatment of drug-refractory, recurrent, symptomatic, paroxysmal (i.e., intermittent) atrial fibrillation (AF) and is a unique new alternative to standard-of-care thermal ablation treatment.

The FARAPULSE PFA System is indicated for the isolation of pulmonary veins in the treatment of drug-refractory, recurrent, symptomatic, paroxysmal (i.e., intermittent) atrial fibrillation (AF) and is a unique new alternative to standard-of-care thermal ablation treatment.

"The approval of the FARAPULSE PFA System marks an important milestone for the millions of people living with paroxysmal AF and is an incredible opportunity to bring the first PFA system designed and built solely for this type of ablation therapy to physicians in the U.S.," said Nick Spadea-Anello, president, Electrophysiology, Boston Scientific. "A high bar has been set by performance of the system in clinical and commercial settings  where more than 40,000 patients have been treated to date  and we look forward to continuing to lead the way with this differentiated technology in the growing PFA space."

During a traditional ablation procedure, a catheter is guided to the interior of the heart and generates extreme temperatures  hot or cold  to destroy targeted areas associated with abnormal heart rhythms. The FARAPULSE PFA System, however, relies on tissue-selective, non-thermal electric fields to ablate heart tissue and avoid damage to surrounding structures. Positive 12-month data from the pivotal ADVENT clinical trial  the first randomized clinical trial to directly compare the efficacy and safety of the system against standard-of-care ablation  found that therapy with the device was as safe and effective as conventional thermal ablation, with statistically shorter ablation times and a quick learning curve for physicians. Additional real-world data from more than 17,000 patients in the MANIFEST-17K registry demonstrated continued real-world safety of the system, with no reports of permanent phrenic nerve palsy, pulmonary vein stenosis or esophageal injury.

"Within the ADVENT clinical trial, the FARAPULSE PFA System was shown to be a safe, effective and efficient option for treating paroxysmal AF, and extensive global real-world use has mirrored that profile," said Vivek Reddy, M.D., director of electrophysiology, Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, New York. "Tissue preferentiality and long-term efficacy, combined with markedly shorter procedure times and learning curves, position the FARAPULSE PFA System with strong potential to become a practice-changing technology for both U.S. physicians and patients alike."

The FARAPULSE PFA System delivers pulsed field energy and consists of the FARAWAVE Ablation Catheter, the FARASTAR Ablation Generator, and the FARADRIVE Steerable Sheath, which is complemented by the VersaCross Connect Access Solution for the FARADRIVE Steerable Sheath to provide safe and efficient access to the left side of the heart during procedures with the system. The FARAWAVE catheter is used to treat a range of pulmonary vein anatomies using an over-the-wire catheter with variable basket and flower shapes, allowing the device to adapt to individual patient anatomies. These configurations reinforce ease-of-use for physicians and promote reproducible procedures between operators.

Boston Scientific completed enrollment in the first phase of the ADVANTAGE AF clinical trial in the third quarter of 2023, which is studying the system for the treatment of patients with drug-refractory, symptomatic, persistent AF, and commenced enrollment in a second phase of the study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of adjunctive use of the FARAPOINT PFA Catheter for cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablations, a procedure used to treat atrial flutter. The company also recently commenced the AVANT GUARD clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the system as a first-line treatment for persistent AF compared to anti-arrhythmic drug therapy.

The FARAPULSE PFA System was granted Breakthrough Device Designation from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) of the U.S. FDA in 2019 and received CE Mark in 2021. Boston Scientific plans to immediately launch the system in the U.S. The company is developing a navigation-enabled version of the FARAWAVE catheter alongside the FARAVIEW Software Module and anticipates regulatory approval in 2024.

More information on the FARAPULSE PFA System is available here.

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical technologies that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 40 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high-performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. Our portfolio of devices and therapies helps physicians diagnose and treat complex cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, oncological, neurological and urological diseases and conditions. Learn more at www.bostonscientific.com and connect on LinkedIn and X, formerly Twitter.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our business plans and product performance and impact, new and anticipated product approvals and launches, and clinical trials. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: future economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; manufacturing, distribution and supply chain disruptions and cost increases; new product introductions; expected procedural volumes; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A  Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A  Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

CONTACTS:

Steve Bailey

Media Relations

(651) 582-4343 (office)

[email protected]

Lauren Tengler

Investor Relations

(508) 683-4479

[email protected]

*Dr. Vivek Reddy is a paid consultant of Boston Scientific Corporation. He has not been compensated in connection with this press release.

SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation
Nuspire's Latest Cyber Threat Report Spotlights BlackBasta's Rapid Expansion

COMMERCE, Mich., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuspire, a leading managed security services provider (MSSP), today unveiled its Q4 and Full-Year 2023 Cyber Threat Report. The report provides an in-depth look at the latest trends in malware, botnets, exploits and ransomware, painting a comprehensive picture of the current state of cybersecurity threats.

The report documents a 187% explosion in exploit activity, buoyed by the widespread use of SSH brute forcing. Post this The report documents a 187% explosion in exploit activity for the year, buoyed by the widespread use of Secure Shell (SSH) brute forcing and a marked rise in the use of Web Server Password File Access. Botnet activity grew 25% year-over-year, with Torpig Mebroot comprising 56% of all botnet detections in 2023. Conversely, malware dropped 27% from 2022; however, ransomware extortion publications grew nearly 18%, with LockBit, CL0P, ALPHV and BlackBasta driving the most activity.

The report documents a 187% explosion in exploit activity for the year, buoyed by the widespread use of Secure Shell (SSH) brute forcing and a marked rise in the use of Web Server Password File Access. Botnet activity grew 25% year-over-year, with Torpig Mebroot comprising 56% of all botnet detections in 2023. Conversely, malware dropped 27% from 2022; however, ransomware extortion publications grew nearly 18%, with LockBit, CL0P, ALPHV and BlackBasta driving the most activity.

"The rise of BlackBasta ransomware, the persistence of botnets like Torpig Mebroot and the shift in exploit tactics all underscore the adaptability of threat actors. What we're seeing is not just an increase in activity, but a refinement of methods," said J.R. Cunningham, Chief Security Officer at Nuspire. "Cybersecurity is not a static field; it requires continuous adaptation and vigilance. With the rise in tools like AI used for malicious purposes, it's crucial that organizations not only strengthen their defenses, but also remain agile and responsive by employing a multi-pronged defense strategy, rigorous patching and continuous security monitoring."

Additional findings from Nuspire's newly-released cyber threat report include:

In Q4 alone, exploits increased by 132.91%. There was a significant shift in threat actor tactics, with a marked rise in the use of Web Server Password File Access, an information disclosure exploit. This exploit saw a steady increase each quarter of the year, culminating in a 133.21% increase since Q1.

While malware decreased year-over-year, it saw a significant surge in Q4, increasing by 89%, with JavaScript phishing variants dominating the activity.

Ransomware remained a critical threat throughout the year, with BlackBasta ransomware's activity escalating by 353.66% in Q4, making it the second most active ransomware operator for the quarter, and the fourth most active for the year.

Botnets saw a 25% year-over-year increase in activity, with Torpig Mebroot comprising 56% of all botnet detections in 2023. However, there was a noticeable uptick in the activity of other botnets like TorrentLocker, which quadrupled its activity in Q4.

"IDC's research has shown that cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and targeted, demanding a more dynamic and mature defense posture from organizations," said Craig Robinson, Research VP for Security Services at IDC. "Organizations are increasingly turning to security service providers to shift their cybersecurity programs into a more cyber resilient posture in the face of evolving threats. The use cases for Generative AI are rapidly becoming apparent as the need for speed in security operations centers is needed to keep up with the advanced techniques that cyber foes are deploying on their end. This shift underscores the necessity of a proactive approach to cybersecurity, continuous risk assessments and robust governance as indispensable components for building resilience in this new era of threats."

To access the Q4 and Full-Year 2023 Cyber Threat Report and learn more about protecting your organization, visit Nuspire's website.

About Nuspire

Nuspire is a managed security services provider (MSSP) with 25 years of expertise, offering managed security services (MSS), managed detection and response (MDR), and managed endpoint detection and response (EDR) that supports best-in-breed EDR solutions. The company also offers cybersecurity consulting services (CSC) that include incident readiness and response, threat modeling, digital forensics, technology optimization, posture assessments and more. Nuspire's self-service, technology-agnostic platform, myNuspire, allows greater visibility into a CISO's entire security program. The platform alleviates the pain associated with tech sprawl, provides intelligence-driven recommendations, solves for alert fatigue and helps clients become more secure over time. With a deep bench of cybersecurity experts, award-winning threat intelligence and two 247 security operations centers (SOCs) Nuspire is equipped to detect, respond and remediate advanced cyber threats. Nuspire's client base spans thousands of enterprises, from midsized to large enterprises across multiple industries and geographic footprints. For more information, visit https://www.nuspire.com/ and follow the company on LinkedIn @Nuspire.

Contact:

Francie Dudrey

[email protected]

SOURCE Nuspire
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FORTUNE magazine has named Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR) to its list of the World's Most Admired Companies in the financial data services category for the tenth time. The FORTUNE list, considered one of the leading measures of corporate reputation among the world's largest companies, rates firms on a range of criteria from investment value to global competitiveness and innovation.

Fortune's 2024 World's Most Admired Companies

Broadridge is a trusted global technology partner at the intersection of financial services, helping clients and the financial industry operate, innovate, and grow. By providing the critical infrastructure and technology solutions that power governance, capital markets, and wealth & investment management, Broadridge helps clients improve business performance and transform investor experience.

"We are honored to receive this recognition, which is a true testament to our team's tireless work to enable our clients' businesses today while transforming them for tomorrow," said Tim Gokey, Broadridge's Chief Executive Officer. "We are delivering the next-generation solutions that help our clients democratize investing, digitize communications, accelerate trading, leverage data and AI, and adapt to regulatory change."

Broadridge is recognized by numerous industry organizations for its innovative technology solutions and capabilities  including earning the Excellence in Operations Award at SIFMA's 50th Annual Operations Conference, being listed on the Chartis RiskTech100 and IDC FinTech Rankings for nine consecutive years, being recognized as a leader in Everest Group's inaugural Wealth Management Products PEAK Matrix Assessment 2023, being named the "Best Global Proxy Voting Service" by Goodacre's Systems' In The City Awards, and winning the 2023 "Best Corporate Actions Technology" by Asset Servicing Times. These accolades exemplify Broadridge's focus on developing the next-generation technologies and innovations that power the financial services industry.

Broadridge is also frequently recognized by industry organizations for its employer leadership. The company has been certified as a Great Place to Work in the United States, Canada, India, UK, Ireland, Romania, Poland, Czechia, France, Germany, Sweden, Singapore, Japan, and the Philippines. Broadridge has been recognized as one of the "Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality" for ten consecutive years, and by The New York State Society of Human Resource Management as a Best Companies to Work for in the State of New York for 16 years.

With a market capitalization of $24 billion, Broadridge has delivered strong returns to shareholders since it became a public company in 2007. Over the 10-year period ended June 30, 2023, Broadridge has delivered annualized total shareholder returns of 22%, placing it squarely in the top quartile of S&P500 companies.

About Broadridge

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader with over $6 billion in revenues, provides the critical infrastructure that powers investing, corporate governance, and communications to enable better financial lives. We deliver technology-driven solutions that drive business transformation for banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and public companies. Broadridge's infrastructure serves as a global communications hub enabling corporate governance by linking thousands of public companies and mutual funds to tens of millions of individual and institutional investors around the world. Our technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of more than $10 trillion of equities, fixed income and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500 Index, employing over 14,000 associates in 21 countries.

For more information about us, please visit www.broadridge.com.

About FORTUNE World's Most Admired Companies list

FORTUNE collaborates with Korn Ferry on this survey of corporate reputation. To determine the best-regarded companies in 52 industries, Korn Ferry asked executives, directors, and analysts to rate enterprises in their own industry on nine criteria, from investment value and quality of management and products to social responsibility and ability to attract talent. A company's score must rank in the top half of its industry survey to be listed. For more information and to view the complete list of companies, visit: http://fortune.com/worlds-most-admired-companies/.

Media Contact

Linda Namias

Broadridge Financial Solutions

+1 631-254-7711

[email protected]

SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
The new directors will contribute to the ongoing expansion & overarching mission of the association

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Insurance Wholesalers Association (CIWA), a professional trade association focused on California E&S insurance wholesalers, carriers and supporting entities, is pleased to announce four new members to its board of directors.

The four new directors were installed at CIWA's board meeting on January 21st, and the official announcement was revealed at the CIWA Annual Meeting on January 22nd in Indian Wells, CA. Members are elected to serve two-year terms on the board.

From left to right, 2024 CIWA Board Members: Aimee Bernadicou, Andrea House, Mike Louderback, Zach Hernandez, Sarah Sloan, Caleb Whitehouse, John Mundelius, Yana Connors, Mark Kaufman, Jeff Case, John Donahue, and Garett Kaneko (not pictured, Peter Schifrin)

The association appointed the following new directors to the board:

Mark Kaufman  Regional Executive Vice President, XPT Specialty

Regional Executive Vice President, XPT Specialty Jeff Case  Wholesale Broker, Bridge Specialty/Hull & Company

 Wholesale Broker, Bridge Specialty/Hull & Company Aimee Bernadicou  Lead Broker, M.J. Hall & Company Insurance Brokers

 Lead Broker, & Company Insurance Brokers Peter Schifrin  President, Schifrin, Gagnon & Dickey, Inc.

"I am delighted to welcome our four new board members for the 2024/25 term," said John Donahue, President of CIWA. "Their varied expertise and commitment to our mission will undoubtedly strengthen CIWA's impact within the California E&S insurance landscape. I would also like to express my appreciation for departing board member Emil Moskowitz, who served with exemplary leadership for a remarkable 15 years, leaving an indelible mark on CIWA's legacy."

Mark Kaufman is returning to serve on the CIWA Board of Directors. This will be the first term for Jeff Case, Peter Schifrin and Aimee Bernadicou.

"I have a long history with CIWA and am honored to be returning to the board," said Mark Kaufman. "CIWA's commitment to the California insurance sector aligns with my passion for the industry. I'm excited to collaborate with fellow board members, leveraging our collective knowledge to propel CIWA's initiatives and contribute to the vibrant insurance community we serve."

CIWA, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to advocacy, education, and networking in the property and casualty segment of the insurance industry. Stay tuned for upcoming initiatives, including Summer Forum 2024 in South Lake Tahoe, CA. For more information visit ciwa.net

About CIWA

The California Insurance Wholesalers Association, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization. Their vision is to perpetuate the education, advancement and advocacy of wholesale insurance professionals and their affiliated business partners. Visit ciwa.net. Tax ID 95-4369749

Media Contact

Anita Nevins, Direct Connection Advertising & Marketing

707-429-0877 | [email protected]

SOURCE California Insurance Wholesalers Association, Inc.
CARLSBAD, Calif., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Products from smart irrigation industry pioneer Calsense have been integrated into Land F/X, the world's largest software company serving the landscape architecture and irrigation system design community. Using Land F/X software, designers can now easily access and specify Calsense products. This includes the CS3000 cloud connected irrigation controller and management system, along with FLOWSENSE flow monitoring technology.

Using Land F/X's CAD add-on Irrigation F/X software allows users to access current data from manufacturer catalogs, place equipment, and draw pipe, calculating pressure and flow automatically.

Land F/X was established in the 1990s by father and son team David and Jeremiah Farmer to enable the easy integration of AutoCAD into the landscape architecture workflow. Its software has revolutionized the design process for landscape industry professionals.

Calsense Chief Technical Expert David Meehan said the company was thrilled with the integration of Calsense products into the Irrigation F/X workflow.

"We're extremely pleased and proud to be able to bring Calsense products to Land F/X users," he said. "Our technology, including the CAD drawings for our products, is now easily accessible on the platform, which allows irrigation designers and landscape architects to incorporate them into their system plans via Irrigation F/X.

"At Calsense our aim is always to provide the best possible experience for our users, including at the design stage, so making our products available through Land F/X is a perfect fit for our vision."

Calsense is an innovator in the field of smart irrigation; it was established in Carlsbad, California, in response to drought conditions decades ago. The company's vision is to contribute to a sustainable future by saving the world's most precious resource: water. They create sophisticated smart irrigation solutions built on a foundation of technology, education, and partnership.

About Calsense

Calsense is a partner with the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program in promoting water efficient products and services. For 35 years, the company has contributed to providing a sustainable future by developing water resource management tools and strategies, directly incorporating input from its customers. Calsense helps its customers conserve water, manage labor, and ultimately save money through smart irrigation. The company's industry-leading technology and support bridge the gap between irrigation designer, installer, landscape maintainer and water manager to provide the support needed at each phase of a project. Customers partner with Calsense for a reliable system that provides long-term value. For more information, visit www.calsense.com.

Contact: Julia Teske

[email protected]

(760) 438-0525

SOURCE Calsense
BEIJING, China, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Have you ever tasted Hakka food or known a bit about Hakka culture? Do you know which place is a must-visit to find some old-fashioned, authentic Hakka meals in China?

Discover the hidden gem of Hakka cuisine!

Hakka people, who are now dispersed in over more than 80 nations and regions worldwide, are known for their memorable cuisine and distinctive cooking techniques. As the saying goes, "Where there are Chinese, there are Hakka people." In particular, in Markham, Ontario, many of the residents are Hakka people, making it the unofficial Hakka capital of North America. Zhongshan, the sister city of Markham, is an additional important settlement for Hakkas, and a definitely ideal place to try authentic home-cooked Hakka food in China.

In this video, our host Jack takes a culinary adventure in Guinan, the biggest Hakka village in Zhongshan, and finds himself so lucky to taste the "crispy roast pork", a Hakka culinary delight that would only be offered twice a year in the village  one for the temple fair and the other for the Chinese New Year. How has this city cultivated such incredible cuisine? To understand this question, Jack also attends a class at Zhongshan Technician College to learn more about some special Hakka dishes.

What are the other Hakka dishes that Jack has an opportunity to taste in this home-cooked meal? Will Jack succeed in figuring out the time-honored, unique Hakka recipe for good cooking and finally show up with an acceptable Hakka meal on his first try?

Contact: Feng Kehui

Tel:008610-68996566

E-mail: [email protected]

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdjYpMu4ceg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2146127/4522910/ChinaMatters_Logo.jpg

SOURCE China Matters
I dont know how I feel. Its a mix of frustration, depression, anxiety. We dont have a sense of being alive. We are just machines trying to make the days go by one by one. Ruba, a doctor with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), responds to this newspapers questions using voice messages that she has difficulty sending due to the unstable and precarious connections in Gaza.

Until October 7, the day on which the offensive began, the doctor, who does not want her full name to be published, was working with MSF treating traumatology patients in Khan Younis, in the south of the Strip. Now, relocated in Deir al-Balah, in the center of the Palestinian enclave, she is treating the wounded and performing treatment using first aid equipment provided by the NGO. On January 6, MSF evacuated its staff from Al-Aqsa hospital for security reasons  a medical center that is still partially operational, despite the scarcity of personnel and materials and the proximity of the bombardment.

In recent weeks it was very difficult to get any kind of connection and the Palestinian Red Crescent couldnt work out where the shelling was taking place, where the wounded were and how to bring them to the hospital, the only one that is still partially functioning in this city, explains Ruba.

The doctor lives in a small rental apartment in Deir al-Balah, after being forced to leave her home in Beit Hanoun, in the north, during the first days of the bombings. Thirty people from the same family, half of them children, are crammed into two rooms. I still think those who died in the first few days were the lucky ones. We never imagined that this would last this long. Were now in the fourth month, the war goes on and no one cares about the Palestinians, our children, our pain, says the 32-year-old doctor, who has a son and two daughters aged seven, six and two years old.

Those who died in the first few days were the lucky ones. We never imagined that this would last this long Ruba, doctor with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

In recent days, Palestinian journalists, local NGOs and witnesses have spoken of shelling in close proximity to the Al-Aqsa hospital area. There is a shortage of beds, equipment, staff and access to the hospital is really difficult. A week ago the tanks were very close. Imagine a hospital with 7,000 people, including patients, staff and evacuees, who fled their homes seeking refuge there and now they have to leave again, adds Ruba.

Israeli attacks have now claimed the lives of more than 26,000 Gazans since October 7, when members of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which effectively rules Gaza, staged an unprecedented attack on Israeli territory, killing some 1,200 people and kidnapping more than 200 others. In addition, the number of wounded in the Strip exceeds 65,000, according to figures from the regional Ministry of Health.

A surgeon operates on a patient in an operating room at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, December 31. - (AFP)

A few days ago, my son asked me: Mom, can we leave Gaza now? I just want to go. Imagine being asked that question by a 7-year-old, telling you that he just wants to live, says Ruba. He told me: Im scared that the tanks will come close, that we wont be able to get food or water, that well starve, Im scared that youll die in my arms, Mom, because someone will shoot you, the helicopters will shoot you, and we cant save you, explains the MSF doctor.

Without rest

Ibrahim also prefers his last name not to be published. This young man is in his fifth year of medical school, but since the beginning of the Israeli military attack he has been working non-stop at Al-Aqsa hospital, in the orthopedic surgery department, where he arrived as a volunteer when the bombing began.

I never imagined having to practice in this way even before I finished my studies, but there was a need for doctors, he says. This 20-year-old Gazan rarely gets to leave the hospital. He eats, sleeps and works inside. His family has moved to the south, facing great hardship and sleeping in the street at times, and he longs for news of them. Communicating with Ibrahim is also very tricky, largely due to the connection outages that the Strip has been experiencing, which in some cases have lasted for days. When he reappears, his messages are telegraphic, sometimes accompanied by a photograph showing minor operations, extractions of bullets or dressings of shocking wounds infected from a lack of care. Most of the images show patients on the floor as he kneels before them, working.

I never imagined having to practice in this way even before I finished my studies, but there was a need for doctors Ibrahim, medical student

Im still alive, he says by way of greeting. But its getting worse every day. The hospital is still functioning, only at half strength, with a severe lack of personnel and equipment. We have the bare minimum. This isnt a movie, were losing patients every minute, Ibrahim adds.

How many patients are arriving at the hospital each day?

Many, too many.

Dozens?

There have been terrible days when there were several hundred.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of the 24 hospitals in the northern part of Gaza, only seven are still open, but they are working with insufficient staff, equipment and fuel. Of the 12 medical centers in the south, only seven are still partially functioning. The United Nations (UN) has expressed its concern over reports of military raids on some medical centers, arrests of medical personnel, burial pits in the courtyards of clinics, shelling in the vicinity of these hospitals and the wounded being denied access to even the most basic care.

The painful decision to evacuate

Carolina Lopez, MSFs emergency coordinator, worked for several weeks at Al-Aqsa hospital, along with some 50 MSF workers. There was an average of 700 hospitalized patients. The day we received the fewest wounded was around 40. On December 28 there was a peak and 300 people arrived. There were also people seeking shelter from the bombs in the hospital area, she explains to this newspaper, confirming Ibrahims testimony.

On January 4, the evacuation of the hospital began. The front was advancing, Israeli tanks were two kilometers away from the medical center and patients, displaced persons and medical staff began to leave. MSF also decided to pull out of the medical center because it could no longer guarantee the safety of its staff and the rotation of its teams.

A woman hugs her daughter who was injured in Israeli shelling, at the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, January 22. Mohammed Dahman (AP)

Leaving your patients is such a tough decision, but we had no choice, Lopez says sadly. The hospital lost its capacity without us, of course, although it also went from having 700 patients to about 140, those who could not leave. But there were other wounded patients who kept coming and are still coming, because it is the only hospital in that area, adds the Spanish worker, before stressing that in 17 years of experience in emergency care I never imagined experiencing such an extreme situation.

A WHO mission gained access to the hospital in Deir al-Balah in mid-January and found that only 12 doctors were still working there, equivalent to 10% of its staff

Lopez has maintained some contact with a couple of doctors who stayed behind at Al-Aqsa Hospital after the evacuation. They did it assuming all the consequences, knowing that they were running a huge risk, because we have seen what has happened in other hospitals, she says. A WHO mission gained access to the hospital in Deir al-Balah in mid-January and found that only 12 doctors were still working there, equivalent to 10% of its staff.

The emergency coordinator stresses the role of Gazas health workers, who are exhausted and havent stopped for over 100 days. Lopez explains that those who have families leave for work, risking their lives to get to the hospital, and do not know what will happen to their children while they are gone. And those without immediate family or those who have settled in Rafah, in the southern end of the Strip, return to the hospitals and work tirelessly for days at a time. The conditions are terrible, you have to be there to understand it, she concludes.

Last weekend, MSF reported that the Nasser Hospital, the most important hospital still operating in Gaza, located in Khan Younis, in the south, is barely operational due to heavy fighting and shelling in the area, which forced most of the patients, refugees and medical staff to flee the area. Between 300 and 500 wounded people remain at the hospital who could not be evacuated due to their serious condition. Nassers surgical capacity is now virtually non-existent and the few medical personnel remaining at the center have to cope with the situation with scant supplies, insufficient to deal with major influxes of casualties, warned the NGO.

A health worker attends to a wounded man at a hospital in Rafah, January 23. Hatem Ali (AP)
PHOENIX, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cordia, a leading provider of safe, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions, today announced the financial closing on the three microgrids and district energy systems in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, from Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG). The acquisition closed at $165 million.

The three energy systems included in the agreement are:

The Pittsburgh International Airport Microgrid , the first of its kind, which allows the airport to operate independent of the electric grid thanks to a 21.25 MW natural gas power plant, making PIT one of the most resilient airports.

the first of its kind, which allows the airport to operate independent of the electric grid thanks to a 21.25 MW natural gas power plant, making PIT one of the most resilient airports. The district energy system at Allegheny Health Network (AHN)  Wexford Hospital , which provides the 160-bed hospital with all heating, cooling, and primary power needs via steam boilers, hot water boilers, chillers, and a 2.0 MW natural gas generator, along with emergency backup power.

which provides the 160-bed hospital with all heating, cooling, and primary power needs via steam boilers, hot water boilers, chillers, and a 2.0 MW natural gas generator, along with emergency backup power. The Allegheny County District Energy System, which provides efficient and resilient steam and hot water services to six government buildings including the Allegheny County Courthouse and City-County Building, using seven state-of-the-art steam boilers and one domestic water heater.

"We are excited to announce the successful completion of the acquisition of three cutting-edge energy systems in Allegheny County," said Cordia CEO Earl Collins. "These strategic acquisitions not only strengthen Cordia's presence in the Pittsburgh region but also emphasizes our commitment to supporting critical institutions with efficient and sustainable energy solutions."

The acquisition expands the firm's presence in the Pittsburgh region where it currently operates energy systems in Pittsburgh's Uptown and North Shore neighborhoods, and the on-campus energy system for Duquesne University. Cordia's assets have been operating in the region since 1964, and its existing investments in the area allow Cordia to deliver the most efficient solutions to its customers. This acquisition is a testament to Cordia's commitment to growing its regional presence and building on its existing customer base.

The three energy systems were developed by Essential subsidiary Peoples, leveraging Southwestern Pennsylvania's abundance of natural gas to deliver safer, more reliable and more resilient energy to some of the region's most critical institutions. All three began operating in 2021.

"These innovative projects demonstrate the ability of natural gas to meet all the energy needs of major institutions, such as Pittsburgh International Airport and their groundbreaking microgrid," said Essential Utilities CEO Chris Franklin. "I'm proud of our team's work to develop these systems. Essential and Peoples will continue to support projects that provide resilient, sustainable energy to Western Pennsylvania."

"I want to extend my gratitude to Essential Utilities, Inc. and Peoples for their role in developing these state-of-the-art energy systems," continued Collins. "Cordia remains committed to providing safer, more reliable, and more resilient energy to our community. We are enthusiastic about the positive impact these systems will have on the region and are confident in our ability to continue delivering exceptional energy solutions for years to come."

About Cordia

Cordia is a leading provider of safe, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions. Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, Cordia serves over 700 customers with heating, cooling, and electricity throughout the U.S. Cordia is committed to driving change toward a more resilient, sustainable energy future and empowering people and communities to reach their full potential. Learn more at www.cordiaenergy.com.

About Essential

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 9 states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Learn more at www.essential.co.

About Peoples

Peoples provides clean, safe, affordable and reliable natural gas service to approximately 740,000 homes and businesses in Western Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Peoples is committed to its customers, its employees, the environment, and to the regions it serves.

Cordia Media Contact: Essential/Peoples Media Contact: Jenny Disbrow Nick Paradise External Communications Manager External Communications Manager 480.209.9727 Media Hotline: 1.877.325.3477 jenny,[email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Cordia
In 2023, 69% of consumers reported being highly satisfied with the overall vehicle shopping and buying process, up from 61% in 2022.

When considering the dealership experience, 74% of all vehicle buyers reported that they were highly satisfied  79% for new-vehicle buyers.

Seventy-one percent of consumers plan to adopt an omnichannel approach for their next vehicle purchase, combining online steps with in-person activities at a dealership.

ATLANTA, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Automotive's annual Car Buyer Journey (CBJ) Study reveals that satisfaction with the vehicle shopping and buying experience improved in 2023 after declining in both 2021 and 2022. This is good news for automobile dealers, who will gather in Las Vegas starting Thursday, February 1, for the National Automobile Dealers Association's annual convention. Cox Automotive will be the largest exhibitor at NADA Show 2024, a showcase for technology and solutions driving the retail automobile business in America.

According to the 2023 Cox Automotive Car Buyer Journey Study, overall car buying satisfaction increased significantly, with 69% of consumers being highly satisfied with the process. This is a notable increase from the 61% reported in the 2022 study. The rise in satisfaction can be attributed to several factors such as improved inventory levels, the return of discounting, and the further proliferation of an omnichannel approach to vehicle buying. This approach combines online and at-dealership activities, resulting in a more satisfying and efficient vehicle buying experience.

Notably, the percentage of buyers highly satisfied with the overall shopping experience increased to 73% for new-vehicle buyers and increased from 58% to 68% for used-vehicle buyers. At 80%, new electric vehicle (EV) buyers continue to report the highest levels of satisfaction with the process.

Retail outlets  dealerships  continue to deliver levels of satisfaction that many critics may find surprising: When considering the dealership or retailer experience in 2023, 74% of all vehicle buyers and 79% for new-vehicle buyers reported that they were highly satisfied. Satisfaction among new-vehicle buyers matched an all-time high, equal to the level reached in 2020, the peak of overall car buying satisfaction. Positive feedback extends to crucial touchpoints such as the test drive experience (82%), vehicle pickup and delivery process (79%), and interaction with the sales team (77%).

"There is an often-cited narrative that suggests going to a car dealer is worse than a root canal," said Isabelle Helms, vice president of Research and Market Intelligence at Cox Automotive. "Our research and data, however, suggest that this is simply not the case. In fact, 79% of new-vehicle buyers were highly satisfied with the experience provided by their local automobile dealer."

Affordability and Inventory Levels Affected the Car Shopping Experience

While affordability remains a concern, the latest CBJ suggests the situation is improving. Regarding the price paid, 49% of buyers report paying more than expected, down from 54% in the 2022 study. Dissatisfaction with the price paid was highest among used-vehicle buyers. Better inventory levels were a key driver, as vehicle supply levels in the U.S. improved throughout the second half of 2022 and all of 2023, according to Cox Automotive's vAuto Available Inventory database. More options for buyers also triggered many dealers and automakers to increase incentives. Lower prices and a sense that the purchase "was a good deal" helped improve overall satisfaction.

In the 2023 survey, 68% of buyers considered both new and used vehicles, up from 64% in the previous report; 78% of used-vehicle buyers considered a new vehicle during the shopping process. Buyers typically considered two vehicles and visited two dealerships. Nearly 80% of shoppers visited a third-party website during their buying journey (e.g., Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book (both Cox Automotive companies), Edmunds.com, or CarGurus). New EV buyers were more likely to visit third-party sites, particularly first-time EV buyers. The report also reveals that fewer shoppers visited automaker websites or used online retailers (e.g., Carvana, Vroom) compared to 2021 and 2022.

With Better Digital Tools, the Buying Process Becomes More Efficient

When it comes to car buying in America, the desired state is omnichannel, not entirely digital. According to the latest survey, 50% of all car buyers completed 100% of the steps in person, while 43% completed steps in a mix of online and in-person at the dealership. Only 7% of car buyers in 2023 completed all the steps online. Used-vehicle buyers were more likely to cite in-person as the solution.

When asked about the desired state and how they'd likely complete their next vehicle purchase, 71% of consumers indicated their preference for an omnichannel approach. Twenty-one percent of buyers suggested their ideal vehicle purchase process would be entirely online, while only 8% said they would purchase entirely in person.

Interestingly, buyers of new EVs are already living in the future: In the study, 69% indicated they used an omnichannel approach, far higher than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) buyers at 39%. Meanwhile, 16% of new EV buyers bought entirely online, and 15% pursued an in-person process.

Seamless Car Buying Process Shortens Time Spent and Increases Satisfaction

One reason the shopping experience improved in 2023 over 2022 was that the time required from start to finish was shortened by more than an hour. A key takeaway is that an omnichannel approach greatly reduces the time required and, in turn, improves overall satisfaction.

In the most recent survey, new-vehicle buyers reported spending approximately 11 hours and 45 minutes from beginning to end, down more than 80 minutes from the prior year. In comparison, used-vehicle buyers reported spending more than 14 hours, a one-hour decrease. New EV buyers, who spent less than 11 hours in the process, were the most satisfied with the process duration. Seventy-six percent of new EV buyers reported being highly satisfied with the time required, while 59% of new ICE buyers reported being satisfied with the time required, a drop from 2022.

"Year after year, our studies suggest that consumers are not pursuing an entirely digital experience," added Vanessa Ton, senior manager of Market and Customer Research. "Rather, we believe car buyers want a seamless experience where they can start the process at home, shop, fill out any required forms, and then go to the dealership, test drive a car, complete the deal, and learn about their new purchase. Dealerships that fully embrace an omnichannel approach are the most successful, as the process becomes more efficient for everyone involved and delivers happier buyers as well."

Who Bought a Vehicle in 2023 and Why

The study suggests that car buying in America continues to be driven by households with above-average incomes. In the survey period, the average household income (HHI) was $140,000 for an EV buyer, $115,000 for a new-vehicle buyer, and $96,000 for a used-vehicle buyer. The survey also reveals that EV buyers were notably younger than average (41 years old versus 52 for all new-vehicle buyers).

Key triggers for a vehicle purchase continue to be the aging of an existing vehicle, which was true for both new- and used-vehicle buyers. In 2023, more buyers were adding a vehicle to their household: 15% of buyers noted the purchase was triggered by the need for an additional vehicle in their household fleet, up from 11% in 2022, a 36% increase.

Recent studies from Cox Automotive also suggest that consumers are putting a higher value on vehicle ownership, not just transportation. This trend is likely a result of changes in attitude following the global COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, 43% of consumers suggested that transportation is necessary, but ownership is not. In more recent surveys, that number had dropped to 35%.

Study Methodology

The annual CBJ study from Cox Automotive looks at several attributes tied to vehicle buying in America and focuses specifically on new- and used-vehicle buyer satisfaction. The annual survey considers vehicle buying from multiple angles: There's a generational analysis, a CPO deep dive, a look at satisfaction with the auto financing process, and even consideration of how electric vehicle buyers differ from buyers of traditional automobiles (internal combustion engine or ICE vehicles). The 2023 Car Buyer Journey results were derived from surveys of nearly 3,000 consumers who bought a new or used vehicle in a 12-month period ending August 2023. The survey was conducted in August and September 2023.

For more information, see the 2023 Cox Automotive Car Buyer Journey Study Summary and download the infographic.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive is the world's largest automotive services and technology provider. Fueled by the largest breadth of first-party data fed by 2.3 billion online interactions a year, Cox Automotive tailors leading solutions for car shoppers, auto manufacturers, dealers, lenders and fleets. The company has 29,000+ employees on five continents and a portfolio of industry-leading brands that include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, vAuto, Dealertrack, NextGear Capital, CentralDispatch and FleetNet America. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with $22 billion in annual revenue. Visit coxautoinc.com or connect via @CoxAutomotive on X, CoxAutoInc on Facebook or Cox-Automotive-Inc on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Cox Automotive
CALGARY, AB, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is pleased to announce the schedule dates for its historic Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour, which will kick off April 24 at the company's global headquarters in Calgary, Alta. and culminate June 4 in Mexico City. The tour will bring the story of CPKC's uniquely North American railway history and compelling future to life for rail fans and visitors as it travels across CPKC's network.

"Our combination on April 14, 2023, brought together two railroads with long and proud histories that together created the first and only railroad network connecting North America," said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. "This special cross-continental journey of the 2816 steam locomotive serves as a reminder of our past and a celebration of our future. We are excited to share this extraordinary experience with communities across our network as we mark the one-year anniversary of our CPKC journey. The Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour will be the first ever steam-powered passenger train in North America to traverse Canada, the U.S. and Mexico in a single trip."

The Empress 2816, a 4-6-4 Hudson-type steam locomotive built in 1930, will make 11 stops between Calgary and Mexico City:

Calgary, Alta. | April 24

Moose Jaw, Sask. | April 28

| Minot, N.D. | April 30

St. Paul, Minn. | May 3

Franklin Park, Ill. | May 8

| Davenport, Iowa | May 10

| Kansas City, Mo. | May 18

Shreveport, La.| May 24

Laredo, Texas | May 28

| Monterrey, Mexico | May 31

| Mexico City, Mexico | June 4

Public events will be held in multiple cities across the network, kicking off in Calgary on April 24. Steam tour events will be held in Moose Jaw, Minot, St. Paul, Franklin Park, Davenport, Kansas City, Shreveport, and Laredo. At these stops, the public will have the opportunity to see the 2816 up close, learn more about the locomotive and CPKC's history and enjoy the Puffer Belly Express mini-train, a quarter scale steam locomotive model. In Mexico City, the 2816 will be spotted for public display.

For more information and to view the full schedule, visit www.cpkcr.com/en/community/final-spike-steam-train.

About CPKC

With its global headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Canada, CPKC is the first and only single-line transnational railway linking Canada, the United States and Mexico, with unrivaled access to major ports from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of Mexico to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. Stretching approximately 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpkcr.com to learn more about the rail advantages of CPKC.

SOURCE CPKC
FULTON, Md., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- N2K, a leader in strategic cyber workforce intelligence, announced today that the Cybersecurity Marketing Society has joined N2K's CyberWire network with their popular weekly podcast, Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing . Already the leading audio network for cybersecurity professionals, this partnership broadens N2K's industry insights offerings to address the expanding audience of marketers and entrepreneurs who are instrumental in propelling the industry forward.

Co-hosted by Gianna Whitver and Maria Velasquez, Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing features interviews with cybersecurity marketers who share their observations and insights on industry trends, best practices, and their own successes and failures. This successful podcast is an extension of the Cybersecurity Marketing Society, which was co-founded in 2020 and has already become the largest global cybersecurity marketing organization with more than 2,700 members and 800 companies from around the globe represented.

"We're excited to be joining the CyberWire network and N2K family," said Gianna Whitver, Co-Host of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. "This is another step to making the cybersecurity ecosystem closer."

"Marketers are an important piece of security," said Maria Velasquez, Co-host of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. "N2K and the CyberWire network understand that. With the podcast, we're not just helping marketers improve their marketing, we're building bridges between marketers and security teams."

We're huge fans of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing and are excited to bring this important show and its valuable insights to our network," said Peter Kilpe, Chief Executive Officer of N2K Networks. "Marketing professionals play such a crucial role in the cybersecurity industryhelping us all understand the diverse ecosystem of solutions that keep us safe and resilient, and helping drive economic success of the cyber startups to the industry icons."

The first episode of the Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing podcast on the N2K network launches today, with new episodes airing every Wednesday. To hear the latest episode of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing, subscribe wherever you find your favorite shows, or visit the show page on the N2K media network for more information.

About the Cybersecurity Marketing Society

The Cybersecurity Marketing Society (the Society) is a digital and in-person community for marketing professionals in the cybersecurity industry to network, mindshare, and grow professionally. It was founded in 2020 with the goal of bringing continuous community, resources, and education to a complicated, technical, and constantly changing industry. To learn more about the Society and to become a member, visit the website at www.cybersecuritymarketingsociety.com .

About N2K Networks

N2K Networks is a leader in strategic cyber workforce intelligence. The news to knowledge network is a trusted source of Industry Insights delivered through our media network, home of the CyberWire Daily podcast and daily briefing, CSO Perspectives, and Hacking Humans, which provides concise intelligence-driven news and commentary to cybersecurity professionals. Global enterprise organizations, including those in the Fortune 100, partner with N2K to gain actionable cyber workforce insights through our Talent Insights and Talent Development capabilities that help organizations build and maintain high-performing teams, rapidly climb the knowledge curve, and stay a step ahead in a constantly changing industry. Learn more at N2K.com .

SOURCE N2K Networks
The inaugural survey offers unique insights into how leading companies are strategically propelling innovation to shape the future and catalyze change in the coming years  even in the face of challenging market conditions.

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte's collaboration with Fast Company on its "Survey of Innovation Excellence," polling more than 200 named to the media brand's list of the world's most innovative companies, shows that half (54%) will increase their investments in innovation in 2024. As economic shadows lengthen and marketplace landscapes rapidly change, this insight is one of many throughout the survey that reveals an unwavering commitment to advance innovation.

Building agility to power experimentation

Fast Company logo

The companies committed to investing in innovation this year plan to make substantial outlays, the survey found, generally ranging from 3% to 15% of revenue. Those prioritizing innovation are using different strategies to foster a culture of dynamic ideation and effective experimentation. Some of the more significant approaches include:

In-house R&D (75%)

Expanding AI capabilities (44%)

Conducting hackathons and pitch contests (48%)

Recruiting new talent (57%)

Many companies are also eager for unexpected breakthroughs and revolutionary advancements, with 71% saying they are enthusiastic about or willing to adopt new technologies. However, another one-third are cautious or lack the budget, awareness, or risk aptitude to do so.

Despite the clear advantages of adopting a diverse range of strategies for advancing innovation, the survey also acknowledges the inherent challenges that companies face in implementing these approaches. The survey suggests, among other things, that investing in innovation goes beyond merely increasing financial allocations in order to contribute to sustainable growth and meaningful advancements. Companies should also prioritize recruiting and talent initiatives and develop strategic ecosystem partnerships (42% surveyed seeking to add or expand)  all of which are complex challenges for companies. The survey highlights that while the ambition to innovate is high, the journey remains long, with one such example showcasing that only 25% of companies surveyed have an innovation expert on their leadership team, and nearly half say they lack the talent and resources required for sustained progress.

"In today's rapidly evolving marketplace, innovation transcends ideas or isolated initiatives  it requires a fundamental shift in organizational paradigms. This journey of transformation requires a deep and unwavering commitment. Together with our clients, we are reimagining the boundaries of what's possible. By embedding innovation within organizational culture, we are fostering creativity and empowering teams to experiment with new ideas and approaches," said Jason Girzadas, chief executive officer, Deloitte US.

Diverse perspectives catalyze breakthroughs

Many companies see having a diverse set of perspectives  whether in-house talent or through partnering with outside organizations  as critical to successful innovation. A large majority (83%) are actively recruiting diverse voices, saying it helps attract talent (58%), enables unconventional thinking (56%), and drives greater productivity (32%).

Companies also recognize the value in collaboration, with nearly half expanding their innovation ecosystem, and 34% pursuing partnerships with academia. But protecting IP is a concern  40% of those surveyed said so  which can make effective collaboration more difficult.

"In this new era of convergence, standing still is a fast way to move backward. By actively nurturing ecosystems fueled by the cross-pollination of different ideas and experiences amongst a vast external network, including a variety of public and private industry relationships, leaders can foster continuous evolution through open innovation that's essential to gaining sustained, competitive advantage," said Deborah Golden, Deloitte US chief innovation officer.

Measuring success

The survey also found that most (60%) measure innovation success by revenue. However, additional "pre-monetary" metrics better enable a long-term, balanced view of innovation. For example, 45% of companies measure innovation through new products and services launched, providing a more comprehensive view. Other non-financial measures like brand value, pipeline depth, and customer engagement indicate future readiness and agility. The survey sheds light on the multi-faceted nature of innovation and the value of companies adopting a variety of metrics relevant to changing business environments.

"In the pursuit of rapid success, it's important to recognize that excessive structure can hinder the very innovation and speed organizations strive to achieve. Allowing for an environment that supports ideation, rapid development and failure, can be just as important as managing innovation spend as a portfolio to allow teams agency to be their best," said Ranjit Bawa, Deloitte US chief strategy & technology officer.

Insights that spur change

The collaboration between Deloitte and Fast Company sets the stage for a unique exploration into the evolving landscape of innovation. Harnessing the power of diverse perspectives in the marketplace, we aim to uncover new insights and forge strategies that anticipate and shape future market trends, empowering organizations to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

"Fast Company is excited to collaborate with Deloitte on the Most Innovative Companies Survey of Innovation Excellence. Deloitte's experience helping clients build resilience and innovation readiness, coupled with analytical acumen, brought depth to our analysis of the results. Deloitte and Fast Company share a passion for forward-thinking approaches to innovation that inspire organizations of all sizes," said Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures, Fast Company's publisher.

The survey is important reading for companies looking to maintain an innovative edge in 2024 and beyond. To download the full report, visit http://deloitte.com/us/InnovationSurvey.

Connect with us on Twitter at @Deloitte or on LinkedIn.

Research methodology

To ensure a cross-industry, size-agnostic, and globally relevant understanding of innovation excellence, Fast Company, in collaboration with Deloitte, sent a survey to companies named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list in 2020-2023, with up to 248 responding to the survey, depending on the question.

Leaders from companies across geographies were surveyed, with the majority of respondents from the United States (69%) and Europe (13%), and additional respondents from Asia Pacific, Canada, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Respondents represented businesses and public sector companies across industries.

The survey asked CEOs, presidents, chief innovation officers, chief strategist/chief strategy officer, and other C-suite roles related to innovation (e.g., product, growth, technology, operations) about a variety of topics related to innovation and innovation functions. The majority of respondents were CEOs (59%), highlighting the elevated role these leaders play in driving the innovation agenda.

About Deloitte

Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500 and more than 8,500 U.S.-based private companies. At Deloitte, we strive to live our purpose of making an impact that matters by creating trust and confidence in a more equitable society. We leverage our unique blend of business acumen, command of technology, and strategic technology alliances to advise our clients across industries as they build their future. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Bringing more than 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's approximately 457,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Fast Company has produced a review of the Most Innovative Companies for 16 years through an extensive editorial process and its lists have foretold major business and societal trends, including the rise of Generative AI, the proliferation of direct-to-consumer brands, and the growth of inclusive healthcare. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

SOURCE Deloitte
TSX.V: DME

U.S. OTC: DMEHF

Frankfurt: QM01

VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Desert Mountain Energy Corp. (the "Company" or "Desert Mountain") (TSXV: DME) was not able to file its annual audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023 and its related MD&A, and chief executive officer and chief financial officer certifications in respect of the foregoing, as well as its statement of reserves data and other oil and gas information, report on reserves data by an independent qualified reserves evaluator or auditor, report of management and directors on oil and gas disclosure and notice of filing of 51-101F1 information (collectively, the "Required Filings"), by the prescribed filing deadline of January 29, 2024 (the "Filing Deadline").

The Company made an application to the British Columbia Securities Commission for a temporary management cease trade order ("MCTO") under National Policy 12-203  Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203"). The MCTO was granted today. The MCTO restricts all trading in securities of the Company, whether direct or indirect, by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The issuance of the MCTO does not generally affect the ability of persons who are not directors, officers or other insiders of the Company to trade in securities of the Company.

The Company anticipates that it will be a position to remedy the default by filing the Required Filings no later than March 29, 2024. The MCTO will be in effect until the Required Filings are filed.

The Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines set out in Sections 9 and 10 of NP 12-203 so long as the Required Filings are outstanding, and to issue bi-weekly default status updates.

ABOUT DESERT MOUNTAIN ENERGY

Desert Mountain Energy Corp. is a publicly traded resource company primarily focused on the exploration, development and production of helium, hydrogen, natural gas and condensate. The Company is focused on helium extraction from different raw gas sources in an environmental and economic manner supplying elements deemed critical to the renewable energy and high technology industries.

We seek safe harbor

"Robert Rohlfing"

Robert Rohlfing

Exec Chairman & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in polices of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The statements made in this press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ from the Company's expectations.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward looking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding the Company's anticipated performance in the future the planned exploration activities, receipt of positive results from drilling, the completion of further drilling and exploration work, and the timing and results of various activities.

Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, changes in national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and the United States; financial risks due to helium prices, operating or technical difficulties in exploration and development activities; risks and hazards and the speculative nature of resource exploration and related development; risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Company's title to properties.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the continued operation of the Company's exploration operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company does not intend to, and nor does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Desert Mountain Energy Corp.
Representing the continued evolution of the DWR offering, the new Bay Area location will mark the brand's most experiential concept to date

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Design Within Reach, Inc. (DWR), the leading source for modern living, is thrilled to announce the opening of a new store, which will feature first-time original concept spaces for the brand, in San Francisco, California. Located in the heart of the city's burgeoning design district, the Potrero Hill space builds upon DWR's latest Studio experience and was developed with the guiding principle of using modern design to educate and inspire visitors in an approachable, immersive, and resourceful way. The Studio takes inspiration from its local surroundings to create offerings for visitors to strengthen their relationship with their city. The space will debut rotating galleries which will showcase interactive exhibits, special partnerships, new launches, and exclusive collaborations, helping to foster a sense of community and connectedness.

Design Within Reach San Francisco

"San Francisco has been at the forefront of multiple cultural movements, and we can take inspiration from its ability to adapt, evolve and innovate," notes Omar Nobil, VP of Product Design and Brand Creative at Design Within Reach. "Walking through this Studio is meant to feel like reading a love letter to San Francisco  the birthplace of Design Within Reach. The space pays homage to the city's legacy of tastemaking and invites visitors to experience the best in modern design through that lens. At the same time, our rotating gallery spaces offer a look toward the future, highlighting artists and brands whose voices have been essential in shaping modern design and will surely continue to inspire in the years to come."

"We are continuously exploring opportunities to optimize our fleet of Studios across North America," says Debbie Propst, President of Global Retail for MillerKnoll. "While DWR has had a physical presence in San Francisco for many years, we are excited to deepen our foothold here and show the local market all that we have to offer. We hope to build a greater sense of community with our new Studio setting, acting as a guiding light for all things modern design through offering unique experiences with our exhibition spaces, complimentary design consultations with our in-house experts, and unparalleled product portfolio."

At the new location, a few blocks away from the current San Francisco Studio, DWR has gut-renovated a 15,000-square-foot 1920s warehouse from the ground up to tap into the cultural design sensibilities of the Bay Area. The brand sought to leverage the existing features and industrial nature of the building to preserve its architectural integrity while simultaneously transforming it into a fresh DWR Studio. The original timber and skylights line the ceiling, and glass brick, steel, quiet lighting, and signage elements embrace the utilitarian and industrial aesthetic of the original building and surrounding neighborhood.

"The Gallery" and the "Case Study Apartment," the temporary exhibition spaces, make up over 2,000 square feet and will serve as opportunities for visitors to interact with DWR's products in new ways, highlight local institutions, and be inspired by San Francisco's creative energy.

"Delivering on our promise of design within reach, upon opening, the Studio's gallery space will feature 'DWR PRESENTS: Vitra Prouve Collection Gallery,' adds Nobil. "The purpose of this space is to celebrate the design process that is inherent in our DNA and the iconic brands we offer. For our first exhibition, we have invited Vitra to showcase a celebration of the work of renowned French architect Jean Prouve. The exhibition deconstructs a series of Prouve's iconic works and also features a Prouve reading room for visitors."

Another focal point of the San Francisco Studio will be a "Case Study" apartment that will play host to a series of temporary installations. The first Case Study installation is in partnership with USM. DWR has partnered with the Swiss design and manufacturing brand to create several unique configurations of its timeless USM Haller Collection which will live alongside iconic DWR product within the space.

The Studio will also present Reform at DWR. A modern Danish kitchen and cabinetry company, Reform has collaborated with many of the same cutting-edge architects and furniture designers as DWR, including French architect Jean Nouvel and Belgian design duo Muller Van Severen. DWR San Francisco customers will be able to explore a variety of Reform cabinet offerings, as well as work with a Reform planner to design their own kitchens and wardrobes. Reform at DWR will roll out to other studios across the country such as New York and La Jolla this Spring, joining Reform at DWR Chicago.

Music and art throughout the space will offer additional cultural touchpoints. While visiting the gallery spaces, customers will listen to playlists inspired by the incredible history of progressive independent music from the Bay Area. Curated large-scale Digital Projects from leading textile creator Maharam will also be on view for the first time at DWR throughout the Studio. These high-resolution, washable, museum-quality digital prints, which are scaled and produced on a project- specific basis, will feature emerging and established artists, photographers, illustrators, and fashion and graphic designers. Maharam's Digital Projects showcase works in an approachable setting, demonstrating how people can live with art.

As of Wednesday, January 31, 2024, DWR San Francisco is open to the public, Monday-Saturday from 10am-7pm and Sunday from 12pm-6pm, at 1400 17th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107. For more information, please visit dwr.com

About Design Within Reach

Design Within Reach is your source for modern living. Founded in 1998 with a mission to provide access to the best in authentic design, the company curates classics from design icons and cultivates next-generation talent to deliver an evolving breadth of product that can only be found at DWR. With a solution-oriented approach, the company offers the expertise and services needed to support the way people live today. Headquartered in Stamford, Conn., DWR sells its furniture and accessories to residential, Trade, and commercial customers through retail Studios in North America, via the web at dwr.com, and by phone at 1.800.944.2233. Design Within Reach, Inc., is part of the MillerKnoll collective.

About MillerKnoll

MillerKnoll is a collective of dynamic brands that comes together to design the world we live in. MillerKnoll brand portfolio includes Herman Miller, Knoll, Colebrook Bosson Saunders, DatesWeiser, Design Within Reach, Edelman, Geiger, HAY, Holly Hunt, Knoll Textiles, Maharam, Muuto, NaughtOne, and Spinneybeck|FilzFelt. MillerKnoll is an unparalleled platform that redefines modern for the 21st century by building a more sustainable, equitable and beautiful future for all.

About Reform

Reform, established in Copenhagen, is dedicated to redefining kitchens, wardrobes, and storage. Since 2014 the company has collaborated with the leading designers and architects of our time to blend contemporary culture into functional spaces, ensuring quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. Born from the Scandinavian design tradition, the company aims to combine form and function with a cultural understanding. Reform's modular cabinetry collections, crafted to last, suit various needs and lifestyles that reflect individual tastes and identities.

SOURCE Design Within Reach
NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The dry shampoo market is estimated to grow by USD 1.90 billion from 2023 to 2027, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.03% during the forecast period. However, the growth momentum will progress. North America is estimated to contribute 33% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. It has gained popularity among fashion-conscious consumers in North America, particularly in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Consumers, especially millennials, appreciate the instant results and various benefits, such as preventing dandruff and facilitating easy hair styling. The region is expected to grow with increased online platform usage for personal care product purchases and rising awareness and adoption of such products in evolving hair care routines. For more insights on the historical (2017 to 2021) and forecast market size (2023 to 2027) - Request a Free sample report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Dry Shampoo Market 2023-2027

Technavio has segmented the market based on Product (Regular dry shampoo, and Natural and organic dry shampoo), Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa).

The regular dry shampoo segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period. Dry shampoos, known for their convenience and quick results, are gaining popularity, especially among individuals with active lifestyles. These products, containing oil-absorbing chemicals, enhance hair volume and freshness. Increasing consumer awareness about their instant benefits, including scent and immediate styling effects, is anticipated to boost sales. Additionally, the growing use in salons and beauty parlors contributes to the segment's expansion.

Insights on the contribution of various segments including country and region wise historic data (2017 to 2021), and forecast market size (2023 to 2027) - Download a Free Sample Report

Product innovation leading to product premiumization is a key factor driving growth. Dry shampoos, a water-free hair care innovation suitable for all hair types, offer a fresh appearance by removing scalp and hair oils. Their popularity stems from addressing concerns about daily shampooing damage, preserving natural oils, and enhancing hair volume. Available in spray and powder forms, organic options with natural ingredients are also prevalent. Companies focus on multifunctional benefits and tailor products to hair textures, emphasizing innovation to stand out in the market.

The growing adoption of personalized home salon services is a major trend shaping the growth.

is a major trend shaping the growth. The allergic reactions and other harmful effects are significant challenges restricting growth.

Insights on Drivers, trends, & Challenges, historic period(2017 to 2021), and forecast period(2023 to 2027)- Request a sample report!

A Convenient Haircare Solution

Dry shampoo is a waterless cleansing product that offers quick and convenient hair refreshment and styling without the need for traditional washing. It comes in various forms such as aerosol sprays, powders, and foams, making it travel-friendly and easy to apply. With its ability to absorb excess oil from the scalp and hair, It promotes hair hygiene and scalp health, providing a quick fix for oily or greasy hair. It also enhances hair volume and texture, offering salon-quality results at home. Some formulations are gluten-free and scented, appealing to a wide range of preferences. The market is witnessing innovation and expansion, with some products even targeting men and pets, reflecting a growing trend in personal grooming and pet care.

What are the key data covered in this report?

CAGR during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth between 2023 and 2027

Precise estimation of the size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the industry across North America , Europe , APAC, South America , and the Middle East and Africa

, , APAC, , and the and A thorough analysis of the competitive landscape and detailed information about companies

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of companies

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Related Reports

The organic shampoo market size is projected to increase by USD 1,134.36 million at a CAGR of 9.76% between 2022 and 2027.

The zero-waste shampoo market is estimated to grow by USD 67.96 million at a CAGR of 6.15% between 2022 and 2027.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Segmentation by Product

Segmentation by Distribution Channel

Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About US

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their 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 insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential areas and assess their competitive positions within changing scenarios.

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Jesse Maida

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Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
CHICAGO, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The education smart display market is projected to reach USD 4.1 billion by 2029 from USD 3.4 billion in 2024 at a CAGR of 4.0% during the forecast period according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Digital transformation in learning, rising demand for collaborative learning, and technological advancements are some of the major factors contributing to the growth of Education Smart Display market. Moreover, Industry collaborations, involving interactive display manufacturers, content developers, and key players, fuel market expansion, driving innovation and advancing the overall immersive technology ecosystem.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=225303544

Browse in-depth TOC on "Education Smart Display Market"



188  Tables

56  Figures

213  Pages

Education Smart Display Market Report Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $ 3.4 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $ 4.1 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 4.0% Market Size Available for 20202029 Forecast Period 20242029 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Product Type, Display Size, Display Technology, Resolution and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Security Concern Key Market Opportunities Rising e-learning trends Key Market Drivers Digital transformation in learning

Whiteboards to dominate the Education Smart Display market from 2024 to 2029.

The whiteboard segment is projected to account for the larger share of the education smart displays market from 2024 to 2029. Some of the major factors contributing to market growth include the development of interactive whiteboards with advanced touchscreen and cloud integration capabilities that improve the learning process by significantly improving student engagement. Advanced whiteboards facilitate multimedia presentations, connectivity to advanced education software, and access to online resources, improving the overall learning process. The collaborative nature of whiteboards encourages teamwork among students, enhancing their communication skills. Such advantages have led to a significant increase in the demand for whiteboards for education in recent years.

OLED technology to register highest CAGR in the Education Smart Display market during the forecast period.

The OLED technology is rapidly gaining traction in the education smart displays market due to its superior image quality, offering vibrant colors, high contrast ratios, and faster response times compared to traditional LCDs. The demand for premium interactive displays that deliver enhanced visual experiences in educational settings is propelling the fast growth of the OLED technology. As manufacturing processes evolve, leading to decreased costs, OLED becomes more accessible, contributing to its accelerated adoption. The drive for advanced and immersive teaching methods further supports the increasing preference for OLED displays in educational institutions.

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North America accounted for the largest share of the market in 2023.

The growth of the education smart display industry in North America can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the region has experienced a robust demand for advanced educational technologies, driven by a strong emphasis on innovation in the education sector. Investments and initiatives in digital education and technology integration in classrooms have propelled the adoption of smart displays as essential tools for interactive and engaging learning experiences. Moreover, the mature and well-established technological infrastructure in North America facilitates the seamless integration of education smart displays in schools, colleges, and universities.

Key Players

Collaborations between key interactive display manufacturers and North American schools, universities, and colleges along with the presence of major global companies like ViewSonic Corporation (US), SMART Technologies ULC (Canada), Boxlight Corporation (US), are the major factors driving the growth of the education smart display companies in the region.

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Browse Adjacent Market: Semiconductor and Electronics Market Research Reports &Consulting

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Display Market Size, Share & Industry Growth Analysis Report by Display Technology (LCD, OLED, Micro-LED, Direct-view LED), Panel Size (Microdisplays, Small & Medium-sized Panels, Large Panels), Product Type (Smartphones, Television Sets, Wearables), Vertical, and Region- Global Forecast to 2028

Augmented (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Market Size, Share & Industry Growth Analysis Report by Enterprise (Small, Medium, Large), Technology (AR and VR), Offering (Hardware, Software), Device Type (AR, VR Devices), Application (AR Application, VR Application) and Region - Global Forecast to 2028

Micro-LED Market by Application (Display (Smartwatch, NTE Device, Smartphone and Tablet, Television, Digital Signage), Lighting (General, Automotive)), Display Panel Size, Vertical and Region 2027

OLED Market by Product Type (Smartphones, Television Sets, Smart Wearables, Large Format Displays), Panel Type, Panel Size, Technology, Vertical, and Geography, 2026

AR and VR Display Market by Device Type (AR HMDs, VR HMDs, AR HUDs, VR Projectors), Technology, Display Technology (LCD, OLED, Micro-LED), Application (Consumer, Commercial, Enterprise, Healthcare, Aerospace & Defense) & Region - Global Forecast to 2028

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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Executive Aviation posted the largest delivery volume in 7 years

C-390 was selected by South Korea , which reinforced sales momentum

E2 deliveries more than doubled to 39 jets in 2023

Executive and Commercial Aviation book-to-bill in excess of 1:1

Services & Support backlog reached US$3.1 billion - the highest ever recorded

SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Embraer (NYSE: ERJ; B3: EMBR3) delivered 75 aircraft in 4Q23, with 49 executive jets (30 light and 19 medium), 25 commercial jets and 1 military C-390 jet. In 2023, Embraer supplied 181 aircraft, an increase of 13% compared to 2022 when the company delivered 160. The company continues to face supply chain delays which have affected 2023 deliveries.

Deliveries by Segment 4Q22 4Q23 2022 2023 2023 Guidance











Executive Aviation 50 49 102 115 120-130 Phenom 100 2 6 7 11

Phenom 300 31 24 59 63

Light Jets 33 30 66 74

Praetor 500 6 10 15 20

Praetor 600 11 9 21 21

Medium Jets 17 19 36 41













Defense & Security - 1 1 2

C-390 - 1 1 2













Commercial Aviation 30 25 57 64 65-70 E195-E2 12 17 18 38

E190-E2 1 1 1 1

E175 14 7 35 25

E190 3 - 3 -













Total 80 75 160 181 185-200* *Excludes C-390 deliveries











The company's backlog rose by US$1.2 billion YoY, reaching a total of US$18.7 billion in 2023 - the highest number recorded since 1Q18.

Backlog by Segment - US$bn 2022 2023 YoY







Executive Aviation 3.9 4.3 10 % Defense & Security 2.4 2.5 4 % Commercial Aviation 8.6 8.8 2 % Services & Support 2.6 3.1 19 %







Total 17.5 18.7 7 %

Executive Aviation continued its sales momentum with sustained demand across its entire product portfolio and strong customer acceptance in both retail and fleet markets. The business unit ended the year with a book-to-bill in excess of 1.3:1 and a US$4.3 billion backlog, a US$400 million growth YoY. The 74 deliveries of light jets in 2023 were 12% higher YoY and the largest volume in 7 years. Moreover, the 41 deliveries of medium jets also posted double-digit annual growth at 14%.

In Defense & Security, South Korea was in the spotlight with the victory of the C-390 Millennium in the Large Transport Aircraft (LTA) II public tender to provide the new military transport aircraft. The country is the C-390 Millennium's first customer in Asia. Furthermore, late last year, the first NATO-configured KC-390 Millenium entered into service for the Portuguese Air Force.

The aircraft was also selected by Austria and Czech Republic in 2023, and by the Netherlands in 2022. Negotiations about the 11 aircraft have not yet been incorporated into Embraer Defense & Security's backlog, which represents a significant potential for the coming quarters. In 4Q23, the business' unit backlog is US$2.5 billion, a US$100 million growth YoY.

In Commercial Aviation, E-Jets family deliveries increased 12% YoY from 57 jets in 2022 to 64 in 2023, supported by a book-to-bill in excess of 1.1:1. The highlight was the E2 group whose deliveries more than doubled from 19 aircraft in 2022 to 39 in 2023. The business unit backlog reached 298 aircraft in 4Q23 for a total of US$8.8 billion, a US$200 million growth YoY.

Porter Airlines exercised its purchase rights and placed a firm order for 25 Embraer E195-E2 passenger jets, adding to their existing 50 aircraft firm orders. The Canadian airline now has a total of 46 firm orders to be delivered and 25 remaining purchase rights. Furthermore, the backlog now includes 4 E175s previously signed by American Airlines and 2 additional aircraft ordered in December.

Backlog - Commercial Aviation 2023 Aircraft Type Firm Orders Deliveries Firm Order Backlog E195-E2 271 89 182 E190-E2 35 19 16 E175 853 753 100 Total 1,159 861 298

Services & Support ended 2023 with a backlog of US$3.1 billion, a US$400 million growth YoY - the highest level ever recorded. The backlog includes renewed contracts of integrated logistical support services and comprehensive airframe maintenance programs, such as the Pool Program for Commercial Aviation and Embraer Executive Care for Executive Aviation. These long-term contracts in the backlog cover mainly pool contracts and other services as spare parts, repair, maintenance, and technical services.

The growth momentum in the business unit accelerated further when it announced a deal which has doubled its maintenance service capacity for executive jets in the United States. The expansion will support the continued growth of its customer base through the addition of 3 Executive Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in Dallas Love Field, TX, Cleveland, OH, and Sanford, FL.

SOURCE Embraer S.A.
Ukrainian prisoners of war as they reach Ukraine-controlled territory at an undisclosed location near the Ukraine-Russia border, 31 January 2024 amid the Russian invasion.

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged about 200 prisoners of war each, the countries said Wednesday, despite tensions stemming from last weeks crash of a military transport plane that Moscow claimed was carrying Ukrainian POWs and was shot down by Kyivs forces.

After the Jan. 24 crash of the Il-76 plane in Russias Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine, some Russian officials had publicly questioned the possibility of future POW swaps.

Russias Defense Ministry said the countries exchanged 195 POWs each. After the statement was released, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 207 Ukrainians were freed. There was no immediate explanation for the different figures.

We remember each Ukrainian in captivity. Both warriors and civilians. We must bring all of them back. We are working on it, Zelenskiy said on X, formerly Twitter.

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraines ombudsman for human rights, said on social media that it was the 50th such exchange since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion nearly two years ago, with a total of 3,035 POWs repatriated.

Among the Ukrainians released were members of the armed forces, National Guard, Border Service and national police, said Andrii Yermak, head of Ukraines Presidential Office. He added that some of them had been captured while defending Mariupol, Azovstal, and Snake Island.

The Russian military said, without providing details or evidence, that the Russian POWs who were swapped Wednesday faced deadly danger in captivity and will be flown to Moscow for treatment and rehabilitation.

Moscow had said 65 Ukrainian POWs had been aboard the military transport that crashed Jan. 24. Ukrainian officials confirmed that a swap was due to take place that day and was called off, but said it has seen no evidence the plane was carrying the POWs.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Watchdog today condemned the delay in the implementation of a price gouging penalty as articulated by the California Energy Commission (CEC) at a briefing this morning.

The CEC had originally said the penalty recommendation would be put forth this summer, in time for the summer drive season, but at the briefing CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda said the potential rule would be not put forth until the end of the year.

"Californians cannot wait an extra six months for the price gouging penalty promised them last year," said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. "Governor Newsom needs to put his foot in the Energy Commission's derriere and get them moving quicker if he is going to deliver on his promise to protect Californians from gouging at the pump. There is no excuse for delay when Californians are still paying a dollar and a quarter more for their gasoline than US drivers and only a 70-cent gap is warranted based on extra taxes and environmental fees. This delay is unacceptable."

Consumer Watchdog expressed support for the recommendations put forth by the Division of Market Oversight Director Tai Milder. Milder called for minimum inventories prior to refinery maintenance and more transparency in the spot market transactions.

"The recommendations are sound but without the hammer of a penalty in law soon they will not translate to lower gas prices in the near term," said Court.

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Heaven to the Yeah and Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute have joined forces to further gender parity in the Olympic Games. In celebration of the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, the two organizations will be hosting a fundraising dinner at Edwins Too in Cleveland on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024. The event will feature two-time Olympic gold medalist Christian Taylor, 2023 Pan American Games bronze medalist Jordan Gray, Jamaican CAC silver medalist Erica Belvit, French Decathlete Adeline Audigier, and additional Olympic hopefuls. The event aims to raise awareness and funds for equity advancement in sports.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Christian Taylor advocates for the women's decathlon and for global women to be afforded the opportunity to be crowned the world's greatest athlete alongside the men. He is training for Paris 2024. Jordan Gray, 2023 Pan American Games bronze medalist for Team USA and sponsored by Heaven to the Yeah, holds world and American records in the women's decathlon.

Heaven to the Yeah, a nonprofit organization that provides resources for athletes in underrepresented sports, invites guests to join them in Cleveland for an evening of delicious food, inspiring conversations, and a chance to support a noble cause.

"We are thrilled to partner with Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute to raise awareness for gender parity in the Olympic Games. It is time for women to have the opportunity to compete in the event that earns the title of world's greatest athlete," said the Board Members of Heaven to the Yeah.

Edwins is a restaurant renowned for their delicious French cuisine, and their incredible commitment to providing culinary training and job opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. Edwins' founder and celebrated chef, Brandon Chrostowski, is a 2023 James Beard award finalist and a recipient of the 2023 Jim Brown Changemaker award. In 2022, Edwins was named as one of "52 places for a changed world" by the New York Times. Edwins was also the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary Knife Skills by Academy Award Winning director, Thomas Lennon.

The event will feature a four-course meal and wine pairings prepared by Brandon and the students of Edwin's Restaurant & Leadership Institute. Guests will also be among the first to sip on Heaven to the Yeah's "Women's Decathlon Limited Edition" Bordeaux wine.

Join us for this opportunity to be a part of Olympic history and support the athletes in their pursuit of transformative inclusion with excellence!

TICKETS: Available online through Eventbrite . A limited number of VIP tickets are available for those looking to experience an exclusive meet-and-greet along with passed drinks and hors d'oeuvres prior to dinner. A portion of the ticket cost is tax-deductible and event proceeds help to support funding for decathlon events.

DONATIONS: Unable to attend the event? Help us make history with a 100% tax-deductible donation here: https://www.heaventotheyeah.org/donate

Road to Paris 2024 & Beyond is made possible with the generous support of the following sponsors: Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute, Heaven to the Yeah, Eaton Corporation, and Edwins Too.

EDWINS LEADERSHIP & RESTAURANT INSTITUTE EDWINS TOO 13101 Shaker Square 13220 Shaker Square Cleveland, OH 44120 Cleveland, OH 44120 www.edwinsrestaurant.org www.edwinstoo.org

Media Contact:

Jackie Quisenberry

7607170708

372191@email4pr.com

SOURCE Heaven to the Yeah
Submit a project featuring Ernesta rugs for amplification to a broader design audience

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernesta , the innovative flooring company making designer quality, custom-sized rugs easily attainable, today announced a new "Designer of the Week" initiative aimed at celebrating interior designers and their projects featuring Ernesta rugs. This award and recognition is an extension of the Ernesta Trade Program, which offers special pricing and design assistance to the professional design community.

Each designer awarded the "Designer of the Week'' will be profiled on Ernesta's website , design blog, and social media platforms , will receive exposure to potential new customers through the Ernesta community, and will be considered for inclusion in future Ernesta marketing opportunities. Interested applicants must be enrolled in the Ernesta Trade Program, and are invited to submit images of their work, alongside a brief description of their studio, the project, and a link to their Instagram.

"As part of our ongoing appreciation and support for the design community, we're thrilled to start spotlighting the work of our Trade community members and demonstrate how Ernesta elevates interiors of all styles," said Jen Parker, Chief Sales Officer of Ernesta. "One of the most joyous aspects of my job is seeing how our products are incorporated into real homes. I am constantly amazed at the ceaseless creativity of the design community, and how Ernesta rugs work in a variety of environments, from traditional and modern to eclectic and minimal. We're proud to do our part to support the exceptional talent within the industry."

The Ernesta Trade Program provides special trade discounts, as well as access to dedicated design assistants who can assist with product suggestions, samples and more. To learn more about Ernesta's trade program, visit https://www.ernestarugs.com/trade-program . For more information, please visit the website and follow @ernesta_inc on Instagram.

About Ernesta

Ernesta is on a mission to empower better home design by making designer quality, custom-sized rugs more easily attainable. With a curated assortment and dedicated design assistance, Ernesta crafts custom-sized rugs made to elevate any room with both exceptional style and to-the-inch sizing. We believe that the right-sized rug is the foundation for any expertly designed room, and that high-quality custom design shouldn't be out of reach for anyone who values refined style and the ease of ordering directly.

With Ernesta's simple and streamlined experience, customers and designers can see and feel samples in the home, connect with design assistants to define just the right size, and get their custom-sized rug delivered in as little as two weeks. Ernesta also offers a trade program for designers. For more information, please visit www.ernestarugs.com .

SOURCE Ernesta
BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Evergreen Home Loans, a renowned leader in the mortgage industry, is proud to announce its expansion into Montana, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth. This strategic move not only extends Evergreen's reach but also reinforces its commitment to making homeownership accessible and rewarding.

Each new branch will be staffed with some of Montana's most reputable and experienced mortgage loan officers, who are dedicated to Montana and providing their community a personalized yet innovative home financing journey. This expansion reflects Evergreen's continued effort in bringing its unique selling proposition - offering economical strategies to allow more residents the opportunity to own their own piece of Montana.

"We are beyond thrilled to welcome the Montana team to our Evergreen family," said Robert Lipston, Executive Vice President of Production at Evergreen Home Loans. "This expansion validates our commitment to growth and taking advantage of the current market and continues to be a testament to our commitment to empower more families in achieving their homeownership dreams, fostering stability, and creating generational wealth. We're excited to bring our personalized approach to mortgage solutions to the residents of Montana."

"As the Area Manager, championing Evergreen Home Loans' statewide expansion I am thrilled to be aligned with a company whose core values and dedication to their clients, employees, and community mimic that of my own. As a Montana native thrilled to introduce the array of creative products and services Evergreen Home Loans has developed over the years, aiming to enhance the homebuying journey for Montanans. I will always have a deep affection for Montana and our community. We may be a small town state, but we have big expectations.  Brett Evertz, Area Manager, Evergreen Home Loans, Montana.

The new branches will offer a full suite of mortgage services, including conventional loans, refinancing, FHA, VA, and USDA loans, catering to the diverse needs of the Montana communities. The teams' local market expertise, and seasoned experience, coupled with Evergreen's innovative strategies, positions the Montana branches to make a substantial impact to the Big Sky State.

As Evergreen Home Loans continues to grow, it remains dedicated to its mission of transforming the home buying experience and setting industry standards in customer service and satisfaction.

For more information about Evergreen Home Loans and the new Montana branches, please visit Evergreen Home Loans.

About Evergreen Home Loans Founded in 1987, Evergreen Home Loans is a pioneer in the real estate finance industry, known for its unique selling proposition of providing unique home buying strategies and assisting clients and their community in making winning offers. Evergreen Home Loans' continues its lifelong belief that we can change the world, one relationship at a time..

For further information or media inquiries, please contact:

Selah Terwilliger

Senior Marketing Manager

[email protected]

530-328-6539

SOURCE Evergreen Moneysource Mortgage Company dba Evergreen Home Loans
The following statement was issued by Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) in reaction to the House Homeland Security Committee's approval of articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "FAIR applauds the vote by the House Homeland Security Committee approving articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. It was an unfortunate, but fully justified and overdue action against a cabinet official who has steadfastly refused to carry out the duties of his office.

"Secretary Mayorkas has not just presided over the greatest wave of illegal immigration in the nation's history, he has actively encouraged, enabled and facilitated it. Friday will mark exactly three years since he swore to uphold the laws of the United States and protect the security of the homeland. The record clearly shows that he has done precisely the opposite.

"Since taking office, some 8 million people have been encountered at our borders and another 1.7 million are known to have entered the country without being encountered by a Customs and Border Protection agency that is overwhelmed with the task of processing and releasing illegal migrants. At a time of unprecedented terror threats posed by Iranian proxy groups, and heightened espionage activity by China, Mayorkas has admitted that over 85 percent of the record number of migrants being encountered at the southern border are being released into the country.

At every turn, Secretary Mayorkas has ignored statutes and undermined the rule of law. He has released illegal aliens into the U.S. instead of detaining and removing them. He has established categorical parole programs in clear contravention of the statute requiring such parole be on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. He has allowed multiple aliens with potential terrorist ties to cross into the country, including tens of thousands of Special Interest Aliens. And he has actively undermined immigration enforcement, claiming that being in the country illegally is not by itself grounds for removal.

"The tidal wave of illegal immigration that is endangering our national security and straining resources to the breaking point in communities all across the country is occurring not because Secretary Mayorkas lacks the authority or the resources to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws. Rather, it is because he, with the support of President Biden, has subverted and undermined the laws he swore to uphold.

"The articles of impeachment approved by the Homeland Security Committee provide incontrovertible grounds for the full House of Representatives to impeach Secretary Mayorkas and for the Senate to convict him on those charges and remove him from office."

Contact: Joey Chester 202-742-1827, [email protected]

ABOUT FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Family Care Center, one of the nation's premier mental health providers, is celebrating the opening of its newest clinic in Nashville's West End neighborhood. This marks the company's fourth outpatient mental health clinic in the Nashville area, with plans for continued growth in the upcoming months.

Family Care Center's newest mental health clinic location in Nashville provides talk therapy, psychiatry and TMS. Post this Family Care Center hosted a ribbon cutting with the Nashville Chamber to celebrate the opening of its newest outpatient clinic in Nashville's West End neighborhood. With four mental health clinics in Tennessee already, more clinics are set to open this year, providing greater access to therapy, psychiatric care and transcranial magnetic stimulation.

According to research from the National Institute of Mental Health, mental illnesses continue to affect tens of millions of people each year. Yet, estimates suggest that only half of people with mental illnesses receive treatment. Family Care Center's mission is to address these issues by delivering comprehensive outpatient mental health services to those in need.

"We believe an integrated approach to care drives positive patient journeys," said Chief Executive Officer Wayne Cavanaugh. "Having four clinics open and a fifth on the way is making a big difference for people in the community. Nashville has fantastic providers and we've been able to bring them together to offer comprehensive care throughout the metro area."

The new West End clinic offers multi-disciplinary mental health services with 15 experienced therapists and prescribers for medication management needs. It is also fully equipped with technologyan FDA-approved, non-invasive, non-medication-based approach to treating conditions such as depression and OCD. This groundbreaking treatment offers hope for those who haven't found relief with therapy and medication.

"We're thrilled to extend our mental health services to another convenient location in Nashville, providing therapy, medication management and TMS services all under one roof," said Regional Director and LPC-S David Wood. "Whether you're a child, individual, couple, or a family, everyone can now access the mental health support they need at a single location without being put on a waitlist."

Appointments are available with many insurance plans accepted, though staff can also work with out-of-network insurance coverage.

To learn more about Family Care Center's comprehensive mental health services or to schedule an appointment at the new clinic, please visit https://fccwellbeing.com or call (888) 374-5066.

About Family Care Center

Family Care Center is one of the nation's leading providers of mental health services and is dedicated to making a positive impact on the well-being of local communities. Their top rated, multi-specialty clinicians provide comprehensive, evidence-based care that yields lasting positive results for patients of all ages. In addition to individual, couples and family therapy, as well as psychiatric services, Family Care Center leads in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), an innovative treatment for depression and more. Family Care Center is one of the fastest growing providers of mental health in the United States. With 25 outpatient locations across Colorado, Tennessee and Texas, they continue to expand nationally in collaboration with Revelstoke Capital Partners.

SOURCE Family Care Center
CHICAGO, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizton's latest research report, the fax services market is growing at a CAGR of 11.03% from 2022 to 2028.

To Know More, Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/4022

Fax Services Market Research Report by Arizton

Browse in-depth TOC on the Fax Services Market

270  Pages

94 - Tables

71 - Figures

The Global Fax Services Market Report Scope

Report Attributes Details Market Size (2028) USD 5.47 Billion Market Size (2022) USD 2.92 Billion CAGR (2022-2028) 11.03 % Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2028 Market Segmentation User Type, Service Type, Industry-users, and Geography Geographic Analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Market Dynamics  Growing Banking Industry  Flexibility & Scalability of Internet Fax  Automation of Fax Workflow  Regulatory Compliance  Data Security & Portability

Fax services have undergone significant transformations over the past two decades, yet traditional methods still hold a notable 10% share of usage. Despite the persistence of traditional fax machines globally, the evolution of modern fax systems has seen a remarkable leap due to digital technology. Analog signals from scanners are now converted into digital format and compressed, facilitating the transmission of large data volumes over standard phone lines. While large enterprises predominantly favor on-premises FOIP (Fax Over IP) solutions, the rise of cloud-based VOIP (Voice Over IP) services is expected to drive the emergence of hybrid fax services, thus expanding the fax services market. Moreover, the increasing adoption of Cloud-based fax services across various industries, such as healthcare, automotive, telecom, and retail, is driven by the need for secure and reliable communication solutions amidst digital transformation efforts. Factors like the demand for cost-effective communication solutions, the uptake of cloud-based technologies, and growing awareness of the benefits of cloud-based solutions and integration of AI and ML are poised to propel the market demand.

Fax Services Embrace Cloud and Hybrid Solutions for Modern Communication Needs

The increased adoption of cloud-based communication and collaboration platforms has recently driven the global fax services market. Several organizations offer fax solutions, such as data and voice services, as part of their communication and collaboration platforms. For instance, major vendors, such as RingCentral and eFax (Consensus Cloud Solutions), provide cloud-based phone systems and other voice and data services. In addition, few vendors offer secure information exchange solutions, such as Open Text. Computer-based fax services were introduced around 30 years ago. Faxes were sent in the same manner as a frame of analog television, with each scanned line transmitted as a continuous analog signal. Horizontal resolution depended upon the value of the scanner, transmission line, and printer. Since then, the market has witnessed significant changes with the introduction of fax as part of Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) communication and cloud-based faxing services. The use of computer-based analog fax services declines, whereas Fax over Internet Protocol (FOIP) connectivity will likely prevail until the end of the forecast period. A significant development of the modern fax system resulted from digital technology, where the analog signal from scanners was digitized and then compressed, resulting in the ability to transmit a large amount of data across standard phone lines. The use of on-premises FOIP solutions is still higher among large enterprises worldwide. The increased adoption of cloud-based VOIP services will likely lead to the growth of hybrid fax services, thereby reducing the deployment of traditional on-premises fax services. Most providers offer on-premises faxing solutions and cloud-based faxing solutions. Some vendors have innovated their offerings among the on-premises providers by introducing cloud-based and hybrid fax services, namely Open Text and Biscom. On-premise fax providers depend on fax hardware providers, such as Dialogic, for fax board physical and virtual infrastructure solutions. The on-premises deployment of fax services has shifted from standalone physical server deployment modules to virtual server deployment modules.

North America Leading the Market Share

In 2022, with a market share of 48.75%, the North American region dominated the global fax services market. The significant contribution came from the US, with a market share of 62.60%. The Canadian market is expected to grow significantly. A leading Canadian online fax provider added at least 1,000 new customers for its services every month in the North American region. Therefore, North America will remain a major revenue generator during the forecast period, with identified growth among SMEs in all industry sectors. In addition, the use of on-premises fax services is prevalent in the region. With the growth of cloud-based communication and collaboration platforms, the adoption of cloud-based and hybrid faxing will continue to grow over the next few years. In 2022, North America was followed by Europe, with a market share of around 27.49%. The UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Russia led the European region. Ireland and Spain are other countries with considerable growth in adopting online fax services. The contribution from Eastern European countries is still low, and data localization laws in the region are expected to propel the market during the forecast period. In Europe, the migration to cloud-based and hybrid fax services will be a key driver for the market's growth. Some corporate customers use on-premises fax server solutions hosted in data centers.

Healthcare Users to Occupy Largest Share in the Fax Services Market

In 2022, the healthcare sector emerged as the primary growth driver in the global fax services market. Given the sector's stringent regulations and emphasis on safeguarding patient data, security and privacy remain paramount. While email presents an alternative, its susceptibility to breaches poses significant privacy risks. Many healthcare organizations have turned to fax server (FOIP) solutions for secure document transmission to address these concerns. Furthermore, the rise in operational costs and a growing focus on environmental sustainability have fueled the expansion of cloud-based fax services. The increasing adoption of record management applications among small and medium-sized healthcare providers, including physicians and specialists, is expected to propel market growth further. However, the emergence of online portals for healthcare communication presents a notable challenge. While these portals offer convenience, security concerns may drive continued support on fax services for secure data transmission within the healthcare industry.

The Fax Services Market Report Encompasses Crucial Data, Including:

CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) during the forecast period: This metric provides insights into the annual growth rate of the fax services market over the specified time frame.

Detailed information on growth drivers: The report offers in-depth information on the factors that will propel the fax services market growth from 2023 to 2028. This includes an analysis of various market influences.

Precise estimation of market size: Accurate assessments of the fax services market size and its contribution and focusing on key market segments.

Predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior: The report offers insights into anticipated trends and shifts in consumer behavior that are likely to impact the fax services market, helping businesses prepare for future market dynamics.

Geographical market growth: The report covers the development of the fax services market across different regions, including North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. This provides a comprehensive understanding of the market's global landscape.

Competitive landscape analysis: A thorough examination of the market's competitive landscape is presented, including detailed information about companies operating in the fax services market. This includes an overview of key players, their market share, strategies, and key developments.

Analysis of growth challenges: The report includes a comprehensive analysis of factors that may pose challenges to the growth of companies in the fax services market, providing a well-rounded view of the market dynamics.

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Key Company Profiles

Consensus Cloud Solutions

Biscom

Dropbox

RingCentral

OpenText

Concord

ActFax

Alhambra

MDaemon Technologies

Celo

Copia

Esker

etherFAX

Extracomm

EC Data Systems

Faxcore

GFI Software

iFAX

Imagicle

Upland

Utbox

Softlinx

PamConsult

Retarus

OceanX Technology

Alohi

Medsender

FAXAGE

SRFax

FAX.PLUS

FaxBurner

Market Segmentation

User Type

Large Enterprises

Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Individuals & Home Offices

Service Type

On-premises Fax Solutions

Cloud-based Fax Services

Hybrid Fax Solutions

Industry-users

Healthcare

Banking, Financial Services, & Insurance (BFSI)

Legal

Manufacturing

Others

Geography

North America

The US



Canada

Europe

The UK



Germany



France



Italy



Russia



Spain

APAC

Australia



Japan



China



India



South Korea

Middle East & Africa

South Africa



The UAE



Saudi Arabia

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Argentina

Check Out Detailed TOC @ https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/fax-services-research-report?details=tableOfContents

Key Questions Answered in the Report

How big is the fax services market?

What is the growth rate of the global fax services market?

Which region dominates the global fax services market share?

What are the significant trends in the fax services market?

Who are the key players in the global fax services market?

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SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence
DUBLIN, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Smart Transformers Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Smart Transformers Market is experiencing a significant upswing, fueled by the growing demand for efficient power distribution and robust grid modernization efforts. This report emphasizes the surge in smart grid technologies and energy storage solutions accentuates the sector's growth trajectory from 2018 to 2028. As the market demonstrates a resilient Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.11% during the forecast period, key trends such as the integration of renewable energy sources and adoption of digital twin technology are reshaping the industry's future.

Deep Dive into the Smart Transformers Market Dynamics

The Global Smart Transformers Market has undergone substantial growth due to the increasing need for reliable power distribution systems. Urbanization and industrialization across various regions necessitate the streamlining of electricity transmission, rendering smart transformers crucial for achieving optimized energy distribution. The unique capabilities of these transformers to regulate voltage, detect anomalies, and communicate with management systems ensure they are integral to future-proofing power grids. With the onset of greater renewable energy source utilization, smart transformers are indispensable in bolstering grid stability and power quality management. Government initiatives globally to expand renewable energy reliance and enhance sustainability contribute to the vigorous demand for these advanced transformers.



Challenges on the Horizon



Despite favorable growth prospects, the Smart Transformers Market confronts hurdles such as the high initial costs and intricate considerations regarding Return on Investment (ROI). Moreover, challenges related to interoperability, compatibility with existing grid infrastructures, and rising cybersecurity concerns call for strategic responses from industry stakeholders. The essential adoption of industry standards, increased emphasis on cybersecurity strategies, and regulatory compliance will be pivotal in overcoming these obstacles.



Emerging Trends Influencing Market Growth



The application of digital twin technology is revolutionizing the smart transformers sector. Utilizing real-time data, sensors, and analytics, digital twins predict maintenance needs and enhance operational efficiency. The handling of renewable energy sources' variability is another trend positively impacting market growth. Smart transformers' voltage regulation and grid stability capabilities facilitate this integration, contributing to sustainable energy landscapes.



Sectoral and Regional Analysis



In terms of market segmentation, the distribution transformer category commands a significant share, driven by the burgeoning energy demand and increasing integration of renewable resources. The power grid application segment similarly maintains a strong market position, notably through investments flowing into smart grid modernization initiatives. Regionally, China is projected to hold a commanding lead during the forecast period, backed by progressive smart grid technology policies and substantial infrastructure investments. The robust manufacturing landscape and innovation in the Chinese market significantly contribute to the region's dominance.



Global Smart Transformers Market: A Comprehensive Outlook



The report delivers a macroscopic view of the Global Smart Transformers Market, covering key segments including distribution and power transformers, converters, switches, and various applications like electric vehicle charging stations and power grids. Delving into regional markets like North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, and the Middle East & Africa, the analysis provides a detailed understanding of global trends and market dynamics.



Transforming the Future of Power Distribution with Innovation and Sustainability



As the world gravitates towards a more sustainable and efficient energy future, the Smart Transformers Market stands as a testament to innovation, growth, and environmental consciousness. This report unravels the complexities and opportunities within the market, offering insights into trends that are shaping the future of global power distribution.

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes:

ABB Ltd.

Crompton Greaves

Siemens AG

General Electric Company

Hitachi Ltd.

Schneider Electric SE

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

SPX Transformer Solutions Inc.

Eaton Corporation plc

KONCAR - Electrical Industry Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/575c24

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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SOURCE Research and Markets
BEIJING, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- "It is a pleasure to have friends coming from afar," ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius said in The Analects of Confucius, a collection of his ideas and sayings.

The original French version of An Introduction to The Analects of Confucius, published in 1688, was presented to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a national gift by his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, when they met in 2019 in France. Xi said he would take the precious gift back to China.

The early translations of The Analects of Confucius inspired French thinkers Montesquieu and Voltaire, said Macron. France is also one of the earliest Western countries to include Chinese language teaching into the national educational system under a teaching syllabus designed by its education authorities.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of China-French diplomatic relations, the Global Times interviewed two French scholars dedicated to the Confucianism and Chinese culture, Remi Mathieu, director of the Research Institution of East Asian Culture of CNRS (The French National Center for Scientific Research), and Yvan Daniel, a professor at Universite Clermont Auvergne in France, to learn how they were introduced to Chinese culture and how they view the future of the China-France friendship.

Cohabitation of thoughts

Born in 1948, Mathieu studied at the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations, majoring in Russian and Chinese language and culture. Since 1973, he has been engaged in ancient Chinese literature research at the CNRS.

For every Sinologist, language could be an undeniable challenge. Mathieu has acknowledged the Chinese language's complexity, but, in his view, the language is also a "unique example of cultural longevity," boasting thousands of years of history.

"Its beauty is incomparable and its use combines aesthetics," Mathieu told the Global Times.

It is these complex words, with each having multiple meanings, that have become the basis of China's literate culture, and "a lifetime is not enough to go around them, let alone to claim to have penetrated all their mysteries."

Since his early years as a young researcher, Mathieu has been interested in Chinese culture, and has translated classics such as the Shanhaijing, or The Classic of Mountains and Seas, a major source of Chinese mythology that dates back more than 2,000 years.

"Myth allows us to appropriate the world," Mathieu said, adding that myths helped the ancient Chinese to understand how the world worked, albeit not in an intellectual, scientific way, but by understanding it with symbols and creative imagination. With myths, the world becomes something worth contemplating.

According to Mathieu, from the earliest days of the construction of schools of thought, under the Warring States Period, thinkers borrowed ideas from each other, exchanged them... and then quarreled. The quarrels hardly concerned anyone else outside of the intellectuals themselves. Apart from Qin Shihuang, (China's first emperor in the Qin Dynasty, who burned books and buried scholars to control intellectual discourse during his reign), anti-intellectualism was not commonplace.

"China is therefore almost naturally tolerant, as history tends to show. (Chinese) traditions are, in essence, more tolerant and fluctuating than dogmas," Mathieu said.

As China and France have enjoyed decades of friendship since 1964, he was hopeful that "the future looks brighter, as the quantity and quality of Chinese tourist sites (landscapes and museums, ancient cities and mountain and desert sites) are strong arguments in the future choices of French visitors."

Appreciation for classical works

Yvan Daniel has had an interest in the Chinese language and culture from a very early age, made his foray into Chinese literature at the Confucius Institute in La Rochelle.

With a profound appreciation for classical works, including Tang poetry, Confucian texts and iconic novels, he draws a captivating parallel between his literary interests and the discoveries made by French writers in the 19th and 20th centuries.

While his enthusiasm for modern literature shines through, with a particular fondness for key authors like Lu Xun and Ba Jin, Daniel, a stalwart in comparative literature, underscores the significance of literary exchanges in unraveling the intellectual and artistic ties between China and France.

As a scholar in comparative literature, Daniel believes that literary exchanges are essential for understanding and studying the intellectual and artistic relations between China and France.

"Literature allows us to tackle all kinds of subjects, from the broadest social issues to more personal or intimate themes. Through reading, French and Chinese readers can discover each other and get to know each other better," he told the Global Times.

Having worked in and taught literary relations between China and France for more than 30 years, including the history of cultural relations between the two countries, Daniel said these subjects have inspired his whole life.

"I'm a long way from knowing the whole of China. But there are certainly a number of points in common between China and France. For example, the interest in fashion and the arts, in books and written culture in general, but also in gastronomy."

As France and China commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Daniel applauds the diverse cultural and tourism activities planned for the France-China Cultural Tourism Year. He believes that these initiatives breathe life into the cultural exchanges, fostering mutual understanding and appreciation. The concept of "cultural tourism" resonates with him as a means to reach a wider audience, both in China and France.

Reflecting on the remarkable development of exchanges between the two nations, Daniel notes the impressive growth since the 1980s. Increased university exchanges, a surge in cultural tourism and a proliferation of translations have forged numerous direct and indirect links.

Daniel emphasizes the necessity for continued collaboration, particularly in education, advocating for an increase in the number of students engaged in linguistic and cultural exchanges. He sees great potential in training translators and mediators to bridge the cultural gap between the two nations.

Read more: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202401/1306379.shtml

SOURCE Global Times
"Ice cream trucks are great, but in the winter we need a SOUP TRUCK," a viral internet post craved. In response, Good Humor recruited an unexpected partner to transform the icon of summertime  the ice cream truck  into a new icon of wintertime  the Soup Truck, powered by Knorr.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The internet asked for a Soup Truck  and Good Humor listened. Following a post on social media that quickly went viral with over 4.8M views, the iconic ice cream brand teamed up with authentic flavor pioneer, Knorr, to make this online dream a reality by transforming a New York City based ice cream truck into a Soup Truck. Launching in time for National Soup Day, Good Humor and Knorr will bring joy to passersby in the otherwise dreary winter day. The best part: the Soup Truck is completely free and supports the Good Humor Neighborhood Joy program, a multi-year $200,000 commitment to support ice cream mobile vendors year-round.

The Good Humor Soup Truck, powered by Knorr The internet asked for a Soup Truck  and Good Humor responded; credit: @jzux

The Good Humor Soup Truck, powered by Knorr, is a first-of-its-kind "souped-up" version of the iconic Maria The Ice Cream Girl's rig, transformed for winter, offering warm, flavorful and nourishing cups of complimentary soup. It will be stationed at Union Square (Broadway between E 17th and E 18th) in New York City on Friday, February 2 beginning at 11:00am ET for one day only, while supplies last.

"We have been committed to helping Good Humor ice cream truck drivers sustain their businesses year-round and what better way to do this than by transforming one of these iconic trucks into a new, beloved beacon of wintertime  the Soup Truck," said Bentley King, U.S. Head of Ice Cream Operations at Unilever. "Walking up to an ice cream truck sparks inherent joy throughout the summer months and now we're able to give our fans something they asked for in the cold of winter while continuing to support our beloved drivers."

The ice cream brand is partnering with fellow Unilever brand and global flavor expert, Knorr, known for its bold tasting Bouillons and Pasta & Rice sides, to provide free cups of classic Knorr recipes. New Yorkers can expect complimentary cups of Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup and Easy 2 Bean Veggie Chili when visiting the truck.

"We are proud to partner with Good Humor to bring New Yorkers an array of flavors and delicious soup to comfort the community during the cold New York winter," said Gina Kiroff, Chief Marketing Officer, Scratch Cooking, North America. "It's about delighting consumers who love the joy of food, soup, and making the good stuff irresistible."

In addition to helping the internet achieve its soup truck dreams, the Soup Truck also spotlights the Good Humor mission to help hard working ice cream truck drivers thrive, especially in the off season. Two thirds of Americans associate ice cream trucks with the summertime, not as a year-round treat, and thousands of ice cream trucks that spread joy to neighborhoods across the country vanish in the cold weather months, leaving many drivers looking for additional opportunities to make ends meet. As part of its Neighborhood Joy platform, Good Humor launched the Neighborhood Joy Grant Program, which will award grants to 16 mobile vendors and name a grand prize winner "Joy Driver of the Year".

To learn more about the Good Humor's Neighborhood Joy platform, including the Neighborhood Joy Grant Program, and to vote for the "Joy Driver of the Year" starting in March - visit GoodHumor.com or Good Humor's Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and YouTube.

To learn more about Knorr - visit Knorr.com or Knorr's Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, YouTube.

About Good Humor

More than 100 years ago, Good Humor started a delicious revolution with the first ice cream on a stick and then the original ice cream truck in Youngstown, Ohio. Today, we're still bringing tasty frozen treats to hands and homes across America.

About Knorr

Knorr believes that wholesome, nutritious food should be accessible and affordable to all. That's not a reality for everyone in today's America. That's why we're on a journey to ensure all Americans can create healthy meals they feel good about. Whether it's creating high-quality products, offering simple chef-developed recipes, or supporting organizations and initiatives that provide access to healthy foods, Knorr remains committed to its long history of making good food available to everyone.

The business was formed in 1838, when founder Carl Heinrich Knorr pioneered experiments in drying seasonings and vegetables to preserve their flavor and nutritional value. Since then, Knorr has become an international brand offering a wide range of bouillons, soups, seasonings, sauces, soupy snacks, dressings, and frozen and ready-made meals.

About Unilever North America

Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Nutrition, and Ice Cream products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 3.4 billion people every day. Worldwide, we have 127,000 employees and generated sales of 60.1 billion in 2022. Our leading brands in North America include Dove, Knorr, Hellmann's, Magnum, Axe, Ben & Jerry's, Degree, Seventh Generation, TRESemme, and Vaseline.

Our vision is to be the global leader in sustainable business and to demonstrate how our purpose-led, future-fit business model drives superior performance. We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business.

The Unilever Compass, our sustainable business strategy, is set out to help us deliver superior performance and drive sustainable and responsible growth, while contributing to a fairer and more socially inclusive world.

For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: www.unileverusa.com

For more information on Unilever Canada and its brands visit: www.unilever.ca

Media Contact:

Rachel Kastil: [email protected]

SOURCE Unilever U.S.
A rugby team, a horrifying plane crash, cannibalism and the miraculous appearance of a muleteer. The story of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, which crashed in the Andes Mountains on October 13, 1972, has been revisited in J. A. Bayonas film Society of the Snow. The film depicts a large part of the true story, yet does not quite fully credit the role of Chilean Sergio Catalan, who played a pivotal role in the discovery and rescue of the 16 survivors.

The farmer, who was a cattle driver in the mountainous area of the city of San Fernando, some 142 kilometers (88 miles) south of Santiago de Chile, was the first person to encounter the survivors, who had been compelled to undertake extreme actions such as eating the remains of some of those who died in the disaster as a means of survival. Although his involvement was instrumental, his appearance in the film is brief.

In real life, Catalan was widely hailed as a hero. He also became a cherished person by the 16 survivors, who came to regard him as a father. The Uruguayans bond with the muleteer stretched until his death, in February 2020.

Who was Sergio Catalan?

Sergio Hilario Catalan Martinez was born in 1929 in Puente Negro, a small village located in the foothills of the province of Colchagua (present-day OHiggins region). He was married to Virginia Toro, with whom he had nine children. At the time of the accident he was 43 years old and as a horse rider he worked transporting animals through the mountains. In December 1972 he was working with Juan de la Cruz, one of his sons, driving cattle near the Barroso River, located south of what is now the Metropolitan Region. It was there that he encountered Uruguayans Roberto Canessa and Fernando Nando Parrado, both members of the Old Christians Club rugby team, who survived the plane crash that claimed 29 lives. The rugby players had embarked on a long expedition from the mountain range of the Mendoza province in Argentina to the Chilean side  the country where they were supposed to land to play a match with the local Old Boys team  to seek help.

First contact with Canessa and Parrado

Catalan and his son spotted the survivors and initially thought they were hunters or tourists. The Uruguayans were frail after their long journey, making their voices inaudible to the muleteer. The Chilean managed to establish communication with Canessa and Parrado by throwing them a piece of paper and pencil, with which one of them wrote the following message: I come from a plane that crashed in the mountains. I am Uruguayan. We have been walking for ten days. I have an injured friend up there. There are 14 people injured in the plane. We have to get out of here fast. We dont know how. We have no food. We are weak. When are they going to look for us up there? Please, we cant even walk. Where are we?

Alerting the authorities

Catalan traveled some 80 km (50 miles) from the place of the encounter to his hometown. When he arrived at a Carabineros checkpoint, he reported the situation. The police and the authorities did not believe the horsemans story and thought he might be drunk, but he had with him the written note given to him by one of the survivors. It was not very credible for us, that there were actually survivors of the Uruguayan plane, recalled Ramon Canales, one of the co-pilots of the helicopters involved in the rescue, in an interview with the Efe news agency. More than two months after the planes disappearance, Chilean operational teams concluded that the accident had left no survivors and that they should only wait until the summer to benefit from the thaw and complete the search for the bodies. Canessa and Parrado were sent to Los Maitenes de San Fernando ranch, where they were interviewed by Chilean television at the time. On December 23, 1972, after an operation lasting two days, all the surviving passengers were rescued.

A friendship lasting almost 50 years

Sergio Catalan was widely regarded as a hero by the rugby players, and a friendship was established that lasted for almost five decades. His name appeared in all the survivors accounts and they visited him every time they went to Chile. One of those closest to the muleteer was Roberto Canessa, who as a doctor supported him along with the rest of his friends to get him a hip operation. The muleteer died in February 2020 at the age of 91. What can I tell you about Sergio that you dont already know? Hes a very beloved man and we owe him a little bit of our lives, and those of the children and grandchildren that we have, Canessa told El Mercurio newspaper. Gustavo Zerbino, another of the survivors, attended the funeral on behalf of the rest of the team.

The Chilean received several awards during his lifetime. In 2011 the municipality of San Fernando inaugurated the Monumento al Arriero, a sculpture commemorating him and the countrymen devoted to guiding animals. The Andes 1972 Museum, located in Montevideo, also houses a figure of the legendary Chilean.

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GREENSBORO, N.C., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Honda Aircraft Company today announced delivery of the 250th HondaJet since it began customer deliveries in late 2015. The milestone underscores the aircraft's prominence in the business aviation market. The 250th HondaJet recently rolled off the production line and completed the Standard Certificate of Airworthiness (SCoA), and Honda Aircraft Company associates celebrated the milestone with a special event at the company's global headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Celebrating the 250th HondaJet The 250th HondaJet Honda Aircraft employees celebrating the 250th HondaJet

The HondaJet, which earned its type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2015, has been a game-changer in its class. To date, the aircraft holds 14 type certifications around the world. Its progressive evolution, from the HondaJet (2015), to the HondaJet Elite (2018), the Elite S (2021), and the latest Elite II (2022), has consistently redefined the very light jet category. Renowned for being the most fuel-efficient, fastest, highest, and farthest flying aircraft in its class, the growing fleet of the HondaJet is a testament to Honda Aircraft Company's commitment to bringing new value to customers.

"The 250th delivery milestone is not just a number, but a narrative of our constant pursuit of excellence and innovation," said Honda Aircraft Company President & CEO Hideto Yamasaki. "We are grateful for the global recognition and trust that customers place in the HondaJet. We remain dedicated to advancing the aviation industry, continuously pushing the boundaries of skyward mobility to enhance joy and freedom for customers."

Honda Aircraft Company also announced that the HondaJet global fleet has surpassed 210,000 flight hours with an exceptional dispatch reliability of 99.7%, another track record of the HondaJet's reliability and performance. As its fleet size grows, the HondaJet's customers consistently enjoy convenient access to high-quality support and services. This is ensured by Honda's strong global network, comprising Authorized Sales Representatives (ASR) and Authorized Service Centers (ASC) across Americas, Europe, and Asia, further enhancing the flying experience for each HondaJet customer.

As the HondaJet continues to establish itself as a leader in its class, Honda Aircraft Company remains committed to reshaping the future of aviation mobility. This commitment is reinforced by the development of the HondaJet Echelon, the company's visionary path for a next-generation business jet, elevating efficiency to new heights while also delivering premium comfort and convenience. The HondaJet Echelon is set to build on the innovative legacy of the HondaJet, furthering the company's mission to create new value for people.

Experience the milestone with us - click here to join the celebration for the 250th HondaJet!

About Honda Aircraft Company

Honda Aircraft Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Founded in 2006; Honda Aircraft's world headquarters is located in North Carolina, USA, the birthplace of aviation. The challenging spirit upon which Mr. Soichiro Honda founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is alive today as Honda Aircraft fulfills one of Honda's longstanding dreams to advance human mobility skyward.

For more information, please visit HondaJet.com or follow @hondajet

SOURCE Honda Aircraft Company
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) market size is estimated to increase by USD 2.38 billion from 2023 to 2027, with a CAGR of 6.5%, according to the recent market study by Technavio. This report also offers a 5-year historical (2017-2021) data projection of market size, segmentation, and region. North America will contribute 40% to the growth during the forecast period. The US dominates the Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) market in North America, owing to heightened awareness of stem cell therapy and advanced healthcare infrastructure. Stringent regulations notwithstanding, the prevalence of bone marrow diseases and various blood carcinomas drives market growth. Mixed financing arrangements in healthcare further bolster the expansion in the US, contributing to overall growth prospects in North America. Discover some insights on the size before buying the full report - Request a sample report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation (HSCT) Market 2023-2027

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of vendors has been conducted to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak. The Bargaining Power of Buyers & Suppliers and the Threat of New Entrants, Rivalry, and Substitutes have also been analyzed and rated between LOW-HIGH to provide a holistic view of market favorability.

The report also offers information on the criticality of inputs, R&D, CAPEX, technology, and products of 15 vendors listed Below -

Athersys Inc., Beike Biotechnology Co. Ltd., bluebird bio Inc., Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc., FUJIFILM Corp., Gamida Cell Ltd., Lineage Cell Therapeutics Inc., Lonza Group Ltd., MEDIPOST Co. Ltd., Merck and Co. Inc., Mesoblast Ltd., Pluristem Therapeutics Inc., Sanofi SA, Sartorius CellGenix GmbH, Taiga Biotechnologies Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Talaris Therapeutics Inc., ThermoGenesis Holdings Inc., AllCells Corp.

Download a Free Sample

The market is segmented by Application (Bone marrow transplant, Peripheral blood stem cell transplant, and Cord blood transplant), Type (Autologous HSCT and Allogeneic HSCT), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW))

The report is segmented by application into bone marrow transplant, peripheral blood stem cell transplant, and cord blood transplant. The bone marrow transplant sub-segment leads in the growth.

To procure the data - Buy report!

Advancements in hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) technology, such as Ranfac's Marrow Cellution, have led to safer procedures and improved success rates. These innovations address challenges associated with traditional transplant syringes, like contamination and poor cellular yield, driving market growth. Continued technological advancements are expected to fuel adoption rates and expand the global HSCT market during the forecast period.

Growing demand for personalized medicine is an emerging trend fueling the growth, however, the increased risk of complications post-HSCT challenges the growth.

For Insights on the market dynamics & segmentations VIEW A PDF SAMPLE !

What are the key data covered in this report?

CAGR during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth between 2023 and 2027

Precise estimation of the size and its contribution to the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the industry across North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW)

, , , and Rest of World (ROW) A thorough analysis of the competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of vendors

Applications include:

The industry encompasses various procedures like bone marrow, stem cell, and umbilical cord blood transplants, used in conditions like leukemia and lymphoma. Stem cell harvesting and immunosuppression are vital components, with considerations for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and engraftment. Donor selection and HLA matching are crucial, alongside post-transplant care and infection management, highlighting the role of transplantation centers and cord blood banks. Ongoing research drives advancements in HSCT.

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About US

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing 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
"We are delighted to extend our partnership with the City of Camden, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), the Camden County Improvement Authority (CCIA), and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) to enhance the affordability and overall quality of housing in Camden," said Jason Bordainick, co-founder and managing partner of Hudson Valley Property Group. "HVPG remains committed to transforming communities like Northgate into safe, modern homes and supportive environments for families, and we look forward to showcasing the positive impact our investments and capable team can have on residents and the broader community."

The acquisition and property rehabilitation of Northgate is financed with a mix of federal low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) funded by Enterprise, Aspire NJ state tax credits, and a HUD FHA 221d4 loan originated by PGIM). This endeavor represents one of the first affordable housing preservation projects to leverage the new Aspire tax credit program administered by NJEDA (New Jersey Economic Development Authority), which was established under law as part of the Economic Recovery Act of 2020 and provides tax credits to incentivize strategic real estate projects in New Jersey. The City of Camden also supported the project with a long-term PILOT Agreement which will be instrumental in the property's future success.

"We look forward to working with the new owners of Northgate One, as Hudson Valley Property Group acquires the apartment building adjacent to the Camden entrance to the Ben Franklin Bridge," said Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen. "We believe this property will see significant improvements under the ownership and care of a responsible developer in Hudson Valley Property Group, which brings a track record of providing high-quality affordable housing for their tenants. My administration is excited about the prospects of positive change this project brings, and the potential for a renovated Northgate One to help transform the surrounding community for the better. This is a big step towards improving the quality of life citywide and yet another a long-term investment in Camden's revitalization."

The project received support from various partners, including the Camden County Improvement Authority (CCIA) and New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) providing financing support, The Metro Company which acted as the tax credit consultant and Citizens Bank as the construction lender. Additionally, BlueHub Capital served as the Aspire lender.

"The sale and renovation of this building will be a significant enhancement to the city of Camden and the residents that live in Northgate," Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli said. "This property has experienced significant challenges over recent decades, and we are extremely encouraged that it will now be managed by a proven, respected owner-operator that has already done great work in the city at Community Meadows and is committed to improving the quality of life of our residents."

To ensure the long-term affordability of the property, 96.5% of units are subject to a new 20-year project-based Section 8 HAP contract, which ensures units covered by this subsidy pay no more than 30% of their household income towards rent. The property will also be subject to LIHTC income restrictions through a thirty-year compliance period, and tenants must qualify at 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) to reside at the property. The new combined PILOT Agreement, HUD HAP contract and LIHTC Use Agreement ensure affordability for the property for decades to come, and no current tenants will be displaced as a result of the preservation and rehabilitation process.

The planned transformative revitalization to Northgate will commence shortly after the acquisition closes and take place over a period of approximately two years. The upgrades will include a reimagination of the building's facade, which will preserve the essence of the mid-century era when the former luxury apartment building was constructed. The scheduled upgrades will be holistic including a complete building revitalization with site infrastructure upgrades, mechanical system replacements, and a number of in-unit bathroom, kitchen and apartment safety improvements, creating a market-rate aesthetic and ensuring adherence to HVPG's community standards.

The renovation also includes the creation of fully accessible dwelling units, and site improvements to create a fully accessible site. As part of HVPG's ongoing efforts to improve and maintain its properties for the residents they serve, the firm has also implemented a formal Community Enhancement Program at the property to create a vibrant, responsible, and safe community for residents. The enhancement program includes a site-specific emergency plan, active collaboration with local police departments and an enhanced, high-definition monitoring system providing sitewide security coverage, all with the goal of modernizing the property and improving residents' quality of life.

Transformative preservation of aging affordable housing projects like Northgate requires complex layers of agency and municipality approvals and creative financing structures, something Hudson Valley Property Group has a strong track record with. The transformation takes substantial time and resources to structure and execute and requires a true partnership with the entire Camden and New Jersey community, including the residents that call Northgate home. The acquisition of Northgate follows Hudson Valley Property Group's previous 2022 completion of an $85 million acquisition and renovation project at the Community Meadows apartments, a 391-unit, 21.5-acre complex located in Camden's Morgan Village in October 2022.

About Hudson Valley Property Group (HVPG)

Hudson Valley Property Group (HVPG) preserves and elevates the quality of affordable housing in the United States. HVPG acquires existing affordable, multifamily properties and strategically invests capital to improve the physical, financial, and social vitality of each home. With improved operations and enhanced service offerings, HVPG properties deliver a better standard of living for its residents and stable investment assets. To date, HVPG has preserved over 10,500 units across more than 60 properties, serving more than 20,000 residents. For more information, visit: https://hudsonvalleypropertygroup.com.

CONTACT

Reed Schneider

Prosek Partners for Hudson Valley Property Group

[email protected]

SOURCE Hudson Valley Property Group
PROVO, Utah, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sky Zone, the preeminent indoor activity company, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Blair will leave the company and step down as a member of the Board of Directors. Shawn Hassel will succeed Ms. Blair as the company's new CEO.

About Sky Zone

Sky Zone is the active play destination encouraging everyone to Play Every Day. The leader in indoor active entertainment, Sky Zone owns, operates, and franchises over 250 parks across the US and Canada. The company helps its more than 500,000 members and millions of yearly visitors make memorable moments while experiencing Sky Zone's signature smile-inducing attractions. Sky Zone elevates celebrations to the extraordinary, hosting millions of children at unforgettable birthday, team, and school parties every year. For more information about Sky Zone and to find your local park, visit www.skyzone.com.

SOURCE Sky Zone
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jointly , a leader in software and data for purposeful cannabis consumption, today announced a significant advancement in the evolution of Spark, its AI-driven cannabis consumption assistant.

Spark now offers consumers a unique, personalized cannabis shopping experience, drawing its knowledge from over half a million documented cannabis experiences.

Spark is found in Jointly's mobile app , where consumers track the goals for their cannabis consumption, their successes, their product choices, and the factors impacting their experiences, creating a rich data reservoir to power Spark's intelligence and recommendations.

A New Era of Cannabis Shopping

David Kooi, Jointly's CEO and Co-Founder, highlights the novelty of Spark, "For the first time, people can shop for cannabis by talking to an AI that has real data about what works best for people based on the reasons they're looking for."

Jointly's internal reporting indicates that its data covers 98% of the reasons why people consume cannabis. Kooi continues, "In places like Los Angeles, ordering cannabis for pickup or delivery via an app isn't groundbreaking. What is groundbreaking is the way Spark utilizes data and objectivity to deliver a new level of personalization to the shopping experience."

Spark's shopping features are being introduced to consumers in select U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and greater Oakland in California, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, through partnerships with leading dispensaries and delivery services.

Tailored to Your Preferences

"Spark isn't just another cannabis AI. It's a culmination of exhaustive data collection on what truly works for cannabis consumers," said Kooi.

Beyond the data that informs it, Spark's advantage lies in its ability to learn from and adapt to each user, sculpting a personalized cannabis journey. "Spark is attentive to your unique needs and preferences, personalizing its suggestions just for you," adds Kooi.

The Ultimate AI Companion for Purposeful Cannabis Consumption

This evolving process creates a mutually beneficial relationship. Consumers seeking enhanced cannabis experiences contribute data and feedback, which in turn allows Spark to become a more effective and insightful cannabis companion.

These new capabilities are in addition to the evolving role Spark has been playing as a comprehensive guide to responsible and enjoyable cannabis use. It educates users on consumption best practices, simplifying the cannabis journey for a rewarding experience.

Introducing Spark Pro for Budtenders

Understanding the pivotal role of budtenders in the modern cannabis experience, Jointly also offers Spark Pro , an AI co-pilot equipping budtenders with insights on goal-specific product performance and cannabis consumption best practices. "Spark Pro is set to redefine the art of budtending, making it more informed, effective, and in tune with individual customer needs," Kooi states.

About Jointly

Jointly is a forward-thinking cannabis software company committed to helping people reach their goals with cannabis and elevating the shopping experience with their data-driven purposeful cannabis consumption framework. By combining AI technology with a deep understanding of consumer needs, Jointly is at the forefront of the cannabis industry's evolution towards more personalized, informed, and effective consumption.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects the current beliefs of Jointly and is based on information currently available to Jointly and on assumptions that Jointly believes are reasonable. Such forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Jointly as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. However, Jointly expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

SOURCE Jointly
Results from a new Economist Impact survey show that just a fraction (2.7%) of senior executives located in the world's business capitals  Berlin , London , New York , Singapore , Sydney , and Tokyo  believe their organisations have sufficient levels of green skills.

Yet nearly all (95.7%) of those surveyed expect green skills to become the most important skill workforces possess in the next five years.

Government action is considered as the most influential driver of companies to recruit workers with more green skills, but the level of investment required, lack of clarity around the definition of green skills, and lack of endorsement from corporate leadership are ranked as top challenges to doing so.

Research shows the shortage of workers needed for the green transition will rise to seven million workers by 2030 if this deficit is not addressed, complicating the route to achieving corporate sustainability goals.

LONDON, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Workforces lack the green skills required to transition according to new research by Economist Impact, sponsored by Kyocera Document Solutions. Just 2.7% of the 300 senior business executives surveyed from six of the world's biggest business hubs believe that their organisations have the green skills needed to meet their corporate climate goals.

Despite this, the report, 'A green edge: Green skills for the future' , finds that nearly all (95.7%) of those surveyed expect green skills to become significantly more important for businesses to have in their workforces in the next five yearsmore so than digital, analytical, management and soft skills.

Executives said the leading benefit of increasing green skills in their workforces is improved brand reputation (86%), followed by resilience against extreme weather events (81.7%), and greater ability to achieve sustainability goals (77%).

The research by Economist Impact provides the very latest data and insights on corporate attitudes towards green skills and the future green workforce, shedding light on one of the most challenging aspects of creating a green economy.

Government regulations and policies were revealed as the leading influence for companies to adopt more green skills in their workforces, stated by the majority (80%) of the executives surveyed.

However the research reveals a disconnect between executives' intentions and action: Executives see the importance of green skills but say the level of financial investment required is the top reason holding them back. Lack of endorsement from senior leadership and lack of clarity over what constitutes green skills ranked as the second and third biggest obstacles.

"Cities are both laboratories of innovation and essential forces in the green transition. In partnerships with companies, they can make sure the green-skills revolution has the wind at its back", says Andrew Staples, editorial director, Impact Initiatives & Alliances and Head of Policy & Insights (Asia), Economist Impact, but "We are still in the early laps of this race. Although the pace is likely to pick up, concerns remain that this may not happen quickly enough to forestall the worst consequences."

Research finds that if the lack of green skill development is not addressed, the delivery of corporate net zero targets will falter. A critical shortage of workers in the green economy may rise to seven million by 2030[1]. In Europe alone, achieving the continent's net zero commitments by 2050 will require the retraining of 18 million people[2].

Given that smaller companies may have fewer resources, they are placing less emphasis on green skills than their larger counterparts. Nearly a quarter (22.9%) of executives from organisations with less than 250 employees say they do not incentivise their employees to adopt or develop green skills. Comparably, in companies with over a workforce of over 25,000 people, this figure drops to zero.

About the research

"A green edge: green skills for the future" is an Economist Impact report, sponsored by Kyocera Document Solutions. The report accompanies a barometer that assesses the environment for green-skills development and adoption in six citiesBerlin, London, New York, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyovia a survey of 300 executives. Expert interviews and an extensive literature review supplemented the survey findings. The purpose of the barometer is to study the green-skills ecosystem in the six cities of focus. It allows us to explore the drivers behind green-skills adoption as well as analyse businesses' readiness and efforts to adopt green skills.

[1] https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/will-a-green-skills-gap-put-climate-goals-at-risk

[2] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/05/europe-green-skills-solar-wind/

About Economist Impact

Economist Impact combines the rigour of a think-tank with the creativity of a media brand to engage a globally influential audience. We believe that evidence-based insights can open debate, broaden perspectives and catalyse progress. The services offered by Economist Impact previously existed within The Economist Group as separate entities, including EIU Thought Leadership, EIU Public Policy, EIU Health Policy, Economist Events, EBrandConnect and SignalNoise. We are building on a 75-year track record of analysis across 205 countries. Along with framework design, benchmarking, economic and social impact analysis, forecasting and scenario modelling, we provide creative storytelling, events expertise, design-thinking solutions and market-leading media products, making Economist Impact uniquely positioned to deliver measurable outcomes to our clients.

About Kyocera Document Solutions Inc

Kyocera Document Solutions Inc . is a global leading provider of total document solutions based in Osaka, Japan. The company's portfolio includes reliable and eco-friendly MFPs and printers, as well as business applications and consultative services which enable customers to optimise and manage their document workflow, reaching new heights of efficiency. With professional expertise and a culture of empathetic partnership, the objective of the company is to help organisations put knowledge to work to drive change.

Kyocera Document Solutions Inc. is a group company of Kyocera Corporation (Kyocera), a leading supplier of semiconductor packages, industrial and automotive components, semiconductor packages, electronic devices, smart energy systems, printers, copiers, and mobile phones. During the year ended March 31, 2023, the Kyocera Group's consolidated sales revenue totalled 2 trillion yen (approx. US$15.1 billion). Kyocera is ranked #672 on Forbes magazine's 2023 "Global 2000" list of the world's largest publicly traded companies, and has been named by The Wall Street Journal among "The World's 100 Most Sustainably Managed Companies."

SOURCE Economist Impact
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT) announced today that they will attend the Barclays Industrial Select Conference.

Details of the conference are as follows:

When: February 21, 2024



Attendees: Patrick Watson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Sanjay Chowbey, Vice President Kennametal Inc., President Metal Cutting

Michael Pici, Vice President, Investor Relations

Lori Lecker, Vice President, Corporate Relations and Communications

About Kennametal

With over 80 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace and defense, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Every day approximately 8,700 employees are helping customers in nearly 100 countries stay competitive. Kennametal generated $2.1 billion in revenues in fiscal 2023. Learn more at www.kennametal.com. Follow @Kennametal: X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

SOURCE Kennametal Inc.
ODENTON, Md., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Two leading national away-from-home sales and marketing agencies, KeyImpact Sales and Systems (KeyImpact) and Waypoint have formed the preeminent foodservice agency in North America and will be named Acxion Foodservice (www.acxion.com).

Acxion (pronounced "action") has an exclusive focus on foodservice with comprehensive food and non-food sales, marketing, culinary and analytics capabilities throughout North America. The combination will provide seamless connectivity, a range of solutions and unmatched customer reach to clients.

"This partnership, fueled by the best talent in the industry, allows us to leverage our expertise, strengthen our foundation in foodservice and drive results for our clients," says Dan Dougherty, co-CEO of Acxion Foodservice.

Co-CEO Neil Johnson says, "We are bringing the best of both agencies together to deliver industry-leading services that foster innovation and growth."

The combination includes a continued strategic partnership with Advantage Solutions Inc., a leading provider of sales and marketing services to consumer goods manufacturers and retailers, which will continue to offer services to the retail divisions of Acxion clients.

Acxion's clients include leading foodservice manufacturers, suppliers, operators and distributors. Acxion employs the industry's leading segment experts, researchers, strategists, culinarians, creatives, data analysts and digital and media specialists. Its comprehensive solutions allow Acxion to activate client business goals and create demand while delivering profitable growth and long-term success.

The powerful business combination is a result of the acquisition of the foodservice sales and marketing division of Advantage Solutions, including Waypoint, Ettinger-Rosini, Primeline, Coleman Greear & Associates, Halverson, Marlin Connections and CSSI. These business units possess deep capabilities, including sales brokerage representation for food, packaging, equipment, and janitorial-sanitation clients. Additionally, the collection of offerings provides research, marketing, communications, culinary and content expertise.

Advantage Solutions will maintain a minority ownership stake and have a seat on Acxion's Board, which will allow Advantage to benefit from the agency's growth and omnichannel offerings.

The business will be led by co-CEOs who each previously served as the leader of their prior agencies. Dan Dougherty will lead Sales and Marketing and Neil Johnson will lead Operations and Administration. The co-CEO partnership will deliver to their clients outstanding service, unmatched business plan execution and accountability. Acxion will continue to invest in capabilities that are critical priorities for foodservice suppliers, including unparalleled access to the Non-Commerical, Regional Chain, K-12 education, Military and Convenience Store segments. Acxion will drive performance in these segments through its industry-leading reach, data capture, insights and analytical capabilities.

Marlin Connections and CSSI will continue to provide full-service marketing strategy, branding, creative and media capabilities alongside comprehensive culinary innovation and national account sales support to manufacturers. The Halverson Group's strategic analytics team will maintain its focus on solving complex business and marketing issues with insights gained from applying advanced technology, data visualization tools, and custom statistical techniques to provide unparalleled solutions to clients' most challenging problems.

CG Sawaya Partners (operating under Canaccord Genuity) served as exclusive financial advisor to Acxion with respect to the transaction.

About KeyImpact

Formed in 2000, through the merger of Key Brokerage in New Jersey and Impact Sales in Maryland, KeyImpact has grown to become a leading foodservice sales and marketing agency in the United States. KeyImpact represents manufacturers of food, as well as packaging and supplies, and provides sales and marketing services to distributors and operators across all segments of the foodservice trade channel.

About Waypoint

Waypoint is a national sales, marketing and culinary agency representing leading brands that enjoy top positions in their categories within the foodservice and non-foods industry. They are a seamless and flexible extension of their clients, unmatched in market research and business intelligence. They bridge the gap between manufacturers and the comprehensive evolving foodservice marketplace.

SOURCE KEYIMPACT SALES & SYSTEMS, INC.
News about the stamps is being shared with the hashtags #ConstanceBakerMotley and #BlackHeritageStamps. A video will be posted two hours after the ceremony providing more information and insights into the stamp on the Postal Service's Facebook and Twitter pages at facebook.com/USPS and twitter.com/usps.

"Judge Motley was a brilliant legal strategist who conquered adversities, helped dismantle legal segregation, and served as a role model and mentor for those who followed in her footsteps," said Anton G. Hajjar, a member of the USPS Board of Governors. "Her tireless work and unwavering dedication impacted nearly every touchpoint of the 20th-century civil rights movement. The United States Postal Service is privileged to honor Judge Motley on the 47th Black Heritage Series stamp."

Joining Hajjar for the ceremony were master of ceremonies Gloria Browne-Marshall, professor of constitutional law at the City University of New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY); Sue Donoghue, commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation; Constance Royster, niece of Constance Baker Motley; Charly Palmer, stamp artist; Sherrilyn Ifill, the Vernon Jordan distinguished professor of civil rights and former president and direct counsel of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense Fund; William Kuntz II, U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of New York; and Gillian Lester, dean and Lucy G. Moses professor of law at Columbia Law School.

"It never felt like hers was a household name among the giants of the civil rights movement, or easily associated with landmark cases or clients, when in fact she was," said Royster. "Behind familiar names like James Meredith, Charlayne Hunter Gault, Judy Heumann, Melissa Ludke and many others was a great servant of the law Constance Baker Motley."

Also, participating in the stamp dedication ceremony were vocalists Craigg Stagg and Anahera Smith-McDaniel.

The stamp features a portrait of Motley by artist Charly Palmer, based on an Associated Press photograph. Rendered in acrylic on canvas work, the portrait displays elements of Palmer's signature style: Stenciled circular shapes around the head that suggest royalty, and the heavy brushstrokes and scratches that provide added textures. Stenciled curlicues embellish the lower background and blend into Motley's black dress. Her colorful corsage and a brooch further enliven the image.

The Constance Baker Motley stamp is a Forever stamp issued in panes of 20. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1ounce price.

Background

Constance Baker Motley was the first African American woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court and the first to serve as a federal judge. A master legal tactician, Motley played a key role in knocking down legal segregation.

She started her career in 1945 when she began working for the future U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense and Education Fund (LDF). She would stay 20 years, rising to associate counsel, second from the top.

While at the LDF she sued the University of Mississippi on behalf of James Meredith, who had been refused entrance, and the state of Mississippi on behalf of "Freedom Riders," who had been jailed while testing the interstate transportation laws. She also represented Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., after he was arrested for marching in Birmingham, Alabama, in spring 1963. Motley worked on about 60 cases that reached the Supreme Court. She won nine of the 10 cases she argued before the Court.

Motley and her colleagues often faced danger and disrespect as they challenged the entrenched racist system of the South. She also experienced sexism at a time when lawyers were a rarity.

In 1966, Motley was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York  the largest and busiest federal trial court in the country. Despite her nominations being held up for seven months by Sen. James Eastland, a strident segregationist from Mississippi, Motley was sworn in on Sept. 9, 1966  the first African American woman on the federal bench. She rose to chief judge in 1982 and senior judge in 1986.

Motley was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001 by President Bill Clinton. She died on Sept. 28, 2005.

Postal Products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon.

Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 167 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.

National Contact: Felicia M. Lott

[email protected]

usps.com/news

Local Contact: Xavier C. Hernandez

xavier.c.hernandez@usps.gov

usps.com/news

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service
Sector Focused Private Equity Firm's Team Includes 20+ Members

CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty Hall Capital Partners ("Liberty Hall"), a private equity firm focused exclusively on investments in businesses serving the global aerospace and defense industry, announced today the promotions of James C. Black to Partner and Matt G. Seely to Vice President.

"Since the founding of our firm, we have continuously invested in and focused on the development of our team," said Rowan G.P. Taylor, Liberty Hall's founding and Managing Partner. "We are pleased to announce the promotions of Jamie and Matt, who have played meaningful roles in the growth of our firm and the success of our portfolio companies. Their demonstrated leadership and industry expertise will continue to play a pivotal role in both the execution of our 'hands-on' investment strategy and creation of value within our portfolio."

Mr. Black currently leads Liberty Hall's deal team for Comply365, LLC and co-leads the firm's deal team for Accurus Aerospace Corporation. He also serves on the boards of directors for these portfolio companies. In addition, he has played an instrumental role in Liberty Hall's past investments in AIM Aerospace Corporation and Onboard Systems International. Mr. Black also serves as Liberty Hall's Head of Capital Formation. He joined Liberty Hall in 2014 from Citigroup where he began his career as an Analyst in the Global Industrials group. Mr. Black earned his B.B.A., magna cum laude with honors, from the University of Georgia.

Mr. Seely currently serves on the board of directors of Comply365, LLC and has played an active role in Liberty Hall's past investments in Bromford Group and Onboard Systems International. He joined Liberty Hall in 2021 from First Reserve Corporation where he was an Associate. He began his career as an Analyst with Simmons & Company International in the Energy Services and Equipment group. Mr. Seely earned his B.S. in Commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia.

Liberty Hall's expanding team has grown to 24 professionals with over 750 years of collective aerospace and defense industry investment and operating experience, including investment professionals, finance and operations team members and Operating Advisors. The firm is located in Charleston, South Carolina.

About Liberty Hall Capital Partners

Liberty Hall Capital Partners is a private equity firm focused exclusively on investments in businesses serving the global aerospace and defense industry. Liberty Hall's principals have a 25-plus year history of working together and have led the investment of over $2.5 billion in equity capital in over 25 businesses serving multiple segments of the aerospace and defense industry. Liberty Hall was founded in July 2011 as the first, and remains the only, private equity firm focused solely on investments in middle market businesses serving the aerospace and defense industry. Liberty Hall executes a proven and repeatable investment strategy designed to transform middle market businesses into larger, more capable and diverse strategic assets. For more information, please visit http://www.libertyhallcapital.com.

For Liberty Hall: For U.S. Media:



Rowan Taylor Val Mack Liberty Hall Capital Partners FTI Consulting P: +1 (646) 291-2602 P: +1 (212) 247-1010 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Liberty Hall Capital Partners
President Joe Biden has stated he has decided how Washington will respond in the Middle East to Sundays drone attack, allegedly launched by pro-Iranian militias, which left three U.S. military personnel dead and 40 more wounded at an outpost in Jordan. The White House needs to calibrate its response very carefully at a time when the spotlight is already on its 30,000 military personnel in the region, amid a conflict that has extended beyond the war between Israel and Hamas and threatens to drag other powers into the arena.

Biden faces a problem that previous U.S. administrations have had to navigate during conflicts in the Middle East: how to respond forcefully enough to prevent more attacks, but not to the point of triggering an escalation of unpredictable consequences. The goal is to avoid moving from pockets of skirmishes between pro-Iranian militias and U.S. forces in Syria, Iraq, and the Red Sea to an apocalyptic scenario: a direct confrontation between the United States and Iran, which neither of the two old adversaries wants.

In brief remarks as he was leaving the White House to begin a trip to Florida, Biden declined to specify what his governments response would be after spending Monday in meetings with his national security advisors. He did warn that he holds Iran  which denies direct involvement in the incident  responsible in the sense that theyre supplying the weapons to the people who did it. But, acknowledging his dilemma, he added: I dont think we need a wider war in the Middle East. Thats not what Im looking for.

Multiple actions

A few brushstrokes have already emerged. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Air Force One there will not just a single action, but potentially multiple actions over a period of time. This points to a retaliation similar to that undertaken against Houthi militias in Yemen, also backed by Iran, which have been attacking ships in the Red Sea. There, British and U.S. forces have bombed radar systems and missile arsenals belonging to the rebel groups. The guiding principle is making sure that we continue to degrade the kinds of capabilities that these groups have at their disposal to use against our troops and our facilities, Kirby added.

When any retaliation will occur is not yet clear. Among other considerations, it remains to be determined exactly which group was behind the strike on the U.S. Tower 22 base on the Jordan-Syria border, and how exactly the drone strike came about.

Last weekends strike was not unlike the dozens that U.S. forces have been targeted by since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7. Washington, which maintains the bulk of its forces in the region at bases in the Persian Gulf, has 3,000 troops stationed in Jordan, one of its staunchest allies in the region. Also, as part of its fight against Islamic State, it maintains around 900 troops in Syria  particularly in Kurdish areas in the north  and 2,500 in Iraq, with whose government it is negotiating the future of this deployment. A good part of these troops are stationed in bases such as Tower 22, surveillance and logistics posts in remote locations that are very visible from the air.

The coalition of militias known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has carried out about 140 drone and missile attacks on U.S. forces positions. It has also claimed responsibility for Sundays attack, which included strikes on two other outposts, in which the incoming drones were shot down without incident. But the strike on Tower 22 was the first to cause U.S. casualties since the start of the Gaza conflict. According to early accounts, U.S. personnel mistook the drone for one of their own. On Wednesday, the U.S. attributed the attack to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

The White House has confirmed that Biden will on Friday receive the bodies of the three soldiers killed at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. This is a position the president had hoped not to be in when in 2021 he officially declared the end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq, two decades after the start of the war on terror declared by George W. Bush.

Instead, since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza, the United States has seen attacks on its forces multiply and has reinforced its military deployment in the region. In the eastern Mediterranean, the battle group led by the amphibious assault ship Bataan and manned by a detachment of 2,500 U.S. Marines, has a dual mission: to deter the pro-Iranian militia Hezbollah from attacking Israel, and to reinforce protection for merchant ships against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. In those waters, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and its strike group, with 5,000 military personnel on board, are carrying out a similar mission.

At the same time, U.S. diplomats are trying to push forward negotiations for a temporary ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which they hope could be their best chance to stabilize the situation, at least relatively. The pact being negotiated in Paris, where the United States is represented by CIA Director William Burns, would include a two-month suspension of the war in exchange for the release of more than a hundred of the hostages still held in the Strip, in a more ambitious deal than the one that led to a week-long truce late last November.

The hope is that a longer period of calm and stability could create the space for more diplomacy and set in motion the conditions for a longer understanding, Brian Katulis, vice president of the Middle East Institute think tank in Washington, said in a note.

Progress in such negotiations would be a strategic triumph for the United States and its allies in the region, and a blow to Iran and its allies, who have made great strides while the conflict has dragged on. As it considers its response to the deadly attack, the United States must keep its strategic plan and interests in mind, and design its actions to achieve those more worthy goals, notes Paul Salem, president of the Middle East Institute.
Christiane Amanpour, David Remnick and Woodward & Bernstein Among Those Cited as Exemplars of Investigative Reporting

BROOKVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Long Island University today announced it will mark the 75th anniversary of its George Polk Awards in journalism by honoring 16 individuals whose careers reflect the awards' commitment to outstanding investigative reporting as the first-ever Polk Laureates.

The university is inviting all previous Polk Award winners, numbering about 600, to a daylong celebration in New York on Friday, April 12, which will include a luncheon to present this year's Polk Award winners and also to honor the 16 laureates "for outstanding contributions to American journalism in the spirit of George Polk." The event, to be held at Cipriani 42nd Street will be hosted by CNN anchor and CBS 60 Minutes correspondent Anderson Cooper.

Long Island University To Honor 16 Laureates In Celebration Of The 75th Anniversary of George Polk Awards Post this

That evening a symposium, "Journalism in an Age of Disinformation, Digital Media and AI," will be held at the Times Center on West 41st Street. It will be moderated by Richard Tofel, founding general manager of ProPublica, and feature Washington Post associate editor Bob Woodward, CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour, former New York Times executive editor Dean Baquet and Associated Press executive editor Julie Pace as panelists.

The Polk Awards were established in 1949 by Long Island University to commemorate George Polk, a CBS correspondent murdered in 1948 while covering the Greek civil war. The awards, which place a premium on investigative and enterprising reporting that gains attention and achieves results, are conferred annually to honor special achievement in journalism. The 2023 winners will be announced February 19, 2024.

"We are grateful to CBS News, George Polk's network, for serving as the presenting sponsor of this year's special awards luncheon," said John Darnton, curator of the awards. "Since the award's inception, CBS has won 31 Polk Awards, more than any other network. We are also grateful to The New York Times for helping us sponsor and facilitate what promises to be a compelling look at the future challenges of journalism." "Recognizing just 16 individuals as exemplars of great reporting is inevitably a somewhat arbitrary exercise but I think we have come up with a very impressive list."

"Long Island University has long recognized the importance of investigative journalism through the George Polk Awards and our George Polk School of Communications which is helping prepare an international class of the journalists of tomorrow," noted Dr. Kimberly Cline, President of Long Island University.

These are the 75th anniversary Polk Laureates:

Lynsey Addario , fearless and resourceful combat photographer whose photo in 2022 of a Ukrainian family slain by a Russian mortar was just one example of compelling work in war zones across the world;

, fearless and resourceful combat photographer whose photo in 2022 of a Ukrainian family slain by a Russian mortar was just one example of compelling work in war zones across the world; Christiane Amanpour, trailblazing TV correspondent whose reporting provided real-time context to conflagrations in eastern Europe , the Middle East and Africa and could spur world leaders to act;

, the and and could spur world leaders to act; Martin Baron , transformative editor at newspapers in Miami , Boston and Washington whose focus on thorough and principled investigative reporting produced stunning revelations and impactful results;

, transformative editor at newspapers in , and whose focus on thorough and principled investigative reporting produced stunning revelations and impactful results; Dean Baquet , leader of the New York Times' rise to preeminence, embracing new and rapidly changing methods of reporting and delivering the news to attract and engage a national audience;

, leader of the rise to preeminence, embracing new and rapidly changing methods of reporting and delivering the news to attract and engage a national audience; Carl Bernstein , half of a reporting partnership that turned "Watergate" into an iconic word, brought down a President and changed journalism and politics for the better;

, half of a reporting partnership that turned "Watergate" into an iconic word, brought down a President and changed journalism and politics for the better; Alma Guillermoprieto, for four decades a singularly authoritative and news-breaking source of information on the politics, culture and criminality of Latin America often at personal peril;

often at personal peril; Laurie Garrett , prescient chronicler of global health threats whose well researched warnings of the likelihood of deadly outbreaks of communicable diseases from Ebola to Covid proved fatally accurate;

, prescient chronicler of global health threats whose well researched warnings of the likelihood of deadly outbreaks of communicable diseases from Ebola to Covid proved fatally accurate; Nikole Hannah-Jones , guiding force behind The New York Times 1619 Project four years after her "This American Life" segment on the segregation in Michael Brown's school district won the first of her two Polk awards;

, guiding force behind The 1619 Project four years after her "This American Life" segment on the segregation in school district won the first of her two Polk awards; Seymour Hersh , five-time Polk award winner for investigative exposes starting with his 1969 account of an American massacre of hundreds of civilians a year earlier in the Vietnam village of My Lai ;

, five-time Polk award winner for investigative exposes starting with his 1969 account of an American massacre of hundreds of civilians a year earlier in the village of ; Laura Poitras , documentarian whose "Citizen Four" on Edward Snowden and the NSA typified a career of such efforts, most recently "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed" on the Sacklers' Opiod empire;

, documentarian whose "Citizen Four" on and the NSA typified a career of such efforts, most recently "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed" on the Sacklers' Opiod empire; David Remnick , editor who has made The New Yorker a must-read for 25 years and author of "Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire," winner of a 1993 Polk Award;

, editor who has made The New Yorker a must-read for 25 years and author of "Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire," winner of a 1993 Polk Award; Wilbert Rideau , a lifer in Louisiana who exposed prison inequity and brutality from the inside as co-editor of the Angolite and winner of a 1979 Polk Award that he accepted 32 years later after his release;

, a lifer in who exposed prison inequity and brutality from the inside as co-editor of the Angolite and winner of a 1979 Polk Award that he accepted 32 years later after his release; Gene Roberts , an admired reporter's editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer and New York Times after his own years of reporting on the Civil Rights Movement from the perspective of a native North Carolinian;

, an admired reporter's editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer and after his own years of reporting on the Civil Rights Movement from the perspective of a native North Carolinian; James B. Steele , with Donald Barlett a six-time Polk Award winner for deeply researched series that exposed misguided government programs and served as a blueprint for a generation of investigative reporters;

, with a six-time Polk Award winner for deeply researched series that exposed misguided government programs and served as a blueprint for a generation of investigative reporters; Paul Steiger , visionary founding editor of ProPublica following 16 years as managing editor of the Wall Street Journal who designed a model for the survival of investigative journalism in the Internet era, and

, visionary founding editor of ProPublica following 16 years as managing editor of the Wall Street Journal who designed a model for the survival of investigative journalism in the Internet era, and Bob Woodward , renowned for Watergate and also author of 21 books in a career that moved his erstwhile editor Ben Bradlee to call him "the best of his generation at investigative reporting."

SOURCE Long Island University
DUBLIN, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Middle East and Africa Onshore Wind Power Market - A Regional and Country Level Analysis, 2023-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This extensive analysis covers regional and country-level market trends for the period of 2023-2033, offering a detailed examination of varying market dynamics, growth drivers, and the competitive landscape.

The report segments the MEA onshore wind power market into End User, Grid Connectivity, Wind Capacity, Power Output, and Country. Each segment sheds light on the potential these categories hold for various players and stakeholders in the industry.

Commercial and Industrial , Utility , and other end users are dissected to reveal demand patterns and growth forecasts.

, , and other end users are dissected to reveal demand patterns and growth forecasts. Grid Connectivity analysis delves into off-grid and on-grid connectivity issues and advancements.

analysis delves into off-grid and on-grid connectivity issues and advancements. The Wind Capacity segment elucidates the potential of high, medium, and low-speed wind resources.

segment elucidates the potential of high, medium, and low-speed wind resources. Power Output classifications offer insights into projects ranging from below 500 KW, 500 KW to 2 MW, to above 2 MW.

classifications offer insights into projects ranging from below 500 KW, 500 KW to 2 MW, to above 2 MW. Country-wise breakdowns spotlight market leaders and emerging hotspots, with a keen focus on nations like South Africa , Saudi Arabia , Egypt , and Morocco .

The onshore wind power market in the Middle East and Africa draws attention for its investment opportunities, underscored by a range of strategic partnerships and technological innovations. Key market players such as Siemens Gamesa, Vestas, and GE Renewable Energy, are carving a niche by fostering advancements in wind power capabilities.

The research publication acts as a valuable tool for entities looking to craft product/innovation strategies, engage competently in growth/marketing endeavors, and position themselves effectively against competitors.

Key Market Development Highlights:

Collaboration and joint ventures stand as pivotal strategies for harnessing growth in the MEA onshore wind power market.

Evidence of robust competitive strategies, including detailed benchmarking of market players, provides a strategic advantage in navigating the market.

Aligning with new regulatory frameworks and sustainability targets, stakeholders and newcomers are poised for a transformative decade in onshore wind power investments.

As environmental priorities realign with energy policies, the MEA region is set to witness a transformation in its energy sector. The availability of this strategic analysis offers an undisputed advantage to those eager to ride the next wave of renewable energy advancements.

With a succinct overview of market trends, key players, and strategic imperatives, entities in the wind power sector can anticipate the direction of market evolution with clarity and confidence.

Market Segmentation:

Segmentation by End User

Commercial and Industrial

Utility

Others

Segmentation by Grid Connectivity

Off-Grid

On-Grid

Segmentation by Wind Capacity

High Speed

Medium Speed

Low Speed

Segmentation by Power Output

Below 500 KW

500 KW to 2 MW

Above 2 MW

Segmentation by Country

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

Egypt

Morocco

Rest of Middle East and Africa

Companies Profiled

Siemens Gamesa

Vestas

GE Renewable Energy

EDF renewables

TRACTEBEL Engie

AMEA Power

Masdar

Suzlon Energy

Mainstream Renewable Power Ltd.

Nareva

Acciona Energia SA

Envision Group

Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology

Enel Green Power S.p.A .

. Lekela Power

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4tgafw

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

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SOURCE Research and Markets
ANKENY, Iowa, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Caravel Autism Health, a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of young children on the autism spectrum, is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, February 1 to celebrate the grand opening of a new, state-of-the-art autism therapy clinic for families in the Greater Des Moines area. Caravel's team of childhood autism specialists has been improving outcomes for children with autism starting in the Midwest in 2009 and now providing access across eight states.

The new clinic, located at 2325 SW State Street in Ankeny, offers a comprehensive range of services including evaluation, diagnosis, customized Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, family support and counseling. ABA uses positive reinforcement to help young children build language and communication skills and improve focus. ABA is recognized as the most effective treatment for children with autism by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to Caravel CEO Mike Miller, "ABA therapy changes lives. It helps children who are on the spectrum achieve the best possible outcomes. At Caravel, we are committed to making ABA therapy available to all children, so we're excited to be bringing this life-changing treatment into another community where families have struggled to find expert providers."

"One in 36 children is on the autism spectrum," explained Brittnaey Freeman, MA, BCBA, LBA, clinic director for Caravel in Ankeny. "Early diagnosis is the best possible scenario because it means we can begin ABA treatment at a young age and help that child reach his or her greatest potential."

Freeman and her team at Caravel's Ankeny clinic are currently enrolling new clients for evaluation and treatment. For information or to schedule an appointment, call 515-493-3864 or visit www.caravelautism.com.

About Caravel Autism Health

Since 2009, Caravel Autism Health has been committed to helping families navigate the challenges of autism and providing leadership that creates better outcomes. Our team of clinical experts specializes in evaluation, diagnosis, and therapy for young children on the autism spectrum. Caravel's research-based and data-driven programs are designed to provide better outcomes that help children with autism reshape their development and embrace new ways of interacting with the world.

SOURCE Caravel Autism Health
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker Waichman LLP comments on CNN reports that a highly anticipated, new government study indicates that military and civilian personnel who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina in the mid-1970s and '80s are more likely to be diagnosed with certain cancers compared with those stationed at a similar military base in California during the same period. These findings could lead to an expanded list of conditions for which veterans and civilian personnel who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune can potentially receive government compensation.

The study identified several cancers that had not previously been shown to be connected to the contamination at Camp Lejeune. Those included male breast cancer, all myeloid cancers, including a type of blood cancer called polycythemia vera, myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes (a group of disorders caused by blood cells that are not properly formed or do not work right), and cancers of the esophagus, voice box, thyroid, soft tissue, marginal B-cell lymphoma, and certain types of lung cancer.

"... we went to Congress and worked hard to get legislation passed." Post this

Parker Waichman has been fighting for justice for the victims of Camp Lejeune since 2009 after an initial lawsuit filed on behalf of an injured civilian teacher at Camp Lejeune was rejected by court after court on a variety of legal grounds involving time limitations and the Feres doctrine. Parker Waichman turned to creating legislation to change those laws and the firm was thrilled when The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 was enacted as part of the broader Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, removing the barriers to earlier lawsuits that had been unsuccessful. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 paved the way for the filing of claims on behalf of our service members, their families, and civilians effected by the toxic water at Camp Lejeune.

Jerrold S. Parker, founding partner of Parker Waichman LLP stated: "We decided in 2009 to fight for these Marines and their families. When the courts declined to help these Camp Lejeune victims, we went to Congress and worked hard to get legislation passed, and we are honored to represent our servicemen and servicewomen."

If you, or someone you know, lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 and believe they have a related illness, please call 1-800-YOUR LAWYER or visit the firm's website at https://www.yourlawyer.com for a free consultation.

SOURCE Parker Waichman LLP
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - New Pacific Metals Corp. (TSX: NUAG) (NYSE American: NEWP) ("New Pacific" or the "Company") is pleased to outline its 2024 plans for its operations in Bolivia.

Andrew Williams, President and CEO, states: "2024 is expected to be a pivotal year for New Pacific. At our Silver Sand project, we expect to deliver our Preliminary Feasibility Study by mid-year, enabling us to declare mineral reserves for the first time in our Company's history. Simultaneously, with several important initiatives underway, we continue our steady march towards submitting our Environmental Impact Assessment Study. At our Carangas project, we plan to build upon last year's inaugural mineral resource estimate, revealing conceptual economics through an anticipated mid-year release of a Preliminary Economic Assessment."

"In the past year at New Pacific, we have successfully added new project development capabilities while retaining our exploration capacity to strategically expand or reduce risk at our projects and capitalize on new opportunities as they arise. At our Silver Sand and Carangas projects we have made back-to-back greenfield silver discoveries in a country with a rich history of silver mining spanning 500 years. We have also curated a team of Bolivians who are energized to develop responsibly the country's next generation of great silver mines. With our balance sheet recently bolstered by a C$35 million financing, New Pacific has a strong growth foundation in a world with an increasing demand for silver."

Silver Sand Preliminary Feasibility Study

The Preliminary Feasibility Study (the "PFS") in respect of the Company's Silver Sand project is progressing as planned, with an expected delivery by mid-2024. Independent consultants AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd., NewFields Canada Mining & Environment ULC and Halyard Inc. are actively involved in completing the PFS. Significant milestones achieved include the completion of mine optimization, strategic phasing, processing flowsheet optimization, and tailings trade-off studies. Concurrently, ongoing efforts encompass strategic mine scheduling, tailings and site infrastructure design, and processing plant layout design. We expect the technical route to remain largely consistent with the Preliminary Economic Assessment in respect of the Silver Sand project (the "Silver Sand PEA Technical Report") published in January 2023. Please see "Cautionary Note Regarding Results of Preliminary Economic Assessment". For more details on the Silver Sand PEA Technical Report, please refer to the Company's news releases dated February 16, 2023 and January 9, 2023.

Silver Sand Permitting

In May 2023, the Silver Sand project obtained its environmental categorization as a proposed open pit operation from Bolivia's Ministry of Environment and Water, formally commencing the Environmental Impact Assessment Study ("EEIA") process. The Company continues to advance its socialization process with communities located within the Silver Sand project's area of influence and collect wet and dry season environmental baseline data. In addition, the Company is establishing a development fund for sustainable development projects in partnership with local communities, demonstrating its long-term commitment to the region.

After completion of the socialization process, the Company plans to achieve the following:

1) obtain surface rights through long-term land lease agreements;

2) finalize a resettlement and compensation plan for impacted families; and

3) implement measures to safeguard cultural and historical heritage.

Integral to our pathway towards obtaining the EEIA, the Company is establishing a framework to coexist with artisanal and small-scale miners ("ASMs") in areas of the Silver Sand project that do not encroach on our mineral rights. New Pacific recognizes the importance of ASMs to the region's economic and political landscape and is committed to ensuring the shared benefits from a proposed modern mining operation, including access to milling capacity, technology, infrastructure, and capital, are realized. The Company is also undertaking measures, with the assistance of both local government authorities and external contractors, to address the presence of ASMs whose activities do not align with the development objectives of the Silver Sand project.

The Company is also pursuing compliance with the International Finance Corporation's eight performance standards for sustainable development, building on an assessment conducted with an independent consultant last year. This aligns with New Pacific's commitment to responsible mining while providing the ancillary benefit of positioning the project for development by the Company, or another party, upon successful completion of the EEIA process.

Silver Sand Mining Production Contract

The Company continues to engage with the Bolivia state mining corporation, Corporacion Minera de Bolivia (the "COMIBOL"), to obtain the ratification and approval of the signed Mining Production Contract (the "MPC") at the Silver Sand project by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia. The Company and COMIBOL have refined the MPC to concentrate exclusively on claims immediately adjacent to the Silver Sand project boundary. This streamlined landholding, while maintaining the core value of the MPC to the Silver Sand project, is anticipated to facilitate progress towards ratification and approval of the MPC.

Carangas Preliminary Economic Assessment

The Preliminary Economic Assessment in respect of the Company's Carangas project (the "Carangas PEA") remains on schedule for completion by mid-2024. The Company and its independent consultants are currently undertaking trade-off studies based on the Mineral Resource Estimate in respect of the Carangas project (the "Carangas MRE"). For more details on the Carangas MRE, please refer to the Company's news releases dated September 5, 2023 and September 18, 2023. There are a variety of open pit mining options under review, all focusing on the higher-grade, near-surface starter pit at the Carangas project that can be mined at a lower strip ratio. Additionally, the Company is undertaking a metallurgical test program to enhance the processing flowsheet and gather valuable data to support the Carangas PEA.

Silverstrike Project

At the Company's Silverstrike project, exploration activities remain on standby as the Company focuses on the programs for the Silver Sand project and Carangas project, as outlined above.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Alex Zhang, P. Geo., Vice President of Exploration (the "Qualified Person"), who is a qualified person (as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101")) for the purposes of NI 43-101. The Qualified Person has verified the information disclosed herein using standard verification processes, including the sampling, preparation, security and analytical procedures underlying such information, and is not aware of any significant risks and uncertainties or any limitations on the verification process that could be expected to affect the reliability or confidence in the information discussed herein.

About New Pacific

New Pacific is a Canadian exploration and development company with three precious metal projects in Bolivia. The Company's flagship Silver Sand project has the potential to be developed into one of the world's largest silver mines. The Company is also rapidly advancing its Carangas project towards a Preliminary Economic Assessment. For the Silverstrike project, the Company completed a discovery drill program in 2022.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Williams, CEO

New Pacific Metals Corp.

1750  1066 Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 3X1, Canada

U.S. & Canada toll-free: 1 (877) 631-0593

E-mail: [email protected]

For additional information and to receive the Company news by e-mail, please register using New Pacific's website at www.newpacificmetals.com

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING RESULTS OF PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT

The results of the preliminary economic assessment (the "PEA") contained in the Silver Sand PEA Technical Report, are preliminary in nature and are intended to provide an initial assessment of the Silver Sand Project's economic potential and development options. The PEA mine schedule and economic assessment includes numerous assumptions and is based on both indicated and inferred mineral resources. Inferred resources are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the project economic assessments described herein will be achieved or that the PEA results will be realized. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Additional exploration will be required to potentially upgrade the classification of the inferred mineral resources to be considered in future advanced studies. AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. ("AMC Consultants") (mineral resource, mining, infrastructure and financial analysis) was contracted to conduct the PEA in cooperation with Halyard Inc. (metallurgy and processing), and NewFields Canada Mining & Environment ULC (tailings, water and waste management). The qualified persons (as defined in NI 43-101) for the PEA for the purposes of NI 43-101 are Mr. John Morton Shannon, P.Geo, General Manage and Principal Geologist at AMC Consultants, Mr. Wayne Rogers, P.Eng, and Mr. Mo Molavi, P.Eng, both Principal Mining Engineers with AMC Consultants, Mr. Andrew Holloway, P.Eng, Process Director with Halyard Inc., and Mr. Leon Botham, P.Eng., Principal Engineer with NewFields Canada Mining & Environment ULC, in addition to Ms. Dinara Nussipakynova, P.Geo., Principal Geologist with AMC Consultants, who estimated the mineral resources. All qualified persons for the PEA have reviewed the disclosure of the PEA herein. The PEA is based on the Mineral Resource Estimate (the "MRE"), which was reported on November 28, 2022. The effective date of the MRE is October 31, 2022. The cut-off applied for reporting the pit-constrained mineral resources is 30 g/t silver. Assumptions made to derive a cut-off grade included mining costs, processing costs and recoveries and were obtained from comparable industry situations. The model is depleted for historical mining activities. Mineral resources are constrained by optimized pit shells at a silver price of US$22.50 per ounce, silver metallurgical recovery of 91%, silver payability of 99%, open pit mining cost of US$2.6/t, processing cost of US$16/t, G&A cost of US$2/t, and slope angle of 44-47 degrees. Key assumptions used for pit optimization for the PEA mining pit include silver price of US$22.50 per ounce, silver metallurgical recovery of 91%, silver payability of 99%, open pit mining cost of US$2.6/t, incremental mining cost of US$0.04/t (per 10 m bench), processing cost of US$16/t, tailing storage facility operating cost of US$0.7/t, G&A cost of US$2/t, royalty of 6.00%, mining recovery of 92%, dilution of 8%, and cut-off grade of 30 g/t silver.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain of the statements and information in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategies", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "budgets", "schedules", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements or information. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: anticipated exploration, drilling, development, construction, and other activities or achievements of the Company, including, but not limited to, the PFS, the MPC, the PEA, the Company's socialization efforts, establishment of a development fund, negotiations with ASMs, and the Company's efforts to comply with the International Finance Corporation's performance standards; inferred, indicated or measured mineral resources or mineral reserves on the Company's projects; timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals, including, but not limited to, the EEIA; and estimates of demand for silver.

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, risks that: exploration, drilling, development, construction, and other activities or achievements of the Company, including, but not limited to, the PFS, the MPC, the PEA, the Company's socialization efforts, establishment of a development fund, negotiations with ASMs, and the Company's efforts to comply with the International Finance Corporation's performance standards, will not proceed in the manner anticipated, or at all; inferred, indicated or measured mineral resources or mineral reserves on the Company's projects are not accurate; the timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals, including, but not limited to, the EEIA, is not as anticipated; estimates of demand for silver are not as anticipated; and other factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the year ended June 30, 2023 and its other public filings. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements or information.

The forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates, assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this news release that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates, assumptions, beliefs, expectations and options include, but are not limited to, those related to the Company's ability to carry on current and future operations, including: the duration and effects of COVID-19 on our operations and workforce; development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; the Company's ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the stabilization of the political climate in Bolivia; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain social license at its mineral properties; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits, including the ratification and approval of the Mining Production Contract with COMIBOL by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia; the ability of the Company's Bolivian partner to convert the exploration licenses at the Carangas Project to administrative mining contracts; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Other than specifically required by applicable laws, the Company is under no obligation and expressly disclaims any such obligation to update or alter the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as may be required by law. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO UNITED STATES INVESTORS

This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. All mining terms used herein but not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in NI 43-101. Unless otherwise indicated, the technical and scientific disclosure herein has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, which differs significantly from the requirements adopted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Accordingly, information contained in this news release containing descriptions of the Company's mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Additional information relating to the Company, including the Company's annual information form, can be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and on the Company's website at www.newpacificmetals.com.

SOURCE New Pacific Metals Corp.
Last year, students in many states made historic gains in math and reading. Still, they made up only one-third of the pandemic loss in math and one quarter of the loss in reading. Even if they maintain last year's pace, students will not be caught up by the time federal relief expires in September. Moreover, the recovery efforts are not closing the gaps between high- and low-poverty districts which widened during the pandemic.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- After reporting on pandemic achievement losses last year, the Education Recovery Scorecard (a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University) is issuing a report on the first year of academic recovery for school districts in 30 states.

Over the course of the 2022-2023 school year, students in one state (Alabama) returned to pre-pandemic achievement levels in math. Despite progress, students in seventeen states remain more than a third of a grade level behind 2019 levels in math: AR, CA, CT, IN, KS, KY, MA, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NV, OK, OR, VA, WA, and WV.

Students in three states (Illinois, Louisiana, and Mississippi) returned to 2019 achievement levels in reading, while students in 14 states remain more than a third of a grade level behind in reading: CT, IN, KS, MA, MI, NC, NV, OK, OR, PA, VA, WA, SD, and WY.

Dr. Thomas Kane, Faculty Director of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and one of the study's co-authors, said, "Many schools made strong gains last year, but most districts are still working hard just to reach pre-pandemic achievement levels."

As the project reported last year, achievement gaps between high- and low-poverty districts widened sharply during the pandemic, with students in high-poverty districts losing the most ground. The new data reveal that recovery efforts have thus far failed to close those gaps.

On the contrary, in many states, the recovery is being led by the wealthier districts which lost the least during the pandemic. The states in which the gaps between the wealthiest and poorest districts widened the most include Massachusetts, Ohio, and Connecticut.

"We should thank teachers and principals and superintendents for what they've done for American schoolchildren in the last year; their efforts have led to strikingly large improvements in children's learning. But we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the recovery has been uneven and we have a long way to go. Academic performance remains lower and more unequal than in 2019 in all but the wealthiest communities in America," said Sean Reardon, Professor of Poverty and Inequality, Stanford Graduate School of Education, and one of the study's co-authors.

The new data also highlight communities that have made substantial progress toward academic recovery, such as Birmingham, Alabama, and Nashville/Davidson, Tennessee.

Congress provided a total of $190 billion in federal aid to K-12 schools during the pandemic, with most of it targeted at high-poverty districts. As of January 2024, $51 billion of that aid is still available, with the remaining dollars due to be obligated by September of this year (or returned to the federal government). To the extent that states and districts have remaining funds, they should focus those dollars on academic recovery this summer and next school year.

The researchers urge education leaders to take the following steps as the federal spending deadline approaches:

This spring, schools should inform parents if their child is below grade level in math or English so that parents have time to enroll in summer learning. Parents cannot advocate if they are misinformed. Research shows that parents take specific actions when they know their child is behind grade level. Schools should expand summer learning seats this summer. States should require districts to set aside sufficient funds to accept all students who sign up. Research has shown that six weeks of summer learning produces a fourth of a year of learning, especially in math. Districts can extend the recovery efforts into the next school year by contracting for high-quality tutoring and after-school programs before September. Although the federal relief dollars cannot be used to pay school employee salaries after September, they can be used to make payments on contracts that are signed before the deadline. ( Click here to see the U.S. Department of Education's recent guidance on seeking an extension. For ideas on how to tie contractor payments to student outcomes, see the Outcomes-Based Contracting project at the Southern Education Foundation .) Local government, employers and community leaders should get involved in helping schools lower student absenteeism, which has remained high since the pandemic.

Kane said, "No one wants poor children to foot the bill for the pandemic, but that is the path that most states are on. States need to take leadership and ensure that every last dollar of the remaining federal relief is spent on academic recovery efforts, like summer school, high-quality tutoring, and after-school instruction next year."

In addition to encouraging districts to reserve federal dollars to pay for Summer 2024 programming, tutoring, absentee reduction, and after-school programs for the 2024-2025 academic year, the researchers encourage states to consider using state dollars to incentivize districts to extend the school year or to expand summer learning in future years, as Texas has done.

The Education Recovery Scorecard receives philanthropic support from Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin and Griffin Catalyst, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Carnegie Corporation of New York.

About the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University

The Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, seeks to transform education through quality research and evidence. CEPR and its partners believe all students will learn and thrive when education leaders make decisions using facts and findings, rather than untested assumptions. Learn more at cepr.harvard.edu.

SOURCE Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University
CHICAGO, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To create graduates who become changemakers in their communities, North Park University is introducing an interdisciplinary public policy major that will incorporate social sciences, physical sciences, and the humanities.

Public policy programs equip students to create laws, regulations, civic budgets, and other programs that affect average citizens. Longtime North Park professor Dr. Jon Peterson is spearheading the program. The professor of politics and government said the major is perfect for students who want to improve their communities.

"Wherever you want to make a difference, you're going to run into a government," Peterson said. "Even if you want to change something through a community organization, you can't do it without dealing with the government, so it's vital to learn how the system works."

The new major will require 36 semester hours of major coursework and 120 total credits for graduation. Course offerings will include American government, an introduction to public policy, and principles of microeconomics, among others. Students will also be strongly encouraged to intern during their studies.

Together, North Park's Center for Civic Engagement and Politics and Government Department have developed internship partnerships with many organizations, including the offices of U.S. Senators Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, the State of Illinois Governor's Office, and the City of Chicago Mayor's Office.

Public policy majors can further tailor their area of study to suit their interests by adding a minor. For instance, students focusing on environmental issues can combine the public policy major with a biology minor. Peterson said the major is flexible and comprehensive in scope, allowing students to work in various fields.

Public policy graduates tend to secure jobs in civil service at all levels of government, from federal to local. Other options include private sector careers at nonprofits and institutions that engage with government agencies and pursuing advanced degrees in public administration, public policy, or law school.

ABOUT NORTH PARK UNIVERSITY

North Park University is city-centered, intercultural, and emerging as the model for Christian higher education in 21st Century America.

SOURCE North Park University
The veteran-led food technology company provides a comprehensive approach to brain longevity with research, information and brain targeted nutrients that support the cognitive health span

RENO, Nev., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nutrient Survival, the pioneering force in Special Ops Grade nutritional innovation, announces the launch of the book " Eat to Think ," co-authored by Peter M. Castleman and B. Eric Christianson and available now on Amazon . The book both explores the beauty of the brain and how it is designed to regenerate forever while empowering readers with Six Pillars of Brilliance to strengthen brain health and longevity.

Much of the nutrition science and functional ingredients discussed in Eat to Think'' are leveraged in Nutrient Survivals latest BrainCare product launch, the Brain Omega 3 Bar. An all-natural solution to support brain performance, each Brain Omega 3 Bar features a patent-pending combination of 1,948mg of Omega 3s, 40 essential nutrients including 27 vitamins and minerals, naturally occurring flavonoids and 8g of protein to nourish both your brain and body.

"Meaningful longevity revolves around brain health. It's not just the quantity of years lived, but the quality of the life experience," underscores Christianson, CEO of Nutrient Survival, food science entrepreneur and Airborne Ranger Army Veteran. "This book unpacks some of the complexities of the brain and offers personal wellness prescriptions that support our cherished memories and independence as we age well into our senior years."

Both Christianson and Castleman, Chairman of Nutrient Institute who for the past decade has been dedicated to improving human nutrition, were spurred to write "Eat to Think" after researching the damage to human health created by basic nutritional habits and an over dependence on "Big Pharma" to address health symptoms versus root issues.

"In today's society we have come to accept the inevitable degeneration of our brains and mental function, which does not need to be our fate," suggests Castleman. "Declining mental faculties with age is typically a product of 'neuroinflammation,' a process that gradually damages brain cells but can be reversed with proper nutrition. We have the power to regenerate our brain cells within literal reach of our pantries and refrigerators."

Much of the nutrition science and functional ingredients discussed in "Eat to Think'' are leveraged in Nutrient Survival's latest BrainCare product launch, the Brain Omega 3 Bar .

An all-natural solution to support brain performance, each Brain Omega 3 Bar features a patent-pending combination of 1,948mg of Omega 3s, 40 essential nutrients including 27 vitamins and minerals, naturally occurring flavonoids and 8g of protein to offer better bioavailability of ingredients to nourish both your brain and body.

"Our Omega 3 Bars are so power packed for brain health, we feel the need to remind our consumers, they are really delicious, too," asserts Christianson. "And believe it or not, each bar has as much Omega 3 as a fillet of salmon, but without the fishy taste."

Brain Omega Fig & Dark Chocolate contains sweet ripe figs, rich dark chocolate, and tart cranberry pieces. Brain Omega Fig & Roasted Peanut offers ground peanut with sweet ripe figs, semi-sweet chocolate, and creamy peanut morsels. Both flavors are blended with rolled oats, organic rice crisps, milled flax and hemp seeds and feature the following:

1,948 mg of Omega 3 (EPA 430 mg + DHA 323 mg + ALA 1,160mg + SDA 35mg)

40 essential nutrients

27 vitamins and minerals

8g of protein including 1.5g of collagen

Natural flavonoids from semi-sweet chocolate, figs and peanuts

No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives

Gluten free

The Brain Omega 3 Bar is available in bags of 15 bars for $41.25 at nutrientsurvival.com .

About Nutrient Survival

Nutrient Survival LLC is an end-to-end food technology company offering nutrient dense survival food for emergencies and every day. Nutrient Survival has experienced explosive growth since its introduction in 2020, behind its patented nutrient dense products and compelling brand proposition. Designed to the same nutritional requirements of the US military for its elite Special Ops units, the brand delivers six times more nutrition than any other survival food brand.

Nutrient Survival meals designed using the nutritional standards specified in Department of Defense pubs AR 40-25/OPNAVINST 10110.1/MCO 10110.49/AFI 44141 for Restricted Rations, those rations intended for use on special operations missions. Meals meet or exceed standards for 23 nutrients on a per calorie basis. Neither the US Armed Forces nor the US Federal Government has approved, endorsed or authorized this product. The opinions expressed are solely those of the individual's.

About the Authors

Peter M. Castleman. Chairman of Nutrient Survival; Chairman of WISEcode; Chairman of Nutrient Institute. A lifetime entrepreneur who for the past decade has been dedicated to improving human nutrition and information about what is in our foods. Castleman graduated from Duke University at the top of his class in Economics, became a Professor at Harvard, then worked on Wall Street. Castleman bought North Face outerwear company when it was going bankrupt and turned it into a 3 billion per year company and then sold it. He did the same with Igloo, Herbalife, and many others. Castleman aims to empower consumers to manage wellness, instead of being controlled by Big Food, Big Ag, and Big Pharma. With good information, Castleman believes humans can make informed decisions with their lifestyle choices.

B. Eric Christianson. CEO of Nutrient Survival; Army Veteran; Airborne Ranger qualified; West Point Distinguished Cadet graduate. After a career of leading iconic food brands at Fortune 100 companies, Christianson found his lifelong calling when he was asked by Castleman to build a company called Nutrient Survival. Born at the start of the pandemic, Nutrient Survival is a disruptive end-to-end food company based in Reno-Tahoe, Nevada, that redefines survival food  and all food for that matter  with performance nutrition. With its patented products, Nutrient Survival brings top shelf, delicious, Special Ops grade nutrition. Designed to the same elite nutritional standards of the military for its Special Operations Forces but intended for people like us.

Media contact:

Matt Kovacs

[email protected]

310-395-5050

SOURCE Nutrient Survival
CEO Leading Transition from R&D to Commercial Adoption

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Orbital Outpost X, INC (OOX), a start-up developing technologies for space and terrestrial applications, announces Negar Feher has joined the company as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

Feher brings over 20 years of leadership experience in established and early-stage aerospace companies. Her career has included management and technical positions at Maxar, Lockheed Martin, Momentus, and SpaceRyde. She has a proven track record in scaling startups to commercial operations, served as a catalyst for early revenue generation while introducing new products and solutions to the marketplace, and securing key partnerships enabling exponential growth and diversification in each of her roles.

"Negar's experience in shaping innovation, sparking growth, and driving profitability energizes and elevates our team," said Jose Alonso, Chairman of Orbital Outpost X. "With her leadership, we look to accelerate a suite of key enabling technologies that are designed to enable orbital outposts such as space stations, fuel depots, and more. Importantly, these innovative technologies also boast use cases here on Earth."

OOX is applying the latest technology best practices to bust the paradigm of long production times, single-use applications, and significant costs that gatekeep access to commercial space infrastructure projects. Our goal is to ease the burden of space construction by creating modular and standardized components that can accelerate our customers go-to-market strategies. These technologies have been conceptualized to allow new market verticals to thrive in space following in the footsteps of SpaceX and the other space pioneers that are democratizing space. With automation at the center of the company's suite of products, both its hardware and software solutions are powered by AI, XR and cutting-edge proprietary techniques and processes that fit the needs of not only the space marketplace but also have numerous terrestrial use cases as well.

"Orbital Outpost X's fresh approach to tackling the technology adoption gaps in space has truly captivated my interest and I couldn't think of a better equipped team to join than this one" said Negar Feher, CEO of the company. "The team's modular, additively manufactured space station components built using digital twins and XR simulation software will fundamentally change the way humans interact with the space environment physically and in the metaverse, enabling 10X cost reductions in component development. I can't wait to bring these products to market to create universal technology standards, and ultimately unleash the potential of the space economy."

The Silicon-Valley based space technology startup has previously received venture funding from Space Infrastructures Ventures and has performed government contracts for customers such as NASA. Customers include both commercial space operators, terrestrial technology companies and government space agencies.

To receive updates from Orbital Outpost X, sign up here . Follow the company on X and LinkedIn .

About Orbital Outpost X:

Orbital Outpost X, Inc. is a space start-up developing technologies for space as well as terrestrial industries. The suite of cutting-edge technologies includes software and hardware products that will significantly reduce time to market and improve margins for customers, while also improving performance of high-tech systems both in space and here on Earth. OOX is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif.

SOURCE Orbital Outpost X
LONDON, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearson (FTSE: PSON.L), the world's leading learning company, today announced that bookings are now open for PTE Core, its newest English language proficiency test. PTE Core received approval from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) last year and can now be taken to provide proof of English language proficiency for the purposes of permanent economic immigration to Canada or Canadian citizenship. The first PTE Core tests can be taken from February 12 onwards.

PTE Core is a new addition to the Pearson Test of English portfolio, sharing many of the unique characteristics of PTE Academic. It is a two-hour, computer-based exam taken in a test centre environment that tests four key English language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The key difference is that PTE Core is relevant for the vocational test taker, designed with a real-life, non-academic focus. It was created to meet Canada's specific migration needs and the IRCC's language proficiency requirements, but could be used to assess the English proficiency of vocational test takers in any country.

Gio Giovannelli, President of the English Language Learning division at Pearson, said: "We are excited to roll out PTE Core to test takers across the world. It was designed to test real life language skills and allows test takers to showcase their proficiency and be themselves in English. Whether people are looking to work, study or migrate to Canada, there's a Pearson English language proficiency test that suits their requirements."

Every year, Canada welcomes hundreds of thousands of permanent residents, temporary foreign workers (TFWs), students, and visitors. Canada also supports the reunification of families and the protection of refugees and persons at risk. With an increased focus on supporting Canada's economic resurgence and post-pandemic growth, IRCC is increasing its Levels Plan to further address the growing demand for the coming years. With high demand in Canada for professionals in areas such as nursing, engineering and web development, the approval of PTE Core arrives at a good time for test takers and opens new opportunities for Pearson.

PTE Core was created in response to Canadian economic migration needs. Alongside this, PTE Academic was accepted from August 2023 by IRCC as an approved English proficiency test for all Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa applications  it is already recognised by more than 97 per cent of universities and 95 per cent of colleges in Canada. The UK, Australian and New Zealand governments also accept PTE tests for all visa applications. PTE Academic is also accepted by 100 per cent of Australian, New Zealand and Irish Universities and 99 per cent of UK universities.

The fully digital PTE Core test is delivered through Pearson VUE, the computer-based testing business of Pearson. The latest AI technology is used for scoring and biometric data collection provides enhanced security measures. These cutting-edge technologies ensure the provision of an impartial and highly accurate test of a test taker's English language proficiency.

Furthermore, test takers can book PTE Core online up to 24 hours in advance, take advantage of year-round worldwide test centre slots and receive their results on average within two days.

PTE Core will be rolled out across Pearson's existing network, with more than 400 PTE centres in 118 countries. This includes 25 test centres across Canada.

About Pearson

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to add life to a lifetime of learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That's why our c.18,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world's leading learning company, serving customers in c.200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. Visit us at Pearsonplc.com.

About PTE

PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online provide secure English language testing for study applications worldwide, including Canada. PTE English proficiency tests are accepted for applications for work and migration in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. PTE Academic Online is not accepted for work and migration purposes. PTE Core is accepted for applications for permanent immigration to Canada.

Media contact

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/617186/4513096/Pearson_Logo.jpg
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

For many years, nearly half of the Cuban population has been referred to in a derogatory manner as Palestinians. Several factors have contributed to this association in the minds of the Cuban people, but all stem from the stigmatization faced by the Palestinian community all over the world.

Stereotyping ethnicities, nationalities and origins is widespread. We often attribute certain traits to different groups like the Chinese, Germans, Americans, Spanish and Japanese. But whats the stereotypical Palestinian? Whats the value of such stereotypes? What are the traits associated with these stereotypes? Lastly, what do the Cubans have to do with all of this?

Stereotypes, as defined by social psychology, are generalizations that simplify reality by focusing on one or a few traits. They can pertain to nations, religions, languages, as well as sexes and age groups. We are all prone to being categorized and stereotyped. For example, the French are romantic, women are intense, Muslims are terrorists, and the most proper Spanish is spoken in Spain. Stereotypes can be positive or negative, but they often lead to preconceived judgments in how we perceive others, and even ourselves. Ultimately, negative stereotypes can lead to harmful behaviors such as discrimination and stigma. Language, as a means of communication, carries and perpetuates judgments, both positive and negative. Unfortunately, context is often lost along the way. Consider the associations between blackness and marginalization, illegality and political incorrectness: black sheep, black market, blacklist and black humor. These associations are cultural implications that we have historically attached to the Black race.

Something similar has happened with the term Palestinian in Cuban Spanish. For the past few decades, its usage has expanded to refer to people from eastern Cuba. While no one can pinpoint its exact origins, the term has been widely used for at least 40 years. The 2000 edition of the Diccionario del Espanol de Cuba defines Palestinian as someone from the interior  especially eastern Cuba  who has moved to Havana. This dictionary definition reflects its initial usage in Cuba. But Palestinian now refers to anyone born in the countrys eastern provinces, from Las Tunas to Guantanamo, regardless of whether they have migrated west or not. The term is often used to describe outsiders, like immigrants or foreign invaders. This further marginalizes these people, placing them on the periphery of an unfamiliar urban environment. However, this meaning has also evolved. Being Palestinian in Cuba now lumps people from eastern Cuba and the Middle East all together.

Westward migration in Cuba is a complex issue that dates back to the 19th century, but the trend accelerated after the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Since the 1960s, most migrants to Havana have come from the eastern provinces, with the highest rates in the 1990s. To regulate migration, the government took various measures such as requiring authorization to move to the capital, and implementing restrictions on hiring non-residents of Havana. Unfortunately, these laws legitimized discrimination and perpetuated the marginalization of migrants from the east. This led to illegal settlements on the outskirts of the capital, with poor living conditions and limited access to basic necessities. Ironically, the police force is mainly comprised of young people from the east brought to the capital. The police have the authority to request identification and detain anyone believed to be residing in Havana without authorization. Even today, Havana residents without government authorization for a change of address are constantly monitored and referred to as illegals.

The question remains  why do Cubans use the term Palestinian to refer to people from the eastern part of the country? Historically, there hasnt been much close contact between (Middle Eastern) Palestinians and Cubans. However, Cuba has provided consistent support to the Palestinians, from Fidel Castro to President Miguel Diaz-Canel today. Cuban presidents have supported organizations like the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), providing intelligence training and financial aid. Since 2005, Cuban universities have hosted Palestinian students, and 104 Palestinian doctors have graduated from Cubas Latin American School of Medicine. Today, 200 Palestinians are studying in Cuba, many of them from the Gaza Strip.

Besides news about the war in Gaza, Cubans dont have many other connections with Palestinians. The associations that arise in Cuban minds are often related to displacement, war, refugees, Islamism and terrorism. These associations have become stronger due to the long-running Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It has led people everywhere, even from far-off places like Cuba, to use Palestinian as a derogatory term for a group seen as inferior, unwanted migrants from the east.

The condition of the Palestinian people, as a displaced and marginalized population, is compounded by factors such as race, language, culture, social status and economic power. Palestinian is now the insult used by one half of a people against the other. Its a symbol of discrimination by Havana  the Gulf city in the west  towards the Caribbean people of the east. The Caribbean represents the others, the dark people, the uneducated ones who talk funny. Its the mentality of Cuba is Havana and everything else is just green space. Its a parody of a historical feud between the two Cuban capitals  Havana and Santiago. It reflects one of historys most terrible conflicts transported to the magical realism of a Caribbean island. In this reality, instead of bombs and refugees, we have internal migration and laws that define superiority based on place of origin. Yet, the Cuban Palestinians, like the ones in the Middle East, are also refugees.

With the latest escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, President Diaz-Canel, a Palestinian from the eastern province of Holguin, has called for a pro-Palestinian march. This march clearly supports the Palestinians in another part of the world, not the ones at home. Discrimination against Palestinians in Cuba is an unfortunate part of their current reality, deeply ingrained and often unnoticed. It may be time for Cubans to empathize with Palestinians, both within and beyond the homeland. Perhaps its time to repent of these prejudices and seek forgiveness. This would be a small step toward the genuine apologies that Palestinians rightfully deserve from the global community.

Roxana Sobrino Triana holds a PhD in Linguistics and is a professor at the University of Bergen in Norway.
Micki Seibel to help fast-growing manufacturer of revolutionary peat-free products

advance growth in the vertical farming space

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PittMoss, manufacturer of revolutionary peat-free products made in America from organic, recycled paper and cardboard, today announces the appointment of Micki Seibel to the company's advisory board.

According to Brian Scott, president & CEO, PittMoss, Micki will assist the company in growing its presence in the controlled environment/indoor farming industry, as well as help identify additional financing opportunities for continued development as it expands its number of commercial and retail customers across North America.

"On behalf of all of us at PittMoss, including our broad investor community, we are excited about Ms. Seibel joining our team," said Scott. "Her expertise in supporting and accelerating opportunities for organizations across the agriculture and horticulture spectrum will help power the next phase of our story and our growth."

Ms. Seibel is a veteran startup operator, company builder, and venture investor with more than 25 years of experience in the technology industry, spanning software engineering, product management, and cybersecurity. Seibel also brings experience from the venture capital industry, where she oversaw investments in agriculture tech.

Previously, Seibel served as a member of the board of directors at Boost Biomes, a biotechnology company, which leverages microbiome data to create novel solutions for agriculture. She has also served on the advisory boards of other ClimateTech startups, including Wexus Technologies, zTractor, and Swarm Technologies, where she advised on strategy, product development, and market fit in agriculture.

Most recently, Seibel was a founding employee and chief digital officer of Unfold Bio, a predictive seed breeding company backed by Leaps by Bayer and Temasek, where she defined the go-to-market strategy, set up initial commercial operations, and led the company in achieving key early milestones, including growing from 2 to 30 employees and signing strategic partnerships with vertical farm customers.

"I look forward to building on the roots PittMoss has established in the agriculture space by helping the company advance its mission of creating a healthier planet, while helping farmers and growers achieve higher product yields with greater efficiency," said Seibel.

In 2021, Seibel  a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University  was named Digital Transformation Leader of the Year by Women in Tech Network.

About PittMoss - www.pittmoss.com

Made from organic, recycled paper, PittMoss' range of products are manufactured in the United States, supporting green manufacturing. All of the paper and cardboard components are obtained from local companies, recycling facilities and the community, which is then hand sorted at the PittMoss production and R&D facility in Ambridge, PA, before being fiberized by its custom machinery. Founded in 2015, PittMoss' portfolio of patented products reduce runoff through enhanced nutrient absorption and superior moisture wicking. Its carbon-rich, living soil environment helps achieve superior root development  producing bigger, healthier plants with less water and fertilizer than competitors. Please visit PicMii to learn how to become part of our growing community.

SOURCE PittMoss, LLC
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Lancer Skincare , the premier Beverly Hills-based brand by world-renowned celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer, enlists award-winning actress Christina Ricci as the brand's newest global ambassador. Christina joins the team at a pivotal moment amidst the brand's 10-year anniversary, culminating in a strong catalog of innovative, first-to-market product launches in 2024.

The 43-year-old is known around the world for her role as 'Wednesday Addams' in "The Addams Family," and most recently as 'Marilyn Thornhill' in Netflix's "Wednesday," and 'Misty Quigley' in "Yellowjackets." Beyond her on-screen talents, Christina is recognized for her flawless porcelain skin and has become a go-to Hollywood symbol for her beauty and skincare routines.

"The partnership with Lancer Skincare was an easy decision for me," said Christina Ricci, Lancer Skincare Global Brand Ambassador. "Dr. Lancer has been my dermatologist for five years. His high-performance products have transformed my complexion and have been a staple in my skincare and bodycare routines. I am a big fan of Dr. Lancer and Lancer Skincare is a brand I believe in, so I am genuinely thrilled to be joining them in this partnership."

This partnership marks a natural evolution that has been building organically for more than five years. Christina has been a long-standing supporter of the Beverly Hills-based brand and dermatology practice, crediting Dr. Lancer for her effortless glow both on and off the red carpet. As Global Brand Ambassador, Christina will lend her genuine passion for the products to exciting projects this year, including features across marketing, social, and advertising campaigns. Christina will also appear in upcoming promotional spots on QVC, a trusted retail partner of the brand since 2018.

"We are thrilled to bring on Christina as our newest Brand Ambassador and advocate," said Marc Kravets, Chief Executive Officer at Lancer Skincare. "Christina has captivated millions worldwide, not only through her riveting performances as an actress but also as a trusted style and beauty icon that transcends the decades. With a natural affinity for the line, Christina is the perfect partner for Lancer Skincare and we are truly excited to have her on board."

ABOUT LANCER SKINCARE

With four decades of dermatological practice and daily interaction with his patients at his Beverly Hills practice, Dr. Harold Lancer is the authority on radiant, youthful-looking skin. Through his expertise, cutting edge technology, and efficacious skincare line, Dr. Lancer has become one of the most sought out dermatology professionals in the world.

Dr. Lancer's study of the skin's natural renewal and repair process led him to develop the Lancer Method, a three-step routine of Polish, Cleanse, and Nourish formulated to work synergistically to renew and restore the skin's vitality. In Lancer Skincare's true practice-to-product approach, consumers will be introduced to dermatologist-developed products, created in Beverly Hills and curated for their specific skin needs.

Originally from Montreal, Canada, Dr. Lancer spent his youth in Connecticut, received his undergraduate education from Brandeis University and then his medical degree from the University of California/San Diego School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School Dermatology Residency. He later completed a Plastic Surgery fellowship at the Tel Hashomer Medical School visiting fellow in plastic surgery, Israel, followed by a residency in London at St. John's Hospital for Diseases of the Skin, UK. He returned to Southern California where he received his board certification in dermatology in 1983 and began his Beverly Hills practice.

Once only available exclusively to Hollywood's elite at Dr. Lancer's Beverly Hills clinic, Lancer Skincare has evolved into a globally renowned line of advanced anti-aging products available at a variety of luxury retailers including Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus. For more information visit www.lancerskincare.com and Instagram @DrLancerRx .

SOURCE Lancer Skincare
PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Print & Pack, a leader in the sustainable packaging industry, is proud to announce its official launch, bringing a new era of eco-friendly packaging solutions to small businesses and eco-conscious brands across North America.

In an era where environmental consciousness is paramount, the need for sustainable packaging options has never been more urgent. Recognizing this critical market gap, Print & Pack steps forward with solutions that blend eco-friendliness with practicality, answering the call for greener alternatives in the packaging industry.

Biodegradable Stock Poly Mailers Made From Recycled LDPE Custom Printed Tissue Paper Made from FSC Certified Paper

Founded on the principle that sustainability is essential for the planet's well-being, Print & Pack is committed to offering a diverse range of tailor-made, sustainable packaging solutions. With its US-based manufacturing facilities, Print & Pack ensures rapid turnaround for custom orders, catering especially to small businesses with minimal order requirements.

Print & Pack's product lines include cutting-edge technologies such as BDP for biodegradable packaging, GREENGUARD Gold Certified inks, and #INVISIBLEBAG - a water-soluble and compostable solution. These innovations not only minimize carbon emissions, but also foster a circular, waste-minimizing economy.

Print & Pack's environmental commitment extends beyond its products. The company is Certified Plastic Neutral by partnering with rePurpose Global to fund the recovery and ethical processing of as much nature-bound plastic waste as it uses in its packaging. By contributing to the rePurpose Impact Project Saaf Samudra, Print & Pack is enabling access to improved waste management infrastructure in local communities in Goa, India.

Peter Hjemdahl, Co-Founder and Chief Advocacy Officer of rePurpose Global, comments on the partnership: "We're thrilled to partner with Print & Pack in their commitment to creating environmental impact. This collaboration is a testament to their dedication to sustainability and sets a precedent for others in the industry."

Print & Pack is more than a packaging company  it represents a movement towards a more sustainable future, one package at a time. For more information about their innovative, eco-friendly packaging solutions, visit printandpack.com or contact [email protected].

Media Contact:

Jennifer Lau

(909) 830-6829

[email protected]

SOURCE Print & Pack
PARIS, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ProductLife Group (PLG), the specialised global provider of regulatory, scientific, vigilance, quality and digital transformation consulting services for the life sciences industries, announces the acquisition of Commercial Eyes, Australia's leading pharmaceutical and medical device commercialisation company, specialising in regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, medical information, quality assurance, market access, market research and patient programs.

This partnership unlocks numerous synergistic opportunities for both organisations and their clients. ProductLife Group's global presence and expertise, combined with the regional knowledge and capabilities of Commercial Eyes, will enable ProductLife Group to deliver enhanced services and solutions to its clients. The expanded portfolio of offerings will empower clients to navigate complex frameworks with confidence, ensuring successful market and patient access of new healthcare solutions in full compliance with regulatory requirements and in line with payers expectations.

Andrew Carter, Founder & Managing Director of Commercial Eyes : "Joining PLG is a major strategic move for Commercial Eyes, our people and our clients. We will leverage the platform we have created over the last 22 years to expand our footprint globally. This will create significant professional development opportunities for our team members and enable us to better support our clients with global coverage of end-to-end life sciences consulting services."

Xavier Duburcq, CEO of PLG, highlighted: " This merger not only enables us to broaden our geographical footprint and expand our offerings to global markets but also empowers us to better serve our clients throughout their market and patient access strategy. The acquisition of Commercial Eyes marks an exciting new chapter in our journey. Together, we possess the collective strength, expertise, and passion to drive positive change and shape the future of the life sciences industry.

Our two companies share similar values: pioneering the way for innovation, client satisfaction, team spirit and a unique sense of purpose for life sciences. This common set of values forms a solid foundation for the seamless integration of the two organisations."

About ProductLife Group:

ProductLife Group's mission is to support patient access to safe and effective healthcare solutions by delivering worldwide consulting and outsourcing services through the entire product life.

Combining local expertise with global reach spanning more than 150 countries, PLG is the Life Sciences Industries reference strategic partner for the development, market introduction and life cycle management of product portfolios, and the related business and digital transformation.

With a goal of continuously improving the value delivered to teams and clients, PLG is committed to long-term partnership, innovation, flexibility, and cost efficiency.

For more information, visit https://productlifegroup.com/

Contact:

Fabrice Galzin

ProductLife Group Head of Marketing

Phone: + 33 (0) 672 349 606

[email protected]

About Commercial Eyes:

Commercial Eyes is a healthcare and life sciences consulting firm, specialising in pre and post registration services, comprising amongst others Access, Research & Intelligence (ARI), Regulatory, Quality and Compliance (RQC), Patient Safety & Risk Management (PS), Medical Information (MI) and Patient Programs (PP). Commercial Eyes is headquartered in Melbourne (Australia) with a presence in New Zealand, where the company is known as one of the largest providers of commercialisation services to the Pharma and MedTech sector. For over 22 years Commercial Eyes has delivered high quality, customer-focused results in the Australian and New Zealand regulated therapeutics and healthcare industry.

Commercial Eyes has grown to become a leading pharmaceutical and medical device commercialisation business. With a team of over 100 people, the company has assisted more than 800 clients representing the full spectrum of health technology companies.

For more information, visit https://commercialeyes.com.au/

Contact:

Andrew Carter

Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]
CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- QuicksortRx, a technology company helping health systems improve pharmacy purchasing and reduce medication costs, has announced that its clients have achieved over $100 million in medication cost savings through the platform since the company launched in late 2018.

Founded by pharmacists and technologists from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), QuicksortRx empowers health systems to instantly assess medication price, availability, and purchasing trends across multiple facilities. By streamlining pharmaceutical market analysis, QuicksortRx clients use the business intelligence platform to drive faster, more informed decisions and to improve efficiency in medication procurement.

The $100 million figure represents realized savings tracked by health systems using QuicksortRx to identify and operationalize changes in their medication procurement. Savings are most often achieved by health system pharmacy staff acting on insights from the platform to optimize product selection, identify and correct contract issues, and target strategic 340B interventions. The platform monitors initiatives identified and executed by the health system in real time, capturing savings as they are achieved.

"Having spent my entire career before QuicksortRx at MUSC, I know the financial constraints hospitals work under," said Jonathan Yantis, CEO and Co-Founder of QuicksortRx. "There are limited resources to go around to important projects that affect lives. The impetus for QuicksortRx was to help free up capital that could be more efficiently invested in patient care. It's difficult to put into words what it means to know we have enabled non-profit health systems to redeploy over $100 million into initiatives that benefit their communities. It feels really good."

QuicksortRx began as a project when Yantis, an MUSC network engineer, teamed up with Matt Hebbard and MUSC's pharmacy department to develop software that would help the health system better manage their medication spend. In the early stages of the platform's development, the inventors envisioned a solution that could be used outside MUSC.

"We knew other pharmacy departments were struggling with this work just like we were," said Hebbard, Vice President of Pharmacy and Co-Founder of QuicksortRx. "From the outset, Jonathan had the mentality that we could scale and share this solution to grow its positive impact. It's amazing to know what we built to help our own hospital is helping others in the same way."

Today, the platform helps more than 30 health systems manage over $8 billion in annual hospital pharmacy spend. To support its rapid growth, QuicksortRx recently moved to a larger corporate headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina. The company has plans to add more than 40 new team members over the next three years to help further scale services and maintain QuicksortRx's high-touch customer support.

"These savings would not have been possible without our amazing team and incredible clients," says Hebbard. "They are real experts who share our passion for bringing positive change to this industry and for reducing the cost of quality healthcare."

Yantis adds, "One hundred million dollars represents a lot of work within and outside of our team at QuicksortRx. We are incredibly grateful to the people who have trusted and had faith in us along this journey. Thank you to these health systems for rolling up your sleeves with us and putting in the work. This milestone is your accomplishment as well."

About QuicksortRx

QuicksortRx Inc. was founded by pharmacists and technologists from the Medical University of South Carolina who understand the potential in health system supply chains and develop key solutions to unlock it. QuicksortRx provides real-time purchasing oversight, analytics, and savings tools to minimize medication costs without impacting operations or agreements. For more information, visit QuicksortRx.com.

Media Contact:

Emily Cook

843-350-8305

372245@email4pr.com

SOURCE QuicksortRx
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Victory Clean Energy Inc's (OTC: VYEY) subsidiary H2 Energy Group Inc., a leading provider of Affordable Sustainable TrueGreen Hydrogen, and Redding Rancheria Economic Development Corporation, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of Native American communities, are pleased to announce their new venture in Northern California.

Through this project, H2 Energy Group will work with Redding Rancheria Economic Development Corporation to bring Affordable TrueGreen Hydrogen to Native American communities and Disadvantaged Communities in the area. H2 Energy Group will provide completely Sustainable TrueGreen Hydrogen technology and expertise to help these communities transition to Sustainable energy sources and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

This partnership represents a significant step forward in the effort to combat climate change and improve the lives of Native American and Disadvantaged Communities everywhere. H2 Energy Group is committed to working with Redding Rancheria Economic Development Corporation to create a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with Redding Rancheria Economic Development Corporation to bring clean energy to Native American communities," said Jim McGinley, CEO of H2 Energy Group. "We believe that everyone should have access to Affordable and Sustainable TrueGreen Hydrogen, and this project will help us make that a reality."

"This partnership with H2 Energy Group is an exciting opportunity for our organization and the communities we serve," said Jeremy Hayward, President of Redding Rancheria Economic Development Corporation. "We are committed to working with H2 Energy Group to bring clean, reliable energy to our communities and create a brighter, more sustainable future."

H2 Energy Group and Redding Rancheria Economic Development Corporation will work together to identify and implement TrueGreen Hydrogen production and distribution projects in Native American and Disadvantaged Communities. They will also engage with local leaders and community members to ensure that the projects directly benefit the needs and goals of the communities they serve.

This partnership is just one of the many ways that H2 Energy Group is working to create a truly Sustainable future for all. The company is committed to deploying its TrueGreen Hydrogen technology directly in collaboration with organizations like Redding Rancheria Economic Development Corporation to bring the social and economic benefits of Affordable TrueGreen Hydrogen to underserved communities.

SOURCE Redding Rancheria Economic Development Corporation
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - RESAAS Services Inc. (TSXV: RSS) (OTCQB: RSASF), ("RESAAS" or the "Company"), a leading provider of technology solutions for the Real Estate Industry, is pleased to report that the Company's Head of Industry Development, Joe Schneider, organized, hosted and moderated the inaugural International MLS Forum.

Over 100 leaders from 32 countries attended, representing all facets of the Global Real Estate Industry including Real Estate Broker Owners, Association Executives and CEOs of Multiple Listing Services (MLSs).

Mr. Schneider spent more than six years at the National Association of REALTORS, as their Director of Global Strategy. During that time, it became apparent about the absolute need to standardize how Real Estate is shared and transacted globally. Mr. Schneider hosted The International MLS Forum to bring together other Thought Leaders from the Global Real Estate Industry to find solutions to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and embrace technological innovations on an international basis."

The event focused on the importance of a single global Real Estate data standard as the basis for industry innovation.

"In most countries besides the US and Canada, Real Estate markets are loosely regulated and have virtually no central data repositories or standards," continued Schneider. "Most Brokers outside North America focus their efforts on hyper-local markets. The goal for the event was to leverage technology to bring high quality Real Estate market data to Global Real Estate Brokerages and Agencies."

The event was supported by the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) and the European Association of Real Estate Professions (CEPI).

About RESAAS Services Inc.

RESAAS is an award-winning technology company serving the Real Estate Industry, uniting all Real Estate Brokerages and Agencies in one Global, Centralized Industry Platform.

Over 600,000 RESAAS Agents in 160 countries have access to unique Real Estate Data, providing access to qualified international referrals and Coming Soon listings only available inside RESAAS.

Some of Real Estate's largest organizations leverage RESAAS to provide Business Intelligence, new business opportunities, and real-time industry-wide communication. For more information, please visit www.resaas.com .

Disclaimer

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The statements made in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results could differ materially from RESAAS Services Inc.'s expectations and projections.

SOURCE RESAAS SERVICES INC.
NORTH CHICAGO, lll., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- State capital funds will help build a virtual health system and expand the simulation center at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science .

The university has been awarded $8.1 million in funds provided by the Illinois Board of Higher Education's Independent Colleges Capital Investment Grant Program to bolster existing training infrastructure, including renovation of general clinical skills labs, modernization of the gross anatomy lab and purchase of state-of-the-art simulation equipment.

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is an accredited healthcare simulation center through the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Accreditation is optional but rigorous, placing RFU in a top tier of simulation programming both nationally and internationally. The accreditation award includes specific recognition in the areas of assessment and teaching/education.

"The IBHE grant is a great example of how RFU is partnering across sectors  government, education, industry and technology  and with community-focused organizations to build more equitable models of care and train the healthcare workforce our state needs," said RFU President and CEO Dr. Wendy Rheault.

The planned 20,000-square-foot simulation center and virtual health system will integrate novel training methods, emerging health technologies and artificial intelligence to advance patient safety and prepare an interprofessional healthcare workforce for a rapidly changing and increasingly complex healthcare landscape.

The new funds will also enhance RFU's outreach to community partners who support its academic-to-workforce pathways. The university will expand its capacity for K-12 partnership, working with educators on the use of web-based simulations to teach students about their own health and paths into health care.

An early adopter of healthcare simulation, RFU is an accredited center through the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Combining advanced technology and methods focused on the human connection, simulation is a highly responsive training platform for skills development, including accurate assessment and diagnosis. At RFU, interprofessional teams of students use simulation to hone decision-making strategies and improve collaboration around care and the promotion of health and wellness.

The grant will also pay for additional development and buildout of RFU's Innovation and Research Park (IRP). RFU research labs and six disease-based centers occupy two-thirds of the IRP, with the remaining third available to healthcare industries and startups.

The university completed 14,000-square-feet of wet lab space for bioscience-industry occupancy last spring with $2 million in matching funds through the Rebuild Illinois Wetlab Capital Program .

The IBHE awarded a total of $400 million in grants through the Independent Colleges Capital Investment Grant program in partnership with the Illinois Capital Development Board.

ABOUT ROSALIND FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY

RFU encompasses six colleges and more than 10 research centers and institutes. Learn more at rosalindfranklin.edu .

Contact info:

Office of Marketing and Communications dan.moran@rosalindfranklin.edu

SOURCE Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of common stock of GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE: EAF) between February 8, 2019 and August 3, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 25, 2024.

SO WHAT: If you purchased GrafTech common stock 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 GrafTech class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22210 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 March 25, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) GrafTech's manufacturing operations in Monterrey, Mexico had for decades chronically contaminated neighboring communities with harmful carcinogenic gasses and particulate matter; (2) GrafTech had signed agreements with local authorities committing itself to improving the environmental performance of its Monterrey facility, but repeatedly failed to honor these commitments; (3) GrafTech had been repeatedly warned over an approximately 30-year period regarding its wanton disregard for the environment and health and well-being of people near its operations in Monterrey, Mexico; (4) GrafTech's operations in Monterrey, Mexico were not in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations; (5) GrafTech had failed to adequately remediate the environmental problems caused by the Monterrey facility following the 2019 administrative proceeding conducted by the Department of Sustainable Development of the State of Nuevo Leon; (6) the government of Apodaca had sought intervention from the State of Nuevo Leon authorities to curtail and prevent the adverse environmental impacts and noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations caused by the Monterrey facility; (7) GrafTech's purported cost leadership was achieved in substantial part by failing to implement appropriate and effective environmental safeguards at its manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico; (8) GrafTech's capital expenditures and/or related operational projects were woefully insufficient to adequately address the harm that GrafTech's operations in Monterrey, Mexico had inflicted on the environment and people within the neighboring communities; (9) as a result of the above, GrafTech was acutely exposed to undisclosed material risks that GrafTech's manufacturing operations in Monterrey, Mexico would be severely disrupted by government action or enforcement; and (10) as a result of the above, GrafTech was acutely exposed to undisclosed material risks that its supplies of pin stock and graphite electrodes would be withdrawn and/or materially diminished, thereby materially harming GrafTech's business, operations, reputation, and financial results. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the GrafTech class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22210 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.
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RRDS INC, a leading federal contractor and solution-based systems integrator, is thrilled to announce a significant milestone as the company marks its 10th-year anniversary in January 2024. This momentous occasion coincides with a transformative reorganization within its executive leadership team, signaling a new and exciting chapter in RRDS' evolution. These strategic changes underscore RRDS' dedication to fostering growth, embracing innovation, and maintaining excellence in the dynamic landscape of its industry.

As part of the anniversary celebration, RRDS is proud to introduce key leadership appointments that align with the company's commitment to continued success:

Fred Bouman - President: Fred Bouman , a distinguished leader known for his strategic vision, has been appointed as the President of RRDS. With a track record of driving operational efficiency and business development, Fred's leadership is poised to play a pivotal role in steering the company towards sustained success.

, a distinguished leader known for his strategic vision, has been appointed as the President of RRDS. With a track record of driving operational efficiency and business development, Fred's leadership is poised to play a pivotal role in steering the company towards sustained success. Samir Naqvi - CEO: Samir Naqvi , a seasoned executive with a profound understanding of the industry, is taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Samir's commitment to innovation and customer-centric approaches will be instrumental in aligning RRDS's business strategies with the evolving needs of clients and the market.

, a seasoned executive with a profound understanding of the industry, is taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Samir's commitment to innovation and customer-centric approaches will be instrumental in aligning RRDS's business strategies with the evolving needs of clients and the market. Troy Barnes - Executive Chairman: Troy Barnes, a key contributor to RRDS' success, assumes the position of Executive Chairman. In this capacity, Troy will continue to provide strategic guidance, leveraging his extensive industry knowledge to contribute to the company's long-term vision and growth.

This strategic leadership transition, coupled with the celebration of RRDS' 10-year anniversary, is aimed at fortifying the company's organizational structure, fostering enhanced collaboration across teams, and positioning RRDS to capitalize on emerging opportunities. The collective expertise of Fred, Samir, and Troy, combined with a decade of industry experience, is anticipated to propel RRDS to new heights.

The company expresses gratitude to its dedicated team for their hard work and commitment to excellence, recognizing that their efforts have been fundamental to RRDS' success over the past 10 years. The management team looks forward to achieving even greater milestones together under this new leadership structure.

RRDS invites everyone to join in congratulating Fred Bouman, Samir Naqvi, and Troy Barnes on their new roles and expresses gratitude to clients, partners, and employees for their continued support. With a decade of success behind it, RRDS is confident in its ability to thrive and innovate in the dynamic landscape of the industry.

About RRDS

RRDS is a results-driven, full-service option for the United States government and affiliated entities. RRDS offers a broad line of products and services, coupled with full-suite logistics solutions. The company specializes in cradle-to-grave supply chain with an expertise in identifying bespoke solutions to meet mission requirements. Utilizing proven PMO systems, RRDS offers an end-to-end solution for all its customers. RRDS is focused on your mission.

To learn more about Rapid Response Defense Systems, visit www.RRDS.com

SOURCE RRDS INC
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. shall feature, along with the author's 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

Despite being a small and distant country, Chile is taking major strides towards electromobility  the use of electric cars, buses and other vehicles. In late January city officials publicly presented the final 214 electric buses that will refresh the fleet in the southern part of Santiago, Chiles capital city. As of today, Santiago boasts the highest number of electric buses in the world (excluding China), with a total of 2,481.

Electromobility drives us towards a greener city. Replacing a single diesel bus equates to a yearly reduction of 30 tons of carbon dioxide. With 25 vehicle charging terminals in place, we have achieved 43% fewer polluting emissions and 50% less noise, benefiting passengers, transportation workers and residents throughout the city.

Chiles Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos Munoz, has tasked us with promoting the inclusion of women in all aspects of electromobility, as this silent yet powerful transformation is crucial for our city. In Latin America, women are the primary users of public transportation. In Chile, 52% of trips are made by women, with 65.5% of these trips related to caregiving, shopping and transportation. This indicates that women tend to make more frequent, albeit shorter, trips every day.

A hundred years ago, when cities started building mass transportation systems, they didnt have this type of user data. As a result, they mostly designed routes for daily commuters from their homes in the suburbs to their downtown workplaces. Unfortunately, city planners overlooked the unpaid work of women associated with the caregiving economy.

Efforts by governments to address the climate crisis have shown that rethinking our mobility is possible, with new technologies supporting this shift. In this regard, it is crucial for governments, civil society and academia to generate and share gender-disaggregated data. This is the key to integrating gender perspectives into urban planning. This type of data can also highlight differences among women, such as those living in urban and rural areas, or across different age groups.

There is still much to do and ideas to explore. Chile pioneered the creation of the first International Gender and Mobility Observatory, which now includes the participation of six government agencies. We have also been proactive in promoting more women drivers. Currently, 8.5% of Santiagos buses are driven by women, a 62% increase compared to 2021. With efforts like these, we aim to continue making historic strides in reinforcing electromobility and enhancing public transportation, with a focus on women.

Paola Tapia was the first female Transportation Minister in Chile. She now manages Santiago's metropolitan bus system and promotes gender perspectives in transportation through the Mujeres en Movimiento organization.

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Uwill partnership offers teletherapy and a direct crisis connection

NATICK, Mass., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, today, announced a partnership with Uwill, the leading mental health and wellness solution for colleges and students, to supplement the college's existing counseling capabilities. Saint Mary's adds this teletherapy option at a time of increased mental health difficulties among college students nationwide. Uwill's proprietary technology facilitates immediate appointments with licensed mental health counselors based on student needs and preferences, and a direct crisis connection 24/7/365.

"Saint Mary's is committed to providing a Lasallian Catholic education that nurtures the whole person, and we believe that supporting the mental well-being of our students is an essential component of that," said Ann Merchlewitz, Senior Vice President. "By creating a foundation in which students are supported mentally, physically, and spiritually, we can empower future generations to help them thrive and reach their fullest potential."

Recent survey data shows that 90% of adults believe the country is facing a mental health crisis. While 42% of college students have expressed the need for help with mental health difficulties in the last year, more than 60% have never received counseling or therapy.

"Investing in student mental health is an investment in student success" said Michael London, Founder and CEO of Uwill. "Shaping students into resilient, compassionate, and thriving individuals through therapy has the potential to positively impact society as a whole."

Utilizing its proprietary technology and counselor team, Uwill pioneered the first student and therapist matching platform. The solution offers an immediate appointment with a licensed counselor based on student preferences, all modalities of teletherapy, a direct crisis connection, wellness events, realtime data, and support. Uwill serves more than 2 million students from all 50 states at institutions including Drake University, Illinois College, Xavier University, and Merrimack College.

About Uwill

Uwill is the leading mental health and wellness solution for colleges and students. The most cost-effective way to expand and enhance a college's mental health offerings, Uwill partners with 300+ institutions including Babson College, University of Michigan, Columbus State Community College, and University of Maryland, College Park. Uwill is also the teletherapy education partner for NASPA and the Online Learning Consortium. For more information, visit uwill.com.

Contact:

Brett Silk

[email protected]

SOURCE Uwill, Inc
Credit Union provided support and speaker for first in-person districtwide convening in six years

TUSTIN, Calif., Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union serving school employees and their families, served as a sponsor of the Los Rios Community College District Spring Convocation, which was held on Friday, Jan. 12, at American River College in Sacramento. In addition to American River College, the Los Rios colleges include Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College, and Sacramento City College, serving nearly 70,000 students throughout the Sacramento region.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Sponsors Los Rios Community College District Spring Convocation.

The SchoolsFirst FCU sponsorship provided breakfast, lunch and support for the Convocation, which was the first in-person districtwide convening in six years. Participants at the event included the Los Rios Community College District's Chancellor and College Presidents, as well as faculty, classified, and administrative staff. The program featured a keynote from Sacramento State President Dr. Luke Wood and a panel discussion with Ethnic Studies faculty from the four colleges.

In addition, Josh Smith, vice president, school and community relations, at SchoolsFirst FCU, addressed those in attendance to express the Credit Union's unwavering support for the education community, in particular the employees of the district.

"We're honored to serve as a longtime supporter of the Los Rios Community College District and the contributions made by the faculty and staff to the future careers of their students," said Smith of SchoolsFirst FCU. "Each college within the Los Rios Community College District provides an affordable way for students to earn degrees and certificates that help them build a meaningful and productive future."

About SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union:

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is the fifth largest credit union in the country and has been recognized by Forbes as the number one credit union in California. Serving school employees and their families, the organization is dedicated to delivering World-Class Personal Service and improving the financial lives of its Members. Today they serve more than 1.3 million Members with a full range of financial products and services. SchoolsFirst FCU was founded in 1934, when 126 school employees pooled $1,200 and established a Member-owned cooperative to help improve each other's lives. In 2022, the Credit Union reported nearly $28 billion in assets and remains the largest credit union in California. For more information about SchoolsFirst FCU, visit schoolsfirstfcu.org .

Insured by NCUA.

SOURCE SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union
Broadridge's Sentry solution to streamline and further automate Silverview's private credit investment processes

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As investor demand for private debt and direct lending investments grows, Silverview Credit Partners has optimized its technology capabilities to support this asset class with global Fintech leader Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc's. (NYSE: BR) Sentry Portfolio Management solution. This technology will enable Silverview Credit Partners to achieve greater operational efficiencies and increase transparency in its portfolio management activities for its direct lending business.

"Through the partnership with Broadridge and their innovative Sentry cloud-based solution, we are able to customize, automate and streamline our portfolio management, reporting and loan administration process to scale and support the ongoing growth of our business," said Garrett Yuan Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Compliance Officer at Silverview Credit Partners. "This enhancement is helping us meet the growing reporting demands of our investment team, borrowers and investors, and has had a valuable impact on our day-to-day operations."

"There is a surge in interest in direct lending, and especially among private credit firms, it has caused a more urgent focus on modernizing legacy investment management systems so organizations can efficiently scale," said Mike Sleightholme, President of Broadridge International and Head of Asset Management Solutions. "Broadridge is thrilled that Silverview Credit Partners has chosen Sentry to build the infrastructure to help them scale their business for front, middle and back-office functionality, and gain greater visibility into the investment management lifecycle."

Broadridge's Sentry cloud-based technology supports private debt investment and portfolio management processes, enabling firms to increase control and efficiently strengthen investment decision workflows and deal performance. The scalable platform provides an integrated approach to tracking private debt investment as well as syndicated loan markets in real time. Sentry supports firms' compliance, operations, research and pipeline management through analysis of hypothetical trade scenarios, dynamic waterfall projections, loan administration and data aggregation across strategies, portfolios and assets.

About Silverview Credit Partners

Silverview Credit Partners was founded in 2015 by former senior team members of the UBS Legacy Investment Bank. Silverview Credit Partners focuses on identifying overlooked fundamental value in primarily illiquid, special, private situation, and lower middle market loans. Silverview Credit Partners, specializes in debt transactions between $10mm and $30mm and assesses each situation on a case-by-case basis to develop a strategy that fits the borrower's needs. As of September 30, 2023, Silverview has closed 90 transactions. Learn more at www.silverviewcredit.com.

About Broadridge

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader with over $6 billion in revenues, provides the critical infrastructure that powers investing, corporate governance and communications to enable better financial lives. We deliver technology-driven solutions to banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and public companies. Broadridge's infrastructure serves as a global communications hub enabling corporate governance by linking thousands of public companies and mutual funds to tens of millions of individual and institutional investors around the world. In addition, Broadridge's technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of on average more than U.S. $10 trillion of equities, fixed income and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work, Broadridge is a part of the S&P 500 Index, employing over 14,000 associates in 21 countries.

For more information about Broadridge, please visit www.broadridge.com.

Media contact:

Matthew Luongo

Prosek Partners

+1 646-818-9279

[email protected]

SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
The Simply Organic Giving Fund awarded $150,000 in 2024 to U.S. nonprofits providing access to healthy, organic food options

NORWAY, Iowa, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Simply Organic, a leader in organic herbs, spices, flavors and seasonings, today announced five recipients of the Simply Organic Giving Fund Grant Program who will receive a collective $150,000 to address food insecurity in their communities this year.

For the 2024 granting period, Simply Organic selected organizations with programs uniquely designed to tackle ongoing gaps in the food assistance system, from poor nutrition, insufficient access, social stigma, lack of choice or lifestyle fit, and more.

Simply Organic awarded $150,000 in 2024 to U.S. nonprofits providing access to healthy, organic food options. Post this

"Increasing access to healthy foods plays naturally into Simply Organic's core values as an all-organic spice brand," said Sheryl Marchetti, senior director of marketing for Simply Organic. "We look forward to partnering with organizations who are pushing for more creative approaches to addressing food insecurity, going beyond typical solutions to better answer their communities' health and cultural needs."

The 2024 Simply Organic Giving Fund Grant Program recipients include:

Dion's Chicago Dream : Dion's Chicago Dream works to combat food insecurity in the Chicagoland area, using nutritional philanthropy as a catalyst to build community and transform lives. Dion's Chicago Dream will receive a $40,000 grant from Simply Organic to continue to expand its award-winning Dream Deliveries program, which brings a five-day supply of pre-measured produce directly to residents and helps reduce food waste in the process.

Dion's Chicago Dream works to combat food insecurity in the Chicagoland area, using nutritional philanthropy as a catalyst to build community and transform lives. Dion's Chicago Dream will receive a grant from Simply Organic to continue to expand its award-winning Dream Deliveries program, which brings a five-day supply of pre-measured produce directly to residents and helps reduce food waste in the process. Emergency Food Network : Emergency Food Network's Mother Earth Farm provides 100+ varieties of organic produce to local food pantries serving a wide range of cultural backgrounds in Pierce County, Washington . Mother Earth Farm will receive a $15,000 grant from Simply Organic in 2024 to continue growing a diverse selection of fresh, culturally significant food.

Emergency Food Network's Mother Earth Farm provides 100+ varieties of organic produce to local food pantries serving a wide range of cultural backgrounds in Pierce County, . Mother Earth Farm will receive a grant from Simply Organic in 2024 to continue growing a diverse selection of fresh, culturally significant food. Matthew 25 : Matthew 25's Groundswell Cafe is a "pay-it-forward" eatery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that provides guests with access to handmade organic meals regardless of their ability to pay. Groundswell Cafe will receive a $15,000 grant to support the cafe's pay-it-forward initiative as well as healthy grab-n-go meals that can be purchased at an affordable price from its Cultivate Hope Corner Store.

Matthew 25's Groundswell Cafe is a "pay-it-forward" eatery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that provides guests with access to handmade organic meals regardless of their ability to pay. Groundswell Cafe will receive a $15,000 grant to support the cafe's pay-it-forward initiative as well as healthy grab-n-go meals that can be purchased at an affordable price from its Cultivate Hope Corner Store. Project Worthmore : Project Worthmore's Delaney Community Farm supports Denver -area refugees through sustainable agriculture training, education and employment. Project Worthmore will receive a $50,000 grant from Simply Organic to expand operations at the DeLaney Community Farm and the Yu Meh Food Share Program to bring healthy, fresh foods to even more families.

Project Worthmore's Delaney Community Farm supports -area refugees through sustainable agriculture training, education and employment. Project Worthmore will receive a grant from Simply Organic to expand operations at the DeLaney Community Farm and the Yu Meh Food Share Program to bring healthy, fresh foods to even more families. Sharing Excess: Sharing Excess is a Philadelphia -based nonprofit that helps bridge the gap between food surplus and food scarcity by rescuing and redistributing excess food from businesses and wholesalers to people in need. Sharing Excess will receive a $30,000 grant from Simply Organic to open a second Wholesale Food Rescue program at Hunts Point Produce Market in New York City .

"It's great to continue our relationship with Simply Organic to rise to the occasion and fight to eliminate food insecurity," said Dion Dawson, Chief Dreamer and Founder of Dion's Chicago Dream. "Simply Organic's continued commitment to supporting Dion's Chicago Dream and other nonprofits across the country helps us reimagine food and nutrition philanthropy and meet critical needs of the communities we serve."

Established in 2001, the Simply Organic Giving Fund was originally organized to support organic agricultural development, and to date has given more than $2.5 million to projects around the globe. In 2018, the brand turned its giving focus to the growing issue of food insecurity in the United States and Canada and has since partnered with a dozen organizations dedicated to providing food insecure communities access to healthy organic food options.

To learn more about the Simply Organic Giving Fund, visit

https://www.simplyorganic.com/giving-back-2.

Simply Organic

Simply Organic, an all-organic brand from Frontier Co-op, offers an extensive and growing selection of certified organic spices, baking flavors and extracts, seasoning mixes, and simmer sauces, while supporting organizations working to end food insecurity. Find out more about Simply Organic at www.simplyorganic.com.

Frontier Co-op

Founded in 1976 and based in Norway, Iowa, Frontier Co-op offers a full line of products for natural living under the Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic, and Aura Cacia brands. Products include culinary herbs, spices and baking flavors; bulk herbs and spices; plant-based organic meal solutions; and aromatherapy products with a wide selection of organics. Frontier Co-op's goal is to provide consumers with the highest-quality products while supporting and promoting social and environmental responsibility. For more information, visit the co-op's website at www.frontiercoop.com.

Alicia Simmons

CSR Manager

Alicia.Simmons@frontiercoop.com

SOURCE Simply Organic
TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Nulogy, a leading provider of supply chain collaboration solutions, is excited to announce that TCO LLC has joined the Nulogy community, which consists of hundreds of contract packagers, logistics providers, manufacturers, suppliers and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands that run their operations and network on Nulogy.

TCO LLC joins the Nulogy community (CNW Group/Nulogy Corporation) TCO LLC Logo (CNW Group/Nulogy Corporation)

TCO LLC, a Kentucky-based contract packager, manufacturer, and logistics provider with more than 25 years of experience in the automotives industry, identified a strategic opportunity to upscale its contract packaging operation to fuel future business growth. With this objective in mind, TCO selected Nulogy's Shop Floor Solution to expand the digital foundation of its co-pack operation.

"At TCO, we realized that we are in a unique position to expand our contract packaging services and customer base for the long-term growth of the company," says Ric Cawood, Owner, TCO LLC. "In order to do so, it is critical for us to lay a solid digital foundation that supports our premier co-pack operation. As a result, we are excited to be working with Nulogy to digitalize our production operations for upscaled co-pack volume and customer base expansion."

"TCO's decision to join the Nulogy community speaks to their forward thinking mindset in the industry," says Jason Tham, CEO and co-founder of Nulogy. "We believe Nulogy will serve as the perfect foundation to drive data visibility and operational efficiency in their co-pack operation, and we are proud to deliver technologies that can not only create value for our customer community, but also enable more robust and sustainable supply chain operations."

Nulogy's Multi-Enterprise Platform

Nulogy is the only purpose-built multi-enterprise collaboration platform for supplier networks and digitally enables manufacturers and their external supplier networks to collaborate seamlessly on a centralized, data-driven, AI-enabled platform. Nulogy's solutions run within the supply networks of global FMCG leaders such as L'Oreal, Colgate-Palmolive, and Church & Dwight, as well as hundreds of supplier sites around the world.

Nulogy is also the global leader in co-pack software, field-proven in hundreds of sites worldwide. Nulogy's platform provides purpose-built functionality for digitizing and optimizing the end-to-end contract packaging workflow, enabling co-pack providers to increase efficiency, improve profit margins, and drive growth.

About TCO LLC

Established in 1997, TCO LLC is the sole packaging and distribution partner for the largest automotive lighting supplier on the planet, and manages 97% of aftermarket lighting sales throughout North America. Headquartered in Corbin, KY, TCO provides contract packaging, manufacturing, and logistics services to consumer goods verticals such as automotives. Over the past 27 years, the team at TCO has shipped more than 3 billion units.

TCO-Corbin.com

About Nulogy

Nulogy, a leading supplier of digital supply chain solutions, enables fast-moving consumer goods companies and their supplier communities to collaborate on a multi-enterprise platform in order to deliver with excellence to an ever-changing consumer market. Nulogy's cloud-based platform optimizes upstream supply ecosystems composed of brand manufacturers, contract manufacturers and packagers, third party logistics providers, raw material and packaging suppliers to accelerate supply chain responsiveness and collaborate at the speed of today's market.

Nulogy.com

SOURCE Nulogy Corporation
Maryland thought leaders support the growth of Maryland's cyber workforce

COLUMBIA, Md., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TEDCO, Maryland's economic engine for technology companies, recently announced the newly appointed Board of Directors for the Cyber Maryland Program ("Program"). The Program was established by the Maryland General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session to develop and implement a strategy to address Cybersecurity related workforce vacancies in the state. The Program is managed by an 18-member Board of Directors, each with backgrounds in information technology and cybersecurity.

Maryland thought leaders support the growth of Maryland's cyber workforce Post this For more information about TEDCO and our commitment to supporting Marylands economic growth and development, go to our website at https://www.tedcomd.com/

"Our administration is deeply serious about making Maryland the cyber capital of this country. The Cyber Maryland Program is one of the best tools we have to meet that mission," said Maryland Governor Wes Moore. "The new members of this board possess decades of experience from all sectors of society. I look forward to working in partnership with them to create jobs, build a more competitive economy, and win the decade."

The Program's Board of Directors include:

Kenneth Allman , Garrett Community College

, Roger Austin , Boston Consulting Group

, Boston Consulting Group Loyce Best Pailen , University of Maryland Global Campus

, Global Campus Thomas Byrd , T. Rowe Price

, T. Derrek Dunn , University of Maryland Eastern Shore

, Supro Ghose, EagleBank

Katie Fry Hester , Senate co-chair of the Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology

, Senate co-chair of the Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology Allen Kachalia , Johns Hopkins Medicine

, Johns Hopkins Medicine Anne Kaiser , House of Delegates co-chair of the Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology

, House of Delegates co-chair of the Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology Troy LeMaile-Stovall, TEDCO

Kimberly Mentzell , Maryland Department of Commerce

, Maryland Department of Commerce Kirkland Murray , Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation

, Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation Laura Nelson , National Cryptologic Museum Foundation

, National Cryptologic Museum Foundation Greg Rogers , Maryland Department of Information Technology

, Maryland Department of Information Technology Gregg Smith , Cybersecurity Association of Maryland , Inc.

, Cybersecurity Association of , Inc. Rachael Stephens Parker , Maryland Department of Labor

, Maryland Department of Labor Tami Watkins , Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco)

, Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) Anthony Woods , Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs

"This is a group of individuals who are not only experts in their field, but also committed to supporting the growth, development and diversification of Maryland's ecosystem," said Mindy Lehman, TEDCO's chief government relations and policy officer. "With their assistance, we are hopeful that this Program will support Maryland's ascension towards becoming a more competitive tech hub."

For more information about TEDCO and our commitment to supporting Maryland's economic growth and development, go to our website at https://www.tedcomd.com/.

About TEDCO

TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at www.tedcomd.com.

Media Contact

Tammi Thomas, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, TEDCO, [email protected]

SOURCE TEDCO
BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global health company The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) will be hosting its Investor Day on Thursday, March 7, 2024 in New York City.

The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. ET featuring in-depth presentations on corporate strategy and financial targets. A live webcast of the presentation will be available at https://investors.thecignagroup.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx in the Investor Relations section of The Cigna Group's website.

To listen to this presentation live on the Internet, visit https://investors.thecignagroup.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx at least 15 minutes prior to the presentation to download and install any necessary audio software.

About The Cigna Group

The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI) is a global health company committed to creating a better future built on the vitality of every individual and every community. We relentlessly challenge ourselves to partner and innovate solutions for better health. The Cigna Group includes products and services marketed under Evernorth Health Services, Cigna Healthcare, or its subsidiaries. The Cigna Group maintains sales capabilities in more than 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has approximately 165 million customer relationships around the world. Learn more at thecignagroup.com.

Investor Relations Contact

Ralph Giacobbe

1 (860) 787-7968

[email protected]

Media Contact

Justine Sessions

1 (860) 810-6523

[email protected]

SOURCE Cigna Corporate Services, LLC
TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Kayden Hudda, Advisor & Former Chief Executive Officer, DeGroote Finance & Investment Council, Christina Wood, Executive Director, CIBC Capital Markets, students and faculty from the DeGroote School of Business, and professionals from CIBC Capital Markets joined Mark Luceri, Head of Talent and Organizational Development, Toronto Stock Exchange, to open the market and celebrate their 3rd Annual Diversity in Finance Conference (DIFC).

The DeGroote Finance & Investment Council Opens the Market Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Founded in 2020, the DIFC uniquely brings together over 150 professionals and students across Canada to celebrate diversity within the Capital Markets industry and support students in their career aspirations. CIBC Capital Markets is a founding and title sponsor for the event and champions diversity alongside students and several other financial institutions. The conference is student-led and brings together students from all backgrounds, with the goal to create better access to opportunities in the field.

CNW sponsored announcement. To learn more visit www.newswire.ca.

SOURCE Toronto Stock Exchange
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Templum, Inc. ("Templum"), the operating system for private markets and alternative assets announced today that investors can now access the OPEN Unicorn Index Fund, from OpenVC, Inc. (OPEN) on Templum One, Templum's private market and alternative asset ecosystem solution.

Through Templum One, OPEN can access a diverse pool of investors and investors can access a market capitalization-weighted index of the top 50 private, US-domiciled, VC-backed companies. Ultimately Templum One accelerates the general adoption of alternative assets and private securities as an investment class for a broad range of investors.

The OPEN Unicorn Index Fund offers investors access to a basket of some of the most innovative and sought-after private companies, such as SpaceX, Stripe, Epic Games, and more. As an index-replicating fund, the structure is low fee, with only a 2% management fee and no performance fee and is more diversified than most traditional growth funds.

"We are thrilled to offer the OPEN Unicorn Index Fund on Templum One," said Christopher Pallotta, Founder and CEO of Templum. "Our strength at Templum lies in our consistent ability to offer a diverse range of investment opportunities across a broad spectrum of investors. This strategy empowers issuers and significantly bolsters their capital-raising strategies, especially in the complex investment landscape we face today."

About Templum

Templum is the operating system for private markets and alternative assets and is paving the way for investors to participate in new asset classes through integrated market technologies and APIs for primary issuance, secondary trading, alternative data and Templum One, our private markets and alternative assets ecosystem solution. Templum's combined solutions improve efficiency and access in private markets by enabling seamless, electronic workflows for alternative investments and standardized infrastructure to support operations, rather than the fragmented manual processes currently used in private markets. We unify private market infrastructure, investment opportunities and investor capital, into a single solution for private securities and alternative assets.

Templum Markets LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Templum, Inc., is a New York-based broker-dealer, and Alternative Trading System (ATS) approved to trade unregistered private securities in 53 U.S. states and territories. For more information, please visit www.templuminc.com .

About OPEN

OPEN is a fund manager backed by the New York Stock Exchange focused on launching high-performing, diversified, low-fee fund products in private markets. OPEN aims to meet the long-overlooked needs of both institutional and retail investors  lower fees, enhanced liquidity, and better diversification across the asset lifecycle.

The Unicorn Index Fund is a secondaries fund that will hold a representative sample of the 50 largest US VC-backed private companies.For more information, please visit https://openvc.com/

SOURCE Templum Inc.
UA Day Keystone Event to Be Held in Belgrade, Serbia

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) invites the global Internet community to participate in the second annual Universal Acceptance (UA) Day. The keystone UA Day event will be held in Belgrade, Serbia, on 28 March in partnership with the Serbian National Internet Domain Registry Foundation (RNIDS) and the volunteer-based Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG). Worldwide supporting events will also be held from March through the end of May.

28 March 2024

The inaugural UA Day, held in 2023, was a truly worldwide event, with more than 9,400 participants from over 40 countries/territories taking part in more than 50 global events . Building on that success, UA Day 2024 will continue to rally local, regional, and global stakeholders to encourage UA adoption. UA Day events are a mix of local and regional virtual, in-person, and hybrid informational and technical training sessions. These sessions will be aimed at reaching technical and language communities, tech companies, governments, academia, and Domain Name System (DNS) industry stakeholders to encourage UA adoption in order to achieve a more multilingual and digitally inclusive Internet.

"Being a domain name registry for IDNs . and .rs, we regard Universal Acceptance as a path to include, to connect, and to further innovate. UA Day is a history in the making and hosting the global UA Day event is a privilege indeed," said Dejan ukic, CEO of RNIDS.

A cornerstone of today's global Internet, UA offers many benefits for Internet users and the organizations that serve them. Today, there are more than 5.3 billion Internet users, and at least one billion more are expected to come online. Most of the new users live in countries that speak and write in languages other than English. Achieving UA ensures everyone has the ability to experience the full social and economic power of the Internet using a domain name and email address that best aligns with their interests, business, culture, language, and script.

UA is a technical necessity to ensure that all valid domain names and email addresses, regardless of script, language, or character length, can be equally used by all Internet-enabled applications, devices, and systems. It is considered a foundational requirement for the continued expansion of the Internet. Since 2009, the landscape for domain names has changed markedly in terms of the number of top-level domain names (TLDs) available, TLD character length, and scripts available (e.g., .photography, ., .  , .). However, the checks used by many software applications to validate domain names and email addresses often use rules created many years ago.

"The global adoption of Universal Acceptance is critical to ensuring a more inclusive Internet for the next billion people coming online," said ICANN Interim President and CEO Sally Costerton. "UA Day is a significant opportunity to mobilize the global Internet community and technical stakeholders who can help make UA a reality."

About UA Day

Organized by ICANN and the community-led UASG, UA Day consists of UA awareness, adoption, academic, and technical training sessions hosted by the UASG, ICANN, and interested global partners and organizations. These events will help stakeholders to better understand the benefits of UA and how they can make their systems UA-ready.

A full schedule of events will be published soon on ICANN's UA Day page and the UASG UA Day page . Events will include technical sessions for software developers, email providers, and others focused on becoming UA-ready.

To learn more about UA, visit https://www.icann.org/ or https://uasg.tech/ and follow the hashtag #Internet4All on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About ICANN

ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address  a name or a number  into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.

About RNIDS

RNIDS manages country's top level domains .rs & Cyrillic . and internet infrastructure of special importance ensuring national domains operate flawlessly. Along with its primary task, RNIDS aims to articulate the needs, objectives, and interests of local communities to foster the growth of the Serbian digital ecosystem while being committed to cooperation and experience exchange with other domain registries as well as international organizations.

About the UASG

The UASG is a community-led initiative that was formed in 2015 and is supported and funded by ICANN. It consists of representatives from more than 120 companies, governments, and community groups. The UASG works to raise awareness of the importance of UA globally, provide free resources to organizations to help them become UA-ready and measure the progress of UA adoption. To learn more, visit https://uasg.tech/ .

Contact: Gwen Carlson, [email protected]

SOURCE ICANN
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, First Deputy Prime Minister Maria Jesus Montero and Minister for the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations Felix Bolanos attend a debate on the legislative proposal to grant amnesty to those involved in Catalonia's failed independence bid in 2017, in Madrid, Spain January 30, 2024.

Catalan separatist lawmakers dealt Spains government a blow Tuesday by voting against a hugely divisive amnesty law that was aimed at helping hundreds of their supporters who were involved in Catalonias unsuccessful 2017 independence bid.

The most radical separatists, who want to ensure that their leader Carles Puigdemont, a fugitive in Belgium, can return home, said the proposed law did not go far enough to protect him.

The bill must go back to a parliament commission to be drawn up again within two weeks, but it remains to be seen what the government and separatists can do to save it.

The rejection highlighted the governments fragility even among its so-called allies. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez agreed to the law in exchange for the parliamentary support of two small Catalan separatist parties, which enabled him to form a new minority leftist government late last year.

But the bill, which has aroused the ire of millions in Spain, was rejected after one of the two Catalan parties, Junts (Together), voted against it. The party had pushed to include clauses that would cover Puigdemont against all possible legal challenges if he returns to Spain.

We will keep negotiating with a margin of 15 days more  There is no reason to approve an amnesty law with holes in it, said Junts member Miriam Nogueras. She said the Socialists warned them that the proposed amendments could mean that the amnesty law runs into trouble in Europe, but she said they were prepared for that.

Socialist Justice Minister Felix Bolanos told reporters that it was absolutely incomprehensible that Junts should vote against a law it had agreed on and do so with right-wing parties that want to see them jailed.

Puigdemonts party advised Sanchez from the start that they would be difficult to please when they backed his government, but few analysts imagined that they would risk derailing the very amnesty that is designed to help their supporters.

The defeat shows the government will be at the separatists mercy throughout the legislature. Sanchezs minority coalition commands 147 seats but needs the support of several small parties to make a 176 majority in the 350-seat parliament. Junts has seven seats.

Puigdemont and the Catalan independence issue are anathema for many Spaniards. Puigdemont is wanted by Spains Supreme Court on charges of disobedience and embezzlement, and two lower courts are investigating him and other secessionists for possible charges of terrorism and treason.

The amnesty bill has been heavily criticized by conservative and far-right opposition parties that represent roughly half the countrys population. Many in the judiciary and police are opposed, as well as several top figures in Sanchezs party.

Even if the bill had been approved, it would have had to go to the Senate, where the fiercely conservative leading opposition Popular Party has an absolute majority. The party has pledged to do all in its power to stall the bill in the Senate and challenge it in court.

Sanchez acknowledges that if he had not needed the Catalan separatists parliamentary support, he would not have agreed to the amnesty. He also says that without their support, he could not have formed a government, and the right wing could have gained office, having won the most seats in the 2023 elections.

He now says that the amnesty will be positive for Spain because it will further calm Catalonia, and he boasts that his policies for Catalonia since taking office in 2018 have greatly eased tensions that existed between Madrid and Barcelona when the Popular Party was in office.

Sanchezs previous government granted pardons to several jailed leaders of the Catalan independence movement that helped heal wounds.

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The Humans Group of Companies has released its annual report for 2023. The ecosystem recorded growth across all key indicators, including revenue, turnover and the number of active users. The average annual revenue growth rate over the past two years is almost 30%.

TASHKENT. Uzbekistan, Jan. 31, 2024 The Humans Group of Companies has published its financial and operational results for 2023. The company's total revenue for the year amounted to $41.7 million, with the ecosystem earning a total of $114 million over three years. The average annual growth rate of net revenue amounted to 28.4% over the last two years, and the average annual growth rate of the ecosystem turnover was 285.9% for the same period. The turnover of the Humans Group in 2023 reached $984.2 million, of which $124.5 million was achieved in December alone.

The Humans super-app is a single application that combines communication services, a Humans VISA bank card, a payment and transfer service, including cross-border payments, and a cashback programme. According to the report, almost 1.1 million customers already use at least two services in the Humans super-app at the same time. The number of unique active users of the super-app amounts to 723,000 per week. The Uzbek fintech sector is growing at a particularly fast pace, with the average annual growth rate of revenue per client amounting to 94.4% over the past two years.

At present, Humans is the only company on the Uzbekistan market so far that has built an ecosystem based on a super-app that combines communication and fintech services. The company continues to increase the amount of key operations and overall user activity. The number of active customers of telecom services is approximately 1.4 million, with 1 million of these using mobile operator package services. The number of customers that regularly use the C2C transfers and payments reached 801,000 by the end of 2023. The average annual growth rate of customers in the Uzbek fintech sector amounted to 37.4% over two years. The growth rate of the number of activated Humans VISA bank cards is at a similar level, with an average of 35.6% each year from 2021 to 2023.

Net revenue growth

Net revenues of the Humans Group have shown consistent year-on-year growth; UZS 247.2 billion in 2021, UZS 364.7 billion in 2022, and UZS 407.3 billion in 2023. The cumulative average annual growth rate thus reached almost 30%.

Customers joining the ecosystem

Super-app users are increasingly using several Humans services at once, and the share of fintech customers in the company's business is growing steadily. In 2021, more than 98% of customers who were active in a 30 day-period used telecom services exclusively. This number fell to 87.7% in 2023. However, at the same time, the average annual growth rate of revenue per telecom services customer increased to 10%.

The main driver of growth was the company's fintech services, consisting mainly of transfers and payments through the super-app, as well as the Humans VISA card. In 2021, just 15.4% of super-app customers actively used these services, whereas this figure reached 40.2% in 2023. Moreover, the majority of these customers (27.9% out of 40%) use both telecom and fintech services simultaneously.

In general, Humans customers are increasingly combining several services in the super-app. In 2022, the number of customers using at least two types of services reached 782,000, rising to almost 1.1 million in 2023, which represents an increase of more than 40% year-on-year.

Innovation in customer service

The Humans super-app is used by millions of customers. Providing high-quality support is essential with this level of customer activity, so the management team has focused on implementing new technologies and methods in their customer service practices since the start of the project. A large proportion of the initial calls are processed by an AI-based system, with about 80,000 requests processed this way each month. At the same time, most user issues are resolved quickly: 92% of cases during the first phone call, and 80% of cases during the first chat conversation.

"This past year was in many ways defining for Humans. We are convinced that our strategy of building an ecosystem is working; more and more clients are using several services within the super-app at once. Consistent growth in revenue, turnover, transactions and customer activity confirms that the Uzbek market is finally ready for super-apps, and customers have begun to understand the benefits of using such an ecosystem. Over the past three years, Humans has managed to build a sustainable business in the region and ensure steady growth, despite turbulence and a difficult start during the pandemic."

"I am confident that the company's growth will continue as we expand the range of services in our ecosystem, attract more clients, and achieve even more positive results in terms of financial indicators. But our mission doesn't end there. The goals of the Humans team include increasing financial literacy, developing the digital economy in Uzbekistan, and eliminating the digital divide in all regions across the country. Moreover, we aim to give all residents free and easy access to digital services  from free communications to fast delivery of goods  regardless of their age, social status, or place of residence," Vlad Dobrynin, CEO and founder of Humans Group.

____________________________________________________________________________

Humans.uz is a super-app that combines financial services, mobile services, and a product marketplace. The project was launched in June 2020 in Uzbekistan by the Humans Group, which is also developing the Humans.net employee search platform in the USA. The group's offices are located in the USA, Uzbekistan, Poland, Singapore and Germany.

SOURCE The Humans Group of Companies
National Nonprofit Plugged 18 Wells Last Year Across Several States, Improving Air Quality and Reducing Methane Emissions

SHELBY, Mont., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Well Done Foundation (WDF), a national nonprofit whose mission is to plug the 3.5M orphaned oil and gas wells across the United States, had a successful year in 2023 plugging a record number of wells across the country and creating a new job market for qualified measurement specialists.

Well Done Foundation Team Plugging an Orphan Well in Toole County, Montana. Well Done Foundation Plugging an Orphan Well in Glacier County, Montana

Orphaned oil and gas wells are estimated to contribute 20-30% of methane leaks in the US, which affect drinking water, harm wildlife, ruin the land, and create flooding risks. Plugging orphaned wells has an immediate impact on the environment and provides instant relief to those affected.

In 2023, Well Done Foundation plugged 18 orphan wells across four states that were leaking harmful methane gas. As a result, 850,000 metric tons of methane emissions were eliminated from the environment, equivalent to taking 56,700 cars off the road. Two of the wells plugged were on resident property, such as a trailer park community and a senior living community where the unplugged well was affecting the drinking water. Residents reported an improvement in their air and water quality after the wells were plugged. Another well plugged was on indigenous land on Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.

"2023 was a record year for well plugging and our goal is to plug even more wells in 2024," said Curtis Shuck, Chairman of Well Done Foundation. "I began this mission after seeing the impact unplugged wells have on the environment and the community and knew that there was a better way to address the orphaned well problem."

Well Done Foundation adopted 11 new orphan wells last year across three states, all of which will be measured and plugged in 2024. They also launched a Qualified Measurement Specialist (QMS) program to train and hire specialists across the country to carefully measure and monitor wells before and after plugging. WDF successfully hired four new specialists that were trained, tested and certified.

In an effort to bring more awareness and advocate for more funding in plugging wells, WDF also traveled to Washington, DC, where they met with legislation on the importance of plugging orphan wells across the country.

To date, WDF has plugged over 40 orphaned wells in several states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Louisiana, Montana and New Mexico.

To learn more about WDF's orphan well plugging mission or make a donation to support their efforts, please visit www.welldonefoundation.org.

About the Well Done Foundation

A nonprofit formed in 2019, the Well Done Foundation's mission is to fight climate change by plugging the estimated 3.5 million orphaned oil and gas wells in the United States. The WDF works with farmers and landowners, local and state government, corporations, and other nonprofits to locate the orphaned wells, measure and document methane and CO 2 emissions, plug the wells, and restore the surface areas to their original state.

Media Contact:

Alanna Anderson

[email protected]

281.770.9084

SOURCE Well Done Foundation
Doctoral student and AI expert Sven Schulze is at the Darmstadt 'Leap in Time Lab' using examples and data to explain the error-proneness of ChatGPT.

Italian regulators said they told OpenAI that its ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot has violated European Unions stringent data privacy rules.

The countrys data protection authority, known as Garante, said Monday that it notified San Francisco-based OpenAI of breaches of the EU rules, known as General Data Protection Regulation.

The watchdog started investigating ChatGPT last year, when it temporarily banned within Italy the chatbot that can produce text, images and sound in response to users questions.

Based on the results of its fact-finding activity, the watchdog said it concluded that the available evidence pointed to the existence of breaches of the provisions in the EU privacy rules.

OpenAI, which has 30 days to reply to the allegations, said it would work constructively with Italian regulators.

We believe our practices align with GDPR and other privacy laws, and we take additional steps to protect peoples data and privacy, a company statement said. We want our AI to learn about the world, not about private individuals. We actively work to reduce personal data in training our systems like ChatGPT, which also rejects requests for private or sensitive information about people.

The company said last year that it fulfilled a raft of conditions that the Garante demanded to get the ChatGPT ban lifted.

The watchdog had imposed the ban after finding that some users messages and payment information were exposed and because ChatGPT didnt have a system to verify users ages, allowing children to get answers from the AI tool that were inappropriate for their age.

It also questioned whether there was a legal basis for OpenAI to collect massive amounts of data used to train ChatGPTs algorithms and raised concerns that the system could sometimes generate false information about individuals.

The growing popularity of generative AI systems like ChatGPT are also drawing increasing scrutiny from regulators on both sides of the Atlantic.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission opened an inquiry last week into the relationships between AI startups OpenAI and Anthropic and the tech giants that have bankrolled them  Amazon, Google and Microsoft. Competition regulators in the 27-nation EU and Britain, meanwhile, are also examining Microsofts OpenAI investments.

AI systems also face broader oversight in the EU, which is finalizing its groundbreaking AI Act, the worlds first comprehensive rulebook for artificial intelligence. The blocs 27 member states are expected to endorse a version of the legislation Friday.

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Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg, X Corp's CEO Linda Yaccarino,TikTok's CEO Shou Zi Chew and Discord's CEO Jason Citron are sworn in during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 31, 2024.

Sexual predators. Addictive features. Self-harm and eating disorders. Unrealistic beauty standards. Bullying. These are just some of the issues young people are dealing with on social media  and childrens advocates and lawmakers say companies are not doing enough to protect them.

On Wednesday, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify as lawmakers and parents grow increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young peoples lives.

The hearing began with recorded testimony from kids and parents who said they or their children were exploited on social media. Throughout the hours-long event, parents who lost children to suicide silently held up pictures of their dead kids.

Theyre responsible for many of the dangers our children face online, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee, said in opening remarks. Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.

In a heated question and answer session with Mark Zuckerberg, Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley asked the Meta CEO if he has personally compensated any of the victims and their families for what they have been through. I dont think so, Zuckerberg replied.

Theres families of victims here, Hawley said. Would you like to apologize to them?

Parents attending the hearing rose and held up pictures of their children. Zuckerberg stood as well, turning away from his microphone and the senators to address them directly.

Im sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered, he said, adding that Meta continues to invest and work on industry-wide efforts to protect children.

But time and time again, childrens advocates and parents have stressed that none of the companies are doing enough.

Metas general approach is trust us, well do the right thing, but how can we trust Meta? The way they talk about these issues feels like they are trying to gaslight the world, said Arturo Bejar, a former engineering director at the social media giant known for his expertise in curbing online harassment who recently testified before Congress about child safety on Metas platforms. Every parent Ive met with a kid under 13 is afraid of when their kid is old enough to be in social media.

Hawley continued to press Zuckerberg, asking if hed take personal responsibility for the harms his company has caused. Zuckerberg stayed on message and repeated that Metas job is to build industry-leading tools and empower parents.

To make money, Hawley cut in.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, echoed Durbins sentiments and said hes prepared to work with Democrats to solve the issue.

After years of working on this issue with you and others, Ive come to conclude the following: social media companies as theyre currently designed and operate are dangerous products, Graham said.

He told the executives their platforms have enriched lives but that it is time to deal with the dark side.

Beginning with Discords Jason Citron, the executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work theyve done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.

Snapchat had broken ranks ahead of the hearing and began backing a federal bill that would create a legal liability for apps and social platforms who recommend harmful content to minors. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel reiterated the companys support on Wednesday and asked the industry to back the bill.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said TikTok is vigilant about enforcing its policy barring children under 13 from using the app. CEO Linda Yaccarino said X, formerly Twitter, doesnt cater to children.

We do not have a line of business dedicated to children, Yaccarino said. She said the company will also support Stop CSAM Act, a federal bill that make it easier for victims of child exploitation to sue tech companies.

Yet child health advocates say social media companies have failed repeatedly to protect minors.

When youre faced with really important safety and privacy decisions, the revenue in the bottom line should not be the first factor that these companies are considering, said Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of Design It For Us, a youth-led coalition advocating for safer social media. These companies have had opportunities to do this before they failed to do that. So independent regulation needs to step in.

Republican and Democratic senators came together in a rare show of agreement throughout the hearing, though its not yet clear if this will be enough to pass legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act, proposed in 2022 by Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.

New internal emails between Meta executives released by Sen. Richard Blumenthals office show Nick Clegg, president of global affairs and others asking CEO Mark Zuckerberg to invest in hiring additional people to strengthen our position on wellbeing across the company as concerns grew around social medias effects on youth mental health.

From a policy perspective, this work has become increasingly urgent over recent months. Politicians in the U.S., U.K., E.U. and Australia are publicly and privately expressing concerns about the impact of our products on young peoples mental health, Clegg wrote in an August 2021 email.

He wrote that the company is being held back by a lack of investment in these efforts, which means that were not able to make changes and innovations at the pace required to be responsive to policymaker concerns. Among the problem areas the email notes are problematic use of the apps, such as excessive use, as well as bullying and harassment and suicide and self-injury.

The emails released by Blumenthals office dont appear to include a response, if there was any, from Zuckerberg. In September 2021, The Wall Street Journal released the Facebook Files, its report based on internal documents from whistleblower Frances Haugen, who later testified before the Senate.

Clegg circled back on the August email in late last year, proposing a scaled-down investment and telling Zuckerberg that the funding is important to ensure the company can back up its external narrative of well-being on our apps. Its not clear if there was a response from the CEO.

The company has been beefing up its child safety features in recent weeks, announcing earlier this month that it will start hiding inappropriate content from teenagers accounts on Instagram and Facebook, including posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. It also restricted minors ability to receive messages from anyone they dont follow or arent connected to on Instagram and on Messenger and added new nudges to try to discourage teens from browsing Instagram videos or messages late at night. The nudges encourage kids to close the app, though it does not force them to do so.

But critics and child safety advocates say its actions fall short of meaningful changes that would address kids safety.

Looking back at each time there has been a Facebook or Instagram scandal in the last few years, they run the same playbook. Meta cherry picks their statistics and talks about features that dont address the harms in question, said Arturo Bejar, a former engineering director at the social media giant known for his expertise in curbing online harassment who recently testified before Congress about child safety on Metas platforms.

Instagram promises features that end up hidden in settings that few people use. Why is quiet mode not the default for all kids? Bejar added. Meta says that some of the new work will help with unwanted advances. It is still not possible for a teen to tell Instagram when theyre experiencing an unwanted advance. Without that information how can they make it safer?

Googles YouTube is notably missing from the list of companies called to the Senate Wednesday. Thats even though more kids use YouTube than any other platform, according to the Pew Research Center. Pew found that 93% of U.S. teens use YouTube, with TikTok a distant second at 63%.

The thing about YouTube is that it kind of flies under the radar, said Larissa May, the founder and executive director of the nonprofit #HalfTheStory, which helps teens develop healthy relationships with technology. I think Meta has gotten so used to taking so much of the heat for the issues that young people are facing. But its actually much, much bigger than that.

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Gaza, Jan 31 : A Hamas delegation will visit Egypt on Wednesday to discuss the framework agreement on a truce in the Gaza Strip issued by the recent Paris meeting, a Palestinian source said.

The delegation will hold a meeting in the Egyptian capital of Cairo with Abbas Kamel, head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service, the source, speaking on conditions of anonymity, told Xinhua news agency on Tuesday.

The meeting in Egypt will discuss the outcome of the Paris meeting, which outlined several stages for a ceasefire in Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, announced that Hamas received the proposal hashed out at the Paris meeting, which involves halting the violence in Gaza and releasing the hostages held by Hamas, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

"Our response to the proposal will be based on stopping Israeli aggression against Gaza and withdrawing their forces from the Gaza Strip," he said.

He added that Hamas is open to any discussions, provided that "they lead to a comprehensive cessation of aggression and providing shelter for our displaced people".

A meeting was held on Sunday in the French capital of Paris, attended by senior intelligence and government officials from the US, Israel, Qatar and Egypt, to discuss a deal to end the Hamas-Israel conflict in Gaza.

The Israeli delegation was led by David Barnea, Chief of the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, and Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet, the Israeli internal security agency.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Tuesday that his government will not release Palestinian prisoners or withdraw forces from Gaza, despite the international efforts to achieve a ceasefire deal.
Gaza, Jan 31 : Israeli forces have stormed the Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis area in the southern Gaza Strip, the media reported.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said on Tuesday in a statement that Israeli forces demolished the outer wall of the hospital, and asked displaced people and medical personnel to evacuate immediately, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the past days, the vicinity of the hospital has witnessed intense Israeli shelling, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries and displacing hundreds of Palestinians from the area.

Al-Amal Hospital hosts thousands of Palestinians who sought refuge there as a result of Israeli shelling in various areas of Khan Younis.

However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied the report.

"There's no storming of the Al-Amal hospital, entry into it or any ordering of people to leave at gunpoint," an IDF spokesman said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross on Tuesday called for the protection of civilians amid the fighting in the Gaza Strip.

"The ongoing hostilities in densely populated urban areas, including areas surrounding hospitals, endanger the lives of the most vulnerable groups, such as medical teams, patients, the wounded, children, people with disabilities, and the elderly," the committee said in a statement sent to Xinhua.

The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 26,751 since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a cross-border surprise attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people, said the Hamas-run Health Ministry on Tuesday.
5,020 from UP selected to work in Israel. Image Source: IANS News

Lucknow, Jan 31 : A total of 5,020 persons have been selected from 7,094 candidates, who appeared for skilled labour jobs in war-torn Israel, as part of an agreement between the government of Israel and the Indian government.

Due to the Gaza conflict, Israel has been facing a labour shortage.

In the week-long process at ITI Aliganj, the skill of the applicants was tested in the presence of a team of the Israeli government in collaboration with National Skill Development Council (NSDC).

The selected men qualified to work as masons for plastering work and ceramic tiling and other such works.

The test of skilled workers was inspected from time-to-time by Kunal Silku, special secretary, labour and director, training and employment, Uttar Pradesh.

Silku said, "This drive was conducted in Uttar Pradesh following the direction of the Chief Minister. More than 5,000 workers have been selected for Israel. I wish them success."

The recruitment drive was carried out following an MoU signed between the government of India and the government of Israel.

"The skill test of workers was taken by the Israeli team at Government ITI Aliganj, from January 23 to 30 for employment at a salary of Rs 1. 37 lakh per month. The skill test was successfully completed on Tuesday," said Raj Kumar Yadav, principal, ITI Aliganj.

Yadav said, "The Israeli team praised our efforts highly. They said that if in future we need more skilled workers, then we will make ITI Aliganj, Lucknow, the examination centre."
Lucknow, Jan 31 : Filmmaker Boney Kapoor's Bayview Projects LLP and Bhutani Group will jointly develop the Film City project in Noida's Sector-21, near Jewar airport, as they placed the highest bid, surpassing the other three players, officials said.

"The committee of officials of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) opened the financial bids. The Bayview Projects LLP and Bhutani Group placed the highest bid, promising the maximum 18 per cent share of the profit to the government, thereby becoming eligible for developing this project. Lions Films Private Limited of KC Bokadia quoted 15.12 per cent while Supersonic Technobuild Private Limited of actor Akshay Kumar and Super Cassettes Industries Private Limited of T-Series placed 10.80 per cent and 5.12 per cent respectively," officials added.

Arun Vir Singh, Chief Executive Officer, YEIDA, said, "Following the guidelines of the public-private partnership, the proposed bids will be presented before the committee of secretaries, and subsequently, they will be forwarded to the state government cabinet for the necessary approvals."

"Once the Cabinet gives its approval, the highest bidder will receive the letter of award," Singh added.

"We are pleased to be chosen and are eager to commence work at the site once all necessary procedures are completed. Our goal is to develop the Film City project within a span of three years. In the initial phase, we plan to develop commercial facilities on 75 acre out of the total 230 acre," said Ashish Bhutani, Chief Executive Officer of Bhutani Group.

On November 23, 2021, YEIDA issued a global tender for the Film City developer selection; however, no one came forward to take up the project.

In response, YEIDA revised the Detailed Project Report, and on November 7, 2022, a second global tender was issued, with no interest shown this time as well.

On September 30, 2023, YEIDA issued the tender for the third time, setting January 5, 2024, as the last date for bid submissions.

Subsequently, on January 27, YEIDA opened the technical bids, qualifying four companies and paving the way for the opening of the financial bid on Tuesday (January 30).
Seoul, Jan 31 : A US F-16 fighter jet crashed in waters off South Korea's west coast on Wednesday and a pilot was rescued after ejecting from the aircraft, multiple sources said.

The fighter jet fell in waters near Gunsan, 274 km south of Seoul, at around 8:40 a.m., sources familiar with the matter said.

Gunsan is home to the US Air Force's Kunsan Air Base, which operates F-16 aircraft, Yonhap news agency reported.

"The fighter jet crashed into the water and the rescued pilot is safe," the source said, asking for anonymity.
Stockholm, Jan 31 : Sweden has said it has temporarily halted funding for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees following Israel's allegations that its staff participated in the Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Swedish Television (SVT) reported on Tuesday that the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) has paused its payments to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The Swedish government pledged to fund UNRWA with 400 million Swedish kronor ($38.4 million) this year, but 31 million kronor is currently withheld, SVT reported.

It said the withheld funding will instead go to organisations such as the World Food Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Xinhua news agency reported.

The UNRWA said last Friday that it had decided to "immediately terminate the contracts" of the staff members involved and to "launch an investigation".

"We await the result of the ongoing investigation and will not pay out any money until it is ready," Johan Tjerneng, a press officer at SIDA, told SVT.

Countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, Germany and Australia have previously said that they will temporarily suspend funding for the UNRWA.

On Sunday, the Cairo-based pan-Arab bloc Arab League criticised the recent Western suspension of funding for the UNRWA, saying that it was "irresponsible" as it would further impact the already vulnerable Palestinians.

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. (1 Swedish krona = $0.096)
Tel Aviv, Jan 31 : Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, widely considered a hawk in the Israeli war cabinet, has said that terror group Hezbollah could attack the northern Israel city of Haifa.

In a statement on Tuesday, Gallant said that this could lead to a war and called upon for more comprehensive preparations.

He added that Hezbollah has 150,000 rockets and mortars and could fire potentially up to 8,000 rockets per day.

He warned that this was several levels of magnitude greater than what Hamas was able to do other than for one day on October 7, 2023.

The Defence Minister, who is also a former General of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said that the rockets of Hezbollah are also more precise, long-range and destructive.

He also added that defence analysts are of the belief that even if Iron Dome maintained an 80 to 90 per cent shoot-down rate, enough rockets would get through the missile shield to do major damage to Haifa and some other cities.

Israeli Defence officials still believe Israel would "win" such a war in the military terms and that unprecedented levels of air force strikes in Lebanon would degrade Hezbollah's rocket power within several days or a couple of weeks.

The defence think-tanks, however, said that but the early firing period would harm the northern Israeli towns, including Haifa, and that Hezbollah could manage rocket fire for longer than Hamas.

The IDF in a statement on late Tuesday night said that it's aircraft hit a Hezbollah command centre and an observation post in the southern Lebanon village of Khiam.

The statement also said that on Tuesday, the Israel Air Force had attacked another observation post and building used by Hezbollah in Ayta ash-Shab and Mhaibib.

Hezbollah only managed to fire one rocket from Lebanon at the Arab al-Aramshe area, which landed in an open area without causing any injuries.

It may be noted that after the assassination of top Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in southern Beirut, allegedly by Israel in a drone attack, the Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah had warned Israel that it would respond in a fitting manner.

However, except for some minor skirmishes and occasional missile fires, there has not been a major escalation of war.
London, Jan 31 : An Indian-origin couple has been sentenced to 33 years in prison each after exporting more than half a tonne of cocaine to Australia.

Arti Dhir, 59, and Kavaljitsinh Raijada, 35, whose extradition was sought by India on charges of the murder of their adopted son in Gujarat, were convicted of 12 counts of exportation and 18 counts of money laundering on Monday.

During a trial at the Southwark Crown Court on Monday, Prosecutor Hugh French likened the modus operandi of the couple to crime dramas 'Ozark' and 'Breaking Bad'.

"It's like something out of Breaking Bad or Ozark," French said, describing the "ruthless and greedy" pair as "very different from the average married couple".

"It was not the 25-year age gap that was different -- it was the fact that they operated in the world of international organised crime," he was quoted as saying by Sky News.

Dhir and Raijada were identified by National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators after the Australian Border Force intercepted the cocaine upon its arrival in Sydney in May 2021.

The drugs had been shipped via a commercial flight from the UK and consisted of six metal toolboxes which, when opened, were found to contain 514 kilos of cocaine.

Officers traced the consignment back to Dhir and Raijada, who had set up a front company called Viefly Freight Services with the sole purpose of smuggling drugs.

Both defendants had been directors of the company at different points since its incorporation in June 2015, the NCA said in a statement released on Monday.

Raijada's fingerprints were found on the plastic wrappings of the metal toolboxes containing the seized drugs, while receipts for the order of the toolboxes, worth 2855 pounds, were discovered at the coupleas home.

The NCA claimed that there had been 37 consignments sent to Australia since June 2019, of which 22 were dummy runs and 15 contained cocaine.

According to the crime agency, their knowledge of the airport freight procedures -- with both of them having worked for a flight services company at Heathrow -- was used to cover their criminal activities.

"Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada used their insider knowledge of the air freight industry to traffic cocaine worth tens of millions of pounds from the UK to Australia, where they knew they could maximise their revenue," Piers Phillips, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, said.

"They kept their illicit profits in cash at their home and in storage units, as well as purchasing property, gold and silver in an attempt to hide their wealth. These defendants may have thought they were removed from the misery caused by the drugs trade but their greed was fuelling it," Phillips added.

Dhir and Raijada were arrested at their home in Hanwell on June 21, 2021.

A search of their premises led to 5000 pounds worth of gold-plated silver bars, 13,000 pounds inside the home and 60,000 pounds in cash in a safety deposit box.

Financial inquiries found they had also purchased a flat in Ealing for 800,000 pounds and a Land Rover for 62,000 pounds, despite declaring profits of only a few thousand pounds to HMRC (His Majesty's Revenue and Customs).

Investigations showed that both defendants held cash in bank accounts which far exceeded their declared income.

They had deposited almost 740,000 pounds in cash into 22 different bank accounts since 2019 and were further charged with money laundering.

India had sought the couple's extradition in 2017 for the alleged murder of their 11-year-old adopted son, Gopal Sejani, in Gujarat.

However, the request was turned down by Westminster Magistratesa Court in London in July 2019 on human rights grounds, according to media reports

The Gujarat police said in its investigations that the pair had adopted Gopal, before staging his kidnapping and murder in India to split the life insurance payout of Rs 1.3 crore.
Kolkata: CRPF personnel stand guard during a raid by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the residence of TMC MLA Tapas Roy. Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, Jan 31 : The officers of Karnataka Lokayukta conducted multiple raids at various locations across the state on Wednesday morning in connection with a disproportionate assets case. According to sources, the raids are underway in more than 10 districts.

The raids are being conducted in Bengaluru, Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan, Tumakuru, Chikkamagaluru, Chamarajanagar, Bellary, Vijayanagar, and Dakshina Kannada districts. The searches are taking place at the residence of an executive engineer attached to the PWD in Vidyaranyapura, Bengaluru. The office, relativesa house in Mandya, and a farmhouse in Nagamangala are also raided.

The residence and office of a Food Inspector in Hassan district are also being raided. The Lokayukta police have also targeted his brotheras real estate office and residence.

The house belonging to a lady officer attached to the Commercial Tax Department is being raided in Chikkamagaluru district. Allegations suggest that the officer has amassed huge wealth disproportionate to her income.

The Lokayukta has also raided an engineer attached to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The officers are conducting a search operation at his residence in Mysuru, an apartment in Vijayanagara, and also at his brotheras house.

The residence of the engineer attached to the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRDL) is also being raided in Tumakuru, as per sources. An official statement from the Lokayukta regarding these raids is yet to be issued.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2024 - 14:29 | All, Japan

An employee of the scandal-hit used car dealership chain Bigmotor Co. has been arrested for his alleged involvement in cutting down roadside trees in front of an outlet in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo.

Toshiyuki Kamohara, 51, denied having ordered the destruction of trees during police questioning before being arrested on Tuesday, investigative sources said. He was sent to prosecutors on Wednesday.

But the police found strong evidence against the suspect through messages exchanged via the LINE messaging app with the store in Kawasaki.

According to the sources, Kamohara was the only environment improvement promotion committee member at the company's headquarters at the time and was tasked with directing environmental maintenance work at various Bigmotor outlets.

Given his past as a company board member, the store is believed to have proceeded with cutting down the trees under the assumption that it was acting on the headquarters' directives, the sources added.

Kamohara has been arrested on suspicion of damaging property by conspiring with others in cutting down the six azalea trees in October 2022. It was the first arrest related to their destruction.

The Kawasaki city government has said that the company claimed the tree felling was carried out following the environment improvement promotion committee member's instructions.

The incident adds to the scandal surrounding Bigmotor, which was found to have charged excessive repair fees by intentionally damaging cars and making fraudulent insurance claims, leading its president to resign.

Related coverage:

Sompo CEO to step down over Bigmotor insurance fraud scandal

Japan slaps 4 insurers with improvement order over price collusion

Japan ministry orders Bigmotor to halt operations at 34 shops
Tel Aviv, Jan 31 : A ceasefire to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas for release of hostages is likely by the coming week.

According to Israel Defence Ministry officials, discussions are on at a higher level and a ceasefire leading to the release of a batch of women, elderly and sick Israeli hostages from the custody of Hamas will commence soon.

While Hamas has been insisting on a complete withdrawal of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for the next round of ceasefire, Israel had backed out of it in total.

Several rounds of mediatory talks held at the behest of Qatar, Egypt and the US at Doha, Cairo and Paris seems to be bringing in results.

Sources in the Israel defense ministry told IANS that Israel side has agreed upon the release of a large number of Palestinians who have been arrested and jailed in Israel in exchange for the hostages in the custody of Hamas.

According to information available after the release of women, sick and elderly civilians in Hamas custody, a second batch of hostages would also be released in which women Israeli soldiers in Hamas custody would be freed.

CIA chief William Burns and Mossad Chief David Burnea were also present in the recent mediatory talks held at Paris and have ironed out certain issues pertaining to ceasefire during their talks with Qatar and Egyptian mediators.

Sources clarified that there could be a one month ceasefire in hostilities but Israel has not agreed for the safe passage of top Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif from Gaza into either Qatar or Turkey.

Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had clearly stated that the Israel army would smoke out Sinwar from his hideout and would kill him.
Chennai, Jan 31 : Flood-hit traders in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi have demanded Rs 50,000 and interest-free loan ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh from the state government.

The trader association leaders of Authoor, South Authoor and Mukkani told IANS that the trading community was demanding money to restart business as they suffered huge losses due to overflowing Tamarabarani river in December, 2023.

Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangam Peravai south district president Ravi, while speaking to IANS, said: "We demand that the state government disburse Rs 50,000 each to traders and interest-free loans ranging from Rs one lakh rupees to Rs 10 lakh, in view of the damage wreaked by the overflowing Thamirabarani river in December 2023.'

He said though the District Industrial Centre (DIC) officials had collected over 400 applications for loans during a loan mela at Authoor on January 10, the proposals have not been taken up.

Ravi further said that banks were requesting for three guarantors, government or private employees holding PAN card and KYC and this has left the traders perplexed.

MR Muthuswamy , traders association leader, while speaking to IANS said: "While loss of cattle and livestock were considered and an enumeration carried out, loss of livelihood of traders was not considered."

He called upon the district administration to construct strong retaining walls for preventing the overflow of water into the town.

People of of Keelpidagai at Sivaramamangalam villages in Thoothukudi tied black ribbons on their faces and blamed the flooding on illegal sand mining on the bunds of the river by a private brick kiln near Varadharajapuram.

Local public alleged that even as water pumps, roads, and public facilities are yet to be restored, authorities have permitted the brick kiln to resume operations.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : In a bid to further boost mobile manufacturing in the country, the government has slashed import duty on parts used for manufacturing of mobile phones to 10 per cent from 15 per cent.

The finance ministry said in a notification that the import duty on parts such as battery covers, main lens, back cover, other mechanical items of plastic and metal, among others, has been reduced to 10 per cent.

The move will help companies like Apple to manufacture more of its high-end premium smartphones in the country.

India's smartphone input tariffs are currently the highest among the competing manufacturing destinations.

India's smartphone manufacturing has been transformed from 78 per cent import dependency in revenue terms in 2014-15 to only 4 per cent in 2022-23.

Now, 99.2 per cent of mobile phones sold in India are made in the country. Exports have become the main driver of future growth and job creation.

India's smartphone exports jumped 100 per cent in FY 2022-23 to $11.1 billion over the previous fiscal.

The industry expects exports of $15 billion in FY 2024. Exports will form 30 per cent of the total production of $49-50 billion in current fiscal.

Unless India can match China and Vietnamas competitive tariff regime in addition to other factors which impact competitiveness, export growth will also start seeing a slowdown beyond the current fiscal, revealed the latest report by the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), the nationas top electronics manufacturing industry body.
Bhopal, Jan 31 : In a heart-wrenching incident, a man slit the throat of his eight-year-old daughter and threw her in the bushes assuming she was dead.

Fortunately, the minor not only survived, but managed to come out on roadside from the ambush. Some passersby noticed her semi-concious and alerted the police.

This inhumane act of the man was reported in Koh-E-Fiza locality in Madhya Pradesh's capital city Bhopal on Tuesday. The child was immediately rushed to a hospital where she was recuperating for injuries.

As per the police, the minor girl was found near Saifia College. After the incident, when the minor regained consciousness, she came out from the bushes and asked for help.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Riyaz Iqbal informed that her father Tej Singh Lodhi took her along with him asking her to go to her elder father's house.

"The accused slit the throat of the girl in a deserted area near Saifia College and threw her in the bushes. The accused thought that the minor would die, but as soon as she regained consciousness, the girl came out from the bushes to the road."

"The girl was bleeding and was asking for help. As soon as the police received information about the incident, they reached the spot and admitted the girl to Hamidia Hospital," the DCP said.

He further added that a cass has been registered in the matter and the accused has been registered.

Accused Tej Singh Lodhi works at a tent house shop and lives in the Teela Jamalpura area in the city in a rented house. He is originally a resident of Sagar. The minor is Lodhi's daughter from his first wife who passed away. Lodhi lives here with his second wife with whom he has a boy.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Microsoft is integrating the power of AI across the entire data and tech stack, seeing increased usage from AI-first start-ups and some of the world's largest companies, the company's Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella has said.

More than 2,30,000 organisations have already used AI capabilities in Power Platform, up over 80 per cent quarter over quarter, and with Copilot Studio, organisations can tailor Copilot for Microsoft 365 or create their own custom Copilots.

"It is already being used by over 10,000 organisations, including An Post, Holland America, PG&E. In just weeks, for example, both PayPal and Tata Digital built copilots to answer common employee queries, increasing productivity and reducing support costs," Nadella told analysts during the companyas earnings call late on Tuesday.

A growing body of evidence makes clear the role AI will play in transforming work.

"Our own research, as well as external studies, show as much as 70 per cent improvement in productivity, using generative AI for specific work tasks, and overall early Copilot for Microsoft 365 users were 29 per cent faster in the series of tasks, like searching, writing, and summarizing," Nadella informed.

"We're also seeing a Copilot ecosystem begin to emerge with ISVs like Atlassian, Mural, and Trello, as well as customers like Air India, Bayer, and Siemens have all built plug-ins for specific lines of business that extend Copilot's capabilities," he added.

Microsoft now has 53,000 Azure AI customers and over one-third are new to Azure over the past 12 months.

"Our new models-as-a-service offering makes it easy for developers to use LLMs from our partners, like Cohere, Meta, and Mistral, on Azure without having to manage underlying infrastructure," said Nadella.

The company has added support for OpenAI's latest models, including GPT-4 Turbo, GPT-4 with Vision, DALL-E 3, as well as fine-tuning.

"Over half of the Fortune 500 use Azure OpenAI today, including Ally Financial, Coca-Cola, and Rockwell Automation," he informed.

The company has also introduced Copilot as a stand-alone destination across all browsers and devices, as well as a Copilot app on iOS and Android.

"And just two weeks ago, we introduced Copilot Pro, providing access to the latest models for quick answers and high-quality image creation and access to Copilot for Microsoft 365 personal and family subscribers," Nadella said.
Man arrested in Lahore for 'malicious campaign' against Bushra Bibi. Image Source: IANS News

Rawalpindi, Jan 31 : An accountability court on Wednesday sentenced former Pakistan premier Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 years imprisonment in the Toshakhana case, local media reported.

The verdict comes a day after the PTI founder was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in the cipher case by a special court established under the Official Secrets Act.

Accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir presided over the hearing at Rawalpindi's Adiala jail, where the former Khan is incarcerated, The Express Tribune reported.

Imran and Bushra were also barred from holding any public office for the next 10 years and were fined around Rs1,574 million, The Express Tribune reported.

The judge also asked the two to record their statements under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and closed the right of cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses.

The couple were indicted in the reference on January 9.

Reacting strongly to the verdict, the PTI termed it as "complete destruction of every law" and claimed the former premier and first lady have faced "yet another kangaroo trial".

The party further said no right of defence was given to either Imran or Bushra and the case has "no basis" to stand on in any higher court, similar to the cipher trial.
Kochi, Jan 31 : A day after a Kerala court sentenced to death 15 members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) who were held guilty of the 2021 murder of BJP leader Ranjith Sreenivasan, the security of the judge has been increased.

On Tuesday, c, sentenced all 15 of the accused to death for the heinous crime.

Incidentally, this verdict is considered very rare in Indiaas judicial history, as in one single case such a large number of people have been sentenced to death.

Following the verdict, the judge came under attack on social media and her security was strengthened after that.

Five Kerala Police personnel, under an officer, have been posted at her residence near the Court.

In all, there are 31 accused in the murder case of the state secretary of the BJPas OBC Morcha, and this verdict was pronounced for 15 accused, which came in the first charge sheet.

Ranjith Sreenivasan, a practicing advocate at the Alappuzha Bar Association, was the BJPas candidate for the Alappuzha Assembly constituency in 2021.

The gruesome incident occurred on December 19, 2021, when PFI members barged into his residence in Alappuzha and hacked him to death in the presence of his wife and mother.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), the nation's top electronics manufacturing industry body, on Wednesday said the move by the government to slash import duty on parts used for manufacturing of mobile phones to 10 per cent is a critical and welcome policy intervention towards making mobile manufacturing competitive in the country.

The finance ministry said in a latest notification that the import duty on parts such as battery covers, main lens, back cover, other mechanical items of plastic and metal, among others, has been reduced to 10 per cent from 15 per cent.

The move will help companies like Apple to manufacture more of its high-end premium smartphones in the country.

"Building scale, riding on low input tariffs is key to transforming India into a global hub for electronics manufacturing and exports," said Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, ICEA.

Electronics has improved from the 9th position a few years ago to Indiaas 5th largest export in 2024.

"Mobiles constitute over 52 per cent of electronics exports thanks to the PLI scheme. This is the first industry to leapfrog out of import substitution to export-led growth within the last 8 years, Mohindroo added.

India's smartphone input tariffs are currently the highest among the competing manufacturing destinations.

Unless India can match China and Vietnamas competitive tariff regime in addition to other factors which impact competitiveness, export growth will also start seeing a slowdown beyond the current fiscal, according to a latest report by the ICEA.
Prayagraj, Jan 31 : The Allahabad University (AU) administration has ordered the removal of an assistant superintendent of a hostel after a group of varsity students continued their protest on the second consecutive day on Tuesday against an alleged assault on a fellow student.

The students were demanding suspension of assistant superintendent of SSL hostel, the proctor and AU police outpost in-charge Vinay Singh.

They held demonstrations outside the varsity gate near its central library, and staged a road blockade for around three hours causing inconvenience to other students and teachers.

It was only after the AU administration issued orders for removal of SSL hostel assistant superintendent Atul Narain Singh from his post that the students lifted the road blockade on Tuesday evening.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Galeries Lafayette, the iconic department store synonymous with luxury, innovation, and unparalleled shopping experiences, celebrates a remarkable journey that spans over a century. From its humble beginnings as a small haberdashery in 1893 to becoming a global symbol of fashion and elegance, Galeries Lafayette has continually evolved, embracing audacity and modernity at every turn.

A Promising Start:

In 1893, Alsatian cousins ThAophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn embarked on a daring venture, establishing a small haberdashery at the corner of rue La Fayette and rue de la ChaussAe d'Antin. This marked the birth of "Aux Galeries Lafayette," strategically located near the Opera and grand boulevards, attracting Parisians and provincials alike.

By 1903, Galeries Lafayette expanded its footprint by acquiring surrounding buildings, setting the stage for a unique retail empire. ThAophile Bader's visionary "stone strategy" led to the creation of a vast real estate area, setting the foundation for the flagship store on Boulevard Haussmann.

The Birth of a "Luxury Bazaar":

Under the leadership of architect Ferdinand Chanut, Galeries Lafayette unveiled its flagship store in October 1912. ThAophile Bader envisioned a "luxury bazaar" where opulence and abundance would captivate customers. The iconic dome, reaching a height of 43 meters, became the symbol of Galeries Lafayette, adorned with stained glass windows in a neo-Byzantine style by master glassmaker Jacques Gruber.

The store's sales area doubled, introducing non-retail spaces such as a tea room, reading room, and smoking room. Galeries Lafayette transformed shopping into a leisure activity, with the terrace offering a panoramic view of Paris, hosting exceptional events like Jules VAdrines' historic landing in 1919.

Fashion Revolution and Democratization:

Galeries Lafayette's commitment to fashion and novelty was evident from its inception. ThAophile Bader pioneered making popular styles accessible to all budgets, establishing production units for clothing sold exclusively under the Galeries Lafayette brand. The democratization of fashion flourished, attracting a diverse clientele, from upper-class women to sewing workers.

The store continued to diversify its offerings, adding men's clothing, furniture, toys, and tableware. In 1922, the applied arts workshops "La MaAtrise" were introduced, fostering collaboration with artists such as Maurice DufrAne, Jean, and Jacques Adnet.

Growth and Modernization:

Despite challenges like the economic crisis of 1929 and Aryanization during 1941-1944, Galeries Lafayette persevered. Post-World War II, the store underwent modernization, introducing Europe's highest escalator in 1951 and raising the building by two floors in 1959.

The 1960s witnessed the rise of young designers in ready-to-wear, with Galeries Lafayette providing a platform for talents like Sonia Rykiel, Daniel Hechter, Pierre Cardin, and more.

Lafayette 1, 2, 3:

In 1969, Galeries Lafayette expanded across Rue de Mogador, creating Lafayette 1 initially reserved for young people. Lafayette 2 and Lafayette Gourmet followed, establishing Galeries Lafayette as the first "urban center of facilities," incorporating shops, services, parking, and direct metro access.

The 1980s marked the creation of the "Fashion Festival" and collaborations with renowned artistic directors like Karl Lagerfeld, Robert Wilson, and JArAme Savary.

Embracing the Future:

In 2001, Galeries Lafayette elevated its brand, collaborating with Jean-Paul Goude for communication. The store diversified further, incorporating Lafayette Maison after acquiring Marks and Spencer in 2004.

Today, Galeries Lafayette stands not just as a retail giant but as a cultural institution deeply intertwined with the world of fashion and contemporary creation. The Heritage Department, established in 2008, preserves the Group's architectural heritage and historical archives, ensuring the company's legacy endures for future generations.

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in
KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2024 - 18:45 | All, Japan, World

The manager of a dating agency and two others have been arrested for allegedly soliciting a woman for sex work at a Las Vegas hotel, in what Tokyo police believe could be part of a larger operation.

Haruka Funaki, the 37-year-old head of a dating club facilitating meetings between partners, and two others were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of violating the Employment Security Act by recruiting for employment harmful to public morals.

The three allegedly solicited a woman in her 30s for prostitution work abroad by sending texts via messaging app Line that said, "Dating in Las Vegas, 1.8 million yen ($12,200) guaranteed," and "Enter the country saying you are there for travel."

Funaki has denied the allegation, saying she solicited the woman without knowing it was for prostitution, while the remaining two have admitted to the charges, the police said.

They suspect the three were dispatching multiple women abroad for sex work with the help of accomplices in the United States in what they believe to be an organized operation.

After engaging in prostitution in Las Vegas in May last year, the woman went to local police saying two Asian men, who showed her to a hotel, threatened they would kill her if she divulged any information to outsiders, according to the police.

U.S. authorities who took the woman into custody contacted Tokyo police about the case via Japan's National Police Agency.

The woman allegedly has a history of engaging in sex work in countries such as Singapore and Saudi Arabia. The police said they are investigating whether a separate group of suspects is connected to these cases.

Related coverage:

80 women arrested in Tokyo's Kabukicho for alleged prostitution
Hong Kong, Jan 31 : China has expelled its leading rocket scientist Wang Xiaojun from its top political advisory body, signalling the communist state's widening purge from among the Chinese military's missile force and aerospace contractors.

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) removed him at a meeting in Beijing on Monday - a year after he was appointed a member, state news agency Xinhua reported, without assigning reasons.

Wang, 54, until recently led the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), a prestigious state-run institute known as the birthplace of China's aerospace industry.

The CALT hails itself as the nation's "oldest and largest base for the development, testing and production of missile weapons and launch vehicles", according to its official website.

Wang spent his nearly three-decades-long career designing rockets at the CALT, a subsidiary of the main contractor of the Chinese space program, the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Wang's dismissal from the elite political body is the latest shakeup in China's military-industrial complex. In December, three aerospace executives, including the chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation - were stripped of their roles in the CPPCC.

Two days later, nine high-ranking People's Liberation Army officers were ousted from the country's top legislature. Five of them are linked to the Rocket Force, an elite branch built up by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to oversee the development of the nationas nuclear and ballistic missiles.

While no reason was given for the expulsions in December, experts, who have long studied China's military, point to a corruption purge as the likely cause - possibly over the procurement and development of equipment for the Rocket Force, a highly secretive and lucrative field flushed with billions of dollars of funding that makes a fertile ground for graft, CNN reported quoting a Chinese news agency.

In July, the Rocket Force abruptly replaced its two leaders, the commander and the political commissar, with no explanation. Wang, who became a CPPCC member only in January last year, is known for leading the development of the Long March 7, a new-generation rocket designed to launch cargo spacecraft to Chinaas Tiangong space station.

In a glowing profile in 2016, Xinhua said Wang had "make important contributions to the success of our countryas first manned space flight and the realization of the Chinese nationas thousand-year dream of flying to space". He also received multiple state awards, the report said.

In February last year, Wang penned an article in the ruling Communist Party's flagship mouthpiece the Peopleas Daily, extolling Xi for his "important strategic plans" to accelerate efforts to build China into "a powerful aerospace nation".

Xi's instructions "point out the way forward for our country's aerospace science and technology to achieve high-level self-reliance", Wang wrote.

The scientist's last known public appearance was in June, when he visited the southern province of Hunan and met with top provincial officials to discuss cooperation, according to the CALTas website.

Wang has since been replaced as the CALT's director. Founded in 1957, the CALTas inaugural director was Qian Xuesen, a national hero known as the father of China's missile and space programme.

Under Qian, it made Chinaas first ballistic missile, the Dongfeng-1, which was modeled after a Soviet short-range missile and tested successfully in 1960.
Kolkata, Jan 31 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Trinamool Congress leader Nitai Dutta for questioning in connection with the alleged multi-crore municipalities' recruitment scam in West Bengal.

Dutta, also the Vice Chairman of South Dum Dum municipality in North 24 Parganas district, has been asked to be present at the ED's Salt Lake office here this week. This is the second time that Dutta will be questioned in connection with alleged scam.

He was earlier questioned in the matter by the ED sleuths in October last year.

Earlier when ED sleuths conducted raid and search operations at Dutta's residence in the same matter, the state Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose claimed that the central agency had been putting pressure on Dutta to name him in the case. Dutta is the former personal assistant of the minister.

In the raid and search operations in October last year, the ED sleuths reportedly recovered some crucial documents from Dutta's residence.

ED sources said that following the examination of the documents seized, the central agency sleuths have felt the necessity to summon and question Dutta for the second time.

As per ED estimates, of the several urban civic bodies scattered throughout the state that are under the central agency scanner because of recruitment irregularities, the maximum are from North 24 Parganas district.
London, Jan 31 : Researchers have identified a rare disorder that causes babies to be born with extra fingers and toes and a range of birth defects.

The disorder, which has not yet been named, is caused by a genetic mutation in a gene called MAX. As well as extra digits -- polydactyly -- it leads to a range of symptoms relating to ongoing brain growth, such as autism, said the team from the University of Leeds, UK.

The research marks the first time this genetic link has been identified. It has also found a molecule that could potentially be used to treat some of the neurological symptoms and prevent any worsening of their condition.

However, more research is needed to test this molecule before it can be used as a treatment.

Published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, the study focuses on three individuals with a rare combination of physical traits, namely polydactyly, and a much larger than average head circumference -- known as macrocephaly.

The individuals share some other characteristics, including delayed development of their eyes which results in problems with their vision early in life.

The researchers compared the DNA of these individuals and found they all carried the shared genetic mutation causing their birth defects.

"Currently there are no treatments for these patients. This means that our research into rare conditions is not only important to help us understand them better, but also to identify potential ways to treat them," said Dr James Poulter from the University of Leeds.

"In this case, we found a drug that is already in clinical trials for another disorder -- meaning we could fast-track this for these patients if our research finds the drug reverses some of the effects of the mutation.

"It also means that other patients with a similar combination of features can be tested to see if they have the same variant we have identified in our study," Dr Poulter said.

The study team has highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary research into rare diseases in giving understanding and hope of treatment to families who often face many years of uncertainty about their child's condition and prognosis.

"These are often under-represented conditions that have a huge impact on patients and their families. These families go through a long and complex diagnostic odyssey. The time from their first doctor's visit as babies to getting a diagnosis can take more than 10 years," Dr Poulter said.

"It is important that these patients and their families discover the cause of their condition -- and if they can access a therapy based on their genetic diagnosis, that could be life-changing."

The researchers now plan to look for additional patients with mutations in MAX to better understand the disorder and investigate whether the potential treatment improves the symptoms caused by the mutation.
Kolkata, Jan 31 : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the West Bengal government to pay a total compensation of Rs 6 lakh to two tribal women who were harassed at Pakua Hat in Malda district of West Bengal.

The compensation amount, as per the order of the NHRC, should be divided equally among the two victim tribal women.

The commission's instruction has already reached the state secretariat of Nabanna this week, sources said.

State administration faced major embarrassment last year as the police, besides the harassers of the tribal women, also booked two victims. The victims were booked on charges of ransacking Nalagola Police outpost under Bamangola Police Station after the incident.

The state unit of BJP then created a major hue and cry over the matter and also approached NHRC after which a team of the commission made a spot visit and talked to the victims and their family members.

The state government thereafter jumped into a face-saving exercise by initiating departmental proceedings against four officers of Bamangola Police Station.

Initially after a video on the alleged harassment and outrage of modesty surfaced, State Commerce & Industries Minister Sashi Panja claimed that BJP was unnecessarily politicising the Malda matter.

"The Malda incident was a case of theft, where the two women tried to steal something from a local market. In that process a group of women made an attempt to take law & order in their hands. A case has been registered and the police are investigating the matter," Panja had said.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Google One subscription service is doing incredibly well with strong user growth and is about to cross 100 million subscribers, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced.

The service provides expanded storage, unlocks exclusive features in Google products, and allows the company to build a strong relationship with its most engaged users.

"Google One is growing very well, and we are just about to cross 100 million subscribers," Pichai told analysts during the company's earnings call.

Google One Plans start from $1.99 per month, which gives 100GB of storage shareable with five people and access to its VPN service in the US.

"Subscriptions is growing strongly, powered by YouTube Premium and Music, YouTube TV, and Google One," said Pichai.

The company's total revenues from subscription products reached $15 billion for the full-year 2023, driven primarily by substantial growth in subscribers for the YouTube subscription offerings.

"The substantial increase in our subscription revenues over the past few years demonstrates the ability of our teams to deliver high value-add offerings and provides a strong base on which to build, including through YouTube and newer services like Google One," said Pichai.

The strong demand the company is seeing for its vertically-integrated AI portfolio is creating new opportunities for Google Cloud across every product area.

Google Bard, the conversational AI tool that complements Search, is now powered by Gemini Pro, and it's much more capable at things like understanding, summarizing, reasoning, coding, and planning.

"It's now in over 40 languages and over 230 countries around the world. Looking ahead, we'll be rolling out an even more advanced version for subscribers powered by Gemini Ultra," Pichai informed.
Lucknow, Jan 31 : The Uttar Pradesh government has acquired over 18 acres of land of the Education Department in Ayodhya to build residential facilities for the personnel of the state Special Security Force (UPSSF), Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and others deployed for the security of the Ram temple.

"Amendments will be made to revenue records and its information will be provided to the government within a week. The available land parcels, which belong to the secondary education department and are located in Malikpur and Ganja villages in Ayodhya Sadar Tehsil, have been transferred to the home department after a no-objection certificate was issued by the education department," a senior officer in the Home Department said.

"At present, there is no permanent arrangement for the personnel deployed for the security of Ram temple. They have been accommodated at different places and in government schools. Security has also been bolstered in view of the influx of a large number of devotees," he said.

Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow zone, Piyush Mordia said, "An additional force of 3,000 personnel has been deployed in Ayodhya. The measure will ensure that devotees face no problem during their visit to the temple town."

A tight vigil will be maintained as several religious events are lined up in Ayodhya for the next six months.
Chandigarh, Jan 31 : The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday sought response from the Chandigarh administration and the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh on a petition alleging fraud in the election for the post of mayor held a day earlier.

However, no interim order was passed staying the results.

A division bench of Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice Harsh Bunger issued notice on Aam Aadmi Party mayoral candidate Kuldeep Kumar's petition and asked the respondents to file replies within three weeks.

The decision was challenged by AAP and Congress Party's Joint Candidate Kuldeep Kumar who accused the Presiding Officer of resorting to fraud and forgery in the counting process.

In a major setback to the INDIA bloc's Congress-AAP alliance on Tuesday, the municipal corporation ruling BJP retained the mayoral seat for the ninth time in a row by winning the post with just four votes.

The AAP-Congress alliance lost the seat despite having the maximum councillors. Eight out of 36 votes were declared invalid by presiding authority Anil Masih, a nominated councilor, with no voting right. The BJP got 16 votes, while the AAP-Congress alliance had 12 votes despite having 20 councillors.

AAP-Congress joint candidate Kumar prayed for fresh election in a free and fair manner under the supervision of a retired High Court judge.

In the petition, he alleged in complete departure of the practice and rules, the presiding officer refused to allow the nominees of parties to monitor the counting of votes.

"The presiding officer in most flimsy manner addressed to the House that he does not want any assistance from the members nominated by the parties contesting the election and he will count the vote himself. The voices were raised by the Aam Admi Party and the Congress but their requests were not heeded, but surprisingly the Deputy Commissioner and the prescribed authority, who was also in the same capacity in the last year's election, remained mum," the petition said.
Patna, Jan 31 : A property dealer was shot dead in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, police said on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Kumar Mukesh, a resident of Kamla Gram.

The accused fled the scene after committing the crime.

"We have got information about a murder of a property dealer in the Kamla Gram area. Accordingly, a team of Sadar police station reached the spot and investigated the matter. We have recovered the body and sent it for the post-mortem to SKMCH. The gunshot injury was found in the back side of Mukesh's head," said Awadesh Saroj Dixit, SDPO of Sadar police station.

"Preliminary probe revealed that Mukesh was returning from a party, and the accused, in a planned way, followed him and gunned him down just 150 meters away from his house. We are taking the statement of the victim's family members and scanning CCTV footage of the area," Dixit said.
Lucknow, Jan 31 : Following an increase in cost and post-Covid rules, there has been a visible decline in the number of people applying for Haj from Uttar Pradesh.

According to the data from the state Haj committee, this year, the state could not even fill its allocated quota despite extending the application deadline by a month, which contrasts with the previous system of selecting pilgrims through a lottery.

By January 15, only 19,702 people had applied for Haj, compared to 26,786 last year. Uttar Pradesh is allocated a quota of 30,000 devotees.

By the original deadline of December 20 last year, only 6,737 applications were received, prompting an extension of the deadline to January 15.

A Haj official said, "The continuous increase in the cost of Haj and the new conditions imposed after the pandemic are major reasons behind this decline. Last year, one person's Haj cost was Rs 4.24 lakh, excluding the cost of sacrifice."

Haj is a significant pillar in Islam, and performing this pilgrimage is obligatory for adherents of Islam.

In India, the Haj quota is for 1,75,000 people, with 1,25,000 going through the Haj Committee of India and 50,000 through private tours and travels.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost of Haj was Rs 2.36 lakh, which increased to Rs 4.12 lakh in 2022 and Rs 4.24 lakh in 2023.

This year, the Haj process is underway, with the first instalment set at Rs 81,500 and the second instalment at Rs 1.70 lakh. The application process has ended.
Mumbai, Jan 31 : The new episode of business reality show 'Shark Tank India 3' witnessed a pitch by Anand Nahar along with his brother Amrit, for their fast food brand 'Zorko', leaving not only Ritesh Agarwal, founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, but also the other sharks surprised.

However, the real surprise came when Anand, hailing from Surat, disclosed his previous interest in investing in OYO, narrating his journey of reaching out to the company and even sending a personal email to Ritesh.

After explaining his idea behind opening the fast food chain, the pitcher shared: "Sir I wanted to invest in OYO as well. I had even sent mail and the call centre people couldn't understand what I wanted to say. I used to call continuously but it couldn't happen and then you reached 10 million."

Anand further verified his claim by sharing a screenshot of the email he sent and Ritesh was amused by the unexpected turn of events.

While the sharks found the pitch and the brothers entertaining and intriguing, eyebrows were raised when they asked for Rs 1.5 crore for one percent equity.

Aman Gupta, co-founder and CMO, BOAT, and Ritesh offered them Rs 20 lakh for one percent equity, plus Rs 1.3 crores debt at 10 per cent interest for three years.

Amrit and Anand gave a counter offer of 100 hours for one per cent equity plus Rs 1.5 crore debt at 10 percent interest for three years.

Listening to their counter offer, Aman said: "I can't commit you hours. If I like you can sit with my team, and me, and can learn. But I can't commit like this. I don't want to make a false commitment. If I feel to do something, I will do otherwise I won't do. Right now I want to support you, your energy is right, you need some directions."

The sharks gave second offer to the founders which was one per cent advisory equity plus Rs 1.5 crore debt at 10 per cent interest for three years.

Amrit and Anand gave another counter offer which was 50 hours for one per cent equity plus Rs 1.5 crore debt at 10 per cent interest for three years.

Hearing the offer, Ritesh said: "I don't have a problem in committing hours, you can take 20 hours commitment from me, but from Aman's side you have to put your trust and believe him."

Aman further commented: "Ritesh has committed you 25 hours. I am not committing, but I am giving you trust that I will do."

Despite securing a deal from the sharks Ritesh Agarwal and Aman Gupta, the brothers' counter-ask for committed advisory time left Aman frustrated, leading him to tear the cheque in response to their indecisiveness.

Ritesh got frustrated on their indecisiveness, and said he is out.

Aman also said he is out, tearing the cheque.

"Bhai tu mujhe maaf kar," added Aman.

'Shark Tank India 3' airs on Sony LIV.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2024 - 22:37 | World, All

Myanmar's military regime said it will extend a state of emergency for another six months, state media reported Wednesday, the day before the three-year anniversary of the coup that ousted the country's democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The junta has repeatedly extended the state of emergency since the Feb. 1, 2021, coup due to a prolonged conflict between the military and opposition forces including pro-democracy citizens who have taken up arms and ethnic minority militia.

With the fifth extension, the deadline for holding a general election to restore civilian rule will be pushed back to Feb. 1 next year.

The junta's announcement was aired by MRTV broadcast following a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council, the country's supreme decision-making body.

During the meeting, junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said the country still needs to be under the state of emergency so the military can deal with attacks by ethnic armed groups, according to the TV report.

The decision comes as the junta faces its biggest challenge since the coup amid a coordinated offensive launched in October last year by three ethnic minority rebel groups in the country's northern region.

Related coverage:

ASEAN endorses Thailand's humanitarian corridor for Myanmar refugees

FOCUS: Myanmar junta threatened by armed opposition forces 3 yrs after coup

Myanmar junta senior official attends ASEAN meeting in Laos
Washington, Jan 31 : Lawmakers in the Congress across the aisle and citizens alike are now wondering how and in which form US President Joe Biden will "strike back" to contain Iran-backed militants who managed to penetrate Pentagon's defence systems in Jordan and killed three US troops.

A direct attack on Iran is unlikely, experts say. "It's pretty safe to say that deterrence, to date, has not worked well," said retired Army Maj. Gen. Mark Quantock, who served as chief of intelligence for US Central Command.

Quantock said: "The tricky part is to do something without escalating the conflict. But every action - to include no action - has a consequence."

Most military leaders rule out any direct strike on Iran but a subterfuge attack is most likely as both President Biden and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin have vowed to "respond at a time and place of their own choice" .

Since the drone attack in Jordan killed three American soldiers, the Pentagon's response will likely involve air strikes, sea-launched missiles and raids targeting leadership of the Iran-backed militants who have mounted more than 200 assaults on US troops and commercial shipping across the Middle East, current and key former officials of the US administration said.

The US military response is likely to repel the militants' ability to attack, punish their leadership and beef up defences in the region to help protect the thousands of American forces there, the officials said. Operations could extend from Yemen to Iraq where the White House and Pentagon suspects Iran supports local militias.

American defence leaders such as Sgt. William Rivers of Willingboro, New Jersey; Spc. Kennedy Sanders of Waycross, Georgia,; and Spc. Breonna Moffett of Savannah, Georgia doesn't rule out a host of options since the weekend attack killed three women American soldiers.

American diplomacy will probably see an entire gamut of activity involving large-scale military operation "and everything in between," said retired Army Maj. Gen. Mark Quantock, who served as chief of intelligence for the US Central Command.

"I don't expect a US large-response, meaning a large-scale ground war," Quantock said. "But I do expect Iran and its surrogates will feel the hot sting of American power." The response will have diplomatic and economic teeth, too, he said.

Iran has been America's chief antagonist in the Middle East for decades. Its hardline Islamic leadership seized American hostages in Tehran in 1979 and equipped militants in Iraq in the mid-2000s with sophisticated roadside bombs that killed and maimed hundreds of US troops.

Then-President Donald Trump in January 2020 ordered a drone strike that killed Gen. Qasem Soleimani, leader of Iran's Quds Force, part of the paramilitary Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran retaliated with a ballistic missile attack on al-Asad air base in western Iraq where more than 100 US troops suffered traumatic brain injuries.

Those tensions spiked on Sunday, when the Biden administration said it believes the IRGC supplied arms and training to the militias that claimed credit for the attack on Tower 22 that killed the three soldiers and wounded more than 40 others.

Since October, militant groups from Yemen to Syria have mounted more than 200 attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and on bases housing US troops in Iraq, Syria and Jordan. The militants maintain their missile, rocket and drone strikes are in response to Israel's invasion of Gaza after Hamas attacked October 7.

US Central Command has led a series of airstrikes and missile launches from the sea in recent months to deter the militant groups. Warplanes, ships and submarines have pelted missile-launch sites, radar installations and arsenals in Yemen used by Houthi militants to attack commercial ships in the Red Sea. In Iraq and Syria, airstrikes have targeted Iranian-backed militant groups blamed for attacking bases with US troops there.

Until Sunday, defences at the bases have held: missiles have been shot down, rockets have had minimal impact and one-way attack drones have been intercepted. Casualties have largely been relatively few and minor.

But the one-way attack drone packed with explosives was mistaken over the weekend by base personnel for a friendly aircraft, allowing it over the wire and into barracks where troops slept, US officials told USA TODAY.

The airstrikes and sanctions have failed to deter the militants, according to a US military official who was not authorised to speak publicly. Not responding to attacks is no longer a viable strategy, he said.

How will Biden respond after soldiers are killed in a strike? The White House will likely provide the Pentagon with guidance on "the desired outcome", Quantock said. That could include deterring additional attacks, seeking retribution for the weekend strike and de-escalating tensions in the area.

US Central Command will likely develop the specific plan of attack, Quantock said.

US capabilities include: warships in the Mediterranean, Red Sea and Persian Gulf; warplanes on aircraft carriers and bases in the Middle East; and special operations forces in the region.

The Joint Staff at the Pentagon will vet the plan and present options to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin who will advise President Biden. A top priority for war planners will be shoring up US air defenses before launching attacks, said Scott Murray, a retired Air Force colonel with experience targeting militant groups in the Middle East. An assault on targets inside Iran could spur attacks on U.S. and Western interests, so improving America's nearby defences could be one of the first steps officials take in the area.

Facilities in the Middle East used by the Iranian Republican Guard Corps, which supports regional militants, should be hit, Murray said

"Having said that, I don't believe this administration will opt for a direct strike against Iran," he said. "They'll likely execute a serious and impactful cyber response against Iran and also do some sort of kinetic strikes again against Iranian-backed militias in the region. We may never know about the former. The latter would obviously make news."
London, Jan 31 : An independent review has been ordered into prosecutors' decision to accept the manslaughter pleas of a 32-year-old attacker who stabbed an Indian-origin teen and two others to death in the UK last year.

Valdo Calocane, a dual Guinea-Bissau/Portuguese national, killed 19-year-old students, Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, and 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates during an incident near Nottingham University on June 13, 2023.

Attorney General Victoria Prentis said she ordered an urgent review into the way the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) handled the case, the BBC reported.

Prentis asked His Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate to carry out the review, saying: "The senseless deaths of Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates have horrified the country.

"While nothing will bring their loved ones back, the families understandably want to understand what happened in this case.

"That's why I have asked the inspectorate to carry out a prompt and thorough review of CPS actions."

A spokesperson for His Majesty's Chief Inspector of the CPS said they accept the request for the review, the findings of which are expected by Easter.

The move by Prentis comes less than a week after prosecutors, during a hearing at the Nottingham Crown Court, accepted Calocane's guilty plea based on diminished responsibility, which means he will not be tried for murder.

According to BBC, the CPS said psychiatrists provided "overwhelming" evidence the killer was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, which resulted in him believing that the "MI6 was spying on him".

However, Webber's mother said the CPS had not consulted them, and said they had been "rushed, hastened and railroaded".

Calocane denied three counts of murder but admitted to three counts of manslaughter and three counts of attempted murder.

Following the attorney general's decision, the victims' families issued a joint statement, saying that they were "united as families in this national tragedy".

"We reiterate our deep and grave concerns in this case and our disappointment that we have had to resort to this additional level of trauma and stress to feel listened to and for further actions to be taken."

In addition to a full, open, and transparent investigation, the families also asked to be given an opportunity to discuss, in person, "the concerns and evidence of concerns that they have with the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) and the attorney general".

Calling for a public inquiry into the case, the families met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday who promised them that "we will get the answers".

In an interview with the ITV News, Sunak said on Tuesday that a decision about whether a public inquiry "is the next logical step" will be made after all the agencies involved in the case have been independently investigated.

"Once we hear back from that, then we can sit down with them and decide if there are more questions that need answering," Sunak said at ITV's This Morning.

Meanwhile, in line with the Attorney General's announcement, Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins ordered on Monday a special review into Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, where Calocane was treated for paranoid schizophrenia.

Conducted by The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the review will be carried out alongside the Independent Mental Health Homicide Review ordered by NHS England to examine the case of Valdo Calocane.
Kolkata, Jan 31 : The second phase of the Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Malda District in West Bengal on Wednesday started on a sour note as the rear windscreen of Rahul Gandhi's vehicle was smashed as the rally was passing through Dewanganj area in the morning.

State Congress leaders have claimed that in all probability the rear window screen got smashed because someone threw a stone or brick on it.

However, the state Congress President in West Bengal and five-time Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury did not name any political party while making this accusation.

"You understand yourself, whose handiwork this could be. Rahul Gandhi's Nyay Yatra had been facing hurdles since the time it entered West Bengal last week," said Chowdhury, who was with Rahul Gandhi in the vehicle when its rear windscreen was smashed.

According to Chowdhury, all possible attempts have been made to disrupt the rally since the beginning.

"This phenomenon started last week at Cooch Behar," he said. According to him, the opposition started with the destruction of the flexes set up by the state Congress workers to welcome Rahul Gandhi.

"Since then, such hurdles have been created one after another," Chowdhury said.

However, the national-level Congress leaders did not utter a single word on incident.

Significantly, Rahul Gandhi's yatra at Malda coincides with West Bengal Chief Minister's administrative review meetings in the same district.
Lucknow, Jan 31 : The Uttar Pradesh government, as part of its mission to eradicate filariasis from the state, is all set to launch the Annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign from February 5 to 15.

The campaign will be conducted in 17 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

During this campaign, proficient health workers will conduct door-to-door visits, administering filariasis prevention medication to the entire population, with the exclusion of children under two years of age, pregnant women, and those facing serious illnesses, said a government spokesman.

The Central government has set a targeted deadline of 2027 for the complete elimination of filariasis from the country.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has appealed to all residents to actively partake in the consumption of filariasis prevention medicine during the MDA rounds.

Symptoms of this grave disease, caused by Culex mosquito bites, typically manifest fice to 15 years after infection, leading to conditions like hydrocele and swelling in the extremities and breasts.

The chief minister advocated for preventive medicine intake and securing the upcoming generation from this ailment.

Emphasising the safety of the medicine, he has encouraged its consumption even in the absence of visible symptoms, citing it as a societal imperative.

Furthermore, he has underscored the irreversible nature of the disease once contracted, with management being the only recourse.

The government is providing training and kits for the Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP) of filariasis patients. Thus, preventive medicine intake becomes imperative in averting the onset of the disease.

A key facet of this initiative involves the rigorous training of Community Health Officers (CHO) stationed at Ayushman Bharat Arogya Mandir (Health and Wellness Centres) to adeptly identify filariasis patients.

The Ekikrit Niksha Diwas (END), observed on the 15th of every month in health units, serves as a crucial platform for the identification of patients with tuberculosis, kala-azar, and filariasis.

Meanwhile, as of June 2023, the state grapples with 51 filariasis endemic districts, identifying 90,768 lymphatic filariasis and 21,131 hydrocele patients.

The upcoming MDA rounds, scheduled from February 10 to 28, will target districts including Amethi, Azamgarh, Ballia, Banda, Barabanki, Bareilly, Hamirpur, Jaunpur, Jalaun, Lucknow, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Sonbhadra, Unnao, and Varanasi for filariasis elimination.

Besides, in Amethi, Azamgarh, Ballia, Banda, Bareilly, Lucknow, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, Unnao, and Varanasi, a triple-drug combination (Ivermectin, DEC, and Albendazole) will be administered, while in Ballia, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jaunpur, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, and Sonbhadra, a double drug combination (DEC and Albendazole) will be administered.

Currently, 51 districts in the state are affected by filariasis, and MDA rounds will be conducted in other affected districts starting from August 10.
Hyderabad, Jan 31 : In an unprecedented action, Hyderabad Police Commissioner on Wednesday transferred the entire staff of Punjagutta Police Station in the city.

Police Commissioner K. Srinivasa Reddy issued a blanket, transferring all 85 police personnel from the police station located in the heart of the city.

Transferred personnel include six sub-inspectors and eight assistant sub-inspectors. They have been directed to report to City Armed Reserve (CAR) headquarters, Hyderabad.

The Police Commissioner posted 82 police personnel, drawn from various police stations in the city.

The Commissioner was reported to be unhappy with the handling of some cases by the police personnel.

The action came a month after suspension of Circle Inspector (Station House Officer) B. Durga Rao for allegedly shielding Raheel Aamir, son of former Bodhan MLA Shakeel Aamir and implicating another person in a road accident case.

Police had also issued a lookout circular for Raheel, who had left for Dubai via Mumbai to be with his father on December 24, hours after ramming the BMW car into the barricades in front Praja Bhavan, the official residence of Telangana Deputy Chief Minister.

According to police, the incident occurred in the early hours of December 24. A car being driven at a high speed rammed into the barricades in front of Praja Bhavan in Begumpet area. No one was injured but the barricade and the front portion of the car were damaged in the incident. The person driving the car and three others travelling with him escaped leaving behind the car.

Later, a person came to the spot to claim the abandoned car. A case of rash driving was registered against him.

However, subsequent investigation revealed that Raheel was driving the car. The police officers allegedly let off Raheel, thus helping him to escape.

On January 28, police arrested two more persons including a police officer in the case.

Circle Inspector of Bodhan Police Station, Prem Kumar and former MLA's aide Abdul Wasey were taken into custody.
Chennai, Jan 31 : Six people, including the husband of a village panchayat president, were arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police in a case related to extortion and threats.

The six were arrested by the Tambaram Police on Tuesday evening.

Bhagavathi has been elected as the President of Kattankulathur village in Tambaram of Chennai. She got elected as an independent candidate.

Ever since she became president recently due to change of regime in the panchayat, her husband Nagarajan who is a real estate businessman has been interfering in the affairs of the panchayat.

Shopkeepers and wayside businessmen and women who used to sell flowers, vegetables and other provisions from the street, were also threatened for money.

Recently, Nagarajan and his gang threatened a private company that was selling sand. The gang, according to Guduvanchery Police threatened the company and demanded 20 trucks of sand for a road construction work free of cost. When the company refused, Nagarajan and his gang threatened to burn down all the trucks.

The company filed a complaint and police arrested Nagarajan and five other accomplices.

Immediately after the arrest of Nagarajan and his gang, local people surrounded the police station and police had to resort to force to remove the protesters.

a"IANS

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Kochi, Jan 31 : The Kerala High Court Advocates Association (KHCAA) has opposed the proposal to move the High Court to Kalamassery, about 15 km from the present location.

The KHCAA, at its general body meeting, has passed a resolution opposing the proposal.

The resolution also demanded the High Court to set up a committee to secure 17 acres of Housing Board land available near the current High Court location for future expansion.

The High Court was first established at Ram Mohan Palace, a two-storied building that was built in the mid-1930s.

In 2006, the High Court was moved to the present building adjacent to the old one.

In January 2023, the Registrar General of the Kerala High Court informed KHCAA that there was no proposal to shift the location, instead, the High Court had only requested the state government to allot additional land to it for further development.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, mentioning the removal of Article 370, economic reforms, educational reforms and indigenous defence manufacturing. In her first address in the new Parliament building. she said that building of the Ram temple in Ayodhya had been a dream for centuries and it is a reality now.

The President said there were doubts regarding the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. Those are now history. This Parliament also enacted a strict law against aTriple Talaqa and also a law to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from our neighboring countries.

She said, "My government also implemented One Rank One Pension, appointment of Chief of Defence Staff."

She said, "According to NITI Aayog, in the last one decade of my government, about 25 crore countrymen have been lifted out of poverty. We have seen India transform from fragile five to a top five economy."

The President said that Indiaas exports have increased from about 450 billion dollars to more than 775 billion dollars. FDI flows have doubled. The number of people filing Income Tax Return has increased from about 3.25 crores to about 8.25 crores. start-ups in the country have grown to more than one lakh today. In December 2017, 98 lakh people used to pay GST, today their number is 1 crore 40 lakh.

Around 13 crore vehicles were sold in the 10 years before 2014. In the last 10 years, countrymen have purchased more than 21 crore vehicles. About 2,000 electric vehicles were sold in 2014-15, whereas, till the month of December for the year 2023-24, about 12 lakh electric vehicles have been sold, she added.

In 10 years, Capex has increased 5 times to Rs 10 lakh crore. The fiscal deficit is also under control. Today, we have forex reserves in excess of $600 billion. The NPAs of banks which used to be in the double digits in the past are today around only 4 percent. Today, India is the worldas second largest producer of mobile phones. Today India is exporting Made in India toys. India is maintaining a growth rate of over 7.5 percent for two consecutive quarters.

India became the first country to hoist its flag on the southern pole of the Moon. India successfully launched the Aditya Mission and its satellite reached a distance of 15 lakh kilometers away from Earth. The success of the historic G-20 Summit strengthened Indiaas global standing.

India won more than 100 medals for the first time in the Asian Games. We also won more than 100 medals in the Para Asian Games. India got its largest sea bridge, the Atal Setu. India got its first Namo Bharat train and the first Amrit Bharat train. It became the country with the fastest 5G rollout in the world.

The President stated, "I appreciate all of you for having enacted the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam after a wait of three decades. This has paved the way for ensuring greater participation of women in the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies. The nation has got a new Nyaya Sanhita based on the principle of aJustice Firsta."

She said that the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act will ensure the right to representation to tribals there. Indiaas defence production has crossed one lakh crore rupees. The country has the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, combat aircraft Tejas, manufacturing of C-295 transport aircraft is going to take place in India. Defence corridors are being developed in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The space sector has been opened for young start-ups.
Kolkata, Jan 31 : Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen on Wednesday won the first round of legal battle against the Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, with a district court in West Bengal's Birbhum dismissing the notice of eviction issued by the university authorities against Sen last year.

In April last year, Sen had approached the district court after the eviction notice was issued against him in a dispute over 13 decimals of the land within the university campus. The authorities claimed that the Nobel laureate economist illegally occupied that portion of the land.

Finally, the district court on Wednesday delivered its judgment in the matter and dismissed the eviction notice issued by the university authorities. Till the time of filing of this report, there was no reaction from the Visva Bharati authorities on the court order.

"We have won. Amartya Sen will not have to vacate the land. The court observed that the eviction notice against him lacks factual basis," Sen's counsel said after the order was passed.

To recall, The dispute over the 13 decimals of land started when then Vice Chancellor of Visva-Bharati University, Bidyut Chakraborty, started accusing Sen of illegally occupying 1.38 acres of land which is in excess of his legal entitlement of 1.25 acres.

However, Sen refuted the allegation, claiming the original 1.25 acres were gifted to his grandfather late Kshitimohan Sen, who was the second VC of Visva-Bharati University.

Later, Sen's father late Asutosh Sen, who was also a professor with the same university, purchased the remaining 13 decimals of land, which is at the centre of the dispute.

The West Bengal government had recently transferred leasehold rights of the entire 1.38 acres of land to Sen to thwart any eviction attempt by the university authorities.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Delhi High Court said on Wednesday that the working strength in the Delhi Judicial Service is expected to be nearly at par with the sanctioned strength by the end of this year.

A Division Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2014, seeking the advertising of vacancies in the lower judiciary existing at that time.

While disposing the PIL filed by Advocate RK Kapoor, the court noted that appropriate steps in this regard have been taken, and by this year-end, the working strength shall be nearly at par with the sanctioned strength.

The initial relief sought in the petition regarding filling up of vacancies no longer required consideration.

The PIL also sought infrastructure creation and financial support from the State Government and the Union of India.

The court mentioned that steps have been taken between 2014 and 2022 on the issue and that the matter of judicial infrastructure development in the national Capital is under consideration before the Supreme Court in the case of Malik Mazhar Sultan vs UP Public Service Commission.

Given the changes in circumstances, the court stated, "No further directions are called for with respect to the development of infrastructure in the present writ petition."

Additionally, the court directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to take appropriate steps within 12 weeks for converting Tikona Park into a parking space near Tis Hazari Court Complex.

It also instructed the Land and Development Office (L&DO) and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to act expeditiously upon receiving the appropriate request from the MCD regarding the identified land for green space.

"With the aforesaid directions to the MCD, DDA, and L&DO, the present petition and pending applications stand disposed of as satisfied," the court concluded.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2024 - 09:47 | World, All, Japan

Police on Tuesday arrested eight Japanese nationals on an airplane after they were deported from the Philippines, for their alleged involvement in telecom fraud that targeted people in Japan.

The suspects, aged 25 to 35, allegedly engaged in telecom fraud and extortion of elderly people in Japan for at least three years, according to the Philippines immigration bureau. Local authorities seized a number of devices and manuals on how to commit fraud from a resort hotel they used as an office.

The Japanese police arrested them for allegedly calling a woman in her 70s in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, in 2020 and falsely claiming she owed them an unpaid service fee.

They arrived at Narita airport near Tokyo on Tuesday afternoon from Manila.

The suspects were apprehended in 2020 in Laguna province in the south of Manila on suspicion of illegally working in the Philippines.

They were held at the same detention facility as senior members of the "Luffy" crime ring, according to the immigration bureau. The group allegedly coordinated burglaries in Japan in recent years remotely via an encrypted messaging app while being held at the facility.

Related coverage:

"Luffy" crime ring members served fresh warrants over 2022 robbery

Japan police to stamp out online criminal activity with help of AI

"Luffy" crime ring members charged again for robbery, murder charges
Chennai ,jan 31 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin who is on an eight-day visit to Spain said that there were similarities between the Tamil and Spanish languages. He stated that jallikattu of Tamil Nadu was similar to the bull fighting of Spain and added that there were cultural similarities between the people of the two places.

The Chief Minister's Office in a statement on Wednesday said that Stalin was speaking at a function in Madrid for wooing investments for Tamil Nadu on Tuesday evening.

Stalin while speaking at the 'Tamil Nadu Investors First Port of Call' event in Madrid, commenced his speech in Spanish before switching to Tamil.

He told the gathering he was visiting Spain for the first time and was charmed by its beauty.

Stalin said that he was proud of the Tamil language and Jallikattu and added that the Spanish language was the second largest language in the world and Spain a land of bull tamers.

He invited Spaniards to visit the jallikattu stadium in Tamil Nadu, and said, "Spain and Tamil Nadu have a great similarity in conducting bull sport. Bullfighting is the national sport of Spain while jallikattu is a traditional sport in Tamil Nadu, and is a symbol of its culture."

Stalin said that Tamil Nadu was an investment destination and cited the examples of more than 130 Fortune 500 companies who have established their units in the state.

He stressed on the prominence of Tamil Nadu in the manufacturing sector, including vehicles, electric vehicles, electronic devices, leather goods, non-leather footwear, garments, IT, renewable energy, and specialised medical services.

The CM invited Spanish investors to explore opportunities in the existing sectors and emerging fields like aerospace, defence, biotechnology, drugs, food processing, desalination and water treatment in his state.

The Chief Minister said that the state would ensure skilled manpower along with a business-friendly environment and special incentives under various policies to the investors.

Stalin had in his earlier visits to the UAE, Singapore and Japan brought investments of around Rs 8000 crores for the state and is expecting huge investments from Spain also.

He is scheduled to travel to the US and Australia later this year to attend investment summits.
Visakhapatnam, Jan 31 : England's left-arm spinner Jack Leach is highly doubtful for playing in the second Test against India, starting in Visakhapatnam on Friday, after sitting out the side's first training session held on Wednesday.

Leach jarred his left knee while fielding during England's thrilling 28-run win over India in the series opener at Hyderabad last week. He aggravated the injury later on in the same match, bowling with a swollen joint and took out the wicket of Shreyas Iyer in the second innings.

"He's a tough kid, Leachy, so I'm not sure. You can never really write him off. We'll see how he pulls up in a couple of days," said opening batter Zak Crawley to reporters.

Leach's injury means England may not be able to execute their plan of playing four spinners in Visakhapatnam, with uncapped off-spinner Shoaib Bashir likely to get a debut in case the senior spinner is not fit in time for the second Test.

Bashir has played just six first-class matches and has 10 wickets to his name. He arrived in India during the Hyderabad Test after visa issues owing to his Pakistani heritage forced him to return home to London and get the visa there.

"He's a great kid, he's got a lot about him. He knows what he is trying to do with his bowling, and he backs himself. I like that and feel like if he got his chance in this series he would go well," added Crawley.

Though England have a 1-0 lead in the five-game series, but Crawley, who was a member of the 2021 touring party winning the opening game in Chennai, before suffering a slide to lose the series 3-1, isn't taking India lightly.

"Whoever they pick, they're going to be a very good team. They're a top side in their own conditions. There are four games left and we need to stick to what we do well. Hopefully the results come from there but we're not getting too far ahead of ourselves. We're preparing for this one like it's the first game, we're staying where our feet are and we'll see where that takes us."

India will be missing the services of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja due to injuries, but Crawley stated England are focused on what they need to go for getting things right in Visakhapatnam.

"We haven't spoken about that, to be honest. As I said, it sounds a cliche, but we stick to what we do well, we're not too worried about what they're doing. Two very good players missing, but I'm sure looking at their depth, they've got two very good players coming in. So that won't change anything for us too much."

"We just try and play the same, read the conditions on day one and see what happens from then. They're absolutely a top side in their own conditions. There are four games left, we have got to stick to what we do well and hopefully results come from there," he said.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : In an absolutely the greatest act of humanitarianism and bravery, Nikhil Chandwani, a renowned social activist, entrepreneur and influencer has recently spearheaded a mission to rescue Hansraj, a Pakistani Hindu, and his family from a harrowing situation.

Background of the Crisis Hansraj, a resident of Sindh, Pakistan, reached out to Nikhil Chandwani, narrating a distressing tale of religious persecution. In September, a Maulvi (Islamic cleric) visited his home and expressed intentions to forcibly convert his 14-year-old daughter to Islam and marry her.

Fearing for his family's safety, Hansraj fled his home with his two daughters, seeking refuge in a remote location. To protect his daughters, he was forced to hide them in a 3-feet deep pit, covered with a cage, every night.

Nikhil Chandwani's Intervention Upon learning about Hansraj's plight, Nikhil Chandwani took immediate action. Nikhil lives in Nagpur, but has a team of Hindus in Pakistanas Sindh who coordinate rescues with Nikhil. Nikhil, along with his team first provided financial support to Hansraj and then orchestrated a major rescue operation.

Nikhil Chandwani's on ground team in Sindh safely relocated Hansraj and his daughters to a Hindu-majority town, providing them with accommodation and the funds to apply for an Indian visa. In anticipation of their arrival in India, Chandwani is also arranging the construction of a small hut with essential amenities for the family. Nikhil Chandwani has assisted in rescues of 40+ Hindu, Sikh and Christian girls in Sindh, Pakistan with the use of social media pressure, his own funds and on ground team.

Expanding the Mission The successful rescue of Hansraj's family inspired Nikhil Chandwani to extend his support to more Hindu families facing similar threats. He has allocated funds to assist 10 additional families, helping them escape persecution and seek refuge in India. The leader of a refugee camp, touched by these efforts, shared a heartfelt video that showcases the impact of this initiative.

Community and Global Response The response from the community and global observers have been overwhelmingly positive. Chandwani's selfless actions have not only provided immediate relief to these families but have also highlighted the broader issue of religious persecution in certain regions. His work serves as a beacon of hope and a call to action for other humanitarian organisations and governments worldwide.

Future Plans and Call to Action Nikhil Chandwanias mission is far from over. The plan is to continue raising awareness and funds to support more Hindu families in need. Everything he does is self funded. No NGO, no donation, absolutely no donation ever! The goal is not just to provide temporary relief but to offer a pathway to a safer and more stable life. Chandwani calls upon individuals, organisations, and governments to join in these efforts, contributing in any way possible to make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by religious persecution.

Conclusion The story of Hansraj and his daughters is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by minority communities in various parts of the world. The courageous and compassionate actions of Nikhil Chandwani provide a glimmer of hope in these dark times. It's a testament to the power of empathy, action, and the human spirit. As these efforts continue, it's essential for us all to remember the impact one individual can have in changing the lives of many.

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Chandigarh, Jan 31 : The Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday said that its troops have apprehended four Indian smugglers in Punjab and seized a significant quantity of narcotics as well as arms and ammunition in an intelligence-based operation along the international boundary with Pakistan.

The operation unfolded following painstakingly developed intelligence for more than a week, the BSF said in a statement.

Reconnaissance of the probable dropping spot was also done. After thorough assessment and planning, operational teams of BSF laid an ambush in the suspected area on the evening of January 29.

Around 11.30 p.m., the ambush party heard the suspected sound of a drone and observed three individuals moving towards a packet that was just dropped. Subsequently, three smugglers were swiftly apprehended, and a pistol and magazine with four rounds were found on them, it added.

The leader confessed to multiple drone sorties planned in collusion with Pakistan-based smugglers.

The arrest of smugglers led to the revelation of their other two associates who are absconding, and consistent efforts are being made to nab them as well, said the BSF.

The operation continued that had multiple successful drone sorties.

The operation further revealed a video call exchange between Indian smuggler and Pakistani smuggler named Rana, his brother, and another associate Saha, which indicated the smuggling of narcotics through drones.

In the video call, Pak smuggler Rana instructed the Indian smuggler about handing over part of the consignment to a hinterland courier leading to the apprehension of one more courier and the seizure of additional narcotics and drug money.

The BSF will also pursue a strong case for an Interpol notice, in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), against Pakistani smuggler Rana, his brother, and Saha (the kingpins).

In total, the operation led to the apprehension of four smugglers, seizure of nine packets of heroin, one packet of ICE (methamphetamine) both weighing 5.900 kg approximately, including packing material, one pistol, four rounds, Indian currency Rs 70,140, and one scooter.
Kathmandu, Jan 31 : The government of Nepal recently deported a Chinese lady who was running an NGO inside Nepal and staying illegally in the country.

Zou Zhiqiang, who was heading an NGO named 'China Foundation for Rural Development', triggered a controversy after a Maoist leader, Gorakh Bahadur KC, allegedly beat her up during relief distribution at Jajarkot in Western Nepal.

Zhiqiang, on behalf of the Chinese NGO, had reached Jajarkot for relief distribution but the local Maoist leaders, including KC, refused to accept the relief materials calling them substandard items which did not come through proper government channels.

Later, she filed a complaint with the local police station and the CPN (Maoist Centre), the ruling party in Nepal, alleging that KC and his team had beaten her up while she was on the way for relief distribution in Jajarkot.

Over 150 people were killed in the November 3 earthquake in Jajarkot.

One of the assistants of local Maoist leader KC had beaten her up on the spot while she was on the way to distribute relief materials. KC and other Maoist leaders accused her of distributing sub-standard relief materials and that the Chinese relief materials were part of corruption.

Dev Gurung, General Secretary of CPN (Maoist Centre), coordinated the relief distribution. Later, the Maoist Centeras central committee sought clarification from KC saying why had he beaten up the Chinese national.

KC, in his clarification, stated that she accused him of some baseless allegations and that the party General Secretary Gurung was involved in corruption in relief distribution. Gurung is known for being pro-Chinese leader of the Maoist party who in person took the Chinese lady to Jajarkot to facilitate the relief distribution work.

KC accused Gurung of promoting the Chinese NGO for his personal gains and benefits.

Later, the Maoist party launched an investigation against her and it was found she was living in Nepal illegally.

According to the document obtained by IANS, Home Secretary of Nepal, Dinesh Bhattarai, on December 18 decided to deport her and imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on her for overstaying.

As per the immigration rules of Nepal, the government has barred her from entering Nepal for one year, according to the decision taken by Bhattarai.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Software major Wipro is likely to cut hundreds of mid-level jobs, as the company looks to improve its margins, the media reported.

In a statement to CNBC-TV18, a company's spokesperson said, "We are committed to investing in our people, processes and technology to drive better client and employee experiences and enhance productivity and agility across our organisation to meet fast-evolving client and market needs".

The spokesperson also said that aligning talent and business to market conditions is an essential part of the firm's strategy, as it aims to create a resilient, agile, and high-performing organisation.

This comes just weeks after the company announced its October to December quarter results, which revealed that its total headcount fell by 4,473 employees.

This was the fifth consecutive quarter that the firm experienced a decrease in workforce. The firm's total employee count was 240,234 by the end of 2023.

In November last year, reports said that Wipro might not give salary hikes to "top performers with higher compensation".

In an email to the employees, the Managing Partner and President of the 'Enterprise Futuring' business line, Nagendra Bandaru, said they are doing a "selective MSI (merit salary increases) rollout based on our business affordability".

He also mentioned that the company will prioritise employees with lower compensation among those eligible for a salary hike.
Mumbai, Jan 31 : Bollywood actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani and actress Rakul Preet Singh, who are set to tie the nuptial knot, changed their wedding venue to India influenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for families to host their wedding festivities within India.

The two will tie the knot in an intimate two-day celebration, set to conclude on February 21 in Goa. The couple, originally planned a destination wedding overseas, made a last-minute decision to align with Prime Minister Modias call.

A source close to the soon-to-be-married couple revealed, "Rakul and Jacky had initially planned for their wedding to take place in the Middle East. After nearly six months of meticulous planning, everything was pretty much in order. However, following the call from the Indian Prime Minister in December, urging rich and influential families to choose India as the venue for their big life events, Rakul and Jackky reconsidered their original plans and relocated the wedding to India."

The source further mentioned, "Their decision, made in mid-December, necessitated a complete reset, involving the destination, and accommodations. Despite the considerable changes, the couple embraced the overhaul, driven by their love for the country and desire to contribute to its growing economy."

Hosting the wedding in India aligns with economic goals, providing a boost to the local wedding industry.
Youth arrested in B'luru for indulging in indecent act with woman over bet. Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, Jan 31 : A youth has been arrested here for allegedly spanking a woman at a hotel, the police said on Wednesday, adding the man was prompted to carry out the objectionable act by his friends over a bet.

The youth, identified as Chandan, told the police during questioning that he was challenged to spank a young woman at a hotel where he had visited along with his friends.

The police said that incident happened on December 30 last year. The accused works as a gas cylinder delivery boy.

The incident happened at Nammoota Hotel in the Vijayanagar locality of Bengaluru at around 7.30 p.m. on December 30, 2023. A complaint was filed by a female employee of the hotel who saw the accused spanking the woman who was standing near the cash counter while his friends allegedly watched and laughed.

The police registered an FIR in this connection on January 10.

After being spanked, the woman "strongly objected" to Chandan's act and confronted him, following which others also gathered.

However, the accused claimed he was "innocent" and got into an argument along with his friends.

The police during the investigation learned that the accused had formed a group that targetted young girls and women who visited hotels.

They allegedly made a habit of touching them inappropriately, with one of the accused performing the act while others watched.

In case of any trouble, the three would re-group and escape.

CCTV footage related to the incident accessed by the police shows the three accused individuals arriving at the hotel, and "planning" the indecent act.

One of the youths spanks the young woman while his two other friends "closely watch and enjoy the act".

The woman can be seen strongly objecting to the act following which others present in the hotel question the accused individuals.

On sensing trouble, the three youths eventually fled the hotel.

The police have launched a hunt to trace the other two accused.
Lucknow, Jan 31 : The prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L), has sought help from its alumni for the placement of 72 students who have failed to get jobs.

Ravi Handa, an alumnus from IIM-Lucknow received the message on WhatsApp, which he shared on X.

He posted, "IIM-Lucknow is reaching out to alumni to help them with placements. It is crucial to maintain the legacy of IIM-Lucknow's 100% placement record. It is not about 5-10 people but 72 candidates at IIM-L do not have a job. Imagine the status at other B-schools."

In another tweet, Handa said, "For those who don't know IIM-Lucknow is one of the old IIMs and often considered to be one of the top five colleges in the country. They have alums over decades that are in extremely powerful positions. They can and will help."

The post went viral within a short time and some social media users blamed the government, while others said it was the same story at several other B-schools.

"Every B-School is facing the same situation, the people from IIM-C and IIM-B are also worried about it," wrote another user.

The message from the institute read, "Dear Batch of 2011, I hope this message finds you well. We are writing to address the current situation regarding unplaced students from our batch. Currently, 72 talented individuals are seeking employment opportunities. We are reaching out to our alumni of the 2011 Batch for assistance."

The text further read, "We understand that everyone has unique connections and networks, and we are hopeful that you may be able to help in placing our students. If you are aware of any job opportunities or have connections within your professional network that align with the skill sets of our 2024 batch, please consider referring them or informing us about potential openings.

"Your support is crucial in maintaining the legacy of IIM-Lucknow's 100 per cent placement record."

When contacted, the institution officials refused to comment on the post.

While one faculty member denied that the IIM-L had "officially" sent the post another said that it did not figure in their official account.

Students of the institution, however, said that the falling number of placements was a cause of concern for them and it would be "great" if the old students helped them out in the present scenario.
Meta's Threads reaches top 10 as its downloads tripled in Dec, X drops to No. 36. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Jan 31 : Meta's X rival Threads has witnessed growth in December last year, with downloads tripling, placing it in the top 10 most downloaded apps for the month on both the App Store and Google Play.

New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) Metaas X rival Threads has witnessed growth in December last year, with downloads tripling, placing it in the top 10 most downloaded apps for the month on both the App Store and Google Play.

According to data from app intelligence firm Appfigures, Threads recorded 12 million new downloads in December, earning it the number four spot in the Top Charts by downloads on Appleas App Store.

The app also witnessed 16 million downloads on Google Play, putting it at number eight spot. It was the sixth-most popular app in terms of new installations across both stores.

Threads had an impressive launch, with 100 million people registering within its first five days.

However, the app experienced a decline in daily downloads from last September until the end of the year. But in December, Threads once again began to grow.

While Threads was among the top 10 apps in terms of downloads last month, it did not make it to the top 5. However, its parent company did.

Instagram became the most downloaded app in December, with a combined 54 million installs from the App Store and Google Play, surpassing TikTok.

As for Threadsa direct rival, X, the micro-blogging site is still experiencing the effects of its rebranding.

According to Appfigures, the app had just about 8.5 million installations in December. It was the 29th-most downloaded app on the App Store and the 46th on Google Play.

Last month, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Threads is finally available to users in the European Union.

The move will give Threads an opportunity to tap more than 448 million citizens in Europe.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2024 - 17:35 | All, Japan

Two parliamentary vice ministers from the largest faction within Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party resigned Wednesday over a political fundraising scandal that has been rattling the country's politics since late last year.

The two lawmakers' faction, formerly led by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has been at the center of the scandal. Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, was assassinated during an election campaign in July 2022.

The Abe faction said in a statement that it provided around 677 million yen ($4.57 million) in total to its members from unreported income over five years through 2022, while apologizing for "causing public mistrust in politics."

On Wednesday, the faction submitted a revised political funds report for three years through 2022 to the internal affairs ministry.

Takuo Komori, parliamentary vice minister for internal affairs, said he failed to declare 700,000 yen in his political funds report, and Ryusho Kato, parliamentary vice land minister, admitted to omitting 100,000 yen in his document.

At a Diet session, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who heads the LDP, emphasized that the party must "start from scratch as if it was dismantling itself" in order to restore public trust eroded by the funds scandal.

The LDP has come under intense scrutiny amid allegations that some of its factions, such as the one once led by Abe, failed to report revenue from fundraising parties and accumulated hundreds of millions of yen in slush funds to distribute to its members.

In December, Kishida replaced several ministers and key party members belonging to the Abe faction to mitigate the impact of the scandal on his administration.

But most parliamentary vice ministers from the Abe faction, including Komori and Kato, were retained, as they were believed to be free of suspicion over the funds scandal, sources close to the matter said.

At a parliamentary session, Kenta Izumi, chief of the leading opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, lambasted Kishida for not investigating the vice ministers' involvement in the scandal, saying the premier's responsibility is "grave."

Asked about whether the LDP plans to reprimand lawmakers over the issue, Kishida said the party will "take appropriate steps and consider how to respond" after confirming how political funds were collected and used among its members.

With criticism of LDP factions mounting, Kishida has decided to disband the fourth-biggest group that he headed until December. Some other groups, such as the Abe faction, have followed suit.

Prosecutors have indicted or issued summary indictments to 10 individuals belonging to three factions within the LDP, but executives of the Abe faction did not face criminal charges due to a lack of evidence.

Later Wednesday, Tokyo prosecutors received a petition by a citizen's group for a review of their investigations into five senior members of the Abe faction, including former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno and former trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura.

Matsuno and Nishimura had served as the Abe faction's secretary general in charge of practical affairs for the group.

In internal reform proposals approved last week, the LDP pledged to move away from factions as vehicles for securing funds and allocating important government and party posts for lawmakers, but it 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 they lack substantive solutions to prevent the abuse of political funds.

Related coverage:

Ex-PM Aso's crude critique exposes Japan's ongoing sexism impasse

Japan PM vows to restore public trust in politics amid money scandal

LDP to negotiate political funds law revisions with other parties: Japan PM
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Myanmar has handed over three Chinese warlords to Beijing, who were notorious for trafficking thousands of foreign nationals to forcibly run scams, a media report said.

Bai Suocheng, Wei Chaoren and Liu Zhengxiang led three of four families which ruled Laukkaing on Myanmar's north-eastern border with China, BBC reported.

They were were taken to China on a chartered flight, with seven others, the report said.

This is the latest twist in the stunning downfall of the military-backed Chinese mafia in Myanmar.

And it's yet another blow for Myanmar's military regime, whose power is waning, BBC reported.

Myanmar's army, which had been locked in a brutal stalemate since it sized power in early 2021, is now losing as it battles well-organised ethnic armies on more than one front.

General Min Aung Hlaing is known to have supported the Chinese mafia in Laukkaing. For years, China had been pressing his regime to rein in the scam centres, where people are trapped and forced to run telephone and online scams targeting victims everywhere, BBC reported.

China's unease at what was happening across its border encouraged three insurgent armies to launch coordinated attacks against the military in late October last year - and it hastened the fall of the mafia families.

The four families took over control of Laukkaing in 2009. Liu Guoxi, who led the fourth family, died in 2020.

Over the years, their reign turned a poor Burmese border town into a den of criminal activity, especially for lucrative scam centres. The UN estimates that hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked into these centres across South East Asia, BBC reported.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : Delhi's Patiala House Court has extended the judicial custody of all the six accused in the December 13, 2023 Parliament security breach case till March 1.

Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur, who presided over the proceedings, noted the presence of all the accused -- Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, Neelam Devi Azad, Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat -- in the courtroom.

The judge granted a further 30-day extension to their judicial custody.

The court has scheduled a hearing on February 17 to address an application filed by some of the arrested individuals, alleging that the police forcibly obtained their signatures on blank papers.

The court has sought a response from Delhi Police regarding this application.

Last time, the court had allowed Delhi Police's application seeking production warrant for all the six accused.

Link judge Sudhanshu Kaushik had 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.

Azad had alleged that a woman officer forcibly made her sign over 50 blank papers on the preceding Friday.

Special public prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh had objected to the allegation, 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 on Manoranjan and Sagar.

The duo had burst yellow smoke canisters inside the Lok Sabha chamber on December 13, the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, after jumping from the 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.
London, Jan 31 : Internet search engines like Google, Microsoft Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo! and AOL are rife with content that glorifies or celebrates self-injury, and can act as gateways to self-harm and raise suicide risk, a report warned on Wednesday.

The report, by the Office of Communication (Ofcom), UK's regulator for the communications services, analysed over 37,000 web pages, images and videos.

The researchers entered common search queries for self-injurious content, as well as cryptic terms typically used by online communities to conceal their real meaning.

They found that one in every five (22 per cent) results linked, in a single click, to content which celebrates, glories, or offers instruction about non-suicidal self-injury, suicide or eating disorders.

Nineteen per cent of the very top links on page one of the results linked to content promoting or encouraging these behaviours, increasing to 22 per cent of the top-five page one results.

Image searches also carried high risk.

Image searches delivered the highest proportion of harmful or extreme results (50 per cent), followed by web pages (28 per cent), and video (22 per cent).

Research has already shown that images can be more likely to inspire acts of self-injury.

Also, it can be hard for detection algorithms to distinguish between visuals glorifying self-harm and those shared in a recovery or medical context.

"Search engines are often the starting point for people's online experience, and we're concerned they can act as one-click gateways to seriously harmful self-injury content," said Almudena Lara, Online Safety Policy Development Director, in a statement.

"Search services need to understand their potential risks and the effectiveness of their protection measures -- particularly for keeping children safe online -- ahead of our wide-ranging consultation due in Spring," Lara added.

Further, they found that people are six times more likely to find harmful content about self-injury when entering deliberately obscured search terms, a common practice among online communities.

Both the specific and evolving nature of these terms pose significant detection challenges for services. One in ve (22 per cent) search results were categorised as 'preventative', linking to content focused on getting people help -- such as mental health services or educational material about the dangers of self-injury.

The researchers urged search services to take steps to minimise the chances of children encountering harmful content on their service -- including content that promotes self-harm, suicide and eating disorders.

--IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 31 : Breaking his silence on the affairs of his daughter's IT firm Exalogic, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Kerala Assembly on Wednesday that his hands were clean.

"Before it was against my wife, now the allegations are directed towards my daughter. My daughter started a small IT firm using the retirement amount which my wife received. I am not going to be fazed by all this as my hands are clean. (he raised both his hands)," said Vijayan while concluding his speech on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address.

On Wednesday, Vijayan unlike last year when he blew his top after the opposition Congress first time legislator Mathew Kuzhalnaden went hammer and tongs at the firm of Veena Vijayan, Exalogic, Vijayan looked cheerful while refuting the allegations by the Opposition.

Vijayan's response came two days after the Congress alleged a "secret pact" between the Left party and the Sangh Parivar, after a lawyer with a Ram Janmabhoomi-related case history was appointed to handle the alleged graft case of Vijayan's daughter Veena.

Senior lawyer C.S. Vaidyanathan, who was the counsel for Ram Lalla in the Ram Janmabhoomi case, has been picked to represent the state-run KSIDC.

For the last several months, the Opposition in Kerala has been targeting the Vijayan government after a media report, quoting an Income Tax Department official, claimed that Veena Vijayan's IT firm had received Rs 1.72 crore from a mining company - CMRL, in which the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has a stake.

However though Vijayan made the statement that his hands are clean, he did not say a word about the ongoing probe into his daughter's firm by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Ranchi, Jan 31 : Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday lodged a complaint against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials who conducted raids at his residence in New Delhi on January 29 in connection with a money laundering probe against him.

Soren, who comes from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community, wrote to the Incharge of the SC/ST police station here claiming ED officials Kapil Raj, Deovrat Jha, Anupam Kumar, Aman Patel and others of Ranchi Zonal Office conducted search operations in New Delhi "to harass and malign" him and his entire community.

In the complaint, he mentioned that he visited New Delhi on January 27 and 28 and stayed at Shanti Niketan, which is taken on lease by the state of Jharkhand for residential and office use. "On 29 January, I came to know that ED officials along with others had allegedly searched that premises. This purported search was conducted without any information to me."

Soren further said that the officials "leaked selective misinformation" that a blue BMW car and a huge sum of illicit cash belonging to him were seized from the premises. He claimed that the BMW car seized by the probe agency did not belong to him and also denied possessing illicit cash.

"I am not the owner of the car of BMW which the abovenamed persons claim to have seized. I do not own any illicit cash. The abovenamed persons and unknown others who are not members of any Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe have done the aforesaid acts intentionally to humiliate me in public," Soren said in his complaint.

Sources said that Soren filed the complaint hours before a team of ED sleuths reached his residence in Ranchi to question him in connection with the money laundering probe.

--IANS

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Patna, Jan 31 : After Nitish Kumar claimed on Wednesday that the recruitment of teachers in the state was done at his behest, Manoj Jha, the RJD's Rajya Sabha MP asked why the Bihar Chief Minister had not provided jobs in the last 17 years of his rule.

"The Mahagathbandhan government was formed in August 2022 after the RJD extracted a promise that four lakh jobs would be provided to the people of Bihar. When Nitish Kumar came to Lalu Prasad Yadav and said that the BJP was trying to break his party, the RJD supremo realised that he should be protected and hence he agreed to form the government in Bihar.

"At that time, Tejashwi Yadav had put a condition of providing four lakh jobs to the people of the state before Nitish Kumar. He said that the RJD had made a poll promise to give 10 lakh government jobs. When Nitish Kumar accepted the condition, then the government was formed," Jha claimed.

"Nitish Kumar had ruled for 17 years before that. Why did he not do the recruitments at that time?

"Today, the youth, and every caste and community is disappointed by the change of government. We developed road infrastructure, conducted the caste-based survey and reservation was extended in Bihar," Jha said.

"Tejashwi Yadav has created 1.35 lakh jobs in the health sector. The signatures on the files are complete. Nitish Kumar should complete the recruitment process in 30 to 40 days. Tejashwi Yadav also made the proposal to increase the stipends to Asha employees. The signatures have been done on the files but they are not passing it in the Cabinet," Jha said.

Nitish Kumar on Wednesday claimed that Tejashwi Yadav did not know anything about Bihar and the recruitments of teachers were done under 'Saat Nischay Part 2' and it was his vision.
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu addresses the joint session of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget session. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Jan 31 : President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said that as many as 16 AIIMS and 315 medical colleges have been established in the last decade while the number of MBBS seats has more than doubled during the period.

President Murmu made the remarks while addressing the joint sitting of both Houses of the Parliament.

In her address, the President said that in the National Education Policy, emphasis has been laid on education in mother tongue and Indian languages.

"Teaching of subjects like engineering, medical, law has been started in Indian languages. To provide quality education to school students, my government is working on more than 14,000 'PM Shri Vidyalayas'. Out of these, more than 6000 schools have started functioning," she added.

"The school dropout rate in the country has reduced due to efforts of my government. The enrolment of girls in higher education has increased. Enrolment of Scheduled Caste students has increased by about 44 per cent, that of Scheduled Tribe students by more than 65 per cent and that of OBC by more than 44 per cent. Under Atal Innovation Mission, 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs have been established to promote innovation. More than 1 crore students are involved in it," she added.

President Murmu further said that in the last 10 years, the government has done "unprecedented" work in the field of tourism. "Along with the number of domestic tourists in India, the number of foreign tourists coming to India has also increased... The reason for the growth in the tourism sector is owed to India's growing stature. Today the world wants to explore and know India."

"Apart from this, the scope of tourism has also increased due to excellent connectivity. Building of airports at various places is also advantageous. Now, North East is witnessing record tourist arrivals. Now there is heightened excitement about Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands," she said.

About development of pilgrimage destinations and historical sites across the country, she said that the government has made pilgrimage in India easier now. "In the last one year 8.5 crores of people have visited Kashi. More than 5 crores of people have visited Mahakaal. More than 19 lakh people have visited Kedar Dham. In the 5 days of "Pran Pratishtha", 13 lakh devotees have visited Ayodhya Dham itself."

President Murmu said that there is "unprecedented expansion" of facilities at pilgrimage sites in every part of the country.

The government "also wants to make India a leading destination for meetings and exhibitions related sectors. For this, facilities like Bharat Mandapam, Yashobhoomi have been created. In near future, tourism will become a major source of employment", she added.
Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party and Congress councillors stage a protest after the result was declared in the Chandigarh mayoral polls. Image Source: IANS News

Chandigarh, Jan 31 : Leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress protested outside the Sector 17 police station here on Wednesday against the alleged rigging in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation's mayoral elections.

They demanded the police to register a case against Anil Masih, the presiding officer appointed for the elections.

In their statement, the councillors and leaders of both the parties accused the BJP of rigging the elections, saying Masih deliberately cancelled the votes of eight councilors so that the BJP could make their mayor.

AAP leader Sunny Ahluwalia met the SHO, demanding to register a case against the presiding officer, handed him video clips and other materials related to 'rigging' in the elections.

Later, he met the Senior Superintendent of Police and demanded immediate action against Masih.

Ahluwalia told the media that the BJP "is the biggest threat to our country's democracy", adding that as per the strategy, the BJP managed all officials related to the elections and made its mayor by rigging the polls.

He said all AAP and Congress councillors have submitted an affidavit in the Punjab and Haryana High Court stating that they voted for Kuldeep Kumar Tita as the mayor.

"We will continue our fight until the wrongfully appointed mayor steps down," he added.

Meanwhile, the high court has issued a notice to the corporation and the local administration, seeking their reply within three weeks.

Both AAP and the Congress have appealed to the high court to hold fresh mayoral elections.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 31 : Kerala's Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency, where the famed Hindu temple of Sabarimala is located, will, in all likelihood, will witness a triangular fight of three Christian candidates representing the three political fronts in Kerala in the upcoming general elections.

This became evident on Wednesday, when seven-time former legislator P.C.George was admitted into the BJP in Delhi in the presence of General Secretary in charge of state Prakash Javadekar and Union Ministers V. Muraleedharan and Rajiv Chandrasekhar.

George, in his 33 years as a legislator, represented the Poonjar constituency, which is part of the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency and hence, the BJP which is expecting to reach out to the Christian community through George, hopes with he being the local boy, it could spell credence to Javadekaras repeated statements that this time the BJP will win a minimum 5 seats out of the state's 20.

However, this can be seen as an ardent wish as the BJP has no seat in the 140-member Assembly.

The other two Christian candidates include sitting Congress Lok Sabha member Anto Antony who has been representing this constituency since its inception in 2009. The third is none other than CPI-M veteran and two time former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, who for the past six months has been stay put in the constituency taking part and holding numerous seminars and meetings.

Significantly, iAntonyas margin has been coming down after each election, from a victory margin of 1.11 lakh votes in 2009 to around 56,000 votes in 2014 and finally in 2019, he won with a further reduced margin of around 44,000 votes.

Likewise in each of the elections from 2009, both the CPI-M and BJP candidates have been increasing their tally of votes with the BJP candidates registering a phenomenal growth of their votes which went up from a mere 56,000 to 2.97 lakh, while the CPI-M candidates had a modest growth from 2.97 lakh to 3.36 lakh.

However the CPI-M is expecting that they will be able to repeat the 2021 Assembly polls performance in the seven assembly constituencies which comes under the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency as they won all the five seats in Pathanamathitta district and two in the Kottayam district.

The victory margin of these seven assembly constituencies comes to 73,656 votes, but Antony, who, in all likelihood, will be asked to defend his seat is confident that his voters who have seen him since 2009 will give him a handsome win.

If George is fielded by the BJP, it will in all likelihood be a triangular fight between three Christian candidates.

--IANS

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New Delhi: AAP MP Sanjay Singh being taken to the Rouse Avenue Court by the Enforcement Directorate officials. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its judgement on bail plea of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, accused in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam.

Singh had moved the high court seeking bail on January 4 after Special Judge M.K. Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court on December 22 dismissed his plea.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma reserved the order after hearing arguments of both the sides.

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday had claimed before the court that Singh was involved in creating a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to launder "proceeds of crime" linked to the alleged liquor scam, a result of changes in the excise policy.

In an affidavit, it alleged Singh's involvement in acquiring, concealing, and using proceeds of crime, and that he worked closely with individuals like Dinesh Arora and Amit Arora.

Singh was involved in the formation of a special purpose vehicle (Aralias Hospitality Pvt Ltd) to launder the proceeds of crime that would have been generated by the business resulting from the policy changes as conspired by him and his co-conspirators.

The ED further claimed that Singh received illegal money or kickbacks from the alleged excise policy (2021-22) scam and participated in a conspiracy.

Senior advocate Mohit Mathur, representing Singh, argued that his client has been in custody for three months without a clear attribution of a role in the predicate offence.

Singh's arrest, according to Mathur, relied on the statement of the ED's "star witness".

Justice Sharma had earlier issued notice to the probe agency on Singh's bail plea.

Denying him bail, the judge had said that the evidence demonstrated the accused's involvement in money laundering and that that there were reasonable grounds to believe in the guilt based on the connection to proceeds of crime from scheduled offences investigated by the CBI. The court also said that observations on the interpretation of Section 45 and 50 of the PMLA, made during the dismissal of bail applications for various accused, remained unaltered, and that reliance on a Supreme Court order granting bail to another accused in the case didn't provide contrary observations or establish parity.

It had also dismissed the argument regarding the absence of recovery during proceedings, stating that it is not always necessary.

Addressing the lack of documentary evidence connecting the accused to alleged proceeds of crime, the court rejected the notion, citing the nature of cash transactions. Dismissing the claim of approver coercion, the judge found no evidence of influence and affirmed the relevance of evidence collected by the ED while noting the accused's alleged role in influencing the excise policy and attempted creation of a partnership involving a dummy associate to generate proceeds of crime.

Statements of approver Dinesh Arora, accused Amit Arora, and witness Ankit Gupta were cited in relation to this aspect, revealing attempts to incorporate the applicant's personal assistant into the entity.

Singh's counsel had earlier noted that Singh was neither an accused, and was never arrested, or charge sheeted in the predicate offence (the alleged corruption in the excise scam) being probed by the CBI, and that he was not even summoned by the CBI in the corruption case. His name did not appear in any of the supplementary charge sheets filed by the ED before his arrest.

The financial probe agency arrested Singh on October 4, 2023 after carrying out searches at his residence in the North Avenue area.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2024 - 12:26 | World, All

North Korea said Wednesday it conducted a strategic cruise missile launch drill the previous day off the country's west coast to check the "rapid counterattack posture" of the military, according to state-run media.

The firing of the Hwasal-2 was aimed at improving the military's "strategic striking capability," the official Korean Central News Agency said, without providing details such as the flight range or number of missiles launched.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said it was believed an optical component has been installed at the tip of the warhead of the Hwasal-2 missile for precision guidance.

The South Korean military said North Korea fired several cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea from the western city of Nampo on Tuesday morning, marking Pyongyang's third round of cruise missile launches in a week.

Pyongyang tested its new Pulhwasal-3-31 strategic cruise missile, believed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads, on Sunday and Jan. 24.

KCNA said Tuesday's drill had no adverse effect on the security of neighboring countries.

Related coverage:

North Korea fires several cruise missiles into Yellow Sea: South Korea

North Korea says it tested submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles

N. Korea fires several cruise missiles from its east coast: S. Korea
Kolkata, Jan 31 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the CPI-M of being responsible for deterioration of her Trinamool Congress' "amicable" relationship with the Congress.

"I was with the Congress at one point of time. My understanding with Congress leadership was quite amicable. But because of the CPI-M, our relationship with Congress got spoiled," she said while addressing an administrative review meeting at Malda district.

Again holding the Congress responsible for the failed seat-sharing arrangement, Banerjee said excessive demands from the section of its leaders ultimately prompted her to take a decision of moving alone in West Bengal.

"I thought of working together for the sake of the bigger national interest. They do not have a representative in the West Bengal Assembly. They just have two Lok Sabha seats from the state. So I was willing to offer two. I also ensured their victory from those two seats. But they refused to accept that offer. Then I thought it was enough. I will not be able to move along with the CPI-M, which conspired to kill me again and again. They have killed so many people in West Bengal," she said.

Banerjee also said that the Congressas understanding with the CPI-M will actually benefit the BJP in West Bengal.

"So it is better that the Trinamool Congress contests alone and make an all-out effort to defeat BJP," she said.

Referring to the smashing of the rear windscreen of Congress leader Rahul Gandhias vehicle during the Nyay Yatra rally on Wednesday morning, the Chief Minister said that the incident actually happened in Bihar just before they entered West Bengal.

"I do not support such acts. I condemn attacks on anybody. But later I learnt that the incident happened at Katihar in Bihar. The particular vehicle entered West Bengal with that smashed windscreen. Nitish Kumaras party in Bihar has just moved to BJPas side. On the other hand, others are united. So it is possible that it might have happened there," she said.
Amaravati, Jan 31 : The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday signed an MoU with the Switzerland-based International Baccalaureate (IB) on introducing IB curriculum in government schools.

The IB syllabus will be first introduced to students of class I from the academic year 2025-26 and as they are promoted to upper classes every year, they would be learning the upgraded lessons making IB part of all classes in government schools by 2035 and IB syllabus would be taught to students of Class XII in 2037.

School Education Principal Secretary Praveen Prakash and Chief Education Officer (Director of Education Innovation) of IB Anton Beguin exchanged MoU copies in the presence of the Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at the Camp Office here.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that it is a great satisfying programme as it paves way for integrating IB syllabus and practices with the syllabus of students of Classes I to XII.

In countries like India, quality education is necessary for students to make them competitive at the global level, he said, adding that the MoU with the IB offers a good future and helps them get high-paid jobs in the ever-competitive job market.

Compared to the western countries, it is necessary to upgrade the present educational system and syllabus in India for enhancing problem solving abilities of students, the Chief Minister said, adding that IB curriculum integration with the school syllabus would help achieve this objective.

As per the MoU, IB experts will impart training to teachers in government schools, education department officials at mandal and district level, officers and staff of the SSC and Intermediate Boards and APSCERT in handling IB syllabus .

This will make them part of the IB global teaching network. A new journey has begun and it helps set a new standard in the educational system, he said.

IB Director General Olli Pekka Heinonen, who participated in the programme virtually from Geneva, said this is their biggest MoU of its kind and it would be an inspiration for other countries and regions.

He said that the MoU helps improve his country's relations with India in the educational sector and IB would first concentrate on Play Best Learning among the students while helping them learn foreign languages also along with other important subjects like mathematics, science and arts.

Education Minister B. Satyanarayana, Chief Secretary K.S. Jawahar Reddy, School Education Principal Secretary Praveen Prakash, School Education Commissioners S. Suresh Kumar and K. Bhaskar (Infrastructure), Intermediate Education Commissioner Sourav Gour, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan Project Director B. Srinivasa Rao, Midday Meals Director SS Shobhika, senior officials and representatives of IB were among those present.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) response on a plea by Supertech Group Chairman R.K. Arora, arrested in a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), challenging a trial court order denying him regular bail.

New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the Enforcement Directorateas (ED) response on a plea by Supertech Group Chairman R.K. Arora, arrested in a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), challenging a trial court order denying him regular bail.

Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri issued notice to the probe agency and listed the matter for further hearing on February 21.

On January 24, Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala of Patiala House Courts had dismissed the regular bail plea of Arora.

The court had granted Arora 30 days interim bail on January 16.

The ED had then challenged Jangala's January 16 order granting him interim bail.

Noting that Arora had already been released from jail after receiving interim bail from a trial court, the high court had scheduled the matter for further hearing on February 9.

Jangala had allowed bail, holding that the top court has recognised the right of the accused to obtain the treatment even from a private hospital at his own cost and expenditure.

The judge granted him relief on a personal bail bond of Rs one lakh and a surety of Rs two lakh.

Arora had moved the court on January 10 seeking three months' interim bail, citing health issues, and had informed the court that he has lost around 10 kg since his arrest and needs urgent medical assistance.

His plea said that he was referred to the state-run Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital by jail authorities, where he underwent examinations and received prescriptions. Despite medical attention, the doctors at the hospital noted a lack of improvement in Arora's health. The plea argued for his immediate release on interim bail to facilitate accurate diagnosis and urgent medical treatment and said that prolonged custody could jeopardise Arora's health, leading to intolerable consequences for him and his family.

It also underscored the disparity between medical facilities in prisons and those available in private hospitals, stating that jail facilities are inadequate for monitoring the health of an individual suffering from multiple serious ailments.

In October last year, the court had refused to grant default bail to Arora, who had argued that the ED had filed an incomplete charge sheet against him just to defeat his "statutory right" to get default bail in case the probe agency fails to file a charge sheet within the statutory period of completing the investigation from the arrest of an accused.

On September 26, the judge had taken cognisance of the charge sheet against Arora and dismissed his application, observing that the ED had completed the investigation against the accused.

Arrested on June 27 last year after the ED re-attached properties worth Rs 40 crore belonging to him in this matter, Arora had said that he was arrested without being informed about the grounds of arrest. The court, however, rejected his claim, noting that the probe agency complied with the relevant provisions of law.

The probe agency had, on August 24, filed the charge sheet against Arora and eight others in the matter. The accused have been accused of defrauding at least 670 home buyers of Rs 164 crore. The prosecution had earlier apprised the court that the company and its directors had indulged in a criminal conspiracy to cheat people by collecting funds from prospective home buyers as advance against flats booked in real estate projects but failed to adhere to the agreed obligation of providing possession of the flats on time and ended up defrauding the public.

The money laundering case stems from a bunch of FIRs registered by the police in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. It is alleged that money collected through real estate business was invested in several firms through money laundering, as the funds from the home buyers were later transferred to several accounts of firms involved in other businesses. Arora could not provide satisfactory answers, which led to his arrest.
New Delhi, Jan 31 : A former "Bigg Boss 11" contestant and television actress has filed an FIR at Tigri police station in south Delhi, accusing her friend of rape, sources said on Wednesday.

Sources told IANS that according to the complaint, the alleged incident took place in 2023 at a flat on Deoli Road here.

The actress, who gained popularity during her stint on the reality show, lodged the FIR, stating that the assault occurred last year. The police have initiated an investigation based on the complaint, and are probing.

The contestant had garnered a significant fan following during her time on the reality show and was well-known across the country.

Hailing from Mumbai, the 29-year-old actress is actively involved in modelling and has worked in several television serials.

Police sources have disclosed that, according to the complaint, the accused friend invited her to his residence here.

"She reached the flat in the Deoli Road area. She alleged that he gave her some intoxicating drink and then allegedly raped her," said a source close to the probe.

The police have launched an inquiry into the matter, and efforts are underway to apprehend the accused as swiftly as possible.

However, an official statement from the police is still awaited.
New Delhi, 31 Jan : The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), a leading institution for journalism and mass communication, on Wednesday attained deemed-to-be-university status.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said that with this new status, IIMC is now authorised to offer degrees, including doctoral degrees.

The declaration extends to IIMC New Delhi and its five regional campuses located in Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir), Amravati (Maharashtra), Aizawl (Mizoram), Kottayam (Kerala), and Dhenkanal (Odisha).

The ministry informed that the deemed-to-be-university status has been declared by the Ministry of Education. The University Grant Commission (UGC), the regulatory body for higher educational institutions, had given the advice to he Ministry of Education to grant IIMC the status of deemed-to-be-university under distinct category.

According to the ministry the detailed notification regarding the deemed-to-be-university status to IIMC can be accessed at https://iimc.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/file/2024/Jan/Notification.pdf
New Delhi, Jan 31 : The Supreme Court has imposed a cost of Rs 12 lakh on six Maharashtra Police personnel for conspiring and abetting illegal detention of three persons and getting their rented property demolished without any court order.

"Out of the six police personnel, three are constables, one is a Head Constable, one is a Sub Inspector, and one is an Inspector. They shall suffer a cost of Rs 50,000 per constable, Rs 1 lakh by the Head Constable, Rs 1.50 lakh by the Sub-Inspector, and Rs 2 lakh by the Inspector, totalling Rs 6 lakh for each case with the above distribution," said a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and S.C. Sharma.

The bench said that this amount will be deposited within 4 weeks in the Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund and thereupon, the proceedings of the two complaint cases will stand closed.

If the proof of deposit is not filed within the stipulated time, the petitions filed before the Supreme Court by the police personnel would stand dismissed, it added.

On March 9, 2022, three tenants were held for about 24 hours in the police station and in the meantime, their rented premises were demolished by relatives of the former owner with the support of the local police.

At the police station, the tenants were also forced to sign some documents, apparently giving their consent to vacate the premises voluntarily. Thereafter, two tenants moved an application before a Magistrate for registration of FIR against relatives of former owner, subsequent purchasers, and six police personnel namely, Shatrughna Atmaram Patil, Jaipal Manikrao Hire, Milind Ashok Bhamare, Suryakant Raghunath Salunkhe, Nilesh Subhash More, and Sunil Kautik Hatkar.

During the pendency of the case, the evicted tenants filed affidavits before the apex court stating that they do not wish to further prosecute their complaint as they have entered into settlement with the subsequent purchasers.

"However, what we are not satisfied with is why the police personnel have been allowed to go scot-free in a case where they had an apparent role in conspiring and in abetting the crime of the illegal detention of the tenants, coercing them to sign the document against their will, and getting the premises in question demolished without any order from a competent Court," said the bench in its judgment passed on January 30.
Hyderabad, Jan 31 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday reiterated that his government will fill two lakh vacancies through the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) before the end of this year.

After handing over appointment letters to 7,094 staff nurses at LB Stadium here, he announced that 15,000 vacancies in the Police Department would also be filled soon.

The Chief Minister said that the Congress government is committed to its promise made to unemployed youth in the Assembly elections. As part of the revamping of the TSPSC, a new Chairman and members were appointed recently.

"Nothing can stop the recruitment process. Two lakh vacancies will be filled before the end of this year," he said.

The Medical and Health Services Recruitment Board (MHSRB) recruited the nurses who have been posted in various departments. More than 80 per cent of the staff nurses selected are female.

In his address on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the appointment of staff nurses was pending for a long time.

Stating that Telangana was created with the sacrifices of students, Revanth Reddy assured that the present government will wipe off the tears of the poor by providing them jobs. He said though youth played a key role in formation of the state, their aspirations were not fulfilled during the last one decade.

He alleged that under the previous government the powers that be were only bothered about their family members and that they did nothing to render justice to unemployed youth. Cases were booked against youth who fought for Telangana and they were harassed.

Slamming his predecessor K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Revanth Reddy said when people defeated his daughter he immediately made her a MLC. "KCR never cared about jobs for those who fought for Telangana," he said.

The Chief Minister said the doors to provide jobs to unemployed youth opened after the KCR family was voted out.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said the government kept its promise by handing over appointment letters to over 7,000 staff nurses at one go. He said 5,000 vacancies in the Medical and Health Department would be filled soon.

Health Ministers Damodar Rajanarasimha, other ministers Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar, Konda Surekha, Tummala Nageswara Rao and others were present.
Aizawl, Jan 31 : The Assam Rifles along with other law enforcing agencies in separate raids have recovered drugs worth over Rs 30.17 crore in Mizoram and apprehended two drug peddlers, officials said on Wednesday.

The Assam Rifles along with the officials of Special Narcotics Police Station, CID (Crime), recovered 34.99 gm heroin valued at Rs 17.49 lakh from the Zemabawk area in Aizawl and apprehended one person on Tuesday night.

In another operation, the para-military personnel accompanied by other officials recovered over one lakh highly-addictive methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 30 crore from the Zokhawthar bordering Champhai district on Tuesday night and arrested one drug trafficker.

The recovered drugs and the accused persons have been handed over to the police for necessary legal proceedings under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985.

An Assam Rifles statement said that the ongoing smuggling of illegal drugs is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram and India.

Officials said that the methamphetamine tablets smuggled in from Myanmar have been one of the most trafficked drugs in recent years, which have huge demand in northeastern states, and other parts of India and neighbouring Bangladesh.
Patna, Jan 31 : Three days gone by after the formation of new NDA government in Bihar, portfolios are yet to be allotted to the ministers who were sworn in on January 28.

Such a situation had never arisen in the past and sources have said that something is not right between Nitish Kumar and the state BJP leadership.

Nitish Kumar, along with 8 ministers - including two Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha - were sworn in on January 28 but they are still without any departments.

Sources say that Choudhary and Sinha also refused to accept the official cars allotted by the Cabinet Secretariat as they were given the cars which were used by former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav during the Mahagathbandhan government.

Such a situation did not arise in the last 18 years of Nitish Kumaras tenure as Chief Minister.

In 2015, Nitish Kumar formed the government with the RJD and he, along with Tejashwi Yadav, took the oath of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister on November 20, 2015. Besides, 23 ministers also took the oath on the same day and the departments were allotted within a few hours.

When Nitish Kumar switched over to the NDA in 2017, he and Sushil Kumar Modi were sworn in on July 27, 2017 and after two days, 27 more ministers had been sworn-in and the portfolios were distributed within a few hours.

In 2020, Nitish Kumar formed the government with the BJP and he, along with two Deputy CMs - Tar Kishore Prasad and Renu Devi - were sworn in along with 15 ministers on November 16, 2020 and the portfolios were decided on the same day.

When Nitish Kumar again took a U-turn in 2022, he, along with Tejashwi Yadav and 31 ministers had taken the oath on August 9, 2022 and the portfolios were distributed on the same day.

Sources have said that Nitish Kumar wants to give the BJP the departments that were with the RJD and the Congress earlier but the BJP wants Home and General Administration leading to the confrontation between the two sides.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2024 - 09:00 | All, Podcast

Episode 30: Noto earthquake

A month has passed since a powerful earthquake struck Japan's Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day.

Three Kyodo News reporters -- Yamaguchi-san, Ed and Donican -- talk about the aftermath of the M7.6 temblor. Donican, who visited some quake-affected areas in Ishikawa Prefecture, relays her experiences seeing the damage and hearing how locals are coping, and conveys their hopes that the tourism industry will help aid the recovery efforts.

Article mentioned in the podcast:

FEATURE: Noto locals pin hopes on return of tourists to hasten quake recovery

Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents.

More podcast episodes:

Podcast [English World] Episode 29: JAL collision

Podcast [English World] Episode 28: Paid Leave

Podcast [English World] Episode 27: Greetings from our Manila correspondent
Panaji, Jan 31 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday that more than 50,000 people will attend the public meeting of Prime Minister Narendra scheduled in the state on February 6.

"We will present before the Prime Minister the works we have done in the last 10 years. More than 50,000 people will attend the meeting," Sawant said after reviewing the preparations for the meeting and the Prime Minister's visit.

The government-organised public meeting will take place in Margao, South Goa.

The Prime Minister will also attend the India Energy Week programme in South Goa and launch several projects.

Sawant said that a total of seven projects will be launched by the Prime Minister.

"The PM will inaugurate the new campus of National Institute of Technology at Cuncolim, Indian Institute of Watersports at Donapula, Navy College at Betim, Solid Waste Management Plant at Curchorem, besides laying the foundation for ropeway at Reis Magos fort, 100 MLD plant at Salaulim dam and 3D building at Patto Plaza in Panaji," Sawant said.

Sawant said that 'PM Beneficiaries' will be felicitated during the programme. The inaugurations will be done virtually.
Kiev, Feb 1 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that 207 Ukrainian captives returned home from Russia.

"Our people are back. 207 of them. We return them home no matter what," Zelensky wrote on Wednesday in a post on Telegram.

He thanked the Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry, Kyrylo Budanov, the President's Office head, Andriy Yermak, and other officials, for the efforts to free captured Ukrainians, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Yermak said on Telegram that the released soldiers served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service and the National Police.
Moscow, Feb 1 : A total of 195 Russian soldiers have returned from Kiev-controlled territory, the Russian Defence Ministry said.

The Russian soldiers in captivity were released and returned on January 31 as a result of negotiations, according to a statement by the Ministry on Wednesday as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

A total of 195 Ukrainian war prisoners will also be released within the framework of the deal, and the released Russian personnel will receive all necessary medical and psychological assistance, it added.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2024 - 20:37 | World, All

China's announcement it would bring a flight path for civilian aircraft closer to the median line in the Taiwan Strait, which has effectively served as a "borderline" between the two sides, triggered protests from the self-ruled island on Wednesday.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China said Tuesday it was canceling an "offset measure" for the southbound operation of the M503 flight route, which was set by the mainland just west of the median line in 2015.

Taiwan Premier Chen Chien-jen on Wednesday condemned Beijing's "unilateral" change to the path, saying it would affect flight safety. Taipei "hopes that the Chinese government can stop these inappropriate actions," he said.

As Taipei had protested that the original M503 path was too close to the median line, the two sides later agreed that Beijing would operate the route by moving it 6 nautical miles (about 11 kilometers) westward toward the mainland.

With the cancelation of the westward route, civil aircraft will fly along the original path, which is just 7.8 km away from the median line at the closest point.

China, which views the self-ruled democratic island as part of its own territory, has in recent years ignored the median line in the Taiwan Strait, a boundary both sides had tacitly respected for decades, by having its military vessels and warplanes cross the line.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry warned Wednesday that China's "arbitrary actions" of changing the flight path could escalate cross-strait tensions.

The island's Mainland Affairs Council called Beijing's move a deliberate attempt to use civil aviation as cover for political and possibly military intentions, aimed at changing the status quo of the Taiwan Strait.

Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference on Wednesday that adjusting the M503 flight route is a "routine task" of the mainland civil aviation authorities for alleviating airspace congestion and that there was no need for Beijing to negotiate the matter with Taipei.

He also said Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and that the median line does not exist. Communist-led China and Taiwan have been governed separately since they split in 1949 as the result of a civil war.

Related coverage:

China's top diplomat warns U.S. against Taiwan independence

China seeks visa exemption treatment from Japan for diplomats

Taiwan replaced as volleyball tourney host amid China pressure
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[Editor's Note and Forward: No one likes being wrong. But the most annoying and frustrating person you know, the often joked-about proverbial uncle at Thanksgiving, is someone who can never admit theyre wrong or that theyve ever been wrong in the  first place. While I cant say Ive always been the  first to the table, I definitely know Ive been wrong in the past, and am undoubtedly wrong about something right now and dont yet realize it. The same is true for you. When presented with evidence via training that was contrary, after consoling my ego a bit, I realized Id have to sing a different tune or become a fuddy dinosaur. And Ive been proven wrong yet again  or rather, what used to be true is no longer. Contrary to my prior beliefs, 9mm double-stack 1911s (commonly referred to as 2011s) can now be reasonably reliable and suitable for both duty and defense. This Wilson Combat SFT9 is what changed my mind. When your previous opinions, or even your ideals or identity, hit the hard wall of reality its something of a gift: you get to  find out what kind of person you are. Are you someone with enough bravery and mental resilience to be honest? Will you just double-down, bury your head, and deny? Or simply lie and pretend you were never wrong in the  first place? Changing your mind when you discover more evidence isnt a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of good character. It sucks in the moment, but it can pay big dividends to reexamine your beliefs and lines of thinking to see if theyre still valid. Times change. Do you?]

After the end of World War II, the U.S. government liquidated and unloaded an awful lot of equipment onto the American civilian market  gun parts sold by the pound. And of course, this included the .45ACP mass-issue sidearm, the 1911. What initially had a reputation of being a rough rattletrap morphed into the moniker of too-tight and unreliable  amazing what happens when you combine a pistol designed when hand-fitting was cheap and machine work was both expensive and imprecise, with disparate manufacturing and assorted standards. It was this environment in the late 1970s when Bill Wilson, a trained jeweler, began his first foray into firearms.

Wilsons Gun Shop was opened in Berryville, Arkansas, with 1911s in mind. What started as custom 1911 pistolsmithing expanded into other firearms like AR-15s and shotguns, eventually evolving to complete in-house production.

The latest from Wilson Combat, and the subject of this article, is the 4.25-inch barreled SFT9, made for carry and equipped with a light rail. Further highlighting the CCW characteristics are that all sharp edges are chamfered and smoothed until removed.

Most pistols dont come with a case, and if they do its usually some cheap Chinese sleeve. Wilson Combat includes whats essentially a compact range bag. Constructed of 600D Cordura, padded, and with enough space for a pair of pistols, a shot timer, a couple hundred rounds, and more than a half-dozen mags, its more than simply usable.

Tucked inside the bag alongside the pistol is one of the reasons why Wilson Combat is a renowned maker: a quality control checklist with more than 40 separate sections, each initialized. Theres also a sight-in/test target, complete with a list of every pistolsmith who laid hands on it.

FEATURES & DESIGN

The basic details of the Wilson Combat SKU can be derived with a decoder ring. SFT9 equals Solid Frame, TRAK grip, 9mm.

Solid frame literally means solid. Dont let the appearance of removable grips fool you; the entire frame of the SFT9 is machined from a block of T6-7075 aluminum. This allowed Wilson to achieve a width of just 1.155 inches for the SFT9. While its wider than the stagger-stack doubles like the FN Reflex, SIG P365, and Glock 48, its slimmer than Wilsons standard offerings.

Those accustomed to custom 1911s might expect fine-line checkering and walnut for the body, but Wilson Combat offers what they call the TRAK grip. This texture consists of large, chamfered-edge rectangles in assorted sizes depending on location, a kind of radial burst along the sides and more aggressive at the back. At the risk of being a bit heretical, its much like the factory Glock backstrap texture but with a higher-quality feel. The deep DLC coating adds a little extra something to everything.

And, of course, the frame is equipped with a rail. Note that if youre running a standard SureFire X-series, the spacer on the switch plate will have to be removed in order to properly attach it.

The slide stop is nicely countersunk into the frame in the standard position. Those with smaller hands may need to use the thumb on their support hand to lock or release the slide, but this is nothing new when it comes to double-stack 9mm 1911s. The frame-mounted safety laterally extends a bit further than the slide stop, is serrated to ensure purchase, and as-standard is in right-hand configuration. Those who like to use it as a gas pedal for the strongside thumb will like it. Dropping the magazine is aided by a conscientious extension combined with a nestle for your thumb in the grip itself.

As has become increasingly common, the 15-round magazines come from Mec-Gar. Unlike many 2011s, Wilson Combat magazines are more like BHP magazines than anything else. We have no complaints about the fit or function of the magazine, but a minor bitch about the lack of customization. Though the floorplate is logod and features recesses for mag identification purposes, Wilson Combat went with the now-standard orange follower for the Mec-Gars, opting out of a custom color  wed suggest blue. For those with multiple pistols with Mec-Gar mags, differentiating them from one another requires a bit of inspection first. Otherwise, you might wind up with a Wilson Combat pistol and Canik or Arex magazines in your range bag  ask us how we know.

The commander-length slide and barrel are manufactured oversized, then fit by hand at Wilson Combat. It has fine glare-reducing lines running along the entire top; both front and rear serrations are aggressive without being too sharp. Our example has a red fiber-optic front sight (with a spare in the bag, as fibers tend to go flying with enough use) and a rear sight with a nice U-shaped opening paired with horizontal serrations. In addition to the Novak-style dovetail, a pair of Torx fasteners ensure the rear sight stays in place.

The 1911 has been the standard in triggers for more than a century, to the point that every new trigger out there seems to tout itself as like a 1911. While there are competitive shooters and other crazy people who want a trigger to break as soon as you breathe on it, the SFT9 is meant to be a carry piece. Theres no proverbial glass rod here, but a consistent and predictable pull measuring just over 3.5 pounds. Theres some slack, but just enough to allow your finger to settle on the serrated and curved trigger.

HOLSTERS

One of the persistent annoyances with newly released pistols is the lack of aftermarket support. We dont have that problem here. Despite eating from a double-stack 9mm magazine, the Wilson Combat SFT9 had no problems fitting into any of the standard 1911/2011 holsters that we had on hand, as well as most of the holsters designed for the BHP.

Additionally, one reason this is a new model is because of the standard rail up front. All of the light-specific, gun-ambiguous holsters like the PHLster Floodlight series, SureFire Masterfire, and Armordillo Concealment X-FER will work great.

OPTICS

While you can have the slide milled and fit for a given optic by someone else like its 2014, the better choice here is to have the slide milled for Wilsons True Zero Optic Mounting System. Long gone are the days where microdots were so dimensionally inconsistent and so finicky that they needed to be hand-fit to pistol slides, though Wilson will do that, too. First introduced in 2019, Wilsons True Zero is an interchangeable plate system, allowing you to exchange optics with different footprints as well as giving you a windage-adjustable rear sight without the need for additional custom work.

But youre unlikely to find a Wilson with a True Zero setup in the store, as it isnt a standard option. While you could use an adapter for a dot, the best way to do it is via Wilsons custom firearm page and have the work done when the gun is born. In for a penny, in for a pound.

ON THE RANGE

As expected with a pistol thats well-tested with assorted ammunition before it goes out the door and sent out in smaller numbers, the Wilson Combat SFT9 gobbled up everything that went into it. Nothing in the rando grab bag of 9mm ammunition we like to use for testing made it choke. The trigger may not be the best youve ever used in a competition 1911, but damned if it doesnt outperform the others wed be willing to put in our pants. Wilson Combat guarantees that each of their pistols can pattern groups of 1.5 inches at 25 yards with match grade ammunition, and in the case of this pistol the weakest link would be the shooter themselves. Anything you can shoot at with a 9mm, the Wilson Combat is a pretty damned good choice to do so with.

ON 1911S AND 2011S

Not everything stays true forever; even if you know absolutely everything about firearms, if you stop learning eventually your assumptions become backward and wrong  its the first real step into Fuddism (see Dont Become a Fudd in CONCEALMENT Issue 27). As such, every so often you should reevaluate what you previously knew to be true. And here its mandatory to say: while 1911s in general and 9mm 1911/2011 pistols in particular used to be rather finicky in terms of function, thats no longer the case.

Modern machining is better than its ever been, and the level of precision mills available even to smaller shops is unprecedented. The result? Even inexpensive firearms are pretty reliable, and the higher-end niches can put out more consistent wares.

That said, youll still have to be a bit more conscientious with lubrication and other maintenance compared to a stock Glock, but it isnt anything to pull hair over. Theres over a century of written material about proper lubrication of a 1911-style pistol.

LOOSE ROUNDS

Weve seen many businesses fail-to-scale or fail at scaling, trading quality for quantity and bilking their own customers until they inevitably fall. Wilson Combat hasnt had that problem, because they have steadfastly refused to compromise their level of quality. This does mean that price points are higher, lest wait times for even the most basic blasters stretch to years. Realistically, nothing Wilson Combat makes is for the price-sensitive, at least not for those who evaluate price/value comparisons for anything that costs less than a car; if you do then this pistol isnt for you.

What you need to keep in mind is that Wilson Combat is essentially a custom shop  one that happens to make their own stuff. You wont find near the level of human attention and expertise on a pistol thats cranked out by the tens of thousands, nor would it even be feasible to do so.

While these technically arent true custom pistols because you can buy base models on the shelves of dealers, they all have the capability, if not the intention, for that to be the case. Everyone will have a different perspective of whats perfect, but eliminating the iron sights entirely in lieu of an optic mount and adding ambidextrous controls would be pretty danged perfect for a carry gun.

Wed really like to see the True Zero optic mount as a standard feature, but those in the market for a Wilson Combat gun are unlikely to scoff at the extra single-digit percentage on top. But hell, as we just got a railed version in 2023  just give it a few more years. 
KYODO NEWS - Jan 31, 2024 - 09:38 | All, Japan

The International Atomic Energy Agency said Tuesday that Japan's discharge of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea is consistent with international safety standards in its first full report since the water release began last summer.

The report was based on a review mission carried out in October by the IAEA's task force comprising the agency's officials and independent experts from 11 countries including China, which currently imposes an import ban on Japanese marine products.

The task force reviewed facilities and equipment to discharge the water, treated with the liquid processing system that removes most radionuclides except tritium, and held talks with officials of the plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., the Nuclear Regulation Authority and the Japanese government.

Japan has so far discharged a total of 23,400 tons of water since August last year. TEPCO plans to begin the release of final batch for fiscal 2023 in late February.

The standards constitute global reference for protecting the public and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation, and the latest report reaffirmed the conclusions from the agency's comprehensive safety report issued in July last year prior to the beginning of the discharge.

The Japanese government sees the disposal of wastewater, generated in the process of cooling melted reactor fuel and mixed with rain and groundwater, as a key step in decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi power plant that suffered nuclear meltdowns triggered by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

Related coverage:

China's Japan seafood imports sink 40% over treated radioactive water

Pacific island nations express concern over Japan's water release

Fukushima treated water released without technical concerns: IAEA
Since the Israel-Hamas war has started, 83 journalists so far have been killed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Along with numerous assaults, threats, cyberattacks and censorship, 25 have been arrested, and 19 imprisoned. The deaths of journalists also include Israeli journalists working in the Gaza Strip. All by Israels Zionist government, who continue the onslaught of airstrikes into the Gaza Strip. Why does mainstream media and academic institutions refuse to humanize the Palestinian, Israeli and Lebanese journalists or civilians?
Bajaj Auto, the king of the market for CNG-powered passenger three-wheelers, now wants to replicate this dominance in two-wheelers.

Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

The difference is that while the former is zooming  registrations for CNG-powered passenger three-wheelers nearly doubled during January-December 2023  the latter, meaning a market for CNG-powered two-wheelers, does not exist.

CNG, or compressed natural gas, works in a way similar to petrol in internal combustion engines (ICE), but is considered more environment-friendly and cheaper to run than petrol.

More and more auto-rickshaws find it economical and profitable to run on CNG, pushing up the penetration of CNG in all three-wheelers from 26 per cent in 2020 to 57 per cent now. In passenger three-wheelers, CNG is 67 per cent.

But CNG has not yet been proven as a commercially viable two-wheeler fuel.

In 2016, the central government started a pilot with Indraprastha Gas Ltd to run two-wheelers on CNG in Delhi, under which a few Honda Activa scooters were converted to CNG, but the project did not go far.

Undaunted, Bajaj is looking at launching a CNG-powered motorcycle by 2024-25 and then testing the market with a CNG scooter.

For projections, it is looking at electric two-wheelers as an indication.

We expect it [CNG two-wheelers] to mirror the share of electric.

"If 5 to 7 per cent of mobikes are expected to go electric, there is no reason not to have a similar share for CNG.

"And in scooters, if that number is 25 per cent for electric, we are looking at the same levels for CNG, Rakesh Sharma, executive director of Bajaj Auto, told Business Standard.

Driven by 3-wheelers

Bajaj is not the first company in the world to think of CNG for two-wheelers.

Way back in 2009, Zanella, in Argentina, came out with a factory-fitted CNG model, but it did not lead to a big commercial breakthrough.

Some companies in China have tried it, but did not look at scale.

Bajaj draws its confidence from its success with CNG-powered three-wheelers.

Sharma says many who buy ICE three-wheelers and replace it after seven years are now coming after four years to replace their ICE vehicle with a CNG version.

They find it so remunerative they do not mind giving up on the remaining three years of their ICE three-wheeler.

As a positive side effect, the conversion to CNG helps in reducing carbon emissions, one of the stated goals of the government to curb the ill effects of climate change.

In addition to its three-wheeler success, Bajaj is buoyed by the widespread CNG infrastructure that has burgeoned in the last few years,

with 4,600 filling stations in more than 335 towns, as of the last quarter.

A study undertaken by Bajaj shows the average density of CNG stations is one for every 62,000 people.

The network already covers 70 per cent of the two-wheeler market.

Comparing this to the EV infrastructure, EV players say there are almost 10,500 public charging stations in the country, of which 80 per cent are in the metros.

These numbers must be seen in the context of the time taken to recharge an electric two-wheeler (four to seven hours, depending on the battery) versus the three to six minutes spent on refilling a CNG vehicle.

Talking costs

But how does the cost of ownership and operations compare?

Sharma says the running cost per kilometre is more relevant in the case of motorcycles, which typically run 40 to 50 km a day, sometimes more, than for scooters, whose usage is usually 20 to 30 km.

This, says Bajaj, needs a nuanced look.

The cost of running a petrol three-wheeler is about Rs 4.4 per km and of a CNG three-wheeler about ~2.5 per km  45 per cent lower.

The difference, the company says, would be very similar, if not the same, for two-wheelers.

For electric two-wheelers, however, the running costs are far lower than even CNG.

Sharma says he cannot give out the difference between the cost of producing an electric two-wheeler and a CNG-powered one, because it is competitive information, but CNG two-wheelers would have a lower cost than electric two-wheelers.

In theory, to make

CNG two-wheelers, the company has to modify its ICE platform to make it suitable to run on CNG.

Industry experts say 90 per cent of the cost of producing a CNG two-wheeler could be the same as a petrol two-wheeler.

In electric, on the other hand, the commonality of components is only about 35 per cent.

That said, CNG two-wheelers would need to be priced higher than their petrol versions, not only because of the modifications but also because the ICE market has much larger and more efficient economies of scale.

That is why Bajaj has been trying to persuade the government to lower the goods and services tax on CNG two-wheelers to promote their adoption.

Minuses and pluses

Bajaj Autos competitors, especially startups making electric two-wheelers, say Bajajs push for CNG does not make sense for them.

We dont find any benefit that compensates for the problems, such as the additional weight of the kit leading to less efficiency, and the fears on safety.

"Also, the range of electric, which was a worry earlier, is no longer an issue, as electric two-wheelers can be easily charged at home.

So, frankly, it has no pluses for us, says the founder of a leading EV startup that once considered CNG.

Others say CNG does not really address the two focus areas of the government on going green.

One is reducing the foreign exchange outgo by cutting down on fossil fuels.

India depends on imports for half of its natural gas needs.

The other is to reduce carbon emissions.

CNG, they say, can be an interim measure at best, as it reduces emissions but to the extent EVs do.

There have also been concerns on safety. Lugging a gas cylinder on a mobike can be tricky.

Bajaj executives point out that there are safety norms clearly written down by the government, and, because so many three-wheelers with CNG cylinders are moving around the country, the fear is unfounded.

The challenge is to design a CNG unit top down again so it is in sync with the vehicle.

That is a work in progress.

Some of Bajajs rivals say its CNG drive comes from the motorcycle majors experience in building an electric motorcycle with power, which would require heavier and bigger batteries.

A heavier and larger battery impinges on performance and efficiency, undermining the appeal of a motorcycle.

It can be done, but the price differential between an electric mobike and its ICE version will be so huge that it will not be a viable market proposition.

CNG could be the answer.
IMAGE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of State for Finance Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad at the Halwa ceremony as the final stage preparations for the Interim Union Budget 2024 commences in New Delhi, January 24, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The interim Budget proposals that will be presented on February 1 in the backdrop of the general elections scheduled in April/May 2024 are likely to have a hint of populism, believe analysts, but are unlikely to derail the government from its path of fiscal prudence.

'We estimate 2024-25 fiscal deficit target at 5.2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). Assuming the tax revenue growth at around 12.5 per cent -- similar to 2023-24 estimates (FY24E), driven by 11 per cent nominal GDP and 15 per cent corporate earnings growth  the total expenditure growth would have to be limited to nearly 7-8 per cent (versus 9 per cent in FY24E),' wrote Mahesh Nandurkar, managing director, Jefferies, in a note co-authored with Abhinav Sinha and Nishant Poddar.

This low capital expenditure (capex) number, Jefferies said, might disappoint the market; and stocks exposed to the government's capex programme may see some correction.

Although Nandurkar does not expect an immediate tax hike considering elections, some after-election measures, such as higher capital gains tax, are possible later during the year.

'Disinvestment may also get ramped up after elections, partly as the government capitalises on the sharp run in public sector undertaking stocks in sectors such as railways, defence, etc. Any significant boost to rural infrastructure/welfare schemes will be a sentimental positive for cement/rural recovery.'Nandurkar and Poddar wrote.

'Renewed interest subvention scheme for affordable/mid-income housing is likely, which will be a positive for select developers such as Lodha, Sunteck and housing finance companies such as Aavas and Home First,' they added.

Higher-than-budgeted tax and non-tax revenue, said analysts at BofA Securities, is likely to provide for the potential shortfall in divestment proceeds, higher than budgeted subsidy bill, modestly higher interest expense, and other revenue expenditure.

"We do see some saving on the loans and advances component of capex. This should result in a lower than budgeted fiscal deficit in absolute terms while meeting the target 5.9 per cent of GDP," said Aastha Gudwani, India economist at BofA Securities.

The upcoming general elections may see some populist schemes in this interim Budget, especially measures directed at the farm/agriculture economy.

The measures, according to analysts at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, may include the expansion of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi to Rs 9,000 per annum from the current Rs 6,000 per annum, or increased benefits in the form of an insurance scheme or higher Maha-tma Gandhi National Rural Emplo-yment Guarantee Act allocation.

Since the government is in election mode, analysts at Nomura believe there will be tacit targeting of its key constituents, with the interim Budget likely to be a political statement.

Since most opinion polls expect the current dispensation to be back in power, the interim Budget will likely be presented under the assumption of policy continuity.

'The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has adopted a 'GYAN' strategy for the general elections -- Gareeb (poor), Yuva (youth), Annadata (farmers), and Nari (women) -- indicating the four key constituents that it is looking to target with its economic pitch,' said Sonal Varma, chief economist for India and Asia ex-Japan at Nomura in a recent note co-authored with Aurodeep Nandi.

The markets, on their part, have been expecting the removal of securities transaction tax for a few years now. This tax (charged at 0.1 per cent for delivery-based equity trading) is levied on the value of securities transacted through a recognised stock exchange in India.

Markets also expect a more comprehensive policy on cryptocurrency regulation, wrote analysts at ICRA Analytics in a recent note.
If you think that revenue officials are going berserk, acting on their own, while the government chants the mantra of 'ease of doing business', you would be wrong.

These moves appear to have full official backing, points out Debashis Basu.

Earlier this month, the shares of Polycab, which had a market capitalisation of Rs 80,000 crore (Rs 800 billion) and sales of over Rs 16,000 crore (Rs 160 billion), slumped 9 per cent on the news of income-tax searches at its offices for alleged tax evasion.

The stock stabilised for a day and then collapsed 21 per cent when the I-T department issued an unusually detailed press release saying that it had discovered undeclared cash sales of Rs 1,000 crore -- the release did not name Polycab.

It also mentioned uncounted cash payments of about Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) in fake expenses and undeclared transactions of Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion).

Polycab denies any wrongdoing but its market capitalisation has fallen by 25 per cent in just a few days because it was considered a rock-solid stock and was in the portfolio of many institutional portfolios and mutual funds.

In the past eight weeks, after the recent state polls, unbridled enthusiasm had gripped the stock market on expectations of a huge win for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming general elections -- an outcome that companies and investors are looking forward to.

At the same time, a slew of very large, well-regarded, blue-chip companies have received notices from the I-T and Goods and Services Tax departments for tax violation.

While Polycab's case seems more serious than others, here is an extraordinary list of large companies that have been slapped with notices for different kinds of 'violations' and 'short payments'.

Government-controlled Life Insurance Corporation got an Rs 806 crore (Rs 8.06 billion) notice from the Maharashtra government on January 1 for alleged short payment of GST in 2017-2018.

The move appears to have inspired GST offices in other states, and Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat came up with demand notices totalling Rs 667 crore (Rs 6.67 billion) on LIC; Telangana chipped in with a Rs 116 crore (Rs 1.16 billion) demand and it had already sent a Rs 183 crore (Rs 1.83 billion) notice in December.

LIC is not alone. From January 1, tax demand has rained on dozens of blue-chip companies.

Hindustan Lever has a GST demand of Rs 447.5 crore (Rs 4.475 billion) from five states.

Software biggie LTIMindtree got a Rs 206 crore (Rs 2.06 billion) notice. Others to get such notices were Asian Paints, Eicher Motors, ICICI Prudential, and Nestle.

Earlier, the gaming industry got a tax demand of around Rs 1.5 trillion; the insurance industry is already contesting a demand of over Rs 5,500 crore (Rs 55 billion) and the real estate sector one of over Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 20 billion).

About 33,000 GST notices were issued for mistakes and short tax payments relating to FY18 and FY19.

In November 2023, the Directorate General of GST Intelligence issued demand notices to Zomato and Swiggy, asking them to clear pending tax dues of Rs 400 crore (Rs 4 billion) and Rs 350 crore (Rs 3.5 billion), respectively.

According to a media report, around 33,000 GST notices have gone out for returns filed in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, while GST notices of Rs 1.45 trillion have gone to about 1,500 businesses in December alone.

Not to be left behind, the I-T department slapped demand orders of totalling Rs 3,528 crore (Rs 35.28 billion) for the assessment years between 2012-2013 and 2019-2020 and another Rs 1,371 crore (Rs 13.71 billion) for 2011-2012 on the same companies. What is going on?

Obviously, tax officials believe that all these tightly regulated companies, including government ones, have short-changed the government.

But why the rush? Because the GST deadline to recover any money for 2017-2018 was December 31, 2023.

A media report says GST authorities believe in general, tax recovery based on earlier demand notices has been weak.

It quotes GST officials saying that about only Rs 18,541 crore (Rs 185.41 billion) was recovered from notices aggregating Rs 1.51 trillion while the internal 'target' was Rs 50,000 crore (Rs 500 billion).

So, they compounded the companies' difficulties by sending out more notices.

If you think that revenue officials are going berserk, acting on their own, while the government chants the mantra of 'ease of doing business', you would be wrong.

These moves appear to have full official backing.

The government upped the ante by giving GST officers more time to issue demand notices for discrepancies in annual returns for FY19 and FY20.

The government extended the deadline for FY19 to April 30, 2024, and for FY20 to August 31, 2024.

This means more and more companies will be wasting time and costly resources to untangle long-running disputes.

It is hard to believe that these blue-chip companies, with the best tax and legal expertise and multiple layers of compliances mandated by the market regulator, would indulge in tax evasion of this magnitude.

They are all aware of the reputation damage and financial dent that would follow, along with directors' liability (given the draconian GST laws).

One tax expert says, "The GST law is so loosely and hurriedly drafted that every officer can take a new view and put penalties beyond capacity of assessees."

The most vicious aspect of such taxtortion is that the disputes won't be settled anytime soon.

Unlike I-T, GST laws have no process for out-of-court settlements through a settlement commission.

These notices will be contested before the adjudicating authority.

If the companies lose, they appeal to higher courts.

Given the magnitude of demand and question of law involved, each case would probably go up to the Supreme Court.

All this will take years and involve enormous high-quality time and effort.

The courts are still hearing matters pertaining to service tax and excise (predecessors of GST), so newer issues will take at least three to five years to be resolved.

The main beneficiaries would be tax experts and law firms.

Ease of doing business can be compromised in many ways.

Taxtortion is among the worst. Finally, if this goes out of hand, investors may panic, assuming the worst.

If more stocks meet the fate of Polycab, it will have serious multiple implications.

Debashis Basu is editor of moneylife.in and a trustee of the Moneylife Foundation

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
In switching over, Nitish has sent out a message that if he could not now become the NDA's PM, then he would need to stay on as CM at the very least, which a third term for Modi would not let him have, N Sathiya Moorthy points out.

IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 76th death anniversary at Gandhi Ghat in Patna, January 30, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Nitish Kumar is not the first leader to desert an alliance as has done now in native Bihar.

As Congress President Mallikharjun Kharge has indicated, if he had been named the INDIA combine's convenor or even prime ministerial candidate, he could well have heaped greater/worse shame on them by defecting as the leader of the heap.

Before Nitish Kumar, unified Andhra Pradesh's chief minister and the forgotten non-Congress, anti-BJP United Front convenor N Chandrababu Naidu had done it after the 1998 Lok Sabha elections.

He waited silently until the combine began toying with the idea of making him the prime minister with continued 'outside support' from the former as after the earlier round of polls in 1996.

As may be recalled, Elections '96 had thrown up a unique post-poll alliance with Karnataka's then Janata Dal-Secular chief minister H D Deve Gowda as PM.

When the outside Congress underwriter squirmed because the government was getting stabilised, they replaced the PM with I K Gujral.

On both occasions, Tamil Nadu's Tamil Maanila Congress leader G K Moopanar's name topped the list for PM, but he was not the final choice despite the Congress seemingly preferring the breakaway party leader from Elections '96.

Of course, Moopanar's name topped the list for a non-BJP prime minister though the BJP-NDA's Atal Bihari Vajpayee was still the popular favourite from the other side of the political spectrum.

But when Moopanar's name once again failed to collect the required numbers, Naidu's name cropped up in small circles within the united/divided Third Front.

UP's Mulayam Singh Yadav had not given up hopes of becoming for a third time in a row.

Naidu's arguments stunned the interlocutors. The BJP had won four seats and polled 18.3 per cent of the popular vote in Andhra Pradesh.

Unlike the pundits from distant Delhi had thought, these votes did not come from the BJP's Congress rival at the national level.

Instead, it was his TDP that was losing the hold. The Congress, with a high 42.7 per cent vote-share had bagged a high 22 of 42 Lok Sabha seats from the unified Andhra Pradesh.

For him to arrest the voting trend and get back his vote-share, the TDP had to align with the BJP and not continue rivalling it.

The end result was that Naidu, who was the convener, walked out of the third United Front, and stayed neutral.

It translated as 'issue-based support' to the Vajpayee government, whatever it meant whenever that support was called for.

IMAGE: Then Andhra Pradesh chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu with then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Photograph: Kind courtesy N Chandrababu Naidu/X

On the face of it, successive Congress high command decisions on different state leaderships of the party, or now the convenor of the INDIA combine, may read selfish, self-centred and outright unimaginative.

Looking back however, the decision not to make Jyotiraditya Scindia (Madhya Pradesh) and Sachin Pilot (Rajasthan) chief ministers at the time might have been a wise decision, after all.

These were leaders who might have crossed over to the BJP when denied the chief ministerial berth when they sought.

Yes, Pilot did not actually cross over. It was not for want of intent after the previous assembly elections in 2018.

It was because Ashok Gehlot had a vice grip over the legislature party in Rajasthan.

That made the decision for Kamal Nath in Madhya Pradesh, but Scindia's princely pride had been hurt and patience too had run out.

He crossed over to the BJP with a pack of 20 MLAs, for the party to recapture power.

Today, Kamal Nath is already forgotten but Scindia too may end up at least as a foot note in the BJP's contemporary history confined to Madhya Pradesh. No national-level importance for him, or so it seems.

In this background, Nitish Kumar by his post facto conduct has proved right, the other INDIA partners' silent, unspoken decision not to trust him as their convenor.

For long, it has been known that he had not given up his prime ministerial hope, nor forgiven incumbent Narendra Modi, who as the most charismatic leader in the country now, stood way ahead and away from him in popular imagination -- and all across the country.

For the INDIA combine, which still hopes to give a tough time to the BJP-NDA, if not wrest power, in the Lok Sabha polls this summer, Nitish was a Trojan Horse, at best.

If for argument's sake, the BJP-NDA was short on numbers and if he could offer them on a platter in return for the PM's job, Nitish was the man to suspect.

The reasons are not far to seek. From before the Lok Sabha polls of 2004, Nitish had harboured hopes of becoming PM in or after 2014.

In Elections 2004, Sonia Gandhi's 'Aam Aadmi' drowned the ruling BJP-NDA's 'India Shining!' campaign.

That was also the time the BJP-NDA of which Nitish was a part tentatively decided at high places that L K Advani would get another hit at the prime minister's job in 2009.

The post-poll analysis was that the tentativeness of the BJP's prime ministerial choice, between incumbent Vajpayee and 'hardliner' (!) Advani cost the party heavily.

It was an irony that the Congress-led UPA which had won with Sonia Gandhi as the mascot threw up an unsuspecting Manmohan Singh as prime minister.

It was a repeat of Elections '91, when after the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, the GoP chose P V Narasimha Rao, who had aleady retired from active politics, over the competing claims of Arjun Singh and Sharad Pawar.

But it is the BJP that mattered then as now. Manmohan Singh, in 2009, retained power for the UPA, on his own steam rather than that of the party or even Nehru-Gandhi's family identity and the accompanying socio-economic ideology.

Advani lost the chance for the second time in a row. By previous arrangement, he was to vacate the party's prime ministerial candidate.

IMAGE: G K Moopanar. Photograph: Kind courtesy G K Moopanar Peravai/Facebook

The unwritten agreement in 2004 was that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi would be the BJP's prime ministerial face in 2014.

The hope was that Advani would become PM in 2004 and through a second consecutive term, strengthen the party as much as Modi has done since, for the BJP to enforce its Hindutva plank without contestation and contradictions, though there would be the inevitable controversies that are visible at present.

As may be recalled, ahead of the 1998 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had come up with the 'Chennai Declaration', where the express decision was to put ideological issues in cold storage, where the party was unable to muster the required parliamentary support to stake and stay on in power.

They had learnt it the hard way two years earlier in 1996, when Vajpayee's first BJP-led government could stay in power only for 13 days.

No anti-Congress regional party would touch the BJP with its hardline Hindutva agenda at the time.

As far back as 2004, the general understanding within the NDA at the top echelons was that Nitish as Bihar CM would be the prime ministerial face of the combine if the BJP did not make the grade by itself.

When Advani and the BJP lost 2009 for the second time in a row, Nitish was the name that was doing the rounds.

But Nitish's hopes were shattered when Modi's name came up, as if out of nowhere, a year or two ahead of Elections 2014.

It had the power to out-smart and out-do Advani's projection from within the Sangh Parivar, where there were those who still felt that Advani deserved a third bid.

Pragmatism prevailed when it was argued what if Advani failed a third time.... Would not the Parivar lose the opportunity to win back power and re-write post-Independence history as they only wanted?

IMAGE: Nitish Kumar takes oath as chief minister of Bihar in Patna, January 28, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Modi won the first round, within the Parivar, wherein the RSS parent had little choice but to fall in line when Modi, in a calculated move, went over the head of the monolith organisation and visibly won over the masses long before they made him PM.

Remember how Nitish as Bihar CM boycotted Modi's public rally in Patna ahead of the 2014 polls. The seed for that estrangement lay in his disappointment.

Since then, Nitish has been changing ships between the BJP-NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, or grand alliance, if only to stay relevant and important in the politics of native Bihar.

It is thus that his prime ministerial ambitions were possibly stirred when a whisper campaign in between put it out that the BJP-NDA could well fall short of the magic figure of 272 this time round.

The 'Modi magic' had proved them all wrong twice in as many electoral outings at the national-level.

Even in the recent assembly polls in five states, the BJP retained Madhya Pradesh and trounced the Congress rival in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

Even otherwise, Nitish's problem had an additional angle. By deserting the BJP one more time and crossing over to the Mahagathbandan, he had seemingly promised the chief minister's job to RJD's Tejaswi Yadav, who was his deputy CM until this week's defection back to the BJP camp.

His earlier ambition was to become INDIA convenor first and the prime ministerial face, afterwards.

With the convenor's job lost, he seemed to have concluded that the PM's job was also not his even if they won.

So, Nitish needed to retain his job and also his relevance at least in Bihar politics.

That's the irony of the man just now. Either it has to be the PM on someone else's shoulders, or at least the CM's job, again on someone else's shoulders.

In switching over, Nitish has sent out a message that if he could not now become the NDA's PM, then he would need to stay on as CM at the very least, which a third term for Modi would not let him have.

Or, at least the RJD's Yadav would still insist on taking up.

Hence, Nitish has embraced the BJP earlier than needed, earlier than expected, if only to deny Tejaswi Yadav a go at the CM's job.

The alternative would be for the septuagenarian to be kicked upstairs once again as a Union minister in a BJP-NDA government at the Centre, and a BJP leader to take his place as CM, with the party's future plans for Bihar in mind.

IMAGE: Nitish Kumar with Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi. Photograph: ANI Photo

At the end of the day, Nitish Kumar's electoral journey since his becoming chief minister after the assembly polls of 2020 is worth recalling as no one seems to want to remember it.

Despite his being CM, his Janata Dal-United could manage only a low 43 seats in the 243 member assembly against the previous figure of 71.

The RJD score too had come down from 80 to 75 while the BJP had a higher tally, from 53 to 74.

Though he did not have the grace and circumspection to put forth the argument that the people were more in favour of the BJP than any other party, including his JD-U, his continuance as CM under the BJP-NDA combine did leave a bad taste -- but not in his mouth.

So, defecting out of the NDA came as natural to him as joining the BJP combine, which somersault he has executed once again, now.

Haryana of the late sixties threw up the disapproving political phrase, 'Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram', with reference to constant political defections of Nitish Kumar's kind now -- put at a much faster pace, yes.

Literally meaning, 'Ram is coming, Ram is going' as one legislator, Gaya Lal did the double cross over, from one party to another and back to the former, all within a matter of hours, not even days.

Yes, there were many defections and defectors in the Haryana of those days, and the rest of the country, too, earlier and later.

But there was only one Gaya Lal. His defections and re-defections were at a personal-level.

In comparison, Nitish's Kumar's defections have always been as a party with he and his JD-U acolytes retaining power all the time.

All of it deserves the coinage of a new phrase, yes, and can you call it 'Nitishism', after all!

Better or worse still, all of it is being staged in times of the Modi kind of stability at the national level that the BJP-NDA has been boasting about as never before after Rajiv Gandhi lost the parliamentary elections for the ruling Congress party, way back in 1989. And in Modi's name!

Yes, the nation may not be prepared, as yet at least, for a repeat of the unsought after experiment of the 1996 kind -- a post-poll alliance of anti-BJP, non-Congress regional parties to stake claim for power at the Centre and have it too.

Today's norm, instead, is all about stability at the Centre, and engineered instability in every other state where the voters had preferred a non-BJP/anti-BJP government, when given a chance.

This is 'Modiism' or the 'Modi model', did you say?

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and author, is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'The tragedy with Indian Muslims is that they do politics from the heart, not from the head.'

IMAGE: Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party's UP Minority Morcha burst firecrackers in Lucknow to celebrate the passing of the talaq bill by Parliament. Photograph: ANI Photo

"Many Muslims have personally told me that they used to think Yogi Adityanath was their enemy, but after he has come to power he has taken care of their welfare, which they cannot believe. You will not be able to point out a single instance of Muslim discrimination in the second tenure of Chief Minister Yogi's tenure. He is a saint and like an angel," Jamal Siddiqui, national president of the BJP Minority Morcha, tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com in the concluding segment of the interview.

Part 1 of the interview: 'Common Muslim Is Happy Over Ram Mandir'

Opposition parties allege that the BJP provokes riots to be in power. They cite the Delhi riots of 2020 which occured before municipal elections in the city.

If you notice riots stopped ever since Prime Minister Modi came to power.

Gujarat always faced riots when the Congress ruled the state. During the BJP rule, 2002 was the last riot after which the state has not witnessed a single riot.

Prime Minister Modi has controlled the bad elements of society and India is a riot-free nation now.

I asked you about the Delhi riots of 2020.

It was not a riot, but it was a fight.

Riots are what happened in Bhagalpur, Moradabad (both in the early 1980s), Mumbai in 1992-1993.

There is a difference between riots and a fight.

Why do 90 percent-plus Muslims not vote for the BJP if you are saying all is good with the party?

This is all in the past.

If you see surveys now, you will find out that Muslims do vote for the BJP in big numbers.

In the last UP assembly election and local municipality election, more than 15 percent Muslims voted for BJP candidates.

Earlier, our party used to say that we are doing work for the Muslim communitym but never had an example to showcase our work.

Now, in Uttar Pradesh, we have examples where we showcase how the BJP government is working for the Muslim community.

Those who have got benefits from the government are now regretting not voting for the BJP.

Many Muslims have personally told me that they used to think (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) Yogi Adityanath was their enemy, but after he has come to power he has taken care of their welfare, which they cannot believe.

They got gas cylinders, health cards and freedom from goondagardi.

The BJP does not work for votes, but for every community, thus ensuring if the minority community prospers, the nation prospers.

But there have been reports and photographs of bulldozers destroying Muslim homes in UP.

Bulldozers do not operate looking at the religion of the person. It operates against the homes of those who have occupied government land illegally.

It is not the BJP which plays bulldozer politics, it is the Congress, BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) and SP (Samajwadi Party) that do bulldozer politics, stating that Muslims are being targeted.

They do not have any good thing to showcase their work or a development vision, so they give statements against bulldozers.

These Opposition parties only do Hindu-Muslim politics to win.

It is Yogi Adityanath who said before the UP elections that it was all about 80:20, indicating 80 percent Hindus versus 20 percent Muslims.

You have understood it wrong.

He meant 80 percent of voters are with the BJP and 20 percent voters are with the Opposition parties.

You will not be able to point out a single instance of Muslim discrimination in the second tenure of Chief Minister Yogi's tenure. He is a saint and like an angel. He works for everyone.

What does the Muslim community tell you when you praise Yogi Adityanath?

I tell them whatever Maulana Azad said about the Congress to Muslims, had they listened to him, then Muslims would not have been a backward community today after 75 years of Independence.

(Then BJP leader) Sikandar Bakht tried to play the role of Maulana Azad in the 1990s, but no one listened to him.

They never listened to Bakhtsaab and hence remained backward.

The tragedy with Indian Muslims is that they do politics from the heart, not from the head. They do that in friendships and business too.

They do not realise politics cannot be done by the heart, but with brains.

They should go with those who give them development rather than get emotional with the Congress party.

Maybe they still follow Allama Iqbal's poem, Jo Aqal Ka Ghulam Ho Woh Dil Na Kar Qabool. Don't follow those who think with brains because they will be the first ones to let you down you.

No, you are wrong. Politics is always done with brains and not with the heart.

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar taught this to our Dalit brothers, they listened to him and made progress.

Muslims got trapped because they followed their hearts, got emotional and voted for the Congress.

And the Congress gave nothing to Muslims in 75 years.

The same is with the Samajwadi Party who used Muslims as a vote bank. In the name of employment they put Muslims in illegal activities by giving them a way to make easy money which landed them in jail.

Does the Muslim community believe you when you say these things to them?

Earlier I used to find it difficult to convince them, but not now.

Muslims have experienced good governance from Yogi Adityanath in UP, Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Madhya Pradesh or for that matter Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra.

Muslims have understood the Bharatiya Janata Party is the only party of Bharat of which they are part of. The other parties are only promoting their own family.

If things are so good for Muslims in the BJP, why does the party not give tickets to Muslims to contest elections?

It is always a winnable candidate that gets a ticket. It is the party's decision to decide who gets a ticket and who does not because the candidate once selected for the seat needs to win for the party.

Moreover, you tell me who did not get a ticket from the BJP?

Muslims! They don't get tickets from the BJP to contest elections. Isn't that a fact?

It is not the responsibility of the BJP alone to give tickets to Muslims. At the same time it is the responsibility of the Muslim community to come and join the BJP.

I am saying this with full responsibility as a national president of the BJP Minority Morcha that I got no application from any Muslim who wants to contest elections on a BJP ticket.

Why have you not got a BJP ticket to contest?

The tragedy of our politics is that getting a ticket is not everything. This is the culture of the Congress, SP and BSP, but not that of the BJP.

Their culture is to get a ticket, become a minister and do corruption.

This is not the BJP worker's culture to get ticket to contest elections.

Politics is also about the country. It must go in the right direction and for that you need to motivate party workers and the people of the country.

This is what the BJP does and therefore I am a part of it. I am not in the BJP for getting a ticket to contest elections.

But there is no representation of the Muslim community in the BJP.

The BJP has thousands of Muslim workers who are doing work quietly without any expectations. In Uttar Pradesh, 36 Muslims got tickets to contest local elections.

The BJP does not discriminate against the religion of any Indian. In Tripura, there was a by-election recently and a Muslim candidate (Taffajal Hossain) got the ticket.

What about Uttar Pradesh where there is no Muslim BJP MLA even though Muslims constitute 19 percent of the population?

They are 19 percent of the population, and if you see the benefits the Muslim community got in terms of percentage wise share, it is 32 percent under the Yogi government.

Be it any scheme of the central or state government, Muslims benefit the most.

The Congress gives tickets to Muslims for sure, but does not give development fruits to the Muslim community.

In a democracy, the government is not to give proper representation for different communities, but to give proper benefits to the marginalised community, which the BJP is doing.

And in the future you will see more Muslims getting tickets from the BJP.
With Israel's construction sector suffering a severe manpower crisis post the October 7 conflict with Hamas, some 10,000 workers from India are to make their way here starting next week, industry sources said on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Several Indians, stranded in Israel at the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, returned to India. Photograph: ANI Photo

These 10,000 workers will reach in batches of 700 to 1,000 a week, a source in the Israel's Builders Association (IBA) said.

With Israel's latest conflict with Hamas in Gaza a little short of four months, and a ban on the entry of Palestinian workers and the departure of several thousand other foreign workers, the Israeli construction industry has been facing a deep crisis and several ongoing projects are getting either stalled or delayed.

Following the conflict, Israel has banned the entry of Palestinian workers. The departure of several thousand other foreign workers, the Israeli construction industry has been facing a deep crisis.

Israeli business daily The Calcalist in a report in Hebrew last week said that the quota of foreign manpower for the construction industry has been increased from 30,000 to 50,000 and that the Israeli government last month approved the arrival of 10,000 workers from India.

The IBA source confirmed that the details in The Calcalist report were correct.

When asked about the arrival of the first batch of workers, the source said, We hope they'll come next week.

The workers to arrive in Israel would be part of the private recruitment track, which was approved by the government in parallel with the bilateral (inter-governmental) track to enable rapid recruitment of workers into the construction industry.

The IBA is looking to hire workers also from other countries such as Mexico, Kenya and Malawi. Screening of workers is said to have begun three weeks ago in India, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.

To date, out of about 8,000 workers examined, about 5,500 have been found suitable for work in Israel  the vast majority Indian, The Calcalist had reported.

The Indian construction workers are at a high professional level. Many of them were previously employed in the Gulf countries, so these are skilled manpower. Most of them are fluent in English, and those who have worked in the Gulf also know Arabic, which is a great advantage, an industry source was quoted by the business daily as saying.

The selection process is led by IBA's CEO Igal Slovik and Izchak Gurvitz, who heads the association's division dealing with workers' issues and the selection team.

Israel's Ministry of Housing and Construction is currently said to be working on a proposal to increase by another 10,000 the hiring of workers through the private track.

This will increase the total quota of foreign workers employed in the industry from 50,000 workers today to 60,000.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a telephonic conversation with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in December had discussed advancing the arrival of foreign workers from India to the State of Israel.

Israel's Minister of Economy, Nir Barkat, during his trip to India in April last year, had spoken to officials and his counterpart in New Delhi about hiring Indians in various sectors, including the construction sector.

The discussions then revolved around bringing in almost 160,000 people in various sectors.

About 18,000 Indians are working in Israel, mostly as caregivers. Most of them decided to stay back in Israel and did not leave the country during the war because "they felt quite secure" and "also because the salaries are quite attractive".

Israel and India also inked an agreement in May last year during the then Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen's visit to New Delhi that will allow 42,000 Indian workers to work in the Jewish state in the fields of construction and nursing, a move that was then seen "to help deal with the rising cost of living and assist thousands of families waiting for nursing care".

A statement released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry then said that 34,000 workers will be engaged in the construction field and another 8,000 for nursing needs.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched the 'Jay Jawan' campaign to provide "justice" to 1.5 lakh youth in the country who were selected for defence services but "not allowed" to join after the launch of the Agnipath scheme.

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi meets the youth preparing for the Indian Army during the party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, in Katihar, Bihar, January 31, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Gandhi launched the campaign on the eighteenth day of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Bihar.

He promised these youth that he would raise the issue of "injustice" with them at every forum.

Due to the implementation of the Agnipath Scheme, around 1.5 lakh candidates selected for the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy between 2019 and 2022 were allegedly denied joining.

"Our Jay Jawan campaign is dedicated to those youth who have faced this injustice," Gandhi said, adding that "it is the fight for 'Nyay' (justice) against this 'Anyay' (injustice)".

There are three phases of 'Jay Jawan' campaign -- mass contact (February 1-28), satyagraha (March 5-10) and padyatra (March 17-20).

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, party media and publicity department head Pawan Khera, chairman of the ex-servicemen cell Col Rohit Chaudhry (retd), Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV and NSUI president Varun Chaudhary said the scheme was not only against the country's interests, but also playing with the aspirations of lakhs of youth in the country.

Khera asked why the defence experts' opinion was not taken before launching of this scheme. He said the country cannot afford an army on rent or contractual soldiers.

Pointing out that for the Agniveers, there is neither a job guarantee, nor any guarantee in case they get martyrdom unlike the regular soldiers, Khera disclosed that 60 lakh youth had taken various tests for selection of whom 1.5 lakh had been selected.

He claimed that the government had charged Rs 100 crore as examination fee for these selections.

Chaudhary warned that the Agnipath scheme is like playing with fire and putting the country's security at stake.

He said after the introduction of the scheme the defence forces' strength had come down by three lakh and claimed that in another 10 years the total strength will be reduced to just 10 lakh.

Chaudhary equated Agnipath scheme with private armies.

He alleged that the prime minister might handover this job to his capitalist friends who are already in the security services.

Giving an example of the Wagner Army' of Russia, he said the private armies don't win any wars.

Chaudhary said Russia has not been able to defeat Ukraine which, he claimed, has a regular army while Russia is fighting through a "private army".

Later in a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said that leaving 1.5 lakh youth already selected in the armed forces helpless in the name of a "temporary" recruitment scheme Agnipath is a "grave injustice" to them.

Today in Katihar, there was a discussion with some enthusiastic youth who had done penance for years to join the army, he said.

The Agnipath scheme is a "betrayal" not only of the patriotic youth but also of the sacred sentiments of the country attached to the Indian military, Gandhi said.

We have started the Voice of Justice -- JAY JAWAN campaign against the injustice being done to these youth. You too can become a part of this ongoing campaign for justice for these patriotic youth by visiting jayjawan.in or by giving a missed call on 9999812024, he said.
The 55th Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF), which is being held from Jan. 24 to Feb. 6, attracts 1,200 publishers and 5,250 exhibitors from 70 countries and regions.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren was arrested on Wednesday night in a money laundering case after resigning as the Jharkhand chief minister, and party loyalist and state transport minister Champai Soren was named as his successor.

IMAGE: Hemant Soren shows a thumbs up as he reaches Raj Bhavan to submit his resignation to State governor CP Radhakrishnan, in Ranchi, January 31, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Hemant Soren was arrested after a marathon seven hours of grilling by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case at his official residence. He was taken to the ED office for a medical check-up, officials said.

Earlier, Soren went to the Raj Bhavan to tender his resignation accompanied by alliance legislators. The ED team also present there, officials said

"Hemant Soren has resigned as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The ruling JMM-Congress-RJD alliance has proposed the name of senior JMM leader Champai Soren as the new CM," state Congress president Rajesh Thakur said.

"We have staked a claim to form the new government with the support of 47 MLAs," JMM legislative party leader Champai Soren told reporters.

Earlier in the day, Soren lodged an FIR against ED personnel over searches conducted by the agency at his Delhi residence on Monday, officials said.

Soren alleged that the ED conducted the search to "harass and malign him and his entire community", the officials said, quoting the FIR.

In a late-night development, Soren moved the Jharkhand High Court, party sources said. However, the reason why he moved court was not known. His petition will be heard by the bench of Acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Anubha Rawat Choudhary at 10.30 am on Thursday.

In the morning, legislators gathered at Hemant Soren's residence elected the transport minister Champai Soren as the leader of the JMM legislative party with party spokesperson Vinod Pandey saying that a consensus was reached on his name.

A legislator from the Serikela assembly constituency for more than three decades since 1991, Champai Soren is known to be a loyalist of JMM supremo Shibu Soren.

Born in November 1956 at Jilinggora village in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharsawan district, Champai Soren is a matriculate and father of seven children. He is the son of a farmer and is not related to the Hemant Soren's family.

IMAGE: Jharkhand Transport Minister Champai Soren walks out of the Raj Bhavan after meeting the State Governor CP Radhakrishnan on being elected the next Chief Minister. Photograph: ANI Photo

Sources claimed 48-year-old Hemant Soren was "evasive" in his replies during ED questioning and hence was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED is expected to produce Soren before a special PMLA court here and the agency will seek his remand for custodial interrogation, the sources said.

Sources said the agency put across 15 questions to Soren during the second round of questioning in the case. He was first quizzed on January 20.

The JMM leader was shown the typed statements he recorded with the agency and before taking him in custody, his signatures were sought on these documents.

It was, however, not clear if he signed them.

The allegations of money laundering against the JMM leader pertain to the alleged illegal possession of certain immovable assets apart from his purported links with members of the 'land mafia'.

The investigation is linked to a "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, according to the central probe 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.

The ED is probing the alleged "huge amounts of proceeds of crime generated by manipulation of official records by showing dummy sellers and purchasers in the guise of forged/ bogus documents to acquire huge parcels of land having value in crores'.

Earlier in the day, Soren lodged an FIR against ED personnel over searches conducted by the agency at his Delhi residence on Monday, officials said.

He alleged that the ED conducted the search to "harass and malign him and his entire community", the officials said, quoting the FIR.

"An FIR has been lodged against some senior ED officials... we got the application from the chief minister," Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Chandan Kumar Sinha told PTI.

An ED team searched Soren's Delhi residence on Monday, and camped there for almost 13 hours in order to question him in the money laundering case.

The agency claimed to have seized Rs 36 lakh, an SUV and some "incriminating" documents during the search.

"My family members and I have suffered and experienced immense mental, psychological and emotional harm because of the acts committed...," he said in the FIR, according to the officials.

The chief minister claimed that he was not the owner of the seized car, and the cash recovered did not belong to him as well, they said.

Health Minister and Congress leader Banna Gupta said Soren cooperated in the investigation, but added that it was the duty of constitutional institutions to conduct such probes "properly".

Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh told PTI that all legislators stand solidly behind the chief minister.

Hundreds of ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) workers and supporters gathered in Ranchi's Morabadi ground in protest against the questioning of Soren.

Holding party banners and posters and displaying bows and arrows, the supporters claimed that the CM was being targeted by the BJP-led central government through the probe agency for his tribal identity.

With prohibitory orders imposed within a radius of 100 metres at key locations in the state capital, the protests were organised at Morabadi ground, a few kilometers away from Soren's residence.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi said, "Since the time Hemant Soren became the CM, I have written several letters to him warning about the wrongdoings, but he didn't listen. He didn't pay attention to work, instead focused on earning. If he was honest enough, he should have responded to ED's notices earlier."

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Deepak Prakash said, "In four years of rule, Hemant Soren looted Jharkhand. He was part of liquor scam, land scam and mining scam. But nobody is bigger than law, all are same under it."
Amid heavy security cover, ED officials on Wednesday began questioning Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren at his residence in Ranchi for the second time in less than a fortnight, in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

Soren, 48, who is also the executive president of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), had earlier been questioned in connection with the case on January 20.

The interrogation, however, remained incomplete on that day when he was grilled for more than seven hours, an official said.

Soren is being questioned as part of a probe into a "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, ED officials have said.

Legislators of the ruling JMM-led coalition gathered at Soren's residence to express their solidarity with the CM.

Health Minister and Congress leader Banna Gupta said Soren is cooperating in the investigation, but added that it was the duty of constitutional institutions to conduct such probes "properly".

State Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh told PTI that all legislators stand solidly behind the chief minister.

Meanwhile, JMM supporters were seen protesting at the nearby Morabadi Ground and in some other places in protest against the ED action against Soren.

"Our chief minister is being deliberately harassed by the ED on directions from the Centre... We will resort to economic blockade in the entire state," one of the agitators said.

Security personnel escorting the ED officials are equipped with high-resolution body cameras to keep track of the activities around Soren's residence, amid heavy police deployment there.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC are effective from 9 am to 10 pm within a radius of 100 metres at key locations in the state capital, including the CM House.
Speculations are rife that Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana Soren will take over the reins if he gets arrested by the ED in a money laundering case.

IMAGE: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren. Photograph: ANI Photo

Ending suspense over his whereabouts and intense political drama, Hemant Soren reached his official residence in Ranchi on Tuesday and chaired the first meeting of his alliance MLAs.

At the meeting, the legislators signed a letter of support without any name amid suspense that Kalpana Soren will become the CM.

Kalpana Soren was also present at the meeting.

Since Kalpana is not an MLA, her becoming the CM will need a present MLA to vacate his or her seat.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said that Hemant's brother, Basant Soren and sister-in-law Sita Soren, did not agree to the proposal of Kalpana becoming the CM.

However, Basant Soren denied any family rift and said the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha family is united and rifts happen in Nishikant Dubey's family only.

Kalpana got married to Hemant Soren on February 7, 2006. Thy have two children -- Nikhil and Ansh.

On Monday, an ED team visited the JMM executive president's Delhi home with the intent to question him and agency officials claimed that he was "untraceable".

Sources close to Soren said that the 48-year-old JMM leader came by road from Delhi, undertaking a more than 1250 km journey.

Hemant Soren will appear before the ED to record his statement on Wednesday.

Soren, also the executive president of the ruling JMM, had left for the national capital on January 27 night and his scheduled government programme in the state was cancelled without any explanation.

In an email to the probe agency on Sunday, Soren alleged that the ED's actions were "motivated by political agenda" to disrupt the state government's functioning and claimed that its insistence to record his statement again on or before January 31 "reeked of malice".

The federal agency questioned Soren on January 20, and later issued a fresh summons, asking him to confirm his availability for questioning on either January 29 or January 31.

The Enforcement Directorate will question Soren on Wednesday in Ranchi in a money laundering case probe linked to an alleged land scam. The official sources have said that they have seized Rs 36 lakh, a BMW SUV and some "incriminating" documents during the search operations at his house in the national capital on Monday.

Meanwhile, JMM and the BJP leaders engaged in a verbal duel with the opposition party in the state claiming that Soren was "missing" for several hours after going to Delhi and the Congress and JMM alleging that the saffron camp was spreading rumours about Soren.

The JMM said it will file a case against state BJP chief Babulal Marandi for allegedly defaming the Chief Minister by his comment on the JMM leader's "absence" in the state capital Ranchi.
'We are developing infrastructure on the mountains and deploying the troops on hill borders in such a way that it is ensuring the safety of the people there.'

IMAGE: A Border Roads Organisation officer presents a memento to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the inauguration of 29 bridges and six roads constructed by the BRO across seven states/Union Territories at a cost of Rs 670 crore (Rs 6.7 billion), at Joshimath in Chamoli, January 19, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

In 2017, the 19th national congress of the Chinese communist party announced with fanfare, a new border village policy: This involved resettling Tibetan graziers in 'model villages" in disputed areas along the India-China border.

In fact, the Chinese border policy had already been implemented since 1995.

In an acclaimed investigative article in May 2021, in Foreign Policy magazine, Tibetologist Robert Barnett recounted how this worked: Since 1995, Chinese communist officials in Tibet had ordered border graziers to not return to their villages in winter.

Instead, they were to spend winter driving their yak herds over disputed land and planting Chinese flags on peaks.

In a few years, Chinese claims over large areas had solidified, with some 250,000 Tibetan graziers resettled thus in vulnerable pockets along the border.

In July 2021, China's President Xi Jinping visited Tibet for three days, to hail the graziers as defenders of the border and heroes of China.

Last week, the Indian government, which has been slow to enter this game, finally took a seat at the table.

In Uttarakhand, while dedicating 35 bridges and six new roads to the nation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the Bharatiya Janata Party government considers border areas a part of the national mainstream and not just a buffer zone as the earlier Congress-led governments did.

Rajnath Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approach towards border area development was unique.

'Other governments did not focus on development of border areas as they considered these zones as the last areas of the country. We, on the other hand, consider border areas as the face of India, which is why we're ensuring that world-class infrastructure is created in these zones,' he said.

The defence minister stressed that connectivity is being provided to every border area in the country through roads, bridges, and tunnels.

He described the work as not only of strategic importance, but also pivotal for the welfare of the people residing in these regions.

'People living near the borders are no less than soldiers. If a soldier protects the country by wearing a uniform, the residents of border areas are serving the motherland in their own way,' he said.

'There was a time when border-infrastructure development was not given much importance. Governments used to work with the mentality that the people living in the plains are the mainstream people. They were worried that the [infrastructure] development on the border might be used by the adversary. Due to this narrow mentality, development never reached the border areas, the defence minister said.

'This thinking has changed today. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, our government is committed to the development of border areas, keeping in view the nation's security needs. We do not consider these areas as buffer zones. They are a part of our mainstream,' he said.

The defence minister said that the government's approach shows a new confidence of 'New India', which will not wait for potential adversaries to reach the plains to deal with them.

'We are developing infrastructure on the mountains and deploying the troops on hill borders in such a way that it is ensuring the safety of the people there, and helping the military to effectively deal with our adversaries,' he said.

Referring to the large migration from border areas in Uttarakhand, Rajnath Singh termed it a matter of concern.

The PM and the chief minister were taking infrastructure development to the last Indian on our side of the border, Singh added.

In his address, the defence minister 'commended the Border Roads Organisation for strengthening the border infrastructure of the country and asserted that by constructing roads, bridges etc, the organisation is connecting the far-flung areas with the rest of the nation geographically, while also linking the hearts of the people residing in remote villages with the rest of the citizens,' said a defence ministry press release.

The defence minister described the personnel engaged with the BRO -- army personnel, permanent civilian employees, and casual paid labourers (CPLs) -- as a unique workforce.

Highlighting the change in the mindset brought out by the government, he said with respect to the CPLs: 'Earlier, only permanent employees were considered part of the organisation; not those hired through outsourcing or those working on a contract/casual basis. Today, this mentality has changed. We believe that it is only through the combined efforts of all can the nation move forward on the path of development.'

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
The largest opposition party in the Maldives on Wednesday accused President Mohamed Muizzu's administration of protecting criminals, hours after an attack on the Prosecutor General, according to local media reports.

IMAGE: Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. Photograph: Courtesy Maldivian President's Office on Facebook

Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem was attacked on a street in Male City. He is receiving treatment for his injuries at the ADK Hospital, Sun.mv, a news portal, said.

Condemning the attack on Shameem earlier in the morning, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in a statement said The alleged close ties between top government officials and criminal gangs were resulting in open violent assaults on top state officials.

The MDP accused President Muizzu's administration of failing to provide proper protection to officials charged with fulfilling constitutional duties and responsibilities.

This party also notes that after having successfully driven down violent assaults in the Maldives during the former administration, such crimes have increased after President Muizzu took office, the portal reported, quoting the MDP statement.

Muizzu, considered to be close to China, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September last year.

This party believes that such fearless attacks on top state officials are a result of the close ties that top government officials have with criminal groups operating in the Maldives, and because of the protection the government provides these criminal groups, the opposition party said.

Solih, the former Maldivian president and also the interim leader of MDP, in a post on X, described the attack as politically motivated.

Politically motivated acts of violence have no place in a democratic society and I call on the government to be swift in bringing the perpetrators to justice, he said.

The MDP also called on the government to sever its alleged ties with criminal groups, and to run a proper investigation into the attack on Shameem and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Meanwhile, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) said in a statement that Shameem was attacked with a weapon by two people on a motorbike.

While neither the PGO nor the police have specified the type of weapon used, a police spokesperson had said earlier that they had ruled out the use of a sharp-edged weapon, the news portal said.

The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has strengthened Shameem's security following the attack, it added.
Senior Maoist Deva who was recently made commander of 'battalion no.1', the strongest military formation of the outlaws in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, was possibly leading the group that attacked security personnel in Sukma district on Tuesday, the police said.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Three Central Reserve Police Force personnel, including two belonging to its specialised jungle warfare unit CoBRA, were killed and fifteen others injured in the encounter near Tekalgudem village.

To a question as to whether Maoist leader Hidma was present during Tuesday's attack, inspector general of police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said it did not seem possible.

"There is least chance of presence of Hidma, but Deva was possibly present there," he told PTI.

Deva recently replaced Hidma as commander of the Maoists' battalion no. 1, the IG added.



As per police sources, the so-called Peoples' Liberation Guerilla Army battalion no. 1 has played a role in several deadly attacks in south Bastar in the past.

Maoist documents recovered after recent encounters revealed that Hidma was elevated to the central committee of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist and Deva alias Barse Sukka, who was secretary of Darbha division committee, was made commander of battalion no. 1.

Both Hidma and Deva belong to the same village, Puvrati, located along Sukma-Bijapur border, police sources said. Puvrati is around 6-7 km away from Tekalgudem where the encounter took place on Tuesday.

Security forces have set up a new camp in Tekalgudem, a Maoist stronghold.

In the last two months, 12 new camps of security personnel have been set up in core areas of Maoists in Sukma and Bijapur districts (six camps in each district), said IG Sundarraj.

"In a way we have entered the area which is called the base of PLGA battalion no. 1. The tough resistance from Naxalites was expected and we were fully prepared. Unfortunately we lost our three men, but our jawans fought courageously and gave them a befitting reply. As per preliminary information, in this encounter that lasted for about four hours, at least 7-8 Naxalites were killed and 15-16 Maoists were seriously injured. Morale of our jawans is high and operations will be continued with more intensity in the area," he said.

Chhattisgarh director general of police Ashok Juneja, additional director general CRPF (Central Zone) Amit Kumar, state's additional director general of police (anti-Maoist operations) Vivekananda Sinha, IG Sundarraj P, IG CRPF Saket Kumar and other senior police officials on Wednesday visited Tekalgudem camp and met the jawans, a police statement said.

Bastar Police and central security forces were determined to free the people of the region from the Naxal menace and ensure peace, security and development, Juneja was quoted as saying.
Taking umbrage at a protest fast by Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's daughter Suranya Aiyar against the consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram temple earlier this month, a residents' welfare association in south Delhi's Jangpura has suggested the father-daughter duo to leave the colony.

IMAGE: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, left, pays floral tribute to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 79th birth anniversary at Veer Bhumi in New Delhi, August 20, 2023. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

Aiyar in a video posted on Facebook, however, stated that she did not live in the colony represented by the RWA and that she did not receive any "notice" (letter) from it.

She said that it was decided by her not to speak to the media over the issue for the moment.

Mani Shankar Aiyar, when contacted, refused to comment on it.

In a letter addressed to the Aiyars, Jangpura Extension Residents' Welfare Association president Kapil Kakkar said the association was approached by residents of the colony over her social media "stand/rant" and keeping fast from January 20-23.

It is the responsibility of an RWA to see that there is cordial relation between all the residents and "we do not appreciate a resident rant which may disturb the peace in the colony or hurt religious sentiments of the residents," read the letter dated January 27.

The pran pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla was held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the newly built Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

The RWA accused Suranya of "hate speech" and requested her to follow the norms of a good citizen.

It claimed the colony was inhabited by residents who came to India from Pakistan after partition.

Kakkar requested Mani Shankar Aiyar in the letter to "condemn" the act of his daughter, saying the RWA will highly appreciate it since it was not in good taste for the colony.

"In case you still think what you have done in protesting against the consecration (ceremony) of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, we would suggest you to kindly move out to another colony...," Kakkar said in the letter.

He said the letter was sent to Mani Shankar Aiyar.

Suranya in her Facebook video said, "First, the relevant Residents' Welfare Association is from a colony where I do not live! Secondly, I have decided for the moment not to speak to the media as right now."

She also criticised the media of spreading "toxicity and confusion".

The 49-year-old said that she studied abroad and was involved with activism with people of all political backgrounds.

"I leave my work here on my Facebook and YouTube pages for you to think for yourselves. I am going to try and avoid a media circus as I believe that we all in India deserve better. Let us stop abusing each other and try some thinking instead. Jai Hind!" she said.

She said further that reasons for her disagreement were expressed by her in a previous speech (video). "I made a spiritual presentation of my own pain about this by fasting peacefully in my home," she stated.

"What matters is that whatever point of view we put forward, whether people are able to see some sense in it. And if at the end of the day, at the end of this process, in India, we can even just find a more civilised, a more thinking and a more sincere way of talking and feeling about these things, then we would have achieved something," she said.

Kakkar told PTI Video, "What kind of Hindu is she who is demeaning her own religion. We asked her to regret her provocative statements. We will not ignore it."

He said that the RWA was awaiting the Aiyars' response.

Suranya in her video posted on YouTube on January 19, said, "With the forthcoming event in Ayodhya on January 22, the atmosphere here in Delhi...has thickened to a spiritually poisonous and unbreathable concentrate of Hindu chauvinism, malice and bullying."

She said that she was deeply anguished as an Indian and a Hindu and after thinking hard decided to go on a fast from January 20 to January 23.

"I am doing this first and foremost as an expression of my love and sorrow to my fellow Muslim citizens of India. I cannot let this moment pass without saying as loud as I can to my Muslim brothers and sisters that I love you and that I condemn and repudiate what is being done in the name of Hinduism and nationalism in Ayodhya," she said.

Reacting to the development, the BJP said the action of the RWA should serve as a message to everyone who believes abusing Hindu beliefs is "par for the course".

The RWA has "asked Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar and his daughter to apologise for defiling the Pran Pratistha ceremony at Ram Mandir, and leave the residential colony, BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said in a post on X.
Ruling Congress MLA HC Balakrishna has advocated stopping the Karnataka government's guarantee programmes, in case the party fails to win maximum number of seats in the state in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, assuming that the people have rejected the schemes.

IMAGE: Karnataka Congress MLA HC Balakrishna (right) with party leader Rahul Gandhi. Photograph: Courtesy X

The Magadi MLA said he had spoken to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and added it was for the people to decide whether they want akshate (rice grains mixed with turmeric and ghee distributed by organisers or volunteers of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh/Vishva Hindu Parishad ahead of Ayodhya's Ram Mandir consecration) or five guarantee schemes.

While the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party hit out at the MLA and the Congress government, Shivakumar seeking to clarify, said no guarantee scheme will be stopped and it will be continued for five years.

"We will work, our government will be there for five years, I ask you one thing whether your vote is for akshate or five guarantees," Balakrishna said.

Addressing a gathering in his constituency near Bengaluru, he said, "We are all Hindus, we too have respect for the construction of the temple, but our argument is that seeking votes in the name of temple is not right."

"In this situation, if people vote (in BJP's favour) for construction of the temple...I told our Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister that -- let's continue the guarantee schemes if people make us (the Congress) win a majority of the seats in the MP (parliamentary) elections. If not, it can be assumed that the people have rejected the guarantees," he added.

Further asking people what else the Congress should think if votes are not in its favour, the MLA told womenfolk that 80-85 percent of money from these guarantee schemes are coming to women -- who are also the matriarchs of the family in many cases.

Listing out the benefits of the guarantee scheme, he further said, "Despite doing all this, if people don't vote for us and reject us, what should we decide? There is no value to these guarantees, but there is value for akshate. So we will cancel guarantees and we also will build a temple, worship there, give akshate and get the votes."

"Tell me what to do? Whether you want guarantees or akshate. It has to be decided. I have told the chief minister that because of his government's programmes, people should make the Congress win and elect MPs from our party, if not it will be understood that people don't want your guarantees, we will take that money and do development works," he added.

The Congress governments five guarantee schemes are  200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), payment of cash in lieu of the additional 5 kg of rice to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (YuvaNidhi) and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).

Shivakumar said no guarantee scheme will be stopped in Karnataka, and it will continue for five years.

"The BJP had earlier (during the assembly poll campaign) threatened that if the Congress comes to power, the schemes would be only till elections (to the Lok Sabha) and Balakrishna was trying to affirm that only the Congress can implement the guarantee schemes, while cautioning the people (about BJP)," he said, as he sought to clarify with regard to his party MLA's statement and clear the air.

Reacting to Balakrishna's remarks, BJP state president BY Vijayendra said in Chikkamagaluru, this shows that the Congress leaders who were under the illusion of winning more than 20 of the total 28 Parliamentary seats in the state, have accepted defeat even before the Lok Sabha polls are announced.

The Congress won the assembly polls last year and came to power through "bogus guarantees," he charged and said the BJP will not let this government to do injustice to the people of the state.

"It is nothing but blackmail...the Congress should be ashamed."

Several other BJP leaders too have hit out at the Congress party and the MLA for the statement.
Five of the six people arrested in the Parliament security breach case on Wednesday told a court in New Delhi that they were allegedly being tortured by Delhi Police to accept their association with Opposition parties.

IMAGE: An accused (third from right) in the Parliament security breach incident being brought to Patiala House Court by the Delhi police Special Cell, in New Delhi, January 5, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The submission was made before additional sessions judge Hardeep Kaur, who extended the judicial custody of all the six accused till March 1.

Five of the accused -- Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Lalit Jha, Amol Shinde and Mahesh Kumawat -- told the court that they were forced to sign about 70-odd blank papers.

"Accused persons were tortured/given electric shocks to sign and confess (to) the commission of crime under the UAPA and their association with national political parties," they told the court.

The court sought a reply from the police in the matter and fixed February 17 for hearing the application.

The sixth accused in the case is Neelam Azad, who had earlier alleged before the court that police had forced her to sign several blank papers.

Azad's application is currently pending before the court.

"During (after/before the conduction of polygraph/narco/brain mapping), the associated persons conducting the tests pressed two accused persons to name a political party/leader about their involvement.

"Each were asked about their current/old mobile phone numbers and made them visit the Airtel/BSNL/Vodafone offices for issuance of SIM cards of old mobile numbers and current SIM card numbers for reasons best known to the prosecution. During this illegal drill, accused persons gave their biometrics/signed for issuance of SIM cards," the joint petition stated.

The accused persons claimed they were forced to provide all their social media account, email and phone passwords.

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour on December 13 last year, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before they were overpowered by some MPs.

Around the same time, two other accused -- Amol Shinde and Neelam Azad -- sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting "tanashahi nahi chalegi" outside the Parliament premises.

These four were taken into custody from the spot, while Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat were arrested later.
The district court on Wednesday ruled that a priest can perform prayers before the idols in a cellar of the Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi, a significant development in the legal battle over the mosque adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

IMAGE: The Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi. Photograph: PTI Photo/Rediff archives

The prayers will be conducted -- apparently at regular intervals -- by a "pujari" nominated by the Kashi Vishwanath temple trust and the petitioner who has claimed his grandfather offered puja at the cellar up to December 1993.

While the Vishva Hindu Parishad welcomed the order, Muslim side counsel Mumtaz Ahmed said they will challenge it in the high court. The judge has said the plaintiffs can submit their objections before the court on February 8.

The court has directed the local administration to make arrangements within seven days for prayers in the cellar. This will involve "proper arrangements" with metal barricades at the complex.

According to Hindu side counsel Madan Mohan Yadav, the barricades before the Nandi statue facing the mosque's 'wazukhana' will be removed to make way.

The order by judge A K Vishvesha comes days after an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report on the mosque complex was made public.

The ASI survey, ordered by the same court, in connection with a related case, suggested that the mosque was constructed during Aurangzeb's rule over the remains of a Hindu temple.

Wednesday's order was delivered on the plea of Shailendra Kumar Pathak who claimed that his maternal grandfather, priest Somnath Vyas, offered prayers till December 1993, advocate Yadav said.

He said the puja was stopped during the tenure of chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav after the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya was demolished on December 6, 1992.

The VHP, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya welcomed the "historic decision". The BJP refrained from commenting on the development, saying the matter is sub-judice.

During the hearing, the Muslim sides disputed the petitioner's version. It said no idols existed in the cellar so there was no question of prayers being offered there till 1993.

The Muslim side had also countered the petitioner's claim that the basement was under his grandfather's control.

The petitioner further claimed that in accordance with "vansanugat" (dynastic) his family had control of the cellar even during the British rule and they performed puja.

In an earlier order on January 17, the Varanasi court had directed that the district magistrate should take charge of the cellar. But it had not then given any directions on the right to offer prayers there.

Mumtaz Ahmed, who represented the Muslim side, said, "The district judge today gave its final verdict by giving the right of worship to Hindus. We will now go to the high court against this decision."

Senior All India Personal Law board member Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali told reporters in Lucknow, "There is disappointment over this decision but doors of the upper court are open. Our lawyers will challenge this decision."

In his reaction, VHP's Alok Kumar congratulated the Hindu society, saying, "We hope that after this, the court's verdict on the Gyanvapi case will also come soon. We are confident that the decision will come in favour of Hindus based on evidence and facts."

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said this is an important day for Hindus emotionally.

"It is a matter of happiness. The Varanasi court order in the Gyanvapi case will in a way prove to be a milestone," Yadav told reporters.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Maurya posted on X, "Shiva Devotees have got justice.... I heartily welcome the decision. Devotees have been waiting for this since 1993!"

Hindu side advocate Vishnu Jain described the court decision as "historic."

"The judgment is like the past order in the Ayodhya case. The right to worship given to Hindus in Gyanvapi is our great victory," Jain said.
BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- A total of 20 foreign publishing houses signed a memorandum with China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration Tuesday on jointly translating and publishing the fourth volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" in multiple languages.

These publishing houses are from countries including Afghanistan, Albania, Greece, Kenya, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, Mongolia, Poland, Tajikistan and Vietnam.

The fourth volume records the great practices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in rallying and leading the whole Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and starting a new journey toward building China into a modern socialist country in all respects.

It is an authoritative work that fully and systematically reflects the new horizon opened up and a new leap-forward achieved by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

The fourth volume has been officially published in multiple languages such as French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Japanese. 
Amid efforts by the Congress to mollify the Trinamool Congress following a seat-sharing impasse in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday declared she would not leave any Lok Sabha seat for the grand old party, accusing it of aligning with the Communist Party of India-Marxist to bolster the Bharatiya Janata Party, as turmoil in the Opposition bloc INDIA deepened in the state.

IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tries traditional dance during an Administrative Review meeting, at Balurghat in South Dinajpur, January 30, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The feisty TMC boss also accused the CPI-M of ruining her party's relationship with the Congress, its ally in the Opposition bloc INDIA at the national level.

Banerjee, who was speaking at a public distribution programme here, said the TMC decided to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha polls alone in West Bengal after the Congress declined her offer to contest two seats in the state.

"The Congress does not have even one MLA in the state assembly... I offered them two Lok Sabha seats, both in Malda, but they wanted more. So, I told them I will not share a single seat with them. CPI-M is their leader," she said.

Accusing the Congress and the CPI-M of collusion to strengthen the BJP in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Banerjee asserted that only the Trinamool Congress was actively Opposing the saffron party.

"CPI-M is now Congress' leader. I will never forgive the CPI-M. I will also not forgive those who support the CPI-M. I told them they have to leave the CPI-M first. By colluding with CPI-M, they are supporting the BJP. I have seen that in the last panchayat elections," she said.

Her remarks came days after she had announced that her party would contest all the 42 Lok Sabha seats alone in the state, delivering a severe blow to the Opposition bloc INDIA in the state.

Efforts to mollify Banerjee, with Congress acknowledging her pivotal role in the opposition coalition and her indispensability in the fight against the BJP, failed to sway TMC's stance.

Without naming anyone, she took potshots at Rahul Gandhi's ongoing yatra, which is presently in Malda, saying, "There are a few people who will come during election time, chirp and then leave."

Earlier in 2010, during Rahul Gandhi's visit to West Bengal, Banerjee, then at the forefront of opposing the CPI-M led Left Front regime, had dubbed him as the "cuckoo of spring" (Basanter Kokil), a proverb she used to dub the Congress leader as a politician who only visits during elections.

Alleging that the CPI-M had "tortured" people of the state during its 34-year rule, the TMC chief said she would "never be able to forgive" the Left party.

Banerjee said she has "no objection" if anyone from the family of former Congress stalwart from Malda, the late Gani Khan Chowdhury, contests the election.

"But the TMC will also contest. They (Congress) will fight along with the CPI-M, to strengthen the BJP... only the TMC is capable of politically fighting the BJP in the state. The Congress had been winning both the seats in Malda for the last several years but what have they done for people?" she said.

The stormy petrel of Bengal politics, who ascended to the seat of power after ending the 34-year-long Left rule in the state in 2011, accused the CPI (M) of running her relationship with the Congress.

"The CPI-M has ruined our relationship with the Congress," she said.

Last week, Banerjee had accused the CPI-M of striving to control the Opposition bloc's agenda, which was unacceptable to her.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, who was in Malda to participate in the party's yatra, asserted that the priorities of Banerjee and the Congress are the same: "to fight against the divisive ideologies of the RSS and the BJP.

"The objectives of the Congress and Mamata Banerjee are the same, that is to fight against the divisive ideologies of the RSS and the BJP. Banerjee is an important pillar of the INDIA bloc," he said.

While the CPI-M, Congress, and TMC form part of the 27-party Opposition bloc INDIA, in West Bengal, the grand old party has aligned with the CPI-M against TMC and BJP.



In the 2019 elections, TMC secured 22 seats, Congress won two, and the BJP bagged 18 seats in the state.

According to sources, the TMC's offer of two seats, based on Congress' 2019 Lok Sabha election performance, was deemed insufficient, escalating tensions between the two parties.

TMC had previously allied with the Congress in the 2001 assembly polls, 2009 Lok Sabha elections, and the 2011 assembly polls, leading to the ousting of the CPI-M-led Left Front government of 34 years.
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BENNINGTON  In February, a touch of Hollywood comes to Bennington when the Monument Arts & Cultural Center presents British- American couple Juliet Mills and Maxwell Caulfield in A.R. Gurneys Pulitzer Prize for drama nominee, "Love Letters."

Mills, playing the character Melissa Gardner, is known for her theatrical and television performances in the United Kingdom and the U.S.

She played Mrs. Kendal in the Tony Award-winning production of "The Elephant Man" (where she met her husband who played John Merrick); Pamela Harrington in "Five Finger Exercise," a performance that got her nominated for a Tony Award; and the nanny in the 1970s television show "Nanny and the Professor."

Caulfield, playing the character Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, is also known for his theatrical and television roles in the U.K. and the U.S., including his film debut in "Grease 2," where he played Michelle Pfeiffers love interest; his role as criminal defense lawyer Billy Flynn in "Chicago;" and his performance as studio boss R.F. Simpson in "Singin in the Rain."

"Love Letters" is a story about two life-long friends, Melissa and Andrew, who begin exchanging letters as children in 1937. Their 50-year relationship is played out in each letter they write, detailing boarding school and college dramas, failed marriages and roller coaster careers.

While the letters detail different places and times throughout the friends lives, the actors read them while sitting at a desk, no other props or scene changes needed.

Mills and Caulfield, who have been married for 44 years, are thrilled to be performing "Love Letters."

Weve always wanted to do it, Mills said. Weve been asked several times, but the scheduling was never right.

Its all in the writing in this play, Caulfield said. Its an exceptional piece of writing. The beauty of the play is the insight into these characters. No way you cant relate to these characters.

Caulfield joked that the character Melissa, raised in a well-to-do East coast family, is similar to Juliet (even though Juliet was born in London and grew up in the English countryside).

Juliet is theatrical royalty, Caufield said, referring to her esteemed acting career and her life growing up with famed English actor father Sir John Mills, who won an Oscar for his role in "Ryans Daughter," and her beloved actress sister Hayley Mills.

While the couple has enjoyed working on stage together in several theater productions, this will be their first-time performing "Love Letters."

Maxwell and I will be a very good pair, Mills said. We know each other so well.

Married couples dont always work well because the performance can lack friction, Caulfield said. But thats not how it works for us. People say they forget we are married during our performances.

Caulfield said the 315-seat theater at MACCenter is a perfect venue for "Love Letters."

You wouldnt want it any bigger for an intimate piece like this, said Caulfield.

While Mills has never been to Vermont, Caulfield spent a weekend in the Rutland area filming a cameo role in the 2020 David Giancola film, "Axcellerator."

During his short time in Vermont, Caulfield met former Sen. Patrick Leahy, saying he was honored to have met the esteemed Senator.

Kristine Lewis, executive director of MACCenter, is the producing director of the show.

The Monument Arts & Cultural Center, at 44 Gypsy Lane in Bennington, is a nonprofit organization that offers a wide range of classes and workshops, hosts and produces shows and plays, and is home to artwork created by local artists.

"Love Letters" will be playing Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. (doors at 6) and Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. (doors at 2). Tickets can be purchased at monumentcentervt.org/loveletters.
SHAFTSBURY  Outpost The Residency, in collaboration with Vermont Humanities and the generous contributions of our community donors, is thrilled to announce Nico Amador as the first-ever Outpost Vermont Fellow.

This prestigious fellowship, established as a testament to a commitment to diversity and literary excellence, aims to provide continuous support to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) writers in Vermont.

Beginning this year, Outpost Vermont will annually extend this opportunity to a deserving BIPOC Vermont writer. The fellowship encompasses a range of invaluable benefits, including comprehensive manuscript reviews, one-on-one meetings with literary professionals, and an exclusive week-long residency on our scenic property. To further facilitate the recipient's creative pursuits, a monetary award of $2,500 will also be presented.

Nico Amador, a distinguished poet, popular educator and community organizer hailing from San Diego and currently residing in Bristol, has been selected as the inaugural Outpost Vermont Fellow. Amador's notable works have been featured in esteemed publications such as Bettering American Poetry, Poem-a-Day, fourteen poems, West Branch, Pleiades, Poets Reading the News, Fugue Journal and more.

His chapbook, "Flower Wars," earned him the prestigious Anzaldua Poetry Prize and was published by Newfound Press.

A graduate of Bennington Colleges MFA program, Amador previously played a pivotal role in coordinating the ACLUs efforts on racial justice and prosecutorial reform in Bennington County. Delighted to continue his association with this region through the fellowship, Amador expressed his enthusiasm for creating more supportive spaces for queer, trans, and BIPOC writers in Vermont.

As part of his role, Nico Amador will also contribute to the selection process for the Outpost Fellows in Residence and will lead a one-day summer workshop for the Vermont High School Fellows program. This collaborative initiative underscores Outpost Vermont's dedication to fostering a vibrant literary community that reflects the rich diversity of voices in the state.

If you are aware of a dynamic BIPOC Vermont writer who deserves consideration for this fellowship, please reach out to us through the provided links on our website and in our bio.

Outpost Vermont is immensely grateful for the support of Vermont Humanities and our community donors, whose generosity has made the establishment of the Outpost Vermont Fellowship possible.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy. High 44F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. A few flurries are possible. Low near 30F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
COLOMBO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Over 300 oil and gas cargo vessels have visited the Hambantota International Port (HIP) in 2023, recording a 132 percent increase in vessel calls compared to 2022, the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) said in a press release on Wednesday.

A key reason for this is the port's bunkering partner Sinopec actively operating in the market, bringing significant value addition to the HIP's commercial operations, the press release said.

The overall oil and gas throughput handled by the port in 2023 was 918,000 metric tons, with 700,000 metric tons of bunker and 218,000 metric tons of LPG cargoes, the press release said.

Thirty-five vessels called at HIP in July 2023, making it the month for the highest number of calls during the year, the press release said.

The port recorded a growth of 186 percent in LPG vessels and 125 percent growth in bunker vessels in 2023, HIPG said.

Tissa Wickramasinghe, chief operating officer of HIPG, said the significant progress in 2023 was made amid an economic downturn and a dollar crisis in Sri Lanka. 
SANAA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said on Wednesday that it attacked a U.S. warship in the Red Sea with missiles, according to a statement from the group's military spokesman.

"In support of Palestinians in Gaza, and response to the aggression on our country, we fired several naval missiles at the American destroyer USS Gravely in the Red Sea," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement.

"We confirm that all American and British warships in the Red and Arabian Sea participating in the aggression against our country are within the target bank of our forces and will be targeted within the legitimate right to defend our country, our people," he said. 
Chinese media outlets claimed that the United States has announced cutting off all aid to Ukraine, citing a report from the state-run Global Times.

But the claim is misleading. A White House official in fact said that aid has been suspended. The official described this as temporary due to the ongoing Congressional debate over the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The claim was shared in a report published by Chinas state-backed media outlet Tencent on Jan. 16.

According to the Global Times, a White House spokesman said that the United States has officially stopped providing military assistance to Ukraine. This may be a sign that the U.S. wants to focus on the Middle East, but for Ukraine, the news could be a disaster, reads the claim in part.

The Tencent report didnt clarify which Global Times article it referenced.

The identical claim has been shared on other Chinese media outlets, including Sohu, as well as on social media platforms, such as Douyin and Xigua Video.

Chinese netizens and social media influencers recently released videos and articles claiming that the U.S. has announced a complete cessation of military assistance to Ukraine. (Screenshot/ Douyin and Tencent)





But the claim is misleading.

Keyword searches found a Global Times report published on Jan. 13, citing remarks made by John Kirby, the current coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council.

During a press conference on Jan. 11, Kirby said the U.S. government had issued the last aid package to Ukraine from the allocated funds.

While noting that aid had stopped, Kirby expressed the White Houses continued support for Ukraine by calling on Congress to expedite the approval of a previous request for additional wartime assistance.

We have issued the last drawdown package that  that we had funding to support. And thats why its  its critical that  that Congress move on that national security supplemental request and we get more funding, he said.

The Biden administration proposed a US$106 billion supplemental budget for foreign aid in Oct. 2023, of which more than US$60 billion was slotted for aid to Ukraine.

The administration has since continually urged Congress to pass the bill, with Biden emphasizing Ukraines security needs at a meeting with congressional leaders on Jan. 17.

The United States has been the main source of military aid for Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

While Biden has support from his Democratic Party for continuing aid, he faces stiff resistance in a U.S. election year from the Republican Party, which is demanding tougher action by the administration to secure the U.S. southern border with Mexico against illegal immigration. That has led to a political stalemate.

Keyword searches found no credible reports or statements that say the U.S. has decided to completely stop its aid to Ukraine.

Translated by Shen Ke. Edited by Taejun Kang, Malcolm Foster and Mat Pennington.

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) was established to counter disinformation in todays complex media environment. We publish fact-checks, media-watches and in-depth reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers understanding of current affairs and public issues. If you like our content, you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
A cyclist prepares to be checked by police officers at a checkpoint near Tiananmen Square in Beijing, June 4, 2020.

China's feared state security police have published a listicle of 10 offenses under the countrys vague Counter-espionage Law that can get you hauled in for questioning, known colloquially as "drinking tea."

They range from the straightforward  anyone engaged in spying or the theft of ill-defined state secrets  to owning a miniature camera or video recorder, considered possible "specialist spying equipment.

In a post titled "10 Cups of Tea" that appeared in the Beijing Daily, the Ministry of State Security listed situations in which members of the public could find themselves under investigation for "endangering national security."

Suspects will be placed under "criminal coercive measures including summons and detention," or "interrogated according to the law," warns the article, which comes amid a campaign for public vigilance for "foreign spies" in daily life.

China last year amended its Counterespionage Law, which expanded the definition of espionage amid raids on foreign consultancy firms, but gave no definition of what constitutes a "state secret."

Police will also want to talk to anyone who "fails to implement '' adequate counter-espionage measures, including around construction projects deemed to have national security implications, and anyone who doesn't cooperate with state security police requests, too.

"Individuals and organizations must respond truthfully and must not refuse" to provide information when asked; anyone who knew about spying activities and didn't report them will also be targeted, the article, signed by the ministry and printed in the Beijing Daily, warns.

Anyone holding or obtaining state secrets without committing the crime of espionage will also be liable for questioning, administrative detention and possible prosecution if they came by them "illegally," the article said.

What is a state secret?

The authorities have previously regarded any official information not officially given to a person or organization as a state secret, including items leaked to journalists.

In 2005, Hong Kong-based Straits Times reporter Ching Cheong was taken away by police in Guangzhou as he went to collect from a middleman the manuscript of a second book about late ousted liberal premier Zhao Ziyang. He was later jailed for five years for espionage.

Ching Cheong, the Hong Kong-based reporter jailed by China for espionage, looks on during a news conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Hong Kong, Feb. 21, 2008. (Victor Fraile/Reuters)





In 2015, veteran political journalist Gao Yu was handed a seven-year jail term for "leaking state secrets overseas."

Gao was accused of leaking ruling Chinese Communist Party policy Document No. 9, which lists "seven taboos" to be avoided in public debate, including online and in China's schools and universities, including democracy, freedom of the press, judicial independence and criticism of the party's historical record.

She argued that the document had already been published online, and couldn't be regarded as secret, but to no avail.

Anyone who shares anything they know about an investigation deemed to have national security implications could be in hot water with police, too, it says.

"National security agencies may restrict foreigners and foreign institutions from setting up residence or offices in certain areas; those already established may be relocated within a time limit," it warns.

Those who refuse to relocate by the deadline will be subject to forcible eviction and possible administrative detention, it says.

Catch-all charge

The 10th "cup of tea" appears to be a catch-all charge, and involves "acts other than espionage that endanger national security."

Chinese dissident Xiao Yuhui said being "invited to drink tea" is so common these days that a cafe named itself "Police Tea" in honor of the phenomenon.

While state security police typically target dissidents, rights activists and petitioners, actually anyone can be hauled just for posting something online that is picked up by foreign media.

"Last night, lawyers Sui Muqing and Lin Qilei were approached by police in a hotel and asked to cooperate with an investigation, and the lawyers asked for a subpoena," Xiao told RFA. "The police produced one very quickly [because] authority used to be at county level or above, but has now been delegated to police stations themselves."

A woman looks at a propaganda cartoon warning local residents about foreign spies, in an alley in Beijing, May 23, 2017. (Greg Baker/AFP)





"They can issue a subpoena at any time and summon anyone they like, including requesting people's cooperation in espionage investigations," he said. "These 10 Cups of Tea means more controls and more suppression of civil society."

Taiwan-based dissident Gong Yujian said most of the "crimes" listed in the article are highly elastic, and can be used for almost anything.

"If the Chinese Communist Party wants to punish you, it can do so at any time, by inviting you for tea, in the name of national security," Gong said.

He said almost any kind of online comment could spark such a decision, if the government wants to suppress it.

"For example, the Ministry of State Security issued a document a while back saying that China's economic security is also a matter of national security," Gong said. "So, talking negatively online about the Chinese economy is a matter of national security."

He said population data and price indices could all potentially be regarded as state secrets, by that rationale.

"There may be 10 red lines drawn here ... if you look at them in detail, there are many more than that, and you never know where the red lines are," he said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Attacks on key infrastructure could crush American will for the US to defend Taiwan, another official said.

Updated at 8:50 p.m. ET on 2024-01-31

Chinese state hackers are targeting U.S. civilian infrastructure, including the electrical grid, water treatment plants and transport systems, and are waiting to wreak havoc when ordered by Beijing, FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress on Wednesday.

The aim is to prepare for an everything, everywhere, all at once attack that also shuts down hospitals, cell phone networks and air traffic to shake public support for strategic objectives like the defense of Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion, another official said.

Wray told the hearing of the House Select Committee on China that the growing risk of such a widespread attack required more attention from lawmakers and the American public alike, given the stakes.

There has been far too little public focus on the fact that PRC hackers are targeting our critical infrastructure: our water treatment plants, our electrical grid, our oil and natural-gas pipelines, our transportation systems, Wray said, referring to the Peoples Republic of China.

Gaining control of such infrastructure would allow the hackers to wreak havoc and cause real world harm to American citizens, he said, if and when China decides the time has come to strike.

He also said China was specifically not just targeting military or government infrastructure, and that low blows against civilians are part of Chinas plan in the event of a confrontation with the United States.

I do not want those watching today to think we can't protect ourselves, but I do want the American people to know that we cannot afford to sleep on this danger, Wray added. We've got to remain vigilant and actively defend against the threat that Beijing poses.

Call for funds

The FBI director said such efforts were already well underway, with U.S. authorities recently shutting down a Chinese program known as Volt Typhoon that successfully compromised thousands of internet routers used by Americans and allowed access to their data.

But he said more funding was needed from Congress to sustain and build on the gains made against a very large hacking program.

To quantify what we're up against, the PRC has a bigger hacking program than that of every major nation combined, Wray said. If you took every single one of the FBI cyber agents and intelligence analysts and focussed them exclusively on the China threat, China's hackers would still outnumber FBI cyber personnel by at least 50 to one.

As we sit here, while important budget discussions are underway, I will note that this is a time to be keeping ahead of the threat, he said.

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly said the threats raised by Wray were not theoretical, with her agency having eradicated Chinese intrusions in multiple critical infrastructure sectors including aviation water, energy and transportation.

Jen Easterly, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency director, testifies before the House Select Committee on China in Washington, D.C., Jan. 31, 2024. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)

She said it was Chinese military doctrine to attempt to induce societal panic in their adversary and that any future invasion of Taiwan would likely be coupled by widespread attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure to incite societal panic and chaos and break civilian will to help Taipei.

A major crisis halfway across the planet could well endanger the lives of Americans here at home, through the disruption of our pipelines, the severing of our telecommunications, the pollution of our water facilities and the crippling of our transportation modes, Easterly said.

No legitimate reason

Beijing got a little bit of a taste of the chaos in the wake of the May 2021 ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline on the eastern seaboard of the United States, Easterly said, noting that it shut down gas supplies to much of the eastern United States for nearly a week.

A driver walks to his car near an empty gas pump as stations from Florida to Virginia run dry after the shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline by hackers, in Falls Church, Va., May 12, 2021. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Americans couldn't get to work, they couldn't take their kids to school, get folks to the hospital; it caused a bit of panic, Easterly said, adding that a multi-pronged attack would be similar but on a massive scale.

Imagine not one pipeline, but many pipelines disrupted, telecommunications going down so people can't use their cell phone, people start getting sick from polluted water, trains get derailed, air traffic control systems  are malfunctioning, she said.

This is truly an everything, everywhere, all at once scenario, she added. And it's one where the Chinese government believes that it will likely crush American will for the U.S. to defend Taiwan.

U.S. Cyber Command chief Gen. Paul Nakasone said there were no legitimate reasons for Chinese hackers to target civilian infrastructure in the United States and that there were no comparable American efforts to target civilian infrastructure in China.

U.S. Cyber Command chief Gen. Paul Nakasone testifies before the House Select Committee on China in Washington, D.C., Jan. 31, 2024. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP)

There's no reason for them to be in our water, there's no reason for them to be in our power, Nakasone said. This is a decision by an actor to actually focus on civilian targets; that's not what we do.

But he said that more had to be done by U.S. authorities to fight against such potential attacks in the face of the growing threat.

Could be an act of war

The role of advanced technology in conflict is already a growing focus of the U.S. military, with the Pentagon on Wednesday also adding more than a dozen Chinese tech companies to a list of firms it says are working to advance Beijings military modernization efforts.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois who is his partys ranking member on the House Select Committee on China, said he believed that the world may need to get used to state-backed hacking attacks on civilian infrastructure as a part of modern warfare.

He noted a recent Russian cyberattack on Ukraine cut off internet access for tens of millions of Ukrainians and was followed by a cyber-attack on Ukraines electricity grid, which left hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without power in the middle of winter.

I just want to send a message to anybody who's paying attention here, whether it's the [Chinese Communist Party] or anyone else who would intend to put malware into our critical infrastructure: First, we will attribute it back to you if it's activated. Secondly, that could be an act of war. And third, we will respond decisively, Krishnamoorthi said.

Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told Radio Free Asia the claims made by Wray, Easterly and Nakasone were false.

"The Chinese government has been categorical in opposing hacking attacks and the abuse of information technology," Liu said.

"The United States has the strongest cyber technologies of all countries, but has used such technologies in hacking, eavesdropping more than others. We urge the U.S. side to stop making irresponsible criticism against other countries on the issue of cyber-security."

Edited by Malcolm Foster. Updated to include comments from Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu.
Rebooted after mass protests 20 years ago, the draft is aimed at 'undercurrents' of dissent, foreign 'interference.'

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, center, speaks during a press conference on national security legislation at government headquarters in Hong Kong on January 30, 2024. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, left, and Secretary for Security Chris Tang, right, also attended.

Hong Kong on Tuesday revealed details of fresh national security legislation aimed at wiping out "undercurrents" of dissent and support for democracy among the city's own population, as well as espionage by the CIA and British intelligence services, officials said.

More than 20 years after similar legislation was stalled following mass protests, the government introduced its Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which will criminalize "treason," "insurrection," the theft of "state secrets," "sabotage" and "external interference," among other national security offenses.

"While the society as a whole may appear calm and very safe, we still have to watch out for potential sabotage and undercurrents that try to create trouble," Chief Executive John Lee told a news conference launching a public consultation process on Tuesday.

"Some of the independent Hong Kong ideas are still ... embedded in some people's minds, and some foreign agents may still be active in Hong Kong, and they may be conducting their activities in a deceptive way," he said.

"Everyone knows that there are Western countries that target our countrys security development and also target China for personal political reasons," Lee said, adding that "foreign agents and Hong Kong independence are still lurking in Hong Kong."

While the city is still in the throes of a crackdown on dissent sparked by the imposition of Beijing's National Security Law in 2020, it has a duty under its own Basic Law to enact its own national security legislation, which has been shelved since 2003.

Riot in Hong Kong police detain a protester during a demonstration against Beijing's national security legislation, May 24, 2020. (Vincent Yu/AP)

Legal experts said many of the concepts, such as what constitutes "treason" or a "state secret" are vague, but that they basically mirror similar concepts in China's own National Security Law.

Eric Lai, a research fellow at the Center for Asian Law, Georgetown University, said the draft law essentially transfers a number of concepts previously only used in a Chinese legal context to Hong Kong.

"The Hong Kong government has officially incorporated mainland China's National Security Law and its overall national security concepts into local law," Li told RFA.

"The content about counterintelligence crimes is in line with the mainland's counter-intelligence law, and the definition of a state secret is in line with that of the mainland," he said.

More danger than protection

Benedict Rogers, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the London-based rights group Hong Kong Watch, said Beijing is continuing to "blur the lines" between the legal systems of mainland China and Hong Kong.

"This legislation would be a further death knell to Hong Kongs fundamental freedoms and human rights which are guaranteed under international law," he said in a statement on the group's website.

"Article 23 [legislation] would not protect, but gravely endanger, Hong Kongers, including those who now live outside Hong Kong, in the UK, US, Canada and across the EU," Rogers warned, calling on the British government to impose sanctions on John Lee.

"The law ... has the potential to harm millions of Hong Kongers in the city and abroad," he said.

Georgetown's Eric Lai also noted that information relating to "economic and social development" will be regarded as a state secret under the new law, not just confidential government information. Authorities in China have recently targeted foreign consultancies and alleged spies under a newly amended Counterespionage Law that has been criticized by foreign investors.

He said that the law, which looks almost certain to be passed amid a lack of political opposition in the Legislative Council, will likely affect business confidence in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, center, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, left, and Secretary for Security Chris Tang hold a press conference at government headquarters in Hong Kong on Jan. 30, 2024. (Peter Parks/AFP)

Edward Chin, a senior hedge fund manager in Hong Kong, warned that the business community may "vote with their feet."

"[They might be] looking for locations with a reasonable business environment and sound rule of law, as opposed to common law with Chinese characteristics, which is what they've turned Hong Kong's original system into," Chin told the RFA Cantonese talk show "Financial Freedom."

"I think everyone has a bottom line, and I think there is a good chance of foreign capital divesting again," he said.

Po Kong Ngan, former assistant controller at i-CABLE News, told the show that the consultation document mentions a number of "computer crimes, which could encompass even such actions as leaving a comment on YouTube or Facebook.

"Will they be prosecuted or targeted for this?" Ngan said, citing a potential scenario in which the government gets nervous over large numbers of critical comments on YouTube or Facebook, which it is unable to have taken down.

"I think these organizations will be very worried about the safety of their employees in Hong Kong."

'External forces'

Meanwhile, Eric Lai said the law in particular lists activities by foreign political entities, including human rights groups and non-government organizations, as "interference," without defining what "external forces" actually means.

The effect will be to cut the city off from ties with international organizations and groups, he said.

Chief Executive Lee said the law was a necessary "defensive" measure, however.

"The new law aims to create a stable and safe environment so that when people attack us, we will be protected," he told reporters. "This is a law to tell people not to attack us. It is, in a way, a defensive law. I hope people will see the law and know that they may try somewhere else rather than Hong Kong."

Rwei-ren Wu, an associate research fellow and history professor at Taiwan's Academia Sinica, said the law doesn't appear to be very necessary at all, however.

"It's a bit like taking off your pants to fart, if I may use a crude expression," Wu told RFA. "Isn't the current legislation tight enough?"

Wu said the Chinese Communist Party feels it has to clamp down even harder on any potential threats to its rule, as it feels threatened by the current economic downturn.

"They are getting more and more suspicious, and have to control everything," he said. "I don't think Beijing cares very much about what happens to Hong Kong, but it needs Hong Kong to maintain some kind of role outside of China."

A public consultation period on the new law will run until Feb. 28, while the government has said it aims to pass the legislation before the legislature's summer recess.

Exiled former pro-democracy lawmaker and lawyer Ted Hui said there are many "dangerous areas" for people who support democracy in Hong Kong, citing the retroactive use of the existing National Security Law to prosecute people.

"There are dangerous areas, for example, treason, and there are gray areas," Hui told RFA. "For example, Taiwan is a fairly sensitive issue, because many Hong Kongers support Taiwan, but the current document doesn't talk about retroactive effect."

"If war or conflict breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, will people who once visited Taiwan to observe the elections or expressed support for Taiwan in the past be regarded as having committed treason?" he said. "It could be very easy to fall into such a trap."

He said that while the 2003 draft legislation referred to "enemy" forces, the current draft refers instead to "foreign forces," a much vaguer term.

"The scope has expanded a great deal," Hui said. "People like me who engage in overseas lobbying, groups set up by emigre Hong Kongers around the world, could all be termed foreign forces."

"Hong Kong groups have organized many activities and many Hong Kong people participated," he said. "It's possible that all of that will become illegal."



Translated by Luisetta Mudie.
Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong meets with Thawee Sodsong, Thailand's Justice Minister and Member of the Narcotics Control Board of the Kingdom of Thailand, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with Thawee Sodsong, Thailand's Justice Minister and Member of the Narcotics Control Board of the Kingdom of Thailand, on Wednesday in Beijing.

Wang noted that China and Thailand are good neighbors, good friends, good relatives and good partners.

He expressed the hope that China and Thailand will implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, deepen cooperation on drug control, optimize the cooperation mode of fugitives and asset recovery, carry out joint law-enforcement operations, crack down on crimes such as drug manufacturing and trafficking, telecommunications and internet fraud, and online gambling in accordance with the law, strengthen practical cooperation on law-enforcement and security, and promote the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future.

Thawee expressed the willingness of Thailand to maintain close exchanges with China and deepen law-enforcement cooperation on drug control and other areas. 

Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong meets with Thawee Sodsong, Thailand's Justice Minister and Member of the Narcotics Control Board of the Kingdom of Thailand, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
The three Chinese nationals received UN temporary refugee cards in Thailand but felt unsafe there.

From left, Tian Yongde, left, Huang Xingxing and Wei Yani are seen at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Jan. 30, 2024 after the three Chinese citizens jumped off a commercial flight to remain in Taiwan.

Three Chinese nationals who fled to Thailand in November and arrived at Taipeis airport on Tuesday told Radio Free Asia they fear arrest if they return to Beijing and are planning to seek assistance from the Taiwanese government to move to a third country.

Tian Yongde, Wei Yani and Huang Xingxing all obtained United Nations temporary refugee cards in Bangkok after traveling there in November. All three arrived in Taiwan on a flight from Kuala Lumpur and had tickets to board another flight to Beijing.

But in an interview with RFA late Tuesday, Tian Yongde said the three were instead preparing to pass through a security checkpoint at Taoyuan Airport in order to stay in Taiwan.

I hope the Taiwan government will give me some time and let me wait here, he said. Taiwan is recognized for its high quality, and it is safe and secure to wait for a U.S. visa in Taiwan.

Tian, 52, said authorities began keeping tabs on him in 2005 when he visited the home of Zhao Ziyang, Chinas former prime minister who was removed from power in the wake of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre and kept under house arrest for 16 years.

After that, Tian was unable to work and was summoned by police many times for writing articles or participating in group incidents.

RFA was not immediately able to verify the account of Tian and his traveling companions, but they forwarded images of the identification cards provided to them by the U.N. refugee agency.

I was arrested twice for subversion of state power in 2009 and 2011, Tian said. The first time, I gave materials to petitioners, and I was said to be illegally holding state secrets.

The other two people  53-year-old Wei Yani and 17-year-old Huang Xingxing  are mother and son. They are unrelated to Tian, and only met him once they arrived in late November in Thailand. They eventually made plans to travel together.

Unsafe in Thailand

Wei said she was imprisoned four times in China for a total of 10 years for petitioning for basic rights for herself and for friends. Authorities accused her of picking quarrels and provoking troubles and subverting state power, she told RFA.

She said she had trouble finding work after she was released from prison in June, and also had one more criminal trial pending.

So I borrowed money from others to apply for a refugee certificate with my son, she told RFA. I just want to be able to move on from here [Taiwan] through media appeals.

Tian recorded a video at Taoyuan Airport in which he said he feels more safe in Taiwan than in Thailand, where authorities have recently sent a number of prominent activists and dissidents back to China.

Hello everyone, I am Tian Yongde, he said in the video. Because I feel unsafe in Thailand, when I came to Taiwan, which feels relatively safe, my purpose is to go to the United States.

Wei said she and her son will seek asylum in the United States or the Netherlands if they are allowed to stay in Taiwan. In the future, she would like to help Chinese people petition for complaints.

I still have more things to do, Wei said, referring to her previous work with writing and gathering petitions.

The Taiwan Immigration Department didnt immediately respond to a request for comment by RFA on the three Chinese nationals.

Edited by Chen Meihua, He Ping and Matt Reed.
An electric-powered public bus and a decades-old diesel-powered public bus next to each other on a Bangkok street on Jan. 31, 2024.

UPDATED at 06:50 A.M. ET on 01-31-2024

In Bangkok, known for its heavy traffic, pollution, and aging buses, a major Thai public limited firm Energy Absolute, or EA, is transforming public transport through the Bangkok E-Bus program.

This groundbreaking initiative aims to replace old diesel buses with eco-friendly electric models, generating carbon credits for sale. Since 2022, EA has already deployed 3,000 such buses, marking a significant environmental leap in the city.

The effort is part of a historic agreement between Thailand and Switzerland, Asias first transfer involving Internationally Transferable Mitigation Outcomes, or ITMOs, for a country to achieve Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreements Article 6.2. This mechanism facilitates countries to trade carbon emission reductions to achieve national climate targets.

The Thai-Swiss cooperation, a cautious yet vital step in utilizing the voluntary carbon transaction between governments for climate goals, has set a precedent in Southeast Asia. Nine other countries in the region have followed suit, signing different types of agreements to benefit from this innovative approach.

Supporting this endeavor is the KliK Foundation, a private entity established to fulfill the legal compensation obligation of Swiss motor fuel importers. It has provided crucial financial backing, primarily through purchasing ITMOs through climate-friendly initiatives.

The Thai-Swiss ITMO transaction is a trailblazer, Axel Michaelowa, a climate policy and carbon credit mechanism expert, told Radio Free Asia.

The actual amount of money has not been made public, but KliK and EA announced on Jan. 8 that the Swiss bought 1,960 ITMOs from the project.

Each represents one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) reduced or removed from the atmosphere.

An executive at EA said the value is more than US$30 per credit but did not give an exact figure. There is no market rate, and the government does not set the price.

KliK plans to purchase at least 0.5 million ITMOs by 2030. EA plans to launch at least 4,000 electric buses in Bangkok.

An electric-powered public bus picks up passengers at a bus station in Bangkok on June 6, 2023. (Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP)





The purchase of ITMOs, in Thailand and 12 other countries, is part of Switzerlands climate strategy, particularly in meeting its obligations under its CO2 law and its commitments to the Paris Agreement. It aims to halve emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.

The ITMOs are now credited to KliKs account, while Thailand will deduct them from its newly formed carbon inventory to avoid double counting.

Although groundbreaking, the process is fraught with complexity, opaqueness, and a lack of regulation, underscoring nations difficulties maneuvering through the intricate and sometimes disputed realm of global climate agreements.

What is ITMO, and how does it work?

ITMOs work by allowing countries to trade emission reductions in the form of carbon credit to help meet their climate targets.

For example, if Country A exceeds its emission reduction targets, it can sell the surplus to Country B, struggling to meet its targets.

This trade, recorded as ITMOs, helps Country B fulfill its commitments under the Paris Agreement while incentivizing Country As continued environmental efforts, even though the latter cannot count it as progress towards its climate goal.

Since it is a country-to-country agreement, both must authorize it.

Its a purely commercial contract between the implementer of the program and us as buyers of the credits. Its individual negotiation specific for each and every program, Marco Berg, the managing director of KliK Foundation, told RFA.

He said it depends on what a country wants out of the project, among other things, with the methodology behind it, the environmental integrity, and contribution to sustainable development scrutinized before the project is implemented.

ITMOs are taking place in addition to what Switzerland is doing nationally, not in place of an emission reduction, he added.

A demonstrator holds a banner next to the House of Swiss Parliament during a national protest for climate justice in Bern, on Sept. 30, 2023. (Valentin Flauraud/AFP)





Detractors of the mechanism question the effectiveness and equity of relying on market-based solutions for proper climate action, saying it could delay eradicating emissions.

Some say rich nations are shifting responsibility to the Global South. There are also concerns that such deals might fund projects in poorer countries that would have proceeded regardless of foreign investment, potentially lacking additional environmental impact.

The regulations and international institutions governing ITMO trade do not exist yet.

Berg also noted challenges, including regulatory uncertainty affecting business risks and the need for capacity building, complicated by changing political landscapes.

Negotiations over the carbon market at the Dubai COP28 climate summit in December came to a standstill after intense discussions with governments over the transparency issue. Other stumbling blocks were whether to have national or international registries to record the transactions, as well as defining what constitutes a carbon credit and whether emissions avoidance, like conserving already existing forests, should be included.

At this point, A6.2 seems to be a complex international banking system with private accounts, units [like money] with changing values, trades of these units, and nontransparent reports, Heinrich Boll Stiftung, a German think-tank, wrote earlier this month.

Carbon trading has become a way to make money and generate finance, rather than being a system to ratchet down emissions, it said. The dependency on this climate finance via carbon trading is a dependency on fossil fuel pollution.

In defense of ITMOs

Cooperative approaches under Article 6.2 are fully operational, opined Michaelowa, the senior founding partner at Perspectives, a Swiss climate research group.

The failure of negotiations on Article 6 at COP28 does not prevent countries from engaging in Article 6.2 collaboration and trade of ITMOs, he said.

Energy Absolute contends it would not have been able to roll out the e-bus so swiftly, even though it had already planned for the project, without support from KliK.

Basically, the investment cost per bus for the e-bus is a little bit higher. Thats why we try to get financial support, and luckily, we found the KliK Foundation and the Swiss government, thank God, said Chatrapon Sripratum, a senior executive overseeing the project.

We are pioneers. This market will really boom in the future.

Even though diesel buses contribute to Bangkoks already bad air, the Thai government does not have any subsidy program for private investors.

Making e-buses commercially viable is a high-quality project activity that generates significant co-benefits for citizens in Bangkok due to the reduction of local air pollution, said Michaelowa.

The criticism by Swiss NGOs that the project does not fulfill the additionality criterion [that such a climate project would have happened without the funding] is unjustified because electric buses clearly have higher costs than conventional diesel buses.

A decades-old diesel-powered public bus on a Bangkok street on Jan. 31, 2024. (Subel Rai Bhandari/RFA)





However, the Bangkok e-bus project is still mired in an opaque deal, including the rate of the ITMOs and the way carbon credit is calculated from bus emission reductions.

As of Jan. 9, there were 78 bilateral agreements at different levels of readiness for implementation under Article 6.2 between eight different buying countries and 46 selling countries, according to the United Nations Environment Program. Most of them are in the preliminary phase.

Japan and Singapore have signed deals to buy ITMOs from five Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Japan has also signed a deal with Myanmar and the Philippines, while South Korea has agreed to purchase from Vietnam and Laos. Norway is also buying from Indonesia.

Malaysia has not signed any deal for ITMOs.

Among the buyers, Singapore has already signed bilateral deals for carbon credit from 15 countries, including its Southeast Asian neighbors, and Bhutan and Papua New Guinea. Japan has signed with almost 30 countries, the highest among the eight buyers.

However, pursuing a standardized and transparent carbon trading system is made more complex by the speedy bilateral agreements between countries, which lack oversight and regulation.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.

Updated for clarification.
View of what appears to be a strategic cruise missile drill carried out by North Korea on Jan. 30, 2024, at an undisclosed location in this picture released by the Korean Central News Agency on Jan. 31, 2024.

South Koreas President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a fresh warning to North Korea Wednesday, as Pyongyang continued its military provocation, with missile tests potentially placing the United States and its allies within the range of its nuclear capabilities.

The North Korean regime stands alone globally in legalizing the preemptive use of nuclear weapons, marking it as an irrational entity, Yoon said in a pan-governmental defense meeting in Seoul.

A rational government would relinquish nuclear arms and find means for its people to thrive. However, the North Korean regime is recklessly dedicated to preserving its inherited totalitarian rule.

Recently, by engaging in arms deals with Russia, North Korea is blatantly and flagrantly ignoring international law and UN Security Council resolutions. This too is a highly provocative act, posing a threat not only to global security but also to the security of the Korean Peninsula.

The pan-governmental meeting showcases the collective resolve of the people in issuing a warning to North Korea, Yoon added.

We need to enhance our readiness even more to guarantee that our citizens can engage in economic and social pursuits with a sense of security and tranquility.

The conservative Yoon administration has been implementing a hardline policy towards Pyongyang, with his government openly vowing to respond to the Norths military provocation.

For instance, when North Korea launched some 200 artillery shells into waters off its western coast near South Koreas Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands earlier this month, Seoul reciprocated by conducting naval fire drills.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a submarine-launched cruise missile test with military officials at an undisclosed location in this picture released by the Korean Central News Agency on Jan. 28, 2024. (KCNA via Reuters)





Yoons latest comments come as North Korea on Wednesday confirmed a cruise missile test.

The Korean Peoples Army [KPA] staged a drill of launching strategic cruise missile Hwasal-2 in the West Sea of Korea on January 30, North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said.

The drill made a contribution to checking the KPAs rapid counterattack posture and improving its strategic striking capability and had no adverse effect on the security of a neighboring country, it added, without further elaboration.

According to South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff Tuesday, the North fired multiple unidentified cruise missiles off its western coast at around 7 a.m. Although cruise missiles are not banned by the United Nations, the test increases the level of nuclear threat to South Korea and Japan due to their geographical proximity.

North Korea also test-fired submarine-launched cruise missiles Sunday, with leader Kim Jong Un ordering officials to expedite his countrys nuclear submarine development.

Earlier this month, Kim and his daughter Ju Ae visited an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, mobile launcher vehicle factory, signaling Pyongyangs will to put the U.S. mainland on its nuclear radar.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.
The businesses provide the ruling junta with support and legitimacy, report says.

The Bawdwin mine project located in Namtu township of Myanmar's northern Shan state, is seen on Nov. 30, 2020.

Australian companies engaged in Myanmars junta-controlled mining sector are tacitly supporting the ruling military regime, which is approaching its third year in power, the rights group Justice For Myanmar said in a report issued Tuesday.

The companies, their executives and investors have provided the junta, which seized power in a February 2021 coup d'etat and has attacked protesters, civilians and resistance groups ever since, with support and legitimacy so that the mining sector stays open for business, said Justice For Myanmar, or JFM.

The 155-page report documents 10 company networks that have remained active in Myanmar following the power grab and highlights six others not currently active in the mining sector but still registered in Myanmar.

Among the companies are Valentis, Cornerstone Resources, Knight Piesold, PanAust, Asia Pacific Mining Limited, Access Resources Asia and Australian Laboratory Services, all of which are engaged in extraction, exploration and services that finance the Myanmar junta, according to the report titled Mines Against Humanity.

The exploitation of natural resources is the biggest source of foreign revenue for the military junta, and mining is a highly lucrative part of that trade, the report says. Funds from the mining sector flows to the junta through revenue sharing, rent and tax, helping to fund its ongoing atrocities.

In a media release, Justice For Myanmar  a covert group of activists campaigning for justice and accountability for the people of Myanmar  called on Australia to impose sanctions on mining enterprises controlled by the junta, and to widen sanctions against its sources of funds, arms and jet fuel, in coordination with its allies.

Funding terror

The group also demanded an investigation of sanctions-busting activity and penalizing or prosecuting companies and individuals.

It is unacceptable that three years after the militarys illegal coup attempt, Australia is still failing to take necessary action to block the juntas sources of funds from mining and other lucrative sectors, spokesperson Yadanar Maung said in the news release.

The Myanmar military operates as a cartel that is stealing the wealth of the people of Myanmar on a massive scale to fund its war of terror and enrich war criminals, she said.

Yet, there are Australian companies, executives and investors in the mining sector that are continuing business as usual, financing the illegitimate junta and helping to keep a corrupt and destructive mining sector open for business, she said.

The Bawdwin mine project, located in Namtu township of Myanmar's northern Shan state, is seen in 2018. (RFA)

Providing financial support to the military council is like encouraging and abetting crimes committed against the Burmese people, said Nan Lin, a Myanmar activist who leads the University Students Unions Alumni Force, which has organized peaceful protests against the junta.

We see it as if they are helping the military council to kill the people, he said. Thats why we condemn it.

Nan Lin also urged international companies and governments to impose immediate sanctions against the junta and to not engage with it.

An official from the Blood Money Campaign, a collective of Myanmar activists campaigning to stop revenues from reaching the junta, told RFA that the companies named in the report were violating various international norms and principles, including the U.N.s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

The Australian government must heed the demands of civil society organizations and Myanmar citizens by taking action against the companies doing business with the junta, he said.

Nay Phone Latt, spokesman of the shadow National Unity Governments Prime Minister Office, has urged international companies, including Australian ones, not to cooperate with the military council but rather to support the Burmese people.

You have to see that the junta is using the funds they get to kill their own people, he said. Thats why we keep asking for this.

The National Unity Government, or NUG  made up of former civilian leaders  has been making efforts to cut off the flow of funds to the junta.

RFA could not reach junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment, but in June 2023 he said that the regime was not worried about economic sanctions against it.

Australian response

Responding to the JFMs report, a spokesperson for Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said all Australian multinational businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights in their operations and related activities.

The Australian government is not promoting Myanmar as a market for new entrants, and it continues to remind existing investors of their obligations under Australian law, the spokesperson said. The government also strongly condemns the repression and violence by the junta, but will not speculate on potential sanctions listings, the official said.

Sai Kyi Zin Soe, a Burmese political analyst, said JFMs report may cause the Australian government to take action on the issue.

The more we know about [these] collaborations, the more tangible they are, he said. If so, Australia will be more aware that it needs to take more accountability and responsibility for the Myanmar issue.

On Feb. 1, 2023, Australia imposed targeted sanctions and travel bans on 16 military regime members of the State Administration Council and targeted financial sanctions on two Myanmar military-controlled entities  Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Ltd. and Myanmar Economic Corporation Ltd.

These sanctions were in addition to those imposed in 2018 against five members of the Myanmar military linked to atrocities in Rakhine state. Australia also maintains a longstanding arms embargo on Myanmar.

Switzerland and the European Union imposed sanctions against the military-controlled No. 2 Mining Enterprise in 2023, which produces and sells gold, tin and copper. The company also has joint ventures with six other firms involved in large-scale gold mining.

Myanmar's mining industry generate revenue of US$116 million in fiscal year 2023-2024, and US$123 million in fiscal year 2022-2023, according to the junta's Ministry of Commerce.

Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw for RFA Burmese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
Roughly 44,000 people associated with fraud have been deported from Myanmar, according to the Chinese embassy.

Former member of parliament for the juntas Union Solidarity and Development Party Bai Suocheng was arrested for alleged involvement in online fraud on Jan. 30, 2024 and handed over to Chinese authorities.

Police in northern Myanmar have arrested 10 phone and internet fraud suspects and sent them to China, the Chinese embassy in Yangon announced.

Six of those arrested on Tuesday night are accused of being ringleaders of the scam operation, the embassys statement said.

They include Bai Suocheng, a former chairman of Myanmars Kokang region, his son Bai Yingcang, Wai Huairen, Liu Zhengxiang, Liu Zhengmauk and Xu Laofa. They have since been handed over to China, the embassy said.

Bai Suocheng and his son were among 10 people named in arrest warrants issued on Dec. 10 by Chinas Ministry of Public Security.

Bai Suocheng is a former member of parliament for the juntas Union Solidarity and Development Party and a close friend of regime leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, according to political analyst Than Soe Naing, who added that Suocheng was trusted by the junta.

Bai Suocheng was mainly working on scamming businesses in Kokangs economy and China demanded his arrest when this scamming increased. The junta had to carry it out, he told Radio Free Asia.

When China issued a warrant, the military junta immediately brought him back to Naypyidaw and gave him security. However, China intervened to stop the fighting in the northern Shan state, so the junta could not deny them and gave China what they wanted.

The Chinese embassy statement called the operation another significant success in law enforcement cooperation between China and Myanmar.

On Jan. 23, more than 1,000 Chinese nationals were arrested in Shan states Namhsan for alleged connection to scam centers.

About 44,000 people suspected of committing crimes have been handed over to China as a result of joint police action against online fraud in northern Myanmar, the statement continued. This number includes investors and gang leaders.

As of Wednesday, the military had not released any information on the joint operation. RFA contacted regime spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, but he did not respond by the time of publication.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.
With the military losing ground, it might feign a move toward democracy, NUG foreign minister says.

Foreign Affairs Minister of National Unity Government Zin Mar Aung speaks at the meeting with the Myanmar diaspora living in the Washington, D.C. metro area at the office of NUG on January 28, 2024.

Increasingly desperate after a series of battlefield losses, Myanmars junta may try to trick the world into thinking it is making changes to the political system  but dont fall for it, the foreign minister of the countrys government-in-exile said.

As the military council is suffering losses, they will do political stunts such as restructuring or reshuffling their organization, said Zin Mar Aung, foreign minister of the National Unity Government, or NUG, made up of former civilian leaders ousted by the military in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup.

It is totally unacceptable and it is not a movement for change, she told about 100 members of the Burmese diaspora living in the greater Washington DC area on Sunday. They have no intention or guarantee to change the political system. We should not fall for such stupid tricks.

In recent months, the junta has lost ground to ethnic armed groups and grassroots militia, and hundreds of army soldiers have surrendered or defected to the rebel side.

Since the end of October, the so-called Three Brotherhood Alliance, made up of three ethnic armies, have overrun dozens of Burmese army camps and captured key towns and cities in the northern and western parts of the country.

Foreign Affairs Minister of National Unity Government Zin Mar Aung speaks at the meeting with the Myanmar diaspora living in the Washington, D.C. metro area Nearly 100 people joined the meeting led by Zin Mar Aung at the office of NUG on January 28, 2024. (RFA)

Zin Mar Aung called a potential political reshuffle an exit strategy for losers.

Actually, its the people all over the whole country who need an exit from being oppressed for many years, she said. The dictators are trying to trick the international community by political stunts. I believe in the Myanmar people, but have some concerns with the international community.

The foreign minister of the shadow government said that support from both the international and domestic communities were required for the establishment of a genuine democratic country, and that the NUG is discussing with ethnic groups to ensure an all-inclusive federal democratic Union.

Call for more support

The gathering on Sunday included several senior NUG officials, who told RFA that they hoped to learn the concerns of the Myanmar diaspora and their willingness to support democratic movements in Myanmar.

It has been about three years since the military coup. Democratic countries have not provided us with effective support, said Kyaw Moe Tun, the permanent representative of Myanmar to the United Nations, who was appointed by the government that was ousted during the coup, but has remained in office despite attempts by the junta to remove him.

We can strongly confirm that we have not received effective support from [the international community,] he said. So, we need their support in our attempts to end the military dictatorship immediately.

Deputy foreign minister Aung Kyaw Moe said the armed struggles of the resistance forces are becoming stronger, so the junta is about to come to an end, and its leaders would stand trial in the international court of justice and other courts.

No criminal will escape from punishment for their crimes, he said. The ongoing situation has shown that their end is getting closer. They must be punished under the international and local justice system. They must be punished.

He added that NUG has informed international governments about the development of democratic movements in Myanmar.

RFA tried to contact Major General Zaw Min Tun, the spokesperson for the junta, about the NUG comments and criticism, but he could not be reached.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.
Frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov carried out anti-submarine drills as the Russian Navy reaffirmed its presence in the region.

A Russian Pacific Fleet warship has conducted an anti-submarine exercise in the South China Sea as part of the fleets training program, Russias ministry of defense confirmed in a news release.

The Marshal Shaposhnikov, assisted by a Ka-27 helicopter, was searching for an enemy submarine at an undisclosed location in the South China Sea before firing torpedoes and anti-submarine depth charges at it, according to the ministry.

The firing was conducted entirely in a training manner and did not use the frigates actual weapons, the ministry said.

Frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, together with the Pacific Fleets flagship missile cruiser Varyag, is on a long-distance training mission to the Asia-Pacific.

The ships left the fleets home base in Vladivostok in Russias Far East on Jan. 22 and, besides training exercises, planned to make some port calls. The news release did not reveal the length of the mission or the countries the ship detachment plans to visit.

Before entering the South China Sea, the ships took part in several exercises against sea and air targets in the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan.

South China Sea presence

The Pacific Fleet is part of Russias Eastern Military District, with the Pacific Ocean as its main operation area.

Such training exercises have become regular as the Russian Navy asserts its presence in the region. More broadly, Russia has sought to boost its relationship with East and Southeast Asia amid increasing isolation following its invasion of Ukraine.

A similar anti-submarine exercise was conducted by another detachment from the Pacific Fleet in October 2023, when destroyers Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleev were on a long-distance sea voyage to the Pacific.

South China Seas littoral states have yet to comment on the Russian drills, as they were likely conducted as a user states exercise of high seas rights and no permission would have been required, said Collin Koh, a Singapore-based regional military expert.

Other navies, including the U.S., have also been carrying out exercises and freedom of navigation operations in the area.

In this photo taken from a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Dec. 19, 2022, the Varyag missile cruiser of Russia's Pacific Fleet sails off for a joint naval drill planned by Russia and China in the East China Sea. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)





Russia has recently sought to bolster its presence in the Asia Pacific and forge a closer relationship with China. The two countries have conducted a number of joint exercises in the East China and South China seas.

Yet according to Koh, the Kremlin would be careful not to express explicit support for Beijing in the contested South China Sea.

While I understand that bilateral ties are closer since the war in Ukraine, I dont see why Russia doesnt want to choose to assert itself as a power in its own right that pursues its own interest.

Vietnam remains a key partner in Southeast Asia to Russia, so Im leery of Moscow seeking to alienate Hanoi by showing support for Beijing in the South China Sea, he said.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.
Authorities tell eminent Buddhist monks to safeguard the unity of the motherland.

Chinese authorities meet with eminent monks and monastic administrators ahead of the Tibetan New Year, known as Losar, at Palyul Monastery in Palyul county, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in southwestern China's Sichuan province, in an undated photo.

Bearing gifts ahead of the Tibetan New Year, Chinese authorities in Tibetan-populated parts of Sichuan province visited at least 35 Buddhist monasteries, and urged eminent monks to deeply expose and denounce the Dalai Lama and to safeguard the unity of the motherland.

The officials, led by Secretary Liu Yan of the Palyul (in Chinese, Baiyu) County Communist Party Committee, visited the monasteries in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture on Jan. 11- Jan. 17, according to a statement by the United Front Work Department, which oversees the Chinese governments domestic and external influence operations.

Tibetan New Year, known as Losar, this year falls on Feb. 10, the same day as Chinas Lunar New Year, the biggest holiday of the year.

Liu extended Losar greetings and emphasized the need to consciously enhance national awareness, legal awareness, and citizen awareness and deeply expose and denounce the divisive nature of the Dalai Lama and the Dalai clique.

Chinese authorities visit a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Palyul county, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in southwestern China's Sichuan province, in January 2024. (Baiyu United Front Work Department)

Beijing believes that the Tibetan spiritual leader, who lives in exile in Dharamsala, India, wants to split off the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan-populated areas in Chinas Sichuan and Qinghai provinces from the rest of the country.

However, the Dalai Lama does not advocate for independence but rather a Middle Way that accepts Tibets status as a part of China and urges greater cultural and religious freedoms, including strengthened language rights that are guaranteed for ethnic minorities under Chinas constitution.

The officials visited well-known monasteries in the area, including the Palyul Monastery, Yarchen Gar Monastery and Katog Monastery, which are associated with the Nyingma school of Vajrayana Buddhism.

Liu also led a separate meeting in Chengdu on Jan. 22 with representatives of various religious sects, where he mandated that Tibetan Buddhist leaders ensure that the monastic groups and their followers firmly safeguard the unity of the motherland and national unity.

He urged them to promote the five identifications that President Xi Jinping has repeatedly said is required of all Chinese citizens and minority groups. They include identifying with the motherland, the Chinese nation, the Chinese culture, the Chinese Communist Party and socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Tools of deception

Tibet watchers criticized the move as disingenuous and an effort to put pressure on the Tibetan monastic community in Palyul to toe the Chinese Communist Party line.

The Chinese governments practice of extending greetings and monetary gifts to the Tibetan monks and nuns on important occasions and holidays are actually tools of deception, said Dawa Tsering, director of the Tibet Policy Institute, the official think tank of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala.

They are not any kind of sincere greetings as the Chinese authorities like to make them out to be, he told Radio Free Asia. The government usually doles out these gifts to Tibetans and use these to pressure the people to denounce the Dalai Lama and pledge their allegiance to the party.

Liu Yan (C), secretary of the Palyul County Communist Party Committee, holds a meeting with representatives of various religious sects in Chengdu, capital of southwestern China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 22, 2024. (Baiyu United Front Work Department)

Pema Gyal, a researcher at the London-based Tibet Watch, told RFA that the Chinese government uses these visits on important occasions and celebrations as a pretext to spread their propaganda to the general public and create awareness about their repressive policies.

In their New Year message to Tibetan Buddhist leaders in Palyul county, Chinese authorities also ordered head monks to carry out an in-depth, systematic study and political education of the partys religious work theories and principles and policies.

This includes raising awareness about the importance of adhering to Xis directive for the Sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism, which mandates the adoption of socialist values into the interpretation of religious doctrines, teachings and practices, Liu said.

Under the Communist Party's Administrative Measures for Religious Clergy regulation, adopted by the State Administration of Religious Affairs in January 2021, religious clergy members must support Xis plans for the "Sinicization of religion or adaptation of religions to Chinas socialist society and work in accordance with the countrys national interest and ideology.

Translated by Tenzin Pema for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
Male students who enrolled in Taliban-run religious schools say that sexual and physical abuse has led some to end their pursuit of an education in Afghanistan.

The students, all of whom were aged 10 to 17 and spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on condition of anonymity out of fears of repercussion, described numerous instances in which they and fellow classmates were pressured to engage in sexual acts with teachers and subjected to corporal punishments.

The reported cases took place in western and southwestern Afghanistan at Taliban-run madrasahs, part of the network of religious schools that the extremist group has expanded significantly as part of its drive to foster religious education more in keeping with its hard-line Islamist views.

One 16-year-old student, a resident of Farah Province, described being propositioned by a teacher at the madrasah he attends.

"One day at school a Taliban member who teaches there made an inappropriate offer, but I did not accept it," the boy told Radio Azadi, using inexplicit language to describe sexual abuse, a culturally taboo topic in Afghanistan. "When the lessons were over, he bothered me again."

The boy said he reported the incidents to a "qari," a person who has memorized the Koran and serves as a religious authority at the school, to no avail.

"I told the qari that the teacher was doing bad things to me, and the qari told him not to do these things, that he was a teacher," the boy said. "The teacher admitted doing it, but it had no effect. He has continued to do bad things and made sexual requests to numerous students at the school."

Another student in southwestern Afghanistan, a 17-year-old in the 10th grade, gave a similar account of his experience during his six months studying at a Taliban-run madrasah.

"A Taliban member who teaches at the school proposed having a relationship with me and said some other things that I did not accept," the boy said.

After being refused, the teacher swore and issued threats, the boy said, adding that his fellow students have faced similar treatment.

"He also harassed several of my classmates, and one of them left the school," the boy said. "He told me I should not go to school anymore because the same teacher is harassing me."

The boy said the experience has left him "damaged" and unsure of whom he can confide in. "I can't tell my family," he said.

The Taliban has come under widespread criticism for the severe restrictions it has placed on the daily lives of the Afghans since seizing power in August 2021. In its pursuit to impose its extreme interpretation of Islam, the Taliban has restored many of the draconian rules it was infamous for during its first stint in power from 1996 to 2001.

The ban on the education of girls past the sixth grade, and the erasure of women's role in society stand out among the measures the Taliban has taken. But other steps -- including prohibitions on music and idolatry through art, and pressure against students and teachers -- have affected all walks of life regardless of sex.

Since the Taliban returned to power, many educators have left the country, while female teachers have been left at home without work due to restrictions on women's freedom of movement and their ability to teach males.

Meanwhile, the Taliban has steadily worked to replace secular state schools and informal madrasahs with a system of religious schooling. The system does allow for girl students, including those of university age, but critics say it falls far short of the standards of modern education for girls and boys alike and often promotes extremism.

According to a report on Afghanistan issued by the United Nations in February, the Taliban has established 6,836 madrasahs for males and 380 for females and was expected to finalize a standardized religious curriculum in time for the new school year beginning this month.

The recruitment of madrasah teachers is also in full swing, according to the report, following a decree by the Talibans spiritual leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada to have 100,000 new madrasah teachers in place.

In December, Human Rights Watch gave a stinging assessment of the state of education in general, saying that in addition to the obstacles to the education of girls and women, the Taliban had "also inflicted deep harm on boys' education" in Afghanistan.

"Many boys were previously taught by women teachers; the Taliban has prohibited women from teaching boys, depriving women teachers of their jobs and often leaving boys with unqualified replacement male teachers or sometimes no teachers at all," HRW said. "Parents and students said that corporal punishment, which has long been a problem at Afghan schools, has become increasingly common. The curriculum in many schools appears to be under revision to remove important school subjects and promote discrimination."

The rights watchdog said the circumstances had "led many boys to leave school altogether" and "left boys struggling with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression."

Shortly after the Taliban regained power, the United Nations highlighted the dire situation for children in Afghanistan, including exposure to sexual violence and increased risk of students dropping out of school.

Difficulties in ensuring the protection of children are exacerbated, according to the UN, by the Taliban's refusal to consider people below the age of 18 to be children, as is the international standard, instead using the onset of puberty as the basis for adulthood.

Younger madrasah students in western and southwestern Afghanistan below or at the age of puberty said they were not spared physical abuse and sexual harassment from teachers.

One young man who spoke to Radio Azadi said he recently learned that his young brother was being subjected to sexual abuse at a madrasah in western Afghanistan.

The young man said his brother was being assigned extracurricular "homework by a teacher, or to put it bluntly, he was being asked for sex, [the teacher] fondled his hands and feet and kissed him."

As a result, the young man said he told his brother not to go to school anymore.

Fear of sexual harassment and sexual and physical abuse were cited as a common factor leading boys in western and southwestern Afghanistan to give up their studies.

"Some teachers harass our students and make immoral requests," said one 14-year-old boy who also described common methods of corporal punishment at his madrasah. "They strike our faces or beat our hands and feet under the pretext of disciplining us for not learning our lessons properly."

The boy said many students were studying hard in fear of being taken to a special room for punishment, and that "some even drop out of school."

Another student, aged 10, said his teacher separated him and other students from their class to beat the soles of their feet.

Afterward, he told Radio Azadi, he stopped going to class because he was afraid. And upon hearing about the incidents, his and his classmates' parents "did not allow us to go to school."

The Taliban authorities did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations of abuse at madrasahs it has established. And efforts to speak to individuals aware of the situations at madrasahs in other areas of Afghanistan were met by refusals to comment due to fear of reprisals.

A women's rights activist who asked that her name not be published told Radio Azadi that families have no avenue to lodge complaints about the abuse their children encounter at Taliban-run madrasahs because they, too, would face threats.

The activist said that not only had she been made aware of sexual harassment against both girls and boys at Taliban-run madrasahs, but the curriculum also serves to "increase the level of extremism in the country."

Reducing the risks of both threats, she said, would require greater oversight by the Taliban authorities and ideally, she said, a reduction in the number of madrasahs.

Najib Amini, a civil society activist in western Afghanistan, said that for now, the onus falls on families to be aware.

"Children are subjected to sexual abuse in madrasahs established under the Taliban regime," Amini said. "Families have an important and essential role in this regard. If they do not want their children to be abused in schools, if they want their children to get a basic education...then they should not send their children to madrasahs under the control of the Taliban."

Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by RFE/RLs Radio Azadi
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.
HARARE, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government has gazetted registration fees for foreigners seeking Zimbabwean citizenship on the basis of permanent residence, setting them at 5,000 U.S. dollars for both adults and children.

The fees, which will be paid strictly in U.S. dollars, were gazetted on Tuesday by Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe.

Those seeking to restore Zimbabwean citizenship after renouncing it earlier will pay 1,000 U.S. dollars, according to the supplement of the Zimbabwean Government Gazette Extraordinary.

People seeking a certificate of renunciation of Zimbabwean citizenship will pay 200 dollars, while those seeking restoration of citizenship by descent will pay 50 dollars, the new rules stipulate. Those also seeking restoration of citizenship other than by descent will pay 1,000 dollars, while a certificate of confirmation of citizenship will cost 50 dollars.

Descendants of the Southern African Development Community will also pay 50 dollars for the restoration of citizenship.

The fees are part of a set covering various services offered by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.

All the other fees, except for the issuance of a temporary travel document which has been set at 40 dollars, are also payable in local currency at the prevailing interbank rate, the gazette said. 
BUDAPEST -- As a keen amateur photographer, Peter had wanted to visit Claudia Andujar's photography exhibition at Budapest's Museum of Ethnography since its opening in September, but he hadn't yet gotten around to it. But when the 70-year-old, who preferred that RFE/RL only use his first name to protect his privacy, heard that some of the Brazilian artist's photographs had been hidden from view, he knew immediately he had to go.

In the spacious exhibition hall, the offending photograph was exhibited but cordoned off behind a stanchion. The photo is from Andujar's 1967 series, simply titled Homosexuality. It shows two male torsos, with one man's hand placed on the other's shoulder. A sign is attached to the stanchion warning minors not to step foot behind the cordon.



The picture had fallen afoul of Hungary's controversial "child protection law," which has been widely criticized for being discriminatory, limiting freedom of expression and targeting the LGBT community. Adopted in 2021 by the right-wing government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the law restricts underage people's access to books, movies, and other cultural products that "promote or portray deviation from [gender] identity aligning with sex at birth, gender reassignment, or homosexuality." The law also limits sexual education in schools, with only government-approved instructors allowed to teach the subject.

There are signs, however, that the new legislation, which its supporters say protects children and the integrity of the traditional family, might have backfired. Since the implementation of the law, not only are more people in Hungary curious about issues of gender and sexual identity, public support for the LGBT community and interest in LGBT themes in art and culture have grown.



After opening in 2022, the building of the new Museum of Ethnography is adorned with Hungarian embroidery and framed by Hungarian flags. A company owned by a friend of Orban built the museum, and the project received criticism for its rising costs and delays. The museum is not narrowly focused on Hungary or Hungarians and, in its collections and exhibitions, there are artifacts, manuscripts, and photography from all around the world.



The reason they had to put the barrier up wasn't actually to do with the picture itself, said a museum staff member who wished to remain anonymous. It was because of its title, Homosexuality, displayed on the wall. (Whether child or adult, it's still possible to see the offending photo and its title from outside the cordon.)



Critics have accused Orban and his Fidesz ruling party of dismantling democratic institutions, undermining judicial independence, seizing control of the media, and being antagonistic toward Muslim migrants and members of the LGBT community during more than a decade in power.



In recent years, Hungary has passed laws that have been widely condemned as homophobic and transphobic. Two such laws are the de facto prohibition of same-sex adoption in December 2020 and the removal of legal recognition for transgender individuals in May 2020.



To Peter, the censorship at the gallery didn't make much sense. In Hungary, the minimum age for marriage is 16, he said, yet an 18-year-old isn't allowed to read the word homosexuality.



He was one of many people who visited the exhibition in the capital, some of whom might normally not have gone but were intrigued or inspired after media coverage of the censorship decision. Museum staff said they had to turn away at least one family who tried to access the restricted pictures with an underage daughter. They wouldn't care, they told RFE/RL, but they didn't want to get into trouble if someone took a picture of a young person behind the barrier.



The exhibition was in the spotlight again when young members of the United Student Front, a progressive student group, staged a protest at the museum, saying the government was taking away parents' right to educate their own children.



Noel Perlaki-Borsos, a 19-year-old high-school student and co-chair of the United Student Front, told RFE/RL that "the new restrictions curb one's right to education," referring to the Hungarian constitution. For organizing the 17-person demonstration without notice, he was fined by the police.



'Protected' With Plastic Wrap



The first tremors of the 2021 law, which is officially called Act LXXIX and amends various bits of legislation for the protection of children, were felt in July 2023, when books containing LGBT characters or themes were removed from bookstores or could only be displayed if they were wrapped in plastic.



People shared their outrage online, tweeting pictures of beloved young adult novels now covered with plastic. The owner of one of the biggest chains of bookstores in Hungary, the Lira Group, was fined 12 million forints (around $36,000) for displaying books from Alice Oseman's Heartstopper series, which explores the blossoming romance between two teenage boys.

The hefty fine prompted booksellers around the country to wrap the books that might be deemed offensive in plastic. A few days after Lira was fined and the plastic-wrapped books appeared, thousands of people marched for Budapest Pride. "Are you going to wrap me in plastic, too?" asked one of the signs.



"It's incredibly harmful," said Hungarian author and screenwriter Krisztian Marton about the plastic wrapping of books. "It stigmatizes authors and books and even the readers who would have access to something that resonates with their experience, could guide them, or just give them refuge."



His book, Whiner, was published in October 2023 and tells the story of Marci, a gay, black man growing up in a Hungarian town. It's not dissimilar to the experience of Marton, a gay man who grew up in the city of Szeged as the son of a Hungarian mother and an African-American father.



Whiner is available at Lira bookstores but was placed in the section for 18+ books. "It was a weird feeling. That's not where it should be," Marton told RFE/RL over the phone. "But at least it's there, and it isn't wrapped in [plastic]."

There was another shockwave in October 2023, when the government stopped minors, even with parental consent, from visiting the World Press Photo exhibition at the Hungarian National Museum due to the presence of LGBT images. The decision followed a complaint to the Culture Ministry from Dora Duro, a parliamentary deputy from the far-right Our Homeland Movement party, who objected to a series of photos showing elderly LGBT people in the Philippines.



The director of the institute, Laszlo Simon, got into hot water after he posted a photo showing how popular the exhibition was after all the outcry, with people lined up outside the museum. A few days later, on November 6, 2023, he announced in a Facebook post that he was fired from his post for "sabotaging" the child protection law.



Increase In LGBT Support



Gender and sexual identity issues may have even benefited from the contentious anti-LGBT law and the strong feelings and media attention it garners, albeit unintentionally.



The latest polling data suggests an increase in support for the LGBT community in Hungary. According to a 2023 Ipsos survey, 67 percent of Hungarians support the legal recognition of same-sex couples, compared to just 54 percent in 2015. According to the international market research company, the percentage of those opposed to gay marriage has shrunk over the course of the last eight years, from 24 percent to 16 percent.

In a 2021 survey, Amnesty International found that 73 percent of Hungarians disagree with the government's argument that gay people are a harmful influence on children and 75 percent believe that "transgender people should be allowed to officially...change their gender and name in their [official] documents."



Pride events continue to grow. According to the organizers, 35,000 people marched in Budapest Pride despite the heat in July 2023. Since 2021, there have also been Pride marches in Pecs, a city of 140,000 people, with over 500 taking part in September 2023.



Book Shredding



Fairyland Is for Everyone, a Hungarian collection of short stories featuring diverse characters, has become a bestseller after Duro, the politician who objected to children seeing the World Press Photo exhibition, shredded a copy at a 2020 press conference, saying it promoted an agenda that would be harmful to traditional family values.



Since then, the book has been reprinted three times in Hungarian and has been translated into 11 languages. Dorottya Redai, the coordinator of the anthology, was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of 2021.



Duro's shredding of the book, Redai says, "reminded a lot of people of very dark times." Redai is also a research fellow at Central European University (CEU), a private institution founded by the Hungarian-born financier George Soros. CEU left Hungary in 2019 after a legal dispute with the government over a law that placed restrictions on foreign-accredited universities operating in Hungary, which was widely seen as targeting the Soros-backed college.

As demand for the book soared, Redai and the book's publisher, the Labrisz Lesbian Association -- an organization focusing on the rights of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women -- struggled to find a printing house in Hungary. They have found one now and Redai says a recently launched website for the book still draws a "surprising" amount of people, and for many, it became a symbol, "a tool of protest."



She is also happy to admit that Duro's dramatic stunt gave the fairyland anthology a little push. At the recent premiere of a movie, Second Golden Age, Redai wore a cardboard costume mask, disguising herself as Duro as a joke. Produced by the Labrisz Lesbian Association, Second Golden Age is, according to the director's assistant Magdi Cilin Timar, a "human rights soap opera." After two premieres to a full house, the movie, which portrays the growing love between two women in a rural city, will be available online and hopefully in cinemas across the country, Timar adds.



'We Get More Support Than Criticism'



Many Hungarians are simply curious about the content that has been banned or censored. Hungarian-Italian historian Stefano Bottoni was one of those and took his two underage sons to the World Press Photo exhibition, which showcases some of the world's best photojournalism. He told RFE/RL's Hungarian Service that he took them to see if they would be allowed in. "The woman [at the exhibition] looked at me and asked if I was aware that they could only enter with parental consent," he said.



Bottoni said he wasn't particularly keen on his sons seeing a picture of a pregnant woman, clutching her abdomen while being carried on a bloody stretcher from the ruins of a bombed-out maternity hospital in Ukraine's war-ravaged city of Mariupol. But he said he certainly didn't mind them seeing photos from the Home for The Golden Gays series, which showed the lives of elderly LGBT people in the Philippines, who lived together and cared for each other as they aged.



"It's a pretty bad joke to think that anyone will be hurt by seeing the lives of old gay people in the Manila nursing home. I explained to my children that these people lived alone, in poverty, and they made [the retirement home] for them to be a little happier and have a good time," Bottoni said.

According to the anonymous staff member from the Museum of Ethnography, Claudia Andujar's Homosexuality photograph was closed off after the public furor over the World Press Photo exhibition. "Perhaps the [Museum of Ethnography] curator got scared that Dura Duro would go to the exhibition," says Johanna Majercsik, the press officer for the Budapest Pride organization.



"It's important that people see that we are not afraid. But it's not easy," says Redai, the coordinator of Fairyland Is for Everyone. Despite the laws restricting their activities and government propaganda conflating homosexuality with pedophilia, "we get more support than criticism," Timar, the film director's assistant, added.



Being transgender or gay still isn't easy in Hungary, with continued incidents of violence against the community after the introduction of the "child protection" law in 2021. But reports of homophobic assaults are relatively rare, and organizers of LGBT events have said they don't worry about counterprotesters or violence. At the 2023 Budapest Pride march, which went down peacefully, only around 30 people gathered to protest the rally, according to a count from the organizers.

That doesn't necessarily mean members of the LGBT community feel unthreatened. According to a 2022 survey, only 12 percent of LGBT students feel safe in school, and almost 75 percent of LGBT adults say they have experienced some form of discrimination in the workplace.



"I don't want to paint the situation [too rosily], but I think what appears in the Western [and] EU press" and what people think "is very unbalanced," says Majecsik from Budapest Pride. The new law and how it is being implemented, she says, have actually resulted in a broader political discussion about such topics.



"I obviously wouldn't thank the government for the propaganda law, but as an effect of that law, more books and movies are being made, which is awesome. I just wish these things didn't happen because of the law," Majecsik said.
In May 2023, not far from the seaside resort town of Tivat on the Montenegrin Adriatic peninsula of Lustica, a conference on new technologies and blockchain was held that attracted little media attention at the time.

Some of the country's most senior officials were there, including then-Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic and Milojko Spajic, who would take over the premier's post in October 2023. Also in attendance was Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, the second-biggest cryptocurrency (by market capitalization) after Bitcoin.

Podgorica made it clear that Buterin was more than welcome. A few months after the crypto confab, Buterin was granted Montenegrin citizenship. The government was optimistic that Buterin would "contribute to the development of the blockchain industry and the Montenegrin economy." Wooing Buterin was also part of a broader government plan to turn Montenegro into a new crypto paradise.

Could Montenegro really become a cryptocurrency haven? That could largely hinge on whether legislation being debated now in the Montenegrin parliament to regulate the electronic money market is eventually adopted by parliament. There have been concerns, in and outside Montenegro, about the European Commission's 2023 report on the country's progress toward accession to the EU, which noted disapprovingly the unregulated nature of the cryptocurrency market in Montenegro.

The lack of such laws in Montenegro hasn't stopped transactions from being conducted on crypto exchanges and purchases being made with cryptocurrencies, including for real estate. Cryptomining attempts have also been reported in Montenegro, along with the first cryptocurrency ATM being installed in an Adriatic resort town.

It also hasn't stopped crypto-schemers and backers from flocking to Montenegro, which has a small but well-connected community, according to Novak Svrkota, a crypto analyst, in comments to RFE/RL's Balkan Service.



"We came up with the idea of creating a crypto paradise in Montenegro. The crypto community is looking for a small country that is open and could pass crypto-friendly laws because the current laws in some countries are quite restrictive," explained Svrkota, who was a member of the government's short-lived Blockchain Directorate, a failed attempt to set rules for the crypto market in Montenegro.

In December 2023, Podgorica tried to woo another cybercurrency heavyweight. Spajic met with the leader of JAN3, a company that is focused on expanding Bitcoin. Also attending the meeting was Crown Prince Filip Karadordevic, the English-born son of the last Yugoslav king and a big Bitcoin booster.

Early Inroads

Spajic first expressed Montenegro's eagerness to enter the burgeoning business of cryptocurrency in 2021, when he was serving as finance minister in the cabinet of Zdravko Krivokapic.

To that end, in November 2021, the Directorate for Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain was established. Among other goals, it was tasked with establishing the legal framework for regulating the mining and use of cryptocurrencies and blockchain, the technology underpinning all cryptocurrencies, and many other products like NFTs (Non Fungible Tokens). However, political infighting doomed the effort, and the directorate was ingloriously ditched in August 2022.

That setback didn't appear to dampen the enthusiasm. One of the benefits the cryptocurrency industry could bestow on the country, a report of the meeting said, was how "Bitcoin can help Montenegro tap into its hydroelectric potential."

Hydropower has been tapped around the globe to feed the hundreds of computers wired up to the cryptocurrency mining business. In Montenegro, the hope was that its ample waterways could be harnessed to supply the electricity demanded by cryptocurrency activities.

In April 2023, the Montenegrin Central Bank signed an agreement with Ripple, a provider of crypto and blockchain solutions, to jointly develop a pilot program for the launch of the first digital currency -- backed by the bank -- in the tiny Adriatic nation of around 600,000 people.

"The introduction of a digital currency or a national stablecoin, i.e., a stable currency, is another step toward the digitization of financial services and the expansion of the space for the availability of financial services to citizens," the Central Bank of Montenegro announced at the time.

The Kwon Affair

The biggest obstacle to Montenegro's crypto dream has been the arrest of South Korean Hyeong Do Kwon, the so-called king of cryptocurrencies. On March 23, 2023, when Kwon was traveling to Montenegro, he was apprehended by police at Podgorica's airport for traveling on a forged passport.

The founder of Terraform Labs, Kwon is wanted in South Korea in connection with a $40 billion crash of the firm's cryptocurrency that crushed retail investors around the world.

Along with Kwon, another individual linked to the cryptocurrency crash, whose name was not released by Montenegrin authorities, was arrested at the time.

Kwon and the other man had been hiding in Serbia but moved to Montenegro after South Korean investigators tracked their whereabouts and asked Serbian authorities to detain them, officials said. The two were arrested while trying to depart for Dubai using fake Costa Rican passports, the Montenegrin Interior Ministry said at the time.

To this date, Kwon's fate still remains unresolved, with him still detained at a prison facility in Podgorica. He is awaiting an extradition ruling amid international warrants for fraud.

The opposition in Montenegro has seized on the case, potentially threatening any further advancement of the country's cryptocurrency plans.

Pressed by political foes, Spajic finally admitted in late December 2023 to having met Kwon but said he wasn't aware of the arrest warrants out for him. That admission didn't douse the political flames. During campaigning for Montenegro's 2023 general elections, former Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic tried to tar Spajic by accusing him of secretive business dealings with Kwon.

That accusation took on extra gravitas when a senior interior minister added what appeared to be damning details.

"The laptop [belonging to Kwon] also contains evidence of joint business between Spajic and Kwon. It may be a legal business with one of the most wanted fugitives, but it is the subject of an investigation," said Adzic.

Soon afterward, prosecutors launched a probe into any ties between the two, but the investigation came up empty.

Mining In Montenegro

Efforts to create new virtual coins via so-called mining have continued off and on in Montenegro, although it has not been profitable for years, according to experts who spoke to RFE/RL's Balkan Service. Cryptominers use high-powered computers to solve complex mathematical problems in order to verify transactions on the network. As a reward for their work, they receive cryptocurrency tokens.

Earlier this month, a citizen of Serbia tried to smuggle cryptocurrency mining hardware worth several thousand euros into Montenegro but was caught by customs officials and border police. His current fate remains unclear.

The first case of cryptocurrency mining uncovered by police in Montenegro was reported in 2020, when police arrested two individuals and seized 250 computers in the basement of a building in Podgorica. The arrests were not linked to the mining but to the illegal use of electricity in the mining, which is a very energy-intensive process requiring specialized hardware.

IT expert Boris Radovic said that cryptocurrency mining -- once a profitable business -- is now largely a loss maker, due to the huge amount of time and energy needed.

"I had personal experience with mining. After five months of 'work,' four virtual coins of one cryptocurrency were mined -- worth about 800 euros. As I did not convert them into real money in time, they lost their value. Now they are worth about 120 euros, which can barely compensate for the price of electricity that was used while they were being mined," Radovic explained to RFE/RL.

Legal Gray Area

Just exactly how widespread cryptocurrencies are in Montenegro is difficult to gauge, according to Svrkota; however, they appear to be favored by those who want to hide their transactional tracks.

"Cryptocurrency is used for purchases of real estate, especially luxury villas on the coast, where developers often get part of their earnings in digital money," Svrkota explained. "It is often used by people from countries like Ukraine and Russia, which are under sanctions, to avoid complications that come with interacting with the banking system."

A virtual currency ATM was even spotted at a private club in Tivat, a picturesque Adriatic coastal town in the southwest of the tiny Balkan country, late last year. The club's owner, Yong Hon Kong, a Malaysian citizen, told police he had legally acquired and imported the device but had never put it into service for technical reasons.

At the time, officials said the crypto ATM was an illegal device.

"There is no legal basis to carry out that trade. Everything related to trade through that device is illegal," said then-Finance Minister Aleksandar Damjanovic.

A lawyer for Kong told RFE/RL that the device remains on the premises of the club and that no legal action has been taken against his client.

Regular Montenegrins can also try their luck, Svrkota said, by registering to trade on global cryptocurrency exchanges.

One of them is Marija from Podgorica, who told RFE/RL that seven years ago she invested by buying a small amount of Bitcoin, the most famous digital currency.

"It was out of curiosity to try my luck without any expectation of making money. It was interesting to watch the amount in the digital wallet grow every day. At the moment when the value of bitcoin reached 10 times its value, I sold and used the money to pay for an exotic honeymoon trip and an exotic wedding trip for me and my husband," said Marija, who requested her last name not be used.

Although she turned a profit, Marija said she no longer trades in cryptocurrencies.

Radovic, the IT expert, said he has made and lost money trading in cryptocurrencies.

"You never know if something will rise or fall to nothing. Fluctuations in the crypto world are far greater than in the classic stock market," Radovic noted.

While individuals may be making (or losing) money on cryptocurrency in Montenegro, none of it is going into the coffers of the state thanks to the lack of legislation regulating it.

"The state loses because it does not have control over money flows and there are no tax benefits. Regulation would bring some security to companies and people who deal with it, as well as an incentive to develop businesses. And it would give the banking sector a free hand in providing services for exchanging cryptocurrencies or investing," Svrkota said.

The Finance Ministry told RFE/RL that preparations have begun on drafting a law that will regulate crypto assets in accordance with Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MICA), hailed as a landmark framework created by the European Commission that focuses on maintaining financial stability. It entered into force in June 2023.

The Finance Ministry cautioned that it was unable to give any time lines on the adoption of any regulatory legislation. And the Central Bank states that they are working on national standards that would be harmonized with MICA.

In the meantime, Montenegro's Central Bank has cautioned potential investors of the risks associated with cryptocurrency trading.
When veteran journalist Viktor Muchnik, the editor in chief of one of Russias few independent news outlets, TV2, left Russia in March 2022 after regulators blocked TV2s website, he thought it was game over for his career in journalism. Along with some colleagues, he considered opening a dry-cleaning business in the Georgian port city of Batumi.

It never opened.

Instead, Muchnik, who emigrated to Armenia, co-founded two new online outlets, both of which take critical views of Russias war on Ukraine. Ochevidtsy 24/02/2022 (Eyewitnesses 24/02/2022) shares the experiences of ordinary witnesses during Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, while Govorit NeMoskva (This Is Not Moscow Speaking) offers news, personal narratives, and podcasts about Russias regions.

Russias intensified crackdown on independent media since the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, has driven an unknown number of Russian journalists to leave the country to escape potential criminal prosecution for criticizing the government and the war, and penalties for using nonofficial sources in their coverage of the war, which by law must be euphemistically called a special military operation.

But, as in Muchniks case, that exodus enabled the birth of additional critical news outlets abroad or extended the lifespan of others  beyond Moscows control. It was the latest twist in the Russian medias dramatic evolutionary development since the government of authoritarian President Vladimir Putin undertook a draconian crackdown on dissent after the 2018 presidential election.

As of September 2023, some 93 independent Russian news outlets existed outside of Russia, according to a November 2023 study by the JX Fund, a Berlin-based media-development NGO. One-third of those were created after the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

With a combined estimated audience of 9.6 million unique viewers, 81 percent of whom are inside Russia, expatriate Russian independent media outlets are a historically unprecedented phenomenon that play a key role in countering Kremlin propaganda and disinformation, as well as providing visibility on what is happening in the country, the JX Fund said.

The NGO estimates that as many as 1,800 Russian emigre media professionals work in 30 countries; particularly in Germany, Georgia, Latvia, and Armenia. Among them are journalists for RFE/RL, which suspended operations in Russia in March 2022.

Denis Kamalyagin, the Latvia-based editor in chief of Pskovskaya Guberniya, a news site focused on western Russias Pskov region, credits the Internet for independent Russian medias survival abroad.

Were not living in 1923, Kamalyagin said in an interview in December. The emigrants who left during the [1917-23] civil war naturally lost touch [with their homeland] because there was no Internet. There was no way for them to even telephone. Now, there arent problems like that.

But there are problems. Six expatriate Russian journalists interviewed by RFE/RLs North.Realities identified maintaining local sources, protecting freelancers, and finding financing as among the most concerning.

'Living In Two Worlds Simultaneously'

Ivan Zhadayev -- the editor in chief of Vyorstka, a news site born in migration in 2022  said his team was operating like a start-up, fueled by enthusiasm under very stressful conditions, in a changing world.

The second year, 2023, was about how not to burn out, how to keep the team together, how not to disappear as professional journalists, how to get a foothold within the Russian media market, he said.

Now, journalists have that foothold: The outlets JX Fund researched attract over 38 million website visits and 165 million YouTube views monthly and have over 430,000 TikTok followers.

But they face the quandary of how to show Russia-based news consumers that, even abroad, they understand their interests, Zhadayev said.

Many want news about regional, socioeconomic, and everyday problems within Russia more than they want news about the war, he added.

Finding the right intonation from abroad is 100 times more difficult, said Muchnik.

A quiet civil war is under way in Russia between those who oppose and support Moscows military campaign, with each side cocooned in their own information bubbles, he added.

The emigre journalists, too, sometimes feel as if they are in a bubble.

Yelena Trifonova, editor in chief of the site Lyudi Baikala, which covers the regions around Siberias Lake Baikal, said emigration has changed how expatriate Russian journalists view life in Russia.

To avoid sliding into some distorted reality, Trifonova reads small regional Russian news sites, talks with freelancers in Russia, and, like other emigre journalists, stays in touch with friends and family back home. But the sense of a disconnect lingers.

Its as if youre living in two worlds simultaneously, said Trifonova, who left Russia along with staff members in 2023. Youre standing with your feet on two pieces of ice moving in different directions. Youre balancing between them and are afraid of falling.

Ivan Makridin, co-founder of Novaya Vkladka, an outlet that covers Russias regions, said such feelings have led some Russian expatriate news sites to lose their focus on Russia.

[P]eople make media, and people at some point lose their focus because theyre far away in emigration, and, unfortunately, this impacts their work one way or another, he said.

When Sources Go Silent

Sources inside Russia help emigre journalists keep that focus, but they are increasingly unwilling to talk, Trifonova said.

People are closing up more and more; theyre afraid to talk with journalists, she said. You have to conceal the names of the main people and experts [in stories]. We never used to do this. Were against anonymous journalism, but thats what you have to do these days.

Now, said Kamalyagin, even anonymous sources who earlier were not afraid to meet with us somewhere in a cafe in Pskov and quietly leak information are unwilling to talk. Pskovskaya Guberniya relies on Pskov residents coming to Latvia to get such information, he added.

Trying to contact sources potentially puts freelancers at risk as well. To protect their freelancers, neither Pskovskaya Guberniya nor Vyortska use bylines.

Running an emigre Russian news site with freelancers in Russia means youre constantly worried about their security, observed Muchnik.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Russia ranks among the worlds top five jailers of journalists, with 22, including RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who has been in pretrial detention in Kazan for more than 100 days.

Makridin said, without elaboration, that sometimes his site has to make a conditional compromise on our journalism principles to protect freelancers from officials.

Because without these people, were nothing, he said.

Donor Dependent

Outside of Russia, Russian independent media may have found freer working environments, but the JX Fund report noted that grants account for some 80 percent of their financing.

As the war drags on, competition with large, independent Russian media for these grants has become intense, according to Kamalyagin.

Interviewed journalists, however, avoided sharing details about how they finance their operations abroad  a pretty toxic topic, said Makridin. Russian law dictates that journalists who receive financial support from foreign sources register officially as foreign agents under laws used to monitor and repress government critics.

None of the interviewees said that a foreign donor dictates their editorial policies, however.

Its important for [our foreign donor] that we write the truth about whats going on in Russia, said Kamalyagin. Thats the main aim. [The donor] doesnt set any other tasks for us.

Kamalyagin and others said it is important to be objective and avoid sliding into activism.

We talk with everyone because we understand that a large part of our country is either apathetic and apolitical, or even supports everything thats going on, said Zhadayev, whose site has been labeled a foreign agent by the Putin government.

We will try, and are trying, and will continue to the maximum to do this [work] objectively, he concluded.

'You Get Up And Keep Going'

All of the interviewed journalists expect to return to Russia, but they know that, under threat of arrest and prosecution, this will not happen soon. Even if Putins rule were to end soon, Zhadayev said, repressions inside the country, pressure on journalism could continue for some time.

Despite the difficulties of working from abroad, these journalists are motivated by a sense that their journalism is needed inside Russia.

After Lyudi Baikala published a story in 2023 about an orphan supplanted by soldiers on a waiting list for housing, for instance, Trifonova said, officials intervened and the orphan received an apartment.

Everyones already on the edge of burning out, [at a point] when other remedies dont work, psychologists dont help, Trifonova said. But you just have to get up and keep going.

Muchnik said the energy of emigre Russian journalists has impressed him.

If there had been such vitality in Russian society overall, Russia would have been different, he said.

Though the work is getting more difficult, said Ilya Panin, editor in chief of Cherta, another outlet based abroad, Russian journalism, for now, is still alive.

It may be pretty beaten up and burned out by now, but at least its still alive, he said.

Written by Elizabeth Owen based on reporting by RFE/RLs North.Realities
HANGZHOU, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with ASEAN to conclude the negotiations for version 3.0 of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) as soon as possible, China's Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen said on Wednesday.

China aims to upgrade the liberalization of trade and investment with ASEAN further, on the basis of the existing China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Wang said at the opening ceremony of the fifth round of negotiations in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

He noted that China is also willing to expand practical cooperation with ASEAN in such emerging areas as the trade of intermediate goods, digital trade and cross-border e-commerce.

The ongoing round of negotiations began on Jan. 29 and will continue to Feb. 2, with nearly 400 officials from both sides in attendance. 
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping extended on Wednesday his congratulations to Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar on being sworn in as Malaysia's new king.

In his congratulatory message, Xi pointed out that China and Malaysia are friendly neighbors across the sea and enjoy a time-honored friendship.

Since the establishment of their diplomatic ties in 1974, the two sides, by adhering to mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, have witnessed important cooperation results in various fields, and bilateral ties have maintained a sound momentum, he said.

Xi recalled that in 2023, he and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reached important consensus on jointly building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future, drawing a new blueprint for the development of bilateral relations in the new era.

The year 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia and the "China-Malaysia Year of Friendly Exchanges," Xi said. As Malaysia will take over as the country coordinator of China-ASEAN relations, the development of China-Malaysia ties will face new and important opportunities, he added.

Xi said he is ready to conduct friendly exchanges with King Sultan Ibrahim and push the building of the China-Malaysia community with a shared future for new progress, bring more benefits to their people and make greater contributions to regional prosperity and stability. 
By Jonathan McCambridge and David Young, PA

Here are answers to some of the key questions surrounding the deal that is set to deliver the restoration of powersharing in the North.

What led to the current Stormont stalemate?

During the Brexit divorce talks, former British prime minister Boris Johnson negotiated the Northern Ireland Protocol with the EU in order to ensure the continued free movement of goods on the island of Ireland.

However, this led to the requirement for checks on goods travelling between Britain and Northern Ireland and was deeply unpopular with unionists, who described it as an Irish Sea border.

After feeling that the British government was not responding fast enough to his concerns, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson collapsed the Stormont powersharing institutions when he withdrew Paul Givan as first minister almost two years ago.

In response, British prime minister Rishi Sunak negotiated the Windsor Framework with the EU, introducing new rules on the movement of goods and a veto for the implementation of EU law in Northern Ireland.

However, Mr Donaldson insisted this did not go far enough, leading to months of protracted negotiations that have culminated in the command paper Safeguarding The Union, published by the UK government.

Paul Givan announces his resignation as first minister in February 2022 (Peter Morrison/PA)

Why has the DUP agreed to the deal?

Mr Donaldson has insisted the new arrangements have removed the Irish Sea trading border and restored Northern Irelands place within the UK internal market.

The deal will see the end of routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland, as well as a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around the Norths constitutional position.

The DUP leader says this is the best deal that could be achieved and has persuaded him to end his boycott of the powersharing institutions.

Mr Donaldson has long argued in favour of restoring devolved government, providing his concerns over post-Brexit trade and sovereignty were addressed.

Does this represent a major change to the trading arrangements agreed with Brussels?

It depends who you listen to.

Mr Donaldson says his party has delivered fundamental change to the Windsor Framework by ending routine checks on goods moving from Britain to and staying in Northern Ireland.

Downing Street, however, has insisted the measures unveiled on Wednesday do not require specific EU sign-off, characterising them instead as operational changes to the framework, without altering the fundamentals of the bilateral deal.



The EU, for its part, has said it will carefully analyse the measures.

British foreign secretary David Cameron and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris both briefed EU Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic on the paper on Wednesday.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin has suggested Brussels will have a role, telling reporters in Belfast that the EU/UK Joint Committee will need to look at the package.

Mr Martin made clear he did not anticipate any push-back from the European Commission on what has been agreed between the DUP and UK.

(l to r) Jamie Bryson, Jim Allister and DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson attend a rally in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol in Lurgan, Co Armagh in 2022 (Liam McBurney/PA)

Who is opposed to the DUP leaders move?

Not everyone in the DUP supports accepting the arrangements that will lead to a return to powersharing.

A meeting of the partys ruling executive, where Mr Donaldson presented the proposals to members, lasted for more than five hours on Monday night.

He was ultimately able to secure the backing of the executive, insisting the margin of support was decisive, and the endorsement of the majority of his 12 party officers.

However, just hours after the command paper was published on Wednesday, senior DUP MP Sammy Wilson launched a scathing broadside against the British government in the UK parliament in a clear sign of the differing opinions at the highest levels of the party.

The arch Brexiteer claimed the ongoing application of EU law in Northern Ireland was the result of a spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

On top of internal tensions, Mr Donaldson faces criticism from some in the wider unionist and loyalist community.

They insist the Stormont boycott should only end when the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol, and the subsequent Windsor Framework, are scrapped entirely.

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister is a vocal critic, describing the DUP as protocol implementers.

High-profile loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, who live-tweeted elements of the private DUP executive meeting after securing an audio feed from a wired-up mole inside the party, has challenged Mr Donaldson to a public debate on the new measures.

There have also been suggestions on social media that roads could be blocked in loyalist areas as part of protests against the deal.

The DUP leader has hit back, claiming his opponents have delivered a big blank sheet of nothing when it comes to removing the Irish Sea border.

Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill is set to become the first nationalist first minister (Niall Carson/PA)

So what happens next?

The British government aims to fast-track two statutory instruments through Westminster on Thursday.

One will provide legislative assurances on Northern Irelands constitutional position with the other delivering the changes to the trading system by amending the Internal Markets Act.

Their passage would pave the way for the DUP to give the green light for a Stormont return.

MLAs have already been put on notice on the prospect of a hastily-recalled sitting.

The expectation is Stormont could be back up and running as soon as Saturday, when the Assembly chamber at Parliament Buildings would witness the historically significant moment of the appointment of its first-ever nationalist first minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill.
Pol Allingham, PA

Family members of an Irish woman killed in a central London bus crash have paid tribute to their beloved daughter, sister, partner.

Catherine Finnegan, known as Kathleen, died after she was hit by a bus at Victoria Bus Station on Monday morning.

Ms Finnegan (56), from Co Galway, died at the scene despite efforts of land and air ambulance crews.

Her family paid tribute via London's Metropolitan Police, and said: Our beloved daughter, sister, partner, most adored auntie and treasured friend Catherine Finnegan, known as Kathleen, lost her life on January 29.

The scene where a pedestrian was killed after being hit by a bus at London Victoria bus station (Jonny Dyer/PA)

She will be remembered as a very unique lady who had the fast Irish wit and who made her family and friends so very proud of her bright, clever personality.

She was a whirlwind in any room and lit up this world with her energy, enthusiasm for life and joy.

She will be forever in our hearts.

Officers were called to a collision between a bus and a pedestrian at 8.59am.

Reports suggested a Number 13 double-decker bus crashed into a shelter at the busy transport hub.

The scene where a pedestrian was killed at London Victoria bus station in central London (PA video)

The female bus driver, in her 40s, was taken to the hospital and later discharged.

In 2021, Melissa Burr was killed at the station after bus driver Olusofa Popoola accidentally accelerated into the back of a stationary bus, shunting it into her.

She was using a pedestrian walkway at the bus station and crossed towards the door of a 507 bus parked at its stop before she was hit.

Victoria bus station was closed late last year for works designed to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility for partially sighted passengers.

Problems highlighted included an unconventional layout of pedestrian crossings, use of markings and a lack of tactile paving, as well as one crossing that directed pedestrians into a bus stop.
Irma "Betty" Zoanni, 93, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at the Sidney Health Center with family by her side.

Betty was born March 11, 1930, to Ingvald and Ethel Iverson on their homestead near Comertown, Montana. She attended school in Comertown before transferring to Culbertson High School for her senior year. She attended Eastern Montana College and the University of Montana, earning a teaching certificate.

Betty married John "Jack" Zoanni on June 4, 1952. They raised 5 children on a farm and ranch in rural Culbertson. After Jack passed in 2001, she moved to Sidney.

Betty taught fifth grade and music in Culbertson and Sidney. She later taught music for many years at rural schools and East Fairview Elementary School. She gave piano and accordion lessons to numerous family members and neighborhood children.

Music was a large part of Betty's life. She had perfect pitch and taught herself piano on an old pump organ. She accompanied family and community groups in talent shows and at other area functions. She was frequently heard playing "old time music" in community centers and nursing homes. She enjoyed being a member of Sweet Adelines in Culbertson and Sidney.

Betty was a devout Lutheran, attended Bible study, and often played organ or piano for services. Betty was also very artistic. She sewed many of her childrens' clothes and hundreds of quilts. She loved to draw and paint, including charcoal, oil, and acrylic mediums. She won numerous awards, including the Richand County Fair Best of Show. Other hobbies included photography with which she preserved precious family memories and stories. Betty had a work of poetry published. She participated in community groups and clubs such as the Sioux Pass Homemakers and C'DARS. She loved to play Scrabble with anyone who would challenge her, usually winning!

Betty is survived by her children Robert "Bob," Jerry, and Rita (Marc); daughters-in-law Brenda and Darla; grandsons Tyler (Sandra), Chris, Brad (Karli), Derek, Ryan, Matt (Sharlene), and Kenny; and great-grandchildren Hannah, Noah, Paisley, Addison, Paxton, Matthew, and Marc. She is preceded in death by her husband John "Jack"; children Linda and Loren; grandson Mark; and siblings Pearl, Howard and Rodney.

Memorial gifts may be made to BrightFocus Foundation for macular degeneration research or to a local school or community music group of your choice.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Bhakshak Movie Based on True Real Events Story Muzaffarpur women shelter case

The film is all set to premiere directly on Netflix on February 9.

Bhakshak Movie Based on True Real Events and Story, Muzaffarpur Women Shelter case: The trailer of the most anticipated movie, 'Bhakshak', was released on January 31. Helmed by Pulkit, the film features Bhumi Pednekar, Aditya Srivastava, and Sanjay Mishra in the key roles. In the meanwhile, a lot of people wondered if the film was based on true events, as claimed by the makers.

Well, it is true. 'Bhakshak' is based on the Muzaffarpur Womens Shelter Case in which Brajesh Thakur and 11 others were sentenced to life imprisonment for physically and sexually assaulting several minor girls.

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Bhakshak Movie Based on True Real Events and Story:

'Bhakshak', featuring Bhumi Pednekar and Aditya Srivastava in the lead roles, is inspired by the Muzaffarpur Women's Shelter Case of 2020. Aditya Srivastava is playing the role of Bansi Sahu, a character who is inspired by Brajesh Thakur, the mastermind of the real-life case.

The incident came to light when the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) presented a report to the Bihar government on May 26, 2018. This brought attention to the alleged sexual abuse of minor girls in the shelter home for the first time.

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On May 29, 2018, the Bihar government relocated the girls from the shelter home to other protective facilities. On May 31, 2018, an FIR was filed against 11 accused in the case. After over 3 months, the Supreme Court on on August 2, 2018, acknowledged the alleged sexual assaults on over 30 minors in Muzaffarpur's shelter home and transferred the investigation to the CBI on November 28.

The shelter home was operated by Brajesh Thakur, the former Bihar People's Party (BPP) MLA. He was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault under the POCSO Act and gang rape. He is currently serving a life sentence following his conviction by a Delhi court in 2020.

The film is all set to premiere directly on Netflix on February 9.
GUANGZHOU, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, will feature a "second exhibition zone" displaying unmanned equipment, such as unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ships.

The biennial air show will be held in November this year. The host city, Zhuhai in south China's Guangdong Province, plans to build a second exhibition zone for the Airshow China in Zhuhai's Lianzhou airport and a nearby water channel.

Zhuhai will press ahead with several other projects to support the air show, which includes expanding and renovating Zhuhai airport, and increasing the number of hotel rooms.

Since its inception in 1996, Airshow China has become an important window for showcasing advanced aviation and aerospace technologies and equipment from home and abroad. It has also become an international platform for promoting business cooperation in aviation and aerospace technologies and equipment. 
MOSCOW, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A total of 195 Russian soldiers have returned from Kiev-controlled territory, the Russian defense ministry said Wednesday.

The Russian soldiers in captivity were released and returned on Jan. 31 as a result of negotiations, according to a statement by the ministry.

A total of 195 Ukrainian war prisoners will also be released within the framework of the deal, and the released Russian personnel will receive all necessary medical and psychological assistance, it added. 
by Xinhua writer Gao Wencheng

BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The escalating political polarization in the United States has given rise to a dystopian narrative, as portrayed in the upcoming film "Civil War," in which 19 U.S. states, led by Texas and California, secede from the country, and partisan extremist militias regularly commit political violence.

While such talk of an "American split" may sound far-fetched to some, Texas's recent border standoff with the federal government indicates that it is not entirely implausible.

In this election year, analysts globally perceive the U.S. presidential election as a significant source of risk. As the electoral battle spirals, political and social divisions deepen, aggravating the symptoms of the "U.S. Election Syndrome." The ongoing standoff over the immigration crisis at the southern border marks a new development in this syndrome, with a member of Congress even proposing a "national divorce" between red and blue states.

The "U.S. Election Syndrome" inevitably brings to mind the violent episode that erupted three years ago, when thousands of Americans stormed the Capitol, attempting to prevent the confirmation of the newly elected president. Protesters breached the building, tear gas clouded the air, lawmakers fled wearing gas masks, and a tense standoff unfolded, leaving the Stars and Stripes torn in pieces on the ground.

Three years after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and with the 2024 presidential election merely months away, a recent CBS/YouGov poll revealed that nearly a majority of American adults anticipate violence arising from future presidential election defeats. Additionally, more than two-thirds of respondents believe that U.S. democracy is under threat.

Their concerns are not unwarranted. U.S. election campaigns are ridden with attacks, arguments, biases, and rumors -- a longstanding tradition where both parties strive to hinder each other.

The Texas crisis exemplifies the exploitation of immigration as a tool by Republican-controlled states to undermine the Democratic Party's electoral prospects. Both parties leverage such issues as immigration, climate change, and gun control to push for greater polarization and confrontation, thereby creating a growing rift between the two camps and expanding their respective political base.

This ideological divide permeates every facet of society, amplifying disagreements within families, communities, and social circles, significantly constraining the space for communication and dialogue between opposing perspectives.

In some instances, voters cast their ballots not in support of specific policies or ideologies but as a means of countering the opposing side. Disgruntled supporters of the losing side may resort to violence to vent their grievances.

Adopting a pessimistic outlook, the Brookings Institution suggests that the nation "seems destined to grapple with extreme economic, territorial, and political divides," with both parties talking past each other on crucial economic and social issues.

The harsh reality of "America versus itself" has left the public disillusioned with the government's functioning. Whichever party assumes power, effective governance amid extreme division proves challenging.

As highlighted in a Politico article, numerous foreign diplomats in Washington are aghast that "so many U.S. leaders let their zeal for partisan politics prevent the basic functions of government." They worry that today's U.S. political divisions could have a lasting impact on an increasingly interconnected world.

The U.S. ruling party tends to overhaul the political legacy of its predecessor or reject the policy proposals of the opposition. Under widely-criticized "pendulum democracy," U.S. domestic and foreign policies have been oscillating, depleting the nation's finances and undermining U.S. credibility on the global stage. Capricious exits from and re-entry into international organizations, such as UNESCO, have also impaired the efficiency of these institutions.

Eurasia Group, a U.S. political risk consulting firm, also perceives "the United States versus itself" as the foremost challenge in its "Top risks for 2024" report. The report warns that the upcoming U.S. presidential election will exacerbate the country's political dysfunction, testing American democracy to a degree unseen in 150 years.

The great irony, as argued by Newsweek magazine, may be that "the only force strong enough to bring down the United States, surely the most potent political entity in human history, is itself."

This serves as a crucial reminder to American politicians that, rather than searching for external "imaginary enemies" and casting others as "risks," prioritizing internal risk management is imperative.

After all, no nation is in the mood for bearing the brunt of risks imposed by botched U.S. political strife. 
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Railway police departments across China have launched a law enforcement campaign to ensure travel safety during the 2024 Spring Festival travel rush.

The campaign will see squads of railway police officers dispatched to passenger trains and train stations, with the aim of combating criminal activities that specifically target passengers, such as theft, robbery and fraud.

The campaign runs from Jan. 26, the day the travel rush began, to the end of the 2024 "two sessions," which are the annual gatherings of China's National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. 
(Photo : Pixabay / DeltaWorks )

Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain-machine interface startup, has been hitting the headlines after the tech giant revealed that the company has performed its first brain implant on a human.

While Musk has revealed that the anonymous patient has been recovering well, experts have raised concerns regarding the safety of the implant, as earlier trials of Neuralink saw the deaths of 1,500 animals.

Neuralink's Brain Chips

Neuralink's first product device, Telepathy, works by converting the brain's electrical activity into signals that computers are capable of understanding. A robotic surgeon is responsible for inserting the device. This robot takes away a skull section prior to linking the electrons into the brain.

The electrodes pick up the neuron's electrical signals and translate them into motor controls that can be used for maneuvering devices.

Musk explains in a post on X that the device allows control of one's computer or phone just by thinking. He adds that the initial users of the product will be those with limb use loss.

ALSO READ: First Neuralink Product 'Telepathy' Will Be Able To Control Phone, Computer Just By Thinking

Neuralink Safety Questioned

However, concerns regarding the fast development of Neuralink have been raised. Dr. Dean Burnett, an honorary research associate from Cardiff University, shares that the speed taken by Elon Musk from having no place in the world of brain implants to releasing huge statements is both alarming and disconcerting.

The doctor says that it is likely that the first patient will be safe. However, he adds that the higher risk will be when people see that this works well and that the products will be rolled out, as not every procedure will receive a similar spotlight.

Though this is Neuralink's first human trial, it is not the first time that brain chips have been implanted in humans. Twenty years ago, the BrainGate interface system was tested among humans and showed promising potential. A 2021 review of the health of the patients revealed that the implant did not yield any serious health consequences and did not need to be removed.

According to Andrew Jackson, a neural interfaces professor from Newcastle University, the device of Neuralink could be even safer in certain aspects compared to that of the BrainGate system. He adds that the FDA would not have approved Neuralink human trials if they were to pose significant risks.

However, Neuralink has received criticism in the past for breaching the Animal Welfare Act and due to how their lab animals were cruelly treated. In February 2022, the company confirmed that monkeys died during the course of testing, though they denied allegations pertaining to animal abuse.

According to estimations, more than 1,500 animals have been killed in the course of Neuralink's pre-human trials.

Despite these death cases, Professor Jackson notes that people should believe and be confident in the regulatory oversight of the safety of the device. He explains that the steps taken to reach Neuralink's point are sensible ones that are necessary for de-risking it. Professor Jackson expresses how impressive it is that Neuralink was quickly able to work on these steps.

He notes, however, that the question is whether it was ethical to use up to that number of animals to produce the necessary evidence.

Cognitive scientist and bioethicist Professor Marcello Ienca from the Technical University of Munich explains that current rules are not enough. Professor Ienca explains that though these types of trials are necessary for life improvement, the concern is that not all rules pertaining to ethically conducting the trials have been figured out.

Current guidelines were made way before brain implants became a possibility. These guidelines are based on principles for cardiac implants.

Professor Ienca notes that some patients have reported disturbances in their sense of self after receiving or having an implant removed. He also expresses concern regarding the AI used to enable the devices, as they could have biases that could result in discrimination.

He concludes that things should be evaluated and that this is not being done at present as the technology is novel and rules are still being developed.

RELATED ARTICLE: Neuralink Successfully Implants Brain Chip in First Human, Elon Musk Announces

Check out more news and information on Tech & Innovation in Science Times.
I had been eyeballing a piece of property in Trout Creek for about a year. It was cheap enough, I had the money, why not? So, I bought it. It was what around here people generously call a stump farmstripped of timber, and in this particular case, filled with two-foot-deep ruts from logging equipment. A strip of land that could only generously be called a road led a half-mile to the property from the county road. When the sellers son heard his mother was putting it up for sale, he and a friend hustled over to take the timber. They logged in the Spring, they were in that much of a hurry, hence the ruts. The access road was more of a canal because they had used a D-8 Cat to pull the loaded log trucks to the gravel road that led to the mill, and whatever ground had been in the original road was up where the borrow pit would usually be.

There were two buildings on the place, a chicken coop which I did not hesitate to burn down, and the roofless Fox cabin on the back part of the place. There had been a well-built squared cedar log house, but I was twenty years too late for that because it had burned down.

Barney, the logger-son, met me on the place and handed me a beer. Not a bad beginning, I thought as I looked out on acres and acres of stumps, ruts, and scraggly trees. The thing this place is best suited for is timber, Barney said. It was good advice, I now know, but I didnt take it. I wanted to farm so I hired a woman with a D-8 Cat and she stumped twenty-five acres for me. Acres with which I soon had an intimate and arduous relationship, picking sticks and moving burn piles around.

I had farm equipment left to me by my father, so I went back to the farm in Pennsylvania which I had left in 1960 and made arrangements to load it on a railcar and ship it to Montana. It took a month to load it. My most vivid memory of that time is the Farmall H (that I learned to drive on) dying in the middle of the busiest intersection in the town I was shipping it from. It was something I learned to take in stride.

So, the equipment loaded, I set out to beat it to Trout Creek, which shouldnt have been very hard, but a blown tranny in my 1962 Chevy half-ton allowed me to experience a week in Dekalb, Illinois. But I did beat the railroad to Trout Creek.

A friend of mine and I were sitting in the old Trout Creek Cafe waiting for the locals to arrive. I had had to find a place to off-load the equipment and the L-P mill had allowed me the use of their spur track and loading dock. Theres your stuff! my friend Roy shouted when the local came into sight, so we beat it over to the mill to watch them spot the railcar.

Honestly, I should have been embarrassed to ship it, there was so much junk in it, but there was good stuff, too: four tractors, a baler, a swather, a combine, two wagons with high sides crammed full of stuff, plows, discsall the paraphernalia a beginning farmer could want. As we were looking at the railcar and the work ahead of unloading it, two men approached, one of moderate size and build named Dude and the other a more or less mountain-sized man named (of course) Shorty, although he often went by the name of Copenhagen. They were brothers.

How you gonna get that off? asked Shorty. It had taken four weeks to load it, so I figured on at least a week to unload it with the help of a couple of friends, but my basic answer was, I didnt know. Shorty did. If we waited to the weekend, Shorty said, the mill would gladly loan them the equipment to unload it. I dont know if the mill ever knew about it, but they must have, because on Saturday morning, bright and early, Dude and Shorty used the mills 966 log loader to pick my equipment off the flatcar and place it on the ground. It took two hours.

I also learned that what might have been junk back east was welcomed in Montana. Looking at the wagons, Shorty said, admiringly, High speed wheels! meaning that the axles were fitted with roller bearings, not babbit.

I was beginning to feel at home.

Montana Viewpoint has appeared in weekly and online newspapers across Montana for over 25 years. Jim Elliott served 16 years in the Montana Legislature as a state representative and state senator. He lives on his ranch in Trout Creek.
TEHRAN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chief Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Hossein Salami said on Wednesday that the country is not after war but not afraid of war either, vowing to let no threat go unanswered, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

He made the remarks at the closing ceremony of a national congress to commemorate the country's martyrs in Tehran, reacting to some threats uttered by U.S. officials against Iran over the past few days.

Salami said, "We are not warmongers, but they impose wars on us. Therefore, we defend our causes and do not let foreigners interfere in our internal issues. We are independent."

Condemning the "unjustified" threats from U.S. officials, he said that "we do not leave any threat unanswered, and even though we are not after war, we do not fear (it), and we resist."

Salami's remarks came after U.S. President Joe Biden linked Iran to the recent killing of three U.S. soldiers at a military base in northeastern Jordan near Syria's border. Biden said the United States "will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing."

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Monday rejected the country's involvement in the drone attack targeting the U.S. forces in Jordan, saying the accusation is "baseless and provocative."

On Tuesday, Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations warned in a statement that any attack against the country, its interests, and its people would receive a crushing response from Tehran, the official news agency IRNA reported. 
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The State Council Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday extended festive greetings for the upcoming Spring Festival to Taiwan compatriots, encouraging them to participate in Chinese modernization to advance national rejuvenation.

Addressing a press conference in Beijing, spokesperson Chen Binhua said that Taiwan compatriots and businesses play a vital role in contributing to and participating in economic and social development on the mainland. He underscored their active role as promoters and defenders of the peaceful and integrated development of cross-strait relations.

The Chinese mainland has worked to enhance the business climate for Taiwan enterprises, boosting their confidence in investing and running operations here, the spokesperson noted, adding that efforts have been made to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of compatriots on both sides of the Strait.

Taiwan affairs offices across the mainland will organize a variety of activities to ensure that Taiwan compatriots can enjoy a joyful Spring Festival, according to Chen. 
KCAD Professor Gayle DeBruyn and former Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell with their awards.

Gayle DeBruyn, a Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University professor, is an important contributor to the sustainability efforts in West Michigan through her work in fine art and design.She prepares students to contribute significantly to environmental needs and social capital through their work. DeBruyn chairs the Collaborative Design and Master of Arts in Design programs, serves as sustainability officer, and is on KCADs planning team for the Wege Prize international student design competition and Wege Prize High School Collaborative Studio.Along with Ferris State trustee and former Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell, DeBruyn was recently honored by the U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan for her efforts to advance sustainability in the region.She received the councils Legacy Award at the organizations 2023 Annual Party & Leadership Awards Ceremony last month, and Heartwell was named this years 2030 Leadership Award winner.The Legacy Award, given for the first time this year, recognizes people for their critical work within the community for a sustainable future, their character, the reputation theyve built as a leader, and their accomplishments and actions.Its the latest accolade for DeBruyn, who has been recognized with multiple awards for her work in the community, including induction into the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum Hall of Fame and The Dave & Carol Van Andel Leadership Award.DeBruyn says her advocacy for sustainability was inspired by Bill McDonough, who received an honorary degree from KCAD in 1999. McDonough is an architect who that year was named Time Magazines Hero of the Planet.He delivered a short, compelling speech that changed for me the urgency of the issues at hand, she says, from the chemistry used in manufacturing products, to the way we mined the materials and embedded energy of transporting materials, to their durability and life cycle assessments.Rapid Growth recently connected with DeBruyn to learn more about her passion for the intersection of design and sustainability.You received the inaugural Legacy Award. Were you surprised by the award, and what does this honor mean to you?I was very surprised. And to be in the company of Mayor George Heartwell was over the top. He has been a very important part of my journey in sustainable development. He has inspired and encouraged my work and taught many of us about the value of determined possibility thinking.As the chair of KCADs Collaborative Design and Master of Arts in Design program and its sustainability officer, how do you see the connection between design and sustainability?I stand by the statement that all things are designed, including systems, structures, and organizations. I am also influenced by the work of architect William McDonough (who holds an honorary doctorate from KCAD). I like his quote, "Design is the first signal of human intention." I often lead my classes with this insight. As educators, I believe we are obligated to teach students to believe in their power to make aspirational change to make better the world we live in.You've been inducted into the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum Hall of Fame. How did you become an expert in sustainability, and how have you incorporated it into your design career?I am a longtime member, past president, and fan of the WMSBF. These are my people. I am grateful that a colleague introduced me ... in the mid-90s (ish?) At that time, we all fit into a corporate board room.I appreciate very much the determined passions of the many who have been a part of the forum. The beginnings, a group of manufacturing competitors working together to better the environmental impacts of their businesses. The cooperative, collaborative ethic of a group of people that leads by sharing best practices so we can together strive to make transformational impacts.In the earlier years, the Forum invited many of the world-class voices of the sustainable development conversation. Janine Benyus, Bill McDonough, Amory Lovins, Ray Anderson (who also holds a KCAD doctorate), to name a few. These folks brought to us their best practices and encouraged our work. Today, the Forum continues to bring important voices to our community: Ken Webster , expert in circular economy strategies and John Elkington , the author of the triple bottom line method of sustainable development. And more importantly, it connects us to our own local rock stars of the work, like Keith Winn  one of the writers of the first USGBC LEED protocols who has been recognized many times for his determined work to lessen our impacts on the environment and improve the quality of life for all  Cheri Holman, Alison Waske-Sutter, Renae Hesselink, Rachel Hood, and so many more making big impacts.You've received many honors in your career. Can you describe some of your most important accomplishments?Design is a team sport. A practice! I am grateful to be in a place where trying and testing is expected.Working on KCAD's Wege Prize Team has been amazing! We are in our 11year of creating and producing an important international collegiate design competition that challenges students to aspire to change our linear economy to one that is circular, keeping materials in constant flow, never to be buried in landfills. Challenged by the many  wicked problems  facing us. Remembering that design is the first signal of human intention  we have the power to change the systems through the whole-systems-design-thinking, interdisciplinary, collaborative process. Through this project, I have been introduced to many of the finest world changers  our illustrious team of judges , local and international experts in social, economic and environmentally sustainable practices leading us to a transformative circular economy.What's next for you? What's still on your list to accomplish?I am sure now that a career is not necessarily a prescribed corporate ladder to climb. As an interior design graduate landing a great job in the West Michigan furniture industry, I thought that I nailed it! It would be my life's career. I did not expect to own a business, any more than I expected to find a home in academia. I believe in saying yes to invitations of challenge. I believe that folks only invite people to a challenge whom they feel will succeed in the endeavor. And if they are there to assist you on the journey, you likely will succeed. So, you should definitely try. And if you are not having fun, you are not doing the right thing ... yet.And, It is also great to work in a place where you can try stuff and ask forgiveness ... if it doesn't work.From furniture to shoes, from arts to education to even policy creation, design is everywhere you look. Designed in Michigan , a story series coming out of West Michigan, is devoted to sharing the expansive role design plays in Michigan's past, present and future. It is made possible through the support of Kendall College of Art and Design and Landscape Forms
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- China urges the U.S. to immediately stop suppressing and restricting Chinese students traveling to the U.S. under the so-called national security reasons, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked to comment on reports that Chinese students experienced unwarranted interrogation, harassment, deportation at U.S. border.

It's reported that Chinese students were again interrogated when entering the U.S. border at the Washington Dulles International Airport. U.S. law enforcement personnel repeatedly asked questions concerning the students' political background and academic research, and asked them to provide internal information of the Chinese government in order to get released. After being refused, the U.S. law enforcement agencies decided to cancel their visas, ban them from entering the U.S. and forcibly deport the students.

Wang said the U.S. has frequently harassed, interrogated and deported Chinese students arriving in the U.S. out of political purposes for some time now. Available information shows that at the Washington Dulles International Airport alone, at least eight Chinese students with lawful and valid travel permits were harassed, interrogated and deported by the U.S. side for groundless reasons since the end of November 2023.

He said the moves by the U.S. law enforcement authorities seriously violate the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of the students concerned, disrupt China-U.S. cultural exchanges and cross-border travel, and go against the common understanding between the two Presidents on enhancing and facilitating cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and China has made solemn demarches to the U.S.

The U.S. likes to portray itself as open, inclusive and a place advocating academic freedom and "no border in science", but it politicizes and weaponizes academic research, and overstretches the concept of national security to wantonly suppress and ill-treat Chinese students, Wang said, adding that such moves undermine Chinese citizens' lawful rights and interests and basic human rights, cause the chilling effect and sour the atmosphere for China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges.

Wang said in recent cases, the U.S. law enforcement personnel unabashedly induced and infiltrated the victims, which poses direct threat to China's national security. The moves by the U.S. driven by ideological bias with no respect for truth or rationality are discriminatory and politically motivated law enforcement and will eventually undermine the U.S.'s own image.

China urges the U.S. to act on the statement made by President Biden and the common understandings reached by the two Presidents in San Francisco, immediately stop suppressing and restricting Chinese students travelling to the U.S. under the so-called national security reasons, earnestly protect the security and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars in the U.S., and remove barriers for China-U.S. exchanges and cross-border travel, said Wang.

The spokesperson said China will take resolute measures to safeguard its national security and the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens. 
De Beers, the diamond division of mining giant Anglo American , has reported encouraging further signs of stabilisation in the diamond market after a big jump in revenues from its first sales tender of the new financial year.

The company said it sold $370m of rough diamonds in the cycle one tender, down from $454m in same cycle one tender last year but well ahead of the $137m sold in the last sales cycle of 2023.

Al Cook, De Beers chief executive, said: "Solid consumer demand for diamonds in the United States over the year-end holiday season has certainly helped to stabilise the industry and we are seeing polished diamond prices increasing again."

Sales have been falling sharply since the spring of 2023, down to a low of $80m in cycle nine (November), compared with $540m in cycle three (April).

De Beers traditionally sells 90% of its stones by value through Sightholder sales. The sales events, known as Sights, are held 10 times a year. The other 10% of its diamonds are sold via auctions.

The company has blamed "macro-economic challenges" and a slow retail recovery in China for the big drop in prices in 2023. There was also the voluntary two-month moratorium by major diamond producers to curb supply to the Indian market, which was lifted in December, aimed to bring some stability to the market and support to prices.

"Combined with the restart of rough diamond imports into India, this has led to demand for rough diamonds increasing substantially in the first sales cycle of 2024. However, as the prospects for economic growth in many major economies remain uncertain, we expect that it may take some time for rough diamond demand to fully recover," Cook said.
Shares in ITM Power surged on Wednesday after the energy storage and clean fuel company impressed with its interim results and improved its full-year guidance.

ITM said that its performance over the six months to 31 October brings it "one step closer to becoming a profitable company in the future".

Revenues jumped to 8.9m, from 2.0m the year before, driven mainly by product and service revenue from cube deliveries to Germany, and a number of units of NEPTUNE, ITM's fully autonomous, plug and play electrolyser system.

The result was also ahead of the 7.5m guided to in a trading update last month after the company concluded a commercial discussion with a customer earlier than expected.

Meanwhile the adjusted EBITDA loss shrunk to 21.0m from 54.1m.

ITM also announced it has successfully completed its 12-month restructuring plan which has "made ITM a stronger, more focussed, and more capable company".

The plan was based on the following three targets: narrowing the product portfolio for standardisation and volume manufacturing; having greater capital discipline, cost reduction, and improved processes; and "debottlenecking" manufacturing and testing, and increasing automation.

"I am pleased to report that we have completed the implementation of our 12-month plan on time. The first half of the financial year already paints the early picture of a new ITM, which starts to be reflected in our improved financial results," said chief executive Dennis Schulz.

Looking ahead, ITM held on to its full-year revenue guidance of 10-18m, but has positively narrowed its adjusted EBITDA loss forecasts to 45-50m, from 45-55m previously, while net cash at year end is expected to be in the range of 200-220m, up from an earlier target of 175-200m.

The stock was up nearly 11% at 53.05p by 0854 GMT.
Iliad said on Wednesday that Vodafone had rejected its revised offer to merge the two companies Italian businesses.

The French telecoms firm said in December that it had submitted a proposal to merge the Italian businesses. The new offer would have given Vodafone 6.6bn in cash and a 2bn shareholder loan. Meanwhile, Iliad would have received 400m in cash and a 2bn loan.

"The Iliad Group is confident that the offer presented was the best possible business combination to benefit a struggling Italian market and telecommunications industry," it said.

Vodafone shares ended down 2.1% at 67.32p.

CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: "This is the second time Vodafone have turned down an offer for their Italian business from the same suitor, and while management have said they are looking at options with other suitors with respect to that business its hard to see what these options are.

"Suitors havent been exactly vocal when it comes to banging down Vodafones door when it comes to the Italian business, with the only suitor of note being Swisscoms Fastweb. Vodafone should stop procrastinating, either sell it or make the business work better."
Rolls-Royce, a prominent defense company, has announced a long-term agreement with Azad Engineering for the production and provision of intricate components designed for military aircraft engines. This collaboration positions Azad Engineering, based in Hyderabad, to become part of the worldwide supply chain for complex category components essential for Rolls-Royce's advanced aero engines.

"As we work towards strengthening the defence ecosystem, we are happy to expand our supply chain in India in partnership with Azad Engineering", said Alex Zino, the executive vice president of Rolls-Royce's Business Development and Future Programmes division. "The sourcing of complex components from India for aero engine programmes further advances the goal of capability creation in the country", he further added.

According to Zino, robust collaboration has been a pivotal element in Rolls-Royce's successful venture in India. Abhishek Singh, the Senior Vice President of Rolls-Royce's defense division in India and Southeast Asia, expressed that the partnership with Azad Engineering marks a substantial stride in leveraging the capabilities of Indian companies to play a vital role in the defense manufacturing ecosystem. "This reiterates our commitment to building our presence in India through local partnerships, furthering the vision of an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'", he said.
GUANGZHOU, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Wang Minghui, former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of Sichuan Provincial People's Congress, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Wednesday for taking bribes and abusing power.

Wang was also fined 5 million yuan (about 703,839 U.S. dollars) and had all of his illegal gains from the bribery confiscated and turned over to the state treasury, according to the verdict of the Intermediate People's Court of Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province.

The court found that Wang took advantage of his various positions in Sichuan between 1998 and 2021 to assist other individuals and entities in matters such as project contracting, business operation, and position adjustment. In return, he accepted money and property worth 52.13 million yuan.

Wang was also found guilty of abusing his power and violating relevant laws and regulations in an expressway project in 2013, which resulted in massive losses to public property and the interests of the state and the people, according to the verdict. 
Marut Drones, a prominent drone manufacturer in India, has successfully supplied drones to the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) for spearheading the implementation of "Drone-Based Mineral Exploration" in the country. NMDC has acquired two customized Octacopter drones from Marut Drones. This partnership signifies notable progress in mineral exploration, as it incorporates cutting-edge technology to enhance accuracy and mapping, promoting sustainable mining practices.

Marut has reached a historic milestone by developing Indias first set of customized drones, states the company release. These drones represent a first for the country and introduce modern sensors used for the first time in India, primarily for mineral prospecting. The Mineral Exploration Drone by Marut Drones offers cutting-edge technologies, including advanced sensors like magnetometers, hyperspectral cameras, and lidar, which improve its exploration and mapping capabilities. Its revolutionary coaxial design ensures stability and accurate manoeuvrability, critical for successful mineral exploration.

Prem Kumar Vislawath, CEO of Marut Drones, said its an Octaquad Coaxial X8 drone that the company created specifically for NMDC. Every component of this drone, including the motors and propeller systems, was built in India. The organization has been producing tailored drones for various sectors in the country through research and development conducted in cutting-edge infrastructure. He stated that introducing drone-based mineral exploration seeks to transform exploration methods, particularly in the search for vital minerals such as lithium, copper, gold, diamond, rare earth elements, and other essential minerals.

This marks NMDC's inaugural venture into drone-based hyperspectral magnetic exploration, with Marut Drones taking charge of drone manufacturing and calibration. The process involves meticulous mission planning to establish optimal fly spacing and height, ensuring a 30% land overlap during drone flights for comprehensive hyperspectral surveys. Subsequently, NMDC analyzes the acquired data using Hyperspec III and ENVI software. Similarly, in drone-based magnetic surveying, calibrated drones determine flight parameters like spacing and height. The Geometrics Magarrow Magnetometer is employed for collecting magnetic data, with NMDC processing the information through Geometrics and Geosoft Oasis Montage software.
Anticipation is mounting as the presentation of the 2024 Union Budget approaches, with expectations that it will strongly align with the country's renewable energy targets. The upcoming budget is anticipated to play a crucial role in accelerating India's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and fostering a climate-resilient economy. The electric vehicles (EV) industry experienced remarkable success in the previous year, surpassing a million in sales for the second consecutive year. This achievement is attributed to the government's favorable policies towards clean mobility. As electric vehicles emerge as the future of transportation, the industry looks forward to significant announcements in the budget that will further propel the adoption of EVs in the country. The industry is particularly hopeful for support in the form of subsidies, tax benefits, and financing solutions, expecting these measures to drive transformative change in the EV sector this year.

The industry is optimistic about the government extending and fortifying the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) subsidy scheme to include not only cars but also two-wheelers. A report from December 23 suggests that the government is hesitant to expand the subsidy to electric two-wheelers, contending that major manufacturers in this segment do not require such support. Nevertheless, the industry is urging the inclusion of two-wheelers in the scheme, emphasizing its significance for the continuous growth of the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem. The discontinuation of the subsidy for two-wheelers is anticipated to result in a significant 17-20% increase in vehicle costs. Industry stakeholders argue that this extension would not only lower manufacturing expenses but also attract investments, stimulate investor interest, and expedite the overall development of the sector. Such an extension is seen as a means to make EVs more accessible to a broader demographic, fostering widespread adoption of environmentally friendly transportation by ensuring affordability and inclusivity, in addition to enhancing fuel security.

The industry is anticipating regulations aimed at motivating businesses to reduce their carbon emissions. In the upcoming budget, there is a hope that measures will be introduced to empower industries and businesses in their green transition through targeted incentives. These incentives may include fiscal measures like interest subsidies on bank loans for the purpose of upgrading to sustainable manufacturing processes. Such initiatives are expected to facilitate the widespread adoption of resource-efficient and low-carbon solutions, ultimately contributing to a reduction in emissions.

Moreover, this is likely to spur heightened interest in the carbon credits market, particularly for electric vehicle (EV) fleets and EV charging companies, providing them with additional sources of income and boosting overall adoption. Additionally, the industry is looking forward to potential reforms in customs and positive changes in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rules. Specifically, there is a desire for a lower tax rate on Electric Vehicles (EVs) and their components, such as lithium-ion battery packs and cells, which currently face an 18% GST. The industry advocates for a reduction to 5%, envisioning that this adjustment would make EVs more financially appealing.

Establishing a robust EV charging infrastructure is crucial for the sustained growth of the electric vehicle (EV) industry in India. To expedite the development of an extensive charging network spanning tier II and III cities as well as highways, the industry seeks fund allocation, incentives, and supportive policies. The focus should be on creating charging stations and park-and-charge hubs along highways. Ensuring open data standards and APIs for seamless charging is a priority, promoting interoperability and fostering the development of a cohesive software ecosystem. The industry also anticipates incentives, such as tax rebates, to encourage investment in research and development for software solutions that enhance advanced charging capabilities. This approach aims to provide EV drivers with seamless access to any charging station, addressing a critical barrier to widespread EV adoption.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The legal definition of rape in New York will expand after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Rape is Rape bill into law on Tuesday.

The new legislation, S.3161/A.3340, removes the penetration requirement from rape statutes and defines rape as nonconsensual vaginal sexual contact, oral sexual contact and anal sexual contact. Prior to this legislation, oral and anal rape were excluded from being classified as rape and the statute required a higher standard for vaginal rape.

The law will apply to sexual assaults committed on or after Sept. 1, the Associated Press reported.

We are reassuring survivors that when they walk into a police station or approach the witness stand that the full weight of the law is behind them now going forward, Hochul said. Rape will be treated like the horrific crime that it is. The voices have been heard, and we affirm that justice will be served.

During the bill signing ceremony at Albany, Hochul acknowledged bill sponsors, including state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal.

In the sponsor memo by Hoylman-Sigal, the justification for the bill referenced a specific incident in March of 2012 in which a justice of the New York State Supreme Court declared a mistrial on the rape charge against former New York City Police Officer Michael Pena. According to the memo, Pena was not convicted of the top count of rape despite evidence of forcible, nonconsensual sexual conduct with a Bronx school teacher.

Roughly 90% of rape survivors are women, Hochul added. But the problem is, rape is very difficult to prosecute. Thats because New Yorks archaic laws define rape in very narrow terms. Physical technicalities confuse jurors and humiliate survivors and create a legal gray area that defendants exploit.

Today we took action to reaffirm that the voices of survivors have been heard, and that the full weight of the law is behind them. pic.twitter.com/niGlupByWe  Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) January 30, 2024

One such victim referenced by Hochul was Lydia Cuomo, the teacher raped at the hands of Pena, according to the New York State Assembly. At the signing, Hochul praised Cuomo, saying she deserves incredible credit for jumpstarting the conversation about the need to update our laws.

It has been 15 years from the moment I was brutally raped and the law failed me, Cuomo said. The definition of rape refused to recognize what happened to me as such and allowed my assailant to walk away with merely a sexual assault conviction during the trial. Over the years as I saw the passing of the Rape is Rape Act 11 times in the Assembly but fail to become law, I felt hopeless. But now, thanks to the work of Aravella Simotas, who started this legislation and fought for this law for over a decade and Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, who carried it to the finish line, and Governor Kathy Hochul for signing it into law. This legislation is a sign that the voices of survivors matter here in New York. That our pain will no longer be ignored because of an antiquated law and that we can finally seek the justice we deserve.

The bills provisions are set to take effect on Sept. 1, as noted by the New York State Assembly.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD crackdown on vehicle thefts shifted into high gear as officers seized two stolen cars and arrested a total of six people in separate incidents on the same day.

In one of the incidents, officers apprehended two women and a man in a stolen car near the Goethals Bridge in Mariners Harbor and the swift response by the officers garnered kudos on social media from Assistant Chief Joseph Gulotta, commanding officer of Patrol Borough Staten Island.

Last night, our Patrol Borough S.I. Grand Larceny Auto team was alerted of a stolen car that had just entered Staten Island. Our team immediately jumped into action, with our Community Response Team apprehending three individuals in a car stolen from Washington Heights. pic.twitter.com/JciReQGzd4  NYPD Staten Island (@NYPDstatenIslnd) January 23, 2024

The borough commander praised officers on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, for the recovery of a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica stolen in Manhattan that was located around 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 in the vicinity of Goethals Road North and Forest Avenue.

Police identified the suspects in that arrest near the Goethals Bridge as Jason Johnson, 26, of Holland Avenue in Mariners Harbor, and Victoria Johnson, 23, and Vanessa Moss, 22, both of Anaconda Street in Annadale.

Jason Johnson told police the car was pilfered by a fourth individual not arrested with the trio, according to the criminal complaint.

The episode began after a 51-year-old man parked his blue Chrysler on Jan. 6 at about 4 p.m. on the 600 block of W. 175th Street in the 33rd Precinct in Washington Heights. The next day around 3:30 p.m. he returned to the spot where he had parked his Chrysler and realized that his car was missing, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

The NYPD X post said that the Grand Larceny Auto Team was alerted about two weeks later when the car entered the Island.

Our team immediately jumped into action, with our Community Response Team apprehending three individuals in a car stolen from Washington Heights, the X post said.

The complaint alleges that Victoria Johnson was driving the Chrysler, Jason Johnson was sitting in the front-passenger seat and Moss was positioned in the backseat.

Victoria Johnsons license was either suspended or revoked and she did not show a valid drivers license to the officers, according to the complaint.

Jason and Victoria Johnson both were charged with criminal possession of stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Victoria Johnson also was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle violation of no license.

Moss was charged with misdemeanor unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

All three defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges, were released on their own recognizance and are due back in Criminal Court on Feb. 26, according to public records.

Attorneys for the defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

PURSUIT IN STAPLETON LEADS TO 3 ARRESTS

Also on Jan. 21, three suspects were arrested after the operator of a stolen car crashed in the vicinity of the Staten Island Expressway, court documents allege.

Tashawn Rice, 18, of St. Marks Place in St. George, allegedly was the driver of a white, 2022 Hyundai Tucson when police attempted to perform a traffic stop at about 1:20 a.m. in Stapleton. The car, according to authorities, was missing a front license plate.

As officers activated their sirens, the driver sped off and made multiple turns while blowing through a stop sign and a red light, police said.

The complaint alleges that the driver proceeded to Richmond Road and, within feet of an on-ramp to the Staten Island Expressway, lost control and flipped the SUV.

Emergency personnel discovered two other occupants, a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl, inside the vehicle.

Rice faces additional charges after police say they found a credit card in his pocket that was reported stolen by a man who is not listed as the car owner.

Authorities allege that Rice was driving the stolen vehicle with a suspended or revoked license.

His defense attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

Rice was released on non-monetary conditions, court records indicate.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A resident of West Brighton was walking to the local temple for her daughters Hebrew school on Sunday morning when she encountered a swastika inscribed into the sidewalk just feet from her destination.

The symbol was scratched into the sidewalk on Forest Avenue between Hart Boulevard and Oakwood Avenue, just half a block from Temple Israel Reform Congregation.

Fortunately my daughter wasnt with me at that moment, so she didnt see it, I didnt have to explain it to her, the resident, who wishes to be anonymous, said. But that doesnt mean other kids havent seen it.

A swastika is visible on the sidewalk of Forest Avenue between Hart Boulevard and Oakwood Avenue in West Brighton on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)(Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma

Since Hamas launched a terror attack against Israel on Oct. 7, New York City has experienced a spike in hate crimes. One such investigated incident was the removal of an Israeli flag from a synagogue in Willowbrook. However, despite this tension, the West Brighton resident believes this symbol is unrelated to recent events.

It looked like it had been there a long time and had previously been covered up with cement, the resident said. But maybe with the snow and the salt, that covering had come up. Its not new, its old cement, and its an old symbol, but its now visible.

This is not the first time a swastika marred the location.

In 2022, a swastika defaced the campaign sign of former Rep. Max Rose, who is Jewish. Responding to that incident, Rose joined alongside interfaith clergy, and law enforcement officials to denounce the vandalism.

A swastika is visible on the sidewalk of Forest Avenue between Hart Boulevard and Oakwood Avenue in West Brighton on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)(Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma

Its now visible, its now in this major thoroughfare, theres a bus stop right there, the West Brighton resident said.

Upon investigation on Tuesday, the Advance/SILive.com found the symbol remained visible on the scene.

According to NYC.gov, displaying a swastika is a criminal offense punishable by New York State law.
The soap opera world is mourning the loss of actress Amanda Davies, known for her role as the teenage version of her real-life mother Erika Slezaks character, Victoria Viki Lord, on the longtime soap opera One Life to Live. She was 42.

Veteran actress Slezak, 77, confirmed the sad news on her official website, expressing deep sorrow over her daughters sudden death.

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Erikas daughter Amanda Elizabeth Davies who died very suddenly, the Monday announcement read. The family is heartbroken and would appreciate privacy at this time.

The cause of Amanda Davies death remains is unknown. Slezak portrayed Victoria on the ABC soap in over 2,000 episodes from 1971 to 2013, according to NBC.

Brian Davies, Davies father, is also an actor, known for his roles in American Gigolo, Convoy, The Age of Innocence, among others. Michael Davies, her brother, is 44 years old.

Social media has offered an outpouring of condolences on the passing of Davies. One fan wrote, Nothing worse than losing a child. My heart goes out to Erika and her family. Another wrote, She looks so much like her mother. She was very beautiful. Prayers to her family

Another fan commented: Im so sorry to hear this. My prayers are with Erika and her family. Such heartbreaking news

Another fan posted on Instagram: Im in shock. Amanda would come to OLTL as a little girl and sit in her moms lap in the makeup chair. I remember her running lines with her mom and being soooo good and adorable. Am absolutely lovely young lady, and an amazing family. My heart is broken for Erika. She was always not only the consummate professional, but I admired how her family came first and foremost. Sending many prayers, and love. Devastating.

Another commenter offered: So so sad. May she always rest in heavenly peace. Deepest condolences to her family.
A Bucks County man was arrested on Tuesday after police found his fathers decapitated body inside their family home.

Justin Mohn, 32, has been charged with murder and abuse of a corpse, according to reports from 6ABC and Fox29.

In addition to the killing, officials said that Mohn also posted a video on YouTube where he holds up his fathers decapitated head. The video was viewed about 5,000 times before being taken down, 6ABC said.

Police said they were responding to a report of a death in the 100 block of Upper Orchard Drive in Middletown Township at about 7 p.m. when they discovered the body of a man in his 60s in an upstairs bathroom. The victims wife had found the body, covered in blood, when she came home, 6ABC said.

Middletown Township Police Chief Joe Bartorilla told 6ABC that Mohn had fled the area in his fathers car but was picked up near Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County, about two hours away.

Hes being transported back from 40 Indiantown Gap by our officers. Hell go to our station, hell be processed, fingerprinted, photographed, and then transported up to Bucks County Correctional Facility, Police Capt. Pete Feeney said to Fox 29.

In the video, Mohn could reportedly be seen admitting to killing his father, referring to himself as a militia leader and calling his father a traitor to the country, because he had worked a federal job for 20 years.

He also railed against far-left woke mobs, demanded the U.S. Post Office cease operations, and said he was glad his father was dead, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 8, 6ABC said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A pair of controversial public safety bills will move forward after the City Council overrode two vetoes from Mayor Eric Adams Tuesday.

Speaker Adrienne Adams closed Tuesdays meeting of the citys legislative body to applause after the Council voted 42-9 to override Mayor Adams vetoes of a ban on solitary confinement in city jails and the How Many Stops Act impacting NYPD investigative stops.

Mayor Adams and his allies had been on the offensive against the bills since their passage late last year, raising a series of concerns about their impact, but Speaker Adams said during a press conference ahead of the Councils vote that those concerns should have been raised before the bills passage.

We didnt have to get here. We had a lot of time to talk about this legislation, Speaker Adams said. [These bills] have been in talks for a long time, so we really didnt have to get to this point at all. In my humble opinion, all of the questions should have been handled way before we voted on the legislation and there should have been a complete understanding of what we were doing.

Votes from Staten Islands City Council members broke down as expected with City Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) and Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island) voting against the override while Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) voted in favor.

On the Council floor, Hanks, a resident of Stapleton, explained her vote on the police stops bill citing concerns about law enforcements impact on communities of color, but left an opportunity for possible future reforms. The NYPD has consistently been rebuked for its disproportionate stopping of members of the citys Black and Latino communities.

Hanks was one of a host of council members who joined the NYPD on ride-alongs over the weekend as Mayor Adams attempted to lobby against the veto overrides.

The North Shore councilwoman said that ride-along offered additional perspective about the complexities of police stops, particularly those considered low-level investigative stops.

In neighborhoods like mine, the neighborhood I live in and raise my four children in, statistically, we will have more interaction with police whether we are the bad actors or not. This reporting bill is aimed at aiding the hardworking families who endure both the violence in their communities and the enforcement measures applied by NYPD, she said. While I endorse the spirit and the intent behind (this bill) for its increased transparency, I do have concerns about the requirement to report on Level One encounters.

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 bill also requires the NYPDs quarterly report to include detailed information about the nature of each interaction, including the race, gender and age of the person stopped, the reason for the stop, and the officers subsequent actions, like whether they issued a summons or used force.

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.

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.

Ahead of the Councils Tuesday vote, Mayor Adams raised the possibility of future reforms of the bills, the implementation for which will be left largely to his administration, and issued a statement against the veto overrides following their passage.

These bills will make New Yorkers less safe on the streets, while police officers are forced to fill out additional paperwork rather than focus on helping New Yorkers and strengthening community bonds. Additionally, it will make staff in our jails and those in our custody less safe by impairing our ability to hold those who commit violent acts accountable, he said. I have always believed that public safety and justice go hand in hand, and I have fought for both throughout my entire career. I share the City Councils goal of increasing transparency in government, and our administration has remained at the table to negotiate in good faith throughout this entire process to achieve that mission. But the answer is not to compromise public safety or justice for the victims of violence. With these bills set to become law, I remain willing to partner with my colleagues in the City Council to address New Yorkers concerns in the period leading up to implementation.
The U.S. Dept. of State issued a warning to travelers last week to reconsider travel to Jamaica due to a recent uptick in crime. There are four warning levels, with the current Jamaica warning now set at the third level, nearly the highest.

The Travel Advisory states there has ben a rise in violent crimes, stating home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts.

The State Department also said Jamaicas murder rate is among the highest in the Western Hemisphere and U.S. citizens visiting the island should purchase traveler insurance, including medical evacuation insurance, noting that the Department of State does not pay medical bills and that Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas.

According to Fox News, Jamaica has seen 65 murders since the new year, according to data released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force. The number of killings is short of the 81 reported in the same time frame in 2023.

The State Dept. warning also notes that local Jamaican police do not respond effectively to criminal incidents and arrests often do not result in conclusive sentences, and that families of U.S. citizens killed in accidents or homicides frequently wait a year or more for final death certificates to be issued by Jamaican authorities.

The homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica has for several years been among the highest in the Western Hemisphere, according to the advisory issued by the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica states. U.S. government personnel under COM security responsibility are prohibited from traveling to the areas listed below, from using public buses, and from driving outside of prescribed areas of Kingston at night.

If you decide to travel to Jamaica, the State Dept. recommends:

Do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition, as the penalties, even inadvertently, are severe, and can include lengthy prison time.

Avoid walking or driving at night or public buses.

Avoid secluded places or situations and be aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile.

Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Review the Country Security Report for Jamaica.

Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.

The State Dept. also notes that hospitals on the Caribbean island may vary in the quality of care from U.S. standards of care and require payment up front when seeking treatment. For example, ambulance services are not always available, especially in rural areas. Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance and transport back to the U.S. can cost $30,000-$50,000.

Read the country information page review the Travelers Checklist for additional information on travel to Jamaica.

A recent warning has also warned travelers to exercise caution -- the second warning level -- when traveling to the Bahamas, due to crime.
BEIRUT, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese army said Wednesday in a statement that it foiled the attempt by around 900 Syrian nationals to enter Lebanon through illegal land crossings in January.

According to the statement, over the past months, the army succeeded in preventing the illegal entry of thousands of Syrians into Lebanon, as part of Lebanon's efforts to control Syrian refugees' presence on its soil since the country is facing its worst socio-economic crisis in decades and can no longer meet the growing needs of refugees.

On Tuesday, Lebanese Minister of the Displaced Issam Charafeddine said the country's security agencies, in cooperation with Syrian authorities, had in recent months prevented 90 percent of displaced Syrians from crossing the northern border illegally into Lebanon.

Lebanon remains the country hosting the largest number of refugees per capita, with an estimated 1.5-2 million Syrian refugees living in the country. 
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The CMA CGM Scandola, a liquefied natural gas-powered 14,812 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) container vessel, is seen berthing at the Lekki deep seaport in Nigeria's southwestern state of Lagos, Jan. 29, 2024. This is the largest container vessel that Nigeria has ever received to dock in the country, marking a new chapter in the African nation's maritime sector.

The Lekki port is a commercial cooperation project between China, France and Nigeria. Constructed by China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC), it stands as Nigeria's first deep seaport and one of the largest in West Africa. The construction, initiated in June 2020, was completed in October 2022. The port began commercial operations in April 2023, with a design capacity to handle 1.2 million standard containers annually. (CHEC/Handout via Xinhua)

LAGOS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria received the largest container vessel to ever dock in the country, marking a new chapter in the African nation's maritime sector.

The CMA CGM Scandola, a liquefied natural gas-powered 14,812 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) container vessel, berthed at the Lekki deep seaport in Nigeria's southwestern state of Lagos Monday afternoon. Lekki Port is Nigeria's deepest seaport and was built by China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC).

"It is something that we truly, really need to roll out drums and be proud of because what that is about, indeed, is that we are putting the Lekki freeport, Lagos state and Nigeria into the world's global logistics marine business," said Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu while welcoming the gigantic vessel.

The Lekki port is a commercial cooperation project between China, France and Nigeria. Constructed by CHEC, it stands as Nigeria's first deep seaport and one of the largest in West Africa. The construction, initiated in June 2020, was completed in October 2022. The port began commercial operations in April 2023, with a design capacity to handle 1.2 million standard containers annually.

Yan Yuqing, the Chinese consul general in Lagos, said that the docking of the vessel "has marked a new beginning in Nigeria's shipping sector" by promoting import and export, noting that the development represents one of the landmark achievements of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

The arrival of the CMA CGM Scandola marked a significant step forward for maritime trade in Nigeria, emphasizing the nation's commitment to embracing cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices, said Laurent Favier, the French consul general in Lagos. 

The CMA CGM Scandola, a liquefied natural gas-powered 14,812 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) container vessel, is seen berthing at the Lekki deep seaport in Nigeria's southwestern state of Lagos, Jan. 29, 2024. This is the largest container vessel that Nigeria has ever received to dock in the country, marking a new chapter in the African nation's maritime sector.

The Lekki port is a commercial cooperation project between China, France and Nigeria. Constructed by China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC), it stands as Nigeria's first deep seaport and one of the largest in West Africa. The construction, initiated in June 2020, was completed in October 2022. The port began commercial operations in April 2023, with a design capacity to handle 1.2 million standard containers annually. (CHEC/Handout via Xinhua)
Australian provincialism is such that we tend to view those of us who gain proximity to figures of global power with a bit of starry-eyed awe. Such was the narrative around local girl made good and one-time Telstra executive Robyn Denholm when she was promoted to chair Elon Musks Tesla in 2018.

But as Denholms star rose with Musk, so it will fall with Musk. The worlds richest internet troll has dragged his companys reputation through the muck, thanks to a bizarre flirtation with the far right and determination to turn Twitter (latterly known as X) into even more of a cesspit than it already was.

Robyn Denholm, James Murdoch and Elon Musk. Credit: James Brickwood, Getty Images, Reuters

So when Delaware Chancery Court Chief Judge Kathaleen McCormick voided Musks $US55 billion ($83.6 billion) pay package following a challenge by investors, it was Tesla board members such as Denholm, and James Murdoch (whose dad Rupert you might have heard of) who were drawn into the firing line.

Key to McCormicks reasoning was the fact that Teslas nine directors lacked sufficient independence to stop Musk from enriching himself. In Denholms case, an admission that the $US280 million she received through the sale of Tesla options was life-changing compromised her independence.
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Neil Perrys successor as culinary director and other senior staff have been let go from the major hospitality group.

One of Australias largest hospitality groups, which owns Rockpool Bar & Grill, is in the spotlight after the departure of senior staff, including culinary director Corey Costelloe.

The upmarket Hunter St. Hospitality restaurant stable and its mid-market sibling, Pacific Concepts, have undergone major cost-cutting and closures in recent years. They include the Italian restaurant Rosetta, which exited The Rocks in 2021, Bridge Streets casual Italian Fratelli Fresh and The Bavarian from its Campbell Parade location, at Bondi Beach.

Pacific Concepts has venues that include the Mexican-themed El Camino Cantina, Fratelli Fresh, The Bavarian, Bar Patron and The Argyle.

Rockpool culinary director Corey Costelloe. Janie Barrett

Costelloe said he was informed this week that he was no longer required as culinary director at Hunter St. Hospitality. Senior staff in operations and group marketing roles have also been let go.
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Eating outJust open Cult Japanese cafe Kurumacs sibling Poketto serves brunch hits with a tweezered twist The third venture from the team behind the top-20-ranked cafe promises an elevated take on its signature onigiri sets and seafood rice bowls, plus new dishes and matcha-limoncello cocktails. Bianca Hrovat January 31, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

The team behind popular Marrickville cafe Kurumac have transformed a former Cadbury chocolate factory into Poketto, a contemporary Japanese-inspired cafe with a former Young Chef of the Year finalist manning the kitchen. The new 25-seater is the third venture for owners Eugene Leung and Dika Brianata, who have worked alongside executive chef Junichi Okamatsu for more than eight years. The team has developed a cult following among Sydneys brunch set, first for Kirribilli cafe Cool Mac and then for Kurumac, which rates among the top 20 cafes in the current The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide. Junichi Okamatsu (right) with Young Chef of the Year finalist Jack Mosher in the Poketto kitchen. Wolter Peeters At Poketto, Okamatsu will be assisted by Young Chef of the Year finalist Jack Mosher, who worked at hatted venues Ante (Newtown), Poly (Surry Hills) and the now-closed Automata (Chippendale).

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We want the dishes to keep that same, homey feel were known for, while also refining and elevating them. Theres a lot more tweezing involved. Eugene Leung The light-filled industrial space features exposed brick walls and high wooden beams. It was passed on from previous tenants Sample Coffee Roasters, who felt the area needed something different from the traditional sandwich, cafe fare, Leung says. It needed something new and fresh. Okamatsus signature dishes, such as the onigiri (rice ball) set and kaisen don (seafood rice bowl), will be available at Poketto with a fresh, elevated twist. For the latter, that means a selection of seafood (monkfish, kingfish, scallops, crab and seared salmon) atop sushi rice, studded with briny cod roe and chives ($34). 1 / 3 Mentaiko udon with cod roe, shimeji mushrooms and cream. Wolter Peeters 2 / 3 Kinako (roasted soybean) panna cotta. Wolter Peeters 3 / 3 Keema curry (dry curry with chicken mince, rice and egg). Wolter Peeters Previous Slide Next Slide We want the dishes to keep that same, homey feel were known for, while also refining and elevating them, explains Leung. Theres a lot more tweezing involved.

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Despite the compact menu at Poketto (owing to a far smaller kitchen, says Leung), there are plenty of new dishes to try, including mentaiko (cod roe) udon with hearty shimeji mushrooms and cream ($24), kinako (roasted soybean) panna cotta ($14), and dry keema (minced meat) curry with chicken and rice ($24). We wanted people who liked visiting our other venues to be able to come here and try something different, says Leung. Poketto is housed in a former Cadbury chocolate factory. Wolter Peeters The creativity extends to the drinks menu, where a liquor licence has allowed for two cocktails: a matcha tonic limoncello ($15) and an umeshu with green tea and mint ($15). They join a small selection of sake, beer, wine and non-alcoholic options including Sample coffee, iced matcha or hojicha lattes, and Leungs signature concoction of Ribena juice and oolong tea (its very basic, but its very tasty). Dont miss the Portuguese tart with miso caramel. Brook Mitchell

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Glossy, laminated pastries from Darlinghurst bakery Tenacious Bakehouse are available from the counter, including miso caramel Portuguese tarts. Poketto is open for breakfast and lunch, but Leung says there are plans to host pop-up music or dance events in the near future. Open Mon-Fri 7am-4pm; Sat-Sun 8am 3pm; kitchen closes at 2.30pm daily. 1 Dangar Street, Chippendale, instagram.com/pokettocafe

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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the February 3 edition of Good Weekend See all 14 stories . My phone buzzes. Its a weekday night in 2021 during the blur of the COVID-19 pandemic. I glance at the screen. The name stares back at me. I rattle through the memory bank in my brain. Who? Bingo. Its The Mascot, a Melbourne man by the name of Alex Kurzem, who has a staggering claim to fame: he says he survived the Holocaust by becoming Adolf Hitlers youngest soldier. Sounds like a tall tale, right? A young Jewish boy from Byelorussia (present-day Belarus) who was captured by a police battalion in 1942 and managed to cheat death, hide his Jewish identity and dupe them into believing he was a Russian orphan. Aged between five and nine  he was too young to recall, and there was no birth certificate  he claims he witnessed the massacre of his family months earlier in the town of Koidanov. Then he escaped to the frozen badlands of the Byelorussian forest, where he survived one of the coldest winters on record, foraging for strawberries that sprouted around rotting corpses, begging for food and sleeping tied in trees to avoid being eaten by wolves. Eventually, he was captured by the Latvian 18th Kurzeme Police Battalion, which was engaged in anti-partisan and anti-Jewish operations in Byelorussia and later absorbed into the Waffen-SS. Facing the firing squad for being Jewish, he had the chutzpah to beg  but not for mercy. I asked the soldier, Can you give me a piece of bread before you kill me because Im hungry?  he said in recorded testimony given at the Jewish Holocaust Centre (now called the Melbourne Holocaust Museum) in the 1990s.

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Kurzem worked as a TV repairman in suburban Melbourne. Credit: Courtesy of SBS Miraculously, the soldier took pity on the young boy, presumably because he had blond hair and blue eyes, and told him to say he was a Russian orphan. He was made the battalions toy soldier, their child mascot  a macabre irony hidden within the monstrosity of Hitlers Final Solution. They even dressed him in a pint-sized uniform and armed him with a shorn-off rifle. The battalion anointed their mascot with a new name: Uldis Kurzemnieks. Uldis is a typical Latvian name; Kurzemnieks is a nod to the Kurzeme region of Latvia. He said his SS commanders never discovered his secret: that their little Nazi poster boy was a Jew. I had to hide all my life. I had to make sure nobody knew I was a Jewish boy among Nazis, he said. I knew if they unravelled my secret I would be dead  so I made myself forget my Jewish name. Loading When the fighting between Hitlers forces and the Red Army intensified, the battalion sent him to the safety of the Latvian capital, Riga, to live with the family of Jekabs Dzenis, who ran a chocolate factory and had volunteered to look after the Russian orphan. The Mascot says he kept his secret while under their roof and joined the family when they emigrated by boat to Melbourne in 1949. Thats where hes calling me from: his home in the citys western suburbs, where he hid his secret for almost 50 years. He arrived here a teenager with nothing but a battered brown suitcase carrying the shards of his shattered life and the ghosts of his harrowing trauma. Inside were old black-and-white and sepia-toned photographs, articles and documents.

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With nothing but street smarts, he jagged a job with Wirths Circus as the elephant boy, apparently witnessing the night in 1953 when five lions and one elephant escaped after their trailer was hit by a train near Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast. When he finally settled down, he married a Catholic woman, fathered three sons and worked as a TV repairman in Altona  far from Melbournes Jewish suburbs where tattooed Holocaust survivors began to rebuild their lives out of the ashes of Auschwitz. Then, in the 1990s, he finally allowed his kids  metaphorically  to peek inside his battered suitcase, revealing fragments of his miraculous story. It triggered a cascading chain of events that, if true, would make Hollywood screenwriters salivate (more on that later). I answer the phone. The Mascot is speaking feverishly. Dan, I proved them wrong, he says. I told you I would. I proved them all wrong. Alex Kurzem in 2007 with his decades-old suitcase in which he stored photos and documents from his past. Credit: AP Back in 2012, I was moonlighting for newspapers across the Jewish world, in Israel, the US and Britain. Id been an editor at Lonely Planet, national editor of The Australian Jewish News, and sub-editor at The Bulletin and at The Sydney Morning Herald before newspaper classified advertisings rivers of gold dried up in the mid-2000s.

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So I had to re-invent myself. Documentary filmmaking was the closest thing to the long-form journalism I loved. Luckily, I got a foot in the door, but kept my other foot in print journalism. The mystery of The Mascot landed on my desk in 2012, thanks to the Melbourne Herald Suns investigations editor, Keith Moor. In his article, critics of The Mascot alleged his story  revealed a few years earlier  was a hoax, and it was later alleged to be a fraud concocted in an apparent bid to gain fame and fortune. The Mascot stridently denied the claims. Im a million per cent sure I am Jewish. I wish I wasnt when I was a little boy. It was a curse. Alex Kurzem Holocaust hoaxes arent new, but they are news, especially for Jews. I alerted my editors overseas and, unsurprisingly, they commissioned stories. The sceptic in me smelled bullshit and I set out with an instinct that it was probably a hoax. I called Alex Kurzem and put the allegations to him. The Mascot was trenchant in his defence that his critics were wrong, and hed prove it. HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR IN AUSTRALIA FACES QUESTIONS OF AUTHENTICITY, blared the headline on Israels leading broadsheet, Haaretz. AUSTRALIAN MANS HOLOCAUST STORY LABELLED A LIE , screamed The Jewish Chronicle in London. As the story snowballed, pressure mounted on The Mascot to prove his identity by taking a DNA test. Some survivors at the Jewish Holocaust Centre in Melbourne didnt believe him; others shunned him as a traitor. Dr Efraim Zuroff, the executive director of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Jerusalem, was far from convinced, adding that everything in this case appears to point to a scam.

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I felt compelled to eyeball The Mascot, so I flew to Melbourne and knocked on the door of his dishevelled bungalow. I was greeted by a humble pensioner living in borderline poverty. Theyre accusing me and sentencing me, he told me. Im a million per cent sure I am Jewish. I wish I wasnt when I was a little boy. It was a curse. Alex Kurzem (left) with Erik Galperin in front of the Galperin familys pre-war house in Belarus in 2007. Kurzem, holding a photo of Eriks father Solomon, believed he and Erik were half-brothers. Credit: AP Some stories die a quick death. Others get a life, even an after-life, as the story unravels. This story also had a pre-life. It had been told in several forms by the time I started filing reports in 2012. There was a documentary, titled The Mascot and broadcast by the ABC in 2003, which won a prize at the Sydney Film Festival. It followed The Mascot and his eldest son, Mark Kurzem, a scholar at the University of Oxford, as they travelled back to Belarus looking for pieces of Alexs past. They managed to track down The Mascots apparent half-brother, Erik Galperin, and filmed a long-lost family reunion. Have you found your name? Mark Kurzem asks his father in the ABC documentary. Well, now I have, now I have, he replied. Ilya Solomonovich Galperin. There was a bestselling book published by Penguin in 2007, also called The Mascot. Written by Mark Kurzem, it was translated into more than a dozen languages. Like the documentary, it traced his fathers story from Byelorussia to Melbourne and back to Belarus, culminating in the reunion with the Galperin family. The New York Times hailed it a spellbinding thriller and the BBC described it as one of the most remarkable stories to have emerged from the war. But not everyone was so smitten. Baiba Mangalis-Ford, whose Latvian grandfather had brought The Mascot to Melbourne after the war, says The Mascot had first agreed to share his story with her, not Mark Kurzem. She had started recording his testimony on cassettes in 1996, a decade before Mark Kurzems book was published. Im left out of the picture entirely, so that incensed me from the very beginning, she says.

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The Tingalpa Spillway in Brisbanes eastern suburbs has long been a place where street artists have come to cut their teeth.

Tucked under a busy stretch of the Gateway Motorway, the spillways tunnels and sloping concrete walls were first painted by the founding fathers of Brisbanes graffiti scene  Odie, Cruel, Alamo and Dcide  in 1993.

The Tingalpa Spillway was first painted in 1993 by a group of graffiti artists affectionately known as the founding fathers of Brisbanes street art scene. Credit: Brisbane City Council

But, until yesterday, never legally.

On Tuesday, January 30, the site on Stanton Road West became Brisbanes second free and legal space for street art, after the first one established in Greenslopess Ekibin Park East last year.
A Melbourne lawyer who led groundbreaking sexual abuse cases against the Catholic Church is facing lawsuits by at least 22 former clients who allege that her firm negligently represented them and potentially cost them millions of dollars in settlement payouts.

Waller Legal has for more than 20 years been synonymous with pursuing justice for victims of sexual assault and rape by some of Melbournes biggest institutions. Its principal solicitor, Dr Vivian Waller, is also a commissioner on the Victorian Law Reform Commission (VLRC).

Dr Vivian Waller has represented many victims of clerical sexual abuse. Credit: Jason South

The class action, filed last year and made public on Wednesday, is being lodged to free victims from prior deeds of settlement they are presently locked into under agreements reached by Waller.

The documents allege that Waller Legal failed to notify clients they may have been entitled to greater compensation if they had litigated instead of liaising with institutional legal representatives to organise settlements.
Almost $1.6 billion will be invested in West Australian public schools over the next four years through a new state and federal government agreement.

The agreement has resulted in the state becoming the first in the country bar the ACT to fully fund each student to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard  the estimate of the minimum amount of funding schools need to meet students educational needs.

The funding will mean WA is the first state in Australia to fund public school students to the minimum amount required to support their academic success. Credit: Holly Thompson

WA public schools are currently funded to 95 per cent. While the federal government will increase its share from 20 to 22.5 per cent, the state government will lift its share from 75 to 77.5 per cent of funding.

The states most disadvantaged schools will be first in line to receive the extra funding, followed by all other public schools in the state by 2026.
The discovery of a forgotten cache of sensitive federal cabinet documents left lying around gathering dust for more than 40 years is possibly even too far-fetched for the political satires Yes Minister and Utopia.

But such amateur-hour low jinks in Canberra have exposed a disregard for transparency among the very upper levels of the Commonwealth public service charged with ensuring Australians have access to information about how their elected governments arrive at the decisions that affect the nation.

Former ASIO and DFAT boss Dennis Richardson has been investigating the documents disappearance. Credit: Louie Douvis

The lost documents came to light after an embarrassing glitch when the government realised that records provided to journalists before Christmas to prepare embargoed stories for New Years Day were, in fact, incomplete.

The National Archives of Australias January 1 release of 2003 cabinet papers included the Howards governments decision to enter the Iraq conflict. But the submissions relied upon by the nations spy agencies to justify the decision to join the coalition of the willing were missing in action. In an unprecedented development, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet announced some documents were not transferred and subsequently appointed Dennis Richardson, head of ASIO at the time, to investigate the mishandling of the documents, including official reports to the national security committee.
Insurers are calling on the federal government to spend $250 million a year to buy back or raise the height of homes at risk of extreme flooding as part of a nationwide effort to reduce the threats posed by natural disasters and ultimately take pressure off spiralling premiums.

In its submission to the upcoming budget, the Insurance Council of Australia said the $250 million should be matched by the states and territories to generate an ongoing fund that could be used to reduce the number of people at risk from floods.

Floods such as those that hit northern NSW in March 2022 have prompted the Insurance Council to call for federal funding for property buy-backs. Credit: Sydney Morning Herald

It also wants Treasurer Jim Chalmers to consider incentives for the states to axe the taxes they impose on insurance as a way to bring down premiums.

The cost of insurance has soared over the past two years. In Brisbane, insurance costs have increased almost 16 per cent in the 12 months to the end of September. Individual premiums are up 30 per cent in some parts of the country.
JUBA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) and South Sudan have teamed up to sustain the fight against neglected tropical diseases that pose a huge health threat in the country.

Undersecretary in the Ministry of Health Ader Macar Aciek said the country, with support from WHO and partners, has made efforts over the recent years to tackle the threat of neglected tropical diseases by providing drugs and bolstering preventive measures in a bid to accelerate progress towards ending these diseases.

"The journey to eliminating neglected tropical diseases is a long one and we are determined to finish the job by protecting everyone at risk so that they can live healthier lives," Macar said in a joint statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, Tuesday evening.

Macar said they are working with partners to reach communities across the country and ensure that populations at risk receive treatment and protection from these diseases. According to WHO, 19 of the 20 neglected tropical diseases in South Sudan are endemic. More than 12 million people are at risk of infection from these diseases which can cause severe pain, disabilities and deformities among other devastating impacts.

Neglected tropical diseases are a set of 20 diseases or disease groups that occur predominantly in tropical and subtropical areas. They include lymphatic filariasis, more commonly known as elephantiasis, onchocerciasis or river blindness, schistosomiasis, or bilharzia, as well as human African trypanosomiasis, often called sleeping sickness, chronic ulcers and other skin infections.

Fabian Ndenzako, acting WHO representative in South Sudan, said they are committed to supporting the Ministry of Health in the efforts to address the threat of neglected tropical diseases in the country.

According to WHO, several of South Sudan's counties have more than one endemic neglected tropical disease. Elephantiasis and river blindness are endemic in 34 counties, while bilharzia and intestinal worms are endemic in 46 counties, it said.

The UN health agency said 35 counties have endemicity of elephantiasis and intestinal worms, and 36 counties have Loa loa filariasis co-endemicity.

The recent mapping of leprosy endemicity status indicates that all regions in the country are endemic for leprosy.

Nearly 17 million people in South Sudan have received treatment for river blindness, elephantiasis, bilharzia, trachoma and soil-transmitted worms since 2021, according to WHO.

WHO said it has supported the Ministry of Health to develop and implement a Neglected Tropical Disease Master Plan 2023-2027 which aligns with the 2030 Neglected Tropical Diseases Global Roadmap for elimination. The roadmap aims, among other goals, to eliminate targeted diseases such as bilharzia, river blindness, elephantiasis, intestinal worms and trachoma by 2030. 
Thousands more Australians have been able to see their GP without paying out-of-pocket fees since the Albanese government tripled the financial incentives for doctors to bulk-bill their patients last November.

New data published by the federal government shows there has been a 2.1 percentage point increase in the national GP bulk-billing rate, which refers to the proportion of GP services that are fully covered by Medicare and dont require people to pay gap fees.

It is the first time the bulk-billing rate for GP services has turned around since the decline began in 2020, after peaking with pandemic-era telehealth and vaccine appointments. Nationally, 77.7 per cent of GP services were bulk-billed in December, which is up from a low of 75.6 per cent in October.

The government said there had been 360,000 additional bulk-billed trips to the GP in two months  202,000 of which were in rural and regional areas  which had saved patients a cumulative $15 million in gap fees.
Premier Jacinta Allan has clarified that exiled Labor MP Will Fowles has no chance of returning to the caucus  not just this term, but for as long as she remains premier.

Victoria Police on Tuesday revealed it had decided not to lay charges against the Ringwood MP after investigating him over an allegation of serious assault against a government staffer. Fowles has always strenuously maintained his innocence.

Victorian MP Will Fowles. Credit: Joe Armao

As long as I have the privilege of chairing the meetings of the parliamentary Labor Party, that will be my position, Allan said on Wednesday.

Fowles, who was arrested and questioned in October over a serious assault allegation, has always denied wrongdoing. On Tuesday, Victoria Police said its sexual crimes squad had closed the investigation.
Last year, China introduced an update of its counter-espionage laws that has had a chilling effect on foreign investors. Undaunted by that experience, Hong Kong appears set to introduce its own new national security laws that echo those on the mainland.

On Tuesday, Hong Kongs chief executive John Lee released a 110-page consultation paper on the proposed new laws, which include definitions of state secrets and target external interference in a way very similar to that updated version of Chinas counterespionage legislation.

Hong Kong CEO John Lee (left) with Chinese President Xi Jinping: the citys proposed counterespionage laws are echoing those of the mainland. Credit: Xinhua/AP

There has been a requirement ever since the UK handed rule of Hong Kong to China in 1997 that the special administrative region enact its own national security laws under Article 23 of its constitution.

However, an earlier attempt to do so, in 2003, ignited mass protests. More than half a million Hong Kong residents took to the streets against what was seen as an assault on their civil liberties.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Honorable Minister of Justice, Anna E. Richardson has signed the Ministerial Regulation (MR) formalizing a pilot initiative within the Dutch Caribbean, whereby traveling with identity cards (ID Card/sedula/Cedula) in the Caribbean region is permissible.

It is well-known that families and companies are relocating regularly within the Caribbean part of the Kingdom and theres a high demand to make traveling as accessible as possible. Many citizens residing in the Caribbean areas of the Kingdom hold a local identity card (ID Card/sedula/Cedula) and may not possess a passport.

The pilot originally started on May 1, 2022, and has since then been regularly evaluated. The evaluation results were positive which led to a first extension of the pilot. During the Judicial Four-Party consultation (Justitieel Vierpartijen Overleg, (JVO) in Curacao on January 17, 2024, the pilot initiative was extended for a second time. In addition, Curacao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten expressed their intention to formally implement the pilot initiative into the legal frameworks of the respective countries.

Formerly, a passport was the only valid travel document for voyages within (and outside) the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, and the costs and process of applying for a passport were experienced as obstacles to traveling.

With this MR a passport is formally no longer required for residents with Dutch nationality to travel between these (island) countries. However, the usual local entry conditions will apply and remain applicable, including having sufficient resources for your stay on the island.

It is relevant to state that Aruba is not yet actively participating in the pilot initiative. For residents of Aruba, their Cedula is also accepted when they travel to the Caribbean Netherlands, Curacao, and Sint Maarten. However, currently, a passport is still required for residents of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten to travel to Aruba. Traveling to Aruba based on an ID Card is therefore not (yet) possible.

Foreigners who do not have Dutch nationality but do have an (ID Card/sedula/Cedula) from the (island) countries Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten cannot use this regulation. This measure also does not apply to travelers between the participating (island) countries and the European part of the Netherlands. A passport is still required for this travel. The European Dutch ID Card is also not a valid travel document for traveling within the participating (island) countries.
A business forum celebrating 50 years of Malaysia-China relations was held in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, attracting more than 300 business insiders.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




UN senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag speaks during a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, on Jan. 30, 2024. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) plays an irreplaceable role in offering critical assistance to the Gaza Strip, Sigrid Kaag said on Tuesday.

"There is no substitute" for UNRWA's capacity, knowledge, and the essential services it offers to Palestinians, Kaag told reporters, adding that any replacement would require a political decision by the UN General Assembly. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) plays an irreplaceable role in offering critical assistance to the Gaza Strip, a UN envoy said on Tuesday.

"There is no substitute" for UNRWA's capacity, knowledge, and the essential services it offers to Palestinians, UN senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag told reporters, adding that any replacement would require a political decision by the UN General Assembly.

UNRWA's operations currently face uncertainty due to the suspension of funding by several donor countries, including the United States. These suspensions came in response to allegations of involvement by some UNRWA staff in the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel.

So far, the UNRWA has initiated an investigation, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that any implicated employees will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.

Meanwhile, noting the absence of a ceasefire in Gaza, Kaag said that the ongoing conflicts have hindered aid efforts.

"There is no space to have monitors all over Gaza to work with the agencies to see, to verify and monitor," she said, stressing the importance of increasing the flow of commercial goods into Gaza in addition to humanitarian assistance.

"There will be no recovery, let alone reconstruction in the future, without that broad bandwidth," she said. 
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Dennis Francis in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met with President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Dennis Francis in Beijing.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is a staunch advocate of multilateralism, a firm defender of the UN Charter, and a firm practitioner of international law. He said China will support the UN's central role in the global governance system and the UN General Assembly in playing a more active and important role in accordance with the UN Charter.

Noting that the UN is scheduled to hold the Summit of the Future in September, Wang said China hopes the summit will devise practical solutions to current global issues.

UNGA Resolution 2758 has been observed by the UN and its specialized agencies since its adoption, Wang said. "China applauds the support of the UN and its specialized agencies for the one-China principle, and opposes all remarks and actions that are inconsistent with the resolution," he added.

Francis said the UN always abides by the one-China principle. He said the UN appreciates China's long-term support for multilateralism and the work of the UN, and thinks highly of China's important initiatives and propositions.

Francis said that during its rotating presidency of the Security Council in November, China enabled the adoption of the council's first resolution since the outbreak of the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict. He said that China made an important contribution to the maintenance of peace, and that the UN stands ready to deepen cooperation with China to address current global challenges. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Dennis Francis in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
CANBERRA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Invasive fire ants could sting millions of Australians every year if they spread throughout the country, experts have warned.

In a submission to a Senate inquiry into red imported fire ants (RIFA) in Australia, the government-funded National Allergy Centre of Excellence and NGO Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia predicted that if the ants become endemic to Australia they would sting 8.6 million people every year.

According to their submission to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee inquiry, one quarter of sting victims would develop an allergic reaction and 174,000 would require medical attention.

"If RIFA became endemic in Australia it is likely that hospitalizations and deaths due to stinging insects would significantly increase," it said.

Federal, state and territory governments have committed 592.8 million Australian dollars (391.4 million U.S. dollars) in funding to the National Fire Ant Eradication Program 2023-2027 Response Plan in a bid to stop the species from spreading.

Native to South America, the RIFA was first detected in Australia in the northeastern state of Queensland in 2001.

According to the 2023-2027 response plan, the RIFA is capable of establishing colonies in 99 percent of mainland Australia where it would cause problems for infrastructure assets by building nests underneath structures and potentially devastate agriculture industries by damaging crops and machinery. 
Nothing will undo perceptions that Biden is too old for a second White House term, but his team can at least seek to neutralise the damage by claiming Trump is as bad, if not worse. While everybody knows the wilting Biden relies heavily on his close-knit team of advisers to run the country, Trump is a one-man chaos agent who has alienated all the previous grown-ups who served him and is hellbent on taking control of the levers of government for himself. As his former White House chief-of-staff, John Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general, told the Washington Post, The lesson the former president learned from his first term is dont put guys like me in those jobs. The lesson he learned was to find sycophants. Trump in full revenge mode is an unnerving thought (though not to his fans who think it will help him drain the swamp).
New to the list of exceptional restaurants, meanwhile  the second most prestigious in the guides current system, behind world class  are Core by Clare Smyth, The Ritz in St Jamess, and Behind and The Sea, The Sea, both in Hackney.
Superintendent Gabriel Cameron said: The image is taken from the Tesco store, where Ezedi is believed to have purchased a bottle of water. He left the shop and turned right. The image shows Ezedi with what appears to be significant injuries to the right side of his face. This makes him distinctive. If you see Ezedi, call 999 immediately. He should not be approached.
Mr Little said: At that point in time, as you had seen the baby for six to eight seconds, you then continued on your fresh air turn around Stanmer Park. Did you think the baby was alive?
Kate seen 'happy and well' out and about with Prince William for first time since surgery
New blood in significant quantities will not and cannot be attracted to criminal legal aid in circumstances where what is on offer elsewhere is considerably more attractive both in terms of financial remuneration and other benefits.
The toll it took, in Scotland, as in other parts of the UK, was far too high, so I didnt do that as successfully as I wish I was able to, but perhaps in some ways the measures we took had some impact.
A report on what substances have been detected will then be shared through Londons LDIS. The pilot aims to provide surveillance information for the system on the areas local drug supply, as opposed to Bristols scheme where the public can submit substances for testing to find out for themselves the contents of individual samples.
Ms Sturgeon told the inquiry she did not think there was anything in the exchange which would not be recorded in cabinet minutes or in the public record, adding she does not think the messaging app should be used to have substantial discussions, because four years on we can put on a different interpretation.
DODOMA, Tanzania, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has agreed to provide 606.9 million U.S. dollars in grants to help Tanzania fight the epidemics, the Tanzanian Finance Ministry has said.

Grant agreements were signed in Dodoma, the Tanzanian capital, on Tuesday by Minister of Finance Mwigulu Nchemba, and Linden Morrison, head of the Global Fund's High Impact Africa II Department, according to a ministry statement late Tuesday.

Three-fourths of the grants will be used to strengthen preventive measures against HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, Minister of Health Ummy Mwalimu said, adding that the funding will also be used to provide antiretroviral treatment for 1.7 million HIV/AIDS patients. 
So our judgment was that with the Ike on station  the Eisenhower on station  and with jets available from Akrotiri, that we were able to meet the challenge as it is now.
The terror group Hamas, which was responsible for the October 7 attack where around 1,200 Israelis were killed and hundreds taken hostage, is a proscribed organisation in the UK. Inviting support for it is an offence under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
A Houthi military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, claimed the attack in a statement on Wednesday morning, calling it "a victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people and a response to the American-British aggression against our country".
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A total of 14,624 illegal websites were terminated and 127,878 accounts were banned in line with the law in China in 2023, said the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) on Wednesday.

A total of 10,646 websites were summoned for talks, and 453 websites were ordered to suspend their functions and updates. In addition, the cyberspace departments at all levels removed 259 mobile applications and shut down 119 mini-programs, together with the telecommunications authorities.

Cyberspace departments at all levels launched a series of operations to crack down on illegal activities such as the spread of online violence, disinformation and pornography, focusing on rectifying the bad guidance of self-media and short videos, and cracking down on infringement of enterprises' legitimate rights and interests that undermine the business environment.

The cyberspace departments also cleaned up the cyber environment for minors, standardized the applications of generative artificial intelligence, and promptly investigated and punished some website platforms and accounts that spread illegal information, disrupted the order of cyberspace and had negative social impacts.

The cyberspace system has also stepped up law-enforcement to investigate and punish some companies that failed to fulfill network security and data security obligations according to laws and regulations, and delisted several mobile applications that illegally handled personal information, said the CAC. 
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Several members of the Alliance for Romanians' Union (AUR) parliamentary group protested on Wednesday at the Chamber of Deputies, in the room of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) joint groups, before a meeting of the groups.

Mainly, the AUR MPs contest the merger of elections and displayed several messages in this regard, including "PSD and PNL put democracy in danger," "Step by step PSD and PNL try to reinstate dictatorship by merging elections," "Ciolacu and PSD, in real danger for democracy and freedom."

AUR leader, George Simion, accused the violation of the Constitution, claiming that he "did not come to make a scandal," but only to draw attention to this fact.

"Desperation is high and, as far as I have seen, paranoia is also high. This can't happen. Let them do what they want, but don't be aware that the Constitution is being violated. (...) The elections for the European Parliament cannot be merged, coupled with other elections, said Marcel Ciolacu, Romania's Prime Minister, last year. But are we all crazy? It's mind-numbing, a scenario in which some come, vote for mayors, and others vote only in the European Parliament elections. How is that possible? (...) They are in good conscience considering the disrespect of the Constitution, it means that we no longer have rules, it means that this state is entering into dissolution. They don't want to take the Constitution into account, it's not possible. We didn't come to make a scandal, we didn't come to attack them, we went out and protested," said Simion, who called on the other parliamentary groups "not to go along with this idea of crazy people to keep their seats."

George Simion maintains that in fact the initiators of this idea are the National Liberal Party (PNL) and announced that the AUR parliamentarians will also protest at the liberal parliamentary group.
Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Wednesday that the European Parliament election will definitely be held on June 9, adding that he had agreed with Social Democratic Party (PSD) MPs not to vote for any legislative amendments regarding the merger of elections or their postponement for the time being.

"We will definitely have the European Parliament election on June 9 (...) We have not made a decision within the party [on the merging of elections - editor's note] and moreover, we cannot make it by ourselves, although other coalition colleagues do not know this detail and this merger. That is why I have agreed with all my parliamentary colleagues - they will not vote for any legislative amendment at this moment regarding the merger of elections or the postponement of any election round," Ciolacu said at the Palace of Parliament, when asked if the National Political Council of the PSD discussed the merger of elections

He said it was very possible that after the elections the current governing coalition would continue to function "if the Romanians so decide".
The head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, Alexandru Ghigiu, and state councilor Carmen Orban held consultations on the draft action plan for the period 2024 - 2029 for the execution of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in the field of mental health, at the government headquarters, on Wednesday, the government informs. in a statement.

The discussions took place within the inter-institutional working group established within the government, which includes over 20 institutions of the executive power, judges, autonomous authorities, independent structures, professional structures and civil society, with representatives of the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) with the Council of Europe, agerpres reports.

"Addressed were the strategic approaches, the consolidation of competent state structures in the field, the development of psychiatric services in the community, the consolidation of the support and protection system for people with disabilities, the necessary legislative measures, the infrastructure aspects and the material conditions in some hospitals, the policies of human resources and the consolidation of professional training, inter-institutional collaboration, as well as budget aspects," the release reads.Also, concrete aspects of technical cooperation between the Romanian authorities and the Council of Europe regarding some measures proposed in the draft plan were analyzed and identified, and possible European and international sources of support for the Romanian state in the field of mental health were reviewed."According to the obligations assumed by Romania, the Action Plan in the field of mental health is to be adopted by the government and transmitted in the immediate following period to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, in order to advance the procedures regarding the execution by the Romanian state of some important decisions of the ECHR in the field of fundamental rights and freedoms of people with disabilities or mental health problems, with humanitarian implications regarding these extremely vulnerable categories, relevant including from the perspective of respect for the rule of law," the Executive also said.
PNL (National Liberal Party) chairman Nicolae Ciuca on Tuesday stated that he "will not back down" from becoming a presidential candidate, if his party asks him to do it, when the time comes.

"I will answer this directly: my duties as the chairman of the National Liberal Party do include this provision that I should run in the presidential elections if the party decides so. For I cannot go in front of the National Liberal Party and ask them to mobilize, I cannot urge them to everything that the electoral competition means for this year and to stand aside and watch or just coordinate what is happening in the party. It is clear that, at the present moment and certainly it's still early, since no one has announced a candidacy yet, this is not the time for such a candidacy," Ciuca told Antena 3 CNN private television broadcaster, when asked if he would run for the office of president of Romania representing the PNL.

He specified that, at this priority, the priority is to continue ensuring the stability of the government.
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Young people from Taiwan are welcome to pursue and fulfill their dreams on the Chinese mainland, a mainland spokesperson said Wednesday.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said more work will be done to improve the systems, policies, and measures related to education, internships, employment, and entrepreneurship of Taiwan's youth on the mainland.

The mainland supports diverse exchanges and cooperation between young people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and will create better conditions and provide more support for young people from Taiwan to participate in cross-Strait exchanges and integrated development, said Chen. 
The General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) informs that on Tuesday 58,483 people entered Romania through the border crossing points, including 6,189 Ukrainian citizens.

According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday, about 122,600 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with about 41,400 means of transport, went through border checkpoints throughout the country, both on the entry and exit side.

As of 10 February 2022 (pre-conflict period), 7,225,717 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania.

In the areas of jurisdiction, crossing points and "green border," the police found 41 illegal acts (24 offences and 17 contraventions) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, and the amount of fines imposed amounted to 12,235 RON.

Goods worth approximately 153,100 RON were seized for confiscation.

On Tuesday, 17 foreign citizens were not allowed to enter the country because they did not meet the conditions provided by the law and 12 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave the country for various legal reasons.
The recalculation of pensions will happen on schedule, namely on September 1, according to Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.

"I would like to make a clarification, after seeing in the last few days all kinds of assumptions and news regarding the IMF visit and the pension situation. The recalculation of pensions will happen on schedule, namely on September 1. There are no more instalments and no there are no other options. We have taken responsibility for it and it will be done on September 1," Ciolacu said on Wednesday at the beginning of a government meeting.

He asked the Ministry of Finance to present to him the impact of increasing pensions between RON 2,000 and RON 3,000 in the coming days.

"As we well know, no pension up to and included RON 2,000 is taxed; let's see the impact between RON 2,000 and RON 3,000 lei, to raise the threshold to RON 3,000, so that we can see if we can afford it and I'm waiting for the recommendation of the finance minister if we can afford, after the increase of 13.8 and the recalculation from September 1, if we can afford to have this tax exemption of up to RON 3,000 lei," said Ciolacu.

He added that apart from talks with the unions, the entire government team will have meetings with the business community.

"We will talk about the development of Romania, about the state aid schemes that we must also agree with the European Commission and, last but not least, for attracting European funds."
Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, chairman of the Social-Democratic Party (PSD), announced on Wednesday that he supports the introduction of European Union membership into the Romanian Constitution, a proposal launched by PES activists Romania.

"As an amendment to the Constitution, I absolutely support it, as well as my colleagues. The amendment to the Constitution can be initiated by Parliament or through citizens' signatures," Ciolacu declared in Parliament, agerpres reports.

MEP Victor Negrescu, national coordinator of PES activists Romania, announced that PES activists Romania supports the introduction of European Union membership into the Romanian Constitution, as this would be the most patriotic and nationalist step for the country's security and development."We want a strong Romania in the European Union, a country professionally represented in Brussels and Strasbourg, in such a way that we are the ones who set the tone and influence European decisions," the MEP said.
President Klaus Iohannis will be in Brussels, Belgium, January 31 - February 1 to attend a memorial ceremony organised by the European Commission in memory of Jacques Delors and an extraordinary European summit, according to the Presidential Administration.

On Wednesday, he will take part in a memorial ceremony organised by the European Commission in memory of Jacques Delors (July 20, 1925 - December 27, 2023), a former president of the European Commission in 1985-1995, and on Thursday, in the extraordinary meeting of the European Council.

The main subject at the extraordinary European summit is to win agreement at the level of the European Union over the mid-term revision of the EU long-term budget 2021-2027.

The most important decisions regard support for Ukraine, on all dimensions, including military support under the European Peace Facility, in accordance with Ukraine's needs.

"President Klaus Iohannis will speak up for a balanced and constructive approach that will allow winning the necessary consensus for the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework, based on the elements already agreed on the revision package by 26 EU member states, including Romania, at the meeting of the European Council in December 2023. An agreement at the level of all 27 EU member states would later allow the rapid adoption of European legislation regarding support for Ukraine," the Presidential Administration says.

Iohannis is also expected to strongly plead for Ukraine to remain a top priority on the European Union's agenda and emphasise that support for Ukraine, in all its forms, has to continue and have increased predictability, both financially and militarily.
Events in all areas will be organized in the US all over the year 2024 by the Romanian Embassy to promote the partnership with the United States and mark the 20th anniversary of Romania's accession to NATO. In addition to political, economic, trade and security issues, the agenda includes an event dedicated to Romanian researchers and scholars in the U.S., "Romanian Researchers Night," as well as a Romanian wine festival, aimed at making Romanian products known and accessible on the American market.

''We believe that it is necessary to emphasize to our American partners the importance of the economic opportunities that Romania offers, but also to capitalize on the cultural richness of our country. At the same time, given the deteriorating security environment on Romania's border, we will focus on our country's efforts to strengthen the Allied posture of deterrence and defence on the Eastern flank and in the Black Sea region," said Andrei Muraru, Romania's Ambassador to the United States, as quoted in an embassy press release.

The political and security agenda includes the promotion of themes of national and bilateral interest, including: the 20th anniversary of Romania's accession to NATO - "20 Years under the NATO Umbrella"; promoting the strategic relevance of the Black Sea region - "Regional Security Outlook: the Black Sea"; supporting the European integration aspirations of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine - "Romania and the European Integration of Ukraine and Republic of Moldova."

The energy, trade and investment agenda includes, among others, events presenting Romania's energy priorities and projects at the intersection of energy and technology - "Romania and the Regional Energy Landscape", "Clean Tech and the Energy Transition", "US-Romania Energy Priorities in the Black Sea Area"; an event aimed at outlining Romania's constant and continuous involvement in supporting Ukraine, including by facilitating the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products to third markets - "Food Security: from the Port of Constanta to the World."

As regards the business dimension, the embassy wants to organize a Romanian Wine Festival, aimed at making the products known and accessible on the American market. The Embassy is also planning, in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to organize an event for the American business community to present investment opportunities in Romania - "Romanian Investment Days."

The democracy agenda will reflect Romania's strong commitment to strengthening the rule of law and fighting corruption - "A Commitment to Democratic Resilience: Romania's Anticorruption Agenda," and strengthening human rights - "Romania's Efforts to Combat Antisemitism."

Through the academic agenda, the Embassy plans to organize an event dedicated to Romanian researchers and scholars in the U.S., aimed at strengthening links at the university level between Romanian and American institutions - "Romanian Researchers Night."

Dialogue with the Romanian community and promotion of priorities for facilitating Romania's access to the Visa Waiver Program will continue. The "50 States, One Community" tour, which the Romanian Ambassador is conducting in Romanian communities in the United States, will also continue.

The cultural agenda will include the organization of the third edition of the largest Romanian festival in the U.S., "Romanian Weekend at the Wharf," held on a section of the Potomac esplanade where a stage for concerts, themed tents, open-air exhibitions and specific stands are set up.

The Romanian Film Festival, now in its fifth edition in 2024, has already become the largest in North America, presenting cutting-edge, international award-winning productions, with Romanian directors, actors and producers invited to the screenings for Q&A sessions with the public. The cultural agenda will also include a series of concerts, which will take place in famous cultural spaces in the American capital such as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Hakan Fidan will pay a visit Bucharest on Wednesday.

According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry, the Turkish official will have a meeting with the head of diplomacy in Bucharest, Luminita Odobescu, at the ministry headquarters, the bilateral consultations being followed by joint press statements, starting at 12,15.

In the context of his visit to Romania, the Turkish Foreign minister will be welcomed by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, at the Victoria Governmental Palace, and by President of the Senate Nicolae Ciuca, at the Parliament Palace.

From 28 to 31 January, Hakan Fidan was scheduled to visit Albania, Bulgaria and Romania.

According to Turkish news agency Anadolu, which quoted diplomatic sources, Hakan Fidan is meeting his counterparts "to discuss bilateral relations as well as current regional and global developments." The Ankara official is also scheduled to meet with Turkish businessmen and representatives of the Turkish community in the three countries.

Relations between Romania and the Republic of Turkey are conducted under the sign of the Strategic Partnership signed in 2011 at presidential level, which was followed by a Joint Action Plan signed in 2013 by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, informs the Foreign Ministry website.

"Bilateral relations are traditionally good, characterised by cooperation and consistent dialogue on many levels: economic and trade sectoral, security (within NATO), Turkey is also a dialogue partner on the security dimension in trilateral format, along with Poland. Turkey is also a constructive partner in regional cooperation platforms and processes, such as BSEC [Black Sea Economic Cooperation] or SEECP [South-East European Cooperation Process]," the MAE mentions.
HELPING OUT

The SoulFisher Ministries awarded a two-year, $300,000 grant partnership with the Shepard McCaskill Foundation.

Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S., awarded a $75,000 grant to support the Operation Food Search MetroMarket mobile grocery store.

MILESTONE

St. Louis-based transportation company R & S Delivered celebrated its 10th anniversary. Owner and CEO Stacey Schultz leads an all-female management team.

MORE BIZ

Brawner Insurance, Kirksville, Missouri, joined Valley Insurance Agency Alliance.

PARTNERSHIP

General contractor Brinkmann Constructors joined forces with St. Louis-based Ficon Construction to collaborate on solutions for clients in the food, beverage and cold storage industry.

PROJECTS

St. Louis-based integrated design firm Vestal Corporation, along with design build partners Graycor, Helmkamp Construction, and Salas OBrien, have been awarded Wieland Rolled Products North Americas new state-of-the-art Casting Mill and Rolling Mill projects at its facility in East Alton, Illinois.
ST. LOUIS  For more than two hours Tuesday, residents of several near north side neighborhoods urged city aldermen to back a new redevelopment plan for their swath of the city.

It would give them the ability to apply for tax relief if their neighborhoods  which surround the nearly complete National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency campus and its 3,000-plus jobs  see new development and rising property values. The plan, crafted with nonprofit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri representing the neighborhoods, would create a new citizen panel to weigh in on big development proposals.

And while it would allow eminent domain, it would exempt the homes of longtime residents, some of whom had to move once already for the NGA, from city acquisition.

But not all property owners would be spared the citys condemnation authority.

Finally, Alderman Michael Browning asked about the elephant in the room.

Is Mr. (Paul) McKee here? Browning asked.

A few people in the crowd of about 50 in a City Hall hearing room yelled no. The three lawyers representing McKee and his NorthSide Regeneration, which for 15 years has owned enough land in the area to control any significant redevelopment there, were silent.

I think that says everything, Browning said.

St. Louis development officials, the areas alderman and a lawyer for the neighborhoods say the redevelopment plan will protect residents even as it catalyzes development around the NGA. Regional leaders see new investment in the area around the NGA as essential if the city hopes to finally stem a half-century of decline in north St. Louis and carve out an economic niche in geospatial tech to fill the hole left by deindustrialization.

The aldermanic Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee voted 4-0 to advance the redevelopment plan to the full board for final passage. The only opposition during the three-hour hearing came from two lawyers representing NorthSide Regeneration.

Please, pleaded Paul Puricelli, a longtime NorthSide Regeneration attorney with the firm Stone Leyton and Gershman. Dont do this to Mr. McKee.

While sponsor Rasheen Aldridge said the bill is about more than using eminent domain on McKees properties, NorthSides holdings in the area  some 900 parcels and 100 acres, including many crumbling buildings  are clearly a target.

This isnt about one developer, Aldridge told the committee. This is about the future.

But Aldridge went on to mention the NorthSide projects since the developer started buying up property 20 years ago: a GreenLeaf grocery store, now closed; a gas station on Tucker Boulevard; and the recently opened 15-bed hospital, which Aldridge likened to more of a clinic.

Years and decades of having land and only three projects open, Aldridge said.

St. Louis Development Corp. CEO Neal Richardson told the Post-Dispatch after the meeting that rather than assembling shovel-ready sites the city would likely wait for a development proposal before using eminent domain. But, he said, the city may be proactive in acquiring nuisance properties from neglectful owners who dont live there.

They have to do something, or the city will remove them from the equation, Richardson said.

NorthSide began acquiring acreage in the area 20 years ago, financing much of it before the 2008 financial crisis when bank lending was loose and tapping $40 million in state tax credits for the endeavor. The city initially supported McKees efforts, but the relationship soured over the years as properties crumbled and development officials questioned whether he had the financial capability to actually develop, rather than speculate. Some say he needs prices above what the land is worth in order to satisfy the debt encumbering the land, primarily from Franklin County-based Bank of Washington.

But McKees backers argue without his land assemblage, the NGA may have moved to land near Scott Air Force Base from its location near the Anheuser-Busch brewery. Even city officials admit NorthSide made the initial pitch that got the NGA thinking about the north side, though the city had to finish buying up the other half of the site.

NorthSide has spent millions and millions of dollars maintaining land and demolishing structures on properties it owns, Puricelli said. What other developers, he asked, have tried to invest in the area?

The only person who has tried is Mr. McKee, Puricelli said.

Darryl Piggee, another McKee lawyer and former chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay, asked why the former Pruitt-Igoe site across from NGA is included in the land eligible for eminent domain. The new hospital is there on the western corner where Cass and Jefferson avenues intersect. Its not one of the crumbling houses residents were complaining about Tuesday, Piggee said. He asked aldermen to take that land out of the bill.

Ive heard no one speak today about Pruitt-Igoe being a detriment to their neighborhood, Piggee said. It seems like a land grab by unnamed people.

Richardson, the SLDC chief, said Pruitt-Igoe was included because there was still an underutilization of that site east of the hospital.

Right now, we have not selected developers for any of these sites, Richardson told the committee.

Piggee, though, said he doesnt think its right that the city made a plan to take away (McKees) property and has never even talked to him.

Asked after the hearing if the bill was the beginning of the end for the McKee saga in North St. Louis, Piggee said no.

I dont think so, he said. Were the only thing going on in that neighborhood.
AUGUSTA  A southern Missouri grape-grower is alleging the Hoffmann-owned Augusta Winery misled him about its plans to purchase his grapes, eventually buying just a fraction of what a representative first discussed.

As a result, Charles Hart, of Wright County, is now claiming in a suit filed in St. Charles County that he had to scramble to find buyers, a portion of his crop went to waste and his business lost money.

Representatives from Hoffmann Family of Companies said they had not seen the suit and did not comment on Tuesday.

The winery is located on High Street in Augusta, a town of just under 300 residents bordered to the south by the Katy Trail, and to the north by the winding Highway 94, a road often traversed by St. Louisans making the hourlong trek to Missouris wine country.

The Hoffmanns began buying up properties in 2021 throughout Warren, St. Charles and Franklin counties with aspirations to build the region up to rival Napa Valley. At one point, the Hoffmanns operated more than two dozen businesses in the area.

Last year, the Hoffmanns began selling off properties and listing businesses for sale. David Hoffmann, the former CEO of the Hoffmann Family of Companies, said at the time that his sons, who had taken over running the business, were selling off just a small portion of their holdings to refocus on winemaking.

The lawsuit filed last week claims that Hart, the Wright County grower, met with Don Simon, Hoffmanns chief executive in Missouri, to discuss the purchase of grapes for the Augusta Winery in November 2021.

The petition says Hart told Simon that he was willing to forgo sales to other clients, including some long-term customers, and sell his vineyards entire yield to the winery. The following month, Simon texted Hart that he was looking forward to working out a deal, the petition says.

In January, Hart texted Simon to ask if Augusta had enough tank space to process his crop of grapes, which could amount to as many as 400 tons. Augusta did, Simon responded  it had capacity for 1,150 tons already and was building capacity for another 300.

In March, Hart texted Simon again. Another winery was looking to contract with him for grapes.

What should I tell them? Hart asked.

We want them all my friend, Simon replied.

In May, Hart contacted Simon about whether one of them should prepare a contract. Simon said he was working on it.

Still a go, Simons text read in part, need them grapes.

Hart ultimately sent a contract proposal, but, the lawsuit claims, it was never executed, and Augusta only took a small portion of Harts grapes.

In late summer, as harvest season drew near, Hart sent ripeness data for his crop to Augustas winemaker, who asked if Hart could begin sending Catawba grapes  a red, seeded grape typically used for sweet wines and blends  the following week. Hart agreed, but a few days later, the winemaker suggested that Hart should talk to Simon.

In the end, the lawsuit claims, Augusta bought a portion of Harts grapes. Hart sold some to two other former customers and found some commercial buyers for others. He even opened his vineyard as a pick your own crop for the public.

Still, the petition claims, about $170,000 worth of grapes rotted on the vine.

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Joe Holleman Political correspondent/columnist Follow Joe Holleman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

The St. Louis County Council plans to meet next week to discuss limiting the money that highly paid county employees can make by moonlighting.

Councilman Dennis Hancock, R-3rd District, said the meeting is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday at the County Council chambers in Clayton.

At the forefront of the matter is Sam Alton, chief of staff for Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell.

During Altons five years on the county payroll, Alton has been paid $674,012 in salary. In that same time, he has earned at least $728,933 from his side jobs  with one municipal client still not releasing the total amount Alton has been paid since he began working for Bell.

Alton has claimed that his outside employment takes up less than three hours a week.

Hancock, who first questioned Alton about his moonlighting at a budget hearing in November, said he wants to discuss possible changes in the County Charter, which currently does not limit outside employment.

We want to see what we can do to make sure the county is getting the 40 hours of work a week that taxpayers are paying for, Hancock said.

Hancock has maintained that he does not have his sights set on lower-paid employees who take off-hour or weekend jobs. Were talking about the senior employees, who make in the mid- to upper six figures, he said.

Hancock is not the only elected official in St. Louis County who has called Altons moonlighting into question, or Altons claim that he works less than three hours a week on outside issues.

Maureen Roach, an alderwoman in Bellerive Acres, one of Altons outside clients, has also asked for changes in the County Charter in 2022 that aimed to stop County Executive Sam Page from working as an anesthesiologist.

Both Hancock and Roach have questioned Altons estimate that he works less than three hours a week for his municipal clients.

After filing requests earlier this month under the provisions of the Missouri Sunshine Law, the Post-Dispatch still is waiting on Breckenridge Hills and Pagedale to provide copies of invoices that Alton submitted to the cities in the last five years.

Along with not yet releasing any invoices, Bellerive Acres also has not provided the total amount of money it has paid Alton in the last five years.

Each of the three cities are using Alton as the lawyer to advise them on the Post-Dispatch records requests.

At first, Alton advised the cities that the invoices were not public records. After a discussion with a reporter, Alton conceded that the invoices are subject to being made public.

The city of Jennings also not yet provided copies of invoices. Alton earned almost $330,000 working as Jennings city attorney from Jan. 1, 2019 through August 2023, when Alton quit his post after conflicts with new Mayor Gary Johnson.

Deletra Hudson also quit her job as Jennings city clerk about the same time that Alton left. She began working as the Bellerive Acres city clerk shortly thereafter.
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- China stands ready to work with all parties to hold a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference as early as possible, formulate a concrete timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-state solution and support Palestine and Israel in resuming peace talks soon, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks in response to a related query at a daily news briefing.

China has called for an international peace conference on the Palestinian question on multiple occasions for some time. After the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out, China submitted to the UN Security Council the Position Paper of the People's Republic of China on Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict and once again called for an international peace conference at an early date, Wang said.

China's proposal is increasingly recognized in the international community, the spokesperson said.

China stands ready to work with all parties to hold a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference as early as possible, formulate a concrete timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-state solution and support Palestine and Israel in resuming peace talks soon for the ultimate peaceful and harmonious coexistence between Palestine and Israel, and between the Arabs and Jews, he added. 
BALLWIN  Officers on Tuesday found two decomposing bodies in a home here after a mailman called police for a welfare check.

Police went to the home in the 400 block of Sunnyslope Drive around 3 p.m., Ballwin spokesman Mark Reckert said. A mail carrier had called police for the check because the homes mailbox was overflowing.

They found two bodies inside the house. They had been there long enough to start decomposing.

Its early on in the investigation, Reckert said Wednesday morning. We dont know the nature of the deaths.

Police are working with the medical examiner, who will perform autopsies and toxicology tests.

Reckert said police did not have an estimate on how long the bodies might have been in the home. He noted neighbors told police they couldnt recall the last time they saw the residents.
ST. LOUIS  The lawyers for a bar owner charged with assault after police crashed into his business say prosecutors are refusing to give them body camera footage of the incident.

Lawyers for Chad Morris, the owner of Bar:PM, said prosecutors on Jan. 18 gave them what was supposed to be the entirety of the evidence against their client. But they argue in a motion filed Monday that instead of handing over actual body camera videos, the circuit attorneys office gave them a document that rather convolutedly ... appears to be saying that six bodycam videos exist.

And yet, despite having been on notice of the existence of these videos since December 18, 2023, the Circuit Attorney refuses to produce these videos to the defendant, the motion said.

Lawyers also wrote that they have emailed the assistant circuit attorney twice requesting those videos with no response.

Late last month, police showed the footage to several St. Louis aldermen and members of the city LGBTQ advisory board, but they said they would not release it publicly because of Morris pending criminal case.

Whats different about this compared to normal cases is that we know (the video) exists because they publicly said that they showed it to the aldermen, one of his lawyers, Javad Khazaeli, told the Post-Dispatch. Usually the hardest part is finding out whether or not video exists. Sometimes it takes months to find out. ... In this case, everybody knows that videos exist.

Christine Bertelson, a spokeswoman for the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office, did not immediately return a call for comment.

Morris was charged with third-degree assault and resisting arrest after a rookie police officer drove his police SUV into Bar:PM, a popular gay bar on South Broadway. Morris owns the business with his husband.

The confrontation escalated between responding officers, and Morris was arrested. He was released from jail more than a day later with a bruised face.

Police said Morris pushed one of the officers investigating the crash and ran from police; Khazaeli, his lawyer, has disputed several parts of the officers account, including that Morris was the aggressor.

Morriss next hearing in the criminal case is scheduled for Friday.

His arrest stirred up public outrage on social media. In two different surveillance video clips released last month by Khazaeli, the police SUV can be seen driving down South Broadway, running a red light and swerving unexpectedly and slamming into the building.

Khazaeli earlier this month released part of an onlookers cellphone video that showed Morris husband, James Pence, being handcuffed less than a minute into his interaction with an officer after the crash.

Pence was not charged.

St. Louis police Chief Robert Tracy said during a news conference several weeks after the incident that he was sorry the crash happened and that the rookie officer is, too.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct Christine Bertelson's title.
IRONTON, Mo.  Iron County Sheriff Jeff Burkett resigned on Wednesday moments before he was set to face a civil trial seeking his removal over accusations that he helped a resident kidnap a child during a custody dispute.

Lawyers for the Missouri Attorney Generals Office were set to begin arguments in a trial seeking to remove Burkett after he and two deputies were charged with engaging in criminal street gang activity by helping a wealthy resident take his child from the childs mother using law enforcement resources.

Instead, Burkett submitted a handwritten resignation letter to the countys clerk that read: I look forward to serving the citizens of Iron County in the very near future.

Sheriff Burkett did not resign because he did anything wrong, Burketts attorney, Gabe Crocker, said after the hearing. Sheriff Burkett resigned on advice of counsel because the process would have endangered his ability to defend himself in the criminal case.

Burketts criminal case is ongoing.

Burkett, the two deputies  Chase Brensnahan and Matthew Cozad  and Iron County resident Rickie Gaston were charged in March with multiple offenses, in an indictment that rocked the county of roughly 10,000 people two hours southwest of St. Louis.

Prosecutors alleged the sheriff and his deputies tried to help Gaston kidnap his daughter after a fight with the childs mom over a $50 bottle of liquor.

Charges say the sheriff organized with the other men to form a criminal street gang, lied to a 911 dispatcher and used tower data from the mothers cellphone to track her whereabouts.

This is conspiratorial behavior, Washington County Prosecutor John Jones said at a hearing last year. This is organized crime.

Burkett was released on bond in April and has been prohibited from acting as sheriff since then.

Defense attorneys have maintained from the start that the charges were part of a politically motivated plot to unseat Burkett and punish his allies. Attorneys have presented parenting plans and child custody agreements at preliminary hearings that they said contradict the states evidence and have accused witnesses of lying.

This week, lawyers working for Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey were set to argue that Burkett should be formally removed from his post in a quo warranto action because of the alleged offenses outlined in his criminal case.

Missourians have seen firsthand what happens when elected officials fail to enforce the law: Its utter chaos, Bailey said in a statement Wednesday. We kept the pressure up, and he resigned because he knew we were going to win at trial this week.

Baileys office used the same type of lawsuit in an attempt to remove former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner from office last year. She, too, resigned instead.

Crocker, however, has argued that the quo warranto should have been delayed until the criminal case is resolved because it would require Burkett to take the stand to testify in his own defense.

Unlike in criminal cases, where judges and juries arent allowed to make an inference about someones innocence or guilt based on their decision not to testify, no such protection exists in a civil case like a quo warranto.

Burketts attorneys made a last-minute appeal to higher courts to halt Wednesdays hearing, but those attempts were denied.

Crocker said Burkett didnt plan to run for reelection later this year while the criminal case was underway. Crocker said it was shameful that the attorney generals office pushed so hard to remove his client even though his criminal case hadnt been adjudicated.

This is the most frustrating day weve had since this case began, he said.

Burketts criminal case has not yet been set for trial. Crocker said prosecutors offered to allow Burkett to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of probation.

Burkett turned it down.

This is far from over, Crocker said.

A secretary for Jones, the Washington County prosecutor, said he declined to comment.
BEVERLY HILLS  A St. Louis County man was charged Tuesday with killing his father.

Kristian Long, 41 is charged with second-degree murder in the killing of George O. Long, 74, whose body was discovered in the bathtub of a home last week.

Police were called last week for a welfare check in the 7000 block of Hunter Avenue in Beverly Hills, and they found George O. Long with multiple injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kristian Long admitted in an interview to striking his father multiple times before placing his body in the bathtub and covering it with bleach and olive oil.

According to the police report, George O. Long died from blunt force trauma to the chest and back sometime between Jan. 22 and Jan. 24.

Kristian Long is being held at the St. Louis County Justice Center on a $250,000 cash bond.

Beverly Hills is a small municipality in north St. Louis County, near Normandy, and is home to fewer than 600 residents.
JEFFERSON CITY  St. Louis will get a second chance to prove the state created an unconstitutional unfunded mandate when lawmakers approved a law stemming from the May 2020 death of George Floyd.

In a ruling that counts as a partial victory for the city, the Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday validated most of the law but sent a portion of it back to a lower court for further deliberation.

The 30-page decision penned by Judge Kelly Broniec found that the city successfully pleaded that the requirements of the new law would cost the city money, thus creating an unfunded mandate.

The law, sponsored by Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, was a Republican response to the death of Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

Senate Bill 26 includes a police bill of rights that includes giving officers written notice of an allegation before an investigation begins and putting a 90-day limit on misconduct investigations. Specifically, it requires the city defend police officers if they are sued civilly and calls for them to be reimbursed if they lose income from private employment during disciplinary investigations.

The city sufficiently pleaded that SB 26 creates an unfunded mandate by increasing the citys costs by requiring it to perform new and increased levels of activities without providing corresponding appropriations to fund, Broniec wrote.

In the opinion, Broniec suggested that one remedy would be to relieve the city of the duty to pay for those activities.

The judge allowed other parts of the law to stand, including provisions that were panned by activists because the legislation increased some penalties for protesters.

City attorneys also argued the law should be overturned because it wouldnt have been approved if it didnt include a series of other changes that made it more palatable for some lawmakers.

Attorney General Andrew Baileys office told the court that each element of the law relates in some way to public safety, meaning the law passes constitutional muster.

Included in the law is a provision that addresses the so-called defund the police movement. It prohibits decreasing the budget for a policing agency by more than 12% compared with the jurisdictions other departments over a five-year period.

Eigel said at the time that reducing police budgets is absolutely the wrong direction to go.

The law also increases a charge from a misdemeanor to a felony if someone vandalizes any public monument or structure on public property. Public structures such as police stations have sometimes been targeted by those protesting against racial injustice, as have monuments including those honoring the Confederacy. The upgraded charge means, potentially, more jail time and a higher fine.

Another provision creates a new class D misdemeanor for anyone who willfully or recklessly interferes with an ambulance. Racial injustice protesters often march or gather on streets, roads and highways, which authorities say risks blocking access for ambulances and other first responders.
ST. LOUIS  Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said Wednesday the city does not have any intention of condemning or closing a south St. Louis bar that was damaged last month when a police car slammed into it.

Jones comment comes days after several news outlets reported that the owner of the building that houses Bar:PM, a popular south St. Louis gay bar, had received a letter from St. Louis Department of Public Safety notifying them that the building violated the citys property maintenance code and would be reinspected on Feb. 19.

The letter, dated Dec. 19  one day after the crash  drew swift criticism this past weekend. But Jones said Wednesday it was a standard form letter, not a threat to condemn the structure.

This is a standard letter that has to go out from the Building Division so Bar:PM can file its claims to get the money that it needs to repair the damage that has been done, Jones told reporters on Wednesday after a meeting of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, a group of local leaders who discuss regional issues.

The December crash involved a rookie officer who just seconds before slamming into the bar had run a red light. A confrontation with the bars owners followed the crash, and one of the owners, Chad Morris, was eventually arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault and resisting arrest.

The officer who came into the building was not tested at the scene for drugs or alcohol, and bystander video of the interaction stirred up public outrage. Morris lawyer has disputed several key points of the police narrative of the situation, including that Morris was the aggressor.

The building owner, Kevin Benear, did not respond to a request for comment.

Mark Schlinkmann of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
Children injured or killed by gunfire in the St. Louis area in 2024

Below is the St. Louis Post-Dispatch coverage of children who have been injured or killed by gunfire across the St. Louis metropolitan area in 2024. The children are 17 years old or younger.

At least 22 children have been injured or killed by gunshots, as of Feb. 26. Seven have been killed.

These are not all the homicides involving children. For more details on local homicides, check the homicide tracker.
JEFFERSON CITY  A plan that would allow families to send their children to public schools in districts where they dont reside won narrow approval in the Missouri House on Tuesday.

The so-called open enrollment plan has become a perennial policy debate in Jefferson City. This year marks the fourth time Rep. Brad Pollitt, R-Sedalia, has sponsored legislation.

The Legislatures lower chamber voted to advance the measure with an 83-69 vote. Two dozen Republicans broke with the majority of their party to oppose it.

Last year, the House signed off on an almost identical open enrollment measure with an 85-69 vote.

Under the legislation, school districts would have the option to accept students from outside their boundaries and would need to elect to do so by Dec. 1 the prior year. Districts that opt in to open enrollment would not be required to add staff or resources.

School districts could choose to cap the number of students who leave the district at 3%.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education would be required to develop and manage an online portal that tracks the number of open enrollment students.

Pollitts measure also creates a fund to reimburse some nonresident students or districts that accept nonresident students for school transportation costs. He wants the Legislature to put $80 million into the fund.

Open enrollment keeps the 900,000 public school students in the public school system being taught by public school teachers, paying into the public school retirement system, said Pollitt during Tuesdays debate.

Responding to predictions that open enrollment would force school districts to compete with one another, Im totally in favor of competing, Pollitt said during a public hearing on the bill this month.

Democrats leveled a variety of criticisms during floor debate Tuesday.

A major theme was that open enrollment is just a Band-Aid for the larger problem of a public school system that has been underfunded for decades.

Rep. Barb Phifer, D-Kirkwood, likened it to changing the deck chairs of the Titanic.

Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, said problems with the states education system need to be considered in the context of the states history of underfunding education and school transportation.

Meredith asked why the Legislature wasnt prioritizing teacher pay or adequate education funding instead. Open enrollment, he said, acknowledges that theres inequity between school districts but has the effect of exacerbating it.

Doug Richey, an Excelsior Springs Republican, said the bill is a move in the right direction.

It starts at the right place, he said. Give parents the opportunity to make the decision that they believe is best for their student.

Pollitt told the Post-Dispatch on Monday theres a perception that only white or non-minority parents will want their students to transfer out of a school district.

I dont believe thats factual, he said. That is definitely not the intention.

The bill allows for an exemption for St. Louis Public Schools because of a court-ordered desegregation plan for the district enacted in 1983.

The desegregation plan allows for the voluntary transfer of Black students from St. Louis to St. Louis County and for SLPS magnet schools to enroll white students from the county. This year, 2,437 Black students from the city attend county schools and 62 white students from the county attend magnet schools in the city.

The legislation is House Bill 1989.

Blythe Bernhard of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
JEFFERSON CITY  A St. Charles County Republican has helped bring the business of the Missouri Senate to a standstill in the first month of the Legislatures 2024 session.

As observers see it, its merely part of a strategic plan: State Sen. Bill Eigel wants to be governor.

Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, along with members of the newly formed Missouri Freedom Caucus, has employed an array of parliamentary maneuvers to shine a spotlight on himself and other members of the hard-line splinter faction, effectively grinding work in the chamber to a halt this month over slights perceived and real.

He has tapped into social media to craft an image as a fighter for conservative causes. And his political action committee has accumulated hundreds of thousands of dollars by aligning with former President Donald Trump via a fundraising scheme that has been called into question.

In pushing to raise his profile, however, Eigel has turned some fellow Republicans in the Capitol against him and three other members of the Freedom Caucus. They lost their committee chairmanships and parking spots last week, triggering a new round of outrage and delay.

At one point last week, a clearly frustrated Senate Majority Leader Cindy OLaughlin openly pondered what it would take to expel Eigel from the Senate, a trial balloon she later recanted.

This was a childish reaction on my own part and as I think over the last few 11 weeks I realize the only thing I can control is myself, the Shelbina Republican said in a social media post Sunday. So I am going to resolve to do better. There is no effort to remove anyone from the Senate and to suggest it even in a joking manner was stupid.

Eigel, 46, has attempted to transform his punishment by Senate Republican leaders into a campaign of victimhood and grievance, arguing that the stripping of committee positions shows that the current Senate leaders who were elected by their colleagues to oversee Senate operations are not true Republicans.

It all fits in with his campaign platform, which was on full display Tuesday as members of the Freedom Caucus hosted supporters in a rally at the Capitol following a 16-hour, overnight filibuster in the Senate.

Im Bill Eigel. Im the guy they call an obstructionist, Eigel told about 250 people gathered in a Capitol hallway. There are patriots all over Missouri who are tired of the status quo.

Among the caucus demands is the resignation of OLaughlin and Senate President Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, whom they say are not moving fast enough on legislative priorities.

Based on the public outcry, the senators believe a leadership change is imperative to restore trust and ensure the effective representation of the values and ideas of the Republican citizens of Missouri, the caucus said in a joint statement.

Rowden, in a statement, said the delaying tactics used by the Freedom Caucus members had now pushed back the schedule for taking on other top GOP priorities, including immigration and education.

I am hopeful these senators will recognize their efforts changed nothing for the positive, and that the will of the Senate cant be dictated by a select few but by the will of the body, Rowden said.

Eigel, who took office in 2017, has been critical of leadership on a range of issues, including the rapid growth of the state budget and efforts in 2022 to redraw Missouris congressional districts. He wants to crack down on funding for Planned Parenthood, even though abortion has been banned in the state for more than a year.

During his campaign kickoff in September, Eigel described himself as a diehard conservative Republican.

I happen to believe that one of the biggest problems that we have here in Missouri are all of those so-called Republicans, folks who campaign as Republicans and govern as Democrats, he said.

Yet, his poll numbers outside the Capitol also have not moved significantly since he began running for the top spot in Missouri government last year when he announced he was exploring a bid to replace the term-limited Gov. Mike Parson.

In a survey of 806 likely voters from Jan. 17-18 on behalf of The Missouri Scout political newsletter, Eigel was still stuck at 4% in a matchup pitting him against Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe. More than 40% of the voters remain undecided, according to the pollster, Remington Research Group.

That 4% level has been a constant in polls dating to last April. Undecided voters in the polling appear to be breaking toward Kehoe, who has amassed the largest campaign war chest among the GOP candidates.

Eigel acknowledged to rally attendees Tuesday that he does represent a small faction in the 34-member chamber but said thats part of the challenge.

You have a minority of the chamber that is slowing things down so they can have a broader amount of input to an issue, Eigel said. I think were on the right path.

Legislative efforts

Eigel, who is married and has two children, was born in Dayton, Ohio, where his father, a St. Louis native, was serving in the Air Force. He attended Purdue University from 1995 to 1999 and holds a bachelors degree in industrial engineering.

In his 20s, Eigel joined the Air Force himself, serving as an aircraft maintenance officer for nearly eight years. His final posting was at Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, where he was in charge of the fleet of B-2 stealth bombers.

He left the service in 2007 and bought a home remodeling business, settling into St. Charles County. He has since sold that company and says, except for a small, mostly passive real estate business, he and his wife live on the $36,000 he earns as a senator.

In the Senate, Eigel has raised eyebrows with some of the legislation he has promoted.

Last year, he sponsored legislation that would make gold and silver legal tender, which has been sought by people prepping for an end of government rule. It failed to advance.

Eigel also has introduced legislation that mirrors some of the debunked election conspiracies stemming from the misinformation spread by Trump, including a distrust of electronic voting machines.

Eigel filed a bill last year to require hand-counting of paper ballots, which experts say is expensive, burdensome, time-consuming and unnecessary because electronic vote tabulators are more accurate.

The measure stalled in a Senate committee last year after Fox News agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems more than $787 million in connection with a defamation case filed by the voting machine company.

Eigel also has won plaudits for trying to nix the states personal property tax, a tax that irritates automobile owners but also pays for many local government services, ranging from schools to nursing homes. He also wants to eliminate the states income tax and ban foreign ownership of Missouri farmland.

Firebrand

Its not just within the Capitol that Eigel has generated controversy.

On the campaign trail in September, a video of Eigel using a flamethrower to torch a pile of empty boxes went viral at a time when Republicans have led a charge to purge libraries of books they believe are harmful to minors.

Although no books were burned in the incident, Eigel said he indeed would burn books he found objectionable and that hed do it on the lawn outside the governors mansion if he is elected chief executive.

Eigel also has earned criticism over how hes raising money for his campaign.

Since beginning his quest for governor, hes received hundreds of small-dollar contributions from people throughout the nation, one of whom told the Post-Dispatch last year they had no idea who they were giving money to.

The campaign solicited support for Trump and asked for small-dollar contributions. The money went to Eigel, not the former president.

Although the Trump campaign team has publicly opposed the use of its name to raise money for other candidates, the practice has not stopped. In the most recent public filing, Eigels campaign reports show there are 65 individuals who gave at least 25 separate times between October and January. At least one contributor gave money more than 200 times during that period.

As the calendar turns toward February, OLaughlin, a Republican from northeast Missouri, said she hopes to lower the temperature in the chamber in hopes of breaking the log jam.

We actually all pretty much agree on priorities and we can get important things done if we work together and dont care who gets the credit, she wrote in her weekly newsletter. We need to calmly and rationally approach our task with a willingness to listen to others and chart the best path forward. We can do this if we are willing to place our own self-interest last.
JEFFERSON CITY  St. Louis earnings tax on certain remote work amounts to a money grab, a south St. Louis County lawmaker told members of a House committee on Wednesday.

Republican state Rep. Jim Murphys legislation would exempt remote work performed outside the city by nonresidents from the earnings tax.

The 1% levy currently applies to city residents and nonresidents whose employer is based or operating in the city.

You cant charge people that dont come to the city, work in the city, or live in the city, taxes in your city, Murphy told the House Economic Development Committee on Wednesday.

Murphys plan is tied to ongoing litigation involving workers who sued after the city denied their earnings tax refunds for 2020.

The Missouri Court of Appeals in St. Louis is scheduled to hear the citys appeal on Feb. 14 of a St. Louis circuit judges ruling that ordered the city to pay back six plaintiffs.

Prior to the pandemic, the city issued refunds to thousands of taxpayers for days traveled and worked outside St. Louis.

But as more employees began working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly in 2020 began refusing refunds. He said employees were still using remote work software provided by companies based in the city.

Its just a money grab thats just not even fathomable, Murphy said Wednesday.

Murphys legislation states that by Sept. 30, the city would be required to establish a process for requesting earnings tax refunds for remote work performed outside the city.

If the city refuses to refund taxes for covered work, the employee would be able to file a lawsuit to recover money owed, along with attorneys fees.

Murphy said if a remote worker living outside the city is paying the tax, they would need to file for a refund.

Thats the system now. Im not trying to change their system. Im just trying to make them follow the system they have, Murphy said.

A nonpartisan fiscal analysis said Kansas City already exempts nonresident remote workers from that citys earnings tax.

The analysis said the state wasnt able to determine how much remote work was performed by nonresidents. But it said that if all nonresidents worked entirely remote, the city could lose up to $98.3 million each year.

The city reported nearly $219 million in net earnings tax collections last fiscal year, according to the analysis.

Jacqueline Bardgett, lobbyist for the city of St. Louis, said the lawsuit would be heard before the appeals court in a couple weeks.

Whatever decision is made there the city is very willing and able to deal with that and implement things moving forward, she said.

The House is considering additional earnings tax carve-outs, including a bipartisan effort to exempt workers earning less than 150% of the federal poverty level from the tax. That effort could cost the city $2.5 million annually, according to a nonpartisan estimate.

A hearing on both plans had been scheduled for Wednesday, but it was later canceled.

A third plan in the House Economic Development Committee would exempt residents of St. Charles County and Jefferson County from the St. Louis earnings tax. It would not exempt St. Louis County residents.

The committee also held a hearing on that plan Wednesday. A nonpartisan analysis estimated the possible cost of that measure to the city to be $17 million annually.

The remote worker legislation is House Bill 1516.
SYDNEY, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The state government of Western Australia (WA) has announced that it would become the first state in Australia where all public schools are fully and fairly funded, following a statement of intent signed on Wednesday.

According to a joint release by the Australian and WA governments, the funding for all public schools across the state is slated to rise from 95 percent of the School Resourcing Standard to 100 percent by 2026.

No public school in Australia, except those in the Australian Capital Territory, is at the full and fair funding level.

Under the new agreement, an additional investment of 777.4 million Australian dollars (about 510.5 million U.S. dollars) would be provided by the federal government into Western Australian public schools from 2025 to 2029.

Meanwhile, the WA state pledged to invest at least an equivalent amount over the same period, bringing total additional investment in public schools to 1.6 billion Australian dollars (about 1.1 billion U.S. dollars).

Tony Buti, WA minister for education, underlined that the agreement would create a "stronger public education system" in the state.

"The increase in funding will drive real improvements in outcomes for all students, especially for students from low socio-economic backgrounds, regional, rural, and remote Australia, students with disability, First Nations students, and students from a language background other than English," said the minister. 
CREVE COEUR  Jean Carnahan, who was appointed to the U.S. Senate after Missouri voters elected her late husband to the seat, died Tuesday night in hospice care in Creve Coeur after a short illness. She was 90.

Carnahan was Missouris first female U.S. senator and the wife of two-term Gov. Mel Carnahan. He died in a plane crash, as the Democratic Senate nominee, just three weeks before the 2000 election.

She was then appointed to the Senate by Roger Wilson, the Democrat who moved up from lieutenant governor to serve the final few weeks of Mel Carnahans last term.

The Jefferson County crash, in which son Randy Carnahan and top aide Chris Sifford also died, began one of the most dramatic episodes in Missouri political history, drawing national attention.

A week before the election, Jean Carnahan announced she would accept Wilsons appointment should voters elect her husband posthumously over Republican incumbent John Ashcroft.

In the days after the tragedy, all of us were just astounded by her grit and her grace, former Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill recalled Tuesday.

She was obviously grieving terribly. But she had a sense of his calling and felt the need to do whatever she could to advance the things he believed in.

Jean Carnahan served two years in the Senate before losing a bid for election in her own right to Republican Jim Talent.

After leaving office, she lived in Clayton, continued to be active in Democratic affairs and wrote several books.

Mom passed peacefully after a long and rich life, her three surviving children said in a statement Tuesday. She was a fearless trailblazer. She was brilliant, compassionate and dedicated to her family and her fellow Missourians.

Jean Carnahan grew up in Washington, D.C., the daughter of a plumber and a hairdresser. She met her future husband, the son of a U.S. representative from southern Missouri, while they were in high school together.

She earned a bachelors degree in business and public administration from George Washington University. The couple moved to Rolla, where Mel Carnahan established himself as a lawyer and served in the Missouri House.

Jean Carnahan played key behind-the-scenes roles in Mel Carnahans several races for statewide office, which began with his election as state treasurer in 1980. When he became governor in 1992, Jean Carnahan took on a more public role as first lady.

She wrote a book on the states previous first families and was an advocate for issues such as childhood immunization and establishing day care centers at workplaces. She also started a monthly childrens hour at the governors mansion.

Later, in the Senate, she developed a reputation as a cautious, practical politician. She joined the Centrist Coalition, a bipartisan group of senators, and also emphasized defense issues.

One of her most controversial stances was her vote against President George W. Bushs nomination of Ashcroft, the former Missouri senator, as U.S. attorney general.

That position stirred ire from Republicans in the state, who said it showed she wasnt really a moderate.

McCaskill said Tuesday that she thought the vote against Ashcroft was politically courageous.

She knew it would be very unpopular in Missouri, but she just didnt believe he was the right man for that important job, McCaskill said.

Former Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon on Tuesday said Carnahan lived a life of service.

Her fire will not go out, Nixon said in an email, repeating part of the phrase used by family at Mel Carnahans funeral.

Jean Carnahan also drew praises Tuesday night from across the aisle.

Republican Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement that Carnahan will be remembered for her deep, abundant love for the people of this great state.

Former Republican Sen. Kit Bond said in a statement released by the family that, while he and Carnahan had some policy differences, we always enjoyed working together for the good of our nation and for the best interests of the people of Missouri.

Former GOP Sen. Roy Blunt said in that statement that she worked hard for the state, was a full partner with her husband and a dedicated advocate in her own right as first lady and as a senator.

U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, a Republican from Town and Country, called Carnahan a public servant through and through.

She broke barriers as Missouris first female Senator and left a long legacy of accomplishment that will be remembered for generations to come, Wagner said in a statement.

Former Rep. Richard A. Gephardt, a Democrat from St. Louis, said she and former Gov. Carnahan made a terrific team and they made history in Missouri. She will be missed.

Also issuing tributes were former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, a Democrat from South Dakota and former Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a Democrat from Maryland.

A private funeral will be held at Carson Hill Cemetery near Ellsinore, in southeastern Missouri, where she will be buried next to her husband and son.

A public celebration of her life will be held in St. Louis; details have yet to be announced.

Among the survivors are two other sons, former U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan and Tom Carnahan, both of St. Louis; a daughter, former Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, who now heads the federal General Services Administration in Washington; and five grandchildren.

Remembering the Carnahans

Jean Carnahan talks about life, her husband and how she wants to be remembered Jean Carnahan tells how she met her future husband, Mel Carnahan Jean Carnahan talks about her role in Mel Carnahan's early political campaigns Being first lady was 'the greatest job on Earth' for Jean Carnahan Jean Carnahan talks about the night her husband, Mel Carnahan, died in a plane crash Jean Carnahan says she would like to be remembered for making people laugh
WASHINGTON  Sen. Josh Hawley on Wednesday asked Facebook leader and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to apologize to the families of young Americans who were harmed or died by suicide after online child sexual exploitation on social media.

In a heated exchange during a U.S. Senate hearing, Missouris senior senator, a Republican, asked Zuckerberg if he had taken any action to fire employees, provide compensation to victims or apologize to the families of people who were harmed by posts on social media sites.

Zuckerberg then stood up, turned to an audience holding up pictures of their loved ones, and apologized.

I am sorry for everything that you have gone through, Zuckerberg said. Its terrible. No one should have to go through the things your family has suffered. And this is why we invested so much and will continue doing industry leading efforts to make sure that no one has to go through the types of things your families have had to suffer.

Hawley then asked Zuckerberg, who was trying to explain steps Meta has taken to offer more protection for children and to hand more power to parents, whether he plans to set up a victim compensation fund for people harmed by his sites.

NEW: Josh Hawley goes off on Mark Zuckerberg and forces him to stand up, turn around and apologize to families who were impacted by child exploitation on META platforms.



Humiliating.



"You didn't take any action. You didn't fire anybody."



"There's families of victims here pic.twitter.com/YqRfWRVSlk  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 31, 2024

Your job is to be responsible for what your company has done, Hawley said. Youve made billions of dollars on the people sitting behind you here. Youve done nothing to help them. Youve done nothing to compensate them. Youve done nothing to put it right. You could do so here today and you should.

The exchange came in the middle of a high-profile hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where the CEOs of TikTok, Snapchat, Discord, X and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, gathered for a series of scoldings by both Democratic and Republican senators over the technology companies inability to better police social media sites for hosting content that harms children.

For all the upsides, the dark side is too great to deal with, said Sen. Lindsay Graham, a Republican from South Carolina and the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee. We do not need to live like this in America.

The CEOs attempted to tout their companies efforts to protect children, either through settings that prevent children from being contacted by strangers and limit what content theyre exposed to and their efforts to work with law enforcement to track down pedophiles and drug traffickers. Zuckerberg pointed to a 2023 study by the National Academies of Science that said it was inconclusive whether social media had an negative impact on the mental health of adolescents.

The Judiciary Committee has passed several bills aimed at increasing protections for children who use social media, particularly when it comes to child sexual exploitation. In particular, the bills take aim at Section 230, the 1996 law that gives social media companies blanket protection from lawsuits over content hosted on their sites.

None of the CEOs expressed support for all five bipartisan bills the Judiciary Committee has passed in an effort to address child sexual exploitation online, and to offer victims the ability to hold social media companies accountable.

Some of the CEOs expressed support for individual bills, including the Cooper Davis Act, which would create standards requiring social media companies to report any information they have on someone who illegally provides drugs on their platform to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, and named for a 16-year-old Kansan who died by a drug overdose after taking a pill laced with fentanyl that he purchased on Snapchat.

Evan Spiegel, the co-founder and CEO of Snapchat, said he supports the bill because he thinks it would empower the DEA to cut down on drug trafficking. Spiegel also apologized to parents whose children died of drug overdoses from pills they were able to buy on Snapchat.

But while the Judiciary has been able to pass several pieces of legislation through committee with the support of hard-line Republicans and liberal Democrats, none of the bills have received a vote on the Senate floor.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, has expressed support for passing legislation to regulate generative artificial intelligence, but efforts to increase regulations on social media companies have fallen flat. Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, suggested that Schumer would have to go to Amazon and buy a spine in order for the legislation to get a vote.

Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat and the chairman of the Judiciary Committee said Wednesday that he hopes that will change, saying he wanted the hearing to be a call to action.

Graham, the South Carolina Republican, took it a step farther.

Mr. Zuckerberg, you and the companies before us, I know you dont mean to, but you have blood on your hands, Graham said.
Joe Holleman Political correspondent/columnist Follow Joe Holleman 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

ST. LOUIS  The U.S. Department of Justice has subpoenaed records from U.S. Rep. Cori Bush as part of an investigation into her campaign spending.

Bush on Tuesday confirmed the federal probe into her spending on security services. In a statement, the St. Louis Democrat labeled allegations about that spending as frivolous.

Right-wing organizations have lodged baseless complaints against me, peddling notions that I have misused campaign funds to pay for personal security services. That is simply not true, Bushs statement said.

Her response came shortly after reports by The New York Times and other news outlets that federal investigators had subpoenaed records from her congressional office.

Bushs spending on security services  a topic previously reported on by the Post-Dispatch  has been the subject of several ethics complaints.

CORI BUSH confirms she's the subject of a federal criminal investigation. pic.twitter.com/wSPNSJ3mSe  Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 30, 2024

The spending by Bush on security has been substantial in her first three years in office, according to her campaign reports.

Campaign money and congressional office funds are separate accounts: Office funds are taxpayer dollars, while campaign funds are donations made by contributors.

Since taking office three years ago, Bushs campaign has spent more than $710,000 on her personal security, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The reports cover from the beginning of Bushs service in Congress, in January 2021, through September 2023. Campaign reports for the final quarter of 2023 are due Wednesday.

In her three years in Congress, Bush has drawn criticism for the amount of money she spends on private security while also being one of the most vocal advocates for a movement to defund the police.

After Bush had been in office for one year, news website Axios showed Bush as having spent more than any other U.S. House member for the 2021 year.

The largest share of Bushs campaign allocations for security, $380,615, has gone to Peace Security, a St. Louis firm that began showing up in her campaign reports in mid-2021.

Her bodyguard, Nathaniel Davis, who has often been shown at her side at public events, has been paid $137,500 in Bushs three years in office

Another security company, RS&T Security Consulting, has been paid $73,806. Her campaign also has paid $17,500 to Joseph Walter and $5,000 to All-American Protective Consultants.

Then there are the payments to Cortney Merritts III, Bushs husband. He has been paid more than $104,000 since he began working for her campaign in 2022.

His duties originally were listed as security services and remained classified that way after they were married. But then in mid-2023, payments to Merritts were reclassified as wage expenses.

Her spending on security, specifically using Merritts in that role, has generated two specific allegations against the Bush campaign: converting campaign funds to personal use and fraudulently reporting a false purpose for campaign disbursements.

Both complaints noted that Merritts does not appear to have a private security guard license in either Missouri or Washington, D.C.

FEC rules do not prohibit employing family members, as long as the relative provides a bona fide campaign service and is paid a fair market value.

On top of questions about her spending from the campaign account, Bushs latest FEC report showed that her campaign is about $130,000 in debt, with less than $20,000 cash on hand.

And thats not all of the turbulence surrounding Bushs campaign.

In late October, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell surprised some political observers by withdrawing from a race for the U.S. Senate to oppose Bush in the August 2024 primary for the congressional seat.

On Tuesday, Bell said a Justice Department investigation into the potential misuse of public funds is a serious matter.

As a prosecutor, I understand that Rep. Bush is entitled to due process. It is my hope that Rep. Bush will cooperate fully with the investigation and be transparent with the public in responding to the legitimate concerns they are likely to have, Bell said in a statement.

I entered this race because I believe the people of this district deserve a representative they can trust, Bell said. I feel more strongly about that now more than ever.

Bells switch to oppose Bush came on the heels of Bushs embrace of a pro-Palestine stance after the Oct. 7 on Israeli civilians by terrorist group Hamas.

Pro-Israel lobbying groups reportedly have set aside millions of dollars to defeat Bush and several other members of Congress who they say do not support Israel.

Bush was first elected to represent the 1st Congressional District in 2020, defeating longtime incumbent William Lacy Clay. She easily won reelection in 2022, when she outpolled state Sen. Steven Roberts Jr.

This past weekend, Bush kicked off her 2024 campaign at her campaign headquarters in Northwoods. The events special guest was U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. Both women are members of a group of progressive liberals known as The Squad.

Also speaking at the campaign event were three members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen: President Megan Green, Alderman Rasheen Aldridge and Alderwoman Daniela Velazquez.

Photos: Rep. Cori Bush joined by member of 'The Squad' for reelection campaign kickoff
JEFFERSON CITY  An overnight filibuster in the Senate ended Tuesday morning as Republican senators reached agreement on advancing initiative petition changes and confirming a slate of Gov. Mike Parsons appointments.

A hard-line GOP faction had held up Parsons nominees to force action on changes to the initiative petition process.

After senators approved the appointments, the upper chamber adjourned. A Senate committee then swiftly voted out a measure to change how constitutional amendments are approved, sending it to the Senate floor for further action.

The vote came a day after a public hearing on the initiative petition changes. Senate committees typically hold a hearing on bills and then wait a week or more before taking further action.

Republicans say advancing changes to the initiative petition is urgent because of a pro-abortion rights campaign collecting signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot this year.

I know that theres been a lot of attention on the kind of pressure that weve been putting on leadership and the Senate chamber  its working fantastically. Were very pleased with the results, Sen. Bill Eigel, a leader of the Republican faction, said Tuesday after the Senate committee hearing.

Eigel added, Were going to continue to put pressure on there to ensure that this bill and other priorities of the Republican brand continue to move.

Initiative petitions to amend the constitution currently must pass with a simple majority vote statewide. But the measure approved by the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee on Tuesday would create a concurrent majority requirement.

Under that system, campaigns would need to win a simple majority statewide as well as a majority in 82 of the states 163 Missouri House districts.

I think there is an expectation that were going to hear IP (initiative petition) reform on the Senate floor next week, Eigel said Tuesday.

I expect to see the Democratic Caucus on the floor filibustering next week, Eigel said.

Any change to the initiative petition process would have to appear as a proposed constitutional amendment on a statewide ballot and be approved by a majority of voters. Supporters of such a change hope to have it on the August ballot ahead of the November general election, when an abortion measure could appear.

Senate President Caleb Rowden, who has been at odds with the Eigel faction, said Tuesday he was glad we were able to move past Gubernatorial appointments but that we are in the exact same place that we would have been had certain members of the Senate not chosen to hijack business for the past two weeks.

Nothing has changed in any way relative to IP reform, but other top priorities like education reform, tort reform, and Missouris crackdown on illegal immigration are now behind schedule, Rowden said.

He continued, I am hopeful these Senators will recognize their efforts changed nothing for the positive, and that the will of the Senate cant be dictated by a select few but by the will of the body.

Apart from the initiative petition plan, the Senate also approved more than 40 gubernatorial appointments on Tuesday.

On the list was Robert Knodell and Paula Nickelson, who had been leading state departments in acting capacities. With Senate confirmation, Knodell is now the director of the Department of Social Services; Nickelson is the director of the Department of Health and Senior Services.

Senators also approved former St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slays appointment to the State Highways and Transportation Commission.

Sen. Mike Moon, who is not a member of the Freedom Caucus but is allied with them, also ended a blockade that placed in jeopardy former state Sen. Dan Hegemans appointment to the Highways and Transportation Commission. Senators confirmed Hegeman to the commission.

Moon, on Monday, mentioned a 2021 incident in which he said Hegeman refused to help Moon override Parsons veto of $140,000 that legislators allocated to businesses stung when the Department of Revenue reinterpreted state tax laws without notice.

I saw this as an opportunity to leverage my authority (to) protect an innocent resident of Missouri who was harmed, Moon said. We have a decision to make where I either stand, likely alone ... or I sit down and hope that some agreements that were made will actually come through.
Editor's note: When the Fox Theater - and that's how it was spelled back in the day - opened Jan. 31, 1929 this is how the Post-Dispatch covered it.

Cross-logged Vishnus, and elephants Of Cathay, and Assyrian lions and turbaned bashi-bazouks looked down on the 5700 persons who entered the new Fox Theater for its opening last night. Arabesque lattices. Hindu incense-burners. Burmese pagoda-carving and fluting and Karnak pillars of ruddy marble bounded the broad views in the theater and in its grand approach hall - lobby is too Occidental a word.

All the ornamentation of the $5 million house - largest and most ornate of the movie palaces outisde New York - represented the Far East, land of tinkling temple bells and pale hands beside the Shalimar. "if you've heard the East a-calling, you won't heed nothing else," said Kipling's Mandalayan enthusiast.

But there were a lot of other things to hear at the huge housewarming on Grand Boulevard.

There was Gov. Caulfield's speech, telling how much St. Louis and Missouri owe to William Fox, and how much Fox will owe to the city and state the next time tax-collecting season comes around - all to the benefit of of our schools and charitable institutions.He refrained from calling them "eleemosynary" thereby establishing a new record for office-holders and campaign orators.

And there was Mayor Miller - a talkie, not in person - breathing felicitations to the Fox Theater owner from a frequently consulted manuscript. He got an appreciative hand. Later, in the newsreel, the pleased smile of Henry W. Kiel was seen in two or three views. Only his face, and not his voice, had been registered, but the greeting he got need not have discouraged his campaign manager if the latter was present.

Then there was the Pilgrims' chorus, or it might be said, two choruses. The "Tannhauser" affair on the stage, with its cowled penitents and with the orchestra ascending and descending to the chords of Wagner; and the chorus of St. Louis pilgrims, some of them in evening dress, who fared by motor and otherwise through 14-degree temperature to the carpeted sidewalk space on Grand, just south of Washington Boulevard, under what seemed an acre of white lights, with "FOX" in green above them.

The articles goes on, at length, to describe the "Magnificent Entrance," "Comfortable Seats," "Tannhauser in Pantomime," "And Finally the Picture," (it was "Street Angel" starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell) and "Guests Shown About Theater."

Fox Theatre ceiling restoration The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation The Fox Theatre ceiling renovation
EQS-Ad-hoc: Vita 34 AG / Key word(s): Preliminary Results/Forecast

Vita 34 publishes preliminary figures on the course of business in 2023



31-Jan-2024 / 17:03 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Vita 34 publishes preliminary figures on the course of business in 2023 Leipzig, 31 January 2024 - Vita 34 AG closed the year 2023, in view of a challenging environment, solidly from a purely operational perspective. However, a number of extraordinary charges caused the earnings development to fall short of expectations. Based on initial preliminary figures on business performance, Group revenue in 2023 amounted to EUR 76.8 million, which is in the communicated guidance range of EUR 75 to 82 million. Preliminary earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to EUR 4.0 million, which is below the communicated guidance range of EUR 5.5 to 7.0 million. While the development of purely opeRating earnings was still generally in line with expectations, a number of extraordinary charges, which the company has already reported on in news publications, resulted in earnings falling short of the guidance corridor. These include mainly one-off charges for the downsizing of the Management Board, the charges for the capital increase, the consulting charges in connection with internal investigations at a subsidiary as well as in connection with the lawsuit against the licensor of the CAR-T technology and an unexpected increase in charges for the audit of 2023. The total extraordinary charges arising from the aforementioned items amounted to EUR 1.5 million. --- End of inside information pursuant to Art. 17 MAR ---



End of Inside Information

Information and Explanation of the Issuer to this announcement:



According to current planning, the company will publish the complete Annual Report 2023 on 30 April 2024. Contact:

Vita 34 AG

Investor Relations

Phone: +49 (0341) 48792 - 40

Email: ir@vita34.de Company profile Vita 34 was founded in Leipzig in 1997 and is today by far the leading cell bank in Europe and the third largest worldwide. As Europe's first private cord blood bank and a pioneer in cell banking, the company has since offered collection logistics, processing and storage of stem cells from umbilical cord blood, umbilical cord tissue and other postnatal tissues as a full-service cryopreservation provider. Due to the expansion of its business model following the merger with PBKM, the company plans to invest in cell and gene therapies and CDMO. The body's own cells are a valuable starting material for medical cell therapy and are kept alive in the vapor of liquid nitrogen. Customers from around 50 countries have already ensured the health of their families with more than 930,000 units of stored biological material at Vita 34. 31-Jan-2024 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Why Niche Programmers Are First in FAST

From the early days of FAST, the agility and strategic innovation that are hallmarks of startups and niche content companies have been critical to success in the FAST world. As the Independent Streaming Alliance (ISA) emerges to heighten the advocacy of niche FAST providers, Evan Shapiro, CEO, ESHAP, Cameron Saless, Chief Business Officer, Trusted Media Brands, and Chris Knight, President & CEO, Gusto Worldwide Media, discuss how the FAST market began and has matured around nimble startups in this clip from Streaming Media Connect 2023.

Shapiro mentions that he recently discussed the formation of the ISA with Saless, Which I think to a certain extent is about creating a collective strength amongst the independent and more niche-oriented streamers, he says. Something that I found interesting as I was looking into the formulation of the organization was that you all were the first to get to be on the FAST platforms. You were there early; you were helped to invent the platform for the most part. He notes that in the US, as in Europe, smaller companies that are nimbler and more innovative have more leverage to take risks. He asks Saless to discuss further the ISA and why he thinks the niche players played a groundbreaking role in the streaming ecosystem.

Saless mentions that he and the others on the panel have been living parallel lives for a long time, and due to the nature of the media business, innovation is key to success. He says he used to work for Jukin Media. In the early days, we started our business on social, he says. We were acquiring and curating content on social media. The reach you could get on Facebook and YouTube was incredible. You could build a brand relatively quickly. The engagement was off the charts. And, of course, then, like normal, some challenges come with platforms as they grow. And so, over time, you start to look for new places. And part of our strategy was always to take our content, which could live in various places, and try to test it out.

Saless mentions the very early days of FAST. I think it was 2014 or 2015. We had folks like Pluto and Xumo coming to us saying they were going to launch something like this, he says. To be honest, I was very skeptical, just because of the type of content we had. And launching these things is not easy. He recounts how he was amazed by an early demo from Xumo. They were going to launch 25 channels. We were one of 25. I gave them some short-form content, and we blew the numbers, he said. I think we [came in] second out of 25 channels. So, for me, that was sort of a signal. And if you fast forward to today, we have a dedicated team of 50-60 people. We are building programming, specifically long-form programming for FAST channels. We have built out an entire team to sell and monetize that content. I think the whole point behind the ISA is that a lot of us, while we've been the beneficiaries of being early, moving quickly, and investing ahead of the curve, are all starting to see where some challenges are coming down the road. And we all believe deeply in this ecosystem. We see huge opportunities, but we've started to highlight to others who maybe aren't seeing it, [saying], Look, there are some problems out there, and we think this group can help at least start that conversation.

He further elaborates on the specifics of the ISA. The ISA is a collection of, I think, 10 to 15 independent companies, he says. We're going to be adding a lot more to that list, but we're all trying to tackle different things. And we're focused really on four areas. We're looking at distribution challenges around distribution. It's a lot of platforms now. Discovery is something we should probably talk about. For example, we're looking at demand and how media is sold, bought, and distributed. We're looking at measurements, a huge issue for advertisers, platforms, and programmers alike. We're looking at diversity because we represent a lot of underrepresented audiences. It's early days. We're really bullish on the FAST space, but we realize the [for the] next layer of growth we will have to solve some of these problems to really unleash the big opportunities in front of us.

Shapiro tells Knight, I think part of what the ISA wants to do is create some leverage for the smaller players. But pushing innovation through the ecosystem is a big part of the initiative you're trying to create here, correct?

True that, Knight says. And not just in our business and media business, but virtually in every industry. Small companies are nimble, and small companies innovate. Large companies pay dividends. It's not in their DNA to go out on a limb. When we launched originally up here in Canada, we were a pay television channel on cable and satellite. I had to lease time on somebody else's master control system because it was prohibitively expensive for me to build my own for one channel in one country. We now have multiple channels and multiple languages going to 162 countries on over 40 platforms. If you had told me ten years ago that Gusto would be on in as many countries as it is, I would've said, Put your drink down. You've had enough. It's been a crazy ride so far. I remember talking to the Pluto guys when they were working out of shared office space over a bodega in Manhattan before they actually got to have an office. So that's been tremendous. But as Cameron [Saless] says, it's time to take a look at where the whole thing is going and put some best practices in place.

Watch full sessions from Streaming Media Connect November 2023. We'll be back in person for Streaming Media NYC on May 20-22, 2024. More details here.

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Two enterprises expand geographical reach and suite of services available to Clients

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Nerds On Site Inc. (CSE:NERD), a cybersecurity and mobile IT solutions company servicing the small and medium enterprise (SME) marketplace in Canada and the U.S., is excited to announce they have signed a deal to merge with Nerds On Call, a leading technology support company located throughout California that caters towards residential Clients. To ensure strong integration, the six-month dovetailing of operations will begin in March 2024 and allow for a seamless transition that will avoid all of the growing pains associated with mergers of this kind for loyal Clients of both companies.

"We were not looking to fit an enterprise into our Nerds On Site family, but rather looking for the perfect fit for our Nerds On Site family," said Charlie Regan, CEO of Nerds On Site. "In terms of culture, Client focus, personality, and service offerings, we have struck gold."

Nerds On Call generates about $2M/yr CAD in revenue with about 3,000 monthly service subscribers/contracts in the residential and SOHO space. For nearly six months, Nerds On Call has already been providing a North American-based help desk for SOHO, SME, and residential Clients for Nerds On Site with great success. With this merger, Nerds On Site will be expanding its help desk offering, while Nerds On Call will be granted Business IT, Cutting-Edge Cybersecurity, Cloud Services, Managed Services, IT Consulting, and VOIP solutions for its 3,000 subscription and contract Client base.

"We cannot wait until these two enterprises are seamlessly interwoven and able to provide an even greater roster of superior services to our customers," said Andrea Elderidge, CEO of Nerds On Call. "With this dovetail approach, we look forward to providing these services to our loyal customers without the challenges that come from trying to merge two large, successful brands without proper due diligence and care."

About Nerds On Site Inc. (NERD):

A leading provider of cyber security and IT services to SME and corporate Clients in North America. Established in 1995 and serving Clients across the USA and Canada for decades, Nerds On Site stands out as one of the most highly regarded and reputable IT service organizations of its kind. The NERDs team is a collegial network of cyber security and technology experts and strategic partners across North America. Their ability to liberate Clients with technology solutions that optimize organizations and exceed expectations is the stand-out results Nerds On Site regularly delivers, as Client testimonials reflect - ( reviews.nerdsonsite.com )

https://www.nerdsonsite.com/cybersecurity/sme-edge/

About Nerds On Call:

Nerds On Call is a trusted technology support company with a strong presence in California for about twenty years. With a team of skilled technicians, Nerds On Call provides a range of IT solutions to primarily residential Clients ensuring their technological needs are met with expertise and care. For more information, https://callnerds.com/

Forward-Looking Statements

The letter of intent is non-binding and there is no guarantee that this transaction will happen.

Certain information set forth in this material may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures and strategic alliances, and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans," "expects," "is expected," "budget," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "predicts," "intends," "targets," "aims," "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may," "could," "should," "would," "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise, and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Press Contact:

Veronica Welch

VEW Media

[email protected]

SOURCE: Nerds On Site

View the original press release on accesswire.com
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 30, 2024 / JM Capital II Corp. (TSX VENTURE NEX:JCI.H) ("JMCC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent dated January 29, 2024 (the "LOI") with Wheeler Resources Inc. ("Wheeler"). The LOI outlines the principal terms and conditions of a business combination by way of a share exchange, merger, amalgamation, arrangement, takeover bid, or other similar form of transaction (the "Proposed Transaction"), which will result in Wheeler becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of JMCC, or otherwise combining its corporate existence with a wholly-owned subsidiary of JMCC.

JMCC is a Capital Pool Company and intends for the Proposed Transaction to constitute its Qualifying Transaction pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The trading in the common shares of JMCC ("JMCC Shares") will remain halted pursuant to the policies of the TSXV. It is anticipated that Trading will remain halted until the completion of the Proposed Transaction. It is anticipated that the reporting issuer resulting from the Proposed Transaction (the "Resulting Issuer") will qualify as a Tier 2 Mining Issuer pursuant to the requirements of the TSXV. Unless otherwise indicated, any capitalized term contained in this news release that is not defined herein has the meaning ascribed to such term in the policies of the TSXV.

About Wheeler Resources Inc.

Wheeler is a privately-held company incorporated pursuant to the laws of British Columbia. Wheeler currently has a total of 36,000,000 common shares issued and outstanding (the "Wheeler Shares").

Wheeler holds a 100% interest in 184 mineral claims covering 4,600 hectares located in southwestern Newfoundland and Labrador (the "Wheeler Property"). The Wheeler Property is approximately 30km north-northeast of the town of Stephenville, near the southern extent of the Bay of Islands Ophiolite Complex. It covers layered ultramafic and mafic intrusions which are prospective for magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE mineralization, as well as chromite mineralization occurring as discrete layers within the ultramafic complex.

Lenses of magmatic sulphide Ni-Cu-PGE mineralization were first discovered on the Wheeler Property in the 1930's by J.R. Cooper[1]. A Geological Survey of Canada mapping program conducted in 1962 located additional layered magmatic sulphide occurrences, as well as multiple chromite-rich lenses located near the southern part of the Wheeler Property boundary[2].

In 2010, an exploration alliance, which was formed between Cliffs Natural Resource Exploration Inc. ("Cliffs") and Altius Resources Inc. ("Altius"), carried out extensive stream-sediment sampling on a multitude of ultramafic ophiolite complexes throughout the island of Newfoundland, specifically in search of a rare Ni-Fe alloy called awaruite which can form during the serpentinization of nickel-rich olivine in ultramafic rocks. Altius collected 367 stream-sediment samples by helicopter within the current Wheeler Property boundary. Strongly anomalous nickel, copper, cobalt and chromium values were returned in the northeastern portion of the Wheeler Property, but high sulphur values deterred them from conducting further exploration[3]*. The presence of sulphur reduces the likelihood of awaruite forming but demonstrates the excellent potential for the presence of magmatic nickel-sulphide mineralization on the Wheeler Property.

In addition to the Altius-Cliffs sampling, the Wheeler Property also contains the locations of extremely anomalous lake-sediment samples collected as part of the Newfoundland and Labrador's National Geochemical Reconnaissance ("NGR") Survey (35,768 lake-sediment sample database) including the four highest nickel values in the province with values of 4,980, 4,750, 4,390 and 4,230ppm Ni respectively. Four lake-sediment results on the Property from the NGR are in the 99.97th percentile for copper at 324, 312, 296 and 184 ppm Cu, five are in the 99.98th percentile for cobalt at 347, 301, 392, 556 and 333 ppm Co, and six are in the 99.98th percentile for Cr at 5,770, 5,140, 4,560, 4,000, 3,610 and 3,560 ppm Cr[4]*. Additional details and QA/QC procedures for the National Geochemical Reconnaissance (NGR) Survey can be found at the following link:

https://geoatlas.gov.nl.ca/custom/help/lakegeochemhelp.html

The Wheeler Property covers the southern extent of the Bay of Islands Ophiolite Complex, which was obducted onto the Laurentian rifted margin during the mid-Ordovician and is composed of mafic and ultramafic assemblages dominated by gabbros, pyroxenites, and peridotites. The target on the Wheeler Property is magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE (+Co-Cr) mineralization hosted within a layered mafic intrusion, similar to Norilsk in Russia, Lynn Lake and Namew Lake in Manitoba, Nkomati in South Africa, and Voisey's Bay in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Historically documented occurrences on the Wheeler Property consist of both net-textured pentlandite (nickel-sulphide), and PGE-rich chalcopyrite (copper-sulphide) mineralization, indicating the minerals formed within a magma chamber[5].

Proposed Transaction Summary

Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Resulting Issuer will carry on the business of Wheeler. Pursuant to the Proposed Transaction, holders of the Wheeler Shares will exchange their Wheeler Shares for common shares of the Resulting Issuer ("Resulting Issuer Shares") on a one-for-one basis (the "Exchange Ratio"). Convertible securities of Wheeler will be exercisable to acquire Resulting Issuer Shares at the Exchange Ratio. The final structure of the Proposed Transaction is subject to the receipt of tax, corporate and securities law advice for both JMCC and Wheeler.

As per the LOI, a condition of closing the Proposed Transaction, Wheeler, will complete an equity financing (the "Financing") in an amount that is sufficient to meet the initial listing requirements of the TSXV. The Financing will be comprised of units of Wheeler (the "Wheeler Units"), with each Wheeler Unit comprised of one Wheeler Share at a price of $0.05 per share and one-half of one warrant (a "Wheeler Warrant"), with each full Wheeler Warrant exercisable into a Wheeler Share for 18 months at an exercise price of $0.10 per share, provided that at the option of the Resulting Issuer, after the 4 month hold period, if the closing price of the Resulting Issuer Shares for any 10 consecutive trading days is equal to or exceeds $0.20 per Wheeler Share, the Resulting Issuer can accelerate the expiration date of the warrants to 30 days after the notice is provided to the holders.

On closing of the Proposed Transaction, the board of the Resulting Issuer will be comprised of nominees of Wheeler, and the Resulting Issuer is expected to change its name to "Wheeler Resources Inc." subject to JMCC shareholder approval, or such other name as is determined by Wheeler (the "Name Change").

Closing of the Proposed Transaction will be subject to a number of conditions precedent, including, without limitation:

a. receipt of all required regulatory, corporate and third-party approvals, including TSXV approval, and compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements and conditions necessary to complete the Proposed Transaction;

b. completion of satisfactory results from due diligence investigations for each of the parties;

c. completion of the Financing; and

d. other mutual conditions precedent customary for a transaction such as the Proposed Transaction.

The Proposed Transaction is not a Non-Arm's Length Qualifying Transaction, is not subject to TSXV Policy 5.9, and it is not expected that the Proposed Transaction will be subject to approval by JMCC's shareholders. There are no Non-Arm's Length Parties of JMCC that are Insiders, officers or shareholders of Wheeler.

Sponsorship for the Proposed Transaction

Sponsorship for the Qualifying Transaction of a Capital Pool Company is required by the TSXV, unless exempt in accordance with TSXV policies. The Company expects to apply for an exemption for sponsorship.

Filing Statement

In connection with the Proposed Transaction and pursuant to the requirements of the TSXV, JMCC intends to file on SEDAR (www.sedarplus.ca) a filing statement which will contain details regarding the Proposed Transaction, JMCC, Wheeler and the Resulting Issuer.

Further Information

JMCC intends to issue a subsequent news release in accordance with the policies of the TSXV providing further details in respect of the Proposed Transaction, including information relating to the transaction structure, the definitive agreement, descriptions of the proposed Principals and Insiders of the Resulting Issuer, as well as the Financing. In addition, a summary of Wheeler's financial information will be included in a subsequent news release.

For further information, please contact:

JM Capital II Corp.

Jay Freeman, CEO

Mobile: 416-457-1611

Email: [email protected]

Wheeler Resources Inc.

Daniel Boase, CEO

Mobile: 416-566-2673

Email: [email protected]

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. The securities of the Company and Wheeler have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws unless pursuant to an exemption from such registration.

Cautionary Note

Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable pursuant to TSXV Requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Dawn Evans-Lamswood, PGeo, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the Proposed Transaction and certain terms and conditions thereof, the ability of the parties to enter into a definitive agreement and complete the Proposed Transaction, the Exchange Ratio, the Name Change, the Resulting Issuer's ability to qualify as a Tier 2 Mining issuer, the TSXV sponsorship requirements, shareholder, director and regulatory approvals, obtaining TSXV approval, completion of the Financing, the duration of the halt in respect of the JMCC Shares, planned future press releases and disclosure, and other statements that are not historical facts. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to geological risks, the financial markets generally, the results of the due diligence investigations to be conducted in connection with the Proposed Transaction, the ability of the Company to complete the Proposed Transaction or obtain requisite TSXV acceptance and, if applicable, shareholder approvals. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that the Proposed Transaction will be completed on the terms described herein or at all. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE)

ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES.



[1] Cooper, J.R. 1936. Geology of the southern half of the Bay of Islands Igneous Complex. PhD thesis, Princeton University. Newfoundland Department of Natural Resources Bulletin no. 04, 66 pages. [2] Barnes, F.Q., Riley, G.C., and Smith, C.H. 1962. Geology Stephenville, Newfoundland. Geological Survey of Canada, "A" Series Map, No. 01117A. [3] Devereaux, A., Patey, B., O'Reilly, D., Winter, L., Churchill, R., and Wilton., D. 2012. First Year Assessment Report Documenting Prospecting, Rock Sampling, Till Sampling, Stream Sediment Sampling, Petrography, SEM-MLA Analysis & Geophysical Consultation for Map-Staked Licenses& Nickel-Iron Alloy Properties, Central & Western Newfoundland. [4] The reader is cautioned that the results highlighted are selective in nature and not necessarily representative of mineralization on the Property. [5] Butler, Jr., R. 1996. First Year Geological, Geochemical, and Diamond Drilling Report. Rope Cove Canyon Property, Lewis Hills, Bay of Islands District, Western Newfoundland. *Historical information contained in this news release and included figures regarding the Wheeler Project are reported for historical reference only and have not been confirmed by the Qualified Person (QP)..

SOURCE: JM Capital II Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
SANAA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said on Wednesday that it attacked a U.S. warship in the Red Sea with missiles, according to a statement from the group's military spokesman.

"In support of Palestinians in Gaza, and response to the aggression on our country, we fired several naval missiles at the American destroyer USS Gravely in the Red Sea," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement.

"We confirm that all American and British warships in the Red and Arabian Sea participating in the aggression against our country are within the target bank of our forces and will be targeted within the legitimate right to defend our country, our people," he said.

It will continue to prevent Israeli commercial vessels or vessels heading to Israel from transiting the Red Sea until "the aggression against Gaza stops and the siege is lifted," he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement posted X that its navy forces had shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired by the Houthis toward the Red Sea.

The missile was shot down by USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, and no injuries or damage were reported, it added.

On Monday, the Houthi group claimed responsibility for attacking a U.S. warship in the Gulf of Aden with a ballistic missile, a day after it claimed another missile attack against a British oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden that set the tanker on fire for several hours. 
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSXV:PX)(OTC PINK:PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on 2023 activities and the outlook for 2024 for its projects in Ghana and Canada.

Highlights - 2023

Exploration resumed at Pelangio's district scale Obuasi Project, adjacent to the giant high-grade Obuasi Mine

Pelangio's Obuasi Project benefits from an agreement with TuNya Mineral Resources Ltd. ("TuNya") to provide both exploration expenditures and access to significant technical expertise

The recently completed Manfo Project drill program extended mineralization in both the Pokukrom East and West deposits, demonstrating resource growth potential with continued step-out drilling

Canada Nickel Company's ("Canada Nickel") significant discovery on its Mann Northwest property enhances interest in Pelangio's adjacent Mann property (2.2 km away)

Barrick Gold Inc. ("Barrick") began exploration on Hemlo Explorer's Pic property, which surrounds Pelangio's Seeley Lake property

First Mining Gold Corp ("First Mining") began exploration on Pelangio's Birch Lake property which is adjacent to First Mining's Springpole Gold Project

Outlook - 2024

Obuasi project continues with the TuNya-funded exploration program on the Obuasi Project and will focus on two large target areas in the southwest corner of the property closest to the Obuasi Mine property, the Obuasi and NGA target areas

TuNya's exploration program will also cover the Tarkwaian geology which has been under-explored to date

Resource extension drilling and exploration drilling planned for the Manfo project

Record Gold is expected to complete $250,000 of exploration at Pelangio's Grenfell property under the terms of the option agreement

First Mining will complete further exploration at Pelangio's Birch Lake under the terms of the option agreement

Barrick is continuing exploration on Hemlo's Pic Project including a 2,500 m drill program

Pelangio is considering strategic opportunities for Canadian properties which are prospective for silver, zinc, nickel, copper, cobalt, chromium, and platinum group elements (PGEs)

"2023 provided very positive developments for Pelangio in Ghana and Canada," comments Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO of Pelangio. "We're pleased to resume exploration at our Obuasi Project following settlement of outstanding litigation between vendors of two of the four concessions of the Obuasi property. We entered into an agreement with TuNya, which provides both exploration funding and access to a technical team with over 125 years of combined experience on the extremely prolific Ashanti gold belt, including significant experience at the Obuasi mine itself. We anticipate this additional knowledge to provide real value to the development of the next phase of exploration at Obuasi."

"In addition, our drill program at our Manfo Project on the Sefwi Belt in Ghana extended known mineralization at the southern ends of both the Pokukrom East and West deposits. Potential remains to establish additional extensions to the mineralization and to grow the Manfo resource with continued drilling at a number of the targets yet to be drilled around these deposits, plus exploration drill testing of multiple targets across the property.

"In Canada, several of our properties are benefitting from exploration completed by others. We anticipate exploration at both our Birch Lake and Grenfell properties to be completed by our option partners, First Mining and Record Gold, in 2024. Our Seeley property near Hemlo will benefit from exploration, including 2,500 m of drilling completed by Barrick on Hemlo Explorer's Pic Project. Our Mann property has benefitted from new data provided by the significant discovery made by Canada Nickel on its adjacent Mann Northwest Project."

GHANA

Manfo Project

The 96 km Manfo project, located in the Sefwi-Bibiani Belts 15 km southeast of Newmont's Ahafo gold mine and 40 km north of Asante Gold's Bibiani gold mine, has recently been Pelangio's exploration focus in Ghana. Refer to Figure 1. In 2013, SRK Consulting estimated the project hosts a gold mineral resource of 195,000 oz (at 1.52 g/t Au) Indicated and 298,000 oz (at 0.96 g/t Au) Inferred with the bulk of the resource contained in the two Pokukrom deposits.

In 2021, Pelangio identified opportunities to grow the project through step-out drill testing of open-ended mineralization in the known deposits to demonstrate possible extensions that would be further drilled for potential resource addition, plus drill testing of multiple exploration targets along and near the 9 km of mineralized structures within the property. A multi-phase 3,700 m diamond drill program was planned of which

1,423 m has been drilled to date.

The 2023 drill program, detailed in Pelangio's July 24, 2023 news release, tested for strike and down-dip extensions in select areas of both Pokukrom East and West deposits, in addition to a soil plus auger gold geochemical target sitting on the western flank of Pokukrom East. The drill hole south of Pokukrom West returned an intercept of 1.88 g/t Au over 13 m, including 4.01 g/t over 4 m. The shallow oxide mineralization is still open further to the south and the potential remains to expand the Pokukrom West resource with further drilling to the south. The down-dip drill test at the shallower southern end of Pokukrom East intercepted 0.71 g/t Au over 20 m plus 1.66 g/t Au over 7 m, including 1 m of 8.43 g/t Au. The mineralization remains open down-dip in this area and there is potential to expand the resource to depth here.

The 2023 program followed the 2021 program at Pokukrom West. The first hole of the 2021 program was drilled in the midst of previous drilling to gain a better understanding of the structural controls on the mineralization. It returned an intercept of 3.81 g/t Au over 15 m, including 5.65 g/t Au over 7 m - better than surrounding holes. The second hole tested for the down-plunge continuation of the Pokukrom West lode. It returned an encouraging intercept of 3.19 g/t Au over 12 m, including 6.85 g/t Au over 3 m, demonstrating that the Pokukrom West deposit does in fact continue down-plunge. Table 1 summarizes the significant drill intercepts at Pokukrom from the 2021 and 2023 programs, and Figure 2 illustrates the drill hole locations.

With a number of targets yet to be drilled in the planned resource step-out diamond drilling program around the Pokukrom deposits, potential remains to establish additional extensions to mineralization and potentially grow the resource with infill drilling. This would be followed with a resource estimation update for Manfo which, at a higher gold price than the US$1,450/oz used in the 2013 MRE, is expected to result in some addition to the Manfo project gold resource. In addition, a 7,000 m exploration air-core drilling program is planned to test up to 21 previously untested geological, geochemical, and structural targets along and near the 9 km long main structural corridor, which could yield satellite deposit discoveries that might also add significantly to the project. With a defined gold mineral resource and a number of opportunities remaining to add to it, Manfo continues to be Pelangio's priority in Ghana.

The Manfo mineral resource estimation was conducted by SRK Consulting and published in June 2013. (Refer to the Mineral Resource Evaluation Technical Report, Manfo Gold Project, by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc., released on June 21, 2013 and available on Pelangio's website). The resource estimation was made in accordance with National Instrument 43a101 a Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects at the time of the mineral resource estimation in 2013. NI 43-101 standards for disclosure have been amended multiple times since 2013 and as a result, Pelangio's 2013 resource estimate is no longer NI 43-101 compliant under the current standards.

Obuasi Project

Pelangio's 100% owned Obuasi project covers 284 km immediately adjacent to and on geological strike with AngloGold Ashanti's 25 Moz Obuasi Mine. Refer to Figures 1 and 3. The Obuasi project is also immediately adjacent to TuNya's property, which hosts the Kyereboso deposit. Obuasi was Pelangio's flagship project in Ghana from 2007 to 2011. With the recent litigation settlement and a recently signed binding letter of intent ("LOI") to option a portion of the Obuasi property to TuNya Mineral Resources, Pelangio is turning new focus to the Obuasi project.

Early exploration activity plus subsequent and more recent data reanalysis, prospectivity and targeting exercises prioritized two large principal target areas for follow-up exploration situated in the southwestern corner of the property closest to the Obuasi Mine property. The Obuasi Targets area covers the strike extension of geological stratigraphy along which the Obuasi deposits lie. The NGA Targets area straddles the main Birimian-Tarkwaian metasedimentary contact and has seen minimal drill testing by Pelangio, although two drill holes returned high grades over narrow widths, including 24.50 g/t Au over 1 m and 11.28 g/t Au over 2 m. This high-grade prospect will likely be one of the first revisited after completion of the work by TuNya.

Ongoing work on the Obuasi project will continue the desktop target development and ranking exercise, augmented by fieldwork to include a comprehensive review of drill core, detailed field mapping and a structural study. This effort will be conducted largely by TuNya's "Obuasi experts." Pelangio and TuNya's LOI includes an option for TuNya to earn into an 80% interest on the southern portion of Pelangio's Obuasi project covering principally Tarkwaian geology. For details, refer to Pelangio's July 31, 2023 news release. This allows TuNya to explore the Tarkwaian for extensions and additions to their Kyereboso deposit that could result in a more robust project for them, while Pelangio maintains a 20% interest in ground that was unlikely to be explored by Pelangio over the near term. In exchange, TuNya will undertake a comprehensive review of Pelangio's Obuasi property prospects, focusing on the Obuasi and NGA Target areas and utilizing their personnel who have considerable senior technical and management experience at the Obuasi Mine and elsewhere along the Ashanti Belt.

Working with TuNya and their new products, Pelangio expects to be able to develop a more informed ranked target list for ongoing Obuasi exploration. At the same time, Pelangio plans to enhance this with improved geochemical and geophysical datasets through targeted auger drilling programs plus a high resolution airborne aeromagnetic survey covering the western third of the Obuasi property. As has been done in the past at Obuasi, upon completion of these programs, an AI (artificial intelligence) prospectivity platform can be utilized to generate smarter exploration targets with better, more detailed datasets. This work will be guided by the Obuasi expertise of TuNya's technical people, including a structural geologist, a geophysicist, and a GIS specialist. These efforts should ultimately delineate the very best targets for drill testing. Drill testing will initially be performed at shallow depths, followed by deeper probes as and where warranted.

Dankran Project

Pelangio entered into an option agreement to acquire the Dankran property adjacent to the Obuom mine and contiguous to the northeast corner of Pelangio's Obuasi property in late 2020.Refer to Figure 3. The Dankran project, which is now 100% owned by Pelangio, has shown evidence of high-grade gold potential on the Obuasi-Obuom trend from limited, shallow (

CANADA

Birch Lake Project

Pelangio's 100% owned Birch Lake Project is located within the Birch-Uchi Belt, 120 km northeast of Red Lake and contiguous with First Mining Gold's claims covering the Springpole deposit, approximately 3 km from the proposed open pit. See Figure 4. First Mining has an initial option to earn a 51% interest in the project by paying Pelangio $220,000, issuing 2,100,000 shares and spending $1,500,000 in exploration over seven years, since the signing of their earn-in agreement in 2021. First Mining has an additional option to increase its interest to 80% by spending an additional $1,750,000 in exploration and paying $400,000 in cash or shares over two years.

During 2022-2023, First Mining conducted mapping and geochemical sampling and flew the Birch Lake property with an electromagnetic and magnetic survey as part of an extensive district-wide airborne survey. One target was drilled and additional drilling is anticipated in 2024, dependent on weather conditions and permitting.

Grenfell Project

Pelangio's Grenfell property is located 10 km northwest of the Macassa Mine owned by Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited. In 2022, Pelangio granted Record Gold the option to acquire an 80% interest in the Grenfell property by paying Pelangio $60,000 and incurring $2,000,000 in exploration expenditures over five years. To maintain the option, Record Gold shall pay $60,000 and complete $250,000 of exploration expenditures by August 19, 2024.

Pelangio conducted two diamond drilling programs in 2020 and 2021 with notable drilling results of

1.32 g/t Au over 26.0m including 314 g/t Au over 1.74 m (uncut) and 10.95 g/t Au over 3.00 m including 23.40 g/t Au over 1.00 m.

Seeley Project

Pelangio's 100% owned Seeley Project located near Hemlo, Ontario, is surrounded by the Pic Project owned by Hemlo Explorers. See Figure 5. Previous work on the project by Pelangio in 1997 and 2008 included gold results of 4.71 g Au/t over 1 m and 4.85 g Au/t over 2 m, associated with anomalous copper and zinc values, and indicated alteration and a geologic setting similar to that found with volcanic-associated massive sulfide (VMS) deposits, which are frequently sources of metals such as copper, lead, and zinc. In 2009 mapping, prospecting and soil sampling resulted in seven anomalies around previous Pelangio drilling. The geological mapping and whole rock analysis indicated potential for gold deposits and identified ultramafic rocks anomolous in nickel. Notably, Barrick is completing a 2,500 m drill program on Hemlo Explorer's Pic project.

Mann Project

Pelangio's 100% owned Mann project has come to the forefront with a recent nearby discovery by Canada Nickel Company. Canada Nickel is advancing their 2 billion tonne Crawford nickel project and aggressively exploring multiple properties in the district. The Mann Property is located in Mann Township, 50 km northeast of the City of Timmins, and covers an area of approximately 2 km. Pelangio's patented claims (mining and surface rights) cover a portion of a large ultramafic intrusive complex that is prospective for nickel, copper, cobalt, chromium and PGEs close to where Canada Nickel has just reported assays from a significant new discovery on their Mann Northwest Property surrounding Pelangio's patented claims (see Canada Nickel's August 22, 2023 release). See Figure 6.

Canada Nickel drilled eight holes from May to July 2023, testing 2.7 km of strike. Each hole returned multi-hundred-meter-wide intersections of "strongly serpentinized peridotite, dunite and pyroxenite with fine mineralization throughout." Canada Nickel reported assays from five of the eight holes drilled which were all mineralized with significant nickel, platinum and palladium values returning up to 348.5 m of 0.23% Ni and 0.04 g/t Pt+Pd including 33 m of 0.31% Ni and 0.057 g/t Pt+Pd. This hole also ended with 28.9 m of 0.52 g/t Pt+Pd. Canada Nickel's drill holes are located 2.2 km from Pelangio's Mann property boundary. The Mann patents cover historical airborne electromagnetic anomalies that experienced limited shallow drill testing by Inco from 1948 to 1951 and returned significant nickel values over narrow widths. Given the very significant nearby discovery by Canada Nickel, Pelangio is currently considering exploration programs to evaluate the potential of the property.

Qualified Person

Mr. Kevin Thomson, P.Geo. (Ontario, #0191), is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Thomson approved the technical data disclosed in this release.

About Pelangio

Pelangio acquires and explores world-class land packages on strategic gold belts in Ghana, West Africa, and Canada. In Ghana, the Company is exploring its two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km2 Manfo property, the site of seven near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km2 Obuasi property, located 4 km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine, as well as its Dankran property located adjacent to its Obuasi property. In Canada, the company has several gold properties and two critical minerals properties. See www.pelangio.com for further details.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com , or contact:

Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO

Tel: 905-336-3828 / Toll-free: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: [email protected]

Appendix

Figure 1. Location of Pelangio's Gold Projects in southwest Ghana

Table 1: Significant Results of the 2021 and 2023 Diamond Drilling Programs at Manfo

DHID Prospect AZIM() DIP() EOH(m) FROM(m) TO(m) LENGTH(m) AU(g/t)* DD21-001 Poku W. 297 -50 121.5 110 125 15 3.81 including 112 119 7 5.65 DD21-002 Poku W. 297 -60 231.7 211 223 12 3.19 including 216 219 3 6.85 SPDD23-006 Poku W. 117 -45 74 2 15 13 1.88 including 11 15 4 4.01 35 37 2 0.71 SPDD23-007 Poku E. 117 -55 174 90 119 20 0.71 including 90 96 6 1.32 137 144 7 1.66 including 138 139 1 8.43

* Assay composites using a 0.4 g/t Au cut-off. Intervals of internal dilution do not exceed 2m

Figure 2. 2021 and 2023 Drilling on the Pokukrom Deposits, Manfo Project

Figure 3. Location of Pelangio's Obuasi and Dankran Projects in Relation to AngloGold Ashanti's Obuasi Mine

Figure 4. Pelangio Birch Lake Project

Figure 5. Pelangio's Seeley Lake Project

Figure 6. Location of Pelangio's Mann Property in Relation to Canada Nickel's New Mann Northwest Discovery

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the Company's strategy of acquiring large land packages in areas of sizeable gold mineralization, and the Company's ability to complete the planned exploration programs. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made numerous assumptions, including assumptions about the state of the equity markets. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include the changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana and Canada, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration, including the risk that favourable exploration results may not be obtained, delays due to COVID-19 safety protocols, and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Pelangio Exploration Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Las Vegas Sands

Las Vegas Sands

On November 8, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) and Sands co-presented the 2023 Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit at The Smith Center for Performing Arts, with support from the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The 2023 Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit marked a major turning point as the Summit convened experts and stakeholders from across Nevada for the first time, in preparation for development of the state's first standalone plan to end youth homelessness.

"The energy, enthusiasm and knowledge from all who participated in Summit 2023 was an incredible accelerator for the Movement to End Youth Homelessness in Nevada," said Arash Ghafoori, CEO of NPHY. "We've reached a point in which meaningful impact can only be achieved by evolving to a statewide approach with all resources and service providers aligned. I am inspired by the coalition we convened at Summit 2023, and we are well-positioned to successfully lead the work ahead."

Randy Hyzak, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Sands and an NPHY board member, opened the Summit by recognizing the progress that has been made, commending the response from around the state and calling for continued commitment, especially from the private sector. Ghafoori followed with an update on the Movement to End Youth Homelessness, setting the stage for a series of rapid-fire presentations and a panel discussion outlining regional perspectives from representatives in northern, southern and rural Nevada and tribal communities.

Important points outlined in regional presentations and the panel discussion included the lack of any state-level funding for youth homelessness and the critical need for more housing and supportive services, particularly around mental health, to give youth experiencing homelessness the resources they need to recover from the trauma they have experienced and aim toward building a promising future.

Youth homelessness remains an urgent issue in Nevada. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, roughly 12% of youth experiencing homelessness across the United States in 2022 were residing in Nevada. The state also is facing an estimated shortage of more than 80,000 affordable rentals for extremely low-income tenants, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

The stories behind these numbers were brought to life during the Pull Up A Chair presentation by youth leaders with lived experience of homelessness. Presenters gave emotional accounts of their journeys using artfully decorated chairs that represented the hurdles they encountered, along with symbols of hope and inspiration. The challenges faced by homeless youth were further illustrated by keynote speaker Jimmy Santiago Baca, author of A Place to Stand and a former homeless youth, who captivated the audience with stories of his journey from a youth on the streets to award-winning writer and poet. Both of these sessions highlighted the power of self-expression in overcoming trauma.

Afternoon breakout sessions at the 2023 Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit were then dedicated to the work and beginning to align around a statewide plan to end youth homelessness, with topics including direct cash transfers for youth; the intersectionality between childhood trauma, sex trafficking and the unsheltered; a study on youth experiencing homelessness that will serve as the Movement's statewide needs assessment and restful leadership.

Addressing youth homelessness is a primary focus of the Sands Cares community engagement program in Las Vegas. Sands' work with NPHY spans nearly a decade and more than $2.3 million in contributions to provide immediate relief, lasting solutions, and advocacy and awareness for youth experiencing homelessness since 2014.

"Today marked a major milestone in the Movement to End Youth Homelessness," Hyzak said. "We now have a united coalition of statewide leaders, ready to take measured and decisive action to help our most vulnerable youth. The stories we heard from the young leaders who have gone through these experiences underscore the critical work we must do and undoubtedly have motivated and inspired all who attended the Summit."

To learn more about Sands' youth homelessness efforts as part of its focus on hardship relief in communities around the world, read the company's latest environmental, social and governance report: https://www.sands.com/2022-environmental-social-and-governance-report/

NPHY CEO Arash Ghafoori presented an update on the Movement to End Youth Homelessness, outlining accomplishments to date and the work ahead, at the 2023 Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Las Vegas Sands on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Las Vegas Sands

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/las-vegas-sands

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Las Vegas Sands

View the original press release on accesswire.com
OAKLAND, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / "When we founded Red Bay Coffee it was a special moment, that moment has evolved into a Black Coffee movement." -Keba Konte, Founder

Red Bay Coffee, the longest-running black-owned coffee brand in the U.S., is proud to announce its upcoming 10th-anniversary celebration, marking a decade of resilience, innovation, and breaking down barriers in the coffee industry. The celebration, aptly named RED BAY 10, will showcase the company's remarkable journey and commitment to diversity, equity, and excellence under the visionary leadership of founder Keba Konte.

Keba Konte, an artist and entrepreneur, started Red Bay Coffee with a vision to bring diversity and excellence to an industry that lacked representation. His unwavering commitment to social responsibility, ethical business practices, and fostering community engagement has been instrumental in Red Bay Coffee's success over the past decade.

Red Bay Coffee's inception traces back to the home roasting lab, nestled in Keba Konte's garage. In his quest to master the art of specialty coffee, Keba built this intimate coffee sanctuary, affectionately known as the Coffee Dojo. Here, he dedicated himself to learning and refining the intricacies of coffee craftsmanship. The term "Dojo" takes on a profound meaning, representing more than just a physical space-it embodies a school for training and practice, shaping Red Bay Coffee's commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in the world of coffee.

The RED BAY 10 celebration will honor the legacy of Red Bay Coffee's journey. Special events, collaborations, and limited-edition releases throughout February will pay tribute to the legacy of Red Bay Coffee. To commemorate this historic celebration, Red Bay Coffee has organized a vibrant brass band performance, scheduled to take place on February 10 at noon, right in front of our Grand Lake Cafe.

One of the highlights of RED BAY 10 is the release of a commemorative limited edition coffee blend and collector's tin can. Crafted from meticulously sourced beans from Kenya and Guatemala, this unique blend embodies the company's commitment to supporting small farmers.

To our valued supporters, including Oakland's own Zendaya, thank you for standing by us, believing in our mission, and helping us break down barriers in the coffee industry. And to our esteemed investors, including Ryan Coogler and Hannibal Buress, your belief in our vision and support have played a pivotal role in our growth and impact.

The company invites its loyal customers, partners, and the general public to join in the celebration of RED BAY 10. Follow Red Bay Coffee on social media and visit the official website for updates on events, releases, and other anniversary festivities.

Contact Information

Rachel Konte

Chief of Brand

[email protected]

SOURCE: Red Bay Coffee

View the original press release on newswire.com.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Pegasus Resources Inc. (TSXV:PEGA)(Frankfurt:0QS0)(OTC Pink Sheet symbol:SLTFF) (the "Company" or "Pegasus") is delighted to announce the successful completion of a comprehensive geological mapping and sampling program on its past-producing Energy Sands property in Utah. For this initiative, the Company collaborated with Dahrouge Geological Consulting USA Ltd. ("Dahrouge") to conduct a thorough assessment, significantly enhancing our understanding of the property's potential.

"The significant 7800 ppm reading on sample ESRS24-037 is an exciting confirmation of promising mineralization at our Energy Sands property in Utah." CEO Christian Timmins stated, "This result boosts our confidence in its strategic value, and we look forward to the detailed analysis from SGS. This analysis will guide informed decisions and strategic advancements in our exploration efforts at Energy Sands."

A total of 41 samples were diligently collected over the 13-day program and have been submitted to SGS Laboratories Services for further detailed analysis. Utilizing the RS-125 handheld spectrometer, Pegasus identified notable samples from prospector outcrops, tailings, outcrops, and historical adits. ESRS24-037 displayed a remarkable 7800 ppm reading, indicating substantial mineralization. Completing the geological mapping and sampling program is crucial in advancing Pegasus' exploration efforts. It provides valuable insights into the mineral-rich potential of the Energy Sands property. The Company remains committed to leveraging this data for informed decision-making as it continues to pursue sustainable resource development.

Figure 1: Sample ESRS24-037 - High-grade sample from shallow prospect. RS-125 U-7800ppm

Figure 2: Sample ESRS24-013 - In-situ sample source from historic adit. RS-125 U>10,000ppm







Figure 3: Sample ESRS24-009 - High-grade in-situ sample. RS-125 U>10,000ppm



*Please note that the RS-125 does not have the highest degree of precision, so these values should be taken as indicators, not absolutes.

*A historical report archived by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) outlines small-scale production of uranium by the Minerals Corporation of America, totalling 51.8 Tons at a grade of 0.373% U3O8 and 1.10% V2O5 occurred between 1953 and 1956 (Byers & Robertson, 1956).

NI 43-101 Disclosure

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Jacob Anderson, CPG, MAusIMM, who is a Resource Geologist for Dahrouge Geological Consulting USA Ltd., and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, who has prepared and/or reviewed the content of this press release.

About Pegasus Resources Inc.

Pegasus Resources Inc. is a diversified Junior Canadian Mineral Exploration Company with a primary focus on uranium, with exposure to gold and base metal properties in North America.

The Company is also actively pursuing the right opportunity in other resources to enhance shareholder value. For additional information, please visit the Company at www.pegasusresourcesinc.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors:

Christian Timmins

President, CEO and Director

Pegasus Resources Inc.

700 - 838 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC V6C 0A6

PH: 1-403-597-3410

X: https://twitter.com/MrChris_Timmins

X: https://twitter.com/pegasusresinc

E: [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) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning the Company's plans, intentions, and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Pegasus Resources Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Revolve Renewable Power Corp. (TSXV:REVV)(OTCQB: REVVF) ("Revolve" or the "Company"), a North American owner, operator and developer of renewable energy projects, is pleased to announce that it has expanded its presence in the Canadian market through the addition of a new 150MW solar development project (the "Project") in the province of Saskatchewan.

On June 8, 2023 the Company announced its expansion into the Canadian market completing the last phase of its market strategy to create a North American focused renewable Independent Power Producer ("IPP"), (https://revolve-renewablepower.com/revolve-announces-expansion-into-the-canadian-renewable-energy-market/). The Company commenced early-stage development work and targeted an initial portfolio of utility scale projects by the end of 2023.

The result of this initial development work was, completion of land procurement for the Project, which represents the first development asset in the Company's Canadian portfolio. The Company is in the process of finalizing a development plan for the Project with further work expected to commence later this year.

WindRiver Acquisition Update

Another key component of the Company's expansion strategy has been to consider M&A opportunities for operating assets in the US and Canada. On October 4, 2023, the Company announced the proposed acquisition of WindRiver Corporation, a Canadian based owner, operator and developer of wind and hydro projects (the "Proposed Acquisition") in the Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta (https://revolve-renewablepower.com/revolve-announces-proposed-acquisition-of-canadian-renewable-energy-operator-and-developer-windriver-power-corporation/).

The Proposed Acquisition, once completed, will add 96.63MW of net operational and development capacity to the Company's portfolio, which is split between 6.63MW of net operational capacity and 90MW of development assets, all located within Canada.

The Company continues to work with the WindRiver team to finalise the completion of the Arrangement Agreement signed between WindRiver and the Company. Closing of the Proposed Acquisition is expected to be completed in February 2024.

The Company is actively reviewing and assessing a number of other potential acquisition opportunities and will provide an update to shareholders should binding terms be agreed.

About Revolve

Revolve was formed in 2012 to capitalize on the growing global demand for renewable power. Revolve develops utility-scale wind, solar and battery storage projects in the US, Canada and Mexico with a portfolio of approx. 2,988MW under development. The Company has a second division, Revolve Renewable Business Solutions which installs and operates sub 20MW "behind the meter" distributed generation (or "DG") assets. Revolve Renewable Business Solutions currently has an operating portfolio of 6MW with an additional 3MW under construction phase and 156MW under development.

Revolve has an accomplished management team with a demonstrated track record of taking projects from "greenfield" through to "ready to build" (or "RTB") status and successfully concluding project sales to large operators of utility-scale renewable energy projects. To-date, Revolve has developed and sold over 1,550MW of projects.

Revolve is targeting 5,000MW of utility-scale projects under development in the US, Canada and Mexico, and in parallel is rapidly growing its portfolio of revenue-generating DG (distributed generation) assets.

For further information contact:

Steve Dalton, CEO

[email protected]

Or

Sunita Prasad

VP, Corporate Development & Investor Relations

Phone: +1 778-885-5550

[email protected]

Forward Looking Information

Although Revolve believes, considering the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Revolve can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to information relating to the business plans of Revolve and Revolve's management's expectation on the growth and performance of its business in the United States, Canada and Mexico, including the planned MW capacity of its projects;

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, having regard to the Company's experience and its perception of historical trends, and includes, but is not limited to, expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions relating to the extent of regulations pertaining to the Company's projects and Revolve's ability to continue as going concern. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information, including but not limited to: the effects of weather, catastrophes and public health crises, including COVID-19; labour availability; disruptions to the Company's supply chains; changes to regulatory environment, including interpretation of production tax credits; armed hostilities and geopolitical conflicts; failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals in a timely fashion, or at all; risks related to the development and potential development of the Company's projects and specifically the Project; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; the availability of tax incentives in connection with the development of renewable energy projects and the sale of electrical energy; as well as those factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings on SEDAR. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Revolve. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Revolve as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Revolve does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by the Company with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Revolve Renewable Power Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Valsoft Corporation Inc. ("Valsoft"), a Canadian company specializing in the acquisition and development of vertical market software businesses, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Easy Employer, an industry leader that offers staff management, time & attendance, rostering, timesheet management, payroll and award interpretation solutions across several industries in Australia and internationally.

Easy Employer's cloud-based solutions and services have been helping clients and partners to tackle and simplify complex workforce management requirements since 2006. Easy Employer's control centre for staff management houses all tools required to manage and communicate with staff in all parts of the business that directly affect them. Easy Employer's industry-leading automation also creates opportunity for businesses to leverage a cost-effective, feature rich solution to handle a variety of complex requirements.

"Valsofts acquisition of Easy Employer represents an exciting opportunity to carry on our legacy and maintain our meaningful connection with clients," stated Aaron Upcroft, Easy Employer's CEO. "We are thrilled to be working with a company who shares our values and offers an existing global presence in the space."

"Easy Employer has been on an impressive growth path and has become a leader in key specific industries, such as disability care, pharmacy, and care homes," explains Jeffrey Messud, Operating Partner of Valsoft. "We are honored to continue Easy Employer's growth story with a heavy focus on driving operational excellence and fostering software development under the direction of Kristian Nikolaidis, as Director of Operations. His continued dedication and contribution will be key to driving success at Easy Employer."

This latest acquisition of Easy Employer marks the sixth company in the Workforce Management industry to join the Valsoft family along withaSoftbrick, Manus, Vocantas, Monaco and Wageloch. Working with Valsoft's operating division, Aspire Software, Easy Employer will now have the opportunity to further strengthen their presence in the market while being ideally placed to roll out significant product and service improvements while leveraging the Valsoft network.

About Easy Employer:

Founded in 2006, Easy Employer offers effective solutions to simplify complex issues for businesses. Their offerings bring customers even more powerful, integrated staff management, attendance, rostering, payroll and award interpretation solutions. The growing team of expert developers build and support Easy Employer's innovative solutions across Australia and internationally, working closely with industries including the Aged, Home & Disability Care, Pharmacy, Childcare, Hospitality and Retail industries. www.easyemployer.com.au

About Valsoft Corporation: a

Valsoft Corporation acquires and develops vertical market software companies that deliver mission-critical solutions. A key tenet of Valsoft's philosophy is to invest in established businesses and foster an entrepreneurial environment that shapes a company into a leader in its respective industry. Unlike private equity and VC firms, Valsoft does not have a predefined investment horizon and looks to buy, hold, and create value through long-term partnerships with existing management and customers. Learn more: www.valsoftcorp.com

Valsoft was represented internally by Oliver Gray (Senior Legal Counsel), David Felicissimo (General Counsel) and Elisa Marcon (Corporate Paralegal). Externally, Valsoft was represented by Deutsch Miller.

Media contact information

Communications and Public Relations

Valsoft Corporation

[email protected]

SOURCE: Valsoft Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
By Chris Varcoe

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2024 / Enbridge

Originally published by Calgary Herald

After standing on the sidelines for much of the past decade while the United States transformed itself into a global LNG powerhouse, Canada now has a monumental decision to make.

Does it also want to become a serious player in the global LNG game or be a small exporter to the world?

"It's not very often that you get a second chance on an opportunity. And I think this may perhaps bode extremely well for that second chance, from a policy and support perspective in Canada - if we take advantage of it," said Greg Ebel, CEO of Calgary-based Enbridge, which is a partner in the Woodfibre LNG project.

Continue reading here

Cooling towers used to dissipate heat generated when natural gas is converted into liquefied natural gas are seen under construction at the LNG Canada export terminal in Kitimat, B.C. on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Enbridge on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Enbridge

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/enbridge

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Enbridge

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI) today announced that Mary J. Guilfoile will step down as Chair and retire from the Board of Directors (the Board) following the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting). The Board will elect a new Chair following Ms. Guilfoiles retirement. Additionally, the Company announced the addition of two highly qualified and independent members  William S. Simon and Jill Sutton  to its Board, effective February 1, 2024. Mr. Simon and Ms. Sutton were selected following a process that was supported by an independent, nationally-recognized search firm.

The Companys slate of director candidates for this years Annual Meeting is expected to include the following individuals:

Milena Alberti-Perez

Steven D. Brill

Todd Everett

Katie May

William S. Simon

Sheila A. Stamps

Jill Sutton

Darrell Thomas

Kurt Wolf

Once the Company appoints its next permanent Chief Executive Officer, that individual is expected to be added to the Board and become its tenth member.

Ms. Guilfoile, Chair of the Board, commented:

It has been a privilege to lead the Board of Pitney Bowes, a storied business with a more than 100-year history of change and innovation. The past year has been a particularly transformative one in terms of adding several new directors, initiating a leadership transition and laying a foundation for enhanced value creation. I have enjoyed working with our interim Chief Executive Officer, Jason Dies, who has been establishing a results-driven culture and taking decisive steps to position the organization for long-term success. I look forward to working with management and the rest of the Board, including our newest members, to build on this momentum between now and the Annual Meeting. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Companys employees, customers, partners and investors for their confidence and trust during my time with Pitney Bowes.

Ms. May, Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, added:

On behalf of all my fellow directors, I want to thank Mary for her invaluable leadership during an important period for Pitney Bowes. She has overseen governance enhancements and strategic actions that we expect will put the Company on stronger footing for years to come. Our entire Board also welcomes Bill and Jill, who collectively bring significant experience in areas such as capital allocation, corporate governance and transformations.

In conjunction with todays announcement, the Company has also entered into a cooperation agreement with Hestia Capital Management, LLC (collectively with its affiliates, Hestia Capital).

Mr. Wolf, a member of the Board and the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Hestia Capital, concluded:

I am pleased to have reached an agreement with Pitney Bowes to solidify Hestia Capitals long-term support for the Companys Board and strategic direction. I also want to thank Mary for her many contributions as Chair. Looking ahead, I am confident that this Board will deliver meaningful value-enhancing results for shareholders, whom we represent, as well as for all of our other stakeholders.

Additional information related to todays announcements and the agreement with Hestia can be found on a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Herndon, Virginia-based firm finds enhanced back-office support with uninterrupted business operations in Bluespring transaction

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bluespring Wealth Partners, LLC (Bluespring), a leading acquirer of high quality wealth management firms, today announced the acquisition of Hughes Financial Services, LLC (Hughes Financial), a family-run firm located in Herndon, Virginia.

Overseeing more than $500 million in client assets, the firm is led by founding members and Managing Partners Paul Hughes, ChFEBC and Scott Hughes, CFP , CPWA , MBA  alongside Managing Partners Patrick Hughes, CFP  and Berkeley Meredith, CFP , CPWA , CDFA . The firm specializes in working with families, medical professionals, corporate executives, and local, state, and federal employees, offering an integrated wealth management approach by advising clients on all areas of their financial lives.

Since the firms inception in 2009, Hughes Financial has offered clients a comprehensive approach to planning  often covering more services than clients might expect from a typical fee structure as a result of the teams efficient, high level of support. Now a part of Bluespring, the team will be able to focus more time nurturing meaningful relationships with clients and growing their business.

Straightaway, a partnership with Hughes Financial felt like a perfect fit, said Bluespring Chairman Stuart Silverman. Their tight-knit culture and client-centric values are palpable, not to mention the teams strong work ethic which has led the firm to impressive growth. By leveraging our extensive tools and resources, we look forward to helping the team at Hughes Financial get back to spending time providing premier service to their clients.

The firm was introduced to Bluespring through multiple mutual relationships with current Bluespring firms. The team appreciated the high level of partnership that empowers the regular functions of its business to stay in place, ultimately deciding to move forward with Bluespring.

Bluespring Wealth Partners provides us with the opportunity to remain steadfast in our culture, provide a high level of service to our clients, and stay autonomous as a business while still getting the benefits of a larger firm, said the Hughes Financial team. In the last four years our firm has doubled in size and with Bluespring Wealth Partners on our team we can focus on continuing to take our business to new heights.

About Bluespring Wealth Partners, LLC

Through a highly customized and people-centric approach, Bluespring is dedicated to the acquisition and support of quality wealth management firms. In partnering with experienced wealth advisors and their teams, Bluespring looks to perpetuate and enhance the value that they bring their clients, providing continuity and new opportunities in the process. Bluespring was established with the express purpose of helping entrepreneurs take their business to the next level of growth through successor training and incentivization, consulting and operational resources, flexible ownership arrangements, and institutional capital support. By focusing on partnership as the driver of success, Bluespring empowers wealth management firm owners to elevate their business without sacrificing their entrepreneurial spirit, founding principles, and long-term vision.

Bluespring is a subsidiary of Kestra Financial, Inc.

For more information about Bluespring, please visit www.bluespringwealth.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131008675/en/

Media contact

Vested for Bluespring Wealth Partners, LLC

Jac Gogel

[email protected]

Source: Bluespring Wealth Partners, LLC
Continued rise in Ukrainian injuries, amputations results in persistent critical need for prosthetics in war-impacted Country

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aether Biomedical, a biotech company creating cutting-edge intelligent prosthetic hands, announced a recent partnership with Ukraine-based Superhumans Center to deliver bionic Zeus Hands to wounded Ukrainians.

As the Russian-Ukrainian war continues, a pressing need has emerged, with tens of thousands of Ukrainians forced to amputate one or more limbs, said Dhruv Agrawal, Aether Biomedical Chief Executive and Co-Founder. As all Ukrainians continue to be impacted by the war, we are grateful to be able to partner with the incredible Superhumans Center who is on a mission to motivate injured people not to give up and to believe in a Superhuman society.

A recent poll found that almost 80 percent of Ukrainians have had close relatives or friends killed or injured in the fighting, according to Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) survey and many of these injuries require amputations. Additionally, Ukrainian health officials have noted the lack of upper-limb prosthetists in Ukraine. The Lviv-based Superhumans Center was created to restore quality of life to the injured, and provide them with the best prosthetics available.

Ukraine really lacks professionals on upper limb prosthetics, said Andriy Stavnitser, Superhumans Co-Founder. That's why the opportunity to collaborate with brilliant American specialists in Lviv is so valuable. We are deeply grateful to Aether Biomedical for not shying away from risks and helping our professionals learn more about hand prosthetics. We are confident that this partnership will be long-lasting and highly successful.

There are two advanced features of Aether Biomedicals Zeus Hand that stand out as highly beneficial to Ukrainian users. First, the Zeus Hand allows for local repairability of the bionic hand - parts in need of replacement or upgrade can be swapped in and out. Second, the remote configurability of the hand allows the Zeus user to be able to connect to their clinician remotely to receive adjustments or changes. Sarra Mullen, CP Certified Prosthetist and recently-elevated Chief Innovation Officer at Aether noted, Prior to our hand technology, these changes would require an in-person clinic visit. We know the importance of remote access to healthcare and the need in a war-impacted country is even more vital for the user. This remote configuration feature can be the difference between a clinician being able to provide care for the patient and not.

In December 2023, Mike Marin and Tony Berland, Certified Prosthetist Orthotists, traveled to Ukraine on Aethers behalf to fit the patients with the Zeus Hand. Mr. Berland shared his reasons for wanting to serve on this mission. When I was approached to go support the wounded in Ukraine, I knew it was an opportunity I couldnt pass up. This experience has allowed me to use my skills as an upper-limb specialist to help those in critical need. Working with Aether Biomedical and the Superhumans Center was nothing short of amazing. The experience could only be topped when I saw the final outcome  the smile or tears of joy on patients' faces when you return something that they may have thought was lost forever. Berlands partner on the mission, Mr. Marin echoed this sentiment. As a prosthetist, these are opportunities you relish. After researching the Superhumans center and seeing the wonderful work they did there, it became clear that this was an easy decision to make, that would ultimately lead to successful outcomes.

Aether Biomedical has raised another $1.5 million in funding in the last 30 days, coming on the heels of a recent $5.8 Million Series A funding round led by J2 Ventures and Story Ventures. Aether CEO Dhruv Agrawal further commented, We are encouraged by the global support of the Zeus Hand and would love to partner with other NGOs around the world to help bring bionic prosthetics to those who truly need them to live better.

For more information about Aether and the Zeus hand, visit www.aetherbiomedical.com/.

About Aether Biomedical

Aether is building the future of human-inspired machines, starting with the most intuitive and intelligent prosthetic hand ever built. The Companys flagship product, the Zeus hand, is the strongest and smartest bionic hand for upper limb amputees. Zeus uses neural signals, Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning and deep learning to give users more autonomy and ease in their daily lives. Aether was founded in 2017 by Dhruv Agrawal and Faith Jiwakhan on the premise of creating smart prosthetic technology that is accessible for all. In 2021, Aether Biomedical extended its global reach by establishing its U.S. headquarters in Chicago, IL. This expansion complements their international presence in Poland and India. Learn more at www.aetherbiomedical.com/.

About Superhumans

Superhumans Center is a modern clinic for prosthetics, rehabilitation, reconstructive surgery and psychological support for military and civilians injured in the war in Ukraine. Superhumans is not a business. All services at the clinic are free for patients. The center is financed by donors and partners. The first Superhumans Center was opened in April 2023 near Lviv (Ukraine). In the coming years, Superhumans will open 5 more centers in different cities of Ukraine: Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Vinnytsia, Rivne, Dnipro. The project was initiated by Ukrainian businessman Andriy Stavnitser. Learn more at superhumans.com/en.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131354522/en/

Media & Investor

Sarra Mullen

Aether Biomedical

+1 312.535.9697

[email protected]

Source: Aether Biomedical
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- China is aiming to establish an effective monitoring and reporting system for hospital-acquired infections that covers healthcare facilities nationwide.

A new standard for hospital-acquired infection monitoring issued by the National Health Commission will come into force on Feb. 1.

The document stipulates the management process, requirements, methods and quality control measures involved in hospital-acquired infection monitoring.

The new standard applies not only to hospitals, but also serves as reference for healthcare facilities including maternal and child health institutions, blood purification centers, specialized health institutions, emergency services and nursing homes. 
Leading Technology Collaboration Takes Center Stage at DesignCon in Santa Clara, California on February 1

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Alphawave Semi (LSE: AWE), a global leader in high-speed connectivity for the worlds technology infrastructure, and Teledyne LeCroy, the worldwide leader in protocol test and measurement solutions, today announced the unveiling of PCI Express 7.0 signal generation, transmission, and measurement collaboration at DesignCon in Santa Clara, CA.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131077044/en/

This launch is the culmination of Alphawave Semi and Teledyne LeCroys collaborative efforts, with results that push the boundaries of signal transmission and measurement technologies. These results accelerate the deployment of PCIe 7.0 technology for data-intensive artificial intelligence (AI) workloads for hyperscaler and data infrastructure applications.

Technical Session Presentation

Alphawave Semi and Teledyne LeCroy will jointly present Correlation Methodology for 128 GT/s Operation for PCIe Gen 7 DSP-Based IBIS-AMI Models on February 1 from 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM Pacific Standard Time in Ballroom B at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

The technical presentation will showcase Alphawave Semis Input/Output Buffer Information Specification algorithmic modeling interface (IBIS-AMI). This interface is integral to predicting the transmitter output performance of the Alphawave Semi 128 Gigabit per second (Gbps) DSP-based Serializer-Deserializer (SerDes), using Teledyne LeCroys WaveMaster 8650HD 65 GHz, 12-bit high-definition oscilloscope (HDO) and QualiPHY compliance test software for PCIe 7.0.

Results will show that the Alphawave Semi 128 Gbps SerDes, when measured with the Teledyne LeCroy 12-bit, 65 GHz oscilloscope, passes all expected PCI-SIG PCIe 7.0 electrical base and compliance tests, including:

Transmitter jitter

Pulse response

Signal-to-noise-and-distortion ratio (SNDR).

Live Demonstration at Teledyne LeCroys Booth

Following the technical session presentation, attendees can experience a live demonstration at Booth 1249 in the DesignCon exhibition hall to witness firsthand the simulation and transmitter test validations for PCI-SIG PCIe 7.0 electrical base and compliance test specification requirements.

The technical session and demonstration will be the first to demonstrate a correlation between models and measurements for 128 GT/s data transfers using a 65 GHz oscilloscope. This will play a vital role in supporting the development of the PCIe 7.0 compliance program.

About Alphawave Semi

Alphawave Semi (LSE: AWE) is a global leader in high-speed connectivity for the worlds technology infrastructure. Faced with the exponential growth of data, Alphawave Semis technology services a critical need: enabling data to travel faster, more reliably and with higher performance at lower power. We are a vertically integrated semiconductor company, and our IP, custom silicon, and connectivity products are deployed by global tier-one customers in data centers, compute, networking, AI, 5G, autonomous vehicles, and storage. Founded in 2017 by an expert technical team with a proven track record in licensing semiconductor IP, our mission is to accelerate the critical data infrastructure at the heart of our digital world. To find out more about Alphawave Semi, visit: awavesemi.com.

Alphawave Semi and the Alphawave Semi logo are trademarks of Alphawave IP Group plc.

All rights reserved.

About Teledyne LeCroy

Teledyne LeCroy is a leading manufacturer of advanced oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and other test instruments that verify performance, validate compliance, and debug complex electronic systems quickly and thoroughly. Since its founding in 1964, the Company has focused on incorporating powerful tools into innovative products that enhance "Time-to-Insight." Faster time to insight enables users to rapidly find and fix defects in complex electronic systems, dramatically improving time-to-market for a wide variety of applications and end markets. Teledyne LeCroy is based in Chestnut Ridge, N.Y. For more information, visit Teledyne LeCroy's website at teledynelecroy.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131077044/en/

Gravitate PR for Alphawave Semi

[email protected]

Source: Alphawave Semi
AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of bbb- (Good) of Net Insurance S.p.A. (Net Insurance) (Italy). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. Concurrently, AM Best has withdrawn these ratings as the company has requested to no longer participate in AM Bests interactive rating process.

The ratings reflect Net Insurances balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as adequate, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

The balance sheet strength assessment of adequate reflects Net Insurances risk-adjusted capitalisation, which is at the strongest level at year-end 2022, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Offsetting factors are the composition of Net Insurances investment portfolio, which includes material exposure to Italian sovereign debt, and the companys small capital base, which increases the potential for volatility in risk-adjusted capitalisation. Dependence on reinsurance is high, although the risks associated with this dependence are mitigated partially by the excellent credit quality of the companys reinsurance panel.

Net Insurances operating performance is supported by robust underwriting results, consistently positive in the past seven years. Notwithstanding extraordinary expenses incurred in 2022, the company delivered a profit after taxes of EUR 8.4 million (2021: EUR 11.3 million). AM Best expects prospective performance to remain positive, underpinned by technical profitability.

Net Insurance has a leading profile as a specialist in Italys Cessione del Quinto (CQ) loan insurance market. The company leverages its expertise and innovative approach to compete against the CQ markets larger players. AM Best considers the companys narrow focus and geographic concentration to be offsetting factors in the business profile assessment.

AM Best assesses Net Insurances ERM as appropriate. The companys ERM framework includes a clear risk appetite and risk tolerance statements, as well as appropriate control systems.

The ultimate parent of Net Insurance is Poste Italiane S.p.A. (Poste Italiane), the Italian postal service provider, and no rating lift or drag is applied to Net Insurances ratings from Poste Italianes credit profile.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2024 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131512410/en/

Andrea Porta

Financial Analyst

+31 20 308 5430

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

[email protected]

Mathilde Jakobsen

Senior Director, Analytics

+31 20 308 5427

[email protected]

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) today announced its participation in the following upcoming investor conferences.

On Monday, February 26, Chief Financial Officer Christophe Le Caillec will participate in a fireside chat at the UBS Financial Services Conference beginning at 11:20 a.m. Eastern.

On Tuesday, February 27, Mr. Le Caillec will participate in a fireside chat at the KBW Fintech Payments Conference beginning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern.

A live audio webcast of both presentations will be accessible to the general public through the American Express Investor Relations website at http://ir.americanexpress.com. An audio replay will be available after each event at the same website address.

ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS

American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, X.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

Key links to products, services and corporate sustainability information: personal cards, business cards and services, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, Accertify, Business Blueprint, Resy, corporate card, business travel, diversity and inclusion, corporate sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance reports.

The above-referenced discussions may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date on which they are made. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth in the companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Source: American Express Company

Location: Global

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131901492/en/

Media:

Andrew R. Johnson, [email protected], +1.212.640.8610

Azar Boehm, [email protected], +1.212.225.4052

Investors/Analysts:

Kartik Ramachandran, [email protected], +1.212.640.5574

Michelle A. Scianni, [email protected], +1.212.640.5574

Source: American Express Company
OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best and Bests Insurance Professional Resources have released the latest installment of the Best's Insurance Law Podcast series, which examines timely insurance issues from a legal perspective.

The latest episode features expert service provider Dan Finn from Finn Financial Group, LLC, discussing the benefits of structured settlements in resolving claims.

Finn Financial Group, LLC, is a qualified member in Bests Insurance Professional Resources, an insurance industry resource that has featured qualified legal counsel, independent insurance adjusting services and expert service providers since 1929.

Listen or subscribe to Bests Insurance Law Podcast.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2024 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131624567/en/

John Czuba

Managing Editor,

Professional Resources

+1 908 882 1722

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
New Partnership Aims to Foster Patient Access to Clinical Trials and Promote Diversity in Lipidology Research

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Care Access, a global clinical research company helping to accelerate the future of medicine, is joining the National Lipid Association (NLA) Industry Council. The collaboration aims to enable more community-based lipidologists to participate in clinical research and create access to cardiometabolic trials for their patients.

The NLA represents doctors and other experts from around the country who treat patients at the highest risks of cardiovascular disease. Often, these patients need new therapies because the treatments currently available are not effective for them. Patients with very high lipoprotein(a) levels are a good example. Patients with high lipoprotein(a) have an increased lifelong risk of cardiovascular disease, aortic valve stenosis, coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke. Currently, there are no approved therapies that target lipoprotein(a), but there are several potential therapies that Care Access is helping to investigate through clinical trials.

Care Access is the first clinical research site network to join the NLAs 2024 Industry Council, alongside biopharmaceutical sponsors Amgen, Amryt Pharmaceuticals, Esperion Therapeutics, Ionis, New Amsterdam Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, and Regeneron  organizations driving innovation in cardiometabolic health.

"At Care Access, we are committed to facilitating clinical trial access for patients from all walks of life," said Ahmad Namvargolian, Care Access CEO and Co-Founder. "Partnering with the NLA perfectly aligns with our goal of accelerating medical innovation and provides an opportunity for higher risk populations, especially those in areas without current access, to participate in the latest clinical trials.

Brian Hart, JD, Executive Director of the NLA, echoed the sentiment: We are delighted to welcome Care Access as a partner in our journey to enhance lipid management practices. This collaboration highlights our mutual commitment to diversity and equity, enabling more people to participate in clinical trials and benefit from advancements in lipidology research."

As part of these efforts, Care Access is offering no-cost testing for lipoprotein(a) and other cardiometabolic risk factors for participants interested in learning more about their own cardiovascular risk and about clinical trials for which they may qualify. Physicians can partner with Care Access to offer this resource to their patients.

Dr. Irving Loh, an NLA member and seasoned investigator with experience on over 160 cardiovascular clinical trials spanning the last several decades, and now a Care Access Cardiovascular Advisory Board member and Principal Investigator added, The next generation of preventive cardiology will include taking lipoprotein(a) levels into account for every patients overall cardiovascular risk. For the 1 in 5 patients with elevated lipoprotein(a), there are now promising investigational therapies that lower lipoprotein(a) levels. Practices partnering with Care Access to offer lipoprotein(a) testing and access to these investigational studies for their patients will be at the leading edge of cardiovascular medicine.

For more information about Care Access, including opportunities for physicians to participate in current lipoprotein(a) clinical trials and other cardiometabolic research, visit TrialAccessPartners.com/MD-LPa.

About Care Access: Care Access is a global clinical research company helping to accelerate the future of medicine. With a global network of over 150 research sites, Care Access supports research studies conducted by 14 of the top 15 biopharmaceutical companies. In addition to its proven track record of globally top-enrolling sites, Care Access partners with new-to-research communities and establishes high-quality research site infrastructure locally to expand access to clinical trials and increase representation.

For research sponsors, Care Access offers three core services: (1) global network of research sites, (2) community screenings to expand a studys reach, and (3) on-demand staffing, space expansion, and training services to support all research sites on a study.

To learn more about active studies at Care Access, or how Care Access helps sponsors achieve enrollment and representation goals, visit www.careaccess.com.

About the National Lipid Association: The NLA is a nonprofit, multidisciplinary medical society focused on enhancing the practice of lipid management in clinical medicine. The NLA represents more than 2,000 members in the United States and provides continuing medical education for physicians and other healthcare professionals to advance professional development and attain certification in clinical lipidology.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240125177413/en/

Joseph Oh

[email protected]

202-970-6885

Source: Care Access
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Canadian company Cipher Neutron Inc. (Cipher Neutron or CN) is very pleased to announce that it has appointed the renowned Dr. Bruno Pollet to its Advisory Board.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131783796/en/

Above, left to right: Dr. Bruno G. Pollet, PhD in Physical Chemistry and Gurjant Randhawa, CEO of Cipher Neutron; during the appointment of Dr. Bruno G. Pollet to the Advisory Board of Cipher Neutron at Hyvolution Paris, January 30, 2024 (Photo: Business Wire)

In line with Cipher Neutrons corporate strategy, Dr. Pollet will be advising Cipher Neutron in advanced scientific matters of innovative and breakthrough hydrogen electrolyser technology, identification of established qualified clients for Cipher Neutrons AEM Electrolyser Technology to produce Green Hydrogen and connecting Cipher Neutron with strategic investors in the expanding global capital markets that aim to greatly reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs) while seeking lucrative potential exposure from new entrants in the hydrogen economy.

Leadership - Dr. Bruno Pollet

Dr. Bruno Pollet is a member of the Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET): An Independent Advisory Council to the United Nations Secretary-General, and a CEET Hydrogen Task Force leader. He is also member of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Hydrogen Task Force, the International Energy Agency (IEA) Hydrogen Technology Collaboration Program (TCP) Renewable Hydrogen Task Force and the IEA Technology Collaboration Programme on Advanced Fuel Cells.

Dr. Pollet is also the President of the Green Hydrogen Division of the International Association for Hydrogen Energy (IAHE), member of the Board of Directors of the IAHE, member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA), member of the Board of Directors of Hydrogene Quebec, leader of H2CAN 2.0 (a cluster of hydrogen R&D groups in Canada), and Director of the UQTR Research Hydrogen Institute (HRI- Institut de recherche sur l'hydrogene at the Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres).

He has recently been acting as the Scientific Advisor of TES Canada H2 Inc., one of the largest producers of renewable hydrogen and natural gas in Canada. He also acts as the "Hydrogen Champion" and Scientific Committee member of the Energy Transition Valley (Vallee de la Transition Energetique - VTE). He was awarded two prestigious research chairs: NSERC Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Green Hydrogen Production, and the Innergex Renewable Energy Research Chair focussing on the next generation of hydrogen production and water electrolysers (electrolysis of water). He was also awarded the "IAHE Sir William Grove Award" in recognition of his leadership and his ground-breaking works in hydrogen, fuel cell and electrolyser technologies IAHE. In 2022, Bruno G. Pollet was invited to witness at the Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources and the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, at the House of Commons in Canada.

Research - Dr. Bruno Pollet

Dr. Bruno Pollet is renowned throughout the world. His publications include Scholar h-index 57, # Google Scholar citations > 13,000, Scopus >260 publications, ResearchGate >380 publications.

His research covers a wide range of areas, from the development of novel materials for low-temperature fuel cells and water electrolysers, hydrogen production from pure, waste, and saline waters, as well as oxygenated solutions and CO2-saturated waters to fuel cell and electrolyser systems, demonstrators and prototypes.

He co-founded and co-directed the Birmingham Centre for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research (UK), he was Director of HySA (Hydrogen South Africa) Systems Integration & Technology Validation Competence Centre (South Africa) and leader of NTNU Team Hydrogen (the largest hydrogen R&D group of experts in Norway).

He has worked for Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Ltd. (UK) and other various industries worldwide as Technical Account Manager, Project Manager, Research Manager, R&D Director, Head of R&D and Chief Technology Officer.

University Recognitions

He gained his PhD in Physical Chemistry in the field of Electrochemistry and Sonochemistry at Coventry University (UK) and undertook his Postdoc in Electrocatalysis at the Liverpool University Electrochemistry (UK). In 2009, he established the first Master and PhD with Integrated Studies teaching and learning programmes in hydrogen, fuel cells and their applications in the UK.

Unparalleled International Hydrogen Industry Recognition

Dr. Pollet serves on several international associations and industry boards as well as editorial boards of international journals such as Elsevier, Royal Society of Chemistry, IOP and Springer & Wiley. He edited over 18 books and published over 25 book chapters in hydrogen and fuel cells, and sonoelectrochemisty. He has also delivered over 200 keynote addresses and invited to talks at numerous international events.

Dr. Bruno G. Pollet, PhD in Physical Chemistry in the field of Electrochemistry and Advisory Board member of Cipher Neutron stated, In Canada and abroad, Cipher Neutrons AEM Electrolyser Technology is a hydrogen industry accomplishment to be very proud of. I am so pleased to become part of a group that understands the global importance of reducing GHGs, the advancements of AEM technology, and the commercialization of competitive electrolyser technologies. I look forward to applying my years of experience as an advisor to the great team at Cipher Neutron.

Gurjant Randhawa, M.Eng., P.Eng., President and CEO of Cipher Neutron, stated, Cipher Neutron is very pleased to welcome Dr. Pollet to its growing Advisory Board. Dr. Pollet brings to Cipher Neutron an upmost level of intellectual know-how which allows our business model to reframe the status quo of the new multi-billion-dollar green hydrogen industry. Cipher Neutron is very enthusiastic to be part of this journey side-by-side with an acclaimed partner such as Dr. Bruno G. Pollet.

Jean-Pierre Colin, Director & Corporate Secretary of Cipher Neutron, stated, On behalf of Cipher Neutron, I am extremely proud to welcome Dr. Bruno G. Pollet to fertilize our constantly growing team of experts with his far-reaching hydrogen technology capabilities in Quebec, Canada and internationally, and his unequivocal superlative world-wide reputation as a hydrogen industry leader. Dr. Pollet brings to Cipher Neutron a high level of innovation and enthusiasm, an unmatched track record of enviable excellence and a vast network of recognized leaders in the expanding green hydrogen community.

About Cipher Neutron Inc.

Cipher Neutron is a rapidly growing disruptive technology company focused on AEM Electrolysers for Green Hydrogen production and Reversible Fuel Cells for power generation and Energy Storage Solutions. Cipher Neutron is a global group of scientists, engineers, technology developers, experts in hydrogen technology, investment bankers and people that have worked in hydrogen for decades. Cipher Neutrons innovative products, such as AEM Electrolysers and Reversible Fuel Cells have unique advantages over other Green Hydrogen production, power generation and energy storage solutions currently available in the global market. Please see: https://cipherneutron.com

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events, financial performance, or business strategies of Cipher Neutron Inc. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in possible forward-looking statements. Cipher Neutron Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, if any, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Cipher Neutron Inc. reserves the right to modify, amend or update any information in this news release without prior notice. Cipher Neutron Inc. is not required and may not inform readers of any such changes or any updates to this news release to reflect subsequent developments.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131783796/en/

Gurjant Randhawa, CEO & President

Cipher Neutron Inc.

101 - 501 Alliance Avenue

Toronto, Ontario M6N 2J1

+1 (647) 803-0002

[email protected]

Nancy Massicotte

Vice-President Corporate Development

Cipher Neutron Inc.

+1 (604) 507-3377

[email protected]

Source: Cipher Neutron Inc.
WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- After the controversial ruling from Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick voided compensation to Elon Musk for his success with Tesla, Musk posted: Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware to his 170M followers on X. Musk currently has a poll on X with more than 888,000 votes with people voting to move Teslas Headquarters to Texas, which would provide Delaware another huge loss to its revenues and following a major exodus behind companies like X Corp, TransPerfect and DuPont spinoff Corteva. Citizens for Judicial Fairness released the following statement in response to these developments:

Another heavy-handed intervention by the Chancery had led to another high-profile company ready to leave Delaware. Chancellor McCormick has followed the precedent set by former Chancellor Bouchard with another reckless invasion of a company's internal decisions, driving more large companies out of Delaware, and more risk to Delawares main source of funding. We have been begging for transparency in Delaware Courts and awareness for the power this Court holds on companies and workers throughout the Country. We hope that the spotlight that Musk can shine on this unscrupulous Court will be a wake-up call for overhaul of a Court that has long benefitted its partner law firms and not the people of Delaware. We will be doubling down on our efforts to shine a light on this sordid state of affairs over the coming months.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131276988/en/

[email protected]

Source: Citizens for Judicial Fairness
Starting in February, Music Audience Exchange (MAX) will begin announcing the much anticipated artist lineup for Ford Truck Month 2024.

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ford Truck Month is a longstanding tradition celebrating the innovation of Ford trucksand Music Audience Exchange (MAX) has been part of that tradition with the inclusion of 14 Ford Music and Musica Ford artists in Ford Truck Month celebrations.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131435149/en/

Starting in February, Music Audience Exchange (MAX) will begin announcing the much anticipated artist lineup for Ford Truck Month 2024. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Ford Music and Musica Ford (the Spanish language arm of the program) have been elevating artists for nearly a decade. With the help of MAX, Ford partners with the best musicians from across the country, featuring the music that drives them to go further and giving fans a sneak peek into the lives of their favorite artists.

Past artists include Carla Morrison, Carly Pearce, Eslabon Armado, Thomas Rhett, La Energia Nortena, Marc Broussard, Ana Tijoux, Mayday Parade, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Pat Green, Chiquis, PJ Morton, Gaby Moreno, Priscilla Block, The Delta Saints, Willie Jones, Clint Black, and more than 100 additional artists.

The success of the Ford Music program starts with finding the right artist partner to meet each campaigns specific needs. Using the MAX Artist Matching Engine and a team of experts, MAX considers audience fit, key audience attributes, campaign goals, and cultural relevance to identify the ideal artist partner for each campaign.

The program features a variety of artists whose audiences mirror Fords target and often includes sweepstakes where fans can win tickets to live concerts, VIP meet & greet experiences, and autographed merch from their favorite artists.

Over the years, MAX has worked with Ford to find new and innovative ways to engage, interact, and drive leads with their target audience by merging the digital and physical worlds. Ford Music and Musica Ford campaigns reach music fans in the places they love to spend time, whether thats on social media, streaming audio, video platforms, or even at in-person events and experiences.

MAX is thrilled to announce that this years Ford Truck Month partnerships will feature three incredible artists, identified by MAX as the ideal partners to help Ford connect with diverse audiences through relatable, culturally relevant content centered around the artists, their musical journeys, and their genuine love for the Ford brand.

Stay tuned to find out which three artists will be celebrating Ford Truck Month with MAX and Ford this year!

About Music Audience Exchange (MAX):

Music Audience Exchange (MAX) is the tech company powering your favorite brand x music partnerships. Backed by tech VCs and built by a team of data scientists, engineers, music pros, and digital media experts, MAX is breaking new groundpowering partnerships for top brands (like Ford, Rocket Mortgage, McDonalds, AARP, US Marine Corps, and more) and supporting a growing portfolio of 6,000+ artists (including Alicia Keys, Kane Brown, Jon Batiste, Eslabon Armado, Leela James, Lalah Hathaway, Justin Quiles, AJR, and Melissa Etheridge) with live engagement tools and promotional sponsorships.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The companys Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.

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Rosemary Waldrip

MAX (Music Audience Exchange)

[email protected]

972-421-6218

www.max.live

Source: Music Audience Exchange
LEBANON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Eastgate Group, one of the nations largest providers of contract package labeling & decorating services, has announced an expansion of their screen printing capabilities. The investment will see two additional production lines installed at the southwest Ohio facility.

Direct screen printing continues to be a compelling option for brands looking to achieve clean & attractive packaging without the need for a secondary label on the container. Weve seen increased demand for this type of package decoration in recent years as companies seek to build a more sustainable & recyclable product. This investment will broaden our single & multiple color print capabilities and is in line with our commitment to provide customers with the highest quality packaging in the market, said Kyle Ludeke, President of Eastgate Group.

The two production lines will be focused on labeling plastic cylindrical containers using UV-curable inks and will be supported by Eastgate Groups in-house prepress & graphics department. While many of our peers have started to outsource the crafting of their silk screens, we believe that keeping the entire process in house allows us to provide our customers with a superior product and a quicker turnaround, added Ludeke. Eastgate Group expects the production lines to be installed & operational by March 2024.

Founded in 1989 and located outside of Cincinnati Ohio, Eastgate Group is a contract package labeler that provides turnkey & a la carte shrink sleeve, screen print, and PS label services for empty & filled rigid packaging including plastic bottles, glass jars, and aluminum beverage cans. As a holder of GFSI, FDA registration, Kosher, and Organic certifications, Eastgate Group supports a variety of industries ranging from food & beverage to health & beauty, home fragrance, personal care, automotive, pet, household goods, and more.

For more information: email [email protected] or visit https://eastgategroup.com/

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Grady Ludeke, 513-934-0018

[email protected]

Source: Eastgate Group
WOKINGHAM, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ferguson plc (NYSE: FERG, LSE: FERG) (the Company) announces today that it purchased a total of 76,036 of its ordinary shares in the period from January 22, 2024, up to and including January 26, 2024, in connection with its $3.0 billion share repurchase program.

Aggregated information about the purchases carried out during this period

Trading Day Aggregate Daily Volume

(in number of shares) Daily weighted average purchase

price of the shares (USD) Trading Venue January 22, 2024 900 190.5744 ARCX January 22, 2024 8,860 190.6155 XNYS January 23, 2024 1,899 189.3127 ARCX January 23, 2024 200 189.5900 CDRG January 23, 2024 200 189.5900 HRTF January 23, 2024 23 188.6600 XCIS January 23, 2024 100 188.2200 XNAS January 23, 2024 15,729 189.0162 XNYS January 24, 2024 1,239 188.3964 ARCX January 24, 2024 100 188.0500 BBOK January 24, 2024 470 188.8934 CDRG January 24, 2024 200 188.6850 XNAS January 24, 2024 18,510 188.7822 XNYS January 25, 2024 1,008 188.1971 ARCX January 25, 2024 10 188.2000 EDGA January 25, 2024 200 188.3950 XNAS January 25, 2024 10,592 188.2630 XNYS January 26, 2024 1,201 188.1366 ARCX January 26, 2024 7 187.9100 BATS January 26, 2024 100 187.9800 XNAS January 26, 2024 14,488 188.3910 XNYS

The Company intends to hold these shares in treasury. Following the purchase of these shares (including those purchased but not yet settled), the number of shares held by the Company in treasury will be 29,126,615.

Following the purchase of these shares, the remaining number of ordinary shares in issue will be 203,044,567. The figure of 203,044,567 may be used by shareholders (and others with notification obligations) as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation), as it forms part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052, detailed information about the individual purchases can be found at Ferguson - Investors - Shareholder Center - Share Buy-Back Details - 2024 Share Buy-Back.

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For further information please contact:

Brian Lantz, Vice President IR and Communications +1 224 285 2410

Pete Kennedy, Director of Investor Relations +1 757 603 0111

Source: Ferguson plc
SHANGHAI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has now opened more than 7,000 stores on the Chinese mainland, Starbucks China said on Wednesday.

During a conference call on Wednesday, Belinda Wong, chairperson and CEO of Starbucks China, said that in January 2024, the company had achieved a milestone in the Chinese mainland market by surpassing 7,000 stores, while adding that Starbucks is dedicated to reaching its goal of 9,000 mainland stores by 2025.

The year 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of Starbucks entering the Chinese mainland market. Wong said Starbucks will accelerate its expansion into more communities, aiming to provide high-quality coffee and the unique Starbucks experience to a broader range of Chinese customers.

Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan said in the call that Starbucks' development in China is demonstrating strong momentum, and the company aims to be the best in China's premium coffee market. 
Key facts

The 2024 FIS Fintech Hangout Series initiative was created to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing and networking among fintech startups, investors, financial institutions and FIS.

Inaugural event launched in New York City with future activations planned for San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle and Atlanta,

New initiative supports the FIS Fintech Accelerator Program.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global financial technology leader FIS (NYSE: FIS) has today announced the launch of its 2024 FIS Fintech Hangout Series, an initiative that fosters and connects fintech startups, investors, financial institutions, FIS experts, and participants from the FIS Fintech Accelerator Program. This series will spark meaningful conversations, share best practices, and showcase the amazing work of the participating fintechs.

The Fintech Hangouts supports FIS 9-year focus on identifying, mentoring and connecting innovative fintech startups with the broader financial services community. The program aligns with the FIS Fintech Accelerator Program, which has seen 80 graduates help advance innovation in financial services. Consisting of monthly thematic events, the series kicked off in January with a deep dive into importance risk and compliance, one of the biggest barriers to entry for prospective fintechs. The event broke down these challenges and whats involved in setting up the relevant frameworks for fintechs to address these important regulatory priorities.

Neepa Patel, Founder and CEO of Themis was the featured speaker at Januarys inaugural event. A 2022 graduate of the FIS Accelerator, Themis is the first compliance collaboration tool to help companies accelerate partnerships with vendors, banks and fintechs. Patel shared her experience and insights on how to navigate the complex and evolving financial regulatory landscape and how to build trust and credibility with customers and regulators.

We are thrilled by the reception of this new program and its role to inspire promising new fintechs and foster a deeper sense of community within the industry," said Annie Destefano, Head of Ecosystem Banking at FIS. "As the company that advances the way the world pays, banks and invests, we embrace our role in creating opportunities that help early-stage scale emerging tech more quickly and safely, to help modernize banking, bolster the economy and bring consumers closer to financial empowerment.

The FIS Fintech Accelerator Program is a 12-week program that helps fintechs refine their product models and scale their businesses. During the program, bankers, subject matter experts, and financial service executives engage with pre-vetted, market-validated fintech companies. This provides financial institution leaders with the unique opportunity to work alongside each of the portfolio companies participating in the program and help refine their product models to suit customer needs. Accelerator graduates have a track record of success with four members - Lama AI, Forage, Sardine and Array - just named to the GGCV U.S 2024 Fintech Innovation 50.

Applications for the FIS Fintech Accelerator Program 2024, its ninth cohort, will open in March 2024. Fintechs that are interested in applying can visit https://www.fisglobal.com/en/fis-fintech-accelerator or reach out to [email protected] for more information.

The next Fintech Hangout will be held on February 13 in Atlanta at the Atlanta Tech Village and registrations are welcomed from everyone launch, growing or working with fintechs.

About FIS

FIS is a leading provider of technology solutions for financial institutions and businesses of all sizes and across any industry globally. We enable the movement of commerce by unlocking the financial technology that powers the worlds economy. Our employees are dedicated to advancing the way the world pays, banks and invests through our trusted innovation, system performance and flexible architecture. We help our clients use technology in innovative ways to solve business-critical challenges and deliver superior experiences for their customers. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, FIS is a member of the Fortune 500 and the Standard & Poors 500 Index. To learn more, visit www.fisglobal.com. Follow FIS on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter (@FISGlobal).

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Kim Snider, 904.438.6278

Senior Vice President

FIS Global Marketing and Communications

[email protected]

Source: Fidelity National Information Services
Fisker welcomed North American dealers to its headquarters in Los Angeles.

CEO Henrik Fisker presented the companys win-win-win opportunity for its new Dealer Partnership model.

Mills Auto Group signed on to become Fiskers first US dealer partner.

Fisker expects to sign several additional dealers after the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Las Vegas.

Fisker has over 200 dealers in North America and Europe who have expressed interest in signing up for new Dealer Partnership model.

On January 4, Fisker announced a strategic shift to dealers from direct sales to significantly scale for Fisker Ocean deliveries and higher volume production of additional future models.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fisker Inc. (NYSE: FSR) (Fisker), driven by a mission to create the worlds most emotional and sustainable electric vehicles, welcomed dealers who traveled from across North America to the companys Manhattan Beach, CA headquarters on Tuesday, January 30, for the companys first Open House.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131658009/en/

Fisker Inc., driven by a mission to create the worlds most emotional and sustainable electric vehicles, welcomed dealers who traveled from across North America to the companys Manhattan Beach, CA headquarters on Tuesday, January 30, for the companys first Open House. At the event, Mills Auto Group signed up to become Fiskers first dealer partner in the US and will open three Fisker dealer locations. Fisker will start delivering Ocean SUVs to Mills in February. (Photo: Fisker Inc.)

At the event, Mills Auto Group signed up to become Fiskers first dealer partner in the US and will open three Fisker dealer locations. Fisker will start delivering Ocean SUVs to Mills in February.

Im absolutely excited for this partnership, and we want to thank Fisker for its confidence in our group, CEO Damian Mills said. We will instill Fiskers vision and mission into our stores on day one.

Im thrilled that the Mills Auto Group has joined Fisker as our first US dealer partner, and it was an honor to meet Damian Mills in person at our first Open House, Chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker said. Our pivot to the Dealer Partnership strategy has been moving incredibly fast. With interest expressed by over 200 dealers globally and over 100 in North American alone, I am looking forward to signing up more dealer partners and offering them a win-win-win from the relationship.

On January 4, 2024, Fisker announced that it would engage in a strategic shift from direct sales to customers in North America to an innovative Dealer Partnership model. The model combines the goal of offering its customers no-haggle pricing on Fisker vehicles (where permitted) and superb service while also providing dealer partners with larger market territories, so they can maintain a higher volume of sales. Taken together, these goals represent a win-win-win for customers, dealers, and Fisker.

The transition to dealer partners aligns with Fiskers asset light business model, which enables the company to significantly scale for Fisker Ocean deliveries and higher volume production of additional future models. The company signed up its first European dealer earlier in January and has been in advanced discussions with numerous potential dealers. Fisker leaders, including Henrik Fisker, will attend the National Automobile Dealers Association Show in Las Vegas, held from February 1-4, and expect to sign several additional dealers.

At the Open House, Fiskers executive leadership team presented the companys advantages in design, sustainability, and innovation to the dealers in attendance and provided them with a comprehensive preview of the companys future products. Dealers were also able to experience firsthand the Fisker Ocean SUV, the Fisker Alaska pickup truck, the Fisker PEAR crossover SUV, and the Fisker Ronin super GT convertible. Fisker executives reviewed marketing, sales and service plans as well as technology, engineering, design, user experience, and the over-the-air software roadmap that is already available on the Ocean and will inform the development of all new Fisker vehicles.

Fisker is currently delivering the all-electric Ocean SUV, which starts at $38,990 (US), in the US, Canada, and Europe. In the US, the Ocean has an EPA range of up to 360 mi1, which is the longest range of any new electric SUV in its class2. The Fisker Ocean has the lowest published carbon footprint of any electric SUV, uses over 110 lbs. of recycled and bio-based materials, is built at a carbon-neutral facility, and integrates rooftop solar panels, adding up to 1,500 miles/year of range3.

1 EPA estimated range. Mid-size SUVs. Measurements conducted with standard 20 wheels. Actual results may vary for many reasons, including driving conditions, wheel size, state of battery charge, and how the vehicle is driven and maintained.

2 Mid-size SUVs in comparable price segment.

3 Based on Fisker simulations. Ideal conditions assume solar irradiation of 5.4 kWh/m2/day and steady commuter driving. Actual results vary with conditions such as external environment and vehicle use.

About Fisker Inc.

California-based Fisker Inc. is revolutionizing the automotive industry by designing and developing individual mobility in alignment with nature. Passionately driven by a vision of a clean future for all, the company is on a mission to create the worlds most sustainable and emotional electric vehicles. To learn more, visit Fiskerinc.com and enjoy exclusive content across Fisker's social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Download the revolutionary new Fisker mobile app from the App Store or Google Play.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to the "safe harbor" provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as "feel," "believes," expects," "estimates," "projects," "intends," "should," "is to be," or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology and include, among other things, the quote from our chief executive officer, any potential future automotive original equipment manufacturer (or equipment or part manufacturer) transactions and other future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein due to many factors, including, but not limited to: Fisker's limited operating history; Fisker's ability to enter into additional manufacturing and other contracts with Magna or tier-one suppliers in order to execute on its business plan; the risk that OEM and supply partners do not meet agreed-upon timelines or experience capacity constraints; Fisker may experience significant delays in the design, manufacture, regulatory approval, launch and financing of its vehicles; Fisker's ability to execute its business model, including market acceptance of its planned products and services; Fisker's inability to retain key personnel and to hire additional personnel; competition in the electric vehicle market; Fisker's inability to develop a sales distribution or dealership network; and the ability to protect its intellectual property rights; and those factors discussed in Fisker's Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the heading "Risk Factors", filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as supplemented by Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other reports and documents Fisker files from time to time with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Fisker undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

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European Media:

[email protected]

US Media

[email protected]

Customer service: [email protected]

Fisker Inc. Communications:

Matthew DeBord

VP, Communications

[email protected]

Franziska Queling

Regional Head of Public Relations Europe

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

Eric Goldstein

Head of Investor Relations

[email protected]

Source: Fisker Inc.
WATSONVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Granite (NYSE: GVA) has been awarded a contract worth approximately $55 million by the City of Tucson to widen Grant Road from Palo Verde to Venice. Project funding will come from the Regional Transportation Authority and is expected to be included in Granites first quarter CAP.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131329881/en/

 This multi-phase project will require continuous communication and outreach with the traveling public, local businesses and residents throughout the project, said Todd Hill, Granite Vice President of Regional Operations. In addition to serving as an anchor project to the Arizona region and local workforce, the project also compliments our vertically integrated business with a need for aggregates and asphalt on the project. (Photo: Business Wire)

The project involves widening Grant Road to provide six through lanes and a median with left turn lane pockets. It also includes new curbs, sidewalks, landscaping, traffic signals, streetlights, detention pond, water main replacement, sewer main additions, cross roadway box culverts & storm drains, and a large 96" diameter culvert for storm runoff mitigation.

Granite will utilize its nearby Swan Plant facility to provide 36,000 tons of hot-mix asphalt (HMA), 40,000 tons of aggregate base course, and 32,500 tons of storm/water/sewer bedding and shading sand.

This multi-phase project will require continuous communication and outreach with the traveling public, local businesses and residents throughout the project, said Todd Hill, Granite Vice President of Regional Operations. In addition to serving as an anchor project to the Arizona region and local workforce, the project also compliments our vertically integrated business with a need for aggregates and asphalt on the project.

The project is anticipated to begin in April 2024 and is expected to be completed by December 2026.

About Granite

Granite is Americas Infrastructure Company. Incorporated since 1922, Granite (NYSE: GVA) is one of the largest diversified construction and construction materials companies in the United States as well as a full-suite civil construction provider. Granites Code of Conduct and strong Core Values guide the Company and its employees to uphold the highest ethical standards. Granite is an industry leader in safety and an award-winning firm in quality and sustainability. For more information, visit the Granite website, graniteconstruction.com, and connect with Granite on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Granite Contacts

Media

Erin Kuhlman 831-768-4111

Investors

Wenjun Xu - 831-761-7861

Source: Granite
Two New Executive Board Members Also Announced, All Effective April 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The partners of Husch Blackwell have elected Joe Glynias to serve as the firms next Executive Board Chair, succeeding current Chair Catherine Hanaway, whose term ends March 31, 2024.

Glynias joined Husch Blackwell in 2003 and has been with the firm for his entire legal career. He served on the firms Executive Board from 2015-2022.

Joe played a key role recruiting me to Husch Blackwell, and is a walking example of our firms commitment to clients, people, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, said Jamie Lawless, a non-lawyer business professional who assumes the role of Chief Executive of the firm on February 1. He has deep institutional knowledge and an innovative mindset, and Im looking forward to working alongside him during the next three years as we take Husch Blackwell to the next level.

Joe has earned the respect of his peers, especially after playing a vital role on the Executive Board for seven years, said Hanaway, who will return to her practice full-time. Im excited to be able to devote more time to my practice and am confident that firm leadership is in great hands moving forward.

Based in St. Louis, Glynias is a highly regarded labor and employment attorney, who concentrates much of his practice on the facets of employment law that regularly change, such as wage and hour collective/class actions under state and federal law. He also counsels clients on the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), restrictive covenant creation and enforcement, Department of Labor actions, and discrimination laws. Glynias has been recognized by Chambers and Partners, Benchmark Litigation, The Best Lawyers in America, The St. Louis Business Journal, Missouri Lawyers Media and BTI Consulting.

I am extremely excited about Jamie serving as our next Chief Executive and helping her chart our course forward, Glynias said. Our firm defines itself in many uncommon ways, including that a successful law firm does not have to be run by a lawyerparticularly when a non-lawyer business professional of Jamies caliber has shown herself to be such an inspiring and competent leader.

I believe my role, and that of the Executive Board, is to support her and create an environment where she can best succeed, and I cant wait to see what we can all do together. Our firm is beyond fortunate to be working from a position of strength and success based on the extraordinary work and dedication shown by Catherine Hanaway during her time as our Chair, for which we are all extremely grateful.

Glynias is a member of the Missouri and Illinois bar associations. He received his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri.

In addition to Glynias appointment, Husch Blackwell elected two partners to the executive board, whose three-year terms begin on April 1, 2024: Jen Dlugosz, who currently serves as the Deputy Managing Partner of Husch Blackwell's virtual office, The Link, and Julie Miceli, who is the Chicago Office Managing Partner. The new members join the following current members of the board: Joe Geraci, Hayley Hanson, Phil Koutnik, Ann Maher, Nikelle Meade, Sonni Nolan, Tom Shorter, Rudy Telscher, and Ed Wilson. The term for current members J.Y. Miller and Julianne Story ends on March 31, 2024.

About Husch Blackwell

Husch Blackwell is an industry-focused law firm with 20-plus offices across the United States, including its virtual office, The Link. The firm represents clients around the world in major industries including energy and natural resources; financial services and capital markets; food systems; healthcare, life sciences and education; real estate, development and construction; and technology, manufacturing and transportation. Husch Blackwell has one of the highest organic growth rates of any Am Law 100 firm and, as of last year, was one of only five firms of its size to increase revenue net income, profits per partner, and headcount every year since 2018. For more information, visit huschblackwell.com.

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Mike Lavieri

PR Manager

816-983-8667

[email protected]

Source: Husch Blackwell
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In 2023, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) produced a wide range of reports, events and web content. As a special feature at the start of 2024, we have compiled the most popular IGES content from the past year for the following categories: Top 10 Most Downloaded Publications, Top 5 Most Viewed Webpages, Top 5 Most Viewed IGES YouTube Videos, Most Liked Tweet and Most Attended Event. These rankings capture the environmental developments of 2023, and indicate some upcoming trends for 2024.

Each of the categories was ranked from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023. Both newly published and updated content are included.

[IGES Content Rankings 2023]

Top 10 Most Downloaded Publications

Publications that topped the list focused on Asia's shift towards decarbonisation. Key topics included Asia's transition to a just and sustainable net-zero society, the role of South-East Asian non-state actors in the Global Stocktake (GST) and the creation of a long-term ASEAN roadmap that combines both mitigation and adaptation strategies. Additionally, there was considerable interest in recent reports that assess the progress made by companies and local authorities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ranking Title URL 1 Just and Sustainable Transitions for a Net-Zero Asia: Emerging Issues and Solutions https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/asian-just-transition/en 2 SDGs Progress Report 2023: Survey Results on the Initiatives of GCNJ Business and Non-Business Participants https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/sdgs-business-progress-2023-en/en 3 Enhancing Non-State Actors (NSAs) Engagement in the Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement: Establishment of a Regional Hub in Southeast Asia https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/igst-sea-hub-summary-report-20221220/en 4 State of the Voluntary Local Reviews 2023: Follow-up and Review of the 2030 Agenda at the Local Level https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/vlrs-2023/en 5 Toward Developing the Guidance on National Long-term Roadmap to Synergise Mitigation and Adaptation in ASEAN Countries: Workshop Proceedings https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/toward-developing-guidance-national-long-term-roadmap-synergise-mitigation-and-adaptation-asean 6 Strengthening the Environmental Dimension of the Voluntary National Reviews in Asia-Pacific: Lessons Learned and Ways Forward. https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/unep-vnr-review/en 7 Building Data on the Plastics Value Chain in ASEAN Member States https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/building-data-plastics-value-chain-asean-member-states/en 8 Kitakyushu Urban Centre (Pamphlet) https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/kuc-pamphlet-2022/en 9 Understanding and Addressing Systemic Risks Behind the Socio-economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Japan and India: Developing a Roadmap for a Resilient and Sustainable Future https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/jsps-icssr/en 10 Environmental and Sustainability Implications of the Ukraine War for East and South Asia: Sustainability and Decarbonisation Should Be Accelerated Not Paused https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/env-sust-implications-ukraine/en

Top 5 Most Viewed Webpages

* Only News, Event and Special Pages that were launched or updated are included in the timescale for this category.

The Global Stocktaking feature page, which also placed high in the Japanese content rankings, was placed third. This indicates significant interest in the topic both domestically and internationally. In addition to content that regularly ranks highly, such as the Online Voluntary Local Review (VLR) Lab - which provides access to VLRs by local authorities worldwide - and the annual event 'Zero Carbon City International Forum 2023', this year saw the 'EU-Japan 100 Cities Event on Climate Action' event page securing the fifth spot. These results demonstrate the strong popularity of content focused on themes related to the role of cities in combating climate change and implementing the SDGs.

Ranking Title Category URL 1 Online Voluntary Local Review (VLR) Lab Special Page https://www.iges.or.jp/en/projects/vlr 2 Zero Carbon City International Forum 2023 Event https://www.iges.or.jp/en/events/20230301 3 IGES Activity on Global Stocktake Special Page https://www.iges.or.jp/en/projects/gst 4 IGES activities on COP28 UAE Special Page https://www.iges.or.jp/en/projects/cop28 5 EU-Japan 100 Cities Event on Climate Action Event https://www.iges.or.jp/en/events/20230126

Top 5 Most Viewed IGES YouTube Videos

'What does the "Global Biodiversity Framework" mean for the world?' was ranked first, reflecting the growing international interest in the field of biodiversity. Furthermore, two of the top five webinars were on the subject of hydrogen, indicating a keen interest in the use of hydrogen in the transition to Net Zero.

Ranking Title URL 1 What Does the "Global Biodiversity Framework" Mean for the World? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nt_JrdtXp0 2 Can Hydrogen Help the World Accelerate to Net-zero Targets? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kDFsLciyX0 3 ISAP 2022 Plenary Session: International Forum for Sustainable Asia and the Pacific https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqc98KPZhg4 4 Advancing the Net-Zero Agenda through Regional Cooperation in Green Hydrogen in Asia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvMdmye3QCQ 5 LCS-RNet 13th Annual Meeting - DAY2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cfpGg8Xcss

Most Liked Tweet

In addition to the G7 summits and ministerial meetings, there are G7 engagement groups where stakeholders from various sectors can put together recommendations. At one of these engagement groups, T7 (Think7: made up of think tanks from around the world), IGES led the development of two policy briefs. The tweet introducing one of these policy briefs, focusing on critical minerals, received the most likes. In total, 16 T7 policy briefs were incorporated into the Annex of the T7 Japan Communique, contributing to discussions at the G7 Hiroshima Summit.

28 April

#Think7 (#T7) Policy Brief led by IGES team, "Critical Minerals for Net-Zero Transition: How the G7 can Address Supply Chain Challenges and Socioenvironmental Spillovers", has been published. Check out the important report for its valuable content: https://think7.org/critical-minerals-for-net-zero-transition-how-the-g7-can-address-supply-chain-challenges-and-socioenvironmental-spillovers/ 

https://twitter.com/IGES_EN/status/1651865852667658240

Top 5 Most Attended Events

*Calculated by the number of participants on the day of the event, excluding post-event video views.

Events focusing on initiatives in Asian countries related to various environmental issues and their cooperation with Japan attracted a significant number of attendees.

Ranking Title & Date URL Video & Presentation 1 Initiatives and Issues related to Transfer of Japanese Environmental Technologies in India through Activities of Japan-India Technology Matchmaking Platform (JITMAP) (13 January 2023) https://www.iges.or.jp/en/events/20230113 Not available 2 Japanese private sectors involvement for environmental improvement in Thailand (2 March 2023) Not available Not available 3 Breaking the Plastic Habit in Asia: A Public Dialogue On the Application of Behavioural Insights (9 November 2023) https://www.iges.or.jp/en/events/2023118-9 Only video is available 4 1st Plenary Meeting of the Paris Agreement Article 6 Implementation Partnership (20 February 2023) https://a6partnership.org/1st-plenary-meeting-of-the-paris-agreement-article-6-implementation-partnership/ Available 5 LCS-RNet 13th Annual Meeting: New Scientific Challenges for Strengthening Actions Based on IPCC AR6 (15 December 2022) https://www.iges.or.jp/en/events/20221215 Available *2-day event, counted in terms of number of visitors attended per day.

About the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) is a collaborative research and outreach organisation working to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, resilient, shared and inclusive Asia-Pacific region, both across borders and within the world at large. Our strategic research and operations are defined by a mission to drive action on the worlds most critical environmental and social challenges through the delivery of trusted expertise on sustainable development and resilience. IGES operates as an agent of change and together with key international organisations, governments, academic institutes, business and civil society leaders, we seek to foster a world where planetary boundaries are fully respected, a green economy is flexibly implemented, and the well-being of people is steadily improved. In so doing we emphasise workable and inspired approaches to cross-cutting global development issues ranging from climate change, natural resources and ecosystems management, and sustainable consumption and production, among many others. The Institute was established in 1998 with support from the Japanese government and Kanagawa Prefecture and maintains its international headquarters in Hayama, Japan. With offices and local centres in Tokyo, Kansai, Kitakyushu, Beijing, Bangkok and New Delhi, IGES supports a regional and global network for ground-breaking sustainable development research and practice.

https://iges.or.jp/en

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131666211/en/

For more information please contact:

Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Kanae Sho

Tel: +81-70-5596-5924

Email: [email protected]

Source: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI), a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in investment sales, financing, research and advisory services, announced today that veteran multifamily investment sales advisors Bob Dean and Jonathan Greenberg have joined IPA in Washington, D.C. Previously executive vice presidents with CBRE, Dean and Greenberg join IPA as senior managing directors.

Bob and Jonathan have negotiated some of the largest commercial real estate transactions in the Mid-Atlantic region and their collaborative, client-centric approach to investment sales makes them a great fit for IPA, said John S. Sebree, senior vice president and national director of Multi Housing Division, Marcus & Millichap and IPA. The addition of these industry-leading professionals complements our recent expansions in Nashville, San Diego and Dallas, and reinforces our ongoing commitment to the strategic growth of IPA throughout North America.

A commercial real estate investment sales veteran with more than 30 years of experience, Dean specializes in the execution of institutional property sales in the Mid-Atlantic region. Prior to CBRE, he spent 20 years as a senior executive with GE Capital Real Estate, where between 2011 and 2015 he led dispositions valued at $8.8 billion. Greenberg has focused on multifamily investment property sales in the Mid-Atlantic region since 2001 and has been involved with transactions with an aggregate value greater than $40 billion. Since 2016, Dean and Greenberg have teamed up to execute $26 billion in multifamily transactions.

Bob and Jonathan have a strong track record of providing top-level strategic consultation to institutional owners and investors. Im looking forward to working closely with them as we expand our IPA service platform to more clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, said Brian Hosey, senior vice president and Mid-Atlantic division manager, Marcus & Millichap.

About Institutional Property Advisors (IPA)

Institutional Property Advisors (IPA) is a division of Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI), a leading commercial real estate services firm in North America. IPAs combination of real estate investment and capital markets expertise, industry-leading technology, and acclaimed research offers customized solutions for the acquisition, disposition and financing of institutional properties and portfolios. For more information, please visit www.institutionalpropertyadvisors.com

About Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (NYSE: MMI)

Marcus & Millichap, Inc. is a leading brokerage firm specializing in commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research and advisory services with offices throughout the United States and Canada. As of December 31, 2022, the company had 1,904 investment sales and financing professionals in 81 offices who provide investment brokerage and financing services to sellers and buyers of commercial real estate. The company also offers market research, consulting and advisory services to clients. Marcus & Millichap closed 12,272 transactions in 2022, with a sales volume of approximately $86.3 billion. For additional information, please visit www.MarcusMillichap.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131289146/en/

Gina Relva, VP of Public Relations

[email protected]

Source: Marcus & Millichap, Inc.
New study* reveals greater comprehension and personal engagement with enhanced e-consent

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Medable Inc., the leading technology provider for modern clinical trials, announces results from a new research project with Duke University Department of Population Health Sciences Bioethics and Stakeholder (BASE) Lab on the acceptability of enhanced electronic informed consent (eIC) in clinical trials. The pilot study* compared participant comprehension and usability, satisfaction, and preference of enhanced eIC versus text-only eIC, specifically exploring the use of interactive videos, graphics, calendars, and other tools to augment text in an eIC form.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131632626/en/

Enhanced eConsent: Grouped Information. Medable x Duke BASE Lab (Photo: Business Wire)

The study looked at 24 patients who reviewed an eIC in a mock study for an investigative medicine to treat hypertension: half reviewed the text-only eIC first followed by the enhanced eIC, and the other half did the opposite. The study population was diverse in gender, age, race, and geographic location. Nearly three-fourths (71%) of the study participants said the enhanced eIC was more informative and indicated that the digital elements were personable and made them feel more informed, engaged, comfortable, and prepared to participate in clinical research.

[The enhanced eIC] is more appealing to me as a human being, not just a study subject, said a 63-year-old male participant. It made me feel more comfortable and showed that people were really thinking about what needed to be done to make this more understandable to a layperson. Taking the time to put those extra digital explainers in the consent form gave me a personal feeling attached whereas the other format was dry and coldjust a piece of paper.

As decentralized approaches and technology become more common in clinical trials, the use of eIC may surpass the use of paper consent forms. In a large, bi-annual survey on patient experiences with clinical research, use of electronic consent forms (on an iPad, tablet, or other device) increased from 24% in 2019 to 44% in 2021, dipping slightly in 2023 to 32%. Duke BASE labs and Medables findings suggest that enhancing the eIC process with digital elements, including videos, knowledge checks, and drop-down menus, may have beneficial outcomes among potential participants beyond comprehension and satisfaction.

Digital technology can be perceived as less personal, so we were surprised to learn that the digital enhancements had a personal impact on participants and may help improve the consenting process in trials, said Amy Corneli, PhD, Director of the BASE Lab and an Associate Professor in Dukes the Department of Population Health Sciences. Further, because the initial consent process happens at the start of a trial, an enhanced eIC may pave the way for a more personalized connection for participants much sooner in the trial process.

Dr. Pamela Tenaerts, Chief Scientific Officer at Medable, added, We will continue partnering with leading academia like Dukes BASE Lab, Tufts CSDD, Harvard MRCT, and others to gather systematic evidence of technologys impact on trial execution. Evidence of how new methodologies impact protocol performance and trial experience is how we will affect real change. Whether using AI, eIC, or other innovations, Medable is committed to leading responsible, evidence-driven clinical trial transformation.

Medable, which ranked in the top 8% of software companies on the 2023 Inc. 5000, has deployed its software-as-a-service platform in more than 300 decentralized and hybrid clinical trials in 60 countries, serving more than one million patients and research participants globally. Customers have achieved impressive results  including 200 percent faster enrollment and 50 percent cost reductions. A Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development study shows that, on average, decentralized trials can achieve net financial benefits from five to 13 times for Phase II and Phase III trials, equating to roughly $10 million ROI and $39 million ROI for an investment of on average of $500K in Phase 2 and $1.5M in Phase 3.

In related news, Medable launched its intelligent automation technology to reduce clinical trial technology deployment by 50%, taking eCOA off the critical path to study startup. Hear more from Colin Weller, vice president and general manager of Evidence Platform at Medable, at SCOPE 2024 in Orlando, FL on Tuesday, Feb. 13th 8:30-9AM or meet us at Booth #621.

*NOTE: The Duke/Medable eIC study results should be taken as directional and further confirmed in a larger study.

About Medable

Medable is on a mission to get effective therapies to people faster. Its digital clinical trials platform enhances speed, scale, and patient access in clinical research, accelerating medicines for thousands of conditions without treatment or cure. Named a Leader in the industry by Everest Group and awarded Best Digital Health Solution by the Galien Foundation, the Medable platform has been deployed in more than 300 trials in 60 countries and 120 languages, serving more than one million patients globally. Medable is a privately held, venture-backed company headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and ranked #398 on the Inc. 5000 in 2023.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131632626/en/

Lisa Barbadora, Big Valley for Medable

+1 (610) 420-3413

[email protected] / [email protected]

Source: Medable Inc.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced that it has been named to Fortune magazines 2024 list of the Worlds Most Admired Companies. This years list included eight life insurers in the annual report card of the best-regarded companies.

Annually, Fortune partners with Korn Ferry to rank companies by their corporate reputation. Corporate executives, directors, and analysts are asked to rate enterprises in their own industry on nine criteria, from investment value and quality of management to financial soundness, social responsibility, and ability to attract talent.

We bring our purpose to life by creating a virtuous circle of shared value for all our stakeholders, said MetLife President and CEO Michel Khalaf. This recognition belongs to our employees who work every day to build a more confident future for our customers and communities around the world.

Additional details about the rankings are available at Fortune.com.

About MetLife

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates (MetLife), is one of the worlds leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help individual and institutional customers build a more confident future. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 markets globally and holds leading positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131442470/en/

For Media:

Olivia Janicelli

(212) 578-3547

[email protected]

Source: MetLife, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Metronome, the leading provider of usage-based billing for companies including OpenAI, Databricks, and NVIDIA, today announced the close of its $43 million Series B funding round to reimagine billing for SaaS companies. The round was led by NEA, with strong participation from prior backers Andreessen Horowitz and General Catalyst. In conjunction with the funding, Hilarie Koplow-McAdams, Venture Partner at NEA, joined the companys board of directors.

When we started Metronome, we spoke with hundreds of companies who were struggling to build and maintain usage-based and subscription billing infrastructure, said Kevin Liu, Metronome CEO, who co-founded the company with CTO Scott Woody in 2019. We built Metronome to be a powerful and flexible billing platform, but also simple to integrate and maintain  to help those companies move faster.

Metronome is designed for speed of deployment, flexibility, and ease-of-use  reducing the engineering effort typically required for billing and empowering business and product teams to fully own revenue and pricing. Once the initial platform integration is set up, teams can quickly launch new products and pricing, streamline revenue workflows, and give customers real-time spend transparency.

Billing is often underresourced internally and seen as a bottleneck for product launches and pricing changes. In reality, its a make-or-break revenue driver for any business, said Hilarie Koplow-McAdams, Venture Partner at NEA. Metronome makes it possible for companies to operationalize new business models quickly. Every customer we spoke to shared how Metronome turned billing from a hair-on-fire problem to a system that just works.

Today, Metronome is used by fast-growing startups and leading enterprises alike. The company has seen significant momentum, growing revenue 6x over the last year and powering billing for millions of end-customers. Much of this is driven by companies increasing shift to usage-based and hybrid pricing, as well as burgeoning interest in AI.

Metronome has played a pivotal role in helping many of the worlds top AI companies get new products to market and grow more quickly. Peter Welinder, VP of Product and Partnerships at OpenAI, shared, Metronome has been an essential billing partner on our journey to bring the world products loved by millions of developers.

About Metronome

Metronome is the leading usage-based billing platform built for modern software companies. With Metronome, teams can launch products faster, offer any pricing, and streamline quote-to-cash workflowsall without engineering effort. The company powers billing for many of the fastest-growing startups and enterprises, including OpenAI, Databricks, and NVIDIA. Based in San Francisco, Metronome is a private company backed by investors including NEA, Andreessen Horowitz, and General Catalyst. For more information, please visit https://metronome.com/ and see updates on X and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240130740190/en/

Maggie Lin

[email protected]



Erica Sunkin

[email protected]

Source: Metronome
GERMANTOWN, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MOTIS Brands, a portfolio company of Prospect Hill Growth Partners, has acquired TITAN Ramps, a supplier of loading ramps, carriers, and accessories for a broad range of customers and end markets.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131938637/en/

The extensive TITAN Ramps product catalog serves the mobility market with a broad assortment of multi-fold, threshold, and telescoping wheelchair ramps as well as a deep assortment of popular powersports and automotive ramps and accessories.

TITAN Ramps has a great reputation for value and quality, said Rich Spratt, CEO at MOTIS Brands. TITAN enhances our catalog of brands and supports our goal to provide every end-user with a strong and curated assortment of price points and product solutions to suit their mobility and access needs.

TITAN Ramps is committed to providing high quality customer care and MOTIS intends to continue and build upon their rich history. The MOTIS Brands shared services team intends to grow TITAN Ramps by expanding assortment, increasing reach through existing channels, and continuing to evolve the product and marketing expertise. TITAN Ramps will now be available for sale on the industry leading DiscountRamps.com domain and through leading retailers and marketplaces as well.

The transaction was arranged by Brown, Gibbons, Lang, and Company (BGL).

About MOTIS Brands

MOTIS Brands  Innovation Elevated. We believe life is best lived with full access to the people, projects and passions that move you. For loading, hauling, automotive and accessibility, our family of brands delivers innovation and value at every level. Headquartered in Germantown, WI, MOTIS Brands proudly manufactures and distributes a collection of industry leading brands including Discount Ramps, Race Ramps, Silver Spring Mobility, Heavy Duty Ramps, Black Widow, Guardian Industrial Products, Harbor-Mate, Pier d Nort, Elasco Products, MACs Tie Downs, Cargo . For more, visit www.MOTISbrands.com.

About Prospect Hill

Prospect Hill Growth Partners is a Boston-area private equity firm that makes control equity investments in North American consumer and healthcare growth companies. The partners at Prospect Hill have collectively invested approximately $3 billion of capital in more than 35 portfolio companies over two decades. The partners successful investment track record has been built on their sector-focused investment strategy and expertise, a robust operational value-add model, and strong alignment of interests.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131938637/en/

Jeffrey B. Miller

[email protected]

Phone: 617-753-1100

Source: MOTIS Brands
Guests cut the ribbon for an exhibition of porcelain artworks from Jingdezhen of China, in Paris, France, Jan. 30, 2024. The exhibition kicked off here on Tuesday with 48 porcelain artworks on display. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

People visit an exhibition of porcelain artworks from Jingdezhen of China, in Paris, France, Jan. 30, 2024. The exhibition kicked off here on Tuesday with 48 porcelain artworks on display. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

A visitor views a porcelain artwork at an exhibition of porcelain artworks from Jingdezhen of China, in Paris, France, Jan. 30, 2024. The exhibition kicked off here on Tuesday with 48 porcelain artworks on display. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

People attend the opening ceremony of an exhibition of porcelain artworks from Jingdezhen of China, in Paris, France, Jan. 30, 2024. The exhibition kicked off here on Tuesday with 48 porcelain artworks on display. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

People visit an exhibition of porcelain artworks from Jingdezhen of China, in Paris, France, Jan. 30, 2024. The exhibition kicked off here on Tuesday with 48 porcelain artworks on display. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

People visit an exhibition of porcelain artworks from Jingdezhen of China, in Paris, France, Jan. 30, 2024. The exhibition kicked off here on Tuesday with 48 porcelain artworks on display. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
Females Reign Supreme at Majestic Experience Celebrating Premiere of Docu-Series Queens

March 4 on National Geographic, March 5 on Disney+ and Hulu

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- National Geographic is set to make its debut at New York Fashion Week on Saturday, February 10, with a majestic, immersive fashion show Nat Geo Presents: Fit for a Queen, championing emerging designer looks from JeBlanc, Theophilio, Studio 189, Bed on Water, Almasika, LEnchanteaur, and Tejahn Burnett. and more, inspired by the docu-series. Commemorating the upcoming premiere of the female-led docu-series QUEENS on Nat Geo, premiering March 4 and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu on March 5, the visually spectacular experiencealso produced and led by womencelebrates the parallels between queens of nature and women revolutionizing industries, particularly fashion.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131163250/en/

Rendering Nat Geo Presents: Fit for a Queen at NYFW. Courtesy of National Geographic

QUEENS, narrated by Angela Bassett, is reshaping the landscape of the natural history genre with its female-led filmmaking team capturing formidable matriarchs ruling in the natural world. The groundbreaking series features six iconic worlds ruled by the most impressive female leaders in the animal kingdom. Likewise, the Fit for a Queen fashion show will incorporate holographic images of these impressive female animals alongside powerful women models to bring a new perspective to these intimate, dynamic narratives of queendom.

The Fit for a Queen fashion show will highlight matriarchal themes from this season of QUEENS, including African Queens with the lioness, Coastal Queens with the brown bear, and Savanna Queens with the elephant. This mesmerizing experience transcends fashion, emphasizing how Nat Geo is reshaping the natural history genre with influential women at the forefront, both in front of and behind the camera.

Like the series, the Fit for a Queen experience is produced and led by powerful womenin front of and behind the scenes. A rising female star in the fashion community, Sakinah Bashir, is curating and styling the wild fashion show featuring looks from designers JeBlanc, Theophilio, Studio 189, Bed on Water and more; jewelry from Almasika and LEnchanteaur; and shoes by Tejahn Burnette. Each look represents the animals and environments depicted in QUEENS cohesively and is inspired by the late nineties runway shows with deep color tones, with dramatic headpieces, and adornments.

New York Fashion Week is arguably pop cultures most epic and influential event of the year, says Janet Vissering, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, National Geographic and lead executive in charge of QUEENS. While it might seem a wild departure for Nat Geo, what better place to give a nod to queendom and celebrate our contribution to the movement of unstoppable women and powerful female matriarchs.

Filmmakers from the QUEENS women-led team attending the event include Vanessa Berlowitz, executive producer and founder of Wildstar Films, Sophie Darlington and Erin Ranney, directors of photography, and Faith Musembi, producer and director.

The creators and producers behind Nat Geo Presents: Fit for a Queen is the visionary Black-female-owned, women-led team at award-winning multicultural marketing agency PopN Creative.

QUEENS (Wildstar Films)

Narrated by Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Flood, Good Night Oppy)

Premieres March 4 on National Geographic; March 5 on Disney+ and Hulu

The wildest places on the planet have always been home to powerful leaders, but this a story of a new hero  fierce, smart, resilient and ... female. QUEENS features matriarchies and female leaders around the world to tell a story of sacrifice and resilience but also of friendship and love. These QUEENS arent always kind or gentle, letting nothing come between them and the success and safety of their families. Guided by award-winning actress Angela Bassetts powerful narration, QUEENS brings the natural world into focus through the female lens for the very first time. Four years in the making and helmed by a female-led production team from around the world  groundbreaking in the natural history space  the seven-part series leverages cutting-edge technology to reveal surprising insights into how females in the natural world rise to power, often relying on cooperation and wisdom over brute strength to get ahead. The final episode of the series celebrates the women who have gone to the ends of the Earth and dedicated their lives to documenting and protecting animal queens. We dont call her Mother Nature for nothing. All hail ... the QUEENS.

About National Geographic Content

Award-winning and critically acclaimed National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, creates and delivers riveting stories and experiences in natural history, science, adventure and exploration. Inspiring a deeper connection to the world, the content studio reaches 300 million people worldwide in 180 countries and 33 languages across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Its diverse content includes Emmy Award-winning franchise Genius, series Life Below Zero and Secrets of the Whales, and Oscar- and BAFTA award-winning film Free Solo. In 2022, National Geographic Content was awarded eight News and Documentary Emmys, in addition to Life Below Zeros Emmy win for Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program, its sixth Emmy overall. For more information, visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or follow Nat Geo on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131163250/en/

For Nat Geo:

Chris Albert, [email protected]

Nadia Aziz, [email protected]

For The Hinton Group:

Nate Hinton

Alyssa Kane [email protected]

For PopN Creative:

Gina McKenzie

[email protected]

Source: National Geographic
WALL, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), the principal subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), filed a petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) requesting an increase of $222.6 million to its base rates. The filing includes the recognition of approximately $850 million of investment by NJNG to enhance the safety, reliability, security and environmental benefits of its delivery system and operations. These investments benefit customers but are not reflected in current rates.

Our top priority is to safely and reliably deliver the energy our customers count on to heat their homes and run their businesses, said Steve Westhoven, President and CEO of New Jersey Natural Gas. The investments we make in our infrastructure reflect this commitment and the critical role our system plays in reaching New Jerseys carbon reduction goals. We look forward to working with our regulators to achieve a successful resolution of this filing that is reasonable and fair for our customers and our company.

NJNG maintains infrastructure and operations throughout New Jersey that serve approximately 576,000 customers who depend on natural gas for heating and other essential needs. As a lifeline service provider, the company is committed to continually improving its operations and enhancing the safety and reliability of its distribution network, including the repair, replacement and modernization of its system. This includes:

Upgrades to critical infrastructure, including looping and reinforcement projects, and the replacement of 140 miles of vintage distribution mains and associated service lines to ensure the safety, reliability and integrity of its delivery systems and support mandates set forth in state and federal regulation.

Modernization and enhancement of Customer Service and Dispatch operations to improve the customer experience and ensure efficient and effective response times and service calls.

Investment in cybersecurity consistent with industry standards to safeguard customer information, as well as support the safe and reliable operations of NJNGs systems.

Increased labor costs, including the ratification of a new three-year union agreement, that support adequate staffing to effectively meet our customers energy needs.

NJNGs consistent infrastructure investments  a priority for the company  have made its system one of the most environmentally sound in the state as measured by the fewest leaks per mile of any natural gas utility in New Jersey. These investments also position NJNGs critical assets to deliver the next generation of lower and zero carbon fuels, like clean hydrogen and renewable natural gas, and play a key role in achieving a cleaner energy future for New Jersey.

The proposed rate adjustment is necessary to ensure the responsible operation of NJNGs business and recover costs associated with these critical infrastructure investments. Historically, the BPUs review could take between nine and 12 months. If approved as filed, the change for the typical NJNG residential heating customer using 81 therms a month will be an increase of $29.01.

Natural gas bills consist of two main parts. The first part is the delivery charge, which includes base rates. The second is the Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS), which covers the cost of purchasing natural gas. The delivery charge covers the cost of providing safe, reliable natural gas service to customers and maintaining operations and delivery systems. The ability to earn a fair return on these capital investments helps NJNG continue to maintain a safe and reliable distribution system. The BGSS portion of the bill is updated annually to reflect current market prices and is passed through to customers. NJNG does not profit from the sale of the natural gas commodity.

Any customer having difficulty paying their natural gas bill should visit njng.com/energyassistance to learn about available energy assistance programs. Energy assistance is available for income-eligible customers through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Universal Service Fund (USF) and Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric (PAGE) Program, NJ SHARES and NJNGs own Gift of Warmth program.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. NJR cautions readers that the assumptions forming the basis for forward-looking statements include many factors that are beyond NJRs ability to control or estimate precisely, such as estimates of future market conditions and the behavior of other market participants. Words such as anticipates, estimates, expects, projects, may, will, intends, plans, believes, should and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements and such forward-looking statements are made based upon managements current expectations, assumptions and beliefs as of this date concerning future developments and their potential effect upon NJR. There can be no assurance that future developments will be in accordance with managements expectations, assumptions and beliefs or that the effect of future developments on NJR will be those anticipated by management. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, certain statements regarding NJNGs base rate case and investment programs, our employee growth, cybersecurity investments, maintenance, and modernization of our System and our emissions reduction goals.

Additional information and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NJRs expectations are contained in NJRs filings with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), including NJRs Annual Reports on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other SEC filings, which are available at the SECs web site, http://www.sec.gov. Information included in this release is representative as of today only and while NJR periodically reassesses material trends and uncertainties affecting NJR's results of operations and financial condition in connection with its preparation of management's discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition contained in its Quarterly and Annual Reports filed with the SEC, NJR does not, by including this statement, assume any obligation to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement referenced herein in light of future events.

About New Jersey Resources

New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) is a Fortune 1000 company that, through its subsidiaries, provides safe and reliable natural gas and clean energy services, including transportation, distribution, asset management and home services. NJR is composed of five primary businesses:

New Jersey Natural Gas , NJRs principal subsidiary, operates and maintains natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve nearly 576,000 customers in New Jerseys Monmouth, Ocean and parts of Morris, Middlesex, Sussex and Burlington counties.

, NJRs principal subsidiary, operates and maintains natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve nearly 576,000 customers in New Jerseys Monmouth, Ocean and parts of Morris, Middlesex, Sussex and Burlington counties. Clean Energy Ventures invests in, owns and operates solar projects with a total capacity of approximately 469 megawatts, providing residential and commercial customers with low-carbon solutions.

invests in, owns and operates solar projects with a total capacity of approximately 469 megawatts, providing residential and commercial customers with low-carbon solutions. Energy Services manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides physical natural gas services and customized energy solutions to its customers across North America.

manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides physical natural gas services and customized energy solutions to its customers across North America. Storage and Transportation serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers through its ownership of Leaf River Energy Center and the Adelphia Gateway Pipeline, as well as our 50% equity ownership in the Steckman Ridge natural gas storage facility.

serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers through its ownership of Leaf River Energy Center and the Adelphia Gateway Pipeline, as well as our 50% equity ownership in the Steckman Ridge natural gas storage facility. Home Services provides service contracts as well as heating, central air conditioning, water heaters, standby generators, solar and other indoor and outdoor comfort products to residential homes throughout New Jersey.

NJR and its over 1,300 employees are committed to helping customers save energy and money by promoting conservation and encouraging efficiency through Conserve to Preserve and initiatives such as SAVEGREEN and The Sunlight Advantage.

For more information about NJR:

www.njresources.com

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @NJNaturalGas.

Like us on facebook.com/NewJerseyNaturalGas.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131545286/en/

Media:

Mike Kinney

732-938-1031

[email protected]

Investor:

Adam Prior

732-938-1145

[email protected]

Source: New Jersey Resources
BCWipe Total WipeOut Supports User Data Erase Command for NVMe to Meet NIST Purge Requirements

HELSINKI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jetico, developer of best-in-class data wiping software, announced today the release of an update of BCWipe Total WipeOut. Addressing concerns of meeting the NIST hard drive wipe requirements, the new version of the software allows users to erase hard drive data and follow the guidelines in a single click. The update also supports the User Data Erase command, which ensures that data wiping meets the NIST Purge requirements for SSDs and NVMe drives.

"The NIST guidelines for media sanitization are widely accepted and followed internationally, but they are rather lengthy and can be overwhelming for businesses to unpack," explains Jetico CEO Hannaleena Pojanluoma. "After careful examination of the guidelines recommendations, Jeticos team used their 20+ years of experience in data protection to turn BCWipe Total WipeOut into a one-click solution that makes following the NIST guidelines easier and more accessible for clients."

Users of BCWipe Total WipeOut can now choose to erase data with a preconfigured wiping policy that follows the NIST SP 800-88 Guidelines for Media Sanitization requirements. The preconfigured wiping policy includes:

- Implementation of hardware-level erasure techniques such as NVMe User Data Erase, which is particularly useful for meeting the NIST regulations for purging data.

- A verification step to provide confirmation that data erasure has been successfully completed.

- A notification system that informs whether the wiping process results in a Clear or Purge level of sanitization.

- Tamper-proof wiping reports for auditing purposes.

In addition to automated adherence to NIST guidelines in a single click, this update to BCWipe Total WipeOut includes:

- Wi-Fi Support

Users now have the ability to remotely wipe devices via Wi-Fi connection, allowing for added flexibility and convenience. This feature is particularly useful for managing the latest generation of laptops and tablets that dont include built-in Ethernet ports.

- SMART Status

BCWipe Total WipeOut now includes the ability to check the Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART) status. This feature gives users the option to review the status of the drive, including details about its lifespan and degradation, which can be particularly useful for proactive maintenance and data protection.

- Enhanced Wiping Reports

Wiping reports now include comprehensive data about hardware modules installed in the system, unique IDs and version numbers. These additions will be useful to IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) professionals and corporations for inventory management purposes. Furthermore, information about hardware diagnostic tests and SMART data analysis can now be included in reports. A simple checkbox system gives users flexibility to adjust these options to best suit their specific needs.

For over 20 years, BCWipe Total WipeOut has been trusted by the worlds top security organizations to erase the contents of traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDD), Solid-State Drives (SSD) and Solid-State Hybrid Drives (SSHD). Since 2016, Jeticos data wiping solution has been certified by ADISA.

Learn more about BCWipe Total WipeOut and see how it can benefit your organization, or contact our data specialist for further inquiries or to request a free demo.

About Jetico

Jetico provides complete endpoint data protection software for National Security, Compliance and Personal Privacy. Trusted for over 15 years by the U.S. Department of Defense, Jetico's BCWipe can wipe selected files beyond forensic recovery such as in response to classified data spills, while BCWipe Total WipeOut can erase hard drive data entirely such as for disposal or decommission. To protect stored data, Jetico's BestCrypt delivers compliant data encryption software for whole disks, virtual drives and selected files or folders. Jetico Enterprise Editions include central management for client software control.

Jetico products are trusted by government and military agencies, all of the top 10 U.S. defense contractors, many national laboratories, as well as various other enterprises and a wide global base of home and small business users in over 100 countries. Founded in 1995, Jetico is privately held and headquartered besides Otaniemi Science Park in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland. For more information, please visit jetico.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131513034/en/

Valeria Corti

Marketing Manager, Jetico

[email protected]

Phone (U.S.): +1 202 742 2901

Phone (Europe): +358 50 339 6388

Source: Jetico
VicOne and Pwn2Own sponsors including Tesla discovered 49 unique bugs in EV chargers, in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems, and modems, etc; Security researchers awarded US $1,323,750

DALLAS & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- VicOne, a leading provider of automotive cybersecurity solutions, hosted "Pwn2Own Automotive 2024", its first ethical hacking event exclusively for the automotive sector, at Automotive World in Tokyo (January 24-26, 2024) to explore and address cybersecurity challenges in the automotive industry.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131906962/en/

Pwn2Own Automotive 2024 winners: Max Cheng, VicOnes CEO (left), and Dustin Childs, Head of Threat Awareness for the ZDI (right), awarding the title of Master of Pwn to the Synacktiv team (center). (Photo: Business Wire)

The event was dedicated to discovering and fixing digital security vulnerabilities of connected cars to protect the cybersecurity of vehicles. Specifically, 17 white hat hacker team and individuals from nine countries participated in a total of over 50 entries both remotely and on-site in four categories:

Tesla

In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI)

EV Chargers

Operating System

The participants competed for cash and prizes worth US $1,323,750. A total of 49 unknown security vulnerabilities (zero-day vulnerabilities) were discovered by the participants over the three days. To win, participants had to take advantage of newly discovered vulnerabilities to attack target systems and devices and execute arbitrary instructions. The event was not only about prestige and competition between the best white hat hackers on the scene, but also about collaboration within the automotive industry and with external IT cybersecurity experts to make the entire industry safer.

VicOnes parent company, global cybersecurity leader Trend Micro, co-hosted the event through the Zero Day initiative (ZDI), the worlds largest vendor-agnostic bug bounty program. Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla, as the main sponsor of the event, put its own products to the test including a modem, infotainment system, and Model Y vehicle. Individual hackers and hacking teams from countries including the USA, Vietnam, Japan, the UK, Hungary, the Netherlands, France, and Germany took part.

The winning team Synacktiv from France came away with a total profit of US $450,000, and now holds the title of Master of Pwn. With a total profit of US $177,500, the German fuzzware.io team took second place. The hackers from fuzzware.io targeted the Sony XAV-AX5500 and the Alpine Halo9 iLX-F509 in the In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) category, as well as the ChargePoint Home Flex, the Autel MaxiCharger AC Wallbox Commercial, the EMPORIA EV Charger Level 2 and the Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3100 in the Chargers for Electric Vehicles category. With no less than six hacking attempts, they were among the most diligent hackathon participants. Team Tortuga checked the ChargePoint Home Flex in the category chargers for electric vehicles for possible security vulnerabilities.

The multinational event also served to connect and engage the automotive industry with the cybersecurity industry. Hacking events like this are crucial to prepare the global automotive industry for the evolving threat landscape. For example, the ongoing on-site competition also featured attack scenarios that emphasized the importance of discovering cybersecurity vulnerabilities and the potential threats that can arise if vulnerabilities are not addressed promptly. Early detection of vulnerabilities and sharing them with vendors for their countermeasures is important, first and foremost, from the standpoint of safety and cost. By uncovering vulnerabilities in their own products, participating companies were able to gain insights into how they can develop more secure and reliable products.

The zero-day vulnerabilities discovered through this competition will be reported to the respective vendors for further action to fix them. Details of the vulnerabilities will be announced 120 days or later after the conclusion of the competition based on their status. The event revealed the very latest security research and hacking approaches and, therefore, has at least indirect relevance for planned government and industry security measures and regulations.

"With the constant innovations in the automotive industry, the car is not only a traditional means of transportation but also a completely new mobility and a new living space, said Max Cheng, CEO of VicOne. In an era where our lives and mobility are becoming more closely connected through the Internet, cybersecurity is of paramount importance for people's economic and physical safety, which is why it is essential to identify and address security vulnerabilities in systems before malicious attackers do. Pwn2Own Automotive 2024 is one of VicOne's efforts to spread its long-standing security expertise to the automotive industry.

Cheng continued, we are also delighted that the number of entries far exceeded our expectations. This was a very successful demonstration that we are at the forefront of discovering zero-day vulnerabilities in the automotive industry and protecting against cyber-attacks, thanks to the dedication and expertise of our participants and the great work of our own researchers. We would like to thank everyone who attended this event and shared the spirit of security research and innovation. This is not a one-time event. VicOne will continue to host this event, and I hope to see everyone again at 2025 Pwn2Own Automotive Tokyo."

Since 2007, Pwn2Own has been the world's largest hacking contest, rewarding top researchers with the ability to penetrate the most challenging attack surface and discover zero-day vulnerabilities. While previous competitions have covered a wide range of areas, this year's competition was the first Pwn2Own to focus on automobiles. The discovery of 49 new unknown vulnerabilities and the opportunity to bring together a community of automotive vendors and world-class security researchers to share the latest and most valuable insights into automotive cybersecurity is of critical importance to the global automotive industry's ability to prepare for evolving threats, explained Brian Gorenc, VP of Threat Research at VicOnes parent company Trend Micro and responsible for the ZDI program.

For more updates on the Pwn2Own Automotive and future Pwn2Own hacking events, follow the social media accounts and blog posts from VicOne (LinkedIn, X, blog) and ZDI (LinkedIn, X, blog).

About VicOne:

With a vision to secure the vehicles of tomorrow, VicOne offers a broad portfolio of cybersecurity software and services for the automotive industry. VicOne's solutions are specifically designed to meet the stringent requirements of automotive manufacturers and are engineered to meet the unique needs of modern vehicles. As a subsidiary of Trend Micro, VicOne is built on a solid foundation in cybersecurity resulting from Trend Micro's 30+ years of experience in the industry. VicOne provides unparalleled protection for the automotive industry and deep security expertise that enables our customers to build safe and smart vehicles. For more information, please visit vicone.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131906962/en/

U.S. Media Contact:

Vivian Kelly Interprose for VicOne

+1 703.509.5412

[email protected]

Source: VicOne
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Quanta System proudly opens the door to the New Year by unleashing the ultimate innovation in the picosecond laser technologies: Discovery PICO with VarioPulse Technology. An unprecedented level of precision and versatility in a device that allows you to select the picosecond pulse-duration to personalize the treatments to meet the unique needs of each person.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240130556983/en/

Pico Filling Treatment - skin rejuvenation (Photo: Business Wire)

Quanta System has always been committed to follow the evolving needs of the market and to listen and understand the needs of its customers. Discovery PICO VarioPulse Technology represents a significant leap forward in the world of aesthetic medicine.

Featuring Pico Boost technology that can deliver up to 1.8GW of laser power perfectly controlled by the VarioPulse Technology, this next-generation device welcomes you to 3 cutting-edge customized treatments that are precisely designed to perform tattoo removal and skin revitalization at their best.

Pico Tune-Ink, the adaptable treatment that removes tattoo ink of a wide variety of colour and complexity;

Pico Filling, the no down-time treatment that revitalizes the skin from within and improve its appearance;

Pico Plasma, the all round skin remodeling treatment that targets scars and acne scars.

Commenting on this major launch, Girolamo Lionetti, CEO of Quanta System, expresses his excitement, "We are thrilled to bring this new technology to the aesthetic world. Our primary goal of improving people's quality of life is greatly enhanced by continuing to work alongside our valued partners, the physicians, and providing patients with more and more customized treatments.

This is just the first step of a new era laser roadmap focused on delivering the superior user experience and patient satisfaction that the market has been waiting for.

For more information about Discovery PICO VarioPulse Technology, visit our website www.quantasystem.com or come to discover it in person at IMCAS Booth U322 Level 3 - February 1st -3rd 2024.

About Quanta System

For almost forty years Quanta System, a 100% Italian company distributed worldwide, is the reference point for the research, designing and manufacture of state-of-the-art laser systems for surgery, dermatology and aesthetic medicine and the conservation of art works.

In 2004 the company joins El.En. SpA, leader on the laser market listed on the Euronext STAR Milan ("STAR") of the Italian Stock Exchange and a partner of reference for health facilities, Institutions and Entities engaged in scientific and research projects at a global level.

Designed to be used by doctors, specialised operators and restorers, today the Quanta System lasers represent the "Gold Standard" thanks to a wide range of applications.

The laser systems are entirely manufactured in Italy: from Research & Development to production, the entire process takes place in the company's headquarters in Samarate (in the province of Varese).

Quanta System is a trusted partner, day in day out, of all doctors in every part of the world thanks to its ability to listen, its straightforward debates and the creation of new systems that increasingly meet the real needs of professionals so they can provide better care for their patients.

A constantly evolving company that has managed to update its production so that it has always managed to satisfy the developing needs of its time, without losing sight of its primary objective: contributing to the improvement of people's quality of life.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240130556983/en/

Carolina Crepaldi  [email protected]

Source: Quanta System
Leading manufacturer continues a legacy of growth

WOOSTER, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Seaman Corporation, founded in 1949, has built a long-standing reputation of exceptional customer service and innovative solutions. As a leading manufacturer of high quality industrial coated fabrics, the company has grown significantly in its product line and customer base over the past 75 years.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131218611/en/

Seaman Corporation Headquarters, Wooster, OH (Photo: Business Wire)

The companys vision of safeguarding valuable assets by providing the best protective solutions in the world guides its team through day-to-day operations, encapsulating the standard with which its products are made and the end goal for their use.

As Seaman Corporation celebrates 75 years, the Ohio-based organization invites all associates, partners, and customers to participate in the celebration through a series of commemorative events, special promotions, and community initiatives.

Innovation and a focus on the customer has been a priority for this company from its beginning, said CEO Jeff Swartz. This mindset is what will continue to propel our business going forward and I am excited about the growth opportunities in front of us.

This company began in the kitchen of our home in Canal Fulton, Ohio and no one could have predicted that it would grow to what it is today, said Chairman Richard Seaman. It is a tribute to what can be accomplished by investing in a business for multigenerational growth. Much of this has to do with creating strong partnerships throughout the communities, celebrating our past, and educating future generations.

Seaman Corporation Builds a Lasting Business

The company credits its growth and success to the commitment and talent of its associates, many of whom have been with the company for more than 25 years and have their own multi-generational experiences with the business.

Together, they continue to build upon the principles that Seaman Corporation was founded, sharing their knowledge of the product and the industry with newer associates when they come in.

Products That Provide Solutions

Seaman Corporation serves customers around the world, supplying protective solutions to markets in need of air-supported structures, military, containment applications, and unmatched roofing systems for commercial facilities.

Growth Continues

Seaman Corporation announced in July 2023 that it will build a new manufacturing and distribution facility in Bristol, Tennessee, the companys fifth operations facility between Ohio and Tennessee. This expansion will allow Seaman Corporation to better meet its customer demands with increased capacity.

To learn more please visit:

Seaman Corporation: A Celebration of 75 Years

Seaman Corporation: Our History

Seaman Corporation: FiberTite Roofing, XR Geomembranes, Shelter-Rite Architectural Fabrics, and Shelter-Rite Industrial Fabrics

About Seaman Corporation

Seaman Corporation was founded in 1949 by Norman Seaman. Seaman Corporation, a manufacturer of industrial coated fabrics, is the world leader for the highest quality and performance fabrics used for roofing, geomembranes, architectural, and recreational applications around the globe. With manufacturing plants in Wooster, Ohio and Bristol, Tennessee, Seaman Corporation employs more than 400 employees companywide. Seaman Corporation is a Veteran-owned USA-based manufacturing company. For more information about Seaman Corporation, its products and people find us online: www.seamancorp.com. Follow us on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Like us on Facebook. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131218611/en/

Seaman Corporation Media Contact

Kate Bittner

Internal Communications Manager

[email protected]

(330) 749-1208

Source: Seaman Corporation
Enhanced cloud platform offers generative AI-enabled solutions to facilitate end-to-end digital transformations

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TELUS International (NYSE and TSX: TIXT), a leading digital customer experience (CX) innovator that designs, builds, and delivers next-generation solutions, including artificial intelligence (AI) and content moderation, for global and disruptive brands, today announced a strategic partnership with Morpheus Data, a pioneer in software for hybrid cloud management and platform operations. The collaboration further strengthens TELUS Internationals robust suite of Cloud Management solutions to further elevate end-to-end digital transformations for its clients.

As businesses continue to evolve in the digital era, the demand for a revolutionary approach to developer enablement and IT service delivery has become more pressing than ever. Today, we are thrilled to announce the launch of TELUS Internationals Hybrid Cloud Management capabilities, powered by Morpheus Data, to help our clients streamline and operationalize their internal development platform projects more quickly, said Paul Egger, Vice President, TELUS International Digital Solutions. Embedded in all of our public and private cloud solutions to enable true hybrid cloud management, this evolved iteration of our cloud orchestration platform represents a significant leap forward in our commitment to deliver agile, cutting-edge digital services for our clients. Notably, we are simultaneously creating a service fabric for the future that extends into professional services, application services, and beyond.

TELUS International's expertise in customer-centric digital solutions combined with Morpheus Data's state-of-the-art cloud management technology simplifies the consumption of private and public clouds, container clusters, and automation tools to eliminate onboarding friction and modernize applications. The cloud platform comes equipped with an engine that allows enterprises to easily and efficiently manage their operations through a single console. It also provides integrations that enable a unified view of operations, self-service provisioning, and hybrid cloud cost management. To further enhance customer support for its global enterprise clients, Morpheus Data will be integrating an AI-powered chatbot based on the intelligent TELUS International Assistant (iTIA) framework within its hybrid cloud management platform.

As a leader in application modernization and digital transformation services, TELUS International is the perfect partner to build a managed services offering based on the Morpheus platform, said Brad Parks, Chief Product Officer at Morpheus Data. By integrating the power of generative AI into our hybrid cloud management platform, we are truly co-engineering solutions that are reshaping how customers enable developer self-service. Together with TELUS International, we are delivering experiences that help businesses to quickly optimize their platform operations, enhance IT efficiency, and drive innovation.

With more than 20 years of industry experience specifically in cloud platform solutions, including migrating, transforming, and managing cloud and hybrid IT solutions, TELUS International provides these services to more than 500 clients across telecom, financial services, utilities, technology, healthcare, and government. Meet with our Cloud Solutions experts to see how we can help you leverage cloud capabilities to achieve your goals. Lets connect.

About TELUS International

TELUS International (NYSE & TSX: TIXT) designs, builds, and delivers next-generation digital solutions to enhance the customer experience (CX) for global and disruptive brands. The companys services support the full lifecycle of its clients digital transformation journeys, enabling them to more quickly embrace next-generation digital technologies to deliver better business outcomes. TELUS Internationals integrated solutions span digital strategy, innovation, consulting and design, IT lifecycle including managed solutions, intelligent automation, and end-to-end AI data solutions including computer vision capabilities, as well as omnichannel CX and trust and safety solutions including content moderation. Fueling all stages of company growth, TELUS International partners with brands across strategic industry verticals, including tech and games, communications and media, eCommerce and fintech, banking, financial services and insurance, healthcare, and others.

TELUS Internationals unique caring culture promotes diversity and inclusivity through its policies, team member resource groups and workshops, and equal employment opportunity hiring practices across its operating regions. Since 2007, the company has positively impacted the lives of more than 1.2 million citizens worldwide, building stronger communities and helping those in need through large-scale volunteer events and charitable giving. Five TELUS International Community Boards have provided $5.4 million in funding to grassroots charitable organizations since 2011. Learn more at: telusinternational.com.

About Morpheus Data

Morpheus Data is a rapidly growing enterprise software company that provides a unified, adaptable, and 100% agnostic hybrid cloud management solution designed for platform engineering teams. Their software enables Developer Self-Service while also providing a unified approach to IT, Security, and Finance controls. The company has been recognized as a leader in hybrid cloud management with deep integration into VMware, Nutanix, AWS, Azure, ServiceNow, Terraform, Ansible, and more. Proven with over 1M workloads under management and partnerships with leading OEMs and GSIs, Morpheus is excited to help Enterprises and MSPs enable hybrid cloud platform operations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131670210/en/

TELUS International Investor Relations

Jason Mayr

(604) 695-3455

[email protected]

TELUS International Media Relations

Ali Wilson

(604) 328-7093

[email protected]

Source: TELUS International
Hong Kong feng shui master Mak Ling Ling shares exclusive tips for getting the most out of your 2024

HONG KONG & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 2024 marks the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac. A legendary creature with the amazing ability to roam the sky and sea, the dragon is considered the most important entity of the 12-animal Chinese zodiac. Feng shui master Mak Ling Ling has curated an Ultimate Guide to Getting the Most Out of the Year of the Dragon that will help you to not only enjoy good fortune but allow you immerse yourself in the festive Chinese New Year culture of Hong Kong.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131505601/en/

Feng shui master Mak Ling Ling at Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong (Photo: Business Wire)

Reach for career and educational goals

No Chinese New Year trip to Hong Kong is complete without a visit to the temple! The city is home to a large number of historical temples, among which is the famed Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan. Widely regarded as a shrine to pray for success in career and education, this declared monument remains one of the citys most popular attractions. Its convenient location in the bustling tourist hotspot of Central and Sheung Wan has also contributed to its popularity with tourists.

Wealth and good fortune can be yours in 2024

To manifest prosperity in the new year, paying a visit to Kwun Yum (the Goddess of Mercy) is the way to go. Among the many temples in Hong Kong dedicated to Kwun Yum, the one in Hung Hum is the largest and most famous in Kowloon. March 6 is known as the Kwun Yum Treasury Opening Festival. On this special occasion, you will find visitors flocking to this historic building, all hoping for wealth that is symbolized by the money they can borrow from the Goddess.

Health and happiness in the new year

With close to 300 years of history, Hau Wong Temple in Kowloon City is favored by visitors who wish for good health. The temple is especially packed during the Hau Wong Festival. Apart from the main deity of Hau Wong, the temple also houses Tai Sui, the 60 deities in charge of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs combined with the five elements of Chinese astrology. Every year, certain Chinese zodiac signs are considered fan Tai Sui and people with those signs are at risk for bad luck. For the Year of the Dragon, the unlucky signs include Dragon, Dog, Rabbit, and Ox. If you were born in one of these years, you may appease to the ruling deity by performing a sip Tai Sui ritual, which involves writing your name and date of birth on a Tai Sui yi (paper) followed by offering incense sticks to the Tai Sui deities, asking to be protected against misfortune in 2024.

Dreams can come true

Renowned for its supposed ability to make visitors wishes come true, Wong Tai Sin Temple is the place to ask for an amazing Year of the Dragon. During Chinese New Year, the temple is home to one of the citys biggest traditions  first incense offering. Locals believe that those who enter the temple first and burn the inaugural incense sticks will receive good fortune. Crowds gather at the temple around midnight on Chinese New Years Day to participate in a race to compete for that coveted spot of good luck.

Feeling lucky?

If you are looking to boost your luck during a Chinese New Year trip to Hong Kong, be sure to make a beeline for Che Kung Temple! Upon entering the temple, beat the drum three times before proceeding to spin the fan-bladed wheel of fortune. If you had a good 2023, spin the wheel clockwise to maintain your luck; otherwise spin the wheel counterclockwise to spin away bad luck.

Get back to nature

In the art of feng shui, it is believed that the good fortune of a place is connected to its mountains and water, so a nature hike is considered a lucky way to kick off the new year. To embrace the beauty of Hong Kongs majestic landscape, hop on the Peak Tram at Central for a birds eye view of the Victoria Harbour; or visit the Big Buddha on Lantau Island, followed by a stroll in the Venice of Hong Kong  Tai O fishing village, which is just a 30-minute ride away.

Another place where you can tap into Hong Kongs natural energy is Tai Tam Reservoirs. This declared monument is renowned for its magnificent dams and hundred-year-old masonry bridges, which can be admired along an easy hiking trail sprinkled with picture-perfect Instagram spots.

Hong Kong has plenty of attractions waiting to be explored by visitors during Chinese New Year, so add some luck to your travels with a temple visit.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131505601/en/

For media inquiries, please contact:

Anne Gomm

Senior Manager, PR & Marketing

Hong Kong Tourism Board US

[email protected]

Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board
The annual IoT Breakthrough Awards Program recognizes standout Internet-of-Things (IoT) companies and products

PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vivint Smart Home, a leading smart home brand in the United States, announced that Vivint Smart Lighting has been awarded Connected Home Product of the Year in the 8th annual IoT Breakthrough Awards program. The program is conducted by IoT Breakthrough, a market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies, and products in the global IoT market.

Vivint Smart Lighting is an elegant lighting solution designed to make homes smarter and safer, and allows users to virtually "rewire their home without touching a wire. It consists of three components, including the:

Vivint Smart Light Switch that adheres to any wall. It can cover existing light switches and wall plates, regardless of toggle or rocker switches, with no electrical work required. Smart Switches dont require a constant power source so they can be placed on walls without existing switches as well.

that adheres to any wall. It can cover existing light switches and wall plates, regardless of toggle or rocker switches, with no electrical work required. Smart Switches dont require a constant power source so they can be placed on walls without existing switches as well. Vivint Smart Bulbs powered by Zigbee that replace existing light bulbs and come in a variety of options. Vivint Smart Lighting is also compatible with most Zigbee-powered bulbs, providing even more flexibility.

powered by Zigbee that replace existing light bulbs and come in a variety of options. Vivint Smart Lighting is also compatible with most Zigbee-powered bulbs, providing even more flexibility. Vivint Smart Lighting Bridge that serves as a dedicated bridge, providing dependable wireless communication between Vivint Smart Lighting products and the Vivint Smart Hub through a fast, reliable Zigbee network.

Vivint Smart Lighting seamlessly extends Vivints home automation and security features, resulting in elevated convenience, safety, and peace of mind, said Steve Johansson, managing director at IoT Breakthrough. Common pain points for smart lighting solutions center around smart bulbs that rely on a constant power source, issues with switches and customization, as well as disparate apps, and Vivint Smart Lighting addresses each of those issues. The solution is simple and effective for any home, which is why we selected Vivint for our Connected Home Product of the Year award for 2024.

We are thrilled to receive the recognition of 'Connected Home Product of the Year' from IoT Breakthrough for Vivint Smart Lighting, said Jim Nye, chief product officer at Vivint. Vivint Smart Lighting overcomes the limitations of other smart lighting solutions and seamlessly integrates with our smart home system, allowing Vivint customers to redefine their lighting experiences without any electrical work. This recognition is a testament to our teams innovative approach and commitment to creating truly smart solutions that make homes safer, smarter, and more sustainable.

The mission of the IoT Breakthrough Awards program is to conduct the industrys most comprehensive analysis of the global Internet-of-Things industry and then recognize the breakthrough innovators, leaders, and visionaries in a broad range of IoT categories, including Industrial and Enterprise IoT, Smart City technology, IoT Security, Connected Home and Home Automation, Connected Car, and many more. This years program attracted thousands of nominations from companies all over the world.

About Vivint

Vivint Smart Home, an NRG company, is a leading smart home company in the United States, delivering an integrated smart home system with in-home consultation, professional installation, and support delivered by its Smart Home Pros, as well as 24/7 customer care and monitoring. Dedicated to redefining the home experience with intelligent products and services, Vivint serves over 2 million customers throughout the United States. For more information, visit https://www.vivint.com.

About IoT Breakthrough

Part of the Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the IoT Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in Internet-of-Things technologies, services, companies, and products. The IoT Breakthrough Awards program provides a forum for public recognition around the achievements of IoT companies and products in categories including Connected Home and Home Automation, Connected Car, Industrial IoT (IIoT) and Smart City, Consumer IoT and more. For more information visit IoTBreakthrough.com.

Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131723546/en/

Vivint Media Contact

Heidi Mendez

Vivint Public Relations

[email protected]

Source: Vivint Smart Home
Local Suppliers to Play Significant Role in Czech Republics Nuclear Energy Future

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Westinghouse Electric Company, along with construction partner Bechtel, today signed a cooperation agreement with the Czech Power Industry Alliance. The agreement plays a critical role in leveraging the Czech Republics highly skilled nuclear industry in support of Westinghouse and Bechtels proposal to deploy AP1000 reactors in country.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131516581/en/

Ahmet Tokpinar (Bechtel), Elias Gedeon (Westinghouse), Josef Perlik (CPIA), Lukas Zednik (CPIA). (Photo: Business Wire)

The agreement establishes a working group to facilitate participation of Czech companies in the deployment of up to four AP1000 reactors at Dukovany and Temelin nuclear power plants. The selection of AP1000 technology in Poland, Bulgaria and Ukraine, as well as potential deployment of the AP300 small modular reactor, creates additional opportunity for Czech suppliers across the region.

The U.S. Department of Energys Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Dr. Kathryn Huff, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Michael Goff witnessed the MOU signing, showing the support of the U.S. Government for the Westinghouse  Bechtel team, as well as the Czech industry alliance, for the nuclear projects.

We see the signing of this agreement as a very important step in the mutual cooperation of all parties involved. The working groups efforts will ensure maximum involvement of the Czech industry in the construction of new nuclear power sources in the Czech Republic as a truly strategic partner of the AP1000 technology," said Josef Perlik, Alliance Executive Director.

Our AP1000 projects benefit greatly from robust localization of critical manufacturing and services work. I expect that at least 70% of the work for this major project will go to Czech companies, said David Durham, Energy Systems President, Westinghouse. We are grateful for the partnership with CPIA, one that will pay dividends to the Czech Republic for generations.

For over 70 years, Bechtel has been at the forefront of delivering state-of-the-art nuclear power technologies, said John Howanitz, President of Bechtels Nuclear, Security, and Environmental business unit. We know that the most successful projects include partnering at the local level and maximizing the capacity and capabilities of local suppliers to help our partners achieve their clean energy goals. We look forward to working with CPIA to help us continue to identify potential local suppliers and subcontractors to partner with to deliver energy security to the Czech Republic.

The CPIA brings together the largest nuclear energy technology companies in the Czech Republic. Its mission is to coordinate strategic interests, key partnerships and cooperation of member companies with partners including ministries and state regulatory authorities.

The AP1000 is the only operating Generation III+ reactor with fully passive safety systems, modular construction design and the smallest footprint per MWe on the market. In the U.S., at the Vogtle site in Georgia, one AP1000 unit achieved commercial operation in July and is producing power for the grid while a second unit is expected to achieve commercial operation in the months ahead. Four AP1000 reactors are currently setting operational performance and availability records in China with eight additional reactors under construction there. The technology is also under consideration at multiple sites in Central and Eastern Europe, the United Kingdom, and in North America.

Westinghouse Electric Company is shaping the future of carbon-free energy by providing safe, innovative nuclear and other clean power technologies and services globally. Westinghouse supplied the worlds first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 and the companys technology is the basis for nearly one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants. Over 135 years of innovation makes Westinghouse the preferred partner for advanced technologies covering the complete nuclear energy life cycle. For more information, visit www.westinghousenuclear.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world's infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place. For more information on Bechtels experience in nuclear power, visit https://impact.bechtel.com/our-projects/#nuclear-power and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131516581/en/

[email protected]

[email protected]

Source: Westinghouse Electric Company
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Most Chinese provincial-level regions have set their 2024 gross domestic product (GDP) growth goals at above 5 percent, eyeing new industries and consumption as major growth boosters.

The 2024 GDP growth targets range from 4.5 to 8 percent for China's provincial-level regions, according to the government work reports delivered at the annual sessions of the local people's congresses.

Xizang Autonomous Region in southwest China and the southernmost island province of Hainan have anticipated their GDP to grow at approximately 8 percent, the highest goal among provincial regions.

The two also led the country with their GDP growing more than 9 percent in 2023, boosted by strong post-pandemic tourism revival.

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region aims to grow its GDP by around 6.5 percent this year. The far western region was another high performer in 2023 with a 6.8-percent GDP growth.

Economic heavyweight provinces such as Guangdong, Jiangsu and Shandong expect to contribute to the economy by 5 percent to 5.5 percent in 2024. Their regional GDP climbed by 4.8 percent to 6 percent last year.

To realize their economic goals, most provinces have prioritized the tasks of expanding new industries, spurring consumption and improving the business environment in the government plans.

The manufacturing heartland of Guangdong, for instance, aims to boost "new productive forces" in industries including integrated circuit, new energy storage and commercial spaceflight. It also plans to foster future industries such as 6G technology and humanoid robot.

Similar focus on emerging and future industries is also on the agendas of other provinces, from old industrial bases in northeast China to scenic attractions in south China.

Hainan, while celebrating a robust growth amid a tourism revival last year, has set its vision on "new tracks" such as seed industry and aerospace.

The changing vocabulary of the local government plans has indicated a complete switch toward high-quality growth among Chinese provincial regions, said Pan Helin, a researcher at Zhejiang University.

"Most local government work reports have highlighted industrial upgrade and are promoting new industrialization," Pan said. "High-end manufacturing and strategic emerging industries will rise as the country's new economic pillars." 
Expanded supply agreement is now worth approximately $275M and demonstrates continued demand for silicon carbide across several critical industries

DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE: WOLF), the global leader in silicon carbide technology, today announced the expansion of an existing long-term silicon carbide wafer supply agreement with a leading global semiconductor company. The expanded agreement, which is now worth approximately $275 million in total, calls for Wolfspeed to supply the company with 150mm silicon carbide bare and epitaxial wafers, reinforcing both companies visions for an industry-wide transition from silicon to silicon carbide semiconductor power devices.

As the global leader in silicon carbide wafer production, Wolfspeed is uniquely positioned to be a critical supplier of high-quality and advanced silicon carbide materials at scale. We will continue to be an important partner to power device manufacturers who need the highest-quality silicon carbide wafers to service their customers, said Dr. Cengiz Balkas, SVP and GM of Materials for Wolfspeed. This agreement further strengthens our long-time partnership with a best-in-class power semiconductor manufacturer. Our collective efforts are helping to address the rapidly expanding opportunity for silicon carbide and better address the unfulfilled demand that exists in the marketplace today.

The adoption of silicon carbide-based power solutions is rapidly growing across multiple markets, including industrial and EVs. Silicon carbide solutions enable smaller, lighter and more cost-effective designs, converting energy more efficiently to unlock new applications in electrification. This supply agreement will enable silicon carbide applications in a broad range of industries, such as: renewable energy and storage, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, industrial power supplies, traction and variable speed drives.

Wolfspeed is the global leader in the manufacturing of silicon carbide wafers and epitaxial wafers. The company is currently expanding its manufacturing capacity in the United States and has plans to open a new, automated materials factory in Siler City, North Carolina later this year that will produce 200mm silicon carbide wafers. The new materials factory will increase Wolfspeeds current materials production capacity by ten times.

About Wolfspeed, Inc.:

Wolfspeed (NYSE: WOLF) leads the market in the worldwide adoption of silicon carbide technologies. We provide industry-leading solutions for efficient energy consumption and a sustainable future. Wolfspeeds product families include silicon carbide material and power devices targeted for various applications such as electric vehicles, fast charging, and renewable energy and storage. We unleash the power of possibilities through hard work, collaboration and a passion for innovation. Learn more at www.wolfspeed.com.

X (formerly Twitter): @Wolfspeed

LinkedIn: @Wolfspeed

Wolfspeed is a registered trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc.

Forward Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements by Wolfspeed involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause Wolfspeeds actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, including risks associated with Wolfspeeds expansion plans, including, among other things, design and construction delays and cost overruns, timing and amount of government incentives actually received, and delays or other difficulties in preparing for and ramping production; the risk of production or supply chain challenges that impact Wolfspeeds ability to ship in sufficient quantities to satisfy customer requirements; the continued pace of the transition to using silicon carbide devices in electric vehicles and other industrial uses; the risk that Wolfspeed may be unable to manufacture its products with sufficiently low cost to offer them at competitive prices or with acceptable margins; customer acceptance of Wolfspeeds products; the risk that demand for silicon carbide will not grow as Wolfspeed expects; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render Wolfspeeds products obsolete; and other factors discussed in Wolfspeeds filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 25, 2023, and subsequent filings. For additional product and company information, please refer to www.wolfspeed.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131746353/en/

Media Relations:

Bridget Johnson

Head of Corporate Marketing and Communications

847-269-2970

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

Tyler Gronbach

VP, External Affairs

919-407-4820

[email protected]

Source: Wolfspeed, Inc.
Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE: AMRC), a leading cleantech integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, today announced that two of the three SCE sites are in final stages of testing. The Company has engaged an advisor to pursue the issuance of subordinated debt to repay outstanding amounts on the senior secured credit facility as required by the Companys Bank of America term loan and revolving credit facility amendment obligations. The debt raise would also support the Companys near-term growth initiatives. The Company is not planning on issuing equity to meet these requirements.

The Company is releasing Q4 2023 financial results on February 28th.

To learn more about the energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions offered by Ameresco, visit www.ameresco.com.
Fisker Inc. (NYSE: FSR) welcomed dealers who traveled from across North America to the companys Manhattan Beach, CA headquarters on Tuesday, January 30, for the companys first Open House.

At the event, Mills Auto Group signed up to become Fiskers first dealer partner in the US and will open three Fisker dealer locations. Fisker will start delivering Ocean SUVs to Mills in February.

Im absolutely excited for this partnership, and we want to thank Fisker for its confidence in our group, CEO Damian Mills said. We will instill Fiskers vision and mission into our stores on day one.

Im thrilled that the Mills Auto Group has joined Fisker as our first US dealer partner, and it was an honor to meet Damian Mills in person at our first Open House, Chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker said. Our pivot to the Dealer Partnership strategy has been moving incredibly fast. With interest expressed by over 200 dealers globally and over 100 in North American alone, I am looking forward to signing up more dealer partners and offering them a win-win-win from the relationship.

On January 4, 2024, Fisker announced that it would engage in a strategic shift from direct sales to customers in North America to an innovative Dealer Partnership model. The model combines the goal of offering its customers no-haggle pricing on Fisker vehicles (where permitted) and superb service while also providing dealer partners with larger market territories, so they can maintain a higher volume of sales. Taken together, these goals represent a win-win-win for customers, dealers, and Fisker.

The transition to dealer partners aligns with Fiskers asset light business model, which enables the company to significantly scale for Fisker Ocean deliveries and higher volume production of additional future models. The company signed up its first European dealer earlier in January and has been in advanced discussions with numerous potential dealers. Fisker leaders, including Henrik Fisker, will attend the National Automobile Dealers Association Show in Las Vegas, held from February 1-4, and expect to sign several additional dealers.

At the Open House, Fiskers executive leadership team presented the companys advantages in design, sustainability, and innovation to the dealers in attendance and provided them with a comprehensive preview of the companys future products. Dealers were also able to experience firsthand the Fisker Ocean SUV, the Fisker Alaska pickup truck, the Fisker PEAR crossover SUV, and the Fisker Ronin super GT convertible. Fisker executives reviewed marketing, sales and service plans as well as technology, engineering, design, user experience, and the over-the-air software roadmap that is already available on the Ocean and will inform the development of all new Fisker vehicles.

Fisker is currently delivering the all-electric Ocean SUV, which starts at $38,990 (US), in the US, Canada, and Europe. In the US, the Ocean has an EPA range of up to 360 mi1, which is the longest range of any new electric SUV in its class2. The Fisker Ocean has the lowest published carbon footprint of any electric SUV, uses over 110 lbs. of recycled and bio-based materials, is built at a carbon-neutral facility, and integrates rooftop solar panels, adding up to 1,500 miles/year of range3.

1 EPA estimated range. Mid-size SUVs. Measurements conducted with standard 20 wheels. Actual results may vary for many reasons, including driving conditions, wheel size, state of battery charge, and how the vehicle is driven and maintained.

2 Mid-size SUVs in comparable price segment.

3 Based on Fisker simulations. Ideal conditions assume solar irradiation of 5.4 kWh/m2/day and steady commuter driving. Actual results vary with conditions such as external environment and vehicle use
Lazard Asset Management (NYSE: LAZ) announced today that Tomohiro Kamisaku will join the firm as CEO of Lazard Japan Asset Management KK, effective February 1, 2024. Mr. Kamisaku succeeds Yugo Ishida, who has been CEO of Lazard Asset Managements Japan business since 2014. Mr. Ishida will retire as CEO and become a Senior Advisor at Lazard Asset Management.

We have a long history of serving our clients in Japan and are positioning ourselves to do more with a broader set of Japanese clients going forward, said Evan Russo, CEO of Lazard Asset Management. In Tomohiro, we have found a leader who will help us build on our success, scale our relationships in the country, and help more clients achieve better investment outcomes. Our focus is on continuing to grow in Japan, establishing more partnership arrangements with Japanese financial institutions, and deepening our relationships across institutional and intermediary investors in the country. Were confident in Tomohiros ability to lead those efforts and look forward to welcoming him to Lazard.

Mr. Kamisaku joins Lazard from Amundi Japan Ltd, where he was most recently Executive Vice President and Head of the firms Japan Institutional business. He has held senior leadership roles at several firms serving Japanese investors, including at JP Morgan Asset Management and UBS Asset Management.

Mr. Kamisaku said: I am excited about joining Lazard Asset Management and building on the strong foundation that Yugo-san has put in place over his successful tenure as CEO. Japanese clients are amongst the most sophisticated in the world and are increasingly looking for more global solutions to meet their investment objectives. As a global firm with strong local roots, Lazard will enable clients to access a wider range of solutions while being anchored in nuances that are specific to Japan. I am ambitious about growing our client base and am looking forward to working with the entire Lazard team  here in Japan and across the world.

After 10 years leading Lazard Asset Managements business in Japan, Yugo Ishida will retire in February and become a Senior Advisor. Under his leadership, Lazards AUM in the country has more than tripled and the firm has become a valued and trusted partner with a broader set of clients. Mr. Ishida expanded partnerships with Japanese financial institutions, launching several new products over the course of his tenure, and his accomplishments have set a strong foundation for the firm going forward.

Mr. Russo said: We have been very fortunate to count on Yugo as a trusted leader of our Japanese business and as an advisor to the firms leadership team over the past decade. We are grateful for his stewardship and his accomplishments over the years, and we look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role as Senior Advisor. I am pleased that Yugo will continue to be an asset for the Japanese office and the firm.

Lazard Japan Asset Management KK began operations in 1987, and currently serves a range of intermediary and institutional clients. The office, which consists of members of the distribution team as well as Lazards Japanese Equity team, manages approximately $4 billion for Japanese and global clients. As of September 30, 2023, Japan represents nearly $10 billion in assets under management for Lazard.
TotalEnergies (NYSE: TTE) has signed an agreement with OMV to acquire its 50% interest in Malaysian independent gas producer and operator SapuraOMV Upstream Sdn (SapuraOMV) for a consideration of $903 million (including the transfer of a $350 million loan granted by OMV to SapuraOMV), subject to customary closing adjustments.

SapuraOMVs main assets are its 40% operated interest in block SK408 and 30% operated interest in block SK310, both located offshore Sarawak in Malaysia. In 2023, SapuraOMVs operated production (100%) was about 500 Mcf/d of natural gas, feeding the Bintulu LNG plant operated by Petronas, as well as 7 kb/d of condensates. On block SK408, the development of the Jerun gas field is on track for startup in the second half of the year 2024

The transaction is subject to customary conditions precedent, in particular the receipt of regulatory approvals. Closing is expected by the end of first half of 2024.

SapuraOMV also holds interests in exploration licenses in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico where a discovery has been made in 2023 on block 30.

We are pleased to strengthen TotalEnergies position in Malaysia by becoming shareholder of the independent gas producer SapuraOMV. Over the past few years, we have developed a strategic international partnership with Petronas, the national company of Malaysia. This transaction will anchor our future growth in the country and reinforce our partnership with Petronas. With their low production costs and low GHG intensity, SapuraOMVs assets will perfectly fit in TotalEnergies portfolio and participate in meeting the growing demand of gas in Asia, said Patrick Pouyanne, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies.
By Maggie Fick and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen

LONDON/COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Novo Nordisk will target launches of its popular obesity shot Wegovy in markets where it already has strong sales of its older weight-loss drug Saxenda, CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen said, as it faces growing competition from U.S. rival Eli Lilly.

Novo and Lilly's drugs are the most effective treatments for weight loss approved to date. Lilly's presence in the sector has strengthened after it won approval in November in Britain, the European Union and the U.S. for its powerful obesity drug Zepbound.

In his first detailed comments on how competition is affecting his company's strategy for its Wegovy blockbuster weekly injection, Jorgensen said the Danish drugmaker is watching Lilly's launches.

"I think most likely they have a situation like ours where they're building capacity and have to look at tactics market by market," he told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

"They, I'm sure, look at what we do, and we will be looking at what they do. That's how competition plays out."

Jorgensen has previously said he welcomes competition, and that there is room for multiple drugs in the fast-growing obesity drug market, which analysts predict could be worth more than $100 billion by 2030.

Novo on Wednesday forecast another year of double-digit growth as it boosted U.S. supplies of Wegovy.

The company is going head-to-head against Lilly's drug in the U.S. and Germany, and Lilly said last week it would launch in Britain "within weeks".

In January, Lilly also launched its weight-loss drug - sold as Mounjaro in Europe - in Poland, where Novo has not yet rolled out Wegovy. Jorgensen said he was not aware that Lilly had launched in Poland.

Novo has launched Wegovy in eight countries including Germany and Britain since its debut in the U.S. in 2021, with its most recent launches in Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. It will debut Wegovy in Japan, its first Asian market, next month.

Jorgensen told Reuters the decision to launch in Switzerland and the UAE was in part because Novo had already established its obesity business in those countries.

"Its easier to start there, compared to markets say where we do not have strong Saxenda sales," he said.

Saxenda, Novo's older and less effective weight-loss drug, has seen a jump in sales since supplies of Wegovy ran short after runaway demand followed its U.S. launch.

Jorgensen reiterated that launches of Wegovy in more European countries, which tend to have single-payer public health systems, will be "controlled".

Novo aims to sign agreements with European governments to guarantee some supply goes to the most vulnerable patients who cannot afford to pay.

OUTPUT HURDLE

U.S. prescriptions of Zepbound have soared since the drug hit U.S. shelves in early December, reaching 37,000 in the week to Jan. 19, data from healthcare data firm IQVIA and JPMorgan showed.

But they have yet to catch up with Wegovy, which totalled 92,000 in the same week, below the peak of 135,000 hit in May last year.

A major hurdle is meeting ferocious demand.

Eli Lilly has declined to say how much Zepbound and Mounjaro it will be able to make this year as it expands its North Carolina plant, turns to contract manufacturers and builds a plant in Germany.

One dose of Zepbound has been in shortage this month, though the company predicted that would end in February.

On Wednesday, the Danish drugmaker said it was more than doubling U.S. deliveries of lower doses compared with recent months, the first sign of progress in easing shortages after a year-long effort to ramp up output.

Still it expects periodic shortages.

(Writing by Maggie Fick; Additional reporting by Patrick Wingrove in New York;Editing by Jan Harvey, Josephine Mason and Barbara Lewis)
Washington, DC, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Mint (Mint) 2024 American Women Quarters rolls and bags honoring Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray will be available for purchase on February 1 at noon EST. The Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray quarter is the 11th coin in the American Women Quarters Program, a four-year program that celebrates the accomplishments and contributions made by women who have shaped our Nations history and helped pave the way for generations that followed.

The rolls and bags product options include:

Priced at $45.00, a bag of 100 circulating quality quarters minted in Philadelphia (product code 24WBA)

Priced at $45.00, a bag of 100 circulating quality quarters minted in Denver (product code 24WBB)

Priced at $40.00, a two-roll set containing a total of 80 circulating quality quarters minted in Philadelphia and Denver (product code 24WRA)

Priced at $60.00, a three-roll set containing a total of 120 circulating quality quarters minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco (product code 24WRB)

Orders for the 100-coin bags are limited to 10 per household, while orders for the two-roll and three-roll sets are limited to three per household.

Sign up to receive Remind Me alerts by visiting the official product listing page.

The American Women Quarters rolls and bags are also available for purchase through the Mints Subscription Program. Subscriptions work like a magazine subscription. After you sign up, you will receive the next product released in the series and continue to receive products until you end your subscription. Visit our subscriptions page to learn more.

Because of overwhelming demand, much of the production of the three-roll sets is accounted for through subscription. A limited quantity will be available for purchase on February 1 at noon EST.

The reverse (tails) of this coin depicts Reverend Dr. Pauli Murrays eyeglass-framed face within the shape of the word HOPE, which is symbolic of Murrays belief that significant societal reforms were possible when rooted in hope. A line from her poem Dark Testament, characterizes hope as A SONG IN A WEARY THROAT, an inscription in the design. Additional inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 25, THE REVEREND DR. PAULI MURRAY, and E PLURIBUS UNUM.

United States Mint Artist Infusion Program Designer Emily Damstra created the reverse design, which United States Mint Chief Engraver Joseph Menna sculpted.

Each coin in this series features a common obverse (heads) design depicting a portrait of George Washington. Laura Gardin Fraser originally composed and sculpted this design as a candidate entry for the 1932 quarter, which honored the bicentennial of George Washingtons birth. The inscriptions are LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and 2024.

Begun in 2022, and continuing through 2025, the Mint is issuing five new quarter dollar reverse designs each year. The American Women Quarters Program is authorized by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-330).

Inspire women everywhere. Shop the American Women Quarters Program today and start collecting this historic series honoring extraordinary women whose achievements, triumphs, and legacies reflect the strength and resilience of our Nation.

The groundbreaking American Women Quarters Program is an excellent way to remind future generations what can be accomplished with vision, determination, and a desire to improve opportunities for all. Subscribe to the program today to ensure fulfillment of your favorite product through 2025.

About the United States Mint

Congress created the United States Mint in 1792, and the Mint became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. As the Nations sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; silver and bronze medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. Its numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.

Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, the United States Mint will not accept nor honor orders placed prior to the official on-sale date of February 1, 2024, at noon EST.

Please use the United States Mint catalog site at https://catalog.usmint.gov/ as your primary source of the most current information on product and service status or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Visit https://www.usmint.gov/news/image-library/american-women-quarters-program#murray for product images.

Visit https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coin-and-medal-programs/american-women-quarters for additional information about the American Women Quarters Program.

Visit https://www.usmint.gov/about for information about the United States Mint.

Visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/email-signup to subscribe to United States Mint electronic product notifications, news releases, public statements, and the monthly educational newsletter, Lessons That Make Cents .

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United States Mint  Connecting America through Coins

Attachment

Public Affairs United States Mint (202) 354-7222 [email protected]

Source: United States Mint
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the Company or Algernon) (CSE: AGN) (FRANKFURT: AGW0) (OTCQB: AGNPF) a Canadian clinical stage pharmaceutical development company, is pleased to announce that it has received a notice of intention to grant from the Chinese Patent Office for patent application No. 201980043698.6 for its antifibrotic drug candidate NP-251 (Repirinast).

The invention claims the administration of Repirinast, either alone or in combination with telmisartan, for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of renal fibrosis or kidney disease. The base claims of the patent will be valid through 2038, excluding any patent term adjustments or extensions, which may provide additional protection. The Company was recently issued patents for Repirinast in chronic kidney disease (CKD) from Japan and has also filed corresponding patent applications in Canada, Europe and the United States.

Repirinast is the Companys lead candidate for the treatment of CKD based on data showing it reduced fibrosis by 51% with statistical significance and showed an additive benefit to telmisartan in a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model.

Algernons intellectual property strategy for its repurposed drug program includes protecting its compounds by filing patent applications including method of use, dosing and formulations, and for new composition of matter patents based on novel salt forms.

We are once again pleased to receive another notice of intent to grant a patent from the Chinese Patent Office, said Christopher J. Moreau CEO of Algernon Pharmaceuticals. This will be the second patent granted to the Company in China, and it complements multiple other patents issued in other major world markets as part of our comprehensive global intellectual property strategy.

The Company also announces a grant of 1,625,000 restricted share units pursuant to its RSU Plan (each, an "RSU") to executives and directors, of the Company. Each RSU entitles the recipient to receive one common share of the Company or a cash payment equal to the equivalent of one common share of the Company on vesting. The RSUs vest on the date of grant.

The Company has also granted 100,000 stock options exercisable at $0.075 for two years from date of grant, to a consultant of the Company. The stock options vest on the date of grant.

The RSUs and stock options are subject to approval by regulatory authorities.

About Algernon Pharmaceuticals

Algernon Pharmaceuticals is a Canadian clinical stage drug development company investigating multiple drugs for unmet global medical needs. Algernon Pharmaceuticals has active research programs for chronic cough, chronic kidney disease and NASH, and is the parent company of a private subsidiary called Algernon NeuroScience, that is advancing a psychedelic program investigating a proprietary form of psychedelic DMT for stroke and traumatic brain injury.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Christopher J. MoreauCEOAlgernon Pharmaceuticals Inc.604-398-4175 ext 701

[email protected][email protected]www.algernonpharmaceuticals.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENT: No Securities Exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, licensing, commercialization and regulatory compliance issues and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as will, may, should, anticipate, expects and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

Source: Algernon Pharmaceuticals
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hopes Home is pleased to announce BHP has invested $150,000 to provide an essential nursing station at the new medically inclusive childcare centre in Saskatoon.

As the only medically inclusive childcare centers in Canada, Hopes Home provides care where kids with complex medical and typical needs can learn, grow, and thrive. With on-site nurses providing medical care to children, Hopes Home is a national leader filling a gap that exists in child and infant healthcare. Since 2005, Hopes Home has been supporting families outside of a hospital setting in Regina, Warman and Prince Albert.

To continue providing the best care for children with complex medical needs across Saskatchewan, Hopes Home launched the Theres No Place Like Hope capital campaign, with an $8 million fundraising goal to open Saskatoons first medically inclusive childcare center in 2024.

Hopes Home is incredibly grateful for the generous gift that is being made by BHP, said Jacqueline Tisher, Founder and CEO of Hopes Home. This significant contribution provides one of the nursing stations and supplies which allow us to bring medically inclusive care to families and children in Saskatoon.

Finding childcare for kids with medical needs can be an extreme point of stress for many families, said Karina Gistelinck, Asset President of BHP Potash. We are pleased that we can be a part of making possible the new Hopes Home center in Saskatoon  and help provide these much-needed services to more families in the province.

On-site nursing stations are what make Hopes Home distinctive. Inside the new center, there will be two nursing stations. The stations will be equipped with medical equipment and supplies needed for everything from complex medical needs to a scraped knee. The nursing stations will provide a safe space where children can be treated in private while keeping them comfortable with child-friendly features like medical dolls and teddy bears that educate and alleviate any stress or fear a child may have.

The new Saskatoon location will feature two separate centers caring for 144 kids ages 6 weeks to 6 years old. Spaces will be held for kids with complex medical needs making this center an extension of pediatric healthcare. On-site nursing care, early childhood educators, developmental workers, and physical development consultants will provide Saskatoon families with a safe and inclusive environment where children receive the care they need.

To learn more and to support the Theres No Place Like Hope capital campaign visit hopeshome.org

ABOUT HOPES HOMEThe first medically inclusive child care center in Canada. Hopes Home is a charitable organization providing inclusive care where kids with complex medical and typical needs learn, grow and thrive. Hopes Home provides families with a safe and inclusive environment for their children to play and be kids regardless of their medical needs. For more information visit hopeshome.org

ABOUT BHPBHP is a global resources company with its Canadian operational headquarters in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and global business development headquarters in Toronto. BHP has a global workforce of approximately 80,000 people working in locations across Canada, Australia, Asia, the UK, US and the Americas. BHP produces commodities essential for global decarbonization, economic development and food security including copper, nickel, iron ore, metallurgical coal and is developing the Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan, Canada. Further information on BHP can be found at: bhp.com

Media Inquiries

Hope's HomeDanielle BradnamMarketing and Communication ManagerHope's Home306.992.2184

BHPMegan HjulforsMedia RelationsBHP403.605.2314

Source: BHP Group Limited
TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blockmate Ventures Inc (TSX.V: MATE) (OTCQB: MATEF) (FSE: 8MH1) (Blockmate or the Company), an innovative investment firm in the blockchain technology space, proudly announces that its investee, Hivello Holdings, has secured a further USD $1.5 million after receiving strong interest from investors following the announcement of a USD $1 million raise in December 2023.

Due to the overwhelming interest, of the additional USD $1.5 million, USD $1 million was raised at a pre-money valuation of $9 million - an 80% premium to the round which just closed in December 2023. The additional $1.5 million brings the total raised to $2.5 million. The funding was secured as a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) instrument fundraising round. Consequently once converted, the post-money implied valuation of Blockmates 67% stake is USD $6.7 million (CAD $8.9 million) or 8.1 cents per Blockmate share1.

Justin Rosenberg, CEO of Blockmate Ventures, commented, We are thrilled to see strong interest from new funds joining us at the table. Expanding the funding round to accommodate large investors in the Web3 space is a testament to Hivellos management team who have a vision to position Hivello on the global stage of DePIN services.

Domenic Carosa, Chairman of Blockmate and Co-Founder of Hivello commented: "The incredible surge in demand we've seen from investors confirms the pressing need for accessible decentralized DePIN infrastructure. The decision to upsize our round allows us to accelerate our mission and bolster our platform ahead of schedule. We are honored by the commitment shown by both new and returning investors who share our vision for the future of DePIN."

Blockmate decided to build Hivello when it discovered the opportunity to leverage underutilized computing power around the world to create an innovative DePIN network, while providing internet users with a platform to generate passive income.

Below is the press release from Hivello detailing the increased funding round:

Hivello Announces Upsized Funding Round, Raising USD $2.5M Amidst High Demand

Amsterdam, 31 January 2024  Hivello, at the cutting edge of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN), has announced an upsized funding round, raising an additional USD $1.5 million and bringing the total raised in the prior 4 weeks to USD $2.5 million.

This influx of capital is a testament to the confidence the market places in Hivello's mission to democratize access to decentralized infrastructure. The extended round attracted a roster of eminent new investors, including Blockchange (USA), Cypher Capital, MH Ventures, Primal Capital, Contango Digital Assets, and Candaq, joining industry leaders NGC, Blockchain Founders Fund, IDG, and others from the prior pre-seed investment round.

Domenic Carosa, Chairman and Co-Founder of Hivello, commented on the expanded round: "The incredible surge in demand we've seen from investors confirms the pressing need for accessible decentralized infrastructure. The decision to upsize our round allows us to accelerate our mission and bolster our platform ahead of schedule. We are honored by the commitment shown by both new and returning investors who share our vision for the future of DePIN."

The additional funds will enable Hivello to expand its technological capabilities, expedite product development, and strengthen its market position as a leader in DePIN services.

We live in a world where our most expensive assets are not always fully utilized, said Ken Seiff, Managing Partner of Blockchange Ventures. The internet helped us optimize our cars and our homes - but much more can be done. The blockchain is ideally suited to utilize the massive number of computers across the globe. Working together, these machines can rival the largest cloud providers, allowing owners to monetize without any of the capital expenditure. We are excited to back the great founders of Hivello, which is helping owners generate and optimize revenue by redirecting computation and other digital resources to its highest and best use case.

This funding round, both original and extended, showcases the high conviction investors have in Hivello's team and the DePIN industry's potential. As Hivello prepares for an eventful year following its successful technology launch, the company is well-positioned to make a significant impact on the global stage of decentralized services.

Hivello more than doubling their round in only 4 weeks is a testament to the strength of their team and mission - its great to see other big-name investors backing this innovative company, said Tobias Bauer, Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund.

For more information about Hivello's offerings and future developments, please visit www.hivello.com

About HivelloHivello, led by distinguished blockchain payment solution pioneers, is dedicated to transforming the accessibility of decentralized services globally. As a leader in the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) sector, Hivello stands at the vanguard of democratizing access to decentralized

About Blockmate Ventures Inc.Blockmate Ventures is a venture creator focussing on building fast growing technology businesses relating to cutting edge sectors such as blockchain, climate and energy storage. Working with prospective founders, projects in incubation can benefit from the Blockmate ecosystem that offers tech, services, integrations and advice to accelerate the incubation of projects towards monetization. Recent projects include Hivello (download our free passive income app at www.hivello.com) and Sunified, digitising solar energy.

The leadership team at Blockmate Ventures have successfully founded successful tech companies from the Dotcom era through to the social media era. Learn more about being a Blockmate at: www.blockmate.com.

Blockmate welcomes investors to join the Companys mailing list for the latest updates and industry research by subscribing at https://www.blockmate.com/subscribe.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Justin Rosenberg, CEOBlockmate Ventures Inc[email protected] (+1-888-218-6863)

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

Forward-Looking InformationThis news release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on the assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Raindrop disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

________________________

1 There is no guarantee this valuation will be realised.

Source: Blockmate Ventures Inc.
Bottles filled with blue-green algae cells modified by gene editing are pictured in a lab at the School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology under the Shanghai Jiao Tong University in east China's Shanghai, Jan. 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Dong Xue)

SHANGHAI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists are considering building a biological "cell factory" of blue-green algae, in which air is the main raw material and the product is a range of organic compounds.

These cells of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, a kind of single-cell microorganism, have been modified using synthetic biotechnologies like gene editing. Featuring high reproduction speed and excellent efficiency of photosynthesis, they "eat" air and can produce organic compounds like glucose, sucrose, glycerol, resveratrol, and curcumin, among others.

Stepping into a laboratory at the School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology under the Shanghai Jiao Tong University, dense bottles and tubes with green liquid can be seen arranged in rows. They are filled with blue-green algae cells.

"Theoretically, this kind of algae has the potential to produce all the substances that plants can produce in nature," said Ni Jun, the lab owner and a researcher at the university.

For decades, cell factories using modified bacteria and yeast have been widely used in medicine, the chemical industry and agriculture, said Ni. Among other substances, they have been used to produce recombinant human insulin using Escherichia coli.

However, the high cost of raw materials, such as glucose, has limited the development of such cell factories to some extent. In pondering this problem, Ni wondered whether a solution might be found in using photosynthesis to produce compounds. He eventually opted for blue-green algae, which can express most plant-derived genes and can be easily modified due to its small genome size.

In 2015, for the first time, his team produced a series of high value-added natural products using engineered blue-green algae, shedding light on the promising prospects of light-driven biosynthesis.

The process of modifying these algae cells is not complicated. To produce a target compound, the first step is to analyze its synthesis process in plants, and then introduce each gene essential to this process into the algae cells. "Eventually, we regulate the expression level of each gene to improve its synthesis efficiency in blue-green algae cells as much as possible," Ni said. The findings were published in the international journal Green Chemistry in 2016.

As explained in the findings, the modification process can be simply summarized as using "scissors" to cut out relevant gene fragments in plants and inserting them into the gene sequence of cyanobacteria cells, which were thus given the ability to synthesize the target substances.

Ni has high hopes for the application of this technology in industrial production. He cites resveratrol, a common component in anti-aging skin care products, as an example. Resveratrol can be sourced from grapes and peanuts, but producing it using blue-green algae can shorten the production cycle by 240 times for each tonne of product, while reducing costs by 50 to 70 percent.

However, blue-green algae cannot produce every type of organic compound, nor can it produce some compounds more efficiently than other microorganisms. Ni has been exploring whether it was possible for this algae to work in combination with other organisms, with the former acting as an energy and organic carbon supplier, absorbing carbon dioxide in the air.

This ambitious idea turned into reality last year. His team made a breakthrough in combining cyanobacteria with various industrial bacteria. In that case, the former produces energy substances such as sugar for the latter, which further produces a wider variety of target products.

The study findings were published as a cover story in the renowned German academic journal Angewandte Chemie in January 2023. As the magazine illustrated, cyanobacteria and industrial bacteria were compared to two birds working in collaboration, one looking for tree branches outside and the other building their nest inside.

In Ni's lab, rows of glass bottles and tubes, surrounded by simulated sunlight, are shaken by machines to speed up the gas exchange inside. They are filled with green liquid of various shades, each representing a group of engineered blue-green algae cells capable of producing a different kind of target compound.

Through technology transfer, part of the team's research results have entered industrial production. At present, a production line with an annual capacity of 10 tonnes of high-value-added products is under construction, Ni said. 

Ni Jun, a researcher at the School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology under the Shanghai Jiao Tong University, observes bottles filled with blue-green algae cells modified by gene editing in his lab in east China's Shanghai, Jan. 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Dong Xue)
CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bocana Resources Corp. (TSXV: BOCA) (Frankfurt: VC1) ("Bocana" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from diamond drill holes HRC2303-HRC2305 on the Escala area concession in southwest Bolivia. Assay results confirmed high grade gold/silver and base metals associated with late stage hydrothermal breccias.

The Company's inaugural drilling was completed on October 24, 2023, and tested both the Cerro Galapagos and Cerro Blancos areas as well the Laura Zone. The Cerro Galapagos target area hosts a large, multi-phased, felsic intrusive complex with extensive alteration and up to 4 phases of sulphide mineralization observed. HRC2303 and HRC2304 tested the Cerro Galapagos area, HRC2305 was completed in the Cerro Blanco area.

Highlights of assay results for holes HRC2303-HRC2305 are as follows in Table # 1:

Table # 1  Selected Assay Results

Hole Number From To Core Length* Gold Silver Copper Lead Zinc (m) (m) (m) (g/tonne) (g/tonne) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) HRC2303 277 278.8 1.8 0.89 23.3 13600 75.7 188 HRC2304 208.84 210.27 1.43 3.12 78.9 8910 685 1564 257.93 258.43 0.55 1.85 >100 >10000 >10000 >10000 279.57 282 1.47 1.97 >100 >10000 >10000 >10000 HRC2305 42.82 43 0.18 4.11 97.5 >10000 219 492

*Core length is not true width. True width is unknown.

Discussion of Results

Cerro Galapagos

Cerro Galapagos contains a large approximately, 2.0 X 2.0-kilometre, circular, induced polarization (IP) chargeability high and moderate to high resistivity anomalies. Diamond drill holes (HRC2303-2304) were completed at Cerro Galapagos where a large, felsic porphyry complex containing multiple phases and extensive argillic and phyllic alteration zones occur.

HRC2303 is located approximately 200 metres north of the central core of the IP chargeability anomaly. The core depth was extended by more than 200 metres due to the extent of and the increasing concentrations of sulfides being observed with depth. Several intrusive phases were encountered, most of which were mineralized again by pyrite and minor arsenopyrite-pyrite phases. Starting at 277.0 metres for 1.8 metres of core length hydrothermal breccia with observed chalcopyrite was noted.

HRC2304 was added to the program after the visual sulfides concentration in HRC2303 and is located 100 metres southwest from the HRC2303 collar location. The hole contains several intrusive phases including intrusive and intrusion breccia and a significant increase in hydrothermal breccias. HRC2304 hosted at least 4 phases of mineralization with base metal mineralization occurring in the apparently youngest, hydrothermal breccias. Again, most of the rock types encountered were mineralized with pyrite and minor arsenopyrite mineralization as disseminations and fracture fillings. Three significant intervals of hydrothermal breccia were noted in Table # 1 and contained visible chalcopyrite, galena and sphalerite mineralization.

Figure # 1 is a surface plan view of the three areas drill tested with drill hole surface projections. Table # 1 lists all the details on the drill holes completed on the program.

Figure # 1 Drill Plan Map

Cerro Blanco

HRC2305-HRC2306 were completed for a total of 331.2 metres testing IP, chargeability, and resistivity highs. Both holes encountered approximately 5-10 metres of sediments before encountering a single phase of a quartz eye porphyry. Minor pyrite and chalcopyrite mineralization occurs at the sediment/intrusive contact in both holes and approximately 30 metres of crackle fractured intrusive in hole HRC2306 healed by finer grained pyrite with traces of chalcopyrite. As indicated in Table # 1 Hole HRC2305 encountered high grade copper and associated gold mineralization over a 0.18m interval.

Table # 2 below provides collar data for those holes discussed today.

Escala 2023 Drilling DDH UTM E N Elev. (m) Azimuth Dip EOH (m) HRC2303 19S 718901 7612378 4044 315 -65 452.1 HRC2304 19S 718830 7612305 4039 315 -65 313.4 HRC2305 19S 719624 7610666 3983 240 -55 206.2 HRC2306 19S 719435 7610373 3975 240 -55 125

Conclusions

The 2023 drilling program did locate an extensive, highly altered felsic porphyry system, with the continuity of gold throughout the potential bulk tonnage system remained generally low, under >0.10 g/t gold. However, significant concentrations of silver and gold also occurred in select areas. Several phases of mineralization occurred within the porphyry system, the apparent last phase was hydrothermal breccias with observed chalcopyrite, galena and sphalerite mineralization. The hydrothermal breccias encountered are probably associated with structures and might be in the form of pipes.

It was recommended to Bocana that additional surveys be completed to determine the orientation and extent of these hydrothermal pipes. Additionally, detailed geological mapping within the Cerro Galapagos porphyry system, adding these core results with the historical diamond drilling results, is recommended prior to any additional drill testing, as part of the Phase 1 diamond drilling program recommendations found in the 43-101 Technical Report.

Sampling Methodology, Chain of Custody, Quality Control and Quality Assurance:

All drill core samples have been collected under the supervision of Company employees. Drill cores were transported from the drill platform to the camps logging facility where it was geotechnically and geologically logged, photographed, and split by diamond saw prior to being sampled. Samples were then bagged, sealed, and numbered in order to maintain a chain-of-custody. Company employees also inserted blank, duplicate and a certified standard sample in each batch of twenty samples prior to transportation from the Escala area camp to the independent laboratory site of ALS Bolivia Ltda. in Oruro, Bolivia. ALS will provide Bocana with sample preparation and analysis services at its ISO/IEC 17025 accredited facilities. The ALS unit in Oruro is ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 17025:2005 accredited and ALS is the only laboratory in South America that has a high number of analytical methods accredited by ISO IEC 17025 and has the sample preparation stage included in this accreditation.

Qualified Person

Bocanas disclosure of metallurgical, scientific, and technical information included in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Lorne Warner, P.Geo., geological consultant to the Company and a Qualified Person under the definition of NI 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Bocana Resources Corp.

Bocana is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in South America. Bocana, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Huiracocha International Service SRL, holds a 100% working interest in the mineral properties known as the Escala area concessions located at the Department of Potosi, Sud Lipez Province, Bolivia as awarded by Comibol.

Contact Information

For more information on Bocana, visit: https://bocanaresources.com.

For more information or interview requests, please contact:

Timothy J. Turner  Chief Executive Officer[email protected]

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information can be identified by words such as: "intend", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", approximately, planning, projected, anticipate and similar references to future periods. Although Bocana believes that, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Bocana can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Bocana, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities including Phase 1; risks associated with operation in foreign jurisdictions; ability to successfully integrate purchased properties or mining rights awarded; foreign operations risks; and other risks inherent in the mining industry. Although Bocana has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Additional risks include those disclosed in the Information Circular, which are incorporate herein by reference and are available through SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law.

This news release is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States. The securities described in this news release have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended) absent registration or an exemption from registration. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which where such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/05606367-6247-404b-bf43-573d94edf02d

Figure # 1 Drill Plan Map

Source: Bocana Resources Corp.
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- California Water Service Group (Group) (NYSE: CWT) contributed $1.56 million in 2023 to charitable organizations and first responders in its communities, just one of the many ways it demonstrates its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for those it serves.

Last year, Group allocated 22% of its community giving efforts to support at-risk, underserved, and disadvantaged communities. An additional 22% went to community improvement efforts across the utilitys service areas; 14% to support firefighters, police officers, and first responders; and 13% for educational grants. The remainder of the donations went to organizations focused on youth, healthcare, veterans, and animal welfare.

The numerous beneficiariessuch as the Bakersfield Homeless Center, Food Bank for Monterey County (King City and Salinas, Calif.), Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation (Visalia, Calif.), Samaritan House for flood relief (San Mateo, Calif.), Hawaii Community Foundation in the wake of the devastating Lahaina Fire, Valencia Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence (Los Lunas, N.M.), and Gig Harbor Peninsula (Wash.) Fish Food Bankall share Groups commitment to helping people live better lives.

Group also provided in-kind services during a three-month Season of Service effort that involved nearly half of the companys employees in volunteer projects. Additionally, through its employee charitable donation-matching program, Group matches up to $250 per employee per calendar year.

We are committed to being an asset to our communities. We invest time and resources in organizations that make a real difference, and when our communities have a need, we want to be there, knowing that even the smallest act of kindness can make a big impact, said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Chairman and CEO.

All contributions are part of Groups philanthropic giving program and do not affect customers rates.

About California Water Service GroupCalifornia Water Service Group is the largest regulated water utility in the western United States. It provides high-quality, reliable water and/or wastewater services to 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 Group apart is its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its customers, communities, employees, and stockholders. Guided daily by their promise to provide quality, service, and value, Groups 1,200+ employees lead the way in working to protect the planet, care for people, and operate with the utmost integrity. Integral to 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. More information is available at www.calwatergroup.com.

Media ContactYvonne Kingman (media)[email protected]310-257-1434

Source: California Water Service Group
QUEBEC CITY, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crakmedia's DevOps team had the honor of being nominated for the prestigious DevOps Excellence Awards as a finalist. The event will be held in London on March 14, 2024, at The Montcalm Marble Arch Hotel. Crakmedia's small but mighty team has been nominated in the Best DevOps Team category alongside teams from IBM, HSBC Bank, UK state-owned ESO, financier Hymans Robertson and developer Head Channel.

The DevOps Excellence Awards is an event organized by UK-based TheChannelCo to celebrate products, projects, companies, teams, and individuals that stand out for innovation in DevOps management.

This nomination is a great cause for celebration for Martin Belisle, DevOps Director at Crakmedia: "We've assembled a truly formidable team. Each person is individually talented, but together, they are the best DevOps team a company could have. Thanks to them, our IT infrastructure is more solid than many other companies two or three times our size".

The DevOps team is a recent addition at Crakmedia to support its growth and the complexity of its web content development and distribution ecosystem. Crakmedia's DevOps infrastructure represents a significant challenge for such a small team:

Six hundred cloudfronts delivering in addition to 2 petabytes of data worldwide every month.

1.2 billion WAF (web application firewall) actions every month.

Over 1,400 secrets (API tokens, encryption keys, usernames, passwords, etc.) in around 500 different pipelines.

A network of in addition 2000 domains, growing daily.

185 hosts and 1370 containers monitored every month.

The young team of six people had the daunting task of repatriating all development operations management activities within the company and rebuilding the entire IT infrastructure on solid, consolidated foundations. The challenge was all the greater after the announcement, in August, of the imminent shutdown of Stackpath and Highwind activities, which forced the mass migration of all content distribution networks in the space of a few weeks at the end of 2023.

For the company, such recognition is a testament to its expertise in web development, helping to make Crakmedia one of the fastest-growing digital marketing companies in the country. The company was recently recognized in the Globe & Mail's Canada's Top Growing Companies 2023 ranking, as well as in L'Actualite magazine's Growth Leaders (Leaders de la croissance) 2023 ranking.

About Crakmedia

A world leader in web marketing, performance marketing, web development, and traffic monetization, Crakmedia is an international company based in Quebec City. Its fields of activity include digital content design, campaign personalization, website and data analysis, brand management, search engine optimization, media buying, advertising brokerage, web development, and the creation of innovative technologies. For more information: crakmedia.com

MEDIA RELATIONSCaroline Perron[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2fd5d9fe-5797-4303-b205-1ac516a9a937

Crakmedia's devops are finalists Crakmedia's devops are finalists

Source: Crakmedia
London, England, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

DefiQuant, a front-runner in the cloud mining industry, is proud to announce a major enhancement to its customer service capabilities, providing round-the-clock support to crypto investors. This initiative is part of DefiQuant's commitment to offer comprehensive support through every step of the investment journey, from novices just starting to seasoned traders navigating complex markets.

DefiQuant's 24/7 Comprehensive Investor Support SystemDefiQuant's latest 24/7 customer service framework marks a significant advancement in the cryptocurrency investment realm, aiming to provide investors with immediate, reliable support in the fast-paced and often complex world of digital finance. Understanding the intricacies and challenges of cryptocurrency trading, DefiQuant has developed this robust support system to ensure investors can access the guidance and resources they need for informed decision-making at any hour.

Allen Heery, Media Representative at DefiQuant, reinforces the company's commitment: "In a market that operates round the clock, our support system does the same. Our enhanced customer service initiative is a testament to our unwavering dedication to our investors, ensuring they receive support at any hour for any query."

This holistic approach to customer service extends across DefiQuant's entire platform, encompassing comprehensive assistance with its advanced DeFi trading bot and cryptocurrency quant robot. The aim is to facilitate seamless navigation of the platform, a thorough understanding of diverse investment options, and immediate troubleshooting support. By prioritizing investor education and empowerment, DefiQuant's enhanced support system not only addresses immediate queries but also equips investors with the knowledge and tools necessary for long-term success in the volatile world of cryptocurrency. This initiative reflects DefiQuant's dedication to creating a supportive, informative, and user-centric investment environment, fostering confidence and trust among its clients.

A Wide Array of Investment PackagesDefiQuant's platform offers a variety of investment packages, catering to a diverse range of investor needs and preferences:

Free Experience Bot: Ideal for beginners, this plan requires only a $5 investment with a profit of $0.15, and the capital is returned after 1 day.

Crypto Trading Bot 1 Day: With a $50 investment, this plan offers a profit of $0.3, returning the capital after just 1 day.

Crypto Trading Bot 5 Days: A $500 investment yields a profit of $21.25, with the capital returned after 5 days.

Crypto Trading Bot 7 Days: This plan involves a $1050 investment, generating a profit of $73.5, with capital returned after 7 days.

Crypto Trading Bot 15 Days: For a $3000 investment, this plan offers a profit of $540, with the capital returned after 15 days.

Crypto Trading Bot 20 Days: A higher investment of $6000 yields a significant profit of $1680, with the capital returned after 20 days.

Crypto Trading Bot 30 Days: This plan requires a $10800 investment with a substantial profit of $5184, returning the capital after 30 days.

Crypto Trading Bot 45 Days: For long-term investors, an $18000 investment can yield a profit of $14580, with the capital returned after 45 days.

Crypto Trading Bot 60 Days: The most extensive plan, a $30000 investment offers an impressive profit of $36000, with the capital returned after 60 days.

DefiQuant's Cutting-Edge Trading Technologies and User-Centric ApproachCentral to DefiQuant's innovative services are its DeFi trading bot and cryptocurrency quant robot, which are at the forefront of enhancing trading efficiency and effectiveness. These advanced technologies are meticulously designed to optimize trading strategies, enabling investors to fully capitalize on market opportunities. The user-friendliness of DefiQuant's platform is a testament to its commitment to accessibility and ease of use. This approach ensures that the platform is intuitive for all users, from those new to cloud mining to seasoned trading professionals, making advanced trading technology accessible to a broad investor base.

In addition to offering top-tier customer support, DefiQuant also provides a comprehensive suite of educational resources. These tools are tailored to empower investors with the necessary knowledge and insights for confident navigation in the cryptocurrency market. DefiQuant warmly invites investors to join its community, experience its exceptional customer support, and explore the various investment packages available. This invitation is extended to anyone interested in being part of a community where unparalleled support, innovation, and investor success are paramount.

For further information about DefiQuants offerings and to experience the unique advantages of its platform, interested parties are encouraged to visit DefiQuant's website https://defiquant.net.

For media inquiries, please contact:Name: Allen HeeryPosition: Media RepresentativeEmail: [email protected]Website: https://defiquant.netDisclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

Allen Heery AllenHeery at defiquant.net

Source: Defiquant
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PAC Machinery (PAC), a leader in packaging equipment and materials with one of the most comprehensive ranges of equipment, will capitalize on machine diversity with the exhibit of three packaging machines  all from different categories at the biennial Pack Expo East Show that brings cutting-edge packaging solutions to the East Coast. PACK EXPO East 2024, will be held March 18-20 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA. It is produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.

PAC Machinery, a leader in the flexible packaging industry, will exhibit at #1427 with top-selling packaging solutions including Rollbag R785 Automatic Bagger, the D545 AV Band Sealer and PVT Plus Vacuum Sealer  all machines that have been top-selling solutions for PAC Machinery in part due to the flexibility these solutions provide for a wide variety of industries.

PAC Machinery Vice President, Greg Berguig says thats a key to PACs success, Our exhibit will feature machines that serve a wide variety of industries including ecommerce, fulfillment, industrial, medical, food, consumer goods and more," Berguig said. Weve been doing this show and other PMMI shows for decades and the potential customers we have met over the years say that with over 80 different packaging machines, our packaging solutions provides them with a wider range of options, Berguig said.

Berguig, known for saying there is more than one way to package a product, encourages any company or distributor looking for a better way to package a product, to attend Pack Expo East. This show is where companies can connect with suppliers and find solutions needed to compete in todays changing marketplace. It is designed for the needs of over 40 vertical markets according to PMMI.

The 2024 event has expanded to an additional hall to accommodate the increasing number of solutions on display. PAC Machinery equipment experts will be at the booth to have discussions that help solve pain points and challenges in packaging operations and packaging projects. PAC Machinery can also help take a company from hand packaging to semi-automation with just one machine.

Heres a look at the PAC Machinery Exhibit:Rollbag R785 Automatic Bagger This system is a unique, all-electric, tabletop automatic poly bagger. It is a dependable, industrial quality, multi-shift packaging solution with an advanced control system that can operate up to 40 bags/min depending on the application and materials. Read More

D545 AV Band Sealer The D545 AV Band Sealer is a flexible rotary pouch sealer that fits on a table! The Audion D545 AV is a continuous band sealer for pouches sealed in a vertical position. Read More

PVT Plus Vacuum SealerThis tabletop vacuum sealer is for applications where removal of air from the bag is required. This industrial sealer provides speed and flexibility and is packed with the largest range of standard features of any vacuum sealer on the market. Read More

PAC Machinery 2024 Show Schedule

WestPack | February 6-8, 2024 | Anaheim, CA | Anaheim Convention Center | Exhibit 5321

| February 6-8, 2024 | Anaheim, CA | Anaheim Convention Center | Exhibit 5321 Modex | March 11-14, 2024 | Atlanta, GA | Georgia World Congress Center | Exhibit C4488

| March 11-14, 2024 | Atlanta, GA | Georgia World Congress Center | Exhibit C4488 Pack Expo East | March 18-20, 2024 | Pennsylvania Convention Center | Exhibit 1427

| March 18-20, 2024 | Pennsylvania Convention Center | Exhibit 1427 Pack Expo International | November 3- 6, 2024 | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Exhibit S2130

For sales: [email protected] | 1.800.985.9570 | pacmachinery.com

ABOUT PAC MACHINERY As a leader in the flexible packaging industry for over 60 years, PAC Machinery is a trusted partner for businesses desiring more from their packaging capabilities. From global companies, pharmaceutical and medical industry manufacturers to online retailers, PAC Machinery can transform packaging operations with customized solutions that immediately improve ROI. Products include: versatile poly bagging, shrink wrapping, bag sealing and flow wrapping systems. PACs solutions increase productivity through automation, reduce return rates with superior package integrity, minimize package volume to save shipping costs, and extend product shelf life for maximum freshness. With better choices and more experience, PAC Machinery creates the ideal solution for any packaging requirement.

PAC Machinerys globally recognized machine brands include: Packaging Aids, Vertrod, Clamco, and Rollbag, Headquartered in San Rafael, California with an additional manufacturing facilities in Berea, OH and Milwaukee, WI. PAC Machinery at 25 Tiburon Street, San Rafael, CA 94901.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shannon Winans | PAC Machinery Marketing Director1 (800) 985-9570 x261 | [email protected]

A video accompanying this announcement is available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6f074b30-4733-4f0d-b33c-fbb2d7e2ae09

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/960b74d0-090c-486a-9b40-917918155342

PAC Machinery's Diverse Range of Packaging Solutions Showcased at Pack Expo East 2024 Show PAC Machinery, a leader in the flexible packaging industry, will exhibit at #1427 with top-selling packaging solutions including Rollbag R785 Automatic Bagger, the 552 Horizontal Band Sealer and PVT Plus Vacuum Sealer  all machines that have been top-selling solutions for PAC Machinery in part due to the flexibility these solutions provide for a wide variety of industries.

Source: PAC Machinery
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evome Medical Technologies Inc. (the Company) (TSXV: EVMT) announced it has reduced acquisition bank debt by $535,093 as a result of the sale of Arrowhead Medical, LLC (Arrowhead), originally acquired in May 2023 (see News Release dated May 16, 2023). As part of the adjustment, Arrowhead will continue to serve as the exclusive distributor of Biodex products in the Midwest United States and a further $209,171 of intercompany debt will be reduced.

The Company continues to look to make improvements to its balance sheet as it focuses on revenue and profit growth as it prepares to launch two new products in 2024, the SpaceTek Knee, an isokinetic device co-developed with NASA, and the Reactive Step Trainer, a device designed to improve balance and reduce tripping and falling with primarily elderly patients.

As part of the new product roll out, which is targeted to increase the market for Biodex products, Mr. Carmine Tronolone has been promoted to General Manager of Biodex Production in Long Island, New York; Mr. Bill Hauer has been recently appointed Vice President of Marketing and Sales, and Cherine Pottinger-Harris will serve as Controller and Director of Finance for Biodex, and Natalia Vakhitova has retired as CFO.

We had a great relaunch of the new Evome at the AlphaNorth Capital event in the Bahamas last week for investors, said Mike Seckler, CEO. It was a unique opportunity to highlight our new product strategy, which increases our addressable market significantly, as well as our plan to grow a profitable company with a new set of investors. We are moving from a low margin contract manufacturing business to a higher gross margin medical device business, and I am looking forward to building on our solid turn around at end of 2023 with a strong year in 2024.

Pursuant to an LLC Membership Interest Purchase Agreement dated January 15, 2024, the original vendor (the Vendor) of Arrowhead has agreed to acquire, and the Company, indirectly through a subsidiary, has agreed to sell, all of the issued and outstanding LLC membership equity interests of Arrowhead, in consideration for (i) the Vendor making a cash payment to the Company of $209,171 (ii) the Vendor returning to the Company for cancellation the 1,000,000 Class A non-voting common shares of the  Company which were issued by the Company to the Vendor on May 16, 2023, and (iii) the termination of the obligation to issue earn-out payment shares to the Vendor pursuant to the original Stock Purchase Agreement dated May 16, 2023. At the time of the sale Arrowhead had $535,093 of debt and $209,171 of cash, and it represented 2.5% of the Companys revenue and had no impact on the Companys net income for its most recently reported quarter.

The Company also announces that it has granted an aggregate of 460,000 stock options to Mr. Tronolone, Mr. Hauer and Ms. Pottinger-Harris at an exercise price equal to the closing price of its common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on the date hereof, vesting over three years and expiring between January 9, 2029 and January 31, 2029.

For more information please contact:

Mike SecklerChief Executive OfficerTel: 1 (800) 760-6826Email: [email protected]

Additional Information

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts in this press release are expressed in Canadian dollars.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as expects believes, estimates, "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", and "anticipate", and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, including: the timing and number of products the Company intends to launch; the Companys plan to grow a profitable company with a new set of investors; the Company moving from a low margin contract manufacturing business to a higher gross margin medical device business; and the Company having a strong year in 2024. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including: the Company expecting increased demand for its products at increased prices and with additional distribution agreements to result in the growth of profits in 2024; the Companys attendance at investor conferences resulting in new investors; and the Company expecting to improve its product mix by increasing sales of high-margin products compared to its lower margin manufacturing sales. The Company cautions that the forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by such statements. Such factors include but are not limited to the general business and economic conditions in the regions in which the Company operates; the ability of the Company to execute on key priorities, including the successful completion of acquisitions, business retention, and strategic plans and to attract, develop and retain key executives; difficulty integrating newly acquired businesses; ongoing or new disruptions in the supply chain, the extent and scope of such supply chain disruptions, and the timing or extent of the resolution or improvement of such disruptions; the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities; disruptions in or attacks (including cyber-attacks) on the Companys information technology, internet, network access or other voice or data communications systems or services; the evolution of various types of fraud or other criminal behavior to which  the Company is exposed; the failure of third parties to comply with their obligations to  the Company or its affiliates; the impact of new and changes to, or application of, current laws and regulations; granting of permits and licenses in a highly regulated business; the overall difficult litigation environment, including in the United States; increased competition; changes in foreign currency rates; increased funding costs and market volatility due to market illiquidity and competition for funding; the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations; critical accounting estimates and changes to accounting standards, policies, and methods used by the Company; the occurrence of natural and unnatural catastrophic events and claims resulting from such events; as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Companys disclosure documents filed with United States Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov, and with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedarplus.ca. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law.

Source: Evome Medical Technologies Inc.
DAYTON, Ohio, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Consumer Convenience Technologies (CCT), today announces that its EEASY Lid  the first jar lid innovation in over 75 years  will make its debut in the western United States at the KeHE Summer Show on February 7-8 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The EEASY Lid is designed to help brands provide an unprecedented level of accessibility to their jarred food products. The EEASY Lid allows consumers to vent a vacuum-sealed jar by simply pressing a button on the lid, reducing the amount of torque needed to twist off the lid by up to 50%. The EEASY Lid is also the worlds first aluminum lug jar lid  more sustainable than traditional steel lids, but just as durable.

KeHE is a leading distributor that provides natural and organic, specialty, and fresh products to natural food stores, grocery stores and specialty retailers. The show is considered the leading industry event to connect brands with buyers from independent and chain retail stores, as well as find new brands and trends.

Chilau Foods  a partner of CCT and a rapidly growing food brand known for its Southern-inspired stew and boil bases  will be exhibiting the EEASY Lid at the event.

Chilau is currently switching to the EEASY Lid for all its products, providing its customers with a new level of accessibility. Chilaus products are currently available in stores across the U.S., including Winn-Dixie, Market Street, Albertsons, United Supermarkets and more. The EEASY Lid will be available on all Chilau products across 700 stores by the end of Q1.

Chilau Foods recently opened a crowdfunding round due to its rapid expansion. In just the first week, the company secured funding from more than 130 investors, working its way toward a goal of $1 million.

We are excited to attend the KeHE Summer Show alongside our partner Chilau Foods as it showcases the EEASY Lid, said Brandon Bach, CCT president. This will be our first time at the KeHE Summer Show, and it opens the door for us to establish relationships with potential new partners to demonstrate the value of the sustainable, accessible and innovative EEASY Lid.

CCT produces the 63 mm lug EEASY Lid at its 16,000 square foot, state-of-the-art technology center at the companys headquarters in Dayton, Ohio. CCT has the capability to produce roughly 800 aluminum lug EEASY Lids per minute  more than 250 million annually.

CCT is currently in talks with major grocers, brands and manufacturers across the globe, looking to expand EEASY Lid availability into additional stores this year.

Chilau Foods will be exhibiting the EEASY Lid at booth #1206.

For more information on the EEASY Lid, please visit eeasylid.com.

Click here to download photos of the EEASY Lid.

EEASY Lids and demo products are available by request.

About Consumer Convenience Technologies Consumer Convenience Technologies (CCT) is the maker of the EEASY Lid, the first major jar lid innovation in over 75 years and an honoree of Fast Companys Innovation by Design award. CCTs software designed patented technology makes opening a vacuum-sealed jar much easier, with just the push of a button. The EEASY Lid opens up the market to 49% of people who do not have the physical ability or who struggle to open a vacuum-sealed jar. The EEASY Lid is the worlds first aluminum lug jar lid  more sustainable than and as durable as traditional steel lids. CCT is partnered with Germany-based Trade Consult  a sales and marketing firm focusing on the grocery industry and food manufacturers  to coordinate overall execution of the EEASY Lid into the European marketplace. The EEASY Lid is manufactured at the company's 16,000 square foot, state-of-the-art technology center at the companys headquarters in Dayton, Ohio. The EEASY Lid is being used on products in more than 250 Wegmans, Stop & Shop, Price Chopper and Tops Friendly Markets stores as well as select EDEKA Kempken stores in Krefeld, Germany. For more information on the EEASY Lid, visit eeasylid.com.

Media Contact Brianna EdwardsUproar PR for CCT[email protected] 321-236-0102

Source: CCT
Ramsey, NJ, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced it received Security Todays 2023 CyberSecured award for AI Gun Detection for its REACT  Visible Weapon Detection solution. Security Today is a leading industry brand of 1105 Medias Infrastructure Solutions Group. The independently judged CyberSecured Awards honor the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered especially noteworthy in the transformation of cybersecurity.

The new Visible Weapon Detection module is part of Konica Minoltas REACT platform and leverages technology from Scylla AI, a computer vision company based in Austin, Texas. Offering an end-to-end solution with a video security CCTV system, the software application helps organizations analyze situations and behaviors to offer advanced on-site (edge-based) real-time recognition and judgment-based AI processing. The solutions smart analytics provide more effective ways to defuse dangerous situations for clients through video surveillance and real-time alerts.

Time is critical in any dangerous situation, and REACT  Visible Weapon Detection can detect a weapon within a few seconds with a high level of accuracy. Now security teams dont have to rely on just a human-based, manual process. This AI solution can be a key part of a comprehensive video security strategy for schools and other organizations, said Vijay Raghavan, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Emerging Technologies, Konica Minolta. Our VSS product development team recognized an urgent need for a weapons detection solution and REACT  Visible Weapon Detection gives K-12, higher education institutions, government offices and other organizations the ability to detect a potential threat very quickly and automatically share that information with their security teams and local law enforcement, to help save lives.

Working with its partner Scylla AI, Konica Minolta developed an algorithm that can detect visible firearms. Integrated into the REACT platform with other AI and automation capabilities, the new Visible Weapon Detection module offers an unparalleled level of safety and security that is not dependent on continuous in-person monitoring. It allows for:

Real-time incident notification  with alerts in seconds

Protecting bystanders  with audio or mobile alerts

Sounding  through automation, so the security team can investigate quickly

Facilitating communication  whether to law enforcement or to a linked PA system

Detection in low-light situations  when human eyes can be challenged to see clearly

Securing facilities  when the solution is linked to door locks

The REACT Visible Weapon Detection module integrates with the REACT platform and offers algorithms that can be customized for each clients site.

Visit Konica Minolta online for more information about REACT  Visible Weapon Detection.

About Konica Minolta

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.'s (Konica Minolta) journey started 150 years ago, with a vision to see and do things differently. The company innovates for the good of society and the world. The same purpose that kept it moving then, keeps it moving now. Konica Minolta aims to partner with clients to Give Shape to Ideas by supporting their digital transformation through its expansive Intelligent Connected Workplace portfolio. Its business technology offerings include IT Services, intelligent information management, video security solutions, and managed print services, as well as office technology and industrial and commercial print solutions. Through its ongoing work, the company is fortunate to be continuously recognized for its products and services. This includes but is not limited to being included on CRNs MSP 500 list numerous times; named a finalist in the IT Software Category by The World Technology Awards; recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys and presented with Keypoint Intelligences BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Awards for its bizhub i-Series. For more information, please visit Konica Minolta online and follow its accounts on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter.

# # # # #

Attachment

Maggie Grande Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. 551-500-2659 [email protected]

Source: Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.
LifeArc makes multi-million pound investment to support drug discovery in sub-Saharan Africa

LifeArc and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are jointly investing 6 million ($7.2m) to enhance drug discovery capabilities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Funding aims to support drug discovery projects led by African scientists including a potential treatment for malaria and a new approach to target tuberculosis.

The programme also addresses challenges in global research equity and seeks to foster innovation and strengthen translational research capabilities in Africa.

Under this partnership, LifeArc and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will co-manage five drug discovery projects over 3-5 years.

31 January 2024, London

LifeArc, the self-funded, non-profit medical research organisation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are jointly investing 6 million ($7.2m) in the Grand Challenges African Drug Discovery Accelerator (GC ADDA) programme, a collaboration that will support five African drug discovery projects over 3-5 years.

Launched in 2018, the Grand Challenges Africa Drug Discovery programme was developed to identify and support exciting new drug discovery projects in Africa, strengthen the continents drug discovery capabilities and create a project-driven virtual African drug discovery network.

In this second phase, LifeArc and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will each invest 3 million to support the next wave of pan-African consortium projects, building on the capabilities strengthened in phase one.

Funded projects include research into new treatment approaches for malaria  a disease which continues to disproportionately impact Africa, responsible for more than 500,000 deaths in the region1  and a new approach to treating tuberculosis (TB), which is now the most lethal infectious disease globally. All projects are underpinned by a commitment to build and retain drug discovery capacity and world-class scientists within Africa.

Dr Mike Strange, Head of Global Health, LifeArc, commented: Fostering innovation in infectious diseases in Africa is an important element of our Global Health strategy at LifeArc. Co-funding this programme with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the ideal opportunity to support local scientific communities to focus on the areas they know, from experience, are the most urgent and unmet needs. This programme, dedicated to promoting Africa-led scientific innovations, also provides an opportunity to support and strengthen Africas translational research capabilities well into the future.

The five drug discovery projects in the Grand Challenges Africa Drug Discovery Accelerator programme:

Supporting the Grand Challenges African Drug Discovery Accelerator (GC ADDA)  led by the H3D Foundation  Established to position Africa as a global player in innovative pharmaceutical R&D by strengthening infrastructure and the skills of scientists in Africa, the H3D Foundation and H3D Centre, University of Cape Town, have been the key strategic and technical partner for the Grand Challenges Africa Drug Discovery projects since inception. H3D Foundation will lead the formation of the GC ADDA network, which will work together to attract increased investment and strengthen the research infrastructure. The network will provide a framework for greater collaboration, shared training initiatives, and increased community engagement and public outreach. The other four projects will also receive technical support and training from the H3D Foundation and H3D Centre.





  Established to position Africa as a global player in innovative pharmaceutical R&D by strengthening infrastructure and the skills of scientists in Africa, the H3D Foundation and H3D Centre, University of Cape Town, have been the key strategic and technical partner for the Grand Challenges Africa Drug Discovery projects since inception. H3D Foundation will lead the formation of the GC ADDA network, which will work together to attract increased investment and strengthen the research infrastructure. The network will provide a framework for greater collaboration, shared training initiatives, and increased community engagement and public outreach. The other four projects will also receive technical support and training from the H3D Foundation and H3D Centre. Pursuing targeted protein degradation for antituberculosis drug development  Professor Erick Strauss, Stellenbosch University - Researchers hope to overcome some of the challenges posed by current TB treatment approaches, which use small molecule drugs to inhibit the activity of essential proteins. Instead, they want to use proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which degrade proteins, instead of inhibiting them. Recent work that has shown this kind of targeted protein degradation (TPD) could be a viable strategy for developing a new strategy to treat TB.





Researchers hope to overcome some of the challenges posed by current TB treatment approaches, which use small molecule drugs to inhibit the activity of essential proteins. Instead, they want to use proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which degrade proteins, instead of inhibiting them. Recent work that has shown this kind of targeted protein degradation (TPD) could be a viable strategy for developing a new strategy to treat TB. Discovery of novel antimalarial lead candidates in Africa  Dr Richard Amewu, University of Ghana and Prof Lyn-Marie Birkkholtz, University of Pretoria  Current malaria treatments target the parasite, usually during the development phase, but resistance development means they have a finite lifespan. They also do not typically block transmission. Researchers across the continent will focus on developing multistage-targeting drugs that have the added advantage of blocking transmission to support malaria elimination and eradication.





 Current malaria treatments target the parasite, usually during the development phase, but resistance development means they have a finite lifespan. They also do not typically block transmission. Researchers across the continent will focus on developing multistage-targeting drugs that have the added advantage of blocking transmission to support malaria elimination and eradication. Pan Africa DMPK (Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics) Center of Excellence  Professor Collen Masimirembwa, African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology - A core discipline in drug development, DMPK helps to identify drugs likely to be suitable for further development by considering how they are metabolised and processed by the body. A team at the African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology in Zimbabwe aims to establish a Pan Africa DMPK Centre of Excellence by forming a sustainable research network focused on DPMK with increased visibility among African researchers.





 - A core discipline in drug development, DMPK helps to identify drugs likely to be suitable for further development by considering how they are metabolised and processed by the body. A team at the African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology in Zimbabwe aims to establish a Pan Africa DMPK Centre of Excellence by forming a sustainable research network focused on DPMK with increased visibility among African researchers. African-derived Natural Product Box (AdNPB) Dr Fidele Ntie-Kang, University of Buea  Traditional medicinal practices have a profound influence on the daily lives of people living in Africa and natural products are often regarded as sources of drugs or a source of inspiration for the discovery of new therapies. Researchers at the University of Buea in Cameroon are creating a set of 400 natural products found in Africa for screening against a range of diseases including TB, neglected tropical diseases, viral diseases and malaria.





Dr Susan Winks, H3D Foundation, said: This investment from LifeArc and BMGF represents an inflection point for the nascent drug discovery research community in Africa. Following the example set by the H3D Centre, University of Cape Town, we are ready to accelerate our efforts across the continent and establish a strong innovation ecosystem, with regional hubs of drug discovery excellence.

Professor Erick Strauss, Stellenbosch University in South Africa, who is leading a project exploring a new approach to finding treatments for TB, said: "This is a game changer for antimicrobial drug discovery in Africa. It allows participating researchers to focus their attention on a single problem, and to grow their skills and global research footprint in this field. It also empowers the collaboration of multiple groups from different countries on the continent. This will fast-track the establishment of new African centres of excellence in drug discovery. We are excited about the prospects of this funding unlocking new and innovative solutions for alleviating the burden of tuberculosis and malaria in Africa."

Dr Richard Amewu, University of Ghana, who will lead the discovery of new antimalarial treatments, said: This funding is building the critical infrastructure and human capacity for drug discovery research in Ghana and builds directly on the current malaria project, supporting the development of a drug discovery hub in Ghana. Africa is disproportionally affected by most diseases, including malaria, and investments like this enable us to contribute to the global efforts in addressing the health needs of Africans. I hope this project will deliver an early lead for progression in drug discovery while building capacity that can be transferred to other diseases and support drug discovery research in sub-Saharan Africa. It also enables scientists across the continent to join forces, integrating expertise and pooling resources towards finding innovative solutions to treat diseases that are predominant in Africa. Prof Lyn-Marie Birkholtz, University of Pretoria in South Africa, who is co-leading the malaria project, states that this project is critical to contribute to malaria elimination on the continent.

References

World Health Organization Regional data and trends: World malaria report 2022 https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/WHO-UCN-GMP-2022.08





For further press information please contact:

Andrew Stewart

Director of Communications at LifeArc



[email protected]

07970293826

Notes to editors

About LifeArc

LifeArc is a self-funded, not-for-profit medical research organisation and charity. We take science ideas out of the lab and help turn them into medical breakthroughs that can be life-changing for patients. We have been doing this for more than 25 years and our work has resulted in five licensed medicines, including cancer drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda), lecanemab for Alzheimers (Leqembi), and a diagnostic for antibiotic resistance.

Our teams are experts in drug and diagnostics discovery, technology transfer, and intellectual property. Our work is in translational science  bridging the gap between academic research and clinical development, providing funding, research and expert knowledge, all with a clear and unwavering commitment to having a positive impact on patient lives. LifeArc is committed to investing 1.3 billion by 2030 in areas of high unmet medical need.

LifeArc is a company limited by guarantee (registered in England and Wales under no. 2698321) and a charity (registered in England and Wales under no. 1015243 and in Scotland under no. SC037861).

Find out more about our work on www.lifearc.org or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

About H3D Foundation

The H3D Foundation (www.h3dfoundation.org) was established in 2019 to create an absorptive capacity for securing, building, and retaining skilled African scientists within innovative pharmaceutical R&D. This will help to ensure the skills that Africa will need to move into the next decade as it seeks to become more self-reliant and to become a global player in innovative pharmaceutical R&D. The H3D Foundation also aims to be a convening platform and credible voice for evidence-based global health views aimed partly at countering misinformation particularly around research and science in Africa and partly at bridging the gap between laboratory and clinical activities as well as innovation and access in Africa. Furthermore, the H3D Foundation was established to complement the work of the Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre (www.H3D.uct.ac.za), specifically in relation to capacity development and strengthening that enables and unlocks the potential for sustainable drug discovery and development activities across Africa.
NAPANEE, Ontario, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lophos Holdings Inc. ("Lophos", or the "Company") (CSE: MESC) is thrilled to provide further insights into the accomplishments of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lophos Pharmaceuticals Corp. The subsidiary has achieved a noteworthy milestone in the cultivation and ethical distribution of psychoactive plants and is delighted to announce the formalization of product release specifications for both fresh and dried peyote (Lophophora williamsii).

This significant development underscores our unwavering commitment to quality, consistency, and ethical practices in the cultivation and distribution of peyote.

Stringent Quality Standards:

The product release specifications establish rigorous quality standards, guaranteeing that both fresh and dried peyote consistently adhere to the highest product quality benchmark. These specifications define the product release requirements for Lophos peyote products, including identity testing, microbiological examination, chemical contamination scrutiny, and quantification of alkaloids.

Moreover, the specifications clearly define the permissible limits for these criteria, aligning with endorsed pharmacopeias recognized by Health Canada, notably the EU Pharmacopeia and the US Pharmacopeia. This steadfast commitment underscores Lophos Pharmaceuticals Corp.'s dedication to delivering products of unparalleled quality to our valued consumers.

Cultivation Uniformity:

Lophos specifications rigorously test the peyote, striving for uniformity and transparency across different batches. This commitment ensures that Lophos Pharmaceuticals Corp. provides consumers with a consistent and thoroughly tested product they can rely on.

CEOs Vision:

Claire Stawnyczy, CEO of Lophos Pharmaceuticals Corp., expressed enthusiasm about this development, stating, "The establishment of product release specifications is a pivotal step for us. It not only reflects our dedication to product quality but also underscores our commitment to safety in the distribution of peyote."

About Lophos

Lophos Pharmaceuticals Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lophos Holdings Inc. (CSE: MESC), stands as a prominent biosciences company specializing in the cultivation, research, and sale of peyote. Distinguished by its Controlled Substances Dealers License (CSDL), the subsidiary is authorized for the possession, sale, sending, transportation, and delivery of various controlled substances, including mescaline, psilocin, psilocybin, LSD, DMT, MDMA, and ketamine. Additionally, the license grants permission for the production of mescaline, psilocin, and psilocybin, showcasing the comprehensive scope of our operations.

For further inquiries:

Contact: Giselle Barona, Lophos Holdings Inc.Email: [email protected]Website: www.lophos.comPhone: 1-833-450-7407

Cautionary Statement

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. 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 Lophos' current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Forward-looking information in this press release includes information with respect to the Companys peyote cactus product development. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by Lophos at the date of the information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and Lophos 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. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption Risk Factors in Lophos' final long form prospectus dated August 11, 2023, which is available on Lophos's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state, province, territory or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state, province, territory or jurisdiction.

Source: Lophos Holdings Inc.
By the time when the rail line reached Port Florence in 1901, the British could take control of the source of the Nile," said Sevily Mwailemi, a former employee of Kenya Railways. Setting foot on the African continent, the settlers aspired to turn the vast fertile land of Kenya into a white man's paradise.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
New clinical trial site opened in Italy for pectus excavatum and planned in Germany for bone reconstruction

Company aims to expand EU market authorization from custom-made to off-the-shelf products and and to pursue market approval in the USA

Leipzig, Germany, January 31, 2024  BellaSeno GmbH, an ISO 13485-certified medtech company developing resorbable scaffolds using additive manufacturing technologies, today announced that additional, investigator-initiated clinical trials of its novel regenerative scaffolds for bone reconstruction and chest-wall defects (pectus excavatum) will be conducted in Germany and Italy, respectively. In 2023, BellaSeno had received market authorization for its custom-made, resorbable bone and pectus excavatum scaffolds in Europe.

The clinical pectus excavatum trial in Italy will enroll a total of 10 patients, with 4 individuals having undergone surgery already. While initial clinical use cases in Australia demonstrated promisingoutcomes last year, this is the first time that a fully resorbable sternal prosthesis is being used in Europe. For each patient, the prosthesis was individually designed and 3D printed using polycaprolactone - a proven medical material in use for decades, e.g., for resorbable suture material. There will be a 2-year patient follow-up to assess the outcome of the operation.

Following the publication of first clinical data by BellaSeno, a total of four European university hospitals have announced their plans to set up independent, investigator-initiated clinical trials to investigate further into this promising technology. Among the first sites, the Clinic for Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery at the University Hospital Heidelberg under the lead of Professor Dr. med. Gerhard Schmidmaier plans to initiate its IIT in Q1/2024, aiming to include up to 20 patients with a follow-up time of 2 years.

"We are excited that several leading European university hospitals have decided to evaluate our scaffolds in independent clinical trials. This will help us obtain further clinical evidence on our proprietary approach of treating both soft and hard tissue defects," said Dr. Mohit Chhaya, Chief Executive Officer of BellaSeno. "The addition of real-world data will be beneficial for our planned market approval for off-the-shelf breast and bone reconstruction products in the USA and EU."

We look forward to learning more about the scientific background of BellaSeno's groundbreaking technology, especially how such a scaffold is being vascularized while it secures the position of the autologous bone graft in a large size defect, said Professor Dr. med. Gerhard Schmidmaier, the primary investigator of the IIT in Heidelberg. The initial results are promising, and as a team, we are committed to supporting these trials comprehensively. This technology has the potential to deliver a step change in the field of regenerative medicine, and we are eager to demonstrate the benefits it brings to patients with complex reconstructive needs.

BellaSenos MDR-certified manufacturing platform is designed to meet the requirements of medical scaffolds ranging from soft tissue to bone and enables the production of both custom-made and off-the-shelf sterile medical implants.

###

About BellaSenoBellaSeno GmbH was founded in 2015 and is headquartered on the BioCity campus in Leipzig, Germany, with a subsidiary in Brisbane, Australia. The Company is developing novel resorbable soft tissue and bone reconstruction implants made by additive manufacturing (3D-printing) under ISO 13485 certification. The Company has received substantial financial support from private investors as well as from the Saxony Development Bank (SAB), the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRE), Germanys Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Australian government. The Company has been co-funded from tax resources based on the budget adopted by the members of Saxony State Parliament.

Contact BellaSenoBellaSeno GmbHDr. Mohit Chhaya[email protected]Tel.: +49 176 2283 9583

Media InquiriesakampionDr. Ludger Wess / Ines-Regina Buth Managing Partners[email protected]Tel. +49 40 88 16 59 64Tel. +49 30 23 63 27 68

Source: AKAMPION
PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FN Media Group News Commentary - The next several years are predicted to produce a strong growth rate in the uranium ore global market. Uranium ore refers to the process of extraction of uranium ore from the ground. At the mine, uranium ore is extracted and treated to produce uranium oxide, which is then exported. The conversion of mined ore into uranium oxide (also known as yellowcake) often takes place on the mine site. The main types of uranium ore are granite-type uranium deposits, volcanic-type uranium deposits, sandstone-type uranium deposits, and carbonate-siliceous-pelitic rock-type uranium deposits. Carbonate-siliceous-pelitic rock-type uranium deposits are an important mineralization phenomenon outside the Red Bed. Both not only have the same source, same time, and same area but also have the relationships of cause and effect. The mining type includes underground mining and surface mining. A report from the Business Research Company said that: The uranium ore market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.11 billion in 2023 to $1.21 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to the nuclear power plant construction boom, the cold war and military demand, the Chernobyl and three-mile island incidents, global economic trends, and changes in the regulatory environment. The uranium ore market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.81 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to government policies and incentives, focus on carbon emission reduction, geopolitical stability, exploration and discovery of new uranium deposits, public perception and social acceptance. Major trends in the forecast period include advancements in nuclear technology, development of in-situ recovery (ISR) technology, focus on uranium enrichment technologies, increased scrutiny on environmental and social impact, and diversification of uranium end-use applications. Active mining companies in the markets this week include Stallion Uranium Corp. (TSX-V: STUD) (OTCQB: STLNF), Uranium Energy Corp (NYSE American: UEC), FISSION URANIUM CORP. (OTCQX: FCUUF), Denison Mines Corp (NYSE American: DNN) (TSX: DML), NexGen Energy Ltd. (NYSE: NXE).



Business Research concluded: Rising nuclear fuel consumption is expected to propel the growth of the uranium ore market going forward. Nuclear fuel refers to the material used in nuclear reactors to generate energy through nuclear fission. Uranium ore plays a crucial role in the production of nuclear fuel, which is used to generate electricity in nuclear power reactors. For instance, in September 2021, according to the Government Accountability Office, a US-based government agency, approximately 86,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel from commercial reactors were being stored at 75 locations across the United States, with this quantity consistently increasing. Therefore, rising nuclear fuel consumption is driving the growth of the uranium ore market.

Stallion Uranium Corp. (TSX-V: STUD) (OTCQB: STLNF) Engages Axiom Exploration for Aerial Gravity Survey over Gunter Lake Uranium Project - Stallion Uranium Corp. is pleased to announce that it has engaged Axiom Exploration Group to conduct an Aerial Gravity Survey over its Gunter Lake ("Gunter Lake or the "Project") Uranium Project in the southwestern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan.

The aerial gravity survey commencing in February is a leading-edge technology that records the density changes in the underlying rocks. The data from the gravity survey, when paired with the existing data from the VTEMTM Plus survey completed last year, will identify potential uranium alteration zones. The gravity survey data is an important determinant in the discovery of uranium mineralization and was one of the key geophysical surveys used during the discovery of NexGen Energys Arrow deposit.

As we are readying to mobilize for Stallions maiden drill program on our Appaloosa target, the deployment of the gravity survey will continue to move other prospective target zones towards drill readiness. Stallions strategy is to pragmatically advance the highest priority target zones over our large prospective land package in the prolific southwestern Athabasca Basin, stated Drew Zimmerman, CEO. We are at an incredibly exciting time where each step we take on our roadmap continues to move Stallion closer to finding the next uranium discovery!

XplorerNxT systems are mounted on dedicated AS350 B-series helicopters. The AS350 is ideal for the close terrain following required for geophysical surveys. The unique Starflex rotor system and ample power ensure that even the most stringent survey specifications are maintained. The system will utilize a strap-down laser ring gyro gravimeter collecting gravity data. CONTINUED Read these full press releases and more news for Stallion Uranium at: https://stallionuranium.com/news/press-releases/

Other recent developments in the mining industry of note include:

Uranium Energy Corp (NYSE American: UEC) recently announced that the Company's Board of Directors has approved restarting uranium production at its fully permitted, and past producing, Christensen Ranch In-Situ Recovery ("ISR") operations in Wyoming. The recovered uranium will be processed at the fully operational Irigaray Central Processing Plant ("CPP") with a current licensed capacity of 2.5 million pounds U3O8 per year. The Irigaray CPP is the hub central to four fully permitted ISR projects in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming, including Christensen Ranch.

The first production is expected during August of this year and will be funded with existing cash on the Company's balance sheet. As UEC's strategy has been to remain 100% unhedged, produced uranium will be sold at prevailing spot market prices which was $106 per pound U3O8 as of January 15, 2024 as reported by UxC. In the coming months, the Company will provide additional information on the expected volumes for the first year of production. The key focus in the final pre-production phase before the August restart is hiring and training of additional operations personnel to augment UEC's experienced operations team to ensure a successful ramp-up of uranium production. New personnel are anticipated to be hired from local communities such as Buffalo, Gillette, Casper, Kaycee and Wright.

FISSION URANIUM CORP. (OTCQX: FCUUF) recently announced the 2024 project development program, advancing towards construction and operation of a mine and mill for its PLS high-grade uranium project in Saskatchewan, Canada. The 2024 program will include submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIS"), resource expansion, ongoing community engagement, completion of the Front End Engineering and Design "FEED" phase, and the commencement of Detailed Engineering.

The draft Environmental Impact Statement will be submitted to the Province of Saskatchewan in Q1, 2024. This is a culmination of all the data collected since 2013 and is an independent assessment of the potential environmental and socio-economic impacts of the PLS Project. The Feasibility Study (FS), released in January 2023, addressed many of the required mitigations and the updated mine plan from the FS has been incorporated into the EIS. Fission will maintain its longer term environmental data collection activities for the Project as it continues to gain information to support construction and operations activities.

Grounded Lithium Corp. recently announced that it has obtained consents, from shareholders holding over 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company, in respect of the previously announced definitive agreement (the "Agreement") with Denison Mines Corp (NYSE American: DNN) (TSX: DML). The Company has also received final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange to close the transaction.

With all approvals obtained, the earn-in option granted by the Agreement is effective as of January 24, 2024. As communicated in the January 16, 2024 press release, the 5% gross over riding royalty ("GORR") sold to Denison is now reduced to 2%. The GORR will be eliminated in its entirety on the earlier of: (i) the date that Denison completes the first earn-in option under the Agreement; and (ii) the date that is fifteen (15) months after date of the Agreement unless Denison elects to forfeit its rights to exercise an earn-in option prior thereto.

NexGen Energy Ltd. (NYSE: NXE) recently announced that it has updated its at-the-market equity program (the "ATM Program") to offer and sell up to C$500 million of common shares from treasury ("Common Shares").

Sales of Common Shares, if any, will be made pursuant to the terms of an equity distribution agreement dated December 11, 2023 (the "Sales Agreement") among the Company, Virtu ITG Canada Corp., as Canadian agent, and Virtu Americas, LLC, as U.S. agent (together, the "Agents"), on the TSX and/or the NYSE, and/or any other marketplace for the Common Shares in Canada or the United States or as otherwise agreed between the Agents and the Company. The volume and timing of sales under the ATM Program, if any, will be determined in the Company's sole discretion, and at the market price prevailing at the time of each sale, and, as a result, sale prices may vary.

The ATM Program is being made pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated December 11, 2023 (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's final short form base shelf prospectus filed in all provinces and territories of Canada dated December 8, 2023 (the "Base Shelf Prospectus"), and pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated December 11, 2023 (the "U.S. Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's U.S. base prospectus (the "U.S. Base Prospectus") included in its registration statement on Form F-10 (the "Registration Statement") (File No. 333-275839) filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on December 8, 2023 (collectively, the Prospectus Supplement, Base Shelf Prospectus, U.S. Prospectus Supplement, the U.S. Base Prospectus and Registration Statement, the "Offering Documents").

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This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

Contact Information:

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SOURCE: FN Media Group




Fingrid Oyj

Stock Exchange release 31 January 2024 at 12:30 EET





Proposals of Fingrids Shareholders Nomination Board to the Annual General Meeting 2024

The Shareholders Nomination Board of Fingrid Oyj proposes to the Annual General Meeting 2024 that the meeting would decide as follows:





1. Number and composition of the Board of Directors



The Shareholders Nomination Board proposes that Fingrids Board of Directors would consist of five (5) members and that the current members of the Board of Directors Hannu Linna, Leena Morttinen, Jero Ahola and Anne Jalkala would be re-elected for the term of office ending at the end of the next Annual General Meeting. The current Board member Jukka Reijonen has informed that he will not be available for re-election to the Board of Directors in the next Annual General Meeting.

The Shareholders Nomination Board will complement its proposal concerning the Board members to be elected after the approval processes affecting the election have been completed, based on current estimations, at the latest by 16 February 2024.

In addition, Shareholders Nomination Board proposes that from the current Board members Hannu Linna would be re-elected as the Chair and Leena Morttinen re-elected as the Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors.

Of the proposed Board members, Hannu Linna, Jero Ahola and Anne Jalkala are independent from the company and its significant shareholders. Leena Morttinen is independent of the company, but not of the significant shareholders since she is currently employed by a significant shareholder.

All the proposed Board members have given their consents to their appointments.





2. Remuneration for the Board of Directors



The Shareholders Nomination Board proposes that the remuneration paid to the members of the Board of Directors remain unchanged. According to the proposal, the Chair shall be paid EUR 2,400/month, the Vice Chair EUR 1,300/month, and the Board members EUR 1,000/month, in addition to which, members shall be paid a meeting fee of EUR 600 for attending Board meetings and meetings of the Boards committees and meetings of the Shareholders nomination board.

Additional information about the members proposed by Fingrids Shareholders Nomination Board is available on the companys website. The Nomination Boards proposals will be included in the invitation to the Annual General Meeting.

The Chair of Fingrids Shareholders Nomination Board is Karri Safo (nominated by the State of Finland), and its members are Mikko Rasanen (nominated by llmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company) and Erkko Ryynanen (nominated by Aino Holdingyhtio Ky).





Contact information:

General Counsel, SVP Marina Louhija

tel. +358 40 519 0627
Washington, D.C., Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Securities and Exchange Commission denied the New Civil Liberties Alliances long-standing petition to amend the agencys Gag Rule, under which SEC forbids every American with whom it settles a regulatory enforcement case from even truthfully criticizing their cases in public. SEC had ignored the initial petition for more than five years, prompting NCLA to file a renewed petition against the Gag Rule in December 2023. NCLA will challenge SECs denial of the petition in court, defending Americans against the Gag Rules constitutional and statutory defects.

SECs denial letter is internally contradictory, asserting that its gag orders are negotiated terms of settlement between the parties. But the ruling itself later admits that the agency will not settle without a gag, which suggests its claim that defendants have negotiated these gags is wrong. SECs assertion that the agency does not try its cases through press releases is cruelly untrue. This scheme ensures that the Commissions press releases are the final and only public word on every settled case, meaning that enforcement targets cannot defend themselves in the court of public opinionin perpetuity. SEC well knows that such press releases are also occupational death sentences that often preclude future private employment, even outside the securities industry.

SECs letter implies that Congress delegated gag power to the agency. In reality, SEC enacted the 1972 Gag Rule without notice and comment after falsely framing it as an internal housekeeping measure that would not affect third parties. The agency never had statutory authority to implement the rule, and it bypassed Administrative Procedure Act requirements to provide notice and allow comment before promulgating a binding rule.

SEC apparently doesnt like to be criticized. This is a wholly illegitimate interest, and a gag is the most restrictive, least tailored way to achieve it. The denial letter fails to address the problems with prior restraintsor the two federal court of appeals judges who have stated that it is hard to imagine a more effective prior restraint than SECs longstanding policy that conditions settlement  on  giving up First Amendment rights.

The Gag Rule is punishing current and former NCLA clients Christopher Novinger, Barry Romeril and Ray Lucia. NCLA represents Mr. Novinger in appealing the gag provisions in his SEC settlement before the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. SEC has silenced Mr. Romeril, who is over 80 years old, with a gag order for more than 20 years. Mr. Lucia settled his case in 2020 after a successful trip to the U.S. Supreme Court, yet two SEC Commissioners said the Commission had made up its rule out of whole cloth when targeting him.

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce issued a stinging dissent from SECs decision today, powerfully arguing that the American public, not government censors must be the arbiters of the validity of speech. NCLA looks forward to arguing these points and vindicating our clients First Amendment rights before a neutral federal court.

NCLA released the following statements:SECs refusal to revisit the lifetime gag that it imposes as a non-negotiable condition of settlement demeans the agency and its professed commitment to transparency and disclosure in the financial markets. We have every confidence that a court will untie the gag for them and allow the American public, not SEC censors, to decide the validity of SECs suspect enforcement practices. Peggy Little, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA

SECs denial is unsurprising but still disappointing. As Commissioner Peirces dissent highlights, SECs unceremoniously adopted gag rule is unnecessary, imprudent, and suboptimal. We look forward to challenging it in court. Kara Rollins, Litigation Counsel, NCLA

Todays decision provides further evidence that SECs leadership is off the rails. This Nixon-era gag rule should never have been promulgated, and it needs to be relegated to the dustbin of history as soon as possible. Now that the agency has refused to back down on its own, a federal court will have to force it to do so.  Mark Chenoweth, President and Chief Legal Officer, NCLA

For more information visit the petition page here.

ABOUT NCLA

NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights.

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Ruslan Moldovanov New Civil Liberties Alliance 202-869-5237 [email protected]

Source: New Civil Liberties Alliance
Sponsorship provides The Leaders Groups registered representatives exclusive membership discount

Littleton, CO, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), the preeminent association for financial service professionals in the USA, will have its 2024 Congressional Conference, Apex and Leadership Conference sponsored by The Leaders Group, Inc. (TLG), a national, independent broker-dealer.



TLG will also be a platinum sponsor for NAIFA-Colorado, NAIFAs Colorado chapter.



As a member of NAIFA, TLG supports NAIFAs efforts to grow its membership by providing its registered representatives with a coordinated, exclusive offering for NAIFA membership. Members who have been licensed for more than five years normally pay $68 per month, but representatives of The Leaders Group are entitled to an introductory fee of only $30 per month for the first two years. The discounted offer gives TLG representatives the opportunity to experience the full value of NAIFA membership at a fraction of the cost.

NAIFA is a leading organization for the preservation of the insurance and financial industries and is one of the few organizations that visits capitol hill to discuss with congressmen and women each year to protect the business of financial professionals. TLG attended the 2023 NAIFA National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., opening the door for symbiotic opportunities from like-minded organizations.

NAIFA-Colorado has a member base of 320 members. Its members live and work in the same communities as their clients, allowing them to build long-term relationships for years to come. TLG will be attending the Legislative Day and Sales Event in February, the NAIFA-Colorado Affiliate Member Meeting in March, and the Member Meetings 2024 at Cherry Hills Country Club.

Our partnership with The Leaders Group supports NAIFA-Colorados local, member-driven initiatives that help protect financial professionals and investors against bad legislation, keeping their best interests in mind, said Joseph Giulitto, CCFC, ABFP, board president of NAIFA-Colorado. With support from partners like The Leaders Group, we work to gain exposure in Colorado and increase membership through state conferences and events.

NAIFAs history stretches over 100 years and is the number one association for producers in financial services across all 50 states with hundreds of members serving millions of families. NAIFA recently merged with the Society of Financial Services Professionals (FSP) and Life Happens, providing enhanced educational resources, leveraging advocacy potential, and providing a deeper networking opportunity for members. Outside of Finseca, NAIFA is one of the only groups fighting unfair and overreaching regulatory change at the federal, state, and local levels.

The importance of NAIFA for our industry has never been more evident than it is today, said Charles Arnold, chief marketing officer at The Leaders Group. We are proud to help support and stand by the NAIFA organization on a national and local level to help protect this noble profession that serves so many American families. We hope 2024 is one small step towards an ongoing, building relationship between The Leaders Group and NAIFA for many years to come.

The partnership means Arnold becomes a NAIFA member under the Industry Professional category to represent TLG.

For 30 years, TLG has supported BGAs, financial professionals, and fee-based advisors in the wealth management industry and has been one of the few broker-dealers serving insurance producers by providing a platform for securities and registered insurance products. TLG takes pride in serving clients best interests and protecting the relationships its representatives have previously established with familiar carriers and product sponsors.

NAIFA aims to further their members career development and increase their expertise in their practice, advocacy efforts, and community involvement. With this new partnership, TLG and NAIFA look to engage Colorado-based financial professionals by surrounding them with like-minded colleagues in 2024 and beyond.

About NAIFA

Founded in 1890, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) is the preeminent association for financial service professionals in the USA. NAIFA members, in every Congressional district and every state house, subscribe to a strong code of ethics and represent a full spectrum of practice specialties to promote financial security for all Americans. Complimented by its professional development and consumer divisions, the Society of Financial Service Professionals and Life Happens, the association delivers value through advocacy, service, and education.



For more information, visit belong.naifa.org

About The Leaders Group

Founded in 1994 by the late Dave Wickersham, The Leaders Group, Inc. (TLG) is a national, independent broker-dealer located in Littleton, Colo. and member of FINRA. TLGs mission is to provide extraordinary service, expertise, and flexibility to our financial professionals, wholesale organizations, and industry partners. The firm envisions an industry where the complexities of doing business are simplified, and relationships are developed and aligned to deliver the highest level of service to clients.

For more information, visit www.leadersgroup.net.

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Washington, D.C., Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2024 Washington, D.C. Auto Show wrapped up this past Sunday, marking the conclusion of a highly successful event that showcased the automotive industry's latest innovations and engaged participants in meaningful discussions on public policy and technology.

Kicking off the 10-day consumer show was the record-breaking Public Policy Day on Thursday, January 18. The day began with the Champions for Automotive Education Awards, a partnership between DARCARS, Toyota, and WANADA's Automobile Dealer Education Institute (ADEI). The event honored automotive educators from across the DC metropolitan area with the presentation of keys to a leased, pure-electric Toyota BZ4X. The day continued with a dynamic program of keynote addresses, and panel discussions. A fiery roundtable discussion by members of the Congressional Auto Caucus, including U.S Representatives Debbie Dingell, Marcy Kaptur, Mike Kelly, Bob Latta, and Roger Williams was one of the most engaging and talked about portions of the program as they addressed the cost-benefit value of electric vehicles.

Several manufacturers took advantage of the platform to also introduce new models, such as the Lexus TX 550h+, Rolls Royce Spectre, and the Aston-Martin DB12 convertible. U.S. News & World Report also presented their annual "Best Cars for the Money" awards during the Public Policy Day. The event continued with the Sneak Peek Preview, providing lawmakers and industry insiders with an exclusive preview before opening to the public.

Opening its doors to consumers on Friday, January 19, the auto show drew large crowds over the 10-day event. Almost every exhibitor reported meeting or surpassing their lead goals, underlining the event's influence in shaping the industry's landscape. Popular attractions included the Art-of-Motion display, Strictly Ebikes test track, the exotics display, and engaging ride & drives from Hyundai, Nissan, and Tesla, as well as on outdoor ride and drive from Pepco EVsmart that featured brands like Ford, Kia, and Hyundai.

Following an eight-year hiatus, Tesla made a comeback to the list of featured manufacturers at the show. They know where their buyers are, said ODonnell. Right here, at the DC Auto Show. The highly anticipated Cybertruck and the recently unveiled Model 3 were undeniable crowd-pleasers. What made this event even more special was that, for the first time ever, attendees had the exclusive opportunity to explore the interiors of all the showcased Tesla models, including the Cybertruck.

The interest we saw surrounding electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles was exactly what we and our exhibitors were anticipating at this years show, said John ODonnell, President and CEO of the Washington, D.C. Auto Show. We were thrilled to see each of our manufacturers showcasing a variety of these models at their display and generating buzz across our attendees. It was overwhelming to hear about the overall turnout and that almost every exhibitor exceeded their lead goal.

First time exhibitors Lucid and Bass Pro Shops added to the excitement of the 10-day show and both expressed interest in a more robust involvement for 2025. Bringing a mix of brands not normally present in recent years was Automotive Rhythms and DC Car Scene. Both showcased custom rides that make up the thriving automotive community that lives in and around downtown DC. Krazy Bounce and WowWheelz elevated the experience for the littlest car enthusiasts, and Subaru brought the love with their Subaru Loves Pets adoption initiative.

As the exhibition unfolded, a multitude of distinguished government figures graced the event with their presence. Notable attendees included the Deputy Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), Senator Ben Ray Lujuan, and Senator Joe Manchin. These esteemed officials actively engaged in insightful conversations with representatives from each manufacturing entity, delving into discussions about the showcased models and collectively envisioning the trajectory of the industry's future.

The Washington, D.C. Auto Show continues to be a key platform for industry leaders, lawmakers, and the public to engage in discussions on automotive technology, regulation, and policy.

Plans for 2025 are already underway. With the participation of new and highly-sought after brands, the DC Auto Show team is hopeful that 2024 marks the beginning of auto shows once again showcasing all automotive manufacturers. So, mark your calendar for January 31 - February 9, 2025 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Visit the event website for highlights from this year: www.washingtonautoshow.com.

###

About The Washington, D.C. Auto Show

The Washington, D.C. Auto Show is held each January at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and is the largest annual indoor public event in the District of Columbia. For more than 80 years, the auto show has modified their programming to accommodate the latest advances and trends in car technology. With the rise in connectivity and autonomous capabilities, the 2025 Auto Show will highlight mobility advancements in all forms of transportation through its brand-new DC eDrives experience. Browse the extensive displays of battery-powered vehicles, sustainable buses, and new forms of all-electric mobility, along with the classic fan favorites like the exotic and luxury car displays. The 2025 Washington, D.C. Auto Show will be open to the public for 10 consecutive days, from January 31 through February 9, 2025

Attachments

Michaela Watkins Washington, D.C. Auto Show [email protected]

Source: Washington, D.C. Auto Show
MUNICH, Germany and MONTREAL, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TVM Capital Life Science (TVM), a leading transatlantic venture capital firm focused on investments in life sciences innovation, today announced the closing of a Series A financing round for Myosotis GmbH (myo), a pioneering Berlin-based digital healthcare startup. TVM led the round, investing 8 million. The proceeds will be used to further grow the business in the DACH region as well as in the UK. This will include expanding marketing capacity and enhancing service quality for existing customers, as well as developing new modules. Dr. Sascha Berger, General Partner, and Stefan Fischer, Managing Partner (Finance) of TVM, will join the myo Board of Directors.



myo was founded in 2018 with the goal of relieving employees in care homes through digital solutions and bringing more transparency, participation and appreciation to the sector. The companys communication app enables care facilities, families and service providers to communicate with each other easily, quickly and digitally. Families are able to participate in their loved ones' everyday lives by receiving pictures, videos and documents as well as making video calls. Additional modules for the app simplify important but time-consuming administrative tasks, including ordering meals, monitoring complaints, and managing key external services such as laundry providers and pharmacies. This saves time and money and improves documentation. myo services approximately 400 customers in the DACH region and the UK.

Dr. Sascha Berger, General Partner of TVM Capital Life Science, commented: At TVM, we are committed to advancing healthcare innovations that address unmet needs. Digital tools offer the promise of significantly increasing the efficiency of the healthcare system and giving medical professionals more time to do what they do best  care for their patients. myo's unique approach to elderly care communication could transform this crucial and growing sector, contributing to improved communication amongst healthcare staff, relatives and service providers, resulting in better care."

Stefan Fischer, Managing Partner (Finance) of TVM Capital Life Science, noted: The new digitalization strategy of Germanys Ministry of Health not only acknowledges the incredible potential of digital solutions for the future of our under-pressure healthcare system, it also opens the way for groundbreaking technologies like myos apps to be integrated in a meaningful way into patient care. TVM is excited to see this important product rolled out in the DACH region and the UK. myo's dynamic management team is well positioned to effectively scale myos innovative platform and make a tangible impact on the healthcare industry.

Jasper Bockel, CEO of myo, added: This funding is an important step in our growth plan. We are delighted to have such a well-regarded investor as TVM come on board and look forward to leveraging their experience with commercial-stage life science companies. Our passionate team is dedicated to enhancing human interactions in care settings, and these proceeds will now enable us to roll out our technology to more users and develop additional solutions for healthcare providers and families.

About myo

Myosotis GmbH (Latin for forget-me-not flower) offers the first software-as-a-service solution for direct digital communication between employees, relatives and the ecosystem of service providers in care homes. The app enables intuitive communication with relatives through photos, videos, voice messages and video calls. This makes the impressive work in care more visible and simplifies administrative processes at the same time. The majority of communication - whether with relatives or third-party providers - can be handled by a single digital application. With just one click, homes can inform all relatives about new hygiene measures, for example, let a family participate in the life of the person in need of care and inform the doctor, pharmacy or external laundry service. This saves employees valuable time, which in turn can be used for caring for the elderly.

myo is already working with over 400 customers in DACH and the UK, including the most well-known providers, such as DRK, AWO, Johanniter and Agaplesion. Last year alone, over 30,000 users sent seven-figure interactions via the platform. In addition, interfaces have already been established with market leaders such as apetito, Sanacorp and CWS to further simplify communication for facilities.

In addition to new investors, TVM and Twip, existing shareholders include the nursing home operators Agaplesion and Carpe Diem, as well as the venture capital funds BonVenture, Axel Springer Plug & Play, Think Health, Mountain Partners, Round Hill Ventures and Capacura.

About TVM Capital Life Science

TVM is a leading international venture capital firm focused on investing in life science innovations. The company has a highly experienced transatlantic investment team and approximately $900 million under management. TVMs portfolio focuses on therapeutics and medical technologies from North America and the EU that represent differentiated first-in-class or best-in-class assets with the potential to transform standard of care.

TVM pursues a unique two-pronged strategy, financing innovative early-stage therapeutics through a single asset company approach (Project-Focused Company, PFC) that leverages the firms strategic relationship with global pharmaceutical firm, Eli Lilly and Company. TVM also invests in differentiated commercial-stage medical technologies and late clinical-stage therapeutics.

With its late-stage investments, TVM focuses on differentiated medical technologies and health tech with commercial proof-of-concept, as well as late-stage therapeutics expected to quickly reach major development or regulatory milestones. This strategy has been validated through a number of companies in both Fund I and II and the Colucid Pharmaceuticals exit.

The TVM investment team has worked together for over a decade to effectively utilize this innovative approach to maximize returns for investors and finance new therapies and technologies to meaningfully improve patient lives.

For further information, please visit www.tvm-capital.com. Follow TVM on LinkedIn.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vortex Energy Corp. (CSE: VRTX | OTC: VTECF | FRA: AA3) ("Vortex or the "Company") is pleased to announce, further to its news release on January 10, 2024, that it has extended its engagement of Financial Star News Inc. (FSN) (address: 701 West Georgia Street, Suite 1500, Vancouver, British Columbia V7Y 1C6; email: [email protected]) for marketing services during the month of February, commencing February 1, 2024, provided that the term of the marketing services may be extended or shortened at the discretion of management depending on, amongst other things, the efficiency of the marketing services.

As previously disclosed, FSN has and shall continue to, as appropriate, create campaigns, ad groups, text ads, display ads, perform detailed keyword research, setup and manage remarketing campaigns, optimize keyword options, coordinate online advertisers and marketers corresponding to online marketing targets, create landing pages for ad campaigns and generally bring attention to the business of the Company. The promotional activity undertaken by FSN will occur on a http:///www.theFinancialStar.com landing page, and via Google ads and native advertising.

The Company will pay a fee of USD $250,000 (plus GST) for the extension. The Company will not issue any securities to FSN as compensation for its marketing services. As of the date hereof, to the Companys knowledge, FSN (including its directors and officers) does not own any securities of the Company and has an arms length relationship with the Company.

About Vortex Energy Corp.

Vortex Energy Corp. is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in North America. The company is currently advancing its Robinson River Salt Project comprised of a total of 942 claims covering 23,500 hectares located approximately 35 linear kms south of the town of Stephenville in the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador. The Robinson River Salt Project is prospective for both salt and hydrogen salt cavern storage. The company is actively evaluating technologies to efficiently store hydrogen or energy in salt caverns. Vortex Energy Corp. also holds the Fire Eye Project, which is located in the Wollaston Domain of northern Saskatchewan, Canada.

On Behalf of the Board of DirectorsPaul SparkesChief Executive Officer, Director+1 (778) 819-0164[email protected]

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words could, intend, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Companys current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the expected term of the marketing activities contracted for by the Company.

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, assumptions regarding the efficacy of the Companys marketing program and the Canadian Securities Exchanges acceptance of the Companys promotional program.

Although forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions of the Companys management, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things, the risk that the Companys marketing program may not be as effective as anticipated by the Company and that the budget for the Companys marketing program may not be sufficient to permit the marketing activities to continue for the anticipated term and that the Canadian Securities Exchange may object to the Companys promotional program and use its discretion to halt the Companys promotional activities or impose other penalties on the Company. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

Source: VORTEX ENERGY CORP
Beijing, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeTrade Information Technology Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of WeTrade Group Inc.WETG.US in Hong Kong, and Beijing YueShang digital Technology Group Co., LTD, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China, jointly declare that:The announcement made by WeTrade Group Inc. on November 21, 2023 that the two companies have been sold is not true. The two companies will file a lawsuit through legal and demand economic compensation from WeTrade Group Inc.Mr. Hechun Wei, the former CEO of WeTrade Group Inc. , also stated in his clarification letter that during his tenure as CEO of WeTrade Group Inc., he did not sigh any announcement to sell these two companies.

About WeTrade Information Technology Limited

WeTrade Information Technology Limited is a technology research and development company for the WTPay business of WeTrade Group Inc. Its core product VCard currently covers 15 countries worldwide. And meanwhile, WeTrade Information Technology Limited is also an important partner in Ping An Bank's financial business.

About Beijing YueShang digital Technology Group Co., LTDThe business of Beijing YueShang digital Technology Group Co., LTD incloud YCloud, Y-Health, and YG

YCloud is a micro business cloud intelligent system serving the global micro business industry, which strengthens user marketing relationships and CPS commission profit management through leading technology and big data analysis. It also helps increase payment scenarios and increase customer revenue through multi-channel data statistics, artificial intelligence fission and management, and improved supply chain systems. At present, YCloud's coverage in the domestic micro commerce industry is far ahead.

Y-Health is a global public health business segment primarily dedicated to conducting global business for healthcare companies. At present, it mainly focuses on areas such as testing and epidemic prevention, daily health, and traditional Chinese medicine. Starting from August 2022, Beijing YueShang Digital Technology Group Co., Ltd. has invested in Jiqing Biotechnology and established partnerships with Baihui Medical, Mobilab, Zhixun Biotechnology, and others.

YG mainly provides tools and technical support for the digital new energy industry in the Middle East and Central Asia. Currently, Beijing YueShang Digital Technology Group Co., Ltd. has signed cooperation with multiple domestic new energy enterprises, committed to improving the Middle East and Central Asian countries through technology and equipment output.

For more information, please contact:WeTrade Group Inc.Investor Relations Department[email protected]

Source: WeTrade
FILE PHOTO: Signage for Cigna is pictured at a health facility in Queens, New York City, U.S., November 30, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

(Reuters) -Insurer Health Care Service Corp said on Wednesday it would buy Cigna's Medicare business that manages government-backed health insurance for people aged 65 and older for $3.3 billion in cash.

The sale consists of Cigna's Medicare lines, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplement and Medicare drug plans, as well as a unit called CareAllies that works with physician groups and other healthcare providers.

The divestiture marks a change in Cigna's strategy for the sector it had entered with its $3.8-billion acquisition of HealthSpring in 2011.

Health Care Service holds a license to provide Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans in five U.S. states. It employs more than 27,000 people and 18.6 million members.

The vast majority of Cigna's revenue comes from its commercial business and pharmacy benefits division, which it bolstered with the $52-billion purchase of Express Scripts in 2018.

Cigna's Medicare Advantage business generated 4.4% of the company's $179.4 billion revenue from external customers in 2022. Its plans currently serve 3.6 million Medicare members.

The deal is expected to close in early 2025, Health Care Service said.

(Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (R) welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron at the Prime Minister's Office in Stockholm, Sweden, on Jan. 30, 2024. Sweden and France are set to cooperate on nuclear power, forestry, and security, said French President Emmanuel Macron during a state visit to Sweden on Tuesday. (Magnus Liljegren/Government Offices of Sweden/Handout via Xinhua)

STOCKHOLM, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Sweden and France are set to cooperate on nuclear power, forestry, and security, said French President Emmanuel Macron during a state visit to Sweden on Tuesday.

"We have decided on certain guidelines when it comes to deepening our cooperation within the field of nuclear power, to phase out carbon dioxide to move towards a more carbon-neutral economy," Macron told a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

Cooperation on nuclear power is important to the Swedish government, which in November said that the country would build new nuclear power output corresponding to ten large-scale reactors by 2045. Two of these are expected to be operational by 2035.

Forests are also vital to fighting climate change and preserving biodiversity, Macron said. Both countries have large forested areas, he said, adding that France could learn from Sweden when it comes to sustainable forestry.

Macron and Kristersson also discussed security issues in light of the Ukraine crisis and the situation in the Middle East, as well as Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) once Hungary ratifies its application.

Macron said that Sweden and France are "major players for reaching space," and that the launch capabilities of both countries also are important to Europe.

"We have agreed to deepen our cooperation in the field of satellites and climate surveys," Macron said.

Macron's two-day visit, which lasts until Wednesday, is the first French state visit to Sweden in 24 years. 

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron attend a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Stockholm, Sweden, on Jan. 30, 2024. Sweden and France are set to cooperate on nuclear power, forestry, and security, said French President Emmanuel Macron during a state visit to Sweden on Tuesday. (Ninni Andersson/Government Offices of Sweden/Handout via Xinhua)
Lagos, Nigeria--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Afolabi Kehinde Oke, Nigerian business executive and technology entrepreneur, has been appointed as the official Ambassador of the African Union 6th Region (AU6R)/The Economic Community Africa Sixth Region (ECASR) to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS).





Afolabi Oke



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The African Union, in an official statement, highlighted that Afolabi Oke's appointment was based on his exceptional qualifications, expertise, and unwavering commitment to the mission and vision of AU6R/ECASR. The decision was further reinforced by resounding endorsements, recognizing Oke's remarkable contributions within the financial and economic arena, as well as his dedicated involvement in corporate social responsibility.





Afolabi Oke



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The AU's official appointment letter stated, "The decision is grounded in resounding endorsements, highlighting your remarkable contributions within the financial and economic arena, as well as your dedicated involvement in corporate social responsibility, all of which significantly contribute to the betterment of society."

Afolabi Oke, currently serving as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Global Infoswift Limited, a leading consulting company providing transformation, strategy, technology, and outsourcing services, has played a pivotal role in facilitating numerous national and international partnerships. These collaborations aim to foster digital transformation in Africa's financial sector, positioning the continent as a business hub and technological force globally. Oke's initiatives have notably advanced the penetration of cutting-edge global technologies into key economic sectors of Nigeria, including banking, telecommunications, and petroleum.





Afolabi Oke



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In his new role as Ambassador, Afolabi Oke will hold a crucial position overseeing the mission and vision of AU6R/ECASR, fostering diplomatic relations with the government of Nigeria and ECOWAS. His responsibilities extend to engaging with civil society organizations and the private sector in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region.

The appointment letter specified, "Your mandate is to strengthen the socioeconomic relationship between your region and the global Africa diaspora community, in alignment with the directives of AU6R/ECSAR mandates."

"I am deeply honoured to accept the prestigious appointment as Ambassador of the African Union 6th Region/ The Economic Community of Africa Sixth Region to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). I express my gratitude to the union for bestowing this remarkable opportunity upon me to serve the continent. I am fully aware of the immense responsibilities that come with this position," Oke said.

As Afolabi Oke takes on this significant diplomatic role, expectations are high for his leadership to further enhance the ties between the African Union 6th Region and Nigeria, as well as contribute to the economic development and technological advancement of the ECOWAS region.

For Interview request,

Web: www.dtcoms.com

Email: [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196380
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 30, 2024) - Amaya Big Sky Capital Corp. (the "Corporation" or "Amaya"), is pleased to announce that it has completed its initial public offering (the "Offering") of 2,250,000 common shares in the capital of the Corporation (each, a "Common Share") at a purchase price of $0.10 per Common Share by way of a final prospectus dated January 9, 2024 (the "Prospectus"), with the British Columbia and Alberta Securities Commissions. The gross proceeds from the offering was $225,000. The Common Shares were listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") at the market open on January 30, 2024 and immediately halt traded pending closing of the Offering. The halt is expected to be lifted and trading of the Common Shares is expected to commence on or about February 1, 2024, under the symbol "AMYA.P".

The net proceeds of the Offering are designated to be used by the Corporation to identify and analyze prospective assets or businesses for acquisition with the intention of completing a Qualifying Transaction (as defined in Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies of the TSXV (the "CPC Policy")). To date, the Corporation has not conducted operations of any kind and has not entered into an Agreement in Principle (as defined in the CPC Policy).

Haywood Securities Inc. (the "Agent") acted as agent for the Offering, and per the Offering, the Corporation compensated the Agent as follows: (1) $22,500 cash commission, equal to 10% of the total gross proceeds of the Offering, (2) a corporate finance fee plus applicable taxes, and (3) Agent's options entitling the Agent to purchase up to 225,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.10 per Common Share until January 30, 2029.

In addition, the Corporation has granted its directors and officers a total of 587,010 stock options (the "Options") at an exercise price of $0.10 per Common Share for a period of 60 months from the date of the closing of the Offering. The Options are escrowed pursuant to the CPC Policy.

As of the date hereof, the Corporation has 5,870,100 Common Shares issued and outstanding, of which 3,660,100 are escrowed pursuant to CPC Policy.

The current directors of the Corporation are Ryan Hounjet, Kelly Abbott, Douglas Penner and Amardeep Purewal.

For further information, please see the Prospectus, available under the Corporation's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Amaya Big Sky Capital Corp.

Amaya is designated as a Capital Pool Company ("CPC") under the CPC Policy. The Corporation currently has not begun any formal commercial operations and has no assets other than cash raised from the Offering and the prior seed investment round. The purpose of this Offering is to provide the Corporation with funds to allow it to pursue a potential Qualifying Transaction with an appropriate asset or business as in accordance with the CPC Policy. As such, any transaction must be approved by the TSXV and, in the case of a non-arm's length Qualifying Transaction, must also receive majority approval of the minority shareholders. Until the completion of a Qualifying Transaction, the Corporation will not carry on any business other than identifying prospective transactions, completing appropriate due diligence, and evaluating such assets for the purpose of completing a Qualifying Transaction.

For further information, please contact:

Ryan Hounjet

Director and Chief Executive Officer

T: 403-542-6215

E: [email protected]

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Corporation's anticipated trading date on the TSXV and the ability of the Corporation to complete a Qualifying Transaction. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Corporation disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Source: Amaya Big Sky Capital Corp.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196261
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 30, 2024) - Andean Precious Metals Corp. (TSXV: APM) (OTCQX: ANPMF) ("Andean" or the "Company") today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Golden Queen Mining LLC, has returned to normal production following the previously announced fire on December 13, 2023.

The secondary crusher circuit, which was damaged in the fire, is now repaired and fully operational.

"I'd like to thank our team and our trusted suppliers and contractors for their tireless efforts in completing equipment repairs in a timely and efficient manner," said Alberto Morales, Executive Chair and CEO. "While the extent of the structural damage was not as serious as first anticipated, their efforts helped us return to regular operations and full production weeks earlier than anticipated."

As previously announced, the Company expects lower production in the first quarter of 2024 due to the fire; however, Golden Queen's full-year 2024 production is not anticipated to be materially affected. The Company's 2024 guidance will be outlined at the end of March with the release of its 2023 financial and operating results.

Golden Queen Mining operates the Soledad Mountain mine and heap leach operation in Kern County, Southern California.

About Andean Precious Metals Corp.

Andean is a growing precious metals producer focused on expanding into top-tier jurisdictions in the Americas. The Company owns and operates the San Bartolom processing facility in Potosi, Bolivia and the Soledad Mountain mine in Kern County, California, and is well-funded to act on future growth opportunities. Andean's leadership team is committed to creating value; fostering safe, sustainable and responsible operations; and achieving our ambition to be a multi-asset, mid-tier precious metals producer.

For more information, please contact:

Trish Moran

VP Investor Relations

[email protected]

T: +1 416 564 4290

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and information in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which we refer to collectively as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements and information regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based upon assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. All statements and information other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "budget", "plan", "estimate", "continue", "forecast", "intend", "believe", "predict", "potential", "target", "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" and similar words or phrases (including negative variations) suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook.

Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements and information regarding the Company's expectations of lower production in the first quarter 2024 and that production for 2024 will not be materially affected, and timing of the release of the Company's 2024 guidance. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions, while considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this press release in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and risks. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, but not limited to: the Company's ability to carry on mining and leach operations while the fire investigation proceeds; the Company's ability to recover under applicable insurance policies; that there is no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that contracted parties provide goods or services in a timely manner; that no unusual geological or technical problems occur; that plant and equipment function as anticipated and that there is no material adverse change in either the price of silver or costs associated with production or recovery. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements set out herein. The Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained herein.

Some of the risks and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this release include, but are not limited to: risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits and conclusions of economic evaluations; results of initial feasibility, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks relating to possible variations in reserves, resources, grade, planned mining dilution and ore loss, or recovery rates and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; mining and development risks, including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes (including work stoppages and strikes) or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and development, including risks relating to permitting; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; risks related to commodity prices and foreign exchange rate fluctuations; the uncertainty of profitability based upon the cyclical nature of the industry in which the Company operates; risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms or delays in obtaining governmental or local community approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; political, legal and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the uncertain global economic environment; and other factors contained in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the period ended September 30, 2023 dated November 29, 2023.

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the Risk Factors section in the Company's most recent MD&A on file with Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect the Company's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196209
(All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated)

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Andean Precious Metals Corp.(TSXV: APM) (OTCQX: ANPMF) ("Andean" or the "Company") is pleased to announce updated mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates ("MR&RE") for its wholly owned subsidiary, Golden Queen Mining LLC, which operates the Soledad Mountain mine and heap leach operation in Kern County, Southern California.

The MR&RE and Feasibility Study Update Technical Report on the Soledad Mountain Heap Leach Project, dated January 12, 2024 (the "Technical Report"), were prepared by Kappes, Cassiday & Associates ("KCA"), Independent Mining Consultants Inc. ("IMC"), RESPEC Company LLC ("RESPEC") and George Klemmick (AIPG Certified Professional Geologist, Consulting Geologist). The Technical Report was prepared in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and has been filed on SEDAR+.

"We are pleased that the mineral reserve and resource estimates for Soledad Mountain fully met our base case expectations," stated Alberto Morales, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Andean. "With an updated mineral reserve and resource in hand, our team is focused on enhancing and growing the recently acquired Soledad Mountain mine. We are now identifying near-term and sustainable opportunities to optimize mine operations and production to improve margins, cash flow and costs per ounce. We are also defining and prioritizing exploration targets to help realize the potential upside at Soledad Mountain and add to the operation's life of mine."

"We see many opportunities at Soledad Mountain and look forward to realizing the project's potential to be a growth catalyst in the US, one of the world's leading mining jurisdictions."

Soledad Mountain MR&RE Highlights

Gold ("Au")

- M&I resources of 41.8 M tonnes grading 0.62 grams per tonne ("g/t") Au for a total of 822,000 contained oz

- P&P reserves of 21.0 M tonnes grading 0.72 g/t Au for a total of 484,675 contained oz

- Inferred resources of 3.6 M tonnes grading 0.45 g/t for a total of 53,000 contained oz

Silver ("Ag")

- M&I resources of 41.8 M tonnes grading 8.37 g/t Ag for a total of 11.24 M contained oz

- P&P reserves of 21.0 M tonnes grading 10.15 g/t Ag for a total of 6.85 M contained oz

- Inferred resources of 3.6 M tonnes grading 6.27 g/t Ag for a total of 0.73 M contained oz

* Mineral resources are inclusive of reserves. See Appendix for further tables and notes.

Life of mine (LOM): Five years from 2P mineral reserves.





LOM average annual production: Up to 65 koz of gold and 466 Koz of silver.





Total production: 373 Koz Au and 2.7 Moz Ag.





Stripping ratio: 6.09:1 (waste tons: ore tons).





Sustaining capital cost: $55.9 million.





Project pre-tax and after-tax net present values of $116 million and $102 million, respectively, at a discount rate of 5% with a gold price of $1,850/oz and a silver price of $24/oz.





While stacking ore stops in 2029, work is expected to continue at site for approximately 35-40 years via the sale of waste rock for aggregate, construction and landscape material in the regional area.

Soledad Mountain MR&RE Changes Since 2022

Since 2022, the reported reserves and resources have dropped slightly due to depletion by mining and to a lesser extent due to a lower estimated recovery from the Silver Queen vein structure, which is one of the many mineralized vein zones on the property. The recovery change reflects production experience and new column leach tests. Production depletion was partially offset by higher metal price assumptions used in the estimation of mineral resources and reserves.

In terms of economics, an increase in mine sustaining capital was incorporated into the Technical Report to improve mining costs as compared to those in prior studies.

Mineral Resource Estimate Methodology

The estimates of mineral resources are effective as of September 30, 2023 and are presented in Appendix - Table 1 of this press release.

The gold and silver resources were modeled and estimated by:

evaluating the drill data statistically and spatially to determine natural gold and silver populations;





explicitly modeling low-, medium-, and high-grade mineral-domain polygons for both gold and silver on sets of cross sections spaced at 50- and 100-ft intervals;





projecting the cross-sectional mineral domain polygons horizontally to the drill data within each cross-sectional window;





slicing the three-dimensionally projected mineral domain polygons along 20 foot-spaced horizontal planes and using them to guide refinement of the gold and silver mineral domain polygons on a set of 20 foot-spaced level plans;





coding a block model comprised of 20 x 20 x 20 ft blocks to the gold and silver mineral domains for each of the two deposit areas using the level plan mineral domain polygons;





analyzing the modeled mineralization geostatistically to aid in the establishment of estimation and classification parameters; and





interpolating gold and silver grades into the block model by inverse-distance to the third power, using the coded gold and silver mineral domain percentages to constrain the grade estimations.

Mineral Reserves Estimate Methodology

The estimates of mineral reserves are effective as of September 30, 2023, and are presented in Appendix - Table 2 of this press release.

The following process and modifying factors were followed to calculate the mineral reserves:

Selection of metal selling prices based on historical and projected prices.





Review of all modifying factors including metal prices, costs, dilution, mining recovery, processing recovery, sustaining capital, royalties, and mining methods.





Dilution is built into the model and no additional dilution is required.





Pit optimization using all modifying factors.





Pit design following geotechnical recommendations.





Mine production schedules for the life of the project, based on a combination of monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual periods.





Cost model verification based on new mine schedule and inventory.





Generation of post-tax cash flow.

Capital and Operating Cost Estimates

The Soledad Mountain project has been in operation since early 2016 providing almost eight years of historical operating data for the site. Future mining and processing at the site have recently increased due to recent improvements in operation. The historical data and experience of the site personnel will provide the best estimate of future costs.

The heap leach pad has been expanded to its final size. The capital costs are summarized as:

Total Sustaining Capital

($000) Q4 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Mining $ 3,079 $ 11,647 $ 5,449 $ 500 $ 500 $ 250

Processing 25 820 $410 210 160 90 $ 1,000 Overhaul

10,622 5,724 8,338 1,625



Other 131 2,401 2,304 250 250 125

Total $ 3,235 $ 25,490 $ 13,887 $9,298 $ 2,535 $ 465 $ 1,000

The capital costs are sustaining costs to rebuild and replace equipment and to replace the Merrill Crowe plant with a carbon adsorption circuit at closure.

Operating Cost Summary

Category Cost per Ton Ore Cost Fraction Mining $ 12.93 54.7% Process 6.91 29.2% Site services 1.17 5.0% Administration 1.28 5.4% Offsite operating 1.25 5.3% Reclamation 0.10 0.4% Total $ 23.66 100.0%

The columns may not sum exactly due to rounding.

The operating costs are estimated to average $23.66 per ton, including mining, processing, G&A and reclamation.

After-tax Cash Flow Analysis

The Soledad Mountain project has pre-tax and after-tax net present values of $116 million and $102 million, respectively, at a discount rate of 5.0%. The undiscounted, cumulative net cash flows for pre-tax and after-tax are approximately $145 million and $129 million, respectively. By comparison, at an 8.0% discount rate, the pre-tax and after-tax NPVs are $102 million and $89 million, respectively. Project cash flows are from October 1, 2023 through to the end of 2030.

The contribution of gold, silver and aggregate to gross revenues is approximately 91.2%, 8.6% and 0.2% respectively. The operating equivalent gold cash cost per ounce is $1,340/oz. The total cash costs per equivalent ounce including sustaining capital is $1,477/oz. Gold and silver prices used to model the cash flows were $1,850/oz and $24/oz, respectively.

The Soledad Mountain project is expected to generate positive cash flow in each year of production except 2026.

Qualified Persons

The following people served as the Qualified Persons for Golden Queen's Soledad Mountain operation as defined in NI 43-101 and have reviewed and approved this press release:

Carl E. Defilippi, SME Registered Member, Engineering Manager, KCA, Reno NV

.

. Michael M. Gustin, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist, RESPEC Principal Consultant.





Joseph C. McNaughton, PE, Partner, IMC, Tucson AZ.





George Klemmick, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist, Consulting Geologist, Chugiak, AK.

Donald J. Birak, Registered Member, Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) and Fellow, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), is the Independent Consulting Geologist to the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

About Andean Precious Metals

Andean is a growing precious metals producer focused on expanding into top-tier jurisdictions in the Americas. The Company owns and operates the San Bartolom processing facility in Potosi, Bolivia and the Soledad Mountain mine in Kern County, California, and is well-funded to act on future growth opportunities. Andean's leadership team is committed to creating value; fostering safe, sustainable and responsible operations; and achieving our ambition to be a multi-asset, mid-tier precious metals producer.

For more information, please contact:

Trish Moran

VP Investor Relations

[email protected]

T: +1 416 564 4290

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and information in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which we refer to collectively as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements and information regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based upon assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. All statements and information other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "budget", "plan", "estimate", "continue", "forecast", "intend", "believe", "predict", "potential", "target", "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" and similar words or phrases (including negative variations) suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook.

Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements and information regarding the project's cash flows from October 1, 2023 through to the end of 2030, the expected timing of stacking ore termination and the length of time that work is expected to continue at site via the sale of waste rock for aggregate, construction and landscape material in the regional area. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, but not limited to: the Company's ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the Company's ability to secure and to meet obligations under property and option agreements and other material agreements; the timely receipt of required approvals and permits; that there is no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that contracted parties provide goods or services in a timely manner; that no unusual geological or technical problems occur; that plant and equipment function as anticipated and that there is no material adverse change in the price of silver, costs associated with production or recovery. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained herein.

Some of the risks and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this release include, but are not limited to: risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits and conclusions of economic evaluations; results of initial feasibility, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks relating to possible variations in reserves, resources, grade, planned mining dilution and ore loss, or recovery rates and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; mining and development risks, including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes (including work stoppages and strikes) or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and development; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; risks related to commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations; the uncertainty of profitability based upon the cyclical nature of the industry in which the Company operates; risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms or delays in obtaining governmental or local community approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the uncertain global economic environment; and other factors contained in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis dated November 29, 2023.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, you are cautioned that this list is not exhaustive and there may be other factors that the Company has not identified. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

APPENDIX

Table 1: Updated Mineral Resources - Soledad Mountain as of September 30, 2023







In-Situ Grade Contained Metal





Gold Silver Gold Silver Classification Tonnes Tons g/t oz/ton g/t oz/ton oz oz Measured 2,667,000 2,940,000 0.99 0.029 12.93 0.377 86,000 1,108,000 Indicated 39,147,000 43,152,000 0.58 0.017 8.06 0.235 736,000 10,133,000 Measured + Indicated 41,814,000 46,092,000 0.62 0.018 8.37 0.244 822,000 11,241,000 Inferred 3,625,000 3,996,000 0.45 0.013 6.27 0.183 53,000 732,000

Notes to Table 1

Mineral resources are inclusive of mineral reserves.



Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.



Mineral resources are reported by applying cutoffs of 0.008 oz AuEq/ton (0.274 g/t) at the Silver Queen zone and 0.005 oz AuEq/ton (0.171 g/t) at all other areas to all model blocks lying within optimized resource pits, in consideration of potential open-pit mining and heap-leach processing.



Gold equivalent grades were calculated as follows: oz AuEq/ton = oz Au/ton + (oz Ag/ton / AuEq Factor). The AuEq Factor is derived from metal prices ($2,000/oz Au and $23/oz Ag) and recoveries of 55% for Au and 40% for Ag for model blocks lying within the Silver Queen zone (AuEq Factor = 120), and 85% for Au and 40% for Ag in all other areas (AuEq Factor = 185).



The effective date of the mineral resources is September 30, 2023.



Tonnage and grade estimations are presented in both U.S. and metric units. Grades are reported in troy ounces per short ton (U.S.) and in grams per metric tonne.



The Qualified Person for estimation of mineral resources is Michael Gustin of RESPEC.



Rounding may result in apparent discrepancies between tons, grade, and contained metal content.

Table 2: Updated Mineral Reserves - Soledad Mountain as of September 30, 2023



Mineralization Contained (In-Situ) Grade







Contained Metal

Metric Imperial NSR Gold -

Silver -

Gold Silver Classification (ktonnes) (ktons) ($/ton) (g/t) (opt) (g/t) (opt) (oz) (oz) Proven 1,671 1,842 42.6 1.11 0.032 14.29 0.417 59,744 767,876 Probable 19,338 21,316 29.3 0.68 0.020 9.79 0.285 424,931 6,085,430 Total Proven + Probable 21,009 23,158 30.3 0.72 0.021 10.15 0.296 484,675 6,853,306

Notes to Table 2

Mineral reserves were tabulated based on a $1,850/oz gold price and $23/oz silver price within a pit designed.

Mineral reserves are based on the economic input parameters provided in Tables 15.1-2,

15.1-3 & 15.1-4 of the Technical Report, which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+.

The mineral reserves cutoff grade is based on a net smelter return of $8.44/ore ton ($9.30/ore tonne).

Includes 389 ktons (353 ktonnes) from a low-grade stockpile, grading 0.48 g/t (0.014 opt) gold grade applied to probable reserves, not verified by QP, but is not material to the mineral reserves.

Based on end of September 2023 topography.

Imperial: ktons means 1000 short tons; where, 1 short ton = 2000 lbs.

Metric: ktonnes means 1000 metric tonnes; where, 1 metric tonne = 2204.6 lbs.

Gold and silver are all reported as contained grades and contained metal where:

"opt" is troy ounce per short ton and "g/t" is grams per metric tonne

"g/t" is grams per metric tonne

"oz" is 1 troy ounce.

The columns may not sum exactly due to rounding.

The Qualified Person for the mineral reserve estimate is Joseph McNaughton, Senior Mining Engineer, P.Eng. and a partner of Independent Mining Consultants, Inc. The mineral reserve estimate was prepared in compliance with the disclosure and reporting requirements set forth in the NI 43-101. In accordance with the CIM classification system, only Measured and Indicated resource categories were converted to reserves (through inclusion within the open-pit mining limits). In this Mineral Reserve Statement, Inferred Mineral Resources are reported as waste.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196404
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Cosa Resources Corp. (TSXV: COSA) (OTCQB: COSAF) (FSE: SSKU) ("Cosa" or the "Company") is pleased to announce completion of the previously announced acquisition (the "Acquisition") of the Titan uranium Property in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan ("Titan" or the "Property") from CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (the "Vendor") pursuant to a property acquisition agreement dated January 12, 2024 (the "Purchase Agreement"). Additionally, the Company has entered into a service agreement (the "Service Agreement") with Swiss Resource Capital AG ("SRC").

Highlights

Eight mineral dispositions totalling 9,333 hectares have been acquired, doubling the size of Cosa's Orion Project to 18,332 hectares

The expanded Orion Project captures over 22 kilometres of the fertile Larocque Lake trend, which hosts the Hurricane Deposit and several other significant uranium showings

Orion now captures nearly 12 kilometres of the Cigar Lake trend where it intersects the Larocque Lake trend, both of which host several mineralized intercepts and uranium deposits

Keith Bodnarchuk, President and CEO of Cosa, commented: "The acquisition of Titan, which is contiguous with Cosa's Orion Project (Figure 1), doubles Orion's footprint, strengthening Cosa's portfolio of underexplored projects covering prospective uranium structural corridors. The consolidated Orion project now covers 22 kilometres of the Larocque Lake trend midway between two uranium occurrences on the Cigar Lake trend. The target areas in this newly acquired ground augment the high-priority target developed by our work in 2023, which identified a kilometre-scale zone of anomalous sandstone conductivity overlying conductive and structurally complex basement rocks. We are planning work to advance Orion to drill readiness in 2024 while continuing to advance and expand our portfolio through cost-effective acquisitions of new projects. We'd like to again thank the CanAlaska team for an agreeable and expedient closing process."

The Expanded Orion Project

The expanded Orion Project (the "Project") comprises 11 claims totaling 18,332 hectares and lies within 31 kilometres of the Cigar Lake Uranium Mine. The Project covers 22 kilometres of the Larocque Lake trend which hosts the Hurricane uranium deposit, the Larocque Lake uranium zone, and the Alligator Lake uranium zone (Figure 2). Cosa interprets that within Orion the Larocque Lake trend is intersected by the Cigar Lake trend which hosts the Cigar Lake Mine and the Tucker Lake uranium zone to the east of the Project. Results at Tucker Lake include 5.7% U 3 O 8 over 4.5 metres in drill hole CLC5-11 (639.0 - 643.5 metres). West of Orion, the interpreted extension of the Cigar Lake trend hosts drill hole PAR-03 which intersected 0.05% U 3 O 8 over 1.0 metres (932.4 - 933.4 metres). Historical geophysical surveying over the expanded portion of Orion includes ZTEM, a modern airborne survey system capable of mapping electromagnetic (EM) conductors at depth within the basement. Initial steps for the newly acquired ground are expected to include interpretation and three-dimensional (3-D) inversion of this historical dataset to guide ground-based follow up.

In western Orion, 3-D inversion results from Cosa's 2023 MobileMT" survey indicate a prominent, kilometre-scale zone of conductivity in the sandstone above basement-hosted electromagnetic conductors, a geophysical signature consistent with the unconformity-related uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin. This target area remains a high priority for follow-up in 2024.

Only two drill holes are known to have been completed within the expanded Project. The depth to the unconformity is estimated to be between 700 and 900 metres.

Acquisition Details

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Cosa acquired a 100% unencumbered ownership of all eight mineral claims comprising Titan from the Vendor in exchange for C$10,000 in cash and the issuance of 300,000 common shares of the Company (the "Consideration Shares"). The Consideration Shares are subject to a four-month hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws, after which 25% of the Consideration Shares will become free trading. In addition, the Vendor has agreed to voluntary resale restrictions whereby an additional 25% of the Consideration Shares will become free trading every three months thereafter.





Figure 1 - Cosa's Portfolio of Athabasca Basin Region Uranium Exploration Projects

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Figure 2 - Orion and Titan Projects Map



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Marketing Campaign Service Agreement

The Company has entered into a Service Agreement with Zurich based Swiss Resource Capital AG (SRC), an independent arm's-length entity, dated January 30, 2024, pursuant to which SRC will provide digital marketing, news release translation and dissemination, television communication services, and investor relations services for the Company in Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and other European countries (the "Services") commencing on March 1, 2024. In exchange for Services, Cosa has agreed to pay 4500 CHF per month for a twelve-month period. Additional investor relations services, such as European road show tours and conference representation, can be added separately on a case-by-case basis. Following completion of the initial twelve-month period, the Service Agreement will be automatically renewed on a quarterly basis and can be terminated by either party by providing written notice at least seven days prior to renewal. Neither SRC nor any of the directors or officers of SRC have any interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of Cosa or any right to acquire such an interest. The Company is not issuing any common shares, stock options, warrants, or other equity as part of compensation. The engagement of SRC is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Cosa Resources Corp.

Cosa Resources is a Canadian uranium exploration company operating in northern Saskatchewan. The portfolio comprises roughly 200,000 ha across multiple projects in the Athabasca Basin region, all of which are underexplored, and the majority reside within or adjacent to established uranium corridors.

Cosa's award-winning management team has a long track record of success in Saskatchewan. In 2022, members of the Cosa team were awarded the AME Colin Spence Award for their previous involvement in discovering IsoEnergy's Hurricane deposit. Prior to Hurricane, Cosa personnel led teams or had integral roles in the discovery of Denison Mines' Gryphon deposit and 92 Energy's Gemini Zone and held key roles in the founding of both NexGen and IsoEnergy.

Cosa's primary focus through 2024 is initial drilling at their Ursa Project, which captures over 60-kilometres of strike length of the Cable Bay Shear Zone, a regional structural corridor with known mineralization and limited historical drilling. It potentially represents the last remaining eastern Athabasca corridor to not yet yield a major discovery. Modern geophysics completed by Cosa in 2023 identified multiple high-priority target areas characterized by conductive basement stratigraphy beneath or adjacent to broad zones of inferred sandstone alteration - a setting that is typical of most eastern Athabasca uranium deposits.

Qualified Person

The Company's disclosure of technical or scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Andy Carmichael, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration for Cosa. Mr. Carmichael is a Qualified Person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. This news release refers to neighboring properties in which the Company has no interest. Mineralization on those neighboring properties does not necessarily indicate mineralization on the Company's properties.

Contact

Keith Bodnarchuk, President and CEO

[email protected]

+1 888-899-2672 (COSA)

Cautionary Statements

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to: the exploration, development, and production at the Company's mineral projects.

Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of the Company, future growth potential for the Company and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of uranium and other commodities; no escalation in the severity of public health crises; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; the ongoing military conflict around the world; general economic factors; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's management discussion and analysis and other public disclosure documents.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196304
Saguenay, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (OTC: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0) ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will undertake a 25,000 m drill program at its Bgin-Lamarche Project. The drilling program follows the Company's recent financing raising gross proceeds of $8.2 million and is intended to lead to a maiden NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate followed by a PEA.

"The upcoming drill program at Begin-Lamarche is all encompassing and should confirm the full extension of the known phosphate layers across a strike length at surface of over 3 kilometers," explained First Phosphate CEO, John Passalacqua. "The Begin-Lamarche property is found at only 70 km for the deep-sea port of Saguenay and brings with it tremendous logistical advantages to the Company."

"In our experience, proximity to port and access to infrastructure and workforce are the single largest determinants of the economic viability of any phosphate project. Begin-Lamarche has all these strong requisites. We feel that it could become one of the first phosphate mines to see production in Quebec. This extensive drill program is meant to accelerate its development."

Drilling Program at Begin-Lamarche

The Company will undertake a 25,000 m drill program at Begin-Lamarche in the coming weeks in order to be in a position to calculate a maiden NI 43-101 resource estimate that should lead to an eventual PEA. The drilling plan consists of drilling the 3 km long phosphate mineralization strike zone at every 100 meter section and at every 50 meters within the section (See Figure 1). The program will start in the coming weeks with 3 drill rigs with one drill rig being mobilized per week. The Company has existing drill permits to start the program immediately and has recently requested additional drill permits to expand the drilling horizons.

The drilling program will be managed by Laurentia Exploration from Jonquiere, Quebec. Drilling operations will be managed by First Nations Drilling of Mashteuiatsh, Quebec and Forages Diafor of Riviere-Heva, Quebec.

In summer 2023, the Company drilled 21 holes at Begin-Lamarche for a total 4,544 m of drilling. The following table lists selected intersections obtained during the 2023 drill program.

Table 1 - Selected Intersections from the 2023 Drill Program at Begin-Lamarche

Hole_Id



From

(m) To (m) Length(m) P 2 O 5 (%) Fe 2 O 3 (%) TiO 2 (%) Zone BL-23-01 131.90 215.40 83.50 7.82 27.13 4.16 Northern BL-23-03 13.80 78.00 64.20 8.43 28.17 4.37 Northern BL-23-18 55.90 141.45 85.55 8.75 28.62 4.18 Northern BL-23-19 197.40 308.20 110.80 7.02 25.46 3.30 Northern BL-23-21 122.85 255.00 133.20 6.75 24.37 3.94 Northern BL-23-14 18.00 151.45 133.45 5.00 27.17 4.15 Southern BL-23-15 50.00 183.65 133.65 4.50 19.88 3.36 Southern BL-23-16 97.00 131.50 34.50 9.99 29.83 5.50 Southern





Figure 1 - Map of the 2024 Drill Program at Begin-Lamarche

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Figure 2 - Location of First Phosphate Projects in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean Area

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Qualified Person

The scientific and technical disclosure for First Phosphate included in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Gilles Laverdiere, P.Geo. Mr. Laverdiere is Chief Geologist of the Company and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and has verified the data disclosed in this news release.

About First Phosphate Corp.

First Phosphate is a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying phosphate for the production of cathode active material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate ("LFP") battery industry. First Phosphate is committed to producing at high purity level, in responsible manner and with low anticipated carbon footprint. First Phosphate plans to vertically integrate from mine source directly into the supply chains of major North American LFP battery producers that require battery grade LFP cathode active material emanating from a consistent and secure supply source. First Phosphate holds over 1,500 sq. km of royalty-free district-scale land claims in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean Region of Quebec, Canada that it is actively developing. First Phosphate properties consist of rare anorthosite igneous phosphate rock that generally yields high purity phosphate material devoid of high concentrations of harmful elements.

-30-

For additional information, please contact:

Jerome Cliche, VP, Business Development

[email protected]

Tel: +1 (514) 815-8799

Investor Relations: [email protected]

Media Relations: [email protected]

Website: www.FirstPhosphate.com

Follow First Phosphate:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstPhosphate

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate

Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements

This news release contains certain statements and information that may be considered "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" and other similar expressions. In addition, statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements, including, among other things, the Company's planned exploration and production activities, the properties and composition of any extracted phosphate, the Company's plans for vertical integration into North American supply chains, the timing and completion of the proposed drill campaign, and expected results, and statements regarding a future mine and the timing of its completion.

These statements and other forward-looking information are based on assumptions and estimates that the Company believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation, expectations of the Company's long term business outcomes given its short operating history; expectations regarding revenue, expenses and operations; the Company having sufficient working capital and ability to secure additional funding necessary for the exploration of the Company's property interests; expectations regarding the potential mineralization, geological merit and economic feasibility of the Company's projects; expectations regarding drill programs and the potential impacts successful drill programs could have on the life of the mine and the Company; mineral exploration and exploration program cost estimates; expectations regarding any environmental issues that may affect planned or future exploration programs and the potential impact of complying with existing and proposed environmental laws and regulations; receipt and timing of exploration and exploitation permits and other third-party approvals; government regulation of mineral exploration and development operations; expectations regarding any social or local community issues that may affect planned or future exploration and development programs; expectations surrounding global economic trends and technological advancements; and key personnel continuing their employment with the Company.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include: limited operating history; high risk of business failure; no profits or significant revenues; limited resources; negative cash flow from operations and dependence on third-party financing; the uncertainty of additional funding; no dividends; risks related to possible fluctuations in revenues and results; insurance and uninsured risks; litigation; reliance on management and key personnel; conflicts of interest; access to supplies and materials; dangers of mineral exploration and related liability and damages; risks relating to health and safety; government regulation and legal uncertainties; the company's exploration and development properties may not be successful and are highly speculative in nature; dependence on outside parties; title to some of the Company's mineral properties may be challenged or defective; Aboriginal title and land claims; obtaining and renewing licenses and permits; environmental and other regulatory risks may adversely affect the company; risks relating to climate change; risks related to infrastructure; land reclamation requirements may be burdensome; current global financial conditions; fluctuation in commodity prices; dilution; future sales by existing shareholders could cause the Company's share price to fall; fluctuation and volatility in stock exchange prices; and risks related to market demands. There can be no assurance that any opportunity will be successful, commercially viable, completed on time or on budget, or will generate any meaningful revenues, savings or earnings, as the case may be, for the Company. In addition, the Company will incur costs in pursuing any particular opportunity, which may be significant.

These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the Company and, though they should be considered carefully, should be considered in conjunction with the risk factors described in the Company's other documents filed with the Canadian securities authorities, including without limitation the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form dated November 29, 2023 which is available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking information or information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196337
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Hybrid Power Solutions Inc. (CSE: HPSS) (OTCQB: HPSIF) (FSE: E092) ("Hybrid" or the "Company"), a Canadian battery manufacturer, is proud to announce the construction of a state-of-the-art, expandable production facility spanning 6,000 square feet on 2.5 acres in Parry Sound, Ontario. This significant development aims to bolster the production capacity for Hybrid's residential lithium-ion batteries and larger-scale portable power solutions, including the recently unveiled Batt Pack Spark.

The land is currently undergoing clearing, with plans to break ground in Spring 2024. The establishment of this facility is made possible in part by funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), whose support and partnership are integral to this expansion.

Francois Byrne, CEO of Hybrid, expressed his gratitude for the NOHFC's contribution, stating, "We are incredibly thankful for the support and collaboration with the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. Their funding enables us to establish a cutting-edge production facility in Parry Sound, reinforcing our commitment to Canadian manufacturing and our mission to bring job opportunities to Northern communities."

This new production facility not only signifies a significant step forward in Hybrid's manufacturing capabilities but also underscores the Company's dedication to fostering economic growth in Northern Ontario. The facility is expected to create new job opportunities, contributing to the local community's prosperity.

MPP Graydon Smith (Parry Sound-Muskoka) commended the Company for its investment in the region, stating, "This expansion is a positive development for Parry Sound and the broader region. Hybrid's commitment to Canadian manufacturing aligns with our goals for economic growth and job creation in Northern Ontario."

The production facility in Parry Sound will play a crucial role in meeting the increasing demand for the Company's sustainable energy solutions and further establishes the Company as a key player in the clean energy sector.

For further information, inquiries, or media opportunities, please contact:

On behalf of the Company:

Francois Byrne

CEO and Director

[email protected]

1 (866) 549-2743

www.investhps.com

About Hybrid Power Solutions Inc.

Hybrid Power Solutions Inc. is an industry leader in the development of sustainable energy solutions, offering cutting-edge products that redefine how industries approach access to power and energy storage. With a focus on innovation and environmental responsibility, HPS continues to lead the way in providing scalable, cost effective power solutions.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "will be", "intends", "expected" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking information included in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the timing and completion of the facility in Perry Sound and the use of funds from NOHFC. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management of the Company, they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196249
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 30, 2024) - iMining Technologies Inc. (TSXV: IMIN) ("iMining"), a leading publicly listed technology company, proudly announces the appointment of Mr. Mirza Baig as the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO) for its innovative subsidiary, AiMining Technologies ("AiMining"). In this pivotal role, Mr. Baig will lead the charge in elevating AI ethics and data safety standards and will chart a course for trustworthy AI development and deployment.

Mr. Baig's extensive background, marked by impactful contributions to AI ethics and data safety, including pioneering work with DARPA in early NLP and OCR within memes, positions him as a strategic leader for AiMining. As the CAIO, Mr. Baig's mission is to fortify AiMining's commitment to building secure and reliable AI systems.

With a wealth of experience as the former Chief Digital Officer, and a trailblazer in implementing GDPR guidelines in a Paris-based enterprise, Mr. Baig is well-equipped to steer AiMining towards the forefront of ethical AI practices. His leadership will extend to spearheading initiatives in AI ethics, privacy, and data safety, ensuring that AiMining's AI systems and products adhere to the highest standards.

Mr. Khurram Shroff, the Chairman and the CEO of iMining, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We are delighted to welcome Mirza as our CAIO. His exceptional expertise in AI ethics and data safety will reinforce AiMining Technologies' dedication to responsible AI development and will shape the trajectory of AI innovation within our organization."

In his new role, Mr. Baig shared his excitement, saying, "It's an honor to join AiMining Technologies as the CAIO. I am eager to contribute my skills to advance the company's mission in responsible AI development. I am looking forward to collaborating with a visionary leader in Mr. Shroff, and the entire AiMining team, to deliver innovative, secure, and ethical AI systems."

Beyond his CAIO responsibilities, Mr. Baig will lead AiMining in achieving ISO/IEC 42001 certification, a critical step in ensuring the highest standards for development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems; these standards are important for ensuring that AI is reliable, fair, transparent, and trustworthy. This international standard will further solidify AiMining's commitment to excellence, fostering efficiency and quality in AI development.

Mr. Baig's appointment as CAIO underscores AiMining's commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI innovation while upholding the highest ethical and safety standards. Mr. Baig's leadership is poised to strengthen AiMining's position as an industry leader in responsible AI innovation and development.

About iMining Technologies Inc.

iMining Technologies Inc. is a publicly listed technology company which together with its subsidiaries acquires, builds, and manages future technology companies in Canada. The Company's industry specific technology businesses provide specialized and innovative solutions in future technologies and serves private sector markets. iMining Technologies Inc. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

About AiMining Technologies Inc.

AiMining Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of iMining Technologies Inc., stands at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation. Comprising a dedicated research arm focused on collaboration with esteemed institutions and a monetization arm geared towards market engagement, AiMining seamlessly integrates into iMining's technology portfolio and is committed to advancing responsible AI development.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Signed "Khurram Shroff"

Khurram Shroff, President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please contact:

iMining Corporate Offices:

Saleem Moosa, CFO and Director

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 1-604-602-4935

Toll Free: 1-866-602-4935

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196275
Road Town, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - January 30, 2024) - In a significant move for cryptocurrency and mobile technology enthusiasts, LBank Exchange, a premier global digital asset trading platform, has announced the listing of SXIO (SXIO) on January 31, 2024. Users of LBank Exchange can brace themselves for the SXIO/USDT trading pair, which will go live at 13:00 UTC on the slated date.





SXIO Listing Banner

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SXIO (SXIO) is a BRC20 token embodying creativity, fairness, self-breakthrough, and innovation, honoring Satoshi Nakamoto's Austrian economics principles, with a limited issuance of 21 million and individual mintings of 1,000, set to deploy on June 20, 2023, and mint on January 2, 2024, symbolizing a forward-moving community spirit through its ideological inscription.

Introducing SXIO: A Revolutionary BRC20 Token Emphasizing Innovation, Fairness, and Community Spirit

LBank Exchange is thrilled to announce the upcoming listing of SXIO (SXIO), a digital asset that embodies a dedication to perpetuating the eternal and fair principles envisioned by Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin. With a limited and exquisitely crafted issuance of 21 million tokens, SXIO reflects a balance of scarcity and value, borrowing from Bitcoin's original quantity limit to convey a stable and enduring belief. Deeply rooted in every aspect of SXIO's minting and design process is the notion that "ideas are eternal, but everything else is transient," echoing Nakamoto's philosophy. This underlying principle has earned SXIO the moniker of the "Ideological Inscription."

The community consensus around SXIO is notably strong, with its trading volume consistently ranking in the top five in 24-hour trading volumes on OK Market, indicating its potential to replicate the legendary success of early cryptocurrencies. SXIO, deployed on June 20, 2023, and completed its minting on January 2, 2024, has a fixed issuance limit of 21 million tokens, with each minting batch capped at 1,000 tokens. This strategic limitation underscores the token's rarity and long-term value proposition.

SXIO boasts six major advantages: First, its limited issuance supports its long-term value. Second, the SXIO community fosters innovation and creativity, attracting investors and users passionate about technological and social advancement. Third, it pays homage to Nakamoto and represents the emotional value of Bitcoin to its investors and the wider cryptocurrency community. Fourth, SXIO symbolizes the pursuit of individual and communal excellence, adding to its allure. Fifth, fairness is paramount in SXIO's platform, ensuring equitable token distribution and community engagement. Finally, SXIO was the first token to launch at 60% below its minting cost on platforms like OK Web3 Wallet, demonstrating a commitment to community and fairness.

In essence, SXIO is not just a technological application; it is a pursuit of ideology, emphasizing not just the accumulation of material wealth but also the enrichment of spiritual wealth. Its appearance in the digital currency market represents an innovation and a breakthrough, occupying a unique position. SXIO's design philosophy, inspired by Nakamoto's emphasis on the free circulation of ideas, integrates thought into every aspect of its design. It serves as a symbol of creativity, fairness, self-breakthrough, and innovation, paying tribute to the spirit of Satoshi Nakamoto and the principles of Austrian economics. As a BRC20 token, SXIO leverages the inherent advantages of blockchain technology while embodying Nakamoto's inspiration and commitment to fairness. Its journey has just begun, promising to unleash even greater potential in the world of digital assets.

About SXIO Token

Based on BRC20, SXIO has a total supply of 21 million (i.e. 21,000,000). SXIO token is poised for its debut on LBank Exchange at 13:00 UTC on January 31, 2024. Investors who are interested in SXIO can easily buy and sell on LBank Exchange after that time.

Learn More about SXIO Token:

Inscription: https://ordiscan.com/inscription/12836782

Twitter: https://twitter.com/brc20sxio

Telegram: https://t.me/sxio_chinese

About LBank

LBank is one of the top crypto exchanges, established in 2015. It offers specialized financial derivatives, expert asset management services, and safe crypto trading to its users. The platform holds over 9 million users from more than 210 regions across the world. LBank is a cutting-edge growing platform that ensures the integrity of users' funds and aims to contribute to the global adoption of cryptocurrencies.

Start Trading Now: lbank.com

Community & Social Media:

l Telegram

l Twitter

l Facebook

l LinkedIn

l Instagram

l YouTube

Press contact:

[email protected]

Business Contact:

LBK Blockchain Co. Limited

LBank Exchange

[email protected]

[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196175
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - North Peak Resources Ltd. (TSXV: NPR) (the "Company" or "North Peak") announces results from the first phase of sampling of surface workings on its Prospect Mountain property in Eureka, Nevada (the "Property"). As part of a surface mapping project, some of the dumps, numerous surface shafts, adits and scrapes were assayed.

Highlights:

Of the total of 77 rock chip and grab samples, the samples averaged, 2.42 g/t Au, 76.2 g/t Ag, 0.38% Cu, 1.06% Pb, 1.33% Zn.

The highest-grade gold sample assayed 33.9 g/t Au, 183 g/t Ag, 0.9% Cu, 1.81% Pb, 1.66% Zn from an unnamed surface scrape on a patented claim.

Twelve samples returned grades > 5 g/t Au, and averaged 10.34 g/t Au, 200.8 g/t Ag, 0.20% Cu, 2.96% Pb, 1.30% Zn.

Samples were taken from outcrops and subcrops in old workings where possible, and from the dumps in front of the workings. (Fig. 1; Table 1 below). While grab samples from dumps are not indicative of in situ grades and are often the "poor quality" ore left behind by the historical miners, they give a useful guide to the composition and grade of the near surface mineralization present on the Property. The samples have so far been taken from the surface mineralization within the Hamburg Dolomite above the underground workings of the historic Diamond Mine, as well as nearby smaller mines, including the Williams Mine, where historic production recorded an average grade of 3.9 oz Au, 28.56 oz Ag and 1.51 % Lead (Source: The Eureka Mining District, Nolan 1962).

The Company is using this data to complement and confirm the extensive historical rock grab database gathered in the 1990's by Homestake over the Property that comprises a total of 614 samples. The combined databases will be used in conjunction with the previously reported soil sampling data contained within the press release of 18 October 2023, and geophysics, to help determine near surface drill targets on the Property.

Figure 1:Plan showing location of surface rock samples in relation to underground workings and geology.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Review by Qualified Person, Quality Control and Reports

Mr. Mike Sutton, P.Geo., a director of the Company, is the Qualified Person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, who reviewed and approved scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. The Qualified Person has not reviewed the mineral tenure, nor independently verified the legal status and ownership of the Property or any underlying property agreements.

All samples referenced herein were prepped by ALS Elko, 1345 Water St, Elko, Nevada, USA. Gold was assayed at ALS Reno, 4977 Energy Way, Reno, Nevada, USA. All base metals and silver were assayed by ALS Vancouver, 2103 Dollarton Hwy, North Vancouver, BC, Canada. Gold was assayed by 30g fire assay analysis with AAS or gravimetric finish (Au-AA23/5 or Au-GRA21). Base metals and silver were analyzed using four-acid digestion ICP-MS (ME-MS61), with overlimit assays using Aqua Regia and four-acid digestion with ICP-MS analysis (*-OG62). All ALS Geochemistry sites operate under a single Global Geochemistry Quality Manual that complies with ISO/IEC 17025:2017, coupled within a global LIMS platform. There is no relationship, fiduciary or otherwise, between ALS and the Company.

All samples were of hand specimen size or larger, and were sealed in North Peak's onsite facility and shipped directly to the lab; the Company can guarantee the chain of custody. The Company's QA/QC program includes the regular insertion of blanks and standards into the sample shipments, as well as instructions for duplication. Standards and blanks are inserted every 20 samples.

About Prospect Mountain

The Property lies in the Battle Mountain Eureka trend, in an area known as the Southern Eureka Gold Belt, where three styles of mineralization have been identified, gold, silver Carlin style mineralization, Carbonate Replacement gold, silver, lead, zinc mineralization (CRD) and carbonate hosted Porphyry Related Skarn lead, zinc and gold mineralization associated with cretaceous intrusions. At the Property, the CRD mineralization is heavily oxidized to depths of at least 610m (2000ft) below the top of the ridge line.

A Plan of Operations is in place which covers part of the Property (totalling 81 acres) and entitles an operator to pursue surface exploration, underground mining of up to 365,000 tons per annum and certain infrastructural works. It includes a permit to extract water from a well and to build water containment facilities.

About North Peak

The Company is a Canadian based gold exploration and development company that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NPR". The Company is focused on acquiring historic sites, with low cost producing gold and other metals properties, with near term production potential and 8+ year mine life in the northern hemisphere.

The Company recently acquired an initial 80% interest in the Prospect Mountain Mine complex in Eureka, Nevada (see the Company's May 4 and 23, 2023 press releases).

The Company can give no assurances at this time that its properties and interests will fulfil the Company's business development goals described herein. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative.

For further information, please contact:

Brian Hinchcliffe, CEO

Phone: +1-647-424-2305

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.northpeakresources.com



Chelsea Hayes, Director

Phone: +1-647-424-2305

Email: [email protected]

The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the transactions described herein and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-Looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the ability of the parties to complete the transactions described herein, estimates of mineralization from drilling, sampling and geophysical surveys, geological information projected from sampling results and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones, the potential for minerals and/or mineral resources and reserves, and statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Property and the Company that may be described herein. Forward-Looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, accuracy of assay results, geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services, future operating costs, and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the quarter ended September 30, 2023, available at www.sedarplus.ca, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-Looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Table 1. Results of assays of surface and workings rock samples to date of greater than 1 g/t Au or greater than 35g Ag or greater than 1% Cu or Pb or Zn. Locations are given in NAD83 UTM coordinates, Nevada East grid. * Sample collected from relatively unaltered rock for background measure.

East North Sample

Type Sample

Source Au, g/t Ag, g/t Cu, % Pb, % Zn, % 164872.8 8524203 Grab Dump 33.90 183 0.90 1.81 1.66 164663 8523648 Grab Dump 16.75 243 0.05 3.17 2.26 164626.5 8523696 Grab Dump 10.20 580 0.03 11.70 0.57 164533.2 8523553 Chip Subcrop 6.99 125 0.01 1.60 0.16 164853.1 8524322 Grab Dump 6.92 118 0.04 1.16 1.38 164878.8 8523644 Grab Dump 6.42 105 0.12 1.24 1.42 164873.9 8524182 Grab Dump 6.06 86.1 0.30 0.68 0.69 164551.6 8523997 Grab Dump 6.00 229 0.25 0.49 1.37 164845.7 8524377 Grab Dump 5.67 293 0.24 3.74 1.12 164655.7 8523688 Grab Dump 5.58 160 0.04 5.02 0.65 164786.7 8523693 Grab Dump 5.13 270 0.25 3.74 2.47 164673.9 8523812 Chip Subcrop 4.30 145 0.03 1.21 0.82 164662.2 8523128 Grab Dump 3.78 56.8 0.29 0.60 1.31 164483.9 8523960 Grab Dump 3.16 33.5 0.12 1.73 0.96 164746.9 8523102 Grab Dump 2.75 133 0.16 0.66 0.74 164678.8 8523976 Grab Dump 2.63 70.5 0.15 1.33 2.04 164610.1 8523175 Grab Dump 2.42 76.6 0.32 0.19 1.71 164646.5 8523451 Grab Dump 1.74 98 0.02 1.27 0.42 164833.8 8523223 Grab Dump 1.62 23.4 0.70 0.72 2.80 164846.2 8524420 Chip Outcrop 1.49 53.7 0.06 0.56 1.06 164834.1 8524144 Grab Dump 1.20 61.5 0.42 0.34 1.33 164839.4 8524080 Grab Dump 1.17 358 0.15 1.06 1.45 164748.5 8523190 Grab Dump 1.09 41.2 0.12 0.52 0.98 164671.7 8523413 Grab Dump 1.03 49.7 0.64 6.16 0.89 164816.2 8524256 Grab Dump 0.96 96.9 0.20 2.58 2.01 164636.7 8523572 Chip Vein 0.94 121 0.99 0.66 1.63 164831.5 8524072 Grab Dump 0.92 98.7 0.43 1.79 1.64 164721.6 8523886 Grab Dump 0.90 448 0.33 0.87 2.08 164534.3 8523164 Grab Dump 0.84 27.6 0.31 0.38 1.19 164736.9 8523212 Grab Dump 0.79 89 0.29 0.80 1.11 164798.6 8523985 Grab Dump 0.62 44.6 0.04 0.73 0.76 164556.1 8523211 Grab Dump 0.54 15.6 0.07 0.20 1.63 164652.5 8524031 Grab Dump 0.51 51.4 0.04 1.05 1.50 164862.9 8524234 Grab Dump 0.49 11.8 0.30 0.66 2.01 164652.9 8523313 Chip Subcrop 0.48 14.05 0.27 1.02 3.21 164647.1 8523135 Grab Dump 0.47 5.55 0.52 0.03 1.85 164567.8 8523248 Grab Dump 0.44 6.18 0.11 0.13 1.42 164568.8 8523188 Grab Dump 0.44 36.9 0.25 0.48 0.90 164827.1 8524011 Grab Dump 0.39 83.3 0.04 0.19 1.34 164703.5 8523129 Grab Dump 0.38 9.53 0.29 0.22 1.37 164783.6 8522983 Grab Dump 0.38 156 0.15 1.50 0.79 164857.6 8524088 Grab Dump 0.38 71.2 0.08 0.61 1.08 164762 8523218 Chip Subcrop 0.35 11.95 0.45 0.80 1.75 165070.9 8525140 Chip Subcrop 0.23 6.19 0.07 1.36 1.15 164628.1 8523134 Grab Dump 0.22 5.21 0.26 0.05 1.64 165017.6 8524229 Grab Dump 0.19 53.6 1.00 0.73 1.58 164653.9 8523436 Grab Dump 0.16 6.36 0.16 0.85 8.12 164992.3 8523744 Grab Dump 0.11 10.75 0.15 0.12 1.73 164742.2 8523157 Grab Dump 0.09 7.07 0.21 0.27 1.36 164894.8 8523929 Chip Subcrop 0.06 47.6 0.20 1.29 1.56 164729.9 8523649 Chip Subcrop 0.06 8.4 0.55 0.65 2.79 165014 8523749 Chip Subcrop 0.01 56.1 0.01 0.72 0.07

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196320
Foreign students participate in a couplet-writing event to welcome the Chinese New Year in China's Jiangxi. #ChineseNewYear #SpringFestival #calligraphy #China #Foreign #students #NewYear #couplet #impressive








Acquires state-of-the-art laboratory and expertise in carbon materials, electrochemistry and Lithium-Ion batteries

Licenses proprietary, patented technology for use in both solid-state and Li-Ion batteries

Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) (FSE: 0NG) (XSTU: 0NG) (the "Company" or "Northern") is pleased to announce the launch of the NGC Battery Materials Group to spearhead its mine-to-battery strategy, which would make Northern one of the sole integrated developers, producers, and processors of natural graphite outside of China.

NGC Battery Materials Group was formed through the acquisition of the assets and R&D team of the battery division of Germany's Heraeus Group, and includes a fully operational, state-of-the-art laboratory in Frankfurt. Northern has also licensed IP from Heraeus to develop, produce, and sell Porocarb, a high-performance porous hard carbon material developed over the last 10 years and patented by Heraeus to enhance the efficiency and speed of energy storage mechanisms. NGC Battery Materials Group will be operated by Northern and financed by selling excess production capacity to partners and other material developers. Northern will pay Heraeus a 2 percent royalty on sales of all Porocarb products.

NGC Battery Materials Group will specialize in advanced material analytics and electrochemical characterization techniques for carbon and battery materials as well as providing in-depth expertise in the field of high temperature processing, scale-up and carbon design. This will enable Northern to provide tailored solutions to EV battery makers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to satisfy their various unique battery requirements.

Battery Materials Group

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"This is a pivotal move for Northern," said Chief Executive Officer Hugues Jacquemin. "What sets this group apart is the wealth of expertise that comes with it. With a fully functioning laboratory equipped for analytics and battery testing, access to existing customers in the battery market and the ability to scale high heat and carbon materials processes, Northern is set to accelerate the execution of its vision. The move is not merely a plan; it's a commitment to tangible results."

Battery Anode Material Facility

NGC Battery Materials Group will lead the development of Northern's planned 200,000 tpy Baie-Comeau Battery Anode Material facility, with construction anticipated to commence in 2026, subject to financing. Northern plans to build Baie-Comeau in modules tailored to the specific needs of OEMs and EV battery makers, including proper milling, shaping, and classification of graphite flakes, followed by purification and coating.

"We are excited to join Northern and to spearhead its mine-to-battery strategy of developing a sustainable and CO 2 -friendly active anode material," said Michael Grimm, who will lead the NGC Battery Materials Group that officially starts on February 1. "It's not just about the physical and chemical properties of the material; it's about the performance of the product in the battery and ensuring we improve that performance in each application."

"The emphasis on application-oriented testing is crucial, especially in an industry where each battery maker's design is unique, necessitating a tailored approach," said Dr. Moritz Hantel, who will oversee innovation and product management.

"In creating this group, we move one step closer to our goal of being a fully integrated, mine-to-battery graphite company and press our first mover competitive advantage as North America's only graphite producer," said Mr. Jacquemin. "The new battery group will work closely with our mining group to bring critical, cutting-edge technological and processing expertise to the Company as we work to supply battery makers with anode material for use in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicle production."

Porocarb Solid State and Li Ion Batteries Capabilities

Porocarb can be used as a performance additive in Lithium-Ion batteries or utilized as protective carbon coating for solid state battery anodes. Its well-defined network of interconnected macropores serve as reservoirs and transport pathways that lend unique functionality and performance-enhancing capabilities for next-generation battery systems, including lithium-Ion and solid-state batteries. It is already being evaluated by a number of solid state and Lithium-Ion battery makers globally.

"This is a high-value, breakthrough carbon product for solid state batteries and with this transaction, Northern now has the exclusive license from Heraeus to make and sell it for use in anodes and cathodes in exchange for a two percent royalty on sales," said Mr. Jacquemin, noting that Porocarb is currently priced on the market at around $100/kg on average, depending on product grade. "We also have access to a demonstration plant that can produce 100 tonnes of Porocarb per year, and that's just to start."

About Northern Graphite

Northern, the only graphite producing company in North America, is a Canadian, TSX Venture Exchange listed company that is focused on becoming a world leader in producing natural graphite and upgrading it into high-value products critical to the green economy, including anode material for lithium-ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells and graphene, as well as advanced industrial technologies.

Northern owns and operates the Lac des Iles graphite mine in Quebec and expects to become the third-largest natural graphite producer outside of China when its Namibian operations come back online. The Company also has the large-scale, advanced stage Bissett Creek project in Ontario, and substantial additional measured and indicated resources in Namibia and on the Mousseau property in Quebec, which are expected to be sources of continued production growth in the future. All projects have "battery quality" graphite and are located close to infrastructure in politically stable jurisdictions.

For Media Inquiries Contact

Pav Jordan, VP of Communications

Email: [email protected]

For Additional Information

Please visit the Company's website at northerngraphite.com, the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca our Social Channels listed below or contact the Company at (613) 271-2124.

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding, among others, the Company's intentions with respect to the operation of the NGC Battery Materials Group, develop its Baie-Comeau Battery Anode Material facility, bring its Namibian operations back online and develop the Company's other graphite projects. All such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management based on their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, these statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of other parties to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure and the failure of ongoing and contemplated studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or operations and the inability to raise required financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196326
West Leederville, Western Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Solis Minerals Limited (ASX: SLM) (TSXV: SLMN) (OTCQB: SLMFF) (FSE: 08W) ("Solis" or the "Company") is pleased to present its quarterly report for the three months ending 30 November 2023 ("the Quarter").

BRAZIL LITHIUM PROJECTS

Borborema

Estrela Prospect

Progress on the exploration program at the Estrela Prospect continued during the quarter and drilling was completed shortly after the quarter end. This included completion of reconnaissance mapping, mobilisation of an additional drill rig, submission of assays and demobilisation of the drill teams on completion of the programme.

The preliminary reconnaissance mapping completed in September 2023, resulted in the identification of three new lithium bearing outcropping pegmatites with confirmed spodumene present (Figure 1) and rock chip samples returning results up to 7.6% Li2O1 (Table 1).

Table 1: Rock chip samples from Estrela

Sample_lD Tenement Northing Easting SGS_Method Li2O OM00048 848223/2015 9271363.8 763023.57 ICM90A 3.97 OM00049 848223/2015 9270438 763471.1 ICM90A 1.66 OM00050 848223/2015 9271186.4 764165.46 ICM90A 3.52 OM00051 848223/2015 9271363.8 763023.57 ICM90A 7.62 OM00052 848223/2015 9271363.8 763023.57 ICM90A 0.38 OM00053 848223/2015 9271363.8 763023.57 ICM90A 0.72

Following the identification of drill targets, drilling at the Estrela Prospect commenced in October 20232. The drilling programme targeted outcropping pegmatite bodies with identified spodumene in rock chip samples (Figure 2). Previous mapping had identified outcropping strike of greater than 1.2km with surface expressions exhibiting widths up to 30m in artisanal workings.

The drillholes were designed to intersect the pegmatite bodies at between 60-120m below surface to determine if the bodies had potential to host economically viable volumes and grades of mineralisation.

1See ASX release of 7 September 2023.

2 See ASX release of 17 October 2023.

Shortly after the commencement of the initial drilling phase, a second drill rig was deployed to accelerate the programme and test the pegmatites before the end of the calendar year3.





Figure 1: Rock chip and float sampling results with tenement outline and mapped outcropping pegmatites at the Estrela Project.



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Figure 2: Drillhole locations at Estrela showing holes completed.



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Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company confirmed a total of six different pegmatite bodies were tested with 15 drillholes to depths of up to 204m below surface4 (Appendix 1).

Assay results have been received for four of the 15 drillholes completed at Estrela with no significant lithium reported despite the early potential demonstrated by surface exploration.

Mina Vermelha Prospect

In October 2023, Solis entered into an option agreement to purchase the Mina Vermelha Project in the Borborema Municipality of Rio Grande do Norte and along the same mineralised regional trend as the Estrela Prospect5.

The Mina Vermelha tenement covers approximately 500 hectares (Figure 4) with a granted mining lease of six hectares over one of six known outcropping pegmatites on the lease. The tenement is located approximately 16km to the south of the regional centre of Parelhas.

5See ASX release of 12 October 2023





Figure 3: Southern Borborema tenement plan.



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During visits to the site conducted during the quarter, spodumene and pollucite were collected in hand specimens with spodumene concentrations increasing at depth from surface5 (Table 2 & 3).

Table 2: SGS Brazil ICP results for grab samples of Spodumene and Tantalite Mina Vermelha.

Method Assay Certificate code Prefix Sample ID Nb ppm Ta ppm Li% Li2O Mineral ICP GQ2305549 SMP 00019 -10 46 1.60 3.44 Spodumene ICP GQ2305549 SMP 00021 >10000 >10000 0.01 0.01 Tantalite ICP GQ2305549 SMP 00035 -10 -10 0.57 1.23 Spodumene ICP GQ2305549 SMP 00037 -10 -10 1.43 3.07 Spodumene

Table 3: ALS laboratory results for MV001 grab sample of Pollucite from Mina Vermelha.

Sample ID Certificate code Northing Easting RL Li ppm RB ppm Cs% MV001 PH23152362 9246144 759966 434 36.7 9000 28.3

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, eight drillholes have been reported as complete (with one hole abandoned) for this programme4 (Appendix 1).

The Mina Vermelha drilling tested a 2km long strike of known pegmatites. Four drillholes assays have been returned with no significant lithium assays. All the major outcropping mineralised bodies have now been tested and no further exploration drilling is planned on this prospect for the immediate future4.





Figure 4: Mina Vermelha drillhole locations showing and mapped outcropping pegmatites.



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Geochemical sampling programme

During the quarter GMT exploration services continued to progress the major regional geochemical soil programme across the large tenement holdings in the northern Borborema Project. Over 50% of the planned programme has been completed as announced subsequent to the quarter end4.

Samples have been prepared for Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) analysis and the results will be used to assist identification of new drill targets. The programme is scheduled to be completed in early 2024.

Jaguar Project

During the quarter the Company attempted to re-negotiate an extension on the due diligence period at the Jaguar Project. Solis requested an additional six months on the due diligence period to conduct sufficient exploration to justify the acquisition price before committing to the binding option agreement. The Company was not convinced that sufficient potential for grade or scale had been indicated during the due diligence conducted and consequently the negotiations concluded in October 2023 without reaching satisfactory terms with the Vendor. All claims over the Project were relinquished by Solis and Onca Mineracao at this time5.

PERU COPPER PROJECTS

Ilo Este Project

The Company has continued to advanced exploration at Ilo Este during the quarter, with efforts focused on altered areas that had not been subject to any previous drilling. Detailed geological mapping in this zone, combined with rock geochemistry surveys, identified an area of strong potassic alteration in porphyry microdiorites with commonly associated malachite (copper oxide mineral).

Subsequent to the end of the quarter6, the Company identified a large high magnitude chargeability anomaly targeted by the Induced Polarisation (IP) geophysical survey that commenced in September. Results of the IP survey outlined a high chargeability anomaly of >20mV/V in contact with the Southern Magnetic Anomaly to the south and extending east (Figures 5, 6 & 7).

The high chargeability anomaly (>20mV/V) held dimensions of 1,250m length and 200-400m width and was detectable from approximately 100m below surface to 500m below surface. The magnetic and IP anomalies have not been previously drilled. A diamond hole on the northern margin of the IP anomaly returned 291m @ 0.21g/t Au in altered volcanics and porphyritic quartz microdiorites.





Figure 5: Ilo Este- Results of IP (Induced Polarisation) study shown in plan view slice 300m from surface. This shows the high chargeability anomaly (IP1) with coincident/adjacent magnetic anomaly (SMA) and existing drillhole traces showing the untested (non-drilled) area. Note the gold intercept in DDH005 drilled away from the northern margin of IP1 and some initial target drill hole pierce points.



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6See ASX release of 13 December 2023





Figure 6: Ilo Este- 3D view of high chargeability anomaly (IP1) in relation to Southern Magnetic Anomaly (SMA). Image is captured looking north from vertically above the interpreted anomalies. Previously drilled IE-DDH-005-15 did not intersect the high chargeability anomaly.



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Figure 7: Section of higher chargeability anomaly Line 4 with target area at approximately 120m below current surface.



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Ilo Norte Project

An induced polarisation survey was initiated at Ilo Norte covering areas identified as prospective by the drone magnetometry survey carried out in earlier in 2023. Subsequent mapping has identified alteration and Cu oxides associated with structures in volcanics to the west of a zone with intrusive characteristics more likely to host porphyry copper style mineralisation 16.7km of IP lines are planned.

CORPORATE

On 31 October 2023 Solis Minerals held the Company's Annual General Meeting in accordance with Listing Rule 3.12.2. All resolutions were passed on a poll.

During the quarter, 12,500 options (exercisable at A$0.30 each on or before 15 December 2023) were exercised and converted to CDIs.

Subsequent to quarter end, 7500 options were exercised and on 15 December 2023 a total of 2,589,038 unexercised options expired.

The Company had a current cash balance of approximately AUD $8 million at the end of the quarter.

On 12 January 2024 the Company announced its unaudited Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended 30 November 2023.

About Solis Minerals Ltd.

Solis Minerals is an emerging lithium explorer focusing on Latin American battery minerals.

The Company owns a 100% interest in the Borborema Lithium Project in NE Brazil, covering 25,600ha.

Brazil is rapidly growing in global importance as an exporter of lithium to supply the increasing global demand from battery manufacturers. Company projects cover highly prospective, hard-rock lithium ground on which early-stage reconnaissance mapping and sampling have verified. Drilling programs are underway on both the Estrela and Mine Vermelha Prospects.

In addition, Solis also holds a 100% interest in 35,700ha of combined licences and applications of highly prospective IOCG (iron oxide copper/gold) and porphyry copper projects in south-western Peru within the country's prolific coastal copper belta source of nearly half of Peru's copper production.

Australia

Matt Boyes

Executive Director

Solis Minerals Limited

+61 8 6117 4798

Jonathan van Hazel

Investor Relations

Citadel-MAGNUS

+61 (0) 411 564 969

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that relate to future events or performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected, including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Company's exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labour issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by applicable law.

Competent Person Statement

The information in this ASX release concerning Geological Information and Exploration Results is based on and fairly represents information compiled by Mr Matthew Boyes, a Competent Person who is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Boyes is an employee of Solis Minerals Ltd. and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposit under consideration and to the exploration activities undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Boyes consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on information in the form and context in which it appears. Mr Boyes has provided his prior written consent regarding the form and context in which the Geological Information and Exploration Results and supporting information are presented in this Announcement.

All information about exploration results previously released to the market is appropriately referenced in this document.

Disclaimer

In relying on the above mentioned ASX announcement and pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 5.23.2, the Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the above-mentioned announcement.

APPENDIX 1

Table 1: Drillholes collar table of completed drilling at Mina Vermelha and Estrela

Hole_id x y Z (m) max_depth (m) tenement date_started ESDDH00001 763725.3 9271183.9 457.9 203.7 848223/2015 07/10/2023 ESDDH00002 763560.6 9270735.9 474.6 158.5 848223/2015 16/10/2023 ESDDH00003 763498.7 9270373.7 509.0 138.0 848223/2015 20/10/2023 ESDDH00004 764115.1 9271230.2 453.4 135.7 848223/2015 25/10/2023 ESDDH00005 763393.8 9270741.5 473.0 96.3 848223/2015 26/10/2023 ESDDH00006 763458.5 9270515.0 508.1 119.7 848223/2015 28/10/2023 ESDDH00007 764153.6 9271126.1 457.5 179.9 848223/2015 01/11/2023 ESDDH00008 763926.7 9270966.9 464.4 143.9 848223/2015 03/11/2023 ESDDH00009 763563.8 9271219.6 448.3 156.0 848223/2015 08/11/2023 ESDDH00010 762964.2 9271400.1 454.6 117.7 848223/2015 15/11/2023 ESDDH00011 763067.2 9271330.8 455.5 141.0 848223/2015 17/11/2023 ESDDH00012 763031.7 9271330.8 457.7 69.4 848223/2015 21/11/2023 ESDDH00013 763724.8 9271183.2 459.0 150.4 848223/2015 24/11/2023 ESDDH00014 762932.1 9270743.4 476.0 150.3 848223/2015 29/11/2023 ESDDH00015 762479.5 9272029.2 405.1 121.1 848223/2015 05/12/2023 MVDDH00001 760015.1 9246136.9 392.9 176.4 840041/1985 03/11/2023 MVDDH00002 760014.6 9246139.6 390.7 347.9 840041/1985 10/11/2023 MVDDH00003 759946.1 9245945.5 400.7 37.2 840041/1985 27/11/2023 MVDDH00004 759945.1 9245946.5 400.7 95.4 840041/1985 29/11/2023 MVDDH00005 759942.3 9245952.9 398.1 303.4 840041/1985 04/12/2023 MVDDH00006 760040.2 9246304.4 400.2 198.4 840041/1985 08/12/2023 MVDDH00007 760102.1 9246072.5 377.3 150.4 840041/1985 13/12/2023 MVDDH00008 760057.7 9246822.5 389.3 150.0 840041/1985 16/12/2023 MVDDH00009 760594.6 9245649.4 333.9 150.5 840041/1985 19/12/2023

APPENDIX 2

Mining tenements held at the end of the Quarter and their location and interest.

Tenement Licences Project Name Registered Holder Location Interest held Ilo Norte Project Latin Ilo Norte 3 Ilo Norte Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Latin Ilo Norte 4 Ilo Norte Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Latin Ilo Norte 6 Ilo Norte Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Latin Ilo Norte 7 Ilo Norte Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Latin Ilo Norte 8 Ilo Norte Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Brigette 1 Ilo Norte Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Essendon 26 Ilo Norte Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Maddison 1 Ilo Norte Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Ilo Este Project Latin Ilo Este I Ilo Este Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Latin Ilo Este II Ilo Este Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Latin Ilo Este III Ilo Este Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Latin Ilo Este IX Ilo Este Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Chapollita Project Kelly 00 Chapollita Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Caruca Project Caruca2 Caruca Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Uchsuma Project Pallagua 13 Pallagua Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Pallagua Project Uchsuma A3 Uchsuma Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Uchsuma B3 Uchsuma Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% Cinto Project SOLIS02 Cinto Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS02A Cinto Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS03 Cinto Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS04 Cinto Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS05 Cinto Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS06 Cinto Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS071 Cinto Westminster Peru SAC Peru 0% SOLIS07A1 Cinto Westminster Peru SAC Peru 0% Ilo Regional SOLIS NORTE 1 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS NORTE 2 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS NORTE 3 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS NORTE 4 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS NORTE 5 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS NORTE 6 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS NORTE 7 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS NORTE 8 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS NORTE 91 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 0% SOLIS NORTE 101 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 0% SOLIS NORTE 111 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 0% SOLIS NORTE 121 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 0% SOLIS SUR 2 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS SUR 3 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS KELLY 01 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 100% SOLIS KELLY 021 Ilo Regional Westminster Peru SAC Peru 0% Borborema and Jaguar 846.232/20221 Borborema Ona Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 846.233/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 846.234/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.411/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.412/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.413/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.414/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.415/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.416/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.417/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.418/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.419/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.420/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.423/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.424/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.425/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.426/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.427/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.428/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.429/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.430/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.431/20221 Borborema Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 848.233/20154 Estrela Onca Mineracao Ltda. Brazil 0% 840.041/19854 Mina Vermelha Onca Mineracao Ltda Brazil 0%

1 Mining Exploration Concession Applications.

2 Mining Concessions- allow exploration subject to access and other conditions.

3 Mining Pediments- essentially applications for Mining Concessions.

4 Tenement Concession under Option Agreement.

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - SusGlobal Energy Corp. (OTCQB: SNRG) ("SusGlobal" or the "Company") , an environmental, agricultural and industrial biotechnology and renewables company, Leaders in The Circular Economy today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary SusGlobal Energy Belleville Ltd. ("SusGlobal Belleville") has sold an additional 3,000 Verified Emission Reductions and Removals ("VERRs"), for a total sold to date of 42,302 VERRs as part of the Anew" SusGlobal Belleville Composting Offset Project in Ontario (the "Project").

The Project and report are listed on the GHG CleanProjects Registry, https://www.csaregistries.ca/GHG_VR_Listing/CleanProjectDetail?ProjectId=909a business unit of the Standards Division of the Canadian Standards Association ("CSA") for developed and marketed greenhouse gas ("GHG") offset credits from the Company's 49-acre Organic & Non-Hazardous Waste Processing & Composting Facility in Belleville, Ontario. The Project was developed by Anew Climate, LLC formerly known as Blue Source Canada ULC) ("Anew").

SusGlobal Belleville is an aerobic composting facility that processes residential source separated organic ("SSO") and industrial, commercial and institutional ("ICI") organic waste into compost. Waste is collected from local municipalities including the City of Belleville, County of Northumberland, the Municipality of Port Hope, the Township of Cavan Monaghan and Prince Edward County.

The Project has enabled an increase in the diversion of organic waste from landfills, thereby avoiding methane generation. Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas which is 28 times more effective at trapping heat energy in our atmosphere than carbon dioxide. As organic wastes decompose in landfills, the methane builds up and must be released to prevent dangerous working conditions. By diverting waste that contributes to this problem, the Project benefits the community as well as the climate.

The continued sale of carbon credits expands the Company's ability to deliver on its mission to reduce organic wastes from wood, leaf and yard material, treated municipal sewage waste (biosolids), residential curbside green bin material or SSO, ICI and paper sludge otherwise destined for landfills.

GHG CleanProject Registry, a business unit of the Standards Division of the CSA, is the service provider which owns and operates the Registry for the purpose of complementing ISO 14064-1, ISO 14064-2, ISO 14064-3, and ISO 14065 Standards and facilitating transparency, accuracy, consistency, completeness and relevance in reporting, validating and verifying of greenhouse gas emission reductions or removal enhancements relating to methodologies and existing and yet-to-be developed greenhouse gas programmes.

The VERRs are greenhouse gas emission reductions or removals relating to the Project as verified by an independent third party in accordance with the ISO 14064 Standards and all applicable GHG Programme requirements. Without limiting the foregoing, VERRs also encompass such verified project-based environmental products as they occur and are known in specific GHG Programmes including GHG credits, registered emission reductions, carbon credits, certificates, credits, offsets and similar environmental products.

"We are pleased with the continued amounts that Anew has marketed and sold as part of our Company's carbon credits monetization initiative, allowing us to generate additional revenues," stated Marc Hazout, Executive Chairman, President and CEO of SusGlobal Energy Corp. "Reflecting the value of these credits in our quarterly and year end reporting is important as we embark on further initiatives to benefit from environmental attributes of renewables, continuing our diversion from landfill objective while producing regenerative products as part of our Circular Economy model, with the goal of maximizing shareholder value."

Municipalities continue to seek out opportunities to divert organic waste from landfills. Composting facilities and the level of sustainability built into their management model will play a key role in this redistribution of waste. The revenue from these credits is anticipated to drive technological advancements that will expand composting efforts at the SusGlobal Belleville facility and other municipalities throughout North America.

As the province of Ontario develops and implements a food and organic waste disposal ban regulation under the Environmental Protection Act, prohibiting the disposal of food waste and organic waste at waste disposal sites (e.g. landfills, incineration facilities) supports the beneficial use of recovered organic resources. This disposal ban on food and organic waste creates new opportunities for waste reduction, surplus food rescue, and offers new approaches to resource recovery creating value at all levels of the value chain. A disposal ban will drive investment in resource recovery systems, create jobs and support innovation in the province, significantly reducing reliance on landfills, benefiting SusGlobal infrastructure, assets, licenses, and capabilities to produce lower carbon options at existing facilities.

About SusGlobal Energy Corp.

SusGlobal Energy Corp., the developer of SusGro", an award winning and revolutionary pathogen free organic liquid fertilizer, is an environmental, agricultural and industrial biotechnology company focused on acquiring, developing, and monetizing a portfolio of proprietary technologies in the waste to energy and regenerative product applications globally. It is management's objective to grow SusGlobal into a significant sustainable waste to energy and regenerative products provider and a trusted brand for the fertilizer, soil and aquaculture market, as LEADERS IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at: www.susglobalenergy.com.

Current Investor Presentation - https://investor.susglobalenergy.com/

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Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the Company's objectives. Forward-Looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, lack of sufficient financial resources; variations in market conditions, currency and our stock; the Company's ability to obtain any necessary permits, approvals, consents or authorizations required for its activities; the Company's ability to produce energy, biogas, compost or organic fertilizer from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, or to be fully able to implement its business strategies and other risk factors described in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be viewed at www.sec.gov.

Contact

SusGlobal Energy Corp.

Marc Hazout, President and CEO

(416) 223-8500 or Toll Free: 1-866-512-7374

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: SusGlobal Energy Corp.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196278
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - TROUBADOUR RESOURCES INC.(TSXV: TR) (OTC Pink: TROUF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce a proposed private placement offering to raise total gross proceeds of up to $1,250,000 (the "Offering").

Troubadour intends to undertake a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of up to 10,000,000 million units of the Company (each a "Unit") at a purchase price of $0.125 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,250,000. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at an exercise price of $0.175 at any time up to 36 months following issuance.

Proceeds will be used for general working capital and, more importantly, to define new drill targets on our High-Grade Uranium property (Monarch Property) which the company expects to complete over the next week or so... Furthermore, to define new drill targets on our 100% owned copper assets.

Blake Morgan, Interim CEO, states "This funding and transaction mean a move in the right direction for Troubadour Resources. This Uranium asset is key to diversity and opens the door to large funding in these types of markets. With Uranium at near all-time highs, and a new multi-million dollar staking rush happening all around the region, the time is now to capitalize on some of the highest-grade Uranium ever found in the region. We will push the boundaries of new technologies and move towards a major discovery, leveraging over $1,000,000 in previous exploration to rapidly generate advanced targets."

Insiders may participate in the placement and, as such, their participation in the Private Placement is a related-party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. Finders' fees in connection with the Offering may be payable in accordance with the policies and subject to the approval of the Exchange ("TSXV"). All Shares issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory holding period of four months and one day after the closing of the Offering. Completion of the Offering is subject to the approval of the TSXV. Any participation by insiders in the Offering will constitute a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") but is expected to be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101.

None of the securities sold in connection with the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer.

Geoff and Gary Schellenberg have tended their resignation, Blake Morgan has now taken over as Interim CEO. The Company thanks them for all their hard work over the years and wishes them all the best in their future endeavors.

Blake Morgan has over 15 years' experience in Capital Markets, specifically in the Natural Resource and Precious Metals sectors, including 10 years with Rio Tinto, BMA Metals (a subsidiary of BHP) and Santos Ltd. Mr. Morgan has extensive experience as a prominent Board Member and Senior Executive Officer in numerous publicly traded companies. In recent years, Blake has raised tens of millions of dollars for both public and private companies alike and has successfully taken numerous companies public in the United States, Canada, and Germany.

About Troubadour

TROUBADOUR RESOURCES INC. (TSXV: TR) (OTC Pink: TROUF) is a public Canadian mining exploration company focused on copper and gold in British Columbia, Canada. The Company is managed by an experienced team consisting of youthful and seasoned professionals with proven track records as mine finders. The Texas gold property diversifies the Company's commodity focus and compliments Troubadour's Amarillo copper project located 10 km south of the past-producing Brenda Mine in southern BC and 35 km east of Kodiak Copper's MPD discovery.

For further information please contact:

Troubadour Resources Inc.

625 Howe Street, Suite 488

Vancouver, BC V6C 2T6

Blake Morgan, Interim CEO

[email protected]

Forward-Looking Information

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Except as required pursuant to applicable securities laws, the Company will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect financial results is included in the documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities by the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196319
Paid press release content from Send2Press. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

Motorola users now can bypass Google FRP lock with iToolab UnlockGo (Android) in minutes

NEW YORK, N.Y., Jan. 31, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) Have you just picked up your old Motorola phone and reset it to factory settings, then found that you have to enter the Google account credentials to access the device? Or perhaps you have bought a second-hand Motorola phone and the previous owner reset it without removing the Google account. No matter what the scenario is, you wont be able to access the home screen and enjoy all the features of your Motorola phone, says iToolab.

But dont worry; iToolab UnlockGo (Android) today released a new version V7.6.0 which can help you bypass Motorola Google FRP lock within minutes.

Whats New

UnlockGo (Android) V7.6.0 made great improvements to Xiaomi/Redmi FRP bypass solution. Now it supports removing Google FRP lock from most Xiaomi/Redmi phones and tablets. Furthermore, UnlockGo (Android) starts to support Motorola FRP bypass. Motorola users can bypass Google account verification without password in 3 simple steps.

UnlockGo (Android)s mission is to help all Android users unlock their devices easily. Therefore, the program supports Korean and Russian in this version. It will keep supporting other languages in the future.

Learn more: https://itoolab.com/guide/how-to-use-unlockgo-android/

Explore More Possibilities of iToolab UnlockGo (Android):

A reliable password unlock tool that can remove password, PIN, pattern, fingerprint and face lock from 6000+ Android phones and tablets

The best FRP tool that can bypass Google FRP lock on Samsung / Xiaomi / Redmi / vivo / OPPO / Motorola within minutes

It can unlock early Samsung devices without password or data loss

If your Samsung device is running Android 12, you can unlock it without password in 1 click

It helps you factory reset all Samsung devices in 1 click and free of cost

Its compatible with the latest Android 14

Price and Availability

The new feature is available on V7.6.0. For unregistered users, you can visit the official website of iToolab UnlockGo (Android) and download the latest version to try. For registered users, you can enjoy a free lifetime update.

The program supports bypassing Google lock on Samsung Android 5-13, most Xiaomi/Redmi devices, vivo Android 10-12, OPPO Android 5-13, and Motorola Android 11/12.

The program is sold with different license types, including 1 Month Plan, 1 Year Plan and Lifetime Plan. The prices are $29.95, $39.95, $49.95, respectively. In other words, the longer you own the license, the cheaper it will be. Furthermore, if you are planning to purchase a license plan now, you can save $10.

Learn more: https://itoolab.com/buy/unlockgo-android-for-windows/

About iToolab

iToolab is a software development company founded in 2008 to help iOS and Android users solve various issues with leading-edge smartphone tools for repair and recovery, unlocking, and more. As of now, iToolab is serving 130+ countries and has been trusted and recommended by some leading tech sites and users worldwide. iToolab is a trusted one-stop shop for smartphone utility apps.

Learn more: https://itoolab.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itoolab

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/IToolab

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iToolab

NEWS SOURCE: iToolab Co Ltd



This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (iToolab Co Ltd), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/itoolab-unlockgo-android-new-version-v7-6-0-released-to-support-motorola-frp-bypass/

Copr.  2024 Send2Press Newswire, a service of NEOTROPE, Calif., USA. -- REF: S2P STORY ID: 103248SI.05
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

[Austin, TX]  Vare Technologies, LLC a data science technology company, announces the development of two communication platforms - VARE for Voter Access to Representation in Elections and NewsRunner, which will both be unveiled at the Minority Product Launch event in Houston on January 24th.



Following the announcement, VARE will educate voters on the details of legislative bills as well as candidate and representative positions and voting track records through the platforms. Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), the voters personal preferences can be quantitatively matched with candidates and representatives of like mind. Vare Technologies hopes the technology will change and advance politics from the way it has been known to date - since VARE makes engaging in politics a convenient lifestyle choice. The platform features an all-in-one omnichannel solution with analytics, reporting, social media, chatting, and video conferencing for its users.

More information is available at https://minorityproductlaunch.com/

NewsRunner, their additional offering, a new social media platform, has been designed to provide the latest political news easily accessible via smartphone and where data will be made available to user groups in refining their research, outreach efforts, and campaign management, Vare Technologies explains.

Vare Technologies and NewsRunner believe their new platforms will solve the biggest threats to keeping elections safe and accurate. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, political spending for 2020 was near $14 billion, doubling the spending in 2016 of $6 Billion. Most of the spending was targeted at political advertisement, messaging, polling, and get-out-to-vote drives. Even with such spending to get information to voters, in a poll by BPS, 35% of Americans answered that Misleading Information was the major threat to an effective election process.

As such, VARE & NewsRunner seek to provide factual, unbiased, sourced information, such as follows:

- Voter registration and location information

- Description of bills and issues

- Historical records on votes cast by representatives

- Forums for information-sharing and debate by citizens and politicians

- Sourced information citing writers and contributors.

Vare Technologies intention is to make civic activism an easy lifestyle choice as voters can gain all the information needed to make thoughtful, informed voting choices simply by engaging with the apps on their phones or computers. The communication platform will provide accurate, sourced information on news, representative voting habits, and a virtual town hall where voters can fully express their opinions live.

Modupe Ajibola, CEO of Vare Technologies, explains, We want to create a paradigm shift in politics where voters drive the opinions while politicians serve the people by listening and responding to their constituents views. We think of VARE as the pulse of democracy. Ajibolas heart for using technology to serve people began with an award-winning OTGPlaya company, outsourcing and OEM solutions and a decade-long stint at Texas Instruments.

Interested readers can find more news on his background and Vare Technologies mission at https://varetechnologies.com/

About

Vare Technologies, LLC is a data science technology company that has developed a communication platform, VARE, that provides an avenue for subscribed representatives, media, influencers and activists to better understand their constituents needs and preferences. In this way, the platform creates Voter Access to Representation in Elections (VARE). Voters can easily remain informed and align with representatives who support their views on bills and political issues.

Based in Austin, Texas with a hub in Houston, the company has previously developed a variety of technology and web applications.

For more information, visit https://vareapp.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Cynthia Baker

Email: Send Email

Organization: FIREWORKS Communications LLC

Address: 5900 Balcones Woods, Ste.100, Austin, TX 78731, United States

Website: https://fireworkscommunications.com



Release ID: 89119254

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.
New PEP Option Offers Investors Enhanced Flexibility and Access

DRESHER, Pa. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascensus whose technology and expertise help millions save for a better futureannounced that sales of the Ascensus I American Funds Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) will begin in February.

Both Ascensus and American Funds will offer the PEP program to employers and advisors under their new collaboration.

Ascensus and American Funds announced their plans to jointly market a multi-fund family PEP solution this past fall. The program offers investors broad access to one of the industry's leading active target date managers through a fund menu designed by Wilshire , one of the nation's largest fiduciary service providers. This includes:

Streamlined solution enabling distribution efficiencies for advisors

Plan design flexibility for each adopting employer

Open architecture fund lineup inclusive of American Funds, BlackRock, T. Rowe Price, Principal and other leading investment managers

Bundled 3(16) services to mitigate fiduciary exposure and assist with plan administration

Financial wellness resources and advice through Financial Finesse.

Ascensus will be the first PEP provider to offer American Funds Target Date Plus. Powered by Morningstar Investment Management LLC, American Funds Target Date Plus features personalized allocation advice tailored to reflect a retirement saver's specific needs and objectives more closely than a traditional TDF allocation determined only by age. A tiered-investment menu groups investment funds into logical categories, from Target Date Plus as the QDIA, to index funds and other actively managed portfolios from leading asset managers that help build understanding and simplify participants' decision making.

"Capital Group, home of American Funds, has long been a trusted partner to Ascensus," said Jason Crane , Ascensus' head of Core Retirement. "We're thrilled to expand our alliance by launching the Ascensus I American Funds Pooled Employer Plan, inclusive of Target Date Plus, and support American Funds entering this growing market. We look forward to working closely together to help more savers save more."

"We are pleased to partner with Ascensus to offer this solution to meet the needs of a broader range of investors," said Brendan Mahoney , head of Capital Group's Institutional Retirement Strategic Growth team. "Too many people in this country are still not saving enough for retirement, and that's why it's imperative we offer turnkey solutions like this PEP option with a streamlined and low-cost personalized target date solution to help close that gap."

Supported by Ascensus' world class-rated client service team, the Ascensus | American Funds PEP is a fully bundled solution, focused on driving better outcomes for participants and providing tools like My Forecast, where savers can see a complete retirement readiness view and adjust their strategy accordingly when needed.

Ascensus now has $1.2 billion in PEP assets under administration, representing nearly 28,000 savers. The company has more than $723 billion in assets under administration overall.

About Ascensus

Ascensus is a market-leading enabler of tax-advantaged savingsproviding technology, services, and expertise that help millions of people save for a better future.

The company is a premier savings program service provider, third-party administrator, and government savings facilitator. Its platforms, industry knowledge, and data-based insights enhance the growth and success of its partners, their clients, and savers through co-branded, private-labeled, and governmental partnerships.

Ascensus offers comprehensive qualified and nonqualified retirement plan solutions, third-party retirement plan administration, 529 education and ABLE savings program administration, corporate- and bank-owned life insurance solutions, and fiduciary and total rewards services.

The company's brands include Ascensus; Newport , an Ascensus company; and FuturePlan by Ascensus. Ascensus has more than $723 billion in assets under administration and employs more than 5,400 associates as of September 30, 2023 .

For more information, visit ascensus.com and newportgroup.com.

About Wilshire

Wilshire is a leading global financial services firm and trusted partner to a diverse range of more than 500 leading institutional investors and financial intermediaries. Our clients rely on us to improve investment outcomes for a better future. Wilshire advises on over $1.2 trillion in assets and manages $86 billion in assets as of September 30, 2023 . Wilshire is headquartered in the United States with offices worldwide.

About Capital Group

Capital Group, home of American Funds, has been singularly focused on delivering superior results for long-term investors using high-conviction portfolios, rigorous research, and individual accountability since 1931.

As of December 31, 2023, Capital Group manages more than $2.5 trillion in equity and fixed-income assets for millions of individuals and institutional investors around the world. Capital Group manages equity assets through three investment groups. These groups make investment and proxy voting decisions independently. Fixed-income investment professionals provide fixed-income research and investment management across the Capital organization; however, for securities with equity characteristics, they act solely on behalf of one of the three equity investment groups.

For more information, visit capitalgroup.com.

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SOURCE Ascensus
CINCINNATI, Ohio , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AuguStarSM Financial is the proud recipient of the Wealth Solutions Report 2024 Wealth Exemplar Award, announced January 29 , in the category of Insurance & Annuities Solutions Provider of the Year. AuguStar was recognized for its innovative approach to its newly launched brand. AuguStar redefines financial planning by infusing a fresh perspective, making conversations more approachable, comprehensible, and enjoyable for clients envisioning their desired financial future.

AuguStar Financial recognized as Insurance & Annuities Solutions Provider of the Year by Wealth Solutions Report.

As a part of the Constellation Insurance family, the company entered the market with enthusiasm, introducing a distinctive brand that set it apart from its competitors. "Before launching our brand, we looked at the marketplace and found virtually everyone looked the same," says Cliff Jack, AuguStar Retirement president and CEO. "Our difference is apparent starting with our new client-facing website and brand image. Combined with our competitive, innovative, and approachable product design matched with friendly, exceptional service, it results in a unique experience."

AuguStar further built upon its suite of life insurance which includes a highly competitive indexed universal life insurance product and an inventive indexed whole life product, venturing beyond traditional distribution into the life insurance brokerage space. The company's commitment to growth is evident in the recent launch of these products on new technology platforms, simplifying accessibility for financial professionals to present them to their clients.

Propelled by the success of its competitive fixed indexed and multi-year guaranteed annuities, AuguStar is set to promote a diverse range of annuity products across all distribution channels in the next several quarters. It offers a comprehensive approach to sales enablement and strategic agreements with mid- to large-tier selling partners including independent advisors, IMOs, banks and broker-dealers.

The WSR Wealth Exemplar Awards celebrate excellence in the wealth management industry, honoring outstanding firms across multiple categories, trendsetting, and industry-shaping M&A transactions. AuguStar Financial's recognition as the recipient of the WSR Wealth Exemplar Award highlights its dedication to providing innovative financial solutions and exceptional service to its clients.

About AuguStar Financial

AuguStarSM Financial markets life insurance and annuity products through a national network of traditional direct agent distribution, independent marketing organizations, banks and broker-dealers. AuguStar Financial is part of the Constellation Insurance family of companies. As of December 31, 2022 , Constellation's family of companies has over $34 billion in total assets under management. Constellation's investors and equal partners, CDPQ and Ontario Teachers', are two of North America's largest long-term institutional investors, managing over C$649 billion in net assets, including over C$139 billion in private capital investments. More information is available at augustarfinancial.com.

Contact: Lisa Doxsee

513.794.6418 (o) | 513.218.5519 (m)

lisa_doxsee@augustarfinancial.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/augustar-financial-receives-wealth-exemplar-award-302049532.html

SOURCE AuguStar Financial
CHARLOTTE, N.C. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation today announced the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on Bank of America common stock of $0.24 per share, payable on March 29, 2024 to shareholders of record as of March 1, 2024 .

The Board also declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $1.75 per share on the 7% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series B. The dividend is payable on April 25, 2024 to shareholders of record as of April 11, 2024 .

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States , serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,800 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 57 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States , its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

www.bankofamerica.com

Investors May Contact:

Lee McEntire, Bank of America

Phone: 1.980.388.6780

[email protected]

Jonathan Blum , Bank of America (Fixed Income)

Phone: 1.212.449.3112

[email protected]

Reporters May Contact:

Bill Halldin, Bank of America

Phone: 1.916.724.0093

[email protected]

Christopher P. Feeney , Bank of America

Phone: 1.980.386.6794

[email protected]

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SOURCE Bank of America Corporation
Strong clinical evidence base, largest volume of real-world use reinforce safety, efficacy and efficiency advantages of the system

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announced it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System. The FARAPULSE PFA System is indicated for the isolation of pulmonary veins in the treatment of drug-refractory, recurrent, symptomatic, paroxysmal (i.e., intermittent) atrial fibrillation (AF) and is a unique new alternative to standard-of-care thermal ablation treatment.

"The approval of the FARAPULSE PFA System marks an important milestone for the millions of people living with paroxysmal AF and is an incredible opportunity to bring the first PFA system designed and built solely for this type of ablation therapy to physicians in the U.S. ," said Nick Spadea-Anello , president, Electrophysiology, Boston Scientific. "A high bar has been set by performance of the system in clinical and commercial settings  where more than 40,000 patients have been treated to date  and we look forward to continuing to lead the way with this differentiated technology in the growing PFA space."

During a traditional ablation procedure, a catheter is guided to the interior of the heart and generates extreme temperatures  hot or cold  to destroy targeted areas associated with abnormal heart rhythms. The FARAPULSE PFA System, however, relies on tissue-selective, non-thermal electric fields to ablate heart tissue and avoid damage to surrounding structures. Positive 12-month data from the pivotal ADVENT clinical trial  the first randomized clinical trial to directly compare the efficacy and safety of the system against standard-of-care ablation  found that therapy with the device was as safe and effective as conventional thermal ablation, with statistically shorter ablation times and a quick learning curve for physicians. Additional real-world data from more than 17,000 patients in the MANIFEST-17K registry demonstrated continued real-world safety of the system, with no reports of permanent phrenic nerve palsy, pulmonary vein stenosis or esophageal injury.

"Within the ADVENT clinical trial, the FARAPULSE PFA System was shown to be a safe, effective and efficient option for treating paroxysmal AF, and extensive global real-world use has mirrored that profile," said Vivek Reddy , M.D., director of electrophysiology, Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, New York . "Tissue preferentiality and long-term efficacy, combined with markedly shorter procedure times and learning curves, position the FARAPULSE PFA System with strong potential to become a practice-changing technology for both U.S. physicians and patients alike."

The FARAPULSE PFA System delivers pulsed field energy and consists of the FARAWAVE Ablation Catheter, the FARASTAR Ablation Generator, and the FARADRIVE Steerable Sheath, which is complemented by the VersaCross Connect Access Solution for the FARADRIVE Steerable Sheath to provide safe and efficient access to the left side of the heart during procedures with the system. The FARAWAVE catheter is used to treat a range of pulmonary vein anatomies using an over-the-wire catheter with variable basket and flower shapes, allowing the device to adapt to individual patient anatomies. These configurations reinforce ease-of-use for physicians and promote reproducible procedures between operators.

Boston Scientific completed enrollment in the first phase of the ADVANTAGE AF clinical trial in the third quarter of 2023, which is studying the system for the treatment of patients with drug-refractory, symptomatic, persistent AF, and commenced enrollment in a second phase of the study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of adjunctive use of the FARAPOINT PFA Catheter for cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablations, a procedure used to treat atrial flutter. The company also recently commenced the AVANT GUARD clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the system as a first-line treatment for persistent AF compared to anti-arrhythmic drug therapy.

The FARAPULSE PFA System was granted Breakthrough Device Designation from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) of the U.S. FDA in 2019 and received CE Mark in 2021. Boston Scientific plans to immediately launch the system in the U.S. The company is developing a navigation-enabled version of the FARAWAVE catheter alongside the FARAVIEW Software Module and anticipates regulatory approval in 2024.

More information on the FARAPULSE PFA System is available here.

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical technologies that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 40 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high-performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. Our portfolio of devices and therapies helps physicians diagnose and treat complex cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, oncological, neurological and urological diseases and conditions. Learn more at www.bostonscientific.com and connect on LinkedIn and X, formerly Twitter.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our business plans and product performance and impact, new and anticipated product approvals and launches, and clinical trials. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: future economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; manufacturing, distribution and supply chain disruptions and cost increases; new product introductions; expected procedural volumes; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A  Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A  Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

CONTACTS:

Steve Bailey

Media Relations

(651) 582-4343 (office)

[email protected]

Lauren Tengler

Investor Relations

(508) 683-4479

[email protected]

*Dr. Vivek Reddy is a paid consultant of Boston Scientific Corporation. He has not been compensated in connection with this press release.

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SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation
CAIRO, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Any Israeli attempt to control the Philadelphi Corridor along the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip is "unacceptable," an Egyptian high-ranking official said on Tuesday.

"No new arrangements have been discussed with Israel regarding the Philadelphi Corridor on the border, and any Israeli unilateral moves in this regard are unacceptable," the unnamed Egyptian official was quoted as saying by Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV.

The remarks came a week after Diaa Rashwan, the chairman of Egypt's State Information Service, warned that Israel's retaking control of the Philadelphi Corridor would violate its 1979 peace treaty with Egypt.

The Philadelphi Corridor is a 100-meter wide, 14-km-long buffer zone along the Egypt-Gaza border.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently expressed his desire to retake control of the corridor to ensure future demilitarization of Gaza and prevent the alleged smuggling of weapons into Gaza through border tunnels.

Rashwan also denied last week the Israeli claims about the weapon smuggling from Egypt to Gaza.

The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has been a major lifeline to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in the war-ravaged enclave, which has witnessed relentless Israeli bombings and a massive military offensive since Oct. 7 last year.

The Israeli attacks in Gaza have so far killed 26,751 Palestinians and wounded 65,636 others, according to data released by Gaza's Health Ministry on Tuesday. 
BUFFALO, N.Y. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- HELIXintel's CEO Jon DeWald is returning permanently to Western New York (WNY) to contribute to and shape the startup ecosystem after a successful Series A funding round.

"Our goal is to contribute to the narrative of Buffalo as a dynamic and influential player in the startup ecosystem."

The region is currently experiencing a significant surge, marking a substantial evolution in Buffalo's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

WNY is a Key Player in the Startup Ecosystem

"It is truly remarkable to witness the transformation of Buffalo in the startup landscape," said DeWald. "Witnessing the dynamic growth and evolution of opportunities is both inspiring and invigorating." Before venturing into the entrepreneurial realm, he served in the United States Marine Corps and was awarded the prestigious Medal of Valor for his actions during the Battle of Fallujah . Since his departure, DeWald has noticed a considerable transformation in WNY.

Initiatives spearheaded by New York State , and an expanding network of local entrepreneurs, play a large role in the increase of startup activity, as reported by The Buffalo News. The evolving landscape has enabled startups to secure substantial funding, at an accelerated pace, indicative of the expanding availability of capital in the region. This underscores Buffalo's emergence as a key player in fostering rapid and robust growth within the startup community.

HELIXintel Contributes to Buffalo's Resurgence

HELIXintel is a revolutionary Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) platform, transforming how businesses manage property, equipment, supplies, and inventory of all sizes. Founded in 2019, the company concluded a successful Series A funding round in 2023, positioning it for substantial growth. Since then, the team has welcomed five additional members, including Greg Ross , Senior Vice President of Sales, and Brian Sullivan , Vice President of Data.

"WNY embodies a community that not only embraces innovation but actively nurtures a supportive environment for it," DeWald expressed. To effectively accommodate the company's expansion, the team is exploring options for a new office space  another force that drove DeWald's decision to return to the region. HELIXintel is presently located at the University at Buffalo Incubator @ CBLS, a central hub for the local startup scene.

DeWald is enthusiastic about expanding the team in this thriving environment and continuing to positively impact the future of WNY's startup scene. "Our goal is to contribute to the narrative of Buffalo as a dynamic and influential player in the startup ecosystem, fostering innovation and development opportunities for years to come."

Media Contact:

Tia Dabney

Director of Marketing, HELIXintel

[email protected]

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SOURCE HELIXintel
Lumen Network-as-a-Service Solution Now Includes Private Ethernet and IP-VPN

DENVER , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Private cloud connections, data protection, and enhanced security. Lumen customers are requesting these features as their need to move substantial amounts of sensitive data and secure distributed business locations becomes more critical. Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) is meeting that need with two new Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) solutions with private connections: Lumen Ethernet On-Demand and Lumen IP-VPN (Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network) On-Demand.

Why Private Connections Matter

Lumen launched NaaS and Lumen Internet On-Demand in 2023 to help businesses easily buy, use, and manage networking services. Businesses that manage sensitive or confidential data, such as financial transactions and health records, or those with legal and regulatory requirements, are also seeking a private and secure option for their cloud connections.

"Many businesses face a dilemma between security and innovation. They need to protect their data with robust and flexible network solutions, but they also want to leverage the cloud and AI for productivity and growth," said Miriana Martinova , Lumen SVP of Product Management. "Lumen NaaS Private Connections resolves this challenge by offering both performance and enhanced security over their network connections. Financial and healthcare companies can protect their data from breaches, cyberattacks, or unauthorized access across any cloud environment, with confidence in Lumen's secure, resilient, and global network."

The Customer Benefits

Private Ethernet and IP-VPN Network-as-a-Service connections offer several benefits to customers.

Enhanced Security : Avoid the public internet by putting encrypted data on a private connection to each remote site.

: Avoid the public internet by putting encrypted data on a private connection to each remote site. Data Protection Regulations: Comply with strict data protection laws and regulations with a higher level of security and control over data handling practices.

Comply with strict data protection laws and regulations with a higher level of security and control over data handling practices. Cost Efficiency : Access cloud resources on demand, without spending money on costly hardware, upkeep, or excess capacity.

: Access cloud resources on demand, without spending money on costly hardware, upkeep, or excess capacity. Scalability : Adjust bandwidth to increase and decrease speeds and turn them off when not needed.

: Adjust bandwidth to increase and decrease speeds and turn them off when not needed. Reliable Connections: Securely connect multiple business locations within a network, such as branch offices, data centers and headquarters. Choose the best cloud service providers for business needs, including AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.

Increased Protection with DDoS

To further enhance a secure on-demand experience, Lumen will soon add DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) protection to its Lumen Internet On-Demand solution, the first service on Lumen's NaaS platform. DDoS service is an easy and affordable way to defend networks against common attacks, no matter the size. It uses near real-time threat intelligence from Lumen's Black Lotus Labs.

For more information on Lumen Network-as-a-Service and Private Connections, visit Lumen Ethernet On-Demand and Lumen IP-VPN .

Lumen NaaS Announcements:

About Lumen Technologies:

Lumen connects the world. We are igniting business growth by connecting people, data, and applications  quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Everything we do at Lumen takes advantage of our network strength. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, and managed service capabilities, we meet our customers' needs today and as they build for tomorrow. For news and insights visit news.lumen.com, LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies, Twitter: @lumentechco, Facebook: /lumentechnologies, Instagram: @lumentechnologies, and YouTube: /lumentechnologies.

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SOURCE Lumen Technologies
One-way fares from Vegas to L.A. and Sonoma County start at $51

LAS VEGAS , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For Vegas residents looking to escape the crowds of the Big Game, Avelo Airlines announced today it is adding special nonstop roundtrip flights from Las Vegas to L.A. and California Wine Country.

During the Big Game weekend ( Friday February 9 through Monday February 12 ) Avelo is adding flights from Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to L.A.'s most convenient and popular airport  Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)  and California Wine Country's Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS).

Avelo Airlines Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said, "These special flights will make it easy for people to escape the congestion that accompanies the Big Game. What better way to spend a long weekend away from the Vegas crowds than soaking in the Southern California sun or sampling some Northern California wines."

Super-low one-way fares to Los Angeles and Sonoma County start at $51 *. Customers can book reservations at aveloair.com.

Escape to California Wine Country

On Friday, February 9 , Avelo Flight 201 will depart LAS at 2:00 p.m. , arriving STS at 3:55 p.m. On Monday, February 12 , Avelo Flight 202 will depart STS at 4:35 p.m. , arriving LAS at 6:10 p.m.

Escape to L.A.

On Friday, February 9 , Avelo Flight 297 will depart LAS at 9:30 a.m., arriving BUR at 10:40 a.m. On Monday, February 12 , Avelo Flight 298 will depart BUR at 11:20 a.m., arriving LAS at 12:20 p.m.

Avelo's regularly scheduled flights from Las Vegas serve three nonstop destinations:

Bay Area / Sonoma County, CA (STS)

/ (STS) Bend / Redmond, OR (RDM)

/ (RDM) Portland / Salem, OR (SLE)

America's Most Convenient Airline

Avelo was founded to Inspire Travel by saving travelers time and money. Since taking flight nearly three years ago, Avelo has flown 4 million Customers on 30,000 flights.

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. All Avelo flights are nonstop and on almost every route at least one airport is a small, easy to use airport. This makes every Avelo journey a smooth, easy and enjoyable experience.

Unlike most other airlines, 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.

Avelo is distinguished by its industry-leading reliability. In 2023, the airline achieved the lowest flight cancellation rate in the U.S. airline industry and ranked #2 in on-time reliability. These results are based on Anuvu's third-party data platform (the same company and platform utilized by The Wall Street Journal for the publication's annual best and worst airline ranking, which excluded Avelo as well as other airlines in its coverage that did not meet the publication's size threshold).

About Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose  to Inspire Travel. The airline offers travelers time and money-saving convenience, everyday low fares, and a refreshingly smooth, caring and reliable travel experience. Operating a fleet of 16 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 Contact:

Madison Jones

[email protected]

*One-way fares include government taxes and fees. Fares start at $51 between LAS and BUR for travel between February 9, 2024 , and February 12, 2024 . Fares start at $51 between LAS and STS for travel between February 9, 2024 , and March 12, 2024 . Fares must be booked by February 5, 2024 . Advanced purchase required. Fares are available on a limited number of flights and seats. Additional fees for carry-on and checked bags, assigned seats and other optional services may apply. A $25 charge per seated traveler applies to all bookings or changes made through Avelo's Customer Support Center. For full terms and conditions, please see Avelo's Contract of Carriage.

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SOURCE Avelo Airlines
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb has named Seth Gillston Executive Vice President, Head of North America Industry Practices. In this role, Gillston will drive and lead overall strategy for Chubb's industry-focused initiatives, which include coordinated underwriting, risk engineering and claims services targeted to specific industries across various market segments.

Gillston will continue to serve as Private Equity Industry Practice Leader. He will be based in New York City and report to John Lupica , Vice Chairman, Chubb Group and President, North America Insurance.

"Seth's rich history with Chubb, including experience leading some of our Industry Practices over the years, positions him to succeed in his new role. The relationships he has built over more than two decades with our organization will allow him to advance these practices and primes them for future success," Lupica said. "Additionally, his strong underwriting acumen and knowledge of our diverse network of clients and distribution partners will be key to advancing the Industry Practices' growth and creating more comprehensive insurance solutions for our customers."

Chubb North America Industry Practices include Energy, Real Estate & Hospitality, Construction, Life Sciences, Financial Institutions, Transportation, Manufacturing, Technology, Healthcare and Private Equity. Gillston will partner with each Industry Practice Leader to align Chubb's large, middle and small commercial market segments, as well as its wholesale excess and surplus business line ( Westchester ), and Bermuda -based property and casualty insurance business to strengthen the company's best-in-class offerings for clients and our distribution partners across these industry sectors.

"Chubb has a deep history of being a leading carrier in industry-specific practices. I'm invigorated for this new role, so that I can further enhance the strategic direction of our Industry Practices. We want to align all of Chubb's resources through a market-specific lens. I look forward to working with each of our Industry Practice Leaders to expand our thought leadership, tailored underwriting products, and specialized service offering," Gillston said.

Gillston has 28 years of industry experience. He joined Chubb in 2000 and has held a number of leadership roles in M&A and Private Equity, Global Casualty, the Real Estate & Hospitality Practice and the Alternative Risk Solutions group. Gillston received his Bachelor of Science degree with a dual major in risk management and economics from Temple University.

About Chubb

Chubb is a world leader in insurance. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich , New York , London , Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 40,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com.

Chubb Insurance Company of Canada has offices in Toronto , Calgary , Montreal and Vancouver and provides its products and services through licensed insurance brokers across Canada . For additional information, visit: chubb.com/ca.

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SOURCE Chubb INA Holdings
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooper Trachtenberg Law Group Partner and Co-Founder, Attorney Miriam Cooper , has been selected for the 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers list. This is the 12th year Attorney Cooper has been named to Super Lawyers. She has, again been named to the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Illinois and Top 100 Lawyers in Illinois lists. Partner and Co-Founder, Helena L. Trachtenberg has also been selected to the Illinois Rising Stars for the 7th year in a row.

"This is a special day as we are completely honored to be acknowledged for the serious work we undertake on behalf of clients", notes Attorney Cooper . Additionally, "Super Lawyers is an achievement we are proud of, and we congratulate our friends who are included this year", notes Attorney Trachtenberg . To learn more about Super Lawyers and the 2024 annual designations visit: https://digital.superlawyers.com/superlawyers/ilsl24/

Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

The Cooper Trachtenberg Law Group offers a full array of family law services including litigated, mediated, and collaborative divorce strategies, prenuptial contracts, post-divorce decree modifications, real estate transaction legal services, and other family law legal services. All of the attorneys on the team are dedicated to offering personalized legal guidance and approaches designed to meet the specific needs of each client. As a local law practice, it is an honor to be a member of the business community caring for clients year-round. The practice maintains a headquarters office in Rolling Meadows and additional offices in Chicago's Loop and Lincolnshire, Illinois .

For more information visit: Mcooperlaw.com

Press Contact:

Rebecca Hoffman | Good Egg Concepts

[email protected]

Telephone: 312-282-4254

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SOURCE Cooper Trachtenberg Law Group, LLC
PHOENIX , Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cordia, a leading provider of safe, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions, today announced the financial closing on the three microgrids and district energy systems in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania , from Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG). The acquisition closed at $165 million .

The three energy systems included in the agreement are:

The Pittsburgh International Airport Microgrid , the first of its kind, which allows the airport to operate independent of the electric grid thanks to a 21.25 MW natural gas power plant, making PIT one of the most resilient airports.

the first of its kind, which allows the airport to operate independent of the electric grid thanks to a 21.25 MW natural gas power plant, making PIT one of the most resilient airports. The district energy system at Allegheny Health Network (AHN)  Wexford Hospital , which provides the 160-bed hospital with all heating, cooling, and primary power needs via steam boilers, hot water boilers, chillers, and a 2.0 MW natural gas generator, along with emergency backup power.

which provides the 160-bed hospital with all heating, cooling, and primary power needs via steam boilers, hot water boilers, chillers, and a 2.0 MW natural gas generator, along with emergency backup power. The Allegheny County District Energy System, which provides efficient and resilient steam and hot water services to six government buildings including the Allegheny County Courthouse and City-County Building , using seven state-of-the-art steam boilers and one domestic water heater.

"We are excited to announce the successful completion of the acquisition of three cutting-edge energy systems in Allegheny County ," said Cordia CEO Earl Collins . "These strategic acquisitions not only strengthen Cordia's presence in the Pittsburgh region but also emphasizes our commitment to supporting critical institutions with efficient and sustainable energy solutions."

The acquisition expands the firm's presence in the Pittsburgh region where it currently operates energy systems in Pittsburgh's Uptown and North Shore neighborhoods, and the on-campus energy system for Duquesne University. Cordia's assets have been operating in the region since 1964, and its existing investments in the area allow Cordia to deliver the most efficient solutions to its customers. This acquisition is a testament to Cordia's commitment to growing its regional presence and building on its existing customer base.

The three energy systems were developed by Essential subsidiary Peoples, leveraging Southwestern Pennsylvania's abundance of natural gas to deliver safer, more reliable and more resilient energy to some of the region's most critical institutions. All three began operating in 2021.

"These innovative projects demonstrate the ability of natural gas to meet all the energy needs of major institutions, such as Pittsburgh International Airport and their groundbreaking microgrid," said Essential Utilities CEO Chris Franklin . "I'm proud of our team's work to develop these systems. Essential and Peoples will continue to support projects that provide resilient, sustainable energy to Western Pennsylvania ."

"I want to extend my gratitude to Essential Utilities, Inc. and Peoples for their role in developing these state-of-the-art energy systems," continued Collins. "Cordia remains committed to providing safer, more reliable, and more resilient energy to our community. We are enthusiastic about the positive impact these systems will have on the region and are confident in our ability to continue delivering exceptional energy solutions for years to come."

About Cordia

Cordia is a leading provider of safe, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions. Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ , Cordia serves over 700 customers with heating, cooling, and electricity throughout the U.S. Cordia is committed to driving change toward a more resilient, sustainable energy future and empowering people and communities to reach their full potential. Learn more at www.cordiaenergy.com.

About Essential

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 9 states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Learn more at www.essential.co.

About Peoples

Peoples provides clean, safe, affordable and reliable natural gas service to approximately 740,000 homes and businesses in Western Pennsylvania and Kentucky . Peoples is committed to its customers, its employees, the environment, and to the regions it serves.

Cordia Media Contact: Essential/Peoples Media Contact: Jenny Disbrow Nick Paradise External Communications Manager External Communications Manager 480.209.9727 Media Hotline: 1.877.325.3477 jenny,[email protected] [email protected]

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SOURCE Cordia
CALGARY, AB , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is pleased to announce the schedule dates for its historic Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour, which will kick off April 24 at the company's global headquarters in Calgary, Alta. and culminate June 4 in Mexico City . The tour will bring the story of CPKC's uniquely North American railway history and compelling future to life for rail fans and visitors as it travels across CPKC's network.

"Our combination on April 14, 2023 , brought together two railroads with long and proud histories that together created the first and only railroad network connecting North America ," said Keith Creel , CPKC President and CEO. "This special cross-continental journey of the 2816 steam locomotive serves as a reminder of our past and a celebration of our future. We are excited to share this extraordinary experience with communities across our network as we mark the one-year anniversary of our CPKC journey. The Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour will be the first ever steam-powered passenger train in North America to traverse Canada , the U.S. and Mexico in a single trip."

The Empress 2816, a 4-6-4 Hudson-type steam locomotive built in 1930, will make 11 stops between Calgary and Mexico City :

Calgary, Alta. | April 24

Moose Jaw, Sask. | April 28

| Minot, N.D. | April 30

St. Paul, Minn. | May 3

Franklin Park, Ill. | May 8

| Davenport, Iowa | May 10

| Kansas City, Mo. | May 18

Shreveport, La.| May 24

Laredo, Texas | May 28

| Monterrey, Mexico | May 31

| Mexico City, Mexico | June 4

Public events will be held in multiple cities across the network, kicking off in Calgary on April 24 . Steam tour events will be held in Moose Jaw , Minot, St. Paul , Franklin Park , Davenport , Kansas City , Shreveport, and Laredo . At these stops, the public will have the opportunity to see the 2816 up close, learn more about the locomotive and CPKC's history and enjoy the Puffer Belly Express mini-train, a quarter scale steam locomotive model. In Mexico City , the 2816 will be spotted for public display.

For more information and to view the full schedule, visit www.cpkcr.com/en/community/final-spike-steam-train.

About CPKC

With its global headquarters in Calgary, Alta. , Canada , CPKC is the first and only single-line transnational railway linking Canada , the United States and Mexico, with unrivaled access to major ports from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of Mexico to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. Stretching approximately 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpkcr.com to learn more about the rail advantages of CPKC.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cpkc-announces-2024-steam-tour-schedule-dates-302049702.html

SOURCE CPKC
TSX.V: DME

U.S. OTC: DMEHF

Frankfurt : QM01

VANCOUVER, BC , Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Desert Mountain Energy Corp. (the "Company" or " Desert Mountain ") (TSXV: DME) was not able to file its annual audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023 and its related MD&A, and chief executive officer and chief financial officer certifications in respect of the foregoing, as well as its statement of reserves data and other oil and gas information, report on reserves data by an independent qualified reserves evaluator or auditor, report of management and directors on oil and gas disclosure and notice of filing of 51-101F1 information (collectively, the "Required Filings"), by the prescribed filing deadline of January 29, 2024 (the "Filing Deadline").

The Company made an application to the British Columbia Securities Commission for a temporary management cease trade order ("MCTO") under National Policy 12-203  Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203"). The MCTO was granted today. The MCTO restricts all trading in securities of the Company, whether direct or indirect, by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The issuance of the MCTO does not generally affect the ability of persons who are not directors, officers or other insiders of the Company to trade in securities of the Company.

The Company anticipates that it will be a position to remedy the default by filing the Required Filings no later than March 29, 2024 . The MCTO will be in effect until the Required Filings are filed.

The Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines set out in Sections 9 and 10 of NP 12-203 so long as the Required Filings are outstanding, and to issue bi-weekly default status updates.

ABOUT DESERT MOUNTAIN ENERGY

Desert Mountain Energy Corp. is a publicly traded resource company primarily focused on the exploration, development and production of helium, hydrogen, natural gas and condensate. The Company is focused on helium extraction from different raw gas sources in an environmental and economic manner supplying elements deemed critical to the renewable energy and high technology industries.

We seek safe harbor

"Robert Rohlfing"

Robert Rohlfing

Exec Chairman & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in polices of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The statements made in this press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ from the Company's expectations.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward looking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding the Company's anticipated performance in the future the planned exploration activities, receipt of positive results from drilling, the completion of further drilling and exploration work, and the timing and results of various activities.

Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, changes in national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and the United States ; financial risks due to helium prices, operating or technical difficulties in exploration and development activities; risks and hazards and the speculative nature of resource exploration and related development; risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Company's title to properties.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the continued operation of the Company's exploration operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company does not intend to, and nor does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

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SOURCE Desert Mountain Energy Corp.
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dover (NYSE: DOV) announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Bulloch Technologies, Inc. ("Bulloch"), a provider of point-of-sale ("POS"), forecourt controller, and electronic payment server solutions to the convenience retail industry for CAD150 million , subject to customary adjustments and with additional contingent consideration tied to future growth of the business. Bulloch will become part of the Dover Fueling Solutions ("DFS") operating unit within Dover's Clean Energy and Fueling segment.

Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario , Bulloch is a leading supplier of POS and related digital solutions and services to the convenience retail industry in Canada serving many of the largest retailers in the country. The company processes over $35 billion in sales and 520 million transactions annually at 7,000 sites throughout Canada .

Speaking about the acquisition, DFS's President, David Crouse , said, "The acquisition of Bulloch is highly strategic for DFS and expands our offering in North America with highly complementary point-of-sale and forecourt solutions. POS systems are central to the operation of convenience retail and enable multiple innovative loyalty and commercial technologies available through DFS' Wayne dispensers. DFS will support Bulloch's expansion in the U.S. market leveraging our sales channels and service infrastructure and we look forward to offering our customers world-class end-to-end solutions in 2024."

"This transaction has all the hallmarks of a successful bolt-on acquisition, which are integral to Dover's growth strategy. It adds an attractive digital and recurring revenue stream to DFS in a growing market where customers are increasingly digitizing their operations and payment security and compliance standards are continually increasing. Additionally, our strong presence in the U.S. convenience retail industry offers credible growth and synergy opportunities to support attractive shareholder value-creation."

About Dover:

Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of over $8 billion . We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy & Fueling, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Climate & Sustainability Technologies. Dover combines global scale with operational agility to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 65 years, our team of over 25,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois , Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com .

About DFS:

Dover Fueling Solutions (DFS) is a leading provider of advanced energy dispensing equipment, electronic automation and payment systems, automatic tank gauging and subscription solutions to fueling and convenience retail customers worldwide. Comprised of brands Wayne Fueling Systems, Tokheim, OPW Fuel Management Systems, ClearView, ProGauge, Fairbanks, AvaLAN Networks and LIQAL, DFS is dedicated to offering a broad range of solutions that power vehicles, including conventional fuel and clean energy products that support gasoline, diesel, bio-diesel and ethanol as well as LNG, H2, LPG, CNG and EV chargers.

Headquartered in Austin, Texas , DFS has a strong global manufacturing and technology development presence, including facilities in Brazil , China , India , Italy , Poland , Belgium , the Netherlands , the United Kingdom and the United States .

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding the anticipated effects of the transaction. All statements in this document other than statements of historical fact are statements that are, or could be deemed, "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous important risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, general economic conditions and conditions in the particular markets in which we operate, changes in customer demand and capital spending, competitive factors and pricing pressures, our ability to develop and launch new products in a cost-effective manner, and our ability to realize synergies from newly acquired businesses. For details on the risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that may be contained herein, we refer you to the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 , and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. These documents are available from the SEC, and on our website, www.dovercorporation.com . The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contact: Media Contact: Jack Dickens Adrian Sakowicz Senior Director  Investor Relations Vice President  Communications (630) 743-2566 (630) 743-5039 [email protected] [email protected]

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SOURCE Dover
LAKEWOOD, Colo. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) opens its doors to not one, but four artists and the public on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. MST , including its Visiting Artist, Scholar & Designer (VASD) Program's guest artist, Catherine Haggarty .

Haggarty is the third speaker in RMCAD's VASD series, following Alex Da Corte and Pixar art director Deanna Marsigliese . The presentations provide RMCAD students and the public with the unique opportunity to hear from working artists, ask questions, and leave feeling inspired. The series will officially close with Esteban Cabeza de Baca on March 19, 2024 .

Haggarty is a Brooklyn-based artist known for painting and drawing domestic objects, spaces, and habits. Her talk, A Flexible Framework, will begin at 5:30 p.m. MST in RMCAD's Mary Harris Auditorium and via livestream. Her talk will accompany four exhibitions, including her own, titled Stay the Course.

Attendees are encouraged to come early and stay late following Haggarty's talk for refreshments as they explore song of the dark by Lydia Farrell , West of Federal by Esteban Cabeza de Baca , and Laundry by Nicole Cassidy .

About RMCAD

Founded in 1963, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is an accredited institution of higher education that offers degree programs focused on the arts, design, education, technology, and business. RMCAD serves its students from a 23-acre campus in Lakewood, Colorado , but also virtually, as a leader in online education for more than a decade. RMCAD offers courses taught by practicing industry professionals; an intimate learning environment; multimedia-rich online classes; and a beautiful historic campus. The school strives to allow artists and designers to find their voice, discover their own paths, and thrive as professionals.

Contact:

Jenna Heil

jheil@rmcad.edu

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SOURCE Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
RIYADH, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) signed Wednesday an agreement to pave the way for hosting the 16th session of the Convention's Conference of the Parties (COP16) in the Saudi capital Riyadh from Dec. 2 to 13.

The Riyadh COP16 will be the largest-ever meeting of UNCCD's 197 parties, the first of its kind to be held in the Middle East, and the largest multilateral conference ever hosted by Saudi Arabia, according to a UNCCD press release.

At the signing ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and UNCCD COP16 President Abdulrahman Al-Fadley said hosting the conference in the kingdom reflects the commitment to environmental protection at the national, regional, and international levels.

UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw expected the Riyadh COP16 to be "a turning point in the way we treat our most precious resource, land, and collectively tackle the global drought emergency."

The Riyadh COP16 will focus on mobilizing governments, businesses, and communities worldwide to accelerate action on land restoration and building resilience against drought for food, water, and energy security. 
New Branding Reflects Company's Growing Role as a Leading Partner to Global Beauty and Personal Care Brands

DALLAS , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodier Cosmetics announced today it has rebranded to Goodier (or "the Company") to reflect the Company's evolution into a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization ("CDMO") for global beauty and personal care brands. Over its 100-year existence, Goodier has grown to become a reliable strategic and product development partner, delivering clinically efficacious performance skincare products and brand support services to its customers.

Greg Torchiana , President of Goodier, said, "We are thrilled to unveil our new brand, which recognizes Goodier as a CDMO+. We are a true partner to our customers, helping them build market-leading products and offering cutting-edge business solutions that allow them to grow brand value, revenue, market share, and profitability. The Goodier name is known for innovative skincare formulations, and we're looking forward to building on our 100+ year reputation of adding significant value to our customers."

Goodier's specialized skincare formulations incorporate the latest ingredients and technologies. The Company develops and manufactures OTC and medical-grade skincare, scalp and hair care, and body and personal care products, as well as 510k topical medical devices, taking these products from concept to saleable, finished goods.

"As a partner to indie, emerging, and established skincare brands, Goodier provides turnkey services ranging from custom manufacturing and innovative R&D to trend forecasting and supply chain guidance," said Rensl Dillon, Vice President, R&D and Innovation. "We're excited for the Goodier name to become synonymous with boosting and driving the performance of top brands."

Goodier is backed by leading middle-market private equity firm Gryphon Investors ("Gryphon"). Under Gryphon's ownership, Goodier has professionalized its management team, scaled to 140,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities, and expanded its base of in-market formulas to number more than 600. The Company now collaborates with four of the five market-leading physician-dispensed skincare brands.

Eddie Douglas , Managing Director in Gryphon's Consumer Group, noted, "Goodier stands out as a world-class supplier of customer-centric, creative solutions that build quality companies. We are proud to support the Company under its new brand as it continues to differentiate itself with market-leading capabilities."

In conjunction with the new name, Goodier has launched a new website (www.goodierlabs.com) that showcases its vision, history and accomplishments, along with a tagline  We Formulate Success  that underlines its value proposition. Using the theme Bring, Build and Boost, the site explores Goodier's value proposition and its role as a brand partner.

About Goodier

Founded in 1922 and headquartered in Dallas, TX , Goodier is a premier Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) delivering cutting-edge business solutions to clinically efficacious performance skincare brands. The company offers product development and formulation along with manufacturing capabilities and a suite of brand-support services. As a CDMO, Goodier partners with established and emerging brands active in various distribution channels, including physician-dispensed, medspas, boutique retailers, and DTC e-Commerce. Goodier collaborates with four of the five market-leading physician-dispensed skincare brands. For more information, visit www.goodierlabs.com.

About Gryphon Investors

Gryphon Investors (www.gryphoninvestors.com) is a leading middle-market private equity firm focused on profitably-growing and competitively-advantaged companies in the Business Services, Consumer, Healthcare, Industrial Growth, and Software sectors. With approximately $9 billion of assets under management, Gryphon prioritizes investments in which it can form strong partnerships with founders, owners, and executives to accelerate the building of leading companies and generate enduring value through its integrated deal and operations business model. Gryphon's highly-differentiated model integrates its well-proven Operations Resources Group, which is led by full-time, Gryphon senior operating executives with general management, human capital acquisition and development, treasury, finance, and accounting expertises. Gryphon's three core investment strategies include its Flagship, Heritage, and Junior Capital strategies, each with dedicated funds of capital. The Flagship and Heritage strategies target equity investments of $50 million to $350 million per portfolio company. The Junior Capital strategy targets investments in junior securities of credit facilities, arranged by leading middle-market lenders, in both Gryphon-controlled companies, as well as in other private equity-backed companies operating in Gryphon's targeted investment sectors.

Contact:

Joseph Evans

512-653-7597

[email protected]

or

Caroline Luz

203-570-6462

[email protected]

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SOURCE Gryphon Investors
The project is scheduled to open in 2026.

MADRID , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- During the 44th edition of the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR 2024), held in Madrid, Spain , Grupo Puntacana announced the development of its next hotel project in Playa Serena Puntacana Resort , a unique proposal in ultra-luxury tourism.

The Playa Serena hotel will be a project where nature meets luxury and exclusivity. It will have capacity for 160 guests, 75 suites, 5 overwater villas, 1 beach club, 3 restaurants, 1 themed restaurant, 1 beach restaurant, 4 bars and 8 spa bungalows. It is projected to open in 2026.

The announcement was made by Grupo Puntacana executives Frank Elias Rainieri, CEO; Paola Rainieri , Chief Marketing Officer; and Francesca Rainieri , Chief Financial Officer; accompanied by Frank Rainieri , founder and Chairman of the Board of Grupo Puntacana; and Haydee Rainieri, member of the Board of Grupo Puntacana.

"The Playa Serena hotel will elevate the hospitality experience at Puntacana Resort . We are very excited, as it is a new concept that will drive the Dominican Republic's tourism industry for years to come," said Frank Elias Rainieri, CEO of Grupo Puntacana.

In addition, Grupo Puntacana signed an agreement with Melia Hotels International with the Bergantin Trust, and the support of Banreservas, for the construction of the third hotel within the tourism project being developed in Puerto Plata , Dominican Republic .

The hotel to be built in Puerto Plata is planned as a 300-room five-star establishment, managed under the Melia Hotels & Resorts brand. It will also include the management of a 100-apartment condohotel. The estimated investment of the project would exceed US$70 million and the opening would be scheduled for 2026.

For more information:

https://www.grupopuntacana.com.do/en/

www.puntacana.com

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SOURCE Grupo Puntacana
Owners, Levi and Cassi Torres will host the community at a celebration this Saturday

DENVER , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- High 5 Plumbing , a family-owned and operated plumbing company serving residents in the greater Denver metropolitan area, has officially opened its doors at its new state-of-the-art headquarters. The company will host a grand opening celebration this Saturday, Feb. 3 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at its new headquarters located at 15710 W. Colfax Ave in Golden, CO.

The grand opening will feature raffles, giveaways, free food trucks, games, office tours, and live music from Kash'd Out beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Designed with future growth in mind, the new office space boasts a podcasting room, high-tech training room which seats up to 56 people, and a new materials room staged with grab-and-go crates for each technician, providing for a more efficient workflow.

"This new office space is a culmination of a lot of hard work and grit," said Levi Torres , co-owner of High 5 Plumbing. "It's been on our vision board for over five years and to see it come to fruition is truly a dream come true. Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion, which is one of our mottos here at High 5 Plumbing. This office space is evidence that having vision matters. We're positioned for future growth, and we're excited about the opportunities that will bring."

Upon entry, customers, vendors and staff are greeted with the new High 5 gear wall. Some of the proceeds from the sale of High 5 gear go to support their nonprofit of the month, which this month is Step Denver . Anyone from the community is welcome to come and shop.

Except for a warehouse located in Littleton that houses larger supplies, Torres is pleased to have all departments of High 5 now under one roof. Each area of the office was intentionally designed to provide each department with room to increase their creativity and improve workflows and office efficiency. The new headquarters is poised for growth with several offices and workspaces built out for future staff.

"We deliberately designed the new headquarters to be a positive workspace ensuring our employees genuinely enjoy coming to work every day," said Cassi Torres , co-owner of High 5 Plumbing. "From our High 5 Cares wall displaying all the nonprofits we support to our staff break room designed to feel like you're going home for lunch, we all look forward to coming into work."

To learn more about High 5 Plumbing, visit https://high5plumbing.com/ .

About High 5 Plumbing

Founded in 2012, High 5 Plumbing is a local, family-owned company serving residents in the greater Denver metropolitan area. With a professional team that has extensive experience and a commitment to service, High 5 Plumbing offers comprehensive plumbing, sewer and drain services. The company was built on the values of solving plumbing problems and serving every customer with professionalism and respect. For more information about High 5 Plumbing, visit https://www.high5plumbing.com/ .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

(865) 977-1973

[email protected]

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SOURCE High 5 Plumbing
TORONTO , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hivello, at the cutting edge of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN), has announced an upsized funding round, raising an additional USD $1.5 million and bringing the total raised in the prior 4 weeks to USD $2.5 million .

This influx of capital is a testament to the confidence the market places in Hivello's mission to democratize access to decentralized infrastructure. The extended round attracted a roster of eminent new investors, including Blockchange ( USA ), Cypher Capital, MH Ventures, Primal Capital, Contango Digital Assets, and Candaq, joining industry leaders NGC, Blockchain Founders Fund, IDG, and others from the prior pre-seed investment round.

Domenic Carosa , Chairman and Co-Founder of Hivello, commented on the expanded round: "The incredible surge in demand we've seen from investors confirms the pressing need for accessible decentralized infrastructure. The decision to upsize our round allows us to accelerate our mission and bolster our platform ahead of schedule. We are honored by the commitment shown by both new and returning investors who share our vision for the future of DePIN."

The additional funds will enable Hivello to expand its technological capabilities, expedite product development, and strengthen its market position as a leader in DePIN services.

We live in a world where our most expensive assets are not always fully utilized, said Ken Seiff , Managing Partner of Blockchange Ventures. The internet helped us optimize our cars and our homes - but much more can be done. The blockchain is ideally suited to utilize the massive number of computers across the globe. Working together, these machines can rival the largest cloud providers, allowing owners to monetize without any of the capital expenditure. We are excited to back the great founders of Hivello, which is helping owners generate and optimize revenue by redirecting computation and other digital resources to its highest and best use case.

This funding round, both original and extended, showcases the high conviction investors have in Hivello's team and the DePIN industry's potential. As Hivello prepares for an eventful year following its successful technology launch, the company is well-positioned to make a significant impact on the global stage of decentralized services.

"Hivello more than doubling their round in only 4 weeks is a testament to the strength of their team and mission - it's great to see other big-name investors backing this innovative company," said Tobias Bauer , Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund.

For more information about Hivello's offerings and future developments, please visit www.hivello.com.

About Hivello:

Hivello, led by distinguished blockchain payment solution pioneers, is dedicated to transforming the accessibility of decentralized services globally. As a leader in the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) sector, Hivello stands at the vanguard of democratizing access to decentralized infrastructure.

Contact:

Domenic Carosa

Co-Founder & Chairman

Hivello Holdings Ltd

[email protected]

+61 411 19 69 79

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SOURCE Hivello
CHARLOTTE, N.C. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyperlocology, the leading multi-location advertising platform for franchise brands, proudly announces a collaboration with UCLA Anderson School of Management. This collaboration offers students, as part of their Capstone project, a unique opportunity to contribute to the improvement and development of cutting-edge machine-learning models seamlessly integrated into Hyperlocology's application.

The partnership capitalizes on the wealth of proprietary, brand-specific, location-level advertising and consumer habit data from the top digital advertising channels as well as third party local insights. Under the guidance of industry experts, UCLA Anderson students are tasked with creating and testing bespoke models in predicting user behavior based on diverse inputs. This initiative plays a pivotal role in refining Hyperlocology's application, enabling it to anticipate user behavior at the individual location level with unprecedented accuracy.

The machine-learning models developed through this collaboration are dynamic and designed for regular updates. This ensures sustained accuracy as new data emerges, reflecting Hyperlocology's commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation in the field.

Patrick Pleiss , Co-founder of Hyperlocology, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "Teaming up with a prestigious institution like UCLA Anderson has been a pleasure. This collaboration not only provides students with challenging real-world experience but also contributes to advancing Hyperlocology's best-in-class AI capabilities. It's a win-win scenario, fostering innovation and excellence."

The collaboration with UCLA Anderson School of Management aligns with Hyperlocology's commitment to fostering education, innovation, and the practical application of machine learning to help local advertising efforts with data-informed predictions and suggestions. By engaging with students at a leading academic institution, Hyperlocology aims to push the boundaries of what's possible in predicting and understanding user behavior.

For more information about Hyperlocology and its innovative solutions, please visit hyperlocology.com.

Media contact: lauren@hyperlocology.com

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SOURCE Hyperlocology
Leveraging Infosys Topaz and Infosys Cobalt to help automate Musgrave's IT operations in Ireland and across Europe

BENGALURU, India , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY), (BSE: INFY), (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced that it has signed a seven-year strategic collaboration with Musgrave, Ireland's leading food retail, wholesale and foodservice company. As part of this collaboration, Infosys will help automate Musgrave's IT operations by leveraging its industry leading AI and Cloud offerings, Infosys Topaz, an AI-first set of services, solutions and platforms using generative AI technologies, and Infosys Cobalt, a set of services, solutions and platforms for enterprises to accelerate their cloud journey.

These offerings from Infosys will enable Musgrave in transforming its IT operations, build technical expertise, and help Musgrave accelerate towards its goals of enhancing the experiences of its customers and retail partners.

Through its Cognitive First framework, Infosys will aim to enable digital experiences and boost operational efficiencies by integrating artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), knowledge management, and cognitive automation capabilities to amplify enterprise intelligence across the value chain for Musgrave.

Stephen Mckenna , Chief Technology Officer, Musgrave, said, "I am delighted by our recently announced collaboration with Infosys, which will enable us to leverage Infosys' expertise and resources to deliver innovative solutions to all our customers and retail partners. Musgrave has always been committed to providing our customers with the best possible service, and this collaboration is a testament to that commitment. We are confident that this collaboration will result in new and exciting products and services that will benefit all our customers."

Karmesh Vaswani, EVP & Global Head Retail, Consumer Goods & Logistics, Infosys, said, "We are thrilled to embark on this transformative journey with Musgrave. Through our strategic collaboration, we aim to enable Musgrave in transforming its IT operations, help enhance user experiences, and accelerate strategic initiatives. Our technological solutions enable Musgrave's digital transformation agenda for the future. This collaboration will further strengthen our presence and propel our growth in Ireland ."

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/633365/4364085/Infosys_Logo.jpg

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SOURCE Infosys
ROCK HILL, S.C. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Insignia Group, LC, the leading provider of digital accessory-selling solutions for the automotive industry, announced today that it has hired Chris Selland as its new president.

Selland is an expert in strategy and business development. He has more than 30 years of experience in leading and growing software and technology companies, both as an interim and fractional Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). He will be responsible for leading Insignia Group's growth strategy, expanding its customer base, and driving innovation in its product portfolio.

"I'm thrilled to join Insignia Group at this exciting time in its history," says Selland. "Insignia Group has a proven track record of delivering value to its customers, partners, and employees. I look forward to working with the talented team at Insignia Group to accelerate its growth and leadership in the accessories digital retailing market."

David Stringer , founder and CEO, says, "Chris is a seasoned leader with a wealth of experience and expertise in the software and technology industry. He has a strong vision and passion for building successful businesses and customer relationships. I am confident that he will be a great asset to Insignia Group, who will help us achieve our goals and vision for the future."

About Insignia Group

Insignia Group is the leading provider of digital accessory selling platforms in the showroom and online. Through partnerships with major digital retailers, Insignia Group enables dealers to sell accessories to their customers with custom pricing, no matter where the customer is shopping. Insignia Group has been serving dealerships nationwide and abroad for more than 20 years.

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SOURCE Insignia Group, LC
STOCKHOLM , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New Wave Group AB is pleased to invite investors, analysts and media to its Capital Markets Day on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 .

The presentations will be about New Wave Group's market position, growth agenda, product offering and sustainability work. Presentations will be held by the CEOs of the group's subsidiaries and mainly include the brands Craft, Clique, James Harvest , Printer and Cutter & Buck as well as a presentation on the group's sustainability work. The group's latest acquisition - Tenson AB - will also hold a presentation. Craft is also pleased to welcome AGF Aarhus, new partner club from 1 July 2024 , as presenter.

The presentations will be held in English. The agenda and more detailed information will be published on the New Wave Group website closer to the event.

The Capital Markets Day will be held in New Wave Group's showroom at Barnhusgatan 16 in Stockholm and the presentations will start at 10.00am . The day is expected to end at 4.30pm and then participants are invited to light refreshments and a Gin and Beer tasting from Kosta Distillery and Kosta Brewery.

The number of physical places is limited. Please register your participation (physical or link) to the presentations and whether you will attend the refreshments and tastings by sending an email to [email protected] no later than February 14 .

CONTACT

New Wave Group AB

[email protected]

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/932/3920175/2574998.pdf Press release (PDF)

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SOURCE New Wave Group
ODENTON, Md. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Two leading national away-from-home sales and marketing agencies, KeyImpact Sales and Systems (KeyImpact) and Waypoint have formed the preeminent foodservice agency in North America and will be named Acxion Foodservice (www.acxion.com).

Acxion (pronounced "action") has an exclusive focus on foodservice with comprehensive food and non-food sales, marketing, culinary and analytics capabilities throughout North America . The combination will provide seamless connectivity, a range of solutions and unmatched customer reach to clients.

"This partnership, fueled by the best talent in the industry, allows us to leverage our expertise, strengthen our foundation in foodservice and drive results for our clients," says Dan Dougherty , co-CEO of Acxion Foodservice.

Co-CEO Neil Johnson says, "We are bringing the best of both agencies together to deliver industry-leading services that foster innovation and growth."

The combination includes a continued strategic partnership with Advantage Solutions Inc., a leading provider of sales and marketing services to consumer goods manufacturers and retailers, which will continue to offer services to the retail divisions of Acxion clients.

Acxion's clients include leading foodservice manufacturers, suppliers, operators and distributors. Acxion employs the industry's leading segment experts, researchers, strategists, culinarians, creatives, data analysts and digital and media specialists. Its comprehensive solutions allow Acxion to activate client business goals and create demand while delivering profitable growth and long-term success.

The powerful business combination is a result of the acquisition of the foodservice sales and marketing division of Advantage Solutions, including Waypoint, Ettinger-Rosini, Primeline, Coleman Greear & Associates, Halverson, Marlin Connections and CSSI. These business units possess deep capabilities, including sales brokerage representation for food, packaging, equipment, and janitorial-sanitation clients. Additionally, the collection of offerings provides research, marketing, communications, culinary and content expertise.

Advantage Solutions will maintain a minority ownership stake and have a seat on Acxion's Board, which will allow Advantage to benefit from the agency's growth and omnichannel offerings.

The business will be led by co-CEOs who each previously served as the leader of their prior agencies. Dan Dougherty will lead Sales and Marketing and Neil Johnson will lead Operations and Administration. The co-CEO partnership will deliver to their clients outstanding service, unmatched business plan execution and accountability. Acxion will continue to invest in capabilities that are critical priorities for foodservice suppliers, including unparalleled access to the Non-Commerical, Regional Chain, K-12 education, Military and Convenience Store segments. Acxion will drive performance in these segments through its industry-leading reach, data capture, insights and analytical capabilities.

Marlin Connections and CSSI will continue to provide full-service marketing strategy, branding, creative and media capabilities alongside comprehensive culinary innovation and national account sales support to manufacturers. The Halverson Group's strategic analytics team will maintain its focus on solving complex business and marketing issues with insights gained from applying advanced technology, data visualization tools, and custom statistical techniques to provide unparalleled solutions to clients' most challenging problems.

CG Sawaya Partners (operating under Canaccord Genuity) served as exclusive financial advisor to Acxion with respect to the transaction.

About KeyImpact

Formed in 2000, through the merger of Key Brokerage in New Jersey and Impact Sales in Maryland , KeyImpact has grown to become a leading foodservice sales and marketing agency in the United States . KeyImpact represents manufacturers of food, as well as packaging and supplies, and provides sales and marketing services to distributors and operators across all segments of the foodservice trade channel.

About Waypoint

Waypoint is a national sales, marketing and culinary agency representing leading brands that enjoy top positions in their categories within the foodservice and non-foods industry. They are a seamless and flexible extension of their clients, unmatched in market research and business intelligence. They bridge the gap between manufacturers and the comprehensive evolving foodservice marketplace.

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SOURCE KEYIMPACT SALES & SYSTEMS, INC.
NEW YORK , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Postal Service today celebrated the remarkable contributions of Judge Constance Baker Motley (19212005), a civil rights pioneer and judiciary trailblazer, as the 47th honoree in the Black Heritage stamp series.

A dedication ceremony for the stamp was held today at the Constance Baker Motley Recreation Center in New York .

News about the stamps is being shared with the hashtags #ConstanceBakerMotley and #BlackHeritageStamps. A video will be posted two hours after the ceremony providing more information and insights into the stamp on the Postal Service's Facebook and Twitter pages at facebook.com/USPS and twitter.com/usps.

" Judge Motley was a brilliant legal strategist who conquered adversities, helped dismantle legal segregation, and served as a role model and mentor for those who followed in her footsteps," said Anton G. Hajjar , a member of the USPS Board of Governors. "Her tireless work and unwavering dedication impacted nearly every touchpoint of the 20th-century civil rights movement. The United States Postal Service is privileged to honor Judge Motley on the 47th Black Heritage Series stamp."

Joining Hajjar for the ceremony were master of ceremonies Gloria Browne-Marshall , professor of constitutional law at the City University of New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY); Sue Donoghue , commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation; Constance Royster , niece of Constance Baker Motley; Charly Palmer , stamp artist; Sherrilyn Ifill , the Vernon Jordan distinguished professor of civil rights and former president and direct counsel of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense Fund; William Kuntz II, U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of New York ; and Gillian Lester , dean and Lucy G. Moses professor of law at Columbia Law School.

"It never felt like hers was a household name among the giants of the civil rights movement, or easily associated with landmark cases or clients, when in fact she was," said Royster. "Behind familiar names like James Meredith , Charlayne Hunter Gault , Judy Heumann , Melissa Ludke and many others was a great servant of the law Constance Baker Motley."

Also, participating in the stamp dedication ceremony were vocalists Craigg Stagg and Anahera Smith-McDaniel.

The stamp features a portrait of Motley by artist Charly Palmer , based on an Associated Press photograph. Rendered in acrylic on canvas work, the portrait displays elements of Palmer's signature style: Stenciled circular shapes around the head that suggest royalty, and the heavy brushstrokes and scratches that provide added textures. Stenciled curlicues embellish the lower background and blend into Motley's black dress. Her colorful corsage and a brooch further enliven the image.

The Constance Baker Motley stamp is a Forever stamp issued in panes of 20. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1ounce price.

Background

Constance Baker Motley was the first African American woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court and the first to serve as a federal judge. A master legal tactician, Motley played a key role in knocking down legal segregation.

She started her career in 1945 when she began working for the future U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense and Education Fund (LDF). She would stay 20 years, rising to associate counsel, second from the top.

While at the LDF she sued the University of Mississippi on behalf of James Meredith , who had been refused entrance, and the state of Mississippi on behalf of "Freedom Riders," who had been jailed while testing the interstate transportation laws. She also represented Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr., after he was arrested for marching in Birmingham, Alabama , in spring 1963. Motley worked on about 60 cases that reached the Supreme Court. She won nine of the 10 cases she argued before the Court.

Motley and her colleagues often faced danger and disrespect as they challenged the entrenched racist system of the South. She also experienced sexism at a time when lawyers were a rarity.

In 1966, Motley was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York  the largest and busiest federal trial court in the country. Despite her nominations being held up for seven months by Sen. James Eastland , a strident segregationist from Mississippi , Motley was sworn in on Sept. 9, 1966  the first African American woman on the federal bench. She rose to chief judge in 1982 and senior judge in 1986.

Motley was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001 by President Bill Clinton . She died on Sept. 28, 2005 .

Postal Products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon.

Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 167 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.

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usps.com/news

Local Contact: Xavier C. Hernandez

xavier.c.hernandez@usps.gov

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SOURCE U.S. Postal Service
Nauru President David Adeang lays a wreath at a war monument in Nauru, Jan. 31, 2024. Nauru held a ceremony to celebrate its 56th anniversary of independence on Wednesday. (Photo by Chen Guolong/Xinhua)

YAREN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Nauru held a ceremony on Wednesday to celebrate the 56th anniversary of independence.

"Fifty-six years ago, our forefathers embarked on a journey of sovereignty, asserting our right to self-determination and independence," Nauruan President David Adeang said at the ceremony outside the government office building.

"Today, we honor the legacy by not only reflecting on our past but also looking forward to the future," he said.

During the ceremony, Adeang also laid a wreath at the base of a war memorial in front of the government building.

A representative of World War II survivors, who are affectionately known as "Young at Hearts," gave a speech telling her wartime story.

Kiribati President Taneti Maamau, President of the Federated States of Micronesia Wesley Simina and Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa Tuala Ponifasio were among foreign guests.

Representative of the Chinese government Luo Zhaohui, head of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, was also present at the ceremony.

People from all walks of life in Nauru, including those from government departments, civil society organizations, local businesses and tribes, held a parade during the ceremony. 

Nauru President David Adeang attends the ceremony celebrating Nauru's 56th anniversary of independence in Nauru, Jan. 31, 2024. Nauru held a ceremony to celebrate its 56th anniversary of independence on Wednesday. (Photo by Chen Guolong/Xinhua)

People take part in a parade celebrating Nauru's 56th anniversary of independence in Nauru, Jan. 31, 2024. Nauru held a ceremony to celebrate its 56th anniversary of independence on Wednesday. (Photo by Chen Guolong/Xinhua)
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Debuts Four Brand New Mediterranean Expeditions Exclusive to National Geographic Orion

NEW YORK , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- National Geographic Orion will sail the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean for the 2025 summer season. To celebrate the ship's return to this stunning region, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic will debut four brand new Mediterranean itineraries, exploring the heritage-rich region like never before in the way only the global leader and pioneer of modern expedition cruising can.

Featuring 53 expertly appointed exterior-facing cabins, National Geographic Orion will traverse the Mediterranean in style. From Croatia's iconic Dalmatian Coast to the stunning cerulean seas along the Greek Isles, the intimately scaled National Geographic Orion will show travelers the Mediterranean from a new perspective, exploring remarkable islands and remarkable port cities.

"A Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic cultural expedition in the Mediterranean is a unique and holistic look at the region unlike any other; guests will step away from the crowds and immerse themselves in important mythical, historical and archeologic sites led by brilliant guideson board and locallywho will provide a window into the region," said Trey Byus , Chief Expedition Officer, Lindblad Expeditions. "You may have been on a Mediterranean cruise before, but you haven't really explored its iconic landscapes, rich culture and storied heritage until you've been with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic."

For more than 30 years, Lindblad Expeditions has been leading cultural expeditions along the iconic Mediterranean coasts. Combining decades of experience in the region with the unmatched expertise of National Geographic and some of the most knowledgeable expedition staff and crew in the industryincluding naturalists, historians, researchers, guest speakers, National Geographic Photography Experts on select departures, plus at least two local guides per sailingensures a journey of deep discovery, and promises guests a richer understanding of the region's history, culture and unique biodiversity.

During the 2025 summer season, National Geographic Orion will embark on 19 expeditions along the iconic Mediterranean coasts, including these four brand new itineraries, including:

Ancient Mediterranean Odyssey: Exploring Greece, Croatia , and Albania (Eight Days)

Over the course of eight days, guests will sail between Greece , Albania and Croatia , delving into ancient empires and their archaeological treasures, and visiting fascinating UNESCO World Heritage sites, from Delphi to Dubrovnik. Guided by studied historians and researchers, guests will journey through time through as they explore the enchanting Dalmatian Coast , with a rich maritime history that dates to the Venetian Empire; soak in the Ionian Sea's idyllic turquoise waters; and encounter the region's lesser-known gems, including outlying Croatian isles and vestiges of antiquity in Albania .

Treasures of the Adriatic: Croatia's Dalmatian Coast and Montenegro (Eight Days)

For eight days, guests will marvel at the wonders of Croatia and Montenegro , where aquamarine waters, lush isles, and Venetian towns converge on one of Europe's most enchanting rivieras. Explore the winding lanes of the medieval walled cities from Kotor to Dubrovnik, and travel inland to witness pristine nature reserves, including the waterfall-laced Plitvice Lakes National Park . Stepping off the beaten path, guests will engage with the region's rich cultural heritage through customs such as oyster farming, sword dancing and silk embroidery, learning about their importance from the people dedicated to preserving these timeless traditions.

Greek Isles Odyssey: Mythology, History, and Cerulean Seas (Eight Days)

Legends come to life in the Greek Isles, where sun-drenched shores hold ancient relics and rich traditions from one of the world's oldest civilizations. Guests will embark on an eight-day Aegean odyssey to discover Cycladic islands both storied and secret, from iconic Santorini to laid-back Naxos and Paros, and explore them from every angle guided by some of the industry's most experienced expedition leaders and naturaliststhrough mythology and archaeology, natural wonders and culinary delights. When guests aren't basking in the beauty of the volcanic shores and storied villages, they can jump into the Aegean's inviting turquoise waters for diving, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and more.

Crossroads of the Ancient World: Exploring Greece and Turkey (11 Days)

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic will return to Turkey as part of this brand new 11-day cultural expedition. Guests will journey along the magnificent isles and rocky coastlines of Greece and Turkey , where a melange of Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman influences ensures a fascinating journey through history. Led by an expert expedition team and leading naturalists, guests will explore glittering marble cities of the ancient world from Delos to Ephesus; stroll the timeless villages of the Cyclades; and soak up the rhythms of everyday life as they travel age-old trade routes along vibrant Aegean coastlines poised at the crossroads of the world.

Designed for exploration and equipped with best-in-class tools for discovery, when National Geographic Orion guests aren't enjoying private tours of historical landmarks or authentic, behind-the-scenes insights from local guides, they can enjoy water activities in the crystal-clear Mediterranean Sea , from snorkeling and kayaking to diving and paddleboarding. On board, with its spirited, outward-facing design, guests will be able to bask in the stunning vistas of the Mediterranean whether they're in the cabin or dining alfresco on one of the many open-air deck spaces.

To learn more about National Geographic Orion's return to the Mediterranean, visit www.expeditions.com/destinations/mediterranean-aboard-national-geographic-orion.

About Lindblad Expeditions :

Lindblad Expeditions reveals the beauty and wonder of the world by leading high quality, authentic and immersive travel to the world's most remarkable and wild places. In collaboration with National Geographic Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Expeditions is a co-brand that offers expeditions in 120+ destinations across all seven continents for curious and discerning travelers seeking to experience the world from a new perspective.

For reservations or additional information on voyages to some of the most beautiful, remote, and fascinating places on Earth, visit www.expeditions.com, call (855) 734-3271 to speak to an Expedition Specialist, or contact a travel advisor. Connect with Lindblad Expeditions on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.

About National Geographic Expeditions :

For more than 135 years, National Geographic Explorers have ventured across continents and into remote cultures, down to the oceans' depths and up the highest mountains to further their understanding of the world. National Geographic Expeditions builds upon this legacy, inviting travelers to embrace their inner explorer and encounter the wonders of the world firsthand  up close and in depth  and be inspired by the experience. With many ways to explore the world via Signature Land, Expedition Cruise, River Cruise , or Private Jet, National Geographic Expeditions gives travelers unparalleled access to the world through the eyes of knowledgeable Experts. Additionally, traveling with National Geographic Expeditions helps further the work of the global community of National Geographic Explorers around the world. Through every trip booked, travelers support the National Geographic Society's researchers and Explorers who work to preserve, protect, and advance our understanding of the planet.

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SOURCE Lindblad Expeditions
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker Waichman LLP comments on CNN reports that a highly anticipated, new government study indicates that military and civilian personnel who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina in the mid-1970s and '80s are more likely to be diagnosed with certain cancers compared with those stationed at a similar military base in California during the same period. These findings could lead to an expanded list of conditions for which veterans and civilian personnel who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune can potentially receive government compensation.

"... we went to Congress and worked hard to get legislation passed."

The study identified several cancers that had not previously been shown to be connected to the contamination at Camp Lejeune . Those included male breast cancer, all myeloid cancers, including a type of blood cancer called polycythemia vera, myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes (a group of disorders caused by blood cells that are not properly formed or do not work right), and cancers of the esophagus, voice box, thyroid, soft tissue, marginal B-cell lymphoma, and certain types of lung cancer.

Parker Waichman has been fighting for justice for the victims of Camp Lejeune since 2009 after an initial lawsuit filed on behalf of an injured civilian teacher at Camp Lejeune was rejected by court after court on a variety of legal grounds involving time limitations and the Feres doctrine. Parker Waichman turned to creating legislation to change those laws and the firm was thrilled when The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 was enacted as part of the broader Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, removing the barriers to earlier lawsuits that had been unsuccessful. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 paved the way for the filing of claims on behalf of our service members, their families, and civilians effected by the toxic water at Camp Lejeune .

Jerrold S. Parker , founding partner of Parker Waichman LLP stated: "We decided in 2009 to fight for these Marines and their families. When the courts declined to help these Camp Lejeune victims, we went to Congress and worked hard to get legislation passed, and we are honored to represent our servicemen and servicewomen."

If you, or someone you know, lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 and believe they have a related illness, please call 1-800-YOUR LAWYER or visit the firm's website at https://www.yourlawyer.com for a free consultation.

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SOURCE Parker Waichman LLP
Top industry executive brings expertise to Marcone's largest vertical

ST. LOUIS, Mo. , Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marcone Group, a leading national distributor of commercial kitchen, appliance, HVAC, plumbing and pool and spa parts and equipment, announced today that Randall Hudspeth is leading its HVAC division.

As President of Marcone HVAC, Hudspeth will continue building on the momentum behind growing the company's HVAC business. Marcone HVAC encompasses 12 distributors with 103 branches and five distribution centers, serving 18 U.S. states and Ontario, Canada .

"Randall brings a wealth of strategic, commercial and interpersonal leadership skills to Marcone, and we are thrilled to add him to the team," said Avichal Jain , Marcone's Chief Executive Officer. "He has demonstrated an ability to improve the customer experience across channels while building a culture grounded in taking great care of employees, so they take great care of customers."

Most recently, Hudspeth was Chief Commercial Officer for HVAC distributor Johnstone Supply-The Petit Group, where he previously was vice president of sales and marketing. He also has worked for distribution management company DXP Enterprises and construction manufacturer Hilti, honing his expertise while developing a commitment to customer service.

"Marcone HVAC is a wide-ranging operation with a plethora of growth opportunity," Hudspeth said. "I look forward to expanding on what this amazing team is already doing, while keeping Marcone at the forefront of the HVAC distribution industry for years to come."

Marcone Group has experienced tremendous growth through acquisition in recent years, moving into the HVAC, plumbing, pool and spa and commercial kitchen markets with a nationwide distribution network that promotes fast delivery. With nearly 200 locations in the U.S. and Canada , including distribution centers in most major metro areas, Marcone provides next-day ground delivery to 93% of the United States and 100% two-day delivery.

About Marcone

Marcone is the leading provider of premium solutions, parts and equipment for professionals serving customers on their appliance parts, HVAC, plumbing and commercial kitchen needs. Headquartered in St. Louis , Missouri, Marcone is a multi-billion-dollar enterprise operating out of 200 locations throughout North America . Offering unparalleled product breadth, know-how across our national footprint and ease of doing business via leading-edge technology, servicers prefer Marcone because we amplify what they do best: take great care of their clients with speed, reliability and accuracy. Learn more about Marcone at www.marcone.com.

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Davies

Marcone Group

Cell: 815.440.8768

[email protected]

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SOURCE Marcone
VANCOUVER, BC , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - New Pacific Metals Corp. (TSX: NUAG) (NYSE American: NEWP) ("New Pacific" or the "Company") is pleased to outline its 2024 plans for its operations in Bolivia .

Andrew Williams , President and CEO, states: "2024 is expected to be a pivotal year for New Pacific. At our Silver Sand project, we expect to deliver our Preliminary Feasibility Study by mid-year, enabling us to declare mineral reserves for the first time in our Company's history. Simultaneously, with several important initiatives underway, we continue our steady march towards submitting our Environmental Impact Assessment Study. At our Carangas project, we plan to build upon last year's inaugural mineral resource estimate, revealing conceptual economics through an anticipated mid-year release of a Preliminary Economic Assessment."

"In the past year at New Pacific, we have successfully added new project development capabilities while retaining our exploration capacity to strategically expand or reduce risk at our projects and capitalize on new opportunities as they arise. At our Silver Sand and Carangas projects we have made back-to-back greenfield silver discoveries in a country with a rich history of silver mining spanning 500 years. We have also curated a team of Bolivians who are energized to develop responsibly the country's next generation of great silver mines. With our balance sheet recently bolstered by a C$35 million financing, New Pacific has a strong growth foundation in a world with an increasing demand for silver."

Silver Sand Preliminary Feasibility Study

The Preliminary Feasibility Study (the "PFS") in respect of the Company's Silver Sand project is progressing as planned, with an expected delivery by mid-2024. Independent consultants AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd., NewFields Canada Mining & Environment ULC and Halyard Inc. are actively involved in completing the PFS. Significant milestones achieved include the completion of mine optimization, strategic phasing, processing flowsheet optimization, and tailings trade-off studies. Concurrently, ongoing efforts encompass strategic mine scheduling, tailings and site infrastructure design, and processing plant layout design. We expect the technical route to remain largely consistent with the Preliminary Economic Assessment in respect of the Silver Sand project (the "Silver Sand PEA Technical Report") published in January 2023 . Please see "Cautionary Note Regarding Results of Preliminary Economic Assessment". For more details on the Silver Sand PEA Technical Report, please refer to the Company's news releases dated February 16, 2023 and January 9, 2023 .

Silver Sand Permitting

In May 2023 , the Silver Sand project obtained its environmental categorization as a proposed open pit operation from Bolivia's Ministry of Environment and Water, formally commencing the Environmental Impact Assessment Study ("EEIA") process. The Company continues to advance its socialization process with communities located within the Silver Sand project's area of influence and collect wet and dry season environmental baseline data. In addition, the Company is establishing a development fund for sustainable development projects in partnership with local communities, demonstrating its long-term commitment to the region.

After completion of the socialization process, the Company plans to achieve the following:

1) obtain surface rights through long-term land lease agreements;

2) finalize a resettlement and compensation plan for impacted families; and

3) implement measures to safeguard cultural and historical heritage.

Integral to our pathway towards obtaining the EEIA, the Company is establishing a framework to coexist with artisanal and small-scale miners ("ASMs") in areas of the Silver Sand project that do not encroach on our mineral rights. New Pacific recognizes the importance of ASMs to the region's economic and political landscape and is committed to ensuring the shared benefits from a proposed modern mining operation, including access to milling capacity, technology, infrastructure, and capital, are realized. The Company is also undertaking measures, with the assistance of both local government authorities and external contractors, to address the presence of ASMs whose activities do not align with the development objectives of the Silver Sand project.

The Company is also pursuing compliance with the International Finance Corporation's eight performance standards for sustainable development, building on an assessment conducted with an independent consultant last year. This aligns with New Pacific's commitment to responsible mining while providing the ancillary benefit of positioning the project for development by the Company, or another party, upon successful completion of the EEIA process.

Silver Sand Mining Production Contract

The Company continues to engage with the Bolivia state mining corporation, Corporacion Minera de Bolivia (the "COMIBOL"), to obtain the ratification and approval of the signed Mining Production Contract (the "MPC") at the Silver Sand project by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia. The Company and COMIBOL have refined the MPC to concentrate exclusively on claims immediately adjacent to the Silver Sand project boundary. This streamlined landholding, while maintaining the core value of the MPC to the Silver Sand project, is anticipated to facilitate progress towards ratification and approval of the MPC.

Carangas Preliminary Economic Assessment

The Preliminary Economic Assessment in respect of the Company's Carangas project (the "Carangas PEA") remains on schedule for completion by mid-2024. The Company and its independent consultants are currently undertaking trade-off studies based on the Mineral Resource Estimate in respect of the Carangas project (the "Carangas MRE"). For more details on the Carangas MRE, please refer to the Company's news releases dated September 5, 2023 and September 18, 2023 . There are a variety of open pit mining options under review, all focusing on the higher-grade, near-surface starter pit at the Carangas project that can be mined at a lower strip ratio. Additionally, the Company is undertaking a metallurgical test program to enhance the processing flowsheet and gather valuable data to support the Carangas PEA.

Silverstrike Project

At the Company's Silverstrike project, exploration activities remain on standby as the Company focuses on the programs for the Silver Sand project and Carangas project, as outlined above.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Alex Zhang , P. Geo ., Vice President of Exploration (the "Qualified Person"), who is a qualified person (as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101")) for the purposes of NI 43-101. The Qualified Person has verified the information disclosed herein using standard verification processes, including the sampling, preparation, security and analytical procedures underlying such information, and is not aware of any significant risks and uncertainties or any limitations on the verification process that could be expected to affect the reliability or confidence in the information discussed herein.

About New Pacific

New Pacific is a Canadian exploration and development company with three precious metal projects in Bolivia . The Company's flagship Silver Sand project has the potential to be developed into one of the world's largest silver mines. The Company is also rapidly advancing its Carangas project towards a Preliminary Economic Assessment. For the Silverstrike project, the Company completed a discovery drill program in 2022.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Williams , CEO

New Pacific Metals Corp.

1750  1066 Hastings Street , Vancouver, BC V6E 3X1, Canada

U.S. & Canada toll-free: 1 (877) 631-0593

E-mail: [email protected]

For additional information and to receive the Company news by e-mail, please register using New Pacific's website at www.newpacificmetals.com

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING RESULTS OF PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT

The results of the preliminary economic assessment (the "PEA") contained in the Silver Sand PEA Technical Report, are preliminary in nature and are intended to provide an initial assessment of the Silver Sand Project's economic potential and development options. The PEA mine schedule and economic assessment includes numerous assumptions and is based on both indicated and inferred mineral resources. Inferred resources are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the project economic assessments described herein will be achieved or that the PEA results will be realized. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Additional exploration will be required to potentially upgrade the classification of the inferred mineral resources to be considered in future advanced studies. AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. ("AMC Consultants") (mineral resource, mining, infrastructure and financial analysis) was contracted to conduct the PEA in cooperation with Halyard Inc. (metallurgy and processing), and NewFields Canada Mining & Environment ULC (tailings, water and waste management). The qualified persons (as defined in NI 43-101) for the PEA for the purposes of NI 43-101 are Mr. John Morton Shannon , P.Geo , General Manage and Principal Geologist at AMC Consultants, Mr. Wayne Rogers , P.Eng , and Mr. Mo Molavi , P.Eng , both Principal Mining Engineers with AMC Consultants, Mr. Andrew Holloway , P.Eng , Process Director with Halyard Inc., and Mr. Leon Botham , P.Eng ., Principal Engineer with NewFields Canada Mining & Environment ULC, in addition to Ms. Dinara Nussipakynova, P.Geo ., Principal Geologist with AMC Consultants, who estimated the mineral resources. All qualified persons for the PEA have reviewed the disclosure of the PEA herein. The PEA is based on the Mineral Resource Estimate (the "MRE"), which was reported on November 28, 2022 . The effective date of the MRE is October 31, 2022 . The cut-off applied for reporting the pit-constrained mineral resources is 30 g/t silver. Assumptions made to derive a cut-off grade included mining costs, processing costs and recoveries and were obtained from comparable industry situations. The model is depleted for historical mining activities. Mineral resources are constrained by optimized pit shells at a silver price of US$22.50 per ounce, silver metallurgical recovery of 91%, silver payability of 99%, open pit mining cost of US$2.6 /t, processing cost of US$16 /t, G&A cost of US$2 /t, and slope angle of 44-47 degrees. Key assumptions used for pit optimization for the PEA mining pit include silver price of US$22.50 per ounce, silver metallurgical recovery of 91%, silver payability of 99%, open pit mining cost of US$2.6 /t, incremental mining cost of US$0.04 /t (per 10 m bench), processing cost of US$16 /t, tailing storage facility operating cost of US$0.7 /t, G&A cost of US$2 /t, royalty of 6.00%, mining recovery of 92%, dilution of 8%, and cut-off grade of 30 g/t silver.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain of the statements and information in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategies", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "budgets", "schedules", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements or information. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: anticipated exploration, drilling, development, construction, and other activities or achievements of the Company, including, but not limited to, the PFS, the MPC, the PEA, the Company's socialization efforts, establishment of a development fund, negotiations with ASMs, and the Company's efforts to comply with the International Finance Corporation's performance standards; inferred, indicated or measured mineral resources or mineral reserves on the Company's projects; timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals, including, but not limited to, the EEIA; and estimates of demand for silver.

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, risks that: exploration, drilling, development, construction, and other activities or achievements of the Company, including, but not limited to, the PFS, the MPC, the PEA, the Company's socialization efforts, establishment of a development fund, negotiations with ASMs, and the Company's efforts to comply with the International Finance Corporation's performance standards, will not proceed in the manner anticipated, or at all; inferred, indicated or measured mineral resources or mineral reserves on the Company's projects are not accurate; the timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals, including, but not limited to, the EEIA, is not as anticipated; estimates of demand for silver are not as anticipated; and other factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the year ended June 30, 2023 and its other public filings. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements or information.

The forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates, assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this news release that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates, assumptions, beliefs, expectations and options include, but are not limited to, those related to the Company's ability to carry on current and future operations, including: the duration and effects of COVID-19 on our operations and workforce; development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; the Company's ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the stabilization of the political climate in Bolivia ; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain social license at its mineral properties; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits, including the ratification and approval of the Mining Production Contract with COMIBOL by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia; the ability of the Company's Bolivian partner to convert the exploration licenses at the Carangas Project to administrative mining contracts; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Other than specifically required by applicable laws, the Company is under no obligation and expressly disclaims any such obligation to update or alter the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as may be required by law. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE TO UNITED STATES INVESTORS

This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. All mining terms used herein but not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in NI 43-101. Unless otherwise indicated, the technical and scientific disclosure herein has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, which differs significantly from the requirements adopted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Accordingly, information contained in this news release containing descriptions of the Company's mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Additional information relating to the Company, including the Company's annual information form, can be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and on the Company's website at www.newpacificmetals.com.

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SOURCE New Pacific Metals Corp.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) will release consolidated fourth-quarter and year-end 2023 earnings results on Friday, Feb. 16 .

Vincent Sorgi , PPL president and chief executive officer, and other members of PPL's executive team will discuss quarterly and annual results and the company's general business outlook during a conference call with financial analysts that will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern Time .

The call will be webcast live, in audio format, along with slides of the presentation. Interested individuals can access the webcast link at www.pplweb.com/investors under "Events and Presentations" or access the live conference call via telephone at 1-844-512-2926. International participants should call 1-412-317-6300. Participants will need to enter the following "Elite Entry" number in order to join the conference: 2705921.

For those who are unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay with slides will be accessible at www.pplweb.com/investors for 90 days after the call.

About PPL

PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania , is a leading U.S. energy company focused on providing electricity and natural gas safely, reliably and affordably to more than 3.5 million customers in the U.S. PPL's high-performing, award-winning utilities are addressing energy challenges head-on by building smarter, more resilient and more dynamic power grids and advancing sustainable energy solutions. For more information, visit www.pplweb.com.

Note to Editors: Visit our media website at www.pplnewsroom.com for additional news about PPL Corporation.

Contacts: For news media: Ryan Hill , 610-774-4033 For financial analysts: Andy Ludwig , 610-774-3389

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SOURCE PPL Services Corporation
The new elevated offering hits shelves amid the continued meteoric rise of the ready-to-serve cocktail category

NEW YORK , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo is shaking up the cocktail scene with the launch of the Astral Margarita, the sixth and latest offering in its popular line of ready-to-serve cocktails, The Cocktail Collection. This news arrives on the heels of the Astral Margarita's recent recognition at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2023), where it was awarded a Double Gold medal ratingan accolade achieved by very few spirits entries. The Astral Margarita now joins the ranks of the already acclaimed collection, which includes the Ketel One Espresso Martini, the Ketel One Cosmopolitan, the Bulleit Old Fashioned, the Bulleit Manhattan, and the Tanqueray Negroni. The new serve promises to deliver cocktail fans yet another bartender-quality classic - no mixology skills needed - perfectly timed for escaping the winter doldrums and gearing up for spring cocktailing.

The Astral Margarita promises to swiftly delight hosts, guests, and drinks enthusiasts alike. Instead of being tethered to the bar searching for ingredients and tools, consumers 21+ can now simply open, pour, and serve the popular cocktail at home. Hosting the ultimate Game Day party or springtime soiree is a breeze, with drinks that require minimal preparation and never sacrifice on taste.

Crafted with quality ingredients and precision, this ready-to-serve sensation captures the essence of Astral Tequila, which utilizes a traditional, time-intensive process to achieve a smooth, bright profile with bursts of citrus and notes of agave. The signature serve combines blanco tequila, zesty lime juice, and triple sec, delivering a tasty medley of agave, juicy, tart lime, tangerine, and a soft vanilla finish. Presented in a striking blue bottle adorned with stars that pay homage to its celestial name, the Astral Margarita is a true embodiment of the brand's ethos, 'of the stars.'

Recent findings reported by NielsenIQ reveal that there is no slowing the margarita down in popularity. The classic cocktail continues to dominate drinking culture, leading in the on-premise as the number one selling cocktail for 2023, as well as the ready-to-serve cocktail category at large (Nielsen IQ, ending 1/20/24). With the Big Game and a full season of at-home gathering and hosting occasions on the horizon, the Astral Margarita provides another high-quality option for margarita fans to enjoy in multiple sized formats. The beautiful bottle design and premium packaging also make it the perfect choice for a thoughtful host gift.

"We are committed to bringing bartender-quality cocktails straight to our consumers' fingertips, so hosts can focus on enjoying moments with their guests, worry-free," explained Nikhil Shah , Brand Director at Diageo. "We are thrilled with reception of The Cocktail Collection so far, and with the margarita's enduring appeal, it is our hope that we will reach even more cocktail enthusiasts with our newest offering."

The Astral Margarita is available nationwide in two large sized formats: 350ml (SRP: $13.99 ) and 750ml (SRP: $25.99 ), serving four and eight cocktails per glass bottle, respectively, with an average ABV (alcohol by volume) of 20%. For more information on The Cocktail Collection, including where to purchase, visit thecocktailcollection.com or follow along @thecocktailcollection, and remember to please open, pour, and serve responsibly.

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker , Crown Royal, J&B and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan , Baileys, Don Julio , Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

About Astral Tequila

Astral Tequila is a super-premium tequila crafted using 100% Blue Weber agave nourished by the sun and stars in Jalisco, Mexico . Using a tahona and bagazo during fermentation, Astral Tequila's unique recipe uses traditional, time-intensive processes to create a radiant tequila that brightens every cocktail. Each bottle of Astral Tequila produced helps continue the circular flow of good energy  leftover agave fibers are upcycled into adobe bricks to be used to construct buildings in local communities in Mexico to create more places to gather with loved ones and feel connected. Astral Tequila launched in April 2022 with its first expression, Blanco , followed by Reposado and Anejo in April 2023 . For more information on Astral Tequila, please visit http://www.astraltequila.com/

Media Contacts

Jenna Kaplan and Kristen Burke Stahl

Bullfrog + Baum | thecocktailcollection@bullfrogandbaum.com

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SOURCE Diageo
CHICAGO , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new portfolio of seven community solar projects in Illinois and New York will help approximately 5,000 households, along with area non-profits, businesses, and a public school district, save as much as 20% on their monthly electricity costs. Reactivate (an Invenergy company), a mission-driven renewable energy company, in collaboration with Walmart and U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance (a U.S. Bank subsidiary) recently closed a tax equity transaction on the new portfolio. Once the projects are placed in service, the beneficiaries will include a significant majority of Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) households; the remaining savings will be realized by public schools, a municipality, non-LMI households, and various private organizations, including two affordable housing providers, a community recreation center, religious institutions, and a housing association.

For Walmart, this is a key example of how the retailer is ramping up its energy transformation strategy by investing in projects that focus on making access to clean energy affordable, reliable, and equitable  and in line with Walmart's goal to bring at least 2GW of community solar projects in service by the end of 2030. "Serving our customers and communities is core to our purpose at Walmart and our support of this high-impact portfolio demonstrates our continued commitment to that purpose. These projects will assist in building a stronger and cleaner grid, expand access to clean energy for underserved communities and help people save money on their utility bills," said Frank Palladino , Vice President, Renewable Energy Strategy at Walmart.

"This partnership with Walmart and U.S. Bank combines environmental stewardship with social responsibility, delivering tangible benefits to low-to-moderate income and energy transition communities while achieving clean energy goals", said Chris King , EVP of Finance at Reactivate. "We remain committed to driving positive change and reshaping the landscape of renewable energy investment," said Utopia Hill, CEO of Reactivate.

The transaction supports a portfolio of seven community solar projects across Illinois and New York , boasting a combined capacity of 14.4 megawatts (AC) which are estimated to avert 667,788 metric tons of CO 2 emissions  equivalent to eliminating 748 million pounds of coal burned  over the projects' lifespans. The six Illinois community solar projects are located in Chicago Heights , Ford Heights , Monee , Granite City , and Rockford and will serve qualifying customers of ComEd and Ameren. The New York solar project is located in Oswego County and will serve qualifying customers of National Grid.

Community solar allows customers to realize the financial benefits of clean energy without owning a property or the upfront costs for solar. For renters, LMI households, and many local businesses in states with community solar programs, community solar is one of the few zero-upfront-cost options for saving money on electricity bills. According to DOE's Low-Income Energy Affordability Data Tool, the national average energy burden for low-income households is 8.6%, three times higher than for non-low-income households. In some areas, depending on location and income, energy burden can be as high as 30%. Of all U.S. households, 44%, or about 50 million, are defined as low-income.

"Projects like Reactivate's are shining examples of how renewable energy developers can distribute the direct benefits of grid-decarbonization to historically underserved communities," said Clark Conlisk , U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance - Vice President, Assistant Director of Project Management & Impact Capital, who is part of the Environmental Finance team of U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance. "For the LMI households subscribed to the project, the money that no longer must be spent to keep on the lights and A/C is a benefit to real people and empowers them to spend or save as they choose. U.S. Bank is fortunate to be able to support Reactivate's vision for an inclusive and equitable clean energy economy while advancing our own clean energy and equity goals."

Reactivate's portfolio will serve approximately 5,000 households to benefit from the electricity cost savings delivered by these projects, approximately 90% of which will qualify as LMI. LMI customers in Illinois and New York will receive a minimum 20% reduction on their retail electricity costs, up to the amount of their subscription to project output. Total customer savings from the projects in this investment are projected to exceed $17 million over the projects' lifespans.

About Reactivate

Reactivate is a mission-driven renewable energy company, that develops, owns, and operates renewable energy projects to improve the lives of people in low-to-moderate income and energy transition communities across the country. Reactivate's primary focus areas are community solar, commercial & industrial solar, small utility scale solar, energy storage, and EV charging projects. Reactivate creates positive social and environmental impact in underserved communities by delivering renewable energy, environmental benefits, job opportunities, energy cost savings and opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses. Reactivate was founded by Invenergy and Lafayette Square .

About Walmart

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better  anytime and anywhere  in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 240 million customers and members visit approximately 10,500 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2023 revenue of $611 billion , Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting https://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at https://facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at https://twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/walmart/.

About U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance

U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, a subsidiary of U.S. Bank, is an industry leader in providing financial solutions that help create positive impact for communities and the environment. For 35 years, its tax credit investments and syndications, lending and other financial solutions have helped create affordable housing, spur economic activity in underserved communities, restore historic buildings, develop renewable sources of energy, and strengthen community development financial institutions (CDFIs) nationwide. Learn more at usbank.com/impactfinance.

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SOURCE Reactivate
KRAKOW , Poland , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ryvu Therapeutics (WSE: RVU), a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company focusing on novel small molecule therapies that address emerging targets in oncology, announced today that the first patient has been dosed with the study drugs in a Phase II clinical trial investigating RVU120 in combination with venetoclax for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (r/r AML)  the RIVER-81 study (NCT06191263).

The primary goal of the RIVER-81 study will be to evaluate safety and efficacy of RVU120 in combination with venetoclax in r/r AML patients who have failed prior venetoclax treatment.

The RIVER-81 study is initially launching at clinical sites in Poland and Italy . Ultimately, the study will expand to other EU and non-EU countries, covering up to 50 clinical sites globally. The planned overall enrollment for the study is up to approx . 98 patients.

and . Ultimately, the study will expand to other EU non-EU approx The study is part of the RVU120 Development Plan presented in October 2023 and aligns with the company's cash runway to Q1 2026. Execution of the RIVER-81 study is supported with a PLN 62.3 mln grant from the Polish Medical Research Agency (ABM).

and aligns with the company's cash runway to Q1 2026. Execution of the RIVER-81 study is supported with a PLN mln In H1 2024, Ryvu plans to launch four Phase II RVU120 clinical studies and enroll over 100 patients across the studies by the end of the year. Ryvu aims to prioritize further development options in Q1 2025 based on the study outcomes. Clinical trials conducted in various hematological indications and treatment regimens ( monotherapy and combination therapy) will contribute to the global RVU120 safety database, which would support potential future regulatory approvals.

RVU120 is a selective, first-in-class dual CDK8/19 kinase inhibitor developed by Ryvu Therapeutics. RVU120 monotherapy has demonstrated positive clinical activity in a Phase Ib study, where 50% of evaluable patients with r/r AML or HR-MDS achieved clinical benefit, including a complete response, a morphologic leukemia-free state, multiple clinically significant blast reductions, hematologic improvements, and reduction of bone marrow fibrosis.

Hendrik Nogai , M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Ryvu Therapeutics, said:

- Considering the encouraging results from the Phase Ib study of RVU120 as monotherapy for patients with r/r AML and HR-MDS, along with compelling translational evidence of synergistic activity with venetoclax, we have launched the Phase II RIVER-81 study with optimism. AML patients who fail the current standard of care, consisting of venetoclax and a hypomethylating agent, have very few alternative treatment options and a poor prognosis. We are delighted to commence the new Phase II RVU120 study in Poland and Italy , with plans to expand to up to 50 clinical sites globally. Our goal is to bring meaningful clinical benefits to AML patients.

Kamil Sitarz , Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer of Ryvu Therapeutics, said:

- We have successfully confirmed the safety profile of RVU120, and our focus is now on substantiating its efficacy signals. With the activation of dozens of clinical sites globally, we aim to dose over 100 patients across four RVU120 Phase II studies by the end of 2024. Subsequently, and based on treatment outcomes, we will strategically prioritize further development paths. This progress aligns with the RVU120 development plan unveiled in October 2023 , supported by secured financing until Q1 2026.

RIVER-81 is a multicenter, open-label clinical trial that aims to assess the safety, tolerability, efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of RVU120 when administered in combination with venetoclax to adult patients with AML who are relapsed or refractory to prior therapy with venetoclax and a hypomethylating agent.

The study is divided into two parts. Part 1 aims to identify safe and tolerated doses of RVU120 and venetoclax when used in combination, through dose escalation of both study drugs. In Part 2, the selected doses will be evaluated for both safety and efficacy in a larger group of patients.

The study has received approval from the Competent Authorities in Poland and Italy following a clinical trial application in accordance with the European Union Clinical Trial Regulation (EU-CTR) 536/2014, as well as positive opinions from the respective Ethics Committees, enabling patient enrollment in both countries. Start-up activities in other EU and non-EU countries are currently in progress.

RIVER-81 marks the commencement of the first of four planned RVU120 Phase II clinical studies, scheduled to launch in H1 2024. Following RIVER-81, Ryvu intends to initiate the RIVER-52 study (evaluating RVU120 as a monotherapy in patients with genetically defined subtypes of AML and in patients with HR-MDS). Upcoming plans also include the initiation of the REMARK study (conducted as an investigator-initiated trial, exploring RVU120 as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes; LR-MDS) and the POTAMI-61 study (evaluating both monotherapy and combination therapy for the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis; MF).



About Ryvu Therapeutics

Ryvu Therapeutics is a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company focused on novel small-molecule therapies that address emerging targets in oncology. Internally discovered pipeline candidates make use of diverse therapeutic mechanisms driven by emerging knowledge of cancer biology, including small molecules directed at kinase, synthetic lethality, and immuno-oncology targets.

Ryvu's most advanced programs include RVU120, a selective CDK8/CDK19 kinase inhibitor with potential to treat hematological malignancies and solid tumors, currently in Phase II development for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (r/r AML) in combination with venetoclax. Another clinical program, SEL24 (MEN1703), is a dual PIM/FLT3 kinase inhibitor licensed to the Menarini Group. Ryvu Therapeutics has signed multiple partnering and licensing deals with global companies, including BioNTech, Exelixis, Menarini, and Merck.

The Company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Krakow, Poland . Ryvu is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and is a component of the sWIG40 index. For more information, please see www.ryvu.com.

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SOURCE Selvita S.A.
Credit Union provided support and speaker for first in-person districtwide convening in six years

TUSTIN, Calif. , Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union serving school employees and their families, served as a sponsor of the Los Rios Community College District Spring Convocation, which was held on Friday, Jan. 12 , at American River College in Sacramento . In addition to American River College, the Los Rios colleges include Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College, and Sacramento City College, serving nearly 70,000 students throughout the Sacramento region.

The SchoolsFirst FCU sponsorship provided breakfast, lunch and support for the Convocation, which was the first in-person districtwide convening in six years. Participants at the event included the Los Rios Community College District's Chancellor and College Presidents, as well as faculty, classified, and administrative staff. The program featured a keynote from Sacramento State President Dr. Luke Wood and a panel discussion with Ethnic Studies faculty from the four colleges.

In addition, Josh Smith , vice president, school and community relations, at SchoolsFirst FCU, addressed those in attendance to express the Credit Union's unwavering support for the education community, in particular the employees of the district.

"We're honored to serve as a longtime supporter of the Los Rios Community College District and the contributions made by the faculty and staff to the future careers of their students," said Smith of SchoolsFirst FCU. "Each college within the Los Rios Community College District provides an affordable way for students to earn degrees and certificates that help them build a meaningful and productive future."

About SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union:

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is the fifth largest credit union in the country and has been recognized by Forbes as the number one credit union in California . Serving school employees and their families, the organization is dedicated to delivering World-Class Personal Service and improving the financial lives of its Members. Today they serve more than 1.3 million Members with a full range of financial products and services. SchoolsFirst FCU was founded in 1934, when 126 school employees pooled $1,200 and established a Member-owned cooperative to help improve each other's lives. In 2022, the Credit Union reported nearly $28 billion in assets and remains the largest credit union in California . For more information about SchoolsFirst FCU, visit schoolsfirstfcu.org .

Insured by NCUA.

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SOURCE SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union
CHICAGO , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- After celebrating 50 years of SIGGRAPH conferences in August 2023 , SIGGRAPH 2024 is at the precipice of the next half century of computer graphics and interactive techniques excellence. Returning to our origin state, SIGGRAPH 2024 will take place in the new location of Denver , where the latest advancements in technology and creativity will take center stage at the Colorado Convention Center , 28 July1 August. Submissions are open for many programs, with the next program submission deadline closing 21 February. SIGGRAPH 2024 calls on artists, researchers, educators, and practitioners to submit conference content and play an integral role in building a desirable technological future.

SIGGRAPH 2024 marks the conference's return to Colorado for the first time since its inaugural year of 1974.

"SIGGRAPH is the premier international venue for computer graphics enthusiasts to unleash their inventiveness and showcase their work that is beyond our imaginations," SIGGRAPH 2024 Conference Chair Andres Burbano of Open University of Catalonia says. "SIGGRAPH contributors bring forth ideas, visions, and technologies that surpass our current imaginations but are poised to become the benchmark in five, 10, and 15 years. I am excited about the prospect of learning from the next generation of trailblazers who will make their debut this year in Denver ."

SIGGRAPH 2024 marks the conference's return to Colorado for the first time since its inaugural year of 1974. Returning to SIGGRAPH's roots presents a unique opportunity to look ahead to the visions of the future of computer graphics and interactive techniques, be it the most esteemed scholarly research, exploring contemporary media art culture, airing the latest in animation on the big screen, or interacting with new realities in the Experience Hall. More details, plans, and conference content will be revealed in the coming months leading up to SIGGRAPH 2024.

That's not all that is new  SIGGRAPH's bright future includes the recent appointment of the SIGGRAPH 2026 Conference Chair. ACM SIGGRAPH selected Chris Redmann to lead the 53rd conference, taking place in Los Angeles . Redmann will follow SIGGRAPH 2025 Conference Chair Ginger Alford and the conference's return to Vancouver , 1014 August 2025. But first, let your imagination soar as you submit your most inventive ideas to SIGGRAPH 2024.

About ACM, ACM SIGGRAPH, and SIGGRAPH 2024

ACM , the Association for Computing Machinery, is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting educators, researchers, and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources, and address the field's challenges. ACM SIGGRAPH is a special interest group within ACM that serves as an interdisciplinary community for members in research, technology, and applications in computer graphics and interactive techniques. The SIGGRAPH conference is the world's leading annual interdisciplinary educational experience showcasing the latest in computer graphics and interactive techniques. SIGGRAPH 2024, the 51st annual conference hosted by ACM SIGGRAPH, will take place live 28 July1 August at the Colorado Convention Center , along with a virtual access option.

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SOURCE SIGGRAPH
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held a video call with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday.

Noting that high-level development has been maintained in the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, Dong called on the militaries of the two countries to implement the important consensus reached by their heads of state, respond firmly to global challenges, and work constantly to enhance strategic mutual trust.

Dong also urged the two militaries to expand practical cooperation continuously, push their military-to-military relationship to a higher level, and play a greater role in deepening China-Russia comprehensive strategic coordination and in maintaining global security and stability.

Shoigu said that Russia is willing to work with China to innovate in the fields and methods of bilateral military cooperation, and to push relations between the two countries and two militaries to new levels. 
SimplePin, the leading receivable and payment platform with operations in Palm Beach, FL , USA, and Montreal, QC , Canada proudly welcomes Carmack Insurance into its distinguished clientele. It is a strategic collaboration that will enhance Carmack Insurance's payment and receivables procedures with highly innovative solutions.

PALM BEACH, Fla. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SimplePin, an award-winning Insurtech enterprise, is thrilled to extend its suite of benefits to Carmack Insurance. SimplePin seamlessly integrates with broker management systems, offering a holistic automation experience for the entire receivables process. Carmack Insurance selected this highly efficient AR solution to streamline operations, boost cash flow, cut costs, and enhance client interactions through a tailored and feature-rich system.

Carmack, a 100-year-old California -based specialty insurance provider, recognized the need for a more agile solution, as their previous approach was cumbersome for clients and labor-intensive for internal staff.

The Carmack team is enthusiastic about collaborating with SimplePin to eliminate the laborious and error-prone tasks associated with handling customer payments and posting back to AMS360. They chose SimplePin after a long vetting process because the SimplePin system enhances their back-office processes and also unlocks new opportunities for customer-centric and revenue-generating tasks.

Metod Topolnik , CEO of SimplePin, expressed his delight at Carmack Insurance joining the growing list of clients leveraging digital solutions to transform their payment and receivables experiences. "In a year poised with challenges for the insurance industry, Carmack exemplifies forward-thinking by recognizing that accounting should not be a source of friction. Our solution is in high demand, as it eliminates operational hurdles, elevates customer experiences, and significantly reduces expenses."

About Carmack Insurance:

Established in 1925, Carmack Insurance is a distinguished Insurance and Risk Management Advisor. With a legacy managed by the third generation of family ownership, Carmack is among the most experienced firms in California . Specializing in closely held, California -based companies and high-net-worth families, Carmack Insurance is founded on principles of confidentiality, service, and claims advocacy.

About SimplePin:

SimplePin offers a comprehensive receivables platform tailored for the insurance industry. Seamlessly integrating with any broker management system, the solution provides complete automation for the receivables process. Policyholders benefit from 24/7 online access to statements and payments through a secure portal. Features include automated reminders, flexible payment options, automated GL posting, real-time visibility for stakeholders, and simplified month-end reconciliation. To learn more, visit www.SimplePin.com

CONTACT: Stephanie Ryan , [email protected]

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SOURCE SimplePin
The Simply Organic Giving Fund awarded $150,000 in 2024 to U.S. nonprofits providing access to healthy, organic food options

NORWAY, Iowa , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Simply Organic, a leader in organic herbs, spices, flavors and seasonings, today announced five recipients of the Simply Organic Giving Fund Grant Program who will receive a collective $150,000 to address food insecurity in their communities this year.

Simply Organic awarded $150,000 in 2024 to U.S. nonprofits providing access to healthy, organic food options.

For the 2024 granting period, Simply Organic selected organizations with programs uniquely designed to tackle ongoing gaps in the food assistance system, from poor nutrition, insufficient access, social stigma, lack of choice or lifestyle fit, and more.

"Increasing access to healthy foods plays naturally into Simply Organic's core values as an all-organic spice brand," said Sheryl Marchetti , senior director of marketing for Simply Organic. "We look forward to partnering with organizations who are pushing for more creative approaches to addressing food insecurity, going beyond typical solutions to better answer their communities' health and cultural needs."

The 2024 Simply Organic Giving Fund Grant Program recipients include:

Dion's Chicago Dream : Dion's Chicago Dream works to combat food insecurity in the Chicagoland area, using nutritional philanthropy as a catalyst to build community and transform lives. Dion's Chicago Dream will receive a $40,000 grant from Simply Organic to continue to expand its award-winning Dream Deliveries program, which brings a five-day supply of pre-measured produce directly to residents and helps reduce food waste in the process.

Dion's Chicago Dream works to combat food insecurity in the Chicagoland area, using nutritional philanthropy as a catalyst to build community and transform lives. Dion's Chicago Dream will receive a grant from Simply Organic to continue to expand its award-winning Dream Deliveries program, which brings a five-day supply of pre-measured produce directly to residents and helps reduce food waste in the process. Emergency Food Network : Emergency Food Network's Mother Earth Farm provides 100+ varieties of organic produce to local food pantries serving a wide range of cultural backgrounds in Pierce County, Washington . Mother Earth Farm will receive a $15,000 grant from Simply Organic in 2024 to continue growing a diverse selection of fresh, culturally significant food.

Emergency Food provides 100+ varieties of organic produce to local food pantries serving a wide range of cultural backgrounds in Pierce County, . will receive a grant from Simply Organic in 2024 to continue growing a diverse selection of fresh, culturally significant food. Matthew 25 : Matthew 25's Groundswell Cafe is a "pay-it-forward" eatery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that provides guests with access to handmade organic meals regardless of their ability to pay. Groundswell Cafe will receive a $15,000 grant to support the cafe's pay-it-forward initiative as well as healthy grab-n-go meals that can be purchased at an affordable price from its Cultivate Hope Corner Store .

Matthew 25's Groundswell Cafe is a "pay-it-forward" eatery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that provides guests with access to handmade organic meals regardless of their ability to pay. Groundswell Cafe will receive a $15,000 grant to support the cafe's pay-it-forward initiative as well as healthy grab-n-go meals that can be purchased at an affordable price from its . Project Worthmore : Project Worthmore's Delaney Community Farm supports Denver -area refugees through sustainable agriculture training, education and employment. Project Worthmore will receive a $50,000 grant from Simply Organic to expand operations at the DeLaney Community Farm and the Yu Meh Food Share Program to bring healthy, fresh foods to even more families.

Project supports -area refugees through sustainable agriculture training, education and employment. Project Worthmore will receive a grant from Simply Organic to expand operations at the and the Yu Meh Food Share Program to bring healthy, fresh foods to even more families. Sharing Excess: Sharing Excess is a Philadelphia -based nonprofit that helps bridge the gap between food surplus and food scarcity by rescuing and redistributing excess food from businesses and wholesalers to people in need. Sharing Excess will receive a $30,000 grant from Simply Organic to open a second Wholesale Food Rescue program at Hunts Point Produce Market in New York City .

"It's great to continue our relationship with Simply Organic to rise to the occasion and fight to eliminate food insecurity," said Dion Dawson , Chief Dreamer and Founder of Dion's Chicago Dream. "Simply Organic's continued commitment to supporting Dion's Chicago Dream and other nonprofits across the country helps us reimagine food and nutrition philanthropy and meet critical needs of the communities we serve."

Established in 2001, the Simply Organic Giving Fund was originally organized to support organic agricultural development, and to date has given more than $2.5 million to projects around the globe. In 2018, the brand turned its giving focus to the growing issue of food insecurity in the United States and Canada and has since partnered with a dozen organizations dedicated to providing food insecure communities access to healthy organic food options.

To learn more about the Simply Organic Giving Fund, visit

https://www.simplyorganic.com/giving-back-2.

Simply Organic

Simply Organic, an all-organic brand from Frontier Co-op, offers an extensive and growing selection of certified organic spices, baking flavors and extracts, seasoning mixes, and simmer sauces, while supporting organizations working to end food insecurity. Find out more about Simply Organic at www.simplyorganic.com.

Frontier Co-op

Founded in 1976 and based in Norway, Iowa , Frontier Co-op offers a full line of products for natural living under the Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic, and Aura Cacia brands. Products include culinary herbs, spices and baking flavors; bulk herbs and spices; plant-based organic meal solutions; and aromatherapy products with a wide selection of organics. Frontier Co-op's goal is to provide consumers with the highest-quality products while supporting and promoting social and environmental responsibility. For more information, visit the co-op's website at www.frontiercoop.com.

Alicia Simmons

CSR Manager

Alicia.Simmons@frontiercoop.com

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SOURCE Simply Organic
SEOUL, South Korea , Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 17th , SKYPlay announced that it has signed a business agreement with MetaQ, a specialized blockchain company, to collaborate on business initiatives.

MetaQ is a company that provides services such as blockchain-based online content and token management systems, as well as an NFT platform. Currently, it has secured over 150,000 community members and is actively operating a diverse online and offline ecosystem.

Established in August 2021 , MetaQ is developing a platform that utilizes blockchain technology to integrate online content, including games, into offline ecosystems. The MetaQ platform is designed to allow users to earn tokens through various activities and trade NFTs, and has an integrated token management system to manage token transparency.

The recently unveiled token management system, 'Chain Tracker Pro,' designed for blockchain services, is made by the two companies. It enables easy token transfers, NFT minting and attribute management, transaction history inquiries, and provides various token management features, including transaction tracking, exchange-specific and type-specific transaction volume management, and blacklist management.

Richard Chang , CEO of SKYPlay, emphasized that the collaboration, including MetaQ's NFT platform and 'Chain Tracker Pro' in the X2E field, will maximize synergy by collaborating the technologies and expertise of both companies in the rapidly evolving Web3.0 market.

Grace Kim , CEO of MetaQ, stated, "The collaboration with SKYPlay, which possesses diverse games and service expertise, is a crucial partnership for MetaQ in securing content for NFT platforms, solution businesses, and expanding the offline ecosystem."

About SKYPlay

Established in July 2021 , SKYPlay is a company that develops blockchain platforms, offering various game services. It is also preparing to launch a personalized AI assistant service. SKYPlay is collaborating with Bitbasel which is based in Miami, USA, and the companies are currently working on Lunaprise, with a plan detailed set to be revealed in the first quarter of this year.

About MetaQ

Established in August 2021 , MetaQ is developing a platform that integrates blockchain technology into various online and offline contents. The platform is set to offer users the function to earn tokens and trade NFTs, and develop various offline-connected contents. Collaborating with offline brands such as ' Hollywood ' for billiards, 'Teddy Bear House Stadium' for global dolls, and 'META-X' for smart cultural complex, MetaQ aims to introduce a new business model in the yet-to-be-seen era of Web 3.0.

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SOURCE SKYPlay
ATLANTA , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SnapCare Chief Development and Operations Officer Jeff Richards has been named a 2024 Georgia Titan 100 in recognition of his outstanding leadership and vision.

The annual Titan 100 program selects Georgia's top 100 CEOs & C-level executives. They are the area's most accomplished business leaders in their industries and were chosen using criteria that includes demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion.

"It's a true honor to be chosen as a Georgia Titan ," Richards said. "To be included in such an auspicious group of business leaders is both humbling and a reflection of the hard work of the entire SnapCare team. The diversity and accomplishments of those represented in this year's class are a testament to the quality of the corporate leadership in this state."

"The Titan 100 are changing the way that business is done in Georgia . These preeminent leaders have built a distinguished reputation that is unrivaled and preeminent in their field," said Jaime Zawmon, president of Titan CEO. "We proudly recognize the Titan 100 for their efforts to shape the future of the Georgia business community. Their achievements create a profound impact that makes an extraordinary difference for their customers and clients across the nation."

Richards, MBA, a graduate of Emory University School of Medicine, was department director and chief anesthetist at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta when he identified a need for a better way to meet temporary staffing needs for nurses and other clinical staff. He co-founded SnapNurse in 2017 with a former classmate as a service to place per diem clinicians on demand. The startup was a success in the Atlanta area and they were on the verge of licensing their software when Covid-19 struck.

SnapNurse scaled quickly to meet the demand for nurses. Its revenue grew 40,000 percent in two years, enough to earn second place on the 2022 Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies. Revenues jumped to more than $1 billion in 2021 and 2022.

In the wake of the pandemic, the company has evolved into a full healthcare marketplace platform that gives healthcare systems greater control over their workforce solutions, transparency in billing and cost savings. In addition to serving nurses, the company is expanding to include more providers, like APP's and Allied Health as well as non-clinical roles in a healthcare setting. In the fall of 2023, SnapNurse successfully relaunched as SnapCare to reflect its new business model.

Sponsored by Wipfli LLP, the 2024 Georgia Titan 100 will be honored at a gala on May 9, 2024 , at Zoo Atlanta. This year's honorees will be given the opportunity to interact and connect multiple times throughout the year with their fellow Titans.

About SnapCare

SnapCare is an AI-enabled workforce marketplace that serves the entire continuum of care. Our platform offers healthcare facilities complete visibility into the ideal talent mix for their unique needs and associated costs. We designed our workforce solutions to significantly improve client savings and efficiencies, minimizing the need for intermediate agencies, returning control to healthcare facilities, and ensuring total transparency in pay and pricing. Our pioneering technology and comprehensive staffing services offer a smarter way for facilities to manage their workforce needs and deliver quality patient care.

For more information, visit SnapCare.com and follow SnapCare on LinkedIn and YouTube .

Media contact: Marcia Rhodes ; [email protected]

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SOURCE SnapCare
HONG KONG , Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wave of innovation sweeping through China's educational sector, Tianli Education, a brand of Tianli International Holdings Limited, is at the forefront, revolutionizing traditional education paradigms with its significant advancements in AI and smart education. This transformation transcends mere technological breakthroughs, profoundly reforming educational philosophies and methodologies. Tianli Education's deep integration of cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies with pedagogical practices has not only markedly enhanced teaching efficiency and quality but also injected vigorous momentum into the path toward educational modernization.

The TLI technology curriculum series, a cornerstone of this innovative endeavor, is not a mere application of technology but a manifestation of a deep understanding of the current educational ecosystem and future trends. Employing the latest advancements such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing, the TLI curriculum tightly integrates with classroom teaching. Its aim is to empower education through technology, enrich educational content, and refine teaching methodologies, thereby comprehensively elevating the quality of education and the learning experience.

The role of Tianli Education's self-developed smart education platform in these innovative practices is indispensable. Leveraging sophisticated algorithms and big data analytics, this platform achieves intelligent management and optimal allocation of educational resources. Notably, this platform extends its services beyond the confines of Tianli Education, aiming to bring revolutionary changes to the national and even global educational landscape. Its personalized learning path recommendation system, intelligent teaching assessments, and interactive learning experiences significantly heighten the degree of engagement and customization in education, making it more precise and efficient while greatly enhancing students' interest in learning and teachers' teaching efficacy.

To vividly demonstrate Tianli Education's achievements in AI and smart education, let's consider specific data and examples. For instance, by implementing the smart education platform, Tianli Education has improved teaching efficiency by around 20% and overall student academic performance by around 15% in the past year. Moreover, teacher job satisfaction has seen a significant boost. Additionally, the platform's personalized recommendation system has successfully provided customized learning experience for over half of the students, tailored to their learning habits and capability development.

In summary, Tianli Education's innovative practices in the realm of AI and smart education represent not only the cutting edge of technology and education integration but also the emergence of a new educational philosophy and model. These accomplishments not only optimize educational processes and quality but also illuminate the path for future educational development, offering invaluable insights and models. On this foundation, the educational models and philosophies of Tianli Education are set to become a banner leading the future of global education.

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SOURCE TIANLI International Holdings Limited
Three nostalgic dessert-inspired flavors are now available nationwide

IRVINE, Calif. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- HI-CHEW, the immensely fruity, intensely chewy candy, has announced the newest addition to its innovative product line-up: HI-CHEW Dessert Mix. HI-CHEW Dessert Mix combines the same long-lasting chewy texture with classic dessert-inspired flavors that take your taste buds on a decadent flavor journey: Strawberry Ice Cream, Key Lime Pie and Candy Apple.

Take a trip down memory lane with HI-CHEW Dessert Mix, as the iconic American dessert flavors invoke a sense of nostalgia that resonates with brand fans and candy enthusiasts alike. Consumers will find themselves unwrapping a world of sweetness with each chewlet invoking heartwarming memories of trips to the fall fair and the sound of neighborhood ice cream trucks, or a tart treat on a hot summer day. This new mix promises something extraordinary and unique for every sweet tooth out there:

Key Lime Pie: A lime-forward, tart and citrusy chewlet, complemented by subtle hints of graham cracker crust.

A lime-forward, tart and citrusy chewlet, complemented by subtle hints of graham cracker crust. Strawberry Ice Cream: A fresh take on the beloved frozen treat, this flavor is creamy and sweet, perfectly balanced by fruity notes of strawberry.

A fresh take on the beloved frozen treat, this flavor is creamy and sweet, perfectly balanced by fruity notes of strawberry. Candy Apple: An innovative twist on the classic, red candy coated apple, this chewlet features a slightly tangy, crisp apple flavor with hints of sugary sweetness.

HI-CHEW Dessert Mix is a bold expansion on HI-CHEW's innovative product line-up, setting itself apart from the brand's traditional fruit flavors and combinations. Since its launch, HI-CHEW has been constantly driven by flavor innovation and continues to conduct extensive research to develop the desired flavors for all consumers to enjoy. Consumer feedback is a valuable factor in the expansion of HI-CHEW's flavor lineup, and the new Dessert Mix is a direct result of this process. In 2022, the brand introduced the HI-CHEW Fantasy Mix, which includes three of the most highly requested flavors among brand fans including Rainbow Sherbet , Blue Raspberry and Blue Hawaii. The whimsically designed colorful package stood out in retailers and was a sensation among consumers, ultimately inspiring the creation of HI-CHEW Dessert Mix.

"Through our Chew Crew , we've learned that consumers want more unique flavor offerings that are unlike anything they've experienced before," said Teruhiro Kawabe (Terry), Chief Representative for the USA & President, CEO of Morinaga America, Inc. "The unveiling of these exciting three flavors follow the tremendous success of the HI-CHEW Fantasy Mix in 2022, which satisfies consumers' desire for more non-traditional chewy candy flavors. We're confident that the HI-CHEW Dessert Mix mix will become an instant favorite among brand fans."

HI-CHEW's New Dessert Mix provides a double layer of true-to-life flavor and contains no colors from synthetic sources. HI-CHEW is also gluten-free.

HI-CHEW Dessert Mix is currently available in both peg bags and stand up pouches. The peg bags are available exclusively at select 7-Eleven and Speedway retailers nationwide, while the stand up pouches are available in retailers nationwide. Wider distribution of both sizes are planned for later this year. To learn more about HI-CHEW and purchase your favorite products, please visit us online at HI-CHEW.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram (@HICHEWUSA).

About Morinaga America, Inc.:

Established in 2008, Morinaga America, Inc. is the official distributor of HI-CHEW, HI-SOFT, and Chargel in the United States . Morinaga America, Inc. (marketing and sales) and Morinaga America Foods, Inc. (manufacturing) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Morinaga & Co., Ltd., which began in 1899 as the first, modern candy maker and producer of chocolates in Japan . In 2015, Morinaga America, Inc. opened its first United States manufacturing facility in North Carolina . With over 200 flavors of HI-CHEW having debuted in Japan , Morinaga America, Inc. has introduced the United States market to the best of Japanese confectionery.

About HI-CHEW:

Choose Different. Choose Fun. Chew HI-CHEW. The history of Morinaga stretches back over a century when company founder Taichiro Morinaga brought his candy-making skills to Japan from America in the 1800s. HI-CHEW has long been the best-selling soft candy in Japan and continues to see year-over-year growth throughout other parts of Asia and in the United States . In the United States , HI-CHEW is currently offered in sticks, peg bags, and stand-up pouches. The HI-CHEW sticks come in a variety of flavors including Strawberry, Green Apple, Mango, Grape, Banana, Kiwi, Acai, and Sweet & Sour Watermelon. HI-CHEW also offers peg bags in the following flavors: Original Mix, Tropical Mix, Superfruit Mix, Sweet & Sour Mix, Soda Pop Mix, Berry Mix , Plus Fruit, Fantasy Mix, Reduced Sugar, and new Dessert Mix. The Stand-Up Pouches are available in Original Mix, Tropical Mix, Sweet and Sour Mix, Fruit Combos, Infrusions Orchard Mix, and new Dessert Mix. HI-CHEW Bites are unwrapped in bite-size packaging in Mango, Green Apple, and Strawberry flavors. HI-CHEW is made with concentrated fruit juices and is free of gluten, with no colors from synthetic sources. HI-CHEW continues to expand fruity, chewy flavor offerings annually. In 2020, HI-CHEW won a Nielsen Design Impact Award for its new Original Mix packaging update that hit shelves in 2019. For more information, visit HI-CHEW.com.

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SOURCE HI-CHEW
World's No. 1 manufacturer of copper foil for high-tech industries and EV batteries.

Established in 1960, CFL has secured foundational technology and patents by developing the world's first electrodeposited copper foil for batteries.

Korea's leading companies are entering the North American EV market to build a battery supply chain.

SEOUL, South Korea , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Volta Energy Solutions (VES), developer of the world's first electrodeposited copper foil for batteries, is now penetrating the North America market. VES has started to build a new battery copper foil plant in Quebec, Canada , this year to fill the battery copper foil vacuum in the North American electric vehicle (EV) supply chain.

With the rapid growth of the EV market, global companies are scrambling to enter North America to complete the battery supply chain. Global automakers such as GM, Honda, and Hyundai Motor and battery cell manufacturers are advancing into the North American market independently or through joint ventures.

The growth rate of the EV market in the United States this year is projected to be higher than anywhere else. S&P Global Mobility's 2024 global sales forecast projects battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to be on track to post sales of 13.3 million units worldwide for 2024, and the BEVs' share in the United States will be 13.2%, up by 66.4% from last year, far exceeding the average year-on-year growth rate of BEVs' share of the global market (39.5%).

The demand for copper foil, a battery material, is expected to see a substantial increase by 2030. According to SNE Research, a battery market research firm, the demand for copper foil for secondary batteries will be 490,000 tons this year and 2.07 million tons in 2030, rising by an annual average rate of 27%. The size of the market is projected to expand from USD 2.61 billion in 2021 to USD 7.47 billion in 2025.

Manufacturers of EV battery materials are racing to establish a presence in the North American market. VES is a leading company that has already started to build the first battery copper foil plant in Canada . It established Volta Energy Solutions Canada (VESC), a Canadian subsidiary, in 2022 and began construction of the plant this year, aiming to enter operation in 2025 with an annual production capacity of 25,000 tons.

VES's copper foil technology for EV batteries originated from its European subsidiary, Circuit Foil Luxembourg (CFL). Established in Luxembourg in 1960, CFL is a copper foil manufacturer with a history of over 60 years. Its copper foil technology has been recognized worldwide, and is widely adopted in high-tech IT industries such as PCBs for AI semiconductor, telecommunication equipment, and autonomous driving sensors.

Ultra-thin copper foil, about two to three micrometers thick, are manufactured by only two companies in the world, CFL and Japan's Mitsui, proving the unrivaled nature of CFL's technology. Based on its robust technology and manufacturing expertise, CFL developed the world's first copper foil for batteries in 1996 and submitted multiple patent applications in Canada and the Unites States as well as Luxembourg. In 2020, the company successfully initiated the mass production of copper battery foil at its Hungary plant, the only battery copper foil manufacturer in Europe .

With this original technology legacy and product recognition, VES is currently supplying battery copper foils to various global businesses in the United States and Europe . It has signed supply contracts with automakers in North America as well as the Automotive Cells Company (ACC), a European battery manufacturer established jointly by Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and TotalEnergies. Its customers also include Korea's world leading battery cell companies, such as LG Energy Solutions and SKON.

A VES official said, "Automakers in North America are striving to secure stable supply chains before the EV market matures, and we are dedicated to stabilizing the regional supply chain through our battery copper foil plant base in North America and promoting the regional economy."

About Volta Energy Solutions

Volta Energy Solutions (VES) is a European subsidiary of Solus Advanced Materials (a South Korea -based company listed on the Korean stock market (KOSPI)). Solus Advanced Materials has a strong business presence globally, especially in copper foil and copper foil for Electric Vehicle batteries. VES's history dates back to 1960, when Circuit Foil Luxembourg (CFL) was established in Luxembourg. CFL was the first company to develop copper foil for electric vehicle batteries (in 1996). Solus Advanced Materials acquired CFL in 2014 and entered the copper foil business based on CFL's technological expertise and knowhow. Since 2014, Solus Advanced Materials has been expanding its business presence, establishing a new footprint in Europe with its battery foil plant in Hungary in 2018. Through this strategic movement, VES was established in Luxembourg to manage and expand its global presence further. With the rapid growth of the North American EV market, VES established VES Canada (VESC), located in Quebec, Canada , to expand its business presence in the market. For more information, please visit the VES website at www.volta-energysolutions.com/ www.circuitfoil.com

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SOURCE Solus Advanced Materials
National Nonprofit Plugged 18 Wells Last Year Across Several States, Improving Air Quality and Reducing Methane Emissions

SHELBY, Mont. , Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Well Done Foundation (WDF), a national nonprofit whose mission is to plug the 3.5M orphaned oil and gas wells across the United States , had a successful year in 2023 plugging a record number of wells across the country and creating a new job market for qualified measurement specialists.

Orphaned oil and gas wells are estimated to contribute 20-30% of methane leaks in the US, which affect drinking water, harm wildlife, ruin the land, and create flooding risks. Plugging orphaned wells has an immediate impact on the environment and provides instant relief to those affected.

In 2023, Well Done Foundation plugged 18 orphan wells across four states that were leaking harmful methane gas. As a result, 850,000 metric tons of methane emissions were eliminated from the environment, equivalent to taking 56,700 cars off the road. Two of the wells plugged were on resident property, such as a trailer park community and a senior living community where the unplugged well was affecting the drinking water. Residents reported an improvement in their air and water quality after the wells were plugged. Another well plugged was on indigenous land on Blackfeet Reservation in Montana .

"2023 was a record year for well plugging and our goal is to plug even more wells in 2024," said Curtis Shuck , Chairman of Well Done Foundation. "I began this mission after seeing the impact unplugged wells have on the environment and the community and knew that there was a better way to address the orphaned well problem."

Well Done Foundation adopted 11 new orphan wells last year across three states, all of which will be measured and plugged in 2024. They also launched a Qualified Measurement Specialist (QMS) program to train and hire specialists across the country to carefully measure and monitor wells before and after plugging. WDF successfully hired four new specialists that were trained, tested and certified.

In an effort to bring more awareness and advocate for more funding in plugging wells, WDF also traveled to Washington, DC , where they met with legislation on the importance of plugging orphan wells across the country.

To date, WDF has plugged over 40 orphaned wells in several states including Pennsylvania , Ohio , Louisiana , Montana and New Mexico .

To learn more about WDF's orphan well plugging mission or make a donation to support their efforts, please visit www.welldonefoundation.org.

About the Well Done Foundation

A nonprofit formed in 2019, the Well Done Foundation's mission is to fight climate change by plugging the estimated 3.5 million orphaned oil and gas wells in the United States . The WDF works with farmers and landowners, local and state government, corporations, and other nonprofits to locate the orphaned wells, measure and document methane and CO 2 emissions, plug the wells, and restore the surface areas to their original state.

Media Contact:

Alanna Anderson

[email protected]

281.770.9084

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SOURCE Well Done Foundation
Actor Alec Baldwin departs his home, as he will be charged with involuntary manslaughter for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie "Rust", in New York, U.S., January 31, 2023. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado

By Andrew Hay

TAOS, New Mexico (Reuters) -Actor Alec Baldwin pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges of involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during filming of the Western movie "Rust" in New Mexico.

Court documents showed Baldwin, 65, entered his plea as he waived his right to an arraignment nearly two weeks after a grand jury indicted the actor on Jan. 19, reviving a criminal case that had been dismissed months earlier.

The Emmy-winning performer, who starred in the hit NBC television comedy "30 Rock," was allowed to remain free without posting bond under the arraignment waiver filed with the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe.

The case, which has sparked debate about firearms safety in the production of movies and television, has little or no precedent as an instance of a Hollywood star facing criminal prosecution for an on-set fatal shooting.

Baldwin has denied responsibility for Hutchins' death, insisting he was told the gun was "cold," meaning it contained only blank rounds, and that the weapon fired without him pulling the trigger.

The original charges were dropped over questions of whether the reproduction Colt .45 revolver Baldwin was rehearsing with could have been modified to allow the gun to go off by itself.

Prosecutors said they sought the grand jury indictment after an independent forensic test found the gun would not fire unless the trigger was pulled.

The same bullet that killed Hutchins on Oct. 21, 2021, also wounded director Joel Souza.

Baldwin's plea came days after special prosecutor Kari Morrissey said in a court filing that photos and other evidence showed the live round was brought on set by the movie's weapons handler, Hannah Gutierrez.

According to courtroom testimony and police records, the pistol was handled by Gutierrez before it was picked up by the film's assistant director, David Halls, who told Baldwin the gun was "cold."

Gutierrez faces a Feb. 21 trial on separate involuntary manslaughter charges. Halls entered a plea deal and received a six-month suspended sentence on a charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.

But the question of how a live round, strictly prohibited on film sets, was loaded into Baldwin's gun remains at the center of the cases against Gutierrez and Baldwin, who also is a producer on the film.

Prosecutors said they had photos of live rounds on set as early as Oct. 10, 2021, 11 days before Hutchins was killed.

"The investigation conducted by the special prosecutor has developed substantial evidence that Ms. Gutierrez brought the live rounds on set when she first began work on the film," Morrissey wrote in Monday's filing.

Morrissey cited images of live rounds from filming and others from photos Gutierrez took. The prosecutor said all six live rounds found on set appeared to have come from a box of dummy rounds that Gutierrez told detectives she brought onto the location.

Gutierrez's attorney Jason Bowles said prosecutors were "incorrect" in their assumptions.

"The evidence will come out at trial," he said in a statement to Reuters.

In police video, Gutierrez says the tray of rounds inside the box could easily have been swapped during production from a box that was not hers.

(Reporting by Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles and Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado; Editing by David Gregorio and Leslie Adler)
GAZA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- A Hamas delegation will visit Egypt on Wednesday to discuss the framework agreement on a truce in the Gaza Strip issued by the recent Paris meeting, a Palestinian source said on Tuesday.

The delegation will hold a meeting in the Egyptian capital of Cairo with Abbas Kamel, head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service, the source, speaking on conditions of anonymity, told Xinhua.

The meeting in Egypt will discuss the outcome of the Paris meeting, which outlined several stages for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Earlier in the day, Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, announced that Hamas received the proposal hashed out at the Paris meeting, which involves halting the violence in Gaza and releasing the hostages held by Hamas, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

"Our response to the proposal will be based on stopping Israeli aggression against Gaza and withdrawing their forces from the Gaza Strip," he said.

He added that Hamas is open to any discussions, provided that "they lead to a comprehensive cessation of aggression and providing shelter for our displaced people."

A meeting was held on Sunday in the French capital of Paris, attended by senior intelligence and government officials from the U.S., Israel, Qatar and Egypt, to discuss a deal to end the Hamas-Israel conflict in Gaza.

The Israeli delegation was led by David Barnea, chief of the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, and Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet, the Israeli internal security agency.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Tuesday that his government will not release Palestinian prisoners or withdraw forces from Gaza, despite the international efforts to achieve a ceasefire deal. 
By Maki Shiraki and Anton Bridge

TOKYO (Reuters) - The seeds of former flight attendant Mitsuko Tottori's rise to the top of Japan Airlines (JAL) were planted in the aftermath of the carrier's bankruptcy more than a decade ago.

Tottori, who rose through the ranks from cabin crew to chief customer officer, takes over as president of JAL in April, becoming one of the few women to lead a major global airline. Qantas has a woman boss and KLM and Air France are led by women who report to a male group CEO.

That ascent from cabin to boardroom is notable in a country where advancement opportunities are still limited for women: Japan's gender wage gap is the worst among the Group of Seven (G7) countries.

"Her case shows that a woman who started her career from the lowest position could become the head of the firm. It serves as a great model for women's career development in Japanese companies," said Kumiko Nemoto, a professor of management at Tokyo's Senshu University, and author of a book on gender inequality.

While Tottori's nomination is a sign of change in Japan Inc, it also reflects JAL's sweeping organisational shift after a turnaround by industrialist Kazuo Inamori following its 2010 bankruptcy.

Inamori, the founder of electronics company Kyocera and mobile operator KDDI who died in 2022, was tapped by the government to revive JAL. Known in Japan as the "God of management", the ordained Buddhist monk prized hands-on experience and said the carrier long neglected customers.

Her appointment was proof "Inamori's philosophy of focusing on the frontline still exists at JAL," one JAL executive said. Disdainful of hierarchy and the unquestioning obedience to rules, Inamori encouraged all staff to act as business leaders, the executive said.

Reuters spoke to seven JAL and industry sources, all of whom declined to be identified so they could speak freely.

Tottori becomes the fourth post-bankruptcy president and the first former flight attendant. Two of her predecessors came from engineering and maintenance and one was a pilot.

JAL's board wanted its next president to have experience in the trenches, three executives said. Current boss Yuji Akasaka, who becomes chairman in April, came from engineering and maintenance.

Outgoing chairman Yoshiharu Ueki, a former pilot, was particularly opposed to having a president with little practical experience, said one of the executives, a person familiar with JAL's thinking.

Tottori was not available for an interview now, a JAL representative said. The airline declined comment.

'CAREER TRACK'

Tottori's long experience managing cabin crews and safety was one of the reasons she was selected, Akasaka told a press conference this month.

She joined carrier Japan Air System (JAS) in 1985 at a time when becoming a jet-setting flight attendant was considered glamorous and overseas travel was expensive and out of reach for many.

The largely domestic JAS, which lacked the cachet of JAL, was later absorbed by the bigger carrier.

By the time JAL made Tottori a senior manager of cabin safety in 2013, the airline had implemented Inamori's management system, where leaders of business units meet monthly to share cost-saving ideas and competitive intelligence.

"She may look quiet on the outside, but she has a strong core," one of the executives said. "She speaks her mind firmly at meetings."

Women of Tottori's generation were rarely put on the career-track, leaving companies now with few internal candidates, said Nobuko Tabata, a partner at executive search firm Egon Zehnder who advises on gender diversity.

As such, the former flight attendant has broken "multiple glass ceilings" and other companies could look to follow by rehauling their training and promotion policies, Tabata said.

A fifth of JAL's 32 executive officers are women, including Tottori. Women account for just 4.7% of executive officers at big Japanese companies, according to a government survey. The percentage is higher when outside board members are included.

In 2019, Tottori was put in charge of the cabin safety department and impressed the demanding Akasaka with well-reasoned points at executive meetings, according to one JAL source familiar with the matter.

"She struck a chord with Akasaka," the source said.

'DECORATION'

JAL's crew was lauded this month for a cool-headed response in seeing all 367 passengers safely off a burning jet after a collision with a Coast Guard plane at Tokyo's Haneda airport.

Internally, the crew's actions were seen as the result of measures taken following a 2016 emergency at Hokkaido's New Chitose Airport, when three people were injured after passengers ignored warnings and evacuated with hand luggage, an executive said.

After New Chitose, Tottori retooled the in-flight safety video to emphasise leaving hand luggage behind and in the Haneda incident, all passengers evacuated empty-handed, the executive said.

Akasaka said this month the decision on Tottori was made in autumn and not related to events at Haneda.

Tottori herself appears to have a sense of having missed out in moving around in her career.

She told Nikkei ESG she had spent a "long time" dealing with cabin operations and hoped younger employees could work in different departments to gain wider knowledge.

Many Japanese still see top women executives as "decoration" - brought in just to address gender imbalances, said Senshu's Nemoto.

Tottori's promotion could change that and send a message "that she truly earned her current position by accumulating skills and experiences inside the firm," she said.

(Reporting by Maki Shiraki and Anton Bridge; Editing by David Dolan and Jacqueline Wong)
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Germany's Bayer will contract a third party to distribute its pharmaceutical products in four African markets including Kenya, it said, adding that the impact on jobs will be minimal.

The company, which has 200 employees in the region, said the move that targets Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Ghana, will not impact its crop science division, which makes up 90% of the business.

Bayer will hand over the warehousing, distribution and sales representation of the medicines business, including for oncology and ophthalmology, to an unidentified third company beginning in May, it said.

The company did not say how many jobs would be affected, saying the process of identifying those roles was ongoing.

The move mirrors that of Britain's GSK, which said in late 2022 it would switch to a third-party distribution model for its medicines and vaccines in Kenya, and close down its commercial organisation in the East African nation.

(Reporting by Duncan Miriri; editing by Jason Neely)
General view of the site of the derailment of a train carrying hazardous waste, in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S., March 2, 2023. REUTERS/Alan Freed/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will visit East Palestine, Ohio, next month to meet with residents and assess efforts to address last year's Norfolk Southern train derailment that spilled toxic chemicals and triggered health concerns, a White House official said on Wednesday.

The White House did not give a specific date for the planned trip, which comes one year after the Feb. 3, 2023, accident that forced residents to abandon their homes after the train caught fire and released over a million gallons of hazardous materials and pollutants near the state's border with Pennsylvania.

Billowing black plumes of smoke that swept over the town after the accident outraged East Palestine residents, many of whom have suffered from rashes, breathing problems and other ailments since the accident.

Fearing long-term health effects, the town of 4,700 people has pressed for accountability. Federal and state lawsuits have been filed against the company amid calls for congressional reforms.

"The Administration will continue to support the people of East Palestine and other affected communities for as long as it takes, including by using every available tool to hold Norfolk Southern accountable," the White House official said in a statement announcing the visit.

But while the lawsuits filed by the U.S. Justice Department and the state of Ohio aim to ensure that Norfolk Southern pays the full cost of cleanup and any long-term effects of the derailment, efforts to pass bipartisan rail safety legislation has stalled in Congress.

Since December 2021, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched investigations into at least six significant accidents involving Norfolk Southern, including the East Palestine incident, as well as one into the company's safety practices and culture.

The Transportation Department's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in August said Norfolk Southern needs "significant improvements."

Norfolk Southern has said that environmental monitoring by state and federal agencies shows that the air and water in East Palestine are safe. The railroad said it backs programs to compensate medical costs and protect drinking water.

The company in September said it would start compensating homeowners near the site who had to sell their homes at a reduced value in the wake of the derailment.

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Susan Heavey; Editing by Mark Porter)
FILE PHOTO: Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun speaks with reporters ahead of meeting with U.S. senators on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 24, 2024. REUTERS/Valerie Insinna/File Photo

(Reuters) - Boeing Co CEO Dave Calhoun said on Wednesday he was convinced that the door plug issue that has sparked a safety and quality crisis at the planemaker was "completely under control."

In an interview to CNBC, Calhoun also apologized to United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby after the carrier's top boss earlier this month called the 737 MAX 9's partial grounding "the straw that broke the camel's back."

"I am going to work my tail off and our team will to satisfy Kirby," Calhoun added.

(Reporting by Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
FILE PHOTO: A side-view mirror of a tractor shows herbicide being sprayed in a field of soybeans, near Brasilia, Brazil February 12, 2022. Picture taken February 12, 2022. REUTERS/Adriano Machado

By Ana Mano

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - An agency tasked with patrolling federal roads in Brazil has reported a surge in volumes of illegal pesticides seized from criminals in the last eight years, including a record 358 metric tons apprehended in 2022 when the country harvested close to 300 million tons of grains.

According to information sent to Reuters by the federal highway police (PRF), herbicide Paraqua t, banned in 2021, and insecticides Thiamethoxam and Emamectin Benzoate are among chemicals most commonly seized by authorities.

The parallel trade in pesticides, which would represent about 20% of the entire Brazilian market, according to a lobby group, highlights supply chain risks faced by global grain traders in farm powerhouse Brazil.

Criminals smuggle, steal and adulterate products, enforcement agencies say. And because adulterated pesticides are produced from insecticides, herbicides and fungicides "of a lesser commercial value," their application can spoil crops, the PRF said.

Increasingly, criminals are using structures involving front companies that arrange false invoices, produce fake labels, smuggle and move the illegal products.

The parallel market also represents a human health scare.

For example, authorities tested batches of seized insecticide Thiamethoxam that showed a 95% concentration of the active ingredient, whereas the highest concentration allowed in Brazil is 50%, the PRF said.

Brazil's only approved Emamectin Benzoate insecticide, used to control larvae and caterpillars, has a 50 gram per kilogram concentration of the active ingredient in its composition. But the same smuggled product can have concentrations ranging from 100 to 300 grams per kilogram, PRF's test data showed.

Brazil imports chemicals used to protect crops from nations, including China and India, accounting for an estimated 20% of global pesticide use.

The country is a key market for companies like Syngenta, Basf and Bayer.

Last year, the industry welcomed a new law setting harsher penalties for those producing, storing or shipping illegal pesticides in Brazil.

The new law was signed as seizures of illegal pesticides rose threefold in eight years, to 195.7 tons in 2023, according to PRF data.

(Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
(Reuters) - U.S. freight broker C.H. Robinson missed analysts' estimates for fourth-quarter results on Wednesday, hurt by lower freight demand, sending its shares down about 4% in extended trading.

The logistics industry has been operating in a low volume environment on account of a shift in consumer spending from goods to services post pandemic, coupled with shipping disruptions and supply chain issues.

"Our fourth-quarter results did not meet our expectations as we continue to battle through a poor demand and pricing environment," C.H. Robinson's CEO Dave Bozeman said in a statement.

"Weak freight demand in an elongated market trough, combined with excess carrier capacity, continued to result in a very competitive market," Bozeman added.

The company's revenue fell about 17% to $4.2 billion in the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with analysts' average estimate of $4.34 billion, according to LSEG data.

On an adjusted basis, it earned 50 cents per share, versus analysts' expectations of 81 cents per share.

(Reporting by Abhinav Parmar and Nathan Gomes; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
By Promit Mukherjee

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne played down Britain's suspension of trade talks with the country last week as he signed agreements with the UK to enhance cooperation on innovation, science and artificial intelligence (AI).

Champagne and Britain's Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan late on Tuesday signed two agreements in Ottawa to collaborate on creating processing and information handling technologies needed to develop AI-linked tools.

Britain suspended talks on a free trade deal with Canada last week, saying the pair could not find a common ground for access to agricultural markets.

"When it comes to how we are going to approach trade, I think that you have proof today... there may be a slight pause there, (but) we're doubling down in our key relationship," Champagne told Reuters in an interview after the agreements were signed.

"We have been trading for two centuries, so I have all confidence that we will overcome that," Champagne added, although he did not say when he thought talks could resume.

Donelan, speaking in the same interview, said the country is looking to deepen its relationship with Canada.

The signing of the two agreements "highlights the importance of our strategic relationship and the ability of us to work together to maximize potential," she said, also without indicating when talks might resume.

Total bilateral trade in goods and services between the two countries was 25.9 billion pounds ($32.9 billion) in the year ending June 30, 2023, with Canada the UK's 18th biggest trading partner. Britain accounts for 2.7% of Canada's total bilateral trade.

(Reporting by Promit Mukherjee; Editing by Steve Scherer, Kirsten Donovan)
FILE PHOTO: A person walks by the logo of the European Commission near its entrance in Brussels, Belgium, February 1, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman

By Julia Payne

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission will start informal high-level meetings with member states on Saturday on the details of a proposed new set of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, three diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.

The EU is keen to put a 13th package of measures together to mark the second anniversary of the war on Feb. 24.

The discussions that begin on Saturday are a final step before the Commission officially delivers a new package to be debated and voted on by EU countries in the Council.

The proposal is expected to focus on closing more loopholes on circumvention, especially for items that can be used on the battlefield, as well as a number of new listings on individuals and entities.

One source added that some minor sectoral measures such as new import bans were also likely.

Poland and the Baltic states have been calling for import bans on Russian aluminium and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

With EU elections looming in June, the bloc is pushing hard to secure more funding for Ukraine through a potential 50 billion euro ($54.06 billion) package, military aid as well as using revenues from frozen Russian central bank assets.

($1 = 0.9249 euros)

(Reporting by Julia Payne; Editing by Sandra Maler)
By Michelle Nichols, Tom Perry and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber

NEW YORK/BEIRUT/GENEVA (Reuters) - Any halt to operations by the U.N. Palestinian agency over Israeli accusations that some of its staff took part in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack could hamstring the entire humanitarian effort in devastated Gaza, aid agencies say.

Donors are demanding a swift investigation before resuming funding, though they have praised the work of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in Gaza and its response so far to the allegations.

UNRWA believes it has responded rapidly and transparently to Israel's allegations, which came as Israel faced a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over the Gaza war, and after years of it calling for the agency to be disbanded.

Israel's offensive in the Palestinian enclave has caused the world's most acute humanitarian crisis, with 85% of Gaza's 2.3 million inhabitants homeless, large numbers starving and others falling sick.

UNRWA is at the heart of all aid work in Gaza through its 13,000 employees in the enclave, its clinics and schools, many now acting as packed shelters, and its logistics hubs.

"The entire aid system in Gaza will be closer to the point of collapse," said Shaina Low, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council, calling UNRWA "vital in coordinating aid and providing shelter".

"No other organisation than UNRWA has the infrastructure to do the work that they do," said the U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

Some 15 of the agency's most important donors, including top two the United States and Germany, have suspended funding over Israel's allegations.

About $440 million is at risk, said UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma.

"The decision to suspend funding from these countries is tantamount to a death sentence for Palestinians," the charity Action Aid said.

The agency and the wider U.N. now face a race to persuade donors they have responded appropriately to Israel's accusations before money runs out at the end of February.

PROACTIVE

It is not clear how long the investigation by the U.N.'s oversight office may take. It was important for it to be thorough and "unimpeachable", but also swift, U.N. spokesperson Dujarric said.

Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy accused UNRWA of acting "as a front for Hamas" and said it was "not bad apples" that were the problem but a systemic failure to address accusations of support for extremism in its ranks.

Responding to those comments, Touma said UNRWA had on Jan. 17 ordered an independent review to establish the truth of longstanding claims about UNRWA and its staff.

Inside the organisation, the accusation that 12 staff members took part in the Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel had come as a deep shock.

"If these allegations are true, they are a betrayal of U.N. values and a betrayal of the people we serve," Touma said.

The organisation believes it has acted quickly despite Israel only making direct accusations to it about 12 staff while allegations were leaked to media that a larger number of employees have Hamas links.

"UNRWA took a very proactive approach," said Touma the UNRWA spokesperson. Its head Philippe Lazzarini went to the U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and to the U.S. and other top donors after Israel verbally told him on Jan. 18 it had evidence against 12 UNRWA staff, she said.

Lazzarini fired those allegedly involved, an unusual step he is allowed to take "in the best interests of the agency", Touma said.

"UNRWA then went public with the information before anyone else," she added.

Neither Israel nor any other official source has shared with UNRWA a dossier alleging that 190 of the agency's staff members in Gaza are Hamas or Islamic Jihad militants, but learned about it only when reported in the press, Touma said. Reuters viewed and reported on the Israel intelligence dossier on Monday.

UNRWA regularly shares lists of its employees with Israel and with the governments of countries hosting Palestinian refugees. It last did so in May 2023, Touma said. Israel has never provided a response to those lists "let alone an objection", she said.

A spokesperson for Israel's government did not respond to Reuters questions on what information they had shared with UNRWA and the UN and major donors or about how long it had known about Hamas links to UNRWA employees.

LONG-TERM ROLE

Israel has long criticised UNRWA and says its mandate should be given to other U.N. agencies. Its 30,000 staff provide schooling and primary health clinics for Palestinian refugees in several Middle East countries.

The first ever U.N. agency, UNRWA was established by a resolution of the body's General Assembly in 1949 to look after refugees who fled or were pushed from their homes when Israel was created.

Israel has long criticised the curriculum taught in schools UNRWA runs and disputes the agency's count of refugees - an important political issue in any eventual peace talks, with Palestinians demanding a right of return.

"Israel would like there to be an existential threat to UNRWA because they mistakenly think if you get rid of UNRWA then you suddenly get rid of the refugees and their right to return," said former UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness.

"Palestinians have been told across U.N. facilities that they are still refugees from a war that took place decades ago, that they possess a right that does not exist," said the Israeli spokesperson Levy.

However, UNRWA's mandate was renewed by the U.N. General Assembly in 2023 until mid 2026 and the agency could only be disbanded by a new General Assembly resolution.

(Reporting by Tom Perry and Maya Gebeily in Beirut, Michelle Nichols in New York, Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman, Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, Emma Farge and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber in Geneva, John Irish in Paris, Alexander Ratz and Andreas Rinke in Berlin; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Christina Fincher)
The logo of Uber is seen at a temporary showroom at the Promenade road during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023, in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland, January 20, 2023. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -The Dutch data protection authority (DPA) on Wednesday fined Uber 10 million euros ($11 million) for infringement of privacy regulations regarding its drivers' personal data.

The DPA found that Uber had not specified in its terms and conditions for how long it retained its drivers' personal data, or how it secured the data when sending it to entities in countries, which it had not named, outside the European Economic Area (EEA).

Uber also obstructed its drivers' efforts to exercise their right to privacy by making personal data access requests unnecessarily complicated, the authority added, noting though that Uber had taken steps to fix the issues flagged.

"The Dutch data protection authority has acknowledged that Uber fixed the small number of 'low impact' issues raised by the drivers, while dismissing the vast majority of their claims as unfounded," an Uber spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement to Reuters.

The spokesperson added that the company continuously works on improving its data request processes.

The fine was imposed after more than 170 French drivers complained to a French human rights organisation, which lodged a complaint with the French data protection authority. However, as Uber has its European headquarters in the Netherlands, it was forwarded to the DPA.

($1 = 0.9228 euros)

(Reporting by Piotr Lipinski; Editing by Louise Heavens and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a residential compound in Dongcheng District while inspecting work on fire safety in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has called for eliminating safety risks and resolutely curbing the frequent occurrence of fire accidents.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected work on fire safety in Beijing on Tuesday.

The vice premier urged efforts to focus on key locations, identify and address fire hazards, and safeguard the safety of people's lives and property.

He visited multiple places in the districts of Dongcheng and Chaoyang and stressed drawing lessons from the recent fire accidents.

Measures should be taken to tackle prominent problems, intensify joint inspections across government organs, and resolutely rectify problems, the vice premier said.

Zhang also demanded fire rescue teams and related departments step up the elimination of fire risks, strengthen supervision and law enforcement, and enhance fire safety education among the public. 

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a fire rescue station in Chaoyang District while inspecting work on fire safety in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
By Dawit Endeshaw

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - At least 372 people have died in two northern Ethiopian regions from drought-induced hunger in the last six months, a senior government official said on Wednesday, adding to the regions' challenges arising from conflict.

Endale Haile, head of the Ethiopian Institution of the Ombudsman, which receives complaints from the public against government departments, said its investigations found that 351 people had died in the Tigray region, while another 21 had died in neighbouring Amhara.

Endale said the findings were from a 10-day assessment in the two regions, and it was possible there were more deaths.

"If we expand our sample the death figure may increase. But our main purpose is for the government to give the issue an attention and inform them how the issue is getting serious. So that they will take actions," he told Reuters.

Legesse Tulu, government spokesperson, Mengasha Fentaw, spokesperson of Amhara region and Redaei Halefom, spokesperson of Tigray, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the deaths.

Ethiopia's food crisis has deepened in recent years as a result of war in the Tigray region and the Horn of Africa's worst drought in decades, with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) saying just over 20 million people are in need of assistance.

Thereafter, on and off fighting in Amhara, which has also experienced prolonged drought, between Amhara state forces and local militiamen became Ethiopia's biggest security crisis since the end of a two-year civil war in Tigray in 2022.

In late December, Getachew Reda, the president of Tigray region's interim administration, said 91% of the region's population was at risk of starvation and death and the situation was beyond the administration's capacity to handle.

At the time, government spokesperson Legesse rejected the report saying it lacked factual correctness.

Last May, the WFP suspended food aid to Tigray following reports of widespread theft of donations. It then suspended aid to all of Ethiopia in June, following the same action from the United States.

WFP resumed limited distribution in August, while the U.S. resumed in December.

(Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Aaron Ross and Alex Richardson)
KINSHASA (Reuters) - Fighting between ethnic communities left 11 people dead in western Congo on Tuesday, a local authority and civil society leader said after their bodies were collected on Wednesday.

The conflict between Teke and Yaka communities that started in 2022 over a land dispute caused a deterioration in the humanitarian and security situation in several provinces near the capital Kinshasa.

At least 3,000 people have been killed and more than 150,000 displaced by the conflict, according to the United Nations.

The clashes in Mai-Ndombe province killed 10 Mobondo militants, allied with the Yaka community, and one soldier, village chief Stany Libie and civil society leader Martin Suta told Reuters.

Both accused the government of failing to put an end to the conflict.

"People are dying, villages are emptying, soldiers are falling, and we wonder why the government has been unable to take effective measures to resolve this problem once and for all for the past two years," Libie said.

Congo's army did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

(Reporting by Ange Kasongo; Additional reporting by Sonia Rolley; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian and Portia Crowe; Editing by David Gregorio)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union is facing a dilemma over its remaining presence in Mali and the wider West African Sahel region, since it does not want to cooperate with Russia's expanding military forces, its top diplomat said on Wednesday.

The decision by junta-led Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to withdraw from West African bloc ECOWAS has further complicated EU presence in the region, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said ahead of a defence ministers meeting in Brussels.

"It is very significant that these three states, all of them with military dictatorships, decided to leave the regional body ... at the same time that we see the Russian influence increase," Borrell said.

"This creates a new geopolitical configuration of this area."

He added that Russia's presence was already strong in Mali and could be soon in Niger and Burkina Faso. The EU has until May 24 to decide whether or not to stay in Mali, Borrell said.

"We still have a couple of missions in Mali that have not been withdrawn, but... we don't want to cooperate with Africa Corps," he added.

Africa Corps is the name of the Russian military presence that has succeeded Wagner group, the mercenary force that deployed to Mali in 2021. Last week a contingent flew to Burkina Faso.

The democratic governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger were all overthrown in military coups since 2020. All face an Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands and displaced millions.

The junta-led states have distanced themselves from former colonial ruler France, kicking out its troops and turning toward Russia as an economic and security partner instead.

The EU already halted part of its training of Mali's armed forces in 2022, citing the risk of Russian interference.

It still has a training mission known as EUTM Mali and a civilian crisis management mission, EUCAP Sahel Mali.

In December, Niger's ruling junta revoked the country's military partnership with the European Union, known as EUCAP Sahel Niger.

(Reporting by Bate Felix and John Irish; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
(Reuters) - Ukraine's government has submitted an amended draft bill that would tighten the rules on army mobilisation for debate in parliament. The bill, if passed, would allow Kyiv to call up more people and tighten punishments for draft dodging.

An earlier version of the bill drew criticism from some politicians and members of the public. It was rejected by lawmakers in parliament and sent back for changes to be made.

The amended version has retained the main proposals of the initial one, but it has softened some of them.

WHY HAVE THE PROPOSALS BEEN MADE?

Ukraine began mobilising civilians after declaring martial law in February 2022 when Russia invaded. An influx of volunteer fighters helped at first but their number has dwindled. Nine thousand criminal cases have been opened into draft evasion, according to Kyiv.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last month the military had proposed mobilising 450,000-500,000 more people. Army chief General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi has said the figure takes into account the military's plans and projections of possible losses.

PUNISHMENTS FOR DRAFT EVASION

The bill sets out punishments for those who flout the law on mobilisation, which governs how civilians are conscripted into the army during martial law.

The bill would allow courts to freeze assets and impose restrictions on going abroad or driving a vehicle for people who fail to abide by the mobilization rules and do not report to registration centres.

Citizens of military age would be obliged to carry military registration documents with them and police would have the right to check them at any time.

MOBILISATION AGE

The amended bill proposes lowering the age people can be mobilised for combat duty to 25 from 27. Such a move would allow Ukraine to call up more people to replenish its reserves. The exact figures have not been made public for security reasons.

Parliament approved this same change last spring but it did not come into force because Zelenskiy did not sign it.

ONLINE CALL-UPS

Draft offices would be able to issue online call-ups to people via an account that citizens would be obliged to have.

Such a step would make it harder to evade draft officers who currently give call-up papers to civilians in the street or send them to people's known home addresses.

DEMOBILISATION

The bill proposes discharging soldiers who have served continuously for 36 months during martial law. This is a sensitive issue for families of soldiers who have been fighting for almost two years and are exhausted. There is currently no time limit on wartime military service.

Nonetheless, demobilisation in this case would not be automatic.

MILITARY REGISTRATION FOR THOSE ABROAD

Martial law prohibits men of military age from going abroad and there is no common procedure to call up people abroad.

It is unclear what the process would look like as the bill only says it is to be determined by the government.

The draft proposes tracking people who are abroad and requiring them to have up-to-date military registration.

Receiving consular services for things like passports would require citizens to present their military registration documents.

OTHER PROVISIONS

Under a new provision in the bill, people who received a suspended sentence would be allowed to serve. Convicts are currently banned from any type of service - either compulsory or volunteer - in the army.

The bill removes the right of some categories of civil servant to defer their conscription. The Defence Ministry introduced this change to make military registration fair and equal for all.

After mobilisation, all people must undergo a compulsory two-three months training to be sent to a combat area.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCESS

Now the bill has been submitted to lawmakers, it needs to be approved by a committee before being sent to parliament for debate in two or three readings. It is likely to change during that process. Once passed, it has to be signed by the president before it becomes law.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Tom Balmforth)
TOKYO (Reuters) -Fire broke out at the Taketoyo thermal power station in Aichi prefecture in central Japan on Wednesday, prompting plant operations to be suspended, but the fire was put out by late evening, its owner JERA said.

Taketoyo has a power generation capacity of 1,070 MW, making it among the largest in Japan. JERA, a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power, is Japan's largest utility power company.

In a statement on Wednesday, JERA said that at around 3:14 p.m. local time (0614 GMT), smoke was detected and fire was discovered on the belt conveyor transporting fuel at the plant.

Operation at the facility was suspended shortly after, the JERA statement said, adding that there were no injuries.

Separately, a JERA spokesperson said it was not yet clear what had caused the fire and when the plant would resume operations.

The plant is located about 40 km (25 miles) south of Nagoya, the biggest city in central Japan.

Chubu Electric Power, which serves the nation's industrial heartland, said it did not expect the halt in power production at the fire-stricken plant to affect its electricity supply to end users.

(Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama, Mariko Katsumura, Kaori Kaneko and Kantaro Komiya, Kiyoshi Takenaka; Writing by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Kim Coghill, Tom Hogue, Janane Venkatraman and Louise Heavens)
FILE PHOTO: Parked planes are seen at Boryspil International Airport after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - Aircraft leasing firms have secured settlements with Russia totalling more than $2.5 billion for over a quarter of the roughly 400 aircraft stuck in the country since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In return, international lessors are handing ownership of the planes to state insurance company NSK, which will transfer them to Russian airlines.

NLK-Finance, a subsidiary of NSK, has been allocated 296.8 billion roubles ($3.31 billion) to date to buy out aircraft that have been the subject of a stand-off between international lessors and insurers, Russia's finance ministry said this month.

The impact of these settlements on lawsuits launched by lessors against Western insurers was unclear, the heads of aircraft lessors DAE Capital and Aircastle Advisor told the Airline Economics conference in Dublin this week.

Lessors have been suing dozens of insurers over losses of at least $8 billion over the trapped planes, with vast court trials scheduled in Dublin in June and London in October. Some are also being heard in U.S. states.

In separate litigation, groups of lessors are trying to prevent reinsurance cases worth more than $4 billion from being heard in Moscow, a court filing shows.

Below are details of settlements reached to date between lessors and Russia.

AERCAP

Ireland-based AerCap, the world's largest lessor, said last September it had received $645 million from NSK in a settlement over 17 jets and five spare engines leased to state-controlled airline Aeroflot and its subsidiary Rossiya.

In December, the lessor reached a second settlement worth $572 million over 47 aircraft and five spare engines leased to JSC Ural Airlines and JSC Siberia Airlines (S7).

AerCap has sued insurers such as AIG and Lloyd's of London for $3.5 billion over the loss of 116 aircraft and 23 aircraft engines in London's High Court under its all-risks policy.

AIRCASTLE ADVISOR

Aircastle said earlier this month it had received $43 million in a settlement relating to four aircraft formerly on lease to two Russian airlines.

Aircastle filed a claim in New York against more than 30 insurers in October 2022 over nine aircraft and other equipment stranded in Russia.

Aircastle said in 2022 it had booked $252 million in impairment losses for the jets.

AIR LEASE

Air Lease said in December it had received about $64.9 million in cash as part of an insurance claim settlement for four Airbus jets it had leased to S7 Airlines. The settlement does not include five other aircraft previously leased to S7.

BOC AVIATION

BOC Aviation said in November it had received $208 million under an insurance settlement for eight aircraft stuck in Russia. Singapore-based BOC recognised an $804 million asset write-down in August 2022 relating to 17 aircraft in Russia. BOC is suing insurers through courts in Dublin.

CDB AVIATION

Irish-based lessor CDB Aviation, owned by the China Development Bank, said in October it had settled for 1.417 billion yuan ($197.50 million) over four planes and in December said it had settled for 145 million yuan for one plane.

CDB Aviation recognised a 747 million yuan asset write-down in August 2022 but said this was not the full value of the jets. CDB is pursuing a claim against insurers in Dublin.

DUBAI AEROSPACE

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise said in December it had received a cash settlement totalling around $118 million for seven aircraft previously leased to Aeroflot.

It wrote off almost $600 million for 19 aircraft stuck in Russia in 2022. DAE and its subsidiary Falcon are suing 11 insurers for $900 million in London over 21 aircraft and equipment.

GA TELESIS

GA Telesis said in December it received an insurance settlement for two planes previously leased to Rossiya. It did not provide financial details.

SMBC AVIATION CAPITAL

Irish-headquartered SMBC, owned by a consortium including Japan's Sumitomo Corp and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, said in October it had received a settlement of $710 million for 16 aircraft and their engines previously leased to Aeroflot.

SMBC recorded an impairment of $1.6 billion in 2022 to cover the full financial impact of having 34 jets stuck in Russia. It is suing insurers in Dublin.

($1 = 89.5650 roubles)

($1 = 7.1746 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Compiled by Carolyn Cohn, Kirstin Ridley and Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Mark Potter)
Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk gets in a Tesla car as he leaves a hotel in Beijing, China May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo

(Reuters) - A judge on Tuesday invalidated Elon Musk's record $56 billion pay package from Tesla, which was approved by the company's shareholders in 2018. Tesla estimated in 2018 that the fair value of Musk's award on the grant date was $2.284 billion, according to Equilar.

Below is a look at some of the largest corporate compensation agreements based on the estimated value of the equity awards on the date the awards were granted, as compiled by Equilar, which specializes in corporate pay analysis. The recipients were chief executives unless noted.

Stephen Schwarzman, Blackstone, 2008 $1.385 billion

Alexander Karp, Palantir, 2020 $1.099 billion

Daniel Och, Sculptor Capital Management, $919 million

2008

Jeffrey Terry Green, The Trade Desk, $835 million

2021

Vladimir Tenev, Robinhood Markets, 2021 $796 million

Stephen Schwarzman, Blackstone, 2007 $729 million

Michael Douglas Rees, co-president, Blue $701 million

Owl Capital, 2021

Evan Spiegel, Snap, 2017 $638 million

Baiju Bhatt, Robinhood Markets, 2021 $594 million

Peter Dore Rawlinson, Lucid Group, 2021 $566 million

The data for the Blackstone Group and Sculptor Capital Management in 2007-2008 include expensed values of equity awards.

The data was compiled in August 2023.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
FILE PHOTO: Plants hang from lights at a display of German energy firm Uniper during the LNG 2023 energy trade show in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo

FRANKFURT/BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany is considering selling part of its 99% stake in utility Uniper, which was bailed out during Europe's energy crisis, as early as this year, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Uniper had to be rescued by Berlin in 2022 after Russia, once Germany's biggest supplier of natural gas, stopped sending the fuel via the Nord Stream pipeline, forcing the company to buy replacement volumes at sky-high prices on the spot market.

This led to Germany pumping 13.5 billion euros ($14.7 billion) into Uniper to prevent it from collapse, giving Berlin a 99% stake it must cut to a maximum of 25% plus one share by the end of 2028 under the terms of EU backing for the deal.

This, the sources said, could happen via a stake sale or so-called re-IPO but would likely mean that the government would remain majority shareholder for the time being to make sure Uniper keeps its vital investment grade credit rating.

Germany's Finance Ministry, which oversees the Uniper stake, declined to comment, only repeating its obligation to cut its holding under European Union requirements.

A spokesperson for Uniper also declined to comment on the news, which was first reported by Bloomberg.

"But of course we are in constant dialogue with the German government as our owner," the spokesperson said, pointing to last month's capital reduction that is meant to restore Uniper's ability to pay dividends as one precondition for a state exit.

Berlin's stake is currently worth around 23.8 billion euros, which the sources said was mainly due to the government's engagement, adding that any stake sale may require a discount.

($1 = 0.9200 euros)

(Reporting by Christoph Steitz, Nette Noestlinger and Holger Hansen; Editing by Rachel More and Mark Potter)
FILE PHOTO: President of the Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution Hans-Georg Maassen attends a news conference in Berlin, Germany July 24, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo

By Thomas Escritt

BERLIN (Reuters) - Hans-Georg Maassen, who until five years ago was responsible for protecting Germany against violent and extremist threats to its democracy, is himself now being monitored by the security agency he ran, the bureaucrat-turned-politician said.

Maassen was dismissed as head of Germany's Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) in 2018 after appearing to play down the threat of violence by right-wing extremists who at the time were rioting in an eastern German city.

Since, the lawyer has become known for his increasingly radical commentary on the supposed threat immigration poses to Germany, becoming a hero to far-right activists including some in the circles surrounding Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, the aristocrat who led a foiled coup attempt in 2022.

"Germany is clearly afraid of me," he said on X, adding the country was using the internal security agency to monitor him and the party he has founded.

Asked about surveillance of Maassen, the BfV said privacy law meant it could not comment on individual cases. But Maassen published on his website a letter from the BfV, sent in response to a Freedom of Information request by his lawyer, confirming that he featured extensively in their databases tracking extremists.

Maassen did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Tichys Einblick, a blog that supports him, quoted him as saying: "The allegations are without substance and unjustified."

Last month, Maassen announced he was setting up a party, one of several new launches aiming to capture voters who polls say are increasingly disenchanted with Germany's dominant parties of the centre left and right.

Maassen's post-BfV career as a far-right icon has been a growing embarrassment to Germany's security services as they contend with a burgeoning far-right scene that is profiting from a lacklustre economy and stretched public services.

As BfV chief, he was in effect Germany's chief hunter of neo-Nazis. The documents released to him by the BfV show him being repeatedly praised by far-right figures.

"The right-wing extremist Bernhard Schraub, in a letter to Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, described your client as an 'upstanding republican'," the BfV's first example reads. Only unclassified material features in freedom of information releases.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
ATHENS (Reuters) - Sixteen aid workers who were involved in refugee rescues on the Greek island of Lesbos at the peak of a refugee crisis have been acquitted of espionage charges by a court, a defence lawyer said on Wednesday.

In total 24 aid workers, including Greeks and foreigners, affiliated with the Emergency Response Center International, a nonprofit search-and-rescue group operating on Lesbos from 2016 to 2018, were charged. The island was then on the frontline of Europe's refugee crisis, with scores of asylum-seekers from Africa, the Middle East and Asia arriving daily.

The aid workers, who faced charges of espionage, belonging to a criminal group, people-smuggling and money-laundering, denied any wrongdoing.

Eight foreign humanitarian aid workers were acquitted of espionage charges last year. The trial for the rest began on Jan. 9 and concluded late on Tuesday after several sessions.

"The court in Lesbos ruled yesterday that the 16 aid workers are innocent," Zacharias Kesses, defence lawyer for some of those acquitted, told Reuters.

The court ruled that no evidence was presented to substantiate the espionage charges, Kesses said, adding that the trial for the other charges was pending for all the defendants.

The United Nations human rights office has said the case has had a chilling effect on humanitarian organizations in the region and called for the charges to be dropped.

(Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou; Additional reporting by Renee Maltezou, Editing by Kylie Maclellan)
PREAH SIHANOUK, Cambodia, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Wednesday ordered the permanent closure of all private shooting ranges in the coastal province of Preah Sihanouk.

Speaking at the launching event of a special program to boost investment in the province, Hun Manet said the move was to enhance security, safety and public order for local people, tourists and investors in the province.

"I think that tourists to Preah Sihanouk province do not want to learn how to shoot a gun, but they want to see the beauty of our islands, so shut down all those private shooting ranges and don't allow them to be reopened," he said.

The prime minister also instructed local authorities not to allow tourists or civilians to shoot a gun at any shooting ranges owned by the army in the province.

He advised local authorities to enforce law against all forms of crimes, particularly drug trafficking and illegal use of weapons.

According to the prime minister, there are two private shooting ranges in Preah Sihanouk province.

Meanwhile, Hun Manet announced that Cambodia will no longer issue licenses to operate shooting ranges across the country. 
FILE PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event, ahead of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election, in Conway, South Carolina, U.S., January 28, 2

By James Oliphant

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fighting for survival in the Republican presidential race, Nikki Haley is casting rival Donald Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden as "Grumpy Old Men" who are way past their primes in a new strategic effort that looks to tap into voters' apathy toward a 2020 rematch.

Haley's campaign said on Wednesday it was rolling out digital ads and mailers that would raise doubts about both Trump and Bidens mental acuity, criticize them for not campaigning more vigorously and cast them as profligate spenders.

Haley, who is 52 and a former ambassador to the United Nations, has made age and mental fitness for the presidency an issue in the race like few politicians in the modern era. Saying it is time for a new generation of leadership in Washington, she has called for competency tests for politicians older than 75 and is an advocate for term limits for lawmakers.

Her argument may carry some resonance in an election where the president is 81 and his likely challenger, Trump, is 77, and where many Americans say they are frustrated by their lack of options.

The title of Haley's new attack campaign is modeled after the 1993 hit comedy starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau as cantankerous seniors. Upcoming episodes include titles such as "Stumbling Seniors" and "Debate Dodgers," her campaign said.

Sadly, this version of Grumpy Old Men offers no comic relief  just chaos, confusion and a bad sense of deja vu for the American people, said Haley spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas.

Campaign spokespeople for Trump and Biden, who have also at times questioned the other's competence, did not respond to a request for comment on the new Haley effort.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week showed widespread apathy among the electorate about a 2024 rematch between the president and former president, along with deep concern about both men's fitness for the job.

According to the poll, 67% of respondents said they were "tired of seeing the same candidates in presidential elections and want someone new. And 75% of poll respondents agreed with a statement that Biden was too old to work in government, while half said the same about Trump.

On the campaign trail, Haley has long mocked Bidens mental fitness. In New Hampshire earlier this month, she began lumping Trump and Biden together.

Haley suggested Trump was suffering from cognitive decline after he apparently confused her with former House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi in remarks during a rally.

Do we really want to go into an election with two fellas that are going to be president in their eighties? Haley told a crowd in Keene, New Hampshire.

That strategy was not enough for her to avoid an 11-percentage-point loss to Trump in the state's Jan. 23 primary.

Exit polls in New Hampshire showed that Haley didn't do particularly well with younger voters. Both she and Trump appealed almost equally across age groups, with Trump winning nearly every single category by similar margins.

Trump at a campaign event in Nevada on Sunday addressed Haleys criticisms, saying he felt sharper now than I did 20 years ago."

Trump has also taken to mocking Bidens age on the campaign trail, sometimes doing a pantomime on stage where he walks around with a dazed look on his face. His rallies routinely show video images of Biden stumbling.

Biden has gone after Trump as well, saying at an event in South Carolina on Saturday that Trump is "growing a little confused these days."

Haley, the only remaining Republican in the race with Trump, will send mailers from her new series to voters in South Carolina, where the next major Republican primary takes place on Feb. 24.

While Trump remains favored, Haley is hoping to pull of a surprise in a state where she served six years as governor.

Rob Godfrey, a former Haley aide in South Carolina who has remained neutral in the primary, said Haleys approach could benefit her with voters bothered by the lack of choice, even in states with a significant number of older voters.

Nikki Haley has made a generation change argument one of the signature parts of her campaign, Godfrey said. As she sharpens contrasts with her opponents, I expect her to keep this one up."

(Reporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Alistair Bell)
FILE PHOTO: A QR code of Paytm is seen at a mobile repairing shop in Kolkata, India, November 9, 2021. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri//File Photo

By Ira Dugal and Siddhi Nayak

BENGALURU (Reuters) -The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has ordered Paytm Payments Bank, an associate of One 97 Communications, to stop accepting fresh deposits in its accounts or popular wallets from March, in a major blow to one of the country's largest payments firms.

Paytm will take steps immediately to comply with the RBI's directions, the fintech company said in a statement on Thursday. As a result, it expects a worst-case impact of 3 billion Indian rupees ($36.12 million) to 5 billion rupees to its annual earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA).

One 97 will cease working with Paytm Payments Bank and start working only with other banks, it said.

The company has been informed that the RBI's action does not impact user deposits in their savings account, wallets, FASTags and NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) accounts, where they can continue to use existing balances, the statement added.

The RBI had in 2022 asked the bank to stop adding customers. A subsequent audit revealed "persistent non-compliances and continued material supervisory concerns in the bank", the central bank said on Wednesday, without disclosing details.

The regulator used a legal provision that allows it to act in the interest of depositors, and did not specify a timeline for reviewing the restrictions imposed on the bank.

"For all practical purposes, the above notifications end the operations of Paytm Payments Bank," Bernstein said in a note on Wednesday evening.

"This is a definite negative development and adds to the already heavy regulatory overhang on the business," Bernstein analysts said.

After Feb. 29, the bank will not be able to take fresh deposits, facilitate credit transactions or offer fund transfers, including via India's popular Unified Payments Interface, the RBI said.

However, customers will be able to withdraw or utilise their balances held with the bank, the RBI said.

The RBI will also terminate the nodal accounts of both Paytm and Paytm Payments Services not later than Feb. 29. Paytm Payments Services is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paytm. Nodal accounts are used to facilitate transactions.

In this regard, Paytm and Paytm Payments Services will move the nodal to other banks, the fintech firm said.

The regulator appears to have concerns about an "arms-length distance" not being maintained between the bank, One 97 and Paytm Payments Services, a source familiar with the matter said, speaking on the condition of anonymity as discussions with the regulator are private.

PERSISTENT CONCERNS

One 97 Communications, widely known as Paytm, is one of India's largest payment firms and counts SoftBank and Ant Financial among its early investors.

It holds 49% in the payments bank, while promoter Vijay Shekhar Sharma holds the remaining 51%, according to the company's annual report for 2022-23. The bank received its license in 2015.

In March 2022, the RBI had ordered a comprehensive audit of the Paytm Payments Bank's systems but had not stopped all fresh business as it has done now.

In October 2023, the central bank fined the bank for failing to do adequate customer due diligence.

Officials from Paytm Payments Bank had met with the RBI earlier this month, the source said.

The bank will seek clarity on if and when these restrictions will be lifted, this person said.

Bernstein said it expects no immediate impact on the payment or loan origination business of Paytm.

"These curbs are going to impact the Paytm platform operations also in the medium term," said Kranthi Bathini, director of equity strategy at WealthMills Securities.

($1 = 83.0544 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Ira Dugal and Siddhi Nayak in Mumbai and Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Indranil Sarkar; Editing by Savio D'Souza, Shinjini Ganguli and Mrigank Dhaniwala)
FILE PHOTO: Google logo and AI Artificial Intelligence words are seen in this illustration taken, May 4, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Jeffrey Dastin and Samrhitha A

(Reuters) -Tech giants on Tuesday talked up how customers are lapping up their generative AI-powered products, but mounting costs of developing the cutting-edge features irked investors hoping for a big boost to sales from the new technology.

Shares of Alphabet closed 7.5% lower, while those of Microsoft fell 2.7%, bringing down heavyweight tech stocks including Apple, Meta and Amazon.

Both Microsoft and Alphabet reported generous increases to their cloud revenue in the December quarter, beating Wall Street estimates, as customers lined up to test new AI features and build their own AI services.

But costs surged as well, highlighting the heavy investments these companies are making in servers, data centers and research as they compete fiercely for new customer dollars.

This hurt investor expectations that were fueled by the promise of AI, which powered a stock rally to record highs in recent months.

"A lofty valuation means even the slightest hint of disappointment will be seized on by investors, and Microsoft's guidance for revenue growth in its cloud division to slacken a little in the current quarter was enough to see the shares dip modestly," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

Gene Munster, a managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, said he is looking for more from his firm's stakes in Alphabet and Microsoft.

"Investors want to see more contribution from AI," he said about Alphabet. "Microsoft is still nascent, but showing some AI uptick."

Alphabet's shares, which rose 58% in 2023, were trading at 22.26 times expected earnings, compared with a forward PE of 33.09 for Microsoft, 22.46 for Meta, 42.60 for Amazon and 27.73 for Apple.

"The only problem here is that Google reported earnings the same night as Microsoft ... (it is) hard to get that AI multiple pixie dust if larger cloud players are growing faster off of larger revenues," Bernstein analysts wrote in a note.

Google and Microsoft's stock drop wiped off about $140 billion and $80 billion in their market value, respectively.

Shares of chipmaker AMD, which boosted its 2024 forecast for AI processors to $3.5 billion on Tuesday, fell 2.5%. Analysts had previously expected AMD to sell $4 billion to $8 billion worth of AI chips, said Summit Insights analyst Kinngai Chan, adding the stock's valuation is also pegged to those figures.

Alphabet's capital expenditure in the reported quarter shot up 45% to $11 billion. Meanwhile, Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat said spending would be notably larger this year than 2023.

Microsoft also reported a 69% jump in capital expenditure to $11.5 billion and said it expects the metric to "increase materially" on a sequential basis.

"By providing a positive outlook ... (Microsoft) gave investors just enough to justify the current share price, but will need to continue to deliver on its growth trajectory in order to justify an even higher share price," said Gil Luria, analyst at D.A. Davidson.

Luria expects Microsoft to still be able to increase margins based on keeping its overall headcount relatively flat, and investments to come back down next year once Microsoft has enough data center capacity to meet demand.

(Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin and Max A. Cherney in San Francisco and Samrhitha Arunasalam in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Akash Sriram and Yuvraj Malik; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh and Shinjini Ganguli)
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is escorted by prison officers as the jailed politician leaves the court after court proceedings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia January 19, 2024. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/File Photo

By Danial Azhar and Rozanna Latiff

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's cabinet has discussed a request by jailed former premier Najib Razak for a royal pardon but has no authority to make any announcement, its home minister said on Wednesday, amid frenzied speculation about the outcome.

It will be at the discretion of the Pardons Board to announce its decision, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said at a press conference on immigration and labour issues, which was packed with media seeking news on Najib's clemency bid.

The disgraced former leader Najib is serving a 12-year jail term for graft linked to state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), from which U.S. and Malaysian investigators estimate $4.5 billion was stolen and more than $1 billion channeled to accounts linked to the former premier.

Najib requested a royal pardon shortly after beginning his sentence in 2022 and after exhausting all other appeals. He consistently denied wrongdoing.

Malaysia's Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Zaliha Mustafa on Tuesday said the Pardons Board had met this week and an official statement would be issued, though she did not say if Najib's request was discussed.

The remarks prompted a blitz of media speculation, with one prominent Malay-language newspaper forced to withdraw a report citing sources saying that Najib had been granted a full pardon.

Najib's lawyer and representatives, as well as Malaysia's attorney-general, a member of the pardons board, did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Officials on Wednesday declined to comment on further reports.

"Let us not jump the gun, let us wait for an official statement to be made," Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said at a separate press briefing.

"We must show professionalism in reporting."

U.S. and Malaysian investigators estimate around $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, with more than $1 billion channeled to accounts linked to Najib.

Najib says he was misled by fugitive financier Jho Low and other 1MDB officials over the source of the funds and that he believed they were donations from the Saudi royal family. He remains on trial in several other cases linked to corruption at 1MDB.

Najib's daughter, Nooryana Najwa Najib, on Wednesday posted on Instagram a picture of the former leader sitting pensively, accompanied by the message "Always waiting for your return, however long it takes."

(Reporting by Danial Azhar; Editing by Martin Petty)
By Raul Cortes Fernandez

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's president rejected allegations on Wednesday that his first presidential campaign nearly two decades ago received financing from drug cartel leaders in exchange for future help with their criminal operations from his would-be government.

The allegations are laid out in extensive reports published earlier in the day by investigative news outlets ProPublica, Insight Crime and Deutsche Welle. The reports cite U.S. drug enforcement officials and their Mexican informants, who describe at least $2 million from major cocaine traffickers they say was provided to Lopez Obrador's 2006 unsuccessful presidential run and its bitter aftermath.

The informants include a couple of close aides to the then-candidate.

"It's completely false, it's a slander," Lopez Obrador said when asked about the report at his regular morning press conference.

"There's no proof," he added, "they are vile slanderers."

The 2006 campaign was the first of the leftist Lopez Obrador's three presidential runs, which he lost by less than 1 percent of the vote to conservative Felipe Calderon. Calderon went on to launch a bloody, controversial war on Mexico's powerful drug gangs.

Lopez Obrador, who has pursued a more nonconfrontational security policy regarding organized crime, has long argued he was cheated out of the presidency in 2006.

In the months after that election, he launched a monthslong takeover of downtown Mexico City with thousands of his supporters, even presiding over a ceremony in which he was proclaimed the legitimate president.

Among ProPublica's findings: One prominent cartel leader supplied Lopez Obrador's supporters with money for food.

Lopez Obrador, who also lost a 2012 race before eventually winning in a 2018 landslide election, said he mostly blames U.S. officials for what he called unethical actions, not the latest news.

"I'm not going to carry out any formal complaint, but I denounce it. Not the journalist or journalists. I denounce the United States government for allowing these immoral practices that are contrary to the political ethics that should prevail in all governments," he said.

(Reporting by Raul Cortes Fernandez; Writing by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
A general view shows the Villa Victoria Dam, part of the Cutzamala System collecting water for distribution into Mexico City and the metropolitan areas, in Villa Victoria, Mexico January 26, 2024. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha

By Cassandra Garrison

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Frustrated Mexico City residents have been protesting weeks of water shortages, with officials warning of "unprecedented" low levels in a main system that supplies millions of people.

The bustling metro area of 21 million people - one of Latin America's largest cities - is struggling after years of low rainfall blamed on climate change, as well as chaotic urban growth and outdated infrastructure.

In the community of Acambay, about 80 miles (130 km) outside the Mexican capital, protesters forced open the gates of an office of Mexico's National Water Commission (Conagua), breaking windows and ripping shingles off the roof, local media reported.

In the Azcapotzalco neighborhood of Mexico City, residents lined up to fill buckets and trashcans with water piped from a truck.

Azcapotzalco resident Maribel Gutierrez said she had been without water at her home for more than a month. Neighbors have started fighting over the limited supplies, residents said.

"I think they should be empathetic," Gutierrez said of government officials. "We understand there was a serious water problem, but they must understand that water is vital for everyone."

The Mexican capital, situated in a high-altitude valley and built on a former lake-bed, has struggled to supply its residents for years. It relies mostly on water pumped from its underground aquifer and reservoirs outside the city to meet demand.

Officials from Mexico City's water utility SACMEX have said the Cutzamala System, a network of pumping plants, dams and other infrastructure that is the source of water for about 6 million people, is the most stressed it has ever been. They have asked residents to change habits in order to conserve as much water as possible.

"Due to ... the number of residents, plus the population that comes to work in our city, it is in an unprecedented condition. It is something that we had not experienced during this administration, nor in previous administrations," said Rafael Carmona, director of SACMEX.

The Cutzamala System was at 39.7% capacity on Jan. 29, down from about 41% in December and 54% this time last year, government data show.

Mexico City gets at least half its annual rainfall from the North American Monsoon between May and August. With recent seasons drier than usual, the city's reservoirs are now depleted with no chance at rebounding until the summer months, said Andreas Prein, an atmospheric scientist for the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado.

"In Mexico, you have to wait until May or June until you can really get a significant boost of precipitation to have a chance to recover water in the reservoirs," Prein said.

The situation puts Mexico City and other major world capitals at risk for the so-called "whiplash effect," Prein said - when a city experiences a rapid swing to wet conditions that can spark flooding.

"The swings are getting more extreme due to climate change," Prein said. "This is what we see on a global scale."

(Reporting by Cassandra Garrison, Diego Delgado and Rodolfo Pena Roja, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
(Reuters) -Nine people, including two children, were injured on Wednesday in an incident involving a "corrosive substance" in Clapham, in south London, the Metropolitan Police said.

"Three victims - a woman and her two young children - have been taken to hospital for treatment," the police said in a statement, adding that three other people - all adults - were taken to hospital for injuries.

Three police officers were also taken to hospital with minor injuries, the statement said.

There have been no arrests at this stage, the police said.

"Firefighters were called to a chemical incident on Lessar Avenue in Clapham this evening," the London Fire Brigade said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

Crews used specialist equipment to detect a corrosive substance that is believed to have been used in the incident, it added, without giving any further details.

(Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan and Kanjyik Ghosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Sandra Maler)
FILE PHOTO: Portuguese Minister of Agriculture Maria do Ceu Antunes speaks during a news conference on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium June 25, 2021. Stephanie Lecocq/Pool via REUTERS

By Patricia Vicente Rua

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's caretaker government announced on Wednesday an emergency aid package worth 500 million euros ($543 million) for farmers as it tries to avoid the kind of mass protests causing disruption in France and elsewhere across Europe.

As part of the package, Agriculture Minister Maria do Ceu Antunes announced a 55% reduction in the tax on agricultural diesel fuel and an extra 120 million euros to support organic agriculture and mixed farming.

Some 200 million euros were to mitigate the impact of a long-running drought impact on farmers' income.

The measures, announced after a meeting with representatives of the country's biggest agriculture confederation CAP, meet some of its demands.

CAP, which represents 280,000 farmers and had earlier complained the government was reducing aid to organic and mixed farming, said on Wednesday that "to safeguard national stability, CAP will not carry out any protest action in Portugal until a new government is in place" after a March 10 election.

"We are well aware of the difficulties of the last four years," said do Ceu Antunes. "This package seeks to meet farmers' expectations."

However, a number of smaller associations, feeling misrepresented, announced plans for a protest at dawn.

"On Feb. 1, starting at 6 a.m., farmers will take to Portuguese roads with their farm machinery to fight for the human right to adequate food, for fair conditions and the valorisation of the sector," said one newly-created group, the Civil Movement for Agriculture.

On Tuesday, the National Confederation of Agriculture, which represents small and medium-sized farms, said it would organise a series of protests, slow marches and other events starting on Friday in the northern city of Aveiro.

In France, farmers, who have protested for over two weeks, stepped up pressure on the government by blocking highways with their tractors near Paris and setting bales of hay ablaze to partly block access to Toulouse airport.

(Reporting by Patricia Vicente Rua; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Barbara Lewis)
Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi holds a press conference, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 26, 2023. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo

By Tom Balmforth

KYIV (Reuters) - For Ukrainian armed forces commander General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, even his status as national hero for leading the war effort against Moscow's invading forces is not enough to quash questions over whether he will keep his job.

A series of Western and Ukrainian media reports said that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had asked Zaluzhnyi to step aside this week, a request he declined.

A source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday that ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi had been offered Zaluzhnyi's job but turned it down.

The Ukrainian General Staff and president's office did not respond to requests for comment on the approach to Syrskyi.

Ukrainian forces are currently struggling in the battlefield.

A much-anticipated summer counteroffensive made little headway in the south and east, and Russian forces are inflicting small but costly defeats along the 1,000-km front.

Western military and financial support is increasingly hard to come by, leaving Kyiv more exposed to regular attacks by Russian drones and missiles that are sapping its energy.

The state of the war is not down to Zaluzhnyi alone, but given his popularity and proven ability as an inspiring commander, the fact that Kyiv may be seeking to replace him may reflect the desire for a fresh approach to the conflict.

A HERO TO MANY

Defying overwhelming odds, Ukraine's soldiers used stealth and speed to thwart Russia's advance on Kyiv, helping to ensure that, even now, Russian President Vladimir Putin remains a long way from conquering Ukraine.

As the war progressed, Zaluzhnyi's stock only rose, and he won praise at home and abroad when his forces launched counteroffensives in the northeast and south that recaptured huge swathes of land and raised hopes of an unlikely victory.

A portrait of him smiling and flashing the peace sign was spray-painted on walls after the liberation of the southern city of Kherson, under the slogan "God and Zaluzhnyi are with us".

Since then, Ukraine's battlefield momentum has stalled, yet polling indicated that Zaluzhnyi was still trusted by 92% of Ukrainians late last year, significantly above Zelenskiy's 77%.

Reported frictions burst into the open in November after Zaluzhnyi was quoted by the Economist as saying the war as at a "stalemate", in a gloomy assessment that jarred with Zelenskiy's more optimistic vision.

The 50-year-old four-star general, who rarely speaks in public but is occasionally shown on news bulletins poring over maps and addressing commanders in fatigues, argued that better technology is the key to breaking the impasse.

The president's office rebuked him, and one of Zaluzhnyi's senior officers said he had been sacked by Zelenskiy over the general's head.

Were he to be removed and go into politics - though he has never voiced political ambitions - the "Iron General" could prove a formidable rival to anyone.

THE BURLY 'VOLUNTEER'

Zaluzhnyi began his military training in the 1990s, after Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union, graduating with honours and rising up the ranks.

He got a taste of real conflict in 2014 when he served in an area of eastern Ukraine where Russian-backed militants had seized territory.

Tall and burly with cropped hair, Zaluzhnyi, whose military call sign is "Volunteer", has a reputation for having a good rapport with his subordinates and allowing local commanders to make their own decisions on the battlefield.

To many, he felt like a breath of fresh air among Ukraine's older Soviet-style generals, and embodied Kyiv's desire to break with the Soviet military practices it had inherited.

His warning in November that the war was sliding into an attritional phase that suited Russia was out of kilter with Kyiv's official rhetoric, but for many of his soldiers it was recognition of the painful reality on the battlefield.

Russia had been building up fortifications since late 2022 after suffering humiliating defeats in Kharkiv and Kherson regions, with more recent Ukrainian advances thwarted.

Tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed and wounded on both sides, although there are no reliable official figures.

Ukraine desperately needs to replenish its overstretched and exhausted ranks, but the government has been unable to amend call-up laws to help recruit up to half a million more soldiers.

Kyiv has also struggled to maintain Western support that has been vital to its war effort.

The United States has failed to deliver a hefty aid package it had promised, although, in a boost for Ukraine, the European Union agreed on Thursday to extend $54 billion in new support, overcoming weeks of resistance from Hungary.

Even so, as the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two enters its third year, Zaluzhnyi's boots would be very hard to fill.

(Reporting by Tom Balmforth; editing by Mike Collett-White, Kevin Liffey and Ros Russell)
By Tuvan Gumrukcu

ANKARA (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Turkey on Feb. 12 to meet counterpart Tayyip Erdogan, a Turkish official told Reuters on Wednesday, in what will be the Russian leader's first trip to a NATO ally since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin's scope to travel abroad has been limited since March last year when the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him for the alleged deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, a war crime. Russia denied the charge and called the move outrageous, but said it was legally void in any case because Russia is not a member of the ICC.

Turkey is also not a party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, so Putin can travel to Turkey without fear of being arrested under the warrant.

Turkey, which shares a maritime border with both Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea, has sought to maintain good ties with both nations since Moscow's full-scale invasion. It has provided military support to Kyiv and voiced support for its territorial integrity, but also opposes sanctions on Russia.

Ankara has sought to convince Russia to return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to provide protected exports from Ukrainian ports, after Moscow withdrew last July following a year of implementation.

Erdogan has said alternatives to the deal could not provide a lasting solution. While Kyiv has said talks were underway for a revival of the deal, Moscow has said it was not interested in reinstating it.

Earlier on Wednesday, Turkey and Ukraine signed an accord to allow Turkish construction firms to take part in reconstructing Ukrainian infrastructure damaged by the war with Russia.

Turkey has close economic ties with Russia, particularly in tourism, gas supplies, grain and other agricultural trade, that make Western countries uneasy. However, the two have also been at loggerheads over conflicts in Syria and Libya, where they back opposing sides, as well as over tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the South Caucasus.

Separately, Erdogan will travel to Egypt on Feb. 14, the Turkish official said, after the two countries upgraded their diplomatic relations by appointing ambassadors last year following a decade of tension.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Alex Richardson)
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday asked the United States to translate its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence" into tangible actions and refrain from sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a press conference, responding to the recent comments from Laura Rosenberger, director of the so-called American Institute in Taiwan, on Resolution 2758 of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

It is a fact confirmed by a series of international pacts and documents, including the UNGA Resolution 2758 of 1971, that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory, Chen said.

This is also a commitment made by the United States in the three joint communiques between China and the United States, Chen noted.

"Apart from being part of China, Taiwan has no other status under international law," said Chen, adding that any distortion of the authority and validity of UNGA Resolution 2758 is ignorant and malicious, and doomed to fail. 
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks at the 2024 budget debate of the German lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, January 31, 2024. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Olaf Scholz reminded Germans of their Nazi past on Wednesday as he called on citizens to reject the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) which is second in most national polls.

Hundreds of thousands of people have joined demonstrations across Germany against the AfD after a report that two senior party members had discussed plans for the mass deportation of citizens with foreign backgrounds - a term called remigration.

Addressing the Bundestag lower house of parliament after a special session marking the Holocaust and dressed in a black suit and tie, Scholz said democrats must stand together and stop the shift to the right.

"The word 'remigration' is reminiscent of the darkest times in German history," Scholz said.

"Those who remain silent are complicit," he said, adding he wanted voters to see the AfD for what it was.

Support for the AfD dipped slightly in a poll published this week following the protests but the party, which has a strong focus on migration, is still second in most polls before this year's European elections.

Scholz also said that "Dexit", the idea of Germany leaving the European Union, which AfD co-leader Alice Weidel has talked about, would lead to "the greatest destruction of prosperity that could happen to Germany and Europe".

In an unusually combative speech during which he waved his clenched fists in the air, Scholz argued for a stronger EU.

"If the world becomes even more difficult, for example if you look at what is possible in the U.S. election, then the European Union must become all the stronger," he said, adding the bloc must complete a banking and capital market union.

Support for Social Democrat Scholz and his awkward three-way coalition with the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) is hovering around record lows.

(Reporting by Madeline Chambers, Editing by Rachel More, Editing William Maclean)
FILE PHOTO: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (not pictured) holds a press conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during his visit to the Netherlands following an invitation from King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, in The Hague, Netherla

By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned on Wednesday that North Korea could stage provocations such as armed actions near the shared border, drone intrusions, cyber attacks or spreading fake news to interfere in April's parliamentary elections.

Yoon made the remarks as he convened an annual meeting of the central integrated defence council that brings together the military, government and civil defence entities.

In recent weeks, Pyongyang has ramped up tensions on the Korean peninsula with missile tests and verbal threats against Seoul and Washington, while scrapping its decades-long goal of a peaceful reunification and redefining the South as a separate, enemy state.

Yoon warned that North Korea could stage "numerous provocations" to intervene in the upcoming election and called for a tighter security posture.

South Korea is set to elect new members of parliament on April 10, with 300 seats up for grab.

"The North Korean regime is going through fire and water solely for the sake of maintaining its hereditary totalitarian regime, while blatantly ignoring international law and U.N. Security Council resolutions by trading arms with Russia," Yoon told the meeting.

Russia and North Korea have overseen a series of high-level exchanges since last year amid growing criticism of Pyongyang's role in the Ukraine war by allegedly shipping artillery and missiles to Russia.

Both North Korea and Russia deny the accusation and also the charge that Pyongyang has been receiving advanced technology for developing strategic military capability from Moscow in return.

Yoon called for greater cooperation between his country's military, government, police and private actors, as well as additional measures to prevent possible cyber attacks on national infrastructure, and attempts to disseminate false propaganda.

"Cyber attacks can paralyse national functions and people's daily lives in an instant. Fake news and false propaganda may also cause great chaos in society," he said.

Seoul's defence council meeting this year was specifically designed to examine practical ways of responding under various scenarios to North Korean provocations, including long-range artillery and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks, Yoon's office said.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, which has criticised what it called Yoon's hardline North Korea policy, expressed concerns over a possible armed clash near the border.

He called for restoring inter-Korean hotlines, which the North have not responded to since Yoon took office, and warned Yoon against staging "war games" for political gains.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Ed Davies and Christian Schmollinger)
Police officers stand near the Israeli embassy, on the day an object believed to be an explosive device was found and destroyed by the national bomb squad according to police, in Stockholm, Sweden January 31, 2024. Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency/via REU

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemned "an attempted attack" against the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm, after an object believed to be an explosive device was found outside it and destroyed by the national bomb squad on Wednesday.

Embassy staff had notified police of the object, triggering a large response from law enforcement, Swedish police said.

"This is very serious. An attempted attack on an embassy is an attack both on those who work there and on Sweden," Kristersson said in a social media post, adding police and Sweden's Security Police were investigating "who is or who are responsible".

Kristersson said surveillance of the embassy and of Jewish institutions in Sweden had been tightened.

The device was detonated in a controlled manner, a police spokesperson told the broadcaster TV4.

"We will not be intimidated by terror," Israeli ambassador to Sweden Ziv Nevo Kulman wrote on X.

Police declined to give any detail on the nature of the object, or of how it had gotten into the embassy grounds, and said they had launched an investigation.

The object was believed to be a hand grenade that was thrown over the embassy fence, landing close to the building, daily Aftonbladet reported, citing unnamed sources.

The embassy building was cordoned off at a distance of about 100 metres (yards).

(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm, Louise Rasmussen in Copenhagen and Anne Kauranen in Helsinki; editing by Terje Solsvik, Kevin Liffey, Christina Fincher and Sandra Maler)
An employee looks at a rough diamond at "Flanders Manufacturing", as the G7 weighs a ban on Russian diamond imports to reduce revenues for Moscow's war in Ukraine, Antwerp, Belgium, October 30, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo

ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland will ban the import of Russian diamonds in line with the latest round of European Union sanctions designed to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, the government said on Wednesday.

Bern has agreed to adopt the 12th round of sanctions implemented by the EU in December, with measures effective from Feb. 1, as it has with all previous rounds since the start of the war almost two years ago.

Among those measures is a phased ban on the purchase and import of Russian diamonds.

"Switzerland thus joins the measures agreed at the G7 summit on 6 December 2023 to deprive Russia of this important revenue stream," the government said in a statement.

Import bans are also being introduced on other goods that generate revenue for Russia, including pig iron and liquid petroleum gas.

Switzerland said it was expanding its list of banned exports which could be used to strengthen Russia' military and technology sectors. Exports of lithium batteries, motors for unmanned aerial vehicles, and machine tools and parts have also been added.

In the financial sector, Russian nationals and individuals living in Russia will be banned from controlling companies in Switzerland that provide crypto-asset services.

Switzerland has also placed an additional 147 individuals and companies under sanctions, taking the total to 1,422 individuals and 291 organisations.

(Reporting by John Revill; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
FILE PHOTO: Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a campaign rally of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections in Taipei, Taiwan January 11, 2024. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has written to Pope Francis offering support for his concerns over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and pledging deeper cooperation with the island's sole European ally.

Taipei has watched with concern as Pope Francis has moved to improve relations with China. The democratically governed island has formal ties with only 12 countries, largely due to Chinese pressure.

The letter was sent in response to the pope's World Day Of Peace message on Jan. 1, where he said algorithms must not be allowed to replace human values and warned of a "technological dictatorship" threatening human existence.

False information has become one of the most difficult challenges democracies like Taiwan face, Tsai wrote, according to a copy of the letter released by her office on Wednesday.

"We have a deep recognition of the Holy See's calls for human rights not to be determined by algorithms," Tsai wrote.

Taiwan will lead the development of AI with a "human heart and a technological brain" and join with like-minded partners to reduce the possible impact of AI, and deepen cooperation with the Vatican in all fields, she added.

Chip powerhouse Taiwan is home to the world's largest contract chip maker TSMC, a major supplier of semiconductors used by companies like Nvidia for AI applications.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; editing by Miral Fahmy)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to a tour group in the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, U.S., January 18, 2024. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

By David Morgan and Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday cast doubt on a bipartisan effort to tighten border security, saying Democratic President Joe Biden does not need new laws to tackle the problem, signaling that a compromise being negotiated faces long odds of passage.

In his first formal speech since taking the speaker's gavel in October, Johnson said a deal taking shape in the Senate does not go far enough to prevent migrants from entering the country along the U.S.-Mexico border.

"From what we've heard, this so-called deal does not include transformational policy changes that are needed to actually stop the border catastrophe," he said in remarks on the House floor.

Johnson's remarks made clear that any bipartisan compromise to emerge from the Democratic-majority Senate would face a difficult reception in the House, which his Republicans control by a 219-213 margin.

Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, has called on lawmakers to reject any deal ahead of the November elections that will determine control of the White House and Congress.

That could leave emergency aid to Ukraine and Israel in doubt, as House Republicans have said that they will not sign off on more money absent tighter border controls.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said the foreign aid should not fall victim to disagreements over immigration, one of the most divisive issues in U.S. politics.

Its time for us to move something, hopefully including a border agreement. But we need to get help to Israel and to Ukraine quickly," he said.

House Republicans are also advancing an impeachment effort of Biden's top border official, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, though they are unlikely to succeed in persuading the Senate to remove him from office.

Biden's administration has struggled to cope with record numbers of migrants seeking asylum along the U.S.-Mexico border, and opinion polls show that immigration is a top concern of voters.

GROWING WORRY

Immigration ranked as Americans' second-greatest worry in a Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Wednesday, with 17% of respondents saying it was their top concern, a sharp increase from the December reading.

Johnson said Biden already has the authority to prevent unauthorized entry into the country by reinstating policies Trump put in place during his 2017-2021 presidency, such as requiring migrants to remain in Mexico while they wait for their asylum cases to be heard.

"Any attempt by this president to pretend that he's a bystander bereft of any ability to secure the border is patently absurd," he said.

The White House said House Republicans have failed to act on its requests for more funding for border enforcement in favor of symbolic actions, like impeaching Mayorkas, that have no chance of succeeding.

"We hope for the sake of the country that House Republicans change course from their years of playing politics with this issue," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said.

'MAJOR, MAJOR POLICY CHANGES'

In the Senate, leaders of both parties said negotiators were close to finalizing their deal but still have work to do. McConnell said it was an improvement over current law.

Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema, one of the three negotiators, painted a different picture of the bill being written.

"These are major, major policy changes, unlike anything that you've seen implemented by prior administrations by administrative action," Sinema told reporters.

Senator Thom Tillis, who is not part of the talks, said roughly half of his fellow Republicans in the Senate support the package.

With a narrow Republican majority, Johnson has had to rely on Democratic votes to pass much legislation. Several from the party's left flank have also outlined objections to the Senate immigration deal, which has not yet formally been released.

"I'd have a very hard time voting for it," Democratic Representative Ro Khanna said.

(Reporting by David Morgan and Andy Sullivan; Additional reporting by Richard Cowan and Katharine Johnson; Editing by Scott Malone, Mark Porter and Diane Craft)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey and Ukraine signed an accord that will allow Turkish construction firms to take part in the reconstruction of Ukrainian infrastructure damaged amid Russia's invasion, the two countries said on Wednesday.

Turkey shares a maritime border with both Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea and has good ties with both. The NATO member has worked with the United Nations to broker a deal for the safe export of grain via the Black Sea. It opposes Russia's invasion, as well as Western sanctions against Moscow.

In a meeting in Istanbul, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat, Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, and Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov signed a document setting out the parameters for a "Turkish-Ukrainian Reconstruction Task Force".

Bolat said the three ministers had discussed the role Turkey "will undertake in the reconstruction of Ukraine", and added the two countries would use the task force, which was formed under a 2022 memorandum of understanding on Ukraine's reconstruction, to determine projects in Ukraine and evaluate financing conditions.

"This will provide an important legal basis for efforts for the reconstruction of Ukraine. We are ready to cooperate with third countries as well," he said at the document signing ceremony.

Kubrakov said the main areas in need of reconstruction were the housing and transport sectors, including roads, bridges and railways, and Ukraine's water transport infrastructure. He added that he believed the efforts would also boost bilateral trade.

"It is of paramount importance for our country to attract foreign investment on infrastructure," he said.

Turkish contractors were keen to take part in all areas of infrastructure reconstruction, a Turkish industry source who took part in talks said.

(Reporting by Can Sezer; Writing by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Alex Richardson)
SEOUL (Reuters) - A U.S. F-16 fighter jet crashed into the sea off South Korea's west coast on Wednesday and the pilot was rescued safely, a U.S. Air Force unit stationed in the country said, the second crash of an F-16 in just over a month in the country.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing experienced "an in-flight emergency" over the sea and crashed, the unit said in a statement.

The pilot, who ejected safely and was rescued about an hour later, is conscious and was transported to a medical facility for assessment.

The commander of the 8th Fighter Wing, Colonel Matthew Gaetke, thanked the South Korean rescuers who worked with the U.S. military on the recovery of the pilot and said the focus was now to find and recover the aircraft, it said.

The west coast city of Gunsan is home to one of the two main air bases used by the U.S. military in South Korea.

In December, another F-16 jet crashed while on a routine training flight and the pilot was rescued.

(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Ed Davies)
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party will pledge to fix Britain's stagnating productivity at a conference for businesses on Thursday, its latest charm offensive to companies and investors ahead of a national election expected this year.

Keir Starmer, leader of the left-leaning party, will tell assembled executives that Labour will "get under the bonnet to fix an unprecedented stagnation in British productivity growth."

Labour, which leads Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives by around 20 percentage points in opinion polls, has sent senior policy chiefs to the World Economic Forum in Davos as part of Starmer's pitch to the business community.

He will also tell the conference that Labour has changed and is now the "party of business", offering stability under his leadership, in contrast to the "permanent cycle of crisis" which has seen five Conservative prime ministers in eight years.

"The depth of the changes we've made to transform the Labour Party's relationship with business is something I take immense pride in," he will say, according to extracts released by the party.

Labour will also launch a plan on Thursday called "Labour's Partnership with Business for Growth," setting out more details of how to improve skills in the economy, back businesses and create economic stability.

Ahead of the conference, the party's finance policy chief Rachel Reeves said that Labour would champion Britain's financial sector and not bring in a new cap on bankers' bonuses.

Labour also wants closer economic ties with the European Union, including deeper co-operation with the bloc on financial services.

(Reporting by Alistair Smout)
British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris delivers a statement to media members near the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, January 30, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville

By Elizabeth Piper and Sarah Young

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain unveiled a package of post-Brexit trading measures on Wednesday to strengthen Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom, a move welcomed by local politicians who are now expected to restore a power-sharing government.

After almost two years of a power vacuum in Northern Ireland, the regional government might be within days of returning, restoring a key part of a 1998 peace deal that ended decades of political and sectarian violence.

Introducing the measures to parliament, Northern Ireland minister Chris Heaton-Harris described the package as a "comprehensive deal" for all sides to settle the concerns among unionists in Northern Ireland over the post-Brexit settlement.

"With this package, it's now time for elected representatives in Northern Ireland to come together to end the two years of impasse and start work again in the interest of the people who elected them," Heaton-Harris told parliament.

Parliament would debate to approve the proposed new measures on Thursday, he said.

The most important step in resuming the power-sharing government in Stormont had been to win over the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the region's largest pro-British party.

It had argued that London's Brexit deal with the European Union undermined Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom by demanding checks on some goods coming from Britain, a move, the DUP said, that had effectively put a border in the Irish Sea.

By saying it would introduce legislation to "copper-fasten Northern Ireland's political and constitutional place in the Union", alongside a 3.3 billion pound ($4.2 billion) financial package, the British government won the party over.

The European Union has told London that it would carefully analyse the package, the British government said following a call between Foreign Secretary David Cameron and European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said his government had not seen any "red flags" in the proposals so far.

CRITICISM

In the early hours of Tuesday, the DUP said it had endorsed the proposals after the party had spent months holding out for a better deal from the London government.

"Today's agreement, I believe is a positive and decisive step forward for Northern Ireland," Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the DUP, told journalists in Belfast. "We have made our decisions... We are moving along."

Sammy Wilson, a DUP lawmaker, complained in parliament that there would still be "EU-manned border posts" in Northern Ireland, but he stopped short of criticising his party leader.

The DUP's much smaller rival, Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), rejected the deal, saying in a statement that "none of what was promised has been achieved".

But such views appeared unlikely to derail the restoration of the power-sharing government, which the DUP says can take place after the legislation is passed.

The restoration of regional government is a key part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement to end three decades of violence between Irish nationalists, who want a united Ireland, and unionists, who support British rule.

The proposed measures include eliminating any physical checks when goods move within the so-called UK internal market system, meaning Britain and Northern Ireland, and that more than 80% of all freight movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland would be treated as "not at risk".

(Reporting by Sarah Young and Elizabeth Piper, additional reporting by Amanda Ferguson in Belfast, Conor Humphries in Dublin, Alistair Smout and Andrew MacAskill in London; writing by William James and Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Kate Holton and Philippa Fletcher)
TAIYUAN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Wang Guoqing, an interpol Red Notice fugitive suspected of fraudulently obtaining loans, stood trial at the intermediate people's court of Linfen in north China's Shanxi Province on Wednesday.

Wang fled from China in February 2020 and was extradited back to China by Cyprian authorities in April 2022.

According to the indictment by prosecutors, Wang, who was the real controller of multiple companies, organized a criminal ring that fraudulently secured loans from the bank and caused massive losses.

Prosecutors as well as the defendant and his defense counsel presented evidence at the court. Both sides cross-examined the evidence and stated their views. Wang pleaded guilty and expressed remorse in his final statement.

The judgment will be announced in due course. 
Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi holds a press conference, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 26, 2023. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi was offered the job of replacing his boss Valeriy Zaluzhnyi as commander of the armed forces, but declined, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

Ukrainian media reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked General Zaluzhnyi, head of the Ukrainian army, to step aside this week, but that he refused.

His exit as army chief would represent a huge shake-up in the Ukrainian military, which is fending off multiple Russian attacks in the east as uncertainty grows over the future of vital U.S. and European Union support.

The source, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, was unable to say exactly how or when the job offer was communicated to Syrskyi.

The Ukrainian General Staff and president's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Zaluzhnyi is seen as a hero to many in Ukraine after his troops successfully defended Kyiv against Moscow's forces at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion nearly two years ago.

Ukrainian media have tipped Syrskyi and military spy chief Kyrylo Budanov as two possible successors to Zaluzhnyi.

Under Zaluzhnyi's command, Ukraine defied overwhelming odds to beat back Moscow's initial offensive and then regained swathes of occupied territory later in 2022.

The defence of Kyiv and a lightning advance in the northeastern Kharkiv region were overseen by Syrskyi.

But Ukraine's much-vaunted 2023 counteroffensive failed to make serious inroads into heavily-defended Russian positions in the occupied south and east.

It was not immediately clear how Kyiv's allies in the West would view moves to replace Zaluzhnyi, who retains overwhelming popularity in Ukraine.

The Kremlin said speculation about Zaluzhnyi's future reflects the problems Kyiv faces nearly two years into the war.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by Ros Russell)
A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

(Reuters) -Universal Music Group (UMG) will cease licensing its content to TikTok and TikTok Music services, as the music label said on Tuesday that its agreement with the social media platform has not been renewed.

UMG has been pressing TikTok for appropriate artist and songwriter compensations in their contract renewal discussions, among other things, it said in a letter addressed to its artist and songwriter community.

If UMG fails to reach an agreement with TikTok, all of its songs will be removed from the service once the deal expires on Wednesday, a UMG spokesperson said.

In its letter, UMG accused TikTok of "trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music."

UMG said TikTok proposed paying artists and songwriters at a rate that is a "fraction of the rate" that similarly situated major social platforms pay.

Tiktok, in a statement to Reuters, referred to UMG's narrative as "false" and said UMG's actions were not in the best interests of artists, songwriters and fans.

TikTok accounts for only about 1% of UMG's total revenue, the music label said.

The company had reached a deal with social media platform TikTok in February 2021, which allowed users on the app to be able to incorporate clips from UMG's music catalog on their videos.

(Reporting by Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru and Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
FILE PHOTO: China's and U.S.' flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities have charged four Chinese nationals with crimes related to the smuggling of U.S.-made electronic components, including some with possible military use, to Iran, the Justice Department said on Wednesday.

The Chinese nationals are accused of moving U.S. export-controlled items through China and Hong Kong to sanctioned entities affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its defense ministry, the department said in a statement.

The U.S. alleges that between May 2007 and July 2020, the four used front companies in China to funnel electronics, including some that could be utilized in the production of drones, ballistic missile systems, and other military end uses.

The alleged scheme resulted in the export of a "vast amount" of dual-use U.S.-origin commodities with military capabilities from the United States to Iran, the Justice Department said.

"Such efforts to unlawfully obtain U.S. technology directly threaten our national security, and we will use every tool at our disposal to sever the illicit supply chains that fuel the Iranian regime's malign activity," Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department's national security division said in the statement.

The U.S. has issued arrest warrants for the accused, who all remain fugitives, according to the statement.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
FILE PHOTO: A protestor demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, gestures during U.S. President Joe Biden's speech at 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/

By Aurora Ellis

(Reuters) -Some 70 U.S. cities, including Chicago and Seattle, have passed resolutions on the Israel-Gaza war with most calling for a ceasefire, a Reuters analysis of city data shows, placing more pressure on President Joe Biden ahead of a November general election to help end the fighting.

At least 48 cities have passed symbolic resolutions calling for a halt to Israel's Gaza bombardment, with six others passing resolutions advocating more broadly for peace. At least 20 have passed resolutions condemning Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which sparked the current bloodshed, the data shows.

Most of the ceasefire resolutions have passed in Democratic states like California, though at least 14 have passed in swing states like Michigan that could be decisive in Biden's re-election bid against Republican former President Donald Trump.

Biden's administration has rebuffed calls for a ceasefire, something supported by a majority of Americans, arguing that an Israeli halt would embolden Hamas. Critics of the city resolutions say they have no tangible effect on national policy and distract from domestic issues.

Gabriela Santiago-Romero, a Detroit council member who voted to pass a ceasefire resolution in Michigan's biggest city in November, said it reflected frustration, particularly by younger officials and people of color, with Biden and other national Democratic party leaders.

"We want leadership that is willing to listen to us," Santiago-Romero said.

Democrats should "listen to young people, invest in diversity, invest in people that are values aligned who actually listen to their constituents," she added.

Asked for comment, the White House, which has said it is pressing Israel to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza, referred to previous statements that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas.

On Wednesday, Chicago became the largest city to call for ceasefire in a tight vote where Mayor Brandon Johnson broke a 23-23 tie to get the resolution passed.

Reuters compiled data from 70 cities that have passed Israel-Gaza resolutions or proclamations since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people in Israel and took 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. They range from major cities like San Francisco to smaller cities such as Carrboro, North Carolina, and Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.

Many of the ceasefire calls are modeled after Missouri congresswoman Cori Bush's "Ceasefire Now" resolution, which also urges the release of hostages and an increase of aid into Gaza, where health officials say Israeli bombardment has killed more than 26,600 Palestinians.

At least nine of the ceasefire calls were in Michigan, where Arab Americans account for 5% of the vote and Biden's 2020 margin of victory over Trump was less than 3%. An October poll showed Biden's support among Arab Americans had plunged to 17% from 59% in 2020.

"This (war) is something that's going to be on voters' minds," said Douglas Wilson, a Democratic strategist in the swing state of North Carolina.

"It's gonna be an issue here and in all the swing states because of the Muslim populations in these states, the Jewish populations in these states and the Black and brown population these states," Wilson said.

'TAKE A STANCE'

Hamas said on Tuesday it had received and was studying a new proposal for a ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza, presented by mediators after talks with Israel, in what appeared to be the most serious peace initiative for months.

U.S. support for Israel throughout the war has sharply divided Americans, sparking protests in U.S. cities in support of both Israel and Gaza. However, a Reuters poll last year found bipartisan support for a ceasefire.

Some critics of the city ceasefire calls say they're premature, citing the brutality of Hamas' attacks.

"We can't have a ceasefire (with) a terrorist organization that's committed to doing this again," said Tyler Gregory, head of San Francisco's Jewish Community Relations Council, which has condemned the calls as one-sided.

"(These) resolutions are not only fanning the flames of hate, they're creating stronger tensions," Gregory said, pointing to a rise in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. since Oct. 7.

At least some city officials said the ceasefire calls had support from Jewish constituents.

San Francisco Board Supervisor Hillary Ronen said hundreds of Jewish and Muslim residents urged her to vote in favor of a resolution that passed in the city, one of the largest to approve it.

"For people like me, Jewish people with family members in Israel, it's extra important for us to take a stance against this war," Ronen said.

Mohammed Khader, policy manager with U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action, said advocates "hope that those empowered with local state or federal voting power will acknowledge their Palestinian constituents."

Analysts cautioned that while much could change before the Nov. 5 election, local frustration with Biden could hurt him at the polls by suppressing turnout.

Nadia Brown, a professor of government at Georgetown University, said that many Democratic activists "don't see voting or doing things at a national level as a way to get things they like."

Brown added: "And if they don't see that now, will they see that in November? I don't think so."

(Reporting by Aurora Ellis; editing by Rami Ayyub and Alistair Bell; Editing by David Gregorio and Miral Fahmy)
The US Capitol Building is seen from the Congressional Visitors Center in Washington, U.S., December 6, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein/File Photo

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a $78 billion bipartisan package of tax breaks for businesses and low-income families that was put on a fast track even as Congress remains deadlocked over broader fiscal issues.

The temporary tax measure, which would increase the Child Tax Credit and reinstate income deductions on business research and development and certain capital investments through 2025, was approved on a strong bipartisan 357-70 vote.

The measure was a rare example of cooperation between Republicans and Democrats amid a deadlock over government funding, including aid for Ukraine and Israel, that has been held up in Congress for months over Republican demands for stronger controls on the southern U.S. border.

It got a green light by House Speaker Mike Johnson after negotiations with some of his fellow Republicans who objected to its lack of tax relief for state and local taxes (SALT).

Johnson agreed to continue working with members and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith "to find a path forward for legislation related to SALT," Johnson spokesperson Athina Lawson said in a statement.

FAMILY, CORPORATE WELFARE?

Hardline conservative Republicans voiced objection to the package during debate because it would increase the amount that Child Tax Credit claimants can receive as cash payments, to up to $2,100 per child by 2025 at a total cost of $33.5 billion.

"This is not a tax bill, it is a welfare bill in drag," said Republican Representative Matt Gaetz, who added that it also provided "corporate welfare."

Representative Rosa DeLauro, a progressive Democrat, said the bill would heap more tax breaks on corporations while failing to adequately address poverty.

"I cannot vote for a deal that lopsidedly benefits big corporations," DeLauro said. "The deal is inequitable."

DEDUCTIONS RESTORED

Smith, who brokered the deal that combines tax priorities of both parties, emphasized the business benefits of restoring immediate deductions passed under former President Donald Trump which expired in 2022.

The bill also would eliminate double taxation of businesses and workers that operate both in the U.S. and Taiwan, including semiconductor manufacturers building U.S. factories.

Smith said these provisions, estimated to cost $34.3 billion over 10 years, would encourage more than $470 billion in new research and development and small business capital investment and create more than 900,000 jobs.

The bill also faced some opposition over its lack of relief for state and local taxes and mortgage interest.

The Republican-passed tax-cut bill passed of 2017 capped the individual deductions for mortgage interest and state and local tax payments to help pay for business tax cuts.

Some lawmakers in New York and California have sought to remove the caps, which led to higher overall tax bills for many taxpayers despite lower tax rates.

Johnson in a statement praised the tax breaks package as "important bipartisan legislation to revive conservative pro-growth tax reform."

(Reporting by David Lawder, additional reporting by David Morgan; editing by Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio and Paul Simao)
FILE PHOTO: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announces his withdrawl from the Republican presidential candidacy in a still image from video released on social media January 21, 2024. Ron DeSantis campaign/ via REUTERS./File Photo

By Dawn Chmielewski and Tom Hals

LOS ANGELES/WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Wednesday dismissed Walt Disney Co's lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and members of a state board for allegedly using the state to punish the company for voicing an opinion protected by free-speech rights.

Disney had sued in April 2023, arguing that Florida's government was retaliating after the company criticized state limits on classroom discussion of sexuality. DeSantis and other defendants had urged the case be dismissed, saying Disney could not sue them over constitutionally enacted state laws.

In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida, said Disney lacked standing to sue the governor or the secretary of commerce.

Winsor, who was nominated by then-President Donald Trump in 2019, also knocked down Disney's free-speech claims.

He said that, while the First Amendment prohibits government officials from retaliating against protected speech, a plaintiff - in this case, Disney - cannot bring a free-speech challenge to an otherwise constitutional law based on the subjective motivations of the lawmakers who passed it.

A Disney spokesperson said: "This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here.

"If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with. We are determined to press forward with our case."

DeSantis' press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, applauded the ruling.

"The federal courts decision made it clear that Governor DeSantis was correct: Disney is still just one of many corporations in the state, and they do not have a right to their own special government," Redfern said in statement. "In short - as long predicted, case dismissed."

The sentiment was echoed by Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board Chairman Martin Garcia, who said, "I'm delighted that this lawsuit, which was nothing more than a distraction, is now behind us."

The dispute began after Disney last year criticized the classroom ban on discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation, dubbed the "Don't say gay" law by opponents.

DeSantis began repeatedly attacking what he termed "woke Disney" in public appearances as he geared up for his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, an effort he abandoned earlier this month.

State lawmakers stripped Disney of its control over the special development district that since 1967 had given the company virtual autonomy around its theme parks, including the Walt Disney World Resort.

The newly formed, DeSantis-appointed district, known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board (CFTOD), then voided contracts that Disney had pushed through just before the prior board was replaced.

Disney responded by suing the governor and board members.

Judge Winsor rejected Disney's claim against DeSantis and the state's Secretary of Commerce. He found that the company failed to demonstrate that DeSantis has "actual control" over the board, and "struggled to articulate an injury" caused by the secretary.

He noted that since the supervisors have already been appointed, Disney would face the same situation it faces now if the court enjoined future appointments. "It would be operating under the control of the CFTOD board, over which it has no control."

The new board has separately asked a state judge to declare prior agreements, which were favorable to Disney and limited board action for decades, improper and void. That case is still pending.

Disney allegedly gave the previous board and its employees millions of dollars' worth of tickets, discounted hotel stays, and other benefits that were "akin to bribes of public officials," according to a report issued by the new board in early December.

Disney shares ended down 0.9% at $96.05 a share on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware and Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Matthew Lewis and Sayantani Ghosh)
A mushroom cloud rises with ships below during Operation Crossroads nuclear weapons test on Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands in this 1946 handout provided by the U.S. Library of Congress. REUTERS/U.S. Library of Congress/Handout via Reuters

By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. energy secretary should build trust with the Republic of the Marshall Islands by developing a plan to communicate clearly over lingering threats from a radioactive waste dump left by U.S. nuclear weapons testing that is now seen at risk of floods from climate change, a U.S. agency said on Wednesday.

The U.S. conducted 67 nuclear bomb tests on the Marshall Islands from 1946 to 1958. In the late 1970s it deposited radioactive soil and debris from six of the islands into an unlined crater created by one of the tests. The site, called the Runit Dome, was covered with a concrete cap but is now at risk of leaks from flooding due to rising seas caused by climate change, Marshallese officials have said.

The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, said in a report that the energy secretary "should develop and document a strategy for communications on radioactive contamination that is sustained, understandable, transparent, engages the RMI government, and builds on lessons learned."

In the report, the Department of Energy concurred with the recommendation. The DOE "made substantial efforts" since the beginning of the administration of (U.S.) President Joe Biden to improve engagement with RMI on the challenges and will consult with the State Department as it develops and implements a plan to work with officials there on the contamination, a DOE spokesperson said late on Wednesday.

A 2011 U.S. law requires the DOE to conduct visual studies of the dome and analyses of the groundwater surrounding it.

The GAO report said rising sea levels could push up groundwater levels under the dome, "potentially creating a pathway for leaking radiation."

The DOE and the RMI disagree on the radiological dangers posed by the dome, it said.

The Marshall Islands embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The report, requested by Senator Tom Carper, a Democrat, also contains information about radioactive contamination in southern Spain after two U.S. defense aircraft carrying four thermonuclear bombs collided in midair in 1966, dispersing debris over a wide area. It also examines radioactive contamination in Greenland resulting from U.S. Cold War activities.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; additional reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Leslie Adler and Michael Perry)
FILE PHOTO: Soldiers stand next to military vehicles as people gather to protest against the military coup, in Yangon, Myanmar, February 15, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

By Simon Lewis and Daphne Psaledakis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Wednesday slapped further sanctions on Myanmar, marking the three-year anniversary of the coup as Washington targeted two entities and several people it said were closely associated with the junta.

Wednesday's sanctions were the latest aimed at the fuel the junta uses to conduct aerial bombings in its war with anti-coup forces that have often targeted civilians, as well as the military's ability to produce arms.

The U.S. Treasury Department in a statement said it targeted the Shwe Byain Phyu Group of Companies, its owner Thein Win Zaw, his wife and two adult children.

Treasury said the company imports and distributes petroleum for the military and has a profit sharing relationship with military conglomerate Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd, which Washington imposed sanctions on in 2021.

Washington also targeted MEHL-owned shipping company Myanmar Five Star Line, which it said ships material for domestic weapons production for the military.

The Treasury Department said the two entities have enabled the purchase of foreign currency and the import of petroleum and other materials on behalf of the junta.

"We are taking this action to target the regimes sources of revenue which support military activities against civilians," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement, reiterating Washington's call for the military to change course.

Myanmar has been locked in conflict since the military seized power in a coup in 2021 that sparked nationwide chaos and abruptly ended a decade of tentative democracy and economic reform.

The sanctions, which freeze any U.S. assets of those targeted and generally bar Americans from dealing with them, come as junta leader Min Aung Hlaing is under pressure after a series of battlefield defeats that have seen rebel groups take control of at least 35 towns since October.

The generals are facing their biggest challenge since first taking power of the former British colony in 1962, with a youth-led pro-democracy uprising morphing into an armed resistance movement after a lethal crackdown on a wave of protests and post-coup dissent.

The junta has deployed heavy artillery and fighter jets to try to suppress militias allied with a shadow government and ethnic minority armies, several of which launched a coordinated offensive in October that stunned the military and has dented its battlefield credibility.

About 2.3 million people have been displaced, according to the United Nations, while efforts by Myanmar's Southeast Asian neighbors to initiate dialogue have seen no progress, with the junta refusing to negotiate with what it calls "terrorists."

The United States, along with our allies and partners, will continue to hold accountable those who seek to profit from, and provide support for, the violent oppression of the people of Burma," Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis and Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan Oatis)
WASHINGTON/CAIRO (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on three companies linked to the warring parties in Sudan, the latest in a series of measures against Sudanese entities aimed at stemming a devastating nine-month war.

The businesses sanctioned are Alkhaleej Bank and Al-Fakher Advanced Works, controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, and Zadna International, controlled by the Sudanese army, according to a U.S. Treasury Department statement.

War broke out last April between the two forces, resulting in the devastation of wide swaths of the country, the killing of thousands of civilians, warnings of famine and the world's largest internal displacement crisis.

The Rapid Support Forces are accused by the U.S. of participating in an ethnic cleansing campaign in West Darfur, along with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The army, which has carried out a widespread airstrike campaign, is also accused of war crimes by the U.S.

"The conflict in Sudan continues, in part, due to key individuals and entities that help fund the continuation of the violence," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.

Alkhaleej Bank is "an essential part of the RSF's efforts to finance its operations" that received $50 million from the Sudanese Central Bank just before the war broke out, the Treasury Department said.

Holding company Alfakher was used to manage the RSF's lucrative gold exports, its main source of financing to buy weapons.

Meanwhile, Zadna International was described as a "top revenue-earner" for the Sudanese army. The U.S. Treasury Department said it continued to provide funding and was used for money-laundering.

The sanctions were imposed under a U.S. executive order authorizing sanctions on individuals who are destabilizing Sudan and undermining the country's democratic transition, the Treasury Department said.

Since the war began, the U.S. has sanctioned the deputy head of the RSF, other major businesses owned by both sides, and other entities.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Nafisa Eltahir; Editing by Rami Ayyub and Peter Graff)
FILE PHOTO: Attorney Ben Crump greets Fearless Fund co-partners Arian Simone and Ayana Parsons as they attend a press conference in New York, U.S., August 10, 2023. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo

By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) - A venture capital fund on Wednesday urged a U.S. appeals court to allow it to resume a grant program that awards funding to businesses run by Black women and reject an anti-affirmative action group's claim that it discriminates based on race.

During a nearly hour-long hearing, lawyers for Atlanta-based Fearless Fund told the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that it had a constitutional right to express its belief in the importance of Black women to the economy through charity.

Fearless Fund attorney Jason Schwartz said that right under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment trumped claims by Edward Blum's American Alliance for Equal Rights that the program's criteria violated a Civil War-era law barring racial discrimination in contracting.

"Americans speak with their money," he said. "They magnify their message with their money. You can spend it to send whatever message you want."

But a lawyer for Blum's group, Gilbert Dickey, countered that by only considering Black women for grants, Fearless Fund had adopted a "categorical racial bar" against other applicants in violation of Section 1981 of the 1866 Civil Rights Act.

The arguments marked the latest step in a closely-watched lawsuit that Blum's group filed after a different organization the affirmative action opponent founded successfully convinced the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court in June to bar the consideration of race as a factor in college admissions.

The lawsuit centers on the fund's Fearless Strivers Grant Contest, which awards Black women who own small businesses $20,000 in grants and other resources to grow their businesses.

According to the Fearless Fund, businesses owned by Black women in 2022 received less than 1% of the $288 billion that venture capital firms deployed. The fund, headed by CEO and founding partner Arian Simone, says its goal is to address that disparity.

While a lower-court judge declined to block Fearless Fund's grant program, a 2-1 panel of the 11th Circuit in September temporarily enjoined it until a different three-judge panel could hear the alliance's appeal on Wednesday.

Two of the judges on Wednesday's panel were appointed by Republican former President Donald Trump, and both sharply questioned Fearless Fund's lawyers on its claims that its charitable giving was constitutionally protected.

"Just because it's a charity, it falls outside of (Section) 1981, that can't be right," said U.S. Circuit Judge Robert Luck, the only of the three judges who belonged to October's panel.

U.S. Circuit Judge Robin Rosenbaum, an appointee of Democratic former President Barack Obama, appeared more sympathetic to Fearless Fund, saying if the entire point was "to send the message that Black businesswomen are worthy and have been overlooked and left out, then why isn't that speech?"

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
WELLINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and Australia's foreign ministers and defense ministers met on Wednesday to discuss key global issues, the first time the two country's foreign and defense ministers have met in the "2+2" format.

New Zealand foreign and defense ministers have regular engagement with their Australian counterparts, but this will be the first meeting of this type, the New Zealand government said in a statement.

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defense Minister Judith Collins traveled to Melbourne on Wednesday for the inaugural meeting.

"The meeting is an important opportunity to discuss our shared commitment to our alliance and identify avenues through which to deepen our cooperation," Peters said.

Collins said the meeting is an opportunity to align and strengthen New Zealand's responses to international developments, particularly those in the Pacific region.

The ministers plan to discuss key global issues, including the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, and the Houthi attacks on the Red Sea.

It is the first face-to-face meeting between Peters and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong, and the second engagement between Collins and her counterpart Richard Marles, who is also the Australian deputy prime minister.

Peters and Collins will also hold separate bilateral discussions with their Australian counterparts before the delegation returns to New Zealand on Feb. 1. 
Members of the World Court listen as Russia begins presenting its objections against the jurisdiction of the World Court in a genocide case brought by Ukraine which claims Moscow falsely applied genocide law to justify its February 24, 2022 invasion, in T

By Stephanie van den Berg

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Judges at the top U.N. court on Wednesday found that Russia violated elements of a U.N. anti-terrorism treaty, but declined to rule on allegations brought by Kyiv that Moscow was responsible for the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014.

In the same ruling, judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that Russia had breached an anti-discrimination treaty by failing to support Ukrainian language education in Crimea after its 2014 annexation of the peninsula.

The decisions were a legal setback for Kyiv. The court rejected Ukraine's requests to order reparations for both violations and only ordered Russia to comply with the treaties.

Ukraine's representative Anton Korynevych stressed the judgment was important for Kyiv because it did establish Russia violated international law.

"This is the first time that officially, legally Russia is called a violator of international law," he told journalists after the ruling.

Ukraine had filed the lawsuit at the ICJ, also known as the World Court, in 2017, accusing Russia of violating an anti-terrorism treaty by funding pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

The court's judges said Moscow violated the U.N.'s anti-terrorism treaty by not investigating plausible allegations that some funds were sent from Russia to Ukraine to possibly fund terrorist activities.

The 16-judge panel ordered Russia to investigate any plausible allegations of terrorism financing but turned down a request by Kyiv for reparations.

The court declined to rule on the downing of MH17, saying violations of funding terrorism only applied to monetary and financial support, not to supplying weapons or training as alleged by Ukraine.

Ukraine had argued that Russia supplied the missile system that shot down the aircraft, but it had not alleged financial support in that instance.

In a hearing at the court in The Hague last June, Russia dismissed Ukraine's allegations that it funded and controlled pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine as fiction and "blatant lies".

In the case, which has taken almost seven years, Kyiv had accused Russia of equipping and funding pro-Russian forces, including rebels who shot down MH17 in July 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

In November 2022, a Dutch court sentenced two Russians and a Ukrainian in absentia to life imprisonment for their role in the disaster.

In Crimea, Ukraine had said Russia was trying to erase the culture of ethnic Tatars and Ukrainians. The court dismissed all of the claims related to the Tatars but found Moscow did not do enough to support Ukrainian language education.

The court's judgments are final and without appeal, but it has no way to enforce its rulings.

On Friday, the ICJ will rule in another case in which Ukraine has accused Moscow of falsely applying the 1948 Genocide Convention to justify its Feb. 24, 2022, invasion.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg; editing by Philippa Fletcher and Nick Macfie)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Yemen's Houthis on Wednesday said their naval forces carried out an operation targeting an "American merchant ship" in the Gulf of Aden hours after firing missiles at U.S. Navy destroyer Gravely.

They targeted the "American merchant ship KOI ... with several appropriate naval missiles," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement.

The Liberian-flagged container ship KOI is operated by UK-based Oceonix Services. The company's fleet includes the oil tanker Marlin Luanda, which was damaged by a missile on Saturday, shipping data showed.

British maritime security firm Ambrey on Wednesday said that a merchant vessel reported an explosion on its starboard after it was targeted with a missile while underway 69 nautical miles southwest of Aden, Yemen.

"Ambrey was aware that a missile was fired from Dimnat Khadir District, Taiz Governorate, Yemen," it added in an advisory note.

Ambrey, however, did not mention whether this vessel was the Koi.

The Iran-aligned Houthi militants, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have launched wave after wave of exploding drones and missiles at commercial vessels since Nov. 19, in what they say is a response to Israel's military operations in Gaza.

The Houthi campaign has disrupted international shipping, causing some companies to suspend transits through the Red Sea and instead take the much longer, costlier journey around Africa.

The U.S. and Britain have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, and returned the militia to a list of terrorist groups as turmoil from the Israel-Hamas war spreads through the region.

(Reporting by Enas Alashray; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, entities affiliated with Sylebra Capital Limited (Sylebra) agreed to purchase 24,795,027 shares of Common Stock for a total purchase price of approximately $14.4 million and Adage Capital Management agreed to purchase 12,007,272 shares of common stock for a total purchase price of approximately $7 million.

Standby Equity Purchase Agreement

On November 8, 2023, we entered into the Facility Agreement with entities affiliated with Sylebra. Pursuant to the Facility Agreement, we will have the right, but not the obligation, to sell to Sylebra up to $125,000,000 of shares of its preferred stock, at our request until November 8, 2026, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. Each sale we request under the Facility Agreement (each, an Advance and collectively, the Advances) may be for a number of shares of preferred stock with an aggregate value of at least $25,000,000 but not more than $50,000,000 (except with Sylebras consent).

The rights, preferences and privileges of the preferred stock will be set out in the certificate of designation. When and if issued, the preferred stock will be issued at a price per share of $10,000. Holders of the preferred stock will be entitled to a quarterly dividend at the rate of 7.0% per annum payable in cash or in kind at the option of the Company. The preferred stock will have an initial liquidation preference of 120% of the issuance price, plus accrued dividends. The preferred stock will have no voting rights as a class or series except in such instances as required by Delaware law or certain matters enumerated in the certificate of designations related to the protection of the preferred stock.

The preferred stock will be convertible at the option of the holders into a number of shares of Common Stock equal to $10,000 divided by the then-applicable conversion price, which will be equal to the lesser of (i) the average five day closing price from the date of Advance, or (ii) the closing price per share of Common Stock on the date of each Advance subject to certain customary anti-dilution adjustments. At any time after the two year anniversary of any issuance of any series of preferred stock, we will have the option to convert all (but not less than all) of any series of then-outstanding preferred stock by paying a make-whole payment, in either stock or cash, equal to three years of dividends, provided that the closing price of the Common Stock exceeds 250% of the then-applicable conversion price for at least 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days prior to the date of conversion. To the extent, if any, a conversion would result any the holder thereof becoming the beneficial owner of more than 19.9% of our outstanding Common Stock, we will issue the investor a warrant. The preferred stock will be subject to customary pre-emptive rights.

Our right to request Advances is conditioned upon us achieving a minimum of one new passenger auto-OEM or commercial OEM program award with at least a 50,000 unit volume, the trading price of the Common Stock being below $3.00 at the time of the Advance request and other customary conditions.

We paid Sylebra a facility fee in the amount of $2,500,000, an origination fee in the amount of $625,000, and an administrative fee in the amount of $312,500 and reimbursed Sylebra for its reasonable fees and expenses in connection with the Facility Agreement in an amount not to exceed $350,000. We also issued Sylebra a warrant to purchase 15,000,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share (the Series A Warrant).

Corporate Information
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of January, 2024

Commission File Number 1-15106

PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.  PETROBRAS

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Brazilian Petroleum Corporation  PETROBRAS

(Translation of Registrant's name into English)

Avenida Henrique Valadares, 28  19th floor

20241-030  Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Federative Republic of Brazil

(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F _______

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes _______ No___X____

Petrobras informs on receipt of earnout from Sepia and Atapu



Rio de Janeiro, January 31, 2024  Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras informs that it has received, in cash, an amount of R$ 1.819 billion, referring to the complement of the firm compensation (earnout) of the 2023, from the Sepia and Atapu blocks. The amount already includes the gross-up of the taxes levied on the 28%, 21% and 21% stakes held by TotalEnergies EP Brasil Ltda, PETRONAS Petroleo Brasil Ltda and QatarEnergy Brasil Ltda, respectively, in Sepia and 25% and 22.5% of Shell Brasil Petroleo Ltda and TotalEnergies EP Brasil Ltda, in Atapu.

Under the terms of Ministerial Order No. 08 of 19/04/2021 of the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) and the public notice for the 2nd round of bids for the Onerous Transfer Surplus under the Production Sharing regime, which took place on 17/12/2021, earnout values were established for the Sepia and Atapu blocks, which will be due between 2022 and 2032, and payable from the last working day of January of the year following that in which the price of Brent-type oil reaches an annual average of more than US$ 40/bbl, limited to US$ 70/bbl.

Facts deemed material will be disclosed to the market in due time.

www.petrobras.com.br/ir

For more information:

PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.  PETROBRAS | Investors Relations

email: [email protected]/[email protected]

Av. Henrique Valadares, 28  9 th floor  20231-030  Rio de Janeiro, RJ.

Tel.: 55 (21) 3224-1510/9947 | 0800-282-1540

This document may contain forecasts within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Trading Act of 1934, as amended (Trading Act) that reflect the expectations of the Company's officers. The terms: "anticipates", "believes", "expects", "predicts", "intends", "plans", "projects", "aims", "should," and similar terms, aim to identify such forecasts, which evidently involve risks or uncertainties, predicted or not by the Company. Therefore, future results of the Company's operations may differ from current expectations, and the reader should not rely solely on the information included herein.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: January 31, 2024

PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.APETROBRAS



By: /s/ Sergio Caetano Leite

______________________________

Sergio Caetano Leite

Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea in April 2023. (Tyler Harmon/U.S. Marine Corps)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed into the Yellow Sea on Wednesday after an in-flight emergency, according to the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base.

The crash occurred around 8:41 a.m.; the unnamed pilot ejected and was recovered roughly 50 minutes later by U.S. and South Korean personnel, the wing said in a news release.

The pilot was conscious at the time of the rescue, 8th Fighter Wing spokeswoman Kaylin Hankerson told Stars and Stripes by phone Wednesday.

The pilot was on a routine flight at the time, she said.

Wing commander Col. Matthew Gaetke thanked those involved in the swift recovery of our pilot and in the release said the focus was now on the search and recovery of the F-16.

pic.twitter.com/WKYj63YvnL  8th Fighter Wing  Wolf Pack (@KunsanAirBase) January 31, 2024

The incident marks the wings third F-16 crash in nearly nine months.

On Dec. 11, a Fighting Falcon went down in the Yellow Sea after an in-flight emergency, the wing announced at the time. The pilot ejected and was airlifted to a hospital.

On May 6, a Kunsan-based F-16 crashed into a farmers field near Osan Air Base, about 30 miles from Seoul. The pilot ejected safely and was treated at Osans urgent care center, the wing said at the time.

Kunsan, on the western coast of the Korean Peninsula about 115 miles from the capital city, is the home of the 8th Fighter Wing, which operates roughly 30 F-16s.
The Buffalo Soldier Gate at Fort Bliss, Texas, in March 2021. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes )

AUSTIN, Texas  A Fort Bliss soldier accused by Mexican authorities of shooting and killing his girlfriend in the border town of Juarez is expected not to challenge extradition during a federal hearing Thursday, according to court records.

Spc. Saul Luna Villa, 23-year-old mortarman with the 1st Armored Division, is charged in Ciudad Juarez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua with aggravated femicide in the April 7, 2023, death of a woman who he had been dating for four years.

Court documents do not name the woman, but her mother identified her in local news reports as Aylin Valenzuela, a 19-year-old mother.

The mother described the couples relationship as one filled with arguments often sparked by Luna Villas possessiveness and jealousy. During fights, Luna Villa would push her around and insult her.

Luna Villa is from Burlington, Wis., and has been stationed at Fort Bliss for more than two years, according to his official service record. In addition to a murder charge in Mexico, Luna Villa also has military charges pending against him that are related to this case but not fully described in the court documents. Details on those charges are not yet publicly available, according to base officials.

Fort Bliss and 1st Armored Division are aware of the notification of provisional extradition of Spc. Saul Luna received from Mexico to the U.S. Department of Justice. The Army does not comment on ongoing litigation, said Lt. Col. Kimbia Rey, a division spokeswoman.

An attorney listed online for Luna Villa did not respond to calls for comment.

Spc. Saul Luna Villa, a 23-year-old Fort Bliss soldier, is charged with murder in Mexico for the April 7, 2023, death of his girlfriend, according to online federal court records. (U.S. Army)

Fort Bliss and El Paso border Mexico in far west Texas, and Luna Villa traveled across the border on April 7 to meet with Valenzuela despite a base policy that prohibits soldiers from traveling into Juarez and other parts of Mexico. The womans mother told Mexican police that her daughter rode in an Uber from her home to meet Luna Villa.

The Uber driver later told police that he dropped off Valenzuela and saw her get directly into a black GMC truck with a man wearing a white shirt.

Valenzuela sent a photo of herself to her mothers cellphone at about 7:20 p.m. that showed Luna Villas arm in the photo, which she said was distinguishable because of his tattoos, according to court documents.

About five minutes later, Luna Villa called the womans mother to ask if she was home. The mother replied with surprise and said she had just received the photo of her daughter with him. She then hung up and tried unsuccessfully to call her daughter.

Luna Villa called the mother again about 10 minutes later asking if she knew Valenzuelas location, according to court documents.

Meanwhile, at about 7:24 p.m., a call was made to police about the discovery of a dead body at an intersection in the Anahuac neighborhood of Juarez.

The mother confirmed the body was her daughter the following day. An autopsy showed shed been shot in the head and chest.

Police used security camera footage from the neighborhood to identify a man wearing a white shirt and driving a black truck stop and lower a bundle from his passenger seat, leaving it on the ground at 7:21 p.m.

By 8:32 p.m., Department of Homeland Security records show Luna Villa crossing back into the U.S. at the Cordova Bridge in a black GMC truck  a truck that he frequently used to cross the border, according to court documents.

Mexican authorities issued the arrest warrant on April 14, 2023, and Luna Villa was taken into U.S. Marshal Service custody in September. He was confirmed Tuesday as an inmate at the West Texas Detention Center, a private prison in Sierra Blanca.
Reserve soldiers Kennedy Ladon Sanders and Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, who were killed Sunday in a drone attack on their base in Jordan, have been posthumously promoted to sergeant, the Army announced Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. (U.S. Army)

ATLANTA  Two of the young Army Reserve soldiers killed Sunday in a drone attack on their base in Jordan have been posthumously promoted to sergeant, the service announced Tuesday.

The Army ordered the promotions for now-Sgts. Kennedy L. Sanders and Breonna Moffett in recognition of their exceptional courage, dedication and leadership during their deployment, according to a statement from U.S. Army Reserve Command based at Fort Liberty, N.C.

Sanders, Moffett and Sgt. William J. Rivers were deployed to Jordan in support of anti-Islamic State operations when they were killed, the Pentagon announced Monday. The soldiers were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion from the 926th Engineer Brigade based at Fort Moore, Ga.

This promotion is a small token of our immense gratitude for Sgt. Sanders and Sgt. Moffetts service and sacrifice, said Col. Robert Coker, the chief of staff for the 412th Theater Engineer Command, which oversees Army Reserve engineering units.

The soldiers were killed early Sunday morning when a drone launched by an Iran-backed militia group crashed into their living quarters on the small base known as Tower 22, near Jordans borders with Syria and Iraq. The Pentagon and President Joe Biden have vowed to retaliate for their deaths. Biden said Tuesday that he held Iran responsible in the sense that theyre supplying the weapons to the people who did it.

The president said he had decided how he would respond to the attack, but he did not provide any details on Tuesday.

The three soldiers killed in the attack were all part-time citizen-soldiers who called Georgia home. Rivers, 46, was from Carrollton in west Georgia. Sanders, 24, was from Waycross in south Georgia near the Okefenokee Swamp. Moffett, 23, was from Savannah.

Sanders and Moffett were horizontal construction engineers who enlisted in the Army in 2019. The pair had become good friends through their service, according to Sanders father Shawn Sanders, a Marine Corps veteran.

Sanders learned Tuesday morning of the Armys decision to posthumously promote his daughter in a call from Biden, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Biden asked Sanders and his wife in a roughly six-minute phone call for permission to join them when their daughters remains are returned to the United States. The AJC posted a video of the call on Tuesday in which Sanders parents accepted the presidents request.

And, by the way, Biden added. Were promoting her posthumously to sergeant.

Shawn and his wife, Oneida Oliver-Sanders, smiled as the president made the announcement.

That is the best news Ive heard today, Oliver-Sanders said in the video. Thank you so much. You dont know how much that means to us.

The remains of Sanders and her fellow fallen soldiers are expected to be returned to the United States on Friday in a ceremony known as a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to soon call the families of the fallen soldiers and join them in Dover, alongside Biden, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagons top spokesman, said Tuesday.
The guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely launches Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles in response to increased Iranian-backed Houthi malign behavior in the Red Sea Jan. 12, 2024. (Jonathan Word/U.S. Navy)

NAPLES, Italy  An anti-ship cruise missile launched this week from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen was targeting the Navy destroyer that shot it down, making it the second militant attack on a U.S. warship patrolling in the Red Sea in recent days.

At about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, USS Gravely shot down one missile over the Red Sea, U.S. CENTCOM said in a statement Wednesday. The ship wasnt damaged and no one was hurt, officials said.

A Houthi military spokesman said the group took responsibility for Tuesdays attack, adding that they had fired several missiles and would continue attacking U.S. and U.K. forces, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.

The attack followed a missile launch Friday by the Iranian-backed Houthi militants at the destroyer USS Carney in the Gulf of Aden. The ship destroyed the Houthi missile.

In other cases, defense officials say the Houthis have exaggerated their claims. The group said Monday that they targeted the expeditionary mobile base USS Louis B. Puller, also in the Gulf of Aden. The attack didnt happen, according to the Pentagon.

The strike at USS Gravely comes as tensions in the Middle East continue and the U.S. prepares a response to a Sunday drone attack on a base in Jordan that killed three soldiers and injured dozens more.

Concerns also remain about the impact of Houthi attacks on international shipping in the heavily trafficked Red Sea.

Last week, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the country would deploy six people as part of the U.S.-led Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect ships in the Red Sea. Most of the support for the mission thus far has come from NATO alliance members.

A European Union mission to protect Red Sea shipping is expected to begin in mid-February. The commission will decide Wednesday which country will lead the effort, Politico.eu reported the same day.

Italy and France, which already have military ships in the area, along with Greece are among front-runners to lead the mission, according to the Politico report.

The Houthis had launched 36 attacks on ships since Nov. 19 as of Monday, the Pentagon said.

Those attacks include an anti-ship ballistic missile that struck a Marshall Islands-flagged ship carrying a highly flammable liquid mixture in the Gulf of Aden on Friday. The strike caused a fire in one of the ships cargo holds.

USS Carney, along with French and Indian military ships, helped put out the fire.

The Houthis have said their attacks will continue in support of Palestinians and until there is a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. U.S. officials say the group is targeting vessels that have no connection to Israel.
Space Force Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen gives the keynote speech at the Space Mobility Conference at the Orange County Convention Center on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. (Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen wants commercial companies to solve Space Force problems, but if the U.S. Space Force can help them, thats OK with her, too.

Thats part of the message she delivered at the Space Mobility Conference at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., on Tuesday, bringing together a combination of military, civil and commercial players in the space game.

Were really trying to focus in on what the warfighters need and take it one step farther, said Panzenhagen, who wears four hats for the Space Force, including commander of Space Launch Delta 45 based at Patrick Space Force Base in Brevard County, Fla.

Taking over the role last summer from Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, shes also director of the Eastern Range in charge of every launch out of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center and the director of launch and range operations for Space Systems Command, meaning she has a say in the launches from the Western Range out of Vandenberg Space Force Base as well.

The final, and debatably the biggest hat she wears, though, is as program executive officer for the Assured Access to Space organization within Space Systems Command. That job entails overseeing 22,000 government and contractor personnel and leading national security and other military launch programs with an annual budget of $13.5 billion.

The Space Mobility Conference, now in its second year, is an outreach effort of Assured Access to Space.

In 2020 the Space Force announced space mobility and logistics as one of its core competencies, she said. Thats where the focal point is right now for the Space Force  for developing these capabilities.

With a record 72 launches from the Space Coast in 2023 and close to 100 expected in 2024, she says launches remain an important focus of that mobility, but this weeks conference focused on other aspects of the military needs and just how commercial companies could help.

The day featured panels covering things such as refueling older satellites, partnering with other countries to share spaceports, and point-to-point rapid rocket delivery of supplies. Representatives for companies including SpaceX, Northrop Grumman and Sierra Space dressed in business casual fare mixed with military personnel in camouflage uniforms.

We tried to bring together all the players for a very open conversation, she said. We really want to hear unconstrained ideas.  We also really want to understand the realm of the possible not just technologically, but what makes a feasible business case for industry with some of these technologies.

Commercial companies already routinely work with the military, but with competition from the likes of China, for instance, the need to keep up with innovation requires more reliance on commercial help than ever before, she said.

Panzenhagen said the U.S. is in a great power competition and the Space Force considers China the pacing challenge.  And because of that  we know our number one priority is deterring a potential conflict. But then should conflict arise, we need to make sure that were ready for it.

Space Force needs responsiveness built into its systems and hardware, tactically relevant timelines and supporting infrastructure because those things are good for warfighting capabilities, which means theyre good for deterrence, she said.

But the good news is American commercial endeavors are up to the task, she said.

This is a fantastic era of innovation that were seeing in the space industry. One of Americas strengths has always been its ability to innovate. And the DOD as much as possible tries to capitalize on that innovation, she said.

That includes technology such as reusable rockets, but also things such as 3D printing and even processes that can cut down on response time. Rewarding commercial endeavors helps the country as well, she said.

From a government standpoint, encouraging competition, bringing on more vendors is good for us. It improves resiliency, which again, good for space order of battle, good for deterrence, she said.

Panzenhagen said the days discussion was invaluable.

This was a lot today. That was an incredible amount of expertise. It was literally centuries of expertise that we had sitting up on stage so we could pick their brains, she said.

I took probably about two pages of notes today, and its split roughly 50-50. Half of it is things that I was like Oh shoot, I need to go do this and the other half was things I was like, Oh shoot, I need to get smarter on this, so I can go do something. 

2024 Orlando Sentinel.

Visit orlandosentinel.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
East Brother Island, neighbored by unbuilt West Brother Island, is in San Pablo Strait, where San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay meet. The East Brother Light Station Bed & Breakfast is located on the island. (Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times/TNS)

You might be reluctant to stay at a $475-a-night inn that warns of flashing lights and foghorns throughout the night, or bans one-night guests from bathing, or requires that you be ready to climb a ladder above roiling seas.

But then you hear those four words:

Lighthouse on an island.

The East Brother Light Station is a compound of three buildings on a three-quarter-acre island near the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. The main building is a four-bedroom 1873 Victorian home, topped by a beacon you can see from up to 13 miles off. And all of those bedrooms are rentable by the night, with a fancy dinner and breakfast included.

In December, I booked a night and made my way to Point San Pablo Harbor in Richmond, 20 miles north of San Francisco.

The first surprise was the crocodile. When you follow the two-lane approach road, you pass a few miles of mostly idle post-industrial waterfront, climb a hill, then descend to the harbor, where you are greeted by a 40-foot-long steel-and-ceramic crocodile, jaws open wide.

Point San Pablo Harbor, at the western edge of Richmond in East San Francisco Bay, is a bohemian community with one restaurant, the East Brother Light Station Bed-and-Breakfast, a few dozen live-aboard boats in the marina and several leftover Burning Man sculptures like this crocodile along the shoreline. (Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Nearby stands a Victrola-style trumpet tall enough to serenade Godzilla. Also a hippo-sized cat, a possible altar and several other large, mysterious sculptural objects, neighbored by a few yurts, a pen full of goats and a few dozen houseboats in the marina  rustic, artsy houseboats, boldly painted, with a pirate vibe.

At the base of the dock, a rustic patio restaurant called the Sailing Goat was serving lunch. In fact, I was gulping some of the Sailing Goats excellent clam chowder when my innkeepers 22-foot boat puttered up to the dock.

The 10-minute ride to the lighthouse

Dre and Charity Elmore, both newcomers to California, started work in early 2023 as keepers of the East Brother Light Station Bed & Breakfast, a gig nearly as intriguing as the lighthouse itself.

Bundled in rain gear and eager to get back to their island before a downpour hit the launch, the two quickly embarked me and my overnight bag for the trip to the island.

Over the whine of the motor, Dre Elmore explained that many of the houseboat people seem to be live-aboard artists and musicians. As for the sculptures?

From Burning Man, he said.

On the quarter-mile ride to the island, the Elmores told me Id be the only guest for the evening  others had canceled because of illness. Then they gave me the inns backstory.

From 1873 until the 1960s, East Brother Island was home to a manned lighthouse, using its beacon and horn to guide ships through the often-foggy strait that connects San Francisco Bay to San Pablo Bay.

Once automation arrived, the Coast Guard was ready to tear down the old keepers residence. Thats when Richmonds preservationists rose up.

The East Brother Light Station at dusk. (Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times/TNS)

First they got the light station added to the National Register of Historic Places. Then they launched a campaign to restore the compound and run the keepers residence as a bed-and-breakfast. It would be a nonprofit operation, with proceeds paying for maintenance. The inn opened in 1980, renting two rooms.

There have been plenty of headwinds since then, including the pandemic, a damaged power cable and all the material woes that come with so much salty air and water. But the inn has grown to five rooms in the historic compound, open four nights a week.

Many guests are locals who have always wondered about this odd little island. Others are lighthouse aficionados who roam this countrys coasts, getting their U.S. Lighthouse Society passports stamped. (The last active lighthouse keeper in the U.S., Sally Snowman at Boston Light Beacon, retired in December, but those aficionados still have about 850 active and retired lighthouses to visit and admire.)

As our boat neared the light stations pier, it became clear why this is not a destination for everyone. As the inns website warns, guests must be able to climb 4 to 12 feet up a ladder (depending on the tide) from bobbing boat to dock. Meanwhile, your innkeepers have to heave your luggage up from the boat.

Its best to pack light. And once youre on the island, expect a vibe thats less Burning Man, more L.L. Bean.

Visitors can roam. Or buy out the island

The compound is surrounded by a white picket fence, as if this were just another slice of residential Americana. Charity Elmore leads guests on a tour that advances from the inns stately rooms  ready for an Agatha Christie mystery to break out at any moment  to the lighthouse tower and widows walk up top.

This, right here, is the Lantern Room. That is the actual light that flashes on and off every five seconds, Charity told me as the beacon blazed, darkened and blazed again. It lets all the boats in the bay area know that were out here.

The San Francisco and Marin rooms upstairs, which have commanding views, private bathrooms and cost $525, are the most popular among first-timers. I paid $475 to stay downstairs in the West Brother Room, which has a slightly less commanding view and shares a bathroom.

The East Brother Light Station B&B has five bedrooms that can be rented by the night. You can also rent out the whole inn for 10 to 12 people. (Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times/TNS)

If youre a boat person who savors the faint scent of diesel, however, youll want to book Walters Room, a small bedroom and sitting room in the fog signal building. The bathroom is 25 feet away, but a barn-style door opens to a patio and spectacular view and there are no shared walls.

Then theres the splurge option: You rent the whole inn for a $2,500 house party  room for 10-12 people, potentially including children, who are otherwise not allowed. That happens two or three times a month.

There are a few other lighthouse lodgings on the West Coast, including the hostel at Pigeon Point in Pescadero and the fancy B&B at Heceta Head near Yachats in Oregon. But where else on the West Coast can you buy out an island?

Whether you rent one room or all, Champagne and hors doeuvres are served in late afternoon  outdoors if the weather is mild. Then, in the spell before the bell rings for dinner in the dining room, you have time to roam.

You can head upstairs, where theres a wood-burning stove and a room full of puzzles, board games and a guitar. Theres a horseshoe pitch on one side of the fog signal building. The cellphone coverage is fine, but theres no Wi-Fi, no landline, no hot tub.

So you do what they do in the L.L. Bean catalog: Stare meaningfully at the the swelling sea, the ferries and barges puttering past, the birds that perch on West Brother, the next island over. Farther away, you have the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and the distant San Francisco skyline. In winter, clouds and fog permitting, you see the sun set behind Mount Tamalpais.

After dark, I climbed the spiral staircase to the widows walk and stood by the pulsing beacon, which felt forbidden but isnt. Then I dipped into a gift shop copy of East Brother: History of an Island Light Station by Frank Perry, and learned the following:

To put a lighthouse on the domed stone island, 19th-century workers dynamited rock to flatten the top. Then they laid concrete sloping toward a spherical cistern in the middle of the island, to collect water. Thats still the water-storage system, and its why the innkeepers must conserve their freshwater.

Beneath the main houses stick-and-frame wooden exterior is a brick building, which makes it more stable, warmer and quieter in the wind.

The house was completed in 1873, but the lighthouse wasnt illuminated until March 1874.

In the old days, keepers rowed three miles across the bay to buy provisions at San Quentin, then rowed back, occasionally while drunk. In his January 1883 journal, keeper Charles F. Winsor complained that his assistant Mr. Page took the mail over to San Quentin, returned drunk. And then a month later: Mr. Page went for mail and stores, drunk, no mail. Soon after, Mr. Page departed the island.

Now the keepers live in the smaller structure next door to the main building. They typically serve a two-year contract, then move on.

After dinner  a four-course event that on my night included tomato bisque, strawberry-almond salad, salmon with remoulade, potatoes Dauphinois, roasted asparagus and New York cheesecake  the Elmores told tell me how theyd arrived.

Until early in 2023, they were living in Fairport, N.Y., along the Erie Canal outside Rochester. Charity Elmore, 56, was a project manager in high tech. Dre Elmore, 57, had spent decades in publishing, then built a second career of maritime jobs, earning a Coast Guard master captains license for vessels up to 100 tons. He also liked cooking.

Innkeeper Dre Elmore prepares to demonstrate the vintage foghorn at the East Brother Light Station B&B. (Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times/TNS)

They were both ready for a big move, and were chosen from more than 1,000 applicants for the East Brother gig. They started in March.

Charity: You dont find too many captains that are that good at cooking.

Dre: Im the only 100-ton captain in the world that made three soups on Thursday.

Charity: Probably. Theres no data to back that up.

Is it a dream job?

Its a lot of work, Dre said, but its definitely worth it to live out here.

Its like a living museum, Charity said.

What you see and hear overnight

That night it rained and the light stations modern foghorn sounded every 30 seconds, as it routinely does from October to April. But its a mellow sound, like the call of an owl from across the street. Though the inn supplies earplugs, I was never tempted to reach for them.

As for stray lighthouse beams, I saw none. After all, that rotating beacon up above is designed to scatter light far and wide, not straight down. I slept deeply.

In the morning, guests get a hearty breakfast. Before the 11 a.m. boat ride back to the mainland, Dre Elmore likes to show off the retired Fresnel lens and the array of still-working machinery in the fog signal building.

The machinery is fascinating. But the payoff for me came when he demonstrated the stations rare 1934 diaphone fog signal, which sounds off with two descending blasts, basso profundo. When those bass notes sound, it wont matter whether youre in pirate mode, L.L. Bean mode or lighthouse geek mood. All your molecules will vibrate. In a good way.
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- An article on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will be published on Thursday.

The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in this year's third issue of the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee.

Forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation is to guide people of all ethnic groups to uphold the vision of a community with a shared future by standing together through thick and thin, the article says.

It notes that the Chinese people of all ethnic groups have embarked on a new journey toward building a strong China and realizing national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization since the 20th CPC National Congress.

In the pursuit of building a great modern socialist country in all respects, no ethnic group should be left behind, the article says.

It is important to draw on the long history of the Chinese nation and strengthen the development of theories for the Chinese national community, according to the article.

The article calls for efforts to develop modern civilization for the Chinese nation and foster a sense of belonging for the Chinese nation.

It is crucial to promote extensive communication and interactions among different ethnic groups, and cement the great unity of the Chinese nation to advance Chinese modernization, the article says.

The article stresses the importance of telling well the stories of the Chinese nation and promoting a sense of community for the Chinese nation. 
Hundreds of pirogues, ready for fishing, line the protected side of the Langue de Barbarie in western Senegal. (Guy Peterson/The Washington Post)

SAINT LOUIS, Senegal  As a young geologist working for Senegals state-owned petroleum company in the 1990s, Macky Sall was charged with prospecting for oil and gas in this West African nation. For years, he and his colleagues came up empty.

But more than two decades later, after Sall was elected to be Senegals president, an American energy company found a gas deposit so big that he has called it a game changer. The 15 trillion cubic feet of gas found in 2015 has turned Senegal into one of Africas biggest potential producers of natural gas  and turned Sall into a global champion for the right of developing nations to use their resources, including fossil fuels, to industrialize and develop.

After multiple delays, Senegal is now set to start producing gas from the reserves later this year, according to oil and gas giant BP, which is leading the operation.

The World Bank estimates that Africa was home to 40 percent of natural gas discoveries between 2010 and 2020, including one off Senegals coast near Saint Louis and another smaller deposit closer to the capital, Dakar. And in 2022, following Russias invasion of Ukraine, European leaders, who had previously pledged to move away from fossil fuels, started looking toward Africas natural gas to replace flows from Russia.

Environmentalists have warned, however, that such efforts by developing nations could become among the most important drivers of climate change and thwart global attempts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental researchers generally agree that natural gas is preferable to oil and coal, but they also say it is still a fossil fuel that contributes too much to the planets warming at a moment when the United Nations has warned that drastic measures are needed to limit climate change.

Developing countries, like Senegal, often look to the World Bank and other global financial institutions for help with such ambitious development. So these natural gas projects will pose a test of the international pledges made at climate conferences to phase out fossil fuels.

Sall, who will leave office next month after two terms, has repeatedly squared off with environmental groups at global climate and energy conferences. In an interview at the presidential palace this month, Sall dismissed the criticisms as climate fanaticism, saying that many critics are from developed countries, including the United States, where industrialization has been made possible by fossil fuels.

How can you tell people in Africa, where half the population does not have electricity  leave your resources in the ground? Sall said. There is no sense in that, and it is not fair. We need an energy transition that is fair.

Sall is among the leaders and energy analysts who argue that natural gas in particular will be necessary for getting electricity into the homes of the 600 million people on the continent who lack it.

From the shore of Saint Louis, a historic fishing hub in West Africa, infrastructure for processing Senegals gas is visible on the horizon. The gas reserve itself, which was discovered by Dallas-based Kosmos Energy, sits about 75 miles offshore along Senegals maritime boundary with Mauritania and is more than a mile under the sea floor, making it among the deepest offshore projects in Africa to date.

In 2016, BP signed on as an operator for the field, which officials named turtle in French and which they figure has a 30-year production potential. Kosmos estimates that the total gas in place discovered by the company in the region is about 100 trillion cubic feet. Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria are currently Africas top producers of natural gas.

The United States remains the worlds biggest producer of natural gas, followed by Russia, Iran and Canada. Natural gas powers about 40 percent of the electrical grid in the United States, according to the federal government, and U.S. exports of natural gas set a record high in the first half of 2023.

Huge power deficit

For the people of Saint Louis, located between the Senegal River and the Atlantic Ocean, climate change is not a theoretical threat. The United Nations has identified it as the most vulnerable city in all of Africa to rising seas.

Mamadou Thiam, who was displaced from his seaside house because of rising waters, said that when the natural gas project was announced, he and other residents cheered. Everyone said, Our lives will be better, said Thiam, who hopes the gas will bring electricity so he can get a refrigerator and stop walking more than a kilometer to charge his phone.

Nationally, Senegal has a higher electrification rate than most other countries on the continent. Still, 30 percent of the population lacks access to electricity.

The huge power deficit in Africa must be taken into account in debates about the use of fossil fuels, said Vijaya Ramachandran, an energy analyst at the Breakthrough Institute in California, noting that the average African consumes as much energy in one year as the average American does in four days. Overall emissions from the continent are less than 4 percent of the global total, although Africans represent nearly 20 percent of the population.

We cannot deny Africans the opportunity to provide much needed electricity, Ramachandran said.

But even after Senegals offshore gas field begins producing in coming months, many Senegalese could still have a long wait ahead. The vast majority of gas initially produced would be exported to Europe, Sall said.

The government intends the second field closer to Dakar to be tapped for domestic use. After officials disagreed with BPs desire to also use it for export, Senegal is looking for a new partner to join Kosmos and the state-owned oil and gas company in a joint venture to develop the field, according to Mamadou Fall Kane, deputy secretary of Senegals natural resource management agency. BP did not respond to a request for comment.

Sall sees gas as helping Senegal transition away from oil, which powers most of the countrys electricity, as more energy from renewable sources is brought into the electrical grid. But he said its unclear whether the World Bank and other international development agencies will help finance expensive infrastructure projects, including pipelines and a processing plant, needed to use the gas domestically.

The World Bank provided $30 million in funding in 2017 for Senegals development of its natural gas sector, but the bank dropped its funding several years ago for another project to convert existing power plants to natural gas. A report released this month by the International Energy Agency outlined the challenges that Senegals gas industry faces as development banks move away from funding fossil fuel projects, noting that the countrys midstream gas infrastructure is still under discussion, and it is unclear how much it will cost, who will finance it and when it will be ready.

World Bank President Ajay Banga has said it has dramatically reduced funding for fossil fuel projects including natural gas over the past decade. He acknowledged that poorer nations still need gas for their development, adding that the bank believes natural gas plays a role, but a very small role.

Even if the World Bank does not fund gas projects in Senegal, Sall said the country would still find a way to move forward. It would be hard, he said. But it will not stop us. We will not leave our gas under the ocean floor.

Concerns over natural gas

Natural gas may emit less carbon dioxide than oil and coal, which is being used by India and China to fuel their growing economies, but environmental activists say developing gas projects is shortsighted.

At the current rate that natural gas projects are being developed, 70 percent of the increase in emissions from fossil fuels by 2030 is expected to come from gas, according to Climate Action Tracker, which is a collaboration of two Germany-based nonprofit organizations. For the world to meet the Paris agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels, natural gas power should be produced at less than a third of todays levels and effectively phased out by 2040, the group found.

A study by Friends of the Earth Mozambique found that the greenhouse gas emissions from three gas projects under development in that African country could over their lives equal seven times Frances annual emissions  and 49 times Mozambiques current annual emissions.

Dipti Bhatnagar, an activist with Justica Ambiental Mozambique, said that access to energy is a human right but that the fossil fuel industry cannot position itself as the solution. In Mozambique and elsewhere on the continent, she noted, the exploitation of fossil fuels has done little to benefit the majority of the population, only international companies and a small circle of elites.

Sall, who has been personally involved in discussions with the oil and gas companies, said he is determined that Senegal not fall into that trap. He said he has helped negotiate agreements requiring the participation of local businesses and supported laws ensuring that gas revenue pay for services such as health and education.

The project takes a toll

As the sun set on a recent evening in Saint Louis, fisherman Nalla Diop looked beyond the massive waves toward the gas platform. He said for the past few years, fishermen have been barred from the waters around it, which he said sits above a coral reef where they used to do some of their best fishing.

Gas is in the interests of all, if it is well managed, said Diop, 57. But the impacts cannot be denied.

Fishermen said their livelihoods were already suffering because of the arrival of foreign trawlers, which decimated the fish stock, and a ban on fishing in Mauritanias water without licenses. The natural gas project has been another blow.

We have a right to fish, and Senegal has a right to export its gas, said Elhadji Fall, president of the fishermens association in Saint Louis. But how can we do both?

Thomas Golembeski, a spokesman for Kosmos Energy, said there have been extensive discussions with the community. The company built small artificial reefs for fishermen, he said, and a bigger one is planned this year.

Mamadou Diop, an onion farmer who has lobbied unsuccessfully for years to get his village electricity, said that surveyors recently arrived in his neighbors yards, taking measurements for a pipe to transport gas.

They explained that construction could mean digging up fields, said Diop. But he said no one could tell him whether it would actually bring the electricity for which hes been waiting.

Mamadou Coulibaly in Saint Louis and Sarah Kaplan and Evan Halper in Washington contributed to this report.
Germine Joly, better known as "Yonyon," was transferred aboard a special FBI flight to the U.S. Joly is the leader of the gang 400 Mawozo, which was behind the 2021 kidnapping of 17 missionaries with Ohio-based Christian Aid Missionaries. (Haiti National Police/TNS)

The head of a notorious armed gang linked to the kidnapping of U.S. citizens in Haiti, including 16 missionaries, decided to plead guilty to federal weapons smuggling charges Tuesday while in the middle of his federal trial in Washington, D.C.

Lawyers for Germine Joly, known as Yonyon, informed U.S. District Judge John D. Bates late Tuesday of Jolys change of plea just as prosecutors were preparing to rest their case after eight days of testimony. Their last witness: a federal agent who testified that while on the May 2022 extradition flight from Port-au-Prince to Washington, the head of Haitis 400 Mawozo gang admitted to being able to order the release of hostages and acknowledged the power he held in his volatile homeland.

I know everything that the gang is doing because they respect me, Zachary Harrison, an FBI special agent now assigned to the State Departments Bureau of Diplomatic Security, testified that Joly told him and other investigators as they interrogated him on the three-hour flight.

Joly, who had waived his right to a jury trial, originally pleaded not guilty. But after kidnapping victims testified about their ordeal, federal agents testified about high-powered weapons the gang purchased and then shipped to Haiti, and co-defendant Walder St. Louis describe Jolys political and police connections, his lawyer asked for a moment.

Joly met with his attorneys privately for an hour. When the proceedings resumed, his lawyer told the judge that Joly will change his plea.

Imprisoned in Haiti since 2018, Joly was handed over to U.S. authorities by the Haitian government after 17 missionaries with an Ohio-based charity, Christian Aid Ministries, were released by his 400 Mawozo gang after most of them spent 61 days in captivity. The abductions, which also involved a Canadian citizen, made international headlines and brought to light Haitis kidnapping-for-ransom epidemic and the power violent gangs were beginning to wield. FBI agents were initially stymied by the case before zeroing in on 400 Mawozos South Floridas connections.

Though brought to the U.S. in connection with the missionaries kidnapping, Joly was put on trial on four dozen charges related to the smuggling of firearms to Haiti, a violation of U.S. export laws. The arms were purchased from licensed gun dealers in Florida with the help of three Florida based codefendants, who have also pleaded guilty.

In laying out the weapons-smuggling case against Joly, Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Seifert described 400 Mawozos criminal business as a cycle of taking hostages for ransom, transferring the money to the U.S. to buy guns and then having them smuggled into Haiti. Those guns, often powerful enough to pierce walls and police vehicles, were used to grab more hostages and take control of more territory inside the impoverished country.

Harrison, the FBI agent, testified that Joly, 30, acknowledged to investigators that despite his incarceration in Haitis National Penitentiary he had his pulse on what was happening on the outside and held sway over 400 Mawozo. He also held sway among the prisons guards and Haitian police officials, St. Louis had testified earlier after he was placed on the stand for a second day.

If someone is persecuting me and I tell them to eliminate that person, they will kill that person, Harrison said Joly told him and the other investigators. If I need money, they will send me money, whatever it is that I ask them to do, they will do it.

Asked if he had influence over the gangs top three leaders outside of the prisons walls and if he could order the release of hostages, he said, Ive done that before.

Then he admitted to his role in the April 2021 kidnapping of seven Catholic clergy, including two French citizens.

They kidnapped some nuns and I ordered them to let them go. They did, Harrison said Joly told them.

The defense did not say why Joly decided to change his plea. The government, which did not know Tuesday what charges Joly will admit to, said it will inform the court on Wednesday whether prosecutors will accept the change in plea. The most serious of Jolys 48 counts, violating U.S. export laws, carries up to 20 years in prison. However, it remains unclear how much time he could face.

The government has asked for life imprisonment for one of his codefendants, Eliande Tunis, who on the eve of the start of the federal trial also decided to plead guilty to the same 48 counts.

_____

2024 Miami Herald.

Visit miamiherald.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A Navy contractor tests a Red Hill well water sample for total petroleum hydrocarbons, or TPH, March 8, 2022. (Christopher Thomas/U.S. Navy)

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii  The Hawaii Department of Health has directed the Navy to test one of its wells near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after learning of another spate of complaints about tap water quality.

A member of the Red Hill Community Representative Initiative informed Health Department officials on Thursday that about 50 users of the Navys water distribution system had complained about the water, the department said in a news release Monday.

A handful of residents complained of similar problems in October.

DOH is taking these reports seriously and as the state regulator for Hawaiis water purveyors, the department continues to conduct oversight of the Navys water distribution system, the release said.

The Navys water distribution system for the joint base and surrounding military communities was contaminated in late 2021 by a jet fuel spill from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on the outskirts of Honolulu a few miles from the base.

The leak contaminated one of three wells used by the Navy for its water distribution system, one of which remains contaminated but isolated from the system.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in March 2022 ordered the facility permanently closed, and the Defense Department is in the process of emptying the roughly 40,000 gallons of fuel left in the tanks.

The 10-member Community Representative Initiative was established in September to liaison directly with the Navy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Defense Logistics Agency in regard to water safety issues arising from the Red Hill facility.

Lacey Quintero, a member of the initiative, said by phone Tuesday that the new complaints are both about how water looks and smells, as well as health issues stemming from the water. Some samples have a sheen, while others exude a visible vapor, she said.

Complaints are widespread and not confined to a single neighborhood, she said.

The Health Department on Monday directed the Navy to test its Waiawa well shaft. Petroleum was not detected in samples taken from that well in October, the Health Department said in the release.

In addition, Health Department officials have requested contact information for each of the complainants so that on-site inspections and sampling can be conducted, the news release states.

Navy Region Hawaii instructed residents how to report problems with tap water in a Monday news release.

Water concerns can be reported, and in-home testing can be requested, without fear of reprisal, the release states. The Navy will provide bottled water to residents until validated test results from the [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]-certified laboratory confirm that the water meets Federal and State safe drinking water standards.

The Waiawa shaft, more than six miles from the Red Hill fuel facility, has been the Navys sole source for its system since December 2021, the Navy news release states.

Last fall, the EPA tested water samples from a handful of homes after residents there complained of seeing a sheen on the water and experiencing skin rashes.

Sampling results appeared to demonstrate the potential trace presence of petroleum hydrocarbons as diesel in three of the four homes, concluded an EPA report issued in December.

The Navy tested more samples from those homes in December for the presence of total petroleum hydrocarbons, or TPH, which includes hundreds of compounds found in petroleum-based products, Navy Region Hawaii said in a Jan. 8 news release.

No signs of JP-5 jet fuel, the type that contaminated the Red Hill well, were found in those samples, the news release said.

Some samples indicated the presence of TPH, but those levels were all below the threshold at which the Hawaii Department of Health deems water to be unsafe for drinking, which is above 266 parts per billion.

Quintero, as well as others affected by the fuel spill, consider that cutoff to be arbitrary and that lower levels of TPH could be affecting the health of residents on the Navy water system.
Donations for earthquake victims fill Chad Griffin's vehicle at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 15, 2024. Griffin is a civilian serving as the 374th Security Forces Squadron's reports and analysis section chief. (Chad Griffin)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  A civilian employee at this airlift hub in western Tokyo teamed up with a friend to deliver blankets and other essentials to victims of a deadly earthquake that struck central Japan on New Years Day.

The death toll from the 7.6-magnitude temblor on the Noto Peninsula topped 200 as relief and recovery work continued throughout January. Work on restoring water and power to some sections of the peninsula continued Wednesday, according to reports in Japanese media.

Not long after the quake, Chad Griffin, the 374th Security Forces Squadron reports and analysis section chief, came across a video posted online by friend Enson Inoue, an American mixed martial artist living in Saitama prefecture.

Inoue, who created the Hawaii-based nonprofit Enson Inoue Foundation to provide disaster relief and humanitarian aid, had visited the stricken area with relief supplies in early January and posted a video of his trip on social media, according to a Jan. 25 Air Force news release.

Griffin said he was motivated to do something for Noto quake victims after watching Inoues video.

After seeing his first run I wanted to see if we could help make a difference, Griffin told Stars and Stripes by email Wednesday. The Yokota Community has been incredible along with my command team in allowing to me to help with these collections.

The quake brought down buildings, crumpled roads and caused floods and fires throughout the stricken area. More than 19,000 people were displaced and about 40,000 homes were left without heat and power in frigid conditions, according to Japanese media reports.

The Japanese government first declined foreign help but in mid-January accepted assistance from U.S. Forces Japan, which dispatched two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from Camp Zama to deliver a ton of relief supplies.

By then, Griffin and Inoue were already at work drumming up donations for their own relief effort.

I got together with Inoue, and we put up an announcement on social media to collect donations, Griffin said in the news release. It was all individual donors, and we were able to get a lot of stuff in seven days just from the generosity of the base community.

The Yokota community dropped off 50 packs of diapers, 30 blankets and more than 1,000 rolls of toilet paper at Griffins office.

Griffin, his son, John Michael Griffin, and Inoue delivered the supplies on Jan. 15 in Inoues van. The group disposed of all their donated goods within 10 hours of arriving in Ishikawa prefecture.

We went to three evacuation centers that were either housing people or they were used as a drop-off place where the people could come and pick up goods within, he said in the release.

Griffin and Inoue plan another donation drive in February.
An HH-60W Jolly Green II assigned to the 33rd Rescue Squadron arrives at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Jan. 26, 2024. (Jonathan Sifuentes/U.S. Air Force)

A shipment of HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters recently arrived on Okinawa as the Air Force continues to replace its 40-year-old fleet of HH-60G Pave Hawks.

Like its predecessor, the Jolly Green II is built upon the UH-60M Black Hawk framework. The undisclosed number of new aircraft arrived Jan. 26 at Kadena Air Base, a fighter and transport hub in Japans southernmost island chain, according to an Air Force news release Monday.

The helicopters come with avionics upgrades and multifunctional displays, Senior Airman Anthony Canlas, 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron HH-60 dedicated crew chief, said in the release.

Service members offload two HH-60W Jolly Green IIs at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Jan. 26, 2024. (Jonathan Sifuentes/U.S. Air Force)

These models are the new standard for combat search and rescue operations for [Pacific Air Forces] and nationwide, Master Sgt. Bryan Donnelly, 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 33rd Helicopter Maintenance Unit production superintendent, said in the release.

The Air Force initially declared the Jolly Green II operational in October 2022, according to Lockheed Martin, the defense contractor that builds the helicopter through its Sikorsky division. The Air Force acquisition program calls for 113 Jolly Green IIs, with 60 due by the end of 2023, according to Lockheed.

The helicopters are slated to assume the Pave Hawks role in personnel recovery missions in isolated hostile territory as well as humanitarian missions, the release said.

The Air Force began phasing out the Pave Hawks in 2022, and the Jolly Green II conducted its first rescue mission in September that year when one was dispatched to fly a patient from Valdosta, Ga., to Tampa, Fla., according to the Air Force website.

The name Jolly Green II was chosen to honor the crews that operated the Sikorsky HH-3E, nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant due to its size and color, which set the precedent for current Air Force combat rescue crews, according to the release.
U.S. troops take part in amphibious air assault training on Batan Island, Philippines, April 23, 2023. (Jeffrey Tolbert/U.S. Army)

American and Filipino troops may train again on islands facing Taiwan in the Luzon Strait, a likely arena in the event of conflict with China, according to a Philippine newspaper.

U.S. soldiers and Marines and Filipino troops air assaulted onto the islands of Fuga, Calayan and Batan last April during the largest-ever annual Balikatan exercise.

Lt. Gen. Fernyl Buca, of the Philippine militarys Northern Luzon Command, visited Batan and Mavulis, the countrys northernmost point, over the weekend, the Philippine Inquirer reported Tuesday. He was joined by planners for this springs Balikatan, which means shoulder to shoulder in Tagalog.

Its for advance planning for a possible proposed exercise area in future Balikatan (drills), the general told the newspaper.

Amid fears of a Chinese invasion or blockade of Taiwan, the U.S. military has been upgrading Philippine bases that its forces may use under a 2014 agreement with the longtime ally.

Meanwhile, the Philippines and China have been at odds over disputed territory in the South China Sea.

The waterway separating the northern Philippines from Taiwan, the Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel, will play a strategic role in any Taiwan conflict between China and the United States, according to Carlyle Thayer, an emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales and a lecturer at the Australian Defence Force Academy.

China regularly deploys an aircraft carrier and its escorts through the Bashi Channel to the seas off Taiwans eastern coast and sends military aircraft over the area, Thayer said in an email Tuesday.

The Philippines and the United States seek to deter China by demonstrating that  combined military forces are intimately familiar with the operational environment and can be deployed at short notice, he said.

U.S. troops take part in amphibious air assault training on Batan Island, Philippines, April 23, 2023. (Jeffrey Tolbert/U.S. Army)

The Philippines already has small contingents on Mavulis and Batan that monitor Chinese and other traffic through the Bashi Channel, the waterway on the northern half of the Luzon Strait that links the South China and Philippine seas.

In a conflict over Taiwan, the islands north of Luzon could provide protection for U.S. forces moving through the area, Thayer said.

HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems), anti-ship and surface to air missiles could be based on these islands to threaten Chinese military during a Taiwan conflict, he said.

In an invasion, Taiwanese people may attempt to evacuate southwards through the corridor north of Luzon, according to Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea.

I think both the US and [the Philippines] have realized that, hence its importance, he said by email Tuesday.

China would likely attempt to gain control of the Philippine islands to defend against forces coming to Taiwans defense, Batongbacal said.

The islands allow defenders with long-range missiles to cover a good bit of southern Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait as well as the Bashi Channel, according to Grant Newsham, a retired Marine colonel and senior researcher with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo.

Add in air launched missiles, say helicopter launched, and you can cover even more terrain  maritime and land, he said by email Tuesday.

Balikatan training there will likely involve setting up missile systems, sensors and targeting systems, he wrote, adding: They might even launch a few practice shots. That would get Chinas attention.
BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Developing China-U.S. relations is in the fundamental interest of the two peoples and two countries and meets the expectation of the international community, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

When answering a query regarding U.S. presidential election, spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily news briefing that the presidential election is the domestic affair of the United States. China, committed to the principle of non-interference in others' internal affairs, will not interfere in U.S. presidential election.

"No matter who is elected as U.S. president, we hope the United States will work with us in the same direction, follow the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and advance the steady, sound and sustainable growth of bilateral relations for the benefit of the two countries and the world at large," the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, China will continue to firmly uphold its sovereignty, security, and development interests, he added. 
Brussels and Budapest have been feuding for years, but Orban crossed a new line in recent months by blocking the aid at a particularly dangerous moment for Ukraine, according to officials and diplomats. (Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland/Wikimedia Commons)

BRUSSELS  Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is once again blocking aid for Ukraine. And the European Unions 26 other member states are, once again, furious.

On the eve of Thursdays E.U. summit to try to secure the more than $50 billion in funds, the bloc seems more willing than ever to escalate with Orban  or at least to threaten him.

It is not clear, however, if that will work.

Brussels and Budapest have been feuding for years, but Orban crossed a new line in recent months by blocking the aid at a particularly dangerous moment for Ukraine, according to officials and diplomats.

Concerned by bleak reports from the battlefield and stalled support from the United States, most E.U. countries now see money for Ukraine as an urgent, if not existential, issue  and Orban as an evermore serious threat to collective efforts to stave off Russian designs on the continent.

That has forced the bloc to consider new ways to get around the Hungarian veto in the short term and is bolstering calls for changes to E.U. rules on unanimous voting over the longer run.

More and more are considering that this way of functioning with unanimity on these key questions is making us weak, is making us vulnerable and that this is probably something that we need to change, said Daniel Freund, a German member of the European Parliament with the Greens political group.

But it could be years before the E.U. gets close to changing its rules  if it happens at all. For now, the focus is finding a way to muddle through well enough to keep Ukraine in the fight.

At a summit in December, the E.U. managed to move forward on Ukrainian accession by getting the Hungarian leader to simply leave the room for the vote  absurd, but effective. Ahead of Thursdays summit, E.U. officials are still trying to work with Orban. If they cant, they will consider other ways to cut him out.

Working with Orban, however, means figuring out what the Hungarian prime minister wants, which E.U. officials say is unclear. In recent months, top E.U. officials, French President Emmanuel Macron and other would-be Orban-whisperers have tried to get to the bottom of his demands.

A clear Hungarian priority is the chance to review the budget each year. An agreement on this may be possible, officials said, but any deal would need to address fears that reviews will lead to even more time-wasting battles between Budapest and Brussels and keep Ukraines funding in a permanent state of flux.

Orbans antics may also be aimed at pressuring Brussels to unlock billions in E.U. funding that was frozen over rule-of-law concerns. The European Commission unfroze more than $10 billion last year, citing improvements, but Hungary would still like to get the rest.

Lastly, Orban seems to be using the standoff to play to populist sentiment at home and rile up E.U. skeptics ahead of European elections in the spring.

If Hungary wont budge on Ukraine, Plan B, for now, would be to find a way to go forward without them by getting the 26 other members countries to contribute to Ukraine on their own, outside the E.U. budget. But that would require a lot of complex coordination and possibly the involvement of some parliaments.

Some E.U. officials and diplomats have also raised the possibility of activating a mechanism to suspend Hungarys voting rights. The rule, known as Article 7.2, can be used in cases where there is a serious and persistent breach by a member state of the founding values.

But experts said this option is probably not going to happen, at least not yet. I dont believe Article 7, with the current conversation that we have, is actually realistic, said Camino Mortera-Martinez, who leads the Brussels office at the Center for European Reform.

You have to be very careful with the kind of things that you do to one member state, she added, (a) because of the backlash, and (b) because it has to be effective.

This week, the Financial Times published details of a Council of the E.U. document that suggested that leaders could deliberately shake faith in Hungarys economy to bring Orban back to the table.

Jacob Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, interpreted the leak as a signal to Hungarys leader. He is obviously trying to blackmail, he said, and now the E.U. is saying, we can blackmail too, and we have a bigger gun.

Perhaps predictably, Orban fired right back, writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Hungary cannot be blackmailed.
U.S. and Syrian Democratic Forces conduct a patrol in Syria on Jan. 26, 2023. (Julio Hernandez/U.S. Army)

For U.S. troops under fire from Iran-linked groups in Iraq and Syria, the military mission that brought them to the Middle East is largely complete, experts say. Whether and when to withdraw them is more complicated  an issue that has taken on greater urgency after three U.S. service members were killed in a drone attack in Jordan on Sunday.

The roughly 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria are described by U.S. officials as part of an operation to keep the Islamic State from regaining a foothold in the region. But with the Islamist militant group largely degraded, American soldiers now find themselves targeted by other adversaries, who say the attacks will continue as long as Washington maintains its support for Israels war in Gaza.

Whats happened these past few weeks has exposed their vulnerability, said Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group. I hope this will raise questions about why they are vulnerable, and how else they can make their presence less of a liability for everyone else who is working with them.

The United States had close to 3,000 troops in Jordan as of 2023, according to the Congressional Research Service, focused on Jordanian security and the Islamic State. Officials said Monday that the drone approaching Tower 22, a base in the countrys northeast, was mistaken for a returning American aircraft.

Across the Middle East, U.S. troops have been targeted more than 160 times by Iran-aligned militants since October.

The U.S. presence in Syria and Iraq dates back to 2014, when a global coalition joined local forces to drive Islamic State militants from a swath of territory the size of Britain. Jordans Tower 22, a U.S. outpost along the border where the three countries meet, houses about 350 U.S. engineering, aviation, logistics and security personnel, largely providing support to troops in Syria.

Nearly a decade after U.S. soldiers were first deployed, and five years after ISIS was declared defeated, Biden is the third president to oversee the mission. But the environment it operates in is radically changed. The Islamist militant group now resembles a low-level insurgency, mostly in Syria, instead of a governing power.

ISIS no longer holds territory in Iraq, and the presence of U.S. troops there is increasingly controversial among Iraqis, 20 years after a U.S.-led invasion of the country triggered a bloody civil war. Although the U.S. military retains a mandate to advise Iraqi forces, troops mostly stay in their bases.

Retaliatory U.S. strikes on Iran-linked targets inside Iraq, including the 2020 assassination of Tehrans most influential general, Qasem Soleimani, have increased domestic pressure to force America out. Irans influence in the region has grown as Washingtons has waned.

The two camps have coexisted uneasily for years. Iran-backed armed groups grew in wealth and power as they led their own battles against ISIS, and some were later incorporated into Iraqs armed forces. Tensions between the militias and U.S. troops hardened in 2018, after President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a landmark nuclear deal that had led to a diplomatic opening with Tehran.

The slow pace of change in Americas military operation in Iraq is due to, in part, a degree of malaise as well as a cultural and political risk aversion that is comfortable for the Iraqis and for us, said Jonathan Lord, director of the Middle East Security program at the Center for a New American Security.

But this is how you end up getting 20-year missions in foreign countries that ultimately dont evolve with the conditions, then politics that demand that the mission end, even when you dont have lasting, sustainable solutions, he said.

When the United States announced a formal end to combat missions in Iraq in 2021, Western and Iraqi officials described the move as more about political optics than changing realities on the ground. Last week, the Biden administration announced that it was restarting talks with Iraqi counterparts over the future of U.S. troops there, marking what appeared to be the most serious attempt of his presidency to rethink the American military footprint in the region.

U.S. officials have sought to delink the discussions with Iraq from the upheaval roiling the Middle East, noting that they grew out of diplomatic efforts dating back several years. Its not a timeline-driven event, a senior U.S. military official told reporters last week, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive talks. We will govern that process with our dialogue together.

But ongoing attacks on U.S. troops, and American military retaliation, particularly in Iraq, may also scramble the calculation.

If the pace and the intensity of these attacks increase then its going to be hard to say, Okay lets do this in a thoughtful manner because therell be more pressure, both domestically in the U.S. and within Iraq, said a senior congressional aide who was briefed on the ongoing talks. He spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss delicate negotiations.

Americas military footprint in Syria may be smaller, but the politics of withdrawal are even more complex.

A 12-year civil war has left the country divided into zones of control  the U.S. partners with a Kurdish-led force, the Syrian Democratic Forces, in the countrys northeast; a Turkish-backed authority runs the northwest; and the government of President Bashar al-Assad, along with Russian and Iranian allies, control much of the rest of the country, including a stretch of the central Syrian desert where ISIS has retained a foothold.

As ISIS was rolled back, territories previously held by the group were claimed by other warring parties hoping to deepen their influence and advance their agendas. U.S. officials believe that Irans strategic goal is to establish an east-west land corridor connecting it to armed allies in Iraq and Lebanon, and that the U.S. presence at Tanf  a U.S. garrison along Syrias border with Iraq  stands in the way.

The senior U.S. military official also cited the vulnerability of prisons holding thousands of Islamic State prisoners and their family members in northeast Syria.

Daesh could become operational overnight, the official said, using the Arabic term for ISIS. Two thousand prisoners could escape and become part of an operational force, and that is Daeshs operational goal right now.

That fear was bolstered by an analysis published Monday by the Conflict Armament Research group on weapons recovered in the aftermath of attacks by militants in the northeast, concluding that the group may be more resilient than previously thought.

ISIS still has a centralized, coordinated acquisition network and distribution network in northeast Syria, and that is surprising because of the extent of united efforts between local security forces and the American presence, and the ongoing monitoring and surveillance of alleged ISIS members, said Devin Morrow, head of regional operations for Conflict Armament Research and lead author of the report.

The U.S. mission in Syria remains narrowly focused on counterterrorism, officials and experts say  a policy shaped by past failures. The 2011 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, when Biden was vice president, combined with ineffectual local governance, left a vacuum where ISIS eventually thrived.

Look back to Bidens position then, it was that we should keep small teams there as a way to keep the boot on the neck of an al-Qaeda in Iraq, said Aaron Stein, author of The US War Against ISIS, which chronicled the evolution of that mission.

He believed that the withdrawal from Iraq in 2011, in the way that it was done, was a big mistake, and thats been driving the mission ever since, Stein said.

But the question of how to get out cannot be answered through military means alone, experts say and officials acknowledge. People say there is no eradicating them fully, and you cant really define an end game for the counter-ISIS mission. That might all be true, said Khalifa of International Crisis Group.

But its also political [...] the Turks need to be on board, the SDF need to be on board, the Russians and the regime need to be on board.

All of that is hard, but its not impossible, she said. Its just very difficult because the complicated lifting requires investment and a lot of things the U.S. is not doing.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia on Jan. 8, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein, pool/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Saudi Arabia has resumed talks with the U.S. about forging closer defense ties after a pause following the start of the Israel-Hamas war in early October, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Discussions took place in the town of Alula in northwestern Saudi Arabia between de-facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and U.S. senators earlier this month, said the people, asking not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. On the agenda was a revival of earlier negotiations about a defense pact that would also have included a historic tie-up between Saudi Arabia and Israel, they said.

MBS, as the 38-year-old leader is known, still sees opportunities for greater U.S. cooperation despite anger across the Arab world over the continuing strikes by Israel, a key U.S. ally, on Hamas, and the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza, said two people with knowledge of his thinking. The U.S. is also at the heart of simmering regional tensions following a deadly attack on American forces in Jordan, alongside other airstrikes.

A major stumbling block to the talks is that Saudi Arabia has long said any deal with Israel would be conditional on the creation of an independent state for Palestinians, an issue firmly opposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government. That resolve has only strengthened since the outbreak of war with Hamas, a group Israel says needs to be completely destroyed to ensure its own safety.

Treading carefully

Given the likely backlash among Arabs and Muslims to any Israel deal, Saudi Arabia must tread carefully.

The kingdom is sending what it hopes are the right signals to all parties concerned: assuring that any agreement is now conditional on a state for Palestinians, pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza while engaging the U.S. on postwar scenarios.

The Saudi defense ministry referred questions to the government, whose center for international communications didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. National Security Council also declined to comment.

Critical visitors

Prince Mohammeds guests included erstwhile critics such as New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who previously signed a letter to his father King Salman expressing concern about systematic human rights abuses  including the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Another visitor was Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and also a Democrat, who in 2018 cited careless bombings by Saudi Arabia in Yemen.

Of mutual interest between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. is how to counter the Houthi group in Yemen, who MBS has been trying to secure a peace deal with after a decade of fighting. The U.S. is currently carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis in response to persistent attacks by the Iran-backed group on shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade.

The U.S. is also weighing a response to the attack in Jordan, which President Joe Biden has blamed on Tehran-backed militias. Iran has urged the U.S. to use diplomacy to ease tensions, while denying involvement in the strike.

Before Oct. 7, when Hamas triggered the war with Israel by invading the south of the country, a U.S.-Saudi defense pact and U.S. assistance in launching a civil nuclear program were among the kingdoms main preconditions for normalizing relations with Israel. There was talk of rolling everything into one deal that would ease Congressional approval and help Biden notch a big foreign policy gain in an election year.

Everything changed after that date, as it became less likely than ever that the issue of a Palestinian state could be sidelined. But the way Iran was able to mobilize members of its so-called axis of resistance, including Hamas and the Houthis, in such a coordinated manner served as a stark reminder to the Saudi leadership of the serious threats posed by the Islamic Republic. Thats despite a China-brokered rapprochement forged with Tehran last year and Riyadhs efforts to build closer diplomatic and economic ties with its longtime rival.

Mark Kelly, a Democratic senator from Arizona and a former officer in the U.S. Navy who was among those who met with MBS this month, said in a statement that he spoke to the crown prince about his time in the region during the 1990-91 Gulf War and opportunities to strengthen their countries long military relationship to tackle shared threats like Iran.

Defense partnership

MBS himself is focused first and foremost on repairing and bolstering the defense relationship with Washington, said the people informed about his thinking. Demonstrating that Saudi Arabia is a safe place despite surrounding conflicts has become more urgent as the country tries to bring some of the worlds biggest corporations, investors and tourists to the country, all part of an ambitious plan to transform the Saudi economy.

One immediate priority for MBS and the Saudi leadership is to persuade Biden to ease or lift a freeze on the sale of offensive weapons imposed on the kingdom three years ago, to replenish stockpiles of missiles, bombs and precision-guided munitions, said Bilal Saab, director of the defense and security program at the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

Theyre already tied to the hip with the U.S., said Saab, referring to Washingtons role as Saudi Arabias top arms supplier and that most weapons systems in the kingdom are American.

No alternatives

Saudi Arabia believes strongly there are no viable alternatives to its defense and security relationship with Washington, said Mark Dubowitz, chief executive of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank.

Dubowitz, who is close to Israeli, Saudi and U.S. officials involved in the normalization talks, said given the complexities that come with needing a government in Israel willing to entertain a two-state solution with Palestinians, bolstering the U.S.-Saudi defense relationship may be the only doable piece in the short-term.

He said the Saudi message now to all U.S. officials is we need America and America needs us.

With assistance from Annmarie Hordern, Christine Burke, Fahad Abuljadayel, Fiona MacDonald and Gina Turner.

2024 Bloomberg L.P.

Visit bloomberg.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speaks at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, in Washington D.C., Jan. 31, 2024. (NATO)

NATOs top official mounted a defense of the U.S.-led alliance Wednesday at the headquarters of a conservative Washington think tank known for its ties to NATO skeptic Donald Trump.

Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who was in Washington this week to galvanize Western support for Ukraine, took the stage at the Heritage Foundation to talk up NATO before a pro-Trump audience.

In these dangerous times, we must stand strong against any regime that seeks to undermine us, Stoltenberg said. Any sign of wavering or weakening on our part will invite challenges from those who wish us harm.

Stoltenberg added that NATO is a vehicle for projecting Americas agenda from Europe to the Pacific. Meanwhile, European militaries are a rich market for U.S. weapons makers, who have reaped some $120 billion in sales to allies over the past two years, generating jobs in America, he said.

NATO is an incredibly powerful idea that advances U.S. interests and multiplies American power  China and Russia have nothing like NATO, Stoltenberg said. That is why they are always trying to undermine our unity.

During the Trump administration, Stoltenberg guided the alliance through a tumultuous period that included intense criticism of NATO by the former president.

While Stoltenberg was dubbed by some NATO watchers as the Trump whisperer for his ability to manage that relationship, the former Norwegian prime ministers stint at the helm of NATO is slated to end later this year.

With Trump leading the race for the Republican nomination and polls indicating a toss-up in a 2024 rematch with President Joe Biden, political officials in Europe have been contemplating the implications of a Trump return for NATO.

Trump has reiterated his long-held ambivalence about the alliance, saying during a recent town hall meeting that his support for NATO depends on if they (Europeans) treat us properly.

NATO has taken advantage of our country, Trump said during the Jan. 10 Fox News broadcast. The European countries took advantage.

Heritage President Kevin Roberts, as he introduced Stoltenberg, also called out European allies for falling short on defense spending. He added that the conservative group was unwilling to back more support for Ukraine so long as the U.S. border crisis remained unresolved.

Stoltenberg, however, said allies have turned the corner on defense spending.

Much of Trumps criticism about NATO has centered on how a majority of the alliances 31 members fall short on defense spending benchmarks that call for all allies to dedicate 2% of their gross domestic product to defense.

Allies have improved in that area, with expenditures steadily rising every year since 2014. Still, some of the largest percentage increases have been made by smaller nations, such as the Baltic states, which have ramped up spending over concerns about Russia.

The major European power, Germany, still falls well short of the 2% mark, and its not clear when Berlin will reach the threshold.

U.S. presidents going back decades have had similar criticisms of European defense spending, but stated them in more diplomatic terms and while supporting the idea of the alliance as a critical aspect of global security.

Biden in December signed bipartisan legislation that would prevent a U.S. president from withdrawing from NATO without congressional approval.

The uncertainty about the future course of Washingtons commitment to shared defense comes at a time when concerns about Russian aggression in Europe are growing.

While Russia has suffered extensive casualties in its war in Ukraine, several military leaders in Europe in recent weeks have warned that Moscow could rebuild its forces within the next five years.

Adm. Rob Bauer, the Dutch chairman of the NATO military committee, following a meeting of NATO defense chiefs, said that allies must prepare for the possibility of conflict with Russia.

Im not saying it is going wrong tomorrow, but we have to realize its not a given that we are in peace, Bauer said Jan. 18.

While Biden has emphasized repeatedly that the U.S. is prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory, Trumps more vague position on collective defense could increase the angst in Europe.

During his tenure in office, Trump was more blunt behind closed doors than in public, according to European officials.

You need to understand that if Europe is under attack we will never come to help you and to support you, Trump reportedly told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in 2020.

That statement was brought to light earlier this month by French European Commissioner Thierry Breton, who was present at a meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the encounter was reported to have happened.

By the way, NATO is dead, and we will leave, we will quit NATO, according to Bretons account of what Trump said.
LAWRENCE, Mass.  The retrial of an elderly Alabama Air Force veteran charged in the 1988 cold case slaying of a Salem, N.H., girl is now scheduled for next fall.

Marvin Skip McClendon Jr., 76, of Bremen, Ala., has remained held without bail since his arrest in April 2022.

His defense attorney Henry Fasoldt noted McClendon at this point has not been convicted of a crime and expressed concern his client would be behind bars for 2 1/2 years before he goes on trial again.

McClendon is charged with the murder of Melissa Ann Missy Tremblay, 11, of Salem, N.H. on Sept. 11, 1988. The girl was found stabbed, beaten and killed in a South Lawrence railroad yard.

Jurors were deadlocked in McClendons murder trial in late December and a mistrial was declared by presiding Judge Jeffrey Karp.

A hearing was held in Salem Superior Court Tuesday to determine the retrial date.

Fasoldt, who earlier this month filed a motion seeking McClendons release on $50,000 bail, specifically pointed to McClendons age and weak evidence presented by prosecutors during the December trial.

But Judge Thomas Dreschler pointed to McClendons age and the fact hes facing life in prison without the possibility of parole, noting both are high incentives to flee.

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Strasnick said a number of witnesses in the case are not available to testify in court until next September. Additionally, Tremblays relatives also want to be present for the case. In December, several of the girls relatives essentially moved from Tennessee to the area so they could attend the trial, she said.

Strasnick also noted some witnesses must be provided hotel rooms, which are sparse in Salem during the month of October due to crowds of tourists visiting for Halloween. She suggested the trial could be held in Lawrence Superior Court, however, on the other side of the county.

A trial date of Sept. 30 was scheduled with jury empanelment first and then testimony in October.

No decision on McClendons bail request was made Tuesday.

Marvin McClendon is not a flight risk nor a danger to the community. He is a 76-year-old military veteran in poor health. His first trial ended with a deadlocked jury. The evidence against him is weak, Fasoldt wrote in the motion for a bail hearing.

Fasoldt wrote the case against Mr. McClendon is circumstantial and relies heavily on DNA evidence recovered from Tremblays fingernail clippings. The DNA recovered is not unique to an individual person.

Fasoldt described McClendon as an excellent candidate for pretrial release, noting hes a veteran and a former Massachusetts corrections officer who is now retired and relies upon a government pension to support himself.

McClendon lives in Alabama down the road from his sister, Rebecca Greenwood, who is his primary social support, Fasoldt said. Greenwood attended the trial in December.

Also, McClendon suffers from a number of chronic health conditions and requires daily medication including blood thinners, medication for gout and diuretics.

In 1988, Tremblay was murdered in Lawrence near the LaSalle Social Club on Andover Street.

The girl was known to play in the adjacent neighborhoods while her mother and her mothers boyfriend frequented the social club. She was last seen alive by a railroad employee and a pizza delivery driver, authorities said.

Tremblays mother has since died.

After more than a week of testimony from detectives, crime lab workers, relatives and others, the prosecution rested its case on Dec. 15.

Among the prosecution witnesses were retired State Trooper Kenneth Kelleher and Lawrence Police Detective Thomas Murphy, the original murder cases detectives from 1988. State Police Lt. Peter Sherber, who most recently investigated and went to Alabama to question McClendon and his relatives, also testified.

Daniel Hatch, who was a 13-year-old homeless boy in 1988, also testified he saw Tremblay sitting on the front steps of LaSalle Club that day with an area man named Michael Therrien. He said the two later walked across Broadway to the State Street area where they met up with another man.

Fasoldt on Dec. 18 called three defense witnesses, all doctors with backgrounds in DNA or forensics.

McClendon did not testify in his own defense.

(c)2024 The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Mass.)

Visit www.eagletribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
YANGON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's National Defense and Security Council on Wednesday extended the state of emergency in the Southeast Asian country for six more months, the council's information team reported. 
Jason OConnor (45) of Whitestown Road in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, is accused of the attempted murder of Charlie Cooper

The State has successfully applied to have the trial of a man accused of an attempted murder in Dublin over seven years ago heard before the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

Jason OConnor (45) of Whitestown Road in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, is accused of the attempted murder of Charlie Cooper at Parslickstown Green, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, on December 5, 2016.

Mr OConnor is also charged with the possession of a 9mm firearm and 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition with intent to endanger life at the same location and on the same date.

At a hearing of the non-jury court this morning, State solicitor Michael O'Donovan made a successful ex-parte application - where only one side is represented - to try Mr OConnor at the three-judge court.

The State can apply for a certificate to transfer a trial to the Special Criminal Court if it is believed the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice.

Mr OConnor was not required and did not attend the brief hearing before presiding judge Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, who granted the application and adjourned the matter to February 7.

Charles Cooper was seriously injured when he was shot multiple times at his home at Parslickstown Green. He was treated in hospital and made a recovery.

The accused was originally charged last August.

At that court sitting Detective Inspector Liam Donoghue said he arrested the accused for the purpose of charging him at Blanchardstown garda station at 1.05pm on Saturday.

Mr OConnor was charged in his presence at 2.10pm and made no reply to either count after caution. He was handed copies of the charge sheets, Det

Insp Donoghue said, before applying for the accused to be remanded in custody.

Defence solicitor Richard Young consented to this and made no bail application given that one of the charges was for attempted murder.

Judge Cephas Power granted free legal aid after Mr Young filed a statement of Mr OConnors financial means to the court. There was no garda objection to legal aid.
CCTV footage showed the injured party lying unconscious on the street for three and a half minutes after Foster punched him

A man who carried out a cowardly and callous robbery in which another man was knocked unconscious has been jailed for a year.

Ciaran Foster (30) of Rutland Grove, Crumlin appeared before Judge Elma Duffy in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today after pleading guilty to one count of robbery on Westmoreland St, Dublin 2 on July 23, 2019.

Garda Sean Tully told Emmet Nolan BL, prosecuting, that the injured man had stopped to chat with someone he knew when he was attacked.

Foster was walking past the two, when he punched the man in the face and knocked him to the ground.

He took a bag the man was carrying and fled the scene. Another man with Foster checked the injured party's pockets and took his mobile phone and watch.

Gardai were alerted to the incident. When they arrived at the scene, they saw the injured man in shock and with blood running down his neck.

The injured man was brought to hospital, where he was found to have bruising to his face and a lump on his head from where he struck the pavement. He suffered from amnesia and could not recall what had happened.

CCTV footage of the event was played to the court. It showed the injured party lying unconscious on the street for three and a half minutes after Foster punched him.

Gardai identified Foster from CCTV footage and arrested him on November 9, 2019.

No victim impact statement was handed in to the court.

Kevin White BL, defending, said his client can only describe it as a moment of utter madness.

He said the robbery was utterly opportunistic and that his client has very little memory of this particular incident as he had been drinking beforehand.

Mr White said his client, who was formerly in the Defence Forces, was homeless at the time and unreservedly apologizes for what he did.

He said his client is very very lucky that this wasn't a very serious injury that was suffered and is willing to do whatever this court deems appropriate.

Foster has 13 previous convictions for road traffic offences, criminal damage, public order and misuse of drugs.

In sentencing, Judge Duffy described the attack as callous and said the injured man was entirely minding his own business when, in an unprovoked way and from behind, he was attacked.

She said the robbery was entirely unprovoked and opportunistic, but it's aggressive in its opportunism.

The judge said the mitigating factors were that Foster had a difficult childhood, had served in the defence forces and had pleaded guilty.

Aggravating factors included the very cowardly nature of this robbery, that it was very nasty and entirely unprovoked.

Judge Duffy said Foster was very lucky that he's not facing a more serious charge because these incidents very often have a very unhappy ending.

Foster was sentenced to a period of two and a half years imprisonment. Judge Duffy suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions.
28-year-old Scott McKeown, from Thyme Park in Antrim, has more than 60 previous convictions

Appearing in the dock of Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, 28-year-old Scott McKeown was re-arraigned on the single charge of theft by stealing charity box belonging to the Royal British Legion on 8 November last year

A previous court heard how McKeown, from Thyme Park in Antrim, who has more than 60 previous convictions was in the Vivo shop on High Street in Antrim at 7am that Wednesday morning when he approached the till area.

From the CCTV footage of the incident, a police officer described how he takes an interest in a charity box, lifting an RBL poppy appeal box and then he sets it down again but when staff are distracted, he lifts the box and puts it into a white plastic bag and then leaves.

She said while staff were not 100% sure of the contents, the box had been there for three weeks so they estimated there was around 80 in it.

Staff and investigating officers recognised McKeown from the CCTV footage and although he accepted it was him on the footage during police interviews, he denied it showed him lifting the box.

With McKeown abandoning those claims, defence solicitor Keith Farrell asked for sentencing to be adjourned to allow time for the probation board to compile a pre-sentence report.

Adjourning the case to 12 March for sentencing, District Judge Nigel Broderick freed McKeown on bail in the meantime.
Prior to the attack, Lawlor and his girlfriend had been chatting with the couple in a local pub, having just met them that night

A student who assaulted a gay couple and threw homophobic slurs at them as they tried to intervene in a row he was having with his girlfriend has been given a fully-suspended sentence.

Charlie Lawlor (21) of St Patrick's Terrace, Monkstown Farm, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to one of the women, and to assaulting her partner during the incident, which occurred at Church St, Dun Laoghaire on August 11, 2022.

Prior to the attack, Lawlor and his girlfriend had been chatting with the couple in a local pub, having just met them that night.

In a joint victim impact statement read out in court by the investigating officer, the women said they were left emotionally scarred as the result of the actions of a homophobic man under the influence of alcohol.

One of the women required surgery and was left with a scar to the face as a result of the attack, the court heard.

The women said that while this scar was a permanent reminder and testament of the brutality we endured that night, their injuries went beyond the physical.

Our lives have been irrevocably changed by this heinous act, they said, adding that they hoped the court would take into account the effect the attack had on them as they attempt to rebuild their shattered sense of security.

Charlie Lawlor

Sentencing Lawlor today, Judge Martin Nolan said Lawlor should be thoroughly ashamed not only for his unprovoked attack, but for the abuse he gave the couple.

He lost control and attacked this unfortunate couple and he was abusive while attacking them. He was very disrespectful and very insulting in the remarks he made, said Judge Nolan.

The judge noted that one woman sustained a lot of blood loss and had a large number of stitches for the laceration in her mouth, leaving her with facial disfigurement which has caused her significant stress.

The court heard that Lawlor has made 7,000 available in compensation to the more seriously-injured woman.

Judge Nolan ordered him to pay a further 7,000 to this woman and to hand another 1,000 to the other woman within the next nine months. If the women do not wish to accept this compensation, it is to be offered to a local charity.

Lawlor was handed a sentence of two and a half years, which was suspended in full, on condition that he keep the peace for this period.

You understand that you should be ashamed of yourself? the judge asked Lawlor, to which he replied: Absolutely.

A detective garda told John Gallagher BL, prosecuting, that on the night in question, Lawlor and his girlfriend got chatting to the couple in The Lighthouse pub in Dun Laoghaire. At one stage in the night, Lawlor and his girlfriend started arguing and she slapped him in the face, the court heard.

They were asked to leave the pub and were arguing outside when the two women approached and tried to intervene. Lawlor then threw a number of homophobic slurs at the women, including fuck the gays and dirty gays, the court heard.

The women were concerned at the nature of the dispute between Lawlor and his girlfriend, but when one of the women tried to intervene to calm things down, he punched her to the face, causing her to fall to the ground.

She suffered significant injuries as a result, with a laceration to the face that required plastic surgery and numerous stitches inside her mouth. Her partner suffered bruising to her face during the assault.

Lawlor was arrested after he was identified from CCTV and the injured parties' description of him.

Olan Callanan BL, defending, said Lawlor was a decent young man with no previous convictions. He accepted that this was an apparent homophobic assault by a man on two young ladies which would ordinarily merit a custodial sentence. He noted there is hate crime legislation coming down the line for these kinds of crimes.

However, he urged Judge Nolan not to jail Lawlor, citing his youth, good character and expressions of remorse. Lawlor is currently studying a PLC course with plans to go on to university and has saved up the money from his job as a cinema attendant, the court heard.

Mr Callanan said Lawlor has since attended counselling to try and understand how he could have committed this type of offence.

Once someone does something wrong, all they can do is try and face it, defence counsel said. He has done everything that can be done to face it.
Shauna Forde (28) is accused of hitting the man during a row at a house in west Dublin.

A woman struck a man over the head with a bottle of prosecco on New Years Day, leaving him with head injuries, it is alleged.

Shauna Forde (28) is accused of hitting the man during a row at a house in west Dublin.

The case was adjourned at Blanchardstown District Court for Ms Forde to decide how she intends to plead to the charge.

The accused, with an address at Greenfort Lawns, Clondalkin, is charged with assault causing harm to a man at Neilstown Drive, Clondalkin, on January 1 last year.

Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan said the DPP consented to the case being dealt with at district court level subject to the issue of jurisdiction being addressed.

Outlining the prosecutions case, she said gardai were called to the house on the day and the alleged victim, who was bleeding from his head, had been taken to hospital for treatment.

When they spoke to him later, he told them a fight had taken place between him and the accused.

He alleged she had hit him over the head with a prosecco bottle and a wine glass, which caused his injuries.

He had superficial wounds and scratches on his head and a number of the injuries were treated with skin glue, Sgt Callaghan said. However, three stitches were required for the deepest injury. A medical report was submitted to the court.

Judge McHugh said the case was probably at the limit of what could be dealt with in the district court. However, he accepted jurisdiction and adjourned it to a date in March.

He ordered disclosure of prosecution evidence to the defence.
Philip McLernon claims a brain injury made him look at child porn

A former soldier who was exposed as a child porn pervert could be jailed for threatening a journalist.

Disgraced Philip McLernon was handed a suspended prison sentence in 2022 for downloading category A videos of children being sexually abused.

McLernons wife had left him after cops searched his home, seized a number of electronic devices and found 13 images and 11 videos, assessed as category A, and a further 22 images at level B. We confronted McLernon at his home in Antrim at the time, but he had little to say.

However, while still in the time frame of that suspended prison sentence, which was set at four years, he made a menacing threat to a journalist on social media.

McLernon  who claims a brain injury sustained in 2001 made him look at child sex images  appeared at Antrim Magistrates Court on Monday.

He admitted sending by means of a public electronic communications network, a message or other matter that was of a menacing character on March 23, 2023.

He was given a two-month jail term, suspended for one year, but could yet be jailed for breaching his suspended sentence relating to child images.

The judge said the case would be referred to the Crown Court and it would be up to them to decide what action to take.

The journalist was not named but a prosecutor told the court, sitting in Ballymena, the journalist was mentioned in a tweet by McLernon on March 24 last year.

The prosecutor said the message made reference to a part of the north coast and said the next time the journalist grabs a taxi there maybe the story could have a different outcome.

Philip McLernon at a veterans protest at Belfast City Hall

The prosecutor added that the journalist was specifically mentioned in the tweet and the journalist believed it was aimed directly at him, finding the message to be unsettling and menacing in nature.

Judge Nigel Broderick said a probation report noted the defendant recognises the distress which this message would have caused for the victim. The defendant expressed regret and remorse regarding his behaviour.

A report from a consultant clinical neuropsychologist said because of ongoing health issues the defendant was unsuitable for community service and that probation was unnecessary.

The judge said: My hands are really tied to some extent. I cant make a community order based on that.

Judge Broderick told McLernon: You have expressed regret and remorse and that should hopefully give the victim some comfort because there doesnt appear to have been a campaign of any sinister nature behind this.

The judge said he was prepared to accept that in light of your brain injury, a medical report said the defendant was more likely to become angry and to act impulsively.

At his original trial, the court was told McLernon has a brain injury which impinges on his cognitive functioning and he blamed that for downloading the illegal images of children.

That injury was sustained in a training exercise when he was a corporal in the army in 2001.

The judge at his original trial said there was nothing in the medical evidence that would back up his claims. Her view was that he had tried to hide behind the acquired brain injury.

Before his crimes were exposed, McLernon had been at the forefront of an ex-veterans campaign aimed at the government for prosecuting soldiers for alleged crimes during the Troubles.

He took part in one event highlighting how ex-soldiers were living in fear of getting a knock on the door from the police and claimed he had been involved in the intelligence follow-up after the Omagh bomb.

But it was McLernon who got a knock on the door from the Sunday World, just hours after he had pleaded guilty to a string of child porn charges in February 2022.

A startled McLernon told us he had nothing to say about his convictions.

Im not going to comment on that, he said while poking his head out from his front door.

When asked about his work with a number of army veterans groups, he confirmed he had previously been involved but added: Ive nothing to say about it.

We revealed how his former loyalist pals turned on the ex- soldier and have been waging a campaign to get him out of his home town, but without any success.

McLernon had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Antrim loyalists during the 2013 Union flag protests.

In November 2021, he was targeted in what was described as an elaborate hoax bomb alert.

It was the second security alert in the area and we can reveal both were aimed at intimidating McLernon out of Antrim.

There have been several since and people living in the area have shouted at him to leave as they have had their lives disrupted by repeated bomb hoaxes.

Loyalists doubled down on their efforts to force McLernon out of Antrim, with graffiti sprayed on walls and bridges warning he will be shot.
The court heard how Murray had been left hurt and angry by the breakdown of his relationship

The scene of the shooting at Aughnacliffe's Glenview Lounge in north Longford.

A jilted farm labourer who carried out a drive by shooting when firing two shots from a double barrel shotgun outside a Longford pub where his ex-girlfriend had been socialising has walked free from court.

Twenty-one-year-old Jason Murray, of Barradrum, Streete, Co Westmeath was handed a two years and three months suspended sentence at Longford Circuit Criminal Court today for the reckless discharge of a firearm at the Glenview Lounge, Glenmore, Aughnacliffe, Co Longford on February 10 last year.

The court heard how Murray had been left hurt and angry by the breakdown of his relationship with his former partner Rebecca Collum in the weeks leading up to the shooting.

It was revealed Murray had been in contact with her ex-girlfriends sisters boyfriend on social media forum Snapchat on the evening of the incident and had been seeking to confront him.

Murray, who had earlier returned home from working on a local piggery in nearby Multyfarnham and dropped off his sister, picked up three friends before travelling to a pub in Granard.

The scene of the shooting at Aughnacliffe's Glenview Lounge in north Longford.

The court heard Murrays three passengers, one of whom Jack Sullivan (19) of Kilmore, Streete, Co Westmeath is a co-accused, noticed a double barrel shotgun sitting in the centre console of Murrays Audi A4.

Judge Kenneth Connolly heard no major discussion was held about the gun being in the car with the men later stopping off in Mr Sullivans house where the latter removed three or four shotgun cartridges from his fathers gun safe.

The vehicle, from there, travelled towards Edgeworthstown, stopping at Coolamber Woods where Mr Murray discharged a shot.

Under cross examination in the witness box, Detective Sgt Keelan Brennan said a follow-up search of the area found no evidence of the dispensed cartridge.

Shane Geraghty, BL, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said Ms Collum and her sister Rebecca, together with their two partners had, meanwhile, decided to travel to the Glenview Lounge in Aughnacliffe from Ms Collums house in Ballinalee.

As the group left the driveway in Rachel Collums blue coloured VW Polo, they spotted the accused slowly driving by before heading off in the direction of Aughnacliffe.

A short time later and in a statement to gardai, Rachel Collum said she had been at the door of the Glenview Pub in conversation with another man when she spotted Murrays car parked up a few yards away.

As she approached the car, she noticed Murray moving a fluorescent jacket towards the passenger side of the vehicle.

Upon noticing the double barrel shotgun, which the court heard was a legally held firearm, Murray told her: Its not loaded, I promise, before Ms Collum shouted at the accused: Stop driving by our house and leave my sister Rebecca alone.

It was at that stage, Rebecca Collum, Murrays former girlfriend appeared and opened the back door and slapped the accused across the face.

Mr Geraghty said Murray had been left enraged by the incident and he drove off in a temper before stopping the car a short distance down the road where he ordered Mr Sullivan to swap seats.

Moments later, and with Sullivan at the wheel and Murray in the front passenger seat, the court was told the accused rolled down the window, took out the shotgun before firing two shots into Ms Collums vehicle.

One of the shots entered the vehicle through the rear window and travelled through the car, hitting the front windscreen in the process. The second shot hit the drivers door, but did not penetrate the door.

The Glenview Lounge in Aughnacliffe, Co Longford.

Following the incident, Murray dropped of his three friends and proceeded to a parcel of local bogland where he smashed the front window of the car and removed the vehicles number plates.

The accused mans grandfather retrieved the Murrays car the following day and with the registration plates being put back on with Murray, the court hearing knowing the game was up.

When detectives from Longford arrested Murray the following day, he told officers after caution: It was stupid what had happened and a moment of madness.

Murray was later interviewed on five separate occasions over the next three days, Murray made full admissions over his culpability but denied any inference his actions were intended to cause physical harm, insisting he was not aware the car belonged to Ms Collum.

John Shortt, SC, defending conceded the actions of his client were a profoundly dangerous, reckless and frightening thing to do

He said the episode was one in which tensions had been running high, set against the backdrop of a breakdown in Murrays relationship with Rebecca Collum that was fuelled by angst between Murray and Rachel Collums boyfriend.

He implored the court to factor in Murrays early guilty plea, his lack of relevant previous convictions and an excellent work history.

Hes not a bad lad, said Mr Shortt.

He is somebody who made a very, very serious error in his behaviour on the night in question.

Murray, himself, penned two letters to the court, outlining his regret over what had occurred.

In one of those directed to his ex-girlfriend and her family, Murray said he always hoped that he and Ms Collum would get back together, but said he had been left hurt and angry when he found out she was seeing someone else.

"I know this does not excuse my behaviour and the stress it has caused my own family, he said.

"I am hoping that I can get a second chance to prove how much I have changed and grown since this incident. I will continue to be a better person and work on my flaws in the future.

The court was also provided with a character reference from Murrays employer Bernard Gilsenan of Ballindurrow Pig Farm in Multyfarnham, who told of his shock upon learning of the incident and of how the accused was an otherwise excellent, loyal, reliable and honest employee.

In delivering his verdict, Judge Connolly as a very, very, very serious incident and one that would otherwise command a lengthy custodial sentence.

I shudder to think the consequences that could have flowed from this act, he said, adding he did not entirely agree the actions of Murray on the night amounted to a moment of madness.

He said the court found it bizarre and hard to comprehend how four young men could deem it acceptable to drive around rural Ireland with a shotgun in the centre console of a car.

Judge Connolly said the court also had to bear in mind the weapon used was a powerful instrument that was loaded with 7.5mm gauge cartridges.

He said the court had to be mindful of the exceptional circumstances that were linked to the case, most notably Murrays age, his previous good character and the genuine remorse he had shown since.

He subsequently sentenced Murray to two years and three months in prison, suspending the term for a period of three years.

In doing so, he ordered Murray to have no unsolicited contact with Ms Collum or her family and to refrain from applying for a firearms licence for a period of ten years.

Murray was similarly compelled to enter into a probationary supervision bond for a period of 18 months with the 1,500 he came to court with being handed over to Rachel Collum by way of compensation.
A number of gardai were injured during the night of serious public disorder. One garda was left seriously injured and received treatment in hospital.

A garda in riot gear during on the riots in November. Photo: Collins

Two men, one in his late 20s and the other in his late teens, were arrested in connection with incidents related to the garda probe into the Dublin riots on November 23.

They were detained in the Dublin city area by gardai from Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North Central and are currently detained at a garda station in the Dublin region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

On November 23, rioting and looting broke out in Dublin city centre after three children and a carer were attacked and stabbed on Parnell Street earlier that day.

Seven vehicles were damaged by fire including three buses, three garda patrol cars and a Luas tram.

Eight other garda vehicles were extensively damaged, 13 properties were attacked and substantially damaged, with retail outlets including Foot Locker on OConnell Street and Arnotts on Henry Street broken into and robbed.

A number of gardai were injured during the night of serious public disorder. One garda was left seriously injured and received treatment in hospital.

More than two dozen people were arrested, primarily for public order and theft offences, with 32 later appearing in court charged with a variety of offences.

Riad Bouchaker (50) is currently before the courts in connection with the stabbings on Parnell Square earlier in the day.

He is charged with three counts of attempted murder, one of producing and possessing a kitchen knife, three counts of assault causing harm and one of assault causing serious harm.

"An Garda Siochana continues to investigate all aspects of the violent disorder and public order events of November 23rd, 2023, in Dublin City Centre, a garda spokesperson said.

"An Garda Siochana continues to appeal to anyone with information about the events on that day or anyone involved in organising or participating in these events to contact the Garda investigation team at Store Street Garda Station at 01 666 8000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
Armandas Zilys (26) made the threat to cause fear and intimidation as a friend was being arrested at the scene of a traffic stop, a court heard.

Armandas Zilys was found guilty and fined 500 by the judge

A hotel worker threatened to kill a female garda, claiming he was a professional MMA fighter and telling her: My right hand will knock you out.

Armandas Zilys (26) made the threat to cause fear and intimidation as a friend was being arrested at the scene of a traffic stop, a court heard.

Zilys, of Hollybank Road, Drumcondra pleaded not guilty at Dublin District Court to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour and garda obstruction last June 4.

Judge Bryan Smyth found him guilty and fined him 500. A charge of failing to follow garda directions was dismissed.

The court heard gardai had pulled over a car driving at speed on OConnell Street when the three occupants, including Zilys, who was a passenger, got out and became aggressive.

Outnumbered, the officer called for backup and Garda Kiva McGing arrived to find the garda trying to arrest the driver on Princes Street.

Zilys intervened, trying to pull the garda away and Gda McGing told him to stop.

He shouted in her face and started recording on his phone.

He stated he was a professional MMA fighter and if you touch me, Ill kill you, Gda McGing told the court.

He said if you dont back up, Im going to punch you. My right hand will knock you out.

When told the penalties, he laughed in the gardas face and said he could afford it.

He walked away down a lane with a third friend, then returned and again tried to intervene in the arrest.

He again said: Im well able to afford that, you can arrest me if you want.

Zilys told the court after his friend was stopped, things went a little bit sideways.

He said his friend was rammed into shutters and Zilys became concerned, but he was standing away and never got physically involved.

He said he only mentioned doing MMA in response to questions from the garda and denied making any threats. He said he had three pints and a cocktail that night.
SANAA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said Wednesday that they launched a missile attack on a U.S. commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, claiming a "direct hit."

The group said they targeted the vessel KOI, a container ship that was heading to Israeli ports, "in support of the Palestinians in Gaza and response to the U.S.-British aggression against Yemen," according to a statement released by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea.

Sarea said the attack was carried out with "several suitable naval missiles that directly hit the target."

He said the attack came hours after the group fired missiles at a U.S. destroyer, the USS Gravely, in the Red Sea.

He noted the Houthis would confront "any U.S.-British escalation with escalation" and would not hesitate to launch more attacks in retaliation for any "foolishness" against Yemen.

Furthermore, he added that all U.S. and British ships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea were "legitimate targets" for the group as long as the U.S.-British "aggression" continued.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. side on the claims.

Earlier Wednesday, the U.S. Central Command said in a statement that U.S. forces launched a strike on a Houthi missile launch site in northern Yemen and destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile that was ready to launch. It said U.S. forces identified the missile in Houthi-held areas of Yemen and determined it posed an imminent threat to U.S. aircraft.

The Houthis confirmed that the U.S. strike hit a site in the northern part of Saada city, according to a statement broadcast by al-Masirah TV. 
Anele Ngwenya (32) told gardai that she agreed to travel with the teen after being requested to do so by members of her church

A woman who agreed to smuggle a 16-year-old girl into the State in a crime of desperation has been jailed for 16 months.

Anele Ngwenya (32) of Johannesburg, South Africa, came forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on signed pleas of guilty from the District Court in relation to assisting the entry into the State of another person at Terminal Two, Dublin Airport on October 5, 2023. She has no previous convictions from Ireland or from her own country.

Joseph Barnes BL, prosecuting, told the court that Ngwenya told gardai that she agreed to travel with the teenager, on a fake passport for the child, after being requested to do so by members of her church in Johannesburg.

The teenager, who is a Congolese national, didnt offer much information to the gardai. She just claimed she was travelling with Ngwenya and said she had permission from her parents to travel.

Gardai were unable to establish what the purpose of escorting the child was but there were two people of interest in the investigation - one woman who was supposedly an aunt of the teenager and a man.

These people denied any knowledge of the child coming to Ireland, even though there was mobile communication between them both and the child. The girl is now under the care of Tusla.

An investigating garda told Mr Barnes that Ngwenya and the child arrived into Dublin Airport from Paris. The woman got off the plane separately to the child before she presented herself to Immigration Control.

The teenager went to another booth. Immigration officers became suspicious in relation to Ngwenyas purpose of travel. It was then established that they had travelled together - the teenager using a fake passport, which had been destroyed en route to Dublin.

Ngwenya was co-operative with gardai. She said she had been struggling for money and she agreed to escort the child for payment. She was told she would be paid the equivalent of 971 and the travel arrangements were made for her.

Michael Bowman SC, defending, asked the court to accept that there was no evidence of aggravating features in the case.

He said his client was one of 13 siblings and that both her parents died of HIV when she was seven years old. She then went to live with her grandmother who died when she was 12 years old.

Ngwenya was then cared for by her grandfather, who was also taking care of some of her cousins. Counsel said Ngwenya was effectively then used as a domestic to look after these children.

She went to live with an older sister but that sister then passed away and for some time she was caring for her sisters children.

Ngwenya has two children of her own who are now 13 and 11 years old. Mr Bowman said that her older daughter was brutally attacked in 2018 and has been left with injuries that required surgery. The family live in a corrugated shack, he said.

Mr Bowman said his client acknowledges that she knew what she was doing was wrong and understood it was illegal but Ngwenya believed she was facilitating the members of her church.

She was naive but also quite desperate. She took the opportunity presented to her and is now paying the price for it, counsel said.

Judge Martin Nolan said it is a serious offence to traffic a child in this way, but accepted it was a crime of desperation.

She was desperate for some funds and temptation was put in her way and she succumbed to it, Judge Nolan said before he added that it was not an insidious human trafficking.

Her parents wanted the child to come here for a better life - as simple as that. She deserves to be punished but not an overly harsh imprisonment, he said before he imposed a 16 month sentence.
Dublin Childrens Court heard its very, very lucky no one was killed during the pursuit on July 13 last year, which commenced on the M50.

A TEENAGE boy driving a car loaded with stolen power tools reached speeds of almost 200 km/h after leading gardai on a chase in Dublin before crashing into a lorry.

Dublin Childrens Court heard its very, very lucky no one was killed during the pursuit on July 13 last year, which commenced on the M50.

The boy, 17, was charged with five counts of endangerment of life, dangerous driving, being unlicensed, having no insurance, impeding arrest and possessing stolen property and a knife.

Garda Keith Nolan told Judge Paul Kelly today that traffic was heavy when the teen was spotted driving north.

Gardai saw him holding his mobile phone and signalled him to stop, but he kept driving up to 150 km/h in a 100 km/h zone and cut across three lanes of traffic.

He took the Ballymun exit at last minute and made an illegal turn at a roundabout. The boy drove over the traffic island and rejoined the M50 southbound on the hard shoulder at 160 km/h.

Garda Nolan said that the boy turned onto N2 at speed, and the garda pursuit vehicle was travelling at 185 km/h and not gaining any distance on this vehicle.

At Junction 2, The Ward, the teenager collided with the trailer of a 40-foot heavy goods vehicle, which disabled the car.

The teen, who has no prior criminal convictions, fled the car, jumped a fence and hid in bushes.

Gardai searched the car and found 9,369 worth of power tools belonging to four injured parties.

There were also different sets of number plates for the make and model of the car, along with the plates that were supposed to be on the vehicle. They also recovered two six-inch kitchen knives.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) urged the judge to refuse jurisdiction and transfer the case to the Circuit Court, which can impose lengthier sentences.

However, the boy pleaded with the judge to keep the case in the Childrens Court. His barrister said that the youth was a vulnerable young man who owed money and had been threatened by older, more serious criminals to transport the tools.

The defence said they took advantage of the boy, who was accompanied to court by his father.

In reply, the garda said the teenager did not divulge that and made no comment throughout his interview.

State solicitor Michelle Sheeran submitted that his actions could have had catastrophic consequences, and its very, very lucky no one was killed.

Judge Kelly noted the teen wanted to plead guilty but agreed with the DPP that the case must be dealt with at a higher level.

The boy, who cannot be identified because he is a minor, was remanded on continuing bail pending the preparation of a book of evidence. Legal aid was granted.
The pensioner knew the woman as she had called five or six times previously asking for money and each time he had given her sums of 5, 10 or 20

A woman has been jailed for her role in two robberies including one in which a 79-year-old widower was attacked with a clawhammer and stabbed multiple times.

The man had opened his front door to a woman who sought shelter from the rain, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court previously heard.

The pensioner knew the woman as Christine Ward (36) as she had called to his address five or six times previously asking for money and each time he had given her sums of 5, 10 or 20.

Once Ward was in the hallway, the court heard, she was followed into the house by her former partner Derek Bewley who was wielding a claw hammer.

Christine Ward (36) pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at a house in Artane on November 2, 2018, with seven other counts taken into consideration.

Derek Bewley (48) pleaded guilty to possession of a hammer and stealing a wallet containing 600 during the same incident.

The former couple also pleaded guilty separately to robbing a wallet and an iPhone from a visually impaired man earlier on the same date, November 2, 2018, on Dublins North William Street.

Ward, with an address at De Paul Ireland, Little Britain Street, Dublin 7, was today jailed for eight and a half years.

Imposing sentence on Ward, Judge Orla Crowe said these were most serious offences and handed Ward a total sentence of 10 years with the final 18 months suspended.

The judge said it was an aggravating factor that this was offending against especially vulnerable members of society. She also noted the breach of trust in relation to the elderly man who had previously given Ward money on a number of occasions.

Judge Crowe noted the mitigation and Ward's remorse, adding that while Ward saw herself as a victim of her very difficult childhood, there were only two victims in court.

Her co-accused Bewley, with an address at North William Street Flats, Dublin 1, is due to be sentenced on Thursday, February 1.

At a previous sentence date, Garda Brian Morrissey told prosecuting counsel that the 79-year-old widower had answered his doorbell at 8pm on the night to Ward, who asked if she could come in for a minute out of the rain.

Ward came into the mans hallway and started crying, saying her cancer was back and she couldnt take it anymore, adding: How can I tell my kids Im going to die?

Her phone then lit up and her co-accused, Bewley, came into the hallway with a clawhammer shouting and demanding money.

A struggle ensued when the widower tried to grab the clawhammer and he was struck on the ear with it, shattering his hearing aid.

The man was also being stabbed repeatedly on his hands and was bleeding heavily as he made his way from his front door to his kitchen, leaving a trail of blood.

Ward and Bewley robbed the mans wallet which contained 600 in cash.

They also stole his phone and his Skoda Octavia car.

Because he had no car, the victim had to walk from Artane to Coolock village to summon help from his son.

He was brought to Beaumont Hospital and a medical report said he had been stabbed multiple times with a kitchen knife. He received 25 stitches in his hands and arms and sustained bruising to his ear.

In a victim impact statement read out on his behalf, the man said his economic losses totalled 4,775.

This figure includes the loss of the cash in his wallet, his housekeys, his car keys and his phone worth 900.

The court heard his hallway and kitchen had to be redecorated due to damage caused by blood spattering at a cost of 3,000.

The man said he was a quiet, deeply private person who has lost his independence and his privacy since the night he was attacked in his own home.

He said he suffers PTSD and gets startled every time he hears the doorbell ring. He has become reliant on sleeping tablets and has lost all trust in people, the court heard.

The man said his life changed forever when someone that he had shown kindness and charity to came to his house armed and with an accomplice.

He said he genuinely thought he was going to die that night and that his son had to move in with him afterwards to ensure his safety.

My faith is very important to me and its clear that it was only for the grace of God that I survived that night, the man wrote.

He said he used to enjoy going to the post office to collect his pension and having cash in his wallet and that he no longer does this anymore.

Judge Crowe asked if Ward did have cancer at the time and her defence counsel, Cathal McGreal BL, replied: There was no cancer but there certainly are children.

In relation to the second robbery, Garda Shane McGrath told Jennifer Jackson BL, prosecuting, that he was alerted of the robbery and he met the victim, a 56-year-old visually impaired man who had been walking from the post office when he was mugged.

The man said a girl and a guy came up to him from behind and grabbed his wallet from his back pocket.

He initially thought it was just a girl but then noticed another hand and a struggle ensued.

The victim said the man stabbed his right hand and his lower waist nine times with a sharp object and that the girl stabbed him on the left side of his face.

During the struggle, the mans iPhone worth 300 fell out of his pocket and the girl took it and both accused ran away.

The victim was brought to the Mater Hospital and prepared a victim impact report which was read out on his behalf.

The damage to his phone cost 280 while the repair of his specialist glasses cost 320.

He suffered stab wounds under his left eye and nine stab wounds to his arm.

The man said he no longer goes near groups and doesnt go out at all after 6pm.

He said he feels afraid and very vulnerable due to his visual impairment.

The court heard that when Ward was arrested, she initially denied all involvement but later identified herself in CCTV footage.

Bewley has 79 previous convictions including theft, drugs offences, assault, criminal damage and production of an article.

Ward has 25 previous convictions, all from the District Court, including 18 road traffic offences and others for theft and drugs.

Mr McGreal said his client has no history of violence and that she and Bewley were both long-standing drug users.

Ward took a trial date but failed to show on her trial date and pleaded guilty last October, the court heard.

Mr McGreal said Ward was herself very vulnerable and the mother of three children whom she visits regularly.

The court heard that she was born into the Travelling community and suffered greatly after the death of her brother in a car accident when she was 11.

Ward has been homeless since the age of 16 when she ran away to avoid an arranged marriage, the court heard.

She told gardai she had only ever been clean of drugs for two weeks.

Counsel said all of Wards previous partners had been violent to her causing her to be hospitalised several times.

She has since expressed significant remorse for her offences and accepts her role in all the offences, saying it was about getting money for drugs.

She has reduced her methadone intake by a third since going into custody and is undertaking several education and training courses, the court heard.

Ward has self-awareness and insight to the point of self-hatred, counsel said, and described the pensioner she had stolen from as being a very generous man.
John Quinn has denied anything to do with or any knowledge of a plot to smuggle 2.5m worth of cocaine into Ireland

A MOBILE phone seized from a businessman charged over an attempt to smuggle 2.5m worth of cocaine into the State through Rosslare Europort must be analysed before a date can be set for his trial.

John Quinn has denied anything to do with or any knowledge of a plot to smuggle 2.5m worth of cocaine into Ireland through Rosslare Europort on November 3, 2018.

The 61-year-old, a former director of furniture company Jondol, appeared before Naas District Court last week where a date had been expected to be set for his trial.

However, prosecutor Seoirse ODunlaing requested that the court put the matter back to April 9 to allow for the analysis of a phone found on the accused. He said the phone needed to analysed to discover how many different sim cards had been used in it.

He said the matter had already been flagged to Quinns legal team and that disclosure would be provided once analysis of the phone was complete.

The adjournment was agreed.

When the matter previously came before Naas District Court in June 2021, Judge Desmond Zaidan was told the cocaine had been discovered by customs officers hidden in a concealed compartment in a container of pallets.

The discovery was made after the container arrived at Rosslare port from Cherbourg, France.

Detective Garda David McKinley of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) said The container came in and it had it [the cocaine] concealed in the bottom of it.

The shipment was stopped by customs and the container was searched and the cocaine was subsequently found in this container, he said.

And what evidence, asked the judge, led you to the suspect Mr John Quinn?

The detective said: The truck involved in the moving of the trailer out, we believe, was with Mr Quinn. It was paid for, it was in the hands, it was in the possession of Mr Quinn.

Quinns Kildare based furniture company Jondol Furniture Ltd, of which he was co-director with his wife Dolores, was wound down in 2012.
The female occupant of the property has no involvement in organised crime and previously had to leave her home because of safety concerns.

Gardai near the scene of the gun attack in Finglas

A massive garda operation took place last night after a house that is associated with jailed gang boss Mr Flashy was shot up.

The brazen attack happened in Finglas last night in a property that sources say has bullet-proof windows.

The innocent female occupant of the property has absolutely no involvement in organised crime and previously had to leave her home because of safety concerns.

The house has been targeted a number of times by criminals in a feud that she has no involvement in - but the gangland dispute has already led to one murder and dozens of violent incidents.

Gardai are investigating a discharge of a firearm in the Deanstown Green area of Finglas, Dublin 11, shortly after 8pm on Tuesday 30th January 2024, a garda spokesman said.

No injuries were reported. The scene was preserved and a technical examination was conducted.

Investigations into this incident are ongoing, he added.

There has been no arrests in this case which is being linked to serious gangland feuding that is ongoing in the west Dublin area.

Gardai said they had no information about what damage, if any, was caused to the property in which the innocent woman resides.

No direct link has been established between this gun attack and two high profile murders that occurred in the locality last month.

Details of any alleged linkage to these murders cannot be outlined here as there are a large number of men before the courts in relation to that incident.

Since then gardai have introduced extra armed patrols in the district and a number of these units rushed to the scene in Finglas but no arrests were made.

Sources say that some locals reported that the high velocity nature of the shots that were fired at the house sounded like a grenade had went off or some type of bomb.

However, the Defence Forces confirmed to Independent.ie that none of their personnel were called to the scene by gardai to deal with an explosion.

Mr Flashy cannot be named here for legal reasons as he is facing multiple serious charges before the courts linked to the Finglas feud.

Mr Flashy has survived a number of assassination attempts as part of the bitter feud including in December, 2022, when he was present as one of his closest associates was shot in the buttocks and hand on Cardiffsbridge Road, Finglas.

Earlier this month we reported that a new feud is threatening to break out in Finglas among former associates of James Whelan who was shot dead in an unsolved murder by the rival Mr Flashy drugs mob in April, 2022 on Deanstown Avenue in Finglas.

Whelan was once a key ally of Mr Flashy but set up his own rival criminal organisation  leading to the bitter feud which is still ongoing.

A number of young gang members have taken over Whelans patch but sources have revealed that they are now fighting among each other with two young men considered the main players in the gang currently at odds with each other.
Courtney Clenneys parents have been taken into custody for tampering with evidence

Clenney after one of the couple's fights (US police)

The parents of an OnlyFans model accused of murdering her boyfriend in a Miami bloodbath have been arrested for allegedly tampering with evidence.

Deborah (57) and Kim Clenney (60), the parents of Courtney Clenney, were taken into custody by police in Texas this week.

Clenneys parents attempted to conceal evidence as they cleaned out her Edgewater high-rise apartment, police sources told US media.

Courtney Clenney (social media)

Clenney has been banged up since Auguest 2022, awaiting trial for the fatal stabbing of Christian Obumseli inside their luxury high rise on April 3 after a night of loud fighting.

She has been charged with second-degree murder with a knife but has pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defence. Obumseli was killed with knife wounds to the heart.

Clenneys father had previously tried to defend his daughter to reporters.

Clenney's parents (AP)

It was very toxic. I knew from the beginning that he wasnt treating her correctlyThere were many things that a father who loves his daughter very deeply shouldnt have to put up with, he said.

Earlier this month, the law firm representing Obumselis family released a video that allegedly showed the model abusing the stab victim whilst on holiday.

The recording by a friend captured Clenney crying and shouting at Obumseli over his alleged poor treatment of her.

Argument (Haggard Law Firm)

Christian, Im f*cking fed up with you, Im fed up with how you f*king treat me, Clenney says in the three-minute video.

Clenney, who still has 2 million followers on Instagram, then claims Obumseli was caught flirting with a number of other women, which he denies.

Clenney hurls abuse Obumseli, calling him a "boy" and a "bitch" while throwing punches at the mans face.

Aftermath of killing (US police)

Clenney attacks Obumseli in a lift

"I was fu*king sober for two weeks, two weeks, two weeks," she repeats, while appearing to assault him. "And now why am I not sober? Because of you."

A friend who was on the trip spoke about the incident to Fox News: "Christian was a very large guy, and he couldve easily done damage if he wanted to, but he never fought back. He always would just take the abuse from her, and literally the video shows everything."

In the recording Clenney can be heard telling Obumseli he was "fired" and demanding he leave. She also accuses him of costing her money.

Clenney after one of the couple's fights (US police)

Less than two months later, Clenney stabbed Obumseli to death with a knife through the heart. According to arrest paperwork, Miami Police found Clenney holding her bleeding boyfriend in her arms at the One Paraiso apartment complex.

Images released by US police showed the apartment drenched in blood.

Miami-Dade prosecutors said the couple had an "extremely tempestuous and combative relationship" and that Obumseli was the victim of domestic violence.
Smoke is drifting across the area, take precautions if you are affected, a Dublin Fire Brigade spokesperson stated.

Emergency services rushed to the scene of a large fire at an apartment building in south Dublin.

Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) said its firefighters were tackling the blaze on the upper floor of an apartment block in Sandyford.

They have since said that their operations have now concluded.

"Firefighting operations in #Sandyford have now concluded. Firefighters fought the fire for 2 hours and left the scene at 1230, a spokesperson said.

Scene of the fire

Earlier, a DFB spokesperson said: Smoke is drifting across the area, take precautions if you are affected.

Five fire engines, two district officers, an emergency tender, 42m Ladder and our Incident Command Unit are on scene

A Garda spokesperson said: Due to an ongoing incident in Sandyford Business Park, Dublin 18, the Corrig Road is currently closed.

Road users are asked to take alternative routes if possible.
Catherine Kathleen Finnegan died in the incident early yesterday morning

A woman who was killed after being struck by a bus at Victoria Station in London has been named as 56-year-old Catherine Kathleen Finnegan from Co Galway.

Ms Finnegan died in the incident early yesterday morning when the Number 13 bus crashed into a shelter at the busy station.

Her family this evening released a moving tribute to their beloved daughter, sister, partner, most adored auntie and treasured friend.

She will be remembered as a very unique lady who had the fast Irish wit and who made her family and friends so very proud of her bright, clever personality, they said in a statement.

She was a whirlwind in any room and lit up this world with her energy, enthusiasm for life and joy. She will be forever in our hearts.

Members of the emergency services battled to save her life but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Metropolitan police units, as well as officers from British Transport Police and the London Ambulance Service attended the scene.

A London Ambulance spokesperson said it sent two ambulance crews and a medic in a fast-response car. We also dispatched London's Air Ambulance and treated three people at the scene.

"One person was taken to hospital and another was assessed and discharged. Unfortunately, despite our teams' best efforts, one person was pronounced dead at the scene.

London Metropolitan Police is appealing for witnesses after the fatal incident.

We were called at 08:59hrs on Monday, 29 January to reports of a collision involving a bus and a pedestrian outside London Victoria Railway Station.

The pedestrian, a 56-year-old woman from South London, died at the scene. Her family have been informed and our thoughts are with them.

The driver of the bus, a woman aged 46, was also taken to hospital. She has since been discharged from hospital.

Serious collision detectives are carrying out enquiries to establish what happened.

Any witnesses who can help the investigation are asked to call 0044 208 543 5157 quoting CAD 1417/29Jan, the London Met spokesman said.

The station was cordoned off after the incident and a blue forensic tent placed over the scene. A large black tarpaulin was then placed around the perimeter.

London's mayor Sadiq Khan said he had been told of the tragic news.

My thoughts are with the bereaved family, it's really important that we allow them to be informed first about this tragedy. There is a full investigation under way. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say our thoughts and prayers are with this person's family, he told reporters.

In August 2021 a woman from Kent was killed at the same station when she was hit by a bus after the driver pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.

Melissa Burr (32) died when a bus driver shunted into a stationary bus when he pressed the accelerator in error. The stationary bus then jumped forward and hit Ms Burr who subsequently died from multiple injuries.

The driver later in court admitted causing Ms Burr's death by careless driving.
Julia Wendell became an internet sensation last February after suggesting she might be the missing Briton.

The Polish woman who went viral last year after becoming convinced she was Madeleine McCann has said that she regrets making the startling claims online.

Julia Wendell, who also goes by Julia Faustyna or Julia Wandelt, became an internet sensation last February after suggesting she might be the missing Briton, who disappeared from Praia da Luz in 2007 as a toddler, due to similarities in their appearances.

The 22-year-old set up an Instagram account named @IamMadeleineMcCann where she queried whether she was the three-year-old who vanished on during the family holiday to Portugal.

The far-fetched claims led to Wendell appearing on US talk show Dr Phil after being flown to the States by psychic Dr Fia Johansson.

The TV appearance prompted her to take a DNA test to find out if she was related to Kate and Gerry McCann but results ultimately proved negative.

Wendell, who has since returned to Poland, has now told BBC Radio 4s podcast series Why Do You Hate Me? that she never meant to hurt anyone as she shared her side of the story.

When she was around 20, she realised she couldnt remember parts of her childhood after suffering abuse and became suspicious when her family would dodge questions about her upbringing.

She turned to the internet for answers and came across Madeleines case, which she had previously been unfamiliar with.

Wendell became convinced that she was the missing toddler after seeing police sketches of a potential suspect which she said bore resemblance to her own abuser.

I know [what] my abuser looks like. And I know this is very, very similar to the suspects from [the] Madeleine McCann page, she told host Marianna Spring.

She said she contacted police so many times after noticing similarities between herself and Madeleine but no one treated me seriously.

Julia said she regrets making a social media account dedicated to finding out the truth  which she said "can destroy you - as she opened up about the online abuse she has received since making the claims.

I really wanted to know who I am, she explained.

I knew that there will be people who will not believe me or hate me, but I didn't expect that I will get death threats, for example.

It was something that I don't understand. People knew that I was abused and they all knew that I deal with depression.

I was trying to be strong even when people said, you should die. You should be raped. You should be killed. You should be murdered. You shouldn't exist in this world. You're a bitch.

Wendell maintains that she truly believed she was the toddler, adding that she meant no harm when making her claims.

I wanted to know the truth. I apologised to the McCanns because I dont know them personally.

I dont know if they were watching this journey, if they were sad or whatever. And I just wanted to say sorry. I didnt want them to feel sad.
The pair were snapped with tour manager, Barbara Hughes, after previously starring together in Endgame by Beckett at the Gate Theatre in Dublin.

Comedian Frankie Boyle posed with actor pal Robert Sheehan in Cork last night as he joked about the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

The Glaswegian legend was finishing up the first leg of Irish tour -Lap of Shame- in the Cork Opera House when Rebel County native Sheehan popped in for the visit.

The pair were snapped with tour manager, Barbara Hughes, after previously starring together in Endgame by Beckett at the Gate Theatre in Dublin.

Both actors had starring roles in the production which is described as an expression of existential angst and despair, depicting Beckett's philosophical worldview.

Ms Hughes captioned the snap as Endgame Reunion and Frankie made reference to both the barbers chair and tri-colour seats in his dressing room, which he was highly impressed by.

Tri-colour chairs

Frankie also posted photos of himself out at a trad session, attending a Tommy Tiernan gig and making some funny, and possibly truthful, remarks regarding AI.

Finishing up my Irish tour, gradually looking more and more Irish. My voice is starting to feel it, as you can hear, Frankie started.

"I was reading how AI is going to take all these jobs and there will be less work. Whatever happens, it will mean more work for us.

"We will end up working more. When the internet came along and you were applying for insurance, you would ring up and they had one person doing the job.

Funny men

"Now you have to do it yourself, you have billions of people scrolling through drop down menus for every country in the world, doing a thing they dont understand. So thats what will happen.

"I was inspired to think this by watching people making their own toast today. Getting elderly people and pointing them at white, hot metal while they are still waking up, the satirist added.

Meanwhile, Robert Sheehan posted about a forthcoming book release.

"Huge thanks to those of you who have already pre-ordered my second book, he wrote.

Its the product of six years hard work and Im incredibly proud of it. Theres been some confusion in the pre-release. To be clear, the book is not called Unearthed .

And the cover is not some posey (sic) picture of me looking all serious. The book is chock full of personal stories, insight and humour, so the real title and cover will more accurately reflect that.

The real title and cover will be unveiled very soon so watch this space. PS - Thank ye for all my luvly (sic) birthday wishes, I appreciate them enormously. They made me feel like a very special boy (adult man), Robert added.

Frankies tour continues in the UK but returns to Ireland later in the year.
BEIRUT, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Hector Hajjar on Wednesday called on the international community to support citizens in southern Lebanon as confrontations with Israel on the border area have exacerbated people's suffering amid the current economic crisis.

"We are genuinely in a state of war with more than 100,000 people who were displaced outside their villages and houses," Hajjar said at a press conference.

Hajjar said that only 33.3 million U.S. dollars out of the 150 million dollars were secured within the framework of the national program to support 75,000 of the poorest families in 2024.

"The Lebanese government must face this difficult reality and take action to communicate with donor countries to secure the necessary funding for this program during the next six months," he said, noting that the funds expected to be offered in the coming months will drop due to the lack of sufficient support.

Hajjar added that the one-million-dollar donation announced by the Chinese government in November last year will be disbursed in February and will be used to provide people in border villages with food products.

The Lebanon-Israel border witnessed increased tension since Oct. 8, 2023, after the Hezbollah militant group fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of Hamas attacks on Israel the previous day, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.

Lebanon has been mired in an unprecedented financial crisis since late 2019, plunging over 80 percent of the population into poverty. 
Hector Barbotta Brussels Wednesday, 31 January 2024, 13:33 Compartir Copiar enlace

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On Tuesday, Juanma Moreno began his sixth visit to Brussels since he became President of the Junta de Andalucia with an urgent goal: to explain the emergency drought situation the region is experiencing.

In his first meeting, part of a three-day visit, Moreno asked the Vice-President of the European Commission for the European Green Deal, Maros Sefcovic, to implement the Solidarity Fund that the EU reserves for disaster situations.

 Click here to read more about the current drought situation in Malaga province and on the Costa del Sol

Moreno said that the Andalusian government's aim is "to put water on the political and institutional agenda of the European Commission". After the hour-long meeting, the president of the Junta stressed that there is currently no water commissioner in the European institution, nor are there specific plans for the area under discussion. "I have noticed that the water issue is an unusual discourse," Moreno said.

Solidarity Fund

One of the issues raised by the president was the need to activate the Solidarity Fund in the face of the catastrophic situation caused by the drought, which has already taken 2.1 per cent of the region's Gross Domestic Product (more than 4.2 billion euros).

In order to activate this fund, which is intended for natural disasters, the request must be made by the corresponding state, and the Andalusian government will therefore ask the Minister for ecological transition, Teresa Ribera, to do so.

Moreno pointed out that this is not the first time that this fund has been activated for drought situations, and cited the examples of Cyprus and Romania, where it has already been set up. If the Andalusian proposal were accepted, he explained, the necessary hydraulic works could be carried out in a short space of time, both for human consumption and to meet the needs of the primary sector, industry and tourism. "Just as Germany needs gas for its industry, we need water," Moreno said.

Food sovereignty

The Junta believes that the European Union should not allow its food supply to depend on third countries. The message with which Juanma Moreno began his Brussels appeal yesterday, and which will be repeated over the course of the three-day visit, is that this is not a problem confined to Andalucia, since the region's agricultural production provides food for 500 million European citizens. If the Andalusian countryside does not have enough water, he argues, the EU could lose its food sovereignty and become dependent on production outside the bloc.

This year, the EU institutions are facing a strategic debate on agriculture opened by the President of the Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen. The Andalusian government hopes that measures to curb drought will form part of this agenda, in which the concept of food sovereignty should take precedence. During the Spanish presidency of the EU Council, which ended on 31 December 2023, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski , announced that there would be an extension of the Crisis Reserve for this year. The Junta intends for this aid to focus on drought and to take into account the situation that Andalucia has been suffering for the last five years.
SUR Rincon de la Victoria Wednesday, 31 January 2024, 17:29 Compartir Copiar enlace

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The Cueva del Tesoro in Rincon de la Victoria, on the eastern stretch of the Costa del Sol, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its opening with a varied programme of activities and events that will take place throughout the year.

La Cueva del Tesoro opened to the public in 1974. It is the only one of its kind discovered in Europe and there are only two more like it in the world: one in Mexico and one in Asia.

To celebrate the anniversary, Rincon de la Victoria town hall will be holding a varied programme of activities and events at the cave including free entrance from Monday to Friday (mornings only). There will also be promotions for schools in the municipality, and the cave will offer special deals to other schools in Malaga province.

The public will be able to enjoy plays and concerts including pianist Diego Valdivia. There will also be conferences, workshops, films, music, dance and poetry performances.

For further information about the anniversary programme visit: Cueva del Tesoro.
Juan Cano Malaga Wednesday, 31 January 2024, 12:22 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Marco R. G. is being held in prison in Huelva in connection with the deaths of two women who he allegedly murdered after they broke off their relationships with him. Yesterday (Tuesday 30 January), at the request of his lawyer, Noemi Ouvina, the Italian suspect testified by videoconference from jail before the head of the Court of Instruction number 3 in Torremolinos, which is investigating the two crimes.

The Italian suspect, who is 45 years old and has several previous convictions for gender violence, testified for more than two hours in which he gave his version of both deaths. But he only acknowledged his involvement in one of them, that of his last partner, Paula, the 28-year-old who was stabbed to death last May in La Carihuela.

Marco R. G. denied having killed Sibora Gagani, who had been missing since July 2014, when she was just 22 years old, shortly after she ended her relationship with her alleged killer. After he was arrested for killing Paula, he allegedly surprised investigating officers by confessing that Siboras body was behind a wall in an apartment in the Calvario neighbourhood where the two lived together.

Walled-up body out of fear

The suspect, assisted by his lawyer and in the presence of the prosecutor and the private prosecutors in both crimes, represented by the lawyers Guillermo Jimenez (in Paulas case) and Juan Manuel Medina (in Siboras case), offered for the first time his version of Sibora's death. Marco R. G., who previously confessed to having walled up the young Italian-Albanian woman, said he did it out of "fear" of the Albanian mafia who he alleges killed her.

Marco R. G told the investigating magistrate that Sibora had borrowed 25,000 euros from compatriots to set up a business, but that the money was stolen by Colombians she met during a night out, and so she could no longer repay the debt. Marco R.G. told the magistrate that the lenders began to pressure Sibora to pay back the money to the point that the young woman planned  according to the Italian  to flee.

Sibora's phone stopped transmitting on 7 July 2014. The last person she spoke to on WhatsApp was Marco, who was always in the investigators' sights as the main suspect. However, no evidence was found against him at the time.

Four Albanians armed with a gun

The suspect told the court yesterday that he helped Sibora leave her flat and took her into the Calvario apartment where they lived  despite the fact that they were no longer in a relationship  to help her, and that four Albanian men armed with a gun showed up to demand the alleged loan payment.

According to his testimony, the Albanians killed Sibora in front of him using a "knife" and that he was ordered to hide the body. He said that he only knows the name of one of the perpetrators of the crime, but refused to reveal it.

Marco R. G. insisted that he is remorseful and that he feels very sorry for what happened because they had many experiences together, so he needed to get "that weight off his shoulders".

Threatened with a knife

Regarding Paula's crime, the Italian said that on 17 May 2023 they were both "very high" and argued violently. According to his version, the deceased woman threatened him with a knife, he stood up to her and the situation got out of hand. He admitted killing her, but claimed it was self-defence.

On 1 January 2024, Marco sent an 18-page handwritten letter from prison to the investigating magistrate in which he gave an extended version of what he claims happened. His letter goes into more detail about Paula's death than about Sibora's death.

In the letter, the Italian wrote that while in prison he has had a "very strong rapprochement with God" and he claims that he has embarked on a "spiritual path" in which he is learning from his mistakes.
The award will be presented on the day of the patron saint of the Local Police.

Pilar R. Quiros Malaga Wednesday, 31 January 2024, 12:38 Compartir Copiar enlace

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The private hire driver Adrian Maldonado, 26, who saved a woman from being raped at the weekend in Malaga city centre is to receive an award for his actions

In the next few days the mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, will receive Adrian at the city hall to personally thank him for his timely action. In addition, the Local Police will distinguish him on their patron saints day.

Superintendent of the Local Police, Juan Ferrer, said Adrians quick thinking, complemented by the rapid arrival of Local Police officers was vital. The suspects, two hooded Moroccan men, had allegedly assaulted another young woman earlier.

Only under exceptional circumstances are people outside the force honoured for acts or behaviours related to policing duties. The Malaga council spokesperson, Elisa Perez de Siles, said: The truth is that this young man has a lot of merit. He made a crucial intervention, which prevented the young woman from suffering irreparable injury.

As SUR reported previously, the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday 28 January. The victim, Maria, had passed the two suspects just moments earlier in a taxi.

"These two look very bad, be careful," the driver had warned her. "I was a minute away from my flat, so I decided to get off at Vialia so that the taxi driver could take my friend to her door," she said. The 28-year-old's friend told Maria to walk quickly and not hang up the phone until she arrived home, but the two men approached her rapidly.

Despite a rowdy work party that ended at 5am, Maria had not drunk any alcohol. "I was fully conscious and strong. That helped me to stand up to them and struggle," she said. The attackers hid their faces with a balaclava and "one of them, very cocky, grabbed my arm and started saying: 'come here, come here'," and tried to pull her towards a doorway on Calle Cuarteles.

That's when a large black van appeared and Maria thought she was going to be abducted. "I saw that the door was open and that it was only occupied by the driver. I took a gamble and ran towards it," she said. Once inside, she heard the driver was phoning the police "and I closed the door and called my friend".

The driver, Adrian, was about to finish his shift when he noticed the woman in trouble. Adrian locked the vehicle and followed the suspects while giving their position to police who arrived quickly and arrested them next to the Cercanias commuter train station near Calle Alemania. "They confronted the officers as if it was nothing and said that it wasn't them," Maria said. The two Moroccan men are being held in custody until their case comes to court.
Lebanese artist Mohammad Nassif makes cedar trees out of fragments of Israeli shells in his workshop in Shebaa, Lebanon, on Dec. 27, 2023. (Photo by Taher Abou Hamdan/Xinhua)

by Dana Halawi, Huang Hongsheng

BEIRUT, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Mohammad Nassif, a 60-year-old Lebanese artist, spends long hours every day at his workshop in Shebaa, a town on the southeastern tip of Lebanon, cutting and bending fragments of Israeli shells to transform them into artistic models.

"This artistic approach never occurred to me until five years ago when I became a maker of valuable artistic iron sculptures after working for 15 years as a tourist guide," Nassif told Xinhua while creating an expressive sculpture representing the tragedy of children in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

Nassif's artistic career sprouted when vast quantities of shell fragments drew his attention in the border areas of southern Lebanon, where he accompanied tourists on nature walks.

"Shell fragments with high density were found in the heights of Mount Hermon at the Lebanese-Syrian-Palestinian border, which in 1973 witnessed fierce battles between the Syrian and Israeli armies, with large quantities of remnants of artillery shells left," Nassif said.

Lebanese artist Mohammad Nassif works on his artistic work in his workshop in Shebaa, Lebanon, on Dec. 27, 2023. (Photo by Taher Abou Hamdan/Xinhua)

He started collecting these heavy-weighted fragments from rugged areas and transported them to his factory in Shebaa to recycle them by changing them from destructive and deadly materials to sculptures vibrant with life.

"When I first started my artwork, I worked on models symbolizing peace, such as the United Nations (UN) emblem and the flags of the countries participating in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the UN Disengagement Observer Force, whose battalions operate near Mount Hermon to maintain the ceasefire between Syria and Israel," Nassif said.

"Through artistic means, I aimed to transform pain into hope, and the message of destruction and death carried by missiles into a message of life," he explained.

"One of my art's goals is to advise those who are concerned about the necessity of rejecting wars and adhering to peace in our regions, which since the 1970s have been and are still witnessing sad scenes of devastating wars," the artist noted.

Lebanese artist Mohammad Nassif works on his artistic work in his workshop in Shebaa, Lebanon, on Dec. 27, 2023. (Photo by Taher Abou Hamdan/Xinhua)

He hoped these works that emerged from "hateful shells" would be a gateway to stopping wars and moving toward peace.

Nassif said his collection of war waste also has positive environmental effects as it cleans the fields from shrapnel, thus facilitating the movement of farmers, livestock herders, and trekkers and protecting them from potential harm.

He plans on working on new models amid the presence of vast numbers of shrapnel at this time due to the daily Israeli raids in southern Lebanon since Oct. 8, 2023, while assuring that he would avoid collecting the remnants of phosphorus shells. He also reports their whereabouts instead to relevant military authorities responsible for collecting and disposing of them.

The artist said most demand for his sculptures comes from UNIFIL peacekeepers who, upon their return to their countries, prefer to buy these items, distinguished by iron durability and beauty, as gifts. 
Pilar Martinez Malaga Wednesday, 31 January 2024, 13:14 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Saudi Arabia's flag carrier airline, Saudia, is once again betting on the Costa del Sol this summer. The company has just announced that it will reinforce the connection between the Costa del Sol and Riyadh. It has confirmed that it will operate three direct flights a week between Malaga airport and its hub in the Saudi capital, one more than before the pandemic.

Saudia will connect the capital of the Costa del Sol with Saudi Arabia every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7 June until the end of August. The company has taken stock of demand after its presence at the recent Fitur International Tourism Fair in Madrid and considers that the prospects "are very good for the future with new connections for this summer, and is therefore increasing the schedule and its operations in Spanish airports".

The airline will also increase the frequency of flights between Barcelona and the cities of Jeddah and Riyadh to a total of four days a week to the coastal city of the Red Sea and adding two new weekly flights to Riyadh on Wednesdays and Fridays. In addition, it has ensured that Madrid continues its regular operations to the company's main hub in Jeddah with four weekly frequencies on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

"The increase in frequencies from domestic airports will allow tourists from Spain, in addition to travelling to Saudi Arabia, to connect with destinations where demand soars during the summer season. We are talking about places such as Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Johannesburg, among others," the company said.

Saudia (formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines), established in 1945, is one of the largest airlines in the Middle East and operates one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the world, with a route network covering around 100 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Far East, Europe and the United States, including Saudi Arabia's 28 domestic airports.
Irene Quirante Malaga Wednesday, 31 January 2024, 15:11 Compartir Copiar enlace

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A 16-year-old minor has been arrested by Local Police in Mijas after allegedly stabbing a 45-year-old man in the head with a knife while he was walking his dog in an open field in the Las Lagunas area of the Malaga province town.

It happened late on Wednesday 24 January in a poorly lit area of Camino de los Campanales. Apparently, a uniformed patrol was carrying out surveillance work in the vicinity when the officers heard some shouting, so they approached to investigate.

As the Local Police approached they saw two people in the dark who appeared to be struggling and went to separate them. It was then that they noticed that one of them had a knife stuck in his head.

The officers stepped in to restrain the minor, aged 16 and of Moroccan nationality, and to help the victim, who is apparently a resident of the Mijas.

After learning of the incident, the 112 Andalucia emergency service control room alerted the ambulance service and Guardia Civil. The medical team rushed the man to Malaga's Hospital Regional Universitario in the ciity, where he was admitted in a serious condition with the stab wound to his head.

Sources have confirmed that the victim underwent surgery in the operating theatre and was then transferred to the intensive care unit

The arrested man was also taken to a health centre, as he also suffered cuts to his hands in the attack

At the moment, the circumstances surrounding the incident have not been revealed, nor whether there may have been a previous conflict between the two parties, something that the police are trying to clarify.
TEHRAN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said Iran and Saudi Arabia should not allow interference by third parties aimed at souring their bilateral relations, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported Wednesday.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Iran Abdullah bin Saud al-Anzi on Tuesday while elaborating on the status quo of bilateral relations.

Vahidi said, "Some (parties) seek to interfere in and sour the Tehran-Riyadh relations, which should not be allowed."

He added that constructive cooperation and interaction between Iran and Saudi Arabia would be in the interests of the Muslim world and the whole region, noting that the two countries are determined to improve all-out bilateral relations.

The Iranian interior minister highlighted the necessity to expand cooperation between Iranian and Saudi officials to address security problems, including terrorist threats, stressing that the two countries' development and security are interconnected.

The Saudi envoy, for his part, shared the same view with Vahidi on the need to fight terrorism and improve bilateral relations, saying the ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran were on the right track.

He also noted that the two interior ministries could cooperate in numerous areas.

The Saudi ambassador called for activating and updating a security agreement between the two countries signed 20 years ago to prepare the ground for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in various areas, including fighting terrorism, organized crimes, and drug trafficking.

Last March, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a groundbreaking agreement in Beijing to resume diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies and missions within two months. Last April, the two countries officially announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in response to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric. 
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Dover, Del.  Elon Musk is not entitled to landmark compensation package awarded by Teslas board of directors that is potentially worth more than $55 billion, a Delaware judge ruled Tuesday.

The ruling by Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick comes more than five years after a shareholder lawsuit targeted Tesla CEO Musk and directors of the company. They were accused of breaching their duties to the maker of electric vehicles and solar panels, resulting in a waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment for Musk.

The shareholders lawyers argued that the compensation package should be voided because it was dictated by Musk and was the product of sham negotiations with directors who were not independent of him. They also said it was approved by shareholders who were given misleading and incomplete disclosures in a proxy statement.

Defense attorneys countered that the pay plan was fairly negotiated by a compensation committee whose members were independent, contained performance milestones so lofty that they were ridiculed by some Wall Street investors, and blessed by a shareholder vote that was not even required under Delaware law. They also argued that Musk was not a controlling shareholder because he owned less than one-third of the company at the time.

An attorney for Musk and other Tesla defendants did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

But Musk reacted to the ruling on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter that he owns, by offering business advice. Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware, he said. He later added, I recommend incorporating in Nevada or Texas if you prefer shareholders to decide matters.

Musk, who as of Tuesday topped Forbes list of the worlds richest people, had earlier this month challenged Teslas board to come up with a new compensation plan for him that would give him a 25% stake in the company. On an earnings call last week, Musk, who currently holds 13%, explained that with a 25% stake, he cant control the company, yet he would have strong influence.

In trial testimony in November 2022, Musk denied that he dictated terms of the compensation package or attended any meetings at which the plan was discussed by the board, its compensation committee, or a working group that helped develop it.

McCormick determined, however, that because Musk was a controlling shareholder with a potential conflict of interest, the pay package must be subject to a more rigorous standard.

The process leading to the approval of Musks compensation plan was deeply flawed, McCormick wrote in the colorfully written 200-page decision. Musk had extensive ties with the persons tasked with negotiating on Teslas behalf.

McCormick specifically cited Musks long business and personal relationships with compensation committee chairman Ira Ehrenpreis and fellow committee member Antonio Gracias. She also noted that the working group working on the pay package included general counsel Todd Maron who was Musks former divorce attorney.

In fact, Maron was a primary go-between Musk and the committee, and it is unclear on whose side Maron viewed himself, the judge wrote. Yet many of the documents cited by the defendants as proof of a fair process were drafted by Maron.

McCormick concluded that the only suitable remedy was for Musks compensation package to be rescinded. In the final analysis, Musk launched a self-driving process, recalibrating the speed and direction along the way as he saw fit, she wrote. The process arrived at an unfair price. And through this litigation, the plaintiff requests a recall.

Greg Varallo, a lead attorney for the shareholder plaintiff, praised McCormicks decision to reverse the absurdly outsized Musk pay package.

The fact that they lost this in Delaware court, its a jaw dropper, said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives. Its unprecedented, a ruling like this. I think going in investors thought it was just typical legal noise and nothing was going to come out about it. The fact that they went head to head with Tesla and Musk and the board and voided this, its a huge legal decision.

During his trial testimony, Musk downplayed the notion that his friendships with certain Tesla board members, including sometimes vacationing together, meant that they were likely to do his bidding.

The plan called for Musk to reap billions if Tesla, which is based in Austin, Texas, hit certain market capitalization and operational milestones. For each incidence of simultaneously meeting a market cap milestone and an operational milestone, Musk, who owned about 22% of Tesla when the plan was approved, would get stock equal to 1% of outstanding shares at the time of the grant. His interest in the company would grow to about 28% if the companys market capitalization grew by $600 billion.

Each milestone included growing Teslas market capitalization by $50 billion and meeting aggressive revenue and pretax profit growth targets. Musk stood to receive the full benefit of the pay plan, $55.8 billion, only by leading Tesla to a market capitalization of $650 billion and unprecedented revenues and earnings within a decade.

Tesla has achieved all twelve market capitalization milestones and eleven operational milestones, providing Musk nearly $28 billion in stock option gains, according to a January post-trial brief filed by the plaintiffs attorneys. The stock option grants are subject to a five-year holding period, however.

Defense attorney Evan Chesler argued at trial that the compensation package was a high-risk, high-reward deal that benefitted not just Musk, but Tesla shareholders. After the plan was implemented, the value of the company, based in Austin, Texas, climbed from $53 billion to more than $800 billion, having briefly hit $1 trillion.

Chesler also said Tesla made sure that the $55 billion compensation figure was included in the proxy statement because the company wanted shareholders to know that this was a heart-stopping number that Mr. Musk could earn.
The Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard police blotter of arrests from police agencies around Central New York was updated today.

The bulk of the arrests added this week are between Jan. 6 to 29, but most were made over the past two weeks.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A man was arrested in a Syracuse hotel on Monday with bricks of cocaine weighing eight pounds, Drug Enforcement Administration agents said.

Jevon Henry traveled from New York City to Syracuse to distribute cocaine, DEA agent Matthew Waters said in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.

Agents stopped Henry in the lobby of a Syracuse hotel and went through his duffle bag, Waters said. Waters did not specify what hotel it was.
Legendary DJ and producer Paul Oakenfold is coming to Upstate New York to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his music label, Perfecto Records.

Oakenfold will perform Saturday, April 27, at Electric City in Buffalo as part of his 30 Years of Perfecto tour. Doors open at 7 p.m., music begins at 8.
Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse clinic that caters to both adults and children in the midst of a mental health or drug-induced crisis has seen more than 300 visits in its first month and a half of operation.

The Crisis Stabilization Center, a state-funded clinic run by Helio Health on the citys North Side, is seeing between six and seven patients a day since opening Dec. 11, said services director Tania Lyons. The clinic is aimed at people who need immediate help, but not to the extent they require a psychiatric emergency room.

The center has room to provide even more help to people in crisis, especially children, Lyons said. The centers capacity is 15 patients a day, or more than 5,000 a year.

The majority of patients so far have been adults who checked themselves in to the facility in the Learbury Centre building on North Salina Street, Lyons said. Ambulances and law enforcement have also brought a smaller number of people to the center.

Only 20 children have been seen at the center, which dedicates roughly half of its space to serve children in crisis.

Helio is planning outreach efforts with local school districts and other providers to raise awareness about the centers capacity to see children, Lyons said. That remains an unfilled need at a time when mental health for children has become a crisis of its own.

Most of the children seen so far are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, not drug addictions, Lyons said.

Anyone in Central New York area can receive treatment at the 24-hour center, which aims to provide a safe and welcoming environment for those in the middle of a crisis. The goal is to provide a place to detox, wind down and be assessed for future outpatient treatment. (The center considers Onondaga, Madison, Cayuga, Oswego and Cortland counties as Central New York, though most people to this point have come from Onondaga County.)

Patients can stay for up to 24 hours, though most of them have recovered enough to go home in less than three hours, with a plan for how to get future help, Lyons said. Some go from the center directly into long-term detox or rehabilitation.

Of the 319 people seen as of Thursday, fewer than a dozen have had to be sent to an emergency room for more intensive care, Lyons said.

Some of the people would have ended up in the ER were it not for the center, while others would have never set foot in an emergency room but felt comfortable enough to come to the center, Lyons said.

Lyons believes the center has prevented a fair amount from ending up in a hospital ER, but said its impossible to know exactly how many. In her former work in a mobile crisis unit, Lyons said she encountered people on a nightly basis who fit the centers targeted demographic: too sick to remain on their own, but not sick enough for the ER.

Syracuses Crisis Stabilization Center remains the only one of its kind open in the state, though eight more are due to open in coming months.

Were the guinea pigs that others are looking to, Lyons said.

The center is part of a $75 million collaboration between state agencies overseeing the battle against mental illness and drug addiction. The center is funded from a mixture of direct state grants, as well as expected Medicaid payments for services, among other sources.

The initial state contract runs for five years, but Lyons said that Helio is planning to run the center long into the future.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or (315) 470-6070.
Aaron Lewis is set to visit Upstate New York ahead of his new album The Hill, which will be released on March 29. As part of his 2024 tour dates, Lewis will take the stage on Friday, February 16 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. The concert is rescheduled from the original December 9, 2023 date and will start at 8 p.m.

Tickets are originally sold through Ticketmaster but fans looking to secure tickets are advised to explore reselling platforms such as VividSeats, StubHub, and more.

VividSeats : Tickets start at $71

StubHub : Tickets start at $76

SeatGeek : Tickets start at $69

TicketNetwork : Tickets start at $84

Aaron Lewis is an American musician renowned as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and founding member of the alternative metal band Staind. Together with the band, he contributed to the release of seven studio albums. From 2010 onward, Lewis has ventured into a solo career in country music. His debut EP, Town Line, came out in 2011, and he followed it up with his first full-length solo release, The Road, in 2012 under Blaster Records.

Music has always been my escape, my way of expressing the things that I dont express very well in life, Lewis shared with Music Row. Im coming up on 52 years old, and Im on the hill Im going to stand on. Nobodys going to change me now. This record is a snapshot of my life and how Im feeling and where my head is atand thats what my records have always been. Its another record thats just really stripped down to the guts. I like raw. I like lifes imperfections showing through. Im not perfect, nobody is. And I dont want the music Im putting out to be either.
By Rocco Parascandola, Kerry Burke and Elizabeth Keogh | New York Daily News

New York  A group of migrants pummeled NYPD officers attempting to make an arrest outside a shelter in Times Square, police and sources said Tuesday.

Two officers and a lieutenant from the NYPDs Midtown South Precinct approached the group of men outside a migrant shelter on West 42nd Street near Seventh Avenue around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, cops said.

The incident seemed likely to raise the temperature of the already heated debate surrounding the migrant crisis, in which more than 100,000 migrants came to the city last year.

Four of the suspects were released without bail following arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.

The officers had been trying to break up the disorderly crowd outside the Candler Building, where the city announced the opening of a mega-shelter in March. When the cops attempted to put one of the men under arrest, multiple people attacked, according to authorities.

The men kicked and punched the officers in the head and body, video released by police shows.

They were kicking and punching one of the cops, a security guard in the area told the Daily News on Tuesday. They mobbed [the cops]. It was wild.

The lieutenant suffered a cut to his face during the melee. He was treated on the scene along with his colleagues, according to cops.

Two 19-year-old men, a 24-year-old man and a 21-year-old man were arrested at the scene. All were charged with assault on a police officer.

The men live at migrant shelters in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn, police sources said. About 67,000 migrants total are in the citys care.

The men often hung out behind the building drinking and smoking, according to the guard.

The citys largest cop union decried the release of the alleged attackers following their arraignment.

Attacks on police officers are becoming an epidemic, and the reason is [the] revolving door were seeing in cases like this one, Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, said in a statement. It is impossible for police officers to deal effectively with crime and disorder if the justice system cant or wont protect us while we do that work.

Police are still searching for five other men involved in the brawl. They released photos of the wanted men in the hopes someone may recognize them. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.

NYPD released photos of suspects wanted in the attack. The shelter at the Candler Building has capacity for hundreds of migrants, officials indicated last spring. The previously vacant site has been providing food and services including health care, they said.

The shelter there was one of the first where adult migrants received 30-day notices informing them they had to get out.

The city has also begun imposing an 11 p.m. curfew at some shelters, with the mayors office saying the move was meant to boost health and safety.

That was among many controversial policy adjustments from the Adams administration as the city has struggled to handle the new arrivals. Meanwhile, demonstrations both supporting and opposing the migrants  have broken out throughout the city, and immigration policy is a key issue in 2024 elections in the city and beyond.

Among a handful of violent incidents linked to migrants, six were arrested and two cops were injured in a brawl that broke out when officers confiscated scooters in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in September.

_____

2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com.
Press Release

January 31, 2024 Bong Go receives Plaque of Appreciation from Corcuera town in Romblon, recognizing his unwavering support for the community Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, adopted son of Romblon province, was honored with a plaque of appreciation by the local government of Corcuera town, Romblon, in recognition of his significant contributions to the community. Mayor Elmer Fruelda and Aubrey Fondevilla visited the Senate on Monday, January 29, where they personally presented the award to Go, expressing the town's deep gratitude towards the Senator. "Isang malaking karangalan para sa akin na tanggapin ang pagkilalang ito mula sa inyong magandang bayan. Lubos ang aking pasasalamat sa inyong walang sawang suporta at tiwala na ipinagkaloob ninyo sa akin," expressed Go. "Ang inyong pagkilala ay nagbibigay inspirasyon at lakas sa akin upang lalo pang pag-ibayuhin ang aking serbisyo sa bayan. Pero with or without recognition, patuloy akong magseserbisyo sa inyo at tutulong sa abot ng aking makakaya," he added. The Resolution No. 15.a s.2024, or the Resolution on Extending Sincere and Profound Gratitude to Honorable Senator Christopher "Bong" Go of the Corcuera, Romblon LGU, highlighted several of Senator Go's actions, most notably to the community's health sector. Furthermore, the Corcuera residents conveyed their appreciation for the Senator's generosity and promised to remember him in their prayers, wishing him continued success and good health. In response to this honor, Senator Go expressed his sincere appreciation to Corcuera's people and local government. He reiterated his commitment to supporting the town of Corcuera and the broader province of Romblon. "Ang mga inisyatibong aking ipinaglalaban ay hindi lamang para sa kasalukuyang henerasyon kundi para rin sa kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan," Go explained. As the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go also supports the continued operations of Malasakit Centers nationwide, including the one at Romblon Provincial Hospital in Odiongan. The Malasakit Centers program, a brainchild of Go, was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which he principally authored and sponsored in the Senate. The 159 operational centers have helped more or less ten million Filipinos nationwide, according to the Department of Health (DOH). "Isa lang po ang pakiusap ko sa inyo, huwag n'yo pong pababayaan 'yung mga kababayan nating mahihirap, 'yung mga helpless, hopeless, 'yung walang matakbuhan kung hindi ito lang pong hospital ng gobyerno... Tulungan po natin sila," urged Go. Meanwhile, Go supported the construction of Super Health Centers in strategic locations in the province, including Calatrava, Magdiwang, Romblon, San Andres, and San Jose. The Super Health Centers are improved versions of polyclinics that offer essential health services, including database management, out-patient care, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical units. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine. Through the collective efforts of the DOH, led by Secretary Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa, local government units, and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated under the DOH for the construction of 307 Super Health Centers in 2022, 322 in 2023, and 132 in 2024. As the lead implementing agency, DOH identifies the strategic areas where these Super Health Centers will be established. These centers aim to bring primary care, medical consultations and early disease detection capabilities closer to the grassroots. To further boost regional development and economic growth in Romblon, Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported improving and rehabilitating the municipal park and plaza in Banton. He also supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Ferrol, Romblon, and Santa Maria; the improvement of the municipal park in Banton; road improvements in Cajidiocan, Looc, Romblon, San Fernando, and Sta. Fe; and acquisition of ambulance units in Sta. Maria.
AMMAN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Abu Mohammad Salameh, a Syrian refugee currently living in eastern Amman, failed to settle down in his hometown near the Syrian capital Damascus due to the country's battered labor market amid the years of conflict.

"I used to own a grocery store in the countryside near Damascus, which was destroyed during the crisis in Syria, and I've also lost my house," recalled the 58-year-old man, saying "there is nothing for me to go back home."

Salameh came to Jordan as a refugee in 2015 and has gone back to Syria several times ever since. "I tried to find a job in Damascus, but it was hard and prices there were expensive," he said.

"The infrastructures in many areas in the countryside were still inappropriate for living, in addition to other security concerns," he added.

Talking about his son Mohammad, who went back to Syria in October last year and now works in a restaurant, Salameh said "he is unhappy with the little payment that he is getting in Syria, and will soon return to Jordan."

"He used to work with me on a construction site and earned around 20 dinars per day (around 28 U.S. dollars) which is not bad and enough to live," he added.

Hosam Ali, a 21-year-old Syrian refugee living in Amman's Al Naser area, said he does not consider returning to Syria.

"I came to Jordan when I was 11 years old. I do not remember a lot about Syria and there is nothing for me to go back," he said.

"Here I work in a grocery store and earn around 350 dinars, which is good and can help my family," he added.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) last December, approximately 24,400 out of over 5.1 million registered Syrian refugees returned to Syria over the first eight months of 2023.

By the end of 2023, Jordan hosted more than 720,000 refugees of different nationalities registered with the UNHCR. Among them, 649,091 are Syrian refugees, while 302,828 are in the working age.

Jordanian economist Wajdi Makhamreh said that a large portion of Syrian refugees refrained from a return due to the sanctions imposed on Syria, which have led to the lack of infrastructure construction, water and electricity shortages, in addition to security concerns.

"Therefore, a number of them prefer to remain in Jordan despite difficult conditions. This constitutes a huge burden on Jordan in terms of infrastructure, education and health system, especially in light of the decline in aid to Syrian refugees, which has decreased significantly over the past years," he added.

Earlier this month, the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan allocated a total of 974 million U.S. dollars to support Syrian refugees in Jordan in 2024.

However, the funds remain low as the kingdom estimated adequate annual financing for the Syrian refugees in Jordan at around 2 billion dollars. 
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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- UN humanitarians said on Tuesday that they released 2.5 million U.S. dollars for Zambia to battle a cholera outbreak claiming 574 lives and infecting 400 to 500 people daily.

Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths allocated the money from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) on Monday to support the country's response to the cholera outbreak, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The office said that as of Sunday, Zambia's National Public Health Institute reported more than 15,000 cholera cases and 574 deaths.

"The transmission of cholera has been aggravated by challenges in water supply and sanitation, including flooding, shallow wells, and difficulties in accessing clean water," OCHA said. "The new CERF allocation will support the emergency response, including support in the areas of health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene."

Several eastern and southeastern African countries have had cholera outbreaks following this season's longer and heavier seasonal flooding. 
GKR9900 BHPian



Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Kerala Posts: 618 Thanked: 2,783 Times

Re: A 1000 kms round-trip to buy a Hyundai Kona! A story of 3 Konas - ThriKona





Me: Hey dude, what do you call when 3 Konas meet?

EV Fan: What dude?

Me: A ThriKona!

EV fan: ..



This was a conversation that we had right about the time of delivery of my car. Ever since me, Srikanth and Vimal got to know each other, we wanted to have a small trip to bring our steeds together, take a photo and name it ThriKona. As luck would have it, the day came sooner than later as Republic Day was just around the corner. So about 2 weeks back, we decided to meet up and have a drive together.



But there were some logistical nuances. I was from Ernakulam, Vimal was from Chengannoor (100 kms away from my place) and Srikanth was from Bangalore. And January 26th was the window. So the place of the meet up had to be relatively accessible for each one of us. Nelliampathy, a popular hill station at Palakkad was fixed as the spot.



This spot was picked because:



1. It was kind of in the middle of Me and Vimal on one side, and Srikanth on the other.

2. With the legendary EV Fan a.k.a Vimal by our side, we could unwind and figure out the range drops expected while making a hill climb, without worrying too much.

3. The drive itself. With winding ghat sections and imperfect tarmac, roads to Nelliampathy, especially upto the Sitharkund viewpoint would be a different experience compared to our normal urban routes.



The plan was for all of us to drive down to Nenmara, which is a town that lies at the base of Nelliampathy, climb up the hill, spend some time there and get down. Srikanth and EV fan would then head out to Bangalore and I would go back home. Now if we were doing it in an ICE car, thatd be the end of the planning. Climbing up a hill in an EV, especially when there are no fast chargers at the summit was a worrying aspect. As many of you might already know, climbing up an incline is a major range-killer. EV Fan had already warned us about this. So we had to figure out a charging plan for each of us.



Now technically speaking, the round trip for me would be around 268 kms which would be a breeze in the Kona as it consistently delivers about 350 kms on a single charge. But this was in the plains. Throwing in some fast highways and a 1 km incline changes the equation. Or so I thought, because during one of our discussions, EV fan mentioned that much of the energy lost going uphill can be recuperated while going downhill using regen. Ultimately it came to exactly that as detailed later.



My route map



Srikanth was the one who would have to drive the most as he had to come down from Bangalore. So he decided to come to Coimbatore (370 kms from Bangalore) on the previous day, crash at his cousins place and top up the charge in his Kona to 100%. Coimbatore-Nelliyampathy round trip was around 200 kms. And then he would be heading back to Bangalore the next day. In total, he would be doing almost 1000 kms in a few days.



Everyone knows Vimal as EV Fan, and for someone who eeks out unreal efficiency numbers from his Kona - 500 kms in one charge - we were least bothered about making a plan for this guy. Vimal is 100 kms away from my place. He would be driving down to meet me en route and together we would go to Nelliyampathy. From there, he would go to Bangalore with Srikanth. Thats a total distance of about 700 kms for him. After the meet up, I would be heading back home.



Now to figure out the charging strategy. The problem with having a group EV drive is that all of us cant charge simultaneously at one station, especially at remote locations like these. Technically speaking, me and Srikanth (as hes starting from Coimbatore) shouldnt worry too much as we would have hardly used up around 20-25% battery by the time we reach Nenmara. Both of us being first time EV owners and that too for hardly a month, the climb up the Nelliampathy hills kinda worried us. Because Vimal would be driving 200+ kms by the time we reach Nenmara, he might require a top up. So a few charge clusters around Nenmara and the nearby town of Vadakkanchery was identified. The KSEB charging stations were shortlisted as the likelihood of them not being functional was less compared to others.



The plan went something like this:



Vimal would be starting first, joining me en route and both of us proceeding together to Vadakkanchery. Theres a KSEB charging station adjacent to a substation there.

PLUGSHARE LINK:



Vimal can put his Kona for charging there. About half a kilometre away, there was a BPCL charging station.

PLUGSHARE LINK:



I could plug in my Kona there. Theres also a Saravana Bhavan next to it. So me and Vimal couldve breakfast there while my car charges. Meanwhile, Srikanth can come to Nenmara, top up his Kona at the KSEB charging station there and have breakfast there.

PLUGSHARE LINK:



By the time hes done, me and Vimal can catch up to him. Sounded like a good plan as all 3 cars can get topped up at around the same time, but at different locations.



But in life, rarely do things go according to plan.



Judgement day!



Fast forward to 26th morning, Vimal started the journey at around 3.30 am from his place. I left home by around 6 am to meet Vimal en route. By around 6.30am, we caught up with each other.



Meeting EV fan along the way in his blue marble!





After a bio break and a quick snack, we headed out to Vadakkanchery, our first pit stop. Along the way, we decided to try out a case control study. The reason EV fan is so efficient with his Kona is predominantly his driving style. Its very disciplined and defensive. Im a bit more spirited with the pedals. So we decided to have a comparo with both of us sticking to our usual driving styles. I shot off to the Vadakkanchery KSEB charging station. The time I gained doing this stunt can potentially be used for topping up my Kona to some extent. And when Vimal comes in, I can unplug, he could plug in and both of us could go have breakfast. We went ahead with this improvised plan.



Morning drives especially while going through the winding 6 lane roads starting from Mannuthy, is just pure bliss.





Although I had to factor in some time for charging ahead of EV fan, couldnt resist myself from taking a few pics while on the road.



By around 8 am, I reached the Vadakkanchery charging station.



Distance covered from home: 86 kms

Charge left: 74%

Consumption: 7.8 km/kwh (128 wh/km)



[Out of the 86 kms, I was enthusiastic for the latter 70 kms and was not even reminding myself to be efficient. My usual is about 9.5 - 10 km/kwh (100-105 wh/km), so this drop wasnt too surprising]



However, soon hiccups started appearing one after the other.



Hiccup no.1: I pulled over to the first charging point, unlocked the port, took the charging gun and only then did I realise that the gun was different from CCS2. It wasnt even fitting the charging port of the Kona. Reversed the car and pulled it over to the next charging point.



Hiccup no.2: Ensured that the charging gun is compatible, but the machine doesnt show anything on its display. For a moment, I was wondering if it works or not. I decided to proceed and only then did I realise that theres no money in the KEMAPP - the exclusive app for KSEB chargers. KSEB chargers used to work with chargeMOD previously, but it didnt in this case. Only after topping up KEMAPP did I realise that theres no separate QR code for KEMAPP. I circled the machine a couple of times, but none could be found. Scanned the chargeMOD QR code and I could proceed further, but unfortunately forgot to select gun 2. It was set to gun 1 by default. Charging didnt start. By this time, EV fan had arrived. After playing around with the machine, figured out that we are supposed to tap on the display of the charging machine to get it to show something. On the machines display, QR code for both guns were present. I unplugged my Kona, and EV fans Kona was plugged in. Once his car started charging, we decided to revert to our original plan of going to the nearby BPCL charger and have breakfast.



Hiccup no.3: The BPCL charger was hardly 5 mins away from the KSEB one. As expected, it was inside a fuel station. Pulled over to its front and we couldnt find the app for the charger. No instructions written anywhere. On enquiring at the office desk, a guy came out telling that Hello BPCL app needs to be installed. Did the same sequence of events again - installed the app, topped it up and finally charging started. Our happiness was short-lived though, as soon the charger disconnected. The app was still showing initialising session and the requisite amount was deducted from my wallet, but the machine had other plans. Had to push the emergency stop button and do the steps again only to fail 2 more times. Each attempt required an emergency stop to disconnect the charger and refund the amount back to my wallet.



Meanwhile, Srikanth had already reached Nenmara KSEB charging station and was having some trouble setting up the charger there to top up his car. Fortunately, he was able to sort it out through a phone call with Vimal.



Now, because we didnt have much time constraints and were on a leisurely trip with more than enough charge left, we werent the least bit bothered. We were disappointed because there were a few people at the station in a Madhya Pradesh registered Harrier who were keenly interested in EVs and our charging shenanigans. Judging by the look on their faces after seeing how me, Vimal and the fuel station guy was sweating it out to make the darn charger work, I seriously doubt they will consider an EV soon. But I can see that for someone who is on a tight schedule or has a single-digit charge percentage, hiccups like these can be seriously concerning.



As we spent a considerable amount of time at the BPCL charger trying to make it work, we decided to change our plan. Vimals car was topped up till about 90%, I was still at 74%. Srikanth is currently charging his Kona. As it would take me and Vimal around 20 mins to get to the Nenmara station, we decided to proceed to Srikanths location. He could charge till we get there, after which I can top up my Kona, during which all of us can have breakfast together. And we ended up doing exactly that. My car was charged to 100% during our breakfast break. Win-win!



Cars of a feather charge together





So now that all ours and our steeds bellies were full, we decided to start our convoy to Nelliampathy.



Nenmara to Sitharkund view point in Nelliampathy is almost 35 kms. 6 kms into the journey, the uphill climb starts at around Pothundy dam. The climb itself is about 1 kms in altitude through scenic winding ghat roads.



We started our journey from Nenmara making our way across lush green fields on both sides.









Soon we reached Pothundy dam and started our uphill climb. As I had charged up till 100%, decided to give the beans and drive up in my usual manner. The plan was to get an idea about consumption figures if one chooses to not hold back on the accelerator while going uphill. And boy! It was a spectacle in itself.





As already stated, by the time I reached Nenmara, my consumption was already down to 7.8 km/kwh thanks to some enthusiastic drive through the highways. When the hill climb started, one starts to see how the consumption figures deteriorate. From 7.8 km/kwh, I was down to 6 km/kwh in no time. And from there onwards it was a steady drop to 5 km/kwh and then to 4 km/kwh. I thought it would stabilise around 4, but nope! By the time we reached the summit near Sitarkund view point, my consumption figures were at 3.7 km/kwh (270 wh/km). This 35 km stretch cost me 24% battery. Srikanth and Vimal were a bit more lighter on the throttle and they ended up with better figures than mine - 4 km/kwh and 5 km/kwh respectively if I recollect correctly. All of us were in sports mode with AC set to 24.5 degrees and ventilated seats set to fan level 2.



Off-roading a softroader



We parked our cars at a secluded spot, so that we could take a few photos.









We went to the viewpoint, spent some time there and took it all in. Had some chat about our cars and life in general. After some refreshments which were made available there, we decided to start our downhill journey. The downhill drive was quite an enlightenment. I could literally see how regen worked. I consciously avoided hitting the brakes except in emergencies. Almost the entire downhill drive was made by a controlled descent using the paddles. By the time we had finished the descent, my battery was up from 76% to 80%. And this is what my consumption looked like!



Beat that EV fan!



Along the way, we stopped at a few places taking some pics.







There was a point at the top where I had clicked a photo of my XUV500 4 years back. So couldnt help clicking another one with the Kona at the exact spot.



Soon we were back to Nenmara. ThriKona drive was drawing to a close, at least for me. I was to head back home. As it was already late evening, Vimal and Srikanth decided to drive to Coimbatore, rest there, and drive back to Bangalore the next day. I would have loved to join them, but couldnt as I had a few commitments at home. I thanked the guys for joining in for the drive and making it such a memorable one and headed back home. Decided to again not hold back on the throttle and reached back home by around 9 pm.







The entire drive lasted around 275 kms with an average consumption of 8.1 km/kwh (123 wh/km). This included proper 6 lane highways where speeds well in excess of 100 km/h were done, a 1 km climb up and down a hill station, and rough roads or sections of no roads. Ground clearance also was tested, but with some caution, we were lucky our cars never scraped anywhere. The Kona beautifully handled all these with poise. Even if I hadnt recharged in between, I wouldve completed this trip with almost 15% to spare. I came back mighty impressed and with some newly infused confidence of driving an EV for longer distances.



I believe that rather than the cars, it is the infra that requires a significant upgrade as of now. The hiccups I mentioned earlier could pour doubt into those who are not inclined towards EVs. But once you drive an EV, I seriously doubt you would be able to go back to an ICE car. In my mind, an EV is nothing but an alternate fuel powered mobility option, and its bloody good at that! ..This was a conversation that we had right about the time of delivery of my car. Ever since me, Srikanth and Vimal got to know each other, we wanted to have a small trip to bring our steeds together, take a photo and name it ThriKona. As luck would have it, the day came sooner than later as Republic Day was just around the corner. So about 2 weeks back, we decided to meet up and have a drive together.But there were some logistical nuances. I was from Ernakulam, Vimal was from Chengannoor (100 kms away from my place) and Srikanth was from Bangalore. And January 26th was the window. So the place of the meet up had to be relatively accessible for each one of us. Nelliampathy, a popular hill station at Palakkad was fixed as the spot.This spot was picked because:1. It was kind of in the middle of Me and Vimal on one side, and Srikanth on the other.2. With the legendary EV Fan a.k.a Vimal by our side, we could unwind and figure out the range drops expected while making a hill climb, without worrying too much.3. The drive itself. With winding ghat sections and imperfect tarmac, roads to Nelliampathy, especially upto the Sitharkund viewpoint would be a different experience compared to our normal urban routes.The plan was for all of us to drive down to Nenmara, which is a town that lies at the base of Nelliampathy, climb up the hill, spend some time there and get down. Srikanth and EV fan would then head out to Bangalore and I would go back home. Now if we were doing it in an ICE car, thatd be the end of the planning. Climbing up a hill in an EV, especially when there are no fast chargers at the summit was a worrying aspect. As many of you might already know, climbing up an incline is a major range-killer. EV Fan had already warned us about this. So we had to figure out a charging plan for each of us.Now technically speaking, the round trip for me would be around 268 kms which would be a breeze in the Kona as it consistently delivers about 350 kms on a single charge. But this was in the plains. Throwing in some fast highways and a 1 km incline changes the equation. Or so I thought, because during one of our discussions, EV fan mentioned that much of the energy lost going uphill can be recuperated while going downhill using regen. Ultimately it came to exactly that as detailed later.Srikanth was the one who would have to drive the most as he had to come down from Bangalore. So he decided to come to Coimbatore (370 kms from Bangalore) on the previous day, crash at his cousins place and top up the charge in his Kona to 100%. Coimbatore-Nelliyampathy round trip was around 200 kms. And then he would be heading back to Bangalore the next day. In total, he would be doing almost 1000 kms in a few days.Everyone knows Vimal as EV Fan, and for someone who eeks out unreal efficiency numbers from his Kona - 500 kms in one charge - we were least bothered about making a plan for this guy. Vimal is 100 kms away from my place. He would be driving down to meet me en route and together we would go to Nelliyampathy. From there, he would go to Bangalore with Srikanth. Thats a total distance of about 700 kms for him. After the meet up, I would be heading back home.Now to figure out the charging strategy. The problem with having a group EV drive is that all of us cant charge simultaneously at one station, especially at remote locations like these. Technically speaking, me and Srikanth (as hes starting from Coimbatore) shouldnt worry too much as we would have hardly used up around 20-25% battery by the time we reach Nenmara. Both of us being first time EV owners and that too for hardly a month, the climb up the Nelliampathy hills kinda worried us. Because Vimal would be driving 200+ kms by the time we reach Nenmara, he might require a top up. So a few charge clusters around Nenmara and the nearby town of Vadakkanchery was identified. The KSEB charging stations were shortlisted as the likelihood of them not being functional was less compared to others.The plan went something like this:Vimal would be starting first, joining me en route and both of us proceeding together to Vadakkanchery. Theres a KSEB charging station adjacent to a substation there.PLUGSHARE LINK: https://www.plugshare.com/location/461981 Vimal can put his Kona for charging there. About half a kilometre away, there was a BPCL charging station.PLUGSHARE LINK: https://www.plugshare.com/location/517425 I could plug in my Kona there. Theres also a Saravana Bhavan next to it. So me and Vimal couldve breakfast there while my car charges. Meanwhile, Srikanth can come to Nenmara, top up his Kona at the KSEB charging station there and have breakfast there.PLUGSHARE LINK: https://www.plugshare.com/location/455299 By the time hes done, me and Vimal can catch up to him. Sounded like a good plan as all 3 cars can get topped up at around the same time, but at different locations.But in life, rarely do things go according to plan.Fast forward to 26th morning, Vimal started the journey at around 3.30 am from his place. I left home by around 6 am to meet Vimal en route. By around 6.30am, we caught up with each other.After a bio break and a quick snack, we headed out to Vadakkanchery, our first pit stop. Along the way, we decided to try out a case control study. The reason EV fan is so efficient with his Kona is predominantly his driving style. Its very disciplined and defensive. Im a bit more spirited with the pedals. So we decided to have a comparo with both of us sticking to our usual driving styles. I shot off to the Vadakkanchery KSEB charging station. The time I gained doing this stunt can potentially be used for topping up my Kona to some extent. And when Vimal comes in, I can unplug, he could plug in and both of us could go have breakfast. We went ahead with this improvised plan.By around 8 am, I reached the Vadakkanchery charging station.Distance covered from home: 86 kmsCharge left: 74%Consumption: 7.8 km/kwh (128 wh/km)[Out of the 86 kms, I was enthusiastic for the latter 70 kms and was not even reminding myself to be efficient. My usual is about 9.5 - 10 km/kwh (100-105 wh/km), so this drop wasnt too surprising]However, soon hiccups started appearing one after the other.I pulled over to the first charging point, unlocked the port, took the charging gun and only then did I realise that the gun was different from CCS2. It wasnt even fitting the charging port of the Kona. Reversed the car and pulled it over to the next charging point.Ensured that the charging gun is compatible, but the machine doesnt show anything on its display. For a moment, I was wondering if it works or not. I decided to proceed and only then did I realise that theres no money in the KEMAPP - the exclusive app for KSEB chargers. KSEB chargers used to work with chargeMOD previously, but it didnt in this case. Only after topping up KEMAPP did I realise that theres no separate QR code for KEMAPP. I circled the machine a couple of times, but none could be found. Scanned the chargeMOD QR code and I could proceed further, but unfortunately forgot to select gun 2. It was set to gun 1 by default. Charging didnt start. By this time, EV fan had arrived. After playing around with the machine, figured out that we are supposed to tap on the display of the charging machine to get it to show something. On the machines display, QR code for both guns were present. I unplugged my Kona, and EV fans Kona was plugged in. Once his car started charging, we decided to revert to our original plan of going to the nearby BPCL charger and have breakfast.The BPCL charger was hardly 5 mins away from the KSEB one. As expected, it was inside a fuel station. Pulled over to its front and we couldnt find the app for the charger. No instructions written anywhere. On enquiring at the office desk, a guy came out telling that Hello BPCL app needs to be installed. Did the same sequence of events again - installed the app, topped it up and finally charging started. Our happiness was short-lived though, as soon the charger disconnected. The app was still showing initialising session and the requisite amount was deducted from my wallet, but the machine had other plans. Had to push the emergency stop button and do the steps again only to fail 2 more times. Each attempt required an emergency stop to disconnect the charger and refund the amount back to my wallet.Meanwhile, Srikanth had already reached Nenmara KSEB charging station and was having some trouble setting up the charger there to top up his car. Fortunately, he was able to sort it out through a phone call with Vimal.Now, because we didnt have much time constraints and were on a leisurely trip with more than enough charge left, we werent the least bit bothered. We were disappointed because there were a few people at the station in a Madhya Pradesh registered Harrier who were keenly interested in EVs and our charging shenanigans. Judging by the look on their faces after seeing how me, Vimal and the fuel station guy was sweating it out to make the darn charger work, I seriously doubt they will consider an EV soon. But I can see that for someone who is on a tight schedule or has a single-digit charge percentage, hiccups like these can be seriously concerning.As we spent a considerable amount of time at the BPCL charger trying to make it work, we decided to change our plan. Vimals car was topped up till about 90%, I was still at 74%. Srikanth is currently charging his Kona. As it would take me and Vimal around 20 mins to get to the Nenmara station, we decided to proceed to Srikanths location. He could charge till we get there, after which I can top up my Kona, during which all of us can have breakfast together. And we ended up doing exactly that. My car was charged to 100% during our breakfast break. Win-win!So now that all ours and our steeds bellies were full, we decided to start our convoy to Nelliampathy.Nenmara to Sitharkund view point in Nelliampathy is almost 35 kms. 6 kms into the journey, the uphill climb starts at around Pothundy dam. The climb itself is about 1 kms in altitude through scenic winding ghat roads.We started our journey from Nenmara making our way across lush green fields on both sides.Soon we reached Pothundy dam and started our uphill climb. As I had charged up till 100%, decided to give the beans and drive up in my usual manner. The plan was to get an idea about consumption figures if one chooses to not hold back on the accelerator while going uphill. And boy! It was a spectacle in itself.As already stated, by the time I reached Nenmara, my consumption was already down to 7.8 km/kwh thanks to some enthusiastic drive through the highways. When the hill climb started, one starts to see how the consumption figures deteriorate. From 7.8 km/kwh, I was down to 6 km/kwh in no time. And from there onwards it was a steady drop to 5 km/kwh and then to 4 km/kwh. I thought it would stabilise around 4, but nope! By the time we reached the summit near Sitarkund view point, my consumption figures were at 3.7 km/kwh (270 wh/km). This 35 km stretch cost me 24% battery. Srikanth and Vimal were a bit more lighter on the throttle and they ended up with better figures than mine - 4 km/kwh and 5 km/kwh respectively if I recollect correctly. All of us were in sports mode with AC set to 24.5 degrees and ventilated seats set to fan level 2.We parked our cars at a secluded spot, so that we could take a few photos.We went to the viewpoint, spent some time there and took it all in. Had some chat about our cars and life in general. After some refreshments which were made available there, we decided to start our downhill journey. The downhill drive was quite an enlightenment. I could literally see how regen worked. I consciously avoided hitting the brakes except in emergencies. Almost the entire downhill drive was made by a controlled descent using the paddles. By the time we had finished the descent, my battery was up from 76% to 80%. And this is what my consumption looked like!Along the way, we stopped at a few places taking some pics.Soon we were back to Nenmara. ThriKona drive was drawing to a close, at least for me. I was to head back home. As it was already late evening, Vimal and Srikanth decided to drive to Coimbatore, rest there, and drive back to Bangalore the next day. I would have loved to join them, but couldnt as I had a few commitments at home. I thanked the guys for joining in for the drive and making it such a memorable one and headed back home. Decided to again not hold back on the throttle and reached back home by around 9 pm.The entire drive lasted around 275 kms with an average consumption of 8.1 km/kwh (123 wh/km). This included proper 6 lane highways where speeds well in excess of 100 km/h were done, a 1 km climb up and down a hill station, and rough roads or sections of no roads. Ground clearance also was tested, but with some caution, we were lucky our cars never scraped anywhere. The Kona beautifully handled all these with poise. Even if I hadnt recharged in between, I wouldve completed this trip with almost 15% to spare. I came back mighty impressed and with some newly infused confidence of driving an EV for longer distances.I believe that rather than the cars, it is the infra that requires a significant upgrade as of now. The hiccups I mentioned earlier could pour doubt into those who are not inclined towards EVs. But once you drive an EV, I seriously doubt you would be able to go back to an ICE car. In my mind, an EV is nothing but an alternate fuel powered mobility option, and its bloody good at that! Last edited by GKR9900 : 29th January 2024 at 18:06 .
SixPistons BHPian



Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: New Delhi Posts: 149 Thanked: 438 Times

Re: Insider's account: Upselling techniques of banks & financial institutions



While up selling calls like Credit Card based on the account with bank or loan based on account/credit card are common. Today my HDFC Bank RM tried to up sell me another lopsided scheme, which I didn't even ask about in the first place.



Here goes: I came across Sweep-In Facility, which seems like a good convenience on the surface. Now, I thought it to be a good idea to speak with my RM to better understand the product. Any amount over a pre-designated base limit gets converted into a Fixed Deposit, gives higher returns than saving accounts and is withdraw-able seamlessly. Naturally I thought there should be a catch to this, so I called up my RM. I proceeded to ask about the ins-and-outs of the Sweep-In Facility. Little bit of small talk and she(prefer not to name names here) proceeded to ask about whether I would be interested in a longer term horizon to which responded in the negative, I would only like to know about the FD Sweep-In.



Broadly speaking, little bit of mumbo-jumbo later she proceeded to tell me how an FD only gets you 7% and this other options gives a 40% return on the capital. No Bank Scheme can give 40% PA so I repeatedly asked about the time horizon and to which she responded with 1 year. I asked her which product it is on the HDFC website. She told me it is there and the returns are confirmed 40% PA. She mentioned tax-saving once or twice so I assumed she was nudging me into a 5-year tax saving FD. That was not it and she repeated a 40% return PA. At this point I am furious and I asked her what scheme it is. After asking a number of times she finally told me this is a 30 year plan. This smelled like a Money-Back/Guaranteed Income/Similar Plans. I called her BS and told her it isn't a return on the capital if the capital is not going to be returned. She was about to explain more on this product but I was not interested in this product anymore and gave her an earful about how she was coercing me into another scheme instead of answering my questions about the Sweep-In Facility I wanted to know about in the first place. She told me it is her job to inform me about these schemes and couldn't answer why she didn't tell me about my actual question in the first place.



I asked again: If she basically has any idea of the terms of the Sweep-In facility and she told me I can check the details open the FD and get sweep-in. I asked a few more questions on how the interests work, especially since this is not a classic FD and I may withdraw from it during the tenure how would return be computed and if there is anything else I must know about the scheme that is not mentioned. Soon after, she just told me she had an emergency meeting that she needs to go to and will call me back. I don't see the point of that call anymore, though.



It is disappointing that a bank such as HDFC would try to up sell stuff like this through RMs, even if you call them for specific advice related to a specific service. Unfortunately, the RMs are the recipient of customer's irritation on being forcefully up sold schemes.



If RMs are going to become tele-marketers, we should only refer to the fine-print of a financial instrument rather than having RMs for queries in the first place.



Quote: streetfighter Originally Posted by There are lot of good articles online and Youtube channels for starting the financial investments journey. After watching a few, one would get a basic idea of what to do what not. Excellent thread and provides good insight of the reality !



Quote: hothatchaway Originally Posted by The salesman will say anything to further his own interests, if the written word says otherwise, seek out the ombudsman. Details should be available online.



The only way to financial independence is by being financially literate. Quote: DigitalOne Originally Posted by Whatever the agent says, ask him to provide the same in an email from his official mail id. Also in my case once going to a insurance company branch helped. Just go and ask for a account closing/redemption forms. Quote: 14000rpm Originally Posted by Guess the 'Selling' process is becoming increasingly Ruthless as buyers become more educated. Absolutely!! Just had the most disappointing of such calls today with my RM from HDFC Bank.While up selling calls like Credit Card based on the account with bank or loan based on account/credit card are common. Today my HDFC Bank RM tried to up sell me another lopsided scheme, which I didn't even ask about in the first place.Here goes: I came across Sweep-In Facility, which seems like a good convenience on the surface. Now, I thought it to be a good idea to speak with my RM to better understand the product. Any amount over a pre-designated base limit gets converted into a Fixed Deposit, gives higher returns than saving accounts and is withdraw-able seamlessly. Naturally I thought there should be a catch to this, so I called up my RM. I proceeded to ask about the ins-and-outs of the Sweep-In Facility. Little bit of small talk and she(prefer not to name names here) proceeded to ask about whether I would be interested in a longer term horizon to which responded in the negative, I would only like to know about the FD Sweep-In.Broadly speaking, little bit of mumbo-jumbo later she proceeded to tell me how an FD only gets you 7% and this other options gives a 40% return on the capital. No Bank Scheme can give 40% PA so I repeatedly asked about the time horizon and to which she responded with 1 year. I asked her which product it is on the HDFC website. She told me it is there and the returns are confirmed 40% PA. She mentioned tax-saving once or twice so I assumed she was nudging me into a 5-year tax saving FD. That was not it and she repeated a 40% return PA. At this point I am furious and I asked her what scheme it is. After asking a number of times she finally told me this is a 30 year plan. This smelled like a Money-Back/Guaranteed Income/Similar Plans. I called her BS and told her it isn't a return on the capital if the capital is not going to be returned. She was about to explain more on this product but I was not interested in this product anymore and gave her an earful about how she was coercing me into another scheme instead of answering my questions about the Sweep-In Facility I wanted to know about in the first place. She told me it is her job to inform me about these schemes and couldn't answer why she didn't tell me about my actual question in the first place.I asked again: If she basically has any idea of the terms of the Sweep-In facility and she told me I can check the details open the FD and get sweep-in. I asked a few more questions on how the interests work, especially since this is not a classic FD and I may withdraw from it during the tenure how would return be computed and if there is anything else I must know about the scheme that is not mentioned. Soon after, she just told me she had an emergency meeting that she needs to go to and will call me back. I don't see the point of that call anymore, though.It is disappointing that a bank such as HDFC would try to up sell stuff like this through RMs, even if you call them for specific advice related to a specific service. Unfortunately, the RMs are the recipient of customer's irritation on being forcefully up sold schemes.If RMs are going to become tele-marketers, we should only refer to the fine-print of a financial instrument rather than having RMs for queries in the first place.This is the most deceitful experience I have come across recently. Last edited by BlackPearl : 29th January 2024 at 20:30 . Reason: Trimmed the quoted post for better readability. Thanks.
AT&T wireless customers will see the brand name and logo of participating businesses on verified incoming calls without the need for an app.

AT&T wireless customers will see the brand name and logo of participating businesses on verified incoming calls without the need for an app.

In an effort to protect companies from phone call spoofing, AT&T and TransUnion announced a program Tuesday to allow businesses to tag outgoing calls so a brand name and logo will appear on the wireless phone of the person who receives the call.

The calls are verified with STIR/SHAKEN, a framework of interconnected standards used to confirm a number hasnt been illegally spoofed.

According to AT&T, if a business is participating in the program, the telecoms wireless customers will be able to easily recognize and have more confidence in the identity of the caller, which helps those customers decide more accurately which calls they want to answer.

Were obsessed with giving our customers secure and trusted calls, so were excited to work with TransUnion for a richer, more helpful visual experience, AT&T Senior Vice President of Mass Markets Product Management Erin Scarborough said in a statement.

And since we use STIR/SHAKEN verification, she continued, our customers will be able to connect with greater confidence to the brands they may want or need to connect with.

Restoring Trust in Phone Calls

On its website, the FCC explained that STIR/SHAKEN are acronyms for the Secure Telephone Identity Revisited (STIR) and Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using toKENs (SHAKEN) standards. That means that calls traveling through interconnected phone networks can have their caller ID signed as legitimate by originating carriers and validated by other carriers before reaching consumers.

STIR/SHAKEN digitally validates the handoff of phone calls passing through the complex web of networks, allowing the phone company of the consumer receiving the call to verify that a call is from the number displayed on the caller ID.

Businesses that participate in the anti-spoofing program will have their logos displayed on consumers phones using TruContact Branded Call Display technology developed by Neustar.

The delivery of Branded Call Display logos represents the culmination of years of collaboration between AT&T and Neustar, now part of TransUnion, TransUnion Senior Vice President and General Manager for TruContact Communications Solutions James Garvert said in a statement.

We have delivered caller ID for landlines, evolved to the first generation of branded calling, and now weve set the stage for Branded Calls Display logos, he continued. This is helping restore trust in the phone to protect enterprises and consumers alike.

Great TransUnion Acquisition

This is a great integration of TransUnions billion-dollar buy of Neustar in 2021, added Liz Miller, vice president and a principal analyst with Constellation Research, a technology research and advisory firm in Cupertino, Calif.

This is exactly where Neustar played  at the intersection of security and brand security, looking to turn brand security into a conversation point, she told TechNewsWorld.

Brands are looking at the silent damage a shaky security posture can have on their value proposition and brand trust, she said. So expect to see more services and solutions like this, as the Neustar thought leadership and capabilities are more fully turned into TransUnion product offerings.

Jack E. Gold, founder and principal analyst with J.Gold Associates, an IT advisory company in Northborough, Mass., pointed out that the program will be limited to companies that want to be identified with it.

The reason they want to be identified is because maybe then people will actually pick up the phone when they call, he told TechNewsWorld. If I get a call with a caller ID I dont know, I dont even pick it up anymore. Its gotten that bad.

Wily Adversaries

The problem of call spoofing has a long history, noted Jeff Kagan, a technology analyst based in Marietta, Ga. We have seen this problem for decades with various technologies and to various degrees, he told TechNewsWorld.

It really went into high gear with new technologies like wireless and VoIP  Voice Over Internet Protocol, he said. When someone can use any phone number they want on VoIP or wireless, they can trick anyone.

New technology can do amazing things, but it can also do bad things as well, he added.

Those bad things were why the FCC announced STIR/SHAKEN in March 2020, but adoption of the technology has been slow. STIR/SHAKEN requires upgrading phone systems, Gold explained. Theres a lot of legacy equipment still around, and thats especially true outside the U.S., where the FCC cant regulate the equipment.

Its not something you can just upgrade overnight, he added.

In addition, regulators and carriers are dealing with a wily adversary. Bad actors are a lot better at this than anyone ever gives them credit for, Miller maintained.

They are exceptionally good at leveraging technology to do everything from setting up fake numbers faster than they can be taken down, impersonating people, using fake numbers, faking local numbers, and hopping into gaps in security measures globally, she continued.

For every good thing like STIR/SHAKEN technology, these fraudsters can make 10 more bad ones, she said.

Mexican Prison Telephone Scam

Nevertheless, U.S. initiatives to battle call spoofing are outpacing the rest of the world. The efforts being made by the FCC and American carriers in this area are light years ahead of what we are seeing in the rest of the world, declared John Strand of Strand Consult, a consulting firm in Denmark with a focus on telecom.

I work globally, and I must say that the responsibility shown by the FCC and the American carriers  with few exceptions  is unique, he told TechNewsWorld. In most countries around the world, operators do nothing. We are talking about absolutely nothing.

Spoofing is a much bigger problem than people realize, a problem that costs serious companies a lot of money, he said. It makes their communication with their customers more expensive and complex. Spoof calls are email spam on steroids.

In todays world, every user, whether business or consumer, must suspect every contact, Kagan added. Always assume its a crook trying to break in.

A retired member of his family, he recalled, received a call from their grandson saying they were being held in a Mexican jail and needed cash to get out. They transferred thousands of dollars to the caller, only to find out later that their grandson had been safe at home the whole while.

There may be times when some of these calls are legit, Kagan said, but its not worth trusting and getting burned.
Rumor mill: Apple has remained on the sidelines so far as AI-driven features gain weight in the premium phone market, with other tech giants unveiling at least some form of GenAI services. While the Cupertino giant plans to cautiously embrace AI, it risks falling behind throughout 2024 with no major design changes on its upcoming phones, potentially leading to a decline in iPhone shipments.

Sources have told analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that Apple has lowered its 2024 iPhone shipment projections, predicting a notable decline compared to last year. The company might see the biggest drop of all the major phone players, at least partially due to a lack of AI functionality.

iPhone 15 shipments are expected to be down 10 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the iPhone 14 during the same period last year. The upcoming iPhone 16 may see an even steeper decline of 15 percent in the latter half of the year compared to the iPhone 15 in the second half of 2023.

Conversely, Samsung has adjusted its shipment forecasts for the Galaxy S24 series upward by 5-10 percent for this year, betting on generative AI features as a key differentiator. The latest devices from Samsung and Google incorporate a variety of AI-based functions to improve searches, text generation, translation, and image manipulation.

However, Apple may not release an iPhone with comparable features until at least 2025. The iPhone 16 is slated to introduce minimal design changes compared to the recently leaked Google Pixel 9, but 2024 could mark the company's initial foray into generative AI.

Apple is adopting a cautious strategy with AI to sidestep the issues of hallucinations and ethics encountered by large language models used by Microsoft, Google, OpenAI, and others. Recent reports have suggested that Apple will unveil an upgraded version of Siri with iOS 18. Based on the company's proprietary LLM, it is expected to debut at WWDC in June before a public release in September.

The forthcoming iOS update could be among the most transformative in the iPhone's history, yet Siri might be the sole feature to benefit from AI enhancements. While Apple is exploring the use of an LLM for other applications like Pages, Keynote, and software development, substantial developments in these areas are unlikely to materialize until after 2024.
What just happened? Elon Musk faces losing his title of richest person in the world after a Delaware judge found in favor of investors who said his $56 billion Tesla compensation package was excessive. Assuming the decision isn't overturned in any potential appeal, Tesla will have to offer Musk a new deal and his $205 billion net worth could take a massive hit.

It was five years ago when Tesla shareholder Richard Tornetta filed a lawsuit after the EV giant granted Musk the largest executive compensation package in history. Tornetta accused Tesla of breaching its fiduciary duty by unjustly enriching its CEO, the board of acting without independence, and Musk of dictating negotiations.

Tesla's directors argued that the size of the compensation package was necessary to ensure Musk dedicated his attention to Tesla. Former director Antonio Gracias called the package "a great deal for shareholders" as it led to Tesla's success.

Judge Kathaleen St J McCormick said the defense was unable to prove that the plan was essential for Musk's dedicated attention to Tesla. "Swept up by the rhetoric of 'all upside,' or perhaps starry-eyed by Musk's superstar appeal, the board never asked the $55.8 billion question: Was the plan even necessary for Tesla to retain Musk and achieve its goals?" the Judge wrote in her decision.

Should Tesla change its state of incorporation to Texas, home of its physical headquarters?  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 31, 2024

Tornetta's lawyers also argued that Tesla's board never told shareholders that Musk's targets in his compensation plan were easier to achieve than the company acknowledged, and that internal projections showed he was quickly going to quality for large portions of the pay package, writes The Guardian.

The Judge wrote that Musk wielded the maximum influence at Tesla a manager can have over a company. There was also the board of directors that consisted of several people who were close to Musk, including his brother, a friend who vacationed with him, and people who made a lot of money from investing in his companies. Musk himself was also on the board.

Why would one already rich person need so much money? Musk said in November that his Tesla compensation would be used to finance interplanetary travel. "It's a way to get humanity to Mars," he said. "So Tesla can assist in potentially achieving that."

I should note that the Tesla board is great. The reason for no new "compensation plan" is that we are still waiting for a decision in my Delaware compensation case. The trial for that was held in 2022, but a verdict has yet to be made.



I put "compensation plan" in quotes,  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 15, 2024

Musk gave Tesla an ultimatum earlier this month: increase his ownership in the company to 25% or he will cut back on its development of AI and robotics. He said the reason why he had not been awarded a new compensation plan was due to a judgment not being reached in the Tornetta case.

Assuming the ruling isn't overturned, Musk's fortune will drop to around $154.3 billion, making him the third-richest person in the world. It's still unclear if Musk will appeal or the Tesla board will offer a new pay package.

Should Tesla change its state of incorporation to Texas, home of its physical headquarters?  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 31, 2024

Following the ruling, Musk wrote on Twitter/X: "Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware." He also posted a poll asking if Tesla should change its state of incorporation to Texas, home of its physical headquarters.
What just happened? Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has strongly criticized the recent changes to Apple's App Store policies in Europe and accused the company of descending to a "new low." The streaming giant described Apple's new charges as "extortion," and said that it would punish developers for trying to grow their business. The criticism comes days after the tech giant announced a number of changes to its App Store policies in Europe to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA).

In a strongly-worded X thread, Ek described Apple's response to the DMA as a "masterclass in distortion," and accused the iPhone-maker of "twisting the situation" to pad its own bottom-line, rather than complying with the new regulation in letter and spirit. He also claimed that Apple's new policies could lead to inordinately high fees for developers, and even free apps with minimal revenues could face massive charges if they have a large number of users in the EU.

Ek also said that the charges could even spell trouble for well-monetized apps like Spotify. According to him, the Swedish music streaming service has around 100 million EU users on Apple devices, which could make Apple's new charges "untenable" for the company in the long run. Ek believes that the new charges could potentially increase Spotify's customer acquisition costs tenfold, as it will have to pay Apple for every app install and update, even for people who no longer use the service.

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

Ek's allegations come just days after Apple announced a host of changes to its App Store policies, ostensibly to comply with the DMA in the EU. As part of the changes, Apple introduced a controversial 'core technology fee' of 0.50 annually for each app install over the 1 million threshold, irrespective of whether it is being distributed through the App Store or a third-party marketplace. In addition, developers will also have to pay a 3 percent payment processing fee for using Apple's in-app payments service.

Apple's new policies have come in for criticism from various quarters, with many developers expressing concerns about how they might affect their bottom-line. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney also lambasted the new App Store policies, calling them "malicious compliance." He also derided the new "junk fees" that could hurt developers, big and small.

While the DMA was designed to prevent large tech companies from abusing their market power, Apple's new policies will seemingly do just the opposite. The new system has clearly been designed to prevent developers from using alternative app stores to distribute their apps, thereby helping Apple maintain the App Store's monopoly. It remains to be seen if the changes will get the EU's approval, or if it will force Apple to truly comply with the DMA's provisions and open up iOS to third-party app distributors without imposing a massive Apple tax.
In brief: It's not just rogue AI that we have to worry about destroying society. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warns there's a risk that the world order could break down as a result of nation-state hackers. His suggested solution is a Geneva Convention for cybersecurity.

Nadella recently spoke to journalist and NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt about several topics, including AI, the 2024 election, and Microsoft's recent admission that Russian group Cozy Bear accessed its corporate network for a month last year.

Holt asked Nadella about the "alarm bells" that went off at Microsoft HQ and Capitol Hill, given the government's reliance on the company, when the hacking incident was uncovered.

"When you have an adversary who is a nation-state or a country that, you know, has institutional sort of strength, organizations that are both well-resourced and are relentless in attacking  I'm glad that we have the capability we have to even detect what they're doing on the cyber side," Nadella said.

Nadella said hacking incidents such as these aren't just about private companies figuring out how to address them. When nation states are involved, it "raises this to a different level of dialogue."

The Microsoft boss called for the US, Russia, and China to come together to form a type of cyber Geneva Convention. Without this, the launching of cyberattacks by two nation-states against each other, especially against civilian targets, could lead to an unprecedented breakdown in world order, Nadella warned.

The 1949 Geneva Conventions form the core of international humanitarian law, which regulates the conduct of armed conflict and seeks to limit its effects. They protect people not taking part in hostilities and those who are no longer doing so. The Geneva Conventions are signed by 196 states.

Microsoft talked about the need for a digital Geneva Convention to protect the public from nation-state threats back in 2017. The Redmond firm wrote that the technology sector and civil society groups can pave the way for a legally binding agreement that will ensure a stable and secure cyberspace.

Cozy Bear (aka Midnight Blizzard) infiltrated Microsoft in November 2023 via a password spray attack to compromise a legacy, non-production test account. Microsoft said a "very small" percentage of corporate accounts were compromised, with members of the company's senior leadership team, employees in cybersecurity, legal, and other departments affected.

Soon after Microsoft disclosed the attack, HPE said it was also attacked by Cozy Bear last year.
AT&T is elevating caller ID functionality by introducing a Branded Call Display aimed at providing users with a visual cue to distinguish between legitimate calls and potential scams. This innovative feature incorporates company logos, adding an extra layer of verification to the Stir/Shaken protocol, a proven technology US carriers employ to combat robocalls.

Some companies have rolled out advanced security measures to end spam calls. However, all their efforts were inefficient since scammers still succeeded in deceiving their victims.

What A&T is doing right now could be the most game-changing functionality to stop these from happening.

Putting an End to Robocalls

US carriers have long relied on the Stir/Shaken protocol to counteract the menace of robocalls. This authentication system utilizes digital signatures to validate the authenticity of calls from legitimate businesses.

According to CNET, AT&T is taking this a step further by collaborating with credit reporting agency TransUnion to implement Branded Call Display, ensuring an additional level of verification.

Related Article: [UPDATE] Deepfake Biden Robocall Linked to Silicon Valley's Top Voice-Cloning Startup ElevenLabs

Branded Call Display in Action

Branded Call Display leverages logos from participating companies, indicating to AT&T customers that they are receiving a call from a bona fide business entity.

To thwart potential spoofing attempts, calls must undergo prior verification using the Stir/Shaken protocol. This feature seamlessly operates on both iPhone and Android devices, requiring no additional action from users.

"Our customers will be able to connect with greater confidence to the brands they may want or need to connect with," AT&T's senior vice president of mass markets product management, Erin Scarborough, said in a press release, The Verge reports.

No Effort is Required for Enhanced Security

AT&T customers are the first to experience the benefits of Branded Call Display. Developed by TruContact, a leading caller identification solutions company, this technology promises seamless integration into users' everyday communication.

While currently exclusive to AT&T, other major service providers may adopt this technology in the future, contingent upon their decision to incorporate it into their systems.

Subscription with TransUnion for Logo Visibility

For companies aspiring to enhance their visibility through Branded Call Display, the onus lies in subscribing with TransUnion. By subscribing, businesses can ensure that their logos appear on potential customers' phones, offering an additional layer of trust and authenticity.

A Continuing Battle Against Robocalls

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been at the forefront of the battle against robocalls, mandating the implementation of the Stir/Shaken protocol across networks, including major and smaller service providers.

Despite ongoing efforts, scam calls persist, making Branded Call Display a valuable tool for users to make informed decisions about answering calls.

In case you suspect a voice call is a robocall, avoid responding to the number. You also need to refrain from giving straight answers during the call. Additionally, remove all your saved data so scammers won't get anything from you. Do this by using a data removal service.

Read Also: AST SpaceMobile Gets $206M from Google, AT&T for Satellite-to-Phone Service

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The technological race to seamlessly integrate smartphone capabilities into the human brain took a groundbreaking turn as Neuralink successfully implanted a chip into its first human brain.

In response to this transformative milestone, China swiftly announced its ambitious plans to develop a "brain-computer interface," setting a timeline that anticipates product launches as early as 2025.

China's Version of Neuralink

Neuralink has been a hot word in the eyes of activists who campaigned that animals should not be used as experiment dummies. Protesters previously urged Elon Musk to stop Neuralink testing on monkeys as there are safer ways to do it.

While many people believed that brain implants would not be allowed, the FDA gave Neuralink a green light to initiate testing among humans last year.

Recently, China identified the "brain-computer interface" as one of its "innovative iconic products," as outlined in a translated press release. The nation envisions making substantial breakthroughs in key technologies such as brain-computer fusion, brain-like chips, and brain-computing neural models. This strategic move positions the country as a formidable contender in such an area, and this might mean that it will be a hurdle for Neuralink's success.

Related Article: Elon Musk to Bring Tesla, Neuralink, and X's Data for xAI-To Understand the Universe?

Anticipating the Decade's Greatest Tech Competition

The recent developments by Neuralink and China set the stage for a potential international technology battle that could define the next decade. The quest to seamlessly integrate smartphones into the human brain signals an unimaginable thing that we only see in sci-fi movies. This is where technology becomes an integral part of human cognition and daily life.

The Dystopian Vision of Brain-Integrated Smartphones

Envisioning a future where smartphones reside within the human brain raises profound questions about the intersection of technology and humanity. The prospect of scrolling through platforms like TikTok without moving a muscle challenges conventional notions of human-computer interaction, creating a dystopian reality that both China and Elon Musk have been actively pursuing, according to Gizmodo.

China's Strategic Focus on Brain-Interface Products

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology expresses its intent to develop user-friendly brain-interface products with potential applications in driverless driving, virtual reality, and medical rehabilitation. The incorporation of "brain-inspired intelligence" or generative AI emerges as a key element that could seamlessly integrate with these evolving technologies.

Advancements in Chinese Brain-Machine Interface Research

Highlighting its commitment to advancements in brain-machine interfaces, China established a 60-person laboratory focused on this technology. The lab aims to translate research into practical applications, positioning itself as a formidable competitor to Neuralink.

Researchers in China have also pioneered a computer device connecting to the brain via the inner ear, providing full-bandwidth data streaming without chip implants.

Musk's Vision for Empowering Individuals with Disabilities

While Neuralink's recent achievement of implanting a chip into a human brain marks a significant leap forward, the technology remains in its early stages. Elon Musk's vision emphasizes the potential of brain-computer interfaces in assisting individuals with disabilities.

Neuralink's call for participants with paralysis, deafness, or vision loss could mean the company is exploring the transformative possibilities of brain chip implants.

The pursuit of brain-computer interfaces signifies a comprehensive quest by tech companies to access the data center within the human brain. Over the past two decades, social media algorithms and internet tracking mechanisms have gradually unraveled the intricacies of human motivations and preferences.

The race for brain technology intensifies as companies aim to decipher the complexities of human cognition.

To some, allowing brain implants is considered unethical not only to humans but also to animals. However, some people believe it should be done to treat neurological disorders and even improve human thinking skills. Either way, there are always two sides to a story we should always hear, especially for an unfinished business like Neuralink.

Read Also: Elon Musk's Neuralink Starts BCI Implant Enrollment: People with Quadriplegia Qualified

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This photo taken on Jan. 23, 2024 shows an apartment complex under construction in Borrowdale, a suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe. (Photo by Tafara Mugwara/Xinhua)

by Tafara Mugwara

HARARE, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- As the population in Zimbabwe's capital Harare grows, the city strives to meet the soaring housing demand.

With a population of over 2.4 million, about 16 percent of Zimbabwe's population, the Harare metropolitan area is sprawling outwards, of which authorities say that the growth model is not sustainable since land is a finite resource.

Urban land is a key economic resource and an important investment asset given Zimbabwe's decade-long currency volatility and lack of alternative investment options.

Housing in the capital is dominated by single-family one-storey houses, but the city has not been able to keep up with rapid urbanization, and demand for land keeps soaring.

The demand has resulted in burgeoning informal settlements in and around Harare, some in unsuitable areas such as river banks and wetlands. It has also created land barons who illegally parcel out land to home-seekers.

This has necessitated the need to build multi-story public housing and cluster housing units to alleviate the shortage.

Compact living is becoming more popular today, contrary to earlier times when there was a preference for larger land areas, according to Ken Sharpe, CEO of West Properties, a Harare-based property development company, which is constructing a thousand multi-story apartments in Harare's upmarket Borrowdale suburb.

"For a long time in the past, we have not densified the city, so the time has come to build up," Sharpe told Xinhua.

Younger home-seekers now prefer modern facilities including security, convenience and home automation, he noted. "we have a young population - almost 70 percent of Zimbabwe is youth under 30 - and these young people want to see modern features, modern designs," he added.

The government is encouraging people to build upwards, land use should be optimized, and agricultural land should be preserved, said Daniel Garwe, Zimbabwe's Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities.

"We are vertically building better," Garwe told Xinhua, "We are promoting densification in terms of the construction of clusters in the low-density areas throughout the country."

City of Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said the urban sprawl of single-family households no longer matches modern trends and family sizes.

"We live in a short city which must go vertical," Mafume, told Xinhua. "We have to densify because the population in Zimbabwe and in Harare has increased."

While densification through building cluster houses is gaining traction in Harare, some property owners in colonial suburbs with bigger land pieces have resisted the move, saying it alters the original characteristics of neighborhoods.

Real Estate expert Renounce Regards Chokuda said while densification is a positive development, it is crucial to strike a balance between densification and preserving the quality of life in neighbourhoods.

"It is essential to approach these projects with careful planning and design to ensure they are environmentally friendly, visually appealing, and cater to the needs of the local population," Chokuda told Xinhua.

Economist Prosper Chitambara said the government can play a major role in the provision of affordable housing. "The major challenge is the lack of access to affordable finance, or mortgage financing, that's a major challenge, and the government can now play a role in terms of ensuring that financing is met," Chitambara told Xinhua.

The government has set a target to deliver 220,000 housing units by 2025 cooperating with the private sector. 
More than 104 million Americans, including 70% of office workers, are spending multiple hours a day in front of screens, resulting in an annual cost of $73 billion due to symptoms associated with "excessive screen time," according to a report from the Deloitte Economics Institute and the American Optometric Association (AOA).



The recent study delved into the direct financial costs incurred by health systems, the impact on work productivity, and the perceived effects on individuals' well-being, CNBC reported. Extended screen exposure, or over seven hours of screen time per day, increases the risk of digital eye strain (DES), manifesting as blurred vision, headaches, neck and back pain, and dry eyes.

(Photo : Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Deutsche Telekom)A general view as volunteers gathered at UCL to mark the launch of a brand new mobile phone game, Sea Hero Quest, and become a part of scientific history on May 3, 2016 in London, England.

Regular Eye Examination Urged

The report underscores that limiting screen time to two hours a day can induce these symptoms, affecting productivity, aggravating other eye conditions, and impacting sleep and mental health. Experts suggest mitigation measures that include routine eye doctor visits, eye drops, and appropriate glasses, potentially saving individuals up to $1,920 annually.

AOA President Ronald Benner stresses the need for individuals to reduce screen time usage and regular "in-person comprehensive eye exams with an AOA doctor of optometry" to improve their general health.

Read Also: Why Cursive Handwriting May Hold the Key to Smarter Kids

Furthermore, Dr. Dimitri A. Christakis, a pediatrician at Seattle Children's Hospital and a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, recommends that people set their screen time limitations. Dr. Yalda T. Uhls, a UCLA assistant adjunct professor, advises individuals to concentrate on media's benefits rather than screen time limitations, per Health.

Understanding the pros and cons of extended screen usage is crucial for individuals who need clear standards. Making informed decisions requires self-reflection to evaluate whether adjustments to digital media consumption are necessary.

Use Apps to Help Prevent Excessive Screen Time

Popular apps like Screen Time for iOS and Digital Wellbeing for Android are available for individuals seeking to regain control of their screen time. However, for those exploring alternative options, here are some apps designed to help individuals manage their daily screen time, per Digital Detox.

RescueTime. This app provides insights into phone usage patterns, helping users understand how seemingly quick checks accumulate throughout the day. With features such as goal-setting, weekly reports, alerts, distraction blocking, and offline time, RescueTime facilitates the recovery of time lost to device usage.

Freedom. Available across various platforms, including Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and Chrome, Freedom empowers users to step away from digital distractions. By blocking apps and websites during specified times, Freedom employs positive messaging to remind users of their freedom from distractions. You can set up a schedule with gentle reminders to limit your screen time.

Space. Using social encouragement and gamification, Space presents phone usage data in a calming, space-themed dashboard. Users can invite friends to track phone use collectively, fostering a supportive environment to address concerns about device overuse or screen time.

Related Article: Elon Musk: Neuralink's First Brain Implant is Done, Patient is 'Recovering Well'

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Volvo is facing a temporary setback with its EX30 model as the company pauses deliveries due to software issues.

(Photo : Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 23: An electric Volvo SUV is displayed during the Electrify Expo In D.C. on July 23, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Pausing Deliveries for EX30

Despite the initial success of the EX30, driven by its innovative technology features and an attractive $35,000 price tag, the vehicle's reliance on technology has led to a delay in European deliveries.

Engadget reported that the specific software bugs causing the issue couldn't be addressed through over-the-air updates, necessitating fixes to be implemented at dealerships.

In response to the situation, Volvo is actively working to resolve the problem. The company acknowledges that progress has been made, but the current software version 1.2 still falls short of meeting all the requirements for a smooth release.

This pause in deliveries reflects the challenges automakers can face when integrating advanced technology into their vehicles.

Despite the hiccup, Volvo remains committed to delivering a high-quality product, and they assure customers that efforts are ongoing to rectify the software issues.

The incident highlights the evolving nature of the automotive industry, where the intersection of cutting-edge technology and traditional manufacturing processes occasionally presents unexpected challenges.

Early Signs of Setbacks

While Volvo didn't provide specific details about the error, customer communication mentioned that the 1.2 software update includes some Google certifications and key updates. During a test of a pre-production model in Barcelona, some encountered several glitches, such as Google Maps not functioning.

The vehicle has faced repeated delays, each lasting approximately two weeks. Reportedly, Volvo has successfully addressed the issues, and the electric vehicles are now poised to leave dealerships as soon as the necessary fixes are applied.

Also Read: Volvo Plans to Open a New Tech Hub in Poland To Support All-Electric Plans By 2030

Volvo emphasized its commitment to ensuring the optimal experience for EX30 customers in a statement. The EX30 has captured considerable interest, thanks to its charming design, attractive starting price, robust performance, commendable range, and eco-friendly materials.

It's worth noting that the initial batch of models, despite their appeal, does not qualify for federal US tax credits as they are exclusively manufactured in China.

In a strategic move, Volvo has announced plans to diversify production, with some EX30 models set to be assembled later at the Ghent plant in Belgium.

This adjustment aligns with Volvo's broader ambition to achieve a remarkable 69 percent increase in sales, targeting the sale of 1.2 million cars as early as the coming year.

The EX30 stands as a key player in realizing this ambitious sales goal and reflects Volvo's commitment to innovation and sustainability in the automotive industry, as reported by Automative News.

The EX30 faces stiff competition from notable contenders like Tesla, Volkswagen, and Chevy. A notable drawback for the EX30 is the absence of a federal tax credit, placing it at a disadvantage in the market.

The fact that it's manufactured in China might be a potential deterrent for some buyers. Despite these challenges, the EX30 is poised to attract a substantial consumer base. Its appeal lies in its charming design, ease of driving, and relatively swift performance.

Related Article: Volvo Declares End of Its Diesel Car Production by Early 2024

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US senators have reportedly questioned the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after evidence suggests the department's employees still access TikTok, a clear violation of the government's ban for the Bytedance-owned application on federal devices.

As per Tech Crunch, a letter made public today was sent to the IRS by both U.S. Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). They argue that TikTok's data collection techniques may have compromised the secret nature of taxpayer data and forced the IRS to reply to questions about why the restriction is not being upheld.

(Photo : TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

An employee looks at his mobile phone as he walks past the logo of the video-focused social networking service TikTok, at the TikTok UK offices, in London, on February 9, 2022. - With a billion users, TikTok has rapidly become one of the most important players in the music industry, and now has its sights set on revolutionising the way artists are discovered and get paid.

As per the investigation made by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), over 2,800 mobile devices used by IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) employees and PCs assigned to CI employees can supposedly access TikTok.

The IRS is then demanded to reply to the number of inquiries by February 8, 2024. These include, among other things, the number of IRS employees who use their own devices, the proportion of those who use those devices for TikTok access using the same devices they use for IRS-related tasks, and the security procedures IRS employees must adhere to to safeguard taxpayer data.

Read Also: TikTok Accused in Latest Lawsuit of Lying About Content Accessible to Minors

IRS' Non-Compliance

TIGTA revealed that the IRS has not revised the rules about the "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) initiative, which permits IRS employees to use their devices for work-related activities. IRS employees were stated to have never been informed that TikTok was prohibited from being used on personal devices that simultaneously accessed sensitive, work-related data via the BYOD program without revising the BYOD standards.

The letter also claimed that the IRS refuses to update the BYOD program policies until October 2024 and is not following the TIGTA suggestion to prohibit access to TikTok on the department's employees' devices.

TikTok Remains a Risk

The letter follows after the Wall Street Journal reported that despite the operation code-named "Project Texas" that TikTok performed to retain U.S. user data on Oracle servers in the states, TikTok staff still occasionally shares data with its China-based parent business ByteDance.

The campaign aimed to persuade the American government that user data was secure in the country. Instead, the reports state that TikTok supervisors occasionally instructed staff members to share information with third parties through unofficial channels, including private information like a user's IP address, email address, or birthdate.

Congress reportedly continues to look more closely at TikTok because of its parent company's connections to the Chinese government. Although its CEO, who was called before Congress in March of last year, stated that the company has never given China access to the data of its American users, this has not done much to allay lawmakers' fears that the app poses a threat to national security.

Although there is a legislative drive to remove the app from phones nationwide, the federal prohibition, backed by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), only applies to government devices.

Related Article: Florida Approves Law Banning Social Media for Teens

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A new plan by General Motors is looking to move forward with plug-in hybrids as part of its clean energy fleet, and this was after the company went all in last 2020 to offering only battery electric vehicles (BEVs). For many years, GM gave attention to PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) that used a specific type of drivetrain, particularly with the renowned Chevrolet Volt.

Before it stepped towards the new decade, GM already discontinued its PHEV project with the Chevy Volt and its renowned powertrain.

GM to Build More Hybrids After Challenges in Selling BEVs

In the latest Q4 2023 financial report by General Motors, CEO Mary Barra announced the plans of the company to move towards plug-in hybrid electric vehicle development for select vehicles. This would be made available by the company to specific models in North America only.

According to Ars Technica, this was because analysts and dealership groups have made their complaints regarding the BEVs and their difficulty to sell in the market. This is despite the massive 50 percent growth of the EV adoption rate in 2023 alone.

Moreover, there is a call from President Joe Biden regarding the Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules (CAFE) which requires companies to sell as much as four times BEVs to offset their emission rates. The Wall Street Journal reported that some dealers are now urging GM to add more PHEVs to their lineup to help its sales.

Read Also: EV Tax Credit Impact: Ford Raises F-150 Lightning Price, GM Introduces Independent Credit

Chevy Volt to Make a Return? GM's Hybrid Plans

Among the many hybrid cars from GM, one stood out, and this is the Chevrolet Volt which was discontinued in 2019 to make way for the BEVs, particularly with the Ultium platform. However, it is yet unknown which models GM is resurrecting to offer the NA region, with the renowned Voltec plug-in hybrid powertrain from General Motors last seeing development around five years ago.

General Motors and Clean Energy Adoption

Among the earliest takes of General Motors on clean energy are its plug-in hybrid EVs, and among those is the famed Chevrolet Volt which offered a unique powertrain that made the use of its batteries more efficient. It is widely known that most hybrids, especially mild-hybrids, use ICE engines more than clean energy, with its motor charging the batteries for use in traffic or idling.

Still, the company brought a massive focus on fully electric vehicles in 2020, centering on its Ultium battery development which will be its new breed of power source for EVs. Alongside the battery, there are also the Ultium Drive Electric motors which it fitted among various cars including the Hummer EV, Cadillac's Lyriq and other platforms, Buick, and more.

As it dropped the hybrid development in favor of the BEVs, GM expected this to be the main focus of clean energy in the present, but that proved not to be the track the market is taking. With fully-electric vehicles proving to be difficult to sell based on many factors, and among those, their cost-effectiveness, GM is resurrecting its hybrid development now, with the cars to be delivered yet to be revealed.

Related Article: GM, Ford EV Owners Can Access Tesla's Supercharger Network Starting February 2024

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Earlier this January, Samsung introduced the world to the renowned Galaxy AI which is now making its debut to those who bought their latest flagship smartphone release, the Galaxy S24 series. However, it would only be available for a year to access for free, after which, it remains unclear if Samsung would ask for subscriptions to access the "more powerful" paid version of the Galaxy AI.

There are still many unanswered questions regarding the new comment on the paid Galaxy AI, especially if there would be features to remain on free access, as well as the timeline for each customer.

Samsung: Paid Galaxy AI to Bring 'More Powerful' Features

Samsung's TM Roh recently revealed to ET Telecom that there is a "paid" Galaxy AI version coming soon, and the executive hinted at what it will offer for the world, alongside the smartphones. The paid Galaxy AI will bring a "more powerful" experience for its users, but Roh did not reveal what kind of features or experiences will soon join the service.

In Roh's statement, users of the current Galaxy AI will be satisfied with the existing free version of the tech once the paid service arrives.

However, it remains unknown if the paid Galaxy AI experience would be a subscription-based service, but that is likely what companies are pushing for now.

Read Also: Samsung Galaxy S24: What is Super HDR? Instagram, In-App Cameras Get AI Upgrades

Samsung's Galaxy AI is Only Free for A Year

9to5 Google reported that Roh's comments left many unanswered questions for the future of Galaxy AI, only that it would only be available to access for free for its first year.

With this, Samsung seems to be following in the footsteps of OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and more companies who ask for a paid subscription for its more powerful AI access.

Moreover, it is unknown what Samsung has to offer for its paid Galaxy AI, and if those who purchased the S24 or other new phones would start their free year upon buying the device.

Samsung's Take on Mobile AI

The Galaxy Unpacked event last mid-January gave the world the anticipated flagship smartphone lineup release of the company, and it arrived earlier than expected, unlike last year which commenced in early February. While the S24 series was the main star, another tech from Samsung took the stage, and this is with the first-ever Galaxy AI, optimized for the mobile.

Localizing the experience is what Samsung focused on in this release, with the mobile AI experience offering more than the Galaxy AI which the South Korean giant developed. It is important to note that alongside Samsung's proprietary tech, it also has a collaboration with Google to push more AI features on the smartphone, and would not be limited to the S24 series only.

In the latest event, Samsung established itself as a new frontrunner in the AI development front, mostly centering on onboard AI for its devices, much like Intel's AI PCs reinforced last CES 2024.

However, Samsung's Galaxy AI would only be free for a year said the report, with the company offering a paid version to arrive soon, to bring a "more powerful" access for all.

Related Article: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max: Which is the Ultimate Smartphone?

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After the monumental block on Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the company bought the company and is now paying its dues to help its gaming division achieve higher numbers in its total revenue. In the recent report from Microsoft Gaming, it was able to grow its revenue to a soaring 49 percent increase, with a majority of the credit given to Activision Blizzard.

During the early days of the deal, it was projected that this acquisition would help boost Microsoft's Gaming and the Xbox, especially with its popularity among gamers.

Microsoft Gaming Soars 49 Percent Higher in Q2 Thanks to Activision

Based on Microsoft's latest press release on the Q2 2024 earnings report, its gaming division grew a total of 49 percent in gaming revenue, claiming that 44 points are because of the Activision Blizzard deal. More particularly, this is with the "net impact" of the renowned acquisition of the gaming company.

The company also reported that its revenue is at $62 billion, up from 18 percent compared to last year, with $21.9 billion in profits which saw a 33 percent increase.

In their report, they also claimed that the Microsoft Personal Computing division which includes Surface, Windows, and Xbox saw a 19 percent increase compared to last year, for a total of $16.9 billion in revenue.

Read Also: Microsoft Welcomes New Blizzard President Johanna Faries, Former Call of Duty Executive

Xbox Remains Stagnant in Console Sales Despite ABK Deal

However, according to Engadget, Xbox's hardware sales saw a stagnant move despite the Activision Blizzard King deal, only seeing a three percent increase compared to last year's stats.

Nevertheless, it is not a loss for Microsoft and this means that Xbox's adoption is not yet skyrocketing, with ABK's games and experiences not yet making an impact for the console. Still, Xbox's content and services revenue grew massively, with as much as a 61 percent increase from last year, with Microsoft saying that Activision contributed 55 points for this.

Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King's 2024

Microsoft invested massive efforts, resources, and time to get Activision Blizzard to be a part of the company, and since 2022, the company wanted it to join them in growing the gaming landscape.

After all that has been said and done in the United Kingdom, EU, and the United States, the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal went forward and is now welcoming the company to new ventures.

However, this merger also saw losses, with as many as 1,900 people laid off from their posts at Microsoft Gaming, including employees from Activision Blizzard.

Xbox's chief Phil Spencer previously claimed that in 2024, there would be Activision Blizzard games coming to the Xbox Game Pass service.

The deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard has a mutual understanding of improving both companies as they merge into one, and this early transition period is already proving their investment to be on the right track. The massive increase in Microsoft Gaming is only a testament to the growth of both companies, soon to help other aspects of its gaming, like Xbox, to see increased numbers as well.

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Big Tech CEOs from Meta, TikTok, Discord, Snap, and X are all set to join forces and head to CongressCongress for the social media safety hearing. The social media CEOs reportedly aim to showcase tools to increase their applications' safety for kids amidst claims of its potential harm by numerous states, as reported by Tech Crunch.

The hearing "Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis," will reportedly be held by the Senate Judiciary Committee with aims to question the CEOs over possible risks that their products pose to teenagers, going into a wide range of issues - both new and recurring - regarding social media companies' inability to shield its younger users from offensive material.

(Photo : Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

In this photo illustration, social media apps are seen on a mobile phone on July 29, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Tech companies frequently appease Congress by bringing legal counsel or a policy executive. Still, the most recent session will include a group of CEOs: Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Linda Yaccarino of X (previously Twitter), Shu Chew of TikTok, Jason Citron of Discord, and Evan Spiegel of Snap.

As per a CBS interview, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican ranking member, says that their objective is to reform Section 230, a rule that protects most internet firms from user lawsuits, and pass comprehensive regulations. Graham expressed their disbelief that social media, one of the biggest industries in human history, is unregulated and that no legislation safeguards consumers.

Read Also: Florida Approves Law Banning Social Media for Teens

Social Media Safety

The hearing comes as proponents of online safety argue that social media applications' efforts to increase safety remain woefully inadequate in light of the mounting allegations that social media can harm young users, including concerns that it could push them toward despair or even suicide.

Many tools made available by social media companies are claimed to fall short of what parents and online safety advocacy groups think is necessary. Such groups contend that tech platforms can no longer self-regulate and that parents and young users must take the lead in protecting their children.

Additionally, with a presidential election approaching and state legislators deflecting attention away from their federal colleagues, Congress will likely pressure internet corporations to go beyond the features they have previously offered.

Social Media's Response

In response to this, reports state that several tech CEOs will likely highlight measures and guidelines aimed at safeguarding children and granting parents greater authority over their children's internet activities.

Several businesses, including Snap and Discord, told CNN they intend to set themselves apart from companies like Meta by stressing that they do not concentrate on providing users with algorithmically advised content in ways that could be dangerous or addicting.

Recently, Florida and New York City made waves in regulations centered on safeguarding children's safety on social media. Florida's House of Representatives reportedly mandated the deletion of all social media accounts owned by minors 16 years of age or younger.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, on the other hand, declared that social networking applications are an environmental "toxin" and a public health "hazard" and attributed the primary cause to the mental health of young people.

Related Article: Social Media Officially Declared a "Toxin" by New York City Mayor

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In 2023, pancreatic cancer claimed approximately 50,550 lives in the United States, making it the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both genders, contributing to seven percent of such fatalities.

(Photo : Photo by American Cancer Society/Getty Images)

Close up of cancer cells in the cervix. Cancer of the uterine cervix, the portion of the uterus that is attached to the top of the vagina.

Boosting Microscopic Pancreatic Cancer Screening

A breakthrough has emerged from researchers at the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, who have successfully devised an innovative method to enhance the detection of pancreatic cancer.

Interesting Engineering reports show that this method involves a novel imaging approach that combines a newly formulated contrast agent with multispectral ophthalmography (MSOT).

Detecting pancreatic cancer at the microscopic level is an intricate challenge due to its elusive nature, as highlighted by Ajay Jain, M.D., a professor of surgery at the OU College of Medicine.

Typically diagnosed at an advanced stage with poor outcomes, pancreatic cancer presents a mere nine percent overall chance of survival. Surgical and chemotherapy interventions offer the best odds, but the success of surgery hinges on complete cancer removal-a challenging feat.

This technique enables the identification of pancreatic cancer cells at the microscopic level, approximately 200 microns in size. This marks significant progress compared to current imaging methods, such as CT scans, typically around a centimeter in size.

This innovative imaging approach not only holds promise for enhancing surgical outcomes but also offers the potential for real-time information to guide surgeons during procedures. It could also serve as a valuable screening tool for individuals at high risk of pancreatic cancer.

Also Read: Scientists Leverage Nanomachines to Explore a New Cancer Treatment

Dr. Lacey McNally, a respected professor of surgery at the OU College of Medicine, has played a pivotal role in this advancement. She has developed a unique contrast agent specifically designed to target pancreatic cancer cells.

This tailored agent brings a new level of precision to the detection and imaging of pancreatic cancer, offering a more nuanced and detailed understanding that can significantly impact both surgical interventions and early screening efforts.

Improving Accuracy

The potential applications of this breakthrough span from improved surgical accuracy to the prospect of identifying pancreatic cancer at its earliest stages in high-risk individuals, as reported by News Medical.

The researchers elucidated that the contrast agent, administered through an IV, can effectively differentiate pancreatic cancer cells due to their unique acidic environment. The dye within the contrast agent activates in response to this acidity, effectively illuminating the cancer cells.

Conversely, the MSOT component introduces infrared light into the body, activating the contrast agent. This activation produces sound waves captured by the MSOT device, converting them into colors and generating highly detailed images.

This combined approach significantly enhances the precision of detection, surpassing the capabilities of current imaging methods and providing crucial real-time information for surgeons during operations.

Beyond its applications in surgery, this holds promise as a screening tool for individuals at a heightened risk of pancreatic cancer, including those with a family history or genetic predisposition.

Dr. Jain stressed the importance of early detection for pancreatic cancer, asserting that it provides the best chance for a cure. Detecting cancer at an early, microscopic stage could potentially make it curable.

Related Article: FDA Greenlights First AI-Powered Device to Detect All 3 Common Skin Cancers

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Microsoft's lead engineer, Shane Jones, reportedly claims that the company's legal department asked him to delete a LinkedIn post that informs the public about OpenAI's DALL-E 3's security gaps that allow users to create explicit and violent images.

Now, Jones has reportedly penned a letter to Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D), US Senators Patty Murray (D) and Maria Cantwell (D), and Representative Adam Smith (D) of the 9th District of Washington to notify the public once again on DALL-E 3's security concerns.

Jones claims he found the security gap early in December last year, which he quickly reported to his Microsoft supervisors. The supervisor reportedly gave him the go-ahead to submit it to OpenAI directly.

(Photo : Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has voiced his concern over the emergence of sexually explicit AI-generated images featuring Taylor Swift.

On December 14, 2023, early in the morning, Jones then attempted to make his cause known by publicly posting a letter to OpenAI's non-profit board of directors on LinkedIn, requesting that they halt the distribution of DALLE 3.

Microsoft demanded that he erase his post, with his manager contacting him shortly after Jones revealed the letter to his leadership team, informing him that Microsoft's legal department had requested to remove the post. Jones was met with little to no explanation but to remove the post immediately.

Jones states that he was then told that Microsoft's legal department would provide a detailed explanation for the takedown order and would send an email in due course. Jones cooperated, but he claims Microsoft's legal staff never sent over the more detailed response. Subsequent efforts to obtain additional information from the company's legal department were purportedly disregarded.

Read Also: ChatGPT has Allegedly Violated Privacy Rules, Claims Italian Watchdog

Microsoft's Response

In response, Microsoft reportedly stated that it is dedicated to resolving employee concerns. It has set up internal solid reporting mechanisms to look into and fix any problems appropriately and validate and test Jones's concerns before taking them to the public.

The business claimed to have looked into the employee's allegations. It verified that none of its AI-powered picture-generating systems used the methods Jones disclosed to get beyond safety filters. The business insisted that it values employee feedback and is reaching out to Jones to resolve any unresolved issues he may have.

OpenAI's Mitigation Measures

An OpenAI representative mirrored Microsoft's statement in a reported email, in which the AI giant stated that upon receiving the Microsoft employee's report on December 1, they looked into it right away and verified that the method he revealed did not circumvent their safety measures. OpenAI then reiterated that their first goal is safety and that they attack the problem from multiple angles.

The company claims that it has created strong picture classifiers that prevent the model from producing damaging images and that it has worked to exclude the most explicit content, including graphic sexual and violent content, from its training data, which goes into the underlying DALL-E 3 model.

Currently, OpenAI's DALL-E 3 is stated to reject prompts requesting harmful, violent images validated by domain experts who stress-test the model in risk areas such as creating public figures and detrimental biases associated with visual over- or under-representation. Mitigation efforts in propaganda and misinformation are also supposedly in place.

Related Article: Pentagon Launches AI Bias Bounty, Pays Anyone Who Finds Biases in AI Chatbots

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A recent study conducted by the French and German music societies Sacem and GEMA has revealed the growing concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the music industry that could affect musicians' livelihoods.

With over 15,000 respondents participating in the survey, the study revealed that more than two-thirds of musicians fear that AI may render it impossible for them to sustain a living in the future.

71% of Musicians Are Afraid of AI

The survey highlighted that 71% of musicians expressed concerns about their financial viability, expressing apprehensions about the potential consequences of AI adoption in the music sector.

Some 35% of those surveyed acknowledged already incorporating AI in various aspects of music creation. In addition to the survey, the study included market analysis and expert interviews, projecting a significant downturn in musicians' incomes by 27% by 2028.

This equates to an estimated loss of 2.7 billion euros ($2.9 billion). Such findings indicate a looming financial threat to artists and creators within the industry. Among the survey participants, 95% voiced a demand for increased transparency from companies developing AI tools.

Similarly, an equivalent percentage also called for heightened attention from politicians to address the challenges arising from the intersection of AI and copyright in the music sector.

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Estimated Damage

"The figures in the study show that the estimated damage could be considerable for creators. By exercising our right to opt out, we hope to establish a transparent and fair relationship between creators and AI companies," Cecile Rap-Veber, CEO of Sacem, said in a statement, as Record of the Day reported.

As generative AI gained prominence since its emergence in late 2022, the study predicted that the market for generative AI in music could surpass $3 billion by 2028, signifying a rapidly growing industry.

The study also delved into the challenges creators face due to AI's increasing role in the music industry. One notable issue is the assurance of fair remuneration for creators whose works are utilized by AI training databases, generating music content that benefits profit-driven entities.

Furthermore, the study underscored the need to protect creators' income in a digital landscape where streaming services might face competition from AI-generated music content. Despite acknowledging AI's potential benefits, including its use as a creative tool, the study revealed a general wariness among music-industry creatives.

Approximately 64% of respondents believe that the risks associated with AI use outweigh the opportunities, emphasizing the necessity for robust regulations to protect copyright.

"As part of the finalisation of the European regulation on AI, we call on the French and German governments not to oppose the implementation of effective transparency requirements for generative AI companies," Rap-Veber noted.

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ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- At least 4,579 people have contracted the red eye disease in Tanzania's Zanzibar since the outbreak of the ailment two weeks ago, an official said on Tuesday.

Zanzibari Deputy Minister of Health Hassan Khamis Hafidh said the cases of the red eye disease were collected from health centers and government and private hospitals on Unguja and Pemba Islands.

Hafidh told a news conference at his office that the disease, which causes eye redness most often due to swollen or dilated blood vessels, was spread in Zanzibar by travelers from mainland Tanzania.

He urged people suffering from the disease to stop treating themselves with traditional medicines, saying there was no proven cure for the illness.

On Jan. 16, Tanzanian health authorities issued a high alert over the outbreak of the disease, noting preliminary investigations have shown that many people have contracted the disease in the country.

Pascal Ruggajo, director of Curative Services in the Ministry of Health, said remedies for red eye are wide-ranging, including gently washing eyelids and lightly massaging them, adding that eye care specialists may recommend and prescribe medicines. 
Search engines, such as Google, Microsoft Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, and AOL, could serve as gateways to harmful content, which glorifies, celebrates, or offers instruction about self-harm or suicide, according to the UK's communications regulator Ofcom.

"Search engines are often the starting point for people's online experience, and we're concerned they can act as one-click gateways to seriously harmful self-injury content," Ofcom's online safety policy development director, Almudena Lara, said in a statement.

Search Results Led to Glorified Self-Harm Content

Research conducted by the Network Contagion Research Institute on behalf of Ofcom revealed that approximately 22% of the links analyzed in search results led to content that either glorified or provided instructions on self-harm, suicide, or eating disorders.

The study involved entering common search terms related to self-injury and cryptic phrases commonly used by online communities to disguise their true meaning.

Over 37,000 result links from the five major search engines were analyzed, uncovering significant concerns about the availability of harmful content on the internet.

Across the search engines, the study found that one in five (22%) results linked directly to content celebrating or providing guidance on non-suicidal self-injury, suicide, or eating disorders with just a single click.

Furthermore, 19% of the top links on the first page of search results, increasing to 22% among the top five page one results, were linked to content promoting or encouraging these harmful behaviors.

Particular risk was associated with image searches, which yielded the highest proportion of harmful or extreme results (50%), followed by web pages (28%) and videos (22%).

Notably, images were found to be more likely to inspire acts of self-injury, and detection algorithms faced challenges distinguishing between visuals glorifying self-harm and those distributed in recovery or medical context, according to Ofcom.

The use of deliberately obscured search terms by online communities posed a significant challenge, with individuals six times more likely to encounter harmful content related to self-injury when using cryptic terms.

On a positive note, one in five (22%) search results were categorized as "preventative," signposting users to content focused on providing help, such as mental health services or educational material about self-injury risks.

Read Also: UK Approves AI Age Checks to Prevent Children From Accessing Porn Sites

Search Engines like Google Are Gateways to Harmful Content

Lara expressed concern about search engines that serve as gateways to harmful content, especially for children. She emphasized the need for search services to understand the potential risks and the effectiveness of their protection measures.

"Search services need to understand their potential risks and the effectiveness of their protection measures - particularly for keeping children safe online - ahead of our wide-ranging consultation due in Spring," Lara noted

Responding to these findings, Ofcom highlighted that search services must be prepared to fulfill their requirements under the Online Safety Act.

In the spring, Ofcom plans to open a consultation on its Protection of Children Codes of Practice, which will set out the practical steps users and search services can take to meet their children's safety duties.

Related Article: UK Ofcom Proposes Investigation into Amazon, Microsoft for Alleged Abuse of Market Power

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ByteDance, the company behind social media giant TikTok, is facing a wake-up call from its own CEO, Liang Rubo, as he cautions against complacency and mediocrity amidst intensifying competition and rapidly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) trends (via Reuters).

Mediocrity Threatens ByteDance's Dominance

In a recent company-wide meeting, Liang Rubo expressed concerns about ByteDance's potential slide into mediocrity. The Beijing-based company's exponential growth has inadvertently led to inefficiencies, with Liang emphasizing a critical lack of sensitivity to emerging technologies.

Notably, the CEO revealed that discussions about OpenAI's GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) technology only surfaced in ByteDance's tech reviews in 2023, although GPT-1 had been available since 2018.

ByteDance's Lag in the AI Race

Despite being renowned for its commanding recommendation engines powering apps like TikTok, Douyin, and Toutiao, ByteDance finds itself trailing in the AI race.

Liang highlighted the late start in developing AI foundation models, with other tech giants making strides between 2018 and 2021. Internal red tape and a six-month project timeline further hampered ByteDance's ability to keep pace with more agile startups.

Read Also: TikTok Wants Horizontal Videos Like YouTube, Incentivizes Creators for New Format Uploads

ByteDance's Recent AI Ventures

While grappling with internal challenges, ByteDance is simultaneously making bold moves in the AI space.

As Forbes reports, the company recently launched four generative AI apps - Cici AI, Coze, ChitChop, and BagelBell - catering to global users outside of China.

These apps, introduced in the last three months, leverage OpenAI's GPT technology via a Microsoft Azure license. ByteDance's foray into generative AI aligns with a broader industry trend where tech giants are vying for supremacy in this burgeoning domain.

Cici AI, ChitChop, and Coze are bot creation platforms allowing users to craft and share their chatbots, while BagelBell generates dynamic fictional stories.

Interestingly, ByteDance did not develop the underlying large language models for these apps, relying instead on OpenAI's GPT technology. Although not yet available in the EU, the apps have collectively amassed millions of downloads, with Cici leading the pack at over 10 million downloads on the Google Play store.

Privacy Concerns and Regulatory Scrutiny

While ByteDance expands its AI offerings, privacy concerns emerge. The apps' privacy policies indicate potential sharing of user information within the ByteDance corporate group, raising questions about data access by ByteDance employees in China.

TikTok said it spent $1.5 billion to persuade US lawmakers that the video-sharing app is safe. However, the Wall Street Journal reports that despite the app's claim that it has protected American data, employees say data is still occasionally shared with its China-based parent.

Regulatory scrutiny looms, with potential challenges regarding ByteDance's ability to adhere to global privacy standards.

Forbes notes that ByteDance's foray into generative AI mirrors its history of launching and testing various applications before establishing a foothold. While the generative AI apps are currently limited in availability, ByteDance's previous strategies point to potential global expansion based on market feedback.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Meta, TikTok, Big Tech CEOs, Set to Defend Social Media Safety for Kids

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The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in the northern Chilean desert is gearing up to unveil the world's largest-ever digital camera in early 2025.

Weighing a colossal 2.8 metric tons and the size of a small car, this sophisticated piece of equipment is poised to transform our understanding of the cosmos (via AFP).

Unveiling the World' 's Largest Digital Camera

Officials from the U.S.-funded project shared with AFP that this $800 million camera will capture 3,200-megapixel photos, an astronomical leap from existing technology.

To put it in perspective, one image would require more than 300 average-size high-definition televisions lined up together. The camera's groundbreaking capacity will allow it to sweep the sky every three days, opening new frontiers for scientists.

Stuartt Corder, deputy director of NOIRLab, the US research center overseeing the observatory, boldly predicts a "paradigm shift in astronomy" with this venture.

Bruno Dias, president of the Chilean Society of Astronomy, explains that researchers will transition from "studying one star and knowing everything in-depth about that one star to studying thousands of stars at a time."

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Chile's Role in Astronomy

The Rubin Observatory camera solidifies Chile's place in astronomical observation, home to a third of the globe's most powerful telescopes. Nestled 2,500 meters up the Cerro Pachon mountain, the observatory benefits from the region's clear skies, making it an ideal hub for studying the universe.

Chile's telescopic journey has come a long way since the installation of the 40-centimeter Cerro Tololo telescope in the 1960s, carried on the back of a mule due to the lack of roads.

Now, with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory joining the ranks, Chile is poised to maintain its status as the astronomy capital of the world.

The Camera's Main Mission

The Rubin Observatory's primary task is the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), a 10-year endeavor to capture images of 20 million galaxies, 17 billion stars, and six million space objects.

This comprehensive survey promises to provide an up-to-date inventory of the solar system, map our Milky Way galaxy, and delve into the mysteries of energy and dark matter.

Beyond its image-capturing capabilities, the Rubin Observatory is key to unraveling the secrets of galaxy clusters through intracluster light. This faint glow, 1000 times fainter than the darkest night sky, is a cosmic storyteller, revealing the evolution of galaxy clusters over billions of years.

Mireia Montes, a researcher at Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, notes,"the power of Rubin is that it's going to provide us with lots of clusters of galaxies that we can explore."

The observatory's 10-year survey will take millions of high-resolution images, enabling scientists to analyze intracluster light across the Universe and gain insights into the distribution of dark matter.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, named in honor of the US astronomer who discovered dark matter, joins a constellation of space observation centers in northern Chile. The region's desert landscape, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountain range, creates the clearest skies on the planet, making it an astronomical haven.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

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Fitbit, now under Google's ownership, is in the midst of a storm as over 100 users voice concerns on official forums. They claim that a software update rolled out in December 2023 has left their Charge 5 devices virtually unusable.

The company, however, denies any responsibility for the reported issues, including severe battery life problems.

Fitbit Users Outcry Over Device Malfunction

Fitbit users have taken to official forums to express frustration, with claims that the December 2023 software update has disrupted the functionality of their Charge 5 devices.

Reports range from severely diminished battery life to devices rendered "useless," prompting discontent among the user base.

Since many complaints are piled up to Fitbit at the moment, it's high time for the company to respond to each of them.

A spokesperson for Google, the current owner of Fitbit, refutes the connection between the reported device malfunctions and the December firmware update. The company states that the issue is under investigation and advises users to continue updating to the latest firmware while reaching out to Fitbit Customer Service if problems persist.

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Users Blame Software Update

Contrary to Fitbit's stance, users on the company's forums assert that the software update is the root cause of the problems. Some Charge 5 users caution against installing the update, sharing experiences of devices malfunctioning or ceasing to work altogether. The most prevalent issue reported is a notably short battery life.

As reported by BBC, users like Dean from Essex, who initially experienced a well-functioning device with a seven-day battery life, now find their Charge 5 rendered useless after the update.

Dean, and others like him, attribute the battery issues directly to the software update, pointing out the widespread nature of the problem.

Fitbit's Legacy and Challenges in the Wearable Tech Market

Founded in California in 2009, Fitbit played a huge role in pioneering the fitness tracker market. However, challenges have emerged in recent years, with smartphones incorporating increasingly advanced features. Fitbit's acquisition by Google in 2019 for $2.1 billion aimed to navigate this industry, but the recent user backlash poses new challenges.

Fitbit Layoffs

Earlier this month, Google made significant staff cuts at Fitbit, The Verge reported a few weeks ago. Co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman were reportedly among those departing. This move came as the wearable tech market continues to cope up with the evolving capabilities of smartphones, reshaping the industry's competitive landscape.

Fractured Customer Relations and Seeking Alternatives

Users expressing grievances on Fitbit's forums have criticized the customer service as frustrating, with some alleging no solution other than purchasing a new device.

"Everyone who has bought a Fitbit Charge 5 anywhere should be able to return these units without question and receive an upgrade to keep faith," they said.

Dissatisfied customers are demanding accountability from Google and considering alternatives provided by rival firms, further complicating Fitbit's standing in the market.

This is not the first time that Fitbit faced a backlash from its customers. In October 2022, a delayed refund process triggered the Ionic smartwatch users to call out Fitbit. Apart from that, they said that there was an overheating issue in the batteries of the devices.

Read Also: January 2024 System Update Renders Select Google Pixel Smartphones Inaccessible: Here's Why

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In a recent cybersecurity report, Guardio Labs researchers Oleg Zaytsev and Nati Tal exposed the concerning trend of the "democratization" of the phishing ecosystem, pinpointing Telegram as a central hub for cybercriminal activities.

Telegram, once considered a secure messaging app, has transformed into a dark and well-organized supply chain where experienced cybercriminals and novices exchange illicit tools and insights. The platform facilitates the exchange of free samples, tutorials, and kits and even provides access to hackers-for-hire, offering all the elements necessary for constructing comprehensive malicious campaigns, according to The Hacker News. The researchers reveal that threat actors can now organize mass phishing attacks for as little as $230.

This is not the first time Telegram has come under scrutiny for enabling malicious activities. The platform's lenient moderation efforts have allowed what was once confined to invite-only forums on the dark web to become readily accessible through public channels and groups, exposing aspiring cybercriminals to the world of cybercrime.

Beware of Telekopye in Telegram Marketplaces

Kaspersky's April 2023 findings highlighted the use of Telegram by phishers to educate newcomers about phishing and advertising bots capable of automating the creation of phishing pages to harvest sensitive information like login credentials.

Among these threats, Guardio Labs points out the malicious Telegram bot, Telekopye (aka Classiscam), which specializes in crafting fraudulent web pages, emails, and SMS messages for large-scale phishing scams.

Guardio Labs emphasizes the ease with which building blocks for phishing campaigns can be procured on Telegram at varying prices, including some offered for free. This accessibility enables the setup of scam pages through phishing kits, hosted on compromised WordPress websites via web shells, and the use of backdoor mailers to send deceptive emails.

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To amplify the success of these campaigns, digital marketplaces on Telegram offer "letters," expertly designed templates that lend authenticity to phishing emails. The platform also serves as a repository for bulk datasets known as "leads," containing valid email addresses and phone numbers, sometimes enriched with personal information.

In November, a News18 report revealed the deployment of Telekopye by scammers and hackers for large-scale phishing scams. The hackers employed various strategies, such as creating additional photos for nonexistent items and meticulous planning based on target characteristics, to enhance the success of their scams.

Vigilance Against Cyberattacks Strongly Urged

Guardio warns that site owners have a dual responsibility to protect their business interests and prevent their platforms from unwittingly hosting phishing operations and other illicit activities.

The report concludes that, unfortunately, with a small investment, anyone can initiate a significant phishing operation, irrespective of prior knowledge or connections in the criminal underworld.

Social media account credentials can be sold for as little as a dollar, while banking accounts and credit cards could fetch hundreds of dollars based on their validity and funds.

Experts emphasize that cybersecurity protection extends beyond human conduct. A key technological safeguard that users and companies can implement is multifactor authentication (MFA), which protects against online attacks. According to a Forbes article, MFA adds security layers like a supplementary, one-time password via SMS, a physical token, or a biometric ID to a login and password.

However, even with strong two-factor authentication, people may mistakenly provide additional authentication data, especially in compelling phishing emails. Thus, "trust but verify" must be reinforced. Moreover, fake emails that induce workers to break from conventional practices, even from reputable sources, should be addressed in anti-phishing training.

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CAIRO, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Egypt seeks to establish power interconnection with Europe to export electricity to European countries, Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker said Tuesday.

Shaker made the remarks during a meeting with Gordon Dickie, chairman of IM Power, to discuss ways to boost cooperation between the Egyptian energy sector and the British company, the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy said in a statement.

Shaker said Egypt, which aspires to become "a regional energy hub," is ready to cooperate with European partners to build a power linkage line with Europe.

The minister welcomed cooperation with the British company in renewable energy projects, especially wind and solar energy, as well as green hydrogen, and the localization of related industries in Egypt.

He added that Egypt aims to increase the renewable energy's contribution to the country's total power generation to at least 42 percent by 2030.

Egypt already has electricity interconnection lines with Jordan, Sudan, and Libya and is studying similar projects with Saudi Arabia, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy. 
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Apartment Works.. Hisham Maged shines with an intelligently adapted drama that is far from being copied

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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

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.

In light of the confrontation with Israel... where has the Hezbollah-Free Patriotic Movement alliance reached?

Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview  I have no nerves for you

 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

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

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.

Apartment Works.. Hisham Maged shines with an intelligently adapted drama that is far from being copied

The new 'sighting' of Kate looking "happy, healthy and relaxed" fails to silence rumors about a crisis in her marriage

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

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.

In light of the confrontation with Israel... where has the Hezbollah-Free Patriotic Movement alliance reached?

Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview  I have no nerves for you

 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.
Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Wang Xuekun (L, front) talks with Jean Damascene Hanyurwimfura, director general of Masaka Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda, Jan. 30, 2024. A Chinese medical team on Tuesday donated a consignment of medical supplies to Masaka Hospital in Kicukiro District in the Rwandan capital of Kigali. (Photo by Huang Wanqing/Xinhua)

KIGALI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese medical team on Tuesday donated a consignment of medical supplies to Masaka Hospital in Kicukiro District in the Rwandan capital of Kigali.

The supplies included hand sanitizers, surgical lights, operating stools, a high-frequency electric knife, disposable oral appliance packs, and disposable sterile surgical scrubs.

Upon receiving the donation at Masaka Hospital, Director General Jean Damascene Hanyurwimfura expressed gratitude to the government of China and the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda for supporting the hospital.

"Now, we have 15 medical workers from China who will be here for the whole year," he said, adding that the supplies "will facilitate their daily tasks and contribute to improving community outcomes."

The supplies, especially surgical lights and others, will play a crucial role in the hospital's surgical operations, Hanyurwimfura said.

"Last year, the medical team provided us with operating room beds, which addressed a previous lack of medical supplies and improved our surgical operations," he said. "The Hernia Week campaign, during which doctors operated on patients, was made possible because we had the necessary medical supplies for surgical operations."

China started to dispatch medical teams to Rwanda in 1982, and there have been hundreds of medical staff working in Rwanda since then. 
MANILA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday said it has approved a loan of 419.6 million U.S. dollars to strengthen the sanitation system in Indonesia.

The ADB said the Citywide Inclusive Sanitation Project will help Indonesia expand access to climate-resilient, adequate, and safely managed sanitation services in the cities of Mataram, Pontianak, and Semarang.

While approximately 77 percent of Indonesian households have access to basic sanitation facilities, the ADB said only 7 percent have access to safely managed sanitation that ensures safe disposal of domestic waste to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for further processing.

The project aims to strengthen the sanitation systems for approximately 2.5 million people in the three cities. It is designed based on the citywide inclusive sanitation principle, which ensures everyone has access to appropriately handled sanitation services by integrating sewered and non-sewered systems, the bank said.

The project will improve and expand existing sanitation systems by constructing the WWTPs with a combined daily capacity of 57,000 cubic meters and approximately 200 kilometers of sewer networks, the ADB added. 
Volunteer Coordinator Trezell Ragas of Court Watch NOLA, wears the identification badge that members of the organization wear in court during the annual presentation of their findings from their work as courtroom observers in front of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court in New Orleans, La., Tuesday, May 22, 2018.
SINGAPORE, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's state investment firm Temasek will issue 750 million Chinese yuan (104 million U.S. dollars) of 3.2 percent guaranteed offshore bond due 2029, according to a recent statement by the firm.

The bond is expected to be issued on Feb. 6 and listed on the Singapore Exchange on Feb. 7.

The bond is unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by Temasek, and will be rated Aaa by Moody's, said the statement.

The issue allows Temasek to expand its investor base and access a new liquidity pool at competitive pricing, a Temasek spokesperson told local media Tuesday. 
Gov. Jeff Landry announces appointments to leadership positions at the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and Department of Energy and Natural Resources during a Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, news conference at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. From left, DENR Secretary Tyler Gray, who was appointed earlier; DENR Commissioner of Conservation Benjamin Bienvenu; Landry; Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority chairman Gordon "Gordy" Dove; Governor's Advisory Council on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation chairman Tony Alford; CPRA Executive Director Glenn Ledet Jr.; Sharon Landry. (Governor's office Facebook)
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, suffered a stunning rebuke on Tuesday when a Delaware judge voided the pay package that helped make him a billionaire many times over and the worlds wealthiest human.

In a decision that cast a harsh light on the behaviour of Musk and Teslas board of directors, Chancellor Kathaleen St. J. McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery said the CEO had effectively overseen his own compensation plan with the help of compliant board members.

Elon Musk has had a bad start to the year. Credit: Getty

The process leading to the approval of Musks compensation plan was deeply flawed, the judge said. She ordered that the contract that gave Musk the largest potential compensation plan in the history of public markets be voided, and told parties in the case to work out how Musk would return excess pay.

Some compensation experts said the decision would send a warning to other companies that awarded their top executives very large pay packages.
Battery minerals specialist IGO will close its Cosmos nickel mine in Western Australias Goldfields region at the cost of about 400 jobs as cheap production from Indonesia wreaks havoc with Australian producers.

IGO chief executive Ivan Vella said the ability of Indonesian nickel miners to cost-effectively build new mines and processing plants and bring them to full capacity had caught the market by surprise.

IGOs Cosmos nickel mine in Western Australia.

Vella, presenting his first results since joining IGO from Rio Tinto in December, said the recent nickel price plunge meant it would not be prudent to bring the new mine into full production.

A recent review of Cosmos determined the mine life would be less than planned while expected operating and capital costs had increased. IGOs Nova and Forrestania nickel mines will stay open.
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 Its one of the most memorable moments in Christopher Nolans masterful Oscars favourite, Oppenheimer. Physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer is meeting with American officials, including US secretary of war Henry L. Stimson, to discuss where in Japan to drop the first atomic bomb. Theres a moment where James Remar [who plays the secretary of war] kept talking to me about how he learned that Stimson and his wife had honeymooned in Kyoto, Nolan has said in an interview. And that was one of the reasons that Stimson took Kyoto off the list to be bombed. Christopher Nolan directs Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer. Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures via AP I had him crossing the city off the list because of its cultural significance but Im like, just add that. Its a fantastically exciting moment where no-one in the room knows how to react. Improvisation provided a line that reflected an American casualness about a decision that cost an estimated 140,000 Japanese lives when the bomb destroyed Hiroshima in 1945. Screenwriters spend months and sometimes years crafting scenes with compelling dialogue that is truthful to characters, realistic to their world, moves the story forward and reflects the themes of the work.

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But sometimes a line is improvised, when an actor gets the creative freedom from a director to try something new during rehearsals or on set, that becomes famous. One of the best-known lines in Jaws, youre gonna need a bigger boat!, came from an inside joke among the crew. Carl Gottlieb, who rewrote novelist Peter Benchleys script and played the towns newspaper editor, once told The Hollywood Reporter that there was a problem on set with the barge that carried all the lights, camera equipment and catering being steadied by a support boat that was too small for the job. Improvised a classic line  Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver. [Richard] Zanuck and [David] Brown were very stingy producers so everyone kept telling them, Youre gonna need a bigger boat, Gottlieb says. It became a catchphrase for anytime anything went wrong, if lunch was late or the swells were rocking the camera, someone would say, Youre gonna need a bigger boat. It fitted perfectly when police chief Martin Brody, played by Roy Scheider, catches sight of the monster shark. Celebrated Australian director Peter Weir, who worked with master improvisers Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society and Jim Carrey in The Truman Show, says the ideal time to explore improvisations with actors is before the shoot. If a line is any good, it can be polished and written into the screenplay, he says. Once on set, the pace is relentless.

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But Weir would also hide half a day in the filming schedule from the front office for improvised scenes. On Dead Poets Society, he set aside that time for Williams, who played English teacher John Keating, to invent a lesson about Shakespeare for his class of boys. On that day, we had lunch together, looked through some novels and plays, wrote nothing down and an hour later he was in front of the class, Weir says. I had no idea what he would do. I certainly didnt expect his version of John Wayne playing Macbeth. On The Truman Show, Trumans cheery good morning to his neighbours early in the film was scripted. But Weir says Carey came up with oh, and in case I dont see you, good afternoon, good evening and good night in the first rehearsal on day one of filming. It was a great start to the shoot, he says. Actor Heather Mitchell, whose acclaimed Sydney Theatre Company performance as Ruth Bader Ginsburg in RBG: Of Many, One follows an extensive career in film and TV, loves improvising when she feels she really understands a character but its very much dictated by who she is working with. In case I dont see you: Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank. Credit: Paramount Its how safe you feel with your director, she says. Some directors just want every word in every line to be exactly as written on the page. Sometimes thats because theyve had pressure from the producers or the writer.

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While actors can come up with something memorable, Mitchell recognises they are not always right. Ill often read something and Ill have an instinctive reaction of oh, I dont think thats right, I dont think thats working and Im usually wrong because I havent spent the time, she says. Im thinking of it from my instinct, not from the writers instinct. Ill have to read something many times, from slightly different perspectives and points of view, to work out what the writers intention is. Mitchell says there is another type of improvising that sometimes happens on stage: when an actor has forgotten a line. Pack it up Eleven!: Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran), Harper (Asher Yasbincek) and Missy (Sherry-Lee Watson) in Heartbreak High. Credit: Lisa Tomasetti/Netflix I actually left the stage once saying, Ive just got to take a piss, she says. But I was playing a character who could say that. I ran offstage, got the line and came back and said it feels so much better. I asked people and the audience had no idea. If you stay in character when youre improvising, you can get away with a lot.

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Screenwriter Hannah Chapman Carroll, who is the creator of the Heartbreak High reboot on Netflix, says it would be hard to find a writer who loves actors changing their words but there are times when improvisation can make a scene better. As a writer, Im always open to suggestions from actors but its got to be better, she says. How does she know? Thats part of the job of being a writer: trying to set aside your own ego and really learning to understand when something is better. Its also when a director might come in, to help decide what might feel better. Do actors want to improvise because they really know what their character would say or do they sometimes just want more lines? Ive absolutely had both, Chapman says. When its coming from a place of knowing their characters, and also on my show knowing Gen Z, thats absolutely when it can be better. But some actors do want more lines and thats when you have to gently encourage them to understand that there are lots of factors at play, including how much time we have to get this scene done.

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Making a living as a musician in this country, even in the self-proclaimed music capital of Melbourne, has always been tough.

Fewer punters heading out to live shows post-Covid, less music venues, pressures on the venues that do exist  from increasing rents and noise complaints to rising insurance premiums  plus big streamers who pay woefully, make it harder than ever.

Romy Vager, Uncle Kutcha Edwards, DJ Adriana and Chris Gill of Northside Records. Credit: Justin McManus

It feels like its coming from all sides. Youve got big businesses like Spotify putting its foot down on the small artists who dont have more than a thousand downloads, says Chris Gill, owner of Northside Records and Triple R broadcaster.

An upcoming talkfest at Federation Square, hosted by Gill alongside musicians including Uncle Kutcha Edwards, Romy Vager of RVG, Russel Howcroft - a broadcaster known for his role on ABC TVs Gruen but also a jazz drummer - and DJ Adriana, will examine these issues and more.
The promoter of a rock concert in the Domain that has been cancelled due to a backlash over it being held on Anzac Day says he is absolutely dumbfounded by the decision.

Pandemonium, headlined by veteran rockers Alice Cooper, Deep Purple and Blondie, had been planned for April 25 until premier Chris Minns stepped in to pull the pin.

Theres not going to be a rock concert in the middle of the city on Anzac Day, said Minns on Wednesday. That part of the city should be, and will be, a place for Diggers to commemorate with their friends and their family and for fellow Australians to commemorate those that have given their lives in the service of our country.

Veteran rocker Alice Cooper was to have headlined the Pandemonium festival. Credit: Rob Fenn

The move from the state government followed criticism from RSL NSW president Mick Bainbridge who said his organisation had not been consulted and that a rock concert would intrude on a day for respect and quiet contemplation.
TikTok has responded angrily to the decision by Universal Music Group to sever ties with the social media platform, accusing the music company of greed and self-serving actions.

The response came in a statement issued the day after the worlds largest music company went to war with the fourth-largest social media platform, when Universal announced it would pull its entire music catalogue from TikTok from February 1. The move is likely to have far-reaching ramifications for the music industry and fans.

London-based Universal Music Group  whose artist roster includes Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Bob Dylan, Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish  announced it was taking the dramatic step after failing to reach a new agreement with the platform.

Big flex: Is Universals decision to pull the music of its artists, including Taylor Swift, from TikTok a show of strength or a mark of fear? Credit: Invision

The existing three-year deal between Universal and ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns and operates the short-form video-sharing platform that now has an estimated 1.2 billion users worldwide, expires at midnight on January 31. From that moment on, no music from the extensive Universal catalogue can legally be uploaded or streamed on TikTok. Songs released by popular artists including Taylor Swift have been used in tens of millions of TikTok videos.
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Eating outJust open The milk bar cafe thats got RecipeTin Eats seal of approval A family-run milk bar in Melbournes north has been converted by the next generation into a cafe thats big on heritage. And its proving a hit with visitors from near and far. Emma Breheny February 1, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

As featured in the Melbourne March hit list. See all stories .

Old milk bars repurposed as cafes arent uncommon in Melbourne (see Tylers in Preston and Matilda in the eastern suburbs). But its rare to find one run by the same family that once sold newspapers and bags of lollies there. Emils in Pascoe Vale South is the exception. Brothers John and George El-Khoury have renovated the northern suburbs milk bar their parents ran for 34 years and the adjoining house where they grew up, transforming them into a cafe for 100 people thats a vintage-lovers dream. The cafe is a blend of vintage milk bar touches and contemporary design. Supplied Original leadlight windows, ceilings, picture rails and flooring have been united with new timber cabinetry, banquettes and a blue-and-white exterior that evokes the buildings history. Now people are dining in our old lounge room and our old bedrooms, says George.

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And not just anyone, either. Best-selling cookbook author and Good Food columnist Nagi Maehashi (aka RecipeTin Eats) visited at the weekend and was impressed enough to tell her 1.3 million Instagram followers all about it. The menu is full of nods to the past, with an emphasis on Lebanese dishes that were common on the El-Khoury table decades ago. Lamb kofta tacos are a spin on a DIY dinner that the childrens mother, Houda, often made, arranging homemade muhammara (capsicum-walnut dip), yoghurt, pickles and salad on the table for people to assemble their own. Thats how it comes at Emils, too. Houda El-Khoury is still in the kitchen every day, making items such as knafeh (a sweet filo pastry and cheese dish) and sauces including toum. Her fattoush salad and falafel wraps are among a full cabinet of choices that change each day.

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Every meal in our cafe has an aspect of our background pretty much, says John. Even the eggs on toast. Turkish eggs is one of several Middle Eastern dishes on the menu. Supplied Those come scattered with dukkah and zaatar, while labne is folded through the smashed avocado for extra richness. Breakfast, which runs all day, also features Turkish eggs made with the spicy sausage sujuk, and a decadent eggs Benedict served with slow-cooked beef rib. At lunchtime, you can also get poached salmon on spiced pilaf, grilled spatchcock with toum and burgers. The name of the cafe is another family tribute: its that of George and Johns father.

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The El-Khoury family (L-R): Houda, George, Emil and John. Supplied John and George say they have some customers coming to the cafe who recognise them from their after-school shifts in the milk bar, where they started helping out at the age of eight. Its great to be back where it all started, George says. Plans are under way to add a night menu from Thursday to Saturday. Open Mon-Sat 7am-4pm, Sun 8am-4pm.

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MARY DROST October 13, 1931-January 4, 2024

Mary Drost OAM, a tireless campaigner for the protection of Melbournes heritage and tree cover, has passed away peacefully at Knox Private Hospital early in January at the age of 92.

She was born Mary McMahon in 1931, in the coal mining town of Kurri Kurri, NSW, the second of five children, and only daughter. In 1938, her parents bought a home in Prospect Hill Road, Camberwell, where she spent most of her childhood.

She passed her matriculation at Korowa Anglican Girls School. After working for a year and a half, Mary made a sudden decision to travel to Europe by boat. She and a girlfriend hitchhiked and stayed at youth hostels on their way around Europe and the UK.

Out of Copenhagen, she and her friend met two young Dutch boys. One of them, Peter Drost, thought enough of Mary to introduce her to his parents in Holland, and fly to Australia to be with her after he finished his agricultural science degree.
Hundreds of students returning to Newington College on Wednesday were greeted with a parent protest outside the inner west schools gates as backlash intensified against a decision to admit girls to the 160-year-old institution.

A group of parents and alumni gathered at the private schools main entrance carrying placards that called for the college to abandon its plan to transform into a fully co-educational school by 2033.

Two police officers were in attendance, as well as school security at entrances.

Second-generation graduate of Newington College Tony Restos participated in the protest. Credit: Kate Geraghty

Former Newington student Dallas Morgan, who has a son at the high school, said the decision to open up the college to female students had outraged some of the old boys, and was urging the council to reconsider.
City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas has vowed not to let his tilt at state politics interfere with his council job amid fears his advocacy may be compromised by a combative relationship with government.

The prominent Seven West Media personality confirmed his intention to join the Liberal Party and nominate for preselection in the seat of Churchlands on Friday, ending 18 months of persistent speculation.

Basil Zempilas said his tilt at state politics would not impact his mayoral duties. Credit: Holly Thompson

He credited his sparring matches with the state government during his stint as lord mayor with having sparked his interest in politics.

But that was the very concern aired by residents at the citys annual electors meeting on Tuesday, which saw Zempilas grilled about how he would balance lobbying on their behalf with a political campaign, fundraising and a relationship with government likely to favour antagonism over cooperation.
Press Release

January 31, 2024 SP ZUBIRI: BULACAN IS NEXT GROWTH AREA

Renews push for creation of Bulacan Airport City economic zone and freeport Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri on Wednesday reiterated his push for the creation of a special economic zone in Bulacan province to entice more foreign investors and complement the soon-to-be-finished aerotropolis outside of Metro Manila. At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, Zubiri said he refiled Senate Bill No. 2266, or An Act Establishing the Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport, as it will help spur economic development by encouraging manufacturers in various industries to build their facilities in the area. "It embodies a vision of comprehensive development and inclusive growth in the province of Bulacan and nearby areas," the Senate chief said. Zubiri said that Bulacan can be the next growth area for ecozones, citing the successes of the ecozones in Clark in Pampanga and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). "Despite being previously vetoed by President Marcos, it remains a crucial catalyst to bring infrastructure development, attract investments and create jobs in the area," he said. According to Zubiri, the proposed measure has already addressed the concerns that the President raised in vetoing the original bill that the 18th Congress had approved in 2022. "We have to answer the concerns then to make sure that we do not have the same concerns again now," he stressed. According to Zubiri, having an eco-zone will further boost the economic potential of the P740-billion New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, which targets to bring in 100 million passengers annually. Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. earlier said that the commercial operations at the aerotropolis may start in 2026 as the land development activities in the massive airport complex would be finished next year. "This special economic zone is envisioned to attract world-class semiconductor manufacturers, battery power storage system manufacturers, electric vehicle makers and other new and emerging tech industries," Zubiri said. "The proposed Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport is expected to add US$200 billion in annual Philippine export revenues over the next decade - an increase of around 170 percent of current annual exports," he stressed.
NEW DELHI, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Indian government has announced a cut in customs duty on imports of key components of mobile phones from 15 percent to 10 percent, a senior federal government official said on Wednesday.

An official notification to this effect was issued by the Department of Revenue of the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday.

The items on which the customs duty was slashed include screws, SIM socket, battery cover, main cover, GSM antennae or other mechanical items of metal for mobile phones.

The decision was taken after the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) had submitted a report before the federal government citing a big variance in import duties levied in India and other major mobile phones manufacturing countries. The ICEA report had mentioned that high customs duty on mobile phones' components led to higher costing of the final product.

The move is seen as the federal government's bid to make India's mobile phones manufacturing facilities more competitive.

"The Indian government has cut import taxes on some components of mobile phones in a bid to make the local industry more competitive. The move will help the likes of Apple and Samsung to ramp up exports," said an online report by "The Economic Times" citing experts on Wednesday. 
China will dominate the key technologies of the 21st century unless democratic nations band together and agree to relinquish national control over digital policy, according to the United States top technology diplomat.

Nathaniel Fick, the US ambassador at large for cyberspace and digital policy, said democracies had been caught out by allowing Chinese company Huawei to dominate the international telecommunications infrastructure landscape.

They could not allow this to occur again with emerging satellite, undersea cable and artificial intelligence technologies, he said.

Nathaniel Fick, US ambassador at large for cyberspace and digital policy, said China must not be allowed to dominate the key technologies of the 21st century. Credit: Bloomberg

Fick visited Australia for meetings with key officials and business figures after travelling to Fiji, which will be a hub for a massive undersea cable project stretching across the Pacific funded by the US and Australia.
Former Turnbull minister Wyatt Roy has joined the leadership team at Neom, an ambitious and controversial $760 billion project to build a futuristic city from scratch in Saudi Arabia powered entirely by renewable energy.

Neom, which is wholly owned by Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund, was launched in 2017 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a bid to reduce Saudi Arabias dependence on oil and to diversify its economy.

Salmans vision for the megacity includes robots performing security, logistics and caregiving functions as well as more out-there technologies that dont yet exist, including flying cars and a giant artificial moon.

An artists impression of Neom, a city powered entirely by renewable energy.

The project is a key part of a plan from Salman  also known by his initials MBS  to modernise Saudi Arabias economy and its reputation. One of its three regions, known as The Line, is designed to have no cars, streets or carbon emissions. The Line will extend for 170 kilometres and all amenities will be available within a five-minute walk, according to Neoms plans.
Though some destinations are open about their desire to curb visitor behaviour, others are a little more low-key. Still, any place that is experiencing overtourism will be seeking to strike a balance between allowing visitors access, and keeping the effects of that visitation to a minimum. Below are some of those fragile though ever-popular destinations, with our guide (and theirs) to how best to conduct yourself to ensure minimum impact and maximum enjoyment for all. Think of it as a Palau Pledge  only, for every destination. Kyoto, Japan Refrain from bothering Maiko (also Geisha) while in Kyoto. Credit: iStock The problem Kyoto is a classic case of overtourism, a historic and beautiful city that is also quite small with a population of about 1.5 million. Yet it attracts more than 70 million visitors a year. This has led to significant problems for locals, who are unable to move about their city, to shop, dine and indulge in their cultural heritage in the same way they used to.

They say The Kyoto City Tourism Association has released a Kyoto Tourism Code of Conduct, a series of recommendations for visitors to lessen their impact. These recommendations include advice on cultural education and respect, encouraging visitors to interact with locals and participate in festivals and events, and even asking that they dont leave leftover food when dining at restaurants (which is seen as very wasteful in Japanese culture). Loading We say One of the ways visitors can ease the burden is to seek attractive alternative destinations, such as Kanazawa and Sakata. If you are going to visit Kyoto, refrain from photographing and hassling geiko and maiko (popularly called geisha) on the streets, and try to travel by subway instead of using the over-crowded bus system. Essentials Visit Kyoto from January to March to avoid the bulk of the crowds (though bring warm, waterproof clothes). See kyoto.travel Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam has released rules for visitors to curb bad behaviour. Credit: iStock The problem Here is another classic case of an intensely popular destination that is also locked into a small area with little room for overflow. Amsterdam is home to a little under a million people, yet welcomes more than 21 million visitors a year, many of whom are drawn by the liberal, party-going reputation this city has. That means a lot of drunk, rowdy tourists in a small space. They say Amsterdams tourism bureau has released a list of rules and regulations for visitors, introducing on-the-spot fines of 150 ($250) for acts of public nuisance such as littering, noise pollution and public urination, while drunkenness and the use of marijuana in the old city centre now carry a 100 fine. We say Acting appropriately in Amsterdam isnt difficult  if what youre doing would be illegal or upsetting at home, theres a good chance it will be in the Netherlands, too. Authorities want visitors to go out and have fun but to do it in a way that doesnt negatively affect residents. Essentials Avoid the crowds  including most of the British stag-do groups  by visiting Amsterdam in March and April, when the weather is still chilly, though the skies clear. Alternatively, try the likes of Utrecht or Rotterdam. See iamsterdam.com

Machu Picchu, Peru Machu Picchu has exploded in popularity in recent times. Credit: iStock The problem Not so long ago, Machu Picchu was a niche destination, considered too far off the beaten track for many travellers. Since the turn of the century, however, the Incan citadels popularity has exploded, with more than a million visitors tramping across this UNESCO heritage-listed site every year. These tourists have been causing permanent damage to the ruins and the surrounding landscape. They say Peruvian authorities are clearly torn. On one hand, several sections of Machu Picchu have been closed indefinitely to tourists; those visitors must now follow marked trails, and the number of daily entrants to the site has been capped at 3800. On the other hand, that daily cap will rise next year to 4500, and a controversial new airport is under construction nearby at Chinchero. We say To help protect Machu Picchu, its essential visitors follow all rules and stick to pathways on their visit. Its also best to go in the low season, around April and May, to help spread out crowds and support local businesses. Even better, give Machu Picchu a miss in favour of less-visited historic sites such as Choquequirao, Vilcabamba and Kuelap.

Essentials June to August are the peak months for visits to Machu Picchu, but April and May are cooler and quieter, and September and October are also pleasant. See peru.travel Southern Thailand Koh Ha right of the shore of Ko Lanta in the Andaman Sea, South Thailand. Credit: iStock The problem The beaches and islands of southern Thailand are phenomenally popular. Though this boom was in part sparked by the movie The Beach, the truth is that the likes of Phuket  according to some measures, the most overcrowded tourist destination in the world  Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Krabi were always going to attract large crowds, and those crowds would always damage the local environment. They say In 2018, Thai authorities took a drastic step: Maya Bay, the perfect patch of sea and sand that featured in The Beach, was closed to tourists entirely for three-and-a-half years to allow for its marine ecology to recover. The bay was closed again in 2023 for two months for similar reasons. Tourist boats can no longer land at the bay and swimming is prohibited.

We say Its essential for visitors to any popular area in southern Thailand to respect local rules and regulations. This is a country that relies heavily on the revenue generated by tourism, so dont stop visiting  instead, seek to reduce your impact on sensitive areas, and look to alternative islands such as Koh Lanta or Koh Yao Noi. Essentials The weather is best in southern Thailand from November to June, though if you can put up with the odd splash of rain, the off-season in the south is still pleasant. See tourismthailand.org Prague, Czechia Tourists pack the Old Town Square in Prague. Credit: iStock The problem Prague has been booming as a tourist destination ever since the fall of the Iron Curtain, and that popularity has led to huge changes in the historic centre of the city, where the resident population has been halved, driven out by higher prices, short-term apartment rentals, and tourist hordes. Boozy stag party groups are an ongoing issue.

They say Prague authorities had the chance for a reset during the pandemic and introduced Putting Prague First, a plan to sustainably manage the tourism industry as it recovers. This means adding facilities for residents in the historic centre, more closely regulating short-term apartment rentals and appealing to visitors to travel in a way that is slower and more respectful of locals. We say There are two key issues that visitors to Prague can help alleviate: the proliferation of short-term rentals, which visitors can manage by staying with traditional accommodation providers such as hotels, or staying outside the historic centre; and the behaviour of drunk, obnoxious tourists, which you can sort out by, you know, not being a drunk, obnoxious tourist. Essentials High season in Prague is summer, though spring and autumn are far more comfortable, and winter  with warm clothes  is charming, and will help you avoid the crowds. See prague.eu Bhutan Tigers Nest monastery, Bhutan. A daily traveller fee proved too successful. Credit: iStock

The problem Bhutan as a country has always been wary of tourists  the Himalayan nation was closed entirely to the world until 1974. Since then, entrant numbers have been carefully managed. The Bhutanese view their environment and their culture as extremely fragile, and so steps are still taken to curb the already low numbers of foreign visitors entering. Loading They say In June, 2022, the Bhutanese government introduced a drastic measure to deter all but the wealthiest visitors: it raised its Sustainable Development Fee  essentially a daily tax for foreign travellers  from about $100 a day to about $300 a day, on top of a $60 visa fee. That measure was a little too successful, however, with only 14,000 visitors subject to the tax arriving in the first six months of 2023. In September last year, the government slashed that fee to about $150 a day, effective until 2027. We say Bhutan is an incredibly beautiful, culturally rich nation that will reward those who make the effort  and pay the money  to experience it. But visitors must ensure theyre environmentally and culturally aware, behave respectfully and keep their impact as low as possible. Dont litter, dont steal, be polite, be unobtrusive, support local businesses and guides. Essentials You dont need to worry about overcrowding in Bhutan, so you can visit in the high seasons, from March to May, and September to November. Bring a reusable water bottle and pack for rapid changes in weather. See bhutan.travel

Venice, Italy Swamped  a cruise ship in Venice. Credit: iStock The problem The two factors that lead to overtourism  big crowds, small spaces  clearly apply to Venice, the floating city that has been incredibly popular among visitors for decades. Venices resident population has shrunk from a high of 175,000 to 50,000, while up to 120,000 daily visitors put a huge strain on its infrastructure and environment. Loading They say Venetian authorities have introduced measures to curb overtourism, including banning cruise ships over 25,000 tonnes from docking in the city, and beginning later this year, the city will experiment with ticketed, timed entry (checked by QR code), plus a 5 tax on visitors who arent staying overnight.

We say Part of the problem in Venice is that there are too many short-term visitors, many alighting from cruise ships, who dont stay the night, and barely spend any money, but just take up space. Visitors can help alleviate this by spending more time and money, steering clear of popular spots such as Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge, while also investigating alternative destinations such as Burano, Caorle and Udine. Essentials Visit Venice in winter, when crowds and prices are at their lowest, though be aware some attractions close earlier, and you will need to dress for the weather. See veneziaunica.it Bali, Indonesia Crowded Seminyak beach, Bali. Credit: iStock The problem In Bali its not so much the number of visitors, though, of course, that exacerbates the problem. The main, well-documented issue here is the behaviour of those tourists. News has travelled around the world recently of visitors to Bali exposing themselves at sacred sites, including temples, driving recklessly, drinking to excess, becoming violent, and working without permits.

Loading They say Last June, Balinese authorities released a list of dos and donts for visitors. These urge visitors to dress appropriately, respect the customs and beliefs of locals, behave properly at religious sites, refrain from climbing sacred trees, and dont litter, behave aggressively, or take inappropriate photographs. We say Without putting too fine a point on it, the code of behaviour required for Bali is simple: dont be an idiot. Dont act in ways you know would be unacceptable at home, and are certainly unacceptable in a foreign, more conservative country. Take the time to learn about local culture and sensitivities and act in ways that are respectful of that. Essentials Though Bali is at its best from June to September, a visit during the rainy season, from January to March, will help avoid the crowds and lessen your impact. Bring mozzie repellent, and dont plan to do too much scooter riding. See indonesia.travel Five more destinations with rules for visitors

Berlin, Germany

Issues for the German capital, which has seen a boom in visitor numbers, include short-term rentals driving out inner-city residents and local services being replaced by tourist-focused infrastructure. In response, the city has restricted short-term rentals and has also released Sustainable Berlin guidelines for visitors, encouraging them to stay in eco-hotels, plus shop, eat and move around the city in a sustainable way. See visitberlin.de Siem Reap, Cambodia Stone face Asura on causeway near South Gate of Angkor Thom in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Credit: iStock The trick when visiting this tourism-dependent city and country is to do so ethically and sustainably, given previous issues with water insecurity, damage to Angkor Wat and surrounding temples, and the popularity of elephant rides and orphanage visits. Visitors are encouraged to seek out ethical organisations such as Fair Trade Village, Kulen Elephant Forest and Jaya House River Park for accommodation and to obey all rules when visiting historic sites. See tourismcambodia.org Rome, Italy

Italian authorities have introduced a range of country-wide rules and fines (from $16,500 to $99,000) for anyone caught vandalising a monument or cultural site. Tourists can also be fined for sitting on Romes Spanish Steps, swimming in the Trevi Fountain, eating or drinking at famous sites around the country, organising a pub crawl in Rome, or even taking a photo of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. See italia.it
Anxiety at the very top of Ukraines wartime government has been laid bare, after rumours swept Kyiv on Monday that the president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was about to fire his armed-forces commander, General Valery Zaluzhny, after weeks of reported tensions. To oust one of the most popular figures in Ukraine would be deeply controversial, and would mark a pivotal moment in Ukraines conflict with Russia. So far, Zelensky has not announced that the general is being replaced. But that does not mean that Zaluzhnys job is safe. It may simply be that his replacement has not yet been lined up.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ousting one of the most popular figures in Ukraine would be deeply controversial. Credit: Nathan Perri

It was not the first time a plan to remove the general has been mooted, but it was the most convincing. A dramatic day began with leaks from MPs, who had been informed, possibly strategically, about a set of documents sent to a security committee for signing. Later, sources in the general staff and close to Zaluzhny confirmed that a shake-up was in the works. The Economist was able to confirm that an early-evening meeting took place at which the president informed his general that he had decided to dismiss him. Zaluzhny was offered another role: secretary of the national security council. He turned it down.

News of the plan was soon leaked to local media. The defence ministry and presidential palace denied that the general had been dismissed, which was technically true. But the problems  the dysfunctional relationship between the president and his general, and suspicions in the presidents office that the general harbours political ambitions  have not gone away. Both men look damaged by the row, and the disputes between Ukraines political leadership and its military command are worrying Ukraines main allies.

Two generals are being mentioned as contenders for Zaluzhnys job: Oleksandr Syrsky, 58; and Kyrylo Budanov, 38. Both are considered to be close to the presidential team. Syrsky, one of the armys most experienced officers, was the operational brain behind two of Ukraines most remarkable victories against Russia in 2022: around Kyiv and in the Kharkiv region. But his harsh approach to fighting has made him unpopular in parts of the military. Last year he sacrificed battle-hardened commanders in the arguably pointless defence of the small town of Bakhmut.
In 2007, I arranged a sabbatical at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Ahead of the course I was planning to teach at the University of Sydney, my stay allowed me to study the situation there firsthand.

In addition to meeting Israeli and Palestinian colleagues, I was introduced to the United Nations officials who had monitored the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory since 1967. Examining their detailed maps of illegal Israeli settlements, roadblocks and checkpoints made it clear, even then, that the two-state solution  a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza  was no longer viable. There were simply too many settlers, settlements and an all-pervasive Israeli military presence.

In the West Bank, the Israeli government is trying to drive out as many Palestinians as possible. Credit: Photo: Kate Geraghty; Artwork: Marija Ercegovac

The following year, I returned as part of a delegation of foreign academics for a study tour of the country. Part of the itinerary included a memorable helicopter ride over Jerusalems Old City and central Israel. The aim, the pilot explained, was to demonstrate the precariously small size of the country and thus elicit our sympathy. When looking down on the windy route of the relatively new separation wall, I couldnt miss how it intruded into Palestinian territory and snaked around the Palestinian town of Qalqilya, effectively cutting off its inhabitants from their agricultural lands and the rest of the West Bank.

Matters have escalated since then. According to the UN, between 2012 and 2022, the number of Israeli settlers living in the 279 illegal settlements increased from 520,000 to 700,000 people. Of these settlers, 229,000 reside in 14 settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.
2024 Hyundai Venue Limited - Review by David Colman

Zigging, zagging, and zipping







By adapting a Denim look for their top echelon 2024 Venue Limited, Hyundai stylists took a leaf out of a 50-year-old American Motors playbook. Back in 1973, AMC introduced a Hornet Hatchback with a Levi's interior that provided "The look of jeans, copper buttons, orange stitching...even a Levi's tab." That Hornet served as the precursor to a line of unforgettable Levi's Gremlins. While the new blue Hyundai does not pay homage to a specific brand of dungarees like the AMC did, the generic reference to jeans - both inside and out - is unmistakable. The petite four-door hatchback Venue is painted an unmistakable shade of Denim blue. But Hyundai took pains to counterpoint the blue with subtle white bumper inserts front and rear, white rocker panel stripes, and a stark white roof. The net result is a sort of dress shirt/jeans look that adds unexpected wow to an otherwise Plain Jane sedan.

The interior treatment is equally meticulous. The entire upper half of the dash is Denim blue, highlighted by four satin silver ventilation outlets. Cream-colored door armrests and lower dash reinforce the contrast motif. Heated front seats are upholstered in two shades of Denim with white piping on the edges and white horizontal stripes across the backrest. The front seats heaters accelerate from zero-to-toast in less time than it takes to back out of your garage. I found the seat architecture exceptionally comfortable while my longer-legged wife complained that the lower squabs were too short to suit her.

I really loved the simplistic design of the Venue's interior. Hyundai has brought back useful features that have recently disappeared from more upmarket cars. The fly-off mechanical handbrake is one such item, as are manual adjustors for seat position, backrest rake and steering wheel height. These simple comfort operations do not require the expense, complexity and extra weight required by electric motors and control modules. Even the design of the steering wheel is a throwback. Covered in Denim blue leather and fitted with prominent thumb cutouts, it's reminiscent of the kind of aftermarket 'racing' wheel you could buy back in the 1970's with a signature on the spoke from Jackie Stewart or Emerson Fittipaldi.

Now that we know about its captivating visuals, what's the Venue like to drive? After all, its 1600cc four banger is only producing 121hp and 113lb.-ft. of torque. Because this tidy tiny package weighs just 2,645lbs. the Venue manages to acquit itself with comparative honors in the 0-60mph run, achieved in a very respectable 8.5 seconds. Likewise, the standing start quarter mile requires a reasonable 16.7 seconds with a trap speed of 83mph. Push it to top speed on the Salt Flats at Bonneville and the littlest Hyundai of them all will turn 115mph.

The normally aspirated engine drives only the front wheels through a Continuously Variable Transmission that allows you to adjust engine speed with a number of preordained steps that emulate gear ratios. While the Venue lacks paddles for shift operation, its "Intelligent Variable Transmission" does provide a manual operation gate parallel to the normal PRND array. In the manual mode, you simply bump the stick forward for upshifts or pull it rearward for downshifts. This scheme works quickly and well, though the motor issues a disconcerting blast of noise if you downshift at an engine speed higher than 2500rpm. The tachometer Hyundai supplies is quite unique. Rather than reading in increments from 0 to 7000rpm, the digital unit here reads "2.5" at 2500rpm or "5.0" at 5000rpm. It takes some getting used to, but after awhile you get the hang of its shorthand.

Every periodic New Cars issue from Consumer Reports prints a synopsis of the comparative specifications for roughly 300 currently available vehicles. As near as I could tell, only two other cars are shorter than the 159" Venue: the 153" Mini Cooper and the 154" Mazda MX-5 Miata. When it comes to weight, only one car weighs less than the 2,645lb four-seat Venue: the 2,335lbtwo seat Miata. So if you are looking for the most affordable, nimble, and easy to park car of them all, this Hyundai is it. Venue Vidi Vici.

2024 HYUNDAI VENUE LIMITED



 ENGINE: 1.6 liter inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection

 HORSEPOWER: 121hp@6300rpm

 TORQUE: 113lb.-ft.@6300rpm

 FUEL CONSUMPTION: 29MPG CITY/33MPG Highway

 PRICE AS TESTED: $24,595

HYPES: Agility, Creative Exterior and Interior

GRIPES: Would Love to See a Venue RS

STAR RATING: 10 Stars out of 10
TOKYO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- An explosion occurred Wednesday at a thermal power station in central Japan's Aichi prefecture, with fire and rising black smoke seen on site, according to local media.

The blast took place at around 3 p.m. local time (0600 GMT) at the plant run by JERA Co., a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. and Chubu Electric Power Co., local police said.

Local fire departments and authorities so far confirmed no injuries resulting from the explosion at the JERA Taketoyo Thermal Power Station.

The explosion is believed to have occurred within the boiler facility on the 13th floor of the building, national news agency Kyodo reported, citing firefighting officials and the prefectural police.

Fires have been observed emanating from conveyors used for transporting coal, with black smoke seen rising from three areas. Firefighting efforts are still underway.

An individual who was approximately 300 meters away from the explosion site told a local broadcaster that there was "a loud noise," followed by "an earthquake-like shaking" a few seconds later.

As per JERA's official website, the power plant, one of the largest thermal power stations in the country, utilizes coal and biomass as fuel sources, boasting a maximum output capacity of 1,070,000 kilowatts.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the explosion. 
RIGA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Latvia will not prohibit the transit of Russian and Belarusian grain to other European Union (EU) countries, Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze said after a government meeting on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Krauze explained that the Agriculture Ministry had already started work on a draft law which would require that when importing and clearing grain in Latvia, it would be necessary to indicate whether the destination of the grain was Latvia or another EU country. Grain originating in Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to be imported into Latvia.

However, as part of the European internal market, Latvia does not have the right to restrict companies from other Member States from transporting Russian grain through Latvia to their own destinations.

On Jan. 29, the government coalition decided to ban imports of Russian and Belarusian grain into Latvia.

Krauze noted that the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council is expected to consider an EU-wide ban on Russian grain imports, with Lithuania and Estonia backing Latvia's position.

Krauze said that companies and farmers who buy and use Russian grain will not be eligible for state aid. This rule applies to support mechanisms paid since Jan. 1 this year.

According to the Agriculture Ministry's data, last year Latvia was the second-largest importer of Russian agricultural and food products in the EU after Spain. 
The alleged girlfriend (now ex) of Jack wrote to The Wash that she was led to believe Jacob broke up with her because he was moving overseas for a job.
Sindhi dry port will create huge opportunities for entrepreneurs





Business Reporter

Union Minister Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday urged the entrepreneurs engaged in the logistics and warehousing sector to acquire land near Sindhi in Wardha district to set up warehousing facilities. Gadkari said that the opening of the new dry port in Sindhi will create huge opportunities for the entrepreneurs. With the improved network of road infrastructure in the region and launching of Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway, export and import trade will see a stupendous hike in coming days. It will be a good opportunity for those who wish to expand their businesses, he said speaking at a panel discussion held during the Khasdar Audyogik Mahotsav.

Elaborating on the challenges and opportunities in and around Nagpur region, the entrepreneurs observed that Maharashtra should come out with a Sikkim Government like policy to further boost the sector in Vidarbha. While expressing his views Arif Siddiqui, Founder and CEO of Cogin Consulting, said the small State in the country's North East had successfully managed to attract sizable investment in the pharma sector. The Maharashtra Government should launch similar policies and change the face of the sector here in the region, he added Dr Viren Thakkar of Logistics Park India Ltd, said the strategically located Nagpur region has a huge potential to become a logistics hub.

He urged the budding entrepreneurs to invest in the sector but said that the newcomers should enter the business professionally and not just be an investor. K Sathianathan, Director, National Highway logistics Ltd; Bharat Bhusan Rathi, Head Distribution and Logistics, Mankind Pharma Ltd; Sudhir Agrawal, Partner Reliable Cargo; Rajan Agrawal, and Rinku Commercial Carrier; were the panelists while Shiv Kumar Rao moderated the session.
Bomb attack in Medical College: 4 more nabbed; two pistols, 6 cartridges seized





Staff Reporter

Garha police have succeeded in apprehending four more accused involved in hurling bombs and seized two country-made pistols and six live cartridges from them. The arrested have been identified as Rahul Kala (28), Yogesh Barman (24), Pratham Gontia (18) and Sanjay Barman, residents of Brajmohan Nagar, Mandwa Basti, Rampur. It may be noted that Garha police have already apprehended the two accused named Tanu alias Anuj Raikwar (19) of Mandwa Basti and a 17-year-old delinquent boy.

CSP, Omti, Devendra Pratap Singh informed that investigating the case of bomb hurling at cycle stand of Medical College and Hospital, Garha police already arrested two of the accused Tanu Raikwar and a delinquent boy. On the identification of arrested boys, police started a rigorous search for Rahul Kala, Pratham Gontia, Sanjay Barman and other. Continuing a thorough search, police have arrested the four more accused involved in the case and seized two country-made pistols and six live cartridges from them while further investigations are underway. Garha police have registered another case against the accused under Sections 25, 27 of Arms Act and 3/5 Explosive Act.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Belgian farmers stopped their tractors on highways and urban motor roads on Tuesday in protest of rising costs, unfair competition and European Union (EU) environmental restrictions.

Other problems include red tape, the inconsistency with the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), and the green regimen.

The farmers' protests have caused major traffic disruption across Belgium, with blockages on access roads to the port of Zeebrugge and significant bottlenecks in the road network.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo met the farmers' unions in Brussels late on Tuesday, and promised to raise the issues with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

De Croo said the concerns will be discussed by agriculture ministers in February. Belgium is now holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.

The past weeks have witnessed the farmers' fury in major European countries like Germany and France. 
CITIZENSHIP LAW





NO MATTER what some in the Opposition camp may say about it, the indication that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act -- CAA -- will be implemented across the country in a weeks time, points to an immediate national need to do so. No matter some States, obviously governed by political parties from the Opposition camp, oppose the CAA implementation, the rest of the country will have the law brought into operation in the next some time not too distant in the future. That will be a welcome development by every norm. When the Parliament passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the Opposition camp went into a frenzied politics that tried to distort the real meaning of the proposed law. Every possible ploy was tried to spread canard about the new legislation -- obviously to scare the Muslim community in particular, stating that it would deprive people of their citizenship. Factually, the legislation was aimed at ensuring citizenship to deserving persons and protecting their basic right to be an integral part of the Indian socio-political scene. Despite the fact that every functionary of the Government and the ruling camp tried the best to tell the truth about the new legislation, the Opposition camp and its hired intellectuals kept distorting the reality with the sole aim to mislead the minorities into believing that the CAA was aimed at depriving people of their basic right to citizenship.

The Shaheen Bagh episode -- that stretched for endless months -- was the outcome of that uncouth propaganda that produced nothing except filthy air and dirty dust. That that chapter was over only through judicial intervention, was another matter, but it did show how anti-national forces were active in opposing a thoughtful legislation. Thankfully, the Government appears to have thought of bringing that legislation to forefront from the back-burner of political hearth. This, therefore, is a welcome development. The resistance to CAA, however, was not out of any considered opinion. It was mainly because of the toolkit politics that sought to say no to everything the Government did. The attempt was obviously to show the world that there was nothing that the Government was doing right. In other words, the effort was to show that the Government was a gross failure. The opposition to the three new farm legislations, too, was a part of that toolkit politics. Unfortunately, the Government bowed to that pressure and agreed to put on hold the implementation of the farm legislations. That should never have happened, but the Government probably thought of a strategic retreat on it possibly to puncture the Opposition balloon quickly.

It is not fathomable what the Government actually achieved out of that retreat. The decision now to implement the CAA must be viewed against the background of those events. West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that she would not accept to implement the CAA ever in her State. A few other States may follow suit -- to support the political move promoted by the Opposition camp. But severely divided as it is, the Opposition appears in no position to present to the nation a firm rejection of moves such as the CAA or the new farm legislations. It is common sense that the Government would sooner or later implement all its legislative measures. The decision to implement CAA, thus, must be viewed from these many angles. There is no doubt that the common people will welcome the move even as the country prepares itself for the next general elections in the next about 100 days. Something good, thus, is going to be on the cards, which will do a lot of good to the country in the long run.
Culture Ministry tableau for R-Day wins 1st prize





NEW DELHI,

CULTURE Ministrys tableau themed Bharat: Mother of Democracy has bagged the first prize among tableaus that were part of the 75th Republic Day parade, officials said on Monday. The tableau blended tradition and innovation and captivated audiences with its masterful use of the anamorphic technique to display Bharats cultural heritage - often hailed as the mother of democracy, the Culture Ministry said. The anamorphic technique, skillfully employed in our presentation, added a contemporary touch, reflecting the dynamism of our culture. This modern twist seamlessly complemented the traditional elements, creating a tableau that stood out for its artistic finesse and cultural resonance, it said.

The Ministry of Culture said it takes immense pride in the achievement as it showcases our commitment to preserving and celebrating the diverse tapestry of India. Guj tableau on Dhordo tourism village wins first place in peoples choice category: GUJARAT Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday announced that the States tableau on Dhordo tourism village showcased during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi has bagged first place in the peoples choice category. A total of 25 tableaus were presented by the states, Union Territories and various ministries of the country during the parade on the 75th Republic Day.
Daring ATM Heist Thieves decamp with Rs 10 lakh cash





Saoner Correspondent

In a daring heist, a gang of criminals absconded with a sum of Rs 10 lakh after breaking open an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) located in Saoner town early Tuesday morning. According to police officials, the robbery took place between midnight and 6 am. Approximately seven criminals, who came in multiple four-wheelers brandishing sharp-edged weapons, were allegedly involved in the crime. The criminals wielded a gas cutter with which they skillfully breached the ATM and made off with the exposed cash. The targeted ATM of the State Bank of India lacked a security guard during the time of the heist which helped the perpetrators execute their plan without interruption, police said. A senior police official said that the robbers exhibited a comprehensive knowledge of the cash reserves stored within the targeted ATM which indicates meticulous planning. The criminals had evidently conducted a thorough recce prior to committing the crime. The police are scrutinising the CCTV footage to identify and apprehend the accused involved in the heist.

Upon receiving the report, Superintendent of Police (SP) Harssh Poddar, along with Additional SP Dr Sandip Pakhale and their investigative team, rushed to Saoner to inspect the crime scene. A formal complaint was lodged by Swapnil Maroti Gabhne (35), a resident of Saoner, which led to the registration of a case under Sections 457, 380, and 327 of the Indian Penal Code by the Saoner Police. This incident bears a resemblance to a previous ATM robbery in Butibori, which occurred in September last year. Swift police action in that case had resulted in the busting of the Mewat gang within a week. Meanwhile, local residents of Saoner have voiced their concern over the escalating incidents of theft.
INDIA, CHINA, RUSSIA TO HELP BDESH amid WESTern PRESSURE





By Ashis Biswas

Led by the US and the UK, the mighty Western bloc of countries have expressed their reservations about the nature of the Leagues victory. In cautious post-election initial statements, the Anglosphere (five eyes group) US-dominated West has commented on complaints of rigging, intimidation and violence in some areas, while taking care not to rubbish the eventual poll outcome.

FOR developing countries struggling economically to contain rising fuel, food and import costs in the post Ukraine war period, one positive sign of the times is that West-sponsored economic sanctions may not be as damaging as before. The experience of Russia and new emerging alignments within the world order suggest that no other country may face the kind of economic crippling that Cuba has had to endure for decades, mainly under unrelenting US pressure. This raises an interesting question: Has the West finally overplayed its sanctions card, which now includes the freezing of bank accounts of countries/ ruling regimes it perceives as hostile, without reference to international law/rules of business? It is not surprising that such generalisations about emerging world political trends in 2024 should be actively exercising/ engaging policymakers and analysts in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has just led the Awami League (AL) party for yet another five year term, following her election victory earlier this month. However, the outcome has not generated the usual exuberant jubilation/ euphoria even among the AL leaders, an unusual experience for a South Asian country. Major reason: led by the US and the UK, the mighty Western bloc of countries have expressed their reservations about the nature of the Leagues victory.

In cautious post-election initial statements, the Anglosphere (five eyes group) US-dominated West has commented on complaints of rigging, intimidation and violence in some areas, while taking care not to rubbish the eventual poll outcome. Copious western tears have been shed over the eventual pullout, not for the first time, from the elections of the main pro-Jamat Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which abandoned its own pre-poll campaign midway. The comparatively lower percentage of overall voting at 44% has also been highlighted. Yet in their immediate post election observations to national and international media, Dhaka-based Western diplomats as well as numerous Western observers admitted that they had not seen any electoral malpractice during their prolonged stay in the country, prior to and during the polling! Ms Hasina herself pointedly asked a few Western correspondents about the polling, seeking their views, unlike other major leaders in the sub continent. Again, there was no negative response -- but no appreciation, either. Nor was there any post -poll instance of screaming, hand-wringing Opposition leaders/ demonstrators running riot in Dhaka or Chattogram, in protest against the AL.

However, this is not to suggest that the polling was totally fair or free. Nobody can rule out the possibility of pre or post election intimidation campaigns in some areas or tampering with electoral rolls, in a South Asian country of nearly 170 million people. The East/West divide was clear in many other ways. India, China, Russia, all BRICS members, lost no time in congratulating the AL and its leaders. Mrs Hasina also referred to Indias consistent support to Bangladesh over the years, not to mention of India and Russias steadfast role during the countrys struggle for freedom. The strong political endorsement from the BRICS bloc has certainly boosted national morale in Dhaka. It was also a unique diplomatic initiative on part of the BRICS countries: matching hostile Western criticism and distrust at all stages of the elections -- before during and after -- Russia, India and China stood by Bangladesh move for move. To give only random examples: well before the outcome was announced, Russian diplomats had warned Bangladesh authorities that in case the AL won, the country should be prepared to face economic sanctions seeking to choke its export earnings from the garments sector from the West, on one pretext or another. In 2021-22, Bangladesh earned $42.6 billion from its garments exports, with the US/EU bloc accounting for over 90%.

Its earnings since have increased, according to reports. There could be fresh obstacles in Bangladesh receiving much help from the West in seeking advanced technological help, too. No wonder, Bangladeshi analysts have also confirmed such fears and are urging policymakers to take suitable steps. The process of making readjustments to fend off possible negative pressures from the West will not be easy, with Bangladesh forex reserves down to around $17/18 billion only from its earlier usual levels of between $38/42 billion until recently! In this situation, recent announcements from Delhi promising Bangladesh of continuing assistance for all ongoing bilateral connectivity and other projects could not be more welcome for Dhaka. Similarly, China has just announced that it will try step up its imports of Bangladeshi goods urgently, to narrow the existing trade gap. China has also extended an immediate invitation to Mrs Hasina to come for an official visit, to discuss future ties. In other words, Western sanctions or not, Bangladesh will not be left in a lurch. The world in 2024 has changed a lot since the sixties when US-imposed sanctions virtually crippled Cubas economy. And such major changes in these times will carry their own special message to developing countries in Asia and Africa, in 2024 and beyond. However, a word of caution for the ruling AL and its leaders now that they have won again, they must display more seriousness in addressing serious allegations of corruption, nepotism and money laundering among senior leaders /officials in domestic governance. (IPA)
Lease of life to 3, sight to 2, body to medical students





Staff Reporter

He was socially active and lived his life as a philanthropist. Extending a helping hand to everyone was his disposition. After his death too, Moreshwar Meshram gave new lease of life to three, sight to two through organ donation. Adding value to his death, his wards Sumit and Vaibhav decided to donate the body of their father, so that it would help medical students in their studies. Moreshwar Meshram, a 69-year old chowkidar with a private company was known for his good work culture and active social life. His family included wife Maya (65), sons Sumit (35), Vaibhav (29) a daughter Apeksha Dongre (31). As Moreshwar was not feeling well, his family members took him to the nearby hospital. After two days of treatment at Alexis Hospital, doctors found out that he suffered brain hemmorhage. According to doctors, his condition was deteriorating. The brain dead committee at the hospital
Money laundering case: EDseizes Rs 36 lakh, BMW SUVfrom Sorens Delhi house





NEW DELHI :

THE Enforcement Directorate has seized Rs 36 lakh, a BMW SUV and some incriminating documents after it searched the Delhi house of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, official sources said on Tuesday. The federal agency searched the 5/1 Shanti Niketan building of the JMM leader in south Delhi on Monday and camped there for almost 13 hours in order to question him in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land deal case of Jharkhand. The sources said the ED teams seized about Rs 36 lakh in cash, a Haryana registered BMW SUV under a name that the ED considers benami and someincriminating documents during the day-long operation. Soren, 48, who reached Ranchi on Tuesday, has informed the ED that he is ready to depose before them on Wednesday at his residence in the state capital around 1 pm.

A party official said in Ranchi that all the legislators of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led ruling alliance in Jharkhand have been asked not to leave the state capital and to attend a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the current political situation in the state. The investigation pertains to a huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia in Jharkhand, according to the central probe 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 states Social Welfare Department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi. An employee of the Jharkhand land revenue department, Bhanu Prasad Prasad, was also arrested by the agency in the case.
President, PM, Cong pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi





NEW DELHI,

PRESIDENT Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat here on his death anniversary. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid floral tributes to Gandhi at his memorial. A two-minute silence was also observed for the Father of the Nation. In a post on X, Modi said, I pay homage to Pujya Bapu on his Punya Tithi. I also pay homage to all those who have been martyred for our nation. Their sacrifices inspire us to serve the people and fulfil their vision for our nation.

Another X handle, which often shares anecdotes and developments linked to the Prime Ministers life, posted some pages from Modis personal diary carrying quotes from Gandhi. Cong pays tributes to Bapu: ON Mahatma Gandhis death anniversary, the Congress asserted that the true tribute to the father of the nation would be to not let the flame of truth and harmony be extinguished in the storm of hatred. The party also said that those who glorify Mahatma Gandhis assassin Nathuram Godse should not and will not be allowed to define the idea of India.

In a post on X, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge cited a quote of Mahatma Gandhi, The enemy is fear. We think its hate but it is fear. On Martyrs Day, we pay our respects to Bapu, the moral compass of our nation. We must pledge to fight against those who seek to destroy his ideals based on sambhav and sarvodaya, Kharge said. Let us do everything to protect the India of unity in diversity and ensure justice, equality and fraternity among our people, he said. In a post on X in Hindi, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi said that on this very day, the ideology of hatred and violence had snatched away the revered Bapu from the country. And, today the same thinking wants to snatch away his principles and ideals from us, he said.
Rs 2,367 cr worth road projects dedicated by Union Minister Gadkari





Staff Reporter

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various road projects costing Rs 2,367 crore in Jabalpur during a programme held at Veterinary college ground, on Tuesday. Addressing a huge gathering, Gadkari emphasized four essential elements for development i.e. Water, Power, Transport and Communication. Drawing a comparison with the United States, he stated that America is prosperous not because of its wealth, but due to its well-maintained roads. He expressed the importance of road infrastructure, anticipating a boost in tourism and commerce with the construction of better roads and resorts. He highlighted that better roads would increase tourist footfall and contribute to per capita income. Affirming his commitment to the welfare of farmers, Gadkari, who identifies himself as a farmer, said until villages, poor, laborers and farmers prosper, the nation cannot progress. He said his ministry has not only constructed roads, but also ponds for the storage of water and it will also lead to water conservation. There is a necessity to develop smart cities with smart villages for making India self-reliant India and roads play an important role in it.

He said it is Prime Minister, Narendra Modis dream to make India third-largest economy in the world with a GDP of 5 trillion dollar and it is possible through development of agriculture. Our Ministry takes the initiative that farmers will no longer become just Anna Data (food providers) but Urja Data (energy provider). I will provide as much electricity as Jabalpur requires. We will convert biomass into energy crops. CNG is being made from biomass. Gadkari said we have asked tractor and car companies to make hydrogen tractors and cars. I also have a hydrogen car. He said gravel and mud are required for construction of roads. We will build big water storage tanks next to the roads and give it to the government, in lieu of the gravel. This will lead to water conservation. With this, farmers will also be able to get needed water.

The Road Transport and Highways Minister further said that there is ample coal in Madhya Pradesh. He suggested Chief Minister, Dr Mohan Yadav to make methanol from coal. Vehicles will run with this. He said if the state government has an import effective, pollution free policy, then many works will be done from our side. We will undertake works worth Rs 3 lakh crore in Madhya Pradesh. In the coming days, Madhya Pradesh will come among the first three progressive states, he added. Addressing environmental concerns, he identified pollution as a significant issue in the country. Gadkari said he asked the MD of JCB company to make JCB on hydrogen, now it is being transported to America. Gadkari spoke about the improved highways, reducing travel time and creating employment opportunities. He stressed the importance of working on alternative fuels to combat pollution and foster economic growth. Those also present on the occasion were Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, BJP State President V D Sharma, Union Ministers Virendra Kumar Khatik, Faggan Singh Kulaste, State Ministers Rakesh Singh and Prahlad Singh Patel along with MLAs and other public representatives.
Soren returns, chairs meeting of alliance MLAs post ED search at Delhi home





RANCHI,

AMID suspense about his whereabouts, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren arrived at his official residence in Ranchi and chaired a meeting of alliance legislators on Tuesday. A high-voltage drama began unfolding after an ED team searched his Delhi residence on Monday, and camped there for almost 13 hours in order to question him in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land deal in Jharkhand. Later, the ED claimed to have seized Rs 36 lakh, an SUV and some incriminating documents during the search. Soren, also the executive president of the ruling JMM, had left for the national capital on January 27 night, while his scheduled Government programmes in the State were cancelled without any explanation.

The 48-year leader who was groomed into a leadership role by his father and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supremo Shibu Soren after his elder brother Durga Soren died in 2009, is possibly facing his toughest test so far. I reside in your hearts, he asserted facing the media for the first time post his return to Ranchi. After chairing the meeting of legislators at his home to chalk the future course of strategy, Soren went to Bapu Vatika, a local park, to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary.
A visitor poses for photos with a Bumblebee figure at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse) in Nuremberg, Germany, Jan. 30, 2024. As a leading trade fair for toys, hobbies and leisure, the Spielwarenmesse kicked off here on Tuesday with over 2,100 participating companies from around the world. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

People talk behind panda models at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse) in Nuremberg, Germany, Jan. 30, 2024. As a leading trade fair for toys, hobbies and leisure, the Spielwarenmesse kicked off here on Tuesday with over 2,100 participating companies from around the world. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

This photo shows miniatures at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse) in Nuremberg, Germany, Jan. 30, 2024. As a leading trade fair for toys, hobbies and leisure, the Spielwarenmesse kicked off here on Tuesday with over 2,100 participating companies from around the world. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

A visitor takes photos of a giant model at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse) in Nuremberg, Germany, Jan. 30, 2024. As a leading trade fair for toys, hobbies and leisure, the Spielwarenmesse kicked off here on Tuesday with over 2,100 participating companies from around the world. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

People visit the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse) in Nuremberg, Germany, Jan. 30, 2024. As a leading trade fair for toys, hobbies and leisure, the Spielwarenmesse kicked off here on Tuesday with over 2,100 participating companies from around the world. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Visitors pose for group photos at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse) in Nuremberg, Germany, Jan. 30, 2024. As a leading trade fair for toys, hobbies and leisure, the Spielwarenmesse kicked off here on Tuesday with over 2,100 participating companies from around the world. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

People visit the Best of China joint booth at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse) in Nuremberg, Germany, Jan. 30, 2024. As a leading trade fair for toys, hobbies and leisure, the Spielwarenmesse kicked off here on Tuesday with over 2,100 participating companies from around the world. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

A Chinese exhibitor talks with a visitor at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse) in Nuremberg, Germany, Jan. 30, 2024. As a leading trade fair for toys, hobbies and leisure, the Spielwarenmesse kicked off here on Tuesday with over 2,100 participating companies from around the world. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

People talk at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse) in Nuremberg, Germany, Jan. 30, 2024. As a leading trade fair for toys, hobbies and leisure, the Spielwarenmesse kicked off here on Tuesday with over 2,100 participating companies from around the world. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

A Chinese exhibitor talks with visitors at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse) in Nuremberg, Germany, Jan. 30, 2024. As a leading trade fair for toys, hobbies and leisure, the Spielwarenmesse kicked off here on Tuesday with over 2,100 participating companies from around the world. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

People visit the Best of China joint booth at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse) in Nuremberg, Germany, Jan. 30, 2024. As a leading trade fair for toys, hobbies and leisure, the Spielwarenmesse kicked off here on Tuesday with over 2,100 participating companies from around the world. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)
KIEV, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that 207 Ukrainian captives returned home from Russia.

"Our people are back. 207 of them. We return them home no matter what," Zelensky wrote in a post on Telegram.

Zelensky thanked the chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Kyrylo Budanov, the President's Office head, Andriy Yermak, and other officials, for the efforts to free captured Ukrainians.

Meanwhile, Yermak said on Telegram that the released soldiers served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service and the National Police. 
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A suspected dangerous object has been found outside the Israeli embassy in Stockholm, Swedish Television (SVT) reported on Wednesday.

Rebecca Landberg, press spokesperson of the Swedish police was quoted by SVT as saying that the object was assessed as a genuine explosive device, and it had been destroyed on the spot.

Landberg told SVT that the object was placed by the fence of the embassy area, and that it was the embassy personnel who found the item.

The police have reportedly started a preliminary investigation. 
Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng (C) makes dumplings with guests at an event celebrating the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. student exchanges and the Spring Festival Gala for Chinese and American youths at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng has recently called for clearing obstacles to educational exchanges, voicing opposition to U.S. actions to deny the entry of certain Chinese students.

"The dynamism of thought springs from mutual learning, and scientific progress would be impossible without exchanges," Xie made the remarks at an event celebrating the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. student exchanges and the Spring Festival Gala for Chinese and American youths, held at the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. Sunday night.

Noting that dozens of Chinese arriving in the United States, including students, were denied entry every month for the past few months, Xie said: "They held valid visas, had no criminal records, and were returning to school after traveling elsewhere or reuniting with their family in China. But when they landed at the airport, what awaited them was (an) 8-hour-long interrogation by officers, who prohibited them from contacting their parents, made groundless accusations against them, and even forcibly repatriated them and banned their entry."

"This is absolutely unacceptable. The Chinese side immediately expressed its firm opposition to the U.S. side," the Chinese ambassador said.

Looking back at the development and achievements of China-U.S. student exchanges in the past, Xie said: "Over the past 45 years, educational cooperation has always been a vivid example of our two peoples reaching out to each other, and one of the most productive areas of people-to-people exchanges. It has also laid a solid foundation for the stable development of the overall bilateral relationship."

"Although it has come under headwinds in recent years, the aspiration of both peoples for mutual understanding and learning remains unstoppable, and those supporting China-U.S. educational cooperation have never been absent," Xie said.

Echoing his remarks, Allan Goodman, the CEO of the Institute of International Education, said it's in "everybody's interest" that U.S. students and Chinese students understand each other's countries and societies.

"We need Americans to understand China, to live in China, to study Mandarin. It has been a tradition of our academic institutions to encourage them," he said.

Goodman told Xinhua that he is "very optimistic" about the youth exchanges in the future. "I think young people are curious about each other. They're the best ambassadors for each other's countries. And I expect over the years ahead, the numbers on our side will continue to grow, and we continue to want to welcome our students here."

Bob Holden, chairman and president of the United States Heartland China Association, said that youth exchanges between the two countries are "extremely important."

"A lot of the things that we're doing is try to build that bridge of opportunity" for young people, he told Xinhua.

"It's not a win-lose situation," Holden said. "It's a win-win situation for everyone." 

Guests learn to write Chinese calligraphy at an event celebrating the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. student exchanges and the Spring Festival Gala for Chinese and American youths at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Allan Goodman, the CEO of the Institute of International Education, speaks during an event celebrating the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. student exchanges and the Spring Festival Gala for Chinese and American youths at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Guests try painting Peking Opera masks at an event celebrating the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. student exchanges and the Spring Festival Gala for Chinese and American youths at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng (C) displays a woodblock print at an event celebrating the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. student exchanges and the Spring Festival Gala for Chinese and American youths at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Governor of the U.S. state of Hawaii Josh Green visited the Chinese citizen who was attacked and seriously hurt last week in Honolulu, vowing to offer the victim the best treatment, according to a release of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Accompanied by a working group sent to Honolulu by the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, Green visited the injured at a local hospital on Monday.

The Hawaii state government and local hospital will try their best to provide the best treatment for the injured Chinese, he said, expressing hope that the injured will recover as soon as possible.

The Chinese citizen was splashed with chemical liquid on a street in downtown Honolulu on the evening of Jan. 23. The 25-year-old was seriously injured and then received medical treatment in hospital.

On Jan. 25, Honolulu Police Department (HPD) arrested a 29-year-old male for attacking the Chinese citizen for second-degree attempted murder.

Charges will be sought with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, according to the HPD. 
HOUSTON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. House lawmaker Roger Williams, a Republican from Texas, said on Tuesday that he welcomes a convoy of protesters to travel to the U.S.-Mexico border and hold rallies as the border state has been in a standoff with the federal government over border security.

The protest group called "Take Our Border Back" launched a cross-country drive on Monday in Virginia heading toward Florida before bending west along the Gulf of Mexico, with separate rallies planned later in hot spots for unlawful immigration in Texas, Arizona and California on Feb. 3.

Their goal is to "shed light on the obvious dangers posed by wide open Southern borders," according to local media reports.

"The time is now for WE THE PEOPLE to PEACEFULLY assemble in honor of our U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights," the organization said in a statement on its website, calling for military veterans, active and retired law enforcement officers, ranchers, truckers, bikers, and others to join the convoy.

Many protesters have described themselves as part of "God's army" taking actions against "globalists."

"It's something they can do to call attention to the fact that Biden administration is totally inept on securing this border and doesn't really want to," Williams said in an interview with NewsNation on Tuesday.

"As long as it's peaceful, come on, let's go. And frankly, every trucker is welcome in Texas," the lawmaker said.

"(Texas Governor Greg) Abbott and his supporters are creating a media circus for political gain and to raise money," Domingo Garcia, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said in a statement, connecting the convoy with the standoff of Texas and the White House over border security measures.

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Texas cannot block Border Patrol agents from cutting the razor wires set by Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border as part of the state's response to a "crisis at the border."

In response, Abbott, the Republican governor, argued that the Constitution has granted Texas the right to defend and protect itself and that President Joe Biden has failed to fulfill his duty to secure the U.S. border by allowing millions of immigrants to enter the country illegally from the southern border.

Up to 25 other Republican governors released a joint statement last week in support of Abbott and Texas' constitutional right to self-defense. Former President Donald Trump, who is running for president again in 2024, has also sided with Abbott.

The Texas National Guard and state troopers are still rolling out concertina wire and preventing Border Patrol agents from accessing most of Shelby Park, a 47-acre Eagle Pass park along the Rio Grande where thousands of migrants have crossed.

Far-right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has even called for a "national divorce" in the United States to split the country based on political ideology into "red" Republican states and "blue" Democratic states.

A CBS News report called the "standoff" between Texas and the federal government at the southern border "unprecedented."

Observers have argued that the standoff reflects the nation's political fray, warning against a potential constitutional crisis that might further split the country. They also believe immigration will emerge as a critical issue in this year's presidential election. 
Per Abkhazian media reports, the de facto President of Abkhazia and the de facto Minister of Defense discussed the significance of Abkhazia's combat readiness during their meeting."Providing military security is the most important task for the country's government and the population as a whole. Taking into account the current situation and the hostilities in Ukraine, the risk of starting new military conflicts is increasing," de facto President Aslan Bzhania said.Vladimir Anua, the de facto Defense Minister, has announced the establishment of seven reserve units in Abkhazia. Additionally, for the first time in the last 13 years, the salaries of military personnel are set to increase. Official reports state that 100 million rubles have been allocated from the budget of Abkhazia to enhance combat and mobilization readiness, including the preparation of fuel equipment for military planes and helicopters.Bzhania stated, "The state will uphold the armed forces of the Republic of Abkhazia as the primary institution of our statehood."The Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, announced that the plan is to approve the government in the next session week.As highlighted by Shalva Papuashvili, the process of approving the government spans several days, with the government program undergoing initial discussions in committees before reaching the plenary session."The review will be spread over several days. Our goal is to approve the composition of the government next week. Salome Zourabichvili will also give a speech since, according to the regulations, her address is scheduled for the first day of the spring session. All these processes will be completed next week. I will submit my annual report in the following session week of February," said Papuashvili.According to him, there will be a session of the bureau next week, during which the government's hearing schedule will be approved. Subsequently, there will be several days of discussions in the committees, followed by engagement with the opposition. Finally, the issue will be brought to the plenary session."The plan is for the government to be approved in the next session week," Papuashvili said.
In this article, we will take a look at the 10 Cheapest Residency or Citizenship by Investment Programs in Europe. You can skip our detailed analysis of the Golden Visa and go directly to the 5 Cheapest Residency or Citizenship by Investment Programs in Europe.

While contemplating residency or citizenship in another country, the question that comes to mind is: Why would somebody migrate? The answer to this perplexity could be extremely subjective. For some, the idea of leaving their birthplace could be emotionally exhausting, but for others, it could mean a fresh start. Some might want to enjoy and experience this diverse, vast world rather than spend their whole lives in one culture and country. Then there are those who might feel lost in a new setting. In addition, there are practical reasons as well, such as a higher quality of life, access to better education, healthcare, etc. Therefore, the presence of the cheapest residency or citizenship-by-investment program in Europe holds great allure.

The European Parliament outlines factors such as social, political, demographic, economic, environmental, and climatic conditions as potential drivers of migration. According to the IOM World Migration Report 2022, an estimated 281 million people live in a country other than their birthplace, representing 3.6% of the total world population.

During this period, Europe (87%) and Asia (86%) emerged as the most favored regions for migration. The report also highlighted that 48% of immigrants were women and girls, 13% were children below 18, and 11% fell within the 15-24 age range.

Eurostat, the official website of the European Union, reported that as of January 1, 2021, 23.7 million people were living in EU member states who belonged to non-member countries, constituting 5.3% of the EU population. Germany, Spain, France, and Italy were identified as countries with the highest number of non-nationals.

Furthermore, a significant number of US citizens, especially high-net-worth individuals, have been drawn towards European residency and citizenship. Portugal, in particular, is considered the easiest European country for American expats to move to.

Story continues

You Can Indeed, Buy Your Happiness.To a Certain Extent

For all those captivated by the diverse, unique, and high-quality European life, numerous avenues exist to turn their dreams into reality. Over the last decade, an unprecedented surge towards European citizenship and residency has unfolded. This surge may be attributed to improved opportunities for jobs, healthcare, education, and religious freedom. Furthermore, factors such as financial security and tax incentives are propelling individuals towards acquiring residency and citizenship.

Obtaining residency or citizenship through investment programs in Europe is often one of the fastest and, in some cases, the most cost-effective ways. Residency by Investment (RBI) or Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs are formalized procedures that enable third-country nationals (TCNs) to obtain residence or citizenship in a host country by making a passive financial contribution, which may include government bonds, real estate, or bank deposits. These programs aim to grant individuals and their family members temporary or permanent residency, providing the right to live, work, study in the European country, and travel within the beautiful EU, along with the Schengen Area.

Is Golden Visa a Commodity?

Known as the Golden Visa, residence or citizenship by investment program, or immigrant investor program, these schemes have burgeoned into a prosperous European industry. In 2019, the highest investment reached 5.5 billion (approximately $6 billion). What is even more astounding is that this figure more than doubled in the next four years, with expectations of the trend continuing in the coming years. While the option of EU passports or "golden passports," sold by Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Malta, is no longer available, golden visas are still prevalent. Residence or citizenship programs in European countries such as Portugal, Spain, Greece, and Malta have significantly contributed to their economies. Portugal alone amassed 5.8 billion (approximately $6.32 billion) through its real estate sector. In Greece's real estate industry, this figure was reported at 3 billion (approximately $3.27 billion). However, recent events foreshadow a decrease in the trend towards golden visa types. Fears that these investments are being used as covers for money laundering and tax evasion, as well as concerns about possible corruption and security problems, have led EU authorities to demand strict diligence. Consequently, many countries have canceled some programs, and others are planning to do so.

To support the growth of this burgeoning sector, numerous companies operate with diverse specialties, all aiming to facilitate a smooth and profitable transition for immigrants into their new countries. One notable example is H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB). H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB), an American tax preparation company, offers a range of tax-related services, including those tailored for expatriates. Their international tax advisors can provide valuable assistance to individuals relocating abroad. Moreover, their online do-it-yourself tax software for U.S. expats offers a quick and easy solution, ensuring that those living abroad can file their taxes in a timely fashion and avoid penalties. In addition, H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) recently introduced a conversational artificial intelligence chatbox to address any queries from tax filers, showcasing the company's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its clients. Let's now head over to the list of cheapest residency or citizenship by investment programs in Europe.

10 Cheapest Residency or Citizenship by Investment Programs in Europe

telesniuk/Shutterstock.com

Methodology

To identify the most cost-effective citizenship or residency by investment programs in Europe, our methodology involved selecting programs with the lowest required investments for obtaining either citizenship or residency. In cases where multiple programs featured comparable investment thresholds, we conducted an additional assessment of the personal income tax rates in these European cities. This additional step served as a decisive criterion, allowing us to pinpoint citizenship and residency programs that not only require minimal investment but also come with a lower tax burden in comparison.

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.

After carefully sifting through a multitude of sources, we present to you the 10 Cheapest Residency or Citizenship by Investment Programs in Europe.

10 Cheapest Residency or Citizenship by Investment Programs in Europe

10. Spain

Minimum Investment: $545,000

For those aspiring to move to European nations, Spain stands out as one of the best options. The reasons are diverse, but let's summarize them in a two-fold approach. Firstly, the country is adorned with historical marvels and beauties. Its diverse and rich culture, combined with a low cost of living, attracts many to establish their roots amid such attractions. In fact, it is considered one of the top alternatives for retirement, comparable to Hawaii, on a global scale.

Secondly, Spain offers a highly attractive residency-by-investment program. The Spanish government, aiming to encourage foreign direct investment in the country, grants visas to individuals who make a substantial investment. This investment can take various forms, including a real estate purchase amounting to at least $545,000 (in one or more properties), a minimum investment of $1,090,000 in investment funds, bank deposits, or listed company shares in Spanish financial institutions, or a minimum investment of $2,180,000 in government bonds.

There are various benefits associated with it. The program allows the individual applying to bring their immediate family members (spouse, partner, financially dependent children, and financially dependent parents) with them. Applicants also become eligible for a temporary residency permit within a month and can attain permanent residency in five years, with an opportunity for citizenship later. For certain ethnic groups and nationalities, the citizenship period is only two years. This plan enables people to maintain a high quality of life and enjoy the Schengen Area without incurring additional travel costs. The property prices are low, and the personal tax rate is set at 47%. The Global Residence Program Index for 2023 has ranked this program at 7th place out of 26 programs.

9. Luxembourg

Minimum Investment: $545,000

As an economically robust European nation, Luxembourg is a veritable hot-spot for entrepreneurs and investors. The country's thriving business environment can be tapped profitably by affluent individuals seeking long-term investment opportunities. Luxembourg's Residence by Investment Program, introduced in 2017, presents a highly attractive opportunity offered by the government to encourage more foreign investment. What sets it apart is that it doesn't impose a real estate purchase obligation concerning the minimum investment.

Several investment actions can be taken to secure this residency, primarily involving a minimum outlay of about $545,000 in property, business, securities, and funds. Furthermore, this plan represents one of the fastest routes to residency or citizenship through an investment program in a European country. Applicants can achieve resident status in as little as six months, with the possibility of citizenship within five years. While providing a range of investment options, the country also requires a sufficient physical presence for investors to fall within the applicable tax bracket. The personal income tax rate in this country is 42%. However, it's noteworthy that there is no wealth tax, and favorable inheritance and capital gains tax policies are in place.

This program offers numerous benefits. With thriving business conditions and a politically stable nation, it allows for maintaining a high living standard. Additionally, the program provides the advantage of visa-free travel to 189 places, including Europe, Schengen areas, and the United States, which is a significant plus point. The presence of favorable corporate law is another advantage, ensuring greater business success and thereby justifying the original investment.

8. Germany

Minimum Investment: $381,500

As the largest economy among European nations, Germany stands out as an excellent choice for young entrepreneurs. While not a typical Golden Visa, Germany's Active Investor Visa sets investors on the path to permanent residency and eventual citizenship. Under this visa, individuals interested in establishing a business or working as a freelancer in any "liberal profession" in the country become eligible to apply. A temporary residence permit is typically obtained within 6-9 months, and permanent residency can be achieved within three to five years. Citizenship can be attained in less than eight years.

While the German authorities have not specified a minimum investment amount, various service providers have gathered evidence suggesting the figure is around $381,500. Investment options include business investment or providing proof of available funds for financing a project. No requirements for physical presence have been mentioned. Holding a German passport can enable visa-free travel to 192 destinations, including the US and Schengen territories. As one of the most cost-effective residency or citizenship-by-investment programs in Europe, this option is particularly attractive.

7. Cyprus

Minimum Investment: $327,000

While the majestic Mediterranean allure of this land has captivated many with its tropical weather and breathtaking beaches, there is much more to discover. For those seeking to establish permanent residence in this exotic island, an attractive opportunity presents itself in the form of the Cyprus Golden Visa. This program offers the possibility of permanent residency for non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss nationals.

While the Cyprus citizenship program has been suspended since 2020, the Golden Visa offers an avenue for obtaining residency through investments in real estate ($327,000 + VAT), shares in a business ($327,000), or in a Cyprus Collective Investment Organization ($327,000). This program stands out as one of the most cost-effective and efficient paths to acquiring a Cypriot passport, with permanent residency achieved in just 2-3 months and citizenship requiring a physical presence over 5 years. The program also extends the privilege of bringing one's family, including a spouse and children, with dependent children up to the age of 25. Notably, constant physical presence is not mandated; a visit once every two years is sufficient to maintain residency.

This program can pave the way for numerous opportunities. Firstly, the island boasts a high quality of life, offering access to top-tier education and healthcare. Secondly, the return on investment is attractive, complemented by various favorable tax schemes. The personal income tax rate is also lower than in some other European countries, standing at 35%. Additionally, Cyprus recognizes dual citizenship, and the passport obtained through this program enables easy visa-free travel to 176 places, including the Schengen areas.

6. Greece

Minimum Investment: $272,500

Greece offers one of the cheapest residence by investment programs. The country, renowned for its beautiful array of islands and wildlife, attracts many visitors and expatriates who settle down to relish the high quality of life, coupled with a low cost of living and picturesque surroundings. For those seeking permanent residency, an excellent option comes in the form of a residency-by-investment program. It has been the most renowned European residency investment program in recent years. While various investment avenues are available, including property investment, bank deposit, business investment, bond investment, public shares investment, and fund investment, the most economical route to residency or citizenship requires a real estate purchase of $272,500. This program stands out as one of the quickest paths to residency, allowing investors to attain permanent status in about 2-4 months and setting them on the trajectory for Greek citizenship naturalization in 7 years.

Among the numerous benefits associated with this plan, visa-free travel to 185 countries, including the Schengen areas, stands out as a top advantage. Additionally, this plan doesn't impose any minimum physical presence requirements, and the applicant can bring their family, including a spouse, dependent children, and parents. Greece offers excellent healthcare facilities for residents, along with quality education. Moreover, there are several tax incentives. While the personal income tax rate is set at 44%, government schemes like the Greece Non-Dom tax regime help reduce taxes. The country's double taxation agreements with 57 countries worldwide also prove to be highly advantageous.

Notably, property prices are among the most affordable in Europe, and investment returns are high. Investors can rent out their property and receive dividends through company shares, enabling them to earn a substantial income.

Click to continue reading and see our 5 Cheapest Residency or Citizenship by Investment Programs in Europe.

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Disclosure: None. 10 Cheapest Residency or Citizenship by Investment Programs in Europe is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, we will list the 11 highest quality caviars in the world. If you want to skip our detailed discussion on the caviar industry, its production in the United States, and future trends, go to 5 Highest Quality Caviars in the World.

While only valued at $377.1 million in 2022, the global caviar market is expected to grow at a compounding average growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% in the forecast period 2023-2031. It is expected to reach $785.82 million by the end of this period. Caviar is a luxury food product that has several health advantages. The rising awareness of this delicacy and its application in the culinary industry are primary factors driving the market's growth. Caviar is also used in the skincare and cosmetic industries as it is rich in antioxidants. It also contains hydrating components such as omega-3 fatty acids, which help nourish the skin.

Caviar industry was developed in the United States in the late nineteenth century. The first operation was set up by Henry Schacht, a German immigrant, in Penus Grove, New Jersey. The Delaware River had plenty of sturgeon fish, and Schacht's company became the first to distribute roe throughout the world. The United States became the leader of the global caviar industry, as it accounted for 90% of its production in the 19th century. However, as American sturgeon fish was overfished, it almost became extinct in the early twentieth century. The halt in the production of caviar ultimately made it a luxury item that only the rich could afford. Fast forward to today, and while caviar is still one of the most expensive foods in the world, it is much more affordable, thanks to sustainable farming practices. Today, California is the major hub for caviar production, as it accounts for 80% of the produce in the United States. Much of this caviar production in California is concentrated in the Sacramento region, which is also known as the caviar capital of the United States.

Story continues

Emerging technologies, changing consumer preferences, and market dynamics are shaping the future trends in the caviar industry. As an emerging trend, technology is being used to optimize and enhance caviar production. Caviar producers are also looking to diversify their products to meet the demands of a wider consumer base. The use of caviar in cosmetic products is one example of the diversification. Another example of diversification is the use of caviar powder as a condiment or a sprinkle on various dishes. This trend is driven by fine dining enthusiasts.

Ultimately, the success of the caviar industry relies on sustainable practices. Over-exploitation of caviar sources could lead to the extinction of its source and impact the industry negatively. Sustainable production practices are already prevalent in the caviar industry. Much of the caviar in the market is farmed through aquaculture, which is the farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants in controlled environments. In the caviar production process, roe is harvested from sturgeon raised in captivity through aquaculture. This process of sturgeon farming is quite complex as it requires specific conditions such as the right temperature, stock, and water quality. So, innovative technologies and sustainable aquaculture practices have been designed for the production of caviar.

Given the importance of aquaculture and sustainable farming, some companies have specialized expertise in the field. One such company is Aquabounty Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:AQB), which specializes in aquaculture and genetic modification. The company has a focus on land-based aquaculture, which benefits the general aquaculture sector. Research and development by Aquabounty Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:AQB) on fish farming can have positive implications for the caviar industry as well. Aquabounty Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:AQB) aims to create products that increase the productivity of aquaculture, which would benefit the caviar industry. More recently, the company has been in the process of building a salmon fishing facility near the Michindoh Aquifer and the St. Joseph River. While concerns were raised regarding the potential of the project to affect drinking water in the area, a judge in Williams County Court of Common Pleas ordered the commissioner to approve the company to build a wastewater transmission pipeline and water transmission pipeline. When completed, this facility will produce around 10,000 metric tonnes of genetically modified salmon every year.

11 Highest Quality Caviars in the World

funkyfrogstock/Shutterstock.com

Methodology

To curate our list of the 11 highest quality caviars in the world, we created a methodology that included the following factors: Curing Technique, Type of Caviar, Taste and Texture, and Popularity. For the first factor, we evaluated the curing technique of caviar with the help of expert blogs. For the second factor, we considered which types of caviar are traditionally considered good. For fourth and fifth factors, we relied on online forums such as Reddit. For each of these factors, we rated the caviars out of five and summed up our ratings of all factors to arrive at the Insider Monkey Total. As a tie-breaker, we used our rating on the 'popularity' factor. Our list of caviars includes traditional caviars and some specifically branded recipes and combinations.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional looking for the best stocks to buy you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

11 - Wild-Caught Caviar

Curing Technique - 3

Type of Caviar - 2

Taste and Texture - 2

Popularity - 2

Insider Monkey Total Score - 9

Wild-caught caviar, as the name suggests, is not obtained through farming practices. It is perfect for those who like a more assertive flavor compared to farmed caviar. Since this type of caviar is easier to source and is not everyone's cup of tea, it is more affordable. However, it still has the rich buttery and briny flavor that caviar is known for. Wild-caught caviar might not be as consistent in its flavor profile as farmed caviar, but it still is one of the highest-quality caviar in the world.

10 - Hackleback Caviar

Curing Technique - 3

Type of Caviar - 3

Taste and Texture - 2

Popularity - 2

Insider Monkey Total Score - 10

Hackleback caviar has a rich nutty flavor and firm pearls, making it one of the highest-quality caviars in the world. This caviar is a much more affordable alternative to some of the more expensive ones on our list. It has a unique flavor profile as it also has a hint of sweetness not seen in other types of caviar. In addition, the size of the pearls is larger compared to other caviars. Some of the major brands offering Hackleback caviar include Marshallberg Farms and Marky's.

9 - Paddlefish Caviar

Curing Technique - 3

Type of Caviar - 3

Taste and Texture - 3

Popularity - 2

Insider Monkey Total Score - 11

This type of caviar comes from the egg of paddlefish, which is found in Tennessee and Kentucky. It is a relatively affordable caviar, which makes it ideal for those who want to indulge themselves without breaking the bank. Paddlefish caviar has a bold and earthy taste, coupled with the buttery texture that caviar is famous for. Paddlefish caviar is often used in dishes that require a caviar-like texture, such as sushi. It has a milder flavor compared to traditional caviar, which also makes it suitable for those who are trying caviar for the first time. Some of the major brands of paddlefish caviar are Marky's, Imperia Caviar, and Caviar Star.

8 - Osetra Supreme Caviar

Curing Technique - 5

Type of Caviar - 4

Taste and Texture - 5

Popularity - 1

Insider Monkey Total Score - 15

Sourced from the finest Osetra sturgeon, it is one of the highest-quality caviars in the world. Osetra supreme caviar is one of the most sought-after delicacies in the world. It is known for its glistening grey pearl look and has a smooth creamy flavor. Osetra Supreme is a more premium and high-priced caviar. A single serving of a well-known brand can cost upwards of $70. Some of the major brands that sell osetra supreme caviar are Caviar Supreme and Sasanian Caviar.

7 - Two-Tone Osetra Caviar

Curing Technique - 4

Type of Caviar - 5

Taste and Texture - 4

Popularity - 2

Insider Monkey Total Score - 15

Two-tone Osetra caviar is a rare specialty among caviars, as it represents less than 3% of the total harvest. It is a highly-priced and sought-after delicacy, which has an impeccably snappy texture. Two-tone Osetra caviar has a mix of amber and light golden tones, which makes it stand out from other caviars. Its unique distinct flavor profile also sets it apart from other mainstream caviars. Some of the major brands offering two-tone Osetra caviar are Marshallberg Farm and Regalis Foods. It is a premium caviar which is also priced accordingly, as an ounce of two-tone Osetra caviar can cost up to $500 in the United States.

6 - American Raised Osetra Caviar

Curing Technique - 4

Type of Caviar - 4

Taste and Texture - 4

Popularity - 3

Insider Monkey Total Score - 15

American-raised Osetra caviar is one of the highest-quality caviars in the world. This caviar is specifically sourced from Osetra sturgeons found in the United States. It has a cleaner flavor compared to the more traditional caviar. However, it is still subtly nutty and has a firm yet buttery texture that caviar is known for. American-raised Osetra caviar is usually not as salty as other caviars, but the exact saltiness depends on the brine and how long the eggs sit in it. It is known to be consistent with its flavor, which is why it is also priced at a premium.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Highest Quality Caviars in the World.

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Disclosure: none. 11 Highest Quality Caviars in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey
Orangefield HOSA-Future Health Professional students traveled to Barbers Hill High School to represent OHS at their first ever Spring Leadership Conference. Students competed in the following events: Health Career Display Poster, Prepared Speaking, Medical Art Poster, and Personal Care Skills. Katie Guyote walked away with 1st place in her event, Personal Care, and an invitation to compete at the HOSA State Conference in April. These future health professionals took a leap of faith and stepped into the unknown. They should all be proud, as they have paved the path for future OHS HOSA students.

1st place medalist in Personal Care Skills - Katie Guyote
The Stark Museum of Art is pleased to announce its latest exhibition, "ART: It's Elementary," showcasing the artistic talents of local kindergarten through third grade students. The exhibition, on view through March 9, promises to be a celebration of creativity and imagination, while also providing a platform for young artists to shine.

"'ART: It's Elementary' is an inspiring collection of original works of art that showcase the colorful and imaginative world of young artists," said Jennifer Dickinson, interim executive director of the Stark Museum of Art. "The Stark Museum of Art believes in fostering creativity from an early age, and 'ART: It's Elementary' is a testament to the incredible creativity of our local students."

The Fifth Annual "ART: It's Elementary" features 39 original works of art from Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana elementary schools including Bridge City Intermediate School, Fehl Price Elementary School, Frasch Elementary School, Little Cypress Elementary School, Orangefield Elementary School, T.S. Cooley Elementary School and Young Leaders Academy.

Featured students artists include:

Bridge City Intermediate - Eli Carden, 3rd Grade; Arantza Carranza, 3rd Grade; Joliet Ellender, 3rd Grade; Rosie Gomez, 3rd Grade; Reid Lapeyrolerie, 3rd Grade; Yailin Mozqueda, 3rd Grade; Ridley Smith, 3rd Grade; Olivia Swanzy, 3rd Grade; Jaria Torres, 3rd Grade; Chloe Wallace, 3rd Grade.

Fehl-Price Elementary - Raylan Bass, 2nd Grade; Autumn Flanagan, 1st Grade; A'wryia Owens, 1st Grade; Jaslyion Sellers, Kindergarten; Alvin Wade, 1st Grade.

Frasch Elementary - Charlotte Coleman, 2nd Grade; Reese Miller, 2nd Grade; Averie Mooney, 1st Grade.

Little Cypress Elementary - Vada Dickson, 3rd Grade; Alice Henning, 3rd Grade;

Charlotte Henning, 2nd Grade; Kimberley Jannise, 3rd Grade; Hays St. John, 3rd Grade,

Parker Smith, 3rd Grade; Adelyn Vargas, 3rd Grade; Logan White, 3rd Grade; Alaina Williamson, 3rd Grade; Lauren Wu, 3rd Grade.

Orangefield Elementary - Mia Goetzmann, 3rd Grade, Colbie Jackson, 2nd Grade, Aubree Loden, 2nd Grade; Ava Palumbo, 2nd Grade; Adalynn Wiggins, 3rd Grade.

T.S. Cooley Elementary - Elena Rosti, 2nd Grade; William Rase, 2nd Grade; Morgan Smith, 2nd Grade, Austin Whatley, Kindergarten; Audrey Folse, 1st Grade.

Young Leaders Academy - Avery Fontenot, 3rd Grade.

Student artists were celebrated at a Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, January 27, at 2 p.m. during Family Day at the Stark Museum of Art. All student artists in the exhibition were recognized and presented with an award ribbon during the ceremony.

Admission to the Stark Museum of Art is free, providing an accessible and enriching cultural experience for the entire community.

For more information about the Stark Museum of Art and other upcoming events, please visit starkmuseum.org.

The Stark Museum of Art is open Wednesday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stark Museum of Art is located at 712 Green Avenue in Orange, Texas.
Gisela Houseman and Dr. Marty Rutledge helped cut the ribbon for Orange County's new hospital at the Gisela Houseman Medical Campus off Interstate 10 east of Texas Highway 62. The hospital is operated by Christus St. Elizabeth in Beaumont and includes in-patient rooms plus a 24-hour a day emergency room. The county has been without a hospital for seven years.

Philanthropist Gisela Houseman and Dr. Marty Rutledge took the center of attention Tuesday afternoon as the helped cut the ribbon for Orange's first hospital in seven years.

The two were crucial in getting the new, 24-hour hospital built and operating on what is now called the Gisela Houseman Medical Campus, which includes a professional building. Dr. Rutledge is an Orange native with a longtime general family medical practice here.

The 55,000 square foot hospital is operated by Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont and is located on 20 acres of Eagle Point development off Interstate 10 at Texas Highway 62.

The hospital has a 24-hour emergency room plus in-patient rooms, along with a full laboratory and services like CT scans, MRI, ultrasound, and 3D mammograms. Several specialists and specialist clinics have already moved into the professional building at the site, including Dr. Rutledge.

Dr. Rutledge worked to get the hospital plans going after Baptist Hospital of Southeast Texas announced in late 2016 that the hospital would close its emergency room in January 2017.

Baptist had the former Orange Memorial Hospital on Strickland Drive since the county sold it in 1988. In May 2013, the hospital quit delivering babies and providing obstetrics because of a loss of income. Then two years later, Baptist closed the 112-room in-patient services.

Still, Baptist kept its emergency room open, but that ended seven years ago. Since then, the county had only privately-owned, free-standing emergency clinics serving people. Ambulance service required an emergency patient be taken to a hospital with in-patient rooms, so local emergency patients had to be transported to Beaumont or Port Arthur.

A group of citizens worried about the lack of a local hospital, tried to form a special hospital district with taxing powers. However, the election in 2016 failed by a large margin as local voters didn't want to pay more property taxes, even to support a hospital.

Houseman, who owns the Houseman Companies, donated the land at Eagle Point, which had been designed for commercial development, and has helped with the Houseman Foundation.

The city of Orange's Economic Development Corporation also assisted by paying for an entryway and drives into the property. The city EDC also financed the construction of water and sewer services to the acreage and even built a new water plant and storage tower nearby.

Orange Mayor Larry Spears Jr., along with Orange County Judge John Gothia, Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce President Ida Schossow, and other dignitaries attended the ceremony, which was festooned with purple balloons and purple curtain backgrounds.
The Bridge City school district held a going-away reception to honor the district's director of special education, Corrin Gonzales. She has been chosen to be the new Texas Region 5 Education Service Center's director of special education. Region 5 helps some 30 school districts in Southeast Texas, including Bridge City ISD.
The festivities included honoring past kings and queens, including Betty Harmon, escorted by her daughter, Debora Harmon Lanciaux, and past king Paul Burch. Betty and her late husband, Corky, were queen and king the second year

More than 20 years ago, Betty Harmon began putting into motion an idea from the late Carolyn Hogan for Orange to have a Mardi Gras celebration.

"I never thought it would grow to this magnitude," Harmon said as the city gets ready for three days of events with the 20th anniversary of the first parade.

The celebrations will start Thursday evening with a free concert at the Riverside Pavilion and culminate Saturday evening with the grand parade through downtown Orange.

Before Mardi Gras was a big deal here, Harmon was in charge of the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce. She recalled the group was looking for a community fundraiser to replace the gumbo cookoff that had started in the late 1970s. She said the Orange cookoff drew fewer and fewer people as more groups in the area had similar cookoffs.

Carolyn Hogan of Orange came into the chamber office one day. Hogan and her husband, Melvin, had a beach house on Bolivar Peninsula, which had a Mardi Gras celebration. The Hogans participated with a float there, but wanted to bring the experience to Orange.

"Carolyn said, 'It's a shame Port Arthur and Beaumont have a Mardi Gras, but Orange, which is so close to Louisiana, doesn't,'" Harmon said.

Harmon brought the suggestion to the chamber board. She said it took about two years for the board to approve the plan and rules for krewes having a parade.

Mardi Gras in French translates to "Fat Tuesday," or the day before Lent season begins. Gradually, it became a term for a party or a special parade.

Because other nearby cities have their Mardi Gras celebrations the weekend before Fat Tuesday, the Orange chamber set theirs to two weekends before Fat Tuesday. That way, the Orange event did not compete with parades in other communities.

That decision ended up a wide choice. The Orange Mardi Gras parade has become known for the large amount of beads, stuffed animals, and other trinkets thrown by the krewes from their floats. Hundreds of the spectators lining downtown streets are from out of town.

Now, the City of Orange Convention and Visitors Bureau helps the chamber sponsor the parade.

Traditionally, a ball is held for the krewes before the parade. The Hogans were named king and queen of the ball and parade the first year because of their contributions to starting the event.

According to Harmon, getting krewes and people to support making the floats and dressing in costumes, took some work. "We had so many community volunteers," she said. "It wasn't just me."

Besides the Hogans, Juanita Smith and her late husband, Edward, were organizers along with Ebb and Kim Moore. "We had so many good volunteers, I know I am leaving some out," said Harmon, who has been retired for several years.

The ball has become as much of a community mainstay as the parade. Krewes, or groups that sponsor the elaborate floats, also sponsor the Mardi Gras ball, complete with handmade imaginative costumes for royalty, including the king and queen.

Last week, Jerry and Susan Pennington reigned over the ball as 2024 king and queen when past kings and queens were honored. Harmon and her late husband, Corky, were named king and queen the second year of the Mardi Gras here.

This year, Harmon received a standing ovation as she walked at the ball during the tribute to the past royalty.

She marvels at how the ball, too, has grown and is pleased to see new generations participating. "It's catching on with the young," she said. "It's not a society event like the country club."

King Jerry and Queen Susan Pennington presided over the 20th annual Orange Mardi Gras ball. The Penningtons will be riding in their elaborate costumes during the big Krewe of Krewes Mardi Gras parade through downtown Orange at 6 p.m. Saturday, February 3.

This year, a young man looking dapper in a tuxedo came up and greeted her. She didn't recognize him until he told her his name. He was one of the best friends of her grandson.

Except for one year, the ball has been held at the VFW hall off North Highway 87 in Orange. Harmon said the open floor space is perfect for the march of royalty pageant. Plus, ball-goers use the bar at the VFW for purchases, so the event helps the post, too, Harmon said.

Each krewe decorates their own table and brings their own foods. And of course, after the pageantry and presentations, dancing begins. It wouldn't be a Mardi Gras event without a good fais do-do.

Harmon, who is in her 80s, is not dancing as much as she used to. She uses a walker to get around these days, but emphasizes it's only because of her knees. "Everything else is fine," she said.

But though she doesn't move as quickly as she once did, you can bet to see Betty Harmon out celebrating Mardi Gras on the Sabine. And she's one of the ones praying the rain stays away Saturday.
Orange County voters will get a chance Thursday to meet and hear the three candidates running for Precinct 2 constable. Then next week, the the four Republican candidates will be featured in a forum.

The forums are sponsored by the Orange County Republican Party for three of the four local contested races. Because the Democratic Party has no local candidates, the winners of the Republican primary races will run unopposed in the November General Election.

On Thursday, February 1, the forum for Precinct 2 constable will be at 6:30 p.m. at Mauriceville Elementary School, 20040 FM 1130 in Mauriceville. Incumbent Jeremiah Gunter is being opposed by retired law enforcement officers David Bailey and Harold Hass. Bailey currently sits on the Orange City Council with his seat up this May. So far, he has not filed to run again for the council.

Only registered voters who live within Precinct 2 are allowed to vote for that constable's position.

The sheriff's forum will be Thursday, February 8, at 6:30 p.m. at Little Cypress Elementary School, 5723 Meeks Drive in Orange. Candidates are incumbent Jimmy Lane Mooney, who is seeking his second four-year term. He is being challenged by veteran law officers Ron Dischler, Mike Sanchez, and Bobby Smith.

All registered Orange County voters will be able to cast a ballot for sheriff. A candidate must have 50 percent of the vote plus one more to win without a runoff. If needed, a runoff will be between the two candidates with the most votes.

In Texas, the primary runoff races this year will be May 28. If someone votes in the Democratic Party primary, they will not be allowed to vote in a Republican primary runoff.

A forum for the two Precinct 4 constable candidates, incumbent Matt Ortego and challenger Captain Joey Jacobs with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, was held Monday, January 29, in Vidor.

A contested race is also being held this year for chair of the Orange County Republican Party with incumbent Leo Labouve III being challenged by Cheryl Warren. No forum has been set for that position.

The March 4 primaries this year will include voting for presidential candidates to represent the individual parties. The last day to register to vote in the primaries is Monday, February 5. Early voting will begin February 20.

The party primary races should not be confused with the May elections for city councils, school boards, and boards of special districts. Filling for those office is ongoing through February 17
In this article, we will list and explore the 15 Cheapest countries to get permanent residency Heading into 2024. You can skip our detailed analysis and go directly to our list of 5 Cheapest countries to get permanent residency Heading into 2024.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread alterations around the world. The cost of living has skyrocketed in most nations, forcing people to take drastic steps. Even advanced economies are reeling under the pressure of rising inflation and decreasing purchasing power. It is thus, no wonder, that a search for a better standard of living, with low cost, has contributed to a surge for relocation to another country.

The United States for instance, is experiencing some unprecedented scenarios in the aftermath of the coronavirus. With their budget tightening, residents are making permanent moves, particularly to European nations like Portugal, France, Germany, and Spain. While the scenic marvels of these nations are alluring aspects for US residents, other reasons such as affordable excellent healthcare, property, and quality of life are also strong drivers behind this action. The situation in the United Kingdom is no better. The cost of living rose significantly during 2021-2022, with the inflation figure recorded at 11.1% in October 2022 -- a 41-year high. In addition, 557,000 people left the country by the end of December, 2022.

Desperate for the Cheapest Destination?

People, anywhere and everywhere, evaluate the necessities of life highly, and this becomes even more crucial while making a decision that would uproot your whole life. A decision about moving to a different country, and in some cases, a different continent, is not something that can be done on just a cursory analysis. In fact, it should be based on a calculated assessment of multiple indicators, such as the cost of living, security, political stability, civil strife, and the business environment. While constant worsening financial status might urge one to throw caution to the wind, long-term success would dictate a careful selection. Many countries have a very low cost of living, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Sri- Lanka, and Tunisia, etc. However, these countries are beset with certain other problems that can greatly hamper quality of life. Therefore, the final decision should be based upon a thorough country-specific breakdown of essential social and economic indicators.

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Permanent Residency

Permanent residency is a legal status by which a person is allowed to stay permanently in the country that awards him/her this right. However, this status does not grant them citizenship in that country. The benefits accrued from this status are that one can live and work in that country on a long-term basis. They can also take advantage of any tax benefits offered in the country, and this permit usually leads to citizenship. The IOM World Migration Report, 2022, reported Europe as the main attraction for expats from around the world -- 86%. With such high demands for their residency, the European states have also responded, and many countries are offering various forms of permanent residency programs. For more detailed information about residency or citizenship programs by investment in Europe, see our article 10 Cheapest Residency or Citizenship by Investment Programs in Europe.

Integrating in the Society

While moving to a foreign nation, a language barrier can significantly hinder ones integration into society as well as day-to-day activities. Therefore, learning the prevalent language becomes an essential step for expats. In some places, especially in Europe, English is widely spoken and acknowledged. However, acquiring local and national language skills should still be a priority. In this technological world, this feat does not seem as daunting as it would have been some years back. There are several online language platforms where people can learn a variety of languages, such as Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ: DUOL).

Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ: DUOL) is an American online language learning platform. Their free mobile app and web interface provides daily access to small lessons, significantly mitigating language-related obstacles in the lives of new expats. With the assistance of AI, the lessons can be tailor-made for each individual, enhancing learning efficiency. Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ: DUOL) serves 83 million monthly active users (MAU) worldwide, covering lessons for 100 different languages.

The company's AI-driven app, Duolingo Max, launched early last year, is particularly useful for English speakers learning Spanish and French. It utilizes OpenAI GPT-4 to help learners grow through features like "Role Play" and "Explain My Answer." The former provides a real-life interactive speaking experience, while the latter explains whether the answer was correct or not.

Although a little dated, Artisan Small Cap Fund made the following comment about Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOL) in its second quarter 2023 investor letter:

We initiated new GardenSM positions in Duolingo, Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOL), SPX Technologies and Smartsheet. Duolingo is an app-based learning platform that currently derives most of its revenues from subscriptions to its language learning app. However, it has expanded into new education verticals with the launch of Duolingo ABC, an early childhood education app, and elementary math. The company uses an ad[1]supported freemium model, and it is the most downloaded language learning app in most countries outside China. Duolingo has differentiated itself with a unique gamified approach that is at the core of its user engagement strategy while its machine learning algorithms leverage monthly users and daily tracking events to improve the overall learning experience and adapt personalized learning pathways for each user.

15 Cheapest countries to get permanent residency Heading into 2024

15 Cheapest countries to get permanent residency Heading into 2024

Methodology

To determine the 15 cheapest countries to obtain permanent residency heading into 2024, our focus was on isolating countries that were not only economically affordable but also among the most peaceful in the world. To identify the cheapest countries, we referred to the World Population Review's ranking of 'the cheapest countries to live in.' From this list, we specifically selected countries that ranked in the top 30 of the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2023, produced by the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP).

After this initial selection, we further analyzed two metrics related to 'permanent residency and nationality.' We relied on data from the Migrant Integration Policy Index, 2020 for permanent residency and access to nationality scores as our other two metrics. By averaging these two scores, we were able to identify the 15 cheapest countries for permanent residency, ensuring they were also among the most peaceful nations. A higher average score indicates a more favorable ranking.

NOTE: Our focus was finding countries that have no trade-off when it comes to high quality of life while still being relatively cheaper than other advanced economies with high cost of living.

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.

Lets now move to our list of 15 Cheapest countries to get permanent residency, Heading into 2024.

15 Cheapest Countries to Get Permanent Residency Heading into 2024

15. Latvia

Permanent Residency Score: 46

Access to Nationality score: 24

Insider Monkey average score: 35

One of the three Baltic states, Latvia is situated in Eastern Europe. The country boasts stunning beaches and extravagant natural landscapes, complemented by friendly people and diverse cuisines. While these factors are undoubtedly considered in relocation decisions, there are other financial and practical aspects that are equally crucial. For instance, Latvia offers a low cost of living, amounting to just $938 per month. This becomes even more appealing when considering the high quality of life that the country provides, including better access to education and healthcare. Furthermore, Latvia is ranked 27th on the Global Peace Index (GPI), indicating it is a safe nation for setting down roots. Although Latvia may rank lower in the security of achieving permanent residency and access to nationality compared to some other countries, it still performs well in comparison. Considering all these factors, Latvia emerges as one of the cheapest countries to obtain permanent residency, heading into 2024.

14. Croatia

Permanent Residency Score: 54

Access to Nationality score: 19

Insider Monkey average score: 36.5

Croatia is a favorite spot for the expat community, captivating them with its beautiful scenery and rich cultural background. The country is not only aesthetically pleasing but also affordable, with a monthly cost of living estimated at only $1,001. The high quality of life in this southeastern European country makes it an enticing option for permanent residency. Citizens of Croatia can enjoy a top-notch healthcare system and peace of mind regarding safety, as the country is ranked at number 14 in the Global Peace Index (GPI), making it an ideal place for families. The integration process for permanent residency in the country further adds to its appeal. While the path to nationality may be somewhat challenging, it remains better than that of most other countries. Considering all these factors, Croatia stands out as one of the cheapest countries to obtain permanent residency heading into 2024.

13. Bulgaria

Permanent Residency Score: 69

Access to Nationality score: 13

Insider Monkey average score: 41

When deciding to move to Bulgaria, several positive features come into play. Firstly, the country falls under the category of the cheapest European states, boasting a monthly living cost of $654. This affordability indicates that amenities of life are reasonably priced, making day-to-day living easy on the pocket. While cost is a crucial factor, it gains significance when combined with the country's overall stability. Bulgaria, positioned at the 30th place on the Global Peace Index (GPI), is considered a peaceful nation, thus, providing a secure lifestyle.

The process for permanent residency in Bulgaria is also relatively comfortable, allowing immigrants to achieve their goal with ease. However, it's essential to note that Bulgaria scores lower on the access to nationality index, impacting its position in our ranking. Despite this drawback, the overall average score for the country still makes it one of the cheapest countries to obtain permanent residency heading into 2024.

12. Czech Republic

Permanent Residency Score: 50

Access to Nationality score: 36

Insider Monkey average score: 43

When one thinks of European countries, images of gorgeous beaches, landscapes, hills, mountains, and delectable cuisine often comes to mind. Expats considering the Czech Republic would find it fulfilling all these criteria and more. With a monthly living expense of around $1,014, expats can enjoy the scenic beauties and maintain a comfortable lifestyle. The country is known for its low crime rates, and there is no political upheaval threatening its existence. Consequently, Czechia is positioned at number 12 in the Global Peace Index (GPI), making it a highly alluring place for relocation.

Moreover, immigrants encounter few hindrances in their path towards permanent residency and nationality. Therefore, it's no wonder that the Czech Republic is considered one of the cheapest countries to obtain permanent residency, firmly in the running for those seeking a favorable destination.

11. Estonia

Permanent Residency Score: 75

Access to Nationality score: 16

Insider Monkey average score: 45.5

Resplendent with history and culture, Estonia has beckoned many expats to its land. These attractions become even more alluring when you can enjoy them at a fraction of the cost. With monthly living expense as low as $1,040, Estonia allows its residents to experience high-quality education and healthcare facilities, making it an extremely desirable place to move. The Global Peace Index (GPI) also ranks the country among the top 30 most peaceful nations, securing the 25th place. Adding into the mix a high probability of achieving permanent residency with ease and a decent access to nationality score, the country emerges as one of the cheapest and most accessible options for obtaining permanent residency.

10. Slovakia

Permanent Residency Score: 65

Access to Nationality score: 28

Insider Monkey average score: 46.5

Similar to other European countries, Slovakia offers a wealth of natural beauty and heritage, with friendly people providing an added bonus during the transition. The high quality of life further enhances the appeal for those considering a move to this charming country. What makes it even more enticing is the fact that all these advantages can be attained with a relatively low monthly cost of $990, making it an opportunity that's hard to overlook.

Beyond the aesthetic and lifestyle considerations, the safety situation in Slovakia also merits attention. The country ranks 26th in the Global Peace Index (GPI), meeting our cut-off point for safety. Additionally, the integration of immigrants into Slovakian society, both as permanent residents and eventual nationality status, is easily achievable, adding another layer to its attractiveness for those seeking a new home.

9. Germany

Permanent Residency Score: 54

Access to Nationality score: 42

Insider Monkey average score: 48

When looking for a highly developed and economically robust country, Germany would immediately be included in the list. It is interesting to note that despite various additional amenities like excellent healthcare and high education standards, the cost of living in Germany remains at a low monthly rate of $1,414. Given such prosperous conditions at home, it is not surprising to see the country living in harmony, and therefore, Germany secures the 15th place on the Global Peace Index (GPI). Their policies for permanent residency and, ultimately, nationality, are also very encouraging, as indicated by their scores. Thus, we can confidently say that Germany is one of the cheapest countries that can be a viable and attractive option for permanent residency, come 2024.

8. Slovenia

Permanent Residency Score: 77

Access to Nationality score: 22

Insider Monkey average score: 49.5

Home to stunning natural scenery, diverse culture, and cuisine, Slovenia is a haven for expats in search of an epic experience of a lifetime. However, the country has something to offer for everyone. For those aiming to settle down with family in a place that provides a high standard of living while keeping low pressure on the pocket, Slovenia proves to be more than satisfying. The monthly cost of living has been estimated at a low amount of $1,175. The country's high Global Peace Index (GPI) ranking--8th place--is also a crucial and favorable factor. Immigrants can benefit from ease in the permanent residency process, and the access to nationality score also portrays an acceptable picture. Thus, Slovenia stands out as one of the cheapest countries to obtain permanent residency, heading into 2024.

7. Poland

Permanent Residency Score: 50

Access to Nationality score: 50

Insider Monkey average score: 50

History lovers are in for a treat when it comes to Poland. Imbibing its ancient architecture and traditional folk music while strolling down cobbled streets and savoring exquisite food, expats can experience life in this picturesque country on a whole new dimension. The added allure is the fact that the monthly cost of living is just $882. However, before a hasty decision is made, a consideration of other significant realities of life is paramount. Poland's ranking as the 29th most peaceful place, according to the Global Peace Index (GPI), adds to its appeal. Moreover, the Polish government is actively implementing policies geared to encourage immigrants to obtain residency and nationality. Therefore, in our list of the cheapest countries to obtain permanent residency in 2024, Poland rightfully deserves a place.

6. Hungary

Permanent Residency Score: 81

Access to Nationality score: 25

Insider Monkey average score: 53

One of the cheapest European nations, Hungary stands out as a favorite expat destination. With a remarkably low monthly cost of living at $817, abundant job opportunities, quality healthcare at affordable rates, and free public education, the country offers a well-rounded package for those considering a move. Hungary also boasts a peaceful environment and has earned the 18th place in the Global Peace Index (GPI). For individuals seeking permanent residency, the country provides an easy path, bringing access to nationality one step closer as well. Thus, Hungary emerges as one of the most affordable and attractive options for obtaining permanent residency, heading into 2024.

Click to continue reading and see our 5 Cheapest countries to get permanent residency Heading into 2024.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Cheapest countries to get permanent residency Heading into 2024 is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Ukraine carries out drone attack

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Kyiv, Jan 31: Ukraine carried out another drone attack on an oil facility deep inside Russian territory, a military intelligence source in Kyiv told AFP on Wednesday.

Kyiv has ramped up strikes on Russian oil and gas facilities over the past two months, part of what it has called "fair" retaliation for Russian strikes on its own energy infrastructure.

The claim comes after the governor of Saint Petersburg said there had been a loud blast at an industrial site outside the northern city. Local media meanwhile reported that S-400 missiles systems had shot at a drone that crashed on an oil storage facility in the Nevsky district. AFP
States response vis-a-vis Manipur crisis

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Barely 24 hours after Chief Minister N Biren made another bold statement asking the people to entrust the responsibility of protecting the States unity and integrity to the government, two young lives were cut short at Kadangband. Since May 2023, fierce battles have been going on in different areas of the state between two forces; one determined to break up Manipur to create an exclusive political domain of Kuki-Zo people and the other committed to uphold and protect the integrity of Manipur at all costs. In the course of the nine months old fighting, hundreds of people, mostly youth have been killed, thousands of houses burnt down and tens of thousands rendered homeless. The violence is fierce and widespread but the Government of India has not yet bothered to make any meaningful intervention. As some scholars pointed out the present crisis is an outcome of deception orchestrated by the Kuki-Chin militants that goes back in time. Meiteis ST demand was used as a camouflage to conceal the real agenda of the infamous May 3, 2023 rally, which is creation of a separate and exclusive political unit for the Kuki-Zo people out of the pluralistic and inclusive Manipur. However, several national media houses fell trap to this false narrative that the Meiteis demand for ST tag triggered the violence. This illogical blame does not carry an iota of truth given that the demand is absolutely within the constitutional framework of India. Moreover, as indicated above, the issue has been pending with Manipur government for the last ten years. Add to it, every community has a legitimate political right to demand something constitutional.

The Meiteis demand for ST status has very little to do with the widespread violence. It is for the dream of exclusive Kuki-Zo homeland that guns have been booming across the state for the last nine months and hundreds of people killed. No doubt, the sounds of guns and bombs are loud and persistent but New Delhi has been maintaining a deafening silence till date. To many, the complete silence of the Prime Minister has turned out to be a complex political riddle. At the same time, it sends out a very clear message of both apathy and sheer indifference to the suffering of lakhs of people. People are dying every day and anarchy has become the order of the day. A situation of complete lawlessness has engulfed the society since the past nine months. With the combatants showing no sign of ceasing their offensive, Manipur has been pushed into a state of war. Although there is an elected government, complete lawlessness has become the order of the day. In some districts like Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, the writs of Kuki militant groups have become the ultimate authority whereas the states authority is openly defied and trampled upon. As pointed out repeatedly, the state has failed miserably to protect the lives and properties of citizens. If the inconsistence, if not contradiction, seen in the statements of the Chief Minister and the Security Advisor are any indication, the state has become a confused lot. The Chief Minister has asserted not once but several times that the ongoing violence is a war between the state and anti-state forces but the state has not yet initiated any decisive action. Whatever the state (New Delhi and Imphal) has done so far to address the violent crisis besieging the State are too little and too ineffective to make any change. The state needs to take up some decisive actions urgently to stop the violence and neutralise all the threats to the integrity of Manipur otherwise it will lose all its legitimacy sooner than later.
Before you conceive, understand the transformation from adulthood to parenthood

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Dr Ashwini Anil Kumar Sirapanasetty

Physically healthy body & mental well being decides the healthy pregnancy and quick recovery from postpartum phase as well.

Pregnancy is a complex process where every nine months the mother's body system goes through a lot of changes to adapt and provide a healthy environment internally to the growing foetus. At the same time, its challenging to maintain emotional stability. Pregnancy process is anyway controlled by hormones throughout the nine months, mainly progesterone due to hormonal control every mother goes through every shade of emotions. So, now the question is does conceiving or normal delivery or healthy baby are only prime objects? Or besides this one suppose to consider physical and mental well being post delivery and postpartum as well?

How does your preconception well-being decide all your future recovery?

During a mother's nine months of pregnancy, the uterus, which is initially a pelvic organ in the first trimester, becomes an abdominal organ due to growing foetus inside the uterus. This expansion of the uterus from pelvic organ to abdominal organ leads to intense stretching of uterine muscles and abdominal muscles as well. Recovery of all these intensely stretched muscles or torn muscles during the course of delivery depends upon strength and build of your own body during the preconception phase. Its almost impossible for that matter to gain and achieve a previous or original elasticity of muscles if one does not focus or take preconception time periods as prime assets.

Right preconception planning makes the transformation of your life easy from an individual adulthood to parenthood.

1.Have a pre-pregnancy parenting talk

Expert and real parents agree: If youre partnered, its important to chat with your future co-parent about some of the biggest parenting issueslike how youll share child care duties, how you plan to raise your children, working versus staying home, and religious traditionsbefore you start trying to conceive. But before you freak out over differing opinions on circumcision, public or private schools, or other things that are way down the road, remember that you can and may change your mind about a lot of these issues as you go along. The important thing is for couples to start talking about their priorities, expectations, and fears throughout the entire process, especially before you get pregnant

2.Start saving & plan finances

Emotionally when a couple get pregnant, they are going through the zone of adulthood to parenthood which is definitely overwhelming however its a lifetime responsibility as well because becoming a parent makes you a lifetime investor for your child (at least till they Graduate). Soon, youll start saving money away for college, diapers, and all that baby stuff. But even pregnancy itself can be more costly than youd anticipate. Having financial planning and assets provide security to your child and also to you as a parent besides it gives an assurance of successful and stress-free survival.

 Inquire about prenatal coverage on your insurance.

 Research the cost of prenatal services in your area.

 Look into workplace family medical leave.

 Find financial aid and check eligibility.

 Research childcare services.

3.Figure out your living situation

If youre happy where you live, dont feel like you have to move now that youre family-planning; you dont need a big, multi-bedroom house in suburbia to raise a baby. Remember that many infants sleep in their parents bedroom for the first few months, and a baby wont be any happier just because they have their own nursery and playroom. Youll have plenty of time to make the big move later on if you end up needing or wanting more space in the future.On the other hand if you need to move for more space, a better location, or any other reason? If so, our advice is to do it soon. Getting settledideally, somewhere you want to be for at least a couple of yearsand feeling good about your home may help you feel more prepared for pregnancy. You certainly wont want to deal with packing, movers, renovations, lawyers, landlords, or closings once youre pregnant if you can help it.

4.Check your stress

Remember your physical and mental fitness are two wheels of your life cycle.

Research shows that having high stress levels can delay your ability to get pregnant (by making ovulation wacky, or by interfering with an embryos ability to implant in the uterus). Take an emotional gut check now, make sure you feel calm and prepared for this next phase of your life, and figure out what helps you relax best. Maybe its sipping tea and reading your favourite books, going out for a three-mile run, or just unloading on your best friend. Whatever it is, if it works for you now, it will help you when youre pregnant or a new mom. Remember healthy psychology develops healthy emotions and good emotional control leads to healthy & safe pregnancy.

5.Stock up on sleep cycle

Most of us anticipate sleepless nights once the baby arrives, but it can also be tough to get a decent nights rest during pregnancy when things like heartburn, getting up to pee, and adjusting to side-snoozing can keep some expectant people tossing and turning.Getting enough sleep may even help you get pregnant faster; people who get too little shut-eye tend to have more problems ovulating regularly than those who dont.

Accountability! From adulthood to responsible parenthood

Expanding family makes life better anyways however due to lack of knowledge for better choices most of the couples land into this phase of adulthood to parenthood with unplanned & unprepared mind. Many people still believe that conceiving or having a baby is what makes ones life complete but its indeed more than that. Making a responsible better choice not only provides security to little one but more than that it provides physical & mental security to your own self after becoming a parent in long run hence its extremely important to know where you are standing now as an individual adult Couple and how you want to successfully transform in parenthood considering your life too as a priority.

About Author:

Dr Ashwini Anil Kumar Sirapanasetty is Obstetrics and Gynaecologist Surgeon and also a wife of Major Anil Kumar Sirapanasetty who is a Serving Army Officer. Senior Counsellor in Army wives welfare Association.Her recent research work on Human Desires and Sexual Ethics has been selected for International Conference conducted by British Association for South Asian Studies. She is also a Tribal reformist.
Gorkha CSOs appeal

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IMPHAL, Jan 31: Civil society organizations (CSOs) of Gorkha community in Manipur appealed to all concerned not to misuse or drag the community in wrong light in connection with the ongoing crisis in the State.

A joint statement issued by Manipur Gorkha Welfare Union president, Nepali Sahitya Parishad Manipur president, All Manipur Gorkha Students' Union president and Bharatiya Gorkha Parishang Manipur Branch general secretary said that the Gorkha community in Manipur has been playing neutral in the prevailing crisis.

'In relation to a video 'Vikash Nepali' which has been widely circulated in various social media platforms, the video does not hold the values of our community and he is not related to our community', clarified the statement.
In this article, we have listed and discussed the 15 Cheapest Countries to Get Second Citizenship. If you want to skip our detailed discussion about dual citizenship, you can go directly to 5 Cheapest Countries to Get Second Citizenship.

Dual citizenship is defined as having citizenship in two countries simultaneously. For example, a person whos a citizen of both the US and the UK can have one passport from both countries and can enjoy the rights and privileges.

A Growing Demand

The migration and citizenship industries have changed a lot over the years. While 62% of all the countries had a negative approach towards dual citizenship in the '60s, 76% of the countries have now become tolerant towards it, according to research conducted by Maastricht University. The same countries that didnt allow their citizens to have another countrys citizenship six decades ago have now redone their policies to accommodate citizens wanting to acquire dual citizenship. A lot of this has to do with the growing demand for dual citizenship by people who want to enjoy the best of both worlds  in this case, countries.

The demand for immigration and dual citizenship has always been high in third-world countries where people often look to move to first-world countries for better lifestyles and opportunities. But post-pandemic, the demand for dual citizenship has increased in the first-world countries as well.

In America, the political unrest combined with post-pandemic impacts skyrocketed the demand for dual citizenship among US nationals. As Immigration Canada reports, there was an increase in the number of US nationals becoming permanent residents in Canada during the first 16 months into Joe Bidens tenure. The numbers increased from an average of 771 every month in Trump's tenure to 1,021 per month in mid-2022. The IRCC data reveals that Canada received a total of 232,120 new permanent residents in the first half of 2023, which was a record-high number.

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Note that permanent residency is not the same as citizenship because citizenship has more rights and privileges offered by the country. To be eligible for citizenship through naturalization, one has to become a permanent resident and live in the country for a specified time, which varies as per the country's law. Apart from naturalization, there are different ways of acquiring citizenship such as citizenship by marriage, citizenship by birth, family citizenship, and economic citizenship where one can make a monetary contribution to the country's economy in exchange for the citizenship. So, there are a lot of ways in which people can acquire dual citizenship, and it's safe to say that all these options are being used to their fullest.

According to IBIS World, the revenue of immigration lawyers and attorneys in the US industry reached $8.7 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 5.3%. The number of immigrants is increasing on a global level, too. Astute Analytica reports that the global immigration market will continue to grow at a CAGR of around 5% from 2021 to 2027.

Even well-off entrepreneurs are hopping on the dual citizenship bandwagon. In current times, Henley & Partners, an investment migration consultancy, reveals that Americas millionaires are considering migrating and acquiring dual citizenship. The number of inquiries received from US nationals increased by 447% in 2022 compared to 2019.

Dual Citizenship: The Ups and The Downs

Some countries dont allow dual citizenship altogether. However, many leading countries like America, Australia, and Canada do. Acquiring second citizenship helps in many ways, such as getting access to a greater number of destinations and having more unique opportunities to experience new markets. A dual citizen has citizen rights in both countries.

Depending on the strength of the passports, dual citizens get some great benefits, such as traveling visa-free and staying for an indefinite time in any of the countries they are citizens of. Moreover, they can work and own property in both countries. Dual citizens also have full political rights, meaning they can vote and even stand in elections in either of the countries.

While a dual citizen enjoys quite a lot of benefits, there are some drawbacks to having dual nationality. Being a dual citizen, you may be obliged to pay taxes in both countries. For example, US citizens with dual citizenship need to pay income tax for income earned anywhere in the world. So, if a US citizen is living in another country with dual residence and earning, they will still have to pay taxes in the US and also the country from which he earns.

Still, many billionaires, CEOs, and famous personalities hold dual citizenship. Peter Thiel, the billionaire and former CEO of PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL), was a German citizen by birth and became a US citizen by naturalization. Later, in 2011, he secured his New Zealand citizenship. Another former CEO  this time of Google (NASDAQ: GOOG)  Eric Schmidt, is an American national but he also has a second home in the island of Cyprus. Similarly, Elon musk, the billionaire and founder of large companies like SpaceX and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA), holds triple citizenship in South Africa, Canada, and America. But how does acquiring multiple citizenship of strong countries helps them?

With strong passports, one can travel to more countries visa-free and do businesses with more ease. Moreover, having dual citizenship in two strong countries will make them eligible for more social benefits, such as medical treatment and quality and affordable education in both countries. But for those who are not billionaires or CEOs, well-off countries do not often give out citizenships easily.

Through naturalization, Portugal is one of the easiest and best countries (See: 15 Best Countries for Dual Citizenship for US Citizens) to offer a second citizenship. The process takes five years of residency in the country and then the interview and Portuguese-language test. With Portugal citizenship, you can travel visa-free to 114 countries. However, Portugal is not the cheapest option and not the sole easiest option either. Here, we have listed the cheapest countries to get second citizenship. Note that the cheapest options are also sometimes the easiest.

Let's now head over to the list of the cheapest countries to get a 2nd citizenship.

15 Cheapest Countries to Get Second Citizenship

Pixabay / Public domain

Our Methodology

For our list of the 15 cheapest countries to get second citizenship, we have utilized data from the CIAs World Fact Book to see which countries allow dual citizenship. For the pricing, we researched government programs for each country. To compile the list, we shortlisted countries that offered citizenships below 750,000. For countries that had the same citizenship investment costs, we ranked based on cost of living. We also discussed the passport strength and ranking for 2024 as listed by the Passport Index for each country. The list is in descending order, going from the most costly to the least costly country for second citizenship.

Please note that for some countries with investment figures in Euros, their figures have been mentioned just like that instead in USD to factor-out the effects of fluctuations in the currency exchange.

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.

15 Cheapest Countries to Get Second Citizenship

15. Malta

Citizenship Cost: 750,000

Getting citizenship in Malta is more on the pricier side. However, compared to other countries in Europe, it's relatively cheaper at 750,000, and you can become a citizen after a year. You could also opt for a less expensive offer, which is an investment of 600,000; this allows you to become a citizen of Malta in three years. A Maltese passport will enable you to have a free visa for 129 countries, and it is ranked 7th on the passport index. Malta is famous for its architectural sites and festivals, and it has a stable economy driven by tourism, real estate, and manufacturing.

14. Turkey

Citizenship Cost: $400,000

You can become a Turkish citizen by investing in real estate for $400,000. Turkey used to require an expenditure of $1 million for citizenship but has now become one of Europe's cheapest second citizenship options. Turkeys passport will take up to a year to arrive after the investment is made. With a Turkish passport, you can travel to 77 countries with a free visa, and it is ranked 35th on the passport index. Turkey is a developed country and is considered one of the best countries to live in.

13. Cyprus

Citizenship Cost: 300,000

Cyprus offers citizenship through investment in real estate, which requires a minimum of 300,000. You must also pay around 200,000 before applying for this program. This allows you to purchase up to 2 housing units there, including shops and offices. The Cypriot passport is ranked 9th globally and has a good reputation. Cyprus is known for its thriving tourism sector, which is excellent for those looking to start businesses there. It also provides access to the Mediterranean lifestyle, which is quite relaxing.

12. Bulgaria

Citizenship Cost: 255,000

Next, we have Bulgarian citizenship and a passport, which can cost about $276,514. This process requires an initial investment of 255,000, and the applicant must maintain the investment for five years before applying for Bulgarian citizenship. Bulgaria's passport is ranked 9th in the world and allows you to travel to 121 countries visa-free. Its diverse economy includes industries like technology, agriculture, and tourism.

11 . Saint Kitts and Nevis

Citizenship Cost: $250,000

You'll need to invest $250,000 for a single applicant in the state fund in Saint Kitts and Nevis for citizenship. For married couples, itll cost $300,000, and a further $50,000 for one or two dependent dependents. The cost of living is considered moderate in Saint Kitts and Nevis; for a single person, it's about $1100 without rent.

Their passport ranks 22nd, and you can travel to 106 countries without a visa, and 39 countries will require a visa on arrival. The residency requirement for naturalization in Saint Kitts and Nevis is 14 years, per the CIA. The country offers vibrant coral reefs and majestic mountains. It is a high-income country where English is the primary language.

10. Egypt

Citizenship Cost: $250,000

Egypt is famous for its pyramids and majestic sandy deserts, but also for its skyscrapers, highways, and hotels. You can get a second citizenship in Egypt by paying $250,000, which goes to the country's plunging treasury and can be paid annually. However, the Egyptian passport ranks 77th worldwide, and you can only travel to 22 countries visa-free. The naturalization process takes around ten years to complete in Egypt. The three primary industries in Egypt are agriculture, trade, and wind power. Note that the average living cost in Egypt for a single person is only around $450, without rent.

9. Greece

Citizenship Cost: 250,000

Greece has a golden visa program that allows you to obtain Greek residency through real estate investment. This requires you to invest in property with at least a 250,000 minimum. After the residency permit is obtained and a person has lived in the country for ten years, they can apply for naturalization to become a citizen. Greece is known for its rich history and incredible architecture. Their diverse economy has a thriving tourism sector, and agriculture is their leading industry. They export agricultural goods like cheese, olives, and cotton. The Greek passport is a strong one, ranking 4th on the Global Passport Index for 2024.

8. Cambodia

Citizenship Cost: $245,000

Cambodian citizenship can be acquired using any of the two routes, one is the citizenship-by-investment plan, where investors need to invest $305,000, and another route is donating $245,000 to the Royal Government of Cambodia. In the investment plan, the investment must be made in a government-approved project, and there are additional fees. This plan may take at least four months to process. The Cambodian passport ranks 74 globally, allowing you to travel to 25 countries visa-free. Agriculture, textiles, and tourism are the main sectors contributing to Cambodia's economy. The country also offers a rich cultural experience for those interested in the Southeast Asian lifestyle.

7. North Macedonia

Citizenship Cost: 200,000

Seventh on our list of cheapest countries for second citizenship is North Macedonia. You can obtain North Macedonian citizenship by donating 200,000 to a government-approved fund or investing in businesses there. The North Macedonian passport is ranked 35th among global passports, allowing visa-free travel to 83 countries. North Macedonia is a beautiful destination where sectors like technology and manufacturing contribute significantly to the GDP.

6. Grenada

Citizenship Cost: $150,000

Grenada is known as the spice island and is famous for its long history of spice production. The minimum fee for citizenship is $150,000, and you may also need to pay a $50,000 processing fee. Their passport ranks 30th in the world, allowing you to travel visa-free to 99 countries. The leading industries on this island country are textiles, agriculture, and brewing. Grenada has low crime rates and is considered a safe, relaxing place to live.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Cheapest Countries to Get Second Citizenship.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Cheapest Countries to Get Second Citizenship is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Delhi Finance Minister Atishi, under the direction of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has approved the release of the third installment of Rs 803.69 crore for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

This will ensure that MCD employees continue to receive their salaries on time, the Delhi government said on Wednesday.

Under the Kejriwal Government, funds allocated to MCD increased meteorically to reach 3 times of 2014-15 allocation; MCD funds increased to 2.5 times in just the past 5 years. The MCD allocated Rs 2642.47 crore in 2023-24 by the Kejriwal government, compared to Rs 854.5 crore in 2014-15. In addition to this, funds are provided under several heads to the MCD by the Delhi government, the Delhi government said.

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Sharing the information, Atishi said, The decision to release the installment of Rs 803.69 crore by the Kejriwal Government will ensure timely payment of salaries and pensions to the employees of the MCD. In addition, sanitation workers, paramedical staff, doctors, etc, in the MCD will also receive their salaries on time. This decision will inspire and motivate them to provide better services to the general public. The decisions by the Kejriwal government will assist the MCD in delivering better services to the people of Delhi.

She said the Delhi Chief Minister had promised that there would be no shortage of funds in the MCD.

Along with this, salaries for all MCD employees will be paid on time, and attention will be given to the cleanliness of Delhi. In this series, he has allocated Rs 803.69 crore to the MCD as the third installment in this fiscal year, Atishi said.

She mentioned that the Kejriwal government is working with utmost seriousness to make the national capital Delhi clean, beautiful, and modern.

Previously, employees in the BJP-ruled MCD were not receiving their salaries on time, leading to forced strikes. As a result, employees and the people of Delhi had to face difficulties. However, with the funds released by the Kejriwal government, the MCD employees will now receive their salaries on time, the Delhi finance minister said.

Atishi said, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is committed to providing the residents of Delhi with a clean and healthy environment. We believe that timely payment of salaries to MCD employees will motivate them to work hard to fulfill our commitment. In the BJP-led MCD, the interests of employees have always been neglected, and they were not paid for months.

Since the formation of the AAP Government in the MCD, the Kejriwal governments guarantee to pay salaries to all employees on time is now being fulfilled. The allocation of funds for sanitation services is an important step towards achieving a clean and garbage-free environment in the city, she said.
The Delhi Police have arrested a 37-year-old man for allegedly spray painting objectionable graffiti related to Khalistan.

A FIR against the graffiti was registered on January 26. The incident took place on the night of January 25 while other such incidents were also reported in the past, the police said.

The accused has been identified as Jasvinder alias Lucky, who is a resident of Tilak Nagar. He was asked to paint the graffiti against financial assistance of Rs 15000, offered by his friend Gagangdeep, who is based in the United States.

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The objectionable graffiti was found on the wall of MCD Park in Tilak Nagar on January 26, which said Delhi Banega Khalistan..

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police, (Dwarka) Ankit Singh in view of the gravity of the offence, teams of both Dwarka and West district police involved in the investigation.

The police teams scanned over a thousand CCTV camera footages, finally identifying a suspect.

Later, the route taken by the culprit was traced and the vehicle used was also identified.

The police team received an inputs about where the accused resided and also that he might paint more objectionable graffiti in other areas of the city.

During questioning, the accused admitted that he committed the crime and revealed about one of his accomplices Gagandeep, who allegedly asked him to paint the graffiti.

The police said linkages are being investigated and also the reason as to why and on whose behest Gagandeep asked Jasvinder to paint the graffiti is being verified.
As the effervescent and talented Preity Zinta turns 49 today, its the perfect time to reflect on her remarkable Bollywood journey and celebrate her contributions to the Indian film industry. From her debut in the 1998 hit Dil Se to her recent appearances, Preity has left an indelible mark with her infectious energy, versatile performances, and captivating on-screen presence. Lets take a nostalgic trip down memory lane and revisit five of her top films that have truly defined her illustrious career. Also, happy birthday, Preity Zinta.

1. Dil Chahta Hai (2001):

Preity Zinta showcased her versatility as an actor in Farhan Akhtars coming-of-age masterpiece, Dil Chahta Hai. In a film primarily centered around male friendships, Preity stood out with her portrayal of Shalini, a character dealing with love, loss, and second chances. Her performance was both heartwarming and relatable, earning her critical acclaim and solidifying her position in the industry.

2. Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003):

This emotional rollercoaster directed by Nikkhil Advani featured Preity Zinta in a career-defining role. As Naina Catherine Kapur, a pessimistic yet endearing character, she tugged at the audiences heartstrings. Her chemistry with co-stars Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan was palpable, and her portrayal of Nainas journey from sorrow to self-discovery remains one of the highlights of her filmography.

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3. Veer-Zaara (2004):

Yash Chopras magnum opus Veer-Zaara saw Preity Zinta share the screen with the legendary Shah Rukh Khan. In the role of Zaara Hayaat Khan Preity delivered a nuanced and heartfelt performance. She plays a Pakistani woman torn between love and duty. The films timeless love story and Preitys emotive acting earned her widespread acclaim, showcasing her ability to seamlessly transition between various genres.

4. Koi Mil Gaya (2003):

While predominantly known for her prowess in romantic dramas, Preity Zinta took a bold step into the science fiction genre with Rakesh Roshans Koi Mil Gaya. Playing Nisha, a young woman who befriends a mentally challenged alien, Preity exhibited her versatility by effortlessly blending into the unconventional narrative. The films success highlighted her willingness to explore diverse roles and genres.

5. Soldier (1998):

Preity Zinta made a memorable debut opposite Bobby Deol in Abbas-Mustans action thriller Soldier. The film primarily belonged to the thriller genre. But Preitys presence and performance in the song Soldier Soldier became an overnight sensation. This went on to establish her as a new-age Bollywood diva. This film marked the beginning of her successful career, setting the stage for the many accolades to come.

As Preity Zinta celebrates her 49th birthday, its evident that her cinematic journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. From romantic dramas to sci-fi adventures, she has left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. As we look forward to more of her performances in the future, lets take a moment to appreciate the magic she has brought to the silver screen over the past years. Happy Birthday, Preity Zinta! May the coming years bring more success and memorable performances.
The windshield of Congress MP Rahul Gandhis SUV was broken due to the rope used in the security circle, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate clarified on Wednesday amid stone pelting rumours.

False news needs clarification. A huge crowd had come to meet Rahul ji, when a woman suddenly came forward to meet him, the car had to be stopped suddenly. The windshield of the car was broken due to the rope used in the security circle, Shrinate wrote on X.

She further said that the Gandhi scion is fighting the battle for justice and country will keep him safe.

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Rahul ji is fighting the battle for justice diligently and this country not only stands with him but will also keep him safe, she added.

Earlier reports claimed the windshield of Gandhis car was broken due to stone pelting by a miscreant during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra near Bengal-Bihar border.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accused the police of overlooking the possibility of stone pelting.

Maybe someone at the back pelted a stone amid the crowdPolice force is overlooking that. A lot can happen due to overlooking. This is a small incident but something could have happened too, he said.

Earlier this week, Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered NDA-ruled Bihar after passing through West Bengal.
AAP leader Swati Maliwal on Wednesday took oath as the Rahya Sabha MP from Delhi and said that she would continue to voice concerns of the poor and the downtrodden.

Today was the most important day of my life and I have resolved that from now on my life shall be completely devoted to the country. When I was taking the oath I felt so emotional as I felt that I was not taking the oath alone but was taking it with all the women in our country who have fought against injustice. I also felt that this oath is dedicated to all the women who have dared to dream big and work hard to make them happen. I am an activist and shall always remain an activist. I will continue to raise the issues of the poor and downtrodden in parliament, she said after taking the oath.

Speaking on her expectations from the Union Budget 2024, Maliwal said she would like to see whats in the budget, especially for the safety and empowerment of women.

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She further said that she was looking forward to seeing what the budget has in store for the labour, farmers and youth of the country.

Earlier, in the morning, prior to going to the parliament for taking oath, she offered prayers at the Hanuman Temple in Delhis Connaught Place.

Bowed down, prayed and sought blessings of Bajrang Bali at Hanuman Temple, CP, before taking oath in Rajya Sabha today. Jai Sri Ram. Jai Bajrang Bali, she wrote on platform X after her temple visit.

Addressing the media, the former Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson said Its a huge day for me. I have a special relationship with God and I strongly believe in the power of karma. Ive come here to pray for the strength to be a resounding voice of those in need.

On her expectations from Union Budget 2024, she said I would like to see whats in the budget for the safety.

She expressed gratitude to AAP Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for entrusting her with the responsibility to be a voice of the people in the parliament.
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

A team of ED officials had accompanied Soren to the Raj Bhavan and arrested him moments after he tendered his resignation from the post of chief minister.

Soren was arrested under the the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). According to the ED, he was among the key beneficiaries of the alleged land scam in Ranchi that took place over the years and involved property dealers and businessmen.

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Soren had evaded ED summons on several occassions before he finally appeared for questioning on January 20.

The then Jharkhand CM was again asked to appear before the agency between January 27 and 31 but he skipped the summons.

A fresh summons was issued on January 27, asking him to confirm his availability on either January 29 or January 31.

However, the ED didnt recieve his confirmation and its officials went to his Delhi residence on the morning of January 29 but by the time they reached, he had already left for an undisclosed location.

On the same day, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) released a statment saying the chief minister has confirmed his availability for ED questioning on January 31.

ED sources claimed Soren went off their radar and was untraceable throughout the day. After camping at his residence for more than 12 hours, the ED officials seized two cars, and Rs 36 lakh cash.

The BJP also claimed that the Jharkhand CM has gone missing and announced a reward of 11,000 on any information about his whereabouts.

However, Soren appeared in Ranchi today and held a meeting of MLAs from the ruling JMM-Congress alliance. During the meeting, state transport minister and his loyalist Champai Soren was elected as the new leader of the Legislative Party.

Around 1 pm, a team of ED officials reached his residence in the state capital and questioned him for around six-seven hours before he was put an under arrest at the agencys Ranchi office.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken Hemant Soren into custody, his party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MP Mahua Maji claimed on Wednesday.

She also said that a team of ED officials accompanied him to the Raj Bhavan where he handed over his resignation from the post of chief minister to the Governor.

The CM is in ED custody. The CM has gone to the Governor with the ED team to submit his resignation Champai Soren will be the new Chief Minister We have enough numbers Maji said.

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JMM MLAs have choosen state minister Champai Soren, a loyalist of Hemant Soren, as the leader of the Legislative Party and went to the Raj Bhavan to apprise Governor CP Radhakrishnan of their decision.

We have chosen Champai Soren as the leader of the Legislative Party. We came to the Raj Bhawan to request the Governor for the oath ceremony, Jharkhand minister Banna Gupta said.

Earlier in the day, a team of ED officials arrived at the residence of Hemant Soren for questioning in the alleged land scam.

There was heavy police deployment around the Chief Ministers residence in Ranchi. Section 144 was imposed within a radius of 100 metres outside the CMs residence, Raj Bhavan and the ED office in Ranchi.

On Monday, ED officials had raided Sorens residence in Delhi to question him. The central agency seized two cars, some documents and Rs 36 lakh from his residence and party office in Delhi.

Meanwhile, the Congress party has accused Jharkhand Governor of working as BJP agent.

We were given time and called. After knowing that our numbers are enough for majority, we were insulted and asked to leaveRaj Bawan is working as BJPs agent, Congress MLA Dipika Pandey said.
In this article, we will look at the 15 countries with the highest labor shortages In the world. We have also discussed the latest labor shortages in the US. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, head straight to the 5 Countries With The Highest Labor Shortages In The World.

The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic is often called 'The Great Resignation, as it witnessed a major labor force disruption in the United States. With over 50 million workers quitting their jobs in 2022, following a trend of 47.8 million resignations in 2021, the workforce experienced a shift. However, in 2023, this trend began to ease, with 30.5 million workers resigning by August.

As workers sought improved work-life balance, flexibility, higher compensation, or a stable company culture, it drove them to transition to other jobs. As the US Chamber of Commerce closely monitors job opening trends, labor force participation, and quit rates countrywide, it noticed how certain industries bear the brunt of these dynamics. Despite American businesses creating hundreds of thousands of jobs monthly, there's a major shortage, particularly in the professional and business service sector. Hence, to cope with shortages, businesses around the US are engaging in deals and collaborations to fill their job positions as quickly as possible.

For instance, United Parcel Service, Inc (NYSE:UPS) recently made a deal with the Teamsters Union, promising United Parcel Service, Inc (NYSE:UPS) drivers an average of $170,000 per year. This could solve the long-standing problem of truck drivers shortages. The job has often been overlooked and not well-paid, making it unattractive to job seekers. The new agreement aims to change that by offering better pay and benefits. United Parcel Service, Inc (NYSE:UPS) hopes that by investing more in its drivers, it will boost productivity and bring about positive changes in the logistics industry.

While United Parcel Service, Inc (NYSE:UPS)s stock initially dropped because of this deal's costs, it's seen as a necessary step. The $170,000 package is designed to attract experienced drivers, essential for successful parcel delivery. This decision also sets the stage for introducing new technologies like drones and hubs in the delivery process.

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Despite the growing labor shortages, a number of industries are being revolutionized by AI and automation and the fast food industry is no exception. For example, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc (NYSE:CMG) is testing an avocado-cutting robot, "Autocado," designed to reduce guacamole prep time by 50% and thus, addresses a task that takes employees about 50 minutes. While the robot efficiently cuts, cores, and peels avocados, human employees still handle tasks like hand-mashing and adding ingredients. The robot is developed in collaboration with Vebu Labs and is part of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc (NYSE:CMG)s initiatives to improve employee experiences, including faster grills and order streamlining.

Nevertheless, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc (NYSE:CMG) is set to hire 19,000 employees in anticipation of its busy "burrito season" from March to May. The company introduced new benefits to address Gen Z's financial challenges. The benefits include a free Employee Assistance Programme with six counseling sessions, tackling mental wellbeing. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc (NYSE:CMG) will pay off student debt and contribute up to 4% of an employee's salary to their 401(k) when eligible, using SoFi's Student Loan Verification. Additional perks involve financial education from SoFi and credit score improvement through Cred.ai.

15 Countries With The Highest Labor Shortages In The World

A porcine cell platform in a Mount Sinai Hospital laboratory with medical professionals operating a microscope.

Methodology

For countries with the highest labor shortages in the world, we utilized Manpower Groups Report on Talent Shortages for 2024 to get the percentage by country of skilled labor shortage. In the case of similar skilled labor shortage percentages, we utilized the World Banks data on the ageing population (as % of total population) by country as tiebreaker. The country with a higher percentage of ageing population was ranked higher.

In case both the ageing population and skilled labour shortages percentages are similar for the two countries, we have looked at permanent migrants accepted in 2021 to break the tie. The list is presented in ascending order.

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15. Singapore

Skilled Labor Shortage: 79%

Ageing Population: 15%

Singapore is addressing its workforce shortages by hiring 260,000 professionals, with a focus on IT & Software, Banking, and Engineering sectors. The hiring surge comes in response to a decline of 194,000 foreign workers during the pandemic. Sales and compliance specialists, engineers, software developers, product managers, and AI specialists are particularly sought after. Singapore is one of the countries with a shortage of IT professionals.

14. Slovakia

Skilled Labor Shortage: 79%

Ageing Population: 17%

In 2022, Slovakia witnessed a major increase in Indian workers, quadrupling their numbers to 1,350 due to severe staff shortages in the IT and automotive sectors. The Labour, Social Affairs, and Family Office confirmed this spike, highlighting the assistance provided by citizens from India and other Asian countries in filling crucial job vacancies, such as truck drivers and welders. The trend continues, with the Jaguar Land Rover factory in Nitra hiring an additional 173 workers from India.

13. Romania

Skilled Labor Shortage: 79%

Ageing Population: 19%

A 2019 national study in Romania highlighted a 300,000-person labor shortage, projected to reach 549,000 by 2023. Randstad HR Trends Study suggested a workforce deficit of one million in the country. Migration of professionals which includes healthcare workers, temporary laborers, IT specialists, and students, contributes to this gap. It is one of the countries facing the greatest skill shortages.

12. Hongkong

Skilled Labor Shortage: 79%

Ageing Population: 20%

According to Bloomberg, Hong Kong plans to address a labor shortage by easing entry rules and recruiting 27,000 foreign workers, targeting sectors with severe shortages such as construction and aviation. It is one of the countries with shortage of skilled workers.

11. Brazil

Skilled Labor Shortage: 80%

Ageing Population: 10%

Brazil is facing critical labor shortages in key sectors and services such as health, and ICT, as outlined by the 2018 OECD Skills for Jobs database. Occupations in personal care, protective services, and health professionals show a huge deficit, with a shortage of medical imaging technicians and ICT professionals, numbering in the thousands. Customer service clerks and business professionals are also in high demand. In contrast, there's a surplus in electrical trades, metal-related trades, and sales workers.

10. United Kingdom

Skilled Labor Shortage: 80%

Ageing Population: 19%

Foreign interest in UK jobs has doubled since the post-Brexit points-based immigration system began, especially from non-EU countries like India and Nigeria, according to Indeed. The share of foreign job searches rose to 5.5% in June 2023, compared to 2.2% in April 2021. The top job categories are social care and software development. The number of permanent migrants accepted in the UK in 2021 was 338,300. The UK is the also one of the best countries for education.

9. Canada

Skilled Labor Shortage: 80%

Ageing Population: 19%

Canada plans to welcome 485,000 permanent residents in 2024, rising to 500,000 in 2025 and maintaining the same in 2026. The Immigration Levels Plan focuses on addressing labor shortages, promoting economic growth, and family reunification. French-speaking immigration targets increase to 8% by 2026. Critical sectors like health, STEM, trades, and agriculture are prioritized. Express Entry aims for 117,500 admissions yearly, and Provincial Nominee Program targets 120,000 by 2025. The number of permanent migrants accepted in 2021 in Canada was 401,100.

8. France

Skilled Labor Shortage: 80%

Ageing Population: 22%

France's hydrogen sector faces a workforce challenge and hence, requires tens of thousands of workers by 2030, with over 100,000 projected jobs. However, labor shortages and insufficient training have been hindering progress. In 2022, 6,800 positions existed in the sector, up 77% from 2019. It is one of the countries with labour shortage in Europe.

7. India

Skilled Labor Shortage: 81%

Ageing Population: 7%

India is facing a unique labor challenge despite a growing workforce. Annually, 12 million young Indians enter the job market, set to reach 1.04 billion by 2030. Despite this demographic advantage, India grapples with a shortage of skilled and unskilled labor. The implications are vast and will affect both its domestic and international manufacturing capabilities. It is one of the top 10 countries with the highest labor shortages in the world.

6. Ireland

Skilled Labor Shortage: 81%

Ageing Population: 15%

Ireland is struggling with a severe labor shortage crisis, as revealed by an Irish Sun investigation. Across 10 key industries, there are approximately 100,000 vacancies, with construction, hospitality, and healthcare sectors being the hardest hit. To address the shortfall, reland is bringing in 40,000 non-EU workers annually. The government has expedited the issuance of non-EU visas for skilled workers, with 39,955 issued last year.

Click here to see the 5 Countries With The Highest Labor Shortages In The World.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Countries With The Highest Labor Shortages In The World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Joining issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks against the Opposition, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Wednesday that he wished to remind the PM that it was his government that is responsible for corroding Parliamentary democracy.

In a social media post on X, he said it is the BJP that has indulged in cheer haran (disrobing) of Parliament and not the Opposition. Democracy is in danger: Courtesy BJP! he wrote.

The Congress chief went on to explain that in the last session of Parliament, as many as 14 bills were passed in just three days, by suspending an unprecedented number of 146 MPs from both Houses.

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The PM, earlier in the day, slammed the Opposition MPs, saying they have become accustomed to creating disruptions in Parliament and habitually undermining democratic values during the last ten years.

Mr Kharge said 64 out of the 172 bills have been passed in the current Lok Sabha with less than an hour of discussion. As many as 61 bills were passed in the Rajya Sabha with less than an hour of discussion in the period corresponding to the 17th Lok Sabha.

He pointed out that the current Lok Sabha will finish its five-year term without a deputy speaker, a position conventionally reserved for an Opposition member. This shows how an autocratic Modi Government is violating the Constitution, and strangulating the voice of the Opposition, he added.

He said the 17th Lok Sabha, which is set to conclude on February 9, would have sat for the least number of days of all the Upper Houses that completed their full five-year terms. This points out how the Modi Government is hell-bent on subverting Parliamentary democracy, he added.

On the claims made by the PM of passing a record number of bills, the Congress president said in the first term of the Modi Government, 179 bills were passed by both Houses and in its second term 213 bills were passed, which are lesser than 297 bills passed under UPA-1 and 248 legislations passed under UPA-2, despite widespread disruption by the BJP.

Data of the past two decades show that most interruptions in Parliament occurred during the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-2014) when the BJP was the principal Opposition party, he claimed.
President Droupadi Murmu said on Wednesday that in the last 10 years, India has seen the completion of many such works in the national interest for which the people of the country were waiting for decades.

The achievements that we see today are the extension of the practices of the last 10 years. We have heard the slogan of Garibi Hatao since our childhood. Today, for the first time in our lives, we see poverty being alleviated on a large scale, she said in her address to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as the Budget Session commenced here.

During her speech to mark the beginning of the Budget Session, also the last session of the 17th Lok Sabha, President Murmu highlighted all the historic laws passed by Parliament.

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The President said that the new Parliament building has the fragrance of Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat.

This is my first address in the new Parliament building. This grand building was built at the beginning of the Amrit Kaal. This has the fragrance of Ek Bharat, Shreshth BharatThis also has the resolve to honour democratic and parliamentary traditions. Besides this, it also has the resolve to build new traditions of the new India of the 21st century. I am confident that there will be meaningful conversation on policies in this new building, she said.

#WATCH | President Droupadi Murmu says, My Government believes that the grand edifice of a developed India will stand on four strong pillars  youth power, women power, farmers and the poor. pic.twitter.com/u8C4opfICx  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2024

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the media ahead of the Budget Session and expressed confidence that a full fledged budget will be presented after the formation of the new government.

May it (Budget session) be a productive one, Modi told reporters, adding Opposition MPs who are habitual of creating disruptions in the House, must introspect.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hit out at those Opposition MPs who, he said, have become accustomed to creating disruptions in Parliament and habitually undermining democratic values during the last ten years.

The prime minister expressed confidence that his government will present a full Budget in Parliament after the Lok Sabha polls.

Talking to reporters ahead of the opening of the Budget Session of Parliament, he said these MPs should ponder over what they have achieved in the last decade as they gather for the final session of the current Lok Sabha.

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If you ask 100 people in your Parliamentary constituency, none will remember or even know the names of those who consistently created ruckus. Despite the sharpness of the Oppositions voice and the severity of criticism, a significant portion of the public still remembers those who enriched the House with constructive ideas, the PM said.

He observed that even in the coming days, when people witness the discussions in the House, every uttered word by the members will be etched into the annals of history. Hence, despite the Opposition, displays of intellectual prowess, concern for the common mans interests, or sharp reactions against us, I firmly believe that a substantial part of the countrycomprising democracy enthusiasts and society at largewill appreciate such conduct, he added.

Conversely, individuals who contribute nothing but negativity, hooliganism, and mischief are seldom remembered, he observed, adding that the Budget Session presents an opportunity for redemption and leaving a positive impact.

I urge all honourable MPs not to let this chance slip away, to act in the best interest of the country, contribute their most valuable ideas to the House, and infuse the nation with enthusiasm and excitement. As you know, traditionally, when elections are imminent, the complete Budget is not presented. We will adhere to this tradition and present the full Budget after the formation of the new government. This time, the countrys Finance Minister, Nirmala Ji, will be presenting her budget tomorrow with some guiding points, he added.

Mr Modi said he is confident that the country is consistently progressing, reaching new heights of development, and undergoing comprehensive and all-encompassing growth. A journey of inclusive development is underway. I hope this trajectory continues with the blessings of the public, he added.

The PM also spoke about women power recalling that towards the conclusion of the inaugural session in the new Parliament building, a highly dignified decision was made  the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

Subsequently, on January 26, the nation witnessed the strength, courage, and determination of women on the Kartavya Path. Today, the guidance provided by President Droupadi Murmu ji at the commencement of this Budget Session and the Interim Budget to be presented by Nirmala Sitharaman exemplify the power of women. In essence, this is a celebration showcasing the strength of women, he added.
Taking a jibe at Union Minister Giriraj Singh over his remarks against Rahul Gandhi, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha on Wednesday said that the BJP leader belongs to a ministry that only talks about halal vs jhatka, Hindu vs Muslim and India vs Pakistan.

Jha also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to limit his portfolio for these kind of things.

Giriraj Singh belongs to a ministry which talks only about halal vs jhatka, India vs Pakistan, Hindu vs Muslim, this kind of portfolio actually doesnt exist in the Centre. I would request PM Modi to limit his portfolio for these kinds of things so that it doesnt come as a shock to people, he told news agency ANI.

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His reaction came in response to Giriraj Singhs remarks that Rahul Gandhi is inauspicious for the INDIA alliance. He was referring to Bihar CM Nitish Kumars exit from the Oppositions alliance.

Rahul Gandhi has been proven to be inauspicious for the INDI Alliance. The alliance is breaking everywhere he goes The same happened in West Bengal and Bihar. In UP, if he bows down before Akhilesh Yadav then it is a different thing First Rahul Gandhi should do Nyay within the party, he said on Tuesday.

Earlier on Sunday, JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar resigned from the post of Bihar chief minister and asked the Governor to dissolve the Mahagathbandhan government.

I have resigned as Chief Minister and ended this government. I was getting suggestions from all around. I had quit an earlier alliance for a new tie-up. But the situation was not okay. So I have resigned, he told reporters in Patna.

Later in the day, he joined the BJP-led NDA and formed a new government. He also parted ways with the INDIA alliance.
The Uttar Pradesh government headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is all set to launch the Annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign from February 5 to 15.

The campaign, to be carried out as part of a mission to eradicate filariasis from the state, will be conducted in 17 districts of the state.

During the campaign, proficient health workers will a conduct door-to-door visit administering medicine for prevention of filariasis to the entire population, with the exclusion of children less than two years of age, pregnant women, and those facing serious illnesses.

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Its noteworthy that the Central government has set a deadline of 2027 for the complete elimination of filariasis from the country.

The chief minister has made an appeal to all the residents to actively partake in the campaign during the MDA rounds. Symptoms of this grave disease, caused by Culex mosquito bites, typically manifest 5 to 15 years after infection, leading to conditions like hydrocele and swelling in the extremities and breasts.

CM Yogi has also urged everyone to consider self as susceptible to filariasis, advocating preventive medicine intake and securing the upcoming generation from this ailment. Emphasising the safety of the medicine, he has encouraged its consumption even in the absence of visible symptoms, citing it as a societal imperative.

Furthermore, he underscored the irreversible nature of the disease once contracted, with management being the only recourse. The government is resolute in its commitment, providing training and kits for the Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP) of filariasis patients. Thus, preventive medicine intake becomes imperative in averting the onset of the disease.

The Yogi Government remained steadfast in its commitment to the mission of rendering the state filariasis-free. A key facet of this initiative involves the rigorous training of Community Health Officers (CHO) stationed at Ayushman Bharat Arogya Mandir (Health and Wellness Centers) to adeptly identify filariasis patients. The Ekikrit Niksha Diwas (END), observed on the 15th of every month in health units, serves as a crucial platform for the identification of patients with tuberculosis, kala-azar, and filariasis.

Meanwhile, as of June 2023, the state grapples with 51 filariasis endemic districts, identifying 90,768 lymphatic filariasis and 21,131 hydrocele patients.

The upcoming MDA rounds, scheduled from February 10 to 28, will target districts including Amethi, Azamgarh, Ballia, Banda, Barabanki, Bareilly, Hamirpur, Jaunpur, Jalaun, Lucknow, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Sonbhadra, Unnao, and Varanasi for filariasis elimination.

Besides, in Amethi, Azamgarh, Ballia, Banda, Bareilly, Lucknow, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, Unnao, and Varanasi, a triple-drug combination (Ivermectin, DEC, and Albendazole) will be administered, while in Ballia, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jaunpur, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, and Sonbhadra, a double drug combination (DEC and Albendazole) will be administered. Currently, 51 districts in the state are affected by filariasis, and MDA rounds will be conducted in other affected districts starting from August 10.
The crisis in Oppositions INDIA alliance after Nitish Kumars unexpected exit appears to have grown manifolds with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee clearly stating that she will not give a single seat to the Congress party in West Bengal.

During a government event in Bengal, the TMC Supremo said that she offered two seats to the Congress party in Malda but they didnt agree with my offer and wanted more.

I told them I will not share a single seat with them, Banerjee said while slamming the grand old partys alliance with the CPI(M).

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Banerjee said the Congress is influenced by the CPI(M) and that she will never forgive those who support the left party.

I have seen that in the last panchayat elections. The CPI(M)-Congress alliance helps the BJP, she said in Bengali.

Earlier this month, Banerjee had made it clear that her party will not have any electoral alliance with the Congress for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and will field candidates in all the seats in West Bengal.

Banerjee further said that the Congress can contest 300 seats but she will not tolerate any interference by the grand old party in West Bengal.

Let the Congress fight 300 seats on its own. The regional parties are together and can contest the rest. However, we will not tolerate any interference by them (Congress), she added.

When asked about Banerjees announcement, the Congress tried to calm the situation and said that INDIA alliance cant be imagined without Mamata Banerjee.

We cannot imagine the alliance without Mamata ji. Tomorrow, our (Bharat Jodo Nyay) Yatra is entering West Bengal. Discussions regarding seat sharing are going on, and the result will come soon which will make everyone satisfied, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had said.
As India anticipates the unveiling of its interim budget, all eyes are on Prime Minister Narendra Modis strategic approach in steering the nations economic trajectory. In a departure from the conventional pre-election trend of heavy social spending, Mr Modi and his Finance Minister are likely to place a calculated bet on popularity over populism, opting for a budget that emphasises infrastructure development to sustain economic momentum. The budget, set to be announced on February 1, is projected to carry a distinct political message of inclusive growth.

Rather than succumbing to the temptation of significant fiscal giveaways, the government appears committed to striking a delicate balance between political messaging, fiscal prudence, and a continued focus on capital expenditure. This approach reflects a nuanced understanding of Indias economic landscape and the delicate balance between governance and voter appeal. One notable aspect of this strategy is the expected emphasis on doubling the annual pay-out to women farmers. This move aims to resonate with women voters, a crucial demographic, while being fiscally conservative with a modest annual cost. Its a shrewd move, showcasing an understanding of demographic nuances without jeopardising overall fiscal health.

Simultaneously, the government is poised to maintain major subsidies at the current years level, signalling a commitment to fiscal restraint. Mr Modis decision to extend the free food grain programme for the next five years aligns with his long-standing subsidised food grain initiative. This move, while a politically astute continuation, also underlines the governments dedication to strategic, cost-effective social welfare programmes. Crucially, the plan to reduce the fiscal deficit in the upcoming fiscal year is a testament to the governments commitment to discipline. In an era where the global economy is grappling with uncertainties, Indias decision to prioritise fiscal consolidation indicates a prudent and forward-thinking economic stance. The budgets spotlight on infrastructure spending, even in the face of opposition criticism on youth unemployment, demonstrates the governments confidence in its growth-centric policies. By heavily investing in infrastructure and simultaneously enticing both foreign and domestic manufacturers through incentives, Mr Modi aims to create an environment conducive for job creation over the long term.

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This budget strategy also reflects a subtle confidence in Mr Modis personal popularity. Recent state elections have bolstered the ruling partys position, leading strategists to conclude that the government possesses enough political goodwill to balance fiscal responsibility with the need for strategic giveaways. The growth impulse witnessed in Indias economy, driven by robust public spending, further supports Mr Modis approach.

With a forecasted growth of 7.3 per cent for the full year ending March 31, India boasts the worlds fastest pace for a major economy. The projected 20 per cent year-on-year increase in capital expenditure for 2024-25 aligns with the governments overarching strategy of stimulating private sector investment. In an election year, where the stakes are high, Mr Modis pragmatic approach appears to be a well-calibrated mix of fiscal responsibility and strategic populism.
In West Asia, conflicts that once seemed contained within specific borders now spill into an even more perplexing labyrinth, now involving as many as 10 countries. The initial spark, the 7 October 2023 strike on Israel by Hamas, has mutated into a multifaceted quagmire that defies easy resolution. The latest development, an overnight drone strike near the Syrian border in northeast Jordan that claimed three American lives and left dozens injured, has added another layer of complexity to an already convoluted geopolitical landscape.

The incident, which drew a swift response from President Joe Biden, marks the first US fatalities in months of escalating tensions across West Asia. Mr Biden, unequivocally blaming Iran-backed militias, declared that the US shall respond to this tragic turn of events. This abrupt escalation underscores the volatility of the region and the constant threat faced by American forces, targeted in a series of strikes in recent months.

As we navigate this evolving geopolitical web, the war in Gaza enters its fifth month, revealing the challenges faced by Israel. Despite military gains, the Israeli army struggles to apprehend the elusive leaders of Hamas, while internal divisions within the Israeli government add complexity to their strategy. The interplay between pragmatism and right-wing ideologies reflects not only the survival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but also the broader debate on the direction of Israels foreign policy.

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Simultaneously, Iran finds itself in a precarious position, juggling regional influence and internal security concerns. The recent drone strike in Jordan further complicates Irans role in the escalating tensions, raising questions about the extent of its influence over militias operating in the region. The incident adds urgency to an already complex geopolitical landscape, emphasising the intricate web of West Asias multi-front conflict. The United States, cautious about being drawn into another West Asia conflict, now faces the challenge of responding to the loss of American lives.

The airstrikes and military responses to provocations highlight Americas continued involvement in the region, driven by a complex interplay of strategic interests and global power dynamics. Amid these developments, Arab states propose diplomatic avenues to resolve the conflicts. The potential normalisation of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, contingent on a commitment to a Palestinian state, remains an unconventional yet promising path to regional stability.

However, the internal divisions within Israel and the differing priorities of Hamas leaders cloud the prospects of a cohesive resolution. In navigating this ever-changing tapestry, West Asia stands at a pivotal moment where diplomatic finesse, strategic recalibration, and a nuanced understanding of regional complexities are imperative. The road to resolution remains uncertain, and the recent incident in Jordan emphasises the urgent need to prevent further escalation. As the geopolitical landscape continues to shift, it is in dissecting and comprehending these intricacies that a path forward can emerge.
Australia has recorded 40 per cent rise in sexual assault cases since 2013, a government report said.

In an annual report published on Monday, the federal governments principal review body, the Productivity Commission, said that 123.7 out of every 100,000 Australians reported being sexually assaulted to police in 2022, an increase of 42.8 percent from 86.6 out of every 100,000 people in 2013, Xinhua news agency reported.

The highest numbers of such cases were reported from New South Wales, the largest of Australias states and territories, with 152.2 out of every 100,000 people having made complaints to police in the state in 2022, more than double the 71.2 out of every 100,000 people in the Australian Capital Territory.

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The national rate of armed robbery reports fell from 24.3 out of every 100,000 people in 2013 to 18.1 in 2022, and homicide rate fell slightly from 1.9 victims per 100,000 people to 1.6 in the same period, the report said.

Mark Dreyfus, Australias attorney-general, said the inquiry would look into how the government can improve the justice system experiences of victims and survivors of sexual assault.

In January, the federal government announced an Australian Law Reform Commission review into justice system responses to sexual violence.
Everything is good, Maldives Envoy to India Ibrahim Shaheeb remarked on Wednesday when asked about ties between India and the island nation in the wake of controversial remarks made by now suspended three Maldivian ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his visit to Lakshadweep.

The Maldives envoy was approached by reporters when he was alighting from his car at the Parliament House where he was invited to attend President Droupadi Murmus address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget Session.

This came a day after Maldives Opposition leader Qasim Ibrahim asked President Mohammed Muizzu to formally apologise to PM Modi and the people of India for certain remarks made by Mr Muizzu as part of his governments India Out campaign during his recent China trip.

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A huge diplomatic row erupted between India and the Maldives earlier this month after three junior ministers made unsavoury references to PM Modi after he wrote about Lakshadweep in a social media post. The Maldives government distanced itself from the remarks and suspended the three ministers.

Meanwhile in the Maldives, the main opposition MDP  which holds a majority in Parliament  has gathered enough signatures to submit a motion to impeach President Mohamed Muizzu but is yet to submit it. The Maldives has been passing through a tumultuous time ever since the Muizzu government, which is considered pro-China, assumed office in the island.

The Maldives Parliament recently witnessed clashes between lawmakers. Maldives Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem was on Wednesday attacked in broad daylight in the capital city of Male.
In this article, we will be taking a look at the 15 most unfriendly countries in Europe. If you wish to see the top ones, then head straight to the 5 Most Unfriendly Countries in Europe.

Travel and tourism, a major predictor of global economic health, was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the loss of 62 million jobs and $4.5 trillion in GDP in 2020 alone. However, the sector is rebounding quite well. The most recent data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) shows that that between January and September 2023, almost 975 million tourists travelled internationallya 38% rise over the same time the previous year. During this time, global tourism reached 87% of pre-pandemic levels.

Data from the UNWTO also shows that during the first nine months of 2023, the world's most visited region, Europe, reached 94% of pre-pandemic levels. 550 million international tourists visited the region, supported by intra-regional demand and travel from the United States, accounting for 56% of the global total.

Moreover, according to figures from Eurostat, 2023 was a record year for the EU accommodation sector. The estimated number of nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments in the EU, like hotels, holiday homes and campsites, reached 2.92 billion last year. This number also exceeded the pre-pandemic level for 2019 by 1.6 %, when 2.87 billion tourist overnight stays were counted.

2023 marked an increase compared to the previous year as well, with 171 million more nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments in the EU. The primary cause of this was an increase in foreign visitors. Nearly all EU Member States recorded an increase in nights spent compared to 2022, with the exception of Luxembourg.

Meanwhile, companies like Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH), Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H), and Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) are providing lodging services to travelers in Europe.

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Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH), headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, is a world-renowned hotel franchisor with over 7,000 locations, representing almost 570,000 rooms, in more than 40 countries. As of January 30, the stock has returned 8.96% to investors on a year-to-date basis.

Additionally, hedge funds like the company. Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) was a part of 25 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2023, up from 17 in the previous quarter, according to Insider Monkeys database. The collective value of stakes owned by these hedge funds is over $319 million.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H), with a portfolio of more than 1,300 hotels across six continents, was founded in 1957.

Longleaf Partners Fund stated the following regarding Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) in its fourth quarter 2023 investor letter:

MGM Resorts & Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H)  Hospitality companies MGM Resorts and Hyatt were both strong performers in the fourth quarter and for the year, outperforming expectations that the post-COVID travel rebound would ease in 2023. Hotel operator Hyatt consistently reported strong results in the year and guided mid-to-high single-digits of revenue per room available (RevPAR) growth in the back half of the year, driven by a continued recovery in Asia Pacific and ongoing improvements in group and business demand. Hyatt announced the value-additive purchase of UK booking company Mr & Mrs Smith and bought back discounted shares at a steady pace.

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR), based in Bethesda, Maryland, operates, franchises, and licenses lodging including hotel, residential and timeshare properties. On November 2, Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) posted earnings for the third quarter of 2023, reporting a Non-GAAP EPS of $2.11, beating market estimates by $0.01. The revenue over the period was $5.93 billion, up 11.7% compared to the revenue over the same period last year.

Here is what Vulcan Value Partners said about Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) in its Q3 2023 investor letter:

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) is a company that we have owned several times in the past. The company is an asset-light global lodging franchisor and operator that benefits from strong network effects. Approximately 99% of Marriotts global rooms are managed or franchised which enables the company to generate high returns on capital. Marriott has an extensive portfolio of brands ranging from luxury brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, to premium brands such as Westin Hotels & Resorts, to select brands such as Residence Inn by Marriott. The company is doing an excellent job converting independent hotels into the Marriott system through its soft brands including the Luxury Collection, the Autograph Collection, and the Tribute Portfolio. This conversion opportunity should benefit Marriotts net unit growth in a period when new hotel development could be challenging in North American and Europe. The company generates robust free cash flow through its long-term, contracted franchise fee and management fee revenue streams. Its competitive advantages include brand strength, operational scale, direct booking systems, and loyalty programs. We sold Marriott in the first quarter of 2020 because of our concerns about the companys debt structure. Since then, Marriott has restructured its debt and improved its balance sheet. Additionally, average daily rates (ADR) on corporate travel have returned to pre-Covid levels.

Adding to this, travel offers a unique learning experience. Any discussion about travel is sure to touch on Europe, and European countries also dominate our list of the most visited countries in the world. However, our travel experiences across European nations can range from pleasant, cordial interactions to fairly unpleasant ones. As such, we have compiled a list of the most unfriendly countries in Europe for our readers today. You can also take a look at the 25 Most Unfriendly Countries in the World, 30 Rudest Cities in the World, and 25 Countries that Dislike American Tourists.

15 Most Unfriendly Countries in Europe

littleny/Shutterstock.com

Our Methodology

We used a consensus opinion-based rankings approach for this article. Information was collected from Quora and relevant Reddit threads, like r/AskReddit, r/solotravel, r/digitalnomad, r/TravelHacks, and r/travel among others, where users not only share their first-hand experiences but also inquire about various places where visitors felt unwelcomed.

Each country received a score based on the number of mentions. This means that each time it was mentioned, it received a score of 1. Finally, we sorted the countries by their scores and identified the 15 most unfriendly countries in Europe. The countries have been ranked in ascending order based on their overall scores. A higher score indicates a higher amount of unpleasant experiences with the locals of a specific European country.

At the same time, we request our readers to remember that our rankings in no way indicate that a nation is home to a majority of unfriendly people. Being friendly is a subjective concept that can be influenced by individual experiences. Please note that we regarded Russia as a European country for the purpose of this article.

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.

Most Unfriendly Countries in Europe

15. Sweden

First up on our list of most unfriendly countries in Europe is Sweden. Generally speaking, Swedes are very reserved, which might come off as cold and uncaring to foreigners.

14. Denmark

Denmark, located in Northern Europe, is one of the happiest countries in the world. However, the Dutch might not always be considered particularly friendly by expats. Additionally, Reddit users who have visited this nation report that the people in the country are not particularly talkative, which could be interpreted as being unwelcoming and rude.

13. Malta

Malta, an island country in southern Europe, is famous for its stunning architecture, scenic cliffs, spectacular coastline and dive sites. Our analysis indicates that it is one of the most unwelcoming countries in Europe, as some visitors reported encountering rude Maltese locals.

12. Estonia

Estonia, dotted with castles, churches and hilltop fortresses, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Europe. As per our research, Estonians tend to stick to their own circles and are hesitant to make new friends.

11. Slovakia

Slovakia, hosting a population exceeding 5.4 million, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is known for its unique castles, caves, hot springs, folk architecture, a famous Celtic town, European wilderness, and much more.

However, a few people on Reddit and Quora reported having unpleasant experiences in the country. Hence, it is among the most unfriendly countries in Europe on our list.

10. Switzerland

Switzerland is a landlocked country. It is located at the confluence of Western, Central and Southern Europe. Several tourists visit this nation each year, drawn by its numerous lakes, quaint villages, cosmopolitan cities, towering castles, and the high peaks of the Alps.

At the same time, visitors perceive the Swiss reserved and unapproachable to some extent.

9. Norway

Next up on our list of most unfriendly countries in Europe is Norway, famous for its spectacular fjords, midnight sun, and Northern Lights.

As previously noted in one of our pieces, Norwegians generally are opposed to the idea of allowing tourists into the country, with an exception for visitors from Denmark.

Additionally, according to the Expat Insider 2023 survey by InterNations (based on experiences of over 12,000 people), approximately 32% of expats said the people in the country are unfriendly towards foreign residents.

8. Germany

Germany, renowned for its history, culture, architecture, exports, and sporting achievements among many other things, is one of the European countries with the best economy right now. It is also among the most visited countries in the world, and recorded a total of 11.69 million tourists in 2021.

But, as per our research, many travelers on Reddit and Quora complained about encountering cold and uninviting locals while visiting the country.

7. Bulgaria

Even with its breathtaking landscape, Bulgaria, a country occupying the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, is thought to be unwelcoming by many tourists. This is mainly because some locals are thought to be exceptionally unhelpful towards tourists.

6. Serbia

Next up on our list of unfriendly countries in Europe is Serbia, located in the west-central Balkans. As previously mentioned, the Serbs have been found to be a bit hostile towards Americans. According to a survey, only 22% of Serbian respondents viewed the US as a friend.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Most Unfriendly Countries in Europe.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Most Unfriendly Countries in Europe is originally published on Insider Monkey.
The Indian Navy has thwarted the hijacking of a Sri Lankan fishing vessel. The operation was carried out successfully in collaboration with Seychelles Defence Forces and Sri Lanka Navy, as the joint team rescued the hijacked vessel.

The Ministry of Defence said that the three pirates surrendered to the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) and all six crew members are safe and the vessel is being escorted to Mahe, Seychelles.

The MoD said that the hijacking incident was reported onboard the Sri Lankan flagged multiday fishing trawler LORENZO PUTHA 04 about 955 nm east of Mogadishu, Somalia. Three pirates had boarded and hijacked the fishing trawler on January 27.

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The Indian Navy deployed INS Sharda ex Kochi January 28 and also tasked HALE Sea Guardian to locate and intercept the hijacked fishing vessel. Additionally, efficient operational coordination and information sharing through the Sri Lanka and Seychelles International Liaison Officers at IFC IOR, New Delhi, resulted in the interception of the hijacked fishing vessel by SCGS Topaz in Seychelles EEZ on January 29, an official said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian naval ship Sumitra thwarted the piracy attempt on FV Iman and carried out yet another successful anti-piracy operation off the East Coast of Somalia, rescuing Fishing Vessel Al Naeemi and her Crew (19 Pakistani Nationals) from 11 Somali Pirates, the official added.
Taking place in the most water-scarce region and one that is severely affected by desertification and land degradation, the Riyadh COP16 will be held from 2-13 December 2024.

The session will showcase efforts underway in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East region and beyond towards a green transition based on sustainable land stewardship.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) have signed an agreement paving the way for the 16th session of the Conventions Conference of the Parties (COP16) .

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The Riyadh COP16 will be the largest-ever meeting of UNCCDs 197 Parties, the first to be held in the Middle East region and the largest multilateral conference ever hosted by Saudi Arabia.

The year 2024 also marks the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD, one of the three major environmental treaties known as the Rio Conventions, alongside climate change and biodiversity.

At the signing ceremony in Riyadh on Wednesday, Eng. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and COP16 President, said: The hosting of the conference (COP16) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reflects the commitment of the wise leadership to environmental protection at the national, regional, and international levels.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia launched several ground-breaking environmental projects, such as the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, he added.

UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: Today, we are losing fertile lands at an alarming rate, jeopardising global stability, prosperity and sustainability. The Riyadh COP16 must mark a turning point in the way we treat our most precious resourcelandand collectively tackle the global drought emergency.

According to UNCCD data, up to 40 per cent of the worlds land is degraded, affecting half of humanity and with dire consequences for the climate, biodiversity and livelihoods, he said.

If current trends continue, restoring 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030 will be necessary to achieve a land-degradation-neutral world.

Ibrahim Thiaw pointed out that, Droughts are hitting more often and harder all over the worldup by 29 per cent since 2000driven by climate change but also the way we manage our land.

One-quarter of the worlds population is already affected by droughts, with every three out of four people around the world projected to face water scarcity by 2050.

The Riyadh COP16 will focus on mobilising governments, businesses and communities worldwide to accelerate action on land restoration and drought resilience as a cornerstone of food, water and energy security.

The two-week event will feature a high-level segment, as well as associated events including the Gender Caucus and the Business for Land Forum.
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%.
2023 has been outstanding for high-growth stocks that drove the Nasdaq Composite index 33% higher over the past year. Despite the recent performance of growth stocks, investors seeking big gains want to turn their heads toward dividend-paying stocks.

Whether you're interested in your portfolio's overall performance or the passive income it produces, dividend stocks should be on your shopping list. Shares of non-dividend-paying businesses in the benchmark S&P 500 index returned 3.95% per year, on average, between 1973 and 2022. Over the same time frame, the average dividend-paying stock in the same index returned 9.18% per year.

Image source: Getty Images.

If the average dividend-paying stock in a broad index can be expected to return more than 9% annually, everyday investors who pick the best stocks stand to do much better. Right now, these two stand out because they offer high yields, and there's a strong chance they'll be able to steadily raise their payouts in the years ahead.

Altria Group

Shares of Altria Group, (NYSE: MO) the company that markets the leading Marlboro brand in the U.S., have been under pressure for a fairly straightforward reason. Tough competition from disposable vaporizers that government regulators have not authorized is dragging down sales of both traditional tobacco products and the pod-based, e-vapor product it sells.

Altria Group has raised its dividend payout 58 times over the past 54 years, but the stock market is behaving as if a steep reduction is around the corner. The depressed stock offers an eye-popping 9.8% dividend yield at recent prices.

Altria doesn't report fourth-quarter results until Thursday, Feb. 1, but the first nine months of 2023 were not very encouraging. Shipment volume of smokable products declined by 10.5% year over year.

Despite fewer cigarette smokers, raising prices on the powerful Marlboro brand plus increasing sales of non-smokable products kept revenue from falling off a cliff. Total revenue net of excise taxes fell just 0.8% year over year during the first 9 months of 2023. On the bottom line, the adjusted earnings rose 3.3% year over year.

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Altria's dividend probably won't be the fastest riser in your portfolio, but steady movement in the right direction for at least another decade seems likely. Altria's new e-vapor business, called NJOY, markets the only pod-based e-cigarette with marketing authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA has been slow to enforce bans on unauthorized vaporizers, but they could become harder to find in 2024. In collaboration with Customs and Border Protection, the agency seized 41 shipments of illegal e-cigarettes last December.

Realty Income

As one of the world's largest net-lease real estate investment trusts (REITs), Realty Income is an income-seeking investor's dream come true. It makes dividend payments every month, and it has raised its payout every quarter since becoming a publicly traded company in 1994.

At recent prices, Realty Income shares offer a 5.6% dividend yield. That's a lot higher than usual for this stock. Its price is under pressure because investors are nervous about the recent $9.3 billion acquisition of Spirit Realty.

The all-stock acquisition of Spirit that was completed in December will raise Realty Income's monthly-dividend commitment in 2024. Meeting its dividend commitment and raising the payout further shouldn't be an issue though.

Realty Income expects normalized funds from operations (FFO), a proxy for earnings used to evaluate REITs, to land in a range between $3.96 and $4.01 per share in 2023. That's more than enough to cover a dividend currently set at $3.084 annually per share.

In 2024, the Spirit transaction is expected to boost FFO by about 2.5%, and a larger portfolio could improve the company's advantageous credit rating even further. The Spirit acquisition might dampen Realty Income's pace of dividend raises for a year or two. With an above-average yield and a very strong chance it will continue raising its payout for at least another decade, this stock is a screaming buy right now.

Should you invest $1,000 in Altria Group right now?

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2 High-Yield Dividend Stocks to Buy in February and Hold for a Decade or Longer was originally published by The Motley Fool
The Reserve Bank of India, on Wednesday, directed Paytm Payments Bank Ltd to stop onboarding new customers with immediate effect.

According to an RBI release, the action was necessitated after a comprehensive system audit report and subsequent compliance validation report of the external auditors found that there have been persistent non-compliance and continued material supervisory concerns in the bank.

"No further deposits or credit transactions or top ups shall be allowed in any customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, FASTags, NCMC cards, etc. after February 29, 2024, other than any interest, cashbacks, or refunds which may be credited anytime," RBI said.

The bank said customers will be allowed to withdraw or use balances from their accounts including savings bank accounts, current accounts, prepaid instruments, FASTags, and National Common Mobility Cards.

"No further deposits or credit transactions or top ups shall be allowed in any customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, FASTags, NCMC cards, etc. after February 29, 2024, other than any interest, cashbacks, or refunds which may be credited anytime," the central bank said.

RBI directed that the nodal accounts of One97 Communications Ltd and Paytm Payments Services Ltd. should be terminated before February 29. "Settlement of all pipeline transactions and nodal accounts (in respect of all transactions initiated on or before February 29, 2024) shall be completed by March 15, 2024 and no further transactions shall be permitted thereafter," it added.
Before the Budget session of the Parliament commenced on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the opposition lawmakers, urging them to not disrupt the proceedings. "I hope the MPs who are in the habit of ripping apart democratic values will self-introspect on what they did in their term as members of Parliament," he said.



"I hope the MPs who are in the habit of ripping apart democratic values will self-introspect on what they did in their term as Members of Parliament. Those who contributed positively to the Parliament will be remembered by all. But those members who caused disruptions will hardly be remembered. This Budget session is an opportunity for repentance and to leave positive footprints. I urge all the MPs not to miss this opportunity and perform their best." Click HERE for live telecast details of the Interim Budget on February 1.

PM Modi said the full budget will be presented once the new government is formed after the Lok Sabha elections. "We are going to follow the tradition of presenting a full budget after the new government is formed," PM Modi said.

PM Narendra Modi added, "This time, Finance Minister of the country, Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget with 'disha-nirdeshak baatein'. I am of the firm belief that the country is going ahead by crossing new heights of progress every day. All-round and inclusive development is taking place. This journey will continue with the blessings of people..."

He recalled the decision on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam during the Winter session which was the first session convened in the new Parliament building. On January 26, we saw how the country experienced the capability of Nari Shakti, its valour, the strength of its resolve. Today, when the budget session begins, President Drouapdi Murmu's guidance and tomorrow when Nirmala Sitharaman presents the interim budget - in a way this is a festival of the Nari Shakti."
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate soon after he quit the post on Wednesday evening following his hours-long interrogation in a land scam-related money laundering case.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led ruling coalition has proposed the name of Champai Soren, a close aide of Soren, as the next chief minister.

"The CM is in ED custody. He has gone to the Governor with the ED team to submit his resignation... Champai Soren will be the new chief minister... We have enough numbers, JMM MP Mahua Maji said.

Earlier, the JMM MLAs gathered at the CMs residence in the evening and elected Champai Soren as the leader of the legislative party. Party spokesperson Vinod Pandey said a general consensus was reached on Champai Soren.

The Congress and the RJD are the other two parties of the ruling coalition.

The ED officials, who reached the CMs residence at noon, questioned Soren for nearly seven hours, after which he went to Raj Bhawan and submitted his resignation to Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan.

"We have chosen Champai Soren as the leader of the Legislative Party. We came to the Raj Bhawan to request the Governor for the oath ceremony," JMM leader and state minister Banna Gupta told reporters.

A legislator from the Serikela assembly constituency for more than three decades since 1991, Champai Soren is known to be a loyalist of JMM supremo Shibu Soren.

"We have staked a claim to form the new government with the support of 47 MLAs," Champai Soren told reporters.

There were speculations that Soren's wife Kalpana's name could be proposed as the new chief minister. However, a rift emerged in his family with his sister-in-law and JMM MLA Sita Soren openly opposing any move to make his wife Kalpana the state chief minister, reported PTI.

According to ED officials, the agency is questioning Hemant Soren as part of its investigation into an alleged racket of illegal change of land ownership by the mafia.

The 48-year-old leader was previously questioned on January 20 in connection with the case.

On Monday, an ED team searched Hemant Soren's residence in Delhi, and camped there for almost 13 hours in order to question him in the case.

The agency claimed to have seized Rs 36 lakh, an SUV and some "incriminating" documents during the search.
It was a day of high political drama in Jharkhand as Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, barely a few hours after he submitted his resignation as the chief minister amidst questioning by sleuths for more than six hours at his residence in Ranchi on Wednesday.

The ED team resumed Sorens questioning after he stepped down, before arresting the JMM leader in the land scama curious case of at least 35 fake sale deeds of registration of landed properties, including defence land, of undivided Bihar (Jharkhand was a part of Bihar at that time) in Kolkata, causing a loss to the government exchequer running into crores.

The Jharkhand land scam is a unique case involving land records that pre-date Independence and displays a unique modus operandi to acquire vast swathes of land allegedly with the collusion of top government functionaries in Sorens regime.

The ED began its investigation scanning land records since Independence and even prior to it to understand how several ink pens, brushes, syringes were used to copy dates that go back to July 15, 1939, to match and mirror images in sale deeds entered in registers. Until 1991, the registration of Bihar properties, which included the present Jharkhand, was done in Kolkata at the office of registrar of assurances. But after 1991, it became mandatory that the same be done at the jurisdictional land registration offices.

According to ED sleuths, the accused persons deliberately manufactured back dated deeds of the targeted landed properties, from Kolkata, and planted it in the original registers available at the records of Registrar of Assurances (Records) in Kolkata. After planting the fake deeds, ED officials claimed, the accused persons used to obtain the certified copies of those deeds, and then dispose them.

Mobile phones and other digital and forensic evidence recovered during searches from the arrested accused threw up several such images of old original registers in Kolkata including visual images of the ink pens, syringes and white papers used to white wash the alleged crime which, in turn, took the ED sleuths to the doorstep of the beneficiaries of cash flows that were noted in registers of the accused. The cash trail proved that the alleged land scam had led to subsequent acquisition of proceeds of crime by key functionaries in the government leading up to the CM residence, said ED sources.

One such link took ED sleuths to the doorstep of Chhavi Ranjan, ex-Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi, an arrested accused in the case, who has been linked to the land acquisition scam, including the defence land, prompting slapping of charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 by the ED. While Chhavi has denied any knowledge of the alleged scam and purported links with the arrested accused like Amit Kumar Agarwal and Prem Prakash, statements of other key accused in the case revealed that Prakash had called Chhavi for unblocking a large parcel of land measuring 1.28 acres for which Prakash allegedly demanded Rs 1 crore on behalf of Chhavi, as per ED documents. This is one of several such instances of involvement, according to the ED.

Another accused told ED sleuths that several meetings were held at the camp office of Chhavi, linking him to the illegal activity and displaying the proximity of the accused with the chief minister, involvement of circle officers, and misuse of power by the government officials, which prompted the sleuths to dig further.

The ED probe found that a very large parcel of land measuring 7.16 acres at Hehal near Ranchi (belonging to the defence forces) was also a victim of fake deed and brokers who tore the original records after removing them from the original registers at the Rachi office.

The ED will produce Soren in court on Thursday to seek his further custody for questioning to shed more light on the case.

Sources in ED said Sorens arrest is based on material and forensic evidence gathered over several months and statements of arrested accused in the land scam case. While Soren was not mentioned in the original case registered by the ED in October 2022, based on an FIR filed in Rachi in June that year, it is likely that he will be named an accused once the ED completes its quizzing. Soren had skipped seven summons issued by the ED earlier, claiming it is a political conspiracy to topple his government.
In this article, we take a look at 20 countries that will pay you to move there in 2024. If you want to skip our detailed discussion of the topic, you can go directly to 5 Countries That Will Pay You to Move There in 2024.

According to the Interactive World Migration Report of 2022, there has been a worldwide increase of 128 million immigrants over the past three decades the total reached 281 million people in 2020 the year of the Global Pandemic.

Speaking of the Pandemic, its important to note that like all the other aspects of life that were altered and changed during that time, the travel and migration industries experienced the same. During COVID-19, the borders were temporarily shut down, immigration was put on a halt, and the global economy suffered. The World Economic Forum reports that 114 million people lost their jobs to COVID-19 and the lockdowns that followed. With changes as huge as these, naturally, the way of thinking and perspectives changed for a lot of people as well.

After COVID, the people who (before the Pandemic) were ready to settle as full-time workers for any company as long as they had a job, became more concerned about advancing in their career and doing more. According to the Prudential Financial survey conducted in 2021, 80% of the participants said they would seek new opportunities to advance in their careers. In another survey, 42% of remote workers said that if their current employer does not continue to offer long-term remote work, they will seek new opportunities in a company that does. In other words, people have started prioritizing work-life balance and their careers more than they did before the Pandemic.

Consequently, there is also an increase in the number of full-time freelancers, meaning more people working remotely and independently. The MBO Partners found that full-time freelancers in the US grew by 59% between 2020 and 2022. This also means that during this time, the freelance market grew at an exponential rate. According to Upwork (Nasdaq: UPWK), one of the leading freelance platforms, 68 million Americans freelanced and contributed $1.27 trillion to the US economy in 2023, which is an increase of around $300 billion compared to 2019.

Story continues

The boom in the freelancing world has also increased the number of nomads around the world. Now that the remote work lifestyle has made life more convenient, more people are looking to move to countries that fulfill their desires better. In fact, a study by MBO Partners finds that in 2023, 17.3 million American workers were describing themselves as digital nomads. Compared to 2019, there was an increase of 10 million American digital nomads by 2023.

Now, many rich countries (See: 15 Richest Countries That Pay You to Move There) are competing worldwide to cash in on the digital nomad trend and bring immigrants into their country as a solution to some of their own problems, such as skill shortage, rapid aging, or population discrepancy in the country.

Due to skill shortages, in most cases, private companies are the ones offering to pay for relocation to their migrant employees in countries where the national workforce is limited. Three of the most prominent examples of private companies practicing this are Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE), Crown Castle Inc. (NYSE: CCI), and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL).

All three companies are also leaders within their fields. In 2023, Adobe Inc (NASDAQ: ADBE) achieved a record revenue of $19.41 billion. In the same year, in December, Adobe Inc (NASDAQ: ADBE) and Figma mutually ended a $20 billion merger deal as well. Meanwhile, Crown Castle Inc (NYSE: CCI) had a net revenue of $1.67 billion in 2023. In 2024, Crown Castle Inc (NYSE: CCI) expects a site rental revenue of $6.37 billion.

Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) achieved a revenue of $383 billion in the fiscal year 2023. While its the leading manufacturer of consumer electronics, it is said to be left behind its rival in developing generative artificial intelligence (AI) products. But Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) is set to invest $1 billion per year in developing AI technology, reports Bloomberg. Similar to companies increasing the pay of their employees to create more demand and offering the opportunity for relocation, countries facing population decline or skill shortage pay people as an incentive to move to their countries. Here is a list of 20 countries that will pay you to move there in 2024.

Let's now head over to the list of places that pay you to move there.

20 countries that will pay you to move there in 2024

20 countries that will pay you to move there in 2024.

Our Methodology

For our list of 20 countries that will pay you to move there in 2024, we first gathered the list of countries whose governments pay you to move there. We then ranked the countries based on how much they pay. We have also mentioned who these government programs are eligible for, and why the government is giving out these incentives. The list is in ascending order.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using different consensus approaches, 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.

20 Countries That Will Pay You to Move There in 2024

20. Mauritius

Pays: $440 to aspiring entrepreneurs

The island of Mauritius is offering around $440 to start a business there. To qualify, youll have to have a profitable business plan. Once you submit, its up to the government to accept or reject the application based on their criteria. Mauritius is known for its growing economy and is a very business-friendly country. Most of their economy is based on agriculture, tourism, and financial exports. Mauritius also offers free healthcare to residents.

19. Sicily, Italy

Pays: $5,420 or a house for 1 to anyone looking to relocate

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, has been shrinking in population for quite some time now. Although it is considered a part of Italy, it is geographically outside of it. Two towns on this island, Sambuca di Sicilia and Troina are selling houses to new residents for as low as 1 to bring the population back up to normal. However, you have to pay for the compulsory renovation of the house and make a deposit of $6000 as security to the state. The deposit will be refunded upon completing the renovation. Similarly, another town on the island, named Petralia Soprana, is offering $5,420 to individuals and families looking to permanently relocate to the town.

18. Legrad, Croatia

Pays: $4,000 + ($0.16 house) to qualifying people under 40

Legrad was once a populated village in Croatia, but due to urban migration, its population declined over time. So, now Croatia is offering a house in the village for just 1 Kuna, which is around $0.16. The house will most likely require a high renovation cost, but the state will chip in $4,000 to the total cost. To be eligible for this offer, you need to be under 40, financially stable, and have a degree. Also, you will be required to register residence in Legrad within 3 years.

17. Italy

Pays: $10,000 to students and researchers

The Italian government has a program called "Invest Your Talent". This project is aimed more at students and researchers who wish to further their careers while living in Italy. Invest Your Talent offers $10,000 and a visa for one year for all those who are accepted. There are even some smaller towns in Italy like Candela, Molise, and Vetto that are slowly on the decline in terms of population and are looking for more people to move there.

16. Japan

Pays: $10,000 to foreigners

Japan offers a one-year visa and up to $10,000 to foreigners to move to Japan, as a part of its regional revitalization program. This is to help the country with population imbalance and to increase income in rural areas. Japan has a good business environment and plenty of growth opportunities. The government also offers extra incentives for families looking to move to rural areas in Japan.

15. Austria

Pays: $10,000 to non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss citizens

Austria is one of the countries that'll pay you if you moved there. Under its Red-White-Red Card Program, Austria offers non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss working citizens $10,000 to move there. This program includes a one-year visa along with financial support. Since Austria is a difficult country to move to, and has many job opportunities, the Red-White Card program is ideal for working people from third-world countries who wish to relocate to Austria. As the conditions apply, Austria offers this program due to a shortage of skilled workers in the country.

14. England

Pays: 10,000 to teachers

England, a land full of aesthetic landscapes and vibrant modern cities, has an opportunity for teachers worldwide. While England has one of the best education systems in the world, currently, it's facing a shortage of teachers. In 2022-23, the country met only 59% of its teacher recruitment targets. So, to fill in the shortage, England is offering to pay 10,000 to teachers who are planning to move there.

13. USA

Pays: $15,000 to working and talented individuals

Some cities in the US, like Rochester, New York, are paying people up to $15,000 to move there. The move to Rochester grant includes home buyer grants and tailored programming once you move there. To be eligible for this grant, you must have a full-time remote job, be at least 18 years of age, and be able to relocate to Rochester within six months of application acceptance. With this program, the Rochester officials hope to find top-talent individuals and offer economic opportunities to them. The main industries in Rochester are the manufacturing, health imaging, and smart energy districts.

12. Canada

Pays: $15,000 to students

Canada is offering college graduates $15,000 in tax returns to stay in the country. The only requirement is that you need a post-secondary school graduate from certain approved institutions. Those accepted to receive this incentive will continue to receive the same amount for 10 years. During this time, theyll have to file taxes and maintain residency on their own. If a remote employee residing in Canada wants to apply, this program is eligible and is open for them too.

11. Island of Sark

Pays: $20,000 to people looking to relocate

The Island of Sark is an island country located in the English Channel, known for its quiet and serene life. Sark has introduced the Sark Society program, which offers up to $20,000 and a year-long visa to those looking to relocate to the island. The program is open to all, but you must qualify to receive funding. With this initiative, the Island hopes to attract more residents and combat a declining population. The current population of the island stands at 562. People here are welcoming and the environment is safe. Tax policies and the business aspect of this island are particularly favorable for entrepreneurs as there are no taxes on income, capital gains, companies, inheritance, etc.

10. Greece

Pays: $21,600 to families

Greece is currently facing the crisis of a declining population and is looking for more people to live in the country so it can continue to grow and stimulate its economy. While there isn't an official country program to apply to, multiple cities in Greece offer a stipend for living there. The island of Antikythera, for example, offers a monthly payment of nearly $600 for the first three years, totaling $21,600. This is usually just offered for families as opposed to single individuals.

9. Ireland

Pays: $50,000 to entrepreneurs and small businesses

Ireland offers to pay entrepreneurs and small businesses who wish to start companies in their country, putting the country on our list of countries that pay you to move there. The incentive amount for the Irish Start-Up Entrepreneur Program is $50,000, alongside a one-year visa. This is an excellent opportunity for companies in the early stages of their business with access to the EU and its market, there is an increased opportunity for business growth.

8. Spain

Pays: $50,000 to entrepreneurs

The government of Spain offers another program for entrepreneurs to start their businesses in their country. This includes an incentive of $50,000 and a one-year visa. Some cities even offer additional programs that pay people to move there. Typically these are offered for young couples who wish to begin a family and are even awarded additional money for each child they have. However, for some cities, applicants may have to live in the city for a set amount of time. Ponga, for example, requires that families live there for at least five years before applying for funding.

7. Denmark

Pays: $50,000 to aspiring entrepreneurs

Denmark is another country that appreciates skilled workers and is looking for entrepreneurs to move there. The government offers $50,000, support, and a one-year visa to aspiring entrepreneurs through its Startup Denmark program. The program is designed to help people start and set up new and unique businesses in the country with a stable, growing economy and good business climate, Denmark is the ideal place for a startup.

6. Portugal

Pays: $5,243 to working individuals and $50,000 to aspiring entrepreneurs

The Portuguese government is paying people to work in the inland regions of the country through its Emprego Interior MAIS scheme, which pays in grants up to $5,243. Portugal offers a good quality of life and work-life balance, making it a great place for remote workers. Applicants are required to stay for up to a year if approved for this scheme. There is also the startUp visa scheme which offers $50,000 for people looking to start a business in the country.

Click to continue reading and see 5 countries that will pay you to move there.

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Disclosure: None. 20 countries that will pay you to move there is originally published on Insider Monkey.
After days of high drama, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren will appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Ranchi on Wednesday for questioning in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

The ED camped at his Delhi residence on Tuesday to question him but the chief minister was "untraceable". However, Hemant Soren reappeared hours later in Ranchi after undertaking a 1250-km journey by road from Delhi. In an email he sent to the ED officials, Soren had said that he would appear before the investigating agency on Wednesday afternoon.



On his arrival at Ranchi, Soren held two rounds of meetings of alliance legislators at the CM House to discuss the present political situation. In photographs and videos shared by Soren's office on X, MLAs and ministers were seen with Soren attending the meeting. Soren's wife Kalpana Soren, who is not a legislator, was also present at the meeting.



#WATCH | Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren holds a meeting of the state's ministers and ruling side's MLAs at CM's residence in Ranchi.



His wife Kalpana Soren is also present at the meeting. pic.twitter.com/oo2GJhZ0gi  ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2024

This comes amid speculations that Soren's wife Kalpana might take over as the chief minister if Soren is arrested by the ED. The BJP too had charged that Soren would hand over the baton to Kalpana, a move that has irked his family members. "His (CM Soren's) brother and sister-in-law have spoken to me. They are all sad that JMM was formed by Shibu Soren and Durga Soren but the CM wants to hand over charge to his wife - nobody is agreeing to that," BJP MP Nishikant Dubey told reporters on Tuesday.



However, the JMM legislators expressed solidarity with the Hemant Soren government at the meetings. They also signed a letter of support without any name, including Kalpana Soren's. "We are ready for what may come... The BJP is abusing central agencies to destabilise a democratically elected government but we will not allow them to succeed in their mission," Transport Minister and senior JMM leader Champai Soren told PTI.



Soren himself had earlier dismissed the rumours of making Kalpana the chief minister, though the rumours have strengthened now.



Hemant Soren's family has refused reports of a rift, hitting out at Nishikant Dubey. Reacting to Dubey's remarks of rifts, Basant Soren, brother of Hemant Soren, said that this is not the family of BJP MP where rifts keep on happening, adding that JMM is united on all issues. "Any decision that will be taken will have the party's and state's welfare in mind," Basant added.



Who is Kalpana Soren?



Kalpana, who has no political background, is originally from Odisha's Mayurbhanj district. She is an engineering graduate with a degree in MBA and now runs a school. Kalpana is also involved in organic farming and also a regular presence in women and children empowerment programmes.



Kalpana and Hemnat Sorent have two children -- Nikhil and Ansh.



She courted controversy in 2022 after former chief minister Raghubar Das accused Hemant Soren of misusing his position to allot a plot in an industrial area to a company owned by his wife.



However, Kalpana will have to clear a lot of legal hurdles before she takes over as the head of the state. The norms have that by-polls cannot be held if the term of the Assembly will expire in less than a year. In that case, it would be difficult for Kalpana Soren to become an MLA. The assembly election in Jharkhand is due in November this year.


As Parliament assembled for the Budget Session today - the last session before the general elections this year - the 17th Lok Sabha is set to go down in history as having had the least number of sittings for a full term house since 1952.

The previous Lok Sabha had registered 331 sittings, which was till now the least number of sittings for a Lok Sabha that has lasted its full five years. The present Lok Sabha, whose term is almost over, has had 265 sittings till the end of the Winter Session.

The Budget Session, which will conclude on February 9, is slated to have eight sittings. So, the maximum number of sittings of the current Lok Sabha can be 273. This will be much lower than the 331 sittings that the 16th Lok Sabha registered. The average number of sittings of the Lok Sabha every year in the present term works out to 54.6 days.

Apart from the number of sittings, the amount of time spent working has also seen a decline. In 2023, in the Budget Session, the Lok Sabha had registered a productivity of 34 per cent. The lower house functioned for 43 per cent of the allocated time in the Monsoon Session. The productivity was much better in the Winter Session for the Lok Sabha, standing at 74 per cent.

While there has been a decline in the number of sittings and also the productivity, the legislative activity has been high, with the opposition accusing the government of rushing bills through in the midst of din. In the budget session last year, which otherwise saw very low productivity, a total of eight bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha and six were passed. In the Monsoon Session, a total of 22 bills were passed by the lower house. During the Winter Session last year, 12 bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha, and 18 bills were passed by the lower house.

The opposition has been critical of the government for allegedly calling or cutting short sessions at their own convenience without consulting the opposition parties. This Lok Sabha will also come to an end without having elected a deputy speaker. The post has been vacant since June 23, 2019.
After the unexpected drubbing in the assembly polls of November 2023, the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh might find it difficult to find strong candidates to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, with senior leaders not showing much interest, at least till now.

Former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh has already said no to contesting the general elections this time. Addressing media persons in Khilchipur of Rajgarh recently, Singh said that two more years of his Rajya Sabha tenure is left and thus he wont be contesting the Lok Sabha polls.

Singh was among the earliest candidates to be announced for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the prestigious Bhopal seat. However, the BJPs last minute manoeuver in pitting Pragya Singh Thakur, an aggressive Hindutva face opposite him saw Singh lose the polls with a margin of 3.65 lakhs votes.

In Chhattisgarh, former deputy chief minister T.S. Singh Deo has also said that he wont be able to contest the LS polls due to personal reasons. Singh Deo was defeated with a very slim margin in the recent assembly polls.

Despite reasons cited by the leaders, political watchers feel that with the political atmosphere in Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh no better suited to Congress than 2019, the senior leaders are probably thinking better than taking a risk of contesting the LS polls.

Poll related meetings have been conducted by Congress state in-charges  Jitendra Singh for Madhya Pradesh and Sachin Pilot for Chhattisgarh  during the past week. Lok Sabha level coordinators have been asked to suggest the names of possible candidates and even aspirants themselves are allowed to apply for tickets.

However, none of the senior leaders in both the states have yet shown an active interest, sources said. About 160 applications have been received in Chhattisgarh, but most of them are from young leaders and some office bearers.

The party, however, seems intent on fielding senior leaders including former ministers and office bearers to lay its best claim in the two Hindi heartland states. Ruling BJP holds 28 of 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh and nine of 11 parliamentary seats in Chhattisgarh and the Congress has not much to lose.

Political watchers feel that fielding of senior leaders will not only give the Congress a fighting chance, but also resolve the issue of resource crunch that the party is facing, especially in Madhya Pradesh where it has been out of power for 20 years now.

Among those senior leaders that the party might look to field in Madhya Pradesh include ex-chief minister Kamal Nath, currently MLA of Chhindwara, from the Chhindwara LS seat  the only seat that the Congress currently holds with Naths son Nakul as the MP.

Other names that might be fielded include former union ministers and state Congress president Kantilal Bhuria, Arun Yadav and Suresh Pachouri from Ratlam, Khandwa and Bhopal or Narmadapuram, respectively, former leader of opposition Govind Singh from Gwalior, six-times ex-MLA K.P. Singh from Guna-Shivpuri and former leader of opposition Ajay Singh (current MLA of Churhat) from Sidhi seat.

In Chhattisgarh, Congress is likely to find candidates from among former ministers. The current members of parliamentparty state president Deepak Baij from Bastar and Jyotsna Mahant from Korbamight be retained. Ex-state president Mohan Markam might be fielded from Kanker. Whether ex-chief minister Bhupesh Baghel is fielded will depend on the central leadership, chief of screening committee Rajni Patil had told the media persons.

The Congress wants to come out with lists of candidates in February itself to give enough time to its candidates for preparation. However, the candidates selection might not be a very easy process for the party  not because of too many, but too few strong candidates.
On Tuesday, IDF troops pulled a dramatic undercover operation at a hospital in the Israeli-occupied West Bank that saw the soldiers dress up as doctors and nurses to kill three Palestinian militants. The dramatic footage of the incident at Ibn Sina Hospital, doing rounds on social media, showed the troops dressed up as Muslims, sporting fake beards, and as women in hijabs to storm the hospital unidentified.

The operation took just 10 minutes and was carried out jointly by the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet security agency, and the counter-terrorism unit, reported The Times of Israel.



Earlier today, Israeli soldiers dressed as medics shot and killed three Palestinian men in a hospital in Jenin, occupied West Bank.

Israel claims the men were fighters, however, International law prohibits the killing of combatants receiving medical attention if they are not, pic.twitter.com/nea33o82qR  In Context (@incontextmedia) January 31, 2024

The IDF troops entered the medical centre at 5:30 a.m. local time dressed as doctors, nurses, and Palestinian women. Some sported fake bears while others dressed as Muslim women, scouring the hospital corridors carrying guns. One was seen pushing a wheelchair and another carrying a baby car seat.



They headed to a room on the third floor and shot the three militants - one Hamas member and two members of Islamic Jihad. The commandos reportedly used guns with silencers in the raid. They left the building unscathed.



According to the IDF, the slain men were also Jenin Brigade fighters, an umbrella group of armed Palestinian factions in the West Bank city. They are 27-year-old Muhammad Jalamneh, who had been in contact with Hamas officials abroad. Jalamneh was "previously injured while preparing a car bomb attack, armed other operatives for shooting attacks, and planned a raid attack inspired by the events of October 7."



The two other men are brothers Muhammad and Basel Ghazawi.



While IDF has killed several Hamas men, Tuesday's incident has been tagged one of the boldest Israeli raids since the war began. Many also criticise Israel for the violation of international humanitarian law.



"The Israeli forces involved in the operation were dressed in civilian clothing and at least some were dressed as medical personnel, who enjoy protection under the law of armed conflict," Aurel Sari, a law professor at the University of Exeter in the UK, told CNN. "The killing of the three Palestinian men by Israeli forces dressed as medical personnel as part of a single attack therefore violates the prohibition of resort to perfidy."



However, IDF claims the three men had been "hiding in hospitals and using them as a base for planning terrorist activities and carrying out terror attacks" and were cynically using hospitals as shelters and "human shields." Hamas has previously denied such allegations.


As Maldives battles political unrest, the country's top lawyer, Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem, was brutally attacked in the capital of Male on Wednesday. Shameem was appointed by the former pro-India Maldivian government led by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Shameem is undergoing treatment for a bone fracture on the right arm and is said to be stable, reported Maldivian media Adhadhu. The report added that the attack did not appear to have involved a knife or sharp object.



The motive for Shameem's assault was not known and the assailant has not been arrested yet. An investigation is on.



The dubious attack on Shameem comes as the country faces political turmoil. Following the impeachment scare against President Mohamed Muizzu, the Maldives government approached the Supreme Court over the recent amendment to Parliament's standing orders which makes the impeachment process easier.



Clashes broke out in the Parliament between the ruling and the opposing MPs last week. Gasuim Ibrahim, leader of the Jumhoori Party, has urged Muizzu to formally apologise to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seek "diplomatic reconciliation" to mend bilateral relations.



'Not a failure of Indian diplomacy'



External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday commented on India's strained ties with the Maldives, stating that the growing Chinese influence in Maldives isn't a failure of Indian diplomacy. "There is competition with regard to the growing Chinese influence in the region, but it would be wrong to term it a failure of Indian diplomacy," said Jaishankar.



The EAM, who served as Ambassador in Beijing during his decades-long career as an IFS officer, added that China will try to influence these countries as part of a competitive politics. "We must recognise that China is also a neighbouring country and in many ways will, as part of competitive politics, influence these countries. I don't think we should be scared of China. I think we should say 'okay, global politics is a competitive game. You do your best, I will do my best'," the diplomat-turned-politician remarked.



On the 'India Out' campaign in the Maldives, Jaishankar urged the audience to "trust" Indian diplomacy. "Every country has problems in its neighbourhood. It is never as good as they say it is. It is never as bad as they say it is. There will be problems. Our job is to anticipate, assess, and respond. At the end of the day neighbours have relationships with each other," he said.



"At the end of the day, neighbours need each other. History and geography are very powerful forces. There is no escape from that," he added.


London, Jan 30 (AP) Italian regulators said they told OpenAI that its ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot has violated European Union's stringent data privacy rules.

The country's data protection authority, known as Garante, said Monday that it notified San Francisco-based OpenAI of breaches of the EU rules, known as General Data Protection Regulation.

The watchdog started investigating ChatGPT last year, when it temporarily banned within Italy the chatbot that can produce text, images and sound in response to users' questions.

Based on the results of its fact-finding activity," the watchdog said it concluded that the available evidence pointed to the existence of breaches of the provisions in the EU privacy rules.

OpenAI, which has 30 days to reply to the allegations, said it would work constructively with Italian regulators.

We believe our practices align with GDPR and other privacy laws, and we take additional steps to protect people's data and privacy," a company statement said. "We want our AI to learn about the world, not about private individuals. We actively work to reduce personal data in training our systems like ChatGPT, which also rejects requests for private or sensitive information about people.

The company said last year that it fulfilled a raft of conditions that the Garante demanded to get the ChatGPT ban lifted.

The watchdog had imposed the ban after finding that some users' messages and payment information were exposed and because ChatGPT didn't have a system to verify users' ages, allowing children to get answers from the AI tool that were inappropriate for their age.

It also questioned whether there was a legal basis for OpenAI to collect massive amounts of data used to train ChatGPT's algorithms and raised concerns that the system could sometimes generate false information about individuals.

The growing popularity of generative AI systems like ChatGPT are also drawing increasing scrutiny from regulators on both sides of the Atlantic.

The US Federal Trade Commission opened an inquiry last week into the relationships between AI startups OpenAI and Anthropic and the tech giants that have bankrolled them  Amazon, Google and Microsoft. Competition regulators in the 27-nation EU and Britain, meanwhile, are also examining Microsoft's OpenAI investments.

AI systems also face broader oversight in the EU, which is finalizing its groundbreaking AI Act, the world's first comprehensive rulebook for artificial intelligence. The bloc's 27 member states are expected to endorse a version of the legislation Friday. (AP) SCY

SCY
NEW DELHI, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Moti Mahal, a culinary icon with a rich 104-year heritage, traces its roots back to 1920 when the visionary chef Shri Kundan Lal Gujral laid the foundation in Peshawar, undivided India. Revered as the birthplace of culinary legends like Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani, Moti Mahal has become synonymous with North Indian gastronomic excellence.



Shri Kundan Lal Gujral, a trailblazer in Tandoori cuisine, introduced the world to the iconic Tandoori Chicken, setting a new standard in Indian gastronomy. The subsequent innovations, including the renowned Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani, further solidified Moti Mahal's reputation as a culinary powerhouse.



Post the Partition of India in 1947, Moti Mahal found its new home in Delhi under the visionary leadership of Shri Kundan Lal Gujral. The brand continued to thrive, garnering global acclaim for its unwavering commitment to authenticity and culinary innovation.



Today, Moti Mahal's legacy, carried forward by Kundan Lal Gujral's highly accomplished grandson, Monish Gujral,(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MonishGujral) an Indian Columnist, Food Writer, blogger and Gourmand Award-winning cookbook author, extends internationally, with a strong presence in the USA, Africa, New Zealand, Maldives, Colombo, and the Middle East. Monish Gujral's culinary expertise has been recognized globally, with his notable demonstration of Indian Cuisine at the iconic Le Cordon Bleu Paris.As a tribute to his legenday GrandFather Monish Has launched Motimahal Tandoori trail restaurants globally .Monish Gujral was awarded the retail icon of the year in india in 2022 as a leader in F&B and hospitality industry



Looking ahead, Moti Mahal, under the dynamic leadership of Monish Gujral, announces an ambitious expansion plan in Europe in 2024. As the Managing Director of Moti Mahal Group, Monish Gujral, a renowned chef and culinary expert, has been championing the brand in Europe since 2004 through cookbooks, culinary shows, and the distribution of ready-to-eat delicacies



The expansion plan encompasses the opening of iconic restaurants in Europe, designed to reflect Moti Mahal's Tandoori trail's rich culinary heritage while embracing the cultural diversity of Europe. The ambiance will seamlessly blend traditional Indian aesthetics with contemporary design elements, promising a unique dining experience. The menu, curated by Chef and restaurateur, Monish Gujral, will showcase signature dishes from his Gourmand award winning books - Moti Mahal's Tandoori trail cookbook published in 2004, Motimahal CookBook On the Butter Chicken Trail (published in 2008 )and Motimahal CookBook On the kebab Trail published in 2015 offerings, ensuring a diverse and satisfying culinary journey.



Monish Gujral extends an invitation to the community to celebrate this culinary milestone, experiencing the fusion of authentic Indian cuisine and international culinary innovation. Stay tuned for updates and announcements as Moti Mahal prepares to open its doors in Europe in the summer of 2024.



Social media handles: https://www.instagram.com/motimahalofficial/; https://www.instagram.com/monishgujral/



Website: https://motimahal.in/ and www.tandooritrail.com



Image - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2330844/MotiMahalTandooriTrail.jpg



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India's Culinary Odyssey, Curated by Chef Regi Mathew, hosted by Mr. Hanu Reddy and Powered by Pushpa's Kitchen at Hanu's Table - A gastronomic pilgrimage, created to promote culinary tourism in tribute to India cuisine, featuring the collective brilliance of India's top chefs.



CHENNAI, India, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The new year began with the biggest tribute to Indian cuisine as celebrated Chef Regi Mathew & respected real estate tycoon Mr. Hanu Reddy, brought together the 10 top most chefs of India to craft one epicurean experience aptly titled "India's Culinary Odyssey" that hosted 106 exclusive guests, over a 156ft long table for a 10 course ode to the diverse and vibrant flavours of our nation.



After over 22 months of planning, Chef Regi Mathew from Kappa Chakka Kandhari curated the first ever culinary collaboration of this scale, bringing together the finest chefs of India. The elite roster of culinary maestros included Chef Hussain Shahzad from Bombay Canteen, Chef Varun Totlani of Masque, Chef Vanshika Bhatia of Omo Cafe, Arouni Mookerjee from Sienna Cafe, Chef Avinash Martins from Cavatina Goa, Chef Mythrayie Iyer from Farmlore.in, Chef Vinesh Johny of Lavonne Cafe, Chef Vicky Ratnani and Chef Harish Rao. Never before have chefs of this calibre come together for one spectacular experience, marking the beginning of culinary tourism in India. Furthermore, the grand event also stood as a platform for a retinue of 300 food & beverage staff to work under the tutelage of these star chefs for this elaborate epicurean immersive experience.



Presented on an architectural marvel- 'Hanu's Table'  a 156-feet wooden masterpiece crafted from trees felled during cyclone Vardah. Each dish served told a tale of cherished memories, reflecting the soulful connection between mothers and the culinary treasures each chef crafted with love. From the comforting warmth of South Indian kitchens to the spice-infused creations of the North, and the rich flavours of the East to the innovative dishes of the West. The meal began an Amuse Bouche of Birdseye chilli Raw mango pop by Chef REGI MATHEW and then THE LOTUS STEM PROJECT: TIKKI CHAT An urban inspiration from Sindh, crafted by CHEF VICKY RATNANI, this was followed by the SUNSET KISSED RECHEADO DELIGHT a dish that paid homage to the vibrant fisherman community of Goa by CHEF AVINASH MARTINS. Followed by CHEF VANSHIKA BHATIA's BURKE WAALE CHOLE Tender Inspired by the flavours of the North West Frontier. Then came CHEF VARUN TOTLANI's GODA MASALA with its unmistakable flavours of Maharashtra. The entree's commences with a BLUE PEA PIDI Rice Dumplings Cooked in Coconut Milk. Paired perfectly with our Country-Style Chicken Curry, both dishes inspired by the culinary traditions of Ramapuram, a charming town near Kottayam by CHEF REGI MATHEW. Then came the RAGI MUDDE a cultural symbol that embodies the heritage and history of Karnataka by CHEF MYTHRAYIE IYER. Followed by CONFIT PATHA IN A NIRAMISH JHOL. This course was our ode to that blessing from our Ma and the shakti that they channel through our cooking and cuisine by Bengali CHEF AURONI MOOKERJEE. Next up was PUSHPA'S SUNDAY SHRIMP FRY AND NEI-ANNAM showcasing the flavours of Andhra and homage to the culinary legacy Mr. Reddy's beloved mother Smt. Chirla Pushpaveni Reddy crafted by CHEF HARISH RAO. The last course was the AMBUR DUCK BIRIYANI. Originating from the quaint town of Ambur in Tamil Nadu, this biryani is a testament to the region's rich culinary heritage and crafted by CHEF HUSSAIN SHAHZAD. Guests ended the meal on a sweet note with 2 signature desserts by CHEF VINESH JOHNY, - PASSION FRUIT & COCONUT AIS KACHANG and CARROT GINGER & BRUNOST.



"We are delighted to have welcomed the best in India for this historic event. This is just the beginning of all the culinary glories our country offers. Together, we hope to do more collaborations and craft more just experiences that lets us unearth the hidden gems of Indian Cuisine" -CHEF REGI MATHEW



With this event Chef Mathew aims to inspire others to conduct similar dining experiences throughout India to showcase the nation's unique culinary talent and bring the world to experience it. Mr. Reddy's vision too is that 'Hanu's Table' find its place on everyone's bucket list so we can move the needle of the country and make India the culinary capital of the world. Situated under a canopy of 70-year-old mango trees, Hanu's Table stands testament to collaboration, companionship, sustainability and waste transformation. Symbolizing unity, gratitude and abundance, it emphasizes a commitment to bringing diverse people together to spur creativity and make it a better world.



While the next immersive experience has yet to be announced, be ready to grab a seat!



Contact:

Nikhila Palat

nikhila@katalystrm.com

+91-9820033396



Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2330850/Hanus_Table.jpg



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Bengaluru, 31st January 2024: A heart-warming twist of fate, demonstrated the transformative power of Sonic Lamb headphones, fostering inclusivity for the hearing impaired through the gift of music.



Little did Sohan Rai know that the purchase of Sonic Lamb Headphones, an unusual headphone with unique hybrid driver technology that reproduces the physical experience of sound - you actually feel the music when listening on these headphones, would lead to a remarkable discovery at a restaurant.



At the restaurant while enjoying music with his meal, he met Nandish, who he learnt was partially deaf. Sohan's curiosity sparked compassion. Sohan asked Nandish to try out Sonic Lamb headphones.



To their amazement, Nandish could experience the music flow through him, and joy welled up as he described it as the "best listen ever." The power of this experience fuelled Nandishs fervent wish to share it with his sister, Netra, who has been deaf since birth.



Inspired and intrigued, Sohan approached Rapture Innovation Labs, the startup behind the Sonic Lamb headphones. Touched by the story, co-founder Navajith Karkera and his team embarked on a remarkable collaboration with Sohan. They customized a pair of Sonic Lamb headphones specifically for Netra by passing through bass and mid-range audio frequencies (vocals and instruments) through the Hybrid Driver technology, which reproduces through skin and bone conduction instead of just the sub-bass and bass as per their actual design, and they hoped for the best.



Taking the modified headphones to Nandish's village, the team witnessed an incredible moment as Nandish's sister, Netra, was able to experience music and feel the beats and rhythms of music for the first time in her life. Her sheer joy and excitement were palpable. This heart-warming event highlighted the power of Sonic Lamb to reproduce the physical and sensory experience of feeling the music but also to bridge gaps and bring the gift of music to those who had never experienced it before.



Sohan's empathy and curiosity, coupled with Rapture Innovations Lab's spirit of innovation, have woven a story of inclusivity and the transformative power of a single sound.



About Rapture Innovation Labs Pvt Ltd.



Rapture Innovation Labs Pvt Ltd is a pioneering audio tech startup supported by leading startup enablers like Deshpande Startups, T-Hub, SINE - IIT Bombay, TiE, NDBI - NID Ahmedabad along with Dept of Science and Technology and Government of Karnataka. Dedicated to revolutionizing the way people experience sound, the company focuses on innovation, research, and design to create groundbreaking audio products. Sonic Lamb Headphones are the company's flagship product, setting new standards in headphone audio experience with their patented technology. Rapture is one among seven start-ups globally and the only one outside of Europe to be selected SoundTech accelerator program by Sound Hub Denmark which is a sound focused technology innovation centre located at Struer Denmark co-founded by Bang & Olufsen, Harman Lifestyle, Aalborg University, Danish Sound Cluster and Struer Municipality with a focus to help selected companies with developing, testing and refining their technology, product as well as business.



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Ayodhya, Jan 31 (PTI) Domestic airline Zooom on Wednesday operated a flight from the national capital to Ayodhya, marking the relaunch of its services after nearly four years.

Currently, the carrier has a fleet of five Bombardier CRJ 200ER planes, each having 50 seats.

Initially, the services from Delhi to Ayodhya will be thrice a week, the airline's Director and CEO Atul Gambir said on Wednesday.

Speaking to PTI onboard the flight from the national capital to Ayodhya, Gambir said the airline will fly to more cities in the coming months.

The possible destinations include Lucknow and Amritsar.

All five planes in the fleet now will be ready for operations in the next three to four months. Currently, two of the five aircraft are airworthy.

Talking about expansion plans, Gambir said, "We plan to have narrow-body planes in the coming months" and also freighters.

The airline is yet to decide on whether to go for narrow-body planes of Boeing or Airbus.

Further, the airline aims to have a fleet of 20 planes in two years so that it can look at international services, Gambir said.

At present, Zooom has around 125 staff and Gambir said about 75 more people will be hired in the next one month.

This will take the employee strength to 200.

In September 2023, aviation regulator DGCA renewed the flying permit of Zexus Air Services. Earlier, it was operating as Zoom Airlines.

Now, Zexus is operating as Zooom.

After launching operations in 2017 with a CRJ aircraft, the Gurugram-based airline had stopped operations in 2020.
In this article, we are going to discuss the 25 most cannabis-consuming countries in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global cannabis industry, the budding cannabis-based pharmaceutical industry and the interest of big pharma, and the offshore business activities of some US-based cannabis companies, and go directly to 10 Most Cannabis Consuming-Countries in the World.

The medicinal properties of the cannabis plant have been known for millennia. The first documented case of its use dates back to 2,800 B.C., when it was listed in Emperor Shen Nungs (regarded as the father of Chinese medicine) pharmacopeia. Cannabis is named as one of the five most sacred plants on earth in Hinduism and is believed to cleanse sins and unite one with Shiva. It is also revered for its medicinal properties and used in Ayurvedic medicine.

Global Cannabis Industry:

As we mentioned in our article  Top 20 Countries Where Weed Is Legal In 2023  the global cannabis market was valued at $47.32 billion in 2022, and is projected to grow from $57.18 billion in 2023 to $444.34 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 34% during the forecast period.

Marijuana legalization is gaining momentum around the globe, driven primarily by the increasing recognition that the product may have a range of legitimate medicinal benefits and therapeutic applications. It is the most widely cultivated, trafficked, and consumed drug worldwide.

Cannabis-Based Pharmaceutical Industry:

The FDA understands that there is increasing interest in the potential utility of cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. In 2018, the federal watchdog approved the countrys first-ever drug derived from marijuana  Epidiolex. Produced by GW Pharmaceuticals, the drug is used to treat two rare forms of epilepsy.

The $7.2 billion acquisition of GW Pharmaceuticals by the global biopharma giant Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ) in 2021 is the latest sign of the growing legitimacy and increased receptivity of cannabis-based drugs in the pharma industry. With the new purchase, Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ)  which has focused primarily on sleep medications and oncology  has augmented its neuroscience portfolio. Net product sales of Epidiolex reached $746.4 million in 2022  an increase of 12% from the previous year  according to an announcement by Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ).

Story continues

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) has also entered the medical cannabis industry, betting on a promising cannabinoid-based bowel disease treatment. In December 2021, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced the acquisition of the clinical-stage company Arena Pharmaceuticals for a total equity value of around $6.7 billion. By acquiring all shares of Arena for $100 per share in an all-cash transition, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) has joined other big pharma companies in the cannabis space.

Offshore Business Activities:

The United States of America is a behemoth of the global cannabis industry, so much so that even just one of its states  California  is the single largest cannabis market in the world. Americans love a good buzz and theyre forking over big bucks for it. This provides a huge opportunity for companies and entrepreneurs everywhere, who want the lions share of the sweet green ganja pie and are thus coming up with more and more innovative solutions to bring about a paradigm shift in the industry. Large and mature consumer markets like LA and Chicago act as testing grounds for such innovators to test their ideas, before they bring them to the rest of the country and even across the border.

A great example is Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (OTC:CURLF)  a Massachusetts-based leading medical and recreational cannabis company serving over 350,000 registered customers across 23 states in the country. Curaleaf has worked to introduce new products in the American market, including the vape hardware system Cliq by Select, Select X Bites gummies, and even a cannabis-infused Seltzer brand. The company also maintains a presence in the U.K. and Germany  two of the countries that consume the most weed in Europe. Since Germany is in the process of drafting its adult-use cannabis framework, Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (OTC:CURLF) has already acquired a majority stake in the local pharmaceutical company Four 20 Pharma, thus positioning itself to take advantage of the upcoming adult-use opportunities. The company also anticipates that more countries will follow Germanys lead in the coming years and adopt more liberal adult-use regulations.

Similarly, Tilray Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY) is a leading cannabis lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company with operations in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and Latin America. Headquartered in New York, Tilray is one of the leading global companies in the production and research of medical cannabis. It was announced last year that the industry giants medical cannabis division, Tilray Medical and FL Group, has received authorization from Italys Ministry of Health to distribute three new medical cannabis compounds to pharmacies across Italy, further broadening its portfolio of pharmaceutical grade cannabis offerings. Tilray Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY) also announced a new strategic partnership with Pharmaidea, a Petrone Group company, to market and educate over 12,000 pharmacies across Italy on the benefits of medical cannabis and medical cannabis patient care.

Both, Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (OTC:CURLF) and Tilray Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY), rank among the Biggest Marijuana Companies in the World.

With that said, here are the Countries that Smoke the Most Weed in 2024.

25 Most Cannabis Consuming-Countries in the World

A close-up shot of a cannabis plant, showing its intricate details.

Methodology:

To collect data for this article, we have referred to the UNODC World Drug Report, to determine Countries with the Highest Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use. The annual prevalence is the percentage of the youth and adult population who have consumed cannabis at least once in the past survey year. To make sure our list is up-to-date, we have only included countries with data available from 2013 and onwards.

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A close-up shot of a cannabis plant, showing its intricate details.

25. North Macedonia

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 6.6%

In March 2016, North Macedonia legalized growing cannabis for medical purposes and to refine, extract, and produce hemp seed and cannabis oil. This has been a boon to the countrys economy worth an estimated $108.5 million per year that has attracted both local and foreign investors.

Since 2016, authorities in North Macedonia have issued more than 60 licenses to cultivate medical cannabis, however, the recreational use of marijuana is still illegal.

24. Belgium

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 7%

Cannabis is illegal for recreational use in Belgium. However, simple possession of up to 3 grams has been largely decriminalized and will likely result in a mere fine.

However, there has recently been a great push to legalize ganja for personal use in the Western European country. Belgium Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy and Employment Pierre-Yves Dermagne recently endorsed modernizing his countrys cannabis policies to permit adult-use marijuana, stating that his country must end the hypocrisy. Philippe Close, the socialist mayor of Brussels, has also urged the creation of cannabis cafes on the lines of Amsterdam.

Belgium is placed among the Countries with the Highest Rate of Cannabis Use.

23. Germany

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 7.09%

Germany is among the latest countries to approve a plan to liberalize rules on cannabis, setting the scene for E.U.s most populous nation to decriminalize possession of limited amounts and allow members of cannabis clubs to buy the substance for recreational use. If all goes well and there are no more delays, the legalization of cannabis possession and cultivation will take effect on April 1st, 2024.

With an annual consumption of 12.9 metric tons, Hamburg is one of the Most Cannabis-Consuming Cities in the World.

22. Ireland

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 7.1%

Cannabis is illegal for recreational purposes in Ireland, while its use for medical purposes requires case-by-case approval by the Health Ministry.

Nevertheless, Ireland is among the countries that smoke the most weed in Europe. Around 17% of Irish people now use products containing cannabis, according to a 2021 survey by Eurobarometer.

21. Liberia

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 7.52%

Per Liberian law, cannabis possession, use, cultivation, and sale are illegal for medical or recreational use. However, due to underfunded law enforcement and corruption, the plant is grown widely across the country.

Cannabis is the most commonly used drug in Liberia and its consumption is also popular among adolescents, with around 9% having used it in the past.

20. Switzerland

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 7.7%

Decades after pioneering prescription heroin and safe injection sites, Switzerland is now experimenting with decriminalizing recreational cannabis. Its being done in a very Swiss way  taking things slow and steady to see how the population responds.

The federal government has now authorized trials to take place over the coming decade to experiment with decriminalizing recreational cannabis, taking small steps like it did for four years before introducing prescribed heroin in the 1990s.

19. Argentina

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 8.13%

While possession of small amounts of weed is decriminalized in Argentina, the cultivation, distribution, and sale of cannabis remains illegal. The country has taken steps towards legalizing cannabis for medical purposes, and some provinces have also decriminalized the use of the drug for personal use.

18. Finland

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 8.2%

Nearly 30% of adults in Finland admitted to having tried illicit drugs at some point in their lives, most commonly cannabis. Helsinki ranks among Cities with the Most Expensive Weed in the World.

17. Croatia

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 10.2%

The most used drug in Croatia is cannabis, followed by cocaine, and amphetamines. According to a survey by the Sewage Analysis CORE Group Europe (SCORE) in 2021, the daily cannabis consumption in Zagreb was 132.9 mg per 1,000 people.

16. Italy

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 10.21%

At present, cannabis is legal in Italy for medical and industrial uses  although it is strictly regulated  while it is decriminalized for recreational use. Over the course of 2021, approximately 17.7% of high school students in Italy consumed cannabis, with this figure reaching 20% when considering only male students.

Rome ranks among the Cities with the Highest Weed Consumption in the World.

15. Netherlands

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 10.4%

Cannabis has been available for recreational use in Dutch coffee shops since 1976. Amsterdam has dominated cannabis tourism for 40 years, but now its stepping back from this multibillion-dollar industry. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema announced last year that marijuana tourism is a blight on the city, fostering crime and public disorder, and proposed banning foreigners from its cannabis cafes.

The Dutch rank among the top weed smokers in the world.

14. Monaco

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 10.47%

Monaco has very stern cannabis laws. Theoretically, individuals in possession of small quantities of marijuana are liable to a fine whereas bigger quantities are subject to jail terms and hefty fines. However, in practice, officers often fail to execute these laws especially in cases where the amount of cannabis is significantly small. It often gets waved aside as a misdemeanor. This has led to many people feeling relaxed to smoke weed in Monaco.

13. Morocco

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 10.47%

Morocco has long been ranked as one of the worlds largest cannabis producers. In June 2021, the countrys Parliament adopted a law to regularize the plants production for medical, cosmetic, and industrial purposes, while production and consumption for recreational purposes remained strictly prohibited.

Morocco creates a considerable amount of the world's hashish and was the top producer of the resin from 2002 to 2010.

12. Spain

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 10.5%

In Madrid, cannabis clubs arent strictly legal. Instead, they operate in a legal gray area in which members join clubs and share cannabis that they grow. Donations are exchanged for tokens, which are then used to purchase products.

With an average price per gram of $6.8, Madrid ranks among the Cities with the Cheapest Weed in the World.

11. Nigeria

Annual Prevalence of Cannabis Use: 10.76%

Cannabis is cultivated and produced in Nigeria for both domestic consumption and export. The cannabis produced in Nigeria feeds its large domestic market (an estimated 10.6 million cannabis users in 2018) and there is evidence for trafficking to other countries in Africa, too. In the past decade, a number of countries outside of Africa also have mentioned Nigeria as the source country of cannabis.

Nigeria is the Country that Consumes the Most Weed in Africa.

Click to continue reading and see the 10 Most Cannabis Consuming-Countries in the World.

Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: None. 25 Most Cannabis Consuming-Countries in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Beijing, Jan 31 (PTI) China on Wednesday said it has worked out a comprehensive mutual visa cooperation agreement with 23 countries, including the Maldives amid Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzus efforts to woo more Chinese tourists to the Indian Ocean island nation.

Beijing is currently trying to work out either visa-free or liberalising visa procedures with various countries to boost the declining number of international tourists to China and to enable its citizens to travel abroad more freely.

Chinas visa-free 'circle of friends' continues to expand, and more and more countries have officially entered the 'visa-free era'," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told the media here.

He said that so far China has concluded mutual visa exemption agreements covering different passports with 157 countries.

So far, China has concluded mutual visa exemption agreements covering different passports with 157 countries, reached agreements or arrangements on simplified visa procedures with 44 countries, and achieved comprehensive mutual visa cooperation with 23 countries, including Thailand, Singapore, Maldives, and the United Arab Emirates visa-free," Wang said.

Reference to the Maldives is significant as Muizzu, regarded as a pro-China leader, during his recent visit here urged Beijing to boost Chinese tourist numbers to his country, amidst a diplomatic row with India, one of the major tourism markets for the island nation.

According to data released by the Maldives Tourism Ministry earlier, India has remained the largest tourist market for the country in 2023.

Official figures released by the Maldives Ministry of Tourism this week, the country received more than 1.74 lakh tourists till January 28 this year, of which only 13,989 were Indians.

Russia topped the chart with 18,561 tourists from the country visiting the Maldives, followed by Italy (18,111), China (16,529) and the UK (14,588).

Before COVID, China held the top spot with over 2.80 lakh tourists but is currently struggling to revive its domestic and foreign tourism due to a nearly four-year lockdown policy and the continued slowdown of its economy.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang said that in addition, more than 60 countries and regions offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival convenience to Chinese citizens.

The above-mentioned measures have made it more and more convenient for Chinese citizens to travel abroad, and the 'gold content' of Chinese passports has become higher and higher. They have also provided more convenience for foreigners to travel, work, study and live in China, and have been widely welcomed by the international community, he said replying to a question.
Shimla, Jan 31 (PTI) A credit potential scheme of Rs 34,490 crore has been prepared by Nabard for agriculture, MSMEs and other priority sectors in 2024-25, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Wednesday.

The scheme's allocation is 8 per cent higher than the current fiscal, he added.

Inaugurating the State Credit Seminar for the financial year 2024-25 organised by Nabard, he said the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has a major role in making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant.

"I urge banks to extend their active support in providing loans for proper implementation of schemes so that farmers, horticulturists and youth can avail maximum benefits of these schemes.

"As per a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) report, none of the districts of the state falls in the category of 'credit deficient' districts. Although the credit flow in these districts is normal, the loan-to-deposit ratio of the state is 36.39 per cent," the chief minister said in a statement issued here.

He also expressed concern over the 'loan to deposit ratio' in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Una, Lahaul-Spiti, and Chamba is consistently less than 40 per cent.

"Climate change affected Himachal as well, but to cope with these conditions, the state government has taken many steps. Green Industry and e-vehicles are being encouraged in the state in a big way so that dependence on fossil fuels can be reduced," he noted.

The state government will also commence schemes to strengthen the rural economy, and efforts are afoot to promote natural farming, he added.
Noida/Lucknow, Jan 31 (PTI) Veteran filmmaker Boney Kapoor, who is associated with Bayview Projects that won the bid for developing the International Film City near Noida, on Wednesday said the project will cater to Indian and foreign film shoots and post-production work.

Kapoor has teamed up with real estate developer Bhutani Group under the Bayview Projects banner, which was on Tuesday selected as the concessionaire to develop the greenfield project along the Yamuna Expressway near the upcoming Noida International Airport.

Bayview Projects offered the highest revenue share of 18 per cent to develop the film city in a public-private-partnership model with the Uttar Pradesh government and clinched the deal from the likes of T-Series and a company backed by actor Akshay Kumar.

"This film city will be developed in such a way that not only Indian but also foreign films can be shot here," Kapoor said, according to a statement shared by the Uttar Pradesh government.

"Moreover, filmmakers from both India and abroad will come here with their scripts and leave only after completion of production of the film. They will have facilities not only for shooting but also post-production of films," Kapoor added.

The filmmaker said Bayview Projects is proud to have received the tender to develop the project and will make every effort to live up to the expectations on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's "dream project" and "ensure that he is not disappointed".

Kapoor wrote on social media that they will establish an international centre for shooting for filmmakers worldwide at the studio, the statement said.

The studio will not only facilitate filming but also provide post-production facilities. According to him, a producer should be capable of coming to the studio with a script and leaving after the completion of the final film, it added.

Ali Ram from the Bhutani Group said the film city will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

"We have already completed its mapping. Discussions are underway not only in Delhi but also with international architects. We have observed film cities and studios worldwide, and technology will be extensively utilised in this film city," he remarked.

"Our homework is complete and we endeavour to make it the most successful and technologically advanced film city in the world. This will promote tourism significantly and numerous international film companies will also come here. We aim to make it the best tourist capital," he added.

Yamuna Expressway Authority CEO Arun Vir Singh said the authority is providing land for the project for free and all the basic infrastructure and facilities, including connectivity, will be made available.

The film city is to be built in a public-private partnership and is envisaged to spread over 1,000 acres (230 acres in the first phase) in Sector 21 of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority along the Yamuna Expressway near Noida.

This was the third time that a tender was floated for the project.

A global tender was floated on November 23, 2021, and again on July 11, 2022, but no investor expressed interest both times. The third tender was floated on September 30, 2023, with a deadline of January 4.
Washington, Jan 31 (PTI) An Indian national was on Tuesday sentenced to nine years of imprisonment for a USD2.8 million health care fraud, the Department of Justice said.

Yogesh K Pancholi, 43, a resident of Michigan, owned and operated Shring Home Care Inc. (Shring), a home health company. Despite being excluded from billing Medicare, Pancholi purchased Shring using the names, signatures, and personal identifying information of others to conceal his ownership of the company, according to court documents.

In a two-month period, Pancholi and his co-conspirators billed and were paid nearly USD2.8 million by Medicare for services that were never provided, federal prosecutors said.

Pancholi then transferred these funds through bank accounts belonging to shell corporations and eventually into his accounts in India, prosecutors alleged.

After being indicted, and on the eve of trial, Pancholi, using a pseudonym, wrote false and malicious emails to various federal government agencies alleging a government witness had committed various crimes and should not be allowed to remain in the United States in an attempt to keep the witness from testifying, the Department of Justice said.
Washington, Jan 31 (PTI) Indias specially-abled population can actively contribute USD 1 trillion to the countrys economy by 2047, according to a prominent Indian-American leader in the sector.

Pranav Desai, the founder of the Voice of Specially Abled People, recently travelled to India and met top leaders of the ruling BJP in New Delhi including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and BJP president J P Nadda; the Gujarat Chief minister in Ahmedabad to present his vision document for the cause. He also travelled to Goa for a volunteer meeting.

In an interview with PTI, Desai said that with proper strategy, policy and action, Indias specially-abled population can actively contribute to the nations economic growth, ultimately achieving a USD 1 trillion contribution to the disability sector by 2047 in Viksit Bharat.

India can be a leader in this sector. My proposal was well received in New Delhi, Desai said, referring to his conversations with the top leadership in India.

Desai said in his meeting with Sitharaman, he presented a comprehensive Tax Incentives Package for empowering divyangjan, a term used to refer to specially-abled persons.

This package is designed to support the achievement of the USD 1 trillion goal by 2047 by jump-starting economic activities and direct/indirect hiring for the disability sector, he said.

In his meeting with Nadda, Desai presented Vision 2047 for Divyangjan.

I also explained the strategic importance of the economic argument to transform the disability sector instead of the traditional viewpoint of looking at the disability sector from a welfare perspective only. He requested to promote awareness about the Ability of specially-abled people," he said.

In my meeting with (Road Transport and Highways Minister) Shri Nitin Gadkari, I presented to him accessibility and transportation issues faced by individuals with disabilities," he said.

The measures proposed in the vision documents aim to improve mobility and ensure their active participation with accessibility everywhere in transportation, he said.

I also proposed mandating /recommending the level of hiring of Divyangjan by the ministry and outsourced vendors, he added.

Desai said he met Priti Adani, chairperson of the Adani Foundation to explore and create opportunities for employment of persons with disabilities across various business units.

They are working on a memorandum of understanding which aims to leverage the strengths and resources of the Adani Foundation to hire up to 10,000 people from the disability sector for sectors like solar installation, he said.

The discussion with the Gujarat Chief Minister, he said, focused on creating an inclusive and accessible Gujarat, empowering specially-abled people, and harnessing their potential to contribute towards the USD1 trillion economic goal of the Disability sector in Viksit Bharat by 2047.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
Washington, Jan 31 (AP) House Republicans voted along party lines after midnight on Wednesday to move toward impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for a willful and systematic refusal to enforce immigration laws as border security becomes a top 2024 election issue.

The Homeland Security Committee debated all day on Tuesday and well into the night to recommend two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas to the full House, a rare charge against a Cabinet official unseen in nearly 150 years, as Republicans make GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump's hard-line deportation approach to immigration their own.

All committee Republicans voted in favour, while the Democrats unified against it.

We cannot allow this man to remain in office any longer, said Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn.

The impeachment articles charge that Mayorkas "refused to comply with Federal immigration laws amid a record surge of migrants and that he has breached the public trust in his claims to Congress that the US-Mexico border is secure.

The full House could vote on Mayorkas' impeachment as soon as next week. If approved, the charges would go to the Senate for a trial, though senators may first convene a special committee for consideration.

With an unusual personal appeal, Mayorkas  who is deep in Senate talks on a border security package  wrote in a letter to the committee that it should be working with the Biden administration to update the nation's broken and outdated immigration laws for the 21st century, an era of record global migration.

We need a legislative solution and only Congress can provide it, Mayorkas wrote in the pointed letter to the panel's chairman.

Rarely has a Cabinet member faced impeachment's bar of high crimes and misdemeanours, and Democrats on the panel dismissed the proceedings as a stunt and a sham that could set a chilling precedent for other civil servants snared in policy disputes by lawmakers who disagree with the president's approach.

This is a terrible day for the committee, the United States, the Constitution and our great country, said Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the committee's ranking Democrat.

Referring to Trump's Make America Great Again campaign slogan, Thompson said the MAGA-led impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas is a baseless sham.

The House's proceedings against Mayorkas have created an oddly split-screen Capitol Hill, as the Senate works deliberately with the secretary on a bipartisan border security package that is now on life support.

The package being negotiated by the senators with Mayorkas could emerge as the most consequential bipartisan immigration proposal in a decade. Or it could collapse in political failure as Republicans, and some Democrats, run from the effort.

Trump, on the campaign trail and in private talks, has tried to squelch the deal. "I'd rather have no bill than a bad bill," Trump said over the weekend in Las Vegas.

President Joe Biden, in his own campaign remarks in South Carolina, said if Congress sends him a bill with emergency authority he'll shut down the border right now to get migration under control.

I've done all I can do, Biden told reporters on Tuesday before departing for a campaign-related trip to Florida. Give me the power" through legislation, which he said is something he's asked "from the very day I got in office.

The Republicans are focused on the secretary's handling of the southern border, which has experienced a increasing number of migrants over the past year, many seeking asylum in the US, at a time when drug cartels are using the border with Mexico to traffic people and ship deadly fentanyl into the states.

Rep, Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., a Trump ally often mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick, called it an invasion.

Republicans contend that the Biden administration and Mayorkas either got rid of policies in place under Trump that had controlled migration or enacted policies of their own that encouraged migrants from around the world to come to the US illegally via the southern border.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Biden and Mayorkas have created a catastrophe on the border, and he criticised the emerging Senate package. The GOP leader said the president is now trying to turn the blame back on Congress for failing to update immigration laws.

The Republicans also accused Mayorkas of lying to Congress, pointing to comments about the border being secure or about vetting of Afghans airlifted to the US after military withdrawal from their country.

It's high time" for impeachment, said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who called Mayorkas the architect of the border problems. He has what's coming to him.

The House impeachment hearings against Mayorkas sprinted ahead in January while the Republicans' separate impeachment inquiry into Biden over the business dealings over his son Hunter Biden dragged.

Democrats argue that Mayorkas is acting under his legal authorities at the department and that the criticisms against him do not rise to the level of impeachment.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York called the proceedings a political stunt ordered up by Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a Trump ally, who pushed the resolution forward.

During the hearing, Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., pointed to Trump's comments echoing Adolf Hitler that immigrants are poisoning the blood of the US and to his proposals for militarising the border as extreme, arguing the impeachment proceedings were all about trying to get Donald Trump re-elected.

Debate dragged into the night as Democrats tried and failed to amend the resolution.

Mayorkas never testified on his own behalf during the rushed impeachment proceedings  he and the committee couldn't agree on a date  but in his letter he drew on his own background as a child brought to the US by his parents fleeing Cuba and on his career spent prosecuting criminals.

Your false accusations do not rattle me and do not divert me from public service, he wrote.

Green, the Republican committee chair, disparaged Mayorkas's letter as an 11th-hour response to the committee that was inadequate and unbecoming of a Cabinet secretary.

It's unclear if Republicans will have the support from their ranks to go through with the impeachment vote in the full House, especially with their slim majority and with Democrats expected to vote against it.

Last year, eight House Republicans voted to shelve the impeachment resolution proposed by Greene, though many of them have since signalled being open to it. The committee approved a revised version.

If the House does agree to impeach Mayorkas, the charges would next to go the Senate. In 1876, the House impeached Defence Secretary William Belknap over kickbacks in government contracts, but the Senate acquitted him in a trial. (AP)

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Karachi, Jan 31 (PTI) Heavily armed terrorists launched three coordinated attacks, including one on a high-security prison, in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, leaving four law enforcement personnel and two civilians dead and triggering a gunbattle in which nine of the militants were also killed.

The attacks took place on Monday in Mach town, some 70 kilometres from the provincial capital Quetta, officials said.

A press release issued from the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday night said that on the night between January 29 and 30, multiple terrorists, including suicide bombers, attacked Mach and Kolpur Complexes in Balochistan, which was effectively responded by law enforcement agencies (LEAs).

Nine terrorists were killed and three injured and captured by security forces when they tried to apparently penetrate the high-security central Mach Jail where some dangerous militants and death row prisoners are incarcerated.

The ISPR also confirmed the death of four security personnel and two civilians since Monday night.

It said security forces in the vicinity were immediately mobilised and were carrying out an ensuing operation.

Nine terrorists, including three suicide bombers, were sent to hell till now while three were injured, the statement said.

A senior police official earlier said at least 15 rockets were fired at the Central Mach Jail.

The banned separatist group the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) Majeed group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

After the attacks, a heavy gunbattle lasting several hours ensued between the security forces and the attackers who tried to retreat into the mountains.

The caretaker Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai said that the final clearance operation in Mach is still underway.

The situation in the area has been stabilised, Achakzai said on social media platform X.

Monday nights attack against security forces is the deadliest by militants this year. Last year in November at least 14 soldiers were killed when militants ambushed them in the port town of Gwadar.

The attack was an apparent retaliation for Pakistani strikes on what the country said were insurgent hideouts in Iran earlier in January.

The BLA threatened to launch attacks on security forces in Balochistan and elsewhere following Pakistan's January 18 strikes on their camps in Iran that left at least nine persons dead.

The strikes were made in response to an Iranian strike in Pakistan that appeared to target a different Baloch militant group with similar separatist goals.

Pakistan's Balochistan province, as well as Iran's neighbouring Sistan-Baluchistan province, have faced a low-level insurgency by Baloch nationalists for more than two decades.

Although the government says it has quelled the insurgency, violence in the province has persisted.

Iran and Pakistan share a 900-kilometer, largely lawless, border, across which smugglers and militants freely roam.
Washington, Jan 31 (AP) Sexual predators. Addictive features. Self-harm and eating disorders. Unrealistic beauty standards. Bullying. These are just some of the issues young people are dealing with on social media - and children's advocates and lawmakers say companies are not doing enough to protect them.

On Wednesday, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies are testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee about child exploitation on their platforms, as lawmakers, families and advocates are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young people's lives.

While Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is a veteran of congressional hearings since his first one over the Cambridge Analytica privacy debacle in 2018, it will only be the second time for TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and the first for Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and Discord CEO Jason Citron are also scheduled to testify.

We understand that they are companies and they have to make profit. But when you're faced with really important safety and privacy decisions, the revenue in the bottom line should not be the first factor that these companies are considering," said Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of Design It For Us, a youth-led coalition advocating for safer social media. "These companies have had opportunities to do this before they failed to do that. So independent regulation needs to step in.

Meta will likely be a central focus of the hearing, as the Menlo Park, California-based tech giant has been sued by dozens of states that say it knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms and failed to protect them from online predators.

The company has been beefing up its child safety features in recent weeks, announcing earlier this month that it will start hiding inappropriate content from teenagers' accounts on Instagram and Facebook, including posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. It also restricted minors' ability to receive messages from anyone they don't follow or aren't connected to on Instagram and on Messenger and added new nudges to try to discourage teens from browsing Instagram videos or messages late at night. The nudges encourage kids to close the app, though it does not force them to do so.

But critics and child safety advocates say its actions fall short of meaningful changes that would address kids' safety.

Looking back at each time there has been a Facebook or Instagram scandal in the last few years, they run the same playbook. Meta cherry picks their statistics and talks about features that don't address the harms in question, said Arturo Bejar, a former engineering director at the social media giant known for his expertise in curbing online harassment who recently testified before Congress about child safety on Meta's platforms.

Instagram promises features that end up hidden in settings that few people use. Why is quiet mode' not the default for all kids? Bejar added. Meta says that some of the new work will help with unwanted advances. It is still not possible for a teen to tell Instagram when they're experiencing an unwanted advance. Without that information how can they make it safer?

X, formerly Twitter, said its CEO Linda Yaccarino was in Washington last week to meet with senators to talk about how the company is addressing child sexual exploitation, along with a broad range of other topics that included privacy, artificial intelligence, content moderation and misinformation.

As an entirely new company, X has strengthened its policies and enforcement to tackle CSE. We are now taking action on users that distribute this content and also taking immediate action on the networks of users who engage with this horrible content, the company said in a blog post Friday.

Google's YouTube is notably missing from the list of companies called to the Senate Wednesday. That's even though more kids use YouTube than any other platform, according to the Pew Research Center. Pew found that 93% of U.S. teens use YouTube, with TikTok a distant second at 63%.

The thing about YouTube is that it kind of flies under the radar, said Larissa May, the founder and executive director of the nonprofit #HalfTheStory, which helps teens develop healthy relationships with technology. I think Meta has gotten so used to taking so much of the heat for the issues that young people are facing. But it's actually much, much bigger than that. (AP)



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The Hague, Jan 31 (AP) The United Nations' top court is ruling on Wednesday in a case in which Ukraine accuses Russia of bankrolling rebels in 2014 and discriminating against Crimea's multiethnic community since its annexation of the region.

It is the first of two decisions by the International Court of Justice linked to the decadelong conflict between Russia and Ukraine that exploded into a full-blown war nearly two years ago.

Wednesday's legally binding final ruling comes in a case filed in 2017, accusing Moscow of breaching conventions against discrimination and the financing of terrorism. Kyiv wants the court to order Moscow to pay reparations for attacks and crimes in eastern Ukraine, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which was shot down by Russia-backed rebels on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

At hearings last year, a lawyer for Ukraine, David Zionts, said that pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine attacked civilians as part of a campaign of intimidation and terror. Russian money and weapons fuelled this campaign.

Among the attacks was the downing of MH17. A Dutch domestic court convicted two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian in November 2022 for their roles in attack and sentenced them in their absence to life imprisonment. Also, the Netherlands and Ukraine are suing Moscow at the European Court of Human Rights over MH17. Russia denies involvement.

Another lawyer for Ukraine, Harold Koh, said that in Crimea, Russia sought to replace the multiethnic community that had characterised Crimea before Russia's intervention with discriminatory Russian nationalism.

Lawyers for Russia urged the world court to throw out the case, saying that the actions of pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine do not amount to terrorism.

On Friday, the court is ruling on Russia's objections to its jurisdiction in a case filed by Ukraine shortly after the invasion, alleging that Moscow launched its attack based on trumped-up genocide allegations. The court already issued an interim order for Russia to halt its invasion which Moscow has flouted.

The International Court of Justice in recent weeks has heard a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Judges issued provisional measures last week calling on Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in the conflict. (AP)

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Key Insights

Insiders appear to have a vested interest in Redox's growth, as seen by their sizeable ownership

A total of 3 investors have a majority stake in the company with 65% ownership

Past performance of a company along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business

To get a sense of who is truly in control of Redox Limited (ASX:RDX), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. We can see that individual insiders own the lion's share in the company with 59% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

So, insiders of Redox have a lot at stake and every decision they make on the companys future is important to them from a financial point of view.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Redox.

See our latest analysis for Redox

What Does The Lack Of Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Redox?

We don't tend to see institutional investors holding stock of companies that are very risky, thinly traded, or very small. Though we do sometimes see large companies without institutions on the register, it's not particularly common.

There could be various reasons why no institutions own shares in a company. Typically, small, newly listed companies don't attract much attention from fund managers, because it would not be possible for large fund managers to build a meaningful position in the company. It is also possible that fund managers don't own the stock because they aren't convinced it will perform well. Redox's earnings and revenue track record (below) may not be compelling to institutional investors -- or they simply might not have looked at the business closely.

Redox is not owned by hedge funds. Our data shows that Estate Of Silvia Coneliano is the largest shareholder with 26% of shares outstanding. Robert Coneliano is the second largest shareholder owning 23% of common stock, and Renato Coneliano holds about 15% of the company stock. Renato Coneliano, who is the third-largest shareholder, also happens to hold the title of Member of the Board of Directors. In addition, we found that Raimond Coneliano, the CEO has 2.3% of the shares allocated to their name.

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After doing some more digging, we found that the top 3 shareholders collectively control more than half of the company's shares, implying that they have considerable power to influence the company's decisions.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. While there is some analyst coverage, the company is probably not widely covered. So it could gain more attention, down the track.

Insider Ownership Of Redox

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

It seems that insiders own more than half the Redox Limited stock. This gives them a lot of power. Given it has a market cap of AU$1.2b, that means they have AU$701m worth of shares. It is good to see this level of investment. You can check here to see if those insiders have been buying recently.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 14% stake in Redox. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 26%, of the company's shares. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Redox .

If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts.

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.
Male, Jan 31 (PTI) The largest opposition party in the Maldives on Wednesday accused President Mohamed Muizzus administration of protecting criminals, hours after an attack on the Prosecutor General, according to local media reports.

Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem was attacked on a street in Male City. He is receiving treatment for his injuries at the ADK Hospital, Sun.mv, a news portal, said.

Condemning the attack on Shameem earlier in the morning, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in a statement said The alleged close ties between top government officials and criminal gangs were resulting in open violent assaults on top state officials.

The MDP accused President Muizzus administration of failing to provide proper protection to officials charged with fulfilling constitutional duties and responsibilities.

This party also notes that after having successfully driven down violent assaults in the Maldives during the former administration, such crimes have increased after President Muizzu took office, the portal reported, quoting the MDP statement.

Muizzu, considered to be close to China, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September last year.

This party believes that such fearless attacks on top state officials are a result of the close ties that top government officials have with criminal groups operating in the Maldives, and because of the protection the government provides these criminal groups, the opposition party said.

Solih, the former Maldivian president and also the interim leader of MDP, in a post on X, described the attack as politically motivated.

Politically motivated acts of violence have no place in a democratic society and I call on the government to be swift in bringing the perpetrators to justice, he said.

The MDP also called on the government to sever its alleged ties with criminal groups, and to run a proper investigation into the attack on Shameem and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Meanwhile, the Prosecutor Generals Office (PGO) said in a statement that Shameem was attacked with a weapon by two people on a motorbike.

While neither the PGO nor the police have specified the type of weapon used, a police spokesperson had said earlier that they had ruled out the use of a sharp-edged weapon, the news portal said.

The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has strengthened Shameem's security following the attack, it added.
Washington, Jan 31 (PTI) The forensic pathologist found no trauma on the body of Neel Acharya, the Indian-origin student found dead near the Purdue University Airport in the US, and no foul play is suspected in the case, according to the Coroners Office.

Acharya's body was found on Sunday after police were called to investigate an unmoving body near the airport.

After Monday's autopsy, Acharya's death remains a bit of a mystery, The Lafayette Journal & Courier newspaper reported.

The forensic pathologist found no trauma on Acharya's body, Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello said, adding that foul play is not suspected in the death. His preliminary cause of death and manner of death are pending toxicology results, which can take up to six weeks to get back from the lab.

Costello met around 1 pm Tuesday with Acharya's parents, who flew in from India.

Acharya, 19, was a US citizen, Costello said.

The news of Acharya's death was released Monday evening to the public by the Computer Science Department at Purdue University before his family met with the coroner's office to positively identify his body.

It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of our students Neel Acharya has passed away. The leadership in the Department of Computer Science expresses our profound sorrow for his passing. I am deeply saddened by his loss. My condolences go out to his friends family and all affected, Chris Clifton, interim head of the universitys Computer Science Department, said in an email to the department on Monday.

According to the newspaper, it sent an email to Tim Doty, Purdue's senior director of media and public relations, asking for comment about why the computer science department released this information before the parents were notified by the coroner's office. Doty indicated he did not have a response.

Acharya was a junior double majoring in computer science and data science. He was a student of the John Martinson Honours College and worked as an undergraduate research assistant at Purdue University.

On Sunday, Acharyas friends and family filed missing person reports with the Purdue University Police Department after his family lost contact with him Sunday morning around 12:30 am, according to a family members post on X, which has since been deleted.

This social media post panicked students about Acharya's well-being, and his Purdue friends started forming a search party to look for him, but by then, police had already discovered Acharya's body.

The Consulate General of India in Chicago responded to the family's post on X saying, "Consulate is in touch with Purdue University authorities and also with Neel's family. Consulate will extend all possible support and help."

His parents post noted that he was last seen being dropped off by an Uber driver at Purdue University and was last seen at the First Street Tower student dormitory.

Acharyas body was found approximately a mile away from the First Street Tower student dormitory and half a mile away from the Purdue University Airport.

When the news broke of Acharya's death late Monday night, many began questioning why the Tippecanoe County Coroner's Office had not released a reason for his death.

The coroner's office was waiting for the family to arrive in the United States, so they could positively identify Acharya's body before publishing a statement, including the autopsy results. The coroner's office was not able to notify the family of Acharya's death before they left India to travel to the US.

When asked about vigils and emotional support for Acharya's friends, Doty said, "Often, they (vigils) are organised by friends or the college that the student belongs to. In times of tragedy, support is always offered to those affected and the campus community in general."
Islamabad, Jan 31 (PTI) A Pakistani high court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a petition seeking the dismissal of a case challenging the 'un-Islamic' marriage of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan to his third wife, Bushra Bibi.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the case filed by Bibi's ex-husband, Khawar Maneka, in November last year, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

It sought legal action against 71-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party supremo Khan for marrying his present wife while she was reportedly on iddat period.

The iddat period (three months) is a waiting period that a Muslim woman must observe on account of the death of her husband or the dissolution of the marriage.

During the hearing on Wednesday, PTI party lawyer Salman Akram Raja said that the case was only aimed at humiliating the petitioners, highlighting that the complaint against Khan's marriage was filed five years and 11 months after the nikkah in November 2023.

The counsel for Maneka told the court that witnesses had testified in the trial court that Bibi was in another marriage with Imran at the time of their marriage ceremony, the report said.

Following arguments by the counsels of both parties, the court reserved a verdict on the case, it said.

Earlier this month, a trial court indicted Khan and Bibi in the marriage case.

Bibi, 49, hails from a family of landowners in Punjab. Her first marriage, which lasted about 30 years, was to Maneka, who is from a politically influential Punjab family.

Earlier in the day, an accountability court sentenced the former prime minister and his wife, Bibi, to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment in a corruption case.

In the Toshakhana corruption case, the jailed PTI founder was accused of retaining expensive state gifts they received during his tenure as Pakistan's premier.

The couple is also barred from holding any public office for ten years and slapped with a fine of Rs 787 million each.

On Tuesday, Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi were sentenced to 10 years in prison by a special court for leaking sensitive state secrets. Khan is already serving a three-year jail term after being convicted of corruption.
Beijing, Jan 31 (PTI) Chinas national political advisory body has expelled a prominent Chinese rocket scientist from its Standing Committee for corruption, as the Peoples Liberation Army continues the purge of its missile force previously headed by the dismissed defence minister Gen. Li Shangfu.

The decision to expel Wang Xiaojun from the 14th Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was taken at its meeting here on Monday, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The Standing Committee is composed of a core group of senior members.

Wang is formally expected to be expelled from the CPPCC during its annual session here next month as the Standing Committee doesn't have the power to do so.

Wang's expulsion is considered significant as he led the development of the Long March 7 rockets used to carry essential supplies to Chinas under-construction space station called Tiangong, as well as launching satellites.

Besides being the leading rocket scientist, Wang also led the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, a premier research body.

His expulsion followed the governments probe into allegations of corruption against the top officials of the Chinese militarys key wing, the Peoples Liberation Army Rocket Force.

It adds to the mystery of last months major purge of the Chinese military in which nine senior generals of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), including senior officials of the country's Rocket Force, were dismissed from China's Parliament-- the National Peoples Congress, (NPC).

The Force, which handles the PLAs missiles division, was previously headed by former Defence Minister Gen. Li Shangfu, who was summarily dismissed last year on the charges of corruption.

The dismissal of Li, whose whereabouts are not known yet, came after that of Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who met a similar fate.

Both are regarded as close confidants of President Xi Jinping, who is also the head of the Communist Party of China (CPC), besides the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high command of the Chinese military.

The dismissed generals are among a substantial number of members of the Chinese military who formed part of the CPC.

A new anti-corruption drive in China has led to the downfall of several past and present senior commanders in the Rocket Force, according to media reports.

Those terminated from the Rocket Force were reportedly closely linked to the dismissed defence minister Li.

Almost all the senior generals [in the rocket force] had good reputations before their promotion. They became immoral after moving to Beijing headquarters, allowing them to have more chances to engage with defence-related enterprises, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted official sources in its report last month.

This is not the first time top generals of the PLA were dismissed for corruption, as a number of them were summarily removed and punished for graft and abuse of power after Xi came to power in 2012.

Over a million officials are said to have been punished in Xi's anti-corruption campaign, according to the official media accounts.

The annual sessions of the NPC and CPPCC were scheduled to be held early next month.
Kyiv, Jan 31 (AP) Russia's Defence Ministry says Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 195 prisoners of war each.

The Russian Defence Ministry said the swap was conducted on Wednesday.

The announcement came a week after Russia alleged that Ukrainian forces shot down a military transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war who were to be swapped for Russian POWs.

The Defence Ministry said that missiles fired from across the border brought down the transport plane in Russia's Belgorod region on Jan. 24. Local authorities in Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, said the crash killed all 74 people onboard, including six crew members and three Russian servicemen.

Ukrainian officials confirmed last week that a prisoner swap was due to happen that day but said it had been called off. (AP)

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Brussels, Jan 31 (AP) The leaders of five European Union countries urged their neighbours and allies Wednesday to ramp up military support for Ukraine, while the bloc's defence ministers debated ways to help meet the war-ravaged country's ammunition shortfall.

In their appeal, the leaders of the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany and the Netherlands warned that Europe's security is tied to the fighting that started almost two years ago with Russia's invasion of its neighbour.

Our ability to continue to support and sustain Ukraine's defense, both during the winter and in the longer term, is decisive, they wrote in the Financial Times newspaper. In fact, it is a matter of our common European security.

With neither Russian nor Ukrainian troops demonstrating an advantage in the drawn-out conflict, fears are growing that public support for Ukraine's war effort is waning. EU and NATO leaders, who are among Ukraine's main backers, have shifted from praising the country's battlefield gains to celebrating its ability to survive against a more powerful enemy.

The prospect of Donald Trump returning to the White House after the US presidential election in November is also driving leaders and military officers to demand that Europe must do more to defend itself. During his last term, Trump undermined confidence among NATO allies that the US would back them in a security crisis.

In the Financial Times, the five leaders said it was vital to speed up arms deliveries up given that the war was unlikely to end soon.

Russia doesn't wait for anybody, and we need to act now. If Ukraine loses, the long-term consequences and costs will be much higher for all of us," they wrote. "We Europeans have a special responsibility. Therefore, we must act. Europe's future depends on it.

According to EU estimates, Ukraine was firing around 4,000 to 7,000 artillery shells each day last summer, while Russia was launching more than 20,000 shells a day in its neighbour's territory. Russia's arms industry far outweighs Ukraine's, and Kyiv has relied on Western help to match Moscow's firepower.

Yet the 27-nation EU's plans to produce 1 million artillery rounds for Ukraine have fallen short, with only about a third of the target met. Senior EU officials have said they now expect the European defence industry to be capable of producing around 1 million shells annually by the end of this year.

But the shells will not arrive quickly. NATO's procurement agency said last week that delivery of ammunition orders can take anywhere from 24 to 36 months. Even the five leaders conceded that deliveries could take a year.

What is urgent today is to provide the ammunition and weapon systems, including howitzers, tanks, UAVs and air defence, that Ukraine so urgently needs on the ground. Now, they wrote.

EU defence ministers meeting in Brussels on Wednesday discussed ways to further boost production.

While not targeted by the five leaders, France has been accused of failing to provide sufficient support given its size and military weight. Still, on Jan 18, France announced more planned deliveries of its Caesar artillery system to Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron is due to travel to Ukraine in coming weeks.

Asked Tuesday about doubts over future US support for Ukraine, Macron said, I am convinced that the next few months are decisive. He stressed that he thinks Ukraine is mainly a European issue.

Ukraine is on European soil. It is a European country. And if we want a peaceful and stable Europe, we need to be credible in terms of our own security and defence vis-a-vis all our neighbours, the French leader said during a trip to Sweden.

EU leaders are set to gather over dinner later Wednesday to discuss their support for Ukraine. They have a Thursday summit scheduled on overcoming Hungary's veto of a long-term financial aid package worth 50-billion-euro ($54 billion) to help prop-up the Ukrainian economy.

Political infighting also is holding up additional US support for Ukraine. (AP) SCY

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Male, Jan 31 (PTI) An opposition party in the Maldives on Wednesday submitted a resolution in Parliament against the reappointment of three ministers whom the legislative body had rejected this week and demanded the government reconsider their reappointment.

North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla, a member of The Democrats, submitted a resolution to the parliament on Wednesday, describing the reappointment of the ministers as unconstitutional, Sun.mv, a news portal, reported.

Led by the largest party in the House, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the coalition with The Democrats, had on Monday voted to deny approval to Housing Minister Ali Haidar Ahmed, Islamic Minister Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Attorney General Ahmed Usham, while Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed narrowly survived the same fate.

However, by evening, President Mohamed Muizzu had reinstated all of them, a move that has vitiated the political atmosphere in the island nation.

The MDP-Democrats have had their daggers drawn ever since the pro-China Muizzu assumed office late last year.

The resolution by Eva Abdulla also said, The reappointment amounted to undermining the power vested in the parliament by law to approve or reject the appointment of an individual or the dismissal of an individual to a post.

It further described the reappointment as an infringement of the parliaments power to review the actions of the executive and the parliaments power to hold the executive branch accountable, the Sun.mv said quoting the resolution.

It also underscored that the presidents action could lead to a circumstance where Maldivian citizens' trust in the government is waivered.

In light of these reasons, Eva said the resolution was submitted calling to prioritize national interest and reconsider the reappointment, while also calling to respect the constitution and adhere to its provisions, it said.

Meanwhile, the main opposition party, the MDP, on Monday said it is looking into the legality of Muizzus move.

Ali Niyaz, a top MDP official, had said the reappointment of the three ministers was open to a huge legal debate. We (the MDP party) are therefore seeking legal counsel to determine whether the president is authorised to make such a decision and also to decide the MDPs next move.

Our stand is clear. They do not have our approval. This stand hasnt changed, Niyaz said.

The Democrats, too, in an earlier statement, described the reappointment of the three ministers as degrading the Constitution.
Islamabad, Jan 31 (PTI) The top brass of the Pakistan Army on Wednesday discussed the deployment of the military to assist the election commission in the peaceful conduct of the February 8 polls.

Tensions are escalating in Pakistan as it gears up for the general elections with several incidents of poll violence already taking place across the country.

Pakistan Army will perform assigned duties as per the Constitutional mandate, under the guidelines of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). No one would be allowed to indulge in violence in the name of political activity and sabotage the quintessential democratic exercise of conduct of free and fair elections, according to a statement issued by the army.

The discussion took place at the 262nd Corps Commanders Conference held at the GHS Rawalpindi. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir presided over the meeting.

Earlier in the day, a leader of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party who was contesting from the Bajaur constituency for a seat in the National Assembly as an independent candidate, was shot dead while three of his supporters were injured after unknown gunmen indiscriminately fired at his poll campaign rally in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Siddiq Abad Phatak Bazar Main Chowk area.

On Monday, violent clashes erupted in the Nazimanad area in Karachi, resulting in the death of a worker from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM Pakistan) and injuries to three others during an exchange of gunfire with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) workers.

A day earlier on Sunday last, at least 25 people, including some policemen, were injured after heavy contingents of police baton charged, fired tear gas shells and forcibly dispersed an election rally of PTI party in Karachi's Clifton area.

Wednesday's conference also resolved that terrorists, their facilitators and abettors will be dealt with with the full might of the state.

The meeting also reiterated unequivocal support for Palestine and the people of Gaza while noting the extremely negative fallout of the conflict and the potential to spill over into the wider region. The immediate need for a permanent ceasefire and enduring solution to the Palestinian question was unanimously recognised, the statement said.
Male, Jan 31 (PTI) Former president of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed has temporarily relocated to Ghana in West Africa after announcing his hiatus from "active politics" without informing Parliament, it emerged on Wednesday.

In a post on X on Tuesday night, Nasheed, an MP and a prominent and controversial figure in Maldivian politics, said he has arrived in Ghana's capital Accra to start work as the Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF).

The CVF, an international partnership of countries highly vulnerable to a warming planet, was established in 2009, while Nasheed was in office.

"Ghana is hosting the Secretariat and this will be my home for a few years. We hope to unlock the investments needed so @TheCVF members can pursue clean growth & climate prosperity," he said.

Nasheed, 56, served as the first president of the Maldives from 2008 to 2012. He was also the Speaker of Parliament (the People's Majlis) from 2019 to 2023.

The Parliament on Wednesday said Nasheed, the incumbent Central Machangolhi parliamentarian, did not inform it before temporarily moving to Ghana, sun.mv news portal reported.

Quoting Parliament's Communications Director Hassan Ziyau, the report said Nasheed has also not been informed what he plans to do with his responsibilities at the Parliament.

Ziyau said Nasheed has not applied for leave and will continue to receive his salary for the remaining three months of his term.

Last month, Nasheed announced that he was taking a respite from active politics to assume his new post as the CVFs secretary general.

Nasheed's presidency was marked by protests, constitutional crises, and corruption scandals. In 2012, he was arrested and stripped of his presidency and was later sentenced to 13 years in jail on terrorism-related charges. His release followed international pressure.
Washington, Jan 31 (AP) President Joe Biden on Tuesday indicated he had decided how to respond after the killing of three American service members Sunday in a drone attack in Jordan that his administration has pinned on Iran-backed militia groups, saying he does not want to expand the war in the Middle East but demurring on specifics.

US officials said they are still determining which of several Iran-backed groups was responsible for the first killing of American troops in a wave of attacks against US forces in the region since the October 7 Hamas assault on Israel. Biden plans to attend the dignified transfer to mark the fallen troops' return to American soil on Friday and answered in the affirmative when asked by reporters if he'd decided on a response, as he indicated he was aiming to prevent further escalation.

"I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East," Biden said at the White House before departing for a fundraising trip to Florida. "That's not what I'm looking for."

It was not immediately clear whether Biden meant he had decided on a specific retaliatory plan. A US official told The Associated Press that the Pentagon is still assessing options to respond to the attack in Jordan.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters travelling with Biden aboard Air Force One that he would not preview the U.S. response, but indicated it would come in phases.

"It's very possible that what you'll see is a tiered approach here, not just a single action, but potentially multiple actions over a period of time," he said.

Meanwhile, the Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah, one of several groups eyed by US officials, announced Tuesday in a statement the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces in order to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government."

The attacks on US forces by Iraqi militias over the past four months have placed the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in an awkward position. Sudani was brought to power by Iranian-allied factions but has also attempted to stay in Washington's good graces and has condemned the attacks on US forces serving in Iraq as part of an international commission to fight the Islamic State. Iraqi and US officials on Saturday opened talks aimed at winding down the commission's presence.

Kirby said that Biden spoke with the soldiers' families Tuesday morning and extended his condolences, pledging full assistance to the families as they grieve.

In separate calls with the families, Biden also gauged their feelings about his attendance at Friday's dignified transfer of the fallen service members' remains at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Friday, and "all of them supported his presence there," Kirby said.

"He was grateful for their time. He expressed to them how proud we all are of their service," Kirby said of Biden's calls with the families. "How we mourn and feel sorrow over their loss."

Kirby added: "The president will be going to the dignified transfer on Friday."

The solemn ceremony marks the return of fallen service members to American soil as they journey to their final resting place, with silent honour guards carrying flag-draped transfer cases holding the remains from transport aircraft to military vehicles.

The Pentagon identified those killed in the attack as Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia. The Army Reserve announced on Tuesday that it had posthumously promoted Sanders and Moffett to the rank of sergeant.

There have been a total of 166 attacks on US military installations since October 18, including 67 in Iraq, 98 in Syria and now one in Jordan, a US military official said.

On Tuesday, Al-Asad Air Base in Western Iraq was targeted again by a single rocket, but there was no damage and no injuries in that attack, a US military official said. The three soldiers killed in the Jordan strike were the first US military fatalities in the Middle East since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out. One contractor has also died as the result of a heart attack after a strike on Al-Asad in December.

In 2021, Biden attended the dignified transfer of the remains of 13 troops killed in a suicide attack during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Separately, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany said it expected to receive 3 US service members who were injured in the drone attack, including one listed in critical, but stable, condition. The Pentagon has said at least 40 troops were injured alongside the three killed in action. (AP) CK
At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Barth Eide will pay an official visit to China from February 5 to 7.



Xinhua News Agency: To follow up on your announcement that Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Barth Eide will visit China, how does China view the current relations with Norway? What is Chinas expectation for the visit?



Wang Wenbin: China welcomes Foreign Minister Eides visit. Norway is one of the first Western countries to recognize New China. This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Norway. Currently our bilateral relations are growing on a sound track, with fruitful cooperation in areas of trade, investment, green development and cultural and people-to-people exchange, and broader consensus on important issues such as free trade, climate change and peaceful development. China stands ready to work with Norway and take this visit as an opportunity to consolidate political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, and promote the sustained, sound and steady growth of the bilateral relations.

AFP: Its reported that the Chinese President yesterday in Beijing received credentials of ambassadors from many countries, including Afghanistan. Does it mean that the Chinese government officially recognizes Afghanistans Taliban interim government?



Wang Wenbin: Chinas policy on Afghanistan is consistent and clear. As a traditionally friendly neighbor of Afghanistan, China is committed to a foreign policy of friendship toward all Afghan people and has maintained diplomatic ties, exchanges and cooperation in various areas with Afghanistan. It is normal diplomatic arrangement for China to receive the new ambassador to China sent by the Afghan interim government and for him to present his credentials to the Chinese leader. We hope that the international community will step up engagement and exchange with the Afghan interim government, encourage it to actively respond to international concerns, jointly help with Afghanistans reconstruction and development, and support Afghanistans effort to combat violent terrorist forces and contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Bloomberg: Can you state clearly if China recognizes the Taliban government or not. In the case where it does not recognize the Taliban government of Afghanistan, what does the Taliban government have to do in order to get official recognition from China?



Wang Wenbin: I said in my previous response that its normal diplomatic arrangement for China to receive the new ambassador to China sent by the Afghan interim government and for him to present his credentials to the Chinese leader.

You asked whether China officially recognizes the Afghan interim government, I would like to say that China believes that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community. We hope Afghanistan will further respond to the expectations of the international community, build an open and inclusive political structure, adopt moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policies, firmly combat all forms of terrorist forces, develop friendly relations with other countries, especially with its neighbors, and integrate itself into the international community. We believe that the diplomatic recognition of the Afghan government in the world will come naturally as the concerns of various parties are effectively addressed.

CCTV: China has called for an international peace conference on the Palestinian question on multiple occasions for some time, in particular after the outbreak of the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We noticed the recent calls from parties such as the UN, the EU, Palestine, and Israeli think tanks for an international peace conference on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict soon. Whats your comment?

Wang Wenbin: President Xi Jinping has put forth many times Chinas position on the settlement of the Palestinian question and on each occasion called for an international peace conference every time. The latest one was last June when he received Palestinian President Abbas who was on a visit to China. During the meeting, President Xi put forward a three-point proposal, stated the importance of keeping to the right direction of peace talks, and called for an international peace conference. After the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out, China submitted to the UN Security Council the Position Paper of the Peoples Republic of China on Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict and once again called for an international peace conference at an early date. As you mentioned, Chinas proposal is increasingly recognized in the international community.

China stands ready to work with all parties to hold a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference as early as possible, formulate a concrete timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-State solution and support Palestine and Israel in resuming peace talks soon for the ultimate peaceful and harmonious coexistence between Palestine and Israel, and between the Arabs and Jews.

Reuters: Have the US-China anti-narcotics groups reached any consensus on the issues discussed? What does this meeting mean for bilateral ties broadly?



Wang Wenbin: On the latest progress in China-US counternarcotics cooperation, China has released relevant readout. You may refer to that or competent authorities for more information.

I would like to say that progress in resuming China-US counternarcotics cooperation has not come easy. We hope that as we launch the working group, the US side will take this opportunity to work with China in the same direction and carry out equal-footed and practical counternarcotics cooperation.

AFP: Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Li Jiachao said yesterday that Hong Kong will formulate a new national security law to prevent dangers for independence. He said the law covers the offence of overseas interference. Can you share more with us?



Wang Wenbin: You may refer to the announcement of the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to enact legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law. Completing the legislation on Article 23 of the Basic Law is the due obligation of the HKSAR to fulfil its constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security and implement the Basic Law of the HKSAR, the relevant decisions of the National Peoples Congress and the Law on Safeguarding National Security in HKSAR. It is also the pressing task of the HKSAR government to address profound internal and external changes, prevent, curb and punish acts and activities endangering national security, and ensure the long-term stability and security of HKSAR and the sound implementation of One Country, Two Systems in the long run. Once completed, Article 23 of the Basic Law will protect the fundamental well-being of all HKSAR residents and the interests of global investors. It will allow the HKSAR to ensure high-quality development and high-level opening up with high-level security guarantee, focus on developing the economy and improving peoples livelihood, give play to HKSARs advantages and characteristics, better integrate itself into the big picture of national development and achieve high-quality development. It has full support from us and meets the common aspiration of the HKSAR society.

CCTV: Recently, China has signed agreements on the mutual exemption of visa requirements with Singapore and Thailand. China is implementing unilateral and mutual visa-free policies for more countries. How do these policies work and what steps will be taken to further facilitate cross-border exchanges?

Wang Wenbin: As you mentioned, China implements a visa-free policy for a larger circle of friends, formally ushering in a visa-free era with more and more countries. So far, China has signed mutual visa exemption agreements with 157 countries, covering different types of passports, reached agreements or arrangements to simplify visa procedures with 44 countries, and enjoyed comprehensive mutual visa exemption with 23 countries, including Thailand, Singapore, the Maldives and the UAE. In addition, over 60 countries and regions offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival policy to Chinese citizens. All these measures increasingly make Chinese citizens outbound travel easier and Chinese passports more valuable, and help foreigners travel, work, study and live in China more conveniently, and are well received by the international community.

Improving visa policies and facilitating cross-border travel is an important measure, through which the diplomatic service contributes to Chinas high-quality development and high-level opening-up. This brings more opportunities for deepening friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and other countries. The executive director of the UN World Tourism Organization said that Chinas visa-free policies will help the global tourism industry recover and Chinas booming tourism industry will lead neighboring countries to prosper together. After the mutual visa exemption agreement is reached between China and Singapore and between China and Thailand, the number of travel bookings for the Spring Festival made by Chinese visitors to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and that by visitors from these three countries to China surged year-on-year. The visa-free era is generating positive effects.

We will continue to upgrade measures facilitating cross-border travel, and provide effective safeguards for Chinese nationals to travel abroad more safely and conveniently. We welcome more foreign friends to visit China, see with their own eyes the countrys vitality, the peoples hospitality and the hustle and bustle of their life, and leave behind more stories of cross-border friendship between the peoples in the new era.

China News Service: Its reported that Chinese students were again interrogated when entering the US border at the Washington Dulles International Airport. The US law enforcement personnel repeatedly asked questions concerning the students political background and academic research, and asked them to provide internal information of the Chinese government in order to get released. After being refused, the US law enforcement personnel decided to cancel their visas, ban them from entering the US and forcibly deport the students. Whats Chinas comment?



Wang Wenbin: For some time now, the US has frequently harassed, interrogated and deported Chinese students arriving in the US out of political purposes. Available information shows that at the Washington Dulles International Airport alone, at least eight Chinese students with lawful and valid travel permits were harassed, interrogated and deported by the US side for groundless reasons since the end of November, 2023. The moves by the US law enforcement authorities seriously violate the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of the students concerned, disrupt China-US cultural exchanges and cross-border travel, and go against the common understandings reached by the two Presidents on enhancing and facilitating cultural and people-to-people exchanges. China has made solemn demarches to the US.

The US likes to portray itself as open, inclusive and a place advocating academic freedom and no border in science, but it politicizes and weaponizes academic research, and overstretches the concept of national security to wantonly suppress and ill-treat Chinese students. Such moves undermine Chinese citizens lawful rights and interests and basic human rights, cause the chilling effect and sour the atmosphere for China-US people-to-people exchanges. In recent cases, the US law enforcement personnel unabashedly induced and infiltrated the victims, which poses direct threat to Chinas national security. The moves by the US driven by ideological bias with no respect for truth or rationality are discriminatory and politically motivated law enforcement and will eventually undermine Americas own image.

China urges the US to act on the statement made by President Biden and the common understandings reached by the two Presidents in San Francisco, immediately stop suppressing and restricting Chinese students travelling to the US under the so-called national security reasons, earnestly protect the security and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars in the US, and remove barriers for China-US exchanges and cross-border travel. China will take resolute measures to safeguard its national security and the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens.

Reuters: In the Chinese Foreign Ministrys statement yesterday, it said that the Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li met his Yemen counterpart and both exchanged views on regional and international issues, such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as well as the situation in the Red Sea. What was discussed? Could the Ministry share more details on that and any outcomes achieved in this meeting?

Wang Wenbin: China has released a readout on the meeting between Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li and his Yemen counterpart, which you may refer to.

Chinas position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Red Sea situation is consistent and clear. We advocate an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, protection of civilians, alleviation of the humanitarian situation, implementation of the two-State solution, and joint international efforts to keep the shipping lanes in the Red Sea safe.

Reuters: Russia said yesterday that its Foreign Minister Lavrov held a meeting with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu to discuss the Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Asia-Pacific region and in the Middle East as well as the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Could the Ministry share more details on the discussion and any outcomes from this meeting as well?



Wang Wenbin: On the specifics of the meeting between Foreign Minister Lavrov and Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, weve released a readout. You may refer to that.

As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic ties this year and hold the China-Russia Years of Culture, China stands ready to take this opportunity to work with Russia to enhance strategic collaboration and promote new and greater progress in growing China-Russia relations.

Reuters: Does China have any concerns about changes in the US policy toward China if Donald Trump returns as President?



Wang Wenbin: The presidential election is the domestic affair of the United States. China, committed to the principle of non-interference in others internal affairs, will not interfere in Americas presidential election. I want to stress that developing China-US relations is in the fundamental interest of our two peoples and two countries and meets the expectation of the international community. No matter who is elected as US President, we hope the US will work with us in the same direction, follow the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and advance the steady, sound and sustainable growth of bilateral relations for the benefit of the two countries and the world at large. Meanwhile, we will continue to firmly uphold our sovereignty, security, and development interests.
jetcityimage / iStock.com

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Washington, Jan 31 (AP) Sexual predators. Addictive features. Self-harm and eating disorders. Unrealistic beauty standards. Bullying. These are just some of the issues young people are dealing with on social media  and children's advocates and lawmakers say companies are not doing enough to protect them.

On Wednesday, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify as lawmakers and parents grow increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young people's lives.

The hearing began with recorded testimony from kids and parents who said they or their children were exploited on social media.

They're responsible for many of the dangers our children face online, US Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee, said in opening remarks. Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.

South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, echoed Durbin's sentiments and said he's prepared to work with Democrats to solve the issue.

After years of working on this issue with you and others, I've come to conclude the following: social media companies as they're currently designed and operate are dangerous products," Graham said.

He told the executives their platforms have enriched lives but that it is time to deal with the dark side.

Beginning with Discord's Jason Citron, the executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work they've done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.

Snapchat had broken ranks ahead of the hearing and began backing a federal bill that would create a legal liability for apps and social platforms who recommend harmful content to minors. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel reiterated the company's support on Wednesday and asked the industry to back the bill.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said TikTok is vigilant about enforcing its policy barring children under 13 from using the app. CEO Linda Yaccarino said X, formerly Twitter, doesn't cater to children.

We do not have a line of business dedicated to children, Yaccarino said. She said the company will also support Stop CSAM Act, a federal bill that make it easier for victims of child exploitation to sue tech companies.

Yet child health advocates say social media companies have failed repeatedly to protect minors.

When you're faced with really important safety and privacy decisions, the revenue in the bottom line should not be the first factor that these companies are considering," said Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of Design It For Us, a youth-led coalition advocating for safer social media. "These companies have had opportunities to do this before they failed to do that. So independent regulation needs to step in.

Meta will likely be a central focus of the hearing, with the Menlo Park, California, tech giant being sued by dozens of states that say it deliberately designs features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms and has failed to protect them from online predators.

New internal emails between Meta executives released by Senator Richard Blumenthal's office show Nick Clegg, president of global affairs, and others asking Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to hire more people to strengthen "wellbeing across the company as concerns grew about effects on youth mental health.

From a policy perspective, this work has become increasingly urgent over recent months. Politicians in the US, U.K., E.U. and Australia are publicly and privately expressing concerns about the impact of our products on young people's mental health, Clegg wrote in an August 2021 email.

The emails released by Blumenthal's office don't appear to include a response, if there was any, from Zuckerberg. In September 2021, The Wall Street Journal released the Facebook Files, its report based on internal documents from whistleblower Frances Haugen, who later testified before the Senate.

Meta has beefed up its child safety features in recent weeks, announcing earlier this month that it will start hiding inappropriate content from teenagers' accounts on Instagram and Facebook, including posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders.

It also restricted minors' ability to receive messages from anyone they don't follow or aren't connected to on Instagram and on Messenger and added new nudges to try to discourage teens from browsing Instagram videos or messages late at night. The nudges encourage kids to close the app, though it does not force them to do so.

But child safety advocates say its actions from the companies has fallen short.

Looking back at each time there has been a Facebook or Instagram scandal in the last few years, they run the same playbook. Meta cherry picks their statistics and talks about features that don't address the harms in question, said Arturo Bejar, a former engineering director at the social media giant known for his expertise in curbing online harassment who recently testified before Congress about child safety on Meta's platforms.

Instagram promises features that end up hidden in settings that few people use. Why is quiet mode' not the default for all kids? Bejar added. Meta says that some of the new work will help with unwanted advances. It is still not possible for a teen to tell Instagram when they're experiencing an unwanted advance. Without that information how can they make it safer?

Google's YouTube is notably missing from the list of companies called to the Senate Wednesday even though more kids use YouTube than any other platform, according to the Pew Research Centre. Pew found that 93% of US teens use YouTube, with TikTok a distant second at 63%. (AP) SCY

SCY
Washington, Jan 31 (AP) The Republican National Committee is meeting behind closed doors this week as some allies of Donald Trump had hoped to put the group's stamp on the former president early in the 2024 GOP presidential nominating campaign.

But a proposed resolution to declare Trump the presumptive nominee has been removed from the agenda before the committee is scheduled to meet in Las Vegas this week, party officials said.

The reversal comes as the first two early-state contests have winnowed the Republican campaign down to two major candidates, with Trump as the heavy favourite and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley vowing to continue her uphill challenge.

What was expected to be an uneventful RNC winter meeting in Las Vegas this week briefly gained heightened attention last week after the resolution, introduced by Maryland Committeeman David Bossie, to name Trump the presumptive nominee became public.

Bossie was Trump's deputy campaign manager in 2016 and advised his team when Congress pursued a second impeachment after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Within hours of the resolution's leak, Trump batted down the proposal, which some members of the committee criticized publicly as premature.

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, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social.

The entire meeting, which runs Tuesday through Friday, is closed to the press, a departure from past practices. Typically the gatherings have included at least one open general session with a speech from the chair at the end of a series of meetings on rules, resolutions and budget, though some meetings have been closed in the past two years.

There is no formal RNC rule barring the party from declaring a presumptive nominee. And there is precedent for such a move. In 2016, then-RNC Chairman Reince Priebus declared Trump the presumptive nominee after the Indiana primary, though that was in May and Trump had battled Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for three months since Cruz finished first in the leadoff Iowa caucuses ahead of second-place Trump.

The Associated Press only uses the term once a candidate has captured the number of delegates needed to win a majority vote at the national party conventions this summer.

That point won't come until after more states have voted. For both Republicans and Democrats, the earliest it could happen is March.

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel suggested last week that Haley had no path to the nomination in light of Trump's majority vote totals in the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses and the Jan. 23 New Hampshire primary.

We need to unite around our eventual nominee, which is going to be Donald Trump, and we need to make sure we beat Joe Biden, McDaniel said in a Fox News interview the night of the New Hampshire primary.

Haley said Sunday during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press" that the RNC was clearly not an honest broker if you're going to go and basically tell the American people that you're going to go and decide who the nominee is after only two states have voted.

The American people want to have their say in who is going to be their nominee, she said. We need to give them that. I mean, you can't do that based on just two states. (AP)



NSA

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Nagpur, Jan 31 (PTI) A group of persons allegedly stopped a car on a road in Maharashtra's Nagpur city on Wednesday morning and looted around Rs 2 crore cash belonging to the proprietor of a travel company, police said.

The incident took place near Kotewara village on the Outer Ring Road under Hingna police station area.



Two persons were travelling in the car when a group of five-six robbers came from behind in a four-wheeler and forcibly stopped the car, an official from Hingna police station said.

"The took away the bag containing the cash," he said.

The Hingna police personnel rushed to the spot after being alerted.

"Our team is analysing the CCTV footage of nearby areas to identify the culprits," the official said.
Palghar, Jan 31 (PTI) A 19-year-old woman was killed when a portion of the compound wall of a school collapsed on her after a bus hit it in Palghar district of Maharashtra, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place at around 7 am on Tuesday in Virar area.



The woman had gone to drop her younger brother at the school for a picnic, an official from Virar police station said.



After seeing off her brother, while the woman was standing in the premises of the school, a private bus which was being reversed hit its compound wall.

A part of the compound wall collapsed on the victim, who received severe injuries, the official said.



The woman was rushed to a local hospital where she died during treatment, he said.



The body was sent to a government hospital for post-mortem, the police said.
Mumbai, Jan 31 (PTI) The Mumbai police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has arrested city-based builder Lalit Tekchandani in connection with a cheating and forgery case, an official said on Wednesday.

The case was pertaining to allegedly cheating several home buyers, the official said.



Tekchandani was brought to the EOW office in south Mumbai on Tuesday evening and placed under arrest after questioning, he said.



The EOW has been conducting a probe into a case of cheating, forgery and criminal breach of trust against Tekchandani and others, he said.



Last week, the EOW conducted searches at four premises of Tekchandani, including his office and residence.



Earlier this month, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Tekchandani, his wife, the directors of his company Supreme Constructions and a few others at the Chembur police station here.





The complainant in the case said he had invested Rs 36 lakh in Tekchandanis construction project at Taloja in neighbouring Navi Mumbai.

The company assured him that the project would be ready in 2017. However, its construction stopped suddenly in 2016. Hundreds of flat buyers invested in Tekchandanis project, but they neither got the flats nor received their money back, the complaint alleged.



Based on the complaint, Tekchandani and others were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and other provisions, police earlier said.

One more FIR was registered at the Taloja police station in Navi Mumbai against Tekchandani and others earlier this month.

As per the complaint, 160 home buyers were duped of Rs 44 crore by the accused in his companys housing project at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai, police had said.
Ahmedabad, Jan 31 (PTI) Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls due in a few months, the Gujarat government has transferred 50 IAS officers, including various collectors and district development officers (DDOs).

The state General Administration Department issued a notification to this effect on Tuesday night, an official said.

As per the notification, Jamnagar district collector B A Shah has been transferred as the new collector of Vadodara district.





AB Gor, currently serving as the Vadodara collector, has been appointed in the Chief Minister's Office in Gandhinagar as Officer on Special Duty (OSD).



Surat collector Aayush Oak has been transferred as the new collector of Valsad.

Sourabh Pardhi, currently serving as the managing director of the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd, has been appointed as the new collector of Surat.



Morbi district collector GT Pandya has now been appointed as the collector of Devbhumi Dwarka district.



Navsari collector Amit Prakash Yadav has now been made the collector of Kheda district, replacing KL Bachani, who has been appointed as the new director of information in Gandhinagar.



Valsad collector Kshipra Agre has been made the new collector of Navsari.





Gir-Somnath collector HK Vadhvaniya has been appointed as the additional secretary in the health and family welfare department, Gandhinagar.





Chhotaudepur district collector Stuti Charan has been appointed as the chief executive officer of the Water and Sanitation Management Organisation, Gandhinagar.



Nitin Sangwan, the 2016 batch IAS officer currently serving as the director of fisheries in Gandhinagar, has been appointed as the new DDO of Junagadh.



Junagadh municipal commissioner RM Tanna has been appointed as the DDO of Surendranagar. He has been replaced by 2016-batch IAS officer Om Prakash, currently serving as the DDO of Mehsana.



Yogesh Nirgude, serving as joint secretary in the home department, has been appointed as the new collector of Dahod district.



Kiran Jhaveri, serving as the additional commissioner of state tax in Ahmedabad, has been sent to Morbi district as its collector.



Ahmedabad deputy municipal commissioner Neha Kumari has been transferred as the new collector of Mahisagar district, while Morbi DDO D D Jadeja has been made the collector of Gir-Somnath district.
Bhubaneswar, Jan 31 (PTI) Terming the ruling BJD in Odisha as anti-tribal, opposition BJP alleged that the state government rolled out special packages for tribals only to woo them ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and the assembly elections.

The BJDs programmes for adivasis are a poll gimmick to mislead the one-crore tribal population in the state, Opposition chief whip Mohan Charan Majhi told reporters here on Tuesday.

They were actually planning to grab tribal land for corporate houses by amending the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (by Scheduled Tribes) Regulation. However, the government failed in its bid in the wake of strong protests from different quarters, Majhi claimed.

The Odisha Cabinet on Monday withdrew its earlier decision on tribal land transfer to non-tribals.

The BJP leader also mocked the cabinets approval of a new scheme  Laghu Bana Jatiya Drabya Kraya (LABHA)  to assure minimum support prices for minor forest produces.

With the elections approaching, the state government has planned to woo tribal voters by announcing special packages. What did it do for the tribals in the past 24 years? Majhi said.

Besides the LABHA scheme, the cabinet also approved the establishment of a commission for the preservation and promotion of tribal languages of Scheduled Tribes of Odisha.

It will focus on preserving and promoting 21 tribal languages in the state, encouraging multilingual education and protecting linguistic rights, officials said.

Besides, the cabinet passed a resolution for the inclusion of 169 communities in the Scheduled Tribes list of Odisha.

The Odisha governments anti-tribal attitude cannot be concealed with special packages, Majhi asserted.

Reacting to the remarks, the states ST, SC, OBC & Minorities Minister, Jagannath Saraka, said: The Odisha government has always taken measures for the upliftment of tribals. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has maintained that development of tribals will ensure development of the state. There is no politics behind the schemes for tribals.

Of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state, five are reserved for ST candidates.
New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) On a day 146 opposition MPs suspended in the last Parliament's session for disrupting its proceedings returned to attend the Budget session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted lawmakers habituated to creating disturbance and chaos and asked them to introspect.

In his customary remarks to reporters ahead of the session's start, Modi accused the MPs who disrupt Parliament's proceedings regularly of "disrobing" democratic values.

If these MPs enquire in even their own parliamentary constituencies, they will find that no one remembers those behind such ruckus and disruptions, Modi said.

But those who benefited Parliament with their superb ideas, even if they were sharply critical in their views, are remembered by a very big section of people, he said.

Their words will become a part of history, he said.

The prime minister's criticism drew a sharp response from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge who accused the Modi government of "corroding" parliamentary democracy and dubbed it as "autocratic".

It has been "violating" the Constitution and strangulating the voice of the opposition, he said in a statement.

Kharge noted said as many as 14 bills were passed in merely three days after 146 MPs, a suspension record for a single session, in both Houses.

In his comments, Modi said no one will probably remember those whose behaviour was all about negativity and creating a ruckus, and these MPs to not let go of the opportunity by the way of this last session before the polls and present the best of their ideas. They should leave a good footprint behind, he said.

He said he believed that a big section of the country's democracy-loving people will appreciate the conduct of those MPs who used their wisdom and talent and showed their concerns for the masses, even though they might have been critical in their views.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had suspended 146 MPs in the last session for their relentless disruption of proceedings over a host of issues, including security breach in the lower House.

The government has cautioned that bringing placards in the chambers and causing disruptions in violation of rules may invite disciplinary action.

Kharge said, "Pradhan Mantri ji made a statement outside the Parliament. We want to remind him how his government is responsible for corroding parliamentary democracy. In the last session of Parliament, as many as 14 bills were passed in just three days, by suspending an unprecedented 146 MPs from both Houses," he said in a statement.

"The current Lok Sabha will finish its 5-year term without a Deputy Speaker, a position conventionally reserved for an opposition member. This shows how an autocratic Modi government is violating the Constitution, and strangulating the voice of the Opposition," he alleged.
New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) The BJP on Wednesday cited a CAG report to allege that "mother of all scams" to the tune of about Rs 2 lakh crore had taken place in Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal.

In a press conference, BJP West Bengal president Sukanta Majumdar accused the state government headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of treating the public money like her own.

"Her government has tried to loot public money everywhere. The CAG report is a slap on her government's face and exposes it," Majumdar alleged.

In strong-worded remarks, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that the "mother of all scams" has been found out in West Bengal even though Banerjee speaks about "Maa, mati and manush".

He alleged that the Trinamool Congress president was a "chor" (thief) and the "kingpin of the corrupt".

"It is a battle of two ideologies," Bhatia said and claimed that all constituents of the INDIA bloc are part of an ideology that centred on corruption and family rule while the Modi government is dedicated to promoting honesty and ridding society of graft.

According to Bhatia and Majumdar, the report highlights that over 2.4 lakh utilisation certificates, required to be submitted for completed projects within a fixed time, were not done so by the state government. The total money involved is around Rs 1.95 lakh crore, they added.

Both the leaders alleged that Rs 3,400 crore was withdrawn from the exigency fund by Banerjee's government and one-third of the amount was for the utilisation by the home ministry which is headed by her. The government has not accounted for the money, they said.

"Was this money given to Rohingyas, her family members or for triggering riots," Bhatia asked.

Bhatia alleged that be it the Congress, AAP, RJD or the TMC, no one should believe they are above law. Several leaders who had this kind of an arrogance are behind bars, he added.

He said she has forgotten that the baton of law straightens up the worst of the corrupt. He hit out at the state government for a recent incident in which Enforcement Directorate officials were attacked by a violent mob close to a TMC leader whose house they had gone to raid as part of their probe in a corruption case.
Gurugram, Jan 31 (PTI) A 50-year-old 'sadhvi' was found murdered with her throat slit in Pataudi area here on Wednesday, police said.

According to the police, the deceased woman monk is identified as Roshni Devi from village Khatkara. She was living with another monk Nafe alias Khamai Nath of Gagana village of Sonipat district in a hut near a cremation ground in village Mirzapur.

Nafe told the police that he had gone to get milk and when he came back to their hut, he found Roshi injured.

The police said the woman monk was found lying in a pool of blood and rushed to hospital where doctors declared her dead. A case of murder has been registered at Pataudi police station, they added.

The duo used to clean the crematorium and survive on donations, the police said.

"Following the complaint of Nafe, an FIR was registered under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (hiding evidence) of the IPC at Pataudi police station on Wednesday evening,"an official said.

"The body of the woman monk was kept in the mortuary for postmortem while we are investigating the matter with all angles," Sub-inspector Mahesh Kumar, additional SHO of Pataudi police station, said.
For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit. But as Peter Lynch said in One Up On Wall Street, 'Long shots almost never pay off.' While a well funded company may sustain losses for years, it will need to generate a profit eventually, or else investors will move on and the company will wither away.

In contrast to all that, many investors prefer to focus on companies like Atlantic Navigation Holdings (Singapore) (Catalist:5UL), which has not only revenues, but also profits. While this doesn't necessarily speak to whether it's undervalued, the profitability of the business is enough to warrant some appreciation - especially if its growing.

View our latest analysis for Atlantic Navigation Holdings (Singapore)

How Fast Is Atlantic Navigation Holdings (Singapore) Growing Its Earnings Per Share?

Strong earnings per share (EPS) results are an indicator of a company achieving solid profits, which investors look upon favourably and so the share price tends to reflect great EPS performance. So for many budding investors, improving EPS is considered a good sign. It is awe-striking that Atlantic Navigation Holdings (Singapore)'s EPS went from US$0.0074 to US$0.033 in just one year. Even though that growth rate may not be repeated, that looks like a breakout improvement. This could point to the business hitting a point of inflection.

One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. The music to the ears of Atlantic Navigation Holdings (Singapore) shareholders is that EBIT margins have grown from 16% to 27% in the last 12 months and revenues are on an upwards trend as well. That's great to see, on both counts.

The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image.

Story continues

Atlantic Navigation Holdings (Singapore) isn't a huge company, given its market capitalisation of S$131m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength.

Are Atlantic Navigation Holdings (Singapore) Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Many consider high insider ownership to be a strong sign of alignment between the leaders of a company and the ordinary shareholders. So as you can imagine, the fact that Atlantic Navigation Holdings (Singapore) insiders own a significant number of shares certainly is appealing. Actually, with 43% of the company to their names, insiders are profoundly invested in the business. This should be a welcoming sign for investors because it suggests that the people making the decisions are also impacted by their choices. With that sort of holding, insiders have about US$56m riding on the stock, at current prices. So there's plenty there to keep them focused!

Does Atlantic Navigation Holdings (Singapore) Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

Atlantic Navigation Holdings (Singapore)'s earnings per share have been soaring, with growth rates sky high. This level of EPS growth does wonders for attracting investment, and the large insider investment in the company is just the cherry on top. At times fast EPS growth is a sign the business has reached an inflection point, so there's a potential opportunity to be had here. So at the surface level, Atlantic Navigation Holdings (Singapore) is worth putting on your watchlist; after all, shareholders do well when the market underestimates fast growing companies. It's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Atlantic Navigation Holdings (Singapore) , and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

Although Atlantic Navigation Holdings (Singapore) 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 Singaporean 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.
Iran threatened Wednesday to decisively respond to any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic following President Joe Bidens linking of Tehran to the killing of three U.S. soldiers at a military base in Jordan.

The U.S. has signaled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Mideast in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that also wounded at least 40 troops at Tower 22, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan thats been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.

Any additional American strikes could further inflame a region already roiled by Israels ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The war began with Hamas attacking Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Since then, Israel has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly 2 million others from their homes, arousing anger throughout the Muslim world.

Violence has erupted across the Mideast, with Iran striking targets in Iraq, Pakistan and Syria, and the U.S. carrying out airstrikes targeting Yemens Houthi rebels over their attacks shipping in the Red Sea. Some observers fear a new round of strikes targeting Iran could tip the region into a wider war.

A U.S. Navy destroyer in the waterway shot down an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the Houthis late Tuesday, the latest attack targeting American forces patrolling the key maritime trade route, officials said.

The Iranian warnings first came from Amir Saeid Iravani, Irans ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He gave a briefing to Iranian journalists late Tuesday, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

The Islamic Republic would decisively respond to any attack on the county, its interests and nationals under any pretexts, IRNA quoted Iravani as saying. He described any possible Iranian retaliation as a strong response, without elaborating.

The Iranian mission to the U.N. did not respond to requests for comment or elaboration Wednesday on Iravanis remarks.

Iravani also denied that Iran and the U.S. had exchanged any messages over the last few days, either through intermediaries or directly. The pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera, which is based in and funded by Qatar, reported earlier that such communication had taken place. Qatar often serves as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.

Such messages have not been exchanged, Iravani said.

But Irans government has taken note of the U.S. threats of retaliation for the attack on the base in Jordan.

Sometime, our enemies raise the threat, and nowadays we hear some threats in between words by American officials, Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Hossein Salami, who answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said at an event Wednesday. We tell them that you have experienced us, and we know each other. We do not leave any threat without an answer.

We are not after war, but we have no fear of war, he added, according to IRNA.

On Saturday, a general in charge of Irans air defenses described them as being at their highest defensive readiness. That raises concerns for commercial aviation traveling through and over Iran as well. After a U.S. drone strike killed a top general in 2020, Iranian air defenses mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people on board.

Meanwhile, attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels continue in the Red Sea, most recently targeting a U.S. warship. The missile launched Tuesday night targeted the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the U.S. militarys Central Command said in a statement. No injuries or damage were reported.

A Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement Wednesday morning, calling it a victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people and a response to the American-British aggression against our country.

Saree claimed the Houthis fired several missiles, something not acknowledged by the U.S. Navy. Houthi claims have been exaggerated in the past, and their missiles sometimes crash on land and fail to reach their targets.

The Houthis claimed without evidence on Monday to have targeted the USS Lewis B. Puller, a floating landing base used by the Navy SEALs and others. The U.S. said there had been no attack.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israels offensive against Hamas in Gaza. 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.

The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday, sparking a fire that burned for hours.

The U.S. and the United Kingdom have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes targeting the Houthis as allied warships patrol the waterways affected by the attacks. The European Union also plans to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea within three weeks to help defend cargo ships against the Houthi attacks, the blocs top diplomat said Wednesday.

(AP)
Senator Bernie Sanders is urging the Biden administration to reinstate funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). This request follows the U.S. governments decision to suspend funding due to the findings that numerous UNRWA staff in Gaza were involved in the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7.

Sanders condemned the involvement of any of the 13,000 UNRWA employees in Gaza with Hamas, calling for a thorough investigation into the charges against the 12 accused individuals. However, he emphasized that the punitive measure should not result in the suffering of millions, noting that over a million people in Gaza are facing starvation. He advocated for the U.S. and other nations to quickly restore funding to UNRWA to prevent a humanitarian disaster.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sweden joined the growing list of countries cutting off funding to UNRWA, including the United States, Canada, the U.K., Australia, and others.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Two videos recently posted on social media show Gazans expressing support for the IDF and cursing Hamas and the UNWRA.

In the first video [seen below], a Gazan refugee who met IDF soldiers as he trudged through the mud from Khan Younis to Rafah shouted to them: Dont leave Gaza! We have nothing to do with this. Its [Hamas leaders Ismail] Haniyeh and [Yahya] Sinwar. Haniyeh is at a restaurant in Turkey, Sinwar eats meat underground  and were here, eating bullets to our heads.

Another video shows Gazans who received aid from IDF soldiers telling them: G-d should help you and cursing out the UNWRA.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The Washington Post has published what it says is a comprehensive outline of the hostage deal currently under consideration, to which Israel has broadly agreed to, and Hamas is still considering.

Citing sources knowledgeable about the ongoing negotiations, the Post reports that the proposed agreement entails a six-week cessation of hostilities, during which Israeli forces would pull back from densely populated areas within Gaza, though not entirely withdrawing from the territory. The deal also envisages a substantial increase in humanitarian aid destined for Gaza.

Furthermore, the pact would facilitate the release of three Palestinian prisoners for each Israeli hostage returned, mirroring the exchange rate established in the November release deal. However, the exact number of hostages to be released in the initial phase of this proposed deal remains unspecified.

This framework is understood to be preliminary, with provisions for potential extensions of the six-week ceasefire in exchange for further hostage releases.

It is noteworthy that this report differs from recent accounts regarding the deal. Earlier this week, Channel 12 had suggested that Israel might consider the release of 100-250 prisoners for each hostage, a claim promptly rebuffed by the Prime Ministers Office, which declared these reports to be incorrect and include [ostensible] conditions that are not acceptable to Israel.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Swedish police on Wednesday stated that a suspicious object was found near the Israeli embassy in Stockholm and upon examination was discovered to be an explosive device.

Israels Ambassador to Sweden Ziv Nevo Kulman responded to the report by stating: Today we were subject to an attempted attack against the Embassy of Israel in Stockholm and its employees. We thank the Swedish authorities for their swift response.

We will not be intimidated by terror, he emphasized.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a crucial meeting with representatives from the families of hostages at the Prime Ministers Office in Jerusalem. The gathering, which included twenty-six representatives from eighteen families, was focused on discussing the ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized the delicate nature of the efforts to free the hostages. He stated, We are making every effort. The more public this effort is, the more distant it is. The more discreet it is, the greater are its chances for success. He assured the families that the efforts being made were sincere and not merely for appearances. This is a genuine effort. It is not fictitious; neither is it just for show. It stems from our commitment to return them all, he said.

While acknowledging that it was too early to provide specific details on how the hostages would be released, Netanyahu reassured the families that active efforts were being made at that very moment.

Accompanying the Prime Minister were several key figures, including Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch, the Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing, Tzachi Hanegbi, the Director of the National Security Council, his Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Avi Gil, and Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs. The meeting highlighted the governments commitment to resolving the hostage situation and the ongoing efforts to ensure their safe return.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
We apologize in advance but we will not yet release a speaker list or detailed program before the convention.

For weeks already past participants of Project Inspires outreach conventions have been asking and texting and emailing and WhatsApping. Whos coming? Whos speaking? How will we be inspired to reach out to others this year? Tell us more about the program.

We were planning to answer. We would give our past attendees the pleasure of knowing what an enjoyable Shabbos theyd spend with us. Wed let them in on the secret program so they could become as excited as we are.

But then we changed our minds.

We at Project Inspire invest enormous effort and resources to inspire the Orthodox community to reach out and connect to Jews of all backgrounds. And thats why weve created a program that will keep you entertained and inspired at the same time. We know youll benefit from our entire Shabbos so much more when you dont know whats coming

Remember how one year renowned musician Alex Clare from Great Britain made a surprise cameo appearance? And the incredible surprise dedication to Reb Meir Schuster ztl with the presence of his wife and 70 families who he influenced? We cant forget the year when Rav Chaim Kanievskys chavrusa recounted his background as a boy from secular Tel Aviv or when we introduced the general public to Rabbi Yossi Wallis, CEO of Arachim, who described his fascinating life story for the very first time. Oh, and we still laugh at the shocker video of shoppers videoed in the Pomegranate aisles!

You know what? Well let you in on four of our famous guests: Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau and Israeli media personality Sivan Rahav-Meir, Rav Gav and Rabbi Dovid Orlofskybut were not divulging more yet.

Get ready for a suspenseful, entertaining Shabbos that will inspire you to unite our nation and connect with Jews of all backgrounds.

Rooms are filling fast.

Reserve your room already at the Armon Hotel and Conference Center, Stamford, Connecticut March 1-3 2024.

And experience probably your most memorable Shabbos ever.

My wife and I are never so punctual at events. But at this convention, we make sure to come as early as possible and literally grab a front row seat. You cant imagine how entertaining the program is! EB  Queens, NY
When the value-minded managers of Temple Bar bought into Marks & Spencer shares, some questioned their sanity.

With M&S shares having almost trebled from 90p to 250p over the past 16 months, thats not the case anymore.

The market has gone from hating Marks & Spencer two years ago  people used to say youre absolutely crazy to own that  to actually quite liking it, Temple Bars co-manager Ian Lance told This is Money's Investing Show.

But Lance adds that those big gains come from a low baseline level and the Temple Bar team believe Marks & Spencer is still closer to the start of its recovery journey than the end - with more shareholder returns to come.

On the first episode of a new series of the Investing Show, Ian Lance joins Simon Lambert to explain the investment philosophy that has seen Temple Bar return 80 per cent since he and Nick Purves took over as managers at the end of October 2020.

Lance believes this investment strategy has plenty more to come, stating that the UK market is as undervalued as it was in 2008.

He admits that the duo benefitted from lucky timing in taking over the trust just before the Covid vaccine rally kicked in. Yet, he stresses that their value investing style doesnt involve just buying the market but cherry-picking individual undervalued companies

Temple Bar looks for the cheapest stocks, with the best prospects and Lance outlines why the tight portfolio of about 25 companies includes M&S, BP and Royal Mail-owner IDS.

He also explains Temple Bars contrarian backing of car maker Stellantis  and why he would rather hold the conglomerate that owns Peugeot, Vauxhall, Fiat and Alfa than Tesla stock.

But thats not to say that value investors cant stray into the tech world, according to Lance.

He details how he once held Microsoft stock because it fitted into the value investing philosophy and discusses whether Facebook parent Meta managed to make that bracket when its share price nosedived in 2022.
Vodafone has rejected a revised offer to merge its Italian arm with that of Iliad, the French telecoms operator told investors on Wednesday.

Iliad, which is owned by billionaire Xavier Niel, said in December that it had submitted a proposal to merge the Italian businesses in what would have created an enterprise valued at 14.7billion (12.6billion).

The fresh offer would have handed Vodafone 6.6billion in cash and a 2billion shareholder loan. Iliad would have received 400million in cash and a 2billion loan.

Tie-up: Iliad, a French telecoms giant owned by billionaire Xavier Niel (pictured), sent Vodafone a proposal to bring the two firms Italian arms together

'The Iliad Group is confident that the offer presented was the best possible business combination to benefit a struggling Italian market and telecommunications industry' Iliad, said.

Vodafone shares were down 2.95 per cent or 2.03p to 66.72p on Wednesday, having fallen over 28 per cent in the last year.

Responding to the announcement in December, Vodafone said there was no certainty that a deal would be agreed and that it was in discussions with several parties about the fate of its Italian arm.

Iliads approach follows a 9.5billion takeover offer for the Vodafone business in February last year.

It was dismissed by the FTSE 100 firm at the time as not being in the best interests of shareholders.

Italy has long been a thorn in Vodafone's side, joining Spain an the UK as the three markets where it has been struggling to revive its business.

The group has been making moves in the UK and Spain to reverse its fortunes, with a planned merger with rival British operator Three revealed last year.

Earlier this month, Vodafone announced it had signed a 10-year, billion-pound deal with Microsoft that will see the telecoms firm use Microsofts generative AI, digital and cloud services.

The deal will see Vodafone invest 1.2billion over the next decade in customer-facing generative AI using Microsofts technologies, as well as digitise its data centres using the US firms Azure cloud platform.

It will see the latest generative AI technology used to create chatbots to be used across Vodafone customer services, the companies said.

Share slump: Vodafone's share price has fallen by over 28% in the last year

In announcing the new partnership, Microsoft and Vodafone said the deal would help over 300million consumers and businesses across Europe and Africa.

As part of the deal, Microsoft will use Vodafones fixed and mobile connectivity services and will invest in the telecoms firms connected devices platform, which will become a standalone business by April 2024, the companies said.

Vodafone Group chief executive Margherita Della Valle said at the time: 'This unique strategic partnership with Microsoft will accelerate the digital transformation of our business customers, particularly small and medium-sized companies, and step up the quality of customer experience for consumers.'

Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive of Microsoft, added: 'This new generation of AI will unlock massive new opportunities for every organisation and every industry around the world.'
Adidas on Wednesday reported sales and operating profits for 2023 that beat its guidance, in part due to its resumption of Yeezy sales throughout last year.

The German company revealed preliminary results for 2023, which included a 5 percent sales decline to 21.4 billion euros in reported terms. Currency-neutral revenues were flat, ahead of Adidas guidance expecting a low-single-digit decline. Revenues were impacted by unfavorable currency effects including the devaluation of the Argentine peso as well as reduced wholesale sales and the halt of the Yeezy business, which cost the company 500 million euros for the year.

More from Footwear News

Gross margin was up 0.2 percentage points to 47.5 percent in 2023. Adidas said its decision to continue selling Yeezy merchandise helped it achieve an operating profit of 268 million euros in 2023, ahead of its guidance for an operating loss of 100 million euros. Adidas said challenging currency effects will continue to weigh on margins in 2024.

Adidas last year began selling some Yeezy inventory via two major drops. The company donated a portion of proceeds to organizations representing people who were hurt by Kanye Wests antisemitic comments, which had spurred Adidas split from the founder and brand in the first place. These two Yeezy drops lifted net sales by 750 million euros in 2023, compared to more than 1.2 billion in Yeezy revenues in 2022. Overall, Yeezy profits represented about 300 million euros in 2023.

Our consumer, retail and trade research has shown that we can sell this remaining inventory in 2024 for at least the cost price, Adidas chief executive officer Bjrn Gulden said. This is why we have only written off inventory that was either damaged or very broken in sizes.

Adidas full-year 2024 guidance assumes that the company will continue to sell its remaining Yeezy inventory at cost. This decision is expected to result in about 250 million euros worth of sales in 2024, but will have no impact on operating profit.

Story continues

Overall, retailer said it expects mid-single-digit growth in currency-neutral sales in 2024, including a high-single-digit growth in currency-neutral sales in the underlying Adidas business. Sales are expected to start off flat in Q1 and then grow in subsequent quarters. Excluding Yeezy, Adidas business is projected to be up 10 percent in the second half of 2024. Adidas expects operating profits of 500 million euros in 2024.

Gulden described 2024 as a building block to bringing Adidas back to double-digit growth.

We do of course know that our financial performance is not good, the CEO said. But we are on the way of making Adidas a good company again. As we said from the beginning, we just need the time to solidly build it up again.

Best of Footwear News
Crypto move: Former Chancellor George Osborne is to advise US crypto-currency exchange Coinbase

George Osborne has joined the US crypto-currency exchange Coinbase as an adviser.

Osborne, 52, was Chancellor between 2010 and 2016 and has held several top jobs since leaving government.

He is a partner at City boutique investment bank Robey Warshaw, and was editor of Londons Evening Standard newspaper for three years.

At Coinbase, which allows its users to trade digital currencies such as bitcoin, he will be on its global advisory council, which consults on expansion plans.

Coinbase has recently secured licences in France, Spain, Singapore and Bermuda. But it comes amid mounting regulatory scrutiny over crypto.

Last summer, the US regulator filed a lawsuit against Coinbase, accusing it of violating trading laws. Coinbases chief policy officer Faryar Shirzad said: George brings a wealth of experience in business, journalism and government.

We look forward to relying on his insights and experiences as we grow Coinbase.
StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Barnwell Industries (NYSE:BRN  Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Monday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock.

Barnwell Industries Stock Performance

BRN opened at $2.19 on Monday. Barnwell Industries has a one year low of $1.89 and a one year high of $3.10. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.90 million, a PE ratio of -8.11 and a beta of 0.21. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $2.40 and its 200 day moving average price is $2.51.

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Barnwell Industries (NYSE:BRN  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 12th. The company reported ($0.07) EPS for the quarter. Barnwell Industries had a negative return on equity of 14.62% and a negative net margin of 11.35%. The firm had revenue of $6.16 million for the quarter.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Barnwell Industries

In related news, Director Joshua Horowitz acquired 14,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 22nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $2.38 per share, with a total value of $33,320.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 241,517 shares of the companys stock, valued at $574,810.46. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . In other Barnwell Industries news, Director Joshua Horowitz bought 14,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 22nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $2.38 per share, with a total value of $33,320.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 241,517 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $574,810.46. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, major shareholder Ned L. Sherwood bought 27,502 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 27th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $2.56 per share, for a total transaction of $70,405.12. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 2,526,199 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,467,069.44. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Insiders have bought 52,862 shares of company stock worth $129,948 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 16.30% of the companys stock.

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Two Sigma Investments LP acquired a new position in Barnwell Industries in the third quarter valued at $40,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new position in Barnwell Industries in the first quarter valued at $75,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP acquired a new position in Barnwell Industries in the first quarter valued at $78,000. EA Series Trust acquired a new position in Barnwell Industries in the second quarter valued at $88,000. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Barnwell Industries by 145.1% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 40,745 shares of the companys stock valued at $104,000 after acquiring an additional 24,118 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 9.38% of the companys stock.

About Barnwell Industries

(Get Free Report)

Barnwell Industries, Inc acquires, develops, produces, and sells oil and natural gas in Canada. The company operates through three segments: Oil and Natural Gas, Land Investment, and Contract Drilling. It also acquires and develops crude oil and natural gas assets in the province of Alberta, as well as invests in land interests in Hawaii.

Further Reading

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In this article, we are going to discuss alcohol consumption per capita by top 25 countries. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global alcohol industry, the largest alcohol company in the world, and the rise of sober tourism, and go directly to Top 10 Countries with the Highest Alcohol Consumption per Capita.

The true origin of alcohol is lost in the mists of history but the first signs of it show up around 7000 B.C., when a fermented drink was produced from honey and wild yeasts in ancient China. Alcohol is considered to have driven a significant portion of early societal development. In 1877, an archaeologist named James Death went so far as to suggest that the invention of beer even preceded the invention of bread. That might imply that the reason mankind ever settled down into an agricultural lifestyle was to produce enough grain for beer. In fact, the oldest known recipe in the world is not for food, but how to make beer.

The Global Alcohol Industry:

In 2019, the global alcohol consumption, measured in liters of pure alcohol per person of 15 years of age or older, was 5.5 liters, which is a 4.7% decrease from 5.7 liters in 2010. As we mentioned in our article  Top 20 Alcohol Drinking Countries in the World  the global alcoholic beverages market was valued at $1.62 trillion in 2021, and is projected to reach $2 trillion by 2031, with a CAGR of 2.2% during the forecast period.

The market is likely to be driven by the increasing global young-adult demographic, coupled with high disposable income and consumer demand for premium/super-premium products. Globally, beer drives the market for alcoholic beverages. Regionally, North America and Asia-Pacific are expected to dominate the market during the forecast period.

According to the 2021 European Health Report by the WHO, Europe is the continent that drinks the most alcohol in the world, with every person aged 15 and over consuming an average of 9.5 liters of pure alcohol every year. This is equivalent to around 190 liters of beer, 80 liters of wine, or 24 liters of spirits.

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Largest Alcohol Company in the World:

The beer behemoth Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) is the Largest Alcohol Company in the World, with the industry giant boasting a share of over 25% in the entire global beer production. The Belgium-based company boasted a revenue of $57.8 billion in 2022, with a net profit of almost $6 billion. Across nearly 50 countries, AB InBev has 175 major breweries and 40 other operations including hop farms and barley malting facilities.

However, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) had to face some headwinds in the American market last year after the infamous controversy surrounding its best-selling brand Bud Light, which resulted in the iconic brew losing its crown as Americas Best-Selling Beer after nearly two decades. The resulting backlash caused the stock price of the company to collapse from $65.9 on May 4th, to $53.4 on May 31st, a decrease of almost 19% in less than a month.

The brewing giant is now looking to make a comeback after it scored a sponsorship for the upcoming Olympic Games, making it the first beer company to ever sponsor the grand event. The IOC specifically highlighted Corona Cero  the non-alcoholic version of the global best-seller Corona  as the beer of choice for the partnership, which will stretch from the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer games to Los Angeles 2028 Summer games.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) also recently confirmed that it will air two and a half minutes of national advertising in Super Bowl LVIII, running ads for Budweiser, Michelob Ultra, and Bud Light, thus reaffirming the focus of its marketing efforts on sporting and music events as it attempts to bounce back up in the public eye.

The Rise of Sober Tourism:

A high proportion of well-established vacation rituals seem to revolve around alcohol, from the preflight tipple in the airport lounge to the post-dinner nightcap at the hotel bar. But this could be about to change as travel is now under the influence of the growing sober-curious movement, giving rise to new ways of exploring the world without the risk of a hangover.

Sober travel is no longer just for people in recovery from an alcohol-use disorder. Booze-free vacations are now gaining momentum in other travelers as well and the tourism industry is embracing this trend vehemently.

We Love Lucid, which launched in 2019, and Hooked, founded in 2021, are among the alcohol-free tour operators that have debuted in recent years. They give people the opportunity to join like-minded travelers on booze-free holidays filled with invigorating activities.

A 2021 survey by the Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) found that 50% of travelers were likely to opt for a non-alcoholic drink over a beer or a cocktail, leading the company to roll-out an alcohol-free beverage program across several of its U.S. properties.

Through the Zero Proof, Zero Judgement program, restaurant and bar teams at many Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) locations have enhanced their beverage menus with inventive non-alcoholic cocktails, many created with Ritual Zero Proof and Fever-Tree products. Miranda Breedlove, national director of bars and lifestyle operations at Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H), said:

Were seeing travelers increasingly prioritizing their mental and physical well-being, so we are thrilled to offer this new beverage program that provides delicious and flavorful non-alcoholic cocktails. Ultimately, its about providing an incomparable hospitality experience thats reimagined with intentional options for guests who choose not to drink or to drink less.

With that said, here are the Drunkest Countries in the World in 2024.

Alcohol Consumption by Country: 25 Countries with the Highest Alcohol Consumption per Capita

Pixabay/Public Domain

Methodology:

To collect information for this article, we have referred to The Global Health Observatory of the World Health Organization, looking for Countries that Consume the Most Alcohol per Capita. The following countries have been ranked by their per capita consumption of pure alcohol for people aged 15 and over in 2019.

One thing to keep in mind is that just because the people in these countries generally consume higher levels of alcohol, it doesnt necessarily mean that theyre drunkards. Alcohol is simply an essential part of many cultures around the world and alcoholic beverages play a significant role in important events and celebrations, since they can be associated with many festivals and rituals.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

25. Slovakia

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 10.48 liters

Drinking is very much a part of Slovak culture and some form of alcohol is usually present at any social occasion. The standard shot glass size in the Central European country is 50 ml, while it is usually around 44 ml around the world.

Slovakia ranks among the Drunkest Countries per Capita.

24. Cook Islands

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 10.56 liters

The Cook Islands are not only notable for their mesmerizing beaches, but also for their high alcohol consumption. Cook Islanders are fond of spirits, particularly rum, which accounts for more than half of the overall alcohol consumption. Moreover, the heavy influx of tourists also leads to the high levels of alcohol consumed in the beautiful island country.

23. Hungary

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 10.6 liters

Hungary is among the Countries with the Highest Rates of Alcoholism in the World. Along with palinka  a high-alcohol fruit brandy  vodka is also a popular spirit in the Central European country. According to Eurostat, Hungary has the cheapest prices of alcohol for any country in the European Union.

22. United Kingdom

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 10.82 liters

Compared to other European countries, the U.K. is near the average in terms of overall alcohol consumption. However, it is consistently among the highest for binge drinking. This reflects the fact that, on average, drinking in the United Kingdom tends to involve more drunkenness than elsewhere.

21. Belarus

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 10.9 liters

Despite the large number of government policy initiatives that authorities claimed were controlling the problem, alcohol consumption in Belarus grew rapidly up to 2010, when it reached the highest level in the world. The Eastern European country increased the excise tax on alcohol in 2022 to curb its high alcohol use, but is still ranked among the Top 50 Alcohol Drinking Countries per Capita.

20. Spain

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 10.91 liters

Alcohol has always been an important part of Spanish culture and Spanish wine and sangria are especially admired all over the world. Beer is the Spaniards favorite tipple though, consumed by over 50% of the population.

Spain is counted among the Top Beer Producing Countries in the World.

19. Slovenia

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 10.98 liters

While Slovenians love beer and wine, theres really only one national drink  Schnapps. Called Zganje in the local language, making this liquor is also a national pastime, and although you can find factory-made bottles of Schnapps in liquor stores and supermarkets, its the locally made Zganje brewed in someones garage thats usually the best.

Slovenia is counted among the Top 20 Alcohol Drinking Countries.

18. Andorra

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 11.05 liters

Andorra has one of the lowest tax rates on food and alcohol. The tax on food is just 1%, while the alcohol tax is 4.5%. In neighboring Spain, most taxes start from 20%, and thats why many people come from France and Spain to Andorra just to stock their fridges by buying fish, meat, groceries, and alcohol.

17. Estonia

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 11.26 liters

Prices of goods and services increased rapidly in Estonia in 2022 while the rise in alcohol prices was significantly less. The prices of beer and grape wine rose slightly but the price of hard alcohol remained at the 2021 level or cheaper. The incomes of the Estonian people continued to grow that same year and so alcohol became even more accessible.

16. France

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 11.3 liters

Recognized all over the world for its savoir-faire regarding food and drink, France has a long history of alcohol production and consumption. Wine is deeply embedded in the French culture and identity of the people. There are vineyards scattered throughout the country, responsible for producing 7-8 billion bottles of wine a year.

15. Moldova

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 11.36 liters

The wine culture is very strong in the Republic of Moldova and the wine industry employs almost 10% of the national workforce, with the income generated from viticulture forming 15% of the annual national budget. Up to 70% of alcohol consumed in the country is homemade wine.

Moldova ranks among Countries with the Highest Alcohol Consumption in Europe.

14. Laos

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 11.52 liters

Laos has many ethnic groups and each has its own traditions and culture, but alcohol plays an important role throughout Lao society. There is a rule in the Southeast Asian country, especially in the villages of different ethnic groups, that you cannot drink less. While women may retire after drinking a few shots and enjoy the party with food, for men, it is not acceptable. You have to drink as much as you can, and sometimes, even more than you can.

13. Luxembourg

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 11.53 liters

Since alcohol is relatively cheaper in Luxembourg, a large number of Belgians travel regularly to their neighboring country to buy their favorite tipples. The country is also famous for its high quality wine, about two-thirds of which is consumed domestically.

12. Poland

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 11.63 liters

Vodka is deeply embedded in Polish culture, so much so that there is even a growing debate between Russian and Polish people as to who invented the popular spirit. Poland is the largest market for vodka in the E.U., representing over 35% sales in the region. With over 20% of the vodka market share in the country, the Zubrowka brand remains the market leader.

Poland is among the Countries that Drink the Most Alcohol in 2024.

11. Ireland

Alcohol Consumption per Capita: 11.7 liters

Ireland is a nation with a love for alcohol and the Irish prefer to spend their time in pubs rather than casual cafes and restaurants. The country produces some of the finest stouts or whiskeys than anywhere else in the world. In fact, the Emerald Isle is home to Guinness  one of the Most Consumed Beer Brands in the World.

Click to continue reading and see the Top 10 Countries with the Highest Alcohol Consumption per Capita.

Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: None. Alcohol Consumption per Capita by Top 25 Countries is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Apple stock (AAPL) sank in early trading Friday, despite the company posting better-than-expected earnings in its first quarter Thursday, as sales in one of its most important markets fell year over year.

Apple saw earnings per share of $2.18 on revenue of $119.6 billion in the prior quarter. Analysts were anticipating earnings of $2.11 on revenue of $117.9 billion.

But sales out of China, the company's third-largest region after North America and Europe, were lower than anticipated, topping out at just $20.8 billion. Wall Street was looking for sales of $23.5 billion. The company reported Greater China sales of $23.9 billion in the first quarter last year.

The company's stock fell more than 2% at the start of trading on Friday.

Apple is dealing with both a sluggish Chinese economy as well as a resurgent Huawei in the country, which has hurt sales in the region. But strong showings in both North American and Europe helped buoy the company.

The company reported iPhone sales of $69.7 billion, compared with expectations of $68.6 billion.

Today Apple is reporting revenue growth for the December quarter fueled by iPhone sales, and an all-time revenue record in Services, Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement.

We are pleased to announce that our installed base of active devices has now surpassed 2.2 billion, reaching an all-time high across all products and geographic segments.

Apples Mac revenue topped out at $7.8 billion in the first quarter, missing analysts' expectations of $7.9 billion. The company's iPad revenue also missed at $7 billion; Wall Street was looking for $7.1 billion. That's a steep drop from the $9.4 billion the iPad business generated last year.

According to Bloombergs Mark Gurman, Apple will introduce refreshed iPads and Macs in March, which could help goose sales numbers for both business segments in the year ahead.

The iPhone 15 Pro phones are shown during an announcement of new products on the Apple campus in Cupertino, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Wearables, home, and accessories pulled in 12 billion, hitting estimates. Apple has been contending with an ongoing patent battle against medical device maker Masimo, which forced the company to temporarily take the device off of store shelves.

Story continues

It has since removed the blood oxygen sensor component that triggered the dispute from its Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches, but its unclear how much of an impact that has had on sales.

Apples Services segment, meanwhile, reached $23.1 billion, short of an anticipated $23.4 billion.

Apples earnings come as the company prepares to launch its Vision Pro AR/VR headset. The device, which Apple calls a spatial computer, goes on sale Feb. 2 for $3,499. And while its certainly an impressive product, its price tag will likely limit sales among most consumers.

While Apple doesnt release exact device sales figures, CEO Cook said during the earnings call that Apple is seeing a good amount of interest in the Vision Pro from enterprise customers, including demos that take advantage of the headset's capabilities.

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Daniel Howley is the tech editor at Yahoo Finance. He's been covering the tech industry since 2011. You can follow him on Twitter @DanielHowley.

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The artificial intelligence (AI) market has captivated Wall Street, with increased interest in the technology being a major driver in the Nasdaq-100 Technology Sector index's 53% year-over-year rise. Investors have become particularly bullish about chip stocks, homing in on the companies developing the hardware necessary for training and running AI models.

As a result, shares in Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) have soared about 204% and 53% since last January. These companies are poised to see significant gains over the long term as demand for graphics processing units (GPUs) continues to rise alongside AI market growth.

Nvidia is an attractive option as one of the most established companies in AI, with its estimated 80% to 95% market share in AI GPUs. However, Intel is at an earlier stage in its AI expansion, which could indicate it has more room to run.

So, let's examine these chipmakers more closely and determine whether Nvidia or Intel is the better AI stock this month.

Nvidia

Nvidia's years of dominance in GPUs gave it a head start in AI. As rivals Intel and Advanced Micro Devices scrambled to catch up last year, Nvidia was well equipped to immediately begin supplying its chips to the entire AI market. Consequently, the company's earnings and stock skyrocketed, with Nvidia becoming the first chipmaker to exceed a market cap of $1 trillion.

NVDA Revenue (Quarterly) Chart

This chart reflects Nvidia's meteoric rise over the last year. As chip sales have skyrocketed, so has the company's quarterly revenue, operating income, and free cash flow. Competition in the AI GPU market is expected to heat up this year as Intel and AMD begin shipping their own offerings.

However, Nvidia's $17 billion in free cash flow indicates it has the funds to continue expanding in AI and defend its dominance. For reference, Intel's free cash flow is negative $14 billion, while AMD's is just over $1 billion.

Despite Nvidia's significant gains last year, the company likely still has much to offer new investors. The AI market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37% through 2030, with demand for GPUs likely to continue rising for the foreseeable future.

Story continues

Intel

Intel's stock has fallen 12% since Jan. 25, when it released its fourth-quarter 2023 earnings results. The company posted revenue growth of 10% year over year, beating Wall Street estimates by $230 million as it benefited from an improving PC market.

However, that wasn't enough to overshadow weak guidance that sent Intel's stock tumbling. The company expects its first-quarter 2024 earnings to come in at $0.13 per share; analysts had forecast $0.42 per share.

Intel has hit some roadblocks, but poor guidance illustrates why keeping a long-term perspective is crucial when investing in budding industries like AI.

Last December, Intel unveiled a range of AI chips, including Gaudi3, a GPU designed to challenge Nvidia's and AMD's offerings. The tech giant also showcased new Core Ultra processors and Xeon server chips, both of which include neural processing units for running AI programs more efficiently.

The good news about the AI market's CAGR of 37% is that it suggests Intel won't need to dethrone Nvidia to still carve out a lucrative role in the space. That trajectory would see the industry surpass $1 trillion well before 2030, indicating there will be plenty of room for Intel to still see significant boosts to revenue.

Is Nvidia or Intel the better AI stock to buy?

Nvidia's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 50 compared to Intel's 32 makes it the far more expensive stock. Forward P/E is a helpful valuation metric calculated by dividing a company's current share price by its estimated future earnings per share. And the lower the figure, the better the value.

NVDA EPS Estimates for Next Fiscal Year Chart

Moreover, this chart shows Nvidia's earnings could hit $24 per share over the next two fiscal years, while Intel's may reach nearly $3 per share. Multiplying these figures by each company's forward P/E yields a stock price of $1,200 for Nvidia and $93 for Intel.

Considering their current positions, these projections would see Nvidia's stock rise 93% by its fiscal 2026 and Intel's increase by 116%. On this basis alone, Intel looks like the better AI stock. Intel offers more value and potentially has more room for growth in the coming years.

However, Nvidia's growth potential is still significant, with a far more established role in AI and a financially healthier business. Its stock could be the more reliable play if you're willing to pay its premium price tag.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

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Biogen is pulling the plug on the controversial drug Aduhelm, the first drug cleared by government health officials for treating Alzheimer's in nearly two decades.

The pharmaceutical giant is returning the rights to the drug to Neurimmune, the private firm that invented it, and incurring a $60 million one-time charge to close out the Aduhelm program, Biogen said Wednesday in a statement.

Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Biogen plans to instead focus its resources on other Alzheimer's efforts. That includes Leqembi, a drug that Biogen is partnering with Japan's Eisai on that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last year.

Granted accelerated approval in 2021, Aduhelm has not met commercial expectations, with insurers including the federal Medicare program largely refusing to cover the drug because of doubt over its effectiveness and its high cost.

When Biogen initially released Aduhelm, it set the price at $56,000 annually, but later slashed the price in half to about $28,200 after an outcry.

Roughly 6 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer's, which gradually attacks areas of the brain needed for memory, reasoning, communication and daily tasks.

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BioSenic

Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium, January 31, 2024, 7.00 am CEST  BioSenic (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BIOS), the clinical-stage company specializing in serious autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and cell therapy, today announces that it will attend and support the upcoming GvHGvL Meeting on 13-15 March, 2024 at University Hospital Regensburg, a biannual conference to lead scientific exchange around graft-versus-host disease (GvHD).

GvHD can result from transplanting bone marrow or stem cells from a donor to a patient. BioSenic is planning a Phase 3 study of its first-in-class oral arsenic trioxide (OATO) therapy in patients with chronic GvHD (cGvHD), a focus area for the company. The trial will test OATO as a first-line therapy for cGvHD and will begin enrolling the first of about 150 patients over three continents this year. After consulting several clinicians with extensive cGvHD experience in order to develop the protocol for its pivotal Phase 3 study in cGvHD, BioSenic decided to provide support for the biannual meeting, which is organized and hosted by the University Hospital Regensburg in Regensburg, Germany.

BioSenics Chief Operating Officer and Chief Scientific Officer Carole Nicco, PhD, HDR and Chief Medical Officer Lieven Huysse, MD will attend the congress, focusing respectively on the biomarkers in cGvHD and fine-tuning of the outcome criteria for the upcoming cGvHD Phase 3 study. In addition, the pair will hold further discussions with international key opinion leaders in attendance.

Lieven Huysse, said: This is an excellent opportunity for us to meet important key opinion leaders in the GvHD field, as we finalize the protocol of our state-of-the-art clinical study. We understand how crucial it is to select the most appropriate criteria if we are to move toward a confirmatory outcome for the use of OATO as a first-line therapy, in addition to the standard of care. We are looking forward to learning from leaders in the GvHD field as we concentrate all our efforts on getting the Phase 3 trial up and running.

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Carole Nicco adds: " We have learned from ATOs mechanisms of action that it could be a very specific and novel type of immunomodulator. We now have a patent pending on biomarkers that allow us to follow the efficacy of treatment in cGvHD. We will focus on this aspect in the Phase 3 trial and ensure that we follow the effect of our treatment using the best possible biomarkers, which happens to be one of the very interesting sessions planned for GvH-GvL Meeting. I can't wait for detailed discussions with other experts in order to reach a consensus for the best-suited set of biomarkers we can add to the companion diagnostics we have already identified."

Francois Rieger, President of the Board and CEO of BioSenic Group, concludes: " Our Phase 2 study had promising results, including a 75% overall response rate in the full analysis set population and 82% in the per-protocol set patient population. At BioSenic, we believe that the international pivotal Phase 3 trial of our OATO treatment for cGvHD should provide a definitive indication of this new therapys value, and clearly define the duration and dosage of the treatment. ATO has the distinct advantage of being safe and effective over short cycles of administration, reducing the occurrence of potential side effects, all of which were reversible. We expect the risk/benefit balance to be quite favorable."

About BioSenic

BioSenic is a biotech company specializing in the clinical development of autoimmune disease therapies. Following a reverse merger in October 2022, BioSenic combined its strategic positioning, key strengths and strong IP to develop products along two tracks, separately and in combination. The first platform leverages immunomodulatory properties of arsenic trioxide (ATO) for an entirely new arsenal of formulations, including oral delivery (OATO), for anti-inflammatory and anti-autoimmune indications such as chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). In parallel, BioSenic develops innovative products through a second platform that includes cell therapies and strong IP protection for tissue repair technologies.

BioSenic is based in the Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park in Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium. Further information is available at http://www.biosenic.com.

About BioSenic's technology platforms

The ATO platform has immunomodulatory properties with fundamental effects on the activated cells of the immune system. One direct application is its use in autoimmunity to treat in its chronic, established stage. Chronic GvHD is one of the most common and clinically significant complications affecting long-term survival of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), a curative treatment for patients with serious blood diseases, including cancers.

BioSenics intravenous ATO formulation, Arscimed, has orphan drug designation status by FDA and EMA, and it has shown good safety and significant clinical efficacy for skin, mucosae, and the gastrointestinal tract in an early Phase 2a study. The company is planning a confirmatory international Phase 3 study with its oral ATO (OATO) formulation. OATO will also target moderate-to-severe forms of SLE. BioSenic is also developing a new IP-protected OATO formulation for the treatment of SSc, a serious chronic disease that affects skin, lungs or vascularization, and has no current effective treatment. Preclinical studies on pertinent animal models support the launch of a Phase 2 clinical trial.

ALLOB is an allogeneic cell therapy platform made of differentiated, bone marrow-sourced mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which can be stored at the point-of-use in hospitals. ALLOB represents a unique and proprietary approach to organ repair, and specifically to bone regeneration, by turning undifferentiated MSCs from healthy donors into bone-forming cells at the site of injury. BioSenic is studying the results of a Phase 2 trial to optimise the efficacy of ALLOB by determining the best timing for therapeutic intervention and seeking partners to continue the development of the promising underlying therapy strategies.

The company is also exploring partnerships at all levels for its JTA-004 viscosupplement for a severe inflammatory subtype of osteoarthritis, following a positive post hoc analysis of Phase 3 data demonstrating safety and efficacy in support of this licensing.

For further information, please contact:

BioSenic SA

Francois Rieger, PhD, CEO

Tel: +33 (0)671 73 31 59

investorrelations@biosenic.com

International Media Enquiries:

IB Communications

Michelle Boxall

Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 4685

michelle@ibcomms.agency

For French Investor Enquiries:

Seitosei Actifin

Ghislaine Gasparetto

Tel: +33 (0)1 56 88 11 22

ghislaine.gasparetto@seitosei-actifin.com

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the company or, as appropriate, the company directors current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such persons officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.




The family of an Irish woman who died in a bus collision in London have paid tribute to her.

According to the Metropolitan Police, officers were called on Monday morning (January 29) due to reports of a collision involving a bus and pedestrian at Victoria Bus Station.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, the pedestrian, Catherine Finnegan, originally from County Galway, died at the scene.

The 56-year-old's family released the following tribute: "Our beloved daughter, sister, partner, most adored auntie and treasured friend Catherine Finnegan, known as Kathleen, lost her life on 29th January 2024.

"She will be remembered as a very unique lady who had the fast Irish wit and who made her family and friends so very proud of her bright, clever personality.

"She was a whirlwind in any room and lit up this world with her energy, enthusiasm for life and joy. She will be forever in our hearts."

The Met Police confirmed the family continue to be supported by officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit.

The driver of the bus, a woman in her 40s, was also taken to hospital and later discharged.

The investigation continues and any witnesses who have not yet come forward are asked to call 020 8543 5157 quoting CAD 1417/29Jan.
Having been acquitted of misdemeanor charges of espionage and assisting a criminal organisation in Lesbos, Greece in 2023, a Kerryman could still face potential criminal charges, including facilitating illegal immigration and money laundering.

Sean Binder, a German-born humanitarian worker who grew up in Castlegregory, Co Kerry, travelled to the island of Lesbos in late 2017 to volunteer with the Emergency Response Centre, a Greek search-and-rescue NGO. Here, having been trained in search and rescue, he was a lifeguard.

The island of Lesbos gained prominence during the 2015 immigration crisis, witnessing the arrival of nearly a million people escaping war or poverty. As a result, the area became a focal point for Greek and foreign aid workers who set up operations to address the humanitarian challenges posed by the crisis.

This Tuesday, a Greek court acquitted 16 other humanitarians who had been facing the misdemeanor charges related to their efforts in rescuing migrants.

The trial, involving accusations of espionage, due their use of WhatsApp, among other charges, drew international attention.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, criticized Greece, alleging that the defendants were targeted for their humanitarian activities.

Sean was first arrested in 2018, along with Syrian national Sara Mardini, a former refugee, whose story is depicted in Netflix's 2022 film, The Swimmers. The pair spent more than 100 days in pre-trial detention before being released later that year.

According to Free Humanitarians, their trials scheduled to go ahead in November 2022 and January 2023 were dismissed due to "multiple procedural errors and lack of jurisdiction."

These "procedural errors" included "missing translations, as well as incomplete, miscommunicated and inaccurate indictments."

However it is said that in April 2023, the prosecution appealed the decision to the Greek Supreme Court, and 16 of the aid workers who could speak Greek, and did not need a translation, along with those who did not attend court or have legal representation in court, were brought back to trial.

This includes one man, Nassos Karakitsos, who has not been allowed to leave Greece since the events began.

Even thought they were acquitted of misdemeanour charges a year ago, Sean, Sara and the other 16 humanitarians could all still face other potential criminal charges, including facilitating illegal immigration and money laundering.

One of the defense lawyers, Haris Petsikos, told The Associated Press that he was confident all would be acquitted of any remaining charges, if they reach the court.
The number of Ukrainian refugees offered temporary protection jumped considerably at the end of January.

Latest figures show that in the seven days up to the end of January 28, there were 628 Ukrainians offered temporary protection.

This was up from 390 for the previous week.

This rise in numbers will add further pressure to find accommodation for those fleeing the war with Russia.

Recently announced new rules will see newly arrived Ukrainians offered 90 days in State accommodation before they have to find their own place to live as well as a cut to social welfare from 232 to 38.80. These new rules are expected to come into effect in early February.

The latest figures do not specify if Ukrainians who have arrived in Ireland in recent days are coming directly from Ukraine or another EU country.

The Government announced late last year that it will introduce a 90-day limit on State-provided accommodation for refugees from Ukraine arriving to Ireland. Social protection payments for new arrivals will also be significantly reduced.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government does not expect the number of Ukrainians to reduce by a particular amount over the coming weeks due to a pared back offering.

We dont have a particular figure for our target as such, he said.

Its our expectation that because weve brought what we offer more into line with whats the case in other Western European countries that the numbers coming in will fall, but its not just about that.

Lets not forget why people are here. Theyre fleeing a really brutal war in Ukraine.

When we survey them and ask them why they come to Ireland, they list two main reasons: English speaking and very far away from Russia. Neither of those things are going to change.

What I hope will change is the course of the war in Ukraine so that Ukraine can be successful in the war, and the war will come to an end and then we can start to talk to people here from Ukraine about the possibility of going home but were not at that point at this stage.

The changes remove access to most social welfare benefits to beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) while they are living in State-provided accommodation.

It will instead establish a weekly payment to BOTPs while they are living in State-provided accommodation in lieu of social welfare payments.

In effect, arrivals from Ukraine will receive a weekly expenses allowance of 38.80  down from the current jobseekers allowance rate of 232 per week.

They will still have access to child benefit and additional needs payments if they meet eligibility requirements.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has defended the company's decision to buy 25 new houses close to Dublin Airport for use by cabin crew members.

In his first public comments since details of the purchase in Swords emerged earlier this month, Mr O'Leary said he does not regard it as a big issue or something that he or the airline should be apologising for.

"Out cabin crew would be among the lower paid staff we have - a pilot can rent anywhere, they are well paid and cabin crew seniors are well paid - the new arrivals start on the lowest level of pay and we have to have affordable accommodation for them," he told Today with Claire Byrne on RTE Radio 1.

"I would apologise to nobody for it - our first job here is to look after our passengers and our second job is to look after our staff and if anybody else wants to whinge about it they can but one of the other 32,555 house that were built (across Ireland) last year," he added.

Mr O'Leary explained that staff at Ryanair are happy to pay rent and have no difficulty doing so, but that there is a problem finding suitable accommodation near Dublin airport.

"If you are renting in Citywest and you need to report to Dublin Airport at 5 O'clock in the morning for an early shift, there is no (public) transport - the issue here is we need to have affordable accommodation adjacent to the airport so our people - particularly the crews who have to report early in the morning or who get in late in the evening during the summer - have reasonable and easy access to that accommodation," he said.

Mr O'Leary confirmed that Ryanair has bought 40 units of accommodation (apartments and houses) in Swords, Co. Dublin which amounts to around 140 bedrooms.

"I am nothing but proud of it," he said, adding that workers who avail of the accommodation receive a discounted rental rate for the first year but pay 'market level' rates after that.

"What we're able to do now is to facilitate rental properties that are just one bus stop from Dublin Airport. So it's easy and adjacent to the airport for our cabin crew," he said.
The Green Party has criticised Dublin Airport's expansion plans as party leader Eamon Ryan prepares to jet off for St Patrick's Day.

In 2023, the DAA confirmed plans to implement a range of improvements at Dublin Airport, enabling them to grow to between 32 million and 40 million passengers.

These plans reportedly include enhanced terminals, new aircraft stands, upgraded car parks and a revamp of the Ground Transportation Centre.

However, a number of politicians and environmental activists have expressed concern over the plans and their potential climate impact.

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast yesterday morning (January 30), Green Party MEP for Dublin, Ciaran Cuffe, spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

He said, "It seems crazy in the middle of a climate emergency that were proposing to increase the capacity of Dublin Airport by 25%.

"But its not just about the climate; its also about ensuring the people of Dublin can get a good nights sleep. I think theres real concerns about the noise pollution from these early morning and late night aircraft."

He continued: "I dont think we should let aviation off scot free.

"Yes, of course, were an island nation but I think to propose significantly increasing the amount of aircraft journeys in the middle of a climate emergency simply doesnt make sense.

"I think we need to think long and hard about our emissions.

"Everyone should think twice about that shopping trip to New York or the stag or hen bash that weve been invited to in Prague."

According to Cuffe, people should avail of more travel alternatives such as trains and boats.

He said, "Im a frequent flyer and I also make a lot of my travel by sail and rail.

"I take the boat in the morning and end up in Brussels by the evening. For me, its an opportunity to catch up on emails and to catch up on reading.

"Im not saying this suits everyone but for myself as a white collar worker, it does make sense."

However, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan - who is also Ireland's Minister for the Environment - recently defended the Government's plan to fly 37 other Irish politicians across the world for St Patrick's Day.

In an interview on the Tonight Show, co-host Claire Brock asked Minister Ryan about whether he thought it was justifiable for so many politicians to visit 86 cities in 48 countries.

He said, "I do. I think it's a valid question. I'm going to Brazil, one of the reasons I'm involved in international climate negotiations, I'm chair of the International Energy Agency this year, and Brazil is a country that has huge influence.

"Just at this time, they're chairing the G20 later this year and they're running the COP30 the year after, and I see it as part of my job to use the influence we have through those international negotiations to go to Brazil and actually speak to the government, speak to their Minister of the Environment about where we see the development of climate justice going.

"I think it's a valid question but I do believe we have to engage in that climate diplomacy. For me in my role that justifies me travelling [sic]."

I do believe that we have to engage in that climate diplomacy@EamonRyan on the government's decision to travel abroad on St. Patricks Day.#TonightVMTV pic.twitter.com/wgEmlT6A8r  TonightVMTV (@TonightVMTV) January 30, 2024

When asked if he thought all 38 politicians should attend to their global engagements, he said, "I think we're a small country open to the world, and part of that is when you visit people in their country it does bring benefits. We learn by going abroad and other people learn about Ireland and I think that helps."

A clip of the interview posted on TonightVMTV's X (formerly Twitter) page was viewed over 5,000 times, with dozens of comments criticising Minister Ryan's response.

Considering Minister Ryan will travel from Dublin Airport to Brasilia International Airport (where Brazil's seat of government is based), the approximate emissions for a round trip (approximately 8,676km each way) amount to 3.1 metric tons of CO2 equivalent.

That's according to Flightfree.org, which also claims that avoiding the trip is as climate friendly as being vegetarian for 5.8 years.

Ireland's government has pledged to become a net zero country by 2050, with Dublin Airport also making the same promise in the same time frame.

The airport was formally designed carbon neutral in late 2020 by the global Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, which assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions.

Dublin Airport reportedly reduced its energy consumption levels by 48% in 2019 compared to average consumption levels in 2006-2008, and managing director Vincent Harrison hopes to reduce overall energy consumption by a further 30% by 2030.

In December 2023, he stated, "Dublin Airport is committed to minimising its impact on the environment and achieving carbon neutrality is a hugely important milestone on that journey.

"We have been working tirelessly to reduce the amount of energy that we use at the airport for many years and are very pleased with the formal recognition of carbon neutral status. But carbon neutrality is not enough. We must go significantly further, and we are dedicated to doing that.

"We plan to reduce our overall energy consumption by a further 30% by 2030 and were committed to becoming net zero for our carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest."

It is currently unclear how an increase in carbon emissions caused by up to 40 million extra Dublin Airport passengers can be offset to reach this goal.

However, in a statement to Newstalk yesterday, Dublin Airport confirmed plans to invest 400 million into twenty sustainability initiatives over the coming four years.
Seven people have been taken to hospital after emergency services responded to an incident at a university campus in Limerick city.

The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) main campus building at Moylish was evacuated this Wednesday morning after reports of a "possible irritant in the air."

Members of the Limerick Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene where an inspection took place.

No source was found for the irritant and following the inspection, the fire service gave the all-clear for students to return to the building a short time ago.

Seven people, including TUS staff and students were taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick as a precautionary measure.

TUS has initiated an investigation into the incident, which saw its main building being taken out of commission for more than three hours.

An Garda Siochana has confirmed members of the force also attended the incident to support the efforts of other emergency services.
Boeing (BA) reported fourth quarter results that topped expectations, but the plane maker suspended its 2024 guidance as it continues to deal with the fallout from an accident involving an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9, which suffered a door plug blowout while in flight in early January.

For the quarter, Boeing reported top line revenue of $22.02 billion vs. $21.07 billion expected, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates. Boeing's commercial sales revenue for Q4 came in at $10.48 billion vs. the $10.04 billion expected. From a profitability standpoint, Boeing reported an adjusted loss per share (or core, as Boeing calls it) of $0.47 vs. a loss of $0.76 estimated.

Boeing reported operating cash flow of $3.38 billion and a core operating margin of 0.4%, compared to last year's margin of negative 3.2%.

A woman walks by models of Boeing Co. aircraft, including the manufacturer's new Boeing 777X, at the Dubai Air Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

On the earnings call Wednesday morning, Boeings CEO David Calhoun gave a direct apology to Alaska Air and other customers impacted by the 737 Max 9 grounding and investigation.

Whatever conclusions are reached, Boeing is accountable for what happened," said Calhoun."We caused the problem, and we understand that."

The CEO highlighted additional oversight and quality controls measures implemented at Boeing and its suppliers.

"Quality and safety must come above all else," said Calhoun.

We are not issuing financial outlook for 2024. Now is not the time for that, added Calhoun.

For 2023, Boeing had a free cash flow forecast of $3 billion to $5 billion and an operating cash flow estimate of $4.5 billion to $6.5 billion. Boeing declined to provide a 2024 update on those projections.

Wall Street wasn't too concerned about the lack of guidance, with Boeing shares up more than 6% in early trading.

"The fact that there's no guide here isn't really a suspension," Melius Research managing director Robert Spingarn said in an interview with Yahoo Finance. "It's just a deferral, if you will, because of the uncertainty."

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As for its production guidance, Boeing says it will cap 737 Max production at 38 planes per month until the FAA is satisfied with safety and quality. Last week the FAA limited the plane makers Max jet production.

Boeing said it will produce five 787 Dreamliners per month. It's still planning to increase output to 10 per month. Production for the 777X wide-body planes will continue as planned.

Earlier this month, Boeing reported that it delivered 528 planes in 2023 and booked 1,314 net new orders in 2023, up from the 480 deliveries and 774 net new orders it had in 2022.

Across its commercial jet portfolio, Boeing delivered 396 of its 737 jets last year, hitting its goal of at least 375 planes but missing its original target of 400 to 450 jets. Boeing also delivered 73 of its 787 Dreamliners in 2023, meeting its goal of 70 to 80. Finally, Boeing said its order backlog now stands at 5,626, up from 5,324.

As for the 737 Max 9 jet at the center of the Alaska Airlines fiasco, those jets are heading back into service for Alaska and United Airlines after the FAA approved Boeings inspection and maintenance plan. Boeing is still under regulators' scrutiny, however, as the FAA halted plans for Boeing to increase production of the 737 Max 9. The FAA also expanded oversight of Boeing and its suppliers in the planes production process, as well as for the investigation into its compliance with manufacturing requirements.

A different jet in the Max family, the 737 Max 7, also suffered another setback this week. Boeing withdrew a request to the FAA to grant it a safety waiver for the plane after Boeing reported an issue with the planes engine inlet de-icing system last year. Boeing now says it will come up with an engineering solution that will be completed during the certification process." The 737 Max 7 is a smaller version of the Max plane that hasnt been certified by the FAA yet.

The CEOs of United and Alaska Airlines, two of the biggest purchasers of 737 Max 9 jets, have expressed frustration over Boeings continued manufacturing problems with the plane.

We will earn trust back through demonstrated action and a commitment to total transparency, said Calhoun during the earnings call.

Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.

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Ireland could be about to return to subzero temperatures and possible snow in February, according to a number of reliable weather models.

Milder weather has made its way to Ireland this week and while that looks like continuing into next week, the second week in February from February 6 could bring about the return of winter.

Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel has been monitoring weather models and is predicting a shift in the jet stream potential bringing cold weather and wintry precipitation.

"Theres a renewed chance of our weather turning much colder into the second week of February with the jet stream expected to sink south across the country allowing for a potential blocking high to develop across the northwest," he said.

"In such a scenario we would see an increased risk of colder weather with a chance of some wintry precipitation across some parts of the country. The origin of the colder airmass will determine where that risk is highest into next week," he told followers on social media.

"Its worth stressing that for now this is just an advisory on what the potential outcome of the forecast could be, as indicated by recent updates in the weather models. He urged people to keep an eye on up to date forecasts as things can change quickly.

In the meantime, he looks like it will remain quite mild. Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather said: "Few asking about risk of cold next week, the ECMWF model says chances are very low at present. The bank holiday weekend a little showery but not too wet thankfully. Some uncertainty around Monday though and best of weather will be in South and East."

Met Eireann has not published it's forecast for the second week in February but it too predicts mild, albeit unsettled, weather over the next few days.

"The last of the rain will clear southern areas early tonight [Wednesday], and the rest of the night will be dry for most with long clear spells, with just the odd shower possible in the north. Some isolated mist and fog patches will form, most likely in southern parts, with winds decreasing mostly light and variable, still fresh westerly for a time in the north. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +3 degrees, coldest in Munster and south Leinster, with some frost and ice.

"Dry and chilly tomorrow morning [Thursday] with some hazy sunshine for a time. Cloud will increase from the west through the afternoon with patches of light rain or drizzle following, mainly over the western half of the country. There'll be some low cloud, mist and fog in the west and southwest later too. Highest afternoon temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees, though it'll become milder in the evening. Winds will increase mostly moderate southwesterly, becoming fresh in coastal parts of the west and northwest through the afternoon."

They predict that Thursday night will be "a mild and generally dull night with patches of light rain, drizzle and mist, most frequent in the west and northwest. Overnight temperatures generally of 8 to 11 degrees with moderate to fresh and gusty southwest winds, strong at times in the west and northwest."

Friday will be "a mostly dull day with patchy rain, drizzle and mist continuing with just a few breaks in the clouds developing. Towards the evening, the rain will turn more persistent in the west and northwest. Highest temperatures of 11

to 13 degrees in moderate to fresh southwest winds.

"Continuing dull and misty with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle [on Friday night]. Temperatures not falling below 6 to 10 degrees in mostly moderate south west to west winds.

"A mostly dull day with outbreaks of rain and drizzle [on Saturday]. Possibly turning brighter and colder in the north during the afternoon with isolated showers. Highest temperatures of 9 to13 degrees, mildest in the southeast, in light to moderate southwesterly winds.

"Plenty of cloud with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle [on Saturday night]. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees generally."

Forecasters at Met Eireann say it will be "cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, becoming patchier from the south through the day [on Sunday] with some bright spells developing. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees generally with moderate to fresh and gusty west to southwest winds."

Beyond that and into next week, they foresee "little change into the start of next week, continuing mild in a mainly westerly airflow with rain and drizzle at times, mainly over the western half of the country."
Irish school students are being warned not to get involved in a money laundering scheme which has lead to the prosecution of dozens of students as young as 16.

Garda Detective Sergeant, Ernie Henderson, spoke to RTE's News at One about Operation Mullet, an investigation which has unearthed an elaborate stolen money scam based in Co Kerry involving 'money mules'.

Money mules hand over their bank account details so that stolen funds can be transferred in and out, and they are awarded a percentage of the amount transferred as payment for use of the account.

According to Detective Sergeant Henderson, thirty two students have already been prosecuted under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism) Act 2010, with a few dozen more awaiting sentencing.

Detective Sergeant Henderson is urging young people not to get involved as a prosecution could lead to difficulties travelling abroad or securing a career in the future.

He specifically referenced the popular J1 visa programme to the United States, which Irish students often apply for.

He said, "We're trying to drive home the message that these convictions are under the money laundering and terrorist act, so any company or if you're looking for a J1 visa, any Homeland Security or any of them will look and see a person has a conviction under that money laundering and terrorist act.

"They're just not simply going to get a visa to go to another country. Any potential jobs you're applying for, it would be a big red flag for many companies to employ someone with that kind of conviction."

Many money mules are recruited through social media such as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok with promises of making "easy money".

However, recruiters - or "herders" - can be living in the community as well.

Detective Sergeant Henderson said, "Obviously as an organisation, we're looking for [students] not to hand over any bank details to any other person. If they find themselves pressured, from peer pressure or colleagues or otherwise, don't give them log in details or passwords.

"If they do end up giving bank details, with school students especially, just don't give passwords, or change passwords [afterwards]. If that happens, while the money still goes into the account, it just can't be accessed."
A deal to reduce checks and paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is the best that could be delivered for the people of Northern Ireland, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said.

The agreement between the UK Government, published on Wednesday, is expected to lead to the restoration of the devolved powersharing institutions at Stormont within days.

The deal will see the end of routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Great Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland.

It has persuaded the DUP to end its two-year boycott of the Stormont Assembly.

Sir Jeffrey told the BBC Talkback show that he is absolutely convinced the deal is the best one he could have secured.

He said: Measured against our seven tests I am satisfied with the progress we have made.

I am satisfied that in terms of our core objectives we have delivered for the people of Northern Ireland.

Is it perfect? No, it isnt.

Have we delivered everything we would have wanted at this stage? No, we havent.

Sir Jeffrey said the agreement has removed the so-called Irish Sea trading border.

He said: We believe that where goods are moving within the United Kingdom and its internal market, there shouldnt be checks, there shouldnt be customs declarations, because that is what a border means.

There should not be a border within the UK internal market. These proposals remove that border.

There will no longer be checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, except where, as happens across the UK, there is smuggling or criminality.

He also said now all goods manufactured in Northern Ireland will be available for sale in the rest of the UK.

He said: Businesses in Northern Ireland, if all they do is sell their goods to Great Britain then their goods will be fully acceptable in Great Britain.

The Government has guaranteed that.

There is a new goods guarantee built into these new arrangements that goods manufactured in Northern Ireland will always be available for sale in Great Britain.

The DUP leader also said the automatic appliance of EU laws to Northern Ireland would end.

He said: At the moment EU law automatically applies to Northern Ireland, whether it is a change to EU law or a new EU law.

Under the (Northern Ireland) Protocol we had no say, the Assembly was not consulted on that, there was no democratic scrutiny in Northern Ireland of those laws, they just automatically applied. These new arrangements end that.

Article 7A of the Withdrawal Act, which is a UK law, will be amended to end the automatic pipeline of EU law applying to Northern Ireland.

What that means, we will have new democratic scrutiny mechanisms in the Assembly.

The Assembly will be able to scrutinise any new laws that are coming forward. Assembly members will be able to say if they think that law is going to be harmful to Northern Ireland and our ability to trade, in other words divergence.

The Assembly will be able to say no, that law should not apply in Northern Ireland and the UK Government has the right to veto that law on behalf of Northern Ireland.

There is a new process that is being put in place that ends the dynamic alignment of EU law in Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, other Stormont parties have been meeting with Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin, in Belfast.

Speaking after her meeting, Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill, who is poised to become first minister when Stormont is restored, said the Assembly election held two years ago shows the change across the islands political landscape.

She said: I will work with whoever wants to come at it with an attitude of fair play, work with whoever wants to respect the Good Friday Agreement, and I will work with anybody who wants to deliver good public services.

Regardless of who occupies the government in Britain, I would expect from them, whether its Labour or Tories, who unfortunately have failed on this on so many occasions, to respect the Good Friday Agreement.

There is no doubt the Assembly election two years ago demonstrated the change that is happening right across our island and there is no doubt that there is a healthy conversation about constitutional change.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said he had a good meeting with Irelands foreign affairs minister.

Mr Beattie said he told Mr Martin about how the Ulster Unionists have been kept out of discussions in relation to the agreement between the DUP and the British Government.

He added: I think everybody is pretty comfortable with what the deal is.

I dont think anybody is concerned. I think everything that is going to happen is going to happen within the confines of what has already been agreed in regards to the Windsor Framework.
Part of the fuselage blowing off shortly after takeoff, leaving a gaping hole in the plane, and phones and clothing ripped away from terrified passengers. Investigations revealing sloppy work, including loose or missing bolts, instances of tools, trash and even empty tequila bottles left inside planes built for government clients. Worldwide groundings. Halts to deliveries due to quality issues.

And, by far, the most serious problem - two fatal crashes leaving 346 people dead.

Boeing is back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons again after the Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 incident. The National Safety Transportation Board, which is investigating, is expected to release its preliminary findings soon.

Thats the Boeing of today and the last five years. But it wasnt always that way.

It wasnt that long ago that Boeings reputation was that of a staid industrial giant, known for building the safest, most advanced planes in the sky. It helped introduce the world to commercial jet travel.

Pilots and others in the industry, as well as members of the flying public, summed up their confidence in the company with the expression, If its not Boeing, Im not going. The company still sells coffee cups and t-shirts with that slogan.

So how in the world did the company whose brand was once synonymous with safety become mired in reputational disaster  to the point where at least one travel site has a feature that allows passengers to avoid Boeing 737 Max planes altogether.

Experts and critics say that Boeings woes have been years in the making, some pointing to the result of a shift in corporate culture that started at the top and put profits ahead of the safety and engineering prowess for which it was once praised, placing not only its future, but the passengers on its planes, at grave risk.

While Boeing denies there has been such a shift away from safety and excellence, what is indisputable is that its engineering and manufacturing problems have contributed to a series of shocking incidents, two of which resulted in the deaths more than 300 people combined. Boeing simultaneously became a financial basket case, reporting cumulative net losses of more than $26 billion, and counting, over the last five years, with no end to the red ink in sight.

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Boeing executives insist that quality and safety are still a top priority for the company, and the problems of recent years have only increased its focus on quality and safety. Asked for comment on the claim that it now puts profits ahead of quality and safety, the company pointed to a recent statement by CEO Dave Calhoun.

Over the last several years, weve added rigor around our quality processes, hired tens of thousands of engineers and mechanics, advanced key investments in our future, transformed our functions and gradually increased our production rates, he told investors in October. Most importantly, weve worked hard to instill a culture of speaking up and transparently bringing forward any issue, no matter the size, so we can get things right for the future.

A week after Calhoun made the remark, the company delivered a 737 Max 9 to Alaska Air, the fourth it had built for the carrier that month. Code letters N704AL, the jets door plug blew out while the plane was mid-air, less than 10 weeks after it was delivered, just minutes into the January 5 flight.

Boeing workers participating in a "Quality Stand Down" at Boeing's 737 Max factory in Renton, Washington on January 25, 2024. - Jason Redmond/AFP/Getty Images

The company also pointed to what it called a quality stand down, on Thursday for its 737 factory teams in Renton, Washington in which it halted production to focus on quality issues. Boeing announced the move in the wake of a recently expanded federal probe into the companys manufacturing practices following the Alaska Air incident and plans for Congressional hearings into its practices.

The first 737 Max 9 planes that were grounded after that incident returned to service on Friday, and most are expected to be back in the air by the end of this week.

Our long-term focus is on improving our quality so that we can regain the confidence of our customers, our regulator and the flying public. Frankly, we have disappointed and let them down, said a statement by Stan Deal, the head of Boeings commercial airplane unit, in a statement to employees following that return to service. Over the last century, the people of Boeing have faced and overcome significant challenges. This is one of those times. We have to be better. We have to deliver perfect airplanes each and every time.

But critics say this crisis is unlike any earlier problems at the company, arguing that despite Boeings assurances, they believe there has been a cultural change within the company in the last 25 years that has put profits over safety and quality.

Leadership is more concerned with getting the planes out the door than quality, Ed Pierson, a former Boeing executive who is now the executive director of the Foundation for Aviation Safety, a public interest group, told CNN last week. He said planes are still being produced today with flaws not being caught.

Everything had to be cost justified

The spark for the conflagration that has recently consumed Boeing might date back decades.

After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the huge American defense contractors began to consolidate. Fearful of their own survival without a communist enemy stalking NATOs borders they began to merge with one another. In the decade after the end of the Cold War, 51 major American defense and aerospace contractors became just five huge companies.

And one of the five left standing was Boeing, newly merged in 1997 with competitor McDonell Douglas.

Critics said that before the merger, Boeing had a reputation as a company run by people with engineering backgrounds who cared about quality and safety first. But those critics say the merger put the company in the hands of executives with a finance background, who put profits as their top goal.

Boeing had a reputation before the merger of a company where engineers were high church, Ron Epstein, an aerospace analyst at Bank of America, told CNN. It resulted in Boeing not being as profitable as some comparable manufacturers, he said.

But after the merger he said, everything had to be cost-justified.

On paper, Boeing was the company that bought McDonnell Douglas. But many of the leadership ranks became filled with McDonnell Douglas veterans, not Boeing executives.

Many of them had financial backgrounds, not the engineering backgrounds of those who had run Boeing in the past. Or they came from outside of the company, such as from General Electric, where cost-cutting and improved efficiency was a near religion.

One of those was Jim McNerney, who became Boeing CEO in 2005, after a career that started at consumer products maker Procter & Gamble, included time at management consultant McKinsey & Co., and was followed by years at GE. He was CEO of 3M before being tapped to run Boeing, without any engineering and limited aerospace experience.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun is departing a meeting with Senator Tammy Duckworth Thursday as Boeing is dealing with the fallout of multiple recent safety mishaps, including a door blowing out mid-flight. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/NurPhoto via AP) - Aaron Schwartz/NURPHO/Associated Press

Moving away from its roots, saving cash

Under this leadership the company moved away, figuratively and literally, from its Pacific Northwest roots, where top executives had been intimately familiar with the massive assembly lines there where commercial jets were built, and any problems that might be developing there.

In 2001 it moved its headquarters to Chicago. And in the midst of various crises in recent years, it moved its headquarters again in 2022, not back to Seattle, but to a suburb of Washington, DC, near the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and its various regulators, like the FAA. Ironically the move to Washington came the same week Airbus revealed that it was increasing production of commercial jets at its factory in Mobile, Alabama, only seeming to drive home the point to critics that Boeing was moving in the wrong direction.

One company is saying Were going to build lots of jets. The other is saying Were going to lobby the Pentagon and Congress for defense dollars. Its a big contrast, said Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory and a leading aerospace analyst.

Boeing became more dependent on suppliers to build more and more of its planes, seeking to limit its role to joining together the parts. And it spun-off some of the operations it had depended upon previously. Supplier Spirit AeroSystems, which builds the fuselages for Boeings planes, including the 737 Max, was created in 2005 after Boeing sold its Wichita division and Oklahoma operations raising $900 million in cash by doing so.

And in 2009, about a year after weathering a 58-day strike at its unionized plants in Washington state, the company announced plans for a non-union plant in right-to-work South Carolina to assemble its new, most advanced jet, the 787 Dreamliner, giving it a factory with lower pay that wasnt at risk of going on strike in the future.

Boeing has rolled out the first 787 Dreamliner at its South Carolina plant in 2018. - Joshua Drake Photography/Boeing

Calhoun, Boeings current CEO, took over in January 2020, nine months into the grounding of the 737 Max following two fatal crashes. He also has no engineering background, having served as senior managing director and head of portfolio operations at investing firm The Blackstone Group, CEO of Nielsen and spending 26 years at GE.

Just over a year and a half later, after the pandemic reduced demand for the long-range Dreamliner due to the drop in international travel, Calhoun and Boeing decided it needed to preserve cash and could no longer justify two 787 plants. It had a choice between consolidating production to a veteran plant in Washington state staffed by unionized employees and a non-union South Carolina plant. It decided to close the unionized line in Washington and keep the South Carolina plant.

But it soon had quality problems with the 787 Dreamliners being produced there, leading to two costly halts in deliveries, one lasting over a year.

Although Boeing says it values its worldwide staff, it made deep staff cuts during the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, offering buyouts to more senior workers. The loss of expertise has proven devastating, Bank of Americas Epstein said.

A key variable is your workforce, he said. You want it to be as experienced as possible. When its all said and done, how much do you really save closing the unionized plant?

Cost cuttings impact on quality

Aviation safety advocate Pierson served as a senior manager at Boeings 737 factory after a career in the military. He left the company in 2018, just months before the first fatal crash. He told CNN his frustration with top management attitudes on quality led him to quit.

In 2019 he testified to Congress that there was evidence that the 737 Max was having production quality issues, including planes being delivered to airlines that had faulty hardware or other system malfunctions, problems that involved more than a dozen safety issues, some of which he described as serious. He recounted that he had recommended a halt in production of the 737 Max to deal with quality issues in the months ahead of the first crash. He said the boss to whom he had made the recommendation told him, We cant do that, I cant do that.

I pushed back, explaining that I had seen operations in the military shut down over less substantial safety issues, and those organizations had national security responsibilities, he testified. He said his supervisor responded tersely, The military isnt a profit-making organization.

Other experts agree with Pierson that despite its claims of being concerned with safety and quality, Boeings actions suggest otherwise.

Youre looking at a management team whose idea of acknowledging the problem is to readjust the cash flow numbers for next year, said Aboulafia in an interview with CNN.

Two fatal crashes

And then disaster struck.

The first fatal crash of a 737 Max occurred in Indonesia in October 2018, the second in Ethiopia in March 2019, killing a total of 346 people. It led to a 20-month grounding of all 737 Max jets. In addition to the horrifying loss of life, it cost the company more than $21 billion, making it one of the costliest corporate disasters on record, as well as one of the most deadly.

After the first crash, Boeing successfully pushed to keep the planes in the air. Even after the second crash, as airline regulators around the world grounded the jet, Boeing pushed the FAA to hold off on its own grounding order, saying that it had full confidence in the safety of the 737 Max and that based on the information currently available, we do not have any basis to issue new guidance to airlines.

When the FAA gave in to global and public pressure to announce its own grounding, Boeing said it accepted the move out of an abundance of caution.

Eventually it was a design flaw in the Max that was blamed for the two fatal crashes, as a feature meant to stop the planes from climbing too fast and stalling instead forced the nose of the planes downward.

But critics of Boeing say the problem wasnt just the flawed design of the jet that led to the deaths, it was the decisions that Boeing made to not quickly acknowledge the problem with design after the first crash, and have a grounding take place at that time, which could have prevented the second crash.

In the light most favorable to Boeing, the first crash was an accident, the second crash is a crime, said Robert Clifford, the attorney suing Boeing on behalf of families of the victims of the second crash, the one in Ethiopia, in an interview with CNN. He said if the plane had been grounded immediately, Boeing might have ended up fixing the problem much faster, and with less expense, as well as preventing the second crash.

They gambled with peoples lives and the people lost, he said.

In 2021 Boeing admitted to liability in the two crashes, agreeing to pay compensatory damages, which allowed the company to avoid the possibility of having to pay far more in punitive damages.

Boeing is committed to ensuring that all families who lost loved ones in the accidents are fully and fairly compensated for their loss, the company said in a statement at that time. By accepting responsibility, Boeings agreement with the families allows the parties to focus their efforts on determining the appropriate compensation for each family.

It has also agreed to pay a $2.5 billion fine to settle charges it defrauded the FAA when it first won approval of the flawed 737 Max.

I firmly believe that entering into this resolution is the right thing for us to do  a step that appropriately acknowledges how we fell short of our values and expectations, Calhoun said at that time.

But that agreement was criticized by the families of victims of the Ethiopian air crash as well as members of Congress as being far too lenient. About 70% of the $2.5 billion fine it agreed to pay was money it had already agreed to pay as compensation to its airline customers.

Pierson said the probe that followed the second crash revealed Boeing executives were more concerned with continued production than finding the cause of the crash and fixing it.

They absolutely prioritized the delivery of planes over the investigation, he said.

One of the first Boeing 737 Max jets on the production line at the company's manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington, U.S., on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015. - David Ryder/Bloomberg via Getty Images/File

Pierson said the design flaw, as problematic as it was, was not the total problem that led to the crash. He said the quality of the work that would produce various malfunctions while the planes were in flight was just as significant as the design flaw.

He points to a report from the Ethiopian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau that looked at both fatal crashes and found that These accidents were triggered by production quality defects that presented as intermittent system malfunctions.

Without the build quality issues causing malfunctions, the design flaw feature of the plane that forced the nose of the plane down would not have turned on, and the flights would not have crashed, according to the Ethiopian report.

But that finding got little attention as the US National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA focused on design flaws rather than the build quality issues, Pierson said.

Eventually the probe provided an ugly look at the decision-making process at Boeing. Internal communications released during the 737 Max grounding showed one employee describing the jet as designed by clowns, who in turn are supervised by monkeys.

Boeings release of the documents included an apology to the FAA, Congress, airlines, and the public.

The failed push for profits

An ironic part of Boeings focus on profits is that it has resulted in a company that is in the worst financial shape in its more than 100-year history, with five years of deep losses already, and more expected losses ahead.

As recently as 2018 Boeing was riding high, reporting revenue of more than $100 billion for the first time in its history and projecting more growth to come. It had just started deliveries of the 737 Max the year before. The short-term focus on profits was, indeed, producing profits. At least for a little while.

Its rival Airbus was the one struggling, on the verge of abandoning its $25 billion mistake, the A380 superjumbo jet that had turned out to be a white elephant with little demand from airlines or passengers. Despite that, the two companies were neck-and-neck in orders and deliveries.

But in less than a decade, all that has changed.

Airbus delivered 735 commercial jets last year. Boeing only 528. Net orders and the backlog of jets each is waiting to build show a larger imbalance. And while Airbus is forecast to report adjusted net income of 4.3 billion euros, or $4.7 billion profit, for 2023 when it reports results, Boeing just reported an operating loss of $3.2 billion for the year.

Aboulafia said the short-sighted push for profits has put the company at a severe competitive disadvantage to Airbus, and that Calhoun and other top managers at Boeing, as well as its board, need to go if the company is to have a chance to turn things around.

Despite the losses and severely weakened market position of Boeing, there is little chance it could go out of business.

The airlines around the world that have already bought Boeing planes basically need to keep using those models, whatever the problems.

Commercial pilots are certified on specific models and are not able to easily move from single-aisle to widebody versions of Boeing jets, let alone between a Boeing and an Airbus jet. And having different models means the airlines need to have a large, expensive supply of spare parts on hand to keep their planes in the air.

And any Boeing customer who canceled their orders today would have to get in line behind a backlog of more than 8,600 jets that Airbus has already agreed to build for its existing customers.

Its a very weird industry. It has high barriers to entry and only two players. You can get away with nonsense like this, said Aboulafia.

Pierson said incident reports on planes that Boeing continues to build, while not nearly as dramatic as the Alaska Air incident, suggest the pressure to put profits over quality remains, despite Boeings claims.

The company has gutted quality control so they can produce more airplanes, he said. The employees are completely overwhelmed. Everybody is focused on the Max 9, and rightfully so. That incident should never have happened. But there are issues on other planes. It has become a recipe for disaster.

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Abbas Ganbay

Regarding the snap presidential elections scheduled for February 7, 2024, polling stations will be opened at the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia, as well as at the Consulates General in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, Azernews reports, citing the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Russia.

Citizens of Azerbaijan over 18 years of age, temporarily or permanently residing in the territory of the Russian Federation, will be able to participate in the voting. For this purpose, it is necessary to present a valid passport or identity card of a citizen of the Azerbaijan Republic to the representatives of the polling station.

Citizens who plan to travel to the Russian Federation during the presidential elections and wish to vote, please also bring absentee voting certificates.

Polling stations will be open from 08:00 to 19:00 local time.

The addresses of polling stations are:

Moscow city, Voznesensky pereulok, 15

St. Petersburg, 2nd Sovetskaya Street, 27

Yekaterinburg, 5, Karla Libknecht Street
Q4 Revenue : $3.725 billion, a 14.9% increase year-over-year.

Full Year Revenue : $14.240 billion, up 12.3% from the previous year.

Q4 GAAP Net Income : $504 million, translating to $0.34 EPS.

Full Year GAAP Net Income : $1.570 billion, or $1.07 EPS.

Adjusted EPS : Q4 at $0.55, Full Year at $2.05, both showing significant growth.

Operational and Organic Growth : Both metrics show robust increases across segments and regions.

Future Outlook: Positive guidance for 2024 with expected continued revenue growth and EPS increase.

Boston Scientific Corp (NYSE:BSX) released its 8-K filing on January 31, 2024, revealing a robust performance for both the fourth quarter and the full year of 2023. The company, a leading manufacturer of less invasive medical devices, reported a significant increase in net sales and earnings per share, surpassing its own guidance and market expectations.

Boston Scientific Corp (BSX) Posts Strong Q4 and Full Year 2023 Results

Company Overview

Boston Scientific is at the forefront of the Medical Devices & Instruments industry, specializing in the development of medical devices for a wide range of health conditions. Its products are vital for angioplasty, cardiac rhythm management, neuromodulation, and more, serving healthcare professionals and institutions worldwide. With nearly half of its sales generated internationally, the company's global presence is a key driver of its financial success.

Financial Highlights and Challenges

The company's financial achievements in Q4, including a 14.9% increase in net sales to $3.725 billion and a GAAP net income of $504 million, are significant indicators of its strong market position and operational efficiency. Full-year figures were equally impressive, with a 12.3% increase in net sales to $14.240 billion and a GAAP net income of $1.570 billion. Adjusted EPS for Q4 stood at $0.55, up from $0.45 in the prior year, while the full-year adjusted EPS climbed to $2.05 from $1.71.

These financial achievements underscore the importance of innovation and market expansion in the medical device industry. However, challenges such as competition, regulatory hurdles, and market dynamics could impact future performance. Despite these potential challenges, Boston Scientific's strong results demonstrate its ability to navigate a complex industry landscape effectively.

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Segment and Regional Performance

Boston Scientific saw growth across all segments and regions. Notably, the Cardiovascular segment reported a 13.9% increase in net sales, while the MedSurg segment grew by 11.1%. Geographically, the Asia-Pacific region experienced a 14.8% increase in reported net sales, and the Latin America and Canada region saw a remarkable 20.8% growth. Emerging Markets also showed strong performance with a 16.3% increase in reported net sales.

Strategic Developments

The company's strategic initiatives, including FDA approvals for the FARAPULSE PFA System and the TENACIO Pump, as well as the acquisition of Relievant Medsystems, Inc., and the pending acquisition of Axonics, Inc., demonstrate its commitment to expanding its product portfolio and addressing unmet medical needs.

Outlook for 2024

Boston Scientific provided positive guidance for 2024, estimating net sales growth between 8.5 to 9.5 percent on a reported basis and 8 to 9 percent on an organic basis. The company also forecasts GAAP EPS in the range of $1.38 to $1.42 and adjusted EPS between $2.23 to $2.27.

The company's chairman and CEO, Mike Mahoney, expressed gratitude towards the global team and pride in the 2023 results, stating:

"We are excited about our future and long-range plans as we deliver on our mission to transform patient lives."

Overall, Boston Scientific's financial performance in 2023 paints a picture of a company that is not only growing but also innovating and strategically positioning itself for future success. For value investors and those interested in the medical devices sector, Boston Scientific Corp (NYSE:BSX) represents a company with strong fundamentals and a clear vision for growth.

Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from Boston Scientific Corp for further details.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Jan. 30, 2024; Reynoldsburg, Ohio, USA; Workers construct a home in the Spring Hill Farms neighborhood under development by M/I Homes in Reynoldsburg.

Ohio homebuilders are pushing state lawmakers to eliminate local zoning referendums, create a tax-abatement program that doesn't require school-board approval, and other policies that would make it easier for companies to build more homes.

They say the lack of new homes is slowing growth in central Ohio and that builders are not meeting demand statewide.

"For the last 15 years in central Ohio, we've underbuilt," said Kenny McDonald, president and CEO of the Columbus Partnership economic development organization. "Supply and demand are just out of balance."

More: Columbus-area home prices top record high for 2023

The Building Industry Association of Central Ohio's report, "Ohio Housing Policy White Paper: Strategies to Address Ohio's Housing and Economic Challenges," was presented Wednesday morning at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

Jan. 30, 2024; Reynoldsburg, Ohio, USA; A home is seen under construction in the Spring Hill Farms neighborhood being developed by M/I Homes in Reynoldsburg.

It recommends several policy changes. Among them:

Create a Governor's Housing Council that would include developers, local government, business and community leaders who would advise the governor on how Ohio can address the housing crisis, establish housing as a statewide concern, and adopt a comprehensive strategy for housing development.

Regulate small, non-limited home rule township zoning at the state level that would put zoning in the hands of county government.

Enact state legislation that permits residential development where retail zoning now exists.

Create a new Ohio Housing Infrastructure Fund of $250 million to offer competitive grants for large and small cities to build dense residential projects.

Increase the amount of funding from $100 million a year to $400 million for the state's Transformational Mixed Use District Program.

Eliminate referendums for zoning decisions.

Jan. 30, 2024; Reynoldsburg, Ohio, USA; An excavator in seen under in the Spring Hill Farms neighborhood being developed by M/I Homes in Reynoldsburg.

"Local zoning decisions in Ohio involve a substantial amount of time, public input, public hearings, and ultimately a vote by local government officials," the paper says. "Permitting a referendum vote on the zoning decision among voters, the majority of which will not have access to any of the facts related to the zoning decision, creates an unpredictable business model for the creation of residential development."

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The report stated that Indiana, Tennessee, and Texas do not use referendums for local zoning decisions, and that 22 states do not have any initiative or referendum process.

"There are simply too many boxes to check to get a house built in central Ohio," said Jon Melchi, executive director of the central Ohio BIA.

The report, prepared by The Montrose Group LLC, a Columbus-based economic development and lobbying company, said central Ohio needs to build 18,000 homes and apartments a year to keep up with demand but is taking out only 13,000 permits, which drives up housing costs.

"We need housing of all stripes and shapes in Ohio," Melchi said.

The lack of new homes, the report claims, contributed to central Ohio's population growing 17.4% over the past decade, lagging metro areas of Charlotte (56%), Austin (40%), Nashville (28%) and Indianapolis (21%).

More: As Columbus booms, its suburbs limit affordable housing options

The group also wants the state to give cities and counties the power to sign off on residential tax abatements without school board approval.

Jan. 30, 2024; Reynoldsburg, Ohio, USA; A home is seen under construction in the Spring Hill Farms neighborhood being developed by M/I Homes in Reynoldsburg.

And the report recommends extending and expanding tax credit programs, creating an Ohio Rural Housing Loan Program, and streamlining Ohio's property tax appraisal system.

Some communities have also said a lack of housing is hindering economic development efforts. In October, the Union County Chamber of Commerce released a statement that the county had more than 8,300 unfilled jobs and an average home-sale price of more than $430,000.

"Ultimately, if employers cannot find workers to fill these positions, the community decides to slow housing development, and the home sale price point stays at $430K+, our communitys quality of life will be in peril," the county chamber said.

Meanwhile, Columbus officials are in the midst of revamping the city's 70-year-old zoning code that would make it easier for developers to build housing, and which concerns some who believe they won't have enough of a say as to what is built in their areas. The city has also expanded tax abatements for new housing throughout the city, instead of in blighted pockets.

mferench@dispatch.com

@MarkFerenchik

jweiker@dispatch.com

@jimweiker

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio builders pitch ending referendums, local zoning to spur housing
(Bloomberg) -- ByteDance Ltd.s chief urged his staff to resist mediocrity after the company missed the initial wave of generative AI development, becoming the latest Chinese corporate leader to warn employees against falling behind in a fast-changing environment.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In a company-wide meeting on Tuesday, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Liang Rubo told workers to adopt a sense of crisis  suggesting social video pioneer ByteDance was late to recognize the advent of game-changing technologies such as generative AI. He joins Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd.s Jack Ma and JD.com Inc.s Richard Liu in voicing concern about organizational problems in the face of rising competition.

We are not sensitive enough to external changes, Liang said, according to a post on the companys official WeChat account. During our semi-annual technical review, discussions related to GPT did not emerge until 2023, despite GPT-1 being released in 2018.

OpenAIs ChatGPT debut late in 2022 caught the internets social network leaders off-guard, from Meta Platforms Inc. to Alphabet Inc.s Google and YouTube. ByteDances TikTok has kept growing at a rapid clip even without leading that new wave, but Liang said he saw some warning signs in recent times, from complacency, inefficiency and sluggishness to low standards.

Somewhat echoing comments from Ma and Liu late last year, Liang called for a renewed entrepreneurial spirit in the company, saying he fears ByteDance could slip into mediocrity.

Liang, however, adopted a gentler tone than the two peers, saying his company is still doing fine and there are still many things to look forward to at ByteDance.

Story continues

ByteDance released its Doubao chatbot last year without much fanfare. In December, The Verge reported that ByteDance is using OpenAIs tech to build its own large-language model. OpenAI eventually suspended the Chinese firms account.

Competition at home is led by Baidu Inc., which has declared its chatbot is as good as OpenAIs advanced GPT-4. Baidus Ernie Bot has attracted more than 100 million users since its public rollout in August, the Chinese company said last month.

Still, ByteDances sales surged in 2023 to more than $110 billion, Bloomberg News reported, potentially overtaking arch-foe Tencent Holdings Ltd. in a sign TikToks fledgling e-commerce business is driving growth at a time of economic malaise.

Read More: ByteDances Sales Break $110 Billion to Pass Tencent in 2023

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Caveat . . .

Kansas City is now dominated by "public" broadcasters who mostly earn their funding by corporate sponsorships, large private donors and "viewers like you." However, a small but still significant portion of their funding is subsidized by the government.



Here's a bit of naval gazing that we enjoyed and our readers might consider for context . . .



By far the greatest damage to the news ecosystem over the past 20 years has been at the local level. Nearly all of the 2,900 newspapers that have closed or merged since 2005 have been small weeklies, according to researchers at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. This has left broad swaths of the country lacking professional reporting of any kind. The death rate among daily papers has been less extreme, if only because many continue to exist in greatly diminished form. One example: Denvers two primary dailies, the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post, employed more than 600 journalists before the Rocky went under in 2009. Ever since, the Post has been peeled like an onion by its owner, the hedge fund Alden Global Capital. Today, its newsroom directory lists just 59 journalists, who are tasked with covering a region that is home to nearly 3 million people.



As local journalism declines, government officials conduct themselves with less integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness and corporate malfeasance goes unchecked, observed PEN America in a 2019 white paper. With the loss of local news, citizens are: less likely to vote, less politically informed, and less likely to run for office. Not all citizens, though. A weakened local press corps is a gift to someone like George Santos, whose serial fabrications went mostly (if not entirely) unreported during his campaign for Congress.

Accordingly . . . Government handouts & more regulation is the answer proposed by more than a few progressives:

"Some have called for direct and muscular government intervention. Policy proposals include tax credits for publications that hire reporters and for advertisers that place ads in those publications, as well as increased government spending on public-service ads. A potentially more powerful mechanism: a law compelling Google and Facebook to compensate publishers for the news content the tech companies display on their platforms. Publishers around the world have lined up in support of a law enacted in Australia in 2021 known as the News Media Bargaining Code. The law creates a framework for publishers to negotiate payments from tech giants."

The downside . . .

THERE'S A WORD FOR GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF NEWS . . . PROPAGANDA!!!

And it's even easier for people to ignore.

Meanwhile, the biz of profiting from eyeballs remains tough in a world that's easily distracted and readers who would much rather know explore personal connections than consider current events, public policy and the implications for the world outside of their own personal experience.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

The Atlantic: Is American Journalism Headed Toward an Extinction-Level Event?
Tonight we round up more news of rising violence, court cases and community outreach efforts amid another Winter of our discontent.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Convenience store shooting sends one to hospital | Northeast News Michael BushnellPublisher This afternoon just before Kansas City, MO Police Officers were called to the Phillips 66 Express Stop at 5712 Independence Avenue on the call of a panic alarm....

Panel dismisses complaint against Johnson County DA Howe in handling of Overland Park police shooting In a follow-up to a story KSHB 41 News has been following for years, a watchdog agency that serves as an arm of the Kansas Supreme Court has dismissed a complaint against Johnson County DA Steve Howe.

Lenexa police successfully identify suspect in retail theft investigation Police are looking for a woman accused of stealing from a retail location near 87th Street and Pflumm Road in Lenexa

Man crashes car with child inside after leading Cass County sheriff's deputies on car chase A man trying to evade capture led Cass County Sheriff's Department deputies on a car chase Monday that ended in a crash.

Court documents provide new details on former Olathe school custodian charged with sex crimes John Houghton previously worked at Mission Trail Middle School.

17-year-old facing murder charge in connection with 15-year-old girl's shooting death in Olathe Brianna Rachelle Higgins of Lawrence, Kansas, was driven to the hospital with a fatal gunshot wound on Jan. 20, 2024

Crisis hotline created to help stop teen violence A teen who lost a brother to gun violence decided kids his age needed a way to tell someone about a problem before it turns deadly.

Developing . . .
For those who don't know how local news works . . .

The Kansas City Media Collective is now the dominant purveyor of "journalism" in the metro area. The group is funded by donations, corporate sponsorship, grants and some government funding.

The inner-workings of the group are somewhat secretive but their content is decidedly progressive and closely resembles social justice advocacy.

Accordingly, their perspective is important in light of their ongoing coverage of a somewhat recent, deadly police shooting . . . Here is a quote from their reporting . . .



"A secretive Kansas disciplinary board has dismissed a complaint against Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe for releasing a false narrative about the 2018 police killing of John Albers.



"The Office of the Disciplinary Administrator concluded the complaint had merit but chose only to issue Howe a letter of caution, according to a letter . . ."



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
This legislation offers yet another escape route and a modicum of school choice for the last remaining captives of Kansas City Public Schools . . . Here's the basics and what seems like broad support for the effort that might also help STL students . . .



It is the first bill to be debated by the full House this legislative session. It must be approved one more time by the House before it is sent to the Senate for consideration.



Some worry that, without that provision, open enrollment could lead to resegregation in some areas.



Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Columbia Democrat, complimented Pollitt but said the lack of diversity protections and other negatives outweigh the positives.



One of the concerns is that its going to create a slow drain for several schools and districts, she said.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU) are working on making it easier for Kazakh citizens to visit EU countries. Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev and EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kestutis Jankauskas met on Saturday to discuss this.

They aim to simplify the visa process by reducing fees, extending visa periods, and making the application process faster. This follows Kazakhstan's earlier move to allow EU citizens to visit without a visa.

Kazakhstan Advances Visa Talks with the European Union

Kazakhstan is taking significant steps to ease travel to the European Union for its citizens. In a recent meeting held on Saturday, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev and the EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Kestutis Jankauskas, engaged in the second round of talks focusing on simplifying the visa application process for Kazakh travelers.

Caspian News reported that these talks aim to make getting a European visa easier and quicker. Key improvements being considered include lowering the cost of visa applications, allowing visas to last longer, speeding up the application process, and agreeing on a common set of required documents. This move is expected to strengthen the friendly ties between Kazakhstan and the EU, especially in travel.

In 2017, Kazakhstan made it easier for EU citizens to visit by introducing a visa-free regime, which was paused due to the pandemic but resumed in 2022. The move was part of Kazakhstan's effort to boost business ties, tourism, and cultural exchanges with the EU.

The discussions between Kazakhstan and the EU are built on the foundation of the enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement activated in 2020. This agreement highlights the mutual interest in fostering easier travel and people-to-people contacts.

Currently, Kazakhstan has visa-free travel agreements with nearly 20 countries and offers unilateral visa-free entry to citizens of 54 countries for short stays. These policies are part of Kazakhstan's broader strategy to diversify its economy beyond its rich natural resources and to develop sectors like tourism and international business.

Related Article: Kazakhstan Lifts Visa Requirements For Europe, UAE And Other Western Countries To Boost Tourism

Kazakhstan Welcomes Chinese Tourists with Open Arms

In recent news, Kazakhstan has started seeing more tourists from China, thanks to easier travel rules. This change is similar to what happened in Vietnam, where the lifting of travel restrictions led to more visitors and money from tourism.

Back in March 2023, China ended some of its travel limits due to the pandemic. This was great news for Vietnam, which used to have 5.8 million Chinese tourists in 2019, bringing in over $5 billion. Despite their past conflicts, both China and Vietnam agreed to work together for a better future and economic gains.

Kazakhstan is now following a similar path. As reported by The Times of Central Asia, since November 2023, people from China can travel to Kazakhstan without needing a visa. This is a big deal because China is the world's second largest economy and its people are looking for new places to visit. Kazakhstan has many beautiful spots that could attract these tourists.

To make the most of this chance, Kazakhstan might need to train more people to work in tourism, especially those who can cater to Chinese visitors. The number of Chinese tourists in Kazakhstan has been going up since last year. By November 2023, about 85,000 Chinese tourists had visited, spending an average of $100 each day.

Reports say that Chinese tourists are now more interested in visiting places that are part of the Belt and Road Initiative, and Kazakhstan is one of these countries. The easy travel, close distance, lovely sights, affordable costs, and available flights make Kazakhstan an appealing choice for them. Travel companies in China are even starting to offer tours that include Kazakhstan.

Read Also: AirAsia Malaysia Expands with New Direct Flights to Perth, Almaty
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hokkaido are definitely the first places to come to mind when travelers think of where to go in Japan. However, Japan's other prefectures, cities, and even small towns have a lot to offer those who head their way.

Take the Aomori Prefecture as an example. It is the northernmost prefecture on Japan's Honshu island and is full of beautiful sites that worth the visit.

Here are some of them that travelers should definitely check out.

Hirosaki Castle

Constructed in 1611, the Hirosaki Castle was the seat a powerful samurai clan, the Tsugaru Clan. It is three storeys tall at present, but it used to be five storeys in height. Unfortunately, a fire burned down the original structure in 1627.

The castle is located in Hirosaki Park, which is a public park in the city that is a favorite spot for Cherry Blossoms during the spring. In fact, a Cherry Blossom Festival is held there annually from April 23 to May 5.

Related Article: Here's Where and When to Experience Japan Cherry Blossom Season 2024

Hotokegaura

Aomori is home to stunning natural sites and a behemoth of an example of it is a series of rock formations known as Hotokegaura. Found at the entrance of the Mutsu Bay, the rocks are actually named after Buddha as Hotokegaura means Buddha's Cove.

Hotokegaura is designated as an Aomori Natural Monument as well as a National Natural Monument in Japan.

Jogakura Ohashi Bridge

Simply referred to as the Jogakura Bridge, it is a deck arch bridge found in the souther Hakkoda Mountains. It is the longest bridge of its type in the whole of Japan.

The bridge is famous for the scenic views of the surrounding area as the bridge is located inside the Towada-Hachimantai National Park, which actually spans three prefectures. It is recommended that you visit the area during the fall season to enjoy the autumn foliage.

Sannai Maruyama Site

If you ever wondered what prehistoric Japan looked like, you should head to the Sannai Maruyama Site. Located southwest of Aomori City, it is actually the ruins of a Jomon period settlement that was discovered in 1992.

It is an active archaeological site and excavations in the area are still underway. Previous excavations have unearthed earthenware, clay figurines, and even animal and fish bones.

Read Also: Why Is Mount Fuji So Famous in Japan? Exploring Its Cultural and Natural Significance
A luxurious Bangkok city hotel nestled in the heart of the Art District; Pathumwan Princess lies magnificently above the MBK shopping centre with stylish and luxury accommodation.



(TRAVPR.COM) BANGKOK - January 29th, 2024 - CiTi BiSTRo, located on the ground floor of Pathumwan Princess Hotel, has reopened and is now hosting a delicious Thai Twist Buffet Dinner every Friday and Saturday evening in a chic yet relaxing atmosphere.

Dine on a sumptuous spread of seafood delights including half a dozen Grilled Oysters with cheese per person and Stir-Fried Seafood with New Orleans sauce, premium cuts of grilled beef, a salad bar with cold cuts and cheese, a Thai A La Carte station, seafood on ice, Som Tum and Khao Soi stations, a marinade station and assorted desserts.

The Thai Twist Buffet Dinner with free flow soft drinks takes place every Friday and Saturday from 6:00pm-10:00pm. The price is THB 2,300 net per adult and THB 850 net for children (under 12 years old).

Attend the buffet with 4 persons and get a free bottle of wine, or drink free flow Singha draught beer for an additional THB 690 net per person.

For those who are friends with the hotel on the LINE application, CiTi BiSTRo offers the Thai Twist Buffet Dinner at THB 1,250 net per person.

For more information or to make a reservation, please call 02 216 3700 or LINE @pprincess or visit https://www.pprincess.com/

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To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? Ideally, a business will show two trends; firstly a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an increasing amount of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. With that in mind, the ROCE of Canadian Tire Corporation (TSE:CTC.A) looks decent, right now, so lets see what the trend of returns can tell us.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on Canadian Tire Corporation is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.11 = CA$1.8b  (CA$23b - CA$7.0b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

Thus, Canadian Tire Corporation has an ROCE of 11%. By itself that's a normal return on capital and it's in line with the industry's average returns of 11%.

View our latest analysis for Canadian Tire Corporation

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Canadian Tire Corporation compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

So How Is Canadian Tire Corporation's ROCE Trending?

The trend of ROCE doesn't stand out much, but returns on a whole are decent. The company has employed 36% more capital in the last five years, and the returns on that capital have remained stable at 11%. 11% is a pretty standard return, and it provides some comfort knowing that Canadian Tire Corporation has consistently earned this amount. Over long periods of time, returns like these might not be too exciting, but with consistency they can pay off in terms of share price returns.

Story continues

In Conclusion...

In the end, Canadian Tire Corporation has proven its ability to adequately reinvest capital at good rates of return. However, over the last five years, the stock has only delivered a 12% return to shareholders who held over that period. So to determine if Canadian Tire Corporation is a multi-bagger going forward, we'd suggest digging deeper into the company's other fundamentals.

One final note, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Canadian Tire Corporation (including 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) .

If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive returns on equity.

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.
Assessing the Sustainability and Growth of Canadian Utilities Ltd's Dividend

Canadian Utilities Ltd (CDUAF) recently announced a dividend of $0.45 per share, payable on 2024-03-01, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-01-31. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into Canadian Utilities Ltd's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

What Does Canadian Utilities Ltd Do?

Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with CDUAF.

High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio

This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years

How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock?

Canadian Utilities Ltd, a subsidiary of holding company Atco, offers gas and electricity services. The company's main divisions include electricity (generation, transmission, and distribution), pipelines & liquid (natural gas and water), and Retail Energy. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the firm mainly operates in Canada and Australia, along with some operations in the United States and Mexico. Canadian Utilities launched a large venture called Atco Energy, which provides low-cost and sustainable energy solutions for Alberta.

Canadian Utilities Ltd's Dividend Analysis

A Glimpse at Canadian Utilities Ltd's Dividend History

Canadian Utilities Ltd has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 1973. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis. Canadian Utilities Ltd has increased its dividend each year since 1973. The stock is thus listed as a dividend king, an honor that is given to companies that have increased their dividend each year for at least the past 51 years. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends.

Breaking Down Canadian Utilities Ltd's Dividend Yield and Growth

As of today, Canadian Utilities Ltd currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 5.61% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 5.74%. This suggests an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months. Over the past three years, Canadian Utilities Ltd's annual dividend growth rate was 1.70%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate increased to 4.20% per year. And over the past decade, Canadian Utilities Ltd's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at 7.80%. Based on Canadian Utilities Ltd's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Canadian Utilities Ltd stock as of today is approximately 6.89%.

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Canadian Utilities Ltd's Dividend Analysis

The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability

To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-09-30, Canadian Utilities Ltd's dividend payout ratio is 0.83. And this may suggest that the company's dividend may not be sustainable.

Canadian Utilities Ltd's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Canadian Utilities Ltd's profitability 7 out of 10 as of 2023-09-30, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each of year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability.

Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook

To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Canadian Utilities Ltd's growth rank of 7 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors. Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Canadian Utilities Ltd's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Canadian Utilities Ltd's revenue has increased by approximately 1.60% per year on average, a rate that underperforms than approximately 78.14% of global competitors.

The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Canadian Utilities Ltd's earnings increased by approximately -7.90% per year on average, a rate that underperforms than approximately 71.33% of global competitors. Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of -3.20%, which underperforms than approximately 74.72% of global competitors.

Concluding Thoughts on Canadian Utilities Ltd's Dividend Outlook

In conclusion, Canadian Utilities Ltd's longstanding history as a dividend king reflects its commitment to shareholder returns. However, the sustainability of its dividend is a complex interplay of factors including its payout ratio, profitability, and growth metrics. While the company's profitability rank is strong, the growth metrics indicate some challenges ahead. Investors should closely monitor these indicators to gauge the future direction of Canadian Utilities Ltd's dividends. For those seeking to diversify their portfolio with dividend-paying stocks, GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Those people are our people too. The words of UNC Senator David Nakhid, following the deadly
The head of the General Staff of Romanias armed forces, General Vlad Gheorghita, said on Wednesday that in case Russia wins the war against Ukraine, Moldova could become its next primary target.

Gheorghita said this in an interview with Europa Libera, Ukrinform reports with reference to NewsMaker.

"The population of Romania, like the entire population of the European Union, is concerned. If Russia prevails in Ukraine, Moldova will become the main target. We will witness tension in the Western Balkans. I believe that not a single second should be wasted. We have to take action and be prepared," Gheorghita said.

Read also: Kuleba invites new Moldovan foreign minister to Kyiv

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Moldova President Maia Sandu said Russia would once again try this spring to destabilize the country. According to the president, all this time "Russia has been trying to destabilize order and authorities in Chisinau, trying to exploit the regime in the Transnistrian region."

Photo: stirileprotv.ro
On Wednesday, the Ukrainian delegation headed by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Oleksandr Kubrakov will attend the Ukraine Recovery Forum, taking place in Istanbul.

This is reported by an Ukrinform correspondent.

The forum will be preceded by a number of bilateral meetings.

In particular, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Oleksandr Kubrakov will meet with Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat and Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu.

The Ukrainian delegation also includes the representatives of the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry, Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) State Enterprise, Ukrzaliznytsia JSC, and Ukraine's State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development.

The agenda of the forum provides for presentations by Turkish contractors and working meetings of the Turkiye-Ukraine Business Council (DEIK).

A reminder that, in September 2023, Ukraine, Turkiye and Japan set up a unique format of cooperation to jointly implement projects on the countrys restoration, namely those related to critical infrastructure.
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Published January 31, 2024

Want to go?

WHAT: JC Penney Suit-Up Event

WHEN: Sunday, February 4, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: JC Penney at Pecanland Mall, 4761 Pecanland Mall Dr. in Monroe

WHO: ULM students, faculty, and staff can receive up to 50% off select career wear. Click here for details.

MONROE, LA  The ULM Reginald F. Lewis Scholars will be outfitted with professional business suits thanks to a donation from JC Penney at Pecanland Mall as part of their bi-annual Suit-Up event on Sunday, February 4 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event is open to ULM students, faculty, and staff, who can receive up to 50% off select career wear with their ULM ID.

We are so very grateful that our local JC Penney is providing the seven ULM Reginald F. Lewis Scholars with professional business suits, said Kellye Blackburn, Director of Employer Relations and Outreach at ULM. The RFL Scholars represent ULM at important events in Louisiana and internationally. You only get one chance to make a good first impression, said Blackburn. I want to say a special thanks to JC Penney General Manager Ashley Adeleke for helping ensure our RFL Scholars are dressed well for future events, Blackburn added.

Adeleke says JC Penney will be donating $1,400 for the Reginald F. Lewis Scholars. JC Penney is sponsoring the Reginald F. Lewis Scholars to help facilitate professional business attire for the young men as they embark on learning and mentoring opportunities in the community, country, and abroad, said Adeleke. The Suit-Up event helps build great relationships in the community through JC Penneys clothing and accessories with excellent value, she added.

It is with great excitement that I applaud Kellye Blackburn for forging a relationship with JC Penneys Suit-Up representatives. We look forward to other opportunities to serve more students, said ULM Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Valerie S. Fields.

JC Penney Suit-Up is a biannual event held each semester for students from local universities to kick off the internship and full-time job recruitment season. Professional clothing goes on sale for up to a 50% discount. Students are encouraged to stock up on everything they need to dress for success for upcoming ULM Spring 2024 career fairs and job interviews. Suit-Up is not only open to students; faculty and staff are also welcome to attend. Click here for additional details.

The Reginald F. Lewis Scholars Program of the University of Louisiana System improves the college experience for black male students in the system. The Reginald F. Lewis Scholars Program provides a three-year curated educational experience focused on three key areasacademics, social advancement, and community service. The program seeks to recruit black males and provide educational programs, mentoring opportunities, and co-curricular experiences to improve outcomes.

Employers wishing to hire well-qualified ULM students and graduates can contact the Office of Career and Student Development at careerdevelopment@ulm.edu or learn more about ULM career fairs by visiting https://www.ulm.edu/careerdevelopment/careerevents.
BEIJING (Reuters) - Two of China's major cities, Suzhou and Shanghai, followed Guangzhou in easing home-buying restrictions, in an effort to boost property sales as persistent weakness in confidence delays a recovery in the crisis-hit property sector.

The eastern city of Suzhou completely relaxed home buying restrictions for new and resale home markets, according to state media The Paper on Tuesday.

Previously, residents in Suzhou were only allowed to buy up to three apartments with less than 120 square metres.

Shanghai also on Tuesday eased some of its home purchase limits, allowing single non-Shanghai householders to buy homes in some areas. They were previously banned from buying property in the mega city, the nation's financial hub.

The moves comes after Guangzhou last week completely eased purchase limits on large homes.

The property market, once a pillar of the world's second-biggest economy, has suffered a liquidity crisis since 2021, triggering many developers to default on, or delay, debt payments.

Policymakers have rolled out support measures in recent months to prop up the distressed sector, including easier access to cash for developers, cuts in home mortgage rates and relaxed rules on buying homes.

However, the market still ended last year with the worst declines in new home prices in nearly nine years.

Currently, only eight cities like Beijing and Hangzhou, and Hainan province still maintain purchase restrictions in some areas, according to China Index Academy, a major real estate research firm.

"Large second-tier cities are expected to completely abolish housing purchase restrictions across the board," said the firm.

A Hong Kong court on Monday ordered China Evergrande Group, the world's most indebted developer with nearly $300 billion in liabilities, to be liquidated after around 18 months of failed negotiations with offshore creditors.

The housing regulator said last week that cities have been given full autonomy in real estate regulation and control, and they can adjust their property policies based on local conditions.

Story continues

"We still believe mainland China's property market is charting an extended L-shape recovery, and that national sales will drop again in 2024, by 5%," said economists at S&P Global Ratings on Wednesday in a research note.

S&P also said the Evergrande Liquidation will amplify subordination risk in China property bonds, but has limited impact on the physical market.

(Reporting by Liangping Gao and Ryan Woo; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
In a bid to enhance educational opportunities and address workforce needs, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has put forth a proposal to extend eligibility for Michigan's free community college program. The plan aims to remove age restrictions, making the Michigan Reconnect program accessible to all high school graduates in the state.

The Evolution of the Michigan Reconnect Program

The Michigan Reconnect program, initially introduced in 2021, currently caters to individuals aged 21 and above who lack postsecondary degrees or certifications. Governor Whitmer's proposal seeks to eliminate this age constraint, opening the doors of opportunity to all high school graduates. The program operates as a last-dollar scholarship, covering tuition and fees not already addressed by other financial aid sources, such as the federal Pell Grant. Under the initiative, students are granted up to three years to pursue and complete their associate degrees.

During her State of the State address on January 24, Governor Whitmer emphasized the transformative impact of this expansion. This move aligns with Michigan's broader educational vision, extending the focus beyond K-12 education and contributing to the state's ambitious "60 by 30" goal. This goal aims to have 60 percent of adults in Michigan earn a postsecondary degree or skills training by the year 2030.

The Michigan Reconnect program, launched in 2021, is a crucial component of the state's strategy to increase educational attainment and workforce readiness. By offering a last-dollar scholarship, the program addresses financial barriers that often hinder individuals from pursuing higher education. Under the current structure, the program caters to the needs of those aged 21 and older who do not possess postsecondary degrees or certifications.

Governor Whitmer's proposal to eliminate age restrictions is a significant evolution, recognizing the importance of providing opportunities for all high school graduates to further their education. By removing this barrier, the state aims to create a more inclusive and accessible pathway to postsecondary education, ensuring that individuals can pursue associate degrees or skills certificates at community colleges without unnecessary limitations.

READ ALSO: Michigan Tech Professor Under Fire For Allegedly Calling Students "Idiots"

Aligning with State Goals and National Benchmarks

Governor Whitmer's push to broaden the scope of the Michigan Reconnect program is deeply rooted in the state's commitment to achieving higher levels of educational attainment. The "60 by 30" goal, which sets a target for 60 percent of adults to earn postsecondary degrees or skills training by 2030, underlines the urgency of expanding access to educational opportunities. By including all high school graduates in the Michigan Reconnect program, the state aims to catalyze progress toward this ambitious benchmark.

The latest available data indicate that Michigan is making strides toward its degree or credential attainment goals, with a rate of 50.5 percent. However, this figure remains below the national average of 53.7 percent. Governor Whitmer's proposal reflects a proactive approach to not only meet but exceed these benchmarks, positioning Michigan as a leader in educational attainment.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the expansion of the Michigan Reconnect program presents an exciting opportunity for high school graduates, challenges may arise in terms of program scalability and resource allocation. Ensuring that the program can accommodate a broader demographic will require strategic planning and adequate funding. Moreover, outreach and awareness efforts will be crucial to inform high school graduates about the availability and benefits of this expanded opportunity.

The proposal also invites a broader conversation about the role of community colleges and skills training in meeting the evolving demands of the workforce. By emphasizing the importance of associate degrees and skills certificates, Michigan is aligning its educational initiatives with the practical needs of the job market.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer's proposal to expand the Michigan Reconnect program marks a significant step toward fostering a more inclusive and accessible higher education landscape in the state. By removing age restrictions and opening this last-dollar scholarship to all high school graduates, Michigan is poised to make strides in achieving its educational goals and preparing its workforce for the challenges of the future.

RELATED ARTICLE: Revitalizing Higher Education: Pennsylvania's Bold Plan For A New Era
Cleveland State University (CSU) and Notre Dame College, situated in South Euclid, Ohio, are engaged in talks regarding a potential merger, sparking discussions within the higher education community.

The prospect of a merger between a public institution like CSU and a private institution like Notre Dame College is a rare occurrence in the higher education landscape. This article delves into the details surrounding this potential partnership, examining the motivations, challenges, and implications for both institutions.

Motivations Behind the Merger Talks: Addressing Enrollment Challenges and Rising Costs

The discussions between CSU and Notre Dame College come at a critical juncture for both institutions. Notre Dame College has faced enrollment challenges in recent years, with its current enrollment standing at approximately 1,050 full-time students, a significant decline from the fall of 2014 when it enrolled 2,281 students. In response to these challenges, Notre Dame College initiated talks with CSU, recognizing the need to explore collaborative opportunities.

A recent social media post by Notre Dame College emphasized that no final decision has been made but acknowledged engaging in talks with CSU due to "potential opportunities." The post highlighted key challenges faced by the college, including a shrinking pool of college-aged students and escalating costs. This acknowledgment underscores the strategic imperative for institutions to proactively seek innovative solutions to ensure their sustainability in the face of evolving demographics and financial realities.

READ ALSO: Democrats Unveil Ambitious Plan To Transform Higher Education, Prioritizing Affordability And Student Success

Enrollment Trends and Institutional Background: Contrasting Numbers of CSU and Notre Dame College

The potential merger brings to light the enrollment trends of both institutions. While CSU, as a larger public institution, currently enrolls around 14,000 students, it has also witnessed a decline in enrollment over the past decade. In the fall of 2014, CSU enrolled nearly 17,000 students, indicating a shift that aligns with broader trends in higher education.

Notre Dame College's enrollment challenges have been more pronounced, with a considerable decrease in student numbers over the years. The college's decision to engage in merger talks reflects a proactive approach to address these challenges collaboratively. As discussions progress, stakeholders will be keenly observing how the potential merger aligns with the mission and identity of both institutions.

Implications for Higher Education: Navigating Changing Demographics and Financial Realities

The potential merger between CSU and Notre Dame College is situated within the context of a broader trend in higher education where institutions seek strategic partnerships to navigate challenges and sustain their missions. The evolving landscape of higher education, marked by shifting demographics and financial uncertainties, requires institutions to adapt and explore innovative solutions.

The discussions also come amidst a wave of closures and mergers in 2023. As the higher education sector grapples with changes, the decision to explore a merger becomes a significant strategic move. Mergers are complex processes involving considerations of governance, funding models, and mission alignment. In this case, the willingness of Notre Dame College to engage in talks with a public institution reflects a recognition of the changing dynamics in the higher education ecosystem.

The potential merger between Cleveland State University and Notre Dame College represents a transformative opportunity for collaboration between a public and private institution. While challenges such as differing governance structures and funding models may need careful navigation, the discussions underscore a commitment to finding innovative solutions for the benefit of both institutions.

As Notre Dame College prepares to provide more information in the coming month, the higher education community awaits insights into the motivations, terms, and potential outcomes of this unique partnership. The evolving higher education landscape continues to shape institutional decisions, and the CSU-Notre Dame College merger talks provide a case study in navigating challenges and exploring collaborative opportunities to ensure the continued success and sustainability of higher education institutions.

RELATED ARTICLE: US Colleges Grapple With Closure Threat; Mergers And Transformations Emerge As Survival Strategies
January 31 2024

Ayr Grammar School is set to become a flagship headquarters under plans to revitalise the C-listed building as a town centre destination.

ARPL Architects is leading a series of interventions to the former school, transforming it into a retail and hospitality destination including new homes on behalf of Creative Designs - an Ayr-based kitchen firm.

Planned works would open up the foyer with a contemporary zinc-clad entrance porch, leading to a series of showrooms arranged around a central dining hall and restaurant.

Tom Coughtrie, managing director of Creative Designs, said: "We aim to bring a new flagship HQ to Ayr - a town centre destination."

The first floor, an ancillary structure and a janitor's house would be converted to apartments as part of the plans, the latter receiving a matching zinc extension.
Caretaker Provincial Minister for Industry and Commerce SM Tanveer chaired a meeting at Committee Room of Punjab Food Department on Wednesday to discuss the matter of payment for imported sugar to the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) for the fiscal years 2020-21 and 2021-22

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2024) Caretaker Provincial Minister for Industry and Commerce SM Tanveer chaired a meeting at Committee Room of Punjab food Department on Wednesday to discuss the matter of payment for imported sugar to the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) for the fiscal years 2020-21 and 2021-22.

A ministerial committee was constituted regarding release of funds for the purpose and approved payment of remaining principal amount of Rs.180 million, while the committee decided to negotiate with the TCP to pay the markup.

Caretaker Provincial Ministers Azfar Ali Nasir and Mansoor Qadir, Secretary Food and other officers concerned attended the meeting.
(@FahadShabbir)

Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib during his visit to the newly established BISP call centre underscored the crucial role of call agents as ambassadors of empathy and support for the poorest and most deprived citizens of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2024) Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib during his visit to the newly established BISP call centre underscored the crucial role of call agents as ambassadors of empathy and support for the poorest and most deprived citizens of Pakistan.

The BISP call centre has recently been established at the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) to inform and address the grievances of the general public related to BISP.

DG NTC, Faisal Bashir Ch briefed Dr. Amjad Saqib that this centre is operational with more than 25 call agents and is set to expand its capacity in the future to further assist the vulnerable segments of society.

Dr. Amjad Saqib stressed the need for a Performance Evaluation Mechanism for call agents to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in their services.

He emphasized the ethical treatment of the needy by call agents during his visit to the call centre, acknowledging their significance in facilitating the underprivileged.

He expressed gratitude to the NTC for its collaboration in establishing this advanced call centre, which aims to enhance the overall perception of BISP.

"Helping the poor is equivalent to charity and worship," remarked Dr. Amjad Saqib, highlighting the noble cause that the BISP call centre serves.

He believed that the call centre would play a pivotal role in improving the public's perception of the institution and providing authentic information, as well as expediting the resolution of complaints.

Dr. Amjad Saqib affirmed that all complaints lodged through the Complaint Management System would be directly forwarded to BISP field offices for prompt resolution.

This commitment to efficient complaint resolution aims to streamline the process and ensure that the needs of the citizens are met effectively.

To register a complaint or obtain information related to BISP, the public is encouraged to contact the toll-free number 080026477. Additional Secretary BISP Dr. Muhammad Tahir Noor was also present on this occasion.
If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. So, when we ran our eye over Chipotle Mexican Grill's (NYSE:CMG) trend of ROCE, we really liked what we saw.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Chipotle Mexican Grill:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.22 = US$1.5b  (US$7.9b - US$1.1b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

Thus, Chipotle Mexican Grill has an ROCE of 22%. In absolute terms that's a great return and it's even better than the Hospitality industry average of 9.4%.

View our latest analysis for Chipotle Mexican Grill

roce

In the above chart we have measured Chipotle Mexican Grill's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Chipotle Mexican Grill here for free.

How Are Returns Trending?

Chipotle Mexican Grill deserves to be commended in regards to it's returns. The company has employed 273% more capital in the last five years, and the returns on that capital have remained stable at 22%. Now considering ROCE is an attractive 22%, this combination is actually pretty appealing because it means the business can consistently put money to work and generate these high returns. If Chipotle Mexican Grill can keep this up, we'd be very optimistic about its future.

The Key Takeaway

In the end, the company has proven it can reinvest it's capital at high rates of returns, which you'll remember is a trait of a multi-bagger. On top of that, the stock has rewarded shareholders with a remarkable 359% return to those who've held over the last five years. So while the positive underlying trends may be accounted for by investors, we still think this stock is worth looking into further.

Story continues

On a final note, we've found 1 warning sign for Chipotle Mexican Grill that we think you should be aware of.

High returns are a key ingredient to strong performance, so check out our free list ofstocks earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.

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.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China, Jiang Zaidong, called on Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu here on Wednesday

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2024) Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China, Jiang Zaidong, called on Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu here on Wednesday.

The Chinese ambassador lauded the steadfast determination of PAF leadership to ensure balance of power in the region.

During the meeting, matters pertaining to evolving geo-strategic environment and regional developments were discussed, a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) news release said.

The dignitaries underscored the necessity of revitalizing the framework for operational training across all domains, emphasizing the paramount importance of preparedness and seamless coordination in the face of evolving security challenges.

The Air Chief shared broad contours of the PAFs modernization drive in order to transform Pakistan Air Force into a Next Generation Air Force through induction of niche technologies with a special focus on indigenization and revamping of training.

Highlighting the significance of the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries, he emphasized that the PAF leadership wished to further deepen the existing aviation cooperation and exchanges with China in the fields of human resource and technology so as to jointly address shared security challenges.

He further said,"Pakistan values its strong diplomatic, economic, defence relationship and time-tested friendship with China which are based on convergence on all important issues relating to regional peace, security and stability.

The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan's efforts in promoting regional peace.

Both the dignitaries emphasized the need for enhanced air force to air force collaboration, with a particular emphasis on cutting-edge niche technologies in cyber, space and electronic warfare domains.

They also expressed a firm commitment to fostering bilateral and multilateral operational exercises, aimed at fortifying collective response to emerging threats in the region.

"The meeting between the Chinese envoy and Chief of the Air Staff is a testament to the strong commitment of both nations to further consolidate their strategic partnership through continued dialogue and military collaboration," the news release said.
(@FahadShabbir)

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Wednesday denounced the armed confrontation of certain elements in different parts as a breach of the declaration of 'Paigham -e- Pakistan' endorsed by all Ulema Boards and religious seminaries

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2024) The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Wednesday denounced the armed confrontation of certain elements in different parts as a breach of the declaration of 'Paigham -e- Pakistan' endorsed by all Ulema Boards and religious seminaries.

In 235th meeting, several issues were discussed.

The council endorsed a comprehensive 'code of conduct' concerning the President's reference on the Shariah method of protest. This includes the fundamental responsibilities of an Islamic government such as implementing the system of the Qur'an and Sunnah, conducting business in accordance with Islamic principles, and safeguarding the rights and protection of its citizens.

In a briefing, the CII explained that any protest method adhering to one's legitimate rights, free from Shariah compulsions and other errors, is acceptable. The protest itself consists of any other illegitimate work and haram issues,

it is not permissible. For example during the protest, wasting people's lives, causing pain and suffering to people, damaging private and public property, forcing people to join them in protest, unparliamentary language, reckless mixing of men's weight, accusation and slander, lies, spreading false news and rumors soon on all these matters are unlawful and must be avoided.

It is illegal to destroy or damage government or non-government property during protest.

If a person's property is damaged during the protest, the order regarding the compensation is that if the person or group who caused the damage is known, in such a case, they are required to pay for the damage. If it is not known, then it is the responsibility of the incumbent government to compensate this loss as much as possible from the public treasury, because it is the responsibility of the government to protect the life, property and honor of the people.

Killing or harming any person during the protest is not permissible and illegal.

It is the responsibility of the organizers of the protest to make special arrangements and to exhort the participants to behave violently and completely avoid terrorism and never harm any person's life.

Furthermore, the Council stated in response to a question of 'Faizabad Dharna Commission' that declaring a Muslim as an infidel is a very sensitive matter, it carries the harshest consequences, so it is not right to act hastily.

In the same way, declaring a person a disbeliever because of his words and action requires extreme caution, therefore, giving his authority to anyone is a violation of Shari'a teachings and against the principles of wisdom.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2024) The funeral prayers of the Mach attack martyrs were held at Headquarters FC Balochistan (North), Quetta who embraced martyrdom while fighting the terrorists in Mach, Bolan on the night of January 29 and 30.

The funeral prayers of martyred soldiers identified as Lance Naik Rehmat Ullah, age 30 years, resident of district Dera Ghazi Khan and Sepoy Muhammad Zaman, age 28 years, resident of district Tank were offered in Headquarters FC Balochistan (North), an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release said on Wednesday.

The senior serving military officers, soldiers, and a large number of locals of the area attended the funerals.

Later Bodies of the Shuhada were later dispatched to their hometowns, where they would be laid to rest with full military honour.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Malaysian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mohammad Azhar Mazlan on Wednesday emphasized the imperative of bolstering collaboration with Pakistan in the Hilal meat industry, highlighting the promising prospects of its potential for the production of Hilal meat, chicken, and dairy products

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2024) Malaysian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mohammad Azhar Mazlan on Wednesday emphasized the imperative of bolstering collaboration with Pakistan in the Hilal meat industry, highlighting the promising prospects of its potential for the production of Hilal meat, chicken, and dairy products.

He made the remarks during a guest lecture at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) in connection with the 'Distinguished Lecture Series' of IPRI.

The lecture, under the theme 'Diplomatic Reflections' was focused on 'Pakistan-Malaysia Relations in the New Era.'

The High Commissioner noted that Pakistan was Malaysias third-largest trading partner export destination and second-largest import source.

He said that the imports of palm oil by Pakistan from Malaysia had been increasing since the Malaysian Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into effect in 2008.

Pakistan imported 9% of its palm oil from Malaysia, while the rest was imported from Indonesia, he added.

As of January 2023, the total number of foreign workers in Malaysia is 1,493,581 whereas the number of registered Pakistani workers is 49,409, which is 3.31 percent of the total number of foreign workers in Malaysia, he remarked.

It is estimated that currently Malaysia was home to more than 100,000 Pakistani diaspora, and the official recorded number of Malaysian diaspora stands at 150 people, while there are huge local Malaysian population living in Buner district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

As a way-forward, the envoy pointed out avenues such as elevating the existing Strategic Partnership and covering all areas of economics, technology and defence, enhancing leadership and people-to-people cooperation, addressing concerns in climate change and renewable energy sectors; evolving high-tech industry and benefiting from Pakistans potential as a an agricultural powerhouse, and work for policy reforms for a shared and inclusive growth.

The envoy said that as one of the founding members of ASEAN, Malaysia was highly committed to further strengthening ties between ASEAN and Pakistan.

He said that with an aggregate GDP exceeding USD 3 trillion, ASEAN was now ranked as the fifth-largest economy globally, poised to ascend to the fourth spot by 2050.

He said that Pakistan was projected to be the 16th largest economy by 2050, and the total trade between ASEAN and Pakistan presently was over USD 11 billion.

High Commissioner Azhar Mazlan said that Malaysia would never recognize Israel, until and unless there is a Two-State solution in the middle East, and an independent State of Palestine is carved out.

He remarked that Malaysia was a beneficiary of competent leadership, and through 12 consecutive Sustainable Programs, it has scaled new heights of success and development.

Having right leaders at the right time is essential, he said and hoped that Pakistan too would overcome political instability to come out strongly.

He hoped that in the next 10 years, Malaysia would be the worlds top 25th economy.

He observed that Pakistan must convince the international audience that it was a safe destination for investment and tourism.

He made a special reference to the surgical and sports industry in Sialkot, and termed it as one of the best and competitive in the world.
At a fertility clinic in Tunis, Bintou Yunoussa hopes doctors can finally help her conceive -- one of more than two million foreigners who travel to Tunisia annually for medical procedures

Tunis, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2024) At a fertility clinic in Tunis, Bintou Yunoussa hopes doctors can finally help her conceive -- one of more than two million foreigners who travel to Tunisia annually for medical procedures.

While Tunisians face economic hardships and their government is mired in debt, medical tourism has thrived and authorities are looking to expand the profitable sector even further.

Yunoussa, from Niger, said a relative had recommended the private clinic in the Tunisian capital after three years of unsuccessful treatments.

"My sister-in-law had twins after an insemination carried out in Tunisia," the 25-year-old told AFP. "That's why I chose to come here."

She was accompanied by her sister Khadija, 32, who had her eggs frozen five months ago in the same clinic, which specialises in medically assisted reproduction.

Nadia Fenina, a health ministry official, said Tunisia's highly specialised private clinics and skilled staff make it a leading medical tourism destination.

"Tunisia is number one in Africa in terms of healthcare demand and supply," Fenina told AFP.

Medical tourism has bounced back from a coronavirus-era halt, and the sector generates around 3.5 billion dinars ($1.1 billion) in annual revenues -- about half of Tunisia's overall tourism income last year.

"Medical tourism is linked to the general tourism sector, because a foreign patient is also a tourist who generally does not come alone," said Fenina.

"The promotion of medical tourism depends on the development of the tourism sector" as a whole, she added.

Accounting for nine percent of Tunisia's gross domestic product, tourism is crucial for the debt-stricken country where the economy has slowed down, with a World Bank estimate putting growth for 2023 at a modest 1.2 percent.

Last year, the small Mediterranean country of 12 million people drew nearly nine million tourists, according to official figures.

They included more than 500,000 foreign patients hospitalised in Tunisia and about two million others who had received same-day care, officials say.
Tripoli, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Feb, 2024) Libyan authorities on Wednesday began sending 350 irregular migrants to their home country Egypt, an immigration official told AFP.

War-torn Libya has become as a key departure point on North Africa's Mediterranean coast for migrants, mainly from other parts of Africa, risking dangerous sea voyages in the hope of reaching Europe.

Libya's rival administrations last year agreed on a Tripoli-based anti-immigration body tasked with coordinating deportations of foreigners who are in the country illegally.

"The body to combat illegal immigration has started the process of deporting 350 Egyptian nationals who were in an irregular situation," said migration agency spokesman, Colonel Haytham Belgassem Ammar, referring to the Directorate for Combatting Illegal Migration, which is part of the interior ministry.

Already on Tuesday, the migration agency had told AFP that 323 migrants, many of them women, were sent back to Nigeria on flights from the capital Tripoli and the northwestern city of Benghazi.

"More expulsions are planned in the coming days," Ammar said.

The International Organization for Migration said it had organised two "voluntary humanitarian returns" charter flights from Libya to Nigeria on Tuesday.

In a statement on Thursday, the IOM said there was a total of 327 migrants on the flights, more than two-thirds of them women and including 21 with medical conditions.

The UN agency says it has been implementing the scheme -- arranging and financing travel for migrants and asylum-seekers in Libya wishing to leave for their respective origin countries -- since October 2015.

It says it has assisted 77,000 migrants to return home to about 48 countries of origin since the start of the programme.

Libya sent 600 irregular migrants back to Egypt in November and a further 650 in December.

All of those being sent back via bus to the border with Egypt on Wednesday were men, including some children, Ammar said.

In 2023, a total 23,361 migrants of African or Asian nationality, mostly from Nigeria, were sent back to their homelands from Libya, he added.

"I was going to cross to Lampedusa in Italy when I was apprehended," one of them, 16-year-old Ziyad Salama Abdellatif, told AFP.

He said he had spent nine hours at sea before being intercepted some 120 kilometres (75 miles) off the coast of Libya.

Another, Bakri Mohamad Sobhi, who said he had entered Libya illegally in August, said he was arrested at a police checkpoint near Ras Lanuf, a coastal town near one of Libya's key oil terminals in the north, and was detained for three months.

While many Egyptians come to Libya in the hope of reaching Europe by sea, thousands of others have lived in the country illegally for years, working mainly in agriculture, construction, and commerce.
Brasilia, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2024) President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has sacked Brazil's deputy intelligence director amid an investigation into alleged illegal espionage also involving one of predecessor Jair Bolsonaro's sons, according to an official bulletin published Tuesday.

Number two intelligence official Alessandro Moretti is a target in a Federal police probe investigating a clandestine government network that allegedly used Israeli spyware FirstMile to illegally eavesdrop on hundreds of politicians and public figures during the Bolsonaro presidency (2019-2022).

Investigators say a group within the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin) spied on perceived Bolsonaro opponents, including supreme court justices and the former lower-house speaker.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who authorized Monday's raids -- and was himself an alleged target of the espionage -- said police had identified Jair Bolsonaro's son Carlos as part of the "political nucleus" suspected of ordering the illegal spying.

Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right ex-army captain who lost a divisive election to Lula in 2022, condemned the probe as "persecution" the day before when federal officers raided the home and offices of Carlos, who is a Rio de Janeiro city councilor and the second of the ex-president's four sons.

Lula called Bolsonaro's claim "a bunch of nonsense."

"The Brazilian government doesn't give orders to the federal police, much less the courts," the veteran leftist said in an interview with CBN radio.

Carlos Bolsonaro appeared for questioning by federal police Tuesday in Rio, but made no statement to the media. A lawyer for the Bolsonaros said the questioning was in connection with an unrelated case.

Earlier Tuesday, the city councilor posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, of his home, which he said he had found "turned upside down" after the police operation.

Last Thursday, police also raided the home and offices of Bolsonaro's former intelligence chief, Alexandre Ramagem, who is now a federal lawmaker.

There had been speculation Lula could fire top figures at the intelligence agency over the scandal.

Asked if he trusted Abin's current leadership, the president said "you can never be sure."

Lula said he had "great confidence" in Abin director Luiz Fernando Correa, whom he named to the post.

But he had suggested earlier that he would fire Moretti if allegations that he passed information illegally to Ramagem proved true.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on Wednesday signed an agreement paving the way for the 16th session of the Conventions Conference of the Parties (COP16) in Riyadh from 2-13 December 2024

RIYADH, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2024) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on Wednesday signed an agreement paving the way for the 16th session of the Conventions Conference of the Parties (COP16) in Riyadh from 2-13 December 2024.

The Riyadh COP16 will be the largest-ever meeting of UNCCDs 197 Parties, the first to be held in the middle East region and the largest multilateral conference ever hosted by Saudi Arabia.

The 2024 also marks the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD, one of the three major environmental treaties known as the Rio Conventions, alongside climate change and biodiversity, a UNCCD news release said.

At the signing ceremony in Riyadh today, Eng. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and COP16 President, said: The hosting of the conference (COP16) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reflects the commitment of the wise leadership to environmental protection at the national, regional, and international levels. Additionally, Saudi Arabia launched several groundbreaking environmental projects, such as the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative.

UNCCD Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Thiaw said: Today, we are losing fertile lands at an alarming rate, jeopardizing global stability, prosperity and sustainability. The Riyadh COP16 must mark a turning point in the way we treat our most precious resourcelandand collectively tackle the global drought emergency.



According to UNCCD data, up to 40 per cent of the worlds land is degraded, affecting half of humanity and with dire consequences for our climate, biodiversity and livelihoods. If current trends continue, restoring 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030 will be necessary to achieve a land-degradation-neutral world.

Droughts are hitting more often and harder all over the worldup by 29 per cent since 2000driven by climate change but also the way we manage our land. One-quarter of the worlds population is already affected by droughts, with every three out of four people around the world projected to face water scarcity by 2050.

The Riyadh COP16 will focus on mobilizing governments, businesses and communities worldwide to accelerate action on land restoration and drought resilience as a cornerstone of food, water and energy security.

The two-week event will feature a high-level segment, as well as associated events including the Gender Caucus and the business for Land Forum.

Taking place in the most water-scarce region and one that is severely affected by desertification and land degradation, the Riyadh COP16 will showcase efforts underway in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East region and beyond towards a green transition based on sustainable land stewardship.
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk posted bumper profits for 2023 on Wednesday, driven by blockbuster sales of diabetes and obesity treatments that helped it become Europe's most valuable company

Copenhagen, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jan, 2024) Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk posted bumper profits for 2023 on Wednesday, driven by blockbuster sales of diabetes and obesity treatments that helped it become Europe's most valuable company.

The century-old company has also turned into a major driver of Denmark's economy as sales of diabetes medication Ozempic and obesity drug Wegovy have boomed.

Novo Nordisk said its net profit rose 51 percent to 83.7 billion kroner ($12.1 billion) last year -- more than 1.5 billion kroner higher than forecast by analysts surveyed by financial data firm FactSet.

It said sales for obesity and diabetes drugs surged by 42 percent at constant exchange rates to 215.1 billion kroner last year.

Overall sales rose by 36 percent to 232.3 billion kroner in 2023.

"It looks like Novo Nordisk can explain all of the growth in the Danish economy in 2023 and that it will be just as important this year," Danske Bank chief analyst Las Olsen told AFP.

He cited the company's effect on job creation, tax contributions, and dividends paid to shareholders.

Denmark's economy is expected to grow by 1.7 percent in 2023, according to a central bank forecast.

- 'Strong performance' -

Ozempic, an injectable medication, became wildly popular on social networks for its slimming properties even though its intended use is to combat diabetes.

It also makes Wegovy, which has the same active ingredient as Ozempic in a different dose and was approved by US regulators to treat obesity.

The treatments are popular among celebrities and their success has turned Novo Nordisk into a darling of investors who drove up the company's shares so high last year that it became Europe's largest group by market capitalization.

"We are very pleased with the strong performance in 2023 reflecting that more than 40 million people are now benefiting from our innovative diabetes and obesity treatments," chief executive Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen said in a statement.

"We continue to make progress on our strategic aspirations. Our focus in 2024 will be on reaching more patients, progressing and expanding our pipeline as well as the continued significant expansion of our production capacity," he added.

In 2023, Novo Nordisk invested around 75 billion kroner to expand its production sites, which have struggled to meet rising demand.

The investments concern primarily two sites in Denmark and one in France.

- Ozempic top seller -

More than 10 percent of the world's population suffers from diabetes, with the number of adult diabetics seen rising by 46 percent by 2045, according to the International Diabetes Federation.

Ozempic is now the world's top-selling diabetes drug, with Novo Nordisk holding 33.8 percent of the market.

It is officially only prescribed for diabetes, though it has become popular for its weight-loss properties.

Wegovy is an anti-obesity treatment that was launched in the United States in 2021 and is now also available in Denmark, Germany, Norway, and the UK.

Sales of Wegovy soared by 154 percent in 2023.

The World Health Organization says more than a billion people suffer from obesity, a chronic condition that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, some forms of cancer, and complications, such as COVID-19.

Obesity, which is notoriously difficult and costly to treat, may be caused by lifestyle factors as well as genetics.

If prevention and medical treatments don't improve, the World Obesity Federation says it expects half of the world's population, 51 percent, to be either overweight or obese by 2035.

According to its calculations, the economic impact of such a development would exceed $4 trillion per year.

Novo Nordisk, which has 64,000 employees in 80 countries, said it expected its overall sales to increase by 18-26 percent in 2024.

Danske Bank analyst Olsen noted that while Novo Nordisk's growth "cannot go on forever", the "income, investment, and knowledge from the current success will continue to benefit Denmark, as long as we maintain a flexible economy that can handle future shocks."
Seasoned Franchise Executive to Drive Next Era of Growth for the Service-Based Brands

TORONTO, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Blo Blow Dry Bar, North America's original blow dry bar and blow dry bar franchise, and LashKind, an innovative brow and lash franchise concept, announces the appointment of Corey Wilde as Vice President of Franchise Development. With the franchise brands rooted in booming industries, both are poised for momentous growth.

(PRNewsfoto/LashKind,Blo Blow Dry Bar)

Wilde comes from 25 years of leadership experience in franchise development for both domestic and internationally recognized brands such as Bruster's Ice Cream, Cold Stone Creamery, Kahala Brands, and Togo's Eateries. His fundamental strengths in franchise development include international and multi-unit development, lead generation marketing and prospecting, retail leasing, ground-up retail development, franchise operations, and real estate site selection.

"I'm looking forward to bringing the Blo and LashKind brands into urban and suburban markets across the US and Canada," Wilde said. "Starting a business can be overwhelming, but we do our best to make it fun  that's just part of our corporate culture. Sustainable and strategic growth will remain a priority as we align with business savvy entrepreneurs, and utilize a methodical approach to guiding and supporting them through each step of their journey."

In his new role with Blo and LashKind, Wilde's primary focus will be to integrate new franchisees into the system and strategically expand the brands' footprints within key US and Canadian markets. He also plans to focus on refining the discovery and awarding process, and usher in new franchisees that prioritize involvement in their communities. In onboarding new franchisees, Wilde will play a significant role in ensuring they're focused on the fundamentals of business ownership, goal setting and profitability while helping existing franchisees grow and broaden their portfolios.

Story continues

With the next wave of growth underway, company leadership has identified the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest regions as prime growth markets for the brands. As a category disruptor, prospects are looking to stake their claim within Blo Blow Dry Bar's available territories. With a proven business model that offers multiple revenue streams, LashKind serves as the ideal opportunity for those wanting to enter the franchise space.

"With Corey's previous experience, we know he will play a pivotal role in driving our next era of growth," said Vanessa Yakobson, CEO of Blo Blow Dry Bar and LashKind. "His background and experience in growing brands speaks volumes to the value he brings. As we look to the future, we are confident that Corey is the right fit for our leadership team and will deliver positive franchise development results."

Just at the start of the runway, the global salon services market is currently valued at $230.6B and expected to experience continuous growth. With consumers placing a greater focus on experience, the Blo Blow Dry Bar and LashKind business models are primed to match their growing demands. Blo Blow Dry Bar has 150 locations nationwide while emerging brand LashKind has five locations in various stages of development.

Blo Blow Dry Bar and LashKind are currently seeking single and multi-unit operators to join both brand's rapid expansions. For more information about Blo's franchise opportunities visit franchise.blomedry.com, and for more on LashKind's franchise opportunities, visit lashkindfranchise.com/contact-us .

About Blo Blow Dry Bar

Blo Blow Dry Bar is North America's original blow dry bar and the world's largest blow dry bar franchise. The company transformed beauty norms and reinvented the salon industry when it launched the "no cuts, no color" concept: only blow outs. Since opening its first location in Canada in 2007, Blo has grown to over 150 locations across the U.S. and Canada and continues to expand rapidly. The brand has also evolved over time, adding makeup services, a membership program, and quality retail products to its bars. With a mission to enhance the lives of those in the community through the power of flawless blow outs and beauty services, Blo Blow Dry Bar offers perfectly styled hair and exceptional customer experiences seven days a week. For more information visit www.blomedry.com.

About LashKind

LashKind is an innovative brow and lash franchise concept, grounded in the success of Canadian-based MYNC Beauty Inc. (founded in 2011) and brought to you by the team behind the category disruptor, Blo Blow Dry Bar. With a proven business model in a booming industry, LashKind is designed to stand out and set franchisees up for success. As a collective of beauty lovers, LashKind's mission is to make guests look and feel beautiful by providing fun and fabulous bar environments, expertly-delivered services and high-quality products, while helping ensure guests' natural lashes and brows remain healthy. To learn more, visit lashkindfranchise.com .

Media Contact: Paige Stark, Fishman Public Relations, pstark@fishmanpr.com

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SOURCE Blo Blow Dry Bar
Thai Nguyens Development Master Plan for 2021 to 2030

Thai Nguyen has become a hive of manufacturing in recent years and is still drawing huge investments from foreign firms. In this light, the Vietnam Briefing takes a look at what key decision-makers have planned for the future of the province.

Northern Vietnams Thai Nguyen province has become a hub of manufacturing activity in recent years. In particular, it has become the key manufacturing hub for South Koreas Samsung in Vietnam.

This has been due to several factors. Its proximity to the major population center that is Hanoi for one, but also, after years of foreign-invested enterprises establishing themselves in the province, it has become well-equipped to accommodate the needs of manufacturing firms.

That said, as the province and indeed Vietnam on the whole, continues to develop and welcome more business, it will need to change and adapt to the needs of these new arrivals.

With this in mind, earlier this year the Prime Minister issued Decision 222/QD-TTg (herein referred to as Decree 222) approving a masterplan for Thai Nguyen province from 2021 to 2030 with a vision to 2050. Here are the key details.

See also: The Performance of Vietnams Key Economic Zones in 2022

Goals and targets

Economic development

Decree 222 lays out a number of key goals and targets for the province to be achieved in the next decade or so. These include:

Reach an average GRDP growth rate of between 8 and 8.5 percent a year;

For industry and construction to account for 60 percent of GRDP;

For services to account for 32.8 percent of GRDP; and

Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries account for 7.2 percent of GRDP.

Its hoped that this will give the province a GRDP per capita (at current prices) of about US$8,900 per person.

The population of the province is expected to reach 1.52 million people with the breakdown of the workforce as follows:

Industry and construction to account for 37 percent;

Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries for 27 percent, and

The service industry to account for about 36 percent.

By 2025 key decision makers hope to see an urbanization rate of 48.5 percent, increasing to 61.7 percent by 2030.

The rate of trained workers is also expected to reach 80 percent with 37 percent of trained workers having completed formal training or education.

Social development

Thai Nguyens master plan also outlines a number of social targets for the province to accompany its economic aspirations. These include:

For 95 percent of schools to meet national standards by 2030; and

For the healthcare system to have one doctor and 60 hospital beds per 10,000 head of population.

Infrastructure development

Along with social and economic development, the master plan also includes a handful of targets for infrastructure development. These include:

For all residents to have access to clean water;

For 95 percent of waste created in urban areas to be collected and processed in accordance with national standards; and

For all newly established industrial zones and urban areas to have centralized wastewater treatment.

See also: Vietnams Thai Nguyen Province  Investment Guide for Investors

Economic sector development

Decree 222 also outlines development strategies for core sectors of Thai Nguyens economy.

Industry

Per the master plan, Thai Nguyens planners envision a high-value manufacturing future for the province. They are looking to environmentally friendly industries as well as electronics. They also want to see industrial clusters developed with a vision toward becoming a modern economic center.

Furthermore, there is a push to broaden Thai Nguyens service sector. Specifically, planners want to see logistics, finance, banking, real estate, and information technology, and communications businesses establishing themselves in the province.

See also: Investing in Industrial Parks in Vietnam

Trade, services, and tourism

In trade, services, and tourism planners see Thai Nguyen as becoming a center of regional trade. They intend to realize this vision by focusing on attracting supermarkets and trade fairs, as well as building trade centers.

As part of this part of the plan, they will also promote the expansion of e-commerce and actively promote the provinces cultural and tourism products.

They also want to see tourism, specifically resort and ecological tourism linked to the provinces history and culture, form a key component of the tourism industry.

Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector

Finally, key decision-makers in Thai Nguyen want to see the agriculture sector transformed through new technology. This, it is hoped, will facilitate the development of clean, organic agricultural products

Furthermore, key decision makers foresee the development of large-scale agricultural production areas focused on produce like tea, fruit trees, pork, chicken, wood, and cinnamon.

Key takeaways for foreign firms

Decree 222 provides broad goals and targets for Vietnams Thai Nguyen province. These address the needs of its residents and businesses, but also foreign firms. Specifically of note for foreign enterprises is the push toward high-tech manufacturing. This is common all over Vietnam, however, Thai Nguyen, with a number of major tech firms already manufacturing in the province, is likely to be among the provinces leading the charge forward. Foreign firms, particularly those producing high-tech goods, considering manufacturing in Vietnam, should keep this in mind.

That said, there are a number of other factors firms should consider when looking for the right location in Vietnam. These are best discussed with boots-on-the-ground professionals like the experts at Dezan Shira and Associates  your partner for growth in Southeast Asia.
Abbas Ganbay

Recently, Armenian bloggers have started spreading different versions of information about French spy Martin Ryan detained in Baku on December 4, Azernews reports. Armenian-born journalist Leo Nikolyan speaking to Kernews spilled the beans about detained Ryan, saying that, Martin is a Frenchman who wanted to make a big fortune for himself.

"Seeing all the problems existing in France with taxes and different standards, he wanted to go elsewhere. He hesitated between several countries, especially Canada, the United States, or even Russia, where things are going well economically, but also Armenia, Dubai, or Qatar. He was interested in the developing country of Azerbaijan. Baku is the pearl of the Caucasus, the capital of Azerbaijan, with a Turkic-speaking population. It is a secular country that has developed and enriched itself enormously. So, Martin moved there five years ago. So, after studying the market, he decided to settle in Azerbaijan because restaurants and cafes are growing like mushrooms there, more than in Paris.

Martin decided to bring them high-quality products made in France, especially for sauces. He starts his business in Mercorama. Everything goes well for him, he earns a living and gets engaged to a beautiful woman. However, since France has a significant Armenian community, this affects French foreign policy. The president of the republic, Emmanuel Macron, has a position on Armenia, and Azerbaijan is unhappy because of this situation."

According to the journalist, French intelligence services visited Martin Ryan last year.

"These are two diplomats of the French embassy. They have a diplomatic passport, because you must know that all embassies have several employees and some under diplomatic cover are spies. The US has the CIA, Israel has the Mossad, Russia has the FSB, and France has the DGSE... These two people from the DGSE go to him, introduce themselves, and ask him to work for them. Martin refuses, however these men tell him that he has no choice or his parents will have an accident. They also threaten to ruin his company by blocking his goods coming from France at customs. Martin initially refused to cooperate with them, but then he had to give in under pressure," he said.

According to him, Martin Ryan distributed food products, and bases for making sauces for all restaurants in Baku.

"All embassies are in the capital. The Iranian restaurant is frequented by diplomats and the Iranian community. The American restaurant is frequented by American embassy staff. His informants are restaurant owners who are Martin's clients. Martin Ryan was under surveillance by Azerbaijani special services, he was arrested, and his cell phone was confiscated and searched. He has been in preventive detention since December 4. Two French agents could not be arrested because they were diplomats with immunity and were expelled from Azerbaijan. France responded by expelling two diplomats from Azerbaijan. It's an eye for an eye. And Martin Ryan, a simple businessman, has no diplomatic immunity. He has become a victim of French foreign policy," the journalist believes.

"I am outraged that our government does nothing. I hope that our new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal will move in this direction. Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has asked Azerbaijan for the release of a French citizen, even though it was she, through her ministry and her embassy, who lured this man into this trap! The French state is responsible for this situation. We intimidated the French citizen and put pressure on his family," Nikolyan concluded.
Dave Ramsey

Theres good news for anyone interested in moving to Florida this year. Money expert Dave Ramsey has more than a few Florida cities he recommends considering for relocation.

Find Out: Can You Get a Second Mortgage If Your Only Income Is Social Security?

Learn More: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

The full list of Florida cities can be found in his original article on Ramsey Solutions with options available in north, central and south Florida. Each city mentioned also includes additional details about the median household income, home price and monthly rent.

Whether youre planning to raise a family or enjoy your retirement years, you might want to make a move to one of the 15 best places to live in Florida according to Ramsey.

photoquest7 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Pensacola

Median household income: $67,722

Median home price: $367,350

Median monthly rent: $1,360

Escape the Cold on a Budget: The 5 Cheapest Places To Live in Florida Near the Beach

See: 6 Safest and Cheapest Cities To Live in Virginia

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Michael Warren / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Tallahassee

Median household income: $52,899

Median home price: $317,225

Median monthly rent: $1,336

View: 10 Cheapest Cities To Live in North Carolina

Bryan Pollard / Getty Images

Gainesville

Median household income: $43,783

Median home price: $349,950

Median monthly rent: $1,156

Ron_Thomas / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Jacksonville

Median household income: $64,138

Median home price: $412,000

Median monthly rent: $1,356

Discover: 10 Places To Retire That Are Just Like Arizona but Way Cheaper

Michael Warren / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Ocala

Median household income: $50,618

Median home price: $309,450

Median monthly rent: $993

Wicki58 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Sarasota

Median household income: $68,870

Median home price: $524,950

Median monthly rent: $1,733

More: Arizonas Retirees Are Fleeing: Heres Where Theyre Settling

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Naples

Median household income: $135,657

Median home price: $854,725

Median monthly rent: $2,006

felixmizioznikov / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Port St. Lucie

Median household income: $75,040

Median home price: $464,000

Median monthly rent: $1,482

Check Out: Barbara Corcoran Says Now Is the Best Time To Buy a House: Heres Why

BobPalosaari / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Fort Myers

Median household income: $57,403

Median home price: $474,950

Median monthly rent: $1,532

Story continues

Wirestock / iStock.com

Miami

Median household income: $54,858

Median home price: $594,973

Median monthly rent: $2,118

Barbara Corcoran: If You Buy a Home Now, Its To Your Advantage

Stephen Wood / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Melbourne

Median household income: $60,917

Median home price: $386,250

Median monthly rent: $1,469

Kruck20 / iStock.com

Orlando

Median household income: $66,292

Median home price: $447,450

Median monthly rent: $1,557

Im a Financial Advisor: These 5 Index Funds Are All You Really Need

ferrantraite / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Tampa

Median household income: $66,802

Median home price: $425,000

Median monthly rent: $1,718

Gamweb / Wikimedia Commons CC-BY-SA 3

Daytona Beach

Median household income: $47,608

Median home price: $398,000

Median monthly rent: $1,414

Related: 10 Valuable Stocks That Could Be the Next Apple or Amazon

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Lakeland

Median household income: $58,290

Median home price: $355,000

Median monthly rent: $1,385

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Dave Ramsey: 15 Best Places To Live in Florida
Russia and Ukraine announced Wednesday that they have conducted a prisoner of war exchange, despite tensions arising from a Russian military transport plane crash last week.

Russias defense ministry said each country exchanged 195 prisoners of war and that the Russian POWs would be flown to Moscow to receive medical and psychological treatment.

"On January 31, as a result of the negotiation process, 195 Russian servicemen who were in mortal danger in captivity were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime, the defense ministry said in a statement. In return, exactly 195 prisoners from the armed forces of Ukraine were handed over.

After the statement was released, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to X, formally known as Twitter, to share that 207 Ukrainians were freed. He noted that this was the 50th exchange since the war started nearly 2 years ago, raising the number of repatriated Ukrainian POWs to 3,035.

There was no immediate explanation for the different figures reported by each country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is open to more exchanges and that Kyiv has also indicated it was open to more. The Russian defense ministry was cited by the RIA state news agency saying that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) helped broker the exchange.

The swap comes after a military transport plane crashed last week with 65 Ukrainian POWs on board, according to the Russian defense ministry. Moscow claims the plane was shot down with a ground-to-air missile by Kyivs forces. Kyiv has not fully denied Moscows version of events, confirming that another prisoner swap was scheduled to take place but was called off. Kyiv also questioned the validity of whether Ukrainian POWs were aboard the downed jet. According to Moscow, all 74 people on board were killed.

Some information for this report came from Reuters and the Associated Press.
Australia considers itself the economic and security guardian of the Pacific region.

But increasingly China has ambitions to further its interests among island nations.

This week, Pat Conroy, Australias minister for International Development and the Pacific, who is also the Defense Industry minister, visited East Timor and Nauru.

He said in a statement that his trip was to further strengthen our deep and longstanding partnerships with two of our closest partners.



Monday, Conroy pledged $23 million to help policing in East Timor, once part of Indonesia before becoming an independent country.

The funding will help the nations police respond to natural disasters and tackle organized criminal gangs. Wednesday, the minister attended Naurus 2024 Independence Day celebrations and again praised the deep bilateral relationship.4

Dirk van der Kley is a senior research fellow at the Australian National Universitys National Security College.

He told VOA that Canberra is keen to maintain its influence in the region.



We are used to being the leading economic and security power within the Pacific region and that is probably still true," he said. "But with another power coming along, China, which often actually has different interests to what Australia has, it is not surprising that Australia is concerned about that, particularly when you hear talk of, you know, security agreements.

Earlier this month, Nauru, a small Pacific republic, reestablished formal diplomatic relations with China after severing ties with Taiwan.

The government in Papua New Guinea, Australias nearest neighbor, has confirmed it is in talks with China over a potential security and policing deal.

Beijing signed a security pact with Solomon Islands, a strategically located archipelago northeast of Australia, in 2021.

Van der Kley says China has growing ambitions in the Pacific region.

You are talking about a handful of countries that are spread a long way out from each other with relatively small populations that are relatively poor," he said.

"China is trying to increase its influence in the region so that it can shape the global order and there is probably three things to this. The first is, of course, Taiwan. So, when we talk about the region this is one of the few regions in the world where you still have countries that recognize Taiwan and not the Peoples Republic of China at the U.N. and other international bodies.

Van der Kley says that island nations in the Pacific can also support China in international forums, including the United Nations, and side with Beijing in its competition with the United States for global influence.

Australia has sought to stabilize ties with China, its biggest trading partner, after the election in May 2022 of a left-leaning government in Canberra.

Relations deteriorated over COVID-19's origins and various geopolitical and trade disputes.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stressed, however, that the two countries will disagree on certain issues.

Analysts predict that the competition between Beijing and Canberra for influence in the Pacific will intensify.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has dismissed a top official in the countrys intelligence agency amid an investigation of suspected illegal spying involving the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

The firing of Alessandro Moretti as deputy director of the agency, known by its Portuguese acronym ABIN, came a day after police raided property linked to Carlos Bolsonaro, a Rio de Janeiro city councilman.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the warrants for raids on Carlos Bolsonaros home and office based on allegations by federal police of the existence of a group inside ABIN that spied on Jair Bolsonaros opponents during his four-year presidency, which ended in 2022.

Investigators suspect Alexandre Ramagem, who ran ABIN under Bolsonaro, used software known as FirstMile developed by an Israeli company to monitor politicians and public figures. Police raided Ramagems office and home last week.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse.




Communication ministers from the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS, are meeting in Bangui, Central African Republic, this week to map out ways to stop the spread of hate speech.

Officials from central African states say some influential politicians, business moguls and community leaders are using radio, television and social media to propagate information that has fueled regional crises, resulting in the displacement of millions of people.

Felix Moloua, prime minister of the Central African Republic, said leaders of the 11-member ECCAS expect communication ministers at the meeting in Bangui to propose lasting solutions to xenophobic statements that are propagated on media outlets.

Moloua said humanitarian crises are spiraling in ECCAS states because of widespread hate speech.

A separatist crisis in western Cameroon, which has killed more than 6,000 people, was fueled in part by social media propaganda by rebel leaders who are based in Europe and the United States, according to Cameroonian officials.

Hate on social media also fueled an ongoing conflict between ranchers and fishers in northern Cameroon and Chad. Clashes there have killed more than 100 people and displaced more than 80,000.

The 1994 genocide in Rwanda was sparked by hate speech, mostly over radio, by Hutu extremists against Tutsis.

Joanne Adamson, deputy head of MINUSCA, the U.N. stabilization mission in the Central African Republic, spoke about the Bangui meeting on state TV in the CAR.

She said the focus on hate speech is an important step toward finding solutions to fighting that sparked a mass movement of people fleeing in search of safety. By organizing the forum, Adamson added, the 11 ECCAS member states indicate they are ready to support and defend values that are vital to consolidate peace and security and promote human rights.

The ministers said they will enact legislation to punish people who use TV, radio and print media to propagate hate speech, but gave no further details. They also have agreed to control harmful content they say runs rampant on social media.

Charly Gabriel Mbock, an anthropologist and conflict resolution specialist at the Yaounde-headquartered Catholic University of Central Africa, said the ministers should launch campaigns against hate speech in restive central African towns and villages.

To do this, Mbock said, ECCAS communication ministers must educate clerics and traditional rulers that peace is priceless, before using radio, television and print media to call on civilians to reject and denounce calls for violence, especially on social media. He said central African governments should also make sure media laws being prepared against hate and xenophobic language do not infringe on press freedom.

The communication ministers say they will submit their recommendations to ECCAS governments with the hope that if hate speech and xenophobic statements can be stopped, peace will return to restive areas.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Simplice Mathieu Sarandji as the prime minister of the Central Africa Republic. The story has been updated with Felix Moloua as the current prime minister of the country. Sarandji is the president of the National Assembly.
In a carefully worded response this week, China voiced its support of the U.N.s International Court of Justice, or ICJ, ruling that orders Israel to desist from the killing of Palestinians in Gaza. Experts tell VOA that privately China has reservations about the use of such courts to deal with allegations of genocide, which could have awkward implications for Beijing.

We hope that the ICJs provisional measures can be effectively implemented, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin when asked about the issue at a regular press conference on Monday. While the EU and U.S. reacted almost immediately to Fridays ruling in The Hague, Wangs comments were the first from a previously taciturn Beijing and came in response to a question from state broadcaster CCTV.

We condemn all acts against civilians and oppose all moves that violate international law. China urges parties to the conflict to realize a comprehensive cease-fire at once, abide by the international humanitarian law, he said.

South Africas case

It was the South African government  a longtime supporter of the Palestinian cause  that asked the ICJ to investigate whether Israel was committing genocide in the war in Gaza, which began in response to an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

While a final ruling on whether genocide has indeed been committed is years down the road, the court announced provisional measures in the case last week. A majority of the judges  including a Chinese judge  ruled that South Africa had a plausible case and that Israel must now take every measure to avoid causing deaths in Gaza.

Israel has slammed allegations of genocide, and President Benjamin Netanyahu reacted to the courts order by vowing to continue the war. Israels key ally, the United States, played down the ruling and noted it did not call for a cease-fire. But experts said the damning nature of the ruling was embarrassing for both democracies, which are proponents of international law.

South Africa  which has a close relationship with China  hailed the ruling as a win for the so-called Global South, of which Beijing sees itself as a leader.

Israel and the U.S. are both members of the ICJ, whose rules are binding. However, there is no enforcement mechanism, so sometimes  as in the case of the courts 2022 ruling that Russia must exit Ukraine  its orders are ignored.

Usually, China is quick to point out anything it sees as U.S. hypocrisy, but on this issue Beijing has remained tight-lipped. Some experts think that is because Beijing is afraid of the precedent it could set.

China wary

I think China is using the ICJ decision to push for de-escalation. But it made no mentioning of genocide and called the decision a temporary measure, Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, told VOA.

Genocide is a sensitive word for China, and I doubt China wants to set the precedent that it can be declared and imposed on a sovereign country, she said.

Paul Nantulya, a research associate at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, echoed this view.

They are privately very worried about precedent, he wrote to VOA. It is very possible for a state that is not directly affected by the goings on in Xinjiang to bring a case at the ICJ.

Nantulya was referring to Chinas policies regarding the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province. The United Nations and rights groups have accused Beijing of persecuting the minority group, which, evidence has shown, is subjected to torture, sexual violence and mass arbitrary detention in camps.

In 2022, former U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet reported Chinas counterterrorism policies in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.

Lawyers representing Uyghurs in exile filed a case with another global judicial body, the International Criminal Court, also in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2020. They accused senior Chinese leaders of genocide, but the ICC said it could not hear the case because the alleged crimes happened in China, which  like the U.S.  is not a party to the court.

The lawyers have argued the ICC should still take up the case given evidence of Beijings efforts to round up Uyghurs in neighboring countries that are members of the court.

However, unlike with the ICC, even a state that is not party to a conflict can bring charges against another state at the ICJ if they are both members of the court  as are South Africa and Israel.

South Africa was the second country to use the court this way, after West African state Gambia filed a genocide case against Myanmar over its persecution of the Rohingya Muslims.

In 2022, the ICJ set a precedent by ruling it would hear Gambias case on the basis that all parties to the Genocide Convention have an interest in ensuring the prevention of genocide anywhere in the world.

I don't think this sits easily with the Chinese side, Nantulya said, given that China is an ICJ member.

Therefore, he said, Beijing is unlikely to chide Israel, and by association the U.S., over any noncompliance. Softly, softly will be their approach.

Cobus van Staden, an analyst with the South African Institute for International Affairs, told VOA he thinks China shares South Africas position overall on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Where I think they become more cautious is around the international institution aspect  and obviously they are wary of those tools kind of being turned against them, he said.

Jonathan Hafetz, professor of law at Seton Hall Law School in New Jersey, likewise noted Chinas reticence in accepting the jurisdiction of international tribunals. However, he said it was a reticence shared by other major global powers, including the United States.
On February 21, 2023, just before the Second Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, or CCP, and the Two Sessions in Beijing, a lone protestor projected a massive red slogan on the outer wall of the Wanda Plaza in Jinan, the capital of northeastern Shandong Province. The slogan said:

"Overthrow the Communist Party. Overthrow Xi Jinping."

For months, little was known about who was behind the rare protest and how someone managed to stage such an audacious act in authoritarian China. But last week, VOAs Mandarin Service conducted an exclusive telephone interview with the lone protester  29-year-old Chai Song, a former real estate rental broker who fled to the United States last year.

His protest was inspired by the actions of Peng Lifa, who hung two banners on a bridge along a busy road in Beijing on October 13, 2022. Unlike Chai, Peng was immediately arrested and is in police custody at an undisclosed location.

Following his own act of protest, Chai said, authorities immediately dispatched many police to arrest his girlfriend and two friends and cut off their contact with the outside world to reduce the social impact of the incident. Until recently, he said, he has kept quiet for the safety of his friends, but now he believes that widespread public attention is a better way to protect them.

VOA: When did you come up with the idea to carry out the protest?

Chai Song: What influenced me was Peng Zaizhou [Peng Lifa's online name], the White Paper Revolution and the fire in Xinjiang. After that, the disorderly reopening after the pandemic made me determined to do this.  After seeing so many people die, I decided that this was no place for people. It's trampling on life. So, I decided I had to do this.

VOA: Why did you decide to use a projector?

Chai: I had to consider my safety because Peng gave me some inspiration. He was brave when he did it. He was waiting on the bridge to be arrested. The impact of his arrest was even greater. I'm not as brave as he is. I just wanted to operate it remotely to ensure my personal safety. I hoped to continue to speak out more, not like that [scenario wherein] once a person makes a sound, [they] disappear.

VOA: How did you set this all up?

Chai: This preparation process was very cumbersome. To decide where to place [the projector], I checked out some places and finally chose the Wanda Plaza in Jinan. It had a huge passenger flow, so the effect was very good. After I decided on a place, I started preparing to rent a place.

I rented a place on the 13th floor. The projector display surface was very good and very high. I decided to rent it. Then I went to buy some equipment, including that projector. After that, how do I get the characters I need? At that time, there were firms making advertising signs in China that could make the characters, but no one would make the kind of characters I needed for the slogan. And once I [ask] someone to [make the necessary characters], I might be exposed very quickly. So, I bought a laser engraving machine myself, and then I carved the characters myself. I did not use those characters to test but replaced them with a few other words: "Quzhou Spicy Duck Heads, Always Fresh." I tested it without arousing any suspicion.

After testing the equipment, I replaced the lens with what I carved ["Overthrow the Communist Party. Overthrow Xi Jinping"] and then turned on the power. I bought a smart meter to control its power and turned the computer off so my phone could control it. Then, I turned it on remotely. I also installed a surveillance camera in that room to monitor whether my operation was exposed and whether I was discovered.

VOA: After setting up the projector, you left China before turning it on, right? What were your expectations?

Chai: I was very hesitant and struggling at the time. I was also very scared. I knew that once the operation started, people who were in contact with me or my parents would be affected. But I didn't expect it to be on such a big scale. I told my friend beforehand to help me shoot a video. I wanted to see what I did, but I was not in China. After I turned it on, he took a video for me. My friends and my girlfriend saw this video, and they were shocked. They also posted it on WeChat to spread the word. [Chai says he turned the projector on remotely from a hotel room in Panama.]

VOA: When the incident happened, was there any reaction at the Wanda Plaza? Were the police dispatched?

Chai: When my friend took the video for me  you may also be able to see in the video that the police car was already there  it happened very fast. But no matter how fast it was, I probably displayed the slogan for about 10 minutes. That night, around 8 or 9 o'clock, I contacted my friends, but none of them were reachable. They were probably arrested that night. Later, I learned from my friend's girlfriend that about 50 police went to his place that night to take him away.

VOA: What did they do to your family and friends?

Chai: The authorities interrogated everyone, especially my parents. They were basically interrogated for a week. Then my girlfriend, the friend who helped me shoot the video, and another friend  all three of them couldn't be reached at the same time and were arrested. The authorities sent people from the Provincial [Public Security] Department to Hebei Province, and the Hebei Provincial Department sent people down to my hometown to investigate my background, such as my teachers from elementary school and junior high school and the places I used to work for.

VOA: Why did you post that specific slogan, Overthrow the Communist Party. Overthrow Xi Jinping?

Chai: I think this is what I really wanted to come true. Of course, this realization may be very difficult, even a bit out of reach, and it is not something one person can accomplish. But it is really what I wanted to say most in my heart, so I chose to use this, and it is exactly what I wanted to do in my heart.

VOAs Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.
A special federal court in Pakistan sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife to 14 years in prison on corruption charges Wednesday.

Khan, 71, and former first lady Bushra Bibi were accused of illegally retaining and selling state gifts, including jewelry and watches from Saudi Arabias government, when he was in office from 2018 to 2022.

The court ruling also barred them from holding public office for ten years and fined more than $2.8 million each.

The hearing was held in a prison center near Islamabad, where Khan is already serving a three-year jail sentence for a separate corruption conviction that also disqualified him from contesting an election for five years.

Khans opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, party and its legal team confirmed Wednesdays conviction, the second in two days for the incarcerated cricket hero-turned-politician ahead of the February 8 parliamentary elections in Pakistan.

The former lady was not in the court when the decision was announced, but now she has surrendered, said a PTI statement Wednesday. It decried the unilateral verdict as another sad day in our judicial system history, which is being dismantled. The party said it would challenge the conviction in a higher court.

Why are you in a hurry? Even yesterday, the conviction was announced in haste, local media quoted Khan as asking the judge Wednesday and urging him to wait for his lawyers to arrive. Khan left the courtroom reportedly before the court announced the verdict.

On Tuesday, a special court jailed Khan and his former foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, for ten years each on charges they revealed state secrets involving the United States while in office.

Khans lawyer, Salman Safdar, described the cipher verdict as unconstitutional, telling reporters it would not withstand the scrutiny of a higher court.

The cross-examination on as many as 18 witnesses was carried out in the late hours and earlier this morning, Safdar said. The legal team was kept out; they were not given permission to enter the jail.

In its editorial Wednesday, the prestigious English-language DAWN newspaper denounced Khan's conviction in the cipher trial. "Given how hastily the special court, appointed under the Official Secrets Act, had been proceeding in the cipher case trial, seemingly without regard for due process, a rushed verdict had been expected, the editorial read.

It noted that the case was wrapped up at breakneck speed in a marathon session that ran till well into the night. Everything made it seem as if some kind of [a] deadline had been set for the trial to be concluded and a verdict issued.

Khan is accused of publicly discussing the contents of a confidential diplomatic cable, internally known as a cipher, between Washington and Islamabad that he said proved his ouster from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022 was orchestrated by the Pakistani military at the behest of the United States.

Officials in both countries have denied the accusations.

It is a legal matter ultimately for Pakistans courts, State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller told reporters Tuesday when asked for comments on Khans sentencing in the cipher case.

We have been following the cases brought against the former prime minister but dont have any comment on the sentencingWe continue to call for the respect of democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law in Pakistan, as we do around the world, Miller said.

Pakistans ambassador to Washington sent the cipher to Islamabad in March 2022 after a meeting with U.S. State Department officials.

The classified document reportedly quoted a U.S. official as expressing concern about Khans neutral stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and cautioning that Islamabad might face isolation from Western allies if he continued office.

Khans party is contesting the upcoming elections amid a government crackdown on its supporters and candidates. The Election Commission of Pakistan also barred PTI from using its iconic cricket bat logo on ballot papers in the lead-up, a move widely criticized as pre-poll rigging to sideline the party.

Despite the crackdown, recent public opinion polls showed Khan is the most popular politician in Pakistan, and the PTI is the largest national political party.

The deposed prime minister swept into office when his PTI won the 2018 parliamentary elections, but he eventually developed differences with the military over key national security appointments and foreign policy matters that critics blame for his removal from office.

Khan denies any wrongdoing while in power and has appealed his convictions. He accuses the military of orchestrating nearly 200 frivolous charges against him, ranging from rioting and corruption to terrorism since his ouster to keep him from staging a political comeback.

The interim Pakistani government rejects allegations that any state institution is interfering in politics or attempting to impact the outcome of the elections.

However, critics and Pakistani mainstream politicians question those assertions, citing repeated military coups in the country that led to several decades of dictatorial rules since it gained independence from Britain in 1947.

Army generals have been constantly accused of helping to create or dislodge elected governments even when the military is not in power.
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Last year, Somali farmers faced the dual threats of drought and flooding. Jamal Ahmed Osman spoke with farmers who shared their experiences of how extreme climate conditions are taking a toll, in this report narrated by VOAs Arash Arabasadi. Camera and video edit: Abdulkadir Zubeyr
In a large-scale disinformation campaign to discredit Ukraine, Moscow is tying the recent crash of an Il-76 military transport plane over the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, to the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine.

Russia says Ukraine shot down the Il-76 and claims 74 people were on board, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war. Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied it fired on the plane.

Russia made public a few video clips of the crash site showing some severed body parts. Kyiv contends Moscow has yet to present evidence 65 Ukrainian POWs died in the crash.

Ukraine has countered Russian accusations with a demand for an international investigation. Moscow, however, has not permitted independent and Ukrainian investigators access to the crash scene. Ukraine says Moscow is blocking an international investigation.

As part of a large-scale propaganda attack that Moscow launched against Ukraine after the Il-76 downing, Russia linked the Il-76 crash to MH17, resurrecting its old, thoroughly debunked disinformation that Ukraine shot down that passenger airliner nearly a decade ago.

In 2014, the Bandera junta in Kiev downed #Malaysian flight #MH17 over Donbass, taking almost 300 innocent lives, the Russian Embassy in South Africa posted to X on January 26.

That is false.

The July 17, 2014, downing of MH17 resulted in the deaths of all 298 people on board, later identified as citizens of 10 nations. That made the crash subject to several multinational investigations, which became unified, creating a Joint Investigative Team.

The court in the Netherlands examined the evidence presented by that investigation between March 9, 2020, and November 7, 2022. It found guilty and sentenced in absentia two Russian citizens with links to the Russian intelligence service, and one Ukrainian citizen fighting with Russian-controlled forces in eastern Ukraine, to life in prison.

The court ruling left no room for doubt that that MH17 was shot down with a Russian Buk-TELAR missile system delivered by the Russian Armys 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade to a region of Ukraine controlled by Russia-controlled forces.

Since the downing of MH17, Russia put out myriad false narratives trying to white wash its own role and falsely implicate Ukraine.

Scores of international fact checkers and investigative journalists, including Polygraph.info, have repeatedly exposed and debunked Russian disinformation about MH17.

Moscows attempts to deflect blame for shooting down MH17, particularly within the context of Russias clandestine invasion of Ukraine in 2014, became a case study in the Kremlins so-called firehose of falsehoods propaganda model. It involves disseminating numerous and often competing narratives intended to overwhelm and confuse the audience rather than convince them of any one truth.

The majority of the 298 people killed in the crash of MH17, which was flying from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were Dutch.

The Dutch Safety Board, a Hague-based body that investigates safety concerns in the Netherlands, conducted three investigations into the downing of flight MH17.

The Dutch Safety Board established that a 9N314M warhead, carried by a Russian Buk surface-to-air missile system, caused the crash of MH17.

Investigators made that determination by studying the damage pattern on the planes wreckage, the missile fragments found in the aircraft as well as the bodies of victims, paint traces on the missile fragments and parts of a recovered missile, and the way the plane broke up.

The Dutch investigators said they investigated and excluded theories put forward by Russia or pro-Russia sources, including that an air-to-air missile downed MH17, or that an explosion inside the plane caused it to crash.

A separate international criminal investigation known as the MH17 Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was conducted jointly by the Netherlands, Australia, Malaysia, Belgium and Ukraine, in conjunction with the Dutch Safety Board investigation.

The JIT was able to compile a number of key features about the system used to down MH17, which it described as a fingerprint.

Those features included a center of gravity mark, white marks and damage on the side skirts of the vehicle, missing spokes on the Buks second wheel, a railway transport mark, and fragments of unit digits beginning with the Number 3.

Comparing that fingerprint with numerous Buk systems, both Ukrainian and Russian ones, the JIT found the system used to shoot down MH17 matched that of the Buk system, which was carried by the Russian Armys 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade from the city of Kursk.

The JIT also investigated the planes wreckage, missile fragments and human remains, as well as relevant radar, satellite images and telecom data, including intercepted telephone conversations, to reach their conclusions.

For example, the Dutch Safety Board and open source investigators verified and geolocated videos and photographs that showed a Buk missile launcher moving through several towns in Ukraine's Donetsk region toward the location from which the missile was launched. Several hours later, the Buk system was seen heading back toward the Russian border  minus one missile.

Journalists from several international media outlets were able to verify the locations shown in those photos and videos in person.

Witnesses, including a journalist, also saw the Buk missile launcher carried across the border.

Based on that investigation, Dutch authorities tried four individuals with downing MH17. Three of them were Russian citizens - Igor Girkin, a former colonel in the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) who took part in the invasion and annexation of Crimea; Sergei Dubinsky, a former officer in the Russian military intelligence service, or GRU; Oleg Pulatov, another ex-GRU officer. The fourth person tried, Leonid Kharchenko, was a Ukrainian citizen who fought with a Russian-directed separatist unit.

Dubinsky, Girkin and Kharchenko were convicted of downing MH17, while Pulatov was acquitted.

Intercepted phone calls also provided evidence that the Kremlin was directing activities in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic" (DNR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LNR), breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine which have since been annexed by Russia.

In February 2023, the JIT concluded there were strong indications that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed off on supplying the Buk missile system to the Russia-controlled forces in eastern Ukraine. Dutch prosecutors said there was not yet enough concrete evidence to lead to new prosecutions.

On January 31, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the U.N.'s top court, declined to rule on whether the Russian state was responsible for downing MH17, after ruling that Russia had breached the U.N.'s anti-terrorism treaty by not investigating credible allegations that Russian funds had been sent to Ukraine to potentially fund terrorist activities, Reuters reported.

However, the court did not rule on Russia's culpability in the downing of MH17 due to technical reasons, because the complaint that Ukraine filed with the court against Russia was over " terrorism financing," which the court said only applies to monetary and financial support, not the provision of weapons or training.
General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) showcases a robust recovery, reclaiming the U.S. market share leader crown with a 16.4% share.

GM's commitment to an all-electric future is underscored by its ambitious EV capacity targets and innovative Ultium platform.

Operational challenges persist, with the cessation of Cruise's driverless AV robotaxi services highlighting the risks in AV strategy.

GM's financial arm, GM Financial, continues to support the company's growth, leveraging its position since the acquisition of AmeriCredit.

On January 30, 2024, General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) filed its annual 10-K report, revealing a company at the forefront of the automotive industry's transformation. GM has successfully navigated the challenges of the previous year, regaining its position as the U.S. market share leader with a significant increase to 16.4%. The company's financial health is reflected in its robust balance sheet and strategic investments in electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous vehicles (AVs), despite the recent halt in Cruise's operations. With a market capitalization of approximately $52.9 billion as of mid-2023 and a strong dealer network, GM is poised to capitalize on its strengths while addressing the inherent risks in the industry.

Decoding General Motors Co (GM): A Strategic SWOT Insight

Strengths

Market Share Leadership and Brand Equity: GM's resurgence as the U.S. market leader is a testament to its strong brand equity and customer loyalty. The company's portfolio, particularly its full-size ICE SUVs and pickup trucks, continues to drive profitability, reflecting GM's ability to meet consumer demands effectively. This strength is bolstered by GM's strategic focus on maintaining a competitive edge in design, quality, safety, and innovation.

Advancements in EV and AV Technologies: GM's vision for an all-electric future is supported by its Ultium platform, a flexible EV propulsion architecture that promises to revolutionize the market. With plans to have an annual EV capacity of one million units in North America by 2025, GM is positioning itself as a leader in the EV space. Additionally, the company's investments in AV technology, despite recent setbacks, underscore its commitment to innovation and future mobility solutions.

Story continues

Weaknesses

Dependence on High-Margin ICE Vehicles: GM's near-term success is heavily reliant on the profitability of its full-size ICE SUVs and pickup trucks. While these vehicles are currently lucrative, shifts in consumer preferences or regulatory changes could impact demand and profitability. This dependence on a specific segment makes GM vulnerable to market fluctuations and necessitates a strategic balance as it transitions to EVs.

Operational Risks in AV Strategy: The recent cessation of Cruise's driverless AV robotaxi services highlights the operational and regulatory challenges in GM's AV strategy. The development and commercialization of AV technology are fraught with risks, including technological hurdles, capital access, manufacturing complexities, and competitive pressures. GM must navigate these challenges to realize the potential of its AV investments.

Opportunities

Growth in EV and Software-Enabled Services: GM's commitment to scaling EV production and expanding its software-enabled services presents significant growth opportunities. The company's focus on software platforms like OnStar and ADAS, including Super Cruise technology, positions it to capitalize on the increasing demand for connected and autonomous driving experiences. These initiatives could attract new customers and open revenue streams beyond traditional vehicle sales.

New Business Ventures: GM's incubation of new businesses, such as GM Defense, offers the opportunity to diversify its revenue base and leverage its technological expertise in new markets. By addressing the needs of defense and government customers for electric, autonomous, and connected solutions, GM can tap into a niche yet potentially lucrative market segment.

Threats

Intense Industry Competition: The automotive industry is characterized by fierce competition, with manufacturers constantly innovating to offer superior products and services. GM faces the challenge of maintaining its competitive position against traditional OEMs and new entrants from the technology sector. The company must continue to innovate and adapt to changing market dynamics to protect its market share and profitability.

Regulatory and Economic Uncertainties: GM operates in a highly regulated industry, with vehicle emissions, fuel economy standards, and safety regulations influencing its operations. Additionally, the cyclical nature of the vehicle market, influenced by economic conditions and consumer spending, poses a threat to consistent performance. GM must proactively manage these external factors to mitigate their impact on its business.

In conclusion, General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) presents a compelling case of resilience and strategic foresight in an evolving automotive landscape. The company's strengths in market share leadership, brand equity, and technological advancements in EV and AV set a solid foundation for future growth. However, GM must address its weaknesses, including its dependence on high-margin ICE vehicles and the operational risks associated with its AV strategy. Opportunities for expansion in EV and software-enabled services, along with new business ventures, offer promising avenues for diversification and revenue generation. Nonetheless, threats from intense industry competition and regulatory uncertainties require vigilant management and adaptive strategies. As GM continues to navigate these dynamics, its ability to leverage strengths, mitigate weaknesses, seize opportunities, and counteract threats will be critical in shaping its trajectory in the competitive automotive industry.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


On December 21, 2023, Taliban Health Minister Qalandar Ibad discussed the state of health care in Afghanistan with Agenda AWANI, a Malaysian news channel, during his visit to the Southeast Asian country.

Qalandar dismissed a World Health Organization (WHO) report that said Afghanistan's health care system was collapsing, with shortages of medical supplies and health care professionals, and unpaid wages.

Qalandar dismissed the report, claiming the Taliban government has made "significant improvements" in Afghanistan's health care system, building 300 new hospitals, extending coverage to rural areas  even achieving "100% healthcare coverage throughout Afghanistan." That would be significant progress compared with the 30% provided by Afghanistan's previous government.

Qalandar also claimed reports that mortality rates for women and children in Afghanistan have increased are "fake":

"Most of the time they talk about mortality of the mother and children  but when we ask from where you have got this data, they have no answer for us. So, I think some of their reports are fake reports."

The Taliban's claims that its government has achieved 100% health care coverage and its denial that maternal and child mortality rates have increased are false.

The World Health Organization declared a health care emergency in Afghanistan in August 2023.

The WHO reported that "millions of people" in Afghanistan had "poor or no access to health and food" and were facing a "severe risk of malnutrition and disease outbreaks."

It also highlighted that the Taliban's ban on education and workforce participation for women and girls "further intensified" their vulnerability, "as they face increased obstacles in accessing health care."

Qalandar's claim that the origins of reports about Afghanistan's high maternal and child mortality rates are murky is also false. The high maternal and child mortality rates have been reported by multiple international agencies on the basis of information collected inside Afghanistan.

An example is a report titled "The Maternal and Child Health Crisis in Afghanistan," published jointly last October by the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, whose scholars interviewed and polled hundreds of health professionals in Afghanistan.

They reported that "there has been a severe deterioration of conditions for providing maternal and child health care in Afghanistan," with more than 64% of medical staff in five urban centers reporting the death of a mother and/or a child in the past month at the facility where they worked.

The Taliban's restrictive gender policies in education and employment further limit women's access to health care, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' (OCHA) Rapid Gender Analysis reported in November 2023.

The OCHA report highlighted that women comprise less than 30% of health workers, mainly in urban areas, while social norms and Taliban regulations restrict women from seeing male doctors.

"In 2022, only 10 per cent of women could cover their basic health needs with the health services available to them, compared with 23 per cent of men," the report said.

That crisis remains acute in 2024, the United Nations Development Agency (UNDP) reported on January 16.

"Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for infants, children, and mothers," UNDP said. "The country has alarmingly high infant mortality rates, and thousands of Afghan women lose their lives each year due to preventable pregnancy-related causes."

Another contributing factor is a Taliban-encouraged increase in child marriages in Afghanistan. That has boosted teen pregnancies and elevated the risk of health complications and birth mortality, PassBlue, an independent outlet covering U.N. activities, reported last December.

It cited Dr. Najmussama Shefajo, head of the Afghan Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, who runs an obstetrics and gynecology clinic in Kabul.

"I had a patient of about 15 years of age who couldn't conceive because she was a child," she said. "She was brought by her mother-in-law to [help her to] conceive. I was telling [the mother-in-law] that she was just a kid, but they pushed this child to conceive."

Such cases occur routinely, every day, Shefajo told PassBlue.

The health care system "improvements" that Qalandar credited to Taliban governance are, in fact, due to foreign funding.

Afghanistan's health care system remains heavily dependent on outside donors and international humanitarian aid, which fund, among other things, the salaries of Afghan healthcare providers.

While U.S. troops left Afghanistan in 2021, the United States remains the country's largest aid donor.

As the office of the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction reported last October 30, the U.S. provided more than $2.5 billion to Afghanistan between 2022 and 2023 to "address critical needs of the Afghan people in several key sectors  health, education, agriculture, food security, and livelihoods  and are also supporting civil society and media, focusing on women, girls, and broad human rights protections."

Also last October, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) reported that the Taliban's interference in the activities of the United Nations and other aid agencies during 2023 limited "access to lifesaving assistance." The U.N. documented 127 such incidents, including the Taliban's arrest of aid workers and "violence against humanitarian personnel."
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Adam Clements, a former U.S. Army attache to Jordan, on why that country appears to be trying to avoid antagonizing Iran in response to Iranian proxies deadly Jan. 28 attack on U.S. troops at a Jordanian base. Atlantic Council analyst Omer Ozkizilcik on how Iranian President Ebrahim Raisis Jan. 24 visit to Turkey and meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will affect the long-running tensions between the two regional powers. Marjan Keypour, founder of Iran-focused group Alliance for Rights of All Minorities, on what is behind Irans growing suicide rate.
Among the many challenges for journalists covering conflict in Ethiopia is an increased risk of arrest, data by a media watchdog shows.

In 2023, Ethiopia detained eight journalists in connection to their coverage of a conflict in the country's Amhara region, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, also known as CPJ.

The journalists are among 320 jailed globally in relation to their work, according to CPJ's annual prison census. The data offers an annual snapshot of media workers in prison as of December 1.

The jailing of journalists has worsened over the years, said Angela Quintal, CPJ's Africa program coordinator.

With international media focused primarily on the Israel-Hamas war  a conflict that has witnessed a high number of journalists killed or detained  little attention is paid to long-running conflicts in African countries, said Quintal.

"Citizens of a particular country need to be made aware of what is going on and that journalists are among those who are being detained simply for being journalists and for doing journalism," Quintal told VOA.

Half of the journalists imprisoned in Ethiopia are held on anti-state charges, including accusations of "terrorizing or spreading fear among the public" to advance "political, religious or ideological causes." The other half are still not formally charged, CPJ found.

Ethiopia's embassy in Washington did not respond to VOA's request for comment.

Imprisoned without charge

While Ethiopia has one of the highest number of jailed journalists in Africa, neighboring Eritrea has a more dire record. With the most journalists jailed in Africa, Eritrea also is ranked as the world's seventh-largest jailer of news media professionals globally.

With 16 journalists imprisoned there without charge, Eritrea also holds the record for some of the longest cases of imprisonment.

Many were arrested in a September 2001 purge when the Eritrean government banned all independent publications. The families of the detained journalists and watchdogs have had no contact or updates on their well-being or whereabouts since.

Eritrea's embassy in Washington did not respond to VOA's request for comment.

Another concerning trend, said Quintal, is the impact of laws regarding social media and online journalism.

A case in Madagascar centers on allegedly defamatory remarks a journalist made on social media. Roland Hubert "Lola" Rasoamaharo, from the news website La Gazette de la Grande Ile, was arrested in March and later sentenced to five years in prison.

"Those familiar with the case really believe it is connected to the unfavorable coverage of the government," Quintal told VOA.

When asked for comment, Madagascar's embassy in Washington referred VOA to its Malagasy Law, which decriminalized press offenses. In the email, the embassy cited a government spokesperson as saying "there is a difference between legal and press offenses."

Phones infected with spyware

In Rwanda, three of the four journalists in prison as of late 2023 broadcast news on YouTube, and two journalists jailed in Togo also were detained for allegedly using social media to spread false news and damage the reputation of a government minister.

CPJ research on the Togo case found that the journalists' phones were infected with Pegasus Spyware, which can take control of a phone without the owner's knowledge or interaction.

Quintal said that because journalists often can't work any longer in traditional media, they use social media as an alternate platform.

"Often, when you see repressive governments cracking down on traditional media, then people move to social media as a platform to express themselves, report," said Quintal. "That is what we've seen in Rwanda."

Neither the Rwandan nor the Togo embassy in Washington responded to VOA's emailed requests for comment.

Internet shutdowns

As well as jailing journalists and critics, some African governments have used internet shutdowns to try to block criticism.

The digital rights group Access Now reported last year that across Africa, at least 59 recorded incidents of internet shutdowns in times of protest or political unrest took place since 2016.

Felicia Anthonio, who runs the Keep It On campaign at Access Now, told VOA that Ethiopia has been a "major perpetrator" of internet shutdowns in sub-Saharan Africa.

Access Now saw similar trends in Ethiopia's Tigray region, with internet and communication services cut off for more than two years following a conflict in the region.

Internet shutdowns are often used during critical national moments such as political unrest. Cases were seen in 2023 in both Senegal and Guinea, Anthonio said.

"During times of protest, governments impose shutdowns to quell dissent, [and] hinder mobilization and coordination," said Anthonio. "The information blackouts created by these shutdowns also make it difficult for journalists and human rights defenders to monitor and report instances of brutality by security agents effectively."

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct Eritrea's global ranking for journalists jailed.
A U.S. House of Representatives committee voted along party lines early Wednesday to advance two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

The Republican majority propelled the measures in the 18-15 vote, with Democrats on the committee criticizing the effort as a stunt.

The impeachment articles accuse Mayorkas of refusing to comply with federal immigration laws and breaching the public trust, as Republicans criticize him as not doing enough to address security and the increasing number of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The effort comes as the Senate continues work on a bipartisan border security bill that includes policies U.S. President Joe Biden said last week would be the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border weve ever had in our country.

The charges against Mayorkas could be sent to the full House as soon as next week. Given the Republicans' slim majority in the House and opposition from Democrats, it is unclear if they will be able to secure a majority vote for impeachment.

While former President Donald Trump was impeached twice and former President Bill Clinton was impeached in 1998, no Cabinet secretary has been impeached since War Secretary William Belknap in 1876. Neither Belknap nor either of the presidents was convicted in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote is required.

Mayorkas has willfully and systematically refused to comply with the law passed by Congress and breached the trust of Congress and the American people, Committee Chairman Mike Green said at Tuesdays daylong hearing. He said the secretary has left the committee with no other option but to proceed with impeachment.

Mayorkas, who did not testify in front of the committee, has denied the accusations.

I assure you that your false accusations do not rattle me and do not divert me from the law enforcement and broader public service mission to which I have devoted most of my career and to which I remain devoted, Mayorkas said in a letter to the committee.

In the letter, he also urged the committee to work with the Biden administration to update the countrys broken and outdated immigration laws.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
Iranian commentators warned Tuesday of a U.S. military retaliation after Washington pledged a "very consequential" response to troop deaths, but largely agreed that a full-blown war was not in the offing.

U.S. President Joe Biden blamed "radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq" for Sunday's drone strike on a remote Jordan desert base near Syria and Iraq that killed three U.S. soldiers.

The first American military deaths in an attack since the October 7 outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war have ratcheted up tensions between the long-time enemies at the start of a U.S. election year.

Longtime foes Washington and Tehran have both been at pains to stress they do not want war, so Biden's warning has left Iranians guessing about the next move.

"The possibility that Biden will order direct attacks on Iranian targets cannot be ignored," political analyst Ahmad Zeidabadi wrote in the Ham-Mihan newspaper.

But he said any U.S. attacks would more likely target "the bases of Iranian forces in other countries."

In a sign of heightened tensions, Iran's rial slipped Tuesday to an all-time low of around 580,000 to 600,000 to the U.S. dollar on the black market.

The reformist Etemaad Daily newspaper also said it was "possible" the Biden administration  under political pressure from the Republicans  "will target limited but strategic targets inside Iran."

"This scenario may spell the end of diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington," it said.

Some of Biden's Republican rivals have urged a direct attack on Iran, while the president said Tuesday that "a wider war in the Middle East" was "not what I'm looking for."

Iranian officials were quick to deny any links to the Jordan attack, reiterating that Tehran also opposes an "expansion" of the conflict in the region.

Warning against 'vengeance'

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Tuesday the solution to the crisis must be "political" and wrote on X that "diplomacy is active in this direction."

China and Russia, which have friendly ties with Iran, urged de-escalation and restraint, and Beijing warned against a "cycle of retaliation" in the Middle East.

Another reformist newspaper, Shargh, called a direct confrontation "unlikely" and said "Tehran and Washington have already shown in the past their ability to contain direct conflicts."

The Iran Daily, in a more strongly worded editorial, warned that Biden must "not be duped into a direct military attack on Iran to take vengeance for a strike launched by a third party."

"Any insane move will definitely instigate a proportionate response from Iran which could lead to a full-blown war," it said.

The United States and Iran have been bitter enemies since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Fears about Iran's nuclear program have since led to punishing international sanctions, while U.S. ally Israel has fought a shadow war of killings and sabotage with Iran.

The United States and Israel accuse Iran-backed militant groups of fighting proxy wars in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, with the support of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In 2020, former U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the killing of revered Guards commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.

Violence across the region has spiked since Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, sparking the bloodiest-ever Gaza war.

Iran has voiced support for Hamas and its allies  Hezbollah in Lebanon and Yemen's Houthis  but insisted that the militant groups are acting independently.

It has also accused the United States of being an accomplice to Israel's "genocide" in Gaza.



British ambassador summoned

The killings in Jordan follow a spate of attacks on U.S. forces in nearby Iraq and Syria, many claimed by the Iran-backed alliance Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

Tehran on Tuesday summoned the British ambassador to protest an unspecified "accusation" against the Islamic republic, after London said Iran-aligned groups were behind the Jordan attack.

Britain, along with the United States, also imposed sanctions on a network they allege targets Iranian dissidents.

Washington has repeatedly accused Iran of involvement in Red Sea attacks by Houthi rebels and of "actively facilitating" attacks on U.S. forces in other parts of the Middle East.

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, again stressed Tehran's position in a letter published by the official IRNA news agency.

He wrote that no group affiliated with Iran's armed forces, "whether in Iraq, Syria or elsewhere ... operates directly or indirectly under the control of the Islamic Republic of Iran or acts on its behalf."

The Etemaad newspaper judged that Washington "has no choice but to increase pressure" on Israel to end the Gaza war.

The conservative Javan newspaper warned that U.S. involvement in a regional conflict to support Israel would be a "perfect example of betting on a losing horse."


Amid an international push for a new, temporary cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces carried out airstrikes Wednesday in northern and southern Gaza.

The Israeli attacks included Gaza City, where the military said it also killed 15 Hamas militants during ground operations.

In Khan Younis, the main city in southern Gaza, witnesses reported heavy fighting in addition to numerous airstrikes. The United Nations relief agency for Palestinians said that with the intense warfare in the region, 184,000 people have registered for humanitarian assistance in recent days and fled closer to the Mediterranean Sea coastline.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said the number of people killed in Israels counteroffensive had risen to 26,900, a figure that includes both civilians and militants.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was expected to travel to Cairo to discuss the cease-fire proposal, which would include both a halt in fighting in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Haniyeh said Tuesday that Hamas was studying the cease-fire plan and emphasized the militants standing demand for a permanent cease-fire and an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.

The priority is ending the unjust aggression on Gaza and the complete withdrawal of the occupations forces, Haniyeh said.

He also said Hamas was seeking the reconstruction of Gaza, much of which has been flattened during the Israeli counteroffensive following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people. Hamas also wants the lifting of a yearslong Israeli blockade on Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a full withdrawal from Gaza will not happen until Israel achieves all of its goals. Netanyahu has vowed to eliminate Hamas to ensure it cannot launch future attacks against Israel.

We will not withdraw the Israeli military from the Gaza Strip and we will not release thousands of terrorists, Netanyahu said.

The outline for a possible new agreement came out of talks in Paris among U.S., Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters Tuesday, As Secretary [Antony] Blinken noted yesterday, the proposal on the table is strong and compelling.

It envisions a longer humanitarian pause than we saw in November, which would provide an opportunity to get more hostages out and lifesaving humanitarian assistance in: food for the hungry child, medicine for the elderly woman in need, shelter for the family that has been displaced multiple times, she said.

More than 100 hostages were released during the weeklong November cease-fire in exchange for 240 Palestinians jailed by Israel. Hamas is believed to still be holding another 100 or so hostages.

West Bank attack

The U.N.s human rights office called on Israel to immediately halt the unlawful killing of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, after Israeli forces killed three people at a hospital in Jenin that Israels military identified as militants who were planning to carry out an attack.

A statement from the U.N. agency called the Israeli operation a seemingly planned extrajudicial execution.

The U.N. human rights office noted an increase in killings of Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7. About 370 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank during that time, most of them by Israeli forces.

Michael Provence, who teaches modern Middle East history at the University of California San Diego, told VOA that the Israeli attack was brazen, and certainly it's a kind of an escalating move, but it's not unprecedented for Israel.

Provence said the attack also makes the cease-fire negotiations more difficult than they otherwise would have been.

Israel has accused Hamas of operating in hospitals and in tunnels underneath health facility sites to hide weapons and use civilians as shields.

Palestinian aid

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Tuesday with representatives from 35 donor states and the European Union after several major donor countries suspended financial assistance for the United Nations relief agency for Palestine refugees following Israeli allegations that a dozen UNRWA staffers may have been involved in the October 7 terror attack.

I underscored the importance of keeping UNRWAs vital work going to meet the dire needs of civilians in Gaza, and to ensure its continuity of services to Palestine refugees in the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, Guterres said Wednesday at a U.N. committee meeting about the Palestinians.

UNRWA is the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza, he added, saying he appealed to donors to guarantee the continuity of UNRWAs work.

More than a dozen countries, including the top donor, the United States, announced suspensions of financial support to UNRWA while an investigation is carried out. UNRWA says the suspensions amount to $444 million in revenue.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on Tuesday that about $300,000 is currently frozen in funds designated for UNRWA. Future funding this year would depend on the outcome of the investigation and steps taken at UNRWA.

Let me be clear, it was not a punitive measure, but it is a wakeup call, Thomas-Greenfield said Wednesday at a U.N. Security Council meeting on Gaza. We need to see fundamental changes at UNRWA to prevent this from happening again.

UNRWA employs 13,000 mainly Palestinian staff in Gaza. It has continued to work since October 7 to provide some relief to nearly 2 million displaced Palestinians. More than 150 UNRWA staff have been killed in the fighting between Israel and Hamas. But the U.N. says aid could soon be in jeopardy if funding is not resumed.

Of the dozen staffers implicated by Israel in the deadly attacks, the U.N. immediately fired nine of them, one was confirmed dead, and officials are clarifying the identity of two others. The U.N. immediately opened an internal investigation.

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 agency staffers of celebrating the attacks on social media.

Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others.

UNRWA has provided basic services, including medical care and education, for Palestinian families who fled or were driven out of what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding the country's creation. They now live in built-up refugee camps in Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

VOA correspondent Margaret Besheer reported from the United Nations, and VOAs Nike Ching contributed reporting from the State Department. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Elon Musk is not entitled to a landmark compensation package awarded by Tesla's board of directors that is potentially worth more than $55 billion, a Delaware judge ruled Tuesday.

The ruling by Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick comes more than five years after a shareholder lawsuit targeted Tesla CEO Musk and directors of the company. They were accused of breaching their duties to the maker of electric vehicles and solar panels, resulting in a waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment for Musk.

The shareholder's lawyers argued that the compensation package should be voided because it was dictated by Musk and was the product of sham negotiations with directors who were not independent of him. They also said it was approved by shareholders who were given misleading and incomplete disclosures in a proxy statement.

Defense attorneys countered that the pay plan was fairly negotiated by a compensation committee whose members were independent, contained performance milestones so lofty that they were ridiculed by some Wall Street investors, and blessed by a shareholder vote that was not even required under Delaware law. They also argued that Musk was not a controlling shareholder because he owned less than one-third of the company at the time.

An attorney for Musk and other Tesla defendants did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

But Musk reacted to the ruling on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter that he owns, by offering business advice. "Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware," he said. He later added, "I recommend incorporating in Nevada or Texas if you prefer shareholders to decide matters."

Musk, who as of Tuesday topped Forbes' list of the world's richest people, had earlier this month challenged Tesla's board to come up with a new compensation plan for him that would give him a 25% stake in the company. On an earnings call last week, Musk, who holds 13%, explained that with a 25% stake, he can't control the company, yet he would have strong influence.

In trial testimony in November 2022, Musk denied that he dictated terms of the compensation package or attended any meetings at which the plan was discussed by the board, its compensation committee, or a working group that helped develop it.

McCormick determined, however, that because Musk was a controlling shareholder with a potential conflict of interest, the pay package must be subject to a more rigorous standard.

"The process leading to the approval of Musk's compensation plan was deeply flawed," McCormick wrote in the colorfully written 200-page decision. "Musk had extensive ties with the persons tasked with negotiating on Tesla's behalf."

McCormick concluded that the only suitable remedy was for Musk's compensation package to be rescinded.

Greg Varallo, a lead attorney for the shareholder plaintiff, praised McCormick's decision to reverse the "absurdly outsized" Musk pay package.

"The fact that they lost this in Delaware court, it's a jaw dropper," said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives. "It's unprecedented, a ruling like this. I think going in investors thought it was just typical legal noise and nothing was going to come out about it. The fact that they went head-to-head with Tesla and Musk and the board and voided this, it's a huge legal decision."

During his trial testimony, Musk downplayed the notion that his friendships with certain Tesla board members, including sometimes vacationing together, meant that they were likely to do his bidding.

The plan called for Musk to reap billions if Tesla, which is based in Austin, Texas, hit certain market capitalization and operational milestones. For each incidence of simultaneously meeting a market cap milestone and an operational milestone, Musk, who owned about 22% of Tesla when the plan was approved, would get stock equal to 1% of outstanding shares at the time of the grant. His interest in the company would grow to about 28% if the company's market capitalization grew by $600 billion.

Tesla has achieved all 12 market capitalization milestones and 11 operational milestones, providing Musk nearly $28 billion in stock option gains, according to a January post-trial brief filed by the plaintiff's attorneys. The stock option grants are subject to a five-year holding period, however.

Defense attorney Evan Chesler argued at trial that the compensation package was a "high-risk, high-reward" deal that benefited not just Musk, but Tesla shareholders. After the plan was implemented, the value of the company, based in Austin, Texas, climbed from $53 billion to more than $800 billion, having briefly hit $1 trillion.
A coalition of more than 40 civil society groups has petitioned Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, calling on him to address chronic insecurity that has only gotten worse since he assumed office last May. The petition follows a series of kidnappings in the capital, Abuja, and southwestern Ekiti state.

According to a report this week by the civil society coalition, at least 2,400 people have been killed and close to 1,900 others kidnapped since May last year when Tinubu assumed office.

The coalition said it was deeply concerned about the deteriorating security across Nigeria and called on authorities to take "actionable steps" to fix the problem.

Auwal Rafsanjani, executive director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, spoke on behalf of the coalition.

"Our country is under siege, our country has been taken over by criminals, pampered terrorists, pampered bandits and pampered political criminals, and Nigerians are being killed like ants, he said. Every day you wake up, its one killing after another, we cannot continue this way."

The report comes amid a wave of violent attacks in the country, including Abuja.

There, armed gangs have carried out brazen kidnap-for-ransom attacks in recent weeks. Two people from different families were killed as a warning to those who dont pay.

In southwestern Ekiti state, armed men recently kidnapped six school students and three teachers. On the same day, gunmen attacked local communities in the state and killed two traditional rulers.

Tinubu condemned the attacks and ordered security forces to capture the perpetrators.

But security analyst Chidi Omeje says government failure is the reason for the persistent problem.

"The root cause of all these things is bad governance, bad governance that engenders poverty, beings about frustration, anger in the people, he said. See, there's this correlation between poverty, bad governance and [a] spike in criminality. There has to be multi-dimensional approach to it and, of course, it has to be intelligence driven."

Last year, Tinubu vowed to fix Nigeria's security problems if elected president.

After taking office, Tinubu retired several service chiefs and appointed new ones. Critics say that isnt enough.

On Tuesday, members of the National Assembly the service chiefs to discuss the state of security in the country.
President Vladimir Putin vowed Wednesday to push back Ukrainian forces to reduce the threat of attacks on Russian territory as he met with activists running his campaign ahead of the March presidential election that hes all but certain to win.

Asked about plans for the military campaign in Ukraine, Putin said the line of contact needs to be pushed back to such a distance from our territory that will make it safe from Western-supplied long-range artillery that Ukrainian authorities use for shelling peaceful cities.

He added the Russian military has been doing just that, pushing the enemy back from vital populated centers.

This is the main motive for our guys who are fighting and risking their lives there  to protect the Motherland, to protect our people, he added.

Ukraine has struck inside Russia recently, including a December 30 attack on the border city of Belgorod that killed 25 people, injured over 100.

Putin also said Russian investigators concluded that Ukraine used U.S.-supplied Patriot air defense systems to shoot down a Russian military transport plane in the Belgorod region on January 24. Russian authorities said the crash killed all 74 people onboard, including 65 Ukrainian POWs heading for a swap.

Ukrainian officials didn't deny the plane's downing but didn't take responsibility and called for an international investigation.

Putin said Russia wouldn't just welcome but would insist on an international inquiry on what he described as a crime by Ukraine.

Putin, 71, who is running as an independent candidate, relies on a tight control over Russias political system that he has established during 24 years in power.

With prominent critics who could challenge him either jailed or living abroad and most independent media banned, his reelection in the March 15-17 presidential vote is all but assured.

Russia has been forced to defend its interests, including by military means, Putin told the meeting with his campaign staff, saying that even as the meeting was going on, Russian troops made new gains on the edge of the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine.

We are passing through a very difficult and important period in the development of our country, the strengthening of its independence and sovereignty in all vectors, he said. Scum that is always present is being washed away bit by bit.

Under a constitutional reform that he engineered, Putin is eligible to seek two more six-year terms, potentially allowing him to remain in power until 2036. He is already the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, who died in 1953.

Three other candidates who were nominated by parties represented in parliament are also running: Nikolai Kharitonov of the Communist Party, Leonid Slutsky of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party and Vladislav Davankov of the New People Party.

All three parties have been largely supportive of the Kremlins policies. Kharitonov ran against Putin in 2004, finishing a distant second.

Boris Nadezhdin, a 60-year-old local legislator in a town near Moscow, also is seeking to run. He has openly called for a halt to the conflict in Ukraine and starting a dialogue with the West.

Thousands of Russians across the country signed petitions in support of Nadezhdins candidacy, an unusual show of opposition sympathies in the rigidly controlled political landscape that raises a challenge for the Kremlin. On Wednesday, Nadezhdin submitted 105,000 signatures to the Central Election Commission, which is expected to review them over the next few days.
Container shipping through the Red Sea has dropped by nearly one-third this year as attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels continue, the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday.

"Container shipping ... has declined by almost 30%," said Jihad Azour, director of the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia department, adding that "the drop in trade accelerated in the beginning of this year."

The Iran-backed Houthis have launched more than 30 attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels since November 19, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

The rebels say the attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinians and in protest of the Israel-Hamas war that has been raging in the Gaza Strip since October.

The IMF's PortWatch platform indicates that the total transit volume through the Suez Canal was down 37% this year through January 16 compared with the same period a year earlier.

The canal connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.

Houthi attacks have prompted some shipping companies to detour around southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea, a vital route that normally carries about 12% of global trade, according to the International Chamber of Shipping.

"The level of uncertainty is extremely high, and the developments will determine the extent of change and shift in trade patterns in terms of volume but also in terms of sustainability," Azour told reporters in an online briefing.

"Are we on the verge of major change in trade routes, he said, or is it temporary because of the increase in costs and the deterioration of the security costs?"

Revised regional outlook

The United States heads a coalition to protect Red Sea shipping and is seeking to apply diplomatic and financial pressure by redesignating the Houthis as a "terrorist" group.

The Red Sea is particularly vital for European trade.

Last week the European Union's trade commissioner said maritime traffic through the Red Sea shipping route had fallen by 22% in a month because of the rebel attacks.

The European Union is pushing to launch its own naval mission in the Red Sea to help protect international shipping.

EU countries have given initial backing to the plan and are aiming to finalize it by a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers on February 19.

The United States and Britain have launched repeated strikes against Houthi capabilities in Yemen, but the Iran-backed movement is still able to hit vessels.

Wednesday's IMF briefing came as the Washington-based fund released a revised economic outlook for countries in the Middle East and North Africa due to the Israel-Hamas war.

The IMF now sees the economies of the region expanding 2.9% this year, a decrease of half a percentage point from its October forecast.

The economic downturn in the occupied West Bank and the war-ravaged Gaza Strip was "immense," said Azour.

In 2023, real GDP growth in Gaza and the West Bank was estimated to have dropped to about minus 6%, the IMF said, adding that it reflected a 9-percentage point downgrade from its October outlook.

"We project that the economy will keep on contracting in 2024 if there is no fast and quick cessation of hostilities and reconstruction," Azour said.

For emerging market and middle-income economies in the region, total funding requirements over 2024 were projected to $186 billion, the IMF said, up from $156 billion in 2023.
Abilitie CEO Bjorn Billhardt and Chief Research Officer Nathan Kracklauer have written a book that compiles 20 years of management education lessons into one volume

There are 300 million management positions around the world, says Bjorn Billhardt. If you count up the MBAs from all the business schools, there are only about 3 million.

Its a huge market, and thats where Abilitie, the leadership program developer founded by Billhardt, steps in. With a portfolio of programs, certifications, and simulations, Abilitie helps the 99% of managers with no formal business training acquire skills and advance in their careers.

No wonder business is booming: With its core 12-Week MBA program and others, Abilitie isnt competing with B-schools  its working with people the schools dont reach.

Ninety-nine percent of management positions are filled by people that dont have an MBA, Billhardt says. So I actually dont think this is a competition with business schools. This is getting the word out that in 12 weeks you can get the basics of business acumen and people management so that you can advance in your career and have the confidence to advance in your career without getting that big elite-school MBA. So I dont think were in competition with the two-year MBA, because thats for the 1%.

THE 12-WEEK MBA: QUICKER, LESS COSTLY, MORE AGILE

Bjorn Billhardt: We are big fans of community and a big believer in that being part of the value proposition. Youre going to pay a lot less for a 12-week mini MBA, so youre not going to get all of it, but you will get a lot

Billhardt and Nathan Kracklauer, Abilities chief research officer, have been collaborating on the same startup since 2001. Thats the year that Billhardt, fresh out of Harvard Business School, founded digital learning design company Enspire Learning. I basically took one of my professors and twisted their arm so that we could develop some of the interactive online tools for Harvard. That became the origin of our first company. Enspire created custom interactive learning programs for universities and large companies. After about 14 years the company transitioned, selling part of the business but keeping a small but key component: the business simulation unit.

Story continues

Billhardt and Kracklauer built that unit out as Abilitie, rebranding in 2015. They then focused on building out a business curriculum. In 2021, they began an open enrollment program that they called the Invited MBA. At the start of 2024 they officially renamed the program The 12-Week MBA, with dozens of certified faculty teaching a core set of business skills useful for rising leaders in any industry and at any level: things like value creation, people leadership, decision-making  and, increasingly, AI. They do it in less time and at a much lower cost than a traditional MBA program (around $2,300, though discounts are available). And they graduate students into a world that is not significantly different than when they started, something a two-year program cannot guarantee.

Last year, across all of its programs for managers, directors, executives, and others, Abilitie had about 30,000 students, the vast majority of whom came from corporate clients  Fortune 500 companies like Dell, Coca-Cola, Southwest Airlines, Marriott  for which they ran private, customized, closed-cohort programs. Since 2021, more than 100,000 incoming professionals have gone through one of these programs; the company has more than 850 clients in all, all over the world. A lot of large companies realize that those 99% of managers that dont have an MBA need some type of training and are looking for training for them, Billhardt tells Poets&Quants. And so the social proof we have that this is working is that 30,000 people a year, 100,000 people in total, have been our students.

Abilities open-enrollment program is comparatively small, with hundreds of graduates from two cohorts of 70 to 80 each year. Billhardt hopes that will change.

Its smaller, but its rapidly growing and its that open-enrollment part that we hope the book and the new name 12-Week MBA will really propel forward, he says. Our hope is that well get into the thousands of people with the open enrollment, similar to what we have in our closed cohorts.

Nathan Kracklauer: It took us about 20 years to really feel 100% confident that we have something that others do not. But that actually makes a lot of sense and conforms to what peoples expectations are for what it means to manage and lead in the world

100% CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT OTHERS DO NOT

The book is The 12-Week MBA: Learn the Skills You Need to Lead in Business Today (Hachette Go 2024), due to be published February 6. It condenses the wisdom of two decades of digital business education into 352 pages. (Read a Publishers Weekly advance review here.) But with an already successful business, why do they need a book?

It is tru that the usual path is that somebody writes a book and then builds a business on its back, so were doing everything backwards here, says Kracklauer, who graduated in 2001 from UT-Austin and soon after went to work with fellow Longhorn Billhardt. I think that the single biggest reason is, we actually are very present in the corporate markets, and we would like to reach out quite a bit farther. That does not necessarily mean only individuals, but it could mean small, medium-sized businesses that dont have a function dedicated to developing internal management leadership capacity. Some companies that have 10,000 employees dont have that. Theyll have HR, they may do some coherent work around getting people to develop their management skills, but even at that size, you could expect them to be on the lookout for things that would take the place of a large global leadership development program, but not have that 25- to 30-person volume even annually.

And of course, when you get down to 5,000 or 500, theres a lot of need to go out and try to find MBAs who might not know anything about the industry, and nothing about the company, Kracklauer continues. A lot of what it takes to run a smaller business is actually really deep knowledge of the company, its processes, its customers, its industry, and everything. So to find accessible solutions that fit within the budgets available and the organizational capacity of a smaller organization, thats part of where we want to go. Now to reach those participants or those buyers, those companies, we actually need to do a much larger marketing effort than a small company like ours can do  but a book is an excellent way to have something that clearly states what it is we do and tells people explicitly what theyre going to get out of it. It makes it accessible and is a very easy way to spread the message larger than weve been able to so far.

It took us about 20 years to really feel 100% confident that we have something that others do not, but that actually makes a lot of sense and conforms to what peoples expectations are for what it means to manage and lead in the world. So I think its just the right time to put that together and to set up the growth that should come from reaching this wider audience that we havent been able to access so far.

It is not a book you can, or should try to, read in an evening, Billhardt adds.

The whole idea is 12 weeks, so its something that you really have to digest and tackle in small increments, he says. But I think from the perspective of giving people an understanding of what the essence is that you need to understand that every MBA knows, I feel like weve accomplished a wonderful consolidation of that degree to the timeless and universal elements. Theres lots of other stuff that you learn in an MBA that is not timeless because it changes and its not universal because it may be constrained by supply chain management in Nigeria, for example  which is a fascinating topic and you should learn about it, but you may not need it in your day-to-day life.

A SURPRISINGLY ROBUST CONSTITUENCY: TEACHERS & MILITARY

Who is the ideal student for Abilities 12-week MBA program? Billhardt says his expectations when they launched were different than the reality of who it proved most appealing to.

When we started the open enrollment, our assumption was that the ideal student would be someone looking at getting their MBA one to two years out of undergrad, ready to take a leap to the next level and wanting to advance in their career, he says. We do have those students, and I would say they comprise about 30% to 40% of the student population. But we actually have found that 60% to 70% of the student population are a little bit more mid-career professionals. The curriculum is valid for both, and we are seeing enormous interest from people who may traditionally just not even have thought of getting an MBA because time has passed.

A short-form program can provide valuable lessons to anyone, Billhardt says. Abilitie has found a strong constituency in people who are mid-career, who comprise the majority of current students. But about 10% of their students are from another group: those who are not in business but are trying to enter the business world through a parallel track. Among the big feeders of this group are Teach for America and the military. We see a lot of teachers and former military who are looking to make a jump into corporate and realizing that they just need the lingo of business and the confidence to do it, Billhardt says. They know they have skillsets that are useful in corporate America, they just dont know how to talk the language and they dont have time or money. Theyre too late in their career to get a full two-year MBA. So weve had a lot of success with them, and we are really excited about those types of careers.

A key value proposition in the 12-Week MBA, as with any mini-MBA, is that it is not as ponderous as a full-time, two-year program. It is more agile, and graduates learn the very latest in tech and other innovations and then emerge into the world of business while that knowledge is still relevant.

The curriculum is evolving, Billhardt says. And more importantly, it is highly practical, highly real-world-focused and highly interactive. So unlike many of the executive education programs, we dont have lectures with PowerPoint slides, we dont have just the standard classroom  listen to an instructor and then ask a few questions. All of our programs are interactive through and through. The core of the curriculum actually are interactive business simulations, so for the entire time that you are in the curriculum, instead of being lectured to, instead of reading materials, you actually are playing in these business games. That is a unique differentiator even from other short-form MBA programs.

There is definitely an element of gamification to the education process of The 12-Week MBA, he agrees.

Not just you playing a game with a computer, these are team-based simulations. So its you and others in a team competing against other students in your class in these virtual team-based competitions. And then as of last year, we added AI as well. So youre competing for market share and as youre making decisions on how to price it, you have a virtual character that pops up and you have to negotiate with them.

Its enormous fun. We really have these phenomenal experiences that weve created and that are continuously evolving and that we are now perfecting with AI. I think one of the interesting things is when AI is getting into the business curriculum. We have some really interesting stories to tell on that side.

YOURE NOT GOING TO GET ALL OF IT, BUT YOU WILL GET A LOT

A big question about min-MBA programs  which also lingers for online MBA programs  is what about the networking? Business school is so much about who you meet and the connections you make, so how can other formats, particularly digital formats, compete?

This we tell students upfront, one of the biggest reasons why people go to business school is to make a connection and network, Billhardt agrees. And no matter how you slice and dice it, in 12 weeks part-time youre not going to make as deep connections. I met my wife in business school, so I have a personal ROI on that two years. And in 12 weeks, part-time online, you are not going to get the same. You are also not going to pay $200,000!

One of the things that I think what our program has as an advantage over the others, the Power MBA and others who are our big competitors in the field, is they are not nearly as social. Our whole curriculum from the kickoff to the graduation where we have a virtual cap and gown is a virtual, social experience. And I think given the shortness of the curriculum, weve made more connections between people. We havent had a marriage yet  but I know it will happen, and I will fly around the world to be part of that wedding when it happens!

But what we have had happen already is, weve had someone get a job with a mentor that was part of the program. Weve had groups that have met up after the curriculum a year later and had a reunion in New York City. Weve had lots and lots of real friendships that have formed and connections that have been made, and were building out that networking component where were basically creating a place for the community to be later on. So we are big fans of community and a big believer in that being part of the value proposition. Youre going to pay a lot less for a 12-Week mini MBA, so youre not going to get all of it, but you will get a lot.

Of the 297 million people in management worldwide who dont have an MBA, Billhardt says, the biggest challenge is not the competition to reach them but people actually thinking, Oh, well, maybe I dont need it, or I may need it, but I dont even know that something exists that isnt a really even more expensive executive MBA. You spent $10,000 for a weekend at Harvard and thats fine, that is not our competitor. Our biggest competitor is people not knowing that there are options for them.

Abilities next 12-Week MBA program gets underway March 6. The deadline to apply is February 25, and tuition is $2,350; those who apply by February 15 will automatically receive a $500 discount. Abilitie will have another intake in April.

Learn more about Abilitie and the 12-Week MBA here. Pre-order The 12-Week MBA: Learn the Skills You Need to Lead in Business Today at Amazon here.

DONT MISS FOUNDER OF AN ENTIRE MBA IN 1 COURSE: IN 30 YEARS MOST DEGREE PROGRAMS WILL BE ONLINE and THE DISRUPTORS: THE BUSINESS CASELETTE

The post The Disruptors: Abilities 12-Week MBA appeared first on Poets&Quants.
Its mid-winter in east Washington state, yet despite the chilly fog, two construction sites in the town of Moses Lake are brimming with activity. Several hundred workers are on an ambitious timeline to complete two new factories slanted to begin production of the next-generation components for electric vehicle batteries later this year.

Two American start-ups, backed by $100 million in federal grants each, in addition to commercial partnerships, are racing to secure the domestic supply chain with the next-generation battery materials for EV automakers.

That's going to go into everything from electric vehicles to IoT [Internet of Things] devices to smartphones and wearables and a lot of battery-based applications that we don't even know exist yet, explains Nik Anderson, director of program management with Group14 Technologies, as he walks through the companys vast construction site.

Washington is one of the American states planning to ban sales of new gasoline-powered vehicles starting in 2035.

For now, electric cars account for 8.6% of new vehicle sales in the United States. Affordable electric vehicles would require a significant scaling of domestic battery production, experts say. According to the Biden administration, affordable electric vehicles and reliable supply chain would require a significant scaling of domestic battery production and the national charging infrastructure.

Once fully operational, the two companies factories in Moses Lake will be able to annually produce enough material to make batteries for about 400,000 electric vehicles.

They also promise to produce a better battery, reducing the charge anxiety of electric cars by replacing the graphite in conventional lithium-ion batteries with silicon-based components, which will allow for a faster charge.

The thing that makes our battery better, that uses our SCC55 [silicon-carbon composite] versus traditional graphite, is that it can have up to 50% more energy density, it can allow for extremely fast charging, said Grant Ray, vice president for global market strategy with Group14 Technologies.

When we think about charge times, you know, right now we're hearing 10% to 80% in ten minutes. Well, what if that changes and it comes down to five minutes? What if it starts to get closer to what it really is for, you know, the way we think about refueling a car? he said.

One of the challenges for U.S. EV production with traditional lithium-ion batteries is the need to rely on imports. Daniel Schwartz, director of the Clean Energy Institute at the University of Washington, says the silicon-based component provides solutions for several challenges.

The primary mineral for what's going in Moses Lake is sand, silica  the most widely distributed mineral in the crust of the earth. Graphite is lower performance, and we are trade-exposed as a nation, he said.

The Biden administration invested in domestic EV battery production as part of its ambitious clean energy agenda. Among the Republican presidential candidates, most reject the urgency surrounding EV adoption, with former President Donald Trump calling it an all-electric car hoax.

Last September, speaking in front of hundreds of people attending a rally in Clinton Township, Michigan, Trump called prioritizing EVs a transition to hell, telling auto workers that Democrats want to go all electric and put you all out of business."

Gene Berdichevsky, CEO of Sila Nanotechnologies, the second startup planning to start EV battery components production in Moses Lake, says the transition to electric vehicles is going to happen regardless of whether the U.S. is taking the lead in the process.

Renewables and batteries are really going to form the basis of 21st-century energy, he said. It's critical for the U.S. to build the capacity to be able to have battery production. Catching up to the world leaders in Asia is quite challenging. And so, the way to do that is not to build the same thing, it's to build the next generation of battery technologies.

In Moses Lake, a town of about 25,000 an hour and-a-half drive from the nearest city, all-electric cars are not a common sight. Berdichevsky is convinced that EV adoption in the area is just a matter of time.

We have to recognize that consumers want choice, and some consumers are going to want electric cars with 500 miles (range), he says. What we need to do is increase the choices for folks, and the way you do that is through better batteries.

Rosendo Alvarado, a Moses Lake native who took a job as a plant manager for Sila Nanotechnologies, says the remote town became an attractive spot for EV production thanks to the combination of several factors: cheap hydro power provided by local dams; existing manufacturing infrastructure and legacy companies, such as REC Silicon that could become a partner in the EV batteries production; and Washington state policies embracing clean energy initiatives.

The cutting-edge industry promises to bring hundreds of new jobs to Moses Lake. Alvarado says he saw the town transforming over time from traditional farming to an industrial community  and expects further change.

We worked in the fields that this building is sitting on today, he recalls. It's been fast paced, but super exciting  the opportunities that we are able to bring here for the community and for the EV market.

He says the companies partnered with the local Columbia Basin Technical School and Big Bend Community College to start developing a new workforce as early as during high school classes.

It's a small, tight community. Kind of like everyone knows everyone type thing, shrugs Nicholas Cruz, a young man out of school walking with his friend down the main street of Moses Lake, when asked about the EV projects coming to town.

It's gonna be exciting in the sense, like, there's more job opportunities and new opportunities to go here because Moses Lake is small, there's not much to it. I am not sure if it will impact me personally  I guess time will tell, he said.
Thailands Constitutional Court on Wednesday ordered the kingdoms most radical party, Move Forward, to stop pressing for reform of a hard-line royal defamation law that effectively criminalizes open debate on the role of the monarchy.

The court stopped short of dissolving the popular political party, however, averting an immediate political crisis.

Move Forward stunned the royalist establishment by winning the most seats in an election in May 2023. The party, however, was forced into opposition by the conservative coalition that now governs.

The party has won the support of young and old with its structural reform agenda, including amending the defamation law which carries up to 15 years in prison per charge of insulting the monarchy.

The law protects Thailands top institution, headed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who leads the countrys all-important system of patronage and is one of the worlds wealthiest monarchs.

Critics of the law say it kills free speech, is too sweeping and has been weaponized by conservatives to jail pro-democracy campaigners and hush wider debate on political reform across one of Asias least equal countries.

In a unanimous ruling, the court said Move Forwards election promise to amend the law  known locally as 112 for its section in the Criminal Code  qualified as an unconstitutional attempt to overthrow the monarchy. The court also ordered the party to stop its campaign.

Thailand has been mired in a decadeslong struggle between the royalist establishment, which relies on army coups and court rulings to secure its power, and a public which votes in ever larger numbers for pro-democracy parties, which are then dissolved or pushed to the sidelines.

Move Forward has denied trying to overthrow the monarchy and warned the ruling leaves the door open to banning the party if the conservative establishment deems it a threat.

I have a few concerns about the ruling today, Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat told reporters after the court rendered its decision.

First, is the boundary between the legislative and the judicial court. Second  its a lost opportunity for Thai society to use the parliament to discuss this issue with maturity, he said.

Pita, 43, last week survived a separate legal attempt to ban him from politics over shareholding in a long-defunct media company.

Pro-democracy campaigners said Wednesdays ruling shows the conservative elite is still in control against the will of the majority, reflected in the last two elections.

Its very concerning, Attapon Buapat, an activist who has faced charges in several 112 cases, told VOA.

The court has expanded its power to the point where it seemingly now also controls the legislative and executive branches. If that is the case, how can we have checks and balances? he asked.

Scores of people have been jailed under the law since massive student-led pro-democracy protests that started in 2020 highlighted the issue of reforming the monarchy.

Experts warn that Move Forward may still be vulnerable to a petition for its dissolution, with Wednesdays court ruling acting as a bargaining chip for the establishment to cash in later.

Several pro-democracy parties have been dissolved by the same court, including Move Forwards predecessor, Future Forward, which won around 6 million votes in the 2019 election.

Four years later, Move Forward won nearly 15 million votes.

Parties get dissolved far too easily here, destroying the parliamentary tools that civilians have to deal with different opinions, said Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, a law professor at Thammasat University.

But if Move Forward is dissolved, its third incarnation will be ready to rise. Its not the party that wins hearts and minds. Its the idea, he said.

The government is now led by real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin, whose Pheu Thai Party once supported the democracy cause but compromised to take power in a coalition with arch conservatives.

Pheu Thai says it wants a more open and equitable Thailand but says the monarchy must not be touched by any reforms.
Thailands Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that the countrys most popular political party violated the constitution with its pledge to amend the nations strict lese majeste laws.

The progressive Move Forward Party won a surprising parliamentary majority in last years elections, in large part on a promise to change the law that makes insulting the monarchy a crime. But the court said the pledge amounted to an attempt by Move Forward to overthrow the monarchy, and ordered the party to end all efforts to either amend or abolish the law. Observers say the ruling is expected to trigger a wider legal effort by the party's opponents to seek its dissolution.

Thailand has some of the world's harshest lese majeste laws, with a conviction carrying a sentence of up to 15 years in prison for each perceived insult. The law has been the focal point of Thailands youth-led pro-democracy movement since 2020, which has called for its abolishment.

Move Forwards success in last years elections created a backlash among Thailands military-backed conservatives in the Senate, who blocked the partys leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, from assuming the prime ministers post. Pita was suspended from parliament last July after the Election Commission alleged he broke election rules by holding shares in a media company while running for office.

A Thai court on Wednesday said Pita did not break election rules by holding shares in the defunct iTV company.

Some information for this report came from Reuters, Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press.
Ukraines military said Wednesday that overnight attacks from Russia included 20 drones and three ballistic missiles targeting multiple parts of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian air force said the countrys air defenses destroyed 14 of the drones, with intercepts taking place over the Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Russian forces had launched 600 combat drones and more than 330 missiles at Ukraine since the start of the year.

Zelenskyy reiterated his calls for Ukraine to have an adequate air shield to protect his country.

We must ensure Ukraine's control over its skies, which is also critical to ensuring security on the ground  from frontline positions to hospitals and schools in the rear, he said.

With more aid for Ukraine stalled in the U.S. Congress, U.S. spy chief William Burns said in a new assessment that it would be a self-inflicted mistake of historic proportions for the United States to walk away from its support for Kyiv in its nearly two-year war with Russia.

A congressional vote on $60 billion in new aid for Ukraine has been linked with legislation to tighten immigration controls at the U.S. border with Mexico. But details of the new immigration law have yet to be resolved and the overall legislation has been caught up in the politics of the 2024 presidential campaign, leaving more Ukraine aid in doubt.



But Burns, in an essay published Tuesday in Foreign Affairs magazine, said, Keeping the arms flowing will put Ukraine in a stronger position if an opportunity for serious negotiations emerges" to end the war.

"It offers a chance to ensure a long-term win for Ukraine and a strategic loss for Russia," the Central Intelligence Agency director said.

At less than 5% of the U.S. defense budget, it is a relatively modest investment with significant geopolitical returns, he said.

He characterized Russian President Vladimir Putins February 2022 invasion of Ukraine as "Putin's folly.

"At least 315,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded, two-thirds of Russias prewar tank inventory has been destroyed, and Putins vaunted decades-long military modernization program has been hollowed out, Burns said.

Yet, Burns said Putin is unlikely to pull back from the attack on neighboring Ukraine.

"It is always a mistake to underestimate his fixation on controlling Ukraine, Burns said. Without that control, he believes it is impossible for Russia to be a great power or for him to be a great Russian leader."

Burns said the war "is quietly corroding his power at home, but said that "he continues to bet that time is on his side, that he can grind down Ukraine and wear down its Western supporters."

He called on Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian-controlled territory.

"Ukraines challenge is to puncture Putins arrogance and demonstrate the high cost for Russia ... not just by making progress on the frontlines but also by launching deeper strikes behind them," Burns said.

Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.


Three years after Myanmars military junta overthrew the countrys democratically elected government, the U.N.s top human rights official is calling on the international community to redouble efforts to hold the military accountable for the many crimes and abuses it has committed against the countrys civilian population.

Myanmars ever deteriorating human rights crisis is now in freefall, with insufficient world attention paid to the misery and pain of its people, Volker Turk, U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Amid all of the crises around the world, it is important no one is forgotten. The people of Myanmar have been suffering for too long, he said.

Ahead of the anniversary of the military coup February 1, 2021, the high commissioner said that pitched battles between the military and armed opposition groups have resulted in mass displacement and civilian casualties and as the military has suffered multiple setbacks on the battlefield, it has lashed out by launching waves of indiscriminate aerial bombardments and artillery strikes.

According to the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, credible sources in Myanmar have verified that more than 554 people have died since October, when an alliance of three ethnic armed groups mounted an offensive against the military. Overall last year, 1,600 civilians reportedly have been killed by the military.

As of January 26, the sources have documented the arrests of nearly 26,000 people on political groundsof whom 19,973 remain in detention, some reportedly subjected to torture and abuses, and with no hope of a fair trial. Over the last three years, it says some 1,576 individuals have died while being held by the military.

The October offensive by the alliance of ethnic armed groups has emerged as the biggest threat to Myanmars military coup leaders. This reportedly persuaded the junta to accept a cease-fire agreement with the armed groups brokered by China on January 12th.

The fighting has subsided to a large degree, said James Rodehaver, head of the U.N. Human Rights Office Myanmar Team. However, there still continues to be airstrikes and some artillery barrages by the military against positions by these three-armed groups,

Speaking from Bangkok Tuesday, Rodehaver said the armed groups have made it very clear that the cease-fire has repeatedly been violated by the Myanmar militaryThere still are instances where civilians are being killed as a result of these barrages.

He noted that the armed groups are in control of the areas they have captured and, in some cases, have handed over the administration of some towns and villages to the civilian inhabitants.

We are quite keen to see what impact that has had and also, of course, whether or not humanitarian access is going to expand in those areas and that the needs of the civilian population are going to be cared for, he said.

High Commissioner Turk says that Rakhine State has been particularly hard hit since fighting restarted there in November. He said, Many communities, especially the Rohingya, were already suffering from the impacts of Cyclone Mocha and the militarys months-long limitation of humanitarian access and provision of assistance.

There have now been several reports of Rohingya deaths and injuries amid the militarys shelling of Rohingya villages, he said, noting that fighting between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military on January 26 reportedly left at least 12 Rohingya civilians dead and 30 others wounded.

Rodehaver notes there are very few places to where people can flee. The Rohingya have very limited options, which is one of the reasons why so many are trying to find any way to get out and into a safe location. And that includes even trying to flee on unseaworthy boats either directly from Myanmar or out of Coxs Bazaar, he said.

The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, says 569 Rohingya perished or disappeared last year in Southeast Asian waters, with nearly 4,500 embarking on deadly sea journeysthe highest number since 2014, when the total reached 730.

Estimates show one Rohingya was reported to have died or gone missing for every eight people attempting the journey in 2023, said Matthew Saltmarsh, UNHCR spokesperson. This makes the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal one of the deadliest stretches of water in the world.

The UNHCR says that most of those embarking on deadly unseaworthy journeys are refugees departing from Coxs Bazaar. Bangladesh, where more than a million refugees who fled violence and persecution in Myanmar in August 2021 are living in cramped, overcrowded camps.
The United Nations and the Somali government have launched a $1.6 billion appeal to address humanitarian challenges in Somalia. The 2024 Humanitarian Needs Action Plan seeks to provide life-saving support to over 5 million Somalis this year.

The U.N. says climate shocks, conflict, widespread poverty and disease outbreaks continue to drive humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa country.

The appeal comes as Somalia struggles to deal with long dry spells followed by heavy rains and deadly flash floods.

In terms of the overall humanitarian situation in Somalia for 2024, World Vision sees humanitarian needs remaining high in 2024 due to recurrent shocks induced by climate change and underlying factors such as conflict and insecurity, says Suganya Kimbrough, program development and quality assurance director for World Vision Somalia.

But the number of people needing humanitarian assistance in 2024 has decreased to 6.9 million from 8.2 million people in 2023, according to the latest draft of the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, she added.

Kimbrough says funding for the U.N.s Somalia Humanitarian Fund currently stands at only $56.6 million, leaving a significant gap between resources available and the need.

She added that most of the funding goes to life-saving interventions because Somalia remains fragile.

However, Kimbrough said, humanitarian organizations, including World Vision, are gradually charting long-term sustainable solutions.

Over the last few years, World Vision Somalia has seen a gradual shift in funding, focusing more on longer-term resilience linked to the humanitarian development peace nexus and away from short-term humanitarian responses, she said.

Continued investments in disaster risk management, system strengthening, social cohesion and livelihood adaptation, and including mechanisms such as crisis modifiers are all key to foster resilience and build the capacity of communities to cope with recurrent shocks, she added.

Close to three million Somalis are living in internally displaced persons camps and largely depend on support from the government and aid agencies.

Marya Ahmed, a mother of seven based in a camp on the outskirts of Mogadishu, says, she has have been living with all children in the camp for the last five years. She said they get just a little food and medical support, and that she really wants to leave the camp one day and start a new life. Right now, she added, she doesnt have the means.

Analysts say whereas the annual call for international support has been critical in staving off humanitarian suffering, it hardly resolves Somalias food security problems.

Ali Mohamed, a food security expert and researcher in Mogadishu, says the appeal by the Somali government and aid agencies is critical for millions of Somalis who are starving. But, he adds, we're dealing with cyclical problems and we're yet to find a lasting solution that will enable populations to develop the capacity to respond to shocks and sustainably generate their food.

Studies indicate that Somalia contributes only a tiny percentage of the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming but suffers more than most countries from adverse climate change conditions.

Mohamed says the situation could get worse because of dwindling global resources and dire humanitarian situations elsewhere.

"I am worried that donors are increasingly getting fatigued with Somalia as we have witnessed recently. There have to be deliberate efforts by the government to seriously invest in food systems and fully exploit the local resources to gradually reduce foreign dependence.

According to the humanitarian agency OCHA, the 2023 appeal was only 43% funded, raising concerns about a similar scenario this year.
Armies of hackers linked to the Chinese government are relentlessly burrowing deep into the computer systems that help run Americas critical infrastructure, posing an urgent threat that cannot be ignored, according to a new warning from top U.S. security officials.

The officials, from the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and U.S. militarys Cyber Command, testified Wednesday before lawmakers, urging the country to act before it is too late.

The risk that poses to every American requires our attention  now, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, emphasizing Beijings actions are putting innocent civilians in the crosshairs.

Theyre not focused just on political and military targets, Wray said. Chinas hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if or when China decides the time has come to strike.

The director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Jen Easterly, was equally blunt in her assessment of the wide-ranging threat from the government in Beijing.

This is truly an everything, everywhere, all at once scenario, she said. Telecommunications going down so people can't use their cellphone, people start getting sick from polluted water, trains get derailed, air traffic control systems are malfunctioning.

Chinas goal, Easterly added, would be to incite societal panic and chaos, and to deter our ability to marshal military might," especially in case of a conflict over Taiwan.

China rejected the accusations, blaming Washington for fomenting a dangerous and unstable cyber environment.

"The Chinese government has been categorical in opposing hacking attacks and the abuse of information technology," said Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington.

"The United States has the strongest cyber technologies of all countries, but has used such technologies in hacking, eavesdropping more than others," Liu told VOA in an email. "We urge the U.S. side to stop making irresponsible criticism against other countries on the issue of cyber-security."

But to underscore the threat, the U.S. Justice Department Wednesday announced it had taken steps to disrupt a Chinese-linked cyber threat actor from hijacking common computer routers used by homes and small businesses across the United States to access critical infrastructure.

Watch related video by Patsy Widakuswara:

U.S. officials blamed the scheme on a group known as Volt Typhoon, which gained international attention in May 2023 when tech giant Microsoft uncovered an effort by the same hackers to infiltrate and disrupt communications infrastructure in Guam, home to key U.S. military facilities.

The recently disrupted scheme, officials said, was equally worrisome.

The Volt Typhoon malware enabled China to hide, among other things, preoperational reconnaissance and network exploitation against critical infrastructure, Wray warned. Steps China was taking, in other words, to find and prepare to destroy or degrade the civilian critical infrastructure that keeps us safe and prosperous.

During Wednesdays hearing in Washington, other top officials told lawmakers the threat is already widespread, with China-linked hackers having found their way into computer systems helping to run the energy, water, transportation and aviation sectors.

"We've made it easy on them," said CISAs Easterly. "The truth is the Chinese cyber actors have taken advantage of very basic flaws in our technology."

Easterly said that the U.S. must do more to adopt what she has called a secure by design approach, to make sure both hardware and software developers are conducting more rigorous testing to eliminate vulnerabilities before their products go on the market.

Lawmakers shared in the alarm.

This is the cyberspace equivalent of placing bombs on American bridges, water treatment facilities and power plants, said Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher, a Republican.

There is no economic benefit for these actions. There's no pure intelligence gathering rationale. The sole purpose is to be ready to destroy American infrastructure, he added.

Despite the multiple concerns, the outgoing commander of U.S. Cyber Command told lawmakers the threat from Chinese hackers has not gone unanswered.

We are ready and postured to contest [the Peoples Republic of Chinas] malicious activities at home and abroad, said General Paul Nakasone of U.S. Cyber Command.

Nakasone said that was especially true of the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.

"I'm very confident in terms of what we will be able to deliver: a safe and secure election," he said.

"Americans can be confident in our election system and our democracy," the FBIs Wray added, though he cautioned the threats from China  and others  are growing.

"I am also mindful of the fact that our adversaries are getting more sophisticated and that there are more and more foreign adversaries who want to get in on this game," he said.

Wray also voiced doubts about reports that Chinese government officials have promised the U.S. they will not interfere in the election.

"Well, China's promised a lot of things over the years, so I guess I'll believe it when I see it," he said.

One avenue for election interference of particular concern to lawmakers is the social media network TikTok.



If the CCP were to want to change TikTok feeds to bias one candidate or another in the upcoming presidential election, would they be able to do so?" asked Democratic Representative Seth Moulton.

Wray replied, "My understanding is that under Chinese law that would be something they are permitted to do.

When pressed on whether the U.S. should ban TikTok, Wray said such a decision is "outside my lane.

But he added, As long as the Chinese government has the ability to control all these aspects of the business, I don't see how you get your way clear to mitigating those concerns."

Wednesdays warnings build on a steady drumbeat of alerts from the U.S. government on the threat China poses in cyberspace.

Earlier this month, the FBI along with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, and the Environmental Protection Agency, or RPA, cautioned cyberattacks were posing a real and urgent risk to safe drinking water.

CISA has also warned about threats from Chinese-manufactured drones, warning they could access or steal sensitive information that could put the U.S. security and health and safety at risk.



In September, Nakasone said he expected China to leverage artificial intelligence, also known as AI, to impact the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.

Russia, China, others are going to try to use this technology," Nakasone told an audience in Washington.
Businesses and shops in several cities in Kurdish-populated western Iran shut down Tuesday in a strike protesting the hanging a day earlier of four Kurds convicted of collaborating with Israel, activists said.

The four, who had been arrested in July 2022, were hanged at a prison in the city of Karaj outside Tehran in defiance of a campaign by rights groups who said their trial had been grossly unfair.

Their hanging added to concerns over a surge in executions in Iran, which has seen on average two people executed every day so far this month, according to campaigners.

The Norway-based Kurdish-focused Hengaw group and the France-based Kurdistan Human Rights Network published images they said showed whole streets of shops shuttered in major urban centers, including Kermanshah, Saqez and Sanandaj.

Hengaw said the action was observed in a dozen towns and cities, with internet connections cut and Revolutionary Guard Corps helicopters circling overhead in some areas.

Abdullah Mohtadi, secretary general of the Komala Party which wants greater self-determination for Iran's Kurdish minority but is outlawed by Tehran, wrote on the social media platform X that the general strike had been a "complete success."

The region had been a major center for the nationwide protests that erupted in September 2022 following the death in police custody of the Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, who was from Saqez.

Joanna Taimasi, the wife of Mohsen Mazloum, one of the executed men, wrote on X that authorities had refused to hand over the bodies of the four men to their families in western Iran and that they would "instead be buried in an unspecified place."

And Bayan Azimi, whose husband, Pejman Fatehi, was executed, wrote on Instagram she had cut off her son's braid of hair that he had insisted on growing until the day his father was free.

From Tehran's Evin prison, 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi said in a message relayed by her family that she and other women "political prisoners" in the jail were again going on a daylong hunger strike to protest the latest executions.

The Iranian judiciary said the four men were convicted of collaborating with Israel on a plan to sabotage an Iranian defense site in the central province of Isfahan.

But Amnesty International said it was horrified by the "arbitrary execution" of the four men, whom it described as "Iranian Kurdish dissidents" sentenced to death "after a grossly unfair secret trial."
The Biden administration is touting its outreach to China, pointing to cooperation on counternarcotics, discussions on artificial intelligence, and the resumption of military-to-military contacts as evidence of cooperation that has reduced tension between the two rivals.

"This intensive diplomacy was about managing tough issues rather than patching up the relationship," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said at a Council on Foreign Relations event Tuesday evening.

He pointed to Taiwan holding "historic elections" earlier this month "without any major cross-strait incident" and said that was in part due to Washington, Beijing and Taipei working "to reduce miscommunication and misperception." Beijing considers Taiwan a wayward province and has not ruled out the use of force to take full control of the island.

Sullivan's speech was the latest in a series of briefings by senior officials in recent days that showcased the administration's focus on maintaining the stability of U.S.China ties.

A key component is leader-to-leader engagement, Sullivan said, noting that a call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping is expected to happen "fairly soon." A senior administration official told VOA that Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also expected to visit Beijing again "at some point" this year.

The White House messaging comes amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and as Biden gears up for his reelection campaign against likely Republican nominee former U.S. President Donald Trump, where tough talk on China is likely on both sides.

Trump is already criticizing Biden's green energy policies designed to bolster American manufacturing and the purchase of electric vehicles, saying they will allow China's electric vehicle industry to steal American jobs.

Addressing differences

Sullivan highlighted his recent meeting with China's minister of foreign affairs, Wang Yi, and various engagements of top Biden administration officials with their Chinese counterparts to address issues critical to U.S. interests. They include Beijing's "support for Russia's war against Ukraine," human rights, and disruptions to the global supply chain.

"We did not pull back from national security focus measures like restrictions on outbound investment and updates to our export controls," he said. "Instead, we use these meetings as opportunities to explain what these measures were, but almost as importantly, what they were not."

The "competitive structural dynamics," Sullivan argued, need not impede the two sides from addressing mutual interests and transnational problems. "A sustainable China policy is about holding in one's head multiple truths at the same time and working iteratively to reconcile them," he said.

Sullivan declined to confirm whether China agreed to use its influence on Tehran to rein in Iran-backed Houthi militants' attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea. U.S. clashes with the Houthis in Yemen and other Iran proxies in Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria  fallouts from the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza  have threatened to draw Washington into a wider war in the Middle East.

Chip war and cyber operations

Concerns remain, including the brewing chip war that continues to be the focus of the U.S.-China tech rivalry, with Beijing accusing Washington of hegemonic and bullying practices as it denies China access to a limited group of advanced semiconductors while upgrading chip capabilities at home.

There are also fears that Chinese hacking operations could hit U.S. infrastructure, or possibly disrupt elections. In a briefing to American lawmakers Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray said Chinese government hackers are actively targeting Americas electrical grid, wastewater treatment plants, gas pipelines and transportation systems.

Wray alleged that Beijing is running cyber campaigns to silence, coerce, and threaten our citizens and residents. The National Intelligence Council in December also said in a report that Beijing tacitly approved efforts to try to influence a handful of midterm races involving members of both U.S. political parties.

As Biden gears up for his reelection bid in November, his administration is wary of even the appearance of election interference from adversaries. In an interview with VOA Wednesday, National Security Council John Kirby declined to confirm reports that President Xi Jinping promised President Joe Biden in their last meeting in November that China will not meddle in U.S. elections.

We've been clear publicly and we've included privately with interlocutors all around the world about what we do, what we have to do to make sure that our elections are free and fair, and they have been and they will continue to be, Kirby said.

Beijing is likely to be cautious about interfering in U.S. presidential elections, said Jeremi Suri, professor of international relations at the University of Texas at Austin.

We might see some Chinese interference through bots and through online activities with regard to some of the congressional elections, especially if they perceive some members of Congress as being too hawkish on China, he told VOA.

Potential for new irritants aside, after a turbulent period last year that included China flying balloons to spy on the U.S., the relationship between Washington and Beijing has largely stabilized, said Rana Mitter, professor of U.S.-China ties at Harvard Kennedy School.

There have been very active moves by the Biden administration, by the U.S. government to try and find points of calm where China can engage, he told VOA. And on the part of China, it does seem there's a willingness that wasn't there even a year or two ago.

Calm that the administration is keen to preserve amid the brewing war in the Middle East.

VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report.
The liquidation of debt-ridden China Evergrande Group, ordered by a Hong Kong court on Monday, is unlikely to be enforced elsewhere in China, analysts say.

I think its extremely unlikely, David Goodman, director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney in Australia, told VOA in a phone interview on Tuesday.

It's not only a question of enforcement, it's a question of what the central government [in Beijing] wants to do. If it starts to get involved in this, it has to get involved in other activities, too, by extension. So, this is a big issue, Goodman said.

Goodman added that its possible Beijing might use the opportunity to restructure the faltering property sector more deeply, although, he said, it could have already done so if it wanted to.

Evergrande, once Chinas largest property developer, is headquartered in Hong Kong, but 90% of its assets  including more than 1,300 housing projects across 280 cities  are in mainland China, where the Hong Kong court has no jurisdiction.

If the Chinese courts were to recognize Hong Kongs ruling, it could also set an example to other financially troubled developers in China, said Goodman, who believes that Evergrandes debt to various creditors is larger than its claimed liabilities of $300 billion.

Domino effect

Chiou Jiunn-rong, a professor of economics at National Central University in Taiwan, agreed the liquidation of Evergrande in China could trigger a domino effect that would pull down the property market, impacting the entire industry from creditors to contractors and interior decorators.

Chinas economy will experience a huge drag down as builders, banks and home buyers are all hit badly by the crisis. The economy will surely further weaken if more developers face a similar fate of forced liquidation, Chiou told VOA Mandarin in a phone interview on Monday.

He said if more property developers face forced liquidations, Chinese home buyers would also hold off on potential purchases in anticipation of lower property prices.

And that is just the impact on China. Evergrande says it has more than $300 billion in debt and filed for bankruptcy in New York last year. If the property market in China falters, it would add to the growing number of economic challenges the country is already facing.

Uncertain delivery of unfinished homes

An even greater uncertainty for Beijing is its goal to ensure the delivery of an estimated 20 million unfinished homes nationwide, including those pre-sold by Evergrande to more than 5 million Chinese buyers.

Following Mondays liquidation order, Evergrande CEO Shawn Siu pledged that the companys unfinished construction projects would be completed, according to Chinese finance media 21st Century Business Herald.

Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, on Monday, also addressed the nations faltering local property sector saying, efforts should be made to establish a financing coordination mechanism for urban housing projects, and promote the implementation of specific financing projects, state media China Daily reported.

Citing an anonymous source, financial news website China Business Network reported on Tuesday that Chinas banking regulators may finalize a whitelist of 50 developers for finance this week. The idea was first drafted late last year but has yet to be announced.

While the move aims to give Chinas financial institutions more confidence in lending to the struggling sector, analysts said banks may resist, adopting a wait-and-see approach for fear of getting stuck with bad loans.

Lu Ting, chief China economist of Nomura Securities, had previously argued, Beijing may ultimately have to play the role of lender of last resort, filling a funding gap of 3.2 trillion yuan ($448 billion) to complete the construction of those 20 million unfinished homes.

Chinas stimulus measures

China has been mulling over measures to bolster the real estate market. Last Saturday, the southern city of Guangzhou announced it was relaxing restrictions to allow home buyers to purchase as many as they want, as long as the properties they are buying are bigger than 120 square meters.

According to Chinese media reports, other megacities including Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai are likely to follow suit to help accelerate the sale of homes and reduce housing inventory.

Dozens of provinces in China have already offered preferential mortgage rates for first time home buyers as another measure to boost sales.

Most of these policies, however, have done little to prop up the property market as the Chinese economy is deteriorating, said Shi Ling, a Brisbane, Australia-based commentator.

Theres just not a strong market signal, neither do Chinas economic fundamentals provide enough support to fuel its recovery or help Evergrande turn around its business, Shi Ling told VOA Mandarin on Monday in a phone interview.

This article originated in VOAs Mandarin Service.
DaVita Inc. (NYSE:DVA) is one of the world's top providers of dialysis services and integrated health care management services.

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Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, but few investors have the capital or resources needed to invest in this asset class. A platform backed by industry giant Marcus & Millichap is changing that, allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000.

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Lighting fires that brightened the night sky, followers of Iran's minority Zoroastrian religion marked the Sadeh festival in several cities Tuesday, celebrating the end of the coldest winter days.

Every year on January 30, Zoroastrians gather after sunset to celebrate the 50 days and 50 nights remaining until spring. Sadah, which means "the 100," is an ancient feast from when the religion was the dominant faith in the powerful Persian empire, which collapsed after the Arab invasion in the 7th century.

On the southwestern outskirts of Tehran, several Zoroastrian priests and priestesses, dressed in white from head-to-toe to symbolize purity, led young followers to light a giant bonfire in a joyful ceremony.

Around the fire, people listened to bands and theological lectures as they milled about while eating and celebrating.

In a rare move, the Islamic Republic's air force band played the national anthem, among other tunes, to the excitement of the attendees.

Iran's 85 million population is mostly Shiite Muslim. The country has been ruled by hardline clerics who preach a strict version of Islam since the 1979 Islamic revolution. They discourage people from following pre-Islamic feasts and traditions.

Zoroastrianism is a monotheistic religion that predates Christianity and Islam. It was founded 3,800 years ago by the prophet Zoroaster. It stresses good deeds, and fire plays a central role in worship as a symbol of truth and the spirit of God. Zoroastrians stress they are not fire worshippers but see fire as a symbol of righteousness.

Alongside other minorities, including Christians and Jews, they have one representative in parliament, Esfandiar Ekhtiari.

During Tuesday's ceremny, Ekhtiari said the celebration belongs to everyone and is a symbol of "felicity, respect to humanity and nature as well as human beings."

In 2023, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recognized Sadeh for its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from Iran and Tajikistan.

Although they have common elements, such as lighting fire, the Sadeh festival is different from Nowruz, which marks the Persian new year.
An opposition leader in Zimbabwe who spent nearly 600 days in detention while awaiting trial on charges of inciting public violence has been released. A magistrate in Harare convicted Job Sikhala on the charges but handed down a suspended two-year sentence because Sikhala had already spent so many days in jail. Columbus Mavhunga has more from Harare.
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Jubilant supporters outside Harare Magistrates Courts following the release of CCC activist Job Sikhala, who was in remand prison for more than one and half years. (Video: Rutendo Mawere:
By Nyasha Chingono

HARARE, Jan 30 (Reuters) - A Zimbabwean court on Tuesday freed opposition politician Job Sikhala after nearly 600 days of pre-trial detention on charges of inciting public violence in 2022.

Sikhala, 51, a leader in the opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has been arrested dozens of times since he began his political career in 1999.

He was jailed in 2022 for obstruction of justice and inciting public violence after saying that the ruling party, ZANU PF, had killed an opposition activist, which it denied. He denied all charges against him.

On Tuesday, a Harare magistrate convicted him of inciting public violence but gave him a suspended two-year sentence because he had already spent so long in jail.

"He is now a free man. He is going to come out today," his lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, told journalists outside the court, where Sikhala's supporters sang and danced in celebration.

Nkomo added that his client, a lawyer, would appeal against the conviction.

"We are not resting. What we want is an acquittal," he said.

Kept in the high-walled Chikurubi maximum prison in Harare which houses Zimbabwe's most dangerous criminals, Sikhala had written spirited letters calling for solidarity.

He is the only Zimbabwean politician to have endured such a long pre-trial detention.

(Reporting by Nyasha Chingono; Editing by Nellie Peyton and Nick Macfie)
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A Zimbabwean court on Tuesday (January 30) freed opposition politician Job Sikhala after he spent nearly 600 days in pre-trial detention on charges of inciting public violence in 2022. Emma Jehle reports.
Tel Aviv University carried out a major study on Israeli public opinion covering the period from 8 to 15 January 2024. The findings are surprising.

Outside of Israel, one cannot fully understand the way in which the 7 October attack was experienced by the Israeli population and the evolution of their thinking ever since. Jewish Israelis were convinced that their country was an inviolable sanctuary, which provided them with absolute security. By its very existence, the State of Israel protected them from a new shoah. The shattering of this belief on October 7 triggered in them an inextinguishable panic.

They then turned to their government for security, but it failed to rally them behind a government of national unity. After much hesitation, a war cabinet was set up which, instead of promoting unity, sowed utter discord, with ministers insulting each other and slamming doors. The impotence of the Israeli leaders was showing through. The Zionist myth was falling apart. The panic experienced by the Israeli population turned into a frenzied thirst for more and more bloodletting.

Initially, the Israelis denounced the spiral of violence and called for restraint, to the extent that Benyamin Netanyahus coalition was reluctant to send ground troops to Gaza.

Today, 88% of Jewish Israelis think that the 25,000 Palestinian civilian casualties are justified, while half of the Arab Israelis react humanely and lament the deaths of both sides.

In their blindness, Jewish Israelis are divided according to their prior convictions. Those who feel they belong to a superior people and who supported Benajmin Netanyahus coalition want above all to exterminate Hamas, while those who wanted to live in peace alongside their neighbors and were against the coalition are calling for the release of the hostages.

When considering what will come after the war, 61% of Netanyahus coalition supporters think there will be no true peace in Gaza, hence 90% of them demand that control of Gaza remain in the hands of Israel. Those who oppose Netanyahus coalition prefer to see Gaza under international control. While half of Arab Israelis believe peace is possible, only 9 percent of Jewish Israelis would be prepared to embrace it.

Regarding the installation of Israeli settlements in the Palestinian Territory of Gaza, 79% of Israeli coalition supporters applaud it, while 74% of the opposition reject it.

We may therefore conclude that only one third of the Israeli population respects international law.
Robyn and Fever Ray are among the Swedish artists calling for Israels ban. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Per Ole Hagen/Redferns, Joseph Okpako/WireImage

More than 1,000 Swedish musicians have signed an open letter asking for Israel to be excluded from Eurovision, which Sweden is hosting in May. The letter, published in the newspaper Aftonbladet, said Israels brutal warfare in Gaza should be disqualifying, per The Guardians translation. The artists argued that Israels participation would undermine the credibility of the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the annual song contest. In response, the EBU said Israels public broadcaster, Kan, met all the competition rules for this year. We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East, the EBU told Vulture. However, we are committed to ensuring the Eurovision Song Contest remains a nonpolitical event in which broadcasters and artists, not governments, compete. Israel has participated in Eurovision for 50 years and won four times, most recently in 2018 with the song Toy, performed by Netta.

Musicians including Robyn, Fever Ray, First Aid Kit, the Knifes Olof Dreijer, Refused, and Viagra Boys have signed the Swedish letter along with past Eurovision performers Eric Saade and Malena Ernman (mother of climate activist Greta Thunberg). The fact that countries that place themselves above humanitarian law are welcomed to participate in international cultural events trivializes violations of international law and makes the suffering of the victims invisible, it reads.

The Swedish artists add their voices to previous calls for an Israeli ban from Iceland and Finland. The Icelandic Association of Composers and Lyricists has told members to boycott Eurovision if Israel is allowed to compete, per The Guardian, while a group of Finnish artists said the Finnish Broadcasting Company should not enter a song.

The EBU has previously disqualified countries, such as in 2022, when Russia was banned amid its invasion of Ukraine. The group had initially said Russia could compete before widespread criticism changed its mind. At the time, the EBU stated Russias participation would bring the competition into disrepute.
Photo: Sarah Jun, Barnes & Noble

Im talking to a woman in an otter onesie when the screaming starts. Its 11:55 p.m. at the Union Square Barnes & Noble, and about 300 people  I see more elf ears than men in the crowd  are packed into the event space on the third floor. Were here to count down to the midnight release of House of Flame and Shadow, book three of the massively popular Crescent City series, in which humans coexist alongside magical creatures and otters deliver the mail. Its not clear who spots her as she ascends the escalator with her bodyguard and a small posse, but one scream becomes 300 screams before I register whats happening. Then the noise doesnt stop for almost a minute. I worry for the health of my eardrums and my audio recorder. Sarah J. Maas has arrived.

Photo: Sarah Jun, Barnes & Noble

Maass books are epic fantasy novels with emotionally volatile faeries and sexy bat boys and, as of the last chapter in the second volume of Crescent City, the possibility of an epic series crossover. That books final pages are notoriously shocking. (I literally threw my book across the room, the otter, AnnaBeth Crittenden, says when I ask her about them.) The books have strong female leads and complex world-building, and, maybe more important, everybodys hot, as one person puts it to me. Maass books are big on TikTok and long, long, long. As multiple attendees note over the night, House of Flame and Shadow has 102 chapters; it is 839 pages, not including bonus chapters, and the audiobook runs for 29 hours and 42 minutes. Several people tell me theyre planning to read it tonight, and one says she took off work tomorrow to do so.

Maass appearance tonight is a surprise, and she swoops in and out with the air of a bona fide celebrity  or of J.K. Rowling circa 2007, when midnight Harry Potter book releases were a definite thing. As she addresses the crowd, I hear someone in the audience sobbing quietly. The speech is short but heavy on drama. This night is about you guys. You are a force of nature, Maas says. You have no idea how much your love for these books and these characters and these series  they have given me more strength than you could possibly know. They have made me realize I have the strength to fight for myself. Yes, bitch, yes! someone shouts back. More screams follow, and the countdown begins. All right, you guys, go read the shit out of this book! Maas yells, then she exits back down the escalator, bodyguard trotting behind her. I find the stores publicist and ask if I can talk to Maas before she leaves, but no dice.

Photo: Emma Alpern

Hours before her arrival, a line of faux-black-leather-covered fans inched down 17th Street. Among them was a group of friends in their 20s who met last November in the line outside another midnight release party at the same Barnes & Noble, the one for Rebecca Yarross dragon romantasy Iron Flame. Maas is a Swiftie, they tell me after they make it inside the bookstore. She loves Easter eggs; she likes to hide things in random areas. Any predictions, I ask, for where this book might take readers? Theres no prediction in my head, one says. Im just here for the ride.

Upstairs, Catherine Cumming is more decisive: I have three. Kaltain is the girl, the mercenary from the beginning of ACOTAR, and shes going to tie the books together. And then I think Ruhn is Rhyss nephew. And I also believe that Gwyn is Helions grandmother. Cumming is here from Washington State with her 6-month-old baby, Kealoha, whos crawling around on a blanket beside her. Weve been out since 10 p.m. yesterday  we flew here from Seattle and landed at seven this morning, she tells me. Were going straight back to the airport. Im getting on the subway after this, and Ill be reading it on the subway.

To kill the hours before everyone will be given a copy of the book and ushered out  no late-night binge-reading in the B&N aisles allowed  theres a fan-theories table, a cardboard photo-op standee with a couple of balloons tied to it, and temporary-tattoo and origami stations. Theres a trivia contest, too, but apparently its not for casual readers. Im going to have to Google half of these, which is kind of embear-bear, I hear someone say to her friend.

At a table in the cafe, I find sisters Sheryl and Sarah in matching rhinestone makeup and sparkly shoes. Have they seen any of the leaks online, I ask? No! No! Dont scare me, says Sheryl. She opens her phone to show me the folders of fan art she has for each series, all full of hundreds of images she has saved from the internet. Theres art for every single page, she says. It almost makes it like a graphic novel. Sarah hasnt read any Maas  she has to finish The Count of Monte Cristo first. Its just a man starting drama, so thats fun, she says.

Other people are just sitting around with books or Kindles. Im reading an ARC, To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods, says Rivka Demidovich. I was a Bookstagrammer for a long time, and Im in recovery. Her copy of House of Flame and Shadow showed up early, and she read it immediately (I had to work, so it took me two and a half days). The book, she says, left her feeling ambivalent  after the dramatic collision of worlds, there are still unanswered questions, she thinks, and no resolution in sight. It was just like, Why? Why is she doing this? So why come to the release? I dont think Im ever doing this again, she says. Its past my bedtime. I live in Brooklyn. I have to get back home.

Everyone seems a little tired by the time a raffle for HOFAS-branded tote bags starts, but all that turns to delirium once the author shows up. This is literally the best 41st-birthday gift ever, says Evey Alvarez, who runs an ACOTAR group on Facebook that has 30,000 followers. Crittenden finds me to apologize for screaming in my direction earlier, and at the bookstore cafe, a B&N employee tells me they sold about two times as many iced chais as usual. Everyone looks a little shell-shocked as we file back down the escalators, and by the time we reach the ground floor, Maas is long gone. Its my birthday! I hear Alvarez shout from the sidewalk, and the yelling kicks up again.
If Brandon Johnson wants a better understanding of why Chicago businesses are chafing at the most onerous paid-time-off requirements in the nation, he need do no more than walk across to the Cook County side of City Hall and ask his political mentor, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

The County Board late last year acted to strengthen a separate state law  which took effect Jan. 1  requiring a minimum 40 hours of paid time off for any reason for full-time workers in Illinois.

Among other things, the county made the state law apply to airline workers, which the state exempted. And, as Chicago did last year, the county also gave affected employees in the suburbs the right to sue their employers if they felt theyd been shortchanged on paid leave. Employers who lose in court can be assessed triple damages with interest and forced to pay plaintiffs legal fees.

But the county also did something in December that subsequently has exposed the rules for thee but not for me nature of this issue. Although the state law exempted school districts and park districts, the Cook County version made those rules apply to such bodies within Cook County. The subsequent outcry from schools and parks officials prompted Preckwinkle on Jan. 25 to offer an amendment to (once again) exempt the schools and parks.

The arguments the school and parks officials made were familiar. The hastily passed ordinance could affect workers such as substitute teachers, camp counselors and lifeguards who arguably shouldnt be earning paid time off, since they are seasonal or part time. It would cost the districts more money, which would mean higher fees for suburban users, since their property tax levies are capped.

Right. Busted budgets. Chicagos paid-leave policy is far more onerous than the states (and the countys) and has businesses within the city making exactly the same arguments.

But businesses dont get the same sympathy from the Preckwinkles and Johnsons of the world that government officials do.

Story continues

Memo to Johnson: As your political mentor now unwittingly has demonstrated to you, rules like the ones you pushed through the City Council in the face of staunch business opposition cost money. Unlike municipal officials, businesses cant just raise taxes and fees to cover those costs. They either have to cut their own costs  such as payroll, which means fewer jobs  or raise their prices, which means higher prices for consumers. Theres no free lunch.

The irony on the county side is that the ordinance passed in December now appears extremely limited in practice, with park and school workers expected to be no longer covered. Effectively, it appears mainly to have added airline workers and some delivery employees that the state law exempted. And, arguably, even those workers might continue to be exempt if the municipalities in which they work opt out.

The city and county are jumping through these anti-business hoops at the behest of unions, which want the minimum public standards in place to give them better negotiating leverage with employers. But its not the job of public officials to help unions win better contracts. The unions can do that just fine on their own.

And, giving lawyers even more causes of action to pursue than they already have  all in the purported name of ensuring compliance  is foolhardy in the extreme. That is, if public officials care at all about the business climate in their jurisdictions and the ability of their businesses to remain competitive.

Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton, who co-sponsored Preckwinkles amendment to exempt parks and schools, explained the reason. It is our responsibility as a board to guarantee workers needs are adequately met while balancing unintended consequences.

In other words, unanticipated consequences in the public sector demand prompt action in Cook County and Chicago.

Not so in the private sector. It beggars belief.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Ask me about my new best friends, Chronos and Astronomica. Photo: Universal via YouTube

The dream of a classic-movie-monster cinematic franchise called Dark Universe is alive in Orlando. In its ongoing noble quest to become the superior Florida theme-park destination (real heads know it already is), Universal Orlando Resort has released a trailer for Epic Universe, its long-anticipated third gate and the first new Disney or Universal theme park to open in America since Disney California Adventure beta-launched in 2001. It looks expensive. It looks creative. It does, in fact, look epic.

The trailer is hosted by Mark Woodbury, CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, who is feeling his Michael Eisner oats as he talks about the storied history of the studio tram tour that started it all. He then launches into Universals current mission of building a theme park that will offer storytelling and immersion in the most visceral manner possible. The result is a theme park made up of five worlds, connected through portals, a frightening example of multiverse oversaturation crossing over from movies to real life.

This is forgiven, though, once the president of Universal, Molly Murphy, introduces the concept of Chronos, the first portal, where all the planets will align. We love highfalutin world-building-, original IP, sci-fi/fantasy-speak. Chronos leads to Celestial Park, which will put the park back in theme park, which I guess means it will have grass, benches, and landscaping in addition to Astronomica, where you can play with dancing fountains. Love that. The concept art lands somewhere between the Jules Verne Tomorrowland in Disneyland Paris, His Dark Materials, Spyro, and ancient civ.

The other four areas are IP based. Theres a How to Train Your Dragon land and a Dark Universe featuring Frankenstein, the Mummy, et al. that promises everything youve ever wanted to experience with monsters in this world (which  have you ever searched Dracula or werewolf on AO3?). Theres also another Wizarding World park, this time themed to the Ministry of Magic. I shudder at the thought of experiencing Grindelwalds many crimes up close and in person. Finally, and most anticipated, is the East Coast version of Super Nintendo World, which will be larger than its Hollywood counterpart. While it wasnt teased in the video, we know that Universal is constructing a Donkey Kong mine-cart coaster in addition to porting over the Mario Kart ride.

The video ends with Steven Spielberg promising that Epic Universe is built on an amazing concept, which the CEO defines as What I think were trying to do most is give people the opportunity to really experience the full thrill of being alive.

So what do you think? Too much for a theme park to promise, or just the right amount of ambition? Do you think there will be a Grindelwald meet and greet? Are you excited by the thought of Jay Baruchels prerecorded voice telling you to keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle at all times on a How to Train Your Dragon ride? Epic Universe opens officially in 2025. Then, and only then, will we really experience the full thrill of being alive.
Elon Musk may not keep a Tesla pay package worth more than $55 billion, a Delaware judge ruled on Tuesday, saying that the Tesla CEO and his company failed to prove that the massive payout was fair.

The ruling comes five years after a shareholder lawsuit accused Musk and Tesla's board of directors of breaching their duties to the electric vehicle manufacturer, wasting corporate assets and unjustly enriching the billionaire.

Tesla shares slid 4% in after-hours trading.

Musk had testified in November that he didn't attend any meetings where the plan was discussed by Tesla's board or its compensation committee, and denied that he had a hand in setting the terms of the payout. But Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen McCormick wrote in her ruling that Musk and his attorneys failed to prove that the compensation plan was fair.

"[T]he defendants bore the burden of proving that the compensation plan was fair, and they failed to meet their burden," McCormick wrote in the decision, which was posted online by Bloomberg News.

She added that Musk, Tesla and their attorneys also failed to prove that the milestones that Musk had to meet to receive the pay package were difficult to reach, and said that other parts of their defense failed to make their case.

"The defendants maintained that the plan is an exceptional deal when compared to private equity compensation plans, but they did not explain why anyone would compare a public company's compensation plan with a private equity compensation plan," she added. "The defendants insisted that the plan worked in that it delivered to stockholders all that was promised, but they made no effort to prove causation."

After the judge released her ruling, Musk wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, "Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware."

With reporting by the Associated Press.

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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.
ABC board member Laura Tingle has defended her decision to back managing director David Anderson and reject a union-led vote of no confidence in him, arguing it was in the best interests of the public broadcasters staff.

Chief political correspondent for the news organisations 7.30 program, Tingle said despite her vote against the union position she understood concerns raised by ABC employees over the way it covers the Israel-Gaza war and the sacking of fill-in radio host Antoinette Lattouf. Tingle joined the ABCs board as its staff-elected representative in March 2023.

Journalist and author Laura Tingle is the ABCs staff-elected board director. Credit: James Brickwood

I did this [support Anderson] because it was my judgment that this was in the best interests of the staff, a judgment based on the information available to me, she said.

I completely understand the concerns of staff members who are anxious to ensure that not only the independence of the ABC is maintained, but the perception of independence is maintained.
Emerita Resources Corp.

Figure 1

IBW geology and locations of La Romanera, El Cura and La Infanta deposits

Figure 2

Locations and traces of EMO El Cura drilling

Figure 3

Mineralization intercept in EC007, 75 contact with the tuffaceous unit

Figure 4

Mineralized bands of different composition in drillhole EC007

Figure 5

Map-view location relative to EMO Phase 1 drilling and the Rio Tinto Minera DDH

Figure 6

Vertical longitudinal section

TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emerita Resources Corp. (TSX  V: EMO; OTCQB: EMOTF; FSE: LLJA) (the Company or Emerita) is pleased to provide an update from exploration drilling at the El Cura deposit which is part of Emeritas wholly owned Iberian Belt West project (IBW or the Project). IBW hosts three previously identified massive sulfide deposits: La Infanta, La Romanera and El Cura. Results contained in this release are from El Cura. All three IBW deposits are open for expansion along strike and at depth. Ian Parkinson, EVP Corporate Development notes, The El Cura Deposit is the one that we have the least historical data for and as such requires more of an exploration approach to locate the mineralized zone referred to by historical archived documents, primarily from RTZ exploration in the 1980s.



Background

First worked during Roman times, the El Cura mine has seen several periods of activity in the modern era during the late 19th Century and mid to later 20th Century. The most extensive workings on the polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) mineralization consisted of a 100m shaft and three investigatory sublevels made at some time during the World War 2 era. No production records have been mentioned in the historic literature. More recently, assessments were made by Phelps Dodge and Rio Tinto from the 1970s through the early 1990s, with work including geophysical surveys and drill testing. Internal company reports by Rio Tinto calculated resource estimates ranging from 1Mt to 3Mt and a 1982 geological synthesis of the southwest Iberian Pyrite Belt by the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Energy (IGME) stated a mineral resource estimate of 1.0 Mt @ 1.85% Cu, 2.0% Pb, 4.0% Zn (Au and Ag were not estimated).

A qualified person, as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has not done sufficient work on behalf of Emerita to classify the historical estimate reported above as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and Emerita is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The historical estimate should not be relied upon.

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Emerita Exploration Work

El Cura is centrally located within the Companys wholly owned IBW concession, approximately 3km southeast from La Romanera and along the same mineralized trend as La Infanta (Figure 1). First work by Emerita included detailed surface and underground (where accessible) geological mapping, followed by soil sampling and ground EM and gravimetry. Emeritas first Diamond drilling campaign at El Cura consisted of six holes. Phase 1 drilling finished in October, stepping from East to West to scout the continuity of the mineralized zone. The intention of phase one was reconnaissance drilling designed to better understand the El Cura geology and orientation within the local stratigraphy. In total, 2,230m in widely spaced drill holes was completed, testing a strike length of 600m to 385m below surface in the deepest hole. Drilling at El Cura was impacted by an extended period of extremely high temperature and low precipitation, as a result productivity was low during the summer months while fire prevention restrictions were in effect.

Figure 1. IBW geology and locations of La Romanera, El Cura and La Infanta deposits.

View Figure 1 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/deb2052e-5a5c-4d3f-a5d2-7a700c9b1b46

240131_EMO_Figure 1_IBW_Geologic_Map





Results

The Phase 1 program identified massive sulfides locally sheared at or near to the contact between volcaniclastic rocks and shales. This host environment is very similar to La Romanera deposit located to the west of El Cura. Intercepts spacing ranged between 175m and 250m. Although coarsely spaced, five holes of six cut significant mineralization over approximately 400m of strike. The westernmost hole of the campaign, EC007, was the highest grade in copper. Assays of significant intercepts are detailed in Table 1; Figure 2.

Joaquin Merino, P.Geo., President of Emerita, remarks, We are encouraged by our first drilling campaign at El Cura. Despite broadly spaced and limited drilling, our exploration team confirmed the presence of an extensive mineralizing system at El Cura capable of producing high grade results evidenced by hole EC007 which returned high grade copper and zinc mineralization. With anomalous base metals mineralization identified over a strike length of almost 600m our team is excited to commence Phase 2. As work continues at El Cura we expect to eventually narrow our focus as the mineralizing system becomes better understood. With this drilling we can now target more effectively areas where higher grade mineralization may occur such as in the vicinity of EC007.

Table 1: Significant intercepts in Phase 1 drilling program, El Cura deposit

DDH Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth

(m) FROM TO Width

(m) Cu % Pb % Zn % Au g/t Ag g/t Lens EC002 650268 4171630 135 121 -55 411.8 291.7 294.4 2.7 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.59 87.0 TL EC003B 650110 4171554 140 165 -48 296.5 199.6 207.8 8.2 0.9 0.9 0.3 0.75 26.3 TL EC004 650031 4171058 224 340 -35 417.1 400.5 403.5 3.0 0.6 1.2 2.0 1.12 38.1 TL EC005 650110 4171554 140 205 -65 428.0 321.4 322.2 0.8 0.4 0.4 1.1 1.70 36.0 TL EC006 650110 4171554 140 197 -53 327.0 246.0 248.8 2.8 0.9 0.5 0.7 0.52 65.7 TL EC006 314.5 317.3 2.8 0.1 0.9 1.9 0.46 37.9 BL EC007 649685 4171500 127 159 -22 238.4 225.6 227.8 2.2 2.9 2.3 4.6 2.81 82.5 TL

*TL: Top Lens; BL: Bottom Lens

Figure 2: Locations and traces of EMO El Cura drilling

View Figure 2 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/df3733b4-6b49-4777-ad2b-9d2a803ebaaf

240131_EMO_Figure 2_EC_Plan_View





Hole EC007 intersected 2.2 m of a high-grade base and precious metal massive/semi-massive sulfide lens, hosted in a greyish tuff, comprising zoned mineral folded bands with two main compositions. One is seen as mainly polymetallic Sph/Ga massive bands with some Py and the other is formed of pyritic/copper rich massive sulfide with polymetallic veinlets. This hole intercepted the mineralization at 225.6m with a 75 sharp contact with the tuffaceous unit (Figure 3; Figure 4).

Figure 3: Mineralization intercept in EC007, 75 contact with the tuffaceous unit

View Figure 3 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2833f304-b1e7-4e43-8900-816889fa70c9

240131_EMO_Figure 3





Figure 4: Mineralized bands of different composition in drillhole EC007

View Figure 4 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6df0c747-8195-404b-bcfb-93467e68ac41

240131_EMO_Fig 4





Historical Information

Recently uncovered archival data from previous holders of El Cura indicates the presence of additional massive sulfide mineralization well below and to the north of what has been defined thus far. In the early 1980s two holes oriented due-south and spaced 100m apart were drilled by Rio Tinto, presumably to test the deep potential of the El Cura mineralization. Geological cross-sections of each hole were found that document this program and reveal 7.3m to 8.5m thick intercepts of massive sulfide about 450m below surface and about 350m down-dip from the nearest drill holes (Figure 5; Figure 6). Although azimuth, dip and cross-section scale were recorded, thus permitting accurate georeferencing, no associated assay records have yet been located. This data is very significant as it suggests potential for extensive and relatively thicker sulphide mineralization in the area below hole EC007, extending to depth in the westernmost part of the area that was recently drilled.

Figure 5: Map-view location relative to EMO Phase 1 drilling and the Rio Tinto Minera DDH

View Figure 5 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d9fe7309-2004-407a-be62-d54dc489c843

240131_EMO_Figure 5_EC_Geology_Map





Figure 6: Vertical longitudinal section

View Figure 6 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d3abe86-6abb-4a5a-8b9f-0f7e16cb47d2

240131_EMO_Figure 6_EC_VLP_Lens_PR





Next Steps

Surface mapping has shown that the target horizon continues westward from EC007, and reconnaissance has located additional ancient workings on-trend for 1.4km. Interpretation of Phase 1 results will continue in coming weeks to plan further step-out.

David Gower, P.Geo., CEO of Emerita remarks, December of 2023 marked a major milestone for Emerita when we submitted documentation required for Emeritas exploitation license application to the Delegacion Territorial de Energia y Minas in Huelva province, Junta de Andalucia (See December 4, 2023 press release). The operation envisioned in that application contemplates one central facility processing material from both La Romenara and La Infanta resources. El Cura is centrally located between both resources meaning any resources defined at El Cura in the future will have the potential to positively impact the mining plan of any future operation at IBW.

Phase 2 is expected to commence in the first half of 2024. Emeritas Spain based technical team is working to establish new drill pads to open more targets for testing. Emerita plans to continue this modest sized drill campaign approach going forward at El Cura. This approach allows for efficient allocation of exploration spending and provides time for complete compilation of data before progressing with the next phase of drilling. In addition, the Company is assessing a number of untested exploration targets on the remainder of the IBW Property in the context of siting infrastructure. These targets will need to be tested as a priority to ensure any potential new discoveries are not sterilized by permitting infrastructure at those locations.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Drilling at El Cura is HQ size and core is placed into core trays at the drill site and transported directly from the site to Emeritas coreshack (15Km) from El Cura. Once the cores are received at Emerita's coreshack they are photographed and geotechnical logging is performed. Geological, mineralogical and structural logging follows and mineralized zones are identified. The samples are marked every 1m or less, and respecting lithological contacts, with most of the samples 1.0m long. The zone immediately above and below the mineralized zones are also sampled. Core samples are sawed in half and half of the core is returned to the core tray for future reference. Once the core samples are cut, bagged and tagged, they are shipped to the ALS laboratory in Seville by Emerita personnel where sample preparation is done. In Seville, ALS performs the mechanical preparation of the samples and then the pulps are sent to ALS Ireland (ICP) and ALS Romania (fire assay). The analysis at ALS Lab corresponds to the ME-ICPore (19 elements) package, together with the Au-AA23 fire assay (Gold).

10% of the analyzed samples correspond to control samples (fine blanks, coarse blanks, high, medium and low grade standards). In addition, 10% of pulps are reanalyzed at a second independent certified laboratory (AGQ Lab Sevilla). When the analysis is completed, the certificates are received from the laboratory and the QA/QC protocol identifies any deviation or anomaly in the results and the entire batch is reassayed in such case. Once the data is approved by the QA/QC protocol assays are entered digitally directly into the database.

Qualified Person

Scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Joaquin Merino, P.Geo., President of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

About Emerita Resources Corp.

Emerita is a natural resource company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Europe, with a primary focus on exploring in Spain. The Companys corporate office and technical team are based in Sevilla, Spain with an administrative office in Toronto, Canada.

For further information, contact:

Ian Parkinson

+1 647 910-2500 (Toronto)

info@emeritaresources.com

www.emeritaresources.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the prospectivity of the IBW project, the mineralization and the IBW project, the economic viability of the IBW project, the Companys future exploration plans and the Companys future plans. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward- looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Emerita, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; risks associated with operation in foreign jurisdictions; ability to successfully integrate the purchased properties; foreign operations risks; and other risks inherent in the mining industry. Although Emerita has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Emerita does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.




Patients in Western Australias emergency departments continue to experience some of the longest wait times in the country as public hospitals continue to struggle to get out of their post-COVID funk.

Public hospital and ambulance data, compiled by the Productivity Commission, revealed wait times for urgent and semi-urgent patients in WA EDs were some of the worst in the country.

WAs emergency departments are still struggling to see patients on time.

Only 32 per cent of urgent presentations to EDs were seen in the nationally agreed time of 30 minutes while only half of patients deemed semi-urgent were seen within an hour.

Urgent and semi-urgent patients together made up nearly 80 per cent of total presentations to WA EDs in 2022-23.
Washington: US President Joe Biden says he has made a decision on how to strike back against the drone strike that killed three American troops in Jordan, and has held Iran responsible for supplying weapons to the militia group that caused the deaths.

Two days after the deadly attack, the US is preparing to retaliate with a response that is likely to be multi-tiered and sustained over time, but risks escalating tensions even further in the Middle East.

US President Joe Biden. Credit: AP

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday (AEDT), Biden did not elaborate on details but replied yes when he was asked if he had decided how to respond.

He also added: I dont think we need a wider war in the Middle East. Thats not what Im looking for.
The European Union is applying new legal restraints around artificial intelligence this year. The US is still trying to figure out how far it wants to go.

The European Parliament in December reached a provisional agreement on the worlds first comprehensive legislation to regulate AI, focusing on uses instead of the technology.

The new rules range in severity depending on how risky the application is, with facial recognition and certain medical innovations requiring approval before being made available to customers.

Federal laws specific to AI dont exist yet in the US, and its unknown whether that will happen. The EU's actions, however, could still have a chilling effect on companies based in this country.

"Any software- and data-technology-rich issue crosses borders so quickly," intellectual property expert Gareth Kristensen, a partner with the law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, said.

The EU is throwing its weight around in other parts of the tech world too. Just this week, EU opposition to a union of two American tech companies  Amazon (AMZN) and robot vacuum maker iRobot (IRBT)  was enough for the firms to call off their $1.4 billion merger.

Not everyone in the US agrees new laws are needed to oversee AI. To date, Washington's attempts to regulate the industry have proceeded slowly and on parallel tracks at the White House and Capitol Hill.

An executive order issued by President Biden last October directed AI developers and users to apply AI "responsibly." Just this week, the administration announced new details there, including a new requirement for developers to disclose their safety test results to the government.

On Capitol Hill, meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has overseen a series of roundtables  with figures like Elon Musk and others in attendance  to begin the process of drafting new laws around the topic.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). REUTERS/Anna Rose Layden (REUTERS / Reuters)

He will be tasked with merging together a group of bipartisan bills under consideration. That includes one from Democratic Senator Gary Peters and Republican Senators Mike Braun and James Lankford to make it mandatory for US government agencies to disclose when they use AI for human interactions and to set in place an appeals process to allow individuals to object to AI-generated decisions.

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In another bill introduced in June, Democratic Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Warner joined Republican Senator Todd Young in proposing an office of global competition analysis that would be tasked with helping the US maintain global leadership in AI.

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal and Republican Senator Josh Hawley also announced their own framework for AI legislation. They proposed that the US establish an independent licensing and oversight organization, along with AI transparency requirements and legal liability for harms caused by the technology.

Theres no guarantee that any of this new US legislation will come to pass.

"The US is a very free market, and [it's] difficult to get bipartisan consensus on a federal level," Kristensen said.

'Proactive rather than reactive'

The US, deliberately, hasnt gone the way of the EU, said Ryan Abbott, a technology-focused intellectual property attorney and medical doctor. America's comparatively more market-driven "less regulation is more" philosophy, he said, could lead lawmakers to police AI using existing IP, copyright, and trademark laws.

"There's a whole other view of this, which is that you really don't need something comprehensive because, really, existing rules cover AI regulation," Abbott added.

Intellectual property law governs patents, copyrights, and trademarks. And tort law protects individuals from harmful products placed on the market.

Abbott, however, recommended in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee last June that lawmakers should at least consider amending intellectual property laws so that AI-generated inventions are clearly patentable. Under current US law, only human inventors are eligible to obtain a patent.

Musk  one of the original backers of OpenAI and creator of chatbot ChatGPT  has said that perhaps a new federal department is needed to stay on top of the risks. Thats what he told reporters after meetings on Capitol Hill in September.

Elon Musk speaks to reporters as he leaves the 'AI Insight Forum' on Capitol Hill last September. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images) (Nathan Howard via Getty Images)

"The reason that I've been saying that before, about the whole AI safety in advance of sort of anything terrible happening, is that consequences of AI going wrong are severe. So we have to be proactive rather than reactive," Musk said last September.

White House national economic advisor Lael Brainard and acting Labor Secretary Julie Su said in an op-ed piece published in Yahoo Finance Tuesday that the Labor Department is creating a set of principles for "the responsible, worker-centric use of AI" while the administration prepares "detailed policy recommendations to protect and support workers against potential AI-related job displacement."

A similar approach is unfolding in the United Kingdom. That nations government is now advocating for companies to voluntarily comply with key principles that its lawmakers set out in a white paper published last year. The UK is expected, for now, to empower its regulators to apply existing law to AI, and base potential legislation depending on future levels of compliance.

China has adopted more politically focused AI laws. Those requirements target AI-generated news distribution, deep fakes, chatbots, and datasets. To date, they are much less comprehensive than the EUs AI Act.

Kristensen estimated that the EU's new AI Act is likely to take effect over the next six to 24 months as members of the 27-nation bloc sign off on the final text.

Some members, including the French government, have been rumored to be exploring whether to revise and push back on certain parts of the act.

Whatever final regulations each government adopts, Abbott said, will play a big role in how AI is developed and used from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

"There's sort of a perception that there's an AI arms race right now, internationally."

Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on Twitter @alexiskweed.

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Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
The European Union will host its third Indo-Pacific forum in Brussels this week, but the world's top superpowers are not invited.

Neither China nor the United States have been asked to a gathering of what is expected to be more than 70 foreign ministers on Friday, despite their outsize role in the region's economic and security landscape, according to several sources familiar with the event.

Beijing's absence is no surprise, but the omission of the US has raised some eyebrows.

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.

Although it was not represented at the inaugural summit in Paris in 2022, Washington sent a high-level delegation to the second edition of the forum in Stockholm last year, led by Derek Chollet, counsellor of the US Department of State.

Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign affairs chief, speaking after the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Stockholm on May 13, 2023. Photo: AFP alt=Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign affairs chief, speaking after the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Stockholm on May 13, 2023. Photo: AFP>

The EU did not immediately respond to a request seeking an explanation for the snub.

Britain has also been left off the invitation list. Last year, the former EU member sent a junior minister of state to Stockholm, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon.

Brussels is keeping the guest list under tight wraps for now. A senior EU official said it would only release a record of attendees, rather than invitees.

One European diplomat suggested the bloc did not want to appear "anti-China" as it looked to build bridges with nations spanning the Pacific Islands, East Africa and Asia.

However the EU official confirmed that China had not been invited for the third straight year, saying that Beijing "has not pursued engagement with partners in line with our concept of the Indo-Pacific".

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"You haven't heard China talk about the Indo-Pacific as a concept they would like to engage with," the official said. "There are lots of formats in which we engage with China fully and completely."

The forum faces stiff competition for the limelight in the Belgian capital this week.

As the Russian war in Ukraine blazes towards its second anniversary, EU leaders will try to convince Hungary on Thursday to lift its veto and unlock more EU funding for Kyiv. The bloc's foreign ministers will also meet on Saturday for their twice-yearly informal meeting known as the Gymnich.

Between those two events, a trio of Indo-Pacific events are on tap. On Thursday, the European Parliament is to host the ministers of Pacific island nations. On Friday morning, the Indo-Pacific Forum will be held, while later in the day foreign ministers from the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will have dinner.

Foreign ministers of Asean member states meet in Luang Prabang, Laos, on Monday ahead of the forum this week with EU counterparts in Brussels. Photo: AFP alt=Foreign ministers of Asean member states meet in Luang Prabang, Laos, on Monday ahead of the forum this week with EU counterparts in Brussels. Photo: AFP>

That will be the highest-profile EU-Asean meeting since a leaders forum in December 2022. A draft of the joint statement to be released after the summit recycles much of the language on controversial issues from that event.

The draft, marked as agreed to by both sides, said "most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and stressed it is causing immense human suffering", but stopped short of naming Moscow. It adds that there were "other views and different assessments of the situation and sanctions".

Nor does the draft name Taiwan. It urges parties in the South China Sea to "exercise self-restraint in the conduct of all activities" and "encourages all countries to avoid any unilateral actions that endanger peace, security, and stability in the region".

Joint text on thorny issues such as Gaza, Myanmar and North Korea had yet to be agreed on by Tuesday afternoon. Asean negotiators proposed calling for a "durable ceasefire" in the Middle East, but it was unclear whether the language would make the cut.

Despite the perceived snub of Washington, senior EU and US officials met on Tuesday in the US capital for a slimmed-down edition of their Trade and Technology Council.

In a speech to US businesses ahead of the council meeting, EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis warned that weakening the global trading architecture would only benefit America's rivals.

"A fragmented trading system based on power relations will harm everybody and benefit no one - with the exception perhaps of China," he said.

"If Western countries, including the US, want to maintain a rules-based world order and balance China's influence in particular, there is no alternative to strengthening transatlantic leadership in these fora."

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.
By Jonathan McCambridge and Cate McCurry, PA

A deal to reduce checks and paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is the best that could be delivered for the people of Northern Ireland, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has said.

The agreement between the UK government, published on Wednesday, is expected to lead to the restoration of the devolved powersharing institutions at Stormont within days.

The deal will see the end of routine post-Brexit checks on goods shipped from Great Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland.

It has persuaded the DUP to end its two-year boycott of the Stormont Assembly.

Mr Donaldson told the BBC Talkback show that he is absolutely convinced the deal is the best one he could have secured.

The Stormont powersharing institutions are expected to return within days (Liam McBurney/PA)

He said: Measured against our seven tests I am satisfied with the progress we have made.

I am satisfied that in terms of our core objectives we have delivered for the people of Northern Ireland.

Is it perfect? No, it isnt.

Have we delivered everything we would have wanted at this stage? No, we havent.

Mr Donaldson said the agreement has removed the so-called Irish Sea trading border.

He said: We believe that where goods are moving within the United Kingdom and its internal market, there shouldnt be checks, there shouldnt be customs declarations, because that is what a border means.

There should not be a border within the UK internal market. These proposals remove that border.

There will no longer be checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, except where, as happens across the UK, there is smuggling or criminality.

He also said now all goods manufactured in Northern Ireland will be available for sale in the rest of the UK.

He said: Businesses in Northern Ireland, if all they do is sell their goods to Great Britain then their goods will be fully acceptable in Great Britain.

The Government has guaranteed that.

There is a new goods guarantee built into these new arrangements that goods manufactured in Northern Ireland will always be available for sale in Great Britain.

Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill is poised to become first minister at Stormont (Niall Carson/PA)

The DUP leader also said the automatic appliance of EU laws to Northern Ireland would end.

He said: At the moment EU law automatically applies to Northern Ireland, whether it is a change to EU law or a new EU law.

Under the (Northern Ireland) Protocol we had no say, the Assembly was not consulted on that, there was no democratic scrutiny in Northern Ireland of those laws, they just automatically applied. These new arrangements end that.

Article 7A of the Withdrawal Act, which is a UK law, will be amended to end the automatic pipeline of EU law applying to Northern Ireland.

What that means, we will have new democratic scrutiny mechanisms in the Assembly.

The Assembly will be able to scrutinise any new laws that are coming forward. Assembly members will be able to say if they think that law is going to be harmful to Northern Ireland and our ability to trade, in other words divergence.

The Assembly will be able to say no, that law should not apply in Northern Ireland and the UK Government has the right to veto that law on behalf of Northern Ireland.

There is a new process that is being put in place that ends the dynamic alignment of EU law in Northern Ireland.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said he is comfortable with the deal (Niall Carson/PA)

Meanwhile, other Stormont parties have been meeting with Tanaiste Micheal Martin, in Belfast.

Speaking after her meeting, Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill, who is poised to become first minister when Stormont is restored, said the Assembly election held two years ago shows the change across the islands political landscape.

She said: I will work with whoever wants to come at it with an attitude of fair play, work with whoever wants to respect the Good Friday Agreement, and I will work with anybody who wants to deliver good public services.

Regardless of who occupies the government in Britain, I would expect from them, whether its Labour or Tories, who unfortunately have failed on this on so many occasions, to respect the Good Friday Agreement.

There is no doubt the Assembly election two years ago demonstrated the change that is happening right across our island and there is no doubt that there is a healthy conversation about constitutional change.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said he had a good meeting with Mr Martin

Mr Beattie said he told Mr Martin about how the Ulster Unionists have been kept out of discussions in relation to the agreement between the DUP and the British government.

He added: I think everybody is pretty comfortable with what the deal is.

I dont think anybody is concerned. I think everything that is going to happen is going to happen within the confines of what has already been agreed in regards to the Windsor Framework.
By PA Reporters

A British government package to restore powersharing at Stormont has delivered fundamental change to UK-EU arrangements on post-Brexit trade, the leader of the DUP has insisted.

Jeffrey Donaldson claimed his party had negotiated clear alterations to the Windsor Framework by ending routine checks on goods moving from Britain to final destinations in Northern Ireland.

Major changes to the UK/EU legal framework would require the approval of Brussels.

Downing Street, however, has insisted the measures unveiled on Wednesday do not require specific EU sign-off, characterising them instead as operational changes to the framework, without altering the fundamentals of the bilateral deal.

The British prime ministers official spokesman said: I wont speak for the EU but this is a negotiation between the UK and the DUP. This is not about altering the fundamentals of the Windsor Framework.

He added: We do believe that the changes that we are implementing are significant.

British foreign secretary David Cameron and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris both spoke with EU Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic on Wednesday to outline the proposals.

Maros Sefcovic spoke to David Cameron about the British governments plan (Liam McBurney/PA)

In a statement, the EU Commission said it would carefully analyse the measures.

The executive vice-president and the Foreign Secretary both agreed on the high importance of seeing the Northern Ireland Executive restored and delivering for the people of Northern Ireland, the commission added.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin, who met political leaders in Belfast on Wednesday, said he did not expect Brussels would have any difficulties with what has been tabled.

On Tuesday, prior to the command papers publication, the UK and EU did announce a joint move on trade tariff quotas that will increase the ability of Northern Ireland traders to import internationally-sourced agri-food goods via UK free trade deals with other countries.

Wednesdays paper commits to replacing the Windsor Frameworks green lane process at Northern Ireland ports, which requires percentages of goods to be checked as they arrive from Great Britain, with a UK internal market system that will govern the movement of goods that remain within the United Kingdom.

Checks would still be carried out but on a risk-based/intelligence-led model to combat illegality and disease, rather than routine stops of disembarking lorries.

Mr Donaldson has hailed the move as a key concession that will effectively scrap the contentious so-called Irish Sea border for goods destined to remain within the UK.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson during a joint press conference with the Northern Ireland Secretary (Niall Carson/PA)

Speaking at a joint press conference at Hillsborough Castle with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton Harris, the DUP leader said: I have absolutely no doubt any reasonable person reading this lengthy document, there is a lot of substance in this document that points to change, and I believe that is what we have delivered.

So, one of my core objectives was to ensure that where goods are moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and staying within the United Kingdom, there would be no checks on those goods, save whether theres a suspicion of smuggling or criminality.

The Windsor Framework gave us a green lane, which involved the continuation of some checks and some declarations. That has gone and, by any measure, that represents a fundamental change to the way that goods coming from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are dealt with.

Mr Heaton-Harris said the package did not involve any weird dealings with Brussels and everything in the package had been delivered in good faith.

He added: Theres a whole chapter in here [the command paper], chapter four, which will take you through the further changes and their impacts on the Windsor Framework in no uncertain terms, and the government is committed to all of that chapter four.

The Conservative MP said the package represented the right deal for Northern Ireland and the Union.

Mr Heaton-Harris said the British government would deliver quickly on the commitments made, with two pieces of legislation set to be fast-tracked through UK Parliament on Thursday.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson, who is sceptical about the deal, heavily criticised the British government (PA)

The Stormont Assembly could sit again as soon as Saturday.

This is the right deal for Northern Ireland and the right deal for the Union, said Mr Heaton-Harris.

It strengthens and further protects the UK internal market and the union, both now and in the long term.

Mr Donaldson added: Todays agreement, I believe, is a positive and decisive step forward for Northern Ireland.

The measure to reduce checks is part of a wide-ranging deal agreed between the DUP and the Government that is set to bring about the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland after a two-year hiatus.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak said reviving powersharing in Northern Ireland offered the prospect of a brighter future.

The DUP has agreed to drop its two-year blockade of Stormont in exchange for the British government measures aimed at addressing its concerns about post-Brexit trading arrangements that created economic barriers between Northern Ireland and Britain.

While Mr Donaldson has secured the backing of a majority of senior party colleagues to accept the deal, there are those within the DUP who remain deeply sceptical of the proposed agreement to restore powersharing.

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson demonstrated that on Wednesday, voicing his concerns and heavily criticising the British government as the package was debated in parliament.

He said the continued application of EU law in Northern Ireland was the result of spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland.

Challenged by reporters on Mr Wilsons remarks, Mr Donaldson insisted his party was not split.

He said when his 130-strong party executive deliberated on the package in a five-hour meeting on Monday night the majority in favour was very wide and absolutely decisive.

Mr Donaldson also hit out at critics outside his party, namechecking TUV leader Jim Allister to ask directly what progress he had made over the last two years.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said his critics had delivered a 'big blank sheet of nothing' (Niall Carson/PA)

He suggested Mr Allister and other vocal opponents of the deal had delivered a big blank sheet of nothing when it came to removing the sea border.

Under the deal, the post-Brexit red lane for transporting goods from GB to NI and on into the EU single market will remain, but the command paper offers measures aimed at reducing the volume of trade required to use that red-tape heavy route, with a prediction that 80 per cent of goods will now move free of routine checks through the internal market system.

The package includes future-proof commitments that rule out future EU/UK protocols or agreements that would see Northern Ireland treated differently to the rest of the UK.

As well as moves to cut Brexit bureaucracy on Irish Sea trade, the command paper includes a series of measures aimed at providing assurances around Northern Irelands constitutional position.

The British government will also provide the legislative underpinning to give the Stormont Assembly a democratic oversight function in respect of new EU laws set to be introduced in the region.

The oversight procedures already outlined in the Windsor Framework include the so-called Stormont brake mechanism that enables 30 or more MLAs to flag a concern about a new EU law.

The British government is obliged to assess whether those concerns meet a threshold that could then result in the UK vetoing the application of the law in the region.

The command paper also includes commitments to ensure Northern Ireland goods will always be able to be sold in the British market regardless of any divergence in EU and UK standards.

In respect of further UK divergence from EU standards, there is also a legal requirement that new Westminster legislation is assessed as to whether it impacts on trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

If it does, there will be a statutory duty for the relevant minister to make a statement considering any impacts on the operation of Northern Irelands place in the UKs internal market.

A requirement that saw certain goods sold in Northern Ireland to display a label stating not for sale in the EU will now to extend to cover the whole UK.

The package also includes the creation of two new bodies aimed at strengthening trade links between Britain and Northern Ireland  the East West Council and Intertrade UK.

Other measures in the deal include a drive to press ahead with the stalled devolution of corporation tax powers to Northern Ireland and a commitment from the UK government to hold cabinet meetings periodically in the region.

The British government will also enter into exploratory talks with the US on allowing pre-clearance checks on customs and immigration to take place at Belfast International Airport on passengers flying directly to the US.

There are no direct flights at the moment but the move is being seen as a potential incentive for airlines to consider operating routes from Northern Ireland to the US.

The return of Stormont will see the UK government release a 3.3 billion (3.8 billion) package to support under-pressure public services in Northern Ireland.

The financial package, announced before Christmas, includes money to settle the demands of striking public sector workers in the region this year.
A popular East Mayo builders and plumbers supplies merchant has announced it is closing after 16 years in business.

The decision to shut its doors was announced on the MP Moran & Sons Ireland Branches group Facebook page on Monday.

There were a multitude of comments to the social media post with many describing it as terrible news and a big loss to the town and area.

"It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of our Swinford branch closing its doors for the final time soon," the post read. "Over the past 16 years, we've been truly grateful for the trust and support of our amazing customers in Mayo."

The post stated that their Ireland company will continue to thrive in their Kerry branch and thank customers for being part of 'our journey'.

Moran's are hosting a closing down sale over the coming days.

One woman who responded commented, "Sorry to read this, wishing ye all the best in your next chapter", while another woman posted, "Dreadful news, they will be greatly missed".
Stella Maris Shore House, a historic gem nestled on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in Ballycastle, Co Mayo, proudly reopens its doors under the new management of Rolf Siegrist. This iconic establishment, with its rich history dating back to the mid-1800s, has undergone a meticulous rejuvenation to provide guests with a unique and unforgettable experience.

Under the guidance of Mr Siegrist, a passionate entrepreneur from Switzerland, the house has been carefully preserved to retain its historical significance while embracing modern comforts. Stella Maris Shore House boasts ten charming bedrooms, a conservatory retreat with a cosy seating arrangement that sets the stage for contemplation, engaging reads, and inspiring conversations. It also boasts a lounge, offering carefully selected beverages from around. One of the many standout features of this property is however its breathtaking surroundings. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Irish coast, guests can immerse themselves in the natural beauty that the West coast of Ireland has to offer. The tranquil ambiance, coupled with the warm hospitality of the staff, ensures an unforgettable stay for every visitor.

A panoramic view of Stella Maris with Downpatrick Head in the distance.

Mr Siegrist, the visionary behind this fantastic project, expressed his excitement, saying: "It's such a lovely house and a stunning surrounding. I want to bring this hotel back on track again. It has always been a dream of mine to run a hotel and take care of guests from all over the world and I am so excited for what the future has instore."

The history of Stella Maris Shore House is deeply ingrained in the fabric of Ireland. Built as a Coast Guard Headquarters by the British in the mid-1800s, the building later became a convent before transforming into a small country hotel in the 1960s. The rich history is complemented by the mesmerising views of the Atlantic Ocean, making Stella Maris a landmark in rural County Mayo.

The interior of Stella Maris.

Mairead Melody Carr, Manager of Mayo North Tourism, expressed her enthusiasm for the reopening, stating: "We are delighted to welcome back Stella Maris Shore House to our vibrant tourism landscape. This fabulous accommodation has played a crucial role in our community's history, and its reopening adds a unique charm to our offerings. The surrounding area is truly spectacular, boasting attractions like the Wild Atlantic Way signature point of Downpatrick Head, the world-renowned Ballinglen Arts Foundation, and the extraordinary Ceide Fieldsa prehistoric landscape that preserves an ancient agricultural system, providing a fascinating glimpse into Ireland's past.

The village of Ballycastle. Picture: Bartek Rybacki/Mayo North Tourism

Mr Siegrist and his dedicated team strive to provide a memorable and sustainable getaway for visitors. Stella Maris Shore House invites guests to be a part of its storied history, offering a blend of tradition and modern hospitality. For reservations and more information, please visit www.stellamarisireland.com
Today

Partly sunny, breezy, and noticeably colder; gusty winds add a chill. A sprinkle or flurry possible, mainly north and west.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, windy, and cold. Brisk winds add a chill. There could be an early flurry, especially north and west.

Tomorrow

Partly sunny but brisk and chilly with wind chills near or below freezing for much of the day. A sprinkle or flurry possible, mainly north and west.
SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Some Chinese automakers have had to delay deliveries of flagship models due to production issues with a computing unit made by tech giant Huawei, five people with knowledge of the matter said.

Changan Auto and Chery Auto - both of which have partnered with Huawei in developing their premium electric vehicle (EV) brands - have lodged complaints and are in talks to resolve the issue, two of the people said.

Seres, a smaller carmaker, has also been affected, one person said.

The computing unit, called the MDC 810, powers advanced driver assistance systems and is central to Huawei's ambitions to become the dominant supplier of software and components for smart electric vehicles.

The production issue relates to a shortage of a component that goes in the MDC 810, according to one of the sources.

The problems come at a time when Huawei is seeking to secure more investors for its four-year-old Intelligent Automotive Solution (IAS) business unit that it plans to spin off. Changan Auto has said it plans to own up to 40% of the new company.

Huawei, Chery and Seres did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Changan referred the request to its Avatr division, which did not respond.

The three models that sources say have been affected were launched in the last quarter of 2023.

Changan's Avatr 12 sedan, priced from 300,800 yuan ($41,880), had orders of more than 20,000 as of Dec. 1, according to the company.

Avatr Vice President Li Pengcheng at an event last week cited "challenges in key component supplies" as a factor in delivery delays of two weeks on average. He did not name Huawei.

Avatr plans to compensate buyers by as much as 15,000 yuan for late deliveries.

Chery's Luxeed S7 sedan - the first model for its Luxeed brand - had orders of about 20,000 as of Nov. 28. Luxeed said this month that buyers could be reimbursed by up to 10,000 yuan if they were unable to pick up the S7 as promised. The S7 is priced from 249,800 yuan.

Story continues

The brand was only recently launched in November and had been much hyped by Huawei with Executive Director Richard Yu claiming the S7 would beat Tesla's luxury Model S in performance and at a price lower than the Model 3.

Seres, which launched its Aito M9 SUV in December, had been expected to deliver its first batch of 2,000 vehicles by Jan. 26 to buyers but has missed this target, said one person with direct knowledge of the matter. The vehicle is priced from 469,800 yuan.

BAIC ARCFOX's Alpha S sedan, launched in 2021, also uses the MDC 810. Two people said that short supplies of the MDC 810 had affected production of the Alpha S in the past.

Bluepark New Energy Technology, a subsidiary of BAIC Motor which owns the ARCFOX brand, did not respond to requests for comment.

The MDC 810 allows the automakers to offer so-called intelligent driving features that include autonomous driving on highways and helping drivers navigate traffic jams, similar to what Tesla's Autopilot provides in North America.

In China - the world's biggest auto market - where hundreds of EV and gasoline-hybrid hybrid vehicles are competing for consumer attention, such features have become a major selling point and are a key reason why automakers have sought to partner with Huawei, analysts have said.

($1 = 7.1815 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Zhang Yan, Zhuzhu Cui and Brenda Goh; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed Disney's free speech lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, dealing a setback to the company's hopes of regaining control of the district that governs Walt Disney World after it was taken over by the governor's appointees.

U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor in Tallahassee said in his decision that Disney lacked standing in its First Amendment lawsuit against the Republican governor and the secretary of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The judge also said Disney's claim against DeSantis' appointees to the Disney World governing district lacked merit.

Disney said it plans to appeal the federal judge's decision. A separate lawsuit over who controls the district is still pending in state court in Orlando.

Disney had argued that legislation signed by DeSantis and passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature that transferred control of the Disney World governing district from Disney supporters to DeSantis appointees was in retaliation for the company publicly opposing the states Dont Say Gay law. The 2022 law banned classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades and was championed by DeSantis, who had used Disney as a punching bag in speeches on the campaign trail until he recently suspended his campaign for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

Disney supporters had run the district, which provides municipal services such as firefighting, planning and mosquito control, for more than five decades after the Legislature created it in 1967.

Winsor, who was appointed to the bench by President Donald Trump in 2019, said in his decision that Disney didn't have standing to sue the governor because DeSantis already had picked the appointees to the board of the governing district.

Because Disney seeks injunctive relief, it must allege an imminent future injury ... and it has not alleged facts showing that any imminent future appointments will contribute to its harm, the judge wrote.

In dismissing the claim against the DeSantis appointees to the district's board, Winsor wrote that when a law on its face is constitutional, plaintiffs cant make free-speech claims challenging it because they believe lawmakers acted with unconstitutional motives. The law that revamped Disney World's district didn't single out Disney by name but rather special districts created before the ratification of the Florida Constitution, a group that included the Disney district and a handful of other districts, he said.

Here, similarly, no one reading the text of the challenged laws would suppose them directed against Disney, the judge wrote. The laws do not mention Disney.

The DeSantis-appointed chairman of the revamped district, Martin Garcia, called the lawsuit a distraction. He said now that it is behind them, board members can focus on making appropriate changes to the district's operations to promote transparency and accountability while bringing more prosperity to more people in Florida."

Disney said the case was too important for it to end, with serious implications for the rule of law.

If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with," Disney said in a statement.

The governor's press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, said the judge's decision supported DeSantis' belief that Disney doesn't have a right to its own special government.

The days of Disney controlling its own government and being placed above the law are long gone, Redfern said.

Before control of the district changed hands from Disney allies to DeSantis appointees early last year, the Disney supporters on its board signed agreements with Disney shifting control over design and construction at Disney World to the company. The new DeSantis appointees claimed the eleventh-hour deals neutered their powers, and the district sued the company in state court in Orlando to have the contracts voided.

Disney has filed counterclaims that include asking the state court to declare the agreements valid and enforceable.

Since the takeover of the district by the DeSantis appointees, about 50 of its 370 employees have departed, with many complaining that the district has become politicized and the backgrounds of the five DeSantis appointees have been distracting.

Disney, which employs more than 75,000 workers in central Florida, has said it plans to make $17 billion in investments at Disney World over the next decade that will create an additional 13,000 jobs.

But Disney CEO Bob Iger last year described the actions taken by DeSantis and the Florida Legislature as anti-business and anti-Florida. Last year, Disney scrapped plans to build a new campus in central Florida and relocate 2,000 employees from Southern California to work in digital technology, finance and product development following a year of attacks by DeSantis and Republican lawmakers.

Follow Mike Schneider on X: @MikeSchneiderAP.
READING, Pa.  Five men were arrested after members of the Berks County District Attorney's Human Trafficking Task Force conducted an undercover sting operation to combat illegal sex trade in the county.

Investigators posted ads on websites commonly used for sexual advertisements.

Four of the defendants responded to the advertisements and allegedly agreed to meet and have sex with 14- to 17-year-old juveniles at undisclosed locations within Berks County in exchange for money.

"As a result of that undercover investigation, we arrested five individuals," said John Adams, Berks County district attorney.

Adams says the sting operation took place on Monday.

"This is what we are combating in this task force and this insidious behavior needs to be stopped," he said. "It's a problem."

One defendant, 46-year-old Percival Willams, of Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, is accused of posting a prostitution ad and taking a woman to a hotel where police were waiting.

"Percival Williams was charged with promoting prostitution and related offenses and criminal use of communication facility," Adams said. Williams' bail is set at Bail was set at $100,000.

The four other suspects were subsequently charged and arrested without incident. They are:

- 70-year-old Richard Keene, of Reading, was charged with trafficking individuals, statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, prostitution and related offenses and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at $5,000.

- 52-year-old Darvin Eby, of Ephrata, was charged with trafficking individuals, statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, prostitution and related offenses and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at $50,000.

- 34-year-old Adam Ismaili, of New Jersey, is charged with trafficking individuals, statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, prostitution and related offenses and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at $50,000.

- 67-year-old James Moon, of Sinking Spring, was charged with trafficking individuals, statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, prostitution and related offenses and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail was set at $10,000.

"The harsh reality is that human trafficking is happening in our community," Adams said. "Future perpetrators should take heed that the person theyre interacting with on these websites could be a member of our Human Trafficking Task Force."

"If caught, we will arrest and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law," he said.

Anyone with information regarding human trafficking is urged to contact the Berks County District Attorney's Office at 610-478-7171.

Any information provided is kept anonymous.
READING, Pa.  The Berks County Board of Commissioners voted at an operations meeting Tuesday morning to place a resolution on the agenda for its Feb. 1 meeting to declare an emergency declaration as it relates to a crisis in youth detention.

Larry Medaglia, deputy chief operations officer, explained there is desperate need in Berks County and in the entire state to house complex cases of kids who are in youth services custody.

The county previously operated a youth detention center in Bern Township, but closed it in 2012.

"Among them (the reasons for closing) was a significant change in the approach in the juvenile justice system," Medaglia said. "One was a goal to place defenders in the least restrictive environment possible."

"The end result was a declining need for detention bed space," Medaglia continued. "The detention center had become a large cost to the county, and it was being underutilized."

"Unfortunately, today, we're seeing a significant uptick in illegal activity of juveniles who need to be detained, as they're creating a safety risk in our communities," Medaglia said.

He said that when the detention center was closed, the county relied on providers from the private sector, specifically the Abraxas Academy near Morgantown.

"It's no longer a viable option, as the problems with the riots and escapes have been well documented in the media," Medaglia said. "They're not a reliable partner at this point. They no longer house females. Beyond that, we're down to three beds available to us."

Medaglia said the county has had to take drastic measures, which have included housing juvenile offenders overnight and on weekends in offices on the 10th floor of the Berks County Services building.

While the existing building had some problems with it when it closed, it suffered $1.25 million in damages when a frozen pipe burst in December 2022.

"We cleaned up the mess that was created, but we're now left with the shell of a building that's really in a state of disrepair," Medaglia added.

Medaglia recommended a declaration of an emergency to alleviate some of the constraints that the county faces in the public procurement process.

Several county officials weighed in on the gravity of the situation.

Dan Heydt, chief probation officer, said the philosophy of juvenile probation has changed drastically over the past decade.

"If we make the decision to detain a juvenile, it's because they pose a safety risk to either the community or themselves, so we don't take that lightly," Heydt said. "We make every effort possible to keep them in their homes. Currently, there are 354 operational licensed beds across the entire state of Pennsylvania."

Heydt said there have been significant increases in juvenile arrests in the years following COVID-19.

"Last year, we had 525 new referrals compared to 366 the year prior," Heydt said. "That's a 43% increase in the number of juveniles referred to our agency."

Whenever the county has a youth requiring detention and there is no option for placement, Heydt said the youth is placed on an electronic monitor.

County District Attorney John Adams said it is clear to him that there has been an uptick in violent juvenile crimes.

"Kids with guns don't understand the consequences of pulling the trigger, and lives are lost, and the futures for the offenders are lost," Adams said. "A juvenile who's caught with a gun needs to be placed in a detention facility, and unfortunately, we do not have that facility."

"From my perspective, the safety of our community is jeopardized by not having detention beds available," Adams explained.

"Our juveniles talk; many are members of gangs, and they know that we don't have the beds and they believe that they can continue to commit crimes with no consequences," he said. "And unfortunately, they're right. We need to have the ability to detain serious offenders."

Eleni Dimitriou Geishauser, a Court of Common Pleas judge, said most people do not understand the juvenile justice system.

"When a juvenile comes before the court, not only are we concerned with public safety, but we're also concerned with the rehabilitation of the juvenile because these are young kids who eventually will go back into society, and we need to weigh all of those things," Geishauser said.

"It is very clear to me that there is an active gang recruitment occurring on the streets of this county, and it is prevailing," the judge continued. "There have been too many instances where I am presiding over a juvenile hearing, and it is clear that for both the safety of the public and the safety of the child, that we need to remove them from their homes, but I am being told repeatedly that there are no beds."

"I am seeing kids as reoffenders because I was forced to place them on the electronic monitor," Geishauser said. "They are not adhering to their curfews, and they are going back to the gangs that are actively recruiting them.

Christine Sadler, county solicitor, said the emergency declaration would allow the county to speed up bidding requirements that usually take several months.

"This would allow us to abbreviate that process," Sadler said. "Certainly, the county likes to be good stewards of the taxpayer dollars so we would look for a qualified contractor to prepare the work."

Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach stressed that if the resolution passes on Thursday, it does not mean the detention center will be reopened, but would rather give the county the ability to begin the process of repairing and reconstructing the existing building.

Paul L. Bendigo, a member of the school board of the Schuylkill Valley School District, asked the commissioners to consider the costs of educating the detained youth, before ever taking action to reopen the center.

"We also have to take into consideration the burden that would be placed on the taxpayers of the Schuylkill Valley School District to cover the education cost for these students," Bendigo said. "Currently, we've been covering any expenses for the education classes at the prison because we are the host school district."
WHITEHALL TWP., Pa.  The Whitehall-Coplay School District Board of Directors held the second and final hearing on a proposed charter school Tuesday night at the high school.

The Whitehall STEAM Academy Charter School, offered for 215 Quarry St., outlined its educational agenda which involves the STEAM acronym: science, technology, engineering, arts and math. The school is seeking a five-year charter. The first hearing was held last Dec. 20.

In a report to the board, the district's administration recommended the board reject the charter school's application, citing "serious deficiencies." The district cited 18 "aspects" which they said raised "several significant concerns."

"Except for William Leiner, who was only present for approximately 30 minutes on Dec. 20, 2023, none of the individuals identified as the applicant in the proposal elected to be present at the time of the hearing," the district noted. "In addition, the application was riddled with errors, miscalculations, and apparently deliberate misrepresentations."

The district described in detail one of those misrepresentations involved sustainable support cited by Whitehall STEAM from various "partnerships with higher education, after-school organizations, non-profit community programs, local businesses, and government agencies."

Whitehall-Coplay School District said the charter school provided a lengthy list of nonprofit groups and prominent community figures who "have expressed an interest in the school." The list is the same one submitted by the Lehigh Valley STEAM Academy Charter School in 2022 to the Allentown School District.

The district added they had received written confirmation from six organizations on the Whitehall STEAM's list  The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21, Lehigh Valley Children's Centers, Da Vinci Science and Technology Center, Touchstone Center and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Lehigh Valley  that they have not provided support for the applicant. Further, the same six organizations stated they were unaware of any efforts by the applicant to make connections, engage with or develop contracts with their organizations.

The report also indicated Whitehall STEAM submitted 106 signed business support letters. Of the 106 letters, 32 were located within the Whitehall-Coplay School District. Of the 32, 31 were located within the main portion of the Lehigh Valley Mall, and one is in the Lehigh Valley Mall property at an outside storefront.

On Jan. 3, Superintendent Robert Steckel and three other district employees visited all 32 stores. Of the 32 stores, 14 store managers or employees verified that their signatures were valid. Twelve stores indicated that the signers did not have the authority to sign, while the six other stores were closed permanently.

"This support is critically deficient, and the solicitor of interest clearly just walked the Lehigh Valley Mall and asked for signatures," the district contended. "Several people who did sign indicated that they thought the group was asking for donations and many did not understand the request of what the form letter meant."

David Piperato, consultant for the proposed charter school, and Brian Leinhauser, the charter school's attorney, represented the applicant during Tuesday night's hearing. Five individuals named with the application  Michael Makhoul, Rachel Chapman, Celeste Dee, Westley Morris and Leiner  were not recognized as present for Tuesday night's hearing.

Whitehall-Coplay School District added there were deficiencies in the applicant's transportation, safety and facility-related aspects. This included lack of details on a traffic study and critical safety measures.

Under questioning from district solicitor Jeffrey Sultanik, Leinhauser said the applicant never stated the building is currently occupiable for a school but would conform to all rules and regulations before a school would inhabit the site. More than once, Sultanik and Leinhauser engaged in linguistic combat throughout the hearing, sometimes talking over or interrupting one another.

The district stated the property in question is managed by Bethlin LLC, which is managed by developer Abraham Atiyeh. Whitehall-Coplay School District, in its report, stated the connection between two other pending charter school applications in the Allentown and Bethlehem Area school districts are directly related to Atiyeh, "who in some way is involved in the three properties in question."

The district then speculated in the formal report about Atiyeh's motivations.

"It is apparent that Abraham Atiyeh supported a coordinated strategy of the applicants in that they would throw enough paper against the walls of three contiguous school districts and see which one will stick."

Officials with the charter school told directors at the Dec. 20 hearing and in their application they will emphasize project-based and experimental STEAM learning through partnerships. STEAM officials projected 300 students in kindergarten through third grade in their first year.

By the fifth and final year, the school would enroll twice the amount  600  in kindergarten through seventh grade. If renewed in 2029, the school would then employ an eighth grade the year following.

The board is expected to grant or deny the application at its Feb. 26 regular board meeting.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - A hotel in the Lehigh Valley is being recognized for its presidential visits.

The Historic Hotel Bethlehem hosted both President Dwight D. Eisenhower and President John F. Kennedy, according to a news release from Historic Hotels of America.

Eisenhower stayed at the hotel in 1959 when attempting to mediate the Bethlehem Steel Strike. Kennedy visited Bethlehem on October 28, 1960, days before the election, according to the news release.

Historic Hotels of America says Kennedy stayed in the hotels two-bedroom suite with Pierre Salinger, who at the time was managing the campaign, and later became Kennedys press secretary. The campaign stop at Historic Hotel Bethlehem began with a $2 per plate ham and eggs breakfast in the hotels Grand Ballroom. There, Kennedy addressed 400 local leaders, and discussed the $1.25 minimum wage, which was important to the steel workers, according to the news release.

The hotel named their two-bedroom suite the Presidential Suite in Kennedy's honor, according to Historic Hotels of America.

In the hotels Tap Room, there is a photo gallery of distinguished former guests, with both a Democrat column and a Republican column of portraits, including Kennedy, according to the news release.

Historic Hotel Bethlehem was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2002.

The Historic Hotel Bethlehem was built in 1922 with direction from Charles M. Schwab, steel magnate of the United States Steel Corporation and the Bethlehem Steel Company.

Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing, celebrating, and promoting historic hotels in the U.S. The National Trust for Historic Preservation was chartered by U.S. Congress in 1949 and is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Other hotels in Pennsylvania recognized for their history are the Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, the Omni William Penn in Pittsburgh, and The George Washington Hotel in Washington.
For decades AM radio has been a vital source of emergency and other sorts of important information.

But, some car makers have decided AM radio is too expensive to keep installing. That's especially true in electric vehicles where there may be interference.

Lawmakers and public safety officials here at home insist "it's not a cost that should be cut."

"After 911, after Sandy, people relied on AM radio," said U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, (D) District 5, while speaking with a 69 News reporter.

An effort to save AM radio in cars is gaining momentum.

"We have more than 200 members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans in the House Representatives now supporting legislation, and 40 Senators," Rep. Gottheimer continued.

Congressman Gottheimer sponsored the bill that would require car companies to keep installing AM radio.

Some have stopped.

"They don't want to spend a couple bucks protect public safety," he continued to say. "God forbid there is terrorist attack, hurricane, flood, other kind of winter storm, AM radio is what survives, when the power goes out, when the cell phone towers go out."

This week, Gottheimer proposed another measure, too: an added window sticker to vehicles being sold without AM radio.

"There should be a warning to people that that this car may not be safe in certain emergencies," he says.

Earlier this month, PA state Representative Jonathan Fritz introduced a resolution urging Congress to ensure free access to AM radio in cars, noting agricultural businesses rely daily on AM radio, as do many people listening in other languages.

He told us quote "AM radio continues to be a critical piece in the backbone of our emergency alert system."

Suburban EMS is also calling it essential and a fail-safe public notification and awareness tool.

Director of PEMA Randy Padfield agrees.

"It travels long distances, it's reflected off the ionosphere and it can get to a larger broader area than FM radio and a lot of other technologies," Padfield said. "When we take a look at kind of the threat and hazard landscape that we're dealing with today, and how it changes, the need for it today is probably ever increasing."

Gottheimer's bill is in committee.
The River Pointe Logistics LERTA saga rolls on into Year Seven.



Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure has a new proposal to limit the break on property taxes on Lou Pektor's development that he will present to County Council on Thursday.



County Council will also be considering a bid to rescind the existing plan. There are five members of Council who voted last year to extend the River Pointe break, providing enough votes to block any plan to end it.



McClure has vowed to oppose tax breaks on warehouses. He contends that Pektor's River Pointe (RPL) in Upper Mount Bethel Township will be dominated by warehouses, based on the size of the buildings proposed for the 800-acre site.



Pektor has said the land along the Delaware River is ideal for manufacturers and food processors, citing its access to Route 80 in New Jersey and New York City-area markets. RPL also has access to a huge amounts of electrical power.



Pektor owns the land, and it has been zoned for industrial use for decades.



"We can't stop Lou from building," Upper Mount Bethel Supervisor Martin Pinter said in 2020, pointing out the nature of private property and zoning.



Pektor says RPL will generate millions of dollars in tax revenue for the township, Bangor school district and the county.



The LERTA has been kicking around for years, long enough for the acronym to become a household word in the Slate Belt, the county's northern tier.



LERTA stands for Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance, a Pennsylvania program that is designed to promote local economies by providing a tax break on new construction. Each LERTA lasts a decade, starting with a 100% break on property taxes that falls 10 percentage points annually to hit zero after a decade.



The LERTA for what is now River Pointe was approved in 2018 with minimal discussion. It was extended in 2023 by a vote of County Council. Each county LERTA is passed as an ordinance, and Council approves or rejects ordinances.



Upper Mount Bethel and the Bangor Area School District have also granted LERTAs to River Pointe.



Executive McClure's plan would provide a break for some development, but not for warehouses.



It would allow the benefits of a LERTA to extend to "dilapidated properties." It would also require the county to know what development is -- perhaps a warehouse -- proposed before granting a tax break.



That allows the County to maintain control over how it taxes land, according to the McClure plan, instead of ceding that authority to a township or school district.



A property owner who disagrees with the county's decision would be granted a hearing, according to the McClure plan.



With or without the LERTA, Lou Pektor and Lisa Pektor -- his daughter and the RPL project manager -- say RPL is going forward.



Lisa Pektor told Council last year that the LERTA will help bring in better employers that invest more in their operations than warehouse companies do.



Manufacturers consider property taxes when choosing sites, she said.



"It is a material operating expense companies are looking at when they are looking at relocating their business," she said at a meeting in March.



Lou Pektor has said RPL is competing with New Jersey and beyond to bring in manufacturing companies.



69 News has contacted the Pektors for comment.



No matter what happens, Thursday promises to be a long night for Northampton County Council.



McClure will present his revised LERTA, and then Council will vote on whether the existing tax break, which is much less strict, remains in place. Council will hold a public hearing on the LERTA first.



Council's three Republicans -- John Goffredo, Thomas Giovanni and John Brown -- all have Slate Belt ties and supported the LERTA in 2023, as did Democrats Lori Vargo Heffner (Council president) and Ron Heckman (vice president).



If they remain in support of the existing LERTA, their five votes will block the bid to rescind it.



Three other Democrats -- Ken Kraft, Kelly Keegan and Jeff Warren -- were not on Council last year, but Keegan and Warren sponsored the ordinance to rescind it.



Council is also due to select a ninth member to replace Tara Zrinski, a Democrat who resigned to be sworn in as County Controller. Thursday is Council's last chance. If no candidate gets five votes, the selection of the ninth member will go to the county court.



Northampton County Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, in the government center in Easton. The meeting agenda and a link to the YouTube webcast will be posted on the county website in advance.
"I like the quiet, the one floor living, I like the people."

However, 76-year-old Reggie Hockenberry says the continued rising rent at his Northampton County Manufactured Home community is making life difficult for many.

"We have disabled veterans, we have people who are disabled, that are not veterans. And of course, they're all on a fixed income," he said.

On mobile and manufactured home community's members own their home but rent the land.

"The amount of the yearly rent increases, is just staggering." Said Bob Besecker.

There are over 2200 manufactured home parks, housing more than 250,000 people across Pennsylvania.

Berks County's Bob Bescker started the group PA Manufactured Housing Issues, after his rent increased $150 in two years.

He says out of state investors are to blame for rent hikes that outpace social security and is pushing for legislation to help.

"We're not opposed to a reasonable, reasonable rent increase, but that's not what's happening," Besecker said.

Current law restricts an increase to once a year but not the amount.

State Senator Judy Schwank has one of several bills that would cap it at the Consumer Price index - which measures the overall change in consumer prices.

"We are getting Republicans and Democrats. And there is a wave of support all over the state, wherever there are manufactured homes, people are experiencing these unfair, you know, a lot increases." She said

Lobby group, the Pennsylvania Manufactured Housing Association, says it's against any legislation capping rent increases, as strapped landlords wouldn't be able to maintain the community.

A community that Hockenberry says could look very different if something isn't done soon.

"We have a number of folks whose children have to have to help them every month with their expenses, or they couldn't stay here," he said.
Abbas Ganbay

NATO Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Javier Colomina, told Armenian media that NATO supports the normalisation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azernews reports.

"We support the bilateral format of negotiations as well. At the end of the day, the two countries have to decide how they will move forward, so we will support anything that will eventually lead to peace. We believe that the principles underlying the processrespect for sovereignty and territorial integrityare fundamental," the special envoy said.

The special envoy noted that NATO does not take sides between partners unless there is a violation of the principles and basic elements of the UN Charter.

Recall that the active phase of the largest NATO exercise since Cold War Steadfast Defender 2024 started near the borders of Russia.

According to the information, the exercise involves all types and branches of the armed forces, including tens of thousands of military personnel and hundreds of units of military equipment.

According to the scenario of the exercise, the fictional state "Occasus" annexed the territory of a neighbouring country and then stopped any activity for a while, pumping the population with propaganda. After that, it allegedly attacked another neighbour, a NATO member state. The alliance countries were forced to invoke the fifth article of the organization's charter on collective defence.

It is noted that the exercise involves 90 thousand troops from all 32 countries of the alliance. The manoeuvres will be held in the Baltic States, Poland, and Germany.

According to the author of the article, military correspondent Andrei Kots, the scenario of the exercises implies a conflict in the area of the Suvalki corridor, through which Russian forces can make their way to the Kaliningrad region.
BALTIMORE  Marilyn Mosby, then states attorney for Baltimore, flew to Florida in September 2020 for what she described as a monumental moment in her life: She was buying her first house.

Seven miles from Disney World, where she and her then husband had taken their daughters every other Christmas, a mountain of paperwork sat before her at the closing table.

It was a great pile of documents, Mosby said in court Wednesday. I did not read every single document that I signed on that day.

Among the papers she signed at the closing was whats known as a second-home rider, in which she certified she would maintain exclusive control over the eight-bedroom house in Kissimmee, Florida. That would turn out to be problematic for the citys top prosecutor because, before closing, she ratified a contract with a company giving it control to run the property as a rental.

Thats one of seven false statements federal prosecutors accuse Mosby of making on loan applications for the Kissimmee property and a condo she purchased in February 2021 on Floridas Gulf Coast. Mosby, 44, is standing trial on two counts of mortgage fraud, felonies that carry a maximum of 30 years in prison per charge.

Do you remember a second-home rider? Federal Public Defender James Wyda, one of Mosbys lawyers, asked her.

I do not, Mosby responded.

Mosbys testimony came after her ex-husband Nick Mosby, the Baltimore City Council president, took the stand himself earlier in the week.

The spectacle of the onetime power couple testifying about their marital and financial difficulties, against the backdrop of a tumultuous time in the city  from the unsuccessful trials of the police officers Marilyn Mosby charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray to the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic  was riveting at times, and came before a larger than usual crowd in the federal courtroom in Greenbelt.

It was a difficult decision for Mosby to testify, her lawyers said. Doing so required acknowledging that a jury in November found her guilty of two counts of perjury.

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In that case, the jurors determined she lied about suffering financial hardship because of the coronavirus to withdraw a total of $80,000 from her city retirement fund under a provision of the CARES Act, Congress first pandemic relief package. Without that money, testimony has shown, she couldnt have afforded the properties in Florida.

Ms. Mosby, do you have a perjury conviction? Wyda asked.

I do, said Mosby, adding she has every intention to appeal.

Wyda asked why she chose to testify, unlike her perjury trial.

I regret not testifying before and I want the jury to hear my truth, Mosby said.

Attorneys in the case will convene this afternoon to debate the scope of the prosecutions questioning of Mosby. Before lunch, prosecutors said they believed Mosbys final response to defense lawyers opened the door to questions about her perjury trial  material the presiding judge previously ruled was off-limits for the mortgage fraud case.

Mosbys testimony came on the trials seventh day. Her attorneys spent the last four days presenting evidence in support of their theory of the case: That Mosby didnt intentionally lie on the mortgages.

To secure a conviction, the prosecution has to prove Mosby provided the false information knowingly and that her lies influenced the financial institutions she asked for loans. Prosecutors have to convince the jury only of one false statement per mortgage.

The government rested its case last Wednesday after putting on six witnesses: an officer with the Internal Revenue Service, the man who ran the property management company Mosby contracted to operate her house near Disney as a rental, three underwriters from the mortgage companies that issued Mosby loans and a forensic account with the FBI.

Jenna Bender, the accountant, reviewed the Mosbys financial records. On the witness stand, she provided a detailed look into Marilyn Mosbys real estate transactions and the couples financial woes, for which Nick Mosby took responsibility.

The underwriters testified that their companies relied on the information Mosby provided in deciding whether to lend her money to purchase the properties. Had they known Mosby either withheld information or misled them, the underwriters said, they might not have signed off on her mortgages.

Mosby did not disclose a joint federal tax debt with her former spouse that grew to $69,000 with penalties and interest, on either mortgage application. Prosecutors have said there were multiple opportunities for her to disclose such liabilities on the applications.

In court, Nick Mosby took the blame for the couples tax trouble. He testified he was responsible for the couple falling behind on taxes and that he withheld knowledge of the debt from his former wife.

Marilyn Mosbys account of what happened, as she told it in court, matched her ex-husbands testimony.

He was responsible for the taxes, so it was disheartening to find out when I opened the mail that we owed taxes. We owed a significant amount of taxes, said Marilyn Mosby, recalling a time when she found a letter from the IRS in 2015.

She said Nick Mosby assured her he was taking care of the problem by exploring an installment agreement with the IRS to pay off the loan over time.

She described how her then husbands repeated lies that he had taken care of their debts finally became too much and led to the breakup of a marriage that had become toxic.

Their divorce was finalized in November.

What we once were, we were no longer, Mosby said. I didnt want my girls to believe that was what love was.

_____
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - A high school in Allentown will reopen Thursday after students were sent home due to a mechanical issue Wednesday.

Allentown School District spokesperson Melissa Reese said it is not known what caused the issue. The problem was addressed and repaired in a short amount of time, she said.

William Allen High School was closed for the day Wednesday, district officials said just before 8:30 a.m. Students already at the school were dismissed at 9 a.m. LCCC and LCTI students still reported to take the bus to campus.
SCHUYLKILL TWP., Pa. - Some of the charges against a Schuylkill Township police officer accused of using a department database to track down his ex-girlfriend have been dropped.

At a Tuesday preliminary hearing, two felony counts of unlawful use of a computer against Jason Lex were withdrawn.

According to online court records, one misdemeanor count of official oppression was waived by Lex.

Schuylkill Township cop used police database to track down ex, AG's office says A Schuylkill County police officer is facing charges for allegedly using a police database for personal reasons.

Lex was accused of using the Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET) computer system to look up the address of his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend while on duty.

The Pennsylvania attorney general's office said that while Lex was on duty on the night of May 17, 2023, he showed up at the address while in uniform to talk to his ex-girlfriend about getting back together.

No formal arraignment date on the official oppression charge has been set.

There is no word at this time on Lex's status with the police department.
CHESTNUTHILL TWP., Pa. - The Monroe County Republican Party is calling for a District Court Judge to resign, citing a conflict of interest.

Monroe County Magistral District Judge Colleen Mancuso is married to newly-elected District Attorney Michael Mancuso. Both are Democrats.

The Monroe County Republican Committee is calling Judge Mancuso to step down.

"She's going to serve her own interests instead of the peoples' interests and continue to accept a full-time salary." said Tom Whitehead, former Chairman of the Monroe County Republican Committee.

69 News Reporter Rick Holmes spoke with Judge Mancuso outside of her court in Chestnuthill Township Tuesday afternoon. She told 69 News she has no plans to resign because she is doing her job.

Back on December 28th, the Monroe County Magisterill President Judge, Margherita Patti-Worthington, issued an order that Judge Mancuso could no longer process search warrants, arrest warrants, or preside over preliminary arraignments brought before her court, which covers Chestnuthill, Polk, Eldred, and Ross Townships.

A Senior Judge is now assigned to some of the work. Mancuso's husband was a former assistant DA in the county for 20 years.

"(My husband) represents the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And it's not as if he's representing a litigant, because he doesn't represent the defendants. He represents the commonwealth of Pennsylvania." said Judge Mancuso.

Whitehead says taxpayers aren't being served, with two judges being paid to do the jobs of one.

"Other magistrates or potentially senior judges will be brought in, and potentially paid on top of what she is being paid to do the job," said Whitehead.

Judge Mancuso says she is still handling civil suits and things like tenant-landlord cases... also saying the ethics board instituted a waiver, explaining to criminal defendants and their attorneys that there is a potential conflict, and if they want to proceed with the case, they have to sign a waiver. She says only one has refused.

"I'm following the law. I'm not going to do anything that benefits or would hurt anybody in the case, just like before and they've signed the waivers." said Judge Mancuso.

Judge Mancuso's husband, Monroe County District Attorney Michael Mancuso, did not return our requests for comment.

With Judge Mancuso declining to step down, Whitehead says the only option would be impeachment in the state Legislature, initiated by the House with a trial in the Senate.
MIDDLETOWN TWP., Pa. - Authorities are investigating a disturbing and chilling video after a man was charged in the decapitation of his father in Bucks County.

Justin Mohn, 32, is accused of decapitating his father, Michael Mohn, in their Middletown Township home, then posting a social media video holding up his father's head, according to police paperwork.

"He started the video, and he held up his father's head wrapped in a plastic bag. And that was so upsetting. So very, very upsetting. In our neighborhood, in any neighborhood," said Ellen Stupack, resident of Middletown Township.

Police say the crime was discovered around 7 p.m. Tuesday when the victim's wife got home. She called 911, and officers converged on the home in the 100 block of Upper Orchard Drive in the Levittown section of the township.

Officers found the body of 68-year-old Michael Mohn with his head removed in a first-floor bathroom. A machete and a large kitchen knife were in the bathtub, officials say. Police called it a "gruesome" scene.

Police say they quickly established the man's son, the 32-year-old Mohn who lived at the home with his parents, as a person of interest, and say he had fled in his father's car before his mom got home. She had left the house around 2 p.m. that afternoon, and her husband and son were the only ones home, paperwork says.

Investigators tracked down Mohn using his cell phone and arrested him about two hours later, in Fort Indiantown Gap about 100 miles away, police say. Authorities found the car and then found Mohn on foot nearby.

"We didn't know where he was going or what his intentions were when he left here," said Capt. Pete Feeney, with Middletown Township police.

Investigators say Mohn posted a video to YouTube after he killed his father. In the video, Mohn holds up what appears to be his father's head, and also makes threats against federal officials.

"The hunting, capturing and killing of America's federal employees will not stop until Americans demands are met," he says in the video.

He appears to be reading from a script in the 14-minute video, police say. In it, Mohn calls his father a traitor, presumably for working for the government, and spews right-wing conspiracy theories.

"It was horrible. I mean, he went ranting on and on and on about what's happening in the country. And yet so calm and cool," Stupack said.

Justin Mohn was arraigned via video early Wednesday morning on charges of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and possessing an instrument of crime. He was denied bail and is behind bars at Bucks County Correctional Facility.

Law enforcement officials were at the home all night and cleared the scene around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. The investigation continues.
Authorities say the man accused of decapitating his father and posting a video calling for the death of federal employees was arrested at a National Guard training camp.

Investigators tracked Justin Mohn, 32, to the area of Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County on Tuesday night, about two hours after the discovery of a gruesome scene.

Mohn was wanted in Middletown Township, Bucks County, for allegedly decapitating his 68-year-old father, then posting a video on YouTube showing off his father's severed head and calling him a traitor, presumably for working for the government. In the video, Mohn also called for the killing of all federal employees and issued a bounty on America's highest leaders.

Mohn's cell phone pinged in the area of Fort Indiantown Gap, about 100 miles away from the crime scene, around 9 p.m., police said.

Fort Indiantown Gap police, who handle safety at the installation, responded to the area, where there is a restaurant and gas station, said a spokesperson for the Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Officers didn't find Mohn, but they told businesses to shut down and stay inside due to the search.

Mohn's cell phone then pinged again on the west side of the installation, just outside of the base, officials said.

Officers found the vehicle that Mohn had been driving, but the suspect was nowhere to be found.

Mohn's phone pinged again, this time from inside of the installation, in a "major hub" of the area, officials said.

Police spotted the suspect walking and say he had jumped the fence.

State police then helped arrest him without incident just before 9:30 p.m., officials say.

Authorities stressed that Mohn neither is nor was a member of the National Guard. They did not comment on why he may have gone to the base.

Middletown Township police had said investigators didn't know his plans after he left the home, where he lived with his parents.

"We didn't know where he was going or what his intentions were when he left here," said Capt. Pete Feeney.

Mohn is facing charges of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and possessing an instrument of crime.

Detectives are further investigating the 14-minute video he posted.
Protesting farmers have encircled Paris with tractor barricades in a battle with the government over their industry's future. The movement in France is another manifestation of a global food crisis worsened by Russias war in Ukraine, a major food producer. French farmers argue that higher prices for fertilizer and other inputs have eaten into their incomes, and that Frances massively subsidized farming sector is over-regulated and hurt by food imports from countries with fewer constraints. The French government has announced a deployment of 15,000 police officers to head off any effort by protesters to enter Paris.
ZEELAND  Local business leaders, community members and representatives gathered at Tripelroot Brewery in Zeeland on Monday, Jan. 29, to celebrate the half-century anniversary of Gentex.

Founded in 1974 as a small, local fire protection business, Gentex has grown into a technology leader with products in the global automotive, aerospace, fire protection and medical industries.

Gentex President and CEO Steve Downing spoke during the event, expressing gratitude for those who've played a role in the companys collective success.

This milestone is not only a time for reflection, but its also an opportunity to look ahead toward our future, Downing said. Gentex remains dedicated to driving innovation, expanding into new markets, and maintaining its strong community connections. We believe the best is yet to come.

Gentex hosts its golden anniversary celebration at Tripelroot in Zeeland on Monday, Jan. 29.

The company is best known for creating the automatic-dimming rearview mirror, which detects and eliminates rearview mirror glares. The company shipped over 50 million units in 2023 to automakers around the globe.

Today, Gentex continues to leave an imprint in West Michigan as Ottawa Countys largest employer, with more than 6,000 employees in Zeeland alone.

Gentex has partnered with Tripelroot Brewery in Zeeland on a trio of beers to celebrate its golden anniversary.

Mayor Kevin Klynstra proclaimed Jan. 29 Honorary Gentex Appreciation Day.

Its not just about economic growth, Klynstra said. Its about lives touched, communities strengthened, and achievements reached that extend far beyond Zeeland. Gentex is a great corporate citizen, and we look forward to celebrating their ongoing success for years to come.

The company also has two facilities in Grand Rapids, including a satellite assembly plant and an engineering tech hub.

In May 2023, the company broke ground on a 43,000-square-foot preschool and childcare center. The space in Zeeland will have 12 childcare rooms, three infant rooms, office and common space, a food prep area and an indoor playcenter.

Lakeshore Advantage President Jennifer Owens spoke Monday on the importance of that project.

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(That center) will open up hundreds of childcare spots for the entire region, she said, also acknowledging the company's creation of a Spanish-speaking production line.

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To commemorate the companys golden anniversary, Gentex has partnered with Tripelroot to create a beer collection trio, meant to symbolize Gentexs past, present and future.

The beers will be available throughout 2024 and, for every beer sold, the company will make a donation to its Community Share Program, which helps local nonprofits involved in food distribution, affordable housing, domestic abuse support and other causes.

 Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: 'A great corporate citizen': Gentex celebrates golden anniversary in Zeeland
Final curtain call for Targeting Talent Programme

The Programme celebrates a remarkable 16 years of excellence.

After 16 years of outstanding mentorship and learner support, the transformative Targeting Talent Programme (TTP) bowed out with a sensational record on academic and psychosocial support for learners.

Alumni and staff gathered to celebrate and reflect on TTPs success as well as to honour Professor Loyiso Nongxa, credited as the vision behind TTP. He conceptualised, helped to establish, and supported the programme from inception to date.

Nongxas dream for TTP was informed by his childhood when South African education had been a separatist system that undermined the talent of black and African learners by robbing them of opportunities.

All of us are born with a talent that is latent within us, that should be provided an environment in which to blossom said Nongxa. Irrespective of someones socioeconomic background, people can succeed if given the opportunity.

Targeting Talent set out to empower learners from disadvantaged communities by giving them the opportunity to not only dream about accessing tertiary education, but to equip them with the skills to thrive in university and life.

Over the past 16 years, the programme graduated 3 493 students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have gone on to be exceptional in their respective careers. TTP identified high school learners with strong academic potential from disadvantaged communities across the country, nurtured and supported them throughout their Senior Phase of high school (Grades 10 to 12), focusing on mathematics, sciences, social sciences, and finance clusters of subjects.

The two-week residential enrichment programme took place annually from 2007 to 2023. The holistic programme included teacher support workshops as well as community involvement to support the success of the learners.

I am proud to say I am a product of TTP, said Lenox Baloyi. Where I am today, what I studied, what I have achieved, is because of this programme. Thanks to TTP, I managed to step out of my shell and overcome my victim mentality.

Baloyi is a TTP alumnus who joined the programme in 2018 as a shy young man from an under- resourced school in rural Limpopo. Today he holds a double major in Computer Science and Finance from Wits University and works as an investment banker.

The programme boasts a 94% access rate to university since it was established. TTP learners accessed the top universities in South Africa in either their first or second choice programme. "We would like to send our deepest gratitude to our funders without who none of this would have been possible", said Zena Richards Director of Student Equity and Talent Management Unit (SETMU) at Wits.

A special thank you to our funders

The TTP was successfully launched in 2007, with a cohort of 267 grade 10 learners and 46 of their educators. The learners and educators were from 41 schools across three provinces, namely Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga, funded by Goldman Sachs and the Telkom Foundation.

For the 2010 intake, the TTP was jointly funded by Beyond Petroleum South Africa (Pty) (BP SA) and the South African National Roads Agency (Pty) (SANRAL) for the period 20102012. A total of 191 learners from three provinces, namely Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga, completed the programme.

During the same period, 94 learners funded by the Limpopo Department of Education successfully completed the programme. The cohort of learners were from Limpopo Province.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) commenced their funding period from 2011 to 2016; DST funded 830 learners in the programme. The cohorts of learners were from all the nine provinces in South Africa.

In 2013, the BP South Africa Education Foundation Trust (BPSAEFT) independently funded learners from 2013 to 2022. BPSAEFT has funded 1328 learners, having completed their funding cycle in October 2020. Funded learners were from three provinces, namely Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.

The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) commenced their funding for the TTP in 2011 with 21 learners from Limpopo. In 2015, the IDC re-invested in the programme and funded 47 learners from eight provinces. The cohorts of learners were from all provinces in South Africa except the Western Cape.

SANRAL independently funded a cohort of 49 learners from 2013 to 2015. The 49 learners were from three provinces, namely Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.

In 2016, the Manufacturing, Engineering, and Related SETA (merSETA) funded 23 learners, who completed the programme in June 2018. The 23 learners were from three provinces, namely Gauteng, and Limpopo.

In 2017, PRIMEDIA and Standard Bank funded 17 and 47 learners, respectively. These learners completed the programme in June 2019. These learners were from Gauteng, Mpumalanga, the Free State, and the North West provinces.

In 2018, the African Explosives and Chemical Industries (AECI) funded nine learners. These learners completed the programme in October 2020. The funded learners were from the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga.

In 2019, the Education, Training, and Development Practices (ETDP) funded 99 learners. These learners completed the programme in August 2021. In 2021 and 2022, the ETDP SETA reinvested to fund a further 80 learners. Thus far, the ETDP SETA has funded 257 learners since 2019. Their funding cycle ends in 2023. The cohorts of learners were/are from Limpopo Province.

In 2021, Assmang and Boleng started their funding cycle and funded 50 learners. They reinvested to fund a further ten learners. Thus far, the Assmang-Boleng Trust has funded 60 learners. Their funding cycle ends in 2023. The cohort of learners are from the Northern Cape province.

In 2021, Cell C funded 60 learners. They reinvested to fund a further 14 learners. Thus far, Cell C has funded 74 learners since 2021. Their funding cycle ends in 2023. The cohorts of learners are from all provinces in South Africa except the East.
The two faces of Jacob Zuma. Who supports him and why?

Jacob Zuma claims that his new political home, the Umkhonto we Sizwe Party, is the authentic ANC, not the one led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Former South African president Jacob Zumas political comeback builds on support from marginalised and angry constituencies within or close to the governing African National Congress (ANC). His vengeful but loyal rebellion against the ANC resonates with these political constituencies.

In mid-December 2023, Zuma announced that he would be supporting the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), rather than the ANC, in the upcoming national election. But he would not resign from the ANC. Umkhonto we Sizwe is the name of the ANCs former guerrilla army.

This latest assault by Zuma on the ANC coincides with the embattled party entering a tough campaigning period for the national and provincial elections, expected between May and August 2024. Zuma is using his new platform to strike at his arch-enemy, President Cyril Ramaphosa, who also heads the ANC.

Zuma, president of the ANC from 2007 to 2017, and of South Africa from 2009 to early 2018, rose to power controversially, amid allegations of corruption related to the governments 1998 procurement of arms. This scandal became the hallmark of his reign, followed by the debilitating state capture and gross misgovernance scandals.

He has used the Stalingrad legal strategy  wearing down a plaintiff by challenging their every move  to evade justice. However, he was convicted on a relatively minor charge in July 2021, for defying a court order to appear at a judicial commission into state capture. His subsequent jailing triggered violent protests in which about 350 people died. There are fears that further action against Zuma could spark a resurgence.

Challenging Ramaphosa

Zuma has portrayed the MK Party as the authentic ANC, not the one led by Ramaphosa. He has been drawing sizeable crowds to the meetings of the new party, provoking the ANC and paralysing its strategists. The ANC faces a difficult choice: suspend or expel Zuma and face a backlash; or tolerate him within the ANC, lest he turns disciplinary action against him into martyrdom.

My academic study of South African politics, and the ANC, over three decades provides some insight into why Zuma continues to command support, despite his ruinous tenure. Under his presidency, the state and its organs were captured and repurposed for his benefit and those around him; state organs were disabled and ANC factional divisions pushed to unprecedented levels. I suggest the reasons people still support him include public unhappiness with the ANCs performance in government; Zumas cunning casting of himself as their similarly suffering saviour; his exploitation of Zulu cultural identity; the shared loss with his faction of status; and exclusion from the ANCs patronage system. He feeds on the governments performance failures.

State of the ANC

The ANC bears scars of at least two presidential battles: Zuma versus Mbeki, and then Zuma against Ramaphosa. The fights spawned internal enemies, many of them now Zuma disciples stirring up support for the MK Party project.

Zumas prime target is the Ramaphosa-led ANC with its Thuma Mina (Send Me) campaign, which promised to rebuild the country from the mess Zuma created or exacerbated, guided, according to the text, by values of integrity, equality, solidarity and shared humanity. Zuma accuses Ramaphosa of being corrupted by white monopoly capital, and pins his marginalisation from the ANC on having become the victim of a corrupted judiciary. He complains that Ramaphosa introduced practices that are foreign to the ANCs character.

At the height of Zumas tenure as president of South Africa, 2009 to early 2018, he proved himself as the patriarch of patronage. Tenders were his to dictate. Entire state institutions fell victim.

His attack on the ANC resonates with an activist core that is angry with losing the privileged positions they held before Ramaphosa became the party leader in 2017. Some were felled by the Ramaphosa-led ANCs clampdown on corruption.

Zuma also gets support from former ANC provincial and national leaders who have been at the receiving end of ANC disciplinary action. For them, supporting for Zuma is a way to punish the ANC.

Zumas portrayal of himself as a victim at the hands of Ramaphosa resonates with many who feel they have been wronged by their organisation.

For the tenderpreneurs  business people who feed off government contracts  the taps have been dripping rather than spouting contracts as before. They are set to bond with citizens whose livelihoods dissipate as government policies fade and fail.

Zumas popular standing coincides with the decline in the electoral standing of the ANC.

State of government

The ANC of 2024 is weather-worn and has less of a grip on the states delivery apparatus. Despite the partys claims, there is slim hope for economic growth and jobs that will be sufficient to drive an economic turnaround.

Many have no chance to move beyond a life of social security grants and dependence on the state.

The ANCs poor performance in government  high unemployment, deep inequality, continuously rising poverty, crime, poor and collapsing services, collapse of public infrastructure  provides fertile soil for the populist and opportunistic former president to reclaim credentials of the ANCs former armed wing, scavenge on ANC weaknesses and wreak havoc in the party.

The disgruntled communities supporting Zuma also feature military veterans and religious organisations, largely in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Zuma has had well-attended meetings in other provinces too.

Across all strata of society, there is anger with how the ANC has been treating citizens. Many citizens now fail to see the promise of order and definitive economic progress in Ramaphosas plans and visions.

Zumas KwaZulu-Natal trump card

The KwaZulu-Natal province helped sustain national ANC support at a time when the ANC had started declining below its 2004 two-thirds-plus national majority. Without this boost, the ANC would have declined faster and earlier. Zumas contribution was in bolstering high-level Zulu cultural presence and political influence in the ANC. He helped make the ANC an organisation where this populous group of South Africans felt they had a political home. Their votes followed.

This helped Zuma build a near-untouchable status in the ANC. It helps explain why ANC leaders would go hat in the hand to his Nkandla homestead requesting his help in election campaigning, after the end of his party presidency.

Zuma, in 2024 campaign rallies, promises traditional leaders (amakhosi) the status of sovereign authorities with executive powers. This idea, he well knows, is at odds with the countrys constitutional democracy. Yet it endears him to traditionalists who do not feel at home in a multiparty, competitive democracy.

Hedging bets

Zumas new model of resistance  voting for an ANC-derivative party against the ANC (while remaining within its ranks)  appeals to many discontented citizens and traditional communities. It arrives at a time when many South Africans, and in particular ANC followers, feel multiparty democracy and its governance have not worked for them.

Zuma operates on the belief that he will be the hero of this struggle. If electoral politics does not satisfy the discontented citizens, and anger and rebellion prevail, he has already shown that he is an effective apostle of the alternative track of non-electoral politics. He offers the full repertoire of protest and rebellion associated with the ANC, a former liberation movement, now party, which survives but battles to reconnect with the hearts and minds of citizens.

Susan Booysen, Visiting Professor and Professor Emeritus, University of the Witwatersrand

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
By Marie Mannes and Helen Reid

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -H&M unexpectedly announced a change of leadership on Wednesday, with company veteran Daniel Erver taking over as CEO from Helena Helmersson as the Swedish fashion retailer's performance continues to lag rivals such as Inditex and Shein.

Shares in H&M dropped 12% as the company revealed sales for December and January fell by 4% compared to the previous year, a bad sign for the key Christmas shopping period.

Helmersson, who quit after four years as CEO, said the role had been "very demanding" and she did not have the energy to continue.

Erver, 42, has been at H&M for 18 years, most recently as head of the retailer's core H&M brand, a role he will keep alongside the CEO job. In an interview with Reuters, the Swede said he had voiced his interest in the role in December and the board took the decision on Wednesday morning.

STRUGGLE TO LIFT SALES, PROFITABILITY

The world's second-biggest listed fashion retailer after Inditex, H&M has struggled to compete with Zara and online low-priced fast fashion giant Shein, both of which have seen stronger sales growth.

"I think the market will welcome the change after digesting the numbers," said Adil Shah, portfolio manager at Storebrand in Oslo, which holds H&M shares.

H&M has focused on profitability rather than sales volumes recently as it aims to reach a 10% operating margin this year, and cuts costs by closing stores and laying off staff.

"The 10% goal on profitability stays, we will work hard to make that goal happen," Erver told Reuters.

H&M's fourth-quarter operating profit margin fell to 7.2% from 7.8% in the third quarter.

Measured in local currencies, sales from Dec. 1 to Jan. 29 - the start of its fiscal first quarter - fell by 4%, compared to an increase of 5% in the same period last year. Sales over the fourth quarter had also fallen 4%, more than the market expected.

Inditex's operating margin was 20.3% over the nine-month period to end-October. Sales grew 11.1% over that same period.

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H&M's fourth-quarter operating profit was 4.33 billion crowns ($415.4 million), up from 821 million a year earlier but below the 4.57 billion expected by analysts in an LSEG poll.

JPMorgan analysts said the results were disappointing, and that the weakness of H&M's fourth-quarter profit "slightly reduces (the) credibility" of the 10% margin target.

Karl-Johan Persson, H&M chairman and grandson of founder Erling Persson, said the company is in a strong position with "good conditions to make further improvements" this year. The Persson family has a 51% stake in H&M.

The shares were down 12% by 1445 GMT, having gained about 29% over the last 12 months.

($1 = 10.4234 Swedish crowns)

(Reporting by Marie Mannes in Stockholm and Helen Reid in London; Additional reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Anna Ringstrom, Jan Harvey, Elaine Hardcastle)
By Hyunjoo Jin and Tom Hals

(Reuters) -After a Delaware court threw out Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package on Tuesday, the Tesla chief executive and a board seen as captive to him must find a way to negotiate a replacement contract. It will not be easy.

The ruling is spurring on investors who for years have raised concerns about Tesla board independence. This could be a turning point for Musk, who recently said he was uncomfortable transforming Tesla into an artificial intelligence leader if his control did not rise with a new pay package.

"This throws Tesla into a complete sort of tailspin from an executive perspective," said Tesla shareholder Ross Gerber, who said the court decision essentially required new independent board members who would provide CEO oversight. "Then it gets real messy because Elon - it's either his way or the highway," said Gerber, who last year publicly considered a board run as an independent.

Musk has not said what he will do, though an appeal is almost certain. Tesla shares fell 2.2% on Wednesday.

First, Musk will have to give back what he got if the ruling stands. He has satisfied the 2018 contract terms and received 12 tranches of options worth about $51 billion.

However, the options grant "sits unexercised and undisturbed," the court ruling said, so giving up his earnings may not be complicated.

Deciding what to replace the package with will be a difficult process, since it is unclear who will bargain on Tesla's side. The judge who threw out the package called it an "unfathomable sum" that was unfair to shareholders and questioned the board's independence.

Equilar estimated in 2022 that Musk's package was around six times larger than the combined pay of the 200 highest-paid executives in 2021. Musk was the world's second-richest person, worth $184 billion on Wednesday, Forbes calculated.

TEARS OF ADMIRATION

Delaware Judge Kathaleen McCormick said many current board directors labeled as independent by Tesla, including James Murdoch, Chair Robyn Denholm and Ira Ehrenpreis, showed a lack of independence in the pay decision.

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The judge's ruling described a board with little control over its chaotic CEO. After a settlement with the U.S. securities regulator required Musk to get approval from a Tesla lawyer for some tweets, Denholm described the Musk tweet process as "self-regulating."

The chair said sales of $280 million in stock received for her director service were "life-changing," and the judge described the board members and executives as advisors to Musk. The compensation setting process was "me negotiating against myself," Musk testified.

"They're going to have to refresh the board," said Charles Elson, director of the University of Delaware's corporate governance center. "I mean, he may not like it, but it's going to be very hard to run this company as it did."

Musk could decide to leave, a possibility raised by JP Morgan, but Elson said that would torpedo the value of the 13% stake Musk holds, independent of the pay package. Even before Tesla has announced this year's annual meeting, several shareholders already are promoting resolutions to give investors more control by moving to annual director elections and eliminating a supermajority voting requirement.

McCormick questioned if any pay for Musk was necessary, given his fortune swelled along with Tesla's success, through his stake in the company.

"There are many examples of visionaries with large pre-existing equity holdings foregoing compensation entirely: Zuckerberg, Bezos, Gates, and others so familiar to the world that no first names are required," McCormick wrote.

Musk brings a strong record into any negotiations.

Tesla's stock market value was $53 billion when Musk's package was approved in 2018. It was a money-losing enterprise, struggling to accelerate production of its Model 3 sedan. That was when Musk famously described Tesla as being in "production hell."

By 2021, now profitable, having weathered the pandemic and launched the Model Y small SUV, Tesla's market value reached $1.2 trillion. That became the world's second best selling car or SUV last year, Car and Driver estimated.

Tesla's valuation has fallen to around $600 billion, but that is still more than 10 times what it was when the process began, and the company remains worth more than most auto industry veterans, combined.

(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin and Tom Hals; Additional reporting by Joe White; Writing by Peter Henderson; Editing by Richard Chang)
Insights into Hasbro Inc's Upcoming Dividend and Financial Health

Hasbro Inc (NASDAQ:HAS) recently announced a dividend of $0.70 per share, payable on 2024-02-15, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-01-31. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into Hasbro Inc's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

What Does Hasbro Inc Do?

Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with HAS.

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Hasbro is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with entertainment offerings based on a world-class brand portfolio. From toys and games to television programming, motion pictures, and a licensing program, Hasbro reaches customers by leveraging its well-known brands such as Transformers, Nerf, and Magic: The Gathering. Ownership stakes in Discovery Family, which offers programming around Hasbro brands, and production capabilities (some of which are set to be divested) from Entertainment One helped bolster Hasbro's multichannel presence. The firm acquired EOne in 2019, bolting on popular family properties like Peppa Pig and PJ Masks, and tied up with Dungeons & Dragons Beyond in 2022, offering the firm access to 10 million digital tabletop players.

Hasbro Inc's Dividend Analysis

A Glimpse at Hasbro Inc's Dividend History

Hasbro Inc has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 1986. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis and the company has increased its dividend each year since 2001. This achievement classifies Hasbro Inc as a dividend achiever, a prestigious title awarded to companies with at least 23 consecutive years of dividend increases.

Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends.

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Breaking Down Hasbro Inc's Dividend Yield and Growth

As of today, Hasbro Inc currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 5.53% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 5.53%. This suggests an expectation of consistent dividend payments over the next 12 months.

Over the past three years, Hasbro Inc's annual dividend growth rate was 1.40%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate increased to 4.20% per year. And over the past decade, Hasbro Inc's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at 7.70%.

Based on Hasbro Inc's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Hasbro Inc stock as of today is approximately 6.79%.

Hasbro Inc's Dividend Analysis

The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability

To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-09-30, Hasbro Inc's dividend payout ratio is 0.85, which may suggest that the company's dividend may not be sustainable.

Hasbro Inc's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Hasbro Inc's profitability 8 out of 10 as of 2023-09-30, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each of year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability.

Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook

To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Hasbro Inc's growth rank of 8 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors.

Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Hasbro Inc's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Hasbro Inc's revenue has increased by approximately 4.70% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 63.66% of global competitors.

The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Hasbro Inc's earnings increased by approximately -26.90% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 19.14% of global competitors.

Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of -4.30%, which outperforms approximately 36.1% of global competitors.

Next Steps

In conclusion, Hasbro Inc's consistent dividend payments and status as a dividend achiever highlight its commitment to shareholder returns. However, the high payout ratio may raise questions about the long-term sustainability of these dividends. Despite this, Hasbro Inc's strong profitability and good growth metrics provide some reassurance about its financial health. As the company navigates through industry trends and strategic initiatives, investors should monitor these factors closely. Is Hasbro Inc's dividend policy sustainable in the long run given its current financials? This remains an essential question for value investors considering adding HAS to their portfolios.

GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Global development organization Heifer International and FruitPunch AI, the global community educating and applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good, today launched the AI for Women Farmers Challenge  a project to develop AI tools to help rural women farmers in Nepal leverage data to improve their livelihoods.

Heifer Logo Grand Blue. (PRNewsfoto/Heifer Project International)

The project aims to help women-run agricultural cooperatives extract and translate their own data on financial, business and other activities, which the co-op members can then use to improve their access to markets, financing, product traceability platforms and more.

The AI for Women Farmers Challenge will use FruitPunch AI's trailblazing method of recruiting highly skilled volunteers from the AI for Good community to solve a specific problem in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals over the course of a focused 10-week technical collaboration.

In Heifer International's decades-long work supporting women smallholders in Nepal, a key vehicle for economic and social empowerment is the organization of agricultural cooperatives, which provide technical, production and financial services to their member farmers. However, a digital divide prevents farmer cooperatives from easily using and benefiting from their own data as most information, such as sales, loan and production records, is stored on paper ledgers, out of reach of the digital ecosystem.

"This Challenge represents a significant milestone with immediate benefits for rural women entrepreneurs," said Antoinette Marie, director of Heifer Labs, a digital technology unit within Heifer International that collaborates with country programs to co-create technology interventions that deliver farmer value and accelerate Heifer's organizational goals. "By empowering them with digitized versions of their own data, we're boosting their market presence, optimizing their business processes, and strengthening their ability to secure essential growth capital."

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The Challenge will use AI Optical Character Recognition (OCR) models to extract, digitize and translate Nepali handwritten and typeset text from photos and scans of existing paper records. Bridging the digital divide in this way will enable farmers to easily search, analyze and obtain insights from various types of existing records, such as financial, cooperative capacity, livestock breeding and agricultural production.

The Challenge will have two phases: The first will tackle Nepali data extraction and translation via AI OCR models, which will enable search and analysis of different types of paper records. A second follow-on Challenge will create data structures from these results, focused on a specific use case, such as financial data to stimulate formal lending to farmers.

FruitPunch AI volunteers involved in the Challenge will build on their existing programming, data and AI skills, while being mentored by experts to become a certified AI for Good Engineer. At the same time, they will deliver immediate impact to women smallholders in Nepal by helping them receive value from their own data.

"By joining forces with Heifer Labs, we will be able to educate AI engineers with sustainable AI skills while helping women-run farms reach the digital economy and grow their businesses," said Sako Arts, CTO and founder of FruitPunch AI.

Heifer International began operating in Nepal in 1997, working alongside local farmers to improve food security and reduce poverty by providing technical support to strengthen agricultural value chains, promoting environmentally friendly farming, and improving access to affordable inputs and services. To date, Heifer Nepal has supported over 400,000 families, organized into 277 agricultural cooperatives  all working under the Social Entrepreneur Women Alliance, an apex governing body led by progressive women farmers.

About Heifer International

Since 1944, Heifer International has worked with more than 46 million people around the world to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way while caring for the Earth. Heifer currently operates in 19 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including the United States, supporting farmers and food producers to strengthen local economies and build secure livelihoods that provide a living income. For more information, visit https://www.heifer.org

About FruitPunch AI

As the global AI for Good community, FruitPunch AI collaborates with partners worldwide with SDG-related problems that can be solved with AI. They onboard engineers from companies that need to learn about the practical use of AI and combine these with experts from their community into a 30 to 50 people force for Good. In a 10-week AI for Good Challenge, they will both tackle the problem with AI and educate participants to become certified AI for Good engineers. Join the movement at https://fruitpunch.ai

FruitPunch AI logo

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/heifer-international-and-fruitpunch-ai-launch-artificial-intelligence-challenge-in-nepal-to-improve-data-access-for-women-farmers-302048661.html

SOURCE Heifer Project International
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.
Simmon Saraf sees plenty of demand for retail marijuana and he says that combined with Shasta Countys high cannabis IQ, the market will continue to grow the areas green economy.

Business partners Saraf, Robert Bear Masterson and Nishant Reddy recently opened A Golden State, Reddings sixth cannabis retail store.

The store will celebrate its grand opening Friday. Doors open at 10 a.m. Tio Nates Taqueria food truck and Theory Coffee will be selling food and beverages at the event at 6744 Lockheed Drive.

A Golden State is across from Redding Regional Airport and is a cannabis microbusiness, where retail sales and cultivation happen under one roof.

Big windows separate the store and cultivation, allowing customers to view the growing operation as they shop for marijuana.

Every time you come in here to A Golden State, its going to be a new experience. You can see various stages of flower. One time you may come, and it will be week one, and the plants will just be 24 inches tall. The next time you come, it could be week four where you see the beginning of the bud side starting, the flowers starting, the plants growing vertically, Masterson said.

A Golden State managing partners Simmon Saraf, left, and Robert "Bear" Masterson stand in front a large window that shows one of its cannabis strains that the business grows in-house.

Saraf likens it to a "farm-to-table" experience for customers.

A Golden State sells its own brands that are grown and cultivated on-site and brands from other labels.

Masterson said the packaging for their brands is reminiscent of Mt. Shasta. Information about what's inside the box is configured in a triangle shape that depicts the mountain.

I think people should be proud when they come here. The side of the box has information about Mt. Shasta, Masterson said.

A Golden State, everything we bred in house. Its proprietary genetics, you know, exotic strains, he added.

Masterson said the brands they cultivate in-house are tailored according to what the customer wants. For example, Phases is an "effect: brand.

"A lot of customers, when they come in, they are looking for a certain effect, whether it's to give them energy, or make them sleepy, or take away anxiety, Phases is based on that," he said.

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In addition to six marijuana stores in Redding, there are two in the city of Shasta Lake, where cannabis sales also are legal. Marijuana sales are illegal in unincorporated Shasta County and the city of Anderson.

The North States so-called green economy has boomed since 2018 as cannabis retail sales have nearly quadrupled, from $10.9 million to $42.5 million in 2022, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.

Cannabis production in Shasta County in 2022 topped nearly every agriculture crop.

I think retail is probably still strong. I think when you look at the area from my perspective, we've got a very strong cannabis IQ in the region, Saraf said. To me, cannabis is very much an accepted product in the Shasta-Redding area. Its not something that is stigmatized.

A Golden State recently opened on Lockheed Drive across from Redding Regional Airport.

Both Saraf and Masterson said Redding and Shasta Lakes embrace of cannabis have certainly helped the industry blossom in the North State.

Saraf, who lives in Southern California and has a finance background, got interested in the cannabis industry when his mother was diagnosed with cancer soon after he had moved back to California in June 2014. He said cannabis helped his mother.

I thought to myself, there is something here, he said.

Reddy introduced Saraf to Masterson, who founded The Harvest Company, a hydroponics business in Redding that he sold to GrownGeneration Corp. in 2021. Masterson is an Enterprise High School graduate.

This is A Golden States first retail cannabis store in California. The company also operates a cultivation operation in Shasta Lake.

Saraf said eight years after California legalized the use, sale and cultivation of recreational marijuana, the industry is in an interesting place.

However, 2022 was a down year for cannabis after it enjoyed a bump in sales during the COVID pandemic. State numbers show that retail cannabis sales in Shasta County dropped 19% in 2022 from the previous year.

Derek Yorton, assistant manager at Vibe by California, a cannabis store in Redding, recently told the Record Searchlight that retail shops did well during the pandemic because they were considered essential businesses.

I believe as we enter 2024, I think its going to be another difficult year. I think we will have some names go away this year. I hope not. Were very much of the mindset that we want to see all boats rise. Theres enough here for everyone to do well and we dont really see ourselves as competitors, said Saraf, of A Golden State.

One challenge for the industry is that federal law bans the sale, possession and use of cannabis, so banks dont allow purchases to be made on debit or credit cards.

Mastercard made headlines last year when it banned the purchase of cannabis products on its debit cards. Masterson said they are using an intermediary that will allow customers to use a debit card.

Andrew DeAngelo, a global cannabis advisor based in Oakland, said that third-party solutions also can be a challenge. Of the intermediary services, he said, "some are holding up better than others."

DeAngelo doesn't see real change coming until the federal Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act, or Safe Banking Act, is passed. The bill would give state-sanctioned cannabis businesses access to financial and banking services like debit card transactions.

We are super pumped to be here and to be up and running. We really cant wait to really get the doors open and start getting people through. Its going to be exciting, Saraf said.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. Hes part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-225-8219. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: A Golden State brings 'farm to table' retail experience to Redding
There's a place for stocks trading at low valuations (generally referred to as value stocks) in a well-rounded investment strategy. History shows that the relative performance between value and growth stocks can sometimes move back and forth like a game of tug of war.

But the underperformance of either group has never been this lopsided. Research from Patient Capital Management found that, between 2007 and 2020, value stocks underperformed growth stocks by 150% -- the worst performance by either group in the last 50 years.

While growth stocks generally are the best way to grow your savings over the long term, identifying stocks trading at low valuations or price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios can be beneficial when the markets turn volatile.

VTV Chart

For example, through the market correction in 2022, the Vanguard Value ETF significantly outperformed the Vanguard Growth ETF, which shows how well-chosen value stocks can offset the declines in your growth stocks when the markets slide. The key is to be selective and focus on quality companies that lead their respective markets.

Here's why Chinese e-commerce leader Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) and jeweler Signet Jewelers (NYSE: SIG) are two great value stocks to buy right now.

1. Alibaba

The largest e-commerce and cloud services provider in China, a company that generates $130 billion in annual revenue, is trading at a fire-sale valuation of just 6.3 times trailing-12-month free cash flow. The stock has fallen over the last few years due to a weak economy, concern about U.S.-China relations, and increasing competition in e-commerce in China. Its price is getting too cheap to ignore.

Despite the obstacles, the stock's reduced valuation doesn't seem justified. Alibaba has enormous cash resources to reinvest in the business and weather the economic turbulence. It also is facing a massive opportunity in the growing adoption of artificial intelligence services in China.

McKinsey & Co. estimates AI could add $600 billion in economic value to China in the years to come. That is almost as much as the entire gross domestic product of Shanghai, one of China's largest cities.

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Alibaba has the customer reach and technology to be a leader in China's booming AI economy. The company's Taobao marketplace had 895 million monthly active users through September 2023. Management credited the growth in its core marketplace business in the September-ending quarter to its wide offering of brands and merchants, in addition to AI-driven technology, such as virtual try-on features in the app.

Despite these advantages, revenue growth from Taobao and Tmall still decelerated last quarter to just 4% year over year. The competition from other marketplaces and macroeconomic challenges are taking their toll, but Alibaba has tools to fight back. The company has yet to fully flex its financial strength to more aggressively lower prices, which could put more pressure on smaller competitors.

All told, Alibaba's technology, wide customer reach, and profitability, where it generates $30 billion in trailing free cash flow, are worth betting on at these bargain-basement share prices. The stock could be a grand slam for investors if the stock eventually returns to the same price-to-earnings valuation as before the pandemic.

2. Signet Jewelers

Investing in top jewelry brands can be a rewarding investment at the right price. Signet Jewelers operates the largest collection of store brands, including Zales, Jared, Kay Jewelers, and online leader Blue Nile, among others. It's not a fast grower, but management has implemented a successful acquisition strategy to assemble this leading collection of brands, and the stock is cheap enough to deliver spectacular returns over the next five years.

After a slump in sales over the last few years, the company saw demand for engagement rings rise toward the end of 2023. Improving sales in bridal, which generates half the company's merchandise sales, is a catalyst for growth.

Signet's sales were down 12% year over year last quarter, as the company's bridal business is expected to remain soft in the near term. But sales of engagement rings build long-term relationships with customers, and this fuels growth in services, which could be a source of expanding margins down the road.

Signet management projects annual adjusted earnings will reach at least $14 per share over the long term as bridal demand returns. That puts the stock's forward price-to-earnings ratio at just 7 -- a bargain, considering the company's record of profitable growth.

The stock rallied at the end of last year following healthy Black Friday sales in the holiday quarter. Moreover, Signet pays a small dividend yield of 0.93% to shareholders, reflecting management's confidence in the future.

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The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC) held its first Zoom meeting for 2024 on Sunday, with workers attending from Royal Mail delivery offices, mail centres and Parcelforce.

Tony Robson, a writer for the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS), delivered the opening report, citing the committees public reply to joint statements issued by Communication Workers Union (CWU) officials and Royal Mail on Quality of Service and on Seasonal Variation to the working day.

He explained, The joint statements published on January 15 show what the CWU Postal Executive has been up to behind workers backs, which Martin Walshs letter to branches tried to conceal through smoke and mirrors.

Robson said the latest CWU-Royal Mail joint statements had locked in further revision activity on top of record revisions to terms and conditions implemented last year, which had collapsed six-day letter delivery and resulted in punishing workloads across 1,200 Royal Mail delivery offices.

The picket line at Croydon Mail Centre in Beddington Farm Road, Croydon, December 1, 2022

In the meeting chat, a Parcelforce worker agreed, After a recent revision the workload is impossible to achieve. His colleagues were facing daily threats from depot managers who say your union agreed to an increase of productivity from 90 percent to 95 percent.

Robson recalled how an almost identical joint statement on Quality of Service was promoted by CWU officials last June. It was hailed as a breakthrough and used to restart balloting on the hated Business Recovery, Growth and Transformation Agreement (BRGTA). Ward and Fureys lies that their joint statement would protect workers from impossible workloads and bullying had been exposed as a con. Enforced through lies and intimidation, the national agreement had no legitimacy, Robson said.

More than six months later, the terms of the sell-out agreement are being implemented across all areas: impossible workloads to drive out existing staff and replace them with new starters on inferior terms; the slashing of jobs in mail centres; the ending of any work-life balance with seasonal hours and later start and finish times; the gutting of sick pay; and the re-victimisation of reps and members through the Falconer Review.

Fleet workers have also been hung out to dry without any new contract after rejecting demands for further outsourcing and inferior terms for new entrants.

A delivery worker commented in the chat, A two-tier workforce was one of the first things the CWU said would never happen Funny how its become the norm now and they dont have anything to say on the matter. Its an absolute disgrace. Ill never forgive the CWU for giving up the fight last year and coming up with this s*** sellout deal.

Robson said the PWRFC was formed during the dispute based on the recognition that no change was possible outside of a rank-and-file rebellion against the pro-company CWU apparatus. Our aim is to abolish this unaccountable bureaucracy and bring decision-making to the shop floor.

He rejected the CWUs insistence that workers demands for decent pay and conditions were unaffordable and would push the company into bankruptcy: Lets open the books and see where the hundreds of millions they have made off the backs of postal workers has been spent. We already know about the 600 million paid out to major shareholders before Royal Mail pleaded poverty.

If Royal Mail cannot provide decent jobs or pay for its workforce or deliver a mail service that is fit for purpose, it must be placed into public ownership under workers control, using the profits expropriated from major shareholders to guarantee terms, conditions and pay and to uphold the USO.

Robson emphasised, We totally oppose the efforts of Ward to promote the Labour Party and his claim that the election of a Labour government would be another fresh start for workers. This is being echoed by Mick Lynch in the RMT.

The CWU is parading the likes of Darren Jones and Sir Keir Starmer as a positive change. The Labour Party has ruled out any re-nationalisation and is working with the CWU to reduce the USO to 5 days, in keeping with its pro-business and right-wing agenda. The hostility Labour showed to striking workers during the wave of industrial action from Summer 2022 is now being directed against the millions demonstrating against Israels genocidal war on Gaza, which Starmer and the Sunak government are backing to the hilt.

In the discussion that followed, a postal worker from London ridiculed company claims about unaffordability, recalling how Royal Mail had reported a war chest of 1.7 billion to take on the strike. Afterwards they were pleading poverty, and the union are claiming they could go into administration. Its a farce. Its all lies, that is the problem! He estimated that union dues from postal workers amounted to around 19 million per year, questioning why any of this should be funnelled into the coffers of the Labour Party and suggesting a boycott of dues over the CWUs collusion.

Committee members reported on conditions at their workplace. George, a delivery worker in Scotland, said staffing at his unit had been reduced by around 10 percent and asked if this reflected the situation UK-wide.

Ian, a delivery worker in the South Midlands, cited unconfirmed reports that 10,000 had left since the dispute and around 33 percent replaced based on new terms. He said the ratio between part-time and full-time workers was meant to be 75 versus 25 percent (according to an earlier national agreement) but was nearer 55 to 45 percent at his delivery office. Part-timers were being offered full-time hours but only on the terms for new entrants. This has been brought up with the CWU, but they have been wishy-washy in their answer over whether this is legal and are sitting on their hands.

Anne, who works at a large mail centre near London, said the supernumeraries process was being used to implement mass redundancies. 130 jobs had been cut from her workplace (around 10 percent of the workforce), with a further 30 deemed surplus and put in a redeployment pool agreed by the union. The CWU is doing nothing for members, they just take our money. There is no justice. We need to raise our voice. How do they justify that many people leaving? Where is the money going? We are suffering in silence, no one is questioning management.

A Parcelforce worker asked, Does going to ACAS [arbitration service] help employees going to dispute with employers, as the CWU is not helping? A rep victimised during the dispute and subjected to the terms of the Falconer Review replied that ACAS had signed off on all aspects of the stitch-up of victimised reps, including denying their right to appeal through an Employment Tribunal (ET). He warned in relation to ETs, Trust me, they are brutal. Everyone thinks they are on the side of employees. They are not.

A delivery worker from Scotland said he had been a member of the union for decades, but that it had refused any support for his case against victimisation, leaving him totally isolated. Robson thanked him for having the courage to share his case and explained that he was not alone.

A drafting committee was established to prepare a fighting programme for postal workers. Royal Mail workers in attendance volunteered to take part and postal workers are invited to submit information using the form below.

The meeting concluded with a call to attend public meetings being held by the Socialist Equality Party against the genocide in Gaza. Robson encouraged a wider distribution of the PWRFC resolution supporting the Palestinian trade unions call for concrete solidarity action against the Israeli war machine and the major powers backing it, including the British government.
Protests took place in major cities and regional centres across Australia on Friday against the oppression of Aboriginals and the imperialist-backed Israeli genocide against Gaza.

The annual events, which have been held for decades, are named Invasion Day rallies. They are held in opposition to the official annual Australia Day celebrations which mark the British colonisation of the continent on 26 January 1788. For the Australian ruling class, Australia Day is used to celebrate nationalism and militarism.

A section of the invasion day protest in Melbourne on January 26, 2024

This year the protests raised both the oppression of indigenous Australians and opposition to the imperialist-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza. In Melbourne, where more than 100,000 gathered, the weekly free Palestine protests, which have been held for the past three months, were folded into the invasion day event, partly accounting for a larger turnout than elsewhere. Even so, more than 10,000 turned out in Sydney and 15,000 in Brisbane, along with smaller rallies across the country.

Young people were heavily represented, reflecting longstanding anger over the brutal social conditions inflicted on the indigenous population, as well as their politicisation by the Gaza genocide and the support for it by all the governments, including in Australia. The attendances were diverse, in terms of both cultural and social backgrounds.

Among hand-made banners were those that included both Aboriginal and Palestinian flags, and slogans such as No pride in genocide, Everyday in Palestine is Invasion Day and There is no justification for genocide.

Many protesters, particularly middle-class layers, voted Yes in the Labor governments referendum to establish an Aboriginal Voice to Parliament on October 14 last year. These layers wrongly thought that the Voice may have gone some way to ameliorating the social crisis afflicting Indigenous people.

They attended the rally partly to express their disappointment that the referendum was defeated.

The Voice, as admitted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese himself, would have been a powerless advisory body enshrined in Australias colonialist constitution. The aim of the Voice was to divide workers along racial lines, further entrench the position of a privileged indigenous elite and put a false progressive gloss on a government committed to war and austerity.

The overwhelming No vote did not express mass racism, but a sharp class divide. While affluent and middle-class areas of the major cities voted Yes, working class and regional areas overwhelmingly voted No, reflecting correct skepticism that the Voice would improve social conditions for ordinary people, whatever their racial background.

Despite this background, the speakers made no assessment of the referendum. In the closest any of them came, Aboriginal playwright and director Kamarra Bell-Wykes referenced the tragic, but unsurprising no vote to Aboriginal Australia having an undefined voice in the national constitution which shows just how far we have to go.

The comment echoed the line, peddled by various middle-class commentators, that the Voice result showed widespread racism. That was refuted by the attendance at the protests themselves.

There was also an obvious contradiction. Bell-Wykes herself seemingly referred to the inadequacy of the referendum, branding the Constitution and attempts to alter it as reinforcing colonial notions, but she stated this was a discussion for another time.

In fact many of the speakers had advocated a No vote, having associated themselves with the mis-named progressive No campaign of indigenous independent Senator Lidia Thorpe. Branded as progressive to distinguish it from the right-wing and racist dog-whistling of the No campaign led by the Liberal-National Coalition, the concerns of the Thorpe wing were entirely tactical.

They were fearful that they would be sidelined from the Voice by a right-wing layer of the indigenous elite with even closer ties to the political and corporate establishment. Their primary objection to the Voice was of an even more virulently Aboriginal nationalist character, arguing that it did not go far enough in allocating resources and real political power to self-appointed indigenous leaders.

Thorpes positions are saturated with reactionary racialism aimed at dividing workers.

This line was reflected in some of the main demands of the rally, including for Treaty and treaties for our mob; Land back and land rights, stop selling land promised to us  Reparations.

Robbie Thorpe, who spoke in Melbourne and is an uncle of Lidia Thorpe, bemoaned that by the time colonialism got here [to Australia, unlike in the Americas], they didnt bother with treaties.

Ky-ya Nicholson-Ward, an Aboriginal artist, addressed the rally noting the high rate of incarceration and death of indigenous peoples in Australias penal system. There have been 558 Aboriginal deaths in custody since the Royal Commission, which handed down its final report in 1991.

Ward, too, presented a treaty as the way forward, lamenting the fact that Australia is the only Commonwealth country without a treaty with its first peoples.

Such a treaty would be an anti-democratic deal between representatives of the indigenous elite and the capitalist state responsible for the dispossession and continuing oppression of most Aboriginal people. It would leave intact the profit system, the banks, the corporations and all the repressive institutions of the state. In those countries where treaties were enacted, inequality has soared within indigenous communities and no social issues have been resolved.

Unfettered land rights would similarly place direct and immediate control over lands in the hands of the Aboriginal leadership, enabling them to strike lucrative deals with mining companies and other corporations. Those land rights that have been granted have not improved the plight of the vast bulk of Aboriginal people, instead enriching a minority.

In August 2023, Thorpe highlighted in a press conference the grasping aspirations of the layer for which she speaks. She declared that if reparations were paid in full to the Aboriginal population, the country would go broke.

The rally advanced other demands, including: End Aboriginal deaths in custody; Climate justice; End the theft of black children and return all black children to their families and kin; Abolish police and prisons; For the Australian government to stop arming Israel.

The perspective offered by the speakers at Fridays rallies was utterly bankrupt. It consisted of promoting the illusion that governments could be pressured into ending the attacks on indigenous Australians through protest and lobbying.

A similar position was put forward in relation to the Australian government's support for the genocide. President of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network lobby group, Nasser Mashni, addressed the rally and stated No coloniser has ever looked at the people theyve colonised as human beings.  They look at us as someone or something to take advantage from, to kill, to steal, to murder, and to rape.

His only call to action was to increase pressure on the government and political establishment.

The Socialist Equality Party alone raised the fundamental class questions and advanced an alternative socialist and internationalist perspective in discussions with attendees. The SEP explained that the social crisis afflicting indigenous people was a component of the onslaught against the social rights of the entire working class. It could only be fought by uniting all workers, regardless of their background, in a movement for their common class interests against capitalism and all its representatives.

Similarly, they pointed out that the genocide in Gaza was a crime of capitalism and a warning of what it has in store for workers, not only in the Middle East but internationally. It underscored the end of any red lines for the major powers, as they oversee an eruption of imperialist militarism amid the deepest crisis of the whole capitalist nation-state system since the 1930s. The alternatives were socialism or barbarism, threatening the very existence of humanity.

SEP campaigners spoke with attendees at the rallies.

Cassia

In Melbourne, Cassia told an SEP member that the January 26 holiday is not celebrating anything other than the genocide of the Aboriginal people and I think thats incredibly embarrassing.

And I also think Palestine ties into that 100 percent, because the indigenous Palestinians are being colonised by the Israeli people. I think they are one and the same in a lot of ways and thats why Im here today, she added.

Cassia added: As long as the system is set up to support profit over people, we will always have governments that support genocide because its profitable.

Bridgid, an artist, drew the link between the plight of Aboriginal people and Gaza.

Its a big colonial power that comes in, takes over, like in Australia. It has a mass genocide and puts down the Indigenous people, leaves a few and cuts down the environment. It plays out the same way all over the world. With Gaza it seems much the same.

She denounced the Labor government of Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses support for the Gaza genocide.

I just dont understand why they can be so bad. Obviously, theyve got their own agenda thats pro-Israel, which is pro-imperialist, pro-capitalist.

Bridgid added: In a way, I didnt quite believe where they were coming from with the [Voice] referendum. I didnt really believe that they were doing it for the right reasons.

Jacob

Jacob, a journalist, said there are definitely parallels between the Palestinians in Gaza and the Aboriginal people of Australia.

Jacob denounced the sacking of Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) journalist Antoinette Lattouf for expressing pro-Palestinian views.

That was not good at all. Its really good to see that ABC employees and her colleagues are coming out and being very vocal in support of her. We need to be vocal about our beliefs and also support people for what they believe in and they shouldnt be discriminated against for that.
Job losses have increased in Oman, a Middle Eastern country where many workers from South Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, go in search of work. Those affected include domestic and skilled laborers.

A group of Sri Lankan workers who have lost their jobs and could not find alternative employment started a protest near the Sri Lankan embassy in Muscat demanding that the government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe make arrangements to bring them home.

Unemployed workers waiting on the highway near the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman [Photo: Middle East Workers]

The Sri Lankan embassy has turned down the request, saying that its government has no responsibility for these workers as they had come to Oman on tourist visas.

A statement issued by the embassy on January 10 declares: The embassy also advises, once again, that Sri Lankan migrants who are on expired tourist visas or work visas not to gather in front of the embassy, and that Sri Lankans seeking future employment in the Sultanate to leave the country before their visas expire. If the visa has expired, it is advised to notify the relevant Omani authorities and make the relevant payment for the expired period and leave.

According to the above announcement, on January 2, Oman police removed the Sri Lankan workers who were in front of the embassy.

Aruna, a Sri Lankan worker who came to the aid of the protesting workers, told the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) that about 80 workers were arrested including 30 women. After the arrest and removal of the workers who had gathered earlier, another group of workers gathered in front of the office. Another worker informed the WSWS that the group was not present when she visited the site on January 23.

According to the announcement, the safe house (Suraksha Safe Houses) attached to the embassy, established by embassy authorities purportedly for the protection of women, has also been closed to them.

The condition of these stranded workers waiting on the pavement near the highway is extremely unsafe. They live on the help of fellow workers. They have no toilets or sanitary facilities. They are exposed to extreme heat during the day and extreme cold at night. They have to sleep on disposable cardboard boxes.

At the beginning of last year, when the workers unrest arose following reports of trafficking of Sri Lankan migrant women workers in Oman, the Sri Lankan government announced that it would investigate the issue. Instead of providing assistance, in mid-year the embassy authorities forced about 80 workers, including the women who were protesting in front of the Embassy and those who were at the Suraksha Safe House, into the custody of Oman police.

Since the increase of the number of Sri Lankan migrant workers seeking protection due to visa expiry, job losses and harassment by employers, the number of people staying at the Suraksha Safe House increased to five or six times its capacity, and consequently the admission of jobs seekers coming on tourist visas has been stopped.

Harshani Pradipika Ratnayake, who was arrested by the police and then came to Sri Lanka under the general amnesty of the Oman government, told the WSWS that even though she got an air ticket and came to Sri Lanka with the help of a friend, she is facing an unsolvable crisis on how to maintain her child and sick mother. The Sri Lankan government has refused to give air tickets to anyone who came to Sri Lanka on a general amnesty offered by the Oman government.

The Oman government has suspended the conversion of all types of tourist visas to work visas for foreigners since November, and it has made the situation of foreign workers in Oman even more difficult. Oman police arrest foreign workers en masse and keep them in detention camps without basic facilities. Subsequently, there are no records of what happened to some of those detained workers. In such a situation, the indifference of the Sri Lankan government towards the fate of these migrant workers is akin to leaving them to their deaths.

The workers face police brutality as well as draconian rules and regulations. One cannot stay in the country for more than 30 days after the expiry of a visa. The workers have to pay 10 Omani riyals per day for such overstaying, and they are subjected to a maximum fine of 500 riyals. That amount is a huge and intolerable figure exceeding 400,000 Sri Lankan rupees.

Mobs have also been deployed against workers. The workers involved in the protest told the WSWS that on January 18, a group of thugs wielding iron rods attacked them several times during the night and day, and were trying to drag women workers away by force.

Sithum, a worker who lost his job there, stated that to return to Sri Lanka, he needed about 600,000 rupees including the cost of the air ticket. He is a mechanic who went to Oman last year because he could not bear the hardships he had experienced as a contract worker in Sri Lanka. Though he had expected a job with a good salary, the employer provided him only meals.

I had to pay 550,000 rupees to the foreign job agency to come here. They said that if I wanted to go for a foreign job registering under the Bureau of Foreign Employment in Sri Lanka I had to pay about 1.2 million rupees. Thus, since I cant afford that I reluctantly decided to go abroad on a tourist visa, he said.

Another worker waiting on the payment mentioned that the embassy supports gangs to evict them and to forcibly exploit workers. He also gave the number of a vehicle in which a gang came.

There are around 1.5 million foreign workers in Oman. They have come from very poor countries in Asia and Africa, and they all face the same situation.

Due to the deepening global capitalist crisis, the exploitation of workers and trampling of their democratic rights has intensified in country after country. This situation has worsened due to imperialist-backed Israels genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza which has threatened a wider eruption in the Middle East.

The governments in Asian and African countries like Sri Lanka are strongly encouraging workers to work abroad as their remittances provide desperately needed foreign currency. Under these conditions workers who find jobs are trying to escape from miserable conditions that successive governments have subjected them to. Since they cannot spend the often substantial amounts of money required to get a work visa, they are, naturally, compelled to travel abroad through tourist visas.

The capitalist governments, who are only interested in foreign currency remittances from these migrant workers, cynically wash their hands of them when they face problems abroad.
We are publishing here the tribute to Helen Halyard written by Patrick Martin, a member of the US editorial board of the World Socialist Web Site and a member of the Workers League and Socialist Equality Party for 52 years, and Esther Galen, a member of the Workers League and Socialist Equality Party for 53 years. Comrade Helen, a leading member of the SEP (US) and the International Committee of the Fourth International for more than 50 years, died suddenly on November 28 at the age of 73.

We are among Helens oldest comrades and friends. Esther knew her for 51 years, and Marty for 50, and both of us collaborated closely with Helen throughout our entire adult lives. She is irreplaceable, both politically and personally.

Helen was, as many others paying tribute to her have said, a representative of the finest attributes of the American working class. She was intransigent in her outrage over the brutality of American capitalism, whether expressed in police violence and frame-ups, or the murder of strikers on the picket line, or the savagery of imperialist war, from the Vietnam War, which contributed to her initial radicalization, to the US-backed genocide in Gaza, during her final months.

This opposition was combined with an understanding that the working class in the United States could only overcome the most powerful imperialist ruling class in the world as part of an international struggle, mobilizing workers on every continent in a united struggle for socialism.

Helen giving greetings to Esther on the occasion of her 60th birthday. Marty sits between them.

In country after country, workers of every type, with various languages and customs, are being assembled by the ICFI into the most powerful force on earth, an international, class-conscious revolutionary movement of the working class. This was Helens goal in life, to which she made an indelible contribution.

Helen brought into the party not only her amazing energy and determination, but intellectual stature and a continuous desire to learn and to transmit that learning to others. She was both educated and an educator. Nothing gave her greater happiness than the aha moment when workers or youth entering the party began to fully grasp the significance of the international revolutionary perspective, so that their understanding began to reflect their objective class position.

For that reason, the attack on Marxism by the leaders of the Workers Revolutionary Party aroused in her a furious class response. She hated the mystification of dialectics that was employed by Healy, Banda and Slaughter to conceal their scrapping of the historically developed program and perspective of the Fourth International and justify a practice based on the grossest forms of opportunism.

Helen had spent a year carrying out political work in the British section, and this gave her an insight into the crisis and decay of the WRP that contributed to the development of the Workers Leagues fight against it. It also reinforced her conviction that the world party had to be exactly that: a party in which each cadre in each section was linked to every other comrade around the world in a common struggle.

As someone won to the Fourth International by the fight which Healy had led in his best years, Helen welcomed the resurgence of that struggle for principles that was taken up throughout the ICFI in 1985-86.

During that period, Helen was the assistant national secretary of the Workers League, taking great responsibility for the party work during Dave Norths travel to Britain and other sections to consolidate the gains of the split with the WRP opportunists and develop the perspective and cadre of the international movement.

Marty worked closely with Helen as the Bulletin spearheaded the partys many interventions in the working class during a series of class battles in the 1980s. And they held innumerable discussions on political developments, both in the editorial work and on the partys Political Committee.

The platform of a Workers League meeting in 1986, left to right, Patrick Martin, Helen Halyard, David North (speaking) and DArtagnan Collier.

Esther regarded Helen as her closest comrade from the earliest days of their political activity. They campaigned at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, along with Tom Henehan, and in building the Young Socialists in Brooklyn. At one point in Manhattan, they were roommates.

They later worked together on such projects as the publication of the memoirs of Nadezhda Joffe, daughter of leading Trotskyist Adolf Joffe, Back in Time: My Life, My Fate, My Epoch. When Nadezhda traveled to the US to promote the publication of her memoir in English, Esther and Helen helped organize and participated in a well-attended book launch in Manhattan.

Helen was a real people person, as they say, a very outgoing personality. She loved political campaigning, whether it was speaking to workers and youth attending a meeting or selling the Bulletin to workers going into their jobs, whether it was in the US or Sri Lanka or Germany or anywhere else. She brought the partys perspective to life, in the fullest sense.

She was patient while politically educating workers, building relationships that lasted years. She was respected for her firmness, including her intransigence on raising funds to sustain the party. She knew what sacrifices workers would make, and had no reluctance in asking for them.

Helen was also a dear friend and she and Esther shared moments of disappointment, heartbreaks and joys. When our girls were growing up, they could always confide in Helen and visit her when they needed a break, or a different take on their problems.

One of the worst consequences of the COVID pandemic has been the enforced separation of party members, particularly those at greatest risk because of their age and health. But Helen was in our bubble, and we were still able to talk and see her even when she was ill. These memories will remain with us as long as we live.
Earlier this month, Al Jazeera posted an extraordinary video showing the January 17 controlled demolition of Israa University in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) detonated 315 mines in order to destroy the complexthe last standing university in the Gaza Strip. This criminal assault followed the bombing of the Islamic and Al-Azhar universities.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that to date 12 higher education institutions in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed by Israeli forces.

The IDF is also targeting primary and secondary schools. Since the beginning of the war last October, K12 schools have been repeatedly bombed, forcing closures and leading to the decision of the Ministry of Education to officially terminate the school year across Gaza on November 6.

Israel is obliterating the entire educational infrastructure in Gaza, with the aim of making the destruction permanent.

This includes the eradication of the human bearers of culture. A January 20 report by Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor denounced Israel for the targeted assassination of academic, scientific and intellectual figures across a variety of research disciplines, including 17 individuals with professorial degrees, 59 with doctoral degrees, and 18 with masters degrees.

According to the South African complaint argued before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on January 11, leading Palestinian academics who have been assassinated include:

Professor Sufian Tayeh, the president of the Islamic University. An award-winning physicist and UNESCO chair of astronomy, astrophysics and space sciences in Palestine, Professor Tayeh died alongside his family in an airstrike.

Dr. Ahmed Hamdi Abo Absa, the dean of the Software Engineering Department at the University of Palestine. Dr. Abo Absa was reportedly shot dead by Israeli soldiers as he walked away from them after being released from a three-day forced disappearance.

Professor Muhammad Eid Shabir, professor of immunology and virology and former president of the Islamic University of Gaza.

Professor Refaat Al-Areer, poet and professor of comparative literature and creative writing at the Islamic University of Gaza.

Before the genocidal assault on Gaza, there were 625,000 students and 22,500 teachers in the enclave. Since then, as many as 350 schools have been destroyed or damaged. In what is undoubtedly an undercount, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that at least 4,327 students have been killed and 7,819 students have been injured. The same agency reports that as of January 24, 231 teachers or administrators had been killed and 756 had been wounded.

These acts, as the South African ICJ document establishes, are violations of the Geneva Convention, which outlaws intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population, civilian objects and buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science, historic monuments, hospitals, and places where the sick and wounded are collected.

The South African ICJ complaint quotes UN Security Council Resolution 2712, which expresses deep concern that the disruption of access to education has a dramatic impact on children, and that conflict has lifelong effects on their physical and mental health. It cites an interview with an emergency coordinator for Medecins sans Frontieres who spent five weeks in Gaza:

[I]ts even worse in reality than it looks. Itsthe amount of suffering is just something  incomparable. Its really unbearable. Im speechless when I try and think of the future of [these] children. Its generations of children who will be handicapped, who will be traumatized. The very children in our mental health program are telling us that they would rather die than continue living in Gaza now.

Women and children have suffered 70 percent of the deaths and injuries in Gaza. In an exhibit posted by Al Jazeera, the names of about half of the child victims are listed, together with their ages. The thousands of individual names give a sense of the unspeakable horror experienced by the population.

The silence of AFT President Randi Weingarten and the teachers union apparatus on Israels systematic and calculated destruction of education infrastructure and targeted murder of educators in Gaza speaks volumes.

Their deeds speak even louder. Both the AFT and the National Education Association (NEA) are actively campaigning for Biden in the 2024 presidential race. With this endorsement, the union apparatus has provided its seal of approval to the American governments full financial, logistical, military and political support to the Zionist genocide.

At the same time, the AFT and NEA are seeking to suppress anti-war protests among their members, just as they suppressed the fight for COVID protections and for decades undercut and betrayed the struggles of teachers and the working class as a whole over wages, working conditions, jobs and inequality.

But opposition among educators is mounting. A petition circulating widely within the NEA is demanding that the union revoke its endorsement of Biden in the 2024 presidential race until he secures a permanent ceasefire, stops sending military funding, equipment, and intelligence to Israel, and commits to a fair due process for asylum seekers and refugees.

Reporting on this petition, a recent article refers to the splintering of the NEA, the largest union in the US. According to the Nation, 19 local, state, and regional bodies of the NEA [have called] for a cease-fire in Gaza, including the National Council of Urban Education Associations.

In response to these developments, AFT President Weingarten reposted on Twitter/X a January 22 column authored by J Street, a pro-Israeli lobby and political action committee, of which she is a prominent board member. The statement, Time for Diplomacy, calls for a negotiated stop to the fighting in order to bring freedom to the hostages and relief to the people of Gaza.

The reference to a stop in the fighting and relief does not signify opposition either to the war or its genocidal character. Rather, it echoes the statements of top US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House national security spokesman John Kirby, that the US is pushing for a negotiated month-long humanitarian pause in the fighting and a hostage exchange.

It remains to be seen whether such a pause takes place, but even if it does, it will not alter the strategy of ethnic cleansing and annexation of Gaza and the West Bank that underlies the current genocidal campaign. In fact, release of the remaining US and Israeli hostages being held by Hamas will arguably give the fascist regime in Tel Aviv and its enablers in Washington a freer hand to complete their Final Solution of the Palestinian Problem.

In the statement, Weingarten and J Street insist, Israel had the unquestioned right to respond militarily to the horrific terror attack of October 7. It goes on to give a green light to new crimes by Israel against the Palestinians, saying Tel Aviv will have an ongoing responsibility to continue to protect and defend its citizens and hold to account those who perpetrated the October 7 attack.

This is a justification of war crimes, not a demand to halt them.

Nor should anyone be misled by the addition of the word ceasefire to some of Weingartens recent social media posts. Her talk of a ceasefire expresses not a change in position, but a rhetorical adaptation to the concerns of the AFT membershipoverwhelmingly in favor of a ceasefirecarried out with an eye to corralling teachers behind Biden in the November presidential election.

On January 29, the AFT Executive Council adopted a resolution calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas War by negotiated bilateral cease-fire and steps towards a two-state solution. Amid hand-wringing over cycles of violence and retribution, the resolution re-states the standard justification of the war: We have long recognized the right of Israel to protect its citizens against crimes of war and aggression. The horrific slaughter of Israeli civilians perpetrated by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and others on Oct. 7 was the largest mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust.

Ludicrously, the AFT resolution seeks to assign the basic blame for the bloodbath in Gaza (the word genocide does not appear) not on Israel, but on the dictatorial rule of Hamas.

The process of a two-state solution has supposedly been on the agenda since the 1993 Oslo Accords, which created the Palestinian National Authority. Since that time, the Zionist regime has proceeded with repeated mass killings of Gazans, intensifying repression, expanding war, and now openly carrying out genocide. Throughout, it has enjoyed the full and indispensable support of US imperialism, without which it could not pursue its expansionist policy.

The so-called two-state process was and remains a cover for Israeli aggression. Even in the unlikely event that a two-state system arose out of the ashes and above the corpses of the present slaughter, it would in no way represent an advance for the oppressed Palestinian masses.

As explained in Bernie Sanders, the left face of genocide, a Palestinian state would be tasked by US imperialism and Israel with maintaining a police-state grip upon the population. Elements of the hated and corrupt Palestinian Authority, voted out of office in Gaza in 2006 due to its subservience to Israel and notorious corruption, would be installed to serve as the puppet administrators of continued imperialist domination of the region and its peoples.

There is no progressive national solution to the genocidal onslaught on the Palestinian masses. The genocide in Gaza is itself part of the descent of world capitalism, in the throes of its greatest ever crisis, into barbarism: world war, genocide, authoritarian and fascist rule, and the further impoverishment of the working class. But this crisis also produces revolutionary struggles of the working class internationally.

Weingarten and the entire trade union apparatus serve as the labor police of the ruling class, suppressing the class struggle and seeking to uphold the political subordination of the working class to the capitalist parties. This pro-imperialist, pro-war bureaucracy must be overthrown and replaced by organizations of the rank and file, fighting to unite the struggles of all workers in an international offensive to put an end to imperialism and capitalism and establish world socialism. An essential component of this program is the fight for the United Socialist States of the Middle East.

We urge educators in the US to join the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, part of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees, to fight for this perspective.
Canadas Liberal government was among the first to suspend payments to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) last Friday, after Israel went public with allegations that a handful of its employees were involved in the Hamas-led Oct. 7 uprising against the suppression and dispossession of the Palestinian people.

The decision to suspend all funding to the agency that is at the centre of the humanitarian efforts to prevent the people of Gaza from dying from starvation, dehydration and disease is not only callous. It is supportive of the efforts of Israels far-right Benjamin Netanyahu-led government to rid the Gaza Strip of Palestinians through slaughter and ethnic cleansing, and is in keeping with Canadian imperialisms fulsome support for Israels genocidal assault, which has already resulted in over 30,000 fatalities.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, shortly after his Liberal government came to power in Nov. 2015. [Photo: Twitter/Trudeau]

The Israeli charge that 12 of UNRWAs 13,000 employees were involved in massacres and kidnappings on October 7 was a provocation, carefully timed to deflect attention away from the International Court of Justices interim ruling on the genocide case South Africa has brought against Israel. To the chagrin and discomfort of Netanyahu and his government, the ICJ found that South Africa had presented compelling evidence of both genocidal acts and genocidal intent on the part of Israeli government and military leaders and that the case should go forward. However, ceding to pressure from the US, Canada and the other imperialist powers, the court scandalously failed to call on Israel to cease its now almost four-month-long bombardment of Gaza and blockade of food, medicine, energy and other essentials.

Initially, Israel said that its information about the 12 was the result of its interrogation, i.e., torture, of captured militants. Later it changed its story, stating that intelligence services had monitored their cell phones.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini responded by firing nine workers, including seven who worked as teachers at UNRWA schools. One of the accused is presumed dead, while another two are being sought.

The US, followed soon after by Canada, and subsequently by Australia and all the leading European imperialist powers seized on the Israeli charges to announce they were suspending all funding to UNRWA. Canada, declared Minister for International Development Ahmed Hussen, is taking these reports extremely seriously and is engaging closely with UNRWA and other donors on this issue.

While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government take extremely seriously unproven allegations against a minuscule number of UNRWA employees, earlier this month they dismissed out of hand South Africas extensively documented charge of genocide against Israel. The presentation to the ICJ included numerous statements of genocidal intent by Israeli political leaders and documentation of the indiscriminate slaughter of the people of Gaza, the vast majority of them women and children.

This stark contrast flows from the fact that Canadian imperialism is an enabler of the Israeli genocide. Apart from the United States, Canada has been Israels strongest supporter among major powers at the UN for well over a decade. It has voted repeatedly against UN resolutions condemning Israels brutal treatment of the Palestinians, including its illegal settlement policy in the West Bank, and supplied tens of millions of dollars in equipment to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) each year.

To top off the Canadian governments cynicism, Hussen made a second statement on Tuesday claiming that Ottawa will provide $40 million in humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. However, he provided no specifics on how this aid will actually reach them, given its refusal to work with UNRWA.

Stephen Harpers Conservative government cut off all funding for UNRWA, the agency that since 1949 has provided support to the successive waves of Palestinian refugees created by Israels imperialist-backed wars. But the Trudeau government, as part of its efforts to expand Canadas influence in the Middle East and Africa, restored it in 2016, and in recent years Canada has been providing UNRWA with $30 million or more in aid annually.

Canada and the other imperialist powers suspension of funding for UNRWA will quickly bring its operations to a halt, as they are the source of well over 60 percent of its funding and the Gaza war has already strained its operations to a breaking point.

It will, and is meant to, assist Israel both politically and materially in the pursuit of its genocidal assault on Gaza.

In addition to supplying aid itself, UNRWA has coordinated the distribution of food, water, and health care by other humanitarian groups in Gaza.

Now UNRWA representatives are warning that it is at the very most a matter of a few weeks before they have to cease all their activities, meaning shortages of all basic necessities and the accompanying dangers of starvation and disease will grow rapidly.

This, in turn, will facilitate the efforts of Israels government to ethnically cleanse Gaza of Palestinians to make way for Israeli settlements, as openly advocated at a Victory of IsraelSettlement Brings Security conference attended by 11 members of Netanyahus cabinet last Sunday.

Abolishing the UNRWA, it need be noted, has long been a goal of the Israeli right, and in this it received support from former US President Donald Trump, when the would-be dictator was in the White House.

The Liberal governments endorsement of this agenda is inseparable from its major role in US imperialisms wars around the world, which are coalescing into a third world war for the redivision of the globe. Canada is involved in Washingtons deliberate escalation of the war throughout the Middle East, having joined the coalition along with Britain and Australia that began bombing Yemen earlier this month. Ottawa is also a key player in the US-NATO war on Russia in Ukraine. Over 1,000 Canadian troops are currently participating in NATOs massive mobilization of some 90,000 troops in an exercise across the Baltic and Eastern Europe that is meant to threaten and prepare for war with Russia.

Canadas official opposition Conservatives have repeatedly criticized the Trudeau government from the standpoint that it is not supportive enough of Israel. Thus Pierre Poilievre, the Conservatives far-right leader, denounced Trudeau as a terrorist accomplice for only suspending UNRWA funding and not halting it for good. Echoing the propaganda of Netanyahu and the Israel Defence Forces, Poilievre declared, Trudeau should be ashamed of himself for the way he spent our money to fund this terrorist organization.

Similarly, Poilievre has attacked the Trudeau government for its hypocritical calls for a humanitarian pause in the onslaught on Gaza, saying nothing should be allowed to stand in the ways of Israels just war. He has also chided it for not having immediately dispatched warships and warplanes to join in the attack on Yemen.

Quebecs right-wing Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) has also repeatedly attacked the Trudeau government for calling for humanitarian pauses in Gaza. Yesterday it further elaborated on its position, saying its does not support any halt to the fighting in Gaza until the capitulation of Hamas. Quebec Premier Francois Legaults government, which has spent recent weeks working to impose massive concessions on 600,000 public sector workers, defined this as Hamas releasing all its hostages and surrendering all its weapons, effectively the terms demanded by the Netanyahu regime to declare victory.

The trade union-sponsored New Democratic Party, which has pledged to keep Trudeaus minority government in office through June 2025, made a show of distancing itself from the UNRWA decision. Heather McPherson, the NDPs foreign affairs spokesperson, stated, Investigations must proceed, but this punishes the starving people of Gaza who need a ceasefire and for whom UNRWA is one of their only sources of help.

Such hand-wringing deserves nothing but scorn. McPhersons party props up a government that has, in lockstep with its US ally, bitterly opposed calls for a halt to Israels bombardment of Gaza ever since the war began. McPherson and the NDP have shown no compunction about backing Ottawas reckless escalation of the war in Ukraine through the supplying of billions of dollars in military and financial aid. Estimates suggest that upwards of 500,000 Ukrainian soldiers and tens of thousands of Russians have been slaughtered in the now almost two-year-long war.

Moreover, the New Democrats have demonstrated their unyielding support for Israels illegal occupation of Palestinian land over recent years. From blocking pro-Palestine candidates from running for the party in elections, to suppressing discussion of resolutions critical of Israel at its conventions, the NDP has demonstrated to the ruling elite its steadfast commitment to imperialisms most important ally in the Middle East.

Since October 7, the NDP has facilitated the witch-hunt of pro-Palestine protesters that the Trudeau government has helped spearhead. In the early days of the slaughter, the Ontario NDP threw Sarah Jama, a member of Ontarios legislature, out of the party caucus for her condemnation of Israel as an apartheid state and refusal to condemn the Oct. 7 uprising.

In the face of the unanimous support within the Canadian political establishment for Israels genocide, the only social force capable of putting an end to the mass slaughter is the Canadian and international working class. The hundreds of thousands who have joined repeated demonstrations against the horror unfolding in Gaza must turn to the working class, fighting to mobilize it in an international political general strike to bring the imperialist powers behind Israels bloodbath to their knees. The struggle must have as its aim the ending of the capitalist profit system that gives rise to war, and its replacement with a socialist society.
The Protect the right to strike march and rally held by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Saturday was framed as a celebration of what they claim is one of greatest struggles in history of the British Labour movement. This was supposedly proof of their determination to take on and defeat the Conservative governments Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act, effectively outlawing strikes in key industries.

The rally marked the 40th anniversary of Margaret Thatchers banning of trade unions at the Cheltenham-based Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) spy agency. It brought together unions leaders who have sold out every struggle of the working class for decades, including most recently the mass strike wave of 2022-23, that prove the unions will do nothing to defend the working class from the onslaught of the Sunak government and the employers.

GCHQ, with over 7,000 employees, as revealed by US National Security Agency whistle-blower Edward Snowden, is involved in the illegal mass surveillance of the entire population. It works with the US National Security Agency to monitor almost all internet activity.

Government Communications Headquarters, Cheltenham, England, picture taken in 2017 [Photo: Adrian Pingstone]

In January 1984, the Thatcher government announced that it would abolish the right of GCHQs spies to join trade unions. This was part of a broader offensive against the working class, just as the Tories were finalising their plans to take on the miners, provoking a year-long strike that began two months later.

Then TUC leader Len Murray had earlier reached an agreement with Cabinet Secretary Robert Armstrong allowing union membership at GCHQ based on a pledge that the unions did not interfere with its functioning. Just 14 GCHQ employees refused to give up their union membership in exchange for 1,000 and were dismissed between November 1988 to the spring of 1989.

In 1997, the ban on unions at GCHQ was rescinded by the incoming Labour government of Tony Blair in a deal with the unions which included a strike ban. Three of the sacked employees were reinstated, with the others having retired or working in different careers. Then TUC General Secretary John Monks had told Blair, The days when trade unions provided an adversarial opposition force are past in industry.

Today GCHQ employees are represented by the Government Communications Group, a branch of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union.

The campaign against the banning of the unions at GCHQ and fight to win the reinstatement for the sacked became the second longest continuously fought dispute in British trade union history. It became a cause celebre among the union bureaucracy, but not for any principled reasons.

Above all the campaign was based on denunciations of the Tory governments slander against the trade unions for suggesting that they could not be trusted to defend the national interest. That was why it was never dropped, while every other section of workers for the past 40 years was systematically betrayed. Hundreds of rallies were mounted for the 14 sacked at GCHQ by the same organisations that had left over 140,000 miners to fight alone for a year, with 20,000 injured or hospitalised, 13,000 arrested, 200 imprisoned, and five killed. The defeat of the miners led to the closure of virtually every pit in Britain within a decade.

The fact that last weekends rally was even held at Cheltenham, and not in London or another large city, said everything about the token nature of the event. Cheltenham is a spa town in Gloucester with a population of just 118,000 and the rally involved just a few thousand bureaucrats and their hangers-on in Britains myriad pseudo left and Stalinist groups.

The TUC organised no industrial action last year against the draconian Strikes Act, despite millions of workers being involved in walkouts against pay cuts and attacks on their conditions. Its main complaint at the time, in the words of TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak was,If passed, this bill will prolong disputes and poison industrial relationsleading to more frequent strikes.

These same considerations of preventing Tory legislation from provoking mass opposition that the trade union leaders will not be able to control was evident in every speech made from the platform at Saturdays rally. The collective aim was to smother the class struggle, especially by tying workers fate to the prospect of a Labour government under Sir Keir Starmer coming out of this years general election.

A key element of Starmers pitch to big business is that the Tories Thatcherite mindset blinds them to the fact that attacking the right to strike and threatening the unions with massive fines, and that the trade union leaders are not the enemy within but the most vital instrument in policing the working class. Rather than relying on yet more inflammatory anti-strike legislation, he urged a corporatist partnership between government, employers and the trade union bureaucracy.

It was in support of this perspective that Nowak boasted that the trade unions had beaten the Tories once before (by electing Blair) and would do so again. And this time, we won't be waiting 13 years for justice; we're going to win justice this year, when a Labour government repeals that legislation in its first 100 days.

Pledges of loyalty to the British capitalism and its state came thick and fast. Fran Heathcote, the new leader of the PCS union, declared, Margaret Thatcher enforced a ban on trade union membership in 1984, claiming that it wasn't possible for someone to be in a union and be loyal to their country. Christine McNea of the main public sector union, Unison, denounced this idea that somehow you cant both be a trade unionist and be loyal to your country.

Such statements were naturally made within the context of a torrent of militant rhetoric promising that the unions would fight the Tory legislation to the death. Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary of the TSSA while collar rail union, aped Churchill, declaring, We will challenge it in the courts, in parliament and on the streets. Well defy it in our workplaces, in our unions, and in our actions. We will overturn it with our power, our unity and our solidarity.

Not to be outdone NASUWT education union General Secretary Patrick Roach likely unknowingly, conjured Leon Trotsky with his pledge, We will not rest until all anti-union, all anti-worker laws are consigned to the dustbin of history.

Mick Lynch, the leader of the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, fresh from selling out national strikes against Network Rail and the train operating companies, spoke meaninglessly of placing pressure on politicians, whether theyre Tories, nationalist, Labour, whatever they want to call themselves, if they want working class votes they have to deliver a working class agenda.

Mick Lynch speaking at the "Protect the Right to Strike" rally

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, spoke of the 125,000 education workers she represents, who have taken unprecedented amounts of strike action over the past few years.

As the daughter of a miner, another dispute that took place 40 years ago, I will never bend my knee to that mob, she proclaimed.

Grady was born in 1985 and her father became a publican after the miners defeat. She has no real recollection of the miners strike and cannot address its betrayal by the trade unions, any more than she can account for the rotten sellouts of the education strikes she has engineered.

Starmers pledge to repeal the Minimum Service Levels legislation and other measures brought in by the Tories since 2016 is in any event not worth a damn. Moreover, it keeps in place all the Tory anti-strike legislation passed by Thatcher and kept intact by the Blair and Brown Labour governments in their 13 years in office, including the ban on secondary strike action.

Faced with a mounting economic crisis and demands for savage austerity, fueled by the demands of war in Ukraine and now the Middle East, any corporatist alliance between Labour and the unions will be dedicated to continuing and deepening the assault on the working class that has already produced the greatest cost of living crisis in decades.

Rather than wait for a general election, workers must begin preparations for the unified, all-out action necessary to defeat the governments anti-strike laws, defend pay, jobs and conditions and vital social services and to mobilise alongside workers internationally against militarism and war. This means building new rank-and-file committees to organise in defiance of the union bureaucracy. It means rallying to the political leadership of the Socialist Equality Party.
Harvard University Widener Library [Photo by Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0

Enormous pressure continues to be applied to Harvard University to muzzle widespread student opposition to the genocide of Palestinians by the Israeli military. The campaign is being orchestrated by billionaire donors, fascistic forces of the right, the capitalist media and the state. It is part of a wider effort by imperialist governments and institutions across the world to suppress and ultimately criminalize all opposition to the Gaza genocide.

The latest attack has centered around the appointment of Harvard professor Derek Penslar, director of the Harvard Center for Jewish Studies, as co-chair of a task force at the university investigating allegations of antisemitism on campus.

Penslar, who is Jewish, is widely regarded as one of the leading historians of Zionism in the world. He received a lifetime achievement award from the Association for Israel Studies and is an elected fellow of the American Academy for Jewish Research. But these credentials have not satisfied those forces leading the false charges of widespread antisemitism on college campuses, due to Penslars views of the state of Israel.

Penslar signed a letter in August by Academics4Peace against apartheid in Israel. This article, titled The Elephant in the Room, signed by close to 3,000 academics, students, public figures, clergy and others from the US and around the world, including Israel, refers to Israels illegal occupation of millions of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. It adds, There cannot be democracy for Jews in Israel as long as Palestinians live under a regime of apartheid, as Israeli legal experts have described it.

On December 29 of last year, Penslar penned an opinion piece in the Harvard Crimson headlined, Before Invoking Antisemitism, We Need To Define It. It noted that the definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which has been adopted by the US government, states that, in Penslars words, calling Israel racist or subjecting it to criticism not directed toward any other democratic country is antisemitic. Other definitions, including one developed by the Nexus Task Force, which Penslar later joined, leave more room for criticism of Israel, and in that sense they are more conducive to the essential, though difficult, conversations happening within the Harvard community.

Penslar has not called for a ceasefire in Gaza or called the murderous Israeli assault on the Palestinians genocide. However, any criticism of Israeli state policy is beyond the pale for the enemies of the free speech and democratic rights of Harvard students and faculty. Though the aim of the task force was to relieve the Harvard administration of further scrutiny, this measure has come under broad attack by the billionaires and their political and media mouthpieces. After ousting Harvard President Claudine Gay, they smell blood in the water.

In response to Penslars appointment to the Harvard task force, right-wing media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Post and National Review, were outraged. He was not suited to the task, the National Review argued, because he has been critical of Israel.

An editorial in the Journal, Harvards Apartheid Prof and the Antisemitism Task Force, asks, Well, how about appointing to lead an antisemitism task force a professor who believes Israel operates a regime of apartheid that employs Jewish supremacism?

Far-right Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik issued a statement denouncing Penslar for his despicable antisemitic views and statements. As proof of this outrageous slander, she cited the The Elephant in the Room, which, she wrote, called our great ally Israel a regime of apartheid. Stefanik has herself invoked the antisemitic Great Replacement Theory.

Former Harvard President Lawrence Summers, who served as director of the National Economic Council in the Obama administration and secretary of the Treasury under Clinton, wrote January 21 on Twitter/X, Prof Penslar has publicly minimized Harvards anti-Semitism problem, rejected the definition used by the US government in recent years of anti-Semitism as too broad, invoked the need for the concept of settler colonialism in analyzing Israel, referred to Israel as an apartheid state and more.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman chimed in January 24 on Twitter/X that with the selection of Penslar as co-chair of the antisemitism task force Harvard continues on the path of darkness.

On October 9, two days after the Hamas-led attack on Israel, Ackman and other CEOs and right-wing figures were calling for the doxxing of students who had signed a joint letter of 34 student groups condemning Israeli treatment of Palestinians. Names and details of students were leaked online, and students faces were displayed at Harvard by right-wing provocateurs. This intimidation didnt stop thousands of students from protesting the genocide in Gaza throughout the fall semester. In December, over 100 professors at Harvard signed a letter calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Harvards administration, led by then-President Claudine Gay, reacted by distancing itself from student opposition, but this wasnt enough to appease the mob of billionaires and Democratic and Republican politicians, who refused to accept Gays initial concession that students have the right to speak for themselves. Congress dragged Gay and the presidents of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which had set up a hearing on the supposed surge of antisemitism on college campuses.

In the face of this right-wing attack, Harvards administration has accepted the reactionary framework of the witch-hunt of students and faculty on campus. It has continued to genuflect before right-wing forces that have demanded more active measures be taken by Harvard to stifle opposition.

The attack on Penslar is a major escalation in the assault on freedom of speech on campuses. As David Meyers, a leading historian of Jewish thought, correctly noted in an opinion piece published in the Los Angeles Times, what they are attacking is not just an eminent scholar, but more broadly, the American university as the site of expertise and critical thinking.

The mass demonstrations by tens of millions of workers and young people throughout the world against the genocide in Gaza have provoked an ugly and repressive response by the ruling class in all the imperialist countries. As students return to classes at Harvard and other universities for the spring semester, the right-wing pressure at campuses will mount, along with demands for effectively banning all expressions of student and faculty opposition and protest.

The false invocations of antisemitism on campuses, and the attempt to clamp down on opposition to Zionism and the genocide in Gaza, are an expression of a larger development throughout the world in which democratic forms of rule, democratic rights and freedom of speech are being challenged by the emergence of authoritarianism all over the globe.

There is no solution within academia alone to the repression of students and faculty at universities across the country. Faculty members and students must broaden their struggle, connect it with that of the working class as a whole and the fight for a socialist perspective.

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) has called for a political general strike to halt the production and shipment of weapons used by the Israeli government in its assault on Gaza. We encourage students and faculty interested in stopping the genocide and defending democratic rights to contact the World Socialist Web Site and share information about the attacks on democratic rights and the struggle against the Gaza genocide. Tell us about conditions on your campus and discuss the organization of meetings and demonstrations.
Palestinians line up for a free meal in Rafah, Gaza Strip on December 21, 2023. [AP Photo/Fatima Shbair]

The withdrawal of funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) by the United States and other imperialist powers epitomizes their direct collusion with the Netanyahu regime in bombing and starving the Palestinians out of Gaza, with the aim of seizing it for Israel.

It is part of a broader campaign of ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians, including in the West Bank and throughout the Middle East.

On January 27, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel must take all measures within its power to avoid acts of genocide. Within hours, Israel launched a pre-planned counterattack. UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini, acting under instruction from Washington, reported just hours later unsubstantiated allegations handed to him a week ago by Israels security services claiming that 12 of his 13,000 personnel in Gaza had taken some part in the October 7 Hamas-led incursion into Israel.

The US immediately suspended all funding to UNRWA. Washington was followed by 10 other states, including Germany, the UK and France.

The implications are horrific.

Some 21 international aid agencies, including Save the Children, ActionAid, Oxfam and the Danish Refugee Council, wrote that they were deeply concerned and outraged at the decision taken amid a rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Their joint letter continued:

The suspension of funding by donor states will impact life-saving assistance for over two million civilians, over half of whom are children, who rely on UNRWA aid in Gaza. The population faces starvation, looming famine and an outbreak of disease under Israels continued indiscriminate bombardment and deliberate deprivation of aid in Gaza.

Palestinian groups, including the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR), Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Rafah, described the move as a continuation of the genocide practiced by the occupation forces in Gaza, which would lead more than two million Palestinians in the Strip to die of starvation.

Death by starvation is the clear intent of Israel and all of its backers, no matter what cynical statements to the contrary they may occasionally make. All of the imperialist powers have unwaveringly defended Israels supposed right to defend itself, as its armed forces slaughtered around 30,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, wounded 65,000 others, razed more than half Gazas essential infrastructure to the ground and left 1.9 million people (85 percent of its population) internally displaced.

Without blinking an eye, Israel and its allies have now signed a death warrant for tens of thousands more.

A harrowing report by CNN details children fighting over stale bread and being forced to eat grass to assuage gnawing hunger. There is no clean water and illnesses such as cholera and diarrhea are rife, with no functioning hospitals to care for the sick. Martin Griffiths, the UNs emergency relief chief, tells CNN that the great majority of 400,000 Gazans characterized by UN agencies as at risk of starving are actually in famine.

Destroying UNRWA is an explicit goal of Israels war on Gaza, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) mounting hundreds of attacks that have killed over 150 of UNRWAs staff and hundreds more civilians sheltering in its facilities. A classified Israeli foreign ministry report leaked in December proposed the elimination of UNRWA, beginning with a campaign alleging cooperation of UNRWA staff members with Hamas.

In January, Noga Arbel of the right-wing Kohelet Foundation told the Knesset, It will be impossible to win this war if we do not destroy UNRWA and prevent it from allowing terrorists to be born by providing services to Palestinian refugees. Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared that his aims included promoting a policy ensuring that UNRWA will not be a part of the day after an Israeli victory in Gaza.

This aim extends far beyond Gaza. Including Gaza and the West Bank, some six million Palestinians in 58 refugee camps, spread as well over Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, depend on aid funneled through UNRWA and its 30,000-strong staff.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established in 1950. As with a number of short-lived organisations that preceded it, its mission was to provide aid for refugees worldwide, mostly European Jews who had survived the horrors of the Nazi regime and World War II, to seek voluntary repatriation and local integration or resettlement in a third country.

But UNRWA, established in 1949, was kept as a separate entity because repatriation for the 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were driven out of Palestine following the establishment of Israel and the 1948-49 Arab-Israeli war was anathema to the Zionist regime. Neighbouring Arab countries mostly refused citizenship, while cynically proclaiming the confinement of the Palestinians in squalid, overcrowded camps to be an expression of their opposition to dispossession by Israel.

This left the Palestinians totally at the mercy of wholly inadequate funding provided by the imperialist powers, led by the US and Germany, for food, shelter, healthcare and education. Israel has repeatedly sought to block UNRWAs funding, claiming it to be a front for Hamas. In 2018, President Donald Trump ended US funding of the agency, which was only partially restored under Biden.

The Zionists now view UNRWA as an obstacle to the eradication of the Palestinians as a recognizable people because it keeps millions of them together and allows them to demand their right of return to their homes, enshrined in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194.

Jonathan S. Tobin, editor-in-chief of the right-wing Jewish News Syndicate, laid out the Zionist position in detail, complaining: Unlike every other refugee population, the Palestinian Arabs were not resettled, but kept in place to wait for the day when they could go home to their former villages in what was now Israel So, lets not waste much time arguing about the details of UNRWAs complicity in Oct. 7 or other acts of terror. The only discussion that needs to be held is one about its abolition and replacement by a genuine refugee agency.

A Victory of Israel Conference held Sunday in Jerusalem confirmed Israels intention to permanently annex the occupied territories. The event was attended by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and many other government ministers and Knesset members. It called for the re-establishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza and their expansion in the West Bank.

Workers and youth throughout the world have marched in their millions, week after week, to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza. They have been told this can be accomplished by mass pressure to demand a ceasefire, only to see their governments continue backing Israel while politely appealing for it to avoid killing so many civilians.

They were then told to rely on the UN, with the ICJ preliminary verdict hailed as proof that there was still a glimmer of hope for a return to the rule of law. Instead, not only did the ICJ not even call for a temporary ceasefiredespite this being the official majority position of the UNbut its humble appeals to Israel to rein in the IDF only solicited still greater war crimes.

Conclusions must be drawn. The fight against the genocide is a fight against US-NATO imperialism, for which Israel is the primary agent in the Middle East. Washington, London and other capitals back Israel in Gaza because eliminating the Palestinian question paves the way for a broader war in the Middle East targeting Iran and its allies, which is itself bound up with plans for war against Russia and China to secure unchallenged control of the world and its resources.

Preventing Israel, the US and the other imperialist powers from realizing their goal of ethnically cleansing the Palestinians therefore demands the development of an international and socialist movement of the working class against war, against both the war-mongering governments and their nominal opposition parties, and against the capitalist system of global exploitation which they all defend.
courtneyk / Getty Images

For people who are in a flexible stage of life and dont need to live in a fixed location, house sitting might offer an alternative to renting that makes you money and allows you to travel, as well.

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While it takes some planning and other considerations, this way of living offers a lot of freedom and may even be financially lucrative for people who dont mind being nomadic.

Real estate experts explain why the house-sitting lifestyle choice has gained popularity in recent years, and its pros and cons.

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Low Commitment Required

House sitting is becoming a popular choice for many individuals and couples who want to live in different locations without committing to a long-term lease, according to Adam Chahl, a real estate agent with Vancouver Home Search.

[H]ouse sitting also allows for more flexibility and freedom compared to traditional renting, Chahl said. With a typical lease agreement, tenants are locked into a specific location for a set period. With house sitting, individuals have more control over where they live and how long they stay in a particular place.

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Cost Savings

One of the more obvious pros of house sitting, according to Heidi Hicks, a realtor at Visions First Realty, is that it can be a cost-effective alternative to renting, as it often involves little to no accommodation expenses.

House sitters typically exchange their services for accommodation, allowing them to save money that would otherwise be spent on rent, Hicks said.

This arrangement can be particularly appealing for individuals seeking flexibility in their living arrangements while minimizing housing-related expenses, she suggested.

Flexibility and Variety

House sitting also provides a level of flexibility and variety that traditional renting may not offer, Hicks said.

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This flexibility is especially beneficial for individuals with remote work capabilities or those who value a nomadic lifestyle.

Chahl added, As a house sitter, you are essentially living in someone elses home, which allows for a more authentic travel experience compared to staying in hotels or rentals. This can be especially appealing to those who want to immerse themselves in a new location and truly live like a local.

Responsibilities and Commitments

Its important to note that while house sitting may offer a certain amount of freedom, it also typically comes with responsibilities, Hicks said. House sitters are typically expected to care for the property, pets or plants while the homeowners are away.

This commitment should be thoroughly discussed and agreed upon between the house sitter and homeowner to ensure a positive experience for both parties.

Networking and Platforms

While its possible to set up house-sitting opportunities with people you know, if you dont have a large personal network this can be difficult. Engaging with reputable house-sitting platforms and networks is crucial for a successful experience, Hicks said. Platforms like TrustedHousesitters, House Carers and others connect homeowners with reliable house sitters.

She added that building a positive reputation on these platforms can open doors to more opportunities and enhance the overall feasibility of a house-sitting lifestyle.

Ultimately the feasibility of house sitting on a regular basis largely depends on individual preferences, lifestyle and commitments. It can be a rewarding option for those seeking a unique and cost-effective way to explore different locales while contributing to the well-being of homeowners properties, Hicks said.

Be Aware of Laws and Rules

While house sitting may end up being a great way for you to travel and live rent-free, one experienced house sitter said it can also come with some legal issues, particularly if you will be house sitting in another country. Madolline Gourley was denied entry to Canada for asserting that she planned to house sit.

As a lot of us know, its illegal for people to house sit in the U.S. unless they are citizens, have permanent residency or are entering on a work visa. She said it is also illegal for tourists to engage in unpaid house and pet sitting in the U.K., for example.

So, it may be safer to keep your house sitting to your own country. Otherwise, be sure youve thoroughly researched the laws wherever you plan to house sit.

Clear Communication

Mehdi Khachani, a real estate expert with JMK Miami Property Management, emphasized that clear and open communication with homeowners is key to a successful house-sitting experience. Understanding expectations and responsibilities ensures a positive relationship between the parties involved.

With some thoughtful planning, a spirit for adventure and a solid understanding of the laws where youll be working, house sitting can be a great way to save money and travel, too.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: House Sitting as a Renting Alternative: How You Could Save Money and Travel Too
President Joe Biden walks towards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, October 13, 2023. [AP Photo/Susan Walsh]

In the wake of the drone attack in northern Jordan that killed three American soldiers and wounded dozens more, President Biden affirmed to reporters yesterday that he had decided on the US retaliatory action. Having blamed radical Iran-backed militant groups for the deaths, the retaliation could include strikes on such militias anywhere in the Middle East and targets within Iran itself.

Asked by reporters if he blamed Iran for the deaths of the US soldiers, Biden declared that he held Tehran responsible in the sense that theyre supplying the weapons to the people who did it. Pressed to say if Iran was directly responsible, he refused to respond, simply declaring well have that discussion. Iran has denied any responsibility for the attack.

Well aware that the US-backed Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza has transformed the Middle East into a powder keg, Biden played down the potential for regional conflict. I dont think we need a wider war in the Middle East. Thats not what Im looking for, he said.

Yet that is exactly what the Biden administration is doing, not only through its political, economic and military support for Israel but its expanding war against Houthi militia in Yemen and strikes in Iraq and Syria. US imperialism is rapidly and recklessly plunging the Middle East into a region-wide war that together with the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine threatens to engulf the world.

While Biden gave no indication of the nature of US retaliation, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters aboard Air Force One that the US intended to strike the militia groups and degrade their capacity to attack US troops while sending a strong signal to their backers in Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Ominously, he declared that Bidens order would be a tiered approach encompassing potentially multiple actions.

Current and former US officials told the Financial Times that the Biden administration would target militia leaders, Iranian personnel in Syria or Iraq and assets outside of Iran. This wont be a single attack, so there will probably be several rounds. I think it has to be a very robust attack action, a former senior US military commander in the Middle East said.

Right-wing Republicans, including leading presidential contender Trump, are braying for blood, denouncing Bidens weakness and calling for strikes against Iran, knowing full well that such action would dramatically escalate the simmering war across the Middle East.

The Biden administration has not ruled out a direct attack on Iran or on senior Iranian officials in the Middle East. Indeed, the White House undoubtedly gave the go-ahead for the highly provocative Israeli air raid in December outside Damascus that killed Iranian Brigadier General Sayyed Razi Mousavithe top adviser inside Syria of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). That was followed by a further Israeli air attack on Damascus earlier this month that killed the IRGC intelligence chief for Syria and his deputy as well as two other IRGC officials.

Israel, again unquestionably with the full support of Washington, is also preparing to expand its war from Gaza and the West Bank into southern Lebanon. Speaking to Israeli reservists on the border with Gaza on Monday, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israeli troops will very soon go into action on the countrys northern border with Lebanon. The forces close to you, he said, are leaving the field and moving towards the north, and preparing for what comes next.

Gallants comments are a warning that Israel is planning a dramatic escalation of a conflict with Hezbollah militia in Lebanon that has been underway since its war on Gaza began. Northern Israel already has tens of thousands of regular troops and some 60,000 reservists, an Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) official told ABC News last week.

Israeli air raids and artillery barrage attacks inside Lebanon and Hezbollah attacks on Israeli forces in northern Israel have taken place virtually on a daily basis. An estimated 100,000 Israelis have evacuated the country's northern towns while around 76,000 Lebanese living near the border have fled. Hezbollah has reported that 171 of its members have been killed since October 8, while Israel has said that nine soldiers and six civilians have been killed.

Even as the Biden administration uses the deaths of three American soldiers as the pretext for new military aggression in the Middle East, the death toll in Gaza continues to climb in the barbaric Israeli war waged on the Palestinians with the full backing of Washington. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza yesterday, the number of dead since October 7 rose to 26,751 with another 65,636 others wounded. The Israeli army killed 114 and wounded 249 others in the previous 24 hours.

The ministrys spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qedra reported that Israel was increasing its siege on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip for the second week, placing 150 medical personnel, 450 wounded, and 3,000 displaced people under targeting. With only enough fuel to keep the hospitals generators running for two days, Al-Qedra warned that the situation would become even more dire.

Based on reports from the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Al Jazeera yesterday detailed Israeli operations inside the West Bank over the previous 24 hours. These included the killing of three Palestinians inside the Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin by Israeli special forces; the bombing of the Al-Farouq Mosque in Khan Younis refugee camp; ongoing raids inside the Nur Shams and Tulkarem refugee camps, where Israeli forces bulldozed roads, water, telecommunication and electricity lines.

The horrors of the Israeli war inside Gaza and the West Bank are a harbinger of the barbarity that Israel, the US and its allies are preparing to inflict on a far wider scale throughout the Middle East. The US targeting of Iran is not the response to the deaths of three American soldiers, but flows from long-held ambitions for American domination of the energy-rich region and the failure of its previous criminal wars in the Middle East to achieve that end.
A section of the "Stop the Genocide" march in Wellington on January 28, 2024

Last weekend, protests in 23 centres around New Zealand were held against the far-right National Party-led governments refusal to call for an end to Israels slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza and its decision to join the US-led war on Yemen. Similar events have occurred on a weekly basis for more than three months.

Earlier last week, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that NZ Defence Force personnel will be sent to the Middle East to assist the illegal US-led bombing campaign against Yemen, saying: Our personnel will support coalition forces in carrying out precision attacks on identified military targets.

Demonstrations were held across the country, from Rawene and Kerikeri in the far north, to Invercargill at the bottom of the South Island. The major cities, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin were all involved along with most regional centres and many small towns. Thousands participated.

Protests targeted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade office in Auckland, as well as seaports which service ZIM Shipping, the company taking arms and ammunition into Israel. On Monday, dozens of people also marched to Devonport Navy Base in Auckland chanting Hands off Yemen!

Pro-Palestine marchers in Auckland, January 28, 2024 [Photo: X/Twitter @ZarahnSouthon]

In the capital, Wellington, about 1,000 people rallied outside parliament on Saturday carrying Palestinian flags and banners and chanting Free, free Palestine! Infidata, revolution! as well as chants in Arabic.

Rick Sahar, originally from Detroit but now resident in Wellington, was one of several speakers outside parliament. He introduced himself as Jewish, with grandparents who were murdered during the Holocaust, and a member of the Holocaust Centre of NZ, which works to educate young people to counter the lies of the Holocaust deniers.

Sahar declared: I am here today to take a stand today against the genocide that is happening in Gaza. I condemn the intentional murdering and maiming of innocent people by Israel in Gaza and in the West Bank. Collective punishment was used by the Nazis and was condemned after the Holocaust amid cries of never again, and yet it is happening again. Rick concluded: Home invasions, forced massed displacements, loss of lives and destruction of an unprecedented speed and scale are inflicted by this modern army. Israels war is futile and must end now.

Christie, regional chair of the NZ College of Midwives also spoke, saying: Every woman deserves to birth in safety. In Gaza they deserve to welcome their babies into a world that is not actively trying to kill them.

Mohamad, an immigrant from Lebanon, said the Palestinian cause is for anyone who fights oppression. We in Lebanon are the same people, separated by artificial borders at the end of WWI.

I personally lived through three wars and occupation which was ended by armed resistance in the year 2000. During the 2006 war an Israeli rocket hit a school less than 50 metres away from our house. My family were almost all killed. We were displaced twice. That was nothing in comparison with what we see coming from the open air prison of Gaza.

Mohamad noted that the intentions of the Israeli government had been clear since its mass expulsions and atrocities in 1948. He quoted statements by Israels first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, who stated: We must do everything to make sure the Palestinians do not return. The old will die, the young will forget. Mohamad concluded: Neither the old nor the young are forgetting and we will keep fighting.

Supporters of the Socialist Equality Group (NZ) distributed the WSWS article New Zealand personnel to assist in US-led bombing of Yemen, which explained that the countrys ruling class is intervening in support of both the US-led warmongering in the Middle East and Israels genocide.

The weekends protests took place immediately following the release of the interim ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the case taken by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide.

The ICJ refused to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, underscoring its character as an imperialist institution. However, its ruling is still a damning indictment for the Israeli government and US-NATO imperialism, which has financed and defended the genocide there.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters issued a pro-forma statement endorsing the ICJ findings, while declaring: New Zealand renews its call for all parties to the present conflict to comply with international law, facilitate unimpeded access for humanitarian responders and work towards a lasting political resolution.

This is completely hypocritical. Peters, who leads the right-wing populist NZ First Party in the ruling coalition, is seeking to strengthen Wellingtons alliance with the US. The government refused to support South Africas case in the ICJ, has joined the war in the Middle East and is maintaining a NZ troop deployment in Britain to train Ukrainian conscripts to fight Russia.

This underscores the futility of appeals by Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), the main protest organisers, for the government to call for a ceasefire. PSNAs spokesman, John Minto, has urged the government to close the Israeli embassy till Israel is in full compliance with the ICJ decision and ceases to oppress and kill Palestinians.

The PSNA has also appealed to port companies to deny port facilities to ZIM shipping vessels or those contracted to ZIMsomething none of these businesses has any intention of doing. The organisation did not mention the role of the Maritime Union bureaucracy, which refuses to hold any strikes or other actions to stop the servicing of Israeli vessels.

The union issued a statement on January 24 criticising the deployment of troops to the Middle East and calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and negotiation of a political solution for Palestine. It stated that the response of the Labour Party and Green Party opposing involvement was the correct one.

In fact, the Labour Party fully supported Israels war on Gaza while it was still the government until late November, under the pretext of self-defence. Labour and its allies, including the Greens and the union bureaucracy, are committed to the alliance with US imperialism and the integration of New Zealand into US wars against Russia and war plans against China.

Middle class pseudo-left groups, such as the International Socialist Organisation and Socialist Aotearoa, which have close ties with the unions, are seeking to cover up this reality and prevent workers and young people who are protesting against genocide from establishing their political independence from these capitalist, pro-war parties and organisations.

The only way to stop the genocide in Gaza and the Third World War targeting Iran, Russia and China, is through the mobilisation of the working class on the basis of an explicitly socialist program, to put an end to capitalism, which is the source of war. Strikes and other actions by workers must be organised internationally, including in New Zealand, to stop the shipment of supplies to Israels war machine, but to do this workers must establish rank-and-file committees, independent of the corporatist trade unions and controlled by workers themselves.
A young tradesman died at work yesterday morning in Engadine, in Sydneys south. The worker, aged in his 20s, reportedly received a fatal electric shock before falling off the roof of a butchers shop where he was working on an air-conditioning unit.

Another man, in his 60s, who attempted to provide first aid to the younger man also sustained injuries and was treated by paramedics at the scene.

The young mans tragic death is a stark reminder that workplace deaths remain an all-too-frequent occurrence. Preliminary data from Safe Work Australia show that 173 workers were killed on the job across the country in 2023, a rate of almost one fatality every two days.

Two recent incidents highlight the dangers:

On January 15, 27-year-old Luke OBrien was fatally crushed between a light vehicle and a truck at MHP Mitsubishi Alliances (BMA) Saraji coal mine in Queenslands Bowen Basin.

On December 28, Daniel Sau, a 29-year-old worker on Brisbanes Cross River Rail project, was found dead in his car less than three hours after leaving work where he had been showing signs of severe heat stress.

The project was also the site of a serious workplace injury on July 25, when 54-year-old Nation Kouka fell around 12 metres from scaffolding and was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Workers protest unsafe conditions on Cross River Rail project in July 2023 [Photo: CFMEU]

Many worker deaths go unreported in the corporate media or disappear from the headlines after a single news cycle. As is the case with the Engadine incident, few details are made public and inquiries for more information are dismissed with a blanket response: SafeWork NSW is investigating.

These investigations by government safety regulators, not just in New South Wales (NSW) but throughout the country, typically take years and serve primarily to whitewash the responsibility of corporate employers and the regulators themselves.

SafeWork NSW is currently itself the subject of an investigation. In 2022, the then Liberal-National state government commissioned retired NSW Supreme Court judge Robert McDougall to carry out a review into the organisation.

The reviews final report has not yet been made public and is currently being considered by [Labor] Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis, according to a press release issued by SafeWork NSW on Monday.

While submissions to the inquiry have not been published, they have been obtained by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), which reports they show dozens of regulatory failures, resulting in serious injuries and deaths in multiple industries.

SafeWork NSW is accused by workers, inspectors, unions and victims of being timid, ineffectual and suffering from systemic cultural and operational issues, the ABC reports.

One of the submissions is from Patrizia and Robert Cassaniti, whose son Christopher was killed in a scaffolding collapse on a Northern Sydney construction site in 2019. The apartment complex he was working on has been in the news again in recent weeks, with serious defects discovered that potentially pose a risk to occupants.

The Cassanitis believe that adequate regulation by SafeWork could have prevented their sons death, along with other workplace fatalities.

They wrote: This is not the only example where the regulator should have intervened earlier and more effectively to oversee workplace cultures and thus save lives.

The review was ordered in October 2022, after revelations in state parliament that SafeWork had failed to investigate safety concerns at job sites where workers were subsequently killed.

In one 2018 incident, Sri Lankan labourer and father of two, Girishanth Singarajah, was fatally struck by a reversing 23 tonne loader at Aussie Skips in Homebush. The vehicle was fitted with a reversing camera, but it was not operational.

The parliamentary committee was told SafeWork NSW had received four separate complaints about safety issues at the company in the two years preceding Singarajahs death.

These included a request for service from a subcontractor a month before the incident and an anonymous tip 20 days before the incident, yet the safety regulator did not inspect the site until the day Singarajah was killed.

In January 2021, 59-year-old bridge and wharf carpenter Max Haywood was killed when he was hit by a yacht mast that fell from a crane controlled by an unlicensed operator.

The regulator had been alerted six weeks earlier that the company was employing unlicensed drivers, but again did not perform an onsite inspection until after Haywoods death.

In February 2022, SafeWork NSW was informed that the company was still using crane drivers that were not properly licensed, but did not investigate until three months later, after a further complaint.

Despite the supposedly independent status of SafeWork NSW, in a 2020 survey conducted by the Public Service Association (PSA), 20 percent of inspectors said they believed political pressure was responsible for their being ordered not to issue contravention notices to certain businesses.

Forty-two percent said they had been instructed or pressured by a manager or director to recommend no further action be taken in cases where they had enough evidence to recommend prosecution.

In some cases, survey respondents reported that they were ordered not to conduct site safety inspections at all, so as to not upset the government agency.

Cotsis, then in opposition, played a prominent part in calling for the McDougall review, along with a separate performance audit into the Effectiveness of SafeWork NSW in exercising its compliance functions.

This audit was to be carried out by the state auditor-general, Margaret Crawford, and was originally slated to take six months, meaning it should have been finalised soon after Labor took power in the March 2023 state election. However, the report apparently remains incomplete, with the release date now listed as February 2024.

The protracted nature of the two inquiries into SafeWork NSW reflect the fact that they share the function of the regulator itself, as a means of covering over the prevalence of unsafe working conditions and shielding the businesses and governments responsible from accountability.

This is by no means confined to NSW. So-called safety regulators in every state play the same role.

At the time of Koukas fall in July last year, the Cross River Rail project had already been issued 266 improvement notices, 29 infringement notices, 35 prohibition notices and one electrical safety notice by WorkSafe Queensland. The scaffolding from which he fell had been checked and approved by the regulator just eight days earlier, according to Queensland Labors transport minister, Mark Bailey.

On the same day as Koukas near-fatal accident, a worker at another Cross River Rail site narrowly avoided serious injury when a heavy piece of steel rod fell from height and smashed through the windscreen of the forklift he was operating.

Despite the projects chequered safety record and Baileys declaration of a safety reset last July, the death of Sau suggests that workplace safety measures as basic as heat management are not being enforced at Cross River Rail. According to the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU), several other workers have been hospitalised due to heat stress in recent weeks.

The CFMEUs public criticism of WorkSafe Queensland and contractor CPB serves as a cover for the union bureaucracys own role in allowing unsafe conditions to continue on the Cross River Rail project and at other workplaces around the country.

Workers anger over the death and serious injury of their colleagues, and concern for their own safety, has compelled the union to call limited safety stoppages, including a protest on January 19 over CPBs blatant disregard for heat management. The CFMEU leadership has ensured that these sporadic demonstrations amount to nothing more than stunts, posing no threat to the companys operations and profits.

The reality is that the CFMEU and all the other unions serve as an industrial police force for the corporations. Their paid health and safety officers, who have the power to stop work over safety concerns, instead ensure that workers remain on the job, under the illusion that issues are being reported and investigated by the toothless safety regulators.

In fact, the unions work hand-in-hand with management and the government safety bodies to cover over the real underlying cause of dangerous working conditions, the subordination of workers health and lives to the interests of corporate profit.
DHG Properties, a leading Swiss property developer, is set to officially launch its inaugural residential development in Dubai next month at a total investment of AED600 million ($163.3 million).

The 430-unit premium development will be coming up in the Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC).

With a global portfolio of more than 1,000 apartments and the development of over 2.5 million sq m of living space to date, DHG Properties is now set to bolster the UAEs real estate sector with a premium and elevated offering.

Through ownership and management of a portfolio worth CHF700 million ($821.5 million), it has evolved into the leading holding company in Switzerlands real estate and construction sector.

For over three decades, DHG Properties has brought its signature touch of Swiss quality and unparalleled experience to deliver refreshing projects across Europes real estate landscape.

Milos Antic, Vice President and Member of the Board of Directors said: "With Dubais real estate landscape thriving, we are thrilled to leverage our proven track record in Europe to contribute to even greater progress in the UAE in the coming years ahead."

"Our 430-unit premium project in JVC is the first building block in this journey, showcasing DHGs commitment to quality, innovation, and offering an elevated living experience," stated Antic.

"Recognising the importance of aligning with market dynamics, we are confident that this will be a one-of-a-kind offering - as is every project we create and deliver - and we invite investors to get in touch ahead of our off-plan sales launch next month as we shape the future of the real estate in Dubai; one of the hottest markets, if not the hottest, for property right now," he added.

According to him, DHG Properties is not only contributing to the citys growth but also establishing new standards for innovation in the housing sector with its trademark touch of Swiss quality that has been seen across Europe since 1994. With these new launches, the Swiss group is simultaneously adding to its pipeline of 1,000-plus developments and a gross development value of over CHF600 million ($586.2 million), stated the Swiss developer.

"The companys vision aligns seamlessly with the evolving demands of the market, thus solidifying its position in the UAE real estate landscape," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
By Paul Sandle and Elvira Pollina

LONDON/MILAN (Reuters) -Vodafone said it had rejected a sweetened offer from French telecom operator Iliad to merge their Italian businesses and was pursuing other deals in a market where it is losing revenue and makes no return on its capital.

Iliad said on Wednesday the British company had rebuffed a revised 50:50 proposal to create an operator with a combined enterprise value of 14.7 billion euros ($15.9 billion).

Vodafone said in December, after Iliad made its approach public, it was exploring options with several parties, potentially including a merger or a disposal.

One of them was a deal with Swisscom's Fastweb Italian unit, sources familiar with the matter said.

A Vodafone spokesperson said on Wednesday: "We are no longer in talks with Iliad, but our discussions with others continue."

Swisscom declined comment.

The talks with Swisscom were more advanced than others, one person with knowledge of the matter said.

Analysts at Citi said Vodafone's rejection of Iliad, founded and majority owned by Xavier Niel, was disappointing.

"A deal with Swisscom's Fastweb could now become the base case," they said. "An inferior outcome in our view."

Shares in Vodafone, which have fallen 28% in the last 12 months even as it agreed consolidation deals in Spain and Britain, were down about 2.5% in afternoon trading.

A tie-up with Fastweb, which has a fibre network and offers mobile through network-sharing deals, will not face the tough regulatory hurdles as one with Iliad, but it offers lower potential synergies, according to analysts.

A combined Vodafone-Iliad would have become the leader in the Italian market, ahead of Telecom Italia and Hutchison's Wind Tre.

Iliad said its rejected proposal was "the best possible business combination to benefit a struggling Italian market and telecommunications industry".

The company, which has grown rapidly in Italy since its arrival in 2018, said it would continue to "fiercely pursue market share across all segments" as a standalone operator.

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It increased its earlier offer by 100 million euros to 6.6 billion euros in cash, with Vodafone also lined up to receive 2 billion euros of a shareholder loan.

Iliad would have received 400 million euros in cash - 100 million euros less than originally proposed - and also 2 billion euros of a shareholder loan, it said.

The French company offered 11.25 billion euros to buy Vodafone Italy outright in 2022 but was rebuffed. Later that year, Niel took control of a 2.5% stake in Vodafone.

($1 = 0.9240 euros)

(Reporting by Paul Sandle in London, Elivira Polinna in Milan and Diana Mandia in Gdansk; editing by Milla Nissi, Kate Holton and Elaine Hardcastle)
Key Insights

Rockwell Automation will host its Annual General Meeting on 6th of February

Total pay for CEO Blake Moret includes US$1.20m salary

The total compensation is 42% higher than the average for the industry

Rockwell Automation's EPS grew by 11% over the past three years while total shareholder return over the past three years was 28%

CEO Blake Moret has done a decent job of delivering relatively good performance at Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK) recently. This is something shareholders will keep in mind as they cast their votes on company resolutions such as executive remuneration in the upcoming AGM on 6th of February. However, some shareholders may still be hesitant of being overly generous with CEO compensation.

Check out our latest analysis for Rockwell Automation

How Does Total Compensation For Blake Moret Compare With Other Companies In The Industry?

At the time of writing, our data shows that Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a market capitalization of US$35b, and reported total annual CEO compensation of US$17m for the year to September 2023. Notably, that's an increase of 53% over the year before. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth acknowledging that the salary portion is lower, valued at US$1.2m.

In comparison with other companies in the American Electrical industry with market capitalizations over US$8.0b, the reported median total CEO compensation was US$12m. This suggests that Blake Moret is paid more than the median for the industry. Moreover, Blake Moret also holds US$23m worth of Rockwell Automation stock directly under their own name, which reveals to us that they have a significant personal stake in the company.

Component 2023 2022 Proportion (2023) Salary US$1.2m US$1.2m 7% Other US$16m US$9.8m 93% Total Compensation US$17m US$11m 100%

Speaking on an industry level, nearly 21% of total compensation represents salary, while the remainder of 79% is other remuneration. It's interesting to note that Rockwell Automation allocates a smaller portion of compensation to salary in comparison to the broader industry. It's important to note that a slant towards non-salary compensation suggests that total pay is tied to the company's performance.

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Rockwell Automation, Inc.'s Growth

Over the past three years, Rockwell Automation, Inc. has seen its earnings per share (EPS) grow by 11% per year. It achieved revenue growth of 17% over the last year.

Overall this is a positive result for shareholders, showing that the company has improved in recent years. This sort of respectable year-on-year revenue growth is often seen at a healthy, growing business. Moving away from current form for a second, it could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future.

Has Rockwell Automation, Inc. Been A Good Investment?

Rockwell Automation, Inc. has served shareholders reasonably well, with a total return of 28% over three years. But they probably wouldn't be so happy as to think the CEO should be paid more than is normal, for companies around this size.

In Summary...

The company's decent performance might have made most shareholders happy, possibly making CEO remuneration the least of the concerns to be discussed in the upcoming AGM. However, any decision to raise CEO pay might be met with some objections from the shareholders given that the CEO is already paid higher than the industry average.

While it is important to pay attention to CEO remuneration, investors should also consider other elements of the business. That's why we did some digging and identified 1 warning sign for Rockwell Automation that you should be aware of before investing.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a different set of stocks. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

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.
By Tom Hals

WILMINGTON (Reuters) -A Delaware judge tossed out Elon Musk's record-breaking $56 billion Tesla pay package on Tuesday, calling the compensation granted by the EV maker's board "an unfathomable sum" that was unfair to shareholders.

Shares of Tesla dropped about 2% in premarket trade, and some investors seized on the ruling in hopes it might prompt Tesla to overhaul its governance.

The Tesla board has been criticized as failing to provide oversight of its combative, headline-making CEO, who has fought regulators and led several other companies at the same time.

The ruling, which can be appealed, nullifies the largest pay package in corporate America. The judge found the share-based compensation was negotiated by directors who appeared beholden to Musk, currently ranked by Forbes magazine as the world's richest person.

Tesla's 10-year pay agreement with Musk reached in 2018 would be worth around $51 billion at Tuesday's closing price for Tesla stock, accounting for the cost to Musk to exercise the options.

That would be about a quarter of his $210.6 billion fortune, as calculated by Forbes magazine, which currently ranks about $2 billion ahead of LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault of France and his family.

"Swept up by the rhetoric of 'all upside,' or perhaps starry eyed by Musks superstar appeal, the board never asked the $55.8 billion question: Was the plan even necessary for Tesla to retain Musk and achieve its goals?" wrote Kathaleen McCormick of Delaware's Court of Chancery.

McCormick directed the Tesla shareholder who challenged the pay plan to work with Musk's legal team on an order implementing the decision. It can be appealed to the Delaware Supreme Court once the parties agree on a final order and on fees for the shareholder's attorneys, which will be paid by Tesla.

The decision comes as Tesla warns of slowing growth and the electric vehicle industry is re-evaluating demand. Tesla has become the world's most valuable automaker under Musk, but much of that value is based on expectations of future breakthroughs, such as self-driving robotaxis.

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"Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware," Musk said in a post on X, the social media platform he bought in 2022.

Musk's lawyer did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.

"Good day for the good guys," said an email from Greg Varallo, an attorney for Tesla shareholder Richard Tornetta, who brought the lawsuit in 2018.

CEO COMPENSATION

"The incredible size of the biggest compensation plan ever - an unfathomable sum - seems to have been calibrated to help Musk achieve what he believed would make 'a good future for humanity'," wrote McCormick in her 201-page opinion.

The ruling comes as Tesla is preparing another round of compensation negotiations with the CEO. Musk said in a post on X this month that he was uncomfortable leading Tesla unless he had 25% of the voting control. The billionaire owned around 13% of the company at the time and he said negotiations would not start until McCormick had ruled.

"Given the way she describes the board process - through the testimony of the directors - there is no way that his most recent demand for 25% can get approved," Brian Quinn, a professor at Boston College Law School, said. "It's dead on arrival."

McCormick wrote that many of the directors on Tesla's board, including current members Kimbal Musk, Elon Musk's brother, and James Murdoch, son of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, lacked independence because of their close personal ties with the CEO. Two of Tesla's other current directors, Robyn Denholm and Ira Ehrenpreis, showed a lack of independence in the pay decision, she said.

The board currently has eight members including its CEO.

Ross Gerber, president and CEO at Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management and a Tesla investor, told Reuters the ruling showed the company needed to replace at least three directors with independent board members before it can negotiate a new pay package for Musk.

"Essentially, the entire corporate structure of Tesla has been deemed, like not appropriate for a public company," Gerber said.

Tesla directors argued during the trial that the company was paying to ensure one of the world's most dynamic entrepreneurs continued to dedicate his attention to the electric vehicle maker. Antonio Gracias, a Tesla director from 2007 to 2021, called the package "a great deal for shareholders".

Tornetta's lawyers argued the Tesla board never told shareholders the goals were easier to achieve than the company was acknowledging and that internal projections showed Musk was quickly going to qualify for large portions of the pay package.

The plaintiff's legal team also argued the board had a duty to offer a smaller pay package or look for another CEO and that they should have required Musk to work full-time at Tesla instead of allowing him to focus on side projects, like SpaceX and X.

Kristin Hull, founder of Tesla investor Nia Impact Capital, described the board as beholden to Musk, a problem she said is common at other big technology companies. "This is the bro-show," she said of the situation.

The pay package granted stock option awards for approximately 304 million shares that Musk can buy at about $23.33 each, well below $191.59 where it closed on Tuesday. Musk earned all 12 tranches of stock option awards as Tesla hit escalating financial and operational goals.

Musk has not exercised any of the options and once he does he is required to hold the shares for five years before selling, according to McCormick.

He was not guaranteed any salary.

Tesla's value ballooned to briefly top $1 trillion in 2021 from $50 billion when the package was negotiated.

Amit Batish at Equilar, an executive pay research firm, estimated in 2022 that Musk's package was around six times larger than the combined pay of the 200 highest-paid executives in 2021.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Noel Randwich and Hyun Joo Jin in San Francisco, Jody Godoy in New York and Kanishka Singh, Eric Beech and Dan Whitcomb in Washington; Ross Kerber in Boston; Editing by Anna Driver and Jamie Freed)
An industry transition from its golden era of unfettered growth to a more intricate chapter of market saturation was analyzed in depth by Ampere Analysis Guy Bisson on Tuesday, during the first day of the Goteborg Film Festivals TV Drama Vision forum.

His drill-down, rich in detail and foresight, highlighted the strategic pivot to online advertising revenue which emerged as a growth linchpin, while the industry concurrently navigates geography, demography, and the creation of content that chimes with both. Six takes on the presentation:

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Rise of Advertising Revenue: the Shift from Subscription Models

The narrative of streaming, once a tale of exponential ascension, now confronts a reality of market saturation. The period between 2016 and 2020, a time of astronomic surge marked by a 466% growth in global streaming subscribers, has now given way to a more modest projection of 14% growth over the ensuing six years. This means a refocus on the lucrative realm of advertising. By 2028, advertising is poised to contribute a 20% slice of the $190 billion global streaming revenue pie, Bisson said, underscoring its instant significance in the market. This shift, heralding a 68% rise in streaming advertising revenue from 2023 to 2028, adds a vital 6 percentage points of growth, a feat unattainable by subscription models alone.

Market Realignment: Global and Demographic Changes

As streamings traditional strongholds level off, the industrys gaze is squinting at untapped markets. This new course is mirrored in a global downturn in commissioning activity, with the U.S. market experiencing the most notable contraction. Netflixs strategy is emblematic of this trend, displaying a decrease in new original content alongside an uptick in licensing endeavors. Overall, the industry anticipates a 3-4% annual increase in global acquisition spending, a marked contrast to the erstwhile robust growth rates of 41% for scripted and 22% for unscripted content in 2019.

Unscripted Content Boom: Cost-Effective and Versatile Choices

Streamers  where exclusivity once ruled  are now increasingly receptive to licensing and windowing third-party content. This evolution in content strategy is characterized by a slight uptick in licensing and a retreat from an original content production frenzy. In this landscape, Amazon distinguishes itself as the sole major streamer amplifying its original commissioning for first-run TV. Alongside this, unscripted content is witnessing a surge, propelled by its cost-effectiveness and versatility. The proportion of first-run TV series orders that are unscripted has leapt from 26% in late 2018 to 61% by the end of 2023.

This adaptation resonates with evolving audience predilections, with a clear tilt towards genres like crime, mystery and romance, and the notable upswing in unscripted.

Changing Viewing Habits

Viewing habits are at an inflection point, with streamed content on the cusp of eclipsing traditional TV viewership. This shift is palpable across all age brackets, exemplified by a 92% increase in daily streaming time for 18-24 year-olds since 2017, 162% for the 45-54 age group, and an astounding 317% for those aged 55-64. Each demographic, bar the 55-64 year-olds who average 2 hours and 47 minutes, surpasses the 3-hour daily viewing mark. This trend could be a critical juncture in the industry, signalling the next phase of evolution in TV formats.

The Quest for Profitability

The journey towards profitability has become a central quest for every studio-led streaming platform. Ampere Analysis projections indicate most will reach this milestone by the first quarter of 2025. Disneys streaming division, for instance, is anticipated to generate $1.8 billion in EBIT operating profit by 2028, with Paramount+ and Pluto also expected to reach significant EBIT milestones by Q1 2025. This shift, spurred by investor pressures, is catalyzing a strategic realignment in content expenditure.

Global Content Investment: Focus on Emerging Markets

A global surge in content spend looms on the horizon, forecasted to swell by 44% from 2023 to 2028. This growth, however, is primarily driven by international markets, particularly in Central and South America at 19%, Asia Pacific 4%, and the MENA & SSA regions at 2 and 10% respectively. In contrast, established markets like Europe and the U.S. are poised for a stabilization or a decline in investment. This trend accentuates the shifting focus of streaming platforms towards novel audience segments and under developed markets.

The most significant shift in content orders is observed in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and South Africa, highlighting the geographical pivot in the industry. While total content expenditure globally is anticipated to grow, North America is projected to experience a noticeable decline, with forecasts suggesting a 21% decrease from 2022 to 2028. This comes amidst a backdrop of budgetary constraints; however, its noteworthy that despite these financial pressures, co-production has not yet seen a resurgence as a predominant business model for first-run TV content.

In sum, the Ampere Analysis presented by Bisson at Goteborgs TV Drama Vision 2024 lays bare the ever-evolving playing field of the TV and streaming industry. These insights underscore the imperative of adaptability and strategic confidence to set the future course of content production and distribution.

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Danny Masterson has been moved to what is likely to be his long-term location: Corcoran State Prison in Central California, a maximum-security facility that for years was the home of Charles Manson, according to state records.

Masterson was convicted last May by a Los Angeles jury of raping two women in the 1990s. After spending time in an LA County lockup and later the North Kern state prison intake facility, Masterson was recently moved to Corcoran, situated about halfway between Bakersfield and Sacramento.

Thats where the former That 70s Show star is expected to serve the bulk of his 30-years-to-life sentence. Prison records show he will first be eligible for parole in 2042, when the 47-year-old Masterson, the father of a pre-teen girl with Bijou Phillips, is 66 years old.

Mastersons latest move was first reported by blogger Jeffrey Augustine, who adds that Masterson will be housed in the prisons Level 4 maximum security housing unit  the highest level of security available. Besides Manson, notable former inmates of the Corcoran prison include Bobby Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan.

Built in 1988 and known colloquially as Corcoran State Prison, the facility houses some of the states most dangerous convicts and has a large population of Level 4 inmates  those requiring the highest degree of protection and/or supervision.

If Masterson struggles in the prisons Level 4 general population, Corcoran has a small wing called the Protective Housing Unit for inmates in danger of being harmed. That wing was where Manson was kept from 1989 until he was moved to another prison nearly a decade later after he was caught trafficking drugs.

The post Danny Masterson Moved to Maximum-Security California State Prison That Once Held Charles Manson appeared first on TheWrap.
A Delaware judge ruled that Tesla's board of directors did not prove "that the compensation plan was fair"

Nathan Laine/Bloomberg via Getty Elon Musk

A judge in Delaware voided Elon Musks Tesla pay package, valued at $55.8 billion, on Tuesday after ruling that the board of directors did not prove that the compensation plan was fair.

Tesla granted Musk, 52, the pay package in 2018, and it was the largest potential compensation opportunity ever observed in public markets by multiple orders of magnitude, Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick wrote in a 200-page ruling. Tesla shareholder Richard Tornetta asked the states business law court to cancel the package, arguing that the automakers board of directors breached their fiduciary duties by awarding Elon Musk a performance-based equity-compensation plan, McCormick noted.

According to McCormick, Tornetta proved Musk controlled Tesla and the process that ended with Musks pay package being approved was deeply flawed.

Theo Wargo/Getty Elon Musk in 2021

Related: Elon Musk Says Human Patient Is Recovering Well After Neuralink Implants Brain Chip

The judge noted Musks extensive ties with the persons tasked with negotiating on Teslas behalf, adding that Musk launched a self-driving process, recalibrating the speed and direction along the way as he saw fit.

McCormick wrote that Musk had an enormous influence over Tesla, thanks to his relationship with the company and its directors.

In addition to his 21.9% equity stake, Musk was the paradigmatic Superstar CEO, who held some of the most influential corporate positions (CEO, Chair, and founder), enjoyed thick ties with the directors tasked with negotiating on behalf of Tesla, and dominated the process that led to board approval of his compensation plan, McCormick wrote. At least as to this transaction, Musk controlled Tesla.

Crafting Musks pay package arrived at an unfair price, McCormick wrote, later adding that the plaintiff is entitled to rescission.

Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 30, 2024

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Musks team was unable to prove that the stockholder vote was fully informed because the proxy statement inaccurately described key directors as independent and misleadingly omitted details about the process, McCormick wrote.

The parties are to confer on a form of final order implementing this decision and submit a joint letter identifying all issues, including fees, that need to be addressed to bring this matter to a conclusion at the trial level, the judges decision read.

Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware, Musk wrote on X (formerly Twitter), shortly after the ruling was published.

Related: Elon Musk Tells Companies Who Want to 'Blackmail' Him with Advertising to 'Go F--- Yourself'

Musk owns about 13% of Teslas stock outright, reports CNBC. In December, he tweeted that he was uncomfortable growing Tesla to be a leader in AI & robotics without having ~25% voting control. Enough to be influential, but not so much that I cant be overturned.

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In an unusual decision, a Delaware judge has voided Elon Musks $55 billion pay package from the electric automaker Tesla, siding with a shareholder who sued claiming the sum was excessive.

The decision throws Musks enormous fortune into a cloud of doubt, with the 2018 pay plan making up a significant portion of his wealth. Were it completely voided, Musk would no longer be the worlds richest man, and would fall below Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and luxury goods mogul Bernard Arnualt.

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Musk has subsequently sold tens of billions of dollars in Tesla stock, and also secured some of that stock against personal loans, both of which he has used to help fund his other businesses. That includes his $44 billion takeover of Twitter, now called X. That being said, the plaintiffs argue that the tranche of shares in question remain untouched.

In a post on X after the ruling was issued, Musk wrote ,Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware.

In the ruling, Chancery Court Chief Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick wrote: In the final analysis, Musk launched a self-driving process, recalibrating the speed and direction along the way as he saw fit. The process arrived at an unfair price. And through this litigation, the plaintiff requests a recall.

Plaintiff has demonstrated that rescission is reasonable, appropriate, and practicable, McCormick wrote. This Grant is not too complex to unscramble[.] Rescission is uniquely available: no third-party interests are implicated, the entire Grant sits unexercised and undisturbed, and exercised shares would be subject to the Five Year Hold Period.

Defendants argue that rescission is a harsh consequence that would leave Musk uncompensated, she continued. But Musks preexisting equity stake provided him tens of billions of dollars for his efforts. And Defendants have not offered a viable alternative short of leaving the Grant intact.

The judge also says that negotiations between Musk and the board were not adversarial in nature, with the board essentially giving Musk what he asked for, even though he was unlikely to leave the company had he not receive the pay package.

The ruling comes at the same time that Musk has publicly stated that he would like the board to authorize another pay package, one that would give him a larger ownership stake in the company.

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Clockwise from bottom left: Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton in Lisa Frankenstein, Jennifer Lopez in This Is Me ... Now, Orion And The Dark , Margaret Qualley in Drive-Away Dolls, and Chip in Argylle

January may be in the rearview, but movie theaters are still waiting for studios to replenish their screens. Things arent looking much better this February. However, we here at The A.V. Club arent going to sit back and watch our readers waste their free time all month. Weve picked out an eclectic mix of releases from across the Hollywood landscape: Blockbusters, indies, and international movies are on the horizon, plus a little CGI cat in a backpack that people cant stop talking about.



Argylle (February 2)

Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Dua Lipa, Samuel L. Jackson, Catherine OHara, Bryan Cranston, John Cena, Ariana DeBose, and Rob Delaney

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Argylle. Argylle. Argylle. Its the only name on peoples lips these days. Or, at least, the only name on peoples lips in the Argylle trailer. From the twisted mind of Matthew Vaughn comes a Romancing The Stone riff that audiences cant wait to stop seeing the trailer for, which has been playing incessantly before seemingly every movie for the last 176 months. Wed also like to know what the heck is so special about this darn cat.



Orion And The Dark (February 2)

Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Carla Cugino, Angela Bassett, Werner Herzog, Colin Hanks, Ike Barinholtz, Aparna Nancherla, and Nat Faxon

Director: Sean Charmatz

In general, Dreamworks Animation projects are hit or miss, often reeking of Pixars leftovers. To that end, Orion And The Dark, the studios latest for Netflix, looks like reheated Monsters, Inc. However, it does have a thing that makes this family fantasy particularly interesting, and its not Paul Walter Hauser doing his best Seth Rogen impression. Orion And The Dark is the only film written by Charlie Kaufman this year. Yes, that Charlie Kaufman. That has to count for something, right?



The Promised Land (February 2)

Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Simon Bennebjerg, Amanda Collin, Gustav Lindhm, Krstine Kujath Thorp, and Morten Hee Andersen

Director: Nikolaj Arcel

Denmarks submission for this years Best International Feature Film Oscar, The Promised Land is a tale as old as time. After a quarter century in the military, Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mikkelson) wants to settle down and live out his days in the Jutland moorland. He finds himself in a land war with a local magistrate (Bennebjerg), who does his best to force Kahlen off his land and claim the property for himself. Reteaming Mikkelson with director Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair), Promised Land is as much about our current economic injustices as the 18th century.



Perfect Days (February 7)

Cast: Koji Hashimoto, Tokio Emoto, Arisa Nakano, Aoi Yamada, and Yumi Aso

Director: Wim Wenders

The words new Wim Wenders film are enough to get us into the theater, especially when critics are hailing Perfect Days as a return to form after a string of disappointments. No surprise: Its been nominated for an Academy Award for Best International FilmWenders first. Oscars or not, the director of Paris, Texas and Until The End Of The World always has our attention. But did we mention his latest follows a rock-music-loving Tokyo toilet cleaner (Yakusho) enjoying books, trees, and photography? Perfect Days sounds perfect.



Lisa Frankenstein (February 9)

Cast: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse

Director: Zelda Williams

A throwback to the Gen X charms of Heathers and My Boyfriends Back, Zelda Williams directorial debut is a teen rom-com for the heartsick goths of Hot Topic as Kathryn Newton falls in love with an undead Cole Sprouse. Diablo Codys first script since Tully, Lisa Frankenstein looks like a dayglo pastiche that aims to terrify and enchant Stranger Things loving teens and their parents. But the ever-growing cult of Codys Jennifers Body is probably thrilled the screenwriter has finally returned to teen horror comedies.

The Taste Of Things (February 9)

Cast: Juliette Binoche, Benoit Magimel, Emmanuel Salinger, and Patrick dAssumcao

Director: Anh Hung Tran

Just in time for Valentines Day, The Taste Of Things is a French romance between a cook (Binoche) and her gourmand of a boss. The films elegant food photography is just as much a selling point as Binoche and Magimels smoldering flirtations. Director Anh Hung Tran won best director for the film at Cannes, while the title was shortlisted for the Oscars. It might have come up short regarding the Academy, but reviews have been glowing for this culinary romance. The Taste Of Things is sure to leave audiences hungry and horny.



Cast: Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Maitreyi Ramakrishnana, Orion Lee, and James Hong

Director: Domee Shi

After unceremoniously debuting three feature-length Pixar movies on streaming over the pandemic, Disney finally gives Soul, Luca, and Turning Red their due. Soul received a special theatrical release last month. This February, its Turning Reds turn. Of the three, Turning Red received the warmest reception on streaming, with many arguing this one especially deserved a theatrical run. Well, now Turning Red is returning to theaters, and considering the slim pickings this month, its not a moment too soon.

The Monk And The Gun (February 9)

Cast: Harry Einhorn, Tandin Wangchuk, Deki Lhamo, Tandin Sonam, Tandin Phubz, Choeying Jatsho, and Pema Zangmo Sherpa

Director: Pawo Choyning Dorji

The Monk And The Gun, Bhutanese writer/director Pawo Choyning Dorjis follow-up to the Oscar-nominated Lunana: A Yak In the Classroom, is already following in its predecessors footsteps. Shortlisted for the 96th Academy Awards, Monk explores the clashing worlds of urban and pastoral life when a monk living in a recently democratized Bhutan gets a hold of an antique gun worth $75,000. The title does not lie. This monk has a gun in what looks like a funny and unexpected comedy about democratic growing pains.



Suncoast (February 9)



Cast: Nico Parker, Laura Linney, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Matt Walsh, and Woody Harrelson

Director: Laura Chinn

Based on the trailer, Suncoast looks like the exact type of comedy people say they dont make anymore: a coming-of-age family dramedy about a teen girl with an overbearing mother, a dying brother, and an eccentric activist played by Woody Harrelson for a best friend. Suncoast promises a tear-jerking comedy in the vein of Little Miss Sunshine or even last years Are You There God? Its Me, Margaret.



Madame Web (February 14)



Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Emma Roberts, Zosia Mamet, Isabela Merced, and Adam Scott

Director: S.J. Clarkson

Like all the films in Sonys bizarre, unnecessary universe of Spider-Man villains and side characters, theres a morbid curiosity with Madame Web. Noted lime enthusiast and Ellen vanquisher Dakota Johnson takes on the role of the illustrious, universe-hopping Madame Cassandra Webb. By the looks of the trailer, its another attempt at a Spider-Verse, with various amazing friends popping in to overcomplicate things for our star. Oh, who are we kidding? We want to hear Adam Scott (yes, the star of Torque) say those magic words, With great power comes great responsibility.



This Is Me  Now: A Love Story (February 16)

Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Sofia Vergara, Tevor Noah, Kim Petras, Fat Joe, Post Malone, Keke Palmer, Jenifer Lewis, and Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Director: Dave Meyers

Aside from evoking Neil Breens 2009 parable, I Am Here Now, Jennifer Lopezs experimental musical promises big names and a head-spinning premise. The trailer teases a visual album akin to Beyonces Lemonade to coincide with Lopezs companion album of the same name. With its lavish effects and diverse settings, This Is Me  Now probably wont make sense until we actually see the thing. Still, there are worse ways to spend two hours than watching J. Lo process her personal life through song and dance.

Drive-Away Dolls (February 23)

Cast: Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Bill Camp, and Matt Damon

Director: Ethan Coen

Weve seen what Joel Coen can do behind the camera without his brother Ethan. Now its the other Coen brothers turn at bat. Drive-Away Dolls has lingered in the Coen script pile for about 15 years. The Los Angeles Times first reported on the script in 2007, describing it as a naughty comedy in the vein of Russ Meyer. Having now sat with the trailer for several months, we can correct this. It looks like a comedy by the Coen brothers in the vein of Burn After Reading with a stacked cast, populated by rising stars, character actors, and, of course, Matt Damon.


If you've been on Netflix in the past few days, you've probably noticed that there's a new #1 show in the US. Griselda is the latest based on a true story crime series that everyone is talking about.

Netflix / Everett Collection

Starring Sofia Vergara, Griselda tells the story of Griselda Blanco (Vergara), an ambitious Colombian businesswoman and mother who created one of the most profitable cocaine cartels in history.

Netflix / Everett Collection

The series explores Griselda fleeing Colombia for Miami with her three sons and how she sets up her business. Ultimately, arrests, murder, lies, and more catch up to Griselda as she tries to hold on to the empire she's created.

Netflix

So because Griselda is based on a real person and her story, here are 19 facts about her and everything that happened during the rise and fall of Griselda's business:

There are obviously major spoilers ahead for Griselda on Netflix.

1.First, it is reported that Griselda Blanco and her husband and business partner Alberto Bravo had moved hundreds of kilos of cocaine in the US and employed close to 1,500 dealers while operating out of NYC.

According to the New York Times, Griselda and Alberto were named among the 150 people arrested in 1975 as part of the arrest of the Alberto Bravo organization, which was considered "the biggest Colombian narcotics organization every uncovered." Netflix

2.In 1975, Griselda reportedly returned to Colombia having found that "millions in profits had gone missing," and she blamed her husband. Similar to what is shown in the series, Griselda apparently shot and killed Alberto, and she left with only a wound to her stomach.

In an interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel in 1989, Max Mermelstein, an associate of Griselda's, said, "So she reached over, stuck the muzzle of her gun in [Alberto's] mouth and pulled the trigger. Just like that. And I believe her." Netflix

3.Griselda earned the nickname "Black Widow" because she reportedly had been responsible for the deaths of her husbands. Alongside Alberto, Griselda was also linked to the death of her first husband Carlos Trujillo, whom she apparently had murdered over a "business dispute."

She was never formally charged with the death of Carlos. Netflix

4.She also really had the nickname "The Godmother," due to her ruthless tactics. According to Jorge "Rivi" Ayala, who is depicted in the series, Griselda "liked to be at war. Every day she'd say, 'We've got to get so-and-so.'"

"The first rule of drug dealing is to keep your nose out of the product, but the Godmother was never one for self-control," he added. Netflix

5.Griselda's operation in Miami led to her apparently smuggling "more than three tons of cocaine into the United States annually. This also led to her yielding close to $80 million per month."

She was said to have enjoyed a "lavish" lifestyle, which reportedly included luxury homes and wild parties. Netflix

6.Griselda reportedly opened up a lingerie factory in Colombia, specifically so the pieces could be made to include compartments and pockets for smuggling drugs, according to Vice.

As seen in the Netflix show, Griselda reportedly used women's bras to smuggle her product from Colombia to Miami. Netflix

7.According to the documentary Cocaine Cowboys, the "first homicide of note" Griselda was "involved in" while living in Miami was Dadeland, which is when a hitmen crew entered a liquor store and opened fire in July 1979 notably killing German Jimenez Panesso and his bodyguard.

The Dadeland Mall Massacre took place at the mall's Crown Liquors, and the groups involved in the shootout became known as "Cocaine Cowboys." Speaking about the murders at the time, Dade County homicide Lt. Robert Willis said, "The first murder we've related to the same associations was a young Latin female involved in cocaine trafficking." In Cocaine Cowboys, it's reported that this incident is what established Griselda as "one of the most violent traffickers known." Netflix

8.Jorge "Rivi" Ayala was really Griselda's right-hand henchmen and did kill Jesus Castro's 2-year-old son while pursuing him. In the documentary Cocaine Cowboys, Rivi explained how Johnny was in the backseat sleeping when he was shot and killed. "If I would have seen [him], I would've never touched that car," Rivi said.

The boy's body was later discovered with authorities believing that Jesus "prepared his son's body but now wants the body back." Griselda was eventually charged with first-degree murder, making Johnny's death one of three murders she was formally charged with. Netflix

9.June Hawkins is a real person, who was a Miami-Dade police department intelligence analyst who worked to help build a case against Griselda. For a long time, her instrumental involvement in the case was minimized, until the Griselda creators started to research more about Griselda and learned about June.

"I was reading everything there was to read, searching everything online, speaking to the DEA agents I knew. It was a little bit piecemeal, but I pieced together Junes involvement," explained Doug in an interview with Vanity Fair. In real life, she ended up marrying DEA agent Al Singleton, who is also credited with helping apprehend Griselda. Netflix

10.The car chase involving June Hawkins and Rafael "Amilcar" Rodriguez really happened, and it lasted a few days, according to June. While working with the phone company, they were able to pinpoint Amilcar's location. After running, commandeering a car, and more, June and Raul Diaz eventually caught him "in a laundromat hiding behind a [washing] machine."

June served as a consultant on Griselda and "spent hours" chatting with Juliana Aiden Martinez, who plays June in the show. Netflix

11.Griselda married Dario Sepulveda in 1978, and they had one son together, Michael Corleone Blanco, who is named after the famous The Godfather character. According to Vice, she reportedly had eight women killed because she thought they might've slept with Dario.

In 1983, Dario left Miami for Colombia with Michael. Dario was eventually killed, with the murder reportedly being orchestrated by Griselda. Michael eventually returned to the US. Netflix

12.Griselda's three eldest sons  Dixon, Uber, and Osvaldo  were reportedly all killed, but unlike the series, it's unclear how it happened. For a while, it was believed that only Uber and Osvaldo had died, with Billy Corben, who directed Cocaine Cowboys, writing at the time of Griselda's death that she was survived by her sons Dixon and Michael, with Dixon living in Colombia.

Then, in 2020, Michael reportedly told the Mirror that his three older brothers were murdered. Netflix

13.As shown in Griselda, the Washington Post did report that Osvaldo was killed in a Colombian nightclub in 1992. His death came after reports that Osvaldo and Dixon had become good friends with Rayful Edmond III, who was sent to prison for life "for running [Washington, DC's] largest ever cocaine operation." The trio shared a cellblock together.

As reported by the Washington Post, the "three quickly became friends," and prior to prison they were "among the largest cocaine dealers in the nation." Netflix

14.Jorge "Rivi" Ayala pled guilty to three murders in 1993, but according to NBC News Miami, he was likely "responsible for some three dozen murders during the '80s drug war." He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole, but he was denied parole in 2013.

To this day, he's still considered one of the most notorious "Cocaine Cowboys." Magnolia Pictures

15.Jorge "Rivi" Ayala was really involved in the phone sex scandal, which saw several Miami-Dade state attorney's office secretaries allegedly having phone sex with Rivi while he was in prison. At the time, Rivi was said to be "a key prosecution witness" for the case against Griselda.

Due to the secretaries having "access to prosecutors' files," the investigators were worried that the case against Griselda could be "compromised." Chief Assistant Michael Banks stepped down as the agency's head of the major crimes unit, too. Netflix

16.In 1984, Griselda moved her operation to California per the documentary Cocaine Cowboys. The documentary states that the "homicide rate went down" in the mid-'80s in Miami, which could be linked to Griselda leaving.

"I was happy to leave Miami because I knew all of this heat that was around me," Jorge "Rivi" Ayala said in the documentary. He added, "I knew it was just a matter of time before they came after us." In order to get product to California, she befriended Marta Ochoa, going around the Ochoas. Netflix

17.DEA agent Bob Palumbo eventually caught Griselda in 1985. She was charged with conspiring to manufacture, import, and distribute cocaine and was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison for her original drug trafficking indictment.

In 1994, she was also charged with three murders in Florida, including the death of Johnny Castro. Associated Press

18.In 1998, Griselda pled guilty to three counts of second-degree murder and was "sentenced to serve three concurrent 20-year sentences." However, in 2004, she was deported to Colombia.

Nelson Andreu, the former West Miami police chief, who spent a decade trying to convict Griselda, told Today that Griselda was the "most brutal" and was "responsible for the majority of the homicides" in the area at the time. Netflix

19.And finally, in 2012, Griselda was "gunned down" in Medellin, Colombia, according to NBC News. She was reportedly shot and killed by "a motorcycle-riding assassin," which was also the technique she and her hitmen reportedly used to carry out murders.

The Miami Herald reported that she was killed when two armed riders pulled up to her while she was leaving a butcher shop. CNN / Associated Press / Via youtu.be
While the nation looks to Punxatawny Phil on Friday for his forecast, an arguably smaller, but eager, crowd will get their weather prediction from a more local source.

Meet Harleysville Hank, the pride of Montgomery County, and maybe the second, well perhaps, the third most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania (if you count the PA Lottery's Gus).

And Hank is his own rodent. Last year, he broke ranks with his more famous friend Punxatawny Phil in their forecasting. While Phil saw his shadow and called for six more weeks of winter, hometown Hank signaled to his handlers that it would be an early spring.

We like the way Hank thinks.

In short, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on Friday and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks. If it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early.

No matter who you get your Groundhog Day predictions from, here's what you need to know before Friday's festivities and fanfare:

Hanging out with Harleysville Hank on Groundhog Day

Anyone wanting to participate in Groundhog Day events will have to get a predawn start.

Groundhog Day fans can begin to gather at 6:45 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 2 for the Harleysville Hank Groundhog Day Extravaganza. It's the tenth year of the celebration and includes songs, a reading, warm drinks and more early morning fun at the Mennonite Heritage Center at 565 Yoder Road in Harleysville.

The Harleysville Order of the Grundsow bring the event to the community.

Harleysville Hank took a mini-tour of Pennsylvania to hype up Friday's shadow reveal, stopping by local seats of government and organizations along the way:

"Hank stopped by Souderton-Telford Rotary to promote his Extravaganza next week," read the post on Facebook. "Everyone was glad to see him."

Move over, Punxsutawney Phil: Look out, Punxsutawney Phil! Pocono Wildlife houses 2 groundhogs who will look for shadows

Punxsutawney Groundhog Club turns Groundhog Day into a two-day celebration

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club and the 15-member crew whose task it is to protect and perpetuate the legend of Punxsutawney Phil decided that it couldn't confine Groundhog Day to only Friday.

The club is kicking things off on Thursday, Feb. 1 with the Gobblers Knob Got Talent show. The talent show begins at 1 p.m. at the groundhog club's community center, 1548 Woodland Ave. in Punxsutawney, and is free and open to the public.

According to the groundhog club's website, two finalists will be chosen to perform at Gobblers Knob on Groundhog Day morning to be voted on at the Celebration. The winner will be awarded $500.

That leads to the Groundhog Day Celebration, which will open at 3 a.m. Friday. The celebration is also free.

Similar to Harleysville Hank, Punxsutawney Phil also went on tour to peak interest in his forthcoming appearance:

Will the weather impact Groundhog Day?

While so much of Groundhog Day depends on the furry and fluffy's creature seeing its own shadow, Mother Nature may very well have the last say.

According to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, it will be cloudy overnight Thursday heading into Friday.

Temperatures overnight on Thursday will be around 36 degrees.

The chances of either Harleysville Hank or Punxsutawney Phil seeing their shadows Friday morning are literally 50-50.

In its forecast, the weather service expects a party sunny day on Friday, with temperatures around 45 degrees.

Why does a groundhog predict the weather?

Looking to a groundhog to predict the weather has its roots in European lore, where "...a badger or sacred bear..." prognosticates the weather instead of a whistlepig.

Groundhog Day also has been linked to the Christian holiday of Candlemas and the Pagan Imbolc, marked on Feb. 1 with its own weather prediction, according to NOAA.

More on Groundhog's Day 2024: Groundhog Day: What does a groundhog have to do with the weather forecast?

Candlemas is the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, and early Christians believed that a sunny Candlemas meant 40 more days of cold and snow.

German immigrants in Pennsylvania brought Candlemas traditions with them, but instead of using a badger as their weather prognosticator, a groundhog was chosen.

Who started Groundhog Day?

The earliest tradition of Groundhog Day was observed in 1886, according to The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

A clipping from newspapers.com Indiana's Kokomo Tribune notes the celebration was the brainchild of Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper editor Clymer Freas. He noticed "...a group of the town's early German settlers took to picnicking at Gobbler's Knob on a keg of beer and some of the abundant groundhog meat," the article reads. When word of this reached Freas, "...he christened the club the Groundhog Club," the Jan. 31, 1952 edition reads.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Groundhog Day's Punxatawny Phil, Harleysville Hank ready to forecast
A new video has surfaced, showing Jordan Willis being handcuffed and detained by police after three Chiefs fans' bodies were found frozen to death in a backyard.

As you know, details surrounding the mysterious case continue to be released, with the most recent being a video taken by a bystander just moments after the bodies of Ricky Johnson, David Harrington, and Clayton McGeeney were discovered in the backyard of a home reportedly rented out by Jordan Willis.

Jordan Willis claims he hosted a watch party for him and his friends for the January 7 Kansas City Chiefs game. Willis says he eventually went to bed but claims he did not know if his friends left the house. Two days later, the bodies of his friends were discovered in the backyard.

Willis, per his attorney, reportedly fell asleep for two days and he is unaware of how his friends died.

Jordan Willis Detained By Police After Chiefs Fans' Bodies Were Discovered

Twitter | NewsNation

As more details surrounding the case emerge, a video taken by a bystander and obtained by NewsNation's Alex Caprariello shows the moment after the three bodies were found.

Investigators are seen arriving at the home that Jordan Willis reportedly rented out approximately 10 minutes after Clayton McGeeney's fiancee discovered the three men's bodies and called 911.

In the video, you can see Jordan Willis being cuffed and detained on his front porch -- in nothing but his underwear -- as police ask him questions. Willis being shown in his underwear in the new video coincides with previous reports that when police arrived, Willis answered the door holding an empty glass of wine and wearing nothing but his undies.

Caprariello is told Willis was uncuffed, put in the back of a police car, and taken away. Later on in the video, police can be seen entering the home and going from room to room with flashlights.

See the Video Of Jordan Willis Being Handcuffed

This is video I obtained of the moment investigators arrived at Jordan Willis' home. It's about 10 minutes after Clayton McGeeney's fiancee discovered the three men's bodies and called 911. You can see Jordan cuffed and detained on his front stoop while police ask him pic.twitter.com/928yd4DV8o  Alex Caprariello (@alcaprari23) January 30, 2024

It should be noted that the video, which was taken by a neighbor, does have misleading commentary as the neighbor initially thought it was a domestic violence call. "It wasn't until after he fell asleep and read the news reports the next morning that he realized what he actually witnessed that night," Caprariello reports of the neighbor's knowledge of the situation.

Jordan Willis was eventually let go by police, as no arrests have been made in this case. Police also claim there is no evidence of foul play, and it is not being investigated as a homicide.

Theories relating to the mysterious deaths have been circulating the internet, including that the fans' had taken drugs, whether that be knowingly or unknowingly, however, this has not been confirmed by police. The results of the autopsy and toxicology report should answer more questions relating to the deaths of Ricky Johnson, David Harrington, and Clayton McGeeney.

The investigation remains underway.
Most readers would already know that Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad's (KLSE:KLK) stock increased by 2.1% over the past month. Given that stock prices are usually aligned with a company's financial performance in the long-term, we decided to investigate if the company's decent financials had a hand to play in the recent price move. In this article, we decided to focus on Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad's ROE.

Return on equity or ROE is a key measure used to assess how efficiently a company's management is utilizing the company's capital. Put another way, it reveals the company's success at turning shareholder investments into profits.

Check out our latest analysis for Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad

How Do You Calculate Return On Equity?

The formula for return on equity is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad is:

6.1% = RM991m  RM16b (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

The 'return' is the yearly profit. Another way to think of that is that for every MYR1 worth of equity, the company was able to earn MYR0.06 in profit.

What Is The Relationship Between ROE And Earnings Growth?

Thus far, we have learned that ROE measures how efficiently a company is generating its profits. Based on how much of its profits the company chooses to reinvest or "retain", we are then able to evaluate a company's future ability to generate profits. Assuming everything else remains unchanged, the higher the ROE and profit retention, the higher the growth rate of a company compared to companies that don't necessarily bear these characteristics.

A Side By Side comparison of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad's Earnings Growth And 6.1% ROE

When you first look at it, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad's ROE doesn't look that attractive. However, given that the company's ROE is similar to the average industry ROE of 6.8%, we may spare it some thought. Looking at Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad's exceptional 25% five-year net income growth in particular, we are definitely impressed. Given the slightly low ROE, it is likely that there could be some other aspects that are driving this growth. For example, it is possible that the company's management has made some good strategic decisions, or that the company has a low payout ratio.

Story continues

As a next step, we compared Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad's net income growth with the industry and found that the company has a similar growth figure when compared with the industry average growth rate of 25% in the same period.

Earnings growth is an important metric to consider when valuing a stock. Its important for an investor to know whether the market has priced in the company's expected earnings growth (or decline). Doing so will help them establish if the stock's future looks promising or ominous. Is Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad fairly valued compared to other companies? These 3 valuation measures might help you decide.

Is Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad Efficiently Re-investing Its Profits?

The three-year median payout ratio for Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad is 50%, which is moderately low. The company is retaining the remaining 50%. By the looks of it, the dividend is well covered and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad is reinvesting its profits efficiently as evidenced by its exceptional growth which we discussed above.

Besides, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad has been paying dividends for at least ten years or more. This shows that the company is committed to sharing profits with its shareholders. Our latest analyst data shows that the future payout ratio of the company over the next three years is expected to be approximately 47%. Regardless, the future ROE for Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad is predicted to rise to 8.9% despite there being not much change expected in its payout ratio.

Summary

In total, it does look like Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad has some positive aspects to its business. With a high rate of reinvestment, albeit at a low ROE, the company has managed to see a considerable growth in its earnings. Having said that, the company's earnings growth is expected to slow down, as forecasted in the current analyst estimates. Are these analysts expectations based on the broad expectations for the industry, or on the company's fundamentals? Click here to be taken to our analyst's forecasts page for the company.

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.
When you picture your favorite dogs, like the sunny Golden Retriever, the spunky Beagle, or the lovable American Pit Bull Terrier, chances are you dont spend much time thinking about their canine family tree. Just like humans, these beloved breeds came from somewhere and certainly have a unique story. Unfortunately, some breeds of dogs, even close ancestors of our modern-day favorites, are no longer around. Various reasons  from war and disease to natural evolution  played a part in their disappearance. Here are ten incredible but extinct dog breeds we wish we could meet.

Talbot Hound

With origins evidenced in medieval tapestries, literature, and paintings, the Talbot Hound was a breed valued for their hunting abilities. However, whether these dogs were sighthounds, scent hounds, or quarry hounds is unclear. Talbot wasnt merely a breed name, but referred to an individual hound of noble lineage and distinct appearance. These short, stocky dogs boasted a sleek white coat and a proudly curled tail. Hailing from Normandy, they became widely revered in England, frequently found as companions and hunting dogs. Though the purebred Talbot sadly vanished in the late 18th century, their legacy lives on in their presumed descendants, the Beagle and Bloodhound.

St. Johns Water Dog

Many contemporary water retrievers, including the Newfoundland, Curly-Coated Retriever, and Labrador Retriever, trace their ancestry back to the St. Johns Dog of Newfoundland. These dogs, created through a blend of local breeds and water dogs introduced by Portuguese fishermen, captured the attention of British hunters. Seeking to enhance their water-retrieving capabilities, the British imported St. Johns dogs to England. Eventually, the breed seamlessly merged into the development of other retriever breeds. The breed itself, however, was lost to evolution.

Fighting Dog of Cordoba

(Photo Credit: MrDogLover21 | YouTube)

The Fighting Dog of Cordoba, also known as the Cordoba Fighting Dog or Perro de Pelea Cordobes, was a breed originating from Argentina. Tragically developed for dog-fighting purposes, breeders prized this formidable canine for their tenacity, strength, and aggressive nature in the fighting arena. However, the public perception of dog fighting shifted in the mid-20th century. In a 1954 animal rights victory, the Argentinian government outlawed the practice of dog fighting. As a result of the ban and economic conditions of the time, the Cordoba Fighting Dog population faced a decline, ultimately leading to the breeds extinction.

Molossus

Originally believed to have been introduced to the Mediterranean Peninsula by the Phoenicians, the Molossus gained favor among the Ancient Greeks and Romans for their fierce nature and exceptional hunting skills. Alternatively, some theories suggest Alexander the Great transported these dogs from conquered Asian lands to Ancient Greece. As the Molossaian dogs dispersed across different regions, new breeds emerged to fulfill distinct needs and preferences. Many of the most beloved breeds, like the Saint Bernard, Great Dane, and Bernese Mountain Dog, share this common relative.

Salish Wool dog

Highly valued by the Salish Coast Native American tribes for their fur, these small, Spitz-like dogs were deliberately kept apart from other village dogs to safeguard their distinctive white coat. The Salish people of the Pacific Northwest, renowned for their weaving abilities, did not raise sheep. Instead, the tribe sheared these prized dogs and spun the fibers to create ceremonial blankets. Unfortunately, the introduction of Hudson Bay trade blankets, affordable sheep wool, and colonialism contributed to the eventual disappearance of these extinct Woolly dogs.

Hawaiian Poi Dog

(Photo Credit: Listopedia | YouTube)

The Hawaiian Poi Dog  a small-statured, potbelly dog with a colorful coat  was believed to have arrived in Hawaii with the Polynesians over a thousand years ago. This dog was also loved for their sweet disposition and compatibility with children. Despite their amiable nature, the Hawaiian Poi Dog also served as a food source. The introduction of other dog breeds to the area led to the extinction of the Hawaiian Poi Dog in the early nineteenth century, likely due to interbreeding. In the 1970s, a breeding program at the Honolulu Zoo attempted to bring back the extinct Polynesian pup.

Alpine Mastiff

The Alpine Mastiff, a massive breed dating back to 500 BC in Northern Europe, is considered one of the earliest giant-sized dogs. Possibly a precursor to the English Mastiff, this Mastiff breed could grow to reach over 39 inches at the shoulder and weigh up to a whopping 350 pounds! Over the years, this breed merged with other Molosser breeds. As such, the Alpine Mastiff is now considered extinct as the breed is no longer present in their pure form. The closest modern relative of this breed is likely the Saint Bernard.

Brazilian Tracker

Recognized by the Brazilian Kennel Club in 1967, the Brazilian Tracker went extinct only six years after their official recognition. The outbreak of disease and an overdose of insecticides contributed significantly to the hunting breeds decline and eventual extinction. The Brazilian Tracker, also known as the Rastreador Brasileiro, was known for their tracking abilities. Similar in temperament and ability to the American Coonhound, the Brazilian Tracker was once a popular breed in Brazil. Recent efforts have been made to recreate the breed through preservation breeding.

Argentine Polar Dog

Originally bred by the Argentine Army for use as sled dogs in Antarctica, the Argentine Polar Dog was a long-haired dog breed who went extinct in 1994. As a result of the Antarctic Treatys policies on exotic species, Argentina removed all dogs from the continent. Subsequently, the army ended their breeding program and relocated the remaining dogs to Patagonia. As a result of their isolation in Antarctica, the breed lost natural immunity to several canine diseases. Unfortunately, most died due to contracted illnesses.

Tesem

An ancient breed, the Tesems roots can be traced back to Ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptians revered this breed for their hunting prowess and loyalty. Artwork from the period depicts this iconic medium-sized dog gracing the walls of temples and tombs. Among the earliest documented instances of the Tesem is the Khufu dog discovered in the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu, who ruled between 2609 and 2584 BC. Characterized by a wedge-shaped head, erect ears, curled tail, and a sleek, muscular body, the Tesem eventually evolved into other breeds. The Saluki and Sloughi are two modern relatives of this noble sighthound.

Highly vulnerable breeds facing extinction

Thanks to the work of breed preservationists, dogs who may have disappeared in the past remain todays cherished companions. Despite these efforts, many dog breeds still face the threat of extinction and are considered highly vulnerable. To learn more about ways to help other vulnerable dogs, review our resources on volunteering, fostering, and advocating for banned dog breeds.

The post 10 Extinct Dog Breeds Wed Love To Meet appeared first on DogTime.


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For the fifth year in a row, Samsung released its iconic Galaxy S smartphone in a trio of iterations  a compact Galaxy S24, a big-screen Galaxy S24+, and a range-topping Galaxy S24 Ultra, with the latter packing the biggest screen, the best camera setup, and, from 2022 onwards, a unique Galaxy Note-like silhouette and integrated S Pen stylus. In addition to the last-mentioned design, this years Ultra features cutting-edge specs and rocks a titanium frame thats a first for a Samsung phone.

The Ultras distinctive design, unique titanium build, and high price warrant a protective case that works under any condition, so I spent the week after its debut sifting through press releases, retailer listings, and trying out these products in real life. After that, I handpicked the best high-quality cases from OtterBox, ZAGG, Speck Products, and Spigen  to name a few leading makers  that are each tailor-made for the unique new Galaxy.

Best Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Cases

What to Consider

Design and Durability

With the latest Ultra packing a 6.8-inch screen, a rugged case will make the devices footprint and pocketability close to a small tablet's. As usual, the more protection such an accessory provides against damage, the bulkier it will be. Thankfully, advances in the design and materials used to make a case ensure that even a slim cover can easily meet military-grade durability standards and reliably guard the phone against damage from accidental drops.



Still, if your work and daily routine will expose your phone to frequent (and heavy) tumbles (e.g., working outdoors, hiking, mounting it to a bike, or handing it over to entertain little ones), a rugged case by OtterBox or Pelican is worth the extra bulk. The multi-layer builds of these accessories will keep your phone looking like new even after falls, bumps, and thuds.

About Magnetic Accessories

Unlike their MagSafe-equipped iPhone rivals, Samsung Galaxy phones dont support magnetic accessories out of the box. That said, third-party cases can bring similar functionality to the Galaxy S24 Ultra and make it compatible with chargers, battery packs, wallets, and car mounts.



If you or the gift recipient are making the leap from an iPhone to a Samsung Galaxy and have accumulated MagSafe accessories over the years, look for a protective case thats compatible with magnetic accessories. Just keep in mind that the charging speeds youll get will almost certainly be slower. Id personally use a magnetic case for wallets and mounts.

Other Bits to Consider

The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a huge screen thats great for watching videos and gaming with an external controller. If such activities are part of your or the prospective recipients routine, look for a case with a built-in kickstand. Having the feature on board makes a huge difference.



As always, the materials used in the making of the protective case are important to consider, and so is the presence of antimicrobial qualities. Were well into the 2020s, so I suggest you watch for such features as I do.



Find the best case for your awesome new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra among these carefully scrutinized offerings. And rest assured that any of these picks doubles as a great gift for a Samsung Galaxy user you care about.

Crystal Palace Case with Kickstand

The ZAGG Crystal Palace case is our favorite for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra because its slim, tough, sustainably made, and perfect for showcasing the distinctive titanium build of the new phone. The case also has an integrated stand that makes it perfect for streaming video or gaming with an external controller on Ultras big screen. Its clear finish wont yellow over time either, and its surface prevents bacteria growth.

Graphene, a high-tech material used in electric vehicles and the aerospace industry, is the main reason why the ZAGG Crystal Palace case is slim yet uncompromisingly tough. Consider the Denali case with a kickstand from the same maker if you're looking for a solid color finish, or the ZAGG Santa Cruz if you want a colorful frame.

Shop Now Crystal Palace Case with Kickstand amazon.com $44.99

Ultra Hybrid Case

The Spigen Ultra Hybrid case is the best for protecting the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra on a tight budget. The sub-$20 case, like all products from the maker, offers design and durability that belie its price category. It consists of a clear (and tough) polycarbonate back and a frame with shock-absorbing Air Cushion corners.

Despite its impulse-buy price, the Ultra Hybrid case wont lose quality over time. You can order it in a black, beige, or clear frame color with a transparent back or in a Zero One guise, which will make your phone look transparent. The Thin Fit case from the same maker is also a great option to consider if you prefer a solid color finish.

Shop Now Ultra Hybrid Case amazon.com $16.99

Presidio2 Grip Case

The Speck Presidio2 Grip is the protective case to get if you are constantly fretting over accidentally dropping your expensive new Galaxy, especially while using it with one hand. Thanks to the makers signature inverted grips on its back, the cover makes the big phone much easier to handle on the move. Like all Speck cases, the Presidio2 Grip also offers exceptional protection against damage from drops and scratches.

Speck used 50% recycled plastic in the making of the Presidio2 Grip. Available in black, blue, and grey, every cover has been treated with Microban. The last-mentioned feature will keep the case cleaner by reducing bacteria growth on its surface.

Shop Now Presidio2 Grip Case amazon.com $39.99

Standing Grip Case

Samsung has always launched a robust selection of protective cases alongside every new Galaxy phone. The Standing Grip case is our pick in the range for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. It features a sliding strap that will make the big phone easy to handle, as well as double as a viewing stand.

When not in use, the grip integrates into the back of the silicon cover, giving it an understated look. Overall, the cover is not the toughest for the money, but its improved handling is worth it, especially for those who are constantly glued to their phone.

Shop Now Standing Grip Case amazon.com $59.99

Enzo Aramid Case

The Enzo Aramid case by Spigen successfully merges high-tech design, tough build, exceptional tactility, and excellent value. Its aramid exterior with a carbon fiber finish and contrasting metal accents defies its price tag, and so does the attention to detail applied to its suede interior. The materials and finish make the cover a fantastic bargain.

Even though its very slim, the Spigen Enzo Aramid provides excellent protection against damage from drops and scratches. The corners feature proprietary Air Cushion tech to absorb the shock caused by an accidental drop.

Shop Now Enzo Aramid Case amazon.com $35.99

Impact Ring Stand Custom Case

This Casetify case is pricier than most rivals but totally worth investing in for the infinite customization options it offers. You can make the accessory your own by adding initials in various fonts and layouts, adorn it with eclectic styles and patterns, or pick one with a print made by an artist. The many customization options also make the cover a fantastic gift option for someone who dropped big money on the latest Ultra.

You can choose between several Casetify cases before beginning the customization process, each offering a slim build, top-notch damage protection, and an eco-friendly material derived from recycled phone cases. The Impact Ring is my pick in the range because it offers superb camera protection and an integrated viewing stand.

Shop Now Impact Ring Stand Custom Case casetify.com $82.00

Symmetry Series Clear Case

The OtterBox Symmetry Series is our favorite Galaxy S24 Ultra protective case from the legendary maker. The case is remarkably slim yet capable of providing the brands signature toughness. Its construction exceeds military-grade durability standards, so your Galaxy will be highly unlikely to suffer damage from accidental drops.

Best of all, the OtterBox Symmetry Series is available in a variety of finishes  from clear to solid colors. The Commuter Series by OtterBox is a good option if you want a tougher case thats not too bulky. The Defender Series, while hefty, is the brands toughest cover.

Shop Now Symmetry Series Clear Case amazon.com $49.95

Rugged Series Case

This rugged case by Rokform is a great buy if you or the recipient plan to use your Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with magnetic mounts and accessories. Its built-in magnets are incredibly strong, guaranteeing a reliable link between your phone and your magnetic accessories. And in case your phone tumbles, the cover will reliably safeguard it from damage.

The cover has a decidedly utilitarian design with a carbon fiber-like finish. Rokfom offers a magnetic snap-on grip for the case, as well as sturdy motorcycle handlebar mounts. The last-mentioned accessories use a hardware link (the back of the case has a removable cover to access it), ensuring an even stronger hold.

Shop Now Rugged Series Case amazon.com $69.99

Plasma XTE Case

Urban Armor Gear cases have consistently been synonymous with badass looks, a tough construction that can include fancy materials like carbon fiber, kevlar, and metal, and outstanding drop protection. This years Galaxy S24 Ultra case lineup is no exception, featuring multiple offerings at various price points. The Plasma XTE is an exciting new addition that, in addition to the usual standout design, rocks a retractable kickstand that works in landscape and portrait mode.

The case has been certified to deliver military-grade drop protection, yet its impressively lightweight. For $10 more, UAG offers a Plasma XTE case with the same design thats compatible with magnetic accessories.

Shop Now Plasma XTE Case amazon.com $59.95

Pelican Voyager Case

The Pelican Voyager case will showcase the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra while providing it with uncompromising levels of damage protection. According to its maker, the cover will help the titanium-clad Galaxy withstand drops from up to 18 feet  enough to meet military-grade durability standards. Its dual-layer build with USB-C port cover will make the phone bulkier but also virtually indestructible.

We like that the Voyager case is crafted using recycled materials. Also available in black, the accessory comes bundled with a holster that doubles as a viewing stand. It has a lifetime warranty.

Shop Now Pelican Voyager Case amazon.com $59.99

Cryo Armor Case

As usual, the range-topping Samsung Galaxy S phone is also an amazing mobile gaming rig, capable of delivering local and cloud-based gameplay with incredible quality. The Spigen Cryo Armor case is tailor-made for smartphone gameplay. Its multi-layer design includes silicone and graphite layers to help the powerful phone stay cool during heavy workloads.

The case also has a textured back pattern that looks great, as well as grippy sides to ensure comfy handling in landscape mode. Like all Spigen cases, the Cryo Armor also brings reliable protection against damage. You can order the cover with blue or red accents.

Shop Now Cryo Armor Case amazon.com $25.99

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Niki Tashean interior designer at a prominent Singaporean renovation company. Known for my exceptional talent, I have a unique ability to seamlessly blend innovation and timeless aesthetics, redefining spaces with precision.



Kitchen Renovation Singapore: https://kitchenrenovationsingapore.com/



What should consumers be looking for in a sectional?

As an experienced designer, I recommend consumers prioritize versatility in a sectional. Look for modular designs that can adapt to your changing needs, providing both style and functionality. Opt for neutral colors for timeless appeal and explore space-saving features like hidden storage.

What are some red flags?

Keep an eye out for sectionals with awkward proportions or excessive bulk, as they can overwhelm a small space. Avoid overly trendy designs that might quickly go out of style. Check the quality of the upholstery; peeling or easily stained fabrics are definite red flags.

What are some FAQs you get about sectionals and how do you answer them?

Frequently asked questions include optimizing layout for small spaces and integrating sectionals with various design styles. My advice is to prioritize flow and balance, choosing sectionals that complement the existing aesthetic. For smaller rooms, consider reversible chaise options for flexibility.

What's the best and worst fabric for a sectional?

Opt for durable, stain-resistant fabrics like microfiber or performance-grade materials for longevity. Steer clear of delicate silks or velvets in high-traffic areas, as they may not withstand daily wear. Choose fabrics that align with your lifestyle, balancing comfort and practicality.

What brands and/or specific products do you recommend to your clients?

I often recommend brands like Burrow and Joybird for their customizable and compact sectional options. The Burrow Nomad Sectional is a personal favorite, offering flexibility and easy assembly. Joybird's Eliot Sectional combines style and comfort, making it an excellent choice for small spaces with a touch of sophistication.

We all want the most comfortable couch possible, but we're not all living in endlessly spacious lofts with room for extra-deep sofas. If your living space doesn't have the capacity of, say, Bruce Wayne's Batcave, perhaps you may be in the market for a cozy option. Enter the best sectionals for small spaces! Sectionals are ideal couch-chair hybrids because they add an extra seat for your dog human company.

But can you even find a nice sectional online? Of course! We first turned to the usual suspects  Wayfair, Macy's, and Amazon  and found a bevy of reviewer-approved options for apartments, dining areas, condos, and small office spaces. Next, we dove into some direct-to-consumer companies offering really great furniture for less than you'd pay in a store. Finally, we combed a couple luxury sites like Pottery Barn and West Elm to find the best of the best.

We also tapped a pro: Niki Tashe, an interior designer at a prominent Singaporean renovation company, for recommendations on what to look for, trustworthy brands, and some answers to FAQs on shopping for sectionals for small spaces. All the options below are 90"-wide or under and feature something we really love, like pillowy cushions, room to sleep, or unexpected storage.

For more of the best living room furniture ideas, check out our stories on couches under $500, the best couches from Walmart, and couch covers to protect your sofa.

Block Nomad Sofa Sectional

"I often recommend brands like Burrow and Joybird for their customizable and compact sectional options," says Tashe. "The Burrow Nomad Sectional is a personal favorite, offering flexibility and easy assembly."

Also cool about this option from Burrow? You can choose both the fabric and the leg colors, so your sectional will complement whatever furnishings you currently have in the space.

Dimensions: 85"W x 61"D x 33"H | Material: Olefin fiber weave | Colors: 5 fabric choices, 6 leg choices

Shop Now Block Nomad Sofa Sectional burrow.com $2090.00 Burrow

Kova Sofa + Ottoman

The Kova sofa and ottoman set from Albany Park is one of the pricier options on this list, but it's also the most comfortable. When assembled, the sectional is wide enough for someone to lay either way without their feet dangling off. Reviewers praise the color choices, quality, and ease of delivery and assembly from this family-founded company.

Dimensions: 84"W x 65"D x 31"H | Material: Polyester | Colors: 13

Shop Now Kova Sofa + Ottoman albanypark.com $1524.00 Albany Park

The Essential Loveseat Sectional

Looking for something really small? Consider going the loveseat route. This one, from sustainability-focused brand Sabai Design, is just over five feet wide. The loveseat features two cushions  rather than the three usually included in a sectional  so it may even be too small for some. The piece is made to order and may take up to five weeks to arrive, but reviewers agree the quality fabric is worth the wait.

"I had my nieces over recently and it felt so nice not to worry about them on my white couch," gushes one review. "There were dirty footprints and chocolate smears all over it but its currently as clean and white as the day it arrived!"

Dimensions: 62"W x 61"D x 25.5"H | Material: Recycled velvet or upcycled polyester | Colors: 13 fabric choices, 3 leg choices

Shop Now The Essential Loveseat Sectional sabai.design $1695.00 Sabai Design

Arzelia Reversible Corner Sectional

Got kids? This corduroy sectional is as durable as they come! The foam-filled cushions are removable and easy to vacuum, while the fabric still looks expensive. It's hard to find a sofa on Wayfair with reviews as consistently positive as this one. Buyers say it's soft, comfortable, and "nap-worthy." A couple even say they agonized for weeks over buying a couch and were so happy to have gotten this one.

Dimensions: 89"W x 67.5"D x 34"H | Material: Corduroy | Colors: 4

Shop Now Arzelia Reversible Corner Sectional wayfair.com $829.99 Wade Logan

Kehlani Reversible Sofa & Chaise

Thousands of reviews agree: Winston Porter's Kehlani sectional is a great purchase. The reversible set features a solid wood frame, removable cushions, and comfortably seats three for movie night. Some assembly is required, but buyers say it's an easy affair. While it's in the mid-range for price, many say it's the perfect starter couch for an apartment or studio. (Depending on where you live, this can also be delivered in under five days!)

Dimensions: 74"W x 59"D x 36"H | Material: Polyester | Colors: 1

Shop Now Kehlani Reversible Sofa & Chaise wayfair.com $859.99 Winston Porter

Manusite Modular Sectional With Storage

If you're in the market for a small sectional, chances are good that you're also into maximizing the space you have. Kill two birds with one stone with this Latitude Run sectional, which features seats that lift up to reveal storage. The design means the cushions are a bit on the firmer side, but they're still comfortable. Because this is part of a modular set, you can buy multiple pieces and make the sectional bigger as you grow into a larger space.

Dimensions: 87"W x 56"D x 34"H | Material: Polyester | Colors: 3

Shop Now Manusite Modular Sectional With Storage wayfair.com $1100.00 Latitude Run

Ashland Reversible Sofa & Chaise

Gold Sparrow's beloved sectional will add a touch of modern flair to any apartment, especially if you get it in one of the three jewel tones (honey, denim, or mint). With a seating capacity of up to four people, you can even host game night! As with all reversible models, the ottoman can go on the left or right side. (Or middle? Get crazy.)

Dimensions: 82"W x 61"D x 34.5"H | Material: Polyester | Colors: 5

Shop Now Ashland Reversible Sofa & Chaise wayfair.com $562.78 Gold Sparrow

Ondina Faux Leather Bench

Shopping for an office space? Wade Logan's Ondina bench would be right at home in a waiting room. The professional-looking model comes in black or creamy white faux leather with black or chrome legs. Several reviewers have this in their dining area and comment that messes easily wipe off  a rare perk for a white option!

Dimensions: 70"W x 50.5"D x 33.5"H | Material: Faux leather | Colors: 2

Shop Now Ondina Faux Leather Bench wayfair.com $1139.99 Wade Logan

Lidia Reversible Chaise Sectional

Macy's has long been a reliable option for furniture when you don't have time to go product-testing in person, and this sectional is a safe bet. Reviewers note that the cushions are on the firm side, but do soften up with time. People love the true-to-photo colors and as one happy customer sums up: "Perfect price. Perfect quality. Perfect color."

Dimensions: 82''W x 63''D x 32''H | Material: Polyester microfiber | Colors: 18

Shop Now Lidia Reversible Chaise Sectional macys.com $1079.10 Macy's

Jadison Fabric Sectional with Reversible Chaise

Implement a pop of color into your small space with the Jadison sectional. It's the longest sectional on our list, but it looks extremely sleek. Buyers say this is an excellent couch for the money  especially because it seems to always be on sale  and love the seamless delivery. It's also part of a larger set, in the case that you have room for a matching chair and ottoman.

Dimensions: 90"W x 63"D x 31"H | Material: Polyester | Colors: 1

Shop Now Jadison Fabric Sectional with Reversible Chaise macys.com $647.09 Macy's

Velvet Convertible Sectional Sofa

How is this fabulous couch less than $500?! HONBAY's pet-friendly couch has promising reviews on Amazon, with multiple buyers citing the easy assembly and surprising sturdiness of the sofa. At 76 inches wide, it falls squarely in the middle of our size range, making it the ideal choice for a living room or bedroom.

Dimensions: 76"W x 56"D x 32"H | Material: Velvet | Colors: 4

Shop Now Velvet Convertible Sectional Sofa amazon.com $469.99 Honbay

Small Sectional with Side Storage Pockets

With its strong wooden frame and cushions boasting "medium firmness," this affordable couch easily seats up to four people. Added benefits include storage space in the ottoman, a side pocket with storage space  perfect for a magazines, a remote, or Kindle!  and fast shipping. Reviewers say despite the heavy pieces, assembly took less than an hour.

Dimensions: 78"W x 52"D x 31"H | Material: Linen | Colors: 3

Shop Now Small Sectional with Side Storage Pockets amazon.com $299.99 Generic

Upholstered Sectional Sofa

This sectional, from Amazon favorite brand Best Choice Products, comes in eight different shades of linen. Despite the low price point, reviewers were impressed by the quality of the fabric. While the cushions were initially too firm for some, many people noted that they became fluffier after several weeks of use.

"I purchased this for a friends apartment and even spent a week sleeping on it," reads one review. "Fantastic! Very suitable for small rooms or apartments. Perfect size. Highly recommend!"

Dimensions: 78"W x 52"D x 34"H | Material: Linen | Colors: 8

Shop Now Upholstered Sectional Sofa amazon.com $399.99 Best Choice Products

Pacifica Reversible Sectional

You've moved into your forever home and want to invest in some grownup furniture, eh? Pottery Barn has you covered with its customizable Pacifica model. There are 34 fabric choices  you can even order swatches to test them out in your home  25 of which are classified as pet-friendly. Though you wouldn't be able to tell at first glance, this sectional also comes equipped with storage under the cushions. If you're concerned about assembly, you can opt for White Glove Service, which ensures the couch is put together properly.

Dimensions: 79.5"W x 59"D x 33.5"H | Material: Various | Colors: 34

Shop Now Pacifica Reversible Sectional potterybarn.com $1399.00 Pottery Barn

Shelter Motion Reclining Chaise Sectional

West Elm's Shelter Motion sectional has the biggest price tag on our list, but it also comes with the best feature: a power-recliner. The couch is a mere 70 inches wide but comfortably fits two for TV time because one side slides up, allowing you to lay down. Unlike a traditional recliner, the seat doesn't require more space behind it when the footrest comes up, so it can be placed flush against a wall.

Dimensions: 70"W x 67.75"D x 30.75"H | Material: Various | Colors: 31

Shop Now Shelter Motion Reclining Chaise Sectional westelm.com $2396.00 West Elm

What to look for in sectionals for small spaces

 Consider how the sectional will look in your space: "I recommend consumers prioritize versatility in a sectional," says Tashe. "Look for modular designs that can adapt to your changing needs, providing both style and functionality. Opt for neutral colors for timeless appeal and explore space-saving features like hidden storage."



 Choosing the right fabric is key: "Opt for durable, stain-resistant fabrics like microfiber or performance-grade materials for longevity. Steer clear of delicate silks or velvets in high-traffic areas, as they may not withstand daily wear. Choose fabrics that align with your lifestyle, balancing comfort and practicality."

 Avoid red flags: "Keep an eye out for sectionals with awkward proportions or excessive bulk, as they can overwhelm a small space. Avoid overly trendy designs that might quickly go out of style. Check the quality of the upholstery; peeling or easily stained fabrics are definite red flags."

Hearst Owned

FAQ

What is a reversible sectional?

Some sectionals come as one solid piece where the elongated side is built into the frame of the couch. Reversible sectionals, however, are composed of two units: a sofa and an unattached ottoman that can be placed on either the right or left side, depending on the room's layout and your preference.

How much do sectionals cost?

When shopping for a sectional, even a small one, plan to spend at least $300. As with any piece of furniture, you adjust your budget depending on your bank account; sturdy sofas with durable fabric delivered with White Glove Service will run ten times that amount.

Do I need to go to a furniture store to find a good sectional?

Absolutely not. We, and the thousands of online reviewers, have done the testing for you! However, if you do feel like you need to sit on a sectional to get a feel for the cushions yourself, go right ahead.

Do sectionals come with pillows?

Most don't. Plan a trip to HomeGoods to find some splashy pillows that will complement your new sofa!

Hearst Owned

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Recently, I rounded up some entry-level jobs that helped set people up for lucrative careers. In the comments, other members of the BuzzFeed Community suggested more jobs that many people probably wouldn't think of.

So here are 15 entry-level jobs you probably haven't considered but should:

1."If you're interested in the medical field (nurse, respiratory therapist, clinical lab, doctor, physician assistant, etc.), become either a phlebotomist or a certified nursing assistant. Many hospitals and clinics will train you on the job, and you make pretty decent money (at least $15 an hour at hospitals). This gives you a chance to decide if this is what you want to do."

Er Productions Ltd. / Getty Images

"If it is, GREAT! Many of these organizations have great tuition reimbursement programs and discounts for local colleges. Nursing (RN/LPN) can be done at a local community college, along with clinical laboratory technology, respiratory therapy, physical therapy assistant, etc.

"You can start with an associate degree and then get a bachelor's at a slower, more financially manageable pace with help from your employer. If you want to do the MD/PA route, you'll have INCREDIBLY valuable experience to take with you. If you keep your certification up while you're in school, you'll also have a guaranteed income if times get tight.

"If you don't want to continue on the patient care side, you can still leverage that into an HR, registration, non-patient-facing career and still make good money with great benefits."

buttercreamandsugarplums

2."Another one you may not think of is hotel front desk agent. I started as one, and you touch every area of the hotel's operations. If you work in a larger hotel, you can make up to 10% of every upsell. In Washington, DC, front desk workers can make upward of $70,000 a year if they're good salespeople."

Disney Channel / Disney+

"Every general manager started or worked at the front desk. It's the greatest entry into a hotel career. I've personally been promoted three times in two years. If you have the ability and customer service skills, you can make tons, and it's an amazing field."

mroskosky1212

3."Substitute teaching is an easy job to get, especially if you're in college and can only work part time."

"In Florida, Kelly Education requires an associate degree/60-plus credits and a clean background check and drug test. Technically, I still work there, but I'm looking for a more permanent job now that I've graduated.

"But you can choose when you work and what schools and teachers you sub for. And the pay isn't terrible."

smokeyandvv

4."I never see trades in this type of list. Most trades, you start as an apprentice and get paid while you learn. Some, like electricians and plumbers, pay extremely well."

"But even bricklayers make good money with very little training."

Uncommonly Jane

5."Get a job at the post office. The first year is brutal; you work six-day (during the holidays, seven-day) weeks and 12-hour shifts, but the pay is very good, and anything over 40 hours is time and a half. The benefits are government-job level, so the best you can get in the US. Once you get your own route, it calms down and is a pretty good gig. It's union, so there are benefits and protection; you're not going to be fired for getting sick or injured."

Sony Pictures Releasing / Via youtube.com

"And unlike Amazon, they can't require you not to take breaks and ridiculous stuff like that. If you have the stamina and physical ability and can put up with the monotony of a sorting and delivery job, you can't beat a job with the post office.

"My uncle retired from the post office, and a good friend works there now. They both say it's not an easy job, but it can set you up in a good career and for early or reasonable retirement."

toastygod

6."Payroll  if you have good data entry, attention to detail, and basic math skills. Plenty of opportunity to move up. Everyone has to get paid!"

tuffyrama

Prapass Pulsub / Getty Images

7."Driving a school bus. I started driving four years ago. I worked my butt off doing extra field trips, helping cover routes, etc. Anything that was needed, I did. I'm now working in school transportation as a professional assistant and training for a supervisor position."

"We've had drivers work their way all the way from bus driver to executive director of transportation."

ashleyvictoriab

8."With no college degree, I got a file clerk job at a law firm and worked my way up to legal assistant. I was there nine years, and it gave me the footing to jump into event production (the ability to work under pressure, communicate with clarity, and ensure that contracts are legit translated VERY well to events), and I love my life!"

Cat Mom

Goodboy Picture Co. / Getty Images

9."If you work as a legal administrative professional or paralegal for the office of the general counsel in a corporation, you can transition easily to a contracts administrator. Contracts professionals (at least in the area I live) make a lot more than legal admins  you can easily be earning six figures within five to six years."

USA Network / Via youtube.com

"The work can be stressful (you're sometimes seen within the company as a roadblock for them being able to record revenue), but you perform a vital function of trying to mitigate risk, should things go awry during contract performance. Many companies also allow contract admins to work remote full time or part time."

typeo

10."There's a shortage of certified court reporters right now. That's another way into the legal industry."

halfmanhalfshark

11."I was able to start at a fashion company inputting their orders, and I ended up designing shoes for them in less than two years."

Fiona

20th Century Fox / Via youtube.com

12."I clean houses, and honestly, its great. I get a workout and listen to music or a podcast. There's no coworker drama or office politics, I can choose who I want to clean for, and I work part-time hours but make the same amount I was making when I worked 40 hours a week at an office job."

lucyintheskywithdiamonds3985

13."I work as a correctional officer at a federal prison. It's a very progressive prison where we try to help get the inmates back on their feet. We have programs for EVERYTHING  even programs to help inmates accept their sexuality and transitioning. Many of our jobs here are entry level."

"BTW, I believe private prisons should be banned. I work in a prison because I am trying to help make changes from the inside out."

pepper314

14."Being a broker. Most big firms will pay for you to get your licenses in training, and you can grow into so many different areas of the business, even if you just start off in client services."

emilysorrells3

Nitat Termmee / Getty Images

15.And finally: "You can get in the door via the call center for most financial services companies. Look for where you service the financial advisers rather than the clients, as the financial advisers are held to a code of conduct and are generally grateful for someone to help them. You can then take a multitude of courses and be eligible for other, better jobs within a few years."

Blue green

Channel 4 / Via youtube.com

Which entry-level job do you think is severely underrated? Why? Share your answers in the comments!

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



If your New Years resolution is to read more, a reading light can help you in many ways. Sure, you can read a book or Kindle next to a lamp or overhead light. But book lights offer the benefit of better illuminating text through closer proximity. Some can even block or filter harmful blue light, producing amber, yellow-tinted light that absorbs blue light pigments. That, in turn, can lead to better sleep if you enjoy reading before bed.

Theres a wide array of reading lights, from gooseneck clip-ons to wearable models you wrap around your neck. Read on for aspects to keep in mind when shopping for your first or next reading lightwith pointers from a registered ophthalmologistthen scroll down for our reviews of the best.

The Best Reading Lights

What to Consider

Design and Adjustability

Connecticut-based, board-certified ophthalmologist and retinal specialist Jerry Tsong, M.D. at Greenwich Ophthalmology, says that your reading light should be bendable and directly point at the words youre reading. This is why a dedicated light is better than a table lamp, which filters and diffuses light over a large area. The best kinds of reading lights for that direct beam are those that can clip on to the page or device youre reading from and those that you can hang around your neck.

Tsong says that the best reading lights also have settings for adjusting brightness. Because many clip-on lights sit near whatever youre reading from, they also dont have to be as bright. Adjusting the proximity of a reading light to text is important, too, as every reader has their preference for how much light they need without straining their eyes or how much light they need on a particular section of a page. Many of the best reading lights also feature color temperature settings that provide warm and cool options.

Avoid reading lights that dont adjust or have a variety of settings. An adjustable light offers (literal) flexibility in various situations, especially when swapping between an e-reader, book, and magazine. You wont save much money by buying an inflexible model either; the cost doesnt vary much from flexible options.

Blue Light

If you have issues with eye strain from screens and technology, find a reading light that doesnt emit blue light. Exposure to blue light, especially at night before bedtime, can disrupt our natural circadian rhythm, which regulates our sleep cycle, explains Tsong. So for many people, exposure to blue light makes it harder to fall asleep.

Many brands indicate whether their lights are blue light blocking in the product details or on the packaging. If youre trying to avoid blue light, look for reading lights with an amber light or an amber light setting, which, as we mentioned, absorbs blue light pigments.

Power

Most reading lights recharge via USB or rely on a small 3V coin cell battery typically used in remote controls and quartz watches. 3Vs are inexpensive and generally last between 3 and 5 years before needing replacement.

Types of Light Bulbs

LED bulbs are the best suited for portable reading lights, says Tsong. They are lightweight, consume much less energy, and dont emit any heat. Tsong adds that many reading lights with LEDs dont produce any blue light of their own.

Other bulb types include incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, and compact fluorescent, but LEDs are the most common. Theyre the priciest, but also the most reliable, with a longer life span and less energy usage.

The number of lumens (indicating visible light or brightness) reading lights have varies, though they usually range from 16 to 60. The higher an indicated lumens, the brighter the light.

How We Selected

To find the best reading lights, we spoke with board-certified ophthalmologist Tsong about what to look for with regard to bulb types, directionality, and adjustability. We ruled out any lights that dont offer various brightness settings, as they dont have much versatility between reading mediums. Also, we only considered reading lights that are easily adjustable and have LEDs, per Tsongs insight.

Furthermore, we conducted online research to see what other experts, guides, and consumer review publicationsincluding Gear Lab, Wirecutter and ZDNETrecommend. Lastly, we considered what customers had to say in their reviews about each product before making our final selections.

Looking for more reading recommendations to make use of your new light? Check out our picks for the best gifts for books lovers, books about scientists, and survival books.

USB-Rechargeable Book Light

This clip-on reading light is a sturdy mix of ample adjustability and small size. It has five brightness settings and three light temperature settingsa warm amber mode, a cooler breeze mode, and a bright precise modethat you can toggle between. And, since its so tiny, weighing less than an egg, you can pack it for traveling. In fact, Tsong recommends and owns two of these.

This Glucosent is rechargeable via a standard USB-A port (another bonus for travel: no disposable batteries) and provides between 9 and 80 hours of light, depending on the setting. However, several online customers say the light has sometimes taken a long time to charge.

It has impressive adjustability given its solid design, too; both the main arm and the light housing at the end of that arm tilt up and down. Plus, the housing rotates so you can direct the light if its off-center of what youre reading.

Shop Now USB-Rechargeable Book Light amazon.com $15.99

Amber Rechargeable 7 LED Eye-Care Book Light

Tsong recommends Vekkias Rechargeable book light as a flexible option. Its gooseneck can rotate 360 degrees, and its pliable yet durable enough that you can fold it over if you want to stuff the light into a backpack while traveling.

Although this is on the bigger side, Tsong notes that its powerful enough to light up an entire page instead of only a portion of it. This Vekkia is available in three colors (black, blue, and white) and has three brightness levels (30, 50, and 100 percent) that can provide up to 70 hours of light.

Shop Now Amber Rechargeable 7 LED Eye-Care Book Light amazon.com $15.99

LED Neck Reading Light

This neck-mounted light provides two beams for a doubly bright reading experience if you need it. And since it sits around your neck like a necklace, you can adjust the arms independently according to your fit and lighting preferences. Say youre reading in bed and dont want to bother anyone sleeping next to you; the stalks bend up to 90 degrees to keep the light focused on the page and away from their eyes. The three color temperature modesa cool white, a warm yellow, and a warm whiteand blue light filter further boost the adjustability.

Unlike other rechargeable reading lights, this one uses USB Type-C, making it a modern choice. Glucosent claims it provides up to 80 hours of light on a single charge, too. One con: There isnt a lock to prevent the light from powering on. So if you pack it away in a bag and something hits the power button, turning it on, you could pull it out to find the battery is dead.

Shop Now LED Neck Reading Light amazon.com $21.99

USB-Rechargeable Book Reading Light

Dewenwils made this light easy to turn on by pressing its lone power button. And it even folds down to serve as a bookmark when not in use. Another feature that makes it great for kids: The body of the light detaches from the clip to reveal the USB-A port, which they can plug directly into an adapter in an outlet. That means there are no additional charging wires necessary. Some users say its runtime is less than the claimed 8 hours claimed, however.

This light has three brightness levels (30, 60, and 100 percent), keeping words illuminated and eyes relaxed. You also wont have to worry about your children receiving additional blue light, as it claims to block out 99.95 percent of it, which can be especially beneficial when reading those bedtime stories.



Shop Now USB-Rechargeable Book Reading Light amazon.com $8.99

Amber Rechargeable Reading Light

This rechargeable reading light offers nine brightness levels and nine color temperatures, lending it the versatility to match the preferences of various readers. One of its most prominent features is its power indicator light located near its charging porta quick glance can tell you whether or not you have to worry about it dying mid-read. This LED is an especially good choice if youre trying to steer clear of blue light, as it blocks it with its amber light.

Whether you clip this reading light onto your Kindle, paperback, or hardcover book, youll be pleasantly surprised by its strong grip. Some reviews say its lowest setting is too bright, however, so be mindful of others when youre reading with this device.

Shop Now Amber Rechargeable Reading Light amazon.com $9.99

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Consumer Reports wrote a letter to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today to express their serious safety concerns with Fisher-Prices infant-to-toddler rockers. They then urged the commission to push for a recall as quickly as possible.

When reviewing SaferProducts.gov  a site where consumers can research safety information about products and submit their own problems and concerns  Consumer Reports found a fatality linked to the rockers. In Nov. 2023, an infant died after she was reportedly placed in a rocker while asleep and later found on her stomach, face to the side.

More from SheKnows

This tragic incident and the subsequent letter comes nearly two years after Fisher-Price and the CPSC issued a warning in June 2022 advising caregivers to never use the Infant-to-Toddler Rocker nor the Newborn-to-Toddler Rocker for sleep. The reminder came after at least 13 infant deaths were linked to the products between 2009 and 2021.

Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker (left and center), Fisher-Price Newborn-to-Toddler Rocker (right); courtesy of CPSC.gov

It is heartbreaking to learn that a Fisher-Price infant rocker is tied to yet another infant death, Orienne Shin, policy counsel for Consumer Reports said in a statement. Mattel and Fisher-Price have utterly failed to protect the babies and families who rely on their products, and the consequences are devastating. Fisher-Price must recall these rockers to get as many of them as possible out of peoples homes.

In 2019, Fisher-Price issued a recall of their Rock n Play Sleeper after it was linked to 30 infant fatalities. In Jan. 2023, the CPSC reissued the recall announcement, sharing that approximately 70 additional fatalities were reported since the recall  eight of which happened after the original announcement.

At the time of the recall in 2019, Fisher-Prices general manager Chuck Scothon said in a statement, With these actions, we want parents around the world to know that safety will always be a cornerstone of our mission, that we are committed to these values, and will continue to prioritize the health, safety and well-being of the infants and preschoolers who utilize our products.

Mattel and Fisher-Price have not responded to SheKnows request for comment on if consumers can expect a recall.

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Heres something you can add to the list of things that Elon Musk will complain about loudly and frequently on his social media platform X.

A Delaware judge voided the billionaires Tesla pay package on Tuesday, reports The New York Times. The judge found the package, which has helped make the executive one of the richest humans in history, to be excessive and now wants Musk to return the unnecessary pay.

More from Robb Report

The unexpected ruling is a result of a lawsuit from Tesla shareholders. In 2018, Musk and the Tesla board devised a package consisting of lucrative stock options if the company achieved certain revenue, profit, and sharing goals, according to the paper. This would allow Musk to acquire around 304 million Tesla at a preset price of $23.34 if they were met. They were, which meant the executive was due $51.1 billion worth of stock (as of the end of trading on Tuesday), which was issued in 12 separate grants tied to a specific goal. As part of the agreement, Musk would have to hold onto the stock for at least five years.

Tesla shareholders challenged this package, and, on Tuesday, Chancellor Kathaleen St. J. McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery sided with them. The judge found that the companys eight-person board included several people close to Musk, including his brother Kimbral, who owed much of their wealth to the executive, effectively allowing him to dictate the terms. She noted that the package was not necessary to retain or motivate Musk, since he already owned tens of billions of dollars worth of Tesla stock, and that the information given to shareholders when they voted to approve the plan was materially deficient.

The process leading to the approval of Musks compensation plan was deeply flawed, Chancellor McCormick said.

Musk has since posted on X that you should Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware, and shared screenshots of a Wall Street Journal op-ed titled Delaware Is Trying to Drive Away Corporations. Tesla, meanwhile, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The EV maker disbanded its media relations team back in the fall of 2020.

Because of the ruling, which will certainly be appealed, Musks shares will be canceled, according to a lawyer for the shareholders. This will reduce both his personal fortune, which currently stands at $181.4 billion, and his stake in Tesla, which currently stands at 13 percent after he sold shares to fund the acquisition of X back when it was still known as Twitter.

In light of the ruling, it will be interesting to see how the board now responds to Musks claim last month that he needs to own 25 percent of Tesla to expand its AI efforts. If he didnt, he said he would prefer to develop such projects outside the company.

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Google has today said its cloud region in South Africa is operational, coming a year after the tech giant picked Johannesburg as its first site in Africa.

Cloud regions allow users to deploy cloud resources from specific geographic locations or closer to customers, and gives them access to several services including cloud storage, compute engine and key management systems.

Google says the Johannesburg region will play an important role in providing the resources that businesses need to scale, innovate and compete in the global marketplace.

Today's announcement follows the 2022 proclamation where Google also confirmed building Dedicated Cloud Interconnect sites, which link users on-premises networks with Googles grid, in Nairobi (Kenya), Lagos (Nigeria) and South Africa (Capetown and Johannesburg), to provide full-scale cloud capabilities for its customers and partners in Africa. It said it would tap its now completed private subsea cable, Equiano, which connects Africa and Europe to power the sites.

Like all Google Cloud regions, the Johannesburg region is connected to Googles secure network, comprising a system of high-capacity fiber optic cables under land and sea around the world. This includes the recently-completed Equiano subsea cable system that connects Portugal with Togo, Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, and St. Helena, Google Cloud Africa director, Niral Patel said in a statement today.

According to AlphaBeta Economics research, commissioned by Google Cloud, the South Africa cloud region is expected to contribute over $2.1 billion to South Africas GDP, and support the creation of more than 40,000 jobs by 2030.

Besides, Patel said in 2022, the cloud region would allow its customers and partners to choose where to store their data, and regions to access its cloud services, especially in the context of data sovereignty.

The ability for users to choose where to store their data is increasingly critical as countries like Kenya implement privacy and data laws that require companies to store and process data collected within their borders using locally hosted servers.

Google, which now has a global network of 40 cloud regions and 106 zones worldwide, joins Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Oracle amongst others with cloud regions in South Africa.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is developing an action plan to aid beleaguered domestic textile manufacturers.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas met with members of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) virtually on Tuesday to discuss the impacts of illegal foreign influence on the countrys textile producers, including factory closures and loss of business.

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American textile makers of varying sizes that support the supply chains for apparel, home goods and furniture, industrial applications and personal protective equipment (PPE) were present at the meeting. They spoke to the blows the industry has endured as a result of violations of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) and the free flow of cheap goods facilitated by the de minimis shipment exception.

As a result of their testimony, Secretary Mayorkas has enlisted U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and other agencies and offices within DHS to accelerate enforcement of illegal customs practices. He directed the agencies to develop a comprehensive enforcement action plan within 30 days, including a determination of whether current trade legislation provides sufficient recourse for the resolution of these issues.

DHS will use all the tools at its disposal, including identifying suspicious transshipment practices, publicly identifying bad actors, isotopic testing, random parcel inspections, and other law enforcement efforts, in order to protect the integrity of our markets, hold perpetrators accountable, and safeguard the American textile industry, Secretary Mayorkas said Tuesday.

According to DHS, CBP has already stepped up its efforts to root out shipments that violate U.S. trade law. The agency relies primarily on physical inspection, textile production verification visits and audits. It also tests and analyzes products in its laboratory, and has increased its ability to perform isotopic testing on imports under suspicion of being made with forced labor.

Meanwhile, HSI investigates allegations of labor exploitation with the goal of identifying employers involved in criminal activity and worker rights violations. DHS, which is chair of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, works with other agencies as well as the private sector to build out the UFLPA Entity List.

NCTO president and CEO Kim Glas told Sourcing Journal the meeting was an opportunity for its members to speak to the economic destruction facing the U.S. textile industry.

The attendees emphasized the conditions within local communities where textile manufacturing is a key economic driver. We have lost eight [textile] plants in the matter of three months, she said. There are certain activities that the administration can take immediately to help stem this tide.

According to Glas, there is a strong contingency of Republicans, Democrats and industry leaders calling for stepped-up free-trade agreement (FTA) enforcement, penalties for UFLPA violations and de minimis reform.

De minimis is killing our industry, and its killing our Western Hemisphere Free Trade Agreement partners, Glas said. Trade partners across the Americas are also contending with significant demand destruction as more small offshore shipments make their way into the U.S.

Half of the de minimis shipments are estimated to be textile and apparel products, the NCTO lead added. The trade loophole has facilitated the meteoric rise of Shein and Temu, which have been rewarded with duty-free trade regardless of where their products are made, what theyre made with who theyre made by. NCTO has argued that the law has helped China-based exporters evade UFLPA enforcement.

NCTO members hope to see public-facing actions like enhanced enforcement and civil and criminal penalties for bad actors, as well as greater behind-the-scenes efforts to catch violators, including more isotopic testing and site inspections.

Glas was buoyed by Secretary Mayorkas response to the meeting and his promise of swift remediation. He understands the seriousness of these issues and the gravity of the situation facing the U.S. textile industry, and committed to us that he would implement an immediate action plan.
Multiple Target employees were fired after they bought limited edition cups from the exclusive Starbucks x Stanley collaboration.

Seven Target workers from across the US revealed to Business Insider that store leadership - which included human resources and asset-protection representatives - fired them based on the grounds of a company policy that prohibits employees from using their jobs to gain an unfair advantage over guests to purchase store merchandise.

One of them, Catherine Carter - who had worked at a Target store near the Miami area for almost 19 years - was fired after purchasing one of the collaborations coveted cups. In her entire time at Target, Carter had been a model employee, she added that she had never been written up, never called out, never been late.

She recalled that while on a break on 3 January, she was stopped by one of the Starbucks baristas, who asked her if she wanted to buy one of the Starbucks x Stanley Cups. The pink stainless steel insulated cups were retailed at $49.95.

My mama passed from breast cancer, so I always try to get as much pink as I can, she told the outlet, noting that at the time, her managers were there and didnt inform her that she was doing anything wrong.

Ordinarily, the company policy that led Carter and other employees to be fired, concerned high-demand or limited-stock items and deals that always sold out like PlayStation consoles. However, the outlet confirmed that none of the seven former employees could recall the policy ever leading to termination of employment.

When they were informed of the issue, they reportedly offered to return the cups, but their offers were declined at the time. The employees said that the investigation into the purchase of the exclusive Stanley Cups didnt come from within the store but from Targets corporate offices.

According to their company policy, Target is an at-will employer, which means that the corporation can fire an employee at any time they see fit for whichever reason.

The workers who spoke to Business Insider noted that they hadnt even known about the company policy until their termination, and were not informed that the purchase of the exclusive Stanley Cup would result in a violation.

I just dont think theyre doing right, Carter criticised the company. I mean, for a cup. Come on, a cup.

Two workers told the outlet they had purchased a cup that was improperly set aside by a colleague, while another two said they bought cups that hadnt been properly returned to the correct location on the sales floor after online orders were cancelled. Another person besides Carter noted that their managers had been okay with the purchases.

Each of the seven workers knew they were one of several employees at their stores who had been fired over the cups, and some of them allegedly said they knew of multiple workers at other stores getting fired over the Stanley Cups. Target employs over 400,000 people across nearly 2,000 stores in the US.
Aircrafts of the Mexican airline Aeromexico are seen at the Mexico City international airport, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007. | Iyari Tirado Burnat, Associated Press

A man was taken into custody after walking out of an emergency exit door and onto the wing of an Aeromexico airplane Thursday.

Passengers of the flight are defending the man, claiming the mans actions saved them from dangerous conditions.

The Associated Press reported that the airport said in a statement that a passenger on a flight to Guatemala opened an emergency door on a plane while it was stationary at a remote position, stood on a wing, and then re-entered the cabin, without affecting the aircraft or anyone else.

A social media post on X showed that the passengers of the flight wrote a letter that detailed they were kept on the tarmac for hours without proper ventilation or water during a flight delay.

The plane bound for Guatemala was parked and waiting for takeoff at the Mexico City International Airport on Thursday, when a passenger who no longer wanted to wait left the plane and then returned to the cabin without affecting the aircraft or anyone else, according to the New York Post.

Following the deplaning of the passengers on the flight, the man reportedly turned himself in to the police.

In the letter, which was translated by USA Today, the passengers further wrote, The delay and lack of air created conditions that endangered the health of the passengers. He saved our lives.

The 77 passengers who signed the statement reportedly attributed the outburst as a way to protect everyone, with the support of everyone.

Business Insider reported that an incident report obtained by AP read, The passengers were unhappy and one of them opened the emergency door and stepped out on the wing.

The report continued that the maintenance alert that went off during the delay required the planes captain to return to the gate, which required the plane to be changed.
Dreaming of moving to Germany from the U.S.? Whether youre hoping to take the next step in your career, meet the love of your life, or just get a fresh start in a new place, making a big international move can be an appealing option. But moving abroad can also be complicated, and you likely have a few questions about how exactly to make it happen. As you brush up on your German language skills, heres what to keep in mind as you consider this big move.

Can a U.S. citizen live in Germany?

Americans can visit Germany for up to 90 days without a visa, as long as they have a valid passport. But after that, youll need to obtain a residence permit and check in at the local registration office within a week of arriving in the country, according to the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Germany.

If you know you ultimately want to live in Germany longer-term, you can apply for a residence permit before you fly across the Atlantic by visiting the Germany Embassy in Washington, D.C., or a German Consulate in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, or San Francisco. Or, if youd rather, you can also wait until you get to Germany to do so  its up to you.

Youll need this residence permit no matter what you choose to do while living in Germany, whether thats finding a job or enrolling at a college or university.

What do I need to know before moving to Germany?

Brush up on your German . Sure, you can probably get by speaking English for a little while, especially in metropolitan areas like Berlin and Frankfurt. But if you plan to stay in the country long-term (or if you hope to move to a more rural area), youll definitely want to master the German language. The country even has a special language acquisition visa for visitors who enroll in intensive language programs.

Bring your cold-weather gear . The weather in Germany varies depending on where you settle. But, because of its latitude, German winters can be brutal, especially compared to warm-weather locales like Texas and Florida, says Nicholas McMillan, a real estate broker based in Westchester County, New York. As you start packing, remember to bring along your cold-weather gear. And, if you are moving to Germany from a place with a mild climate, youll want to factor cold-weather apparel into your moving budget.

Save up. On the topic of money, its a good idea to pad your savings account before making a big move like this. Eric Bramlett, a real estate broker based in Austin, Texas, recommends saving up enough to cover six months worth of living expenses, just to be safe. An international relocation is a big change, but with the right preparation it will open up new opportunities for you and your family, he says.

Can I move to Germany without a job?

Yes, you can move to Germany without a job  and the country even has a special six-month job seeker visa for those who are looking for work.

That said, youll need to come up with a long-term plan for what you hope to eventually do while living in Germany, because you cant extend the job-seeker visa. For example, Germany has a self-employment visa if you want to freelance, a student visa if you plan to enroll in school, a research visa, a vocational training visa, and even a special visa for IT specialists, to name a few.

Also, be sure to spend some time researching Germanys employment rules. The nation has strict policies about jobs and, depending on the visa youre going for, youll likely need to apply to have your professional qualifications or your university degree recognized.
After a year living in the South Pacific, a place where you fly between islands by prop plane, my young son eyed our homebound Air New Zealand jumbo jet with some trepidation. How can that fly? he asked. Its got no propellers. A good question and one, I think, that would confound most of the non-technically minded among us.

Once, of course, the prop plane was king. The Wright Brothers 1903 Wright Flyer was the first aircraft to make major use of propellers, after which they quickly became a stalwart in aviation design. But then, in the mid-20th century, along came the jet plane  and just as seaplanes became unnecessary after long runways were created during the Second World War, the slower, noisier prop plane was soon ousted in favour of the cheaper and faster jet.

But thats not the end of the story. The jet plane may have taken over as king of the skies, relegating prop planes to a rarity in the contemporary western world, but as with so many relics of the past  steam trains perhaps chief among them  the prop plane nonetheless retains a special allure. It conjures adventure, the early days of flight, a romance and nostalgia for a time when boarding a plane was no everyday event. They may have been ousted from mainstream aviation, but theyve retained their hold on many a travellers heart  and now, it seems theyre ripe for a comeback.

Certainly, my heart gave a small leap of joy when I looked out of the window of Gate 7 at Stansted Airport and saw that one awaited to fly me to the Dolomites. A prop plane from a London airport? Who had ever heard of such a thing? But there it was: bright and shiny as a new pin and rather different from the prop planes Id come to love in the South Pacific. The propellers had much longer blades and the plane itself looked much sleeker. It was, I discovered, a De Havilland Canada DASH-8 Q-400. The Q stands for quiet: this new generation of prop plane has a sophisticated system designed to reduce the noise both for passengers inside the plane and, during take-off and landing, for those around the airport. A welcome development.

Anna flew from Stansted Airport to the Dolomites in a prop plane - freddy planinschek

And its not just quiet, its fuel efficient, too, with up to 50 per cent savings in emissions compared to equivalent regional jets. Prop planes also once struggled to compete with their jet rivals in the speed stakes, but this new incarnation is just six minutes slower than a jet per hour  and youll likely make those minutes back on arrival, when the prop planes inbuilt set of steps mean no waiting around to disembark.

So convinced by the planes attractions is Italian airline SkyAlps, that its entire (and growing) fleet uses nothing else. Its particularly handy for getting into their main hub, Bolzano, a pretty city nestled in the Italian Alps. For the passenger, it flies so low that you can see every village, every vineyard. Arriving at dusk, the deep valleys beneath the snow were strung with lights. It was captivating, an alpine fairyland. Meanwhile, on board, the crew served complimentary fine regional wines and artisanal snacks  a pleasant nod to the prop planes golden-age heyday.

Italian airline SkyAlps has a growing fleet of prop planes - Zulu Pictures

The Stansted-Bolzano route is the only UK one SkyAlps have so far. They do, though, fly all over Europe from their Dolomites base, including to Antwerp, Copenhagen, Rome, Dusseldorf, Linz, Puglia, Berlin, Hamburg in winter and, come summer, there will also be Corfu, Ibiza, Catania and Cagliari, among others. And they are not alone. Croatia Airlines, Luxair and Icelandair are already flying the same aircraft, and its popular throughout Asia and North America, too.

Ah, I hear you say  very romantic, very nostalgic  but what does it cost? SkyAlps certainly isnt a budget airline, but with its Stansted-Bolzano route priced from 157 one way, it looks like the prop plane option neednt be prohibitively expensive either, particularly if other airlines follow suit and eschew sneaky add-ons.

In SkyAlps case, you get a carry-on bag, a free bag in the hold (15kg) and all those complimentary drinks and snacks onboard. Plus, its the only commercial airline using the airport in Bolzano (its tarmac neighbours are exclusively private planes), from which transfer times to the ski resorts and luxury spas of the region are short and sweet, so you save time and money there too.

So, could the prop plane be about to make a full-scale comeback at long last, bringing with it a rare taste of travels glorious golden age? Its too soon to say for sure, but I certainly hope so.

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Police and animal welfare workers say 73 animals were rescued and 18 were found dead Tuesday morning during an investigation of severe neglect at a Topeka residence.

Dozens of cats and dogs were discovered during a search of the home, according to Topeka police. Authorities say the animals were living in hazardous conditions with little or no access to food and water.

Police were receiving assistance from animal welfare organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States. The Humane Society was handling relocation of the animals Tuesday.

Criminal charges were being pursued against Charles Solomon, 28, and Desiree E. Therrien, 30. Both were held without bond in the Shawnee County jail on Tuesday for alleged animal cruelty and abandonment.

Examples of neglect included a cat drinking dirty dishwater from a sink, severely underweight dogs and some animals suffering from medical problems, according to the Humane Society. One dog had tumors under the skin that had apparently gone untreated.

Veterinarians and animal control officers visited the residence Tuesday to provide care for the animals.

In a joint statement, Midge Grinstead of the Humane Society and Topeka Police Capt. Colleen Stuart applauded the cooperation among law enforcement and welfare agencies.

Nothing can prepare you to see animals suffering in such terrible conditions, said Grinstead, the Humane Societys director for Kansas. We are grateful to the Topeka Police Department and all the agencies working together to get these animals the help they need.

Stuart, of Topeka police, said the conditions ranked among the worst Ive ever seen in my career.

I am extremely proud of our Animal Control unit, and we are grateful to have the HSUS partner in this terrible situation, Stuart said. The HSUS was able to provide the needed resources to allow these animals a second chance for a loving forever home.
This story is a collaboration with PopularMechanics.com.



Has Amelia Earhart finally been found? The world has searched for the famous pilots missing plane for 86 years and, now, ocean archaeologists believe theyve located it at lastand they have the evidence.

Deep Sea Vision, a South Carolina-base ocean exploration team, says its most advanced unmanned underwater drone scanned more than 5,200 square miles before finding what could be the legendary American aviators Lockheed 10-E Electra.

If true, this discovery would put a cap on one of historys most enduring tales of adventure and enigmathe fateful disappearance of Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, while attempting an ambitious flight around the globe. On July 2, 1937, the pair took off from Papua New Guinea on the latter stages of their daring journey and were never seen again, vanishing without a trace.

Youd be hard-pressed to convince me that this is not an airplane and not Amelias plane, Deep Sea Vision founder Tony Romeo told NPR.

Romeo, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, led a 16-member team using the advanced Kongsberg Discovery HUGIN 6000 unmanned underwater drone. Over 90 days, they meticulously scanned the Pacific Ocean west of Earharts anticipated landing site, a region devoid of documented wreckage. Each sonar dive spanned nearly 48 hours, amassing several terabytes of data.

Courtesy Deep Sea Vision

When they combed through the gathered information, they encountered an image that Romeo described as a surreal moment, which they believe substantiates the theory that Earharts plane ran out of fuel and was unable to reach Howland Island.

They believe the image reveals contours that mirror the unique dual tails and scale of Amelia Earharts plane.

Courtesy Deep Sea Vision

The image alone isnt definitive proof. But according to Romeo, the objects shape in the sonar images closely resembles the Lockheed Electra, and the discoverys location aligns with the Date Line Theory.

This theory, crafted by Liz Smith, a former NASA staffer and hobbyist pilot, posits that after a 17-hour flight, Fred Noonan failed to account for crossing the International Date Line, which would have required adjusting the date from July 3 back to July 2leading to a 60-mile navigational mistake and causing he and Earhart to miss Howland Island, as explained by Deep Sea Vision.

This oversight would have resulted in Earharts plane crashing into the ocean. Until Deep Sea Vision took on the task, the region and scenario outlined by Smiths theory had remained unexplored.

We always felt that [Earhart] would have made every attempt to land the aircraft gently on the water, and the aircraft signature that we see in the sonar image suggests that may be the case, Romeo says in the statement. We plan to bring closure to a great American story.

Getty Images

Dorothy Cochrane, Aeronautics Curator at the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum, has worked to validate the findings, according to Deep Sea Vision. We are intrigued with DSVs initial imagery and believe it merits another expedition in the continuing search for Amelia Earharts aircraft near Howland Island, she says in a statement.

The ocean exploration team hopes to investigate the area where the images were taken later this year, bringing fresh eyes to a scene that remains underneath waves of speculation and intrigue.

How Did Amelia Earhart Disappear?

As Biography has highlighted, the mysterious final flight of Amelia Earhart captured the worlds imagination in 1937, just as it continues to today. Earhart and Noonan were six weeks and 20,000 miles into their global journey when they failed to make their scheduled landing at Howland Island, located approximately 1,700 miles southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii.

The 2.5-square-mile island proved difficult for Earharts plane to find amidst the vast ocean. Theres no concrete evidence that points to why the plane never made it to the island, or where it went instead. The absence of definitive proof has given rise to a multitude of theories about the fate of Earhart, Noonan, and their plane.

The most widely accepted theory suggests that Earhart and Noonan simply crashed into the ocean and sank after running out of fuel. Another credible theory posits that the duo landed on a coral reef around Gardner Island, now called Nikumaroro Island, located 350 nautical miles southeast of Howland. Supporting this theory are distress radio signals traced to that island shortly after the disappearance. Yet another chilling, albeit less plausible, theory is that Earhart met her end at the claws of the islands predatory giant crabs.

The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery also contends that a 2009 underwater photo captures Earharts planes engine cowling lying in the ocean. However, without precise information on the photos location, pinpointing and verifying this claim proves challenging.

The enduring fascination with Amelia Earharts disappearance is as much about the unsolved end to her historic journey as it is about her pioneering spirit. Earhart wasnt just a pilot; she represented adventure, courage, and all the incredible things women could achieve in the field of aviation.



Who Was Amelia Earhart?

Getty Images

Amelia Earhart, a Kansas native, began her ascent to fame in 1922 when she piloted her bright yellow Kinner Airster biplane, endearingly called The Canary, to a then-record height of 14,000 feet for female aviators. By 1923, Earhart had earned her pilots license, becoming the 16th woman to do so from the Federation Aeronautique. While financial struggles forced her out of flying, she returned to aviation in 1927.

Now residing in Massachusetts, Earhart jumped at the opportunity to be the first woman to partake in a transatlantic flight. Although just a passenger on the 1928 adventure led by pilot Wilmer Bill Stultz, her subsequent book chronicling the experience catapulted her into the spotlight.

Following her initial fame, Earhart embarked on her own pioneering flights. In 1932, she made history as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, navigating a nearly 15-hour journey from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland. She continued to add a series of impressive flights to her global resume, all culminating in what was to be her most monumental flight of all: an ambitious bid to be the first person, period, to circumnavigate the globe along the equator.

After an initial mishap that resulted in damage to her Lockheed on the Oakland, California, to Hawaii leg, the aircraft required shipping back to California for repairs. This setback forced a change in plans due to evolving weather patterns and global winds, leading to a revised route starting eastward from Oakland, placing the Pacific Ocean at the end of the journey rather than at the beginning.

How Did Amelia Earhart Die?

Earhart and Noonan then embarked on a route that took them through Miami, across Central and South America, over the Atlantic to Africa, and over the Indian Ocean, reaching New Guinea having flown 22,000 out of the approximately 29,000 miles of their intended route.

The 2,556-mile flight to Howland Island was always going to be tricky. A flat sliver of land that was only 6,500 feet long, 1,600 feet wide, and no more than 20 feet above the ocean waves, the island often looked like a cloud. With a variety of contingency plansincluding help from the U.S. Coast Guard vessel Itasca stationed off Howland IslandEarhart and Noonan were confident.

Getty Images

But their plan wasnt foolproof. They had swapped out essential radio equipment to accommodate additional fuel, and the unavailability of high-octane fuel further limited the planes range. Plus, overcast skies hindered reliable celestial navigation, and Earhart and Noonan were relying on outdated maps that incorrectly placed Howland Island. There was also the possibility the planes radio antenna had sustained damage.

Due to a misunderstanding between Earhart and the Itasca crew, the two never connected in real time. When it became clear that Earhart was unreachable, an extensive search operation commenced. Despite employing 66 aircraft and nine ships in a search that cost $4 million, they found virtually nothing.

Most leading aviation and navigation experts believe that the plane probably crashed due to fuel depletion while seeking a landing spot, leading to Earhart and Noonans demise at seaa consequence attributed to poor planning and even poorer execution.

We still dont know anything for certain, and Amelia Earharts last adventure remains unresolved. But if the ocean explorers really have found the most crucial piece of the puzzleEarharts missing planethis could be the breakthrough weve been waiting for, finally offering closure to one of aviations greatest mysteries.

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On his social media, Justin Mohn describes himself as a musician, producer, author of seven books available on Amazon, the commander of Americas national network of militias, acting President of the United States and maybe The Messiah.

Bucks County law enforcement have added a new title to the list: murder suspect.

Mohn, 32, was charged Wednesday in the death of his 68-year-old father, Michael Mohn, whose decapitated body was found in a bathroom of his Middletown home Tuesday evening, police said.

UPDATE: Justin Mohn shot father before Levittown beheading, Bucks County DA says

According to court documents, Justin Mohn used a machete and a large kitchen knife, both found in a bathtub by police, who also recovered the victim's head wrapped in plastic in a large cooking pot.

Police apprehended Mohn in Fort Indiantown Gap, home to a National Guard Training Center some 100 miles and two hours away from Bucks County. It was unclear why Mohn traveled to the area where the military installation bills itself as the busiest training center in the nation.

Mohn was arraigned on murder charges at midnight in Fort Indiantown Gap, said Middletown Police Lt. Pete Feeney. He confirmed Michael Mohn was found decapitated in the home.

Mohn has also been charged with possession of an instrument of crime and abuse of corpse. Other charges may be filed later Wednesday.

Justin Mohn, who is a suspect in the murder and beheading of his father, Michael Mohn on January 30, 2024

What we know about Middletown murder Middletown man posts video claiming to show beheaded father in Levittown

Arrest at military installation: What police found when they arrested Levittown beheading suspect at Fort Indiantown Gap

Mohn's Militia Youtube video: 'A call to arms'

In a 14-1/2 minute rant against the federal government posted on YouTube on Tuesday, Justin Mohn displayed what he said was the severed head of his father, describing the victim as a 20-year federal employee.

Mohn did not admit to killing his father, who authorities confirmed was a federal worker, in the video, but he called for the execution of all federal workers, claiming they have betrayed American citizens. Michael Mohn was a retired civil engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers.

All federal agents, US Marshals, federal judges and border patrol are to be killed or captured, tortured for information and publicly executed for betraying their country, Mohn said in the Youtube video that has since been taken down off the site. Earn your place in heaven by sending a traitor to hell early.

Throughout the video, which appeared to be filmed in a bedroom, Mohn railed against what he described as far-left, Woke, pro-immigrant, pro-Black Lives Matter and pro-LGBTQ deep-state labor racketeers and tax-evading big tech companies influences in the federal government that he said are destroying America.

YouTube took down the video, around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, after it has been posted for about six hours and was viewed more than 6,000 times.

In the video, Mohn declared himself the acting U.S. president, and ordered all militia and patriots to kill federal employees and seize federal buildings including courthouses. He said he had access to $10 million and put $1 million bounties on high-ranking government officials.

What was found in Levittown home: Machete found in bathtub of Levittown home where Justin Mohn beheaded father: Police

Justin Mohn of Levittown described self as musician, author

The graphic video begins with Mohn holding up his father's head, wrapped in plastic, several times as he appears to read a maifesto of sorts, giving orders and making claims against the government. Authorities acknowledged seeing the video, biut would not comment on its contents Tuesday night as their investigation continued.

Law enforcement officials Tuesday night released little information about Mohn, only identifying him as the victim's youngest son, but his online footprint offered a vastly different portrait than his YouTube video. It also provided context for his disdain for the federal government.

On his Facebook page, Justin Mohn -Music which had 71 followers Tuesday, he promoted two of his albums, The Story of Humanity and Colorfunkinrado, which he said were released in 2017 and 2018.

He described his music style as a blend of rock, funk, and hip-hop using piano and organ as primary instruments. Along with explicit lyrics,drums, synthesized bass and other synthesized instruments.

On his Amazon page, Mohn, a 2010 graduate of Neshaminy High School, described himself as the author of seven books and musician who has released three albums and one single. At Neshaminy, he was voted class clown runner up and played soccer, according to the yearbook.

His life story is unbelievable and there may not be enough words to describe him, but one may begin to understand his complexity and experiences through his art. He only wishes to bring positive change to the world, his Amazon profile said.

Justin Mohn of Levittown is captured in this screenshot of the gruesome YouTube video he allegedly made after beheading his father in Levittown on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.

Levittown beheading suspect Justin Mohn had sued government over student loans

In legal filings in the U.S. Eastern District Court in Philadelphia, though, Mohn displayed his deep dissatisfaction with the federal government, specifically the U.S. Department of Education.

Since 2022, Mohn has sued the U.S. Department of Education secretary Miguel Cordona and the U.S. Department of Education twice and last year the U.S. Attorneys Office and The Attorney General of the United States. The court dismissed all the suits, which Mohn filed pro-se meaning he represented himself.

In the most recent court opinion in December, U.S. Judge Mark Kearney wrote Mohns arguments in his latest suit, which sought $10 million, were similar to ones the court previously dismissed.

He essentially claims the United States lent him money which he needed to repay under a student loan contract beginning in late 2014 but this loan allowed him to get a college education and he cannot find a satisfactory job as an overeducated white man to repay the loan, Kearney wrote.

In his opinion, Kearney wrote that Mohn graduated from Penn State University in May 2014 with a bachelors degree in agribusiness management.

Kearney  who Mohn threatened by name in the YouTube video  wrote that Mohn started repaying his student loans six months after he graduated, but he could not find full time work.

He moved to Colorado to take a full-time job at a credit union, according to the opinion. He later took a full-time job with an insurance company for a higher hourly wage, though the opinion didnt specify what it was..

He views his work postgraduate years as malemployment. Kearney wrote

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Levittown beheading suspect railed agaist government, called miliita to arms
A bill aimed at stopping non-U.S. citizens from voting  a practice that does not currently happen in Kentucky  is advancing in the 2024 General Assembly.

House Bill 341 from Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, proposes amending the state constitution to add that no person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to vote in this state.

Were seeking to be proactive with this amendment because what we have seen in other states is that local governments have, in some cases, changed their local charters under similar constitutional language in those states to allow non-citizens to vote in the elections in their jurisdictions, Meredith said on the House floor Tuesday.

We seek to get ahead of this before this does happen, potentially, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The House passed Merediths bill 81-15, largely along party lines, with several Democrats expressing frustrations that there are more pressing issues to deal with as lawmakers.

Rep. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, said if lawmakers want to change the constitution as it relates to voting, they should look at restoring the rights of people with past felony convictions.

Herron said she is concerned with how the legislature is using our resources, time and money on changing the constitution on something that could potentially be an issue, but currently is not.

We have an issue with our constitution as it relates to voting that Kentuckians have been asking for.

As section 145 of the constitution  the section outlining persons entitled to vote  currently reads, every citizen of the United States of the age of eighteen years who has resided in the state one year is eligible to vote except for:

Anyone convicted of of treason, or felony, or bribery in an election, or of such high misdemeanor as the General Assembly unless theyve received an executive pardon.

People in confinement under the judgment of a court for some penal offense at the time of the election.

Idiots and insane persons  or in modern parlance, a person who has been found mentally incompetent in court and had their voting rights stripped.

Michon Lindstrom, spokesperson for Secretary of State Michael Adams office, said elections officials are not aware of an incidents in recent years in which non-citizens have voted.

Additionally, non-citizens are not eligible to register to vote in Kentucky, and there are no municipalities that have expanded local election participation to non-citizens, she said.

Josh Douglas, a law professor at the University of Kentucky specializing in election law, said the language of the amendment would have zero impact, zero change whatsoever on Kentucky, as no local governments allow non-citizens to vote or have expressed interest in expanding voting.

The constitution, like most other state constitutions, says that every citizen shall be qualified to vote in state and local elections, so that language is permissive, Douglas said. Every citizen shall be, which some states have understood to mean that that is a floor, not a ceiling.

Those who are eligible include every citizen, but that doesnt necessarily mean that localities cannot allow non-citizens, he said.

Douglas said some cities in California and Maryland have expanded voting in local elections to non-citizens or lowered the voting age to 16.

Voters in other states, including neighboring Ohio in 2022, have approved language similar to that of Merediths proposed amendment. In Georgia, Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has recently renewed his push for a similar constitutional amendment.

Federal law prohibits non-citizens from voting in federal contests, such as congressional races and presidential elections.

Constitutional amendments in Kentucky require approval from three-fifths of members in both the House and Senate before theyre eligible for the statewide ballot. Before the constitution is changed, the amendment language also would need to be approved by the majority of Kentucky voters in November.

Several constitutional amendments are have been filed by Kentucky lawmakers during the 2024 General Assembly so far, including a school choice amendment that would allow for state money to help fund enrollment at private and charter schools and plan to change gubernatorial election years to coincide with presidential elections.

Senate OKs changes to voter ID law

Discussion in the Senate Tuesday also focused on voter issues.

Senate Bill 80 from Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, would make identification cards from colleges and universities a secondary proof of identification for the purposes of voting.

Southworths bill would still allow Kentuckians with only a college ID to vote; however, those voters would have to affirm various aspects of their identity and sign a precinct signature roster.

The bill passed 27-7, with all seven Senate Democrats voting no and all present Republicans voting yes.

Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, expressed worry that legislators were sending the wrong message to young, college-age voters by passing the bill. She also brought up the fact that Adams, the states top elections administrator, is against the bill.

Adams has said hes concerned if the passes, it could leave the law vulnerable to legal challenges.

Im very proud of the work hes done and he is our chief elections officer, Webb said. We have deferred that duty to him and hes done it admirably. The people of Kentucky have spoken as to how he has done that job.

The bill would also remove credit or debit cards from the list of secondary identification documents a voter is able to provide to vote.

Politics reporter Austin Horn contributed to this story.
Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Wednesday, Jan. 31. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our live updates file for Thursday, Feb. 1.

An Iraq-based, Iran-backed militant group suspected of participating in the drone strike that killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan announced it was suspending attacks on U.S. military installations in Iraq and Syria.

Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, secretary-general of Kataib Hezbollah, said the militias fighters would adopt a temporary passive defense" and warned against "hostile American action." His group, also called the Hezbollah Brigades, is the strongest among a collection of Iran-backed militias known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI).

Pressure from Iran and Iraq, which felt the faction had gone too far, prompted Kataib Hezbollah to stand down, Reuters reported. The Pentagon had pointed to the group as the likely perpetrator of the deadly drone strike.

The White House said Wednesday it blames the IRI for the attack, and President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he had decided on a military response but provided no details.

Biden's announcement comes amid increasing global concerns that the war in Gaza, ignited by a deadly Hamas-led rampage into Israeli border communities, could explode into a massive regional conflict pitting the U.S. against Iran. Biden said he held Tehran responsible for arming the militant groups but added that the U.S. was not looking for a war with Iran.

Iran has denied involvement in the Jordan attack, saying it was not privy to military decisions made by regional resistance groups. Hossein Salami, chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, warned that any military action targeting Iran would draw a response.

We hear threats coming from American officials, we tell them that they have already tested us and we now know one another, he said, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency. "No threat will be left unanswered."

An Israeli army soldier gestures while seated in the turret of a battle tank moving at a position along the border between southern Israeli and the Gaza Strip on January 31, 2024.

After the drone strike in Jordan: A look at the lethal military tool's proliferation

Developments:

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with relatives and friends of 18 hostages, telling them the government is laboring hard to get their loved ones home: "The more discreet it is from the public, the higher the chances are it will pay off," i24 News quoted Netanyahu as saying.

 The Chicago City Council was scheduled to vote on a resolution calling for a cease-fire and release of all hostages. The vote comes a day after a City Hall sit-in by high schoolers opposed to U.S. funding of Israel's war in Gaza.

 Swedish authorities discovered and detonated a bomb near the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm on Wednesday. Ambassador Ziv Nevo Kulman posted a brief note on social media: "We thank the Swedish authorities for their swift response. We will not be intimidated by terror."

 The Israeli military said it raided and destroyed a Palestinian Islamic Jihad weapons plant in West Khan Younis that was manufacturing rockets and missiles.

Tunnels flooded: Israel pumping water into Hamas tunnels

US destroys Houthi missiles, including one after close call

Neither the U.S. warnings nor its retaliatory strikes are deterring the Iran-supported Houthi rebels in Yemen from continuing their repeated assaults on vessels in the Red Sea, including American warships.

U.S. Central Command said Wednesday that it had destroyed a Houthi missile that was ready to get fired, concluding it "presented an imminent threat to U.S. aircraft.''

The previous night, the USS Gravely shot down an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the militant group, Central Command said. CNN reported that missile came within a mile of the destroyer, saying that's the closest any Houthi attack has come to a U.S. warship since the Rebels began their missile and drone campaign on Red Sea shipping lanes in mid-November.

The Houthis say they're supporting Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza with their assaults, which have disrupted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, forcing cargo vessels to seek other routes to transport their goods.

After issuing several warnings, the U.S. and U.K. launched joint attacks on Houthi military assets starting Jan. 11, including a series of strikes targeting eight sites in Yemen on Jan. 22.

South Africa official: 'Israel believes it has license to do as it wishes'

South Africa is pointing to the continuing high number of civilian deaths in Gaza as evidence Israel is ignoring last week's preliminary ruling from the U.N.s top court urging the Israelis to protect civilians as they pursued Hamas militants.

The number of Palestinians killed in Gaza is approaching 27,000, according to the Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. That figure includes 150 people in the last 24 hours and hundreds since the International Court of Justice ordered Israel on Friday to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide against Palestinians in the territory. The ruling stems from South Africa's accusation of genocide against Israel.

"I believe the rulings of the court have been ignored, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said. Hundreds of people have been killed in the last three or four days. And clearly Israel believes it has license to do as it wishes.

Pandor said South Africa would explore proposing other measures but did not specify which ones.

Report: US reviewing options for recognizing a Palestinian state

Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked staffers to review options on possible U.S. and international recognition of a Palestinian state after the war in Gaza, two U.S. officials briefed on the issue told Axios. Blinken also asked for a review on how a demilitarized Palestinian state might function, the officials said. The Israeli website Walla published a similar report.

Such a review could increase the pressure on Israel to conclude or ease its military operations in Gaza, a campaign Palestinian authorities say already has killed more than 26,000 residents of Gaza, most of them civilians.

Some Biden administration officials now believe recognition of a Palestinian state might be the first step rather than the last one in resolving the long-term Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Axios reports. U.S. policy has long been that recognition of a Palestinian state must come through negotiations between the parties rather than through unilateral recognition, but Netanyahu has shown no interest in signing off on any deal that creates a Palestinian state.

The report comes a day after British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the United Kingdom might be willing to provide formal diplomatic recognition to a Palestinian state prior to a final peace deal.

Report: New proposal could see all hostages freed

All civilian hostages being held by Hamas inside Gaza would be released during a six-week pause in fighting under a proposal crafted by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt, the Washington Post reported, citing officials familiar with the negotiations. Parts of the plan have been accepted by Israel and Hamas is considering it, the Post said.

The proposal also would free three Palestinians now held in Israeli jails for each hostage released. Israeli troops would be temporarily repositioned away from the most densely populated areas of Gaza and the humanitarian aid pipeline into the enclave would be expanded, the Post says. The newspaper's sources, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks, said negotiations were in early stages and that any deal would take more time to consummate.

Israel says 109 hostages remain in captivity and that Hamas has the bodies of 27 people.

Of 41 wounded in Jordan base attack, 27 are back on duty

The 41 soldiers wounded in Sunday's attack in Jordan came from National Guard units in Arizona, California, Kentucky and New York, the National Guard Bureau said Wednesday.

The Biden administration blames Iran for supporting the militants who launched the attack, and the Pentagon is preparing to retaliate. The drone assault killed three Army Reserve soldiers at the logistics base known as Tower 22.

Among the wounded, 27 have returned to duty while 14 continue to be evaluated, including one soldier who required evacuation from Jordan and who is in stable condition.

 Tom Vanden Brook

10% of UN agency's aid workers in Gaza reportedly linked to militants

At least a dozen employees of the U.N.s Palestinian refugee agency had ties to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and 10% of its 12,000-plus workers in Gaza have ties to militant groups, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing Israeli intelligence reports reviewed by the media outlet. The reports claim that two workers for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency helped kidnap Israelis and two others were tracked to sites where scores of Israeli civilians were shot and killed. Others coordinated logistics and helped arm the attackers, the reports say.

The information, included in a briefing Israel gave U.S. officials, prompted the Biden administration and several other nations to suspend aid to UNRWA. Netanyahu on Wednesday called for UNRWA to be shut down, telling U.N. representatives, "It's time the international community and the U.N. itself understand that UNRWA's mission has to end."

In a briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday, Martin Griffiths, the U.N. under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, appealed for the aid to be restored. Griffiths said he was "appalled'' by the allegations and said they must be addressed, but argued the services UNRWA provides are "indispensable'' for Palestinians.

"UNRWAs lifesaving services to over three-quarters of Gazas residents should not be jeopardized by the alleged actions of a few individuals,'' Griffiths said. "To put it bluntly and simply: Our humanitarian response for the occupied Palestinian territory is dependent on UNRWA being adequately funded and operational.''

A look at key militant groups in the Middle East

Attacks by Iran-backed militant groups throughout the Middle East  including the first to kill U.S. service members  have dramatically heightened the risk of a broader regional war spreading beyond the Gaza Strip. Since Israel declared war against Hamas following the attack on Oct. 7, groups with ties to Iran have fired missiles across the Lebanese border, targeted bases in Iraq and Syria where U.S. service members are stationed and attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The latest escalation in the conflict occurred Sunday when militias attacked a U.S. military outpost in Jordan, killing three troops and wounding dozens.

A synopsis of the key groups is available here.

 Christopher Cann

Iran could feel 'hot sting of American power'

After a drone attack in Jordan killed three American soldiers, the Pentagon's response will likely involve airstrikes, sea-launched missiles and raids targeting leadership of the Iran-backed militants who have mounted more than 200 assaults on U.S. troops and commercial shipping across the Middle East, current and former officials said.

The goal will be to erode the militants ability to attack, punish their leadership and beef up defenses in the region to protect the thousands of American forces there, the officials said. The response could involve operations from Yemen to Iraq in locations where the White House and Pentagon believe Iran supports local militias.

I don't expect a U.S. large response, meaning a large-scale ground war, said retired Army Maj. Gen. Mark Quantock, who served as chief of intelligence for U.S. Central Command. But I do expect Iran and its surrogates will feel the hot sting of American power. Read more here.

 Tom Vanden Brook

US imposes sanctions on firms linked to Iran, Hezbollah

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced sanctions blocking financial transactions for three entities and an individual accused of providing "critical financial support" to an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force and Hezbollah.

The sanctioned targets generated hundreds of millions of dollars worth of revenue from selling Iranian commodities, the office said in a statement. Turkey-based Mira Ihracat Ithalat Petrol, which purchases, transports and sells Iranian commodities on the global market, and its owner, Ibrahim Talal al-Uwayr, are among the sanction targets. Also sanctioned were two Lebanon-basedcompanies, Yara Offshore SAL and Hydro Company for Drilling Equipment Rental.

Todays action underscores our resolve to prevent the IRGC-QF and its proxy terrorist groups from exploiting the international trading system to fund their destabilizing activities, said Brian Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. The United States will continue to take action to expose and disrupt these illicit schemes.

'I hold them responsible': Biden says he's made a decision on response to attack in Jordan

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel Hamas war live updates: Kataib Hezbollah won't attack US troops
South Africas foreign minister alleged Israel is ignoring the ruling by the United Nations top court last week, which ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, by killing hundreds more civilians in a matter of days in Gaza.

Gazas Health Ministry says more than 150 people were killed and an additional 313 wounded as Israeli forces continued to battle militants Wednesday in the northern part of the territory, the initial target of Israel's ground offensive into the Gaza Strip that has seen entire neighborhoods flattened. Israels military said its forces killed more than 15 Hamas militants in northern Gaza in the past day and targeted militant infrastructure in a school.

The latest deaths bring the Palestinian death toll from Israels offensive to 26,900, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. It does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths but says most of those killed were women and children.

Hamas Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and about 250 people were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.

Currently:

 U.N. agencies rally around the agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza as some top donors cut funding.

 South Africa says Israel is already ignoring a U.N. court ruling ordering it to prevent deaths in Gaza.

 Chicago becomes the latest U.S. city to approve a cease-fire resolution in the Israel-Hamas war.

 The U.S. blames a group of Iran-backed militias for the deadly drone attack in Jordan.

 Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.

Here's the latest:

US SAYS ISLAMIC RESISTANCE IN IRAQ IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DRONE ATTACK

WASHINGTON  The United States has attributed the drone attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Wednesday the U.S. believes the attack was planned, resourced and facilitated by the group.

Story continues

The Sunday drone attack on a military base in Jordan killed the three troops and injured at least 40 others. Kirby says President Joe Biden will continue to weigh response options to the attack but the first thing you see wont be the last thing.

NETANYAHU MEETS WITH A GROUP OF UN AMBASSADORS

JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told a group of ambassadors to the United Nations from primarily European countries that Hamas has infiltrated the main aid provider to Palestinians in Gaza and that it must be shut down.

Netanyahus remarks on Wednesday follow Israel's allegations that 12 employees with the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, participated in Hamas Oct. 7 attacks in Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.

Those allegations prompted several countries to freeze funding to the agency, which fired nine of the workers. UNRWA said the agency, which employs 13,000 workers in Gaza, should not be punished for the alleged actions of a dozen employees.

Netanyahu told the group of eight visiting ambassadors that an alternative and impartial aid provider should be found.

Israel has long railed against UNRWA, accusing it of tolerating or even collaborating with Hamas and of perpetuating the 76-year-old Palestinian refugee crisis. The Israeli government has accused Hamas and other militant groups of siphoning off aid and using U.N. facilities for military purposes.

RELATIVE OF HOSTAGE SAYS ISRAEL'S LEADERS SHOULDN'T PUT POLITICS ABOVE CAPTIVES' FATE

TEL AVIV, Israel  A relative of a hostage being held in Gaza says he is concerned Israeli leaders are putting their political fortunes above the fate of the captives.

The families of hostages have been following with hope and anguish reports about a potential agreement emerging between Israel and Hamas that could set roughly 100 hostages free and bring about a halt in the war. They have also watched with trepidation as political considerations have seeped into the deliberations, with far-right members of Israels governing coalition vowing to topple the government if the deal makes too many concessions to Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday confirmed that talks were underway.

Gil Dickmann, whose cousin Carmel Gat was abducted on Oct. 7 from southern Israel, said he feels insecure about the chances for a deal. At the same time, he said the current talks appeared serious and were the first chance at progress since the one previous deal in late November.

He said he hoped Netanyahu wouldnt prioritize his political survival over the hostages freedom.

The life of the coalition should not come before the lives of the hostages, Dickmann told The Associated Press.

ISRAELI PROTESTERS TRY TO BLOCK AID TRUCKS

JERUSALEM  Dozens of Israeli protesters have tried to block humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, despite an order barring them from approaching a border crossing the trucks are using.

According to video released by an activist group behind the demonstrations, police, including mounted officers, scuffled with the protesters Wednesday.

The protesters have been gathering near the Kerem Shalom crossing for several days, saying aid should not be allowed into Gaza while hostages are still being held there. They say the aid could act as leverage to force Hamas to release the hostages.

Activists said up to 40 people were detained, a figure that could not be independently confirmed. Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Israeli military this week sealed the area to prevent such protests from recurring. It was not immediately clear how close the crowd got to the crossing, and deliveries into Gaza did not appear to be disrupted.

Kerem Shalom is the main goods crossing between Israel and Gaza.

Israel imposed a siege on Gaza in the first days of the war barring the entry of aid. While it relented under U.S. pressure, the amount of aid has been a fraction of what went into the territory before the war.

UN HUMANITARIAN AID CHIEF SAYS RELIEF TO GAZA IS GROSSLY INADEQUATE

UNITED NATIONS  In a passionate address to the U.N. Security Council, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths called for Israel to allow more aid into Gaza.

Griffiths frequently broke from his prepared remarks as he made his address Wednesday.

The relief remains grossly inadequate. And to say its grossly inadequate, as it says here, is grossly inadequate. Its much, much more difficult, Griffiths said. Its the congestion, its the rain, its the lack of certainty about what tomorrow will bring.

NETANYAHU SAYS EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO TRY TO SECURE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES

JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip that efforts were underway to bring about the captives release.

Netanyahu told the representatives of 18 families that efforts were being made at these moments to return the hostages. In a statement about the meeting from his office Wednesday, he did not disclose details on talks on a new hostage release agreement.

Netanyahu met the families as Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. were mediating talks meant to strike a deal between Israel and Hamas that could free the roughly 100 remaining hostages and usher in a temporary cease-fire in Gaza.

Hamas-led militants captured about 250 people, including children, women and older people, in their Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, an assault that triggered the war.

More than 100 captives, mostly women and children, were released during the first and only deal between the sides in late November.

WHO SAYS GAZA HEALTH SYSTEM IS USING DONKEY CARTS TO TRANSPORT PATIENTS

GENEVA  The head of the World Health Organization said the destroyed health system in Gaza has resorted to using donkey carts to transport injured patients, and that one major hospital has only one functional ambulance.

At a press briefing Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said more than 100,000 Gaza residents are either dead, injured, missing or presumed dead in the war with Israel.

Tedros added that the risk of famine is high, with many medical staff and patients receiving only one meal per day.

He warned that decisions by donor countries to pause funds for UNWRA, the biggest supplier of humanitarian aid in the crisis, will have catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza.

The United States and more than a dozen other countries have announced plans to suspend contributions to UNRWA after Israel alleged that 12 of its workers participated in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel. U.N. officials fired most of the workers and vowed an investigation.

US SANCTIONS COMPANIES AND PERSON IN LEBANON AND TURKEY

BEIRUT  The U.S. slapped sanctions Wednesday on three companies and one person in Lebanon and Turkey, accusing them of funneling funds to Irans Revolutionary Guard and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The U.S. Treasury announced sanctions on Turkish company Mira Ihracat Ithalat Petrol (Mira), which it said purchases, transports, and sells Iranian commodities on the global market; on its chief executive, Ibrahim Talal al-Uwayr; and on Lebanon-based Yara Offshore SAL and Hydro Company for Drilling Equipment Rental, both of which it said have sold large quantities of Iranian goods to Syria.

The sanctioned companies generated hundreds of millions of dollars worth of revenue from selling Iranian commodities, including to the Syrian government, the U.S. Treasury said in a statement.

The move comes as the region is waiting for Washingtons response to a strike, likely launched by one of the regions Iranian-back militias, that killed three U.S. troops Sunday at a base in Jordan near the Syrian border.

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL AGAIN CALLS FOR A CEASE-FIRE

UNITED NATIONS  U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called again for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Speaking to the U.N.s Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Guterres said he condemned the horrifying attacks by Hamas and other groups but at the same time, nothing can justify the collective punishment of the people in Gaza.

The ongoing conflict and relentless bombardment by Israeli forces across Gaza have resulted in killings of civilians and destruction at a pace and scale unlike anything we have witnessed in recent years, Guterres said. I am horrified by incessant military strikes that have killed and maimed civilians and protected personnel, and that have damaged or destroyed civilian infrastructure.

EU AIMS TO LAUNCH A RED SEA NAVAL MISSION WITHIN 3 WEEKS

BRUSSELS  The European Union plans to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea within three weeks to help defend cargo ships against attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen that are hampering trade and driving up prices, the blocs top diplomat said Wednesday.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he wants the mission to be up and running by Feb. 17. Officials say that seven EU countries are ready to provide ships or planes. Belgium has already committed to send a frigate. Germany is expected to do the same.

Last week, U.S. and British forces bombed multiple targets in eight locations used by the Iranian-backed Houthis. It was the second time the two allies have conducted coordinated retaliatory strikes on the rebels missile-launching capabilities.

The Houthis have waged a persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October, but Borrell insisted that the EU mission will not take part in any military strikes.
Border security is one of the top subjects of concern regarding voters as the 2024 General Election gets closer.

Although Livingston County hasn't really been affected by migrants who have entered the United States, there is concern that it might be a matter of time before this becomes a problem here.

An unknown bus in Dwight created a stir the last weekend of December. It was thought that there were illegal immigrants on board and they were going to be dropped off there.

Rep. Jason Bunting

This proved to incorrect, according to Rep. Jason Bunting, it was just a party bus.

Everybody was kind of nervous and concerned in the Dwight area when there was a bus sort of slow rolling down the road there, Bunting told the Daily Leader recently. It was just a limo bus, a party bus per se. It wasn't full of immigrants, but there's been a lot of concerns."

Bunting said while Chicago is a sanctuary city, the city is starting to get overrun with migrants seeking asylum. Recently, a plane from Texas carrying 355 migrants landed at the Chicago Rockford International Airport before getting on a bus to be taken to Chicago.

More: What happened the night a plane filled with asylum seekers landed in Rockford?

Concerns of where else these migrants may end up have been brought up in communities downstate, including Pontiac.

We're kind of just talking over what should happen, what can happen if it gets to the point where people are just being let go, Pontiac City Administrator Jim Woolford said at the Jan. 2 city council meeting. One of the issues for us is not having services to just let people off into a position in the freezing cold where it's not healthy or safe for them. It can create, potentially, a criminal problem for bus drivers."

Pontiac is not a sanctuary city. Other than Chicago, there are no other sanctuary cities in Illinois. Including Illinois, there are only 11 sanctuary states. The closest to Illinois is Colorado.

People are seeing these things (and) towns like Pontiac and Dwight are not built to support such an incredible influx of people, Rep. Tom Bennett recently told the Daily Leader. There are some very serious financial impacts to this. We just passed the largest budget in state history.

State Sen. Tom Bennett

He also said that Gov. JB Pritzker has gone from spending roughly a million dollars a year to more than a billion dollars on programs for non-citizens.

I understand about the side where we want to help people, but there's also a cost to all this (but) we've got to find a different way to deal with this.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Pontiac-area lawmakers address Illinois migrant situation
The online "NOTIFICATION!" was posted by a European mountain rescue service operating in Albania. Its tone was urgent.

High in the mountains of Albania's Korab range, near Kosovo, rescuers were trying to save the lives of two Swiss skiers who had suffered long hours trapped in the heavy snow of an avalanche. The two survivors, a man and a woman, were in stable condition, according to the social media post.

But they showed symptoms of hypothermia, and their rescuers suspected they had broken bones. And while they were no longer trapped in the snow, and they were in the company of a rescue team, the two avalanche survivors remained stranded.

Staff Sgt. Matthew Medeiros, left, a RI Army National Guard paramedic, prepares to lift an avalanche survivor to a Black Hawk helicopter via an aerial hoist during a Jan. 22 rescue mission in Albania.

The rugged mountain terrain has "made this  very complicated," said the Kosovo Mountain Search and Rescue Service's online notification, which was posted in the predawn hours of Jan. 22.

"We will notify you" of developments, the post added.

The mountain rescue service hoped daylight would bring a helicopter evacuation operation directed by the Albanian government. The chopper, threading its way between peaks and over ridgelines, arrived as hoped after sunrise that morning. But the pilot couldn't find a safe landing spot.

"A plan B had to be made," the rescue service concluded. They needed a helicopter that could retrieve the two avalanche survivors from the mountainside without landing  a chopper with a hoist.

The idea wasn't far-fetched: A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter with that capability was just over Albania's border in Kosovo at a base named Camp Bondsteel. The helicopter's aircrew, a team from the Rhode Island Army National Guard, was on duty, awaiting their next rescue mission.

And they knew how to use a hoist.

'Butcher of the Balkans'

A wave of ethnic conflict in the region more than two decades ago is responsible for the continuing presence of U.S. troops in Kosovo. The NATO-led force they serve, Kosovo Force, or KFOR, was established after a bombing campaign forced a withdrawal of federal Yugoslavian troops and Serb forces in 1999.

Their leader, Slobodan Milosevic, was accused of war crimes. A tribunal charged Milosevic in the deaths of hundreds of Kosovo Albanian men, women and children.

Taking aim at 'Sloba'

Milosevic, who went by the nickname Sloba, was a demagogue who exploited ethnic and religious conflict for his own political gain. He was accused of trying to secure Serb control over the region through the deportation of about 800,000 civilians and by carrying out a campaign of fear that involved mass rape and other means.

His prosecution, before the United Nations' International Court of Justice, ended after he died inside his cell at The Hague in 2006.

But KFOR remained at the forefront of NATO's efforts to support peace and stability in Kosovo.

Last May, just before Rhode Island Guard troops deployed at Bondsteel, clashes between police and ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo elevated tensions in the region, according to the Associated Press.

In neighboring Serbia, the AP reported, President Aleksandar Vucic said he had put the army on the highest state of alert and ordered an urgent movement of troops closer to the border."

A Rhode Island National Guard air crew operates a hoist in Kosovo during recent medevac training exercises with local search and rescue groups.

Task Force Rogue arrives in Kosovo in 2023

Soon after these events, Rhode Island Army National Guard members in the 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, formed Task Force Rogue at Bondsteel last June.

Many of them continued to enhance their hoist qualifications, recalls Rhode Island Army National Guard Capt. Mark Dente, who corresponded with The Providence Journal via email.

Dente, who flies Black Hawks, regards airborne hoist work as "one of the most dangerous modes of flight we do."

More: RI National guard plays a key role in Kosovo

Working with an aerial hoist

The U.S. Army requires each member of a helicopter medevac crew to receive qualification on the equipment, according to Dente.

And to stay current, Guard members must operate the hoist at least once every 90 days, Dente says.

Rhode Island Army National Guard personnel work to lift a dummy patient with an airborne hoist during training in Kosovo.

Since their arrival, in addition to such training, the Guard aircrews have completed 17 medevac missions, mostly involving KFOR soldiers, Dente says, with the medevac patients' medical issues ranging from heart trouble to traumatic injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes.

Generally, says Dente, two pilots, a crew chief and a medic fly on each mission.

The aircrews tote radios that alert them to medevac missions.

Medevac operations for KFOR

"We always have two helicopters ready to launch," Dente says. Each crew is on call for 48 hours.

During the first half of its shift, a crew backs up another crew. If the "1st Up" team is handling an emergency, the backup crew handles the next emergency call.

During the second half of the shift, the "2nd Up" team moves to "1st up," which means they are ready to fly out within 15 minutes of when the command post receives a call.

Seeking out ski slopes in an Albanian avalanche zone

On Sunday, Jan. 21, two skiers began a mountain ascent in their ski boots, climbing in an area just northeast of the top of Sorokoli Mountain, according to the mountain rescue service.

Sorokoli, which is in front of Korab Mountain, rises to almost 8,000 feet above sea level, according to a local mountain tour operator.

As the Swiss skiers climbed, they set off an avalanche that swept them more than 1,000 feet down the mountain, according to the mountain service's social media post.

Hamas ruined the wedding of an Israeli man with RI ties. How the groom responded.

They were not entirely buried in the snow, but they were stuck. The young woman had enough mobility with her hands to declare an "SOS" with her cellphone, according to rescuers.

The rescue service says it learned about the avalanche late on Jan. 21 from local residents who placed emergency calls. Later, the service made contact with one of the survivors via cellphone, securing the map coordinates of their location, says a post.

A small contingent, aided initially by police, set out on a nighttime search and rescue mission, the service's news release said. Hours later, two rescue specialists and a paramedic found the avalanche survivors in the darkness.

Mountain landscapes and a helicopter rescue

Task Force Rogue learned about a special request from Albania around 10:45 the next morning, well after the initial sunrise helicopter mission.

The mission, which might involve a hoist, awaited approval higher up the command chain. Dente, the team leader, and four other R.I. Guard members prepared for launch.

The team included Chief Warrant Officer Joshua Mason, also a Cranston police officer and instructor pilot; the helicopter's crew chief, Sgt. Brandon Bessette; and two flight paramedics, Staff Sgt. Ryan Farley and Staff Sgt. Matthew Medeiros. They had plenty to think about.

The Korab range

They assessed issues ranging from the performance limits of their New England-built Sikorsky helicopter to the number of people they would evacuate, which governed medical supplies.

Dente says the team pulled up satellite images to scout the site where the survivors waited.

Mason determined that the site was in a trough-like topographical feature just below a mountain peak that poked up about 7,200 feet from sea level. Nearby, Korab Mountain, Albania's tallest peak, rose up another 2,000 feet.

High-altitude helicopter horsepower

Dente and Mason made various calculations related to how much power they could expect from the Black Hawk at such heights.

The weight of the helicopter, including the load it was carrying, would play into it. Air temperature was another factor. So was fuel consumption.

Dente placed the rescue zone about 50 miles southwest of Bondsteel. Flying there would take 20 to 25 minutes.

"We received a weather brief that the conditions should generally be calm," Dente says. "It was a clear day, and the weather wasnt expected to degrade until way later in the evening."

The commanding officer of KFOR, Maj. Gen. Ozkan Ulutas, authorized the flight. Loaded with extra blankets and heat pads, the UH-60 twirled into the air at 12:37 p.m. Dente, Mason and the crew hoped to lower the helicopter to ground level for a simple pickup without any hoisting. They could also set the chopper down on just one wheel, a pinnacle landing, if necessary.

"We owe it to the patient to extract them in the easiest and most efficient way possible," Dente says.

While the Guard members' consistent, all-seasons hoist training had inspired confidence, none of them had previous experience lifting a medevac patient into a helicopter from an unknown location, Dente says.

At a height of about 7,200 feet, a mountain rescuer works with a Rhode Island Army National Guard aircrew on Jan. 22. The Guard airlifted two avalanche survivors and two rescuers from a mountainous location in Albania.

Rescuers wave from avalanche zone

As the R.I. Guard members hovered over the snowy rescue site in their sleek aerial ambulance, Dente and Mason concluded that touching down, even on just one wheel, wasn't possible. The pilots saw no other suitable landing zone nearby.

Medeiros descended on a line to the mountainside, bringing hoist straps and a Sked rescue stretcher. He found the two Swiss alpinists accompanied by seven rescuers from the mountain service and two police officers. Some were uncertain about their ability to hike off the mountain after many hours of severe winter exposure.

Medeiros triaged the two avalanche survivors and prepared them for the hoist.

The Black Hawk hovered above with its engines on a setting for endurance.

A Rhode Island Army National Guard aircrew returns to Camp Bondsteel in southeastern Kosovo after participating in the rescue of two avalanche survivors in neighboring Albania.

The hoist operator, Bessette, wore latex gloves underneath flight gloves for better dexterity in his hands.

The mountain extraction of both avalanche survivors was "very smooth," Dente says.

By the time Medeiros was back aboard, the Black Hawk had been at the site for more than 30 minutes.

To stay on schedule for fuel use, the team had to leave, recalls Dente, who led the medevac team.

They would refuel and return to rescue the rescuers.

Less than 25 minutes later, they descended toward a hospital helipad in Tirana, Albania. A large group of people crowded the landing zone.

Staff Sgt. Matthew Medeiros, a Rhode Island Army National Guard paramedic, celebrates his team's high-altitude rescue of two avalanche survivors from an Albanian mountainside on Jan. 22 with a playful pose on the hoist of a Black Hawk helicopter. From left, Capt. Mark Dente, a pilot; Staff Sgt. Ryan Farley, a paramedic; Medeiros; Chief Warrant Officer Joshua Mason, a pilot instructor; and the copter's crew chief, Sgt. Brandon Bessette.

The two medevac patients were carried away in rescue stretchers. In time, they would visit with an Albanian government official. But the KFOR medevac team had more work to do: The crew flew to a nearby airport to refuel. Then they returned to the mountainside avalanche zone.

The situation had changed: Fewer rescuers were visible on the ground. Assessing their emergency needs proved difficult. After some confusion, and a good deal of flying, the helicopter aircrew hoisted two rescuers from the original site and flew them to a slope near their snowmobile.

"Every person did their job, executed the mission, all without hesitation," Dente would recall afterward.

Sunset was about 20 minutes away as they flew back to their base.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: US National Guard rescues avalanche survivors from Albanian mountain
The 16,000 sheep and 2,000 cattle are now in limbo (ABC News)

A ship carrying thousands of sheep and cattle is marooned off the coast of Australia in 40C heat after it was forced to abort its voyage through the Red Sea.

The vessel left Australia on 5 January for Israel but was diverted in the middle of the month due to threats of attack by Yemens Houthi militia and forced to turn back.

The 16,000 sheep and 2,000 cattle are now in limbo before the decision is made to offload them in Australia or export them via a longer route around Africa to Israel. Farm and exporter groups say the animals on board the MV Bahijah are in good health but MPs have slammed the situation.

Josh Wilson, a member of parliament for Fremantle, where the ship was loaded, said the animals ordeal showed the live export trade was rotten to its core.

What is being contemplated is a 60-day voyage for 14,000 sheep on a stinking hot and literally stinking metal vessel, he told 10 News.

Israel is a key export market for Australias agriculture industry, with 86,100 sheep worth $6.5million and 10,848 cattle worth $14million traded in the first three months of 2023.

The Houthi started attacking Western commercial shipping containers using the Red Sea, which sees around 12 per cent of global trade worth 790bn pass through it every year, after Israel began its war with Hamas in October.

In response, the US and UK conducted retaliatory strikes on Houthi targets across Yemen in a measure intended to deter future attacks.

The Houthi started attacking Western commercial shipping containers after Israel began its war with Hamas (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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.

The axis 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.

Lebanons Hezbollah - the most powerful group in the axis, boasting 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 Kremlin has formed its own mercenary group to operate in Africa, it has been reported.

Bloomberg said Vladimir Putins government was looking to take advantage of the demise of the Wagner group, which operated extensively in several countries on the continent.

The new group is called the Africa Corps and shares its name with the Nazi forces which fought in North Africa in the Second World War.

The Bloomberg report said 20,000 men are expected to be recruited for operations primarily in the Sahel region on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert.

The Wagner Group, led by the late Yevheny Prighozin, had extensive security operations on the continent and would often receive stakes in mines and other natural resource contracts as payment.

04:23 PM GMT

Thats all for today, thank you for following

Here are todays key moments:

Macron: Ukraine war contributing to the crisis in French farming

European Commission welcomes EU decision to send Ukraine money from Russian assets

Kremlin forming own African mercenary group

Kremlin backs ally Iran in face of likely US retaliation

Ukraines gains in jeopardy without more aid, says Blinken

Russia and Belarus to create joint media outlet

04:00 PM GMT

Macron: Ukraine war contributing to the crisis in French farming

The war in Ukraine is contributing to the crisis in French farming, Emmanuel Macron has said.

The French president told a press conference in Sweden that tariff-free Ukrainian imports were undercutting French farmers.

We have asked to have clear measures on imports from Ukraine because today we have things in volume and quality that are destabilising the European market, whether it comes to chickens or cereals, he said.

Gabriel Attal, the prime minister, added that France needs an agricultural exception to European Union red tape.

03:42 PM GMT

Zelensky: We must ensure Ukraines control over its skies

Zelensky has restated called for an air shield to protect the country from missiles and drone attacks.

Posting on X, Zelenskiy said: Russia has launched over 330 missiles of various types and approximately 600 combat drones at Ukrainian cities since the beginning of the year.

To withstand such terrorist pressure, a sufficiently strong air shield is required. And this is the type of air shield we are building with our partners.

We must ensure Ukraines control over its skies, which is also critical to ensuring security on the ground  from frontline positions to hospitals and schools in the rear. Air defense and electronic warfare are our top priorities. Russian terror must be defeated  this is achievable.

Russia has launched over 330 missiles of various types and approximately 600 combat drones at Ukrainian cities since the beginning of the year.



To withstand such terrorist pressure, a sufficiently strong air shield is required. And this is the type of air shield we are building pic.twitter.com/t5p1BLAVby  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) January 30, 2024

03:11 PM GMT

Russia is not handing over Ukrainian bodies from crashed plane

Russia has shown no willingness to return the bodies of dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war who died in a military plane crash in Belgorod region last week, a Ukrainian military spy official said on Tuesday.

Moscow announced that the plane was shot down by Ukraine on its way to a prisoner swap. Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied that its forces shot it down.

Its a statement from Russia that our prisoners were there, and so far we can analyse only their words. Now there is no readiness to transfer the bodies from the other side, Andriy Yusov, a spokesman, was quoted as saying by Suspilne broadcaster.

Last week, Russia said that body parts were being collected and removed for genetic testing. Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, said on Friday he had no information on what would happen to the remains or whether they would be handed to Ukraine.

Footage from the site, released by the Russian Investigative Committee, shows a single body in a snowy field as well as items of clothing. Reuters verified the location of the crash site seen in one of the videos but was unable to independently verify the date or other details.

02:42 PM GMT

In pictures: Ukraine's First Lady, Olena Zelenska, sits in evacuation ambulance

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska sits in one of the 50 evacuation ambulances that were transferred from the UAE government to Ukrainian medics in Kyiv - HANDOUT/AFP

02:37 PM GMT

European Commission welcomes EU decision to send Ukraine money from Russian assets

The European Commission has welcomed the decision of EU ambassadors regarding the decision to send Ukraine profits generated by Russian assets, previously frozen in Europe since the start of the war.

Christian Wiegand, the spokesman for the European Commission, said that Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, and the Vice-Presidents of the European Commission are ready to prepare the next step as quickly as possible.

Weigand emphasised that the purpose of these measures is for the excess profits of the Russian Central Bank to be transferred to Ukraine eventually.

01:49 PM GMT

Sergey Lavrov meets Chinese deputy foreign minister to discuss Ukraine

Sergey Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, has held a meeting with Ma Zhaoxu, the Chinese deputy foreign minister.

The pair discussed the conflict in Ukraine, the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and the Korean peninsula, the Russian foreign ministry said.

01:25 PM GMT

Ukraine imprisons priest for praising pro-Russian separatists

The abbot of a Ukrainian Orthodox church has been sentenced to two years in prison for praising pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas.

Dmytro Tikhov, 54, was accused of parroting the Russian narrative that there was a civil war in Ukraine and reposting comments made by the Russian Orthodox Church which justified the Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory on his Telegram channel, local media reported.

Dmytro Tikhov, a priest at a Moscow-linked church, has been sentenced for pro-Russian activity - UKRAINSKA PRAVDA

The priest, from Eparchy of Vinnytsia and Bar in the centre of the country, was also accused of spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda during his sermons and in conversations with members of his congregation.

Ukrainian secret service agents said they detained Tikhov after he had been hiding at different addresses around the country.

12:52 PM GMT

'Long road ahead' before Orban can meet Zelensky

There is a long road ahead before a meeting can happen between Viktor Orban and Volodymyr Zelensky, the Hungarian foreign minister has said.

Speaking a day after meeting his Ukrainian counterpart, Peter Szijjarto said that Ukraine would have to meet Hungarys conditions to establish a clean slate before the two countrys leaders could meet.

Mr Szijjarto did not specify what the conditions were.

The foreign minister also nodded to a shift in the countrys stance on EU aid to Ukraine by saying Budapest was open to using the blocs budget to fund an aid package providing it had unanimity from member states.

Previously, Mr Orban, Vladimir Putins closest ally among European leaders, blocked a 50billion (42.7billion) package for Ukraine at a summit last month.

12:43 PM GMT

Hungary to vote on Swedens Nato membership by February

Peter Szijjarto, Hungarys foreign minister, has revealed that the country will vote on Swedens bid to join Nato by late February at the earliest.

Speaking a day after meeting his Ukrainian counterpart, Mr Szijjarto said: Parliaments regular session starts in late February, so I think we can wait for the regular session and put this on the agenda then if the majority agrees, of course.

He said he saw no need to call an extraordinary session of the Hungarian parliament to vote on Swedens bid to join the military organisation.

Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of Nato, expressed optimism on Friday that Sweden could be ready to join the group by March.

12:01 PM GMT

Kyiv man detained after 'spying for Russia'

The Ukrainian security service (SBU) has detained a Kyiv resident who is accused of spying for Russia.

The 52-year-old man is alleged to have spied on military facilities and other critical infrastructure in the capital city.

He faces life imprisonment if convicted.

11:48 AM GMT

Orban: Review Ukraine aid every year and I will drop my veto

Viktor Orban has said he will drop his opposition to further European Union military aid for Ukraine if it is reviewed every year.

Repeating a position he has outlined previously, Hungarys prime minister told the French Le Point magazine: Hungary is ready to participate in the solution of the 27 (EU member states) if you guarantee that each year we will decide whether or not to send this money.

And this annual decision must have the same legal basis as today: it must be unanimous.

11:30 AM GMT

MoD: Russia bombs own village for fourth time this month

Russia has bombed one of its own villages for the fourth time this month, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

In its latest defence intelligence briefing, the MoD said two FAB-250 bombs had been dropped on two villages in the Belgorod region on Saturday.

It cannot be confirmed whether such incidents occur due to poor procedures when arming the aircraft prior to sorties or poor execution by aircrew during missions, it said.

It is likely a combination of both. The increasing frequency of these occurrences likely demonstrates a degree of air and ground crew fatigue within the Russian front line, as well as exposing inadequate training.

11:10 AM GMT

Kremlin 'forming own African mercenary group'

The Kremlin is forming its own mercenary group to operate in Africa, it has been reported.

Bloomberg cited sources who said Vladimir Putins government was looking to take advantage of the vacuum left by the demise of the Wagner group, which had extensive interests on the continent.

The group, named the Africa Corps, shares its title with the Nazi forces who operated in North Africa in the Second World War.

The report said 20,000 men would be recruited for operations primarily in the Sahel region on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert.

10:37 AM GMT

Russia to deploy new weapons to disputed Asian islands

Russia will deploy new weapons to a disputed Asian island chain which is also claimed by Japan, Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president, has said.

Russia and Japan never signed a peace treaty formally ending the Second World War.

The Kuril Islands  which Japan calls the Northern Territories  remaining the primary stumbling block between the two sides for a peace deal.

10:13 AM GMT

Kremlin backs ally Iran in face of likely US retaliation

The Kremlin has signalled its support for Iran as it faces the prospect of likely American retaliation for the killing of three American soldiers in Jordan by Tehran proxies on Sunday.

We do not welcome any actions that lead to destabilisation in the region and increase tensions, especially against the backdrop of the excessive potential for conflict, Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, told reporters.

We will not welcome the continuation of such actions, regardless of who they come from. The level of tension is high now and we need to take steps to de-escalate. This is what will prevent the conflict from spreading.

Iran has supplied Russia with Shahed drones and other munitions for its war with Ukraine.

09:51 AM GMT

Watch our analysis: Russia and Ukraine face off in Belgorod

09:44 AM GMT

British-Russian dissident found at different prison colony

British-Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza has been found at a different prison colony after disappearing from a Siberian jail.

Mr Kara-Murza was transferred from the Omsk IK-6 colony to its IK-7 prison, having been moved without any warning given to his family or lawyer on Monday.

In a letter to his lawyer Maria Eismont, he said he had been sent to a type of punishment cell known by its Russian initials as an EPKT, the strictest form of isolation.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison last April on charges of treason and spreading false information about the war in Ukraine.

09:28 AM GMT

Ukraine reaches record high on anti-corruption index

Ukraine has reached a record high position on an anti-corruption index.

Transparency International gave Kyiv a score of 36 on its corruption perception index, an improvement of three points on 2022 and 11 points on 2013.

A score of zero means a country is highly corrupt and 100 means it is free of corruption.

Ukraine ranked 104th out of the 180 countries on the index, 37 places ahead of Russia in 141st on 26 points.

09:04 AM GMT

Russia and Belarus to create joint media outlet

Russia and Belarus will create a joint media firm including two newspapers, an online magazine and a television channel.

Maksut Shadaev, head of Russias digital development ministry, said it would follow a unified, co-ordinated policy.

It is the latest move towards integration between Moscow and Minsk. Belarus was used as a staging ground for Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin has deployed nuclear weapons in the country.

08:52 AM GMT

Overnight Russian attacks kill two

Overnight Russian attacks on Ukraine killed two people and have left five others injured.

In Donetsk, a 38-year-old man was killed by a missile as he cycled home from work in an attack which also injured a 50-year-old woman.

Authorities in Kherson said a man died and his wife was wounded after Russian shelling on the village of Veletenskoye.

08:39 AM GMT

Russia turns off 4G to fine-tune anti-drone defences

Russia has turned off 4G mobile internet connections in the regions of Leningrad, Novgorod and Pskov to fine-tune its anti-drone defences.

The oblasts previously announced that the signal would be disrupted from Jan 25 to Jan 30 for technical adjustments to the radio frequency spectrum.

Russia may be retooling aspects of its air defense umbrella in deep rear areas amid continued Ukrainian drone strikes within Russia, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank said.

08:27 AM GMT

Russian drone attack caught Ukraine by surprise

Ukraine only shot down 15 of the 35 Russian drones which attacked overnight because there were an unexpected number of them.

Col Yurii Ihnat, the Ukrainian air forces spokesman, said on the national telethon: These [statistics] may seem strange to some people. They are used to seeing up to 100 percent of targets successfully downed.

We need to explain this to the public: This is not due to a change in enemy tactics.

The enemy struck with an unexpected number of UAVs on multiple fronts and from different directions.

08:18 AM GMT

In pictures: Drone strike damage

Firemen work at a factory set alight by a Russian drone strike overnight in Bila Tserkva, south of Kyiv - NATIONAL POLICE OF UKRAINE/REUTERS

Russia launched 35 drones on Ukraine overnight and 15 were shot down by anti-air defences - STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE/REUTERS

08:07 AM GMT

Ukraine's gains 'in jeopardy' without more aid, says Blinken

Ukraines gains on the frontline are in jeopardy if the United States and other Western countries do not send it more military aid, Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, has said.

Without it, simply put, everything that Ukrainians achieved and that weve helped them achieve will be in jeopardy, he said.

Absent that supplemental, were going to be sending a strong and wrong message to all of our adversaries that we are not serious about the defense of freedom, the defense of democracy.

It will simply reinforce for Vladimir Putin that he can somehow outlast Ukraine and outlast us.

07:54 AM GMT

Ukraine 'downs Russian Su-34 fighter jet'

Ukraine downed a Russian Su-34 fighter jet over Luhansk on Monday, Ukrainian armed forces have said.

Andriy Kovalev, spokesman for the general staff, told Ukraines telethon that soldiers had shot it down.

Further details were not disclosed.

07:42 AM GMT

Ukraine unable to outproduce Russia, says minister

Ukraine is unable to outperform Russias production of weapons and munitions, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraines strategic industries minister, has said.

He said that Ukraine instead needs to focus on achieving an edge over their enemy through cheaper innovations.

You have to pump the maximum amount of money you can into drones, he told Time magazine.

07:34 AM GMT

Ukraine downs 15 of 35 Russian drones overnight

Ukraines air force said Russia had launched 35 drones and two missiles over Ukraine in the early hours.

It said anti-air defences had shot down 15 of the drones. It did not comment on the fate of the missiles.

The drones were downed over the Mykolaiv, Sumy, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Kherson and Kyiv regions.

07:27 AM GMT

EU to send Ukraine profits of frozen Russian assets

The European Union will send Ukraine profits generated by Russian assets that have been frozen in Europe since the start of the war.

The plan is expected to generate a total of 11 billion ($15 billion) from 2023 to 2027, the Financial Times reported.

Reuters reported that the move was agreed at a meeting of all 27 ambassadors of EU countries at a meeting on Monday.

The West has considered confiscating the frozen assets in full, which are worth a total of 236 billion ($300 billion).

But there are doubts about the legality of doing so and Russia has threatened to retaliate by seizing an equal amount of assets from Western companies operating in Russia.

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Joe Maring / Digital Trends

The Samsung Galaxy S24 series is here. The new phones have officially launched, and some preorders ended up shipping very early. In other words, a lot of people are now getting their hands on Samsungs latest.

If youre going to be among the many people getting a Galaxy S24 handset this week, congrats! The Galaxy S24 Ultra has already proven to be a fantastic smartphone, and the regular Galaxy S24 is shaping up to be special, too. However, before you dig too deep into your new phone, you need to do one very important thing first.

You need to get rid of the Samsung Keyboard

Joe Maring / Digital Trends

By default, every Galaxy S24 model uses the Samsung Keyboard out of the box. At first glance, its fine. It has swipe typing, easy emoji access, some light theming options, and more. As youre setting up your S24 and using the keyboard to log into all of your apps, you might not have any problem with it.

But the minute you start using the Samsung Keyboard to reply to texts, emails, etc.? Thats where it gets bad.

Ive used the Samsung Keyboard on my Galaxy S24 Plus for nearly a week. During this time, Ive lost track of how many typos and silly spelling errors Ive made. And it all boils down to the simplest thing: Bad autocorrect and text prediction.

The Samsung Keyboard is happy to let me type thr instead of obviously correcting it to the. However, when I correctly typed into that, it decided to change it to initially. These are just two examples, but this is a battle you constantly fight with the Samsung Keyboard.

Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Here are some of my favorite autocorrect fails from the past week and the translation of what should have been typed:

Ibthink this is how God intended is to watch movies (I think this is how God intended us to watch movies)

No Samsung, therere are Teo rs (No Samsung, there are two Rs)

Thatsbthr Samsung keyboard guarantee (Thats the Samsung Keyboard guarantee)

You out way too much time initially that but I move it (You put way too much time into that but I love it)

Everybody makes spelling mistakes when they type. It happens to all of us! But most smartphone keyboards are good enough to catch simple and obvious mistakes so you dont sound intoxicated when youre typing. For whatever reason, this is something the Samsung Keyboard struggles with  and has struggled with for years.

Id also like to point out that this isnt just the rantings of one person. Reddit is filled with identical complaints about the Samsung Keyboard. Its a sentiment shared with many of my work colleagues/friends in and out of Digital Trends. Late last year, my mom thought her Galaxy S23 Plus was broken because the keyboard kept acting up on her. Nope! Thats just the Samsung Keyboard, baby.

Theres a clear and easy solution to this

Digital Trends

Thankfully, there is a very easy way to fix this  and itll take you a matter of seconds.

Grab your Galaxy S24, open the Google Play Store, tap the search bar at the top of the screen, and search for Gboard. Once you find it, tap the big blue Install button. This is the official Google-made keyboard that most Android phones use.

Once Gboard is installed, simply do the following:

Open the Settings app.

Scroll down and select General management.

Select Keyboard list and default.

Select the toggle next to Gboard (it should turn from gray to blue).

Choose Default keyboard and tap Gborad from the pop-up menu.

The next time you go to type something, youll be greeted by Gboard instead of Samsung Keyboard. Its not perfect; no virtual keyboard is. But its autocorrect and predictive text are infinitely more reliable, and that means typing on your Galaxy S24 will be a much more enjoyable experience.

I dont know why the Samsung Keyboard is the way it is, and its hard to say if/when itll ever get fixed. But until that day comes, my advice is to get it off your Galaxy S24 as soon as you can. Unless you want to force your friends and family to decypher endless typos from you, this is really something you need to do.
FILE PHOTO: The flags of the United States and China fly in Boston

By Idrees Ali, Alexandra Alper and Michael Martina

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Wednesday added more than a dozen Chinese companies to a list created by the Defense Department to highlight firms it says are allegedly working with Beijing's military, as part of a broader effort to keep American technology from aiding China.

New additions to the list, first reported by Reuters, were posted on the Department of Defense website and include memory chip maker YMTC, artificial intelligence company Megvii, lidar maker Hesai Technology and tech company NetPosa.

Amid strained ties between the world's two biggest economies, the updated list is one of numerous actions Washington has taken in recent years to highlight and restrict Chinese companies that is says may strengthen Beijing's military.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said China opposed the move and called it an abuse of state power, adding that it ran counter to the U.S.'s "alleged commitment to market competition and international fair trade."

China's foreign ministry urged the United States to "immediately rectify the above discriminatory practices" and provide Chinese firms "a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment" to operate in.

"(This) violates the principles of market competition and international economic and trade rules that it has always advocated, and undermines the confidence of foreign enterprises in investing and operating in the United States," spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular briefing on Thursday.

Hesai Group said it does not sell products to any military in any country and it does not have ties with any military. The company said it was disappointed to be added to the list.

YMTC, and Megvii did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

While being placed on the list doesn't involve immediate bans, it can be a blow to designated companies' reputations and represents a stark warning to U.S. entities and companies about the risks of conducting business with them. It could also add pressure on the Treasury Department to sanction the companies.

In addition, the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act added some teeth to the "Section 1260H" list, prohibiting the Defense Department under Section 805 of the law in coming years from contracting with any of the designated companies.

"The Defense Department's updated 1260H list underscores China's unwavering commitment to its military-civil fusion strategy," said Craig Singleton, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

"Being listed on 1260H poses major reputational risks to Chinese companies," he added, noting that some Chinese firms have tried to be removed from the list.

Other firms added on Wednesday include China Three Gorges Corp, China Construction Technology Co and Yitu Network Technology, as well as publicly traded companies Chengdu JOUAV Automation Tech Co, Chengdu M&S Electronics Technology Co, Guizhou Aviation Technical Development Co, and ShenZhen Consys Science & Technology Co.

They join previously listed aviation company AVIC, BGI Genomics Co, China Mobile, energy company CNOOC and China Railway Construction Corp.

Separately on Wednesday, senior U.S. officials, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, warned that hackers linked to China's government are preparing to cause "real-world harm" by targeting critical U.S. infrastructure, such as water treatment plants, the electric grid, oil and natural gas pipelines, and transportation hubs.

(Reporting by Alexandra Alper, Michael Martina, Karen Freifeld and Idrees Ali; Additional reporting by Antoni Slodkowski in Beijing; Editing by Chris Sanders, Doina Chiacu, Lisa Shumaker, Jonathan Oatis, Sonali Paul and Tomasz Janowski)
The Current highlights business news throughout Yakima County. Send your information to business reporter Joel Donofrio at jdonofrio@yakimaherald.com or call 509-759-7851.
Jasper Kenzo Sundeen's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com.
You are the owner of this article.
citizenm

Austin has a new luxury hotel  CitizenM Austin Downtown.

The property at 617 Colorado St. is a 17-story tower with 344 rooms that opened this week.

"We are thrilled to open the doors to CitizenM's first Austin-based-hotel," said Robin Chadha, chief brand officer. "CitizenM encourages guests to be daringly different, likewise all are welcome in Austin's progressive and inclusive metropolis. Austin beats to its own drum  rich with cultural diversity through delicious eateries and vibrant nightlife options  and we are excited to be a part of this bustling community."

Chadha added, "with our curated selection of artwork, rooftop pool and this prime location, CitizenM Austin Downtown will offer mobile citizens a great base to experience this exciting city."

citizenm

The new Austin site is part of the CitizenM U.S. portfolio, which includes properties in Boston, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Miami, and Menlo Park, Calif.

Rooms at the Austin property, which also has a gym, start at $199 a night, according to the company.

New York-based Turnbridge Equities developed the hotel with CitizenM Hotels. The company is a Dutch hospitality brand that says is focused on "urban travelers" and was in expansion mode during the pandemic. The firm raised $1 billion to fund its growth, with plans to open 40 hotels by 2024.

More: New 17-story luxury hotel going up in downtown Austin

As an exciting cultural center and an influential tech and business hub, Austin has been on our radar for years, Ernest Lee, CitizenMs managing director for the Americas, previously told the American-Statesman. Now, with the citys emergence as one of North Americas most significant destinations for knowledge workers, it is cementing its place on the national stage.

The new CitizenM Austin Downtown hotel follows openings of the company's first California hotels in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic period, we have continued to pursue a vigorous growth strategy across the United States and Europe, said Klaas van Lookeren Campagne, CEO of CitizenM. Introducing the CitizenM brand to important markets like Austin is a critical aspect of our strategic expansion and development plan.

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CitizenM Austin Downtown, which is the company's first Texas project, features extra-large, king-size beds, HD televisions with streaming options through free Wi-Fi, as well as customizable temperature, blinds and lights.

citizenm

What else is happening in Austin's hotel market?

Austin hotels currently under development include:

Graduate Austin, an 18-story hotel at Guadalupe and West 18th streets, is planned to open in 2025. It will offer meeting and event space, a ground floor cafe, lobby bar, rooftop restaurant with a bar and a rooftop pool.

1 Hotel Austin will be part of a mixed-use hotel, residential and retail project in the Rainey district along Waller Creek. The 251-room hotel is expected to open in 2026.

Plans are in the works for a five-story hotel in East Austin on a half-acre at 1604, 1606, 1610 and 1612 E. Seventh St., according to site plans filed with the city.

A modular hotel behind Guero's Taco Bar on South Congress Avenue is under construction.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: CitizenM luxury hotel opens in Downtown Austin. Take a look inside.
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Since its 2020 launch in the United Kingdom, Madri Excepcional has become a favourite for British pubgoers and is Molson Coors' top-performing new brand of the last 20 years

TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2024 /CNW/ - Molson Coors Beverage Company ("MCBC" or "Molson Coors") (NYSE: TAP) (NYSE: TAP.A) is excited to introduce Madri Excepcional to beer lovers in Canada starting this February. Following a wildly successful debut in the United Kingdom in 2020, Madri Excepcional has quickly become one of the most popular brands on the British pub scene and in grocery stores across the U.K. Inspired by El Alma de Madrid, Madri Excepcional is the first collaboration between Molson Coors and La Sagra brewery near Madrid. The outcome is a European-style lager positioned within Molson Coors' roster of high-end offerings and has been cited as the company's most successful new brand launch of the past several decades.

MADRI EXCEPCIONAL, INSPIRED BY THE SOUL OF MADRID AND THE FASTEST-GROWING BEER IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, LANDS IN CANADA (CNW Group/Molson Coors Canada)

"We're thrilled with Madri Excepcional's success in the U.K., Molson Coors' most successful European innovation. In just three years, the brand became the second largest above-premium lager in on-premise locations and the third-largest World beer across all channels in the UK," said Frederic Landtmeters, President of Molson Coors Canada. "Above premium world beers are growing in Canada, and Madri Excepcional aims to establish itself as a standout player in the market through its distinct branding, great taste, and authentic Spanish appeal. We expect the beer's distinctive Spanish vibe to connect with Canadian consumers, offering a refreshing choice for beer enthusiasts."

Madri Excepcional aims to capture "El alma de Madrid" or "The Soul of Madrid" and has all the taste characteristics of a modern Spanish-style lager  crisp, smooth, and refreshing; brewed at 4.6% ABV.

The heart and soul of this brand lies in the magic of contemporary Madrid: modern, progressive, and urban. Yet, it never loses sight of the rich culture and traditions cultivated in Spain, over thousands of years. This fusion of innovation and heritage is what sets the brand apart, making it truly Excepcional. The brand is embodied by the "Chulapo", representing a group of people from 19th century Madrid, famous for their elaborate style and cheeky attitude. This distinctive figure takes center stage on the product packaging and in communication materials. Today, the term is often used to refer to the people of Madrid, and the spirt of the original Chulapo's which continues to live on within them.

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The launch will be bolstered by a significant investment, fueling brand exposure through TV, social, and digital media. High-profile partnerships and activations will emphasize the brand's alignment with progressive art, food, and music cultures.

In March 2024, Madri Excepcional will be available on draught in on-premise venues and on shelves in key retail locations across Canada.

About Molson Coors Beverage Company

For more than two centuries, Molson Coors has been brewing beverages that unite people to celebrate all life's moments. From Coors Light, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian, Carling, and Staropramen to Coors Original, Blue Moon Belgian White, Blue Moon Light, Vizzy Hard Seltzer, Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, Creemore Springs, Hop Valley and more, Molson Coors produces many beloved and iconic beer brands. While the company's history is rooted in beer, Molson Coors offers a modern portfolio that expands beyond the beer aisle as well. Our Environmental, Social and Governance strategy is focused on People and Planet with a strong commitment to raising industry standards and leaving a positive imprint on our employees, consumers, communities, and the environment.

Learn more about Molson Coors Beverage Company, visit molsoncoors.com , MolsonCoorsOurImprint.com or on Twitter through @MolsonCoors .

Madri Excepcional logo (CNW Group/Molson Coors Canada)

SOURCE Molson Coors Canada

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2024/31/c1943.html
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Barcelona, tun de 220 de milioane de euro

Barcelona este fata in fata cu o oferta de nerefuzat. Catalanii pot incasa instant 220 de milioane de euro. MARCA a citat surse anonime conform carora Barcelona a primit o propunere din partea unui brand de echipamente, aflat in rivalitate cu Nike. Conducerea Barcelonei se intereseaza in aceasta perioada de un nou furnizor [citeste mai departe]
Euro a stagnat la 4,97 lei

Leul a ramas principalul instrument utilizat de BNR pentru a tine inflatia sub control, si ramane cea mai stabila moneda din regiune, in conditiile in care politica fiscala PSDNL ramane una imprevizibila. Acest fapt este atestat de Eurostat care a anuntat ca preturile din februarie s-au majorat cu 7,1%, in timp ce inflatia din zona euro s-au comprimat [citeste mai departe]
Mastercard Inc. (NYSE:MA) trades at approximately 31 times consensus 2024 earnings per share. Comparably, the S&P 500 trades at roughly 21 times consensus earnings.

Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio) appears to believe the stock is worth its premium valuation as Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A) (NYSE:BRK.B) owns nearly 4 million shares. Based on current market prices, this position is worth roughly $1.6 billion.

I agree with Buffett and believe that Mastercard is worth its premium valuation due to its wide moat and strong growth prospects.

Wide-moat business

Mastercard is the third-largest payments processing company globally with an estimated total market share of 24%. The global payments market is highly concentrated with the leading player, Visa (NYSE:V), having an estimated 39% market share. China-based UnionPay is the second-largest player globally with an estimated 34% market share. Outside of China, the payments network business is dominated by Visa and Mastercard as the vast majority of UnionPay volume is inside China.

In the U.S., Mastercard competes with smaller players such as American Express (NYSE:AXP), Capital One (NYSE:COF) and Discover (NYSE:DFS). However, the marketplace is dominated by Mastercard, Visa and American Express. For these reasons, the payment network business can be characterized as an oligopoly. This market structure results in a low degree of competition and high profit margins. The company's consistently high profit margins, which have averaged over 40% over the past 10 years, serve as evidence of the wide moat that Mastercard enjoys.

Barriers to entry for new players are very high in the card network business as it would require massive adoption among merchets to be competitive with the coverage of Visa or Mastercard networks.

The result of a low degree of existing competition and high barriers to entry is that Mastercard is a wide-moat business.

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Is Mastercard's Premium Valuation Deserved?

MA Data by GuruFocus

Strong growth prospects

Mastercard has several key growth drivers, including annual increases in card spending due to economic growth and a continued transition toward spending on credit cards versus cash. Historically, nominal U.S. gross domestic product has grown at around 6%. Thus, assuming no increase in the proportion of transactions executed on cards versus cash, Mastercard should be able to grow revenue at 6%. Research conducted the Pew Research Center suggests that roughly 41% of Americans do not use cash for any of their purchases, while 44% of Americans still use cash for some of their purchases. This is a significant change from 2015, when it was estimated that roughly 24% of Americans did not use cash for any of their purchases while 51% of Americans did. Thus, while the trend away from cash has been growing, there is significant room for a further shift in spending volumes away from cash and toward cards.

Current consensus estimates call for Mastercard to report revenue growth of 12.20% in 2024, 13% in 2025 and 10.90% in 2026. I view these estimates as fairly reasonable given the company has grown revenue at an annual rate of roughly 11% over the past five years. Consensus estimates call for the company to report earnings per share growth of 16.90% for 2024, 18% for 2025 and 18.20% for 2026. I view these estimates as reasonable since the company has grown earnings per share over the past five years at an annual rate of roughly 18%. Earnings are likely to grow faster than revenue due to the impact of share repurchases and modest margin expansion. I view modest margin expansion as likely given that the company's cost base is unlikely to rise at the same pace as revenues since Mastercard has very little marginal costs for additional spend on its network.

Valuation is reasonable versus peers

Mastercard is currently trading at approximately 31 times forward earnings per share. This compares to its larger peer Visa, which trades at approximately 28 times forward earnings. I view this relative premium valuation as reasonable given that the company has historically experienced slightly better growth prospects due to a higher percentage of its volume being outside the U.S. compared to Visa. Mastercard is also expected to experience modestly better revenue and earnings per share growth than Visa over the next few years, which further supports the case that it should trade at a premium. For context, consensus estimates for 2024 to 2026 call for Visa to grow earnings per share at rates of 12.60%, 12.90% and 14.60%.

I also find Mastercard's premium valuation to the broader market as reasonable as it has better near-term growth prospects than the broader market. While consensus estimates call for the S&P 500 to grow earnings by roughly 12% for fiscal year 2024, I expect growth to moderate back toward historical norms of high single digits in the years that follow. I view 10% as a reasonable five-year earnings growth estimate for the S&P 500. Comparably, over the next five years, I believe Mastercard can grow earnings at a annual rate of 16%, which represents a small discount to the growth rate over the past five years. Thus, based on these growth estimates, the stock is trading at a forward PEG ratio of 1.90 while the broader market is trading at a PEG ratio of 2.10.

Mastercard's forward price-earnings ratio of 31 is also fairly attractive versus historical norms. Over the past few years, the stock has traded at an average forward price-earnings ratio of approximately 35. Over the past 10 years, it has traded at an average trailing price-earnings ratio of approximately 37. Thus, based on these metrics, I view the company's current valuation as attractive versus historical norms.

Is Mastercard's Premium Valuation Deserved?

MA Data by GuruFocus

Risks to the bull case

I believe the biggest risk to the Mastercard bull case is the potential for regulatory reform, which might limit how much card network operators can change or increase competition. For example, the proposed Credit Card Competition Act would require banks to give merchants a choice of two different network to process credit card transactions on. In response to this proposed legislation, Mastercard released a public letter to a number of U.S. Senators noting the proposed legislation would remove customer choice, erode security, eliminate rewards and prevent small businesses from investing in their future.

I view near-term passage of the Credit Card Competition Act unlikely given the other events, including wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, competing for time on the congressional agenda. That said, investors should continue to actively monitor the regulatory environment as it poses a key risk to the business over the longer term.

Conclusion

Mastercard trades at a premium valuation to the broader market and its closest peer. I view the premium as warranted given the company's wide-moat business and solid growth potential. Additionally, I view the modest valuation premium relative to Visa as appropriate given the fact Mastercard has modestly better growth prospects. The stock is trading at a discount to its historical valuation norms, which suggests it is undervalued relative to its own historical valuation norm.

The biggest risk facing the company is potential regulatory reform. However, I view this as unlikely given the current political climate.

For these reasons, I believe Mastercard is worthy of its premium valuation and view the shares as attractive currently.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Stephen is a seasoned travel writer, for over 20 years he has visited 60+ countries on 6 continents and published articles to the satisfaction of the best hotels and airlines in the world on XpatLoop.com - the key media portal for the international community in Hungary.

Thank You for Visiting - Short Introduction to Stephen:



Stephen is currently one of four UNICEF Champions in Hungary - the National Committee of United Nations Children's Fund here awarded him this title due to his many years of service.



In 2018 he was presented with the 'Good Person Award' by Hungary's OSA in recognition of his charity work, and earlier he received a 'Partners in Europe Award' from His Royal Highness's 'Prince's Trust' charitable organisation.



Selection of References:



Here below for your interest and reference is a selection of travel articles published by Stephen on XpatLoop.com - which has over 30,000 high-value readers who are regular travellers and so frequent flyers - to the satisfaction of a great range of partners, including:



1. Anantara Luxury Hotels and Resorts

Escape From Budapest To A Riverside Oasis At Anantara's Bangkok Resort



2. Angsana Hotels & Resorts Around the Globe

Escape From Budapest To Thailands Leading Family Resort: Angsana Phuket



3. Avani Hotels & Resorts

Escape From Budapest To AVANI Pattaya Resort: Seaside Stay In Tropical Oasis



4. Centara Hotels & Resorts

Escape To A Lost World Paradise At Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya 



5. Four Points by Sheraton

Escape From Budapest To Bangkok's Four Points By Sheraton: An Inner City Winner



6. Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts

Escape From Budapest To Le Meridien Cyberport In Hong Kong



7. Movenpick Luxury Hotels & Resorts

Escape From Budapest To Pristine Beach Life At Pattaya's Movenpick Siam Hotel



8. Ramada by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Escape From Budapest To Ramada Resort Khao Lak In Thailand



9. Shangri-La Luxury Hotels & Resorts

Escape From Budapest to Shangri-La Hotel In Bangkok: A Tropical City Resort



10. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

Escape From Budapest To Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers Bangkok



11. U Hotels & Resorts

Escape To A Hidden Paradise At U Pattaya



12. Westin Luxury Wellness Hotels & Resorts

The Westin Siray Bay Resort In Phuket, Thailand



Key Media Info:



XpatLoop High-Level Reader Demographics:

 Business Leaders: CEOs, CFOs, GM's, MD's, plus Finance Directors, Marketing Directors, HR Directors, Training Directors, Purchasing Managers.

 Community Opinion Leaders: Diplomats, Artists, Actors, Authors, Doctors, Priests, Teachers, Film-makers, Restaurateurs, Journalist

 58% Male, 42% Female. Age 35-49: 65%, Age 50+: 21%, Age 18-34: 10%.

 Education: 38% Graduates, 32% Post-Graduates.

 Income: 38% USD 30-60,000, 33% Less Than USD 30,000, 17% USD 60-100,000, 12% Over USD 100,000. Total 67% Earn Over USD 30,000 Per Year.



Great Google Search Results:



Its worth highlighting that Google highly rates articles published on XpatLoop, and the articles above and further examples below all benefit from organic (not paid for) Google search results.



Extra Examples of Positive PR Articles - Worldwide:


Hungary's population stood at an estimated 9.58 million at the end of 2023, according to data released by the Central Statistical Office (KSH).

The natural decrease in the population was 42,000 for the year, the difference between 85,200 live births and 127,200 deaths.



The number of live births fell by 3.7% and the fertility rate slipped to 1.5% from 1.52%.



The number of deaths dropped 6.8%. Since it first returned to power in 2010, the Fidesz-led government has enacted measures such as tax cuts for large families (with four or more children) and preferential loans in a bid to turn around the falling population growth.





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(Bloomberg) -- Leaders from five social media platforms were admonished by US lawmakers on Wednesday over their failure to protect kids online from sexual predators and mental health issues, and were pressed to support new legislation to impose controls.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The 21-member Senate Judiciary Committee called the chief executives of Meta Platforms Inc., X, Snap Inc., Discord Inc. and TikTok to Washington in an effort to hold them accountable for their platforms impact on teenagers and children.

These companies must be reined in, or the worst is yet to come, Senator Lindsey Graham, the top Republican on the committee, said. Singling out Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg, Graham said he had blood on his hands, detailing a story of a child who was a victim of sexual exploitation. You have a product thats killing people, he added. His comments were met with an uproar of applause and cheers from advocates in attendance in the packed hearing room.

Congress has been under pressure to respond to mounting evidence of the spread of child sexual abuse material online and the tech companies inability to protect children from predators. They have also raised concerns about the effect social media use has on young peoples mental health. TikTok and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, are facing lawsuits in California that claim the companies were negligent and ignored the potential harms their platforms created for teens.

Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, convened the hearing to generate momentum for the committees legislation targeting online child sexual exploitation.

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We remain ready to work with members of this committee, industry and parents to make the internet safer for everyone, Zuckerberg said. Im proud of the work that our teams do to improve online and child safety on our services and across the entire internet.

But the senators had little patience for Zuckerberg or his peers and found their efforts, some of which Durbin noted have been introduced only recently, fell short.

Discord has been used to groom, abduct and abuse children. Metas Instagram helped connect and promote a network of pedophiles, Durbin said. Snapchats disappearing messages have been coopted by criminals who financially sextort young victims.

Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, and their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.

Lawmakers have examined childrens online safety in previous hearings, but Wednesday marks the first time Congress convened the executives to discuss the matter as part of a broader effort to move legislation forward.

President Joe Biden, tech industry whistleblowers, parents, and teenagers themselves have repeatedly called on Congress to improve safety online as evidence suggests social media use could be worsening youngsters mental health. Yet legislative proposals have languished as tech and digital rights groups lobby against them, characterizing many of the measures as ineffective and dangerous for user privacy and safety.

Durbin also acknowledged the responsibility of Congress, which has repeatedly failed to set regulations on social media companies over the years.

Meta has faced significant pushback for its child safety practices and Zuckerberg explained on Wednesday the many tools that Meta has rolled out to protect young people, including parental controls that set time limits on app usage, notifications to review privacy settings, and restrictions on interactions with adults.

But the senators werent buying it, and spent more time questioning Zuckerberg directly than his peers over four hours of testimony.

Josh Hawley of Missouri asked the co-founder of Facebook if he would personally compensate victims of sexual exploitation on his sites.

Youre a billionaire, Hawley said. Will you set up a victims compensation fund with your money?

In a particularly dramatic moment, Hawley asked Zuckerberg whether hes apologized to victims and their families who have been exploited on his platforms  including the ones in the audience today. At Hawleys urging, the CEO stood up, turned around and addressed the audience.

I am sorry for everything that you have all gone through, Zuckerberg said. Its terrible. No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered, and this is why we invest so much, and are going to continue doing industry-leading efforts to make sure that no one has to go through the types of things that your families have had to suffer.

Zuckerberg also faced questions about the fact that he rejected requests from his top leadership in 2021 to expand teams overseeing child safety and well-being, according to documents and emails released by Congress ahead of the hearing. In the hearing, Zuckerberg said Meta spent $5 billion last year on trust and safety.

Earlier: Tech CEOs Brace for Senate Scrutiny on Childrens Safety

Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, Snaps Evan Spiegel and Jason Citron of Discord, were testifying in Congress for the first time but didnt get off lightly, either.

Yaccarino, who took on the CEO role at X last June, endorsed one of the committees bipartisan bills that has yet to reach the Senate floor for a vote. Known as the STOP CSAM Act, the bill intends to empower victims of child sex abuse by allowing them to sue social media companies. The bill would also make it easier for victims to request the removal of child sex abuse material from online platforms.

As a mother, this is personal, and I share the sense of urgency, Yaccarino said. It is time for a federal standard to criminalize the sharing of non-consensual intimate material.

Unlike other social media companies that focus on courting young users, Yaccarino highlighted Xs older customer base. X is not the platform of choice for children and teens, she said, adding that teens are automatically set to a default private setting. Of Xs 90 million US users, Yaccarino said fewer than 1% are minors.

Yaccarino and Spiegel both voiced support for the Kids Online Safety Act, though the X chief stopped short of endorsing it, which Snap has done. The bill, championed by Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican on the committee, and Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, would create legal requirements for tech companies to keep children safe from content that promotes violence, sexual exploitation, substance abuse, and eating disorders.

No legislation is perfect, but some rules of the road are better than none, Spiegel said.

Yaccarino said the Kids Online Safety Act should continue to progress and we will support the continuation to engage with it and ensure the protections of the freedom of speech.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew, whose app is owned by ByteDance Ltd. of China, faced questions over child safety and also his companys links to the Chinese Communist Party. Hawley reiterated calls for a nationwide ban on the popular app.

Chew last appeared before a House committee nearly a year ago. As part of Chews testimony, TikTok pledged to spend $2 billion this year on trust and safety globally, as the popular video service crosses 170 million monthly active users in the US.

TikTok largely supports the STOP CSAM act, Chew said, but the company has questions about how it would be implemented.

(Updates with additional testimony)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
YORK  Elluminati Egoddess Enikko Prestige, formerly known as Erica Jenkins, who is incarcerated at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women in York, was recently charged with assaulting another inmate at the prison in December 2023.

Prestige was convicted of first degree murder, among other charges, in 2014 for her involvement with a series of murders committed by her brother, Nikko Jenkins, who is currently on death row. In 2021 she legally changed her name from Erica Jenkins to Elluminati Egoddess Enikko Prestige.

The complaint, filed in York County, does not include details about the alleged assault. It says that Prestige is being charged with unlawfully strik[ing] or wound[ing] someone while incarcerated. The victim is named only by their initials.

Nebraska Department for Correctional Services Spokesperson Dayne Urbanovsky did not immediately respond to a request comment.

George C. Welch, an assistant attorney general with Nebraska, has been appointed as a special prosecutor, according to court filings. York Deputy County Attorney Chris Johnson said in a filing that he would have a potential conflict of interest in pursuing the investigation and filing of charges against Prestige.

In 2016, Prestige assaulted her cousin, cellmate and co-defendant Christine Bordeaux, a jury in York County District Court found. At the time, Johnson was in private practice and represented Prestige as her defense attorney.

Although Johnson is now a prosecutor in the county attorneys office, he and the county attorneys office are precluded from prosecuting her for the alleged December 2023 assault because of a possible conflict of interest, Johnson said to the News-Times over the phone. Instead, Welch, who prosecuted Prestige for her assault against Bordeaux, will once again be prosecuting her.

The court filings do not include details about where in the prison the alleged Dec. 3, 2023 assault occurred. Prestige told the News-Times on Dec. 7 that she lived in North Hall  the general population housing unit where her assault against Bordeaux had occurred, according to a 2018 complaint filed by Bordeaux against the prison.

In 2018, Bordeaux sued correctional staff at the womens prison for its decision to place her in the same cell as Prestige. Bordeaux argued that the prison staff demonstrated deliberate indifference when they placed her in the same cell as someone whom she had testified against in court. Bordeaux, who had been present at some of Nikko Jenkins murders, cooperated with law enforcement and served as a state witness for both Nikko Jenkins and Prestiges trials.

In August 2022 the U.S. District Court for Nebraska ruled against Bordeaux. The court found that although prison staff miscommunication derailed the prisons system of protection for inmates, prison staff, including the prisons current warden Angela Folts-Oberle, had not been deliberately indifferent when they decided to place Bordeaux and Prestige in the same cell.

After Bordeaux appealed, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals held up the district courts ruling in August 2023. Bordeaux did not appeal the Eighth Circuits decision, her lawyers told the News-Times.

Prestige will appear in York County Court on Feb. 14 for the alleged December 2023 assault.
Sometimes a body needs room to roam.

And sometimes, that body isnt an individual but a herd  or herds  of pronghorn antelope. To survive, they may need to move across vast tracts of land to avoid the worst weather and find food.

But the miles of fence strung across the western United States to keep cattle in pastures often serve as barriers to the movement of pronghorns and other wildlife.

On Thursday, Platte Basin Timelapse, a long-term storytelling project co-founded by Lincoln-based conservation photographer Michael Forsberg, will post a documentary short film that tells the story of one initiative to improve fence lines in the North Platte River Valley along the Colorado-Wyoming border to allow pronghorns and other wildlife to move more freely.

In the West, Forsberg said, effectively managing wildlife means managing it on private lands, not just on public parcels. Ranchers, meanwhile, have to balance benefits for wildlife with keeping the ranches profitable.

They love wildlife on these ranches, Forsberg said. And they understand the importance of these working landscapes.

Under the Wire, which will be posted on the organizations website and its social media channels, is directed by Omaha native Mariah Lundgren. Its one of a series of natural history films Platte Basin Timelapse has produced. Each is centered around a particular wildlife species in locales stretching from the mountains to the plains. Previous films have focused on the American dipper, North Americas only aquatic songbird, and the return of trumpeter swans and bighorn sheep to Nebraska.

Forsberg said the groups aim is to tell stories about the Platte River Basin and the relationships that bind the land and the people and the wildlife that live there, with water as the muse.

The organization, a partnership with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, also serves as learning laboratory to train future storytellers like Lundgren to bridge the gap between science, art and communication. A UNL graduate who now lives in the Denver area, she is one of a half-dozen employees. The group, primarily supported by funding from outside the university, also teaches classes and offers internships. The projects other co-founder is Mike Farrell, a veteran of Nebraska Educational Television, now Nebraska Public Media.

Lundgren said her job involves taking the photos, video and words Forsberg has collected over the years, rounding them out by capturing more footage and interviews, and turning them into films. The art form offers another way to engage people.

Its been reaching a much more diverse audience by having these films in tandem with these photos, stories and essays, she said.

The new film isnt just about pronghorn and fences but also focuses on the people  ranchers, conservationists and others  involved in the project, she said. It highlights the beauty and diversity of the land.

Unless you spend time in these places, its hard to really grasp whats out there, especially if youre just driving down the interstate, Lundgren said. Ive heard it called a wasteland before, and thats always stuck with me, because its definitely not. We hope this film shows that.

Under the Wire, in fact, started with a project Forsberg got involved in about four years ago. Hed given a talk with a Nebraska rancher about photography and storytelling at a meeting of western landowners in Billings, Montana.

Afterward, a ranch manager approached him and invited him to the A Bar A Ranch in southern Wyoming to see the herd of pronghorn that roam the area. The ranch, which also has a hospitality arm, is one of three contiguous family-owned properties that run nearly 30 miles from close to North Park, Colorado, to near Encampment, Wyoming.

Pronghorn can sprint faster than 60 mph, but they arent great jumpers, Forsberg said. To cross fences, they often limbo under. But negotiating fence after fence can take a toll.

Forsberg said the ranchers had learned through living and working on the land the locations of some crossing points. As part of the project that also produced the film, the team and ranch staff deployed additional cameras across the landscape to pinpoint other places where the animals were crossing and figure out what challenges they faced.

Burk Knowlton, an assistant ranch manager featured in the film, said the A Bar A previously had begun replacing some fence with wildlife-friendly fencing when the opportunity arose. Its a process thats occurring across the West and one that will continue.

The film focuses on an 8.5-mile conversion that took place in 2022, he said. The local Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins Conservation District provided the funding, which originated from a number of sources and involved a host of partnerships.

While the specifics vary from site to site, Knowlton said, the conversion generally involves replacing the lower strand of barbed wire with smooth wire so pronghorns dont cut their backs when they duck underneath. They also raise it higher off the ground.

In most cases, the top strand also is lowered, making it easier for deer, moose and elk to get over, he said. The fences, however, still do their job of keeping cattle in their appointed pastures.

Deploying the cameras, however, revealed more than just wildlife movement patterns, Knowlton said. He and another assistant ranch manager developed a part of the ranchs hospitality arm that takes families and other groups on horseback and fishing adventures. They see a lot of wildlife.

But the cameras allowed them to capture the animals night moves, as well as their behaviors and interactions. They observed that when birds of prey land on a fencepost to eat a meal, for instance, they leave bits that ground-dwelling animals like weasels later climb up and devour.

Spoiler alert: In one scene they captured, a mother bobcat hones her claws on a log, trailed by a cub who perfectly mimics her behavior.

You put these game cameras out, Knowlton said, ... and you suddenly have this window into their lives when nobody else is looking, and its so much more intimate.
Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024 will kick off from tomorrow i.e. February 1, 2024. For those comparing it with the Auto Expo, it is a rather subtle version of the grand show that took place last year. However, it will be very similar to the Auto Expo in numerous ways. A host of automakers have announced to showcase numerous new products. The key focus from carmakers remains on future mobility solutions that will pave the path for transportation solutions in the coming years. Well, if you are planning to visit the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024, heres all that you should know.

Bharat Mobility Expo 2024: Venue

The event is happening at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan. The place is easily accessible by public transport, via DTC buses and Delhi Metro. The Bharat Mandapam can be accessed by private means of transportation as it facilitates designated parking for visitors.

Bharat Mobility Expo 2024: Date & Timing

The show is scheduled from February 1 to February 3. Talking of timings, the expo will remain open between 10 AM to 6 PM. Well, there will be enough to explore in this window of 8 hours.

Bharat Mobility Expo 2024: Tickets

To visit the Bharat Mobility Expo 2024, you will need to visit its official website and register yourself as a visitor. There are no ticket booths at the event, but we are expecting the show to facilitate on-spot registrations as well.

Bharat Mobility Expo 2024: Expected Car Unveiling

The expo is witnessing participation from 28 leading automakers from across the world. The key highlight for auto enthusiasts will remain the Mercedes-Benz EQG Concept. The electrified avatar of the legendary G-Class will seek attention from everyone who loves cars. After all, it can do a full 360-degree turn like a tank. Hyundai has also affirmed to showcase future mobility solutions at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2024. Commercial vehicles will also be on display, which are expected to soon hit our market in the future. Talking of Tata Motors, the indigenous brand will showcase 10 commercial vehicles and 8 passenger vehicles.
New Delhi: State-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) on Wednesday posted a 19 percent increase in profit at Rs 4,579 crore for the third quarter ended December 2023. The bank had earned a net profit of Rs 3,853 crore in the same quarter a year ago. Total income increased to Rs 31,416 crore during the quarter under review from Rs 27,092 crore in the same period last year, BoB said in a regulatory filing.

The interest income of the bank rose to Rs 28,605 crore from Rs 23,540 crore in the third quarter of the previous fiscal. Gross Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) of the bank declined to 3.08 percent of gross loans by the end of December 2023 from 4.53 percent a year ago. (Also Read: Maruti Suzuki India Q3 Profit Up 33.27% At Rs 3,206.8 Crore)

Similarly, net NPAs or bad loans came down to 0.70 percent from 0.99 percent at the end of the third quarter of the previous fiscal. However, the Capital Adequacy Ratio of the bank moderated to 14.72 percent as against 14.93 percent at the end of December 2022. (Also Read: Number Of Income Tax Filers Increases To Over Eight Crore: President Murmu During Budget Session)

During the December quarter FY24, the bank made a contingent provision of Rs 50.49 crore in respect of investment in the Alternate Investment Fund (AIF) pursuant to RBI circular dated December 19, 2023, it said.
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu shared some important news about farmers during her speech on Wednesday during the Budget session. She mentioned that in the last 10 years, paddy and wheat farmers have received a significant amount of nearly Rs 18 lakh crore as the Minimum Support Price (MSP). This is a big increase compared to the decade before 2014.

President Murmu also highlighted that farmers growing oilseeds and pulses have received over Rs 1.25 lakh crore as MSP in the last 10 years under the current government. (Also Read: Number Of Income Tax Filers Increases To Over Eight Crore: President Murmu During Budget Session)

She emphasized the government's focus on making farming more profitable and reducing the costs for farmers while increasing their profits. (Also Read: Amidst Global Crisis, India's Economy Is Fastest Growing: Prez Droupadi Murmu During Budget Session)

For the first time, the government is giving priority to over 10 crore small farmers in its agricultural policies and schemes. President Murmu pointed out that the government has taken various steps to support farmers, such as providing over Rs 2.8 lakh crore under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme in the past 10 years.

She also mentioned the threefold increase in easy loans for farmers from banks in the last decade. Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, farmers paid a premium of Rs 30,000, and they have received a total claim of Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

President Murmu proudly announced that the government has formulated the country's first agricultural export policy, resulting in agricultural exports reaching up to Rs 4 lakh crore.

Additionally, she mentioned that more than Rs 11 lakh crore have been spent in the last 10 years to provide fertilizers to farmers at affordable prices.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: All eyes are set on the announcement from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who will be presenting the Interim Budget 2024-25 in Parliament tomorrow (February 1, 2024). As per the customary practice, Economic Survey is presented a day ahead of the Budget. However, the Economic Survey will not be tabled in Parliament today.

Why Will Economic Survey Not Be Presented Today?

As per parliamentary conventions, the Economic Survey is presented in the Lok Sabha a day ahead of the Union Budget. Economic Survey is tabled after the Presidents Address to both Houses of Parliament. However, since the Ppcoming Budget is going to be an Interim Budget (since general elections are scheduled for 2024), the financial document will not be presented this time around --ahead of the Interim Budget. It will be presented by the government that comes to power after winning the Lok Sabha Elections.

The Economic Survey, regarded as the official report card of the union government, gives a roadmap for the country's economy and spells the way forward. The Economic Survey provides a summary of the annual economic development across the country during the financial year. The annual survey analyses the trends in infrastructure, agricultural and industrial production, employment, prices, exports, imports, money supply, foreign exchange reserves and other factors having an impact on the Indian economy and the Budget.

The survey also puts out economic growth forecasts, provides justification and detailed reasons why it believes the economy will expand faster or decelerate. Sometimes, it also argues for some specific reform measures.

The Survey, which is tabled in Parliament by the Finance Minister ahead of the Union Budget, is being prepared by Principal Economic Advisor and other officials in absence of the Chief Economic Advisor (CEA), who traditionally is the main architect of the document.

Meanwhile, two days ago, the The Ministry of Finance released a report named "The Indian Economy - A Review" that gives an outlie of the economic chart of the country in the last decade.

Finance Ministry has said that the Review consists of two chapters and takes stock of the state of the Indian economy and its journey in the last 10 years and offers a brief sketch of the outlook for the economy in the coming years.

The Ministry of Finance @FinMinIndia releases The Indian Economy - A Review.



The Review consists of two chapters and takes stock of the state of the Indian economy and its journey in the last 10 years and offers a brief sketch of the outlook for the economy in the coming years. pic.twitter.com/0RDPiW3f5h  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) January 29, 2024

The first economic survey reportedly came into existence in 1950-51, when it used to be a part of the budget documents. In the 1960s, it was separated from the Budget documents and presented day prior to the Union Budget.The most important feature which many will look out for is its central theme. Last year`s central theme was `Agile Approach`, which put emphasis on India`s economic response to the Covid-19 Pandemic shock. The preface of the Economic Survey 2022 stated that the "Agile approach" was based on feedback loops, real-time monitoring of actual outcomes, flexible responses, safety-net buffers and so on.Along with the sectoral chapters, the Survey document also adds new need-based chapters that need focus.
NEET 2024: Aspirant doctors preparing for the National Eligibility Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) received a welcome surprise with the announcement of a fee reduction. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has decided to decrease the exam fee by Rs 750 for all categories, bringing relief to lakhs of students across the country. This move comes into effect immediately, applicable to anyone submitting their application form after January 1, 2024. The revised fees are now lower than what was charged in 2013, offering significant financial ease to candidates. Earlier, the fee stood at Rs 4,250 for general and OBC categories and Rs 3,250 for SC, ST, and PWD candidates. These have been reduced to Rs 3,500 and Rs 2,500 respectively.

The fee reduction has been met with positive reactions from students and medical associations. Many lauded the move as a step towards promoting inclusivity and equity in medical education. The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) expressed its appreciation for the decision, acknowledging its impact on alleviating financial burden on students.

While the exact reasons behind the fee reduction remain unclear, experts speculate that it could be linked to increased revenue generation from other NBEMS exams or efforts to encourage wider participation in NEET PG.

This development brings a sigh of relief to countless medical aspirants preparing for their postgraduate dreams. The reduced fee removes a significant financial hurdle, allowing them to focus solely on their academic pursuits. With more students potentially able to take the exam, it could also lead to a more diverse and qualified pool of medical professionals in the future.
Many of us give up those valuable hours of sleep for work, socializing, or binge-watching our favourite shows because of the hectic nature of our everyday lives. What we might not know, though, is that our mental health is greatly influenced by the quality of our sleep. Humans have an innate need for sleep and we sleep for nearly a third of our lives. Lack of sleep for an extended period of time might have negative health effects.

Dr Sibasish Dey, Head of Medical Affairs, South Asia, ResMed says,"Women are also more prone to experiencing micro awakenings, referred to as respiratory event-related arousal (RERA), which can lead to fragmented sleep. Additionally, studies have revealed that women generally have lower sleep quality compared to men."

Quality sleep serves as a retreat from both mental and physical activities, providing rejuvenation and preparing us for the challenges of the next day's routine. The article will delve into the profound connection between a peaceful night's sleep and our mental well-being.

The effectiveness, performance and general health of a person can all be enhanced by getting adequate sleep. Here are a few ways shared by Mr Nilesh Mazumdar, the Chief Executive Officer at Sleepwell, Sheela Foam Ltd. on how your a good night's sleep can improve your health:

Regulating Daily Activities

When you've had a restful night, your body and mind are well-prepared to face the challenges ahead. Quality sleep sets the stage for a well-regulated routine, making it easier to tackle daily activities with focus and efficiency.

Choosing the right mattress

Achieving a good night's sleep and maintaining mental well-being involves selecting the right mattress. It's crucial that your mattress provides proper back support and allows for a comfortable sleeping position. Whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach, find a mattress that suits your preferences.

Improving Memory

Quality slumber is like a superhero for your memory. During the night, your brain consolidates memories and sorts through the events of the day. A good night's sleep can significantly enhance your ability to recall information, helping you remember names, faces, and important details.

Mood Regulation

When you sleep well, your brain produces chemicals that regulate mood, making you more resilient to stressors. On the flip side, insufficient sleep can leave you feeling emotionally vulnerable, amplifying negative feelings and making it harder to cope with life's challenges.

Boosting Creativity

Whether you're an artist, a writer, or just someone looking to infuse more creativity into your life, sleep is your ally. A well-rested mind is a fertile ground for creativity to blossom. During the various stages of sleep, your brain consolidates information, forms new connections, and solves problems.

Alleviating Stress

Stress is an inevitable part of life, but how we handle it can make a world of difference. Adequate sleep acts as a natural stress buster. When you're well-rested, your body and mind are better equipped to manage stress, helping you approach challenges with a clearer perspective and a calmer demeanour.

Dr Nishtha Budhiraja, Psychologist and Psychotherapist (Clinal & Neuro), from Loop suggest, "Ensure your room is dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature. Investing in comfortable bedding, blackout curtains, and white noise machines can help create a sleep-conducive environment."
New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday (January 9) argued before the Supreme Court that Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is not a minority institution as it has a national character, in a new hearing of a case that goes back to 75 years ago. The case involves two legal questions: whether an educational institution can get minority status under Article 30 of the Indian Constitution, and whether a central university created by a parliamentary law can be called a minority institution. The Supreme Court (SC) has recently observed that the minority status of an educational institution is not affected by the fact that its administration is governed by a statute.

A seven-judge bench is hearing the case of AMU to decide whether the university is a minority institution. The bench consists of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Surya Kant, JB Pardiwala, Dipankar Datta, Manoj Misra and Satish Chandra Sharma. In 1967, the Supreme Court held that AMU was not a minority institution, and now the Government of India has challenged the universitys minority status in the Apex court.

Aligarh Muslim University is not and cannot be a university of any specific religion or religious group, as any university declared by the Constitution of India to be of national importance cannot be, by definition, a minority institution, said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in his written submissions to the Supreme Court of India. According to a PTI report, the Solicitor General of India contended in court that the university has been an institution of national importance.

Supreme Courts Views In Ongoing AMU Case

The Supreme Court, in the ongoing AMU case, emphasises that an institution does not lose its minority status by being regulated by a statute. Article 30 of the Constitution is explained to not require the minority community to have exclusive control over the administration for retaining minority status. The court recognises that a minority institution can have a secular administration and is not limited to offering only religious courses. It can admit students from various communities.

A key question before the Constitution Bench is whether an institution can be considered a minority educational institution because it was established by a person(s) belonging to a religious or linguistic minority. The minority character of an educational institution is not compromised by the presence of some office-bearers from the majority community in some administrative wings.

Background Of Aligarh Muslim University

AMU is regarded as a minority educational institution in India, founded in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan as the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, later becoming Aligarh Muslim University in 1920. The university aimed to improve the education of Muslims in India.

In August 1920, the AMU Act was passed, declaring the institution a minority institution. Speaking on the AMU Bill in the Central Legislative Council, the then education member, Sir Mohammed Shafi, expressed the governments intention to provide significant financial support to the proposed university.

However, the minority status of the university was weakened in 1951 and 1965 when the central government passed amendments, changing the governing structure and giving powers to the President of India to nominate members. In 1981, a law was passed to restore the minority status. In 2005, the Allahabad High Court ruled against the minority status, leading to a Supreme Court referral in 2019 to a seven-judge bench.
Amid the ongoing probe and questioning by the Enforcement Directorate, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has registered a case against ED officials under the SC/ST Act. According to the police, Chief Minister Soren in his complaint said that his image has been maligned by ED officials. CM Soren said that ED officials reached his Delhi residence without any information and propagated false news.

CM Soren also alleged that the officials tried to 'harass' and 'malign' him and his entire community. "I have come to learn from the reports in the electronic media that on 30th January 2024, the abovenamed persons have leaked selective misinformation that a blue BMW car seized from the said premises belongs to me huge sums of illicit cash belonging to me was found at the said premises. I am not the owner of the car of BMW which the abovenamed persons claim to have seized. I do not own any illicit cash," he added.

In recent developments, the Enforcement Directorate disclosed that it had seized Rs 36 lakh in cash and two cars during its search at Chief Minister Hemant Soren's residence. This information was shared by sources within the central agency on Tuesday. A team of ED officials today arrived at the residence of CM Soren in Ranchi and has been questioning him in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. On Monday night, officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) visited the national capital residence of Soren to interrogate him regarding an alleged land scam case. The ED officials reported that they were unable to locate the Jharkhand Chief Minister during their visit.

By filing the case, Hemant Soren is trying to make a political point that he is not guilty and is a victim of vendetta politics.

The ED had issued a fresh summons to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, directing him to appear for questioning on either January 29 or 31. It was tenth summons served to the Jharkhand Chief Minister by the ED. Intensive police deployment was observed around the Chief Minister's residence in Ranchi since this morning.

Simultaneously, supporters of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) convened at Morabadi ground in protest against the actions undertaken by the ED.
Arabian Gulf University (AGU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) offering BAC employees opportunities to benefit from the academic and training programmes offered by AGU.

Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, President of AGU signed the MoU with Mohammed Yousif Al Binfalah, CEO of BAC.

The MoU also opens up training opportunities for AGU students within and outside Bahrain and allows them to participate in practical and applied projects at BAC.

Resources and expertise

Dr Al Fuhaid said the university will devote its resources and expertise in the field of postgraduate studies, continuing education, training and consultancy services to the development of executive personnel in faculties including business management, aviation management and airport operations.

He also welcomed joint projects in research, training, and social responsibility with focus on sustainability. Furthermore, he expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by BAC to provide the best services to its customers at Bahrain International Airport.

Al Binfalah expressed the hope that this memorandum will lead to the establishment of a strong partnership that will result in many related joint projects in innovation management and social responsibility projects.

He added: "This partnership contributes to the preparation of future leaders within our company, with the goal of developing and enhancing the human element in BAC through programmes, academia, continuing education, and training programmes specifically tailored for our organisation. Additionally, it enables us to conduct research in areas of mutual interest."--TradeArabia News Service
New Delhi: In a big win for the Hindu side, Varanasi district court on Wednesday allowed the Hindu side to offer prayers at 'Vyas Ka Tehkhana' inside the Gyanvapi Mosque complex. "The District Administration will have to make arrangements within 7 days. Puja will start within seven days. Everyone will have the right to perform Puja," Hindu side Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Meanwhile, the Muslim side has decided to challenge the district court verdict in high court.

Earier on Monday, The Hindu side in the Gyanvapi mosque dispute had moved the Supreme Court to de-seal the wazukhana area, where a Shivling is believed to be located, after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) found evidence of a pre-existing Hindu temple in the complex.

Wazukhana Sealed By Supreme Court Order

The wazukhana, the place where Muslims perform ablution before offering prayers, was sealed by the Supreme Court in 2022, pending the ASIs survey of the mosque premises. The Hindu side, represented by advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, has filed an application to lift the stay order and allow the ASI to conduct another survey in the wazukhana area, without damaging the Shivling.

Jain said that the ASI should be given permission to study the wazukhana area, as it would reveal whether it is a fountain or a Shivling. I have filed an application in the Supreme Court asking to vacate the stay order given on 19 May 2023. ASI should be allowed to conduct a study and feature study of the Wazukhana area. Only, after the study it will be known if it is a fountain or a Shivling he said.

ASI Survey Finds Evidence of Hindu Temple

The ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex began on August 4, 2023, after the Allahabad High Court dismissed the petition of the Muslim litigants, who sought a stay on the Varanasi courts order for a scientific survey by the ASI. The ASI team used ground-penetrating radar and other scientific instruments to examine what lay beneath the surface of the mosque premises. The team also surveyed the inner and outer walls, the cellar and other parts of the complex, except the wazukhana.

On January 27, 2024, Jain claimed that the ASI report, which is 800 pages long, confirmed that the Gyanvapi mosque was built after destroying a Hindu temple in the 17th century. He said that the report mentioned finding ancient scriptures in Kannada, Devanagari, and Telugu languages inside the mosque premises, which were related to Rudra, Janardan and Vishweshwar. He also said that the pillars of the demolished temple were used to construct the mosque.

ASI Report Says Hindu Temple Existed

The ASI report, which was submitted to the Varanasi court, stated that a pre-existing structure was destroyed in the 17th century, during the reign of Aurangzeb, and part of it was modified and reused in the existing structure. The report also said that based on scientific studies, it can be said that there existed a large Hindu temple prior to the construction of the existing structure.

The ASI report also said that the western wall of the existing structure is the remaining part of a pre-existing Hindu temple. The report cited an Arabic-Persian inscription found inside a room, which said that the mosque was built in the 20th regnal year of Aurangzeb (1676-77 CE).

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. 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 ASI report said.
Budget 2024: President Droupadi Murmu announced on Wednesday that the centuries-old dream of building a Ram Temple in Ayodhya has now come true. The President made her remarks while addressing a joint session of Parliament, which marked the start of the Budget Session. President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Budget session by addressing members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the newly constructed Parliament building.

"In the last 10 years, India saw the completion of several works towards national interest that had been awaited by the people of the country for decades. There were aspirations for the construction of Ram temple for centuries, today it has become true," she told the Parliament.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the big temple in Uttar Pradesh on January 22, following the Pran Pratishtha ceremony for the Ram Lalla idol. The event drew approximately 8,000 attendees, including 1,500-1,600 distinguished visitors.

She further outlined the achievements of the government, stating, "The past year witnessed numerous triumphs for India. Notably, India emerged as the fastest-growing economy and achieved the milestone of being the first nation to reach the south pole of the Moon. The successful hosting of the G20 Summit by India reinforced the country's global standing. Additionally, India secured over 100 medals in the Asian Games."

This was the first President Murmu's inaugural address in the new Parliament building."This is my first address in the new Parliament building. This grand building has been built at the beginning of the Amrit Kaal. This has the fragrance of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat'...This also has the resolve to honour democratic and parliamentary traditions. Besides this, it also has the resolve to build new traditions of the new India of the 21st century," said President Murmu during her speech.
NEW DELHI: Delhiites faced another bone-chilling winter morning as dense fog descended upon the city, reducing visibility to near-zero levels on Wednesday. The weather office reported a thick blanket of fog covering Delhi-NCR, creating hazardous conditions for commuters.

#WATCH | Delhi: A thick layer of fog enveloped parts of the national capital this morning.



(Visuals from Kartavya Path, shot at 5:40 am) pic.twitter.com/Yzb444lKfD  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2024

Transportation Woes

At Anand Vihar Railway Station, dense fog led to numerous delays and cancellations of trains, causing significant inconvenience for passengers.

#WATCH | Delhi: Passengers face difficulty as several trains delayed and cancelled at Anand Vihar Railway Station due to dense fog.



(Visuals shot at 6:05 am) pic.twitter.com/CYokcAuZQZ  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2024

Advisory From Delhi Airport

In response to the harsh weather conditions, Delhi Airport issued a passenger advisory, warning of potential flight disruptions for non-CAT III compliant aircraft. Passengers were urged to check with their airlines for updated flight information. "While landing and takeoffs continue at Delhi Airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted," Delhi Airport advisory read.

#WATCH | A dense layer of fog and reduced visibility affects operations to and from Delhi. More than 50 flights delayed at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport.



(Visuals from the airport) pic.twitter.com/av6wKqGAjf  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2024

Images from various parts of Delhi depicted people huddling around bonfires to combat the biting cold. Residents voiced their struggles, citing delayed buses and a scarcity of public transport due to the harsh weather conditions.

#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals from AIIMS area as fog grips the national capital amidst cold weather conditions.



(Visuals shot at 5:38 am) pic.twitter.com/ndQ8HANRs4  ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2024

Shopkeepers lamented the drop in customers, attributing it to the intense fog and cold weather. One shopkeeper highlighted the reliance on bonfires for warmth and predicted the continuation of cold weather until February.

Tuesday saw a similar scenario as dense fog engulfed the national capital and several regions in North India, disrupting transportation services and reducing visibility significantly.

Weather Department's Alert

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported very dense fog in isolated areas of Punjab, Haryana, Northwest Rajasthan, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, further emphasizing the severity of the weather conditions. Flight operations at Delhi Airport were severely affected on Tuesday morning due to the thick fog, causing disruptions and delays across the national capital.
Ranchi: Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Wednesday arrived at the residence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for questioning in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. The agency officials had visited Soren's residence in the national capital on Monday night to question him in connection with an alleged land scam case and seized Rs 36 lakh in cash and two cars belonging to the Jharkhand Chief Minister.

As per sources, the agency had issued a fresh summon to Soren, asking him to be available for questioning on January 29 or 31 failing which the agency will itself go to his residence for questioning. This was the tenth summons issued to the Jharkhand Chief Minister by the ED.

Given the tense political environment in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi, there was heavy police deployment around the Chief Minister's residence in Ranchi.

JMM Workers Gather Near ED Office In Ranchi

A large number of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) workers gathered at Morabadi ground against the ED's action. The workers were seen chanting "Hemant Soren Zindabad, Long Live JMM". The JMM workers also plan to hold a march to Raj Bhavan as a sign of protest against the ED's action on Jharkhand CM.

Speaking to ANI, Mustaque Alam, Ranchi District President of JMM, said, "The conspiracy of the Bharatiya Janata Party seems not to be coming to an end. CM Hemant Soren has given a reply to ED on January 20, then what is the question which has not been completed yet? Today Hemant Soren will certainly answer their questions but we workers remain apprehensive that BJP keeps conspiring and under its influence, these people will try to create some trouble."

JMM Attacks Centre

Meanwhile, JMM MP Mahua Maji accused the Centre of using the ED and the CBI to destabilise the government. "You can see how the Central Government and BJP are hatching a conspiracy to destabilise & topple governments and form their government in non-BJP ruled states. So, the party is prepared to face and tackle all conspiracies. But no such situation will arise as all the MLAs in the alliance are united. They have said that Hemant Soren will be the CM...We are hearing it from the media (about Kalpana Soren)" Mahua Maji said.

Jharkhand CM 'Not Absconding'

Quashing rumours of evading ED summons, Soren earlier rallied party leaders and MLAs of the INDIA bloc at his residence on Tuesday, expressing readiness to cooperate fully with the ED. After the meeting concluded late at night at Soren's residence in Ranchi, JMM said that CM Soren is ''ready to face the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 and has absolutely no fears.'' The Chief Minister's Office in Jharkhand also released pictures of Soren's meeting with alliance party leaders today.

Kalpana Soren To Take Over As CM?

While the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leadership questions the validity of the ED's actions, insiders hint at a contingency plan involving Kalpana Soren stepping into the political spotlight should her husband be detained. However, constitutional hurdles loom large, potentially impeding her ascension to the chief ministerial role.

Legal Hurdle

The prospect of Kalpana Soren assuming the mantle faces legal scrutiny due to constitutional provisions governing by-polls in the event of premature assembly dissolution. With the assembly election scheduled for November, the legal viability of her candidacy remains uncertain. Amidst these deliberations, the BJP alleges political escapism on Hemant Soren's part, further fueling the contentious debate.

Hemant Soren's Role In Massive Land Scam

The Enforcement Directorate's relentless pursuit of Soren is rooted in allegations of a massive land scam exceeding Rs 600 crore. The intricate web of corruption purportedly involves illicit land transactions orchestrated by a network of individuals, including high-ranking officials. Despite Soren's assertions of innocence, the ED remains steadfast in its investigation, having already apprehended numerous individuals implicated in the scandal.

BJP Conspiracy, Says Soren

Denying culpability, Soren has contended that he is a victim of a malicious conspiracy orchestrated to tarnish his reputation. His steadfast defence underscores the high-stakes battle unfolding at the intersection of politics and law enforcement in Jharkhand. As the saga intensifies, the fate of the state's leadership hangs precariously, entangled in a web of legal intricacies and political intrigue.
New Delhi: Vivek Saini, a 25-year-old Indian student who had recently completed his MBA degree in the US, was brutally murdered by a homeless man whom he had befriended and helped for two days in Lithonia, Georgia. The horrific crime was captured on camera, showing the attacker, Julian Faulkner, hitting Saini repeatedly on the head with a hammer, nearly 50 times. Saini, who worked part-time at a store that gave shelter to Faulkner, had shown compassion to the homeless man and offered him food, water, and a jacket to keep him warm, according to M9 News Channel.

Sainis co-workers at the Chevron Food Mart told WSB-TV Atlanta that they let Faulkner stay inside the store on the night of January 15, as it was cold outside. He asked us for chips, and Coke. We gave him everything, including water, one of them said. He asked if I could get a blanket, and I said we dont have blankets so I gave him a jacket, another employee said. He was sitting here all the time and we never asked him to get out because we know that its cold.

The next day, Saini was on his way home when he asked Faulkner to leave the store or face the police, as he was concerned for the safety of the customers and the staff. Thats when Faulkner snapped and attacked Saini with a hammer, killing him on the spot. The police arrived at the scene and found Faulkner standing over Sainis dead body. They arrested him and charged him with murder.

Bright Future Cut Short

Saini, who had moved to the US two years ago after finishing his B Tech degree in India, had recently graduated with an MBA degree and was looking for a good job. Sainis family in Haryana's Bhagwanpur village is in shock and grief over the loss of their son, who was a brilliant student and a kind-hearted person.

His parents, Gurjeet Singh and Lalita Saini, are too distraught to talk about the tragedy. The Indian consulate in Atlanta has arranged for the repatriation of Sainis body, which reached India on January 24.

Indian Mission In Atlanta Expresses Anguish

The Consulate General of India in Atlanta has expressed its deep sorrow and outrage over the brutal attack that resulted in the death of Saini, an Indian national and student. The consulate has condemned the heinous act in the strongest terms and highlighted the gruesome nature of the incident.

In a statement, the consulate said that it has been informed that the US authorities have arrested the accused and are investigating the case. The consulate is closely following the developments and ensuring that justice is done.

The consulate also posted a message on X, saying, We are deeply anguished by the terrifying, brutal, & heinous incident that led to the death of India National/student Mr Vivek Saini & condemns the attack in the strongest terms. It is understood that the US authorities have arrested the accused & are investigating the case.

The consulate has been in touch with Sainis family since the incident and has provided them with continuous consular assistance and support during this difficult time.

The consulates post ended with, The Consulate got in touch with the family of Mr Saini immediately after the incident, provided all consular assistance in sending the mortal remains back to India, and remains in touch with the family.
NEW DELHI: After evading the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons in past, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren will on Wednesday appear before the central agency for questioning in connection with an alleged money laundering case. Soren will appear before the agency amidst swirling speculations over his potential arrest in connection with the alleged money laundering case. Should Soren be apprehended by the central probe agency, indications suggest that his wife, Kalpana Soren, may assume the reins of power in the state.

Jharkhand CM 'Not Absconding'

Quashing rumours of evading ED summons, Soren rallied party leaders and MLAs of the INDIA bloc at his residence, expressing readiness to cooperate fully with the ED. After the meeting concluded late at night at Soren's residence in Ranchi, JMM said that CM Soren is ''ready to face the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 and has absolutely no fears.'' The Chief Minister's Office in Jharkhand also released pictures of Soren's meeting with alliance party leaders today.

Kalpana Soren To Take Over As CM?

While the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leadership questions the validity of the ED's actions, insiders hint at a contingency plan involving Kalpana Soren stepping into the political spotlight should her husband be detained. However, constitutional hurdles loom large, potentially impeding her ascension to the chief ministerial role.

Legal Hurdle

The prospect of Kalpana Soren assuming the mantle faces legal scrutiny due to constitutional provisions governing by-polls in the event of premature assembly dissolution. With the assembly election scheduled for November, the legal viability of her candidacy remains uncertain. Amidst these deliberations, the BJP alleges political escapism on Hemant Soren's part, further fueling the contentious debate.

Hemant Soren's Role In Massive Land Scam

The Enforcement Directorate's relentless pursuit of Soren is rooted in allegations of a massive land scam exceeding Rs 600 crore. The intricate web of corruption purportedly involves illicit land transactions orchestrated by a network of individuals, including high-ranking officials. Despite Soren's assertions of innocence, the ED remains steadfast in its investigation, having already apprehended numerous individuals implicated in the scandal.

Soren's Counterclaims

Denying culpability, Soren contends that he is a victim of a malicious conspiracy orchestrated to tarnish his reputation. His steadfast defence underscores the high-stakes battle unfolding at the intersection of politics and law enforcement in Jharkhand. As the saga intensifies, the fate of the state's leadership hangs precariously, entangled in a web of legal intricacies and political intrigue.
New Delhi: On January 31, Uttarakhand made history by appointing its first female Chief Secretary, Radha Raturi, a seasoned Indian Administrative Services officer from the 1988 batch. Formerly holding the position of Additional Chief Secretary, Raturi has now assumed the highest administrative role in the state, succeeding SS Sandhu, who completed his term on the same day. Radha Raturi is slated to serve as the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand until March this year.

Uttarakhand | 1988 batch IAS officer Radha Raturi to be the new Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand. Senior IAS officer Radha Raturi will be the first woman Chief Secretary of the state: State Government pic.twitter.com/xf95sMp33b  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 30, 2024

This appointment is a groundbreaking development in Uttarakhand's history, as no woman had previously held the Chief Secretary position since the state's establishment. Radha Raturi's promotion underscores the growing emphasis on inclusivity in leadership roles.

A brief overview of Radha Raturi reveals her professional journey. Originally belonging to the Madhya Pradesh cadre, she switched to the Uttarakhand cadre, ranking at the bottom of her '88 batch. Despite this, she has emerged as the most senior bureaucrat in the Uttarakhand IAS cadre. With a distinguished career spanning 36 years, Raturi has occupied pivotal roles such as Additional Chief Secretary for Women Empowerment, State Chief Electoral Officer, and District Magistrate.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami officially approved Raturi's promotion on January 30, designating her as the 18th Chief Secretary of the state. Although her tenure is relatively short, ending in less than two months, her elevation represents a significant stride in recognizing and appreciating women's contributions to administrative leadership.

Notably, the Raturi family boasts a strong commitment to serving the nation. Radha's husband, Anil Raturi, a 1987-batch Indian Police Services officer, previously held the position of Director General of Police in Uttarakhand until his reported retirement in November 2020. The Raturi household takes pride in their collective dedication to public service.
Durga's father, Mr. Subbarao, worked day in and day out as a daily wage labourer, shouldering the immense responsibility of being the family's sole breadwinner. Witnessing his struggles and sacrifices ignited a fire within Durga, a burning desire to create a stable and successful career that would alleviate her father's burden. Even though she had graduated with a B.Tech degree, the harsh reality of unemployment added another layer of challenges to her journey. However, Durga's determination and spirit refused to allow her dreams to be crushed under adversity.

Durga's resolve grew stronger each day as she saw herself as the beacon of hope for her family. She knew her father's sacrifices deserved to be repaid with a life of security and comfort. Despite the disappointments and setbacks, she never once considered giving up. Instead, she channeled her frustrations and transformed them into a driving force, propelling her towards achieving her ambitions.

Durga's journey was not without its fair share of obstacles. The road to success was paved with uncertainty and self-doubt. However, she knew upskilling was the key to unlocking a brighter future. During this challenging period, she stumbled upon OdinSchool's data science course, a life-changing opportunity that would equip her with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the data science field.

As Durga immersed herself in the rigorous program, she discovered a newfound sense of purpose and determination, especially through OdinSchool reviews. The supportive mentors and empowering career services provided by OdinSchool became her pillars of strength, reinforcing her belief in herself and her abilities. Balancing her studies with the responsibility of supporting her family, she completed each assignment with dedication, actively participated in live sessions, and made the most of the intensive 6-month training.

Finally, Durga's hard work and talent shone through when she received her first job offer from Capgemini, a global leader in digital transformation. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of her triumphant journey as she realized her dream of lightening her father's financial burden.

With a beaming smile, Durga recalls her interview experience and how her project-based learning in SQL and programming helped her crack it.

More importantly, she emphasizes the positive impact on her family:

Every time I see my job designation on my computer screen now, tears of joy stream down my face, and I can't help but break into a smile.

A Proud Father

Overflowing with a mix of tears, pride, and love, Mr. Subbarao expresses his unwavering belief in Durga's extraordinary talent. His tears tell the unsung story of a father's sacrifices and a daughter's triumpha beacon of hope for the younger generation in their village.

His heart swells with pride as he reflects on Durga's remarkable journey from the humble beginnings of their remote village to the prestigious halls of Capgemini. He sees her accomplishments as a shining example, inspiring the young minds of their community to dream big and strive for greatness. In a place where opportunities are scarce and dreams often seem out of reach, Durga's triumphs become a source of inspiration, igniting a flame of possibility in the hearts of the youth.

As Mr.Subbarao shares his daughter's story with others, he holds firm to the belief that her success is not just an individual achievement but a collective triumph for their entire village. He envisions a future where the younger generation, inspired by Durga's journey, rises above their circumstances and works together to build a thriving and prosperous community.

With every word of praise and encouragement he offers, Subbarao reinforces his true belief in the potential of the younger generation. He becomes a mentor figure, guiding them towards their dreams and assuring them that with hard work, determination, and the right support, they too can overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness.

As the village gathers together to celebrate Durga's achievements, the fathers pride shines through. He stands tall, knowing that his daughter's success is a reflection of her brilliance and a testament to the love, sacrifice, and belief that he and their community have bestowed upon her. Together, they have proven that dreams can be realized, barriers can be overcome, and a brighter future can be built for all.

Source of Inspiration

Durga's journey not only showcases her individual success but also underscores the transformative power of OdinSchool. Mr.Srinivas Vedantam, Vice President and Head of Product at OdinSchool, emphasizes the institution's commitment to empowering women in the tech industry and catering to the diverse needs of its students. CEO Mr.Vijay Pasupulati proudly acknowledges OdinSchool's role in Durga's remarkable journey and its contribution to meeting the industry's demand for skilled professionals.

Durga's story has become a source of inspiration for the young minds of Karavaka, who see in her journey a reflection of their potential. It serves as a call to action, urging them to pursue their ambitions relentlessly and work together to create a thriving and prosperous community.

Durga's story serves as a powerful reminder that even amidst challenges, dreams can be achieved with dedication and the right support. If you want to upskill yourself and land your dream job, OdinSchool's Data Science Bootcamp can be your guiding star, just like it was for Durga.

(This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Ltds Consumer Connect Initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility, liability or claims for any errors or omissions in the content of the article. The IDPL Editorial team is not responsible for this content.)
New Delhi: Ulfat Khan, a Senior Cadet Captain from Uri District, has created history by becoming the first girl cadet to be command the Parade at the Prime Ministers Rally (PM Rally) during the Republic Day Celebrations in New Delhi. This remarkable feat not only brings glory to the JK&L Directorate and the 1 J&K Naval Unit but also showcases the Govt College for Women Gandhinagar Jammu, where Ulfat is pursuing her BA Eng (Hons) despite all odds.

Ulfats Challenging Journey

Ulfat was selected from among 2,274 NCC cadets from 28 States and Union Territories and from 17 Directorates across the Nation. Her journey from a remote village on the Line of Control to a national leader is a reflection of her unwavering determination and resilience. She faced many challenges, including geographical barriers, but she never gave up on her pursuit of excellence.

Ulfat was born in Uri, Baramulla District in 2002. She completed her schooling in various Kendriya Vidyalayas across Delhi, Jharkhand and Odisha before joining GCW Gandhinagar for her higher education. She participated in various NCC camps, such as NSC, SNIC, RDC, Mini Sailing, and CATC, where she sharpened her skills and leadership abilities.

Ulfats Achievements At Republic Day Camp

At the Republic Day Camp, Ulfats outstanding performance earned her the prestigious title of Best Commander along with the DG Commendation Medal Certificate, highlighting her exemplary leadership qualities and dedication to service.

Lieutenant Commander Ankur Kumar, Commanding Officer of 1J&K Naval Unit NCC, praised Ulfats dedication and perseverance, saying that she is a role model for cadets across the Nation. He said that her selection as Platoon Commander is a testament to her hard work and commitment. Sub Lieutenant Dr. Neelima, Ulfats ANO at GCW Gandhinagar, emphasized that Ulfats journey from humble beginnings to national recognition is a reflection of her strength and resilience.

She said that her struggles and triumphs inspire us all. Principal Prof. Minu Mahajan expressed her pride, stating that Ulfats achievement is a reflection of the values of discipline and determination instilled in our students. She said that she has brought immense honour to our institution.

Group Commander, Srinagar Group, remarked that Ulfat Khans journey from a remote area to becoming the first girl cadet selected as Parade Commander at the PM Rally is truly inspiring. He said that her resilience and determination in overcoming challenges are commendable, setting a new standard for excellence within the NCC.

Maj Gen R.K. Sachdeva, ADG JK&L Directorate, expressed that Ulfat Khans remarkable achievement is a reflection of her exceptional leadership and dedication to the NCC. He said that her selection as Parade Commander is a proud moment for the entire Directorate, and she is a shining example for cadets nationwide.

He said that Ulfat Khans journey exemplifies the spirit of Nari Shakti and serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring cadets across the nation. He said that her historic accomplishment at the Republic Day Camp 2024 reaffirms the power of dedication, perseverance, and the limitless potential of women in the defence forces.
President Droupadi Murmu today delivered her first speech from the new Parliament building. President Murmu arrived at the new Parliament building for the Budget Session in the traditional horse-drawn carriage and she was accorded a grand welcome led by 'Sengol' while entering Parliament. The 'Sengol' was carried in the parliament along with the arrival of the President and was installed in the House in her presence President Murmu earlier departed for Parliament from the President's House in the buggy, flanked by guards for her address to a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.

Thanking President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the address highlighted the vision of further developing India in the coming years. "The Budget Session began with Rashtrapati Ji's extensive and insightful address highlighting the collective strength of 140 crore Indians, seen in a series of feats our nation has achieved. The Address also highlighted the vision of further developing India in the coming years," said PM Modi.

The Budget Session began with Rashtrapati Ji's extensive and insightful address highlighting the collective strength of 140 crore Indians, seen in a series of feats our nation has achieved. The Address also highlighted the vision of further developing India in the coming years. https://t.co/HAaQYgo2dL pic.twitter.com/j5tLDICTC0  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 31, 2024

BJP leaders hailed the President's welcome with 'Sengol'. "Ahead of the Budget session, to address the joined sitting of both the houses, our Honable President Smt Droupadi Murmu is in the Parliament today & was led by the Sengol. Truly a Spectacular Moment!" said Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai.

Ahead of the Budget session, to address the joined sitting of both the houses, our Hon President Smt Droupadi Murmu avl is in the Parliament today & was led by the Sengol.



Truly a Spectacular Moment! pic.twitter.com/ov7NuAfgAY January 31, 2024

It may be noted that opposition parties including Congress had slammed the Modi government for not inviting the President to the inauguration of the new Parliament building. They had also questioned the installation of the historic 'Sengol' in Parliament.

On May 28 this year, PM Modi installed the golden spectre in the Lok Sabha chamber, right next to the Speaker's chair in the new Parliament building, after performing puja. PM Modi was handed over the historic 'Sengol' by Adheenams before it was installed in the new Parliament building. PM Modi took a decision to adopt Sengol as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal. This is the same Sengol that was accepted by the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru at his residence on the night of August 14, in the presence of several leaders.
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren today resigned after over seven hours of grilling by the Enforcement Directorate in the alleged land scam case. He was later arrested by the ED and was taken to the ED office in Ranchi. Senior cabinet minister in the JMM government, Champai Soren has been elected as the leader of the legislative party and was nominated for the CM post. In a meeting held last night, MLAs supporting the Soren government signed two blank papers, one had the name of Hemant's wife Kalpana Soren and the other of Champai Soren. Now, the name of Champai Soren has been finalized for the CM post after he was elected as the leader of the legislative party.

Champai Soren is a senior minister in the Jharkhand government led by Hemant Soren. Born in 1956, Champai Soren is the eldest son of Simal Soren, a farmer from the Jilinggora village in the Saraikela-Kharsawan district. Champai Soren has also worked in his farms alongside his father. He received education up to the 10th grade from a government school. During this time, he got married at a young age and had four sons and three daughters. Soren has been a dedicated legislator representing the Serikela assembly constituency for over three decades, starting from 1991. Throughout this period, he has earned a reputation as a staunch loyalist of JMM supremo Shibu Soren.

When demands for the separate state of Jharkhand arose in lat 90s, Champai, along with Shibu Soren, actively participated in the Jharkhand movement and soon gained fame as the 'Jharkhand Tiger.' Subsequently, Champai Soren initiated his political career by becoming an independent MLA through a by-election in his Saraikela seat. He later joined the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

In the government led by BJP leader Arjun Munda, Champai Soren was appointed Cabinet Minister. He held crucial ministries during this period. Champai served as a minister from September 11, 2010, to January 18, 2013. After that, the President's rule was imposed, and then under the leadership of Hemant Soren, Champai Soren became the Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Transport in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha government.
New Delhi: In response to supervisory concerns, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) took action against Paytm Payments Bank, instructing them not to onboard new customers. Back in 2022, the RBI had already directed the bank to appoint an Income Tax audit firm to conduct a thorough System Audit of its IT system due to worries about non-compliance.

RBI's Latest Action

The latest action from the RBI is a result of a Comprehensive System Audit report and a compliance validation report by external auditors, revealing persistent non-compliance. In exercising its powers under the Banking Regulation Act, the RBI has restricted Paytm Payments Bank from offering certain services to customers.

Impact On Customers After February 29

- No New Deposits

After February 29, customers won't be able to make further deposits, credit transactions, or top-ups in any customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, FASTags, or National Common Mobility Cards.

- Withdrawal Allowed

Customers can still use the money in their accounts for withdrawals. However, no new deposits will be accepted after the specified date.

- Limitations On Services

Services like fund transfers and UPI facilities will not be available to customers after February 29.

This action follows the RBI's earlier directive in March 2022, instructing PPBL to stop onboarding new customers immediately.
New Delhi: The Central government on Tuesday announced a reduction in the import duty for parts used in the manufacturing of mobile phones, lowering it from 15 per cent to 10 per cent. The revised import duty applies to various parts, including battery covers, main camera lenses, back covers, and other plastic and metal mechanical items, as well as GSM antennas.

Additionally, the import duty on mobile components like PU case/sealing gasket, polyurethane foam articles (sealing gaskets/cases from PE, PP, EPS, PC, and other polymers or polymer combinations), SIM sockets, screws, and other plastic and metal mechanical items has also been decreased. (Also Read: Interim Budget 2024: Why Will Economic Survey Not Be Presented Today?)

This government initiative is expected to benefit companies such as Apple and Xiaomi, encouraging manufacturing in Asia's third-largest economy. According to reports, industry firms have been recommending for duty cuts on around 12 components to reduce production costs of smartphones in India. This move aims to create a more competitive environment against neighboring rivals like China and Vietnam.

The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) recently stated that maintaining the current rates would support balanced industry growth and long-term development in India's expanding smartphone market.

Earlier this month, Reuters reported that India was contemplating import duty cuts on key components for the production of high-end mobile phones. (Also Read: We Will Bring Full-fledged Budget After Forming New Government: PM Narendra Modi)y

(With Inputs From Reuters)
MALE: The leader of the Maldives Jumhooree Party (JP), Qasim Ibrahim, has issued a strong call for Maldivian President Mohammed Muizzu to formally apologize to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India. This call comes amidst escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries following controversial remarks made after President Muizzu's recent visit to China.

Diplomatic Strain Over 'India Out' Campaign

Ibrahim highlighted the importance of diplomatic decorum, especially with neighbouring nations, stressing that statements impacting bilateral relationships should be avoided. He pointed out the need to uphold national obligations, referencing President Solih's decisive action in banning the "India Out" campaign, which was deemed a threat to national security.

Regarding any country, especially a neighbouring one, we shouldn't speak in a way that affects the relationship. We have an obligation to our state that must be considered. President Solih did consider this obligation and issued a Presidential Decree banning the "India Out" campaign. Now, Yameen is questioning why Muizzu, who participated with him in the India Out Campaign, has not nullified the Presidential Decree, he said.

He added, The Decree should not be nullified, as it would only result in a loss to the nation. That cannot be done. I would tell Muizzu that it shouldn't be done. Also, I call on President Muizzu to formally apologize to the Indian government and Prime Minister Modi regarding his remarks after the China trip.

Opposition's Campaign Against Muizzu

The 'India Out' campaign, spearheaded by former President Abdulla Yameen's Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), has been a contentious issue, alleging Indian military presence as a violation of sovereignty. This campaign, perceived as targeting President Solih and the Maldivian Democratic Party, aimed to exploit anti-India sentiments.

Withdrawal Of Indian Troops

Recent diplomatic efforts have seen India and the Maldives agree to expedite the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the island nation. This move aligns with President Muizzu's party's campaign promise and underscores evolving bilateral dynamics.

Attack On PM Modi And Diplomatic Fallout

Disparaging remarks made by Maldivian officials regarding Prime Minister Modi's policies, notably concerning Lakshadweep's development, stirred diplomatic tensions. Despite government disavowal of these statements, they underscored underlying frictions.

Legal battles and political manoeuvres continue, with the Attorney General's Office registering a case over amendments enabling opposition lawmakers to impeach President Muizzu. Changes in parliamentary standing orders have altered the impeachment threshold, reflecting the fluid political landscape.

The Power Game In Maldives

With parliamentary polls scheduled for 2024, political parties are manoeuvring to consolidate power. The amendment to parliamentary standing orders reflects strategic calculations as opposition parties seek to leverage political dynamics in their favour. The Maldives navigates a complex geopolitical landscape, balancing domestic politics with regional alliances, amidst calls for diplomatic reconciliation and internal political restructuring.
Islamabad: In another stunning development shaking Pakistan's political landscape, former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were on Wednesday sentenced to a 14-year prison term with rigorous punishment in the infamous Toshakhana case.

Court Ruling And Penalties

An Islamabad accountability court, in a decisive move, not only sentenced Khan and Bibi but also barred them from holding any public office for 10 years. Additionally, they were slapped with a hefty fine amounting to Rs 787 million, as reported by Pakistan's Dawn.

This verdict swiftly followed another significant ruling just the day before, where Khan and his Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, received a 10-year imprisonment sentence for breaching state secrets. These legal pronouncements occurred amidst heightened tensions and just days before the crucial general elections scheduled for February 8.

Background: What is the Toshakhana Case?

The Toshakhana case, which has been a focal point of legal scrutiny, stems from allegations lodged by Pakistan's coalition government, spearheaded by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The accusations revolved around Khan's purported failure to disclose complete information regarding gifts received through Toshakhana and the alleged clandestine sale of certain items.

Toshakhana, a department under Pakistan's cabinet division, is tasked with housing gifts and valuables bestowed upon officials, who are mandated to report all such acquisitions to the department.

During Khan's tenure as Prime Minister, he reportedly received numerous gifts, yet refrained from disclosing details citing potential diplomatic repercussions. However, Pakistan's Information Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, alleged that Khan profited from the sale of state gifts, pocketing a substantial sum.

Legal Proceedings And Verdict

The legal saga unfolded with Khan's indictment earlier last month by Pakistan's anti-corruption court, acting upon charges pressed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Khan, already incarcerated in connection to the Al-Qadir Trust case, found himself entangled further in legal complexities.

In a written response submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in September 2023, Khan acknowledged selling several gifts received during his tenure, divulging transactions totalling millions. This admission, coupled with subsequent investigations, led to his disqualification from the assembly for a five-year term by the ECP in October of the same year.

As the political landscape continues to convulse under the weight of legal entanglements, Khan's once-towering stature faces profound erosion, while questions linger over the future trajectory of Pakistan's governance.
As the dream of homeownership becomes more elusive for millennials in the current real estate landscape, savvy investors are turning their attention to alternative avenues. Apartment real estate investment trusts (REITs) emerge as a strategic option, providing a gateway to real estate exposure and wealth accumulation.

Here's two apartment REITs you could buy today.

Apartment Income REIT Corp.

Apartment Income REIT (NYSE:AIRC), also known as AIR Communities, owns and operates a portfolio of 75 communities containing 26,623 apartment homes across 10 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

AIR currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share, equating to $1.80 per share annually, which gives it a yield of about 5.5% today. It's also worth noting that the company has raised its quarterly dividend twice since it became a publicly-traded entity in December 2020, and its strong financial performance in 2023 could support another increase in the near future.

Don't Miss:

Investing in real estate just got a whole lot simpler. This Dara Khosrowshahi-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100.

Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, but few investors have the capital or resources needed to invest in this asset class. A platform backed by industry giant Marcus & Millichap is changing that, allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000.

Independence Realty Trust, Inc.

Independence Realty Trust (NYSE:IRT) owns and operates a portfolio of 120 communities containing 35,427 apartment units across non-gateway U.S. markets, including Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Memphis, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Raleigh, and Tampa.

Independence Realty currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share, equating to $0.64 per share annually, which gives it a yield of about 4.2% today. The company has also raised its dividend each of the last two years following a 33% reduction to its rate in 2020 as a result of uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Arrived Homes

You can also gain exposure to the benefits of homeownership through Arrived Homes.

Arrived is an alternative investment platform, backed by Jeff Bezos and Dara Khosrowshahi, that allows individuals to easily invest in real estate by purchasing shares of rental properties. Investors on the platform earn passive income through the rental revenue while waiting for the properties they invest in to appreciate in value over time.

Read Next:

Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, but few investors have the capital or resources needed to invest in this asset class. A platform backed by industry giant Marcus & Millichap is changing that, allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000.

Collecting passive income from real estate just got a whole lot simpler. A new real estate fund backed by Dara Khosrowshahi gives you instant access to a diversified portfolio of rental properties, and you only need $100 to get started.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Debuts Four Brand New Mediterranean Expeditions Exclusive to National Geographic Orion

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- National Geographic Orion will sail the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean for the 2025 summer season. To celebrate the ship's return to this stunning region, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic will debut four brand new Mediterranean itineraries, exploring the heritage-rich region like never before in the way only the global leader and pioneer of modern expedition cruising can.

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Logo (PRNewsfoto/Lindblad Expeditions)

Featuring 53 expertly appointed exterior-facing cabins, National Geographic Orion will traverse the Mediterranean in style. From Croatia's iconic Dalmatian Coast to the stunning cerulean seas along the Greek Isles, the intimately scaled National Geographic Orion will show travelers the Mediterranean from a new perspective, exploring remarkable islands and remarkable port cities.

"A Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic cultural expedition in the Mediterranean is a unique and holistic look at the region unlike any other; guests will step away from the crowds and immerse themselves in important mythical, historical and archeologic sites led by brilliant guideson board and locallywho will provide a window into the region," said Trey Byus, Chief Expedition Officer, Lindblad Expeditions. "You may have been on a Mediterranean cruise before, but you haven't really explored its iconic landscapes, rich culture and storied heritage until you've been with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic."

For more than 30 years, Lindblad Expeditions has been leading cultural expeditions along the iconic Mediterranean coasts. Combining decades of experience in the region with the unmatched expertise of National Geographic and some of the most knowledgeable expedition staff and crew in the industryincluding naturalists, historians, researchers, guest speakers, National Geographic Photography Experts on select departures, plus at least two local guides per sailingensures a journey of deep discovery, and promises guests a richer understanding of the region's history, culture and unique biodiversity.

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During the 2025 summer season, National Geographic Orion will embark on 19 expeditions along the iconic Mediterranean coasts, including these four brand new itineraries, including:

Ancient Mediterranean Odyssey: Exploring Greece, Croatia, and Albania (Eight Days)

Over the course of eight days, guests will sail between Greece, Albania and Croatia, delving into ancient empires and their archaeological treasures, and visiting fascinating UNESCO World Heritage sites, from Delphi to Dubrovnik. Guided by studied historians and researchers, guests will journey through time through as they explore the enchanting Dalmatian Coast, with a rich maritime history that dates to the Venetian Empire; soak in the Ionian Sea's idyllic turquoise waters; and encounter the region's lesser-known gems, including outlying Croatian isles and vestiges of antiquity in Albania.

Treasures of the Adriatic: Croatia's Dalmatian Coast and Montenegro (Eight Days)

For eight days, guests will marvel at the wonders of Croatia and Montenegro, where aquamarine waters, lush isles, and Venetian towns converge on one of Europe's most enchanting rivieras. Explore the winding lanes of the medieval walled cities from Kotor to Dubrovnik, and travel inland to witness pristine nature reserves, including the waterfall-laced Plitvice Lakes National Park. Stepping off the beaten path, guests will engage with the region's rich cultural heritage through customs such as oyster farming, sword dancing and silk embroidery, learning about their importance from the people dedicated to preserving these timeless traditions.

Greek Isles Odyssey: Mythology, History, and Cerulean Seas (Eight Days)

Legends come to life in the Greek Isles, where sun-drenched shores hold ancient relics and rich traditions from one of the world's oldest civilizations. Guests will embark on an eight-day Aegean odyssey to discover Cycladic islands both storied and secret, from iconic Santorini to laid-back Naxos and Paros, and explore them from every angle guided by some of the industry's most experienced expedition leaders and naturaliststhrough mythology and archaeology, natural wonders and culinary delights. When guests aren't basking in the beauty of the volcanic shores and storied villages, they can jump into the Aegean's inviting turquoise waters for diving, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and more.

Crossroads of the Ancient World: Exploring Greece and Turkey (11 Days)

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic will return to Turkey as part of this brand new 11-day cultural expedition. Guests will journey along the magnificent isles and rocky coastlines of Greece and Turkey, where a melange of Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman influences ensures a fascinating journey through history. Led by an expert expedition team and leading naturalists, guests will explore glittering marble cities of the ancient world from Delos to Ephesus; stroll the timeless villages of the Cyclades; and soak up the rhythms of everyday life as they travel age-old trade routes along vibrant Aegean coastlines poised at the crossroads of the world.

Designed for exploration and equipped with best-in-class tools for discovery, when National Geographic Orion guests aren't enjoying private tours of historical landmarks or authentic, behind-the-scenes insights from local guides, they can enjoy water activities in the crystal-clear Mediterranean Sea, from snorkeling and kayaking to diving and paddleboarding. On board, with its spirited, outward-facing design, guests will be able to bask in the stunning vistas of the Mediterranean whether they're in the cabin or dining alfresco on one of the many open-air deck spaces.

To learn more about National Geographic Orion's return to the Mediterranean, visit www.expeditions.com/destinations/mediterranean-aboard-national-geographic-orion.

About Lindblad Expeditions :

Lindblad Expeditions reveals the beauty and wonder of the world by leading high quality, authentic and immersive travel to the world's most remarkable and wild places. In collaboration with National Geographic Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Expeditions is a co-brand that offers expeditions in 120+ destinations across all seven continents for curious and discerning travelers seeking to experience the world from a new perspective.

For reservations or additional information on voyages to some of the most beautiful, remote, and fascinating places on Earth, visit www.expeditions.com, call (855) 734-3271 to speak to an Expedition Specialist, or contact a travel advisor. Connect with Lindblad Expeditions on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.

About National Geographic Expeditions :

For more than 135 years, National Geographic Explorers have ventured across continents and into remote cultures, down to the oceans' depths and up the highest mountains to further their understanding of the world. National Geographic Expeditions builds upon this legacy, inviting travelers to embrace their inner explorer and encounter the wonders of the world firsthand  up close and in depth  and be inspired by the experience. With many ways to explore the world via Signature Land, Expedition Cruise, River Cruise, or Private Jet, National Geographic Expeditions gives travelers unparalleled access to the world through the eyes of knowledgeable Experts. Additionally, traveling with National Geographic Expeditions helps further the work of the global community of National Geographic Explorers around the world. Through every trip booked, travelers support the National Geographic Society's researchers and Explorers who work to preserve, protect, and advance our understanding of the planet.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-geographic-orion-returns-to-the-mediterranean-for-2025-summer-season-302049748.html

SOURCE Lindblad Expeditions
ATHENS, Greece, January 31, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nest Seekers International, a leader in luxury real estate, is reshaping the Greek real estate landscape with its skilled team, international reach, and outstanding property listings. Embracing innovation, Nest Seekers is eyeing Greece as a potential venue for a new television series, supplementing its existing shows featured on platforms like Max, Netflix, and the BBC. The expansion across Greece reflects the nation's appeal as a prime European destination for real estate investments and the Golden Visa program.

Leading the way at Nest Seekers Greece are Dimitra Giakoumaki and Dragana Belojevic-Jankovic, a dynamic force whose combined experience, tireless work ethic, and unwavering commitment to excellence have made them renowned leaders in the Greek real estate industry.

Dimitra Giakoumaki, the Managing Director at Nest Seekers Greece, is a passionate and experienced leader in the real estate industry, having contributed significantly since 2003. With her deep roots in Greece, she has a profound appreciation for architecture and design. Known for her exceptional negotiation skills, market analysis expertise, and outstanding client service, Dimitra ensures a smooth and successful experience for every client. Her commitment to excellence and enthusiasm for connecting people with their dream properties are the cornerstones of her professional philosophy. She remarks, "Greece's luxury real estate market continues to captivate discerning buyers worldwide, thanks to its unique blend of breathtaking natural beauty, rich historical legacy, and exceptional architecture."

Dragana Belojevic-Jankovic, with over two decades of experience in the real estate industry, is a highly respected professional known for her excellence and integrity. Her multilingual abilities in Greek, English, and Serbian enable her to serve a diverse range of clients with exceptional service. She shares, "In the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of Greece's luxury real estate market, we are witnessing a robust influx of high-net-worth investors from around the world, drawn by the unique blend of Greece's rich cultural heritage, stunning natural beauty, and strategic geographical location."

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Ira Karavella, an emerging force in real estate, brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of international experience. Born in Athens and educated at the London School of Economics, Ira combines over a decade of expertise in human resources with a passion for real estate. Fluent in English, Greek, French, and conversational Spanish, she excels in serving a culturally diverse clientele. Ira states, "Greece's real estate market offers an unparalleled blend of cultural richness and contemporary luxury, making it a magnet for discerning global investors. With my experience and cultural insight, I am dedicated to guiding clients through this exciting market."

Nuno Franco, Managing Director at Nest Seekers, emphasizes the value of the Greece market, remarking, "Greece holds significant importance for us as a market, and we are actively considering the exciting possibility of showcasing it in an upcoming TV series."

As Greece's real estate market experiences a robust resurgence, Nest Seekers Greece, under the leadership of Dimitra Giakoumaki and Dragana Belojevic-Jankovic is exceptionally positioned to navigate and capitalize on this growth. This dynamic team is set to lead Nest Seekers Greece in capturing the opportunities presented by the market's recovery, driven by factors like increased foreign investment, the popularity of the Golden Visa program, and the thriving tourism sector. Together, they embody Nest Seekers' commitment to linking global clients with luxury properties, leveraging global insights and local market expertise to guide investors and homebuyers through the promising landscape of Greek real estate.

About Nest Seekers International

Renowned for its innovative approach in prestigious markets such as New York City, The Hamptons, Beverly Hills, and London, Nest Seekers International has expanded to top markets in The Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, including new offices in Canada, Belgium, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Mexico, Portugal, Croatia, France, Italy, Greece, and The Caribbean. These global offices function as a powerful network to promote listings on a global scale, demonstrating Nest Seekers remarkable reach. Nest Seekers Internationals agents gain additional visibility through their appearances on popular television series, including Maxs "Selling the Hamptons" and The BBCs "Crazy Rich Agents." These shows not only highlight the firms presence in the luxury real estate market but also showcase the talents and expertise of their agents to a global audience.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131858531/en/

Contacts

To inquire about listings and gain additional information about real estate opportunities in Greece, please get in touch with:

Dimitra Giakoumaki

Mobile: +3069 46288218

dimitrag@nestseekers.com

Dragana Belojevic-Jankovic

Mobile: +306942434750

DraganaB@nestseekers.com

https://www.nestseekers.com/Offices/athens-greece
When the Republican National Convention comes to Milwaukee in July, it will bring thousands of people and downtown's largest employer is advising workers to stay home that week.

Were probably going to have everyone work remotely that week, said John Schlifske, CEO of Northwestern Mutual in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. We know traffic will be a nightmare and what we dont want to do is force people to commute.

The RNC is planning to be in Milwaukee July 15-18 and thousands of people from across the country and outside of the United States will be in Wisconsin when the party officially nominates its candidate for president.

With that days-long event will come congestion on the streets, in the bars and restaurants, and around Fiserv Forum.

Northwestern Mutual, which has nearly 4,500 employees working downtown, expects to be busy with convention-related activities.

Were going to host events at the top of the tower, we have our grand hall, were going to host events there, Schlifske said. Its all adjunct organizations to the Republican Party.

In 2020 Milwaukee was preparing to host the Democratic National Convention but the coronavirus pandemic canceled all plans for that event.

Before it was called off, Schlifske said Northwestern Mutual was going to host the Democratic Foreign Policy Institute, the "Madeline Albright wing of the party," and it was going to have a three day seminar and talk about world affairs.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Northwestern Mutual advising employees to work from home during RNC
A newer home and one under construction on NE 31 in the Capitol View area of Oklahoma City.

The state of Oklahoma now has its biggest pot of money ever to spend on developing housing: $215 million in its new Oklahoma Housing Stability Program, after Gov. Kevin Stitt approved emergency rules for it.

The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency started accepting applications for the program on Monday.

"This is the largest allocation of state-appropriated funds ever designated for housing development," Deborah Jenkins, the agency's executive director, said previously. "We are eager to see the increased development of both for-sale and rental homes the Oklahoma Housing Stability Program will bring."

RELATED: Oklahoma City-area home sales were on the skids last year but still fetched $6,666,000,000

The program, created by legislation authored by Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, and Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, provides $215 million to fund the construction of new single-family homes for purchase and for single and multifamily rental homes.

It also offers down payment and closing cost assistance for home buyers who purchase homes produced by the Oklahoma Homebuilder Program.

With the approval of the emergency rules, Gov. Stitt demonstrates his profound understanding of the housing issues faced by Oklahomans and his commitment to addressing the housing shortage in rural and urban communities throughout the state, said Mike Buhl, chairman of the OHFA Board of Trustees.

RELATED: Zillow scammers try to steal thousands from Oklahoma homebuyers, state official stepping in

Basics of $215 million Oklahoma Housing Stability Program

According to the rules:

Housing developers can apply for zero-interest loans to build rental properties and new homes, but they must be repaid within two years or face interest charges.

Prospective homeowners who make less than $150,000 a year can apply for down-payment and closing-cost assistance. They will not have to repay the funds if they live in the home for three years.

RELATED: Construction slowed in 2023 but did not stop. These were the top neighborhoods for new homes

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Affordability guided by home size in Oklahoma Housing Affordability Program

The homes are intended to be "affordable," and must be between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet in size, OHFA spokesman Holley Mangham said, but there are no income limits for buyers unless they use the agency's Down Payment Assistance Program.

"As far as home affordability ... there arent price limits per se, but the goal is that the 1,000-2,000-square-foot (requirement) will encourage construction of homes for more entry-level buyers," she said.

Go to ohfa.org/housingstability for application details.

Sign Up: Weekly newsletter Real Estate with Richard Mize

Senior Business Writer Richard Mize has covered housing, construction, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com since 1999. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, Real Estate with Richard Mize. You can support Richard's work, and that of his colleagues, by purchasing a digital subscription to The Oklahoman. Right now, you can get 6 months of subscriber-only access for $1.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Gov. Kevin Stitt OKs rules for Oklahoma Housing Development Program
Despite a report from Bloomberg News that a major loan is coming to Palisades, perhaps within the next month, plant owners say no official decision has been made.

COVERT TWP.  Despite a report from Bloomberg News that a major loan is coming to Palisades, perhaps within the next month, plant owners say no official decision has been made.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday, Jan. 30, the federal government is poised to lend $1.5 billion to owner Holtec for the restart of Palisades Nuclear Plant. The funding could be offered as soon as next month, Bloomberg reported.

More: Where things stand in the effort to restart the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant

But the company's senior manager of governmental affairs, Nick Culp, told The Sentinel via an emailed statement Wednesday no official decision has been communicated to Holtec. The company does, however, feel confident.

We hope for a timely approval of our loan application to bring the plant back to full power operation toward the end of 2025, the statement reads. We will not speculate on anticipated timing, but are hopeful to hear a favorable decision in the near future.

We have been impressed with the (Department of Energy) loan application process, which has entailed rigorous due diligence with department staff and expert third-party advisors. We are very optimistic about the federal loan process and confident in the strength of our application.

The Bloomberg report cites people familiar with the matter. The Department of Energy Loan Program Office, through which Holtec applied for the funds, declined comment to the publication.

Palisades would be the first nuclear reactor in the country to restart after ceasing operations.

The historic repowering of Palisades has been buoyed by strong support from our federal, state and community partners who recognize its importance to our clean energy future, Holtecs statement reads.

Holtec officials remain optimistic about a potential loan to help restart the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Covert Township.

Although the federal loan is the biggest hurdle remaining in Holtecs efforts to restart the plant, several smaller needs must be met.

The company needs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval to reinstate the operating license for Palisades, and to rehire and retrain staff, an effort that's already underway.

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We have a robust restart plan which will include countless projects, plant inspections, equipment upgrades and modifications, acquiring new fuel, Culp told The Sentinel in December.

Subscribe: Receive unlimited digital access to your local news coverage

Although the loan and regulatory decisions still loom, Holtec has made some progress on its way to restarting, including a power purchase agreement secured with Wolverine Power Cooperative in September and $150 million bookmarked in Michigan's budget to aid the plant's transition.

Palisades ceased operations in 2022 after 50 years of power generation. It was sold to Holtec for the purpose of decommissioning. A plan to restart the plant, with support from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, was announced several months later, but an initial funding application through the Civil Nuclear Credit Program was denied.

The second, ongoing attempt to reopen Palisades launched in early 2023.

 Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Has Palisades secured $1.5B? Despite reports, owner says not yet
Blueberries all the way from Romania are now hitting supermarkets across the Middle East, thanks to an innovative new partnership between DP World and a young game-loving fruit producer, Agricrafters.

Romanian fruit producers have traditionally been limited to selling domestically and to their neighbours, hampered by the lack of specialised equipment and infrastructure required to ship their delicate goods over long distances. But now, this collaboration has unlocked a trove of new possibilities.

Founded in 2022, Agricrafters  a company born from a love of agriculture and video games (think Minecraft and StarCraft)  was previously selling its produce to other European countries, reaching as far as the Netherlands, Germany, the UK and Italy. But their ambitions stretched further east, to the sun-drenched markets of the Middle East.

Freshness and nutritional value

The challenge is to maintain the freshness and nutritional value of the fruit on such a long journey. This is where DP Worlds global infrastructure -- with multimodal transport options, smart storage facilities, and cutting-edge terminals in Constanta, Romania, and Jebel Ali, Dubai, comes in.

Through its relationship with CMA CGM, DP World secured next-generation controlled-atmosphere reefer containers, which allow real-time monitoring of CO2, O2, temperature, and humidity levels, with the ability to remotely adjust them if needed, ensuring a smooth, comfortable journey for the berries all the way from Romanian fields to Middle Eastern fridges.

Since the July-October harvest season last year, 100 tonnes of fresh blueberries have made the trip across the Black Sea to customers in the Middle East already.

Expanding exports

Agricrafters aims to expand its Middle East exports tenfold this year, not just with Romanian blueberries, but also with fruits from other European countries like Portugal and Spain, offering a year-round bounty throughout the region.

George Miclos, CEO, Agricrafters, said: When we initially partnered with DP World, we didnt expect to penetrate a new market so quickly but working with them has unlocked vast new potential for us. We know this partnership can help us reach new regions and limits in the years ahead.

To fuel its ambitious expansion, Agricrafters has established a centre in Romania where local blueberry farmers can sell their produce directly to Middle Eastern markets. They're also renting a 2,000-sq m warehouse in Jebel Ali to receive, pack and deliver fresh fruit across the region. And to ensure a steady supply of top-quality berries, they've already planted 62 hectares of blueberries in Bihor County, Romania, with plans to add another 160 hectares this year.

Unlocking access

DP World is equally enthusiastic about the partnership. Rashid Abdulla, CEO & Managing Director, DP World Europe, said: "One of our fundamental goals at DP Word is to unlock access to markets and consumers all over the world for our customers, which also helps to strengthen regional economies throughout the world. Our work with Agricrafters is yet another tangible example of that work and yet more evidence of the success of our operation in Romania, which is currently undergoing a huge expansion plan to help us deliver even stronger logistics solutions in the future.

Cosmin Carstea, CEO, DP World Romania, added: This is just one of many new success stories from DP World Romania. Since setting up in the country in 2004, DP World has been committed to boosting trade for the national and local economies by helping its customers tap into unexplored markets.

With recent announcements of a 38 million ($41.3 million) expansion project at Constanta port and a 20 million logistics hub in Aiud, DP World is paving the way for even greater growth, not just for Romanian companies, but for businesses across Eastern Europe seeking to access previously untapped trade routes.--TradeArabia News Service
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$58.5b (down 42% from FY 2022).

Net income: US$2.13b (down 93% from FY 2022).

Profit margin: 3.6% (down from 31% in FY 2022).

EPS: US$0.38 (down from US$5.59 in FY 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Pfizer Revenues and Earnings Miss Expectations

Revenue missed analyst estimates by 1.0%. Earnings per share (EPS) also missed analyst estimates by 48%.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 2.1% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 8.8% growth forecast for the Pharmaceuticals industry in the US.

Performance of the American Pharmaceuticals industry.

The company's shares are down 5.0% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Pfizer that you should be aware of.

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.
Construction is beginning on the newest Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show in Panama City Beach, Florida. (Photo: Business Wire)

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla., January 31, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dolly Parton is bringing the swashbuckling excitement of her Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show to the Florida Panhandle in spring 2025. Construction already has begun to build a new venue for the popular dinner show concept at Pier Park in Panama City Beach.

"How exciting that were breaking ground for my Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show in Panama City Beach," Dolly said. "My Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show has been a huge success in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and I knew that Panama City Beach was the perfect spot to open our third location. When we open next spring (2025), there will be pirates, mermaids, exciting acrobatics, pyrotechnics, and even a few songs that I wrote - its a show everyone in the family is going to love. Everyone knows I dream big, so we are definitely going overboard with the details as we get started!"

More than 400 jobs will be created during the construction process over the next year. Over 585 tons of steel, a total of 2,400 cubic yards of concrete and more than 44,000 cubic yards of import fill material will be used in the dinner show venues construction.

When completed, the 60,000 square foot indoor theater will have more than 1000 seats. Guests will be treated to a dinner and show where the Crimson and Sapphire pirates battle on deck, in the water of the 15-foot-deep lagoon, and in the "sky" above the two full-sized pirate ships that serve as the swashbuckling stage for adventure, excitement and fun for everyone. When the new dinner show opens, it will employ 300 people, and an extensive nationwide talent search will begin in mid-2024 for the cast. The total cost for the project is estimated at $60 million.

More information on the Pirates Voyage experiences in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is available at www.piratesvoyage.com.

-piratesvoyagepanamacitybeach2024-

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Dolly Partons dinner shows have operated since 1988, featuring special effects, musical productions, live animals and a four-course family feast. Dinner show venues, theaters, and restaurants for family fun and adventure can be found in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Branson, Missouri; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Dolly Parton's Stampede Dinner Attraction, Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud, The Comedy Barn Theater, and Frizzle Chicken Cafe.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131805483/en/

Contacts

Media Contacts:

Ellen Liston: (865) 428-9629, (865) 919-7001 or ellenl@wciinvest.com

Leah Hicks: (865) 774-8139, (865) 898-6925 or leahh@wciinvest.com
Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of Theratechnologies Inc. (TSE:TH), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

See our latest analysis for Theratechnologies

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Theratechnologies

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Independent Director Andrew Molson bought CA$182k worth of shares at a price of CA$1.42 per share. Even though the purchase was made at a significantly lower price than the recent price (CA$2.30), we still think insider buying is a positive. Because it occurred at a lower valuation, it doesn't tell us much about whether insiders might find today's price attractive.

Theratechnologies insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

Theratechnologies is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Insiders At Theratechnologies Have Bought Stock Recently

We saw some Theratechnologies insider buying shares in the last three months. Independent Director Dale MacCandlish-Weil shelled out CA$50k for shares in that time. It's good to see the insider buying, as well as the lack of recent sellers. But the amount invested in the last three months isn't enough for us too put much weight on it, as a single factor.

Does Theratechnologies Boast High Insider Ownership?

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Based on our data, Theratechnologies insiders have about 1.1% of the stock, worth approximately CA$1.3m. We consider this fairly low insider ownership.

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So What Does This Data Suggest About Theratechnologies Insiders?

Insider purchases may have been minimal, in the last three months, but there was no selling at all. Overall the buying isn't worth writing home about. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. While we have no worries about the insider transactions, we'd be more comfortable if they owned more Theratechnologies stock. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Theratechnologies. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 5 warning signs for Theratechnologies (of which 2 are a bit unpleasant!) you should know about.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 31, 2024) - Quest Critical Metals Inc. (CSE: BULL) (OTCQB: DCNNF) (FSE: DCR0) (formerly Canadian Palladium Resources Inc.) ("Quest Critical Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to update its shareholders on the work carried out on its Klingenthal/Tisova project that is now drill ready.

Recent work was carried out as part of the EU Horizon funded Exploration Information Systems Project (see news release dated December 18, 2023. This included a full mineralogical characterization of the VMS sulphidic ore, altered host rocks and hydrothermal veins, as well as identification of three main evolution stages of ores. This was presented at the 27th ECROFY meetings (2-6 July 2023, Reykjavik, Iceland) - see Zacharias, (2023).

In addition, further work has been undertaken on the interpretation of the 2018 geophysical magnetics and 3d IP survey (see news release dated January 21, 2018), and its integration into both historical and new data/work. This work, in conjunction with work carried out as part of the EIS Project, has further refined the drill targets. It has also provided a new horizontal section of the interpretation that clearly shows the horizontal horizons (confirmed by drilling in 2017) and the key, and untested, primary drill target. See figure below.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6337/196270_a6b994c0648b6b25_003full.jpg

James Newall, CEO of Quest Critical Metals commented, "As we move towards our 2024 drilling campaign at Klingenthal/Tisova it is important to update and confirm our drill targets combining the historical data with the 2018 geophysics and the work conducted more recently, including as part of the EIS Project. Not only have we confirmed our initial targets, but the new horizontal section of the geophysical interpretation highlights both the undrilled VMS target and the known horizontal horizons."

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Notes

History of Klingenthal/Tisova

Mining at Tisova was first recorded in the 13th Century and, by the 16th Century, there were over 2,000 workers at three underground mines producing 5% copper.

Modern style mining commenced in 1899 with the founding of the Klingenthal-Graslitzer Copper Mining Company. Between 1900 and 1904, the "Erhard-August-shaft" was sunk to a depth of 100 meters and a 1813 m long cross-cut was driven.

After the First World War and the disintegration of Austria-Hungary, the Graslitz ("Kraslice" in Czech language) region ceded to the newly founded Czechoslovakia in 1918. The new political situation led to the closure of the mill on the Saxon side. The buildings and treatment plants of the Klingenthal-Graslitzer Copper Mining Company were demolished between 1923 and 1929.

Czech State Mining Company Operations operated under the communist regime from 1959-1973.

Records indicate the underground mine produced 560,000 tonnes of copper ore @ 0.68% Cu (recovered).

Information from historical work

Historic grab samples from waste dumps assayed as high as 0.69% Cobalt, 17.1% Copper, 3.7 g/t Gold and 178 g/t Silver. Grab samples are possibly not indicative of the mineralization and additional sampling is required to evaluate the potential.

Sulphide zones were illustrated as more than 100m true thickness with higher-grade copper horizons forming lenses up to 5m wide.

Historic data from over 30 kilometres of underground workings, as well as 40 kilometres of underground and surface drilling, coupled with various studies by students and professors at Charles University (Prague) provide an excellent base for a detailed compilation.

References:

Zacharias J (2023) Fluid inclusion evidence for metamorphic mobilization of chalcopyrite at the Tisova VMS deposit, Czech Republic. In: Caracciolo A (ed) ECROFI XXVII, European Current Research on Fluid and Melt Inclusions 2023, Reykjavik, Iceland. Reykjavik, p. 101.

Mr. Garry Clark, P. Geo., of Clark Exploration Consulting, and a director of the Company, is the "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101, who has reviewed and approved the technical content in this press release.

Quest Critical Metals Inc.

James Newall, President and CEO

T: (604) 639-4472

Reader Advisory

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the proposed timing and completion of the private placement and the proposed use of proceeds from the private placement. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information.

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(Bloomberg) -- Bow Capital Management, the venture capital firm led by Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, signed a memorandum of understanding with South Koreas SK Networks Co. to collaborate on an artificial intelligence investment.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Our joint efforts to seek a middle-to-large cap deal, including more than $1 billion enterprise value, will contribute to the successful reinvention of SK Networks as a global technology company, Ranadive said in an emailed statement on Wednesday.

The project will focus on AI and robotics and comes as SK Networks, an arm of South Korean conglomerate SK Group, has been expanding its technology investing efforts. It established a US investment arm, known as Hico Capital, which has backed companies including Humane, Sabanto and MycoWorks.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
RevoluGROUP Canada (CVE:REVO) Second Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: CA$137.0k (up 61% from 2Q 2023).

Net loss: CA$1.04m (loss widened by 65% from 2Q 2023).

CA$0.005 loss per share (further deteriorated from CA$0.003 loss in 2Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

RevoluGROUP Canada's share price is broadly unchanged from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

It's necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 7 warning signs with RevoluGROUP Canada (at least 4 which can't be ignored), and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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.
Reported Sales Growth : 3.6% increase year over year, with organic sales up 1.0%.

Diluted and Adjusted EPS : Diluted EPS at $1.86, down 44% YOY; Adjusted EPS at $2.04, down 17% YOY.

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) : Total ARR up 20% year over year, signaling strong recurring revenue streams.

Cash Flow : Operating activities generated $32.6 million, a decrease from $66.3 million YOY; Free cash flow was negative at $(35.3) million.

Guidance: Fiscal 2024 reported sales growth guidance of 0.5% - 6.5% reaffirmed; Diluted EPS guidance updated to $11.24 - $12.74.

On January 31, 2024, Rockwell Automation Inc (NYSE:ROK) released its 8-K filing, disclosing the financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024. As a leading entity in industrial automation and digital transformation, Rockwell Automation operates through segments such as intelligent devices, software and control, and lifecycle services, offering a comprehensive range of automation solutions.

Rockwell Automation Inc (ROK) Q1 2024 Earnings: Mixed Results Amidst Market Challenges

Financial Performance and Challenges

Rockwell Automation reported a modest increase in sales, with reported sales rising 3.6% year over year to $2,052 million. This growth was partially fueled by acquisitions, contributing 1.4% to the overall increase. However, the company faced a significant decline in net income attributable to Rockwell Automation, which decreased to $215 million, or $1.86 per share, from $384 million, or $3.31 per share in the previous year. Adjusted EPS also saw a downturn, decreasing by 17.1% to $2.04 compared to $2.46 in the first quarter of fiscal 2023.

The company's performance reflects the ongoing challenges in the market, including high levels of channel inventory and lingering supply chain constraints. These factors have impacted the timing of product shipments, despite positive underlying conditions and a profitable quarter for the Sensia joint venture, which saw over 25% growth in orders and sales.

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Financial Achievements and Industry Significance

One notable financial achievement for Rockwell Automation is the 20% year-over-year growth in Total ARR, highlighting the increasing value of the company's recurring software and services. This metric is particularly important in the Industrial Products industry, as it indicates a stable and predictable revenue stream, which is crucial for long-term planning and investment.

Key Financial Metrics

Rockwell Automation's pre-tax margin was 12.7% in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, a decrease from 23.6% in the same period last year. The segment operating margin also declined to 17.3% from 20.2% a year ago. These margins are critical as they reflect the company's profitability and its ability to control costs relative to its sales.

Free cash flow was negative at $(35.3) million, compared to $42.1 million in the same period last year, indicating a potential concern for the company's liquidity and its ability to fund operations and growth initiatives.

"We continue to expect low-single-digit topline growth in FY24, with modest EPS growth weighted to the second half of the year as orders continue to rebound. We are focused on winning share, meeting near-term profitability targets, and investing for the most attractive future opportunities, said Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO.

Analysis of Performance

While Rockwell Automation has managed to grow its sales, the significant drop in net income and EPS suggests that the company is facing margin pressures and increased costs that are affecting its bottom line. The reaffirmed sales growth guidance indicates management's confidence in the company's ability to navigate through these challenges, with an emphasis on strategic investments and market share gains.

Investors and potential GuruFocus.com members should consider the mixed results of Rockwell Automation's first quarter as they evaluate the company's prospects. The strong ARR growth is a positive sign, but the pressure on margins and cash flow will be key areas to monitor in the coming quarters.

For a more detailed breakdown of Rockwell Automation's financials and management's outlook, interested parties are encouraged to review the full 8-K filing.

Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from Rockwell Automation Inc for further details.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


By Alan Charlish

WARSAW (Reuters) - Ryanair will take as many Boeing MAX 10 aircraft as it can get, the airline's CEO told Reuters on Tuesday, reiterating his confidence in the U.S. planemaker.

Boeing, long a symbol of America's manufacturing prowess, is in the crosshairs of regulators, politicians and airlines following a harrowing mid-air cabin panel blowout on a passenger-filled 737 MAX 9 jet operated by Alaska Airlines earlier this month.

On Monday, Boeing said it was withdrawing a request for a key safety exemption that could have allowed U.S. regulators to speed up certification of its coming 737 MAX 7, in the latest fallout from the planemaker's ongoing crisis.

"Boeing make great aircraft, we're very confident, we have orders for 400 of those aircraft," Michael OLeary told Reuters in an interview.

"Some of the U.S. airlines were saying last week 'we might not take some of those aircraft' - I said yesterday if the American carriers don't want to take the MAX 10, we'll take them, we'll take as many as we can get, as fast as we can get."

At a press conference, O'Leary said Boeing had been "unlucky" with the Alaska airlines incident. He said Boeing needed to improve the quality of the aircraft it was delivering, but that some of the criticism it was getting was unfair.

"I think the CEO and CFO ... are getting a lot of unfair criticism for a lot of poor management on the floor in Seattle," he told a news conference in Warsaw.

"Ultimately they are responsible, but there is weak management in Seattle... it is improving though."

(Reporting by Alan Charlish; Editing by Louise Heavens and Jan Harvey)
In the middle of a tense Senate Wednesday on the dangers of social media, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stood, turned around and faced families who have accused his platforms, Facebook and Instagram, of harming their children.

Im sorry for everything you have all been through, Zuckerberg said. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered, and this is why we invest so much and we are going to continue doing industry-leading efforts to make sure no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer.

The rare public apology comes amid scathing criticism from lawmakers and child advocates who say the industry for years has failed to protect its most vulnerable users from abuse and exploitation.

CEO and founder of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, apologized to families in the audience during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis on January 31, 2024, at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

In bipartisan unison throughout the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Congress chastised the leaders of some of the nation's top social media companies and called on them to take immediate steps to protect children and teens online.

I use it, we all use it, there's an upside to everything here. But the dark side hasn't been dealt with, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said. It's now time to deal with the dark side because people have taken your idea, and they've turned it into a nightmare for the American people.

Concerns about the harmful effects of social media use on America's youth have reached a crescendo in recent months. A public health advisory from the surgeon general last year noted social media use presents a profound risk of harm for kids' and teens' mental health and called for "immediate action" from tech companies.

We want action and legal accountability, not platitudes, from these CEOs, said Brandy and Toney Roberts in a statement from the American Association for Justice. The couple filed a lawsuit against Meta after their 14-year-old daughter, Englyn, died by suicide. They say she was copying a hanging video sent to her on Instagram.

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"An empty apology is cold comfort when we go home every night to Englyns empty bedroom," the Roberts said.

Lawmakers used the hearing to push for a package of bills meant to help stop the exploitation of kids online, including the STOP CSAM Act, which would allow victims of child exploitation to sue tech platforms.

Zuckerberg and other tech leaders argued that they have stepped up with protective measures that insulate children and teens on their platforms. Critics sharply disagreed.

I think Congress is going to have to help you, Sen. John Kennedy, R-LA, said. I think the reforms you're talking about, to some extent, are going to be like putting paint on rotten wood."

And, even as they condemned social media companies, lawmakers acknowledged that they, too, have been part of the problem. Congress has passed just one kids' safety law in the past decade.

Who are the witnesses?

Witnesses include:

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg

X CEO Linda Yaccarino

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel

Discord CEO Jason Citron

Tech executives testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee about Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis during a hearing today on January 31, 2024 at Capitol Hill in Washington DC.

This was Zuckerbergs eighth time testifying before Congress. It was a first for Yaccarino, Spiegel and Citron, who were subpoenaed to appear. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL, said Citron "only accepted services of this subpoena after U.S. Marshals were sent to Discord's headquarters at taxpayer expense."

The tech company leaders said they were open to working with lawmakers to address their concerns.

"I sincerely hope today is the beginning of an ongoing dialogue that results in real improvements in online safety," Citron said.

Mark Zuckerberg to victims' families: 'I'm sorry for everything you've been through'

Highlights from the hearing

Zuckerberg turned down requests to expand child safety team: Lawmakers on Wednesday released internal documents from Meta that showed Zuckerberg rejected 2021 requests to add dozens of employees to focus on childrens well-being and safety.

(This) is the reason why we can no longer trust Meta, and, frankly, any of the other social media to in fact grade their own homework, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT.

CEO and founder of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee about Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis during a hearing today on Jan. 31, 2024, at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Zuckerberg addressed the families of victims: Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO, urged Zuckerberg to apologize directly to the families of victims and suggested the billionaire establish a victim compensation fund. Zuckerberg would not commit to the idea during the hearing.

TikTok grilled for ties to China: Lawmakers raised concerns that TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, is sharing user data with the Chinese government. CEO Chew argued that the company has spent billions on a project aimed at protecting American user data, and said the company has "not been asked for any data by the Chinese government and we have never provided it."

Lawmakers highlight unity across party lines: The welfare of children on social media is the rare issue that transcends partisan politics. Sen. Graham highlighted how both Democrats and Republicans agreed that tech companies need more regulatory oversight.

We've found common ground here that just is astonishing, he said.

Boeing comparisons: Both Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, and Sen. Chris Coons, D-DE, contrasted regulations in the tech and airline industries, highlighting the quick response after a Boeing plane lost a panel midair earlier this month.

"Nobody questioned the decision to ground a fleet of over 700 planes. So why aren't we taking the same type of decisive action on the danger of these platforms when we know these kids are dying?" Klobuchar asked.

What do the platforms say?

The social media platform heads balked when asked if they support the five bills the committee is pushing as written, but say they have already taken steps to protect young users.

Yaccarino, head of X, said the company is building a content moderation center in Austin, Texas. She also noted that the company supports the STOP CSAM Act. TikTok CEO Chew highlighted safety measures, like disabling direct messaging for accounts owned by people under 16 and automatically making their accounts private.

Zuckerbergs written testimony notes that Meta has introduced various features to help parents and teens, including controls that let parents set limits on when and how long their children can use Metas services  settings that hide potentially sensitive content and a nudge tool that reminds teens when theyve been using Instagram for too long or too late into the night.

"Were committed to protecting young people from abuse on our services, but this is an ongoing challenge," Zuckerberg says in his written testimony.

Snap, the company behind instant messaging app Snapchat, and X also came out in support of the Kids Online Safety Act, which could lead to more lawsuits against tech companies that recommend harmful material to young users. (Some critics are concerned that it could also lead to the censorship of transgender content online.)

Co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc., Evan Spiegel, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee about Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis during a hearing today on Jan. 31, 2024, at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Just like with all technology and tools, there are people who exploit and abuse our platforms for immoral and illegal purposes, Discord CEO Citron said. All of us here on the panel today and throughout the tech industry, have a solemn and urgent responsibility to ensure that everyone who uses our platforms is protected from these criminals, both online and off.

Lawmakers noted that a number of these safety measures  including Xs new content moderation center and additional protections for teens on Metas platforms  were added in the weeks leading up to the senate hearing.

What do the lawmakers say?

Critics say social media platforms' tools dont go far enough, and hope the hearing will push lawmakers to take action. Politico reports that Congress has passed just one kids' safety law in the past decade.

Im tired of talking. Im tired of having discussions, Graham said. Open up the courthouse door. Until you do that, nothing will change.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TikTok, Meta, Snap, other tech CEOs grilled at Senate hearing
A strategic partnership has paved the way for creating a digital bridge between Dubai and Ireland that will foster ties between businesses and also facilitate their expansion, a report said.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Dubai between Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers and Enterprise Ireland, the Irish governments trade and innovation agency and the number one VC in Europe by deal count, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.

The agreement aims to connect companies in Dubai with Irish businesses to promote mutual cooperation and partnerships.

It will create rewarding opportunities for members of Enterprise Ireland, particularly in the fields of technology, manufacturing, and clean energy, as well as environmental, social, and governance practices, a statement said.

In addition, the agreement will strengthen the business, trade, and investment relations between Ireland and Dubai, stimulating economic and commercial ties and enabling Irish companies to expand into markets across the MENA region.

The MoU aspires to create opportunities for small businesses between Ireland and Dubai, especially in the area of digital technologies, while providing a platform for businesses in both markets to explore the potential to increase bilateral exports.

The agreement also seeks to develop a platform for cross-cultural training and capacity building for doing business across different cultures and languages.

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, said: Dubai plays a pivotal role in the global business landscape and serves as a vital gateway for the growth and expansion of companies from around the world.

The emirate is continuing to consolidate its position as an ideal platform that brings together creative ideas and innovative entrepreneurs  particularly in the field of modern digital technologies  creating more opportunities, building promising partnerships, and developing effective solutions and pioneering projects.

This partnership between Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and Enterprise Ireland represents a significant step that will benefit the business communities in both Dubai and Ireland, including small and macro businesses and specialised tech projects.

By sharing local expertise and exploring mutual opportunities, the agreement will increase the volume of mutual trade and investment and support the growth of the digital economy.

Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland said: Demand for Irish innovation in Dubai and across the UAE is high, with exports continuing to rise year on year. Through this agreement with Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, we aim to collaborate together to facilitate strong connections between Dubai Chamber members and Enterprise Ireland client companies for mutual benefit.

By focusing on technology, manufacturing, and clean energy, this agreement aligns with our commitment to supporting Irish enterprises in expanding their global footprint. Together, we are unlocking opportunities that will drive growth, innovation, and success for businesses in Dubai and Ireland.

The MoU was signed at Dubai Chambers headquarters in the presence of Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications and Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy; Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers; and Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.

Ireland was represented by Minister Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation; Alison Milton, Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to the UAE; and Leo Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Ireland.
Everyone's talking about artificial intelligence (AI) these days, and that means everyone is talking about Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) too. The chipmaker originally splashed onto the scene with its graphic processing units (GPUs) for the gaming and graphics markets. But today, these chips also power the training of AI models, and that's helped Nvidia's earnings and share price to explode.

In fact, Nvidia now generates most of its revenue from AI clients and holds about 80% of the AI chip market. That's great, but knowing how quickly things move in technology, it's fair to ask ourselves whether Nvidia can keep up this leadership or if eventually it will lose a significant chunk of market share. After all, it's not the only game in town. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), for example, has grown its share in the GPU market in recent times and even launched a powerful new chip late last year.

Considering all of this, how solid is Nvidia's moat or competitive advantage? Let's find out.

Image source: Getty Images.

Nvidia's gaming history

First a little background on Nvidia. The company's GPUs took center stage in the gaming community years ago due to their ability to divide tasks among processors, therefore allowing many tasks to take place at the same time. This worked extremely well for the visuals in video games and other graphics applications, so textures, light, and shapes all could hit the screen simultaneously.

The rest of the world eventually discovered GPUs thanks to their ability to speed up workloads, and that's how they became the engines powering AI. Nvidia's CUDA parallel computing platform helps developers capture the power of GPUs and apply it across these applications, well beyond the GPU's original uses.

You'll find Nvidia GPUs everywhere from data centers to laptops and even in the world's biggest supercomputers. These chips are unbeatable for the "deep learning" of AI models, offering them the power they need for training and inference. And the company has partnered with other AI leaders such as Amazon and Microsoft, so if you use those cloud services, you may be relying on Nvidia GPUs for your deep learning projects.

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Nvidia vs AMD

Of course, Nvidia faces competition in this area, particularly from AMD, as mentioned above. This big rival recently released a new chip series -- MI300X -- and claimed it was even faster than Nvidia's H100 GPU. If a rival significantly beats Nvidia's speed, this eventually could hurt the AI giant's market share and earnings. But in this particular case, Nvidia followed up on the AMD news, showing its chip, when using the right software, actually is twice as fast as the MI300X.

And Nvidia has quite a lead from an earnings perspective too, with its data-center business, which includes chips to power AI, bringing in more than $14 billion in revenue in the most recent quarter. That's compared to AMD's $1.6 billion in data-center revenue.

So, from a market share, earnings, and performance perspective, Nvidia remains ahead in the AI chip space.

Now, let's consider the solidity of Nvidia's moat, which is a combination of its brand strength and technological strength. Though rivals could gain some market share in the coming years, I don't expect them to unseat Nvidia -- for three reasons.

First-to-market advantage

First, when it comes to GPUs, Nvidia has the first-to-market advantage, progressively expanding its offerings and successfully serving AI clients. If customers are satisfied with performance, and they are advancing their AI projects, it's unlikely they'll switch to another chip along the way.

Second, a look at a pattern in the central processing unit (CPU) market reinforces the idea that chip customers tend to stick with the market leader: Though AMD has increased its market share in CPUs over the years, it hasn't unseated Intel.

Finally, Nvidia is far from resting on its laurels and instead, heavily invests in research and development to remain a leader in the AI space. The company increased R&D spending by 15% in the first nine months of last year to more than $6.2 billion. Considering Nvidia is highly profitable and revenue continues to soar, the company has what it takes financially to continue this investing momentum, which should lead to innovations that will keep it in the lead.

NVDA Net Income (Quarterly) Chart

NVDA Net Income (Quarterly) data by YCharts.

So, yes, Nvidia faces competition, and these rivals surely will gain some market share, but this doesn't represent a huge threat for the AI giant. That's because the elements I've talked about are like deep waters keeping Nvidia's moat secure -- and difficult for rivals to cross -- well into the future. And that makes Nvidia a top AI stock to buy and hold onto for the long term even after last year's triple-digit gain.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

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John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Adria Cimino has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Intel and recommends the following options: long January 2023 $57.50 calls on Intel, long January 2025 $45 calls on Intel, and short February 2024 $47 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

How Solid Is Nvidia's Moat? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Southern California Bancorp (NASDAQ:BCAL) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$96.6m (up 12% from FY 2022).

Net income: US$25.9m (up 61% from FY 2022).

Profit margin: 27% (up from 19% in FY 2022). The increase in margin was driven by higher revenue.

EPS: US$1.42 (up from US$0.90 in FY 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Southern California Bancorp Revenues and Earnings Miss Expectations

Revenue missed analyst estimates by 1.6%. Earnings per share (EPS) also missed analyst estimates by 4.5%.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 3.3% p.a. on average during the next 2 years, compared to a 5.7% growth forecast for the Banks industry in the US.

Performance of the American Banks industry.

The company's shares are down 2.1% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

It's necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Southern California Bancorp (at least 1 which is a bit unpleasant), and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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.
Brigadier Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen wants commercial companies to solve Space Force problems, but if the U.S. Space Force can help them, thats OK with her, too.

Thats part of the message she delivered at the Space Mobility Conference at the Orange County Convention Center on Tuesday, bringing together a combination of military, civil and commercial players in the space game.

Were really trying to focus in on what the warfighters need and take it one step farther, said Panzenhagen, who wears four hats for the Space Force, including commander of Space Launch Delta 45 based at Patrick Space Force Base in Brevard County.

Taking over the role last summer from Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, shes also director of the Eastern Range in charge of every launch out of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center and the director of launch and range operations for Space Systems Command, meaning she has a say in the launches from the Western Range out of Vandenberg Space Force Station as well.

The final, and debatably the biggest hat she wears, though, is as program executive officer for the Assured Access to Space organization within Space Systems Command. That job entails overseeing 22,000 government and contractor personnel and leading national security and other military launch programs with an annual budget of $13.5 billion.

The Space Mobility Conference, now in its second year, is an outreach effort of Assured Access to Space.

In 2020 the Space Force announced space mobility and logistics as one of its core competencies, she said. Thats where the focal point is right now for the Space Force  for developing these capabilities.

With a record 72 launches from the Space Coast in 2023 and close to 100 expected in 2024, she says launches remain an important focus of that mobility, but this weeks conference focused on other aspects of the military needs and just how commercial companies could help.

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The day featured panels covering things such as refueling older satellites, partnering with other countries to share spaceports, and point-to-point rapid rocket delivery of supplies. Representatives for companies including SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Space dressed in business casual fare mixed with military personnel in camouflage uniforms.

We tried to bring together all the players for a very open conversation, she said. We really want to hear unconstrained ideas  We also really want to understand the realm of the possible not just technologically, but what makes a feasible business case for industry with some of these technologies.

Commercial companies already routinely work the military, but with competition from the likes of China, for instance, the need to keep up with innovation requires more reliance on commercial help than ever before, she said.

Panzenhagen said the U.S. is in a Great Power competition and the Space Force considers China the pacing challenge. . And because of that  we know our number one priority is deterring a potential conflict. But then should conflict arise, we need to make sure that were ready for it.

Space Force needs responsiveness built into its systems and hardware, tactically relevant timelines and supporting infrastructure because those things are good for warfighting capabilities, which means theyre good for deterrence, she said.

But the good news is American commercial endeavors are up to the task, she said.

This is a fantastic era of innovation that were seeing in the space industry. One of Americas strengths has always been its ability to innovate. And the DoD [Department of Defense] as much as possible tries to capitalize on that innovation, she said.

That includes technology such as reusable rockets, but also things such as 3D printing and even processes that can cut down on response time. Rewarding commercial endeavors helps the country as well, she said.

From a government standpoint, encouraging competition, bringing on more vendors is good for us. It improves resiliency, which again, good for space order of battle, good for deterrence, she said.

Panzenhagen said the days discussion was invaluable.

This was a lot today. That was an incredible amount of expertise. It was literally centuries of expertise that we had sitting up on stage so we could pick their brains, she said.

I took probably about two pages of notes today, and its split roughly 50-50. Half of it is things that I was like Oh shoot, I need to go do this and the other half was things I was like, Oh shoot, I need to get smarter on this, so i can go do something.'
ORLANDO, Fla.  Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen wants commercial companies to solve Space Force problems, but if the U.S. Space Force can help them, thats OK with her, too.

Thats part of the message she delivered at the Space Mobility Conference at the Orange County Convention Center on Tuesday, bringing together a combination of military, civil and commercial players in the space game.

Were really trying to focus in on what the warfighters need and take it one step farther, said Panzenhagen, who wears four hats for the Space Force, including commander of Space Launch Delta 45 based at Patrick Space Force Base in Brevard County.

Taking over the role last summer from Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, shes also director of the Eastern Range in charge of every launch out of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center and the director of launch and range operations for Space Systems Command, meaning she has a say in the launches from the Western Range out of Vandenberg Space Force Station as well.

The final, and debatably the biggest hat she wears, though, is as program executive officer for the Assured Access to Space organization within Space Systems Command. That job entails overseeing 22,000 government and contractor personnel and leading national security and other military launch programs with an annual budget of $13.5 billion.

The Space Mobility Conference, now in its second year, is an outreach effort of Assured Access to Space.

In 2020 the Space Force announced space mobility and logistics as one of its core competencies, she said. Thats where the focal point is right now for the Space Force  for developing these capabilities.

With a record 72 launches from the Space Coast in 2023 and close to 100 expected in 2024, she says launches remain an important focus of that mobility, but this weeks conference focused on other aspects of the military needs and just how commercial companies could help.

The day featured panels covering things such as refueling older satellites, partnering with other countries to share spaceports, and point-to-point rapid rocket delivery of supplies. Representatives for companies including SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Space dressed in business casual fare mixed with military personnel in camouflage uniforms.

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We tried to bring together all the players for a very open conversation, she said. We really want to hear unconstrained ideas  We also really want to understand the realm of the possible not just technologically, but what makes a feasible business case for industry with some of these technologies.

Commercial companies already routinely work the military, but with competition from the likes of China, for instance, the need to keep up with innovation requires more reliance on commercial help than ever before, she said.

Panzenhagen said the U.S. is in a Great Power competition and the Space Force considers China the pacing challenge. . And because of that  we know our number one priority is deterring a potential conflict. But then should conflict arise, we need to make sure that were ready for it.

Space Force needs responsiveness built into its systems and hardware, tactically relevant timelines and supporting infrastructure because those things are good for warfighting capabilities, which means theyre good for deterrence, she said.

But the good news is American commercial endeavors are up to the task, she said.

This is a fantastic era of innovation that were seeing in the space industry. One of Americas strengths has always been its ability to innovate. And the DoD [Department of Defense] as much as possible tries to capitalize on that innovation, she said.

That includes technology such as reusable rockets, but also things such as 3D printing and even processes that can cut down on response time. Rewarding commercial endeavors helps the country as well, she said.

From a government standpoint, encouraging competition, bringing on more vendors is good for us. It improves resiliency, which again, good for space order of battle, good for deterrence, she said.

Panzenhagen said the days discussion was invaluable.

This was a lot today. That was an incredible amount of expertise. It was literally centuries of expertise that we had sitting up on stage so we could pick their brains, she said.

I took probably about two pages of notes today, and its split roughly 50-50. Half of it is things that I was like Oh shoot, I need to go do this and the other half was things I was like, Oh shoot, I need to get smarter on this, so i can go do something.'

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The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce establishes a foundation for workforce development and education

St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce

The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce announces its St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, a nonprofit organization designed to serve the community through leadership opportunities, workforce education and economic development programs.

According to a recent press release, the chamber established the foundation to expand its programming and culture of philanthropy beyond the business community. Areas of focus include a permanent scholarship fund for Leadership St. Johns, a professional leadership development program that has fostered the growth of business and government employees for over 20 years.

The foundation also will offer disaster relief for businesses recovering from natural disasters or economic downturns and support workforce development by partnering with local educational institutions, thus addressing the need for a highly skilled workforce.

The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a natural extension of the chambers work to promote a vibrant, diverse business environment in St. Johns County, said Isabelle Renault, chamber president and CEO. The foundation opens new avenues for programs and philanthropic work to make a difference in the community at large as we work to strengthen our business community.

Board Chair Cecil Gibson described the foundation as a great benefit to the community.

By offering education and leadership development, along with the relief fund, the foundations work will create opportunities for both individuals and businesses to thrive in St. Johns County, he said in a press release.

According to Renault, the idea for the foundation resulted from the economic challenges caused by COVID-19.

"While the chamber was prepared to respond to the needs of local businesses, we were limited by the chambers status as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit," she said. "Many grants were designed for 501(c)(3) organizations."

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Renault underscored the importance of supporting the needs of a growing community.

"As a 501(c)(3,) the foundation gives the chamber access to more resources to help businesses thrive in St. Johns County, she said. Workforce development is a cornerstone of the chamber and the foundation. The foundation allows us to fundraise for scholarships to make Leadership St. Johns possible for emerging leaders in businesses that might not otherwise be able to afford putting an employee through the program.

The foundation board of directors includes Chair Cecil Gibson (Ameris Bank), Vice Chair Orville Dothage (Northrop Grumman), Secretary/Treasurer Erika Alba (Woolsey/Morcom), Nancy Dering Mock (Nancy Dering Mock Consulting), and Renault.

The chamber is hosting a kickoff fundraiser on April 25 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Augustines bestbet, 800 Marketplace Drive. Click here for more information.

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce establishes a nonprofit
Standard Chartered: Ethereum Spot ETFs Likely To Be Approved by May 2024

Standard Chartered has projected that Ethereum (ETH) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will be approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and potentially double the current price of ETH, according to a report by the British multinational bank on Tuesday.

Standard Chartered expressed confidence that spot ETH ETFs will receive the green light from the SEC by the final deadline on May 23, citing the fact that the regulator has not classified ETH as a security. This is in contrast to the SEC's crackdown on crypto companies selling unregistered securities. The Commodities and Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), on the other hand, has consistently classified ETH as a commodity, an asset that can be bought and sold.

Standard Chartered expects that the approval of spot ETH ETFs will lead to a surge in the value of ETH, with the cryptocurrency potentially reaching $4,000. ETH is currently priced at $2,332, according to CoinMarketCaps data. Several high-profile asset management firms, including BlackRock, have submitted their applications for spot ETH ETFs.

Standard Chartered also maintained its bullish outlook on Bitcoin, reiterating its prediction that BTC could reach $100,000 per coin by the end of 2024. Geoffrey Kendrick, head of Standard Chartered Bank's forex and digital assets research, stated that this price range "still looks achievable."
Starbucks (SBUX) fans may be getting a break on their bills in 2024.

The coffee giant is trying to get its drinkers to come back more frequently amid ongoing issues like unionization efforts, declining sales growth in the US and abroad, and flattening foot traffic.

With US same-store sales up only 5% last quarter  and after missing analyst estimates on its top and bottom lines on Tuesday  Starbucks will leverage pricing and promotional strategies as it looks to regain its footing this year.

While Americans had previously brushed off higher prices, Starbucks CFO Rachel Ruggeri indicated to Yahoo Finance Live that the company plans to pull back on price hikes.

"We learned a lot in Q1 largely in our US business" when it comes to driving promotional offerings to engage consumers, Ruggeri said. US foot traffic was up a mere 1%, while check size went up 4%, both under analyst estimates.

For its fiscal 2024 guidance, Starbucks' global and US same-store sales are expected to increase 4% to 6%, both down from the previous range of 5% to 7%. Shares ended Wednesday's trading session down 1%.

"We were able to successfully drive afternoon with those [promotional] offers as well as increase the membership and our rewards program," Ruggeri added. Starbucks will tailor its promotions to be more "targeted and surgical" to increase efficiency, she said.

Part of the plan is to leverage artificial intelligence to personalize promotions to different cohorts of reward members, targeting customers with deals during different parts of the day and suggesting food with orders, all of which can boost traffic and ticket size.

Its US reward program was a rare bright spot in its Q1 results. During the quarter, active US reward members, who typically spend more, jumped 13% year over year to 34.3 million.

Starbucks workers are striking due to overwhelming demands and understaffing at many of the stores in New York, USA, on November 16, 2023. (Photo by Victor M. Matos/Thenews2/NurPhoto via Getty Images) (NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Starbucks' efforts come as ongoing conflicts with its union are still in the backdrop.

Union walkouts took a toll this past quarter, especially during its coveted Red Cup Day. Starbucks Workers United dubbed the walkout the "Red Cup Rebellion."

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Per Placer.ai, foot traffic on the day was less than half of that compared to a typical year.

In 2020, 2021, and 2022, store visits during Red Cup Day jumped 74.4%, 65.0%, and 81.0%, respectively, compared to the daily visit average in the preceding five days. In 2023, visits on Red Cup Day were up only 31.7%.

On a call with investors, Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan said that based on an independent assessment, "there has been no union-busting playbook at Starbucks."

Noting that just 4% of Starbucks' US portfolio has voted to unionize, Ruggeri reiterated that the company "still believe(s) a direct relationship with our partners is best because it allows us to deliver the brand experience."

However, Starbucks is "committed to be able to have a constructive dialogue and a path forward to work with the unions and with all partners," she said.

Yet, Starbucks Workers United tells a different story.

"We welcome any effort to cultivate a relationship between the company and its partners that advances bargaining and allows for organizing free of intimidation and retaliation," Starbucks Workers' United shared in a statement with Yahoo Finance. "There's been no indication thus far that they're sincere in their statement to change their stance about the union."

As part of a growth strategy announced following its Q4 results in November, Starbucks aims to double workers' 2020 hourly incomes by 2025.

The union, on the other hand, feels like they are being left out of the equation.

Their statement went on to say that Starbucks tends to "dismiss workers, withhold new benefits from union workers and engage in other retaliation against union members," adding that it believes the coffee giant is "wielding these 'investments' as anti-union weapons."

Shares of Starbucks are under pressure, down more than 15% compared to a year ago, versus the S&P 500's 17% gain.



Brooke DiPalma is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@yahoofinance.com.

Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks

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Starbucks' (SBUX) bitter earnings report doesn't seem to have fazed its investors.

The coffee giant is cutting its full-year sales guidance, after posting misses on top and bottom lines for its Q1 earnings. Revenue grew 8% year over year to $9.4 billion, missing analyst estimates of a 10.2% jump to $9.6 billion.

Adjusted earnings per share were up 20% to $0.90, also below expectations of a 22.5% jump to $0.93.

Shares in after-hours trading popped more than 4%. Morningstar analyst Sean Dunlop told Yahoo Finance that investors "had priced in worse."

US same-store sales were a disappointment as well, with 5% growth instead of the 5.73% Wall Street anticipated. Foot traffic was up a mere 1%, while check size went up 4%, both under the estimates.

The company now expects fiscal 2024 total revenue growth to be in the range of 7% to 10%, down from the previous range of low end of 10% to 12%. Global and US same-store sales are expected to increase 4% to 6%, both down from the previous range of 5% to 7%.

China's same-store sales growth is expected to come in at low single digits for the remainder of the year, down from 4% to 6%.

Starbucks expects fiscal year earnings growth to remain the same, in the range of 15% to 20%.

Despite the earnings miss, Dunlop said an overall increase in foot traffic seems to suggest the company is still outpacing the industry and "hasn't wildly outrun its consumer with price increases." Its loyalty customers also spent a record amount per member this quarter.

To increase its US foot traffic, Starbucks plans to introduce three new flavor lines aimed at Gen Z consumers, particularly for afternoon visitors, and new drinks ahead of Valentine's Day.

On a call with investors, Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan outlined "a negative impact" on its business in the Middle East which then, in turn, "had an impact in the US, driven by misperceptions about our position."

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Narasimhan shared his concerns about current events and misinformation being spread about the company in an internal memo in mid-December.

Overseas, Starbucks' results were a far cry from its lofty ambitions. It had aimed to grow to 9,000 stores in China, its second-largest market, by the end of 2025.

But same-store sales in China only increased 10% this quarter, falling short of the 16% jump Wall Street expected. While foot traffic was up 21% year over year as COVID restrictions eased, check sizes dropped 9% due to slower sales of higher-priced merchandise "as [Chinese] consumers are more cautious in their spending," Starbucks China co-CEO Belinda Wong said on the call.

Competition is also brewing in the country as local brands like Luckin Coffee and Cotti Coffee have been aggressive in their pricing strategy.

"We are operating under an increased promotional environment [in China]," Wong said, "We're not interested in entering the price war."

Narasimhan added that Starbucks believes there is "enormous potential in China's premium market, and no one is better positioned to lead in this space."

Starbucks plans to innovate its local menus, up investments in technology, and increase the percentage of new stores opening in lower tier markets.

People visit Starbucks' Coffee Innovation Park on Sept. 19, 2023, in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province of China. (VCG/VCG via Getty Images) (VCG via Getty Images)

Overall, international sales jumped 7%, with a decline in average check sizes but an increase in foot traffic.

CFO Rachel Ruggeri said on the call that a slower-than-expected recovery in China and conflict in the Middle East are "transitory" headwinds, and the company remains committed to international expansion.

Globally, Starbucks is aiming to increase its footprint from over 38,000 stores to 55,000 stores by 2030. In Q1, the company opened 549 net new stores.

Following its Q4 results in November, the company announced plans to implement a $3 billion efficiency program over the next three years  $2 billion of which Starbucks says can be saved from the corporate side.

It also aims to double workers' hourly incomes compared to fiscal year 2020 by fiscal year 2025.

Prior to the earnings report, shares were down 14% over the past year, compared to the S&P 500's (^GSPC) 21% gain. Meanwhile, shares of McDonald's (MCD), which just announced its expansion into the coffee scene with CosMc, are up around 7.3% in the last year.

The earnings rundown

Heres what Starbucks reported, compared to Wall Street expectations for Q1, based on Bloomberg consensus estimates.

Revenue: $9.4 billion versus $9.6 billion

Adjusted earnings per share: $0.90 versus $0.93 expected

Same-store sales growth: 5% versus 6.39% expected

North America and US: 5% versus 5.73% expected

International: 7% versus 11.6% expected

China: 10% versus 16.1% expected

Traffic growth:

North America and US: 1% versus 1.74% expected

International: 11% versus 7.84% expected

Ticket size growth:

North America and US: 4% versus 4.58% expected

International: -3% versus 2.45% expected

Correction: A previous version of this article misspelled the name of Wedbush analyst Nick Setyan. We regret the error.



Brooke DiPalma is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@yahoofinance.com.

Click here for all of the latest retail stock news and events to better inform your investing strategy
Telegraph newspaper

A senior member of the Barclay family faces a petition from a leading private bank to declare him personally bankrupt, in the latest legal drama for the owners of The Telegraph.

According to High Court documents, Alistair Barclay, 34, is alleged to be in default on 946,754 of borrowing from Investec, which only offers bank accounts to individuals with net wealth of more than 3m.

Mr Barclay, the youngest of Sir David Barclays four sons, failed to make agreed monthly repayments of 200,000 from August onwards, the bank claims.

It alleges that he triggered a further default on the debt by failing to refinance separate personal borrowing of 22.5m from Deutsche Bank. The German lender declined to comment.

Investec is seeking to have Mr Barclay declared bankrupt at a High Court hearing scheduled for February.

According to the petition, Mr Barclay, co-founder of the online estate agent Yopa and a motor racing driver, was required to fully repay the borrowing by a final deadline in November.

Investec then twice attempted to serve a statutory demand on him at his address in Chester Square, Belgravia, before posting it through the letterbox.

The bank told the High Court that it also emailed Mr Barclay and his accountant, rang his personal number twice and left a voicemail. Investec filed the petition to bankrupt him in late December.

Mr Barclay is selling off assets in an apparent attempt to raise funds. The Chester Square property, a seven-bedroom, 5,800 sq ft townhouse with its own lift, is currently being marketed by Knight Frank at 14.9m. Mr Barclay is also reported to have held conversations about the sale of land on Sark in the Channel Islands.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for the Barclay family said: This is a personal matter that has no effect on and is completely unrelated to the wider family businesses.

Following the death of their father in 2021, alongside his much older half-brothers Aidan and Howard, Alistair is part of a trio who control the majority of the Barclay familys business interests via an offshore trust. As well as The Telegraph and The Spectator magazine they own the online retailer Very and parcel delivery provider Yodel.

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The remaining quarter share in the trust is held by Amanda Barclay, daughter of Sir Davids twin Sir Frederick.

Alistair previously came to prominence as part of the bitter split in the family which has opened up in recent years. In a High Court case in 2020 he was accused of installing a bugging device in a private area of the Ritz hotel, which the family owned and was used by Sir Frederick for business meetings.

The dispute, which centred on the sale of the Ritz to Qatari investors, was settled out of court.

It came alongside demands from lenders for the repayment of heavy debts which had been built up by the family and some of their businesses. Lloyds Banking Group, unsatisfied by its share of the proceeds from the sale of the Ritz, began manoeuvres that ultimately led to the seizure of The Telegraph.

In June last year the bank sent in receivers and ousted Aidan and Howard Barclay from The Telegraph board. Alistair is not involved in the day-to-day running of the familys main business interests.

The Barclay family were ultimately able to repay their debt to Lloyds with new borrowing mostly provided by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the vice president of the UAE.

RedBird IMI, a fund 75pc backed by the Sheikh, aims to take control of The Telegraph by converting 600m of the debt into ownership. The remaining 560m is secured against Very and property interests.

The complex transaction meant the Barclay family regained ownership of The Telegraph. They are barred by law from exercising any control while the UAE-backed takeover is examined by regulators as a potential threat to press freedom, however.

Alistairs financial troubles cast further light on the commercial pressures faced by the Barclay family. Asset sales are continuing. In December they sold The Spectators headquarters in Westminster to the next-door neighbour, a Bavarian rubber glove tycoon. A family yacht is also on the market.

Aidan Barclay told the High Court last year as part of 89-year-old Sir Fredericks divorce battle that things have been quite difficult for the family and their businesses.

Investec was contacted for comment.

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Top UAE and UK ministers met in London to explore new opportunities for economic and investment cooperation, as well as new avenues for deepening collaboration at the private sector level, a report said.

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, who is leading a UAE delegation to participate in Investopia London (January 31), met Greg Hands, British Minister of State (Department for Business, Energy Industrial Strategy), Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.

The event, organised by Investopia, will bring together over 200 participants, including the UAE and UK leaders, businessmen, investors, and entrepreneurs.

Bin Touq emphasised that the UAE-UK relations serve as a prime example for advanced strategic ties and exceptional economic partnership, thanks to the visionary leadership in both countries.

He highlighted the UAE's commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with the United Kingdom, particularly in emerging sectors that drive the transition towards the future economy.

These sectors hold significant importance since both nations share common visions and economic strategies aimed at driving expansion and investment in these future sectors, he said.

The minister said: The meeting marks a significant milestone in boosting efforts to explore more opportunities and broaden the scope of existing cooperation between the UAE and the UK, particularly in relevant economic sectors.

The UAE has a vital role as the UKs primary economic partner in the region, thanks to its strategic geographic location. Likewise, the UK serves as a promising economic hub for UAE businesses in Europe.

The two sides discussed strengthening prospects for economic partnerships and facilitating dialogue between the UAE and British private sectors.

This will open up new avenues for cooperation, especially given the diversity of economic opportunities in both markets and the possibility of providing more facilities and incentives to exporters and importers in the two countries.

Bin Touq highlighted the UAEs vision to promote economic openness and build fruitful partnerships with leading regional and global strategic markets.

He also underscored its vital role in supporting major economic clusters, which will shape the future of the global economy.

These efforts are supported by the UAEs position as a competitive and vibrant economic hub, which offers direct connectivity to more than 400 cities around the world and boasts extensive shipping lines connecting 88 ports worldwide.

During their meeting, the two sides shared views on leading global entrepreneurship practices.

They also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and support SMEs in the markets of the two countries, empowering them with possibilities to enhance growth, financing mechanisms and competitiveness in various UAE-British economic activities and to expand into foreign markets.

Moreover, the meeting saw the exchange of experiences in the development of flexible economic policies and their role in promoting the growth and sustainability of the two countries' economy.
Revenue Growth : TEVA reported a 7% increase in local currency terms for 2023, reaching $15.8 billion.

Debt Reduction : Ongoing efforts to reduce net debt resulted in a decrease to $16.6 billion as of December 31, 2023.

Innovative Brands : AUSTEDO exceeded $1.2 billion in annual revenues, a 28% increase from 2022, with AJOVY also up 16%.

Non-GAAP Financials : Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.56 for 2023, with free cash flow of $2.387 billion.

2024 Outlook : TEVA expects revenues of $15.7 - $16.3 billion and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $2.20 - $2.50.

Strategic Focus: The Pivot to Growth strategy aims to divest non-core assets and invest in growth engines and innovation.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA) Reports Solid Growth in 2023 Earnings

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (NYSE:TEVA) released its 8-K filing on January 31, 2024, detailing a year of significant progress and growth. The Israel-based global leader in generic drugs reported a revenue increase to $15.8 billion for 2023, marking a 7% rise in local currency terms compared to the previous year. This growth reflects the stabilization of TEVA's generics business and the success of its innovative brands, particularly AUSTEDO and AJOVY.

Company Overview

TEVA is the world's leading generic drug manufacturer, with half of its sales coming from North America. The company has a strong presence in Europe, Japan, Russia, and Israel. TEVA's portfolio includes a mix of generic drugs, innovative medicines, biosimilars, and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Its key therapeutic areas are the central nervous system, respiratory, and oncology, with flagship products like Copaxone, Ajovy, and Austedo.

Financial Performance and Challenges

The company's performance in 2023 was marked by a $500 million upfront payment related to a collaboration on an anti-TL1A asset, contributing to the revenue growth. TEVA's net debt was reduced to $16.6 billion, reflecting its commitment to financial stability. However, the company faced challenges, including a revision of previously reported financial statements due to errors in contingent consideration liabilities and related expenses. This revision, while not impacting non-GAAP results, highlighted the need for stringent financial controls.

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Strategic Developments

TEVA's Pivot to Growth strategy, introduced in May 2023, focuses on delivering growth engines, stepping up innovation, sustaining its generics powerhouse, and optimizing its business portfolio. Notable strategic moves include the intended divestiture of Teva api, collaborations with Sanofi and Royalty Pharma, and a license agreement with Biolojic Design.

Financial Highlights

The company's non-GAAP operating income stood at $4.361 billion in 2023, with a non-GAAP operating margin of 27.5%. Adjusted EBITDA reached $4.818 billion, and the non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.56. TEVA's free cash flow was a robust $2.387 billion, demonstrating its ability to generate liquidity.

2024 Business Outlook

Looking ahead, TEVA anticipates revenues between $15.7 and $16.3 billion for 2024, with non-GAAP operating income projected to be between $4.0 and $4.5 billion. The company expects an adjusted EBITDA of $4.5 to $5.0 billion and a non-GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $2.20 to $2.50. Free cash flow is forecasted to be between $1.7 and $2.0 billion.

Conclusion

TEVA's 2023 performance underscores its resilience and strategic focus on growth. With a clear direction for 2024 and beyond, the company is poised to continue its trajectory of revenue growth and debt reduction. Investors and stakeholders can anticipate TEVA's sustained efforts in optimizing its generics business and driving innovation in its core therapeutic areas.

For a detailed analysis of TEVA's financial results and future outlook, investors are encouraged to review the full earnings report and join the upcoming conference call and webcast.

Explore the complete 8-K earnings release (here) from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd for further details.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


By buying an index fund, you can roughly match the market return with ease. But if you choose individual stocks with prowess, you can make superior returns. Just take a look at Novartis AG (VTX:NOVN), which is up 15%, over three years, soundly beating the market return of 0.3% (not including dividends).

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

See our latest analysis for Novartis

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

During three years of share price growth, Novartis achieved compound earnings per share growth of 8.4% per year. The average annual share price increase of 5% is actually lower than the EPS growth. Therefore, it seems the market has moderated its expectations for growth, somewhat.

You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Novartis the TSR over the last 3 years was 37%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

We're pleased to report that Novartis shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 23% over one year. That's including the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 8%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. 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. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Novartis that you should be aware of.

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If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Swiss 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.
It's now been more than five years since Canada legalized adult-use cannabis, which led to a bit of a land rush into the industry. However, the hype turned out to be short-lived, and cannabis stocks have been a collective disaster since.

Even a company as prominent as Tilray Brands (NASDAQ: TLRY), arguably one of the leaders in the sector, has failed to produce anything even approaching solid and consistent performance, despite initially seeing its shares soar. Is there any hope left for Tilray Brands, or should investors take their money elsewhere?

TLRY Chart

Tilray's diversified revenue base

The cannabis market in Canada has been a disaster. The competition is incredibly fierce, the government has been slow to issue licenses, and people are still buying weed through illegal channels. That's why many of the major companies have shifted to other markets to turn things around.

Tilray currently operates across four segments:

Cannabis

Distribution (which sells pharmaceutical and wellness products)

A hemp-focused segment called wellness

A beverage and alcohol unit

In the second quarter of its fiscal year 2024, ended Nov. 30, Tilray's total revenue increased by 35% year over year to $194 million. The growth was partly due to acquisitions, but Tilray's cannabis business accounted for just 35% of its total revenue. Distribution came in second with 34%, while Tilray's beverage and wellness segments accounted for 24% and 7%, respectively.

The company's decision to decrease its exposure to the cannabis market while remaining a leader in it (Tilray holds the leading market share in Canada) is a great one, in my view. It should allow Tilray to pursue other opportunities while still potentially taking advantage of the cannabis market if things change.

Tilray does remain unprofitable, but it also improved on that front in the period. The company's net loss of $46.2 million was better than the net loss of $61.6 million reported in the prior-year quarter.

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A long and uncertain road ahead

Tilray is especially doubling down on its alcohol and beverages business. It recently completed the acquisition of 100% of the rights to Truss Beverage from Molson Coors, which helped solidify Tilray's position in the beverages market in Canada. Last year, the pot grower also bought eight beer and beverage brands from Anheuser-Busch InBev, making it the fifth-largest craft brewer in the U.S.

Thanks to these moves, Tilray's share of revenue from this segment will rise, but it's also a play for the future. The company hopes to dominate the market for cannabis-infused beverages.

Acquiring these companies and brands gives it several advantages. First, there's name recognition. Consumers interested in cannabis-infused drinks will probably be more likely to buy them if they're sold by companies or brands with which they're already familiar.

Second, Tilray already has established beverage operations in the U.S. to hit the ground running if, as management hopes, cannabis is legalized at the federal level and the sale of cannabis-infused beverages is allowed. Those are significant advantages over its competitors in the marijuana market.

However, the company's plans are by no means certain. The medical cannabis market that has helped sustain its revenue in recent years is getting increasingly competitive as more players turn their attention to it.

While its alcohol and beverages segment has also contributed, the company's plan to dominate the market for drinks mixed with cannabis in the U.S. still relies on a hypothetical legalization that may or may not happen anytime soon. Meanwhile, Tilray remains unprofitable, and the recreational cannabis market in Canada is still oversupplied.

What does that mean for investors? It isn't clear that Tilray will turn things around soon, or ever, and the best the company had to offer -- toward the early days of the legal cannabis market in Canada -- might well be over for good.

In my view, investors should take their money elsewhere.

Should you invest $1,000 in Tilray Brands right now?

Before you buy stock in Tilray Brands, consider this:

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The Chancellor previously said he would look again at the pros and cons of VAT-free shopping - REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Jeremy Hunt has been urged to ditch the tourist tax on retailers by a group of MPs led by Tory rebels.

The 64-strong cross-party group including 38 Tory MPs and peers have written to the Chancellor to introduce a new internationally competitive tax-free shopping scheme for international visitors to the UK.

They warn that the removal of tax-free shopping in 2021 has had significant repercussions for tourism, manufacturing, leisure, retail and hospitality businesses across the UK, and not just in London.

They include former cabinet ministers Dame Priti Patel, Sir Liam Fox, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Damien Green and David Jones as well as former ministers Kelly Tolhurst, who oversaw aviation, Caroline Dinenage, the current chairman of the culture committee, Tracey Crouch, a transport minister, and Paul Scully.

Campaigners believe the Treasury is actively considering scrapping the tourist tax amid growing evidence of the damage that it is having on visitor spending compared with UK competitor countries.

Mr Hunt said in the Autumn Statement that he would look again at the pros and cons of the tax perk, after research showed a fall-off in spending and visitor numbers.

In their letter the group says that ditching the tax could lead to a 90pc boost to spending for every pound in VAT rebated on visitor sales.

Research by the Association for International Retail (AIR) shows that British shops are losing 1.5bn per year as non-EU international visitors choose instead to spend in France, Italy, and Spain where tax-free shopping schemes are in place, they said.

Introducing a new, internationally competitive tax-free shopping scheme would help UK businesses rebuild the economy and for every 1 rebated in tax-free, the Treasury would gain 1.90 in return through the direct and indirect effects of increased visitor spending, according to the AIR.

By positioning the UK as a world-renowned shopping destination, the scheme can foster inward investment and growth across the visitor economy  strengthening our supply chains and driving economic activity in all regions and businesses throughout the UK.

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We are encouraged by your recent comments on the matter at the Autumn Statement and urge you to introduce tax-free shopping for international visitors at the next fiscal event.

Critics say the wider loss to the UK economy of closing the tax perk is 2.5bn more than any gain in VAT revenues making it a major own goal for a government desperately trying to kick-start growth.

Visits from the rest of the world outside Europe and the US were down by 19pc between July and September compared to the same period in 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Spending by visitors from China was down 41pc in the summer last year compared with 2019.

By contrast, visitor spend in France and Italy has increased significantly post-pandemic from key visitor markets including the USA.

Earlier this week FTSE 100 bosses including Stuart Machin, the chief of Marks & Spencer, and Paul Marchant, boss of Primark, were among 420 signatories writing to the Chancellor urging him to reintroduce the VAT rebate scheme.

It is clear that the removal of tax-free shopping is turning into an extraordinary own-goal for the UK, they said. We understand that there are pressures on the public finances at the present time. But the evidence shows that reinstating tax-free shopping would be a win for both business and the taxpayer.

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Planned new $2 billion terminal at John Glenn Columbis International Airport

Members of the Columbus Building and Construction Trades Council reiterated their concerns Tuesday to the Columbus Regional Airport Authority about Hensel Phelps' failure to negotiate a labor contract for construction of the planned $2 billion terminal at John Glenn Columbus International slated to begin as early as late 2024.

Dorsey Hager, executive secretary-treasurer of the Columbus Building and Construction Trades Council, and two others criticized the Colorado-based construction manager at risk on the new terminal project for refusing to adopt a project labor agreement.

The agreement, Hager said, would ensure that workers on the new airport terminal project receive prevailing industry standard wages and benefits that would protect all Ohio worker there. He also emphasized that since construction is being financed in part with Ohio tax dollars, local workers should have a part in the construction.

"They have made their intentions known that they want the ability to bring in out of state contractors with no worker protections in place, where they can pay substandard wages, no benefits, no health care, no pension  and obviously, we don't want that." Hager told media following the authority board meeting.

A spokesperson for Hensel Phelps could not immediately be reached for comment following the authority meeting Tuesday, but the company's website emphasizes that diversity and community are among the firm's core values.

Hensel Phelps said on its website it has also partnered with several Ohio-based diverse business partners and disadvantaged business enterprise-certified small businesses "who will be integral during the preconstruction phase of the project."

Hager pointed out that the airport authority is not taking part in negotiations, and have put the responsibility solely on Hensel Phelps, which is working with Elford, a Columbus-based general contractor.

The airport authority, which last week approved $250 million in funding for the new terminal, sent a statement to The Dispatch following the meeting:

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"The Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA) supports policies that benefit our community," according to the statement. "This includes working with underrepresented businesses and supporting local workers, including union labor."

The authority also said it is committed to paying labor rates that are equal to prevailing wage rates to all contractors, and want to continue to purse "good faith dialogues" with community groups regarding all inclusion goals.

When the issue first arose publicly in October, the authority was also being asked by the head of a nonunion construction group not to sign a contract with the unions.

Nana Watson, president of the Columbus NAACP branch, had sent notices about the meeting to media and others and attended the meeting in support of the unions' request for a labor agreement, but did not speak.

Hensel Phelps has been accused of defrauding workers in previous dealings. In May 2022, the construction management company was ordered to pay $2.8 million after an investigation found that they were defrauding small, veteran-owned businesses.

In a previous incident out of California, Hensel Phelps was forced to pay back over $8 million in unpaid prevailing wages to over 2,000 workers who constructed the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel from 2006 to 2008. In addition to the $8 million penalty, Hensel Phelps paid $400,000 to the Labor Commissioner of California for costs related to the investigation.

Construction of the planned new 1-million-square-foot terminal at John Glenn Columbus International Airport is expected to begin in late 2024 and finish by the end of 2028 or the start of 2029. There will be a two-floor passenger terminal with one security checkpoint and 36 gates that can accommodate A320 and 737 aircraft, including two international arrival gates for passengers, a third floor for airport administration, concessions, a ground transportation center, a public safety building, concessions, landside roadways, airside apron and connecting pedestrian bridge

The new terminal will be capable of handling 13 million passengers, which is more than 4 million above the total 8.7 million passengers that traveled through John Glenn Columbus and the Rickenbacker airport passenger terminal combined in 2023, the second-best year for both airports on record. After the new terminal is opened in late 2028 or early 2029, the existing terminal, opened in 1958, will be demolished.

@ShahidMeighan

smeighan@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Union leaders urge labor contract for new Columbus airport terminal
The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly.



Top 5 Upgrades:



Roth MKM upgraded Plug Power (PLUG) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $9, up from $4.50. The firm cited the recent visit to the Georgia green hydrogen plant providing confidence that the facility is ramping smoothly and that all major technical issues are handled, addressing the firm's prior concerns about backlog and margin visibility.

UBS upgraded TechTarget (TTGT) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $45, up from $31. After doing a deep dive into TechTarget's proposed transaction with Informa Tech, the firm thinks the deal has the potential to create substantial value for TechTarget shareholders.

KeyBanc upgraded Commvault Systems (CVLT) to Overweight from Sector Weight with a $109 price target. The company reported solid fiscal Q3 results, driven by stronger than expected subscription renewals, maintenance, and Metallic, the firm tells investors in a research note.

William Blair upgraded Check Point Software Technologies (CHKP) to Outperform from Market Perform without a price target. The firm says the stock "can reach an inflection point in 2024 and has a significant valuation gap relative to competitors" such as Palo Alto Networks (PANW) .

Canaccord upgraded Stryker (SYK) to Buy from Hold with a price target of $360, up from $315, after the company delivered "a strong Q4 in the face of a tough Q4/22 comp."

Top 5 Downgrades:

Argus downgraded UPS (UPS) to Hold from Buy after its Q4 results and below-consensus guidance. The company appears well positioned to benefit from a number of positive trends, including the continued growth of e-commerce, but recent results have disappointed at both the top and bottom lines, and the outlook for earnings and dividend growth over the next few quarters is "tepid at best," the firm argues.

Barclays downgraded Verizon Communications (VZ) to Equal Weight from Overweight with an unchanged price target of $44. Verizon is on a much better operational trajectory than has been the case over the last couple of years, but upside to numbers and valuation may be more limited from present levels, the firm believes.

Baird downgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) to Underperform from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $325. The firm sees "irrational exuberance" for VX-548. Maxim also downgraded Vertex Pharmaceuticals to Hold from Buy and removed the firm's prior price target on the shares as it now expresses less confidence in VX-548's blockbuster opportunity based on the Phase 3 outcomes.

Morgan Stanley downgraded SoFi Technologies (SOFI) to Underweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $6.50, down from $7. The company's "new medium-term targets are now out in the open, but may be optimistic," the firm says.
By Dawn Chmielewski and Tom Hals

LOS ANGELES/WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Wednesday dismissed Walt Disney Co's lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and members of a state board for allegedly using the state to punish the company for voicing an opinion protected by free-speech rights.

Disney had sued in April 2023, arguing that Florida's government was retaliating after the company criticized state limits on classroom discussion of sexuality. DeSantis and other defendants had urged the case be dismissed, saying Disney could not sue them over constitutionally enacted state laws.

In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida, said Disney lacked standing to sue the governor or the secretary of commerce.

Winsor, who was nominated by then-President Donald Trump in 2019, also knocked down Disney's free-speech claims.

He said that, while the First Amendment prohibits government officials from retaliating against protected speech, a plaintiff - in this case, Disney - cannot bring a free-speech challenge to an otherwise constitutional law based on the subjective motivations of the lawmakers who passed it.

A Disney spokesperson said: "This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here.

"If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with. We are determined to press forward with our case."

DeSantis' press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, applauded the ruling.

"The federal courts decision made it clear that Governor DeSantis was correct: Disney is still just one of many corporations in the state, and they do not have a right to their own special government," Redfern said in statement. "In short - as long predicted, case dismissed."

The sentiment was echoed by Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board Chairman Martin Garcia, who said, "I'm delighted that this lawsuit, which was nothing more than a distraction, is now behind us."

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The dispute began after Disney last year criticized the classroom ban on discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation, dubbed the "Don't say gay" law by opponents.

DeSantis began repeatedly attacking what he termed "woke Disney" in public appearances as he geared up for his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, an effort he abandoned earlier this month.

State lawmakers stripped Disney of its control over the special development district that since 1967 had given the company virtual autonomy around its theme parks, including the Walt Disney World Resort.

The newly formed, DeSantis-appointed district, known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board (CFTOD), then voided contracts that Disney had pushed through just before the prior board was replaced.

Disney responded by suing the governor and board members.

Judge Winsor rejected Disney's claim against DeSantis and the state's Secretary of Commerce. He found that the company failed to demonstrate that DeSantis has "actual control" over the board, and "struggled to articulate an injury" caused by the secretary.

He noted that since the supervisors have already been appointed, Disney would face the same situation it faces now if the court enjoined future appointments. "It would be operating under the control of the CFTOD board, over which it has no control."

The new board has separately asked a state judge to declare prior agreements, which were favorable to Disney and limited board action for decades, improper and void. That case is still pending.

Disney allegedly gave the previous board and its employees millions of dollars' worth of tickets, discounted hotel stays, and other benefits that were "akin to bribes of public officials," according to a report issued by the new board in early December.

Disney shares ended down 0.9% at $96.05 a share on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware and Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Matthew Lewis and Sayantani Ghosh)
WASHINGTON (AP)  The United States on Wednesday attributed the drone attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, as President Joe Biden weighs his options to respond to the strike.

Iran threatened to decisively respond to any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic after the U.S. said it held Tehran responsible. The U.S. has signaled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Mideast in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that also wounded more than 40 troops at Tower 22, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan thats been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday the U.S. believes the attack was planned, resourced and facilitated by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group that includes the militant group Kataib Hezbollah. He said Biden believes that it is important to respond in an appropriate way.

He said Biden was continuing to weigh his options, but Kirby said the first thing you see wont be the last thing," adding it won't be a one-off.

Kirby dismissed a statement by Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah announcing the suspension of military and security operations against the occupation forces in order to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government. He said the group can't be taken at face value, and he added, theyre not the only group that has been attacking us.

As of Wednesday, Kataib Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned militias had launched 166 attacks on U.S. military installations since Oct. 18, including 67 in Iraq, 98 in Syria and the one in Jordan, according to the U.S. military.

The U.S. has struck back at the militias a few times over the past three months. On Oct. 27, U.S. fighter jets struck two weapons and ammunition storage sites in eastern Syria near Boukamal that were used by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian-backed groups.

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Also in Syria, fighter jets dropped bombs on an IRGC weapons storage facility near Maysulun in Deir el-Zour on Nov. 8. And U.S. airstrikes targeted a training facility and a safe house in the Bulbul district of Mayadin on Nov. 12.

On Dec. 26, the U.S. launched strikes on three locations in Iraq used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups, and on Jan. 23, the U.S. struck three sites in Iraq, again targeting Kataib Hezbollah.

Any additional American strikes could further inflame a region already roiled by Israels ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The war began with Hamas attacking Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed more than 26,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly 2 million others from their homes, arousing anger throughout the Muslim world.

Violence has erupted across the Mideast, with Iran striking targets in Iraq, Pakistan and Syria, and the U.S. carrying out airstrikes targeting Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels over their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Some observers fear a new round of strikes targeting Iran could tip the region into a wider war.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations, said American F/A-18 fighter jets on Wednesday struck and destroyed 10 Houthi drones that were prepared to launch.

The U.S. militarys Central Command said later Wednesday that the guided missile destroyer USS Carney had shot down one anti-ship ballistic missile fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden. The Carney also shot down three Iranian drones, Central Command said.

The Iranian warnings first came from Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He gave a briefing to Iranian journalists late Tuesday, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

The Islamic Republic would decisively respond to any attack on the county, its interests and nationals under any pretexts, IRNA quoted Iravani as saying. He described any possible Iranian retaliation as a strong response, without elaborating.

The Iranian mission to the U.N. did not respond to requests for comment or elaboration Wednesday on Iravani's remarks.

Iravani also denied that Iran and the U.S. had exchanged any messages over the last few days, either through intermediaries or directly. The pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera, which is based in and funded by Qatar, reported earlier that such communication had taken place. Qatar often serves as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.

But Iran's government has taken note of the U.S. threats of retaliation for the attack on the base in Jordan.

Sometime, our enemies raise the threat, and nowadays we hear some threats in between words by American officials," Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Hossein Salami, who answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said at an event Wednesday. "We tell them that you have experienced us, and we know each other. We do not leave any threat without an answer.

We are not after war, but we have no fear of war, he added, according to IRNA.

Kirby, for his part, said the U.S. doesnt seek a war with Iran. Were not looking for a broader conflict.

On Saturday, a general in charge of Iran's air defenses described them as being at their highest defensive readiness. That raises concerns for commercial aviation traveling through and over Iran as well. After a U.S. drone strike killed a top general in 2020, Iranian air defenses mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people on board.

Meanwhile, attacks by the Houthis and counterattacks by the U.S. continue in the Red Sea.

The private security firm Ambrey reported Wednesday night that a ship was targeted with a missile southwest of Aden, Yemen, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis claimed an attack on a vessel at the time called the Koi, a Liberian-flagged container ship. The ships managers could not be immediately reached for comment. It was unclear if the reported missile attack caused any damage or injuries.

A missile launched Tuesday night targeted the USS Gravely, a guided missile destroyer, Central Command said in a statement. No injuries or damage were reported.

A Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement Wednesday morning, calling it a victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people and a response to the American-British aggression against our country.

Saree claimed the Houthis fired several missiles, something not acknowledged by the U.S. Navy. Houthi claims have been exaggerated in the past, and their missiles sometimes crash on land and fail to reach their targets.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israels offensive against Hamas in Gaza. 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.

The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday, sparking a fire that burned for hours.

The U.S. and the United Kingdom have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes targeting the Houthis as allied warships patrol the waterways affected by the attacks. The European Union also plans to launch a naval mission in the Red Sea within three weeks to help defend cargo ships against the Houthi attacks, the blocs top diplomat said Wednesday.

___

Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, and Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.
AD Ports Group has announced that Noatum, which leads its Logistics Cluster operations, successfully closed the acquisition of 100% equity ownership of Sese Auto Logistics, for an enterprise value of EUR81 million ($88.14 million).

The acquisition, which was approved by all relevant European regulators and closed today, solidifies Noatum's commitment to providing comprehensive solutions across the entire logistics value chain in the automotive industry.

The acquisition of the Finished Vehicles Logistics (FVL) business of Grupo Logistico Sese implies a trailing EV/EBITDA of 3.8x based on the companys Last Twelve Months (LTM) performance to December 2023 - revenue of around EUR106 million, with EBITDA margin of 21%.

Automotive logistics market normalisation

Going forward, Noatum expects a normalisation of the European automotive logistics market, which has been factored in the transaction business case.

The acquisition of Sese Auto Logistics, which will be fully consolidated into Noatum from February 2024 onwards, enhances Noatum's standing in the European automotive logistics market.

The company is renowned for its road transport logistics of light and heavy vehicles, and operates in most European countries - with offices in Spain, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary - and a fleet of over 200 trucks covering more than 30 million kilometres annually.

End-to-end logistics solution

Sese Auto Logistics reputation for technological innovation and commitment to environmental sustainability aligns seamlessly with Noatum's vision for growth. By integrating the company into Noatums Automotive brand, Noatum aims to provide a full end-to-end logistics solution - from RoRo Terminal handling, to vehicle transportation, to final delivery.

This strategic move anticipates significant synergies with Noatum's existing port terminals business in Spain, reinforcing its integrated logistics solution for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and other stakeholders. Noatum Automotive maintains its strategy of neutrality towards all its stakeholders.

The acquisition is part of Noatum's strategic vision to emerge as a leading European supplier of logistics services to the finished vehicle sector, capitalising on the projected 6% annual growth in the continents EUR3 billion FVL market. The integration of employees and the rollout of the new brand, Noatum Auto Logistics, are already underway, reinforcing Noatum's commitment to excellence in the automotive logistics industry.

Enhancing capabilities

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said: With the necessary regulatory approvals secured, Noatum's acquisition of Sese Auto Logistics signifies an important step in realising AD Ports Groups vision for becoming a leading global logistics services provider with broad international reach across all leading industry sectors, inclusive of automotive. This strategic move enhances our capabilities, expertise, and logistics networks, and positions us well to expand within Europes and the Mediterranean Regions growing and lucrative Finished Vehicles Logistics industry.

Antonio Campoy, Chief Executive Officer, Noatum Group, Logistics Cluster, AD Ports Group, said: "Our main focus with Noatum Auto Logistics is to enhance our industry solutions to meet our customers' evolving needs and to strengthen our product range across the logistics supply chain, which will enable us to compete as a major player in the global automotive sector."--TradeArabia News Service
BERLIN (Reuters) - Volkswagen is in talks with international technology firms about collaborating to create new digital prototypes for products and features using artificial intelligence, the carmaker said on Wednesday.

The company has founded a new 'artificial intelligence lab' to generate new product ideas, including possible cooperations with companies in the technology sector across China, North America and Europe, it said in a statement.

The aim is to generate early-stage prototypes in areas like AI-optimised charging cycles, predictive maintenance services and voice recognition.

"Exploratory talks are already underway with international tech companies on initial projects," it added, without providing further details.

The lab will not be housed inside Volkswagen's software unit Cariad or a specific brand, with the view of moving faster than other processes within the company would, a spokesperson said.

Still, promising prototypes will be passed onto brands to proof and execute, and the supervisory board of the lab will include representatives from Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche.

Cariad, which has struggled with years of delays and overhauls, is currently developing a restructuring plan which reports say could involve cutting thousands of positions as the unit attempts to bring new software architectures onto the market.

(Reporting by Christina Amann, Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Rachel More)
World's No. 1 manufacturer of copper foil for high-tech industries and EV batteries.

Established in 1960, CFL has secured foundational technology and patents by developing the world's first electrodeposited copper foil for batteries.

Korea's leading companies are entering the North American EV market to build a battery supply chain.

SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Volta Energy Solutions (VES), developer of the world's first electrodeposited copper foil for batteries, is now penetrating the North America market. VES has started to build a new battery copper foil plant in Quebec, Canada, this year to fill the battery copper foil vacuum in the North American electric vehicle (EV) supply chain.

CI_Volta Energy Solutions

With the rapid growth of the EV market, global companies are scrambling to enter North America to complete the battery supply chain. Global automakers such as GM, Honda, and Hyundai Motor and battery cell manufacturers are advancing into the North American market independently or through joint ventures.

The growth rate of the EV market in the United States this year is projected to be higher than anywhere else. S&P Global Mobility's 2024 global sales forecast projects battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to be on track to post sales of 13.3 million units worldwide for 2024, and the BEVs' share in the United States will be 13.2%, up by 66.4% from last year, far exceeding the average year-on-year growth rate of BEVs' share of the global market (39.5%).

The demand for copper foil, a battery material, is expected to see a substantial increase by 2030. According to SNE Research, a battery market research firm, the demand for copper foil for secondary batteries will be 490,000 tons this year and 2.07 million tons in 2030, rising by an annual average rate of 27%. The size of the market is projected to expand from USD 2.61 billion in 2021 to USD 7.47 billion in 2025.

Manufacturers of EV battery materials are racing to establish a presence in the North American market. VES is a leading company that has already started to build the first battery copper foil plant in Canada. It established Volta Energy Solutions Canada (VESC), a Canadian subsidiary, in 2022 and began construction of the plant this year, aiming to enter operation in 2025 with an annual production capacity of 25,000 tons.

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VES's copper foil technology for EV batteries originated from its European subsidiary, Circuit Foil Luxembourg (CFL). Established in Luxembourg in 1960, CFL is a copper foil manufacturer with a history of over 60 years. Its copper foil technology has been recognized worldwide, and is widely adopted in high-tech IT industries such as PCBs for AI semiconductor, telecommunication equipment, and autonomous driving sensors.

Ultra-thin copper foil, about two to three micrometers thick, are manufactured by only two companies in the world, CFL and Japan's Mitsui, proving the unrivaled nature of CFL's technology. Based on its robust technology and manufacturing expertise, CFL developed the world's first copper foil for batteries in 1996 and submitted multiple patent applications in Canada and the Unites States as well as Luxembourg. In 2020, the company successfully initiated the mass production of copper battery foil at its Hungary plant, the only battery copper foil manufacturer in Europe.

With this original technology legacy and product recognition, VES is currently supplying battery copper foils to various global businesses in the United States and Europe. It has signed supply contracts with automakers in North America as well as the Automotive Cells Company (ACC), a European battery manufacturer established jointly by Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and TotalEnergies. Its customers also include Korea's world leading battery cell companies, such as LG Energy Solutions and SKON.

A VES official said, "Automakers in North America are striving to secure stable supply chains before the EV market matures, and we are dedicated to stabilizing the regional supply chain through our battery copper foil plant base in North America and promoting the regional economy."

About Volta Energy Solutions

Volta Energy Solutions (VES) is a European subsidiary of Solus Advanced Materials (a South Korea-based company listed on the Korean stock market (KOSPI)). Solus Advanced Materials has a strong business presence globally, especially in copper foil and copper foil for Electric Vehicle batteries. VES's history dates back to 1960, when Circuit Foil Luxembourg (CFL) was established in Luxembourg. CFL was the first company to develop copper foil for electric vehicle batteries (in 1996). Solus Advanced Materials acquired CFL in 2014 and entered the copper foil business based on CFL's technological expertise and knowhow. Since 2014, Solus Advanced Materials has been expanding its business presence, establishing a new footprint in Europe with its battery foil plant in Hungary in 2018. Through this strategic movement, VES was established in Luxembourg to manage and expand its global presence further. With the rapid growth of the North American EV market, VES established VES Canada (VESC), located in Quebec, Canada, to expand its business presence in the market. For more information, please visit the VES website at www.volta-energysolutions.com/ www.circuitfoil.com

Cision

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SOURCE Solus Advanced Materials
FILE PHOTO: Adidas merchandise is seen in an Adidas store in Garden City, New York

By Richa Naidu

LONDON (Reuters) - When the Maersk Tanjong set sail from Thailand on Dec. 2, headed towards the Suez Canal to reach the U.S. East Coast, it was carrying cargo for retailers and clothing brands including Walmart, H&M, Adidas and ASOS, import and shipping data shows.

On Dec. 17, it turned south to circumnavigate Africa's Cape of Good Hope, after Maersk paused sending vessels to the Suez through the Red Sea, where Houthi attacks on shipping have triggered delays, costs and uncertainty across global consumer and retail markets.

The diversion added thousands of miles and five days to the Tanjong's trip to Norfolk, Virginia. The loop around Africa adds around $1 million in extra fuel for to a trip to northern Europe, according to LSEG data.

Cargo ranging from raw prawns to high-end sneakers and plastic tubes was aboard Tanjong and three other diverted container vessels. Reuters was able to establish the containers' contents by cross-referencing U.S. import data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence's Panjiva with a list of rerouted ships provided by tracking platform ShipsGo.

The reporting provides a glimpse of the sheer range of products carried in some of the hundreds of thousands of containers on more than 500 ships caught up in a crisis that shows little sign of abating.

Iranian-backed Houthi militants, who control much of Yemen, have launched wave after wave of exploding drones and missiles at Western commercial vessels in the Red Sea since Nov. 19, in what they say is a protest against Israel's military operations in Gaza.

The attacks follow a series of blows to the idea of seamless global trade, including rising protectionism, the COVID pandemic and climate-driven drought affecting the Panama Canal. The latest disruption could accelerate a shift towards shorter supply chains, often called "nearshoring," five executives and industry consultants told Reuters.

Responding to the prospect of a months-long crisis, some companies are already combining air, rail and sea shipping, ordering goods earlier and using factories closer to home, the five sources said.

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Two shipping experts said such changes could have a long-term knock-on effect on how willing companies are to rely on the 154-year-old Suez Canal, which suffered a total blockage in 2021 that Maersk estimated cost $9 billion a day in lost trade.

Walmart, the world's biggest retailer, which had products including clothes on the Tanjong, told Reuters it was adjusting its supply chain "to help manage the recent shifts in shipping routes" and was focused on "maintaining inventory availability." It declined to provide details of the adjustments.

Even before the Houthi attacks, online fashion retailer ASOS had over the past year been sourcing more products from Britain and Morocco to cut transport times, the company said in response to questions about the impact of the delays. It said the hundreds of ASOS items coming from Asia on the Tanjong were unlikely to have included the most urgent 'trend' items.

Extended lead times could be factored into ASOS' purchasing decisions in the longer term, should the attacks persist, the company said.

As of Jan. 17, Maersk and other shipping lines had diverted at least 523 container ships from the Red Sea, ShipsGo data shows, while LSEG data shows a nearly 60% drop in container traffic in the waterway. Delays extend to more seven weeks in some cases.

The fast-moving and low-margin apparel industry is particularly exposed to the Red Sea delays because spring collections need to be in warehouses this time of year, and summer garments should follow shortly.

Peter Sand, chief analyst at air and ocean freight rate benchmarking platform Xeneta, said apparel companies were increasingly moving time sensitive cargos like the spring fashion collection by air instead of ocean shipping to final destinations in response to the crisis.

In response to questions about the Tanjong and other ships, Maersk said it was "in close dialogue with its customers regarding the situation in the Red Sea."

Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M, which shipped garments on the Tanjong, said it still didn't foresee any "significant disruptions" in its supply chain but was "following the situation closely." It has previously said it was increasing the role of nearshoring "to be closer to the customer." Adidas declined to comment.

50-DAY-DELAY

Docking in Norfolk, Virginia on Jan. 19, the five-day delay to the Tanjong was relatively short. Some container ships, including Maersk's Londrina and San Clemente, started their voyages in November and are now not due to dock at their final destinations until mid-February, after delays of more than 50 days, ShipsGo data shows.

"Losses for retail will vary by sector," said Chris Rogers, who manages the Supply Chain Research team within S&P Global. He flagged spoilage of food as an issue, as well as seasonal products.

Lars Jensen, CEO of shipping industry consultancy Vespucci Maritime said Valentines Day shipments that arrive after Feb. 14 would render "some merchandise next to worthless."

Jeans-maker Levi Strauss said last week in a conference call that its operations, commercial and financial teams are "working around the clock," and that it is seeing a 10 to 14 day increase in transit times. The company has rerouted some products to go through the U.S. West Coast into the East Coast.

"If the current crisis continues through the second half of the year, there is some risk to (costs)," Levi's CFO Harmit Singh said, although he added that roughly 70% of Levi's ocean freight was under three-year contracts, with the rest under one-year contracts that shielded it from price hikes.

Container rates for key global trade routes soared in January, shipping industry officials and data firms say. Ocean freight rates are set to increase further in early February, according to data released last week by rate benchmarking platform Xeneta.

The biggest increase in average short-term rates is from the Far East into U.S. East Coast, which by Feb. 2 will cost up to $6,119 per 40-foot equivalent unit (FEU), a measure for shipping containers, the Xeneta data showed. This is an increase of 146% since mid December.

An industry source who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue said it would take months to clean up after the Red Sea crisis is over, and predicted ripple effects including rising prices for air freight and rail.

The source said smaller retail and consumer goods companies were underestimating the impact of the Red Sea attacks, operating with a "wait-and-see" attitude, while only bigger companies coming up with contingency plans.

"Retailers will have to deploy tactical changes  such as earlier shipping or use of alternative routes like rail or trucking  if the disruptions continue until the middle of the year," said S&P Global's Rogers. "This is very much a matter of time."

A source at a company that imports ingredients and raw materials said "a multitude" of products had been affected but that overall disruptions to the company had so far been limited.

ARRAY OF GOODS

As well as sportswear and clothes, the Tanjong carried tools for Black & Decker along with baby bottles and Egyptian cotton sheets. Cargo on the three other ships, the Basle Express, the APL Le Havre and the MOL Courage, which all faced delays of just under a week, included LG fridges, Givaudan fragrances, Estee Lauder cosmetics.

Estee Lauder, LG and Black & Decker did not respond to requests for comment.

Estee Lauder was shipping cosmetics, components, packaging and bottles according to the data, while Korean manufacturer Hyundai Electric was importing transformers, and Samsung was moving fridge parts. Hyundai Electric and Samsung did not respond to requests for comment.

Procter & Gamble had cargo on the ships included the raw material sodium polyacrylate, plastic tubes - and Braun shaving products. P&G declined to comment.

Givaudan, the world's biggest fragrances and flavours company that sells raw materials to every large food and consumer goods maker in the world, loaded nearly 28,000 kilos of product onto the APL Le Havre. The ship docked on the U.S. East Coast on Dec. 15 after its own delayed journey around Africa, according to data from ShipsGo and ImportYeti.

Givaudan said potential supply chain disruptions were "a concern," but that it had business continuity plans for its global operations. It did not directly address the impact of the Red Sea attacks on its business.

(Reporting by Richa Naidu. Additional reporting by Helen Reid; Editing by Matt Scuffham and Frank Jack Daniel)
The Bear Mountain nursing facility on Acton Street in Worcester.

WORCESTER  A report from a state watchdog group alleges harmful practices at the Bear Mountain nursing facility in Worcester including a severe lack of staff and medical training.

The Disability Law Center announced the report in a Wednesday press release that highlights alleged understaffing, overmedication and neglect that it says compromise patient health at the facility, 59 Acton St.

The law center is a private nonprofit responsible for providing protection and advocacy for the rights of Massachusetts residents with disabilities, according to its website.

Our investigation uncovered deeply troubling practices at Bear Mountains Worcester facility. The treatment of patients in this facility violates their rights and reflects a wider issue within the industry, said Nina Loewenstein, lead author of the report and senior attorney at the Disability Law Center. Its imperative that immediate action be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of these vulnerable residents.

Bear Mountain Healthcare challenged the results in the report, saying in a statement that they're based on overgeneralizations and outdated data.

"The top priority of Bear Mountain at Worcester remains the well-being of our residents. Our facility provides unique, highly specialized, and high-quality services to the neurobehavioral residents. As such it is subject to scrupulous review and oversight by the Department of Public Health and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

"Many of the claims in the report are based on overgeneralizations and inferences gleaned from outdated data and reports unrelated to Bear Mountain at Worcester. Nevertheless, Bear Mountain takes the report seriously and will consider it in its ongoing efforts to improve the quality of care delivered to its residents."

Alleged reliance on drugs, lack of trained staff

The report, based on six site visits from October 2021 to October 2023, found a reliance on antipsychotic drugs, questionable schizophrenia diagnoses, isolation of patients, a lack of effective plans for patients with behavior challenges and minimal interaction with patients in the neurobehavioral unit.

Story continues

A lack of staff is highlighted in the report including nurses trained and credentialed in psychiatric nursing, no psychologist and no on-site psychiatric or neurological consultations.

Staffing is a common problem in the industry of for-profit providers, noted the report, because its expensive to staff nursing homes, with little return for the investor. As a result, a lean staff is often preferred within the industry.

Nearly two-thirds of all Massachusetts nursing homes are for-profit, said the report. Bear Mountain Healthcare is a for-profit company, with 17 locations in Massachusetts and one in New Hampshire.

The Worcester location is a skilled nursing facility that provides neurorehabilitation for traumatic and acquired brain injuries, ventilator weaning and management and care of medically complex patients, according to the Bear Mountain website.

Report: Infections spreading, rodent infestation

Guardians and families of residents complained about the spreading of infections, rodent infestation and unsanitary communal spaces at the Worcester facility, said the report.

Bear Mountain agreed to make changes, according to the report, including ensuring that staff on the neurobehavioral unit are certified brain injury specialists through the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, that staff finish courses in behavior management and analysis, fixing up the facilitys van so patients can have off-site visits and increasing the number of therapeutic programs for residents.

The report also included recommendations to Massachusetts officials to safeguard patient safety at skilled nursing homes:

 Require clinical expertise in psychiatry and neurology, have behavior plans in place for patients and limit enhanced payment to those specialized facilities that adhere to higher standards of care.

 Train staff to give direct care in neurological care and psychotropic medications, hire enough employees to give a consistent quality of care and ensure residents and their legal representatives understand the risks and benefits of medications.

Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on X: @henrytelegram.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Disability Law Center cites deficiencies at Bear Mountain in Worcester
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Westport Fuel Systems fair value estimate is CA$6.79

Current share price of CA$8.53 suggests Westport Fuel Systems is potentially 26% overvalued

Analyst price target for WPRT is US$16.46, which is 142% above our fair value estimate

Does the January share price for Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (TSE:WPRT) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Westport Fuel Systems

The Calculation

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) -US$7.36m US$1.69m US$2.71m US$3.87m US$5.04m US$6.15m US$7.13m US$7.96m US$8.66m US$9.24m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Est @ 60.16% Est @ 42.69% Est @ 30.46% Est @ 21.90% Est @ 15.91% Est @ 11.72% Est @ 8.78% Est @ 6.73% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 8.5% -US$6.8 US$1.4 US$2.1 US$2.8 US$3.4 US$3.8 US$4.0 US$4.2 US$4.2 US$4.1

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$23m

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.9%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 8.5%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$9.2m (1 + 1.9%)  (8.5% 1.9%) = US$144m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$144m ( 1 + 8.5%)10= US$64m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$87m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of CA$8.5, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Westport Fuel Systems as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.307. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

SWOT Analysis for Westport Fuel Systems

Strength

Cash in surplus of total debt.

Weakness

No major weaknesses identified for WPRT.

Opportunity

Forecast to reduce losses next year.

Good value based on P/S ratio compared to estimated Fair P/S ratio.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Has less than 3 years of cash runway based on current free cash flow.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value lower than the current share price? For Westport Fuel Systems, we've put together three fundamental aspects you should further examine:

Financial Health: Does WPRT have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does WPRT's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Canadian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) stock eked out a gain on the stock market Wednesday, but the company doesn't necessarily have itself to thank for this. One of its rival pharmaceutical companies posted strong annual results fueled largely by a product category Lilly is entering. That pushed Eli Lilly's share price marginally higher (by 0.1%), handily beating the 1.6% decline of the S&P 500 index.

The Novo Nordisk effect

That rival was Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), which published its full-year 2023 figures well after market open Tuesday. These revealed that its sales rose a lofty 31% over 2022, and its net profit increased 51%.

Novo Nordisk is the company that developed and sells diabetes treatment Ozempic and weight loss drug Wegovy. Since the U.S. has high rates of both diabetes and obesity, the two medications have been explosively popular in this country. In fact, over 90% of total Wegovy sales came from patients in this country.

These sharp increases bode well for Eli Lilly because like Novo Nordisk, it has powerful diabetes/weight loss twins as well. Last November, its Mounjaro diabetes treatment won approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under a different brand name, Zepbound. Weight loss is certain to remain a hot area in the pharmaceutical world, so the continued strength is sure to benefit the U.S. company too.

Second-mover disadvantage

That said, competing against Novo Nordisk's lineup won't be easy, even for a very well-capitalized company with vast resources like Eli Lilly. Wegovy as a brand name has become almost synonymous with "effective weight-loss drug," and even the mightiest competitors struggle to beat a first mover.

Should you invest $1,000 in Eli Lilly right now?

Before you buy stock in Eli Lilly, 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 Eli Lilly wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Story continues

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 29, 2024

Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Why Eli Lilly Stock Topped the Market Today was originally published by The Motley Fool
Beleaguered healthcare real estate investment trust (REIT) Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW) called in sick on Tuesday. Following an analyst's move, investors sold off the company's stock, albeit not as drastically as in some recent trading sessions. The REIT's share price fell by more than 2%, a steeper decline than the marginal slump of the S&P 500 index on the day.

Deutsche Bank initiates coverage with a sell

Just after the market closed on Monday, Deutsche Bank's Omotayo Okusanya initiated coverage on Medical Properties Trust stock. Unfortunately for the company, this wasn't positive -- Okusanya rates it a sell at a price target of merely $2 per share.

Okusanya's gloomy take is only the latest bearish analyst move on Medical Properties Trust. Several of the prognosticator's peers have lowered their price targets on the stock since the beginning of the year. One -- KeyBanc's Austin Wurschmidt -- even downgraded his recommendation on it from overweight (buy) to sector weight (hold).

None of this is particularly unexpected or shocking. The REIT is currently attempting to cope with one of its major tenants, Steward Health Care, which has been struggling to meet its rent payment obligations. Earlier this month, Medical Properties Trust published an update on Steward, saying that it was working actively with the company to resolve its issues.

Bears abound on the market

That was hardly reassuring, as a REIT getting deeply involved in a tenant's finances and operations isn't an encouraging sign that those problems will be easily solved. Investors have been largely avoiding Medical Properties Trust stock since then. We can expect more bearish takes by analysts on the company going forward unless it and Steward make tangible progress in resolving the situation.

Should you invest $1,000 in Medical Properties Trust right now?

Before you buy stock in Medical Properties Trust, consider this:

Story continues

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Medical Properties Trust 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 29, 2024

Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Why Medical Properties Trust Stock Tumbled on Tuesday was originally published by The Motley Fool
MALTA, N.Y., January 31, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wright Electric Inc., a world leader in advanced motor, generator, and inverter technologies, announced today that they successfully tested their motor in the Wright Lab at a simulated atmosphere equivalent to 43,000 feet of altitude without Potential Discharge (PD). Conducted at 1,000 volts, this test sets the stage for simulated altitude testing at the NASA NEAT facility later this year.

PD-free performance is crucial to operating electric motors on aircraft. When electric motors run at high voltages, the insulation surrounding the conductive components is subjected to electric stress. Over time, this stress may weaken the insulation, leading to PD. PD can further accelerate the degradation of insulation, potentially causing motor failure, among other safety concerns.

As altitude increases, the voltage level needed to cause PD decreases. Because of this, PD is not really an issue for many electric aircraft under development, such as air taxis, which cruise around 3,000 feet where typical insulation is sufficient. Wright Electric is developing motors and inverters for commercial aircraft that typically cruise at 36,000 feet, making air taxi solutions impractical.

Achieving zero PD at this altitude is a significant step forward in realizing Wright's goal of zero emissions on flights shorter than 800 miles.

Jeff Engler, Founder and CEO of Wright Electric, explained, "45% of all aviation emissions are from single-aisle flights. By proving those flights can be flown without potential discharge, we are one step closer to eliminating this massive form of pollution."

Wright has worked on development programs with NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense in its motor and generator development efforts.

For more information about Wright Electric and its innovative projects, please visit https://www.weflywright.com/ or reach out to Jill Gottlieb at jill.gottlieb@weflywright.com.

Story continues

About Wright Electric

Wright Electric Inc. (Wright) is a U.S.-based company working to decarbonize the industries that are hardest to decarbonize. Wright focuses on three main areas: (1) propulsion systems for electric aircraft, (2) lightweight generators for industrial and defense applications, and (3) specialized energy storage solutions for the aerospace and defense industries. The company was founded in 2016 by a team of aerospace engineers, powertrain experts, and battery chemists. Wright works with airlines such as easyJet, and has development contracts with NASA, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E. Wright has been funded through Y Combinator, the Clean Energy Trust, venture funds, and family offices.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240130456491/en/

Contacts

Jill Gottlieb

jill.gottlieb@weflywright.com
Mark Zuckerberg appeared frustrated while facing questions - AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Mark Zuckerberg rejected pleas from Sir Nick Clegg to hire dozens of staff to help protect children on Facebook and Instagram, internal emails show.

Newly published communications from within Meta show Sir Nick, the companys head of global affairs, asked Mr Zuckerberg for permission to hire a minimum of 45 staff and up to 124, saying it would allow the company to live up to its promises.

Mr Zuckerberg, Metas founder and chief, turned down the request, which lost out to the various other pressures and priorities at the social media giant, according to the emails.

The documents were released ahead of a combative Congressional hearing on Wednesday in which the heads of Meta, X (formerly known as Twitter), Snap, TikTok and Discord were told they have blood on your hands for failing to protect children.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told the executives: You have a product thats killing people.

It comes amid multiple efforts by US politicians to pass new laws targeted at social media companies over the blackmail of children and the sharing of illegal abuse images.

The Meta emails show that in August 2021, Sir Nick emailed Mr Zuckerberg to say: We need to do more and we are being held back by a lack of investment on the product side, which means were not able to make changes and innovations at the pace required to be responsive to policymaker concerns.

Our wellbeing work is both understaffed and fragmented across teams which is why we view the proposed investment outlined below as important.

We are not on track to succeed for our core wellbeing topics (problematic use, bullying & harassment, connections, and SSI [suicide and self-harm]) and are at increased regulatory risk and external criticism.

Sir Nick Clegg asked to hire dozens of staff to help protect children on Facebook - Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg

In a subsequent email three months later, apparently after the request was turned down, he asked for a reduced team of 32 staff. Sir Nick wrote that there was increased urgency of all this, adding: This investment is important to ensure we have the product roadmaps necessary to stand behind our external narrative of wellbeing on our apps and soon in the metaverse.

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Mr Zuckerbergs response was not recorded, but a separate Meta email said: Nick did email Mark to emphasise his support for the package but it lost out to the various other pressures and priorities.

Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal told Mr Zuckerberg: Nick Clegg was pleading with you for resources to back up the narrative, to fulfil the commitments you rejected that request.

Mr Zuckerberg did not respond to the release of the emails directly although a spokesman said: These cherry-picked documents do not provide the full context of how the company operates or what decisions were made.

Metas chief executive appeared alongside Linda Yaccarino from X, Evan Spiegel from Snap, Shou Zi Chew from TikTok and Jason Citron from Discord for four hours in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ms Yaccarino, Mr Spiegel and Mr Citron appeared only after legal demands from the committee.

L-R: Shou Zi Chew, boss of TikTok; X chief Linda Yaccarino; and Mark Zuckerberg - Alex Wong/Getty Images

Mr Zuckerberg, who has strived to appear deferential in previous US hearings, was visibly frustrated at questioning, telling Senator Tom Cruz: Could you give me some time to speak?

In response to Senator Marsha Blackburns claim that youre trying to be the premiere sex trafficking site, he said: Thats ridiculous.

During an exchange with Senator Josh Hawley, Mr Zuckerberg stood up to address dozens of parents in the audience, some of whom held up pictures of teenagers who committed suicide following abuse on social media.

He told them: Im sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered.

In a separate exchange, Mr Graham drew attention to the resignation of one of TikToks most senior Israeli employees and said the video app was being used to destroy the Jewish state.

Barak Herscowitz, a lobbyist in TikToks government relations team, said in a post on X: I resigned from TikTok.

We live in a time when our very existence as Jews and Israelis is under attack and in danger. In such an unstable era, peoples priorities are sharpened.

The news website Jewish Insider reported that Mr Herscowitz had been behind an internal memo at TikTok accusing the company of bias against Israel during the conflict in Gaza.

Mr Graham told Mr Chew during Wednesdays hearing: Your representative in Israel quit the company, because TikTok is being used, in a way, to destroy the Jewish state.

Mr Chew responded saying: I need to make it very clear that pro-Hamas content and hate speech is not allowed on our platform or within our company.

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Editor's note: Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Finding ways to stretch your dollars further is key if you're a business owner. With the American Express Business Gold Card, you can earn a high rewards rate on some of your most common spending categories, and there is a valuable bonus offer for new card members.

The card has a steep annual fee, but depending on your business' spending and travel habits, this business credit card could be well worth the investment.

Annual fee : $375 (see rates and fees)

Welcome offer : 70,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $10,000 in the first 3 months

Rewards : 4x points per dollar spent on your two top categories 3x points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels 1x per dollar spent point on all other purchases

More details : $240 flexible business credit: Earn up to $20 in statement credits per month when you use the card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, GrubHub, and office supply stores $155 Walmart+ Credit: The credit covers the cost of a $12.95 Walmart+ membership with a statement credit if you use the card to pay the monthly fee, up to an annual maximum of $155



Annual fee

The American Express Business Gold Card has a $375 annual fee. If you add employees to your account, you must pay an additional fee for the extra cards.

For those who apply for the card after February 1, 2024, the annual fee for employee cards is $95 for the first five cards and $95 for each additional card.

Welcome offer

New card members can earn 70,000 Amex Membership Rewards Points if you spend at least $10,000 on eligible purchases within three months of opening the account. Purchases made with the primary card or employee cards count toward the $10,000 spending requirement.

The welcome offer can be worth up to $1,000, depending on how you redeem those rewards.

The spending requirement is relatively steep. However, business owners who may spend significantly on utilities, shipping costs, inventory, or office supplies could use their credit card to pay for those purchases to qualify for the welcome offer.

Intro offer

The American Express Business Gold Card does not offer an introductory APR for purchases or balance transfers.

Rewards rate

With this card, you'll earn the following rewards:

4x points per dollar spent on your top two spending categories. You'll earn four points per $1 spent rate on your top two categories for each billing cycle, up to a maximum of $150,000 spent per year. The qualifying categories are: Advertising through U.S. media providers, online, or television Purchases from U.S. electronic goods retailers or software or cloud service providers Restaurants in the U.S., including takeout or delivery Gas purchased at U.S. gas stations (gas purchased at supermarkets, wholesale clubs, or superstores aren't eligible for the 4x rewards rate) Transit, including trains, cabs, rideshare services, tolls and parking fees Wireless U.S. telephone service charges

3x points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com

1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases

Depending on your spending habits, your rewards could outpace the card's annual fee. For example, say you spend $10,000 per year on online advertisements. Those transactions earn rewards at the rate of four points per dollar spent, so you'd earn 40,000 points. If you redeem those Membership Rewards points for gift cards or travel, they would be worth up to $400  more than the annual fee.

How to earn rewards

To earn rewards with this card, use it for your major business spending categories. You can get the most value if you spend a significant amount of money on advertising, software or computers, dining out, or transit.

If you or your employees frequently travel for work, book your flights, or hotel stays through AmexTravel.com to get the most points for your reservations.

There's no limit to how much you can earn in cash back. However, you can only earn four points per $1 spent on up to $150,000 in combined spending; once you reach that limit, additional purchases will earn one point per $1 spent.

How to redeem rewards

As an American Express Business Gold Card member, your points are generally worth one-half to one cent each, and your point value depends on the redemption method. You can redeem your points in the following ways:

Gift cards: You can redeem your points for gift cards from major hotel chains, retailers, and restaurants. Values vary by merchant, but you can get up to one cent for each point redeemed.

Pay with points at checkout: Some retailers, such as Staples, Best Buy, and Amazon, allow you to use your points to pay for some or all of your purchase at checkout. However, your points are typically worth less with this redemption method; each point is worth about 0.7 cents.

Point transfers: For frequent travelers who belong to loyalty programs, transferring your points can help maximize your credit card rewards. You can transfer your points to partner programs like Hilton Honors or Delta Airlines, and your points will be worth more than if you redeemed them in other ways.

Statement credits: You can redeem your points for statement credits to cover eligible charges or reduce your balance. However, this redemption method has the lowest value; each point will be worth just 0.6 cents.

Travel: You can redeem your points through AmexTravel.com and book flights, cruises, and hotel stays. If you redeem your points for flights, each point will be worth about one cent, but other travel bookings, such as reserving prepaid hotels or rental cars, will give you less value for your points.

Redeeming your points for travel, gift cards, or transferring to a loyalty program will give you the most value for your rewards.

Additional benefits

The American Express Business Gold Card offers robust benefits for business owners and employees. Benefits include:

Baggage insurance*: If your baggage is lost or stolen and you used your card to pay for your fare on a common carrier, the card will reimburse you up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked luggage.

Car rental loss and damage waiver: Decline the rental company's coverage and pay for the entire cost of a car rental with your Amex, and you'll be protected by secondary collision and damage coverage.

Cell phone protection: Pay your cell phone bill with your Amex, and your phone will be covered against theft or damage. The benefit will pay out a maximum of $800, subject to a $50 deductible, and you can submit up to two claims per year.

Extended warranty protection: When you use the card to purchase electronics or other items with warranties of five years or less, extended warranty protection will lengthen the warranty by an additional year.

Global Assist hotline: If you need help while traveling outside the country, such as assistance with finding medical providers or legal help, you can contact the Amex Global Assist Hotline. However, you're responsible for any service fees a third party provides.

Purchase protection: Use your card when you purchase items, and the item is covered for 90 days against theft or accidental damage. This perk provides up to $1,000 of protection per occurrence, up to $50,000 per calendar year.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Who is the American Express Business Gold best for?

The American Express Business Gold Card is best suited for small- to medium-sized company owners who spend less than $150,000 on advertising, electronics, restaurant meals, or transit.

If your spending in those categories tends to be higher, another card with a higher cap may be better.

If you're a freelancer or own a smaller business with fewer expenses, the high annual fee may make the card too expensive for you. Instead, look for a card with a lower annual fee (or no fee).

American Express Business Gold Card pros

No foreign transaction fees: Unlike many cards, the Amex Business Gold Card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice if traveling or purchasing outside the U.S.

Added travel insurance: If you travel for your business, you can take advantage of added coverage like car rental insurance, baggage insurance, and the Global Assist Hotline.

Provides cell phone protection: Your cell phone is likely an essential tool for your work, and the latest smartphones can be expensive. The Amex Business Gold Card provides cell phone insurance so you can protect your investment.

American Express Business Gold Card cons

No promotional APR: The American Express Business Gold Card has no promotional APR offer for balance transfers or purchases. Other options give you 0% APR for 12 to 18 months, allowing you to finance major purchases like software upgrades or computers with no interest for a year or more.

High spend requirement for bonus: To qualify for the new card member bonus, you must spend at least $10,000 within three months. Meeting that threshold may be difficult for solopreneurs or micro-business owners with limited cash flow.

Expensive annual fee: At $375, the annual fee on the American Business Card is relatively high. It may not be worth the expense unless you can take advantage of all of its spending categories and benefits.

Where can you use the American Express Business Gold Card?

The American Express Business Gold Card is part of the American Express network  the fourth-largest credit card network. Amex is accepted by most businesses in the U.S., but internationally, its acceptance rate is lower than that of Visa or Mastercard. However, the company said its cards are accepted in 103 countries.

How to make an American Express Business Gold Card payment

You can make a payment online, through a mobile app, phone, or through the mail.

Online

Mobile app

Phone: 1-800-472-9297

Mail: American Express P.O. Box 96001 Los Angeles, CA 90096

American Express Business Gold Card customer service info

Customer service availability info: Monday through: 9:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. EST Weekends: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST

Phone number: 1-800-492-3344

American Express Business Gold Card login page

Alternative cards to consider

If the annual fee of the American Express Business Gold Card is too high for you, consider these alternative business credit cards:

Why we like it: The Ink Business Cash Credit Card is a useful option for freelancers and small business owners. Unlike the American Express Business Gold Card, it has no annual fee. Plus, it gives you 0% APR for 12 months on purchases, making it a good choice if you need to purchase expensive supplies. Once the promotional APR ends, the regular variable APR of 18.49% to 24.49% applies.

Why we like it: If you're looking for a basic business credit card, the Blue Business Plus Card has no annual fee, and it has a welcome offer for new cardmembers that's much more attainable than the Amex Business Gold Card's offer; you can get 15,000 Membership Rewards Points if you spend at least $3,000 within the first three months of opening an account.

Why we like it: The American Express Business Gold Card offers valuable rewards, but its rewards structure can be complex and challenging to manage. The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is much simpler; you'll earn two miles per $1 spent on all purchases and five miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. The card has no annual fee for the first year; a $95 fee applies after that.

Cant decide on a credit card? Check out Yahoos best credit card picks

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the banks website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers.
GE Vernova, ONEE, and Nareva are set to collaborate on a feasibility study to develop joint solutions for decarbonising ONEE's Laayoune Power Plant, powered by three GE Vernova 6B gas turbines.

The facility is expected to be the first in Africa using green hydrogen to power GE Vernovas 6B gas turbines.

The joint project aligns with efforts to bolster Moroccos energy transition towards a lower-carbon future rapidly, especially in the power generation sector.

Under the agreement, ONEE, Nareva and GE Vernova will undertake techno-economic evaluation studies to convert the 99 megawatts (MW) Laayoune Thermal Power Plant, currently fueled by heavy oil fuel to hydrogen.

As a first step, the collaboration will focus on the gas turbine to be converted to 100 percent hydrogen.

The study is expected to be completed in two years and consists of exploring an integrated solution that incorporates the full production value chain to deliver 100 percent hydrogen by volume to the gas turbine for peak demand periods.

Assessment results can pave the path ahead for the full-scale integration of the gas turbines with green hydrogen, aiming to achieve 100 per cent decarbonisation of the Laayoune Power Plant.

Laayounes province is experiencing rapid development of projects focused on renewable energy, and there is growing interest in hydrogen as a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

Morocco aims to expand renewable electricity capacity from its current share of 40 per cent, to 52 per cent by 2030.

With ambitious low-carbon energy projects under construction throughout the country, Morocco reinforces its position among global leaders in sustainable energy. The current renewable installed capacity is 4672 MW. Further renewable projects under development and construction will add more than 5 gigawatts of installed capacity across the country," said Abderrahim El HAFIDI, CEO of ONEE. "This first pilot project will help reduce carbon emissions of the plant and it will enable Morocco to move forward on the decarbonation of its power sector. This agreement serves as an important milestone in paving the way to accelerate the integration of hydrogen in the national energy mix, help the country become less reliant on conventional power, and reduce carbon emissions associated with power generation activities.

NAREVA will build on its recognised experience in renewable power to actively contribute to the advancement of the countrys energy goals, as well as to the competitive decarbonation of the continent, said Aymane Taud, CEO, Nareva. We are thrilled to explore the complementary opportunities between renewable energy, hydrogen production, and efficient gas-fired combustion technologies to provide our country with efficient, flexible power plants that also produce less CO2.

In addition to industry leading gas turbine experience, GE Vernova has deep expertise with wind turbines, solar and energy storage solutions, grid systems, and power conversion technologies, which are key elements to enable the (green) hydrogen value chain.

This requires the integration of several systems including renewable power (e.g., wind and solar), energy storage, grid systems to transmit and control electricity, as well as power conversion systems to provide electricity that matches the electrolyzer requirements.

These elements are part of GE Vernovas technology portfolio with the potential to include as part of this study.

GE Vernova is pleased to collaborate with ONEE and Nareva to develop this first-of-its- kind project and support climate change commitments in Morocco. With nearly 30 GE Vernova 6B gas turbines having operated on hydrogen over the last two decades, this fleet is an excellent fit for the project, said Joseph Anis, President & CEO for GE Vernova's Gas Power business in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. We look forward to joining forces to provide a reliable and less carbon-intense source of reserve power that will also be a major contributor to mitigating the variability of the grid. Rapid renewable energy growth presents system operators and energy providers with the increasingly difficult task of continuously ensuring grid stability. Highly flexible gas turbines can complement variable renewable energy and help stabilise the grid with reliable power supply. --OGN/TradeArabia News Service
A Colonial Beach priest who stole money from his church and the town rescue squad agreed to a deal Friday that requires him to serve some jail time but avoid any felony convictions.

Nicholas S. Szobota was convicted Friday in Westmoreland Circuit Court of a misdemeanor charge of embezzlement, court records show. He was ordered to serve a year in jail with nine months suspended on that conviction; Szobota will be allowed to serve his time on weekends starting Feb. 9.

Szobota and his attorney, James Monroe of Warsaw, also agreed that the evidence was sufficient to support two felony embezzlement charges. But the dispositions were deferred and will be reduced to misdemeanors with suspended sentences if Szobota complies with various conditions, including paying restitution to an insurance company and submitting to a psychosexual evaluation.

If Szobota fails to live up to his obligations, he would be found guilty of felonies and sentenced accordingly.

According to the evidence presented by Commonwealths Attorney Julia Sichol, between June of 2022 and March of last year Szobota took about a combined $38,000 from St. Marys Episcopal Church and the Colonial Beach Rescue Squad.

Szobota, known in town as Father Nick, was the priest of the church at the time, along with being the president of the rescue squad. In 2022, he led a movement to save the rescue squad at a time when Westmoreland was trying to absorb it into the county system. He came to St. Marys in 2018 after serving as a rector at a church in Maryland.

Sichol told Judge Harold Burgess Jr. that Szobota took the money by improperly manipulating online banking and credit card accounts. Among his unauthorized charges were payments for online pornography accounts. He has already paid back more than half of the money.

Sichol said she conferred with both organizations before making the deal accepted by Szobota Friday.
The City of Fremont is seeking public input, ideas and feedback on the newly updated draft of the citys Unified Development Code, which is a roadmap for zoning and other development rules and regulations in the city.

The 28-page draft of the UDC, which city Planning Director Jennifer Dam said has been being worked on vigorously since January 2021, is available for public review in hard-copy form and also online at the citys website. The plan is also online at the Keene Memorial Library website, too.

Our main focus was the comprehensive plan at first, but we did do initial changes to the UDC early on. Weve brought every chapter forward over the years, Dam said.

For residents who want to read the document, Dam said hard copies are available free of charge at the City Clerks office and at her office in the Planning Department, inside the city Municipal Building, 400 E. Military Ave. There are also copies available at the newly reopened Keene Memorial Library, located off North Broad Street north of Military Ave.

We absolutely want public input. The best way to digest this for the public is to come to the open house on Feb. 8. The (free copies) gives everyone a chance to look at it, Dam said. Im sure there will be changes to (the document), there always are as the Planning Commission and residents provide input and feedback. There is a lot to go through, and I really do look forward to feedback.

The UDC guides development in the city and is in essence the citys zoning code, detailing assorted elements of development such as residential, commercial and other types of projects. Dam said creating the document has involved countless hours of hard work and scores of meetings with city officials, elected leaders and members of the Fremont Planning Commission.

It has been a team effort, Dam said. The Planning Commission has worked hard on this, with countless night meetings and hours of work. Im really excited to have the whole package brought forward to the public.

Dam said the newly updated UDC will be a much easier to understand guide for both residents and developers, with less complexity of wording and more direct, common sense explanation of zoning and development guidelines.

There are three major changes in the newly updated UDC draft, Dam said, the primary one being how residential zoning districts have become more standardized.

This goes back to our districts, the terminology  particularly for the residential districts  is one of the biggest changes. The current UDC has four to five to six different lot sizes in each residential district. But, it is really not clear when to apply different standards.

So, in each of the residential districts, we (now) have just one set of standards ... your lot sizes, your setbacks, and so forth, Dam said. It is one set standard per district instead of multiple standards, which is very difficult to interpret. I think it makes it easier for people to understand.

Dam said another big change will aid in-fill development in the citys urban core, where many older residences and homes are located. The new proposed changes will make it easier to both develop inner city core properties as well as repair and upgrade existing homes.

For example, if you have a 3,000 square foot lot, the underlying zoning requirements say in that district, you would have to have a 5,000 square foot lot ... normally that would be considered a non-conforming lot and people would not be able to rebuild on it, Dam explained.

We have (changed) that so people can rebuild on those existing lots, so we can promote that residential in-fill development, she added. It is in the older residential areas of town. It makes it so that people are able to make improvements to existing houses that they couldnt do under the current UDC. So, it encouraged reinvestment and redevelopment.

Another alteration to the new UDC draft is the creation of what are called public or semi-public places zoning districts, which are totally new, Dam said. Those types of developments include schools, churches, government buildings and public recreation facilities and spaces such as parks.

Those are just different types of uses, and it identifies those public uses as distinct type of use, she said.

Dam said the new UDC will definitely benefit the city, and she fully looks forward to that process. After the public input session, itll go to approval by both the Planning Commission and City Council.

It will move onto the Planning Commission for recommendation and approval, then it will move to the City Council for recommendation and approval, she said. The final approval requires (city council approval) over three readings. Then, after the third reading, it does not go into effect for 15 days. We hope to be moving along starting at the end of February. But, it depends on what kinds of changes and feedback we get from the Planning Commission and the City Council.

The new UDC plan will be discussed during a special joint meeting of the Fremont City Council and Fremont Planning Commission scheduled for 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7.

The public open house is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 8, Keene Memorial Library.

Dam said she and others with the city are hoping to secure another public forum about the proposed new UDC with the Greater Fremont Development Council. She also has a goal of the Fremont Planning Commission to begin review and recommendation by the commissions Feb. 26 meeting.

I think were going to have a great product when it is finalized. I think it will be much better than what we have when it is completed, Dam said.
High school seniors from five Midwest states, including Nebraska, have a chance to receive one of 10 college scholarships worth $1,000. Registration is open now through April 30, 2024. Parents are also now able to register their student.

High school seniors or their parents may register for the ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship at IowaStudentLoan.org/Midwest. ISL Education Lending will award $1,000 scholarships to 10 students whose names are randomly drawn after the registration period. There are no financial need, grade point average or class rank requirements. The ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship can be used at any eligible institution in the United States.

Registered participants also receive emails highlighting financial literacy tips, such as the importance of early career and college planning and ways to reduce student loan indebtedness.

The ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship is open to legal U.S. citizens who are seniors at a high school in one of the qualifying states during the 20232024 school year and who intend to attend college, either virtually or physically, in fall 2024. It is a no-purchase-required program, and full rules and details are available at IowaStudentLoan.org/Midwest.
Gov. Jim Pillen is encouraging organizations in Nebraska to apply for the 2024 Governors Wellness Award.

Prioritizing health has many benefits. It strengthens the immune system and reduces stress and the likelihood of developing many chronic diseases, Pillen said. Each year, we recognize organizations across Nebraska for offering wellness programs in the workplace. These programs encourage team members to take steps toward a healthier lifestyle. I invite employers in Nebraska to apply so that we can recognize their great work to promote wellness.

The 2024 application accommodates Nebraska employers of all sizes and encourages employers to start or enhance workplace health, safety and well-being programs. These initiatives include items such as an assessment of employees health risks and interests, a written wellness plan with measurable goals and objectives, supportive policies, and the ability to show measurable benefits from wellness and safety efforts.

Organizations receive the award at the Sower, Grower or Harvester level.

Sower level recognizes employers that have taken initial steps to encourage workplace wellness.

Grower level honors organizations that have enhanced their wellness programs and are positively changing employee health behaviors.

Harvester level is available to employers that are reaping the benefits of an advanced wellness program and can demonstrate high-quality outcomes.

To apply, go to the Panhandle Worksite Wellness Council website at http://www.pphd.ne.gov/pwwc.html and select Governors Award from the menu. All new and recertifying applicants are encouraged to participate in a virtual Q&A session on Feb. 1, at 11 a.m. Central Time to learn more about the application process. A link to join this session is available through the PWWC website.

Organizations interested in the Governors Wellness Award can find the application on the Panhandle Worksite Wellness Council website at http://www.pphd.ne.gov/pwwc.html. The application deadline is May 24, 2024, by midnight Mountain Time.

The Governors Wellness Award is sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and administered by the Panhandle Public Health District. For more information, interested organizations should contact Nicole Berosek, Organizational Wellness Coordinator, at 308-279-3496 or nberosek@pphd.ne.gov.
Alexander Wilson, a senior at the Colorado Military Academy, is currently working on obtaining his drivers license and his pilots license, which makes him uniquely qualified to answer the question: Which is more difficult  landing a plane, or parking a car?

Ive always naturally liked the air, Wilson said. So landing a plane would probably be a little easier for me.

Wilson, a Civil Air Patrol cadet, recently achieved the programs highest honor: the General Spaatz Award.

Named for Gen. Carl Spaatz, a legendary pilot and the Air Forces first chief of staff, the Spaatz Award is an achievement garnered by less than 1% of CAP cadets. The fact that Wilson earned it at age 16 is nearly unprecedented, according to retired Lt. Col. Nicole Roberts.

This is not something a cadet can earn overnight, said Roberts, who serves as CMAs commandant and commander of CAP Cadet Squadron 805. Most cadets are 18 years old or older when they attempt Spaatz. For someone his age to get it  and on the first attempt  is a huge achievement.

Colorado Military Academy, a K-12, tuition-free public charter school located on the eastern outskirts of Colorado Springs, opened its doors in 2017. Wilson, who learned about the school while attending an air show, enrolled in 2018.

I was intrigued by it, he said. Then I heard about the Civil Air Patrol cadet program, and I was instantly sold on that.

CMA students are required to participate in Civil Air Patrol from ninth grade until graduation, officials said.

Its not like Junior ROTC, where kids put on a uniform for a few hours a week, Roberts said. So its a decision students have to make before they begin ninth grade, to join the Civil Air Patrol or attend another school.

For Wilson, the structure of academy life and the schools various STEM activities were a natural fit, he said.

I also love the camaraderie. We have a very close-knit community, and I think thats one of the greatest strengths of the school. The esprit de corps of this school is what makes it a shining light.

Wilsons CMA career has not been without difficulty. A contentious divorce and custody battle forced him to leave school and live in Pueblo for nine months.

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He has had nothing given to him, Roberts said. Every (decoration) he has on his chest, he has earned through blood, sweat and tears.

When he was finally able to return to CMA, Wilsons ordeal had taken a visible toll on his health, Roberts said.

He was probably 30 or 40 pounds overweight, she said. But he fought his way back, and now hes a beast!

Testing for the Spaatz Award is a rigorous process requiring top-level physical fitness, leadership, and aerospace knowledge. In addition to passing multiple written exams, candidates are required to take the Air Force Academy Candidate Fitness Assessment. Male candidates must be able to do a minimum of 81 sit-ups, 62 push-ups, and run a 6:29 mile.

It was hard, Wilson said. But if youre persistent and dedicated, its a manageable goal.

Upon completion of the Spaatz requirements, Wilson was promoted to cadet colonel, the highest cadet rank in the Civil Air Patrol.

With what hes been through, hes had every excuse to not be here, as an honor student, graduating early  but here he is, Roberts said.

Wilson is currently looking at several college options. He has received scholarship offers from The Citadel and Norwich University, and recently received a congressional nomination for admission to the U.S. Naval Academy.

For now, though, Wilson is focused on getting his drivers and pilots licenses, and enjoying the final months of his CMA journey.

Ive really enjoyed my experience here, said Wilson, who plans to study mechanical engineering. CMA offers opportunities you cant get anywhere else.

Were very proud of Alex, Roberts said. He might be the top cadet in Colorado  and Im not just talking about high school.
KIOWA  Lily Whitworth, the 19-year-old who admitted to planning a mass shooting at a school in Colorado Springs, was sentenced to six years in prison on Tuesday after an Elbert County judge ruled that probation or community corrections would not have been acceptable sentences.

Whitworth originally faced several charges of attempted first-degree murder after deliberation, attempted first-degree murder with extreme indifference, criminal mischief, menacing and interference with staff, faculty or students of educational institutions. Through the plea agreement entered in November, Whitworth only pleaded guilty to the amended charge of second-degree assault, and the remaining charges were dismissed.

Attorneys had requested dramatically different sentences for Whitworth at the beginning of her sentencing hearing earlier this month, with the prosecution seeking 10 years in the Department of Corrections and the defense seeking only supervised probation.

Despite continued statements from Whitworths defense attorneys that a term in the Department of Corrections would only be harmful to both her rehabilitation and to community safety, Judge Theresa Slade decided that a prison sentence was the only way to ensure a sense of security among the community. Slade sentenced Whitworth to six years in prison along with three years of mandatory parole upon her release.

The sentencing at the Elbert County Courthouse for Whitworth was extended after initially beginning on Jan. 19. Slade at the time opted to push back sentencing to seek more clarity from the probation and community corrections departments.

At Tuesdays hearing, brief records were made by the attorneys in an attempt to clarify the questions raised by Slade at Whitworths previous hearing. Whitworths defense attorney Elizabeth Jones informed the court that her client had been accepted to a community-corrections facility in Jefferson County and that, if probation were granted, Whitworth would be admitted to a supervised sober-living facility in the state.

Prosecutor Eva Wilson had no new information for the court, but reasserted her belief that both a supervised sober-living home and a community-corrections facility were not enough supervision for Whitworth, and that a prison sentence remained the only way to ensure community safety.

Jones reasserted her belief to the court that a prison sentence would only harm Whitworth further, and that the best way to ensure community safety was to allow Whitworth to take part in the out-of-custody restoration services recommended by either community corrections or probation.

At the start of Whitworths sentencing on Jan. 19, Jones argued vehemently that Whitworths childhood trauma played a significant role in the threats made and that, since being incarcerated, Whitworth had made remarkable steps toward recovery.

Wilson at the initial sentencing hearing presented evidence to highlight the seriousness of the threats being made by Whitworth, including entries from her journal stating that she wanted to kill at least 30 people, and text messages Whitworth sent her mother the day of her arrest, saying "how clear do I have to make it. I'm going to walk into Timberview Middle School with an AR."

The school in Academy District 20 was one of several locations outlined in Whitworths notebook as a potential spot to commit a mass shooting, but also the location with the most detailed threats, which included a map of Timberview drawn on a whiteboard in her bedroom. Other locations mentioned in Whitworths writings included churches, law enforcement buildings and other schools in Colorado Springs.

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While Slade gave her reasoning for her sentence, she spoke directly to Whitworth, who nodded along. Slade appeared disappointed by the recommendations made by probation and community corrections, stating that she agreed with Wilson that the lack of supervision offered by the programs wasnt acceptable for Whitworth, considering the seriousness of Whitworths threats.

This had a pretty big impact on the community, Slade said. People were hurt, people were scared (by Whitworths actions).

Slade opted to sentence Whitworth to six years in prison with 308 days of credit for time served.

As it became clear during Slades remarks that she was going to order prison, Whitworth stopped nodding along to the judges comments.

I think the Department of Corrections sentence is absolutely supported by all the evidence, all the planning and the impact on the victims, Wilson said after the hearing. I think anything less ... would just not be appropriate, considering the magnitude of the planning and the efforts made.

Despite the six-year prison sentence being on the lower end of the five- to 16-year possible prison sentence allowable under the plea agreement  and four years shorter than the 10 years requested by Wilson herself  Wilson stated she was just happy that a prison sentence was received.

I hope (this sentence) tells the community how seriously the Elbert County Sheriffs Office took these threats, and how hard they worked to put this case together, Wilson said. I cannot thank them enough, and I think the community cannot thank them enough.

Whitworths defense attorneys were not available for comment following the sentencing hearing.

Whitworth herself didnt speak during Tuesdays hearing, but at the start of sentencing last month, she attempted to take accountability for her actions and apologized.

"I was in too deep, way too deep," Whitworth said to the court. "The choices I've made, I regret."
A man with five felony warrants was arrested Tuesday by Colorado Springs police.

The warrants were included for alleged incidents of second-degree assault from 2023 and felony extortion in January, according to an online police blotter entry.

The arrest was made in the area of the 4600 block of North Carefree Circle. Police have not named the man who was arrested.

During one of the alleged incidents, the man, a previously convicted felon, had fired rounds of ammunition into a residence with a handgun.

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Additionally, law enforcement suspected the man to be in possession of a firearm involved in a domestic incident and was actively considered both a threat to victims and to police.

Police said they recovered a handgun and cocaine prepped for distribution during the arrest. After a search of the suspect's home, more than a pound of cocaine and 15 firearms  three of which had been reported stolen  were recovered.

"The subject's identity is currently withheld due to the ongoing investigation into a convicted felon possessing a substantial number of firearms and narcotics," police said.
Editor's note: Welcome to Border Crossroads, a series of dispatches from America's southern border, where reporter Nico Brambila and multimedia producer Tom Hellauer are chronicling the crisis that is spilling over into Denver and other interior cities.

EL PASO, TEXAS  El Paso Deputy City Manager Mario DAgostino offered some advice to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston: Keep pushing for federal money to address the crisis brought on by surges of immigrants crossing the border.

Dont give up on the funding requests, DAgostino said. "Continuing to push for the funding."

Unlike Denver  which has shouldered most of the $40 million cost to temporarily house, feed and transport immigrants, who illegally crossed the southern border and took buses to Colorado's most populous city  El Paso taxpayers are not being asked to fund the humanitarian effort in west Texas.

His city spent, in the final quarter of fiscal year 2022-2023, $15 million on the effort  all of which was reimbursed by the federal government except $1.5 million, DAgostino said.

Before pressing its congressional delegation for funding, DAgostino said, the city of El Paso was fronting the cost, hoping to be reimbursed by the federal government. Now the city received the funding upfront.

Luckily, up to this point, we havent had to burden taxpayers, said El Paso County Commissioner David Stout.

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El Paso County leaders anticipate spending $25 million this year on its response.

In sharp contrast, the Johnston administration is bracing for $180 million in expenses, which prompted the mayor earlier this month to call for at least a 10% reduction in many city department's budgets. This estimate, however, was based on the unprecedented number of newly arriving immigrants.

The city of El Paso jumps into the fray when border surges  there have been three  eclipse the ability for churches and nonprofits to respond.

The city provides immigrants sleeping accommodations, food and first aid.

Transportation is provided, free of charge, through Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts busing program.

Since April 2022, the Republican governor has targeted so-called sanctuary cities in his busing campaign, sending more than 102,000 immigrants out of Texas to six cities, including Denver.

Generally speaking, a "sanctuary city" describes municipalities and counties that establish policies discouraging local law enforcement from reporting an individuals immigration status to federal authorities. Several years ago, the Denver City Council passed an ordinance that prohibits city employees from collecting information on immigration or citizenship status; prohibits the sharing of any other information about individuals for purposes of immigration enforcement; and, memorializes predominant practices by prohibiting use of city resources or City cooperation with civil immigration enforcement.

To date, Abbott has bused in eight months more than 16,000 migrants to Denver. Thats more than the number Abbott has sent to Los Angeles and Philadelphia, combined.
QatarEnergy has awarded engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) contract packages worth $6 billion towards the next development phase of the offshore Al Shaheen field aimed at boosting its production capacity by about 100,000 barrels of oil per day.

The award is part of Project Ruya, which is the third phase of Al Shaheens development since North Oil Company, a joint venture between QatarEnergy (70%) and TotalEnergies (30%), took over the fields operation in July 2017.

Under this, Project Ruya will see the development of more than 550 million barrels of oil within a five-year period with the first oil expected in 2027.

The project includes the drilling of more than 200 wells and the installation of a new centralised process complex, nine remote wellhead platforms, and associated pipelines.

The four EPC packages have been awarded to:

*A consortium of McDermott Middle East and Qingdao McDermott Wuchuan Offshore Engineering Company for develoment of nine wellhead platforms valued at about $2.1 billion;

*A consortium of McDermott Middle East and Hyundai Heavy Industries for a central processing platform worth $1.9 billion

*Top Indian engineering and construction conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for a riser platform valued at about $1.3 billion and

*China Offshore Oil Engineering Company for construction of subsea pipelines and cables valued at about $900 million.

Announcing the EPCI awards, Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said: "With this move, we are taking an important step towards realizing the full potential of Al-Shaheen filed, which produces around half of Qatars crude oil today."

Located 80 km offshore Qatar, Al Shaheen field is among the worlds largest in terms of 'oil in place.' The field commenced commercial production in 1994 and underwent significant development to reach an oil production rate of 300,000 bpd in 2007.

Lauding the North Oil Company and its longtime strategic partner TotalEnergies for their efforts, Al Kaabi said they have played an instrumental role in unlocking the true potential of Qatars hydrocarbon resources and maximizing value from Al Shaheen field through the implementation of world-class development and operational excellence programmes.

A producing conventional oil field located in shallow water in Qatar, Al Shaheen currently accounts for approximately 6% of the countrys daily output.

According to experts, production at Al Shaheen will continue until the field reaches its economic limit in 2074. It has recovered 50.81% of its total recoverable reserves, with peak production expected in 2026, they added.-TradeArabia News Service
Dubai further consolidated its status as a central hub for international business events in 2023, with the city winning a record 349 bids to host international conferences, congresses, meetings, and incentive travel programmes, a report said.

Driven by Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city's official convention bureau, the wins reflected a robust 49% increase in successful bids compared to 2022. These events captured in 2023 are set to attract over 191,000 international delegates, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.

Under its business events and delegate boosting strategy, DBE brought an impressive citywide offering to the global market that resonated with the core needs of the business events industry.

Positioning Dubai as the foremost destination for international business events and increasing appetite among associations and corporations to conduct meetings in the city, DBE worked closely with stakeholders across the public and private sectors to covert interest in confirmed events.

While some of these already took place within 2023, others are confirmed for coming years, joining wins from previous years, with Dubai's strong appeal driving a pipeline of impactful events as far as 2029.

Bidding activity and success have continued to accelerate since the global Covid-19 pandemic, with the number of bid wins in 2023 exceeding the previous record of 295 bids registered in 2019.

The events secured for the city will be vital in driving trade, investment, and attracting global talent  all critical pillars to building a stronger, more productive, and diverse economy  in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: "Driven by the leadership and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the city's business events ecosystem continues to play a vital role in wider tourism and economic development, in line with the priorities of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

"Business events have consistently proved to be an important catalyst for the city's development, driving knowledge growth and contributing the evolution of key sectors and industries. Dubai's success in securing major international conferences, congresses, meetings and incentives in 2023 was a reward for the robust efforts of all stakeholders across the public and private sectors.

"To keep the momentum going, we have charted ambitious plans for the year ahead and are working closely with all stakeholders  from hotels and event organisers to attractions and venues  to attract the biggest and most prestigious events and congresses to the city and raise the profile of Dubai as a year-round global business events destination.

Throughout 2024, the DBE team and partners will engage with meetings professionals and potential clients around the world, further elevating the city's positioning and competitiveness."

Prominent among the most noteworthy successful bids in 2023 are association events such as Critical Communications World 2024, with 3,800 delegates; the WCA Worldwide Annual Conference 2024, with 4,500 delegates; the International Trademark Association's Annual Meeting 2026, with 10,000 delegates, and the Million Dollar Round Table Global Conference 2024, with 10,000 delegates.

This is in addition to an impressive line-up of corporate and incentive events coming to the city, including Token2049 and Nuskin Elite, both taking place this year with 4,000 and 1,000 delegates respectively, as well as Amway ESAN 2025, which is expected to bring 3,500 visitors to Dubai.

DBE has already kicked off its year-round calendar of industry engagements with sales missions in target markets and participation in major trade shows, including IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX America and IBTM World.
Signs read From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free at a protest on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, repeating a pro-Palestinian slogan that some consider antisemitic and a call for an eradication of the state of Israel.
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
El Paso County may be headed to toward a better understanding of the Denver Basin aquifers that many rural residents rely on.

County officials presented an early plan for gathering data on aquifers, such as the Arapaho and Laramie-Fox, during an informal meeting Tuesday with El Paso County commissioners who blessed the idea. The Denver Basin aquifers supply communities, such as Monument, and numerous individual properties in eastern El Paso County. A 2019 water master plan showed the county had 21,300 permitted groundwater wells and roughly 70 water providers.

The county probably would start by gathering data from water providers to help update the understanding of groundwater in the county that has been largely based on a state study from the 1980s, county officials explained during the meeting.

Commissioner Carrie Geitner and others praised the idea to better understand existing groundwater. The county does not provide water, but it does require new development to show it has sufficient water before approving new homes.

"I think it is a great way to respond to the questions that we are getting from citizens," she said.

The aquifers in the Denver Basin are diminishing over time, leading some water providers on the north side of El Paso County to plan for other sources of water. One such possibility is a pipeline that would return groundwater allowed to flow downstream via Monument and Fountain creeks back to northern communities.

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El Paso County currently requires new developments to prove they have 300 years of groundwater, explained County Attorney Lori Seago during the meeting. The rule results in less dense development, she said.

The county is not proposing a change to the rule at this time, but a study could help inform groundwater requirements, she said.

County Administrator Bret Waters said the county may bring on a consultant later to help once data is collected from water providers. The county does not have a timeline for completing the work.

The 2019 county water master plan found that by 2060, county groundwater could annually fall 18 billon gallons of water short if water supplies aren't increased by more than one-third, The Gazette reported previously.

The plan recommended monitoring groundwater well levels, exploring water reuse and considering changes to the county's land-use approval process.
Marie Richard wanted to give the ladies a reason to put their high heels on.

So when the downtown space that last housed Epiphany, a Latin-American fusion restaurant and club that closed in June, came available, she grabbed it up. Prior to Epiphany, the space housed Thirsty Parrot and 32 Bleu.

The new Studio 32 Discotheque, designed to pay homage to the iconic nightclub Studio 54 in New York City, is now open for all your drinking and dancing needs.

I see every age and every demographic coming in, said the Studio 32 founder. Theyre like this is so up my alley  finally something to dress up for. I love seeing everyones individuality. That sticks out how I remember the era of Studio 54  creative people, actors, actresses. They came together and thats what made the energy of the space.

Richard roams around her 5,000-square-foot space a few hours before the doors open to night crawlers on the Friday night before Christmas. The evenings visitors will climb a long, red carpeted staircase and emerge into a room soaked in soft pinks and glittery silver colors. And theyll notice the details: Versace wallpaper, a bowl of Italian chocolates that will surely be empty well before midnight, fresh flowers, red and white tufted valances, pink tufted velvet bar chairs, damask carpet, heavy chandeliers, satin sofas, a clawfoot tub to hold Champagne or use as a photo prop.

The stage, which used to hold the likes of Gillian Welch, Cowboy Junkies, G. Love and Special Sauce and Modest Mouse in the 32 Bleu days, is now done out in soft shag carpet. A bedroom set, featuring a giant bed adorned with a pink comforter and stacks of pink pillows, is available for dancing, pillow fights and photo opportunities. And you cant miss the giant pink teddy bear.

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Black and white photos of Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Olivia Newton-John, Cher and others from their Studio 54 days gaze down upon the floating dance floor. And the mezzanine holds tables heavy enough to withstand inspired dancers.

I like pretty interiors, good music and hostessing people, Richard said. This feels intimate, like a house party. Its like having people over to your house  thats the feel of the space.

Richard has a longtime affinity for old buildings. She spearheaded the design of the now defunct Club Eden, a nightclub resurrected in an old Episcopal church from the late 1800s on Pikes Peak Avenue, and Copperhead Road Bar on Academy Boulevard, formerly Black Angus Steakhouse decades ago.

I look at the building and let the building tell me what it needs to be, Richard said. Id drive by that building (32 S. Tejon St.), before the building was rehabilitated, and it reminded me of Studio 54 days. I said that place needs to be a discotheque.

Studio 32 opens at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, with rotating DJs playing remixes of music from the 70s through today. Admission is $10. Bottle service is available and set up in 10 areas around the club.

People like to celebrate and theres lot of things to celebrate: birthdays, divorce parties, promotion parties, going away parties, Richard said.

People dont have anywhere to do that. In the last 10 years this has been a microbrewery and AstroTurf and overhead garage town. How much cornhole can one town take?

Contact the writer: 636-0270
Federal charges were filed in an Iowa U.S. District Court earlier this month against a Mason City man accused of carrying a weapon as a felon.

Lance Michael Kohler, 45, of Mason City was arrested in December on felony counts of a controlled substance violation, failure to affix tax stamp, and control of a firearm by a felon, as well as misdemeanor counts of person ineligible to carry dangerous weapons, carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence, and operating under the influence - first offence.

According to initial court documents, officers arrived at the scene of a single-car crash near Dogwood Avenue and 210th street in Cerro Gordo County around 4 p.m. Dec. 5. Kohler's vehicle apparently had inside it a loaded .380 Remington pistol and many hypodermic needles.

Kohler reportedly also had 24.6 grams of meth on his person. Officers said Kohler admitted to using meth at 2 a.m. earlier in the day.

The federal indictment was filed on Jan. 17. Kohler has been ordered to surrender any additional weapons in his possession. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 11 a.m. Feb. 9 in Sioux City.
Dr. Deborah Ann Turner, 73, a Mason City native whose pioneering medical career and political advocacy earned national accolades, died Sunday from complications of a pulmonary embolism at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.

Turner specialized in gynecological oncology for 35 years was instrumental in the creation of what today is MercyOne North Iowa Cancer Center.

Born in 1950 in Mason City, Turner excelled in academics, music, and was a cheerleader at Mason City High School, where she earned a National Merit Scholarship before graduating in 1969, according to her obituary.

Turner earned a Bachelor of Science at Iowa State University, where she was the first Black woman to be accepted into a sorority, Pi Beta Phi. After graduating from medical school at the University of Iowa in 1978, she became the first Black doctor certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the specialty of gynecologic oncology in 1985.

Dr. Walter Bate and his late wife, Dr. Martha Ryan, were practicing at the cancer center when Turner returned to Mason City in the early 1990s.

"We lured her to the cancer center," Bate said. "Her parents were aging and living in Mason City. She saw it as an opportunity."

"She was an enormously energetic lady and funny," Bate said. "This is crucial working in a cancer center, where laughing on a regular basis is a key to maintaining your sanity. She was empathetic and kind and was loved by her patients and their families."

After her parents' deaths, Turner moved to Des Moines, where she earned a law degree from Drake University.

Her energy and drive were evident from a young age, said Dr. Steve Schurtz of Mason City, who met Turner in junior high. They went through high school, medical school and medical residency together.

"She is an amazing woman," said Schurtz. "I just saw her a few months ago."

Turner's intelligence, compassion and drive led her to a host of opportunities, which she took on with enthusiasm. In addition to her extraordinary medical career, in 2016 Turner became associate medical director at Planned Parenthood of North Central States.

She joined the League of Women Voters in 2011, eventually becoming national president of the organization in 2020.

She taught students and residents at the Medical College of Wisconsin, the University of Iowa and the University of Nebraska, in addition to her private practice at MercyOne Medical Center Des Moines, MercyOne North Iowa Cancer Center in Mason City, and Genesis Medical Center in Davenport.

Turner worked as a volunteer for The Outreach Program and was a traveling member. She participated in more than 10 medical missions to Tanzania between 2010 and 2019.

She was honored by the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare, received the Vanguard Award from the NAACP, was inducted into the Iowa Womens Hall of Fame, and accepted the Gertrude Rush Award from the National Bar Association.

Turner is survived by her husband and two children.

Visitation for Dr. Deborah Ann Turner will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday in the Campanile Room at Iowa State Memorial Union, 2229 Lincoln Way, Ames, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Sunday in the Great Hall of Memorial Union.

Turner's obituary appears on page A7.
OSAGE  A male juvenile was arrested after allegedly making threats of violence against schools in Osage and Wayne County in southern Iowa on Tuesday.

School officials at Osage in Mitchell County and Wayne Community (Corydon) in southern Iowa confirmed both went into lockdown early Tuesday morning after learning of the threats, KCCI-TV in Des Moines reported.

The threat was reported to school staff by Osage students who allegedly saw the messages, officials reported.

A 14-year-old former student at Osage, now living in Wayne County, allegedly posted on Snapchat that he planned shootings at the schools.

Wayne County Sheriff Keith Davis told KCCI that his department arrested the boy and that charges are pending. The boy did not have a weapon when arrested.

Lockdowns at both schools have been lifted.

Osage Community Schools Superintendent Barb Schwamman issued a letter Tuesday morning alerting families of students to the threat and the 8 a.m. lockdown.

Law enforcement has taken the situation into their hands for the next level of investigation and we do not feel that this situation will result in any further threat to our staff and student body, Schwamman's message stated.

Im extremely proud of the way our staff responded to the incident. We are meeting with our student body today as well. These types of situations are never easy and we are very grateful for the trust and patience of everyone involved  especially our parents. When it comes to student safety, the district will always err on the side of caution.

Schwamman told the Globe Gazette law enforcement agencies lifted the lockdown by 9:15 a.m.

Wayne Community Schools also announced in a letter it had locked down on Tuesday, resuming classes after law enforcement mitigated the threat.
An Iowa House subcommittee unanimously approved a bill Wednesday to allow the Iowa Legislature to intervene in the permitting process of a pipeline or other energy project seeking to use eminent domain.

Republican lawmakers who spoke at the hearing suggested they were supporting House Study Bill 608 because the Iowa Senate so far has refused to take up another bill passed last year by the House that would require pipeline projects to have 90% of their routes voluntarily granted by landowners before using eminent domain.

I am very frustrated we even have to be here, said Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison. I have objection to these companies using the heavy hand of government to try to seize private property of landowners in my district for what is clearly a private economic development project that does not meet the constitutional requirement of public use.

The Iowa Utilities Board is considering a permit application from Summit Carbon Solutions to build more than 680 miles of pipeline in Iowa to transport carbon dioxide from ethanol plants to an underground storage site in North Dakota.

Summit has said it has voluntary easements on about three-quarters of the Iowa route, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reported, but still would need the board to grant eminent domain rights to force easements on the rest of the parcels.

Five landowners spoke at the legislative hearing, saying the boards multiweek permit hearing in Fort Dodge felt like a farce because Summit staff were given preferential treatment. The landowners said the board met during fall harvest when it was harder for farmers to attend and there was little notice before landowner testimony.

Chaz Allen, executive director of the Iowa Utility Association, which represents investor-owned utilities including MidAmerican Energy and Alliant Energy, was the only person to speak against the bill Wednesday.

We rarely use eminent domain, but this bill could impact our efforts for reliability and bringing services to unserved or underserved growing communities in Iowa, he said.

HSB 608, which now goes to the House Judiciary Committee, would allow 21 members of the Iowa House or 11 members of the Iowa Senate to file a petition that would force the Utilities Board to stop eminent domain proceedings. A vote of or signed affidavits from at least three-fifths of the House and Senate would be required for the proceedings to resume.

The bill would not be retroactive, so the review of Summits proposal could not be disrupted. The measure could be used for any project seeking to use eminent domain, not just a pipeline.

Pete McRoberts, policy director for ACLU of Iowa, said he supports HSB 608 because it has a provision for landowners whose land is subject to an eminent domain claim to ask a District Court judge to decide whether the proposed project fits legal requirements to force easements.

These landowners should have the ability to get a review up front so they don't have to wait years to get a resolution, he said.

Last March, the Iowa House voted 73-20 to pass House File 565, which would prohibit the state from approving a permit for a hazardous liquid pipeline unless the developer had voluntary leases for 90% of the miles of the proposed project.

It's extremely disappointing to me the legislation we passed last year did not move forward in the Senate, Holt said Wednesday.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, said in late December there wasnt consensus among Senate Republicans about further pipeline regulation.

We have some of the strongest eminent domain laws in the country right now. he said then.   There are people in our caucus all over the board. Some are very supportive of the pipeline. Some that aren't as supportive of the pipeline."
On 31 January 2024, Minister of Defence Yuriko Backes and Minister of Defence of the Republic of Estonia Hanno Pevkur, exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the contribution by Luxembourg Defence of 12 million euros to the renovation of the Amari Air Base, Estonia. The exchange took place on the sidelines of the informal meeting of Defence ministers of the EU in Brussels.

 MAEE (left to right) Hanno Pevkur, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Estonia ; Yuriko Backes, Minister of Defence

The renovation and modernisation of the Amari Air Base will allow the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission to fulfil its mandate of ensuring the integrity, safety and security of allied airspace more effectively. With its contribution, Luxembourg will finance a major part of the modernisation works.

"The Baltic Air Policing mission is an essential activity to maintain peace and security in NATO's airspace and Luxembourg is proud to already contribute via the provision of refuelling capabilities and now through the renovation of the Amari Air Base. With this financial contribution, Luxembourg is not only supporting our ally Estonia, it is also an investment into our common effort of securing NATO airspace and therefore an investment into our very own security," said Minister of Defence Yuriko Backes.

"With this contribution from Luxembourg, we will improve the quality of our air base, which will help us better support and service allied fighter jets in Amari. This is an excellent example of Allies contributing directly to the security of the whole region. We are very grateful to our Allies in Luxembourg for strengthening the security of Estonia and the wider region," said Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.

Luxembourg already contributes to the Baltic Air Policing mission by providing air-to-air refuelling capabilities via the Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) Unit. Both, the air-to-air refuelling and this new financial contribution are part of Luxembourg's overall contribution to NATO's common deterrence and defence efforts.

This new financial contribution is a further stage in the deepening the bilateral co-operation between Luxembourg and Estonia in defence matters.

Press release by Directorate of Defence
On 31 January 2024, the Prime Minister, Luc Frieden, the Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning, Claude Meisch, and the Minister of Finance, Gilles Roth, presented an initial package of measures which were adopted by the Government Council on the same day.

 SIP / Emmanuel Claude (from l. to r.) Claude Meisch, Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning; Luc Frieden, Prime Minister; Gilles Roth, Minister of Finance

Since 9 January, the interministerial team - represented by the Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism, the Minister for Home Affairs and the Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity - has held one-to-one meetings with various representatives of the construction and housing sector. The ministers and their teams held discussions with the Chambre des metiers, the Syndicat des villes et communes luxembourgeoises (Syvicol), the Ordre des architectes et des ingenieurs-conseils (OAI), the Federation des acteurs du secteur social au Luxembourg (FEDAS), the Chambre immobiliere du Grand-Duche de Luxembourg (CIGDL) and the tenants' association 'Mieterschutz'.

The aim is to hold in-depth discussions with a view to drawing up a set of measures to revive the construction sector and facilitate access to housing, while at the same time addressing the economic and structural problems of housing. A range of short-, medium- and long-term measures have been drawn up over the past three weeks in collaboration with all the partners - public and private. These measures concern private individuals, the construction sector and investors.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the measures have a threefold aim: to strengthen the construction and craft industries, thereby creating jobs; to increase the supply of housing; and to help people to buy or rent a home.

"This first package of measures directly supports households - both tenants and home buyers. At the same time, public investment to increase the stock of affordable public housing in the long term has been substantially increased. Continued discussions with all the parties involved look promising," emphasised Claude Meisch, Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning.

The Minister of Finance, Gilles Roth, expressed his confidence: "It was important for us to act quickly to restore confidence in the construction sector and maintain employment. I am confident that the package of measures will enable current trends to be reversed by the autumn. At the same time, it will provide financial support for individuals looking for a home."

Press release by the Ministry of State, Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning, Ministry of Finance
GREENSBORO  Nearly two years into the $50 million, five-year lease signed by the U.S. government to turn the former American Hebrew Academy into the federal governments largest facility for housing immigrant children, there is still no word on when the campus will begin accepting young people.

A source with knowledge of the situation recently told the News & Record that there is no opening date, although at one time officials with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services anticipated the controversial campus would be occupied during summer 2022.

Thats one year after DHHS  which did not return a request for comment  communicated in private meetings with local officials and residents that the opening date had a possibility of occurring at the start of 2023.

Now into 2024, some are left to wonder when the Greensboro Influx Care Facility will ever be operational.

More than $268 million has been obligated by the federal government with the potential for millions more.

Warnings posted around the campus three gated entrances add to the secrecy surrounding the place. Signs state that off-duty Greensboro police officers monitor the area and trespassers are subject to arrest. Vehicles driving on the grounds are asked to have sanctioned badges ready and cars are subject to search.

When approached by media, security guards offer an email address for inquiries.

City officials have said that charter buses entering the grounds are carrying staff  about 500, according to a source  who park in a separate location. The shuttle buses are intended to decrease traffic on nearby roads generated by the operation.

Residents these days are skeptical. Those who live nearby say they have watched increased activity of late. On the social media app Nextdoor, Greensboro residents posted Tuesday morning tons of cars there and lights on in most of the buildings you can see from the road.

Staff at nearby Temple Emmanuel confirmed they have seen buses heading into the site, but said they still expect to be notified more than two weeks in advance of the facilitys activation. Thats in accordance with a September letter sent to U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning from DHHS Assistant Secretary January Contreras.

A fact sheet from the Office of Refugee Resettlement states that opening the 100-acre campus depends on a variety of factors that include capacity requirements and unaccompanied child referral rates.

In June, CBS News reported that DHHS intended to open in August. This came after reports that DHHS would stop housing unaccompanied migrant minors at a similar facility in Fort Bliss, Texas.

In summer 2021, calls for the Fort Bliss facility to be shut down reached a fever pitch following a number of allegations ranging from sexual abuse to substandard living conditions.

Critics of the Greensboro Influx Facility have referenced these allegations along with another emergency intake site in Albion, Michigan, where the federal government housed migrant children from Afghanistan thats also been embroiled in controversy.

Meanwhile, federal officials have maintained the positive nature of the Greensboro site. A statement from DHHS in 2022 said that while at the facility, children will have onsite access to medical treatment, legal services, education and mental and behavioral health counselors.

The children will be able to connect with family at least twice a week and meet with a case manager at least weekly.

According to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the facility has a capacity of up to 800 beds, making it the federal governments largest active migrant housing shelter.

Children, likely ranging in age from 13 to 17, would stay there while the Office of Refugee Resettlement works to place them with a vetted sponsor, often a family member, while their immigration status is adjudicated.

The average stay in similar facilities is 17 days, according to the September letter sent to Manning.
GREENSBORO  In an online vote Monday, UNCGs Faculty Senate voted to censure the universitys chancellor and provost.

The vote comes at the end of an academic portfolio review process begun in 2022 and just days before university Chancellor Frank Gilliam is expected to announce which programs he will chose for cuts after weighing recommendations from Provost Debbie Storrs.

In a 25-10 vote, the Faculty Senate approved a motion to censure the chancellor and the provost for not initiating consultation with the senate at the start of the (academic portfolio review) process and not providing a clear rationale of the choice of program closures.

There were 39 individuals eligible to vote, according to the university.

UNCG professor and Faculty Senator Hatice Ghulamani said the recommendation for the motion came from professor and Faculty Senator Jeremy Rinker. He has been outspoken in critiquing the academic program review as a leader with the UNCG chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

The News & Record wasnt immediately able to reach Rinker by email late Tuesday, but the American Association of University Professors is supportive of the move to censure Gilliam and Storrs.

The organization said in a social media posts on Tuesday that the Faculty Senate identified multiple occasions where the chancellor and provost breached the UNCG constitution and policies. ... Censure is serious business, and the senate did not propose this resolution lightly.

Gilliam and Storrs released a joint statement through the university late Monday, saying a comprehensive evaluation of the universitys operations was necessary to strengthen UNCG for the next 10 to 20 years.

Were seizing this moment as an opportunity  a chance to sharpen our focus, align resources with our vision and strategic direction, and identify areas for long-term growth and leadership, they said.

Gilliam and Storrs said they worked within their authority to initiate the academic portfolio review and that the process has been collaborative, thorough and transparent.

Further, the deans publicly shared their rationale for their recommendations via meetings and on the Innovation and Reinvention site, they said.

Strengthening the universitys financial and academic footing for the near future can happen only through a comprehensive evaluation of operations, the leaders argued.

As an institution of higher learning, we expect a diversity of thought and constructive critiques are welcomed as there is no perfect process, they said. However, these critiques must be based on facts, not distortions, and not on fear but on collective wisdom. To do otherwise is corrosive to the campus community and creates barriers to the way forward. Although without operational consequence, the vote to censure us  as the chancellor and the provost  by some members of the Faculty Senate (not a vote of the general faculty) extends beyond critique.

Reached Tuesday, Ghulamani said she was one of the 10 votes against censure.

Ghulamani said the administration did consult the Faculty Senate at the start of the review process. However, some of her colleagues in the senate believe university leaders do not have the right to add or subtract academic programs without the approval of the Faculty Senates undergraduate curriculum committee that typically bears the responsibility.

Ghulamani said she felt the vote was sort of late and rushed and she is concerned that the Faculty Senate is pointing fingers at the chancellor and provost without clear enough evidence that they are entirely to blame for problems with the process.

I think theres some blame shifting happening, she said.

Overall, Ghulamani said, she does agree that the universitys leaders could have done more as far as sharing clearer, more detailed rationales for program cut recommendations with faculty.
Where you live, how much money you make, your age, your health, your gender, who you love or the colour of your skin shouldnt dictate whether you have access to cancer care. But the sad reality is, it does Cary Adams

Cristiana Fonseca, Health Education and Capacity Building Head of Department at the Portuguese League Against Cancer - Northern Branch, says about the situation in her country that while there are national screening programmes for various cancers, their implementation and attendance rates vary across regions, and investment in research and treatment has improved cancer prognosis, but disparities persist in resource distribution and management practices in different regions and institutions. Ms Fonseca also highlights inconsistencies in strategies to address environmental and other risk factors for cancer.

As modifiable behavioural factors contribute to over 40% of all cancer deaths,4 UICCs World Cancer Day 2024 Equity Report emphasises overall that implementing cost-efficient and evidence-based prevention measures, such as limiting the marketing, sales and consumption of tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy foods that can lead to overweight and obesity, are crucial to reducing health inequity and the cancer burden.

Cristiana Fonseca further recommends multisectoral policies targeting modifiable determinants of cancer, prioritise equitable access to treatments, and continuously monitor and reduce inequalities, especially for specific groups such as migrants and those not fluent in the countrys official language.

Screening programmes, the early detection of cancer and access to timely treatment and care for people who develop cancer  regardless of their ability to pay  are also vital. The chances of treating cancer successfully are generally higher the earlier it is diagnosed.

Ulrika Kagstrom and Nick Grant offer several recommendations directed at national policymakers, which are applicable in many other countries in Europe:

Improve the collection of consistent data about cancer prevention, cancer patients and those engaging with cancer services.

Establish national measurable goals for how the socioeconomic and geographical differences in cancer care are to be reduced.

Mobilise different government departments beyond health to reduce broader health inequity.

Implement lessons learned and proven methods to improve health in the groups where it is the lowest.

Reduce barriers to accessing early diagnosis and screening programmes, actively encouraging help-seeking and screening participation in unrepresented groups.

Commit to reduce inequities in smoking prevalence, with a target prevalence of 5% across all socioeconomic groups by 2040.

Dr Cary Adams, CEO of UICC, says, Where you live, how much money you make, your age, your health, your gender, who you love or the colour of your skin shouldnt dictate whether you have access to cancer care. But the sad reality is, it does. Thats why UICCs Equity Report is so crucial  it shines a light on the obstacles people face in getting the care they need, and suggests strategies to help overcome them.





References:





Source: Union for International Cancer Control
Members of the Montana Federation of Public Employees, the union representing over 12,500 education professionals, issued a formal complaint to the Office of Public Instruction regarding recent reductions in office space and mandated remote work for most employees.

Sent to OPIs Chief Accountability Officer John McCormick on Jan. 29, the complaint, obtained by Lee Montana Newspapers, alleges employees have been kept in the dark about major changes to workplace policies that, they say, compromise their ability to perform their jobs at a high standard.

Specifically, the letter references decisions by the education agency to consolidate office space on the premise that it cuts costs and enhances flexibility. In the letter sent to OPI, MFPE claims it was not informed of the decision nor was it offered the opportunity to provide feedback.

We can think of no legitimate reason that information should be kept from our employees, it says.

Brian O'Leary, OPI spokesperson, said in an email that communications around the planned move were issued in a weekly digital newsletter and during two regularly scheduled meetings between staff and leadership. He did acknowledge that the normally scheduled Labor Management Relations Committee meeting "failed to meet" in November.

OPI occupied three buildings as of 2016 when Superintendent Elsie Arntzen was elected  one privately leased and two owned by the state. In November 2022, the agency announced a three-year plan to vacate the private lease and reduce its own footprint to two buildings. This resulted in $323,488 in savings, according to OPI.

One year later, in November 2023, Arntzen moved the agency from the two state-owned buildings into one at 1330 11th Avenue in Helena. Doing so saved the agency an additional $259,775, according to a statement issued by OPI.

Vacating the private lease is a responsible use of precious taxpayer dollars that allow more resources to flow to our Montana students and schools, Arntzen said in a statement in 2022. My goal is to create a smaller and smarter government by allowing our employees to live in the communities they serve.

Arntzen has made reducing spending a central point of her administration. Her critics say such measures, many of them dubious, only serve to hurt Montana educators and students.

The Department of Administration confirmed in an email that agencies budgeted to occupy state-owned spaces must pay for that real estate, even if they move out of it, until a new agency occupies the building.

OPI continues to pay the standard DOA monthly maintenance service fee of $15,280 for the now unoccupied building at 1227 11th Avenue, according to a DOA spokesperson. The Legislature sets that fee amount.

Because this property and this lease remain in the state inventory, there is no immediate cost savings to the state by the action being taken by the superintendent, Rep. David Bedey, R-Hamilton.

MFPEs complaint references a mandated agency-wide telework policy that the union says it had little notice of and nearly no opportunity to offer feedback.

Of the 177 OPI employees, nearly 71% participate in some kind of telework, according to the agency. That's up 30% from just a year prior, a jump that employees suggest was not voluntary for many of them.

The remote work policy is currently being updated, O'Leary said, and the draft policy provided to the Missoulian suggests supervisors and the human resources manager are responsible for determining who should telework.

OPI issued a statement Wednesday boasting results of a workplace survey it conducted this fall: 93% of respondents said they could more effectively serve students and schools with a flexible work location; 92% said they felt informed and engaged even with remote work; 80% said stress levels had decreased as a result of teleworking; and 47% said they choose to work for better balance.

MFPEs letter paints a different picture.

Employees were made aware of the forthcoming consolidation with little time to get things in order. Some were on family leave, and they were forced to return to complete the task in time for the tight deadline, the letter states. The complaint also alleges that the chaos of the transition created a situation where student and family privacy rights were put at risk.

Those who continue to wish to show up for work in person are subject to tight quarters, are placed in hallways to work and encounter inadequate parking for employees and insufficient handicapped parking spaces, according to the complaint.

Of the 52 on-site employees reported by OPI, nine work in a cubicle while the rest work in an office, according to O'Leary. They can access 48 parking spots plus four reserved handicap spaces with overflow options nearby.

Bedey, who chairs the Interim Budget Section E Committee, has not seen for himself the formal complaint penned by MFPE.

Its been reported to me that a complaint is being lodged by employees at OPI who are dissatisfied with their working conditions, he said. The resolution of this issue may bear upon whether OPIs reduction in office space proves to be prudent. The appropriate legislative interim committees will certainly be monitoring the issue closely.
A top Montana Democrat sent a formal records request and a forceful letter to the state health department Director Charlie Brereton on Wednesday, criticizing his handling of the process of re-evaluating the qualifications of people covered on Medicaid and calling his lack of accommodating past queries for information "unacceptable."

"You refused to undertake this redetermination process in a responsible way that would minimize coverage losses," House Minority Leader Kim Abbott wrote in her letter. "Now you refuse to be held accountable for the damage your department has done. Your attempt to excuse this behavior is unacceptable. If any private business ran this way they would certainly be looking for a new CEO."

The documents, sent by Abbott, D-Helena, demand droves of information on how many people had their Medicaid coverage renewed or terminated, as well as pending eligibility and the age, race, gender and location of these people.

Medicaid "redetermination" refers to a process happening across the country. During the federal public health emergency tied to COVID-19, those who were no longer eligible for Medicaid under certain metrics were not removed from the insurance program. Last spring, the federal government ordered states to go back through their Medicaid rolls and reassess enrollees' eligibility. The majority of those kicked off in Montana lost coverage because they did not respond to paperwork mailed from the department.

"What scant data your department has released to date shows that over 120,000 Montanans have lost their health care coverage, but we know little beyond that one number," Abbott wrote.

But this is not the first time the Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has seen this records request come across its desk.

The materials sent by Abbott are a re-upping of an initial records request made by the Legislature's Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee (CFHHS) in November. The deadline for that request was Jan. 8  10 days before the committee's most recent meeting.

The information never came through, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pressed Brereton on the status of the request.

That was a very large request and at this point in time our (Office of Public Assistance) staff, Brereton said during the meeting. Our Human and Community Services Division teams do not have the time to conduct those data pulls and so I am open to working with the committee to narrow down the request. I simply do not have the (resources) to assign to these data requests at this point in time.

Rep. SJ Howell, D-Missoula, who was chairing the meeting that day, held firm.

I do want to balance that very real capacity issue with our constitutional right-to-know and ensuring that the committee gets access to the information that we need, Howell said.

The exchange ended when Brereton offered a private meeting with committee members about how to narrow the request. Howell said they "welcome" that meeting, but the parties do not appear to have confirmed a date.

DPHHS did not immediately respond to request for comment for this story.

It remains unclear what proportion of those who were disenrolled were still eligible for the health care program, as Jon Ebelt, director of communications for DPHHS, said this information is "not yet available."

Abbott invoked the constitutional "right-to-know" and a state law that outlines the timelines public entities are obligated to follow when fulfilling records requests.

"Montanans have a constitutional right to know the information I am requesting concerning Medicaid redeterminations" Abbott wrote. "Any continued refusal to supply this information violates that fundamental right. I appreciate your attention to this important matter."

As all 50 states struggle through the redetermination process, Montana in particular has been cited by the federal government for lengthy call center wait times and the large number of kids who have been kicked off Medicaid for what the feds called "potential non-compliance with federal requirements."

The 10-month redetermination process officially ends Wednesday, meaning that no new people should be removed from Medicaid. That said, scores of people are still trying to get reenrolled.

This story may be updated with the Department's response.
In October in Livingston County, Judge Jennifer Bauknecht issued a lengthy decision following a detention hearing just weeks after cash bail was abolished across the state.

All right. Since its founding, this country has used monetary bonds in conjunction with pretrial conditions as an effective tool for ensuring that a defendant is not a risk of harm to others in the community, does not commit any criminal offenses while out on bond, and that he appears as directed at all future court dates, Bauknecht began.

She told the defendant, charged with soliciting a child, that prior to the Pretrial Fairness Act, the landmark legislation that took effect in September, she would have given the defendant a reasonable monetary bond, according to an appeals court decision. But without that discretion, she said, she ordered him detained.

An Illinois appeals court vacated her decision, finding that the court improperly focused on its disdain for the recent statutory changes.

The pretrial appeal of Bauknechts decision is among hundreds filed since the legislation took effect. The opinions offer glimpses at how the new legislation is playing out across the state and clarify untested portions of the statute, but the appeals have come in such a volume that the states highest court has convened a task force to examine what it called a dramatic increase in the number of cases sent to appellate courts.

From Sept. 18, when the law took effect, through the end of the year, more than 1,300 pretrial appeals of detention decisions were filed in the states five appellate districts, an increase that comes on top of the normal caseload.

In all of 2022, there were 1,981 criminal appeals filed across all five districts, according to data from the court.

Stakeholders point out that appellate review is a critical part of the laws implementation and that a jump in appeals was expected. In preparation, the state allocated funds to the offices of the state appellate prosecutor and state appellate public defender, which are handling the bulk of most of the appeals outside Cook County, though local lawyers submit the initial paperwork.

Still, the Illinois Supreme Courts task force will review the impact on caseloads and issue a report.

Its not insurmountable, but its a challenge, said William Bertram, a special public defender in Livingston County who handles the paperwork to jump-start appeals for his clients.

The Pretrial Fairness Act, part of a broad array of criminal justice reforms passed as part of the SAFE-T Act, abolished cash bail as a potential condition for release and changed the way pretrial hearings are conducted.

Proponents of the law have long argued that cash bail deepened disparities in the system by disproportionately jailing people too poor to make bail. In addition to the bail measure, the law also seeks to even the playing field for defendants up for their first court appearance, with more robust hearings and opportunities to evaluate the evidence more closely.

The cash-bail measure has been controversial for those concerned about the public safety impact of the provisions  particularly Republicans. Opponents of Gov. J.B. Pritzker have sought to paint him and his Democratic allies as weak on crime  though studies of bail-reform measures in other jurisdictions have not shown a significant effect on recidivism or failure by defendants to appear in court.

Lawmakers delayed implementation for two years so jurisdictions could prepare for the changes, and it was further stalled by a lawsuit from prosecutors across Illinois who challenged the laws constitutionality.

The law allows defendants up to 14 days to appeal a judges decision on detention or other pretrial restrictions.

Sharlyn Grace, a senior policy adviser for the Cook County public defenders office, said the office has a designated group of assistant public defenders to work on the nonprivate appeals coming out of Cook County.

Grace said she doesnt believe the appeals will continue at the same volume given that facets of the law will get clarified through this first swarm.

As we get more decisions and as trial courts and attorneys have more direction from appellate courts, I think the number of appeals is going to decrease, she said.

The states appellate system is broken into five districts, with Cook County encompassing one district on its own. Since bail reform was implemented, Cook Countys appellate district notched the lowest number of pretrial appeals  161.

The second district, which encompasses Lake, Kendall, Kane, McHenry and Dekalb counties, saw 190 appeals. In the third district, which includes DuPage and Will counties, there were 193.

More than half of the appeals came from the rest of the state, with 438 appeals from the fourth district, which encompasses the Bloomington-Normal, Peoria and Rockford areas and much of the western part of the state, and 394 from the fifth district, which includes Decatur, Mattoon, Champaign-Urbana and southern Illinois.

In the fifth district, more pretrial appeals were filed in the three-month period post bail reform than criminal appeals in that district during all of 2022, according to court data.

Cook County had the fewest pretrial appeals, despite having more overall criminal appeals than the other districts in 2022.

Grace noted that unlike most of the rest of the state, the county had been working under a similar framework for reviewing pretrial risk prior to the change. She also said some prosecutors in other parts of the state are seeking detention on every eligible offense.

Bertram said he files about five notices for appeals a week, which are then sent to the State Appellate Defender, which handles the briefs and arguments. With nothing to lose, generally clients opt to appeal a detention order, he said, and defendants can file multiple appeals throughout the span of a case as the decision to detain is re-reviewed.

Some of this may be just: Its new and we need to get used to it and adjust, he said, though he added, I think theres some fine-tuning the Pretrial Fairness Act could use to make it run a little smoother.

Appellate court decisions have mostly affirmed the trial courts original decisions regarding pretrial detention or requirements, but justices have reversed decisions for a number of reasons, in some cases finding that prosecutors failed to show that a less restrictive condition could keep the public safe.

In other cases, justices reversed decisions because prosecutors sought detention even though a monetary bail was already issued before the law took effect, a circumstance that will become less frequent as more time passes.

Appeals are good. They help us clarify what the law says in places where it might be ambiguous, Grace said. Appeals are how we learn how the law applies to real people and real fact patterns.
The Cumberland Plateau Health District has been recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials for its ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies.

The district demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready, a partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a written statement.

Cumberland Plateau joins a group of more than 550 local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in preparedness through PPHR, either individually or as part of a region.

This honor is exceedingly well-deserved because it reflects tremendous effort, dedication and cooperation on the part of our team, especially Delilah McFadden, our District Emergency Coordinator, said Reisa Sloce, CPHD District Director. Whether we are facing severe weather, a pandemic, or other emergency situations, we recognize the importance of being ready to respond and protect the health of our community.

PPHR recognition confirms that CPHD has a thorough and coordinated emergency response plan in place and that staff have the training to protect the health of the community during an emergency.

Local health departments recognized by PPHR undergo a rigorous evaluation by peer review to assess their ability to meet a set of national standards for public health preparedness. These standards align with federal government requirements and other national best practices.

PPHR recognition also requires health departments to collaborate with their state, local, and community partners to develop plans that account for all the constituents in their jurisdictions. CPHD regularly partners with emergency managers, schools, Department of Social Services, Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens, Appalachian College of Pharmacy, Faith-based organizations, hospitals, and other agencies in the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell to meet this requirement.

CPHDs capacity to carry out these activities is augmented through the support of the Medical Reserve Corps volunteer force. The health district currently has 103 registered volunteers.

Public health preparedness planning, response, and recovery begins at the local level. Local health departments play an essential role in creating healthy, resilient communities that can respond to and recover from disasters. said Lori T. Freeman, NACCHO Chief Executive Officer. NACCHO commends Cumberland Plateau Health District for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and Snap-on officials announced Tuesday the company will invest $44 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Elizabethton.

Snap-ons planned expansion of the Elizabethton facility will create 50 new jobs through the project, adding nearly 49,000 square feet of manufacturing space and new equipment to support additional capacity for forging, machining, heat treating, chrome plating and assembly at its State Line Road location.

Well-known brands like Snap-on continue to choose to do business in the Volunteer State and I am grateful to this company for their commitment to expand and create additional job opportunities for Tennesseans across Carter County, Lee said in announcing the expansion.

Snap-on is the third largest employer in Carter County, specializing in manufacturing hand tools including ratchets, wrenches, pry bars and pullers.

Once fully operational, the expansion allows the Snap-on Elizabethton plant to employ nearly 500 people in Northeast Tennessee.

For nearly half a century, Snap-on has provided high quality jobs right here in Elizabethton, Elizabethton Mayor Curt Alexander said. As Snap-on has grown, their commitment to our community and its workforce has only deepened. We are grateful for Snap-ons latest expansion project, which indicates their confidence in Elizabethton as an ideal place to do business.
SOPHIA, W.Va.  United Coal Company recently donated Biomarine Mine Rescue Equipment to the Virginia Tech Mine Engineering Department.

This equipment is intended to bolster mine rescue training opportunities for both students and professionals, according to a written statement.

The company said the decision to donate the mine rescue equipment was prompted by UCCs equipment upgrade.

In the media release, the company says equipment addition not only allows more students to participate but also ensures that graduates possess valuable real-life experience, showcasing their safety and rescue proficiency gained at Virginia Tech.

Renowned in the mining industry for its reliability and effectiveness, Biomarine Rescue Equipment meets and exceeds mine rescue requirements. These apparatuses are Mine Safety and Health Administration approved, guaranteeing adherence to safety standards and are designed for use in mine emergency environments.

The donation on the Virginia Tech Mine Engineering Department is expected to enhance its ability to train and prepare for mine rescue operations. The equipment enables more students to engage in simulated mine rescue activities, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of emergency situations before entering the workforce.
BRISTOL, Va.  State Street Brewing this week became the third prominent downtown business to close its doors since November.

State Street Brewing, which opened back in March of 2019, thanked its patrons and announced via social media that it was closing on Feb. 1.

With mixed emotions, we announce the closing of State Street Brewing effective February 1. We would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who has supported us over the past five years, the post said. Our community, customers and employees made SSBC a special place, and we will cherish the memories and friendships we made. Thank you for being part of our journey.

On Tuesday the Bristol Herald Courier approached Ken and Kody Pierson, the owners of State Street Brewing, who declined to comment on the decision.

In the past couple of months eateries Quaker Steak and Lube and the Angry Italian each closed.

It was just after Christmas that the Angry Italian announced its plans.

It is with a mixed emotions that we announce the closing of The Angry Italian restaurant on Saturday, December 30. This decision has not been an easy one for us, but it is necessary for the future of our business, the restaurants owners said in the social media post.

As our lease comes to an end, this may be the end of one chapter, but it is also the beginning of an exciting new one. We are taking this opportunity to rethink our business model and explore innovative ways to better serve you in the future. We are committed to reopening with a fresh concept that will exceed your expectations and provide an even more exceptional dining experience.

We want to express our deepest gratitude to the community for your unwavering support and patronage since we opened our doors in 2017. Your loyalty has meant the world to us, and we are truly grateful for every moment shared with you, the post concluded.

Quaker Steak and Lube also used social media to announce its plans to close effective Nov. 26. It operated at the corner of State and Piedmont since 2014.

Maggie Elliot, the executive director of Believe in Bristol, explained that these cold winter months are always difficult for businesses and emphasized that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants, in particular, have struggled.

Staffing has been a struggle. I mean, really, even before COVID, It was hard, and coming out of the pandemic has continued to be a struggle, Elliot said.

Elliot highlighted that it is sad to see big-name businesses on State Street close.

Obviously, we hate to see any of our businesses close, Elliot said. I think their quality, you know, withstood even through the struggles and having to make that hard decision.

Elliot pointed out that there is a strong entrepreneurial spirit in Bristol and that Believe in Bristol is always looking to encourage new businesses.

Quaker, theres already a plan for a new business there, so I think turnover is going to be quick, Elliot said. As far as timing goes for Believe in Bristol, we do have our entrepreneur grant competition open right now.
A man with multiple charges under his belt over the last year has been charged again with possession of methamphetamine.

Jon Bradley Williams, 49, of 7141 Knobs Landing, Connelly Springs, was charged with felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance on Friday, according to a press release from the Burke County Sheriffs Office.

The charges came as Burke narcotics investigators and North Carolina Department of Adult Correction probation and parole officers conducted a joint operation in the Hildebran and Icard communities after numerous resident complaints of illegal activities in the area, the release said.

Williams, who is on probation for misdemeanor larceny, has previous convictions of felony larceny, driving while license revoked and driving while impaired, according to NCDAC records.

In the last year, Williams has received the following charges, according to the release:

Jan. 28, 2023: Two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, $10,000 secured bond

Feb. 21: Possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a schedule II controlled substance and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, $30,000 secured bond

March 16: Possession of stolen goods, $10,000 secured bond

Sept. 15: Possession of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine) and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, $150,000 secured bond

Sept. 15: Probation violation, $50,000 secured bond

Nov. 2: Possession of a schedule II controlled substance, $20,000 secured bond

Jan. 5: Possession of a schedule II controlled substance, $100,000 secured bond

Williams bond for the Friday charge was set at $50,000 secured. He now is currently under $450,000 total in bonds from all of the charges, and is no longer in custody, according to the release.
Research commissioned by Cohesity, a leader in AI-powered data security and management, reveals todays pervasive cyberattacks are forcing the majority of companies to pay ransoms and break their do not pay policies, with data recovery deficiencies compounding the problem. The research polled from over 300 Australian IT and Security decision-makers shows that companies firmly operate in a when, not if, the reality of cyberattacks. In fact, most companies have paid a ransom in the last two years, and the vast majority expect the threat of cyberattacks to increase significantly in 2024 compared to 2023.

Alarmingly, almost 3 in 4 (72%) respondents said their company had been the victim of a ransomware attack between June and December. The cyber threat landscape is expected to get even worse in 2024, with over 99% of respondents saying the threat of cyberattacks to their industry will increase this year and 7 in 10 (70%) predicting it will increase by more than 50%.

Organisations attack surfaces are defined by the size and scope of their data environments. However, 88% of respondents said their data security risk has now increased faster than the growth in the data they manage. Respondents also believe organisations cyber resilience and data security strategies are not keeping up with the current threat landscape, with less than 1 in 4 (24%) having full confidence in their companys cyber resilience strategy and its ability to address todays escalating cyber challenges and threats.

Slow Data Recovery & Lack of Cyber Resilience Results Ransom Payments

Cyber resilience is a technology backbone for business continuity. It defines companies ability to recover their data and restore business processes when they suffer a cyberattack or adverse IT event. However, according to respondents, every company has cyber resilience and business continuity challenges:

No respondent said they could recover data and restore business processes within 24 hours Just 4% said their company could recover data and restore business processes within 1-3 days 26% said they could recover in 4 to 6 days, and 42% needed 1-2 weeks to recover Alarmingly, 28% need over 3 weeks to recover data and restore business processes

Further demonstrating cyber resilience gaps, just 14% said their company had stress-tested their data security, data management, and data recovery processes or solutions in the six months prior to being surveyed, and 50% had not tested their processes or solutions in over 12 months or at all.

Unsurprisingly, 92% of respondents said their company would pay a ransom to recover data and restore business processes, while 6% said maybe, depending on the ransom amount. Almost 2 in 3 (64%) said their company would be willing to pay over US$3 million to recover data and restore business processes, with 27% of respondents saying their company would be willing to pay over US$5 million.

The research also showed the importance of being able to respond and recover, as 81% said their organisation had paid a ransom in the prior two years, despite 73% saying their company had a do not pay policy.

Organisations cant control the fact they face an increasing volume, frequency, and sophistication of cyberattacks like ransomware. What they can control is their cyber resilience, which is the ability to rapidly respond and recover from cyberattacks or IT failures, by adopting modern data security capabilities, said Michael Alp, Managing Director, Cohesity Australia & New Zealand. Its probably no surprise that the majority of Australian respondents said their company has been hit by cyberattacks in the past six months. However, what is alarming is that over 8 in 10 have paid a ransom, breaking their do not pay policies, and most are willing to pay over US$3 million in ransoms - often because they cant recover their data and restore business processes or do so fast enough.

Executive Management Should Be Accountable & Aligned

Respondents identified executive awareness and responsibility for data security as two areas for companies to improve, with just 36% saying their senior and executive management fully understands the serious risks and daily challenges of protecting, securing, managing, backing up, and recovering data. Three in four said executive management (C-Level) and boards should share the responsibility for their companys data security strategy, while 68% said their companys CIO and CISO, in particular, could be better aligned.

Prioritising their biggest concerns about a successful data breach or cyberattack, respondents selected a drop in share price / investment / profitability (36%), brand and reputational damage (34%), a loss of stakeholder trust (31%), and a direct hit to revenue (30%). When asked who is most impacted by a data breach or cyberattack, respondents said existing customers (30%), the IT team (29%), third-party partners (28%), and employees (27%). Interestingly, only 25% of Australian respondents said the Security team compared to respondents globally who had the Security team ranked first alongside customers at 29%.

Cyber resilience and data security should be a holistic organisational priority because the use of data and technology occurs in every function by every employee. The severe impact of a successful cyberattack or data breach on business continuity, revenue, brand reputation, and trust is enough to keep any business, IT, and Security leader awake at night, said Alp. To rapidly respond to and recover from cyberattacks, organisations need modern AI-powered data security and management solutions that protect their data, detect when it is under attack, and recover it as fast as possible to restore their business processes.

Regulation Isnt Driving Companies Cyber Resilience & Data Security Best Practices

Despite governments and public institutions going to great lengths to encourage stronger cybersecurity and data management, just under half (49%) of respondents said government initiatives, legislation, and regulations are actually driving their companies data security, data management, or data recovery initiatives. Of the respondents that said specific government initiatives, legislation, and regulations are driving their data security, management, and recovery approaches, close to 1 in 4 (23%) named these specifically as the most influential:

Australia:

Privacy Act 1988 Digital Transformation Agency Guidelines Office of the Australian Information Commissioners Notifiable Data Breach (NDB) Scheme

It may seem surprising that more than 1 in 2 respondents said government efforts and policies arent driving their companies data security, management, and recovery initiatives. However, organisations should not be basing their entire data security, risk, management, or recovery strategy around a set standard or compliance framework, said Alp. While organisations should certainly adhere to legislation, regulation, and standards, these should be seen as a starting point or baseline. The security risks to a companys data and operational continuity should be what drives their data management, security, and recovery practices.

About the survey:

The findings are based on a survey of 902 IT and Security decision-makers (split as close to 50:50 as possible) commissioned by Cohesity and conducted by Censuswide. Survey respondents were polled from businesses in Australia (301), the United Kingdom (300), and the United States (301). The top five industries selected by Australian respondents as best representing the industry their company operates in were: Finance, IT & Telecommunications, Education, Manufacturing & Utilities.

Additional Resources

About Cohesity

Cohesity is a leader in AI-powered data security and management. Aided by an extensive ecosystem of partners, Cohesity makes it easier to secure, protect, manage, and get value from data  across the data center, edge, and cloud. Cohesity helps organizations defend against cybersecurity threats with comprehensive data security and management capabilities, including immutable backup snapshots, AI-based threat detection, monitoring for malicious behavior, and rapid recovery at scale. Cohesity solutions can be delivered as a service, self-managed, or provided by a Cohesity-powered partner. Cohesity is headquartered in San Jose, CA, and is trusted by the worlds largest enterprises, including six of the Fortune 10 and 42 of the Fortune 100.
GUEST RESEARCH: The retail industry is facing a critical juncture where consumers are experiencing a disconnect between their shopping expectations and the in-store reality. As global retail markets continue to evolve, the industry grapples with the challenges of rolling out in-store technology and integrating advanced AI technology while optimising the supply chain and addressing growing security concerns.

According to SOTIs new global retail report, Techspectations: Consumer Demand for Digital Transformation in Retail, retailers are grappling with the heightened expectations of consumers anticipating seamless in-store interactions, personalised recommendations and instant access to inventory online and in-store to ensure their continued loyalty.

Emerging technologies and the consumer experience

While consumers crave technology to improve their in-store shopping experience, those offered by retailers do not always meet expectations. The study found that while 93% of Australian consumers have used an in-store device, many believe these devices make the shopping experience worse. Consumers cite challenges in-store such as a lack of staff to assist with issues relating to self-serve machines (35% of users) and as many as 38% of users complain about poor Wi-Fi connectivity when using an in-store device.

The report suggests that consumer expectations have risen, largely due to the sophisticated personalisation and seamless processes available online, which in-store technologies currently fail to match. To address this, retailers must invest in AI-driven solutions and device management to provide consistent, personalised and convenient shopping experiences in both physical stores and online.

Retail supply chains must meet real-time demands

Supply chain optimisation in the retail industry is critical, as consumers now demand real-time information, efficient product availability and rapid delivery in-store and online. The report reveals that 57% of consumers expect to be able to pick up an item ordered online from a physical store on the same day. Further, 77% of consumers expect to always know the status of their orders, highlighting the need for efficient supply chain visibility.

Acknowledging the pivotal role of AI in unlocking advanced capabilities in devices is essential. Using AI for predictive diagnostics and proactive support enables retailers to address potential problems before they affect customer interactions, explained SOTI vice president for sales APAC Michael Dyson. AI's ability to combine data such as location, signal quality and speed with vital business metrics, including stock levels and shipment updates, ensures that the convenience and tailored experience offered by online shopping can be mirrored in physical stores."

Consumer trust and data vulnerability

Security is a significant concern in the retail industry. More than three-quarters (80%) of consumers express concerns about entering personal details online or through in-store devices, indicating a pervasive lack of trust in the data collection and payment technologies used in retail. Security concerns extend to fraud, with 42% of Australian consumers worrying about becoming a victim of financial fraud and another 39% expressing concerns about identity fraud.

Additionally, the report emphasises the importance of in-store device security, as 42% of consumers have concerns that the retailer will not keep their details securely, including the potential exposure of personal details (31%) and the risk of the next user seeing personal information (30%). Despite this, 34% of consumers view in-store devices as tools to enhance shopping convenience and speed, highlighting the need for retailers to balance convenience and security while building trust among those making purchases in the retail space.

"In the next few years, our priorities should be establishing trust, ensuring data protection and crafting integrated experiences that seamlessly connect digital and physical retail spaces," said Dyson. "Progress towards digital sophistication in the retail industry has been gradual. Advanced operational intelligence tools like SOTI XSight Live View are pivotal in offering real-time visualisation of retail operations and supply chain. Live View offers immediate detection and reaction to operational challenges by integrating device data and operational data. Retailers need to be aware of how devices are being used and be proactive in resolving any issues. The future of retail is not about rapid adoption of technology; it is equally about strategic planning and enhancing scalability through thoughtful implementation."

SOTIs latest report, Techspectations: Consumer Demand for Digital Transformation in Retail, can be downloaded here.

About SOTI

SOTI is a proven innovator and industry leader for simplifying business mobility solutions by making them smarter, faster and more reliable. With SOTIs innovative portfolio of solutions, organisations can trust SOTI to elevate and streamline their mobile operations, maximise ROI and reduce device downtime. Globally, with over 17,000 customers, SOTI has proven itself to be the go-to mobile platform provider to manage, secure and support business-critical devices. With SOTIs world-class support, enterprises can take mobility to endless possibilities. For more information, visit soti.net.
A fourth, Michigan, requires it but people can still vote if they sign affidavits saying that they dont have photo IDs with them but that they are eligible voters. Only Wisconsin and Georgia have strict voter photo ID requirements that cant be gamed.

In Pennsylvania, where no voter photo ID is required, Democratic governor Josh Shapiro has initiated automatic voter registration for those who get drivers licenses. But anyone can vote without a photo ID.

The Michigan photo ID requirement that allows voters to submit affidavits saying, in effect, Oops, I left my photo ID at home is simply an invitation to fraud. Blank affidavits will be stacked up in front of Democratic poll watchers to allow hundreds of thousands to vote without showing photo IDs.

The problem of election cheating is all the more serious in light of our open southern border, through which millions have passed in the last year. While they are not yet eligible to register to vote, they will be trying to vote, en masse, without showing photo IDs in swing states.

As President Trump piles up primary victories and expands his lead over Biden in swing states, the chances for mass Democratic cheating loom larger.

Patriots in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Nevada need to get busy contacting their state legislators to demand foolproof voter photo IDs in order to cast ballots.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Dick Morris, who served as adviser to former Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and former President Clinton, is the author of 16 books, including his latest, Screwed and Here Come the Black Helicopters.


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After a fast start, the Republican presidential race will be in South Carolina for the next 26 days. Former President Donald Trump, having won Iowa and New Hampshire, appears to have a commanding lead over South Carolinas own Nikki Haley, although its important to note we dont have any recent polls. Even the most generous conventional wisdom sees Haley leaving the race if, after having lost the first two contests, she cant win her own state.

But theres another race going on at the same time as the conventional campaign, one that Haley will still be part of no matter what happens in South Carolina. And that is the race to be the Republican backup candidate should Trump implode.

Yes, Trump has been absolutely dominant in the campaign so far. But his legal troubles, including 91 felony counts, are never far away. Just check out at his recent schedule of campaigning and attending trials. That will continue, and possibly accelerate, in the months to come.

Look at it this way: There are 91 cruise missiles, launched, in the air, and targeted at Trump right now. Some are wildly off-course, some are duds, and against all of them, Trump has significant defenses. But still  91 cruise missiles. Does anyone think not a single one will hit the target? Trumps adversaries, in the Biden Justice Department and elected Democratic prosecutors offices in New York and Georgia, are conducting a multiple-redundant lawfare offensive against him. They dont have to depend on any single case. They can fail most of the time and still win once.

This is nothing new. Todays situation is not all that different from the one described almost seven months ago, in a July 5, 2023, newsletter. At that time, Trump had already been in the lead for a long time. Trump has a lead over the Republican field that is somewhere between that of a dominant candidate and an incumbent president, I wrote. His challengers are learning there is little they can do to change that. Theyre just hoping that some external force, some deus ex machina, intervenes to shake up the race.

Thats pretty much the case today, except that Trump has won the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Now, some observers wonder why Haley is staying in the race. One answer is the same as months ago: because things might change.

This kind of talk grates on Trump supporters. They believe, correctly, that Trump has been unfairly targeted a number of times since he entered presidential politics, beginning with the long Russia inquiry  a collusion investigation that couldnt find collusion but was the basis for years of slander against Trump. Now, even the more moderate among them look at the New York indictment of Trump, launched by the elected Democratic district attorney of Manhattan, and see it as total BS. They think the same of the lawsuit in which the elected Democratic attorney general of New York, who ran for office vowing to bring down Trump, is trying to destroy his business empire. The racketeering indictment brought by the elected Democratic district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia? Its a mess at the moment, mired in credible allegations of corruption against the district attorney and her top prosecutor.

The two federal cases against Trump, brought by the Biden administrations chosen prosecutor, Jack Smith, are heftier. But the classified documents case is sprawling, complex, and slow. It seems unlikely to change the course of this election year. That leaves one more: In the end, the alliance of Democrats, lefty activists, Never Trumpers, media types, and others who want to knock Trump out of the race are putting most of their hopes on Smiths case dealing with the 2020 election and Jan. 6. Thats the one  with just four out of the 91 felony counts against Trump  they hope can bring Trump down. But that case is troubled, too, facing likely Supreme Court review of Trumps immunity claim, which Trump is likely to lose, plus Supreme Court review of what critics say is the improper use of the statute that forms the basis of one of the counts against him.

After talking with Trump supporters in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, its clear that most of them dont make a lot of distinctions among these cases. They dont follow the details. They just think theyre all unfair and part of a corrupt campaign to destroy a candidate that Democrats cant defeat at the ballot box in 2024.

Here is the danger for Trumps GOP rivals: If any Republican candidate even hints that the prosecutions are legitimate or that Trump deserves them  in other words, agrees with Democrats and Never Trumpers and all the others who are pursuing the former president  that candidate would have big, big problems with the GOP base. The Never Trumpers have negative clout with the grassroots, noted Dave Carney, the veteran GOP strategist based in New Hampshire. [The Never Trumpers] selection is doomed.

But there is one more complication. If legal troubles did somehow knock Trump out of the race, some Republican would have to be the partys candidate. And whoever that is, he or she might have a good chance against the too-old and too-weak President Joe Biden. There is a big prize awaiting the candidate who can walk a fine line between opposing the Trump prosecutions and becoming the GOP standard-bearer if the prosecutions work.

Throughout the campaign, Haley has tried to walk that fine line. She has said she hasnt followed the prosecutions closely and is not familiar with the details. She has changed the subject. And she has lumped all the cases together in the chaos she says would ensue if Trump were to win. The truth is, rightly or wrongly, chaos follows him, she tells audiences. You know Im right. Chaos follows him.

That appeals to Democrats, some independents, and Republicans who are ready to move on from Trump  a coalition that wasnt big enough for Haley to win in Iowa or New Hampshire. And what about those Republicans who believe Trump has been wrongly targeted? They instinctively rebel against the underlying assumption in Haleys formulation  that the Democrats, Never Trumpers, et al., who are trying to knock Trump out of the race get to control who becomes the Republican nominee. They rebel against the idea that if anti-Trumpers just make enough noise about Trump, Republicans will say, OK, I guess we should choose another candidate.

An illustration of this conflict came recently when the National Review published an article on the $83.3 million award against Trump in the E. Jean Carroll lawsuit. (Thats another case that many Trump supporters see as unfairly brought against the former president.) As much as you may believe Trump has been wronged here  and I think the damage award of over $83 million is ridiculously inflated  this is what it is going to be like for the next nine months, every day, if Republicans nominate Trump, National Reviews Andrew McCarthy wrote.

To which Sean Davis, co-founder of the Federalist, responded on X: The National Review argument is Republicans should only vote for candidates that Democrats promise not to lie about. Imagine living through the Kavanaugh rape hoax and thinking the psychopaths behind it deserve a say in who Republicans nominate for anything.

Haley faced this issue Sunday in an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press. Pressed to comment on the Carroll lawsuit and a previous Carroll suit in which a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse, Haley said, I absolutely trust the jury. And I think that they made their decision based on the evidence. Nevertheless, Haley said, I just dont think that should take [Trump] off the ballot. I think the American people will take him off the ballot.

NBCs Kristen Welker then asked Haley: Are you staying in this race in case Donald Trump is convicted of a crime? Haley said absolutely not. Ive never stayed in this race because of court cases, she said. You know, really, I dont know what all the court cases are.

Take Haley at her word that Trumps legal situation will not be a factor in her decision to stay in or leave the race if she continues to lose primaries. (If she starts winning, then of course she stays in the race.) Haley has nevertheless become the hope of all the anti-Trump voters and activists in and around the Republican Party. They will want her to keep on in the hope that somehow Trump can be booted from the race.

Its all a very complicated, difficult situation. Recently, I asked Curt Anderson, a longtime Republican strategist who is not involved in the presidential contest, for his thoughts on this dilemma. His answer was worth including at length:

I should state upfront that I think Trump is already the nominee, I dont think the courts will stop him, and he has a better-than-even shot of winning the presidency. I believe people need to prepare for a Trump presidency.

But as for these scenarios, here are a few thoughts:

Ted Cruz did hang around quite a while in 2016, perhaps hoping against hope that Trump would stumble. His people were talking about various convention strategies. I would argue that was all to his detriment.

The Haley thing is interesting in several regards. As for the Stay in the race as long as you can because Trump could be sentenced to isolation on an island in French Guiana at any moment strategy 

1) Staying in a two-candidate race makes her the object of Trumps continual wrath and therefore makes her less likely to be the choice of voters/convention goers if Trump were to be eliminated.

2) Its not just that Republican voters like Trump. They also agree with him.

3) Haley did not necessarily choose to be embraced by all the Never Trumpers. But it has happened, and that will not benefit her. She is playing with fire in that regard.

Anderson continued:

It all depends on what she sees as her end game. If I were her friend, I would argue that she should lay down the sword and endorse Trump prior to getting clobbered in her home state and thus preserve the ability to serve in the Cabinet or to be chosen if something happens to Trump or maybe even to run again.

There are certainly a sizable number of Republicans who like her. But I think by staying in the race, she is currently in the process of shrinking that number. Another month of battling with Trump will ensure that she would not be selected as his replacement should something happen to him. It may be too late anyway  certainly the most ardent Trump supporters would say that.

At the end of all that, its time again to remind that this situation is entirely unprecedented. Nothing like this has happened before in American politics. Haley and Trump, too, are having to deal with the situation in real time. It will be unprecedented if Trump stays in the race, and it will be unprecedented if he leaves the race. No one knows exactly how either situation would work. The Republican Party and the nation are headed for unknown territory.

(COMMENT, BELOW)




Pinnacle Financial Partners said Tuesday it has signed an agreement to have the naming rights  The Pinnacle  to the Nashville Yards' 4,500-seat capacity music venue.

Pinnacle, based in Nashville, has 19 branches in the Triad, including 13 in the Greensboro/High Point metro area and six in the Winston-Salem area.

The agreement is with Southwest Value Partners and AEG, joint-venture partners and co-developers of the Nashville Yards mixed-use district.

The district is scheduled to open in early 2025. It is Pinnacle's first naming rights partnership.

Pinnacle plans to move its corporate headquarters with a full-service branch in Nashville Yards first multi-tenant office building, known as the Pinnacle Tower.

Key signage elements include prominent fixed interior and exterior logo placements, as well as year-round digital signage on all screens within the Nashville Yards LED network. Pinnacle will receive additional branding and exposure via the music venues digital and social channels.
KERNERSVILLE  In the course of a year, Union Cross Traditional Academy has gone from low-performing to nationally distinguished.

An elementary school of 534 students, of whom a large percentage are from low-income families, Union Cross is one of 65 schools in the country that will be honored next week by the National Association of Elementary and Secondary Education Act State Program Administrators, formerly known as the National Title I Association.

Principal Javita Noel-Stockton announced the school had received the honor over the intercom shortly after getting the news last week. By the time she walked out of her office, she was in tears, and so was most of her staff.

Our motto has been just believe, that things can happen in your favor and to keep that in your heart, said Noel-Stockton, who was tapped to lead the school in 2021, her first job as a principal.

Schools with a high percentage of low-income students are designated as Title 1 schools and are eligible for federal funds. Each year, the National ESEA honors Title 1 schools that have made significant improvements, labeling them Nationally Distinguished Schools.

Union Cross is being recognized for closing the achievement gap between white and Black students, said Noel-Stockton, who will travel to Portland, Ore., with two staff members to collect the award.

The school is the first in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools district in recent memory to receive the national distinction.

Only one other school in the state was recognized as nationally distinguished this year, ArtSpace Charter School in Swannanoa.

Stockton, assistant principal Nicole Baron and Megan Allen, a multi-tiered system of supports interventionist, say that a consistent and laser-like focus on the academic performance and behavior of individual students has helped Union Cross close the achievement gap, an area that has bedeviled other schools for years.

The data tells a story and the story is our students, Baron said. So were looking at individual students, taking a deep dive into maybe whats going on in the home, rather than grouping them in levels they may or may not be a part of.

Allens job is to work with the lowest academic performers in every grade level, meeting with them regularly in hopes of boosting their performance to the point that they dont need specialized instruction. Her groups are small, maybe up to six kids.

And the growth is just pretty phenomenal, Allen said. All of us do better in small groups. Wed all do great if we had five kids in a classroom at a time.

In a school where 100% of its students qualify for free-and-reduced breakfasts and lunches, Union Cross is bucking several stereotypes tagged to Title I schools. For one, Noel-Stockton said it has active parents who show up for family nights and are involved in their childs education. In addition, she said it has several community partners, including surrounding churches, that support the school.

We walk the line together to get our babies where we want them to be, Noel-Stockton said. There are those stereotypes of schools where there is no parental or community involvement and schools are over there just trying to survive. Were not surviving. Were thriving.

The staff includes teachers with deep ties to the school, including some who student-taught there and others who attended the school. Noel-Stockton said one of her goals is to diversify the teaching staff to better reflect the demographics of the school, which is 37% Hispanic, 34% white and 21% Black.

Earlier this school year, Union Cross became one of 10 schools in the local school district no longer deemed low-performing by the state, pulling its state report card grade from a D to a C.

The scores are based on state-testing data. Low-performing schools are those with a D or F grade that did not exceed expected growth.

We gave that title right back to them because we knew, Oh, this is not us. Were more than this, and were going to show them exactly who we are and what we can do, Noel-Stockton said. And its exactly what weve done.
Let's come together

The Conservative Women of Forsyth County are welcoming Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough as our first speaker on Feb. 5. After the past couple years of being painted as a right-wing, political group, we have decided that beginning our year with the our Democratic sheriff would be a great way to set the record straight. Our organization is focused on bringing values back to our city and educating others about what true conservatism looks like, not what political pundits want it to be defined as.

We stand with and for families, freedom for all, and independence from government control. We serve our community hoping to bridge the gap on a solid foundation. Supported by many of our members, Sheriff Kimbrough will be updating us on his office, its fight against crime and his involvement with youth in marginalized communities.

It is time for us to come together here in Winston-Salem. Join us.

Myra A. Bumgardner

Winston-Salem

The writer is co-founder of Conservative Women of Forsyth County. the editor

Rigged?

Former President Trump said the 2016 election was rigged, too. Is that because he won?

Kevin Mulqueen

Lewisville

The harsh reality

The recent cases of Brittany Watts in Ohio and Kate Cox in Texas serve as harrowing reminders of the consequences faced by women in states with draconian abortion laws. Despite Republican assurances, these women's health emergencies were not just neglected; their personal tragedies were compounded by legal prosecution and denial of essential health care.

Despite what you might hear from Republicans on the campaign trail in 2024, trying to appear moderate by talking about the supposed "exceptions," it's all a mirage. The "exceptions" to these laws are neither reliable nor humane. And they're not just failing women but are actively endangering their lives. This systematic denial of health care is a chilling echo of the once-decried "death panels."

The only viable path forward is clear and urgent: We must send more Democrats to Congress, reelect President Joe Biden, eliminate the filibuster, and firmly codify Roe v. Wade into law. This is a critical step in ensuring that women's health and rights are not just a matter of political debate but are protected as fundamental human rights.

Mary Jackson

Winston-Salem

Housing the homeless

If it's OK to house our military personnel in barracks, why don't we use them for the homeless population? Why not move people from "tent cities," expensive hotel rooms and dilapidated apartments to a healthy, controlled environment that would address their needs?

Would there be better outcomes if federal, state and local resources were pooled to provide an environment to aid a greater number of homeless individuals? Perhaps abandoned military bases or industrial complexes could be refurbished to accommodate hundreds (or more).

A self-contained community, modeled after an educational facility, could meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the homeless. The residents would be properly cared for and have educational opportunities to prepare for their future successes. A discipline could be introduced. Rewards could be given for sobriety, for academic achievement, for technical abilities. College graduates desiring to receive loan forgiveness could contract to serve these communities.

As a Vietnam veteran, I recall sharing sleeping quarters with 60-100 men every night. We ate in a common area. We showered in a common area. We looked out for one another.

Joseph Horvath

Walkertown

Exceptional choices

There are so many good candidates who have come forward to serve our community in the coming years and I am so glad to see what excellent options we have. I would like to highlight two particular candidates as exceptional.

Amy Taylor North, who is running for N.C. House in District 74, is smart, kind, respectful and committed to working with all members of her district. She has the skills to help heal the divisions that hurt us all.

Bob Hartwell, who is running in the Northwest Ward for City Council, has a wealth of experience, both as a prior state senator and labor law attorney, to understand how to move hopes into reality. Hes able to find resources and use them to improve our city for all residents.

Both of these candidates will not only promise to work hard, they will be effective in their respective seats. Im grateful that we have such excellent candidates this year  so please vote all the way down your ballot.

Elisabeth Motsinger

Walkertown
At about 12:25 a.m., a trooper was traveling northbound on U.S. 77 near Van Dorn Street with their lights and siren on when they hit a patch of ice, lost control and rear-ended a Chevrolet Malibu, which then collided with a Chrysler Pacifica, the news release said. The trooper was on their way to assist with a Lincoln Police Department call.
The six honorees at Tuesdays news conference seemed unimpressed with the mayor and the microphones, ignored the cameras and speeches, content instead to graze in their new, still-frozen surroundings.

They arrived last month to Lincolns Pioneers Park and joined the parks six other bison that live on the 32 acres near the Nature Center on the west end of the sprawling park.

Friends of Pioneers Park Nature Center raised money to double the size of the parks herd, getting the six female bison from the Crane Trust near Alda. The trust has about 165 bison that roam on 1,200 acres as part of its conservation efforts.

On Tuesday, city officials noted their presence and highlighted their importance.

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said bison are a symbol of the countrys national identity that exists at the heart and history of the American prairie.

Today as we welcome six new yearling bison, were really, really excited to be creating an opportunity to reflect on that history and to educate our young people and to encourage more of our community members and visitors to come out to Pioneers Park to learn from these incredible creatures.

The Nature Center began in 1963 with 40 acres of wildlife sanctuary. Thats grown to 668 acres, about 400 of which is tall grass prairie. The center also has woodlands and wetlands, an interpretive and education centers for visitors.

The center also has bison, whose presence at the park dates back to 1931, when the city moved them from what was then the Antelope Park zoo, said Lincoln Parks and Recreation Director Maggie Stuckey-Ross.

Three of the bison  theyre sisters  are heirs of those original animals, said Nature Center Coordinator Jamie Kelley, and theres a skull in one of the education buildings theyve been told is from the father of the three.

In 2017, the city got three more bison, which were loaned from the Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari in Ashland, and last month added the six from the Crane Trust. They were bought at auction for $1,500 each, Kelley said.

The newest bison  all females because the Nature Center doesnt have the room or staff to breed them  are about 20 months old. The older animals are nearly 20 years old, which is toward the end of a bisons lifespan.

The Nature Center used to have elk and deer but has focused recently on bison as part of their education and conservation efforts, Kelley said.

The bison help preserve the prairie because their hooves pull up the dirt as they walk, helping to aerate the soil, unlike cattle, whose hooves compress the soil, Kelley said. They also roll  or wallow  in the fields and the seeds that get caught in their fur and land other places in the fields help disperse the plants.

So theyre part of our land management plan, Stuckey-Ross said.

She said she hopes the bison can be part of the efforts of the University of Nebraska-Lincolns Center for Great Plains Studies and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe based in Oklahoma to commemorate the tribes ancestral lands  land where Lincoln now sits. The center and tribe recently got a $1.58 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to help with their efforts.

We want to acknowledge that our community rests on the traditional lands of the Ponca, Omaha, Winnebago, Dakota and Otoe peoples past and present, Stuckey-Ross said.

This calls us to commit to work in partnership with our indigenous peoples continuing to learn how to be better stewards the land we now inhabit as well.

Top Journal Star photos for January 2024
Virtual Incision means every word when it says its mission is making every operating room robot-ready.

Some day in the future, the Lincoln-based medical technology company envisions its Miniaturized In vivo Robotic Assistant  better known as MIRA  will operate on patients in both urban and rural health care settings.

And, maybe one day, MIRA will even perform surgeries in space.

On Tuesday, Virtual Incision took its first step into the final frontier, when a surgical robot it designed and built to operate in microgravity lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The spaceMIRA was among 8,200 pounds of scientific equipment and supplies carried aboard a Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft, which was lifted into orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

In the coming weeks, spaceMIRA will conduct a series of experiments to compare surgical procedures in a zero-gravity environment to those back on Earth, as well as give a surgeon the opportunity to operate the robot remotely from hundreds of miles away.

Rachael Wagner, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln doctoral student who served as the project engineer, said watching the SpaceX rocket lift off into the clear blue skies was living a little bit of a dream.

Growing up, I always admired and was interested in NASA and space technology, said Wagner, a Lincoln native. I never thought that would be something I would get to work on.

Shane Farritor, Virtual Incisions chief technology officer and professor of engineering at the UNL, who attended Tuesdays launch, said it went perfectly, but added the critical part of the mission is yet to come.

Youre shipping something and its off now, he said. Its definitely a milestone, but we have a lot of work ahead.

That work, funded through a 2022 grant from the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, will see spaceMIRA run through a series of pre-programmed operations without human involvement where the robot will cut rubber bands stretched inside a microwave-shaped locker.

Back on earth, the team at Virtual Incision will be able to watch the experiment live, both through the camera integrated as part of spaceMIRAs arm as well as through a secondary camera mounted inside its payload capsule.

We understand how the robot does its thing on Earth, but not in space, Wagner said. The robot records log data about its performance hundreds of times per second when its in use, so well be able to review that and the video weve recorded to study how it worked.

A second test, also funded through EPSCoR, will give a Lincoln surgeon control of spaceMIRA to simulate an actual surgery, manipulating a left arm with an instrument to grasp and a right arm with a scissors-like instrument to cut the rubber bands.

The delay between the surgeons actions at Virtual Incisions headquarters in Lincoln, which will be transmitted to Houston before being beamed to the orbital laboratory, will be 917 milliseconds  nearly a full second  requiring anticipation and deliberate movements.

The data collected could help develop robots capable of performing surgeries in places like rural Nebraska, or even overseas, said Jay Carlson, a senior staff engineer at Virtual Incision.

For us, this is exciting because remote surgery is going to be a cornerstone of the mission, Carlson said. This is a technology demo to get the conversation going on remote surgery.

Shortly after spaceMIRA achieved orbit, Virtual Incision engineers Sean Crimmins and Melissa Holmes said they were excited to be a part of the mission and plan to keep close tabs on the project in the coming weeks.

Not only because of the cool factor  a surgical robot the UNL College of Engineering grads helped develop and build is now in space  but also because of what it could mean for the future of robotics and remote surgery.

Holmes, an Omaha native, said Virtual Incision will be able to show the remote capabilities of MIRA on the ground by what its able to achieve hundreds of miles in the sky.

We started with probably the most extreme case of Earth-to-space for surgery, Holmes said.

Crimmins, of Lincoln, said spaceMIRAs flight will have huge implications for Nebraskans and others in the future, as Virtual Incision seeks to create surgery centers in remote areas without highly trained medical professionals readily available.

Seeing it go up to space is just proof that the people at NASA take it seriously, he said.

Top Journal Star photos for January 2024
The death of an 18-year-old Gering woman has prompted a reminder about the importance of carbon monoxide detectors in the home.

Gering Fire Chief Nathan Flowers confirmed that Gering crews were called to a home on Jan. 22 about 8:45 a.m. because a woman was reported to be in cardiac/respiratory arrest. Police said the woman was deceased and medical response was canceled.

Officers requested the assistance of firefighters and carbon monoxide monitoring equipment. Gering Fire crews immediately asked Black Hills Energy to respond and used the department's carbon monoxide detectors in the home.

Firefighters confirmed high levels of carbon monoxide and helped ventilate the house. Family members of the woman who died have set up a GoFundMe, but the woman was not identified by authorities.

In a release, Gering Fire and Police Department shared the importance of carbon monoxide detectors, Flowers said.

"Winter is still upon us, and the fire department has seen an increase in carbon monoxide and carbon monoxide-related calls for service. Carbon monoxide can enter your home through several avenues. What we are seeing lately is furnaces are either back drafting due to a faulty vent system or the furnace has some issues with the exchanger causing carbon monoxide to leak into the home.

"Vehicle exhaust can be another avenue for carbon monoxide poisoning. Be sure to contact a licensed HVAC specialist to assist with furnace issues. And always properly ventilate your garage if you are running your vehicles due to colder weather."

Signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure could be headache, dizziness and fatigue, Flowers said. People also experience confusion, nausea and vomiting and shortness of breath.

If you are exposed to carbon monoxide, get to fresh air immediately and call 911.

Flowers said carbon monoxide detectors can give occupants notification when they have an issue.

"Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are early warning devices to notify homeowners when they have a fire or carbon monoxide building up in their home. It is a critical device that can save lives," he said.

Photos: Nebraska Wesleyan men's basketball vs. Dubuque, Jan. 24
Major hotel chains operating in Nebraska will have to be more transparent about hidden mandatory fees throughout the booking process, under a settlement agreement reached last week with the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office.

The AGs Office announced Tuesday that it reached a settlement with Hilton Hotels after a four-year legal battle about the practice of so-called drip pricing, defined as gradually disclosing fees as a customer goes through the booking process instead of advertising the full price upfront. Tuesdays settlement is the fourth such agreement reached with major hotel chains since the AGs Office began filing lawsuits against hotel chains in 2019.

In the settlement, Hilton agreed to clearly and conspicuously display all mandatory fees as part of the total price in any advertisements or offers. It will also be required to disclose what amenities are covered by mandatory fees, and will pay $300,000 in attorneys fees to the AGs Office.

These settlements will benefit not only the residents of Nebraska but also consumers nationwide, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said in a statement.

Omni, Marriott and Choice Hotels have all reached separate settlements with the AGs Office in recent years. They are similar to the Hilton settlement and generally bar each company from misrepresenting the total price or gradually disclosing additional fees throughout the booking process.

None of the hotel chains admitted wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

In a statement released Tuesday, a spokesperson for Hilton said they are pleased to have settled the matter amicably. They added that changes were made in 2023 to show mandatory fees upfront on all Hilton websites and apps.

We know consumers prioritize transparency and Hilton has long been supportive of ensuring that mandatory fees charged by hotels in our system are fully disclosed before booking on our websites and all other distribution channels, they said.
An Omaha man was sentenced Monday to one to two years in prison for attempted sexual assault of a minor, six years after fleeing from Douglas County.

Gabino Vargas-Perez, 27, was also sentenced to two years probation for failing to appear in court in 2017. He skipped town after being charged with first-degree sexual assault of a minor.

Vargas-Perez, a legal immigrant from Guatemala, was accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in Omaha. He was taken into custody Feb. 16, 2023, by the U.S. Marshals Service in Houston, according to Montgomery County, Texas, jail records, and returned to Omaha in March.

When Vargas-Perez was charged in 2017, his bail was set at $50,000. Someone paid 10%  $5,000  but Vargas-Perez failed to appear at a preliminary hearing.

At the time he was charged, Vargas-Perez was a 20-year-old former Central High School student. The girl told police that she met Vargas-Perez in fall 2016 and that he told her he was 16.

Vargas-Perez, who is listed in Douglas County Jail records as being 5 feet tall and 130 pounds, asked her to come home with him to meet his family. He took her upstairs and raped her, the girl told police.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said in 2017 that ICE officials told prosecutors Vargas-Perez was legally in the country. Kleine said then that he didn't know the nature of that status whether it was because he had a work visa or another form of documentation.

Court documents indicate that Vargas-Perez, then age 16 or 17, had suffered "neglect and abandonment by his parents." So he left Guatemala for the United States, the court document said.

Top Journal Star photos for January 2024
It was a mild November afternoon when Jill Klichs first grade class gathered in the front of the room to hear a story.

Klich began her lesson reviewing a list of vocabulary words  she would say them out loud, students would repeat it, then she would explain the definition to prepare them for when they heard the words in the story.

Friends, look at that word! Extravagance. Say it with me, Klich said, standing in the front of the room. It means big and bold and huge and beautiful. Yesterday in our costume parade, we had a lot of very extravagant costumes.

A hand shoots up from a student sitting cross-legged on the floor: Is it another word to say fancy? When Klich confirms hes right, he excitedly smiles back at her.

The lesson was just one of many in a new English language arts curriculum thats being implemented this year at Ralston Public Schools. The district recently shifted to new materials that incorporate the science of reading, which is a body of research about how humans learn to read and how reading should be taught.

Klich, who has taught in Ralston for 18 years, said the lesson is rooted in language comprehension, which includes things like vocabulary and background knowledge. She also teaches lessons about word recognition, which includes phonics and decoding words.

The science of reading shows that skilled reading comes from those interactions between the language comprehension and the word recognition, Klich said. The main thing that our district has been talking about is having one of those without the other is really only having partial knowledge. Thats not being as helpful to students becoming those fully skilled readers.

The Nebraska Department of Education revised its English language arts standards in 2021 to align with evidence-based practices. This is something districts across the nation are also doing as more schools recognize that curriculum based on the science of reading is the best way to teach students how to read.

The education department says on its website that all districts should be fully implementing the new standards by the current 2023-24 school year. But because Nebraska is a local control state, theres no requirement for districts to do so and schools dont have to use the science of reading in their curriculum.

Many Nebraska districts have been updating their curriculum to reflect the new state standards, but some districts still depend on outdated materials. Some of the strategies being used arent only rated ineffective, but experts say they actually are harmful to students who are learning to read.

One key shift in Nebraskas reading standards calls for teachers to provide explicit instruction in phonological awareness, phonics and fluency  skills that the science of reading has found essential. But some curriculum materials in current use are based on an approach called balanced literacy, which doesnt emphasize these skills and doesnt teach them systematically, according to the Iowa Reading Research Center.

Research and reporting, such as the investigative podcast Sold a Story, have exposed that Americas poor reading scores have been linked to schools use of balanced literacy curriculum.

After all, roughly 60% of Nebraska fourth graders are currently not proficient readers, meaning they read at a basic or below basic level.

This is a problem that has existed since the 1990s  and researchers say updated, science-based curriculum materials, coupled with training teachers on how to effectively use them, will help improve reading scores.

Curriculum choices across Nebraska

Tabitha ORiley knows well the struggle of how curriculum materials can affect a childs reading. Shes a mother of three children in the Louisville Public Schools and her two sons, in second grade and fourth grade, had trouble with reading since they entered kindergarten.

ORiley said both sons were diagnosed with dyslexia after years of low reading scores and failed interventions. Like around the nation, many Nebraska schools dont offer much support for students with dyslexia. Research has estimated that at least one in five students have dyslexia and will only succeed in reading with structured, evidence-based instruction, which is not offered in balanced literacy methods.

I mean, we were reading 30 minutes every night, ORiley said. We were doing what they were asking us to do and any gains that we were getting were so small and it just didnt make sense.

Louisville uses Really Great Reading, a program that was found to only partially meet expectations for alignment to research-based practices, according to EdReports, an instructional materials reviewing company.

For example, in its review of Really Great Readings first grade materials, EdReports says they contain some needed skills but are missing things like explicit instruction in the formation of letters. The materials also dont include all five components of skilled reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

ORiley said her sons lost so much confidence in school they no longer wanted to go. She eventually pulled them from all reading instruction because she didnt think it worked for them.

Instead, she enrolled them in an after-school private tutoring program that cost her family $800-$1,000 a month, but helped both children reach grade-level benchmarks for reading. Louisville officials didnt return multiple requests for comment.

Ralston had used curriculum materials under a program called Collaborative Literacy before switching to the Amplify CKLA reading program this year. Collaborative Literacy earned lower ratings for evidence-based practices on EdReports, while Amplify CKLA has high ratings.

The district chose to switch materials to align with new state standards, said Sara Zabrowski-Gates, director of teaching and learning. Because Ralston was using federal COVID-19 relief aid to purchase new curriculum, they were required to choose a company that had high ratings on EdReports, she said.

The Nebraska Department of Education has partnered with other local organizations to offer EdReports reviews, along with other curriculum resources, on the website called the Nebraska Instructional Materials Collaborative.

Weve been getting a lot of positive feedback, Zabrowski-Gates said about Amplify CKLA. At first it was Oh my gosh, its rigorous, this is hard for kids. And now were starting to see it shift. Its rigorous, but were seeing that its a good thing.

Ralston officials piloted Amplify CKLA in the 2022-23 school year. The district has representatives from each grade level at every elementary school on a team to help give feedback on the program.

Anne Harley, Ralstons assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, said while the materials may be more challenging, they contain research-based strategies and are working well for other districts.

Previous curriculum based on balanced literacy often encourages students to use word analogies and pictures or context to identify words, a method called three-cueing. This approach has been criticized by cognitive scientists, who found that people who rely on context to identify words are poor readers.

When were saying just take a guess or let the picture help you or use pattern text  weve done that for years and years, Harley said. And, you knowknow better, do better.

Reading curriculum changing in Nebraska schools

Many Nebraska districts have either switched to Amplify CKLA in the past few years or are in the process of doing so now. In the Omaha metro, Bennington has the program while Papillion La Vista is currently piloting it. Like Ralston, Lincoln Public Schools is also implementing Amplify CKLA this school year.

Lincoln switched from McGraw Hills Reading Wonders, said Takako Olson, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment. She said Reading Wonders has been one of the most popular English language arts programs used in Nebraska. Some districts use updated versions that include more evidence-based strategies, but Lincolns version was older and had a balanced literacy approach.

We really wanted to make sure we were switching from balanced literacy, which is a recent practice that we used, to structured literacy, or the science of reading, Olson said.

Other highly rated curriculum includes the latest version of Reading Wonders, Into Reading and Wit & Wisdom, all used by the Millard, Omaha, Gretna and Westside districts.

Bellevue Public Schools will be using Wit & Wisdom as part of their materials next year, but they also use Really Great Reading, the same company that Louisville uses.

Like Lincoln, Grand Island Public Schools used an old version of Reading Wonders before switching to Amplify CKLA four years ago. Brittney Bills, the elementary English language arts curriculum coordinator at the time, helped the district with the change. Bills is now a principal in Blair Community Schools.

Bills said she researched the company before Amplify CKLA was selected, but did receive some pushback from teachers when it was implemented. She said teachers who didnt agree with the new curriculum were used to balanced literacy.

I would say higher education is a big problem here  they are clinging to that practice, even though there is evidence that its actually detrimental to kids, Bills said. Its really hard to articulate how tightly some people hold on to some of these practices, and I think a lot of it is rooted in fear, that what they loved about their classrooms has to go away when they start using different materials. And thats really not the case. In my experience, its the complete opposite.

Bills said Grand Island students began to enjoy reading more and proficiency scores even jumped in some of the districts lowest-performing schools.

Katherine Sauer helped Litchfield Public Schools, a district of about 120 students northwest of Grand Island, switch to Amplify CKLA last year as a first grade teacher.

My group went from having a lot of kids who were not quite where the benchmark was to very few that were not there at semester, Sauer said. And I mean, to the point that our principal was like, This is awesome. This is amazing. Its working.

Teacher training essential

Bills said a lot of schools describe the materials they use as the curriculum, but its how teachers use the materials that makes the difference.

I would argue that those materials themselves are not sufficient to be considered a correct curriculum, she said.

Especially for teachers who didnt receive the proper training in the science of reading during college, theres extra work needed in order to know how to teach children to read correctly.

Many schools have been starting to offer professional development to help teachers learn the why behind the science of reading. One training thats gaining popularity is LETRS by Lexia, a nationally renowned curriculum and professional development company that specializes in the science of reading.

Megan Hammer works at Educational Service Unit No. 6 in Milford, helping schools with curriculum development while also being a certified LETRS trainer. She hosts training sessions with as many as 40 teachers at a time, but there are only fewer than 10 trainers like her across the state.

LETRS was the best professional learning Ive had around English language arts instruction in my 25 years (in the job), Hammer said.

One of the biggest challenges for schools wanting to use LETRS is that its expensive and time consuming  it can cost thousands of dollars to train a group of teachers in a two-year program.

Some states have provided LETRS training with millions of dollars of funding. Nebraska offered some funded LETRS training this year, but it only served a limited number and might not continue next year.

Accountability of school districts

Roughly 30 states have passed laws that include some sort of science of reading requirement in public school systems, according to a 2023 study by FutureEd, an independent think tank at Georgetown University.

Kansas, Oklahoma, Utah, Michigan and North Dakota are among states that require schools to implement instruction based on the science of reading. Some states, including Missouri, Colorado, Indiana, Mississippi and Texas, also require or recommend the use of materials from a state-approved list.

In a few states, such as Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida, the three-cueing method is banned.

Nebraska doesnt have rules like that for its school districts, Hammer said, because of its long tradition of allowing local school control. Districts arent required to select certain companies for their reading curriculum or choose from a state-approved list.

Theres no penalty at this point for not having a more aligned program, but theres probably going to be more pressure on schools to make sure that theyre using programs that are more aligned with the science of reading, Hammer said.

For ORiley, Nebraskas lack of a state-mandated literacy policy has prompted her family to move to Missouri. They will be packing up their things this year to move to a district she knows will use curriculum and instruction based on the science of reading.

For my husband and I, its so hard because we both love education so much, ORiley said. But its like, why cant our kids read or why is this not paying off?

Top Journal Star photos for January 2024
Students at private and faith-based schools in Nebraska would be able to get a $1,500 state-funded savings account for educational needs under a bill that prompted a contentious hearing Tuesday.

LB1386 drew support from private school families and officials who said that its important to ensure that families can choose the education options that their children need. But it also prompted opposition from those who said the bill would damage public schools.

At one point, the hearing before the Legislatures Education Committee turned into a verbal sparring match between committee members and one of the people testifying against the bill.

LB1386 follows last years passage of major education funding and school choice proposals. Lawmakers approved a bill that assures every public school at least $1,500 per student in foundation aid from the state. Another bill, LB753, provides tax credits for donations to scholarship funds for private and parochial schools  a controversial measure that is subject to a voter referendum in November.

LB1386 would extend the idea of a basic level of state funding to students at private schools. It would establish education savings accounts with $1,500 for students attending private or parochial schools  money that could be used to cover various costs such as tuition, textbooks, tutoring and other learning materials approved by the State Board of Education. The funds would be available starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, and students must apply for the funds through the State Treasurers Office.

State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, who introduced the bill, said the bill is intended to reduce financial barriers families face when looking to meet their childs educational needs.

We need less focus on systems and more focus on students, Hansen said.

According to the bills fiscal note, if 80% of the 33,611 students who attended private school in 2022-2023 applied for this funding, it would cost the state roughly $40 million. If 100% of those students applied, the cost would be more than $50 million.

Hansen said LB1386 would actually represent a savings for the state, since Nebraska students who opt for private school dont need to be educated at state and local expense in public schools. He said the annual state savings from educating students in private school rather than public school is roughly $500 million.

Others challenged Hansens assertion, noting that public schools have fixed costs that dont go away just because some students leave for private schools.

One of the opponents Tuesday was Tim Royers, Millard Education Association president and sponsor of the ballot initiative campaign to repeal LB753. Royers said LB1386 violates an article of the Nebraska Constitution that says the state cant spend public dollars on private schools, and that the bill is an attempt to get around the possible success of the anti-753 ballot initiative.

Please respect the will of the people, Royers said.

His testimony prompted pushback from LB753s introducer, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area, and LB753 supporter Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, both of whom sit on the Education Committee. Linehan went back and forth with Royers about statements he made against LB753, while Wayne questioned why he was fine with the state appropriating funds to private colleges and early childhood education, but not private K-12 schools.

Royers said college and early childhood education are voluntary options families can pursue, while K-12 schooling is generally considered necessary for students to complete.

Other arguments against LB753 came from Connie Knoche with OpenSky Policy Institute, which also supports the ballot initiative to repeal LB753. Knoche argued that private schools lack the same accountability standards as public schools, and questioned how the state could ensure the funding was used properly.

Taxpayers dont see how this money is used, Knoche said.

Meanwhile, 10 people testified in support of LB1386, most of them Nebraska parents who spoke about their struggles to afford the academic services their children need. Fremont parent Francisco Solis said his daughter was denied a transfer to a different public school due to her moderate hearing issues.

I felt like my family was being treated poorly, Solis said.

Solis and other families said they would be interested in enrolling their children in private schools, but they cant afford the cost of tuition. Another parent, Jennifer Deroche, said LB1386 could help cover the costs of a full-time paraprofessional that her son needs at the Catholic school he attends.

Michael Jensen, principal of Sacred Heart Catholic School in Omaha, said many of the schools families struggle to match the costs of educating each student. He estimated that each student costs the school roughly $12,000 per year, but most families can only pay about 10% of that.

The school is also grappling with a high demand for admissions, Jensen said, with enrollment for pre-school and kindergarten already full for next year. Of the schools current 137 students, only six of them are Catholic, he said.

Our community members want what Sacred Heart has to offer, he said.

Top Journal Star photos for January 2024
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.

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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.
KEARNEY  Buffalo County is purchasing Western Inn-Midtown at 1401 Second Ave., right around the corner of the Buffalo County Courthouse.

The motel property includes a swimming pool and the site of Kearneys oldest continuously operating restaurant, The Lodge.

Opened in 1971, The Lodge has been owned and operated the past 10 years by Cindy Houlden and her brother, Robert James. They lease the restaurant space from Rod and Lonna Rasmussen, owners of Western Inn-Midtown and more than a dozen other rental properties in Kearney.

The Rasmussens are selling their motel property to Buffalo County for $1,270,000, according to minutes of the Dec. 29 emergency meeting of the Buffalo County Board of Commissioners. During that meeting, board members authorized chairman Ivan Klein of Gibbon to sign the purchase agreement with the Rasmussens.

Klein said the county intends to demolish the Rasmussens 34-room motel, which means that the days are numbered for The Lodge.

Klein said that after the building is leveled, the motel property could initially become a parking lot, but it would be available in the future for other purposes the county might have. Klein said because the Buffalo County Courthouse is landlocked, the board made the strategic decision to purchase the motel property.

We try to be progressive when property comes available. The state constantly comes up with stuff were required to do, Klein said. He said the county also owns the vacant lot across Central Avenue east of the courthouse. That tract is south of Turners Body Shop at 1517 Central Ave.

The county recently purchased the former Black Hills Energy headquarters at 610 Central Ave., and is housing juvenile and adult probation programs in that building.

The county also acquired the former RYDE building at 321 Central Ave., and is using it for a city-county impound lot and mechanics garage for the sheriffs department.

Were prepared for the future, said Steve Gaasch, the countys facilities manager.

Houlden said she and her brother would appreciate more information to guide their planning with The Lodge.

Were making plans, but nobody has talked to us, Houlden said.

She said that she and her brother sank money into plumbing and some other items their restaurant needed, but with the property being sold they might be unable to recoup their investment.

Rod Rasmussen said he will allow Houlden and James to retain fixtures and most of the things they purchased for The Lodge.

According to the purchase agreement on file at the county, The Lodges leasehold will terminate on Sept. 1 and the sale will close Sept. 10. The county is paying the Rasmussens $100,000 in earnest money.

Rasmussen said he initially approached two members of the county board to say he and his wife were interested in selling the motel property. Later, he asked that Houlden and James be given time to scout for a new location for their restaurant.

Rasmussen said the hotel and restaurant complemented each other. Motel guests had a place to eat, and travelers might have a meal and then decide to book a room.

Houlden said The Lodge has been a success. Its a really good business.

She said she and her brother have a new location in mind, but they declined to say where they are looking.
Eighty-seven children in the Vernon County area are having a good nights rest thanks to the efforts of Sleep in Heavenly Peace Wisconsin-Vernon County.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) was founded in Kimberly, Idaho in 2012. Its a registered 501 c (3) non-profit that provides handmade beds to children who dont have beds of their own. Not only does SHP deliver the beds to children in need, it also partners with organizations, churches, businesses and individuals to build them at events called Build Days. The non-profits slogan is No kid sleeps on the floor in our town!.

President Wayne Sherry decided to pursue forming a chapter after he and his wife, Karen, attended a Build Day in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He then contacted the organization and expressed in interest in having a SHP chapter in Vernon County. They vetted me on the phone, he said.

After he and his wife went to the Marshfield Build Day, Sherry approached Marilyn Kile to see if she was interested in establishing a chapter and serving as co-president. Kile said yes, and they went to a training in Utah.

When Sherry and Kile went to the training, they learned a core team had to be formed before moving forward. Sherry reached out to individuals he thought might be interested in being part of the core team.

It was a big step to create a core team, Sherry said. We had a meeting, showed a video and talked about Sleep in Heavenly Peace. By the time the night was over, they were in; the program sells itself. Twelve people volunteered to be on the core team.

Once the core team was formed, the chapter purchased its own tools. Money for the tools came from a grant and loan from Lowes in Rochester, Minnesota. Sherry said they received around $4,000 to purchase tools such as chop saws, sanders and drills.

In 2022 they also received $11,800 from Power of 100+ Driftless Region. Sherry said that donation meant they could afford to purchase lumber and other supplies, such as lag screws.

The Vernon County chapter was officially accepted by the organization on July 15, 2022. Kile said there are 351 SHP chapters in the nation.

Its been eye-opening, Kile said of her experience with Sleep in Heavenly Peace. She said the chapter was formed because we live here and they wanted to help children in need.

The beds

The beds, whether they are twin beds or bunk beds, are built according SHP procedures, Kile said. The headboards, footboards, side rails and slats are stained using a solution made with steel wool and vinegar. The stain is created by putting steel wool into vinegar; the vinegar turns a rust color and after 10 days the steel wool has disintegrated.

It stains the wood and kills germs and prevents mold, Sherry said. The headboards and footboards are branded with the SHP logo.

So far, 120 beds have been made and 87 have been distributed. Kile said the first Build Day, which was held on Aug. 27, 2022, was a practice build with the core team. Our goal was six beds.

It was chaos, but we got it done, Sherry said with a laugh. We had a blast; it brought us together.

The first official Build Day, when volunteers worked alongside the core team, was Sept. 10, 2022. Twenty beds were made. It went smooth, Sherry said. A Build Day was also held on Dec. 3, 2022.

Kile said there were two build days in 2023  one on April 1 and another on Sept. 9. The Sept. 9 event was part of SHPs Bunks Across America national Build Day. In Vernon County, 76 volunteers built 45 beds.

Sherry said Build Days go well and are much easier now that the chapter has more experience.

Kile said each bed, whether a twin or a bunk, comes with a mattress, sheets, pillow case, mattress pad, pillow, comforter/homemade quilt and a throw for the foot of the bed.

I vet the families and ask if their child has something theyre interested in and we try to accommodate that, Kile said.

The chapter purchases the mattresses, and all of the bedding is donated by businesses, churches, organizations and individuals. Each bed is delivered and assembled by SHP volunteers for applicants children. Delivery is really fun, Kile said.

Upcoming Build Day

A Build Day will be held at the VARC bus garage in Viroqua, Saturday, April 6, beginning at 9 a.m.

Volunteers do not need to have any construction experience to participate in a Build Day. People oversee the volunteers, Kile said. She said young people are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. At one build we had an 11-year-old who was drilling all day.

Sherry shared a story about five youth from Good Shepherd and Immanuel Lutheran churches in Viroqua who helped with a build. Two of the boys wanted to do the branding. They loved it. During the morning break one of the boys said, I gotta check the fire. Sherry said those youth then reached out to other youth and told them about SHP. That resulted in youth from Immanuel, Good Shepherd and Viroqua United Methodist Church holding fundraisers and donating $1,140 to SHP.

Kile said students at Westby Elementary School also took an interest in the program. The school held a pumpkin fundraiser in the fall and donated more than $1,000.

The co-presidents said the wider community has continued to be very generous and the Build Days are an opportunity for people to work together.

People say its the most rewarding volunteer work theyve been involved with, Kile said.

It helps adults feel good about something, Sherry said. They meet and get together with new people for a cause.

How to apply for a bed

Families can apply for a bed if:

The children are between 3 and 17 years of age.

There is the space to set up a bed/bunk.

Applicants provide contact information in order to verify and schedule delivery.

Live within the chapters delivery area.

Requests or referrals for beds can be made at SHPBeds.org/APPLY, then clicking on the Apply for a Bed link. Kile said the link channels people to chapters by ZIP code.

The program is not based on income, Kile and Sherry said.

Its a great program we are proud to be a part of, Sherry said.

For more information about volunteering, donating bedding or making monetary donations, contact Sherry at Wayne.sherry@shpbeds.org or 608-606-4105, or Kile at marilyn.Kile@shpbeds.org or 608-632-6893. Information can also be found at SHPBeds.org.
Robert Van Wicklin has been named vice president for advancement at Viterbo University. He serves as a member of the presidents cabinet and oversees fundraising, benefactor and alumni relations and scholarship creation.

Van Wicklin succeeds Jim Salmo, who will stay on as an adviser to the university president until his retirement this spring. Van Wicklin brings 14 years of advancement experience to Viterbo, including his most recent post as vice president for advancement at St. Bonaventure University in New York. He has also held similar leadership positions at State University of New York at Buffalo and Houghton College, also in the Empire State. Earlier in his career, he spent 17 years as a staff member on Capitol Hill for two New York members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

I am very excited Bob has joined Viterbo to lead our amazing advancement team, said President Rick Trietley. He understands our mission and values, is a collaborative team-builder, leads with integrity, and has a proven track record for fundraising success.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Van Wicklin served nine years as a Naval Intelligence Officer, including combat duty in Afghanistan. He earned a bachelors degree in international studies and political science from Houghton College and a masters degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Rhode Island. He also has completed several professional development programs, including courses from Harvard University, the University of Buffalo, the New York State School Boards Association, and Disney Corp.

It is an honor to join the Viterbo community, Van Wicklin said. The universitys Catholic and Franciscan values have shaped a community based on service, kindness and humility, which is very meaningful to me personally and professionally. Viterbo has a tremendous circle of philanthropic support, and I look forward to building on this strong foundation and advancing the universitys mission and strategic priorities.
In 1903, community members in the Coulee Region founded YWCA La Crosse to improve the lives of women.

For decades, it has provided programs to inspire girls to grow into leaders and advocate for women, according to the press release.

In 2009, YWCA La Crosse adopted its current mission: to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

On March 8, International Womens Day, the chapter will host its first summit. This years theme is Women Empowering Women. The summit will be at Franciscan Spirituality Center at 920 Market St.

According to Laurie Cooper Stoll, the executive director of YWCA La Crosse, We are very excited to host our first Empower Women Summit on International Womens Day and hope it will become an annual tradition. We are planning a full day of events featuring inspirational speakers, interactive workshops, and panel discussions.

The keynote will be delivered by Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski. A planning survey conducted last fall found a common theme among respondents was a desire to learn how to better advocate at local and state levels and be more civically engaged.

We know that when women are in leadership roles and given a voice at the table, we get better outcomes and stronger communities, stated Godlewski. I am looking forward to participating in the (summit).

The survey also identified three main themes this summit will focus on: activism and advocacy, personal growth and inspiring stories. Tickets can be purchased at: https://givebutter.com/EWS24. Early bird VIP tickets are available through Feb. 15.
Don't Forget About the Persecuted Christians of Iraq and Syria

A picture shows a crucifix in the Chaldean Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, on Nov. 7, 2020. ( Sabah Arar/AFP/Getty Images) Last year marked two decades since the illegal invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of dictator Saddam Hussein's regime. It was a war that forever changed not only Iraq but the entire Middle East. Eight years after the start of the Iraq War, neighboring Syria was embroiled in a painful internal conflict and an international proxy war. The number of Christians in both these countries has drastically declined since 2003.

Christians in Iraq number around 120,000 today, according to the U.S. State Department--a huge fall in two decades from 1.2 million. Their population is expected to decline even further. In Syria, the Christian population has been reduced to 300,000. Before 2011, there were 1.5 million Christians living there, according to several human rights organizations. Most Christians in these countries are ethnic Assyrians/Syriacs/Chaldeans and Armenians. The decline in these Christian populations is due to religious persecution by terrorists.

In the summer of 2014, after reporting on the wars in Iraq and Syria, I realized that journalism alone wasn't enough to bring attention to the plight of Christians and other religious minorities. Several terrorist organizations had joined together to form one of the world's most dangerous and powerful units ever created--the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS. But hardly any of the major media outlets, nor the U.S. government or the United Nations, wanted to draw attention to the religious persecution. My home country of Sweden continued to deport Christian asylum seekers to Iraq even though the Iraqi government had asked them to stop, as their safety could not be guaranteed.

By 2014, it had been 10 years since Al Qaeda beheaded the first Christian in Iraq on camera, a young man named Raymond Shamoun. The video of the atrocity was spread all over Iraq, to frighten Christians into fleeing the country. It worked.

At that time, I posted on Facebook asking for help to draw attention to the ethno-religious persecution. Within two days we had started the A Demand For Action (ADFA) campaign--a network of volunteers across the globe working to stop an unfolding genocide.

We shared articles and posts thousands of times a day, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We contributed to tens of thousands of people demonstrating in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Sydney, and Berlin. We reached the attention of politicians, mass media, and celebrities. We had all the documentation, all the facts and sources that were needed. Now politicians and the media could no longer be quiet.

Unfortunately, we failed in stopping the genocide. But the victims were given a voice. ADFA is now an established human rights and aid organization.

In December 2022, the U.N. recognized that the Islamic State carried out war crimes and crimes against humanity against Iraq's Christians. Behind words, numbers, varying reports, and decisions about what to call the violence are the people affected by the atrocities.

We at ADFA recently decided to interview refugees from Iraq and Syria, forgotten victims of ethnic and religious cleansing, living in Beirut.

Our report, The Elephant In The Room--The Forgotten Plight of Christians in Iraq and Syria, was produced by Lebanese artist and TV presenter Layal Nehme. We visited many Assyrians/Chaldeans/Syriacs and Armenians in Lebanon's capital. In the report, we asked why Christians continue to flee their homeland even though terrorist organizations such as ISIS have been defeated.

One refugee, Raghad Abdallah Matti, said that they could not afford the ransom money the terrorists demanded for his brother. Both his parents died of grief within months of the kidnapping. Raghad's brother has been missing since 2014.

In Lebanon, Raghad does not have the right to work, to health care, and his children do not have the right to education. He, just like everyone else, is left to the winds. Completely forgotten. ADFA's proposal and demand is that those who want to return to their home countries should be given the opportunity to do so. They must feel safe and secure.

The refugees in Lebanon, and in other neighboring countries, such as in Jordan and Turkey, need financial help. They must be able to buy food and seek medical care. Those who want and have applied to move to Western countries, such as to Australia, Canada, or somewhere in Europe, should be prioritized in the asylum system.

The most affected by numbers by the wars in Iraq and Syria are Shiite and Sunni Muslims. But Indigenous Peoples such as Assyrians/Syriacs/Chaldeans, Armenians, and Yezidis are threatened with ethno-religious cleansing. We would have preferred to see them safely return to their home countries. But the vast majority of them refuse to do so out of fear of persecution, as outlined in our report.

The international community must not forget these victims of ethno-religious cleansing. Their continued suffering, as survivors of crimes against humanity, testifies to the failure of the international community at large. By writing the report and participating in the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30-31, we hope for real change.

Raymond Shamoun must have a voice again. His brutal murder and the consequences of the violence that followed must not be forgotten. The Christians of Iraq and Syria are not yesterday's news. They are human beings. Human rights organizations, politicians, and others who fight against religious persecution of any kind must always remember and consider them.

Nuri Kino is an independent investigative multi-award-winning reporter and minority rights expert.
A Dane County Circuit Court judge on Tuesday ordered the Wisconsin Elections Commission to implement new rules allowing local election officials to accept absentee ballots with partial witness address information.

The change could allow more votes to be counted in upcoming elections as Wisconsin heads toward November votes for president and one of the states two U.S. Senate seats  races that could be decided by narrow margins.

In a ruling earlier this month, Dane County Judge Ryan Nilsestuen said clerks can accept absentee ballots whose envelopes contain partial witness addresses as long as the witnesses addresses are discernable.

In that ruling, Nilsestuen rejected the Wisconsin Elections Commissions proposed definition of an address as including a street number, street name and the name of the municipality. Instead, he ruled, a witness address can omit municipalities and ZIP codes, or simply say same or ditto if the witness lives with the voter  as long as clerks can figure out where the witness lives.

The right to vote is one of our most important, if not the most important, right, and this furthers that right, Nilsestuen said in a hearing Tuesday.

Nilsestuen said he wants to see the ruling implemented as soon as possible so the rules can be in place for the Feb. 20 primary and the April 2 presidential primary and spring nonpartisan election.

Theres no timing thats ideal in terms of election administration, Nilsestuen said Tuesday.

Kevin LeRoy, an attorney representing the Republican-controlled Legislature, said he will likely ask that the ruling be placed on hold for a potential appeal. Nilsestuen scheduled a hearing on the matter for Friday.

The elections commission is scheduled to meet next week. Assistant Attorney General Thomas Bellavia, who is representing the commission in the case, said the agency could vote at that time to implement new guidance for local election officials.

A Waukesha County judge in September 2022 ruled that clerks cannot correct address errors on absentee ballot certificates  typically contained on the back of the envelopes that hold the ballots  leaving some clerks to reject ballots missing witnesses ZIP codes or municipality.

That led Rise Inc., a liberal group that mobilizes young voters, and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin to file separate lawsuits arguing voters shouldnt be disenfranchised because of immaterial errors on ballot envelopes that clerks can no longer fix.

Nilsestuen agreed with the plaintiffs, saying tossing ballots over those errors would violate the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibition on disenfranchising voters over mistakes on forms that arent key to determining a voters eligibility.

Part of the challenge with election laws is they are convoluted, and have been amended many, many times and the language is probably not as precise as any of us in this hearing would hope for them to be, Nilsestuen said Tuesday. But I do think, in terms of the meaning of address, there is always going to be some level of subjectivity.

The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau in 2021 reviewed 14,710 absentee ballot certificates in 29 municipalities and found that 1,022 certificates, or 6.9%, were missing parts of witness addresses; 15, or 0.1%, did not have any witness address at all; eight, or less than 0.1%, did not have a witness signature; and three, or less than 0.1%, did not have a voter signature. Clerks corrected 66, or about 0.4%, of those certificates.

Today in history: Jan. 30 1933: Adolf Hitler 1948: Mohandas K. Gandhi 1968: Tet Offensive 1972: "Bloody Sunday" 1981: Ticker Tape Parade 1993: Los Angeles 2005: Iraq 2006: Coretta Scott King 2017: Donald Trump 2020: Coronavirus
How Difficult is it to Be a Christian in Turkey?

President Recep Erdogan in 2020 converted the former Byzantine church, the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque. ( Rodrigo Tetsuo Argenton/Wikimedia) Terrorists stormed a Catholic church during Mass on Sunday in Istanbul, Turkey, killing one person by shooting him in the head. The so-called Islamic State has since claimed responsibility for the attack, which according to the local bishop took place during the consecration.

The attack, which roughly coincided with the first anniversary of a massive earthquake that killed thousands in Turkey and Syria in 2023, raises questions of whether it is dangerous to be a Christian in Turkey today and how hospitable the 99%-Muslim country is to other faiths.

Despite provisions for religious freedom existing on paper in Turkey, Turkish Christians of various denominations today suffer under the weight of government bureaucracy as well as societal pressures. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) says Turkish society has in recent years seen a "marked increase in incidents of vandalism and societal violence against religious minorities."

"The government also continues to unduly interfere in the internal affairs of religious communities. Religious minorities in Turkey have expressed concerns that governmental rhetoric and policies contribute to an increasingly hostile environment and implicitly encourage acts of societal aggression and violence," USCIRF says.

Turkey is home to between 12,000 and 16,000 Jews, several thousand people of various other faiths, and several hundred thousand Christians. About 25,000 of those are Roman Catholics, many of them migrants from Africa and the Philippines, according to a 2022 report by the U.S. State Department.

Unlike some other majority-Muslim countries, Turkey's constitution defines the country as a secular state. It provides for freedom of conscience, religious belief, conviction, expression, and worship and prohibits discrimination based on religious grounds, according to the U.S. State Department. However, Turkey is one of the 95 countries in the world that criminalizes blasphemy, in this case against Islam, punishable by six months to one year in prison.

According to the advocacy group Open Doors, a strong presence of religious nationalism and an emphasis on Islamic values by the government in Turkey creates pressure on believers of other faiths. The government also maintains a list of recognized religions and registers and records people's religious affiliation on an electronic chip on ID cards. Although Christianity is broadly recognized, the government fails to recognize Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Christians and Greek Orthodox Christians, as well as Jews.

"Christians are viewed as a negative Western influence, and those who choose to follow Jesus -- whether from Islam or secularism -- can face pressure from their families and communities to recant their faith," Open Doors reported.

According to the group In Defense of Christians (IDC), religious groups of various creeds face restrictions on their rights to own and maintain property, to train clergy, and to offer religious education. In particular, the Turkish government continues to interfere in the administration of the Greek Orthodox Church's Holy Synod as well as with the Armenian Patriarchate, including the selection of leadership, IDC says.

Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, many aspects of Turkish society have increased their favoritism for Islam to the detriment of other religious communities. In a significant move in 2020, Erdogan reconverted the cathedral of Hagia Sophia -- formerly a museum -- and another historic Christian church in Istanbul into mosques.

Protestant congregations have reported bureaucratic difficulties under the government. The State Department reports that the World Evangelical Alliance continued to express concerns about the situation of evangelical Christians in the country, including members being subject to deportations and reentry bans. Reports indicate that the government has expelled 60 or more foreign Christian missionaries and their families from the country since 2020.

According to Open Doors, hostility toward Christians is particularly acute in inland areas, where attitudes are typically conservative and Islamic. Most nontraditional Christian communities, such as Baptist, evangelical, and Pentecostal congregations, live in the Western coastal cities, such as Istanbul, which tend to be more liberal and secular in nature, the group says.

Turkey's status as a place difficult to be Christian has long roots, despite the country being one of the original places where Christianity flourished.

In 1915, in what has come to be known as the Armenian Genocide, Ottoman authorities began arresting Armenian intellectuals and leaders in Constantinople. The empire commenced a campaign of mass displacement of Amernians and other minorities, including Greek, Syriac, and Chaldean Christians. The displacement encompassed family separation, death marches, starvation, and other abuses inflicted upon the empire's mostly-Christian Armenian population. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians perished in the genocide, which Turkey has long denied ever took place.
Elon Musk says his company Neuralink has placed an experimental brain device in a person in the first human test of the technology.

Neuralink describes the coin-sized device as a brain-computer interface. It is designed to be implanted inside the brain through a medical operation.

Musk announced the news on the social media service he owns, X. The billionaire businessman is also the owner of Tesla and SpaceX. His company Neuralink aims to establish direct communication links between the brain and computers.

The first human received an implant from @Neuralink (Sunday) and is recovering well, Musk wrote. He added that first results of the implanted device showed promising neuron spike activity.

A spike is a term for a method neurons use to communicate with each other. The Cambridge Learners Dictionary defines a neuron as a nerve cell that carries messages between your brain and other parts of your body.

The device includes an extremely small computer and extremely thin wires that connect to a part of the brain that controls intent of movement.

Neuralink says the implant is designed to treat brain disorders and help serious back injury victims regain body movement. Company officials also say it might be used one day to help blind people see again.

The company has said an early goal of the brain-computer interface will be to give people the ability to control basic computer tasks using thoughts alone. Musk says that in the future, the device might also be used to improve human intelligence in an effort to keep up with supercomputers and artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved human testing of the Neuralink device last May.

Neuralink reposted Musk's statement about the implant in a message on X.

In another message on X, Musk wrote that the first Neuralink product is called Telepathy. He said the goal of the product is to permit users to control smartphones or computers just by thinking. Musk also noted the first users would be people who have lost the use of their arms or legs.

It remains unclear how well the brain-computer interface system or similar devices will work in humans. FDA-approved trials, like the one permitted for Neuralink, aim to collect data on the safety and effectiveness of proposed products.

Neuralink is not alone in developing systems designed to link the human nervous system to computers. The website clinicaltrials.gov reports there are currently more than 40 brain computer interface trials going on in places around the world.

Reuters reported that in the past, Neuralink was fined by the U.S. Department of Transportation for violating rules covering the movement of dangerous substances. The fines against Neuralink totaled $2,480 and the company agreed to fix its problems concerning the violations, the news agency said.

Neuralink carried out earlier trials of the implant using monkeys, pigs and sheep. Reuters has also reported on the companys animal experiments in the past.

Some Neuralink employees told Reuters in 2022 the company had made mistakes in its animal testing. They said the mistakes came because the process was hurried. This led to more animal deaths than necessary, the employees said.

In one 2021 case, Reuters reported that Neuralink implanted 25 out of 60 pigs with the wrong-sized devices. All the pigs were later killed. Employees told the news agency such mistakes could have been easily avoided with more preparation.

Last September, Musk wrote in a social media message that "no monkey has died as a result of a Neuralink implant." He added that the company chose "terminal" monkeys to limit risks to healthy animals.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse and Neuralink.

Quiz - Elon Musks Neuralink Announces First Human Implant Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

____________________________________________

Words in This Story

interface  n. a connection between two pieces of electronic equipment, or between a person and a computer

implant  n. a device placed inside the body in a medical operation

spike  n. a sudden change or rise in something

intent  n. what a person wants and plans to do

blind  adj. lacking or deficient in sight

terminal  adj. nearing or close to death: being in the final stages of a deadly disease
During Taiwans presidential election on January 13, talk about voter fraud began to spread. In one widely seen video, an election official counting votes mistakenly gives a vote to the wrong candidate.

The message of the video was clear: The election results could not be trusted.

The stories of voter fraud were not true. Instead, they were the result of disinformation. Fact-checking groups in Taiwan quickly showed how the video, along with many others similar to it, were false.

MyGoPen is a Taiwanese fact-checking service. It found that the widely shared video had been edited to hide an important fact. The full unedited video shows that soon after the official made the mistake, other election workers corrected it.

Before the election, worries that fake news stories would threaten it had been growing. But Taiwans response to disinformation was fast and organized, with fact-checking groups and government working to reduce it.

Chinese influence

DoubleThink Lab is a non-profit based in Taipei, Taiwan. It says its research shows that China targeted Taiwan with disinformation ahead of the election.

The Chinese government has said the island of Taiwan belongs to China and should not be independent.

The Associated Press (AP) reports that the disinformation aimed to weaken support of Taiwans Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). AP reporters say the disinformation tried to make the DPP look like it was likely to start a war with China.

The false stories targeted U.S. support for Taiwan, arguing that America was only interested in Taiwans semiconductor exports and would not support the island if it came to war with China.

AP reporters left messages with the Chinese embassy in Washington on Saturday. The embassy did not immediately return those calls.

The DPP candidate, Lai Ching-te, won the January election. He defeated Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan Peoples Party and Hou Yu-ih of the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang). Many experts view the election as centering on the islands relationship with China.

Many supporters of the Taiwan Peoples Party candidate are young. They had shared the false videos widely on TikTok. The videos were then shared on Facebook.

However, groups quickly showed how the videos were false. Taiwans Central Election Commission held a news conference to push back on claims of miscounting votes.

Influencers like @FroggyChiu, with more than 600,000 subscribers, also explained on YouTube how officials count the votes.

Taiwans organized response

Kenton Thibaut is an expert on Chinese disinformation at the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab. She said Taiwan has been able to effectively respond to Chinese disinformation in part because of how seriously the threat is seen there. Thibault said Taiwan has used a whole of society response. The government, independent fact-checking groups and even private citizens are called to point out disinformation and propaganda.

Alexander Tah-Ray Yui is Taipeis economic and cultural representative to the U.S. He said Taiwans government has learned it must identify and disprove false information as quickly as possible.

Find it early, like a tumor or cancer. Cut it before it spreads, Yui said.

Taiwans civil society groups have focused on raising public understanding of the issue.

Charles Yeh is the founder of MyGoPen. The group uses a chatbot service to help the public know if a story is false. He said he started MyGoPen because he saw how his family members would get confused by online rumors.

Educating the public about fake news and the digital environment is growing, but slowly.

Its like in the past when everyone dumped bottles and cans in the garbage and now they sort them, said Eve Chiu. She is the editor-in-chief of Taiwan FactCheck Center, a nonprofit journalism organization. Everyone needs to slowly develop this awareness, and this needs time, she added.

Taiwans political divide

Political divisions may also affect the spread of disinformation in Taiwan. Ko, the Taiwan Peoples Party (TPP) presidential candidate, said publicly he did not believe there was election fraud.

However, legislators from the TPP held a conference in which they shared videos of miscountingvideos that had already been proven false.

Im Andrew Smith. And I'm Faith Pirlo.

David Klepper and Huizhong Wu wrote this story for The Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English.

_______________________________________________________

Words in This Story

fraud -n. something that tricks or cheats people in a dishonest way

fake -adj. not genuine or real

response -n. an answer or reaction to something

society -n. the group of people who live in a country or region and their way of life

tumor -n. a large growth of abnormal cells in a persons or animals body

focus -v. to center ones attention on something

confused -adj. without clear understanding

rumor -n. an unproven story that people are talking about

awareness -n. the state of having knowledge or thinking about something

censorship -n. restrictions and control by authorities of information such as news, books, films, and the like

analyst -n. a person who researches and makes explanations about particular topics or fields of study
Biden or Trump: China ponders who is the lesser of two evils

As the U.S. presidential campaign moves closer to a Donald Trump-Joe Biden rematch, China is watching uneasily.

First, there are concerns about the campaign itself, where candidates are likely to talk tough on China. That could threaten the fragile improvements in U.S.-China relations seen in recent months.

Then theres the outcome of the November vote. Neither candidate is particularly appealing to Beijing. While Biden has looked for areas of cooperation with China, Beijing is concerned about his efforts to unite allies in the Indo-Pacific in a coalition against China. Its also nervous about his approach to Taiwan after he has repeatedly said he would have U.S. troops defend it in a conflict with China.

Trump, with his isolationist approach to foreign policy, might be more hesitant to defend Taiwan. But nothing can be ruled out given his unpredictability and his tough rhetoric on China, which he blames for the COVID-19 outbreak that dogged the end of his term. He also could deepen a trade war that hasnt eased since his presidency.

For China, no matter who won the U.S. presidential election, they would be two bowls of poison, said Zhao Minghao, a professor of international relations at Fudan University in Shanghai.

Even with the slight improvement in relations, tensions remain high, particularly over Taiwan. The question of who is in the White House could have enormous consequences not only for U.S.-China relations but for peace in the Asia-Pacific region.

Zhaos views are echoed by a number of analysts in both countries, who suggest Beijing may find Biden the lesser of two evils for his steadiness over Trumps unpredictability but also point out that the Chinese government agonizes over Bidens success in building partnerships to counter China.

No matter who takes office, it will not change the overall direction of Americas strategic competition with China, said Sun Chenghao, a fellow at the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University. China doesnt have any preference for who will win the presidential election because China has experience dealing with either of them for four years.

In Chinas social media, many commentators appear to be favoring Trump, whom they see not only as a businessman up for a deal but also a disruptive force that undermines American democracy and U.S. global leadership to the benefit of Beijing. Trumps policies and remarks as president earned him the nickname of Chuan Jianguo, or Trump, the (Chinese) nation builder, an implication that he was helping Beijing.

Trumps recent accusation that Taiwan took the chip-making industry from the U.S. has been seen as a sign that Trump, a businessman at heart, may not be willing to defend the self-governed island that is Chinese territory.

Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Washington-based Stimson Center, cautioned against nationalistic sentiments in China that could be at odds with government officials and elites. With Trump, there is no floor to U.S.-China relations, and Trump poses great risks and uncertainties, including the possibility of a military conflict, Sun said, adding China in 2020 was convinced that Trump could attack Taiwan to win reelection.

There might be some benefit associated with Trumps potential to damage alliances and partnerships, shaking the worlds confidence in Americas leadership, but the benefit for China will not be able to offset the even more significant damage he would impose on the relationship with China, she said.

Trump started off on the wrong foot with China when he took a congratulatory call on his 2016 election victory from the leader of Taiwan, angering the government in Beijing, which opposes any official contact between Taiwan and foreign governments.

Relations appeared to get back on track in 2017, when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in April and, six months later, hosted the U.S. president in Beijing with a dinner at the Forbidden City.

But in 2018, Trump started a trade war by imposing tariffs on Chinese imports. China retaliated with tariffs on U.S. goods, and the tariffs on both sides remain to this day.

The COVID-19 outbreak in China in 2020 pushed Trumps relationship with the country to the point of no return. As the virus spread to the United States, he tried to deflect criticism of his handling of the pandemic by blaming China, drawing strong rebukes from Beijing.

When Biden and Trump squared off in 2020, U.S. intelligence agencies reported before the election that China viewed Trump as unpredictable and opposed his reelection. A subsequent assessment issued months after the election said that China ultimately had not interfered on either side and considered but did not deploy influence operations intended to affect the outcome.

Experts say the Chinese also are unlikely to interfere with the U.S. presidential election this year. If Beijing is to interfere, it is more likely to try to discredit U.S. democracy, amplify partisan discord, and undermine faith in the election process, they say.

Once elected, Biden kept his predecessors China policy. Not only did he keep the tariffs but Biden also limited access by Chinese companies to advanced technologies, sanctioned Chinese officials over human rights violations and expanded restrictions on China-bound U.S. monies.

Then in early 2023, tensions spiked again when the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon. It took months of diplomacy to set up a meeting between Biden and Xi that resulted in some modest agreements and a vow to stabilize relations.

Miles Yu, director of the China center at the Hudson Institute, said the U.S. has come to a bipartisan agreement on China, with the two parties sharing pretty much the same China policy. In response, Chinas ruling Communist Party has a new U.S. policy, he said.

It doesnt matter if its a black cat or a white cat, as long as its an American cat, its a bad cat, Yu said, borrowing from the famous saying by Chinas reformist politician Deng Xiaoping that encouraged market reforms regardless of ideology.

But several experts expressed a guarded preference for Biden because of his steadiness, which they say Beijing may appreciate in managing the already-fraught relations.

Trump is by nature volatile and cruel and is a person hard to be familiar with, said Shi Yinhong, international relations professor at Renmin University of China. While Beijing can expect its relationship with Washington to stay the course if Biden is reelected, it may not wish to deal with Trumps hysteria toward China and possibly drastic changes if he returns to the White House, Shi said.

Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China, said Beijing is more worried about Trumps hostility toward globalization than Bidens worldwide efforts to build alliances. We dont expect any one of them would be better for China, but the key (for China) is to continue its opening and reforms, and high-quality development, Wang said.

But Shi Sushi, a veteran commentator in Beijing, said it is easier for China to handle Trump, who just wants to cut a deal, than Biden, who has a values-based approach to governing.

Bidens toughness is something few Chinese understand, Shi said. He is an establishment politician. He is a defender of American values. He is engaged in friends-circle diplomacy to form a circle of friends that integrates the power of the West to (counter) China. From this point of view, I can bluntly say that Biden is more difficult to deal with. DIDI TANG & KEN MORITSUGU, BEIJING, MDT/AP
The citys external merchandise trade totaled MOP154.78 billion in 2023, up 0.9% from MOP153.33 billion in 2022, according to data from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

The total value of merchandise exports in 2023 dropped 1.3% year-on-year to MOP13.34 billion. Of this, the value of domestic exports (MOP1.55 billion) declined 23.2%, while the value of re-exports (MOP11.79 billion) grew 2.5%.

The latest figures show the total value of merchandise imports rose 1.2% year-on-year to MOP141.44 billion. The merchandise trade deficit totaled MOP128.11 billion in 2023, up by MOP1.82 billion from MOP126.29 billion in 2022.

Analyzed by destination, merchandise exports to mainland China (MOP975 million), Hong Kong (MOP9.53 billion), the USA (MOP438 million) and the European Union (MOP151 million) decreased by, respectively, 25.5%, 7.5%, 28.1%, and 8.8% year-on-year in 2023. However, exports to the Belt and Road Countries (MOP772 million) increased by 47.8%.

By place of origin, merchandise imports from the Belt and Road Countries (MOP30.92 billion) and Hong Kong (MOP7.19 billion) rose by, respectively, 18.0% and 41.3% year-on-year in 2023, while those from the European Union (MOP44.61 billion) and mainland China (MOP40.51 billion) dipped by, respectively, 2.7% and 4.6%. Staff Reporter
People from the Hong Kong and Macau regions are increasingly being attracted to Gansu. This is, in part, due to the northwestern provinces rich natural and cultural resources, according to political advisers of the province.

Chiu Tung-ping, founding president of the Hong Kong Gansu Association and a member of the Gansu provincial committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, said Gansu has great potential in attracting investment from Hong Kong and Macau because of its improving business environment and abundant cultural and historical resources, China Daily reports.

Meagan Ho Peng-peng, general manager of San Ou Iao Group, a Macau travel company, said Gansu is home to Dunhuang, a cultural asset with a thousand-year history.

Its more than just a tourist attraction, Ho said.

Visiting Dunhuang is a journey that involves both landscape and culture, where people can not only revel in natural beauty but also connect with deep-rooted history and culture.

On the business side, last year, more than 30 groups consisting of more than 200 business people from Hong Kong and Macau conducted inspection and research visits to over 50 counties and districts in Gansu, according to Sun Xuetao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Gansu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, the same report has said.

Various cities and prefectures have signed 46 cooperation projects and agreements, plus 40 preliminary cooperation intentions, with entrepreneurs from Hong Kong and Macau and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, involving an investment of 24.3 billion yuan, said Sun to China Daily.

Sun is also director of the united front work department in the province. He added that the number of tourists from Hong Kong and Macau to Gansu is also growing steadily.

Over the past year, all CPPCC members from Hong Kong and Macau have strengthened their awareness of fulfilling their duties and responsibilities to closely link Gansus construction to the development of their companies, he said. Staff Reporter
Around 30 companies from the Greater Bay Area expressed their interest in investing in Macau and Hengqin, as reported by the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) last week. This interest was sparked during a promotional event in Guangzhou. The session, aimed at encouraging branch establishment in Macau and Hengqin, witnessed participation from over 150 representatives across various sectors. The organizers provided pre-establishment services and received 28 investment intention letters, mainly in advanced technologies and cultural investment. Business representatives shared their experiences and advantages in the Macau cooperation zone in Hengqin, while over 60 Macau and Guangdong enterprises engaged in commercial contact sessions. The success was also evident in the Canton Fair, where local Macau products were highly sought after.

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On the Agenda

Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have agreed to implement mutual recognition and enforcement of each others judgments in civil and commercial court cases. This agreement is expected to play a pivotal role in facilitating legal matters within the GBA.

The Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters by the Courts of the Mainland and of the HKSAR became effective this week, marking a crucial milestone in GBAs development.

The arrangement, initially formed in 2019 by the Supreme Peoples Court (SPC) and Hong Kongs Department of Justice, streamlines legal processes and reduces economic costs for all parties involved.

While judgments from mainland courts will not automatically apply in Hong Kong, and vice versa, this arrangement will simplify cross-border legal disputes. It relieves creditors from initiating litigation in two different jurisdictions and will be instrumental in resolving civil and commercial issues involving GBA elements.

Speaking to mainland media, Vice-President of the SPC, Yang Wanming, stated that this new arrangement, which includes intellectual property cases  usually excluded from international covenants  will lead to mutual recognition and enforcement of judgments in over 90% of civil and commercial cases between mainland China and Hong Kong. This represents the highest level of mutual recognition and enforcement within a single country.

Si Yanli, deputy head of the Research Office of the SPC, told China Daily the hope that Hong Kong would continue to deepen its integration with mainland Chinas judicial and legal rules, fostering closer judicial connections within GBA.

Additionally, substantial progress is expected soon, allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises registered in the entire Greater Bay Area to adopt Hong Kong law and choose Hong Kongs arbitration services, a development actively researched and implemented by the SPC, further strengthening GBAs legal infrastructure. MDT/China Daily
By the end of 2023, nearly 10,000 talents from the GBA entered Hong Kong utilizing the exit endorsement for talents program. The Hong Kong Secretary for Security, Tang Ping-keung, reported this significant influx at a Legislative Council meeting. This program, initiated in February 2023, categorizes talents into six sectors, including outstanding, scientific, educational, healthcare, legal, and others. Of these, 347 were classified as outstanding with a five-year endorsement, while 5,872 in scientific, educational, or healthcare sectors, and 3,739 in legal and other sectors, received endorsements for three and one year respectively. Moreover, the 2023 Policy Address enables foreign staff of Hong Kong-registered companies to apply for northbound multiple entry visas to the mainland, reflecting an increase in cross-border professional mobility.

Related
The Philippines and Vietnam signed an agreement yesterday on preventing and managing incidents in the disputed South China Sea during Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.s visit to Hanoi.

Several countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam, are locked in maritime disputes with China over its claims of sovereignty over virtually the entire South China Sea, one of the worlds most crucial waterways for shipping, and high-seas faceoffs between Chinese and Philippine ships have intensified over the past year in the contested waters, fueling fears of a wider conflict.

The Philippines and Vietnam agreed to increase coordination on maritime issues and work to promote trust and confidence, the Philippine government said in a statement.

They didnt release details about what actions they would take under the agreement.

Vietnam remains the sole strategic partner of the Philippines in the ASEAN region, Marcos said during a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, Vo Van Thuong, referring to the regional grouping of Southeast Asian nations.

He added that while maritime cooperation was the foundation for this partnership, relations between the two nations had expanded.

The two countries also signed a deal yesterday for Vietnam to supply the Philippines with 1.5 million to 2 million metric tons of rice each year at affordable prices.

Vietnamese rice accounts for 85% of imported rice in the Philippines and the two countries agreed to create a framework for ensuring stable supplies. A rice shortage last year, exacerbated by climate change and some major producers halting exports, resulted in prices soaring globally including in the Philippines.

Marcos, who arrived in Hanoi on Monday, also met with Pham Nhat Vuong, Vietnams richest man and the chairman of the sprawling conglomerate Vingroup, which runs the electric vehicle company Vinfast.

Vinfast said after the meeting it would open an EV business network in the Philippines and that the investment would start later this year.

VinFasts plans to expand in the Philippines are part of its goal of selling EVs in 50 markets worldwide. It is exporting EVs to the U.S. and also building a $4 billion EV factory in North Carolina, where production is slated to begin this year. It has also said it will build factories in Indonesia and India. MDT/AP
Assyrian Bentrish Satarzadeh Appointed a California Superior Court Judge

Assyrian Bentrish Satarzadeh was appointed a California Superior Court judge. The call Bentrish Satarzadeh had been waiting five years to receive came last Tuesday when she heard from Governor Gavin Newsom's office that he was appointing her to a vacancy on the Alameda County Superior Court. In doing so, Newsom is believed to have doubled the number of Assyrians serving on the California state bench.

"In Persian, there is a saying that even an old fish is a new fish when taken out of the water. It is the same as saying better late than never," Satarzadeh, 46, told the Bay Area Reporter during a phone interview January 30 to discuss her judicial appointment.

A year after becoming a court commissioner in Alameda County in 2018, where she has presided over small claims, traffic, and child support cases, Satarzadeh had applied with Newsom's judicial appointments office to be considered for a judicial vacancy on the bench. She learned January 23 that she would be filling the seat left empty by the retirement of Judge Jacob Blea, whose six-year term ends on January 8, 2029.

"It was so thrilling to finally get this appointment," she said. "I never felt entitled to it. So I very much had prepared myself to not ever having the position, and I was in an assignment doing child support, which I loved, and could have spent the rest of my career helping families in Alameda County."

A lesbian married mom of a 19-month-old toddler, the only person she could tell the news to until it was officially announced late Monday night was her wife, Maggie Marano, a children's book author and executive at mental health firm Headspace. The couple, together 11 years and married since 2016, reside in Alameda.

"Luckily, my daughter can't speak very much," joked Satarzadeh about needing to keep her appointment a secret until now.

She will take her judicial oath of office Friday, February 2. Based on the court's demographic data released last March, Satarzadeh will bring the number of LGBTQ judges on the Alameda County bench to 11.

"I feel like I am floating on cloud nine. It is a surreal feeling," said Satarzadeh, a former co-chair in the early 2010s of the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club based in San Francisco.

With their daughter, Emma, now preschool age, Satarzadeh said her judicial appointment comes at a time that works for her family. She told the B.A.R. she is excited to bring the perspective of a parent, and the patience and humility the role requires, to the bench as a judge.

"As a judge I know that it is going to be a lot more responsibility and a lot more work. Luckily my daughter is old enough to be in preschool," she said. "We are able to leave her at preschool, and my wife is my greatest support. The timing of this judgeship couldn't come at a better time because my family life is now organized in a way I can devote myself to this new role."

At 8 years old Satarzadeh emigrated with her family from Iran first to London then the U.S. They had settled in California's Central Valley until her father, who worked as an engineer, relocated the family because of his career to Los Angeles and later Silicon Valley, where her parents still reside in San Jose.

Satarzadeh, who earned her law degree from Golden Gate University, worked as an associate at the Cartwright Law Firm from 2002 until being hired as a legal research attorney by the Alameda County court in 2004. She remained in the position until becoming a commissioner for the East Bay bench.

Fluent in English, Farsi, and Assyrian, and having used all three languages in the courtroom, Satarzadeh said she is now learning Spanish due to the rapport she is able to build with litigants by speaking even "a few words" to them in their native language. She told the B.A.R. she knows of only one other Assyrian member of the state's judiciary, Los Angeles County Judge George F. Bird Jr., who texted her congratulations.

She had met Bird, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, in 2019 when she took a judicial college seminar that he led. Assyrians are the Indigenous people from what are now the countries of Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria, explained Satarzadeh.

"We are a rare breed," she told the B.A.R., stressing that she wanted "to get across how poignant this appointment is for me. One of the reasons I decided to apply to be a judge and a commissioner is I really wanted someone on the bench that looked like me, a lesbian woman of color with an immigrant background."

Her wife and mother, Violet Satarzadeh, enrobed her when she became a court commissioner. She has yet to decide whom she will ask to do so at her judicial swearing in ceremony on Friday.

"I stand on the shoulders of so many people who have supported my candidacy," she said. "I am so grateful to all of them. I am going to really have to think through who will do it, but definitely Maggie will be a part of the ceremony in a very special way because she has been my number one supporter."
Macau may see a taxi fare hike of 10% just before the Chinese New Year (CNY), as the Macau Taxi Driver Mutual Association has long-called for fare surcharges. The hike is due to be implemented ahead of Spring Festival.

Previously, the Macau Taxi Driver Mutual Association lobbied the Transport Bureau (DSAT) for an 18% fare hike, citing rising operating expenses, taxi rental prices and fuel prices.

However, such calls were denied by government, as there was no room for an increase due to Macaus economic downturn suffered during the pandemic.

When the citys economic rebound commenced, the taxi association announced that Macaus taxi drivers would lobby the government for an increase ahead of Chinese New Year. The association has reiterated that it has received opinions and requests from many colleagues on the call for an increase.

Tony Kuok of the association said that the surcharge for the Lunar New Year is to compensate drivers who have to work holidays, even if they want to stay with their families. He argued that taxi fares have not increased in six years. The sector attempted a similar adjustment to fares in 2019; however, the government did not implement the increase due to the pandemic.

Kuok told TDM the industry has recently met with the DSAT.

Responding to the call, DSAT noted that it would study the fare adjustment of 10%, which it recognizes is lower than the proposed 18% fare hike. The previous hike was deemed too impactful, and public objection had been feared.

Kuok and his association acquiesced, worried that if they did not then the re-application process might take more time.

The current plan still needs to be discussed by the advisory committee.

Of a taxi fare, the first 1,600 meters will increase from the current rate of MOP19 to MO21; the meters tick will reduce from every 240 meters to every 220 meters, and the waiting time for passengers to stop will be reduced from 60 seconds to 55 seconds.

In addition, the surcharge applied to fares beginning from the Macau International Airport, Taipa Ferry Terminal, University of Macau, Pac On Immigration Building taxi stands and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Artificial Island Port has been increased from MOP5 to MOP8.

It is believed that the changes are likely to come into effect on Feb. 12 or 13.

The city has been facing a taxi shortage following the reopening of the border, making it difficult for residents and tourists to hire one, particularly during peak hours.
Dental therapists, mid-level providers whose level of care is between dentists and hygienists, will be allowed in Wisconsin, as Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday plans to approve the workers and other dental care initiatives.

Wisconsin is joining 13 states, including Michigan and Minnesota, in authorizing dental therapists to expand access to dental care, especially for patients on Medicaid or without insurance and in rural areas. The providers can fill cavities, do oral exams and pull some teeth but cant do more complex procedures such as root canals and crowns.

Up to $2 million of the $20 million, already set aside for technical colleges in the current state budget, is for Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, where Evers is expected to sign the bills. The money will help that campus start a dental therapy training program and support its dental assistant and dental hygienist programs.

The initiatives will move us forward in our work to address shortages and bolster our dental health care workforce while also closing gaps in access across the state, Evers said in a statement.

Long road to therapists

The Wisconsin Dental Association long opposed dental therapists, saying they would compete with dentists and not necessarily work in underserved areas. Bills to allow them were introduced at least three times before the state Legislature approved the bipartisan measure this month.

WDA dropped its opposition two years ago after restrictions were added. Those include requiring dental therapists to work in dental health professional shortage areas or see mostly underserved patients, such as those on Medicaid.

Dental therapists will also have to graduate from accredited training programs and work under a dentists supervision. The role is similar to how physician assistants work with doctors.

Dr. Patrick Tepe, a dentist in Verona on WDAs legislative advocacy committee, said in November that dental therapists could especially help in public health settings such as the states 19 federally funded health centers.

Dr. Tina Sopiwnik, a dentist and chief dental officer at one of the centers, Ashland-based NorthLakes Community Clinic, said the clinic has 13 dentists and could use at least seven more, especially in locations such as Hayward, Hurley, Iron River and Lakewood. If dental therapists were available, they could fill some of those slots, she said.

A dental therapist could be used for all of the primary care, and dentists could do more comprehensive treatments, like root canals, crowns, dentures and implants, Sopiwnik said.

It can be difficult for people on Medicaid to find dentists who will treat them. Dentists say thats because the state-federal program doesnt pay them enough to cover their costs.

Other bills

Under the other bills Evers plans to sign, technical colleges can apply to the Legislatures joint finance committee for a share of the $20 million to start or expand dental staff training programs.

Marquette University, which runs the states only dental school, will get $350,000 a year to support recruitment and training of rural dentistry students, and graduates who work in shortage areas for 18 months will get scholarships.

Dentists and hygienists will be able to work in states that share a licensing agreement. People with dental insurance can designate a specific dental provider, which should prevent the need for them to pay for care before getting reimbursed by insurance.
Two teens could face charges in an attempted burglary of a village of Oregon gun shop on Christmas Eve, police reported.

Shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 24, Oregon police officers responded to Max Creek Outdoors Gun Shop and Range, 1042 Park Street, for an attempted burglary in progress, Oregon police said in a statement.

As officers arrived at the scene, one saw a vehicle leaving Max Creek and attempted to stop it. The driver turned the headlights off and sped off at high speed, and the officer ended the attempted stop, police said.

Later that night, two juveniles were taken into custody in the vehicle in Winnebago County, Illinois, police said.

After an extensive investigation, Oregon detectives identified and located the two juveniles suspected of the attempted burglary of Max Creek, police said.

A 15-year-old from Beloit will be referred to the Dane County District Attorneys Office for one count of burglary, knowingly fleeing an officer, and one count of damage to property, and a 16-year-old from Rockford, Illinois, will be referred for one count of burglary, one count of possession of burglarous tools, and one count of damage to property, police said.

No further details were released.
Metro Transit will dramatically change how riders pay fares by moving to Fast Fare Cards later this year, which will eventually allow boarding on all doors of every bus and let riders add money to card accounts in multiple ways.

Riders will simply tap the Fast Fare Card on a reader every time they board a bus, with the system deducting $2, with those riding multiple times getting Metros multiple ride discounts along the way.

The change, which will come before Metro launches Bus Rapid Transit in the fall, will not increase fares with pricing based on the existing fare structure, officials said. It also will bring automatic fare capping to ensure riders always get the best deal, they said.

It is necessary to help speed up boarding on BRT, Metro spokesperson Mick Rusch said. However, our fare equipment is old and at the end of life. We have a lot of issues with cards getting jammed in equipment, which slows down boarding now. Its going to be a lot easier way to pay your fares.

The new $4 million fare system, funded entirely by a federal grant, will be among a series of major transformations of the citys bus system.

In June, Metros sweeping system redesign, the biggest overhaul in 25 years, shifted the system from one that delivered a lot of coverage into Madisons neighborhoods and relied heavily on transfer points to one that focuses on main arteries. The new system is intended to deliver more frequent and consistent service, but it also requires longer walks for some to reach a bus stop.

In late 2024, the city will launch BRT, a high-frequency, high-capacity, limited-stop service using elongated electric buses running on city streets and dedicated lanes  often in the center lane and with special stations in medians. Its initial route will run roughly between the East Towne and West Towne malls.

A second north-south route that will run from the North Side to Downtown, down Park Street and into Fitchburg is slated to begin operations in 2027-28.

It will take two to three months this spring and summer to install equipment for the new fare system on buses, Rusch said.

We will be spending this time getting information out to the public and putting training sessions together, he said. There will be a transition period for customers that will last for a few months. This will involve asking customers to trade in their old fare items (10-ride cards or monthly passes) to load that dollar value into their accounts.

Customers will be able to use old fare media for a limited time on local bus routes, he said. Customers boarding on BRT platforms will need to use a smartcard or purchase a fare at a sales outlet or BRT station kiosk.

Were going to be out there talking to people so it makes sense, he said.

Metro officials are scheduled to make an informational presentation to the citys Transportation Committee at an online meeting at 5 p.m. today.

Board at any door

The new account-based fare system will bring change as dramatic as the new routes and fast pace of BRT.

Under the system, fare readers will be installed on all doors of every bus, with increased speed outweighing fare evasion from those entering rear doors that arent directly supervised.

By speeding up the boarding process, it cuts time from the route, Metro General Manager Justin Stuehrenberg said. Most of our costs are measured by the hour in the drivers wages, so that savings translates into dollars.

But drivers will be trained to handle situations when people dont pay.

We are still working on our procedures on how a driver would handle someone not paying their fare, but the driver will not leave their seat, Rusch said. In general, they will ask a person to tap a card. If the issue continues, the driver will continue on and report the issue to a supervisor.

Initially, at BRT stations, riders can board at all doors using the Metro Fast Fare Card or one-ride or one-day tickets purchased at the kiosk, which will have instructions in English and Spanish, using cash or other payment type.

In the beginning, for local buses at regular Metro stops, current fareboxes will remain at the front of all buses with riders able to use the Fast Fare Card, cash or old fare media. Readers will be put into use at the back door of buses for rear boarding at a later time.

In the future, for local buses at regular stops, riders can use the Fast Fare Card but Metro will phase out old fare media, fare boxes will only collect cash, and paper transfers will no longer be used.

Using the smart card

The key to riding will be the Fast Fare Card, which will be available for free through 2024 at Metros main office, 1245 E. Washington Ave., through the mail and at sales outlets. To add money to the card, riders can use an online account, a kiosk at a BRT station, or a sales outlet. The card will cost $2 starting in 2025.

Some people may be concerned that they need to be able to use a computer to purchase their fare, Rusch said. That is not true.

A single fare will remain $2, while a three-ride day pass will be capped at $5 with no charge the rest of the day, with four-day passes capped at $16.25 in a week with no charge for the rest of the week. The weekly price is based on one-fourth of the $65 cost of the current 31-day pass.

When an adult boards a bus, they would tap their card and $2 would be deducted from their account, Rusch wrote in an email. The next time they tap, another $2 is deducted. On the third tap, theyd reach the pass price of our day-pass. So, theyd only be charged $1 additional dollar for that third tap to take them to $5. The rest of the rides that day are free.

The fare capping system has multiple benefits, officials said. Riders dont need to pay the cost for a pass all at once and can pay as they go. Savings are realized automatically. And there is no need to buy special passes, they said.

Metro also will provide reduced-price fare capping for youth, those with low incomes, seniors and those with disabilities, but the city must sill create a process for people to register for the discount fare cap.

For transfers, riders can simply tap the card and it will serve as a two-hour pass. Fast Fare Cards will be accepted on all buses, but paper transfers wont be accepted on BRT platforms.

If an account runs low, the system will allow one more ride, but the rider will then need to reload the card, with auto reload coming in late 2024. If a card is lost or thrown away, there will be a $2 replacement fee.

This summer, the city will introduce a new set of sale outlets where riders can buy and reload Fast Fare Cards, with nearly 100 in the Madison area, including Kwik Trip, Walgreens, Dollar Stores and others. The city also will contact current sales outlets to gauge interest in the new system.

Around March 2025, riders also will be able to tap credit cards or use Google Pay or Apple Pay to pay for all fares.

Madison appears on a lot of 'best of' lists. Here are 24 of them Happiest city Most caring city Most dog-friendly city Best place to live Best Beer Best biking Best city for the young and broke Best state capitals Best remote work situation Best city for recent grads Best city to rent with pets Best School Best place for kids Best food truck Best college football Sportiest city Best outdoor activities Best work-life balance Best city for runners Best scientists Best place to walk Most successful women Greenest city Best place to retire
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The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said Wednesday it approved Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLCs $1.8 billion acquisition of Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI), the exclusive bottler and distributor of Coca-Cola products in the country.

AEV and CCEP said they received the certificate of approval from the governments anti-trust body on Jan. 30, 2024 to proceed with the acquisition of CCBPI.

Both parties signed in August 2023 a non-binding letter of intent to acquire The Coca-Cola Companys 100-percent stake in CCBP, which has an enterprise value of $1.8 billion on a debt-free and cash-free basis.

Under the agreement, AEV will hold a 40-percent beneficial ownership in CCBPI, while CCEP will have the remaining 60-percent stake.

The final cash consideration will be subject to cash, debt-like items and working capital adjustments at completion of the transaction.

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AEV said the acquisition would support its portfolio diversification strategy to enter the branded consumer goods space.

AEV is well positioned to support CCBPIs growth ambition due to the synergies which could be generated from AEVs other business interests in the country, it said.

It is one of the most diversified conglomerates in the country with interests in power generation, financial services, real estate development, infrastructure, food, data science and artificial intelligence.

AEV made several acquisitions in the past couple of years including the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Citibanks consumer banking business.

CCBI operates 73 production lines, 19 manufacturing plants and about 50 sales offices and distribution centers across the country.

The proposed acquisition would also build on CCEPs successful expansion into Australia, Pacific & Indonesia (API) in 2021. CCEP bottles and sells Coca-Cola products in Western Europe.

AEVs stock rose P0.55 Wednesday to close at P48.50.
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Geneva, SwitzerlandWavering world leaders were told Tuesday to speed up efforts to agree a global treaty on avoiding a new pandemic catastrophefour years to the day since Covid-19 was declared an international emergency.

Countries have spent more than two years working out an accord on making sure countries are better prepared to deal with, or head off, the next pandemic.

The 194 World Health Organization member states wanted a treaty finalized by May this year when they started negotiations in December 2021when the Covid-19 death toll was in millions and health systems had been crippled.

But the momentum has sagged, time is running out and countries are still at loggerheads.

The WHO executive board heard last week that European countries want more money invested in pandemic prevention, while Africa wants the knowledge and financing to make it work, including greater access to vaccines and treatments.

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The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, headed by former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark and Liberian ex-president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, recommended in May 2021 creating a new pandemic treaty.

Clark, Sirleaf, and a host of other former heads of state released a letter Tuesday calling for greater action.

There are worrying signs of stalemate on several issues, which go to the heart of a transformative and equitable international system for pandemic preparedness and response, the signatories said.

A new pandemic threat is inevitable. A new pandemic is notif we act now, they warned.

With only two fortnight-long sessions of talks planned before the deadline, the signatories urged world leaders to seal an effective, legally-binding pandemic accord.

Worrying signs of stalemate

The new treaty must guarantee that all countries have the capacity to detect, alert, and contain pandemic threats, and the tools and means required to protect peoples health and economic and social well-being, they said.

The original plan was for the agreement to be sealed at the 2024 World Health Assembly of member states, the WHOs decision-making body, which convenes from May 27 to June 1.

Besides regional wrangling, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week that momentum had been slowed by entrenched positions and a torrent of fake news, lies, and conspiracy theories.

The letter signatories said the accord must be balanced, with all regions having guaranteed rapid access to pandemic-fighting tools, rather than charity filling the gaps, or private companies calling the shots.

Every region must have the capacities to research, develop, manufacture, and distribute life-saving tools like vaccines, tests, and treatments, they said.

Second, the accord must commit to a pathway to sustained financing for pandemic preparedness and response, they added.

Finally, the agreement must ensure countries are held to account for their commitments.

Without such assurance, a new pathogen simply has license to spread, they said, recommending an independent monitoring system along the lines of other existing treaties.

Grim anniversary

Signatories included former UN chief Ban Ki-moon, former WHO chief Gro Harlem Brundtland, and former UN aid chief Mark Lowcock.

Former presidents among the signatories were Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico, Mary Robinson of Ireland, Laura Chinchilla Miranda of Costa Rica and Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic of Croatia.

Former British foreign minister David Miliband and former Argentinian foreign minister Susana Malcorra also signed the letter.

The call came on the fourth anniversary of the WHO declaring the worsening Covid-19 situation a public health emergency of international concern.

The Jan. 30, 2020 declaration came when, outside China, there were fewer than 100 cases and no deaths.

But the pandemic quickly shredded economies and upturned lives. More than seven million Covid deaths have been reported to the WHO, though the true toll is thought to be far higher.
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President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said he is eyeing a separate bilateral code of conduct (COC) in South China Sea or West Philippine Sea with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

What I was saying before about having an agreement, if we cannot finish the code of conduct with ASEAN and China, I said let us make it bilateral first with the members of ASEAN, the President said partly in Filipino as he wrapped his two-day state visit in Vietnam.

Mr. Marcos stated that his two-day state visit in Vietnam signals the beginning of dialogue in crafting the COC between the two nations.

Asked when the COC with the socialist country would be crafted, the Chief Executive told reporters were pretty much there.

Thats the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) were working on between our two coastguards and the plans to have joint cruises, joint exercises this year 2024, Mr. Marcos said, referring to one of the MOUs he signed with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

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The Philippines and Vietnam are both claimants in the tension-filled South China Sea and share the same sentiments against Chinas unlawful claims in the region.

Well, the agreement is between Vietnam and the Philippines. So, whatever other countries do, thats not included, Mr. Marcos said.

The President noted the Philippines has no confrontations with Vietnam, and that despite having issues in territorial waters, it never escalated into a serious maritime conflict.
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President Marcos raised the possibility of pursuing a separate bilateral code of conduct in the South China Sea with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

What I was saying before about having an agreement, if we cannot finish the code of conduct with ASEAN and China, I said let us make it bilateral first with the members of ASEAN, the President said after his two-day state visit in Vietnam.

Mr. Marcos said his visit signals the beginning of the dialogue in crafting the COC between the two nations.

Asked when talks on the COC with Vietnam would begin, the Chief Executive said: Were pretty much there.

Thats the memorandum of understanding (MOU) were working on between our two coastguards and the plans to have joint cruises, joint exercises this year 2024, Mr. Marcos said, referring to one of the MOUs he signed with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong on Tuesday.

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The Philippines and Vietnam are both claimants in the tension-filled South China Sea and share the same sentiments against Chinas massive claims in the region.

Well, the agreement is between Vietnam and the Philippines. So, whatever other countries do, thats not included, Mr. Marcos said.

Earlier, Mr. Marcos said the South China Sea remains to be a point of contention during his call with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Ching.

Mr. Marcos said the Philippines continue to uphold the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

On regional and international issues, the South China Sea remains to be a point of contention. The Philippines position on the South China Sea has been consistent, clear, and firmly anchored in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, he said.
The announcement last week by Patrick County officials that a shuttered hospital would not be reopened by its current owner, Foresight Health, resulted in a strong response from the companys chief operating officer on Monday.

After reading the statement, I was enraged, said Joseph Hylak-Reinholtz, Foresight COO in a release. Rarely in my career have I ever been blindsided so callously by a local government official.

After a regular meeting of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 22, Patrick County Administrator Beth Simms issued a release quoting Brandon Simmons, Patrick County board chair.

We are disappointed that the promises made to Patrick County leaders and citizens by this company will not be fulfilled, said Patrick County Board of Supervisors Chair Brandon Simmons. He added speculation that the hospital would not reopen at all had been circulating for months.

Foresight Health wants the public to know that never, not even once, did Mr. Simmons try, either personally, through electronic mail, or though an intermediary, to reach me or anyone else who works for Foresight to ask for a status report on the project before releasing this surprise attack against the company, wrote Hylak-Reinholtz. His attempts to demonize Foresight Health are unprofessional and frankly, just plain wrong.

Hours later, Simms followed up with another release in response to Hylak-Reinholtz saying his three-page statement completely contradicts conversations recently had between Dr. Sameer Suhail, Foresight Healths CEO, and the Patrick County Administration.

Foresights website lists Hylak-Reinholtz as chief operating officer and general counsel and Suhail as president and CEO.

Simms said Foresight owes $33,101 in real estate taxes, $7,980 in unpaid property taxes and $526 in delinquent utility payment on the property at 18688 Jeb Stuart Highway in Stuart.

Requests for Foresight to remove the Opening 2023 signs have gone unanswered and even though Hylak-Reinholtz claims that several plans have been developed, none of them have been presented to Patrick County, wrote Simms. If Foresight had requested assistance to facilitate their reopening of the hospital in Patrick County, as suggested by Mr. Hylak-Reinholtzs statement, we would have promptly responded. However, no such requests were ever made.

Hylak-Reinholtz said the hospital has not reopened due to Foresights inability to come up with a plan that would be profitable and private discussions were underway with Simms to transfer ownership of the property to the county.

These discussions were supposed to remain confidential, but Mr. (sic) Simms broke that trust, and Foresight now feels compelled to tell its side of the story, wrote Hylak-Reinholtz. If the residents of Patrick County wants the truth, I am happy to give it to them. I hope they can handle it.

Hylak-Reinholtz said a proposal was in place to make Patrick County the owner of the facility and Foresight the manager if the county or a state agency would cover the cost of expensive renovations.

Delegate [Wren] Williams ultimately rejected the idea of a management agreement with Foresight because he believes, and perhaps it is true, that the community likely doesnt want us around anymore, wrote Hylak-Reinholtz. The residents of Patrick County need to be reminded that Foresight Health is a for-profit business and that a for-profit business, or any business for that matter, needs to turn a profit. It makes no sense to start a business that has a significant likelihood of failing.

Hylak-Reinholtz added that Foresight has already invested more than $4 million in the project.

While that is a significant amount of money, Foresight Health needs to secure more funds to successfully open this site as a critical access hospital, with an emergency room, and a psych program, and to recruit and employ doctors and other necessary health care professionals, Hylak-Reinholtz wrote. Hospitals are expensive to run. Old hospital buildings like the one in Stuart, need a lot of attention, which can cost millions of dollars to do it right.

Once the numbers were crunched, Hylak-Reinholtz said Foresight officials realized the initial business model was not viable.

Report after report, consultant after consultant, tells us the same story  that on average, emergency departments generate insufficient revenue from their billings to cover the costs, wrote Hylak-Reinholtz. In a small, rural hospital with significant overhead costs, it becomes almost impossible to make it profitable.

If Foresight Health had unlimited funds and an endless supply of blank checks, we would have opened the hospital many months ago, said Suhail in the statement. But our companys pockets are not as deep as wed like ... Our funds are not unlimited. Consequently, our company must make tough decisions, like delaying the project, considering purchase offers, or coming up with an entirely different approach.

Simms and Hylak-Reinholtz both agreed on one matter: Patrick County and Foresight will both be open to future proposals for the dilapidated property at the edge of town, with one caveat; the outstanding financial obligations to the county will need to be made current first.
A Democrat-controlled Virginia Senate panel on Tuesday removed Gov. Glenn Youngkin's chair of the parole board from a list of gubernatorial appointees requiring General Assembly confirmation.

Also Tuesday, Lisa Coons, Youngkin's state superintendent of public instruction, cleared a key hurdle when Democrats kept her name on a list of appointments requiring legislative confirmation. Coons had faced criticism from some Senate Democrats ahead of the February deadline for her confirmation.

Last August Youngkin announced that Virginia Parole Board Chairman Chadwick Dotson would become director of the Department of Corrections, succeeding Harold Clarke. Youngkin named Patricia West, a veteran of multiple high-level posts in GOP administrations, as the new chair of the parole board.

West is a former judge who has served as a member of the State Corporation Commission, director of juvenile justice and secretary of public safety under Gov. George Allen and as chief deputy attorney general under Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

The parole board, which decides when or if inmates can be released early, drew fire from Youngkin and from Attorney General Jason Miyares for its releases of inmates as the COVID-19 pandemic peaked during his predecessor's administration.

Days after he was sworn in in January 2022, Youngkin fired the existing parole board, saying an investigation revealed some of the inmates released had shortly before been denied parole, raising questions about the lawfulness of those abrupt reversals. He said the board violated victims rights and broke state law by not giving the required notice to victims.

Democratic critics have said that under Youngkin the board too seldom grants parole.

When the resolution goes in front of the full Senate, legislators could try to restore West's name.

On Tuesday Senate Democrats on the Privileges and Elections Committee also removed Garren Shipley, the spokesman for House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, from an appointment to the Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired, citing "caucus concerns."

A Youngkin spokesman did not immediately respond to questions from the newspaper.

As for Coons, earlier this month, said Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that she had heard some serious concerns around leadership in VDOE and was gathering facts and details.

Now that the list of Youngkin appointees has been amended and approved by the Senate Privilege and Elections Committee, it will go before the full Senate chamber next.

The legislature faces a Feb. 10 deadline to confirm Coons or her appointment will expire, according to the state constitution. She could still face trouble on the full floor, but approval from the Senate Privilege and Elections Committee is a good sign for her.

Democrats, who now have slight margins in both legislative chambers, have been in a long-running battle with Youngkin over key appointments.

Last year, Senate Democrats voted to remove Youngkin appointee Suparna Dutta from the State Board of Education. In 2020, Dutta led the fight against admissions policies that aimed to boost Black and Latino enrollment at the prestigious Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County and resulted in fewer Asian Americans being admitted.

In January 2023, a Virginia Senate committee struck the name of then-Health Commissioner Dr. Colin Greene from a list of appointees requiring General Assembly confirmation. Greene had come under fire in 2022 after he reportedly said he believed there was no evidence that racism plays a role in maternal and infant mortality rates.

Senate Democrats also voted last year to remove former prosecutor Steven Buck, a Youngkin appointee, from the Virginia Parole Board. Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, now the majority leader asserted that Buck, a former Richmond, Henrico County and Albemarle County prosecutor, almost never voted to grant parole.

In February 2022, Democrats who controlled the Senate rejected Youngkins nomination of Andrew Wheeler  former head of the Environmental Protection Agency under President Donald Trump  as Virginias secretary of natural resources. It was the first time legislators had spurned a governors Cabinet nominee since 2006, when House Republicans defeated Daniel LeBlanc, former state leader of the AFL-CIO, as then-Gov. Tim Kaines nominee for secretary of the commonwealth.

PHOTOS: Richmond teacher of the year 2024
Throughout the thousand-year reign of the Roman Empire, disparate populations began to connect in new ways  through trade routes, economic and political collaboration, and joint military endeavors. Now, an international team led by Stanford Medicine researchers has used genetic material from ancient skeletons to assemble a detailed picture of travel and migration patterns during the empires height.

Their study, published online Jan. 30 in eLife, analyzed the DNA of thousands of ancient humans, including 204 who had not been previously sequenced. It showed just how diverse many areas of the Roman Empire were: At least 8% of individuals included in the study did not originally come from the area of Europe, Africa or Asia in which they were buried.

Until now, we had to rely on the historical and archaeological record to try to piece together how the population was interacting and changing during this time, said Jonathan Pritchard, PhD, a professor of genetics and of biology in the School of Humanities and Sciences and one of the papers senior authors. Now, we can add new details from a genetic perspective.

Expanding geography

Previously, Pritchards group used ancient DNA to study the genetic diversity of people in and around Rome during a 12,000-year swath of history spanning the Stone Age to medieval times. They showed how the area rapidly grew more diverse around the time of the official founding of Rome, dated to 753 BCE.
An auction of Nelson Mandelas personal effects planned for next month in New York has been suspended due to opposition from the South African Government, the latter and the organizer of the operation announced on Tuesday January 30.

Some 100 precious objects belonging to the former hero of the anti-apartheid struggle, who died in 2013 at the age of 95, including an identity card and some of his famous colorful shirts, are included in the sale catalog. The sale is proposed by an American auction house, Guernseys, in association with Makaziwe Mandela, the daughter of South Africas first black President.

Although the sale was due to take place on February 22 at Lincoln Center, Guernseys has decided to suspend it, the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) announced on Monday. This sale is suspended, Guernseys confirmed on Tuesday in a message published on its website.

Initially scheduled for 2021, the sale had already been suspended. SAHRA had taken the matter to court, arguing that the auction included objects of historical and cultural importance. South African judges finally gave the go-ahead in December 2023, but a new appeal was lodged, the outcome of which is still awaited.

The suspension of the sale is a responsible and precautionary approach, SAHRA welcomed. It will allow the ongoing legal proceedings to be completed and give us the opportunity to pursue our goal of preserving our nations cultural heritage, it added.

The sale has drawn the ire of the South African government, which opposes it. Nelson Mandela is an integral part of South Africas heritage, Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa blasted on Friday January 26, calling for evidence of his lifes work to remain in the country. An appeal has been lodged to block the unauthorized export of certain objects destined for sale, the minister continued.

Guernseys described the sale as exceptional and unprecedented.

A black silk jacquard shirt, which Mandela wore when he met Queen Elizabeth in 1996, was offered at a starting price of $34,000, and an ostrich leather briefcase at $24,000. Epistolary exchanges and gifts from Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were also featured in the lot.
The body responsible for combating illegal immigration in Libya, in coordination with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), organized the return of 323 illegal Nigerians to their country on Tuesday January 30.

On Tuesday, we deported 163 illegal migrants of Nigerian nationality from Mitiga airport (north-west), including 107 women, 51 men and five children, said General Mohamad Baredaa, head of security for the body, which reports to the Ministry of the Interior. On the same day, 160 Nigerians will be sent back to their country from Benina airport in Benghazi (north-east), he added.

Since an agreement was signed in 2023 between the authorities in the west, south and east, the body in charge of removals at the Ministry of the Interior, based in Tripoli (north-west), has been coordinating operations. Dressed in black tracksuits with their hoods up, the Nigerian nationals, mostly young women, were assembled in a waiting room, given a snack and a pass, before boarding buses bound for the airport.

Libya, some 300 kilometers from the Italian coast, is one of the main departure countries in North Africa for thousands of migrants, mostly of sub-Saharan origin, who risk their lives to reach Europe by sea. Smugglers and traffickers have taken advantage of the climate of instability (that has been reigning in Libya since the assassination of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi in October 2011) to develop clandestine networks.

More than 700,000 migrants are present on Libyan territory, according to the IOM, based on data collected between May and June 2023.
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Antipsychotic injections upon hospital discharge were associated with a 75% reduction in 30-day rehospitalizations when compared with oral antipsychotics, according to a Rutgers Health study.

The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, support the use of long-acting injections over daily pills for both medical and financial reasons.

"Controlling symptoms to avoid hospitalization is even more important with schizophrenia than other conditions because each relapse makes the condition harder to treat going forward," said Daniel Greer, a clinical assistant professor at the Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy and lead author of the study.

Standards of care for schizophrenia treatment already call for long-acting injections over daily oral medication but still list pills as an acceptable treatment option, said Greer, adding that patients still choose pills over injections for reasons ranging from insurance coverage to fear of needles.

For the new studywhich compared 30-day readmission rates for all patients discharged from a single academic hospital with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder from August 2019 to June 2022240 patients opted for oral medication when they left the hospital, while 103 chose long-acting injections.

After 30 days, the readmission rate was 8.3% among patients who received oral medication and 1.9% among patients who received long-acting injections, which can last anywhere from two weeks to six months.

The researchers analyzed existing treatment data rather than randomly assigning patients beforehand to the different treatments, so the different outcomes could reflect factors other than treatment efficacy, but other trials have also tied long-acting injections to superior outcomes.

"I suspect the lower readmission rate that has been observed with long-acting injections has more to do with people forgetting to take a pill each and every day than with any inherent superiority of the injectable medication," Greer said.

"Other studies on the use of antipsychotic medication have found that roughly three-fourths of patients do not take oral medications exactly as directed, and it's much easier to get a shot every few months than it is to take a pill every day, even though the shot requires a trip to the doctor."

The authors of the study chose to compare one-month readmission rates because the 30-day window is both medically and financially important. For patients, the risk of severe symptoms requiring readmission declines significantly after they successfully control their condition for 30 days. For hospitals, compensation for their services often requires that patients not return to the hospital less than 30 days after their initial discharge.

Historically, many insurers have refused to cover long-acting antipsychotic injections because they cost more than oral treatments, even in generic formulations, Greer said. Coverage has improved, however, as more studies find that injections produce superior outcomes.

"The cost of the injections is far lower than the cost of hospital treatments," he said. "And each additional visit to the hospital increases the odds that there will be more visits in the future. Every time someone experiences psychosis, they lose gray matter, and they suffer damage that never heals. That's why it's so vital to minimize psychotic episodes."

More information: Pragya Thaman et al, Efficacy of Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics Versus Oral Antipsychotics in Preventing Psychiatric Rehospitalizations, Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (2024). DOI: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000001810
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In the past century, there have been three waves of opposition to transgender health care.

In 1933, when the Nazis rose to power, they cracked down on transgender medical research and clinical practice in Europe. In 1979, a research report critical of transgender medicine led to the closure of the most well-respected clinics in the United States. And since 2021, when Arkansas became the first U.S. state among now at least 21 other states banning gender-affirming care for minors, we have been living in a third wave.

In my work as a scholar of transgender history, I study the long history of gender-affirming care in the U.S., which has been practiced since at least the 1940s. Puberty blockers, hormone therapies and anatomical surgeries are neither experimental nor untested and have been safely administered to cisgender, transgender and intersex adults and children for decades.

On the other hand, the archives of transgender medicine demonstrate that backlash against these practices has historically been rooted in pseudoscience. And today, an anti-science movement that aims to discredit science altogether is fueling the fire of the current wave of anti-trans panic.

The 1930s: Eugenics and sexology collide

In the 1920s, the new science of hormones was just reaching maturation and entering mainstream consciousness. In the field of sexologythe study of human sexuality, founded in 19th century Europescientists were excited about research on animals demonstrating that removing or transplanting gonads could effectively change an organism's sex.

In 1919, the German sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld founded the Institut fur Sexualwissenschaft in Berlin, which became the world's leading center for queer and transgender research and clinical practice. Hirschfeld worked closely with trans women as co-researchers throughout the 1920s. Several trans women also received care at the institute, including orchiectomies that halted the production of testosterone in their bodies.

Within months of Hitler's rise to power in early 1933, a mob of far-right students broke into and shuttered the institute for being "un-German." Some of the most famous images of Nazi book burning show the institute's library set ablaze in an outdoor plaza.

Nazi ideology was based on another prominent field of science of that time: eugenics, the belief that certain superior populations should survive while inferior populations must be exterminated. In fact, Hirschfeld's sexology and Nazi race science had common roots in the Enlightenment-era effort to classify and categorize the world's life forms.

But in the late 19th century, many scientists went a step further and developed a hierarchy of human types based on race, gender and sexuality. They were inspired by social Darwinism, a set of pseudoscientific beliefs applying the theory of survival of the fittest to human differences. As race scientists imagined a fixed number of human races of varying intelligence, sexologists simultaneously sought to classify sexual behaviors as innate, inherited states of being: the "homosexual" in the 1860s and the "transvestite," a term coined by Hirschfeld himself, in 1910.

But where Hirschfeld and other sexologists saw the classification of queer and trans people as justifications for legal emancipation, eugenicists of the early 20th century in the U.S. and Europe believed sexually transgressive people should be sterilized and ultimately eradicated.

Based on this premise, the Nazis murdered thousands of LGBTQ people in the Holocaust.

The 1970s: Making model citizens

In the 1950s and 1960s, transgender medicine bounced back in the U.S. Scientists and clinicians at several universities began experimenting with new hormonal and surgical interventions. In 1966, Johns Hopkins became the first university hospital in the world to offer trans health care.

By the 1970s, trans medicine went mainstream. Nearly two dozen university hospitals were operating gender identity clinics and treating thousands of transgender Americans. Several trans women and men wrote popular autobiographical accounts of their transitions. Trans people were even on television, talking about their bodies and fighting for their rights.

Yet trouble was brewing behind the scenes. Jon Meyer, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins, was skeptical of whether medical interventions really helped transgender people. In 1979, Meyer, along with his secretary Donna Reter, published a short academic paper that ushered in the second wave of historic backlash to trans medicine.

In their study, Meyer and Reter contacted previous patients of the Johns Hopkins Gender Identity Clinic. To understand whether surgery had improved patients' lives, the authors developed an "adjustment scoring system." They assigned points to patients who were in heterosexual marriages and had achieved economic security since their operations, while deducting points from those who continued to engage in gender nonconformity, homosexuality, criminality, or sought mental health care.

Meyer and Reter believed that gender-affirming surgeries were successful only if they made model citizens out of transgender people: straight, married and law-abiding.

In their results, the authors found no negative effects from surgery, and no patients expressed regret. They concluded that "sex reassignment surgery confers no objective advantage in terms of social rehabilitation," but it is "subjectively satisfying" to the patients themselves. This was not a damning conclusion.

Yet, within two months, Johns Hopkins had shuttered its clinic. The New York Times reported that universities would feel pressure to similarly "curtail their operations and discourage others from starting to do them." Indeed, only a handful of clinics remained by the 1990s. Transgender medicine did not return to Johns Hopkins until 2017.

In requiring trans patients to enter straight marriages and hold gender-appropriate jobs to be considered successful, Meyer and Reter's study was homophobic and classist in design. The study exemplified the pseudoscientific beliefs at the heart of transgender medicine in the 1960s through the 1980s, that patients had to conform to societal normsincluding heterosexuality, gender conformity, domesticity and marriagein order to receive care. This was not an ideology rooted in science but in bigotry.

The 2020s: Distrust in science

As in the 1930s, opposition to trans medicine today is part of a broad reactionary movement against what some far-right groups consider the "toxic normalization" of LGBTQ people.

Legislators have removed books with LGBTQ content from libraries and disparaged them as "filth." A recent law in Florida threatens trans people with arrest for using public restrooms. Both Florida and Texas have pursued efforts to compile data on their trans citizens. Donald Trump's campaign platform calls for a nationwide ban on trans health care for minors and severe restrictions for adults.

And similar to the 1970s, opponents of trans medicine today frame gender-affirming care as a "debate," even though all major U.S. medical associations support these practices as medically necessary and lifesaving.

But widespread distrust in science and medicine in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected how Americans perceive trans health care. Prohibitions on gender-affirming care have occurred simultaneously with the relaxing of pandemic restrictions, and some scholars argue that the movement against trans health care is part of a broader movement aimed at discrediting scientific consensus.

Yet the adage "believe in science" is not an effective rejoinder to these anti-trans policies. Instead, many trans activists today call for diminishing the role of medical authority altogether in gatekeeping access to trans health care. Medical gatekeeping occurs through stringent guidelines that govern access to trans health care, including mandated psychiatric evaluations and extended waiting periods that limit and control patient choice.

Trans activists have fought with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, the organization that maintains these standards of care, by demanding greater bodily autonomy and depathologizing transsexuality. This includes pivoting to an informed consent model where patients make decisions about their own bodies after discussing the pros and cons with their doctors. Trans activists have been rallying against medical authority since the early 1970s, including calling for access to hormones and surgeries on demand.

It is not clear how the current third wave of backlash to transgender medicine will end. For now, trans health care remains a question dominated by medical experts on one hand and people who question science on the other.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: University of Central Florida

A UCF cancer researcher is discovering ways that the body's own natural killer (NK) cells can be energized to fight deadly pediatric cancers and improve immunotherapy by unleashing the power of our immune system.

UCF Associate Professor of Medicine Alicja Copik has focused her career on developing technologies that "beef up" the body's NK cells. These cells are the body's first line of defense in protecting you from viral and other pathogenic infections and even malignancies. Copik's lab has used nanoparticle technology and genetic engineering to make these cells into better-armed cancer killers.

Her technology is being used to grow NK cells that are in clinical trials for the treatment of adults with leukemia. In recent publications, she has studied if removing one of molecular "brakes" that cancer cells use to avoid being killedeither through antibodies or genetic engineeringcan enhance NK cell anti-tumor power.

In initial laboratory testing, this approach is showing strong results in killing neuroblastoma cancer cell lines, the most common cancer in infants. Children with high-risk neuroblastoma have a five-year survival rate of just 50%.

These children must undergo painful treatments that include chemotherapy, antibody therapy and bone marrow transplantshalf of which fail.

"We throw everything but the kitchen sink at these kids and still can't stop the cancer," says Brian Tullius, a U.S. Navy veteran, former flight surgeon, pediatric cancer specialist at AdventHealth in Orlando and the hospital's research medical director for pediatric cellular therapy, who is collaborating in Copik's research.

Dr. Alicja Copik's Enhanced NK Cells Kill Cancer Cells in Days. Credit: University of Central Florida College of Medicine

A video from Copik's lab shows the dramatic results of her technology. Neuroblastoma tumor cells are labeled red. Energized NK cells, which resemble black dots, are added to the red tumor spheroid and quickly kill the tumor cells, as seen by the loss and dispersion of the red cells.

NK cell therapy holds promise for all cancer patientsbut especially children with neuroblastomabecause it comes with very few side effects. And NK cells can be donated by a patient's family, friends or even complete strangers without the new cells attacking the recipient's healthy cells, which happens with other stem cell transplants or T cell therapies.

Copik is joined by UCF postdoctoral researcher Tayler Croom Perez in the pediatric cancer study. Croom Perez recently shared the team's preliminary results with other researchers, physicians and patients at the annual Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research Symposium in South Florida.

Croom Perez received her bachelor's in forensic science from UCF and completed her doctoral degree at Penn State University. She returned to her alma mater to do NK cell research.

"I have always loved scientific discovery," Croom Perez says. "Now I have a chance to use my science for translational outcomes that directly affect patient outcomes."

In the most recent report published by the British Medical Journal, Copik showed that her energized NK cells may improve the performance of cancer immunotherapy treatments that are currently under development. Such treatments work by unleashing the power of our immune system to fight cancer.

Many of the successful therapies block specific molecules, such as PD-L1, that stop our immune system from eliminating tumor cells. However, many of these therapies only work for a small portion of patients. So scientists are looking for other molecules that cancer may use to hide itself from being attacked by immune cells.

One of such promising molecules for developing new treatments is called TIGIT (T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains). Initial preclinical and early clinical research studies of TIGIT therapies showed promise. They greatly improved outcomes for patients being treated with currently approved immunotherapies and extended the immunotherapy benefits of these therapies to even more patients.

However, interim results of phase three clinical trials of patients with lung cancer have so far not delivered on the therapy's initial promise. This has prompted scientists to search for why these TIGIT drugs could be failing and to identify alternative therapeutic strategies.

Copik believes NK cells might be a solution to the challenges faced by TIGIT-targeted therapies. NK cells are critical to the efficacy of immunotherapies, including those targeting TIGIT, and the UCF researcher's published results suggest that TIGIT therapies may not have worked well because some of them can destroy NK cells.

In a prior work conducted by former postdoctoral student Faqrul Hasan, Copik's team reported that functional, highly activated NK cells that are better at killing cancer also have a high number of TIGIT molecules on their surface. Since most of the therapeutic TIGIT antibody candidates bind to TIGIT and also mark those cells for destruction by the immune system, including by NK cells, the team hypothesized that activated NK cells may also be eliminated.

The scientists tested this hypothesis in the lab and found that when NK cells have TIGIT antibodies attached to their surface, the NK cells commit fratricide, killing each other off. The UCF scientists found that the fratricide effect could be prevented by genetically engineering NK cells to remove their TIGIT molecules.

The team thinks that the destruction of NK cells may be a potential reason why some of the anti-TIGIT candidates have not been performing as expected in clinical trials. This work was performed in collaboration with physician and Professor of Pediatrics Dean Lee and his team at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

The collaborative team also found that NK cells that were genetically modified to lack TIGIT were also more metabolically "fit" and better at killing cancers. The team has shown that getting rid of the TIGIT "brake" on NK cells makes them better cancer killers, even without introducing other immunotherapy drugs.

Copik says the goal of her research is to "try to outsmart cancer."

"But we have learned that nature is devilishly smart," she says. "We are hoping that by studying how tumors and immune cells respond and evolve after drug treatments, we will be able to devise better combination treatment strategies to improve outcomes for cancer patients."

More information: Md Faqrul Hasan et al, Knockout of the inhibitory receptor TIGIT enhances the antitumor response of ex vivo expanded NK cells and prevents fratricide with therapeutic Fc-active TIGIT antibodies, Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (2023). DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007502 Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ)
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At least four children have died in a whooping cough outbreak in the Serbian capital Belgrade, state media said Wednesday, with doctors blaming falling vaccinations for the spread.

A fifth child is in a critical condition after contracting the respiratory illness, Vladislav Vukomanovic, the deputy head of a Belgrade pediatric hospital, told broadcaster RTS.

The doctor said around 70 children have been diagnosed, with two-thirds requiring hospitalization.

Vukomanovic blamed a lack of vaccination, including among older adults, for the current spread.

Vaccination against whooping cough is mandatory in Serbia. However, a rising number of parents are refusing to vaccinate their children, leading to periodic outbreaks across the region.

Neighboring Croatia has also struggled to contain a whooping cough epidemic that health officials said resulted in a drop in inoculation rates linked to the anti-vaccine movement.

 2024 AFP
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Study co-author and Skoltech PhD student Aleksei Kuzin posing next to a measurement stand. He is holding the photonic chip that is the sensing component in the new diagnostic platform. Credit: Aleksei Kuzin/Skoltech

Russian scientists have proposed a new promising rapid way to diagnose breast cancer. It will spot the disease based on a blood test that takes between 15 and 20 minutes. The solution can be adapted to spot other diseases, too. Once that is accomplished, it could even enable simultaneous screening for multiple diseases.

In further developing the method, its creators will have to consider its affordability and compatibility with the medical equipment routinely used in clinics, experts noted. The study is published in Applied Physics Letters.

Skoltech researchers and their colleagues from MISIS University, (V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology) and Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed methods for diagnosing breast cancer markers in a very short time frame. Importantly, the solution requires a very small blood sample.

According to its creators, supersensitive systems such as the one presented in the study will allow the disease to be spotted early on. This will ensure there is enough time to avert dire consequences and will enable treatment efficiency to be assessed.

The blood test runs on a microchip, which spots biomarkers of the disease. These are bubbles 20 to 150 nanometers in size, known as small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). They are involved in transporting substances and communication processes between cells in the body. Present in the blood and other bodily fluids, sEVs contain various kinds of molecules that indicate breast cancer and its progression depends on their concentration.

As the authors explained, the currently-used approach to measuring sEVs level relies on costly antibodies produced in animals. This conventional method is therefore expensive and time-consuming, because of the bodily fluid preparation involved. Further complications result from antibodies being unstable. The new solution provides an alternative.

"To determine vesicle concentration, our solution uses photonic microsensors. These are microchips where signals are carried by photons, the light particles. The fluid to be analyzed passes along a channel of an extremely small diameter, whose wall is treated with special 'target' molecules [DARPins] in the region where the microfluidic channel intersects with the waveguide carrying light," one of the technique's creators, Skoltech Ph.D. student Aleksei Kuzin, explained.

"The vesicles passing by stick to those molecules, and the more of them there are, the more they affect the way light travels along the waveguide. This effect can be measured."

According to the researcher, the advantage of the approach is that the molecules deposited on microchannel walls are smaller and cheaper than antibodies, and the photonic integrated circuits have a fairly straightforward design. This will enable their mass production down the road. The new technique for breast cancer screening could make the procedure more affordable and widely available.

Kuzin explained that the microtubes in the device are washable and the active layer of the sensor can be redeposited for repeated use.

Study co-author Vasiliy Chernysheva senior research scientist at Skoltech and the head of the Biophotonics Laboratory at Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatologyadded that biomarkers similar to vesicles could serve to diagnose other diseases, too.

This makes the new technique scalable. In the future, the device could be used in screening tests for multiple pathologies. Also, as the technology is enhanced the capacity to analyze other bodily fluids, such as urine, could be added.

The scientists are preparing to file for a patent on their invention.

"Breast cancer diagnostics is an actively developing area of Russian health care. The main advantages of the newly proposed method are the rapid test results, the small amount of biological fluid required, and the capacity for repeated use," said Senior Research Scientist Irina Shipunova of the National Medical Research Center of Hematology under the Ministry of Health of Russia.

She finds that the test's simplicity makes it fit for use during routine medical checkups. With more cases identified at an early stage and an adequate response, the ultimate number of favorable outcomes will increase.

That said, it is possible that even if the microchip itself proves fairly inexpensive, the analyzing device that will carry it could end up being expensive and could require highly qualified operators.

"Using biophotonics to detect oncomarkers, and tumor-specific microvesicles in particular, is a promising approach. Such solutions could make tests faster," said Albert Rizvanov, the head of the Personalized Medicine Center of Excellence at Kazan Federal University.

However, the expert pointed out, vesicles are not always exclusively associated with cancer. All cells constantly produce them in amounts that vary with the state of the organism, for example, depending on whether the person is feeling well and what they've been eating. So particular care is required in applying the method, so as not to get a false positive or a false negative result.

Rizvanov added that health care is a conservative industry where it is often not the best but rather the most infrastructurally convenient solutions that win. They rely on existing hardware and require no personnel retraining. This factor has to be considered in developing new medical techniques and equipment.

More information: A. Kuzin et al, Real-time surface functionalization of a nanophotonic sensor for liquid biopsy, Applied Physics Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1063/5.0167631
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Research fellow Dr Huang Jingsheng from NTU Singapore's School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology preparing new anti-brain cancer compounds in a fume hood. A silica column was used to get a purified form of the compounds (yellow liquid in flask). Credit: NTU Singapore

Researchers led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a new and precise way to treat the most common type of brain cancer using a substantially lower dose of X-rays than existing radiation treatments.

The method has been shown to curb the growth of brain tumors in mice, which paves the way for future clinical applications in humans.

Every year, more than 300,000 people are diagnosed globally with glioblastoma, the most common brain cancer among adults. The cancer starts as a growth of brain cells and, if not treated, quickly spreads through the brain. On average, patients diagnosed with glioblastoma survive for about one-and-a-half years.

One way to treat it is by using radiation like X-rays to kill the cancer cells. However, radiotherapy can accidentally damage healthy cells near the tumor, leading to side effects such as nausea, hair loss and memory problems.

Radiodynamic therapy is a more recent treatment option under development, in which a patient is injected with specially made compounds that create cancer-killing free radicals when X-rays activate them. The dose of X-rays patients receive to activate the compounds is lower, about 20% to 30% of the dose for conventional radiotherapy.

However, the anti-cancer compounds used in radiodynamic therapy, which contain heavy metals, do not target cancer cells accurately. They find their way into healthy cells and can be activated if they are close to where the patient receives the X-rays, leading to damage in the healthy cells.

Now, new research led by NTU's Prof. Pu Kanyi, from the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, is addressing these problems to make radiation treatment for glioblastoma safer. The study is published in Nature Materials.

Precision cancer killing

At the heart of Prof. Pu's advance is a novel compound developed by his team known as a molecular radio afterglow dynamic probe or "MRAP." It comprises biochemicals and iodine and no heavy metals.

In experiments with mice that had brain cancer, the MRAPs were injected directly into the animals' tumors, followed by X-rays at the same location. The X-ray dosage was equivalent to more than six times lower than the amount administered in existing radiodynamic therapy methods.

The MRAPs in the tumors absorb the X-ray radiation and become energized, unleashing cancer-killing free radicals only when they encounter a specific enzyme produced in abnormally large quantities by brain tumor cells.

PhD student Xu Cheng from NTU Singapore's School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology checking an X-ray machine for radiation leakage. The properties of new anti-brain cancer compounds were determined by energizing them with X-rays in the machine. Credit: NTU Singapore

In their experiments, the NTU team observed that the MRAPs did not produce free radicals in normal cells, creating no side effects. By contrast, traditional radiodynamic therapy compounds are not as "smart," and their anti-cancer functions can become activated even in healthy cells.

As a result, the side effects of using MRAPs in humans are expected to be lower than other types of radiation treatment.

After treatment with MRAPs, the brain tumors in the mice stopped growing, and these mice survived twice as long as untreated mice76 days compared with 37.

The animals also showed no sign of tissue damage nor apparent weight loss after being treated with MRAPs. The compounds were eventually passed out through urine and feces.

"We used very low dosages of X-rays and cancer-killing MRAPs. Also, the anti-cancer compounds were active only in the brain tumor and not healthy cells," said Prof. Pu. "So, we expect our treatment method to be safer and have fewer side effects than existing ones."

A patent has been filed on the MRAPs, and Prof. Pu's team is in discussions with potential investors who are keen on the research.

The findings from Prof. Pu's team "represent an important advance in combining X-rays and light to detect and treat microtumors," said Professor Marc Vendrell from The University of Edinburgh in Scotland, the United Kingdom, who was not involved in the study.

Prof. Vendrell, who develops chemical probes targeting cancer and inflammation for translational imaging studies in the clinic, added that the research "opens new avenues for the precise elimination of tumor cells in cancer patients."

"The results are very promising in that the treatment can be very effective against small tumors and with safe dosages of radiation," he said. "The next steps will be to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these treatments in larger pre-clinical models and, subsequently, first-in-human studies."

In the future, Prof. Pu's team plans to improve the MRAP's ability to target cancer cells and add cancer-curbing functions such as immunotherapeutic abilities that would help activate the immune system to destroy cancer cells and aid the body in fighting cancer recurrence.

New anti-brain cancer compounds in a foil-covered tube loaded in an X-ray machine to determine their properties by energizing them with X-rays. Credit: NTU Singapore

Earlier experiments by the team, published in December 2022 in Nature Biomedical Engineering, showed that in mice with cancer, another type of anti-cancer compound the scientists developed staved off new cancer cells introduced into the animals.

This was linked to the activation of the mice's cancer-fighting immune cells. But instead of X-rays, these anti-cancer compounds were energized by ultrasound.

More information: Jingsheng Huang et al, Molecular radio afterglow probes for cancer radiodynamic theranostics, Nature Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-023-01659-1
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An analysis of data for more than 500,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the U.S. found key differences in outcomes between cardiac arrests caused by drug overdoses and cardiac arrests due to other causes, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Cardiac arrest occurs when there is an electrical problem with the heart that causes it to stop beating. Each year, more than 350,000 people in the U.S. have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association's 2023 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.

People who survive after cardiac arrest can have brain damage, injury to internal organs or other long-term consequences. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests triggered by opioid overdose are a significant cause of death among adults 25 to 64, according to the Association's 2021 scientific statement on opioid-associated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and more than 15% of the opioid overdose emergency medical service cases in 2016 included cardiac arrest.

"Many communities face ongoing challenges with increases in drug overdoses, which tend to affect a younger, healthier population," said lead study author Aditya C. Shekhar, M.B.E., a medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. "Given the recent increases in drug overdose-associated deaths, there is immense public health interest to better understand these types of cardiac arrests and how to treat them."

Researchers analyzed data from the national Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) to compare out-of-hospital cardiac arrests from drug overdoses to cardiac arrests from other causes. The study included more than 360,000 cardiac arrest cases from 2017 to 2021. Of those, 8% were caused by drug overdoses, and 92% of cardiac arrests were from other causes.

Drug-related cardiac arrests were defined in the study as all intentional and accidental cardiac arrests caused by a presumed or known overdose of medication, drugs (legal/illegal) or alcohol (referred to as overdose-related).

The analysis found that people with overdose-related cardiac arrests:

had significantly higher survival rates and better neurologic outcomes compared to people with cardiac arrests from other causes when the first monitored cardiac rhythm was not shockable, meaning a heart rhythm that doesn't respond to a defibrillator;

were average age of 39 years old, compared to the average age of 64 years for those with cardiac arrests from other causes;

also had fewer health conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease, respiratory disease, high cholesterol or stroke than those who arrested from other causes; and

had better neurological outcomes. About 15% of people with drug overdose cardiac arrests survived with favorable neurological outcomesmeaning they can perform daily living activities independently and without assistancecompared to 7% of patients with non-drug overdose arrests.

Unfortunately, overdose-related cardiac arrests were less likely to be witnessed and less likely to have a shockable first-monitored heart rhythm, and therefore less likely to respond to a defibrillator. The analysis found:

About 95% of overdose patients had non-shockable heart rhythm, compared to 79% of patients with cardiac arrests from other causes.

When the first monitored heart rhythm was non-shockable, survival rates with good neurologic outcomes were significantly higher for patients with drug overdose cardiac arrests compared to cardiac arrests from other causes (10% and 3%, respectively).

Drug overdose cardiac arrests and non-overdose cardiac arrests had similar survival rates when the first-monitored cardiac rhythm was shockable (29% and 24%, respectively).

"We were surprised that survival rates and neurological outcomes were significantly better in patients with non-shockable heart rhythms from drug-related cardiac arrests, even after controlling for age and other factors," said senior study author Ryan A. Coute, D.O., an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Alabama-Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine. "Our study suggests that different causes of cardiac arrest have unique features and, as a result, have different trends in their outcomes. There may be a growing need to treat different causes of cardiac arrest with different techniques."

The study also found that only 1 in 5 cardiac arrests from drug overdoses were witnessed by a bystander, compared to nearly half of cardiac arrests from other causes.

Shekhar noted the importance of learning CPR and knowing the signs that someone may have had a cardiac arrest. "When someone has a cardiac arrest, their brain is starved of oxygen, and brain cells begin dying off within minutes," he said. "Performing CPR has been shown to dramatically improve outcomes for cardiac arrest by helping get blood to the brain quickly."

Study details, background and design

Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) is a multicenter registry across the U.S. for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Emory University.

The CARES database captures cardiac arrest data for more than 115 million people in 41 states.

The CARES dataset analyzed in this study compared 29,500 overdose-attributable out-of-hospital cardiac arrests to 338,073 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests from all other nontraumatic causes, out of a total dataset of 537,100 cardiac arrests between 2017 through 2021, the year for which the data was most complete when the authors began their analysis.

The remaining 169,527 cardiac arrest cases were excluded based on predetermined exclusion criteria: younger age 18; people in long-term care facilities; patients with active cancer; and people who had cardiac arrest after arrival of the emergency medical team.

The study's limitations include the fact that CARES registry data represents only about half of the U.S. population. Communities not submitting to the CARES registry might be experiencing patterns of cardiac arrest that differ from those included in the registry, therefore, this study's findings would not be applicable in these communities. In addition, the registry did not include information about the type of drug involved in the overdose causing each cardiac arrest.

"What surprised me about this study was that survival was so much better in the overdose-related cardiac arrests. Most cardiac arrests without a shockable rhythm fall into two groups: pulseless electrical activity (PEA), where there is an electrical signal but the heart is not pumping hard enough for a pulse to be generated; and those in asystole, which is when there is no pulse and no electrical signals from the heart.

"These findings indicate that more people with PEA and asystolic overdose survived," said Cameron Dezfulian, M.D., FAHA, lead author for the Association's 2021 scientific statement on opioid-associated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Dezfulian is medical director of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease ICU at Texas Children's Hospital, senior faculty member in pediatrics, anesthesiology and adult critical care medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, both in Houston.

"Previous research has confirmed that unstable blood pressure resulting in another cardiac arrest is a leading contributor to cardiac arrest death rather than the care from the emergency response team. So, why did people with overdose cardiac arrests have better blood pressure stability than the non-overdose patients?

"Additional research is needed to determine if the non-overdose patients have cardiac arrests that last longer, if they have another cardiac arrest or any other complication, each of which may play a role in poorer survival and outcomes. We also need more research to understand the biological and physiological effects of naloxone to determine if it may contribute," said Dezfulian.

More information: Aditya C. Shekhar et al, Cardiac Arrest Following Drug Overdose in the United States: An Analysis of the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival, Journal of the American Heart Association (2024). DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.123.031245 Journal information: Journal of the American Heart Association
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Researchers from Unity Health Toronto led a first-of-its kind trial in which Indigenous actors were trained to perform as patients and evaluate health care providers who completed intensive and brief Indigenous cultural safety trainings.

This innovative randomized clinical trial led by researchers at the Well Living House Action Research Center sought to evaluate the impact of an intensive Indigenous cultural safety training (ICS) and brief anti-bias training, compared to standard medical education.

Research shows that health care services routinely fail Indigenous populations, including in affluent countries such as Canada. Recommendations for improving health care for Indigenous communities often include specific training for clinicians on how to provide better care for Indigenous patients.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) calls on Canada to address the poor health outcomes among Indigenous communities, in part by providing cultural competency training for all health care professionals. However, there is limited evidence of the effectiveness of specific content and approaches to cultural safety training for health care professionalsparticularly with respect to whether or not these trainings have positive impacts for patients.

The researchers found that the tested anti-bias training and Indigenous cultural safety trainings have the potential to substantially improve patient experience and patient recommendations of clinicians. They also showed that using trained actors to serve as "secret shoppers" and evaluate health care providers is a feasible method of evaluating patient focused impacts of anti-bias training.

This trial demonstrates a novel, patient-oriented approach to understanding the effects of anti-bias training, said Dr. Janet Smylie, family physician and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair at St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto.

"There has been good uptake of TRC recommendations to implement Indigenous cultural safety training for health care providers and traineesresulting in rapid growth of a diversity of courses," said Smylie. "Despite all the new training, reports of inappropriate care of Indigenous patients leading to preventable harms is unfortunately still very common."

"The problem is trying to figure what type of training will actually make a positive difference for Indigenous patients. There is commonly a disconnect between clinician self-assessment and what Indigenous patients are actually experiencing."

Dr. William Cox, a co-author of the study with the organization Inequity Agents of Change, said feelings of safety are essential when thinking about the relationship between patients and doctors, particularly when it comes to Indigenous patients.

"A patient is in a vulnerable state, and needs to feel safe in their doctor's care. We know that Indigenous people often do not feel safe working with the largely White medical establishment, and we need evidence-based solutions to this issue. This research study is a huge and exciting step in that direction," Cox said.

"Crucial to the testing of any diversity intervention is its real-world impact. In the context of this study, our question of impact would be, "When medical professionals have received training, do their Indigenous patients feel safer?" This question led to one of the most innovative and exciting components of this study, its methodology involving standardized patients."

Actors trained to complete unannounced Indigenous standardized patient visits

The randomized controlled trial, led by Smylie and partners from the University of Wisconsin and San'yas, had three arms. The first arm included clinicians randomized to complete the intensive eight to 10-hour San'yas Anti-Racism Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course for health care providers.

The second arm included clinicians randomized to complete a previously demonstrated brief one-hour anti-bias training adapted to address anti-Indigenous bias. The third arm, the control arm, included clinicians who completed their standard continuing medical education (CME) and did not take specific anti-bias or Indigenous cultural safety training until after study completion.

Over the past several years, Unity Health Toronto staff and physicians have also taken the San'yas Anti-Racism Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course separately from this research.

The participants included 58 non-Indigenous staff physicians, resident physicians and nurse practitioners who worked in family practice clinics and the emergency department in four different teaching hospitals in Toronto.

Nine Indigenous actors were trained to perform as Indigenous patients and complete unannounced Indigenous standardized patient visits (UISP). As part of the UISP, the actors were trained to seek care from the participating clinicians for a type of arthritis.

During the UISP, the patient requested a prescription renewal for an anti-inflammatory medication. After the UISP, these actors scored their overall patient experience and also clinical practices for prescription of anti-inflammatory medications and pain assessment.

Throughout the trial, none of the participating clinicians detected that the actors were not real patients.

The primary outcomes of the trial included overall patient experience, the proportion of clinicians who would be highly recommended by the patient, the medication renewal, and physician pain management scores.

The trial found that clinicians in the intensive and brief ICS arms were six to eight times more likely to be highly recommended to friends or family members compared those in the control group. Overall patient experience scores were also significantly higher for those in the intensive and brief ICS arms compared to control. The trial did not detect differences in clinical prescribing and pain assessment practices.

The authors concluded that the trial demonstrated that UISPs are a feasible and effective tool to measure the impacts of ICS training or anti-bias training and that the tested intensive and brief ICS trainings hold promise to substantially improve Indigenous patient experience. A larger study is needed to determine the impact on clinical practice.

"We know Indigenous people have significant gaps in health access and health outcomes resulting from centuries of intensive dehumanization and policies intended to marginalize and exclude Indigenous people, and we must address this," said Dr. Suzanne Shoush, a First Nations/Black family physician who works at Unity Health Toronto as the Physician Lead, Indigenous Wellbeing, Reconciliation, and Partnerships and is also the Indigenous Health Faculty lead with the Department of Family and Community Medicine with the University of Toronto.

"Indigenous people are dying because they are not receiving the care that medical experts are supposed to be identifying and providing, but are not. Indigenous cultural safety training is a specific and critical skill that will allow us to make a difference in health care," she added.

"This research is critical in demonstrating the positive patient impact when physicians receive proper training that allows them to provide truly, holistically expert medical care that makes a difference in outcomes for patients and communities."
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The first new kind of pain medication in over two decades could be on the horizon for patients, with promising results announced Tuesday from a company trial.

For now, the drug from Vertex Pharmaceuticals is called VX-548. But in trials of patients undergoing abdominoplasties (tummy tucks) and foot bunion surgeries, VX-548 performed better than placebo at easing post-op pain, with no major safety issues seen.

It didn't bring superior pain relief compared with the opioid Vicodin (hydrocodone bitartrate/acetaminophen), the trial found, but it scored similarly to Vicodin on a standard measure called the Numeric Pain Rating Scale.

"We are very pleased with the results from the VX-548 pivotal program, which demonstrate a compelling and consistent combination of efficacy and safety across multiple acute pain conditions and settings," Vertex President and CEO Dr. Reshma Kewalramani said in a company statement.

She noted that the drug is already being fast-tracked for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, and said Vertex is "working with urgency to ... bring this non-opioid medicine to the millions of patients who suffer from acute pain each year in the U.S."

Millions of patients worldwide are in need of some kind of alternative to opioid medications, which work well to ease pain but come with serious risks for addiction and abuse.

"As a physician treating patients suffering from pain for many years, I know firsthand the critical need for new, efficacious and safe treatment options," Dr. Jessica Oswald, an associate physician in emergency medicine and pain medicine at the University of California, San Diego, said in the Vertex news release. She's also a member of the Vertex Acute Pain Steering Committee.

She called the findings on VX-548 "impressive," with the "potential to change the paradigm of pain management. I look forward to the potential of having a new class of acute pain medicinethe first in more than two decadesto use as an alternative to opioids to help the millions of people impacted by acute pain."

Just how does VX-548 work?

As the company explained, the drugs doesn't work directly on the brain, but instead targets cellular processes within the peripheral nervous system.

More specifically, VX-548 targets a cellular mechanism called a sodium channel, in this case sodium channel NaV1.8.

NaV1.8 "plays a critical role in pain signaling in the peripheral nervous system," Vertex said.

In the new trial, Vertex enrolled about 1,100 people who'd undergone tummy tuck surgeries, and a similar number who'd had bunion surgeries.

Patients got either a placebo, Vicodin (every six hours for 42 hours) or VX-548first at a dose of 100 milligrams (mg) and then again at a 50-mg dose every 12 hours for the next 36 hours. All were given in pill form.

On a standard measure gauging patients' pain intensity, VX-548 had scores that easily outperformed the placebo.

Compared to Vicodin, VX-548 was roughly equal in pain relief for the abdominoplasty patients, and less effective than Vicodin among the foot surgery patients.

But using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, VX-548 and Vicodin showed similar pain reductions: 47% and 43%, respectively, for the tummy tuck patients, and 51% and 53%, respectively, for people who underwent the bunion surgeries.

As for safety, "VX-548 was generally well-tolerated in this study," the company said. "The majority of adverse events [AEs] were mild to moderate," with the most common issues involving nausea or constipation.

More information: Find out more about pain medications at the Cleveland Clinic.

2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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The government in post after the election should declare a national health and care emergency, calling on all parts of society to help improve health, care, and well-being, say experts in the first report of The BMJ Commission on the Future of the NHS. "The BMJ's NHS commission: an emphatic recommitment to the founding principles" has been published in

The BMJ.

The new government should, in effect, relaunch the NHS with a renewed long term vision and plan, they argue.

"The NHS has never seemed so embattledand its core principle of 'free to all at the point of use' has never been so under threat," said Kamran Abbasi, The BMJ's editor in chief when he announced the Commission last year. Is it even possible to continue to provide high quality care for all, regardless of ability to pay, funded through general taxation? "We believe it is," says the Commission.

The BMJ Commission brings together leading experts from medicine and health care to identify the key challenges and priorities and make recommendations aimed at ensuring that the vision of the NHS is realized

The first paper in the series examines the relevance of the founding principles of the NHS, now and for the future, and recommends critical changes in the scope, organization, and governance of the service.

The authors, led by Lord Nigel Crisp, believe that the NHS founding principles are still appropriate today and provide a strong foundation for the future, and they urge the new government to re-commit to these principles as part of a wider set of actions.

The NHS also needs long term thinking and stable, consistent policies, they write, and as such, they recommend establishing an independent Office for NHS Policy and Budgetary Responsibility to hold government to account for delivery of NHS plans and policies.

Additional recommendations include creating a cross-government and cross-sector health, care, and well-being strategy, developing better ways to connect patients, the public, and community groups with the NHS, particularly at local level, and giving immediate priority to tackling inequalities in access and outcomes, with particular attention to the disadvantage and racism suffered by ethnic groups both as patients and NHS staff.

Future papers in the series will examine and produce recommendations on how we deliver health and equity, how we should fund and pay for the health service, and how we develop a motivated, happy, well trained workforce while prioritizing sustainability and producing a greener NHS.

"The national health and care crisis we are facing requires an urgent, robust, and values based response," say Kamran Abbasi and Commission co-chairs Victor Adebowale, Parveen Kumar, and Liam Smeeth in an editorial. "It requires new thinking and old values."

"Above all, it requires us to recommit to the founding principles of the NHS, to put the health and well-being of our population first, and to revive the spirit of Aneurin Bevan and a nation that came together in the hope of creating a better, fairer, healthier world," they conclude.
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Doctors Without Borders announced Wednesday that it had begun a mass vaccination campaign against hepatitis E in South Sudan, where an outbreak of the deadly disease is threatening pregnant women in particular.

At least 19 people have died from the disease, which is usually spread through contaminated drinking water, in the country's flood-hit northern Fangak County since April, the aid group said in a statement.

But the death toll could be higher as years of flooding have turned the region's villages into islands, forcing resident to use canoes to travel and cutting them off from the nearest hospital, it added.

The vaccination campaign, which began on December 11, "is the first to be conducted during the acute stages of an active Hepatitis E outbreak anywhere in the world", said the group, which is known by its French initials MSF.

By June the group hopes to fully vaccinate 12,776 women and girls aged 16-45 in these villages, which have also been affected by malaria and malnutrition.

Women are most at risk from hepatitis E, which has a fatality rate "as high as 40 percent for pregnant women", MSF said.

More than 500 people have been treated for the disease at the hospital in the town of Old Fangak since April.

Hepatitis E is a liver disease caused by a virus transmitted through poor sanitation that affects 20 million people globally a year, according to the World Health Organization.

Symptoms include fever, vomiting and jaundice, and in rare cases liver failure.

"There is no cure for hepatitis E and sadly, 70,000 people die from the disease each year," said Mamman Mustapha, MSF's head of mission in South Sudan.

The only WHO-authorized hepatitis E vaccine was developed in 2012 by the Chinese firm Xiamen Innovax Biotech.

But the company does not produce large quantities of the vaccine and doses can be expensive, MSF said.

The first mass vaccination campaign using the jab was carried out in South Sudan's Bentiu displacement camp in 2022, inoculating more than 25,000 people, it added.

The aid group called for more vaccine doses to be produced, and for local health and humanitarian organization to improve the water and sanitation conditions in the region.

 2024 AFP
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Clear legal rules outlining the use of the sperm and eggs of those who are incapacitated must remain in place to protect the vulnerable from being involved in fertility treatment without their consent, a new study says.

There are strict laws in England and Wales involving the use of reproductive materials, but the research outlines how recent court cases have weakened this existing rigorous consent regime.

It warns this could create a common law exception to informed consent, leaving the current law in a delicate position. The research says it is "not outside the realms of possibility" that some people may try to take advantage of the recent court cases to conceive their 'perfect family' without the knowledge of their incapacitated partner.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (as amended in 2008) stipulates that each party must give written, informed consent to ensure that our reproductive materials are used within strict parameters.

The landmark case of "Y v A Healthcare NHS Trust [2018] EWCOP18" caused significant concern when judges authorized the retrieval, storage and use of sperm from a suspected brain stem dead man for procreative purposes under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

The decision has since been confirmed as the correct approach by the Court of Protection in Re X (Catastrophic Injury: Collection and Storage of Sperm) [2022] EWCOP 48, and a public consultation was thereafter opened by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in Spring 2023 on the matter of consent. Presumed consent was suggested by the Authority as an alternative to informed consent, akin to the 'opt-out' system currently for organ donation in the UK. This idea seems to have been dropped as of early 2024, but the concern over incapacitated patients remains.

The study, by Lisa Cherkassky from the University of Exeter Law School, is published in the journal Legal Studies. It says the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (as amended in 2008) and its strict consent regime around informed consent should remain the 'benchmark' for lawful fertility treatment in the UK.

Dr. Cherkassky said, "The consequences of the decision in Y v A Healthcare NHS Trust could be highly significant, raising questions about the exploitation of incapacitous patients and the misuse of genetic material.

"The legal preference for rigorous consent in medial care over the past three decades is appropriate, and any alternative forms of consent could open a slippery slope to the unethical use of vulnerable individuals for their reproductive materials."

The UK has one of the most rigorous fertility legal frameworks in the world. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (the 1990 Act) was the first attempt to regulate what quickly became a global race to create babies in vitro after the birth of Louise Brown in 1978.

The appeal courts have mostly adhered to the strict regime of the 1990 Act, sending a clear message to practitioners and patients that the informed consent of both gamete providers was the key to unlocking fertility treatment in the UK.

Dr. Cherkassky said, "To authorize fertility treatment in the 'best interests' of a suspected brain stem dead patient, who has no capacity or understanding of the procedure or its consequences, could not only be viewed as illogical, but runs the risk of 'plundering' vulnerable patients for their reproductive materials in a highly invasive and arguably sexual way. It could also bring the law and the medical profession into disrepute by performing medical procedures upon incapacitous patients on the request of third parties with no clear benefit to the patient.

"The 1990 Act does not allow for an 'inferred' or a 'presumed' consent to fertility treatment; it requires written consent to the posthumous use of embryos under Schedule 3. Yet recent cases show a judicial trend towards authorizing fertility treatment without the consent of one gamete provider where they can no longer consent for themselves.

"The right of withdrawal (from fertility treatment) is granted in recognition of the dignity to which each individual is entitled. Such must include an individual's right to control the use of their own genetic material. In my judgment, it would be contrary to public policy for courts to enforce agreements to allow use of genetic material where informed consent is lacking.

"Ethically it would be very difficult to support the use of patients who lack capacity in assisted reproductive technology if they did not consent to it in advance, for reasons of dignity, confidentiality, genetic destiny, public policy, and the individual's right to choose parenthood.

"The chances of a similar case coming before the Court of Protection in the future are high. The next 'incapacitous retrieval' case will be just around the corner. In the hope that the decision in Y v A Healthcare Trust has not led to a total disarticulation of the 1990 Act, the next case is greatly anticipated and it is hoped that the decision will adhere to the clear rule of law on informed consent to the storage and use of gametes to prevent any further legal and ethical uncertainty."

More information: Lisa Cherkassky, Incapacitous patients, assisted reproductive technology, and the importance of informed consent, Legal Studies (2023). DOI: 10.1017/lst.2023.10
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging health care providers to be "on alert" for patients with symptoms of measlesa virus declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000after nearly two dozen cases have been reported across the country in the past month.

Between Dec. 1 and Jan. 23, the CDC has been notified of 23 measles cases, including seven "direct importations" by international travelers and two outbreaks with more than five cases each, according to a letter the federal agency sent to clinicians last week.

Most of the cases were among children and teenagers who had not been vaccinated against the virus, and nine of them were reported by the health department in Philadelphiaa city a two-hour drive from Baltimore. Additionally, the Virginia Department of Health notified people earlier this month that they may have been exposed to measles if they were at Dulles International Airport on Jan. 3 or at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Jan. 4.

The outbreak may be scary, said Dr. Theresa Nguyenchair of pediatrics at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towsonbut it's important for parents not to panic.

Instead, she said, "the message is, "Get your children vaccinated.'"

The measles vaccine used todaywhich also protects people against mumps and rubellawas approved by the Food and Drug Administration more than 50 years ago. But the nationwide MMR vaccination rate has fallen by two percentage points over the past two school years, after sitting firmly at 95% for 10 years. In Maryland, the child vaccine exemption rate increased by 0.4 percentage points from the 202122 school year to the 202223 school year.

Measles, a very contagious, viral illness characterized by a cough, runny nose and pinkeye, hasn't been endemic in the U.S. in more than 20 years. But in 1998, the progress made in convincing parents to vaccinate their children was jeopardized by the publication of a flimsy study that suggested getting the MMR vaccine may predispose a child to developing autism.

The journal that published the study has since retracted it, and Andrew Wakefieldthe paper's lead authoris now barred from practicing as a physician in the United Kingdom. But the vaccine hesitancy seeded by his research persists today, Nguyen said. And since the coronavirus pandemic, vaccine hesitancy has only grown, she added.

Nguyen recently sent a letter of her own to GBMC's pediatricians, asking them to be aware of the increase in cases and to add measles to the list of viruses that may explain a child's fever or cough.

It also needs to be easy for families to vaccinate their children, said Dr. Esther Liu, chair of the department of pediatrics at the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie.

The hospital's community outreach program is working with a local elementary school to help parents ensure that their children are caught up on their vaccines before an outbreak begins, Liu said.

The CDC recommends that all children get two doses of MMR vaccine. Children should receive the first dose when they're 12 to 15 months old and the second dose when they're 4 to 6 years old.

However, Liu said, it's important for parents to know that their child can be vaccinated when they're as early as 6 months old if they are planning to travel to a country where measles is common, their child has been exposed to the virus, or there is an outbreak nearby.

For parents who are nervous about vaccines, Liu recommended that they check out healthychildren.orga parenting website run by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The website has easy-to-understand and well-researched articles about a number of topics, including the risks and benefits of vaccines.

Despite the recent measles outbreaks, the virus is much less common than it once was. Between 1989 and 1991, outbreaksmany of them clustered in areas where immunization rates were lowsickened more than 55,000 Americans and killed 123.

For comparison, between 2022 and 2023, 179 cases were reported to the CDC. Nguyen may have seen people with measles when she was a young child living in Vietnam, she said, but she certainly hasn't seen any patients with the virus since she became a physician.

But the success of vaccinesconsidered to be one of the greatest public health advancements in historycan have some ironic consequences, Liu said.

"As parents, we want to protect our kids. That's a very natural response," she said. "Because we don't see the devastation of these actual illnesses because we have better control in this country, I think it's easier to fear the vaccine more than the illnesses."

"I really tell parents," she continued, "'Make sure you understand what it is that we're trying to protect your child from.'"

2024 The Baltimore Sun. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Angiotensin II induced-hypertension and aortic stiffening is reduced by administration of amnion epithelial cells. (A) Immunostaining for HLA-G in angiotensin II and angiotensin II + amnion epithelial cell (AEC) treated mice. (B) Effect of amnion epithelial cells (AECs) on angiotensin II-induced hypertension (n = 811). (C) Effect of angiotensin II infusion and co-treatment with AECs on pulse wave velocity (n = 67). (D) Delta change (day 0 and 14) of pulse wave velocity (n = 67). Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52214-0

Scientists from La Trobe University and the Hudson Institute have demonstrated that cells from placentas could have therapeutic benefits for patients suffering from high blood pressure.

The research, led by La Trobe senior lecturer in physiology and pharmacology, Dr. Michael De Silva, and published in Scientific Reports, has advanced La Trobe's recent studies into using placenta cells for stroke recovery and has passed human safety trials.

In the next phase, this new therapy will be assessed for its efficacy in reducing brain injury caused by stroke, pending Therapeutic Goods Administration approval.

"Here we have built on the groundbreaking results of La Trobe's previous studies using these cells in stroke models," Dr. De Silva said. "If infused within a day after a stroke, the cells target the affected area of the brain, and reduce inflammation and nerve cell death."

"We realized that we could test if similar protection could be seen in reducing the damage high blood pressure causes in the body and we found that the treatment reduced inflammation in blood vessels," Dr. De Silva said.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the leading cause of strokes and heart attacks, and over time creates inflammation in the arteries and can lead to vascular dementia. More than one in every three Australians over the age of 18 has high blood pressure.

The research team at La Trobe led by Dr. Michael De Silva, Dr. Quynh Nhu Dinh, and Professor Chris Sobey found that the cells, collected by the Hudson Institute from placentas donated by mothers after cesareans, reduced inflammation and prevented cognitive impairment.

"Blood pressure control rates are at an alarmingly low level of 32% in Australia. While a drug can reduce high blood pressure, these cells could target inflammation in the arteries caused by hypertension and therefore reduce the associated risks of cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairment," Dr. De Silva said.

Dr. De Silva said while the research was in its early stages and the team would continue to work on how this knowledge may benefit patients with high blood pressure, he was satisfied to see that this research could eventually lead to a new form of therapy that reduced damage to blood vessels and the brain when blood pressure was high.

More information: Quynh Nhu Dinh et al, Human amnion epithelial cell therapy reduces hypertension-induced vascular stiffening and cognitive impairment, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52214-0
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Space-filling model of the Cholesterol molecule. Credit: RedAndr/Wikipedia

In a groundbreaking study, a team led by Wurzburg Professor Jose Pedro Friedmann Angeli has shown that the cholesterol precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) plays a crucial role as an antioxidant: it integrates into the cell membranes and protects the cells by preventing a certain type of cell death, known as ferroptosis.

"Until now, the accumulation of 7-DHC was only associated [with] neurodevelopmental defects, now we show that it actually increases cellular fitness and could promote a more aggressive behavior in cancers such as Burkitt's lymphoma and neuroblastoma," says Friedmann Angeli.

The newly discovered protective function of 7-DHC opens up exciting prospects for further improving the treatment of cancer and other diseases associated with ferroptosis. "It gives us new opportunities to test potential inhibitors that target cholesterol biosynthesis and are already established in medical practice."

The researchers report this in the journal Nature. In addition to the Wurzburg team from the Rudolf Virchow ZentrumCenter for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, the following scientists contributed to the study: Dr. Maria Fedorova (Dresden University of Technology), Marcus Conrad (Helmholtz Munich), Derek Pratt (University of Ottawa), and Andreas Trumpp and Hamed Alborzinia (German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ Heidelberg).

Observing changes in 7-DHC levels

High cholesterol levels are associated with health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. Most studies focus on how cholesterol contributes directly to these diseases.

In this area, the discovery of the cholesterol precursor 7-DHC as an antioxidant opens up new possibilities: Studies on changes in 7-DHC levels could provide crucial new insights into the diseases. In addition, drugs that specifically block 7-DHC production should be researched in combination with other drugsthis could have a positive effect in the treatment of some cancers.

Possible effects on tumor development

"Our next research goal is to investigate the effects of 7-DHC accumulation during tumor development," says Wurzburg ferroptosis expert Jose Pedro Friedmann Angeli.

The team responsible for the publication in Nature also calls for further epidemiological studies.

There are drugs authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that can inhibit the DHCR7 enzyme. These include trazodone, which is prescribed around 20 million times a year in the U.S., sometimes even for off-label use to treat insomnia.

"Studies have shown that people taking this drug have elevated plasma levels of 7-DHC. Epidemiological studies are crucial to better understand possible effects here," says Friedmann Angeli.

These studies would help to find out whether there is a connection between patient groups who regularly take ferroptosis-modulating drugs such as trazodone and cancer incidence, the occurrence of metastases or other critical aspects of public health.

More information: Jose Angeli, 7-Dehydrocholesterol is an endogenous suppressor of ferroptosis, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06878-9. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06878-9 Journal information: Nature
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A novel study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, shows that patients with vitiligo incur significantly higher health care costs than people without this skin condition. The findings reveal an unmet need for cost-effective treatments and highlight the importance of fully identifying the drivers of economic burden for patients with vitiligo.

Lead investigator Khaled Ezzedine, MD, Ph.D., Department of Dermatology, AP-HP, Henri Mondor University Hospital, and Epidemiology in Dermatology and Evaluation of Therapeutics (EpiDermE)EA 7379, Universite Paris-Est Creteil (UPEC), explains, "Data regarding the economic burden of vitiligo are scarce and outdated. Our study quantifies the health care costs and health care resource utilization (HCRU) among patients with vitiligo. Determining medical costs will help identify the main expenditure predictors and spending patterns."

Vitiligo, a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects 0.5-2.0% of the United States population, is characterized by skin depigmentation caused by the loss of melanocytes. Patients with vitiligo incur direct costs associated with their condition through medical fees, pharmacy expenses, and out-of-pocket costs (e.g., sunscreens, protective clothing, cosmetic concealers, and camouflage products). They may also experience indirect costs owing to psychosocial effects, loss of work productivity, and lost opportunities (e.g., marriage, career choice, promotions, salary increases, or education).

Dr. Ezzedine continues, "Patients with vitiligo are often reported to have psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, and shame, leading to low self-esteem and social isolation. Higher costs for patients with vitiligo than for persons without it may partly be explained by a higher risk of mental health conditions as well as other comorbidities among patients with vitiligo, including thyroid disease, diabetes, and alopecia areata that impact the cost of the disease."

For this retrospective cohort analysis, the Merative MarketScan Commercial Database, health care costs, and HCRU were evaluated for 49,512 patients with vitiligo compared to 99,024 people without vitiligo in the US between January 2007 and December 2021.

Outcomes included all-cause and vitiligo-related costs (2021 dollars) and all-cause HCRU, including mental health-related HCRU. Patients with vitiligo incurred significantly higher all-cause costs ($15,551 vs. $7,735) and vitiligo-related costs ($3,490 vs. $54) costs than controls. Mental health-related HCRU was also significantly higher among patients with vitiligo. Taken together, health care costs and HCRU were significantly higher among patients with vitiligo than among controls.

In this analysis, the increased costs were associated with significantly higher inpatient costs, ER visits, ambulatory visits, number of prescriptions and prescriptions costs, and other costs (e.g., medical equipment and home health care), illustrating the importance of independently evaluating the economic burden of different skin conditions. The results from this study show that the economic burden of vitiligo was comparable with those of other well-studied dermatologic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

This study shows that the increased health care costs for patients with vitiligo versus those of non-vitiligo controls were driven by medical costs rather than pharmacy costs, and the increased HCRU was primarily the result of outpatient visits compared with inpatient or ER visits, which aligns with the main cost drivers identified in studies of the economic burden of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

Dr. Ezzedine concludes, "The health care costs and HCRU for patients in the US with vitiligo in this study were significantly higher than for patients without a vitiligo diagnosis. The economic burden was markedly higher for patients receiving treatment with systemic effects or with new mental health diagnoses than for the total vitiligo population. These findings reveal an unmet need for cost-effective treatments and highlight the importance of fully identifying the drivers of economic burden for patients with vitiligo."

More information: Khaled Ezzedine et al, Economic Burden Among Patients with Vitiligo in the United States: A Retrospective Database Claims Study, Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.08.025 Journal information: Journal of Investigative Dermatology
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Cancer stem cells, marked in red, disappear in the presence of the reference compound (Ru1). Credit: Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS)

Many cancer therapies, in addition to producing numerous side effects, fail to achieve complete tumor remission, partly due to the presence of cancer stem cells, which are difficult to eradicate. These cells can self-renew and play a key role in tumor recurrence and metastasis processes, so there is significant interest in developing therapies that target this subset of tumor cells.

A collaboration between chemists from the Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS), led by Prof. JL Mascarenas, and cell biologists from the CSIC (Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas Sols-Morreale, IIBM CSIC-UAM, Madrid), led by Dr. Bruno Sainz, has led to the discovery of a new class of compound that targets cancer stem cells and reduces their potential to generate tumors.

For some years, Prof. Mascarenas' laboratory has been conducting basic research on certain molecules based on metal complexes that can interact very selectively with DNA. These findings have allowed Dr. Sainz's group to conduct extensive studies with mice implanted with patients' tumors, demonstrating a powerful antitumor effect of these complexes. The scientists have demonstrated anticancer effects in pancreatic, colorectal, and osteosarcoma tumors, with low secondary toxicity, and studies on other types of cancer are currently underway.

The new research is published in the Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research.

Cancer stem cells rely on mitochondrial respiration to survive and evade the immune system's defenses, which represents a metabolic Achilles' heel. Mechanistic studies carried out this time suggest that the new compound, called Ru1, promotes a decrease in the expression of genes necessary for this respiration, the main energy source for these cells, causing them to lose their cancerous potential. Dr. Sainz's group has also demonstrated that combined therapies with other antitumor agents are possible, resulting in additive effects.

The project is currently in an advanced stage for its transfer and preclinical valorization.

More information: Sonia Alcala et al, Targeting cancer stem cell OXPHOS with tailored ruthenium complexes as a new anti-cancer strategy, Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02931-7

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A white winter landscape might look magical, but the cold and snow and ice can make even the simplest of tasks potentially dangerous.

"It's slip and fall season," said Dr. Letitia Bradford, an orthopedic surgeon who practices in rural communities in New Mexico and California. "We see a lot of ankle and wrist fractures during this time as people are slipping on water when it's raining and ice spots or snow in colder areas."

Orthopedic surgeons with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) have some important tips for getting through the winter safe and injury-free:

Slow down

People who are cautious and mindful of conditions around them are less likely to slip and fall, Bradford said.

"The thing that I tell people the most is to really take their time when doing something. Most of the time, injuries like slips and falls happen when you're in a hurry," Bradford said.

People should move slowly and deliberately and keep an eye out for hazards like puddles, black ice and snow-hidden curbs when walking about, especially when carrying things like grocery bags that obstruct your view of the ground.

"You can't always watch out for ice spots because they do sneak up on you sometimes, but try to be wary of them when walking," Bradford said. "Taking your time really is the key to a lot of injury prevention."

Pick the right footwear

Shoes or boots with proper grip and good traction are essential for winter walking, even when completing short tasks outside.

People who must go out in treacherous conditions might consider adding traction devices like ice cleats or ice grips to their footwear, Bradford said.

"And if you are older and need to use a cane or walker, I cannot stress to you enough the importance of using that cane or walker in these times because it gives you an extra point of fixation and support on the ground," Bradford said.

Keep your core strong

Winter often demands people use muscles that are otherwise neglected, whether they are shoveling snow, pushing a stuck car or clearing tree limbs broken by ice or snow.

"A lot of people can aggravate their backs and muscles from overusing muscles that they don't normally use," Dr. Todd Albert, surgeon-in-chief emeritus at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, said in an ACS news release. "We see strain injuries from that kind of overuse."

To ward these injuries off, consider exercising the core year-round by engaging in a mix of aerobics and strength training classes at lease three times a week.

A strong core trained by yoga or Pilates in particular can act as a brace to protect against serious injury.

"I think doing all of those things together will both increase your bone density and balance to protect against injuries that occur more often in the winter," Albert said.

Know your limits

Many folks take pride in their prowess at winter sports like skiing or snowboarding, but these high-impact activities can be dangerous if a person overestimates their skills.

Albert has become a "ballroom skier" these days, trading in black diamond runs for less risky ski trails.

"If you're a skier and you're 40 years old, don't think you can ski like you did when you were 20 years old," Albert said.

This extends to chores around the home as welleven taking out the trash can lead to an injury if a person falls.

"Any kind of rotational injury can cause skeletal injuries," said Dr. Brad Yoo, an associate professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation at Yale School of Medicine. "There are a myriad of injuries that can occur due to slips and falls, so try to be very cognizant and conscious of what kind of surface and terrain you're on."

Yoo also urges people to reach out to their doctor promptly if they can't tell how badly they've been injured in a fall, particularly if over-the-counter pain relievers aren't easing the swelling and pain.

"If the suspicion is there, you should seek care. You don't want to delay your care for four or five days thinking it's nothing," Yoo said. "Orthopaedic injuries are easier to manage if the problem is dealt with urgently."

Watch out for your neighbors

Small acts of kindness can make a big impact on those around you, especially if extended snowstorms lead to heavy loads of snow compacting and turning into ice.

"If there are people near you who can't get out of their house because they're older or have other issues, be a good neighbor and clear their snow if you can," said Dr. Bryant Oliphant, an orthopaedic surgeon at Detroit Receiving Hospital.

"People aren't necessarily aware of ice or other slick spots when they're going for a walk, so if you're aware and can maintain your sidewalks and roads, I think that goes a long way to helping other people out," Oliphant added.

Seniors in particular could use the help to avoid a "game-changing" injury, Oliphant said.

"You're doing fine, and all of a sudden, you break your hip, wrist or ankle," Oliphant said. "That can ruin your winter and change things, especially if you're elderly. It can be very hard to recover from these types of injuries."

More information: Ohio State University has more about winter safety.

2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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U.S. cases of syphilis have soared past numbers seen just a decade ago, new government statistics show. The grim numbers are for 2022, the latest year for which an accurate tally is available.

More than 202,000 cases were recorded among Americans that yeara 17% rise over 2021 numbers and an 80% rise over numbers recorded in 2018, the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

Congenital syphiliswhen the disease is passed from a mother to her newborncan be very harmful to infants, and those cases have also risen at an alarming rate. Over 3,700 such cases were reported in 2022, the CDC reported in November, including 231 stillbirths and 51 infant deaths.

Left untreated, syphilis in adults can damage the heart and brain and cause blindness, deafness and paralysis.

Why the steady, sharp rise in cases? Experts believe that reductions in condom use have occurred as more Americans are turning to drug regimens that effectively prevent HIV infections without condoms.

According to the New York Times, condom use by high school students fell by 8 percentage points between 2011 and 2021.

The number of clinics focused on sexual health has also declined nationwide, experts say.

"Sexual health services remain inadequate relative to the need pretty much everywhere," Dr. Jay Varma, chief medical officer at Siga Technologies and a former deputy commissioner of health for New York City, told the Times.

"But it's particularly a problem here in the United States," Varma said. "When you miss one case, you then end up with two more cases, and if you miss two cases, you then end up with four. That's how epidemics grow."

Outbreaks can happen anywhere. According to the new report, South Dakota recorded the highest rate of syphilis infections in 2022 of any state, followed by New Mexico. Arkansas, Oklahoma and Mississippi took the third, fourth and fifth spots on that list.

Race and ethnicity left some populations more vulnerable. A full 30% of cases occurred among Black Americans, while Native American/Alaska Natives had the highest rate of any ethnic group, at 67 cases per 100,000.

The crisis has been compounded by a shortage of drugs crucial to treating syphilis. Bicillin, a long-acting injectable form of penicillin made by Pfizer, has been in short supply in the United States since the middle of 2023.

It is the recommended treatment for syphilis in adults and it's the only recommended treatment for pregnant women to prevent syphilis passing from mother to newborn.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it would allow the importation of a different syphilis drug from a French drugmaker.

In a letter from Laboratoires Delbert, the Paris-based company said it's working with the FDA to temporarily import 3.5 million units of Extencilline, which is not approved for use in the United States.

The CDC has also recommended that people at higher risk for syphilis take the antibiotic doxycycline after unprotected sexual encounters. Studies have shown that taking the antibiotic doxycycline within 72 hours of sex might help prevent a sexually transmitted infection.

Dr. Jonathan Mermin directs the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention at the CDC. Speaking to the Times, he said the CDC is also pushing research into a simple test for syphilis that can be used at clinics and might be available within the next two years.

He believes that curbing the ongoing epidemic of syphilis will require organized efforts by doctors, hospitals, community health centers and drug treatment programs.

"Wishing hard won't prevent sexually transmitted infections," Mermin said. "We need sustained public health efforts."

More information: Find out more about syphilis at Penn Medicine.

2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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Once known as consumption, the disease that killed Eleanor Roosevelt, Frederic Chopin and all five of the sisters Bronte, tuberculosis is often viewed as a bygone threat.

But there is an uptick in new California illnesses after years of decline, with the number of cases in the Golden State increasing from 1,704 in 2020 to 1,848 in 2022.

Santa Clara County has released new data showing a 19% jump in cases from 2022 to 2023. Increased cases also were reported in Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties.

The rebound does not represent a dangerous outbreak but rather the scattered re-emergence of a hidden health risk that is being detected in the wake of the COVID pandemic, according to health experts. Diagnoses may have been missed, misdiagnosed or delayed, they said.

"This is a 'slow burn' of an age-old disease that's now increasing, probably because we let our guard down and didn't emphasize the need for prevention of progression" from latent illness to active tuberculosis, said Dr. Priya Shete, associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at UC San Francisco.

Greg Lyon, 78, of San Francisco, was startled by his diagnosis. In otherwise good health, he experienced mysterious fevers and extreme fatigue while recovering from a normal bout of COVID.

"In my mind, it was relegated to a medieval kind of disease," said Lyon, whose infection was likely acquired while traveling years ago in Guatemala, then lay dormant for decades. His doctors suggest that COVID may have perturbed his immune system.

"I realized it existed, of course, but I just never knew of anybody who had it," said Lyon, whose infection was successfully treated.

TB begins with a mild fever and malaise, followed by a painful cough and shortness of breath.

An ancient foe, the bacterial infection continues to rage, virtually unchecked, throughout the developing world. It's the second-most deadly infectious disease in the world, following COVID, killing 1.2 million people each year.

In the United States, "TB is treatable. TB is preventable. But you have to get tested," said Dr. Ann Loeffler, assistant health officer and TB Controller for the Public Health Department of Santa Clara County, where cases jumped from 141 in 2022 to 168 in 2023.

Only a small proportion of people who are infected with TB will develop active disease. People with latent TB infection don't feel sick.

The bacteria spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze or spit. The infection prospers in crowds, spreading to people in close reach. Nearly a dozen tuberculosis casesall genetically linkedwere traced to California Grand Casino in Pacheco over the past five years, according to Contra Costa Health.

People who are infected but not ill with the disease cannot transmit it.

Most cases emerge in people who were born or spent extensive time in high-risk countries, primarily Mexico, Central America, the Philippines, Vietnam and China.

Certain conditions, such as diabetes or a weakened immune system, may boost the chance that an infected person will develop the disease.

"If you spent a lot of time in an area where TB is very common" or have risk factors that suppress your immune system, "then you should be talking to your doctor about under what circumstances you should be tested," said Loeffler.

A combination of factors may be driving the current increase in diagnoses, said experts.

During the pandemic, testing and treatment was deferred, said UCSF's Shete. That's because people who had a cough may not have sought careor, if they did, may have simply assumed it was COVID.

"They went along with their symptoms for awhile until they became progressively more and more ill," she said. "What we're seeing now might be the progression of that active disease that was never identified earlier. Now they're presenting for care at a time when their symptoms are more severe."

And providers are starting to consider other infections, not just COVID, added Loeffler.

Perhaps there is an increase in transmission because fewer people are wearing masks, she added. "People are out in the world more, and mixing."

A similar pattern has been seen globally, said Dr. Jason Andrews, an infectious disease expert at Stanford Medicine. Some nations reported up to a 30% decline in TB cases during the pandemic, then a recent rebound.

"This is something that we've seen all over" as the COVID-19 pandemic set back the fight against other global scourges, he said. "We've started to identify people who were not diagnosed in 2020 and 2021and because they were diagnosed late, there was probably more spread in the community."

While drug-resistant TB is a growing global threat, it represents a small percentage of cases in the U.S. and is treatable with existing medicines, said Andrews.

The development of improved diagnostic technologies is shortening testing times from weeks to hours. Treatment for non-drug-resistant TB also has gotten easier, shortened from two years in the 1980s down to four months today. At least 17 vaccine candidates are now in the testing phase.

After months of treatment with four different antibiotics, Lyon is making a slow but steady recovery.

"I'm still not back to my normal self. Some days I feel just generally crappy," he said. "But I'm walking a mile or two every day. I'm on the upward side."

2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Cesarean sections now account for more than 1 in 5 childbirths globally, with the numbers set to rise in the coming decade to one-third of all births, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

When performed for medical reasons, cesarean sections can be lifesaving and are an essential component of good-quality medical care, but they can also carry inherent risks.

In a recent study published in Nature Medicine, researchers found implementing the WHO's Labor Care Guide (LCG) could help improve women's care during childbirth and reduce unnecessary cesarean sections, without causing harm.

The paper, "Effects of the WHO Labour Care Guide on cesarean section in India: a pragmatic, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized pilot trial," is the world's first randomized trial of the WHO's LCG.

Researchers conducted the pilot trial in four hospitals in India to evaluate the implementation of the novel LCG strategy, compared with routine care.

Burnet Institute Co-Program Director of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and lead author of the paper, Professor Joshua Vogel, said the study showed it was possible to implement the LCG into routine clinical care, including in busy, limited-resource settings.

"The LCG was released by the WHO to improve clinical and supportive care for women giving birth worldwide. While it was developed to align with the best available evidence, until now we have not been sure of its effects on women and their babies," he said.

Professor Vogel said the LCG had the potential to reduce unnecessary cesarean sections, which carried health risks for mothers and their babies.

"In recent decades there has been a generalized trend in health care providers being more 'interventional' during birththis is shown in high rates of cesarean, augmenting labor with drugs and episiotomy we see in many countries," he said.

"When used at the right time, cesarean sections can improve health outcomes, but they are often used without clear medical need. Our research showed that when the LCG was well-implemented, there were reductions in cesarean section rates, without added harms.

"A trial like this generates critical evidence that can reassure women, their families, health care workers and policymakers that using LCG in their setting will not cause unanticipated harms."

The collaborative research between Burnet, international hospitals, universities, and research groups in India and Argentina, is hoped to guide future trials and begin to reverse the worldwide trend of rising rates of cesarean section rates.

More information: Joshua P. Vogel et al, Effects of the WHO Labour Care Guide on cesarean section in India: a pragmatic, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized pilot trial, Nature Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02751-4
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Examples of vape stores and their advertising in Perth, Western Australia in 2023. Credit: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100118

New research shows that vape stores are densely located around schools and in disadvantaged areas. Public health experts say the alarming data reinforces the pressing need for the Federal Government's planned further regulation to protect children and vulnerable people.

The article, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, identified 194 stores in Western Australia (WA) that sell e-cigarettes as a main source of business, mostly concentrated in the metropolitan area of Perth.

Researchers found that 88% of stores were located within one kilometer of a school, and that vape store density was nearly seven times higher in the most socio-economically disadvantaged areas than in the least disadvantaged areas.

Lead author Dr. Matthew Tuson, Research Fellow from The University of Notre Dame Australia, says that the study is the first of its kind in Australia to demonstrate that 'brick and mortar' vape stores are more concentrated in disadvantaged communities.

"We know from overseas studies that the tobacco industry often sets up shop in disadvantaged areas where they can prey on vulnerable populations, and we found the same pattern here with vape retailers.

"The proximity of vape stores to schools increases young people's access to vapes and exposure to marketing, ultimately normalizing e-cigarette use.

"While our study was conducted in WA, the density of vape retailers near schools and in disadvantaged communities is a problem we expect exists right across Australia."

Co-author Professor Lisa Wood, also from The University of Notre Dame, says that the research is timely as children across the country head back to school and the Australian Government prepares to further tighten vaping regulation in 2024.

"As children make their way back to school in the coming weeks, they will be commuting past vape stores that visibly market their wares.

"We know that parents, teachers, and students themselves are struggling with the vaping epidemic in Australia, and these data show that vape stores are commonly located within walking distance of schools."

The importation of disposable vapes, which are popular with children, ended on 1 January, but further Government reforms to tighten the regulation of sale, marketing and manufacturing of e-cigarettes are planned this year.

Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin, CEO, Public Health Association of Australia, says measures to close the remaining loopholes are urgently needed to stop the epidemic of young people vaping.

"There has been a rapid explosion of vaping retailers across the country over the last few years.

"We strongly support the vaping reforms announced by Health Minister Mark Butler. These reforms will ensure comprehensive controls on vapes across all levels of the supply chain. They target retailersnot people who are addicted to vaping. Those addicted smokers who have decided they need vapes to help them quit, will still be able to access them with a prescription and with assistance from a health professional.

"We call on all state and federal Parliamentarians to side with public health professionals, schools and teachers and put the health of young people first, by supporting the full suite of proposed vaping reforms."

More information: Matthew Tuson et al, Vape stores in Western Australia: growth, proximity to schools and socio-economic gradient of density, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100118 Journal information: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

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Scientific evidence is slim, but face yoga enthusiasts say exercising, stretching and massaging facial muscles reduces wrinkles and smooths lines. Credit: Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

With more than 2 billion views on TikTok alone, face yoga (#faceyoga) is the latest anti-aging practice to capture attention on social media.

The promise of relaxing wrinkles and lifting cheeks and jowls without resorting to more invasive and expensive procedures such as Botox injections has immense appeal for individuals looking to restore a youthful glow and a firm jawline on a budget.

Danielle Collins, a well-known face yoga instructor, says on her website that face yoga "focuses on toning and relaxing our facial muscles for a natural holistic facelift."

But does it work?

So far the scientific evidence on whether a daily routine of puckering, puffing and massaging one's facial muscles will shave off the years is scant.

There has been little research into the topic, and one study that showed positive results for a group of middle-aged women was very small, with 16 participants over the course of 20 weeks.

Northeastern Global News talked to a physical therapy professorwho is also a yoga instructorand a nurse who specializes in aesthetics about why face yoga can deliver a glow, at least in the short term, and if the effects are long lasting.

Don't call it yoga

Whatever its benefits or drawbacks, face yoga is not actually yoga, in the traditional sense, says Neha Gothe, an associate professor at Northeastern who studies the health benefits of yoga and is a long-time practitioner.

There are many types of yoga, including ashtanga, kundalini and hatha, but "face yoga is not one of those documented," Gothe says.

Face yoga is a name for a series of exercises that stretch the facial muscles with the aim of strengthening them for a more youthful look.

On her website, Collins says, face yoga "can help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while lifting our skin and promoting a youthful glow. By enjoying targeted facial exercises, acupressure and massage techniques, face yoga promotes increased blood circulation, collagen production and improved skin health."

Gothe, who has a joint appointment in Northeastern's departments of applied psychology and physical therapy, movement and rehabilitation science, says "face yoga actually has more parallels with massage and acupuncture. It's massaging your face more than doing yoga."

Massage can improve circulation and be responsible for the healthy glow reported by practitioners, she says.

Many forms of exercise as well as inverted yoga poses such as downward dog produce the same effect by pulling blood toward the face, Gothe says.

Little evidence, lots of testimonials

Testimonials to more lasting effects from face yoga abound, with people saying others noticed an improvement in their appearance after just a few weeks on sites such as the one for Happy Face Yoga DVDs.

Actor Gwyneth Paltrow's website Goop has promoted the benefits of face yoga, and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, told an interviewer in 2014 she used face yoga to sculpt her cheeks and jawline, according to an article in Business Insider.

So far there is little scientific evidence to judge the results by, although a small study of middle-aged women who did facial exercises for 20 weeks "seemed to improve mid-face and lower face fullness," according to the JAMA Dermatology journal.

The article published in 2018 says further research is needed "to isolate the causes and effects of exercise-related changes" to see if they would be applicable to the general population.

Is there a downside to face yoga?

Jennifer Lisciotti, a graduate of Northeastern's nursing program who provides aesthetic and cosmetic services, says some of the facial slimming results of face yoga might be temporarythe result of moving lymphatic fluid in the tissues so the face looks less puffy.

Face yoga is designed to address muscle, but "that's just one part of the equation," she says.

"As we age, we lose bone. We lose collagen and elastin in the skin. Fat pads in the cheeks shift downward. Tissues want to go down and inwards. Even the orbits of the eyes enlarge a bit and rotate downward and inward a little bit," Lisciotti says.

Sandy Miranda, who owns Thumbtastic fitness and massage center in Falmouth, Massachusetts, says she incorporated face yoga into free online classes she taught during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"To be honest, it reminds me of my mom," Miranda says. "She would go to the mirror every morning and do her vowelsA E I O U. She said, "It helps keep my skin tight.'"

"When I teach yoga on the beach, I add (face yoga) in sometimes," Miranda says. "Maybe it does help."

In any event, she says, "It was the most fun class I taught. We laughed together" at the facial contortions involved in the exercises.

Even people who swear by face yoga say it takes time to get results, which are more subtle than Botox or fillers.

But since it is relatively inexpensive to purchase a book or DVD about face yoga or to watch an instructional video online, many people are giving the facial exercises a shotespecially since there seems to be no negative health consequences.

Collins, one of the best-known face yoga instructors, also guides her followers in practicing positive affirmations, improving their posture and what she considers proper nutritionwhich does not include foods high in content such as sodium that inclines people to puffiness.

With her holistic approach to self care, Collins says face yoga "has the added benefits of helping us feel good inside and enhancing our wellness."

Future studies involving sizable numbers of participants and control groups may paint a more scientific picture of the benefits of face yoga.

This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu.
COTABATO CITY  A measure has been filed in the Bangsamoro Parliament seeking to rename the municipality of Sultan Mastura to Subpangen in M...
Debate on a city-backed cease-fire resolution regarding the Israel-Hamas war is at a stand-still after Missoula City Council's Committee of the Whole voted 7-5 to table the proposal on Wednesday.

The Committee of the Whole, made up of the city council and Mayor Andrea Davis, heard from Missoulians clashing over whether the resolution, sponsored by councilor Kristen Jordan, was appropriate for a local city council and whether passing or rejecting the cease-fire call would have alienated some residents.

The resolution called for "all governments around the world to facilitate de-escalation and a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict to prevent death and violence in all forms."

Councilor Mike Nugent moved to table the motion, saying voting either "yes" or "no" would be signaling that one side of the conflict was correct.

I feel strongly that voting yes, or even voting no on this topic, is picking sides in a conflict that we dont begin to comprehend, Nugent said. It is clear that just from the community comments in this room today that the issue is divisive right here in Missoula, that actions and words can make our residents feel unsafe or even attacked.

Councilor Sierra Farmer said she appreciates Jordan for bringing the resolution forward, and while personally she is in favor of a cease-fire in the war, she doesnt think the council is the right way to advocate for it.

After hearing from several constituents this week that they are feeling really unsafe and frightened in our community, I am now convinced that weighing in on this issue will do more harm than good, Farmer said.

She said the resolution would locally feel like a gasoline on a campfire, while internationally it would only amount to a match on a bonfire.

Most residents who spoke in person Wednesday were against the resolution, citing a fear for members of Missoula's Jewish community and saying it would be a waste of city council resources.

Others in support of the cease-fire motion cited past council resolutions, including one that condemned the invasion of Iraq, and said Missoulians want to take action on the humanitarian crisis.

During public comment, Missoula resident Mark Anderlik said the International Court of Justice has found that it's plausible that Israel has committed acts that "could amount to genocide."

Marilyn Marler, a state legislator and former city councilor, said the resolution would be divisive and not make a difference in the conflict.

"The baggage of this resolution, not just the words of the resolution itself, but the conversations around it and the rhetoric surrounding it are drastically oversimplified, Marler said.

Mark Kula, rabbi at Missoula's Har Shalom, spoke for himself when he said the conflict in the Middle East has been an aching and horrific time. He said since the issue is international, Missoula should focus on the local community, not the international community.

He added that the issue is too complex for this resolution to address.

In a time of increased antisemitism, to put out resolutions about international matters that we are not experts on will continue to raise the level of antisemitism and rhetoric of hatred to both Jews and Muslims, Kula said.

While most in-person comments were opposed to the resolution, councilor Jordan said most of the comments online were in favor of calling for a cease-fire. Out of 109 comments received by the council by the committee meeting, 94 were for it, 12 were against and three provided comments, but it was unclear which side they were on.

Councilor Bob Campbell also thought the city would not be helping the conflict by passing a resolution in Missoula. He said while there are strong emotions and feelings on both sides, the council should generally stay away from foreign affairs.

"I believe it is best if the city is suited to stay in its purview, or stay in its lane if you will, Campbell said.

Councilors Jordan, Daniel Carlino, Sandra Vasecka, Mirtha Becerra and Jennifer Savage voted against tabling the motion.

The war in Israel was sparked on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants killed nearly 1,200 Israelis in southern Israel, according to the Associated Press. Israel's response to invade the Gaza Strip has led to mass displacement of people and more than 26,000 Palestinians killed as of Jan. 24.

The committee also favorably recommended a resolution that would restructure how city council meetings are ordered to make it easier for public commenters. The restructuring will be discussed again at a February meeting.
Montana Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale all but officially committed to running for U.S. Senate in an interview Thursday, though a spokesperson downplayed his comment.

"I'm going to win the primary. I will be the nominee for the United States Senate in Montana," the congressman representing eastern Montana said on Steve Bannon's War Room show.

Although it reads as a commitment to run for the Senate, Rosendale has not officially announced nor has he filed for the office. Aashka Varma, communications director for the congressman, walked his comments back, saying he was speaking hypothetically about if he "were to run."

In the same interview, Rosendale also made accusations about the National Republican Senatorial Committee and its chairman, Montana's U.S. Sen. Steve Daines.

Rosendale is taking on the NRSC because the group is backing Tim Sheehy, the current Republican frontrunner in the Senate race against Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. Rosendale has continually argued that Daines and the NRSC  one of the main bodies tasked with bringing a Republican majority back to the Senate  has unfairly coalesced around Sheehy and tried to keep Rosendale out of the race.

The representative accused Daines and the NRSC of sending people to ask him "what it would take" to not enter the Senate race and said they tried to poach his vendors and donors.

Varma reiterated what the congressman said, but did not provide any concrete evidence when asked.

Daines' office referred the Montana State News Bureau to the NRSC for comment.

It is unfortunate that Congressman Rosendale is casting blame on others for his fundraising challenges and trouble keeping staff, NRSC Communications Director Mike Berg said when asked if the committee or Daines attempted to bribe Rosendale or poach his donors.

Rosendale's Thursday comments are relatively unsurprising, as the congressman has been teasing a Senate bid for months and has taken jabs at the NRSC previously.

In October, his office toyed with the idea by saying Rosendale is the strongest candidate to beat Jon Tester, and a few weeks later Rosendale said in a video that he was "heavily considering" running for U.S. Senate.

Rosendale's entrance to the 2024 Montana Senate race would create a hotly contested Republican primary as first-time candidate Sheehy has garnered important support since he announced his bid for the same seat last summer.

In addition to endorsements from the NRSC and Daines, Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and CEO of a Belgrade-based aerial firefighting company, is the favorite for the Republican nomination among Rep. Ryan Zinke and Gov. Greg Gianforte.

The victor in a Republican primary will take on Tester in the general election, and Republicans see unseating Tester as an integral part of taking back control of the Senate.

This would mark Rosendale's second attempt at representing Montana in the U.S. Senate. He previously ran for the seat in 2018 when he lost to Tester by 3.5 points. He has cruised to victory in his previous two House races, sometimes garnering more votes cast for him than other Republican candidates on the same ballot.

Asked about how any friction between Rosendale and Daines might affect party unity within the Montana GOP or if he had concerns about the effectiveness of the delegation given the conflict between the two men, state party Chair Don Kaltschmidt provided the following statement.

The Montana GOP is focused on fighting the radical left Democrats like Jon Tester who are destroying our country, " Kaltschmidt said. "Montana voters will elect his Republican replacement in the June primary, and we look forward to working together to send Tester back to Big Sandy for good.
Freshmen starting at the University of Montana in the fall will see a course catalog and academic structure different from those who started before them. It's one that administrators say will allow UM to sustainably allocate resources while still investing in the programs garnering the most demand from students.

UM faculty and staff received an email Tuesday announcing the beginning of a robust process of academic review that will culminate in the reduction or elimination of programs with low enrollment numbers and graduation rates. It will also lead to the growth of programs with increasing enrollment and relevance in the workforce.

Although specific degrees or courses have not yet been identified, its likely resources will be shifted away from some programs in the humanities and toward those where UM is seeing growth in demand such as health, environmental sciences and business, based on discussions with university officials. It could also represent a transition away from some specialized credentials in favor of a focus on cultivating broadly applicable skills in students.

Its almost better to think of it as a shift away from the proliferation of small, specialized programs across all disciplines to educating students more broadly, John DeBoer, vice provost for academic affairs, told the Missoulian on Tuesday. That means we might scale back some elective work, so that we can strengthen the core of our foundational disciplines.

The headwinds facing higher education have grown more intense in recent years. Even as UM has increased enrollment and stabilized its budget, the value proposition of a classic college degree faces skepticism nationally on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic and with a workforce that's increasingly digital, a trend that UM administrators say they've experienced firsthand.

A looming demographic cliff will also have seismic implications for universities. Experts predict college enrollment nationally will peak in 2025 and plummet by 15% over the next four years.

Its hard to imagine the future, Adrea Lawrence, UM provost and vice president for academic affairs, said in an interview with the Missoulian. To some degree, thats what were attempting to do.

An inevitable part of that future is artificial intelligence. As technology becomes more pervasive in the labor force and people are wary of the costs of obtaining a college degree, universities nationally have experienced massive enrollment declines in the humanities. Many have cut offerings commensurately.

Even so, Lawrence called the national narrative about the humanities lack of importance a red herring.

Its the types of critical thinking skills that come from the humanities that are going to help people discern whats AI-generated and whats human-generated, she said.

As provost, Lawrence remains steadfast that we need to make sure our graduates are fluent in a whole range of skills. Its the broadly educated person that were striving toward.

UM is currently offering more academic programs than it can sustain, according to a document called the Academic Affairs Playbook sent to faculty and staff. Even with 52% of the universitys general fund budget dedicated to the academic affairs department, the current course catalog severely limits our ability to deliver our curriculum while maintaining necessary student and administrative services across our academic units.

The Academic Affairs Playbook calls for the creation of an annual review process to keep better tabs on trends within programs in the hopes of responding more efficiently. Right now, consistent reviews of these enrollment figures occur every seven years.

Administrators hope this undertaking will result in an academic portfolio that better serves students, incentivizes improved graduation rates and increases professional opportunities for UM graduates.

Over the last decade, weve been working toward growing the university, DeBoer said. But a lot of that process has been additive  what can we do to get more students to come here as opposed to understanding what students want and need once they get here?

The announcement also proposes the reorganization of existing colleges, aiming for a streamlined administrative structure, where programs are housed in schools made of faculty from related disciplines. The intention would be to simplify decision-making regarding curriculum, prevent duplication of course scheduling to make it easier for students to graduate in a timely fashion and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.

For example, the Division of Biological Sciences, College of Business and Franke College of Forestry and Conservation have focused academic programs across multiple disciplines into a single structure.

The playbook acknowledges that administrative details have yet to be fully realized, but the hope is that each school can have a chair or director as well as a clear methodological focus, a clear understanding of standards that must be achieved through the units of learning and an overarching mission.

Weve been trying to, and were still figuring out how, to build consultation into this process, DeBoer said. I anticipate a lot of really passionate conversations about the direction that we can move.

This isnt the first time in recent history UM has significantly restructured its academic offerings.

For example, in 2015, six programs were identified as challenged. Three of those programs were ultimately restructured  graduate degrees in philosophy, sociology and parks, tourism and recreation management. Two years later, during the 2017-2018 academic year, six programs were discontinued, five were restructured and one was moved online.

Come 2019, budget cuts led to the elimination of all degrees in global humanities and religion, a film studies minor and a graduate and undergraduate degree in geography. It also recommended the suspension or consolidation of other programs including language degrees.

While cuts are inevitable in a process like the one recently announced, administrators are also pointing to opportunities for growth. The report sent to faculty and staff highlights the Franke College as a source of tremendous potential to set UM apart from its peers.

It proposes a three- to five-year process to crystallize a vision for environment and sustainability studies at UM, determine whether more related departments could be moved into the college, and design opportunities for collaboration in research and teaching in these fields.

Over the coming weeks, the provosts office will work with the UM Faculty Senate, college deans and other university partners to determine which academic programs or options within programs should be eliminated. Those recommendations must be approved by the Board of Regents. Administrators from the provosts office say the changes will go into effect for the fall, but any student currently enrolled in an impacted program will be able to complete their degree as promised at the time they began study.

The next UM Faculty Senate meeting is Feb. 8. The agenda has not been posted.

If we dont do it, who will? This is something we know how to do, and this is something that were good at, Lawrence said. Its a pretty significant contribution we can make to the state, to the region, to the country, and I think many of us feel that sense of duty and optimism.
A man with multiple charges under his belt over the last year has been charged again with possession of methamphetamine.

Jon Bradley Williams, 49, of 7141 Knobs Landing, Connelly Springs, was charged with felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance on Friday, according to a news release from the Burke County Sheriffs Office.

The charges came as BCSO narcotics investigators and North Carolina Department of Adult Correction probation and parole officers conducted a joint operation in the Hildebran and Icard communities after numerous resident complaints of illegal activities in the area, the release said.

Around 10 a.m., investigators saw Williams driving a vehicle in the target area of the investigation. Investigators familiar with Williams knew his license had been revoked and was on active probation, the release said.

Officers stopped the vehicle Williams was driving, asked him to get out of the vehicle and a search was conducted, the release said.

A clear, crystalline substance was found on Williams passenger seat area, consistent with someone attempting to discard the substance, the release said. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the release.

Williams, who is on probation for misdemeanor larceny, has previous convictions of felony larceny, driving while license revoked and driving while impaired, according to NCDAC records.

In the last year, Williams has received the following charges, according to the release:

Jan. 28, 2023: Two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, $10,000 secured bond

Feb. 21: Possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, $30,000 secured bond

March 16, 2023: Possession of stolen goods, $10,000 secured bond

Sept. 15, 2023: Possession of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine) and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, $150,000 secured bond

Sept. 15, 2023: Probation violation, $50,000 secured bond

Nov. 2, 2023: Possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, $20,000 secured bond

Jan. 5, 2024: Possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, $100,000 secured bond

Williams bond for the Friday charge was set at $50,000 secured. He now is currently under $450,000 total in bonds from all of the charges, and is no longer in custody, according to the release.
CONNELLY SPRINGS  A joint operation between narcotics detectives and probation and parole officers led to charges against two people Friday.

Elaynia Victoria Huffman, 41, of 2245 U.S. 70, Connelly Springs, was charged with felony trafficking opium or heroin, according to a news release from the Burke County Sheriffs Office. Corey Wesley Fagan, 25, of the same address, was charged with felony simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and felony probation violation, according to the release.

The charges came after BCSO narcotics investigators and probation and parole officers from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction conducted a joint operation that incorporated undercover and conspicuous patrol actions in the Hildebran/Icard area after numerous citizen complaints about illegal activity in the area, the release said. That activity included breaking and entering, larcenies, overdoses and alleged drug trafficking activities.

Around 11 a.m. Friday, probation and parole officers made contact with Fagan for an in-home probation visit. Records from the NCDAC indicated Fagan was on probation for a felony larceny conviction, the release said.

While probation officers were securing the residence for a search, they noted multiple people were in the home and requested assistance from narcotics investigators.

Huffman was discovered in a back bedroom in the home and told officers there was fentanyl in the room, the release said.

After searching the room, Huffman was found to be in possession of about 75 grams of fentanyl in pressed pill form, several fentanyl patches and small, pre-packaged containers of powdered fentanyl along with various items of paraphernalia, including scales, plastic baggies, aluminum foil and glass pipes, the release said.

The estimated lethal dose of fentanyl is about 2 milligrams. According to the release, the fentanyl investigators said Huffman had in her possession could have killed more than 37,500 people.

When investigators searched Fagans bedroom, they found less than 1 gram of a crystalline substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, the release said. There were also several items of paraphernalia in the room, including scales and pipes, the release said.

Huffman also has previous convictions of larceny of firearms, possession of a schedule II controlled substance, and possession or distribution of a methamphetamine precursor, according to NCDAC records.

Huffmans bond was set at $25,000 secured, and Fagans bond was set at $10,000 secured, the release said.
Police say two males robbed the Greenhouse marijuana shop on Harrison Avenue early Tuesday night and one had a gun.

Nobody was injured but the two robbers got away with an undisclosed amount of cash and some marijuana from the shop at 1250 Harrison Ave., Sheriff Ed Lester said in a news release issued around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. The robbery occurred around 6:25 p.m.

"Staff at the store reported that two males entered the shop and demanded money," Lester said. "At least one male was armed."

Both had their faces covered and they wore gloves but police say one was a white male with khaki pants and a blue shirt. He was 6 foot to 6-foot-2 and he had a handgun.

The other male was 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-10 and was wearing gray jeans and a green sweatshirt. Police issued a still video shot of the robbers.

Lester said an investigation was ongoing and more information would be released when available. Anyone with information is asked to call Butte Police at 406-497-1120.

"I'm thankful there were no injuries and we are hoping someone may have information to help us identify the suspects," Lester said.

The penalty for robbery in Montana is a prison term of up to 40 years and fine up to $50,000.
Outside screaming

On Monday, police arrived in the 1000 block of South Arizona Street to investigate a disturbance.

Outside screaming was April R. Fotsch, 27, of Butte, who, when an officer tried to talk to her, allegedly took off running.

The officer caught up to her, and she was taken into custody for disorderly conduct. Upon arrival at the Butte Detention Center, she reportedly attempted to spit at detention staff and a cop. She was also jailed for assault with bodily fluid.

Pulled over

While driving north on Harrison Avenue Monday night, Bridget M. Dahlman, 43, of Butte was pulled over for not having a taillight in working order.

Turns out Dahlman had a warrant out for her arrest for probation violation and was taken into custody.

Second offense

Kacey A. Cosman, 26, of Butte was arrested Monday for strangulation of partner or family member (second offense).

According to the police report, officers responded to a residence in the 300 block of North Jackson Street, where a woman told police Cosman choked her during an argument.

Arrest warrant

Police were investigating an incident in the 1000 block of Gaylord Street when they came across Daniel R. Norris, 45, of Butte.

Norris had a warrant out for his arrest for theft (third offense) and was taken into custody.

Picked up

Police picked up Michael M. ODell, 20, of Butte on Tuesday. He had a warrant out for his arrest for revocation of a suspended sentence.

Probation violation

An officer arrived at the offices of Adult Probation & Parole Tuesday to arrest Tommy L. Wells Jr., 36, of Butte for probation violation.

Tuesday reports

A woman reported to police that another woman stole her wallet while she was shopping at Goodwill, 3703 Harrison Ave.

While scanning grocery items at Walmarts self-checkout, a woman reportedly forgot to scan $111 worth of merchandise, but she was stopped as she attempted to leave the store.

Someone cracked the windshield of a 2022 Ford pickup while it was parked on Galaxy Drive.
Organizers of the annual Trans-Montana Snowmobile Charity Ride are canceling the event because of a lack of snow.

Originally scheduled this year for Feb. 1-7, the Trans-Montana Charity Snowmobile Ride raises money to benefit the Montana Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, with a focus on prevention of suicide among teens and veterans.

The Montana Snowmobile Association sponsors the ride.

Wally Deschene, a co-chairman for the Trans-Montana Snowmobile Charity Ride, said 52 riders had signed up to participate.

A week ago Wednesday, we looked at the forecast and the little snow we had was melting away, Deschene said Tuesday.

On day one, snowmobilers would have traveled the Skalkaho Ridge and then ridden the next day in the vicinity of Georgetown Lake. Other locations would have included the Butte area and West Yellowstone.

The Montana Snowmobile Association awards banquet is still planned for Feb. 3 at the Copper King Hotel and Convention Center in Butte.

Montanas Race to the Sky sled dog race was similarly canceled recently because of a dearth of snow.

With winter recreation being affected by the lackluster snowfall, some people are beginning to wonder how streamflows will fare this summer.
Three nursing programs have been ranked by Registered Nursing.org as the best in the state for 2024, including Carroll College, Helena College and Montana Technological University.

Montana Tech was ranked No. 1, Carroll was ranked No. 2 and Helena College was ranked No. 3 among 14 nursing programs in the state, according to Registered Nursing.org.

The website, which states it is "the ultimate online resource for future and current registered nurses," says the programs are ranked based on how the school supports students toward their licensure through the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, or NCLEX-RN. The test is taken by graduates and their pass rates help determine the schools rankings on previous pass rates and current year statistics.

Montana Tech Director of Nursing Janet Richards Coe said they are very excited about the ranking, receiving a score of 97.32 and a NCLEX-RN passing rate of 94.12% in 2023.

Montana Tech was the only four-year public university to make the top-five rankings, while Carroll College is a private institution and Helena College is a public two-year program.

Coe said people are still discovering that the school has a nursing program.

We want to continue to build on the Montana Tech reputation of success for our students, Coe said.

She said the programs educators continuously contact students to help them achieve their goals after graduating through alumni connection programs.

Coe said she looks forward to inviting new students into the program and guarantees they will be challenged, but they will be supported throughout their journey.

In May 2022, the school opened its simulation center, which acts as a more accurate representation of what life is like in the field for practicing students.

The center was funded with private donations and a $7 million endowment from Dave and Sherry Lesar from 2021.

Coe said students enjoy the center and the school added a telehealth simulation program in the center to prepare students for the ever-changing landscape of the nursing field.

Carroll College Director of Nursing Lauren Swants program received the No. 2 spot in Montana even though the schools graduates had a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN in 2023 with a score of 95.42.

The average pass rate in Montana was 91.71% and the national pass rate was 88.56%.

Swant said the numbers Registered Nursing.org bases the rankings on are from 2022 due to how the statistics are calculated.

She said the program is on the uptick and expects to continue growing by adding more students and a higher success rate.

The educators and students are actively engaged in the program, Swant said.

Something she said was different about the schools nursing program compared to others is that it is liberal arts focused.

The students at Carroll College continue taking liberal arts courses while taking courses in nursing to enhance their capabilities as people and as nurses, she said.

The program is constantly re-evaluating the curriculum based on employer standards to help students advance in their careers and be more prepared.

In May, the program will be introducing a course in developing resiliency in the field for the first cohort of students in the accelerated program.

In third place, Helena College was given a score of 90.83 and a NCLEX-RN passing rate of 90% in 2023 for its Registered Nursing Associates degree program.

Director of Nursing Debra Rapaport said the ranking is very humbling because everyone in the program works hard at what they do.

She said it was nice to see that Helena College, a two-year program, made the top three with four-year schools.

The program recently hired graduates of the program, which Rapaport said is a testament to the program and how it encourages students to progress in their careers.

A project the program is working on is creating a pathway for licensed practical nurses, LPNs, to go through the RN program if they desire, Rapaport said.

The program accepts 20 students per semester and Rapaport said she hopes to maintain those numbers for the future so that the school can put 40 graduates into the community every year.
DES MOINES  Iowa law enforcement officials and grieving families of Iowans killed by distracted drivers packed a Senate committee room Tuesday over a proposal that would pair a ban on automated traffic cameras with cracking down on motorists who talk into their smartphones as they drive.

More than a dozen individuals voiced opposition to a proposal by Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, who has tried for years to ban traffic cameras, to link the two issues into one bill. A Senate subcommittee voted 2-1 to advance Senate Study Bill 3016.

Zaun has pushed to ban the cameras ever since he received a citation in 2011 after a camera captured his son speeding while driving the senators vehicle in Cedar Rapids.

While he said he dislikes being on the opposite side of an issue from law enforcement, Zaun said he believes fundamentally the traffic cameras are unconstitutional.

The devices capture video of vehicles speeding or running red lights. Law enforcement then reviews the images captured by a camera vendor  which shows the license tag number  and issues citations to the vehicle's registered owners.

Relatives of three Iowans killed by drivers distracted by a smartphone pleaded with Zaun to advance a stand-alone bill to bar hand-held use of mobile devices while driving.

Peter Bengston told senators his daughter, Ellen, was riding her bicycle near Charles City in 2020 when she was killed by a driver who was opening an app on his cellphone.

She did nothing wrong, but the driver confessed and walked free because of the current (law) out there, Benston said. This is an issue of public highway safety and we ask that you have a clean hands-free-while-driving bill made public and prevent other families from going through the loss my family is going through right now.

Officers say the states prohibition on texting while driving, enacted in 2017, is difficult to enforce because drivers can say they instead were making a call or using the devices GPS, which still is allowed under Iowa law.

The bill provides exceptions for the use of an electronic device in a voice-activated or hands-free mode and for first responders while on duty and health care professionals in the course of emergency situations. It also provides exceptions for receiving a weather or emergency alert, reporting an emergency situation, for those operating farm machinery and for certain radio operators and transit drivers.

Veronica Young, of Altoona, held a photo of her 22-year-old son, Derrius Taylor-Ly, who was killed last year in Bremer County by a driver who ran a stop sign.

Hands-free is such a big deal and could save so much heartache, Young said. My son was important. My son meant the world to a whole lot of people other than just family and he had a bright future that was taken away for absolutely no reason.

Kristi Castenson, who lives near Fort Dodge, held up a photo of her husband and their family. Dave Castenson and his 85-year-old mother were killed in 2015 by a driver using a smartphone. The driver was sentenced to probation and avoided jail time.

We need to do something as citizens to protect the people in Iowa and everywhere because were losing way too many people or people are being injured, she said. It affects the rest of their life.

More people died on Iowa roads last year than in each of the past five years. A total of 378 people died in car crashes in Iowa in 2023, a 12 percent increase from 2022. Excessive speed, distracted driving, impaired driving and not wearing seat belts are some of the motorist behaviors that pushed fatalities up.

Law enforcement officials have asked lawmakers in recent years to pass legislation to ban hand-held use of mobile devices while driving in Iowa. Senate File 547 passed overwhelmingly in the Iowa Senate earlier this year, but the House hit the brakes.

Zaun said he chose to pair the two proposals because I want pass something finally, suggesting House Republicans support for banning traffic cameras would ease concerns about the distracted driving portion of the bill.

It's a huge safety problem, said Zaun, who had voted against the hands-free-while-driving bill in the Senate.

Our system has saved lives

Troopers and officers from Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque and Fayette urged Zaun to drop his proposal to ban traffic cameras in Iowa after July 1, 2025. Lobbyists representing cities and police organizations said the proposals would limit an important traffic safety tool that has proved effective in reducing traffic crashes.

Sen. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines, opposed the bill, saying it would impose burdensome regulations and take away an important revenue stream for public safety.

Cedar Rapids installed its first speed cameras in 2010. As of March 2022, at least 19 Iowa cities and towns operated automatic traffic enforcement systems including Sioux City, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Muscatine, Council Bluffs, Waterloo, LeClaire, Strawberry Point, Hudson, Chester, Buffalo, Miles, Independence and Oelwein, according to a Legislative Services Agency report. Marion added automated traffic cameras in 2023.

Lawmakers have floated several ways of regulated traffic cameras over the past several years, citing concerns about privacy and arguing some cities use them to drive revenue.

Cedar Rapids uses the cameras at nine locations along its primary highway system and major thoroughfares for both speed and red-light enforcement, including four speed cameras around the S-curve on Interstate 380 near downtown.

Our automated traffic enforcement program in Cedar Rapids has always been about safety, Cedar Rapids Police Capt. Cody Estling told lawmakers.   And we know our system has saved lives.

Estling and other police officials from across the state said the cameras provide 24/7 traffic monitoring and enforcement at a significantly lower cost than deploying officers to those areas. That frees cities to focus strained resources elsewhere.

Law enforcement officials said theyre willing to put guardrails on the use of traffic cameras to make sure that they're used for safety as opposed to generating revenue.

Zaun said hes concerned by the proliferation of systems in smaller communities, saying hes heard from police officials in those communities that the cameras are being used to generate revenue because of a lack of funding.

That's not the reason to put traffic enforcement cameras in, he said.

What speed limit zones are the most likely to see fatalities? What speed limit zones are the most likely to see fatalities? Interstate, principal arterial Freeway and expressway, principal arterial Collector Local Minor arterial Principal arterial, other
On Sept. 12, 2001, 24 hours after the 9/11 attacks, representatives of the then-19-member North Atlantic Treaty Organization convened to invoke Article 5 of the NATO charter. It holds that an "armed attack" on one member "shall be considered an attack against them all."

This was the first and only time Article 5 has ever been put into effect. For the next two decades, NATO forces fought with us in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Last weekend, former President Donald Trump ranted against NATO at a rally in Las Vegas.

"We're paying for NATO, and we don't get so much out of it," he lied. "And you know, I hate to tell you this about NATO -- if we ever needed their help, let's say we were attacked, I don't believe they'd be there. I don't believe. I know the people. I know them. ... I don't believe they'd be there."

Trump has long talked about NATO as if it's some sort of obsolete club where everyone is supposed to pay dues into a common kitty but America has been left picking up everyone's tab. That's not how it works.

NATO's standalone budget is about $3.5 billion, of which we pay 16%, which is roughly $560 million. A new aircraft carrier costs about 20 times that. All other "NATO spending" takes the form of domestic defense expenditures by individual member states. When he was president, Trump was right to pressure other countries to spend more, but now that they are spending more, he doesn't care.

Trump's calumnies against NATO are offered to bolster his distortions about supporting Ukraine. In his telling, both are examples of how the United States gets ripped off by its alliances and foreign engagements. He claimed we've spent "$200 billion plus" on Ukraine while the Europeans "are in for $20 billion."

This, too, is false. According to the Ukraine Support Tracker, in total assistance, the European Union has contributed more to Ukraine than the United States. We've committed not $200 billion-plus but about $75 billion in aid, about half of that in military assistance. The E.U. total is roughly 77 billion euros, or roughly $83 billion. As a share of GDP, America ranks 30th in Ukraine support, just behind Ireland and Malta.

We look better if you only count military aid, for the simple reason that we have the hardware Ukraine needs, and Malta not so much. Indeed, as my American Enterprise Institute colleague Marc Thiessen notes, the important thing -- at least for domestic political purposes -- about our military aid is that it doesn't take the form of giving Ukraine a "blank check," as many Republicans claim. Nearly 90% of military aid dollars stay in America, disproportionately in Republican districts and states, because they're used to purchase the weapons that go to Ukraine.

If you care about American relative military superiority, supporting Ukraine has been a huge bargain, degrading Russia's military, helping update ours, and bolstering the security of our biggest trading partner, without putting American troops at risk.

While it's always useful to point out Trump's thumbless grasp of the facts, none of this is exactly new information for people who actually care about the facts. The problem is how little facts seem to matter these days.

Prior to Russia's lawless invasion of Ukraine, the argument that NATO was obsolete had some superficial plausibility. But now that Russia has repeatedly signaled that it has aims beyond Ukraine, toward NATO members, those already weak arguments have evaporated. Certainly, our allies believe the threat is very real.

And those aren't the only threats on the world stage. Proxies for Iran killed three U.S. servicemen over the weekend in a drone attack in Jordan. Russia, China and Iran have grown quite chummy. Our ally, Israel, is in a bloody war with Hamas, an Iranian proxy that ignited the conflict on Oct. 7. In short, this is the dumbest possible time to be talking about how America shouldn't honor its alliances and commitments.

Joe Biden's critics love to argue that when it comes to Iran and China "weakness is provocative." They're right. But it's also true with Russia. And tough talk can signal weakness, too. Trump's denigration of NATO might sound like political "toughness" to his fans. But what Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping hear is evidence of NATO's weakness.

NATO, and our alliances generally, make America stronger. They allow us to project power globally at a fraction of the cost to do it in other ways. For those who disagree, it's worth considering why the former president rests his case against NATO on so many lies. If the facts were on Trump's side, he'd offer some.
In a startling revelation to members of the National Assemblys Health Committee, Mr. Kennedy Otieno, the proprietor of Joy Nursing Home located in Nairobis Eastleigh area, disclosed the facilitys financial dealings with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), amounting to Sh400 million in claims over a span of two years, with an additional Sh78 million still pending.

This admission occurred during an investigation conducted by the committee aimed at uncovering the depth of claims filed by healthcare providers to the NHIF.

If you recall, the main reason given for the dysfunctional nature of NHIF has always been the jaw-droppingly fraudulent claims by private health facilities.

Under the scrutiny of the Health Committee, led by chairman Robert Pukose (MP for Endebess), the investigation focused on three healthcare facilities within Eastleigh, including Beirut Hospital, Amal Hospital, and Joy Nursing Home.

The three have been put on the spotlight for making claims that defeat logic.

The inquiry revealed significant discrepancies and raised questions regarding the operations and accreditation of these facilities, particularly Joy Nursing Home, which despite its limited capacity and lacking infrastructure, managed to claim a substantial amount from the NHIF in 2021 and 2022.

The facility, which is officially recognized as a Level Four healthcare provider, surprisingly operates with just 21 beds and minimal medical equipment, starkly contrasting the requirements for such a designation.

Level 4 hospitals are required to have at least 30 beds for males and 30 for females. On top of lacking that, the Joy Nursing Home was found to have dilapidated toilets, no electricity and lack of sufficient basic equipment like a microscope.

This has drawn attention to the processes behind the licensing and accreditation of healthcare facilities in Kenya, especially in cases where the actual capabilities of the institution do not align with the standards prescribed by the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU).

During the committees visit, Mr. Otieno outlined the hospitals journey from a small pharmacy founded in 2006 to its current status, highlighting the challenges and adaptations made to expand its services.

Despite the evident infrastructural and equipment shortcomings, Mr. Otieno and his team defended the hospitals operations and its capacity to serve a considerable number of patients daily.

However, the MPs were not convinced by the explanations provided, especially in light of the substantial NHIF claims made by the hospital.

The lack of essential medical facilities, such as a blood transfusion unit, life support equipment, and a mortuary, further exacerbated doubts about the hospitals ability to conduct the number of surgeries and medical procedures reported.

Questions were also raised about the manipulation of radiology films for NHIF pre-authorisation, a practice Mr. Otieno attributed to the actions of his radiographers, despite the absence of a qualified radiologist on staff.

The committees findings point to a broader issue of systemic corruption and mismanagement within the NHIF and its affiliated healthcare providers.

Previous reports and investigations have highlighted similar concerns, including collusion with medical providers and inflated drug charges by local hospitals, which have significantly drained the NHIFs resources and compromised its mission to provide equitable healthcare access.

In light of these revelations, the Health Committee has vowed to intensify its investigation into the collusion between hospitals, NHIF officials, and licensing authorities.

The aim is to unravel the complex web of corruption that has allowed such fraudulent activities to proliferate, ultimately ensuring accountability and reform within Kenyas healthcare financing system.

This investigation into Joy Nursing Home and other facilities is part of a larger effort to address the endemic corruption affecting Kenyas healthcare sector.

With the suspension of Joy Nursing Home and ongoing probes into other facilities, the committee hopes to restore integrity to the medical fund, as it transitions to SHIF, and ensure that public funds are utilized effectively to improve healthcare services across the country.
The United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) has donated personal protective equipment worth over Ksh.220 million ($1.38 million) to the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF).

The handover ceremony took place at the Kahawa Barracks in Nairobi on Tuesday, and it included 6,730 pieces of state-of-the-art equipment. These include soft body armor, ballistic helmets designed to shield against small arms fire, and ballistic plates engineered to withstand heavier ammunition.

The equipment is poised to enhance the safety capabilities of KDF service personnel as they actively engage in their ongoing counterterrorism and peacekeeping operations.

Addressing the gathering, Major General Juma Mwinyika, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Eastern Command, expressed optimism that the donation will significantly support the Kenyan military in fulfilling their essential mandates.

I cant overemphasize the goodwill that is here in this partnership. What is left is for us at the tactical and operational level is to do much more. At strategic level, we have good support from the United States, he said.

Major General Kenneth Ekman from U.S. AFRICOM, on his part, highlighted that the grant underscores the United States commitment to bolster the security efforts of its international partners.

Were honored to be able to fulfill one of the Kenya Defence Forces priority requests to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during his recent historic visit in September 2023, the first visit to Kenya by a U.S. Secretary of Defense in 47 years, Ekman said.

The U.S. reiterated its commitment to continuing collaborative efforts with its African partners to advance security, prosperity, and the well-being of people across the continent.
The Napa Valley Museum Yountville's world-premiere exhibit "Warrior Dogs: Honoring the Service & Sacrifice of Americas Four-Legged Fighters" opens Saturday, Feb. 24.

Presented in partnership with the Tug McGraw Foundation, the exhibit will be on display in the Main Gallery through Aug. 25.

The exhibit takes a deep dive into the heroic partnership between military dogs, their trainers and handlers and veterinarians, and other soldiers with whom they serve. The exhibition includes 17 life-size wooden sculptures by acclaimed artist James Mellick from his Wounded Warrior Dog project.

Visitors of all ages will learn about the history of dogs in combat, about puppies born to be brave, their selection, training and specialized combat gear, and the handlers and trainers who make them battle-ready. Discover, through rare photos and stories, the extraordinary bonds warrior dogs share with the armed forces they serve and protect.

The museum is excited to present another original exhibition, particularly one that honors and we hope resonates with our Veterans Home neighbors here in Yountville," said Laura Rafaty, executive director of the Napa Valley Museum. "It is a very emotional exhibition, with some very serious content, but also including kid-friendly elements like a petting dog sculpture for kids. We are so grateful to our partners at the Tug McGraw Foundation and to Americas Forgotten Heroes for gathering an amazing array of gear used by military working dogs in training and combat.

Tickets are $25 general, $10 for kids 5-12, free for kids 5 and under, and $20 for active military, law enforcement, first responders, veterans and museum members.

For tickets, visit eventbrite.com/e/803528524447. To learn more about the exhibit, visit napavalleymuseum.org/warriordogs.

The Napa Valley Museum is located on the Veterans Home of California grounds at 55 Presidents Circle, Yountville.

Understanding the Fentanyl crisis

Journalist Ben Westhoff, author of Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Are Creating the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic, will speak at the Yountville Community Center on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 11 a.m.

The event is the first installment in a speaker series hosted by the Michael Leonardi Foundation, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness around illicit fentanyl and its dangers to teenagers, young adults and the community.

During his talk, Westhoff will be shedding light on the fentanyl crisis. His expertise on the subject matter promises an enlightening and engaging discussion. Westhoff has proven himself to be a leading voice in the field as his book Fentanyl, Inc. is an eye-opening examination into the world of synthetic drugs  the deadliest wave of the opioid epidemic.

This event provides an invaluable opportunity to gain insight into the fentanyl crisis from someone who has delved deeply into its underbelly, said event organizer Mark Leonardi in a news release. Westhoffs comprehensive research and objective analysis make him an authority on the topic.

Admission is free. To reserve your spot at the event, visit BenWesthoff.evenbrite.com.

The Yountville Community Center is located at 6516 Washington St. in Yountville.

For more information on the Michael Leonardi Foundation, visit michaelleonardifoundation.org.

Napa Valley Writers meet on Valentine's Day

Napa County Poet Laureate Aisha Rivera will be the guest speaker at the Napa Valley Writers meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m.

Riveras work is featured in the bilingual anthology Poetics Without Borders/ Poetica Sin Fronteras and they are finishing their manuscript for an original collection of poems for future release.

Yvonne Baginski will be Februarys member reader.

Napa Valley Writers, a branch of the California Writers Club, holds meetings at Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave., Napa. Cost is $5 for members, $10 for non-members. Students with ID admitted for free. For more information, contact napavalleywriters@gmail.com or visit https://sites.google.com/view/napavalleywriters.

Frank establishes scholarship

Rich Frank, founder of Frank Family Vineyards, recently announced the establishment of The Richard Frank Scholarship for the American Film Institute (AFI), according to a press release.

Through a multi-million-dollar donation, 20 AFI Conservatory scholarships will be awarded in the name of the individual honorees each year over the next 10 years. The purpose of the fund is to provide financial assistance to empower and support current AFI fellows that demonstrate financial need. Rich Frank has been a leader at the AFI Trustee table for over 30 years, said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. His commitment to the future of the art form is peerless, and this extraordinary gift will allow the AFI Conservatory to continue to attract the best and the brightest young storytellers  while celebrating the very best film and television of today.

I am encouraged that the scholarship will help fuel the next generation of creative film and television makers, says Frank, AFI Vice Chair and former president of Disney Studios. When I started in this business, there were just three networks and a handful of studios. Today, the landscape is vast given multiple viewing platforms and streaming services. It is an exciting time with boundless opportunity. I believe these students have the capability to create anything they can imagine, and the AFI provides a strong foundation for these creative minds to flourish.

Each Richard Frank Scholarship will be named after an AFI Awards Honoree from the previous year. The candidate selected to receive the scholarship must be an admitted AFI Conservatory Fellow.

The Richard Frank Scholarships will be announced annually at the AFI Awards and will be celebrated during the AFI Awards luncheon.

This is not the first time Frank has supported educational access. In 2020, Rich, along with his wife Leslie Miller Frank, donated $7.5 million to The College of Media at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where Rich Frank is an alumnus. The gift, the largest in the colleges history, established the Richard and Leslie Frank Center for Leadership and Innovation in Media.
A 78-year-old Napa woman who had been reported missing was found dead on Tuesday morning, according to Napa Police.

The body of Paula Jo Garcia was found at 9:43 a.m. in the 2200 block of Big Ranch Road in north Napa, less than three miles from her home, police Lt. Christopher Pacheco said Tuesday night. No cause of death was given.

Also found in the area was the Toyota Prius that Garcia was reported to be driving at the time she disappeared, according to police.

The California Highway Patrol had issued a Silver Alert to aid the search for Garcia, who authorities said had last been seen on Friday leaving her house on Georgia Street, in the city of Napa's "alphabet streets" west of downtown.

Neighbors reported Garcia missing on Sunday and an investigation ensued, despite the absence of signs of forced entry or a disturbance at her home.

Detectives with Napa Police and the Napa County Sheriffs Office have not found any evidence pointing to criminal or suspicious activity connected to Garcias death, according to the police news release. Initial evidence indicates that she arrived in the Big Ranch Road area sometime Friday night, police said.

The investigation was continuing Tuesday night.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Napa Police Detective Tyler Olson at tolson@cityofnapa.org.

PHOTOS: Napa's 2024 Lighted Art Festival begins Art aglow in Napa Lighted Art Festival 2 Lighted Art Festival 3 Lighted Art Festival 4 Lighted Art Festival 5 Lighted Art Festival 6 Lighted Art Festival 7 Lighted Art Festival 8 Lighted Art Festival 9 Lighted Art Festival 10 Lighted Art Festival 11 Lighted Art Festival 12 Lighted Art Festival 13 Lighted Art Festival 14 Lighted Art Festival 15 Lighted Art Festival 16 Lighted Art Festival 17 Lighted Art Festival 18 Lighted Art Festival 19
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 official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Maria Zakharova, on Tuesday gave an official comment in which she condemned the desecration of the monument to the children of besieged Leningrad in Yerevan.

"We strongly condemn the vandalism committed at the monument to the children of besieged Leningrad on January 29 in Yerevan. We note with deep sorrow that this is not the first case of desecration of monuments dedicated to heroic pages of shared history for Russia and Armenia. We see a sharp reaction by the friendly Armenian people of the rejection of what was done. We expect the same from the authorities of the [Armenian] republic, as well as restraint of such manifestations of barbarism in the future," commented the official representative of the Russian MFA.

According to Zakharova, "these kinds of actions are facilitated by the [Armenian] republican campaign that started in the republic against the discrediting of Russia and its role in the South Caucasus."

"We will not allow to mock the blessed memory of 1 million 384 thousand Leningraders who died during the siege. In connection with this egregious crime, we are collaborating with the relevant [Russian] federal agencies, including the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, which has opened a criminal case for this act of vandalism. The director of the Russian Center of Science and Culture of Yerevan has sent an official petition to the Prosecutor Generals Office of Armenia. It was recorded that on the evening of January 30, the competent authorities of Armenia have launched a criminal case.

We express our gratitude to the caring citizens of Armenia, who, following the call of their hearts, restored justice today by laying new wreaths on the monument replacing the damaged ones, as well as one carnation symbolizing each day of the siege. No one will be able to rewrite the shared history of Russia and Armenia.

The memory of the peoples of our countries, including Russians and Armenians, of the joint struggle against Nazi Germany and their victory against Nazism will always remain in our hearts," said the official statement of the Russian MFA.
As you know, our policy is very clear. We support the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary Generals Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, said this in an interview with the Armenpress correspondent in Brussels.

"We do not take sides between our partners, unless there is a violation of the principles and the main elements of the UN Charter that we are very attached to. Therefore, the message was very clear. We would like the peace talks to reconvene as soon as possible. We know there are different tracks, the bilateral track, the US track, the EU track. For us, the most important thing is the outcome at the end, is there lasting peace? Because that would be very important for the stability of the Caucasus," added the NATO Secretary Generals Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.

And commenting on the aggressive and destructive statements from Azerbaijanand which contain territorial ambitions towards Armenia, Colomina said: "Well, I have heard many concerns from your authorities about the statements from [Azerbaijani] President Aliyev in particular. For us, as I mentioned , the normalization of relations that lead to a lasting peace is a fundamental element today and we will be pushing for that, support whatever tracks brings the two nations to sign something like that. We are supporting the US; we are supporting the European Union. Actually, I was there [in Armenia] at the same time that Tovio Klaar, the Special representative of the European Union.

Therefore, I had the opportunity to speak with him at length and we are supporting the bilateral track. At the end it is for the two nations to decide how they move on, so we will be supportive of everything that at the end of the day brings as an outcome a lasting peace. We believe that the principles that were set at the beginning of the process of course respect of sovereignty and territorial integrityare fundamental. I actually tweeted at the end of my visit on that. It is one of the principles that we are very attached to, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Of course, we believe that together with that principles, delimitation of borders, the connectivity, the principles that were set at the beginning of the process should be part of that process. Unless, of course, the two sides decide to change those principles and have different principles or other principles or more.

However, the agreed principles should not change at this stage. Therefore, as I said, I heard a lot of concern. I do not think that statements help the process move forward, that we will continue to send the same message to the partners; they need to reconvene the talks as soon as possible. Actually, I would like to add that my trip was supposed to be a regional trip. In addition, we had already worked with both capitals to make it regional, but at the beginning of January, Azerbaijan decided to postpone the visit because of the presidential elections, so I couldn't actually convey the messages that I was going to convey. One of those messages was a very clear message that we expect you guys to reconvene the peace talks as soon as possible.
We are very satisfied with the bilateral relationship that we have today with Armenia. Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary Generals Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, said this in an interview with the Armenpress correspondent in Brussels.

"Yes, I was last week in Armenia. I met with the Prime Minister Mr. Pashinyan, with the Secretary of the Security Council Mr. Grigoryan, with the Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan, with Defense Minister Papikyan. Moreover, I also had the possibility to meet students and junior diplomats and I gave a lecture there. It was very substantial visit.

We are very satisfied with the bilateral relationship that we have today with Armenia. We are also very encouraged by the decisions that Armenia has decided to take in their foreign policy and defense policy, the shift they have decided to implement. I know it is a decision that is difficult to implement and will probably take a long time, but, of course, we encourage our partners to get closer to us, and that is what Armenia is doing," said the NATO Secretary Generals Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Not only the Czech Republic, but also all international partners should exert as much pressure as possible to bring peace to the region. Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, stated this during a joint news press conference with the visiting President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Marketa Pekarova Adamova, in Yerevan Wednesday.

The NA speaker emphasized that Armenia has repeatedly said that it is ready and doing everything to establish lasting peace in the region.

"But we see that our neighboring country [i.e. Azerbaijan] does not stand out so much in that respect. The international community must respond clearly to all the steps that are aimed at to the failure to establish that peace. Azerbaijan has repeatedly refused the meetings being proposed on various international platforms. I have the impression that during this period, Azerbaijan is deliberately buying time in the matter of completing the peace process. In the event that there is a political will, I do not see any drastic reason that can prevent the peace agreement based on equality and all the principles that were agreed with the president of Azerbaijan and the prime minister [of Armenia] in July in the presence of [European Council President] Charles Michel, from being implemented. We don't understand how it is possible to come to an agreement, have a statement made by Charles Michel, and not have to this day a peace agreement based on these fundamental principles," stated the Armenian parliament speaker.

He added that Armenia will continue its efforts to establish peace.
The Czech Republic aims to have two prosperous, peaceful countries. The visiting President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Marketa Pekarova Adamova, stated this during a joint news press conference with the speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, in Yerevan Wednesdayand regarding Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Czech Republic fully supports the sovereignty of countries, but at the same time, the best framework would be to support both countries at the international level, within the framework of international cooperation, which means within the framework of the United Nations or other agencies created for this purpose. Adamova said she is sure that it is very important to emphasize the Czech Republics cooperation within the framework of the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia, which she will visit Thursday, and that they support this joint effort.

The speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies emphasized that their values are based on the principles of human rights, and therefore they always try to stress that it is important to respect human rights. This means that they will continue to assist the refugees who have been forced to leave their homes. Adamova note that after this visit, she will go to Azerbaijan and express their support to the Armenian people because it is no coincidence that she is in Armenia first, and then she will travel to Azerbaijan.

And to Armenian News-NEWS.am's question as to whether major sanctions should be imposed on Azerbaijan and whether she can promise Armenia certain practical security guarantees, Adamova responded that the Czech Republic is a member of the EU and is a member of several other agencies that support, she is sure that this should always be a joint effort because in this case they need to cooperate at these levels. This is very important for them to follow the joint position of the EU member states, or for example the member countries of the Council of Europe, she added.

It is very important to emphasize that they are not only using the sanction as a tool of one country, but also within the framework of these establishments and institutions, noted the speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies.
Turkey knows that we are supportive of the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey. I think Turkey is willing to make progress in this direction. Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary Generals Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, said this in an interview with the Armenpress correspondent in Brussels.

"Well, for us Turkey is a very important ally, as you know, it is the only ally that has borders in the region and therefore is a key actor in the region. We have a very frank conversation with Turkey on every topic and of course, we talk about the concourses as well. Turkey knows that we are supportive of the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey. I think Turkey is willing to make progress in this direction. I do not know if they are actually waiting for some progress in the Azerbaijan-Armenian track first. That could be probably one of the considerations, but I think they are genuinely interested in advancing on that. As you know, I cannot really go into the foreign policy, the domestic politics of our allies, but I think, and we have talked about this, it would be a very positive development whenever that happens," said the NATO Secretary Generals Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.

And when asked, Do you think it is possible for Turkey to directly intervene in the event of a new aggression by Azerbaijan against Armenia? And what will NATO's reaction be in that case? Colomina responded as follows, in particular: "What I can tell you is that we are very attached to those two principles: sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have been very clear always that for us those are very important. The situation three years ago was different. As you said, there was a controversy in terms of how you looked at the particular enclave. In addition, even though there was recognition of the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Azerbaijan, there was a controversy, as I said. I think we are now facing a different situation and, in my opinion, and without preempting anything, the reaction I would assume would be different."
12:43





In his customary remarks to journalists before the Budget Session's start, Modi greeted them with "Ram Ram" (an invocation of Lord Ram) and noted that there is a tradition of not presenting a full budget before the polls.





"We will follow the same tradition and present a full-fledged budget before you after a new government is formed," he said, adding that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will in her budget, to be tabled on Thursday, come out with measures showing a direction.





Modi has frequently expressed confidence that his government will retain power in the elections. The prime minister also took an aim at opposition MPs for frequently disrupting Parliamentary proceedings, saying those habituated to creating a ruckus and disrobing democratic values should introspect as they meet in the last session before the polls. "If these MPs enquire in even their own Parliamentary constituencies, they will find that no one remembers those behind such ruckus and disruptions," Modi said.





"But those who benefited Parliament with their superb ideas, even if they were sharply critical in their views, are remembered by a very big section of people," he said. "Their words will become a part of history," he said.





Modi said he believed that a big section of the country's democracy-loving people will appreciate the conduct of those MPs who used their wisdom and talent and showed their concerns for the masses, even though they might have been critical in their views. "But no one will probably remember those whose behaviour was all about negativity and creating a ruckus, the prime minister asserted. These MPs should not let go of the opportunity by the way of this last session before the polls and present the best of their ideas," he said.





Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had suspended 146 MPs in the last session for their relentless disruption of proceedings over a host of issues, including security breach in the lower House.





All of them will be participating in the Budget Session but the government has cautioned that bringing placards in the chambers and causing disruptions in violation of rules may invite disciplinary action.





Expressing confidence about people's support to the ruling BJP-led NDA in the elections, he said, "I am of the firm belief that the country is moving forward and touching new heights of progress ... the country is experiencing all-round and all-inclusive development. This journey will go on continuously with people's blessings." Modi said President Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint sitting of lawmakers and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presenting the budget on Thursday is in a way festival of women power.





The Republic Day parade saw the showcase of women power and the first session of Parliament in its new building recorded the passage of the women's reservation bill, he said in a reference to a host of developments under his government to boost women's participation in different sectors. PTI

Ahead of Parliament's last session before the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Wednesday that the country is touching new heights of progress and its journey of "all-inclusive and all-round" development will continue with people's blessings.
Hundreds of students to compete in SIUs Accounting Challenge Feb. 2

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Hundreds of high school and community college students from throughout the region will be converging upon Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Friday, Feb. 2, to compete for scholarships, trophies and bragging rights during the 26th annual Accounting Challenge.

Sponsored by the School of Accountancy in SIUs College of Business and Analytics, and State Farm, the event incorporates both individual and team competitions. The participants first complete accounting tests on their own and then engage in fun, collaborative challenges as groups.

Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the 2024 Accounting Challenge team competition on Feb. 2 in the Student Center Ballrooms and adjacent Corker Lounge. The best times to secure engaging video, photographs and interviews are during:

The welcome and overview sessions with some students arriving beginning at 8 a.m. and most coming between 8:30 and 9:15 a.m. They will be mingling and chatting during the check-in and breakfast.

The team building competition as students participate in hands-on experiential learning challenges, 10:20-11:50 a.m.

The SIU student panel as Salukis answer questions and chat with the visiting high school and community college students, 11:50 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.

The awards ceremony at 1 p.m.

For more information, contact Nija Harvey at nija@siu.edu or 618-453-1400. In case of inclement weather, the challenge will be rescheduled for March 8.

Two-phase contest

There are currently about 300 students from 22 schools registered for the challenge with some competing for the very first time and coming from as far as 3 hours away. The high school and community college participants will begin the day by completing written tests about 9:30 a.m., assessing their accounting knowledge and skills. The students who earn the highest score in accounting I or advanced accounting divisions will receive certificates and scholarships worth up to $500 if they attend SIU and major in accounting.

Then, at 10:20 a.m., the team challenge begins. Thats when things really get exciting. The participants will work in small groups to put their problem-solving skills to the test to solve a unique secret challenge, revealed just before they begin. The challenge is devised by Larry Busch, an emeritus SIU School of Art and Design faculty member.

Creativity rewarded

The challenges are a test of creativity, ingenuity and problem-solving skills, and they vary widely from year to year. One year, participants had to use a few simple supplies to create a container that would safely cradle an egg dropped from the second story of a building to keep it from breaking and another year involved a blindfolded money scoop. Another challenge featured a unique human version of the popular Hungry, Hungry Hippos game, and there have also been tests involving catapults, bridges, airplanes and assorted other brain-benders.

The winning teams will earn trophies for each team member and for their school; participants will all receive commemorative T-shirts.

SIU students, faculty and staff work together to create the unique, fun experience for the visiting students. State Farm provided a grant to help cover costs of this years event, which moves to March 8 in the event of inclement weather.

The day also features a Kahoot! video game and a Saluki student panel, giving participants a chance to chat with current SIU students and find out more about life on campus.
SIU Law to host virtual lecture on using AI in the legal profession

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  A virtual lecture on Feb. 7 hosted by the Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Law will focus on how artificial intelligence, or AI, can be used in the legal profession.

John Tredennick, founder and CEO of Merlin Search Technologies, will present Using Generative AI to Revolutionize Investigations and Discovery Workflow. The free lecture is from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and available both at the Lesar Law Building, Room 102, or via Zoom.

Before founding Merlin Search Technologies, which develops AI-powered search software for investigations, legal discovery and regulatory compliance, Tredennick was founder of Catalyst Repository Systems, and was a trial lawyer and litigation partner with Holland & Hart, a national law firm based in Denver.

The lecture will focus on the use of generative AI in the discovery process in civil litigation and in responding document requests in government investigations, said Andrew Pardieck, a professor in the SIU School of Law.

The presentation is primarily useful for attorneys and others in the legal profession but may also be of interest to people who work in AI or data analytics fields, Pardieck said. It is designed to provide a better understanding of how generative AI works and how it can be applied to discovery in civil litigation.

Learn more about how to join the lecture in the February tab in the law schools events section.

For more information, contact Carly Holtkamp, director of external relations, at 618-453-8312 or carly.holtkamp@siu.edu.
In a world grappling with increasing incidents of anti-Semitism, India stands out as an exemplar of tolerance, providing a safe haven for Jewish communities, according to Israel''s Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon. Gilon''s remarks come at a time when many Jewish communities worldwide are experiencing heightened levels of insecurity. "India was and is an example of tolerance in a place where, in these days, very few places in the world Jews can feel unthreatened because of anti-Semitism. India is one of these places," he said in an interview with ANI. India''s long-standing tradition of religious diversity and coexistence has fostered an environment where various communities, including the Jewish population, have been able to thrive without fear of persecution. The country is home to several synagogues, and Jewish festivals are celebrated with enthusiasm and respect. A day ago, Members of Mumbai''s Jewish community gathered to commemorate International Holocaust Day. Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais also attended the prayer meeting organised by the Jewish Prayer House ''Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue'' in Mumbai. On Jews living in India, he said, "India is very unique because antisemitism was never a phenomenon. You don''t have a word in India for antisemitism. I think Jews, and it was also mentioned by the honorable minister who was here, Jews lived here equally, contributed. He spoke about the contribution of Jews to all segments of life in India." Every year on January 27, UNESCO pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to counter antisemitism, racism, and other forms of intolerance that may lead to group-targeted violence, according to the UNESCO website. Israeli envoy Gilon also said that India has been very strong against terrorism from the first moment. He said that Israel is appreciative of the Indian government''s support since Hamas launched the attack on October 7. He added that Israel has received "incredible support" from Indian people amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Speaking about India''s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, Gilon said, "India was very strong against terrorism from the first moment. Prime Minister Modi, on the afternoon of October 7, already came out with a very strong condemnation. We are much appreciative of the Indian government for its support from that time on." "And you heard the External Affairs Minister''s words, which are very, very clear. But this is not the only support we get from India. We get incredible support from the Indian people, wide support. We feel it all around, and it''s very important for us. As I said, we are going to win. But when you have support and friendship from countries and people, at least it makes you feel that there is still light at the end of the tunnel, there is still hope," he added. The war in Gaza continues after Israel launched a counter-offensive in response to the Hamas attack on October 7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first global leaders to condemn the horrific terror attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7. Naor Gilon called October 7 the "worst day" for Jews since the Holocaust and added that Israel is fighting an important war of survivability. He stated that more than 1,200 people were murdered, raped, mutilated, and over 200 were kidnapped in a few hours of invasion on October 7. On being asked about his personal story about the Holocaust, the Israeli envoy responded, "My personal story is the fact that I''m what we call a second generation to the Holocaust. My father was born in Germany in 1935, and he passed most of the Holocaust in Hungary, in Budapest, partly in the Ghetto." (ANI)
The outlet reported that an unidentified assailant opened fire during the PML-N rally on Tuesday, injuring five individuals, including the brother of the political candidate from constituency PP-154. The armed individual fled from the scene. The police are investigating the matter to nab the accused.

In a separate clash between workers from two political parties in Nazimabad, a man named Faraz, aged 48, was killed, and another, Rao Talha, was injured during a firing incident. Both the deceased and the injured were affiliated with a political party, according to officials, as reported by ARY News.

Following the violent incident in Nazimabad, unidentified individuals set two vehicles on fire in Nazimabad 2. Police officials reported that a fire tender promptly reached the spot, successfully extinguishing the flames.

The escalating political tensions leading up to the general elections scheduled for February 08 have seen a substantial deployment of police and ranger personnel in the area, ARY News reported.

The incidents underscore the volatile political climate, with confrontations between rival parties becoming more frequent. Authorities remain vigilant, addressing challenges to ensure a secure electoral process amidst the heightened tensions. (ANI)
BusinessWire India Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], January 30: D. E. Shaw India Private Limited ("D. E. Shaw India") has sponsored the setup and operation of a mobile eye healthcare unit in Hyderabad in partnership with Sightsavers India, a developmental organization. The goal of the initiative is to increase access to primary eye healthcare services for underserved communities residing in and around Hyderabad. Sightsavers India has equipped the mobile unit with a range of eye care services, including vision testing, eye exams, and provision of prescription eyeglasses in collaboration with Pushpagiri Vitreo Retina Institute ("PVRI"), a not-for-profit eye hospital in Hyderabad. The mobile unit was inaugurated at D. E. Shaw India's Hyderabad office in Jubilee Hills by members of the firm's Operating Committee. Prasanna Kumar from Sightsavers India and Dr. Vijay Kiran Sarvepally from the PVRI group of hospitals were present at the time of inauguration. Chaitanya Gorrepati, a managing director and a member of D. E. Shaw India's Operating Committee and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee said, "We support a variety of social initiatives to give back and engage with our community. Timely availability of eye care could contribute to reducing cases of preventable vision loss. We are glad to partner with Sightsavers India on this initiative and hope our efforts will contribute to bringing quality eye care services to the doorsteps of those in need." Prasanna Kumar, Sightsavers India said, "Sightsavers India is pleased to launch a mobile eye healthcare unit in Hyderabad with support from D. E. Shaw India. The unit will be equipped with all essential eyecare equipment and staffed with trained personnel. It will tour in and around Hyderabad, reaching out to people with limited or no access to quality eye care. Additionally, the unit will facilitate early detection and management of common and critical eye health conditions." (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)
PRNewswire New Delhi [India], January 31: The world witnessed another historic moment as the 10th IIHM Young Chef Olympiad 2024 was declared open at a breathtaking Opening Ceremony on the evening of 29th January, 2024, that was not only grand and glamorous, but also engaging for everyone. The epic 10th Young Chef Olympiad is proof to the zeal and passion with which the world's biggest Culinary Extravaganza has grown from strength to strength over a decade. From a nascent idea that brought together just 15 countries of the world in 2015, to a massive platform that has accommodated more that 60 countries in its tenth edition in 2024, YCO truly embodies the spirit of Global Connect, camaraderie and bonding. The World's Biggest Culinary Olympiad, organised by the International Hospitality Council and hosted by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) and the International Hospitality Council (IHC) London, will take place in six major cities including Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa and Kolkata. The YCO 2024 Opening Ceremony was marked by celebration as well as a significant message regarding matters that affect the world and the hospitality industry on the whole. Prior to the Opening Ceremony there were four Panel Discussions by some of the stalwarts from the international hospitality industry. The first Panel Discussion was between Neil Rippington, IIHM Global Director and Chef John Wood, Director of Kitchen Cut. They discussed the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Hospitality Skills of the Future. The second panel discussion had Chef Gary Maclean, National Chef of Scotland and Chef Sarah Hartnett where they discussed the role of employers in Hospitality Education. Rajan Bahadur was the moderator of the discussion. The third panel discussion was between Chef Cyrus Todiwala and Mario Parera. They talked about Organisational Culture and how we need to work differently. Prof David Foskett moderated the session. In the final panel discussion Paul Jervis and Chef Zamzani spoke about the strategy for the future recruitment and career development. Hospitality icon, Diwan Gautam Anand, moderated this session. The Opening Ceremony followed with all 60 participants coming together on stage with their respective country flags. "Through the course of 10 years, the Young Chef Olympiad has grown from strength to strength and has taken on many worthy causes, starting from unity to diversity, to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the promotion of millets. Through the immersive experience of the Olympiad, we aim to dismantle barriers and cultivate an environment where dialogue flourishes and friendship blossoms. The Young Chef Olympiad is a platform to promote Youth Culinary Diplomacy, a platform to bring the world together through the power of youth," said Dr Suborno Bose, the CEO of the International Hospitality Council and Chairman of IIHM in his address. "From 2015, YCO has grown, not just as a competition, but as a gathering of young people, of friendship, harmony and learning. Today, YCO promotes learning about what issues, the world currently faces. To live is to learn. To live is to change. But to change often is to grow. This is the philosophy that YCO follows," said Prof David Foskett, Chairman of IHC and the YCO Jury who has been presented the OBE by King Charles III at the beginning of the year. The rest of the Opening Ceremony showcased the unveiling of the winner's trophy by Dr Suborno Bose, introducing Tiger Chef, the mascot of YCO and also unfurling of the Young Chef Olympiad flag. Against the backdrop of the YCO anthem, mentors and judges took the YCO oath together. This officially announced the opening of the epic 10th International IIHM Young Chef Olympiad that will be followed by six days of nail-biting competition and mutual cultural exchange between nations. About IIHM IIHM (International Institute of Hotel Management) is one of the largest chain of premier hospitality and hotel management schools across India that started its journey in 1994 at Kolkata. IIHM is a part of Indismart Group, the conglomerate that operates the Indismart Hotels. IIHM campuses are located across eleven National and International cities with the associate institute IAM-IHM located in Kolkata, and Guwahati. Students passing out of IIHM are armed with an international degree from the University of West London and equipped with global hospitality skills that enable easy placements in any hospitality brand across the world. IIHM is dedicated to its pursuit of excellence in teaching and placements. Real time experience is the key to success in hospitality and that makes the institute popular. In recent years, IIHM has been instrumental in organizing the Worlds biggest Culinary Olympiad Young Chef Olympiad, with participation of over 50 countries, a unique idea and initiative inviting young culinary talents across the world. It has MoU's with over 50 countries for student and faculty exchange bringing the best of education for its students from around the World. The institute has bagged several prestigious awards in the past 24 years. The list includes the Best Education Brand Award from Economic Times consecutively in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. It was also featured in Forbes Magazine as Great Indian Institute and Great Place to Study consecutively in the year 2018 - 2019 and 2019 - 2020. IIHM was also awarded as one among the World's Greatest Brands & Leaders 2015-16 by URS International (IMEA - Process Reviewer PriceWaterhouseCoopers PL) and also received the Best Institute in Hospitality Education 2017 Award by Assocham from Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon'ble Minister of State for HRD (Higher Education), Govt. of India. Please visit for more information: www.iihm.ac.in Media Contact: Abdullah Ahmed,COO, IIHM Hotel School GroupT: +91-(0)11-43204700E: Abdullah.ahmed@iihm.ac.in Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2329986/IIHM_Young_Chef_Olympiad_2024.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2256068/IIHM_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Valentines Day is the biggest date night of the year and youll want to make plans now to avoid heartbreak. Love is in the air at Chicago restaurants and bars that are offering romantic specials like heart-shaped pizza, pink drinks and indulgent dinners for two at candlelit tables set with flowers.

With the holiday falling on a Wednesday, some places are extending the Valentines Day fun throughout the week and even all February long. There are to-go and delivery packages for anyone who prefers to celebrate at home plus family-friendly buffets and Galentines Day gatherings where you can share the fun with your kids and friends. Whatever your love language, youll find something at one of these 78 spots.

All menus and specials are offered Feb. 14 unless otherwise noted.

The Loop and Near North Side

Adalina

A four-course dinner ($100) in the Rose Lounge speakeasy includes a cocktail, a bottle of Champagne, oysters with salsa verde, roasted lobster, wagyu bavette and tiramisu. 912 N. State St., 312-820-9000, adalinachicago.com

Adobo Grill

The Old Town restaurant offers a special menu including grilled oysters ($18), chipotle-marinated chicken breast with corn flan ($26) and chocolate cake with raspberries ($11). 215 W. North Ave., 312-266-7999, adobochi.davinci-group.com

Asador Bastian

Order from the regular menu or opt for a $222 Best of Basque dinner for two including oysters, a lobster & black truffle torte and Txuleton steak. Add on a bouquet of flowers for $50 or a Champagne toast for $52. 214 W. Erie St., 312-800-8935, asadorbastian.com

The Teach Me to Dance cocktail is part of the Valentines Day dinner at Avli River North.

Avli River North

Executive chef Panos Chalikiopoulos offers a five-course dinner for two ($99) including a glass of Champagne, roasted cauliflower, shrimp souvlakia and semolina cake with hibiscus syrup. 702 N. Wells St., 312-643-5656, avli.us/avli-river-north

Bazaar Meat

A four-course tasting menu ($165) includes oysters on the half shell, Wagyu beef tartare and Maine lobster. 120 N. Wacker Drive, 312-820-6601, thebazaar.com

Beatrixs Valentines Day cookie decorating kits

Beatrix Market DePaul Loop

Learn how to make a pair of Valentines Day-themed cocktails and decorate three heart-shaped cookies from 5:30-7 p.m. Feb. 8. The $33 class includes snacks and you can add on a heart-shaped deep dish pizza. The pizza is also served from Feb. 12-14, while cookie decorating kits are also available for pick up or delivery from Feb. 8-14. 23 E. Jackson Blvd., 312-583-0598, beatrixrestaurants.com

Tuna crudo at BLVD Steakhouse.

BLVD Steakhouse

Chef Joe Flamm offers a special three-course menu ($125) including tuna crudo and mushroom risotto with black truffles. 817 W. Lake St., 312-526-3116, blvdchicago.com

Brass Tack

The restaurant at Waldorf Astoria Chicago offers a three-course Passion on the Plate dinner ($95) including salmon belly tartare, pan-seared scallops with sweet corn polenta and white chocolate cherry gateaux with cabernet sorbet. 11 E. Walton St., 312-646-1402, brasstackchicago.com

Carnivale

Bring the family for an all-you-can-eat Cupids Brunch from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 11 featuring shrimp cocktail, miso-marinated salmon, carved bone-in rib-eye, buttermilk fried chicken, ropa vieja, seafood paella, churros and cotton candy for $55 or $25 for kids 10 and under. A three-course Valentines Day dinner served from 5-9 p.m. includes salmon ceviche, surf & turf and a gift box full of sweets for $149 per couple. 702 W. Fulton Market, 312-850-5005, carnivalechicago.com

The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant

The South Loop steakhouse offers a three-course dinner ($95) with options including lobster bisque, an 8-oz. filet mignon and Key lime pie, plus add-ons like chargrilled oysters ($18) and king crab spaghetti ($48). 1401 S. Michigan Ave., 312-786-1401, chicagofirehouse.com

Eataly

Visit more than 10 stations serving dishes like truffle agnolotti and chocolate-covered strawberry gelato during a Valentines Day tasting ($55) that includes a cocktail and two glasses of Italian wine. 1-4:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 43 E. Ohio St., 312-521-8700, eataly.com

Fioretta

The West Loop steakhouse offers a four-course tasting menu including meatballs, Caesar salad, filet mignon and tiramisu for $125. Upgrade to a 24-oz. bone-in rib-eye for $35 or add a Maine lobster tail for $35. 318 N. Sangamon St., 312-897-5011, fiorettasteak.com

Gene & Georgetti

The iconic River North steakhouse offers a special menu including steak tartare ($29), heart-shaped ricotta ravioli in lobster sauce ($37), grilled swordfish ($46) and a heart-shaped molten chocolate cake ($14). 500 N. Franklin St., 312-527-3718, geneandgeorgetti.com

Girl & The Goat

A special prix fixe menu ($95) features a mix of Stephanie Izards classic dishes as well as new bites. 809 W. Randolph St., 312-492-6262, girlandthegoat.com

Indienne

Chef Sujan Sarkar prepares a five-course tasting menu at the Michelin-starred restaurant thats $175 per person plus $75 for wine pairings. Menu highlights include oysters with coconut, chili and cucumber rasam and chocolate with raspberry chutney, black rice and nolen gur. 217 W. Huron St., 312-291-9427; indiennechicago.com

Kindling

Start with a Champagne toast then head to Skydeck on the 99th floor of the Willis Tower for a three-course dinner ($95) featuring ox heart puttanesca pasta, olive oil-poached sea sturgeon and molten chocolate cake. Finish the night on the 103rd floor with sweets from West Town Bakery. 7 p.m., 202 S. Franklin St., 312-789-5992, kindlingchicago.com

Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley

Have a sweet celebration with specials including a surf & turf dinner for two ($79), a red velvet waffle topped with marshmallow and white chocolate ($13), Champagne sorbet ($21) and an Old-Fashioned served with a chocolate-covered strawberry ($21), plus live music from 7-9 p.m. 444 N. Wabash Ave., 312-847-5543, kitchenkocktailsusa.com

Lirica

Youll be welcomed with a glass of Champagne when you dine at the Sable Hotel restaurant, which offers specials Feb. 14-17 including braised short rib and blue cheese tarts ($18), petite filet with Alaskan king crab ($59), and strawberry and pistachio layer cake with candied rose petals. 900 E. Grand Ave., (872) 710-5750, liricarestaurant.com

Lure Fishbars deluxe seafood tower.

Lure Fishbar

The Love Boat, a selection of sushi, sashimi, caviar and Champagne oyster shooters ($125), is the star of a special menu that also includes pan-seared scallops with cauliflower puree ($24), cheese ravioli with shaved truffle ($27), a deluxe seafood tower for two ($95) and a raspberry dome with berries and cream ($11). 616 N. Rush St., (312) 660-6180, lurefishbar.com

Mercadito

Get a taste of the restaurants top dishes from this Valentines Day menu to share ($50), including mango guacamole, smoked brisket tacos, chicken tinga flautas and tres leches cake. For $10, you can add on a butter-poached lobster taco. 108 W. Kinzie St., 312-329-9555, mercaditorivernorth.com

Choose from a $75 menu, which includes a miso tomato tartare at Miru for Valentines Day.

Miru

Choose from a $75 menu, including a welcome cocktail, miso tomato tartare, cured salmon and dessert, or a dinner that also includes whitefish ballotine with caviar and a glass of sparkling rose. 401 E. Wacker Drive, 312-725-7811, mirurestaurant.com

Moes Cantina

Take part in a post-Valentines Day Taco Thursday at this River North restaurant. Enjoy complimentary heart-shaped churros and a mezcal tasting. Plus theres a $4 taco deal, a $10 mezcal cocktail menu, and a $16 Cupids Arrow lime and hibiscus mojito. 6-8 p.m. Feb. 15, 155 W. Kinzie St., Chicago. 312-245-2000, moescantina.com

Olio e Piu

Get a taste of la dolce vita with specials including octopus carpaccio with crispy capers ($34), beet gnocchi with lobster ragu ($56) and pan-seared red snapper wrapped in pancetta ($49). 445 N. Dearborn St., 312-363-3335, olioepiu.com

Osteria Via Stato

A four-course menu from chef David DiGregorio served in the downtown restaurants candlelit dining room includes grilled octopus, seafood stew and tiramisu. $78 per person plus $34 or $54 for wine pairings. Feb. 10 and 14. 620 N. State St., 312-642-8450, osteriaviastato.com

A heart-shaped pizza at Pizzeria Portofino for Valentines Day.

Pizzeria Portofino

Any pizza can be made heart-shaped for an extra $5 Feb. 10-16. On Feb. 14 you can also surprise your date with a single rose ($8) or a dozen ($85) delivered to your table at the riverfront restaurant. 317 N. Clark St., 312-900-9018, pizzeriaportofino.com

Prime & Provisions

A four-course tasting menu includes lump blue crab cake, clam chowder, a 7-oz. filet mignon and chocolate caramel cake for $125, and you can add on roasted wild mushrooms ($15), a shellfish tower ($45) or a 6-oz. lobster tail ($35). 222 N. LaSalle St.., 312-726-7777, primeandprovisions.com

Proxi

Chef Andrew Zimmerman offers a special four-course dinner ($95), including Thai-style beef tartare, lamb kofta kebab, coal-roasted striped bass and dark chocolate marquise. 565 W. Randolph St., 312-466-1950, proxichicago.com

Tuna crudo at Rose Mary.

Rose Mary

Share a four-course dinner ($105), including tuna crudo with veal aioli, mushroom risotto with black truffle, lamb saddle with roasted baby carrots, and chocolate and honey madarica. 932 W. Fulton Market, 872-260-3921, rosemarychicago.com

The decadent heart-shaped 14K chocolate cake at RPM Steak.

RPM Steak

Feast on luxurious specials like beef Wellington and a heart-shaped version of the River North restaurants 14K chocolate cake. 4-9:30 p.m. 66 W. Kinzie St., 312-284-4990, rpmrestaurants.com

Sepia

Feast on a seven-course dinner, including golden Kaluga caviar, steak tartare, grilled short rib with Yorkshire pudding and Key lime custard with toasted meringue. $150 plus $75 for wine pairings. 123 N. Jefferson St., 312-441-1920, sepiachicago.com

Shanghai Terrace

Chef Elmo Han offers a five-course dinner including Peking duck, dumplings, scallop hot and sour soup, Szechuan beef tenderloin and creme fraiche cheesecake. The regular menu is also available. $148 plus $88 for wine pairings. 108 E. Superior St., 312-573-6744, peninsula.com

Sushi | Bar

The sushi bar in Lady May will be covered in candles and rose petals for an omakase dinner ($255) including a Champagne welcome toast, truffles, caviar and dessert. Wine and sake pairings are available for purchase and all ladies will receive roses at the end of the meal. 405 N. Wabash Ave., 312-498-4442, sushibarhospitality.com

Valentines Day at Sushi-san.

Sushi-san

Skip the flowers and head to River North for an akami tuna rose offered in addition to other specials. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 63 W. Grand Ave., 312-828-0575, sushisanrestaurant.com

Valentines Day specials at Tanta.

Tanta

A four-course menu ($86) features Peruvian favorites such as tuna ceviche, petite striploin with beet gnocchi and chocolate cake with strawberry pisco jam. Add on a pisco sour served with two straws and a portion of the price will be donated to Perus Pachacutec Culinary Institute. Vegetarian options are available for each course and a limited a la carte menu will be served at the bar. 118 W. Grand Ave., 312-222-9700, tantachicago.com

Valentines Day dishes at TAO Chicago include Peking duck.

TAO Chicago

Surprise your Valentine with a box of chocolates ($25) or a bottle of Champagne ($90-$650) waiting at the table when you sit down for Peking duck and a giant fortune cookie dessert. The River North restaurant is also offering a sweet dim sum basket with chocolate strawberry and lychee rose dumplings Feb. 12-17 ($18). 632 N. Dearborn St., 224-888-0388, taogroup.com

Tree House

Grab your friends to celebrate Galentines Day with Neapolitan heart-shaped pizzas and $10 cocktails including the Cherry Limeade Pucker-Up special. Happy hour deals from 5-8 p.m. include half-off bottles of wine and half-off wings. Starts 5 p.m. Feb. 15, 149 W. Kinzie St., 312-477-3983, treehousechicago.com

Wagyu House Chicago by the X Pot

Each table will receive a complimentary rose during Valentines Day dinner. The hot pot restaurant also offers a pair of themed cocktails Feb. 9-16: the Sunrise Kiss made with yuzu and tequila and the Cupids Blush, which blends strawberry and gin. 1147 S. Delano Court East, 312-585-8655, thexpot.com

Yardbird

The comfort food spot serves specials including cacio e pepe ricotta gnocchi ($22), stuffed pork tenderloin with truffle frites ($34) and a frozen strawberry smores souffle ($16). 530 N. Wabash Ave., 312-999-9760, runchickenrun.com/chicago

North Side & Northwest Side

Alma at Hotel Zachary

Celebrate all month long in one of the see-through heated globes ($35-$50) on the bars terrace, where youll get a glass of sparkling rose or pink lemonade, heart-shaped macarons and chocolate-covered strawberries. The globe is equipped with a record player, games, blankets and a Polaroid camera, and you can order dishes from Mordecai including bacon-wrapped dates and surf and turf. 3630 N. Clark St., 773-302-2326, almahotelzachary.com

Anelya

Chef Johnny Clark offers a sampling of the Ukrainian restaurants most loved dishes with a four-course dinner including eggplant caviar, chicken Kiev and borscht with duck and smoked pears. $75 plus $50 for drink pairings. Feb. 9-17, 3472 N. Elston Ave., 773-692-2192, anelyarestaurant.com

Argot

Enjoy the classic pairing of fried chicken and sparkling wine during a Galentines Tasting ($65) that also features tarot readings and the chance to buy flower arrangements. 6 p.m. Feb. 13.,. 2349 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-770-3571, argotchicago.com

Boka

A special seven-course tasting menu includes Maine lobster toast, poached black bass, truffle gnudi, and banana and miso chocolate mousse. $225 plus $165 for wine pairings. 1729 N. Halsted St., 312-337-6070, bokachicago.com

Coda di Volpe

Executive chef Jacob Saben offers specials from Feb. 14-18, including a heart-shaped pizza topped with lobster ($30), dry-aged rib-eye for two ($110) and a sweetheart sundae with banana and chocolate gelato and candied hazelnut ($16). 3335 N. Southport Ave., 773-687-8568, cdvolpe.com

Daisies

Share a four-course menu ($110) including smoked sturgeon rillette, pappardelle with beef cheek sugo and grilled trout with sunchokes. Wine pairings are also available. 2375 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-697-9443, daisieschicago.com

Homeslice

Shop pop-ups from Kendra Scott and Alice & Wonder at a Galentines Day party ($25) featuring heart-shaped pizza, a spritz bar and customizable cookies. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 13. 938 W. Webster Ave., 312-789-4600, happycamper.pizza/homeslice

Lotties Pub

Don Julio and Ketel One offer samplings and giveaways during a happy hour featuring $14 heart-shaped pizzas and $7 glasses of house wine. 7-10 p.m. 1925 W. Cortland St., 773-489-0738, lottiespub.com

Warm up with a sweetheart afternoon tea from 1-3 p.m. Feb. 10 featuring sandwiches and pastries for $70 or $25 for kids.

Mon Ami Gabi

Warm up with a sweetheart afternoon tea from 1-3 p.m. Feb. 10 featuring sandwiches and pastries for $70 or $25 for kids, adding a glass of bubbly for $10. The Lincoln Park restaurant also offers a three-course Valentines Day menu Feb. 9-22 including lobster bisque, caramelized sea scallops and a bittersweet chocolate terrine for $80. 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, 773-348-8886, monamigabi.com/chicago

Parachute

A five-course menu ($75) features the James Beard Award-winning Korean restaurants most popular dishes including kimchi pajeon, 30-day dry-aged bulgogi and goguma brulee. Wine, sool and nonalcoholic pairings are available. Feb. 13-17. 3500 N. Elston Ave., 872-204-7138, parachuterestaurant.com

A scaccia is part of Sfera Sicilian Street Foods Valentines Day dinner for two.

Sfera Sicilian Street Food

A special dinner for two ($79) available for pickup or delivery includes arancini, roasted beet and couscous salad, a scaccia, cannoli and the base of a saffron sour to make a cocktail or mocktail at home. 5759 N. Broadway, 773-739-9128, sferachicago.com

Summer House Santa Monica

Chocolate is incorporated in each of four courses in a special tasting dinner with wine pairings ($125) including arugula salad with chocolate vinaigrette, cocoa pappardelle and a dessert. 6-9 p.m. Feb. 13, 1954 N. Halsted St., 773-634-4100, summerhouserestaurants.com

West Side & Near West Side

Cabra

Take in the views from The Hoxton Hotel rooftop while sharing a Peruvian-inspired dinner ($75). 200 N. Green St., 312-761-1717, cabrachicago.com

Duck Duck Goat

Share dim sum and new and classic dishes from Stephanie Izards Chinese American-inspired menu ($85). 857 W. Fulton Market, 312-902-3825, duckduckgoatchicago.com

Frontier

Spilt a tomahawk steak and dessert for two for $125 Feb. 9-17, adding on a bottle of bubbly for $49 or $89. The West Town restaurant also hosts a Galentines brunch from noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 10 that includes an entree, pastry, two hours of mimosas, samplings and raffles for $39. 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-772-4322, thefrontierchicago.com

Valentines Day treats at Good Ambler.

Good Ambler

Grab your sweetheart a Valentines Day-themed treat like strawberry chocolate teddy bears, heart-shaped bonbons, a pistachio rose croissant or chocolate cherry financier served Feb. 2-4, 9-11 and 14. 216 N. Peoria St., 312-872-7165, goodambler.com

Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar

A special tasting menu available Feb. 9-17 in addition to the regular offerings includes beet-striped ravioli with crispy Iberico ham, wood-grilled short rib with radish kimchi and Meyer lemon poppy seed cake with ginger ice cream. $225 plus $65 for beverage pairings. 2700 W. Chicago Ave., 773-661-9577, 773-661-9577, heritage-chicago.com

Lyra

Take a trip to Greece with a four-course tasting menu, including grilled octopus, Wagyu beef souvlakia and orange syrup cake. $125 plus $55 for wine pairings. 905 W. Fulton Market, 312-660-7722, lyrarestaurant.com

The strawberry bruschetta at Machine: Engineered Dining & Drink.

Machine: Engineered Dining & Drink

Build your own bouquet during a workshop from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 8 including a flight of four wines for $80. The bar and florist will also be offering specials Feb. 9-11 and Feb. 14, including strawberry bruschetta ($16), mushroom tagliatelle ($24), a salted chocolate torte ($12) and several pink drinks like the Crystal Sage, black cherry ginger balsamic shrub, vodka, amaro, lemon and egg white served in a Champagne flute garnished with a candied beet ($15). 1846 W Division St., 773-276-7422, dinemachine.com

Maxwells Trading

Maxwells Trading will be offering large hand-tied bouquets by The Roof Crop of paperwhites, tulips and lilies ($75) to compliment their regular a la carte menu offerings. And you can sip on a special lavender cocktail called the Queen Bee ($13) with lavender honey, gin, lemon, butterfly pea flower and lavender essence. 1516 W. Carroll Ave., 312-896-4110, maxwellstrading.com

Rhine Hall Distillery

Take a tour of the distillery while sipping a cocktail and then learn how to make a pair of Valentines Day-themed drinks. The class ($70) includes spirit tastings and a 10% discount on all purchases. 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 10, 2010 W. Fulton St., 312-243-4313, rhinehall.com

South Side & Near South Side

Bronzeville Winery

A For the Love of Jazz candlelit dinner ($125) features live music from Isaiah Collier and a four-course dinner from chef Lamar Moore including shaved heirloom beet salad, beef Wellington and espresso vanilla panna cotta. 4-10 p.m. 4420 S. Cottage Grove Ave., 872-244-7065, bronzevillewinery.com

The Duck Inn

Groove to 90s R&B during a three-course dinner ($95) featuring duck tartare, pan-seared scallops and foie gras French silk pie. 5-9 p.m. 2701 S. Eleanor St., 312-724-8811, theduckinnchicago.com

Truth Be Told

The British pub at the University of Chicago serves a $75 four-course menu with a $30 optional wine pairing from 4-10 p.m. Feb. 14 and Feb. 16-17. Menu options include oysters Rockefeller, fried calamari, butter lettuce salad, surf and turf, and raspberry and lemon sorbetto with fresh berries. Reservations required through Tock. 1227 E. 60th St., 872-315-1319, truthbetoldtavern.com

Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery

Make your own wine and compete in a grape-stomping contest as part of a party, including wine-themed games, romantic karaoke, dinner, and a wine and mead tasting. $125 plus $85 to $199 for the wine supplies. 6 p.m. Feb. 10, 9030 S. Hermitage Ave., 773-840-4642, wildblossommeadery.com

Suburban and multiple locations

Aboyer

Even if you cant make it to the City of Love, you can get a taste of Paris with a French dinner ($88), including shrimp and jumbo lump crab cocktail, beef tenderloin and truffle mousse en croute and chocolate souffle with raspberry creme anglaise. 64 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, 847-441-3100; georgetroisgroup.com/about-aboyer

Antico Posto

Specials offered for lunch and dinner Feb. 9-14 include lobster caprese with housemade mozzarella and seared sea scallops with creamy Arborio rice. 118 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, 630-586-9200, antico-posto.com

Carrabbas Italian Grill

A four-course dinner ($65 per couple) offered Feb. 8-18 includes tomato caprese with burrata, Sicilian chicken soup, chicken Parmesan, red velvet cake and a prosecco toast. 1001 75th St., Woodridge, 630-427-0900, carrabbas.com

Lobster tail is on Di Pescaras Valentines Day menu.

Di Pescara

A three-course dinner ($50) includes lobster bisque, braised short ribs with mashed potatoes and red velvet tiramisu. 4:30-8 p.m. Feb. 9-14. 2124 Northbrook Court, Northbrook, 847-498-4321, di-pescara.com

Fonda Cantina

Opt for the regular menu or a three-course dinner ($49) featuring shrimp and crab salad, mole risotto with roasted pork tenderloin and strawberries with cream. 5-9 p.m., 1735 Benson Ave., 224-714-2866, eatatfonda.com

Francescas

All of the restaurants locations celebrate with specials including shrimp scampi ($18), braised short ribs with espresso jus ($32), lobster agnolotti ($35) and a red velvet ice cream sandwich ($12) offered in addition to the regular menu Feb. 9-14. Multiple locations, miafrancesca.com

Valentines Day desserts from The Goddess and Grocer.

The Goddess and Grocer

Order sweet treats for pickup and delivery including a six-inch chocolate strawberry cake ($45), a heart-shaped blackberry white chocolate tart ($30), chocolate-covered strawberries ($18) and a cookie gift box ($25). Multiple locations, goddessandgrocer.com

The Hampton Social

Find the Perfect Pair, two glasses of rose and an order of oysters, for $30 Feb. 8-14. Galentines Day celebrations in the bar and lounge can indulge in 90 minutes of bottomless frose and appetizers for $40 from Feb. 1-13. Multiple locations, thehamptonsocial.com

Rosebud

Share heart-shaped cheese ravioli, coconut shrimp, filet with lobster and a bottle of wine. $175 per couple. Multiple locations, rosebudrestaurants.com

Saranellos

Celebrate early with a Valentines Day-themed brunch ($45) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 11, including shrimp cocktail, pasta, made-to-order omelets and dessert. The restaurant also offers dinner specials Feb. 8-14, including lobster caprese, king crab tagliatelle and Door County cherry cheesecake. 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, 847-777-6878, saranellos.com

Sweet Mandy Bs

The bakery offers holiday treats Feb. 7-14 including chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate ganache hearts and a raspberry iced brownie. 1208 W. Webster Ave., 773-244-1174 and 254 E. Ontario St., 312-255-1632, sweetmandybs.com

Trulucks

Trulucks is always a special occasion restaurant and its adding filet mignon with lobster tail ($99) and rib-eye with king crab ($130) from Feb. 10-15 with chocolate cherry cheesecake ($14) all month long. 9860 Berwyn Ave., Rosemont, 847-233-9404, trulucks.com

Vinnys Clam Bar

Start with oysters and a glass of bubbly ($20) and then share other celebratory specials offered Feb. 9-14, including scallops with prosecco butter ($52) and chocolate budino ($10). 18201 S. Harlem Ave., Tinley Park, 708-680-4200, vinnysclambar.com

Piazza at Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook

The pop-up restaurant hosts a four-course wine pairing dinner ($80 per person) with a live string duo. 6 p.m. Feb. 10, 2815 Jorie Blvd., Oak Brook, 630-581-6658, hyatt.com

Red velvet cake is on Wildfires Valentines Day menu.

Wildfire

The restaurant highlights its favorites in a special meal for two, including shrimp cocktail, chopped salad, cedar-planked salmon and red velvet cake. $135 per couple. Feb. 13-18. Multiple locations, wildfirerestaurant.com

Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.
Mediawire New Delhi [India], January 31: "Revolution" does not overstate the case - the most advanced users of medium-altitude, remotely piloted aircraft are doing new things in ways they never could before. It's quiet, though, because the governments involved don't always talk about what's taking place. What's making it possible, however, is not a secret: the next-generation MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian manufactured by San Diego-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. As these aircraft grow in number and take on an increasing diversity of missions worldwide, they're changing the way professionals conduct maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare, rescue, and many other roles. Leveraging a strong legacy of innovation Remotely piloted aircraft already changed the world once. What MQ-9B does today is thanks partly to the experience derived from those earlier-model aircraft, including the MQ-9A Reaper and MQ-1 Predator. That fleet has recorded more than 8 million operational hours globally, many of them in combat, providing a huge trove of experience that informed the design of the new system. That combination of proven performance with new design and technology is what makes MQ-9B stand apart. Operational today, it leads its category and incurs much less cost or risk than a design from a clean sheet. In every environment, in all four corners of the earth, the aircraft are actively proving what they can do. U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, for example, uses MQ-9B to pioneer a new regime for integrating large, medium and small unmanned aircraft. With a large central fuselage and a broad wingspan, the SkyGuardian makes an optimal mothership for other aircraft, such as GA-ASI's Sparrowhawk - which it can launch and recover in mid-flight - or others. Here's a look at how GA-ASI's aerial recovery system enables mid-flight launch and recovery. Purpose built to be multi-purpose American special operations personnel need intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; route clearance; early warning; communications and many other types of support during their missions. What AFSOC is showing with MQ-9B is how unmanned aircraft of various sizes can combine in novel ways in order to provide that. Through complex exercises off the West Coast of the United States, the U.S. Navy also has shown that adding highly capable new remotely piloted aircraft changes the old way of doing business. MQ-9B aircraft, contracted for major fleet exercises, have escorted carrier strike groups, served as communications relays for ships at sea, and also helped prosecute simulated hostile submarines. The SeaGuardian's unmatched endurance means it can stay on station longer than any human-crewed aircraft ever could, which gives unblinking eyes and unfailing ears to crews hunting for submarines. The U.S. Navy has validated this in difficult, complex exercises in the Pacific Ocean against simulated targets. https://youtu.be/LVR_EioIM8c Changing the world for good Nations around the world are benefiting from these same capabilities, from Europe to the Middle East to East Asia to the Indian subcontinent. There are too many to list, but users include some of the most advanced naval and air services in the world. One great example is the Indian Navy, which has logged tens of thousands of operational hours on its aircraft in missions that have transformed its ability to see and respond around the Indian Ocean. In early January, a cargo vessel issued a distress call: it was being boarded by armed men. One of the first assets to arrive was an Indian Navy MQ-9B SeaGuardian, which helped coordinate initial assessments of the hijacked vessel and then the rest of the Indian Navy's response. MQ-9B's ability to remain on station for many hours and its high-definition video and other sensing capabilities, gave Indian Navy commanders the ability to watch in real time as other ships and aircraft deployed and a team of naval special operators boarded the ship. All of these nations are finding that MQ-9B enables new ways of taking on their toughest missions - and more are poised to follow suit. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by Mediawire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
New Delhi [India], January 31: TigerPay, the Dubai-based fintech startup founded in 2023 by Prabh Singh, is revolutionizing payment solutions for SMEs in the region with its flagship product, softPOS, and QR and link payments.

In a significant development, TigerPay successfully raised a pre-seed round of USD 250k last year and is now entering its second fundraising round, targeting USD 1.5M. Notably, Indian entrepreneur Ashneer Grover, former co-founder and MD of BharatPe, is a key investor.

"TigerPay is super excited to have Ashneer Grover onboard. We couldn't have asked for a better angel investor. We aim to be the largest merchant-first fintech in the UAE and the Gulf region," expressed Prabh Singh, CEO of TigerPay.

"Excited about TigerPay solving for small merchants in the UAE!" echoes in Ashneer Grover's quote, capturing the fintech's commitment to supporting local businesses.

The funds will be used to grow the merchant base, develop a neobank and the largest SME lending platform in the region. In just six months, TigerPay has achieved success with over 2000 merchant sign-ups.

TigerPay's product suite, comprising softPOS, QR, and link payments, offers a seamless experience, eliminating the need for bulky hardware. It converts your smartphone into a POS machine. The current funding round is expected to bolster TigerPay's market position and contribute to the company's growth in the fintech industry.

As a result of the funding, merchants can anticipate enhanced services and features from TigerPay, dedicated to improving the payment experience.

TigerPay has ambitious plans to expand its offerings, form strategic partnerships, and explore new markets, solidifying its role as a leading force in the fintech sector and penetrating other Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia.

TigerPay is poised for an exciting future, driven by innovation and supported by strategic investors. The company remains optimistic about its role in transforming the fintech landscape and providing exceptional payment solutions for SMEs in the region.

Website: https://tigerpay.app/

Email: admin@tigerpayapp.io

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
NewsVoir New Delhi [India], January 31: A study carried out by Home Credit India, a local arm of the leading global consumer finance provider, showed that the business-related borrowing increased in overall demand; up at 19% in 2023 from 14% in 2022. The study - How India Borrows Survey 2023 - further indicated that the trend in borrowing has shifted from running the household to purchasing consumer durables like smartphones and home appliances (44% in 2023). The study also highlighted the growing acceptance of digitalisation of financial services. Indian consumers have become comfortable with net banking, payment wallets and online shopping; and require limited guidance unlike in the past. 48% borrowers, prominent being Gen Z, shop online for personal needs, 44% rely on online banking for financial transactions, and 54% use mobile banking for day-to-day transactions. Only about 13% middle class Indians seek help for internet related tasks. In line with the digital transition, WhatsApp has emerged as the new digital channel for loan, with 59% of borrowers having received loan messages on WhatsApp. However, only one-fourth borrowers consider loan offers received on WhatsApp as trustworthy, with Gen Z showing more trust towards this. As for loans initiated through tele calling, it increased from 16% in 2022 to 19% in 2023, while loans through POS/ bank branches saw a decline from 56% to 52%. More than half of the borrowers (51%) were looking forward to completing their entire future loan application on MobileApp without any physical interaction with POS/ Banks. The study revealed that the preference for online loan mediums is primarily driven by younger and aspirational small-town borrowers, with cities like, Dehradun at 61%, Ludhiana at 59%, Ahmedabad at 56%, and Chandigarh at 52%. In addition, 43% borrowers find chatbot service as easy to use, and is majorly led by Women and Gen Z. Embedded finance has also gained traction in the recent years with 50% borrowers open to embrace the same during e-shopping. However, the uptake for the product among borrowers has come down by 10% from 2022 due to stringent RBI regulations on BNPL & PPI products leading to fewer offers. It is preferred as it makes borrowing faster and makes ecommerce shopping an easier process. EMI cards (49%) continue to be the most preferred medium for taking credit due to higher trust and faster disbursals. In terms of digital literacy, urban and rural India are looking for financial lessons and management guidance more than ever now. 39% of borrowers said they would like a reputed organisation to educate them about finance related tasks over the internet, with Men and GenZ showing maximum interest. Smaller towns like Ludhiana (57%), Patna (55%) and Bhopal (48%) exhibited more enthusiasm about financial learning. A major concern noticed among the borrowers was the use of personal information by loan companies. Almost 60% of the borrowers in India voiced out that they don't have any control on the data being shared by them, more so by borrowers from tier 1 towns. 58% of these worried borrowers also felt that the lending apps collect more data than required. Gen Z and borrowers from smaller towns showed higher concern with the amount of data being collected by lending apps. Among metros, 78% of borrowers from Chennai voiced their concern about the amount of data collected. The study further indicated that only 18% borrowers understand the data privacy rules, majority of them (88%) with just the superficial understanding on the subject, and 70% of the borrowers feel the need of transparent communication on the usage of personal data. Speaking on the consumer study, Ashish Tiwari, Chief Marketing Officer, Home Credit India, said, "At Home Credit India, we are dedicated to fostering financial literacy and empowering individuals to make informed choices. The survey not only highlights the preferences of today's borrowers but also emphasises the need for greater awareness of data privacy. As we navigate in this digital era, Home Credit remains committed to providing trustworthy, transparent and accessible financial solutions, ensuring a responsible and inclusive financial future for all." The HIB 2023 study was conducted across 17 cities including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Bhopal, Patna, Ranchi, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Kochi, and Dehradun. The sample size was approx. 1842 borrowers in the age group of 18-55 years, with an average income of Rs. 31,000 per month. Home Credit India Finance Pvt. Ltd. is a local arm of the international consumer finance provider Home Credit International with operations spanning Europe and Asia and committed to drive financial inclusion in India. The company is committed to drive credit penetration and financial inclusion by offering wide financial solutions that are simple, transparent, and accessible to all. Home Credit India has an employee base of ~5000 and has been consistently expanding operations since its entry in 2012, with its operations spread over 625 cities across India. The company has a strong network of around 53,000 points-of-sale (PoS) and is growing with a customer base of more than 16 million customers, driven by Pan-India expansion across major markets, a range of diversified and innovative products backed by superior customer experience. (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)
BusinessWire India Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], January 31: Sapna Book House, a leading name in the literary landscape, joyfully commemorates its 57th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in its illustrious journey. Established in 1967, Sapna Book House has evolved into a cultural institution, redefining the concept of a bookstore and transforming into a haven for diverse interests under one roof. For over five decades, with 21+ stores, they have metamorphosed into a comprehensive hub, offering a diverse range of products. From books to stationery, gifts, art & craft supplies, multimedia, toys & sports, food & chocolates, and regional books, they've become the go-to destination for quality and variety. Their commitment extends beyond literature, fostering a passion for reading and catering to the diverse interests of people! Key Highlights of Sapna's 57th-Year Anniversary Celebrations: Extended Anniversary Sale: The anniversary sale kicks off on Friday, the 26th of January 2024, and continues until Sunday, the 11th of February 2024. This 17-day celebration features a variety of extensive offers, including: * Upto 55% off on English Books * Great deals on Stationery * Upto 25% off on Gifts * Upto 20% off on Toys * 10% to 50% off on Regional Books Sapna also launches two new exciting ventures: Readzo - The Great Mystery Book Box Sale: Sapna introduces Readzo, a mystery book box sale comprising six books hand-picked by experts. Customers can avail an anniversary special discount of 65%, reducing the box cost to Rs. 857/- from Rs. 2494. Launch of Sapna Sparkz: Sapna unveils Sapna Sparkz at its Koramangala store--a creative eco-space for all ages. This vibrant community hosts engaging workshops, making weekends extra special. Sapna Sparkz aims to create an environment where learning meets laughter, and every experience becomes an adventure. As Sapna Book House continues its legacy of promoting a culture of reading and exploration, the 57th anniversary celebrations promise to offer customers unparalleled deals, exciting surprises, and a renewed commitment to providing a unique and enriching shopping experience. Join Sapna Book House in celebrating 57 years of literary excellence and the promise of many more years of serving as a cultural hub for book enthusiasts and beyond. Visit any of their 21+ stores to explore the diverse world of books and products, or shop online at SapnaOnline.com for a convenient and delightful experience. (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)
Actor Kartik Aaryan has finally completed shooting for his upcoming film 'Chandu Champion'. After a tough 8-month shoot, he got to taste his favourite Rasmalai at the wrap-up party. Kartik took to Instagram and shared a video of the wrap-up party from the sets. https://www.instagram.com/p/C2xL-anvY5j/ In the video, Kabir Khan is seen feeding a spoonful of Rasmalai and wrapping up the shoot on sweet and fun mode. Sharing the video, he wrote, "This RasMalai Tasted Like Victory !Finally eating sugar after a year !! After more than a year of intense preparation and 8 months of day-n-night shoots across the globe, today we complete the shooting journey of #ChanduChampion. And it couldn't have been sweeter than my fav, Rasmalai - from the Man himself who carved this challenging path for me... you have been a profound inspiration Sir! @kabirkhankk. #SajidNadiadwala @wardakhannadiadwala#ItsAWrap #FeelingSad #FeelingGuilty #ChanduChampion#14thJune2024." As soon as the video was uploaded, fans chimed in the comment section. Kabir Khan's wife Mini Mathur wrote, "Mubarak ho!!! Arre samosa nahin khaya?" One of the users wrote, "My mouth is watering watching this!! well done, can't wait to watch it, Champion!" Kartik has gone through an incredible transformation to get into the shape of his character in Chandu Champion and has prepared very hard for his titular character. On Republic Day, Kartik treated fans with new look poster. The 'Shehzada' actor shared a picture on Instagram and wrote, "Being a Champion is in every Indian's blood... Jai Hind. Happy Republic Day #ChanduChampion." He can be seen wearing a uniform and a cap. Helmed by Kabir Khan, 'Chandu Champion' is based on the extraordinary real-life story of a sportsman and his spirit of never giving up. Kartik will portray the character of Chandu. 'Chandu Champion' marks Kartik's first collaboration with director Kabir Khan. The film is all set to hit the theatres on June 14. Recently, on his birthday, Kartik also announced his new project with Karan Johar. The untitled film will feature Kartik Aaryan in the lead, directed by Sandeep Modi and it is slated to release on August 15, 2025. The film is being backed by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and Ektaa Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms Ltd. Taking to Instagram, Kartik wrote, "An unforgettable chapter of our glorious Indian history full of valour and sacrifice is now going to be part of my life a subject close to my heart... super proud and excited to embark on a new journey with the extremely talented @sandeep_modi and the powerhouse #karanjohar and @EktaaRKapoor." Apart from that, Kartik will also be seen in director Hansal Mehta's upcoming film 'Captain India', director Anurag Basu's next 'Aashiqui 3' and the horror comedy film 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3'. (ANI)
Jharkhand State Congress President Rajesh Thakur has said that the INDIA bloc will strongly fight against "injustice by the ruling BJP" with full force. This comes as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' nears completion in Bihar and is expected to enter Jharkhand today. A meeting of INDIA bloc was held at the Jharkhand Chief Minister's residence on Tuesday evening. Rajesh Thakur said, "Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' is coming here. We will fight against injustice with full force. We are ready for everything and will tell them (BJP) that we will not tolerate injustice under any circumstances. We are not scared, we will fight." He further said that those who are calling CM Hemant Soren as fugitive will be given a strong response after framing a policy. The remark by Congress leaders comes on the backdrop of ED investigating Soren's properties in alleged land scam case. Meanwhile, Jharkhand State Minister Banna Gupta said, "All the MLAs are fully committed to their alliance leader, Hemant Soren. Congress and RJD workers will stay united with JMM. We are all completely confident and satisfied. There is no need to worry; everything is normal." After the meeting was concluded late at night at Soren's residence in Ranchi, JMM MP Mahua Maji informed that in the meeting, Hemant Soren said that he is ready to face the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 and has absolutely no fears. Congress MLA Pradeep Yadav also reposed their faith in Hemant Soren in the meeting. Earlier, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, received a rousing welcome from the people of the Seemanchal region of Bihar. The people of the Seemanchal region of Bihar gave a tremendous welcome to the yatra and Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh said in a post on 'X' on Tuesday. "The last two days have been quite amazing for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. With the former chief minister of Bihar leaving the INDIA coalition and the current chief minister of Bihar joining the NDA as soon as the yatra entered the state, there was a fear of low public response. Contrary to that, the people of the Seemanchal region of Bihar gave a tremendous welcome to the yatra and Rahul Gandhi. The public meeting in Purnia is a direct proof of that," Jairam Ramesh said in a post on 'X'. (ANI)
Devotees thronged Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya for a darshan of Ram Lalla on Wednesday, braving the early morning cold. Many said that dense fog and extreme cold did not deter them from visiting the temple, as their devotion to Lord Ram was so intense. "For me, it is a great thing to visit this temple. I consider it my fortune to have darshan here. The temple is a source of pride for all Indians. I feel very reenergized coming here," a woman devotee from Rajasthan told ANI. "I felt I got a call from Lord Ram to have darshan here. We have been waiting so long for the Ram Temple to be built here. One must visit this temple at least once in their life," another devotee from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, said. Visuals show devotees wearing the Urdhva Pundra "elevated mark" tilak making their way in queues for the darshan of Shri Ram Lalla. Earlier on Monday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that the state government is committed to ensuring the safety, convenience, and smooth experience for devotees visiting Ayodhya from all over the country to seek darshan and worship Shri Ram Lalla. Upon his arrival in Ayodhya, the Chief Minister convened a meeting with senior officials from the state, zone, and district at the Control Room situated in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple complex. He highlighted, "With the improvement in weather conditions and a reduction in cold, we anticipate a surge in tourists and Ram devotees in Ayodhya. We must take special care to facilitate easy darshan of Ram Lalla for all devotees." The Chief Minister instructed officials to implement crowd control measures at all levels, emphasising efficient traffic and crowd management on major roads. He further highlighted that in the upcoming days, chief ministers from various states and their cabinet members are scheduled to visit Ayodhya, directing officials to make special arrangements for their convenience and safety, the statement added. Ensuring a hassle-free experience for all devotees, the Chief Minister directed officials to make arrangements for those staying in hotels, homestays, and tent cities in Ayodhya, the release said. Additionally, the Chief Minister instructed officials to prioritise the maintenance of cleanliness in the city and emphasised the timely and quality completion of ongoing development projects in Ayodhya. (ANI)
After the apprehension of the accused individuals, the police recovered one stolen motorcycle, one pistol of 315 bore, two mobile phones, one live cartridge and one spent cartridge from their possession.

The officers from Noida's Sector 58 police station were conducting a police check by putting up barricades at Khoda T-Point (Tiraha) when three men on a motorcycle did not stop for the police check despite being stopped, said police.

They were subsequently chased by the police and an attempt was made to surround and stop them near the D Park area when the accused open-fired on the police with the intention of killing them.

One of the accused, identified as Akash (26) alias Shiva--a history-sheeter of police station Sector 58--got injured in the retaliation fire by the police officials.

The injured accused was sent to the district hospital for treatment, while two of his associates, identified as Nitesh Tiwari (22) and Roshan Jha (23) were arrested during combing.

Akash is a resident of Bishanpura village in Noida's Sector 58; Nitesh is a resident of Chenari town in Bihar's Rohtas district; and Roshan Jha is a resident of Bihar's Bhagalpur district.

As per the information from the police, accused Akash alias Shiva, has 12 cases previously registered against him; accused Nitesh has two previous cases against him; and accused Roshan Jha has one previous case registered against him. (ANI)
Ahead of the start of the interim budget session, Aam Aadmi Party leader Swati Maliwal offered prayers in Hanuman Temple at Connaught Place, Delhi on Wednesday. "Today, before taking oath in the Rajya Sabha, CP took blessings by bowing his head at the feet of Bajrang Bali at the ancient Hanuman temple. Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bajrang Bali," Swati Maliwal posted on X. The former Delhi Commission for Women chief will take the oath as a Rajya Sabha Member of AAP today. "This budget should be such that it benefits the women, the farmers, the poor, the youth and also the middle class," said Aam Aadmi Party leader Swati Maliwal. Earlier on January 12, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members Sanjay Singh, Swati Maliwal and ND Gupta were elected unopposed as Rajya Sabha members. After being elected Rajya Sabha MP, Swati Maliwal said that she would fulfil her duties with true devotion and honesty. "A new responsibility is starting today. Thousands of women came today to encourage them. I assure all the people of Delhi that I will serve you with true devotion and honesty. Gratitude to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal," Swati Maliwal said. The AAP leader has also called for the government to take special interest in issues relating to crimes against women. "Women across the country are breaking all barriers and obstacles to move forward... Women's safety is a burning issue in the country. Every hour, crimes against women and children are only increasing. It is my request to the central government to pay special attention to this issue and come up with a hard-hitting solution to this problem... If a person sitting at the helm of the government indulges in such crimes, they should be tried even more strictly. Additionally, I demand laws to protect domestic helpers from such crimes..." the AAP leader had said on the occasion of Republic Day. The three candidates had filed their nominations on January 8 in the national capital. AAP has renominated Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta for a second term, while Swati Maliwal, who was the former Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), has been sent to the Rajya Sabha for the first time. Swati Maliwal is replacing Sushil Gupta. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu arrived at the new Parliament building for the Budget Session on Wednesday in the traditional horse-drawn carraige, which was last seen during the recent 75 th Republic Day celebrations. President Murmu earlier today departed for the Parliament in the buggy, flanked by guards for her address to a joint sitting of the both Houses of Parliament ahead of the start of the Budget Session. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla greeted her on her arrival in Parliament. Before her address, rituals of sacred 'Sengol' were conducted in the House. The 'Sengol' was carried in the parliament along with the arrival of the President and was installed in the House in her presence. On May 28 this year, PM Modi installed the golden spectre in the Lok Sabha chamber, right next to the Speaker's chair in the new Parliament building, after performing puja. PM Modi was handed over the historic 'Sengol' by Adheenams before it was installed in the new Parliament building. PM Modi took a decision to adopt Sengol as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal. This is the same Sengol that was accepted by the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru at his residence on the night of August 14, in the presence of several leaders. At the Republic Day Parade, President Droupadi Murmu and French President Emmanuel Macron arrived at the national capital's ceremonial boulevard Kartavya Path in the traditional buggy, which made a comeback at the event after 40 years. Meanwhile, the last session of Parliament before Lok Sabha polls expected to be held in April-May this year is to provide a total of eight sittings spread over 10 days. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the interim budget on Thursday (February 1). As per the list of business by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the proceedings of both the Houses will start half an hour after the President's address. The Secretary Generals of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha are scheduled to lay on the table of their respective Houses a copy of the President's address. On Tuesday, the Central government held a meeting under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with floor leaders of political parties ahead of the Interim Budget Session of the Parliament. In his opening address, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi informed that the Session of Parliament may conclude on February 9. "The Session will provide 8 sittings spread over a period of 10 days," he said. The Union Minister also informed that the session will mainly be devoted to the Financial Business relating to Interim Union Budget for the year 2024-25 and discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address, however essential Legislative and other Business will also be taken up during this session. Further, he stated that presentation and discussion on Interim Budget of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir for 2024-25 along with Supplementary Demands for Grants of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the financial year 2023-24 will also be taken up and voted. (ANI)
Annie, her ginger wig glistening beneath a flurry, sneaked a hit off her vaping pen. She shivered and leaped in place to stay warm. It was, this frigid Midwest evening, a hard-knock life. It was 11 degrees and the snowy ground was frozen. The line outside the club stretched from the entrance to the sidewalk. The Phantom of the Opera drew his cape around himself. Evan Hansen reached into the cast on his left arm and eased out a nip of whiskey. A Heather sized up a Mean Girl. Sally Bowles smoked extravagantly.

Another musical-theater dance night was about to start.

Theme nights have long been the meat and potatoes of nightclubs. Punk pop night, emo night, 70s disco night, indie electronic night, darkwave night, Taylor Swift night. For years, it seemed there wasnt a musical genre too niche to inspire its own dance night.

Well, maybe show tunes.

But then a year and a half ago, Ethan Maccoby, a Brooklyn-based dance-party promoter and former theater kid, created the Broadway Rave to fill a desire that no one knew existed. Now Maccoby is throwing musical-theater dance parties in 150 cities across North America to increasingly sold-out crowds of theater nerds who arrive dressed as Hamilton, Mr. Mistoffelees and Sweeney Todd. And theyre occupying steadily larger dance floors.

Do you hear the people sing?

To be honest, I didnt think this was doable, said Melanie Russell, the Nashville-based DJ who will spin show tunes in Chicago on Feb. 9, when Broadway Rave returns to Wicker Parks Subterranean, a relatively small venue that Broadway Rave is already outgrowing. (Indeed, Broadway Rave sold out the Subterranean weeks after being announced in December.) It was awkward the first time I DJd one of these. Show tunes are not my thing. Id get requests for songs full of monologues. But you look into the crowd, people are in the middle of the floor performing. I mean, they know every syllable. It was like they had musical theater in their veins. Its sort of hard to explain.

You have to see it.

So I drove five hours through a blizzard to Detroit, the early home of techno, to witness the early days of a different kind of happening. Make no mistake: Despite being called a rave, this is no all-night, drug-soaked, nonstop, whistle-tooting, neon-waving thump-thump-thumping blissed-out celebration of musical transcendence. I asked several people if this felt like a rave and many told me they had never been to a rave. This is a room of theater kids unleashed for the night  current theater kids, former theater kids and wannabe theater kids  lip-syncing dozens of mostly contemporary Broadway classics, for hours, with all the charm, annoyance and dramatic feelings that suggests.

Leah Brown and Jayla Smith, both in their late 20s, both from Detroit, stood at the edge of the dance floor, sipping from long straws sunk into long glasses, spinning to face each other, belting out the lyrics of Cell Block Tango from Chicago, only to crack each other up and dissolve back into each others shoulders, laughing and laughing.

He had it comin!

He had it comin!

He had only himself to blame

If youd have been there

If youd have seen it

I betcha you would have done the same!

They were electric amateurs, full of confidence, playing to an audience of each other. Which is not a bad way of describing a lot of people here. I asked them if, having been out of school a while, they found all these theater kids annoying or cool. Smith said, Well, I see ourselves as a bit of both. Brown said, Youd have to be to come here.

Mckenzie East, 32, center, and Anna Novotny, 34, right, dance and sing along at Broadway Rave, a touring musical theater and show tunes dance party at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit.

Fans dressed in the style of The Book of Mormon dance and sing along at Broadway Rave, a touring dance party celebrating musical theater and show tunes at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit.

Chicago faded into a hyper-chipper number from the musical movie The Greatest Showman. A different Annie  not the vaping Annie  sauntered past. A Greatest Showman in his red ringmaster lapels pogoed in the heart of the dance floor. A pair of waitresses from Waitress danced alongside Cats and Hamiltons. I spotted a Penny Lane from the musical adaptation of Almost Famous smiling dreamily, vibing behind oval John Lennon shades. A few things about a Broadway Rave becomes readily evident: This is more like a Broadway take on cosplay, and as for the music, youre more likely to get tunes from contemporary shows like Beetlejuice, Wicked and Hadestown than, say, a buoyant 2024 dance explosion via Fiddler on the Roof.

Actually, I have tried Fiddler,' Josh Batista, the DJ at the Broadway Rave in Detroit, told me later. Ive also tried Guys and Dolls, and its all kind of hit and miss with this kind of crowd. Theyre generally younger. Sometimes I do Anything Goes, but again, spotty reaction. Those older songs often have these massive dance breaks and though this is called a rave, it doesnt really translate to people who want to become part of it.

A boyfriend and girlfriend, eyes theatrically alarmed, faced each other, held hands and belted Omigod You Guys from Legally Blonde like it was Rodgers and Hammerstein:

Omigod!

Omigod, you guys!

Looks like Elles gonna win the prize

If there ever was a perfect couple, this one qualifies!

One tune finished, and another began without a break. OK, Batista shouted from the stage, whos ready for the theater kid Hokey Pokey? He clicked at his laptop, and the revving rhythm guitar of Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show chugged loudly, as familiar a blast of cross-generational euphoria here as Abbas Dancing Queen, which itself (via Mamma Mia) sent the crowd into rapture, flowing into American Idiot from Green Day (via American Idiot: The Musical) then Were All in This Together from the Disney Channels High School Musical, and then Dont Rain on My Parade from Funny Girl. Musical theater here also means film and TV movies, yet its perfectly seamless, of the same cloth, power ballads transitioning into empowerment pop, and as obvious as this sounds after the dawn of the jukebox musical, Broadway Rave is like an elaborate reminder the DNA of Broadway is inseparable from contemporary hit music. And vice versa. Which, of course, is why the Broadway Rave works as well as it does.

Near the back of the venue I noticed an older guy with graying hair  maybe 40  and asked what he was doing here. He told me with a theatrical sadness: Im Willy Loman.

Oh no, youre not! his girlfriend groaned, swaying to Defying Gravity from Wicked.

I am feeling pretty old right now, he said.

They didnt want to be identified. They taught theater at high schools in a wealthy suburb of Detroit and didnt want anyone to know they were an item. Werent they worried they would run into a student here, I asked? More like terrified, she said.

Not far from them, a teenager in the corseted dress of a character from Six the Musical lip-synced to The Schuyler Sisters from Hamilton, her eyes not focused on the DJ or the people dancing in front of her but, I suppose, the imaginary stage in her head, staring into the back of a nonexistent theater, arms thrusting triumphantly as the song crested, then, as it ended, huffing, puffing, like she just finished a showstopper.

I might have clapped for her but a doorbell rang, and the opening number of Book of Mormon began. Elliott Smith, dressed conservatively in a white short-sleeve shirt and black tie, wore a name tag that read Elder Smith. He wound through the dance floor, nodding Hello  with the cast recording, shaking hands and introducing himself. Hes 28 and lives in a nearby suburb, he told me. Hes an engineer at GM. He had a big, gruff friendliness and the staccato laugh of Seth Rogan. He did not give off theater kid vibes.

I really wanted to come to this, he laughed, introducing me to his wife, Nicole Durant. Some of the best times theyve had out lately were at extremely theatrical concerts, such as Beyonce, so this seemed perfect. He played lacrosse in school, he said, but liked the theater kids, then turned to his wife: I can think of like 15 friends who should be here.

So far, his parties, Maccoby said, have been millennial-ish and younger, full of casual fans, theater kids and theater-industry professionals; last fall, the cast of Hamilton did a few tunes at a Broadway Rave in Manhattan, and other New York shows have drawn performances from cast members of Mean Girls, Wicked and Les Miserables. But when Maccoby started promoting musical-theater nights in Brooklyn, crowds were thin. Pitching the idea to clubs around the country was even worse: They were skeptical, for sure. Its not a crowd they imagine going out or drinking, and they want alcohol sales.

A couple of years later, a crowd of around 400 turned out for the Chicago parties, but in other cities, Broadway Raves is pulling in three times that. Clips of raves on social media have helped. As has the cost of musical theater itself, Batista said. Theres only so many student tickets, and even touring shows are not always financially accessible to some of these people. A Broadway Rave is often closer to how a lot of younger audiences are experiencing Broadway shows now  in nuggety, bite-size form, through clips floating around YouTube, through movie adaptations and endlessly streamed cast recordings.

A DJ and dancer performs during Broadway Rave, the touring dance party celebrating musical theater and show tunes at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit on Jan. 19.

Fans dance and sing along at Broadway Rave in Detroit.

Naturally perhaps for a generation raised on TikTok and Instagram, soon after Maccoby organized his first Broadway Rave, audience members  without being invited initially  would climb on stage, find the microphone and lip-sync through performances. Then came the cat ears, the Hamilton coats, magic wands and French Les Miserables flags.

Now it happens at every party.

By the end of the night in Detroit  all three-plus hours  Batista had pulled a half-dozen people on stage. This space is for us, he said, shouting out to theater kids who see themselves as too awkward, too fat, too gay. During the final song, Seasons of Love from Rent  the theater kid Freebird  he jumped off the stage and joined everyone.

525,600 minutes

How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights 

He pressed his mic into their faces, but more than a few had brought their own.

9 p.m. Feb. 9 at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave.; tickets (ages 17+, sold out) and more information at subt.net

cborrelli@chicagotribune.com
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Enforcement Directorate on Supertech Chairman RK Arora plea challenging trial court order dismissing his regular bail plea in a money laundering case. The Bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri on Wednesday sought the response of Enforcement Enforcement and listed the matter for Febuary 21, 2024. The plea sought quashing of trial Court order denying him bail and stating that, "There is no substantive change in the circumstances. The filing of prosecution complaint by the Enforcement Directorate does not amount to a change of material circumstances. The trial court Judge on January 24, 2024, while dismissing the regular bail plea of RK Arora, stated that, after dismissal of previous bail application vide detailed order dated July 22, 2023, I am not inclined to entertain the present bail application moved under Section 439 Cr. PC on behalf of accused Ram Kishor Arora. Accordingly, the same is dismissed, said the trial Court Judge Recently, the Court had granted interim bail for 30 days to Supertech's chairman and Promoter R K Arora on medical and health ground. Arora had moved interim bail cited health and medical grounds. Earlier, the trial court took cognizance on the prosecution complaint (chargesheet) filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him and others and also issued summons to all accused named in the chargesheet and firms through their representatives. ED's Special Public Prosecutors Naveen Kumar Matta, Manish Jain alongwith Mohd. Faizan had appeared in the matter before the court. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against Supertech's Chairman, RK Arora in relation to a money laundering case in Delhi's Patiala House Court. Arora was arrested on June 27 under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Earlier, ED apprised the court that 23 FIRs were registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Delhi Police; Haryana Police and UP Police against Supertech Limited and its group companies under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with 406(criminal breach of trust)/420 (cheating)/467/471 IPC having allegations of cheating at least 670 home buyers for an amount of Rs 164 crore. ED also alleged that the amount collected by Supertech Ltd. was diverted to their group companies for the purchase of properties and the company with land having much lesser value. ED alleged that the accused persons have acquired properties, and made illegal/wrongful gain arising out of the said proceeds of crime by involving, indulging and commissioning criminal activities related to scheduled offences. It is stated that the prima facie case for the commission of an offence punishable under Section 3 punishable under Section 4 of the PML Act has been made. (ANI)
Rubina, a research scholar at Jamia Millia Islamia, selected for the coveted Prime Minister Research Fellowship under the Direct Entry category of May 2021 cycle, is a story of grit, determination and glory. Hailing from a humble family in Jamia Nagar, she has been an outstanding student throughout her academic life thus far. And, now, with PMRF assistance, she is slated to contribute innovatively in the field of Electrical Engineering, her academic discipline. Rubina did her High School from Good Samaritan School in Jasola Vihar and then her Class 12 from Cambridge School in Srinivaspuri. Her results in both exams were meritorious and then she qualified for B.Tech. admission in the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women at Kashmiri Gate. Recalling her days attending her school and IGDTUW, Rubina says that it was quite demanding to attend her classes. "For my B. Tech classes, I had to catch two buses to reach my campus and then after going through an arduous full-day class and laboratory session, it would be very tiresome to return from the same buses. However, the determination to pursue my dreams kept me moving," she said. Her determination and family's support made her qualify for the prestigious Gate examination after her M. Tech and she got admission in PhD in Jamia Millia's Electrical Engineering department, which has recently been in the news for its innovative and recognised researches. In Jamia, she contacted Dr Tariqul Islam, her prospective supervisor. "She was a meritorious student all through her student life. Her Gate score was satisfactory. We brainstormed to prepare a solid research proposal and recommended her name for the PMRF. The department okayed it and ultimately she was selected from several names sent for the coveted scholarship," said Dr Tariqul Islam, Rubina's supervisor. Dr Islam says that the scholarship has been moulded in a way to help the research candidate quite sufficiently. "She will receive a monthly fellowship of Rs 70, 000 for the first two years, Rs 75,000 for the third year, and Rs 80,000 for the 4th year and the 5th year respectively. In addition, Rubina is also eligible for a research grant of Rs 2 lakhs per year for five years under the scheme," said Dr Islam. The main motivation, according to the government website, for this attractive fellowship scheme is to attract the best talent into research, thereby realising the vision of development through innovation. The scheme was announced in Budget 2018-19. The fellowship lasts for five years. To maintain the proper usability of the grant, the government team asks for a regular report from the concerned department in the university about the progress of the research. "We will have to send our report every six months," said Dr Islam. The topic of Rubina's research is "Design, Modelling and Fabrication of High-Performance Capacitive Sensors for Non-contact Measurement of Some Important Parameters in Smart Grids." The capacitive sensors are extensively used for sensing applications but mostly parallel plate and planar interdigital capacitive sensors with nanostructure sensing films. Although nanostructure materials are nowadays widely used for sensing applications, the stability of the nano-materials is an important issue for real-time applications. When asked about her research and its applicability, Rubina said that right now she is doing a literature survey for her research and it'll be too early to comment on its future applicability. "However, it can be said that capacitors are used in transformers that are then used for a myriad of purposes," said Rubina. Dr Islam explained that the use of smart capacity sensors can be understood simply as that they will help monitoring of health of patients in hospital rooms online from afar by measuring the moisture, temperature, etc. Both Rubina and Dr Islam hope that they will ensure that the application of PRF is justified and they will come up with research that will help enhance the applicability of electrical devices. (ANI)
The culprit who was involved in making pro-Khalistani graffiti in Delhi's Tilak Nagar area has been arrested by Delhi police, said an official on Wednesday. The apprehended accused had made graffiti saying "Delhi Banega Khalistan" (Delhi will become Khalistan). Further details into the matter are still awaited. In a similar incident in August last year, the Delhi Police Special Cell detained two persons from Punjab in connection with pro-Khalistan graffiti and slogans painted at more than five metro stations in Delhi on August 27, 2023. The Delhi Police released CCTV footage in connection with pro-Khalistan graffiti and slogans painted at more than 5 metro stations in Delhi. A case was registered after the walls of several metro stations across Delhi were found defaced with pro-Khalistan slogans ahead of the G20 Summit hosted in the national capital under India's presidency. According to the Delhi Police official, the case was registered under Section 153 A, Section 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the Defacement Act. "We received information about slogans at Nangloi PS at 11 am. A case has been registered, and an investigation has been initiated. (Slogans) have been written at 4 metro stations. A case registered under sections 153 A, 505, and the Defacement Act," Commissioner of Police (Metro) G Ram Gopal Naik told ANI. Section 153A criminalises and punishes making statements, speeches, or acts that have the effect of disturbing public tranquilly or law and order by promoting enmity or creating fear or alarm between classes of people on the basis of differences in religion, caste, language, or place of birth. Section 505, on the other hand, criminalises making statements, reports, or rumours that encourage members of the armed forces or a police officer to refuse to perform their duty, encourage a person to commit offences against the state or disturb public tranquilly, and incite persons to disturb public tranquilly. In pictures shared by Delhi Police, slogans were seen inscribed on the walls of Metro stations, reading "Delhi Banega Khalistan" and "Khalistan Zindabad". (ANI)
CM Yadav also informed the governor about the developmental and public welfare works of the state on the occasion.

Yadav wrote on X, "I reached Raj Bhavan today and paid a courtesy visit to Governor Mangubhai Patel along with the Cabinet members. I informed him about the progressing development works and public welfare works in Madhya Pradesh."

Deputy CM Jagdish Devda also wrote on X, "Today, I met Governor Mangubhai Patel along with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and other cabinet colleagues at Raj Bhavan."

"Today, under the leadership of CM Mohan Yadav, I along with other members of the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet paid a courtesy visit to Governor Mangubhai Patel," Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla shared on X.

After meeting with the governor, a cabinet meeting was held under the chairmanship of CM Mohan Yadav at Mantralaya in the state capital.

In the address before the cabinet meeting, CM Yadav thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Parbati-KaliSindh-Chambal Link Project and thanked Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for providing road projects worth Rs 10405 crore to the state.

The chief minister said that the Parbati-KaliSindh-Chambal Link Project, pending for almost two decades, would now be implemented with the initiative of PM Modi. This would benefit 12 districts of Malwa and Chambal region in the state and 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan. The availability of drinking water will increase in these areas and water will also be available for irrigation and industrial use.

He further informed that the project worth Rs 75000 crore and the state's would invest only 10 percent, rest of the 90 percent of the amount would be provided by the central government. CM Mohan Yadav also said that the Bhoomi Pujan of Ken-Betwa Link Project would take place in February 2024. (ANI)
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday paid tribute to the three Central Reserve Police Force personnel who lost their lives in the exchange of fire with naxals at the Bijapur-Sukma border. The Chief Minister said that the government's fight against naxalism will continue with all its vigour. "Three Jawans lost their lives and 15 were injured in the exchange of fire. I pay my tributes to the three Jawans who lost their lives," Vishnu Deo Sai told reporters here. "Ever since the BJP government was formed in Chhattisgarh, our fight against naxalism has strengthened. We will continue this fight," he added. On Tuesday, CM Sai met with the injured jawans at Balaji Hospital in Raipur, where he said that the double-engine government will put an end to naxal activities in the state. Three jawans succumbed to their injuries, and 15 remain injured following the exchange of fire with naxals near Jonaguda and Aliguda at the Bijapur-Sukma border. CM Sai said, "The incident occurred near Tekalgudem village in Sukma district. Our jawans gave a befitting reply in the exchange of fire. Since the BJP has formed the government in Chhattisgarh, we are giving the naxals a befitting reply. Three jawans laid down their lives. The double-engine government will bring an end to naxals in the coming days." Chhattisgarh DGP Ashok Juneja said that the naxals did not want the security camp in that area. DGP Ashok Juneja said, "There was a fire from the naxal side. Our soldiers retaliated. There are video footage showing that the Naxalites are picking up the dead bodies of their people. A total of 15 soldiers have been injured, and 3 have lost their lives." He further said that the strategy was to enter the core area, and they would expedite the anti-naxal operation. "We will set up camps and provide access to interior areas. We will provide facilities of the state and central government to the people in the interior areas through these camps so that they get separated from the naxals," he added. According to Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) P. Sundarraj, the incident occurred near Tekalgudem village when a joint team of security personnel was out on a search operation. The injured are now out of danger and are undergoing treatment in Raipur. A team from the 201 battalion of the CoBRA and the 150 battalion of the CRPF was working in the area to establish a Forward Operating Base (FOB) when the exchange of fire began around 1 pm. An FOB is a remote camp meant to facilitate security forces operating in core Naxal areas. Notably, as many as 22 jawans were killed in the encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh in 2021 during an encounter along the Sukma-Bijapur border. (ANI)
Jawaharlal Nehru University has reached out to the central government for funds to build boundary walls to curb trespassing, said Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit. Santishree said the work is also underway to install CCTVs in public places, including hostel gates, to improve safety on the campus. Security has always been a concern at the university, with incidents of vandalism and violence, especially against women, having been reported often. Speaking to ANI, Santishree claimed that no "major" incident compromising the safety and security of the students and teachers on the campus has taken place since she took rein in the centrally funded university. "You see, (JNUSU) elections are coming. So you will hear more and more such things (about violence) because I think in elections, every side will have competing things, but really, I'm told by the Security Committee of teachers and others. We have not had a major incident," she said. "We are asking the government of India to give us money for the wall. You know we are a campus of nearly 2,000 acres, and there are a lot of areas where our wall has broken down, so we have people who cannot only enter from the gates; they can even enter from those areas, and it's all forest area," she added. In addition to government help, the university is also looking at CSR funds and help from alumni associations to enhance security and improve infrastructure. Though security has beefed up on the campus in recent years, some incidents of vandalism and violence have still been reported. In December, slogans demanding the rebuilding of Babri Masjid surfaced on the walls of the Language Study Centre at JNU. "We can't have human security, you know, petrol in every part. So we are also looking at CSR funds and other things for repairing our walls and other things," the VC stated. Despite the protest from a section of students over the installation of cameras, the vice chancellor is of the view that CCTV is the best solution to keep an eye on illegal activity on the campus. "We were saying last year we're putting in scan cameras. We have convinced students the best talker is their mobile because, with Wi-Fi, they can ignore everything for free. So I told them this was dangerous. They will scan cameras, or we will see if somebody comes in, right?" she mentioned. (ANI)
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday alleged that the vehicle of fellow Lok Sabha member and former party president, Rahul Gandhi, was pelted with stones during the ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The West Bengal Congress president said someone from the crowd lobbed stones in the direction of Rahul's vehicle. Visuals on social media showed the rear windscreen of the Wayanad MP's vehicle smashed after the yatra reached Malda, which is considered a Congress stronghold. Speaking to the reporters, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "Maybe someone from the crowd, at the back, pelted a stone at Rahul-ji's vehicle. The police are looking into the matter. A lot can happen due to overlooking. This is a small incident but someone could have been injured." This is not the first time the Congress has alleged untoward incidents during the ongoing yatra in West Bengal where the TMC is in power. Last week, the Congress Leader in Lok Sabha said the Yatra has been at the receiving end of challenges whether it be in BJP-ruled states or Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal. "Nyay yatra has been targeted since the beginning. In Manipur, Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to hold a public meeting where we wanted to. We had to conduct this meeting on a private property outside Manipur. In Assam, many police personnel attacked the yatra on orders from the government. In West Bengal, we requested permission to hold a meeting in Siliguri but it was denied," Chowdhury had said. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was flagged off at Imphal on January 14 and will conclude in Mumbai on March 20. (ANI)
British citizen Sumit Chaddha, a newly-made accused by the Enforcement Directorate of money laundering related to controversial arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari and others, has moved the Delhi Court against the issuance of a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him in the case. Additional Sessions Judge Neelofer Abida Parveen on January 29, 2024, sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate and fixed the matter for February 3, 2024, for arguments in the matter. Recently, the same court issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against the UK national in the case at the request of the Enforcement Directorate. The Court said that it was satisfied that the presence of accused Sumit Chadha cannot be secured through the ordinary process. NBWs are ordered against the accused, Sumit Chaddha for his arrest and production before this Court accordingly." On January 29, 2024, another accused, CC Thumpi, appeared in pursuance of the summons and informed the court that he was already on bail. For the appearance of accused Sumit Chaddha for compliance u/s 207 Cr. P.C./for filing of a status report in respect of accused Sanjay Bhandari/for further proceedings, put up on February 28, 2024, said the court. Earlier, After going through the supplementary prosecution complaint (Chargesheet) recently filed by ED in a money laundering case, the court said "Having heard, the Special Public Prosecutors for ED and perused the contents of the supplementary complaint, the court said, there is sufficient ground for the summoning of accused C.C. Thampi (UAE based NRI) and Sumit Chadha (UK National) as per the complaint. Summons will be issued forappearance of accused C.C. Thampi". The Enforcement Directorate has recently filed a supplementary chargesheet in terms of the first proviso of Section 44 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 against accused C.C. Thampi as well as accused Sumit Chaddha, respectively, for the commission of an offense defined under Section 3 of PMLA, 2002 and punishable under Section 4 of PMLA, 2002. According to the ED, accused Sanjay Bhandari had created a web of entities by engaging various individuals based in the UAE and the U.K. to acquire several properties outside India. The perusal of the several emails exchanged and filed on record clearly indicates that accused C.C. Thampi and Sumit Chadha were working in tandem and are close confidants of accused Sanjay Bhandari. ED further added that there is ample material for proceeding against these two accused, gathered during the further investigation and submitted by way of the first supplementary complaint. The summons were issued to accused Sumit Chadha but he refused to receive the summons sent to him through diplomatic channels. He did not respond to the summons. Advocates Naveen Kumar Matta, Arun Khatri and Mohd Faizan appeared for the Enforcement Directorate in the matter. Sanjay Bhandari is allegedly a close associate of Priyanka Gandhi's husband, Robert Vadra. Vadra is presently on anticipatory bail in the present case. It has been alleged that during the UPA era, Bhandari took commission and purchased properties in London whose beneficial owner was Robert Vadra. Robert Vadra denies these charges. Vadra's lawyer earlier told the court that the investigation in the said ECIR has been going on for around 6 years and is still pending, yet no proceedings before the court can be said to be pending against the applicant/Vadra nor anything incriminating has been found against the applicant till date; the applicant is, thus, not even an accused as of today. ED, while opposing Vadra's plea for travel abroad, submitted that, in view of the influence, political clout and connections of the applicant, it is highly likely that the applicant, if allowed to travel to Austria and Switzerland, the same may frustrate the proceedings as one LR issued to the appropriate authority in Switzerland in other criminal proceedings against co-accused Sanjay Bhandari is pending and the applicant may interfere with the same. The co-accused, Sanjay Bhandari, has evaded the process of law despite there being an LOC against him and thereafter, a Red Corner Notice (RCN) was issued against him. Now the extradition process of the main accused, Sanjay Bhandari, from the United Kingdom is at a crucial stage. As such, the possibility of the applicant evading the process of law cannot be ruled out, as stated by ED in court. (ANI)
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday filed a complaint against officials of the Enforcement Directorate alleging that the officials tried to 'harass' and 'malign' him and his entire community. This comes amid questioning by the central agency in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. CM Soren, in his complaint, wrote, "I, Hemant Soren, son of Shibu Soren, resident of 3, Kanke Road Ranchi, member of Scheduled Tribe and member of legislative assembly representing Sahibganj constituency write to lodge a complaint against Mr Kapil Raj, Mr Deovrat Jha, Mr Anupam Kumar, Mr Aman Patel, and unknown others, all officers of the Directorate of Enforcement, Ranchi Zonal Office, having their office at Hinoo, Ranchi." "When I came to Ranchi, I saw in the electronic media and also in Print media on January 30, 2024, the action of the above officers who have conducted search operation in Jharkhand Bhawan, New Delhi, and at 5/01, Shanti Niketan, New Delhi, to harass and malign me and my entire community," read the letter. CM Soren went on to allege that the search carried out by the ED officials at Shanti Niketan on January 29, was without any prior notice to him. "On 27th and 28th January, I visited New Delhi and stayed at Premises no. 5/1, Shanti Niketan, which is taken on lease by the State of Jharkhand for residence and office use. On 29th January 2024, I came to learn that the abovenamed persons along with others had carried out a purported search at the said premises. The purported search was without any prior notice to me nor was my presence required on 29th January at New Delhi by the abovenamed persons," CM Soren stated in the letter. "I have come to learn from the reports in the electronic media that on 30th January 2024, the abovenamed persons have leaked selective misinformation that a blue BMW car seized from the said premises belongs to me huge sums of illicit cash belonging to me was found at the said premises. I am not the owner of the car of BMW which the abovenamed persons claim to have seized. I do not own any illicit cash," he added. The complaint has been filed at the SC ST police station in Ranchi. Further probe is underway. Meanwhile, a team of ED officials on Wednesday arrived at the residence of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren for questioning in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. After the meeting was concluded late at night at Soren's residence in Ranchi on Tuesday, JMM MP Mahua Maji informed that in the meeting Hemant Soren said that he is ready to face the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 and has absolutely no fear. The ED officials visited the residence of Soren in the national capital on Monday night to question him in connection with an alleged land scam case and said that the Jharkhand Chief Minister could not be located. As per sources, the ED had issued a fresh summons to Soren, asking him to be available for questioning on January 29 or 31, or else the agency itself will go to him for questioning. This is the tenth summons issued to the Jharkhand Chief Minister, by the ED. There was heavy police deployment around the Chief Minister's residence in Ranchi. (ANI)
CM Yadav told ANI, "The decision taken by the Varanasi District Court in the Gyanvapi case is a milestone decision...I want to congratulate the court...the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) report itself indicated in whose favour the decision should be."

"I think it is a very important day today and it is an important decision," he added.

Notably, Varanasi district court on Wednesday allowed Hindu devotees to offer prayers inside the 'Vyas Ka Tahkhana' area inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex. The court has asked district administration to make the necessary arrangements in the next seven days.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side told ANI, " ...Puja will start within seven days. Everyone will have the right to perform Puja..."

"Hindu side is allowed to offer prayers at 'Vyas Ka Tahkhana'. The District Administration will have to make arrangements within 7 days," Jain said.

The mosque has four 'tahkhanas' (cellars) in the basement out of which one is still in possession of the Vyas family who used to live here.

Vyas had petitioned that as hereditary pujari he be allowed to enter the tahkhana and resume pooja. (ANI)